"Oh! do give it to me," said the Princess, "and I will keep it and take

care of it."

"I can hardly do that," said he, "for, to speak more plainly, I mean

that I met the Duchess Grumbly, and have promised to marry her."

"And you call her a dove?" cried the Princess. "I should have called her

a screech owl."

"Hold your tongue," said the King very crossly. "I intend you to behave

prettily to her. So now go and make yourself fit to be seen, as I am

going to take you to visit her."

So the Princess went very sorrowfully to her own room, and her nurse,

seeing her tears, asked what was vexing her.

"Alas! who would not be vexed?" answered she, "for the King intends to

marry again, and has chosen for his new bride my enemy, the hideous

Duchess Grumbly."

"Oh, well!" answered the nurse, "you must remember that you are a

Princess, and are expected to set a good example in making the best of

whatever happens. You must promise me not to let the Duchess see how

much you dislike her."

At first the Princess would not promise, but the nurse showed her so

many good reasons for it that in the end she agreed to be amiable to her

stepmother.

Then the nurse dressed her in a robe of pale green and gold brocade, and

combed out her long fair hair till it floated round her like a golden

mantle, and put on her head a crown of roses and jasmine with emerald

leaves.

When she was ready nobody could have been prettier, but she still could

not help looking sad.

Meanwhile the Duchess Grumbly was also occupied in attiring herself. She

had one of her shoe heels made an inch or so higher than the other, that

she might not limp so much, and put a cunningly made glass eye in the

place of the one she had lost. She dyed her red hair black, and painted

her face. Then she put on a gorgeous robe of lilac satin lined with

blue, and a yellow petticoat trimmed with violet ribbons, and because

she had heard that queens always rode into their new dominions, she

ordered a horse to be made ready for her to ride.

While Graciosa was waiting until the King should be ready to set out,

she went down all alone through the garden into a little wood, where she

sat down upon a mossy bank and began to think. And her thoughts were so

doleful that very soon she began to cry, and she cried and cried, and

forgot all about going back to the palace, until she suddenly saw a

handsome page standing before her. He was dressed in green, and the cap

which he held in his hand was adorned with white plumes. When Graciosa

looked at him he went down on one knee, and said to her:

"Princess, the King awaits you."

The Princess was surprised, and, if the truth must be told, very much

delighted at the appearance of this charming page, whom she could not

remember to have seen before. Thinking he might belong to the household

of the Duchess, she said:

"How long have you been one of the King's pages?"

"I am not in the service of the King, madam," answered he, "but in

yours."

"In mine?" said the Princess with great surprise. "Then how is it that I

have never seen you before?"

"Ah, Princess!" said he, "I have never before dared to present myself to

you, but now the King's marriage threatens you with so many dangers that

I have resolved to tell you at once how much I love you already, and I

trust that in time I may win your regard. I am Prince Percinet, of whose

riches you may have heard, and whose fairy gift will, I hope, be of use

to you in all your difficulties, if you will permit me to accompany you

under this disguise."

"Ah, Percinet!" cried the Princess, "is it really you? I have so often

heard of you and wished to see you. If you will indeed be my friend, I

shall not be afraid of that wicked old Duchess any more."

So they went back to the palace together, and there Graciosa found a

beautiful horse which Percinet had brought for her to ride. As it was

very spirited he led it by the bridle, and this arrangement enabled him

to turn and look at the Princess often, which he did not fail to do.

Indeed, she was so pretty that it was a real pleasure to look at her.

When the horse which the Duchess was to ride appeared beside Graciosa's,

it looked no better than an old cart horse, and as to their trappings,

there was simply no comparison between them, as the Princess's saddle

and bridle were one glittering mass of diamonds. The King had so many

other things to think of that he did not notice this, but all his

courtiers were entirely taken up with admiring the Princess and her

charming page in green, who was more handsome and distinguished looking

than all the rest of the court put together.

When they met the Duchess Grumbly she was seated in an open carriage

trying in vain to look dignified. The King and the Princess saluted her,

and her horse was brought forward for her to mount. But when she saw

Graciosa's she cried angrily:

"If that child is to have a better horse than mine, I will go back to my

own castle this very minute. What is the good of being a Queen, if one

is to be slighted like this?"

Upon this the King commanded Graciosa to dismount and to beg the Duchess

to honor her by mounting her horse. The Princess obeyed in silence, and

the Duchess, without looking at her or thanking her, scrambled up upon

the beautiful horse, where she sat looking like a bundle of clothes, and

eight officers had to hold her up for fear she should fall off.

Even then she was not satisfied, and was still grumbling and muttering,

so they asked her what was the matter.

"I wish that page in green to come and lead the horse, as he did when

Graciosa rode it," said she very sharply.

And the King ordered the page to come and lead the Queen's horse.

Percinet and the Princess looked at one another, but said never a word,

and then he did as the King commanded, and the procession started in

great pomp. The Duchess was greatly elated, and as she sat there in

state would not have wished to change places even with Graciosa. But at

the moment when it was least expected the beautiful horse began to

plunge and rear and kick, and finally to run away at such a pace that it

was impossible to stop him.

At first the Duchess clung to the saddle, but she was very soon thrown

off and fell in a heap among the stones and thorns, and there they found

her, shaken to a jelly, and collected what was left of her as if she had

been a broken glass. Her bonnet was here and her shoes there, her face

was scratched, and her fine clothes were covered with mud. Never was a

bride seen in such a dismal plight. They carried her back to the palace

and put her to bed, but as soon as she recovered enough to be able to

speak, she began to scold and rage, and declared that the whole affair

was Graciosa's fault, that she had contrived it on purpose to try and

get rid of her, and that if the King would not have her punished, she

would go back to her castle and enjoy her riches by herself.

At this the King was terribly frightened, for he did not at all want to

lose all those barrels of gold and jewels. So he hastened to appease the

Duchess, and told her she might punish Graciosa in any way she pleased.

Thereupon she sent for Graciosa, who turned pale and trembled at the

summons, for she guessed that it promised nothing agreeable for her. She

looked all about for Percinet, but he was nowhere to be seen; so she had

no choice but to go to the Duchess Grumbly's room. She had hardly got

inside the door when she was seized by four waiting women, who looked so

tall and strong and cruel that the Princess shuddered at the sight of

them, and still more when she saw them arming themselves with great

bundles of rods, and heard the Duchess call out to them from her bed to

beat the Princess without mercy. Poor Graciosa wished miserably that

Percinet could only know what was happening and come to rescue her. But

no sooner did they begin to beat her than she found, to her great

relief, that the rods had changed to bundles of peacocks' feathers, and

though the Duchess's women went on till they were so tired that they

could no longer raise their arms from their sides, yet she was not hurt

in the least. However, the Duchess thought she must be black and blue

after such a beating; so Graciosa, when she was released, pretended to

feel very ill, and went away into her own room, where she told her nurse

all that had happened, and then the nurse left her, and when the

Princess turned round there stood Percinet beside her. She thanked him

gratefully for helping her so cleverly, and they laughed and were very

merry over the way they had taken in the Duchess and her waiting maids;

but Percinet advised her still to pretend to be ill for a few days and

after promising to come to her aid whenever she needed him, he

disappeared as suddenly as he had come.

The Duchess was so delighted at the idea that Graciosa was really ill

that she herself recovered twice as fast as she would have done

otherwise, and the wedding was held with great magnificence. Now as the

King knew that, above all other things, the Queen loved to be told that

she was beautiful, he ordered that her portrait should be painted, and

that a tournament should be held, at which all the bravest knights of

his court should maintain against all comers that Grumbly was the most

beautiful princess in the world.

Numbers of knights came from far and wide to accept the challenge, and

the hideous Queen sat in great state in a balcony hung with cloth of

gold to watch the contests, and Graciosa had to stand up behind her,

where her loveliness was so conspicuous that the combatants could not

keep their eyes off her. But the Queen was so vain that she thought all

their admiring glances were for herself, especially as, in spite of the

badness of their cause, the King's knights were so brave that they were

the victors in every combat.

However, when nearly all the strangers had been defeated, a young

unknown knight presented himself. He carried a portrait, inclosed in a

box incrusted with diamonds, and he declared himself willing to maintain

against them all, that the Queen was the ugliest creature in the world,

and that the Princess whose portrait he carried was the most beautiful.

So one by one the knights came out against him, and one by one he

vanquished them all, and then he opened the box, and said that, to

console them, he would show them the portrait of his queen of beauty,

and when he did so, everyone recognized the Princess Graciosa. The

unknown knight then saluted her gracefully and retired, without telling

his name to anybody. But Graciosa had no difficulty in guessing that it

was Percinet.

As to the Queen, she was so furiously angry that she could hardly speak;

but she soon recovered her voice, and overwhelmed Graciosa with a

torrent of reproaches.

"What!" she said, "do you dare to dispute with me for the prize of

beauty, and expect me to endure this insult to my knights? But I will

not bear it, proud Princess. I will have my revenge."

"I assure you, madam," said the Princess, "that I had nothing to do with

it and am quite willing that you shall be declared queen of beauty."

"Ah! you are pleased to jest, popinjay!" said the Queen, "but it will be

my turn soon!"

The King was speedily told what had happened, and how the Princess was

in terror of the angry Queen, but he only said:

"The Queen must do as she pleases. Graciosa belongs to her!"

The wicked Queen waited impatiently until night fell, and then she

ordered her carriage to be brought. Graciosa, much against her will, was

forced into it, and away they drove, and never stopped until they

reached a great forest, a hundred leagues from the palace. This forest

was so gloomy and so full of lions, tigers, bears, and wolves that

nobody dared pass through it even by daylight, and here they set down

the unhappy Princess in the middle of the black night, and left her in

spite of all her tears and entreaties. The Princess stood quite still at

first from sheer bewilderment, but when the last sound of the retreating

carriage died away in the distance she began to run aimlessly hither and

thither, sometimes knocking herself against a tree, sometimes tripping

over a stone, fearing every minute that she would be eaten up by the

lions. Presently she was too tired to advance another step, so she threw

herself down upon the ground and cried miserably:

"O Percinet! where are you? Have you forgotten me altogether?"

She had hardly spoken when all the forest was lighted up with a sudden

glow. Every tree seemed to be sending out a soft radiance, which was

clearer than moonlight and softer than daylight, and at the end of a

long avenue of trees opposite to her the Princess saw a palace of clear

crystal which blazed like the sun. At that moment a slight sound behind

her made her turn around, and there stood Percinet himself.

"Did I frighten you, my Princess?" said he. "I come to bid you welcome

to our fairy palace, in the name of the Queen, my mother, who is

prepared to love you as much as I do." The Princess joyfully mounted

with him into a little sledge, drawn by two stags, which bounded off and

drew them swiftly to the wonderful palace, where the Queen received her

with the greatest kindness, and a splendid banquet was served at once.

Graciosa was so happy to have found Percinet, and to have escaped from

the gloomy forest and all its terrors, that she was very hungry and very

merry, and they were a gay party. After supper they went into another

lovely room, where the crystal walls were covered with pictures, and the

Princess saw with great surprise that her own history was represented,

even down to the moment when Percinet found her in the forest.

"Your painters must indeed be diligent," she said, pointing out the last

picture to the Prince.

"They are obliged to be, for I will not have anything forgotten that

happens to you," he answered.

When the Princess grew sleepy, twenty-four charming maidens put her to

bed in the prettiest room she had ever seen, and then sang to her so

sweetly that Graciosa's dreams were all of mermaids, and cool sea

waves, and caverns, in which she wandered with Percinet; but when she

woke up again her first thought was that, delightful as this fairy

palace seemed to her, yet she could not stay in it, but must go back to

her father. When she had been dressed by the twenty-four maidens in a

charming robe which the Queen had sent for her, and in which she looked

prettier than ever, Prince Percinet came to see her, and was bitterly

disappointed when she told him what she had been thinking. He begged her

to consider again how unhappy the wicked Queen would make her, and how,

if she would but marry him, all the fairy palace would be hers, and his

one thought would be to please her. But, in spite of everything he could

say, the Princess was quite determined to go back, though he at last

persuaded her to stay eight days, which were so full of pleasure and

amusement that they passed like a few hours. On the last day, Graciosa,

who had often felt anxious to know what was going on in her father's

palace, said to Percinet that she was sure that he could find out for

her, if he would, what reason the Queen had given her father for her

sudden disappearance. Percinet at first offered to send his courier to

find out, but the Princess said:

"Oh! isn't there a quicker way of knowing than that?"

"Very well," said Percinet, "you shall see for yourself."

So up they went together to the top of a very high tower, which, like

the rest of the castle, was built entirely of rock crystal.

There the Prince held Graciosa's hand in his, and made her put the tip

of her little finger into her mouth, and look toward the town, and

immediately she saw the wicked Queen go to the King, and heard her say

to him: "That miserable Princess is dead, and no great loss either. I

have ordered that she shall be buried at once."

And then the Princess saw how she dressed up a log of wood and had it

buried, and how the old King cried, and all the people murmured that the

Queen had killed Graciosa with her cruelties, and that she ought to have

her head cut off. When the Princess saw that the King was so sorry for

her pretended death that he could neither eat nor drink, she cried:

"Ah, Percinet! take me back quickly, if you love me."

And so, though he did not want to at all, he was obliged to promise that

he would let her go.

"You may not regret me, Princess," he said sadly, "for I fear that you

do not love me well enough; but I foresee that you will more than once

regret that you left this fairy palace where we have been so happy."

But, in spite of all he could say, she bade farewell to the Queen, his

mother, and prepared to set out; so Percinet, very unwillingly, brought

the little sledge with the stags and she mounted beside him. But they

had hardly gone twenty yards when a tremendous noise behind her made

Graciosa look back, and she saw the palace of crystal fly into a million

splinters, like the spray of a fountain, and vanish.

"O Percinet!" she cried, "what has happened? The palace is gone!"

"Yes," he answered, "my palace is a thing of the past; you will see it

again, but not until after you have been buried."

"Now you are angry with me," said Graciosa in her most coaxing voice,

"though after all I am more to be pitied than you are."

When they drew near the palace the Prince made the sledge and themselves

invisible, so the Princess got in unobserved, and ran up to the great

hall where the King was sitting all by himself. At first he was very

much startled by Graciosa's sudden appearance, but she told him how the

Queen had left her out in the forest, and how she had caused a log of

wood to be buried. The King, who did not know what to think, sent

quickly and had it dug up, and sure enough it was as the Princess had

said. Then he caressed Graciosa, and made her sit down to supper with

him, and they were as happy as possible. But some one had by this time

told the wicked Queen that Graciosa had come back, and was at supper

with the King, and in she flew in a terrible fury. The poor old King

quite trembled before her, and when she declared that Graciosa was not

the Princess at all, but a wicked impostor, and that if the King did not

give her up at once she would go back to her own castle and never see

him again, he had not a word to say, and really seemed to believe that

it was not Graciosa after all. So the Queen in great triumph sent for

her waiting women, who dragged the unhappy Princess away and shut her up

in a garret; they took away all her jewels and her pretty dress, and

gave her a rough cotton frock, wooden shoes, and a little cloth cap.

There was some straw in a corner, which was all she had for a bed, and

they gave her a very little bit of black bread to eat. In this miserable

plight Graciosa did indeed regret the fairy palace, and she would have

called Percinet to her aid, only she felt sure he was still vexed with

her for leaving him, and thought that she could not expect him to come.

Meanwhile the Queen had sent for an old fairy, as malicious as herself,

and said to her:

"You must find me some task for this fine Princess which she cannot

possibly do, for I mean to punish her, and if she does not do what I

order, she will not be able to say that I am unjust." So the old fairy

said she would think it over, and come again the next day. When she

returned she brought with her a skein of thread, three times as big as

herself; it was so fine that a breath of air would break it, and so

tangled that it was impossible to see the beginning or the end of it.

The Queen sent for Graciosa, and said to her:

"Do you see this skein? Set your clumsy fingers to work upon it, for I

must have it disentangled by sunset, and if you break a single thread it

will be the worse for you." So saying she left her, locking the door

behind her with three keys.

The Princess stood dismayed at the sight of the terrible skein. If she

did but turn it over to see where to begin, she broke a thousand

threads, and not one could she disentangle. At last she threw it into

the middle of the floor, crying:

"O Percinet! this fatal skein will be the death of me if you will not

forgive me and help me once more."

And immediately in came Percinet as easily as if he had all the keys in

his own possession.

"Here I am, Princess, as much as ever at your service," said he, "though

really you are not very kind to me."

Then he just stroked the skein with his wand, and all the broken threads

joined themselves together, and the whole skein wound itself smoothly

off in the most surprising manner, and the Prince, turning to Graciosa,

asked if there was nothing else that she wished him to do for her, and

if the time would never come when she would wish for him for his own

sake.

"Don't be vexed with me, Percinet," she said. "I am unhappy enough

without that."

"But why should you be unhappy, my Princess?" cried he. "Only come with

me and we shall be as happy together as the day is long."

"But suppose you get tired of me?" said Graciosa.

The Prince was so grieved at this want of confidence that he left her

without another word.

The wicked Queen was in such a hurry to punish Graciosa that she thought

the sun would never set; and indeed it was before the appointed time

that she came with her four fairies, and as she fitted the three keys

into the locks she said:

"I'll venture to say that the idle minx has not done anything at

all--she prefers to sit with her hands before her to keep them white."

But as soon as she entered, Graciosa presented her with the ball of

thread in perfect order, so that she had no fault to find, and could

only pretend to discover that it was soiled, for which imaginary fault

she gave Graciosa a blow on each cheek, that made her white-and-pink

skin turn green and yellow. And then she sent her back to be locked into

the garret once more.

Then the Queen sent for the fairy again and scolded her furiously.

"Don't make such a mistake again; find me something that it will be

quite impossible for her to do," she said.

So the next day the fairy appeared with a huge barrel full of the

feathers of all sorts of birds. There were feathers from nightingales,

canaries, goldfinches, linnets, tomtits, parrots, owls, sparrows, doves,

ostriches, bustards, peacocks, larks, partridges, and every sort that

you can think of. These feathers were all mixed up in such confusion

that the birds themselves could not have chosen out their own. "Here,"

said the fairy, "is a little task which it will take all your prisoner's

skill and patience to accomplish. Tell her to pick out and lay in a

separate heap the feathers of each bird. She would need to be an

enchanter to do it."

The Queen was more than delighted at the thought of the despair this

task would cause the Princess. She sent for her, and with the same

threats as before locked her up with the three keys, ordering that all

the feathers should be sorted by sunset. Graciosa set to work at once,

but before she had taken out a dozen feathers she found that it was

perfectly impossible to know one from another.

"Ah, well," she sighed, "the Queen wishes to kill me, and if I must die

I must. I cannot ask Percinet to help me again, for if he really loved

me he would not wait till I called him, he would come without that."

"I am here, my Graciosa," cried Percinet, springing out of the barrel,

where he had been hiding. "How can you still doubt that I love you with

all my heart?"

Then he gave three strokes of his wand upon the barrel, and all the

feathers flew out in a cloud and settled down in neat little separate

heaps all round the room.

"What should I do without you, Percinet?" said Graciosa gratefully. But

still she could not quite make up her mind to go with him and leave her

father's kingdom forever; so she begged him to give her more time to

think of it, and he had to go away disappointed once more.

When the wicked Queen came at sunset she was amazed and infuriated to

find the task done. However, she complained that the heaps of feathers

were badly arranged, and for that the Princess was beaten and sent back

to her garret. Then the Queen sent for the fairy once more, and scolded

her until she was fairly terrified, and promised to go home and think of

another task for Graciosa, worse than either of the others.

At the end of three days she came again, bringing with her a box.

"Tell your slave," said she, "to carry this wherever you please, but on

no account to open it. She will not be able to help doing so, and then

you will be quite satisfied with the result." So the Queen came to

Graciosa and said:

"Carry this box to my castle, and place it upon the table in my own

room. But I forbid you on pain of death to look at what it contains."

Graciosa set out, wearing her little cap and wooden shoes and the old

cotton frock, but even in this disguise she was so beautiful that all

the passers-by wondered who she could be. She had not gone far before

the heat of the sun and the weight of the box tired her so much that she

sat down to rest in the shade of a little wood which lay on one side of

a green meadow. She was carefully holding the box upon her lap when she

suddenly felt the greatest desire to open it.

"What could possibly happen if I did?" she said to herself. "I should

not take anything out. I should only just see what was there."

And without further hesitation she lifted the cover.

Instantly out came swarms of little men and women, no taller than her

finger, and scattered themselves all over the meadow, singing and

dancing, and playing the merriest games, so that at first Graciosa was

delighted and watched them with much amusement. But presently, when she

was rested and wished to go on her way, she found that, do what she

would, she could not get them back into their box. If she chased them in

the meadow they fled into the wood, and if she pursued them into the

wood they dodged around trees and behind sprigs of moss, and with peals

of elfin laughter scampered back again into the meadow.

At last, weary and terrified, she sat down and cried.

"It is my own fault," she said sadly. "Percinet, if you can still care

for such an imprudent Princess, do come and help me once more."

Immediately Percinet stood before her.

"Ah, Princess!" he said, "but for the wicked Queen I fear you would

never think of me at all."

"Indeed I should," said Graciosa; "I am not so ungrateful as you think.

Only wait a little and I believe I shall love you quite dearly."

Percinet was pleased at this, and with one stroke of his wand compelled

all the willful little people to come back to their places in the box,

and then rendering the Princess invisible he took her with him in his

chariot to the castle.

When the Princess presented herself at the door, and said that the Queen

had ordered her to place the box in her own room, the governor laughed

heartily at the idea.

"No, no, my little shepherdess," said he, "that is not the place for

you. No wooden shoes have ever been over that floor yet."

Then Graciosa begged him to give her a written message telling the Queen

that he had refused to admit her. This he did, and she went back to

Percinet, who was waiting for her, and they set out together for the

palace. You may imagine that they did not go the shortest way, but the

Princess did not find it too long, and before they parted she had

promised that if the Queen was still cruel to her, and tried again to

play her any spiteful trick, she would leave her and come to Percinet

forever.

When the Queen saw her returning she fell upon the fairy, whom she had

kept with her, and pulled her hair, and scratched her face, and would

really have killed her if a fairy could be killed. And when the Princess

presented the letter and the box she threw them both upon the fire

without opening them, and looked very much as if she would like to

throw the Princess after them. However, what she really did do was to

have a great hole as deep as a well dug in her garden, and the top of it

covered with a flat stone. Then she went and walked near it, and said to

Graciosa and all her ladies who were with her:

"I am told that a great treasure lies under that stone: let us see if we

can lift it."

So they all began to push and pull at it, and Graciosa among the others,

which was just what the Queen wanted; for as soon as the stone was

lifted high enough, she gave the Princess a push which sent her down to

the bottom of the well, and then the stone was let fall again, and there

she was a prisoner. Graciosa felt that now indeed she was hopelessly

lost; surely not even Percinet could find her in the heart of the earth.

"This is like being buried alive," she said with a shudder. "O Percinet!

if you only knew how I am suffering for my want of trust in you! But how

could I be sure that you would not be like other men and tire of me from

the moment you were sure I loved you?"

As she spoke she suddenly saw a little door open, and the sunshine

blazed into the dismal well. Graciosa did not hesitate an instant, but

passed through into a charming garden. Flowers and fruit grew on every

side, fountains plashed, and birds sang in the branches overhead, and

when she reached a great avenue of trees and looked up to see where it

would lead her, she found herself close to the palace of crystal. Yes!

there was no mistaking it, and the Queen and Percinet were coming to

meet her.

"Ah, Princess!" said the Queen, "don't keep this poor Percinet in

suspense any longer. You little guess the anxiety he has suffered while

you were in the power of that miserable Grumbly."

The Princess kissed her gratefully, and promised to do as she wished in

everything, and holding out her hand to Percinet, with a smile, she

said:

"Do you remember telling me that I should not see your palace again

until I had been buried? I wonder if you guessed that when that

happened, I should tell you that I love you with all my heart, and will

marry you whenever you like?"

Prince Percinet joyfully took the hand that was given him, and, for fear

the Princess should change her mind, the wedding was held at once with

the greatest splendor, and Graciosa and Percinet lived happily ever

after.

_Drak, the Fairy_

IN the last century there lived in the little town of Gaillac, in

Languedoc, a young merchant, who, having arrived at an age when he

wished to settle down in life, sought a wife. Providing she was

sweet-tempered, witty, rich, pretty, and of good family, he was not

particular about the rest; for Michael knew that he must be moderate in

his desires. Unhappily, he could not see in Gaillac one who appeared

worthy of his choice. All the young girls had some known fault, not to

mention those which were not known. At length he was told of a young

lady of Lavaur, endowed with innumerable good qualities and a dowry of

twenty thousand crowns. This sum was exactly that required by Michael to

establish himself in business; so he instantly fell in love with the

young lady of Lavaur. He obtained an introduction to the family, who

liked his appearance, and gave him a good reception. But the young

heiress had many suitors, from whom she hesitated to make a definite

choice. After several discussions it was decided by her parents that the

contending lovers should be brought together at a ball, and after having

compared them a choice should be made.

On the appointed day Michael set out for Lavaur. His portmanteau was

packed with his finest clothes: an apple-green coat, a lavender vest,

breeches of black velvet, silk stockings with silver trees, buckled

shoes, powder box, and a satin ribbon for his queue. His horse was

harnessed with gay trappings. Furthermore, the prudent traveler, not

having a pistol to put in his holsters, had slipped in a little bottle

of wine and several slices of almond cake, in order to have something at

hand to keep his courage up. For in reality now that the day had come he

was in a very anxious state, and when he saw in the distance the church

of Lavaur he felt quite taken aback. He slackened the pace of his horse,

then dismounted, and in order to reflect upon what he should do at the

ball he entered a little wood and sat down on the turf. He drew from his

holsters, to keep him company, the almond cake and the bottle; the

latter he placed between his knees, so that without thinking of it he

varied his reflections by sips of wine and mouthfuls of cake. These

distractions somewhat enlivened him and gave him confidence, so much so

that he began to discover in himself a number of virtues and

excellences, which could not fail to insure him the victory.

The sun having disappeared from the horizon he was about to pursue his

journey, when he heard a sound behind him among the leaves, as of a

multitude of little footsteps trampling the grass in tune to the music

of a flute and cymbals. Astonished, he turned around, and by the light

of the first stars, he perceived a troop of fairies, who were running

headed by the King, Tambourinet. In their rear, turning over and over

like a wheel, was the buffoon of the little people--Drak, the fairy.

The fairies surrounded the traveler, and gave him a thousand welcomes

and good wishes. Michael, who had drunk too freely not to be brave,

welcomed them as old acquaintances, and seeing their little eyes fixed

upon the cake he began to crumble and throw it to them as one would to

the birds. In spite of their numbers, each one had his crumb with the

exception of Drak, who arrived when everyone had finished. Tambourinet

next asked what was in the bottle, and passed it from hand to hand till

it reached the buffoon, who, finding it empty, threw it away. Michael

burst out laughing.

"That is justice, my little man," said he to the fairy. "For those who

arrive late, there remains nothing but regret."

"I will make you remember what you have just said," cried Drak in anger.

"And how?" asked the traveler ironically. "Do you think, now, you are

big enough to revenge yourself?"

Drak disappeared without answering; and Michael, after taking leave of

Tambourinet, mounted his horse again.

He had not gone a hundred paces, when the saddle turned and threw him

roughly to the ground. He arose a little stunned, rebuckled the straps,

and mounted his horse again. A little farther on, as he was going over a

bridge, the right stirrup bent slightly, and he found himself thrown in

the middle of the rivulet. He got out again in a very bad humor, and

fell the third time over the pebbles in the road, hurting himself so

much that he could hardly proceed. He began to think if he persisted in

riding in the saddle he would be unable to present himself at all to the

family of the young lady, so he decided to ride his horse barebacked,

and take the saddle upon his shoulder. In this manner he made his entry

into Lavaur amid the loud laughter of the people who were sitting at

their doors.

"Laugh! laugh! you great stupids," murmured Michael; "is it very

marvelous that a man should carry his saddle when it will not carry

him?"

At length he reached the inn, where he alighted, and asked for a room in

which to change his traveling clothes. Having obtained a chamber, he

proceeded with much care to open his portmanteau and lay out carefully

on the bed the articles for his toilet.

His first consideration was whether he should powder his hair white or

yellow. Having decided it should be white, he seized the swans-down

powder puff, and commenced the operation on the right side. But at the

moment when he had finished that side he saw that an invisible hand had

powdered the other side yellow, so that his head had the appearance of

a half-peeled lemon. Michael, stupefied, hastened to mix the powder with

the comb, and finding himself too pressed for time to seek to think out

the reason of the mischance (he was always a slow thinker) stretched out

his hand toward the reel on which the satin for his queue was wound. The

reel escaped from his fingers and fell to the ground.

[Illustration: "MICHAEL, PETRIFIED, STOOD MUTE, ... CONTEMPLATING WITH A

FRIGHTENED AIR THIS INCONGRUOUS DANCE"]

Michael went to pick it up, but it seemed to roll before him. Twenty

times he was about to seize it, and twenty times his impatient hands

missed it. One would have said he looked like a kitten playing with a

reel. At length, seeing that time was going, he lost patience and

resigned himself to wear his old ribbon.

He now hastened to put on his morocco shoes. He buckled the right, then

having finished the left, he stooped to admire them, but as he did so

the right buckle fell to the ground. He replaced it, but no sooner had

he done so than the left followed suit. He had hardly put that right

before the other one claimed his attention again in the same manner as

before. He proceeded thus for some time, without being able to get both

buckles fastened together.

Furious, he finished by putting on his traveling boots, and was about to

take his velvet breeches, when, immediately he approached the bed, lo!

the breeches began of their own accord to walk about the room.

Michael, petrified, stood mute, with his arm extended, contemplating

with a frightened air this incongruous dance. But you may guess how he

looked when he saw the vest, coat, and hat join the breeches at their

respective places, and form a sort of counterfeit of himself, which

commenced to walk about and parody his attitudes.

Pale with fear he drew back to the window; but at this moment the

Michaelesque figure turned toward him, and he saw under the cocked hat

the grimacing face of Drak, the fairy.

Michael uttered a cry.

"It is you, you villain, is it? I'll make you repent of your insolence

if you don't instantly give me back my clothes."

So saying, he rushed to take them; but the fairy, turning sharply

around, ran to the other side of the room. Michael was beside himself

with anger and impatience, and rushed again toward the fairy, who this

time passed between his legs and rushed out on to the staircase. Michael

pursued him angrily up four flights of stairs till they arrived at the

garret, where the fairy dodged him round and round, and then skipped out

of the window. Michael, exasperated, took the same route. The malicious

fairy led him from roof to roof, dragging the velvet breeches, the vest,

and coat in all the gutters, to Michael's despair. At length, after a

peregrination of an hour or two across this Pyrenees of the cats and

swallows, Drak gained a high chimney at the foot of which his pursuer

was forced to stop.

Drak, leaning over toward Michael, who was out of breath and

discouraged, said:

"You see, my good friend, you have forced me to spoil your ball dress;

but, happily, I see underneath me the copper of a laundress, where

everything can be put right for you."

With these words Drak shook the velvet breeches over the chimney pot.

"What are you doing, rascal?" cried Michael.

"I am sending your dress to the wash!" said the fairy.

And so saying, the vest, coat, and hat followed the breeches into the

smoking gulf.

The young gallant sat down upon the roof with a cry of despair; but

rising immediately, said with resolution:

"Well, I'll go to the ball in my traveling dress."

"Hark!" interrupted the fairy.

The sound of a bell rang out from a neighboring steeple. Midnight

struck! Michael counted the twelve strokes, and could not restrain a

cry. It was the hour designated by the parents when they would proclaim

to the suitors who had presented themselves at the ball their daughter's

choice for a husband. He wrung his hands in despair.

"Unhappy man that I am!" he cried. "When I arrive all will be over; she

and her parents will laugh at me."

"And that would be justice, my big man," replied Drak, with a pointed

sneer. "For you have said yourself, '_For those who arrive late, there

remains nothing but regret_.' This will serve you, I hope, as a lesson,

and prevent you another time from laughing at the feeble; for from

henceforth you will know that the smallest are big enough to avenge

themselves."

_Drakesbill and His Friends_

DRAKESBILL was very little, and that is why some people called him Bill

Drake; but, tiny as he was, he knew a thing or two. He was a great

worker and laid up every cent that he earned; and, long before he was

half as tall as a gray goose he had saved a hundred dollars in gold. The

King of the country, who never did anything but spend money, heard that

Drakesbill had some gold pieces, and he made haste to borrow them. How

very kind and gracious he was until he heard the little yellow coins

jingle in his pocket! And how proud it made Drakesbill feel to have it

said that he had lent money to the King!

A year went by--two years, three years--and the King seemed to have

forgotten him. He did not even offer to pay Drakesbill the interest, and

the little fellow was very uneasy lest he should lose all his money. At

last he made up his mind that he would go and see the King and tell him

that he needed the gold pieces very much.

So, early one morning, Drakesbill, as spruce and fresh as a young robin,

went down the highroad toward the King's palace, singing, "Quack, quack,

quack, when shall I get my money back?"

He had not gone far when he met friend Fox coming home from his rounds

among the farmyards.

"Good morning, my good neighbor," said friend Fox; "where are you going

so early in the day?"

"I am going to the King to ask him to pay me what he owes me."

"Oh, take me with you!"

"One can't have too many friends," thought Drakesbill. Then he said:

"Certainly I will take you; but you walk on four legs, and you will soon

get tired. So make yourself very small, get into my mouth, creep under

my tongue--and I will carry you."

Friend Fox thanked him very kindly, made himself very small, and was out

of sight like a letter in a letterbox.

Then Drakesbill was off again, all spruce and fresh as a spring morning,

and still singing, "Quack, quack, quack, when shall I get my money

back?"

He had not gone far when he met his lady friend Ladder leaning against

her wall. "Good morning, ducky darling," said the lady friend, "whither

away, so bold and gay, this fine, new day?"

"I am going to the King to ask him to pay me what he owes me."

"Oh, take me with you!"

"One can't have too many friends," thought Drakesbill. Then he said,

"Certainly I will take you; but you have such long wooden legs that you

will soon get tired. So make yourself very small, get into my mouth,

creep under my tongue--and I will carry you."

The Ladder thanked him, made herself very small, and went to keep

company with friend Fox.

Then Drakesbill was off again, spruce and fresh as any dapper little

dandy, and singing, "Quack, quack, quack, when shall I get my money

back?"

He had not gone far when he met his sweetheart, laughing River,

wandering quietly in the sunshine.

"Good morning, my spoonbill," she said, "whither do you go, so happy and

slow, while the soft breezes blow?"

"I am going to the King, you know, for he owes me money, and I want him

to pay me back."

"Oh, take me with you!"

"One can't have too many friends," thought Drakesbill. Then he said:

"Certainly I will take you; but you always sleep while you run, and you

will soon get tired. So make yourself very small, get into my mouth,

creep under my tongue--and I will carry you."

The River thanked him very kindly, and then, glou! glou! glou! she went

to take her place between friend Fox and friend Ladder.

And Drakesbill was off again, spruce and fresh as a busy bee, and

singing, "Quack, quack, quack, when shall I get my money back?"

A little farther on he met neighbor Wasp-nest, taking his wasps out for

some fresh air.

"Good morning, neighbor Bill," said Wasp-nest; "whither do we run, so

full of fun, in the bright warm sun?"

"Oh, don't you know that the King owes me money? And I am going down to

see him and make him pay me," answered Drakesbill.

"Oh, take us with you!"

"One can't have too many friends," thought Drakesbill. Then he said:

"Certainly I will take you; but there are so many of you that you will

soon get tired. So make yourself quite small, get into my mouth, creep

under my tongue--and I will carry you."

Neighbor Wasp-nest thanked him very kindly, and then buzz, buzz, buzz,

file right! march! There wasn't much more room, but by getting close

together everybody was made quite comfortable.

And then Drakesbill went on singing.

In the afternoon he came to the great city where the King lived; and as

he marched straight up High Street, he sang as loud as he could, "Quack,

quack, quack! Oh, when shall I get my money back?"

When he came to the King's palace he climbed up the step; and then he

stood on tiptoe, and knocked at the door, toc! toc! toc!

"Who's there?" asked the doorkeeper, looking out through the keyhole.

"'Tis I, Drakesbill. I want to speak with the King."

"Speak with the King? Nonsense! That is easier said than done. The King

is in the parlor counting out his money."

"That is just what I want to see him do," said Drakesbill. "Tell him I

am here, and then he will know my business."

The doorkeeper went into the parlor to speak with the King. But he was

not there; he was in the kitchen, just sitting down to dinner with a

white napkin round his neck.

"Good! good!" said the King. "I know the rascal. Fetch him in and put

him with the turkeys and chickens."

The doorkeeper went back to the door.

"Walk in, sir!"

"Good!" said Drakesbill to himself. "Now I can see how the folks eat at

the King's table."

"This way, this way!" said the doorkeeper. "Now step through that gate.

There you are!"

"What! In the poultry yard? How? What?"

How vexed the little fellow was! And no wonder.

"Just wait," he said at last. "I think I'll show them a thing or two.

Quack, quack, quack, when shall I get my money back?"

But turkeys and chickens are queer things, as you know, and think

themselves a good deal better than other folks. When they saw what a

funny little fellow had come among them, and when they heard him singing

his queer song, they began to ask one another:

"Who is he? What is he doing here?"

Then they all rushed upon him, and if he had not had his wits about him

they would have pecked him to death in no time. But, as good luck would

have it, he remembered his friend Fox, and he cried out:

"Fox, friend Fox, from your hiding place

Come quick, or sad will be my case!"

Then friend Fox, who was only waiting for these words, leaped out from

his hiding place, as big as life and as happy as a sunflower; and he

threw himself on the wicked fowls, and snip, snap! crish, crash! he

tore them in pieces; and at the end of five minutes not one of them was

left alive. And Drakesbill, spruce and fresh as ever, began to sing

again, "Quack, quack, quack, when shall I get my money back?"

But the King was very angry when the poultry woman and the cook and the

doorkeeper all rushed into the kitchen where he was eating and told him

what had happened. He ordered them to seize this naughty little

Drakesbill and throw him into the well, and thus make an end of him.

"I am lost! I am lost!" cried Drakesbill as he fell fluttering down into

the deep, dark hole. "I can never climb out of this place."

Then he happened to think of his lady friend Ladder, and he sang:

"Ladder, Ladder, from beneath my tongue

Come quick, or soon my song will be sung!"

Friend Ladder, who had only been waiting for these words, leaped quickly

out, as tall as a flag pole and as charming as a walking stick; and she

stood with her feet at the bottom of the well and her two arms resting

upon the top; and Drakesbill climbed nimbly on her back, and hip! hop!

hup! how soon he was up and singing louder than ever, "Quack, quack,

quack, when shall I get my money back?"

The King, who was still at the table, heard him singing, and the song

made him so angry that he almost choked.

"Can't anybody make that fellow hush?" he cried.

Then he ordered his men to build a great fire, and, when it was hot, to

throw Drakesbill into it and burn him up for a wicked wizard.

But Drakesbill was not much afraid this time; he remembered his

sweetheart River. Just when the flames were the highest, and the captain

of the King's men was going to toss him into them, he sang out:

"River, River, outward flow,

Or into the fire I must go!"

Then friend River, who had only been waiting for these words, flowed

quickly out, as strong as a storm and as swift as the wind; and she put

out the fire, and drowned all the people that had kindled it; and, glou!

glou! glou! she flowed into the King's palace and stood four feet deep

in the great hall. And Drakesbill, spruce and fresh as ever, swam hither

and thither, singing, "Quack, quack, quack, when shall I get my money

back?"

Of course, after all this had happened, the King was more angry than he

had ever been before; and when he saw Drakesbill swimming about so

coolly, while he had to stand on the table to keep his feet dry, he

could hardly hold himself.

"Bring the fellow here, and I'll finish him with the carving knife!

bring him here quick!" he cried.

Two servants rushed out and seized Drakesbill very rudely. They dragged

him toward the King, who was standing with drawn carving knife. The

King's brave men with swords in their hands were all around him. "It is

all over with me now," said Drakesbill. "I don't see how I can live

through this!"

But just then he thought of his neighbor Wasp-nest, and he cried out:

"Wasp-nest, Wasp-nest, hither fly,

Or Drakesbill soon will have to die!"

Then Wasp-nest, who had been waiting for these words, began to wake up

his wasps, and things changed very quickly.

"Buzz, buzz, buzz! Charge!" cried Wasp-nest. And the wasps rushed out

and threw themselves upon the King and his brave men, and stung them so

badly that they ran and jumped right out from the windows, and nobody in

the palace ever saw them again.

As for Drakesbill, he could only sit still and wonder what was going to

happen next. But after a while he remembered his money, and began to

sing as before. Then, as the house was very still, he thought that he

might as well look around a little while; perhaps he would find his

hundred yellow pieces of gold.

It was of no use, however. He peeped into all the corners and opened all

the drawers. There was not a dollar in the house. The King had spent

everything.

By and by Drakesbill found his way into the room where the King's throne

stood, and as he was very tired he sat down to rest among the cushions

of velvet and gold.

When the people saw the King and his brave men running away from the

wasps they felt sure that they would never come back. So they crowded

into the palace to see what was the matter. And the only person they

found there was little Drakesbill sitting by himself on the throne. Then

they all shouted:

"The King is dead! long live the King!

How glad we'll be to be ruled by this thing!"

And one of them ran and fetched the golden crown; and they put it on

Drakesbill's head and hailed him as King. And Drakesbill, who had made

up his mind not to be surprised at anything, sat very still and took it

all as a matter of course.

"He doesn't look much like a king," whispered a few idle fellows; but

they were soon driven out of the hall and made to understand that it was

wrong even to think such words.

"He will be the best king we have ever had," said others. And some who

had known him before said: "A Drakesbill is better any day than a king

who does nothing but spend our money."

And that is the way in which little Drakesbill became King. When he had

been crowned, and the people had finished shouting, he made a speech

from the throne. "Ladies and gentlemen," he said, "I am very hungry. Let

us all go to supper."

_Riquet with the Tuft_

ONCE upon a time there was a Queen who had a son, so ugly and misshapen

that it was doubted for a long time whether his form was really human. A

fairy, who was present at his birth, affirmed, nevertheless, that he

would be worthy to be loved, as he would have an excellent wit; she

added, moreover, that by virtue of the gift she had bestowed upon him,

he would be able to impart equal intelligence to the one whom he loved

best. All this was some consolation to the poor Queen, who was much

distressed at having brought so ugly a little monkey into the world. It

is true that the child was no sooner able to speak than he said a

thousand pretty things, and that in all his ways there was a certain air

of intelligence, with which everyone was charmed. I had forgotten to say

that he was born with a little tuft of hair on his head, and so he came

to be called Riquet with the Tuft; for Riquet was the family name.

About seven or eight years later, the Queen of a neighboring kingdom had

two daughters. The elder was fairer than the day, and the Queen was so

delighted that it was feared some harm might come to her from her great

joy. The same fairy who had assisted at the birth of little Riquet was

present upon this occasion, and in order to moderate the joy of the

Queen she told her that this little Princess would have no gifts of mind

at all, and that she would be as stupid as she was beautiful. The Queen

was greatly mortified on hearing this, but shortly after, she was even

more annoyed when her second little daughter was born and proved to be

extremely ugly. "Do not distress yourself, madam," said the fairy to

her, "your daughter will find compensation, for she will have so much

intelligence that her lack of beauty will scarcely be perceived."

"Heaven send it may be so!" replied the Queen; "but are there no means

whereby a little more understanding might be given to the elder, who is

so lovely?" "I can do nothing for her in the way of intelligence,

madam," said the fairy, "but everything in the way of beauty; as,

however, there is nothing in my power I would not do to give you

comfort, I will bestow on her the power of conferring beauty on any man

or woman who shall please her." As these two Princesses grew up their

endowments also became more perfect, and nothing was talked of anywhere

but the beauty of the elder and the intelligence of the younger. It is

true that their defects also greatly increased with their years. The

younger became uglier every moment, and the elder more stupid every day.

She either made no answer when she was spoken to, or else said something

foolish. With this she was so clumsy that she could not even place four

pieces of china on a mantel shelf without breaking one of them, or drink

a glass of water without spilling half of it on her dress.

Notwithstanding the attraction of beauty, the younger, in whatever

society they might be, nearly always bore away the palm from her sister.

At first everyone went up to the more beautiful to gaze at and admire

her; but they soon left her for the cleverer one, to listen to her many

pleasant and amusing sayings; and people were astonished to find that in

less than a quarter of an hour the elder had not a soul near her, while

all the company had gathered around the younger. The elder, though very

stupid, noticed this, and would have given, without regret, all her

beauty for half the sense of her sister. Discreet as she was, the Queen

could not help often reproaching her with her stupidity, which made the

poor Princess ready to die of grief.

One day, when she had gone by herself into a wood to weep over her

misfortune, she saw approaching her a little man of very ugly and

unpleasant appearance, but magnificently dressed. It was the young

Prince Riquet with the Tuft, who, having fallen in love with her from

seeing her portraits, which were sent all over the world, had left his

father's kingdom that he might have the pleasure of beholding her and

speaking to her. Enchanted at meeting her thus alone, he addressed her

with all the respect and politeness imaginable. Having remarked, after

paying her the usual compliments, that she was very melancholy, he said

to her: "I cannot understand, madam, how a person as beautiful as you

are can be so unhappy as you appear; for, although I can boast of having

seen an infinite number of beautiful people, I can say with truth that I

have never seen one whose beauty could be compared with yours."

"You are pleased to say so, sir," replied the Princess, and there she

stopped.

"Beauty," continued Riquet, "is so great an advantage that it ought to

take the place of every other, and, possessed of it, I see nothing that

can have power to afflict one."

"I would rather," said the Princess, "be as ugly as you are and have

intelligence, than possess the beauty I do and be as stupid as I am."

"There is no greater proof of intelligence, madam, than the belief that

we have it not; it is the nature of that gift, that the more we have,

the more we believe ourselves to be without it."

"I do not know how that may be," said the Princess, "but I know well

enough that I am very stupid, and this is the cause of the grief that is

killing me."

"If that is all that troubles you, madam, I can easily put an end to

your sorrow."

"And how would you do so?" said the Princess.

"I have the power, madam," said Riquet with the Tuft, "to give as much

intelligence as it is possible to possess to the person whom I love

best; as you, madam, are that person, it will depend entirely upon

yourself whether or not you become gifted with this amount of

intelligence--provided that you are willing to marry me."

The Princess was stricken dumb with astonishment, and replied not a

word.

"I see," said Riquet with the Tuft, "that this proposal troubles you,

and I am not surprised, but I will give you a full year to consider it."

The Princess had so little sense, and at the same time was so anxious to

have a great deal, that she thought the end of that year would never

come; so she at once accepted the offer that was made her. She had no

sooner promised Riquet with the Tuft that she would marry him that day

twelve months than she felt herself quite another person from what she

had previously been. She found she was able to say whatever she pleased,

with a readiness past belief, and to say it in a clever, but easy and

natural manner. She immediately began a sprightly and well-sustained

conversation with Riquet with the Tuft, and was so brilliant in her talk

that the Prince began to think he had given her more wit than he had

reserved for himself. On her return to the palace, the whole court was

puzzled to account for a change so sudden and extraordinary; for instead

of the number of foolish things which they had been accustomed to hear

from her, she now made as many sensible and exceedingly witty remarks.

All the court was in a state of joy not to be described. The younger

sister alone was not altogether pleased, for, having lost her

superiority over her sister in the way of intelligence, she now appeared

by her side merely as a very unpleasing-looking person.

The King now began to be guided by his elder daughter's advice, and at

times even held his council in her apartments. The news of the change of

affairs was spread abroad, and all the young princes of the neighboring

kingdoms exerted themselves to gain her affection, and nearly all of

them asked her hand in marriage. She found none of them, however,

intelligent enough to please her, and she listened to all of them

without engaging herself to one.

At length arrived a prince so rich and powerful, so clever and so

handsome, that she could not help listening willingly to his addresses.

Her father, having perceived this, told her that he left her at perfect

liberty to choose a husband for herself, and that she had only to make

known her decision. As the more intelligence we possess, the more

difficulty we find in making up our mind on such a matter as this, she

begged her father, after having thanked him, to allow her time to think

about it.

She went by chance to walk in the same wood in which she had met Riquet

with the Tuft, in order to meditate more uninterruptedly over what she

had to do. While she was walking, deep in thought, she heard a dull

sound beneath her feet, as of many persons running to and fro and busily

occupied. Having listened more attentively she heard one say, "Bring me

that saucepan"; another, "Give me that kettle"; another, "Put some wood

on the fire." At the same moment the ground opened, and she saw beneath

her what appeared to be a large kitchen, full of cooks, scullions, and

all sorts of servants necessary for the preparation of a magnificent

banquet. There came forth a band of about twenty to thirty cooks, who

went and established themselves in an avenue of the wood, at a very long

table, and who, each with the larding pin in his hand and the tail of

his fur cap over his ear, set to work, keeping time to a harmonious

song.

The Princess, astonished at this sight, asked the men for whom they were

working.

"Madam," replied the chief among them, "for Prince Riquet with the Tuft,

whose marriage will take place to-morrow." The Princess, still more

surprised than she was before, and suddenly recollecting that it was

just a twelvemonth from the day on which she had promised to marry

Prince Riquet with the Tuft, was overcome with trouble and amazement.

The reason of her not having remembered her promise was, that when she

made it she had been a very foolish person, and since she became gifted

with the new mind that the Prince had given her, she had forgotten all

her follies.

She had not taken another thirty steps when Riquet with the Tuft

presented himself before her, gaily and splendidly attired, like a

prince about to be married. "You see, madam," said he, "I keep my word

punctually, and I doubt not that you have come hither to keep yours, and

to make me, by the giving of your hand, the happiest of men."

"I confess to you frankly," answered the Princess, "that I have not yet

made up my mind on that matter, and that I doubt if I shall ever be able

to do so in the way you wish."

"You astonish me, madam," said Riquet with the Tuft.

"I have no doubt I do," said the Princess; "and assuredly, had I to deal

with a stupid person, with a man without intelligence, I should feel

greatly perplexed. 'A Princess is bound by her word,' he would say to

me, 'and you must marry me, as you have promised to do so.' But as the

person to whom I speak is, of all men in the world, the one of greatest

sense and understanding, I am certain he will listen to reason. You know

that, when I was no better than a fool, I nevertheless could not decide

to marry you--how can you expect, now that I have the mind which you

have given me, and which renders me much more difficult to please than

before, that I should take to-day a resolution which I could not then?

If you seriously thought of marrying me you did very wrong to take away

my stupidity, and so enable me to see more clearly than I saw then."

"If a man without intelligence," replied Riquet with the Tuft, "who

reproached you with your breach of promise, might have a right, as you

have just intimated, to be treated with indulgence, why would you,

madam, that I should receive less consideration in a matter which

affects the entire happiness of my life? Is it reasonable that persons

of intellect should be in a worse position than those that have none?

Can you assert this--you who have so much, and who so earnestly desired

to possess it? But let us come to the point, if you please. Setting

aside my ugliness, is there anything in me that displeases you? Are you

dissatisfied with my birth, my understanding, my temper, or my manners?"

"Not in the least," replied the Princess; "I admire in you everything

you have mentioned."

"If that is so," rejoined Riquet with the Tuft, "I shall soon be happy,

as you have it in your power to make me the most pleasing-looking of

men."

"How can that be done?" asked the Princess.

"It can be done," said Riquet with the Tuft, "if you love me

sufficiently to wish that it should be. And in order, madam, that you

should have no doubt about it, know that the same fairy who, on the day

I was born, endowed me with the power to give intelligence to the person

I chose, gave you also the power to render handsome the man you should

love, and on whom you should wish to bestow this favor."

"If such be the fact," said the Princess, "I wish, with all my heart,

that you should become the handsomest and most lovable Prince in the

world, and I bestow the gift on you to the fullest extent in my power."

The Princess had no sooner pronounced these words than Riquet with the

Tuft appeared to her eyes, of all men in the world, the handsomest, the

best-made, and most attractive she had ever seen. There are some who

assert that it was not the spell of the fairy, but love alone that

caused this metamorphosis. They say that the Princess, having reflected

on the perseverance of her lover, on his prudence, and on all the good

qualities of his heart and mind, no longer saw the deformity of his

body, or the ugliness of his features; that his hump appeared to her

nothing more than a good-natured shrug of his shoulders, and that

instead of noticing, as she had done, how badly he limped, she saw in

him only a certain lounging air, which charmed her. They say also that

his eyes, which squinted, only seemed to her the more brilliant for

this; and that the crookedness of his glance was to her merely

expressive of his great love; and, finally, that his great red nose had

in it, to her mind, something martial and heroic. However this may be,

the Princess promised on the spot to marry him, provided he obtained the

consent of the King, her father. The King, having learned that his

daughter entertained a great regard for Riquet with the Tuft, whom he

knew also to be a very clever and wise Prince, received him with

pleasure as his son-in-law. The wedding took place the next morning, as

Riquet with the Tuft had foreseen, and according to the orders which he

had given a long time before.

No beauty, no talent, has power above

Some indefinite charm discern'd only by love.

_The White Cat_

THERE was once a king who had three sons, all handsome, brave, and noble

of heart. Nevertheless, some wicked courtiers made their father believe

they were eager to wear his crown, which, though he was old, he had no

mind to resign. He therefore invented a plan to get them out of the

kingdom and prevent their carrying out any undutiful projects. Sending

for them to a private audience, he conversed with them kindly, and said:

"You must be sensible, my dear children, that my great age prevents me

from attending as closely as I have hitherto done to state affairs. I

fear this may be injurious to my subjects; I therefore desire to place

my crown on the head of one of you; but it is no more than just that, in

return for such a present, you should procure me some amusement in my

retirement, before I leave the capital forever. I cannot help thinking

that a little dog, handsome, faithful, and engaging, would be the very

thing to make me happy; so that, without bestowing a preference on

either of you, I declare that he who brings me the most perfect little

dog shall be my successor."

The Princes were much surprised at the fancy of their father to have a

little dog, yet they accepted the proposition with pleasure; and

accordingly, after taking leave of the King, who presented them with

abundance of money and jewels, and appointed that day twelvemonth for

their return, they set off on their travels.

Before separating, however, they took some refreshment together in an

old palace about three miles out of town, where they mutually agreed to

meet in the same place on that day twelvemonth, and go all together with

their presents to court. They also agreed to change their names and

travel incognito.

Each took a different road; but it is intended to relate the adventures

of only the youngest, who was the most beautiful, amiable, and

accomplished prince in the world. As he traveled from town to town, he

bought all the handsome dogs that fell in his way; and as soon as he

saw one that was handsomer than those he had, he made a present of the

rest, for twenty servants would scarcely have been sufficient to take

care of all the dogs he was continually purchasing. At length, wandering

he knew not whither, he found himself in a forest; night suddenly came

on, and with it a violent storm of thunder, lightning, and rain. To add

to his perplexity, he lost his way. After he had groped about for a long

time, he perceived a light, which made him suppose that he was not far

from some house. He accordingly pursued his way toward it, and in a

short time found himself at the gates of the most magnificent palace he

had ever beheld. The entrance door was of gold, covered with sapphires,

which shone so that scarcely could the strongest eyesight bear to look

at it. This was the light the Prince had seen from the forest. The walls

were of transparent porcelain, variously colored, and represented the

history of all the fairies that had existed from the beginning of the

world. The Prince, coming back to the golden door, observed a deer's

foot fastened to a chain of diamonds; he could not help wondering at the

magnificence he beheld, and the security in which the inhabitants seemed

to live. "For," said he to himself, "nothing could be easier than for

thieves to steal this chain, and as many of the sapphire stones as would

make their fortunes." He pulled the chain and heard a bell, the sound of

which was exquisite. In a few moments the door was opened; yet he

perceived nothing but twelve hands in the air, each holding a torch. The

Prince was so astonished that he durst not move a step--when he felt

himself gently pushed on by some other hands from behind him. He walked

on in great perplexity till he entered a vestibule inlaid with porphyry

and lapis stone, where the most melodious voice he had ever heard

chanted the following words:

"Welcome, Prince, no danger fear,

Mirth and love attend you here;

You shall break the magic spell,

That on a beauteous lady fell.

"Welcome, Prince, no danger fear,

Mirth and love attend you here."

The Prince now advanced with confidence, wondering what these words

could mean; the hands moved him forward toward a large door of coral,

which opened of itself to give him admittance into a splendid apartment

built of mother-of-pearl, through which he passed into others, so richly

adorned with paintings and jewels, and so resplendently lighted with

thousands of lamps, girandoles, and lusters, that he imagined he must be

in an enchanted palace. When he had passed through sixty apartments, all

equally splendid, he was stopped by the hands, and a large easy chair

advanced of itself toward the fireplace; then the hands, which he

observed were extremely white and delicate, took off his wet clothes,

and supplied their place with the finest linen imaginable, adding a

comfortable wrapping gown embroidered with gold and pearls.

The hands next brought him an elegant dressing table, and combed his

hair so very gently that he scarcely felt their touch. They held before

him a beautiful basin, filled with perfumes, for him to wash his face

and hands, and afterwards took off the wrapping gown and dressed him in

a suit of clothes of still greater splendor. When his toilet was

complete, they conducted him to an apartment he had not yet seen, and

which also was magnificently furnished. There was a table spread for

supper, and everything upon it was of the purest gold adorned with

jewels. The Prince observed there were two covers set, and was wondering

who was to be his companion, when his attention was suddenly caught by a

small figure not a foot high which just then entered the room and

advanced toward him. It had on a long black veil, and was supported by

two cats dressed in mourning and with swords by their sides. They were

followed by a numerous retinue of cats, some carrying cages full of

rats, and others mouse traps full of mice.

The Prince was at a loss what to think. The little figure now

approached, and throwing aside her veil, he beheld a most beautiful

white cat. She seemed young and melancholy, and addressing herself to

him, she said: "My Prince, you are welcome; your presence affords me the

greatest pleasure."

"Madam," replied he, "I would fain thank you for your generosity, nor

can I help observing that you must be an extraordinary creature to

possess, with your present form, the gift of speech and the most

magnificent palace I have ever seen."

"All this is very true," answered the beautiful cat; "but, Prince, I am

not fond of talking, and least of all do I like compliments; let us

therefore sit down to supper."

The trunkless hands then placed the dishes on the table, and the Prince

and White Cat seated themselves at it. The first dish was a pie made of

young pigeons, and the next was a fricassee of the fattest mice. The

view of the one made the Prince almost afraid to taste the other, till

the White Cat, who guessed his thoughts, assured him that there were

certain dishes at table which had been dressed on purpose for him, in

which there was not a morsel of either rat or mouse. Accordingly, he ate

heartily of such as she recommended. When supper was over, he perceived

that the White Cat had a portrait set in gold hanging to one of her

feet. He begged her permission to look at it, when, to his astonishment,

he saw the portrait of a handsome young man who exactly resembled

himself! He thought there was something most extraordinary in all this;

yet, as the White Cat sighed and looked very sorrowful, he did not

venture to ask any questions. He conversed with her on different

subjects, and found her extremely well versed in everything that was

passing in the world. When night was far advanced, his hostess wished

him a good night, and he was conducted by the hands to his bedchamber,

which was different still from anything he had seen in the palace, being

hung with the wings of butterflies mixed with the most curious feathers.

His bed was of gauze, festooned with bunches of the gayest ribbons, and

the looking-glasses reached from the floor to the ceiling. The Prince

was undressed and put into bed by the hands without speaking a word. He,

however, slept little, and in the morning was awakened by a confused

noise. The hands took him out of bed and put on him a handsome hunting

jacket. He looked into the courtyard and perceived more than five

hundred cats busily employed in preparing for the field--for this was a

day of festival. Presently the White Cat came to his apartment, and

having politely inquired after his health, she invited him to partake of

their amusement. The Prince willingly acceded, and mounted a wooden

horse, richly caparisoned, which had been prepared for him, and which he

was assured would gallop to admiration. The beautiful White Cat mounted

a monkey; she wore a dragoon's cap, which made her look so fierce that

all the rats and mice ran away in the utmost terror.

Everything being ready, the horns sounded and away they went. No hunting

was ever more agreeable. The cats ran faster than the hares and rabbits,

and when they caught any they turned them out to be hunted in the

presence of the White Cat, and a thousand cunning tricks were played.

Nor were the birds in safety, for the monkey made nothing of climbing up

the trees with the White Cat on his back, to the nests of the young

eagles. When the chase was over, the whole retinue returned to the

palace. The White Cat immediately exchanged her dragoon's cap for the

veil, and sat down to supper with the Prince, who, being very hungry,

ate heartily, and afterwards partook with her of the most delicious

wines. He then was conducted to his chamber as before, and wakened in

the morning to renew the same sort of life, which day after day became

so charming to him that he no longer thought of anything but of pleasing

the sweet little creature who received him so courteously. Accordingly,

every day was spent in new amusements. The Prince had almost forgotten

his country and relations, and sometimes even regretted that he was not

a cat, so great was his affection for his mewing companions.

"Alas!" said he to the White Cat, "how will it afflict me to leave you,

whom I love so much! Either make yourself a lady or make me a cat." She

smiled at the Prince's wish, but offered no reply.

At length the twelvemonth was nearly expired. The White Cat, who knew

the very day when the Prince was to reach his father's palace, reminded

him that he had but three days longer to look for a perfect little dog.

The Prince, astonished at his own forgetfulness, began to afflict

himself, when the cat told him not to be so sorrowful, since she would

not only provide him with a little dog, but also with a wooden horse

which should convey him safely home in less than twelve hours.

"Look here," said she, showing him an acorn, "this contains what you

desire."

The Prince put the acorn to his ear, and heard the barking of a little

dog. Transported with joy, he thanked the cat a thousand times, and the

next day, bidding her tenderly adieu, he set out on his return.

The Prince arrived first at the place of rendezvous, and was soon joined

by his brothers. They mutually embraced, and began to give an account of

their success, when the youngest showed them only a little mongrel cur,

telling them that he thought it could not fail to please the King, from

its extraordinary beauty. The brothers trod on each other's toes under

the table, as much as to say, "We have little to fear from this

sorry-looking animal." The next day they went together to the palace.

The dogs of the two elder brothers were lying on cushions, and so

curiously wrapped around with embroidered quilts that one would scarcely

venture to touch them. The youngest produced his cur, and all wondered

how the Prince could hope to receive a crown for such a shabby present.

The King examined the two little dogs of the elder Princes, and declared

he thought them so equally beautiful that he knew not to which, with

justice, he could give the preference. They accordingly began to

dispute, when the youngest Prince, taking his acorn from his pocket,

soon ended their contention; for a little dog appeared which could with

ease go through the smallest ring, and was besides a miracle of beauty.

The King could not possibly hesitate in declaring his satisfaction; yet,

as he was not more inclined than the year before to part with his crown,

he told his sons that he was extremely obliged to them for the pains

they had taken, and since they had succeeded so well, he wished they

would make a second attempt; he therefore begged they would take

another year in order to procure a piece of cambric fine enough to be

drawn through the eye of a small needle.

The three Princes thought this very hard; yet they set out, in obedience

to the King's command. The two eldest took different roads, and the

youngest remounted his wooden horse, and in a short time arrived at the

palace of his beloved White Cat, who received him with the greatest joy,

while the trunkless hands helped him to dismount and provided him with

immediate refreshment. Afterwards the Prince gave the White Cat an

account of the admiration which had been bestowed on the beautiful

little dog, and informed her of the further injunction of his father.

"Make yourself perfectly easy, dear Prince," said she; "I have in my

palace some cats who are perfect adepts in making such cambric as the

King requires; so you have nothing to do but to give me the pleasure of

your company while it is making and I will procure you all the amusement

possible."

She accordingly ordered the most curious fireworks to be played off in

sight of the window of the apartment in which they were sitting, and

nothing but festivity and rejoicing was heard throughout the palace for

the Prince's return. As the White Cat frequently gave proofs of an

excellent understanding, the Prince was by no means tired of her

company; she talked with him of state affairs, of theaters, of

fashions--in short, she was at a loss on no subject whatever; so that

when the Prince was alone he had plenty of amusement in thinking how it

could possibly be that a small white cat should be endowed with all the

attractions of the very best and most charming of women.

The twelvemonth in this manner again passed insensibly away, but the cat

took care to remind the Prince of his duty in proper time. "For once, my

Prince," said she, "I will have the pleasure of equipping you as suits

your high rank." And, looking into the courtyard, he saw a superb car,

ornamented all over with gold, silver, pearls, and diamonds, drawn by

twelve horses as white as snow, and harnessed in the most sumptuous

trappings; and behind the car a thousand guards, richly appareled, were

waiting to attend on the Prince's person. She then presented him with a

nut: "You will find in it," said she, "the piece of cambric I promised

you; do not break the shell till you are in the presence of the King

your father." Then, to prevent the acknowledgments which the Prince was

about to offer, she hastily bade him adieu.

Nothing could exceed the speed with which the snow-white horses conveyed

this fortunate Prince to his father's palace, where his brothers had

just arrived before him. They embraced each other, and demanded an

immediate audience of the King, who received them with the greatest of

kindness. The Princes hastened to place at the feet of his majesty the

curious present he had required them to procure. The eldest produced a

piece of cambric so extremely fine that his friends had no doubt of its

passing through the eye of a needle, which was now delivered to the

King, having been kept locked up in the custody of his majesty's

treasurer all the time. But when the King tried to draw the cambric

through the eye of the needle it would not pass, though it failed but

very little. Then came the second Prince, who made as sure of obtaining

the crown as his brother had done, but, alas! with no better success;

for though his piece of cambric was exquisitely fine, yet it could not

be drawn through the eye of the needle. It was now the turn of the

youngest Prince, who accordingly advanced, and opening an elegant little

box inlaid with jewels, took out a walnut and cracked the shell,

imagining he should immediately perceive his piece of cambric; but what

was his astonishment to see nothing but a filbert! He did not, however,

lose his hopes; he cracked the filbert, and it presented him with a

cherry stone. The lords of the court, who had assembled to witness this

extraordinary trial, could not, any more than the Princes his brothers,

refrain from laughing, to think he should be so silly as to claim the

crown on no better pretensions. The Prince, however, cracked the cherry

stone, which was filled with a kernel; he divided it, and found in the

middle a grain of wheat, and in that a grain of millet seed. He was now

absolutely confounded, and could not help muttering between his teeth,

"O White Cat, White Cat, thou hast deceived me!" At this instant he felt

his hand scratched by the claw of a cat, upon which he again took

courage, and opening the grain of millet seed, to the astonishment of

all present he drew forth a piece of cambric four hundred yards long,

and fine enough to be threaded with perfect ease through the eye of the

needle.

When the King found he had no pretext left for refusing the crown to his

youngest son, he sighed deeply, and it was easy to be seen that he was

sorry for the Prince's success.

"My sons," said he, "it is so gratifying to the heart of a father to

receive proofs of his children's love and obedience, that I cannot

refuse myself the satisfaction of requiring of you one thing more. You

must undertake another expedition. That one of you who, by the end of

the year, brings me the most beautiful lady shall marry her and obtain

my crown."

So they again took leave of the King and of each other, and set out

without delay; and in less than twelve hours our young Prince arrived,

in his splendid car, at the palace of his dear White Cat. Everything

went on as before till the end of another year. At length only one day

remained of the year, when the White Cat thus addressed him: "To-morrow,

my Prince, you must present yourself at the palace of your father and

give him a proof of your obedience. It depends only on yourself to

conduct thither the most beautiful princess ever yet beheld, for the

time is come when the enchantment by which I am bound may be ended. You

must cut off my head and tail," continued she, "and throw them into the

fire."

"I!" said the Prince hastily--"I cut off your head and tail! You surely

mean to try my affection, which, believe me, beautiful cat, is truly

yours."

"You mistake me, generous Prince," said she; "I do not doubt your

regard, but if you wish to see me in any other form than that of a cat

you must consent to do as I desire, when you will have done me a service

I shall never be able sufficiently to repay."

The Prince's eyes filled with tears as she spoke, yet he considered

himself obliged to undertake the dreadful task; and the cat continuing

to press him with the greatest eagerness, with a trembling hand he drew

his sword, cut off her head and tail, and threw them into the fire. No

sooner was this done than the most beautiful lady his eyes had ever seen

stood before him, and ere he had sufficiently recovered from his

surprise to speak to her, a long train of attendants, who at the same

moment as their mistress were changed to their natural shapes, came to

offer their congratulations to the Queen and inquire her commands. She

received them with the greatest kindness, and ordering them to withdraw,

thus addressed the astonished Prince:

"Do not imagine, dear Prince, that I have always been a cat, or that I

am of obscure birth. My father was the monarch of six kingdoms; he

tenderly loved my mother, and left her always at liberty to follow her

own inclinations. Her prevailing passion was to travel, and a short time

before my birth, having heard of some fairies who were in possession of

the largest gardens filled with the most delicious fruits, she had so

strong a desire to eat some of them that she set out for the country

where they lived. She arrived at their abode, which she found to be a

magnificent palace, glittering on all sides with gold and precious

stones. She knocked a long time at the gates, but no one came, nor could

she perceive the least sign that it had any inhabitant. The difficulty,

however, did but increase the violence of my mother's longing, for she

saw the tops of the trees above the garden walls loaded with the most

luscious fruits. The Queen, in despair, ordered her attendants to place

tents close to the door of the palace; but, having waited six weeks

without seeing anyone pass the gates, she fell sick of vexation and her

life was despaired of.

"One night, as she lay half asleep, she turned herself about, and

opening her eyes, perceived a little old woman, very ugly and deformed,

seated in the easy chair by her bedside. 'I and my sister fairies,' said

she, 'take it very ill that your majesty should so obstinately persist

in getting some of our fruit; but since so precious a life is at stake,

we consent to give you as much as you can carry away provided you will

give us in return what we shall ask.' 'Ah, kind fairy!' cried the Queen,

'I will give you anything that I possess, even my very kingdoms, on

condition that I eat of your fruit.' The old fairy then informed the

Queen that what they required was that she should give them the child

she was going to have as soon as it should be born, adding that every

possible care should be taken of it, and that it should become the most

accomplished princess. The Queen replied that however cruel the

conditions she must accept them, since nothing but the fruit could save

her life. In short, dear Prince," continued the lady, "my mother

instantly got out of bed, was dressed by her attendants, entered the

palace, and satisfied her longing. Having eaten her fill, she ordered

four thousand mules to be procured and loaded with the fruit, which had

the virtue of continuing all the year round in a state of perfection.

Thus provided, she returned to the King my father, who, with the whole

court, received her with rejoicings, as it was before imagined she would

die of disappointment. All this time the Queen said nothing to my father

of the promise she had made to give her daughter to the fairies, so that

when the time was come that she expected my birth she grew very

melancholy; till at length, being pressed by the King, she declared to

him the truth. Nothing could exceed his affliction when he heard that

his only child, when born, was to be given to the fairies. He bore it,

however, as well as he could for fear of adding to my mother's grief,

and also believing he should find some means of keeping me in a place of

safety, which the fairies would not be able to approach. As soon,

therefore, as I was born, he had me conveyed to a tower in the palace,

to which there were twenty flights of stairs and a door to each, of

which my father kept the key, so that none came near me without his

consent. When the fairies heard of what had been done, they sent first

to demand me, and on my father's refusal, they let loose a monstrous

dragon, which devoured men, women, and children, and which, by the

breath of its nostrils, destroyed everything it came near, so that even

the trees and plants began to die. The grief of the King was excessive,

and, finding that his whole kingdom would in a short time be reduced to

famine, he consented to give me into their hands. I was accordingly laid

in a cradle of mother-of-pearl, ornamented with gold and jewels, and

carried to their palace, when the dragon immediately disappeared. The

fairies placed me in a tower, elegantly furnished, but to which there

was no door, so that whoever approached was obliged to come by the

windows, which were a great height from the ground. From these I had the

liberty of getting out into a delightful garden, in which were baths,

and every sort of cooling fruit. In this place was I educated by the

fairies, who behaved to me with the greatest kindness; my clothes were

splendid, and I was instructed in every kind of accomplishment; in

short, Prince, if I had never seen anyone but themselves I should have

remained very happy. One day, however, as I was talking at the window

with my parrot, I perceived a young gentleman who was listening to our

conversation. As I had never seen a man but in pictures, I was not sorry

for the opportunity of gratifying my curiosity. I thought him a very

pleasing object, and he at length bowed in the most respectful manner,

without daring to speak, for he knew that I was in the palace of the

fairies. When it began to grow dark he went away, and I vainly

endeavored to see which road he took. The next morning, as soon as it

was light, I again placed myself at the window, and had the pleasure of

seeing that the gentleman had returned to the same place. He now spoke

to me through a speaking trumpet, and informed me he thought me a most

charming lady, and that he should be very unhappy if he did not pass his

life in my company.

"I resolved to find some means of escaping from my tower, and was not

long in devising the means for the execution of my project. I begged the

fairies to bring me a netting needle, a mesh, and some cord, saying I

wished to make some nets to amuse myself with catching birds at my

window. This they readily complied with, and in a short time I completed

a ladder long enough to reach to the ground. I now sent my parrot to

the Prince to beg he would come to the usual place, as I wished to speak

with him. He did not fail; and finding the ladder, mounted it, and

quickly entered my tower. This at first alarmed me, but the charms of

his conversation had restored me to tranquillity, when all at once the

window opened, and the Fairy Violent, mounted on the dragon's back,

rushed into the tower. My beloved Prince thought of nothing but how to

defend me from their fury, for I had had time to relate to him my story

previous to this cruel interruption, but their numbers overpowered him,

and the Fairy Violent had the barbarity to command the dragon to devour

my lover before my eyes. In my despair I would have thrown myself also

into the mouth of the horrible monster, but this they took care to

prevent, saying my life should be preserved for greater punishment. The

fairy then touched me with her wand and I instantly became a white cat.

She next conducted me to this palace, which belonged to my father, and

gave me a train of cats for my attendants, together with the twelve

hands that waited on your highness. She then informed me of my birth and

the death of my parents, and pronounced upon me what she imagined the

greatest of maledictions; that I should not be restored to my natural

figure until a young prince, the perfect resemblance of him I had lost,

should cut off my head and tail. You are that perfect resemblance, and

accordingly you ended the enchantment. I need not add that I already

love you more than my life; let us therefore hasten to the palace of the

King your father, and obtain his approbation to our marriage."

The Prince and Princess accordingly set out side by side, in a car of

still greater splendor than before, and reached the palace just as the

two brothers had arrived with two beautiful princesses. The King,

hearing that each of his sons had succeeded in finding what he had

required, again began to think of some new expedient to delay the time

of his resigning the crown; but when the whole court with the King was

assembled to pass judgment, the Princess who accompanied the youngest,

perceiving his thoughts by his countenance, stepped majestically forward

and thus addressed him:

"It is a pity that your majesty, who is so capable of governing, should

think of resigning the crown! I am fortunate enough to have six kingdoms

in my possession; permit me to bestow one on each of the eldest princes,

and to enjoy the remaining four in the society of the youngest. And may

it please your majesty to keep your own kingdom, and make no decision

concerning the beauty of three princesses, who, without such a proof of

your majesty's preference, will no doubt live happily together!"

The air resounded with the applauses of the assembly. The young Prince

and Princess embraced the King, and next their brothers and sisters. The

three weddings immediately took place, and the kingdoms were divided as

the Princess had proposed.

_Prince Cherry_

LONG ago there lived a monarch who was such a very honest man that his

subjects entitled him the Good King. One day, when he was out hunting, a

little white rabbit, which had been half killed by his hounds, leaped

right into his majesty's arms. Said he, caressing it: "This poor

creature has put itself under my protection, and I will allow no one to

injure it." So he carried it to his palace, had prepared for it a neat

little rabbit hutch, with abundance of the daintiest food such as

rabbits love, and there he left it.

The same night, when he was alone in his chamber, there appeared to him

a beautiful lady. She was dressed neither in gold, nor silver, nor

brocade, but her flowing robes were white as snow, and she wore a

garland of white roses on her head. The Good King was greatly astonished

at the sight, for his door was locked, and he wondered how so dazzling a

lady could possibly enter; but she soon removed his doubts.

"I am the Fairy Candide," said she, with a smiling and gracious air.

"Passing through the wood where you were hunting, I took a desire to

know if you were as good as men say you are. I therefore changed myself

into a white rabbit, and took refuge in your arms. You saved me and now

I know that those who are merciful to dumb beasts will be ten times more

so to human beings. You merit the name your subjects give you: you are

the Good King. I thank you for your protection, and shall be always one

of your best friends. You have but to say what you most desire, and I

promise you your wish shall be granted."

"Madam," replied the King, "if you are a fairy, you must know without my

telling you the wish of my heart. I have one well-beloved son, Prince

Cherry. Whatever kindly feeling you have toward me, extend it to him."