my prince, I will live in the shadow of thy oak, and guard it throughout my life.”
“Do so,” said the Elf; “thou shalt not repent it.” Thereupon she disappeared, and the top of the tree moved slightly, as if a soft evening breeze had stirred the leaves.
Krokus stood for some time rooted to the ground, enraptured with the heavenly form which had appeared to him. So tender a being, of such slender figure and noble bearing, he had never seen amongst the short-waisted lasses of Sclavonia. At length he stretched himself upon the downy moss, yet sleep did not visit his eyes. The rising sun still found him in the giddiness of sweet emotions, which were as strange and new to him as the first rays of light to the newly opened eyes of the blind-born. Early in the morning he hastened to the ducal abode, asked for his discharge, packed up his arms and military trappings, and marched, with his head full of ardent fancies and his back of luggage, with rapid steps towards his sylvan hermitage.
In the meantime an artificer belonging to his people, and by trade a miller, had, during his absence, chosen the trunk of his oak, which was healthy and straight, for an axle-tree to the wheel of his mill, and had gone with his men to