of our lives." "Perhaps we may," said the wife; "but let us sleep upon it, before we make up our minds to that." So they went to bed.
The next morning when Dame Ilsabill awoke it was broad daylight, and she jogged the fisherman with her elbow, and said, "Get up, husband, and bestir yourself, for we must be king of all the land." "Wife, wife," said the man, "why should we wish to be king? I will not be king." "Then I will," said she. "But, wife," said the fisherman, "how can you be king? the fish cannot make you a king." "Husband," said she, "say no more about it, but go and try! I will be king." So the man went away quite sorrowful to think that his wife should want to be king. This time the sea looked a dark gray colour, and was overspread with curling waves and ridges of foam as he cried out,—
"O man of the sea!
Hearken to me!
My Wife Ilsabill
Will have her own will,
And hath sent me to beg a boon of thee!"
"Well, what would she have now?" said the fish. 'Alas!" said the poor man, "my wife wants to be king." "Go home," said the fish; "she is king already."
Then the fisherman went home; and as he came close to the palace he saw a troop of soldiers, and heard the sound of drums and trumpets. And when he went in he saw his wife sitting on a high throne of gold and diamonds, with a golden crown upon her head; and on each side of her stood six fair maidens, each a head taller than the other. "Well, wife," said the fisherman, "are
