13. Here I Am.


This was a very disheartening revelation to the king--not that he
was unwilling to sacrifice a subject, but that he was hopeless of
finding a man willing to sacrifice himself. No time was to be lost,
however, for the princess was lying motionless on her bed, and
taking no nourishment but lake-water, which was now none of the
best. Therefore the king caused the contents of the wonderful plate
of gold to be published throughout the country.

No one, however, came forward.

The prince, having gone several days' journey into the forest, to
consult a hermit whom he had met there on his way to Lagobel, knew
nothing of the oracle till his return.

When he had acquainted himself with all the particulars, he sat
down and thought,--

"She will die if I don't do it, and life would be nothing to me
without her; so I shall lose nothing by doing it. And life will be
as pleasant to her as ever, for she will soon forget me. And there
will be so much more beauty and happiness in the world!--To be
sure, I shall not see it." (Here the poor prince gave a sigh.) "How
lovely the lake will be in the moonlight, with that glorious
creature sporting in it like a wild goddess!--It is rather hard to