The maid insolently replied that she might get the water
for herself, as she did not intend to serve her any longer. The
Princess was so thirsty that she dismounted and drank from the stream.
As she bent over to place her lips to the water, she said to herself,
"O, Heaven! what am I to do?" The three drops of blood upon the
handkerchief made answer:
"If she knew this, for thy sake
Thy queen-mother's heart would break."
When the Princess had slaked her thirst, she mounted her horse and
resumed her journey, and being gentle and forgiving, she soon forgot
the maid's rudeness. The sun shone on them fiercely, and the road was
filled with dust, so that they had not gone far before the Princess
again became thirsty. When they came to a brook, she called to the
maid:
"Pray fetch me a drink in my golden cup."
The maid's answer was even more insolent than before. "If you are
thirsty, get down and drink. I do not mean to serve you any longer."
The Princess's throat was parched, so she dismounted and drank from
the stream, at the same time murmuring, "O, Heaven! what am I to do?"
The three drops of blood again replied:
"If she knew this, for thy sake
Thy queen-mother's heart would break.
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