--- title: The Marsh King's Daughter, part 4 — Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen · full text with trees description: The Marsh King's Daughter, part 4, «Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen» by H. C. Andersen: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: And the horse galloped on more wildly than before. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [tales](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/) / [Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/) / The Marsh King's Daughter, part 4 # The Marsh King's Daughter, part 4 The Marsh King's Daughter, part 4 of «Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen» by H. C. Andersen: the whole text, 94 sentences and 2545 words. Every sentence has its own page with its syntax tree and pragmatics, parsed by Mova itself. - [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/1/) — And the horse galloped on more wildly than before. - [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/2/) — The sky painted itself red, the first sunbeam pierced through the clouds, and in the clear flood of sunlight the frog became changed. - [3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/3/) — It was Helga again, young and beautiful, but with a wicked demoniac spirit. - [4](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/4/) — He held now a beautiful young woman in his arms, and he was horrified at the sight. - [5](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/5/) — He stopped the horse, and sprang from its back. - [6](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/6/) — He imagined that some new sorcery was at work. - [7](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/7/) — But Helga also leaped from the horse and stood on the ground. - [8](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/8/) — The child's short garment reached only to her knee. - [9](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/9/) — She snatched the sharp knife from her girdle, and rushed like lightning at the astonished priest. " - [10](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/10/) — Let me get at thee!" she cried; "let me get at thee, that I may plunge this knife into thy body. - [11](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/11/) — Thou art pale as ashes, thou beardless slave." - [12](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/12/) — She pressed in upon him. - [13](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/13/) — They struggled with each other in heavy combat, but it was as if an invisible power had been given to the Christian in the struggle. - [14](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/14/) — He held her fast, and the old oak under which they stood seemed to help him, for the loosened roots on the ground became entangled in the maiden's feet, and held them fast. - [15](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/15/) — Close by rose a bubbling spring, and he sprinkled Helga's face and neck with the water, commanded the unclean spirit to come forth, and pronounced upon her a Christian blessing. - [16](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/16/) — But the water of faith has no power unless the well-spring of faith flows within. - [17](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/17/) — And yet even here its power was shown; something more than the mere strength of a man opposed itself, through his means, against the evil which struggled within her. - [18](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/18/) — His holy action seemed to overpower her. - [19](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/19/) — She dropped her arms, glanced at him with pale cheeks and looks of amazement. - [20](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/20/) — He appeared to her a mighty magician skilled in secret arts; his language was the darkest magic to her, and the movements of his hands in the air were as the secret signs of a magician's wand. - [21](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/21/) — She would not have blinked had he waved over her head a sharp knife or a glittering axe; but she shrunk from him as he signed her with the sign of the cross on her forehead and breast, and sat before him like a tame bird, with her head bowed down. - [22](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/22/) — Then he spoke to her, in gentle words, of the deed of love she had performed for him during the night, when she had come to him in the form of an ugly frog, to loosen his bonds, and to lead him forth to life and light; and he told her that she was bound in closer fetters than he had been, and that she could recover also life and light by his means. - [23](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/23/) — He would take her to Hedeby to St. Ansgarius, and there, in that Christian town, the spell of the sorcerer would be removed. - [24](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/24/) — But he would not let her sit before him on the horse, though of her own free will she wished to do so. " - [25](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/25/) — Thou must sit behind me, not before me," said he. " - [26](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/26/) — Thy magic beauty has a magic power which comes from an evil origin, and I fear it; still I am sure to overcome through my faith in Christ." - [27](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/27/) — Then he knelt down, and prayed with pious fervor. - [28](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/28/) — It was as if the quiet woodland were a holy church consecrated by his worship. - [29](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/29/) — The birds sang as if they were also of this new congregation; and the fragrance of the wild flowers was as the ambrosial perfume of incense; while, above all, sounded the words of Scripture, "A light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide their feet into the way of peace." - [30](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/30/) — And he spoke these words with the deep longing of his whole nature. - [31](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/31/) — Meanwhile, the horse that had carried them in wild career stood quietly by, plucking at the tall bramble-bushes, till the ripe young berries fell down upon Helga's hands, as if inviting her to eat. - [32](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/32/) — Patiently she allowed herself to be lifted on the horse, and sat there like a somnambulist--as one who walked in his sleep. - [33](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/33/) — The Christian bound two branches together with bark, in the form of a cross, and held it on high as they rode through the forest. - [34](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/34/) — The way gradually grew thicker of brushwood, as they rode along, till at last it became a trackless wilderness. - [35](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/35/) — Bushes of the wild sloe here and there blocked up the path, so that they had to ride over them. - [36](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/36/) — The bubbling spring formed not a stream, but a marsh, round which also they were obliged to guide the horse; still there were strength and refreshment in the cool forest breeze, and no trifling power in the gentle words spoken in faith and Christian love by the young priest, whose inmost heart yearned to lead this poor lost one into the way of light and life. - [37](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/37/) — It is said that rain-drops can make a hollow in the hardest stone, and the waves of the sea can smooth and round the rough edges of the rocks; so did the dew of mercy fall upon Helga, softening what was hard, and smoothing what was rough in her character. - [38](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/38/) — These effects did not yet appear; she was not herself aware of them; neither does the seed in the lap of earth know, when the refreshing dew and the warm sunbeams fall upon it, that it contains within itself power by which it will flourish and bloom. - [39](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/39/) — The song of the mother sinks into the heart of the child, and the little one prattles the words after her, without understanding their meaning; but after a time the thoughts expand, and what has been heard in childhood seems to the mind clear and bright. - [40](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/40/) — So now the "Word," which is all-powerful to create, was working in the heart of Helga. - [41](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/41/) — They rode forth from the thick forest, crossed the heath, and again entered a pathless wood. - [42](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/42/) — Here, towards evening, they met with robbers. - [43](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/43/) — "Where hast thou stolen that beauteous maiden?" cried the robbers, seizing the horse by the bridle, and dragging the two riders from its back. - [44](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/44/) — The priest had nothing to defend himself with, but the knife he had taken from Helga, and with this he struck out right and left. - [45](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/45/) — One of the robbers raised his axe against him; but the young priest sprang on one side, and avoided the blow, which fell with great force on the horse's neck, so that the blood gushed forth, and the animal sunk to the ground. - [46](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/46/) — Then Helga seemed suddenly to awake from her long, deep reverie; she threw herself hastily upon the dying animal. - [47](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/47/) — The priest placed himself before her, to defend and shelter her; but one of the robbers swung his iron axe against the Christian's head with such force that it was dashed to pieces, the blood and brains were scattered about, and he fell dead upon the ground. - [48](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/48/) — Then the robbers seized beautiful Helga by her white arms and slender waist; but at that moment the sun went down, and as its last ray disappeared, she was changed into the form of a frog. - [49](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/49/) — A greenish white mouth spread half over her face; her arms became thin and slimy; while broad hands, with webbed fingers, spread themselves out like fans. - [50](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/50/) — Then the robbers, in terror, let her go, and she stood among them, a hideous monster; and as is the nature of frogs to do, she hopped up as high as her own size, and disappeared in the thicket. - [51](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/51/) — Then the robbers knew that this must be the work of an evil spirit or some secret sorcery, and, in a terrible fright, they ran hastily from the spot. - [52](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/52/) — The full moon had already risen, and was shining in all her radiant splendor over the earth, when from the thicket, in the form of a frog, crept poor Helga. - [53](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/53/) — She stood still by the corpse of the Christian priest, and the carcase of the dead horse. - [54](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/54/) — She looked at them with eyes that seemed to weep, and from the frog's head came forth a croaking sound, as when a child bursts into tears. - [55](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/55/) — She threw herself first upon one, and then upon the other; brought water in her hand, which, from being webbed, was large and hollow, and poured it over them; but they were dead, and dead they would remain. - [56](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/56/) — She understood that at last. - [57](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/57/) — Soon wild animals would come and tear their dead bodies; but no, that must not happen. - [58](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/58/) — Then she dug up the earth, as deep as she was able, that she might prepare a grave for them. - [59](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/59/) — She had nothing but a branch of a tree and her two hands, between the fingers of which the webbed skin stretched, and they were torn by the work, while the blood ran down her hands. - [60](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/60/) — She saw at last that her work would be useless, more than she could accomplish; so she fetched more water, and washed the face of the dead, and then covered it with fresh green leaves; she also brought large boughs and spread over him, and scattered dried leaves between the branches. - [61](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/61/) — Then she brought the heaviest stones that she could carry, and laid them over the dead body, filling up the crevices with moss, till she thought she had fenced in his resting-place strongly enough. - [62](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/62/) — The difficult task had employed her the whole night; and as the sun broke forth, there stood the beautiful Helga in all her loveliness, with her bleeding hands, and, for the first time, with tears on her maiden cheeks. - [63](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/63/) — It was, in this transformation, as if two natures were striving together within her; her whole frame trembled, and she looked around her as if she had just awoke from a painful dream. - [64](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/64/) — She leaned for support against the trunk of a slender tree, and at last climbed to the topmost branches, like a cat, and seated herself firmly upon them. - [65](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/65/) — She remained there the whole day, sitting alone, like a frightened squirrel, in the silent solitude of the wood, where the rest and stillness is as the calm of death. - [66](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/66/) — Butterflies fluttered around her, and close by were several ant-hills, each with its hundreds of busy little creatures moving quickly to and fro. - [67](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/67/) — In the air, danced myriads of gnats, swarm upon swarm, troops of buzzing flies, ladybirds, dragon-flies with golden wings, and other little winged creatures. - [68](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/68/) — The worm crawled forth from the moist ground, and the moles crept out; but, excepting these, all around had the stillness of death: but when people say this, they do not quite understand themselves what they mean. - [69](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/69/) — None noticed Helga but a flock of magpies, which flew chattering round the top of the tree on which she sat. These birds hopped close to her on the branches with bold curiosity. - [70](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/70/) — A glance from her eyes was a signal to frighten them away, and they were not clever enough to find out who she was; indeed she hardly knew herself. - [71](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/71/) — When the sun was near setting, and the evening's twilight about to commence, the approaching transformation aroused her to fresh exertion. - [72](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/72/) — She let herself down gently from the tree, and, as the last sunbeam vanished, she stood again in the wrinkled form of a frog, with the torn, webbed skin on her hands, but her eyes now gleamed with more radiant beauty than they had ever possessed in her most beautiful form of loveliness; they were now pure, mild maidenly eyes that shone forth in the face of a frog. - [73](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/73/) — They showed the existence of deep feeling and a human heart, and the beauteous eyes overflowed with tears, weeping precious drops that lightened the heart. - [74](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/74/) — On the raised mound which she had made as a grave for the dead priest, she found the cross made of the branches of a tree, the last work of him who now lay dead and cold beneath it. - [75](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/75/) — A sudden thought came to Helga, and she lifted up the cross and planted it upon the grave, between the stones that covered him and the dead horse. - [76](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/76/) — The sad recollection brought the tears to her eyes, and in this gentle spirit she traced the same sign in the sand round the grave; and as she formed, with both her hands, the sign of the cross, the web skin fell from them like a torn glove. - [77](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/77/) — She washed her hands in the water of the spring, and gazed with astonishment at their delicate whiteness. - [78](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/78/) — Again she made the holy sign in the air, between herself and the dead man; her lips trembled, her tongue moved, and the name which she in her ride through the forest had so often heard spoken, rose to her lips, and she uttered the words, "Jesus Christ." - [79](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/79/) — Then the frog skin fell from her; she was once more a lovely maiden. - [80](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/80/) — Her head bent wearily, her tired limbs required rest, and then she slept. - [81](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/81/) — Her sleep, however, was short. - [82](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/82/) — Towards midnight, she awoke; before her stood the dead horse, prancing and full of life, which shone forth from his eyes and from his wounded neck. - [83](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/83/) — Close by his side appeared the murdered Christian priest, more beautiful than Baldur, as the Viking's wife had said; but now he came as if in a flame of fire. - [84](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/84/) — Such gravity, such stern justice, such a piercing glance shone from his large, gentle eyes, that it seemed to penetrate into every corner of her heart. - [85](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/85/) — Beautiful Helga trembled at the look, and her memory returned with a power as if it had been the day of judgment. - [86](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/86/) — Every good deed that had been done for her, every loving word that had been said, were vividly before her mind. - [87](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/87/) — She understood now that love had kept her here during the day of her trial; while the creature formed of dust and clay, soul and spirit, had wrestled and struggled with evil. - [88](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/88/) — She acknowledged that she had only followed the impulses of an evil disposition, that she had done nothing to cure herself; everything had been given her, and all had happened as it were by the ordination of Providence. - [89](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/89/) — She bowed herself humbly, confessed her great imperfections in the sight of Him who can read every fault of the heart, and then the priest spoke. " - [90](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/90/) — Daughter of the moorland, thou hast come from the swamp and the marshy earth, but from this thou shalt arise. - [91](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/91/) — The sunlight shining into thy inmost soul proves the origin from which thou hast really sprung, and has restored the body to its natural form. - [92](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/92/) — I am come to thee from the land of the dead, and thou also must pass through the valley to reach the holy mountains where mercy and perfection dwell. - [93](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/93/) — I cannot lead thee to Hedeby that thou mayst receive Christian baptism, for first thou must remove the thick veil with which the waters of the moorland are shrouded, and bring forth from its depths the living author of thy being and thy life. - [94](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/86/94/) — Till this is done, thou canst not receive consecration." - ← previous: [The Marsh King's Daughter, part 3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/85/) - next →: [The Marsh King's Daughter, part 5](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/87/) - ↑ back to [Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/)