Page 33 - The She-Bear

some water set to boil; whereupon the bear,
laying hold on a fowl, scalded and plucked it
handily, and drew it, and then stuck one
portion of it on the spit, and with the other
part she made such a delicious hash that the
Prince, who could not relish even sugar, licked
his fingers at the taste. And when he had done
eating, the bear handed him drink with such
grace that the Queen was ready to kiss her on
the forehead. Thereupon the Prince arose, and
the bear quickly set about making the bed; and
running into the garden, she gathered a clothful
of roses and citron-flowers and strewed them
over it, so that the queen said the bear was
worth her weight in gold, and that her son had
good reason to be fond of her.
But when the Prince saw these pretty offices
they only added fuel to the fire; and if before he
wasted by ounces, he now melted away by
pounds, and he said to the Queen, "My lady
mother, if I do not give this bear a kiss, the
breath will leave my body." Whereupon the
Queen, seeing him fainting away, said, "Kiss
him, kiss him, my beautiful beast! Let me not
see my poor son die of longing!" Then the bear
went up to the Prince, and taking him by the
cheeks, kissed him again and again. Meanwhile
(I know not how it was) the piece of wood
____
33