The Frog Prince
Once upon a time, in a time when people's wishes almost always came true, there lived a king and his beautiful daughter. She was so charming and loving that the king could refuse her nothing.
— Father, I'm tired of playing with my old toys. I want a new toy.
— Oh, my dear, you are so sweet. I will give you the most precious toy my grandfather gave me when I was a child.
The king opened the chest and took out a shining golden ball.
— Wow!
— Take this ball. It will shine as brightly as the sun in the sky. But be careful, it is very precious. Never lose it.
— Thank you, Father! You are the best father in the world!
Meeting the Frog
The princess went to play in the garden. She threw the ball and ran after it. Suddenly, an ugly frog appeared.
— Ugh! Go away from here, dirty frog!
— I saw you from the bushes and was amazed by your beauty. Will you let me be your friend so we can play together?
— Ugh! How could you even think of such a thing? I don't play with an ugly, warty frog like you. I am the most beautiful girl in the world! How could I play with something so dirty?
— I know how to hop! I know how to jump! I even know how to swim and catch your ball! I am the perfect playmate.
— I'd rather play alone than with a dirty frog.
The Golden Ball in the Well
Disgusted, the princess went back into the castle to escape the frog.
The next day, she went out again to play with her ball. She stopped in a more secluded spot, under a linden tree next to a well.
— How quiet and beautiful this place is! That frog won't find me here.
She began to play with the ball. She threw it and caught it every time, and the ball shone so brightly in the sunlight that she couldn't look at it. Instead of falling back into her hands, it rolled down, near the edge of the well, and then into the well.
The Princess's Promise
— Oh, no! My golden ball! Woe is me! It's so deep! I can't even see the ball in this well anymore.
At one point, she began to cry bitterly. As she sobbed, she heard a voice.
— What troubles you, daughter of the king? Your tears would melt even a heart of ice.
She looked up to see where the voice was coming from.
— Ah! Is that you, ugly frog? I'm crying because my golden ball fell into the well.
— It's nothing. I'll help you. But what will you give me in return if I get the ball out of the well?
— Anything you want, dear frog! Any of my clothes, my pearls and jewels, or even my golden crown!
— Your clothes, pearls, and jewels, even your golden crown are of no use to me. But if we were to become friends and play together, and you would let me sit with you at the table, eat from the same plate, drink from the same glass, sleep in your little bed, if you can promise me all these things, then I will jump into the well and bring you back your golden ball.
The Frog Retrieves the Ball
The princess didn't like the ugly frog's long list of wishes. But, to get her golden ball back, she decided to be patient with the frog.
— Alright! I promise to give you anything you want, only if you bring my ball back.
As soon as he heard her promise, the frog jumped into the well.
After a while, he returned to the surface with the ball in his mouth and dropped it onto the grass. The princess was overjoyed to see her beautiful ball again, picked it up, and ran away with it.
— Stop! Stop! Take me with you! I can't run as fast as you!
But the girl did not stop.
The Frog at the Door
The next day, as the princess sat at the table with the king, eating from her golden plate, someone knocked at the door.
— Oh, Princess! Let me in!
The princess got up and ran to see who it was. But when she opened the door, she saw a little frog waiting.
— Dirty creature! How dare you appear at my door?
She quickly closed the door and returned to the table very upset. The king immediately noticed how agitated she was.
— My child, why are you afraid? Is there some giant at the door ready to kidnap you?
— Oh, no, Father! It's a horrible frog!
— And what does the frog want?
— Oh, Father, yesterday, when I was playing near the well, my golden ball fell into the water. And the frog came and got it out on the condition that I let him be my friend. And I promised him, but I didn't think he could come out of the water and follow me. But now he's at the door and wants to come in!
The King Insists She Keep Her Promise
— Daughter of the king, open for me! You made a promise!
— A promise made must be kept. Open the door and invite him in.
The girl opened the door and the frog hopped inside, following her all the way to her chair.
— Thank you, Princess! Now lift me up beside you!
The princess gave him an angry look, but saw her father's unyielding face and lifted him up.
— There! Now we can eat together!
The Frog at the Table and in Bed
The princess ate without appetite, but the frog feasted to his heart's content.
— Give me some more soup, please! It's delicious! I've never eaten anything so good!
The frog emptied the bowl of soup, but the princess felt as if the food was stuck in her throat.
— Thank you, Princess! Now I am tired. You go to your room, prepare the bed, and then we will sleep together.
— Enough! You'd better leave right now, you ugly creature!
— My dear girl, these words are not fitting for the daughter of the king. You made a promise to the frog, and now you must keep it. Once someone from the royal family gives their word, they cannot change it. It is our ancient tradition that we must follow.
The Frog's Transformation
She grabbed the frog with two fingers, carried him to her room, and put him in a corner.
— You'd better stay here all night, otherwise I'll throw you into the dark forest tomorrow!
— I am very tired and I want to sleep as well as you do. If you don't take me into bed, I will tell the king!
— Horrible frog!
She took him in her hand and slammed him with all her might against the wall. But as he fell, the frog died.
— Come back to life, you unyielding frog! Stop pretending!
The princess poked him with her finger, but the frog was truly dead.
— Did I really die? Woe is me! What have I done? Frog, please, wake up! I am so sorry for how I behaved!
She picked him up from the floor, continuing to cry. She gently kissed the frog. Then, as if by magic, the frog opened his eyes and jumped onto the floor.
— Ha!
And suddenly he was no longer a frog. He transformed into a handsome prince with charming eyes.
The Prince's Story
— Woe is me! Who are you? And where is the little frog?
— Don't worry. I am that frog who transformed into a prince. I will tell you the whole story.
When I was a man, I was cunning and arrogant. Once, I was hunting wild animals in the forest.
Suddenly, a forest fairy appeared before me.
— Heartless man! These animals are not your toys. They are living beings just like you. God created this wonderful nature, and you destroy it. How have they wronged you?
— How dare you speak to me like that? Don't you know me? I am the prince of this kingdom and this forest belongs to me. Every tree, every animal, and everything on this earth belongs to me.
— Ignorant prince! Nature belongs to God. The Creator of the universe is God, not you. You have no right to kill innocent animals.
— Enough, madam! Get out of my way!
Suddenly, the fairy transformed into a giant, very tall woman. The prince was scared.
— Arrogant man! I curse you to turn into a frog. Now the snakes in the forest will hunt you to eat you, just as you hunted the poor deer.
The Curse and the Lesson Learned
Immediately, the prince transformed into a frog.
— Oh! What have you done to me? I beg you, forest fairy! Please, forgive me! I promise I will never harm Mother Nature again! I will be a very gentle being! I promise! Please, forgive me!
— I think you've realized your mistake. But you will not escape unpunished for it. I will cast another spell.
— Yes, please, fairy! I will prove to you that I have changed!
— You will have to find a princess who disregards poor animals and convince her to treat you kindly. If you manage to change her nature, only then will you become a prince again.
A New Life
The princess felt ashamed of how she had behaved.
— Don't be sad, beautiful princess. You must promise me that you will never treat anyone so badly again and that you will be kind to everyone.
— Yes, Prince, I will!
— Oh, it's wonderful that you've decided to remain kind-hearted. May I still ask you something?
— Of course, anything you wish!
— You are the most beautiful girl I have ever known. I am in love with you. Will you marry me, Princess?
Without hesitation, the beautiful princess accepted the prince's proposal.
With the king's blessing, they married. Every day the two fed the animals and made sure to protect nature. The forest fairy saw their kindness and rejoiced greatly.
— Bravo, my children! You have shown that you are divine beings. Divinity is found in every human, but those who awaken this side within them become divine beings. May God bless you both forever.
The prince and princess lived happily ever after.
The moral of this story is that inner beauty and kindness are more important than outward appearances. Respect for nature and all living beings brings happiness and fulfillment.
