He stood by it and said:
"Flounder, flounder in the sea,
Prythee, hearken unto me:
My wife, Ilsebil, will have her own way
Whatever I wish, whatever I say."
"Now, what do you want?" said the flounder.
"Alas," said the man, half scared, "my wife wants a big stone castle."
"Go home again," said the flounder; "she is standing at the door of
it."
Then the man went away, thinking he would find no house, but when he
got back he found a great stone palace, and his wife standing at the
top of the steps, waiting to go in.
She took him by the hand and said, "Come in with me."
With that they went in and found a great hall paved with marble slabs,
and numbers of servants in attendance, who opened the great doors for
them. The walls were hung with beautiful tapestries, and the rooms
were furnished with golden chairs and tables, while rich carpets
covered the floors, and crystal chandeliers hung from the ceilings.
The tables groaned under every kind of delicate food and the most
costly wines. Outside the house there was a great courtyard, with
stabling for horses, and cows, and many fine carriages. Beyond this
there was a great garden filled with the loveliest flowers, and fine
fruit trees.
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