I brought you up with grief and pain , And now before my eyes you 're slain . I gave you always of the best ; I kept you warm in my soft nest . I loved and watched you day and night -- You were my joy , my one delight . ' The King heard the sad complaint of the White Duck , and called to the witch : ` Wife , what a wonder is this ? Listen to that White Duck . ' But the witch answered , ` My dear husband , what do you mean ? There is nothing wonderful in a duck 's quacking . Here , servants ! Chase that duck out of the courtyard . ' But though the servants chased and chevied , they could not get rid of the duck ; for she circled round and round , and always came back to the spot where her children lay , crying : ` Quack , quack -- my little loves ! Quack , quack -- my turtle-doves ! The wicked witch your lives did take -- The wicked witch , the cunning snake . First she stole my King away , Then my children did she slay . Changed me , from a happy wife , To a duck for all my life . Would I were the Queen again ; Would that you had never been slain . ' And as the King heard her words he began to suspect that he had been deceived , and he called out to the servants , ` Catch that duck , and bring it here . ' But , though they ran to and fro , the duck always fled past them , and would not let herself be caught . So the King himself stepped down amongst them , and instantly the duck fluttered down into his hands . And as he stroked her wings she was changed into a beautiful woman , and he recognised his dear wife . And she told him that a bottle would be found in her nest in the garden , containing some drops from the spring of healing .
And it was brought to her ; and the ducklings and little drake were sprinkled with the water , and from the little dead bodies three lovely XXXXX arose .
children drops duck grief joy nest servants snake wife witch