Page 73 - The Green Beaubird

apple, which he placed beside the water.
Serena also brought out the talking bird, and
set it on the table. Immediately the apple
began to sing most sweetly, and the wonderful
water to dance, so that the king and all the
courtiers were delighted and laughed aloud
with pleasure; but the queen-mother and the
wicked sisters were smitten with dire dismay,

for they felt that their doom was near.
At last, when the apple and the water had
ceased to sing and dance, the bird opened its
mouth and said: 'O sacred majesty! what
doom should be dealt to those who once
plotted death against two brothers and a
sister? 'Then the cunning queen-mother,

scheming to excuse herself, cried out: 'No
lighter doom than death by burning;' and in
this condemnation all those who were present
agreed. To answer her the singing apple and
the dancing water said straightway: 'Ah, false
and cruel woman! your own tongue has
doomed yourself, and those wicked and
envious sisters of the queen, and the vile
midwife, to this horrible death.'

When the king heard these words his heart
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