When night came and he was in bed the princess asked him: 'What was the
matter with you last night, that you never spoke a word to me?'
Then he cried out: 'That was not me, but my brother, and I have slain
him, because he told me by the way that he had claimed you for his
wife!'
'Do you know the place where you slew him?' asked the princess, 'and can
you find the body?'
'I know the place exactly.'
'Then to-morrow we shall ride thither,' said the princess.
Next morning accordingly they set out together, and when they had come
to the place, the princess drew forth a small bottle that she had
brought with her, and sprinkled the body with some drops of the water so
that immediately he became alive again.
When he stood up, his brother said to him: 'Forgive me, dear brother,
that I slew you in my anger.' Then they embraced and went together to
the Fairest in the Land, whom the unmarried brother took to wife.
Then the brothers brought their parents to live with them, and all dwelt
together in joy and happiness.
_CANNETELLA_
There was once upon a time a king who reigned over a country called
'Bello Puojo.' He was very rich and powerful, and had everything in the
world he could desire except a child. But at last, after he had been
married for many years, and was quite an old man, his wife Renzolla
presented him with a fine daughter, whom they called Cannetella.
She grew up into a beautiful girl, and was as tall and straight as a
young fir-tree. When she was eighteen years old her father called her to
him and said: 'You are of an age now, my daughter, to marry and settle
down; but as I love you more than anything else in the world, and desire
nothing but your happiness, I am determined to leave the choice of a
husband to yourself. Choose a man after your own heart, and you are
sure to satisfy me.' Cannetella thanked her father very much for his
kindness and consideration, but told him that she had not the slightest
wish to marry, and was quite determined to remain single.
The king, who felt himself growing old and feeble, and longed to see an
heir to the throne before he died, was very unhappy at her words, and
begged her earnestly not to disappoint him.
When Cannetella saw that the king had set his heart on her marriage, she
said: 'Very well, dear father, I will marry to please you, for I do not
wish to appear ungrateful for all your love and kindness; but you must
find me a husband handsomer, cleverer, and more charming than anyone
else in the world.'
The king was overjoyed by her words, and from early in the morning till
late at night he sat at the window and looked carefully at all the
passers-by, in the hopes of finding a son-in-law among them.
One day, seeing a very good-looking man crossing the street, the king
called his daughter and said: 'Come quickly, dear Cannetella, and look
at this man, for I think he might suit you as a husband.'
They called the young man into the palace, and set a sumptuous feast
before him, with every sort of delicacy you can imagine. In the middle
of the meal the youth let an almond fall out of his mouth, which,
however, he picked up again very quickly and hid under the table-cloth.
When the feast was over the stranger went away', and the king asked
Cannetella: 'Well, what did you think of the youth?'
'I think he was a clumsy wretch,' replied Cannetella. 'Fancy a-man of
his age letting an almond fall out of his mouth!'
When the king heard her answer he returned to his watch at the window,
and shortly afterwards a very handsome young man passed by. The king
instantly called his daughter to come and see what she thought of the
new comer.
'Call him in,' said Cannetella, 'that we may see him close.'
Another splendid feast was prepared, and when the stranger had eaten and
drunk as much as he was able, and had taken his departure, the king
asked Cannetella how she liked him.
'Not at all,' replied his daughter; 'what could you do with a man who
requires at least two servants to help him on with his cloak, because he
is too awkward to put it on properly himself?'
'If that's all you have against him,' said the king, 'I see how the land
lies. You are determined not to have a husband at all; but marry someone
you shall, for I do not mean my name and house to die out.'
'Well, then, my dear parent,' said Cannetella, 'I must tell you at once
that you had better not count upon me, for I never mean to marry unless
I can find a man with a gold head and gold teeth.'
The king was very angry at finding his daughter so obstinate; but as he
always gave the girl her own way in everything, he issued a
proclamation to the effect that any man with a gold head and gold teeth
might come forward and claim the princess as his bride, and the kingdom
of Bello Puojo as a wedding gift.
Now the king had a deadly enemy called Scioravante, who was a very
powerful magician. No sooner had this man heard of the proclamation than
he summoned his attendant spirits and commanded them to gild his head
and teeth. The spirits said, at first, that the task was beyond their
powers, and suggested that a pair of golden horns attached to his
forehead would both be easier to make and more comfortable to wear; but
Scioravante would allow no compromise, and insisted on having a head and
teeth made of the finest gold. When it was fixed on his shoulders he
went for a stroll in front of the palace. And the king, seeing the very
man he was in search of, called his daughter, and said: 'Just look out
of the window, and you will find exactly what you want.'
Then, as Scioravante was hurrying past, the king shouted out to him:
'Just stop a minute, brother, and don't be in such desperate haste. If
you will step in here you shall have my daughter for a wife, and I will
send attendants with her, and as many horses and servants as you wish.'
'A thousand thanks,' returned Scioravante; 'I shall be delighted to
marry your daughter, but it is quite unnecessary to send anyone to
accompany her. Give me a horse and I will carry off the princess in
front of my saddle, and will bring her to my own kingdom, where there is
no lack of courtiers or servants, or, indeed, of anything your daughter
can desire.'
At first the king was very much against Cannetella's departing in this
fashion; but finally Scioravante got his way, and placing the princess
before him on his horse, he set out for his own country.
Towards evening he dismounted, and entering a stable he placed
Cannetella in the same stall as his horse, and said to her: 'Now listen
to what I have to say. I am going to my home now, and that is a seven
years' journey from here; you must wait for me in this stable, and never
move from the spot, or let yourself be seen by a living soul. If you
disobey my commands, it will be the worse for you.'
[Illustration: SCIORAVANTE LEAVES CANNETELLA IN THE STABLE]
The princess answered meekly: 'Sir I am your servant, and will do
exactly as you bid me; but I should like to know what I am to live on
till you come back?'
'You can take what the horses leave,' was Scioravante's reply.
When the magician had left her Cannetella felt very miserable, and
bitterly cursed the day she was born. She spent all her time weeping and
bemoaning the cruel fate that had driven her from a palace into a
stable, from soft, down cushions to a bed of straw, and from the
dainties of her father's table to the food that the horses left.
She led this wretched life for a few months, and during that time she
never saw who fed and watered the horses, for it was all done by
invisible hands.
One day, when she was more than usually unhappy, she perceived a little
crack in the wall, through which she could see a beautiful garden, with
all manner of delicious fruits and flowers growing in it. The sight and
smell of such delicacies were too much for poor Cannetella, and she said
to herself, 'I will slip quietly out, and pick a few oranges and grapes,
and I don't care what happens. Who is there to tell my husband what I
do? and even if he should hear of my disobedience, he cannot make my
life more miserable than it is already.'
So she slipped out and refreshed her poor, starved body with the fruit
she plucked in the garden.
But a short time afterwards her husband returned unexpectedly, and one
of the horses instantly told him that Cannetella had gone into the
garden, in his absence, and had stolen some oranges and grapes.
Scioravante was furious when he heard this, and seizing a huge knife
from his pocket he threatened to kill his wife for her disobedience.
But Cannetella threw herself at his feet and implored him to spare her
life, saying that hunger drove even the wolf from the wood. At last she
succeeded in so far softening her husband's heart that he said, 'I will
forgive you this time, and spare your life; but if you disobey me again,
and I hear, on my return, that you have as much as moved out of the
stall, I will certainly kill you. So, beware; for I am going away once
more, and shall be absent for seven years.'
With these words he took his departure, and Cannetella burst into a
flood of tears, and, wringing her hands, she moaned: 'Why was I ever
born to such a hard fate? Oh! father, how miserable you have made your
poor daughter! But, why should I blame my father? for I have only myself
to thank for all my sufferings. I got the cursed head of gold, and it
has brought all this misery on me. I am indeed punished for not doing as
my father wished!'
When a year had gone by, it chanced, one day, that the king's cooper
passed the stables where Cannetella was kept prisoner. She recognised
the man, and called him to come in. At first he did not know the poor
princess, and could not make out who it was that called him by name. But
when he heard Cannetella's tale of woe, he hid her in a big empty barrel
he had with him, partly because he was sorry for the poor girl, and,
even more, because he wished to gain the king's favour. Then he slung
the barrel on the mule's back, and in this way the princess was carried
to her own home. They arrived at the palace about four o'clock in the
morning, and the cooper knocked loudly at the door. When the servants
came in haste and saw only the cooper standing at the gate, they were
very indignant, and scolded him soundly for coming at such an hour and
waking them all out of their sleep.
The king hearing the noise and the cause of it, sent for the cooper, for
he felt certain the man must have some important business, to have come
and disturbed the whole palace at such an early hour.
The cooper asked permission to unload his mule, and Cannetella crept out
of the barrel. At first the king refused to believe that it was really
his daughter, for she had changed so terribly in a few years, and had
grown so thin and pale, that it was pitiful to see her. At last the
princess showed her father a mole she had on her right arm, and then he
saw that the poor girl was indeed his long-lost Cannetella. He kissed
her a thousand times, and instantly had the choicest food and drink set
before her.
[Illustration: CANNETELLA COMES OUT OF THE CASK]
After she had satisfied her hunger, the king said to her: 'Who would
have thought, my dear daughter, to have found you in such a state? What,
may I ask, has brought you to this pass?'
Cannetella replied: 'That wicked man with the gold head and teeth
treated me worse than a dog, and many a time, since I left you, have I
longed to die. But I couldn't tell you all that I have suffered, for you
would never believe me. It is enough that I am once more with you, and I
shall never leave you again, for I would rather be a slave in your house
than queen in any other.'
In the meantime Scioravante had returned to the stables, and one of the
horses told him that Cannetella had been taken away by a cooper in a
barrel.
When the wicked magician heard this he was beside himself with rage,
and, hastening to the kingdom of Bello Puojo, he went straight to an old
woman who lived exactly opposite the royal palace, and said to her: 'If
you will let me see the king's daughter', I will give you whatever
reward you like to ask for.'
The woman demanded a hundred ducats of gold, and Scioravante counted
them out of his purse and gave them to her without a murmur. Then the
old woman led him to the roof of the house, where he could see
Cannetella combing out her long hair in a room in the top story of the
palace.
The princess happened to look out of the window, and when she saw her
husband gazing at her, she got such a fright that she flew downstairs to
the king, and said: 'My lord and father, unless you shut me up instantly
in a room with seven iron doors, I am lost.'
'If that's all' said the king, 'it shall be done at once.' And he gave
orders for the doors to be closed on the spot.
When Scioravante saw this he returned to the old woman, and said: 'I
will give you whatever you like if you will go into the palace, hide
under the princess's bed, and slip this little piece of paper beneath
her pillow, saying, as you do so: "May everyone in the palace, except
the princess, fall into a sound sleep."'
The old woman demanded another hundred golden ducats, and then proceeded
to carry out the magician's wishes. No sooner had she slipped the piece
of paper under Cannetella's pillow, than all the people in the palace
fell fast asleep, and only the princess remained awake.
Then Scioravante hurried to the seven doors and opened them one after
the other. Cannetella screamed with terror when she saw her husband, but
no one came to her help, for all in the palace lay as if they were dead.
The magician seized her in the bed on which she lay, and was going to
carry her off with him, when the little piece of paper which the old
woman had placed under her pillow fell on the floor.
In an instant all the people in the palace woke up, and as Cannetella
was still screaming for help, they rushed to her rescue. They seized
Scioravante and put him to death; so he was caught in the trap which he
had laid for the princess--and, as is so often the case in this world,
the biter himself was bit.
[From the Italian, _Kletke_.]
_THE OGRE_
There lived, once upon a time, in the land of Marigliano, a poor woman
called Masella, who had six pretty daughters, all as upright as young
fir-trees, and an only son called Antonio, who was so simple as to be
almost an idiot. Hardly a day passed without his mother saying to him;
'What are you doing, you useless creature? If you weren't too stupid to
look after yourself, I would order you to leave the house and never to
let me see your face again.'
Every day the youth committed some fresh piece of folly, till at last
Masella, losing all patience, gave him a good beating, which so startled
Antonio that he took to his heels and never stopped running till it was
dark and the stars were shining in the heavens. He wandered on for some
time, not knowing where to go, and at last he came to a cave, at the
mouth of which sat an ogre, uglier than anything you can conceive.
He had a huge head and wrinkled brow--eyebrows that met, squinting eyes,
a flat broad nose, and a great gash of a mouth from which two huge tusks
stuck out. His skin was hairy, his arms enormous, his legs like sword
blades, and his feet as flat as ducks'. In short, he was the most
hideous and laughable object in the world.
But Antonio, who, with all his faults, was no coward, and was moreover a
very civil-spoken lad, took off his hat, and said: 'Good-day, sir; I
hope you are pretty well. Could you kindly tell me how far it is from
here to the place where I wish to go?'
[Illustration: ANTONIO·IS·NOT·AFRAID·OF·THE·OGRE]
When the ogre heard this extraordinary question he burst out laughing,
and as he liked the youth's polite manners he said to him: 'Will you
enter my service?'
'What wages do you give?' replied Antonio.
'If you serve me faithfully,' returned the ogre, 'I'll be bound you'll
get enough wages to satisfy you.'
So the bargain was struck, and Antonio agreed to become the ogre's
servant. He was very well treated, in every way, and he had little or no
work to do, with the result that in a few days he became as fat as a
quail, as round as a barrel, as red as a lobster, and as impudent as a
bantam-cock.
But, after two years, the lad got weary of this idle life, and longed
desperately to visit his home again. The ogre, who could see into his
heart and knew how unhappy he was, said to him one day: 'My dear
Antonio, I know how much you long to see your mother and sisters again,
and because I love you as the apple of my eye, I am willing to allow you
to go home for a visit. Therefore, take this donkey, so that you may not
have to go on foot; but see that you never say "Bricklebrit" to him, for
if you do you'll be sure to regret it.'
Antonio took the beast without as much as saying thank you, and jumping
on its back he rode away in great haste; but he hadn't gone two hundred
yards when he dismounted and called out 'Bricklebrit.'
No sooner had he pronounced the word than the donkey opened its mouth
and poured forth rubies, emeralds, diamonds and pearls, as big as
walnuts.
Antonio gazed in amazement at the sight of such wealth, and joyfully
filling a huge sack with the precious stones, he mounted the donkey
again and rode on till he came to an inn. Here he got down, and going
straight to the landlord, he said to him: 'My good man, I must ask you
to stable this donkey for me. Be sure you give the poor beast plenty of
oats and hay, but beware of saying the word "Bricklebrit" to him, for if
you do I can promise you will regret it. Take this heavy sack, too, and
put it carefully away for me.'
The landlord, who was no fool, on receiving this strange warning, and
seeing the precious stones sparkling through the canvas of the sack, was
most anxious to see what would happen if he used the forbidden word. So
he gave Antonio an excellent dinner, with a bottle of fine old wine, and
prepared a comfortable bed for him. As soon as he saw the poor simpleton
close his eyes and had heard his lusty snores, he hurried to the stables
and said to the donkey 'Bricklebrit,' and the animal as usual poured
out any number of precious stones.
When the landlord saw all these treasures he longed to get possession of
so valuable an animal, and determined to steal the donkey from his
foolish guest. As soon as it was light next morning Antonio awoke, and
having rubbed his eyes and stretched himself about a hundred times he
called the landlord and said to him: 'Come here, my friend, and produce
your bill, for short reckonings make long friends.'
When Antonio had paid his account he went to the stables and took out
his donkey, as he thought, and fastening a sack of gravel, which the
landlord had substituted for his precious stones, on the creature's
back, he set out for his home.
No sooner had he arrived there than he called out: 'Mother, come
quickly, and bring table-cloths and sheets with you, and spread them out
on the ground, and you will soon see what wonderful treasures I have
brought you.'
His mother hurried into the house, and opening the linen-chest where she
kept her daughters' wedding outfits, she took out table-cloths and
sheets made of the finest linen, and spread them flat and smooth on the
ground. Antonio placed the donkey on them, and called out 'Bricklebrit.'
But this time he met with no success, for the donkey took no more notice
of the magic word than he would have done if a lyre had been twanged in
his ear. Two, three, and four times did Antonio pronounce 'Bricklebrit,'
but all in vain, and he might as well have spoken to the wind.
Disgusted and furious with the poor creature, he seized a thick stick
and began to beat it so hard that he nearly broke every bone in its
body. The miserable donkey was so distracted at such treatment that, far
from pouring out precious stones, it only tore and dirtied all the fine
linen.
When poor Masella saw her table-cloths and sheets being destroyed, and
that instead of becoming rich she had only been made a fool of, she
seized another stick and belaboured Antonio so unmercifully with it,
that he fled before her, and never stopped till he reached the ogre's
cave.
When his master saw the lad returning in such a sorry plight, he
understood at once what had happened to him, and making no bones about
the matter, he told Antonio what a fool he had been to allow himself to
be so imposed upon by the landlord, and to let a worthless animal be
palmed off on him instead of his magic donkey.
Antonio listened humbly to the ogre's words, and vowed solemnly that he
would never act so foolishly again. And so a year passed, and once more
Antonio was overcome by a fit of home-sickness, and felt a great longing
to see his own people again.
Now the ogre, although he was so hideous to look upon, had a very kind
heart, and when he saw how restless and unhappy Antonio was, he at once
gave him leave to go home on a visit. At parting he gave him a beautiful
table-cloth, and said: 'Give this to your mother; but see that you don't
lose it as you lost the donkey, and till you are safely in your own
house beware of saying "Table-cloth, open," and "Table-cloth, shut." If
you do, the misfortune be on your own head, for I have given you fair
warning.'
Antonio set out on his journey, but hardly had he got out of sight of
the cave than he laid the table-cloth on the ground and said,
'Table-cloth, open.' In an instant the table-cloth unfolded itself and
disclosed a whole mass of precious stones and other treasures.
When Antonio perceived this he said, 'Table-cloth, shut,' and continued
his journey. He came to the same inn again, and calling the landlord to
him, he told him to put the table-cloth carefully away, and whatever he
did not to say 'Table-cloth, open,' or 'Table-cloth, shut,' to it.
The landlord, who was a regular rogue, answered, 'Just leave it to me, I
will look after it as if it were my own.'
After he had given Antonio plenty to eat and drink, and had provided him
with a comfortable bed, he went straight to the table-cloth and said,
'Table-cloth, open.' It opened at once, and displayed such costly
treasures that the landlord made up his mind on the spot to steal it.
When Antonio awoke next morning, the host handed him over a table-cloth
exactly like his own, and carrying it carefully over his arm, the
foolish youth went straight to his mother's house, and said: 'Now we
shall be rich beyond the dreams of avarice, and need never go about in
rags again, or lack the best of food.'
With these words he spread the table-cloth on the ground and said,
'Table-cloth, open.'
But he might repeat the injunction as often as he pleased, it was only
waste of breath, for nothing happened. When Antonio saw this he turned
to his mother and said: 'That old scoundrel of a landlord has done me
once more; but he will live to repent it, for if I ever enter his inn
again, I will make him suffer for the loss of my donkey and the other
treasures he has robbed me of.'
Masella was in such a rage over her fresh disappointment that she could
not restrain her impatience, and, turning on Antonio, she abused him
soundly, and told him to get out of her sight at once, for she would
never acknowledge him as a son of hers again. The poor boy was very
depressed by her words, and slunk back to his master like a dog with his
tail between his legs. When the ogre saw him, he guessed at once what
had happened. He gave Antonio a good scolding, and said, 'I don't know
what prevents me smashing your head in, you useless ne'er-do-well! You
blurt everything out, and your long tongue never ceases wagging for a
moment. If you had remained silent in the inn this misfortune would
never have overtaken you, so you have only yourself to blame for your
present suffering.'
Antonio listened to his master's words in silence, looking for all the
world like a whipped dog. When he had been three more years in the
ogre's service he had another bad fit of home-sickness, and longed very
much to see his mother and sisters again.
So he asked for permission to go home on a visit, and it was at once
granted to him. Before he set out on his journey the ogre presented him
with a beautifully carved stick and said, 'Take this stick as a
remembrance of me; but beware of saying, "Rise up, Stick," and "Lie
down, Stick," for if you do, I can only say I wouldn't be in your shoes
for something.'
Antonio took the stick and said, 'Don't be in the least alarmed, I'm not
such a fool as you think, and know better than most people what two and
two make.'
'I'm glad to hear it,' replied the ogre, 'but words are women, deeds are
men. You have heard what I said, and forewarned is forearmed.'
This time Antonio thanked his master warmly for all his kindness, and
started on his homeward journey in great spirits; but he had not gone
half a mile when he said 'Rise up, Stick.'
The words were hardly out of his mouth when the stick rose and began to
rain down blows on poor Antonio's back with such lightning-like rapidity
that he had hardly strength to call out, 'Lie down, Stick'; but as soon
as he uttered the words the stick lay down, and ceased beating his back
black and blue.
Although he had learnt a lesson at some cost to himself, Antonio was
full of joy, for he saw a way now of revenging himself on the wicked
landlord. Once more he arrived at the inn, and was received in the most
friendly and hospitable manner by his host. Antonio greeted him
cordially, and said: 'My friend, will you kindly take care of this stick
for me? But, whatever you do, don't say "Rise up, Stick." If you do, you
will be sorry for it, and you needn't expect any sympathy from me.'
The landlord, thinking he was coming in for a third piece of good
fortune, gave Antonio an excellent supper; and after he had seen him
comfortably to bed, he ran to the stick, and calling to his wife to
come and see the fun, he lost no time in pronouncing the words 'Rise up,
Stick.'
The moment he spoke the stick jumped up and beat the landlord so
unmercifully that he and his wife ran screaming to Antonio, and, waking
him up, pleaded for mercy.
When Antonio saw how successful his trick had been he said: 'I refuse to
help you, unless you give me all that you have stolen from me, otherwise
you will be beaten to death.'
The landlord, who felt himself at death's door already, cried out: 'Take
back your property, only release me from this terrible stick;' and with
these words he ordered the donkey, the table-cloth, and other treasures
to be restored to their rightful owner.
As soon as Antonio had recovered his belongings he said 'Stick, lie
down,' and it stopped beating the landlord at once.
Then he took his donkey and table-cloth and arrived safely at his home
with them. This time the magic words had the desired effect, and the
donkey and table-cloth provided the family with treasures untold.
Antonio very soon married off his sister, made his mother rich for life,
and they all lived happily for ever after.
[From the Italian, _Kletke_.]
_A FAIRY'S BLUNDER_
Once upon a time there lived a fairy whose name was Dindonette. She was
the best creature in the world, with the kindest heart; but she had not
much sense, and was always doing things, to benefit people, which
generally ended in causing pain and distress to everybody concerned. No
one knew this better than the inhabitants of an island far off in the
midst of the sea, which, according to the laws of fairyland, she had
taken under her special protection, thinking day and night of what she
could do to make the isle the pleasantest place in the whole world, as
it was the most beautiful.
Now what happened was this:
As the fairy went about, unseen, from house to house, she heard
everywhere children longing for the time when they would be 'grown-up,'
and able, they thought, to do as they liked; and old people talking
about the past, and sighing to be young again.
'Is there no way of satisfying these poor things?' she thought. And then
one night an idea occurred to her. 'Oh, yes, of course! It has been
tried before; but I will manage better than the rest, with their old
Fountain of Youth, which, after all, only made people young again. I
will enchant the spring that bubbles up in the middle of the orchard,
and the children that drink of it shall at once become grown men and
women, and the old people return to the days of their childhood.'
And without stopping to consult one single other fairy, who might have
given her good advice, off rushed Dindonette, to cast her spell over the
fountain.
It was the only spring of fresh water in the island, and at dawn was
crowded with people of all ages, come to drink at its source. Delighted
at her plan for making them all happy, the fairy hid herself behind a
thicket of roses, and peeped out whenever footsteps came that way. It
was not long before she had ample proof of the success of her
enchantments. Almost before her eyes the children put on the size and
strength of adults, while the old men and women instantly became
helpless, tiny babies. Indeed, so pleased was she with the result of her
work, that she could no longer remain hidden, and went about telling
everybody what she had done, and enjoying their gratitude and thanks.
But after the first outburst of delight at their wishes being granted,
people began to be a little frightened at the rapid effects of the magic
water. It was delicious to feel yourself at the height of your power and
beauty, but you would wish to keep so always! Now this was exactly what
the fairy had been in too much of a hurry to arrange, and no sooner had
the children become grown up, and the men and women become babies, than
they all rushed on to old age at an appalling rate! The fairy only found
out her mistake when it was too late to set it right.
When the inhabitants of the island saw what had befallen them, they were
filled with despair, and did everything they could think of to escape
from such a dreadful fate. They dug wells in their places, so that they
should no longer need to drink from the magic spring; but the sandy soil
yielded no water, and the rainy season was already past. They stored up
the dew that fell, and the juice of fruits and of herbs, but all this
was as a drop in the ocean of their wants. Some threw themselves into
the sea, trusting that the current might carry them to other
shores--they had no boats--and a few, still more impatient, put
themselves to death on the spot. The rest submitted blindly to their
destiny.
Perhaps the worst part of the enchantment was, that the change from one
age to another was so rapid that the person had no time to prepare
himself for it. It would not have mattered so much if the man who stood
up in the assembly of the nation, to give his advice as to peace or war,
had looked like a baby, as long as he spoke with the knowledge and sense
of a full-grown man. But, alas! with the outward form of an infant, he
had taken on its helplessness and foolishness, and there was no one who
could train him to better things. The end of it all was, that before a
month had passed the population had died out, and the fairy Dindonette,
ashamed and grieved at the effects of her folly, had left the island for
ever.
Many centuries after, the fairy Selnozoura, who had fallen into bad
health, was ordered by her doctors to make the tour of the world twice a
week for change of air, and in one of these journeys she found herself
at Fountain Island. Selnozoura never made these trips alone, but always
took with her two children, of whom she was very fond--Cornichon, a boy
of fourteen, bought in his childhood at a slave-market, and Toupette, a
few months younger, who had been entrusted to the care of the fairy by
her guardian, the genius Kristopo. Cornichon and Toupette were intended
by Selnozoura to become husband and wife, as soon as they were old
enough. Meanwhile, they travelled with her in a little vessel, whose
speed through the air was just a thousand nine hundred and fifty times
greater than that of the swiftest of our ships.
Struck with the beauty of the island, Selnozoura ran the vessel to
ground, and leaving it in the care of the dragon which lived in the hold
during the voyage, stepped on shore with her two companions. Surprised
at the sight of a large town whose streets and houses were absolutely
desolate, the fairy resolved to put her magic arts in practice to find
out the cause. While she was thus engaged, Cornichon and Toupette
wandered away by themselves, and by-and-by arrived at the fountain,
whose bubbling waters looked cool and delicious on such a hot day.
Scarcely had they each drunk a deep draught, when the fairy, who by this
time had discovered all she wished to know, hastened to the spot.
'Oh, beware! beware!' she cried, the moment she saw them. 'If you drink
that deadly poison you will be ruined for ever!'
'Poison?' answered Toupette. 'It is the most refreshing water I have
ever tasted, and Cornichon will say so too!'
'Unhappy children, then I am too late! Why did you leave me? Listen, and
I will tell you what has befallen the wretched inhabitants of this
island, and what will befall you too. The power of fairies is great,'
she added, when she had finished her story, 'but they cannot destroy
the work of another fairy. Very shortly you will pass into the weakness
and silliness of extreme old age, and all I can do for you is to make it
as easy to you as possible, and to preserve you from the death that
others have suffered, from having no one to look after them. But the
charm is working already! Cornichon is taller and more manly than he was
an hour ago, and Toupette no longer looks like a little girl.'
It was true; but this fact did not seem to render the young people as
miserable as it did Selnozoura.
'Do not pity us,' said Cornichon. 'If we are fated to grow old so soon,
let us no longer delay our marriage. What matter if we anticipate our
decay, if we only anticipate our happiness too?'
The fairy felt that Cornichon had reason on his side, and seeing by a
glance at Toupette's face that there was no opposition to be feared from
her, she answered, 'Let it be so, then. But not in this dreadful place.
We will return at once to Bagota, and the festivities shall be the most
brilliant ever seen.'
They all returned to the vessel, and in a few hours the four thousand
five hundred miles that lay between the island and Bagota were passed.
Everyone was surprised to see the change which the short absence had
made in the young people, but as the fairy had promised absolute silence
about the adventure, they were none the wiser, and busied themselves in
preparing their dresses for the marriage, which was fixed for the next
night.
Early on the following morning the genius Kristopo arrived at the Court,
on one of the visits he was in the habit of paying his ward from time to
time. Like the rest, he was astonished at the sudden improvement in the
child. He had always been fond of her, and in a moment he fell violently
in love. Hastily demanding an audience of the fairy, he laid his
proposals before her, never doubting that she would give her consent to
so brilliant a match. But Selnozoura refused to listen, and even hinted
that in his own interest Kristopo had better turn his thoughts
elsewhere. The genius pretended to agree, but, instead, he went straight
to Toupette's room, and flew away with her through the window, at the
very instant that the bridegroom was awaiting her below.
When the fairy discovered what had happened, she was furious, and sent
messenger after messenger to the genius in his palace at Ratibouf,
commanding him to restore Toupette without delay, and threatening to
make war in case of refusal.
Kristopo gave no direct answer to the fairy's envoys, but kept Toupette
closely guarded in a tower, where the poor girl used all her powers of
persuasion to induce him to put off their marriage. All would, however,
have been quite in vain if, in the course of a few days, sorrow, joined
to the spell of the magic water, had not altered her appearance so
completely that Kristopo was quite alarmed, and declared that she needed
amusement and fresh air, and that, as his presence seemed to distress
her, she should be left her own mistress. But one thing he declined to
do, and that was to send her back to Bagota.
In the meantime both sides had been busily collecting armies, and
Kristopo had given the command of his to a famous general, while
Selnozoura had placed Cornichon at the head of her forces. But before
war was actually declared, Toupette's parents, who had been summoned by
the genius, arrived at Ratibouf. They had never seen their daughter
since they parted from her as a baby, but from time to time travellers
to Bagota had brought back accounts of her beauty. What was their
amazement, therefore, at finding, instead of a lovely girl, a
middle-aged woman, handsome indeed, but quite faded--looking, in fact,
older than themselves. Kristopo, hardly less astonished than they were
at the sudden change, thought that it was a joke on the part of one of
his courtiers, who had hidden Toupette away, and put this elderly lady
in her place. Bursting with rage, he sent instantly for all the
servants and guards of the town, and inquired who had the insolence to
play him such a trick, and what had become of their prisoner. They
replied that since Toupette had been in their charge she had never left
her rooms unveiled, and that during her walks in the surrounding
gardens, her food had been brought in and placed on her table; as she
preferred to eat alone no one had ever seen her face, or knew what she
was like.
The servants were clearly speaking the truth, and Kristopo was obliged
to believe them. 'But,' thought he, 'if they have not had a hand in
this, it must be the work of the fairy,' and in his anger he ordered the
army to be ready to march.
On her side, Selnozoura of course knew what the genius had to expect,
but was deeply offended when she heard of the base trick which she was
believed to have invented. Her first desire was to give battle to
Kristopo at once, but with great difficulty her ministers induced her to
pause, and to send an ambassador to Kristopo to try to arrange matters.
So the Prince Zeprady departed for the court of Ratibouf, and on his way
he met Cornichon, who was encamped with his army just outside the gates
of Bagota. The Prince showed him the fairy's written order that for the
present peace must still be kept, and Cornichon, filled with longing to
see Toupette once more, begged to be allowed to accompany Zeprady on his
mission to Ratibouf.
By this time the genius's passion for Toupette, which had caused all
these troubles, had died out, and he willingly accepted the terms of
peace offered by Zeprady, though he informed the prince that he still
believed the fairy to be guilty of the dreadful change in the girl. To
this the prince only replied that on that point he had a witness who
could prove, better than anyone else, if it was Toupette or not, and
desired that Cornichon should be sent for.
When Toupette was told that she was to see her old lover again, her
heart leapt with joy; but soon the recollection came to her of all that
had happened, and she remembered that Cornichon would be changed as well
as she. The moment of their meeting was not all happiness, especially on
the part of Toupette, who could not forget her lost beauty, and the
genius, who was present, was at last convinced that he had not been
deceived, and went out to sign the treaty of peace, followed by his
attendants.
'Ah, Toupette: my dear Toupette!' cried Cornichon, as soon as they were
left alone; 'now that we are once more united, let our past troubles be
forgotten.'
'Our _past_ troubles!' answered she, 'and what do you call our lost
beauty and the dreadful future before us? You are looking fifty years
older than when I saw you last, and I know too well that fate has
treated me no better!'
'Ah, do not say that,' replied Cornichon, clasping her hand, 'You are
different, it is true; but every age has its graces, and surely no woman
of sixty was ever handsomer than you! If your eyes had been as bright as
of yore they would have matched badly with your faded skin. The wrinkles
which I notice on your forehead explain the increased fulness of your
cheeks, and your throat in withering is elegant in decay. Thus the
harmony shown by your features, even as they grow old, is the best proof
of their former beauty.
'Oh, monster,' cried Toupette, bursting into tears, 'is that all the
comfort you can give me?'
'But, Toupette,' answered Cornichon; 'you used to declare that you did
not care for beauty, as long as you had my heart.'
'Yes, I know,' said she, 'but how can you go on caring for a person who
is as old and plain as I?'
'Toupette, Toupette,' replied Cornichon, 'you are only talking nonsense.
My heart is as much yours as ever it was, and nothing in the world can
make any difference.'
At this point of the conversation the Prince Zeprady entered the room,
with the news that the genius, full of regret for his behaviour, had
given Cornichon full permission to depart for Bagota as soon as he
liked, and to take Toupette with him; adding that, though he begged they
would excuse his taking leave of them before they went, he hoped, before
long, to visit them at Bagota.
Neither of the lovers slept that night--Cornichon from joy at returning
home, Toupette from dread of the blow to her vanity which awaited her at
Bagota. It was hopeless for Cornichon to try to console her during the
journey with the reasons he had given the day before. She only grew
worse and worse, and when they reached the palace went straight to her
old apartments, entreating the fairy to allow both herself and Cornichon
to remain concealed, and to see no one.
For some time after their arrival the fairy was taken up with the
preparations for the rejoicings which were to celebrate the peace, and
with the reception of the genius, who was determined to do all in his
power to regain Selnozoura's lost friendship. Cornichon and Toupette
were therefore left entirely to themselves, and though this was only
what they wanted, still, they began to feel a little neglected.
At length, one morning, they saw from the windows that the fairy and the
genius were approaching, in state, with all their courtiers in
attendance. Toupette instantly hid herself in the darkest corner of the
room, but Cornichon, forgetting that he was now no longer a boy of
fourteen, ran to meet them. In so doing he tripped and fell, bruising
one of his eyes severely. At the sight of her lover lying helpless on
the floor, Toupette hastened to his side; but her feeble legs gave way
under her, and she fell almost on top of him, knocking out three of her
loosened teeth against his forehead. The fairy, who entered the room at
this moment, burst into tears, and listened in silence to the genius,
who hinted that by-and-by everything would be put right.
'At the last assembly of the fairies,' he said, 'when the doings of each
fairy were examined and discussed, a proposal was made to lessen, as far
as possible, the mischief caused by Dindonette by enchanting the
fountain. And it was decided that, as she had meant nothing but
kindness, she should have the power of undoing one half of the spell. Of
course she might always have destroyed the fatal fountain, which would
have been best of all; but this she never thought of. Yet, in spite of
this, her heart is so good, that I am sure that the moment she hears
that she is wanted she will fly to help. Only, before she comes, it is
for you, Madam, to make up your mind which of the two shall regain their
former strength and beauty.'
At these words the fairy's soul sank. Both Cornichon and Toupette were
equally dear to her, and how could she favour one at the cost of the
other? As to the courtiers, none of the men were able to understand why
she hesitated a second to declare for Toupette; while the ladies were
equally strong on the side of Cornichon.
But, however undecided the fairy might be, it was quite different with
Cornichon and Toupette.
'Ah, my love,' exclaimed Cornichon, 'at length I shall be able to give
you the best proof of my devotion by showing you how I value the
beauties of your mind above those of your body! While the most charming
women of the court will fall victims to my youth and strength, I shall
think of nothing but how to lay them at your feet, and pay heart-felt
homage to your age and wrinkles.'
'Not so fast,' interrupted Toupette, 'I don't see why you should have it
all. Why do you heap such humiliations upon me? But I will trust to the
justice of the fairy, who will not treat me so.'
Then she entered her own rooms, and refused to leave them, in spite of
the prayers of Cornichon, who begged her to let him explain.
No one at the court thought or spoke of any other subject during the few
days before the arrival of Dindonette, whom everybody expected to set
things right in a moment. But, alas! she had no idea herself what was
best to be done, and always adopted the opinion of the person she was
talking to. At length a thought struck her, which seemed the only way of
satisfying both parties, and she asked the fairy to call together all
the court and the people to hear her decision.
'Happy is he,' she began, 'who can repair the evil he has caused, but
happier he who has never caused any.'
As nobody contradicted this remark, she continued:
'To me it is only allowed to undo one half of the mischief I have
wrought. I could restore you your youth,' she said to Cornichon, 'or
your beauty,' turning to Toupette. 'I will do both; and I will do
neither.'
A murmur of curiosity arose from the crowd, while Cornichon and Toupette
trembled with astonishment.
'No,' went on Dindonette, 'never should I have the cruelty to leave one
of you to decay, while the other enjoys the glory of youth. And as I
cannot restore you both at once to what you were, one half of each of
your bodies shall become young again, while the other half goes on its
way to decay. I will leave it to you to choose which half it shall
be--if I shall draw a line round the waist, or a line straight down the
middle of the body.'
She looked about her proudly, expecting applause for her clever idea.
But Cornichon and Toupette were shaking with rage and disappointment,
and everyone else broke into shouts of laughter. In pity for the unhappy
lovers, Selnozoura came forward.
'Do you not think,' she said, 'that instead of what you propose, it
would be better to let them take it in turns to enjoy their former youth
and beauty for a fixed time? I am sure you could easily manage that.'
'What an excellent notion!' cried Dindonette. 'Oh, yes, of course that
is best! Which of you shall I touch first?'
'Touch her,' replied Cornichon, who was always ready to give way to
Toupette. 'I know her heart too well to fear any change.'
So the fairy bent forward and touched her with her magic ring, and in
one instant the old woman was a girl again. The whole court wept with
joy at the sight, and Toupette ran up to Cornichon, who had fallen down
in his surprise, promising to pay him long visits, and tell him of all
her balls and water parties.
The two fairies went to their own apartments, where the genius followed
them to take his leave.
'Oh, dear!' suddenly cried Dindonette, breaking in to the farewell
speech of the genius. 'I quite forgot to fix the time when Cornichon
should in his turn grow young. How stupid of me! And now I fear it is
too late, for I ought to have declared it before I touched Toupette with
the ring. Oh, dear! oh, dear! why did nobody warn me?'
'You were so quick,' replied Selnozoura, who had long been aware of the
mischief the fairy had again done, 'and we can only wait now till
Cornichon shall have reached the utmost limits of his decay, when he
will drink of the water, and become a baby once more, so that Toupette
will have to spend her life as a nurse, a wife, and a caretaker.'
After the anxiety of mind and the weakness of body to which for so long
Toupette had been a prey, it seemed as if she could not amuse herself
enough, and it was seldom indeed that she found time to visit poor
Cornichon, though she did not cease to be fond of him, or to be kind to
him. Still, she was perfectly happy without him, and this the poor man
did not fail to see, almost blind and deaf from age though he was.
But it was left to Kristopo to undo at last the work of Dindonette, and
give Cornichon back the youth he had lost, and this the genius did all
the more gladly, as he discovered, quite by accident, that Cornichon was
in fact his son. It was on this plea that he attended the great yearly
meeting of the fairies, and prayed that, in consideration of his
services to so many of the members, this one boon might be granted him.
Such a request had never before been heard in fairyland, and was
objected to by some of the older fairies; but both Kristopo and
Selnozoura were held in such high honour that the murmurs of disgust
were set aside, and the latest victim to the enchanted fountain was
pronounced to be free of the spell. All that the genius asked in return
was that he might accompany the fairy back to Bagota, and be present
when his son assumed his proper shape.
They made up their minds they would just tell Toupette that they had
found a husband for her, and give her a pleasant surprise at her
wedding, which was fixed for the following night. She heard the news
with astonishment, and many pangs for the grief which Cornichon would
certainly feel at his place being taken by another; but she did not
dream of disobeying the fairy, and spent the whole day wondering who the
bridegroom could be.
At the appointed hour, a large crowd assembled at the fairy's palace,
which was decorated with the sweetest flowers, known only to fairyland.
Toupette had taken her place, but where was the bridegroom?
'Fetch Cornichon!' said the fairy to her chamberlain.
But Toupette interposed: 'Oh, Madam, spare him, I entreat you, this
bitter pain, and let him remain hidden and in peace.'
'It is necessary that he should be here,' answered the fairy, 'and he
will not regret it.'
And, as she spoke, Cornichon was led in, smiling with the foolishness of
extreme old age at the sight of the gay crowd.
'Bring him here,' commanded the fairy, waving her hand towards Toupette,
who started back from surprise and horror.
Selnozoura then took the hand of the poor old man, and the genius came
forward and touched him three times with his ring, when Cornichon was
transformed into a handsome young man.
'May you live long,' the genius said, 'to enjoy happiness with your
wife, and to love your father.'
And that was the end of the mischief wrought by the fairy Dindonette!
[_Cabinet des Fées_.]
_LONG, BROAD, AND QUICKEYE_
(BOHEMIAN STORY)
Once upon a time there lived a king who had an only son whom he loved
dearly. Now one day the king sent for his son and said to him:
'My dearest child, my hair is grey and I am old, and soon I shall feel
no more the warmth of the sun, or look upon the trees and flowers. But
before I die I should like to see you with a good wife; therefore marry,
my son, as speedily as possible.'
'My father,' replied the prince, 'now and always, I ask nothing better
than to do your bidding, but I know of no daughter-in-law that I could
give you.'
On hearing these words the old king drew from his pocket a key of gold,
and gave it to his son, saying:
'Go up the staircase, right up to the top of the tower. Look carefully
round you, and then come and tell me which you like best of all that you
see.'
So the young man went up. He had never before been in the tower, and had
no idea what it might contain.
The staircase wound round and round and round, till the prince was
almost giddy, and every now and then he caught sight of a large room
that opened out from the side. But he had been told to go to the top,
and to the top he went. Then he found himself in a hall, which had an
iron door at one end. This door he unlocked with his golden key, and he
passed through into a vast chamber which had a roof of blue sprinkled
with golden stars, and a carpet of green silk soft as turf. Twelve
windows framed in gold let in the light of the sun, and on every window
was painted the figure of a young girl, each more beautiful than the
last. While the prince gazed at them in surprise, not knowing which he
liked best, the girls began to lift their eyes and smile at him. He
waited, expecting them to speak, but no sound came.
Suddenly he noticed that one of the windows was covered by a curtain of
white silk.
He lifted it, and saw before him the image of a maiden beautiful as the
day and sad as the tomb, clothed in a white robe, having a girdle of
silver and a crown of pearls. The prince stood and gazed at her, as if
he had been turned into stone, but as he looked the sadness which was on
her face seemed to pass into his heart, and he cried out:
'This one shall be my wife. This one and no other.'
[Illustration: the sadness of her face seemed to pass into his heart.]
As he said the words the young girl blushed and hung her head, and all
the other figures vanished.
The young prince went quickly back to his father, and told him all he
had seen and which wife he had chosen. The old man listened to him full
of sorrow, and then he spoke:
'You have done ill, my son, to search out that which was hidden, and you
are running to meet a great danger. This young girl has fallen into the
power of a wicked sorcerer, who lives in an iron castle. Many young men
have tried to deliver her, and none have ever come back. But what is
done is done! You have given your word, and it cannot be broken. Go,
dare your fate, and return to me safe and sound.'
So the prince embraced his father, mounted his horse, and set forth to
seek his bride. He rode on gaily for several hours, till he found
himself in a wood where he had never been before, and soon lost his way
among its winding paths and deep valleys. He tried in vain to see where
he was: the thick trees shut out the sun, and he could not tell which
was north and which was south, so that he might know what direction to
make for. He felt in despair, and had quite given up all hope of getting
out of this horrible place, when he heard a voice calling to him.
'Hey! hey! stop a minute!'
The prince turned round and saw behind him a very tall man, running as
fast as his legs would carry him.
'Wait for me,' he panted, 'and take me into your service. If you do, you
will never be sorry.'
'Who are you?' asked the prince, 'and what can you do?'
'Long is my name, and I can lengthen my body at will. Do you see that
nest up there on the top of that pine-tree? Well, I can get it for you
without taking the trouble of climbing the tree,' and Long stretched
himself up and up and up, till he was very soon as tall as the pine
itself. He put the nest in his pocket, and before you could wink your
eyelid he had made himself small again, and stood before the prince.
'Yes; you know your business,' said he, 'but birds' nests are no use to
me. I am too old for them. Now if you were only able to get me out of
this wood, you would indeed be good for something.'
'Oh, there's no difficulty about that,' replied Long, and he stretched
himself up and up and up till he was three times as tall as the tallest
tree in the forest. Then he looked all round and said, 'We must go in
this direction in order to get out of the wood,' and shortening himself
again, he took the prince's horse by the bridle, and led him along. Very
soon they got clear of the forest, and saw before them a wide plain
ending in a pile of high rocks, covered here and there with trees, and
very much like the fortifications of a town.
As they left the wood behind Long turned to the prince and said, 'My
lord, here comes my comrade. You should take him into your service too,
as you will find him a great help.'
'Well, call him then, so that I can see what sort of a man he is.'
'He is a little too far off for that,' replied Long. 'He would hardly
hear my voice, and he couldn't be here for some time yet, as he has so
much to carry. I think I had better go and bring him myself,' and this
time he stretched himself to such a height that his head was lost in the
clouds. He made two or three strides, took his friend on his back, and
set him down before the prince. The new-comer was a very fat man, and as
round as a barrel.
'Who are you?' asked the prince, 'and what can you do?'
'Your worship, Broad is my name, and I can make myself as wide as I
please.'
'Let me see how you manage it.'
'Run, my lord, as fast as you can, and hide yourself in the wood,' cried
Broad, and he began to swell himself out.
[Illustration: BROAD PUFFS HIMSELF OUT]
The prince did not understand why he should run to the wood, but when he
saw Long flying towards it, he thought he had better follow his example.
He was only just in time, for Broad had so suddenly inflated himself
that he very nearly knocked over the prince and his horse too. He
covered all the space for acres round. You would have thought he was a
mountain!
At length Broad ceased to expand, drew a deep breath that made the whole
forest tremble, and shrank into his usual size.
'You have made me run away,' said the prince. 'But it is not every day
one meets with a man of your sort. I will take you into my service.'
So the three companions continued their journey, and when they were
drawing near the rocks they met a man whose eyes were covered by a
bandage.
'Your excellency,' said Long, 'this is our third comrade. You will do
well to take him into your service, and, I assure you, you will find him
worth his salt.'
'Who are you?' asked the prince. 'And why are your eyes bandaged? You
can never see your way!'
'It is just the contrary, my lord! It is because I see only too well
that I am forced to bandage my eyes. Even so I see as well as people
who have no bandage. When I take it off my eyes pierce through
everything. Everything I look at catches fire, or, if it cannot catch
fire, it falls into a thousand pieces. They call me Quickeye.'
And so saying he took off his bandage and turned towards the rock. As he
fixed his eyes upon it a crack was heard, and in a few moments it was
nothing but a heap of sand. In the sand something might be detected
glittering brightly. Quickeye picked it up and brought it to the prince.
It turned out to be a lump of pure gold.
'You are a wonderful creature,' said the prince, 'and I should be a fool
not to take you into my service. But since your eyes are so good, tell
me if I am very far from the Iron Castle, and what is happening there
just now.'
'If you were travelling alone,' replied Quickeye, 'it would take you at
least a year to get to it; but as we are with you, we shall arrive there
to-night. Just now they are preparing supper.'
'There is a princess in the castle. Do you see her?'
'A wizard keeps her in a high tower, guarded by iron bars.'
'Ah, help me to deliver her!' cried the prince.
And they promised they would.
Then they all set out through the grey rocks, by the breach made by the
eyes of Quickeye, and passed over great mountains and through deep
woods. And every time they met with any obstacle the three friends
contrived somehow to put it aside. As the sun was setting, the prince
beheld the towers of the Iron Castle, and before it sank beneath the
horizon he was crossing the iron bridge which led to the gates. He was
only just in time, for no sooner had the sun disappeared altogether,
than the bridge drew itself up and the gates shut themselves.
There was no turning back now!
The prince put up his horse in the stable, where everything looked as if
a guest was expected, and then the whole party marched straight up to
the castle. In the court, in the stables, and all over the great halls,
they saw a number of men richly dressed, but every one turned into
stone. They crossed an endless set of rooms, all opening into each
other, till they reached the dining-hall. It was brilliantly lighted;
the table was covered with wine and fruit, and was laid for four. They
waited a few minutes expecting some one to come, but as nobody did, they
sat down and began to eat and drink, for they were very hungry.
When they had done their supper they looked about for some place to
sleep. But suddenly the door burst open, and the wizard entered the
hall. He was old and hump-backed, with a bald head and a grey beard that
fell to his knees. He wore a black robe, and instead of a belt three
iron circlets clasped his waist. He led by the hand a lady of wonderful
beauty, dressed in white, with a girdle of silver and a crown of pearls,
but her face was pale and sad as death itself.
The prince knew her in an instant, and moved eagerly forward; but the
wizard gave him no time to speak, and said:
'I know why you are here. Very good; you may have her if for three
nights following you can prevent her making her escape. If you fail in
this, you and your servants will all be turned into stone, like those
who have come before you.' And offering the princess a chair, he left
the hall.
The prince could not take his eyes from the princess, she was so lovely!
He began to talk to her, but she neither answered nor smiled, and sat as
if she were made of marble. He seated himself by her, and determined not
to close his eyes that night, for fear she should escape him. And in
order that she should be doubly guarded, Long stretched himself like a
strap all round the room, Broad took his stand by the door and puffed
himself out, so that not even a mouse could slip by, and Quickeye leant
against a pillar which stood in the middle of the floor and supported
the roof. But in half a second they were all sound asleep, and they
slept sound the whole night long.
In the morning, at the first peep of dawn, the prince awoke with a
start. But the princess was gone. He aroused his servants and implored
them to tell him what he must do.
'Calm yourself, my lord,' said Quickeye. 'I have found her already. A
hundred miles from here there is a forest. In the middle of the forest,
an old oak, and on the top of the oak, an acorn. This acorn is the
princess. If Long will take me on his shoulders, we shall soon bring her
back.' And sure enough, in less time than it takes to walk round the
cottage, they had returned from the forest, and Long presented the acorn
to the prince.
'Now, your excellency, throw it on the ground.'
The prince obeyed, and was enchanted to see the princess appear at his
side. But when the sun peeped for the first time over the mountains, the
door burst open as before, and the wizard entered with a loud laugh.
Suddenly he caught sight of the princess; his face darkened, he uttered
a low growl, and one of the iron circlets gave way with a crash. He
seized the young girl by the hand and bore her away with him.
All that day the prince wandered about the castle, studying the curious
treasures it contained, but everything looked as if life had suddenly
come to a standstill. In one place he saw a prince who had been turned
into stone in the act of brandishing a sword round which his two hands
were clasped. In another, the same doom had fallen upon a knight in the
act of running away. In a third, a serving man was standing eternally
trying to convey a piece of beef to his mouth, and all around them were
others, still preserving for evermore the attitudes they were in when
the wizard had commanded 'From henceforth be turned into marble.' In the
castle, and round the castle, all was dismal and desolate. Trees there
were, but without leaves; fields there were, but no grass grew on them.
There was one river, but it never flowed and no fish lived in it. No
flowers blossomed, and no birds sang.
Three times during the day food appeared, as if by magic, for the prince
and his servants. And it was not until supper was ended that the wizard
appeared, as on the previous evening, and delivered the princess into
the care of the prince.
All four determined that this time they would keep awake at any cost.
But it was no use. Off they went as they had done before, and when the
prince awoke the next morning the room was again empty.
With a pang of shame, he rushed to find Quickeye. 'Awake! Awake!
Quickeye! Do you know what has become of the princess?'
Quickeye rubbed his eyes and answered: 'Yes, I see her. Two hundred
miles from here there is a mountain. In this mountain is a rock. In the
rock, a precious stone. This stone is the princess. Long shall take me
there, and we will be back before you can turn round.'
So Long took him on his shoulders and they set out. At every stride they
covered twenty miles, and as they drew near Quickeye fixed his burning
eyes on the mountain; in an instant it split into a thousand pieces, and
in one of these sparkled the precious stone. They picked it up and
brought it to the prince, who flung it hastily down, and as the stone
touched the floor the princess stood before him. When the wizard came,
his eyes shot forth flames of fury. Cric-crac was heard, and another of
his iron bands broke and fell. He seized the princess by the hand and
led her off, growling louder than ever.
All that day things went on exactly as they had done the day before.
After supper the wizard brought back the princess, and looking him
straight in the eyes he said, 'We shall see which of us two will gain
the prize after all!'
That night they struggled their very hardest to keep awake, and even
walked about instead of sitting down. But it was quite useless. One
after another they had to give in, and for the third time the princess
slipped through their fingers.
When morning came, it was as usual the prince who awoke the first, and
as usual, the princess being gone, he rushed to Quickeye.
[Illustration: THE GUARDIANS CAUGHT NAPPING]
'Get up, get up, Quickeye, and tell me where is the princess?'
Quickeye looked about for some time without answering. 'Oh, my lord, she
is far, very far. Three hundred miles away there lies a black sea. In
the middle of this sea there is a little shell, and in the middle of the
shell is fixed a gold ring. That gold ring is the princess. But do not
vex your soul; we will get her. Only to-day, Long must take Broad with
him. He will be wanted badly.'
So Long took Quickeye on one shoulder, and Broad on the other, and they
set out. At each stride they left thirty miles behind them. When they
reached the black sea, Quickeye showed them the spot where they must
seek the shell. But though Long stretched down his hand as far as it
would go, he could not find the shell, for it lay at the bottom of the
sea.
'Wait a moment, comrades, it will be all right. I will help you,' said
Broad.
Then he swelled himself out so that you would have thought the world
could hardly have held him, and stooping down he drank. He drank so much
at every mouthful, that only a minute or so passed before the water had
sunk enough for Long to put his hand to the bottom. He soon found the
shell, and pulled the ring out. But time had been lost, and Long had a
double burden to carry. The dawn was breaking fast before they got back
to the castle, where the prince was waiting for them in an agony of
fear.
Soon the first rays of the sun were seen peeping over the tops of the
mountains. The door burst open, and finding the prince standing alone
the wizard broke into peals of wicked laughter. But as he laughed a loud
crash was heard, the window fell into a thousand pieces, a gold ring
glittered in the air, and the princess stood before the enchanter. For
Quickeye, who was watching from afar, had told Long of the terrible
danger now threatening the prince, and Long, summoning all his strength
for one gigantic effort, had thrown the ring right through the window.
The wizard shrieked and howled with rage, till the whole castle trembled
to its foundations. Then a crash was heard, the third band split in two,
and a crow flew out of the window.
Then the princess at length broke the enchanted silence, and blushing
like a rose, gave the prince her thanks for her unlooked-for
deliverance.
But it was not only the princess who was restored to life by the flight
of the wicked black crow. The marble figures became men once more, and
took up their occupations just as they had left them off. The horses
neighed in the stables, the flowers blossomed in the garden, the birds
flew in the air, the fish darted in the water. Everywhere you looked,
all was life, all was joy!
And the knights who had been turned into stone came in a body to offer
their homage to the prince who had set them free.
'Do not thank me,' he said, 'for I have done nothing. Without my
faithful servants, Long, Broad, and Quickeye, I should even have been as
one of you.'
With these words he bade them farewell, and departed with the princess
and his faithful companions for the kingdom of his father.
The old king, who had long since given up all hope, wept for joy at the
sight of his son, and insisted that the wedding should take place as
soon as possible.
All the knights who had been enchanted in the Iron Castle were invited
to the ceremony, and after it had taken place, Long, Broad, and Quickeye
took leave of the young couple, saying that they were going to look for
more work.
The prince offered them all their hearts could desire if they would only
remain with him, but they replied that an idle life would not please
them, and that they could never be happy unless they were busy, so they
went away to seek their fortunes, and for all I know are seeking still.
[_Contes populaires_. Traduits par Louis Léger. Paris: Leroux, éditeur.]
_PRUNELLA_
There was once upon a time a woman who had an only daughter. When the
child was about seven years old she used to pass every day, on her way
to school, an orchard where there was a wild plum tree, with delicious
ripe plums hanging from the branches. Each morning the child would pick
one, and put it into her pocket to eat at school. For this reason she
was called Prunella. Now, the orchard belonged to a witch. One day the
witch noticed the child gathering a plum, as she passed along the road.
Prunella did it quite innocently, not knowing that she was doing wrong
in taking the fruit that hung close to the roadside. But the witch was
furious, and next day hid herself behind the hedge, and when Prunella
came past, and put out her hand to pluck the fruit, she jumped out and
seized her by the arm.
'Ah! you little thief!' she exclaimed. 'I have caught you at last. Now
you will have to pay for your misdeeds.'
The poor child, half dead with fright, implored the old woman to forgive
her, assuring her that she did not know she had done wrong, and
promising never to do it again. But the witch had no pity, and she
dragged Prunella into her house, where she kept her till the time should
come when she could have her revenge.
As the years passed Prunella grew up into a very beautiful girl. Now her
beauty and goodness, instead of softening the witch's heart, aroused her
hatred and jealousy.
One day she called Prunella to her, and said: 'Take this basket, go to
the well, and bring it back to me filled with water. If you don't I will
kill you.'
The girl took the basket, went and let it down into the well again and
again. But her work was lost labour. Each time, as she drew up the
basket, the water streamed out of it. At last, in despair, she gave it
up, and leaning against the well she began to cry bitterly, when
suddenly she heard a voice at her side saying 'Prunella, why are you
crying?'
Turning round she beheld a handsome youth, who looked kindly at her, as
if he were sorry for her trouble.
'Who are you,' she asked, 'and how do you know my name?'
'I am the son of the witch,' he replied, 'and my name is Bensiabel. I
know that she is determined that you shall die, but I promise you that
she shall not carry out her wicked plan. Will you give me a kiss, if I
fill your basket?'
'No,' said Prunella, 'I will not give you a kiss, because you are the
son of a witch.'
'Very well,' replied the youth sadly. 'Give me your basket and I will
fill it for you.' And he dipped it into the well, and the water stayed
in it. Then the girl returned to the house, carrying the basket filled
with water. When the witch saw it, she became white with rage, and
exclaimed 'Bensiabel must have helped you.' And Prunella looked down,
and said nothing.
'Well, we shall see who will win in the end,' said the witch, in a great
rage.
The following day she called the girl to her and said: 'Take this sack
of wheat. I am going out for a little; by the time I return I shall
expect you to have made it into bread. If you have not done it I will
kill you.' Having said this she left the room, closing and locking the
door behind her.
Poor Prunella did not know what to do. It was impossible for her to
grind the wheat, prepare the dough, and bake the bread, all in the short
time that the witch would be away. At first she set to work bravely, but
when she saw how hopeless her task was, she threw herself on a chair,
and began to weep bitterly. She was roused from her despair by hearing
Bensiabel's voice at her side saying: 'Prunella, Prunella, do not weep
like that. If you will give me a kiss I will make the bread, and you
will be saved.'
'I will not kiss the son of a witch,' replied Prunella.
But Bensiabel took the wheat from her, and ground it, and made the
dough, and when the witch returned the bread was ready baked in the
oven.
Turning to the girl, with fury in her voice, she said: 'Bensiabel must
have been here and helped you;' and Prunella looked down, and said
nothing.
'We shall see who will win in the end,' said the witch, and her eyes
blazed with anger.
Next day she called the girl to her and said: 'Go to my sister, who
lives across the mountains. She will give you a casket, which you must
bring back to me.' This she said knowing that her sister, who was a
still more cruel and wicked witch than herself, would never allow the
girl to return, but would imprison her and starve her to death. But
Prunella did not suspect anything, and set out quite cheerfully. On the
way she met Bensiabel.
'Where are you going, Prunella?' he asked.
'I am going to the sister of my mistress, from whom I am to fetch a
casket.'
'Oh poor, poor girl!' said Bensiabel. 'You are being sent straight to
your death. Give me a kiss, and I will save you.'
But again Prunella answered as before, 'I will not kiss the son of a
witch.'
'Nevertheless, I will save your life,' said Bensiabel, 'for I love you
better than myself. Take this flagon of oil, this loaf of bread, this
piece of rope, and this broom. When you reach the witch's house, oil the
hinges of the door with the contents of the flagon, and throw the loaf
of bread to the great fierce mastiff, who will come to meet you. When
you have passed the dog, you will see in the courtyard a miserable woman
trying in vain to let down a bucket into the well with her plaited hair.
You must give her the rope. In the kitchen you will find a still more
miserable woman trying to clean the hearth with her tongue; to her you
must give the broom. You will see the casket on the top of a cupboard,
take it as quickly as you can, and leave the house without a moment's
delay. If you do all this exactly as I have told you, you will not be
killed.'
So Prunella, having listened carefully to his instructions, did just
what he had told her. She reached the house, oiled the hinges of the
door, threw the loaf to the dog, gave the poor woman at the well the
rope, and the woman in the kitchen the broom, caught up the casket from
the top of the cupboard, and fled with it out of the house. But the
witch heard her as she ran away, and rushing to the window called out to
the woman in the kitchen: 'Kill that thief, I tell you!'
But the woman replied: 'I will not kill her, for she has given me a
broom, whereas you forced me to clean the hearth with my tongue.'
Then the witch called out in fury to the woman at the well; 'Take the
girl, I tell you, and fling her into the water, and drown her!'
But the woman answered; 'No, I will not drown her, for she gave me this
rope, whereas you forced me to use my hair to let down the bucket to
draw water.'
Then the witch shouted to the dog to seize the girl and hold her fast;
but the dog answered; 'No, I will not seize her, for she gave me a loaf
of bread, whereas you let me starve with hunger.'
The witch was so angry that she nearly choked, as she called out; 'Door,
bang upon her, and keep her a prisoner.'
But the door answered; 'I won't, for she has oiled my hinges, so that
they move quite easily, whereas you left them all rough and rusty.'
And so Prunella escaped, and, with the casket under her arm, reached the
house of her mistress who, as you may believe, was as angry as she was
surprised to see the girl standing before her, looking more beautiful
than ever. Her eyes flashed, as in furious tones she asked her, 'Did you
meet Bensiabel?'
But Prunella looked down, and said nothing.
'We shall see,' said the witch, 'who will win in the end. Listen, there
are three cocks in the hen-house; one is yellow, one black, and the
third is white. If one of them crows during the night you must tell me
which one it is. Woe to you if you make a mistake. I will gobble you up
in one mouthful.'
Now Bensiabel was in the room next to the one where Prunella slept. At
midnight she awoke hearing a cock crow.
'Which one was that?' shouted the witch.
Then, trembling, Prunella knocked on the wall and whispered: 'Bensiabel,
Bensiabel, tell me, which cock crowed?'
'Will you give me a kiss if I tell you?' he whispered back through the
wall.