Soon after this, a great festival three days long was to be held at the king's court,
and the whole country was invited to it. 

"Now will I try my last chance", thought the maiden,
and when evening came she went to the stone under which she had buried her treasures.

She took out the dress with the golden suns, put it on, and adorned herself with the jewels.
She let down her hair, which she had concealed under a handkerchief,
and it fell down in long curls about her,
and thus she went into the town, and in the darkness was observed by no one. 

When she entered the brightly lighted hall,
every one started back in amazement,
but no one knew who she was. 

The king's son went to meet her, but he did not recognize her.
He led her out to dance, and was so enchanted with her beauty,
that he thought no more of the other bride. 

When the feast was over, she vanished in the crowd,
and hastened before daybreak to the village,
where she once more put on her herd's dress. 

Next evening she took out the dress with the silver moons,
and put a half-moon made of precious stones in her hair.

When she appeared at the festival, all eyes were turned upon her,
but the king's son hastened to meet her,
 and filled with love for her, danced with her alone,
 and no longer so much as glanced at anyone else. 

Before she went away she was forced to promise him to come again to the festival on the last evening.

When she appeared for the third time,
she wore the star-dress which sparkled at every step she took,
and her hair-ribbon and girdle were starred with jewels. 

The prince had already been waiting for her for a long time, and forced his way up to her. 
"Do but tell who you are", said he, "I feel just as if I had already known you a long time."

"Do you not know what I did when you left me." 
Then she stepped up to him, and kissed him on his left cheek,
and in a moment it was as if scales fell from his eyes,
and he recognized the true bride. 

"Come", said he to her, "Here I stay no longer", gave her his hamd, and led her down to the carriage.

The horses hurried away to the magic castle as if the wind had been harnessed to the carriage.
The illuminated windows already shone in the distance.

When they drove past the lime-tree, countless glow-worms were swarming about it.
It shook its branches, and sent forth their fragrance. 

On the steps flowers were blooming, and the room echoed with the song of strange birds,
but in the hall the entire court was assembled, 
and the priest was waiting to marry the bridegroom and the true bride.

The End