More Tales in the Land of Nursery Rhyme | Page 7

Hunny
Bee approached. It looked drearier than ever. Half a dozen gardeners
were watering a muddy-looking stone with patent water, while the
King looked on. When he saw Sir Hunny Bee he said:
"Have you brought her?"
"No, your Majesty," said the Knight, "but she sent you this flower, in
token that if you will send her another messenger through the air, she
will come. Oh, your Majesty, she is more beautiful than day, and her
garden is Paradise itself!"
"Don't waste time talking," said the King. "Send Sir Richard Byrde. He
learnt to fly long ago. He can fetch her through the air. Have a garden I
must and will. This Canterbury bell shall be planted immediately." So
the half-dozen gardeners were straightway sent off to plant it.

Meanwhile Sir Richard Byrde had arrived at the palace, having been
sent for by an express messenger. He looked splendid in a knightly
garb of russet brown.
"What is your will, your Majesty?" said he, bowing low before the
King.
"Fly through the air and fetch me the Princess Mary Radiant," said the
King. "For if she will smile on my back-yard, it will be turned into a
garden."
Sir Richard Byrde bowed low before the King.
"I go," he said . . . and went.
He had not flown many leagues from the palace when he began to
realise that he might fly and fly, and never find the Princess Mary
Radiant.
"I wish I knew the way," he cried.
Then to him as to Sir Hunny Bee appeared the little old man.
"Fly over cloud and through air for seven times seven leagues," said he,
"till you come to a large gate-post on which is hung a sign-board.
Follow the directions on the sign-board, and all will be well. By the
way, you had better take this parcel with you, and open it when you
reach the gate-post," and flinging a little parcel on the ground, the little
old man disappeared. Sir Richard Byrde picked up the parcel, which
was smaller than the smallest seed, and flew on over cloud and through
air for seven times seven leagues. There, just as the old man had said,
was the gate-post and the sign-board. He, too, read the directions:--
THE GARDEN OF THE PRINCESS MARY RADIANT
No man shall be admitted here, Till he a fine doth pay. And he that will
not pay the fine, From hence must fly away.
By him that rides here over land, A silver bell is paid. He that flies

hither through the air, Must bring a dark-faced maid. While he that
through the sea doth swim, Must bring a cockle-shell with him. By
order, M. R.
"'He that flies hither through the air, Must bring a dark-faced maid,'
but I have not one!" he cried. Then he remembered the old man's parcel.
He opened it and found inside a little egg-shaped doll with a brown
face. He paid this dark-faced maid to the little old man, who had
suddenly appeared from nowhere, and who, putting the maid into his
hat, led the Knight into the garden.
As the garden had appeared to Sir Hunny Bee, so did it now appear to
Sir Richard Byrde. The grass like emeralds, the pearl-lined paths, the
flashing fountains, the gorgeous fruits, the curtseying maids, the
singing birds, and the scented flowers.
As Sir Hunny Bee had been led to the arbour behind which the Princess
was to pass, even so was he.
He, too, asked if there were not a great many gardeners, and was told
that the Princess did it all herself with a few of the Bees, a few Byrdes
(cousins of yours by the way), and the nymphs Wynde and Worta.
He, too, heard the soft footsteps approaching, and heard the gentle
voice say, "Not to-day";--and then he, too, saw the colours fade and the
fountains cease to play, and the birds to sing as the Princess passed on
behind the arbour.
He, too, waited for seven days, and on the seventh, he, too, cried out:
"Most gracious Princess, for seven times seven leagues have I flown
over clouds and through air to seek you; and I have waited here for you
for seven days; oh, grant me permission to tell my quest," and the
gentle voice said:
"Have you paid your fine, most bold stranger?"

"Yes," said Sir Richard Byrde.
"Throw it from the arbour that I may see it," said the Princess.
So the old man took the maid from out of his hat and threw it on to a
bed near, and it grew and grew till it was a fair maid, fairer than all the
others, and curtseying deeper than any of them.
"The Princess smiles on it," said the old man, "tell her