great distance to his tribunal.
He weighed, with the infallible weight and measure of natural equity,
in the scales of justice, and when he opened his mouth, it was as if
the venerable Solon or the wise Solomon, between the twelve lions from
his throne, gave judgment. Once, when some rebels had conspired
against the peace of their country, and had set all the excitable
nation of Poles by the ears, he marched to Poland at the head of his
army, and suppressed the civil war. There likewise was he made duke by
a great part of the people, out of gratitude for the peace which he had
given them. He built there the city of Cracow, which still bears his
name, and has the right of crowning the Polish king to the present day.
Crocus reigned with great glory to the termination of his life. When
he perceived that his end was approaching, and that he should now leave
this world, he ordered to be made of the remains of the oak, which his
wife the elf had inhabited, a box to contain his bones. He then
departed in peace, wept over by his three daughters, who laid him in
the box, and buried him as he had commanded, while the whole country
mourned his loss.

As soon as the funeral pomp had ended, the states assembled to consider
who should now occupy the vacant throne. The people were unanimous for
a daughter of Crocus, only they could not agree which of the three
sisters should be chosen. The Lady Bela had the fewest adherents, for
her heart was not good, and she often used her magic lantern to make
mischief. Nevertheless she had inspired the people with such fear,
that no one ventured to object to her for fear of rousing her
vengeance. When it came to the vote, all the electors were silent,
there was no voice for her and none against her. At sunset the
representatives broke up the meeting, and deferred the election to the
following day. Then the Lady Therba was proposed, but confidence in
her own magic spells had turned her head, she was proud, supercilious,
and wished to be viewed as a goddess; and if incense was not always
offered to her, she was peevish, wilful and ill-tempered, displaying
all those qualities which deprive the fair sex of their flattering
epithet. She was not so much feared as her elder sister, but then she
was not more beloved. For this reason the place of election was as
still as a funeral feast, and there was no voting. On the third day
the Lady Libussa was proposed. As soon as this name was uttere