Andersen’s Fairy Tales

Hans Christian Andersen, 1835

There was once a poor Prince, who had a kingdom. His kingdom was very small, but still quite large enough to marry upon; and he wished to marry.

It was certainly rather cool of him to say to the Emperor’s daughter, ‘Will you have me?’ But so he did; for his name was renowned far and wide; and there were a hundred princesses who would have answered, ‘Yes!’ and ‘Thank you kindly.’ We shall see what this princess said.

Listen!

It happened that where the Prince’s father lay buried, there grew a rose tree—a most beautiful rose tree, which blossomed only once in every five years, and even then bore only one flower, but that was a rose! It smelt so sweet that all cares and sorrows were forgotten by him who inhaled its fragrance.