Fairy tale based on oral tradition.
1Thus spoke Queen Phantasie, while Märchen went down upon the earth.
2Blushing, Märchen lifted her little head quite up, and raised her dark eye.
3Impossible!" exclaimed Märchen; "she always used to act so friendly towards us."
4Märchen stretched forth her hand, and described with the forefinger, various figures in the air.
5It is "ein Märchen aus alten Zeiten"- alegendof long ago.
6The ballad was put into the Märchen-Frau's hands, and she was told that Friedrich had written it.
7Märchen, when she had got safely across, looked around smilingly, and then slipped quickly through the gate.
8The modest Märchen dared not look up; her mother, however, beheld her with satisfaction, and clasped her in her arms.
9Had he written only "Hermann and Dorothea," the sweetest idyllist; if only the "Märchen," the subtlest of allegorists.
10"What is the matter with thee, beloved Märchen?" said the Queen to her.
11"Friedrich," said she, in a solemn voice, "we have walled up the 'Märchen-Frau.'"
12"Believe me, I feel it but too well," rejoined Märchen; "they love me no more.
13"But why did they make me, thine own daughter, suffer for this?" wept forth Märchen.
14He would not read it himself, so Marie was pressed into the service, and crowned with the hood and cloak, and elected Märchen-Frau.
15Märchen Brunnen or Fairy-tale Fountain, 2-3.
16"Poor Märchen!" said the Queen as she caressed her cheek, which was wet with a tear.