The Frog Prince - German

My story begins in the cool, green shadows of a castle garden, where the water in the old stone well was as dark and deep as a secret. You can call me the Frog Prince, though for the longest time, I was just a frog, trapped by a witch's sour magic. I spent my days watching the world from my lily pad, my heart aching for my real life, until the day the king's youngest daughter came to play. This is the story of The Frog Prince, and it’s about a promise that changed everything. She was beautiful, but her favorite toy was a golden ball, and when it tumbled from her hands and splashed into my well, she began to cry. Seeing my chance, I swam to the surface. "What will you give me," I croaked, "if I fetch your plaything for you?" She offered jewels and riches, but I wanted something more. I offered her a deal: I would fetch her precious ball if she would promise to love me and let me be her companion, to eat from her golden plate and sleep upon her bed.

The princess, seeing only her lost toy, quickly agreed to everything. She promised I could eat from her golden plate, drink from her little cup, and even sleep on her silk pillow. Believing her, I dove deep into the cold water and brought back her shining ball. But the moment she had it in her hands, she forgot all about me. She turned and ran back to the towering castle without a second glance, leaving me alone by the well. My little frog heart sank. I knew then that a promise made in haste is often a promise forgotten. But I was not just any frog; I was a prince, and I knew that a promise, once given, must be honored. So, with a deep breath and a determined hop, I began my long journey from the well to the great doors of the castle to remind her of her vow. Can you imagine how long that journey must have felt for a tiny frog?

The next evening, as the royal family sat for dinner, I arrived. Hop, hop, hop up the marble steps, and tap, tap, tap on the heavy wooden door. "Let me in, princess, let me in! Remember your promise by the well's cool stone!" I called out. When the princess saw it was me, her face turned pale as a ghost. She tried to shut the door, but her father, the king, was a wise man who believed in honor. He asked what was wrong, and I explained the promise his daughter had made. The king looked at her sternly and said, "What you have promised, you must perform." Reluctantly, she let me in. She lifted me to the table, and I ate from her golden plate as she had vowed, though she barely touched her own food. Every moment was a struggle for her, as she could not see past my green, slimy skin. She did not understand that what is on the outside is not always what matters most.

When it was time for bed, she carried me to her room, her face filled with dismay. She had no intention of letting me sleep on her soft pillow. In her frustration, she dropped me onto the floor. But at that very moment, the witch's spell was broken! In a flash of shimmering light, I was no longer a small green frog but a prince once more, standing before her in my own form. The princess gasped, her eyes wide with shock. I explained the cruel enchantment and how her promise, even though she kept it unwillingly, had been the key to my freedom. She saw me then not as a slimy creature, but as the prince I truly was. She realized that keeping her word had led to something wonderful, and she learned a powerful lesson about judging others by their appearance and the importance of integrity.

Our story, first written down by the Brothers Grimm on December 20th, 1812, became a favorite in Germany and then all over the world. It reminds us that inner beauty is more valuable than anything we see on the outside and that a promise is a powerful bond. Today, the tale of The Frog Prince continues to leap into new books and movies, inspiring us to look deeper, to be kind, and to remember that even the most unlikely friendships can lead to magical transformations. It helps us wonder about the magic hidden just beneath the surface of the world.