More Tales in the Land of Nursery Rhyme | Page 8

your mission
speedily."
"Gracious lady," said Sir Richard Byrde, "the King of a far kingdom
has sent me to beg that you will come back with me and smile on his
back-yard that it may become a garden--even as when you smiled on
my poor maid it grew and blossomed."
"Oh, stranger," answered the Princess, "go home and tell your master
that I will never come to him, unless he comes over the sea to fetch me
himself. Come forth now and pluck the flower that sprang from your
seed, and give it to your master in token that I speak truth."
So Sir Richard Byrde came forth from the arbour to pluck the flower,
and he, too, was dazzled by the golden glory of the Princess.
Kneeling, he kissed her hand.
"Pluck your flower and go," she said, "and if your master will fetch me
himself, I will come."
So Sir Richard Byrde plucked the flower and flew away the way he had
come. But when he stopped to look at the flower he had plucked, he
found it was only an ordinary sunflower.
The King was waiting on the steps of the back-yard, watching a dozen
gardeners trying to rear the Canterbury bell with patent foods. When he
saw Sir Richard Byrde approaching he called out:
"Have you brought her?"

"No, your Majesty," said the Knight, "but she sent you this flower in
token that if you, yourself, will go across the sea to fetch her, she will
come--and, oh, your Majesty, she is more beautiful than day, and her
garden is Paradise itself!"
"Don't waste time talking," said the King. "You know quite well I have
never fetched anything myself in my life. In fact, I have never done any
thing myself. That is one of the privileges of being a King."
"Well, but your Majesty will never have a garden without her,"
murmured Sir Richard Byrde humbly, looking round the back-yard,
and thinking of the Princess's lovely garden.
The back-yard certainly did look very dismal. A dozen more gardeners
were already at work trying to plant the sunflower, but they had put it
in upside down. Scraps of old iron, once patent rakes, hoes, or
watering-cans, were scattered about. The smell of the patent soils and
weed-killers was positively horrible. The Canterbury bell drooped
helplessly in one corner.
The King sighed.
"Well, I must have a garden," he said. "So I will put an end to all this,
and go and fetch the Princess myself. After all, I shall only have to
bring her here--and then what a difference there will be!"
So without wasting another minute the King himself climbed the castle
wall, and plunged headlong into the sea.
He had swum a dozen yards or so when it suddenly occurred to him
that he might swim and swim, and never find the Princess Mary
Radiant.
"I wish I knew the way," he cried, catching hold of a cockle-shell that
was lying on one of the upstanding rocks.
Then to him, as to the two Knights, appeared the old man. "Swim over
rocks and through water 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." Then the King
swam on over rocks and through water, for seven times seven leagues;
and there, just as the old man had said, was 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 swim 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 through the sea doth swim, Must bring a cockle-shell with
him.'
Well, here it is," said the King. "So I will just walk in."
This time the old man did not appear, and the King walked straight into
the garden, holding the shell in his hand.
"Ah-h-h, this is the garden I should like to have, perhaps the Princess
could have it transplanted to my palace," said the King. "What a
number of gardeners they must employ here!"
"No, only myself," said a soft voice behind him, "a few Bees, a few
Byrdes and the nymphs Wynde and Worta."
The King turned, but could see no one, though he thought he caught a
glimpse of a gold skirt among the bushes.
He threw down the shell by the path, and running forward, cried--"Oh
Princess, come with me to my back-yard, and make