Quote from "The Wild Swans" (1838)

Registered motifs in this quote

At sundown, his splendid city with all its towers and domes lay before them. The King led her into his palace, where great fountains played in the high marble halls, and where both walls and ceilings were adorned with paintings. But she took no notice of any of these things. She could only weep and grieve. Indifferently, she let the women dress her in royal garments, weave strings of pearls in her hair, and draw soft gloves over her blistered fingers.

She was so dazzlingly beautiful in all this splendor that the whole court bowed even deeper than before. And the King chose her for his bride, although the archbishop shook his head and whispered that this lovely maid of the woods must be a witch, who had blinded their eyes and stolen the King's heart.

Registered motifs in this quote:

  1. Church
  2. Priest
  3. Witch

Keywords: Beauty, woman, love

Comment: It is peculiar, how beautiful the good Elisa is. Andersen often tells us that true beauty comes from within, and that you cannot judge by the looks. But the good and pious Elisa is absolutely georgious, truly breathtaking, and the connection between her goodness and her beauty is clear.