Ione and the Prince of Greece
Long ago, there lived a prince in Greece who was known for his kindness. Despite his good nature, he chose not to marry, rejecting all the princesses proposed to him. This decision alarmed the queen, who longed for a lovely daughter-in-law to grace the palace. After much contemplation, she concluded that her son might be inclined to marry a poor girl instead.
Across from the palace lived a poor peasant with three daughters. The queen summoned the eldest and asked, “My dear girl, I wonder if my son might wish to marry you. Please, go and speak with him.”
Ione’s Encounter
The maiden went to the prince’s room and sat quietly in a corner. The prince entered and began writing, completely engrossed in his task. Unbeknownst to him, the girl eventually dozed off in her corner.
When the queen arrived and woke her, she inquired, “What happened? Did my son speak with you?” The girl stared blankly at the queen, who then angrily sent her away. Next, the queen called for the second daughter to approach the prince, but she too returned with no success. Finally, the youngest daughter, Ione, was sent to the prince.
The Enchantment of Words
Upon entering the room, Ione took a seat, waiting eagerly for the prince to acknowledge her. But he remained lost in his writings. Expressing her frustration to a nightingale in a cage, she lamented, “Nightingale, Nightingale, no one speaks to me!” The nightingale remained silent. Then, turning to the burning candle, she asked, “Oh Candle, why don’t you speak?”
The prince, still focused on his work, replied with irritation, “Oh Candle, say what you will.” With that, he exited the room, leaving Ione to drift off to sleep shortly thereafter.
The Queen’s Delight
When questioned by the queen, Ione claimed, “Oh, the prince and I talked long into the night.” Delighted, the queen presumed that her son had developed feelings for Ione. That evening, Ione stood on the royal terrace, waiting for the prince while her sisters called from their window, “Ione, aren’t you coming home?”
<p“No,” replied Ione. “The queen has asked me to stay here tonight.” When her sisters inquired if she had spoken to the prince, she exclaimed, “I have talked a lot!” This declaration fueled their jealousy.
The Necklace Scheme
Determined to expose Ione’s supposed deceit, her sisters bought a pearl necklace and urged her, “Ask your prince if he will buy you one like this!” That night, the prince entered the room as usual. Ione seized the opportunity, saying, “Oh Candle, my sisters have bought a necklace. Can I have one like that?”
The prince, still absorbed in his writing, replied, “Oh Candle, the key to the almirah is hanging on the wall. Open it and ask what you wish.” Ione hurried to the almirah, opening it to reveal a handful of golden coins.
A Dinner Invitation
Overjoyed, the queen learned of the prince’s generous gift to Ione for the necklace. Eagerly, Ione asked her sisters to buy her one as well, claiming the prince had provided the funds. Seething with envy, her sisters slyly remarked, “Sister, so you are marrying the prince! Then invite us for dinner; we want to talk to your husband.” Ione, pretending to agree, sent them away.
That night, as Ione wept in the corner of the prince’s room, she confided to the candle, “My sisters want to come to the palace and dine with the prince, but how can I? I am just a slave. What shall I do?”
The Secret Passage
The prince, focused on his writing, simply instructed, “Oh Candle! Make preparations for dinner.” The following morning, Ione shared with the queen that the prince had approved the dinner invitation. Delighted, Ione extended invitations to her sisters.
When her sisters arrived, they discovered a table stacked with delectable food, yet the prince was nowhere to be found. Ione explained that he had gone hunting. Suddenly, a guard arrived to inform her that the prince wished to speak with her.
The Mermaid’s Secret
Planned by Ione to escape her sisters’ scheming, she searched the palace but found him missing. Eventually, she stumbled upon an underground chamber with a tunnel leading outside. Emerging into the garden, she soon arrived at the seashore and spotted the prince lying on the sand beside a mermaid and a beautiful child. Realizing they were in rags, Ione rushed back to the queen.
<p“I need to bring the prince some clothes, a silver comb, and silk pillows for the couple and their child,” Ione requested. Without hesitation, the queen provided what she needed.
The Prince’s Return
Ione informed her sisters that the prince would be delayed returning from his adventure and urged them to continue with dinner. Although the sisters were suspicious, they dared not question the queen.
Meanwhile, Ione returned to the seashore, combed the prince’s hair, and clothed him in dry garments as she waited for his return. Soon, the mermaid awoke and noticed the prince had been tended to. Enraged, she confronted him, “You love another woman! I can no longer stay with you!”
With that, she leaped into the sea with her child, disappearing from sight.
A Happy Ending
Bewildered, the prince rubbed his eyes, uncertain if he was awake or dreaming. When he returned to the palace, he found Ione weeping quietly. He took her hand gently and said, “Ione, please don’t cry. Today, you saved me from that enchantress. You released me from her spell.”
He revealed how a long time ago, he had been bewitched by the mermaid and had been searching for a maiden with an unselfish love to restore him. “You are that woman, and I wish to marry you—if you desire it.”
Overwhelmed with joy, Ione could scarcely believe her good fortune. Thus, she married her prince and they lived happily ever after. As for her sisters, that is another tale entirely.
What Causes Fairy Rings?
In meadows and fields, one sometimes observes a circle of discolored or worn grass. These rings are caused by a fungus growing beneath the ground. Its spores spread in such a manner that forms a circle. The fungus feeds on the roots of the grass, leading to the rings, often referred to as fairy rings.