HANS ANDERSEN'S FAIRY TALES
for she could play 'Lieber Augustin'; it was the only piece she knew; and she played it with one finger.
'Why, there is my piece,' said the Princess; 'that swineherd must certainly have been well educated! Go in and ask him the price of the instrument.'
So one of the court ladies must run in; however, she drew on wooden slippers first.
'What will you take for the kitchen-pot?' said the lady.
'I will have ten kisses from the Princess,' said the swineherd.
'Yes, indeed!' said the lady.
'I cannot sell it for less,' rejoined the swineherd.
'He is an impudent fellow!' said the Princess, and she walked on; but when she had gone a little way, the bells tinkled so prettily,
'Ach! du lieber Augustin,
Alles ist weg, weg, weg!'
'Stay,' said the Princess. 'Ask him if he will have ten kisses from the ladies of my court.'
'No, thank you!' said the swineherd, 'ten kisses from the Princess, or I keep the kitchen-pot myself.'
'That must not be either!' said the Princess; 'but do you all stand before me that no one may see us.'
And the court-ladies placed themselves in front of her, and spread out their dresses: the swineherd got ten kisses, and the Princess—the kitchen-pot.
That was delightful! the pot was boiling the whole evening, and the whole of the following day. They knew perfectly well what was cooking at every fire throughout the city, from the chamberlain's to the cobbler's: the court ladies danced, and clapped their hands.
'We know who has soup, and who has pancakes for 242
