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dying lake； But she could not shut it out of her mind for a moment。 It
haunted her imagination so that she felt as if the lake were her soul； drying
up within her； first to mud； then to madness and death。 She thus brooded
over the change； with all its dreadful accompaniments； till she was nearly
distracted。 As for the prince； she had forgotten him。 However much
she had enjoyed his company in the water； she did not care for him
without it。 But she seemed to have forgotten her father and mother too。
The lake went on sinking。 Small slimy spots began to appear； which
glittered steadily amidst the changeful shine of the water。 These grew to
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broad patches of mud； which widened and spread； with rocks here and
there； and floundering fishes and crawling eels swarming。 The people
went everywhere catching these； and looking for anything that might have
dropped from the royal boats。
At length the lake was all but gone； only a few of the deepest pools
remaining unexhausted。
It happened one day that a party of youngsters found themselves on
the brink of one of these pools in the very centre of the lake。 it was a
rocky basin of considerable depth。 Looking in； they saw at the bottom
something that shone yellow in the sun。 A little boy jumped in and dived
for it。 It was a plate of gold covered with writing。 They carried it to the
king。 On one side of it stood these words：
〃Death alone from death can save。 Love is death； and so is brave
Love can fill the deepest grave。 Love loves on beneath the wave。〃
Now this was enigmatical enough to the king and courtiers。 But the
reverse of the plate explained it a little。 Its writing amounted to this：
〃If the lake should disappear； they must find the hole through which
the water ran。 But it would be useless to try to stop it by any ordinary
means。 There was but one effectual mode。The body of a living man
could alone stanch the flow。 The man must give himself of his own will；
and the lake must take his life as it filled。 Otherwise the offering would be
of no avail。 If the nation could not provide one hero； it was time it
should perish。〃
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13。 Here I Am。
This was a very disheartening revelation to the kingnot 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 be drowned by inches； though。 Let me seethat will be seventy
inches of me to drown。〃 （Here he tried to laugh； but could not。） 〃The
longer the better； however；〃 he resumed： 〃for can I not bargain that the
princess shall be beside me all the time？ So I shall see her once more；
kiss her perhaps；who knows？and die looking in her eyes。 It will be no
death。 At least； I shall not feel it。 And to see the lake filling for the
beauty again！All right！ I am ready。〃
He kissed the princess's boot； laid it down； and hurried to the king's
apartment。 But feeling； as he went； that anything sentimental would be
disagreeable； he resolved to carry off the whole affair with nonchalance。
So he knocked at the door of the king's counting…house； where it was all
but a capital crime to disturb him。
When the king heard the knock he started up； and opened the door in a
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rage。 Seeing only the shoeblack； he drew his sword。 This； I am sorry to
say； was his usual mode of asserting his regality when he thought his
dignity was in danger。 But the prince was not in the least alarmed。
〃Please your Majesty； I'm your butler；〃 said he。
〃My butler！ you lying rascal！ What do you mean？〃
〃I mean； I will cork your big bottle。〃
〃Is the fellow mad？〃 bawled the king； raising the point of his sword。
〃I will put a stopperplugwhat you call it； in your leaky lake； grand
monarch；〃 said the prince。
The king was in such a rage that before he could speak he had time to
cool； and to reflect that it would be great waste to kill the only man who
was willing to be useful in the present emergency； seeing that in the end
the insolent fellow would be as dead as if he had died by his Majesty's
own hand。 〃Oh！〃 said he at last； putting up his sword with difficulty； it
was so long； 〃I am obliged to you； you young fool！ Take a glass of
wine？〃
'No； thank you；〃 replied the prince。
〃Very well；〃 said the king。 〃Would you like to run and see your
parents before you make your experiment？〃
〃No； thank you；〃 said the prince。
〃Then we will go and look for the hole at once；〃 said his Majesty； and
proceeded to call some attendants。
〃Stop； please your Majesty； I have a condition to make；〃 interposed
the prince。
〃What！〃 exclaimed the king； 〃a condition！ and with me！