In old times when wishing still helped one, there lived a king whose daughters were all beautiful, but the youngest was so beautiful that the sun itself was astonished whenever it shone in her face. Close by the King's castle lay a great dark forest, and under an old lime-tree was a well. When the day was very warm, the princess would go to the well and play with her favorite golden ball.
One day, her golden ball fell into the deep well. The princess began to cry loudly and could not be comforted. As she lamented, a frog stretched its head from the water and asked what troubled her. "I am weeping for my golden ball," she said.
The frog offered to retrieve the ball in exchange for a promise: "If you will love me, let me be your companion, sit by you at your table, eat from your golden plate, drink from your cup, and sleep in your bed, I will bring your ball up again."
"Oh yes, I promise," said the princess, thinking the frog silly and impossible as a companion. The frog dove down and returned with the ball. Delighted, the princess picked up the ball and ran home, forgetting her promise and the frog.
The next day, as the princess dined with the king, the frog arrived at the castle door, knocking and reminding her of her promise. The king, upon hearing the story, told his daughter, "That which you have promised, you must perform."
Reluctantly, she let the frog in. It followed her to the table, demanded to be lifted up, to eat from her plate, and finally, to sleep in her bed. The princess was disgusted and afraid, but the king insisted she keep her word.
In her room, angry and repulsed, the princess picked up the frog and threw it against the wall with all her might. As it fell, the frog transformed into a handsome king's son with kind eyes. He explained that a wicked witch had bewitched him, and only the princess could break the spell. By her father's will, they were to be companions and husband.
The next morning, a carriage with eight white horses arrived to take them to the prince's kingdom. His faithful servant, Henry, stood behind it. Henry had been so grieved when his master was turned into a frog that he bound three iron bands around his heart to keep it from breaking. As they journeyed, the prince heard cracking sounds and feared the carriage was breaking. Each time, Henry explained it was another iron band springing from his heart, now that his master was free and happy.