diff options
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 3 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 7277-0.txt | 12537 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 7277-0.zip | bin | 0 -> 241934 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 7277-h.zip | bin | 0 -> 253348 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 7277-h/7277-h.htm | 14433 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 7277.txt | 12537 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 7277.zip | bin | 0 -> 240985 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/7gfry10.txt | 13353 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/7gfry10.zip | bin | 0 -> 247176 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/8gfry10.txt | 13353 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/8gfry10.zip | bin | 0 -> 247295 bytes |
13 files changed, 66229 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/7277-0.txt b/7277-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f006504 --- /dev/null +++ b/7277-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,12537 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Green Fairy Book, by Various + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Green Fairy Book + +Author: Various + +Editor: Andrew Lang + +Release Date: January, 2005 [EBook #7277] +Last Updated: December 16, 2016 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GREEN FAIRY BOOK *** + + + + +Produced by JC Byers, Wendy Crockett and David Widger + + + + + + + + + +THE GREEN FAIRY BOOK + +By Various + +Edited by Andrew Lang + + To + Stella Margaret Alleyne + the + Green Fairy Book + is dedicated + + + +To The Friendly Reader + + +This is the third, and probably the last, of the Fairy Books of many +colours. First there was the Blue Fairy Book; then, children, you asked +for more, and we made up the Red Fairy Book; and, when you wanted more +still, the Green Fairy Book was put together. The stories in all the +books are borrowed from many countries; some are French, some German, +some Russian, some Italian, some Scottish, some English, one Chinese. +However much these nations differ about trifles, they all agree in +liking fairy tales. The reason, no doubt, is that men were much like +children in their minds long ago, long, long ago, and so before they +took to writing newspapers, and sermons, and novels, and long poems, +they told each other stories, such as you read in the fairy books. They +believed that witches could turn people into beasts, that beasts could +speak, that magic rings could make their owners invisible, and all the +other wonders in the stories. Then, as the world became grown-up, the +fairy tales which were not written down would have been quite forgotten +but that the old grannies remembered them, and told them to the little +grandchildren: and when they, in their turn, became grannies, they +remembered them, and told them also. In this way these tales are older +than reading and writing, far older than printing. The oldest fairy +tales ever written down were written down in Egypt, about Joseph’s time, +nearly three thousand five hundred years ago. Other fairy stories Homer +knew, in Greece, nearly three thousand years ago, and he made them all +up into a poem, the Odyssey, which I hope you will read some day. Here +you will find the witch who turns men into swine, and the man who bores +out the big foolish giant’s eye, and the cap of darkness, and the shoes +of swiftness, that were worn later by Jack the Giant-Killer. These fairy +tales are the oldest stories in the world, and as they were first +made by men who were childlike for their own amusement, so they amuse +children still, and also grown-up people who have not forgotten how they +once were children. + +Some of the stories were made, no doubt, not only to amuse, but to teach +goodness. You see, in the tales, how the boy who is kind to beasts, and +polite, and generous, and brave, always comes best through his trials, +and no doubt these tales were meant to make their hearers kind, +unselfish, courteous, and courageous. This is the moral of them. But, +after all, we think more as we read them of the diversion than of the +lesson. There are grown-up people now who say that the stories are +not good for children, because they are not true, because there are +no witches, nor talking beasts, and because people are killed in them, +especially wicked giants. But probably you who read the tales know very +well how much is true and how much is only make-believe, and I never yet +heard of a child who killed a very tall man merely because Jack killed +the giants, or who was unkind to his stepmother, if he had one, because, +in fairy tales, the stepmother is often disagreeable. If there are +frightful monsters in fairy tales, they do not frighten you now, because +that kind of monster is no longer going about the world, whatever he may +have done long, long ago. He has been turned into stone, and you may +see his remains in museums. Therefore, I am not afraid that you will +be afraid of the magicians and dragons; besides, you see that a really +brave boy or girl was always their master, even in the height of their +power. + +Some of the tales here, like The Half-Chick, are for very little +children; others for older ones. The longest tales, like Heart of Ice, +were not invented when the others were, but were written in French, by +clever men and women, such as Madame d’Aulnoy, and the Count de Caylus, +about two hundred years ago. There are not many people now, perhaps +there are none, who can write really good fairy tales, because they do +not believe enough in their own stories, and because they want to be +wittier than it has pleased Heaven to make them. + +So here we give you the last of the old stories, for the present, and +hope you will like them, and feel grateful to the Brothers Grimm, who +took them down from the telling of old women, and to M. Sebillot and +M. Charles Marelles, who have lent us some tales from their own French +people, and to Mr. Ford, who drew the pictures, and to the ladies, Miss +Blackley, Miss Alma Alleyne, Miss Eleanor Sellar, Miss May Sellar, Miss +Wright, and Mrs. Lang, who translated many of the tales out of French, +German, and other languages. + +If we have a book for you next year, it shall not be a fairy book. +What it is to be is a secret, but we hope that it will not be dull. So +good-bye, and when you have read a fairy book, lend it to other children +who have none, or tell them the stories in your own way, which is a very +pleasant mode of passing the time. + + + +Contents + + The Blue Bird + The Half-Chick + The Story of Caliph Stork + The Enchanted Watch + Rosanella + Sylvain and Jocosa + Fairy Gifts + Prince Narcissus and the Princess Potentilla + Prince Featherhead and the Princess Celandine + The Three Little Pigs + Heart of Ice + The Enchanted Ring + The Snuff-box + The Golden Blackbird + The Little Soldier + The Magic Swan + The Dirty Shepherdess + The Enchanted Snake + The Biter Bit + King Kojata + Prince Fickle and Fair Helena + Puddocky + The Story of Hok Lee and the Dwarfs + The Story of the Three Bears + Prince Vivien and the Princess Placida + Little One-eye, Little Two-eyes, and Little Three-eyes + Jorinde and Joringel + Allerleirauh; or, the Many-furred Creature + The Twelve Huntsmen + Spindle, Shuttle, and Needle + The Crystal Coffin + The Three Snake-leaves + The Riddle + Jack my Hedgehog + The Golden Lads + The White Snake + The Story of a Clever Tailor + The Golden Mermaid + The War of the Wolf and the Fox + The Story of the Fisherman and his Wife + The Three Musicians + The Three Dogs + + + + + + +THE BLUE BIRD + + + +Once upon a time there lived a King who was immensely rich. He had broad +lands, and sacks overflowing with gold and silver; but he did not care +a bit for all his riches, because the Queen, his wife, was dead. He shut +himself up in a little room and knocked his head against the walls +for grief, until his courtiers were really afraid that he would hurt +himself. So they hung feather-beds between the tapestry and the +walls, and then he could go on knocking his head as long as it was any +consolation to him without coming to much harm. All his subjects came +to see him, and said whatever they thought would comfort him: some were +grave, even gloomy with him; and some agreeable, even gay; but not one +could make the least impression upon him. Indeed, he hardly seemed to +hear what they said. At last came a lady who was wrapped in a black +mantle, and seemed to be in the deepest grief. She wept and sobbed until +even the King’s attention was attracted; and when she said that, far +from coming to try and diminish his grief, she, who had just lost a good +husband, was come to add her tears to his, since she knew what he +must be feeling, the King redoubled his lamentations. Then he told the +sorrowful lady long stories about the good qualities of his departed +Queen, and she in her turn recounted all the virtues of her departed +husband; and this passed the time so agreeably that the King quite +forgot to thump his head against the feather-beds, and the lady did not +need to wipe the tears from her great blue eyes as often as before. By +degrees they came to talking about other things in which the King took +an interest, and in a wonderfully short time the whole kingdom was +astonished by the news that the King was married again to the sorrowful +lady. + +Now the King had one daughter, who was just fifteen years old. Her name +was Fiordelisa, and she was the prettiest and most charming Princess +imaginable, always gay and merry. The new Queen, who also had a +daughter, very soon sent for her to come to the Palace. Turritella, +for that was her name, had been brought up by her godmother, the Fairy +Mazilla, but in spite of all the care bestowed upon her, she was neither +beautiful nor gracious. Indeed, when the Queen saw how ill-tempered +and ugly she appeared beside Fiordelisa she was in despair, and did +everything in her power to turn the King against his own daughter, in +the hope that he might take a fancy to Turritella. One day the King said +that it was time Fiordelisa and Turritella were married, so he would +give one of them to the first suitable Prince who visited his Court. The +Queen answered: + +‘My daughter certainly ought to be the first to be married; she is older +than yours, and a thousand times more charming!’ + +The King, who hated disputes, said, ‘Very well, it’s no affair of mine, +settle it your own way.’ + +Very soon after came the news that King Charming, who was the most +handsome and magnificent Prince in all the country round, was on his +way to visit the King. As soon as the Queen heard this, she set all +her jewellers, tailors, weavers, and embroiderers to work upon splendid +dresses and ornaments for Turritella, but she told the King that +Fiordelisa had no need of anything new, and the night before the King +was to arrive, she bribed her waiting woman to steal away all the +Princess’s own dresses and jewels, so that when the day came, and +Fiordelisa wished to adorn herself as became her high rank, not even a +ribbon could she find. + +However, as she easily guessed who had played her such a trick, she made +no complaint, but sent to the merchants for some rich stuffs. But they +said that the Queen had expressly forbidden them to supply her with any, +and they dared not disobey. So the Princess had nothing left to put +on but the little white frock she had been wearing the day before; and +dressed in that, she went down when the time of the King’s arrival came, +and sat in a corner hoping to escape notice. The Queen received her +guest with great ceremony, and presented him to her daughter, who was +gorgeously attired, but so much splendour only made her ugliness more +noticeable, and the King, after one glance at her, looked the other way. +The Queen, however, only thought that he was bashful, and took pains to +keep Turritella in full view. King Charming then asked it there was not +another Princess, called Fiordelisa. + +‘Yes,’ said Turritella, pointing with her finger, ‘there she is, trying +to keep out of sight because she is not smart.’ + +At this Fiordelisa blushed, and looked so shy and so lovely, that the +King was fairly astonished. He rose, and bowing low before her, said-- + +‘Madam, your incomparable beauty needs no adornment.’ + +‘Sire,’ answered the Princess, ‘I assure you that I am not in the habit +of wearing dresses as crumpled and untidy as this one, so I should have +been better pleased if you had not seen me at all.’ + +‘Impossible!’ cried King Charming. ‘Wherever such a marvellously +beautiful Princess appears I can look at nothing else.’ + +Here the Queen broke in, saying sharply-- + +‘I assure you, Sire, that Fiordelisa is vain enough already. Pray make +her no more flattering speeches.’ + +The King quite understood that she was not pleased, but that did not +matter to him, so he admired Fiordelisa to his heart’s content, and +talked to her for three hours without stopping. + +The Queen was in despair, and so was Turritella, when they saw how much +the King preferred Fiordelisa. They complained bitterly to the King, and +begged and teased him, until he at last consented to have the Princess +shut up somewhere out of sight while King Charming’s visit lasted. +So that night, as she went to her room, she was seized by four masked +figures, and carried up into the topmost room of a high tower, where +they left her in the deepest dejection. She easily guessed that she was +to be kept out of sight for fear the King should fall in love with her; +but then, how disappointing that was, for she already liked him very +much, and would have been quite willing to be chosen for his bride! As +King Charming did not know what had happened to the Princess, he looked +forward impatiently to meeting her again, and he tried to talk about +her with the courtiers who were placed in attendance on him. But by the +Queen’s orders they would say nothing good of her, but declared that +she was vain, capricious, and bad-tempered; that she tormented her +waiting-maids, and that, in spite of all the money that the King gave +her, she was so mean that she preferred to go about dressed like a poor +shepherdess, rather than spend any of it. All these things vexed the +King very much, and he was silent. + +‘It is true,’ thought he, ‘that she was very poorly dressed, but then +she was so ashamed that it proves that she was not accustomed to be so. +I cannot believe that with that lovely face she can be as ill-tempered +and contemptible as they say. No, no, the Queen must be jealous of her +for the sake of that ugly daughter of hers, and so these evil reports +are spread.’ + +The courtiers could not help seeing that what they had told the King did +not please him, and one of them cunningly began to praise Fiordelisa, +when he could talk to the King without being heard by the others. + +King Charming thereupon became so cheerful, and interested in all he +said, that it was easy to guess how much he admired the Princess. So +when the Queen sent for the courtiers and questioned them about all they +had found out, their report confirmed her worst fears. As to the poor +Princess Fiordelisa, she cried all night without stopping. + +‘It would have been quite bad enough to be shut up in this gloomy tower +before I had ever seen King Charming,’ she said; ‘but now when he is +here, and they are all enjoying themselves with him, it is too unkind.’ + +The next day the Queen sent King Charming splendid presents of jewels +and rich stuffs, and among other things an ornament made expressly in +honour of the approaching wedding. It was a heart cut out of one huge +ruby, and was surrounded by several diamond arrows, and pierced by one. +A golden true-lover’s knot above the heart bore the motto, ‘But one can +wound me,’ and the whole jewel was hung upon a chain of immense pearls. +Never, since the world has been a world, had such a thing been made, +and the King was quite amazed when it was presented to him. The page who +brought it begged him to accept it from the Princess, who chose him to +be her knight. + +‘What!’ cried he, ‘does the lovely Princess Fiordelisa deign to think of +me in this amiable and encouraging way?’ + +‘You confuse the names, Sire,’ said the page hastily. ‘I come on behalf +of the Princess Turritella.’ + +‘Oh, it is Turritella who wishes me to be her knight,’ said the King +coldly. ‘I am sorry that I cannot accept the honour.’ And he sent the +splendid gifts back to the Queen and Turritella, who were furiously +angry at the contempt with which they were treated. As soon as he +possibly could, King Charming went to see the King and Queen, and as he +entered the hall he looked for Fiordelisa, and every time anyone came +in he started round to see who it was, and was altogether so uneasy and +dissatisfied that the Queen saw it plainly. But she would not take any +notice, and talked of nothing but the entertainments she was planning. +The Prince answered at random, and presently asked if he was not to have +the pleasure of seeing the Princess Fiordelisa. + +‘Sire,’ answered the Queen haughtily, ‘her father has ordered that she +shall not leave her own apartments until my daughter is married.’ + +‘What can be the reason for keeping that lovely Princess a prisoner?’ +cried the King in great indignation. + +‘That I do not know,’ answered the Queen; ‘and even if I did, I might +not feel bound to tell you.’ + +The King was terribly angry at being thwarted like this. He felt certain +that Turritella was to blame for it, so casting a furious glance at her +he abruptly took leave of the Queen, and returned to his own apartments. +There he said to a young squire whom he had brought with him: ‘I +would give all I have in the world to gain the good will of one of the +Princess’s waiting-women, and obtain a moment’s speech with Fiordelisa.’ + +‘Nothing could be easier,’ said the young squire; and he very soon +made friends with one of the ladies, who told him that in the evening +Fiordelisa would be at a little window which looked into the garden, +where he could come and talk to her. Only, she said, he must take very +great care not to be seen, as it would be as much as her place was worth +to be caught helping King Charming to see the Princess. The squire was +delighted, and promised all she asked; but the moment he had run off to +announce his success to the King, the false waiting-woman went and +told the Queen all that had passed. She at once determined that her own +daughter should be at the little window; and she taught her so well all +she was to say and do, that even the stupid Turritella could make no +mistake. + +The night was so dark that the King had not a chance of finding out the +trick that was being played upon him, so he approached the window with +the greatest delight, and said everything that he had been longing +to say to Fiordelisa to persuade her of his love for her. Turritella +answered as she had been taught, that she was very unhappy, and that +there was no chance of her being better treated by the Queen until her +daughter was married. And then the King entreated her to marry him; and +thereupon he drew his ring from his finger and put it upon Turritella’s, +and she answered him as well as she could. The King could not help +thinking that she did not say exactly what he would have expected from +his darling Fiordelisa, but he persuaded himself that the fear of being +surprised by the Queen was making her awkward and unnatural. He would +not leave her until she had promised to see him again the next night, +which Turritella did willingly enough. The Queen was overjoyed at the +success of her stratagem, end promised herself that all would now be as +she wished; and sure enough, as soon as it was dark the following night +the King came, bringing with him a chariot which had been given him by +an Enchanter who was his friend. This chariot was drawn by flying frogs, +and the King easily persuaded Turritella to come out and let him put her +into it, then mounting beside her he cried triumphantly-- + +‘Now, my Princess, you are free; where will it please you that we shall +hold our wedding?’ + +And Turritella, with her head muffled in her mantle, answered that the +Fairy Mazilla was her godmother, and that she would like it to be at her +castle. So the King told the Frogs, who had the map of the whole world +in their heads, and very soon he and Turritella were set down at the +castle of the Fairy Mazilla. The King would certainly have found out his +mistake the moment they stepped into the brilliantly lighted castle, but +Turritella held her mantle more closely round her, and asked to see the +Fairy by herself, and quickly told her all that had happened, and how +she had succeeded in deceiving King Charming. + +‘Oho! my daughter,’ said the Fairy, ‘I see we have no easy task before +us. He loves Fiordelisa so much that he will not be easily pacified. I +feel sure he will defy us!’ Meanwhile the King was waiting in a splendid +room with diamond walls, so clear that he could see the Fairy and +Turritella as they stood whispering together, and he was very much +puzzled. + +‘Who can have betrayed us?’ he said to himself. ‘How comes our enemy +here? She must be plotting to prevent our marriage. Why doesn’t my +lovely Fiordelisa make haste and come hack to me?’ + +But it was worse than anything he had imagined when the Fairy Mazilla +entered, leading Turritella by the hand, and said to him-- + +‘King Charming, here is the Princess Turritella to whom you have +plighted your faith. Let us have the wedding at once.’ + +‘I!’ cried the King. ‘I marry that little creature! What do you take me +for? I have promised her nothing!’ + +‘Say no more. Have you no respect for a Fairy?’ cried she angrily. + +‘Yes, madam,’ answered the King, ‘I am prepared to respect you as much +as a Fairy can be respected, if you will give me back my Princess.’ + +‘Am I not here?’ interrupted Turritella. ‘Here is the ring you gave me. +With whom did you talk at the little window, if it was not with me?’ + +‘What!’ cried the King angrily, ‘have I been altogether deceived and +deluded? Where is my chariot? Not another moment will I stay here.’ + +‘Oho,’ said the Fairy, ‘not so fast.’ And she touched his feet, which +instantly became as firmly fixed to the floor as if they had been nailed +there. + +‘Oh! do whatever you like with me,’ said the King; ‘you may turn me to +stone, but I will marry no one but Fiordelisa.’ + +And not another word would he say, though the Fairy scolded and +threatened, and Turritella wept and raged for twenty days and twenty +nights. At last the Fairy Mazilla said furiously (for she was quite +tired out by his obstinacy), ‘Choose whether you will marry my +goddaughter, or do penance seven years for breaking your word to her.’ + +And then the King cried gaily: ‘Pray do whatever you like with me, as +long as you deliver me from this ugly scold!’ + +‘Scold!’ cried Turritella angrily. ‘Who are you, I should like to know, +that you dare to call me a scold? A miserable King who breaks his word, +and goes about in a chariot drawn by croaking frogs out of a marsh!’ + +‘Let us have no more of these insults,’ cried the Fairy. ‘Fly from that +window, ungrateful King, and for seven years be a Blue Bird.’ As she +spoke the King’s face altered, his arms turned to wings, his feet to +little crooked black claws. In a moment he had a slender body like a +bird, covered with shining blue feathers, his beak was like ivory, his +eyes were bright as stars, and a crown of white feathers adorned his +head. + +As soon as the transformation was complete the King uttered a dolorous +cry and fled through the open window, pursued by the mocking laughter +of Turritella and the Fairy Mazilla. He flew on until he reached the +thickest part of the wood, and there, perched upon a cypress tree, he +bewailed his miserable fate. ‘Alas! in seven years who knows what may +happen to my darling Fiordelisa!’ he said. ‘Her cruel stepmother may +have married her to someone else before I am myself again, and then what +good will life be to me?’ + +In the meantime the Fairy Mazilla had sent Turritella back to the Queen, +who was all anxiety to know how the wedding, had gone off. But when her +daughter arrived and told her all that had happened she was terribly +angry, and of course all her wrath fell upon Fiordelisa. ‘She shall have +cause to repent that the King admires her,’ said the Queen, nodding her +head meaningly, and then she and Turritella went up to the little room +in the tower where the Princess was imprisoned. Fiordelisa was immensely +surprised to see that Turritella was wearing a royal mantle and a +diamond crown, and her heart sank when the Queen said: ‘My daughter +is come to show you some of her wedding presents, for she is King +Charming’s bride, and they are the happiest pair in the world, he loves +her to distraction.’ All this time Turritella was spreading out lace, +and jewels, and rich brocades, and ribbons before Fiordelisa’s unwilling +eyes, and taking good care to display King Charming’s ring, which she +wore upon her thumb. The Princess recognised it as soon as her eyes fell +upon it, and after that she could no longer doubt that he had indeed +married Turritella. In despair she cried, ‘Take away these miserable +gauds! what pleasure has a wretched captive in the sight of them?’ and +then she fell insensible upon the floor, and the cruel Queen laughed +maliciously, and went away with Turritella, leaving her there without +comfort or aid. That night the Queen said to the King, that his daughter +was so infatuated with King Charming, in spite of his never having shown +any preference for her, that it was just as well she should stay in the +tower until she came to her senses. To which he answered that it was her +affair, and she could give what orders she pleased about the Princess. + +When the unhappy Fiordelisa recovered, and remembered all she had just +heard, she began to cry bitterly, believing that King Charming was lost +to her for ever, and all night long she sat at her open window sighing +and lamenting; but when it was dawn she crept away into the darkest +corner of her little room and sat there, too unhappy to care about +anything. As soon as night came again she once more leaned out into the +darkness and bewailed her miserable lot. + +Now it happened that King Charming, or rather the Blue Bird, had been +flying round the palace in the hope of seeing his beloved Princess, +but had not dared to go too near the windows for fear of being seen +and recognised by Turritella. When night fell he had not succeeded in +discovering where Fiordelisa was imprisoned, and, weary and sad, he +perched upon a branch of a tall fir tree which grew close to the tower, +and began to sing himself to sleep. But soon the sound of a soft voice +lamenting attracted his attention, and listening intently he heard it +say-- + +‘Ah! cruel Queen! what have I ever done to be imprisoned like this? And +was I not unhappy enough before, that you must needs come and taunt me +with the happiness your daughter is enjoying now she is King Charming’s +bride?’ + +The Blue Bird, greatly surprised, waited impatiently for the dawn, and +the moment it was light flew off to see who it could have been who +spoke thus. But he found the window shut, and could see no one. The next +night, however, he was on the watch, and by the clear moonlight he saw +that the sorrowful lady at the window was Fiordelisa herself. + +‘My Princess! have I found you at last?’ said he, alighting close to +her. + +‘Who is speaking to me?’ cried the Princess in great surprise. + +‘Only a moment since you mentioned my name, and now you do not know me, +Fiordelisa,’ said he sadly. ‘But no wonder, since I am nothing but a +Blue Bird, and must remain one for seven years.’ + +‘What! Little Blue Bird, are you really the powerful King Charming?’ +said the Princess, caressing him. + +‘It is too true,’ he answered. ‘For being faithful to you I am thus +punished. But believe me, if it were for twice as long I would bear it +joyfully rather than give you up.’ + +‘Oh! what are you telling me?’ cried the Princess. ‘Has not your bride, +Turritella, just visited me, wearing the royal mantle and the diamond +crown you gave her? I cannot be mistaken, for I saw your ring upon her +thumb.’ + +Then the Blue Bird was furiously angry, and told the Princess all that +had happened, how he had been deceived into carrying off Turritella, and +how, for refusing to marry her, the Fairy Mazilla had condemned him to +be a Blue Bird for seven years. + +The Princess was very happy when she heard how faithful her lover +was, and would never have tired of hearing his loving speeches and +explanations, but too soon the sun rose, and they had to part lest the +Blue Bird should be discovered. After promising to come again to the +Princess’s window as soon as it was dark, he flew away, and hid himself +in a little hole in the fir-tree, while Fiordelisa remained devoured by +anxiety lest he should be caught in a trap, or eaten up by an eagle. + +But the Blue Bird did not long stay in his hiding-place. He flew away, +and away, until he came to his own palace, and got into it through a +broken window, and there he found the cabinet where his jewels were +kept, and chose out a splendid diamond ring as a present for the +Princess. By the time he got back, Fiordelisa was sitting waiting for +him by the open window, and when he gave her the ring, she scolded him +gently for having run such a risk to get it for her. + +‘Promise me that you will wear it always!’ said the Blue Bird. And the +Princess promised on condition that he should come and see her in +the day as well as by night. They talked all night long, and the next +morning the Blue Bird flew off to his kingdom, and crept into his palace +through the broken window, and chose from his treasures two bracelets, +each cut out of a single emerald. When he presented them to the +Princess, she shook her head at him reproachfully, saying-- + +‘Do you think I love you so little that I need all these gifts to remind +me of you?’ + +And he answered-- + +‘No, my Princess; but I love you so much that I feel I cannot express +it, try as I may. I only bring you these worthless trifles to show that +I have not ceased to think of you, though I have been obliged to leave +you for a time.’ The following night he gave Fiordelisa a watch set in a +single pearl. The Princess laughed a little when she saw it, and said-- + +‘You may well give me a watch, for since I have known you I have lost +the power of measuring time. The hours you spend with me pass like +minutes, and the hours that I drag through without you seem years to +me.’ + +‘Ah, Princess, they cannot seem so long to you as they do to me!’ +he answered. Day by day he brought more beautiful things for the +Princess--diamonds, and rubies, and opals; and at night she decked +herself with them to please him, but by day she hid them in her straw +mattress. When the sun shone the Blue Bird, hidden in the tall fir-tree, +sang to her so sweetly that all the passersby wondered, and said that +the wood was inhabited by a spirit. And so two years slipped away, and +still the Princess was a prisoner, and Turritella was not married. The +Queen had offered her hand to all the neighbouring Princes, but they +always answered that they would marry Fiordelisa with pleasure, but +not Turritella on any account. This displeased the Queen terribly. +‘Fiordelisa must be in league with them, to annoy me!’ she said. ‘Let us +go and accuse her of it.’ + +So she and Turritella went up into the tower. Now it happened that it +was nearly midnight, and Fiordelisa, all decked with jewels, was sitting +at the window with the Blue Bird, and as the Queen paused outside the +door to listen she heard the Princess and her lover singing together a +little song he had just taught her. These were the words:-- + + ‘Oh! what a luckless pair are we, + One in a prison, and one in a tree. + All our trouble and anguish came + From our faithfulness spoiling our enemies’ game. + But vainly they practice their cruel arts, + For nought can sever our two fond hearts.’ + +They sound melancholy perhaps, but the two voices sang them gaily +enough, and the Queen burst open the door, crying, ‘Ah! my Turritella, +there is some treachery going on here!’ + +As soon as she saw her, Fiordelisa, with great presence of mind, hastily +shut her little window, that the Blue Bird might have time to escape, +and then turned to meet the Queen, who overwhelmed her with a torrent of +reproaches. + +‘Your intrigues are discovered, Madam,’ she said furiously; ‘and you +need not hope that your high rank will save you from the punishment you +deserve.’ + +‘And with whom do you accuse me of intriguing, Madam?’ said the +Princess. ‘Have I not been your prisoner these two years, and who have I +seen except the gaolers sent by you?’ + +While she spoke the Queen and Turritella were looking at her in the +greatest surprise, perfectly dazzled by her beauty and the splendour of +her jewels, and the Queen said: + +‘If one may ask, Madam, where did you get all these diamonds? Perhaps +you mean to tell me that you have discovered a mine of them in the +tower!’ + +‘I certainly did find them here,’ answered the Princess. + +‘And pray,’ said the Queen, her wrath increasing every moment, ‘for +whose admiration are you decked out like this, since I have often seen +you not half as fine on the most important occasions at Court?’ + +‘For my own,’ answered Fiordelisa. ‘You must admit that I have had +plenty of time on my hands, so you cannot be surprised at my spending +some of it in making myself smart.’ + +‘That’s all very fine,’ said the Queen suspiciously. ‘I think I will +look about, and see for myself.’ + +So she and Turritella began to search every corner of the little room, +and when they came to the straw mattress out fell such a quantity of +pearls, diamonds, rubies, opals, emeralds, and sapphires, that they were +amazed, and could not tell what to think. But the Queen resolved to hide +somewhere a packet of false letters to prove that the Princess had been +conspiring with the King’s enemies, and she chose the chimney as a good +place. Fortunately for Fiordelisa this was exactly where the Blue Bird +had perched himself, to keep an eye upon her proceedings, and try to +avert danger from his beloved Princess, and now he cried: + +‘Beware, Fiordelisa! Your false enemy is plotting against you.’ + +This strange voice so frightened the Queen that she took the letter and +went away hastily with Turritella, and they held a council to try and +devise some means of finding out what Fairy or Enchanter was favouring +the Princess. At last they sent one of the Queen’s maids to wait upon +Fiordelisa, and told her to pretend to be quite stupid, and to see and +hear nothing, while she was really to watch the Princess day and night, +and keep the Queen informed of all her doings. + +Poor Fiordelisa, who guessed she was sent as a spy, was in despair, and +cried bitterly that she dared not see her dear Blue Bird for fear that +some evil might happen to him if he were discovered. + +The days were so long, and the nights so dull, but for a whole month she +never went near her little window lest he should fly to her as he used +to do. + +However, at last the spy, who had never taken her eyes off the Princess +day or night, was so overcome with weariness that she fell into a deep +sleep, and as son as the Princess saw that, she flew to open her window +and cried softly: + + ‘Blue Bird, blue as the sky, + Fly to me now, there’s nobody by.’ + +And the Blue Bird, who had never ceased to flutter round within sight +and hearing of her prison, came in an instant. They had so much to say, +and were so overjoyed to meet once more, that it scarcely seemed to them +five minutes before the sun rose, and the Blue Bird had to fly away. + +But the next night the spy slept as soundly as before, so that the Blue +Bird came, and he and the Princess began to think they were perfectly +safe, and to make all sorts of plans for being happy as they were before +the Queen’s visit. But, alas! the third night the spy was not quite so +sleepy, and when the Princess opened her window and cried as usual: + + ‘Blue Bird, blue as the sky, + Fly to me now, there’s nobody nigh,’ + +she was wide awake in a moment, though she was sly enough to keep +her eyes shut at first. But presently she heard voices, and peeping +cautiously, she saw by the moonlight the most lovely blue bird in the +world, who was talking to the Princess, while she stroked and caressed +it fondly. + +The spy did not lose a single word of the conversation, and as soon as +the day dawned, and the Blue Bird had reluctantly said good-bye to the +Princess, she rushed off to the Queen, and told her all she had seen and +heard. + +Then the Queen sent for Turritella, and they talked it over, and very +soon came to the conclusion than this Blue Bird was no other than King +Charming himself. + +‘Ah! that insolent Princess!’ cried the Queen. ‘To think that when +we supposed her to be so miserable, she was all the while as happy as +possible with that false King. But I know how we can avenge ourselves!’ + +So the spy was ordered to go back and pretend to sleep as soundly as +ever, and indeed she went to bed earlier than usual, and snored as +naturally as possible, and the poor Princess ran to the window and +cried: + + ‘Blue Bird, blue as the sky, + Fly to me now, there’s nobody by!’ + +But no bird came. All night long she called, and waited, and listened, +but still there was no answer, for the cruel Queen had caused the +fir tree to be hung all over with knives, swords, razors, shears, +bill-hooks, and sickles, so that when the Blue Bird heard the Princess +call, and flew towards her, his wings were cut, and his little black +feet clipped off, and all pierced and stabbed in twenty places, he fell +back bleeding into his hiding place in the tree, and lay there groaning +and despairing, for he thought the Princess must have been persuaded to +betray him, to regain her liberty. + +‘Ah! Fiordelisa, can you indeed be so lovely and so faithless?’ he +sighed, ‘then I may as well die at once!’ And he turned over on his side +and began to die. But it happened that his friend the Enchanter had been +very much alarmed at seeing the Frog chariot come back to him without +King Charming, and had been round the world eight times seeking him, +but without success. At the very moment when the King gave himself up +to despair, he was passing through the wood for the eighth time, and +called, as he had done all over the world: + +‘Charming! King Charming! Are you here?’ + +The King at once recognised his friend’s voice, and answered very +faintly: + +‘I am here.’ + +The Enchanter looked all round him, but could see nothing, and then the +King said again: + +‘I am a Blue Bird.’ + +Then the Enchanter found him in an instant, and seeing his pitiable +condition, ran hither and thither without a word, until he had collected +a handful of magic herbs, with which, and a few incantations, he +speedily made the King whole and sound again. + +‘Now,’ said he, ‘let me hear all about it. There must be a Princess at +the bottom of this.’ + +‘There are two!’ answered King Charming, with a wry smile. + +And then he told the whole story, accusing Fiordelisa of having betrayed +the secret of his visits to make her peace with the Queen, and indeed +saying a great many hard things about her fickleness and her deceitful +beauty, and so on. The Enchanter quite agreed with him, and even went +further, declaring that all Princesses were alike, except perhaps in +the matter of beauty, and advised him to have done with Fiordelisa, and +forget all about her. But, somehow or other, this advice did not quite +please the King. + +‘What is to be done next?’ said the Enchanter, ‘since you still have +five years to remain a Blue Bird.’ + +‘Take me to your palace,’ answered the King; ‘there you can at least +keep me in a cage safe from cats and swords.’ + +‘Well, that will be the best thing to do for the present,’ said his +friend. ‘But I am not an Enchanter for nothing. I’m sure to have a +brilliant idea for you before long.’ + +In the meantime Fiordelisa, quite in despair, sat at her window day and +night calling her dear Blue Bird in vain, and imagining over and over +again all the terrible things that could have happened to him, until +she grew quite pale and thin. As for the Queen and Turritella, they +were triumphant; but their triumph was short, for the King, Fiordelisa’s +father, fell ill and died, and all the people rebelled against the Queen +and Turritella, and came in a body to the palace demanding Fiordelisa. + +The Queen came out upon the balcony with threats and haughty words, so +that at last they lost their patience, and broke open the doors of the +palace, one of which fell back upon the Queen and killed her. Turritella +fled to the Fairy Mazilla, and all the nobles of the kingdom fetched the +Princess Fiordelisa from her prison in the tower, and made her Queen. +Very soon, with all the care and attention they bestowed upon her, +she recovered from the effects of her long captivity and looked more +beautiful than ever, and was able to take counsel with her courtiers, +and arrange for the governing of her kingdom during her absence. And +then, taking a bagful of jewels, she set out all alone to look for the +Blue Bird, without telling anyone where she was going. + +Meanwhile, the Enchanter was taking care of King Charming, but as his +power was not great enough to counteract the Fairy Mazilla’s, he at last +resolved to go and see if he could make any kind of terms with her for +his friend; for you see, Fairies and Enchanters are cousins in a sort +of way, after all; and after knowing one another for five or six +hundred years and falling out, and making it up again pretty often, they +understand one another well enough. So the Fairy Mazilla received him +graciously. ‘And what may you be wanting, Gossip?’ said she. + +‘You can do a good turn for me if you will;’ he answered. ‘A King, who +is a friend of mine, was unlucky enough to offend you--’ + +‘Aha! I know who you mean,’ interrupted the Fairy. ‘I am sorry not to +oblige you, Gossip, but he need expect no mercy from me unless he +will marry my goddaughter, whom you see yonder looking so pretty and +charming. Let him think over what I say.’ + +The Enchanter hadn’t a word to say, for he thought Turritella really +frightful, but he could not go away without making one more effort for +his friend the King, who was really in great danger as long as he lived +in a cage. Indeed, already he had met with several alarming accidents. +Once the nail on which his cage was hung had given way, and his +feathered Majesty had suffered much from the fall, while Madam Puss, who +happened to be in the room at the time, had given him a scratch in the +eye which came very near blinding him. Another time they had forgotten +to give him any water to drink, so that he was nearly dead with thirst; +and the worst thing of all was that he was in danger of losing his +kingdom, for he had been absent so long that all his subjects believed +him to be dead. So considering all these things the Enchanter agreed +with the Fairy Mazilla that she should restore the King to his natural +form, and should take Turritella to stay in his palace for several +months, and if, after the time was over he still could not make up his +mind to marry her, he should once more be changed into a Blue Bird. + +Then the Fairy dressed Turritella in a magnificent gold and silver robe, +and they mounted together upon a flying Dragon, and very soon reached +King Charming’s palace, where he, too, had just been brought by his +faithful friend the Enchanter. + +Three strokes of the Fairy’s wand restored his natural form, and he +was as handsome and delightful as ever, but he considered that he paid +dearly for his restoration when he caught sight of Turritella, and the +mere idea of marrying her made him shudder. + +Meanwhile, Queen Fiordelisa, disguised as a poor peasant girl, wearing +a great straw hat that concealed her face, and carrying an old sack over +her shoulder, had set out upon her weary journey, and had travelled far, +sometimes by sea and sometimes by land; sometimes on foot, and sometimes +on horseback, but not knowing which way to go. She feared all the time +that every step she took was leading her farther from her lover. One day +as she sat, quite tired and sad, on the bank of a little brook, cooling +her white feet in the clear running water, and combing her long hair +that glittered like gold in the sunshine, a little bent old woman passed +by, leaning on a stick. She stopped, and said to Fiordelisa: + +‘What, my pretty child, are you all alone?’ + +‘Indeed, good mother, I am too sad to care for company,’ she answered; +and the tears ran down her cheeks. + +‘Don’t cry,’ said the old woman, ‘but tell me truly what is the matter. +Perhaps I can help you.’ + +The Queen told her willingly all that had happened, and how she was +seeking the Blue Bird. Thereupon the little old woman suddenly stood up +straight, and grew tall, and young, and beautiful, and said with a smile +to the astonished Fiordelisa: + +‘Lovely Queen, the King whom you seek is no longer a bird. My sister +Mazilla has given his own form back to him, and he is in his own +kingdom. Do not be afraid, you will reach him, and will prosper. Take +these four eggs; if you break one when you are in any great difficulty, +you will find aid.’ + +So saying, she disappeared, and Fiordelisa, feeling much encouraged, put +the eggs into her bag and turned her steps towards Charming’s kingdom. +After walking on and on for eight days and eight nights, she came at +last to a tremendously high hill of polished ivory, so steep that it was +impossible to get a foothold upon it. Fiordelisa tried a thousand times, +and scrambled and slipped, but always in the end found herself exactly +where she started from. At last she sat down at the foot of it in +despair, and then suddenly bethought herself of the eggs. Breaking one +quickly, she found in it some little gold hooks, and with these fastened +to her feet and hands, she mounted the ivory hill without further +trouble, for the little hooks saved her from slipping. As soon as she +reached the top a new difficulty presented itself, for all the other +side, and indeed the whole valley, was one polished mirror, in which +thousands and thousands of people were admiring their reflections. For +this was a magic mirror, in which people saw themselves just as they +wished to appear, and pilgrims came to it from the four corners of the +world. But nobody had ever been able to reach the top of the hill, and +when they saw Fiordelisa standing there, they raised a terrible outcry, +declaring that if she set foot upon their glass she would break it +to pieces. The Queen, not knowing what to do, for she saw it would +be dangerous to try to go down, broke the second egg, and out came a +chariot, drawn by two white doves, and Fiordelisa got into it, and was +floated softly away. After a night and a day the doves alighted outside +the gate of King Charming’s kingdom. Here the Queen got out of the +chariot, and kissed the doves and thanked them, and then with a beating +heart she walked into the town, asking the people she met where she +could see the King. But they only laughed at her, crying: + +‘See the King? And pray, why do you want to see the King, my little +kitchen-maid? You had better go and wash your face first, your eyes are +not clear enough to see him!’ For the Queen had disguised herself, and +pulled her hair down about her eyes, that no one might know her. As they +would not tell her, she went on farther, and presently asked again, +and this time the people answered that to-morrow she might see the King +driving through the streets with the Princess Turritella, as it was said +that at last he had consented to marry her. This was indeed terrible +news to Fiordelisa. Had she come all this weary way only to find +Turritella had succeeded in making King Charming forget her? + +She was too tired and miserable to walk another step, so she sat down in +a doorway and cried bitterly all night long. As soon as it was light +she hastened to the palace, and after being sent away fifty times by the +guards, she got in at last, and saw the thrones set in the great hall +for the King and Turritella, who was already looked upon as Queen. + +Fiordelisa hid herself behind a marble pillar, and very soon saw +Turritella make her appearance, richly dressed, but as ugly as ever, and +with her came the King, more handsome and splendid even than Fiordelisa +had remembered him. When Turritella had seated herself upon the throne, +the Queen approached her. + +‘Who are you, and how dare you come near my high-mightiness, upon my +golden throne?’ said Turritella, frowning fiercely at her. + +‘They call me the little kitchen-maid,’ she replied, ‘and I come to +offer some precious things for sale,’ and with that she searched in her +old sack, and drew out the emerald bracelets King Charming had given +her. + +‘Ho, ho!’ said Turritella, those are pretty bits of glass. I suppose you +would like five silver pieces for them.’ + +‘Show them to someone who understands such things, Madam,’ answered the +Queen; ‘after that we can decide upon the price.’ + +Turritella, who really loved King Charming as much as she could love +anybody, and was always delighted to get a chance of talking to him, now +showed him the bracelets, asking how much he considered them worth. As +soon as he saw them he remembered those he had given to Fiordelisa, and +turned very pale and sighed deeply, and fell into such sad thought that +he quite forgot to answer her. Presently she asked him again, and then +he said, with a great effort: + +‘I believe these bracelets are worth as much as my kingdom. I thought +there was only one such pair in the world; but here, it seems, is +another.’ + +Then Turritella went back to the Queen, and asked her what was the +lowest price she would take for them. + +‘More than you would find it easy to pay, Madam,’ answered she; ‘but if +you will manage for me to sleep one night in the Chamber of Echoes, I +will give you the emeralds.’ + +‘By all means, my little kitchen-maid,’ said Turritella, highly +delighted. + +The King did not try to find out where the bracelets had come from, not +because he did not want to know, but because the only way would have +been to ask Turritella, and he disliked her so much that he never spoke +to her if he could possibly avoid it. It was he who had told Fiordelisa +about the Chamber of Echoes, when he was a Blue Bird. It was a little +room below the King’s own bed-chamber, and was so ingeniously built +that the softest whisper in it was plainly heard in the King’s room. +Fiordelisa wanted to reproach him for his faithlessness, and could not +imagine a better way than this. So when, by Turritella’s orders, she +was left there she began to weep and lament, and never ceased until +daybreak. + +The King’s pages told Turritella, when she asked them, what a sobbing +and sighing they had heard, and she asked Fiordelisa what it was all +about. The Queen answered that she often dreamed and talked aloud. + +But by an unlucky chance the King heard nothing of all this, for he took +a sleeping draught every night before he lay down, and did not wake up +until the sun was high. + +The Queen passed the day in great disquietude. + +‘If he did hear me,’ she said, ‘could he remain so cruelly indifferent? +But if he did not hear me, what can I do to get another chance? I have +plenty of jewels, it is true, but nothing remarkable enough to catch +Turritella’s fancy.’ + +Just then she thought of the eggs, and broke one, out of which came a +little carriage of polished steel ornamented with gold, drawn by six +green mice. The coachman was a rose-coloured rat, the postilion a grey +one, and the carriage was occupied by the tiniest and most charming +figures, who could dance and do wonderful tricks. Fiordelisa clapped her +hands and danced for joy when she saw this triumph of magic art, and as +soon as it was evening, went to a shady garden-path down which she knew +Turritella would pass, and then she made the mice galop, and the tiny +people show off their tricks, and sure enough Turritella came, and the +moment she saw it all cried: + +‘Little kitchen-maid, little kitchen-maid, what will you take for your +mouse-carriage?’ + +And the Queen answered: + +‘Let me sleep once more in the Chamber of Echoes.’ + +‘I won’t refuse your request, poor creature,’ said Turritella +condescendingly. + +And then she turned to her ladies and whispered + +‘The silly creature does not know how to profit by her chances; so much +the better for me.’ + +When night came Fiordelisa said all the loving words she could think of, +but alas! with no better success than before, for the King slept heavily +after his draught. One of the pages said: + +‘This peasant girl must be crazy;’ but another answered: + +‘Yet what she says sounds very sad and touching.’ + +As for Fiordelisa, she thought the King must have a very hard heart if +he could hear how she grieved and yet pay her no attention. She had but +one more chance, and on breaking the last egg she found to her great +delight that it contained a more marvellous thing than ever. It was +a pie made of six birds, cooked to perfection, and yet they were all +alive, and singing and talking, and they answered questions and told +fortunes in the most amusing way. Taking this treasure Fiordelisa once +more set herself to wait in the great hall through which Turritella was +sure to pass, and as she sat there one of the King’s pages came by, and +said to her: + +‘Well, little kitchen-maid, it is a good thing that the King always +takes a sleeping draught, for if not he would be kept awake all night by +your sighing and lamenting.’ + +Then Fiordelisa knew why the King had not heeded her, and taking a +handful of pearls and diamonds out of her sack, she said, ‘If you can +promise me that to-night the King shall not have his sleeping draught, I +will give you all these jewels.’ + +‘Oh! I promise that willingly,’ said the page. + +At this moment Turritella appeared, and at the first sight of the +savoury pie, with the pretty little birds all singing and chattering, +she cried:-- + +‘That is an admirable pie, little kitchen-maid. Pray what will you take +for it?’ + +‘The usual price,’ she answered. ‘To sleep once more in the Chamber of +Echoes.’ + +‘By all means, only give me the pie,’ said the greedy Turritella. And +when night was come, Queen Fiordelisa waited until she thought everybody +in the palace would be asleep, and then began to lament as before. + +‘Ah, Charming!’ she said, ‘what have I ever done that you should forsake +me and marry Turritella? If you could only know all I have suffered, and +what a weary way I have come to seek you.’ + +Now the page had faithfully kept his word, and given King Charming a +glass of water instead of his usual sleeping draught, so there he lay +wide awake, and heard every word Fiordelisa said, and even recognised +her voice, though he could not tell where it came from. + +‘Ah, Princess!’ he said, ‘how could you betray me to our cruel enemies +when I loved you so dearly?’ + +Fiordelisa heard him, and answered quickly: + +‘Find out the little kitchen-maid, and she will explain everything.’ + +Then the King in a great hurry sent for his pages and said: + +‘If you can find the little kitchen-maid, bring her to me at once.’ + +‘Nothing could be easier, Sire,’ they answered, ‘for she is in the +Chamber of Echoes.’ + +The King was very much puzzled when he heard this. How could the lovely +Princess Fiordelisa be a little kitchen-maid? or how could a little +kitchen-maid have Fiordelisa’s own voice? So he dressed hastily, and +ran down a little secret staircase which led to the Chamber of Echoes. +There, upon a heap of soft cushions, sat his lovely Princess. She had +laid aside all her ugly disguises and wore a white silken robe, and her +golden hair shone in the soft lamp-light. The King was overjoyed at the +sight, and rushed to throw himself at her feet, and asked her a thousand +questions without giving her time to answer one. Fiordelisa was equally +happy to be with him once more, and nothing troubled them but the +remembrance of the Fairy Mazilla. But at this moment in came the +Enchanter, and with him a famous Fairy, the same in fact who had given +Fiordelisa the eggs. After greeting the King and Queen, they said that +as they were united in wishing to help King Charming, the Fairy Mazilla +had no longer any power against him, and he might marry Fiordelisa as +soon as he pleased. The King’s joy may be imagined, and as soon as it +was day the news was spread through the palace, and everybody who saw +Fiordelisa loved her directly. When Turritella heard what had happened +she came running to the King, and when she saw Fiordelisa with him she +was terribly angry, but before she could say a word the Enchanter and +the Fairy changed her into a big brown owl, and she floated away out of +one of the palace windows, hooting dismally. Then the wedding was held +with great splendour, and King Charming and Queen Fiordelisa lived +happily ever after. + +L’Oiseau Bleu. Par Mme. d’Aulnoy. + + + + + + +THE HALF-CHICK + + + +Once upon a time there was a handsome black Spanish hen, who had a large +brood of chickens. They were all fine, plump little birds, except the +youngest, who was quite unlike his brothers and sisters. Indeed, he was +such a strange, queer-looking creature, that when he first chipped his +shell his mother could scarcely believe her eyes, he was so different +from the twelve other fluffy, downy, soft little chicks who nestled +under her wings. This one looked just as if he had been cut in two. He +had only one leg, and one wing, and one eye, and he had half a head and +half a beak. His mother shook her head sadly as she looked at him and +said: + +‘My youngest born is only a half-chick. He can never grow up a tall +handsome cock like his brothers. They will go out into the world and +rule over poultry yards of their own; but this poor little fellow will +always have to stay at home with his mother.’ And she called him Medio +Pollito, which is Spanish for half-chick. + +Now though Medio Pollito was such an odd, helpless-looking little thing, +his mother soon found that he was not at all willing to remain under her +wing and protection. Indeed, in character he was as unlike his brothers +and sisters as he was in appearance. They were good, obedient chickens, +and when the old hen chicked after them, they chirped and ran back to +her side. But Medio Pollito had a roving spirit in spite of his one leg, +and when his mother called to him to return to the coop, he pretended +that he could not hear, because he had only one ear. + +When she took the whole family out for a walk in the fields, Medio +Pollito would hop away by himself, and hide among the Indian corn. Many +an anxious minute his brothers and sisters had looking for him, while +his mother ran to and fro cackling in fear and dismay. + +As he grew older he became more self-willed and disobedient, and his +manner to his mother was often very rude, and his temper to the other +chickens very disagreeable. + +One day he had been out for a longer expedition than usual in the +fields. On his return he strutted up to his mother with the peculiar +little hop and kick which was his way of walking, and cocking his one +eye at her in a very bold way he said: + +‘Mother, I am tired of this life in a dull farmyard, with nothing but a +dreary maize field to look at. I’m off to Madrid to see the King.’ + +‘To Madrid, Medio Pollito!’ exclaimed his mother; ‘why, you silly chick, +it would be a long journey for a grown-up cock, and a poor little thing +like you would be tired out before you had gone half the distance. No, +no, stay at home with your mother, and some day, when you are bigger, we +will go a little journey together.’ + +But Medio Pollito had made up his mind, and he would not listen to his +mother’s advice, nor to the prayers and entreaties of his brothers and +sisters. + +‘What is the use of our all crowding each other up in this poky little +place?’ he said. ‘When I have a fine courtyard of my own at the King’s +palace, I shall perhaps ask some of you to come and pay me a short +visit,’ and scarcely waiting to say good-bye to his family, away he +stumped down the high road that led to Madrid. + +‘Be sure that you are kind and civil to everyone you meet,’ called his +mother, running after him; but he was in such a hurry to be off, that he +did not wait to answer her, or even to look back. + +A little later in the day, as he was taking a short cut through a field, +he passed a stream. Now the stream was all choked up, and overgrown with +weeds and water-plants, so that its waters could not flow freely. + +‘Oh! Medio Pollito,’ it cried, as the half-chick hopped along its banks, +‘do come and help me by clearing away these weeds.’ + +‘Help you, indeed!’ exclaimed Medio Pollito, tossing his head, and +shaking the few feathers in his tail. ‘Do you think I have nothing to do +but to waste my time on such trifles? Help yourself, and don’t trouble +busy travellers. I am off to Madrid to see the King,’ and hoppity-kick, +hoppity-kick, away stumped Medio Pollito. + +A little later he came to a fire that had been left by some gipsies in a +wood. It was burning very low, and would soon be out. + +‘Oh! Medio Pollito,’ cried the fire, in a weak, wavering voice as the +half-chick approached, ‘in a few minutes I shall go quite out, unless +you put some sticks and dry leaves upon me. Do help me, or I shall die!’ + +‘Help you, indeed!’ answered Medio Pollito. ‘I have other things to do. +Gather sticks for yourself, and don’t trouble me. I am off to Madrid +to see the King,’ and hoppity-kick, hoppity-kick, away stumped Medio +Pollito. + +The next morning, as he was getting near Madrid, he passed a large +chestnut tree, in whose branches the wind was caught and entangled. ‘Oh! +Medio Pollito,’ called the wind, ‘do hop up here, and help me to get +free of these branches. I cannot come away, and it is so uncomfortable.’ + +‘It is your own fault for going there,’ answered Medio Pollito. ‘I can’t +waste all my morning stopping here to help you. Just shake yourself +off, and don’t hinder me, for I am off to Madrid to see the King,’ and +hoppity-kick, hoppity-kick, away stumped Medio Pollito in great glee, +for the towers and roofs of Madrid were now in sight. When he entered +the town he saw before him a great splendid house, with soldiers +standing before the gates. This he knew must be the King’s palace, and +he determined to hop up to the front gate and wait there until the King +came out. But as he was hopping past one of the back windows the King’s +cook saw him: + +‘Here is the very thing I want,’ he exclaimed, ‘for the King has just +sent a message to say that he must have chicken broth for his dinner,’ +and opening the window he stretched out his arm, caught Medio Pollito, +and popped him into the broth-pot that was standing near the fire. Oh! +how wet and clammy the water felt as it went over Medio Pollito’s head, +making his feathers cling to his side. + +‘Water, water!’ he cried in his despair, ‘do have pity upon me and do +not wet me like this.’ + +‘Ah! Medio Pollito,’ replied the water, ‘you would not help me when I +was a little stream away on the fields, now you must be punished.’ + +Then the fire began to burn and scald Medio Pollito, and he danced and +hopped from one side of the pot to the other, trying to get away from +the heat, and crying out in pain: + +Fire, fire! do not scorch me like this; you can’t think how it hurts.’ + +‘Ah! Medio Pollito,’ answered the fire, ‘you would not help me when I +was dying away in the wood. You are being punished.’ + +At last, just when the pain was so great that Medio Pollito thought he +must die, the cook lifted up the lid of the pot to see if the broth was +ready for the King’s dinner. + +‘Look here!’ he cried in horror, ‘this chicken is quite useless. It is +burnt to a cinder. I can’t send it up to the royal table;’ and opening +the window he threw Medio Pollito out into the street. But the wind +caught him up, and whirled him through the air so quickly that Medio +Pollito could scarcely breathe, and his heart beat against his side till +he thought it would break. + +‘Oh, wind!’ at last he gasped out, ‘if you hurry me along like this you +will kill me. Do let me rest a moment, or--’ but he was so breathless +that he could not finish his sentence. + +‘Ah! Medio Pollito,’ replied the wind, ‘when I was caught in the +branches of the chestnut tree you would not help me; now you are +punished.’ And he swirled Medio Pollito over the roofs of the houses +till they reached the highest church in the town, and there he left him +fastened to the top of the steeple. + +And there stands Medio Pollito to this day. And if you go to Madrid, and +walk through the streets till you come to the highest church, you will +see Medio Pollito perched on his one leg on the steeple, with his one +wing drooping at his side, and gazing sadly out of his one eye over the +town. + +Spanish Tradition. + + + + + +THE STORY OF CALIPH STORK + + +I. + +Caliph Chasid, of Bagdad, was resting comfortably on his divan one fine +afternoon. He was smoking a long pipe, and from time to time he sipped a +little coffee which a slave handed to him, and after each sip he stroked +his long beard with an air of enjoyment. In short, anyone could see that +the Caliph was in an excellent humour. This was, in fact, the best time +of day in which to approach him, for just now he was pretty sure to be +both affable and in good spirits, and for this reason the Grand Vizier +Mansor always chose this hour in which to pay his daily visit. + +He arrived as usual this afternoon, but, contrary to his usual custom, +with an anxious face. The Caliph withdrew his pipe for a moment from his +lips and asked, ‘Why do you look so anxious, Grand Vizier?’ + +The Grand Vizier crossed his arms on his breast and bent low before his +master as he answered: + +‘Oh, my Lord! whether my countenance be anxious or not I know not, but +down below, in the court of the palace, is a pedlar with such beautiful +things that I cannot help feeling annoyed at having so little money to +spare.’ + +The Caliph, who had wished for some time past to give his Grand Vizier a +present, ordered his black slave to bring the pedlar before him at once. +The slave soon returned, followed by the pedlar, a short stout man with +a swarthy face, and dressed in very ragged clothes. He carried a box +containing all manner of wares--strings of pearls, rings, richly +mounted pistols, goblets, and combs. The Caliph and his Vizier inspected +everything, and the Caliph chose some handsome pistols for himself and +Mansor, and a jewelled comb for the Vizier’s wife. Just as the pedlar +was about to close his box, the Caliph noticed a small drawer, and asked +if there was anything else in it for sale. The pedlar opened the drawer +and showed them a box containing a black powder, and a scroll written in +strange characters, which neither the Caliph nor the Mansor could read. + +‘I got these two articles from a merchant who had picked them up in the +street at Mecca,’ said the pedlar. ‘I do not know what they may contain, +but as they are of no use to me, you are welcome to have them for a +trifle.’ + +The Caliph, who liked to have old manuscripts in his library, even +though he could not read them, purchased the scroll and the box, and +dismissed the pedlar. Then, being anxious to know what might be the +contents of the scroll, he asked the Vizier if he did not know of anyone +who might be able to decipher it. + +‘Most gracious Lord and master,’ replied the Vizier, ‘near the great +Mosque lives a man called Selim the learned, who knows every language +under the sun. Send for him; it may be that he will be able to interpret +these mysterious characters.’ + +The learned Selim was summoned immediately. + +‘Selim,’ said the Caliph, ‘I hear you are a scholar. Look well at this +scroll and see whether you can read it. If you can, I will give you +a robe of honour; but if you fail, I will order you to receive twelve +strokes on your cheeks, and five-and-twenty on the soles of your feet, +because you have been falsely called Selim the learned.’ + +Selim prostrated himself and said, ‘Be it according to your will, oh +master!’ Then he gazed long at the scroll. Suddenly he exclaimed: ‘May I +die, oh, my Lord, if this isn’t Latin!’ + +‘Well,’ said the Caliph, ‘if it is Latin, let us hear what it means.’ + +So Selim began to translate: ‘Thou who mayest find this, praise Allah +for his mercy. Whoever shall snuff the powder in this box, and at the +same time shall pronounce the word “Mutabor!” can transform himself into +any creature he likes, and will understand the language of all animals. +When he wishes to resume the human form, he has only to bow three times +towards the east, and to repeat the same word. Be careful, however, +when wearing the shape of some beast or bird, not to laugh, or thou wilt +certainly forget the magic word and remain an animal for ever.’ + +When Selim the learned had read this, the Caliph was delighted. He made +the wise man swear not to tell the matter to anyone, gave him a splendid +robe, and dismissed him. Then he said to his Vizier, ‘That’s what I call +a good bargain, Mansor. I am longing for the moment when I can become +some animal. To-morrow morning I shall expect you early; we will go into +the country, take some snuff from my box, and then hear what is being +said in air, earth, and water.’ + +II. + +Next morning Caliph Chasid had barely finished dressing, and +breakfasting, when the Grand Vizier arrived, according to orders, to +accompany him in his expedition. The Caliph stuck the snuff-box in his +girdle, and, having desired his servants to remain at home, started off +with the Grand Vizier only in attendance. First they walked through the +palace gardens, but they looked in vain for some creature which could +tempt them to try their magic power. At length the Vizier suggested +going further on to a pond which lay beyond the town, and where he +had often seen a variety of creatures, especially storks, whose grave, +dignified appearance and constant chatter had often attracted his +attention. + +The Caliph consented, and they went straight to the pond. As soon as +they arrived they remarked a stork strutting up and down with a stately +air, hunting for frogs, and now and then muttering something to itself. +At the same time they saw another stork far above in the sky flying +towards the same spot. + +‘I would wager my beard, most gracious master,’ said the Grand Vizier, +‘that these two long legs will have a good chat together. How would it +be if we turned ourselves into storks?’ + +‘Well said,’ replied the Caliph; ‘but first let us remember carefully +how we are to become men once more. True! Bow three times towards the +east and say “Mutabor!” and I shall be Caliph and you my Grand Vizier +again. But for Heaven’s sake don’t laugh or we are lost!’ + +As the Caliph spoke he saw the second stork circling round his head and +gradually flying towards the earth. Quickly he drew the box from his +girdle, took a good pinch of the snuff, and offered one to Mansor, who +also took one, and both cried together ‘Mutabor!’ + +Instantly their legs shrivelled up and grew thin and red; their smart +yellow slippers turned to clumsy stork’s feet, their arms to wings; +their necks began to sprout from between their shoulders and grew a +yard long; their beards disappeared, and their bodies were covered with +feathers. + +‘You’ve got a fine long bill, Sir Vizier,’ cried the Caliph, after +standing for some time lost in astonishment. ‘By the beard of the +Prophet I never saw such a thing in all my life!’ + +‘My very humble thanks,’ replied the Grand Vizier, as he bent his long +neck; ‘but, if I may venture to say so, your Highness is even handsomer +as a stork than as a Caliph. But come, if it so pleases you, let us go +near our comrades there and find out whether we really do understand the +language of storks.’ + +Meantime the second stork had reached the ground. It first scraped its +bill with its claw, stroked down its feathers, and then advanced towards +the first stork. The two newly made storks lost no time in drawing near, +and to their amazement overheard the following conversation: + +‘Good morning, Dame Longlegs. You are out early this morning!’ + +‘Yes, indeed, dear Chatterbill! I am getting myself a morsel of +breakfast. May I offer you a joint of lizard or a frog’s thigh?’ + +‘A thousand thanks, but I have really no appetite this morning. I +am here for a very different purpose. I am to dance to-day before +my father’s guests, and I have come to the meadow for a little quiet +practice.’ + +Thereupon the young stork began to move about with the most wonderful +steps. The Caliph and Mansor looked on in surprise for some time; but +when at last she balanced herself in a picturesque attitude on one leg, +and flapped her wings gracefully up and down, they could hold out no +longer; a prolonged peal burst from each of their bills, and it was some +time before they could recover their composure. The Caliph was the first +to collect himself. ‘That was the best joke,’ said he, ‘I’ve ever seen. +It’s a pity the stupid creatures were scared away by our laughter, or no +doubt they would have sung next!’ + +Suddenly, however, the Vizier remembered how strictly they had been +warned not to laugh during their transformation. He at once communicated +his fears to the Caliph, who exclaimed, ‘By Mecca and Medina! it +would indeed prove but a poor joke if I had to remain a stork for the +remainder of my days! Do just try and remember the stupid word, it has +slipped my memory.’ + +‘We must bow three times eastwards and say “Mu...mu...mu...”’ + +They turned to the east and fell to bowing till their bills touched the +ground, but, oh horror--the magic word was quite forgotten, and +however often the Caliph bowed and however touchingly his Vizier cried +‘Mu...mu...’ they could not recall it, and the unhappy Chasid and Mansor +remained storks as they were. + +III. + +The two enchanted birds wandered sadly on through the meadows. In +their misery they could not think what to do next. They could not rid +themselves of their new forms; there was no use in returning to the town +and saying who they were; for who would believe a stork who announced +that he was a Caliph; and even if they did believe him, would the people +of Bagdad consent to let a stork rule over them? + +So they lounged about for several days, supporting themselves on fruits, +which, however, they found some difficulty in eating with their long +bills. They did not much care to eat frogs or lizards. Their one comfort +in their sad plight was the power of flying, and accordingly they often +flew over the roofs of Bagdad to see what was going on there. + +During the first few days they noticed signs of much disturbance and +distress in the streets, but about the fourth day, as they sat on the +roof of the palace, they perceived a splendid procession passing below +them along the street. Drums and trumpets sounded, a man in a scarlet +mantle, embroidered in gold, sat on a splendidly caparisoned horse +surrounded by richly dressed slaves; half Bagdad crowded after him, and +they all shouted, ‘Hail, Mirza, the Lord of Bagdad!’ + +The two storks on the palace roof looked at each other, and Caliph +Chasid said, ‘Can you guess now, Grand Vizier, why I have been +enchanted? This Mirza is the son of my deadly enemy, the mighty magician +Kaschnur, who in an evil moment vowed vengeance on me. Still I will not +despair! Come with me, my faithful friend; we will go to the grave of +the Prophet, and perhaps at that sacred spot the spell may be loosed.’ + +They rose from the palace roof, and spread their wings toward Medina. + +But flying was not quite an easy matter, for the two storks had had but +little practice as yet. + +‘Oh, my Lord!’ gasped the Vizier, after a couple of hours, ‘I can get +on no longer; you really fly too quick for me. Besides, it is nearly +evening, and we should do well to find some place in which to spend the +night.’ + +Chasid listened with favour to his servant’s suggestion, and perceiving +in the valley beneath them a ruin which seemed to promise shelter they +flew towards it. The building in which they proposed to pass the night +had apparently been formerly a castle. Some handsome pillars still stood +amongst the heaps of ruins, and several rooms, which yet remained in +fair preservation, gave evidence of former splendour. Chasid and his +companion wandered along the passages seeking a dry spot, when suddenly +Mansor stood still. + +‘My Lord and master,’ he whispered, ‘if it were not absurd for a Grand +Vizier, and still more for a stork, to be afraid of ghosts, I should +feel quite nervous, for someone, or something close by me, has sighed +and moaned quite audibly.’ + +The Caliph stood still and distinctly heard a low weeping sound which +seemed to proceed from a human being rather than from any animal. Full +of curiosity he was about to rush towards the spot from whence the +sounds of woe came, when the Vizier caught him by the wing with his +bill, and implored him not to expose himself to fresh and unknown +dangers. The Caliph, however, under whose stork’s breast a brave heart +beat, tore himself away with the loss of a few feathers, and hurried +down a dark passage. He saw a door which stood ajar, and through which +he distinctly heard sighs, mingled with sobs. He pushed open the door +with his bill, but remained on the threshold, astonished at the sight +which met his eyes. On the floor of the ruined chamber--which was but +scantily lighted by a small barred window--sat a large screech owl. Big +tears rolled from its large round eyes, and in a hoarse voice it uttered +its complaints through its crooked beak. As soon as it saw the Caliph +and his Vizier--who had crept up meanwhile--it gave vent to a joyful +cry. It gently wiped the tears from its eyes with its spotted brown +wings, and to the great amazement of the two visitors, addressed them in +good human Arabic. + +‘Welcome, ye storks! You are a good sign of my deliverance, for it was +foretold me that a piece of good fortune should befall me through a +stork.’ + +When the Caliph had recovered from his surprise, he drew up his feet +into a graceful position, bent his long neck, and said: ‘Oh, screech +owl! from your words I am led to believe that we see in you a companion +in misfortune. But, alas! your hope that you may attain your deliverance +through us is but a vain one. You will know our helplessness when you +have heard our story.’ + +The screech owl begged him to relate it, and the Caliph accordingly told +him what we already know. + +IV. + +When the Caliph had ended, the owl thanked him and said: ‘You hear my +story, and own that I am no less unfortunate than yourselves. My father +is the King of the Indies. I, his only daughter, am named Lusa. +That magician Kaschnur, who enchanted you, has been the cause of my +misfortunes too. He came one day to my father and demanded my hand for +his son Mirza. My father--who is rather hasty--ordered him to be thrown +downstairs. The wretch not long after managed to approach me under +another form, and one day, when I was in the garden, and asked for some +refreshment, he brought me--in the disguise of a slave--a draught which +changed me at once to this horrid shape. Whilst I was fainting with +terror he transported me here, and cried to me with his awful voice: +“There shall you remain, lonely and hideous, despised even by the +brutes, till the end of your days, or till some one of his own free will +asks you to be his wife. Thus do I avenge myself on you and your proud +father.” + +‘Since then many months have passed away. Sad and lonely do I live like +any hermit within these walls, avoided by the world and a terror even +to animals; the beauties of nature are hidden from me, for I am blind by +day, and it is only when the moon sheds her pale light on this spot that +the veil falls from my eyes and I can see.’ The owl paused, and once +more wiped her eyes with her wing, for the recital of her woes had drawn +fresh tears from her. + +The Caliph fell into deep thought on hearing this story of the Princess. +‘If I am not much mistaken,’ said he, ‘there is some mysterious +connection between our misfortunes, but how to find the key to the +riddle is the question.’ + +The owl answered: ‘Oh, my Lord! I too feel sure of this, for in my +earliest youth a wise woman foretold that a stork would bring me +some great happiness, and I think I could tell you how we might save +ourselves.’ The Caliph was much surprised, and asked her what she meant. + +‘The Magician who has made us both miserable,’ said she, ‘comes once a +month to these ruins. Not far from this room is a large hall where he is +in the habit of feasting with his companions. I have often watched them. +They tell each other all about their evil deeds, and possibly the magic +word which you have forgotten may be mentioned.’ + +‘Oh, dearest Princess!’ exclaimed the Caliph, ‘say, when does he come, +and where is the hall?’ + +The owl paused a moment and then said: ‘Do not think me unkind, but I +can only grant your request on one condition.’ + +‘Speak, speak!’ cried Chasid; ‘command, I will gladly do whatever you +wish!’ + +‘Well,’ replied the owl, ‘you see I should like to be free too; but this +can only be if one of you will offer me his hand in marriage.’ + +The storks seemed rather taken aback by this suggestion, and the Caliph +beckoned to his Vizier to retire and consult with him. + +When they were outside the door the Caliph said: ‘Grand Vizier, this is +a tiresome business. However, you can take her.’ + +‘Indeed!’ said the Vizier; ‘so that when I go home my wife may scratch +my eyes out! Besides, I am an old man, and your Highness is still young +and unmarried, and a far more suitable match for a young and lovely +Princess.’ + +‘That’s just where it is,’ sighed the Caliph, whose wings drooped in +a dejected manner; ‘how do you know she is young and lovely? I call it +buying a pig in a poke.’ + +They argued on for some time, but at length, when the Caliph saw plainly +that his Vizier would rather remain a stork to the end of his days than +marry the owl, he determined to fulfil the condition himself. The owl +was delighted. She owned that they could not have arrived at a better +time, as most probably the magicians would meet that very night. + +She then proceeded to lead the two storks to the chamber. They passed +through a long dark passage till at length a bright ray of light shone +before them through the chinks of a half-ruined wall. When they reached +it the owl advised them to keep very quiet. Through the gap near which +they stood they could with ease survey the whole of the large hall. It +was adorned with splendid carved pillars; a number of coloured lamps +replaced the light of day. In the middle of the hall stood a round table +covered with a variety of dishes, and about the table was a divan on +which eight men were seated. In one of these bad men the two recognised +the pedlar who had sold the magic powder. The man next him begged him to +relate all his latest doings, and amongst them he told the story of the +Caliph and his Vizier. + +‘And what kind of word did you give them?’ asked another old sorcerer. + +‘A very difficult Latin word; it is “Mutabor.”’ + + +V. + +As soon as the storks heard this they were nearly beside themselves with +joy. They ran at such a pace to the door of the ruined castle that the +owl could scarcely keep up with them. When they reached it the Caliph +turned to the owl, and said with much feeling: ‘Deliverer of my friend +and myself, as a proof of my eternal gratitude, accept me as your +husband.’ Then he turned towards the east. Three times the storks bowed +their long necks to the sun, which was just rising over the mountains. +‘Mutabor!’ they both cried, and in an instant they were once more +transformed. In the rapture of their newly-given lives master and +servant fell laughing and weeping into each other’s arms. Who shall +describe their surprise when they at last turned round and beheld +standing before them a beautiful lady exquisitely dressed! + +With a smile she held out her hand to the Caliph, and asked: ‘Do you not +recognise your screech owl?’ + +It was she! The Caliph was so enchanted by her grace and beauty, that he +declared being turned into a stork had been the best piece of luck +which had ever befallen him. The three set out at once for Bagdad. +Fortunately, the Caliph found not only the box with the magic powder, +but also his purse in his girdle; he was, therefore, able to buy in the +nearest village all they required for their journey, and so at last they +reached the gates of Bagdad. + +Here the Caliph’s arrival created the greatest sensation. He had been +quite given up for dead, and the people were greatly rejoiced to see +their beloved ruler again. + +Their rage with the usurper Mirza, however, was great in proportion. +They marched in force to the palace and took the old magician and +his son prisoners. The Caliph sent the magician to the room where the +Princess had lived as an owl, and there had him hanged. As the son, +however, knew nothing of his father’s acts, the Caliph gave him his +choice between death and a pinch of the magic snuff. When he chose the +latter, the Grand Vizier handed him the box. One good pinch, and the +magic word transformed him to a stork. The Caliph ordered him to be +confined in an iron cage, and placed in the palace gardens. + +Caliph Chasid lived long and happily with his wife the Princess. His +merriest time was when the Grand Vizier visited him in the afternoon; +and when the Caliph was in particularly high spirits he would condescend +to mimic the Vizier’s appearance when he was a stork. He would strut +gravely, and with well-stiffened legs, up and down the room, chattering, +and showing how he had vainly bowed to the east and cried ‘Mu...Mu...’ +The Caliphess and her children were always much entertained by this +performance; but when the Caliph went on nodding and bowing, and calling +‘Mu...mu...’ too long, the Vizier would threaten laughingly to tell the +Chaliphess the subject of the discussion carried on one night outside +the door of Princess Screech Owl. + + + + + +THE ENCHANTED WATCH + + + +Once upon a time there lived a rich man who had three sons. When they +grew up, he sent the eldest to travel and see the world, and three years +passed before his family saw him again. Then he returned, magnificently +dressed, and his father was so delighted with his behaviour, that he +gave a great feast in his honour, to which all the relations and friends +were invited. + +When the rejoicings were ended, the second son begged leave of his +father to go in his turn to travel and mix with the world. The father +was enchanted at the request, and gave him plenty of money for his +expenses, saying, ‘If you behave as well as your brother, I will do +honour to you as I did to him.’ The young man promised to do his best, +and his conduct during three years was all that it should be. Then he +went home, and his father was so pleased with him that his feast of +welcome was even more splendid than the one before. + +The third brother, whose name was Jenik, or Johnnie, was considered the +most foolish of the three. He never did anything at home except sit +over the stove and dirty himself with the ashes; but he also begged his +father’s leave to travel for three years. ‘Go if you like, you idiot; +but what good will it do you?’ + +The youth paid no heed to his father’s observations as long as he +obtained permission to go. The father saw him depart with joy, glad to +get rid of him, and gave him a handsome sum of money for his needs. + +Once, as he was making one of his journeys, Jenik chanced to cross a +meadow where some shepherds were just about to kill a dog. He entreated +them to spare it, and to give it to him instead which they willingly +did, and he went on his way, followed by the dog. A little further on +he came upon a cat, which someone was going to put to death. He implored +its life, and the cat followed him. Finally, in another place, he saved +a serpent, which was also handed over to him and now they made a party +of four--the dog behind Jenik, the cat behind the dog, and the serpent +behind the cat. + +Then the serpent said to Jenik, ‘Go wherever you see me go,’ for in +the autumn, when all the serpents hide themselves in their holes, this +serpent was going in search of his king, who was king of all the snakes. + +Then he added: ‘My king will scold me for my long absence, everyone else +is housed for the winter, and I am very late. I shall have to tell +him what danger I have been in, and how, without your help, I should +certainly have lost my life. The king will ask what you would like in +return, and be sure you beg for the watch which hangs on the wall. It +has all sorts of wonderful properties, you only need to rub it to get +whatever you like.’ + +No sooner said than done. Jenik became the master of the watch, and +the moment he got out he wished to put its virtues to the proof. He was +hungry, and thought it would be delightful to eat in the meadow a loaf +of new bread and a steak of good beef washed down by a flask of wine, so +he scratched the watch, and in an instant it was all before him. Imagine +his joy! + +Evening soon came, and Jenik rubbed his watch, and thought it would be +very pleasant to have a room with a comfortable bed and a good supper. +In an instant they were all before him. After supper he went to bed and +slept till morning, as every honest man ought to do. Then he set forth +for his father’s house, his mind dwelling on the feast that would be +awaiting him. But as he returned in the same old clothes in which he +went away, his father flew into a great rage, and refused to do anything +for him. Jenik went to his old place near the stove, and dirtied himself +in the ashes without anybody minding. + +The third day, feeling rather dull, he thought it would be nice to see +a three-story house filled with beautiful furniture, and with vessels +of silver and gold. So he rubbed the watch, and there it all was. Jenik +went to look for his father, and said to him: ‘You offered me no feast +of welcome, but permit me to give one to you, and come and let me show +you my plate.’ + +The father was much astonished, and longed to know where his son had got +all this wealth. Jenik did not reply, but begged him to invite all their +relations and friends to a grand banquet. + +So the father invited all the world, and everyone was amazed to see such +splendid things, so much plate, and so many fine dishes on the table. +After the first course Jenik prayed his father to invite the King, and +his daughter the Princess. He rubbed his watch and wished for a carriage +ornamented with gold and silver, and drawn by six horses, with harness +glittering with precious stones. The father did not dare to sit in +this gorgeous coach, but went to the palace on foot. The King and his +daughter were immensely surprised with the beauty of the carriage, and +mounted the steps at once to go to Jenik’s banquet. Then Jenik rubbed +his watch afresh, and wished that for six miles the way to the house +should be paved with marble. Who ever felt so astonished as the King? +Never had he travelled over such a gorgeous road. + +When Jenik heard the wheels of the carriage, he rubbed his watch and +wished for a still more beautiful house, four stories high, and hung +with gold, silver, and damask; filled with wonderful tables, covered +with dishes such as no king had ever eaten before. The King, the Queen, +and the Princess were speechless with surprise. Never had they seen +such a splendid palace, nor such a high feast! At dessert the King asked +Jenik’s father to give him the young man for a son-in-law. No sooner +said than done! The marriage took place at once, and the King returned +to his own palace, and left Jenik with his wife in the enchanted house. + +Now Jenik was not a very clever man, and at the end of a very short time +he began to bore his wife. She inquired how he managed to build palaces +and to get so many precious things. He told her all about the watch, and +she never rested till she had stolen the precious talisman. One night +she took the watch, rubbed it, and wished for a carriage drawn by +four horses; and in this carriage she at once set out for her father’s +palace. There she called to her own attendants, bade them follow her +into the carriage, and drove straight to the sea-side. Then she rubbed +her watch, and wished that the sea might be crossed by a bridge, and +that a magnificent palace might arise in the middle of the sea. No +sooner said than done. The Princess entered the house, rubbed her watch, +and in an instant the bridge was gone. + +Left alone, Jenik felt very miserable. His father, mother, and brothers, +and, indeed, everybody else, all laughed at him. Nothing remained to him +but the cat and dog whose lives he had once saved. He took them with +him and went far away, for he could no longer live with his family. +He reached at last a great desert, and saw some crows flying towards +a mountain. One of them was a long way behind, and when he arrived his +brothers inquired what had made him so late. ‘Winter is here,’ they +said, ‘and it is time to fly to other countries.’ He told them that he +had seen in the middle of the sea the most wonderful house that ever was +built. + +On hearing this, Jenik at once concluded that this must be the +hiding-place of his wife. So he proceeded directly to the shore with his +dog and his cat. When he arrived on the beach, he said to the dog: ‘You +are an excellent swimmer, and you, little one, are very light; jump on +the dog’s back and he will take you to the palace. Once there, he will +hide himself near the door, and you must steal secretly in and try to +get hold of my watch.’ + +No sooner said than done. The two animals crossed the sea; the dog +hid near the house, and the cat stole into the chamber. The Princess +recognised him, and guessed why he had come; and she took the watch down +to the cellar and locked it in a box. But the cat wriggled its way into +the cellar, and the moment the Princess turned her back, he scratched +and scratched till he had made a hole in the box. Then he took the +watch between his teeth, and waited quietly till the Princess came back. +Scarcely had she opened the door when the cat was outside, and the watch +into the bargain. + +The cat was no sooner beyond the gates than she said to the dog: + +‘We are going to cross the sea; be very careful not to speak to me.’ + +The dog laid this to heart and said nothing; but when they approached +the shore he could not help asking, ‘Have you got the watch?’ + +The cat did not answer--he was afraid that he might let the talisman +fall. When they touched the shore the dog repeated his question. + +‘Yes,’ said the cat. + +And the watch fell into the sea. Then our two friends began each to +accuse the other, and both looked sorrowfully at the place where their +treasure had fallen in. Suddenly a fish appeared near the edge of the +sea. The cat seized it, and thought it would make them a good supper. + +‘I have nine little children,’ cried the fish. ‘Spare the father of a +family!’ + +‘Granted,’ replied the cat; ‘but on condition that you find our watch.’ + +The fish executed his commission, and they brought the treasure back to +their master. Jenik rubbed the watch and wished that the palace, with +the Princess and all its inhabitants, should be swallowed up in the sea. +No sooner said than done. Jenik returned to his parents, and he and his +watch, his cat and his dog, lived together happily to the end of their +days. + +Deulin. + + + + + +ROSANELLA + + + +Everybody knows that though the fairies live hundreds of years they do +sometimes die, and especially as they are obliged to pass one day in +every week under the form of some animal, when of course they are liable +to accident. It was in this way that death once overtook the Queen of +the Fairies, and it became necessary to call a general assembly to elect +a new sovereign. After much discussion, it appeared that the choice lay +between two fairies, one called Surcantine and the other Paridamie; and +their claims were so equal that it was impossible without injustice to +prefer one to the other. Under these circumstances it was unanimously +decided that whichever of the two could show to the world the greatest +wonder should be Queen; but it was to be a special kind of wonder, +no moving of mountains or any such common fairy tricks would do. +Surcantine, therefore, resolved that she would bring up a Prince whom +nothing could make constant. While Paridamie decided to display to +admiring mortals a Princess so charming that no one could see her +without falling in love with her. They were allowed to take their +own time, and meanwhile the four oldest fairies were to attend to the +affairs of the kingdom. + +Now Paridamie had for a long time been very friendly with King +Bardondon, who was a most accomplished Prince, and whose court was the +model of what a court should be. His Queen, Balanice, was also charming; +indeed it is rare to find a husband and wife so perfectly of one mind +about everything. They had one little daughter, whom they had named +‘Rosanella,’ because she had a little pink rose printed upon her white +throat. From her earliest infancy she had shown the most astonishing +intelligence, and the courtiers knew her smart sayings by heart, and +repeated them on all occasions. In the middle of the night following the +assembly of fairies, Queen Balanice woke up with a shriek, and when her +maids of honour ran to see what was the matter, they found she had had a +frightful dream. + +‘I thought,’ said she, ‘that my little daughter had changed into a +bouquet of roses, and that as I held it in my hand a bird swooped down +suddenly and snatched it from me and carried it away.’ + +‘Let some one run and see that all is well with the Princess,’ she +added. + +So they ran; but what was their dismay when they found that the cradle +was empty; and though they sought high and low, not a trace of Rosanella +could they discover. The Queen was inconsolable, and so, indeed, was the +King, only being a man he did not say quite so much about his feelings. +He presently proposed to Balanice that they should spend a few days at +one of their palaces in the country; and to this she willingly agreed, +since her grief made the gaiety of the capital distasteful to her. One +lovely summer evening, as they sat together on a shady lawn shaped like +a star, from which radiated twelve splendid avenues of trees, the Queen +looked round and saw a charming peasant-girl approaching by each path, +and what was still more singular was that everyone carried something in +a basket which appeared to occupy her whole attention. As each drew near +she laid her basket at Balanice’s feet, saying: + +‘Charming Queen, may this be some slight consolation to you in your +unhappiness!’ + +The Queen hastily opened the baskets, and found in each a lovely +baby-girl, about the same age as the little Princess for whom she +sorrowed so deeply. At first the sight of them renewed her grief; but +presently their charms so gained upon her that she forgot her +melancholy in providing them with nursery-maids, cradle-rockers, and +ladies-in-waiting, and in sending hither and thither for swings and +dolls and tops, and bushels of the finest sweetmeats. + +Oddly enough, every baby had upon its throat a tiny pink rose. The Queen +found it so difficult to decide on suitable names for all of them, +that until she could settle the matter she chose a special colour for +everyone, by which it was known, so that when they were all together +they looked like nothing so much as a nosegay of gay flowers. As they +grew older it became evident that though they were all remarkably +intelligent, and profited equally by the education they received, yet +they differed one from another in disposition, so much so that they +gradually ceased to be known as ‘Pearl,’ or ‘Primrose,’ or whatever +might have been their colour, and the Queen instead would say: + +‘Where is my Sweet?’ or ‘my Beautiful,’ or ‘my Gay.’ + +Of course, with all these charms they had lovers by the dozen. Not only +in their own court, but princes from afar, who were constantly arriving, +attracted by the reports which were spread abroad; but these lovely +girls, the first Maids of Honour, were as discreet as they were +beautiful, and favoured no one. + +But let us return to Surcantine. She had fixed upon the son of a king +who was cousin to Bardondon, to bring up as her fickle Prince. She had +before, at his christening, given him all the graces of mind and body +that a prince could possibly require; but now she redoubled her efforts, +and spared no pains in adding every imaginable charm and fascination. +So that whether he happened to be cross or amiable, splendidly or simply +attired, serious or frivolous, he was always perfectly irresistible! In +truth, he was a charming young fellow, since the Fairy had given him the +best heart in the world as well as the best head, and had left nothing +to be desired but--constancy. For it cannot be denied that Prince +Mirliflor was a desperate flirt, and as fickle as the wind; so much so, +that by the time he arrived at his eighteenth birthday there was not a +heart left for him to conquer in his father’s kingdom--they were all his +own, and he was tired of everyone! Things were in this state when he was +invited to visit the court of his father’s cousin, King Bardondon. + +Imagine his feelings when he arrived and was presented at once to twelve +of the loveliest creatures in the world, and his embarrassment was +heightened by the fact that they all liked him as much as he liked each +one of them, so that things came to such a pass that he was never happy +a single instant without them. For could he not whisper soft speeches +to Sweet, and laugh with Joy, while he looked at Beauty? And in his more +serious moments what could be pleasanter than to talk to Grave upon some +shady lawn, while he held the hand of Loving in his own, and all the +others lingered near in sympathetic silence? For the first time in his +life he really loved, though the object of his devotion was not one +person, but twelve, to whom he was equally attached, and even +Surcantine was deceived into thinking that this was indeed the height of +inconstancy. But Paridamie said not a word. + +In vain did Prince Mirliflor’s father write commanding him to return, +and proposing for him one good match after another. Nothing in the world +could tear him from his twelve enchantresses. + +One day the Queen gave a large garden-party, and just as the guests were +all assembled, and Prince Mirliflor was as usual dividing his +attentions between the twelve beauties, a humming of bees was heard. The +Rose-maidens, fearing their stings, uttered little shrieks, and fled all +together to a distance from the rest of the company. Immediately, to the +horror of all who were looking on, the bees pursued them, and, growing +suddenly to an enormous size, pounced each upon a maiden and carried +her off into the air, and in an instant they were all lost to view. This +amazing occurrence plunged the whole court into the deepest affliction, +and Prince Mirliflor, after giving way to the most violent grief at +first, fell gradually into a state of such deep dejection that it was +feared if nothing could rouse him he would certainly die. Surcantine +came in all haste to see what she could do for her darling, but he +rejected with scorn all the portraits of lovely princesses which she +offered him for his collection. In short, it was evident that he was in +a bad way, and the Fairy was at her wits’ end. One day, as he wandered +about absorbed in melancholy reflections, he heard sudden shouts and +exclamations of amazement, and if he had taken the trouble to look up he +could not have helped being as astonished as everyone else, for through +the air a chariot of crystal was slowly approaching which glittered +in the sunshine. Six lovely maidens with shining wings drew it +by rose-coloured ribbons, while a whole flight of others, equally +beautiful, were holding long garlands of roses crossed above it, so as +to form a complete canopy. In it sat the Fairy Paridamie, and by her +side a Princess whose beauty positively dazzled all who saw her. At the +foot of the great staircase they descended, and proceeded to the Queen’s +apartments, though everyone had run together to see this marvel, till it +was quite difficult to make a way through the crowd; and exclamations +of wonder rose on all sides at the loveliness of the strange Princess. +‘Great Queen,’ said Paridamie, ‘permit me to restore to you your +daughter Rosanella, whom I stole out of her cradle.’ + +After the first transports of joy were over the Queen said to Paridamie: + +‘But my twelve lovely ones, are they lost to me for ever? Shall I never +see them again?’ + +But Paridamie only said: + +‘Very soon you will cease to miss them!’ in a tone that evidently meant +‘Don’t ask me any more questions.’ And then mounting again into her +chariot she swiftly disappeared. + +The news of his beautiful cousin’s arrival was soon carried to the +Prince, but he had hardly the heart to go and see her. However, it +became absolutely necessary that he should pay his respects, and he had +scarcely been five minutes in her presence before it seemed to him that +she combined in her own charming person all the gifts and graces which +had so attracted him in the twelve Rose-maidens whose loss he had so +truly mourned; and after all it is really more satisfactory to make love +to one person at a time. So it came to pass that before he knew where he +was he was entreating his lovely cousin to marry him, and the moment the +words had left his lips, Paridamie appeared, smiling and triumphant, in +the chariot of the Queen of the Fairies, for by that time they had all +heard of her success, and declared her to have earned the kingdom. She +had to give a full account of how she had stolen Rosanella from her +cradle, and divided her character into twelve parts, that each might +charm Prince Mirliflor, and when once more united might cure him of his +inconstancy once and for ever. + +And as one more proof of the fascination of the whole Rosanella, I may +tell you that even the defeated Surcantine sent her a wedding gift, and +was present at the ceremony which took place as soon as the guests could +arrive. Prince Mirliflor was constant for the rest of his life. And +indeed who would not have been in his place? As for Rosanella, she loved +him as much as all the twelve beauties put together, so they reigned in +peace and happiness to the end of their long lives. + +By the Comte de Caylus. + + + + + +SYLVAIN AND JOCOSA + + + +Once upon a time there lived in the same village two children, one +called Sylvain and the other Jocosa, who were both remarkable for beauty +and intelligence. It happened that their parents were not on terms of +friendship with one another, on account of some old quarrel, which had, +however, taken place so long ago, that they had quite forgotten what it +was all about, and only kept up the feud from force of habit. Sylvain +and Jocosa for their parts were far from sharing this enmity, and indeed +were never happy when apart. Day after day they fed their flocks of +sheep together, and spent the long sunshiny hours in playing, or resting +upon some shady bank. It happened one day that the Fairy of the Meadows +passed by and saw them, and was so much attracted by their pretty faces +and gentle manners that she took them under her protection, and the +older they grew the dearer they became to her. At first she showed her +interest by leaving in their favourite haunts many little gifts such as +they delighted to offer one to the other, for they loved each other so +much that their first thought was always, ‘What will Jocosa like?’ or, +‘What will please Sylvain?’ And the Fairy took a great delight in their +innocent enjoyment of the cakes and sweetmeats she gave them nearly +every day. When they were grown up she resolved to make herself known to +them, and chose a time when they were sheltering from the noonday sun in +the deep shade of a flowery hedgerow. They were startled at first by the +sudden apparition of a tall and slender lady, dressed all in green, and +crowned with a garland of flowers. But when she spoke to them sweetly, +and told them how she had always loved them, and that it was she who had +given them all the pretty things which it had so surprised them to +find, they thanked her gratefully, and took pleasure in answering the +questions she put to them. When she presently bade them farewell, she +told them never to tell anyone else that they had seen her. ‘You will +often see me again,’ added she, ‘and I shall be with you frequently, +even when you do not see me.’ So saying she vanished, leaving them in +a state of great wonder and excitement. After this she came often, and +taught them numbers of things, and showed them many of the marvels of +her beautiful kingdom, and at last one day she said to them, ‘You know +that I have always been kind to you; now I think it is time you did +something for me in your turn. You both remember the fountain I call my +favourite? Promise me that every morning before the sun rises you will +go to it and clear away every stone that impedes its course, and every +dead leaf or broken twig that sullies its clear waters. I shall take it +as a proof of your gratitude to me if you neither forget nor delay this +duty, and I promise that so long as the sun’s earliest rays find my +favourite spring the clearest and sweetest in all my meadows, you two +shall not be parted from one another.’ + +Sylvain and Jocosa willingly undertook this service, and indeed felt +that it was but a very small thing in return for all that the fairy had +given and promised to them. So for a long time the fountain was tended +with the most scrupulous care, and was the clearest and prettiest in all +the country round. But one morning in the spring, long before the sun +rose, they were hastening towards it from opposite directions, when, +tempted by the beauty of the myriads of gay flowers which grew thickly +on all sides, they paused each to gather some for the other. + +‘I will make Sylvain a garland,’ said Jocosa, and ‘How pretty Jocosa +will look in this crown!’ thought Sylvain. + +Hither and thither they strayed, led ever farther and farther, for the +brightest flowers seemed always just beyond them, until at last they +were startled by the first bright rays of the rising sun. With one +accord they turned and ran towards the fountain, reaching it at the same +moment, though from opposite sides. But what was their horror to see its +usually tranquil waters seething and bubbling, and even as they looked +down rushed a mighty stream, which entirely engulfed it, and Sylvain and +Jocosa found themselves parted by a wide and swiftly-rushing river. All +this had happened with such rapidity that they had only time to utter a +cry, and each to hold up to the other the flowers they had gathered; but +this was explanation enough. Twenty times did Sylvain throw himself into +the turbulent waters, hoping to be able to swim to the other side, but +each time an irresistible force drove him back upon the bank he had just +quitted, while, as for Jocosa, she even essayed to cross the flood upon +a tree which came floating down torn up by the roots, but her efforts +were equally useless. Then with heavy hearts they set out to follow the +course of the stream, which had now grown so wide that it was only +with difficulty they could distinguish each other. Night and day, over +mountains and through valleys, in cold or in heat, they struggled on, +enduring fatigue and hunger and every hardship, and consoled only by +the hope of meeting once more--until three years had passed, and at last +they stood upon the cliffs where the river flowed into the mighty sea. + +And now they seemed farther apart than ever, and in despair they tried +once more to throw themselves into the foaming waves. But the Fairy of +the Meadows, who had really never ceased to watch over them, did not +intend that they should be drowned at last, so she hastily waved her +wand, and immediately they found themselves standing side by side +upon the golden sand. You may imagine their joy and delight when +they realised that their weary struggle was ended, and their utter +contentment as they clasped each other by the hand. They had so much +to say that they hardly knew where to begin, but they agreed in blaming +themselves bitterly for the negligence which had caused all their +trouble; and when she heard this the Fairy immediately appeared to them. +They threw themselves at her feet and implored her forgiveness, which +she granted freely, and promised at the same time that now their +punishment was ended she would always befriend them. Then she sent for +her chariot of green rushes, ornamented with May dewdrops, which she +particularly valued and always collected with great care; and ordered +her six short-tailed moles to carry them all back to the well-known +pastures, which they did in a remarkably short time; and Sylvain and +Jocosa were overjoyed to see their dearly-loved home once more after all +their toilful wanderings. The Fairy, who had set her mind upon securing +their happiness, had in their absence quite made up the quarrel between +their parents, and gained their consent to the marriage of the faithful +lovers; and now she conducted them to the most charming little cottage +that can be imagined, close to the fountain, which had once more resumed +its peaceful aspect, and flowed gently down into the little brook +which enclosed the garden and orchard and pasture which belonged to the +cottage. Indeed, nothing more could have been thought of, either for +Sylvain and Jocosa or for their flocks; and their delight satisfied even +the Fairy who had planned it all to please them. When they had explored +and admired until they were tired they sat down to rest under the +rose-covered porch, and the Fairy said that to pass the time until the +wedding guests whom she had invited could arrive she would tell them a +story. This is it: + + + +The Yellow Bird + + + +Once upon a time a Fairy, who had somehow or other got into mischief, +was condemned by the High Court of Fairyland to live for several years +under the form of some creature, and at the moment of resuming her +natural appearance once again to make the fortune of two men. It was +left to her to choose what form she would take, and because she loved +yellow she transformed herself into a lovely bird with shining golden +feathers such as no one had ever seen before. When the time of her +punishment was at an end the beautiful yellow bird flew to Bagdad, +and let herself be caught by a Fowler at the precise moment when +Badi-al-Zaman was walking up and down outside his magnificent summer +palace. This Badi-al-Zaman--whose name means ‘Wonder-of-the-World’--was +looked upon in Bagdad as the most fortunate creature under the sun, +because of his vast wealth. But really, what with anxiety about his +riches and being weary of everything, and always desiring something he +had not, he never knew a moment’s real happiness. Even now he had come +out of his palace, which was large and splendid enough for fifty kings, +weary and cross because he could find nothing new to amuse him. The +Fowler thought that this would be a favourable opportunity for offering +him the marvellous bird, which he felt certain he would buy the instant +he saw it. And he was not mistaken, for when Badi-al-Zaman took the +lovely prisoner into his own hands, he saw written under its right wing +the words, ‘He who eats my head will become a king,’ and under its left +wing, ‘He who eats my heart will find a hundred gold pieces under his +pillow every morning.’ In spite of all his wealth he at once began to +desire the promised gold, and the bargain was soon completed. Then the +difficulty arose as to how the bird was to be cooked; for among all his +army of servants not one could Badi-al-Zaman trust. At last he asked the +Fowler if he were married, and on hearing that he was he bade him take +the bird home with him and tell his wife to cook it. + +‘Perhaps,’ said he, ‘this will give me an appetite, which I have not had +for many a long day, and if so your wife shall have a hundred pieces of +silver.’ + +The Fowler with great joy ran home to his wife, who speedily made a +savoury stew of the Yellow Bird. But when Badi-al-Zaman reached the +cottage and began eagerly to search in the dish for its head and its +heart he could not find either of them, and turned to the Fowler’s wife +in a furious rage. She was so terrified that she fell upon her knees +before him and confessed that her two children had come in just before +he arrived, and had so teased her for some of the dish she was preparing +that she had presently given the head to one and the heart to the other, +since these morsels are not generally much esteemed; and Badi-al-Zaman +rushed from the cottage vowing vengeance against the whole family. The +wrath of a rich man is generally to be feared, so the Fowler and his +wife resolved to send their children out of harm’s way; but the wife, to +console her husband, confided to him that she had purposely given them +the head and heart of the bird because she had been able to read +what was written under its wings. So, believing that their children’s +fortunes were made, they embraced them and sent them forth, bidding them +get as far away as possible, to take different roads, and to send news +of their welfare. For themselves, they remained hidden and disguised +in the town, which was really rather clever of them; but very soon +afterwards Badi-al-Zaman died of vexation and annoyance at the loss of +the promised treasure, and then they went back to their cottage to wait +for news of their children. The younger, who had eaten the heart of +the Yellow Bird, very soon found out what it had done for him, for each +morning when he awoke he found a purse containing a hundred gold +pieces under his pillow. But, as all poor people may remember for their +consolation, nothing in the world causes so much trouble or requires so +much care as a great treasure. Consequently, the Fowler’s son, who spent +with reckless profusion and was supposed to be possessed of a great +hoard of gold, was before very long attacked by robbers, and in trying +to defend himself was so badly wounded that he died. + +The elder brother, who had eaten the Yellow Bird’s head, travelled a +long way without meeting with any particular adventure, until at last +he reached a large city in Asia, which was all in an uproar over the +choosing of a new Emir. All the principal citizens had formed themselves +into two parties, and it was not until after a prolonged squabble that +they agreed that the person to whom the most singular thing happened +should be Emir. Our young traveller entered the town at this juncture, +with his agreeable face and jaunty air, and all at once felt something +alight upon his head, which proved to be a snow-white pigeon. Thereupon +all the people began to stare, and to run after him, so that he +presently reached the palace with the pigeon upon his head and all the +inhabitants of the city at his heels, and before he knew where he was +they made him Emir, to his great astonishment. + +As there is nothing more agreeable than to command, and nothing to which +people get accustomed more quickly, the young Emir soon felt quite at +his ease in his new position; but this did not prevent him from making +every kind of mistake, and so misgoverning the kingdom that at last the +whole city rose in revolt and deprived him at once of his authority and +his life--a punishment which he richly deserved, for in the days of his +prosperity he disowned the Fowler and his wife, and allowed them to die +in poverty. + +‘I have told you this story, my dear Sylvain and Jocosa,’ added the +Fairy, ‘to prove to you that this little cottage and all that belongs +to it is a gift more likely to bring you happiness and contentment than +many things that would at first seem grander and more desirable. If you +will faithfully promise me to till your fields and feed your flocks, +and will keep your word better than you did before, I will see that you +never lack anything that is really for your good.’ + +Sylvain and Jocosa gave their faithful promise, and as they kept it +they always enjoyed peace and prosperity. The Fairy had asked all their +friends and neighbours to their wedding, which took place at once with +great festivities and rejoicings, and they lived to a good old age, +always loving one another with all their hearts. + +By the Comte de Caylus. + + + + + +FAIRY GIFTS + + + +It generally happens that people’s surroundings reflect more or less +accurately their minds and dispositions, so perhaps that is why the +Flower Fairy lived in a lovely palace, with the most delightful +garden you can imagine, full of flowers, and trees, and fountains, and +fish-ponds, and everything nice. For the Fairy herself was so kind +and charming that everybody loved her, and all the young princes and +princesses who formed her court, were as happy as the day was long, +simply because they were near her. They came to her when they were quite +tiny, and never left her until they were grown up and had to go away +into the great world; and when that time came she gave to each whatever +gift he asked of her. But it is chiefly of the Princess Sylvia that you +are going to hear now. The Fairy loved her with all her heart, for she +was at once original and gentle, and she had nearly reached the age at +which the gifts were generally bestowed. However, the Fairy had a great +wish to know how the other princesses who had grown up and left her, +were prospering, and before the time came for Sylvia to go herself, she +resolved to send her to some of them. So one day her chariot, drawn by +butterflies, was made ready, and the Fairy said: ‘Sylvia, I am going to +send you to the court of Iris; she will receive you with pleasure for +my sake as well as for your own. In two months you may come back to me +again, and I shall expect you to tell me what you think of her.’ + +Sylvia was very unwilling to go away, but as the Fairy wished it she +said nothing--only when the two months were over she stepped joyfully +into the butterfly chariot, and could not get back quickly enough to the +Flower-Fairy, who, for her part, was equally delighted to see her again. + +‘Now, child,’ said she, ‘tell me what impression you have received.’ + +‘You sent me, madam,’ answered Sylvia, ‘to the Court of Iris, on whom +you had bestowed the gift of beauty. She never tells anyone, however, +that it was your gift, though she often speaks of your kindness in +general. It seemed to me that her loveliness, which fairly dazzled me at +first, had absolutely deprived her of the use of any of her other gifts +or graces. In allowing herself to be seen, she appeared to think +that she was doing all that could possibly be required of her. But, +unfortunately, while I was still with her she became seriously ill, and +though she presently recovered, her beauty is entirely gone, so that she +hates the very sight of herself, and is in despair. She entreated me to +tell you what had happened, and to beg you, in pity, to give her beauty +back to her. And, indeed, she does need it terribly, for all the things +in her that were tolerable, and even agreeable, when she was so pretty, +seem quite different now she is ugly, and it is so long since she +thought of using her mind or her natural cleverness, that I really don’t +think she has any left now. She is quite aware of all this herself, so +you may imagine how unhappy she is, and how earnestly she begs for your +aid.’ + +‘You have told me what I wanted to know,’ cried the Fairy, ‘but alas! I +cannot help her; my gifts can be given but once.’ + +Some time passed in all the usual delights of the Flower-Fairy’s palace, +and then she sent for Sylvia again, and told her she was to stay for a +little while with the Princess Daphne, and accordingly the butterflies +whisked her off, and set her down in quite a strange kingdom. But she +had only been there a very little time before a wandering butterfly +brought a message from her to the Fairy, begging that she might be sent +for as soon as possible, and before very long she was allowed to return. + +‘Ah! madam,’ cried she, ‘what a place you sent me to that time!’ + +‘Why, what was the matter?’ asked the Fairy. ‘Daphne was one of the +princesses who asked for the gift of eloquence, if I remember rightly.’ + +‘And very ill the gift of eloquence becomes a woman,’ replied Sylvia, +with an air of conviction. ‘It is true that she speaks well, and her +expressions are well chosen; but then she never leaves off talking, and +though at first one may be amused, one ends by being wearied to death. +Above all things she loves any assembly for settling the affairs of her +kingdom, for on those occasions she can talk and talk without fear of +interruption; but, even then, the moment it is over she is ready to +begin again about anything or nothing, as the case may be. Oh! how glad +I was to come away I cannot tell you.’ + +The Fairy smiled at Sylvia’s unfeigned disgust at her late experience; +but after allowing her a little time to recover she sent her to the +Court of the Princess Cynthia, where she left her for three months. +At the end of that time Sylvia came back to her with all the joy and +contentment that one feels at being once more beside a dear friend. The +Fairy, as usual, was anxious to hear what she thought of Cynthia, who +had always been amiable, and to whom she had given the gift of pleasing. + +‘I thought at first,’ said Sylvia, ‘that she must be the happiest +Princess in the world; she had a thousand lovers who vied with one +another in their efforts to please and gratify her. Indeed, I had nearly +decided that I would ask a similar gift.’ + +‘Have you altered your mind, then?’ interrupted the Fairy. + +‘Yes, indeed, madam,’ replied Sylvia; ‘and I will tell you why. The +longer I stayed the more I saw that Cynthia was not really happy. In her +desire to please everyone she ceased to be sincere, and degenerated +into a mere coquette; and even her lovers felt that the charms and +fascinations which were exercised upon all who approached her without +distinction were valueless, so that in the end they ceased to care for +them, and went away disdainfully.’ + +‘I am pleased with you, child,’ said the Fairy; ‘enjoy yourself here for +awhile and presently you shall go to Phyllida.’ + +Sylvia was glad to have leisure to think, for she could not make up her +mind at all what she should ask for herself, and the time was drawing +very near. However, before very long the Fairy sent her to Phyllida, and +waited for her report with unabated interest. + +‘I reached her court safely,’ said Sylvia, ‘and she received me with +much kindness, and immediately began to exercise upon me that brilliant +wit which you had bestowed upon her. I confess that I was fascinated +by it, and for a week thought that nothing could be more desirable; the +time passed like magic, so great was the charm of her society. But I +ended by ceasing to covet that gift more than any of the others I +have seen, for, like the gift of pleasing, it cannot really give +satisfaction. By degrees I wearied of what had so delighted me at first, +especially as I perceived more and more plainly that it is impossible +to be constantly smart and amusing without being frequently ill-natured, +and too apt to turn all things, even the most serious, into mere +occasions for a brilliant jest.’ + +The Fairy in her heart agreed with Sylvia’s conclusions, and felt +pleased with herself for having brought her up so well. + +But now the time was come for Sylvia to receive her gift, and all her +companions were assembled; the Fairy stood in the midst and in the usual +manner asked what she would take with her into the great world. + +Sylvia paused for a moment, and then answered: ‘A quiet spirit.’ And the +Fairy granted her request. + +This lovely gift makes life a constant happiness to its possessor, and +to all who are brought into contact with her. She has all the beauty of +gentleness and contentment in her sweet face; and if at times it seems +less lovely through some chance grief or disquietude, the hardest thing +that one ever hears said is: + +‘Sylvia’s dear face is pale to-day. It grieves one to see her so.’ + +And when, on the contrary, she is gay and joyful, the sunshine of her +presence rejoices all who have the happiness of being near her. + +By the Comte de Caylus. + + + + + +PRINCE NARCISSUS AND THE PRINCESS POTENTILLA + + + +Once upon a time there lived a King and Queen who, though it is a very +long while since they died, were much the same in their tastes and +pursuits as people nowadays. The King, who was called Cloverleaf, liked +hunting better than anything else; but he nevertheless bestowed as much +care upon his kingdom as he felt equal to--that is to say, he never made +an end of folding and unfolding the State documents. As to the Queen, +she had once been very pretty, and she liked to believe that she was so +still, which is, of course, always made quite easy for queens. Her +name was Frivola, and her one occupation in life was the pursuit of +amusement. Balls, masquerades, and picnics followed one another in rapid +succession, as fast as she could arrange them, and you may imagine +that under these circumstances the kingdom was somewhat neglected. As +a matter of fact, if anyone had a fancy for a town, or a province, he +helped himself to it; but as long as the King had his horses and +dogs, and the Queen her musicians and her actors, they did not trouble +themselves about the matter. King Cloverleaf and Queen Frivola had +but one child, and this Princess had from her very babyhood been +so beautiful, that by the time she was four years old the Queen was +desperately jealous of her, and so fearful that when she was grown up +she would be more admired than herself, that she resolved to keep her +hidden away out of sight. To this end she caused a little house to be +built not far beyond the Palace gardens, on the bank of a river. This +was surrounded by a high wall, and in it the charming Potentilla +was imprisoned. Her nurse, who was dumb, took care of her, and the +necessaries of life were conveyed to her through a little window in the +wall, while guards were always pacing to and fro outside, with orders +to cut off the head of anyone who tried to approach, which they would +certainly have done without thinking twice about it. The Queen told +everyone, with much pretended sorrow, that the Princess was so ugly, and +so troublesome, and altogether so impossible to love, that to keep her +out of sight was the only thing that could be done for her. And this +tale she repeated so often, that at last the whole court believed it. +Things were in this state, and the Princess was about fifteen years old, +when Prince Narcissus, attracted by the report of Queen Frivola’s gay +doings, presented himself at the court. He was not much older than +the Princess, and was as handsome a Prince as you would see in a day’s +journey, and really, for his age, not so very scatter-brained. His +parents were a King and Queen, whose story you will perhaps read some +day. They died almost at the same time, leaving their kingdom to the +eldest of their children, and commending their youngest son, Prince +Narcissus, to the care of the Fairy Melinette. In this they did very +well for him, for the Fairy was as kind as she was powerful, and she +spared no pains in teaching the little Prince everything it was good for +him to know, and even imparted to him some of her own Fairy lore. But as +soon as he was grown up she sent him out to see the world for himself, +though all the time she was secretly keeping watch over him, ready to +help in any time of need. Before he started she gave him a ring which +would render him invisible when he put it on his finger. These rings +seem to be quite common; you must often have heard of them, even if you +have never seen one. It was in the course of the Prince’s wanderings, +in search of experience of men and things, that he came to the court +of Queen Frivola, where he was extremely well received. The Queen was +delighted with him, so were all her ladies; and the King was very polite +to him, though he did not quite see why the whole court was making such +a fuss over him. + +Prince Narcissus enjoyed all that went on, and found the time pass +very pleasantly. Before long, of course, he heard the story about the +Princess Potentilla, and, as it had by that time been repeated many +times, and had been added to here and there, she was represented as such +a monster of ugliness that he was really quite curious to see her, and +resolved to avail himself of the magic power of his ring to accomplish +his design. So he made himself invisible, and passed the guard without +their so much as suspecting that anyone was near. Climbing the wall was +rather a difficulty, but when he at length found himself inside it he +was charmed with the peaceful beauty of the little domain it enclosed, +and still more delighted when he perceived a slender, lovely maiden +wandering among the flowers. It was not until he had sought vainly +for the imaginary monster that he realised that this was the Princess +herself, and by that time he was deeply in love with her, for indeed it +would have been hard to find anyone prettier than Potentilla, as she +sat by the brook, weaving a garland of blue forget-me-nots to crown her +waving golden locks, or to imagine anything more gentle than the way she +tended all the birds and beasts who inhabited her small kingdom, and who +all loved and followed her. Prince Narcissus watched her every movement, +and hovered near her in a dream of delight, not daring as yet to appear +to her, so humble had he suddenly become in her presence. And when +evening came, and the nurse fetched the Princess into her little house, +he felt obliged to go back to Frivola’s palace, for fear his absence +should be noticed and someone should discover his new treasure. But he +forgot that to go back absent, and dreamy, and indifferent, when he +had before been gay and ardent about everything, was the surest way +of awakening suspicion; and when, in response to the jesting questions +which were put to him upon the subject, he only blushed and returned +evasive answers, all the ladies were certain that he had lost his heart, +and did their utmost to discover who was the happy possessor of it. As +to the Prince, he was becoming day by day more attached to Potentilla, +and his one thought was to attend her, always invisible, and help her in +everything she did, and provide her with everything that could possibly +amuse or please her. And the Princess, who had learnt to find diversion +in very small things in her quiet life, was in a continual state of +delight over the treasures which the Prince constantly laid where she +must find them. Then Narcissus implored his faithful friend Melinette to +send the Princess such dreams of him as should make her recognise him as +a friend when he actually appeared before her eyes; and this device was +so successful that the Princess quite dreaded the cessation of +these amusing dreams, in which a certain Prince Narcissus was such a +delightful lover and companion. After that he went a step further and +began to have long talks with the Princess--still, however, keeping +himself invisible, until she begged him so earnestly to appear to her +that he could no longer resist, and after making her promise that, no +matter what he was like, she would still love him, he drew the ring from +his finger, and the Princess saw with delight that he was as handsome +as he was agreeable. Now, indeed, they were perfectly happy, and they +passed the whole long summer day in Potentilla’s favourite place by the +brook, and when at last Prince Narcissus had to leave her it seemed to +them both that the hours had gone by with the most amazing swiftness. +The Princess stayed where she was, dreaming of her delightful Prince, +and nothing could have been further from her thoughts than any trouble +or misfortune, when suddenly, in a cloud of dust and shavings, by came +the enchanter Grumedan, and unluckily he chanced to catch sight of +Potentilla. Down he came straightway and alighted at her feet, and one +look at her charming blue eyes and smiling lips quite decided him that +he must appear to her at once, though he was rather annoyed to remember +that he had on only his second-best cloak. The Princess sprang to her +feet with a cry of terror at this sudden apparition, for really the +Enchanter was no beauty. To begin with, he was very big and clumsy, then +he had but one eye, and his teeth were long, and he stammered badly; +nevertheless, he had an excellent opinion of himself, and mistook the +Princess’s cry of terror for an exclamation of delighted surprise. After +pausing a moment to give her time to admire him, the Enchanter made her +the most complimentary speech he could invent, which, however, did not +please her at all, though he was extremely delighted with it himself. +Poor Potentilla only shuddered and cried: + +‘Oh! where is my Narcissus?’ + +To which he replied with a self-satisfied chuckle: ‘You want a +narcissus, madam? Well, they are not rare; you shall have as many as you +like.’ + +Whereupon he waved his wand, and the Princess found herself surrounded +and half buried in the fragrant flowers. She would certainly have +betrayed that this was not the kind of narcissus she wanted, but for the +Fairy Melinette, who had been anxiously watching the interview, and now +thought it quite time to interfere. Assuming the Prince’s voice, she +whispered in Potentilla’s ear: + +‘We are menaced by a great danger, but my only fear is for you, my +Princess. Therefore I beg you to hide what you really feel, and we will +hope that some way out of the difficulty may present itself.’ + +The Princess was much agitated by this speech, and feared lest the +Enchanter should have overheard it; but he had been loudly calling +her attention to the flowers, and chuckling over his own smartness in +getting them for her; and it was rather a blow to him when she said very +coldly that they were not the sort she preferred, and she would be glad +if he would send them all away. This he did, but afterwards wished to +kiss the Princess’s hand as a reward for having been so obliging; but +the Fairy Melinette was not going to allow anything of that kind. She +appeared suddenly, in all her splendour, and cried: + +‘Stay, Grumedan; this Princess is under my protection, and the smallest +impertinence will cost you a thousand years of captivity. If you can win +Potentilla’s heart by the ordinary methods I cannot oppose you, but I +warn you that I will not put up with any of your usual tricks.’ + +This declaration was not at all to the Enchanter’s taste; but he knew +that there was no help for it, and that he would have to behave well, +and pay the Princess all the delicate attentions he could think of; +though they were not at all the sort of thing he was used to. However, +he decided that to win such a beauty it was quite worth while; and +Melinette, feeling that she could now leave the Princess in safety, +hurried off to tell Prince Narcissus what was going forward. Of course, +at the very mention of the Enchanter as a rival he was furious, and I +don’t know what foolish things he would not have done if Melinette had +not been there to calm him down. She represented to him what a powerful +enchanter Grumedan was, and how, if he were provoked, he might avenge +himself upon the Princess, since he was the most unjust and churlish of +all the enchanters, and had often before had to be punished by the Fairy +Queen for some of his ill-deeds. Once he had been imprisoned in a tree, +and was only released when it was blown down by a furious wind; another +time he was condemned to stay under a big stone at the bottom of a +river, until by some chance the stone should be turned over; but nothing +could ever really improve him. The Fairy finally made Narcissus promise +that he would remain invisible when he was with the Princess, since she +felt sure that this would make things easier for all of them. Then began +a struggle between Grumedan and the Prince, the latter under the name +of Melinette, as to which could best delight and divert the Princess and +win her approbation. Prince Narcissus first made friends with all the +birds in Potentilla’s little domain, and taught them to sing her name +and her praises, with all their sweetest trills and most touching +melodies, and all day long to tell her how dearly he loved her. +Grumedan, thereupon, declared that there was nothing new about that, +since the birds had sung since the world began, and all lovers had +imagined that they sang for them alone. Therefore he said he would +himself write an opera that should be absolutely a novelty and something +worth hearing. When the time came for the performance (which lasted five +weary hours) the Princess found to her dismay that the ‘opera’ consisted +of this more than indifferent verse, chanted with all their might by ten +thousand frogs: + +‘Admirable Potentilla, Do you think it kind or wise In this sudden way +to kill a Poor Enchanter with your eyes?’ + +Really, if Narcissus had not been there to whisper in her ear and divert +her attention, I don’t know what would have become of poor Potentilla, +for though the first repetition of this absurdity amused her faintly, +she nearly died of weariness before the time was over. Luckily Grumedan +did not perceive this, as he was too much occupied in whipping up the +frogs, many of whom perished miserably from fatigue, since he did not +allow them to rest for a moment. The Prince’s next idea for Potentilla’s +amusement was to cause a fleet of boats exactly like those of Cleopatra, +of which you have doubtless read in history, to come up the little +river, and upon the most gorgeously decorated of these reclined the +great Queen herself, who, as soon as she reached the place where +Potentilla sat in rapt attention, stepped majestically on shore and +presented the Princess with that celebrated pearl of which you have +heard so much, saying: + +‘You are more beautiful than I ever was. Let my example warn you to make +a better use of your beauty!’ + +And then the little fleet sailed on, until it was lost to view in the +windings of the river. Grumedan was also looking on at the spectacle, +and said very contemptuously: + +‘I cannot say I think these marionettes amusing. What a to-do to make +over a single pearl! But if you like pearls, madam, why, I will soon +gratify you.’ + +So saying, he drew a whistle from his pocket, and no sooner had he blown +it than the Princess saw the water of the river bubble and grow muddy, +and in another instant up came hundreds of thousands of great oysters, +who climbed slowly and laboriously towards her and laid at her feet all +the pearls they contained. + +‘Those are what I call pearls,’ cried Grumedan in high glee. And truly +there were enough of them to pave every path in Potentilla’s garden and +leave some to spare! The next day Prince Narcissus had prepared for the +Princess’s pleasure a charming arbour of leafy branches, with couches of +moss and grassy floor and garlands everywhere, with her name written in +different coloured blossoms. Here he caused a dainty little banquet +to be set forth, while hidden musicians played softly, and the silvery +fountains plashed down into their marble basins, and when presently +the music stopped a single nightingale broke the stillness with his +delicious chant. + +‘Ah!’ cried the Princess, recognizing the voice of one of her +favourites, ‘Philomel, my sweet one, who taught you that new song?’ + +And he answered: ‘Love, my Princess.’ + +Meanwhile the Enchanter was very ill-pleased with the entertainment, +which he declared was dulness itself. + +‘You don’t seem to have any idea in these parts beyond little squeaking +birds!’ said he. ‘And fancy giving a banquet without so much as an ounce +of plate!’ + +So the next day, when the Princess went out into her garden, there stood +a summer-house built of solid gold, decorated within and without with +her initials and the Enchanter’s combined. And in it was spread an +enormous repast, while the table so glittered with golden cups and +plates, flagons and dishes, candlesticks and a hundred other things +beside, that it was hardly possible to look steadily at it. The +Enchanter ate like six ogres, but the Princess could not touch a morsel. +Presently Grumedan remarked with a grin: + +‘I have provided neither musicians nor singers; but as you seem fond of +music I will sing to you myself.’ + +Whereupon he began, with a voice like a screech-owl’s, to chant the +words of his ‘opera,’ only this time happily not at such a length, and +without the frog accompaniment. After this the Prince again asked the +aid of his friends the birds, and when they had assembled from all the +country round he tied about the neck of each one a tiny lamp of some +brilliant colour, and when darkness fell he made them go through a +hundred pretty tricks before the delighted Potentilla, who clapped her +little hands with delight when she saw her own name traced in points of +light against the dark trees, or when the whole flock of sparks grouped +themselves into bouquets of different colours, like living flowers. +Grumedan leaning back in his arm-chair, with one knee crossed over the +other and his nose in the air, looked on disdainfully. + +‘Oh! if you like fireworks, Princess,’ said he; and the next night all +the will-o’-the-wisps in the country came and danced on the plain, which +could be seen from the Princess’s windows, and as she was looking out, +and rather enjoying the sight, up sprang a frightful volcano, pouring +out smoke and flames which terrified her greatly, to the intense +amusement of the Enchanter, who laughed like a pack of wolves +quarrelling. After this, as many of the will-o’-the-wisps as could +get in crowded into Potentilla’s garden, and by their light the tall +yew-trees danced minuets until the Princess was weary and begged to +be excused from looking at anything more that night. But, in spite of +Potentilla’s efforts to behave politely to the tiresome old Enchanter, +whom she detested, he could not help seeing that he failed to please +her, and then he began to suspect very strongly that she must love +someone else, and that somebody besides Melinette was responsible for +all the festivities he had witnessed. So after much consideration +he devised a plan for finding out the truth. He went to the Princess +suddenly, and announced that he was most unwillingly forced to leave +her, and had come to bid her farewell. Potentilla could scarcely hide +her delight when she heard this, and his back was hardly turned before +she was entreating Prince Narcissus to make himself visible once more. +The poor Prince had been getting quite thin with anxiety and annoyance, +and was only too delighted to comply with her request. They greeted one +another rapturously, and were just sitting down to talk over everything +cosily, and enjoy the Enchanter’s discomfiture together, when out +he burst in a fury from behind a bush. With his huge club he aimed a +terrific blow at Narcissus, which must certainly have killed him but for +the adroitness of the Fairy Melinette, who arrived upon the scene just +in time to snatch him up and carry him off at lightning speed to her +castle in the air. Poor Potentilla, however, had not the comfort of +knowing this, for at the sight of the Enchanter threatening her beloved +Prince she had given one shriek and fallen back insensible. When she +recovered her senses she was more than ever convinced that he was dead, +since even Melinette was no longer near her, and no one was left to +defend her from the odious old Enchanter. + +To make matters worse, he seemed to be in a very bad temper, and came +blustering and raging at the poor Princess. + +‘I tell you what it is, madam,’ said he: ‘whether you love this +whipper-snapper Prince or not doesn’t matter in the least. You are going +to marry me, so you may as well make up your mind to it; and I am going +away this very minute to make all the arrangements. But in case you +should get into mischief in my absence, I think I had better put you to +sleep.’ + +So saying, he waved his wand over her, and in spite of her utmost +efforts to keep awake she sank into a profound and dreamless slumber. + +As he wished to make what he considered a suitable entry into the King’s +palace, he stepped outside the Princess’s little domain, and mounted +upon an immense chariot with great solid wheels, and shafts like the +trunk of an oak-tree, but all of solid gold. This was drawn with great +difficulty by forty-eight strong oxen; and the Enchanter reclined at his +ease, leaning upon his huge club, and holding carelessly upon his knee +a tawny African lion, as if it had been a little lapdog. It was about +seven o’clock in the morning when this extraordinary chariot reached +the palace gates; the King was already astir, and about to set off on +a hunting expedition; as for the Queen, she had only just gone off +into her first sleep, and it would have been a bold person indeed who +ventured to wake her. + +The King was greatly annoyed at having to stay and see a visitor at +such a time, and pulled off his hunting boots again with many grimaces. +Meantime the Enchanter was stumping about in the hall, crying: + +‘Where is this King? Let him be told that I must see him and his wife +also.’ + +The King, who was listening at the top of the staircase, thought +this was not very polite; however, he took counsel with his favourite +huntsman, and, following his advice, presently went down to see what +was wanted of him. He was struck with astonishment at the sight of the +chariot, and was gazing at it, when the Enchanter strode up to him, +exclaiming: + +‘Shake hands, Cloverleaf, old fellow! Don’t you know me?’ + +‘No, I can’t say I do,’ replied the King, somewhat embarrassed. + +‘Why, I am Grumedan, the Enchanter,’ said he, ‘and I am come to make +your fortune. Let us come in and talk things over a bit.’ + +Thereupon he ordered the oxen to go about their business, and they +bounded off like stags, and were out of sight in a moment. Then, with +one blow of his club, he changed the massive chariot into a perfect +mountain of gold pieces. + +‘Those are for your lackeys,’ said he to the King, ‘that they may drink +my health.’ + +Naturally a great scramble ensued, and at last the laughter and shouting +awoke the Queen, who rang for her maids to ask the reason of such an +unwonted hurry-burly. When they said that a visitor was asking for her, +and then proceeded each one to tell breathlessly a different tale of +wonder, in which she could only distinguish the words, ‘oxen,’ ‘gold,’ +‘club,’ ‘giant,’ ‘lion,’ she thought they were all out of their minds. +Meanwhile the King was asking the Enchanter to what he was indebted +for the honour of this visit, and on his replying that he would not +say until the Queen was also present, messenger after messenger was +dispatched to her to beg her immediate attendance. But Frivola was in a +very bad humour at having been so unceremoniously awakened, and declared +that she had a pain in her little finger, and that nothing should induce +her to come. + +When the Enchanter heard this he insisted that she must come. + +‘Take my club to her Majesty,’ said he, ‘and tell her that if she smells +the end of it she will find it wonderfully reviving.’ + +So four of the King’s strongest men-at-arms staggered off with it; and +after some persuasion the Queen consented to try this novel remedy. +She had hardly smelt it for an instant when she declared herself to be +perfectly restored; but whether that was due to the scent of the wood or +to the fact that as soon as she touched it out fell a perfect shower of +magnificent jewels, I leave you to decide. At any rate, she was now all +eagerness to see the mysterious stranger, and hastily throwing on her +royal mantle, popped her second-best diamond crown over her night-cap, +put a liberal dab of rouge upon each cheek, and holding up her largest +fan before her nose--for she was not used to appearing in broad +daylight--she went mincing into the great hall. The Enchanter waited +until the King and Queen had seated themselves upon their throne, and +then, taking his place between them, he began solemnly: + +‘My name is Grumedan. I am an extremely well-connected Enchanter; my +power is immense. In spite of all this, the charms of your daughter +Potentilla have so fascinated me that I cannot live without her. She +fancies that she loves a certain contemptible puppy called Narcissus; +but I have made very short work with him. I really do not care whether +you consent to my marriage with your daughter or not, but I am bound +to ask your consent, on account of a certain meddling Fairy called +Melinette, with whom I have reason for wishing to keep on good terms.’ + +The King and Queen were somewhat embarrassed to know what answer to make +to this terrible suitor, but at last they asked for time to talk over +the matter: since, they said, their subjects might think that the heir +to the throne should not be married with as little consideration as a +dairymaid. + +‘Oh! take a day or two if you like,’ said the Enchanter; ‘but in the +meantime, I am going to send for your daughter. Perhaps you will be able +to induce her to be reasonable.’ + +So saying, he drew out his favourite whistle, and blew one ear-piercing +note--whereupon the great lion, who had been dozing in the sunny +courtyard, come bounding in on his soft, heavy feet. ‘Orion,’ said the +Enchanter, ‘go and fetch me the Princess, and bring her here at once. Be +gentle now!’ + +At these words Orion went off at a great pace, and was soon at the other +end of the King’s gardens. Scattering the guards right and left, he +cleared the wall at a bound, and seizing the sleeping Princess, he threw +her on to his back, where he kept her by holding her robe in his teeth. +Then he trotted gently back, and in less than five minutes stood in the +great hall before the astonished King and Queen. + +The Enchanter held his club close to the Princess’s charming little +nose, whereupon she woke up and shrieked with terror at finding herself +in a strange place with the detested Grumedan. Frivola, who had stood +by, stiff with displeasure at the sight of the lovely Princess, now +stepped forward, and with much pretended concern proposed to carry off +Potentilla to her own apartments that she might enjoy the quiet she +seemed to need. Really her one idea was to let the Princess be seen by +as few people as possible; so, throwing a veil over her head, she led +her away and locked her up securely. All this time Prince Narcissus, +gloomy and despairing, was kept a prisoner by Melinette in her castle in +the air, and in spite of all the splendour by which he was surrounded, +and all the pleasures which he might have enjoyed, his one thought was +to get back to Potentilla. The Fairy, however, left him there, promising +to do her very best for him, and commanding all her swallows and +butterflies to wait upon him and do his bidding. One day, as he paced +sadly to and fro, he thought he heard a voice he knew calling to him, +and sure enough there was the faithful Philomel, Potentilla’s favourite, +who told him all that had passed, and how the sleeping Princess had been +carried off by the Lion to the great grief of all her four-footed and +feathered subjects, and how, not knowing what to do, he had wandered +about until he heard the swallows telling one another of the Prince who +was in their airy castle and had come to see if it could be Narcissus. +The Prince was more distracted than ever, and tried vainly to escape +from the castle, by leaping from the roof into the clouds; but every +time they caught him, and rolling softly up, brought him back to the +place from which he started, so at last he gave up the attempt and +waited with desperate patience for the return of Melinette. Meanwhile +matters were advancing rapidly in the court of King Cloverleaf, for the +Queen quite made up her mind that such a beauty as Potentilla must be +got out of the way as quickly as possible. So she sent for the Enchanter +secretly, and after making him promise that he would never turn herself +and King Cloverleaf out of their kingdom, and that he would take +Potentilla far away, so that never again might she set eyes upon her, +she arranged the wedding for the next day but one. + +You may imagine how Potentilla lamented her sad fate, and entreated to +be spared. All the comfort she could get out of Frivola was, that if she +preferred a cup of poison to a rich husband she would certainly provide +her with one. + +When, then, the fatal day came the unhappy Potentilla was led into the +great hall between the King and Queen, the latter wild with envy at the +murmurs of admiration which rose on all sides at the loveliness of the +Princess. An instant later in came Grumedan by the opposite door. His +hair stood on end, and he wore a huge bag-purse and a cravat tied in a +bow, his mantle was made of a shower of silver coins with a lining of +rose colour, and his delight in his own appearance knew no bounds. +That any Princess could prefer a cup of poison to himself never for an +instant occurred to him. Nevertheless, that was what did happen, for +when Queen Frivola in jest held out the fatal cup to the Princess, she +took it eagerly, crying: + +‘Ah! beloved Narcissus, I come to thee!’ and was just raising it to +her lips when the window of the great hall burst open, and the Fairy +Melinette floated in upon a glowing sunset cloud, followed by the Prince +himself: + +All the court looked on in dazzled surprise, while Potentilla, catching +sight of her lover, dropped the cup and ran joyfully to meet him. + +The Enchanter’s first thought was to defend himself when he saw +Melinette appear, but she slipped round his blind side, and catching him +by the eyelashes dragged him off to the ceiling of the hall, where +she held him kicking for a while just to give him a lesson, and then +touching him with her wand she imprisoned him for a thousand years in a +crystal ball which hung from the roof. ‘Let this teach you to mind what +I tell you another time,’ she remarked severely. Then turning to the +King and Queen, she begged them to proceed with the wedding, since she +had provided a much more suitable bridegroom. She also deprived them of +their kingdom, for they had really shown themselves unfit to manage +it, and bestowed it upon the Prince and Princess, who, though they were +unwilling to take it, had no choice but to obey the Fairy. However, they +took care that the King and Queen were always supplied with everything +they could wish for. + +Prince Narcissus and Princess Potentilla lived long and happily, beloved +by all their subjects. As for the Enchanter, I don’t believe he has been +let out yet. + +La Princesse Pimprenella et Le Prince Romarin. + + + + + +PRINCE FEATHERHEAD AND THE PRINCESS CELANDINE + + + +Once upon a time there lived a King and Queen, who were the best +creatures in the world, and so kind-hearted that they could not bear +to see their subjects want for anything. The consequence was that +they gradually gave away all their treasures, till they positively +had nothing left to live upon; and this coming to the ears of their +neighbour, King Bruin, he promptly raised a large army and marched into +their country. The poor King, having no means of defending his kingdom, +was forced to disguise himself with a false beard, and carrying his only +son, the little Prince Featherhead, in his arms, and accompanied only by +the Queen, to make the best of his way into the wild country. They were +lucky enough to escape the soldiers of King Bruin, and at last, after +unheard-of fatigues and adventures, they found themselves in a charming +green valley, through which flowed a stream clear as crystal and +overshadowed by beautiful trees. As they looked round them with delight, +a voice said suddenly: ‘Fish, and see what you will catch.’ Now the King +had always loved fishing, and never went anywhere without a fish-hook +or two in his pocket, so he drew one out hastily, and the Queen lent him +her girdle to fasten it to, and it had hardly touched the water before +it caught a big fish, which made them an excellent meal--and not before +they needed it, for they had found nothing until then but a few wild +berries and roots. They thought that for the present they could not do +better than stay in this delightful place, and the King set to work, and +soon built a bower of branches to shelter them; and when it was finished +the Queen was so charmed with it that she declared nothing was lacking +to complete her happiness but a flock of sheep, which she and the little +Prince might tend while the King fished. They soon found that the fish +were not only abundant and easily caught, but also very beautiful, with +glittering scales of every imaginable hue; and before long the King +discovered that he could teach them to talk and whistle better than any +parrot. Then he determined to carry some to the nearest town and try to +sell them; and as no one had ever before seen any like them the +people flocked about him eagerly and bought all he had caught, so that +presently not a house in the city was considered complete without a +crystal bowl full of fish, and the King’s customers were very particular +about having them to match the rest of the furniture, and gave him a +vast amount of trouble in choosing them. However, the money he obtained +in this way enabled him to buy the Queen her flock of sheep, as well as +many of the other things which go to make life pleasant, so that they +never once regretted their lost kingdom. Now it happened that the Fairy +of the Beech-Woods lived in the lovely valley to which chance had led +the poor fugitives, and it was she who had, in pity for their forlorn +condition, sent the King such good luck to his fishing, and generally +taken them under her protection. This she was all the more inclined to +do as she loved children, and little Prince Featherhead, who never +cried and grew prettier day by day, quite won her heart. She made the +acquaintance of the King and the Queen without at first letting them +know that she was a fairy, and they soon took a great fancy to her, and +even trusted her with the precious Prince, whom she carried off to her +palace, where she regaled him with cakes and tarts and every other +good thing. This was the way she chose of making him fond of her; but +afterwards, as he grew older, she spared no pains in educating and +training him as a prince should be trained. But unfortunately, in spite +of all her care, he grew so vain and frivolous that he quitted his +peaceful country life in disgust, and rushed eagerly after all the +foolish gaieties of the neighbouring town, where his handsome face and +charming manners speedily made him popular. The King and Queen deeply +regretted this alteration in their son, but did not know how to mend +matters, since the good old Fairy had made him so self-willed. + +Just at this time the Fairy of the Beech-Woods received a visit from +an old friend of hers called Saradine, who rushed into her house so +breathless with rage that she could hardly speak. + +‘Dear, dear! what is the matter?’ said the Fairy of the Beech-Woods +soothingly. + +‘The matter!’ cried Saradine. ‘You shall soon hear all about it. You +know that, not content with endowing Celandine, Princess of the Summer +Islands, with everything she could desire to make her charming, I +actually took the trouble to bring her up myself; and now what does she +do but come to me with more coaxings and caresses than usual to beg a +favour. And what do you suppose this favour turns out to be--when I have +been cajoled into promising to grant it? Nothing more nor less than +a request that I will take back all my gifts--“since,” says my young +madam, “if I have the good fortune to please you, how am I to know that +it is really I, myself? And that’s how it will be all my life long, +whenever I meet anybody. You see what a weariness my life will be to me +under these circumstances, and yet I assure you I am not ungrateful to +you for all your kindness!” I did all I could,’ continued Saradine, ‘to +make her think better of it, but in vain; so after going through the +usual ceremony for taking back my gifts, I’m come to you for a little +peace and quietness. But, after all, I have not taken anything of +consequence from this provoking Celandine. Nature had already made her +so pretty, and given her such a ready wit of her own, that she will +do perfectly well without me. However, I thought she deserved a little +lesson, so to begin with I have whisked her off into the desert, and +there left her!’ + +‘What! all alone, and without any means of existence?’ cried the +kind-hearted old Fairy. ‘You had better hand her over to me. I don’t +think so very badly of her after all. I’ll just cure her vanity by +making her love someone better than herself. Really, when I come to +consider of it, I declare the little minx has shown more spirit and +originality in the matter than one expects of a princess.’ + +Saradine willingly consented to this arrangement, and the old Fairy’s +first care was to smooth away all the difficulties which surrounded +the Princess, and lead her by the mossy path overhung with trees to the +bower of the King and Queen, who still pursued their peaceful life in +the valley. + +They were immensely surprised at her appearance, but her charming face, +and the deplorably ragged condition to which the thorns and briers had +reduced her once elegant attire, speedily won their compassion; they +recognised her as a companion in misfortune, and the Queen welcomed +her heartily, and begged her to share their simple repast. Celandine +gracefully accepted their hospitality, and soon told them what had +happened to her. The King was charmed with her spirit, while the Queen +thought she had indeed been daring thus to go against the Fairy’s +wishes. + +‘Since it has ended in my meeting you,’ said the Princess, ‘I cannot +regret the step I have taken, and if you will let me stay with you, I +shall be perfectly happy.’ + +The King and Queen were only too delighted to have this charming +Princess to supply the place of Prince Featherhead, whom they saw +but seldom, since the Fairy had provided him with a palace in the +neighbouring town, where he lived in the greatest luxury, and did +nothing but amuse himself from morning to night. So Celandine stayed, +and helped the Queen to keep house, and very soon they loved her dearly. +When the Fairy of the Beech-Woods came to them, they presented the +Princess to her, and told her story, little thinking that the Fairy knew +more about Celandine than they did. The old Fairy was equally delighted +with her, and often invited her to visit her Leafy Palace, which was +the most enchanting place that could be imagined, and full of treasures. +Often she would say to the Princess, when showing her some wonderful +thing: + +‘This will do for a wedding gift some day.’ And Celandine could not help +thinking that it was to her that the Fairy meant to give the two blue +wax-torches which burned without ever getting smaller, or the diamond +from which more diamonds were continually growing, or the boat that +sailed under water, or whatever beautiful or wonderful thing they might +happen to be looking at. It is true that she never said so positively, +but she certainly allowed the Princess to believe it, because she +thought a little disappointment would be good for her. But the person +she really relied upon for curing Celandine of her vanity was Prince +Featherhead. The old Fairy was not at all pleased with the way he had +been going on for some time, but her heart was so soft towards him that +she was unwilling to take him away from the pleasures he loved, except +by offering him something better, which is not the most effectual mode +of correction, though it is without doubt the most agreeable. + +However, she did not even hint to the Princess that Featherhead was +anything but absolutely perfect, and talked of him so much that when at +last she announced that he was coming to visit her, Celandine made up +her mind that this delightful Prince would be certain to fall in love +with her at once, and was quite pleased at the idea. The old Fairy +thought so too, but as this was not at all what she wished, she took +care to throw such an enchantment over the Princess that she appeared to +Featherhead quite ugly and awkward, though to every one else she looked +just as usual. So when he arrived at the Leafy Palace, more handsome and +fascinating even than ever she had been led to expect, he hardly so much +as glanced at the Princess, but bestowed all his attention upon the old +Fairy, to whom he seemed to have a hundred things to say. The Princess +was immensely astonished at his indifference, and put on a cold and +offended air, which, however, he did not seem to observe. Then as a last +resource she exerted all her wit and gaiety to amuse him, but with no +better success, for he was of an age to be more attracted by beauty +than by anything else, and though he responded politely enough, it +was evident that his thoughts were elsewhere. Celandine was deeply +mortified, since for her part the Prince pleased her very well, and +for the first time she bitterly regretted the fairy gifts she had been +anxious to get rid of. Prince Featherhead was almost equally puzzled, +for he had heard nothing from the King and Queen but the praises of this +charming Princess, and the fact that they had spoken of her as so very +beautiful only confirmed his opinion that people who live in the country +have no taste. He talked to them of his charming acquaintances in the +town, the beauties he had admired, did admire, or thought he was going +to admire, until Celandine, who heard it all, was ready to cry with +vexation. The Fairy too was quite shocked at his conceit, and hit upon +a plan for curing him of it. She sent to him by an unknown messenger a +portrait of Princess Celandine as she really was, with this inscription: +‘All this beauty and sweetness, with a loving heart and a great kingdom, +might have been yours but for your well-known fickleness.’ + +This message made a great impression upon the Prince, but not so much +as the portrait. He positively could not tear his eyes away from it, and +exclaimed aloud that never, never had he seen anything so lovely and +so graceful. Then he began to think that it was too absurd that he, the +fascinating Featherhead, should fall in love with a portrait; and, to +drive away the recollections of its haunting eyes, he rushed back to +the town; but somehow everything seemed changed. The beauties no longer +pleased him, their witty speeches had ceased to amuse; and indeed, for +their parts, they found the Prince far less amiable than of yore, and +were not sorry when he declared that, after all, a country life suited +him best, and went back to the Leafy Palace. Meanwhile, the Princess +Celandine had been finding the time pass but slowly with the King and +Queen, and was only too pleased when Featherhead reappeared. She at once +noticed the change in him, and was deeply curious to find the reason of +it. Far from avoiding her, he now sought her company and seemed to take +pleasure in talking to her, and yet the Princess did not for a moment +flatter herself with the idea that he was in love with her, though it +did not take her long to decide that he certainly loved someone. But one +day the Princess, wandering sadly by the river, spied Prince Featherhead +fast asleep in the shade of a tree, and stole nearer to enjoy the +delight of gazing at his dear face unobserved. Judge of her astonishment +when she saw that he was holding in his hand a portrait of herself! +In vain did she puzzle over the apparent contradictoriness of his +behaviour. Why did he cherish her portrait while he was so fatally +indifferent to herself? At last she found an opportunity of asking him +the name of the Princess whose picture he carried about with him always. + +‘Alas! how can I tell you?’ replied he. + +‘Why should you not?’ said the Princess timidly. ‘Surely there is +nothing to prevent you.’ + +‘Nothing to prevent me!’ repeated he, ‘when my utmost efforts have +failed to discover the lovely original. Should I be so sad if I could +but find her? But I do not even know her name.’ + +More surprised than ever, the Princess asked to be allowed to see +the portrait, and after examining it for a few minutes returned it, +remarking shyly that at least the original had every cause to be +satisfied with it. + +‘That means that you consider it flattered,’ said the Prince severely. +‘Really, Celandine, I thought better of you, and should have expected +you to be above such contemptible jealousy. But all women are alike!’ + +‘Indeed, I meant only that it was a good likeness,’ said the Princess +meekly. + +‘Then you know the original,’ cried the Prince, throwing himself on his +knees beside her. ‘Pray tell me at once who it is, and don’t keep me in +suspense!’ + +‘Oh! don’t you see that it is meant for me?’ cried Celandine. + +The Prince sprang to his feet, hardly able to refrain from telling her +that she must be blinded by vanity to suppose she resembled the lovely +portrait even in the slightest degree; and after gazing at her for an +instant with icy surprise, turned and left her without another word, and +in a few hours quitted the Leafy Palace altogether. + +Now the Princess was indeed unhappy, and could no longer bear to stay +in a place where she had been so cruelly disdained. So, without even +bidding farewell to the King and Queen, she left the valley behind her, +and wandered sadly away, not caring whither. After walking until she +was weary, she saw before her a tiny house, and turned her slow steps +towards it. The nearer she approached the more miserable it appeared, +and at length she saw a little old woman sitting upon the door-step, who +said grimly: + +‘Here comes one of these fine beggars who are too idle to do anything +but run about the country!’ + +‘Alas! madam,’ said Celandine, with tears in her pretty eyes, ‘a sad +fate forces me to ask you for shelter.’ + +‘Didn’t I tell you what it would be?’ growled the old hag. ‘From shelter +we shall proceed to demand supper, and from supper money to take us on +our way. Upon my word, if I could be sure of finding some one every +day whose head was as soft as his heart, I wouldn’t wish for a more +agreeable life myself! But I have worked hard to build my house and +secure a morsel to eat, and I suppose you think that I am to give away +everything to the first passer-by who chooses to ask for it. Not at all! +I wager that a fine lady like you has more money than I have. I must +search her, and see if it is not so,’ she added, hobbling towards +Celandine with the aid of her stick. + +‘Alas! madam,’ replied the Princess, ‘I only wish I had. I would give it +to you with all the pleasure in life.’ + +‘But you are very smartly dressed for the kind of life you lead,’ +continued the old woman. + +‘What!’ cried the Princess, ‘do you think I am come to beg of you?’ + +‘I don’t know about that,’ answered she; ‘but at any rate you don’t +seem to have come to bring me anything. But what is it that you do want? +Shelter? Well, that does not cost much; but after that comes supper, and +that I can’t hear of. Oh dear no! Why, at your age one is always ready +to eat; and now you have been walking, and I suppose you are ravenous?’ + +‘Indeed no, madam,’ answered the poor Princess, ‘I am too sad to be +hungry.’ + +‘Oh, well! if you will promise to go on being sad, you may stay for the +night,’ said the old woman mockingly. + +Thereupon she made the Princess sit down beside her, and began fingering +her silken robe, while she muttered ‘Lace on top, lace underneath! This +must have cost you a pretty penny! It would have been better to save +enough to feed yourself, and not come begging to those who want all +they have for themselves. Pray, what may you have paid for these fine +clothes?’ + +‘Alas! madam,’ answered the Princess, ‘I did not buy them, and I know +nothing about money.’ + +‘What do you know, if I may ask?’ said the old dame. + +‘Not much; but indeed I am very unhappy,’ cried Celandine, bursting into +tears, ‘and if my services are any good to you--’ + +‘Services!’ interrupted the hag crossly. ‘One has to pay for services, +and I am not above doing my own work.’ + +‘Madam, I will serve you for nothing,’ said the poor Princess, whose +spirits were sinking lower and lower. ‘I will do anything you please; +all I wish is to live quietly in this lonely spot.’ + +‘Oh! I know you are only trying to take me in,’ answered she; ‘and if +I do let you serve me, is it fitting that you should be so much better +dressed I am? If I keep you, will you give me your clothes and wear some +that I will provide you with? It is true that I am getting old and may +want someone to take care of me some day.’ + +‘Oh! for pity’s sake, do what you please with my clothes,’ cried poor +Celandine miserably. + +And the old woman hobbled off with great alacrity, and fetched a little +bundle containing a wretched dress, such as the Princess had never even +seen before, and nimbly skipped round, helping her to put it on instead +of her own rich robe, with many exclamations of: + +‘Saints!--what a magnificent lining! And the width of it! It will make +me four dresses at least. Why, child, I wonder you could walk under such +a weight, and certainly in my house you would not have had room to turn +round.’ + +So saying, she folded up the robe, and put it by with great care, while +she remarked to Celandine: + +‘That dress of mine certainly suits you to a marvel; be sure you take +great care of it.’ + +When supper-time came she went into the house, declining all the +Princess’s offers of assistance, and shortly afterwards brought out a +very small dish, saying: + +‘Now let us sup.’ + +Whereupon she handed Celandine a small piece of black bread and +uncovered the dish, which contained two dried plums. + +‘We will have one between us,’ continued the old dame; ‘and as you are +the visitor, you shall have the half which contains the stone; but be +very careful that you don’t swallow it, for I keep them against the +winter, and you have no idea what a good fire they make. Now, you take +my advice--which won’t cost you anything--and remember that it is always +more economical to buy fruit with stones on this account.’ + +Celandine, absorbed in her own sad thoughts, did not even hear this +prudent counsel, and quite forgot to eat her share of the plum, which +delighted the old woman, who put it by carefully for her breakfast, +saying: + +‘I am very much pleased with you, and if you go on as you have begun, we +shall do very well, and I can teach you many useful things which people +don’t generally know. For instance, look at my house! It is built +entirely of the seeds of all the pears I have eaten in my life. Now, +most people throw them away, and that only shows what a number of things +are wasted for want of a little patience and ingenuity.’ + +But Celandine did not find it possible to be interested in this and +similar pieces of advice. And the old woman soon sent her to bed, for +fear the night air might give her an appetite. She passed a sleepless +night; but in the morning the old dame remarked: + +‘I heard how well you slept. After such a night you cannot want any +breakfast; so while I do my household tasks you had better stay in bed, +since the more one sleeps the less one need eat; and as it is market-day +I will go to town and buy a pennyworth of bread for the week’s eating.’ + +And so she chattered on, but poor Celandine did not hear or heed her; +she wandered out into the desolate country to think over her sad fate. +However, the good Fairy of the Beech-Woods did not want her to be +starved, so she sent her an unlooked for relief in the shape of a +beautiful white cow, which followed her back to the tiny house. When the +old woman saw it her joy knew no bounds. + +‘Now we can have milk and cheese and butter!’ cried she. ‘Ah! how good +milk is! What a pity it is so ruinously expensive!’ So they made a +little shelter of branches for the beautiful creature which was quite +gentle, and followed Celandine about like a dog when she took it out +every day to graze. One morning as she sat by a little brook, thinking +sadly, she suddenly saw a young stranger approaching, and got up +quickly, intending to avoid him. But Prince Featherhead, for it was +he, perceiving her at the same moment, rushed towards her with every +demonstration of joy: for he had recognised her, not as the Celandine +whom he had slighted, but as the lovely Princess whom he had sought +vainly for so long. The fact was that the Fairy of the Beech-Woods, +thinking she had been punished enough, had withdrawn the enchantment +from her, and transferred it to Featherhead, thereby in an instant +depriving him of the good looks which had done so much towards making +him the fickle creature he was. Throwing himself down at the Princess’s +feet, he implored her to stay, and at least speak to him, and she at +last consented, but only because he seemed to wish it so very much. +After that he came every day in the hope of meeting her again, and often +expressed his delight at being with her. But one day, when he had been +begging Celandine to love him, she confided to him that it was quite +impossible, since her heart was already entirely occupied by another. + +‘I have,’ said she, ‘the unhappiness of loving a Prince who is fickle, +frivolous, proud, incapable of caring for anyone but himself, who has +been spoilt by flattery, and, to crown all, who does not love me.’ + +‘But,’ cried Prince Featherhead, ‘surely you cannot care for so +contemptible and worthless a creature as that.’ + +‘Alas! but I do care,’ answered the Princess, weeping. + +‘But where can his eyes be,’ said the Prince, ‘that your beauty makes no +impression upon him? As for me, since I have possessed your portrait I +have wandered over the whole world to find you, and, now we have met, +I see that you are ten times lovelier than I could have imagined, and I +would give all I own to win your love.’ + +‘My portrait?’ cried Celandine with sudden interest. ‘Is it possible +that Prince Featherhead can have parted with it?’ + +‘He would part with his life sooner, lovely Princess,’ answered he; ‘I +can assure you of that, for I am Prince Featherhead.’ + +At the same moment the Fairy of the Beech-Woods took away the +enchantment, and the happy Princess recognised her lover, now truly +hers, for the trials they had both undergone had so changed and improved +them that they were capable of a real love for each other. You may +imagine how perfectly happy they were, and how much they had to hear and +to tell. But at length it was time to go back to the little house, and +as they went along Celandine remembered for the first time what a ragged +old dress she was wearing, and what an odd appearance she must present. +But the Prince declared that it became her vastly, and that he thought +it most picturesque. When they reached the house the old woman received +them very crossly. + +‘I declare,’ said she, ‘that it’s perfectly true: wherever there is a +girl you may be sure that a young man will appear before long! But don’t +imagine that I’m going to have you here--not a bit of it, be off with +you, my fine fellow!’ + +Prince Featherhead was inclined to be angry at this uncivil reception, +but he was really too happy to care much, so he only demanded, on +Celandine’s behalf, that the old dame should give her back her own +attire, that she might go away suitably dressed. + +This request roused her to fury, since she had counted upon the +Princess’s fine robes to clothe her for the rest of her life, so that it +was some time before the Prince could make himself heard to explain that +he was willing to pay for them. The sight of a handful of gold pieces +somewhat mollified her, however, and after making them both promise +faithfully that on no consideration would they ask for the gold back +again, she took the Princess into the house and grudgingly doled out +to her just enough of her gay attire to make her presentable, while the +rest she pretended to have lost. After this they found that they were +very hungry, for one cannot live on love, any more than on air, and then +the old woman’s lamentations were louder than before. ‘What!’ she cried, +‘feed people who were as happy as all that! Why, it was simply ruinous!’ + +But as the Prince began to look angry, she, with many sighs and +mutterings, brought out a morsel of bread, a bowl of milk, and six +plums, with which the lovers were well content: for as long as they +could look at one another they really did not know what they +were eating. It seemed as if they would go on for ever with their +reminiscences, the Prince telling how he had wandered all over the world +from beauty to beauty, always to be disappointed when he found that no +one resembled the portrait; the Princess wondering how it was he could +have been so long with her and yet never have recognised her, and over +and over again pardoning him for his cold and haughty behaviour to her. + +‘For,’ she said, ‘you see, Featherhead, I love you, and love makes +everything right! But we cannot stay here,’ she added; ‘what are we to +do?’ + +The Prince thought they had better find their way to the Fairy of the +Beech-Woods and put themselves once more under her protection, and they +had hardly agreed upon this course when two little chariots wreathed +with jasmine and honeysuckle suddenly appeared, and, stepping into them, +they were whirled away to the Leafy Palace. Just before they lost sight +of the little house they heard loud cries and lamentations from the +miserly old dame, and, looking round, perceived that the beautiful cow +was vanishing in spite of her frantic efforts to hold it fast. And they +afterwards heard that she spent the rest of her life in trying to put +the handful of gold the Prince had thrown to her into her money-bag. For +the Fairy, as a punishment for her avarice, caused it to slip out again +as fast as she dropped it in. + +The Fairy of the Beech-Woods ran to welcome the Prince and Princess with +open arms, only too delighted to find them so much improved that she +could, with a clear conscience, begin to spoil them again. Very soon +the Fairy Saradine also arrived, bringing the King and Queen with her. +Princess Celandine implored her pardon, which she graciously gave; +indeed the Princess was so charming she could refuse her nothing. She +also restored to her the Summer Islands, and promised her protection +in all things. The Fairy of the Beech-Woods then informed the King and +Queen that their subjects had chased King Bruin from the throne, and +were waiting to welcome them back again; but they at once abdicated in +favour of Prince Featherhead, declaring that nothing could induce them +to forsake their peaceful life, and the Fairies undertook to see the +Prince and Princess established in their beautiful kingdoms. Their +marriage took place the next day, and they lived happily ever +afterwards, for Celandine was never vain and Featherhead was never +fickle any more. + +Le Prince Muguet et la Princesse Zaza. + + + + + +THE THREE LITTLE PIGS + + + +There was once upon a time a pig who lived with her three children on +a large, comfortable, old-fashioned farmyard. The eldest of the little +pigs was called Browny, the second Whitey, and the youngest and best +looking Blacky. Now Browny was a very dirty little pig, and I am sorry +to say spent most of his time rolling and wallowing about in the mud. +He was never so happy as on a wet day, when the mud in the farmyard got +soft, and thick, and slab. Then he would steal away from his mother’s +side, and finding the muddiest place in the yard, would roll about in it +and thoroughly enjoy himself. His mother often found fault with him for +this, and would shake her head sadly and say: ‘Ah, Browny! some day you +will be sorry that you did not obey your old mother.’ But no words of +advice or warning could cure Browny of his bad habits. + +Whitey was quite a clever little pig, but she was greedy. She was always +thinking of her food, and looking forward to her dinner; and when the +farm girl was seen carrying the pails across the yard, she would rise +up on her hind legs and dance and caper with excitement. As soon as the +food was poured into the trough she jostled Blacky and Browny out of the +way in her eagerness to get the best and biggest bits for herself. Her +mother often scolded her for her selfishness, and told her that some day +she would suffer for being so greedy and grabbing. + +Blacky was a good, nice little pig, neither dirty nor greedy. He had +nice dainty ways (for a pig), and his skin was always as smooth and +shining as black satin. He was much cleverer than Browny and Whitey, and +his mother’s heart used to swell with pride when she heard the farmer’s +friends say to each other that some day the little black fellow would be +a prize pig. + +Now the time came when the mother pig felt old and feeble and near her +end. One day she called the three little pigs round her and said: + +‘My children, I feel that I am growing odd and weak, and that I shall +not live long. Before I die I should like to build a house for each +of you, as this dear old sty in which we have lived so happily will +be given to a new family of pigs, and you will have to turn out. Now, +Browny, what sort of a house would you like to have?’ + +‘A house of mud,’ replied Browny, looking longingly at a wet puddle in +the corner of the yard. + +‘And you, Whitey?’ said the mother pig in rather a sad voice, for she +was disappointed that Browny had made so foolish a choice. + +‘A house of cabbage,’ answered Whitey, with a mouth full, and scarcely +raising her snout out of the trough in which she was grubbing for some +potato-parings. + +‘Foolish, foolish child!’ said the mother pig, looking quite distressed. +‘And you, Blacky?’ turning to her youngest son, ‘what sort of a house +shall I order for you?’ + +‘A house of brick, please mother, as it will be warm in winter, and cool +in summer, and safe all the year round.’ + +‘That is a sensible little pig,’ replied his mother, looking fondly at +him. ‘I will see that the three houses are got ready at once. And now +one last piece of advice. You have heard me talk of our old enemy the +fox. When he hears that I am dead, he is sure to try and get hold of +you, to carry you off to his den. He is very sly and will no doubt +disguise himself, and pretend to be a friend, but you must promise me +not to let him enter your houses on any pretext whatever.’ + +And the little pigs readily promised, for they had always had a great +fear of the fox, of whom they had heard many terrible tales. A short +time afterwards the old pig died, and the little pigs went to live in +their own houses. + +Browny was quite delighted with his soft mud walls and with the clay +floor, which soon looked like nothing but a big mud pie. But that was +what Browny enjoyed, and he was as happy as possible, rolling about all +day and making himself in such a mess. One day, as he was lying half +asleep in the mud, he heard a soft knock at his door, and a gentle voice +said: + +‘May I come in, Master Browny? I want to see your beautiful new house.’ + +‘Who are you?’ said Browny, starting up in great fright, for though the +voice sounded gentle, he felt sure it was a feigned voice, and he feared +it was the fox. + +‘I am a friend come to call on you,’ answered the voice. + +‘No, no,’ replied Browny, ‘I don’t believe you are a friend. You are the +wicked fox, against whom our mother warned us. I won’t let you in.’ + +‘Oho! is that the way you answer me?’ said the fox, speaking very +roughly in his natural voice. ‘We shall soon see who is master here,’ +and with his paws he set to work and scraped a large hole in the soft +mud walls. A moment later he had jumped through it, and catching Browny +by the neck, flung him on his shoulders and trotted off with him to his +den. + +The next day, as Whitey was munching a few leaves of cabbage out of the +corner of her house, the fox stole up to her door, determined to carry +her off to join her brother in his den. He began speaking to her in +the same feigned gentle voice in which he had spoken to Browny; but it +frightened her very much when he said: + +‘I am a friend come to visit you, and to have some of your good cabbage +for my dinner.’ + +‘Please don’t touch it,’ cried Whitey in great distress. ‘The cabbages +are the walls of my house, and if you eat them you will make a hole, and +the wind and rain will come in and give me a cold. Do go away; I am sure +you are not a friend, but our wicked enemy the fox.’ And poor Whitey +began to whine and to whimper, and to wish that she had not been such +a greedy little pig, and had chosen a more solid material than cabbages +for her house. But it was too late now, and in another minute the +fox had eaten his way through the cabbage walls, and had caught the +trembling, shivering Whitey, and carried her off to his den. + +The next day the fox started off for Blacky’s house, because he had made +up his mind that he would get the three little pigs together in his den, +and then kill them, and invite all his friends to a feast. But when he +reached the brick house, he found that the door was bolted and barred, +so in his sly manner he began, ‘Do let me in, dear Blacky. I have +brought you a present of some eggs that I picked up in a farmyard on my +way here.’ + +‘No, no, Mister Fox,’ replied Blacky, ‘I am not going to open my door +to you. I know your cunning ways. You have carried off poor Browny and +Whitey, but you are not going to get me.’ + +At this the fox was so angry that he dashed with all his force against +the wall, and tried to knock it down. But it was too strong and +well-built; and though the fox scraped and tore at the bricks with his +paws he only hurt himself, and at last he had to give it up, and limp +away with his fore-paws all bleeding and sore. + +‘Never mind!’ he cried angrily as he went off, ‘I’ll catch you another +day, see if I don’t, and won’t I grind your bones to powder when I have +got you in my den!’ and he snarled fiercely and showed his teeth. + +Next day Blacky had to go into the neighbouring town to do some +marketing and to buy a big kettle. As he was walking home with it slung +over his shoulder, he heard a sound of steps stealthily creeping after +him. For a moment his heart stood still with fear, and then a happy +thought came to him. He had just reached the top of a hill, and could +see his own little house nestling at the foot of it among the trees. +In a moment he had snatched the lid off the kettle and had jumped in +himself. Coiling himself round he lay quite snug in the bottom of the +kettle, while with his fore-leg he managed to put the lid on, so that he +was entirely hidden. With a little kick from the inside he started the +kettle off, and down the hill it rolled full tilt; and when the fox came +up, all that he saw was a large black kettle spinning over the ground +at a great pace. Very much disappointed, he was just going to turn away, +when he saw the kettle stop close to the little brick house, and in a +moment later Blacky jumped out of it and escaped with the kettle into +the house, when he barred and bolted the door, and put the shutter up +over the window. + +‘Oho!’ exclaimed the fox to himself, ‘you think you will escape me that +way, do you? We shall soon see about that, my friend,’ and very quietly +and stealthily he prowled round the house looking for some way to climb +on to the roof. + +In the meantime Blacky had filled the kettle with water, and having put +it on the fire, sat down quietly waiting for it to boil. Just as the +kettle was beginning to sing, and steam to come out of the spout, +he heard a sound like a soft, muffled step, patter, patter, patter +overhead, and the next moment the fox’s head and fore-paws were seen +coming down the chimney. But Blacky very wisely had not put the lid +on the kettle, and, with a yelp of pain, the fox fell into the boiling +water, and before he could escape, Blacky had popped the lid on, and the +fox was scalded to death. + +As soon as he was sure that their wicked enemy was really dead, and +could do them no further harm, Blacky started off to rescue Browny and +Whitey. As he approached the den he heard piteous grunts and squeals +from his poor little brother and sister who lived in constant terror of +the fox killing and eating them. But when they saw Blacky appear at the +entrance to the den their joy knew no bounds. He quickly found a sharp +stone and cut the cords by which they were tied to a stake in the +ground, and then all three started off together for Blacky’s house, +where they lived happily ever after; and Browny quite gave up rolling +in the mud, and Whitey ceased to be greedy, for they never forgot how +nearly these faults had brought them to an untimely end. + + + + + +HEART OF ICE + + + +Once upon a time there lived a King and Queen who were foolish beyond +all telling, but nevertheless they were vastly fond of one another. It +is true that certain spiteful people were heard to say that this was +only one proof the more of their exceeding foolishness, but of course +you will understand that these were not their own courtiers, since, +after all, they were a King and Queen, and up to this time all things +had prospered with them. For in those days the one thing to be thought +of in governing a kingdom was to keep well with all the Fairies and +Enchanters, and on no account to stint them of the cakes, the ells of +ribbon, and similar trifles which were their due, and, above all things, +when there was a christening, to remember to invite every single one, +good, bad, or indifferent, to the ceremony. Now, the foolish Queen had +one little son who was just going to be christened, and for several +months she had been hard at work preparing an enormous list of the names +of those who were to be invited, but she quite forgot that it would take +nearly as long to read it over as it had taken to write it out. So, when +the moment of the christening arrived the King--to whom the task had +been entrusted--had barely reached the end of the second page and his +tongue was tripping with fatigue and haste as he repeated the usual +formula: ‘I conjure and pray you, Fairy so-and-so’--or ‘Enchanter +such-a-one’--‘to honour me with a visit, and graciously bestow your +gifts upon my son.’ + +To make matters worse, word was brought to him that the Fairies asked on +the first page had already arrived and were waiting impatiently in +the Great Hall, and grumbling that nobody was there to receive them. +Thereupon he gave up the list in despair and hurried to greet those whom +he had succeeded in asking, imploring their goodwill so humbly that most +of them were touched, and promised that they would do his son no harm. +But there happened to be among them a Fairy from a far country about +whom they knew nothing, though her name had been written on the first +page of the list. This Fairy was annoyed that after having taken the +trouble to come so quickly, there had been no one to receive her, or +help her to alight from the great ostrich on which she had travelled +from her distant home, and now she began to mutter to herself in the +most alarming way. + +‘Oh! prate away,’ said she, ‘your son will never be anything to boast +of. Say what you will, he will be nothing but a Mannikin--’ + +No doubt she would have gone on longer in this strain, and given the +unhappy little Prince half-a-dozen undesirable gifts, if it had not +been for the good Fairy Genesta, who held the kingdom under her special +protection, and who luckily hurried in just in time to prevent further +mischief. When she had by compliments and entreaties pacified the +unknown Fairy, and persuaded her to say no more, she gave the King +a hint that now was the time to distribute the presents, after which +ceremony they all took their departure, excepting the Fairy Genesta, who +then went to see the Queen, and said to her: + +‘A nice mass you seem to have made of this business, madam. Why did you +not condescend to consult me? But foolish people like you always think +they can do without help or advice, and I observe that, in spite of all +my goodness to you, you had not even the civility to invite me!’ + +‘Ah! dear madam,’ cried the King, throwing himself at her feet; ‘did I +ever have time to get as far as your name? See where I put in this mark +when I abandoned the hopeless undertaking which I had but just begun!’ + +‘There! there!’ said the Fairy, ‘I am not offended. I don’t allow myself +to be put out by trifles like that with people I really am fond of. +But now about your son: I have saved him from a great many disagreeable +things, but you must let me take him away and take care of him, and you +will not see him again until he is all covered with fur!’ + +At these mysterious words the King and Queen burst into tears, for they +lived in such a hot climate themselves that how or why the Prince should +come to be covered with fur they could not imagine, and thought it must +portend some great misfortune to him. + +However, Genesta told them not to disquiet themselves. + +‘If I left him to you to bring up,’ said she, ‘you would be certain to +make him as foolish as yourselves. I do not even intend to let him +know that he is your son. As for you, you had better give your minds to +governing your kingdom properly.’ So saying, she opened the window, and +catching up the little Prince, cradle and all, she glided away in the +air as if she were skating upon ice, leaving the King and Queen in the +greatest affliction. They consulted everyone who came near them as to +what the Fairy could possibly have meant by saying that when they saw +their son again he would be covered with fur. But nobody could offer any +solution of the mystery, only they all seemed to agree that it must +be something frightful, and the King and Queen made themselves more +miserable than ever, and wandered about their palace in a way to make +anyone pity them. Meantime the Fairy had carried off the little Prince +to her own castle, and placed him under the care of a young peasant +woman, whom she bewitched so as to make her think that this new baby +was one of her own children. So the Prince grew up healthy and strong, +leading the simple life of a young peasant, for the Fairy thought that +he could have no better training; only as he grew older she kept him +more and more with herself, that his mind might be cultivated and +exercised as well as his body. But her care did not cease there: she +resolved that he should be tried by hardships and disappointments and +the knowledge of his fellowmen; for indeed she knew the Prince would +need every advantage that she could give him, since, though he increased +in years, he did not increase in height, but remained the tiniest of +Princes. However, in spite of this he was exceedingly active and well +formed, and altogether so handsome and agreeable that the smallness of +his stature was of no real consequence. The Prince was perfectly aware +that he was called by the ridiculous name of ‘Mannikin,’ but he consoled +himself by vowing that, happen what might, he would make it illustrious. + +In order to carry out her plans for his welfare the Fairy now began to +send Prince Mannikin the most wonderful dreams of adventure by sea and +land, and of these adventures he himself was always the hero. Sometimes +he rescued a lovely Princess from some terrible danger, again he earned +a kingdom by some brave deed, until at last he longed to go away and +seek his fortune in a far country where his humble birth would not +prevent his gaining honour and riches by his courage, and it was with a +heart full of ambitious projects that he rode one day into a great city +not far from the Fairy’s castle. As he had set out intending to hunt in +the surrounding forest he was quite simply dressed, and carried only +a bow and arrows and a light spear; but even thus arrayed he looked +graceful and distinguished. As he entered the city he saw that the +inhabitants were all racing with one accord towards the market-place, +and he also turned his horse in the same direction, curious to know +what was going forward. When he reached the spot he found that certain +foreigners of strange and outlandish appearance were about to make a +proclamation to the assembled citizens, and he hastily pushed his +way into the crowd until he was near enough to hear the words of the +venerable old man who was their spokesman: + +‘Let the whole world know that he who can reach the summit of the Ice +Mountain shall receive as his reward, not only the incomparable Sabella, +fairest of the fair, but also all the realms of which she is Queen!’ +‘Here,’ continued the old man after he had made this proclamation--‘here +is the list of all those Princes who, struck by the beauty of the +Princess, have perished in the attempt to win her; and here is the list +of these who have just entered upon the high emprise.’ + +Prince Mannikin was seized with a violent desire to inscribe his name +among the others, but the remembrance of his dependent position and his +lack of wealth held him back. But while he hesitated the old man, with +many respectful ceremonies, unveiled a portrait of the lovely Sabella, +which was carried by some of the attendants, and after one glance at it +the Prince delayed no longer, but, rushing forward, demanded permission +to add his name to the list. When they saw his tiny stature anti simple +attire the strangers looked at each other doubtfully, not knowing +whether to accept or refuse him. But the Prince said haughtily: + +‘Give me the paper that I may sign it,’ and they obeyed. What between +admiration for the Princess and annoyance at the hesitation shown by her +ambassadors the Prince was too much agitated to choose any other name +than the one by which he was always known. But when, after all the grand +titles of the other Princes, he simply wrote ‘Mannikin,’ the ambassadors +broke into shouts of laughter. + +‘Miserable wretches!’ cried the Prince; ‘but for the presence of that +lovely portrait I would cut off your heads.’ + +But he suddenly remembered that, after all, it was a funny name, and +that he had not yet had time to make it famous; so he was calm, and +enquired the way to the Princess Sabella’s country. + +Though his heart did not fail him in the least, still he felt there +were many difficulties before him, and he resolved to set out at once, +without even taking leave of the Fairy, for fear she might try to stop +him. Everybody in the town who knew him made great fun of the idea of +Mannikin’s undertaking such an expedition, and it even came to the ears +of the foolish King and Queen, who laughed over it more than any of the +others, without having an idea that the presumptuous Mannikin was their +only son! + +Meantime the Prince was travelling on, though the direction he had +received for his journey were none of the clearest. + +‘Four hundred leagues north of Mount Caucasus you will receive your +orders and instructions for the conquest of the Ice Mountain.’ + +Fine marching orders, those, for a man starting from a country near +where Japan is nowadays! + +However, he fared eastward, avoiding all towns, lest the people +should laugh at his name, for, you see, he was not a very experienced +traveller, and had not yet learned to enjoy a joke even if it were +against himself. At night he slept in the woods, and at first he lived +upon wild fruits; but the Fairy, who was keeping a benevolent eye upon +him, thought that it would never do to let him be half-starved in that +way, so she took to feeding him with all sorts of good things while he +was asleep, and the Prince wondered very much that when he was awake +he never felt hungry! True to her plan the Fairy sent him various +adventures to prove his courage, and he came successfully through them +all, only in his last fight with a furious monster rather like a tiger +he had the ill luck to lose his horse. However, nothing daunted, he +struggled on on foot, and at last reached a seaport. Here he found a +boat sailing for the coast which he desired to reach, and, having just +enough money to pay his passage, he went on board and they started. But +after some days a fearful storm came on, which completely wrecked the +little ship, and the Prince only saved his life by swimming a long, long +way to the only land that was in sight, and which proved to be a desert +island. Here he lived by fishing and hunting, always hoping that the +good Fairy would presently rescue him. One day, as he was looking sadly +out to sea, he became aware of a curious looking boat which was drifting +slowly towards the shore, and which presently ran into a little creek +and there stuck fast in the sand. Prince Mannikin rushed down eagerly +to examine it, and saw with amazement that the masts and spars were all +branched, and covered thickly with leaves until it looked like a little +wood. Thinking from the stillness that there could be no one on board, +the Prince pushed aside the branches and sprang over the side, and found +himself surrounded by the crew, who lay motionless as dead men and in a +most deplorable condition. They, too, had become almost like trees, +and were growing to the deck, or to the masts, or to the sides of +the vessel, or to whatever they had happened to be touching when the +enchantment fell upon them. Mannikin was struck with pity for their +miserable plight, and set to work with might and main to release them. +With the sharp point of one of his arrows he gently detached their hands +and feet from the wood which held them fast, and carried them on shore, +one after another, where he rubbed their rigid limbs, and bathed them +with infusions of various herbs with such success, that, after a few +days, they recovered perfectly and were as fit to manage a boat as ever. +You may be sure that the good Fairy Genesta had something to do with +this marvellous cure, and she also put it into the Prince’s head to rub +the boat itself with the same magic herbs, which cleared it entirely, +and not before it was time, for, at the rate at which it was growing +before, it would very soon have become a forest! The gratitude of the +sailors was extreme, and they willingly promised to land the Prince +upon any coast he pleased; but, when he questioned them about the +extraordinary thing that had happened to them and to their ship, they +could in no way explain it, except that they said that, as they were +passing along a thickly wooded coast, a sudden gust of wind had reached +them from the land and enveloped them in a dense cloud of dust, after +which everything in the boat that was not metal had sprouted and +blossomed, as the Prince had seen, and that they themselves had grown +gradually numb and heavy, and had finally lost all consciousness. Prince +Mannikin was deeply interested in this curious story, and collected a +quantity of the dust from the bottom of the boat, which he carefully +preserved, thinking that its strange property might one day stand him in +good stead. + +Then they joyfully left the desert island, and after a long and +prosperous voyage over calm seas they at length came in sight of land, +and resolved to go on shore, not only to take in a fresh stock of water +and provisions, but also to find out, if possible, where they were and +in what direction to proceed. + +As they neared the coast they wondered if this could be another +uninhabited land, for no human beings could be distinguished, and yet +that something was stirring became evident, for in the dust-clouds +that moved near the ground small dark forms were dimly visible. These +appeared to be assembling at the exact spot where they were preparing to +run ashore, and what was their surprise to find they were nothing more +nor less than large and beautiful spaniels, some mounted as sentries, +others grouped in companies and regiments, all eagerly watching their +disembarkation. When they found that Prince Mannikin, instead of saying, +‘Shoot them,’ as they had feared, said ‘Hi, good dog!’ in a thoroughly +friendly and ingratiating way, they crowded round him with a great +wagging of tails and giving of paws, and very soon made him understand +that they wanted him to leave his men with the boat and follow them. The +Prince was so curious to know more about them that he agreed willingly; +so, after arranging with the sailors to wait for him fifteen days, and +then, if he had not come back, to go on their way without him, he set +out with his new friends. Their way lay inland, and Mannikin noticed +with great surprise that the fields were well cultivated and that the +carts and ploughs were drawn by horses or oxen, just as they might have +been in any other country, and when they passed any village the cottages +were trim and pretty, and an air of prosperity was everywhere. At one of +the villages a dainty little repast was set before the Prince, and while +he was eating, a chariot was brought, drawn by two splendid horses, +which were driven with great skill by a large spaniel. In this carriage +he continued his journey very comfortably, passing many similar +equipages upon the road, and being always most courteously saluted by +the spaniels who occupied them. At last they drove rapidly into a large +town, which Prince Mannikin had no doubt was the capital of the +kingdom. News of his approach had evidently been received, for all the +inhabitants were at their doors and windows, and all the little spaniels +had climbed upon the wall and gates to see him arrive. The Prince was +delighted with the hearty welcome they gave him, and looked round him +with the deepest interest. After passing through a few wide streets, +well paved, and adorned with avenues of fine trees, they drove into +the courtyard of a grand palace, which was full of spaniels who were +evidently soldiers. ‘The King’s body-guard,’ thought the Prince to +himself as he returned their salutations, and then the carriage stopped, +and he was shown into the presence of the King, who lay upon a rich +Persian carpet surrounded by several little spaniels, who were occupied +in chasing away the flies lest they should disturb his Majesty. He was +the most beautiful of all spaniels, with a look of sadness in his large +eyes, which, however, quite disappeared as he sprang up to welcome +Prince Mannikin with every demonstration of delight; after which he made +a sign to his courtiers, who came one by one to pay their respects to +the visitor. The Prince thought that he would find himself puzzled as +to how he should carry on a conversation, but as soon as he and the King +were once more left alone, a Secretary of State was sent for, who wrote +from his Majesty’s dictation a most polite speech, in which he regretted +much that they were unable to converse, except in writing, the language +of dogs being difficult to understand. As for the writing, it had +remained the same as the Prince’s own. + +Mannikin thereupon wrote a suitable reply, and then begged the King to +satisfy his curiosity about all the strange things he had seen and heard +since his landing. This appeared to awaken sad recollections in the +King’s mind, but he informed the Prince that he was called King Bayard, +and that a Fairy, whose kingdom was next his own, had fallen violently +in love with him, and had done all she could to persuade him to marry +her; but that he could not do so as he himself was the devoted lover +of the Queen of the Spice Islands. Finally, the Fairy, furious at the +indifference with which her love was treated, had reduced him to the +state in which the Prince found him, leaving him unchanged in mind, +but deprived of the power of speech; and, not content with wreaking her +vengeance upon the King alone, she had condemned all his subjects to a +similar fate, saying: + +‘Bark, and run upon four feet, until the time comes when virtue shall be +rewarded by love and fortune.’ + +Which, as the poor King remarked, was very much the same thing as if she +had said, ‘Remain a spaniel for ever and ever.’ + +Prince Mannikin was quite of the same opinion; nevertheless he said what +we should all have said in the same circumstances: + +‘Your Majesty must have patience.’ + +He was indeed deeply sorry for poor King Bayard, and said all the +consoling things he could think of, promising to aid him with all +his might if there was anything to be done. In short they became firm +friends, and the King proudly displayed to Mannikin the portrait of the +Queen of the Spice Islands, and he quite agreed that it was worth while +to go through anything for the sake of a creature so lovely. Prince +Mannikin in his turn told his own history, and the great undertaking +upon which he had set out, and King Bayard was able to give him some +valuable instructions as to which would be the best way for him to +proceed, and then they went together to the place where the boat had +been left. The sailors were delighted to see the Prince again, though +they had known that he was safe, and when they had taken on board all +the supplies which the King had sent for them, they started once more. +The King and Prince parted with much regret, and the former insisted +that Mannikin should take with him one of his own pages, named Mousta, +who was charged to attend to him everywhere, and serve him faithfully, +which he promised to do. + +The wind being favourable they were soon out of hearing of the general +howl of regret from the whole army, which had been given by order of +the King, as a great compliment, and it was not long before the land +was entirely lost to view. They met with no further adventures worth +speaking of, and presently found themselves within two leagues of the +harbour for which they were making. The Prince, however, thought it +would suit him better to land where he was, so as to avoid the town, +since he had no money left and was very doubtful as to what he should +do next. So the sailors set him and Mousta on shore, and then went back +sorrowfully to their ship, while the Prince and his attendant walked off +in what looked to them the most promising direction. They soon reached +a lovely green meadow on the border of a wood, which seemed to them so +pleasant after their long voyage that they sat down to rest in the shade +and amused themselves by watching the gambols and antics of a pretty +tiny monkey in the trees close by. The Prince presently became so +fascinated by it that he sprang up and tried to catch it, but it eluded +his grasp and kept just out of arm’s reach, until it had made him +promise to follow wherever it led him, and then it sprang upon his +shoulder and whispered in his ear: + +‘We have no money, my poor Mannikin, and we are altogether badly off, +and at a loss to know what to do next.’ + +‘Yes, indeed,’ answered the Prince ruefully, ‘and I have nothing to give +you, no sugar or biscuits, or anything that you like, my pretty one.’ + +‘Since you are so thoughtful for me, and so patient about your own +affairs,’ said the little monkey, ‘I will show you the way to the Golden +Rock, only you must leave Mousta to wait for you here.’ + +Prince Mannikin agreed willingly, and then the little monkey sprang from +his shoulder to the nearest tree, and began to run through the wood from +branch to branch, crying, ‘Follow me.’ + +This the Prince did not find quite so easy, but the little monkey waited +for him and showed him the easiest places, until presently the wood grew +thinner and they came out into a little clear grassy space at the foot +of a mountain, in the midst of which stood a single rock, about ten feet +high. When they were quite close to it the little monkey said: + +‘This stone looks pretty hard, but give it a blow with your spear and +let us see what will happen.’ + +So the Prince took his spear and gave the rock a vigorous dig, which +split off several pieces, and showed that, though the surface was thinly +coated with stone, inside it was one solid mass of pure gold. + +Thereupon the little monkey said, laughing at his astonishment: + +‘I make you a present of what you have broken off; take as much of it as +you think proper.’ + +The Prince thanked her gratefully, and picked up one of the smallest +of the lumps of gold; as he did so the little monkey was suddenly +transformed into a tall and gracious lady, who said to him: + +‘If you are always as kind and persevering and easily contented as you +are now you may hope to accomplish the most difficult tasks; go on your +way and have no fear that you will be troubled any more for lack of +gold, for that little piece which you modestly chose shall never grow +less, use it as much as you will. But that you may see the danger you +have escaped by your moderation, come with me.’ So saying she led him +back into the wood by a different path, and he saw that it was full of +men and women; their faces were pale and haggard, and they ran hither +and thither seeking madly upon the ground, or in the air, starting at +every sound, pushing and trampling upon one another in their frantic +eagerness to find the way to the Golden Rock. + +‘You see how they toil,’ said the Fairy; ‘but it is all of no avail: +they will end by dying of despair, as hundreds have done before them.’ + +As soon as they had got back to the place where they had left Mousta +the Fairy disappeared, and the Prince and his faithful Squire, who had +greeted him with every demonstration of joy, took the nearest way to the +city. Here they stayed several days, while the Prince provided himself +with horses and attendants, and made many enquiries about the Princess +Sabella, and the way to her kingdom, which was still so far away that he +could hear but little, and that of the vaguest description, but when he +presently reached Mount Caucasus it was quite a different matter. Here +they seemed to talk of nothing but the Princess Sabella, and strangers +from all parts of the world were travelling towards her father’s Court. + +The Prince heard plenty of assurances as to her beauty and her riches, +but he also heard of the immense number of his rivals and their power. +One brought an army at his back, another had vast treasures, a third was +as handsome and accomplished as it was possible to be; while, as to poor +Mannikin, he had nothing but his determination to succeed, his faithful +spaniel, and his ridiculous name--which last was hardly likely to help +him, but as he could not alter it he wisely determined not to think of +it any more. After journeying for two whole months they came at last to +Trelintin, the capital of the Princess Sabella’s kingdom, and here he +heard dismal stories about the Ice Mountain, and how none of those who +had attempted to climb it had ever come back. He heard also the story of +King Farda-Kinbras, Sabella’s father. It appeared that he, being a rich +and powerful monarch, had married a lovely Princess named Birbantine, +and they were as happy as the day was long--so happy that as they were +out sledging one day they were foolish enough to defy fate to spoil +their happiness. + +‘We shall see about that,’ grumbled an old hag who sat by the wayside +blowing her fingers to keep them warm. The King thereupon was very +angry, and wanted to punish the woman; but the Queen prevented him, +saying: + +‘Alas! sire, do not let us make bad worse; no doubt this is a Fairy!’ + +‘You are right there,’ said the old woman, and immediately she stood up, +and as they gazed at her in horror she grew gigantic and terrible, her +staff turned to a fiery dragon with outstretched wings, her ragged cloak +to a golden mantle, and her wooden shoes to two bundles of rockets. ‘You +are right there, and you will see what will come of your fine goings on, +and remember the Fairy Gorgonzola!’ So saying she mounted the dragon and +flew off, the rockets shooting in all directions and leaving long trails +of sparks. + +In vain did Farda-Kinbras and Birbantine beg her to return, and +endeavour by their humble apologies to pacify her; she never so much as +looked at them, and was very soon out of sight, leaving them a prey to +all kinds of dismal forebodings. Very soon after this the Queen had a +little daughter, who was the most beautiful creature ever seen; all the +Fairies of the North were invited to her christening, and warned against +the malicious Gorgonzola. She also was invited, but she neither came to +the banquet nor received her present; but as soon as all the others were +seated at table, after bestowing their gifts upon the little Princess, +she stole into the Palace, disguised as a black cat, and hid herself +under the cradle until the nurses and the cradle-rockers had all turned +their backs, and then she sprang out, and in an instant had stolen the +little Princess’s heart and made her escape, only being chased by a few +dogs and scullions on her way across the courtyard. Once outside she +mounted her chariot and flew straight away to the North Pole, where +she shut up her stolen treasure on the summit of the Ice Mountain, and +surrounded it with so many difficulties that she felt quite easy about +its remaining there as long as the Princess lived, and then she went +home, chuckling at her success. As to the other Fairies, they went home +after the banquet without discovering that anything was amiss, and so +the King and Queen were quite happy. Sabella grew prettier day by day. +She learnt everything a Princess ought to know without the slightest +trouble, and yet something always seemed lacking to make her perfectly +charming. She had an exquisite voice, but whether her songs were grave +or gay it did not matter, she did not seem to know what they meant; and +everyone who heard her said: + +‘She certainly sings perfectly; but there is no tenderness, no heart in +her voice.’ Poor Sabella! how could there be when her heart was far away +on the Ice Mountains? And it was just the same with all the other things +that she did. As time went on, in spite of the admiration of the whole +Court and the blind fondness of the King and Queen, it became more and +more evident that something was fatally wrong: for those who love no one +cannot long be loved; and at last the King called a general assembly, +and invited the Fairies to attend, that they might, if possible, find +out what was the matter. After explaining their grief as well as he +could, he ended by begging them to see the Princess for themselves. ‘It +is certain,’ said he, ‘that something is wrong--what it is I don’t know +how to tell you, but in some way your work is imperfect.’ + +They all assured him that, so far as they knew, everything had been done +for the Princess, and they had forgotten nothing that they could bestow +on so good a neighbour as the King had been to them. After this they +went to see Sabella; but they had no sooner entered her presence than +they cried out with one accord: + +‘Oh! horror!--she has no heart!’ + +On hearing this frightful announcement, the King and Queen gave a cry +of despair, and entreated the Fairies to find some remedy for such an +unheard-of misfortune. Thereupon the eldest Fairy consulted her Book of +Magic, which she always carried about with her, hung to her girdle by +a thick silver chain, and there she found out at once that it was +Gorgonzola who had stolen the Princess’s heart, and also discovered what +the wicked old Fairy had done with it. + +‘What shall we do? What shall we do?’ cried the King and Queen in one +breath. + +‘You must certainly suffer much annoyance from seeing and loving +Sabella, who is nothing but a beautiful image,’ replied the Fairy, ‘and +this must go on for a long time; but I think I see that, in the end, +she will once more regain her heart. My advice is that you shall at once +cause her portrait to be sent all over the world, and promise her hand +and all her possessions to the Prince who is successful in reaching her +heart. Her beauty alone is sufficient to engage all the Princes of the +world in the quest.’ + +This was accordingly done, and Prince Mannikin heard that already five +hundred Princes had perished in the snow and ice, not to mention their +squires and pages, and that more continued to arrive daily, eager to try +their fortune. After some consideration he determined to present +himself at Court; but his arrival made no stir, as his retinue was as +inconsiderable as his stature, and the splendour of his rivals was great +enough to throw even Farda-Kinbras himself into the shade. However, he +paid his respects to the King very gracefully, and asked permission to +kiss the hand of the Princess in the usual manner; but when he said he +was called ‘Mannikin,’ the King could hardly repress a smile, and the +Princes who stood by openly shouted with laughter. + +Turning to the King, Prince Mannikin said with great dignity: + +‘Pray laugh if it pleases your Majesty, I am glad that it is in my +power to afford you any amusement; but I am not a plaything for these +gentlemen, and I must beg them to dismiss any ideas of that kind from +their minds at once,’ and with that he turned upon the one who had +laughed the loudest and proudly challenged him to a single combat. This +Prince, who was called Fadasse, accepted the challenge very scornfully, +mocking at Mannikin, whom he felt sure had no chance against himself; +but the meeting was arranged for the next day. When Prince Mannikin +quitted the King’s presence he was conducted to the audience hall of the +Princess Sabella. The sight of so much beauty and magnificence almost +took his breath away for an instant, but, recovering himself with an +effort, he said: + +‘Lovely Princess, irresistibly drawn by the beauty of your portrait, +I come from the other end of the world to offer my services to you. My +devotion knows no bounds, but my absurd name has already involved me in +a quarrel with one of your courtiers. Tomorrow I am to fight this ugly, +overgrown Prince, and I beg you to honour the combat with your presence, +and prove to the world that there is nothing in a name, and that you +deign to accept Mannikin as your knight.’ + +When it came to this the Princess could not help being amused, for, +though she had no heart, she was not without humour. However, she +answered graciously that she accepted with pleasure, which encouraged +the Prince to entreat further that she would not show any favour to his +adversary. + +‘Alas!’ said she, ‘I favour none of these foolish people, who weary me +with their sentiment and their folly. I do very well as I am, and yet +from one year’s end to another they talk of nothing but delivering me +from some imaginary affliction. Not a word do I understand of all their +pratings about love, and who knows what dull things besides, which, I +declare to you, I cannot even remember.’ + +Mannikin was quick enough to gather from this speech that to amuse and +interest the Princess would be a far surer way of gaining her favour +than to add himself to the list of those who continually teased her +about that mysterious thing called ‘love’ which she was so incapable of +comprehending. So he began to talk of his rivals, and found in each +of them something to make merry over, in which diversion the Princess +joined him heartily, and so well did he succeed in his attempt to amuse +her that before very long she declared that of all the people at Court +he was the one to whom she preferred to talk. + +The following day, at the time appointed for the combat, when the King, +the Queen, and the Princess had taken their places, and the whole Court +and the whole town were assembled to see the show, Prince Fadasse +rode into the lists magnificently armed and accoutred, followed by +twenty-four squires and a hundred men-at-arms, each one leading, a +splendid horse, while Prince Mannikin entered from the other side armed +only with his spear and followed by the faithful Mousta. The contrast +between the two champions was so great that there was a shout of +laughter from the whole assembly; but when at the sounding of a trumpet +the combatants rushed upon each other, and Mannikin, eluding the blow +aimed at him, succeeded in thrusting Prince Fadasse from his horse +and pinning him to the sand with his spear, it changed to a murmur of +admiration. + +So soon as he had him at his mercy, however, Mannikin, turning to the +Princess, assured her that he had no desire to kill anyone who called +himself her courtier, and then he bade the furious and humiliated +Fadasse rise and thank the Princess to whom he owed his life. Then, amid +the sounding of the trumpets and the shoutings of the people, he and +Mousta retired gravely from the lists. + +The King soon sent for him to congratulate him upon his success, and to +offer him a lodging in the Palace, which he joyfully accepted. While the +Princess expressed a wish to have Mousta brought to her, and, when the +Prince sent for him, she was so delighted with his courtly manners and +his marvellous intelligence that she entreated Mannikin to give him to +her for her own. The Prince consented with alacrity, not only out of +politeness, but because he foresaw that to have a faithful friend always +near the Princess might some day be of great service to him. All these +events made Prince Mannikin a person of much more consequence at the +Court. Very soon after, there arrived upon the frontier the Ambassador +of a very powerful King, who sent to Farda-Kinbras the following letter, +at the same time demanding permission to enter the capital in state to +receive the answer: + +‘I, Brandatimor, to Farda-Kinbras send greeting. If I had before this +time seen the portrait of your beautiful daughter Sabella I should not +have permitted all these adventurers and petty Princes to be dancing +attendance and getting themselves frozen with the absurd idea of +meriting her hand. For myself I am not afraid of any rivals, and, now I +have declared my intention of marrying your daughter, no doubt they will +at once withdraw their pretensions. My Ambassador has orders, therefore, +to make arrangements for the Princess to come and be married to me +without delay--for I attach no importance at all to the farrago of +nonsense which you have caused to be published all over the world about +this Ice Mountain. If the Princess really has no heart, be assured that +I shall not concern myself about it, since, if anybody can help her to +discover one, it is myself. My worthy father-in-law, farewell!’ + +The reading of this letter embarrassed and displeased Farda-Kinbras and +Birbantine immensely, while the Princess was furious at the insolence +of the demand. They all three resolved that its contents must be kept a +profound secret until they could decide what reply should be sent, but +Mousta contrived to send word of all that had passed to Prince Mannikin. +He was naturally alarmed and indignant, and, after thinking it over a +little, he begged an audience of the Princess, and led the conversation +so cunningly up to the subject that was uppermost in her thoughts, as +well as his own, that she presently told him all about the matter and +asked his advice as to what it would be best to do. This was exactly +what he had not been able to decide for himself; however, he replied +that he should advise her to gain a little time by promising her answer +after the grand entry of the Ambassador, and this was accordingly done. + +The Ambassador did not at all like being put off after that fashion, but +he was obliged to be content, and only said very arrogantly that so soon +as his equipages arrived, as he expected they would do very shortly, +he would give all the people of the city, and the stranger Princes with +whom it was inundated, an idea of the power and the magnificence of his +master. Mannikin, in despair, resolved that he would for once beg the +assistance of the kind Fairy Genesta. He often thought of her and always +with gratitude, but from the moment of his setting out he had determined +to seek her aid only on the greatest occasions. That very night, when he +had fallen asleep quite worn out with thinking over all the difficulties +of the situation, he dreamed that the Fairy stood beside him, and said: + +‘Mannikin, you have done very well so far; continue to please me and +you shall always find good friends when you need them most. As for this +affair with the Ambassador, you can assure Sabella that she may look +forward tranquilly to his triumphal entry, since it will all turn out +well for her in the end.’ + +The Prince tried to throw himself at her feet to thank her, but woke to +find it was all a dream; nevertheless he took fresh courage, and went +next day to see the Princess, to whom he gave many mysterious assurances +that all would yet be well. He even went so far as to ask her if she +would not be very grateful to anyone who would rid her of the insolent +Brandatimor. To which she replied that her gratitude would know no +bounds. Then he wanted to know what would be her best wish for the +person who was lucky enough to accomplish it. To which she said that she +would wish them to be as insensible to the folly called ‘love’ as she +was herself! + +This was indeed a crushing speech to make to such a devoted lover as +Prince Mannikin, but he concealed the pain it caused him with great +courage. + +And now the Ambassador sent to say that on the very next day he would +come in state to receive his answer, and from the earliest dawn the +inhabitants were astir, to secure the best places for the grand sight; +but the good Fairy Genesta was providing them an amount of amusement +they were far from expecting, for she so enchanted the eyes of all the +spectators that when the Ambassador’s gorgeous procession appeared, the +splendid uniforms seemed to them miserable rags that a beggar would have +been ashamed to wear, the prancing horses appeared as wretched skeletons +hardly able to drag one leg after the other, while their trappings, +which really sparkled with gold and jewels, looked like old sheepskins +that would not have been good enough for a plough horse. The pages +resembled the ugliest sweeps. The trumpets gave no more sound than +whistles made of onion-stalks, or combs wrapped in paper; while the +train of fifty carriages looked no better than fifty donkey carts. In +the last of these sat the Ambassador with the haughty and scornful air +which he considered becoming in the representative of so powerful a +monarch: for this was the crowning point of the absurdity of the whole +procession, that all who took part in it wore the expression of vanity +and self-satisfaction and pride in their own appearance and all their +surroundings which they believed their splendour amply justified. + +The laughter and howls of derision from the whole crowd rose ever louder +and louder as the extraordinary cortege advanced, and at last reached +the ears of the King as he waited in the audience hall, and before the +procession reached the palace he had been informed of its nature, and, +supposing that it must be intended as an insult, he ordered the gates +to be closed. You may imagine the fury of the Ambassador when, after +all his pomp and pride, the King absolutely and unaccountably refused +to receive him. He raved wildly both against King and people, and the +cortege retired in great confusion, jeered at and pelted with stones and +mud by the enraged crowd. It is needless to say that he left the country +as fast as horses could carry him, but not before he had declared war, +with the most terrible menaces, threatening to devastate the country +with fire and sword. + +Some days after this disastrous embassy King Bayard sent couriers to +Prince Mannikin with a most friendly letter, offering his services in +any difficulty, and enquiring with the deepest interest how he fared. + +Mannikin at once replied, relating all that had happened since they +parted, not forgetting to mention the event which had just involved +Farda-Kinbras and Brandatimor in this deadly quarrel, and he ended +by entreating his faithful friend to despatch a few thousands of his +veteran spaniels to his assistance. + +Neither the King, the Queen, nor the Princess could in the least +understand the amazing conduct of Brandatimor’s Ambassador; nevertheless +the preparations for the war went forward briskly and all the Princes +who had not gone on towards the Ice Mountain offered their services, at +the same time demanding all the best appointments in the King’s army. +Mannikin was one of the first to volunteer, but he only asked to go as +aide-de-camp to the Commander-in chief, who was a gallant soldier and +celebrated for his victories. As soon as the army could be got together +it was marched to the frontier, where it met the opposing force headed +by Brandatimor himself, who was full of fury, determined to avenge the +insult to his Ambassador and to possess himself of the Princess Sabella. +All the army of Farda-Kinbras could do, being so heavily outnumbered, +was to act upon the defensive, and before long Mannikin won the esteem +of the officers for his ability, and of the soldiers for his courage, +and care for their welfare, and in all the skirmishes which he conducted +he had the good fortune to vanquish the enemy. + +At last Brandatimor engaged the whole army in a terrific conflict, and +though the troops of Farda-Kinbras fought with desperate courage, their +general was killed, and they were defeated and forced to retreat with +immense loss. Mannikin did wonders, and half-a-dozen times turned the +retreating forces and beat back the enemy; and he afterwards collected +troops enough to keep them in check until, the severe winter setting in, +put an end to hostilities for a while. + +He then returned to the Court, where consternation reigned. The King was +in despair at the death of his trusty general, and ended by imploring +Mannikin to take the command of the army, and his counsel was followed +in all the affairs of the Court. He followed up his former plan of +amusing the Princess, and on no account reminding her of that tedious +thing called ‘love,’ so that she was always glad to see him, and the +winter slipped by gaily for both of them. + +The Prince was all the while secretly making plans for the next +campaign; he received private intelligence of the arrival of a strong +reinforcement of Spaniels, to whom he sent orders to post themselves +along the frontier without attracting attention, and as soon as he +possibly could he held a consultation with their Commander, who was an +old and experienced warrior. Following his advice, he decided to have a +pitched battle as soon as the enemy advanced, and this Brandatimor lost +not a moment in doing, as he was perfectly persuaded that he was now +going to make an end of the war and utterly vanquish Farda-Kinbras. But +no sooner had he given the order to charge than the Spaniels, who had +mingled with his troops unperceived, leaped each upon the horse nearest +to him, and not only threw the whole squadron into confusion by the +terror they caused, but, springing at the throats of the riders, +unhorsed many of them by the suddenness of their attack; then turning +the horses to the rear, they spread consternation everywhere, and +made it easy for Prince Mannikin to gain a complete victory. He met +Brandatimor in single combat, and succeeded in taking him prisoner; but +he did not live to reach the Court, to which Mannikin had sent him: his +pride killed him at the thought of appearing before Sabella under these +altered circumstances. In the meantime Prince Fadasse and all the others +who had remained behind were setting out with all speed for the conquest +of the Ice Mountain, being afraid that Prince Mannikin might prove +as successful in that as he seemed to be in everything else, and when +Mannikin returned he heard of it with great annoyance. True he had +been serving the Princess, but she only admired and praised him for his +gallant deeds, and seemed no whit nearer bestowing on him the love he +so ardently desired, and all the comfort Mousta could give him on the +subject was that at least she loved no one else, and with that he had to +content himself. But he determined that, come what might, he would delay +no longer, but attempt the great undertaking for which he had come so +far. When he went to take leave of the King and Queen they entreated +him not to go, as they had just heard that Prince Fadasse, and all +who accompanied him, had perished in the snow; but he persisted in his +resolve. As for Sabella, she gave him her hand to kiss with precisely +the same gracious indifference as she had given it to him the first time +they met. It happened that this farewell took place before the whole +Court, and so great a favourite had Prince Mannikin become that they +were all indignant at the coldness with which the Princess treated him. + +Finally the King said to him: + +‘Prince, you have constantly refilled all the gifts which, in my +gratitude for your invaluable services, I have offered to you, but I +wish the Princess to present you with her cloak of marten’s fur, and +that I hope you will not reject!’ Now this was a splendid fur mantle +which the Princess was very fond of wearing, not so much because she +felt cold, as that its richness set off to perfection the delicate tints +of her complexion and the brilliant gold of her hair. However, she took +it off, and with graceful politeness begged Prince Mannikin to accept +it, which you may be sure he was charmed to do, and, taking only this +and a little bundle of all kinds of wood, and accompanied only by two +spaniels out of the fifty who had stayed with him when the war was +ended, he set forth, receiving many tokens of love and favour from the +people in every town he passed through. At the last little village he +left his horse behind him, to begin his toilful march through the snow, +which extended, blank and terrible, in every direction as far as the eye +could see. Here he had appointed to meet the other forty-eight spaniels, +who received him joyfully, and assured him that, happen what might, +they would follow and serve him faithfully. And so they started, full +of heart and hope. At first there was a slight track, difficult, but +not impossible to follow; but this was soon lost, and the Pole Star was +their only guide. When the time came to call a halt, the Prince, who +had after much consideration decided on his plan of action, caused a few +twigs from the faggot he had brought with him to be planted in the +snow, and then he sprinkled over them a pinch of the magic powder he had +collected from the enchanted boat. To his great joy they instantly +began to sprout and grow, and in a marvellously short time the camp was +surrounded by a perfect grove of trees of all sorts, which blossomed and +bore ripe fruit, so that all their wants were easily supplied, and they +were able to make huge fires to warm themselves. The Prince then sent +out several spaniels to reconnoitre, and they had the good luck to +discover a horse laden with provisions stuck fast in the snow. They at +once fetched their comrades, and brought the spoil triumphantly into the +camp, and, as it consisted principally of biscuits, not a spaniel among +them went supperless to sleep. In this way they journeyed by day and +encamped safely at night, always remembering to take on a few branches +to provide them with food and shelter. They passed by the way armies +of those who had set out upon the perilous enterprise, who stood frozen +stiffly, without sense or motion; but Prince Mannikin strictly forbade +that any attempt should be made to thaw them. So they went on and on for +more than three months, and day by day the Ice Mountain, which they had +seen for a long time, grew clearer, until at last they stood close +to it, and shuddered at its height and steepness. But by patience and +perseverance they crept up foot by foot, aided by their fires of magic +wood, without which they must have perished in the intense cold, until +presently they stood at the gates of the magnificent Ice Palace which +crowned the mountain, where, in deadly silence and icy sleep, lay +the heart of Sabella. Now the difficulty became immense, for if they +maintained enough heat to keep themselves alive they were in danger +every moment of melting the blocks of solid ice of which the palace was +entirely built, and bringing the whole structure down upon their heads; +but cautiously and quickly they traversed courtyards and halls, until +they found themselves at the foot of a vast throne, where, upon a +cushion of snow, lay an enormous and brilliantly sparkling diamond, +which contained the heart of the lovely Princess Sabella. Upon the +lowest step of the throne was inscribed in icy letters, ‘Whosoever +thou art who by courage and virtue canst win the heart of Sabella enjoy +peacefully the good fortune which thou hast richly deserved.’ + +Prince Mannikin bounded forward, and had just strength left to grasp the +precious diamond which contained all he coveted in the world before he +fell insensible upon the snowy cushion. But his good spaniels lost no +time in rushing to the rescue, and between them they bore him hastily +from the hall, and not a moment too soon, for all around them they +heard the clang of the falling blocks of ice as the Fairy Palace slowly +collapsed under the unwonted heat. Not until they reached the foot of +the mountain did they pause to restore the Prince to consciousness, and +then his joy to find himself the possessor of Sabella’s heart knew no +bounds. + +With all speed they began to retrace their steps, but this time the +happy Prince could not bear the sight of his defeated and disappointed +rivals, whose frozen forms lined his triumphant way. He gave orders +to his spaniels to spare no pains to restore them to life, and so +successful were they that day by day his train increased, so that by the +time he got back to the little village where he had left his horse he +was escorted by five hundred sovereign Princes, and knights and squires +without number, and he was so courteous and unassuming that they all +followed him willingly, anxious to do him honour. But then he was so +happy and blissful himself that he found it easy to be at peace with all +the world. It was not long before he met the faithful Mousta, who was +coming at the top of his speed hoping to meet the Prince, that he might +tell him of the sudden and wonderful change that had come over the +Princess, who had become gentle and thoughtful and had talked to him +of nothing but Prince Mannikin, of the hardships she feared he might +be suffering, and of her anxiety for him, and all this with a hundred +fonder expressions which put the finishing stroke to the Prince’s +delight. Then came a courier bearing the congratulations of the King and +Queen, who had just heard of his successful return, and there was even a +graceful compliment from Sabella herself. The Prince sent Mousta back to +her, and he was welcomed with joy, for was he not her lover’s present? + +At last the travellers reached the capital, and were received with regal +magnificence. Farda-Kinbras and Birbantine embraced Prince Mannikin, +declaring that they regarded him as their heir and the future husband of +the Princess, to which he replied that they did him too much honour. +And then he was admitted into the presence of the Princess, who for the +first time in her life blushed as he kissed her hand, and could not find +a word to say. But the Prince, throwing himself on his knees beside her, +held out the splendid diamond, saying: + +‘Madam, this treasure is yours, since none of the dangers and +difficulties I have gone through have been sufficient to make me deserve +it.’ + +‘Ah! Prince,’ said she, ‘if I take it, it is only that I may give it +back to you, since truly it belongs to you already.’ + +At this moment in came the King and Queen, and interrupted them by +asking all the questions imaginable, and not infrequently the same over +and over again. It seems that there is always one thing that is sure to +be said about an event by everybody, and Prince Mannikin found that +the question which he was asked by more than a thousand people on this +particular occasion was: + +‘And didn’t you find it very cold?’ + +The King had come to request Prince Mannikin and the Princess to follow +him to the Council Chamber, which they did, not knowing that he meant to +present the Prince to all the nobles assembled there as his son-in-law +and successor. But when Mannikin perceived his intention, he begged +permission to speak first, and told his whole story, even to the fact +that he believed himself to be a peasant’s son. Scarcely had he finished +speaking when the sky grew black, the thunder growled, and the lightning +flashed, and in the blaze of light the good Fairy Genesta suddenly +appeared. Turning to Prince Mannikin, she said: + +‘I am satisfied with you, since you have shown not only courage but a +good heart.’ Then she addressed King Farda-Kinbras, and informed him of +the real history of the Prince, and how she had determined to give +him the education she knew would be best for a man who was to command +others. ‘You have already found the advantage of having a faithful +friend,’ she added to the Prince ‘and now you will have the pleasure +of seeing King Bayard and his subjects regain their natural forms as a +reward for his kindness to you.’ + +Just then arrived a chariot drawn by eagles, which proved to contain the +foolish King and Queen, who embraced their long-lost son with great +joy, and were greatly struck with the fact that they did indeed find +him covered with fur! While they were caressing Sabella and wringing +her hands (which is a favourite form of endearment with foolish +people) chariots were seen approaching from all points of the compass, +containing numbers of Fairies. + +‘Sire,’ said Genesta to Farda-Kinbras, ‘I have taken the liberty of +appointing your Court as a meeting-place for all the Fairies who could +spare the time to come; and I hope you can arrange to hold the great +ball, which we have once in a hundred years, on this occasion.’ + +The King having suitably acknowledged the honour done him, was next +reconciled to Gorgonzola, and they two presently opened the ball +together. The Fairy Marsontine restored their natural forms to King +Bayard and all his subjects, and he appeared once more as handsome a +king as you could wish to see. One of the Fairies immediately despatched +her chariot for the Queen of the Spice Islands, and their wedding took +place at the same time as that of Prince Mannikin and the lovely and +gracious Sabella. They lived happily ever afterwards, and their vast +kingdoms were presently divided between their children. + +The Prince, out of grateful remembrance of the Princess Sabella’s +first gift to him bestowed the right of bearing her name upon the most +beautiful of the martens, and that is why they are called sables to this +day. + +Comte de Caylus. + + + + + +THE ENCHANTED RING + + + +Once upon a time there lived a young man named Rosimond, who was as good +and handsome as his elder brother Bramintho was ugly and wicked. Their +mother detested her eldest son, and had only eyes for the youngest. This +excited Bramintho’s jealousy, and he invented a horrible story in order +to ruin his brother. He told his father that Rosimond was in the habit +of visiting a neighbour who was an enemy of the family, and betraying to +him all that went on in the house, and was plotting with him to poison +their father. + +The father flew into a rage, and flogged his son till the blood came. +Then he threw him into prison and kept him for three days without food, +and after that he turned him out of the house, and threatened to kill +him if he ever came back. The mother was miserable, and did nothing but +weep, but she dared not say anything. + +The youth left his home with tears in his eyes, not knowing where to go, +and wandered about for many hours till he came to a thick wood. Night +overtook him at the foot of a great rock, and he fell asleep on a bank +of moss, lulled by the music of a little brook. + +It was dawn when he woke, and he saw before him a beautiful woman seated +on a grey horse, with trappings of gold, who looked as if she were +preparing for the hunt. + +‘Have you seen a stag and some deerhounds go by?’ she asked. + +‘No, madam,’ he replied. + +Then she added, ‘You look unhappy; is there anything the matter? Take +this ring, which will make you the happiest and most powerful of men, +provided you never make a bad use of it. If you turn the diamond inside, +you will become invisible. If you turn it outside, you will become +visible again. If you place it on your little finger, you will take the +shape of the King’s son, followed by a splendid court. If you put it on +your fourth finger, you will take your own shape.’ + +Then the young man understood that it was a Fairy who was speaking to +him, and when she had finished she plunged into the woods. The youth was +very impatient to try the ring, and returned home immediately. He found +that the Fairy had spoken the truth, and that he could see and hear +everything, while he himself was unseen. It lay with him to revenge +himself, if he chose, on his brother, without the slightest danger to +himself, and he told no one but his mother of all the strange things +that had befallen him. He afterwards put the enchanted ring on his +little finger, and appeared as the King’s son, followed by a hundred +fine horses, and a guard of officers all richly dressed. + +His father was much surprised to see the King’s son in his quiet little +house, and he felt rather embarrassed, not knowing what was the proper +way to behave on such a grand occasion. Then Rosimond asked him how many +sons he had. + +‘Two,’ replied he. + +‘I wish to see them,’ said Rosimond. ‘Send for them at once. I desire to +take them both to Court, in order to make their fortunes.’ + +The father hesitated, then answered: ‘Here is the eldest, whom I have +the honour to present to your Highness.’ + +‘But where is the youngest? I wish to see him too,’ persisted Rosimond. + +‘He is not here,’ said the father. ‘I had to punish him for a fault, and +he has run away.’ + +Then Rosimond replied, ‘You should have shown him what was right, but +not have punished him. However, let the elder come with me, and as for +you, follow these two guards, who will escort you to a place that I will +point out to them.’ + +Then the two guards led off the father, and the Fairy of whom you have +heard found him in the forest, and beat him with a golden birch rod, +and cast him into a cave that was very deep and dark, where he lay +enchanted. ‘Lie there,’ she said, ‘till your son comes to take you out +again.’ + +Meanwhile the son went to the King’s palace, and arrived just when the +real prince was absent. He had sailed away to make war on a distant +island, but the winds had been contrary, and he had been shipwrecked on +unknown shores, and taken captive by a savage people. Rosimond made his +appearance at Court in the character of the Prince, whom everyone wept +for as lost, and told them that he had been rescued when at the point +of death by some merchants. His return was the signal for great +public rejoicings, and the King was so overcome that he became quite +speechless, and did nothing but embrace his son. The Queen was even more +delighted, and fetes were ordered over the whole kingdom. + +One day the false Prince said to his real brother, ‘Bramintho, you know +that I brought you here from your native village in order to make your +fortune; but I have found out that you are a liar, and that by your +deceit you have been the cause of all the troubles of your brother +Rosimond. He is in hiding here, and I desire that you shall speak to +him, and listen to his reproaches.’ + +Bramintho trembled at these words, and, flinging himself at the Prince’s +feet, confessed his crime. + +‘That is not enough,’ said Rosimond. ‘It is to your brother that you +must confess, and I desire that you shall ask his forgiveness. He will +be very generous if he grants it, and it will be more than you deserve. +He is in my ante-room, where you shall see him at once. I myself will +retire into another apartment, so as to leave you alone with him.’ + +Bramintho entered, as he was told, into the anteroom. Then Rosimond +changed the ring, and passed into the room by another door. + +Bramintho was filled with shame as soon as he saw his brother’s face. He +implored his pardon, and promised to atone for all his faults. Rosimond +embraced him with tears, and at once forgave him, adding, ‘I am in great +favour with the King. It rests with me to have your head cut off, or to +condemn you to pass the remainder of your life in prison; but I desire +to be as good to you as you have been wicked to me.’ Bramintho, confused +and ashamed, listened to his words without daring to lift his eyes or to +remind Rosimond that he was his brother. After this, Rosimond gave out +that he was going to make a secret voyage, to marry a Princess who +lived in a neighbouring kingdom; but in reality he only went to see his +mother, whom he told all that had happened at the Court, giving her at +the same time some money that she needed, for the King allowed him to +take exactly what he liked, though he was always careful not to abuse +this permission. Just then a furious war broke out between the King his +master and the Sovereign of the adjoining country, who was a bad man and +one that never kept his word. Rosimond went straight to the palace of +the wicked King, and by means of his ring was able to be present at +all the councils, and learnt all their schemes, so that he was able to +forestall them and bring them to naught. He took the command of the +army which was brought against the wicked King, and defeated him in a +glorious battle, so that peace was at once concluded on conditions that +were just to everyone. + +Henceforth the King’s one idea was to marry the young man to a Princess +who was the heiress to a neighbouring kingdom, and, besides that, was +as lovely as the day. But one morning, while Rosimond was hunting in the +forest where for the first time he had seen the Fairy, his benefactress +suddenly appeared before him. ‘Take heed,’ she said to him in severe +tones, ‘that you do not marry anybody who believes you to be a Prince. +You must never deceive anyone. The real Prince, whom the whole nation +thinks you are, will have to succeed his father, for that is just and +right. Go and seek him in some distant island, and I will send winds +that will swell your sails and bring you to him. Hasten to render this +service to your master, although it is against your own ambition, and +prepare, like an honest man, to return to your natural state. If you do +not do this, you will become wicked and unhappy, and I will abandon you +to all your former troubles.’ + +Rosimond took these wise counsels to heart. He gave out that he had +undertaken a secret mission to a neighbouring state, and embarked on +board a vessel, the winds carrying him straight to the island where the +Fairy had told him he would find the real Prince. This unfortunate youth +had been taken captive by a savage people, who had kept him to guard +their sheep. Rosimond, becoming invisible, went to seek him amongst the +pastures, where he kept his flock, and, covering him with his mantle, he +delivered him out of the hands of his cruel masters, and bore him +back to the ship. Other winds sent by the Fairy swelled the sails, and +together the two young men entered the King’s presence. + +Rosimond spoke first and said, ‘You have believed me to be your son. I +am not he, but I have brought him back to you.’ The King, filled with +astonishment, turned to his real son and asked, ‘Was it not you, my son, +who conquered my enemies and won such a glorious peace? Or is it true +that you have been shipwrecked and taken captive, and that Rosimond has +set you free?’ + +‘Yes, my father,’ replied the Prince. ‘It is he who sought me out in my +captivity and set me free, and to him I owe the happiness of seeing you +once more. It was he, not I, who gained the victory.’ + +The King could hardly believe his ears; but Rosimond, turning the ring, +appeared before him in the likeness of the Prince, and the King gazed +distractedly at the two youths who seemed both to be his son. Then he +offered Rosimond immense rewards for his services, which were refused, +and the only favour the young man would accept was that one of his posts +at Court should be conferred on his brother Bramintho. For he feared +for himself the changes of fortune, the envy of mankind and his own +weakness. His desire was to go back to his mother and his native +village, and to spend his time in cultivating the land. + +One day, when he was wandering through the woods, he met the Fairy, who +showed him the cavern where his father was imprisoned, and told him what +words he must use in order to set him free. He repeated them joyfully, +for he had always longed to bring the old man back and to make his last +days happy. Rosimond thus became the benefactor of all his family, and +had the pleasure of doing good to those who had wished to do him evil. +As for the Court, to whom he had rendered such services, all he asked +was the freedom to live far from its corruption; and, to crown all, +fearing that if he kept the ring he might be tempted to use it in order +to regain his lost place in the world, he made up his mind to restore it +to the Fairy. For many days he sought her up and down the woods and at +last he found her. ‘I want to give you back,’ he said, holding out the +ring, ‘a gift as dangerous as it is powerful, and which I fear to use +wrongfully. I shall never feel safe till I have made it impossible for +me to leave my solitude and to satisfy my passions.’ + +While Rosimond was seeking to give back the ring to the Fairy, +Bramintho, who had failed to learn any lessons from experience, gave +way to all his desires, and tried to persuade the Prince, lately +become King, to ill-treat Rosimond. But the Fairy, who knew all about +everything, said to Rosimond, when he was imploring her to accept the +ring: + +‘Your wicked brother is doing his best to poison the mind of the King +towards you, and to ruin you. He deserves to be punished, and he must +die; and in order that he may destroy himself, I shall give the ring to +him.’ + +Rosimond wept at these words, and then asked: + +‘What do you mean by giving him the ring as a punishment? He will only +use it to persecute everyone, and to become master.’ + +‘The same things,’ answered the Fairy, ‘are often a healing medicine to +one person and a deadly poison to another. Prosperity is the source of +all evil to a naturally wicked man. If you wish to punish a scoundrel, +the first thing to do is to give him power. You will see that with this +rope he will soon hang himself.’ + +Having said this, she disappeared, and went straight to the Palace, +where she showed herself to Bramintho under the disguise of an old woman +covered with rags. She at once addressed him in these words: + +‘I have taken this ring from the hands of your brother, to whom I had +lent it, and by its help he covered himself with glory. I now give it to +you, and be careful what you do with it.’ + +Bramintho replied with a laugh: + +‘I shall certainly not imitate my brother, who was foolish enough to +bring back the Prince instead of reigning in his place,’ and he was +as good as his word. The only use he made of the ring was to find out +family secrets and betray them, to commit murders and every sort of +wickedness, and to gain wealth for himself unlawfully. All these crimes, +which could be traced to nobody, filled the people with astonishment. +The King, seeing so many affairs, public and private, exposed, was at +first as puzzled as anyone, till Bramintho’s wonderful prosperity and +amazing insolence made him suspect that the enchanted ring had become +his property. In order to find out the truth he bribed a stranger just +arrived at Court, one of a nation with whom the King was always at war, +and arranged that he was to steal in the night to Bramintho and to offer +him untold honours and rewards if he would betray the State secrets. + +Bramintho promised everything, and accepted at once the first payment of +his crime, boasting that he had a ring which rendered him invisible, and +that by means of it he could penetrate into the most private places. But +his triumph was short. Next day he was seized by order of the King, +and his ring was taken from him. He was searched, and on him were found +papers which proved his crimes; and, though Rosimond himself came back +to the Court to entreat his pardon, it was refused. So Bramintho was put +to death, and the ring had been even more fatal to him than it had been +useful in the hands of his brother. + +To console Rosimond for the fate of Bramintho, the King gave him back +the enchanted ring, as a pearl without price. The unhappy Rosimond did +not look upon it in the same light, and the first thing he did on his +return home was to seek the Fairy in the woods. + +‘Here,’ he said, ‘is your ring. My brother’s experience has made me +understand many things that I did not know before. Keep it, it has only +led to his destruction. Ah! without it he would be alive now, and my +father and mother would not in their old age be bowed to the earth with +shame and grief! Perhaps he might have been wise and happy if he had +never had the chance of gratifying his wishes! Oh! how dangerous it is +to have more power than the rest of the world! Take back your ring, and +as ill fortune seems to follow all on whom you bestow it, I will implore +you, as a favour to myself, that you will never give it to anyone who is +dear to me.’ + +Fenelon. + + + + + +THE SNUFF-BOX + + + +As often happens in this world, there was once a young man who spent all +his time in travelling. One day, as he was walking along, he picked up +a snuff-box. He opened it, and the snuff-box said to him in the Spanish +language, ‘What do you want?’ He was very much frightened, but, luckily, +instead of throwing the box away, he only shut it tight, and put it in +his pocket. Then he went on, away, away, away, and as he went he said to +himself, ‘If it says to me again “What do you want?” I shall know better +what to say this time.’ So he took out the snuff-box and opened it, and +again it asked ‘What do you want?’ ‘My hat full of gold,’ answered the +youth, and immediately it was full. + +Our young man was enchanted. Henceforth he should never be in need of +anything. So on he travelled, away, away, away, through thick forests, +till at last he came to a beautiful castle. In the castle there lived +a King. The young man walked round and round the castle, not caring who +saw him, till the King noticed him, and asked what he was doing there. +‘I was just looking at your castle.’ ‘You would like to have one like +it, wouldn’t you?’ The young man did not reply, but when it grew dark he +took his snuff-box and opened the lid. ‘What do you want?’ ‘Build me a +castle with laths of gold and tiles of diamond, and the furniture all of +silver and gold.’ He had scarcely finished speaking when there stood +in front of him, exactly opposite the King’s palace, a castle built +precisely as he had ordered. When the King awoke he was struck dumb at +the sight of the magnificent house shining in the rays of the sun. The +servants could not do their work for stopping to stare at it. Then the +King dressed himself, and went to see the young man. And he told him +plainly that he was a very powerful Prince; and that he hoped that they +might all live together in one house or the other, and that the King +would give him his daughter to wife. So it all turned out just as the +King wished. The young man married the Princess, and they lived happily +in the palace of gold. + +But the King’s wife was jealous both of the young man and of her own +daughter. The Princess had told her mother about the snuff-box, which +gave them everything they wanted, and the Queen bribed a servant to +steal the snuff-box. They noticed carefully where it was put away every +night, and one evening, when the whole world was asleep, the woman stole +it and brought it to her old mistress. Oh how happy the Queen was! She +opened the lid, and the snuff-box said to her ‘What do you want?’ +And she answered at once ‘I want you to take me and my husband and my +servants and this beautiful house and set us down on the other side of +the Red Sea, but my daughter and her husband are to stay behind.’ + +When the young couple woke up, they found themselves back in the old +castle, without their snuff-box. They hunted for it high and low, but +quite vainly. The young man felt that no time was to be lost, and he +mounted his horse and filled his pockets with as much gold as he could +carry. On he went, away, away, away, but he sought the snuff-box in vain +all up and down the neighbouring countries, and very soon he came to the +end of all his money. But still he went on, as fast as the strength of +his horse would let him, begging his way. + +Someone told him that he ought to consult the moon, for the moon +travelled far, and might be able to tell him something. So he went away, +away, away, and ended, somehow or other, by reaching the land of the +moon. There he found a little old woman who said to him ‘What are you +doing here? My son eats all living things he sees, and if you are wise, +you will go away without coming any further.’ But the young man told her +all his sad tale, and how he possessed a wonderful snuff-box, and how it +had been stolen from him, and how he had nothing left, now that he was +parted from his wife and was in need of everything. And he said that +perhaps her son, who travelled so far, might have seen a palace with +laths of gold and tiles of diamond, and furnished all in silver and +gold. As he spoke these last words, the moon came in and said he smelt +mortal flesh and blood. But his mother told him that it was an unhappy +man who had lost everything, and had come all this way to consult him, +and bade the young man not to be afraid, but to come forward and show +himself. So he went boldly up to the moon, and asked if by any accident +he had seen a palace with the laths of gold and the tiles of diamond, +and all the furniture of silver and gold. Once this house belonged +to him, but now it was stolen. And the moon said no, but that the sun +travelled farther than he did, and that the young man had better go and +ask him. + +So the young man departed, and went away, away, away, as well as his +horse would take him, begging his living as he rode along, and, somehow +or other, at last he got to the land of the sun. There he found a little +old woman, who asked him, ‘What are you doing here? Go away. Have you +not heard that my son feeds upon Christians?’ But he said no, and that +he would not go, for he was so miserable that it was all one to him +whether he died or not; that he had lost everything, and especially a +splendid palace like none other in the whole world, for it had laths of +gold and tiles of diamond, and all the furniture was of silver and gold. +And that he had sought it far and long, and in all the earth there was +no man more unhappy. So the old woman’s heart melted, and she agreed to +hide him. + +When the Sun arrived, he declared that he smelt Christian flesh, and he +meant to have it for his dinner. But his mother told him such a pitiful +story of the miserable wretch who had lost everything, and had come from +far to ask his help, that at last he promised to see him. + +So the young man came out from his hiding-place and begged the sun to +tell him if in the course of his travels he had not seen somewhere a +palace that had not its like in the whole world, for its laths were of +gold and its tiles of diamond, and all the furniture in silver and gold. + +And the sun said no, but that perhaps the wind had seen it, for he +entered everywhere, and saw things that no one else ever saw, and if +anyone knew where it was, it was certainly the wind. + +Then the poor young man again set forth as well as his horse could take +him, begging his living as he went, and, somehow or other, he ended by +reaching the home of the wind. He found there a little old woman busily +occupied in filling great barrels with water. She asked him what had put +it into his head to come there, for her son ate everything he saw, +and that he would shortly arrive quite mad, and that the young man had +better look out. But he answered that he was so unhappy that he had +ceased to mind anything, even being eaten, and then he told her that he +had been robbed of a palace that had not its equal in all the world, +and of all that was in it, and that he had even left his wife, and was +wandering over the world until he found it. And that it was the sun who +had sent him to consult the wind. So she hid him under the staircase, +and soon they heard the south wind arrive, shaking the house to its +foundations. Thirsty as he was, he did not wait to drink, but he told +his mother that he smelt the blood of a Christian man, and that she had +better bring him out at once and make him ready to be eaten. But she +bade her son eat and drink what was before him, and said that the poor +young man was much to be pitied, and that the sun had granted him his +life in order that he might consult the wind. Then she brought out the +young man, who explained how he was seeking for his palace, and that no +man had been able to tell him where it was, so he had come to the wind. +And he added that he had been shamefully robbed, and that the laths were +of gold and the tiles of diamond, and all the furniture in silver and +gold, and he inquired if the wind had not seen such a palace during his +wanderings. + +And the wind said yes, and that all that day he had been blowing +backwards and forwards over it without being able to move one single +tile. ‘Oh, do tell me where it is,’ cried the you man. ‘It is a long +way off,’ replied the wind, ‘on the other side of the Red Sea.’ But our +traveller was not discouraged, he had already journeyed too far. + +So he set forth at once, and, somehow or other, he managed to reach that +distant land. And he enquired if anyone wanted a gardener. He was told +that the head gardener at the castle had just left, and perhaps he might +have a chance of getting the place. The young man lost no time, but +walked up to the castle and asked if they were in want of a gardener; +and how happy he was when they agreed to take him! Now he passed most of +his day in gossiping with the servants about the wealth of their masters +and the wonderful things in the house. He made friends with one of the +maids, who told him the history of the snuff-box, and he coaxed her to +let him see it. One evening she managed to get hold of it, and the young +man watched carefully where she hid it away, in a secret place in the +bedchamber of her mistress. + +The following night, when everyone was fast asleep, he crept in and took +the snuff-box. Think of his joy as he opened the lid! When it asked him, +as of yore, ‘What do you want?’ he replied: ‘What do I want? What do +I want? Why, I want to go with my palace to the old place, and for the +King and the Queen and all their servants to be drowned in the Red Sea.’ +He hardly finished speaking when he found himself back again with his +wife, while all the other inhabitants of the palace were lying at the +bottom of the Red Sea. + +Sebillot. + + + + + +THE GOLDEN BLACKBIRD + + + +Once upon a time there was a great lord who had three sons. He fell very +ill, sent for doctors of every kind, even bonesetters, but they, none of +them, could find out what was the matter with him, or even give him +any relief. At last there came a foreign doctor, who declared that the +Golden Blackbird alone could cure the sick man. + +So the old lord despatched his eldest son to look for the wonderful +bird, and promised him great riches if he managed to find it and bring +it back. + +The young man began his journey, and soon arrived at a place where four +roads met. He did not know which to choose, and tossed his cap in the +air, determining that the direction of its fall should decide him. +After travelling for two or three days, he grew tired of walking without +knowing where or for how long, and he stopped at an inn which was filled +with merrymakers and ordered something to eat and drink. + +‘My faith,’ said he, ‘it is sheer folly to waste more time hunting for +this bird. My father is old, and if he dies I shall inherit his goods.’ + +The old man, after waiting patiently for some time, sent his second son +to seek the Golden Blackbird. The youth took the same direction as his +brother, and when he came to the cross roads, he too tossed up which +road he should take. The cap fell in the same place as before, and he +walked on till he came to the spot where his brother had halted. The +latter, who was leaning out of the window of the inn, called to him to +stay where he was and amuse himself. + +‘You are right,’ replied the youth. ‘Who knows if I should ever find the +Golden Blackbird, even if I sought the whole world through for it. At +the worst, if the old man dies, we shall have his property.’ + +He entered the inn and the two brothers made merry and feasted, till +very soon their money was all spent. They even owed something to their +landlord, who kept them as hostages till they could pay their debts. + +The youngest son set forth in his turn, and he arrived at the place +where his brothers were still prisoners. They called to him to stop, and +did all they could to prevent his going further. + +‘No,’ he replied, ‘my father trusted me, and I will go all over the +world till I find the Golden Blackbird.’ + +‘Bah,’ said his brothers, ‘you will never succeed any better than we +did. Let him die if he wants to; we will divide the property.’ + +As he went his way he met a little hare, who stopped to look at him, and +asked: + +‘Where are you going, my friend?’ + +‘I really don’t quite know,’ answered he. ‘My father is ill, and he +cannot be cured unless I bring him back the Golden Blackbird. It is a +long time since I set out, but no one can tell me where to find it.’ + +‘Ah,’ said the hare, ‘you have a long way to go yet. You will have to +walk at least seven hundred miles before you get to it.’ + +‘And how am I to travel such a distance?’ + +‘Mount on my back,’ said the little hare, ‘and I will conduct you.’ + +The young man obeyed: at each bound the little hare went seven miles, +and it was not long before they reached a castle that was as large and +beautiful as a castle could be. + +‘The Golden Blackbird is in a little cabin near by,’ said the little +hare, ‘and you will easily find it. It lives in a little cage, with +another cage beside it made all of gold. But whatever you do, be sure +not to put it in the beautiful cage, or everybody in the castle will +know that you have stolen it.’ + +The youth found the Golden Blackbird standing on a wooden perch, but as +stiff and rigid as if he was dead. And beside the beautiful cage was the +cage of gold. + +‘Perhaps he would revive if I were to put him in that lovely cage,’ +thought the youth. + +The moment that Golden Bird had touched the bars of the splendid cage he +awoke, and began to whistle, so that all the servants of the castle ran +to see what was the matter, saying that he was a thief and must be put +in prison. + +‘No,’ he answered, ‘I am not a thief. If I have taken the Golden +Blackbird, it is only that it may cure my father, who is ill, and I have +travelled more than seven hundred miles in order to find it.’ + +‘Well,’ they replied, ‘we will let you go, and will even give you the +Golden Bird, if you are able to bring us the Porcelain Maiden.’ + +The youth departed, weeping, and met the little hare, who was munching +wild thyme. + +‘What are you crying for, my friend?’ asked the hare. + +‘It is because,’ he answered, ‘the castle people will not allow me to +carry off the Golden Blackbird without giving them the Porcelain Maiden +in exchange.’ + +‘You have not followed my advice,’ said the little hare. ‘And you have +put the Golden Bird into the fine cage.’ + +‘Alas! yes!’ + +‘Don’t despair! the Porcelain Maiden is a young girl, beautiful as +Venus, who dwells two hundred miles from here. Jump on my back and I +will take you there.’ + +The little hare, who took seven miles in a stride, was there in no time +at all, and he stopped on the borders of a lake. + +‘The Porcelain Maiden,’ said the hare to the youth, ‘will come here to +bathe with her friends, while I just eat a mouthful of thyme to refresh +me. When she is in the lake, be sure you hide her clothes, which are of +dazzling whiteness, and do not give them back to her unless she consents +to follow you.’ + +The little hare left him, and almost immediately the Porcelain Maiden +arrived with her friends. She undressed herself and got into the water. +Then the young man glided up noiselessly and laid hold of her clothes, +which he hid under a rock at some distance. + +When the Porcelain Maiden was tired of playing in the water she came out +to dress herself, but, though she hunted for her clothes high and low, +she could find them nowhere. Her friends helped her in the search, but, +seeing at last that it was of no use, they left her, alone on the bank, +weeping bitterly. + +‘Why do you cry?’ said the young man, approaching her. + +‘Alas!’ answered she, ‘while I was bathing someone stole my clothes, and +my friends have abandoned me.’ + +‘I will find your clothes if you will only come with me.’ + +And the Porcelain Maiden agreed to follow him, and after having given up +her clothes, the young man bought a small horse for her, which went like +the wind. The little hare brought them both back to seek for the Golden +Blackbird, and when they drew near to the castle where it lived the +little hero said to the young man: + +‘Now, do be a little sharper than you were before, and you will manage +to carry off both the Golden Blackbird and the Porcelain Maiden. Take +the golden cage in one hand, and leave the bird in the old cage where he +is, and bring that away too.’ + +The little hare then vanished; the youth did as he was bid, and the +castle servants never noticed that he was carrying off the Golden Bird. +When he reached the inn where his brothers were detained, he delivered +them by paying their debt. They set out all together, but as the two +elder brothers were jealous of the success of the youngest, they took +the opportunity as they were passing by the shores of a lake to throw +themselves upon him, seize the Golden Bird, and fling him in the water. +Then they continued their journey, taking with them the Porcelain +Maiden, in the firm belief that their brother was drowned. But, happily, +he had snatched in falling at a tuft of rushes and called loudly for +help. The little hare came running to him, and said ‘Take hold of my leg +and pull yourself out of the water.’ + +When he was safe on shore the little hare said to him: + +‘Now this is what you have to do: dress yourself like a Breton seeking a +place as stable-boy, and go and offer your services to your father. Once +there, you will easily be able to make him understand the truth.’ + +The young man did as the little hare bade him, and he went to his +father’s castle and enquired if they were not in want of a stable-boy. + +‘Yes,’ replied his father, ‘very much indeed. But it is not an easy +place. There is a little horse in the stable which will not let anyone +go near it, and it has already kicked to death several people who have +tried to groom it.’ + +‘I will undertake to groom it,’ said the youth. ‘I never saw the horse +I was afraid of yet.’ The little horse allowed itself to be rubbed down +without a toss of its head and without a kick. + +‘Good gracious!’ exclaimed the master; ‘how is it that he lets you touch +him, when no one else can go near him?’ + +‘Perhaps he knows me,’ answered the stable-boy. + +Two or three days later the master said to him: ‘The Porcelain Maiden +is here: but, though she is as lovely as the dawn, she is so wicked that +she scratches everyone that approaches her. Try if she will accept your +services.’ + +When the youth entered the room where she was, the Golden Blackbird +broke forth into a joyful song, and the Porcelain Maiden sang too, and +jumped for joy. + +‘Good gracious!’ cried the master. ‘The Porcelain Maiden and the Golden +Blackbird know you too?’ + +‘Yes,’ replied the youth, ‘and the Porcelain Maiden can tell you the +whole truth, if she only will.’ + +Then she told all that had happened, and how she had consented to follow +the young man who had captured the Golden Blackbird. + +‘Yes,’ added the youth, ‘I delivered my brothers, who were kept +prisoners in an inn, and, as a reward, they threw me into a lake. So I +disguised myself and came here, in order to prove the truth to you.’ + +So the old lord embraced his son, and promised that he should inherit +all his possessions, and he put to death the two elder ones, who had +deceived him and had tried to slay their own brother. + +The young man married the Porcelain Maiden, and had a splendid +wedding-feast. + +Sebillot. + + + + + +THE LITTLE SOLDIER + + + +I + +Once upon a time there was a little soldier who had just come back from +the war. He was a brave little fellow, but he had lost neither arms nor +legs in battle. Still, the fighting was ended and the army disbanded, so +he had to return to the village where he was born. + +Now the soldier’s name was really John, but for some reason or other his +friends always called him the Kinglet; why, no one ever knew, but so it +was. + +As he had no father or mother to welcome him home, he did not hurry +himself, but went quietly along, his knapsack on his back and his sword +by his side, when suddenly one evening he was seized with a wish to +light his pipe. He felt for his match-box to strike a light, but to his +great disgust he found he had lost it. + +He had only gone about a stone’s throw after making this discovery when +he noticed a light shining through the trees. He went towards it, and +perceived before him an old castle, with the door standing open. + +The little soldier entered the courtyard, and, peeping through a window, +saw a large fire blazing at the end of a low hall. He put his pipe in +his pocket and knocked gently, saying politely: + +‘Would you give me a light?’ + +But he got no answer. + +After waiting for a moment John knocked again, this time more loudly. +There was still no reply. + +He raised the latch and entered; the hall was empty. + +The little soldier made straight for the fireplace, seized the tongs, +and was stooping down to look for a nice red hot coal with which to +light his pipe, when clic! something went, like a spring giving way, +and in the very midst of the flames an enormous serpent reared itself up +close to his face. + +And what was more strange still, this serpent had the head of a woman. + +At such an unexpected sight many men would have turned and run for +their lives; but the little soldier, though he was so small, had a true +soldier’s heart. He only made one step backwards, and grasped the hilt +of his sword. + +‘Don’t unsheath it,’ said the serpent. ‘I have been waiting for you, as +it is you who must deliver me.’ + +‘Who are you?’ + +‘My name is Ludovine, and I am the daughter of the King of the Low +Countries. Deliver me, and I will marry you and make you happy for ever +after.’ + +Now, some people might not have liked the notion of being made happy by +a serpent with the head of a woman, but the Kinglet had no such fears. +And, besides, he felt the fascination of Ludovine’s eyes, which looked +at him as a snake looks at a little bird. They were beautiful green +eyes, not round like those of a cat, but long and almond-shaped, and +they shone with a strange light, and the golden hair which floated round +them seemed all the brighter for their lustre. The face had the beauty +of an angel, though the body was only that of a serpent. + +‘What must I do?’ asked the Kinglet. + +‘Open that door. You will find yourself in a gallery with a room at the +end just like this. Cross that, and you will see a closet, out of which +you must take a tunic, and bring it back to me.’ + +The little soldier boldly prepared to do as he was told. He crossed the +gallery in safety, but when he reached the room he saw by the light +of the stars eight hands on a level with his face, which threatened to +strike him. And, turn his eyes which way he would, he could discover no +bodies belonging to them. + +He lowered his head and rushed forward amidst a storm of blows, which he +returned with his fists. When he got to the closet, he opened it, took +down the tunic, and brought it to the first room. + +‘Here it is,’ he panted, rather out of breath. + +‘Clic!’ once more the flames parted. Ludovine was a woman down to her +waist. She took the tunic and put it on. + +It was a magnificent tunic of orange velvet, embroidered in pearls, but +the pearls were not so white as her own neck. + +‘That is not all,’ she said. ‘Go to the gallery, take the staircase +which is on the left, and in the second room on the first story you will +find another closet with my skirt. Bring this to me.’ + +The Kinglet did as he was told, but in entering the room he saw, +instead of merely hands, eight arms, each holding an enormous stick. He +instantly unsheathed his sword and cut his way through with such vigour +that he hardly received a scratch. + +He brought back the skirt, which was made of silk as blue as the skies +of Spain. + +‘Here it is,’ said John, as the serpent appeared. She was now a woman as +far as her knees. + +‘I only want my shoes and stockings now,’ she said. ‘Go and get them +from the closet which is on the second story.’ + +The little soldier departed, and found himself in the presence of eight +goblins armed with hammers, and flames darting from their eyes. This +time he stopped short at the threshold. ‘My sword is no use,’ he thought +to himself; ‘these wretches will break it like glass, and if I can’t +think of anything else, I am a dead man.’ At this moment his eyes fell +on the door, which was made of oak, thick and heavy. He wrenched it +off its hinges and held it over his head, and then went straight at the +goblins, whom he crushed beneath it. After that he took the shoes and +stockings out of the closet and brought them to Ludovine, who, directly +she had put them on, became a woman all over. + +When she was quite dressed in her white silk stockings and little blue +slippers dotted over with carbuncles, she said to her deliverer, ‘Now +you must go away, and never come back here, whatever happens. Here is a +purse with two hundred ducats. Sleep to-night at the inn which is at the +edge of the wood, and awake early in the morning: for at nine o’clock +I shall pass the door, and shall take you up in my carriage.’ ‘Why +shouldn’t we go now?’ asked the little soldier. ‘Because the time has +not yet come,’ said the Princess. ‘But first you may drink my health in +this glass of wine,’ and as she spoke she filled a crystal goblet with a +liquid that looked like melted gold. + +John drank, then lit his pipe and went out. + + +II + +When he arrived at the inn he ordered supper, but no sooner had he sat +down to eat it than he felt that he was going sound asleep. + +‘I must be more tired than I thought,’ he said to himself, and, after +telling them to be sure to wake him next morning at eight o’clock, he +went to bed. + +All night long he slept like a dead man. At eight o’clock they came to +wake him, and at half-past, and a quarter of an hour later, but it was +no use; and at last they decided to leave him in peace. + +The clocks were striking twelve when John awoke. He sprang out of bed, +and, scarcely waiting to dress himself, hastened to ask if anyone had +been to inquire for him. + +‘There came a lovely princess,’ replied the landlady, ‘in a coach of +gold. She left you this bouquet, and a message to say that she would +pass this way to-morrow morning at eight o’clock.’ + +The little soldier cursed his sleep, but tried to console himself by +looking at his bouquet, which was of immortelles. + +‘It is the flower of remembrance,’ thought he, forgetting that it is +also the flower of the dead. + +When the night came, he slept with one eye open, and jumped up twenty +times an hour. When the birds began to sing he could lie still no +longer, and climbed out of his window into the branches of one of the +great lime-trees that stood before the door. There he sat, dreamily +gazing at his bouquet till he ended by going fast asleep. + +Once asleep, nothing was able to wake him; neither the brightness of +the sun, nor the songs of the birds, nor the noise of Ludovine’s golden +coach, nor the cries of the landlady who sought him in every place she +could think of. + +As the clock struck twelve he woke, and his heart sank as he came down +out of his tree and saw them laying the table for dinner. + +‘Did the Princess come?’ he asked. + +‘Yes, indeed, she did. She left this flower-coloured scarf for you; said +she would pass by to-morrow at seven o’clock, but it would be the last +time.’ + +‘I must have been bewitched,’ thought the little soldier. Then he took +the scarf, which had a strange kind of scent, and tied it round his left +arm, thinking all the while that the best way to keep awake was not to +go to bed at all. So he paid his bill, and bought a horse with the money +that remained, and when the evening came he mounted his horse and stood +in front of the inn door, determined to stay there all night. + +Every now and then he stooped to smell the sweet perfume of the scarf +round his arm; and gradually he smelt it so often that at last his head +sank on to the horse’s neck, and he and his horse snored in company. + +When the Princess arrived, they shook him, and beat him, and screamed at +him, but it was all no good. Neither man nor horse woke till the coach +was seen vanishing away in the distance. + +Then John put spurs to his horse, calling with all his might ‘Stop! +stop!’ But the coach drove on as before, and though the little soldier +rode after it for a day and a night, he never got one step nearer. + +Thus they left many villages and towns behind them, till they came to +the sea itself. Here John thought that at last the coach must stop, but, +wonder of wonders! it went straight on, and rolled over the water as +easily as it had done over the land. John’s horse, which had carried him +so well, sank down from fatigue, and the little soldier sat sadly on the +shore, watching the coach which was fast disappearing on the horizon. + + +III + +However, he soon plucked up his spirits again, and walked along the +beach to try and find a boat in which he could sail after the Princess. +But no boat was there, and at last, tired and hungry, he sat down to +rest on the steps of a fisherman’s hut. + +In the hut was a young girl who was mending a net. She invited John to +come in, and set before him some wine and fried fish, and John ate +and drank and felt comforted, and he told his adventures to the little +fisher-girl. But though she was very pretty, with a skin as white as +a gull’s breast, for which her neighbours gave her the name of the +Seagull, he did not think about her at all, for he was dreaming of the +green eyes of the Princess. + +When he had finished his tale, she was filled with pity and said: + +‘Last week, when I was fishing, my net suddenly grew very heavy, and +when I drew it in I found a great copper vase, fastened with lead. I +brought it home and placed it on the fire. When the lead had melted a +little, I opened the vase with my knife and drew out a mantle of red +cloth and a purse containing fifty crowns. That is the mantle, covering +my bed, and I have kept the money for my marriage-portion. But take it +and go to the nearest seaport, where you will find a ship sailing for +the Low Countries, and when you become King you will bring me back my +fifty crowns.’ + +And the Kinglet answered: ‘When I am King of the Low Countries, I will +make you lady-in-waiting to the Queen, for you are as good as you are +beautiful. So farewell,’ said he, and as the Seagull went back to her +fishing he rolled himself in the mantle and threw himself down on a heap +of dried grass, thinking of the strange things that had befallen him, +till he suddenly exclaimed: + +‘Oh, how I wish I was in the capital of the Low Countries!’ + + +IV + +In one moment the little soldier found himself standing before a +splendid palace. He rubbed his eyes and pinched himself, and when he was +quite sure he was not dreaming he said to a man who was smoking his pipe +before the door, ‘Where am I?’ + +‘Where are you? Can’t you see? Before the King’s palace, of course.’ + +‘What King?’ + +‘Why the King of the Low Countries!’ replied the man, laughing and +supposing that he was mad. + +Was there ever anything so strange? But as John was an honest fellow, he +was troubled at the thought that the Seagull would think he had stolen +her mantle and purse. And he began to wonder how he could restore them +to her the soonest. Then he remembered that the mantle had some hidden +charm that enabled the bearer to transport himself at will from place to +place, and in order to make sure of this he wished himself in the best +inn of the town. In an instant he was there. + +Enchanted with this discovery, he ordered supper, and as it was too late +to visit the King that night he went to bed. + +The next day, when he got up, he saw that all the houses were wreathed +with flowers and covered with flags, and all the church bells were +ringing. The little soldier inquired the meaning of all this noise, and +was told that the Princess Ludovine, the King’s beautiful daughter, had +been found, and was about to make her triumphal entry. ‘That will just +suit me,’ thought the Kinglet; ‘I will stand at the door and see if she +knows me.’ + +He had scarcely time to dress himself when the golden coach of Ludovine +went by. She had a crown of gold upon her head, and the King and Queen +sat by her side. By accident her eyes fell upon the little soldier, and +she grew pale and turned away her head. + +‘Didn’t she know me?’ the little soldier asked himself, ‘or was she +angry because I missed our meetings?’ and he followed the crowd till he +got to the palace. When the royal party entered he told the guards that +it was he who had delivered the Princess, and wished to speak to the +King. But the more he talked the more they believed him mad and refused +to let him pass. + +The little soldier was furious. He felt that he needed his pipe to calm +him, and he entered a tavern and ordered a pint of beer. ‘It is this +miserable soldier’s helmet,’ said he to himself ‘If I had only money +enough I could look as splendid as the lords of the Court; but what +is the good of thinking of that when I have only the remains of the +Seagull’s fifty crowns?’ + +He took out his purse to see what was left, and he found that there were +still fifty crowns. + +‘The Seagull must have miscounted,’ thought he, and he paid for his +beer. Then he counted his money again, and there were still fifty +crowns. He took away five and counted a third time, but there were still +fifty. He emptied the purse altogether and then shut it; when he opened +it the fifty crowns were still there! + +Then a plan came into his head, and he determined to go at once to the +Court tailor and coachbuilder. + +He ordered the tailor to make him a mantle and vest of blue velvet +embroidered with pearls, and the coachbuilder to make him a golden +coach like the coach of the Princess Ludovine. If the tailor and the +coachbuilder were quick he promised to pay them double. + +A few days later the little soldier was driven through the city in his +coach drawn by six white horses, and with four lacqueys richly dressed +standing behind. Inside sat John, clad in blue velvet, with a bouquet of +immortelles in his hand and a scarf bound round his arm. He drove twice +round the city, throwing money to the right and left, and the third +time, as he passed under the palace windows, he saw Ludovine lift a +corner of the curtain and peep out. + + +V + +The next day no one talked of anything but the rich lord who had +distributed money as he drove along. The talk even reached the Court, +and the Queen, who was very curious, had a great desire to see the +wonderful Prince. + +‘Very well,’ said the King; ‘let him be asked to come and play cards +with me.’ + +This time the Kinglet was not late for his appointment. + +The King sent for the cards and they sat down to play. They had six +games, and John always lost. The stake was fifty crowns, and each time +he emptied his purse, which was full the next instant. + +The sixth time the King exclaimed, ‘It is amazing!’ + +The Queen cried, ‘It is astonishing!’ + +The Princess said, ‘It is bewildering!’ + +‘Not so bewildering,’ replied the little soldier, ‘as your change into a +serpent.’ + +‘Hush!’ interrupted the King, who did not like the subject. + +‘I only spoke of it,’ said John, ‘because you see in me the man who +delivered the Princess from the goblins and whom she promised to marry.’ + +‘Is that true?’ asked the King of the Princess. + +‘Quite true,’ answered Ludovine. ‘But I told my deliverer to be ready to +go with me when I passed by with my coach. I passed three times, but he +slept so soundly that no one could wake him.’ + +‘What is your name?’ said the King, ‘and who are you?’ + +‘My name is John. I am a soldier, and my father is a boatman.’ + +‘You are not a fit husband for my daughter. Still, if you will give us +your purse, you shall have her for your wife.’ + +‘My purse does not belong to me, and I cannot give it away.’ + +‘But you can lend it to me till our wedding-day,’ said the Princess with +one of those glances the little soldier never could resist. + +‘And when will that be?’ + +‘At Easter,’ said the monarch. + +‘Or in a blue moon!’ murmured the Princess; but the Kinglet did not hear +her and let her take his purse. + +Next evening he presented himself at the palace to play picquet with +the King and to make his court to the Princess. But he was told that +the King had gone into the country to receive his rents. He returned the +following day, and had the same answer. Then he asked to see the Queen, +but she had a headache. When this had happened five or six times, he +began to understand that they were making fun of him. + +‘That is not the way for a King to behave,’ thought John. ‘Old +scoundrel!’ and then suddenly he remembered his red cloak. + +‘Ah, what an idiot I am!’ said he. ‘Of course I can get in whenever I +like with the help of this.’ + +That evening he was in front of the palace, wrapped in his red cloak. + +On the first story one window was lighted, and John saw on the curtains +the shadow of the Princess. + +‘I wish myself in the room of the Princess Ludovine,’ said he, and in a +second he was there. + +The King’s daughter was sitting before a table counting the money that +she emptied from the inexhaustible purse. + +‘Eight hundred and fifty, nine hundred, nine hundred and fifty--’ + +‘A thousand,’ finished John. ‘Good evening everybody!’ + +The Princess jumped and gave a little cry. ‘You here! What business have +you to do it? Leave at once, or I shall call--’ + +‘I have come,’ said the Kinglet, ‘to remind you of your promise. The +day after to-morrow is Easter Day, and it is high time to think of our +marriage.’ + +Ludovine burst out into a fit of laughter. ‘Our marriage! Have you +really been foolish enough to believe that the daughter of the King of +the Low Countries would ever marry the son of a boatman?’ + +‘Then give me back the purse,’ said John. + +‘Never,’ said the Princess, and put it calmly in her pocket. + +‘As you like,’ said the little soldier. ‘He laughs best who laughs the +last;’ and he took the Princess in his arms. ‘I wish,’ he cried, ‘that +we were at the ends of the earth;’ and in one second he was there, still +clasping the Princess tightly in his arms. + +‘Ouf,’ said John, laying her gently at the foot of a tree. ‘I never +took such a long journey before. What do you say, madam?’ The Princess +understood that it was no time for jesting, and did not answer. Besides +she was still feeling giddy from her rapid flight, and had not yet +collected her senses. + + +VI + +The King of the Low Countries was not a very scrupulous person, and +his daughter took after him. This was why she had been changed into a +serpent. It had been prophesied that she should be delivered by a little +soldier, and that she must marry him, unless he failed to appear at the +meeting-place three times running. The cunning Princess then laid her +plans accordingly. + +The wine that she had given to John in the castle of the goblins, the +bouquet of immortelles, and the scarf, all had the power of producing +sleep like death. And we know how they had acted on John. + +However, even in this critical moment, Ludovine did not lose her head. + +‘I thought you were simply a street vagabond,’ said she, in her most +coaxing voice; ‘and I find you are more powerful than any king. Here is +your purse. Have you got my scarf and my bouquet?’ + +‘Here they are,’ said the Kinglet, delighted with this change of tone, +and he drew them from his bosom. Ludovine fastened one in his buttonhole +and the other round his arm. ‘Now,’ she said, ‘you are my lord and +master, and I will marry you at your good pleasure.’ + +‘You are kinder than I thought,’ said John; ‘and you shall never be +unhappy, for I love you.’ + +‘Then, my little husband, tell me how you managed to carry me so quickly +to the ends of the world.’ + +The little soldier scratched his head. ‘Does she really mean to marry +me,’ he thought to himself, ‘or is she only trying to deceive me again?’ + +But Ludovine repeated, ‘Won’t you tell me?’ in such a tender voice he +did not know how to resist her. + +‘After all,’ he said to himself, ‘what does it matter telling her the +secret, as long as I don’t give her the cloak.’ + +And he told her the virtue of the red mantle. + +‘Oh dear, how tired I am!’ sighed Ludovine. ‘Don’t you think we had +better take a nap? And then we can talk over our plans.’ + +She stretched herself on the grass, and the Kinglet did the same. He +laid his head on his left arm, round which the scarf was tied, and was +soon fast asleep. + +Ludovine was watching him out of one eye, and no sooner did she hear him +snore than she unfastened the mantle, drew it gently from under him +and wrapped it round her, took the purse from his pocket, and put it in +hers, and said: ‘I wish I was back in my own room.’ In another moment +she was there. + + +VII + +Who felt foolish but John, when he awoke, twenty-four hours after, and +found himself without purse, without mantle, and without Princess? He +tore his hair, he beat his breast, he trampled on the bouquet, and tore +the scarf of the traitress to atoms. + +Besides this he was very hungry, and he had nothing to eat. + +He thought of all the wonderful things his grandmother had told him when +he was a child, but none of them helped him now. He was in despair, +when suddenly he looked up and saw that the tree under which he had been +sleeping was a superb plum, covered with fruit as yellow as gold. + +‘Here goes for the plums,’ he said to himself, ‘all is fair in war.’ + +He climbed the tree and began to eat steadily. But he had hardly +swallowed two plums when, to his horror, he felt as if something was +growing on his forehead. He put up his hand and found that he had two +horns! + +He leapt down from the tree and rushed to a stream that flowed close +by. Alas! there was no escape: two charming little horns, that would not +have disgraced the head of a goat. + +Then his courage failed him. + +‘As if it was not enough,’ said he, ‘that a woman should trick me, but +the devil must mix himself up in it and lend me his horns. What a pretty +figure I should cut if I went back into the world!’ + +But as he was still hungry, and the mischief was done, he climbed boldly +up another tree, and plucked two plums of a lovely green colour. No +sooner had he swallowed two than the horns disappeared. The little +soldier was enchanted, though greatly surprised, and came to the +conclusion that it was no good to despair too quickly. When he had done +eating an idea suddenly occurred to him. + +‘Perhaps,’ thought he, ‘these pretty little plums may help me to recover +my purse, my cloak, and my heart from the hands of this wicked Princess. +She has the eyes of a deer already; let her have the horns of one. If I +can manage to set her up with a pair, I will bet any money that I shall +cease to want her for my wife. A horned maiden is by no means lovely to +look at.’ So he plaited a basket out of the long willows, and placed +in it carefully both sorts of plums. Then he walked bravely on for many +days, having no food but the berries by the wayside, and was in great +danger from wild beasts and savage men. But he feared nothing, except +that his plums should decay, and this never happened. + +At last he came to a civilised country, and with the sale of some jewels +that he had about him on the evening of his flight he took passage on +board a vessel for the Low Countries. So, at the end of a year and a +day, he arrived at the capital of the kingdom. + + +VIII + +The next day he put on a false beard and the dress of a date merchant, +and, taking a little table, he placed himself before the door of the +church. + +He spread carefully out on a fine white cloth his Mirabelle plums, which +looked for all the world as if they had been freshly gathered, and +when he saw the Princess coming out of church he began to call out in a +feigned voice: ‘Fine plums! lovely plums!’ + +‘How much are they?’ said the Princess. + +‘Fifty crowns each.’ + +‘Fifty crowns! But what is there so very precious about them? Do they +give one wit, or will they increase one’s beauty?’ + +‘They could not increase what is perfect already, fair Princess, but +still they might add something.’ + +Rolling stones gather no moss, but they sometimes gain polish; and the +months which John had spent in roaming about the world had not been +wasted. Such a neatly turned compliment flattered Ludovine. + +‘What will they add?’ she smilingly asked. + +‘You will see, fair Princess, when you taste them. It will be a surprise +for you.’ + +Ludovine’s curiosity was roused. She drew out the purse and shook out as +many little heaps of fifty crowns as there were plums in the basket. The +little soldier was seized with a wild desire to snatch the purse from +her and proclaim her a thief, but he managed to control himself. + +His plums all sold, he shut up shop, took off his disguise, changed his +inn, and kept quiet, waiting to see what would happen. + +No sooner had she reached her room than the Princess exclaimed, ‘Now let +us see what these fine plums can add to my beauty,’ and throwing off her +hood, she picked up a couple and ate them. + +Imagine with what surprise and horror she felt all of a sudden that +something was growing out of her forehead. She flew to her mirror and +uttered a piercing cry. + +‘Horns! so that was what he promised me! Let someone find the +plum-seller at once and bring him to me! Let his nose and ears be cut +off! Let him be flayed alive, or burnt at a slow fire and his ashes +scattered to the winds! Oh, I shall die of shame and despair!’ + +Her women ran at the sound of her screams, and tried to wrench off the +horns, but it was of no use, and they only gave her a violent headache. + +The King then sent round a herald to proclaim that he would give +the hand of the Princess to anyone who would rid her of her strange +ornaments. So all the doctors and sorcerers and surgeons in the Low +Countries and the neighbouring kingdoms thronged to the palace, each +with a remedy of his own. But it was all no good, and the Princess +suffered so much from their remedies that the King was obliged to +send out a second proclamation that anyone who undertook to cure the +Princess, and who failed to do it, should be hanged up to the nearest +tree. + +But the prize was too great for any proclamation to put a stop to the +efforts of the crowd of suitors, and that year the orchards of the Low +Countries all bore a harvest of dead men. + + +IX + +The King had given orders that they should seek high and low for the +plum-seller, but in spite of all their pains, he was nowhere to be +found. + +When the little soldier discovered that their patience was worn out, he +pressed the juice of the green Queen Claude plums into a small phial, +bought a doctor’s robe, put on a wig and spectacles, and presented +himself before the King of the Low Countries. He gave himself out as a +famous physician who had come from distant lands, and he promised that +he would cure the Princess if only he might be left alone with her. + +‘Another madman determined to be hanged,’ said the King. ‘Very well, +do as he asks; one should refuse nothing to a man with a rope round his +neck.’ + +As soon as the little soldier was in the presence of the Princess he +poured some drops of the liquid into a glass. The Princess had scarcely +tasted it, when the tip of the horns disappeared. + +‘They would have disappeared completely,’ said the pretended doctor, +‘if there did not exist something to counteract the effect. It is only +possible to cure people whose souls are as clean as the palm of my hand. +Are you sure you have not committed some little sin? Examine yourself +well.’ + +Ludovine had no need to think over it long, but she was torn in pieces +between the shame of a humiliating confession, and the desire to be +unhorned. At last she made answer with downcast eyes, + +‘I have stolen a leather purse from a little soldier.’ + +‘Give it to me. The remedy will not act till I hold the purse in my +hands.’ + +It cost Ludovine a great pang to give up the purse, but she remembered +that riches would not benefit her if she was still to keep the horns. + +With a sigh, she handed the purse to the doctor, who poured more of the +liquid into the glass, and when the Princess had drunk it, she found +that the horns had diminished by one half. + +‘You must really have another little sin on your conscience. Did you +steal nothing from this soldier but his purse?’ + +‘I also stole from him his cloak.’ + +‘Give it me.’ + +‘Here it is.’ + +This time Ludovine thought to herself that when once the horns had +departed, she would call her attendants and take the things from the +doctor by force. + +She was greatly pleased with this idea, when suddenly the pretended +physician wrapped himself in the cloak, flung away the wig and +spectacles, and showed to the traitress the face of the Little Soldier. + +She stood before him dumb with fright. + +‘I might,’ said John, ‘have left you horned to the end of your days, but +I am a good fellow and I once loved you, and besides--you are too like +the devil to have any need of his horns.’ + + +X + +John had wished himself in the house of the Seagull. Now the Seagull was +seated at the window, mending her net, and from time to time her eyes +wandered to the sea as if she was expecting someone. At the noise made +by the little soldier, she looked up and blushed. + +‘So it is you!’ she said. ‘How did you get here?’ And then she added in +a low voice, ‘And have you married your Princess?’ + +Then John told her all his adventures, and when he had finished, he +restored to her the purse and the mantle. + +‘What can I do with them?’ said she. ‘You have proved to me that +happiness does not lie in the possession of treasures.’ + +‘It lies in work and in the love of an honest woman,’ replied the little +soldier, who noticed for the first time what pretty eyes she had. ‘Dear +Seagull, will you have me for a husband?’ and he held out his hand. + +‘Yes, I will,’ answered the fisher maiden, blushing very red, ‘but only +on condition that we seal up the purse and the mantle in the copper +vessel and throw them into the sea.’ + +And this they did. + +Charles Deulin. + + + + + +THE MAGIC SWAN + + + +There were once upon a time three brothers, of whom the eldest was +called Jacob, the second Frederick, and the youngest Peter. This +youngest brother was made a regular butt of by the other two, and they +treated him shamefully. If anything went wrong with their affairs, +Peter had to bear the blame and put things right for them, and he had +to endure all this ill-treatment because he was weak and delicate and +couldn’t defend himself against his stronger brothers. The poor creature +had a most trying life of it in every way, and day and night he pondered +how he could make it better. One day, when he was in the wood gathering +sticks and crying bitterly, a little old woman came up to him and asked +him what was the matter; and he told her all his troubles. + +‘Come, my good youth,’ said the old dame, when he had finished his tale +of woe, ‘isn’t the world wide enough? Why don’t you set out and try your +fortune somewhere else?’ + +Peter took her words to heart, and left his father’s house early one +morning to try his fortune in the wide world, as the old woman had +advised him. But he felt very bitterly parting from the home where +he had been born, and where he had at least passed a short but happy +childhood, and sitting down on a hill he gazed once more fondly on his +native place. + +Suddenly the little old woman stood before him, and, tapping him on the +shoulder, said, ‘So far good, my boy; but what do you mean to do now?’ + +Peter was at a loss what to answer, for so far he had always thought +that fortune would drop into his mouth like a ripe cherry. The old +woman, who guessed his thoughts, laughed kindly and said, ‘I’ll tell you +what you must do, for I’ve taken a fancy to you, and I’m sure you won’t +forget me when you’ve made your fortune.’ + +Peter promised faithfully he wouldn’t, and the old woman continued: + +‘This evening at sunset go to yonder pear-tree which you see growing at +the cross roads. Underneath it you will find a man lying asleep, and a +beautiful large swan will be fastened to the tree close to him. You must +be careful not to waken the man, but you must unfasten the swan and take +it away with you. You will find that everyone will fall in love with +its beautiful plumage, and you must allow anyone who likes to pull out +a feather. But as soon as the swan feels as much as a finger on it, it +will scream out, and then you must say, “Swan, hold fast.” Then the hand +of the person who has touched the bird will be held as in a vice, and +nothing will set it free, unless you touch it with this little stick +which I will make you a present of. When you have captured a whole lot +of people in this way, lead your train straight on with you; you will +come to a big town where a Princess lives who has never been known to +laugh. If you can only make her laugh your fortune is made; then I beg +you won’t forget your old friend.’ + +Peter promised again that he wouldn’t, and at sunset he went to the tree +the old woman had mentioned. The man lay there fast asleep, and a large +beautiful swan was fastened to the tree beside him by a red cord. Peter +loosed the bird, and led it away with him without disturbing the bird’s +master. + +He walked on with the swan for some time, and came at last to a +building-yard where some men were busily at work. They were all lost in +admiration of the bird’s beautiful plumage, and one forward youth, who +was covered with clay from head to foot, called out, ‘Oh, if I’d only +one of those feathers how happy I should be!’ + +‘Pull one out then,’ said Peter kindly, and the youth seized one from +the bird’s tail; instantly the swan screamed, and Peter called out, +‘Swan, hold fast,’ and do what he could the poor youth couldn’t get his +hand away. The more he howled the more the others laughed, till a girl +who had been washing clothes in the neighbouring stream hurried up to +see what was the matter. When she saw the poor boy fastened to the swan +she felt so sorry for him that she stretched out her hand to free him. +The bird screamed. + +‘Swan, hold fast,’ called out Peter, and the girl was caught also. + +When Peter had gone on for a bit with his captives, they met a chimney +sweep, who laughed loudly over the extraordinary troop, and asked the +girl what she was doing. + +‘Oh, dearest John,’ replied the girl, ‘give me your hand and set me free +from this cursed young man.’ + +‘Most certainly I will, if that’s all you want,’ replied the sweep, and +gave the girl his hand. The bird screamed. + +‘Swan, hold fast,’ said Peter, and the black man was added to their +number. + +They soon came to a village where a fair was being held. A travelling +circus was giving a performance, and the clown was just doing his +tricks. He opened his eyes wide with amazement when he saw the +remarkable trio fastened on to the swan’s tail. + +‘Have you gone raving mad, Blackie?’ he asked as well as he could for +laughing. + +‘It’s no laughing matter,’ the sweep replied. ‘This wench has got so +tight hold of me that I feel as if I were glued to her. Do set me free, +like a good clown, and I’ll do you a good turn some day.’ + +Without a moment’s hesitation the clown grasped the black outstretched +hand. The bird screamed. + +‘Swan, hold fast,’ called out Peter, and the clown became the fourth of +the party. + +Now in the front row of the spectators sat the respected and popular +Mayor of the village, who was much put out by what he considered nothing +but a foolish trick. So much annoyed was he that he seized the clown by +the hand and tried to tear him away, in order to hand him over to the +police. + +Then the bird screamed, and Peter called out, ‘Swan, hold fast,’ and the +dignified Mayor shared the fate of his predecessors. + +The Mayoress, a long thin stick of a woman, enraged at the insult done +to her husband, seized his free arm and tore at it with all her might, +with the only result that she too was forced to swell the procession. +After this no one else had any wish to join them. + +Soon Peter saw the towers of the capital in front of him. Just before +entering it, a glittering carriage came out to meet him, in which was +seated a young lady as beautiful as the day, but with a very solemn and +serious expression. But no sooner had she perceived the motley crowd +fastened to the swan’s tail than she burst into a loud fit of laughter, +in which she was joined by all her servants and ladies in waiting. + +‘The Princess has laughed at last,’ they all cried with joy. + +She stepped out of her carriage to look more closely at the wonderful +sight, and laughed again over the capers the poor captives cut. She +ordered her carriage to be turned round and drove slowly back into the +town, never taking her eyes off Peter and his procession. + +When the King heard the news that his daughter had actually laughed, he +was more than delighted, and had Peter and his marvellous train brought +before him. He laughed himself when he saw them till the tears rolled +down his cheeks. + +‘My good friend,’ he said to Peter, ‘do you know what I promised the +person who succeeded in making the Princess laugh?’ + +‘No, I don’t,’ said Peter. + +‘Then I’ll tell you,’ answered the King; ‘a thousand gold crowns or a +piece of land. Which will you choose?’ + +Peter decided in favour of the land. Then he touched the youth, the +girl, the sweep, the clown, the Mayor, and the Mayoress with his little +stick, and they were all free again, and ran away home as if a fire were +burning behind them; and their flight, as you may imagine, gave rise to +renewed merriment. + +Then the Princess felt moved to stroke the swan, at the same time +admiring its plumage. The bird screamed. + +‘Swan, hold fast,’ called out Peter, and so he won the Princess for +his bride. But the swan flew up into the air, and vanished in the blue +horizon. Peter now received a duchy as a present, and became a very +great man indeed; but he did not forget the little old woman who had +been the cause of all his good fortune, and appointed her as head +housekeeper to him and his royal bride in their magnificent castle. + +Kletke. + + + + + +THE DIRTY SHEPHERDESS + + + +Once upon a time there lived a King who had two daughters, and he loved +them with all his heart. When they grew up, he was suddenly seized with +a wish to know if they, on their part, truly loved him, and he made up +his mind that he would give his kingdom to whichever best proved her +devotion. + +So he called the elder Princess and said to her, ‘How much do you love +me?’ + +‘As the apple of my eye!’ answered she. + +‘Ah!’ exclaimed the King, kissing her tenderly as he spoke, ‘you are +indeed a good daughter.’ + +Then he sent for the younger, and asked her how much she loved him. + +‘I look upon you, my father,’ she answered, ‘as I look upon salt in my +food.’ + +But the King did not like her words, and ordered her to quit the court, +and never again to appear before him. The poor Princess went sadly up +to her room and began to cry, but when she was reminded of her father’s +commands, she dried her eyes, and made a bundle of her jewels and her +best dresses and hurriedly left the castle where she was born. + +She walked straight along the road in front of her, without knowing very +well where she was going or what was to become of her, for she had +never been shown how to work, and all she had learnt consisted of a few +household rules, and receipts of dishes which her mother had taught her +long ago. And as she was afraid that no housewife would want to engage a +girl with such a pretty face, she determined to make herself as ugly as +she could. + +She therefore took off the dress that she was wearing and put on some +horrible old rags belonging to a beggar, all torn and covered with mud. +After that she smeared mud all over her hands and face, and shook her +hair into a great tangle. Having thus changed her appearance, she went +about offering herself as a goose-girl or shepherdess. But the farmers’ +wives would have nothing to say to such a dirty maiden, and sent her +away with a morsel of bread for charity’s sake. + +After walking for a great many days without being able to find any work, +she came to a large farm where they were in want of a shepherdess, and +engaged her gladly. + +One day when she was keeping her sheep in a lonely tract of land, she +suddenly felt a wish to dress herself in her robes of splendour. She +washed herself carefully in the stream, and as she always carried +her bundle with her, it was easy to shake off her rags, and transform +herself in a few moments into a great lady. + +The King’s son, who had lost his way out hunting, perceived this lovely +damsel a long way off, and wished to look at her closer. But as soon +as the girl saw what he was at, she fled into the wood as swiftly as a +bird. The Prince ran after her, but as he was running he caught his +foot in the root of a tree and fell, and when he got up again, she was +nowhere to be seen. + +When she was quite safe, she put on her rags again, and smeared over her +face and hands. However the young Prince, who was both hot and thirsty, +found his way to the farm, to ask for a drink of cider, and he inquired +the name of the beautiful lady that kept the sheep. At this everyone +began to laugh, for they said that the shepherdess was one of the +ugliest and dirtiest creatures under the sun. + +The Prince thought some witchcraft must be at work, and he hastened away +before the return of the shepherdess, who became that evening the butt +of everybody’s jests. + +But the King’s son thought often of the lovely maiden whom he had only +seen for a moment, though she seemed to him much more fascinating than +any lady of the Court. At last he dreamed of nothing else, and grew +thinner day by day till his parents inquired what was the matter, +promising to do all they could to make him as happy as he once was. He +dared not tell them the truth, lest they should laugh at him, so he only +said that he should like some bread baked by the kitchen girl in the +distant farm. + +Although the wish appeared rather odd, they hastened to fulfil it, and +the farmer was told the request of the King’s son. The maiden showed no +surprise at receiving such an order, but merely asked for some flour, +salt, and water, and also that she might be left alone in a little room +adjoining the oven, where the kneading-trough stood. Before beginning +her work she washed herself carefully, and even put on her rings; but, +while she was baking, one of her rings slid into the dough. When she had +finished she dirtied herself again, and let the lumps of the dough stick +to her fingers, so that she became as ugly as before. + +The loaf, which was a very little one, was brought to the King’s son, +who ate it with pleasure. But in cutting it he found the ring of the +Princess, and declared to his parents that he would marry the girl whom +that ring fitted. + +So the King made a proclamation through his whole kingdom and ladies +came from afar to lay claim to the honour. But the ring was so tiny that +even those who had the smallest hands could only get it on their little +fingers. In a short time all the maidens of the kingdom, including the +peasant girls, had tried on the ring, and the King was just about to +announce that their efforts had been in vain, when the Prince observed +that he had not yet seen the shepherdess. + +They sent to fetch her, and she arrived covered with rags, but with her +hands cleaner than usual, so that she could easily slip on the ring. +The King’s son declared that he would fulfil his promise, and when his +parents mildly remarked that the girl was only a keeper of sheep, and a +very ugly one too, the maiden boldly said that she was born a princess, +and that, if they would only give her some water and leave her alone in +a room for a few minutes, she would show that she could look as well as +anyone in fine clothes. + +They did what she asked, and when she entered in a magnificent dress, +she looked so beautiful that all saw she must be a princess in disguise. +The King’s son recognized the charming damsel of whom he had once caught +a glimpse, and, flinging himself at her feet, asked if she would +marry him. The Princess then told her story, and said that it would be +necessary to send an ambassador to her father to ask his consent and to +invite him to the wedding. + +The Princess’s father, who had never ceased to repent his harshness +towards his daughter, had sought her through the land, but as no one +could tell him anything of her, he supposed her dead. Therefore it was +with great joy he heard that she was living and that a king’s son asked +her in marriage, and he quitted his kingdom with his elder daughter so +as to be present at the ceremony. + +By the orders of the bride, they only served her father at the wedding +breakfast bread without salt, and meat without seasoning. Seeing him +make faces, and eat very little, his daughter, who sat beside him, +inquired if his dinner was not to his taste. + +‘No,’ he replied, ‘the dishes are carefully cooked and sent up, but they +are all so dreadfully tasteless.’ + +‘Did not I tell you, my father, that salt was the best thing in life? +And yet, when I compared you to salt, to show how much I loved you, you +thought slightingly of me and you chased me from your presence.’ + +The King embraced his daughter, and allowed that he had been wrong to +misinterpret her words. Then, for the rest of the wedding feast they +gave him bread made with salt, and dishes with seasoning, and he said +they were the very best he had ever eaten. + +Sebillot. + + + + + +THE ENCHANTED SNAKE + + + +There was once upon a time a poor woman who would have given all she +possessed for a child, but she hadn’t one. + +Now it happened one day that her husband went to the wood to collect +brushwood, and when he had brought it home, he discovered a pretty +little snake among the twigs. + +When Sabatella, for that was the name of the peasant’s wife, saw the +little beast, she sighed deeply and said, ‘Even the snakes have their +brood; I alone am unfortunate and have no children.’ No sooner had she +said these words than, to her intense surprise, the little snake looked +up into her face and spoke: ‘Since you have no children, be a mother to +me instead, and I promise you will never repent it, for I will love you +as if I were your own son.’ + +At first Sabatella was frightened to death at hearing a snake speak, +but plucking up her courage, she replied, ‘If it weren’t for any other +reason than your kindly thought, I would agree to what you say, and I +will love you and look after you like a mother.’ + +So she gave the snake a little hole in the house for its bed, fed it +with all the nicest food she could think of, and seemed as if she never +could show it enough kindness. Day by day it grew bigger and fatter, and +at last one morning it said to Cola-Mattheo, the peasant, whom it always +regarded as its father, ‘Dear papa, I am now of a suitable age and wish +to marry.’ + +‘I’m quite agreeable,’ answered Mattheo, ‘and I’ll do my best to find +another snake like yourself and arrange a match between you.’ + +‘Why, if you do that,’ replied the snake, ‘we shall be no better than +the vipers and reptiles, and that’s not what I want at all. No; I’d much +prefer to marry the King’s daughter; therefore I pray you go without +further delay, and demand an audience of the King, and tell him a snake +wishes to marry his daughter.’ + +Cola-Mattheo, who was rather a simpleton, went as he was desired to the +King, and having obtained an audience, he said, ‘Your Majesty, I have +often heard that people lose nothing by asking, so I have come to inform +you that a snake wants to marry your daughter, and I’d be glad to know +if you are willing to mate a dove with a serpent?’ + +The King, who saw at once that the man was a fool, said, in order to get +quit of him, ‘Go home and tell your friend the snake that if he can turn +this palace into ivory, inlaid with gold and silver, before to-morrow +at noon, I will let him marry my daughter.’ And with a hearty laugh he +dismissed the peasant. + +When Cola-Mattheo brought this answer back to the snake, the little +creature didn’t seem the least put out, but said, ‘To-morrow morning, +before sunrise, you must go to the wood and gather a bunch of green +herbs, and then rub the threshold of the palace with them, and you’ll +see what will happen.’ + +Cola-Mattheo, who was, as I have said before, a great simpleton, made no +reply; but before sunrise next morning he went to the wood and gathered +a bunch of St. John’s Wort, and rosemary, and suchlike herbs, and rubbed +them, as he had been told, on the floor of the palace. Hardly had he +done so than the walls immediately turned into ivory, so richly inlaid +with gold and silver that they dazzled the eyes of all beholders. The +King, when he rose and saw the miracle that had been performed, was +beside himself with amazement, and didn’t know what in the world he was +to do. + +But when Cola-Mattheo came next day, and, in the name of the snake, +demanded the hand of the Princess, the King replied, ‘Don’t be in such +a hurry; if the snake really wants to marry my daughter, he must do some +more things first, and one of these is to turn all the paths and walls +of my garden into pure gold before noon to-morrow.’ + +When the snake was told of this new condition, he replied, ‘To-morrow +morning, early, you must go and collect all the odds and ends of rubbish +you can find in the streets, and then take them and throw them on the +paths and walls of the garden, and you’ll see then if we won’t be more +than a match for the old King.’ + +So Cola-Mattheo rose at cock-crow, took a large basket under his arm, +and carefully collected all the broken fragments of pots and pans, and +jugs and lamps, and other trash of that sort. No sooner had he scattered +them over the paths and walls of the King’s garden than they became one +blaze of glittering gold, so that everyone’s eyes were dazzled with the +brilliancy, and everyone’s soul was filled with wonder. The King, too, +was amazed at the sight, but still he couldn’t make up his mind to +part with his daughter, so when Cola-Mattheo came to remind him of his +promise he replied, ‘I have still a third demand to make. If the snake +can turn all the trees and fruit of my garden into precious stones, then +I promise him my daughter in marriage.’ + +When the peasant informed the snake what the King had said, he replied, +‘To-morrow morning, early, you must go to the market and buy all the +fruit you see there, and then sow all the stones and seeds in the palace +garden, and, if I’m not mistaken, the King will be satisfied with the +result.’ + +Cola-Mattheo rose at dawn, and taking a basket on his arm, he went to +the market, and bought all the pomegranates, apricots, cherries, and +other fruit he could find there, and sowed the seeds and stones in the +palace garden. In one moment, the trees were all ablaze with rubies, +emeralds, diamonds, and every other precious stone you can think of. + +This time the King felt obliged to keep his promise, and calling +his daughter to him, he said, ‘My dear Grannonia,’ for that was the +Princess’s name, ‘more as a joke than anything else, I demanded what +seemed to me impossibilities from your bridegroom, but now that he has +done all I required, I am bound to stick to my part of the bargain. Be +a good child, and as you love me, do not force me to break my word, but +give yourself up with as good grace as you can to a most unhappy fate.’ + +‘Do with me what you like, my lord and father, for your will is my law,’ +answered Grannonia. + +When the King heard this, he told Cola-Mattheo to bring the snake to +the palace, and said that he was prepared to receive the creature as his +son-in-law. + +The snake arrived at court in a carriage made of gold and drawn by six +white elephants; but wherever it appeared on the way, the people fled in +terror at the sight of the fearful reptile. + +When the snake reached the palace, all the courtiers shook and trembled +with fear down to the very scullion, and the King and Queen were in +such a state of nervous collapse that they hid themselves in a far-away +turret. Grannonia alone kept her presence of mind, and although both her +father and mother implored her to fly for her life, she wouldn’t move +a step, saying, ‘I’m certainly not going to fly from the man you have +chosen for my husband.’ + +As soon as the snake saw Grannonia, it wound its tail round her and +kissed her. Then, leading her into a room, it shut the door, and +throwing off its skin, it changed into a beautiful young man with golden +locks, and flashing eyes, who embraced Grannonia tenderly, and said all +sorts of pretty things to her. + +When the King saw the snake shut itself into a room with his daughter, +he said to his wife, ‘Heaven be merciful to our child, for I fear it is +all over with her now. This cursed snake has most likely swallowed her +up.’ Then they put their eyes to the keyhole to see what had happened. + +Their amazement knew no bounds when they saw a beautiful youth standing +before their daughter with the snake’s skin lying on the floor beside +him. In their excitement they burst open the door, and seizing the skin +they threw it into the fire. But no sooner had they done this than the +young man called out, ‘Oh, wretched people! what have you done?’ and +before they had time to look round he had changed himself into a dove, +and dashing against the window he broke a pane of glass, and flew away +from their sight. + +But Grannonia, who in one and the same moment saw herself merry and sad, +cheerful and despairing, rich and beggared, complained bitterly over +this robbery of her happiness, this poisoning of her cup of joy, this +unlucky stroke of fortune, and laid all the blame on her parents, though +they assured her that they had meant no harm. But the Princess refused +to be comforted, and at night, when all the inhabitants of the palace +were asleep, she stole out by a back door, disguised as a peasant woman, +determined to seek for her lost happiness till she found it. When she +got to the outskirts of the town, led by the light of the moon, she met +a fox, who offered to accompany her, an offer which Grannonia gladly +accepted, saying ‘You are most heartily welcome, for I don’t know my way +at all about the neighbourhood.’ + +So they went on their way together, and came at last to a wood, where, +being tired with walking, they paused to rest under the shade of a tree, +where a spring of water sported with the tender grass, refreshing it +with its crystal spray. + +They laid themselves down on the green carpet and soon fell fast asleep, +and did not waken again till the sun was high in the heavens. They +rose up and stood for some time listening to the birds singing, because +Grannonia delighted in their songs. + +When the fox perceived this, he said: ‘If you only understood, as I +do, what these little birds are saying, your pleasure would be even +greater.’ + +Provoked by his words--for we all know that curiosity is as deeply +inborn in every woman as even the love of talking--Grannonia implored +the fox to tell her what the birds had said. + +At first the wily fox refused to tell her what he had gathered from the +conversation of the birds, but at last he gave way to her entreaties, +and told her that they had spoken of the misfortunes of a beautiful +young Prince, whom a wicked enchantress had turned into a snake for the +period of seven years. At the end of this time he had fallen in love +with a charming Princess, but that when he had shut himself up into +a room with her, and had thrown off his snake’s skin, her parents had +forced their way into the room and had burnt the skin, whereupon the +Prince, changed into the likeness of a dove, had broken a pane of glass +in trying to fly out of the window, and had wounded himself so badly +that the doctors despaired of his life. + +Grannonia, when she learnt that they were talking of her lover, asked +at once whose son he was, and if there was any hope of his recovery; to +which the fox made answer that the birds had said he was the son of the +King of Vallone Grosso, and that the only thing that could cure him was +to rub the wounds on his head with the blood of the very birds who had +told the tale. + +Then Grannonia knelt down before the fox, and begged him in her sweetest +way to catch the birds for her and procure their blood, promising at the +same time to reward him richly. + +‘All right,’ said the fox, ‘only don’t be in such a hurry; let’s wait +till night, when the little birds have gone to roost, then I’ll climb up +and catch them all for you.’ + +So they passed the day, talking now of the beauty of the Prince, now +of the father of the Princess, and then of the misfortune that had +happened. At last the night arrived, and all the little birds were +asleep high up on the branches of a big tree. The fox climbed up +stealthily and caught the little creatures with his paws one after the +other; and when he had killed them all he put their blood into a little +bottle which he wore at his side and returned with it to Grannonia, who +was beside herself with joy at the result of the fox’s raid. But the fox +said, ‘My dear daughter, your joy is in vain, because, let me tell you, +this blood is of no earthly use to you unless you add some of mine to +it,’ and with these words he took to his heels. + +Grannonia, who saw her hopes dashed to the ground in this cruel way, had +recourse to flattery and cunning, weapons which have often stood the sex +in good stead, and called out after the fox, ‘Father Fox, you would be +quite right to save your skin, if, in the first place, I didn’t feel I +owed so much to you, and if, in the second, there weren’t other foxes in +the world; but as you know how grateful I feel to you, and as there are +heaps of other foxes about, you can trust yourself to me. Don’t behave +like the cow that kicks the pail over after it has filled it with milk, +but continue your journey with me, and when we get to the capital you +can sell me to the King as a servant girl.’ + +It never entered the fox’s head that even foxes can be outwitted, so +after a bit he consented to go with her; but he hadn’t gone far before +the cunning girl seized a stick, and gave him such a blow with it on the +head, that he dropped down dead on the spot. Then Grannonia took some of +his blood and poured it into her little bottle; and went on her way as +fast as she could to Vallone Grosso. + +When she arrived there she went straight to the Royal palace, and let +the King be told she had come to cure the young Prince. + +The King commanded her to be brought before him at once, and was much +astonished when he saw that it was a girl who undertook to do what all +the cleverest doctors of his kingdom had failed in. As an attempt hurts +no one, he willingly consented that she should do what she could. + +‘All I ask,’ said Grannonia, ‘is that, should I succeed in what you +desire, you will give me your son in marriage.’ + +The King, who had given up all hopes of his son’s recovery, replied: +‘Only restore him to life and health and he shall be yours. It is only +fair to give her a husband who gives me a son.’ + +And so they went into the Prince’s room. The moment Grannonia had rubbed +the blood on his wounds the illness left him, and he was as sound and +well as ever. When the King saw his son thus marvellously restored to +life and health, he turned to him and said: ‘My dear son, I thought +of you as dead, and now, to my great joy and amazement, you are alive +again. I promised this young woman that if she should cure you, to +bestow your hand and heart on her, and seeing that Heaven has been +gracious, you must fulfil the promise I made her; for gratitude alone +forces me to pay this debt.’ + +But the Prince answered: ‘My lord and father, I would that my will were +as free as my love for you is great. But as I have plighted my word to +another maiden, you will see yourself, and so will this young woman, +that I cannot go back from my word, and be faithless to her whom I +love.’ + +When Grannonia heard these words, and saw how deeply rooted the Prince’s +love for her was, she felt very happy, and blushing rosy red, she said: +‘But should I get the other lady to give up her rights, would you then +consent to marry me?’ + +‘Far be it from me,’ replied the Prince, ‘to banish the beautiful +picture of my love from my heart. Whatever she may say, my heart and +desire will remain the same, and though I were to lose my life for it, I +couldn’t consent to this exchange.’ + +Grannonia could keep silence no longer, and throwing off her peasant’s +disguise, she discovered herself to the Prince, who was nearly beside +himself with joy when he recognised his fair lady-love. He then told his +father at once who she was, and what she had done and suffered for his +sake. + +Then they invited the King and Queen of Starza-Longa to their Court, and +had a great wedding feast, and proved once more that there is no better +seasoning for the joys of true love than a few pangs of grief. + + + + + +THE BITER BIT + + + +Once upon a time there lived a man called Simon, who was very rich, +but at the same time as stingy and miserly as he could be. He had a +housekeeper called Nina, a clever capable woman, and as she did her work +carefully and conscientiously, her master had the greatest respect for +her. + +In his young days Simon had been one of the gayest and most active +youths of the neighbourhood, but as he grew old and stiff he found it +very difficult to walk, and his faithful servant urged him to get a +horse so as to save his poor old bones. At last Simon gave way to the +request and persuasive eloquence of his housekeeper, and betook himself +one day to the market where he had seen a mule, which he thought would +just suit him, and which he bought for seven gold pieces. + +Now it happened that there were three merry rascals hanging about the +market-place, who much preferred living on other people’s goods to +working for their own living. As soon as they saw that Simon had bought +a mule, one of them said to his two boon companions, ‘My friends, this +mule must be ours before we are many hours older.’ + +‘But how shall we manage it,’ asked one of them. + +‘We must all three station ourselves at different intervals along the +old man’s homeward way, and must each in his turn declare that the mule +he has bought is a donkey. If we only stick to it you’ll see the mule +will soon be ours.’ This proposal quite satisfied the others, and they +all separated as they had agreed. + +Now when Simon came by, the first rogue said to him, ‘God bless you, my +fine gentleman.’ + +‘Thanks for your courtesy,’ replied Simon. + +‘Where have you been?’ asked the thief. + +‘To the market,’ was the reply. + +‘And what did you buy there?’ continued the rogue. + +‘This mule.’ + +‘Which mule?’ + +‘The one I’m sitting upon, to be sure,’ replied Simon. + +‘Are you in earnest, or only joking?’ + +‘What do you mean?’ + +‘Because it seems to me you’ve got hold of a donkey, and not of a mule.’ + +‘A donkey? Rubbish!’ screamed Simon, and without another word he rode +on his way. After a few hundred yards he met the second confederate, who +addressed him, ‘Good day, dear sir, where are you coming from?’ + +‘From the market,’ answered Simon. + +‘Did things go pretty cheap?’ asked the other. + +‘I should just think so,’ said Simon. + +‘And did you make any good bargain yourself?’ + +‘I bought this mule on which you see me.’ + +‘Is it possible that you really bought that beast for a mule?’ + +‘Why certainly.’ + +‘But, good heavens, it’s nothing but a donkey!’ + +‘A donkey!’ repeated Simon, ‘you don’t mean to say so; if a single other +person tells me that, I’ll make him a present of the wretched animal.’ + +With these words he continued his way, and very soon met the third +knave, who said to him, ‘God bless you, sir; are you by any chance +coming from the market?’ + +‘Yes, I am,’ replied Simon. + +‘And what bargain did you drive there?’ asked the cunning fellow. + +‘I bought this mule on which I am riding.’ + +‘A mule! Are you speaking seriously, or do you wish to make a fool of +me?’ + +‘I’m speaking in sober earnest,’ said Simon; ‘it wouldn’t occur to me to +make a joke of it.’ + +‘Oh, my poor friend,’ cried the rascal, ‘don’t you see that is a donkey +and not a mule? you have been taken in by some wretched cheats.’ + +‘You are the third person in the last two hours who has told me the same +thing,’ said Simon, ‘but I couldn’t believe it,’ and dismounting from +the mule he spoke: ‘Keep the animal, I make you a present of it.’ The +rascal took the beast, thanked him kindly, and rode on to join his +comrades, while Simon continued his journey on foot. + +As soon as the old man got home, he told his housekeeper that he had +bought a beast under the belief that it was a mule, but that it had +turned out to be a donkey--at least, so he had been assured by several +people he had met on the road, and that in disgust he had at last given +it away. + +‘Oh, you simpleton!’ cried Nina; ‘didn’t you see that they were only +playing you a trick? Really, I thought you’d have had more gumption than +that; they wouldn’t have taken me in in that way.’ + +‘Never mind,’ replied Simon, ‘I’ll play them one worth two of that; for +depend upon it they won’t be contented with having got the donkey out of +me, but they’ll try by some new dodge to get something more, or I’m much +mistaken.’ + +Now there lived in the village not far from Simon’s house, a peasant +who had two goats, so alike in every respect that it was impossible to +distinguish one from the other. Simon bought them both, paid as small a +price as he could for them, and leading them home with him, he told +Nina to prepare a good meal, as he was going to invite some friends +to dinner. He ordered her to roast some veal, and to boil a pair of +chickens, and gave her some herbs to make a good savoury, and told her +to bake the best tart she could make. Then he took one of the goats and +tied it to a post in the courtyard, and gave it some grass to eat; +but he bound a cord round the neck of the other goat and led it to the +market. + +Hardly had he arrived there, than the three gentlemen who had got his +mule perceived him, and coming up to him said: ‘Welcome, Mr. Simon, what +brings you here; are you on the look out for a bargain?’ + +‘I’ve come to get some provisions,’ he answered, ‘because some friends +are coming to dine with me today, and it would give me much pleasure if +you were to honour me with your company also.’ + +The accomplices willingly accepted this invitation; and after Simon had +made all his purchases, he tied them on to the goat’s back, and said to +it, in the presence of the three cheats, ‘Go home now, and tell Nina to +roast the veal, and boil the chickens, and tell her to prepare a savoury +with herbs, and to bake the best tart she can make. Have you followed +me? Then go, and Heaven’s blessing go with you.’ + +As soon as it felt itself free, the laden goat trotted off as quickly +as it could, and to this day nobody knows what became of it. But Simon, +after wandering about the market for some time with his three friends +and some others he had picked up, returned home to his house. + +When he and his guests entered the courtyard, they noticed the goat tied +to the post quietly chewing the cud. They were not a little astonished +at this, for of course they thought it was the same goat that Simon had +sent home laden with provisions. As soon as they reached the house Mr. +Simon said to his housekeeper, ‘Well, Nina, have you done what I told +the goat to tell you to do?’ The artful woman, who at once understood +her master, answered, ‘Certainly I have. The veal is roasted, and the +chickens boiled.’ + +‘That’s all right,’ said Simon. + +When the three rogues saw the cooked meats, and the tart in the +oven, and heard Nina’s words, they were nearly beside themselves with +amazement, and began to consult at once how they were to get the goat +into their own possession. At last, towards the end of the meal, having +sought in vain for some cunning dodge to get the goat away from Mr. +Simon, one of them said to him, ‘My worthy host, you must sell your goat +to us.’ + +Simon replied that he was most unwilling to part with the creature, as +no amount of money would make up to him for its loss; still, if they +were quite set on it, he would let them have the goat for fifty gold +pieces. + +The knaves, who thought they were doing a capital piece of business, +paid down the fifty gold pieces at once, and left the house quite +happily, leading the goat with them. When they got home they said to +their wives, ‘You needn’t begin to cook the dinner to-morrow till we +send the provisions home.’ + +The following day they went to the market and bought chickens and other +eatables, and after they had packed them on the back of the goat (which +they had brought with them), they told it all the dishes they wished +their wives to prepare. As soon as the goat felt itself free, it ran as +quickly as it could, and was very soon lost to sight, and, as far as I +know, was never heard of again. + +When the dinner hour approached all three went home and asked their +wives if the goat had returned with the necessary provisions, and had +told them what they wished prepared for their meal. + +‘Oh, you fools and blockheads!’ cried their wives, ‘how could you ever +believe for a moment that a goat would do the work of a servant-maid? +You have been finely deceived for once in a way. Of course, if you are +always taking in other people, your turn to be taken in comes too, and +this time you’ve been made to look pretty foolish.’ + +When the three comrades saw that Mr. Simon had got the better of them, +and done them out of fifty gold pieces, they flew into such a rage that +they made up their minds to kill him, and, seizing their weapons for +this purpose, went to his house. + +But the sly old man, who was terrified for his life that the three +rogues might do him some harm, was on his guard, and said to his +housekeeper, ‘Nina, take this bladder, which is filled with blood, and +hide it under your cloak; then when these thieves come I’ll lay all the +blame on you, and will pretend to be so angry with you that I will run +at you with my knife, and pierce the bladder with it; then you must fall +on the ground as if you were dead, and leave the rest to me.’ + +Hardly had Simon said these words when the three rogues appeared and +fell on him to kill him. + +‘My friends,’ called out Simon to then, ‘what do you accuse me of? I am +in no way to blame; perhaps my housekeeper has done you some injury of +which I know nothing.’ And with these words, he turned on Nina with +his knife, and stuck it right into her, so that he pierced the bladder +filled with blood. Instantly the housekeeper fell down as if she were +dead, and the blood streamed all over the ground. + +Simon then pretended to be seized with remorse at the sight of this +dreadful catastrophe, and cried out in a loud voice, ‘Unhappy wretch +that I am! What have I done? Like a madman I have killed the woman +who is the prop and stay of my old age. How could I ever go on living +without her?’ Then he seized a pipe, and when he had blown into it for +some time Nina sprang up alive and well. + +The rogues were more amazed than ever; they forgot their anger, and +buying the pipe for two hundred gold pieces, they went joyfully home. + +Not long after this one of them quarrelled with his wife, and in his +rage he thrust his knife into her breast so that she fell dead on the +ground. Then he took Simon’s pipe and blew into it with all his might, +in the hopes of calling his wife back to life. But he blew in vain, for +the poor soul was as dead as a door-nail. + +When one of his comrades heard what had happened, he said, ‘You +blockhead, you can’t have done it properly; just let me have a try,’ and +with these words he seized his wife by the roots of her hair, cut her +throat with a razor, and then took the pipe and blew into it with +all his might but he couldn’t bring her back to life. The same thing +happened to the third rogue, so that they were now all three without +wives. + +Full of wrath they ran to Simon’s house, and, refusing to listen to a +word of explanation or excuse, they seized the old man and put him into +a sack, meaning to drown him in the neighbouring river. On their way +there, however, a sudden noise threw them into such a panic that they +dropped the sack with Simon in it and ran for their lives. + +Soon after this a shepherd happened to pass by with his flock, and while +he was slowly following the sheep, who paused here and there by the +wayside to browse on the tender grass, he heard a pitiful voice wailing, +‘They insist on my taking her, and I don’t want her, for I am too old, +and I really can’t have her.’ The shepherd was much startled, for he +couldn’t make out where these words, which were repeated more than +once, came from, and looked about him to the right and left; at last +he perceived the sack in which Simon was hidden, and going up to it +he opened it and discovered Simon repeating his dismal complaint. The +shepherd asked him why he had been left there tied up in a sack. + +Simon replied that the king of the country had insisted on giving him +one of his daughters as a wife, but that he had refused the honour +because he was too old and too frail. The simple-minded shepherd, who +believed his story implicitly, asked him, ‘Do you think the king of the +country would give his daughter to me?’ + +‘Yes, certainly, I know he would,’ answered Simon, ‘if you were tied up +in this sack instead of me.’ Then getting out of the sack, he tied the +confiding shepherd up in it instead, and at his request fastened it +securely and drove the sheep on himself. + +An hour had scarcely passed when the three rogues returned to the place +where they had left Simon in the sack, and without opening it, one of +them seized it and threw it into the river. And so the poor shepherd was +drowned instead of Mr. Simon! + +The three rogues, having wreaked their vengeance, set out, for home. On +their way they noticed a flock of sheep grazing not far from the road. +They longed to steal a few of the lambs, and approached the flock, and +were more than startled to recognise Mr. Simon, whom they had drowned in +the river, as the shepherd who was looking after the sheep. They asked +him how he had managed to get out of the river, to which he replied: + +‘Get along with you--you are no better than silly donkeys without any +sense; if you had only drowned me in deeper water I would have returned +with three times as many sheep.’ + +When the three rogues heard this, they said to him: ‘Oh, dear Mr. Simon, +do us the favour to tie us up in sacks and throw us into the river that +we may give up our thieving ways and become the owners of flocks.’ + +‘I am ready,’ answered Simon, ‘to do what you please; there’s nothing in +the world I wouldn’t do for you.’ + +So he took three strong sacks and put a man in each of them, and +fastened them up so tightly that they couldn’t get out, and then he +threw them all into the river; and that was the end of the three rogues. +But Mr. Simon returned home to his faithful Nina rich in flocks and +gold, and lived for many a year in health and happiness. + +Kletke. + + + + + +KING KOJATA (From the Russian) + + + +There was once upon a time a king called Kojata, whose beard was so +long that it reached below his knees. Three years had passed since his +marriage, and he lived very happily with his wife, but Heaven granted +him no heir, which grieved the King greatly. One day he set forth +from his capital, in order to make a journey through his kingdom. +He travelled for nearly a year through the different parts of his +territory, and then, having seen all there was to be seen, he set forth +on his homeward way. As the day was very hot and sultry he commanded his +servants to pitch tents in the open field, and there await the cool of +the evening. Suddenly a frightful thirst seized the King, and as he saw +no water near, he mounted his horse, and rode through the neighbourhood +looking for a spring. Before long he came to a well filled to the brim +with water clear as crystal, and on the bosom of which a golden jug was +floating. King Kojata at once tried to seize the vessel, but though he +endeavoured to grasp it with his right hand, and then with his left, the +wretched thing always eluded his efforts and refused to let itself be +caught. First with one hand, and then with two, did the King try to +seize it, but like a fish the goblet always slipped through his fingers +and bobbed to the ground only to reappear at some other place, and mock +the King. + +‘Plague on you!’ said King Kojata. ‘I can quench my thirst without you,’ +and bending over the well he lapped up the water so greedily that he +plunged his face, beard and all, right into the crystal mirror. But when +he had satisfied his thirst, and wished to raise himself up, he couldn’t +lift his head, because someone held his beard fast in the water. ‘Who’s +there? let me go!’ cried King Kojata, but there was no answer; only an +awful face looked up from the bottom of the well with two great green +eyes, glowing like emeralds, and a wide mouth reaching from ear to ear +showing two rows of gleaming white teeth, and the King’s beard was held, +not by mortal hands, but by two claws. At last a hoarse voice sounded +from the depths. ‘Your trouble is all in vain, King Kojata; I will only +let you go on condition that you give me something you know nothing +about, and which you will find on your return home.’ + +The King didn’t pause to ponder long, ‘for what,’ thought he, ‘could be +in my palace without my knowing about it--the thing is absurd;’ so he +answered quickly: + +‘Yes, I promise that you shall have it.’ + +The voice replied, ‘Very well; but it will go ill with you if you fail +to keep your promise.’ Then the claws relaxed their hold, and the face +disappeared in the depths. The King drew his chin out of the water, +and shook himself like a dog; then he mounted his horse and rode +thoughtfully home with his retinue. When they approached the capital, +all the people came out to meet them with great joy and acclamation, +and when the King reached his palace the Queen met him on the threshold; +beside her stood the Prime Minister, holding a little cradle in his +hands, in which lay a new-born child as beautiful as the day. Then +the whole thing dawned on the King, and groaning deeply he muttered to +himself ‘So this is what I did not know about,’ and the tears rolled +down his cheeks. All the courtiers standing round were much amazed at +the King’s grief, but no one dared to ask him the cause of it. He took +the child in his arms and kissed it tenderly; then laying it in its +cradle, he determined to control his emotion and began to reign again as +before. + +The secret of the King remained a secret, though his grave, careworn +expression escaped no one’s notice. In the constant dread that his child +would be taken from him, poor Kojata knew no rest night or day. However, +time went on and nothing happened. Days and months and years passed, and +the Prince grew up into a beautiful youth, and at last the King himself +forgot all about the incident that had happened so long ago. + +One day the Prince went out hunting, and going in pursuit of a wild boar +he soon lost the other huntsmen, and found himself quite alone in the +middle of a dark wood. The trees grew so thick and near together that it +was almost impossible to see through them, only straight in front of +him lay a little patch of meadowland. Overgrown with thistles and rank +weeds, in the centre of which a leafy lime tree reared itself. +Suddenly a rustling sound was heard in the hollow of the tree, and an +extraordinary old man with green eyes and chin crept out of it. + +‘A fine day, Prince Milan,’ he said; ‘you’ve kept me waiting a good +number of years; it was high time for you to come and pay me a visit.’ + +‘Who are you, in the name of wonder?’ demanded the astonished Prince. + +‘You’ll find out soon enough, but in the meantime do as I bid you. Greet +your father King Kojata from me, and don’t forget to remind him of his +debt; the time has long passed since it was due, but now he will have to +pay it. Farewell for the present; we shall meet again.’ + +With these words the old man disappeared into the tree, and the Prince +returned home rather startled, and told his father all that he had seen +and heard. + +The King grew as white as a sheet when he heard the Prince’s story, and +said, ‘Woe is me, my son! The time has come when we must part,’ and with +a heavy heart he told the Prince what had happened at the time of his +birth. + +‘Don’t worry or distress yourself, dear father,’ answered Prince Milan. +‘Things are never as bad as they look. Only give me a horse for my +journey, and I wager you’ll soon see me back again.’ + +The King gave him a beautiful charger, with golden stirrups, and a +sword. The Queen hung a little cross round his neck, and after much +weeping and lamentation the Prince bade them all farewell and set forth +on his journey. + +He rode straight on for two days, and on the third he came to a lake as +smooth as glass and as clear as crystal. Not a breath of wind moved, not +a leaf stirred, all was silent as the grave, only on the still bosom of +the lake thirty ducks, with brilliant plumage, swam about in the water. +Not far from the shore Prince Milan noticed thirty little white garments +lying on the grass, and dismounting from his horse, he crept down under +the high bulrushes, took one of the garments and hid himself with it +behind the bushes which grew round the lake. The ducks swam about all +over the place, dived down into the depths and rose again and glided +through the waves. At last, tired of disporting themselves, they swam +to the shore, and twenty-nine of them put on their little white garments +and instantly turned into so many beautiful maidens. Then they finished +dressing and disappeared. Only the thirtieth little duck couldn’t +come to the land; it swam about close to the shore, and, giving out a +piercing cry, it stretched its neck up timidly, gazed wildly around, and +then dived under again. Prince Milan’s heart was so moved with pity for +the poor little creature that he came out from behind the bulrushes, to +see if he could be of any help. As soon as the duck perceived him, it +cried in a human voice, ‘Oh, dear Prince Milan, for the love of Heaven +give me back my garment, and I will be so grateful to you.’ The Prince +lay the little garment on the bank beside her, and stepped back into the +bushes. In a few seconds a beautiful girl in a white robe stood before +him, so fair and sweet and young that no pen could describe her. She +gave the Prince her hand and spoke. + +‘Many thanks, Prince Milan, for your courtesy. I am the daughter of a +wicked magician, and my name is Hyacinthia. My father has thirty young +daughters, and is a mighty ruler in the underworld, with many castles +and great riches. He has been expecting you for ages, but you need have +no fear if you will only follow my advice. As soon as you come into the +presence of my father, throw yourself at once on the ground and approach +him on your knees. Don’t mind if he stamps furiously with his feet and +curses and swears. I’ll attend to the rest, and in the meantime we had +better be off.’ + +With these words the beautiful Hyacinthia stamped on the ground with her +little foot, and the earth opened and they both sank down into the lower +world. + +The palace of the Magician was all hewn out of a single carbuncle, +lighting up the whole surrounding region, and Prince Milan walked into +it gaily. + +The Magician sat on a throne, a sparkling crown on his head; his eyes +blazed like a green fire, and instead of hands he had claws. As soon as +Prince Milan entered he flung himself on his knees. The Magician stamped +loudly with his feet, glared frightfully out of his green eyes, and +cursed so loudly that the whole underworld shook. But the Prince, +mindful of the counsel he had been given, wasn’t the least afraid, and +approached the throne still on his knees. At last the Magician laughed +aloud and said, ‘You rogue, you have been well advised to make me laugh; +I won’t be your enemy any more. Welcome to the underworld! All the same, +for your delay in coming here, we must demand three services from you. +For to-day you may go, but to-morrow I shall have something more to say +to you.’ + +Then two servants led Prince Milan to a beautiful apartment, and he lay +down fearlessly on the soft bed that had been prepared for him, and was +soon fast asleep. + +Early the next morning the Magician sent for him, and said, ‘Let’s see +now what you’ve learnt. In the first place you must build me a palace +to-night, the roof of purest gold, the walls of marble, and the +windows of crystal; all round you must lay out a beautiful garden, with +fish-ponds and artistic waterfalls. If you do all this, I will reward +you richly; but if you don’t, you shall lose your head.’ + +‘Oh, you wicked monster!’ thought Prince Milan, ‘you might as well have +put me to death at once.’ Sadly he returned to his room, and with bent +head sat brooding over his cruel fate till evening. When it grew dark, a +little bee flew by, and knocking at the window, it said, ‘Open, and let +me in.’ + +Milan opened the window quickly, and as soon as the bee had entered, it +changed into the beautiful Hyacinthia. + +‘Good evening, Prince Milan. Why are you so sad?’ + +‘How can I help being sad? Your father threatens me with death, and I +see myself already without a head.’ + +‘And what have you made up your mind to do?’ + +‘There’s nothing to be done, and after all I suppose one can only die +once.’ + +‘Now, don’t be so foolish, my dear Prince; but keep up your spirits, for +there is no need to despair. Go to bed, and when you wake up to-morrow +morning the palace will be finished. Then you must go all round it, +giving a tap here and there on the walls to look as if you had just +finished it.’ + +And so it all turned out just as she had said. As soon as it was +daylight Prince Milan stepped out of his room, and found a palace which +was quite a work of art down to the very smallest detail. The Magician +himself was not a little astonished at its beauty, and could hardly +believe his eyes. + +‘Well, you certainly are a splendid workman,’ he said to the Prince. +‘I see you are very clever with your hands, now I must see if you are +equally accomplished with your head. I have thirty daughters in my +house, all beautiful princesses. To-morrow I will place the whole thirty +in a row. You must walk past them three times, and the third time you +must show me which is my youngest daughter Hyacinthia. If you don’t +guess rightly, you shall lose your head.’ + +‘This time you’ve made a mistake,’ thought Prince Milan, and going to +his room he sat down at the window. Just fancy my not recognising the +beautiful Hyacinthia! Why, that is the easiest thing in the world.’ + +‘Not so easy as you think,’ cried the little bee, who was flying past. +‘If I weren’t to help you, you’d never guess. We are thirty sisters so +exactly alike that our own father can hardly distinguish us apart.’ + +‘Then what am I to do?’ asked Prince Milan. + +‘Listen,’ answered Hyacinthia. ‘You will recognise me by a tiny fly I +shall have on my left cheek, but be careful for you might easily make a +mistake.’ + +The next day the Magician again commanded Prince Milan to be led before +him. His daughters were all arranged in a straight row in front of him, +dressed exactly alike, and with their eyes bent on the ground. + +‘Now, you genius,’ said the Magician, ‘look at these beauties three +times, and then tell us which is the Princess Hyacinthia.’ + +Prince Milan went past them and looked at them closely. But they were +all so precisely alike that they looked like one face reflected in +thirty mirrors, and the fly was nowhere to be seen; the second time +he passed them he still saw nothing; but the third time he perceived a +little fly stealing down one cheek, causing it to blush a faint pink. +Then the Prince seized the girl’s hand and cried out, ‘This is the +Princess Hyacinthia!’ + +‘You’re right again,’ said the Magician in amazement; ‘but I’ve still +another task for you to do. Before this candle, which I shall light, +burns to the socket, you must have made me a pair of boots reaching to +my knees. If they aren’t finished in that time, off comes your head.’ + +The Prince returned to his room in despair; then the Princess Hyacinthia +came to him once more changed into the likeness of a bee, and asked him, +‘Why so sad, Prince Milan?’ + +‘How can I help being sad? Your father has set me this time an +impossible task. Before a candle which he has lit burns to the socket, +I am to make a pair of boots. But what does a prince know of shoemaking? +If I can’t do it, I lose my head.’ + +‘And what do you mean to do?’ asked Hyacinthia. + +‘Well, what is there to be done? What he demands I can’t and won’t do, +so he must just make an end of me.’ + +‘Not so, dearest. I love you dearly, and you shall marry me, and I’ll +either save your life or die with you. We must fly now as quickly as we +can, for there is no other way of escape.’ + +With these words she breathed on the window, and her breath froze on the +pane. Then she led Milan out of the room with her, shut the door, and +threw the key away. Hand in hand, they hurried to the spot where they +had descended into the lower world, and at last reached the banks of the +lake. Prince Milan’s charger was still grazing on the grass which grew +near the water. The horse no sooner recognized his master, than it +neighed loudly with joy, and springing towards him, it stood as if +rooted to the ground, while Prince Milan and Hyacinthia jumped on its +back. Then it sped onwards like an arrow from a bow. + +In the meantime the Magician was waiting impatiently for the Prince. +Enraged by the delay, he sent his servants to fetch him, for the +appointed time was past. + +The servants came to the door, and finding it locked, they knocked; but +the frozen breath on the window replied in Prince Milan’s voice, ‘I am +coming directly.’ With this answer they returned to the Magician. But +when the Prince still did not appear, after a time he sent his servants +a second time to bring him. The frozen breath always gave the same +answer, but the Prince never came. At last the Magician lost all +patience, and commanded the door to be burst open. But when his servants +did so, they found the room empty, and the frozen breath laughed +aloud. Out of his mind with rage, the Magician ordered the Prince to be +pursued. + +Then a wild chase began. ‘I hear horses’ hoofs behind us,’ said +Hyacinthia to the Prince. Milan sprang from the saddle, put his ear to +the ground and listened. ‘Yes,’ he answered, ‘they are pursuing us, and +are quite close.’ ‘Then no time must be lost,’ said Hyacinthia, and +she immediately turned herself into a river, Prince Milan into an iron +bridge, and the charger into a blackbird. Behind the bridge the road +branched off into three ways. + +The Magician’s servants hurried after the fresh tracks, but when they +came to the bridge, they stood, not knowing which road to take, as the +footprints stopped suddenly, and there were three paths for them to +choose from. In fear and trembling they returned to tell the Magician +what had happened. He flew into a dreadful rage when he saw them, and +screamed out, ‘Oh, you fools! the river and bridge were they! Go back +and bring them to me at once, or it will be the worse for you.’ + +Then the pursuit began afresh. ‘I hear horses’ hoofs,’ sighed +Hyacinthia. The Prince dismounted and put his ear to the ground. ‘They +are hurrying after us, and are already quite near.’ In a moment the +Princess Hyacinthia had changed herself, the Prince, and his charger +into a thick wood where a thousand paths and roads crossed each other. +Their pursuers entered the forest, but searched in vain for Prince Milan +and his bride. At last they found themselves back at the same spot they +had started from, and in despair they returned once more with empty +hands to the Magician. + +‘Then I’ll go after the wretches myself,’ he shouted. ‘Bring a horse at +once; they shan’t escape me.’ + +Once more the beautiful Hyacinthia murmured, ‘I hear horses’ hoofs quite +near.’ And the Prince answered, ‘They are pursuing us hotly and are +quite close.’ + +‘We are lost now, for that is my father himself. But at the first church +we come to his power ceases; he may chase us no further. Hand me your +cross.’ + +Prince Milan loosened from his neck the little gold cross his mother had +given him, and as soon as Hyacinthia grasped it, she had changed herself +into a church, Milan into a monk, and the horse into a belfry. They had +hardly done this when the magician and his servants rode up. + +‘Did you see no one pass by on horseback, reverend father?’ he asked the +monk. + +‘Prince Milan and Princess Hyacinthia have just gone on this minute; +they stopped for a few minutes in the church to say their prayers, and +bade me light this wax candle for you, and give you their love.’ + +‘I’d like to wring their necks,’ said the magician, and made all haste +home, where he had every one of his servants beaten to within an inch of +their lives. + +Prince Milan rode on slowly with his bride without fearing any further +pursuit. The sun was just setting, and its last rays lit up a large city +they were approaching. Prince Milan was suddenly seized with an ardent +desire to enter the town. + +‘Oh my beloved,’ implored Hyacinthia, ‘please don’t go; for I am +frightened and fear some evil.’ + +‘What are you afraid of?’ asked the Prince. ‘We’ll only go and look at +what’s to be seen in the town for about an hour, and then we’ll continue +our journey to my father’s kingdom.’ + +‘The town is easy to get into, but more difficult to get out of,’ sighed +Hyacinthia. ‘But let it be as you wish. Go, and I will await you here, +but I will first change myself into a white milestone; only I pray you +be very careful. The King and Queen of the town will come out to meet +you, leading a little child with them. Whatever you do, don’t kiss the +child, or you will forget me and all that has happened to us. I will +wait for you here for three days.’ + +The Prince hurried to the town, but Hyacinthia remained behind disguised +as a white milestone on the road. The first day passed, and then the +second, and at last the third also, but Prince Milan did not return, +for he had not taken Hyacinthia’s advice. The King and Queen came out to +meet him as she had said, leading with them a lovely fair-haired little +girl, whose eyes shone like two clear stars. The child at once caressed +the Prince, who, carried away by its beauty, bent down and kissed it on +the cheek. From that moment his memory became a blank, and he forgot all +about the beautiful Hyacinthia. + +When the Prince did not return, poor Hyacinthia wept bitterly and +changing herself from a milestone into a little blue field flower, she +said, ‘I will grow here on the wayside till some passer-by tramples me +under foot.’ And one of her tears remained as a dewdrop and sparkled on +the little blue flower. + +Now it happened shortly after this that an old man passed by, and seeing +the flower, he was delighted with its beauty. He pulled it up carefully +by the roots and carried it home. Here he planted it in a pot, and +watered and tended the little plant carefully. And now the most +extraordinary thing happened, for from this moment everything in the old +man’s house was changed. When he awoke in the morning he always found +his room tidied and put into such beautiful order that not a speck of +dust was to be found anywhere. When he came home at midday, he found a +table laid out with the most dainty food, and he had only to sit down +and enjoy himself to his heart’s content. At first he was so surprised +he didn’t know what to think, but after a time he grew a little +uncomfortable, and went to an old witch to ask for advice. + +The witch said, ‘Get up before the cock crows, and watch carefully till +you see something move, and then throw this cloth quickly over it, and +you’ll see what will happen.’ + +All night the old man never closed an eye. When the first ray of light +entered the room, he noticed that the little blue flower began to +tremble, and at last it rose out of the pot and flew about the room, +put everything in order, swept away the dust, and lit the fire. In great +haste the old man sprang from his bed, and covered the flower with +the cloth the old witch had given him, and in a moment the beautiful +Princess Hyacinthia stood before him. + +‘What have you done?’ she cried. ‘Why have you called me back to life? +For I have no desire to live since my bridegroom, the beautiful Prince +Milan, has deserted me.’ + +‘Prince Milan is just going to be married,’ replied the old man. +‘Everything is being got ready for the feast, and all the invited guests +are flocking to the palace from all sides.’ + +The beautiful Hyacinthia cried bitterly when she heard this; then she +dried her tears, and went into the town dressed as a peasant woman. She +went straight to the King’s kitchen, where the white-aproned cooks were +running about in great confusion. The Princess went up to the head cook, +and said, ‘Dear cook, please listen to my request, and let me make a +wedding-cake for Prince Milan.’ + +The busy cook was just going to refuse her demand and order her out of +the kitchen, but the words died on his lips when he turned and beheld +the beautiful Hyacinthia, and he answered politely, ‘You have just come +in the nick of time, fair maiden. Bake your cake, and I myself will lay +it before Prince Milan.’ + +The cake was soon made. The invited guests were already thronging round +the table, when the head cook entered the room, bearing a beautiful +wedding cake on a silver dish, and laid it before Prince Milan. The +guests were all lost in admiration, for the cake was quite a work of +art. Prince Milan at once proceeded to cut it open, when to his surprise +two white doves sprang out of it, and one of them said to the other: ‘My +dear mate, do not fly away and leave me, and forget me as Prince Milan +forgot his beloved Hyacinthia.’ + +Milan sighed deeply when he heard what the little dove said. Then he +jumped up suddenly from the table and ran to the door, where he found +the beautiful Hyacinthia waiting for him. Outside stood his faithful +charger, pawing the ground. Without pausing for a moment, Milan and +Hyacinthia mounted him and galloped as fast as they could into the +country of King Kojata. The King and Queen received them with such +joy and gladness as had never been heard of before, and they all lived +happily for the rest of their lives. + + + + + +PRINCE FICKLE AND FAIR HELENA (From the German) + + + +There was once upon a time a beautiful girl called Helena. Her own +mother had died when she was quite a child, and her stepmother was as +cruel and unkind to her as she could be. Helena did all she could to +gain her love, and performed the heavy work given her to do cheerfully +and well; but her stepmother’s heart wasn’t in the least touched, and +the more the poor girl did the more she asked her to do. + +One day she gave Helena twelve pounds of mixed feathers and bade her +separate them all before evening, threatening her with heavy punishment +if she failed to do so. + +The poor child sat down to her task with her eyes so full of tears that +she could hardly see to begin. And when she had made one little heap of +feathers, she sighed so deeply that they all blew apart again. And so it +went on, and the poor girl grew more and more miserable. She bowed her +head in her hands and cried, ‘Is there no one under heaven who will take +pity on me?’ + +Suddenly a soft voice replied, ‘Be comforted, my child: I have come to +help you.’ + +Terrified to death, Helena looked up and saw a Fairy standing in front +of her, who asked in the kindest way possible, ‘Why are you crying, my +dear?’ + +Helena, who for long had heard no friendly voice, confided her sad tale +of woe to the Fairy, and told her what the new task she had been given +to do was, and how she despaired of ever accomplishing it. + +‘Don’t worry yourself about it any more,’ said the kind Fairy; ‘lie +down and go to sleep, and I’ll see that your work is done all right.’ +So Helena lay down, and when she awoke all the feathers were sorted +into little bundles; but when she turned to thank the good Fairy she had +vanished. + +In the evening her stepmother returned and was much amazed to find +Helena sitting quietly with her work all finished before her. + +She praised her diligence, but at the same time racked her brain as to +what harder task she could set her to do. + +The next day she told Helena to empty a pond near the house with a spoon +which was full of holes. Helena set to work at once, but she very soon +found that what her stepmother had told her to do was an impossibility. +Full of despair and misery, she was in the act of throwing the spoon +away, when suddenly the kind Fairy stood before her again, and asked her +why she was so unhappy? + +When Helena told her of her stepmother’s new demand she said, ‘Trust +to me and I will do your task for you. Lie down and have a sleep in the +meantime.’ + +Helena was comforted and lay down, and before you would have believed +it possible the Fairy roused her gently and told her the pond was empty. +Full of joy and gratitude, Helena hurried to her stepmother, hoping +that now at last her heart would be softened towards her. But the wicked +woman was furious at the frustration of her own evil designs, and only +thought of what harder thing she could set the girl to do. + +Next morning she ordered her to build before evening a beautiful castle, +and to furnish it all from garret to basement. Helena sat down on the +rocks which had been pointed out to her as the site of the castle, +feeling very depressed, but at the same time with the lurking hope that +the kind Fairy would come once more to her aid. + +And so it turned out. The Fairy appeared, promised to build the castle, +and told Helena to lie down and go to sleep in the meantime. At the +word of the Fairy the rocks and stones rose and built themselves into +a beautiful castle, and before sunset it was all furnished inside, and +left nothing to be desired. You may think how grateful Helena was when +she awoke and found her task all finished. + +But her stepmother was anything but pleased, and went through the whole +castle from top to bottom, to see if she couldn’t find some fault for +which she could punish Helena. At last she went down into one of the +cellars, but it was so dark that she fell down the steep stairs and was +killed on the spot. + +So Helena was now mistress of the beautiful castle, and lived there in +peace and happiness. And soon the noise of her beauty spread abroad, and +many wooers came to try and gain her hand. + +Among them came one Prince Fickle by name, who very quickly won the love +of fair Helena. One day, as they were sitting happily together under a +lime-tree in front of the castle, Prince Fickle broke the sad news to +Helena that he must return to his parents to get their consent to his +marriage. He promised faithfully to come back to her as soon as he could +and begged her to await his return under the lime-tree where they had +spent so many happy hours. + +Helena kissed him tenderly at parting on his left cheek, and begged him +not to let anyone else kiss him there while they were parted, and she +promised to sit and wait for him under the lime-tree, for she never +doubted that the Prince would be faithful to her and would return as +quickly as he could. + +And so she sat for three days and three nights under the tree without +moving. But when her lover never returned, she grew very unhappy, and +determined to set out to look for him. She took as many of her jewels +as she could carry, and three of her most beautiful dresses, one +embroidered with stars, one with moons, and the third with suns, all of +pure gold. Far and wide she wandered through the world, but nowhere did +she find any trace of her bridegroom. At last she gave up the search in +despair. She could not bear to return to her own castle where she +had been so happy with her lover, but determined rather to endure +her loneliness and desolation in a strange land. She took a place as +herd-girl with a peasant, and buried her jewels and beautiful dresses in +a safe and hidden spot. + +Every day she drove the cattle to pasture, and all the time she thought +of nothing but her faithless bridegroom. She was very devoted to a +certain little calf in the herd, and made a great pet of it, feeding it +out of her own hands. She taught it to kneel before her, and then she +whispered in its ear: + +‘Kneel, little calf, kneel; Be faithful and leal, Not like Prince +Fickle, Who once on a time Left his fair Helena Under the lime.’ + +After some years passed in this way, she heard that the daughter of the +king of the country she was living in was going to marry a Prince called +‘Fickle.’ Everybody rejoiced at the news except poor Helena, to whom +it was a fearful blow, for at the bottom of her heart she had always +believed her lover to be true. + +Now it chanced that the way to the capital led right past the village +where Helena was, and often when she was leading her cattle forth to +the meadows Prince Fickle rode past her, without ever noticing the poor +herd-girl, so engrossed was he in thoughts of his new bride. Then it +occurred to Helena to put his heart to the test and to see if it weren’t +possible to recall herself to him. So one day as Prince Fickle rode by +she said to her little calf: + +‘Kneel, little calf, kneel; Be faithful and leal, Not like Prince +Fickle, Who once on a time Left his poor Helena Under the lime.’ + +When Prince Fickle heard her voice it seemed to him to remind him of +something, but of what he couldn’t remember, for he hadn’t heard the +words distinctly, as Helena had only spoken them very low and with a +shaky voice. Helena herself had been far too moved to let her see what +impression her words had made on the Prince, and when she looked round +he was already far away. But she noticed how slowly he was riding, and +how deeply sunk he was in thought, so she didn’t quite give herself up +as lost. + +In honour of the approaching wedding a feast lasting many nights was +to be given in the capital. Helena placed all her hopes on this, and +determined to go to the feast and there to seek out her bridegroom. + +When evening drew near she stole out of the peasant’s cottage secretly, +and, going to her hiding-place, she put on her dress embroidered with +the gold suns, and all her jewels, and loosed her beautiful golden hair, +which up to now she had always worn under a kerchief, and, adorned thus, +she set out for the town. + +When she entered the ball-room all eyes were turned on her, and everyone +marvelled at her beauty, but no one knew who she was. Prince Fickle, +too, was quite dazzled by the charms of the beautiful maiden, and never +guessed that she had once been his own ladylove. He never left her side +all night, and it was with great difficulty that Helena escaped from him +in the crowd when it was time to return home. Prince Fickle searched +for her everywhere, and longed eagerly for the next night, when the +beautiful lady had promised to come again. + +The following evening the fair Helena started early for the feast. + +This time she wore her dress embroidered with silver moons, and in her +hair she placed a silver crescent. Prince Fickle was enchanted to see +her again, and she seemed to him even more beautiful than she had been +the night before. He never left her side, and refused to dance with +anyone else. He begged her to tell him who she was, but this she refused +to do. Then he implored her to return again next evening, and this she +promised him she would. + +On the third evening Prince Fickle was so impatient to see his fair +enchantress again, that he arrived at the feast hours before it began, +and never took his eyes from the door. At last Helena arrived in a dress +all covered with gold and silver stars, and with a girdle of stars round +her waist, and a band of stars in her hair. Prince Fickle was more in +love with her than ever, and begged her once again to tell him her name. + +Then Helena kissed him silently on the left cheek, and in one moment +Prince Fickle recognized his old love. Full of remorse and sorrow, he +begged for her forgiveness, and Helena, only too pleased to have got him +back again, did not, you may be sure, keep him waiting very long for her +pardon, and so they were married and returned to Helena’s castle, where +they are no doubt still sitting happily together under the lime-tree. + + + + + +PUDDOCKY (From the German) + + + +There was once upon a time a poor woman who had one little daughter +called ‘Parsley.’ She was so called because she liked eating parsley +better than any other food, indeed she would hardly eat anything else. +Her poor mother hadn’t enough money always to be buying parsley for her, +but the child was so beautiful that she could refuse her nothing, and +so she went every night to the garden of an old witch who lived near and +stole great branches of the coveted vegetable, in order to satisfy her +daughter. + +This remarkable taste of the fair Parsley soon became known, and the +theft was discovered. The witch called the girl’s mother to her, and +proposed that she should let her daughter come and live with her, and +then she could eat as much parsley as she liked. The mother was quite +pleased with this suggestion, and so the beautiful Parsley took up her +abode with the old witch. + +One day three Princes, whom their father had sent abroad to travel, came +to the town where Parsley lived and perceived the beautiful girl combing +and plaiting her long black hair at the window. In one moment they all +fell hopelessly in love with her, and longed ardently to have the girl +for their wife; but hardly had they with one breath expressed their +desire than, mad with jealousy, they drew their swords and all three set +upon each other. The struggle was so violent and the noise so loud that +the old witch heard it, and said at once ‘Of course Parsley is at the +bottom of all this.’ + +And when she had convinced herself that this was so, she stepped +forward, and, full of wrath over the quarrels and feuds Parsley’s beauty +gave rise to, she cursed the girl and said, ‘I wish you were an ugly +toad, sitting under a bridge at the other end of the world.’ + +Hardly were the words out of her mouth than Parsley was changed into a +toad and vanished from their sight. The Princes, now that the cause +of their dispute was removed, put up their swords, kissed each other +affectionately, and returned to their father. + +The King was growing old and feeble, and wished to yield his sceptre +and crown in favour of one of his sons, but he couldn’t make up his mind +which of the three he should appoint as his successor. He determined +that fate should decide for him. So he called his three children to him +and said, ‘My dear sons, I am growing old, and am weary of reigning, but +I can’t make up my mind to which of you three I should yield my crown, +for I love you all equally. At the same time I would like the best and +cleverest of you to rule over my people. I have, therefore, determined +to set you three tasks to do, and the one that performs them best shall +be my heir. The first thing I shall ask you to do is to bring me a piece +of linen a hundred yards long, so fine that it will go through a gold +ring.’ The sons bowed low, and, promising to do their best, they started +on their journey without further delay. + +The two elder brothers took many servants and carriages with them, but +the youngest set out quite alone. In a short time they came to three +cross roads; two of them were gay and crowded, but the third was dark +and lonely. + +The two elder brothers chose the more frequented ways, but the youngest, +bidding them farewell, set out on the dreary road. + +Wherever linen was to be bought, there the two elder brothers hastened. +They loaded their carriages with bales of the finest linen they could +find and then returned home. + +The youngest brother, on the other hand, went on his weary way for many +days, and nowhere did he come across any linen that would have done. So +he journeyed on, and his spirits sank with every step. At last he came +to a bridge which stretched over a deep river flowing through a flat and +marshy land. Before crossing the bridge he sat down on the banks of the +stream and sighed dismally over his sad fate. Suddenly a misshapen toad +crawled out of the swamp, and, sitting down opposite him, asked: ‘What’s +the matter with you, my dear Prince?’ + +The Prince answered impatiently, ‘There’s not much good my telling you, +Puddocky, for you couldn’t help me if I did.’ + +‘Don’t be too sure of that,’ replied the toad; ‘tell me your trouble and +we’ll see.’ + +Then the Prince became most confidential and told the little creature +why he had been sent out of his father’s kingdom. + +‘Prince, I will certainly help you,’ said the toad, and, crawling back +into her swamp, she returned dragging after her a piece of linen not +bigger than a finger, which she lay before the Prince, saying, ‘Take +this home, and you’ll see it will help you.’ + +The Prince had no wish to take such an insignificant bundle with him; +but he didn’t like to hurt Puddocky’s feelings by refusing it, so he +took up the little packet, put it in his pocket, and bade the little +toad farewell. Puddocky watched the Prince till he was out of sight and +then crept back into the water. + +The further the Prince went the more he noticed that the pocket in which +the little roll of linen lay became heavier, and in proportion his heart +grew lighter. And so, greatly comforted, he returned to the Court of +his father, and arrived home just at the same time as his brothers with +their caravans. The King was delighted to see them all again, and at +once drew the ring from his finger and the trial began. In all the +waggon-loads there was not one piece of linen the tenth part of which +would go through the ring, and the two elder brothers, who had at first +sneered at their youngest brother for returning with no baggage, began +to feel rather small. But what were their feelings when he drew a bale +of linen out of his pocket which in fineness, softness, and purity of +colour was unsurpassable! The threads were hardly visible, and it went +through the ring without the smallest difficulty, at the same time +measuring a hundred yards quite correctly. + +The father embraced his fortunate son, and commanded the rest of the +linen to be thrown into the water; then, turning to his children he +said, ‘Now, dear Princes, prepare yourselves for the second task. +You must bring me back a little dog that will go comfortably into a +walnut-shell.’ + +The sons were all in despair over this demand, but as they each wished +to win the crown, they determined to do their best, and after a very few +days set out on their travels again. + +At the cross roads they separated once more. The youngest went by +himself along his lonely way, but this time he felt much more cheerful. +Hardly had he sat down under the bridge and heaved a sigh, than Puddocky +came out; and, sitting down opposite him, asked, ‘What’s wrong with you +now, dear Prince?’ + +The Prince, who this time never doubted the little toad’s power to help +him, told her his difficulty at once. ‘Prince, I will help you,’ said +the toad again, and crawled back into her swamp as fast as her short +little legs would carry her. She returned, dragging a hazel nut behind +her, which she laid at the Prince’s feet and said, ‘Take this nut home +with you and tell your father to crack it very carefully, and you’ll see +then what will happen.’ The Prince thanked her heartily and went on his +way in the best of spirits, while the little puddock crept slowly back +into the water. + +When the Prince got home he found his brothers had just arrived with +great waggon-loads of little dogs of all sorts. The King had a walnut +shell ready, and the trial began; but not one of the dogs the two eldest +sons had brought with them would in the least fit into the shell. When +they had tried all their little dogs, the youngest son handed his father +the hazel-nut, with a modest bow, and begged him to crack it carefully. +Hardly had the old King done so than a lovely tiny dog sprang out of the +nutshell, and ran about on the King’s hand, wagging its tail and barking +lustily at all the other little dogs. The joy of the Court was great. +The father again embraced his fortunate son, commanded the rest of +the small dogs to be thrown into the water and drowned, and once more +addressed his sons. ‘The two most difficult tasks have been performed. +Now listen to the third and last: whoever brings the fairest wife home +with him shall be my heir.’ + +This demand seemed so easy and agreeable and the reward was so great, +that the Princes lost no time in setting forth on their travels. At the +cross roads the two elder brothers debated if they should go the same +way as the youngest, but when they saw how dreary and deserted it looked +they made up their minds that it would be impossible to find what they +sought in these wilds, and so they stuck to their former paths. + +The youngest was very depressed this time and said to himself, ‘Anything +else Puddocky could have helped me in, but this task is quite beyond her +power. How could she ever find a beautiful wife for me? Her swamps are +wide and empty, and no human beings dwell there; only frogs and toads +and other creatures of that sort.’ However, he sat down as usual under +the bridge, and this time he sighed from the bottom of his heart. + +In a few minutes the toad stood in front of him and asked, ‘What’s the +matter with you now, my dear Prince?’ + +‘Oh, Puddocky, this time you can’t help me, for the task is beyond even +your power,’ replied the Prince. + +‘Still,’ answered the toad, ‘you may as well tell me your difficulty, +for who knows but I mayn’t be able to help you this time also.’ + +The Prince then told her the task they had been set to do. ‘I’ll help +you right enough, my dear Prince,’ said the little toad; ‘just you go +home, and I’ll soon follow you.’ With these words, Puddocky, with a +spring quite unlike her usual slow movements, jumped into the water and +disappeared. + +The Prince rose up and went sadly on his way, for he didn’t believe +it possible that the little toad could really help him in his present +difficulty. He had hardly gone a few steps when he heard a sound behind +him, and, looking round, he saw a carriage made of cardboard, drawn +by six big rats, coming towards him. Two hedgehogs rode in front as +outriders, and on the box sat a fat mouse as coachman, and behind stood +two little frogs as footmen. In the carriage itself sat Puddocky, who +kissed her hand to the Prince out of the window as she passed by. + +Sunk deep in thought over the fickleness of fortune that had granted him +two of his wishes and now seemed about to deny him the last and best, +the Prince hardly noticed the absurd equipage, and still less did he +feel inclined to laugh at its comic appearance. + +The carriage drove on in front of him for some time and then turned a +corner. But what was his joy and surprise when suddenly, round the same +corner, but coming towards him, there appeared a beautiful coach drawn +by six splendid horses, with outriders, coachmen, footmen and other +servants all in the most gorgeous liveries, and seated in the carriage +was the most beautiful woman the Prince had ever seen, and in whom he at +once recognised the beautiful Parsley, for whom his heart had formerly +burned. The carriage stopped when it reached him, and the footmen sprang +down and opened the door for him. He got in and sat down beside the +beautiful Parsley, and thanked her heartily for her help, and told her +how much he loved her. + +And so he arrived at his father’s capital, at the same moment as his +brothers who had returned with many carriage-loads of beautiful women. +But when they were all led before the King, the whole Court with one +consent awarded the prize of beauty to the fair Parsley. + +The old King was delighted, and embraced his thrice fortunate son and +his new daughter-in-law tenderly, and appointed them as his successors +to the throne. But he commanded the other women to be thrown into the +water and drowned, like the bales of linen and the little dogs. The +Prince married Puddocky and reigned long and happily with her, and if +they aren’t dead I suppose they are living still. + + + + + +THE STORY OF HOK LEE AND THE DWARFS + + + +There once lived in a small town in China a man named Hok Lee. He was a +steady industrious man, who not only worked hard at his trade, but did +all his own house-work as well, for he had no wife to do it for +him. ‘What an excellent industrious man is this Hok Lee!’ said his +neighbours; ‘how hard he works: he never leaves his house to amuse +himself or to take a holiday as others do!’ + +But Hok Lee was by no means the virtuous person his neighbours thought +him. True, he worked hard enough by day, but at night, when all +respectable folk were fast asleep, he used to steal out and join a +dangerous band of robbers, who broke into rich people’s houses and +carried off all they could lay hands on. + +This state of things went on for some time, and, though a thief was +caught now and then and punished, no suspicion ever fell on Hok Lee, he +was such a very respectable, hard-working man. + +Hok Lee had already amassed a good store of money as his share of the +proceeds of these robberies when it happened one morning on going to +market that a neighbour said to him: + +‘Why, Hok Lee, what is the matter with your face? One side of it is all +swelled up.’ + +True enough, Hok Lee’s right cheek was twice the size of his left, and +it soon began to feel very uncomfortable. + +‘I will bind up my face,’ said Hok Lee; ‘doubtless the warmth will cure +the swelling.’ But no such thing. Next day it was worse, and day by day +it grew bigger and bigger till it was nearly as large as his head and +became very painful. + +Hok Lee was at his wits’ ends what to do. Not only was his cheek +unsightly and painful, but his neighbours began to jeer and make fun of +him, which hurt his feelings very much indeed. + +One day, as luck would have it, a travelling doctor came to the town. +He sold not only all kinds of medicine, but also dealt in many strange +charms against witches and evil spirits. + +Hok Lee determined to consult him, and asked him into his house. + +After the doctor had examined him carefully, he spoke thus: ‘This, O Hok +Lee, is no ordinary swelled face. I strongly suspect you have been doing +some wrong deed which has called down the anger of the spirits on you. +None of my drugs will avail to cure you, but, if you are willing to pay +me handsomely, I can tell you how you may be cured.’ + +Then Hok Lee and the doctor began to bargain together, and it was a long +time before they could come to terms. However, the doctor got the better +of it in the end, for he was determined not to part with his secret +under a certain price, and Hok Lee had no mind to carry his huge cheek +about with him to the end of his days. So he was obliged to part with +the greater portion of his ill-gotten gains. + +When the Doctor had pocketed the money, he told Hok Lee to go on the +first night of the full moon to a certain wood and there to watch by a +particular tree. After a time he would see the dwarfs and little sprites +who live underground come out to dance. When they saw him they would be +sure to make him dance too. ‘And mind you dance your very best,’ added +the doctor. ‘If you dance well and please them they will grant you a +petition and you can then beg to be cured; but if you dance badly they +will most likely do you some mischief out of spite.’ With that he took +leave and departed. + +Happily the first night of the full moon was near, and at the proper +time Hok Lee set out for the wood. With a little trouble he found the +tree the doctor had described, and, feeling nervous, he climbed up into +it. + +He had hardly settled himself on a branch when he saw the little dwarfs +assembling in the moonlight. They came from all sides, till at length +there appeared to be hundreds of them. They seemed in high glee, and +danced and skipped and capered about, whilst Hok Lee grew so eager +watching them that he crept further and further along his branch till +at length it gave a loud crack. All the dwarfs stood still, and Hok Lee +felt as if his heart stood still also. + +Then one of the dwarfs called out, ‘Someone is up in that tree. Come +down at once, whoever you are, or we must come and fetch you.’ + +In great terror, Hok Lee proceeded to come down; but he was so nervous +that he tripped near the ground and came rolling down in the most absurd +manner. When he had picked himself up, he came forward with a low bow, +and the dwarf who had first spoken and who appeared to be the leader, +said, ‘Now, then, who art thou, and what brings thee here?’ + +So Hok Lee told him the sad story of his swelled cheek, and how he had +been advised to come to the forest and beg the dwarfs to cure him. + +‘It is well,’ replied the dwarf. ‘We will see about that. First, +however, thou must dance before us. Should thy dancing please us, +perhaps we may be able to do something; but shouldst thou dance badly, +we shall assuredly punish thee, so now take warning and dance away.’ + +With that, he and all the other dwarfs sat down in a large ring, leaving +Hok Lee to dance alone in the middle. He felt half frightened to death, +and besides was a good deal shaken by his fall from the tree and did +not feel at all inclined to dance. But the dwarfs were not to be trifled +with. + +‘Begin!’ cried their leader, and ‘Begin!’ shouted the rest in chorus. + +So in despair Hok Lee began. First he hopped on one foot and then on +the other, but he was so stiff and so nervous that he made but a poor +attempt, and after a time sank down on the ground and vowed he could +dance no more. + +The dwarfs were very angry. They crowded round Hok Lee and abused him. +‘Thou to come here to be cured, indeed!’ they cried, ‘thou hast brought +one big cheek with thee, but thou shalt take away two.’ And with that +they ran off and disappeared, leaving Hok Lee to find his way home as +best he might. + +He hobbled away, weary and depressed, and not a little anxious on +account of the dwarfs’ threat. + +Nor were his fears unfounded, for when he rose next morning his left +cheek was swelled up as big as his right, and he could hardly see out of +his eyes. Hok Lee felt in despair, and his neighbours jeered at him more +than ever. The doctor, too, had disappeared, so there was nothing for it +but to try the dwarfs once more. + +He waited a month till the first night of the full moon came round +again, and then he trudged back to the forest, and sat down under the +tree from which he had fallen. He had not long to wait. Ere long the +dwarfs came trooping out till all were assembled. + +‘I don’t feel quite easy,’ said one; ‘I feel as if some horrid human +being were near us.’ + +When Hok Lee heard this he came forward and bent down to the ground +before the dwarfs, who came crowding round, and laughed heartily at his +comical appearance with his two big cheeks. + +‘What dost thou want?’ they asked; and Hok Lee proceeded to tell them of +his fresh misfortunes, and begged so hard to be allowed one more trial +at dancing that the dwarfs consented, for there is nothing they love so +much as being amused. + +Now, Hok Lee knew how much depended on his dancing well, so he plucked +up a good spirit and began, first quite slowly, and faster by degrees, +and he danced so well and gracefully, and made such new and wonderful +steps, that the dwarfs were quite delighted with him. + +They clapped their tiny hands, and shouted, ‘Well done, Hok Lee, well +done, go on, dance more, for we are pleased.’ + +And Hok Lee danced on and on, till he really could dance no more, and +was obliged to stop. + +Then the leader of the dwarfs said, ‘We are well pleased, Hok Lee, and +as a recompense for thy dancing thy face shall be cured. Farewell.’ + +With these words he and the other dwarfs vanished, and Hok Lee, putting +his hands to his face, found to his great joy that his cheeks were +reduced to their natural size. The way home seemed short and easy to +him, and he went to bed happy, and resolved never to go out robbing +again. + +Next day the whole town was full of the news of Hok’s sudden cure. His +neighbours questioned him, but could get nothing from him, except the +fact that he had discovered a wonderful cure for all kinds of diseases. + +After a time a rich neighbour, who had been ill for some years, came, +and offered to give Hok Lee a large sum of money if he would tell him +how he might get cured. Hok Lee consented on condition that he swore to +keep the secret. He did so, and Hok Lee told him of the dwarfs and their +dances. + +The neighbour went off, carefully obeyed Hok Lee’s directions, and was +duly cured by the dwarfs. Then another and another came to Hok Lee to +beg his secret, and from each he extracted a vow of secrecy and a large +sum of money. This went on for some years, so that at length Hok Lee +became a very wealthy man, and ended his days in peace and prosperity. + +From the Chinese. + + + + + +THE STORY OF THE THREE BEARS + + + +Once upon a time there were Three Bears, who lived together in a house +of their own in a wood. One of them was a Little, Small, Wee Bear; and +one was a Middle-sized Bear, and the other was a Great, Huge Bear. They +had each a pot for their porridge, a little pot for the Little, Small, +Wee Bear; and a middle-sized pot for the Middle Bear; and a great pot +for the Great, Huge Bear. And they had each a chair to sit in; a little +chair for the Little, Small, Wee Bear; and a middle-sized chair for the +Middle Bear; and a great chair for the Great, Huge Bear. And they had +each a bed to sleep in; a little bed for the Little, Small, Wee Bear; +and a middle-sized bed for the Middle Bear; and a great bed for the +Great, Huge Bear. + +One day, after they had made the porridge for their breakfast, and +poured it into their porridge-pots, they walked out into the wood while +the porridge was cooling, that they might not burn their mouths by +beginning too soon to eat it. And while they were walking, a little +old woman came to the house. She could not have been a good, honest old +woman; for, first, she looked in at the window, and then she peeped in +at the keyhole; and, seeing nobody in the house, she lifted the latch. +The door was not fastened, because the bears were good bears, who did +nobody any harm, and never suspected that anybody would harm them. So +the little old woman opened the door and went in; and well pleased +she was when she saw the porridge on the table. If she had been a good +little old woman she would have waited till the bears came home, and +then, perhaps, they would have asked her to breakfast; for they were +good bears--a little rough or so, as the manner of bears is, but for all +that very good-natured and hospitable. But she was an impudent, bad old +woman, and set about helping herself. + +So first she tasted the porridge of the Great, Huge Bear, and that was +too hot for her; and she said a bad word about that. And then she tasted +the porridge of the Middle Bear; and that was too cold for her; and she +said a bad word about that too. And then she went to the porridge of the +Little, Small, Wee Bear, and tasted that; and that was neither too hot +nor too cold, but just right; and she liked it so well, that she ate +it all up: but the naughty old woman said a bad word about the little +porridge-pot, because it did not hold enough for her. + +Then the little old woman sate down in the chair of the Great, Huge +Bear, and that was too hard for her. And then she sate down in the chair +of the Middle Bear, and that was too soft for her. And then she sate +down in the chair of the Little, Small, Wee Bear, and that was neither +too hard nor too soft, but just right. So she seated herself in it, and +there she sate till the bottom of the chair came out, and down came +she, plump upon the ground. And the naughty old woman said a wicked word +about that too. + +Then the little old woman went up stairs into the bed-chamber in which +the three bears slept. And first she lay down upon the bed of the Great, +Huge Bear; but that was too high at the head for her. And next she lay +down upon the bed of the Middle Bear; and that was too high at the foot +for her. And then she lay down upon the bed of the Little, Small, Wee +Bear; and that was neither too high at the head, nor at the foot, but +just right. So she covered herself up comfortably, and lay there till +she fell fast asleep. + +By this time the three bears thought their porridge would be cool +enough; so they came home to breakfast. Now the little old woman had +left the spoon of the Great, Huge Bear, standing in his porridge. + +‘SOMEBODY HAS BEEN AT MY PORRIDGE!’ + +said the Great, Huge Bear, in his great gruff voice. And when the Middle +Bear looked at his, he saw that the spoon was standing in it too. They +were wooden spoons; if they had been silver ones, the naughty old woman +would have put them in her pocket. + +‘Somebody Has Been At My Porridge!’ + +said the Middle Bear, in his middle voice. + +Then the Little, Small, Wee Bear looked at his, and there was the spoon +in the porridge-pot, but the porridge was all gone. + +‘_Somebody has been at my porridge, and has eaten it all up_!’ + +said the Little, Small Wee Bear, in his little, small wee voice. + +Upon this the three bears, seeing that some one had entered their house, +and eaten up the Little, Small, Wee Bear’s breakfast, began to look +about them. Now the little old woman had not put the hard cushion +straight when she rose from the chair of the Great, Huge Bear. + +‘SOMEBODY HAS BEEN SITTING IN MY CHAIR!’ + +said the Great, Huge Bear, in his great, rough, gruff voice. + +And the little old woman had squatted down the soft cushion of the +Middle Bear. + +‘Somebody Has Been Sitting In My Chair!’ + +said the Middle Bear, in his middle voice. + +And you know what the little old woman had done to the third chair. + +‘_Somebody has been sitting in my chair, and has sate the bottom of it +out_!’ + +said the Little, Small, Wee Bear, in his little, small, wee voice. + +Then the three bears thought it necessary that they should make farther +search; so they went up stairs into their bed-chamber. Now the little +old woman had pulled the pillow of the Great, Huge Bear out of its +place. + +‘SOMEBODY HAS BEEN LYING IN MY BED!’ + +said the Great, Huge Bear, in his great, rough, gruff voice. + +And the little old woman had pulled the bolster of the Middle Bear out +of its place. + +‘Somebody Has Been Lying In My Bed!’ + +said the Middle Bear in his middle voice. + +And when the Little, Small, Wee Bear came to look at his bed, there was +the bolster in its place, and the pillow in its place upon the bolster, +and upon the pillow was the little old woman’s ugly, dirty head,--which +was not in its place, for she had no business there. + +‘_Somebody has been lying in my bed,--and here she is_!’ + +said the Little, Small, Wee Bear, in his little, small, wee voice. + +The little old woman had heard in her sleep the great, rough, gruff +voice of the Great, Huge Bear; but she was so fast asleep that it was no +more to her than the roaring of wind or the rumbling of thunder. And she +had heard the middle voice of the Middle Bear, but it was only as if she +had heard someone speaking in a dream. But when she heard the little, +small, wee voice of the Little, Small, Wee Bear, it was so sharp, and so +shrill, that it awakened her at once. Up she started; and when she saw +the Three Bears on one side of the bed, she tumbled herself out at +the other, and ran to the window. Now the window was open, because +the bears, like good, tidy bears as they were, always opened their +bedchamber window when they got up in the morning. Out the little old +woman jumped; and whether she broke her neck in the fall, or ran into +the wood and was lost there, or found her way out of the wood and was +taken up by the constable and sent to the House of Correction for +a vagrant as she was, I cannot tell. But the Three Bears never saw +anything more of her. + +Southey. + + + + + +PRINCE VIVIEN AND THE PRINCESS PLACIDA + + + +Once upon a time there lived a King and Queen who loved one another +dearly. Indeed the Queen, whose name was Santorina, was so pretty and +so kind-hearted that it would have been a wonder if her husband had not +been fond of her, while King Gridelin himself was a perfect bundle +of good qualities, for the Fairy who presided at his christening had +summoned the shades of all his ancestors, and taken something good from +each of them to form his character. Unfortunately, though, she had given +him rather too much kindness of heart, which is a thing that generally +gets its possessor into trouble, but so far all things had prospered +with King Gridelin. However, it was not to be expected such good fortune +could last, and before very long the Queen had a lovely little daughter +who was named Placida. Now the King, who thought that if she resembled +her mother in face and mind she would need no other gift, never troubled +to ask any of the Fairies to her christening, and this offended +them mortally, so that they resolved to punish him severely for thus +depriving them of their rights. So, to the despair of King Gridelin, the +Queen first of all became very ill, and then disappeared altogether. If +it had not been for the little Princess there is no saying what would +have become of him, he was so miserable, but there she was to be brought +up, and luckily the good Fairy Lolotte, in spite of all that had passed, +was willing to come and take charge of her, and of her little cousin +Prince Vivien, who was an orphan and had been placed under the care +of his uncle, King Gridelin, when he was quite a baby. Although she +neglected nothing that could possibly have been done for them, their +characters, as they grew up, plainly proved that education only softens +down natural defects, but cannot entirely do away with them; for +Placida, who was perfectly lovely, and with a capacity and intelligence +which enabled her to learn and understand anything that presented +itself, was at the same time as lazy and indifferent as it is possible +for anyone to be, while Vivien on the contrary was only too lively, and +was for ever taking up some new thing and as promptly tiring of it, +and flying off to something else which held his fickle fancy an equally +short time. As these two children would possibly inherit the kingdom, it +was natural that their people should take a great interest in them, and +it fell out that all the tranquil and peace-loving citizens desired that +Placida should one day be their Queen, while the rash and quarrelsome +hoped great things for Vivien. Such a division of ideas seemed to +promise civil wars and all kinds of troubles to the State, and even in +the Palace the two parties frequently came into collision. As for the +children themselves, though they were too well brought up to quarrel, +still the difference in all their tastes and feelings made it impossible +for them to like one another, so there seemed no chance of their ever +consenting to be married, which was a pity, since that was the only +thing that would have satisfied both parties. Prince Vivien was fully +aware of the feeling in his favour, but being too honourable to wish to +injure his pretty cousin, and perhaps too impatient and volatile to care +to think seriously about anything, he suddenly took it into his head +that he would go off by himself in search of adventure. Luckily this +idea occurred to him when he was on horseback, for he would certainly +have set out on foot rather than lose an instant. As it was, he simply +turned his horse’s head, without another thought than that of getting +out of the kingdom as soon as possible. This abrupt departure was a +great blow to the State, especially as no one had any idea what had +become of the Prince. Even King Gridelin, who had never cared for +anything since the disappearance of Queen Santorina, was roused by +this new loss, and though he could not so much as look at the Princess +Placida without shedding floods of tears, he resolved to see for himself +what talents and capabilities she showed. He very soon found out that +in addition to her natural indolence, she was being as much indulged +and spoilt day by day as if the Fairy had been her grandmother, and was +obliged to remonstrate very seriously upon the subject. Lolotte took his +reproaches meekly, and promised faithfully that she would not encourage +the Princess in her idleness and indifference any more. From this moment +poor Placida’s troubles began! She was actually expected to choose her +own dresses, to take care of her jewels, and to find her own amusements; +but rather than take so much trouble she wore the same old frock from +morning till night, and never appeared in public if she could possibly +avoid it. However, this was not all, King Gridelin insisted that the +affairs of the kingdom should be explained to her, and that she should +attend all the councils and give her opinion upon the matter in hand +whenever it was asked of her, and this made her life such a burden to +her that she implored Lolotte to take her away from a country where too +much was required of an unhappy Princess. + +The Fairy refused at first with a great show of firmness, but who could +resist the tears and entreaties of anyone so pretty as Placida? It came +to this in the end, that she transported the Princess just as she was, +cosily tucked up upon her favourite couch, to her own Grotto, and this +new disappearance left all the people in despair, and Gridelin went +about looking more distracted than ever. But now let us return to Prince +Vivien, and see what his restless spirit has brought him to. Though +Placida’s kingdom was a large one; his horse had carried him gallantly +to the limit of it, but it could go no further, and the Prince was +obliged to dismount and continue his journey on foot, though this slow +mode of progress tired his patience severely. + +After what seemed to him a very long time, he found himself all alone in +a vast forest, so dark and gloomy that he secretly shuddered; however, +he chose the most promising looking path he could find, and marched +along it courageously at his best speed, but in spite of all his +efforts, night fell before he reached the edge of the wood. + +For some time he stumbled along, keeping to the path as well as he could +in the darkness, and just as he was almost wearied out he saw before him +a gleam of light. + +This sight revived his drooping spirits, and he made sure that he was +now close to the shelter and supper he needed so much, but the more he +walked towards the light the further away it seemed; sometimes he +even lost sight of it altogether, and you may imagine how provoked and +impatient he was by the time he finally arrived at the miserable cottage +from which the light proceeded. He gave a loud knock at the door, and +an old woman’s voice answered from within, but as she did not seem to be +hurrying herself to open it he redoubled his blows, and demanded to be +let in imperiously, quite forgetting that he was no longer in his own +kingdom. But all this had no effect upon the old woman, who only noticed +all the uproar he was making by saying gently: + +‘You must have patience.’ + +He could hear that she really was coming to open the door to him, only +she was so very long about it. First she chased away her cat, lest it +should run away when the door was opened, then he heard her talking to +herself and made out that her lamp wanted trimming, that she might see +better who it was that knocked, and then that it lacked fresh oil, +and she must refill it. So what with one thing and another she was an +immense time trotting to and fro, and all the while she now and again +bade the Prince have patience. When at last he stood within the little +hut he saw with despair that it was a picture of poverty, and that not +a crumb of anything eatable was to be seen, and when he explained to +the old woman that he was dying of hunger and fatigue she only answered +tranquilly that he must have patience. However, she presently showed him +a bundle of straw on which he could sleep. + +‘But what can I have to eat?’ cried Prince Vivien sharply. + +‘Wait a little, wait a little,’ she replied. ‘If you will only have +patience I am just going out into the garden to gather some peas: we +will shell them at our leisure, then I will light a fire and cook them, +and when they are thoroughly done, we can enjoy them peaceably; there is +no hurry.’ + +‘I shall have died of starvation by the time all that is done,’ said the +Prince ruefully. + +‘Patience, patience,’ said the old woman looking at him with her slow +gentle smile, ‘I can’t be hurried. “All things come at last to him who +waits;” you must have heard that often.’ + +Prince Vivien was wild with aggravation, but there was nothing to be +done. + +‘Come then,’ said the old woman, ‘you shall hold the lamp to light me +while I pick the peas.’ + +The Prince in his haste snatched it up so quickly that it went out, +and it took him a long time to light it again with two little bits of +glowing charcoal which he had to dig out from the pile of ashes upon +the hearth. However, at last the peas were gathered and shelled, and the +fire lighted, but then they had to be carefully counted, since the old +woman declared that she would cook fifty-four, and no more. In vain did +the Prince represent to her that he was famished--that fifty-four peas +would go no way towards satisfying his hunger--that a few peas, more or +less, surely could not matter. It was quite useless, in the end he had +to count out the fifty-four, and worse than that, because he dropped one +or two in his hurry, he had to begin again from the very first, to be +sure the number was complete. As soon as they were cooked the old dame +took a pair of scales and a morsel of bread from the cupboard, and was +just about to divide it when Prince Vivien, who really could wait +no longer, seized the whole piece and ate it up, saying in his turn, +‘Patience.’ + +‘You mean that for a joke,’ said the old woman, as gently as ever, ‘but +that is really my name, and some day you will know more about me.’ + +Then they each ate their twenty-seven peas, and the Prince was surprised +to find that he wanted nothing more, and he slept as sweetly upon his +bed of straw as he had ever done in his palace. + +In the morning the old woman gave him milk and bread for his breakfast, +which he ate contentedly, rejoicing that there was nothing to be +gathered, or counted, or cooked, and when he had finished he begged her +to tell him who she was. + +‘That I will, with pleasure,’ she replied. ‘But it will be a long +story.’ + +‘Oh! if it’s long, I can’t listen,’ cried the Prince. + +‘But,’ said she, ‘at your age, you should attend to what old people say, +and learn to have patience.’ + +‘But, but,’ said the Prince, in his most impatient tone, ‘old people +should not be so long-winded! Tell me what country I have got into, and +nothing else.’ + +‘With all my heart,’ said she. ‘You are in the Forest of the Black Bird; +it is here that he utters his oracles.’ + +‘An Oracle,’ cried the Prince. ‘Oh! I must go and consult him.’ +Thereupon he drew a handful of gold from his pocket, and offered it to +the old woman, and when she would not take it, he threw it down upon the +table and was off like a flash of lightning, without even staying to ask +the way. He took the first path that presented itself and followed it +at the top of his speed, often losing his way, or stumbling over some +stone, or running up against a tree, and leaving behind him without +regret the cottage which had been as little to his taste as the +character of its possessor. After some time he saw in the distance a +huge black castle which commanded a view of the whole forest. The Prince +felt certain that this must be the abode of the Oracle, and just as the +sun was setting he reached its outermost gates. The whole castle was +surrounded by a deep moat, and the drawbridge and the gates, and even +the water in the moat, were all of the same sombre hue as the walls and +towers. Upon the gate hung a huge bell, upon which was written in red +letters: + +‘Mortal, if thou art curious to know thy fate, strike this bell, and +submit to what shall befall thee.’ + +The Prince, without the smallest hesitation, snatched up a great stone, +and hammered vigorously upon the bell, which gave forth a deep and +terrible sound, the gate flew open, and closed again with a thundering +clang the moment the Prince had passed through it, while from every +tower and battlement rose a wheeling, screaming crowd of bats which +darkened the whole sky with their multitudes. Anyone but Prince Vivien +would have been terrified by such an uncanny sight, but he strode +stoutly forward till he reached the second gate, which was opened to him +by sixty black slaves covered from head to foot in long mantles. + +He wished to speak to them, but soon discovered that they spoke an +utterly unknown language, and did not seem to understand a word he said. +This was a great aggravation to the Prince, who was not accustomed to +keep his ideas to himself, and he positively found himself wishing +for his old friend Patience. However, he had to follow his guides in +silence, and they led him into a magnificent hall; the floor was of +ebony, the walls of jet, and all the hangings were of black velvet, but +the Prince looked round it in vain for something to eat, and then made +signs that he was hungry. In the same manner he was respectfully given +to understand that he must wait, and after several hours the sixty +hooded and shrouded figures re-appeared, and conducted him with great +ceremony, and also very very slowly, to a banqueting hall, where they +all placed themselves at a long table. The dishes were arranged down the +centre of it, and with his usual impetuosity the Prince seized the one +that stood in front of him to draw it nearer, but soon found that it was +firmly fixed in its place. Then he looked at his solemn and lugubrious +neighbours, and saw that each one was supplied with a long hollow +reed through which he slowly sucked up his portion, and the Prince +was obliged to do the same, though he found it a frightfully tedious +process. After supper, they returned as they had come to the ebony +room, where he was compelled to look on while his companions played +interminable games of chess, and not until he was nearly dying of +weariness did they, slowly and ceremoniously as before, conduct him to +his sleeping apartment. The hope of consulting the Oracle woke him +very early the next morning, and his first demand was to be allowed +to present himself before it, but, without replying, his attendants +conducted him to a huge marble bath, very shallow at one end, and quite +deep at the other, and gave him to understand that he was to go into it. +The Prince, nothing loth, was for springing at once into deep water, but +he was gently but forcibly held back and only allowed to stand where it +was about an inch deep, and he was nearly wild with impatience when he +found that this process was to be repeated every day in spite of all he +could say or do, the water rising higher and higher by inches, so +that for sixty days he had to live in perpetual silence, ceremoniously +conducted to and fro, supping all his meals through the long reed, and +looking on at innumerable games of chess, the game of all others which +he detested most. But at last the water rose as high as his chin, and +his bath was complete. And that day the slaves in their black robes, +and each having a large bat perched upon his head, marched in slow +procession with the Prince in their midst, chanting a melancholy song, +to the iron gate that led into a kind of Temple. At the sound of their +chanting, another band of slaves appeared, and took possession of the +unhappy Vivien. + +They looked to him exactly like the ones he had left, except that they +moved more slowly still, and each one held a raven upon his wrist, and +their harsh croakings re-echoed through the dismal place. Holding the +Prince by the arms, not so much to do him honour as to restrain his +impatience, they proceeded by slow degrees up the steps of the Temple, +and when they at last reached the top he thought his long waiting must +be at an end. But on the contrary, after slowly enshrouding him in a +long black robe like their own, they led him into the Temple itself, +where he was forced to witness numbers of lengthy rites and ceremonies. +By this time Vivien’s active impatience had subsided into passive +weariness, his yawns were continual and scandalous, but nobody heeded +him, he stared hopelessly at the thick black curtain which hung down +straight in front of him, and could hardly believe his eyes when it +presently began to slide back, and he saw before him the Black Bird. It +was of enormous size, and was perched upon a thick bar of iron which ran +across from one side of the Temple to the other. At the sight of it all +the slaves fell upon their knees and hid their faces, and when it had +three times flapped its mighty wings it uttered distinctly in Prince +Vivien’s own language the words: + +‘Prince, your only chance of happiness depends upon that which is most +opposed to your own nature.’ + +Then the curtain fell before it once more, and the Prince, after many +ceremonies, was presented with a raven which perched upon his wrist, and +was conducted slowly back to the iron gate. Here the raven left him and +he was handed over once more to the care of the first band of slaves, +while a large bat flickered down and settled upon his head of its own +accord, and so he was taken back to the marble bath, and had to go +through the whole process again, only this time he began in deep water +which receded daily inch by inch. When this was over the slaves escorted +him to the outer gate, and took leave of him with every mark of +esteem and politeness, to which it is to be feared he responded but +indifferently, since the gate was no sooner opened than he took to his +heels, and fled away with all his might, his one idea being to put as +much space as possible between himself and the dreary place into which +he had ventured so rashly, just to consult a tedious Oracle who after +all had told him nothing. He actually reflected for about five seconds +on his folly, and came to the conclusion that it might sometimes be +advisable to think before one acted. + +After wandering about for several days until he was weary and hungry, he +at last succeeded in finding a way out of the forest, and soon came to +a wide and rapid river, which he followed, hoping to find some means of +crossing it, and it happened that as the sun rose the next morning he +saw something of a dazzling whiteness moored out in the middle of the +stream. Upon looking more attentively at it he found that it was one of +the prettiest little ships he had ever seen, and the boat that belonged +to it was made fast to the bank quite close to him. The Prince was +immediately seized with the most ardent desire to go on board the +ship, and shouted loudly to attract the notice of her crew, but no +one answered. So he sprang into the little boat and rowed away without +finding it at all hard work, for the boat was made all of white paper +and was as light as a rose leaf. The ship was made of white paper too, +as the Prince presently discovered when he reached it. He found not a +soul on board, but there was a very cosy little bed in the cabin, and an +ample supply of all sorts of good things to eat and drink, which he +made up his mind to enjoy until something new happened. Having been +thoroughly well brought up at the court of King Gridelin, of course +he understood the art of navigation, but when once he had started, the +current carried the vessel down at such a pace that before he knew where +he was the Prince found himself out at sea, and a wind springing up +behind him just at this moment soon drove him out of sight of land. +By this time he was somewhat alarmed, and did his best to put the ship +about and get back to the river, but wind and tide were too strong for +him, and he began to think of the number of times, from his childhood +up, that he had been warned not to meddle with water. But it was too +late now to do anything but wish vainly that he had stayed on shore, and +to grow heartily weary of the boat and the sea and everything connected +with it. These two things, however, he did most thoroughly. To put the +finishing touch to his misfortunes he presently found himself becalmed +in mid-ocean, a state of affairs which would be considered trying by the +most patient of men, so you may imagine how it affected Prince Vivien! +He even came to wishing himself back at the Castle of the Black Bird, +for there at least he saw some living beings, whereas on board the +white-paper ship he was absolutely alone, and could not imagine how he +was ever to get away from his wearisome prison. However, after a very +long time, he did see land, and his impatience to be on shore was so +great that he at once flung himself over the ship’s side that he might +reach it sooner by swimming. But this was quite useless, for spring +as far as he might from the vessel, it was always under his feet again +before he reached the water, and he had to resign himself to his fate, +and wait with what patience he could muster until the winds and waves +carried the ship into a kind of natural harbour which ran far into the +land. After his long imprisonment at sea the Prince was delighted with +the sight of the great trees which grew down to the very edge of the +water, and leaping lightly on shore he speedily lost himself in the +thick forest. When he had wandered a long way he stopped to rest beside +a clear spring of water, but scarcely had he thrown himself down upon +the mossy bank when there was a great rustling in the bushes close by, +and out sprang a pretty little gazelle panting and exhausted, which fell +at his feet gasping out-- + +‘Oh! Vivien, save me!’ + +The Prince in great astonishment leapt to his feet, and had just time to +draw his sword before he found himself face to face with a large green +lion which had been hotly pursuing the poor little gazelle. Prince +Vivien attacked it gallantly and a fierce combat ensued, which, however, +ended before long in the Prince’s dealing his adversary a terrific blow +which felled him to the earth. As he fell the lion whistled loudly three +times with such force that the forest rang again, and the sound must +have been heard for more than two leagues round, after which having +apparently nothing more to do in the world he rolled over on his side +and died. The Prince without paying any further heed to him or to his +whistling returned to the pretty gazelle, saying: + +‘Well! are you satisfied now? Since you can talk, pray tell me instantly +what all this is about, and how you happen to know my name.’ + +‘Oh, I must rest for a long time before I can talk,’ she replied, ‘and +beside, I very much doubt if you will have leisure to listen, for the +affair is by no means finished. In fact,’ she continued in the same +languid tone, ‘you had better look behind you now.’ + +The Prince turned sharply round and to his horror saw a huge Giant +approaching with mighty strides, crying fiercely-- + +‘Who has made my lion whistle I should like to know?’ + +‘I have,’ replied Prince Vivien boldly, ‘but I can answer for it that he +will not do it again!’ + +At these words the Giant began to howl and lament. + +‘Alas, my poor Tiny, my sweet little pet,’ he cried, ‘but at least I can +avenge thy death.’ + +Thereupon he rushed at the Prince, brandishing an immense serpent which +was coiled about his wrist. Vivien, without losing his coolness, aimed a +terrific blow at it with his sword, but no sooner did he touch the +snake than it changed into a Giant and the Giant into a snake, with +such rapidity that the Prince felt perfectly giddy, and this happened at +least half-a-dozen times, until at last with a fortunate stroke he cut +the serpent in halves, and picking up one morsel flung it with all his +force at the nose of the Giant, who fell insensible on top of the lion, +and in an instant a thick black cloud rolled up which hid them from +view, and when it cleared away they had all disappeared. + +Then the Prince, without even waiting to sheathe his sword, rushed back +to the gazelle, crying: + +‘Now you have had plenty of time to recover your wits, and you have +nothing more to fear, so tell me who you are, and what this horrible +Giant, with his lion and his serpent, have to do with you and for pity’s +sake be quick about it.’ + +‘I will tell you with pleasure,’ she answered, ‘but where is the hurry? +I want you to come back with me to the Green Castle, but I don’t want to +walk there, it is so far, and walking is so fatiguing.’ + +‘Let us set out at once then,’ replied the Prince severely, ‘or else +really I shall have to leave you where you are. Surely a young and +active gazelle like you ought to be ashamed of not being able to walk a +few steps. The further off this castle is the faster we ought to walk, +but as you don’t appear to enjoy that, I will promise that we will go +gently, and we can talk by the way.’ + +‘It would be better still if you would carry me,’ said she sweetly, ‘but +as I don’t like to see people giving themselves trouble, you may carry +me, and make that snail carry you.’ So saying, she pointed languidly +with one tiny foot at what the Prince had taken for a block of stone, +but now he saw that it was a huge snail. + +‘What! I ride a snail!’ cried the Prince; ‘you are laughing at me, and +beside we should not get there for a year.’ + +‘Oh! well then don’t do it,’ replied the gazelle, ‘I am quite willing to +stay here. The grass is green, and the water clear. But if I were you I +should take the advice that was given me and ride the snail.’ + +So, though it did not please him at all, the Prince took the gazelle +in his arms, and mounted upon the back of the snail, which glided along +very peaceably, entirely declining to be hurried by frequent blows from +the Prince’s heels. In vain did the gazelle represent to him that she +was enjoying herself very much, and that this was the easiest mode +of conveyance she had ever discovered. Prince Vivien was wild with +impatience, and thought that the Green Castle would never be reached. +However, at last, they did get there, and everyone who was in it ran to +see the Prince dismount from his singular steed. + +But what was his surprise, when having at her request set the gazelle +gently down upon the steps which led up to the castle, he saw her +suddenly change into a charming Princess, and recognized in her +his pretty cousin Placida, who greeted him with her usual tranquil +sweetness. His delight knew no bounds, and he followed her eagerly up +into the castle, impatient to know what strange events had brought her +there. But after all he had to wait for the Princess’s story, for the +inhabitants of the Green Lands, hearing that the Giant was dead, ran to +offer the kingdom to his vanquisher, and Prince Vivien had to listen to +various complimentary harangues, which took a great deal of time, though +he cut them as short as politeness allowed--if not shorter. But at +last he was free to rejoin Placida, who at once began the story of her +adventures. + +‘After you had gone away,’ said she, ‘they tried to make me learn how +to govern the kingdom, which wearied me to death, so that I begged and +prayed Lolotte to take me away with her, and this she presently did, but +very reluctantly. However, having been transported to her grotto upon +my favourite couch, I spent several delicious days, soothed by the +soft green light, which was like a beech wood in the spring, and by the +murmuring of bees and the tinkle of falling water. But alas! Lolotte +was forced to go away to a general assembly of the Fairies, and she came +back in great dismay, telling me that her indulgence to me had cost her +dear, for she had been severely reprimanded and ordered to hand me over +to the Fairy Mirlifiche, who was already taking charge of you, and who +had been much commended for her management of you.’ + +‘Fine management, indeed,’ interrupted the Prince, ‘if it is to her I +owe all the adventures I have met with! But go on with your story, my +cousin. I can tell you all about my doings afterwards, and then you can +judge for yourself.’ + +‘At first I was grieved to see Lolotte cry,’ resumed the Princess, ‘but +I soon found that grieving was very troublesome, so I thought it better +to be calm, and very soon afterwards I saw the Fairy Mirlifiche arrive, +mounted upon her great unicorn. She stopped before the grotto and bade +Lolotte bring me out to her, at which she cried worse than ever, and +kissed me a dozen times, but she dared not refuse. I was lifted up on to +the unicorn, behind Mirlifiche, who said to me-- + +‘“Hold on tight, little girl, if you don’t want to break your neck.” + +‘And, indeed, I had to hold on with all my might, for her horrible steed +trotted so violently that it positively took my breath away. However, at +last we stopped at a large farm, and the farmer and his wife ran out as +soon as they saw the Fairy, and helped us to dismount. + +‘I knew that they were really a King and Queen, whom the Fairies were +punishing for their ignorance and idleness. You may imagine that I was +by this time half dead with fatigue, but Mirlifiche insisted upon my +feeding her unicorn before I did anything else. To accomplish this I had +to climb up a long ladder into the hayloft, and bring down, one after +another, twenty-four handfuls of hay. Never, never before, did I have +such a wearisome task! It makes me shudder to think of it now, and that +was not all. In the same way I had to carry the twenty-four handfuls of +hay to the stable, and then it was supper time, and I had to wait upon +all the others. After that I really thought I should be allowed to go +peaceably to my little bed, but, oh dear no! First of all I had to make +it, for it was all in confusion, and then I had to make one for +the Fairy, and tuck her in, and draw the curtains round her, beside +rendering her a dozen little services which I was not at all accustomed +to. Finally, when I was perfectly exhausted by all this toil, I was free +to go to bed myself, but as I had never before undressed myself, and +really did not know how to begin, I lay down as I was. Unfortunately, +the Fairy found this out, and just as I was falling into a sweet +slumber, she made me get up once more, but even then I managed to escape +her vigilance, and only took off my upper robe. Indeed, I may tell you +in confidence, that I always find disobedience answer very well. One is +often scolded, it is true, but then one has been saved some trouble. + +‘At the earliest dawn of day Mirlifiche woke me, and made me take many +journeys to the stable to bring her word how her unicorn had slept, and +how much hay he had eaten, and then to find out what time it was, and +if it was a fine day. I was so slow, and did my errands so badly, that +before she left she called the King and Queen and said to them: + +‘“I am much more pleased with you this year. Continue to make the best +of your farm, if you wish to get back to your kingdom, and also take +care of this little Princess for me, and teach her to be useful, that +when I come I may find her cured of her faults. If she is not--” + +‘Here she broke off with a significant look, and mounting my enemy the +unicorn, speedily disappeared. + +‘Then the King and Queen, turning to me, asked me what I could do. + +‘“Nothing at all, I assure you,” I replied in a tone which really +ought to have convinced them, but they went on to describe various +employments, and tried to discover which of them would be most to my +taste. However, at last I persuaded them that to do nothing whatever +would be the only thing that would suit me, and that if they really +wanted to be kind to me, they would let me go to bed and to sleep, +and not tease me about doing anything. To my great joy, they not only +permitted this, but actually, when they had their own meals, the Queen +brought my portion up to me. But early the next morning she appeared at +my bedside, saying, with an apologetic air: + +‘“My pretty child, I am afraid you must really make up your mind to get +up to-day. I know quite well how delightful it is to be thoroughly idle, +for when my husband and I were King and Queen we did nothing at all from +morning to night, and I sincerely hope that it will not be long before +those happy days will come again for us. But at present we have not +reached them, nor have you, and you know from what the Fairy said that +perhaps worse things may happen to us if she is not obeyed. Make +haste, I beg of you, and come down to breakfast, for I have put by some +delicious cream for you.” + +‘It was really very tiresome, but as there was no help for it I went +down! + +‘But the instant breakfast was over they began again their cuckoo-cry of +“What will you do?” In vain did I answer-- + +‘“Nothing at all, if it please you, madam.” + +‘The Queen at last gave me a spindle and about four pounds of hemp upon +a distaff, and sent me out to keep the sheep, assuring me that there +could not be a pleasanter occupation, and that I could take my ease as +much as I pleased. I was forced to set out, very unwillingly, as you may +imagine, but I had not walked far before I came to a shady bank in what +seemed to me a charming place. I stretched myself cosily upon the soft +grass, and with the bundle of hemp for a pillow slept as tranquilly as +if there were no such things as sheep in the world, while they for their +part wandered hither and thither at their own sweet will, as if there +were no such thing as a shepherdess, invading every field, and browsing +upon every kind of forbidden dainty, until the peasants, alarmed by the +havoc they were making, raised a clamour, which at last reached the +ears of the King and Queen, who ran out, and seeing the cause of the +commotion, hastily collected their flock. And, indeed, the sooner the +better, since they had to pay for all the damage they had done. As for +me I lay still and watched them run, for I was very comfortable, +and there I might be still if they had not come up, all panting and +breathless, and compelled me to get up and follow them; they also +reproached me bitterly, but I need hardly tell you that they did not +again entrust me with the flock. + +‘But whatever they found for me to do it was always the same thing, I +spoilt and mismanaged it all, and was so successful in provoking even +the most patient people, that one day I ran away from the farm, for I +was really afraid the Queen would be obliged to beat me. When I came to +the little river in which the King used to fish, I found the boat tied +to a tree, and stepping in I unfastened it, and floated gently down +with the current. The gliding of the boat was so soothing that I did not +trouble myself in the least when the Queen caught sight of me and ran +along the bank, crying-- + +‘“My boat, my boat! Husband, come and catch the little Princess who is +running away with my boat!” + +‘The current soon carried me out of hearing of her cries, and I dreamed +to the song of the ripples and the whisper of the trees, until the boat +suddenly stopped, and I found it was stuck fast beside a fresh green +meadow, and that the sun was rising. In the distance I saw some little +houses which seemed to be built in a most singular fashion, but as I was +by this time very hungry I set out towards them, but before I had walked +many steps, I saw that the air was full of shining objects which seemed +to be fixed, and yet I could not see what they hung from. + +‘I went nearer, and saw a silken cord hanging down to the ground, and +pulled it just because it was so close to my hand. Instantly the whole +meadow resounded to the melodious chiming of a peal of silver bells, and +they sounded so pretty that I sat down to listen, and to watch them as +they swung shining in the sunbeams. Before they ceased to sound, came +a great flight of birds, and each one perching upon a bell added its +charming song to the concert. As they ended, I looked up and saw a tall +and stately dame advancing towards me, surrounded and followed by a vast +flock of every kind of bird. + +‘“Who are you, little girl,” said she, “who dares to come where I allow +no mortal to live, lest my birds should be disturbed? Still, if you are +clever at anything,” she added, “I might be able to put up with your +presence.” + +‘“Madam,” I answered, rising, “you may be very sure that I shall not do +anything to alarm your birds. I only beg you, for pity’s sake, to give +me something to eat.” + +‘“I will do that,” she replied, “before I send you where you deserve to +go.” + +‘And thereupon she despatched six jays, who were her pages, to fetch +me all sorts of biscuits, while some of the other birds brought ripe +fruits. In fact, I had a delicious breakfast, though I do not like to be +waited upon so quickly. It is so disagreeable to be hurried. I began to +think I should like very well to stay in this pleasant country, and I +said so to the stately lady, but she answered with the greatest disdain: + +‘“Do you think I would keep you here? _You_! Why what do you suppose +would be the good of you in this country, where everybody is wide-awake +and busy? No, no, I have shown you all the hospitality you will get from +me.” + +‘With these words she turned and gave a vigorous pull to the silken rope +which I mentioned before, but instead of a melodious chime, there arose +a hideous clanging which quite terrified me, and in an instant a huge +Black Bird appeared, which alighted at the Fairy’s feet, saying in a +frightful voice-- + +‘“What do you want of me, my sister?” + +‘“I wish you to take this little Princess to my cousin, the Giant of the +Green Castle, at once,” she replied, “and beg him from me to make her +work day and night upon his beautiful tapestry.” + +‘At these words the great Bird snatched me up, regardless of my cries, +and flew off at a terrific pace--’ + +‘Oh! you are joking, cousin,’ interrupted Prince Vivien; ‘you mean as +slowly as possible. I know that horrible Black Bird, and the lengthiness +of all his proceedings and surroundings.’ + +‘Have it your own way,’ replied Placida, tranquilly. ‘I cannot bear +arguing. Perhaps, this was not even the same bird. At any rate, he +carried me off at a prodigious speed, and set me gently down in this +very castle of which you are now the master. We entered by one of the +windows, and when the Bird had handed me over to the Giant from whom you +have been good enough to deliver me, and given the Fairy’s message, it +departed. + +‘Then the Giant turned to me, saying, + +‘“So you are an idler! Ah! well, we must teach you to work. You won’t be +the first we have cured of laziness. See how busy all my guests are.” + +‘I looked up as he spoke, and saw that an immense gallery ran all round +the hall, in which were tapestry frames, spindles, skeins of wool, +patterns, and all necessary things. Before each frame about a dozen +people were sitting, hard at work, at which terrible sight I fainted +away, and as soon as I recovered they began to ask me what I could do. + +‘It was in vain that I replied as before, and with the strongest desire +to be taken at my word, “Nothing at all.” + +‘The Giant only said, + +‘“Then you must learn to do something; in this world there is enough +work for everybody.” + +‘It appeared that they were working into the tapestry all the stories +the Fairies liked best, and they began to try and teach me to help them, +but from the first class, where they tried me to begin with, I sank +lower and lower, and not even the most simple stitches could I learn. + +‘In vain they punished me by all the usual methods. In vain the Giant +showed me his menagerie, which was entirely composed of children who +would not work! Nothing did me any good, and at last I was reduced to +drawing water for the dyeing of the wools, and even over that I was so +slow that this morning the Giant flew into a rage and changed me into +a gazelle. He was just putting me into the menagerie when I happened to +catch sight of a dog, and was seized with such terror that I fled away +at my utmost speed, and escaped through the outer court of the castle. +The Giant, fearing that I should be lost altogether, sent his green lion +after me, with orders to bring me back, cost what it might, and I should +certainly have let myself be caught, or eaten up, or anything, rather +than run any further, if I had not luckily met you by the fountain. And +oh!’ concluded the Princess, ‘how delightful it is once more to be able +to sit still in peace. I was so tired of trying to learn things.’ + +Prince Vivien said that, for his part, he had been kept a great deal too +still, and had not found it at all amusing, and then he recounted all +his adventures with breathless rapidity. How he had taken shelter with +Dame Patience, and consulted the Oracle, and voyaged in the paper ship. +Then they went hand in hand to release all the prisoners in the castle, +and all the Princes and Princesses who were in cages in the menagerie, +for the instant the Green Giant was dead they had resumed their natural +forms. As you may imagine, they were all very grateful, and Princess +Placida entreated them never, never to do another stitch of work so long +as they lived, and they promptly made a great bonfire in the courtyard, +and solemnly burnt all the embroidery frames and spinning wheels. Then +the Princess gave them splendid presents, or rather sat by while Prince +Vivien gave them, and there were great rejoicings in the Green Castle, +and everyone did his best to please the Prince and Princess. But with +all their good intentions, they often made mistakes, for Vivien and +Placida were never of one mind about their plans, so it was very +confusing, and they frequently found themselves obeying the Prince’s +orders, very, very slowly, and rushing off with lightning speed to do +something that the Princess did not wish to have done at all, until, +by-and-by, the two cousins took to consulting with, and consoling one +another in all these little vexations, and at last came to be so fond of +each other that for Placida’s sake Vivien became quite patient, and for +Vivien’s sake Placida made the most unheard-of exertions. But now the +Fairies who had been watching all these proceedings with interest, +thought it was time to interfere, and ascertain by further trials if +this improvement was likely to continue, and if they really loved one +another. So they caused Placida to seem to have a violent fever, and +Vivien to languish and grow dull, and made each of them very uneasy +about the other, and then, finding a moment when they were apart, the +Fairy Mirlifiche suddenly appeared to Placida, and said-- + +‘I have just seen Prince Vivien, and he seemed to me to be very ill.’ + +‘Alas! yes, madam,’ she answered, ‘and if you will but cure him, you may +take me back to the farm, or bring the Green Giant to life again, and +you shall see how obedient I will be.’ + +‘If you really wish him to recover,’ said the Fairy, ‘you have only to +catch the Trotting Mouse and the Chaffinch-on-the-Wing and bring them to +me. Only remember that time presses!’ + +She had hardly finished speaking before the Princess was rushing +headlong out of the castle gate, and the Fairy after watching her till +she was lost to sight, gave a little chuckle and went in search of the +Prince, who begged her earnestly to send him back to the Black Castle, +or to the paper boat if she would but save Placida’s life. The Fairy +shook her head, and looked very grave. She quite agreed with him, the +Princess was in a bad way--‘But,’ said she, ‘if you can find the Rosy +Mole, and give him to her she will recover.’ So now it was the Prince’s +turn to set off in a vast hurry, only as soon as he left the Castle he +happened to go in exactly the opposite direction to the one Placida had +taken. Now you can imagine these two devoted lovers hunting night +and day. The Princess in the woods, always running, always listening, +pursuing hotly after two creatures which seemed to her very hard to +catch, which she yet never ceased from pursuing. The Prince on the other +hand wandering continually across the meadows, his eyes fixed upon the +ground, attentive to every movement among the moles. He was forced to +walk slowly--slowly upon tip-toe, hardly venturing to breathe. Often +he stood for hours motionless as a statue, and if the desire to succeed +could have helped him he would soon have possessed the Rosy Mole. But +alas! all that he caught were black and ordinary, though strange to say +he never grew impatient, but always seemed ready to begin the tedious +hunt again. But this changing of character is one of the most ordinary +miracles which love works. Neither the Prince nor the Princess gave a +thought to anything but their quest. It never even occurred to them to +wonder what country they had reached. So you may guess how astonished +they were one day, when having at last been successful after their long +and weary chase, they cried aloud at the same instant: ‘At last I have +saved my beloved,’ and then recognising each other’s voice looked up, +and rushed to meet one another with the wildest joy. Surprise kept them +silent while for one delicious moment they gazed into each other’s eyes, +and just then who should come up but King Gridelin, for it was into his +kingdom they had accidentally strayed. He recognized them in his turn +and greeted them joyfully, but when they turned afterwards to look for +the Rosy Mole, the Chaffinch, and the Trotting-Mouse, they had vanished, +and in their places stood a lovely lady whom they did not know, the +Black Bird, and the Green Giant. King Gridelin had no sooner set eyes +upon the lady than with a cry of joy he clasped her in his arms, for +it was no other than his long-lost wife, Santorina, about whose +imprisonment in Fairyland you may perhaps read some day. + +Then the Black Bird and the Green Giant resumed their natural form, +for they were enchanters, and up flew Lolotte and Mirlifiche in their +chariots, and then there was a great kissing and congratulating, for +everybody had regained someone he loved, including the enchanters, +who loved their natural forms dearly. After this they repaired to the +Palace, and the wedding of Prince Vivien and Princess Placida was held +at once with all the splendour imaginable. + +King Gridelin and Queen Santorina, after all their experiences had no +further desire to reign, so they retired happily to a peaceful place, +leaving their kingdom to the Prince and Princess, who were beloved by +all their subjects, and found their greatest happiness all their lives +long in making other people happy. + +Nonchalante et Papillon + + + + + +LITTLE ONE-EYE, LITTLE TWO-EYES, AND LITTLE THREE-EYES + + + +There was once a woman who had three daughters, of whom the eldest was +called Little One-eye, because she had only one eye in the middle of her +forehead; and the second, Little Two-eyes, because she had two eyes like +other people; and the youngest, Little Three-eyes, because she had three +eyes, and _her_ third eye was also in the middle of her forehead. But +because Little Two-eyes did not look any different from other children, +her sisters and mother could not bear her. They would say to her, ‘You +with your two eyes are no better than common folk; you don’t belong to +us.’ They pushed her here, and threw her wretched clothes there, and +gave her to eat only what they left, and they were as unkind to her as +ever they could be. + +It happened one day that Little Two-eyes had to go out into the fields +to take care of the goat, but she was still quite hungry because her +sisters had given her so little to eat. So she sat down in the meadow +and began to cry, and she cried so much that two little brooks ran out +of her eyes. But when she looked up once in her grief there stood a +woman beside her who asked, ‘Little Two-eyes, what are you crying for?’ +Little Two-eyes answered, ‘Have I not reason to cry? Because I have two +eyes like other people, my sisters and my mother cannot bear me; they +push me out of one corner into another, and give me nothing to eat +except what they leave. To-day they have given me so little that I am +still quite hungry.’ Then the wise woman said, ‘Little Two-eyes, dry +your eyes, and I will tell you something so that you need never be +hungry again. Only say to your goat, + +“Little goat, bleat, Little table, appear,” + +and a beautifully spread table will stand before you, with the most +delicious food on it, so that you can eat as much as you want. And when +you have had enough and don’t want the little table any more, you have +only to say, + +“Little goat, bleat, Little table, away,” + +and then it will vanish.’ Then the wise woman went away. + +But Little Two-eyes thought, ‘I must try at once if what she has told me +is true, for I am more hungry than ever’; and she said, + +‘Little goat, bleat, Little table appear,’ + +and scarcely had she uttered the words, when there stood a little table +before her covered with a white cloth, on which were arranged a plate, +with a knife and fork and a silver spoon, and the most beautiful dishes, +which were smoking hot, as if they had just come out of the kitchen. +Then Little Two-eyes said the shortest grace she knew, and set to work +and made a good dinner. And when she had had enough, she said, as the +wise woman had told her, + +‘Little goat, bleat, Little table, away,’ + +and immediately the table and all that was on it disappeared again. +‘That is a splendid way of housekeeping,’ thought Little Two-eyes, and +she was quite happy and contented. + +In the evening, when she went home with her goat, she found a little +earthenware dish with the food that her sisters had thrown to her, but +she did not touch it. The next day she went out again with her goat, and +left the few scraps which were given her. The first and second times +her sisters did not notice this, but when it happened continually, they +remarked it and said, ‘Something is the matter with Little Two-eyes, for +she always leaves her food now, and she used to gobble up all that was +given her. She must have found other means of getting food.’ So in +order to get at the truth, Little One-eye was told to go out with Little +Two-eyes when she drove the goat to pasture, and to notice particularly +what she got there, and whether anyone brought her food and drink. + +Now when Little Two-eyes was setting out, Little One-eye came up to her +and said, ‘I will go into the field with you and see if you take good +care of the goat, and if you drive him properly to get grass.’ But +Little Two-eyes saw what Little One-eye had in her mind, and she drove +the goat into the long grass and said, ‘Come, Little One-eye, we will +sit down here, and I will sing you something.’ + +Little One-eye sat down, and as she was very much tired by the long walk +to which she was not used, and by the hot day, and as Little Two-eyes +went on singing. + +‘Little One-eye, are you awake? Little One-eye, are you asleep?’ + +she shut her one eye and fell asleep. When Little Two-eyes saw that +Little One-eye was asleep and could find out nothing, she said, + +‘Little goat, bleat, Little table, appear,’ + +and sat down at her table and ate and drank as much as she wanted. Then +she said again, + +‘Little goat, bleat, Little table, away.’ + +and in the twinkling of an eye all had vanished. + +Little Two-eyes then woke Little One-eye and said, ‘Little One-eye, you +meant to watch, and, instead, you went to sleep; in the meantime the +goat might have run far and wide. Come, we will go home.’ So they went +home, and Little Two-eyes again left her little dish untouched, and +Little One-eye could not tell her mother why she would not eat, and said +as an excuse, ‘I was so sleepy out-of-doors.’ + +The next day the mother said to Little Three-eyes, ‘This time you shall +go with Little Two-eyes and watch whether she eats anything out in the +fields, and whether anyone brings her food and drink, for eat and drink +she must secretly.’ So Little Three-eyes went to Little Two-eyes and +said, ‘I will go with you and see if you take good care of the goat, and +if you drive him properly to get grass.’ But little Two-eyes knew what +Little Three-eyes had in her mind, and she drove the goat out into the +tall grass and said, ‘We will sit down here, Little Three-eyes, and I +will sing you something.’ Little Three-eyes sat down; she was tired by +the walk and the hot day, and Little Two-eyes sang the same little song +again: + +‘Little Three eyes, are you awake?’ + +but instead of singing as she ought to have done, + +‘Little Three-eyes, are you asleep?’ + +she sang, without thinking, + +‘Little _Two-eyes_, are you asleep?’ + +She went on singing, + +‘Little Three-eyes, are you awake? Little _Two-eyes_, are you asleep?’ + +so that the two eyes of Little Three-eyes fell asleep, but the third, +which was not spoken to in the little rhyme, did not fall asleep. Of +course Little Three-eyes shut that eye also out of cunning, to look as +if she were asleep, but it was blinking and could see everything quite +well. + +And when Little Two-eyes thought that Little Three-eyes was sound +asleep, she said her rhyme, + +‘Little goat, bleat, Little table, appear,’ + +and ate and drank to her heart’s content, and then made the table go +away again, by saying, + +‘Little goat, bleat, Little table, away.’ + +But Little Three-eyes had seen everything. Then Little Two-eyes came +to her, and woke her and said, ‘Well, Little Three-eyes, have you been +asleep? You watch well! Come, we will go home.’ When they reached home, +Little Two-eyes did not eat again, and Little Three-eyes said to the +mother, ‘I know now why that proud thing eats nothing. When she says to +the goat in the field, + +“Little goat, bleat, Little table, appear,” + +a table stands before her, spread with the best food, much better than +we have; and when she has had enough, she says, + +“Little goat, bleat, Little table, away,” + +and everything disappears again. I saw it all exactly. She made two +of my eyes go to sleep with a little rhyme, but the one in my forehead +remained awake, luckily!’ + +Then the envious mother cried out, ‘Will you fare better than we do? you +shall not have the chance to do so again!’ and she fetched a knife, and +killed the goat. + +When Little Two-eyes saw this, she went out full of grief, and sat down +in the meadow and wept bitter tears. Then again the wise woman stood +before her, and said, ‘Little Two-eyes, what are you crying for?’ ‘Have +I not reason to cry?’ she answered, ‘the goat, which when I said the +little rhyme, spread the table so beautifully, my mother has killed, and +now I must suffer hunger and want again.’ The wise woman said, ‘Little +Two-eyes, I will give you a good piece of advice. Ask your sisters to +give you the heart of the dead goat, and bury it in the earth before the +house-door; that will bring you good luck.’ Then she disappeared, and +Little Two-eyes went home, and said to her sisters, ‘Dear sisters, do +give me something of my goat; I ask nothing better than its heart.’ Then +they laughed and said, ‘You can have that if you want nothing more.’ And +Little Two-eyes took the heart and buried it in the evening when all was +quiet, as the wise woman had told her, before the house-door. The next +morning when they all awoke and came to the house-door, there stood +a most wonderful tree, which had leaves of silver and fruit of gold +growing on it--you never saw anything more lovely and gorgeous in your +life! But they did not know how the tree had grown up in the night; only +Little Two-eyes knew that it had sprung from the heart of the goat, for +it was standing just where she had buried it in the ground. Then the +mother said to Little One-eye, ‘Climb up, my child, and break us off the +fruit from the tree.’ Little One-eye climbed up, but just when she was +going to take hold of one of the golden apples the bough sprang out of +her hands; and this happened every time, so that she could not break off +a single apple, however hard she tried. Then the mother said, ‘Little +Three-eyes, do you climb up; you with your three eyes can see round +better than Little One-eye.’ So Little One-eye slid down, and Little +Three-eyes climbed up; but she was not any more successful; look round +as she might, the golden apples bent themselves back. At last the mother +got impatient and climbed up herself, but she was even less successful +than Little One-eye and Little Three-eyes in catching hold of the fruit, +and only grasped at the empty air. Then Little Two-eyes said, ‘I will +just try once, perhaps I shall succeed better.’ The sisters called out, +‘You with your two eyes will no doubt succeed!’ But Little Two-eyes +climbed up, and the golden apples did not jump away from her, but +behaved quite properly, so that she could pluck them off, one after the +other, and brought a whole apron-full down with her. The mother took +them from her, and, instead of behaving better to poor Little Two-eyes, +as they ought to have done, they were jealous that she only could reach +the fruit and behaved still more unkindly to her. + +It happened one day that when they were all standing together by the +tree that a young knight came riding along. ‘Be quick, Little Two-eyes,’ +cried the two sisters, ‘creep under this, so that you shall not disgrace +us,’ and they put over poor Little Two-eyes as quickly as possible an +empty cask, which was standing close to the tree, and they pushed the +golden apples which she had broken off under with her. When the knight, +who was a very handsome young man, rode up, he wondered to see the +marvellous tree of gold and silver, and said to the two sisters, ‘Whose +is this beautiful tree? Whoever will give me a twig of it shall have +whatever she wants.’ Then Little One-eye and Little Three-eyes answered +that the tree belonged to them, and that they would certainly break him +off a twig. They gave themselves a great deal of trouble, but in vain; +the twigs and fruit bent back every time from their hands. Then the +knight said, ‘It is very strange that the tree should belong to you, +and yet that you have not the power to break anything from it!’ But they +would have that the tree was theirs; and while they were saying this, +Little Two-eyes rolled a couple of golden apples from under the cask, +so that they lay at the knight’s feet, for she was angry with Little +One-eye and Little Three-eyes for not speaking the truth. When the +knight saw the apples he was astonished, and asked where they came from. +Little One-eye and Little Three-eyes answered that they had another +sister, but she could not be seen because she had only two eyes, like +ordinary people. But the knight demanded to see her, and called out, +‘Little Two-eyes, come forth.’ Then Little Two-eyes came out from under +the cask quite happily, and the knight was astonished at her great +beauty, and said, ‘Little Two-eyes, I am sure you can break me off a +twig from the tree.’ ‘Yes,’ answered Little Two-eyes, ‘I can, for the +tree is mine.’ So she climbed up and broke off a small branch with its +silver leaves and golden fruit without any trouble, and gave it to the +knight. Then he said, ‘Little Two-eyes, what shall I give you for this?’ +‘Ah,’ answered Little Two-eyes, ‘I suffer hunger and thirst, want and +sorrow, from early morning till late in the evening; if you would take +me with you, and free me from this, I should be happy!’ Then the knight +lifted Little Two-eyes on his horse, and took her home to his father’s +castle. There he gave her beautiful clothes, and food and drink, +and because he loved her so much he married her, and the wedding was +celebrated with great joy. + +When the handsome knight carried Little Two-eyes away with him, the two +sisters envied her good luck at first. ‘But the wonderful tree is still +with us, after all,’ they thought, ‘and although we cannot break any +fruit from it, everyone will stop and look at it, and will come to us +and praise it; who knows whether _we_ may not reap a harvest from it?’ +But the next morning the tree had flown, and their hopes with it; and +when Little Two-eyes looked out of her window there it stood underneath, +to her great delight. Little Two-eyes lived happily for a long time. +Once two poor women came to the castle to beg alms. Then Little Two-eyes +looked at then and recognised both her sisters, Little One-eye and +Little Three-eyes, who had become so poor that they came to beg bread at +her door. But Little Two-eyes bade them welcome, and was so good to them +that they both repented from their hearts of having been so unkind to +their sister. + +Grimm. + + + + + +JORINDE AND JORINGEL + + + +There was once upon a time a castle in the middle of a thick wood where +lived an old woman quite alone, for she was an enchantress. In the +day-time she changed herself into a cat or a night-owl, but in the +evening she became like an ordinary woman again. She could entice +animals and birds to come to her, and then she would kill and cook them. +If any youth came within a hundred paces of the castle, he was obliged +to stand still, and could not stir from the spot till she set him free; +but if a pretty girl came within this boundary, the old enchantress +changed her into a bird, and shut her up in a wicker cage, which she put +in one of the rooms in the castle. She had quite seven thousand of such +cages in the castle with very rare birds in them. + +Now, there was once a maiden called Jorinde, who was more beautiful +than other maidens. She and a youth named Joringel, who was just as +good-looking as she was, were betrothed to one another. Their greatest +delight was to be together, and so that they might get a good long +talk, they went one evening for a walk in the wood. ‘Take care,’ said +Joringel, ‘not to come too close to the castle.’ It was a beautiful +evening; the sun shone brightly between the stems of the trees among the +dark green leaves of the forest, and the turtle-dove sang clearly on the +old maybushes. + +Jorinde wept from time to time, and she sat herself down in the sunshine +and lamented, and Joringel lamented too. They felt as sad as if they had +been condemned to die; they looked round and got quite confused, and did +not remember which was their way home. Half the sun was still above the +mountain and half was behind it when Joringel looked through the trees +and saw the old wall of the castle quite near them. He was terrified and +half dead with fright. Jorinde sang: + +‘My little bird with throat so red Sings sorrow, sorrow, sorrow; He +sings to the little dove that’s dead, Sings sorrow, sor--jug, jug, jug.’ + +Joringel looked up at Jorinde. She had been changed into a nightingale, +who was singing ‘jug, jug.’ A night-owl with glowing eyes flew three +times round her, and screeched three times ‘tu-whit, tu-whit, tu-whoo.’ +Joringel could not stir; he stood there like a stone; he could not weep, +or speak, or move hand or foot. Now the sun set; the owl flew into +a bush, and immediately an old, bent woman came out of it; she was +yellow-skinned and thin, and had large red eyes and a hooked nose, +which met her chin. She muttered to herself, caught the nightingale, and +carried her away in her hand. Joringel could say nothing; he could not +move from the spot, and the nightingale was gone. At last the woman came +back again, and said in a gruff voice, ‘Good evening, Zachiel; when the +young moon shines in the basket, you are freed early, Zachiel.’ Then +Joringel was free. He fell on his knees before the old woman and +implored her to give him back his Jorinde, but she said he should never +have her again, and then went away. He called after her, he wept and +lamented, but all in vain. ‘What is to become of me!’ he thought. Then +he went away, and came at last to a strange village, where he kept sheep +for a long time. He often went round the castle while he was there, +but never too close. At last he dreamt one night that he had found a +blood-red flower, which had in its centre a beautiful large pearl. He +plucked this flower and went with it to the castle; and there everything +which he touched with the flower was freed from the enchantment, and he +got his Jorinde back again through it. When he awoke in the morning he +began to seek mountain and valley to find such a flower. He sought +it for eight days, and on the ninth early in the morning he found the +blood-red flower. In its centre was a large dew-drop, as big as the +most lovely pearl. He travelled day and night with this flower till he +arrived at the castle. When he came within a hundred paces of it he did +not cease to be able to move, but he went on till he reached the gate. +He was delighted at his success, touched the great gate with the flower, +and it sprung open. He entered, passed through the courtyard, and then +stopped to listen for the singing of the birds; at last he heard it. He +went in and found the hall in which was the enchantress, and with her +seven thousand birds in their wicker cages. When she saw Joringel she +was furious, and breathed out poison and gall at him, but she could not +move a step towards him. He took no notice of her, and went and looked +over the cages of birds; but there were many hundred nightingales, +and how was he to find his Jorinde from among them? Whilst he was +considering, he observed the old witch take up a cage secretly and go +with it towards the door. Instantly he sprang after her, touched the +cage with the flower, and the old woman as well. Now she could no longer +work enchantments, and there stood Jorinde before him, with her arms +round his neck, and more beautiful than ever. Then he turned all the +other birds again into maidens, and he went home with his Jorinde, and +they lived a long and happy life. + +Grimm. + + + + + +ALLERLEIRAUH; OR, THE MANY-FURRED CREATURE + + + +There was once upon a time a King who had a wife with golden hair, +and she was so beautiful that you couldn’t find anyone like her in the +world. It happened that she fell ill, and when she felt that she must +soon die, she sent for the King, and said, ‘If you want to marry after +my death, make no one queen unless she is just as beautiful as I am, and +has just such golden hair as I have. Promise me this.’ After the King +had promised her this, she closed her eyes and died. + +For a long time the King was not to be comforted, and he did not even +think of taking a second wife. At last his councillors said, ‘The King +_must_ marry again, so that we may have a queen.’ So messengers were +sent far and wide to seek for a bride equal to the late Queen in beauty. +But there was no one in the wide world, and if there had been she could +not have had such golden hair. Then the messengers came home again, not +having been able to find a queen. + +Now, the King had a daughter, who was just as beautiful as her dead +mother, and had just such golden hair. One day when she had grown up, +her father looked at her, and saw that she was exactly like her mother, +so he said to his councillors, ‘I will marry my daughter to one of you, +and she shall be queen, for she is exactly like her dead mother, and +when I die her husband shall be king.’ But when the Princess heard of +her father’s decision, she was not at all pleased, and said to him, +‘Before I do your bidding, I must have three dresses; one as golden as +the sun, one as silver as the moon, and one as shining as the stars. +Besides these, I want a cloak made of a thousand different kinds of +skin; every animal in your kingdom must give a bit of his skin to it.’ +But she thought to herself, ‘This will be quite impossible, and I shall +not have to marry someone I do not care for.’ The King, however, was not +to be turned from his purpose, and he commanded the most skilled maidens +in his kingdom to weave the three dresses, one as golden as the sun, and +one as silver as the moon, and one as shining as the stars; and he gave +orders to all his huntsmen to catch one of every kind of beast in the +kingdom, and to get a bit of its skin to make the cloak of a thousand +pieces of fur. At last, when all was ready, the King commanded the cloak +to be brought to him, and he spread it out before the Princess, and +said, ‘Tomorrow shall be your wedding-day.’ When the Princess saw +that there was no more hope of changing her father’s resolution, she +determined to flee away. In the night, when everyone else was sleeping, +she got up and took three things from her treasures, a gold ring, a +little gold spinning-wheel, and a gold reel; she put the sun, moon, and +star dresses in a nut-shell, drew on the cloak of many skins, and made +her face and hands black with soot. Then she commended herself to God, +and went out and travelled the whole night till she came to a large +forest. And as she was very much tired she sat down inside a hollow tree +and fell asleep. + +The sun rose and she still slept on and on, although it was nearly noon. +Now, it happened that the king to whom this wood belonged was hunting +in it. When his dogs came to the tree, they sniffed, and ran round and +round it, barking. The King said to the huntsmen, ‘See what sort of a +wild beast is in there.’ The huntsmen went in, and then came back and +said, ‘In the hollow tree there lies a wonderful animal that we don’t +know, and we have never seen one like it; its skin is made of a thousand +pieces of fur; but it is lying down asleep.’ The King said, ‘See if you +can catch it alive, and then fasten it to the cart, and we will take +it with us.’ When the huntsmen seized the maiden, she awoke and was +frightened, and cried out to them, ‘I am a poor child, forsaken by +father and mother; take pity on me, and let me go with you.’ Then they +said to her, ‘Many-furred Creature, you can work in the kitchen; come +with us and sweep the ashes together.’ So they put her in the cart and +they went back to the palace. There they showed her a tiny room under +the stairs, where no daylight came, and said to her, ‘Many-furred +Creature, you can live and sleep here.’ Then she was sent into the +kitchen, where she carried wood and water, poked the fire, washed +vegetables, plucked fowls, swept up the ashes, and did all the dirty +work. + +So the Many-furred Creature lived for a long time in great poverty. Ah, +beautiful King’s daughter, what is going to befall you now? + +It happened once when a great feast was being held in the palace, that +she said to the cook, ‘Can I go upstairs for a little bit and look on? +I will stand outside the doors.’ The cook replied, ‘Yes, you can go up, +but in half-an-hour you must be back here to sweep up the ashes.’ Then +she took her little oil-lamp, and went into her little room, drew off +her fur cloak, and washed off the soot from her face and hands, so that +her beauty shone forth, and it was as if one sunbeam after another were +coming out of a black cloud. Then she opened the nut, and took out the +dress as golden as the sun. And when she had done this, she went up to +the feast, and everyone stepped out of her way, for nobody knew her, and +they thought she must be a King’s daughter. But the King came towards +her and gave her his hand, and danced with her, thinking to himself, ‘My +eyes have never beheld anyone so fair!’ When the dance was ended, she +curtseyed to him, and when the King looked round she had disappeared, +no one knew whither. The guards who were standing before the palace were +called and questioned, but no one had seen her. + +She had run to her little room and had quickly taken off her dress, made +her face and hands black, put on the fur cloak, and was once more the +Many-furred Creature. When she came into the kitchen and was setting +about her work of sweeping the ashes together, the cook said to her, +‘Let that wait till to-morrow, and just cook the King’s soup for me; I +want to have a little peep at the company upstairs; but be sure that you +do not let a hair fall into it, otherwise you will get nothing to eat in +future!’ So the cook went away, and the Many-furred Creature cooked the +soup for the King. She made a bread-soup as well as she possibly could, +and when it was done, she fetched her gold ring from her little room, +and laid it in the tureen in which the soup was to be served up. + +When the dance was ended, the King had his soup brought to him and ate +it, and it was so good that he thought he had never tasted such soup in +his life. But when he came to the bottom of the dish he saw a gold ring +lying there, and he could not imagine how it got in. Then he commanded +the cook to be brought before him. The cook was terrified when he heard +the command, and said to the Many-furred Creature, ‘You must have let +a hair fall into the soup, and if you have you deserve a good beating!’ +When he came before the King, the King asked who had cooked the soup. +The cook answered, ‘I cooked it.’ But the King said, ‘That’s not true, +for it was quite different and much better soup than you have ever +cooked.’ Then the cook said, ‘I must confess; _I_ did not cook the soup; +the Many-furred Creature did.’ ‘Let her be brought before me,’ said the +King. When the Many-furred Creature came, the King asked her who she +was. ‘I am a poor child without father or mother.’ Then he asked her, +‘What do you do in my palace?’ ‘I am of no use except to have boots +thrown at my head.’ ‘How did you get the ring which was in the soup?’ he +asked. ‘I know nothing at all about the ring,’ she answered. So the King +could find out nothing, and was obliged to send her away. + +After a time there was another feast, and the Many-furred Creature +begged the cook as at the last one to let her go and look on. He +answered, ‘Yes, but come back again in half-an-hour and cook the King +the bread-soup that he likes so much.’ So she ran away to her little +room, washed herself quickly, took out of the nut the dress as silver +as the moon and put it on. Then she went upstairs looking just like a +King’s daughter, and the King came towards her, delighted to see her +again, and as the dance had just begun, they danced together. But when +the dance was ended, she disappeared again so quickly that the King +could not see which way she went. She ran to her little room and changed +herself once more into the Many-furred Creature, and went into the +kitchen to cook the bread-soup. When the cook was upstairs, she fetched +the golden spinning-wheel and put it in the dish so that the soup was +poured over it. It was brought to the King, who ate it, and liked it as +much as the last time. He had the cook sent to him, and again he had +to confess that the Many-furred Creature had cooked the soup. Then the +Many-furred Creature came before the King, but she said again that she +was of no use except to have boots thrown at her head, and that she knew +nothing at all of the golden spinning-wheel. + +When the King had a feast for the third time, things did not turn out +quite the same as at the other two. The cook said, ‘You must be a witch, +Many-furred Creature, for you always put something in the soup, so that +it is much better and tastes nicer to the King than any that I cook.’ +But because she begged hard, he let her go up for the usual time. Now +she put on the dress as shining as the stars, and stepped into the hall +in it. + +The King danced again with the beautiful maiden, and thought she had +never looked so beautiful. And while he was dancing, he put a gold ring +on her finger without her seeing it, and he commanded that the dance +should last longer than usual. When it was finished he wanted to keep +her hands in his, but she broke from him, and sprang so quickly away +among the people that she vanished from his sight. She ran as fast +as she could to her little room under the stairs, but because she had +stayed too long beyond the half-hour, she could not stop to take off the +beautiful dress, but only threw the fur cloak over it, and in her haste +she did not make herself quite black with the soot, one finger remaining +white. The Many-furred Creature now ran into the kitchen, cooked the +King’s bread-soup, and when the cook had gone, she laid the gold reel +in the dish. When the King found the reel at the bottom, he had the +Many-furred Creature brought to him, and then he saw the white finger, +and the ring which he had put on her hand in the dance. Then he took her +hand and held her tightly, and as she was trying to get away, she undid +the fur-cloak a little bit and the star-dress shone out. The King seized +the cloak and tore it off her. Her golden hair came down, and she stood +there in her full splendour, and could not hide herself away any more. +And when the soot and ashes had been washed from her face, she looked +more beautiful than anyone in the world. But the King said, ‘You are +my dear bride, and we will never be separated from one another.’ So the +wedding was celebrated and they lived happily ever after. + +Grimm. + + + + + +THE TWELVE HUNTSMEN + + + +Once upon a time there was a King’s son who was engaged to a Princess +whom he dearly loved. One day as he sat by her side feeling very happy, +he received news that his father was lying at the point of death, and +desired to see him before his end. So he said to his love: ‘Alas! I must +go off and leave you, but take this ring and wear it as a remembrance of +me, and when I am King I will return and fetch you home.’ + +Then he rode off, and when he reached his father he found him mortally +ill and very near death. + +The King said: ‘Dearest son, I have desired to see you again before +my end. Promise me, I beg of you, that you will marry according to my +wishes’; and he then named the daughter of a neighbouring King who he +was anxious should be his son’s wife. The Prince was so overwhelmed +with grief that he could think of nothing but his father, and exclaimed: +‘Yes, yes, dear father, whatever you desire shall be done.’ Thereupon +the King closed his eyes and died. + +After the Prince had been proclaimed King, and the usual time of +mourning had elapsed, he felt that he must keep the promise he had made +to his father, so he sent to ask for the hand of the King’s daughter, +which was granted to him at once. + +Now, his first love heard of this, and the thought of her lover’s +desertion grieved her so sadly that she pined away and nearly died. Her +father said to her: ‘My dearest child, why are you so unhappy? If there +is anything you wish for, say so, and you shall have it.’ + +His daughter reflected for a moment, and then said: ‘Dear father, I +wish for eleven girls as nearly as possible of the same height, age, and +appearance as myself.’ + +Said the King: ‘If the thing is possible your wish shall be fulfilled’; +and he had his kingdom searched till he found eleven maidens of the same +height, size, and appearance as his daughter. + +Then the Princess desired twelve complete huntsmen’s suits to be made, +all exactly alike, and the eleven maidens had to dress themselves in +eleven of the suits, while she herself put on the twelfth. After this +she took leave of her father, and rode off with her girls to the court +of her former lover. + +Here she enquired whether the King did not want some huntsmen, and if he +would not take them all into his service. The King saw her but did not +recognize her, and as he thought them very good-looking young people, he +said, ‘Yes, he would gladly engage them all.’ So they became the twelve +royal huntsmen. + +Now, the King had a most remarkable Lion, for it knew every hidden or +secret thing. + +One evening the Lion said to the King: ‘So you think you have got twelve +huntsmen, do you?’ + +‘Yes, certainly,’ said the King, ‘they _are_ twelve huntsmen.’ + +‘There you are mistaken,’ said the Lion; ‘they are twelve maidens.’ + +‘That cannot possibly be,’ replied the King; ‘how do you mean to prove +that?’ + +‘Just have a number of peas strewed over the floor of your +ante-chamber,’ said the Lion, ‘and you will soon see. Men have a strong, +firm tread, so that if they happen to walk over peas not one will stir, +but girls trip, and slip, and slide, so that the peas roll all about.’ + +The King was pleased with the Lion’s advice, and ordered the peas to be +strewn in his ante-room. + +Fortunately one of the King’s servants had become very partial to the +young huntsmen, and hearing of the trial they were to be put to, he went +to them and said: ‘The Lion wants to persuade the King that you are only +girls’; and then told them all the plot. + +The King’s daughter thanked him for the hint, and after he was gone +she said to her maidens: ‘Now make every effort to tread firmly on the +peas.’ + +Next morning, when the King sent for his twelve huntsmen, and they +passed through the ante-room which was plentifully strewn with peas, +they trod so firmly and walked with such a steady, strong step that not +a single pea rolled away or even so much as stirred. After they were +gone the King said to the Lion: ‘There now--you have been telling +lies--you see yourself they walk like men.’ + +‘Because they knew they were being put to the test,’ answered the Lion; +‘and so they made an effort; but just have a dozen spinning-wheels +placed in the ante-room. When they pass through you’ll see how pleased +they will be, quite unlike any man.’ + +The King was pleased with the advice, and desired twelve spinning-wheels +to be placed in his ante-chamber. + +But the good-natured servant went to the huntsmen and told them all +about this fresh plot. Then, as soon as the King’s daughter was alone +with her maidens, she exclaimed: ‘Now, pray make a great effort and +don’t even _look_ at those spinning-wheels.’ + +When the King sent for his twelve huntsmen next morning they +walked through the ante-room without even casting a glance at the +spinning-wheels. + +Then the King said once more to the Lion: ‘You have deceived me again; +they _are_ men, for they never once looked at the spinning-wheels.’ + +The Lion replied: ‘They knew they were being tried, and they did +violence to their feelings.’ But the King declined to believe in the +Lion any longer. + +So the twelve huntsmen continued to follow the King, and he grew daily +fonder of them. One day whilst they were all out hunting it so happened +that news was brought that the King’s intended bride was on her way and +might soon be expected. When the true bride heard of this she felt +as though a knife had pierced her heart, and she fell fainting to the +ground. The King, fearing something had happened to his dear huntsman, +ran up to help, and began drawing off his gloves. Then he saw the ring +which he had given to his first love, and as he gazed into her face he +knew her again, and his heart was so touched that he kissed her, and +as she opened her eyes, he cried: ‘I am thine and thou art mine, and no +power on earth can alter that.’ + +To the other Princess he despatched a messenger to beg her to return to +her own kingdom with all speed. ‘For,’ said he, ‘I have got a wife, and +he who finds an old key again does not require a new one.’ + +Thereupon the wedding was celebrated with great pomp, and the Lion was +restored to the royal favour, for after all he had told the truth. + +Grimm. + + + + + +SPINDLE, SHUTTLE, AND NEEDLE + + + +Once upon a time there lived a girl who lost her father and mother when +she was quite a tiny child. Her godmother lived all alone in a little +cottage at the far end of the village, and there she earned her living +by spinning, weaving, and sewing. The old woman took the little orphan +home with her and brought her up in good, pious, industrious habits. + +When the girl was fifteen years old, her godmother fell ill, and, +calling the child to her bedside, she said: ‘My dear daughter, I feel +that my end is near. I leave you my cottage, which will, at least, +shelter you, and also my spindle, my weaver’s shuttle, and my needle, +with which to earn your bread.’ + +Then she laid her hands on the girl’s head, blessed her, and added: +‘Mind and be good, and then all will go well with you.’ With that she +closed her eyes for the last time, and when she was carried to her grave +the girl walked behind her coffin weeping bitterly, and paid her all the +last honours. + +After this the girl lived all alone in the little cottage. She worked +hard, spinning, weaving, and sewing, and her old godmother’s blessing +seemed to prosper all she did. The flax seemed to spread and increase; +and when she wove a carpet or a piece of linen, or made a shirt, she was +sure to find a customer who paid her well, so that not only did she feel +no want herself, but she was able to help those who did. + +Now, it happened that about this time the King’s son was making a tour +through the entire country to look out for a bride. He could not marry a +poor woman, and he did not wish for a rich one. + +‘She shall be my wife,’ said he, ‘who is at once the poorest and the +richest.’ + +When he reached the village where the girl lived, he inquired who was +the richest and who the poorest woman in it. The richest was named +first; the poorest, he was told, was a young girl who lived alone in a +little cottage at the far end of the village. + +The rich girl sat at her door dressed out in all her best clothes, and +when the King’s son came near she got up, went to meet him, and made him +a low curtsey. He looked well at her, said nothing, but rode on further. + +When he reached the poor girl’s house he did not find her at her door, +for she was at work in her room. The Prince reined in his horse, looked +in at the window through which the sun was shining brightly, and saw the +girl sitting at her wheel busily spinning away. + +She looked up, and when she saw the King’s son gazing in at her, she +blushed red all over, cast down her eyes and span on. Whether the thread +was quite as even as usual I really cannot say, but she went on spinning +till the King’s son had ridden off. Then she stepped to the window and +opened the lattice, saying, ‘The room is so hot,’ but she looked after +him as long as she could see the white plumes in his hat. + +Then she sat down to her work once more and span on, and as she did so +an old saying which, she had often heard her godmother repeat whilst at +work, came into her head, and she began to sing: + +‘Spindle, spindle, go and see, If my love will come to me.’ + +Lo, and behold! the spindle leapt from her hand and rushed out of the +room, and when she had sufficiently recovered from her surprise to look +after it she saw it dancing merrily through the fields, dragging a long +golden thread after it, and soon it was lost to sight. + +The girl, having lost her spindle, took up the shuttle and, seating +herself at her loom, began to weave. Meantime the spindle danced on and +on, and just as it had come to the end of the golden thread, it reached +the King’s son. + +‘What do I see?’ he cried; ‘this spindle seems to wish to point out the +way to me.’ So he turned his horses head and rode back beside the golden +thread. + +Meantime the girl sat weaving, and sang: + +‘Shuttle, weave both web and woof, Bring my love beneath my roof.’ + +The shuttle instantly escaped from her hand, and with one bound was out +at the door. On the threshold it began weaving the loveliest carpet that +was ever seen. Roses and lilies bloomed on both sides, and in the centre +a thicket seemed to grow with rabbits and hares running through it, +stags and fawns peeping through the branches, whilst on the topmost +boughs sat birds of brilliant plumage and so life-like one almost +expected to hear them sing. The shuttle flew from side to side and the +carpet seemed almost to grow of itself. + +As the shuttle had run away the girl sat down to sew. She took her +needle and sang: + +‘Needle, needle, stitch away, Make my chamber bright and gay,’ + +and the needle promptly slipped from her fingers and flew about the room +like lightning. You would have thought invisible spirits were at work, +for in next to no time the table and benches were covered with green +cloth, the chairs with velvet, and elegant silk curtains hung before +the windows. The needle had barely put in its last stitch when the girl, +glancing at the window, spied the white plumed hat of the King’s son who +was being led back by the spindle with the golden thread. + +He dismounted and walked over the carpet into the house, and when he +entered the room there stood the girl blushing like any rose. ‘You are +the poorest and yet the richest,’ said he: ‘come with me, you shall be +my bride.’ + +She said nothing, but she held out her hand. Then he kissed her, and led +her out, lifted her on his horse and took her to his royal palace, where +the wedding was celebrated with great rejoicings. + +The spindle, the shuttle, and the needle were carefully placed in the +treasury, and were always held in the very highest honour. + +Grimm. + + + + + +THE CRYSTAL COFFIN + + + +Now let no one say that a poor tailor can’t get on in the world, and, +indeed, even attain to very high honour. Nothing is required but to set +the right way to work, but of course the really important thing is to +succeed. + +A very bright active young tailor once set off on his travels, which led +him into a wood, and as he did not know the way he soon lost himself. +Night came on, and there seemed to be nothing for it but to seek out +the best resting-place he could find. He could have made himself +quite comfortable with a bed of soft moss, but the fear of wild beasts +disturbed his mind, and at last he determined to spend the night in a +tree. + +He sought out a tall oak tree, climbed up to the top, and felt devoutly +thankful that his big smoothing-iron was in his pocket, for the wind +in the tree-tops was so high that he might easily have been blown away +altogether. + +After passing some hours of the night, not without considerable fear and +trembling, he noticed a light shining at a little distance, and hoping +it might proceed from some house where he could find a better shelter +than in the top of the tree, he cautiously descended and went towards +the light. It led him to a little hut all woven together of reeds and +rushes. He knocked bravely at the door, which opened, and by the light +which shone from within he saw an old gray-haired man dressed in a coat +made of bright-coloured patches. ‘Who are you, and what do you want?’ +asked the old man roughly. + +‘I am a poor tailor,’ replied the youth. ‘I have been benighted in +the forest, and I entreat you to let me take shelter in your hut till +morning.’ + +‘Go your way,’ said the old man in a sulky tone, ‘I’ll have nothing to +do with tramps. You must just go elsewhere.’ + +With these words he tried to slip back into his house, but the tailor +laid hold of his coat-tails, and begged so hard to be allowed to stay +that the old fellow, who was by no means as cross as he appeared, was at +length touched by his entreaties, let him come in, and after giving him +some food, showed him quite a nice bed in one corner of the room. The +weary tailor required no rocking to rest, but slept sound till early +morning, when he was roused from his slumbers by a tremendous noise. +Loud screams and shouts pierced the thin walls of the little hut. The +tailor, with new-born courage, sprang up, threw on his clothes with +all speed and hurried out. There he saw a huge black bull engaged in a +terrible fight with a fine large stag. They rushed at each other with +such fury that the ground seemed to tremble under them and the whole air +to be filled with their cries. For some time it appeared quite uncertain +which would be the victor, but at length the stag drove his antlers with +such force into his opponent’s body that the bull fell to the ground +with a terrific roar, and a few more strokes finished him. + +The tailor, who had been watching the fight with amazement, was still +standing motionless when the stag bounded up to him, and before he had +time to escape forked him up with its great antlers, and set off at full +gallop over hedges and ditches, hill and dale, through wood and water. +The tailor could do nothing but hold on tight with both hands to the +stag’s horns and resign himself to his fate. He felt as if he were +flying along. At length the stag paused before a steep rock and gently +let the tailor down to the ground. + +Feeling more dead than alive, he paused for a while to collect his +scattered senses, but when he seemed somewhat restored the stag struck +such a blow on a door in the rock that it flew open. Flames of fire +rushed forth, and such clouds of steam followed that the stag had to +avert its eyes. The tailor could not think what to do or which way to +turn to get away from this awful wilderness, and to find his way back +amongst human beings once more. + +As he stood hesitating, a voice from the rock cried to him: ‘Step in +without fear, no harm shall befall you.’ + +He still lingered, but some mysterious power seemed to impel him, and +passing through the door he found himself in a spacious hall, whose +ceiling, walls, and floor were covered with polished tiles carved all +over with unknown figures. He gazed about, full of wonder, and was just +preparing to walk out again when the same voice bade him: ‘Tread on the +stone in the middle of the hall, and good luck will attend you.’ + +By this time he had grown so courageous that he did not hesitate to obey +the order, and hardly had he stepped on the stone than it began to sink +gently with him into the depths below. On reaching firm ground he found +himself in a hall of much the same size as the upper one, but with much +more in it to wonder at and admire. Round the walls were several niches, +in each of which stood glass vessels filled with some bright-coloured +spirit or bluish smoke. On the floor stood two large crystal boxes +opposite each other, and these attracted his curiosity at once. + +Stepping up to one of them, he saw within it what looked like a model +in miniature of a fine castle surrounded by farms, barns, stables, and a +number of other buildings. Everything was quite tiny, but so beautifully +and carefully finished that it might have been the work of an +accomplished artist. He would have continued gazing much longer at this +remarkable curiosity had not the voice desired him to turn round and +look at the crystal coffin which stood opposite. + +What was his amazement at seeing a girl of surpassing loveliness lying +in it! She lay as though sleeping, and her long, fair hair seemed to +wrap her round like some costly mantle. Her eyes were closed, but the +bright colour in her face, and the movement of a ribbon, which rose and +fell with her breath, left no doubt as to her being alive. + +As the tailor stood gazing at her with a beating heart, the maiden +suddenly opened her eyes, and started with delighted surprise. + +‘Great heavens!’ she cried, ‘my deliverance approaches! Quick, quick, +help me out of my prison; only push back the bolt of this coffin and I +am free.’ + +The tailor promptly obeyed, when she quickly pushed back the crystal +lid, stepped out of the coffin and hurried to a corner of the hall, when +she proceeded to wrap herself in a large cloak. Then she sat down on +a stone, desired the young man to come near, and, giving him an +affectionate kiss, she said, ‘My long-hoped-for deliverer, kind heaven +has led you to me, and has at length put an end to all my sufferings. +You are my destined husband, and, beloved by me, and endowed with every +kind of riches and power, you shall spend the remainder of your life in +peace and happiness. Now sit down and hear my story. I am the daughter +of a wealthy nobleman. My parents died when I was very young, and +they left me to the care of my eldest brother, by whom I was carefully +educated. We loved each other so tenderly, and our tastes and interests +were so much alike that we determined never to marry, but to spend our +entire lives together. There was no lack of society at our home. Friends +and neighbours paid us frequent visits, and we kept open house for all. +Thus it happened that one evening a stranger rode up to the castle +and asked for hospitality, as he could not reach the nearest town that +night. We granted his request with ready courtesy, and during supper he +entertained us with most agreeable conversation, mingled with amusing +anecdotes. My brother took such a fancy to him that he pressed him to +spend a couple of days with us, which, after a little hesitation, the +stranger consented to do. We rose late from table, and whilst my brother +was showing our guest to his room I hurried to mine, for I was very +tired and longed to get to bed. I had hardly dropped off to sleep when +I was roused by the sound of some soft and charming music. Wondering +whence it could come, I was about to call to my maid who slept in the +room next mine, when, to my surprise, I felt as if some heavy weight on +my chest had taken all power from me, and I lay there unable to utter +the slightest sound. Meantime, by the light of the night lamp, I saw +the stranger enter my room, though the double doors had been securely +locked. He drew near and told me that through the power of his magic +arts he had caused the soft music to waken me, and had made his way +through bolts and bars to offer me his hand and heart. My repugnance to +his magic was so great that I would not condescend to give any answer. +He waited motionless for some time, hoping no doubt for a favourable +reply, but as I continued silent he angrily declared that he would find +means to punish my pride, and therewith he left the room in a rage. + +‘I spent the night in the greatest agitation, and only fell into a doze +towards morning. As soon as I awoke I jumped up, and hurried to tell my +brother all that had happened, but he had left his room, and his servant +told me that he had gone out at daybreak to hunt with the stranger. + +‘My mind misgave me. I dressed in all haste, had my palfrey saddled, and +rode of at full gallop towards the forest, attended by one servant only. +I pushed on without pausing, and ere long I saw the stranger coming +towards me, and leading a fine stag. I asked him where he had left my +brother, and how he had got the stag, whose great eyes were overflowing +with tears. Instead of answering he began to laugh, and I flew into such +a rage that I drew a pistol and fired at him; but the bullet rebounded +from his breast and struck my horse in the forehead. I fell to the +ground, and the stranger muttered some words, which robbed me of my +senses. + +‘When I came to myself I was lying in a crystal coffin in this +subterranean vault. The Magician appeared again, and told me that he had +transformed my brother into a stag, had reduced our castle and all +its defences to miniature and locked them up in a glass box, and after +turning all our household into different vapours had banished them into +glass phials. If I would only yield to his wishes he could easily open +these vessels, and all would then resume their former shapes. + +‘I would not say a word more than I had done previously, and he +vanished, leaving me in my prison, where a deep sleep soon fell on me. +Amongst the many dreams which floated through my brain was a cheering +one of a young man who was to come and release me, and to-day, when I +opened my eyes, I recognised you and saw that my dream was fulfilled. +Now help me to carry out the rest of my vision. The first thing is to +place the glass box which contains my castle on this large stone.’ + +As soon as this was done the stone gently rose through the air and +transported them into the upper hall, whence they easily carried the box +into the outer air. The lady then removed the lid, and it was marvellous +to watch the castle, houses, and farmyards begin to grow and spread +themselves till they had regained their proper size. Then the young +couple returned by means of the movable stone, and brought up all the +glass vessels filled with smoke. No sooner were they uncorked than the +blue vapours poured out and became transformed to living people, in whom +the lady joyfully recognised her many servants and attendants. + +Her delight was complete when her brother (who had killed the Magician +under the form of a bull) was seen coming from the forest in his proper +shape, and that very day, according to her promise, she gave her hand in +marriage to the happy young tailor. + +Grimm. + + + + + +THE THREE SNAKE-LEAVES + + + +There was once a poor man who could no longer afford to keep his only +son at home. So the son said to him, ‘Dear father, you are so poor that +I am only a burden to you; I would rather go out into the world and see +if I can earn my own living.’ The father gave him his blessing and +took leave of him with much sorrow. About this time the King of a very +powerful kingdom was carrying on a war; the youth therefore took service +under him and went on the campaign. When they came before the enemy, a +battle took place, there was some hot fighting, and it rained bullets so +thickly that his comrades fell around him on all sides. And when their +leader fell too the rest wished to take to flight; but the youth stepped +forward and encouraged them and called out, ‘We must not let our country +be ruined!’ Then others followed him, and he pressed on and defeated +the enemy. When the King heard that he had to thank him alone for the +victory, he raised him higher than anyone else in rank, gave him great +treasures and made him the first in the kingdom. + +The King had a daughter who was very beautiful, but she was also very +capricious. She had made a vow to marry no one who would not promise her +that if she died first, he would allow himself to be buried alive with +her. ‘If he loves me truly,’ she used to say, ‘what use would life be +to him then?’ At the same time she was willing to do the same, and if he +died first to be buried with him. This curious vow had up to this time +frightened away all suitors, but the young man was so captivated by her +beauty, that he hesitated at nothing and asked her hand of her father. +‘Do you know,’ asked the King, ‘what you have to promise?’ ‘I shall have +to go into her grave with her,’ he answered, ‘if I outlive her, but +my love is so great that I do not think of the risk.’ So the King +consented, and the wedding was celebrated with great splendour. + +Now, they lived for a long time very happily with one another, but then +it came to pass that the young Queen fell seriously ill, and no doctor +could save her. And when she lay dead, the young King remembered what +he had promised, and it made him shudder to think of lying in her grave +alive, but there was no escape. The King had set guards before all the +gates, and it was not possible to avoid his fate. + +When the day arrived on which the corpse was to be laid in the royal +vault, he was led thither, then the entrance was bolted and closed up. + +Near the coffin stood a table on which were placed four candles, four +loaves of bread, and four bottles of wine. As soon as this provision +came to an end he would have to die. So he sat there full of grief and +misery, eating every day only a tiny bit of bread, and drinking only a +mouthful of ovine, and he watched death creeping nearer and nearer to +him. One day as he was sitting staring moodily in front of him, he saw a +snake creep out of the corner towards the corpse. Thinking it was going +to touch it, he drew his sword and saying, ‘As long as I am alive you +shall not harm her,’ he cut it in three pieces. After a little time +a second snake crept out of the corner, but when it saw the first one +lying dead and in pieces it went back and came again soon, holding three +green leaves in its mouth. Then it took the three bits of the snake and +laid them in order, and put one of the leaves on each wound. Immediately +the pieces joined together, the snake moved itself and became alive and +then both hurried away. The leaves remained lying on the ground, and it +suddenly occurred to the unfortunate man who had seen everything, that +the wonderful power of the leaves might also be exercised upon a human +being. + +So he picked up the leaves and laid one of them on the mouth and the +other two on the eyes of the dead woman. And scarcely had he done this, +before the blood began to circulate in her veins, then it mounted and +brought colour back to her white face. Then she drew her breath, opened +her eyes, and said, ‘Ah! where am I?’ ‘You are with me, dear lady,’ he +answered, and told her all that had happened, and how he had brought her +to life again. He then gave her some wine and bread, and when all her +strength had returned she got up, and they went to the door and knocked +and called so loudly that the guards heard them, and told the King. The +King came himself to open the door, and there he found both happy and +well, and he rejoiced with them that now all trouble was over. But the +young King gave the three snake-leaves to a servant, saying to him, +‘Keep them carefully for me, and always carry them with you; who knows +but that they may help us in a time of need!’ + +It seemed, however, as if a change had come over the young Queen after +she had been restored to life, and as if all her love for her husband +had faded from her heart. Some time afterwards, when he wanted to take a +journey over the sea to his old father, and they were on board the ship, +she forgot the great love and faithfulness he had shown her and how he +had saved her from death, and fell in love with the captain. And one day +when the young King was lying asleep, she called the captain to her, +and seized the head of the sleeping King and made him take his feet, +and together they threw him into the sea. When they had done this wicked +deed, she said to him, ‘Now let us go home and say that he died on the +journey. I will praise you so much to my father that he will marry me to +you and make you the heir to the throne.’ But the faithful servant, who +had seen everything, let down a little boat into the sea, unobserved by +them, and rowed after his master while the traitors sailed on. He +took the drowned man out of the water, and with the help of the three +snake-leaves which he carried with him, placing them on his mouth and +eyes, he brought him to life again. + +They both rowed as hard as they could night and day, and their little +boat went so quickly that they reached the old King before the other two +did. He was much astonished to see them come back alone, and asked what +had happened to them. When he heard the wickedness of his daughter, he +said, ‘I cannot believe that she has acted so wrongly, but the truth +will soon come to light.’ He made them both go into a secret chamber, +and let no one see them. + +Soon after this the large ship came in, and the wicked lady appeared +before her father with a very sad face. He said to her, ‘Why have you +come back alone? Where is your husband?’ + +‘Ah, dear father,’ she replied, ‘I have come home in great grief; my +husband fell ill on the voyage quite suddenly, and died, and if the good +captain had not given me help, I should have died too. He was at his +death-bed and can tell you everything.’ + +The King said, ‘I will bring the dead to life again,’ and he opened +the door of the room and called them both out. The lady was as if +thunderstruck when she caught sight of her husband; she fell on her +knees and begged for mercy. But the King said, ‘You shall have no mercy. +He was ready to die with you, and restored you to life again; but you +killed him when he was sleeping, and shall receive your deserts.’ + +So she and her accomplice were put in a ship which was bored through +with holes, and were drawn out into the sea, where they soon perished in +the waves. + +Grimm. + + + + + +THE RIDDLE + + + +A King’s son once had a great desire to travel through the world, so he +started off, taking no one with him but one trusty servant. One day he +came to a great forest, and as evening drew on he could find no shelter, +and could not think where to spend the night. All of a sudden he saw +a girl going towards a little house, and as he drew nearer he remarked +that she was both young and pretty. He spoke to her, and said, ‘Dear +child, could I and my servant spend the night in this house?’ + +‘Oh yes,’ said the girl in a sad tone, ‘you can if you like, but I +should not advise you to do so. Better not go in.’ + +‘Why not?’ asked the King’s son. + +The girl sighed and answered, ‘My stepmother deals in black arts, and +she is not very friendly to strangers.’ + +The Prince guessed easily that he had fallen on a witch’s house, but +as by this time it was quite dark and he could go no further, and as +moreover he was not at all afraid, he stepped in. + +An old woman sat in an armchair near the fire, and as the strangers +entered she turned her red eyes on them. ‘Good evening,’ she muttered, +and pretending to be quite friendly. ‘Won’t you sit down?’ + +She blew up the fire on which she was cooking something in a little pot, +and her daughter secretly warned the travellers to be very careful +not to eat or drink anything, as the old woman’s brews were apt to be +dangerous. + +They went to bed, and slept soundly till morning. When they were ready +to start and the King’s son had already mounted his horse the old woman +said: ‘Wait a minute, I must give you a stirrup cup.’ Whilst she went +to fetch it the King’s son rode off, and the servant who had waited to +tighten his saddle-girths was alone when the witch returned. + +‘Take that to your master,’ she said; but as she spoke the glass cracked +and the poison spurted over the horse, and it was so powerful that the +poor creature sank down dead. The servant ran after his master and told +him what had happened, and then, not wishing to lose the saddle as well +as the horse, he went back to fetch it. When he got to the spot he saw +that a raven had perched on the carcase and was pecking at it. ‘Who +knows whether we shall get anything better to eat to-day!’ said the +servant, and he shot the raven and carried it off. + +Then they rode on all day through the forest without coming to the end. +At nightfall they reached an inn, which they entered, and the servant +gave the landlord the raven to dress for their supper. Now, as it +happened, this inn was a regular resort of a band of murderers, and the +old witch too was in the habit of frequenting it. + +As soon as it was dark twelve murderers arrived, with the full intention +of killing and robbing the strangers. Before they set to work, however, +they sat down to table, and the landlord and the old witch joined them, +and they all ate some broth in which the flesh of the raven had been +stewed down. They had hardly taken a couple of spoonfuls when they all +fell down dead, for the poison had passed from the horse to the raven +and so into the broth. So there was no one left belonging to the house +but the landlord’s daughter, who was a good, well-meaning girl, and had +taken no part in all the evil doings. + +She opened all the doors, and showed the strangers the treasures the +robbers had gathered together; but the Prince bade her keep them all +for herself, as he wanted none of them, and so he rode further with his +servant. + +After travelling about for some length of time they reached a town where +lived a lovely but most arrogant Princess. She had given out that anyone +who asked her a riddle which she found herself unable to guess should +be her husband, but should she guess it he must forfeit his head. She +claimed three days in which to think over the riddles, but she was so +very clever that she invariably guessed them in a much shorter time. +Nine suitors had already lost their lives when the King’s son arrived, +and, dazzled by her beauty, determined to risk his life in hopes of +winning her. + +So he came before her and propounded his riddle. ‘What is this?’ he +asked. ‘One slew none and yet killed twelve.’ + +She could not think what it was! She thought, and thought, and looked +through all her books of riddles and puzzles, but she found nothing to +help her, and could not guess; in fact, she was at her wits’ end. As she +could think of no way to guess the riddle, she ordered her maid to steal +at night into the Prince’s bedroom and to listen, for she thought that +he might perhaps talk aloud in his dreams and so betray the secret. But +the clever servant had taken his master’s place, and when the maid came +he tore off the cloak she had wrapped herself in and hunted her off with +a whip. + +On the second night the Princess sent her lady-in-waiting, hoping that +she might succeed better, but the servant took away her mantle and +chased her away also. + +On the third night the King’s son thought he really might feel safe, +so he went to bed. But in the middle of the night the Princess came +herself, all huddled up in a misty grey mantle, and sat down near him. +When she thought he was fast asleep, she spoke to him, hoping he would +answer in the midst of his dreams, as many people do; but he was wide +awake all the time, and heard and understood everything very well. + +Then she asked: ‘One slew none--what is that?’ and he answered: ‘A raven +which fed on the carcase of a poisoned horse.’ + +She went on: ‘And yet killed twelve--what is that?’ ‘Those are twelve +murderers who ate the raven and died of it.’ + +As soon as she knew the riddle she tried to slip away, but he held her +mantle so tightly that she was obliged to leave it behind. + +Next morning the Princess announced that she had guessed the riddle, and +sent for the twelve judges, before whom she declared it. But the young +man begged to be heard, too, and said: ‘She came by night to question +me, otherwise she never could have guessed it.’ + +The judges said: ‘Bring us some proof.’ So the servant brought out the +three cloaks, and when the judges saw the grey one, which the Princess +was in the habit of wearing, they said: ‘Let it be embroidered with gold +and silver; it shall be your wedding mantle.’ + +Grimm. + + + + + +JACK MY HEDGEHOG + + + +There was once a farmer who lived in great comfort. He had both lands +and money, but, though he was so well off, one thing was wanting to +complete his happiness; he had no children. Many and many a time, when +he met other farmers at the nearest market town, they would teaze him, +asking how it came about that he was childless. At length he grew so +angry that he exclaimed: ‘I must and will have a child of some sort or +kind, even should it only be a hedgehog!’ + +Not long after this his wife gave birth to a child, but though the lower +half of the little creature was a fine boy, from the waist upwards it +was a hedgehog, so that when his mother first saw him she was quite +frightened, and said to her husband, ‘There now, you have cursed the +child yourself.’ The farmer said, ‘What’s the use of making a fuss? I +suppose the creature must be christened, but I don’t see how we are to +ask anyone to be sponsor to him, and what are we to call him?’ + +‘There is nothing we can possibly call him but Jack my Hedgehog,’ +replied the wife. + +So they took him to be christened, and the parson said: ‘You’ll never +be able to put that child in a decent bed on account of his prickles.’ +Which was true, but they shook down some straw for him behind the stove, +and there he lay for eight years. His father grew very tired of him and +often wished him dead, but he did not die, but lay on there year after +year. + +Now one day there was a big fair at the market town to which the farmer +meant to go, so he asked his wife what he should bring her from it. +‘Some meat and a couple of big loaves for the house,’ said she. Then he +asked the maid what she wanted, and she said a pair of slippers and some +stockings. Lastly he said, ‘Well, Jack my Hedgehog, and what shall I +bring you?’ + +‘Daddy,’ said he, ‘do bring me a bagpipe.’ When the farmer came home he +gave his wife and the maid the things they had asked for, and then he +went behind the stove and gave Jack my Hedgehog the bagpipes. + +When Jack had got his bagpipes he said, ‘Daddy, do go to the smithy and +have the house cock shod for me; then I’ll ride off and trouble you no +more.’ His father, who was delighted at the prospect of getting rid of +him, had the cock shod, and when it was ready Jack my Hedgehog mounted +on its back and rode off to the forest, followed by all the pigs and +asses which he had promised to look after. + +Having reached the forest he made the cock fly up to the top of a very +tall tree with him, and there he sat looking after his pigs and donkeys, +and he sat on and on for several years till he had quite a big herd; but +all this time his father knew nothing about him. + +As he sat up in his tree he played away on his pipes and drew the +loveliest music from them. As he was playing one day a King, who had +lost his way, happened to pass close by, and hearing the music he was +much surprised, and sent one of his servants to find out where it +came from. The man peered about, but he could see nothing but a little +creature which looked like a cock with a hedgehog sitting on it, perched +up in a tree. The King desired the servant to ask the strange creature +why it sat there, and if it knew the shortest way to his kingdom. + +On this Jack my Hedgehog stepped down from his tree and said he would +undertake to show the King his way home if the King on his part would +give him his written promise to let him have whatever first met him on +his return. + +The King thought to himself, ‘That’s easy enough to promise. The +creature won’t understand a word about it, so I can just write what I +choose.’ + +So he took pen and ink and wrote something, and when he had done Jack my +Hedgehog pointed out the way and the King got safely home. + +Now when the King’s daughter saw her father returning in the distance +she was so delighted that she ran to meet him and threw herself into +his arms. Then the King remembered Jack my Hedgehog, and he told his +daughter how he had been obliged to give a written promise to bestow +whatever he first met when he got home on an extraordinary creature +which had shown him the way. The creature, said he, rode on a cock +as though it had been a horse, and it made lovely music, but as it +certainly could not read he had just written that he would _not_ give +it anything at all. At this the Princess was quite pleased, and said how +cleverly her father had managed, for that of course nothing would induce +her to have gone off with Jack my Hedgehog. + +Meantime Jack minded his asses and pigs, sat aloft in his tree, played +his bagpipes, and was always merry and cheery. After a time it so +happened that another King, having lost his way, passed by with his +servants and escort, wondering how he could find his way home, for the +forest was very vast. He too heard the music, and told one of his men to +find out whence it came. The man came under the tree, and looking up to +the top there he saw Jack my Hedgehog astride on the cock. + +The servant asked Jack what he was doing up there. ‘I’m minding my pigs +and donkeys; but what do you want?’ was the reply. Then the servant told +him they had lost their way, and wanted some one to show it them. Down +came Jack my Hedgehog with his cock, and told the old King he would show +him the right way if he would solemnly promise to give him the first +thing he met in front of his royal castle. + +The King said ‘Yes,’ and gave Jack a written promise to that effect. + +Then Jack rode on in front pointing out the way, and the King reached +his own country in safety. + +Now he had an only daughter who was extremely beautiful, and who, +delighted at her father’s return, ran to meet him, threw her arms round +his neck and kissed him heartily. Then she asked where he had been +wandering so long, and he told her how he had lost his way and might +never have reached home at all but for a strange creature, half-man, +half-hedgehog, which rode a cock and sat up in a tree making lovely +music, and which had shown him the right way. He also told her how he +had been obliged to pledge his word to give the creature the first +thing which met him outside his castle gate, and he felt very sad at the +thought that she had been the first thing to meet him. + +But the Princess comforted him, and said she should be quite willing to +go with Jack my Hedgehog whenever he came to fetch her, because of the +great love she bore to her dear old father. + +Jack my Hedgehog continued to herd his pigs, and they increased in +number till there were so many that the forest seemed full of them. So +he made up his mind to live there no longer, and sent a message to his +father telling him to have all the stables and outhouses in the village +cleared, as he was going to bring such an enormous herd that all who +would might kill what they chose. His father was much vexed at this +news, for he thought Jack had died long ago. Jack my Hedgehog mounted +his cock, and driving his pigs before him into the village, he let every +one kill as many as they chose, and such a hacking and hewing of pork +went on as you might have heard for miles off. + +Then said Jack, ‘Daddy, let the blacksmith shoe my cock once more; then +I’ll ride off, and I promise you I’ll never come back again as long as +I live.’ So the father had the cock shod, and rejoiced at the idea of +getting rid of his son. + +Then Jack my Hedgehog set off for the first kingdom, and there the King +had given strict orders that if anyone should be seen riding a cock +and carrying a bagpipe he was to be chased away and shot at, and on no +account to be allowed to enter the palace. So when Jack my Hedgehog rode +up the guards charged him with their bayonets, but he put spurs to his +cock, flew up over the gate right to the King’s windows, let himself +down on the sill, and called out that if he was not given what had been +promised him, both the King and his daughter should pay for it with +their lives. Then the King coaxed and entreated his daughter to go with +Jack and so save both their lives. + +The Princess dressed herself all in white, and her father gave her a +coach with six horses and servants in gorgeous liveries and quantities +of money. She stepped into the coach, and Jack my Hedgehog with his cock +and pipes took his place beside her. They both took leave, and the King +fully expected never to set eyes on them again. But matters turned out +very differently from what he had expected, for when they had got +a certain distance from the town Jack tore all the Princess’s smart +clothes off her, and pricked her all over with his bristles, saying: +‘That’s what you get for treachery. Now go back, I’ll have no more to +say to you.’ And with that he hunted her home, and she felt she had been +disgraced and put to shame till her life’s end. + +Then Jack my Hedgehog rode on with his cock and bagpipes to the country +of the second King to whom he had shown the way. Now this King had given +orders that, in the event of Jack’s coming the guards were to present +arms, the people to cheer, and he was to be conducted in triumph to the +royal palace. + +When the King’s daughter saw Jack my Hedgehog, she was a good deal +startled, for he certainly was very peculiar looking; but after all she +considered that she had given her word and it couldn’t be helped. So she +made Jack welcome and they were betrothed to each other, and at dinner +he sat next her at the royal table, and they ate and drank together. + +When they retired to rest the Princess feared lest Jack should kiss her +because of his prickles, but he told her not to be alarmed as no harm +should befall her. Then he begged the old King to place a watch of four +men just outside his bedroom door, and to desire them to make a big +fire. When he was about to lie down in bed he would creep out of his +hedgehog skin, and leave it lying at the bedside; then the men must +rush in, throw the skin into the fire, and stand by till it was entirely +burnt up. + +And so it was, for when it struck eleven, Jack my Hedgehog went to his +room, took off his skin and left it at the foot of the bed. The men +rushed in, quickly seized the skin and threw it on the fire, and +directly it was all burnt Jack was released from his enchantment and +lay in his bed a man from head to foot, but quite black as though he had +been severely scorched. + +The King sent off for his physician in ordinary, who washed Jack all +over with various essences and salves, so that he became white and was a +remarkably handsome young man. When the King’s daughter saw him she was +greatly pleased, and next day the marriage ceremony was performed, and +the old King bestowed his kingdom on Jack my Hedgehog. + +After some years Jack and his wife went to visit his father, but the +farmer did not recognize him, and declared he had no son; he had had +one, but that one was born with bristles like a hedgehog, and had gone +off into the wide world. Then Jack told his story, and his old father +rejoiced and returned to live with him in his kingdom. + +Grimm. + + + + + +THE GOLDEN LADS + + + +A poor man and his wife lived in a little cottage, where they supported +themselves by catching fish in the nearest river, and got on as best +they could, living from hand to mouth. One day it happened that when the +fisherman drew in his net he found in it a remarkable fish, for it was +entirely of gold. As he was inspecting it with some surprise, the fish +opened its mouth and said: ‘Listen to me, fisher; if you will just +throw me back into the water I’ll turn your poor little cottage into a +splendid castle.’ + +The fisher replied: ‘What good, pray, will a castle be to me if I have +nothing to eat in it?’ + +‘Oh,’ said the gold fish, ‘I’ll take care of that. There will be a +cupboard in the castle, in which you will find dishes of every kind of +food you can wish for most.’ + +‘If that’s the case,’ said the man, ‘I’ve no objection to oblige you.’ + +‘Yes,’ observed the fish, ‘but there is one condition attached to my +offer, and that is that you are not to reveal to a soul where your good +fortune comes from. If you say a word about it, it will all vanish.’ + +The man threw the fish back into the water, and went home. But on the +spot where his cottage used to stand he found a spacious castle. He +opened his eyes wide, went in and found his wife dressed out in smart +clothes, sitting in a splendidly furnished drawing-room. She was in high +spirits, and cried out: ‘Oh husband! how can this all have happened? I +am so pleased!’ + +‘Yes,’ said her husband, ‘so am I pleased; but I’m uncommonly hungry, +and I want something to eat at once.’ + +Said his wife, ‘I’ve got nothing, and I don’t know where anything is in +this new house.’ + +‘Never mind,’ replied the man. ‘I see a big cupboard there. Suppose you +unlock it.’ + +When the cupboard was opened they found meat, cakes, fruit, and wine, +all spread out in the most tempting fashions. The wife clapped her hands +with joy, and cried: ‘Dear heart! what more can one wish for?’ and they +sat down and ate and drank. + +When they had finished the wife asked, ‘But husband, where do all these +riches come from?’ + +‘Ah!’ said he, ‘don’t ask me. I dare not tell you. If I reveal the +secret to anyone, it will be all up with us.’ + +‘Very well,’ she replied, ‘if I’m not to be told, of course I don’t want +to know anything about it.’ + +But she was not really in earnest, for her curiosity never left her a +moment’s peace by day or night, and she teazed and worried her husband +to such a pitch, that at length he quite lost patience and blurted out +that it all came from a wonderful golden fish which he had caught +and set free again. Hardly were the words well out of his mouth, when +castle, cupboard, and all vanished, and there they were sitting in their +poor little fishing hut once more. + +The man had to betake himself to his former trade, and set to fishing +again. As luck would have it, he caught the golden fish a second time. + +‘Now listen,’ said the fish, ‘if you’ll throw me back into the water, +I’ll give you back the castle and the cupboard with all its good things; +but now take care, and don’t for your life betray where you got them, or +you’ll just lose them again.’ + +‘I’ll be very careful,’ promised the fisher, and threw the fish back +into the water. When he went home he found all their former splendour +restored, and his wife overjoyed at their good fortune. But her +curiosity still continued to torment her, and after restraining it with +a great effort for a couple of days, she began questioning her husband +again, as to what had happened, and how he had managed. + +The man kept silence for some time, but at last she irritated him so +much that he burst out with the secret, and in one moment the castle was +gone, and they sat once more in their wretched old hut. + +‘There!’ exclaimed the man, ‘you _would_ have it--now we may just go on +short commons.’ + +‘Ah!’ said his wife, ‘after all I’d rather not have all the riches +in the world if I can’t know where they come from--I shall not have a +moment’s peace.’ + +The man took to his fishing again, and one day fate brought the gold +fish into his net for the third time. ‘Well,’ said the fish, ‘I see that +I am evidently destined to fall into your hands. Now take me home, and +cut me into six pieces. Give two bits to your wife to eat, two to your +horse, and plant the remaining two in your garden, and they will bring +you a blessing.’ + +The man carried the fish home, and did exactly as he had been told. +After a time, it came to pass that from the two pieces he had planted in +the garden two golden lilies grew up, and that his horse had two golden +foals, whilst his wife gave birth to twin boys who were all golden. + +The children grew up both tall and handsome, and the foals and the +lilies grew with them. + +One day the children came to their father and said, ‘Father, we want to +mount on golden steeds, and ride forth to see the world.’ + +Their father answered sadly, ‘How can I bear it if, when you are far +away, I know nothing about you?’ and they said, ‘The golden lilies will +tell you all about us if you look at them. If they seem to droop, you +will know we are ill, and if they fall down and fade away, it will be a +sign we are dead.’ + +So off they rode, and came to an inn where were a number of people who, +as soon as they saw the two golden lads, began to laugh and jeer at +them. When one of them heard this, his heart failed him, and he thought +he would go no further into the world, so he turned back and rode home +to his father, but his brother rode on till he reached the outskirts +of a huge forest. Here he was told, ‘It will never do for you to ride +through the forest, it is full of robbers, and you’re sure to come to +grief, especially when they see that you and your horse are golden. +They will certainly fall on you and kill you.’ However, he was not to be +intimidated, but said, ‘I must and will ride on.’ + +So he procured some bears’ skins, and covered himself and his horse +with them, so that not a particle of gold could be seen, and then rode +bravely on into the heart of the forest. + +When he had got some way he heard a rustling through the bushes and +presently a sound of voices. Someone whispered on one side of him: +‘There goes someone,’ and was answered from the other side: ‘Oh, let +him pass. He’s only a bear-keeper, and as poor as any church mouse.’ So +golden lad rode through the forest and no harm befell him. + +One day he came to a village, where he saw a girl who struck him as +being the loveliest creature in the whole world, and as he felt a great +love for her, he went up to her and said: ‘I love you with all my heart; +will you be my wife?’ And the girl liked him so much that she put her +hand in his and replied: ‘Yes, I will be your wife, and will be true to +you as long as I live.’ + +So they were married, and in the middle of all the festivities and +rejoicings the bride’s father came home and was not a little surprised +at finding his daughter celebrating her wedding. He enquired: ‘And who +is the bridegroom?’ + +Then someone pointed out to him the golden lad, who was still wrapped +up in the bear’s skin, and the father exclaimed angrily: ‘Never shall +a mere bear-keeper have my daughter,’ and tried to rush at him and kill +him. But the bride did all she could to pacify him, and begged hard, +saying: ‘After all he is my husband, and I love him with all my heart,’ +so that at length he gave in. + +However, he could not dismiss the thought from his mind, and next +morning he rose very early, for he felt he must go and look at his +daughter’s husband and see whether he really was nothing better than a +mere ragged beggar. So he went to his son-in-law’s room, and who +should he see lying in the bed but a splendid golden man, and the rough +bearskin thrown on the ground close by. Then he slipped quietly away, +and thought to himself, ‘How lucky that I managed to control my rage! I +should certainly have committed a great crime.’ + +Meantime the golden lad dreamt that he was out hunting and was giving +chase to a noble stag, and when he woke he said to his bride: ‘I must go +off and hunt.’ She felt very anxious, and begged he would stay at home, +adding: ‘Some mishap might so easily befall you,’ but he answered, ‘I +must and will go.’ + +So he went off into the forest, and before long a fine stag, such as he +had seen in his dream, stopped just in front of him. He took aim, and +was about to fire when the stag bounded away. Then he started off in +pursuit, making his way through bushes and briars, and never stopped all +day; but in the evening the stag entirely disappeared, and when golden +lad came to look about him he found himself just opposite a hut in which +lived a witch. He knocked at the door, which was opened by a little old +woman who asked, ‘What do you want at this late hour in the midst of +this great forest?’ + +He said, ‘Haven’t you seen a stag about here?’ + +‘Yes,’ said she, ‘I know the stag well,’ and as she spoke a little dog +ran out of the house and began barking and snapping at the stranger. + +‘Be quiet, you little toad,’ he cried, ‘or I’ll shoot you dead.’ + +Then the witch flew into a great rage, and screamed out, ‘What! you’ll +kill my dog, will you?’ and the next moment he was turned to stone and +lay there immovable, whilst his bride waited for him in vain and thought +to herself, ‘Alas! no doubt the evil I feared, and which has made my +heart so heavy, has befallen him.’ + +Meantime, the other brother was standing near the golden lilies at +home, when suddenly one of them bent over and fell to the ground. ‘Good +heavens!’ cried he, ‘some great misfortune has befallen my brother. I +must set off at once; perhaps I may still be in time to save him.’ + +His father entreated him, ‘Stay at home. If I should lose you too, what +would become of me?’ + +But his son replied, ‘I must and will go.’ + +Then he mounted his golden horse, and rode off till he reached the +forest where his brother lay transformed to stone. The old witch came +out of her house and called to him, for she would gladly have cast her +spells on him too, but he took care not to go near her, and called +out: ‘Restore my brother to life at once, or I’ll shoot you down on the +spot.’ + +Reluctantly she touched the stone with her finger, and in a moment it +resumed its human shape. The two golden lads fell into each other’s arms +and kissed each other with joy, and then rode off together to the edge +of the forest, where they parted, one to return to his old father, and +the other to his bride. + +When the former got home his father said, ‘I knew you had delivered your +brother, for all of a sudden the golden lily reared itself up and burst +into blossom.’ + +Then they all lived happily to their lives’ ends, and all things went +well with them. + +Grimm. + + + + + +THE WHITE SNAKE + + + +Not very long ago there lived a King, the fame of whose wisdom was +spread far and wide. Nothing appeared to be unknown to him, and it +really seemed as if tidings of the most secret matters must be borne to +him by the winds. He had one very peculiar habit. Every day, after the +dinner table had been cleared, and everyone had retired, a confidential +servant brought in a dish. It was covered, and neither the servant nor +anyone else had any idea what was on it, for the King never removed the +cover or partook of the dish, till he was quite alone. + +This went on for some time till, one day, the servant who removed the +dish was so overcome with curiosity, that he could not resist carrying +it off to his own room. After carefully locking the door, he lifted the +cover, and there he saw a white snake lying on the dish. On seeing it he +could not restrain his desire to taste it, so he cut off a small piece +and put it in his mouth. + +Hardly had it touched his tongue than he heard a strange sort of +whispering of tiny voices outside his window. He stepped to the casement +to listen, and found that the sound proceeded from the sparrows, who +were talking together and telling each other all they had seen in the +fields and woods. The piece of the white snake which he had eaten had +enabled him to understand the language of animals. + +Now on this particular day, it so happened that the Queen lost her +favourite ring, and suspicion fell on the confidential servant who had +access to all parts of the palace. The King sent for him, and threatened +him angrily, saying that if he had not found the thief by the next day, +he should himself be taken up and tried. + +It was useless to assert his innocence; he was dismissed without +ceremony. In his agitation and distress, he went down to the yard to +think over what he could do in this trouble. Here were a number of ducks +resting near a little stream, and pluming, themselves with their bills, +whilst they kept up an animated conversation amongst themselves. The +servant stood still listening to them. They were talking of where they +had been waddling about all the morning, and of the good food they had +found, but one of them remarked rather sadly, ‘There’s something lying +very heavy on my stomach, for in my haste I’ve swallowed a ring, which +was lying just under the Queen’s window.’ + +No sooner did the servant hear this than he seized the duck by the neck, +carried it off to the kitchen, and said to the cook, ‘Suppose you kill +this duck; you see she’s nice and fat.’ + +‘Yes, indeed,’ said the cook, weighing the duck in his hand, ‘she +certainly has spared no pains to stuff herself well, and must have been +waiting for the spit for some time.’ So he chopped off her head, and +when she was opened there was the Queen’s ring in her stomach. + +It was easy enough now for the servant to prove his innocence, and the +King, feeling he had done him an injustice, and anxious to make some +amends, desired him to ask any favour he chose, and promised to give him +the highest post at Court he could wish for. + +The servant, however, declined everything, and only begged for a +horse and some money to enable him to travel, as he was anxious to see +something of the world. + +When his request was granted, he set off on his journey, and in the +course of it he one day came to a large pond, on the edge of which +he noticed three fishes which had got entangled in the reeds and were +gasping for water. Though fish are generally supposed to be quite mute, +he heard them grieving aloud at the prospect of dying in this wretched +manner. Having a very kind heart he dismounted and soon set the +prisoners free, and in the water once more. They flapped with joy, and +stretching up their heads cried to him: ‘We will remember, and reward +you for saving us.’ + +He rode further, and after a while he thought he heard a voice in the +sand under his feet. He paused to listen, and heard the King of the Ants +complaining: ‘If only men with their awkward beasts would keep clear of +us! That stupid horse is crushing my people mercilessly to death with +his great hoofs.’ The servant at once turned into a side path, and the +Ant-King called after him, ‘We’ll remember and reward you.’ + +The road next led through a wood, where he saw a father and a mother +raven standing by their nest and throwing out their young: ‘Away with +you, you young rascals!’ they cried, ‘we can’t feed you any longer. You +are quite big enough to support yourselves now.’ The poor little birds +lay on the ground flapping and beating their wings, and shrieked, ‘We +poor helpless children, feed ourselves indeed! Why, we can’t even fly +yet; what can we do but die of hunger?’ Then the kind youth dismounted, +drew his sword, and killing his horse left it there as food for the +young ravens. They hopped up, satisfied their hunger, and piped: ‘We’ll +remember, and reward you!’ + +He was now obliged to trust to his own legs, and after walking a +long way he reached a big town. Here he found a great crowd and much +commotion in the streets, and a herald rode about announcing, ‘The +King’s daughter seeks a husband, but whoever would woo her must first +execute a difficult task, and if he does not succeed he must be content +to forfeit his life.’ Many had risked their lives, but in vain. When the +youth saw the King’s daughter, he was so dazzled by her beauty, that he +forgot all idea of danger, and went to the King to announce himself a +suitor. + +On this he was led out to a large lake, and a gold ring was thrown into +it before his eyes. The King desired him to dive after it, adding, ‘If +you return without it you will be thrown back into the lake time after +time, till you are drowned in its depths.’ + +Everyone felt sorry for the handsome young fellow and left him alone on +the shore. There he stood thinking and wondering what he could do, when +all of a sudden he saw three fishes swimming along, and recognised them +as the very same whose lives he had saved. The middle fish held a mussel +in its mouth, which it laid at the young man’s feet, and when he picked +it up and opened it, there was the golden ring inside. + +Full of delight he brought it to the King’s daughter, expecting to +receive his promised reward. The haughty Princess, however, on hearing +that he was not her equal by birth despised him, and exacted the +fulfilment of a second task. + +She went into the garden, and with her own hands she strewed ten sacks +full of millet all over the grass. ‘He must pick all that up to-morrow +morning before sunrise,’ she said; ‘not a grain must be lost.’ + +The youth sat down in the garden and wondered how it would be possible +for him to accomplish such a task, but he could think of no expedient, +and sat there sadly expecting to meet his death at daybreak. + +But when the first rays of the rising sun fell on the garden, he saw +the ten sacks all completely filled, standing there in a row, and not a +single grain missing. The Ant-King, with his thousands and thousands +of followers, had come during the night, and the grateful creatures had +industriously gathered all the millet together and put it in the sacks. + +The King’s daughter came down to the garden herself, and saw to her +amazement that her suitor had accomplished the task she had given him. +But even now she could not bend her proud heart, and she said, ‘Though +he has executed these two tasks, yet he shall not be my husband till he +brings me an apple from the tree of life.’ + +The young man did not even know where the tree of life grew, but he set +off, determined to walk as far as his legs would carry him, though he +had no hope of ever finding it. + +After journeying through three different kingdoms he reached a wood +one night, and lying down under a tree prepared to go to sleep there. +Suddenly he heard a sound in the boughs, and a golden apple fell right +into his hand. At the same moment three ravens flew down to him, perched +on his knee and said, ‘We are the three young ravens whom you saved from +starvation. When we grew up and heard you were searching for the golden +apple, we flew far away over the seas to the end of the world, where the +tree of life grows, and fetched the golden apple for you.’ + +Full of joy the young man started on his way back and brought the +golden apple to the lovely Princess, whose objections were now entirely +silenced. They divided the apple of life and ate it together, and her +heart grew full of love for him, so they lived together to a great age +in undisturbed happiness. + +Grimm. + + + + + +THE STORY OF A CLEVER TAILOR + + + +Once upon a time there lived an exceedingly proud Princess. If any +suitor for her hand ventured to present himself, she would give him some +riddle or conundrum to guess, and if he failed to do so, he was hunted +out of the town with scorn and derision. She gave out publicly that all +comers were welcome to try their skill, and that whoever could solve her +riddle should be her husband. + +Now it happened that three tailors had met together, and the two elder +thought, that after having successfully put in so many fine and strong +stitches with never a wrong one amongst them, they were certain to do +the right thing here too. The third tailor was a lazy young scamp who +did not even know his own trade properly, but who thought that surely +luck would stand by him now, just for once, for, if not, what _was_ to +become of him? + +The two others said to him, ‘You just stay at home, you’ll never get on +much with your small allowance of brains.’ But the little tailor was not +to be daunted, and said he had set his mind on it and meant to shift for +himself, so off he started as though the whole world belonged to him. + +The three tailors arrived at Court, where they had themselves duly +presented to the Princess, and begged she would propound her riddles, +‘for,’ said they, ‘here were the right men at last, with wits so sharp +and so fine you might almost thread a needle with them.’ + +Then said the Princess, ‘I have on my head two different kinds of hair. +Of what colours are they?’ + +‘If that’s all,’ said the first tailor, ‘they are most likely black and +white, like the kind of cloth we call pepper-and-salt.’ + +‘Wrong,’ said the Princess. + +‘Then,’ said the second tailor, ‘if they are not black and white, no +doubt they are red and brown, like my father’s Sunday coat.’ + +‘Wrong again,’ said the Princess; ‘now let the third speak. I see he +thinks he knows all about it.’ + +Then the young tailor stepped boldly to the front and said, ‘The +Princess has one silver and one golden hair on her head, and those are +the two colours.’ + +When the Princess heard this she turned quite pale, and almost fainted +away with fear, for the little tailor had hit the mark, and she had +firmly believed that not a soul could guess it. When she had recovered +herself she said, ‘Don’t fancy you have won me yet, there is something +else you must do first. Below in the stable is a bear with whom you must +spend the night, and if when I get up in the morning I find you still +alive you shall marry me.’ + +She quite expected to rid herself of the tailor in this way, for the +bear had never left anyone alive who had once come within reach of his +claws. The tailor, however, had no notion of being scared, but said +cheerily, ‘Bravely dared is half won.’ + +When evening came on he was taken to the stable. The bear tried to +get at him at once and to give him a warm welcome with his great paws. +‘Gently, gently,’ said the tailor, ‘I’ll soon teach you to be quiet,’ +and he coolly drew a handful of walnuts from his pocket and began +cracking and eating them as though he had not a care or anxiety in the +world. When the bear saw this he began to long for some nuts himself. +The tailor dived into his pocket and gave him a handful, but they were +pebbles, not nuts. The bear thrust them into his mouth, but try as he +might he could not manage to crack them. ‘Dear me,’ thought he, ‘what +a stupid fool I must be--can’t even crack a nut,’ and he said to the +tailor, ‘I say, crack my nuts for me, will you?’ + +‘You’re a nice sort of fellow,’ said the tailor; ‘the idea of having +those great jaws and not being able even to crack a walnut!’ So he took +the stone, quickly changed it for a nut, and crack! it split open in a +moment. + +‘Let me try again,’ said the bear; ‘when I see the thing done it looks +so easy I fancy I _must_ be able to manage it myself.’ + +So the tailor gave him some more pebbles, and the bear bit and gnawed +away as hard as he could, but I need hardly say that he did not succeed +in cracking one of them. + +Presently the tailor took out a little fiddle and began playing on it. +When the bear heard the music he could not help dancing, and after he +had danced some time he was so pleased that he said to the tailor, ‘I +say, is fiddling difficult?’ ‘Mere child’s play,’ replied the tailor; +‘look here! you press the strings with the fingers of the left hand, and +with the right, you draw the bow across them, so--then it goes as easily +as possible, up and down, tra la la la la--’ + +‘Oh,’ cried the bear, ‘I do wish I could play like that, then I could +dance whenever the fancy took me. What do you think? Would you give me +some lessons?’ + +‘With all my heart,’ said the tailor, ‘if you are sharp about it. But +just let me look at your paws. Dear me, your nails are terribly long; I +must really cut them first.’ Then he fetched a pair of stocks, and the +bear laid his paws on them, and the tailor screwed them up tight. +‘Now just wait whilst I fetch my scissors,’ said he, and left the bear +growling away to his heart’s content, whilst he lay down in a corner and +fell fast asleep. + +When the Princess heard the bear growling so loud that night, she made +sure he was roaring with delight as he worried the tailor. + +Next morning she rose feeling quite cheerful and free from care, but +when she looked across towards the stables, there stood the tailor in +front of the door looking as fresh and lively as a fish in the water. + +After this it was impossible to break the promise she had made so +publicly, so the King ordered out the state coach to take her and the +tailor to church to be married. + +As they were starting, the two bad-hearted other tailors, who were +envious of the younger one’s happiness, went to the stable and unscrewed +the bear. Off he tore after the carriage, foaming with rage. The +Princess heard his puffing and roaring, and growing frightened she +cried: ‘Oh dear! the bear is after us and will certainly catch us up!’ +The tailor remained quite unmoved. He quietly stood on his head, stuck +his legs out at the carriage window and called out to the bear, ‘Do you +see my stocks? If you don’t go home this minute I’ll screw you tight +into them.’ + +When the bear saw and heard this he turned right round and ran off as +fast as his legs would carry him. The tailor drove on unmolested to +church, where he and the Princess were married, and he lived with her +many years as happy and merry as a lark. Whoever does not believe this +story must pay a dollar. + +Grimm. + + + + +THE GOLDEN MERMAID + + + +A powerful king had, among many other treasures, a wonderful tree in his +garden, which bore every year beautiful golden apples. But the King was +never able to enjoy his treasure, for he might watch and guard them as +he liked, as soon as they began to get ripe they were always stolen. +At last, in despair, he sent for his three sons, and said to the two +eldest, ‘Get yourselves ready for a journey. Take gold and silver with +you, and a large retinue of servants, as beseems two noble princes, and +go through the world till you find out who it is that steals my golden +apples, and, if possible, bring the thief to me that I may punish him +as he deserves.’ His sons were delighted at this proposal, for they had +long wished to see something of the world, so they got ready for their +journey with all haste, bade their father farewell, and left the town. + +The youngest Prince was much disappointed that he too was not sent out +on his travels; but his father wouldn’t hear of his going, for he had +always been looked upon as the stupid one of the family, and the King +was afraid of something happening to him. But the Prince begged and +implored so long, that at last his father consented to let him go, and +furnished him with gold and silver as he had done his brothers. But +he gave him the most wretched horse in his stable, because the foolish +youth hadn’t asked for a better. So he too set out on his journey to +secure the thief, amid the jeers and laughter of the whole court and +town. + +His path led him first through a wood, and he hadn’t gone very far when +he met a lean-looking wolf who stood still as he approached. The Prince +asked him if he were hungry, and when the wolf said he was, he got down +from his horse and said, ‘If you are really as you say and look, you may +take my horse and eat it.’ + +The wolf didn’t wait to have the offer repeated, but set to work, and +soon made an end of the poor beast. When the Prince saw how different +the wolf looked when he had finished his meal, he said to him, ‘Now, my +friend, since you have eaten up my horse, and I have such a long way to +go, that, with the best will in the world, I couldn’t manage it on foot, +the least you can do for me is to act as my horse and to take me on your +back.’ + +‘Most certainly,’ said the wolf, and, letting the Prince mount him, +he trotted gaily through the wood. After they had gone a little way +he turned round and asked his rider where he wanted to go to, and the +Prince proceeded to tell him the whole story of the golden apples that +had been stolen out of the King’s garden, and how his other two brothers +had set forth with many followers to find the thief. When he had +finished his story, the wolf, who was in reality no wolf but a mighty +magician, said he thought he could tell him who the thief was, and +could help him to secure him. ‘There lives,’ he said, ‘in a neighbouring +country, a mighty emperor who has a beautiful golden bird in a cage, and +this is the creature who steals the golden apples, but it flies so fast +that it is impossible to catch it at its theft. You must slip into the +Emperor’s palace by night and steal the bird with the cage; but be very +careful not to touch the walls as you go out.’ + +The following night the Prince stole into the Emperor’s palace, and +found the bird in its cage as the wolf had told him he would. He took +hold of it carefully, but in spite of all his caution he touched the +wall in trying to pass by some sleeping watchmen. They awoke at once, +and, seizing him, beat him and put him into chains. Next day he was led +before the Emperor, who at once condemned him to death and to be thrown +into a dark dungeon till the day of his execution arrived. + +The wolf, who, of course, knew by his magic arts all that had happened +to the Prince, turned himself at once into a mighty monarch with a large +train of followers, and proceeded to the Court of the Emperor, where he +was received with every show of honour. The Emperor and he conversed on +many subjects, and, among other things, the stranger asked his host if +he had many slaves. The Emperor told him he had more than he knew what +to do with, and that a new one had been captured that very night for +trying to steal his magic bird, but that as he had already more than +enough to feed and support, he was going to have this last captive +hanged next morning. + +‘He must have been a most daring thief,’ said the King, ‘to try and +steal the magic bird, for depend upon it the creature must have been +well guarded. I would really like to see this bold rascal.’ ‘By all +means,’ said the Emperor; and he himself led his guest down to the +dungeon where the unfortunate Prince was kept prisoner. When the Emperor +stepped out of the cell with the King, the latter turned to him and +said, ‘Most mighty Emperor, I have been much disappointed. I had thought +to find a powerful robber, and instead of that I have seen the most +miserable creature I can imagine. Hanging is far too good for him. If I +had to sentence him I should make him perform some very difficult task, +under pain of death. If he did it so much the better for you, and if +he didn’t, matters would just be as they are now and he could still be +hanged.’ ‘Your counsel,’ said the Emperor, ‘is excellent, and, as it +happens, I’ve got the very thing for him to do. My nearest neighbour, +who is also a mighty Emperor, possesses a golden horse which he guards +most carefully. The prisoner shall be told to steal this horse and bring +it to me.’ + +The Prince was then let out of his dungeon, and told his life would be +spared if he succeeded in bringing the golden horse to the Emperor. He +did not feel very elated at this announcement, for he did not know how +in the world he was to set about the task, and he started on his way +weeping bitterly, and wondering what had made him leave his father’s +house and kingdom. But before he had gone far his friend the wolf stood +before him and said, ‘Dear Prince, why are you so cast down? It is true +you didn’t succeed in catching the bird; but don’t let that discourage +you, for this time you will be all the more careful, and will doubtless +catch the horse.’ With these and like words the wolf comforted the +Prince, and warned him specially not to touch the wall or let the horse +touch it as he led it out, or he would fail in the same way as he had +done with the bird. + +After a somewhat lengthy journey the Prince and the wolf came to the +kingdom ruled over by the Emperor who possessed the golden horse. One +evening late they reached the capital, and the wolf advised the Prince +to set to work at once, before their presence in the city had aroused +the watchfulness of the guards. They slipped unnoticed into the +Emperor’s stables and into the very place where there were the most +guards, for there the wolf rightly surmised they would find the horse. +When they came to a certain inner door the wolf told the Prince to +remain outside, while he went in. In a short time he returned and +said, ‘My dear Prince, the horse is most securely watched, but I have +bewitched all the guards, and if you will only be careful not to touch +the wall yourself, or let the horse touch it as you go out, there is no +danger and the game is yours. The Prince, who had made up his mind to be +more than cautious this time, went cheerfully to work. He found all the +guards fast asleep, and, slipping into the horse’s stall, he seized it +by the bridle and led it out; but, unfortunately, before they had got +quite clear of the stables a gadfly stung the horse and caused it to +switch its tail, whereby it touched the wall. In a moment all the +guards awoke, seized the Prince and beat him mercilessly with their +horse-whips, after which they bound him with chains, and flung him into +a dungeon. Next morning they brought him before the Emperor, who treated +him exactly as the King with the golden bird had done, and commanded him +to be beheaded on the following day. + +When the wolf-magician saw that the Prince had failed this time too, he +transformed himself again into a mighty king, and proceeded with an even +more gorgeous retinue than the first time to the Court of the Emperor. +He was courteously received and entertained, and once more after dinner +he led the conversation on to the subject of slaves, and in the course +of it again requested to be allowed to see the bold robber who had +dared to break into the Emperor’s stable to steal his most valuable +possession. The Emperor consented, and all happened exactly as it had +done at the court of the Emperor with the golden bird; the prisoner’s +life was to be spared only on condition that within three days he should +obtain possession of the golden mermaid, whom hitherto no mortal had +ever approached. + +Very depressed by his dangerous and difficult task, the Prince left his +gloomy prison; but, to his great joy, he met his friend the wolf before +he had gone many miles on his journey. The cunning creature pretended +he knew nothing of what had happened to the Prince, and asked him how +he had fared with the horse. The Prince told him all about his +misadventure, and the condition on which the Emperor had promised to +spare his life. Then the wolf reminded him that he had twice got him out +of prison, and that if he would only trust in him, and do exactly as he +told him, he would certainly succeed in this last undertaking. Thereupon +they bent their steps towards the sea, which stretched out before them, +as far as their eyes could see, all the waves dancing and glittering +in the bright sunshine. ‘Now,’ continued the wolf, ‘I am going to turn +myself into a boat full of the most beautiful silken merchandise, and +you must jump boldly into the boat, and steer with my tail in your hand +right out into the open sea. You will soon come upon the golden mermaid. +Whatever you do, don’t follow her if she calls you, but on the contrary +say to her, “The buyer comes to the seller, not the seller to the +buyer.” After which you must steer towards the land, and she will follow +you, for she won’t be able to resist the beautiful wares you have on +board your ship.’ + +The Prince promised faithfully to do all he had been told, whereupon the +wolf changed himself into a ship full of most exquisite silks, of every +shade and colour imaginable. The astonished Prince stepped into the +boat, and, holding the wolf’s tail in his hand, he steered boldly out +into the open sea, where the sun was gilding the blue waves with its +golden rays. Soon he saw the golden mermaid swimming near the ship, +beckoning and calling to him to follow her; but, mindful of the wolf’s +warning, he told her in a loud voice that if she wished to buy anything +she must come to him. With these words he turned his magic ship round +and steered back towards the land. The mermaid called out to him to +stand still, but he refused to listen to her and never paused till +he reached the sand of the shore. Here he stopped and waited for the +mermaid, who had swum after him. When she drew near the boat he saw that +she was far more beautiful than any mortal he had ever beheld. She +swam round the ship for some time, and then swung herself gracefully +on board, in order to examine the beautiful silken stuffs more closely. +Then the Prince seized her in his arms, and kissing her tenderly on the +cheeks and lips, he told her she was his for ever; at the same moment +the boat turned into a wolf again, which so terrified the mermaid that +she clung to the Prince for protection. + +So the golden mermaid was successfully caught, and she soon felt quite +happy in her new life when she saw she had nothing to fear either from +the Prince or the wolf--she rode on the back of the latter, and the +Prince rode behind her. When they reached the country ruled over by the +Emperor with the golden horse, the Prince jumped down, and, helping the +mermaid to alight, he led her before the Emperor. At the sight of the +beautiful mermaid and of the grim wolf, who stuck close to the Prince +this time, the guards all made respectful obeisance, and soon the three +stood before his Imperial Majesty. When the Emperor heard from the +Prince how he had gained possession of his fair prize, he at once +recognized that he had been helped by some magic art, and on the spot +gave up all claim to the beautiful mermaid. ‘Dear youth,’ he said, +‘forgive me for my shameful conduct to you, and, as a sign that you +pardon me, accept the golden horse as a present. I acknowledge your +power to be greater even than I can understand, for you have succeeded +in gaining possession of the golden mermaid, whom hitherto no mortal has +ever been able to approach.’ Then they all sat down to a huge feast, and +the Prince had to relate his adventures all over again, to the wonder +and astonishment of the whole company. + +But the Prince was wearying now to return to his own kingdom, so as soon +as the feast was over he took farewell of the Emperor, and set out on +his homeward way. He lifted the mermaid on to the golden horse, and +swung himself up behind her--and so they rode on merrily, with the wolf +trotting behind, till they came to the country of the Emperor with the +golden bird. The renown of the Prince and his adventure had gone before +him, and the Emperor sat on his throne awaiting the arrival of the +Prince and his companions. When the three rode into the courtyard of the +palace, they were surprised and delighted to find everything festively +illuminated and decorated for their reception. When the Prince and the +golden mermaid, with the wolf behind them, mounted the steps of the +palace, the Emperor came forward to meet them, and led them to the +throne room. At the same moment a servant appeared with the golden bird +in its golden cage, and the Emperor begged the Prince to accept it with +his love, and to forgive him the indignity he had suffered at his hands. +Then the Emperor bent low before the beautiful mermaid, and, offering +her his arm, he led her into dinner, closely followed by the Prince and +her friend the wolf; the latter seating himself at table, not the least +embarrassed that no one had invited him to do so. + +As soon as the sumptuous meal was over, the Prince and his mermaid +took leave of the Emperor, and, seating themselves on the golden horse, +continued their homeward journey. On the way the wolf turned to the +Prince and said, ‘Dear friends, I must now bid you farewell, but I leave +you under such happy circumstances that I cannot feel our parting to be +a sad one.’ The Prince was very unhappy when he heard these words, and +begged the wolf to stay with them always; but this the good creature +refused to do, though he thanked the Prince kindly for his invitation, +and called out as he disappeared into the thicket, ‘Should any evil +befall you, dear Prince, at any time, you may rely on my friendship and +gratitude.’ These were the wolf’s parting words, and the Prince could +not restrain his tears when he saw his friend vanishing in the distance; +but one glance at his beloved mermaid soon cheered him up again, and +they continued on their journey merrily. + +The news of his son’s adventures had already reached his father’s +Court, and everyone was more than astonished at the success of the once +despised Prince. His elder brothers, who had in vain gone in pursuit +of the thief of the golden apples, were furious over their younger +brother’s good fortune, and plotted and planned how they were to kill +him. They hid themselves in the wood through which the Prince had to +pass on his way to the palace, and there fell on him, and, having beaten +him to death, they carried off the golden horse and the golden bird. But +nothing they could do would persuade the golden mermaid to go with them +or move from the spot, for ever since she had left the sea, she had so +attached herself to her Prince that she asked nothing else than to live +or die with him. + +For many weeks the poor mermaid sat and watched over the dead body of +her lover, weeping salt tears over his loss, when suddenly one day their +old friend the wolf appeared and said, ‘Cover the Prince’s body with all +the leaves and flowers you can find in the wood.’ The maiden did as he +told her, and then the wolf breathed over the flowery grave, and, lo and +behold! the Prince lay there sleeping as peacefully as a child. ‘Now you +may wake him if you like,’ said the wolf, and the mermaid bent over him +and gently kissed the wounds his brothers had made on his forehead, and +the Prince awoke, and you may imagine how delighted he was to find his +beautiful mermaid beside him, though he felt a little depressed when +he thought of the loss of the golden bird and the golden horse. After +a time the wolf, who had likewise fallen on the Prince’s neck, advised +them to continue their journey, and once more the Prince and his lovely +bride mounted on the faithful beast’s back. + +The King’s joy was great when he embraced his youngest son, for he +had long since despaired of his return. He received the wolf and the +beautiful golden mermaid most cordially too, and the Prince was made +to tell his adventures all over from the beginning. The poor old father +grew very sad when he heard of the shameful conduct of his elder sons, +and had them called before him. They turned as white as death when they +saw their brother, whom they thought they had murdered, standing beside +them alive and well, and so startled were they that when the King asked +them why they had behaved so wickedly to their brother they could think +of no lie, but confessed at once that they had slain the young Prince +in order to obtain possession of the golden horse and the golden bird. +Their father’s wrath knew no bounds, and he ordered them both to be +banished, but he could not do enough to honour his youngest son, and his +marriage with the beautiful mermaid was celebrated with much pomp and +magnificence. When the festivities were over, the wolf bade them all +farewell, and returned once more to his life in the woods, much to the +regret of the old King and the young Prince and his bride. + +And so ended the adventures of the Prince with his friend the wolf. + +Grimm. + + + + + +THE WAR OF THE WOLF AND THE FOX + + + +There was once upon a time a man and his wife who had an old cat and an +old dog. One day the man, whose name was Simon, said to his wife, whose +name was Susan, ‘Why should we keep our old cat any longer? She never +catches any mice now-a-days, and is so useless that I have made up my +mind to drown her.’ + +But his wife replied, ‘Don’t do that, for I’m sure she could still catch +mice.’ + +‘Rubbish,’ said Simon. ‘The mice might dance on her and she would never +catch one. I’ve quite made up my mind that the next time I see her, I +shall put her in the water.’ + +Susan was very unhappy when she heard this, and so was the cat, who had +been listening to the conversation behind the stove. When Simon went +off to his work, the poor cat miawed so pitifully, and looked up so +pathetically into Susan’s face, that the woman quickly opened the door +and said, ‘Fly for your life, my poor little beast, and get well away +from here before your master returns.’ + +The cat took her advice, and ran as quickly as her poor old legs would +carry her into the wood, and when Simon came home, his wife told him +that the cat had vanished. + +‘So much the better for her,’ said Simon. ‘And now we have got rid of +her, we must consider what we are to do with the old dog. He is quite +deaf and blind, and invariably barks when there is no need, and makes no +sound when there is. I think the best thing I can do with him is to hang +him.’ + +But soft-hearted Susan replied, ‘Please don’t do so; he’s surely not so +useless as all that.’ + +‘Don’t be foolish,’ said her husband. ‘The courtyard might be full of +thieves and he’d never discover it. No, the first time I see him, it’s +all up with him, I can tell you.’ + +Susan was very unhappy at his words, and so was the dog, who was lying +in the corner of the room and had heard everything. As soon as Simon +had gone to his work, he stood up and howled so touchingly that Susan +quickly opened the door, and said ‘Fly for your life, poor beast, before +your master gets home.’ And the dog ran into the wood with his tail +between his legs. + +When her husband returned, his wife told him that the dog had +disappeared. + +‘That’s lucky for him,’ said Simon, but Susan sighed, for she had been +very fond of the poor creature. + +Now it happened that the cat and dog met each other on their travels, +and though they had not been the best of friends at home, they were +quite glad to meet among strangers. They sat down under a holly tree and +both poured forth their woes. + +Presently a fox passed by, and seeing the pair sitting together in a +disconsolate fashion, he asked them why they sat there, and what they +were grumbling about. + +The cat replied, ‘I have caught many a mouse in my day, but now that I +am old and past work, my master wants to drown me.’ + +And the dog said, ‘Many a night have I watched and guarded my master’s +house, and now that I am old and deaf, he wants to hang me.’ + +The fox answered, ‘That’s the way of the world. But I’ll help you to get +back into your master’s favour, only you must first help me in my own +troubles.’ + +They promised to do their best, and the fox continued, ‘The wolf has +declared war against me, and is at this moment marching to meet me in +company with the bear and the wild boar, and to-morrow there will be a +fierce battle between us.’ + +‘All right,’ said the dog and the cat, ‘we will stand by you, and if we +are killed, it is at any rate better to die on the field of battle +than to perish ignobly at home,’ and they shook paws and concluded the +bargain. The fox sent word to the wolf to meet him at a certain place, +and the three set forth to encounter him and his friends. + +The wolf, the bear, and the wild boar arrived on the spot first, and +when they had waited some time for the fox, the dog, and the cat, the +bear said, ‘I’ll climb up into the oak tree, and look if I can see them +coming.’ + +The first time he looked round he said, ‘I can see nothing,’ and the +second time he looked round he said, ‘I can still see nothing.’ But the +third time he said, ‘I see a mighty army in the distance, and one of the +warriors has the biggest lance you ever saw!’ + +This was the cat, who was marching along with her tail erect. + +And so they laughed and jeered, and it was so hot that the bear said, +‘The enemy won’t be here at this rate for many hours to come, so I’ll +just curl myself up in the fork of the tree and have a little sleep.’ + +And the wolf lay down under the oak, and the wild boar buried himself in +some straw, so that nothing was seen of him but one ear. + +And while they were lying there, the fox, the cat and the dog arrived. +When the cat saw the wild boar’s ear, she pounced upon it, thinking it +was a mouse in the straw. + +The wild boar got up in a dreadful fright, gave one loud grunt and +disappeared into the wood. But the cat was even more startled than the +boar, and, spitting with terror, she scrambled up into the fork of the +tree, and as it happened right into the bear’s face. Now it was the +bear’s turn to be alarmed, and with a mighty growl he jumped down from +the oak and fell right on the top of the wolf and killed him as dead as +a stone. + +On their way home from the war the fox caught score of mice, and when +they reached Simon’s cottage he put them all on the stove and said to +the cat, ‘Now go and fetch one mouse after the other, and lay them down +before your master.’ + +‘All right,’ said the cat, and did exactly as the fox told her. + +When Susan saw this she said to her husband, ‘Just look, here is our old +cat back again, and see what a lot of mice she has caught.’ + +‘Wonders will never cease,’ cried Simon. ‘I certainly never thought the +old cat would ever catch another mouse.’ + +But Susan answered, ‘There, you see, I always said our cat was a most +excellent creature--but you men always think you know best.’ + +In the meantime the fox said to the dog, ‘Our friend Simon has just +killed a pig; when it gets a little darker, you must go into the +courtyard and bark with all your might.’ + +‘All right,’ said the dog, and as soon as it grew dusk he began to bark +loudly. + +Susan, who heard him first, said to her husband, ‘Our dog must have +come back, for I hear him barking lustily. Do go out and see what’s the +matter; perhaps thieves may be stealing our sausages.’ + +But Simon answered, ‘The foolish brute is as deaf as a post and is +always barking at nothing,’ and he refused to get up. + +The next morning Susan got up early to go to church at the neighbouring +town, and she thought she would take some sausages to her aunt who lived +there. But when she went to her larder, she found all the sausages gone, +and a great hole in the floor. She called out to her husband, ‘I was +perfectly right. Thieves have been here last night, and they have not +left a single sausage. Oh! if you had only got up when I asked you to!’ + +Then Simon scratched his head and said, ‘I can’t understand it at all. I +certainly never believed the old dog was so quick at hearing.’ + +But Susan replied, ‘I always told you our old dog was the best dog in +the world--but as usual you thought you knew so much better. Men are the +same all the world over.’ + +And the fox scored a point too, for he had carried away the sausages +himself! + +Grimm. + + + + + +THE STORY OF THE FISHERMAN AND HIS WIFE + + + +There was once a fisherman and his wife who lived together in a little +hut close to the sea, and the fisherman used to go down every day to +fish; and he would fish and fish. So he used to sit with his rod and +gaze into the shining water; and he would gaze and gaze. + +Now, once the line was pulled deep under the water, and when he hauled +it up he hauled a large flounder with it. The flounder said to him, +‘Listen, fisherman. I pray you to let me go; I am not a real flounder, I +am an enchanted Prince. What good will it do you if you kill me--I shall +not taste nice? Put me back into the water and let me swim away.’ + +‘Well,’ said the man, ‘you need not make so much noise about it; I am +sure I had much better let a flounder that can talk swim away.’ With +these words he put him back again into the shining water, and the +flounder sank to the bottom, leaving a long streak of blood behind. Then +the fisherman got up, and went home to his wife in the hut. + +‘Husband,’ said his wife, ‘have you caught nothing to-day?’ + +‘No,’ said the man. ‘I caught a flounder who said he was an enchanted +prince, so I let him swim away again.’ + +‘Did you wish nothing from him?’ said his wife. + +‘No,’ said the man; ‘what should I have wished from him?’ + +‘Ah!’ said the woman, ‘it’s dreadful to have to live all one’s life +in this hut that is so small and dirty; you ought to have wished for +a cottage. Go now and call him; say to him that we choose to have a +cottage, and he will certainly give it you.’ + +‘Alas!’ said the man, ‘why should I go down there again?’ + +‘Why,’ said his wife, ‘you caught him, and then let him go again, so he +is sure to give you what you ask. Go down quickly.’ + +The man did not like going at all, but as his wife was not to be +persuaded, he went down to the sea. + +When he came there the sea was quite green and yellow, and was no longer +shining. So he stood on the shore and said: + +‘Once a prince, but changed you be Into a flounder in the sea. Come! for +my wife, Ilsebel, Wishes what I dare not tell.’ + +Then the flounder came swimming up and said, ‘Well, what does she want?’ + +‘Alas!’ said the man, ‘my wife says I ought to have kept you and wished +something from you. She does not want to live any longer in the hut; she +would like a cottage.’ + +‘Go home, then,’ said the flounder; ‘she has it.’ + +So the man went home, and there was his wife no longer in the hut, but +in its place was a beautiful cottage, and his wife was sitting in front +of the door on a bench. She took him by the hand and said to him, ‘Come +inside, and see if this is not much better.’ They went in, and inside +the cottage was a tiny hall, and a beautiful sitting-room, and a bedroom +in which stood a bed, a kitchen and a dining-room all furnished with +the best of everything, and fitted up with every kind of tin and copper +utensil. And outside was a little yard in which were chickens and ducks, +and also a little garden with vegetables and fruit trees. + +‘See,’ said the wife, ‘isn’t this nice?’ + +‘Yes,’ answered her husband; ‘here we shall remain and live very +happily.’ + +‘We will think about that,’ said his wife. + +With these words they had their supper and went to bed. All went well +for a week or a fortnight, then the wife said: + +‘Listen, husband; the cottage is much too small, and so is the yard and +the garden; the flounder might just as well have sent us a larger house. +I should like to live in a great stone castle. Go down to the flounder, +and tell him to send us a castle.’ + +‘Ah, wife!’ said the fisherman, ‘the cottage is quite good enough; why +do we choose to live in a castle?’ + +‘Why?’ said the wife. ‘You go down; the flounder can quite well do +that.’ + +‘No, wife,’ said the man; ‘the flounder gave us the cottage. I do not +like to go to him again; he might take it amiss.’ + +‘Go,’ said his wife. ‘He can certainly give it us, and ought to do so +willingly. Go at once.’ + +The fisherman’s heart was very heavy, and he did not like going. He said +to himself, ‘It is not right.’ Still, he went down. + +When he came to the sea, the water was all violet and dark-blue, and +dull and thick, and no longer green and yellow, but it was still smooth. + +So he stood there and said: + +‘Once a prince, but changed you be Into a flounder in the sea. Come! for +my wife, Ilsebel, Wishes what I dare not tell.’ + +‘What does she want now?’ said the flounder. + +‘Ah!’ said the fisherman, half-ashamed, ‘she wants to live in a great +stone castle.’ + +‘Go home; she is standing before the door,’ said the flounder. + +The fisherman went home and thought he would find no house. When he came +near, there stood a great stone palace, and his wife was standing on the +steps, about to enter. She took him by the hand and said, ‘Come inside.’ + +Then he went with her, and inside the castle was a large hall with a +marble floor, and there were heaps of servants who threw open the great +doors, and the walls were covered with beautiful tapestry, and in the +apartments were gilded chairs and tables, and crystal chandeliers hung +from the ceiling, and all the rooms were beautifully carpeted. The best +of food and drink also was set before them when they wished to dine. And +outside the house was a large courtyard with horse and cow stables and +a coach-house--all fine buildings; and a splendid garden with most +beautiful flowers and fruit, and in a park quite a league long were deer +and roe and hares, and everything one could wish for. + +‘Now,’ said the wife, ‘isn’t this beautiful?’ + +‘Yes, indeed,’ said the fisherman. ‘Now we will stay here and live in +this beautiful castle, and be very happy.’ + +‘We will consider the matter,’ said his wife, and they went to bed. + +The next morning the wife woke up first at daybreak, and looked out of +the bed at the beautiful country stretched before her. Her husband was +still sleeping, so she dug her elbows into his side and said: + +‘Husband, get up and look out of the window. Could we not become the +king of all this land? Go down to the flounder and tell him we choose to +be king.’ + +‘Ah, wife!’ replied her husband, ‘why should we be king? I don’t want to +be king.’ + +‘Well,’ said his wife, ‘if you don’t want to be king, I will be king. Go +down to the flounder; I will be king.’ + +‘Alas! wife,’ said the fisherman, ‘why do you want to be king? I can’t +ask him that.’ + +‘And why not?’ said his wife. ‘Go down at once. I must be king.’ + +So the fisherman went, though much vexed that his wife wanted to be +king. ‘It is not right! It is not right,’ he thought. He did not wish to +go, yet he went. + +When he came to the sea, the water was a dark-grey colour, and it was +heaving against the shore. So he stood and said: + +‘Once a prince, but changed you be Into a flounder in the sea. Come! for +my wife, Ilsebel, Wishes what I dare not tell.’ + +‘What does she want now?’ asked the flounder. + +‘Alas!’ said the fisherman, ‘she wants to be king.’ + +‘Go home; she is that already,’ said the flounder. + +The fisherman went home, and when he came near the palace he saw that +it had become much larger, and that it had great towers and splendid +ornamental carving on it. A sentinel was standing before the gate, and +there were numbers of soldiers with kettledrums and trumpets. And when +he went into the palace, he found everything was of pure marble and +gold, and the curtains of damask with tassels of gold. Then the doors of +the hall flew open, and there stood the whole Court round his wife, +who was sitting on a high throne of gold and diamonds; she wore a great +golden crown, and had a sceptre of gold and precious stones in her hand, +and by her on either side stood six pages in a row, each one a head +taller than the other. Then he went before her and said: + +‘Ah, wife! are you king now?’ + +‘Yes,’ said his wife; ‘now I am king.’ + +He stood looking at her, and when he had looked for some time, he said: + +‘Let that be enough, wife, now that you are king! Now we have nothing +more to wish for.’ + +‘Nay, husband,’ said his wife restlessly, ‘my wishing powers are +boundless; I cannot restrain them any longer. Go down to the flounder; +king I am, now I must be emperor.’ + +‘Alas! wife,’ said the fisherman, ‘why do you want to be emperor?’ + +‘Husband,’ said she, ‘go to the flounder; I will be emperor.’ + +‘Ah, wife,’ he said, ‘he cannot make you emperor; I don’t like to ask +him that. There is only one emperor in the kingdom. Indeed and indeed he +cannot make you emperor.’ + +‘What!’ said his wife. ‘I am king, and you are my husband. Will you go +at once? Go! If he can make king he can make emperor, and emperor I must +and will be. Go!’ + +So he had to go. But as he went, he felt quite frightened, and +he thought to himself, ‘This can’t be right; to be emperor is too +ambitious; the flounder will be tired out at last.’ + +Thinking this he came to the shore. The sea was quite black and thick, +and it was breaking high on the beach; the foam was flying about, and +the wind was blowing; everything looked bleak. The fisherman was chilled +with fear. He stood and said: + +‘Once a prince, but changed you be Into a flounder in the sea. Come! for +my wife, Ilsebel, Wishes what I dare not tell.’ + +‘What does she want now?’ asked flounder. + +‘Alas! flounder,’ he said, ‘my wife wants to be emperor.’ + +‘Go home,’ said the flounder; ‘she is that already.’ + +So the fisherman went home, and when he came there he saw the whole +castle was made of polished marble, ornamented with alabaster statues +and gold. Before the gate soldiers were marching, blowing trumpets and +beating drums. Inside the palace were walking barons, counts, and dukes, +acting as servants; they opened the door, which was of beaten gold. And +when he entered, he saw his wife upon a throne which was made out of a +single block of gold, and which was quite six cubits high. She had on +a great golden crown which was three yards high and set with brilliants +and sparkling gems. In one hand she held a sceptre, and in the other the +imperial globe, and on either side of her stood two rows of halberdiers, +each smaller than the other, from a seven-foot giant to the tiniest +little dwarf no higher than my little finger. Many princes and dukes +were standing before her. The fisherman went up to her quietly and said: + +‘Wife, are you emperor now?’ + +‘Yes,’ she said, ‘I am emperor.’ + +He stood looking at her magnificence, and when he had watched her for +some time, said: + +‘Ah, wife, let that be enough, now that you are emperor.’ + +‘Husband,’ said she, ‘why are you standing there? I am emperor now, and +I want to be pope too; go down to the flounder.’ + +‘Alas! wife,’ said the fisherman, ‘what more do you want? You cannot +be pope; there is only one pope in Christendom, and he cannot make you +that.’ + +‘Husband,’ she said, ‘I will be pope. Go down quickly; I must be pope +to-day.’ + +‘No, wife,’ said the fisherman; ‘I can’t ask him that. It is not right; +it is too much. The flounder cannot make you pope.’ + +‘Husband, what nonsense!’ said his wife. ‘If he can make emperor, he +can make, pope too. Go down this instant; I am emperor and you are my +husband. Will you be off at once?’ + +So he was frightened and went out; but he felt quite faint, and trembled +and shook, and his knees and legs began to give way under him. The wind +was blowing fiercely across the land, and the clouds flying across the +sky looked as gloomy as if it were night; the leaves were being blown +from the trees; the water was foaming and seething and dashing upon the +shore, and in the distance he saw the ships in great distress, dancing +and tossing on the waves. Still the sky was very blue in the middle, +although at the sides it was an angry red as in a great storm. So he +stood shuddering in anxiety, and said: + +‘Once a prince, but changed you be Into a flounder in the sea. Come! for +my wife, Ilsebel, Wishes what I dare not tell.’ + +‘Well, what does she want now?’ asked the flounder. + +‘Alas!’ said the fisherman, ‘she wants to be pope.’ + +‘Go home, then; she is that already,’ said the flounder. + +Then he went home, and when he came there he saw, as it were, a large +church surrounded by palaces. He pushed his way through the people. The +interior was lit up with thousands and thousands of candles, and his +wife was dressed in cloth of gold and was sitting on a much higher +throne, and she wore three great golden crowns. Round her were numbers +of Church dignitaries, and on either side were standing two rows of +tapers, the largest of them as tall as a steeple, and the smallest as +tiny as a Christmas-tree candle. All the emperors and kings were on +their knees before her, and were kissing her foot. + +‘Wife,’ said the fisherman looking at her, ‘are you pope now?’ + +‘Yes,’ said she; ‘I am pope.’ + +So he stood staring at her, and it was as if he were looking at the +bright sun. When he had watched her for some time he said: + +‘Ah, wife, let it be enough now that you are pope.’ + +But she sat as straight as a tree, and did not move or bend the least +bit. He said again: + +‘Wife, be content now that you are pope. You cannot become anything +more.’ + +‘We will think about that,’ said his wife. + +With these words they went to bed. But the woman was not content; +her greed would not allow her to sleep, and she kept on thinking and +thinking what she could still become. The fisherman slept well and +soundly, for he had done a great deal that day, but his wife could not +sleep at all, and turned from one side to another the whole night long, +and thought, till she could think no longer, what more she could become. +Then the sun began to rise, and when she saw the red dawn she went to +the end of the bed and looked at it, and as she was watching the sun +rise, out of the window, she thought, ‘Ha! could I not make the sun and +man rise?’ + +‘Husband,’ said she, poking him in the ribs with her elbows, ‘wake up. +Go down to the flounder; I will be a god.’ + +The fisherman was still half asleep, yet he was so frightened that he +fell out of bed. He thought he had not heard aright, and opened his eyes +wide and said: + +‘What did you say, wife?’ + +‘Husband,’ she said, ‘if I cannot make the sun and man rise when I +appear I cannot rest. I shall never have a quiet moment till I can make +the sun and man rise.’ + +He looked at her in horror, and a shudder ran over him. + +‘Go down at once; I will be a god.’ + +‘Alas! wife,’ said the fisherman, falling on his knees before her, ‘the +flounder cannot do that. Emperor and pope he can make you. I implore +you, be content and remain pope.’ + +Then she flew into a passion, her hair hung wildly about her face, she +pushed him with her foot and screamed: + +‘I am not contented, and I shall not be contented! Will you go?’ + +So he hurried on his clothes as fast as possible, and ran away as if he +were mad. + +But the storm was raging so fiercely that he could scarcely stand. +Houses and trees were being blown down, the mountains were being shaken, +and pieces of rock were rolling in the sea. The sky was as black as ink, +it was thundering and lightening, and the sea was tossing in great waves +as high as church towers and mountains, and each had a white crest of +foam. + +So he shouted, not able to hear his own voice: + +‘Once a prince, but changed you be Into a flounder in the sea. Come! for +my wife, Ilsebel, Wishes what I dare not tell.’ + +‘Well, what does she want now?’ asked the flounder. + +‘Alas!’ said he, ‘she wants to be a god.’ + +‘Go home, then; she is sitting again in the hut.’ + +And there they are sitting to this day. + +Grimm. + + + + + +THE THREE MUSICIANS + + + +Once upon a time three musicians left their home and set out on their +travels. They had all learnt music from the same master, and they +determined to stick together and to seek their fortune in foreign lands. +They wandered merrily from place to place and made quite a good living, +and were much appreciated by everyone who heard them play. One evening +they came to a village where they delighted all the company with their +beautiful music. At last they ceased playing, and began to eat and drink +and listen to the talk that was going on around them. They heard all +the gossip of the place, and many wonderful things were related +and discussed. At last the conversation fell on a castle in the +neighbourhood, about which many strange and marvellous things were told. +One person said that hidden treasure was to be found there; another that +the richest food was always to be had there, although the castle was +uninhabited; and a third, that an evil spirit dwelt within the walls, so +terrible, that anyone who forced his way into the castle came out of it +more dead than alive. + +As soon as the three musicians were alone in their bedroom they agreed +to go and examine the mysterious castle, and, if possible, to find +and carry away the hidden treasure. They determined, too, to make the +attempt separately, one after the other, according to age, and they +settled that a whole day was to be given to each adventurer in which to +try his luck. + +The fiddler was the first to set out on his adventures, and did so in +the best of spirits and full of courage. When he reached the castle he +found the outer gate open, quite as if he were an expected guest, but no +sooner had he stepped across the entry than the heavy door closed behind +him with a bang, and was bolted with a huge iron bar, exactly as if a +sentinel were doing his office and keeping watch, but no human being was +to be seen anywhere. An awful terror overcame the fiddler; but it was +hopeless to think of turning back or of standing still, and the hopes of +finding gold and other treasures gave him strength and courage to force +his way further into the castle. Upstairs and downstairs he wandered, +through lofty halls, splendid rooms, and lovely little boudoirs, +everything beautifully arranged, and all kept in the most perfect order. +But the silence of death reigned everywhere, and no living thing, not +even a fly, was to be seen. Notwithstanding, the youth felt his spirits +return to him when he entered the lower regions of the castle, for in +the kitchen the most tempting and delicious food was spread out, the +cellars were full of the most costly wine, and the store-room crammed +with pots of every sort of jam you can imagine. A cheerful fire was +burning in the kitchen, before which a roast was being basted by unseen +hands, and all kinds of vegetables and other dainty dishes were being +prepared in like manner. Before the fiddler had time to think, he was +ushered into a little room by invisible hands, and there a table was +spread for him with all the delicious food he had seen cooking in the +kitchen. + +The youth first seized his fiddle and played a beautiful air on it which +echoed through the silent halls, and then he fell to and began to eat +a hearty meal. Before long, however, the door opened and a tiny man +stepped into the room, not more than three feet high, clothed in a +dressing-gown, and with a small wrinkled face, and a grey beard which +reached down to the silver buckles of his shoes. And the little man sat +down beside the fiddler and shared his meal. When they got to the game +course the fiddler handed the dwarf a knife and fork, and begged him to +help himself first, and then to pass the dish on. The little creature +nodded, but helped himself so clumsily that he dropped the piece of meat +he had carved on to the floor. + +The good-natured fiddler bent down to pick it up, but in the twinkling +of an eye the little man had jumped on to his back, and beat him till he +was black and blue all over his head and body. At last, when the fiddler +was nearly dead, the little wretch left off, and shoved the poor fellow +out of the iron gate which he had entered in such good spirits a few +hours before. The fresh air revived him a little, and in a short time +he was able to stagger with aching limbs back to the inn where his +companions were staying. It was night when he reached the place, and the +other two musicians were fast asleep. The next morning they were much +astonished at finding the fiddler in bed beside them, and overwhelmed +him with questions; but their friend hid his back and face, and answered +them very shortly, saying, ‘Go there yourselves, and see what’s to be +seen! It is a ticklish matter, that I can assure you.’ + +The second musician, who was a trumpeter, now made his way to the +castle, and everything happened to him exactly as it had to the fiddler. +He was just as hospitably entertained at first, and then just as cruelly +beaten and belaboured, so that next morning he too lay in his bed like +a wounded hare, assuring his friends that the task of getting into the +haunted castle was no enviable one. Notwithstanding the warning of +his companions, the third musician, who played the flute, was still +determined to try his luck, and, full of courage and daring, he set out, +resolved, if possible, to find and secure the hidden treasure. + +Fearlessly he wandered the whole castle, and as he roamed through the +splendid empty apartments he thought to himself how nice it would be +to live there always, especially with a full larder and cellar at his +disposal. A table was spread for him too, and when he had wandered +about for some time, singing and playing the flute, he sat down as +his companions had done, prepared to enjoy the delicious food that was +spread out in front of him. Then the little man with the beard entered +as before and seated himself beside the flute-player, who wasn’t the +least startled at his appearance, but chatted away to him as if he +had known him all his life. But he didn’t find his companion very +communicative. At last they came to the game, and, as usual, the +little man let his piece fall on the ground. The flute-player was +good-naturedly just going to pick it up, when he perceived that the +little dwarf was in the act of springing on his back. Then he turned +round sharply, and, seizing the little creature by his beard, he gave +him such a shaking that he tore his beard out, and the dwarf sank +groaning to the ground. + +But as soon as the youth had the beard in his hands he felt so strong +that he was fit for anything, and he perceived all sorts of things in +the castle that he had not noticed before, but, on the other hand, all +strength seemed to have gone from the little man. He whined and sobbed +out: ‘Give, oh give me my beard again, and I will instruct you in all +the magic art that surrounds this castle, and will help you to carry off +the hidden treasure, which will make you rich and happy for ever.’ + +But the cunning flute-player replied: ‘I will give you back your beard, +but you must first help me as you have promised to do. Till you have +done so, I don’t let your beard out of my hands.’ + +Then the old man found himself obliged to fulfil his promise, though he +had had no intention of doing so, and had only desired to get his +beard back. He made the youth follow him through dark secret passages, +underground vaults, and grey rocks till at last they came to an open +field, which looked as if it belonged to a more beautiful world than +ours. Then they came to a stream of rushing water; but the little man +drew out a wand and touched the waves, whereupon the waters parted +and stood still, and the two crossed the river with dry feet. And how +beautiful everything on the other side was! lovely green paths leading +through woods and fields covered with flowers, birds with gold and +silver feathers singing on the trees, lovely butterflies and glittering +beetles fluttered and crawled about, and dear little beasts hid in the +bushes and hedges. The sky above them was not blue, but like rays of +pure gold, and the stars looked twice their usual size, and far more +brilliant than on our earth. + +The youth grew more and more astonished when the little grey man led him +into a castle far bigger and more splendid than the one they had left. +Here, too, the deepest silence reigned. They wandered all through the +castle, and came at last to a room in the middle of which stood a bed +hung all round with heavy curtains. Over the bed hung a bird’s cage, and +the bird inside it was singing beautiful songs into the silent space. +The little grey man lifted the curtains from the bed and beckoned the +youth to approach. On the rich silk cushions embroidered with gold +a lovely maiden lay sleeping. She was as beautiful as an angel, with +golden hair which fell in curls over her marble shoulders, and a diamond +crown sparkled on her forehead. But a sleep as of death held her in its +spell, and no noise seemed able to waken the sleeper. + +Then the little man turned to the wondering youth and said: ‘See, here +is the sleeping child! She is a mighty Princess. This splendid castle +and this enchanted land are hers, but for hundreds of years she has +slept this magic sleep, and during all that time no human being has been +able to find their way here. I alone have kept guard over her, and +have gone daily to my own castle to get food and to beat the greedy +gold-seekers who forced their way into my dwelling. I have watched over +the Princess carefully all these years and saw that no stranger came +near her, but all my magic power lay in my beard, and now that you +have taken it away I am helpless, and can no longer hold the beautiful +Princess in her enchanted sleep, but am forced to reveal my treasured +secret to you. So set to work and do as I tell you. Take the bird which +hangs over the Princess’s head, and which by its song sang her into this +enchanted sleep--a song which it has had to continue ever since; take it +and kill it, and cut its little heart out and burn it to a powder, and +then put it into the Princess’s mouth; then she will instantly awaken, +and will bestow on you her heart and hand, her kingdom and castle, and +all her treasures. + +The little dwarf paused, quite worn out, and the youth did not wait long +to do his bidding. He did all he was told carefully and promptly, and +having cut the little bird’s heart out he proceeded to make it into +a powder. No sooner had he placed it in the Princess’s mouth than she +opened her lovely eyes, and, looking up into the happy youth’s face, she +kissed him tenderly, thanked him for freeing her from her magic sleep, +and promised to be his wife. At the same moment a sound as of thunder +was heard all over the castle, and on all the staircases and in every +room sounds were to be heard. Then a troop of servants, male and female, +flocked into the apartment where the happy couple sat, and after wishing +the Princess and her bridegroom joy, they dispersed all over the castle +to their different occupations. + +But the little grey dwarf began now to demand his beard again from the +youth, for in his wicked heart he was determined to make an end of all +their happiness; he knew that if only his beard were once more on his +chin, he would be able to do what he liked with them all. But the clever +flute-player was quite a match for the little man in cunning, and said: +‘All right, you needn’t be afraid, you shall get your beard back before +we part; but you must allow my bride and me to accompany you a bit on +your homeward way.’ + +The dwarf could not refuse this request, and so they all went together +through the beautiful green paths and flowery meadows, and came at last +to the river which flowed for miles round the Princess’s land and formed +the boundary of her kingdom. There was no bridge or ferryboat to be seen +anywhere, and it was impossible to get over to the other side, for the +boldest swimmer would not have dared to brave the fierce current and +roaring waters. Then the youth said to the dwarf: ‘Give me your wand in +order that I may part the waves.’ + +And the dwarf was forced to do as he was told because the youth still +kept his beard from him; but the wicked little creature chuckled with +joy and thought to himself: ‘The foolish youth will hand me my beard as +soon as we have crossed the river, and then my power will return, and +I will seize my wand and prevent them both ever returning to their +beautiful country.’ + +But the dwarf’s wicked intentions were doomed to disappointment. The +happy youth struck the water with his wand, and the waves at once parted +and stood still, and the dwarf went on in front and crossed the stream. +No sooner had he done so than the waters closed behind him, and the +youth and his lovely bride stood safe on the other side. Then they threw +his beard to the old man across the river, but they kept his wand, so +that the wicked dwarf could never again enter their kingdom. So the +happy couple returned to their castle, and lived there in peace and +plenty for ever after. But the other two musicians waited in vain for +the return of their companion; and when he never came they said: ‘Ah, +he’s gone to play the flute,’ till the saying passed into a proverb, and +was always said of anyone who set out to perform a task from which he +never returned. + +Grimm. + + + + + +THE THREE DOGS + + + +There was once upon a time a shepherd who had two children, a son and +a daughter. When he was on his death-bed he turned to them and said, ‘I +have nothing to leave you but three sheep and a small house; divide them +between you, as you like, but don’t quarrel over them whatever you do.’ + +When the shepherd was dead, the brother asked his sister which she would +like best, the sheep or the little house; and when she had chosen the +house he said, ‘Then I’ll take the sheep and go out to seek my fortune +in the wide world. I don’t see why I shouldn’t be as lucky as many +another who has set out on the same search, and it wasn’t for nothing +that I was born on a Sunday.’ + +And so he started on his travels, driving his three sheep in front of +him, and for a long time it seemed as if fortune didn’t mean to favour +him at all. One day he was sitting disconsolately at a cross road, +when a man suddenly appeared before him with three black dogs, each one +bigger than the other. + +‘Hullo, my fine fellow,’ said the man, ‘I see you have three fat sheep. +I’ll tell you what; if you’ll give them to me, I’ll give you my three +dogs.’ + +In spite of his sadness, the youth smiled and replied, ‘What would I do +with your dogs? My sheep at least feed themselves, but I should have to +find food for the dogs.’ + +‘My dogs are not like other dogs,’ said the stranger; ‘they will feed +you instead of you them, and will make your fortune. The smallest one is +called “Salt,” and will bring you food whenever you wish; the second is +called “Pepper,” and will tear anyone to pieces who offers to hurt you; +and the great big strong one is called “Mustard,” and is so powerful +that it will break iron or steel with its teeth.’ + +The shepherd at last let himself be persuaded, and gave the stranger his +sheep. In order to test the truth of his statement about the dogs, he +said at once, ‘Salt, I am hungry,’ and before the words were out of +his mouth the dog had disappeared, and returned in a few minutes with +a large basket full of the most delicious food. Then the youth +congratulated himself on the bargain he had made, and continued his +journey in the best of spirits. + +One day he met a carriage and pair, all draped in black; even the horses +were covered with black trappings, and the coachman was clothed in crape +from top to toe. Inside the carriage sat a beautiful girl in a black +dress crying bitterly. The horses advanced slowly and mournfully, with +their heads bent on the ground. + +‘Coachman, what’s the meaning of all this grief?’ asked the shepherd. + +At first the coachman wouldn’t say anything, but when the youth pressed +him he told him that a huge dragon dwelt in the neighbourhood, and +required yearly the sacrifice of a beautiful maiden. This year the lot +had fallen on the King’s daughter, and the whole country was filled with +woe and lamentation in consequence. + +The shepherd felt very sorry for the lovely maiden, and determined +to follow the carriage. In a little it halted at the foot of a high +mountain. The girl got out, and walked slowly and sadly to meet her +terrible fate. The coachman perceived that the shepherd wished to follow +her, and warned him not to do so if he valued his life; but the shepherd +wouldn’t listen to his advice. When they had climbed about half-way up +the hill they saw a terrible-looking monster with the body of a snake, +and with huge wings and claws, coming towards them, breathing forth +flames of fire, and preparing to seize its victim. Then the shepherd +called, ‘Pepper, come to the rescue,’ and the second dog set upon the +dragon, and after a fierce struggle bit it so sharply in the neck that +the monster rolled over, and in a few moments breathed its last. Then +the dog ate up the body, all except its two front teeth, which the +shepherd picked up and put in his pocket. + +The Princess was quite overcome with terror and joy, and fell fainting +at the feet of her deliverer. When she recovered her consciousness she +begged the shepherd to return with her to her father, who would reward +him richly. But the youth answered that he wanted to see something of +the world, and that he would return again in three years, and nothing +would make him change this resolve. The Princess seated herself once +more in her carriage, and, bidding each other farewell, she and the +shepherd separated, she to return home, and he to see the world. + +But while the Princess was driving over a bridge the carriage suddenly +stood still, and the coachman turned round to her and said, ‘Your +deliverer has gone, and doesn’t thank you for your gratitude. It would +be nice of you to make a poor fellow happy; therefore you may tell your +father that it was I who slew the dragon, and if you refuse to, I will +throw you into the river, and no one will be any the wiser, for they +will think the dragon has devoured you.’ + +The maiden was in a dreadful state when she heard these words; but +there was nothing for her to do but to swear that she would give out the +coachman as her deliverer, and not to divulge the secret to anyone. So +they returned to the capital, and everyone was delighted when they saw +the Princess had returned unharmed; the black flags were taken down from +all the palace towers, and gay-coloured ones put up in their place, and +the King embraced his daughter and her supposed rescuer with tears of +joy, and, turning to the coachman, he said, ‘You have not only saved the +life of my child, but you have also freed the country from a terrible +scourge; therefore, it is only fitting that you should be richly +rewarded. Take, therefore, my daughter for your wife; but as she is +still so young, do not let the marriage be celebrated for another year.’ + +The coachman thanked the King for his graciousness, and was then led +away to be richly dressed and instructed in all the arts and graces that +befitted his new position. But the poor Princess wept bitterly, though +she did not dare to confide her grief to anyone. When the year was over, +she begged so hard for another year’s respite that it was granted to +her. But this year passed also, and she threw herself at her father’s +feet, and begged so piteously for one more year that the King’s heart +was melted, and he yielded to her request, much to the Princess’s joy, +for she knew that her real deliverer would appear at the end of the +third year. And so the year passed away like the other two, and the +wedding-day was fixed, and all the people were prepared to feast and +make merry. + +But on the wedding-day it happened that a stranger came to the town with +three black dogs. He asked what the meaning of all the feasting and fuss +was, and they told him that the King’s daughter was just going to be +married to the man who had slain the terrible dragon. The stranger at +once denounced the coachman as a liar; but no one would listen to him, +and he was seized and thrown into a cell with iron doors. + +While he was lying on his straw pallet, pondering mournfully on his +fate, he thought he heard the low whining of his dogs outside; then an +idea dawned on him, and he called out as loudly as he could, ‘Mustard, +come to my help,’ and in a second he saw the paws of his biggest dog at +the window of his cell, and before he could count two the creature had +bitten through the iron bars and stood beside him. Then they both let +themselves out of the prison by the window, and the poor youth was free +once more, though he felt very sad when he thought that another was to +enjoy the reward that rightfully belonged to him. He felt hungry too, +so he called his dog ‘Salt,’ and asked him to bring home some food. The +faithful creature trotted off, and soon returned with a table-napkin +full of the most delicious food, and the napkin itself was embroidered +with a kingly crown. + +The King had just seated himself at the wedding-feast with all his +Court, when the dog appeared and licked the Princess’s hand in an +appealing manner. With a joyful start she recognised the beast, and +bound her own table-napkin round his neck. Then she plucked up her +courage and told her father the whole story. The King at once sent a +servant to follow the dog, and in a short time the stranger was led into +the Kings presence. The former coachman grew as white as a sheet when +he saw the shepherd, and, falling on his knees, begged for mercy and +pardon. The Princess recognized her deliverer at once, and did not need +the proof of the two dragon’s teeth which he drew from his pocket. The +coachman was thrown into a dark dungeon, and the shepherd took his place +at the Princess’s side, and this time, you may be sure, she did not beg +for the wedding to be put off. + +The young couple lived for some time in great peace and happiness, +when suddenly one day the former shepherd bethought himself of his poor +sister and expressed a wish to see her again, and to let her share in +his good fortune. So they sent a carriage to fetch her, and soon she +arrived at the court, and found herself once more in her brother’s arms. +Then one of the dogs spoke and said, ‘Our task is done; you have no more +need of us. We only waited to see that you did not forget your sister in +your prosperity.’ And with these words the three dogs became three birds +and flew away into the heavens. + +Grimm. + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Green Fairy Book, by Various + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GREEN FAIRY BOOK *** + +***** This file should be named 7277-0.txt or 7277-0.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/7/2/7/7277/ + +Produced by JC Byers, Wendy Crockett and David Widger + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase “Project +Gutenberg”), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. “Project Gutenberg” is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation (“the Foundation” + or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase “Project Gutenberg” appears, or with which the phrase “Project +Gutenberg” is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase “Project Gutenberg” associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +“Plain Vanilla ASCII” or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original “Plain Vanilla ASCII” or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, “Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation.” + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +“Defects,” such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the “Right +of Replacement or Refund” described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you ‘AS-IS’ WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm’s +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation’s EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state’s laws. + +The Foundation’s principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation’s web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/7277-0.zip b/7277-0.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..2acbd1a --- /dev/null +++ b/7277-0.zip diff --git a/7277-h.zip b/7277-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..838b0ef --- /dev/null +++ b/7277-h.zip diff --git a/7277-h/7277-h.htm b/7277-h/7277-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..520fe3e --- /dev/null +++ b/7277-h/7277-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,14433 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?> + +<!DOCTYPE html + PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd" > + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="en"> + <head> + <title> + The Green Fairy Book, by Various + </title> + <style type="text/css" xml:space="preserve"> + + body { margin:5%; background:#ccff00; text-align:justify} + P { text-indent: 1em; margin-top: .25em; margin-bottom: .25em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; } + hr { width: 50%; text-align: center;} + .foot { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; text-indent: -3em; font-size: 90%; } + blockquote {font-size: 97%; font-style: italic; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .mynote {background-color: #DDE; color: #000; padding: .5em; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 95%;} + .toc { margin-left: 10%; margin-bottom: .75em;} + .toc2 { margin-left: 20%;} + div.fig { display:block; margin:0 auto; text-align:center; } + div.middle { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; } + .figleft {float: left; margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 1%;} + .figright {float: right; margin-right: 0%; margin-left: 1%;} + .pagenum {display:inline; font-size: 70%; font-style:normal; + margin: 0; padding: 0; position: absolute; right: 1%; + text-align: right;} + pre { font-style: italic; font-size: 90%; margin-left: 10%;} + +</style> + </head> + <body> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Green Fairy Book, by Various + +<table summary="" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto" cellpadding="4" border="3"> +<tr> +<td> +THERE IS AN IMPROVED ILLUSTRATED EDITION OF THIS TITLE WHICH MAY VIEWED AT EBOOK <big><b><a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/33571"> +[ #33571 ]</a></b></big> +</td> +</tr> +</table> + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Green Fairy Book + +Author: Various + +Editor: Andrew Lang + +Release Date: August 6, 2009 [EBook #7277] +Last Updated: December 16, 2016 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GREEN FAIRY BOOK *** + + + + +Produced by JC Byers, Wendy Crockett, and David Widger + + + + + + +</pre> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h1> + THE GREEN FAIRY BOOK + </h1> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h3> + By Various + </h3> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h2> + Edited by Andrew Lang + </h2> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + To + Stella Margaret Alleyne + the + Green Fairy Book + is dedicated + </pre> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p> + To The Friendly Reader + </p> + <p> + This is the third, and probably the last, of the Fairy Books of many + colours. First there was the Blue Fairy Book; then, children, you asked + for more, and we made up the Red Fairy Book; and, when you wanted more + still, the Green Fairy Book was put together. The stories in all the books + are borrowed from many countries; some are French, some German, some + Russian, some Italian, some Scottish, some English, one Chinese. However + much these nations differ about trifles, they all agree in liking fairy + tales. The reason, no doubt, is that men were much like children in their + minds long ago, long, long ago, and so before they took to writing + newspapers, and sermons, and novels, and long poems, they told each other + stories, such as you read in the fairy books. They believed that witches + could turn people into beasts, that beasts could speak, that magic rings + could make their owners invisible, and all the other wonders in the + stories. Then, as the world became grown-up, the fairy tales which were + not written down would have been quite forgotten but that the old grannies + remembered them, and told them to the little grandchildren: and when they, + in their turn, became grannies, they remembered them, and told them also. + In this way these tales are older than reading and writing, far older than + printing. The oldest fairy tales ever written down were written down in + Egypt, about Joseph’s time, nearly three thousand five hundred years ago. + Other fairy stories Homer knew, in Greece, nearly three thousand years + ago, and he made them all up into a poem, the Odyssey, which I hope you + will read some day. Here you will find the witch who turns men into swine, + and the man who bores out the big foolish giant’s eye, and the cap of + darkness, and the shoes of swiftness, that were worn later by Jack the + Giant-Killer. These fairy tales are the oldest stories in the world, and + as they were first made by men who were childlike for their own amusement, + so they amuse children still, and also grown-up people who have not + forgotten how they once were children. + </p> + <p> + Some of the stories were made, no doubt, not only to amuse, but to teach + goodness. You see, in the tales, how the boy who is kind to beasts, and + polite, and generous, and brave, always comes best through his trials, and + no doubt these tales were meant to make their hearers kind, unselfish, + courteous, and courageous. This is the moral of them. But, after all, we + think more as we read them of the diversion than of the lesson. There are + grown-up people now who say that the stories are not good for children, + because they are not true, because there are no witches, nor talking + beasts, and because people are killed in them, especially wicked giants. + But probably you who read the tales know very well how much is true and + how much is only make-believe, and I never yet heard of a child who killed + a very tall man merely because Jack killed the giants, or who was unkind + to his stepmother, if he had one, because, in fairy tales, the stepmother + is often disagreeable. If there are frightful monsters in fairy tales, + they do not frighten you now, because that kind of monster is no longer + going about the world, whatever he may have done long, long ago. He has + been turned into stone, and you may see his remains in museums. Therefore, + I am not afraid that you will be afraid of the magicians and dragons; + besides, you see that a really brave boy or girl was always their master, + even in the height of their power. + </p> + <p> + Some of the tales here, like The Half-Chick, are for very little children; + others for older ones. The longest tales, like Heart of Ice, were not + invented when the others were, but were written in French, by clever men + and women, such as Madame d’Aulnoy, and the Count de Caylus, about two + hundred years ago. There are not many people now, perhaps there are none, + who can write really good fairy tales, because they do not believe enough + in their own stories, and because they want to be wittier than it has + pleased Heaven to make them. + </p> + <p> + So here we give you the last of the old stories, for the present, and hope + you will like them, and feel grateful to the Brothers Grimm, who took them + down from the telling of old women, and to M. Sebillot and M. Charles + Marelles, who have lent us some tales from their own French people, and to + Mr. Ford, who drew the pictures, and to the ladies, Miss Blackley, Miss + Alma Alleyne, Miss Eleanor Sellar, Miss May Sellar, Miss Wright, and Mrs. + Lang, who translated many of the tales out of French, German, and other + languages. + </p> + <p> + If we have a book for you next year, it shall not be a fairy book. What it + is to be is a secret, but we hope that it will not be dull. So good-bye, + and when you have read a fairy book, lend it to other children who have + none, or tell them the stories in your own way, which is a very pleasant + mode of passing the time. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <blockquote> + <p class="toc"> + <big><b>CONTENTS</b></big> + </p> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0001"> THE BLUE BIRD </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0002"> THE HALF-CHICK </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0003"> THE STORY OF CALIPH STORK </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0004"> THE ENCHANTED WATCH </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0005"> ROSANELLA </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0006"> SYLVAIN AND JOCOSA </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0007"> FAIRY GIFTS </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0008"> PRINCE NARCISSUS AND THE PRINCESS POTENTILLA + </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0009"> PRINCE FEATHERHEAD AND THE PRINCESS CELANDINE + </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0010"> THE THREE LITTLE PIGS </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0011"> HEART OF ICE </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0012"> THE ENCHANTED RING </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0013"> THE SNUFF-BOX </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0014"> THE GOLDEN BLACKBIRD </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0015"> THE LITTLE SOLDIER </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0016"> THE MAGIC SWAN </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0017"> THE DIRTY SHEPHERDESS </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0018"> THE ENCHANTED SNAKE </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0019"> THE BITER BIT </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0020"> KING KOJATA (From the Russian) </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0021"> PRINCE FICKLE AND FAIR HELENA (From the + German) </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0022"> PUDDOCKY (From the German) </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0023"> THE STORY OF HOK LEE AND THE DWARFS </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0024"> THE STORY OF THE THREE BEARS </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0025"> PRINCE VIVIEN AND THE PRINCESS PLACIDA </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0026"> LITTLE ONE-EYE, LITTLE TWO-EYES, AND LITTLE + THREE-EYES </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0027"> JORINDE AND JORINGEL </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0028"> ALLERLEIRAUH; OR, THE MANY-FURRED CREATURE + </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0029"> THE TWELVE HUNTSMEN </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0030"> SPINDLE, SHUTTLE, AND NEEDLE </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0031"> THE CRYSTAL COFFIN </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0032"> THE THREE SNAKE-LEAVES </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0033"> THE RIDDLE </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0034"> JACK MY HEDGEHOG </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0035"> THE GOLDEN LADS </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0036"> THE WHITE SNAKE </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0037"> THE STORY OF A CLEVER TAILOR </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0038"> THE GOLDEN MERMAID </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0039"> THE WAR OF THE WOLF AND THE FOX </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0040"> THE STORY OF THE FISHERMAN AND HIS WIFE </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0041"> THE THREE MUSICIANS </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0042"> THE THREE DOGS </a> + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <a name="link2H_4_0001" id="link2H_4_0001"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <h2> + THE BLUE BIRD + </h2> + <p> + Once upon a time there lived a King who was immensely rich. He had broad + lands, and sacks overflowing with gold and silver; but he did not care a + bit for all his riches, because the Queen, his wife, was dead. He shut + himself up in a little room and knocked his head against the walls for + grief, until his courtiers were really afraid that he would hurt himself. + So they hung feather-beds between the tapestry and the walls, and then he + could go on knocking his head as long as it was any consolation to him + without coming to much harm. All his subjects came to see him, and said + whatever they thought would comfort him: some were grave, even gloomy with + him; and some agreeable, even gay; but not one could make the least + impression upon him. Indeed, he hardly seemed to hear what they said. At + last came a lady who was wrapped in a black mantle, and seemed to be in + the deepest grief. She wept and sobbed until even the King’s attention was + attracted; and when she said that, far from coming to try and diminish his + grief, she, who had just lost a good husband, was come to add her tears to + his, since she knew what he must be feeling, the King redoubled his + lamentations. Then he told the sorrowful lady long stories about the good + qualities of his departed Queen, and she in her turn recounted all the + virtues of her departed husband; and this passed the time so agreeably + that the King quite forgot to thump his head against the feather-beds, and + the lady did not need to wipe the tears from her great blue eyes as often + as before. By degrees they came to talking about other things in which the + King took an interest, and in a wonderfully short time the whole kingdom + was astonished by the news that the King was married again to the + sorrowful lady. + </p> + <p> + Now the King had one daughter, who was just fifteen years old. Her name + was Fiordelisa, and she was the prettiest and most charming Princess + imaginable, always gay and merry. The new Queen, who also had a daughter, + very soon sent for her to come to the Palace. Turritella, for that was her + name, had been brought up by her godmother, the Fairy Mazilla, but in + spite of all the care bestowed upon her, she was neither beautiful nor + gracious. Indeed, when the Queen saw how ill-tempered and ugly she + appeared beside Fiordelisa she was in despair, and did everything in her + power to turn the King against his own daughter, in the hope that he might + take a fancy to Turritella. One day the King said that it was time + Fiordelisa and Turritella were married, so he would give one of them to + the first suitable Prince who visited his Court. The Queen answered: + </p> + <p> + ‘My daughter certainly ought to be the first to be married; she is older + than yours, and a thousand times more charming!’ + </p> + <p> + The King, who hated disputes, said, ‘Very well, it’s no affair of mine, + settle it your own way.’ + </p> + <p> + Very soon after came the news that King Charming, who was the most + handsome and magnificent Prince in all the country round, was on his way + to visit the King. As soon as the Queen heard this, she set all her + jewellers, tailors, weavers, and embroiderers to work upon splendid + dresses and ornaments for Turritella, but she told the King that + Fiordelisa had no need of anything new, and the night before the King was + to arrive, she bribed her waiting woman to steal away all the Princess’s + own dresses and jewels, so that when the day came, and Fiordelisa wished + to adorn herself as became her high rank, not even a ribbon could she + find. + </p> + <p> + However, as she easily guessed who had played her such a trick, she made + no complaint, but sent to the merchants for some rich stuffs. But they + said that the Queen had expressly forbidden them to supply her with any, + and they dared not disobey. So the Princess had nothing left to put on but + the little white frock she had been wearing the day before; and dressed in + that, she went down when the time of the King’s arrival came, and sat in a + corner hoping to escape notice. The Queen received her guest with great + ceremony, and presented him to her daughter, who was gorgeously attired, + but so much splendour only made her ugliness more noticeable, and the + King, after one glance at her, looked the other way. The Queen, however, + only thought that he was bashful, and took pains to keep Turritella in + full view. King Charming then asked it there was not another Princess, + called Fiordelisa. + </p> + <p> + ‘Yes,’ said Turritella, pointing with her finger, ‘there she is, trying to + keep out of sight because she is not smart.’ + </p> + <p> + At this Fiordelisa blushed, and looked so shy and so lovely, that the King + was fairly astonished. He rose, and bowing low before her, said— + </p> + <p> + ‘Madam, your incomparable beauty needs no adornment.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Sire,’ answered the Princess, ‘I assure you that I am not in the habit of + wearing dresses as crumpled and untidy as this one, so I should have been + better pleased if you had not seen me at all.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Impossible!’ cried King Charming. ‘Wherever such a marvellously beautiful + Princess appears I can look at nothing else.’ + </p> + <p> + Here the Queen broke in, saying sharply— + </p> + <p> + ‘I assure you, Sire, that Fiordelisa is vain enough already. Pray make her + no more flattering speeches.’ + </p> + <p> + The King quite understood that she was not pleased, but that did not + matter to him, so he admired Fiordelisa to his heart’s content, and talked + to her for three hours without stopping. + </p> + <p> + The Queen was in despair, and so was Turritella, when they saw how much + the King preferred Fiordelisa. They complained bitterly to the King, and + begged and teased him, until he at last consented to have the Princess + shut up somewhere out of sight while King Charming’s visit lasted. So that + night, as she went to her room, she was seized by four masked figures, and + carried up into the topmost room of a high tower, where they left her in + the deepest dejection. She easily guessed that she was to be kept out of + sight for fear the King should fall in love with her; but then, how + disappointing that was, for she already liked him very much, and would + have been quite willing to be chosen for his bride! As King Charming did + not know what had happened to the Princess, he looked forward impatiently + to meeting her again, and he tried to talk about her with the courtiers + who were placed in attendance on him. But by the Queen’s orders they would + say nothing good of her, but declared that she was vain, capricious, and + bad-tempered; that she tormented her waiting-maids, and that, in spite of + all the money that the King gave her, she was so mean that she preferred + to go about dressed like a poor shepherdess, rather than spend any of it. + All these things vexed the King very much, and he was silent. + </p> + <p> + ‘It is true,’ thought he, ‘that she was very poorly dressed, but then she + was so ashamed that it proves that she was not accustomed to be so. I + cannot believe that with that lovely face she can be as ill-tempered and + contemptible as they say. No, no, the Queen must be jealous of her for the + sake of that ugly daughter of hers, and so these evil reports are spread.’ + </p> + <p> + The courtiers could not help seeing that what they had told the King did + not please him, and one of them cunningly began to praise Fiordelisa, when + he could talk to the King without being heard by the others. + </p> + <p> + King Charming thereupon became so cheerful, and interested in all he said, + that it was easy to guess how much he admired the Princess. So when the + Queen sent for the courtiers and questioned them about all they had found + out, their report confirmed her worst fears. As to the poor Princess + Fiordelisa, she cried all night without stopping. + </p> + <p> + ‘It would have been quite bad enough to be shut up in this gloomy tower + before I had ever seen King Charming,’ she said; ‘but now when he is here, + and they are all enjoying themselves with him, it is too unkind.’ + </p> + <p> + The next day the Queen sent King Charming splendid presents of jewels and + rich stuffs, and among other things an ornament made expressly in honour + of the approaching wedding. It was a heart cut out of one huge ruby, and + was surrounded by several diamond arrows, and pierced by one. A golden + true-lover’s knot above the heart bore the motto, ‘But one can wound me,’ + and the whole jewel was hung upon a chain of immense pearls. Never, since + the world has been a world, had such a thing been made, and the King was + quite amazed when it was presented to him. The page who brought it begged + him to accept it from the Princess, who chose him to be her knight. + </p> + <p> + ‘What!’ cried he, ‘does the lovely Princess Fiordelisa deign to think of + me in this amiable and encouraging way?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘You confuse the names, Sire,’ said the page hastily. ‘I come on behalf of + the Princess Turritella.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Oh, it is Turritella who wishes me to be her knight,’ said the King + coldly. ‘I am sorry that I cannot accept the honour.’ And he sent the + splendid gifts back to the Queen and Turritella, who were furiously angry + at the contempt with which they were treated. As soon as he possibly + could, King Charming went to see the King and Queen, and as he entered the + hall he looked for Fiordelisa, and every time anyone came in he started + round to see who it was, and was altogether so uneasy and dissatisfied + that the Queen saw it plainly. But she would not take any notice, and + talked of nothing but the entertainments she was planning. The Prince + answered at random, and presently asked if he was not to have the pleasure + of seeing the Princess Fiordelisa. + </p> + <p> + ‘Sire,’ answered the Queen haughtily, ‘her father has ordered that she + shall not leave her own apartments until my daughter is married.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘What can be the reason for keeping that lovely Princess a prisoner?’ + cried the King in great indignation. + </p> + <p> + ‘That I do not know,’ answered the Queen; ‘and even if I did, I might not + feel bound to tell you.’ + </p> + <p> + The King was terribly angry at being thwarted like this. He felt certain + that Turritella was to blame for it, so casting a furious glance at her he + abruptly took leave of the Queen, and returned to his own apartments. + There he said to a young squire whom he had brought with him: ‘I would + give all I have in the world to gain the good will of one of the + Princess’s waiting-women, and obtain a moment’s speech with Fiordelisa.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Nothing could be easier,’ said the young squire; and he very soon made + friends with one of the ladies, who told him that in the evening + Fiordelisa would be at a little window which looked into the garden, where + he could come and talk to her. Only, she said, he must take very great + care not to be seen, as it would be as much as her place was worth to be + caught helping King Charming to see the Princess. The squire was + delighted, and promised all she asked; but the moment he had run off to + announce his success to the King, the false waiting-woman went and told + the Queen all that had passed. She at once determined that her own + daughter should be at the little window; and she taught her so well all + she was to say and do, that even the stupid Turritella could make no + mistake. + </p> + <p> + The night was so dark that the King had not a chance of finding out the + trick that was being played upon him, so he approached the window with the + greatest delight, and said everything that he had been longing to say to + Fiordelisa to persuade her of his love for her. Turritella answered as she + had been taught, that she was very unhappy, and that there was no chance + of her being better treated by the Queen until her daughter was married. + And then the King entreated her to marry him; and thereupon he drew his + ring from his finger and put it upon Turritella’s, and she answered him as + well as she could. The King could not help thinking that she did not say + exactly what he would have expected from his darling Fiordelisa, but he + persuaded himself that the fear of being surprised by the Queen was making + her awkward and unnatural. He would not leave her until she had promised + to see him again the next night, which Turritella did willingly enough. + The Queen was overjoyed at the success of her stratagem, end promised + herself that all would now be as she wished; and sure enough, as soon as + it was dark the following night the King came, bringing with him a chariot + which had been given him by an Enchanter who was his friend. This chariot + was drawn by flying frogs, and the King easily persuaded Turritella to + come out and let him put her into it, then mounting beside her he cried + triumphantly— + </p> + <p> + ‘Now, my Princess, you are free; where will it please you that we shall + hold our wedding?’ + </p> + <p> + And Turritella, with her head muffled in her mantle, answered that the + Fairy Mazilla was her godmother, and that she would like it to be at her + castle. So the King told the Frogs, who had the map of the whole world in + their heads, and very soon he and Turritella were set down at the castle + of the Fairy Mazilla. The King would certainly have found out his mistake + the moment they stepped into the brilliantly lighted castle, but + Turritella held her mantle more closely round her, and asked to see the + Fairy by herself, and quickly told her all that had happened, and how she + had succeeded in deceiving King Charming. + </p> + <p> + ‘Oho! my daughter,’ said the Fairy, ‘I see we have no easy task before us. + He loves Fiordelisa so much that he will not be easily pacified. I feel + sure he will defy us!’ Meanwhile the King was waiting in a splendid room + with diamond walls, so clear that he could see the Fairy and Turritella as + they stood whispering together, and he was very much puzzled. + </p> + <p> + ‘Who can have betrayed us?’ he said to himself. ‘How comes our enemy here? + She must be plotting to prevent our marriage. Why doesn’t my lovely + Fiordelisa make haste and come hack to me?’ + </p> + <p> + But it was worse than anything he had imagined when the Fairy Mazilla + entered, leading Turritella by the hand, and said to him— + </p> + <p> + ‘King Charming, here is the Princess Turritella to whom you have plighted + your faith. Let us have the wedding at once.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘I!’ cried the King. ‘I marry that little creature! What do you take me + for? I have promised her nothing!’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Say no more. Have you no respect for a Fairy?’ cried she angrily. + </p> + <p> + ‘Yes, madam,’ answered the King, ‘I am prepared to respect you as much as + a Fairy can be respected, if you will give me back my Princess.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Am I not here?’ interrupted Turritella. ‘Here is the ring you gave me. + With whom did you talk at the little window, if it was not with me?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘What!’ cried the King angrily, ‘have I been altogether deceived and + deluded? Where is my chariot? Not another moment will I stay here.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Oho,’ said the Fairy, ‘not so fast.’ And she touched his feet, which + instantly became as firmly fixed to the floor as if they had been nailed + there. + </p> + <p> + ‘Oh! do whatever you like with me,’ said the King; ‘you may turn me to + stone, but I will marry no one but Fiordelisa.’ + </p> + <p> + And not another word would he say, though the Fairy scolded and + threatened, and Turritella wept and raged for twenty days and twenty + nights. At last the Fairy Mazilla said furiously (for she was quite tired + out by his obstinacy), ‘Choose whether you will marry my goddaughter, or + do penance seven years for breaking your word to her.’ + </p> + <p> + And then the King cried gaily: ‘Pray do whatever you like with me, as long + as you deliver me from this ugly scold!’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Scold!’ cried Turritella angrily. ‘Who are you, I should like to know, + that you dare to call me a scold? A miserable King who breaks his word, + and goes about in a chariot drawn by croaking frogs out of a marsh!’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Let us have no more of these insults,’ cried the Fairy. ‘Fly from that + window, ungrateful King, and for seven years be a Blue Bird.’ As she spoke + the King’s face altered, his arms turned to wings, his feet to little + crooked black claws. In a moment he had a slender body like a bird, + covered with shining blue feathers, his beak was like ivory, his eyes were + bright as stars, and a crown of white feathers adorned his head. + </p> + <p> + As soon as the transformation was complete the King uttered a dolorous cry + and fled through the open window, pursued by the mocking laughter of + Turritella and the Fairy Mazilla. He flew on until he reached the thickest + part of the wood, and there, perched upon a cypress tree, he bewailed his + miserable fate. ‘Alas! in seven years who knows what may happen to my + darling Fiordelisa!’ he said. ‘Her cruel stepmother may have married her + to someone else before I am myself again, and then what good will life be + to me?’ + </p> + <p> + In the meantime the Fairy Mazilla had sent Turritella back to the Queen, + who was all anxiety to know how the wedding, had gone off. But when her + daughter arrived and told her all that had happened she was terribly + angry, and of course all her wrath fell upon Fiordelisa. ‘She shall have + cause to repent that the King admires her,’ said the Queen, nodding her + head meaningly, and then she and Turritella went up to the little room in + the tower where the Princess was imprisoned. Fiordelisa was immensely + surprised to see that Turritella was wearing a royal mantle and a diamond + crown, and her heart sank when the Queen said: ‘My daughter is come to + show you some of her wedding presents, for she is King Charming’s bride, + and they are the happiest pair in the world, he loves her to distraction.’ + All this time Turritella was spreading out lace, and jewels, and rich + brocades, and ribbons before Fiordelisa’s unwilling eyes, and taking good + care to display King Charming’s ring, which she wore upon her thumb. The + Princess recognised it as soon as her eyes fell upon it, and after that + she could no longer doubt that he had indeed married Turritella. In + despair she cried, ‘Take away these miserable gauds! what pleasure has a + wretched captive in the sight of them?’ and then she fell insensible upon + the floor, and the cruel Queen laughed maliciously, and went away with + Turritella, leaving her there without comfort or aid. That night the Queen + said to the King, that his daughter was so infatuated with King Charming, + in spite of his never having shown any preference for her, that it was + just as well she should stay in the tower until she came to her senses. To + which he answered that it was her affair, and she could give what orders + she pleased about the Princess. + </p> + <p> + When the unhappy Fiordelisa recovered, and remembered all she had just + heard, she began to cry bitterly, believing that King Charming was lost to + her for ever, and all night long she sat at her open window sighing and + lamenting; but when it was dawn she crept away into the darkest corner of + her little room and sat there, too unhappy to care about anything. As soon + as night came again she once more leaned out into the darkness and + bewailed her miserable lot. + </p> + <p> + Now it happened that King Charming, or rather the Blue Bird, had been + flying round the palace in the hope of seeing his beloved Princess, but + had not dared to go too near the windows for fear of being seen and + recognised by Turritella. When night fell he had not succeeded in + discovering where Fiordelisa was imprisoned, and, weary and sad, he + perched upon a branch of a tall fir tree which grew close to the tower, + and began to sing himself to sleep. But soon the sound of a soft voice + lamenting attracted his attention, and listening intently he heard it say— + </p> + <p> + ‘Ah! cruel Queen! what have I ever done to be imprisoned like this? And + was I not unhappy enough before, that you must needs come and taunt me + with the happiness your daughter is enjoying now she is King Charming’s + bride?’ + </p> + <p> + The Blue Bird, greatly surprised, waited impatiently for the dawn, and the + moment it was light flew off to see who it could have been who spoke thus. + But he found the window shut, and could see no one. The next night, + however, he was on the watch, and by the clear moonlight he saw that the + sorrowful lady at the window was Fiordelisa herself. + </p> + <p> + ‘My Princess! have I found you at last?’ said he, alighting close to her. + </p> + <p> + ‘Who is speaking to me?’ cried the Princess in great surprise. + </p> + <p> + ‘Only a moment since you mentioned my name, and now you do not know me, + Fiordelisa,’ said he sadly. ‘But no wonder, since I am nothing but a Blue + Bird, and must remain one for seven years.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘What! Little Blue Bird, are you really the powerful King Charming?’ said + the Princess, caressing him. + </p> + <p> + ‘It is too true,’ he answered. ‘For being faithful to you I am thus + punished. But believe me, if it were for twice as long I would bear it + joyfully rather than give you up.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Oh! what are you telling me?’ cried the Princess. ‘Has not your bride, + Turritella, just visited me, wearing the royal mantle and the diamond + crown you gave her? I cannot be mistaken, for I saw your ring upon her + thumb.’ + </p> + <p> + Then the Blue Bird was furiously angry, and told the Princess all that had + happened, how he had been deceived into carrying off Turritella, and how, + for refusing to marry her, the Fairy Mazilla had condemned him to be a + Blue Bird for seven years. + </p> + <p> + The Princess was very happy when she heard how faithful her lover was, and + would never have tired of hearing his loving speeches and explanations, + but too soon the sun rose, and they had to part lest the Blue Bird should + be discovered. After promising to come again to the Princess’s window as + soon as it was dark, he flew away, and hid himself in a little hole in the + fir-tree, while Fiordelisa remained devoured by anxiety lest he should be + caught in a trap, or eaten up by an eagle. + </p> + <p> + But the Blue Bird did not long stay in his hiding-place. He flew away, and + away, until he came to his own palace, and got into it through a broken + window, and there he found the cabinet where his jewels were kept, and + chose out a splendid diamond ring as a present for the Princess. By the + time he got back, Fiordelisa was sitting waiting for him by the open + window, and when he gave her the ring, she scolded him gently for having + run such a risk to get it for her. + </p> + <p> + ‘Promise me that you will wear it always!’ said the Blue Bird. And the + Princess promised on condition that he should come and see her in the day + as well as by night. They talked all night long, and the next morning the + Blue Bird flew off to his kingdom, and crept into his palace through the + broken window, and chose from his treasures two bracelets, each cut out of + a single emerald. When he presented them to the Princess, she shook her + head at him reproachfully, saying— + </p> + <p> + ‘Do you think I love you so little that I need all these gifts to remind + me of you?’ + </p> + <p> + And he answered— + </p> + <p> + ‘No, my Princess; but I love you so much that I feel I cannot express it, + try as I may. I only bring you these worthless trifles to show that I have + not ceased to think of you, though I have been obliged to leave you for a + time.’ The following night he gave Fiordelisa a watch set in a single + pearl. The Princess laughed a little when she saw it, and said— + </p> + <p> + ‘You may well give me a watch, for since I have known you I have lost the + power of measuring time. The hours you spend with me pass like minutes, + and the hours that I drag through without you seem years to me.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Ah, Princess, they cannot seem so long to you as they do to me!’ he + answered. Day by day he brought more beautiful things for the Princess—diamonds, + and rubies, and opals; and at night she decked herself with them to please + him, but by day she hid them in her straw mattress. When the sun shone the + Blue Bird, hidden in the tall fir-tree, sang to her so sweetly that all + the passersby wondered, and said that the wood was inhabited by a spirit. + And so two years slipped away, and still the Princess was a prisoner, and + Turritella was not married. The Queen had offered her hand to all the + neighbouring Princes, but they always answered that they would marry + Fiordelisa with pleasure, but not Turritella on any account. This + displeased the Queen terribly. ‘Fiordelisa must be in league with them, to + annoy me!’ she said. ‘Let us go and accuse her of it.’ + </p> + <p> + So she and Turritella went up into the tower. Now it happened that it was + nearly midnight, and Fiordelisa, all decked with jewels, was sitting at + the window with the Blue Bird, and as the Queen paused outside the door to + listen she heard the Princess and her lover singing together a little song + he had just taught her. These were the words:— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + ‘Oh! what a luckless pair are we, + One in a prison, and one in a tree. + All our trouble and anguish came + From our faithfulness spoiling our enemies’ game. + But vainly they practice their cruel arts, + For nought can sever our two fond hearts.’ +</pre> + <p> + They sound melancholy perhaps, but the two voices sang them gaily enough, + and the Queen burst open the door, crying, ‘Ah! my Turritella, there is + some treachery going on here!’ + </p> + <p> + As soon as she saw her, Fiordelisa, with great presence of mind, hastily + shut her little window, that the Blue Bird might have time to escape, and + then turned to meet the Queen, who overwhelmed her with a torrent of + reproaches. + </p> + <p> + ‘Your intrigues are discovered, Madam,’ she said furiously; ‘and you need + not hope that your high rank will save you from the punishment you + deserve.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘And with whom do you accuse me of intriguing, Madam?’ said the Princess. + ‘Have I not been your prisoner these two years, and who have I seen except + the gaolers sent by you?’ + </p> + <p> + While she spoke the Queen and Turritella were looking at her in the + greatest surprise, perfectly dazzled by her beauty and the splendour of + her jewels, and the Queen said: + </p> + <p> + ‘If one may ask, Madam, where did you get all these diamonds? Perhaps you + mean to tell me that you have discovered a mine of them in the tower!’ + </p> + <p> + ‘I certainly did find them here,’ answered the Princess. + </p> + <p> + ‘And pray,’ said the Queen, her wrath increasing every moment, ‘for whose + admiration are you decked out like this, since I have often seen you not + half as fine on the most important occasions at Court?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘For my own,’ answered Fiordelisa. ‘You must admit that I have had plenty + of time on my hands, so you cannot be surprised at my spending some of it + in making myself smart.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘That’s all very fine,’ said the Queen suspiciously. ‘I think I will look + about, and see for myself.’ + </p> + <p> + So she and Turritella began to search every corner of the little room, and + when they came to the straw mattress out fell such a quantity of pearls, + diamonds, rubies, opals, emeralds, and sapphires, that they were amazed, + and could not tell what to think. But the Queen resolved to hide somewhere + a packet of false letters to prove that the Princess had been conspiring + with the King’s enemies, and she chose the chimney as a good place. + Fortunately for Fiordelisa this was exactly where the Blue Bird had + perched himself, to keep an eye upon her proceedings, and try to avert + danger from his beloved Princess, and now he cried: + </p> + <p> + ‘Beware, Fiordelisa! Your false enemy is plotting against you.’ + </p> + <p> + This strange voice so frightened the Queen that she took the letter and + went away hastily with Turritella, and they held a council to try and + devise some means of finding out what Fairy or Enchanter was favouring the + Princess. At last they sent one of the Queen’s maids to wait upon + Fiordelisa, and told her to pretend to be quite stupid, and to see and + hear nothing, while she was really to watch the Princess day and night, + and keep the Queen informed of all her doings. + </p> + <p> + Poor Fiordelisa, who guessed she was sent as a spy, was in despair, and + cried bitterly that she dared not see her dear Blue Bird for fear that + some evil might happen to him if he were discovered. + </p> + <p> + The days were so long, and the nights so dull, but for a whole month she + never went near her little window lest he should fly to her as he used to + do. + </p> + <p> + However, at last the spy, who had never taken her eyes off the Princess + day or night, was so overcome with weariness that she fell into a deep + sleep, and as son as the Princess saw that, she flew to open her window + and cried softly: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + ‘Blue Bird, blue as the sky, + Fly to me now, there’s nobody by.’ +</pre> + <p> + And the Blue Bird, who had never ceased to flutter round within sight and + hearing of her prison, came in an instant. They had so much to say, and + were so overjoyed to meet once more, that it scarcely seemed to them five + minutes before the sun rose, and the Blue Bird had to fly away. + </p> + <p> + But the next night the spy slept as soundly as before, so that the Blue + Bird came, and he and the Princess began to think they were perfectly + safe, and to make all sorts of plans for being happy as they were before + the Queen’s visit. But, alas! the third night the spy was not quite so + sleepy, and when the Princess opened her window and cried as usual: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + ‘Blue Bird, blue as the sky, + Fly to me now, there’s nobody nigh,’ +</pre> + <p> + she was wide awake in a moment, though she was sly enough to keep her eyes + shut at first. But presently she heard voices, and peeping cautiously, she + saw by the moonlight the most lovely blue bird in the world, who was + talking to the Princess, while she stroked and caressed it fondly. + </p> + <p> + The spy did not lose a single word of the conversation, and as soon as the + day dawned, and the Blue Bird had reluctantly said good-bye to the + Princess, she rushed off to the Queen, and told her all she had seen and + heard. + </p> + <p> + Then the Queen sent for Turritella, and they talked it over, and very soon + came to the conclusion than this Blue Bird was no other than King Charming + himself. + </p> + <p> + ‘Ah! that insolent Princess!’ cried the Queen. ‘To think that when we + supposed her to be so miserable, she was all the while as happy as + possible with that false King. But I know how we can avenge ourselves!’ + </p> + <p> + So the spy was ordered to go back and pretend to sleep as soundly as ever, + and indeed she went to bed earlier than usual, and snored as naturally as + possible, and the poor Princess ran to the window and cried: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + ‘Blue Bird, blue as the sky, + Fly to me now, there’s nobody by!’ +</pre> + <p> + But no bird came. All night long she called, and waited, and listened, but + still there was no answer, for the cruel Queen had caused the fir tree to + be hung all over with knives, swords, razors, shears, bill-hooks, and + sickles, so that when the Blue Bird heard the Princess call, and flew + towards her, his wings were cut, and his little black feet clipped off, + and all pierced and stabbed in twenty places, he fell back bleeding into + his hiding place in the tree, and lay there groaning and despairing, for + he thought the Princess must have been persuaded to betray him, to regain + her liberty. + </p> + <p> + ‘Ah! Fiordelisa, can you indeed be so lovely and so faithless?’ he sighed, + ‘then I may as well die at once!’ And he turned over on his side and began + to die. But it happened that his friend the Enchanter had been very much + alarmed at seeing the Frog chariot come back to him without King Charming, + and had been round the world eight times seeking him, but without success. + At the very moment when the King gave himself up to despair, he was + passing through the wood for the eighth time, and called, as he had done + all over the world: + </p> + <p> + ‘Charming! King Charming! Are you here?’ + </p> + <p> + The King at once recognised his friend’s voice, and answered very faintly: + </p> + <p> + ‘I am here.’ + </p> + <p> + The Enchanter looked all round him, but could see nothing, and then the + King said again: + </p> + <p> + ‘I am a Blue Bird.’ + </p> + <p> + Then the Enchanter found him in an instant, and seeing his pitiable + condition, ran hither and thither without a word, until he had collected a + handful of magic herbs, with which, and a few incantations, he speedily + made the King whole and sound again. + </p> + <p> + ‘Now,’ said he, ‘let me hear all about it. There must be a Princess at the + bottom of this.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘There are two!’ answered King Charming, with a wry smile. + </p> + <p> + And then he told the whole story, accusing Fiordelisa of having betrayed + the secret of his visits to make her peace with the Queen, and indeed + saying a great many hard things about her fickleness and her deceitful + beauty, and so on. The Enchanter quite agreed with him, and even went + further, declaring that all Princesses were alike, except perhaps in the + matter of beauty, and advised him to have done with Fiordelisa, and forget + all about her. But, somehow or other, this advice did not quite please the + King. + </p> + <p> + ‘What is to be done next?’ said the Enchanter, ‘since you still have five + years to remain a Blue Bird.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Take me to your palace,’ answered the King; ‘there you can at least keep + me in a cage safe from cats and swords.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Well, that will be the best thing to do for the present,’ said his + friend. ‘But I am not an Enchanter for nothing. I’m sure to have a + brilliant idea for you before long.’ + </p> + <p> + In the meantime Fiordelisa, quite in despair, sat at her window day and + night calling her dear Blue Bird in vain, and imagining over and over + again all the terrible things that could have happened to him, until she + grew quite pale and thin. As for the Queen and Turritella, they were + triumphant; but their triumph was short, for the King, Fiordelisa’s + father, fell ill and died, and all the people rebelled against the Queen + and Turritella, and came in a body to the palace demanding Fiordelisa. + </p> + <p> + The Queen came out upon the balcony with threats and haughty words, so + that at last they lost their patience, and broke open the doors of the + palace, one of which fell back upon the Queen and killed her. Turritella + fled to the Fairy Mazilla, and all the nobles of the kingdom fetched the + Princess Fiordelisa from her prison in the tower, and made her Queen. Very + soon, with all the care and attention they bestowed upon her, she + recovered from the effects of her long captivity and looked more beautiful + than ever, and was able to take counsel with her courtiers, and arrange + for the governing of her kingdom during her absence. And then, taking a + bagful of jewels, she set out all alone to look for the Blue Bird, without + telling anyone where she was going. + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile, the Enchanter was taking care of King Charming, but as his + power was not great enough to counteract the Fairy Mazilla’s, he at last + resolved to go and see if he could make any kind of terms with her for his + friend; for you see, Fairies and Enchanters are cousins in a sort of way, + after all; and after knowing one another for five or six hundred years and + falling out, and making it up again pretty often, they understand one + another well enough. So the Fairy Mazilla received him graciously. ‘And + what may you be wanting, Gossip?’ said she. + </p> + <p> + ‘You can do a good turn for me if you will;’ he answered. ‘A King, who is + a friend of mine, was unlucky enough to offend you—’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Aha! I know who you mean,’ interrupted the Fairy. ‘I am sorry not to + oblige you, Gossip, but he need expect no mercy from me unless he will + marry my goddaughter, whom you see yonder looking so pretty and charming. + Let him think over what I say.’ + </p> + <p> + The Enchanter hadn’t a word to say, for he thought Turritella really + frightful, but he could not go away without making one more effort for his + friend the King, who was really in great danger as long as he lived in a + cage. Indeed, already he had met with several alarming accidents. Once the + nail on which his cage was hung had given way, and his feathered Majesty + had suffered much from the fall, while Madam Puss, who happened to be in + the room at the time, had given him a scratch in the eye which came very + near blinding him. Another time they had forgotten to give him any water + to drink, so that he was nearly dead with thirst; and the worst thing of + all was that he was in danger of losing his kingdom, for he had been + absent so long that all his subjects believed him to be dead. So + considering all these things the Enchanter agreed with the Fairy Mazilla + that she should restore the King to his natural form, and should take + Turritella to stay in his palace for several months, and if, after the + time was over he still could not make up his mind to marry her, he should + once more be changed into a Blue Bird. + </p> + <p> + Then the Fairy dressed Turritella in a magnificent gold and silver robe, + and they mounted together upon a flying Dragon, and very soon reached King + Charming’s palace, where he, too, had just been brought by his faithful + friend the Enchanter. + </p> + <p> + Three strokes of the Fairy’s wand restored his natural form, and he was as + handsome and delightful as ever, but he considered that he paid dearly for + his restoration when he caught sight of Turritella, and the mere idea of + marrying her made him shudder. + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile, Queen Fiordelisa, disguised as a poor peasant girl, wearing a + great straw hat that concealed her face, and carrying an old sack over her + shoulder, had set out upon her weary journey, and had travelled far, + sometimes by sea and sometimes by land; sometimes on foot, and sometimes + on horseback, but not knowing which way to go. She feared all the time + that every step she took was leading her farther from her lover. One day + as she sat, quite tired and sad, on the bank of a little brook, cooling + her white feet in the clear running water, and combing her long hair that + glittered like gold in the sunshine, a little bent old woman passed by, + leaning on a stick. She stopped, and said to Fiordelisa: + </p> + <p> + ‘What, my pretty child, are you all alone?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Indeed, good mother, I am too sad to care for company,’ she answered; and + the tears ran down her cheeks. + </p> + <p> + ‘Don’t cry,’ said the old woman, ‘but tell me truly what is the matter. + Perhaps I can help you.’ + </p> + <p> + The Queen told her willingly all that had happened, and how she was + seeking the Blue Bird. Thereupon the little old woman suddenly stood up + straight, and grew tall, and young, and beautiful, and said with a smile + to the astonished Fiordelisa: + </p> + <p> + ‘Lovely Queen, the King whom you seek is no longer a bird. My sister + Mazilla has given his own form back to him, and he is in his own kingdom. + Do not be afraid, you will reach him, and will prosper. Take these four + eggs; if you break one when you are in any great difficulty, you will find + aid.’ + </p> + <p> + So saying, she disappeared, and Fiordelisa, feeling much encouraged, put + the eggs into her bag and turned her steps towards Charming’s kingdom. + After walking on and on for eight days and eight nights, she came at last + to a tremendously high hill of polished ivory, so steep that it was + impossible to get a foothold upon it. Fiordelisa tried a thousand times, + and scrambled and slipped, but always in the end found herself exactly + where she started from. At last she sat down at the foot of it in despair, + and then suddenly bethought herself of the eggs. Breaking one quickly, she + found in it some little gold hooks, and with these fastened to her feet + and hands, she mounted the ivory hill without further trouble, for the + little hooks saved her from slipping. As soon as she reached the top a new + difficulty presented itself, for all the other side, and indeed the whole + valley, was one polished mirror, in which thousands and thousands of + people were admiring their reflections. For this was a magic mirror, in + which people saw themselves just as they wished to appear, and pilgrims + came to it from the four corners of the world. But nobody had ever been + able to reach the top of the hill, and when they saw Fiordelisa standing + there, they raised a terrible outcry, declaring that if she set foot upon + their glass she would break it to pieces. The Queen, not knowing what to + do, for she saw it would be dangerous to try to go down, broke the second + egg, and out came a chariot, drawn by two white doves, and Fiordelisa got + into it, and was floated softly away. After a night and a day the doves + alighted outside the gate of King Charming’s kingdom. Here the Queen got + out of the chariot, and kissed the doves and thanked them, and then with a + beating heart she walked into the town, asking the people she met where + she could see the King. But they only laughed at her, crying: + </p> + <p> + ‘See the King? And pray, why do you want to see the King, my little + kitchen-maid? You had better go and wash your face first, your eyes are + not clear enough to see him!’ For the Queen had disguised herself, and + pulled her hair down about her eyes, that no one might know her. As they + would not tell her, she went on farther, and presently asked again, and + this time the people answered that to-morrow she might see the King + driving through the streets with the Princess Turritella, as it was said + that at last he had consented to marry her. This was indeed terrible news + to Fiordelisa. Had she come all this weary way only to find Turritella had + succeeded in making King Charming forget her? + </p> + <p> + She was too tired and miserable to walk another step, so she sat down in a + doorway and cried bitterly all night long. As soon as it was light she + hastened to the palace, and after being sent away fifty times by the + guards, she got in at last, and saw the thrones set in the great hall for + the King and Turritella, who was already looked upon as Queen. + </p> + <p> + Fiordelisa hid herself behind a marble pillar, and very soon saw + Turritella make her appearance, richly dressed, but as ugly as ever, and + with her came the King, more handsome and splendid even than Fiordelisa + had remembered him. When Turritella had seated herself upon the throne, + the Queen approached her. + </p> + <p> + ‘Who are you, and how dare you come near my high-mightiness, upon my + golden throne?’ said Turritella, frowning fiercely at her. + </p> + <p> + ‘They call me the little kitchen-maid,’ she replied, ‘and I come to offer + some precious things for sale,’ and with that she searched in her old + sack, and drew out the emerald bracelets King Charming had given her. + </p> + <p> + ‘Ho, ho!’ said Turritella, those are pretty bits of glass. I suppose you + would like five silver pieces for them.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Show them to someone who understands such things, Madam,’ answered the + Queen; ‘after that we can decide upon the price.’ + </p> + <p> + Turritella, who really loved King Charming as much as she could love + anybody, and was always delighted to get a chance of talking to him, now + showed him the bracelets, asking how much he considered them worth. As + soon as he saw them he remembered those he had given to Fiordelisa, and + turned very pale and sighed deeply, and fell into such sad thought that he + quite forgot to answer her. Presently she asked him again, and then he + said, with a great effort: + </p> + <p> + ‘I believe these bracelets are worth as much as my kingdom. I thought + there was only one such pair in the world; but here, it seems, is + another.’ + </p> + <p> + Then Turritella went back to the Queen, and asked her what was the lowest + price she would take for them. + </p> + <p> + ‘More than you would find it easy to pay, Madam,’ answered she; ‘but if + you will manage for me to sleep one night in the Chamber of Echoes, I will + give you the emeralds.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘By all means, my little kitchen-maid,’ said Turritella, highly delighted. + </p> + <p> + The King did not try to find out where the bracelets had come from, not + because he did not want to know, but because the only way would have been + to ask Turritella, and he disliked her so much that he never spoke to her + if he could possibly avoid it. It was he who had told Fiordelisa about the + Chamber of Echoes, when he was a Blue Bird. It was a little room below the + King’s own bed-chamber, and was so ingeniously built that the softest + whisper in it was plainly heard in the King’s room. Fiordelisa wanted to + reproach him for his faithlessness, and could not imagine a better way + than this. So when, by Turritella’s orders, she was left there she began + to weep and lament, and never ceased until daybreak. + </p> + <p> + The King’s pages told Turritella, when she asked them, what a sobbing and + sighing they had heard, and she asked Fiordelisa what it was all about. + The Queen answered that she often dreamed and talked aloud. + </p> + <p> + But by an unlucky chance the King heard nothing of all this, for he took a + sleeping draught every night before he lay down, and did not wake up until + the sun was high. + </p> + <p> + The Queen passed the day in great disquietude. + </p> + <p> + ‘If he did hear me,’ she said, ‘could he remain so cruelly indifferent? + But if he did not hear me, what can I do to get another chance? I have + plenty of jewels, it is true, but nothing remarkable enough to catch + Turritella’s fancy.’ + </p> + <p> + Just then she thought of the eggs, and broke one, out of which came a + little carriage of polished steel ornamented with gold, drawn by six green + mice. The coachman was a rose-coloured rat, the postilion a grey one, and + the carriage was occupied by the tiniest and most charming figures, who + could dance and do wonderful tricks. Fiordelisa clapped her hands and + danced for joy when she saw this triumph of magic art, and as soon as it + was evening, went to a shady garden-path down which she knew Turritella + would pass, and then she made the mice galop, and the tiny people show off + their tricks, and sure enough Turritella came, and the moment she saw it + all cried: + </p> + <p> + ‘Little kitchen-maid, little kitchen-maid, what will you take for your + mouse-carriage?’ + </p> + <p> + And the Queen answered: + </p> + <p> + ‘Let me sleep once more in the Chamber of Echoes.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘I won’t refuse your request, poor creature,’ said Turritella + condescendingly. + </p> + <p> + And then she turned to her ladies and whispered + </p> + <p> + ‘The silly creature does not know how to profit by her chances; so much + the better for me.’ + </p> + <p> + When night came Fiordelisa said all the loving words she could think of, + but alas! with no better success than before, for the King slept heavily + after his draught. One of the pages said: + </p> + <p> + ‘This peasant girl must be crazy;’ but another answered: + </p> + <p> + ‘Yet what she says sounds very sad and touching.’ + </p> + <p> + As for Fiordelisa, she thought the King must have a very hard heart if he + could hear how she grieved and yet pay her no attention. She had but one + more chance, and on breaking the last egg she found to her great delight + that it contained a more marvellous thing than ever. It was a pie made of + six birds, cooked to perfection, and yet they were all alive, and singing + and talking, and they answered questions and told fortunes in the most + amusing way. Taking this treasure Fiordelisa once more set herself to wait + in the great hall through which Turritella was sure to pass, and as she + sat there one of the King’s pages came by, and said to her: + </p> + <p> + ‘Well, little kitchen-maid, it is a good thing that the King always takes + a sleeping draught, for if not he would be kept awake all night by your + sighing and lamenting.’ + </p> + <p> + Then Fiordelisa knew why the King had not heeded her, and taking a handful + of pearls and diamonds out of her sack, she said, ‘If you can promise me + that to-night the King shall not have his sleeping draught, I will give + you all these jewels.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Oh! I promise that willingly,’ said the page. + </p> + <p> + At this moment Turritella appeared, and at the first sight of the savoury + pie, with the pretty little birds all singing and chattering, she cried:— + </p> + <p> + ‘That is an admirable pie, little kitchen-maid. Pray what will you take + for it?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘The usual price,’ she answered. ‘To sleep once more in the Chamber of + Echoes.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘By all means, only give me the pie,’ said the greedy Turritella. And when + night was come, Queen Fiordelisa waited until she thought everybody in the + palace would be asleep, and then began to lament as before. + </p> + <p> + ‘Ah, Charming!’ she said, ‘what have I ever done that you should forsake + me and marry Turritella? If you could only know all I have suffered, and + what a weary way I have come to seek you.’ + </p> + <p> + Now the page had faithfully kept his word, and given King Charming a glass + of water instead of his usual sleeping draught, so there he lay wide + awake, and heard every word Fiordelisa said, and even recognised her + voice, though he could not tell where it came from. + </p> + <p> + ‘Ah, Princess!’ he said, ‘how could you betray me to our cruel enemies + when I loved you so dearly?’ + </p> + <p> + Fiordelisa heard him, and answered quickly: + </p> + <p> + ‘Find out the little kitchen-maid, and she will explain everything.’ + </p> + <p> + Then the King in a great hurry sent for his pages and said: + </p> + <p> + ‘If you can find the little kitchen-maid, bring her to me at once.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Nothing could be easier, Sire,’ they answered, ‘for she is in the Chamber + of Echoes.’ + </p> + <p> + The King was very much puzzled when he heard this. How could the lovely + Princess Fiordelisa be a little kitchen-maid? or how could a little + kitchen-maid have Fiordelisa’s own voice? So he dressed hastily, and ran + down a little secret staircase which led to the Chamber of Echoes. There, + upon a heap of soft cushions, sat his lovely Princess. She had laid aside + all her ugly disguises and wore a white silken robe, and her golden hair + shone in the soft lamp-light. The King was overjoyed at the sight, and + rushed to throw himself at her feet, and asked her a thousand questions + without giving her time to answer one. Fiordelisa was equally happy to be + with him once more, and nothing troubled them but the remembrance of the + Fairy Mazilla. But at this moment in came the Enchanter, and with him a + famous Fairy, the same in fact who had given Fiordelisa the eggs. After + greeting the King and Queen, they said that as they were united in wishing + to help King Charming, the Fairy Mazilla had no longer any power against + him, and he might marry Fiordelisa as soon as he pleased. The King’s joy + may be imagined, and as soon as it was day the news was spread through the + palace, and everybody who saw Fiordelisa loved her directly. When + Turritella heard what had happened she came running to the King, and when + she saw Fiordelisa with him she was terribly angry, but before she could + say a word the Enchanter and the Fairy changed her into a big brown owl, + and she floated away out of one of the palace windows, hooting dismally. + Then the wedding was held with great splendour, and King Charming and + Queen Fiordelisa lived happily ever after. + </p> + <p> + L’Oiseau Bleu. Par Mme. d’Aulnoy. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0002" id="link2H_4_0002"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE HALF-CHICK + </h2> + <p> + Once upon a time there was a handsome black Spanish hen, who had a large + brood of chickens. They were all fine, plump little birds, except the + youngest, who was quite unlike his brothers and sisters. Indeed, he was + such a strange, queer-looking creature, that when he first chipped his + shell his mother could scarcely believe her eyes, he was so different from + the twelve other fluffy, downy, soft little chicks who nestled under her + wings. This one looked just as if he had been cut in two. He had only one + leg, and one wing, and one eye, and he had half a head and half a beak. + His mother shook her head sadly as she looked at him and said: + </p> + <p> + ‘My youngest born is only a half-chick. He can never grow up a tall + handsome cock like his brothers. They will go out into the world and rule + over poultry yards of their own; but this poor little fellow will always + have to stay at home with his mother.’ And she called him Medio Pollito, + which is Spanish for half-chick. + </p> + <p> + Now though Medio Pollito was such an odd, helpless-looking little thing, + his mother soon found that he was not at all willing to remain under her + wing and protection. Indeed, in character he was as unlike his brothers + and sisters as he was in appearance. They were good, obedient chickens, + and when the old hen chicked after them, they chirped and ran back to her + side. But Medio Pollito had a roving spirit in spite of his one leg, and + when his mother called to him to return to the coop, he pretended that he + could not hear, because he had only one ear. + </p> + <p> + When she took the whole family out for a walk in the fields, Medio Pollito + would hop away by himself, and hide among the Indian corn. Many an anxious + minute his brothers and sisters had looking for him, while his mother ran + to and fro cackling in fear and dismay. + </p> + <p> + As he grew older he became more self-willed and disobedient, and his + manner to his mother was often very rude, and his temper to the other + chickens very disagreeable. + </p> + <p> + One day he had been out for a longer expedition than usual in the fields. + On his return he strutted up to his mother with the peculiar little hop + and kick which was his way of walking, and cocking his one eye at her in a + very bold way he said: + </p> + <p> + ‘Mother, I am tired of this life in a dull farmyard, with nothing but a + dreary maize field to look at. I’m off to Madrid to see the King.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘To Madrid, Medio Pollito!’ exclaimed his mother; ‘why, you silly chick, + it would be a long journey for a grown-up cock, and a poor little thing + like you would be tired out before you had gone half the distance. No, no, + stay at home with your mother, and some day, when you are bigger, we will + go a little journey together.’ + </p> + <p> + But Medio Pollito had made up his mind, and he would not listen to his + mother’s advice, nor to the prayers and entreaties of his brothers and + sisters. + </p> + <p> + ‘What is the use of our all crowding each other up in this poky little + place?’ he said. ‘When I have a fine courtyard of my own at the King’s + palace, I shall perhaps ask some of you to come and pay me a short visit,’ + and scarcely waiting to say good-bye to his family, away he stumped down + the high road that led to Madrid. + </p> + <p> + ‘Be sure that you are kind and civil to everyone you meet,’ called his + mother, running after him; but he was in such a hurry to be off, that he + did not wait to answer her, or even to look back. + </p> + <p> + A little later in the day, as he was taking a short cut through a field, + he passed a stream. Now the stream was all choked up, and overgrown with + weeds and water-plants, so that its waters could not flow freely. + </p> + <p> + ‘Oh! Medio Pollito,’ it cried, as the half-chick hopped along its banks, + ‘do come and help me by clearing away these weeds.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Help you, indeed!’ exclaimed Medio Pollito, tossing his head, and shaking + the few feathers in his tail. ‘Do you think I have nothing to do but to + waste my time on such trifles? Help yourself, and don’t trouble busy + travellers. I am off to Madrid to see the King,’ and hoppity-kick, + hoppity-kick, away stumped Medio Pollito. + </p> + <p> + A little later he came to a fire that had been left by some gipsies in a + wood. It was burning very low, and would soon be out. + </p> + <p> + ‘Oh! Medio Pollito,’ cried the fire, in a weak, wavering voice as the + half-chick approached, ‘in a few minutes I shall go quite out, unless you + put some sticks and dry leaves upon me. Do help me, or I shall die!’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Help you, indeed!’ answered Medio Pollito. ‘I have other things to do. + Gather sticks for yourself, and don’t trouble me. I am off to Madrid to + see the King,’ and hoppity-kick, hoppity-kick, away stumped Medio Pollito. + </p> + <p> + The next morning, as he was getting near Madrid, he passed a large + chestnut tree, in whose branches the wind was caught and entangled. ‘Oh! + Medio Pollito,’ called the wind, ‘do hop up here, and help me to get free + of these branches. I cannot come away, and it is so uncomfortable.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘It is your own fault for going there,’ answered Medio Pollito. ‘I can’t + waste all my morning stopping here to help you. Just shake yourself off, + and don’t hinder me, for I am off to Madrid to see the King,’ and + hoppity-kick, hoppity-kick, away stumped Medio Pollito in great glee, for + the towers and roofs of Madrid were now in sight. When he entered the town + he saw before him a great splendid house, with soldiers standing before + the gates. This he knew must be the King’s palace, and he determined to + hop up to the front gate and wait there until the King came out. But as he + was hopping past one of the back windows the King’s cook saw him: + </p> + <p> + ‘Here is the very thing I want,’ he exclaimed, ‘for the King has just sent + a message to say that he must have chicken broth for his dinner,’ and + opening the window he stretched out his arm, caught Medio Pollito, and + popped him into the broth-pot that was standing near the fire. Oh! how wet + and clammy the water felt as it went over Medio Pollito’s head, making his + feathers cling to his side. + </p> + <p> + ‘Water, water!’ he cried in his despair, ‘do have pity upon me and do not + wet me like this.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Ah! Medio Pollito,’ replied the water, ‘you would not help me when I was + a little stream away on the fields, now you must be punished.’ + </p> + <p> + Then the fire began to burn and scald Medio Pollito, and he danced and + hopped from one side of the pot to the other, trying to get away from the + heat, and crying out in pain: + </p> + <p> + Fire, fire! do not scorch me like this; you can’t think how it hurts.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Ah! Medio Pollito,’ answered the fire, ‘you would not help me when I was + dying away in the wood. You are being punished.’ + </p> + <p> + At last, just when the pain was so great that Medio Pollito thought he + must die, the cook lifted up the lid of the pot to see if the broth was + ready for the King’s dinner. + </p> + <p> + ‘Look here!’ he cried in horror, ‘this chicken is quite useless. It is + burnt to a cinder. I can’t send it up to the royal table;’ and opening the + window he threw Medio Pollito out into the street. But the wind caught him + up, and whirled him through the air so quickly that Medio Pollito could + scarcely breathe, and his heart beat against his side till he thought it + would break. + </p> + <p> + ‘Oh, wind!’ at last he gasped out, ‘if you hurry me along like this you + will kill me. Do let me rest a moment, or—’ but he was so breathless + that he could not finish his sentence. + </p> + <p> + ‘Ah! Medio Pollito,’ replied the wind, ‘when I was caught in the branches + of the chestnut tree you would not help me; now you are punished.’ And he + swirled Medio Pollito over the roofs of the houses till they reached the + highest church in the town, and there he left him fastened to the top of + the steeple. + </p> + <p> + And there stands Medio Pollito to this day. And if you go to Madrid, and + walk through the streets till you come to the highest church, you will see + Medio Pollito perched on his one leg on the steeple, with his one wing + drooping at his side, and gazing sadly out of his one eye over the town. + </p> + <p> + Spanish Tradition. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0003" id="link2H_4_0003"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE STORY OF CALIPH STORK + </h2> + <p> + I. + </p> + <p> + Caliph Chasid, of Bagdad, was resting comfortably on his divan one fine + afternoon. He was smoking a long pipe, and from time to time he sipped a + little coffee which a slave handed to him, and after each sip he stroked + his long beard with an air of enjoyment. In short, anyone could see that + the Caliph was in an excellent humour. This was, in fact, the best time of + day in which to approach him, for just now he was pretty sure to be both + affable and in good spirits, and for this reason the Grand Vizier Mansor + always chose this hour in which to pay his daily visit. + </p> + <p> + He arrived as usual this afternoon, but, contrary to his usual custom, + with an anxious face. The Caliph withdrew his pipe for a moment from his + lips and asked, ‘Why do you look so anxious, Grand Vizier?’ + </p> + <p> + The Grand Vizier crossed his arms on his breast and bent low before his + master as he answered: + </p> + <p> + ‘Oh, my Lord! whether my countenance be anxious or not I know not, but + down below, in the court of the palace, is a pedlar with such beautiful + things that I cannot help feeling annoyed at having so little money to + spare.’ + </p> + <p> + The Caliph, who had wished for some time past to give his Grand Vizier a + present, ordered his black slave to bring the pedlar before him at once. + The slave soon returned, followed by the pedlar, a short stout man with a + swarthy face, and dressed in very ragged clothes. He carried a box + containing all manner of wares—strings of pearls, rings, richly + mounted pistols, goblets, and combs. The Caliph and his Vizier inspected + everything, and the Caliph chose some handsome pistols for himself and + Mansor, and a jewelled comb for the Vizier’s wife. Just as the pedlar was + about to close his box, the Caliph noticed a small drawer, and asked if + there was anything else in it for sale. The pedlar opened the drawer and + showed them a box containing a black powder, and a scroll written in + strange characters, which neither the Caliph nor the Mansor could read. + </p> + <p> + ‘I got these two articles from a merchant who had picked them up in the + street at Mecca,’ said the pedlar. ‘I do not know what they may contain, + but as they are of no use to me, you are welcome to have them for a + trifle.’ + </p> + <p> + The Caliph, who liked to have old manuscripts in his library, even though + he could not read them, purchased the scroll and the box, and dismissed + the pedlar. Then, being anxious to know what might be the contents of the + scroll, he asked the Vizier if he did not know of anyone who might be able + to decipher it. + </p> + <p> + ‘Most gracious Lord and master,’ replied the Vizier, ‘near the great + Mosque lives a man called Selim the learned, who knows every language + under the sun. Send for him; it may be that he will be able to interpret + these mysterious characters.’ + </p> + <p> + The learned Selim was summoned immediately. + </p> + <p> + ‘Selim,’ said the Caliph, ‘I hear you are a scholar. Look well at this + scroll and see whether you can read it. If you can, I will give you a robe + of honour; but if you fail, I will order you to receive twelve strokes on + your cheeks, and five-and-twenty on the soles of your feet, because you + have been falsely called Selim the learned.’ + </p> + <p> + Selim prostrated himself and said, ‘Be it according to your will, oh + master!’ Then he gazed long at the scroll. Suddenly he exclaimed: ‘May I + die, oh, my Lord, if this isn’t Latin!’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Well,’ said the Caliph, ‘if it is Latin, let us hear what it means.’ + </p> + <p> + So Selim began to translate: ‘Thou who mayest find this, praise Allah for + his mercy. Whoever shall snuff the powder in this box, and at the same + time shall pronounce the word “Mutabor!” can transform himself into any + creature he likes, and will understand the language of all animals. When + he wishes to resume the human form, he has only to bow three times towards + the east, and to repeat the same word. Be careful, however, when wearing + the shape of some beast or bird, not to laugh, or thou wilt certainly + forget the magic word and remain an animal for ever.’ + </p> + <p> + When Selim the learned had read this, the Caliph was delighted. He made + the wise man swear not to tell the matter to anyone, gave him a splendid + robe, and dismissed him. Then he said to his Vizier, ‘That’s what I call a + good bargain, Mansor. I am longing for the moment when I can become some + animal. To-morrow morning I shall expect you early; we will go into the + country, take some snuff from my box, and then hear what is being said in + air, earth, and water.’ + </p> + <p> + II. + </p> + <p> + Next morning Caliph Chasid had barely finished dressing, and breakfasting, + when the Grand Vizier arrived, according to orders, to accompany him in + his expedition. The Caliph stuck the snuff-box in his girdle, and, having + desired his servants to remain at home, started off with the Grand Vizier + only in attendance. First they walked through the palace gardens, but they + looked in vain for some creature which could tempt them to try their magic + power. At length the Vizier suggested going further on to a pond which lay + beyond the town, and where he had often seen a variety of creatures, + especially storks, whose grave, dignified appearance and constant chatter + had often attracted his attention. + </p> + <p> + The Caliph consented, and they went straight to the pond. As soon as they + arrived they remarked a stork strutting up and down with a stately air, + hunting for frogs, and now and then muttering something to itself. At the + same time they saw another stork far above in the sky flying towards the + same spot. + </p> + <p> + ‘I would wager my beard, most gracious master,’ said the Grand Vizier, + ‘that these two long legs will have a good chat together. How would it be + if we turned ourselves into storks?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Well said,’ replied the Caliph; ‘but first let us remember carefully how + we are to become men once more. True! Bow three times towards the east and + say “Mutabor!” and I shall be Caliph and you my Grand Vizier again. But + for Heaven’s sake don’t laugh or we are lost!’ + </p> + <p> + As the Caliph spoke he saw the second stork circling round his head and + gradually flying towards the earth. Quickly he drew the box from his + girdle, took a good pinch of the snuff, and offered one to Mansor, who + also took one, and both cried together ‘Mutabor!’ + </p> + <p> + Instantly their legs shrivelled up and grew thin and red; their smart + yellow slippers turned to clumsy stork’s feet, their arms to wings; their + necks began to sprout from between their shoulders and grew a yard long; + their beards disappeared, and their bodies were covered with feathers. + </p> + <p> + ‘You’ve got a fine long bill, Sir Vizier,’ cried the Caliph, after + standing for some time lost in astonishment. ‘By the beard of the Prophet + I never saw such a thing in all my life!’ + </p> + <p> + ‘My very humble thanks,’ replied the Grand Vizier, as he bent his long + neck; ‘but, if I may venture to say so, your Highness is even handsomer as + a stork than as a Caliph. But come, if it so pleases you, let us go near + our comrades there and find out whether we really do understand the + language of storks.’ + </p> + <p> + Meantime the second stork had reached the ground. It first scraped its + bill with its claw, stroked down its feathers, and then advanced towards + the first stork. The two newly made storks lost no time in drawing near, + and to their amazement overheard the following conversation: + </p> + <p> + ‘Good morning, Dame Longlegs. You are out early this morning!’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Yes, indeed, dear Chatterbill! I am getting myself a morsel of breakfast. + May I offer you a joint of lizard or a frog’s thigh?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘A thousand thanks, but I have really no appetite this morning. I am here + for a very different purpose. I am to dance to-day before my father’s + guests, and I have come to the meadow for a little quiet practice.’ + </p> + <p> + Thereupon the young stork began to move about with the most wonderful + steps. The Caliph and Mansor looked on in surprise for some time; but when + at last she balanced herself in a picturesque attitude on one leg, and + flapped her wings gracefully up and down, they could hold out no longer; a + prolonged peal burst from each of their bills, and it was some time before + they could recover their composure. The Caliph was the first to collect + himself. ‘That was the best joke,’ said he, ‘I’ve ever seen. It’s a pity + the stupid creatures were scared away by our laughter, or no doubt they + would have sung next!’ + </p> + <p> + Suddenly, however, the Vizier remembered how strictly they had been warned + not to laugh during their transformation. He at once communicated his + fears to the Caliph, who exclaimed, ‘By Mecca and Medina! it would indeed + prove but a poor joke if I had to remain a stork for the remainder of my + days! Do just try and remember the stupid word, it has slipped my memory.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘We must bow three times eastwards and say “Mu...mu...mu...”’ + </p> + <p> + They turned to the east and fell to bowing till their bills touched the + ground, but, oh horror—the magic word was quite forgotten, and + however often the Caliph bowed and however touchingly his Vizier cried + ‘Mu...mu...’ they could not recall it, and the unhappy Chasid and Mansor + remained storks as they were. + </p> + <p> + III. + </p> + <p> + The two enchanted birds wandered sadly on through the meadows. In their + misery they could not think what to do next. They could not rid themselves + of their new forms; there was no use in returning to the town and saying + who they were; for who would believe a stork who announced that he was a + Caliph; and even if they did believe him, would the people of Bagdad + consent to let a stork rule over them? + </p> + <p> + So they lounged about for several days, supporting themselves on fruits, + which, however, they found some difficulty in eating with their long + bills. They did not much care to eat frogs or lizards. Their one comfort + in their sad plight was the power of flying, and accordingly they often + flew over the roofs of Bagdad to see what was going on there. + </p> + <p> + During the first few days they noticed signs of much disturbance and + distress in the streets, but about the fourth day, as they sat on the roof + of the palace, they perceived a splendid procession passing below them + along the street. Drums and trumpets sounded, a man in a scarlet mantle, + embroidered in gold, sat on a splendidly caparisoned horse surrounded by + richly dressed slaves; half Bagdad crowded after him, and they all + shouted, ‘Hail, Mirza, the Lord of Bagdad!’ + </p> + <p> + The two storks on the palace roof looked at each other, and Caliph Chasid + said, ‘Can you guess now, Grand Vizier, why I have been enchanted? This + Mirza is the son of my deadly enemy, the mighty magician Kaschnur, who in + an evil moment vowed vengeance on me. Still I will not despair! Come with + me, my faithful friend; we will go to the grave of the Prophet, and + perhaps at that sacred spot the spell may be loosed.’ + </p> + <p> + They rose from the palace roof, and spread their wings toward Medina. + </p> + <p> + But flying was not quite an easy matter, for the two storks had had but + little practice as yet. + </p> + <p> + ‘Oh, my Lord!’ gasped the Vizier, after a couple of hours, ‘I can get on + no longer; you really fly too quick for me. Besides, it is nearly evening, + and we should do well to find some place in which to spend the night.’ + </p> + <p> + Chasid listened with favour to his servant’s suggestion, and perceiving in + the valley beneath them a ruin which seemed to promise shelter they flew + towards it. The building in which they proposed to pass the night had + apparently been formerly a castle. Some handsome pillars still stood + amongst the heaps of ruins, and several rooms, which yet remained in fair + preservation, gave evidence of former splendour. Chasid and his companion + wandered along the passages seeking a dry spot, when suddenly Mansor stood + still. + </p> + <p> + ‘My Lord and master,’ he whispered, ‘if it were not absurd for a Grand + Vizier, and still more for a stork, to be afraid of ghosts, I should feel + quite nervous, for someone, or something close by me, has sighed and + moaned quite audibly.’ + </p> + <p> + The Caliph stood still and distinctly heard a low weeping sound which + seemed to proceed from a human being rather than from any animal. Full of + curiosity he was about to rush towards the spot from whence the sounds of + woe came, when the Vizier caught him by the wing with his bill, and + implored him not to expose himself to fresh and unknown dangers. The + Caliph, however, under whose stork’s breast a brave heart beat, tore + himself away with the loss of a few feathers, and hurried down a dark + passage. He saw a door which stood ajar, and through which he distinctly + heard sighs, mingled with sobs. He pushed open the door with his bill, but + remained on the threshold, astonished at the sight which met his eyes. On + the floor of the ruined chamber—which was but scantily lighted by a + small barred window—sat a large screech owl. Big tears rolled from + its large round eyes, and in a hoarse voice it uttered its complaints + through its crooked beak. As soon as it saw the Caliph and his Vizier—who + had crept up meanwhile—it gave vent to a joyful cry. It gently wiped + the tears from its eyes with its spotted brown wings, and to the great + amazement of the two visitors, addressed them in good human Arabic. + </p> + <p> + ‘Welcome, ye storks! You are a good sign of my deliverance, for it was + foretold me that a piece of good fortune should befall me through a + stork.’ + </p> + <p> + When the Caliph had recovered from his surprise, he drew up his feet into + a graceful position, bent his long neck, and said: ‘Oh, screech owl! from + your words I am led to believe that we see in you a companion in + misfortune. But, alas! your hope that you may attain your deliverance + through us is but a vain one. You will know our helplessness when you have + heard our story.’ + </p> + <p> + The screech owl begged him to relate it, and the Caliph accordingly told + him what we already know. + </p> + <p> + IV. + </p> + <p> + When the Caliph had ended, the owl thanked him and said: ‘You hear my + story, and own that I am no less unfortunate than yourselves. My father is + the King of the Indies. I, his only daughter, am named Lusa. That magician + Kaschnur, who enchanted you, has been the cause of my misfortunes too. He + came one day to my father and demanded my hand for his son Mirza. My + father—who is rather hasty—ordered him to be thrown + downstairs. The wretch not long after managed to approach me under another + form, and one day, when I was in the garden, and asked for some + refreshment, he brought me—in the disguise of a slave—a + draught which changed me at once to this horrid shape. Whilst I was + fainting with terror he transported me here, and cried to me with his + awful voice: “There shall you remain, lonely and hideous, despised even by + the brutes, till the end of your days, or till some one of his own free + will asks you to be his wife. Thus do I avenge myself on you and your + proud father.” + </p> + <p> + ‘Since then many months have passed away. Sad and lonely do I live like + any hermit within these walls, avoided by the world and a terror even to + animals; the beauties of nature are hidden from me, for I am blind by day, + and it is only when the moon sheds her pale light on this spot that the + veil falls from my eyes and I can see.’ The owl paused, and once more + wiped her eyes with her wing, for the recital of her woes had drawn fresh + tears from her. + </p> + <p> + The Caliph fell into deep thought on hearing this story of the Princess. + ‘If I am not much mistaken,’ said he, ‘there is some mysterious connection + between our misfortunes, but how to find the key to the riddle is the + question.’ + </p> + <p> + The owl answered: ‘Oh, my Lord! I too feel sure of this, for in my + earliest youth a wise woman foretold that a stork would bring me some + great happiness, and I think I could tell you how we might save + ourselves.’ The Caliph was much surprised, and asked her what she meant. + </p> + <p> + ‘The Magician who has made us both miserable,’ said she, ‘comes once a + month to these ruins. Not far from this room is a large hall where he is + in the habit of feasting with his companions. I have often watched them. + They tell each other all about their evil deeds, and possibly the magic + word which you have forgotten may be mentioned.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Oh, dearest Princess!’ exclaimed the Caliph, ‘say, when does he come, and + where is the hall?’ + </p> + <p> + The owl paused a moment and then said: ‘Do not think me unkind, but I can + only grant your request on one condition.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Speak, speak!’ cried Chasid; ‘command, I will gladly do whatever you + wish!’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Well,’ replied the owl, ‘you see I should like to be free too; but this + can only be if one of you will offer me his hand in marriage.’ + </p> + <p> + The storks seemed rather taken aback by this suggestion, and the Caliph + beckoned to his Vizier to retire and consult with him. + </p> + <p> + When they were outside the door the Caliph said: ‘Grand Vizier, this is a + tiresome business. However, you can take her.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Indeed!’ said the Vizier; ‘so that when I go home my wife may scratch my + eyes out! Besides, I am an old man, and your Highness is still young and + unmarried, and a far more suitable match for a young and lovely Princess.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘That’s just where it is,’ sighed the Caliph, whose wings drooped in a + dejected manner; ‘how do you know she is young and lovely? I call it + buying a pig in a poke.’ + </p> + <p> + They argued on for some time, but at length, when the Caliph saw plainly + that his Vizier would rather remain a stork to the end of his days than + marry the owl, he determined to fulfil the condition himself. The owl was + delighted. She owned that they could not have arrived at a better time, as + most probably the magicians would meet that very night. + </p> + <p> + She then proceeded to lead the two storks to the chamber. They passed + through a long dark passage till at length a bright ray of light shone + before them through the chinks of a half-ruined wall. When they reached it + the owl advised them to keep very quiet. Through the gap near which they + stood they could with ease survey the whole of the large hall. It was + adorned with splendid carved pillars; a number of coloured lamps replaced + the light of day. In the middle of the hall stood a round table covered + with a variety of dishes, and about the table was a divan on which eight + men were seated. In one of these bad men the two recognised the pedlar who + had sold the magic powder. The man next him begged him to relate all his + latest doings, and amongst them he told the story of the Caliph and his + Vizier. + </p> + <p> + ‘And what kind of word did you give them?’ asked another old sorcerer. + </p> + <p> + ‘A very difficult Latin word; it is “Mutabor.”’ + </p> + <p> + V. + </p> + <p> + As soon as the storks heard this they were nearly beside themselves with + joy. They ran at such a pace to the door of the ruined castle that the owl + could scarcely keep up with them. When they reached it the Caliph turned + to the owl, and said with much feeling: ‘Deliverer of my friend and + myself, as a proof of my eternal gratitude, accept me as your husband.’ + Then he turned towards the east. Three times the storks bowed their long + necks to the sun, which was just rising over the mountains. ‘Mutabor!’ + they both cried, and in an instant they were once more transformed. In the + rapture of their newly-given lives master and servant fell laughing and + weeping into each other’s arms. Who shall describe their surprise when + they at last turned round and beheld standing before them a beautiful lady + exquisitely dressed! + </p> + <p> + With a smile she held out her hand to the Caliph, and asked: ‘Do you not + recognise your screech owl?’ + </p> + <p> + It was she! The Caliph was so enchanted by her grace and beauty, that he + declared being turned into a stork had been the best piece of luck which + had ever befallen him. The three set out at once for Bagdad. Fortunately, + the Caliph found not only the box with the magic powder, but also his + purse in his girdle; he was, therefore, able to buy in the nearest village + all they required for their journey, and so at last they reached the gates + of Bagdad. + </p> + <p> + Here the Caliph’s arrival created the greatest sensation. He had been + quite given up for dead, and the people were greatly rejoiced to see their + beloved ruler again. + </p> + <p> + Their rage with the usurper Mirza, however, was great in proportion. They + marched in force to the palace and took the old magician and his son + prisoners. The Caliph sent the magician to the room where the Princess had + lived as an owl, and there had him hanged. As the son, however, knew + nothing of his father’s acts, the Caliph gave him his choice between death + and a pinch of the magic snuff. When he chose the latter, the Grand Vizier + handed him the box. One good pinch, and the magic word transformed him to + a stork. The Caliph ordered him to be confined in an iron cage, and placed + in the palace gardens. + </p> + <p> + Caliph Chasid lived long and happily with his wife the Princess. His + merriest time was when the Grand Vizier visited him in the afternoon; and + when the Caliph was in particularly high spirits he would condescend to + mimic the Vizier’s appearance when he was a stork. He would strut gravely, + and with well-stiffened legs, up and down the room, chattering, and + showing how he had vainly bowed to the east and cried ‘Mu...Mu...’ The + Caliphess and her children were always much entertained by this + performance; but when the Caliph went on nodding and bowing, and calling + ‘Mu...mu...’ too long, the Vizier would threaten laughingly to tell the + Chaliphess the subject of the discussion carried on one night outside the + door of Princess Screech Owl. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0004" id="link2H_4_0004"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE ENCHANTED WATCH + </h2> + <p> + Once upon a time there lived a rich man who had three sons. When they grew + up, he sent the eldest to travel and see the world, and three years passed + before his family saw him again. Then he returned, magnificently dressed, + and his father was so delighted with his behaviour, that he gave a great + feast in his honour, to which all the relations and friends were invited. + </p> + <p> + When the rejoicings were ended, the second son begged leave of his father + to go in his turn to travel and mix with the world. The father was + enchanted at the request, and gave him plenty of money for his expenses, + saying, ‘If you behave as well as your brother, I will do honour to you as + I did to him.’ The young man promised to do his best, and his conduct + during three years was all that it should be. Then he went home, and his + father was so pleased with him that his feast of welcome was even more + splendid than the one before. + </p> + <p> + The third brother, whose name was Jenik, or Johnnie, was considered the + most foolish of the three. He never did anything at home except sit over + the stove and dirty himself with the ashes; but he also begged his + father’s leave to travel for three years. ‘Go if you like, you idiot; but + what good will it do you?’ + </p> + <p> + The youth paid no heed to his father’s observations as long as he obtained + permission to go. The father saw him depart with joy, glad to get rid of + him, and gave him a handsome sum of money for his needs. + </p> + <p> + Once, as he was making one of his journeys, Jenik chanced to cross a + meadow where some shepherds were just about to kill a dog. He entreated + them to spare it, and to give it to him instead which they willingly did, + and he went on his way, followed by the dog. A little further on he came + upon a cat, which someone was going to put to death. He implored its life, + and the cat followed him. Finally, in another place, he saved a serpent, + which was also handed over to him and now they made a party of four—the + dog behind Jenik, the cat behind the dog, and the serpent behind the cat. + </p> + <p> + Then the serpent said to Jenik, ‘Go wherever you see me go,’ for in the + autumn, when all the serpents hide themselves in their holes, this serpent + was going in search of his king, who was king of all the snakes. + </p> + <p> + Then he added: ‘My king will scold me for my long absence, everyone else + is housed for the winter, and I am very late. I shall have to tell him + what danger I have been in, and how, without your help, I should certainly + have lost my life. The king will ask what you would like in return, and be + sure you beg for the watch which hangs on the wall. It has all sorts of + wonderful properties, you only need to rub it to get whatever you like.’ + </p> + <p> + No sooner said than done. Jenik became the master of the watch, and the + moment he got out he wished to put its virtues to the proof. He was + hungry, and thought it would be delightful to eat in the meadow a loaf of + new bread and a steak of good beef washed down by a flask of wine, so he + scratched the watch, and in an instant it was all before him. Imagine his + joy! + </p> + <p> + Evening soon came, and Jenik rubbed his watch, and thought it would be + very pleasant to have a room with a comfortable bed and a good supper. In + an instant they were all before him. After supper he went to bed and slept + till morning, as every honest man ought to do. Then he set forth for his + father’s house, his mind dwelling on the feast that would be awaiting him. + But as he returned in the same old clothes in which he went away, his + father flew into a great rage, and refused to do anything for him. Jenik + went to his old place near the stove, and dirtied himself in the ashes + without anybody minding. + </p> + <p> + The third day, feeling rather dull, he thought it would be nice to see a + three-story house filled with beautiful furniture, and with vessels of + silver and gold. So he rubbed the watch, and there it all was. Jenik went + to look for his father, and said to him: ‘You offered me no feast of + welcome, but permit me to give one to you, and come and let me show you my + plate.’ + </p> + <p> + The father was much astonished, and longed to know where his son had got + all this wealth. Jenik did not reply, but begged him to invite all their + relations and friends to a grand banquet. + </p> + <p> + So the father invited all the world, and everyone was amazed to see such + splendid things, so much plate, and so many fine dishes on the table. + After the first course Jenik prayed his father to invite the King, and his + daughter the Princess. He rubbed his watch and wished for a carriage + ornamented with gold and silver, and drawn by six horses, with harness + glittering with precious stones. The father did not dare to sit in this + gorgeous coach, but went to the palace on foot. The King and his daughter + were immensely surprised with the beauty of the carriage, and mounted the + steps at once to go to Jenik’s banquet. Then Jenik rubbed his watch + afresh, and wished that for six miles the way to the house should be paved + with marble. Who ever felt so astonished as the King? Never had he + travelled over such a gorgeous road. + </p> + <p> + When Jenik heard the wheels of the carriage, he rubbed his watch and + wished for a still more beautiful house, four stories high, and hung with + gold, silver, and damask; filled with wonderful tables, covered with + dishes such as no king had ever eaten before. The King, the Queen, and the + Princess were speechless with surprise. Never had they seen such a + splendid palace, nor such a high feast! At dessert the King asked Jenik’s + father to give him the young man for a son-in-law. No sooner said than + done! The marriage took place at once, and the King returned to his own + palace, and left Jenik with his wife in the enchanted house. + </p> + <p> + Now Jenik was not a very clever man, and at the end of a very short time + he began to bore his wife. She inquired how he managed to build palaces + and to get so many precious things. He told her all about the watch, and + she never rested till she had stolen the precious talisman. One night she + took the watch, rubbed it, and wished for a carriage drawn by four horses; + and in this carriage she at once set out for her father’s palace. There + she called to her own attendants, bade them follow her into the carriage, + and drove straight to the sea-side. Then she rubbed her watch, and wished + that the sea might be crossed by a bridge, and that a magnificent palace + might arise in the middle of the sea. No sooner said than done. The + Princess entered the house, rubbed her watch, and in an instant the bridge + was gone. + </p> + <p> + Left alone, Jenik felt very miserable. His father, mother, and brothers, + and, indeed, everybody else, all laughed at him. Nothing remained to him + but the cat and dog whose lives he had once saved. He took them with him + and went far away, for he could no longer live with his family. He reached + at last a great desert, and saw some crows flying towards a mountain. One + of them was a long way behind, and when he arrived his brothers inquired + what had made him so late. ‘Winter is here,’ they said, ‘and it is time to + fly to other countries.’ He told them that he had seen in the middle of + the sea the most wonderful house that ever was built. + </p> + <p> + On hearing this, Jenik at once concluded that this must be the + hiding-place of his wife. So he proceeded directly to the shore with his + dog and his cat. When he arrived on the beach, he said to the dog: ‘You + are an excellent swimmer, and you, little one, are very light; jump on the + dog’s back and he will take you to the palace. Once there, he will hide + himself near the door, and you must steal secretly in and try to get hold + of my watch.’ + </p> + <p> + No sooner said than done. The two animals crossed the sea; the dog hid + near the house, and the cat stole into the chamber. The Princess + recognised him, and guessed why he had come; and she took the watch down + to the cellar and locked it in a box. But the cat wriggled its way into + the cellar, and the moment the Princess turned her back, he scratched and + scratched till he had made a hole in the box. Then he took the watch + between his teeth, and waited quietly till the Princess came back. + Scarcely had she opened the door when the cat was outside, and the watch + into the bargain. + </p> + <p> + The cat was no sooner beyond the gates than she said to the dog: + </p> + <p> + ‘We are going to cross the sea; be very careful not to speak to me.’ + </p> + <p> + The dog laid this to heart and said nothing; but when they approached the + shore he could not help asking, ‘Have you got the watch?’ + </p> + <p> + The cat did not answer—he was afraid that he might let the talisman + fall. When they touched the shore the dog repeated his question. + </p> + <p> + ‘Yes,’ said the cat. + </p> + <p> + And the watch fell into the sea. Then our two friends began each to accuse + the other, and both looked sorrowfully at the place where their treasure + had fallen in. Suddenly a fish appeared near the edge of the sea. The cat + seized it, and thought it would make them a good supper. + </p> + <p> + ‘I have nine little children,’ cried the fish. ‘Spare the father of a + family!’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Granted,’ replied the cat; ‘but on condition that you find our watch.’ + </p> + <p> + The fish executed his commission, and they brought the treasure back to + their master. Jenik rubbed the watch and wished that the palace, with the + Princess and all its inhabitants, should be swallowed up in the sea. No + sooner said than done. Jenik returned to his parents, and he and his + watch, his cat and his dog, lived together happily to the end of their + days. + </p> + <p> + Deulin. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0005" id="link2H_4_0005"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + ROSANELLA + </h2> + <p> + Everybody knows that though the fairies live hundreds of years they do + sometimes die, and especially as they are obliged to pass one day in every + week under the form of some animal, when of course they are liable to + accident. It was in this way that death once overtook the Queen of the + Fairies, and it became necessary to call a general assembly to elect a new + sovereign. After much discussion, it appeared that the choice lay between + two fairies, one called Surcantine and the other Paridamie; and their + claims were so equal that it was impossible without injustice to prefer + one to the other. Under these circumstances it was unanimously decided + that whichever of the two could show to the world the greatest wonder + should be Queen; but it was to be a special kind of wonder, no moving of + mountains or any such common fairy tricks would do. Surcantine, therefore, + resolved that she would bring up a Prince whom nothing could make + constant. While Paridamie decided to display to admiring mortals a + Princess so charming that no one could see her without falling in love + with her. They were allowed to take their own time, and meanwhile the four + oldest fairies were to attend to the affairs of the kingdom. + </p> + <p> + Now Paridamie had for a long time been very friendly with King Bardondon, + who was a most accomplished Prince, and whose court was the model of what + a court should be. His Queen, Balanice, was also charming; indeed it is + rare to find a husband and wife so perfectly of one mind about everything. + They had one little daughter, whom they had named ‘Rosanella,’ because she + had a little pink rose printed upon her white throat. From her earliest + infancy she had shown the most astonishing intelligence, and the courtiers + knew her smart sayings by heart, and repeated them on all occasions. In + the middle of the night following the assembly of fairies, Queen Balanice + woke up with a shriek, and when her maids of honour ran to see what was + the matter, they found she had had a frightful dream. + </p> + <p> + ‘I thought,’ said she, ‘that my little daughter had changed into a bouquet + of roses, and that as I held it in my hand a bird swooped down suddenly + and snatched it from me and carried it away.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Let some one run and see that all is well with the Princess,’ she added. + </p> + <p> + So they ran; but what was their dismay when they found that the cradle was + empty; and though they sought high and low, not a trace of Rosanella could + they discover. The Queen was inconsolable, and so, indeed, was the King, + only being a man he did not say quite so much about his feelings. He + presently proposed to Balanice that they should spend a few days at one of + their palaces in the country; and to this she willingly agreed, since her + grief made the gaiety of the capital distasteful to her. One lovely summer + evening, as they sat together on a shady lawn shaped like a star, from + which radiated twelve splendid avenues of trees, the Queen looked round + and saw a charming peasant-girl approaching by each path, and what was + still more singular was that everyone carried something in a basket which + appeared to occupy her whole attention. As each drew near she laid her + basket at Balanice’s feet, saying: + </p> + <p> + ‘Charming Queen, may this be some slight consolation to you in your + unhappiness!’ + </p> + <p> + The Queen hastily opened the baskets, and found in each a lovely + baby-girl, about the same age as the little Princess for whom she sorrowed + so deeply. At first the sight of them renewed her grief; but presently + their charms so gained upon her that she forgot her melancholy in + providing them with nursery-maids, cradle-rockers, and ladies-in-waiting, + and in sending hither and thither for swings and dolls and tops, and + bushels of the finest sweetmeats. + </p> + <p> + Oddly enough, every baby had upon its throat a tiny pink rose. The Queen + found it so difficult to decide on suitable names for all of them, that + until she could settle the matter she chose a special colour for everyone, + by which it was known, so that when they were all together they looked + like nothing so much as a nosegay of gay flowers. As they grew older it + became evident that though they were all remarkably intelligent, and + profited equally by the education they received, yet they differed one + from another in disposition, so much so that they gradually ceased to be + known as ‘Pearl,’ or ‘Primrose,’ or whatever might have been their colour, + and the Queen instead would say: + </p> + <p> + ‘Where is my Sweet?’ or ‘my Beautiful,’ or ‘my Gay.’ + </p> + <p> + Of course, with all these charms they had lovers by the dozen. Not only in + their own court, but princes from afar, who were constantly arriving, + attracted by the reports which were spread abroad; but these lovely girls, + the first Maids of Honour, were as discreet as they were beautiful, and + favoured no one. + </p> + <p> + But let us return to Surcantine. She had fixed upon the son of a king who + was cousin to Bardondon, to bring up as her fickle Prince. She had before, + at his christening, given him all the graces of mind and body that a + prince could possibly require; but now she redoubled her efforts, and + spared no pains in adding every imaginable charm and fascination. So that + whether he happened to be cross or amiable, splendidly or simply attired, + serious or frivolous, he was always perfectly irresistible! In truth, he + was a charming young fellow, since the Fairy had given him the best heart + in the world as well as the best head, and had left nothing to be desired + but—constancy. For it cannot be denied that Prince Mirliflor was a + desperate flirt, and as fickle as the wind; so much so, that by the time + he arrived at his eighteenth birthday there was not a heart left for him + to conquer in his father’s kingdom—they were all his own, and he was + tired of everyone! Things were in this state when he was invited to visit + the court of his father’s cousin, King Bardondon. + </p> + <p> + Imagine his feelings when he arrived and was presented at once to twelve + of the loveliest creatures in the world, and his embarrassment was + heightened by the fact that they all liked him as much as he liked each + one of them, so that things came to such a pass that he was never happy a + single instant without them. For could he not whisper soft speeches to + Sweet, and laugh with Joy, while he looked at Beauty? And in his more + serious moments what could be pleasanter than to talk to Grave upon some + shady lawn, while he held the hand of Loving in his own, and all the + others lingered near in sympathetic silence? For the first time in his + life he really loved, though the object of his devotion was not one + person, but twelve, to whom he was equally attached, and even Surcantine + was deceived into thinking that this was indeed the height of inconstancy. + But Paridamie said not a word. + </p> + <p> + In vain did Prince Mirliflor’s father write commanding him to return, and + proposing for him one good match after another. Nothing in the world could + tear him from his twelve enchantresses. + </p> + <p> + One day the Queen gave a large garden-party, and just as the guests were + all assembled, and Prince Mirliflor was as usual dividing his attentions + between the twelve beauties, a humming of bees was heard. The + Rose-maidens, fearing their stings, uttered little shrieks, and fled all + together to a distance from the rest of the company. Immediately, to the + horror of all who were looking on, the bees pursued them, and, growing + suddenly to an enormous size, pounced each upon a maiden and carried her + off into the air, and in an instant they were all lost to view. This + amazing occurrence plunged the whole court into the deepest affliction, + and Prince Mirliflor, after giving way to the most violent grief at first, + fell gradually into a state of such deep dejection that it was feared if + nothing could rouse him he would certainly die. Surcantine came in all + haste to see what she could do for her darling, but he rejected with scorn + all the portraits of lovely princesses which she offered him for his + collection. In short, it was evident that he was in a bad way, and the + Fairy was at her wits’ end. One day, as he wandered about absorbed in + melancholy reflections, he heard sudden shouts and exclamations of + amazement, and if he had taken the trouble to look up he could not have + helped being as astonished as everyone else, for through the air a chariot + of crystal was slowly approaching which glittered in the sunshine. Six + lovely maidens with shining wings drew it by rose-coloured ribbons, while + a whole flight of others, equally beautiful, were holding long garlands of + roses crossed above it, so as to form a complete canopy. In it sat the + Fairy Paridamie, and by her side a Princess whose beauty positively + dazzled all who saw her. At the foot of the great staircase they + descended, and proceeded to the Queen’s apartments, though everyone had + run together to see this marvel, till it was quite difficult to make a way + through the crowd; and exclamations of wonder rose on all sides at the + loveliness of the strange Princess. ‘Great Queen,’ said Paridamie, ‘permit + me to restore to you your daughter Rosanella, whom I stole out of her + cradle.’ + </p> + <p> + After the first transports of joy were over the Queen said to Paridamie: + </p> + <p> + ‘But my twelve lovely ones, are they lost to me for ever? Shall I never + see them again?’ + </p> + <p> + But Paridamie only said: + </p> + <p> + ‘Very soon you will cease to miss them!’ in a tone that evidently meant + ‘Don’t ask me any more questions.’ And then mounting again into her + chariot she swiftly disappeared. + </p> + <p> + The news of his beautiful cousin’s arrival was soon carried to the Prince, + but he had hardly the heart to go and see her. However, it became + absolutely necessary that he should pay his respects, and he had scarcely + been five minutes in her presence before it seemed to him that she + combined in her own charming person all the gifts and graces which had so + attracted him in the twelve Rose-maidens whose loss he had so truly + mourned; and after all it is really more satisfactory to make love to one + person at a time. So it came to pass that before he knew where he was he + was entreating his lovely cousin to marry him, and the moment the words + had left his lips, Paridamie appeared, smiling and triumphant, in the + chariot of the Queen of the Fairies, for by that time they had all heard + of her success, and declared her to have earned the kingdom. She had to + give a full account of how she had stolen Rosanella from her cradle, and + divided her character into twelve parts, that each might charm Prince + Mirliflor, and when once more united might cure him of his inconstancy + once and for ever. + </p> + <p> + And as one more proof of the fascination of the whole Rosanella, I may + tell you that even the defeated Surcantine sent her a wedding gift, and + was present at the ceremony which took place as soon as the guests could + arrive. Prince Mirliflor was constant for the rest of his life. And indeed + who would not have been in his place? As for Rosanella, she loved him as + much as all the twelve beauties put together, so they reigned in peace and + happiness to the end of their long lives. + </p> + <p> + By the Comte de Caylus. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0006" id="link2H_4_0006"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + SYLVAIN AND JOCOSA + </h2> + <p> + Once upon a time there lived in the same village two children, one called + Sylvain and the other Jocosa, who were both remarkable for beauty and + intelligence. It happened that their parents were not on terms of + friendship with one another, on account of some old quarrel, which had, + however, taken place so long ago, that they had quite forgotten what it + was all about, and only kept up the feud from force of habit. Sylvain and + Jocosa for their parts were far from sharing this enmity, and indeed were + never happy when apart. Day after day they fed their flocks of sheep + together, and spent the long sunshiny hours in playing, or resting upon + some shady bank. It happened one day that the Fairy of the Meadows passed + by and saw them, and was so much attracted by their pretty faces and + gentle manners that she took them under her protection, and the older they + grew the dearer they became to her. At first she showed her interest by + leaving in their favourite haunts many little gifts such as they delighted + to offer one to the other, for they loved each other so much that their + first thought was always, ‘What will Jocosa like?’ or, ‘What will please + Sylvain?’ And the Fairy took a great delight in their innocent enjoyment + of the cakes and sweetmeats she gave them nearly every day. When they were + grown up she resolved to make herself known to them, and chose a time when + they were sheltering from the noonday sun in the deep shade of a flowery + hedgerow. They were startled at first by the sudden apparition of a tall + and slender lady, dressed all in green, and crowned with a garland of + flowers. But when she spoke to them sweetly, and told them how she had + always loved them, and that it was she who had given them all the pretty + things which it had so surprised them to find, they thanked her + gratefully, and took pleasure in answering the questions she put to them. + When she presently bade them farewell, she told them never to tell anyone + else that they had seen her. ‘You will often see me again,’ added she, + ‘and I shall be with you frequently, even when you do not see me.’ So + saying she vanished, leaving them in a state of great wonder and + excitement. After this she came often, and taught them numbers of things, + and showed them many of the marvels of her beautiful kingdom, and at last + one day she said to them, ‘You know that I have always been kind to you; + now I think it is time you did something for me in your turn. You both + remember the fountain I call my favourite? Promise me that every morning + before the sun rises you will go to it and clear away every stone that + impedes its course, and every dead leaf or broken twig that sullies its + clear waters. I shall take it as a proof of your gratitude to me if you + neither forget nor delay this duty, and I promise that so long as the + sun’s earliest rays find my favourite spring the clearest and sweetest in + all my meadows, you two shall not be parted from one another.’ + </p> + <p> + Sylvain and Jocosa willingly undertook this service, and indeed felt that + it was but a very small thing in return for all that the fairy had given + and promised to them. So for a long time the fountain was tended with the + most scrupulous care, and was the clearest and prettiest in all the + country round. But one morning in the spring, long before the sun rose, + they were hastening towards it from opposite directions, when, tempted by + the beauty of the myriads of gay flowers which grew thickly on all sides, + they paused each to gather some for the other. + </p> + <p> + ‘I will make Sylvain a garland,’ said Jocosa, and ‘How pretty Jocosa will + look in this crown!’ thought Sylvain. + </p> + <p> + Hither and thither they strayed, led ever farther and farther, for the + brightest flowers seemed always just beyond them, until at last they were + startled by the first bright rays of the rising sun. With one accord they + turned and ran towards the fountain, reaching it at the same moment, + though from opposite sides. But what was their horror to see its usually + tranquil waters seething and bubbling, and even as they looked down rushed + a mighty stream, which entirely engulfed it, and Sylvain and Jocosa found + themselves parted by a wide and swiftly-rushing river. All this had + happened with such rapidity that they had only time to utter a cry, and + each to hold up to the other the flowers they had gathered; but this was + explanation enough. Twenty times did Sylvain throw himself into the + turbulent waters, hoping to be able to swim to the other side, but each + time an irresistible force drove him back upon the bank he had just + quitted, while, as for Jocosa, she even essayed to cross the flood upon a + tree which came floating down torn up by the roots, but her efforts were + equally useless. Then with heavy hearts they set out to follow the course + of the stream, which had now grown so wide that it was only with + difficulty they could distinguish each other. Night and day, over + mountains and through valleys, in cold or in heat, they struggled on, + enduring fatigue and hunger and every hardship, and consoled only by the + hope of meeting once more—until three years had passed, and at last + they stood upon the cliffs where the river flowed into the mighty sea. + </p> + <p> + And now they seemed farther apart than ever, and in despair they tried + once more to throw themselves into the foaming waves. But the Fairy of the + Meadows, who had really never ceased to watch over them, did not intend + that they should be drowned at last, so she hastily waved her wand, and + immediately they found themselves standing side by side upon the golden + sand. You may imagine their joy and delight when they realised that their + weary struggle was ended, and their utter contentment as they clasped each + other by the hand. They had so much to say that they hardly knew where to + begin, but they agreed in blaming themselves bitterly for the negligence + which had caused all their trouble; and when she heard this the Fairy + immediately appeared to them. They threw themselves at her feet and + implored her forgiveness, which she granted freely, and promised at the + same time that now their punishment was ended she would always befriend + them. Then she sent for her chariot of green rushes, ornamented with May + dewdrops, which she particularly valued and always collected with great + care; and ordered her six short-tailed moles to carry them all back to the + well-known pastures, which they did in a remarkably short time; and + Sylvain and Jocosa were overjoyed to see their dearly-loved home once more + after all their toilful wanderings. The Fairy, who had set her mind upon + securing their happiness, had in their absence quite made up the quarrel + between their parents, and gained their consent to the marriage of the + faithful lovers; and now she conducted them to the most charming little + cottage that can be imagined, close to the fountain, which had once more + resumed its peaceful aspect, and flowed gently down into the little brook + which enclosed the garden and orchard and pasture which belonged to the + cottage. Indeed, nothing more could have been thought of, either for + Sylvain and Jocosa or for their flocks; and their delight satisfied even + the Fairy who had planned it all to please them. When they had explored + and admired until they were tired they sat down to rest under the + rose-covered porch, and the Fairy said that to pass the time until the + wedding guests whom she had invited could arrive she would tell them a + story. This is it: + </p> + <p> + The Yellow Bird + </p> + <p> + Once upon a time a Fairy, who had somehow or other got into mischief, was + condemned by the High Court of Fairyland to live for several years under + the form of some creature, and at the moment of resuming her natural + appearance once again to make the fortune of two men. It was left to her + to choose what form she would take, and because she loved yellow she + transformed herself into a lovely bird with shining golden feathers such + as no one had ever seen before. When the time of her punishment was at an + end the beautiful yellow bird flew to Bagdad, and let herself be caught by + a Fowler at the precise moment when Badi-al-Zaman was walking up and down + outside his magnificent summer palace. This Badi-al-Zaman—whose name + means ‘Wonder-of-the-World’—was looked upon in Bagdad as the most + fortunate creature under the sun, because of his vast wealth. But really, + what with anxiety about his riches and being weary of everything, and + always desiring something he had not, he never knew a moment’s real + happiness. Even now he had come out of his palace, which was large and + splendid enough for fifty kings, weary and cross because he could find + nothing new to amuse him. The Fowler thought that this would be a + favourable opportunity for offering him the marvellous bird, which he felt + certain he would buy the instant he saw it. And he was not mistaken, for + when Badi-al-Zaman took the lovely prisoner into his own hands, he saw + written under its right wing the words, ‘He who eats my head will become a + king,’ and under its left wing, ‘He who eats my heart will find a hundred + gold pieces under his pillow every morning.’ In spite of all his wealth he + at once began to desire the promised gold, and the bargain was soon + completed. Then the difficulty arose as to how the bird was to be cooked; + for among all his army of servants not one could Badi-al-Zaman trust. At + last he asked the Fowler if he were married, and on hearing that he was he + bade him take the bird home with him and tell his wife to cook it. + </p> + <p> + ‘Perhaps,’ said he, ‘this will give me an appetite, which I have not had + for many a long day, and if so your wife shall have a hundred pieces of + silver.’ + </p> + <p> + The Fowler with great joy ran home to his wife, who speedily made a + savoury stew of the Yellow Bird. But when Badi-al-Zaman reached the + cottage and began eagerly to search in the dish for its head and its heart + he could not find either of them, and turned to the Fowler’s wife in a + furious rage. She was so terrified that she fell upon her knees before him + and confessed that her two children had come in just before he arrived, + and had so teased her for some of the dish she was preparing that she had + presently given the head to one and the heart to the other, since these + morsels are not generally much esteemed; and Badi-al-Zaman rushed from the + cottage vowing vengeance against the whole family. The wrath of a rich man + is generally to be feared, so the Fowler and his wife resolved to send + their children out of harm’s way; but the wife, to console her husband, + confided to him that she had purposely given them the head and heart of + the bird because she had been able to read what was written under its + wings. So, believing that their children’s fortunes were made, they + embraced them and sent them forth, bidding them get as far away as + possible, to take different roads, and to send news of their welfare. For + themselves, they remained hidden and disguised in the town, which was + really rather clever of them; but very soon afterwards Badi-al-Zaman died + of vexation and annoyance at the loss of the promised treasure, and then + they went back to their cottage to wait for news of their children. The + younger, who had eaten the heart of the Yellow Bird, very soon found out + what it had done for him, for each morning when he awoke he found a purse + containing a hundred gold pieces under his pillow. But, as all poor people + may remember for their consolation, nothing in the world causes so much + trouble or requires so much care as a great treasure. Consequently, the + Fowler’s son, who spent with reckless profusion and was supposed to be + possessed of a great hoard of gold, was before very long attacked by + robbers, and in trying to defend himself was so badly wounded that he + died. + </p> + <p> + The elder brother, who had eaten the Yellow Bird’s head, travelled a long + way without meeting with any particular adventure, until at last he + reached a large city in Asia, which was all in an uproar over the choosing + of a new Emir. All the principal citizens had formed themselves into two + parties, and it was not until after a prolonged squabble that they agreed + that the person to whom the most singular thing happened should be Emir. + Our young traveller entered the town at this juncture, with his agreeable + face and jaunty air, and all at once felt something alight upon his head, + which proved to be a snow-white pigeon. Thereupon all the people began to + stare, and to run after him, so that he presently reached the palace with + the pigeon upon his head and all the inhabitants of the city at his heels, + and before he knew where he was they made him Emir, to his great + astonishment. + </p> + <p> + As there is nothing more agreeable than to command, and nothing to which + people get accustomed more quickly, the young Emir soon felt quite at his + ease in his new position; but this did not prevent him from making every + kind of mistake, and so misgoverning the kingdom that at last the whole + city rose in revolt and deprived him at once of his authority and his life—a + punishment which he richly deserved, for in the days of his prosperity he + disowned the Fowler and his wife, and allowed them to die in poverty. + </p> + <p> + ‘I have told you this story, my dear Sylvain and Jocosa,’ added the Fairy, + ‘to prove to you that this little cottage and all that belongs to it is a + gift more likely to bring you happiness and contentment than many things + that would at first seem grander and more desirable. If you will + faithfully promise me to till your fields and feed your flocks, and will + keep your word better than you did before, I will see that you never lack + anything that is really for your good.’ + </p> + <p> + Sylvain and Jocosa gave their faithful promise, and as they kept it they + always enjoyed peace and prosperity. The Fairy had asked all their friends + and neighbours to their wedding, which took place at once with great + festivities and rejoicings, and they lived to a good old age, always + loving one another with all their hearts. + </p> + <p> + By the Comte de Caylus. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0007" id="link2H_4_0007"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + FAIRY GIFTS + </h2> + <p> + It generally happens that people’s surroundings reflect more or less + accurately their minds and dispositions, so perhaps that is why the Flower + Fairy lived in a lovely palace, with the most delightful garden you can + imagine, full of flowers, and trees, and fountains, and fish-ponds, and + everything nice. For the Fairy herself was so kind and charming that + everybody loved her, and all the young princes and princesses who formed + her court, were as happy as the day was long, simply because they were + near her. They came to her when they were quite tiny, and never left her + until they were grown up and had to go away into the great world; and when + that time came she gave to each whatever gift he asked of her. But it is + chiefly of the Princess Sylvia that you are going to hear now. The Fairy + loved her with all her heart, for she was at once original and gentle, and + she had nearly reached the age at which the gifts were generally bestowed. + However, the Fairy had a great wish to know how the other princesses who + had grown up and left her, were prospering, and before the time came for + Sylvia to go herself, she resolved to send her to some of them. So one day + her chariot, drawn by butterflies, was made ready, and the Fairy said: + ‘Sylvia, I am going to send you to the court of Iris; she will receive you + with pleasure for my sake as well as for your own. In two months you may + come back to me again, and I shall expect you to tell me what you think of + her.’ + </p> + <p> + Sylvia was very unwilling to go away, but as the Fairy wished it she said + nothing—only when the two months were over she stepped joyfully into + the butterfly chariot, and could not get back quickly enough to the + Flower-Fairy, who, for her part, was equally delighted to see her again. + </p> + <p> + ‘Now, child,’ said she, ‘tell me what impression you have received.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘You sent me, madam,’ answered Sylvia, ‘to the Court of Iris, on whom you + had bestowed the gift of beauty. She never tells anyone, however, that it + was your gift, though she often speaks of your kindness in general. It + seemed to me that her loveliness, which fairly dazzled me at first, had + absolutely deprived her of the use of any of her other gifts or graces. In + allowing herself to be seen, she appeared to think that she was doing all + that could possibly be required of her. But, unfortunately, while I was + still with her she became seriously ill, and though she presently + recovered, her beauty is entirely gone, so that she hates the very sight + of herself, and is in despair. She entreated me to tell you what had + happened, and to beg you, in pity, to give her beauty back to her. And, + indeed, she does need it terribly, for all the things in her that were + tolerable, and even agreeable, when she was so pretty, seem quite + different now she is ugly, and it is so long since she thought of using + her mind or her natural cleverness, that I really don’t think she has any + left now. She is quite aware of all this herself, so you may imagine how + unhappy she is, and how earnestly she begs for your aid.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘You have told me what I wanted to know,’ cried the Fairy, ‘but alas! I + cannot help her; my gifts can be given but once.’ + </p> + <p> + Some time passed in all the usual delights of the Flower-Fairy’s palace, + and then she sent for Sylvia again, and told her she was to stay for a + little while with the Princess Daphne, and accordingly the butterflies + whisked her off, and set her down in quite a strange kingdom. But she had + only been there a very little time before a wandering butterfly brought a + message from her to the Fairy, begging that she might be sent for as soon + as possible, and before very long she was allowed to return. + </p> + <p> + ‘Ah! madam,’ cried she, ‘what a place you sent me to that time!’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Why, what was the matter?’ asked the Fairy. ‘Daphne was one of the + princesses who asked for the gift of eloquence, if I remember rightly.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘And very ill the gift of eloquence becomes a woman,’ replied Sylvia, with + an air of conviction. ‘It is true that she speaks well, and her + expressions are well chosen; but then she never leaves off talking, and + though at first one may be amused, one ends by being wearied to death. + Above all things she loves any assembly for settling the affairs of her + kingdom, for on those occasions she can talk and talk without fear of + interruption; but, even then, the moment it is over she is ready to begin + again about anything or nothing, as the case may be. Oh! how glad I was to + come away I cannot tell you.’ + </p> + <p> + The Fairy smiled at Sylvia’s unfeigned disgust at her late experience; but + after allowing her a little time to recover she sent her to the Court of + the Princess Cynthia, where she left her for three months. At the end of + that time Sylvia came back to her with all the joy and contentment that + one feels at being once more beside a dear friend. The Fairy, as usual, + was anxious to hear what she thought of Cynthia, who had always been + amiable, and to whom she had given the gift of pleasing. + </p> + <p> + ‘I thought at first,’ said Sylvia, ‘that she must be the happiest Princess + in the world; she had a thousand lovers who vied with one another in their + efforts to please and gratify her. Indeed, I had nearly decided that I + would ask a similar gift.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Have you altered your mind, then?’ interrupted the Fairy. + </p> + <p> + ‘Yes, indeed, madam,’ replied Sylvia; ‘and I will tell you why. The longer + I stayed the more I saw that Cynthia was not really happy. In her desire + to please everyone she ceased to be sincere, and degenerated into a mere + coquette; and even her lovers felt that the charms and fascinations which + were exercised upon all who approached her without distinction were + valueless, so that in the end they ceased to care for them, and went away + disdainfully.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘I am pleased with you, child,’ said the Fairy; ‘enjoy yourself here for + awhile and presently you shall go to Phyllida.’ + </p> + <p> + Sylvia was glad to have leisure to think, for she could not make up her + mind at all what she should ask for herself, and the time was drawing very + near. However, before very long the Fairy sent her to Phyllida, and waited + for her report with unabated interest. + </p> + <p> + ‘I reached her court safely,’ said Sylvia, ‘and she received me with much + kindness, and immediately began to exercise upon me that brilliant wit + which you had bestowed upon her. I confess that I was fascinated by it, + and for a week thought that nothing could be more desirable; the time + passed like magic, so great was the charm of her society. But I ended by + ceasing to covet that gift more than any of the others I have seen, for, + like the gift of pleasing, it cannot really give satisfaction. By degrees + I wearied of what had so delighted me at first, especially as I perceived + more and more plainly that it is impossible to be constantly smart and + amusing without being frequently ill-natured, and too apt to turn all + things, even the most serious, into mere occasions for a brilliant jest.’ + </p> + <p> + The Fairy in her heart agreed with Sylvia’s conclusions, and felt pleased + with herself for having brought her up so well. + </p> + <p> + But now the time was come for Sylvia to receive her gift, and all her + companions were assembled; the Fairy stood in the midst and in the usual + manner asked what she would take with her into the great world. + </p> + <p> + Sylvia paused for a moment, and then answered: ‘A quiet spirit.’ And the + Fairy granted her request. + </p> + <p> + This lovely gift makes life a constant happiness to its possessor, and to + all who are brought into contact with her. She has all the beauty of + gentleness and contentment in her sweet face; and if at times it seems + less lovely through some chance grief or disquietude, the hardest thing + that one ever hears said is: + </p> + <p> + ‘Sylvia’s dear face is pale to-day. It grieves one to see her so.’ + </p> + <p> + And when, on the contrary, she is gay and joyful, the sunshine of her + presence rejoices all who have the happiness of being near her. + </p> + <p> + By the Comte de Caylus. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0008" id="link2H_4_0008"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + PRINCE NARCISSUS AND THE PRINCESS POTENTILLA + </h2> + <p> + Once upon a time there lived a King and Queen who, though it is a very + long while since they died, were much the same in their tastes and + pursuits as people nowadays. The King, who was called Cloverleaf, liked + hunting better than anything else; but he nevertheless bestowed as much + care upon his kingdom as he felt equal to—that is to say, he never + made an end of folding and unfolding the State documents. As to the Queen, + she had once been very pretty, and she liked to believe that she was so + still, which is, of course, always made quite easy for queens. Her name + was Frivola, and her one occupation in life was the pursuit of amusement. + Balls, masquerades, and picnics followed one another in rapid succession, + as fast as she could arrange them, and you may imagine that under these + circumstances the kingdom was somewhat neglected. As a matter of fact, if + anyone had a fancy for a town, or a province, he helped himself to it; but + as long as the King had his horses and dogs, and the Queen her musicians + and her actors, they did not trouble themselves about the matter. King + Cloverleaf and Queen Frivola had but one child, and this Princess had from + her very babyhood been so beautiful, that by the time she was four years + old the Queen was desperately jealous of her, and so fearful that when she + was grown up she would be more admired than herself, that she resolved to + keep her hidden away out of sight. To this end she caused a little house + to be built not far beyond the Palace gardens, on the bank of a river. + This was surrounded by a high wall, and in it the charming Potentilla was + imprisoned. Her nurse, who was dumb, took care of her, and the necessaries + of life were conveyed to her through a little window in the wall, while + guards were always pacing to and fro outside, with orders to cut off the + head of anyone who tried to approach, which they would certainly have done + without thinking twice about it. The Queen told everyone, with much + pretended sorrow, that the Princess was so ugly, and so troublesome, and + altogether so impossible to love, that to keep her out of sight was the + only thing that could be done for her. And this tale she repeated so + often, that at last the whole court believed it. Things were in this + state, and the Princess was about fifteen years old, when Prince + Narcissus, attracted by the report of Queen Frivola’s gay doings, + presented himself at the court. He was not much older than the Princess, + and was as handsome a Prince as you would see in a day’s journey, and + really, for his age, not so very scatter-brained. His parents were a King + and Queen, whose story you will perhaps read some day. They died almost at + the same time, leaving their kingdom to the eldest of their children, and + commending their youngest son, Prince Narcissus, to the care of the Fairy + Melinette. In this they did very well for him, for the Fairy was as kind + as she was powerful, and she spared no pains in teaching the little Prince + everything it was good for him to know, and even imparted to him some of + her own Fairy lore. But as soon as he was grown up she sent him out to see + the world for himself, though all the time she was secretly keeping watch + over him, ready to help in any time of need. Before he started she gave + him a ring which would render him invisible when he put it on his finger. + These rings seem to be quite common; you must often have heard of them, + even if you have never seen one. It was in the course of the Prince’s + wanderings, in search of experience of men and things, that he came to the + court of Queen Frivola, where he was extremely well received. The Queen + was delighted with him, so were all her ladies; and the King was very + polite to him, though he did not quite see why the whole court was making + such a fuss over him. + </p> + <p> + Prince Narcissus enjoyed all that went on, and found the time pass very + pleasantly. Before long, of course, he heard the story about the Princess + Potentilla, and, as it had by that time been repeated many times, and had + been added to here and there, she was represented as such a monster of + ugliness that he was really quite curious to see her, and resolved to + avail himself of the magic power of his ring to accomplish his design. So + he made himself invisible, and passed the guard without their so much as + suspecting that anyone was near. Climbing the wall was rather a + difficulty, but when he at length found himself inside it he was charmed + with the peaceful beauty of the little domain it enclosed, and still more + delighted when he perceived a slender, lovely maiden wandering among the + flowers. It was not until he had sought vainly for the imaginary monster + that he realised that this was the Princess herself, and by that time he + was deeply in love with her, for indeed it would have been hard to find + anyone prettier than Potentilla, as she sat by the brook, weaving a + garland of blue forget-me-nots to crown her waving golden locks, or to + imagine anything more gentle than the way she tended all the birds and + beasts who inhabited her small kingdom, and who all loved and followed + her. Prince Narcissus watched her every movement, and hovered near her in + a dream of delight, not daring as yet to appear to her, so humble had he + suddenly become in her presence. And when evening came, and the nurse + fetched the Princess into her little house, he felt obliged to go back to + Frivola’s palace, for fear his absence should be noticed and someone + should discover his new treasure. But he forgot that to go back absent, + and dreamy, and indifferent, when he had before been gay and ardent about + everything, was the surest way of awakening suspicion; and when, in + response to the jesting questions which were put to him upon the subject, + he only blushed and returned evasive answers, all the ladies were certain + that he had lost his heart, and did their utmost to discover who was the + happy possessor of it. As to the Prince, he was becoming day by day more + attached to Potentilla, and his one thought was to attend her, always + invisible, and help her in everything she did, and provide her with + everything that could possibly amuse or please her. And the Princess, who + had learnt to find diversion in very small things in her quiet life, was + in a continual state of delight over the treasures which the Prince + constantly laid where she must find them. Then Narcissus implored his + faithful friend Melinette to send the Princess such dreams of him as + should make her recognise him as a friend when he actually appeared before + her eyes; and this device was so successful that the Princess quite + dreaded the cessation of these amusing dreams, in which a certain Prince + Narcissus was such a delightful lover and companion. After that he went a + step further and began to have long talks with the Princess—still, + however, keeping himself invisible, until she begged him so earnestly to + appear to her that he could no longer resist, and after making her promise + that, no matter what he was like, she would still love him, he drew the + ring from his finger, and the Princess saw with delight that he was as + handsome as he was agreeable. Now, indeed, they were perfectly happy, and + they passed the whole long summer day in Potentilla’s favourite place by + the brook, and when at last Prince Narcissus had to leave her it seemed to + them both that the hours had gone by with the most amazing swiftness. The + Princess stayed where she was, dreaming of her delightful Prince, and + nothing could have been further from her thoughts than any trouble or + misfortune, when suddenly, in a cloud of dust and shavings, by came the + enchanter Grumedan, and unluckily he chanced to catch sight of Potentilla. + Down he came straightway and alighted at her feet, and one look at her + charming blue eyes and smiling lips quite decided him that he must appear + to her at once, though he was rather annoyed to remember that he had on + only his second-best cloak. The Princess sprang to her feet with a cry of + terror at this sudden apparition, for really the Enchanter was no beauty. + To begin with, he was very big and clumsy, then he had but one eye, and + his teeth were long, and he stammered badly; nevertheless, he had an + excellent opinion of himself, and mistook the Princess’s cry of terror for + an exclamation of delighted surprise. After pausing a moment to give her + time to admire him, the Enchanter made her the most complimentary speech + he could invent, which, however, did not please her at all, though he was + extremely delighted with it himself. Poor Potentilla only shuddered and + cried: + </p> + <p> + ‘Oh! where is my Narcissus?’ + </p> + <p> + To which he replied with a self-satisfied chuckle: ‘You want a narcissus, + madam? Well, they are not rare; you shall have as many as you like.’ + </p> + <p> + Whereupon he waved his wand, and the Princess found herself surrounded and + half buried in the fragrant flowers. She would certainly have betrayed + that this was not the kind of narcissus she wanted, but for the Fairy + Melinette, who had been anxiously watching the interview, and now thought + it quite time to interfere. Assuming the Prince’s voice, she whispered in + Potentilla’s ear: + </p> + <p> + ‘We are menaced by a great danger, but my only fear is for you, my + Princess. Therefore I beg you to hide what you really feel, and we will + hope that some way out of the difficulty may present itself.’ + </p> + <p> + The Princess was much agitated by this speech, and feared lest the + Enchanter should have overheard it; but he had been loudly calling her + attention to the flowers, and chuckling over his own smartness in getting + them for her; and it was rather a blow to him when she said very coldly + that they were not the sort she preferred, and she would be glad if he + would send them all away. This he did, but afterwards wished to kiss the + Princess’s hand as a reward for having been so obliging; but the Fairy + Melinette was not going to allow anything of that kind. She appeared + suddenly, in all her splendour, and cried: + </p> + <p> + ‘Stay, Grumedan; this Princess is under my protection, and the smallest + impertinence will cost you a thousand years of captivity. If you can win + Potentilla’s heart by the ordinary methods I cannot oppose you, but I warn + you that I will not put up with any of your usual tricks.’ + </p> + <p> + This declaration was not at all to the Enchanter’s taste; but he knew that + there was no help for it, and that he would have to behave well, and pay + the Princess all the delicate attentions he could think of; though they + were not at all the sort of thing he was used to. However, he decided that + to win such a beauty it was quite worth while; and Melinette, feeling that + she could now leave the Princess in safety, hurried off to tell Prince + Narcissus what was going forward. Of course, at the very mention of the + Enchanter as a rival he was furious, and I don’t know what foolish things + he would not have done if Melinette had not been there to calm him down. + She represented to him what a powerful enchanter Grumedan was, and how, if + he were provoked, he might avenge himself upon the Princess, since he was + the most unjust and churlish of all the enchanters, and had often before + had to be punished by the Fairy Queen for some of his ill-deeds. Once he + had been imprisoned in a tree, and was only released when it was blown + down by a furious wind; another time he was condemned to stay under a big + stone at the bottom of a river, until by some chance the stone should be + turned over; but nothing could ever really improve him. The Fairy finally + made Narcissus promise that he would remain invisible when he was with the + Princess, since she felt sure that this would make things easier for all + of them. Then began a struggle between Grumedan and the Prince, the latter + under the name of Melinette, as to which could best delight and divert the + Princess and win her approbation. Prince Narcissus first made friends with + all the birds in Potentilla’s little domain, and taught them to sing her + name and her praises, with all their sweetest trills and most touching + melodies, and all day long to tell her how dearly he loved her. Grumedan, + thereupon, declared that there was nothing new about that, since the birds + had sung since the world began, and all lovers had imagined that they sang + for them alone. Therefore he said he would himself write an opera that + should be absolutely a novelty and something worth hearing. When the time + came for the performance (which lasted five weary hours) the Princess + found to her dismay that the ‘opera’ consisted of this more than + indifferent verse, chanted with all their might by ten thousand frogs: + </p> + <p> + ‘Admirable Potentilla, Do you think it kind or wise In this sudden way to + kill a Poor Enchanter with your eyes?’ + </p> + <p> + Really, if Narcissus had not been there to whisper in her ear and divert + her attention, I don’t know what would have become of poor Potentilla, for + though the first repetition of this absurdity amused her faintly, she + nearly died of weariness before the time was over. Luckily Grumedan did + not perceive this, as he was too much occupied in whipping up the frogs, + many of whom perished miserably from fatigue, since he did not allow them + to rest for a moment. The Prince’s next idea for Potentilla’s amusement + was to cause a fleet of boats exactly like those of Cleopatra, of which + you have doubtless read in history, to come up the little river, and upon + the most gorgeously decorated of these reclined the great Queen herself, + who, as soon as she reached the place where Potentilla sat in rapt + attention, stepped majestically on shore and presented the Princess with + that celebrated pearl of which you have heard so much, saying: + </p> + <p> + ‘You are more beautiful than I ever was. Let my example warn you to make a + better use of your beauty!’ + </p> + <p> + And then the little fleet sailed on, until it was lost to view in the + windings of the river. Grumedan was also looking on at the spectacle, and + said very contemptuously: + </p> + <p> + ‘I cannot say I think these marionettes amusing. What a to-do to make over + a single pearl! But if you like pearls, madam, why, I will soon gratify + you.’ + </p> + <p> + So saying, he drew a whistle from his pocket, and no sooner had he blown + it than the Princess saw the water of the river bubble and grow muddy, and + in another instant up came hundreds of thousands of great oysters, who + climbed slowly and laboriously towards her and laid at her feet all the + pearls they contained. + </p> + <p> + ‘Those are what I call pearls,’ cried Grumedan in high glee. And truly + there were enough of them to pave every path in Potentilla’s garden and + leave some to spare! The next day Prince Narcissus had prepared for the + Princess’s pleasure a charming arbour of leafy branches, with couches of + moss and grassy floor and garlands everywhere, with her name written in + different coloured blossoms. Here he caused a dainty little banquet to be + set forth, while hidden musicians played softly, and the silvery fountains + plashed down into their marble basins, and when presently the music + stopped a single nightingale broke the stillness with his delicious chant. + </p> + <p> + ‘Ah!’ cried the Princess, recognizing the voice of one of her favourites, + ‘Philomel, my sweet one, who taught you that new song?’ + </p> + <p> + And he answered: ‘Love, my Princess.’ + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile the Enchanter was very ill-pleased with the entertainment, which + he declared was dulness itself. + </p> + <p> + ‘You don’t seem to have any idea in these parts beyond little squeaking + birds!’ said he. ‘And fancy giving a banquet without so much as an ounce + of plate!’ + </p> + <p> + So the next day, when the Princess went out into her garden, there stood a + summer-house built of solid gold, decorated within and without with her + initials and the Enchanter’s combined. And in it was spread an enormous + repast, while the table so glittered with golden cups and plates, flagons + and dishes, candlesticks and a hundred other things beside, that it was + hardly possible to look steadily at it. The Enchanter ate like six ogres, + but the Princess could not touch a morsel. Presently Grumedan remarked + with a grin: + </p> + <p> + ‘I have provided neither musicians nor singers; but as you seem fond of + music I will sing to you myself.’ + </p> + <p> + Whereupon he began, with a voice like a screech-owl’s, to chant the words + of his ‘opera,’ only this time happily not at such a length, and without + the frog accompaniment. After this the Prince again asked the aid of his + friends the birds, and when they had assembled from all the country round + he tied about the neck of each one a tiny lamp of some brilliant colour, + and when darkness fell he made them go through a hundred pretty tricks + before the delighted Potentilla, who clapped her little hands with delight + when she saw her own name traced in points of light against the dark + trees, or when the whole flock of sparks grouped themselves into bouquets + of different colours, like living flowers. Grumedan leaning back in his + arm-chair, with one knee crossed over the other and his nose in the air, + looked on disdainfully. + </p> + <p> + ‘Oh! if you like fireworks, Princess,’ said he; and the next night all the + will-o’-the-wisps in the country came and danced on the plain, which could + be seen from the Princess’s windows, and as she was looking out, and + rather enjoying the sight, up sprang a frightful volcano, pouring out + smoke and flames which terrified her greatly, to the intense amusement of + the Enchanter, who laughed like a pack of wolves quarrelling. After this, + as many of the will-o’-the-wisps as could get in crowded into Potentilla’s + garden, and by their light the tall yew-trees danced minuets until the + Princess was weary and begged to be excused from looking at anything more + that night. But, in spite of Potentilla’s efforts to behave politely to + the tiresome old Enchanter, whom she detested, he could not help seeing + that he failed to please her, and then he began to suspect very strongly + that she must love someone else, and that somebody besides Melinette was + responsible for all the festivities he had witnessed. So after much + consideration he devised a plan for finding out the truth. He went to the + Princess suddenly, and announced that he was most unwillingly forced to + leave her, and had come to bid her farewell. Potentilla could scarcely + hide her delight when she heard this, and his back was hardly turned + before she was entreating Prince Narcissus to make himself visible once + more. The poor Prince had been getting quite thin with anxiety and + annoyance, and was only too delighted to comply with her request. They + greeted one another rapturously, and were just sitting down to talk over + everything cosily, and enjoy the Enchanter’s discomfiture together, when + out he burst in a fury from behind a bush. With his huge club he aimed a + terrific blow at Narcissus, which must certainly have killed him but for + the adroitness of the Fairy Melinette, who arrived upon the scene just in + time to snatch him up and carry him off at lightning speed to her castle + in the air. Poor Potentilla, however, had not the comfort of knowing this, + for at the sight of the Enchanter threatening her beloved Prince she had + given one shriek and fallen back insensible. When she recovered her senses + she was more than ever convinced that he was dead, since even Melinette + was no longer near her, and no one was left to defend her from the odious + old Enchanter. + </p> + <p> + To make matters worse, he seemed to be in a very bad temper, and came + blustering and raging at the poor Princess. + </p> + <p> + ‘I tell you what it is, madam,’ said he: ‘whether you love this + whipper-snapper Prince or not doesn’t matter in the least. You are going + to marry me, so you may as well make up your mind to it; and I am going + away this very minute to make all the arrangements. But in case you should + get into mischief in my absence, I think I had better put you to sleep.’ + </p> + <p> + So saying, he waved his wand over her, and in spite of her utmost efforts + to keep awake she sank into a profound and dreamless slumber. + </p> + <p> + As he wished to make what he considered a suitable entry into the King’s + palace, he stepped outside the Princess’s little domain, and mounted upon + an immense chariot with great solid wheels, and shafts like the trunk of + an oak-tree, but all of solid gold. This was drawn with great difficulty + by forty-eight strong oxen; and the Enchanter reclined at his ease, + leaning upon his huge club, and holding carelessly upon his knee a tawny + African lion, as if it had been a little lapdog. It was about seven + o’clock in the morning when this extraordinary chariot reached the palace + gates; the King was already astir, and about to set off on a hunting + expedition; as for the Queen, she had only just gone off into her first + sleep, and it would have been a bold person indeed who ventured to wake + her. + </p> + <p> + The King was greatly annoyed at having to stay and see a visitor at such a + time, and pulled off his hunting boots again with many grimaces. Meantime + the Enchanter was stumping about in the hall, crying: + </p> + <p> + ‘Where is this King? Let him be told that I must see him and his wife + also.’ + </p> + <p> + The King, who was listening at the top of the staircase, thought this was + not very polite; however, he took counsel with his favourite huntsman, + and, following his advice, presently went down to see what was wanted of + him. He was struck with astonishment at the sight of the chariot, and was + gazing at it, when the Enchanter strode up to him, exclaiming: + </p> + <p> + ‘Shake hands, Cloverleaf, old fellow! Don’t you know me?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘No, I can’t say I do,’ replied the King, somewhat embarrassed. + </p> + <p> + ‘Why, I am Grumedan, the Enchanter,’ said he, ‘and I am come to make your + fortune. Let us come in and talk things over a bit.’ + </p> + <p> + Thereupon he ordered the oxen to go about their business, and they bounded + off like stags, and were out of sight in a moment. Then, with one blow of + his club, he changed the massive chariot into a perfect mountain of gold + pieces. + </p> + <p> + ‘Those are for your lackeys,’ said he to the King, ‘that they may drink my + health.’ + </p> + <p> + Naturally a great scramble ensued, and at last the laughter and shouting + awoke the Queen, who rang for her maids to ask the reason of such an + unwonted hurry-burly. When they said that a visitor was asking for her, + and then proceeded each one to tell breathlessly a different tale of + wonder, in which she could only distinguish the words, ‘oxen,’ ‘gold,’ + ‘club,’ ‘giant,’ ‘lion,’ she thought they were all out of their minds. + Meanwhile the King was asking the Enchanter to what he was indebted for + the honour of this visit, and on his replying that he would not say until + the Queen was also present, messenger after messenger was dispatched to + her to beg her immediate attendance. But Frivola was in a very bad humour + at having been so unceremoniously awakened, and declared that she had a + pain in her little finger, and that nothing should induce her to come. + </p> + <p> + When the Enchanter heard this he insisted that she must come. + </p> + <p> + ‘Take my club to her Majesty,’ said he, ‘and tell her that if she smells + the end of it she will find it wonderfully reviving.’ + </p> + <p> + So four of the King’s strongest men-at-arms staggered off with it; and + after some persuasion the Queen consented to try this novel remedy. She + had hardly smelt it for an instant when she declared herself to be + perfectly restored; but whether that was due to the scent of the wood or + to the fact that as soon as she touched it out fell a perfect shower of + magnificent jewels, I leave you to decide. At any rate, she was now all + eagerness to see the mysterious stranger, and hastily throwing on her + royal mantle, popped her second-best diamond crown over her night-cap, put + a liberal dab of rouge upon each cheek, and holding up her largest fan + before her nose—for she was not used to appearing in broad daylight—she + went mincing into the great hall. The Enchanter waited until the King and + Queen had seated themselves upon their throne, and then, taking his place + between them, he began solemnly: + </p> + <p> + ‘My name is Grumedan. I am an extremely well-connected Enchanter; my power + is immense. In spite of all this, the charms of your daughter Potentilla + have so fascinated me that I cannot live without her. She fancies that she + loves a certain contemptible puppy called Narcissus; but I have made very + short work with him. I really do not care whether you consent to my + marriage with your daughter or not, but I am bound to ask your consent, on + account of a certain meddling Fairy called Melinette, with whom I have + reason for wishing to keep on good terms.’ + </p> + <p> + The King and Queen were somewhat embarrassed to know what answer to make + to this terrible suitor, but at last they asked for time to talk over the + matter: since, they said, their subjects might think that the heir to the + throne should not be married with as little consideration as a dairymaid. + </p> + <p> + ‘Oh! take a day or two if you like,’ said the Enchanter; ‘but in the + meantime, I am going to send for your daughter. Perhaps you will be able + to induce her to be reasonable.’ + </p> + <p> + So saying, he drew out his favourite whistle, and blew one ear-piercing + note—whereupon the great lion, who had been dozing in the sunny + courtyard, come bounding in on his soft, heavy feet. ‘Orion,’ said the + Enchanter, ‘go and fetch me the Princess, and bring her here at once. Be + gentle now!’ + </p> + <p> + At these words Orion went off at a great pace, and was soon at the other + end of the King’s gardens. Scattering the guards right and left, he + cleared the wall at a bound, and seizing the sleeping Princess, he threw + her on to his back, where he kept her by holding her robe in his teeth. + Then he trotted gently back, and in less than five minutes stood in the + great hall before the astonished King and Queen. + </p> + <p> + The Enchanter held his club close to the Princess’s charming little nose, + whereupon she woke up and shrieked with terror at finding herself in a + strange place with the detested Grumedan. Frivola, who had stood by, stiff + with displeasure at the sight of the lovely Princess, now stepped forward, + and with much pretended concern proposed to carry off Potentilla to her + own apartments that she might enjoy the quiet she seemed to need. Really + her one idea was to let the Princess be seen by as few people as possible; + so, throwing a veil over her head, she led her away and locked her up + securely. All this time Prince Narcissus, gloomy and despairing, was kept + a prisoner by Melinette in her castle in the air, and in spite of all the + splendour by which he was surrounded, and all the pleasures which he might + have enjoyed, his one thought was to get back to Potentilla. The Fairy, + however, left him there, promising to do her very best for him, and + commanding all her swallows and butterflies to wait upon him and do his + bidding. One day, as he paced sadly to and fro, he thought he heard a + voice he knew calling to him, and sure enough there was the faithful + Philomel, Potentilla’s favourite, who told him all that had passed, and + how the sleeping Princess had been carried off by the Lion to the great + grief of all her four-footed and feathered subjects, and how, not knowing + what to do, he had wandered about until he heard the swallows telling one + another of the Prince who was in their airy castle and had come to see if + it could be Narcissus. The Prince was more distracted than ever, and tried + vainly to escape from the castle, by leaping from the roof into the + clouds; but every time they caught him, and rolling softly up, brought him + back to the place from which he started, so at last he gave up the attempt + and waited with desperate patience for the return of Melinette. Meanwhile + matters were advancing rapidly in the court of King Cloverleaf, for the + Queen quite made up her mind that such a beauty as Potentilla must be got + out of the way as quickly as possible. So she sent for the Enchanter + secretly, and after making him promise that he would never turn herself + and King Cloverleaf out of their kingdom, and that he would take + Potentilla far away, so that never again might she set eyes upon her, she + arranged the wedding for the next day but one. + </p> + <p> + You may imagine how Potentilla lamented her sad fate, and entreated to be + spared. All the comfort she could get out of Frivola was, that if she + preferred a cup of poison to a rich husband she would certainly provide + her with one. + </p> + <p> + When, then, the fatal day came the unhappy Potentilla was led into the + great hall between the King and Queen, the latter wild with envy at the + murmurs of admiration which rose on all sides at the loveliness of the + Princess. An instant later in came Grumedan by the opposite door. His hair + stood on end, and he wore a huge bag-purse and a cravat tied in a bow, his + mantle was made of a shower of silver coins with a lining of rose colour, + and his delight in his own appearance knew no bounds. That any Princess + could prefer a cup of poison to himself never for an instant occurred to + him. Nevertheless, that was what did happen, for when Queen Frivola in + jest held out the fatal cup to the Princess, she took it eagerly, crying: + </p> + <p> + ‘Ah! beloved Narcissus, I come to thee!’ and was just raising it to her + lips when the window of the great hall burst open, and the Fairy Melinette + floated in upon a glowing sunset cloud, followed by the Prince himself: + </p> + <p> + All the court looked on in dazzled surprise, while Potentilla, catching + sight of her lover, dropped the cup and ran joyfully to meet him. + </p> + <p> + The Enchanter’s first thought was to defend himself when he saw Melinette + appear, but she slipped round his blind side, and catching him by the + eyelashes dragged him off to the ceiling of the hall, where she held him + kicking for a while just to give him a lesson, and then touching him with + her wand she imprisoned him for a thousand years in a crystal ball which + hung from the roof. ‘Let this teach you to mind what I tell you another + time,’ she remarked severely. Then turning to the King and Queen, she + begged them to proceed with the wedding, since she had provided a much + more suitable bridegroom. She also deprived them of their kingdom, for + they had really shown themselves unfit to manage it, and bestowed it upon + the Prince and Princess, who, though they were unwilling to take it, had + no choice but to obey the Fairy. However, they took care that the King and + Queen were always supplied with everything they could wish for. + </p> + <p> + Prince Narcissus and Princess Potentilla lived long and happily, beloved + by all their subjects. As for the Enchanter, I don’t believe he has been + let out yet. + </p> + <p> + La Princesse Pimprenella et Le Prince Romarin. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0009" id="link2H_4_0009"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + PRINCE FEATHERHEAD AND THE PRINCESS CELANDINE + </h2> + <p> + Once upon a time there lived a King and Queen, who were the best creatures + in the world, and so kind-hearted that they could not bear to see their + subjects want for anything. The consequence was that they gradually gave + away all their treasures, till they positively had nothing left to live + upon; and this coming to the ears of their neighbour, King Bruin, he + promptly raised a large army and marched into their country. The poor + King, having no means of defending his kingdom, was forced to disguise + himself with a false beard, and carrying his only son, the little Prince + Featherhead, in his arms, and accompanied only by the Queen, to make the + best of his way into the wild country. They were lucky enough to escape + the soldiers of King Bruin, and at last, after unheard-of fatigues and + adventures, they found themselves in a charming green valley, through + which flowed a stream clear as crystal and overshadowed by beautiful + trees. As they looked round them with delight, a voice said suddenly: + ‘Fish, and see what you will catch.’ Now the King had always loved + fishing, and never went anywhere without a fish-hook or two in his pocket, + so he drew one out hastily, and the Queen lent him her girdle to fasten it + to, and it had hardly touched the water before it caught a big fish, which + made them an excellent meal—and not before they needed it, for they + had found nothing until then but a few wild berries and roots. They + thought that for the present they could not do better than stay in this + delightful place, and the King set to work, and soon built a bower of + branches to shelter them; and when it was finished the Queen was so + charmed with it that she declared nothing was lacking to complete her + happiness but a flock of sheep, which she and the little Prince might tend + while the King fished. They soon found that the fish were not only + abundant and easily caught, but also very beautiful, with glittering + scales of every imaginable hue; and before long the King discovered that + he could teach them to talk and whistle better than any parrot. Then he + determined to carry some to the nearest town and try to sell them; and as + no one had ever before seen any like them the people flocked about him + eagerly and bought all he had caught, so that presently not a house in the + city was considered complete without a crystal bowl full of fish, and the + King’s customers were very particular about having them to match the rest + of the furniture, and gave him a vast amount of trouble in choosing them. + However, the money he obtained in this way enabled him to buy the Queen + her flock of sheep, as well as many of the other things which go to make + life pleasant, so that they never once regretted their lost kingdom. Now + it happened that the Fairy of the Beech-Woods lived in the lovely valley + to which chance had led the poor fugitives, and it was she who had, in + pity for their forlorn condition, sent the King such good luck to his + fishing, and generally taken them under her protection. This she was all + the more inclined to do as she loved children, and little Prince + Featherhead, who never cried and grew prettier day by day, quite won her + heart. She made the acquaintance of the King and the Queen without at + first letting them know that she was a fairy, and they soon took a great + fancy to her, and even trusted her with the precious Prince, whom she + carried off to her palace, where she regaled him with cakes and tarts and + every other good thing. This was the way she chose of making him fond of + her; but afterwards, as he grew older, she spared no pains in educating + and training him as a prince should be trained. But unfortunately, in + spite of all her care, he grew so vain and frivolous that he quitted his + peaceful country life in disgust, and rushed eagerly after all the foolish + gaieties of the neighbouring town, where his handsome face and charming + manners speedily made him popular. The King and Queen deeply regretted + this alteration in their son, but did not know how to mend matters, since + the good old Fairy had made him so self-willed. + </p> + <p> + Just at this time the Fairy of the Beech-Woods received a visit from an + old friend of hers called Saradine, who rushed into her house so + breathless with rage that she could hardly speak. + </p> + <p> + ‘Dear, dear! what is the matter?’ said the Fairy of the Beech-Woods + soothingly. + </p> + <p> + ‘The matter!’ cried Saradine. ‘You shall soon hear all about it. You know + that, not content with endowing Celandine, Princess of the Summer Islands, + with everything she could desire to make her charming, I actually took the + trouble to bring her up myself; and now what does she do but come to me + with more coaxings and caresses than usual to beg a favour. And what do + you suppose this favour turns out to be—when I have been cajoled + into promising to grant it? Nothing more nor less than a request that I + will take back all my gifts—“since,” says my young madam, “if I have + the good fortune to please you, how am I to know that it is really I, + myself? And that’s how it will be all my life long, whenever I meet + anybody. You see what a weariness my life will be to me under these + circumstances, and yet I assure you I am not ungrateful to you for all + your kindness!” I did all I could,’ continued Saradine, ‘to make her think + better of it, but in vain; so after going through the usual ceremony for + taking back my gifts, I’m come to you for a little peace and quietness. + But, after all, I have not taken anything of consequence from this + provoking Celandine. Nature had already made her so pretty, and given her + such a ready wit of her own, that she will do perfectly well without me. + However, I thought she deserved a little lesson, so to begin with I have + whisked her off into the desert, and there left her!’ + </p> + <p> + ‘What! all alone, and without any means of existence?’ cried the + kind-hearted old Fairy. ‘You had better hand her over to me. I don’t think + so very badly of her after all. I’ll just cure her vanity by making her + love someone better than herself. Really, when I come to consider of it, I + declare the little minx has shown more spirit and originality in the + matter than one expects of a princess.’ + </p> + <p> + Saradine willingly consented to this arrangement, and the old Fairy’s + first care was to smooth away all the difficulties which surrounded the + Princess, and lead her by the mossy path overhung with trees to the bower + of the King and Queen, who still pursued their peaceful life in the + valley. + </p> + <p> + They were immensely surprised at her appearance, but her charming face, + and the deplorably ragged condition to which the thorns and briers had + reduced her once elegant attire, speedily won their compassion; they + recognised her as a companion in misfortune, and the Queen welcomed her + heartily, and begged her to share their simple repast. Celandine + gracefully accepted their hospitality, and soon told them what had + happened to her. The King was charmed with her spirit, while the Queen + thought she had indeed been daring thus to go against the Fairy’s wishes. + </p> + <p> + ‘Since it has ended in my meeting you,’ said the Princess, ‘I cannot + regret the step I have taken, and if you will let me stay with you, I + shall be perfectly happy.’ + </p> + <p> + The King and Queen were only too delighted to have this charming Princess + to supply the place of Prince Featherhead, whom they saw but seldom, since + the Fairy had provided him with a palace in the neighbouring town, where + he lived in the greatest luxury, and did nothing but amuse himself from + morning to night. So Celandine stayed, and helped the Queen to keep house, + and very soon they loved her dearly. When the Fairy of the Beech-Woods + came to them, they presented the Princess to her, and told her story, + little thinking that the Fairy knew more about Celandine than they did. + The old Fairy was equally delighted with her, and often invited her to + visit her Leafy Palace, which was the most enchanting place that could be + imagined, and full of treasures. Often she would say to the Princess, when + showing her some wonderful thing: + </p> + <p> + ‘This will do for a wedding gift some day.’ And Celandine could not help + thinking that it was to her that the Fairy meant to give the two blue + wax-torches which burned without ever getting smaller, or the diamond from + which more diamonds were continually growing, or the boat that sailed + under water, or whatever beautiful or wonderful thing they might happen to + be looking at. It is true that she never said so positively, but she + certainly allowed the Princess to believe it, because she thought a little + disappointment would be good for her. But the person she really relied + upon for curing Celandine of her vanity was Prince Featherhead. The old + Fairy was not at all pleased with the way he had been going on for some + time, but her heart was so soft towards him that she was unwilling to take + him away from the pleasures he loved, except by offering him something + better, which is not the most effectual mode of correction, though it is + without doubt the most agreeable. + </p> + <p> + However, she did not even hint to the Princess that Featherhead was + anything but absolutely perfect, and talked of him so much that when at + last she announced that he was coming to visit her, Celandine made up her + mind that this delightful Prince would be certain to fall in love with her + at once, and was quite pleased at the idea. The old Fairy thought so too, + but as this was not at all what she wished, she took care to throw such an + enchantment over the Princess that she appeared to Featherhead quite ugly + and awkward, though to every one else she looked just as usual. So when he + arrived at the Leafy Palace, more handsome and fascinating even than ever + she had been led to expect, he hardly so much as glanced at the Princess, + but bestowed all his attention upon the old Fairy, to whom he seemed to + have a hundred things to say. The Princess was immensely astonished at his + indifference, and put on a cold and offended air, which, however, he did + not seem to observe. Then as a last resource she exerted all her wit and + gaiety to amuse him, but with no better success, for he was of an age to + be more attracted by beauty than by anything else, and though he responded + politely enough, it was evident that his thoughts were elsewhere. + Celandine was deeply mortified, since for her part the Prince pleased her + very well, and for the first time she bitterly regretted the fairy gifts + she had been anxious to get rid of. Prince Featherhead was almost equally + puzzled, for he had heard nothing from the King and Queen but the praises + of this charming Princess, and the fact that they had spoken of her as so + very beautiful only confirmed his opinion that people who live in the + country have no taste. He talked to them of his charming acquaintances in + the town, the beauties he had admired, did admire, or thought he was going + to admire, until Celandine, who heard it all, was ready to cry with + vexation. The Fairy too was quite shocked at his conceit, and hit upon a + plan for curing him of it. She sent to him by an unknown messenger a + portrait of Princess Celandine as she really was, with this inscription: + ‘All this beauty and sweetness, with a loving heart and a great kingdom, + might have been yours but for your well-known fickleness.’ + </p> + <p> + This message made a great impression upon the Prince, but not so much as + the portrait. He positively could not tear his eyes away from it, and + exclaimed aloud that never, never had he seen anything so lovely and so + graceful. Then he began to think that it was too absurd that he, the + fascinating Featherhead, should fall in love with a portrait; and, to + drive away the recollections of its haunting eyes, he rushed back to the + town; but somehow everything seemed changed. The beauties no longer + pleased him, their witty speeches had ceased to amuse; and indeed, for + their parts, they found the Prince far less amiable than of yore, and were + not sorry when he declared that, after all, a country life suited him + best, and went back to the Leafy Palace. Meanwhile, the Princess Celandine + had been finding the time pass but slowly with the King and Queen, and was + only too pleased when Featherhead reappeared. She at once noticed the + change in him, and was deeply curious to find the reason of it. Far from + avoiding her, he now sought her company and seemed to take pleasure in + talking to her, and yet the Princess did not for a moment flatter herself + with the idea that he was in love with her, though it did not take her + long to decide that he certainly loved someone. But one day the Princess, + wandering sadly by the river, spied Prince Featherhead fast asleep in the + shade of a tree, and stole nearer to enjoy the delight of gazing at his + dear face unobserved. Judge of her astonishment when she saw that he was + holding in his hand a portrait of herself! In vain did she puzzle over the + apparent contradictoriness of his behaviour. Why did he cherish her + portrait while he was so fatally indifferent to herself? At last she found + an opportunity of asking him the name of the Princess whose picture he + carried about with him always. + </p> + <p> + ‘Alas! how can I tell you?’ replied he. + </p> + <p> + ‘Why should you not?’ said the Princess timidly. ‘Surely there is nothing + to prevent you.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Nothing to prevent me!’ repeated he, ‘when my utmost efforts have failed + to discover the lovely original. Should I be so sad if I could but find + her? But I do not even know her name.’ + </p> + <p> + More surprised than ever, the Princess asked to be allowed to see the + portrait, and after examining it for a few minutes returned it, remarking + shyly that at least the original had every cause to be satisfied with it. + </p> + <p> + ‘That means that you consider it flattered,’ said the Prince severely. + ‘Really, Celandine, I thought better of you, and should have expected you + to be above such contemptible jealousy. But all women are alike!’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Indeed, I meant only that it was a good likeness,’ said the Princess + meekly. + </p> + <p> + ‘Then you know the original,’ cried the Prince, throwing himself on his + knees beside her. ‘Pray tell me at once who it is, and don’t keep me in + suspense!’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Oh! don’t you see that it is meant for me?’ cried Celandine. + </p> + <p> + The Prince sprang to his feet, hardly able to refrain from telling her + that she must be blinded by vanity to suppose she resembled the lovely + portrait even in the slightest degree; and after gazing at her for an + instant with icy surprise, turned and left her without another word, and + in a few hours quitted the Leafy Palace altogether. + </p> + <p> + Now the Princess was indeed unhappy, and could no longer bear to stay in a + place where she had been so cruelly disdained. So, without even bidding + farewell to the King and Queen, she left the valley behind her, and + wandered sadly away, not caring whither. After walking until she was + weary, she saw before her a tiny house, and turned her slow steps towards + it. The nearer she approached the more miserable it appeared, and at + length she saw a little old woman sitting upon the door-step, who said + grimly: + </p> + <p> + ‘Here comes one of these fine beggars who are too idle to do anything but + run about the country!’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Alas! madam,’ said Celandine, with tears in her pretty eyes, ‘a sad fate + forces me to ask you for shelter.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Didn’t I tell you what it would be?’ growled the old hag. ‘From shelter + we shall proceed to demand supper, and from supper money to take us on our + way. Upon my word, if I could be sure of finding some one every day whose + head was as soft as his heart, I wouldn’t wish for a more agreeable life + myself! But I have worked hard to build my house and secure a morsel to + eat, and I suppose you think that I am to give away everything to the + first passer-by who chooses to ask for it. Not at all! I wager that a fine + lady like you has more money than I have. I must search her, and see if it + is not so,’ she added, hobbling towards Celandine with the aid of her + stick. + </p> + <p> + ‘Alas! madam,’ replied the Princess, ‘I only wish I had. I would give it + to you with all the pleasure in life.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘But you are very smartly dressed for the kind of life you lead,’ + continued the old woman. + </p> + <p> + ‘What!’ cried the Princess, ‘do you think I am come to beg of you?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘I don’t know about that,’ answered she; ‘but at any rate you don’t seem + to have come to bring me anything. But what is it that you do want? + Shelter? Well, that does not cost much; but after that comes supper, and + that I can’t hear of. Oh dear no! Why, at your age one is always ready to + eat; and now you have been walking, and I suppose you are ravenous?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Indeed no, madam,’ answered the poor Princess, ‘I am too sad to be + hungry.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Oh, well! if you will promise to go on being sad, you may stay for the + night,’ said the old woman mockingly. + </p> + <p> + Thereupon she made the Princess sit down beside her, and began fingering + her silken robe, while she muttered ‘Lace on top, lace underneath! This + must have cost you a pretty penny! It would have been better to save + enough to feed yourself, and not come begging to those who want all they + have for themselves. Pray, what may you have paid for these fine clothes?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Alas! madam,’ answered the Princess, ‘I did not buy them, and I know + nothing about money.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘What do you know, if I may ask?’ said the old dame. + </p> + <p> + ‘Not much; but indeed I am very unhappy,’ cried Celandine, bursting into + tears, ‘and if my services are any good to you—’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Services!’ interrupted the hag crossly. ‘One has to pay for services, and + I am not above doing my own work.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Madam, I will serve you for nothing,’ said the poor Princess, whose + spirits were sinking lower and lower. ‘I will do anything you please; all + I wish is to live quietly in this lonely spot.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Oh! I know you are only trying to take me in,’ answered she; ‘and if I do + let you serve me, is it fitting that you should be so much better dressed + I am? If I keep you, will you give me your clothes and wear some that I + will provide you with? It is true that I am getting old and may want + someone to take care of me some day.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Oh! for pity’s sake, do what you please with my clothes,’ cried poor + Celandine miserably. + </p> + <p> + And the old woman hobbled off with great alacrity, and fetched a little + bundle containing a wretched dress, such as the Princess had never even + seen before, and nimbly skipped round, helping her to put it on instead of + her own rich robe, with many exclamations of: + </p> + <p> + ‘Saints!—what a magnificent lining! And the width of it! It will + make me four dresses at least. Why, child, I wonder you could walk under + such a weight, and certainly in my house you would not have had room to + turn round.’ + </p> + <p> + So saying, she folded up the robe, and put it by with great care, while + she remarked to Celandine: + </p> + <p> + ‘That dress of mine certainly suits you to a marvel; be sure you take + great care of it.’ + </p> + <p> + When supper-time came she went into the house, declining all the + Princess’s offers of assistance, and shortly afterwards brought out a very + small dish, saying: + </p> + <p> + ‘Now let us sup.’ + </p> + <p> + Whereupon she handed Celandine a small piece of black bread and uncovered + the dish, which contained two dried plums. + </p> + <p> + ‘We will have one between us,’ continued the old dame; ‘and as you are the + visitor, you shall have the half which contains the stone; but be very + careful that you don’t swallow it, for I keep them against the winter, and + you have no idea what a good fire they make. Now, you take my advice—which + won’t cost you anything—and remember that it is always more + economical to buy fruit with stones on this account.’ + </p> + <p> + Celandine, absorbed in her own sad thoughts, did not even hear this + prudent counsel, and quite forgot to eat her share of the plum, which + delighted the old woman, who put it by carefully for her breakfast, + saying: + </p> + <p> + ‘I am very much pleased with you, and if you go on as you have begun, we + shall do very well, and I can teach you many useful things which people + don’t generally know. For instance, look at my house! It is built entirely + of the seeds of all the pears I have eaten in my life. Now, most people + throw them away, and that only shows what a number of things are wasted + for want of a little patience and ingenuity.’ + </p> + <p> + But Celandine did not find it possible to be interested in this and + similar pieces of advice. And the old woman soon sent her to bed, for fear + the night air might give her an appetite. She passed a sleepless night; + but in the morning the old dame remarked: + </p> + <p> + ‘I heard how well you slept. After such a night you cannot want any + breakfast; so while I do my household tasks you had better stay in bed, + since the more one sleeps the less one need eat; and as it is market-day I + will go to town and buy a pennyworth of bread for the week’s eating.’ + </p> + <p> + And so she chattered on, but poor Celandine did not hear or heed her; she + wandered out into the desolate country to think over her sad fate. + However, the good Fairy of the Beech-Woods did not want her to be starved, + so she sent her an unlooked for relief in the shape of a beautiful white + cow, which followed her back to the tiny house. When the old woman saw it + her joy knew no bounds. + </p> + <p> + ‘Now we can have milk and cheese and butter!’ cried she. ‘Ah! how good + milk is! What a pity it is so ruinously expensive!’ So they made a little + shelter of branches for the beautiful creature which was quite gentle, and + followed Celandine about like a dog when she took it out every day to + graze. One morning as she sat by a little brook, thinking sadly, she + suddenly saw a young stranger approaching, and got up quickly, intending + to avoid him. But Prince Featherhead, for it was he, perceiving her at the + same moment, rushed towards her with every demonstration of joy: for he + had recognised her, not as the Celandine whom he had slighted, but as the + lovely Princess whom he had sought vainly for so long. The fact was that + the Fairy of the Beech-Woods, thinking she had been punished enough, had + withdrawn the enchantment from her, and transferred it to Featherhead, + thereby in an instant depriving him of the good looks which had done so + much towards making him the fickle creature he was. Throwing himself down + at the Princess’s feet, he implored her to stay, and at least speak to + him, and she at last consented, but only because he seemed to wish it so + very much. After that he came every day in the hope of meeting her again, + and often expressed his delight at being with her. But one day, when he + had been begging Celandine to love him, she confided to him that it was + quite impossible, since her heart was already entirely occupied by + another. + </p> + <p> + ‘I have,’ said she, ‘the unhappiness of loving a Prince who is fickle, + frivolous, proud, incapable of caring for anyone but himself, who has been + spoilt by flattery, and, to crown all, who does not love me.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘But,’ cried Prince Featherhead, ‘surely you cannot care for so + contemptible and worthless a creature as that.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Alas! but I do care,’ answered the Princess, weeping. + </p> + <p> + ‘But where can his eyes be,’ said the Prince, ‘that your beauty makes no + impression upon him? As for me, since I have possessed your portrait I + have wandered over the whole world to find you, and, now we have met, I + see that you are ten times lovelier than I could have imagined, and I + would give all I own to win your love.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘My portrait?’ cried Celandine with sudden interest. ‘Is it possible that + Prince Featherhead can have parted with it?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘He would part with his life sooner, lovely Princess,’ answered he; ‘I can + assure you of that, for I am Prince Featherhead.’ + </p> + <p> + At the same moment the Fairy of the Beech-Woods took away the enchantment, + and the happy Princess recognised her lover, now truly hers, for the + trials they had both undergone had so changed and improved them that they + were capable of a real love for each other. You may imagine how perfectly + happy they were, and how much they had to hear and to tell. But at length + it was time to go back to the little house, and as they went along + Celandine remembered for the first time what a ragged old dress she was + wearing, and what an odd appearance she must present. But the Prince + declared that it became her vastly, and that he thought it most + picturesque. When they reached the house the old woman received them very + crossly. + </p> + <p> + ‘I declare,’ said she, ‘that it’s perfectly true: wherever there is a girl + you may be sure that a young man will appear before long! But don’t + imagine that I’m going to have you here—not a bit of it, be off with + you, my fine fellow!’ + </p> + <p> + Prince Featherhead was inclined to be angry at this uncivil reception, but + he was really too happy to care much, so he only demanded, on Celandine’s + behalf, that the old dame should give her back her own attire, that she + might go away suitably dressed. + </p> + <p> + This request roused her to fury, since she had counted upon the Princess’s + fine robes to clothe her for the rest of her life, so that it was some + time before the Prince could make himself heard to explain that he was + willing to pay for them. The sight of a handful of gold pieces somewhat + mollified her, however, and after making them both promise faithfully that + on no consideration would they ask for the gold back again, she took the + Princess into the house and grudgingly doled out to her just enough of her + gay attire to make her presentable, while the rest she pretended to have + lost. After this they found that they were very hungry, for one cannot + live on love, any more than on air, and then the old woman’s lamentations + were louder than before. ‘What!’ she cried, ‘feed people who were as happy + as all that! Why, it was simply ruinous!’ + </p> + <p> + But as the Prince began to look angry, she, with many sighs and + mutterings, brought out a morsel of bread, a bowl of milk, and six plums, + with which the lovers were well content: for as long as they could look at + one another they really did not know what they were eating. It seemed as + if they would go on for ever with their reminiscences, the Prince telling + how he had wandered all over the world from beauty to beauty, always to be + disappointed when he found that no one resembled the portrait; the + Princess wondering how it was he could have been so long with her and yet + never have recognised her, and over and over again pardoning him for his + cold and haughty behaviour to her. + </p> + <p> + ‘For,’ she said, ‘you see, Featherhead, I love you, and love makes + everything right! But we cannot stay here,’ she added; ‘what are we to + do?’ + </p> + <p> + The Prince thought they had better find their way to the Fairy of the + Beech-Woods and put themselves once more under her protection, and they + had hardly agreed upon this course when two little chariots wreathed with + jasmine and honeysuckle suddenly appeared, and, stepping into them, they + were whirled away to the Leafy Palace. Just before they lost sight of the + little house they heard loud cries and lamentations from the miserly old + dame, and, looking round, perceived that the beautiful cow was vanishing + in spite of her frantic efforts to hold it fast. And they afterwards heard + that she spent the rest of her life in trying to put the handful of gold + the Prince had thrown to her into her money-bag. For the Fairy, as a + punishment for her avarice, caused it to slip out again as fast as she + dropped it in. + </p> + <p> + The Fairy of the Beech-Woods ran to welcome the Prince and Princess with + open arms, only too delighted to find them so much improved that she + could, with a clear conscience, begin to spoil them again. Very soon the + Fairy Saradine also arrived, bringing the King and Queen with her. + Princess Celandine implored her pardon, which she graciously gave; indeed + the Princess was so charming she could refuse her nothing. She also + restored to her the Summer Islands, and promised her protection in all + things. The Fairy of the Beech-Woods then informed the King and Queen that + their subjects had chased King Bruin from the throne, and were waiting to + welcome them back again; but they at once abdicated in favour of Prince + Featherhead, declaring that nothing could induce them to forsake their + peaceful life, and the Fairies undertook to see the Prince and Princess + established in their beautiful kingdoms. Their marriage took place the + next day, and they lived happily ever afterwards, for Celandine was never + vain and Featherhead was never fickle any more. + </p> + <p> + Le Prince Muguet et la Princesse Zaza. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0010" id="link2H_4_0010"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE THREE LITTLE PIGS + </h2> + <p> + There was once upon a time a pig who lived with her three children on a + large, comfortable, old-fashioned farmyard. The eldest of the little pigs + was called Browny, the second Whitey, and the youngest and best looking + Blacky. Now Browny was a very dirty little pig, and I am sorry to say + spent most of his time rolling and wallowing about in the mud. He was + never so happy as on a wet day, when the mud in the farmyard got soft, and + thick, and slab. Then he would steal away from his mother’s side, and + finding the muddiest place in the yard, would roll about in it and + thoroughly enjoy himself. His mother often found fault with him for this, + and would shake her head sadly and say: ‘Ah, Browny! some day you will be + sorry that you did not obey your old mother.’ But no words of advice or + warning could cure Browny of his bad habits. + </p> + <p> + Whitey was quite a clever little pig, but she was greedy. She was always + thinking of her food, and looking forward to her dinner; and when the farm + girl was seen carrying the pails across the yard, she would rise up on her + hind legs and dance and caper with excitement. As soon as the food was + poured into the trough she jostled Blacky and Browny out of the way in her + eagerness to get the best and biggest bits for herself. Her mother often + scolded her for her selfishness, and told her that some day she would + suffer for being so greedy and grabbing. + </p> + <p> + Blacky was a good, nice little pig, neither dirty nor greedy. He had nice + dainty ways (for a pig), and his skin was always as smooth and shining as + black satin. He was much cleverer than Browny and Whitey, and his mother’s + heart used to swell with pride when she heard the farmer’s friends say to + each other that some day the little black fellow would be a prize pig. + </p> + <p> + Now the time came when the mother pig felt old and feeble and near her + end. One day she called the three little pigs round her and said: + </p> + <p> + ‘My children, I feel that I am growing odd and weak, and that I shall not + live long. Before I die I should like to build a house for each of you, as + this dear old sty in which we have lived so happily will be given to a new + family of pigs, and you will have to turn out. Now, Browny, what sort of a + house would you like to have?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘A house of mud,’ replied Browny, looking longingly at a wet puddle in the + corner of the yard. + </p> + <p> + ‘And you, Whitey?’ said the mother pig in rather a sad voice, for she was + disappointed that Browny had made so foolish a choice. + </p> + <p> + ‘A house of cabbage,’ answered Whitey, with a mouth full, and scarcely + raising her snout out of the trough in which she was grubbing for some + potato-parings. + </p> + <p> + ‘Foolish, foolish child!’ said the mother pig, looking quite distressed. + ‘And you, Blacky?’ turning to her youngest son, ‘what sort of a house + shall I order for you?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘A house of brick, please mother, as it will be warm in winter, and cool + in summer, and safe all the year round.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘That is a sensible little pig,’ replied his mother, looking fondly at + him. ‘I will see that the three houses are got ready at once. And now one + last piece of advice. You have heard me talk of our old enemy the fox. + When he hears that I am dead, he is sure to try and get hold of you, to + carry you off to his den. He is very sly and will no doubt disguise + himself, and pretend to be a friend, but you must promise me not to let + him enter your houses on any pretext whatever.’ + </p> + <p> + And the little pigs readily promised, for they had always had a great fear + of the fox, of whom they had heard many terrible tales. A short time + afterwards the old pig died, and the little pigs went to live in their own + houses. + </p> + <p> + Browny was quite delighted with his soft mud walls and with the clay + floor, which soon looked like nothing but a big mud pie. But that was what + Browny enjoyed, and he was as happy as possible, rolling about all day and + making himself in such a mess. One day, as he was lying half asleep in the + mud, he heard a soft knock at his door, and a gentle voice said: + </p> + <p> + ‘May I come in, Master Browny? I want to see your beautiful new house.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Who are you?’ said Browny, starting up in great fright, for though the + voice sounded gentle, he felt sure it was a feigned voice, and he feared + it was the fox. + </p> + <p> + ‘I am a friend come to call on you,’ answered the voice. + </p> + <p> + ‘No, no,’ replied Browny, ‘I don’t believe you are a friend. You are the + wicked fox, against whom our mother warned us. I won’t let you in.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Oho! is that the way you answer me?’ said the fox, speaking very roughly + in his natural voice. ‘We shall soon see who is master here,’ and with his + paws he set to work and scraped a large hole in the soft mud walls. A + moment later he had jumped through it, and catching Browny by the neck, + flung him on his shoulders and trotted off with him to his den. + </p> + <p> + The next day, as Whitey was munching a few leaves of cabbage out of the + corner of her house, the fox stole up to her door, determined to carry her + off to join her brother in his den. He began speaking to her in the same + feigned gentle voice in which he had spoken to Browny; but it frightened + her very much when he said: + </p> + <p> + ‘I am a friend come to visit you, and to have some of your good cabbage + for my dinner.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Please don’t touch it,’ cried Whitey in great distress. ‘The cabbages are + the walls of my house, and if you eat them you will make a hole, and the + wind and rain will come in and give me a cold. Do go away; I am sure you + are not a friend, but our wicked enemy the fox.’ And poor Whitey began to + whine and to whimper, and to wish that she had not been such a greedy + little pig, and had chosen a more solid material than cabbages for her + house. But it was too late now, and in another minute the fox had eaten + his way through the cabbage walls, and had caught the trembling, shivering + Whitey, and carried her off to his den. + </p> + <p> + The next day the fox started off for Blacky’s house, because he had made + up his mind that he would get the three little pigs together in his den, + and then kill them, and invite all his friends to a feast. But when he + reached the brick house, he found that the door was bolted and barred, so + in his sly manner he began, ‘Do let me in, dear Blacky. I have brought you + a present of some eggs that I picked up in a farmyard on my way here.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘No, no, Mister Fox,’ replied Blacky, ‘I am not going to open my door to + you. I know your cunning ways. You have carried off poor Browny and + Whitey, but you are not going to get me.’ + </p> + <p> + At this the fox was so angry that he dashed with all his force against the + wall, and tried to knock it down. But it was too strong and well-built; + and though the fox scraped and tore at the bricks with his paws he only + hurt himself, and at last he had to give it up, and limp away with his + fore-paws all bleeding and sore. + </p> + <p> + ‘Never mind!’ he cried angrily as he went off, ‘I’ll catch you another + day, see if I don’t, and won’t I grind your bones to powder when I have + got you in my den!’ and he snarled fiercely and showed his teeth. + </p> + <p> + Next day Blacky had to go into the neighbouring town to do some marketing + and to buy a big kettle. As he was walking home with it slung over his + shoulder, he heard a sound of steps stealthily creeping after him. For a + moment his heart stood still with fear, and then a happy thought came to + him. He had just reached the top of a hill, and could see his own little + house nestling at the foot of it among the trees. In a moment he had + snatched the lid off the kettle and had jumped in himself. Coiling himself + round he lay quite snug in the bottom of the kettle, while with his + fore-leg he managed to put the lid on, so that he was entirely hidden. + With a little kick from the inside he started the kettle off, and down the + hill it rolled full tilt; and when the fox came up, all that he saw was a + large black kettle spinning over the ground at a great pace. Very much + disappointed, he was just going to turn away, when he saw the kettle stop + close to the little brick house, and in a moment later Blacky jumped out + of it and escaped with the kettle into the house, when he barred and + bolted the door, and put the shutter up over the window. + </p> + <p> + ‘Oho!’ exclaimed the fox to himself, ‘you think you will escape me that + way, do you? We shall soon see about that, my friend,’ and very quietly + and stealthily he prowled round the house looking for some way to climb on + to the roof. + </p> + <p> + In the meantime Blacky had filled the kettle with water, and having put it + on the fire, sat down quietly waiting for it to boil. Just as the kettle + was beginning to sing, and steam to come out of the spout, he heard a + sound like a soft, muffled step, patter, patter, patter overhead, and the + next moment the fox’s head and fore-paws were seen coming down the + chimney. But Blacky very wisely had not put the lid on the kettle, and, + with a yelp of pain, the fox fell into the boiling water, and before he + could escape, Blacky had popped the lid on, and the fox was scalded to + death. + </p> + <p> + As soon as he was sure that their wicked enemy was really dead, and could + do them no further harm, Blacky started off to rescue Browny and Whitey. + As he approached the den he heard piteous grunts and squeals from his poor + little brother and sister who lived in constant terror of the fox killing + and eating them. But when they saw Blacky appear at the entrance to the + den their joy knew no bounds. He quickly found a sharp stone and cut the + cords by which they were tied to a stake in the ground, and then all three + started off together for Blacky’s house, where they lived happily ever + after; and Browny quite gave up rolling in the mud, and Whitey ceased to + be greedy, for they never forgot how nearly these faults had brought them + to an untimely end. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0011" id="link2H_4_0011"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + HEART OF ICE + </h2> + <p> + Once upon a time there lived a King and Queen who were foolish beyond all + telling, but nevertheless they were vastly fond of one another. It is true + that certain spiteful people were heard to say that this was only one + proof the more of their exceeding foolishness, but of course you will + understand that these were not their own courtiers, since, after all, they + were a King and Queen, and up to this time all things had prospered with + them. For in those days the one thing to be thought of in governing a + kingdom was to keep well with all the Fairies and Enchanters, and on no + account to stint them of the cakes, the ells of ribbon, and similar + trifles which were their due, and, above all things, when there was a + christening, to remember to invite every single one, good, bad, or + indifferent, to the ceremony. Now, the foolish Queen had one little son + who was just going to be christened, and for several months she had been + hard at work preparing an enormous list of the names of those who were to + be invited, but she quite forgot that it would take nearly as long to read + it over as it had taken to write it out. So, when the moment of the + christening arrived the King—to whom the task had been entrusted—had + barely reached the end of the second page and his tongue was tripping with + fatigue and haste as he repeated the usual formula: ‘I conjure and pray + you, Fairy so-and-so’—or ‘Enchanter such-a-one’—‘to honour me + with a visit, and graciously bestow your gifts upon my son.’ + </p> + <p> + To make matters worse, word was brought to him that the Fairies asked on + the first page had already arrived and were waiting impatiently in the + Great Hall, and grumbling that nobody was there to receive them. Thereupon + he gave up the list in despair and hurried to greet those whom he had + succeeded in asking, imploring their goodwill so humbly that most of them + were touched, and promised that they would do his son no harm. But there + happened to be among them a Fairy from a far country about whom they knew + nothing, though her name had been written on the first page of the list. + This Fairy was annoyed that after having taken the trouble to come so + quickly, there had been no one to receive her, or help her to alight from + the great ostrich on which she had travelled from her distant home, and + now she began to mutter to herself in the most alarming way. + </p> + <p> + ‘Oh! prate away,’ said she, ‘your son will never be anything to boast of. + Say what you will, he will be nothing but a Mannikin—’ + </p> + <p> + No doubt she would have gone on longer in this strain, and given the + unhappy little Prince half-a-dozen undesirable gifts, if it had not been + for the good Fairy Genesta, who held the kingdom under her special + protection, and who luckily hurried in just in time to prevent further + mischief. When she had by compliments and entreaties pacified the unknown + Fairy, and persuaded her to say no more, she gave the King a hint that now + was the time to distribute the presents, after which ceremony they all + took their departure, excepting the Fairy Genesta, who then went to see + the Queen, and said to her: + </p> + <p> + ‘A nice mass you seem to have made of this business, madam. Why did you + not condescend to consult me? But foolish people like you always think + they can do without help or advice, and I observe that, in spite of all my + goodness to you, you had not even the civility to invite me!’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Ah! dear madam,’ cried the King, throwing himself at her feet; ‘did I + ever have time to get as far as your name? See where I put in this mark + when I abandoned the hopeless undertaking which I had but just begun!’ + </p> + <p> + ‘There! there!’ said the Fairy, ‘I am not offended. I don’t allow myself + to be put out by trifles like that with people I really am fond of. But + now about your son: I have saved him from a great many disagreeable + things, but you must let me take him away and take care of him, and you + will not see him again until he is all covered with fur!’ + </p> + <p> + At these mysterious words the King and Queen burst into tears, for they + lived in such a hot climate themselves that how or why the Prince should + come to be covered with fur they could not imagine, and thought it must + portend some great misfortune to him. + </p> + <p> + However, Genesta told them not to disquiet themselves. + </p> + <p> + ‘If I left him to you to bring up,’ said she, ‘you would be certain to + make him as foolish as yourselves. I do not even intend to let him know + that he is your son. As for you, you had better give your minds to + governing your kingdom properly.’ So saying, she opened the window, and + catching up the little Prince, cradle and all, she glided away in the air + as if she were skating upon ice, leaving the King and Queen in the + greatest affliction. They consulted everyone who came near them as to what + the Fairy could possibly have meant by saying that when they saw their son + again he would be covered with fur. But nobody could offer any solution of + the mystery, only they all seemed to agree that it must be something + frightful, and the King and Queen made themselves more miserable than + ever, and wandered about their palace in a way to make anyone pity them. + Meantime the Fairy had carried off the little Prince to her own castle, + and placed him under the care of a young peasant woman, whom she bewitched + so as to make her think that this new baby was one of her own children. So + the Prince grew up healthy and strong, leading the simple life of a young + peasant, for the Fairy thought that he could have no better training; only + as he grew older she kept him more and more with herself, that his mind + might be cultivated and exercised as well as his body. But her care did + not cease there: she resolved that he should be tried by hardships and + disappointments and the knowledge of his fellowmen; for indeed she knew + the Prince would need every advantage that she could give him, since, + though he increased in years, he did not increase in height, but remained + the tiniest of Princes. However, in spite of this he was exceedingly + active and well formed, and altogether so handsome and agreeable that the + smallness of his stature was of no real consequence. The Prince was + perfectly aware that he was called by the ridiculous name of ‘Mannikin,’ + but he consoled himself by vowing that, happen what might, he would make + it illustrious. + </p> + <p> + In order to carry out her plans for his welfare the Fairy now began to + send Prince Mannikin the most wonderful dreams of adventure by sea and + land, and of these adventures he himself was always the hero. Sometimes he + rescued a lovely Princess from some terrible danger, again he earned a + kingdom by some brave deed, until at last he longed to go away and seek + his fortune in a far country where his humble birth would not prevent his + gaining honour and riches by his courage, and it was with a heart full of + ambitious projects that he rode one day into a great city not far from the + Fairy’s castle. As he had set out intending to hunt in the surrounding + forest he was quite simply dressed, and carried only a bow and arrows and + a light spear; but even thus arrayed he looked graceful and distinguished. + As he entered the city he saw that the inhabitants were all racing with + one accord towards the market-place, and he also turned his horse in the + same direction, curious to know what was going forward. When he reached + the spot he found that certain foreigners of strange and outlandish + appearance were about to make a proclamation to the assembled citizens, + and he hastily pushed his way into the crowd until he was near enough to + hear the words of the venerable old man who was their spokesman: + </p> + <p> + ‘Let the whole world know that he who can reach the summit of the Ice + Mountain shall receive as his reward, not only the incomparable Sabella, + fairest of the fair, but also all the realms of which she is Queen!’ + ‘Here,’ continued the old man after he had made this proclamation—‘here + is the list of all those Princes who, struck by the beauty of the + Princess, have perished in the attempt to win her; and here is the list of + these who have just entered upon the high emprise.’ + </p> + <p> + Prince Mannikin was seized with a violent desire to inscribe his name + among the others, but the remembrance of his dependent position and his + lack of wealth held him back. But while he hesitated the old man, with + many respectful ceremonies, unveiled a portrait of the lovely Sabella, + which was carried by some of the attendants, and after one glance at it + the Prince delayed no longer, but, rushing forward, demanded permission to + add his name to the list. When they saw his tiny stature anti simple + attire the strangers looked at each other doubtfully, not knowing whether + to accept or refuse him. But the Prince said haughtily: + </p> + <p> + ‘Give me the paper that I may sign it,’ and they obeyed. What between + admiration for the Princess and annoyance at the hesitation shown by her + ambassadors the Prince was too much agitated to choose any other name than + the one by which he was always known. But when, after all the grand titles + of the other Princes, he simply wrote ‘Mannikin,’ the ambassadors broke + into shouts of laughter. + </p> + <p> + ‘Miserable wretches!’ cried the Prince; ‘but for the presence of that + lovely portrait I would cut off your heads.’ + </p> + <p> + But he suddenly remembered that, after all, it was a funny name, and that + he had not yet had time to make it famous; so he was calm, and enquired + the way to the Princess Sabella’s country. + </p> + <p> + Though his heart did not fail him in the least, still he felt there were + many difficulties before him, and he resolved to set out at once, without + even taking leave of the Fairy, for fear she might try to stop him. + Everybody in the town who knew him made great fun of the idea of + Mannikin’s undertaking such an expedition, and it even came to the ears of + the foolish King and Queen, who laughed over it more than any of the + others, without having an idea that the presumptuous Mannikin was their + only son! + </p> + <p> + Meantime the Prince was travelling on, though the direction he had + received for his journey were none of the clearest. + </p> + <p> + ‘Four hundred leagues north of Mount Caucasus you will receive your orders + and instructions for the conquest of the Ice Mountain.’ + </p> + <p> + Fine marching orders, those, for a man starting from a country near where + Japan is nowadays! + </p> + <p> + However, he fared eastward, avoiding all towns, lest the people should + laugh at his name, for, you see, he was not a very experienced traveller, + and had not yet learned to enjoy a joke even if it were against himself. + At night he slept in the woods, and at first he lived upon wild fruits; + but the Fairy, who was keeping a benevolent eye upon him, thought that it + would never do to let him be half-starved in that way, so she took to + feeding him with all sorts of good things while he was asleep, and the + Prince wondered very much that when he was awake he never felt hungry! + True to her plan the Fairy sent him various adventures to prove his + courage, and he came successfully through them all, only in his last fight + with a furious monster rather like a tiger he had the ill luck to lose his + horse. However, nothing daunted, he struggled on on foot, and at last + reached a seaport. Here he found a boat sailing for the coast which he + desired to reach, and, having just enough money to pay his passage, he + went on board and they started. But after some days a fearful storm came + on, which completely wrecked the little ship, and the Prince only saved + his life by swimming a long, long way to the only land that was in sight, + and which proved to be a desert island. Here he lived by fishing and + hunting, always hoping that the good Fairy would presently rescue him. One + day, as he was looking sadly out to sea, he became aware of a curious + looking boat which was drifting slowly towards the shore, and which + presently ran into a little creek and there stuck fast in the sand. Prince + Mannikin rushed down eagerly to examine it, and saw with amazement that + the masts and spars were all branched, and covered thickly with leaves + until it looked like a little wood. Thinking from the stillness that there + could be no one on board, the Prince pushed aside the branches and sprang + over the side, and found himself surrounded by the crew, who lay + motionless as dead men and in a most deplorable condition. They, too, had + become almost like trees, and were growing to the deck, or to the masts, + or to the sides of the vessel, or to whatever they had happened to be + touching when the enchantment fell upon them. Mannikin was struck with + pity for their miserable plight, and set to work with might and main to + release them. With the sharp point of one of his arrows he gently detached + their hands and feet from the wood which held them fast, and carried them + on shore, one after another, where he rubbed their rigid limbs, and bathed + them with infusions of various herbs with such success, that, after a few + days, they recovered perfectly and were as fit to manage a boat as ever. + You may be sure that the good Fairy Genesta had something to do with this + marvellous cure, and she also put it into the Prince’s head to rub the + boat itself with the same magic herbs, which cleared it entirely, and not + before it was time, for, at the rate at which it was growing before, it + would very soon have become a forest! The gratitude of the sailors was + extreme, and they willingly promised to land the Prince upon any coast he + pleased; but, when he questioned them about the extraordinary thing that + had happened to them and to their ship, they could in no way explain it, + except that they said that, as they were passing along a thickly wooded + coast, a sudden gust of wind had reached them from the land and enveloped + them in a dense cloud of dust, after which everything in the boat that was + not metal had sprouted and blossomed, as the Prince had seen, and that + they themselves had grown gradually numb and heavy, and had finally lost + all consciousness. Prince Mannikin was deeply interested in this curious story, + and collected a quantity of the dust from the bottom of the boat, which he + carefully preserved, thinking that its strange property might one day + stand him in good stead. + </p> + <p> + Then they joyfully left the desert island, and after a long and prosperous + voyage over calm seas they at length came in sight of land, and resolved + to go on shore, not only to take in a fresh stock of water and provisions, + but also to find out, if possible, where they were and in what direction + to proceed. + </p> + <p> + As they neared the coast they wondered if this could be another + uninhabited land, for no human beings could be distinguished, and yet that + something was stirring became evident, for in the dust-clouds that moved + near the ground small dark forms were dimly visible. These appeared to be + assembling at the exact spot where they were preparing to run ashore, and + what was their surprise to find they were nothing more nor less than large + and beautiful spaniels, some mounted as sentries, others grouped in + companies and regiments, all eagerly watching their disembarkation. When + they found that Prince Mannikin, instead of saying, ‘Shoot them,’ as they + had feared, said ‘Hi, good dog!’ in a thoroughly friendly and ingratiating + way, they crowded round him with a great wagging of tails and giving of + paws, and very soon made him understand that they wanted him to leave his + men with the boat and follow them. The Prince was so curious to know more + about them that he agreed willingly; so, after arranging with the sailors + to wait for him fifteen days, and then, if he had not come back, to go on + their way without him, he set out with his new friends. Their way lay + inland, and Mannikin noticed with great surprise that the fields were well + cultivated and that the carts and ploughs were drawn by horses or oxen, + just as they might have been in any other country, and when they passed + any village the cottages were trim and pretty, and an air of prosperity + was everywhere. At one of the villages a dainty little repast was set + before the Prince, and while he was eating, a chariot was brought, drawn + by two splendid horses, which were driven with great skill by a large + spaniel. In this carriage he continued his journey very comfortably, + passing many similar equipages upon the road, and being always most + courteously saluted by the spaniels who occupied them. At last they drove + rapidly into a large town, which Prince Mannikin had no doubt was the + capital of the kingdom. News of his approach had evidently been received, + for all the inhabitants were at their doors and windows, and all the + little spaniels had climbed upon the wall and gates to see him arrive. The + Prince was delighted with the hearty welcome they gave him, and looked + round him with the deepest interest. After passing through a few wide + streets, well paved, and adorned with avenues of fine trees, they drove + into the courtyard of a grand palace, which was full of spaniels who were + evidently soldiers. ‘The King’s body-guard,’ thought the Prince to himself + as he returned their salutations, and then the carriage stopped, and he + was shown into the presence of the King, who lay upon a rich Persian + carpet surrounded by several little spaniels, who were occupied in chasing + away the flies lest they should disturb his Majesty. He was the most + beautiful of all spaniels, with a look of sadness in his large eyes, + which, however, quite disappeared as he sprang up to welcome Prince + Mannikin with every demonstration of delight; after which he made a sign + to his courtiers, who came one by one to pay their respects to the + visitor. The Prince thought that he would find himself puzzled as to how + he should carry on a conversation, but as soon as he and the King were + once more left alone, a Secretary of State was sent for, who wrote from + his Majesty’s dictation a most polite speech, in which he regretted much + that they were unable to converse, except in writing, the language of dogs + being difficult to understand. As for the writing, it had remained the + same as the Prince’s own. + </p> + <p> + Mannikin thereupon wrote a suitable reply, and then begged the King to + satisfy his curiosity about all the strange things he had seen and heard + since his landing. This appeared to awaken sad recollections in the King’s + mind, but he informed the Prince that he was called King Bayard, and that + a Fairy, whose kingdom was next his own, had fallen violently in love with + him, and had done all she could to persuade him to marry her; but that he + could not do so as he himself was the devoted lover of the Queen of the + Spice Islands. Finally, the Fairy, furious at the indifference with which + her love was treated, had reduced him to the state in which the Prince + found him, leaving him unchanged in mind, but deprived of the power of + speech; and, not content with wreaking her vengeance upon the King alone, + she had condemned all his subjects to a similar fate, saying: + </p> + <p> + ‘Bark, and run upon four feet, until the time comes when virtue shall be + rewarded by love and fortune.’ + </p> + <p> + Which, as the poor King remarked, was very much the same thing as if she + had said, ‘Remain a spaniel for ever and ever.’ + </p> + <p> + Prince Mannikin was quite of the same opinion; nevertheless he said what + we should all have said in the same circumstances: + </p> + <p> + ‘Your Majesty must have patience.’ + </p> + <p> + He was indeed deeply sorry for poor King Bayard, and said all the + consoling things he could think of, promising to aid him with all his + might if there was anything to be done. In short they became firm friends, + and the King proudly displayed to Mannikin the portrait of the Queen of + the Spice Islands, and he quite agreed that it was worth while to go + through anything for the sake of a creature so lovely. Prince Mannikin in + his turn told his own history, and the great undertaking upon which he had + set out, and King Bayard was able to give him some valuable instructions + as to which would be the best way for him to proceed, and then they went + together to the place where the boat had been left. The sailors were + delighted to see the Prince again, though they had known that he was safe, + and when they had taken on board all the supplies which the King had sent + for them, they started once more. The King and Prince parted with much + regret, and the former insisted that Mannikin should take with him one of + his own pages, named Mousta, who was charged to attend to him everywhere, + and serve him faithfully, which he promised to do. + </p> + <p> + The wind being favourable they were soon out of hearing of the general + howl of regret from the whole army, which had been given by order of the + King, as a great compliment, and it was not long before the land was + entirely lost to view. They met with no further adventures worth speaking + of, and presently found themselves within two leagues of the harbour for + which they were making. The Prince, however, thought it would suit him + better to land where he was, so as to avoid the town, since he had no + money left and was very doubtful as to what he should do next. So the + sailors set him and Mousta on shore, and then went back sorrowfully to + their ship, while the Prince and his attendant walked off in what looked + to them the most promising direction. They soon reached a lovely green + meadow on the border of a wood, which seemed to them so pleasant after + their long voyage that they sat down to rest in the shade and amused + themselves by watching the gambols and antics of a pretty tiny monkey in + the trees close by. The Prince presently became so fascinated by it that + he sprang up and tried to catch it, but it eluded his grasp and kept just + out of arm’s reach, until it had made him promise to follow wherever it + led him, and then it sprang upon his shoulder and whispered in his ear: + </p> + <p> + ‘We have no money, my poor Mannikin, and we are altogether badly off, and + at a loss to know what to do next.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Yes, indeed,’ answered the Prince ruefully, ‘and I have nothing to give + you, no sugar or biscuits, or anything that you like, my pretty one.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Since you are so thoughtful for me, and so patient about your own + affairs,’ said the little monkey, ‘I will show you the way to the Golden + Rock, only you must leave Mousta to wait for you here.’ + </p> + <p> + Prince Mannikin agreed willingly, and then the little monkey sprang from + his shoulder to the nearest tree, and began to run through the wood from + branch to branch, crying, ‘Follow me.’ + </p> + <p> + This the Prince did not find quite so easy, but the little monkey waited + for him and showed him the easiest places, until presently the wood grew + thinner and they came out into a little clear grassy space at the foot of + a mountain, in the midst of which stood a single rock, about ten feet + high. When they were quite close to it the little monkey said: + </p> + <p> + ‘This stone looks pretty hard, but give it a blow with your spear and let + us see what will happen.’ + </p> + <p> + So the Prince took his spear and gave the rock a vigorous dig, which split + off several pieces, and showed that, though the surface was thinly coated + with stone, inside it was one solid mass of pure gold. + </p> + <p> + Thereupon the little monkey said, laughing at his astonishment: + </p> + <p> + ‘I make you a present of what you have broken off; take as much of it as + you think proper.’ + </p> + <p> + The Prince thanked her gratefully, and picked up one of the smallest of + the lumps of gold; as he did so the little monkey was suddenly transformed + into a tall and gracious lady, who said to him: + </p> + <p> + ‘If you are always as kind and persevering and easily contented as you are + now you may hope to accomplish the most difficult tasks; go on your way + and have no fear that you will be troubled any more for lack of gold, for + that little piece which you modestly chose shall never grow less, use it + as much as you will. But that you may see the danger you have escaped by + your moderation, come with me.’ So saying she led him back into the wood + by a different path, and he saw that it was full of men and women; their + faces were pale and haggard, and they ran hither and thither seeking madly + upon the ground, or in the air, starting at every sound, pushing and + trampling upon one another in their frantic eagerness to find the way to + the Golden Rock. + </p> + <p> + ‘You see how they toil,’ said the Fairy; ‘but it is all of no avail: they + will end by dying of despair, as hundreds have done before them.’ + </p> + <p> + As soon as they had got back to the place where they had left Mousta the + Fairy disappeared, and the Prince and his faithful Squire, who had greeted + him with every demonstration of joy, took the nearest way to the city. + Here they stayed several days, while the Prince provided himself with + horses and attendants, and made many enquiries about the Princess Sabella, + and the way to her kingdom, which was still so far away that he could hear + but little, and that of the vaguest description, but when he presently + reached Mount Caucasus it was quite a different matter. Here they seemed + to talk of nothing but the Princess Sabella, and strangers from all parts + of the world were travelling towards her father’s Court. + </p> + <p> + The Prince heard plenty of assurances as to her beauty and her riches, but + he also heard of the immense number of his rivals and their power. One + brought an army at his back, another had vast treasures, a third was as + handsome and accomplished as it was possible to be; while, as to poor + Mannikin, he had nothing but his determination to succeed, his faithful + spaniel, and his ridiculous name—which last was hardly likely to + help him, but as he could not alter it he wisely determined not to think + of it any more. After journeying for two whole months they came at last to + Trelintin, the capital of the Princess Sabella’s kingdom, and here he + heard dismal stories about the Ice Mountain, and how none of those who had + attempted to climb it had ever come back. He heard also the story of King + Farda-Kinbras, Sabella’s father. It appeared that he, being a rich and + powerful monarch, had married a lovely Princess named Birbantine, and they + were as happy as the day was long—so happy that as they were out + sledging one day they were foolish enough to defy fate to spoil their + happiness. + </p> + <p> + ‘We shall see about that,’ grumbled an old hag who sat by the wayside + blowing her fingers to keep them warm. The King thereupon was very angry, + and wanted to punish the woman; but the Queen prevented him, saying: + </p> + <p> + ‘Alas! sire, do not let us make bad worse; no doubt this is a Fairy!’ + </p> + <p> + ‘You are right there,’ said the old woman, and immediately she stood up, + and as they gazed at her in horror she grew gigantic and terrible, her + staff turned to a fiery dragon with outstretched wings, her ragged cloak + to a golden mantle, and her wooden shoes to two bundles of rockets. ‘You + are right there, and you will see what will come of your fine goings on, + and remember the Fairy Gorgonzola!’ So saying she mounted the dragon and + flew off, the rockets shooting in all directions and leaving long trails + of sparks. + </p> + <p> + In vain did Farda-Kinbras and Birbantine beg her to return, and endeavour + by their humble apologies to pacify her; she never so much as looked at + them, and was very soon out of sight, leaving them a prey to all kinds of + dismal forebodings. Very soon after this the Queen had a little daughter, + who was the most beautiful creature ever seen; all the Fairies of the + North were invited to her christening, and warned against the malicious + Gorgonzola. She also was invited, but she neither came to the banquet nor + received her present; but as soon as all the others were seated at table, + after bestowing their gifts upon the little Princess, she stole into the + Palace, disguised as a black cat, and hid herself under the cradle until + the nurses and the cradle-rockers had all turned their backs, and then she + sprang out, and in an instant had stolen the little Princess’s heart and + made her escape, only being chased by a few dogs and scullions on her way + across the courtyard. Once outside she mounted her chariot and flew + straight away to the North Pole, where she shut up her stolen treasure on + the summit of the Ice Mountain, and surrounded it with so many + difficulties that she felt quite easy about its remaining there as long as + the Princess lived, and then she went home, chuckling at her success. As + to the other Fairies, they went home after the banquet without discovering + that anything was amiss, and so the King and Queen were quite happy. + Sabella grew prettier day by day. She learnt everything a Princess ought + to know without the slightest trouble, and yet something always seemed + lacking to make her perfectly charming. She had an exquisite voice, but + whether her songs were grave or gay it did not matter, she did not seem to + know what they meant; and everyone who heard her said: + </p> + <p> + ‘She certainly sings perfectly; but there is no tenderness, no heart in + her voice.’ Poor Sabella! how could there be when her heart was far away + on the Ice Mountains? And it was just the same with all the other things + that she did. As time went on, in spite of the admiration of the whole + Court and the blind fondness of the King and Queen, it became more and + more evident that something was fatally wrong: for those who love no one + cannot long be loved; and at last the King called a general assembly, and + invited the Fairies to attend, that they might, if possible, find out what + was the matter. After explaining their grief as well as he could, he ended + by begging them to see the Princess for themselves. ‘It is certain,’ said + he, ‘that something is wrong—what it is I don’t know how to tell + you, but in some way your work is imperfect.’ + </p> + <p> + They all assured him that, so far as they knew, everything had been done + for the Princess, and they had forgotten nothing that they could bestow on + so good a neighbour as the King had been to them. After this they went to + see Sabella; but they had no sooner entered her presence than they cried + out with one accord: + </p> + <p> + ‘Oh! horror!—she has no heart!’ + </p> + <p> + On hearing this frightful announcement, the King and Queen gave a cry of + despair, and entreated the Fairies to find some remedy for such an + unheard-of misfortune. Thereupon the eldest Fairy consulted her Book of + Magic, which she always carried about with her, hung to her girdle by a + thick silver chain, and there she found out at once that it was Gorgonzola + who had stolen the Princess’s heart, and also discovered what the wicked + old Fairy had done with it. + </p> + <p> + ‘What shall we do? What shall we do?’ cried the King and Queen in one + breath. + </p> + <p> + ‘You must certainly suffer much annoyance from seeing and loving Sabella, + who is nothing but a beautiful image,’ replied the Fairy, ‘and this must + go on for a long time; but I think I see that, in the end, she will once + more regain her heart. My advice is that you shall at once cause her + portrait to be sent all over the world, and promise her hand and all her + possessions to the Prince who is successful in reaching her heart. Her + beauty alone is sufficient to engage all the Princes of the world in the + quest.’ + </p> + <p> + This was accordingly done, and Prince Mannikin heard that already five + hundred Princes had perished in the snow and ice, not to mention their + squires and pages, and that more continued to arrive daily, eager to try + their fortune. After some consideration he determined to present himself + at Court; but his arrival made no stir, as his retinue was as + inconsiderable as his stature, and the splendour of his rivals was great + enough to throw even Farda-Kinbras himself into the shade. However, he + paid his respects to the King very gracefully, and asked permission to + kiss the hand of the Princess in the usual manner; but when he said he was + called ‘Mannikin,’ the King could hardly repress a smile, and the Princes + who stood by openly shouted with laughter. + </p> + <p> + Turning to the King, Prince Mannikin said with great dignity: + </p> + <p> + ‘Pray laugh if it pleases your Majesty, I am glad that it is in my power + to afford you any amusement; but I am not a plaything for these gentlemen, + and I must beg them to dismiss any ideas of that kind from their minds at + once,’ and with that he turned upon the one who had laughed the loudest + and proudly challenged him to a single combat. This Prince, who was called + Fadasse, accepted the challenge very scornfully, mocking at Mannikin, whom + he felt sure had no chance against himself; but the meeting was arranged + for the next day. When Prince Mannikin quitted the King’s presence he was + conducted to the audience hall of the Princess Sabella. The sight of so + much beauty and magnificence almost took his breath away for an instant, + but, recovering himself with an effort, he said: + </p> + <p> + ‘Lovely Princess, irresistibly drawn by the beauty of your portrait, I + come from the other end of the world to offer my services to you. My + devotion knows no bounds, but my absurd name has already involved me in a + quarrel with one of your courtiers. Tomorrow I am to fight this ugly, + overgrown Prince, and I beg you to honour the combat with your presence, + and prove to the world that there is nothing in a name, and that you deign + to accept Mannikin as your knight.’ + </p> + <p> + When it came to this the Princess could not help being amused, for, though + she had no heart, she was not without humour. However, she answered + graciously that she accepted with pleasure, which encouraged the Prince to + entreat further that she would not show any favour to his adversary. + </p> + <p> + ‘Alas!’ said she, ‘I favour none of these foolish people, who weary me + with their sentiment and their folly. I do very well as I am, and yet from + one year’s end to another they talk of nothing but delivering me from some + imaginary affliction. Not a word do I understand of all their pratings + about love, and who knows what dull things besides, which, I declare to + you, I cannot even remember.’ + </p> + <p> + Mannikin was quick enough to gather from this speech that to amuse and + interest the Princess would be a far surer way of gaining her favour than + to add himself to the list of those who continually teased her about that + mysterious thing called ‘love’ which she was so incapable of + comprehending. So he began to talk of his rivals, and found in each of + them something to make merry over, in which diversion the Princess joined + him heartily, and so well did he succeed in his attempt to amuse her that + before very long she declared that of all the people at Court he was the + one to whom she preferred to talk. + </p> + <p> + The following day, at the time appointed for the combat, when the King, + the Queen, and the Princess had taken their places, and the whole Court + and the whole town were assembled to see the show, Prince Fadasse rode + into the lists magnificently armed and accoutred, followed by twenty-four + squires and a hundred men-at-arms, each one leading, a splendid horse, + while Prince Mannikin entered from the other side armed only with his + spear and followed by the faithful Mousta. The contrast between the two + champions was so great that there was a shout of laughter from the whole + assembly; but when at the sounding of a trumpet the combatants rushed upon + each other, and Mannikin, eluding the blow aimed at him, succeeded in + thrusting Prince Fadasse from his horse and pinning him to the sand with + his spear, it changed to a murmur of admiration. + </p> + <p> + So soon as he had him at his mercy, however, Mannikin, turning to the + Princess, assured her that he had no desire to kill anyone who called + himself her courtier, and then he bade the furious and humiliated Fadasse + rise and thank the Princess to whom he owed his life. Then, amid the + sounding of the trumpets and the shoutings of the people, he and Mousta + retired gravely from the lists. + </p> + <p> + The King soon sent for him to congratulate him upon his success, and to + offer him a lodging in the Palace, which he joyfully accepted. While the + Princess expressed a wish to have Mousta brought to her, and, when the + Prince sent for him, she was so delighted with his courtly manners and his + marvellous intelligence that she entreated Mannikin to give him to her for + her own. The Prince consented with alacrity, not only out of politeness, + but because he foresaw that to have a faithful friend always near the + Princess might some day be of great service to him. All these events made + Prince Mannikin a person of much more consequence at the Court. Very soon + after, there arrived upon the frontier the Ambassador of a very powerful + King, who sent to Farda-Kinbras the following letter, at the same time + demanding permission to enter the capital in state to receive the answer: + </p> + <p> + ‘I, Brandatimor, to Farda-Kinbras send greeting. If I had before this time + seen the portrait of your beautiful daughter Sabella I should not have + permitted all these adventurers and petty Princes to be dancing attendance + and getting themselves frozen with the absurd idea of meriting her hand. + For myself I am not afraid of any rivals, and, now I have declared my + intention of marrying your daughter, no doubt they will at once withdraw + their pretensions. My Ambassador has orders, therefore, to make + arrangements for the Princess to come and be married to me without delay—for + I attach no importance at all to the farrago of nonsense which you have + caused to be published all over the world about this Ice Mountain. If the + Princess really has no heart, be assured that I shall not concern myself + about it, since, if anybody can help her to discover one, it is myself. My + worthy father-in-law, farewell!’ + </p> + <p> + The reading of this letter embarrassed and displeased Farda-Kinbras and + Birbantine immensely, while the Princess was furious at the insolence of + the demand. They all three resolved that its contents must be kept a + profound secret until they could decide what reply should be sent, but + Mousta contrived to send word of all that had passed to Prince Mannikin. + He was naturally alarmed and indignant, and, after thinking it over a + little, he begged an audience of the Princess, and led the conversation so + cunningly up to the subject that was uppermost in her thoughts, as well as + his own, that she presently told him all about the matter and asked his + advice as to what it would be best to do. This was exactly what he had not + been able to decide for himself; however, he replied that he should advise + her to gain a little time by promising her answer after the grand entry of + the Ambassador, and this was accordingly done. + </p> + <p> + The Ambassador did not at all like being put off after that fashion, but + he was obliged to be content, and only said very arrogantly that so soon + as his equipages arrived, as he expected they would do very shortly, he + would give all the people of the city, and the stranger Princes with whom + it was inundated, an idea of the power and the magnificence of his master. + Mannikin, in despair, resolved that he would for once beg the assistance + of the kind Fairy Genesta. He often thought of her and always with + gratitude, but from the moment of his setting out he had determined to + seek her aid only on the greatest occasions. That very night, when he had + fallen asleep quite worn out with thinking over all the difficulties of + the situation, he dreamed that the Fairy stood beside him, and said: + </p> + <p> + ‘Mannikin, you have done very well so far; continue to please me and you + shall always find good friends when you need them most. As for this affair + with the Ambassador, you can assure Sabella that she may look forward + tranquilly to his triumphal entry, since it will all turn out well for her + in the end.’ + </p> + <p> + The Prince tried to throw himself at her feet to thank her, but woke to + find it was all a dream; nevertheless he took fresh courage, and went next + day to see the Princess, to whom he gave many mysterious assurances that + all would yet be well. He even went so far as to ask her if she would not + be very grateful to anyone who would rid her of the insolent Brandatimor. + To which she replied that her gratitude would know no bounds. Then he + wanted to know what would be her best wish for the person who was lucky + enough to accomplish it. To which she said that she would wish them to be + as insensible to the folly called ‘love’ as she was herself! + </p> + <p> + This was indeed a crushing speech to make to such a devoted lover as + Prince Mannikin, but he concealed the pain it caused him with great + courage. + </p> + <p> + And now the Ambassador sent to say that on the very next day he would come + in state to receive his answer, and from the earliest dawn the inhabitants + were astir, to secure the best places for the grand sight; but the good + Fairy Genesta was providing them an amount of amusement they were far from + expecting, for she so enchanted the eyes of all the spectators that when + the Ambassador’s gorgeous procession appeared, the splendid uniforms + seemed to them miserable rags that a beggar would have been ashamed to + wear, the prancing horses appeared as wretched skeletons hardly able to + drag one leg after the other, while their trappings, which really sparkled + with gold and jewels, looked like old sheepskins that would not have been + good enough for a plough horse. The pages resembled the ugliest sweeps. + The trumpets gave no more sound than whistles made of onion-stalks, or + combs wrapped in paper; while the train of fifty carriages looked no + better than fifty donkey carts. In the last of these sat the Ambassador + with the haughty and scornful air which he considered becoming in the + representative of so powerful a monarch: for this was the crowning point + of the absurdity of the whole procession, that all who took part in it + wore the expression of vanity and self-satisfaction and pride in their own + appearance and all their surroundings which they believed their splendour + amply justified. + </p> + <p> + The laughter and howls of derision from the whole crowd rose ever louder + and louder as the extraordinary cortege advanced, and at last reached the + ears of the King as he waited in the audience hall, and before the + procession reached the palace he had been informed of its nature, and, + supposing that it must be intended as an insult, he ordered the gates to + be closed. You may imagine the fury of the Ambassador when, after all his + pomp and pride, the King absolutely and unaccountably refused to receive + him. He raved wildly both against King and people, and the cortege retired + in great confusion, jeered at and pelted with stones and mud by the + enraged crowd. It is needless to say that he left the country as fast as + horses could carry him, but not before he had declared war, with the most + terrible menaces, threatening to devastate the country with fire and + sword. + </p> + <p> + Some days after this disastrous embassy King Bayard sent couriers to + Prince Mannikin with a most friendly letter, offering his services in any + difficulty, and enquiring with the deepest interest how he fared. + </p> + <p> + Mannikin at once replied, relating all that had happened since they + parted, not forgetting to mention the event which had just involved + Farda-Kinbras and Brandatimor in this deadly quarrel, and he ended by + entreating his faithful friend to despatch a few thousands of his veteran + spaniels to his assistance. + </p> + <p> + Neither the King, the Queen, nor the Princess could in the least + understand the amazing conduct of Brandatimor’s Ambassador; nevertheless + the preparations for the war went forward briskly and all the Princes who + had not gone on towards the Ice Mountain offered their services, at the + same time demanding all the best appointments in the King’s army. Mannikin + was one of the first to volunteer, but he only asked to go as aide-de-camp + to the Commander-in chief, who was a gallant soldier and celebrated for + his victories. As soon as the army could be got together it was marched to + the frontier, where it met the opposing force headed by Brandatimor + himself, who was full of fury, determined to avenge the insult to his + Ambassador and to possess himself of the Princess Sabella. All the army of + Farda-Kinbras could do, being so heavily outnumbered, was to act upon the + defensive, and before long Mannikin won the esteem of the officers for his + ability, and of the soldiers for his courage, and care for their welfare, + and in all the skirmishes which he conducted he had the good fortune to + vanquish the enemy. + </p> + <p> + At last Brandatimor engaged the whole army in a terrific conflict, and + though the troops of Farda-Kinbras fought with desperate courage, their + general was killed, and they were defeated and forced to retreat with + immense loss. Mannikin did wonders, and half-a-dozen times turned the + retreating forces and beat back the enemy; and he afterwards collected + troops enough to keep them in check until, the severe winter setting in, + put an end to hostilities for a while. + </p> + <p> + He then returned to the Court, where consternation reigned. The King was + in despair at the death of his trusty general, and ended by imploring + Mannikin to take the command of the army, and his counsel was followed in + all the affairs of the Court. He followed up his former plan of amusing + the Princess, and on no account reminding her of that tedious thing called + ‘love,’ so that she was always glad to see him, and the winter slipped by + gaily for both of them. + </p> + <p> + The Prince was all the while secretly making plans for the next campaign; + he received private intelligence of the arrival of a strong reinforcement + of Spaniels, to whom he sent orders to post themselves along the frontier + without attracting attention, and as soon as he possibly could he held a + consultation with their Commander, who was an old and experienced warrior. + Following his advice, he decided to have a pitched battle as soon as the + enemy advanced, and this Brandatimor lost not a moment in doing, as he was + perfectly persuaded that he was now going to make an end of the war and + utterly vanquish Farda-Kinbras. But no sooner had he given the order to + charge than the Spaniels, who had mingled with his troops unperceived, + leaped each upon the horse nearest to him, and not only threw the whole + squadron into confusion by the terror they caused, but, springing at the + throats of the riders, unhorsed many of them by the suddenness of their + attack; then turning the horses to the rear, they spread consternation + everywhere, and made it easy for Prince Mannikin to gain a complete + victory. He met Brandatimor in single combat, and succeeded in taking him + prisoner; but he did not live to reach the Court, to which Mannikin had + sent him: his pride killed him at the thought of appearing before Sabella + under these altered circumstances. In the meantime Prince Fadasse and all + the others who had remained behind were setting out with all speed for the + conquest of the Ice Mountain, being afraid that Prince Mannikin might + prove as successful in that as he seemed to be in everything else, and + when Mannikin returned he heard of it with great annoyance. True he had + been serving the Princess, but she only admired and praised him for his + gallant deeds, and seemed no whit nearer bestowing on him the love he so + ardently desired, and all the comfort Mousta could give him on the subject + was that at least she loved no one else, and with that he had to content + himself. But he determined that, come what might, he would delay no + longer, but attempt the great undertaking for which he had come so far. + When he went to take leave of the King and Queen they entreated him not to + go, as they had just heard that Prince Fadasse, and all who accompanied + him, had perished in the snow; but he persisted in his resolve. As for + Sabella, she gave him her hand to kiss with precisely the same gracious + indifference as she had given it to him the first time they met. It + happened that this farewell took place before the whole Court, and so + great a favourite had Prince Mannikin become that they were all indignant + at the coldness with which the Princess treated him. + </p> + <p> + Finally the King said to him: + </p> + <p> + ‘Prince, you have constantly refilled all the gifts which, in my gratitude + for your invaluable services, I have offered to you, but I wish the + Princess to present you with her cloak of marten’s fur, and that I hope + you will not reject!’ Now this was a splendid fur mantle which the + Princess was very fond of wearing, not so much because she felt cold, as + that its richness set off to perfection the delicate tints of her + complexion and the brilliant gold of her hair. However, she took it off, + and with graceful politeness begged Prince Mannikin to accept it, which + you may be sure he was charmed to do, and, taking only this and a little + bundle of all kinds of wood, and accompanied only by two spaniels out of + the fifty who had stayed with him when the war was ended, he set forth, + receiving many tokens of love and favour from the people in every town he + passed through. At the last little village he left his horse behind him, + to begin his toilful march through the snow, which extended, blank and + terrible, in every direction as far as the eye could see. Here he had + appointed to meet the other forty-eight spaniels, who received him + joyfully, and assured him that, happen what might, they would follow and + serve him faithfully. And so they started, full of heart and hope. At + first there was a slight track, difficult, but not impossible to follow; + but this was soon lost, and the Pole Star was their only guide. When the + time came to call a halt, the Prince, who had after much consideration + decided on his plan of action, caused a few twigs from the faggot he had + brought with him to be planted in the snow, and then he sprinkled over + them a pinch of the magic powder he had collected from the enchanted boat. + To his great joy they instantly began to sprout and grow, and in a + marvellously short time the camp was surrounded by a perfect grove of + trees of all sorts, which blossomed and bore ripe fruit, so that all their + wants were easily supplied, and they were able to make huge fires to warm + themselves. The Prince then sent out several spaniels to reconnoitre, and + they had the good luck to discover a horse laden with provisions stuck + fast in the snow. They at once fetched their comrades, and brought the + spoil triumphantly into the camp, and, as it consisted principally of + biscuits, not a spaniel among them went supperless to sleep. In this way + they journeyed by day and encamped safely at night, always remembering to + take on a few branches to provide them with food and shelter. They passed + by the way armies of those who had set out upon the perilous enterprise, + who stood frozen stiffly, without sense or motion; but Prince Mannikin + strictly forbade that any attempt should be made to thaw them. So they + went on and on for more than three months, and day by day the Ice + Mountain, which they had seen for a long time, grew clearer, until at last + they stood close to it, and shuddered at its height and steepness. But by + patience and perseverance they crept up foot by foot, aided by their fires + of magic wood, without which they must have perished in the intense cold, + until presently they stood at the gates of the magnificent Ice Palace + which crowned the mountain, where, in deadly silence and icy sleep, lay + the heart of Sabella. Now the difficulty became immense, for if they + maintained enough heat to keep themselves alive they were in danger every + moment of melting the blocks of solid ice of which the palace was entirely + built, and bringing the whole structure down upon their heads; but + cautiously and quickly they traversed courtyards and halls, until they + found themselves at the foot of a vast throne, where, upon a cushion of + snow, lay an enormous and brilliantly sparkling diamond, which contained + the heart of the lovely Princess Sabella. Upon the lowest step of the + throne was inscribed in icy letters, ‘Whosoever thou art who by courage + and virtue canst win the heart of Sabella enjoy peacefully the good + fortune which thou hast richly deserved.’ + </p> + <p> + Prince Mannikin bounded forward, and had just strength left to grasp the + precious diamond which contained all he coveted in the world before he + fell insensible upon the snowy cushion. But his good spaniels lost no time + in rushing to the rescue, and between them they bore him hastily from the + hall, and not a moment too soon, for all around them they heard the clang + of the falling blocks of ice as the Fairy Palace slowly collapsed under + the unwonted heat. Not until they reached the foot of the mountain did + they pause to restore the Prince to consciousness, and then his joy to + find himself the possessor of Sabella’s heart knew no bounds. + </p> + <p> + With all speed they began to retrace their steps, but this time the happy + Prince could not bear the sight of his defeated and disappointed rivals, + whose frozen forms lined his triumphant way. He gave orders to his + spaniels to spare no pains to restore them to life, and so successful were + they that day by day his train increased, so that by the time he got back + to the little village where he had left his horse he was escorted by five + hundred sovereign Princes, and knights and squires without number, and he + was so courteous and unassuming that they all followed him willingly, + anxious to do him honour. But then he was so happy and blissful himself + that he found it easy to be at peace with all the world. It was not long + before he met the faithful Mousta, who was coming at the top of his speed + hoping to meet the Prince, that he might tell him of the sudden and + wonderful change that had come over the Princess, who had become gentle + and thoughtful and had talked to him of nothing but Prince Mannikin, of + the hardships she feared he might be suffering, and of her anxiety for + him, and all this with a hundred fonder expressions which put the + finishing stroke to the Prince’s delight. Then came a courier bearing the + congratulations of the King and Queen, who had just heard of his + successful return, and there was even a graceful compliment from Sabella + herself. The Prince sent Mousta back to her, and he was welcomed with joy, + for was he not her lover’s present? + </p> + <p> + At last the travellers reached the capital, and were received with regal + magnificence. Farda-Kinbras and Birbantine embraced Prince Mannikin, + declaring that they regarded him as their heir and the future husband of + the Princess, to which he replied that they did him too much honour. And + then he was admitted into the presence of the Princess, who for the first + time in her life blushed as he kissed her hand, and could not find a word + to say. But the Prince, throwing himself on his knees beside her, held out + the splendid diamond, saying: + </p> + <p> + ‘Madam, this treasure is yours, since none of the dangers and difficulties + I have gone through have been sufficient to make me deserve it.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Ah! Prince,’ said she, ‘if I take it, it is only that I may give it back + to you, since truly it belongs to you already.’ + </p> + <p> + At this moment in came the King and Queen, and interrupted them by asking + all the questions imaginable, and not infrequently the same over and over + again. It seems that there is always one thing that is sure to be said + about an event by everybody, and Prince Mannikin found that the question + which he was asked by more than a thousand people on this particular + occasion was: + </p> + <p> + ‘And didn’t you find it very cold?’ + </p> + <p> + The King had come to request Prince Mannikin and the Princess to follow + him to the Council Chamber, which they did, not knowing that he meant to + present the Prince to all the nobles assembled there as his son-in-law and + successor. But when Mannikin perceived his intention, he begged permission + to speak first, and told his whole story, even to the fact that he + believed himself to be a peasant’s son. Scarcely had he finished speaking + when the sky grew black, the thunder growled, and the lightning flashed, + and in the blaze of light the good Fairy Genesta suddenly appeared. + Turning to Prince Mannikin, she said: + </p> + <p> + ‘I am satisfied with you, since you have shown not only courage but a good + heart.’ Then she addressed King Farda-Kinbras, and informed him of the + real history of the Prince, and how she had determined to give him the + education she knew would be best for a man who was to command others. ‘You + have already found the advantage of having a faithful friend,’ she added + to the Prince ‘and now you will have the pleasure of seeing King Bayard + and his subjects regain their natural forms as a reward for his kindness + to you.’ + </p> + <p> + Just then arrived a chariot drawn by eagles, which proved to contain the + foolish King and Queen, who embraced their long-lost son with great joy, + and were greatly struck with the fact that they did indeed find him + covered with fur! While they were caressing Sabella and wringing her hands + (which is a favourite form of endearment with foolish people) chariots + were seen approaching from all points of the compass, containing numbers + of Fairies. + </p> + <p> + ‘Sire,’ said Genesta to Farda-Kinbras, ‘I have taken the liberty of + appointing your Court as a meeting-place for all the Fairies who could + spare the time to come; and I hope you can arrange to hold the great ball, + which we have once in a hundred years, on this occasion.’ + </p> + <p> + The King having suitably acknowledged the honour done him, was next + reconciled to Gorgonzola, and they two presently opened the ball together. + The Fairy Marsontine restored their natural forms to King Bayard and all + his subjects, and he appeared once more as handsome a king as you could + wish to see. One of the Fairies immediately despatched her chariot for the + Queen of the Spice Islands, and their wedding took place at the same time + as that of Prince Mannikin and the lovely and gracious Sabella. They lived + happily ever afterwards, and their vast kingdoms were presently divided + between their children. + </p> + <p> + The Prince, out of grateful remembrance of the Princess Sabella’s first + gift to him bestowed the right of bearing her name upon the most beautiful + of the martens, and that is why they are called sables to this day. + </p> + <p> + Comte de Caylus. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0012" id="link2H_4_0012"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE ENCHANTED RING + </h2> + <p> + Once upon a time there lived a young man named Rosimond, who was as good + and handsome as his elder brother Bramintho was ugly and wicked. Their + mother detested her eldest son, and had only eyes for the youngest. This + excited Bramintho’s jealousy, and he invented a horrible story in order to + ruin his brother. He told his father that Rosimond was in the habit of + visiting a neighbour who was an enemy of the family, and betraying to him + all that went on in the house, and was plotting with him to poison their + father. + </p> + <p> + The father flew into a rage, and flogged his son till the blood came. Then + he threw him into prison and kept him for three days without food, and + after that he turned him out of the house, and threatened to kill him if + he ever came back. The mother was miserable, and did nothing but weep, but + she dared not say anything. + </p> + <p> + The youth left his home with tears in his eyes, not knowing where to go, + and wandered about for many hours till he came to a thick wood. Night + overtook him at the foot of a great rock, and he fell asleep on a bank of + moss, lulled by the music of a little brook. + </p> + <p> + It was dawn when he woke, and he saw before him a beautiful woman seated + on a grey horse, with trappings of gold, who looked as if she were + preparing for the hunt. + </p> + <p> + ‘Have you seen a stag and some deerhounds go by?’ she asked. + </p> + <p> + ‘No, madam,’ he replied. + </p> + <p> + Then she added, ‘You look unhappy; is there anything the matter? Take this + ring, which will make you the happiest and most powerful of men, provided + you never make a bad use of it. If you turn the diamond inside, you will + become invisible. If you turn it outside, you will become visible again. + If you place it on your little finger, you will take the shape of the + King’s son, followed by a splendid court. If you put it on your fourth + finger, you will take your own shape.’ + </p> + <p> + Then the young man understood that it was a Fairy who was speaking to him, + and when she had finished she plunged into the woods. The youth was very + impatient to try the ring, and returned home immediately. He found that + the Fairy had spoken the truth, and that he could see and hear everything, + while he himself was unseen. It lay with him to revenge himself, if he + chose, on his brother, without the slightest danger to himself, and he + told no one but his mother of all the strange things that had befallen + him. He afterwards put the enchanted ring on his little finger, and + appeared as the King’s son, followed by a hundred fine horses, and a guard + of officers all richly dressed. + </p> + <p> + His father was much surprised to see the King’s son in his quiet little + house, and he felt rather embarrassed, not knowing what was the proper way + to behave on such a grand occasion. Then Rosimond asked him how many sons + he had. + </p> + <p> + ‘Two,’ replied he. + </p> + <p> + ‘I wish to see them,’ said Rosimond. ‘Send for them at once. I desire to + take them both to Court, in order to make their fortunes.’ + </p> + <p> + The father hesitated, then answered: ‘Here is the eldest, whom I have the + honour to present to your Highness.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘But where is the youngest? I wish to see him too,’ persisted Rosimond. + </p> + <p> + ‘He is not here,’ said the father. ‘I had to punish him for a fault, and + he has run away.’ + </p> + <p> + Then Rosimond replied, ‘You should have shown him what was right, but not + have punished him. However, let the elder come with me, and as for you, + follow these two guards, who will escort you to a place that I will point + out to them.’ + </p> + <p> + Then the two guards led off the father, and the Fairy of whom you have + heard found him in the forest, and beat him with a golden birch rod, and + cast him into a cave that was very deep and dark, where he lay enchanted. + ‘Lie there,’ she said, ‘till your son comes to take you out again.’ + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile the son went to the King’s palace, and arrived just when the + real prince was absent. He had sailed away to make war on a distant + island, but the winds had been contrary, and he had been shipwrecked on + unknown shores, and taken captive by a savage people. Rosimond made his + appearance at Court in the character of the Prince, whom everyone wept for + as lost, and told them that he had been rescued when at the point of death + by some merchants. His return was the signal for great public rejoicings, + and the King was so overcome that he became quite speechless, and did + nothing but embrace his son. The Queen was even more delighted, and fetes + were ordered over the whole kingdom. + </p> + <p> + One day the false Prince said to his real brother, ‘Bramintho, you know + that I brought you here from your native village in order to make your + fortune; but I have found out that you are a liar, and that by your deceit + you have been the cause of all the troubles of your brother Rosimond. He + is in hiding here, and I desire that you shall speak to him, and listen to + his reproaches.’ + </p> + <p> + Bramintho trembled at these words, and, flinging himself at the Prince’s + feet, confessed his crime. + </p> + <p> + ‘That is not enough,’ said Rosimond. ‘It is to your brother that you must + confess, and I desire that you shall ask his forgiveness. He will be very + generous if he grants it, and it will be more than you deserve. He is in + my ante-room, where you shall see him at once. I myself will retire into + another apartment, so as to leave you alone with him.’ + </p> + <p> + Bramintho entered, as he was told, into the anteroom. Then Rosimond + changed the ring, and passed into the room by another door. + </p> + <p> + Bramintho was filled with shame as soon as he saw his brother’s face. He + implored his pardon, and promised to atone for all his faults. Rosimond + embraced him with tears, and at once forgave him, adding, ‘I am in great + favour with the King. It rests with me to have your head cut off, or to + condemn you to pass the remainder of your life in prison; but I desire to + be as good to you as you have been wicked to me.’ Bramintho, confused and + ashamed, listened to his words without daring to lift his eyes or to + remind Rosimond that he was his brother. After this, Rosimond gave out + that he was going to make a secret voyage, to marry a Princess who lived + in a neighbouring kingdom; but in reality he only went to see his mother, + whom he told all that had happened at the Court, giving her at the same + time some money that she needed, for the King allowed him to take exactly + what he liked, though he was always careful not to abuse this permission. + Just then a furious war broke out between the King his master and the + Sovereign of the adjoining country, who was a bad man and one that never + kept his word. Rosimond went straight to the palace of the wicked King, + and by means of his ring was able to be present at all the councils, and + learnt all their schemes, so that he was able to forestall them and bring + them to naught. He took the command of the army which was brought against + the wicked King, and defeated him in a glorious battle, so that peace was + at once concluded on conditions that were just to everyone. + </p> + <p> + Henceforth the King’s one idea was to marry the young man to a Princess + who was the heiress to a neighbouring kingdom, and, besides that, was as + lovely as the day. But one morning, while Rosimond was hunting in the + forest where for the first time he had seen the Fairy, his benefactress + suddenly appeared before him. ‘Take heed,’ she said to him in severe + tones, ‘that you do not marry anybody who believes you to be a Prince. You + must never deceive anyone. The real Prince, whom the whole nation thinks + you are, will have to succeed his father, for that is just and right. Go + and seek him in some distant island, and I will send winds that will swell + your sails and bring you to him. Hasten to render this service to your + master, although it is against your own ambition, and prepare, like an + honest man, to return to your natural state. If you do not do this, you + will become wicked and unhappy, and I will abandon you to all your former + troubles.’ + </p> + <p> + Rosimond took these wise counsels to heart. He gave out that he had + undertaken a secret mission to a neighbouring state, and embarked on board + a vessel, the winds carrying him straight to the island where the Fairy + had told him he would find the real Prince. This unfortunate youth had + been taken captive by a savage people, who had kept him to guard their + sheep. Rosimond, becoming invisible, went to seek him amongst the + pastures, where he kept his flock, and, covering him with his mantle, he + delivered him out of the hands of his cruel masters, and bore him back to + the ship. Other winds sent by the Fairy swelled the sails, and together + the two young men entered the King’s presence. + </p> + <p> + Rosimond spoke first and said, ‘You have believed me to be your son. I am + not he, but I have brought him back to you.’ The King, filled with + astonishment, turned to his real son and asked, ‘Was it not you, my son, + who conquered my enemies and won such a glorious peace? Or is it true that + you have been shipwrecked and taken captive, and that Rosimond has set you + free?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Yes, my father,’ replied the Prince. ‘It is he who sought me out in my + captivity and set me free, and to him I owe the happiness of seeing you + once more. It was he, not I, who gained the victory.’ + </p> + <p> + The King could hardly believe his ears; but Rosimond, turning the ring, + appeared before him in the likeness of the Prince, and the King gazed + distractedly at the two youths who seemed both to be his son. Then he + offered Rosimond immense rewards for his services, which were refused, and + the only favour the young man would accept was that one of his posts at + Court should be conferred on his brother Bramintho. For he feared for + himself the changes of fortune, the envy of mankind and his own weakness. + His desire was to go back to his mother and his native village, and to + spend his time in cultivating the land. + </p> + <p> + One day, when he was wandering through the woods, he met the Fairy, who + showed him the cavern where his father was imprisoned, and told him what + words he must use in order to set him free. He repeated them joyfully, for + he had always longed to bring the old man back and to make his last days + happy. Rosimond thus became the benefactor of all his family, and had the + pleasure of doing good to those who had wished to do him evil. As for the + Court, to whom he had rendered such services, all he asked was the freedom + to live far from its corruption; and, to crown all, fearing that if he + kept the ring he might be tempted to use it in order to regain his lost + place in the world, he made up his mind to restore it to the Fairy. For + many days he sought her up and down the woods and at last he found her. ‘I + want to give you back,’ he said, holding out the ring, ‘a gift as + dangerous as it is powerful, and which I fear to use wrongfully. I shall + never feel safe till I have made it impossible for me to leave my solitude + and to satisfy my passions.’ + </p> + <p> + While Rosimond was seeking to give back the ring to the Fairy, Bramintho, + who had failed to learn any lessons from experience, gave way to all his + desires, and tried to persuade the Prince, lately become King, to + ill-treat Rosimond. But the Fairy, who knew all about everything, said to + Rosimond, when he was imploring her to accept the ring: + </p> + <p> + ‘Your wicked brother is doing his best to poison the mind of the King + towards you, and to ruin you. He deserves to be punished, and he must die; + and in order that he may destroy himself, I shall give the ring to him.’ + </p> + <p> + Rosimond wept at these words, and then asked: + </p> + <p> + ‘What do you mean by giving him the ring as a punishment? He will only use + it to persecute everyone, and to become master.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘The same things,’ answered the Fairy, ‘are often a healing medicine to + one person and a deadly poison to another. Prosperity is the source of all + evil to a naturally wicked man. If you wish to punish a scoundrel, the + first thing to do is to give him power. You will see that with this rope + he will soon hang himself.’ + </p> + <p> + Having said this, she disappeared, and went straight to the Palace, where + she showed herself to Bramintho under the disguise of an old woman covered + with rags. She at once addressed him in these words: + </p> + <p> + ‘I have taken this ring from the hands of your brother, to whom I had lent + it, and by its help he covered himself with glory. I now give it to you, + and be careful what you do with it.’ + </p> + <p> + Bramintho replied with a laugh: + </p> + <p> + ‘I shall certainly not imitate my brother, who was foolish enough to bring + back the Prince instead of reigning in his place,’ and he was as good as + his word. The only use he made of the ring was to find out family secrets + and betray them, to commit murders and every sort of wickedness, and to + gain wealth for himself unlawfully. All these crimes, which could be + traced to nobody, filled the people with astonishment. The King, seeing so + many affairs, public and private, exposed, was at first as puzzled as + anyone, till Bramintho’s wonderful prosperity and amazing insolence made + him suspect that the enchanted ring had become his property. In order to + find out the truth he bribed a stranger just arrived at Court, one of a + nation with whom the King was always at war, and arranged that he was to + steal in the night to Bramintho and to offer him untold honours and + rewards if he would betray the State secrets. + </p> + <p> + Bramintho promised everything, and accepted at once the first payment of + his crime, boasting that he had a ring which rendered him invisible, and + that by means of it he could penetrate into the most private places. But + his triumph was short. Next day he was seized by order of the King, and + his ring was taken from him. He was searched, and on him were found papers + which proved his crimes; and, though Rosimond himself came back to the + Court to entreat his pardon, it was refused. So Bramintho was put to + death, and the ring had been even more fatal to him than it had been + useful in the hands of his brother. + </p> + <p> + To console Rosimond for the fate of Bramintho, the King gave him back the + enchanted ring, as a pearl without price. The unhappy Rosimond did not + look upon it in the same light, and the first thing he did on his return + home was to seek the Fairy in the woods. + </p> + <p> + ‘Here,’ he said, ‘is your ring. My brother’s experience has made me + understand many things that I did not know before. Keep it, it has only + led to his destruction. Ah! without it he would be alive now, and my + father and mother would not in their old age be bowed to the earth with + shame and grief! Perhaps he might have been wise and happy if he had never + had the chance of gratifying his wishes! Oh! how dangerous it is to have + more power than the rest of the world! Take back your ring, and as ill + fortune seems to follow all on whom you bestow it, I will implore you, as + a favour to myself, that you will never give it to anyone who is dear to + me.’ + </p> + <p> + Fenelon. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0013" id="link2H_4_0013"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE SNUFF-BOX + </h2> + <p> + As often happens in this world, there was once a young man who spent all + his time in travelling. One day, as he was walking along, he picked up a + snuff-box. He opened it, and the snuff-box said to him in the Spanish + language, ‘What do you want?’ He was very much frightened, but, luckily, + instead of throwing the box away, he only shut it tight, and put it in his + pocket. Then he went on, away, away, away, and as he went he said to + himself, ‘If it says to me again “What do you want?” I shall know better + what to say this time.’ So he took out the snuff-box and opened it, and + again it asked ‘What do you want?’ ‘My hat full of gold,’ answered the + youth, and immediately it was full. + </p> + <p> + Our young man was enchanted. Henceforth he should never be in need of + anything. So on he travelled, away, away, away, through thick forests, + till at last he came to a beautiful castle. In the castle there lived a + King. The young man walked round and round the castle, not caring who saw + him, till the King noticed him, and asked what he was doing there. ‘I was + just looking at your castle.’ ‘You would like to have one like it, + wouldn’t you?’ The young man did not reply, but when it grew dark he took + his snuff-box and opened the lid. ‘What do you want?’ ‘Build me a castle + with laths of gold and tiles of diamond, and the furniture all of silver + and gold.’ He had scarcely finished speaking when there stood in front of + him, exactly opposite the King’s palace, a castle built precisely as he + had ordered. When the King awoke he was struck dumb at the sight of the + magnificent house shining in the rays of the sun. The servants could not + do their work for stopping to stare at it. Then the King dressed himself, + and went to see the young man. And he told him plainly that he was a very + powerful Prince; and that he hoped that they might all live together in + one house or the other, and that the King would give him his daughter to + wife. So it all turned out just as the King wished. The young man married + the Princess, and they lived happily in the palace of gold. + </p> + <p> + But the King’s wife was jealous both of the young man and of her own + daughter. The Princess had told her mother about the snuff-box, which gave + them everything they wanted, and the Queen bribed a servant to steal the + snuff-box. They noticed carefully where it was put away every night, and + one evening, when the whole world was asleep, the woman stole it and + brought it to her old mistress. Oh how happy the Queen was! She opened the + lid, and the snuff-box said to her ‘What do you want?’ And she answered at + once ‘I want you to take me and my husband and my servants and this + beautiful house and set us down on the other side of the Red Sea, but my + daughter and her husband are to stay behind.’ + </p> + <p> + When the young couple woke up, they found themselves back in the old + castle, without their snuff-box. They hunted for it high and low, but + quite vainly. The young man felt that no time was to be lost, and he + mounted his horse and filled his pockets with as much gold as he could + carry. On he went, away, away, away, but he sought the snuff-box in vain + all up and down the neighbouring countries, and very soon he came to the + end of all his money. But still he went on, as fast as the strength of his + horse would let him, begging his way. + </p> + <p> + Someone told him that he ought to consult the moon, for the moon travelled + far, and might be able to tell him something. So he went away, away, away, + and ended, somehow or other, by reaching the land of the moon. There he + found a little old woman who said to him ‘What are you doing here? My son + eats all living things he sees, and if you are wise, you will go away + without coming any further.’ But the young man told her all his sad tale, + and how he possessed a wonderful snuff-box, and how it had been stolen + from him, and how he had nothing left, now that he was parted from his + wife and was in need of everything. And he said that perhaps her son, who + travelled so far, might have seen a palace with laths of gold and tiles of + diamond, and furnished all in silver and gold. As he spoke these last + words, the moon came in and said he smelt mortal flesh and blood. But his + mother told him that it was an unhappy man who had lost everything, and + had come all this way to consult him, and bade the young man not to be + afraid, but to come forward and show himself. So he went boldly up to the + moon, and asked if by any accident he had seen a palace with the laths of + gold and the tiles of diamond, and all the furniture of silver and gold. + Once this house belonged to him, but now it was stolen. And the moon said + no, but that the sun travelled farther than he did, and that the young man + had better go and ask him. + </p> + <p> + So the young man departed, and went away, away, away, as well as his horse + would take him, begging his living as he rode along, and, somehow or + other, at last he got to the land of the sun. There he found a little old + woman, who asked him, ‘What are you doing here? Go away. Have you not + heard that my son feeds upon Christians?’ But he said no, and that he + would not go, for he was so miserable that it was all one to him whether + he died or not; that he had lost everything, and especially a splendid + palace like none other in the whole world, for it had laths of gold and + tiles of diamond, and all the furniture was of silver and gold. And that + he had sought it far and long, and in all the earth there was no man more + unhappy. So the old woman’s heart melted, and she agreed to hide him. + </p> + <p> + When the Sun arrived, he declared that he smelt Christian flesh, and he + meant to have it for his dinner. But his mother told him such a pitiful + story of the miserable wretch who had lost everything, and had come from + far to ask his help, that at last he promised to see him. + </p> + <p> + So the young man came out from his hiding-place and begged the sun to tell + him if in the course of his travels he had not seen somewhere a palace + that had not its like in the whole world, for its laths were of gold and + its tiles of diamond, and all the furniture in silver and gold. + </p> + <p> + And the sun said no, but that perhaps the wind had seen it, for he entered + everywhere, and saw things that no one else ever saw, and if anyone knew + where it was, it was certainly the wind. + </p> + <p> + Then the poor young man again set forth as well as his horse could take + him, begging his living as he went, and, somehow or other, he ended by + reaching the home of the wind. He found there a little old woman busily + occupied in filling great barrels with water. She asked him what had put + it into his head to come there, for her son ate everything he saw, and + that he would shortly arrive quite mad, and that the young man had better + look out. But he answered that he was so unhappy that he had ceased to + mind anything, even being eaten, and then he told her that he had been + robbed of a palace that had not its equal in all the world, and of all + that was in it, and that he had even left his wife, and was wandering over + the world until he found it. And that it was the sun who had sent him to + consult the wind. So she hid him under the staircase, and soon they heard + the south wind arrive, shaking the house to its foundations. Thirsty as he + was, he did not wait to drink, but he told his mother that he smelt the + blood of a Christian man, and that she had better bring him out at once + and make him ready to be eaten. But she bade her son eat and drink what + was before him, and said that the poor young man was much to be pitied, + and that the sun had granted him his life in order that he might consult + the wind. Then she brought out the young man, who explained how he was + seeking for his palace, and that no man had been able to tell him where it + was, so he had come to the wind. And he added that he had been shamefully + robbed, and that the laths were of gold and the tiles of diamond, and all + the furniture in silver and gold, and he inquired if the wind had not seen + such a palace during his wanderings. + </p> + <p> + And the wind said yes, and that all that day he had been blowing backwards + and forwards over it without being able to move one single tile. ‘Oh, do + tell me where it is,’ cried the you man. ‘It is a long way off,’ replied + the wind, ‘on the other side of the Red Sea.’ But our traveller was not + discouraged, he had already journeyed too far. + </p> + <p> + So he set forth at once, and, somehow or other, he managed to reach that + distant land. And he enquired if anyone wanted a gardener. He was told + that the head gardener at the castle had just left, and perhaps he might + have a chance of getting the place. The young man lost no time, but walked + up to the castle and asked if they were in want of a gardener; and how + happy he was when they agreed to take him! Now he passed most of his day + in gossiping with the servants about the wealth of their masters and the + wonderful things in the house. He made friends with one of the maids, who + told him the history of the snuff-box, and he coaxed her to let him see + it. One evening she managed to get hold of it, and the young man watched + carefully where she hid it away, in a secret place in the bedchamber of + her mistress. + </p> + <p> + The following night, when everyone was fast asleep, he crept in and took + the snuff-box. Think of his joy as he opened the lid! When it asked him, + as of yore, ‘What do you want?’ he replied: ‘What do I want? What do I + want? Why, I want to go with my palace to the old place, and for the King + and the Queen and all their servants to be drowned in the Red Sea.’ He + hardly finished speaking when he found himself back again with his wife, + while all the other inhabitants of the palace were lying at the bottom of + the Red Sea. + </p> + <p> + Sebillot. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0014" id="link2H_4_0014"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE GOLDEN BLACKBIRD + </h2> + <p> + Once upon a time there was a great lord who had three sons. He fell very + ill, sent for doctors of every kind, even bonesetters, but they, none of + them, could find out what was the matter with him, or even give him any + relief. At last there came a foreign doctor, who declared that the Golden + Blackbird alone could cure the sick man. + </p> + <p> + So the old lord despatched his eldest son to look for the wonderful bird, + and promised him great riches if he managed to find it and bring it back. + </p> + <p> + The young man began his journey, and soon arrived at a place where four + roads met. He did not know which to choose, and tossed his cap in the air, + determining that the direction of its fall should decide him. After + travelling for two or three days, he grew tired of walking without knowing + where or for how long, and he stopped at an inn which was filled with + merrymakers and ordered something to eat and drink. + </p> + <p> + ‘My faith,’ said he, ‘it is sheer folly to waste more time hunting for + this bird. My father is old, and if he dies I shall inherit his goods.’ + </p> + <p> + The old man, after waiting patiently for some time, sent his second son to + seek the Golden Blackbird. The youth took the same direction as his + brother, and when he came to the cross roads, he too tossed up which road + he should take. The cap fell in the same place as before, and he walked on + till he came to the spot where his brother had halted. The latter, who was + leaning out of the window of the inn, called to him to stay where he was + and amuse himself. + </p> + <p> + ‘You are right,’ replied the youth. ‘Who knows if I should ever find the + Golden Blackbird, even if I sought the whole world through for it. At the + worst, if the old man dies, we shall have his property.’ + </p> + <p> + He entered the inn and the two brothers made merry and feasted, till very + soon their money was all spent. They even owed something to their + landlord, who kept them as hostages till they could pay their debts. + </p> + <p> + The youngest son set forth in his turn, and he arrived at the place where + his brothers were still prisoners. They called to him to stop, and did all + they could to prevent his going further. + </p> + <p> + ‘No,’ he replied, ‘my father trusted me, and I will go all over the world + till I find the Golden Blackbird.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Bah,’ said his brothers, ‘you will never succeed any better than we did. + Let him die if he wants to; we will divide the property.’ + </p> + <p> + As he went his way he met a little hare, who stopped to look at him, and + asked: + </p> + <p> + ‘Where are you going, my friend?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘I really don’t quite know,’ answered he. ‘My father is ill, and he cannot + be cured unless I bring him back the Golden Blackbird. It is a long time + since I set out, but no one can tell me where to find it.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Ah,’ said the hare, ‘you have a long way to go yet. You will have to walk + at least seven hundred miles before you get to it.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘And how am I to travel such a distance?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Mount on my back,’ said the little hare, ‘and I will conduct you.’ + </p> + <p> + The young man obeyed: at each bound the little hare went seven miles, and + it was not long before they reached a castle that was as large and + beautiful as a castle could be. + </p> + <p> + ‘The Golden Blackbird is in a little cabin near by,’ said the little hare, + ‘and you will easily find it. It lives in a little cage, with another cage + beside it made all of gold. But whatever you do, be sure not to put it in + the beautiful cage, or everybody in the castle will know that you have + stolen it.’ + </p> + <p> + The youth found the Golden Blackbird standing on a wooden perch, but as + stiff and rigid as if he was dead. And beside the beautiful cage was the + cage of gold. + </p> + <p> + ‘Perhaps he would revive if I were to put him in that lovely cage,’ + thought the youth. + </p> + <p> + The moment that Golden Bird had touched the bars of the splendid cage he + awoke, and began to whistle, so that all the servants of the castle ran to + see what was the matter, saying that he was a thief and must be put in + prison. + </p> + <p> + ‘No,’ he answered, ‘I am not a thief. If I have taken the Golden + Blackbird, it is only that it may cure my father, who is ill, and I have + travelled more than seven hundred miles in order to find it.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Well,’ they replied, ‘we will let you go, and will even give you the + Golden Bird, if you are able to bring us the Porcelain Maiden.’ + </p> + <p> + The youth departed, weeping, and met the little hare, who was munching + wild thyme. + </p> + <p> + ‘What are you crying for, my friend?’ asked the hare. + </p> + <p> + ‘It is because,’ he answered, ‘the castle people will not allow me to + carry off the Golden Blackbird without giving them the Porcelain Maiden in + exchange.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘You have not followed my advice,’ said the little hare. ‘And you have put + the Golden Bird into the fine cage.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Alas! yes!’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Don’t despair! the Porcelain Maiden is a young girl, beautiful as Venus, + who dwells two hundred miles from here. Jump on my back and I will take + you there.’ + </p> + <p> + The little hare, who took seven miles in a stride, was there in no time at + all, and he stopped on the borders of a lake. + </p> + <p> + ‘The Porcelain Maiden,’ said the hare to the youth, ‘will come here to + bathe with her friends, while I just eat a mouthful of thyme to refresh + me. When she is in the lake, be sure you hide her clothes, which are of + dazzling whiteness, and do not give them back to her unless she consents + to follow you.’ + </p> + <p> + The little hare left him, and almost immediately the Porcelain Maiden + arrived with her friends. She undressed herself and got into the water. + Then the young man glided up noiselessly and laid hold of her clothes, + which he hid under a rock at some distance. + </p> + <p> + When the Porcelain Maiden was tired of playing in the water she came out + to dress herself, but, though she hunted for her clothes high and low, she + could find them nowhere. Her friends helped her in the search, but, seeing + at last that it was of no use, they left her, alone on the bank, weeping + bitterly. + </p> + <p> + ‘Why do you cry?’ said the young man, approaching her. + </p> + <p> + ‘Alas!’ answered she, ‘while I was bathing someone stole my clothes, and + my friends have abandoned me.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘I will find your clothes if you will only come with me.’ + </p> + <p> + And the Porcelain Maiden agreed to follow him, and after having given up + her clothes, the young man bought a small horse for her, which went like + the wind. The little hare brought them both back to seek for the Golden + Blackbird, and when they drew near to the castle where it lived the little + hero said to the young man: + </p> + <p> + ‘Now, do be a little sharper than you were before, and you will manage to + carry off both the Golden Blackbird and the Porcelain Maiden. Take the + golden cage in one hand, and leave the bird in the old cage where he is, + and bring that away too.’ + </p> + <p> + The little hare then vanished; the youth did as he was bid, and the castle + servants never noticed that he was carrying off the Golden Bird. When he + reached the inn where his brothers were detained, he delivered them by + paying their debt. They set out all together, but as the two elder + brothers were jealous of the success of the youngest, they took the + opportunity as they were passing by the shores of a lake to throw + themselves upon him, seize the Golden Bird, and fling him in the water. + Then they continued their journey, taking with them the Porcelain Maiden, + in the firm belief that their brother was drowned. But, happily, he had + snatched in falling at a tuft of rushes and called loudly for help. The + little hare came running to him, and said ‘Take hold of my leg and pull + yourself out of the water.’ + </p> + <p> + When he was safe on shore the little hare said to him: + </p> + <p> + ‘Now this is what you have to do: dress yourself like a Breton seeking a + place as stable-boy, and go and offer your services to your father. Once + there, you will easily be able to make him understand the truth.’ + </p> + <p> + The young man did as the little hare bade him, and he went to his father’s + castle and enquired if they were not in want of a stable-boy. + </p> + <p> + ‘Yes,’ replied his father, ‘very much indeed. But it is not an easy place. + There is a little horse in the stable which will not let anyone go near + it, and it has already kicked to death several people who have tried to + groom it.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘I will undertake to groom it,’ said the youth. ‘I never saw the horse I + was afraid of yet.’ The little horse allowed itself to be rubbed down + without a toss of its head and without a kick. + </p> + <p> + ‘Good gracious!’ exclaimed the master; ‘how is it that he lets you touch + him, when no one else can go near him?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Perhaps he knows me,’ answered the stable-boy. + </p> + <p> + Two or three days later the master said to him: ‘The Porcelain Maiden is + here: but, though she is as lovely as the dawn, she is so wicked that she + scratches everyone that approaches her. Try if she will accept your + services.’ + </p> + <p> + When the youth entered the room where she was, the Golden Blackbird broke + forth into a joyful song, and the Porcelain Maiden sang too, and jumped + for joy. + </p> + <p> + ‘Good gracious!’ cried the master. ‘The Porcelain Maiden and the Golden + Blackbird know you too?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Yes,’ replied the youth, ‘and the Porcelain Maiden can tell you the whole + truth, if she only will.’ + </p> + <p> + Then she told all that had happened, and how she had consented to follow + the young man who had captured the Golden Blackbird. + </p> + <p> + ‘Yes,’ added the youth, ‘I delivered my brothers, who were kept prisoners + in an inn, and, as a reward, they threw me into a lake. So I disguised + myself and came here, in order to prove the truth to you.’ + </p> + <p> + So the old lord embraced his son, and promised that he should inherit all + his possessions, and he put to death the two elder ones, who had deceived + him and had tried to slay their own brother. + </p> + <p> + The young man married the Porcelain Maiden, and had a splendid + wedding-feast. + </p> + <p> + Sebillot. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0015" id="link2H_4_0015"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE LITTLE SOLDIER + </h2> + <p> + I + </p> + <p> + Once upon a time there was a little soldier who had just come back from + the war. He was a brave little fellow, but he had lost neither arms nor + legs in battle. Still, the fighting was ended and the army disbanded, so + he had to return to the village where he was born. + </p> + <p> + Now the soldier’s name was really John, but for some reason or other his + friends always called him the Kinglet; why, no one ever knew, but so it + was. + </p> + <p> + As he had no father or mother to welcome him home, he did not hurry + himself, but went quietly along, his knapsack on his back and his sword by + his side, when suddenly one evening he was seized with a wish to light his + pipe. He felt for his match-box to strike a light, but to his great + disgust he found he had lost it. + </p> + <p> + He had only gone about a stone’s throw after making this discovery when he + noticed a light shining through the trees. He went towards it, and + perceived before him an old castle, with the door standing open. + </p> + <p> + The little soldier entered the courtyard, and, peeping through a window, + saw a large fire blazing at the end of a low hall. He put his pipe in his + pocket and knocked gently, saying politely: + </p> + <p> + ‘Would you give me a light?’ + </p> + <p> + But he got no answer. + </p> + <p> + After waiting for a moment John knocked again, this time more loudly. + There was still no reply. + </p> + <p> + He raised the latch and entered; the hall was empty. + </p> + <p> + The little soldier made straight for the fireplace, seized the tongs, and + was stooping down to look for a nice red hot coal with which to light his + pipe, when clic! something went, like a spring giving way, and in the very + midst of the flames an enormous serpent reared itself up close to his + face. + </p> + <p> + And what was more strange still, this serpent had the head of a woman. + </p> + <p> + At such an unexpected sight many men would have turned and run for their + lives; but the little soldier, though he was so small, had a true + soldier’s heart. He only made one step backwards, and grasped the hilt of + his sword. + </p> + <p> + ‘Don’t unsheath it,’ said the serpent. ‘I have been waiting for you, as it + is you who must deliver me.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Who are you?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘My name is Ludovine, and I am the daughter of the King of the Low + Countries. Deliver me, and I will marry you and make you happy for ever + after.’ + </p> + <p> + Now, some people might not have liked the notion of being made happy by a + serpent with the head of a woman, but the Kinglet had no such fears. And, + besides, he felt the fascination of Ludovine’s eyes, which looked at him + as a snake looks at a little bird. They were beautiful green eyes, not + round like those of a cat, but long and almond-shaped, and they shone with + a strange light, and the golden hair which floated round them seemed all + the brighter for their lustre. The face had the beauty of an angel, though + the body was only that of a serpent. + </p> + <p> + ‘What must I do?’ asked the Kinglet. + </p> + <p> + ‘Open that door. You will find yourself in a gallery with a room at the + end just like this. Cross that, and you will see a closet, out of which + you must take a tunic, and bring it back to me.’ + </p> + <p> + The little soldier boldly prepared to do as he was told. He crossed the + gallery in safety, but when he reached the room he saw by the light of the + stars eight hands on a level with his face, which threatened to strike + him. And, turn his eyes which way he would, he could discover no bodies + belonging to them. + </p> + <p> + He lowered his head and rushed forward amidst a storm of blows, which he + returned with his fists. When he got to the closet, he opened it, took + down the tunic, and brought it to the first room. + </p> + <p> + ‘Here it is,’ he panted, rather out of breath. + </p> + <p> + ‘Clic!’ once more the flames parted. Ludovine was a woman down to her + waist. She took the tunic and put it on. + </p> + <p> + It was a magnificent tunic of orange velvet, embroidered in pearls, but + the pearls were not so white as her own neck. + </p> + <p> + ‘That is not all,’ she said. ‘Go to the gallery, take the staircase which + is on the left, and in the second room on the first story you will find + another closet with my skirt. Bring this to me.’ + </p> + <p> + The Kinglet did as he was told, but in entering the room he saw, instead + of merely hands, eight arms, each holding an enormous stick. He instantly + unsheathed his sword and cut his way through with such vigour that he + hardly received a scratch. + </p> + <p> + He brought back the skirt, which was made of silk as blue as the skies of + Spain. + </p> + <p> + ‘Here it is,’ said John, as the serpent appeared. She was now a woman as + far as her knees. + </p> + <p> + ‘I only want my shoes and stockings now,’ she said. ‘Go and get them from + the closet which is on the second story.’ + </p> + <p> + The little soldier departed, and found himself in the presence of eight + goblins armed with hammers, and flames darting from their eyes. This time + he stopped short at the threshold. ‘My sword is no use,’ he thought to + himself; ‘these wretches will break it like glass, and if I can’t think of + anything else, I am a dead man.’ At this moment his eyes fell on the door, + which was made of oak, thick and heavy. He wrenched it off its hinges and + held it over his head, and then went straight at the goblins, whom he + crushed beneath it. After that he took the shoes and stockings out of the + closet and brought them to Ludovine, who, directly she had put them on, + became a woman all over. + </p> + <p> + When she was quite dressed in her white silk stockings and little blue + slippers dotted over with carbuncles, she said to her deliverer, ‘Now you + must go away, and never come back here, whatever happens. Here is a purse + with two hundred ducats. Sleep to-night at the inn which is at the edge of + the wood, and awake early in the morning: for at nine o’clock I shall pass + the door, and shall take you up in my carriage.’ ‘Why shouldn’t we go + now?’ asked the little soldier. ‘Because the time has not yet come,’ said + the Princess. ‘But first you may drink my health in this glass of wine,’ + and as she spoke she filled a crystal goblet with a liquid that looked + like melted gold. + </p> + <p> + John drank, then lit his pipe and went out. + </p> + <p> + II + </p> + <p> + When he arrived at the inn he ordered supper, but no sooner had he sat + down to eat it than he felt that he was going sound asleep. + </p> + <p> + ‘I must be more tired than I thought,’ he said to himself, and, after + telling them to be sure to wake him next morning at eight o’clock, he went + to bed. + </p> + <p> + All night long he slept like a dead man. At eight o’clock they came to + wake him, and at half-past, and a quarter of an hour later, but it was no + use; and at last they decided to leave him in peace. + </p> + <p> + The clocks were striking twelve when John awoke. He sprang out of bed, + and, scarcely waiting to dress himself, hastened to ask if anyone had been + to inquire for him. + </p> + <p> + ‘There came a lovely princess,’ replied the landlady, ‘in a coach of gold. + She left you this bouquet, and a message to say that she would pass this + way to-morrow morning at eight o’clock.’ + </p> + <p> + The little soldier cursed his sleep, but tried to console himself by + looking at his bouquet, which was of immortelles. + </p> + <p> + ‘It is the flower of remembrance,’ thought he, forgetting that it is also + the flower of the dead. + </p> + <p> + When the night came, he slept with one eye open, and jumped up twenty + times an hour. When the birds began to sing he could lie still no longer, + and climbed out of his window into the branches of one of the great + lime-trees that stood before the door. There he sat, dreamily gazing at + his bouquet till he ended by going fast asleep. + </p> + <p> + Once asleep, nothing was able to wake him; neither the brightness of the + sun, nor the songs of the birds, nor the noise of Ludovine’s golden coach, + nor the cries of the landlady who sought him in every place she could + think of. + </p> + <p> + As the clock struck twelve he woke, and his heart sank as he came down out + of his tree and saw them laying the table for dinner. + </p> + <p> + ‘Did the Princess come?’ he asked. + </p> + <p> + ‘Yes, indeed, she did. She left this flower-coloured scarf for you; said + she would pass by to-morrow at seven o’clock, but it would be the last + time.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘I must have been bewitched,’ thought the little soldier. Then he took the + scarf, which had a strange kind of scent, and tied it round his left arm, + thinking all the while that the best way to keep awake was not to go to + bed at all. So he paid his bill, and bought a horse with the money that + remained, and when the evening came he mounted his horse and stood in + front of the inn door, determined to stay there all night. + </p> + <p> + Every now and then he stooped to smell the sweet perfume of the scarf + round his arm; and gradually he smelt it so often that at last his head + sank on to the horse’s neck, and he and his horse snored in company. + </p> + <p> + When the Princess arrived, they shook him, and beat him, and screamed at + him, but it was all no good. Neither man nor horse woke till the coach was + seen vanishing away in the distance. + </p> + <p> + Then John put spurs to his horse, calling with all his might ‘Stop! stop!’ + But the coach drove on as before, and though the little soldier rode after + it for a day and a night, he never got one step nearer. + </p> + <p> + Thus they left many villages and towns behind them, till they came to the + sea itself. Here John thought that at last the coach must stop, but, + wonder of wonders! it went straight on, and rolled over the water as + easily as it had done over the land. John’s horse, which had carried him + so well, sank down from fatigue, and the little soldier sat sadly on the + shore, watching the coach which was fast disappearing on the horizon. + </p> + <p> + III + </p> + <p> + However, he soon plucked up his spirits again, and walked along the beach + to try and find a boat in which he could sail after the Princess. But no + boat was there, and at last, tired and hungry, he sat down to rest on the + steps of a fisherman’s hut. + </p> + <p> + In the hut was a young girl who was mending a net. She invited John to + come in, and set before him some wine and fried fish, and John ate and + drank and felt comforted, and he told his adventures to the little + fisher-girl. But though she was very pretty, with a skin as white as a + gull’s breast, for which her neighbours gave her the name of the Seagull, + he did not think about her at all, for he was dreaming of the green eyes + of the Princess. + </p> + <p> + When he had finished his tale, she was filled with pity and said: + </p> + <p> + ‘Last week, when I was fishing, my net suddenly grew very heavy, and when + I drew it in I found a great copper vase, fastened with lead. I brought it + home and placed it on the fire. When the lead had melted a little, I + opened the vase with my knife and drew out a mantle of red cloth and a + purse containing fifty crowns. That is the mantle, covering my bed, and I + have kept the money for my marriage-portion. But take it and go to the + nearest seaport, where you will find a ship sailing for the Low Countries, + and when you become King you will bring me back my fifty crowns.’ + </p> + <p> + And the Kinglet answered: ‘When I am King of the Low Countries, I will + make you lady-in-waiting to the Queen, for you are as good as you are + beautiful. So farewell,’ said he, and as the Seagull went back to her + fishing he rolled himself in the mantle and threw himself down on a heap + of dried grass, thinking of the strange things that had befallen him, till + he suddenly exclaimed: + </p> + <p> + ‘Oh, how I wish I was in the capital of the Low Countries!’ + </p> + <p> + IV + </p> + <p> + In one moment the little soldier found himself standing before a splendid + palace. He rubbed his eyes and pinched himself, and when he was quite sure + he was not dreaming he said to a man who was smoking his pipe before the + door, ‘Where am I?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Where are you? Can’t you see? Before the King’s palace, of course.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘What King?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Why the King of the Low Countries!’ replied the man, laughing and + supposing that he was mad. + </p> + <p> + Was there ever anything so strange? But as John was an honest fellow, he + was troubled at the thought that the Seagull would think he had stolen her + mantle and purse. And he began to wonder how he could restore them to her + the soonest. Then he remembered that the mantle had some hidden charm that + enabled the bearer to transport himself at will from place to place, and + in order to make sure of this he wished himself in the best inn of the + town. In an instant he was there. + </p> + <p> + Enchanted with this discovery, he ordered supper, and as it was too late + to visit the King that night he went to bed. + </p> + <p> + The next day, when he got up, he saw that all the houses were wreathed + with flowers and covered with flags, and all the church bells were + ringing. The little soldier inquired the meaning of all this noise, and + was told that the Princess Ludovine, the King’s beautiful daughter, had + been found, and was about to make her triumphal entry. ‘That will just + suit me,’ thought the Kinglet; ‘I will stand at the door and see if she + knows me.’ + </p> + <p> + He had scarcely time to dress himself when the golden coach of Ludovine + went by. She had a crown of gold upon her head, and the King and Queen sat + by her side. By accident her eyes fell upon the little soldier, and she + grew pale and turned away her head. + </p> + <p> + ‘Didn’t she know me?’ the little soldier asked himself, ‘or was she angry + because I missed our meetings?’ and he followed the crowd till he got to + the palace. When the royal party entered he told the guards that it was he + who had delivered the Princess, and wished to speak to the King. But the + more he talked the more they believed him mad and refused to let him pass. + </p> + <p> + The little soldier was furious. He felt that he needed his pipe to calm + him, and he entered a tavern and ordered a pint of beer. ‘It is this + miserable soldier’s helmet,’ said he to himself ‘If I had only money + enough I could look as splendid as the lords of the Court; but what is the + good of thinking of that when I have only the remains of the Seagull’s + fifty crowns?’ + </p> + <p> + He took out his purse to see what was left, and he found that there were + still fifty crowns. + </p> + <p> + ‘The Seagull must have miscounted,’ thought he, and he paid for his beer. + Then he counted his money again, and there were still fifty crowns. He + took away five and counted a third time, but there were still fifty. He + emptied the purse altogether and then shut it; when he opened it the fifty + crowns were still there! + </p> + <p> + Then a plan came into his head, and he determined to go at once to the + Court tailor and coachbuilder. + </p> + <p> + He ordered the tailor to make him a mantle and vest of blue velvet + embroidered with pearls, and the coachbuilder to make him a golden coach + like the coach of the Princess Ludovine. If the tailor and the + coachbuilder were quick he promised to pay them double. + </p> + <p> + A few days later the little soldier was driven through the city in his + coach drawn by six white horses, and with four lacqueys richly dressed + standing behind. Inside sat John, clad in blue velvet, with a bouquet of + immortelles in his hand and a scarf bound round his arm. He drove twice + round the city, throwing money to the right and left, and the third time, + as he passed under the palace windows, he saw Ludovine lift a corner of + the curtain and peep out. + </p> + <p> + V + </p> + <p> + The next day no one talked of anything but the rich lord who had + distributed money as he drove along. The talk even reached the Court, and + the Queen, who was very curious, had a great desire to see the wonderful + Prince. + </p> + <p> + ‘Very well,’ said the King; ‘let him be asked to come and play cards with + me.’ + </p> + <p> + This time the Kinglet was not late for his appointment. + </p> + <p> + The King sent for the cards and they sat down to play. They had six games, + and John always lost. The stake was fifty crowns, and each time he emptied + his purse, which was full the next instant. + </p> + <p> + The sixth time the King exclaimed, ‘It is amazing!’ + </p> + <p> + The Queen cried, ‘It is astonishing!’ + </p> + <p> + The Princess said, ‘It is bewildering!’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Not so bewildering,’ replied the little soldier, ‘as your change into a + serpent.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Hush!’ interrupted the King, who did not like the subject. + </p> + <p> + ‘I only spoke of it,’ said John, ‘because you see in me the man who + delivered the Princess from the goblins and whom she promised to marry.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Is that true?’ asked the King of the Princess. + </p> + <p> + ‘Quite true,’ answered Ludovine. ‘But I told my deliverer to be ready to + go with me when I passed by with my coach. I passed three times, but he + slept so soundly that no one could wake him.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘What is your name?’ said the King, ‘and who are you?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘My name is John. I am a soldier, and my father is a boatman.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘You are not a fit husband for my daughter. Still, if you will give us + your purse, you shall have her for your wife.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘My purse does not belong to me, and I cannot give it away.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘But you can lend it to me till our wedding-day,’ said the Princess with + one of those glances the little soldier never could resist. + </p> + <p> + ‘And when will that be?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘At Easter,’ said the monarch. + </p> + <p> + ‘Or in a blue moon!’ murmured the Princess; but the Kinglet did not hear + her and let her take his purse. + </p> + <p> + Next evening he presented himself at the palace to play picquet with the + King and to make his court to the Princess. But he was told that the King + had gone into the country to receive his rents. He returned the following + day, and had the same answer. Then he asked to see the Queen, but she had + a headache. When this had happened five or six times, he began to + understand that they were making fun of him. + </p> + <p> + ‘That is not the way for a King to behave,’ thought John. ‘Old scoundrel!’ + and then suddenly he remembered his red cloak. + </p> + <p> + ‘Ah, what an idiot I am!’ said he. ‘Of course I can get in whenever I like + with the help of this.’ + </p> + <p> + That evening he was in front of the palace, wrapped in his red cloak. + </p> + <p> + On the first story one window was lighted, and John saw on the curtains + the shadow of the Princess. + </p> + <p> + ‘I wish myself in the room of the Princess Ludovine,’ said he, and in a + second he was there. + </p> + <p> + The King’s daughter was sitting before a table counting the money that she + emptied from the inexhaustible purse. + </p> + <p> + ‘Eight hundred and fifty, nine hundred, nine hundred and fifty—’ + </p> + <p> + ‘A thousand,’ finished John. ‘Good evening everybody!’ + </p> + <p> + The Princess jumped and gave a little cry. ‘You here! What business have + you to do it? Leave at once, or I shall call—’ + </p> + <p> + ‘I have come,’ said the Kinglet, ‘to remind you of your promise. The day + after to-morrow is Easter Day, and it is high time to think of our + marriage.’ + </p> + <p> + Ludovine burst out into a fit of laughter. ‘Our marriage! Have you really + been foolish enough to believe that the daughter of the King of the Low + Countries would ever marry the son of a boatman?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Then give me back the purse,’ said John. + </p> + <p> + ‘Never,’ said the Princess, and put it calmly in her pocket. + </p> + <p> + ‘As you like,’ said the little soldier. ‘He laughs best who laughs the + last;’ and he took the Princess in his arms. ‘I wish,’ he cried, ‘that we + were at the ends of the earth;’ and in one second he was there, still + clasping the Princess tightly in his arms. + </p> + <p> + ‘Ouf,’ said John, laying her gently at the foot of a tree. ‘I never took + such a long journey before. What do you say, madam?’ The Princess + understood that it was no time for jesting, and did not answer. Besides + she was still feeling giddy from her rapid flight, and had not yet + collected her senses. + </p> + <p> + VI + </p> + <p> + The King of the Low Countries was not a very scrupulous person, and his + daughter took after him. This was why she had been changed into a serpent. + It had been prophesied that she should be delivered by a little soldier, + and that she must marry him, unless he failed to appear at the + meeting-place three times running. The cunning Princess then laid her + plans accordingly. + </p> + <p> + The wine that she had given to John in the castle of the goblins, the + bouquet of immortelles, and the scarf, all had the power of producing + sleep like death. And we know how they had acted on John. + </p> + <p> + However, even in this critical moment, Ludovine did not lose her head. + </p> + <p> + ‘I thought you were simply a street vagabond,’ said she, in her most + coaxing voice; ‘and I find you are more powerful than any king. Here is + your purse. Have you got my scarf and my bouquet?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Here they are,’ said the Kinglet, delighted with this change of tone, and + he drew them from his bosom. Ludovine fastened one in his buttonhole and + the other round his arm. ‘Now,’ she said, ‘you are my lord and master, and + I will marry you at your good pleasure.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘You are kinder than I thought,’ said John; ‘and you shall never be + unhappy, for I love you.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Then, my little husband, tell me how you managed to carry me so quickly + to the ends of the world.’ + </p> + <p> + The little soldier scratched his head. ‘Does she really mean to marry me,’ + he thought to himself, ‘or is she only trying to deceive me again?’ + </p> + <p> + But Ludovine repeated, ‘Won’t you tell me?’ in such a tender voice he did + not know how to resist her. + </p> + <p> + ‘After all,’ he said to himself, ‘what does it matter telling her the + secret, as long as I don’t give her the cloak.’ + </p> + <p> + And he told her the virtue of the red mantle. + </p> + <p> + ‘Oh dear, how tired I am!’ sighed Ludovine. ‘Don’t you think we had better + take a nap? And then we can talk over our plans.’ + </p> + <p> + She stretched herself on the grass, and the Kinglet did the same. He laid + his head on his left arm, round which the scarf was tied, and was soon + fast asleep. + </p> + <p> + Ludovine was watching him out of one eye, and no sooner did she hear him + snore than she unfastened the mantle, drew it gently from under him and + wrapped it round her, took the purse from his pocket, and put it in hers, + and said: ‘I wish I was back in my own room.’ In another moment she was + there. + </p> + <p> + VII + </p> + <p> + Who felt foolish but John, when he awoke, twenty-four hours after, and + found himself without purse, without mantle, and without Princess? He tore + his hair, he beat his breast, he trampled on the bouquet, and tore the + scarf of the traitress to atoms. + </p> + <p> + Besides this he was very hungry, and he had nothing to eat. + </p> + <p> + He thought of all the wonderful things his grandmother had told him when + he was a child, but none of them helped him now. He was in despair, when + suddenly he looked up and saw that the tree under which he had been + sleeping was a superb plum, covered with fruit as yellow as gold. + </p> + <p> + ‘Here goes for the plums,’ he said to himself, ‘all is fair in war.’ + </p> + <p> + He climbed the tree and began to eat steadily. But he had hardly swallowed + two plums when, to his horror, he felt as if something was growing on his + forehead. He put up his hand and found that he had two horns! + </p> + <p> + He leapt down from the tree and rushed to a stream that flowed close by. + Alas! there was no escape: two charming little horns, that would not have + disgraced the head of a goat. + </p> + <p> + Then his courage failed him. + </p> + <p> + ‘As if it was not enough,’ said he, ‘that a woman should trick me, but the + devil must mix himself up in it and lend me his horns. What a pretty + figure I should cut if I went back into the world!’ + </p> + <p> + But as he was still hungry, and the mischief was done, he climbed boldly + up another tree, and plucked two plums of a lovely green colour. No sooner + had he swallowed two than the horns disappeared. The little soldier was + enchanted, though greatly surprised, and came to the conclusion that it + was no good to despair too quickly. When he had done eating an idea + suddenly occurred to him. + </p> + <p> + ‘Perhaps,’ thought he, ‘these pretty little plums may help me to recover + my purse, my cloak, and my heart from the hands of this wicked Princess. + She has the eyes of a deer already; let her have the horns of one. If I + can manage to set her up with a pair, I will bet any money that I shall + cease to want her for my wife. A horned maiden is by no means lovely to + look at.’ So he plaited a basket out of the long willows, and placed in it + carefully both sorts of plums. Then he walked bravely on for many days, + having no food but the berries by the wayside, and was in great danger + from wild beasts and savage men. But he feared nothing, except that his + plums should decay, and this never happened. + </p> + <p> + At last he came to a civilised country, and with the sale of some jewels + that he had about him on the evening of his flight he took passage on + board a vessel for the Low Countries. So, at the end of a year and a day, + he arrived at the capital of the kingdom. + </p> + <p> + VIII + </p> + <p> + The next day he put on a false beard and the dress of a date merchant, + and, taking a little table, he placed himself before the door of the + church. + </p> + <p> + He spread carefully out on a fine white cloth his Mirabelle plums, which + looked for all the world as if they had been freshly gathered, and when he + saw the Princess coming out of church he began to call out in a feigned + voice: ‘Fine plums! lovely plums!’ + </p> + <p> + ‘How much are they?’ said the Princess. + </p> + <p> + ‘Fifty crowns each.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Fifty crowns! But what is there so very precious about them? Do they give + one wit, or will they increase one’s beauty?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘They could not increase what is perfect already, fair Princess, but still + they might add something.’ + </p> + <p> + Rolling stones gather no moss, but they sometimes gain polish; and the + months which John had spent in roaming about the world had not been + wasted. Such a neatly turned compliment flattered Ludovine. + </p> + <p> + ‘What will they add?’ she smilingly asked. + </p> + <p> + ‘You will see, fair Princess, when you taste them. It will be a surprise + for you.’ + </p> + <p> + Ludovine’s curiosity was roused. She drew out the purse and shook out as + many little heaps of fifty crowns as there were plums in the basket. The + little soldier was seized with a wild desire to snatch the purse from her + and proclaim her a thief, but he managed to control himself. + </p> + <p> + His plums all sold, he shut up shop, took off his disguise, changed his + inn, and kept quiet, waiting to see what would happen. + </p> + <p> + No sooner had she reached her room than the Princess exclaimed, ‘Now let + us see what these fine plums can add to my beauty,’ and throwing off her + hood, she picked up a couple and ate them. + </p> + <p> + Imagine with what surprise and horror she felt all of a sudden that + something was growing out of her forehead. She flew to her mirror and + uttered a piercing cry. + </p> + <p> + ‘Horns! so that was what he promised me! Let someone find the plum-seller + at once and bring him to me! Let his nose and ears be cut off! Let him be + flayed alive, or burnt at a slow fire and his ashes scattered to the + winds! Oh, I shall die of shame and despair!’ + </p> + <p> + Her women ran at the sound of her screams, and tried to wrench off the + horns, but it was of no use, and they only gave her a violent headache. + </p> + <p> + The King then sent round a herald to proclaim that he would give the hand + of the Princess to anyone who would rid her of her strange ornaments. So + all the doctors and sorcerers and surgeons in the Low Countries and the + neighbouring kingdoms thronged to the palace, each with a remedy of his + own. But it was all no good, and the Princess suffered so much from their + remedies that the King was obliged to send out a second proclamation that + anyone who undertook to cure the Princess, and who failed to do it, should + be hanged up to the nearest tree. + </p> + <p> + But the prize was too great for any proclamation to put a stop to the + efforts of the crowd of suitors, and that year the orchards of the Low + Countries all bore a harvest of dead men. + </p> + <p> + IX + </p> + <p> + The King had given orders that they should seek high and low for the + plum-seller, but in spite of all their pains, he was nowhere to be found. + </p> + <p> + When the little soldier discovered that their patience was worn out, he + pressed the juice of the green Queen Claude plums into a small phial, + bought a doctor’s robe, put on a wig and spectacles, and presented himself + before the King of the Low Countries. He gave himself out as a famous + physician who had come from distant lands, and he promised that he would + cure the Princess if only he might be left alone with her. + </p> + <p> + ‘Another madman determined to be hanged,’ said the King. ‘Very well, do as + he asks; one should refuse nothing to a man with a rope round his neck.’ + </p> + <p> + As soon as the little soldier was in the presence of the Princess he + poured some drops of the liquid into a glass. The Princess had scarcely + tasted it, when the tip of the horns disappeared. + </p> + <p> + ‘They would have disappeared completely,’ said the pretended doctor, ‘if + there did not exist something to counteract the effect. It is only + possible to cure people whose souls are as clean as the palm of my hand. + Are you sure you have not committed some little sin? Examine yourself + well.’ + </p> + <p> + Ludovine had no need to think over it long, but she was torn in pieces + between the shame of a humiliating confession, and the desire to be + unhorned. At last she made answer with downcast eyes, + </p> + <p> + ‘I have stolen a leather purse from a little soldier.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Give it to me. The remedy will not act till I hold the purse in my + hands.’ + </p> + <p> + It cost Ludovine a great pang to give up the purse, but she remembered + that riches would not benefit her if she was still to keep the horns. + </p> + <p> + With a sigh, she handed the purse to the doctor, who poured more of the + liquid into the glass, and when the Princess had drunk it, she found that + the horns had diminished by one half. + </p> + <p> + ‘You must really have another little sin on your conscience. Did you steal + nothing from this soldier but his purse?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘I also stole from him his cloak.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Give it me.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Here it is.’ + </p> + <p> + This time Ludovine thought to herself that when once the horns had + departed, she would call her attendants and take the things from the + doctor by force. + </p> + <p> + She was greatly pleased with this idea, when suddenly the pretended + physician wrapped himself in the cloak, flung away the wig and spectacles, + and showed to the traitress the face of the Little Soldier. + </p> + <p> + She stood before him dumb with fright. + </p> + <p> + ‘I might,’ said John, ‘have left you horned to the end of your days, but I + am a good fellow and I once loved you, and besides—you are too like + the devil to have any need of his horns.’ + </p> + <p> + X + </p> + <p> + John had wished himself in the house of the Seagull. Now the Seagull was + seated at the window, mending her net, and from time to time her eyes + wandered to the sea as if she was expecting someone. At the noise made by + the little soldier, she looked up and blushed. + </p> + <p> + ‘So it is you!’ she said. ‘How did you get here?’ And then she added in a + low voice, ‘And have you married your Princess?’ + </p> + <p> + Then John told her all his adventures, and when he had finished, he + restored to her the purse and the mantle. + </p> + <p> + ‘What can I do with them?’ said she. ‘You have proved to me that happiness + does not lie in the possession of treasures.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘It lies in work and in the love of an honest woman,’ replied the little + soldier, who noticed for the first time what pretty eyes she had. ‘Dear + Seagull, will you have me for a husband?’ and he held out his hand. + </p> + <p> + ‘Yes, I will,’ answered the fisher maiden, blushing very red, ‘but only on + condition that we seal up the purse and the mantle in the copper vessel + and throw them into the sea.’ + </p> + <p> + And this they did. + </p> + <p> + Charles Deulin. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0016" id="link2H_4_0016"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE MAGIC SWAN + </h2> + <p> + There were once upon a time three brothers, of whom the eldest was called + Jacob, the second Frederick, and the youngest Peter. This youngest brother + was made a regular butt of by the other two, and they treated him + shamefully. If anything went wrong with their affairs, Peter had to bear + the blame and put things right for them, and he had to endure all this + ill-treatment because he was weak and delicate and couldn’t defend himself + against his stronger brothers. The poor creature had a most trying life of + it in every way, and day and night he pondered how he could make it + better. One day, when he was in the wood gathering sticks and crying + bitterly, a little old woman came up to him and asked him what was the + matter; and he told her all his troubles. + </p> + <p> + ‘Come, my good youth,’ said the old dame, when he had finished his tale of + woe, ‘isn’t the world wide enough? Why don’t you set out and try your + fortune somewhere else?’ + </p> + <p> + Peter took her words to heart, and left his father’s house early one + morning to try his fortune in the wide world, as the old woman had advised + him. But he felt very bitterly parting from the home where he had been + born, and where he had at least passed a short but happy childhood, and + sitting down on a hill he gazed once more fondly on his native place. + </p> + <p> + Suddenly the little old woman stood before him, and, tapping him on the + shoulder, said, ‘So far good, my boy; but what do you mean to do now?’ + </p> + <p> + Peter was at a loss what to answer, for so far he had always thought that + fortune would drop into his mouth like a ripe cherry. The old woman, who + guessed his thoughts, laughed kindly and said, ‘I’ll tell you what you + must do, for I’ve taken a fancy to you, and I’m sure you won’t forget me + when you’ve made your fortune.’ + </p> + <p> + Peter promised faithfully he wouldn’t, and the old woman continued: + </p> + <p> + ‘This evening at sunset go to yonder pear-tree which you see growing at + the cross roads. Underneath it you will find a man lying asleep, and a + beautiful large swan will be fastened to the tree close to him. You must + be careful not to waken the man, but you must unfasten the swan and take + it away with you. You will find that everyone will fall in love with its + beautiful plumage, and you must allow anyone who likes to pull out a + feather. But as soon as the swan feels as much as a finger on it, it will + scream out, and then you must say, “Swan, hold fast.” Then the hand of the + person who has touched the bird will be held as in a vice, and nothing + will set it free, unless you touch it with this little stick which I will + make you a present of. When you have captured a whole lot of people in + this way, lead your train straight on with you; you will come to a big + town where a Princess lives who has never been known to laugh. If you can + only make her laugh your fortune is made; then I beg you won’t forget your + old friend.’ + </p> + <p> + Peter promised again that he wouldn’t, and at sunset he went to the tree + the old woman had mentioned. The man lay there fast asleep, and a large + beautiful swan was fastened to the tree beside him by a red cord. Peter + loosed the bird, and led it away with him without disturbing the bird’s + master. + </p> + <p> + He walked on with the swan for some time, and came at last to a + building-yard where some men were busily at work. They were all lost in + admiration of the bird’s beautiful plumage, and one forward youth, who was + covered with clay from head to foot, called out, ‘Oh, if I’d only one of + those feathers how happy I should be!’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Pull one out then,’ said Peter kindly, and the youth seized one from the + bird’s tail; instantly the swan screamed, and Peter called out, ‘Swan, + hold fast,’ and do what he could the poor youth couldn’t get his hand + away. The more he howled the more the others laughed, till a girl who had + been washing clothes in the neighbouring stream hurried up to see what was + the matter. When she saw the poor boy fastened to the swan she felt so + sorry for him that she stretched out her hand to free him. The bird + screamed. + </p> + <p> + ‘Swan, hold fast,’ called out Peter, and the girl was caught also. + </p> + <p> + When Peter had gone on for a bit with his captives, they met a chimney + sweep, who laughed loudly over the extraordinary troop, and asked the girl + what she was doing. + </p> + <p> + ‘Oh, dearest John,’ replied the girl, ‘give me your hand and set me free + from this cursed young man.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Most certainly I will, if that’s all you want,’ replied the sweep, and + gave the girl his hand. The bird screamed. + </p> + <p> + ‘Swan, hold fast,’ said Peter, and the black man was added to their + number. + </p> + <p> + They soon came to a village where a fair was being held. A travelling + circus was giving a performance, and the clown was just doing his tricks. + He opened his eyes wide with amazement when he saw the remarkable trio + fastened on to the swan’s tail. + </p> + <p> + ‘Have you gone raving mad, Blackie?’ he asked as well as he could for + laughing. + </p> + <p> + ‘It’s no laughing matter,’ the sweep replied. ‘This wench has got so tight + hold of me that I feel as if I were glued to her. Do set me free, like a + good clown, and I’ll do you a good turn some day.’ + </p> + <p> + Without a moment’s hesitation the clown grasped the black outstretched + hand. The bird screamed. + </p> + <p> + ‘Swan, hold fast,’ called out Peter, and the clown became the fourth of + the party. + </p> + <p> + Now in the front row of the spectators sat the respected and popular Mayor + of the village, who was much put out by what he considered nothing but a + foolish trick. So much annoyed was he that he seized the clown by the hand + and tried to tear him away, in order to hand him over to the police. + </p> + <p> + Then the bird screamed, and Peter called out, ‘Swan, hold fast,’ and the + dignified Mayor shared the fate of his predecessors. + </p> + <p> + The Mayoress, a long thin stick of a woman, enraged at the insult done to + her husband, seized his free arm and tore at it with all her might, with + the only result that she too was forced to swell the procession. After + this no one else had any wish to join them. + </p> + <p> + Soon Peter saw the towers of the capital in front of him. Just before + entering it, a glittering carriage came out to meet him, in which was + seated a young lady as beautiful as the day, but with a very solemn and + serious expression. But no sooner had she perceived the motley crowd + fastened to the swan’s tail than she burst into a loud fit of laughter, in + which she was joined by all her servants and ladies in waiting. + </p> + <p> + ‘The Princess has laughed at last,’ they all cried with joy. + </p> + <p> + She stepped out of her carriage to look more closely at the wonderful + sight, and laughed again over the capers the poor captives cut. She + ordered her carriage to be turned round and drove slowly back into the + town, never taking her eyes off Peter and his procession. + </p> + <p> + When the King heard the news that his daughter had actually laughed, he + was more than delighted, and had Peter and his marvellous train brought + before him. He laughed himself when he saw them till the tears rolled down + his cheeks. + </p> + <p> + ‘My good friend,’ he said to Peter, ‘do you know what I promised the + person who succeeded in making the Princess laugh?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘No, I don’t,’ said Peter. + </p> + <p> + ‘Then I’ll tell you,’ answered the King; ‘a thousand gold crowns or a + piece of land. Which will you choose?’ + </p> + <p> + Peter decided in favour of the land. Then he touched the youth, the girl, + the sweep, the clown, the Mayor, and the Mayoress with his little stick, + and they were all free again, and ran away home as if a fire were burning + behind them; and their flight, as you may imagine, gave rise to renewed + merriment. + </p> + <p> + Then the Princess felt moved to stroke the swan, at the same time admiring + its plumage. The bird screamed. + </p> + <p> + ‘Swan, hold fast,’ called out Peter, and so he won the Princess for his + bride. But the swan flew up into the air, and vanished in the blue + horizon. Peter now received a duchy as a present, and became a very great + man indeed; but he did not forget the little old woman who had been the + cause of all his good fortune, and appointed her as head housekeeper to + him and his royal bride in their magnificent castle. + </p> + <p> + Kletke. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0017" id="link2H_4_0017"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE DIRTY SHEPHERDESS + </h2> + <p> + Once upon a time there lived a King who had two daughters, and he loved + them with all his heart. When they grew up, he was suddenly seized with a + wish to know if they, on their part, truly loved him, and he made up his + mind that he would give his kingdom to whichever best proved her devotion. + </p> + <p> + So he called the elder Princess and said to her, ‘How much do you love + me?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘As the apple of my eye!’ answered she. + </p> + <p> + ‘Ah!’ exclaimed the King, kissing her tenderly as he spoke, ‘you are + indeed a good daughter.’ + </p> + <p> + Then he sent for the younger, and asked her how much she loved him. + </p> + <p> + ‘I look upon you, my father,’ she answered, ‘as I look upon salt in my + food.’ + </p> + <p> + But the King did not like her words, and ordered her to quit the court, + and never again to appear before him. The poor Princess went sadly up to + her room and began to cry, but when she was reminded of her father’s + commands, she dried her eyes, and made a bundle of her jewels and her best + dresses and hurriedly left the castle where she was born. + </p> + <p> + She walked straight along the road in front of her, without knowing very + well where she was going or what was to become of her, for she had never + been shown how to work, and all she had learnt consisted of a few + household rules, and receipts of dishes which her mother had taught her + long ago. And as she was afraid that no housewife would want to engage a + girl with such a pretty face, she determined to make herself as ugly as + she could. + </p> + <p> + She therefore took off the dress that she was wearing and put on some + horrible old rags belonging to a beggar, all torn and covered with mud. + After that she smeared mud all over her hands and face, and shook her hair + into a great tangle. Having thus changed her appearance, she went about + offering herself as a goose-girl or shepherdess. But the farmers’ wives + would have nothing to say to such a dirty maiden, and sent her away with a + morsel of bread for charity’s sake. + </p> + <p> + After walking for a great many days without being able to find any work, + she came to a large farm where they were in want of a shepherdess, and + engaged her gladly. + </p> + <p> + One day when she was keeping her sheep in a lonely tract of land, she + suddenly felt a wish to dress herself in her robes of splendour. She + washed herself carefully in the stream, and as she always carried her + bundle with her, it was easy to shake off her rags, and transform herself + in a few moments into a great lady. + </p> + <p> + The King’s son, who had lost his way out hunting, perceived this lovely + damsel a long way off, and wished to look at her closer. But as soon as + the girl saw what he was at, she fled into the wood as swiftly as a bird. + The Prince ran after her, but as he was running he caught his foot in the + root of a tree and fell, and when he got up again, she was nowhere to be + seen. + </p> + <p> + When she was quite safe, she put on her rags again, and smeared over her + face and hands. However the young Prince, who was both hot and thirsty, + found his way to the farm, to ask for a drink of cider, and he inquired + the name of the beautiful lady that kept the sheep. At this everyone began + to laugh, for they said that the shepherdess was one of the ugliest and + dirtiest creatures under the sun. + </p> + <p> + The Prince thought some witchcraft must be at work, and he hastened away + before the return of the shepherdess, who became that evening the butt of + everybody’s jests. + </p> + <p> + But the King’s son thought often of the lovely maiden whom he had only + seen for a moment, though she seemed to him much more fascinating than any + lady of the Court. At last he dreamed of nothing else, and grew thinner + day by day till his parents inquired what was the matter, promising to do + all they could to make him as happy as he once was. He dared not tell them + the truth, lest they should laugh at him, so he only said that he should + like some bread baked by the kitchen girl in the distant farm. + </p> + <p> + Although the wish appeared rather odd, they hastened to fulfil it, and the + farmer was told the request of the King’s son. The maiden showed no + surprise at receiving such an order, but merely asked for some flour, + salt, and water, and also that she might be left alone in a little room + adjoining the oven, where the kneading-trough stood. Before beginning her + work she washed herself carefully, and even put on her rings; but, while + she was baking, one of her rings slid into the dough. When she had + finished she dirtied herself again, and let the lumps of the dough stick + to her fingers, so that she became as ugly as before. + </p> + <p> + The loaf, which was a very little one, was brought to the King’s son, who + ate it with pleasure. But in cutting it he found the ring of the Princess, + and declared to his parents that he would marry the girl whom that ring + fitted. + </p> + <p> + So the King made a proclamation through his whole kingdom and ladies came + from afar to lay claim to the honour. But the ring was so tiny that even + those who had the smallest hands could only get it on their little + fingers. In a short time all the maidens of the kingdom, including the + peasant girls, had tried on the ring, and the King was just about to + announce that their efforts had been in vain, when the Prince observed + that he had not yet seen the shepherdess. + </p> + <p> + They sent to fetch her, and she arrived covered with rags, but with her + hands cleaner than usual, so that she could easily slip on the ring. The + King’s son declared that he would fulfil his promise, and when his parents + mildly remarked that the girl was only a keeper of sheep, and a very ugly + one too, the maiden boldly said that she was born a princess, and that, if + they would only give her some water and leave her alone in a room for a + few minutes, she would show that she could look as well as anyone in fine + clothes. + </p> + <p> + They did what she asked, and when she entered in a magnificent dress, she + looked so beautiful that all saw she must be a princess in disguise. The + King’s son recognized the charming damsel of whom he had once caught a + glimpse, and, flinging himself at her feet, asked if she would marry him. + The Princess then told her story, and said that it would be necessary to + send an ambassador to her father to ask his consent and to invite him to + the wedding. + </p> + <p> + The Princess’s father, who had never ceased to repent his harshness + towards his daughter, had sought her through the land, but as no one could + tell him anything of her, he supposed her dead. Therefore it was with + great joy he heard that she was living and that a king’s son asked her in + marriage, and he quitted his kingdom with his elder daughter so as to be + present at the ceremony. + </p> + <p> + By the orders of the bride, they only served her father at the wedding + breakfast bread without salt, and meat without seasoning. Seeing him make + faces, and eat very little, his daughter, who sat beside him, inquired if + his dinner was not to his taste. + </p> + <p> + ‘No,’ he replied, ‘the dishes are carefully cooked and sent up, but they + are all so dreadfully tasteless.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Did not I tell you, my father, that salt was the best thing in life? And + yet, when I compared you to salt, to show how much I loved you, you + thought slightingly of me and you chased me from your presence.’ + </p> + <p> + The King embraced his daughter, and allowed that he had been wrong to + misinterpret her words. Then, for the rest of the wedding feast they gave + him bread made with salt, and dishes with seasoning, and he said they were + the very best he had ever eaten. + </p> + <p> + Sebillot. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0018" id="link2H_4_0018"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE ENCHANTED SNAKE + </h2> + <p> + There was once upon a time a poor woman who would have given all she + possessed for a child, but she hadn’t one. + </p> + <p> + Now it happened one day that her husband went to the wood to collect + brushwood, and when he had brought it home, he discovered a pretty little + snake among the twigs. + </p> + <p> + When Sabatella, for that was the name of the peasant’s wife, saw the + little beast, she sighed deeply and said, ‘Even the snakes have their + brood; I alone am unfortunate and have no children.’ No sooner had she + said these words than, to her intense surprise, the little snake looked up + into her face and spoke: ‘Since you have no children, be a mother to me + instead, and I promise you will never repent it, for I will love you as if + I were your own son.’ + </p> + <p> + At first Sabatella was frightened to death at hearing a snake speak, but + plucking up her courage, she replied, ‘If it weren’t for any other reason + than your kindly thought, I would agree to what you say, and I will love + you and look after you like a mother.’ + </p> + <p> + So she gave the snake a little hole in the house for its bed, fed it with + all the nicest food she could think of, and seemed as if she never could + show it enough kindness. Day by day it grew bigger and fatter, and at last + one morning it said to Cola-Mattheo, the peasant, whom it always regarded + as its father, ‘Dear papa, I am now of a suitable age and wish to marry.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘I’m quite agreeable,’ answered Mattheo, ‘and I’ll do my best to find + another snake like yourself and arrange a match between you.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Why, if you do that,’ replied the snake, ‘we shall be no better than the + vipers and reptiles, and that’s not what I want at all. No; I’d much + prefer to marry the King’s daughter; therefore I pray you go without + further delay, and demand an audience of the King, and tell him a snake + wishes to marry his daughter.’ + </p> + <p> + Cola-Mattheo, who was rather a simpleton, went as he was desired to the + King, and having obtained an audience, he said, ‘Your Majesty, I have + often heard that people lose nothing by asking, so I have come to inform + you that a snake wants to marry your daughter, and I’d be glad to know if + you are willing to mate a dove with a serpent?’ + </p> + <p> + The King, who saw at once that the man was a fool, said, in order to get + quit of him, ‘Go home and tell your friend the snake that if he can turn + this palace into ivory, inlaid with gold and silver, before to-morrow at + noon, I will let him marry my daughter.’ And with a hearty laugh he + dismissed the peasant. + </p> + <p> + When Cola-Mattheo brought this answer back to the snake, the little + creature didn’t seem the least put out, but said, ‘To-morrow morning, + before sunrise, you must go to the wood and gather a bunch of green herbs, + and then rub the threshold of the palace with them, and you’ll see what + will happen.’ + </p> + <p> + Cola-Mattheo, who was, as I have said before, a great simpleton, made no + reply; but before sunrise next morning he went to the wood and gathered a + bunch of St. John’s Wort, and rosemary, and suchlike herbs, and rubbed + them, as he had been told, on the floor of the palace. Hardly had he done + so than the walls immediately turned into ivory, so richly inlaid with + gold and silver that they dazzled the eyes of all beholders. The King, + when he rose and saw the miracle that had been performed, was beside + himself with amazement, and didn’t know what in the world he was to do. + </p> + <p> + But when Cola-Mattheo came next day, and, in the name of the snake, + demanded the hand of the Princess, the King replied, ‘Don’t be in such a + hurry; if the snake really wants to marry my daughter, he must do some + more things first, and one of these is to turn all the paths and walls of + my garden into pure gold before noon to-morrow.’ + </p> + <p> + When the snake was told of this new condition, he replied, ‘To-morrow + morning, early, you must go and collect all the odds and ends of rubbish + you can find in the streets, and then take them and throw them on the + paths and walls of the garden, and you’ll see then if we won’t be more + than a match for the old King.’ + </p> + <p> + So Cola-Mattheo rose at cock-crow, took a large basket under his arm, and + carefully collected all the broken fragments of pots and pans, and jugs + and lamps, and other trash of that sort. No sooner had he scattered them + over the paths and walls of the King’s garden than they became one blaze + of glittering gold, so that everyone’s eyes were dazzled with the + brilliancy, and everyone’s soul was filled with wonder. The King, too, was + amazed at the sight, but still he couldn’t make up his mind to part with + his daughter, so when Cola-Mattheo came to remind him of his promise he + replied, ‘I have still a third demand to make. If the snake can turn all + the trees and fruit of my garden into precious stones, then I promise him + my daughter in marriage.’ + </p> + <p> + When the peasant informed the snake what the King had said, he replied, + ‘To-morrow morning, early, you must go to the market and buy all the fruit + you see there, and then sow all the stones and seeds in the palace garden, + and, if I’m not mistaken, the King will be satisfied with the result.’ + </p> + <p> + Cola-Mattheo rose at dawn, and taking a basket on his arm, he went to the + market, and bought all the pomegranates, apricots, cherries, and other + fruit he could find there, and sowed the seeds and stones in the palace + garden. In one moment, the trees were all ablaze with rubies, emeralds, + diamonds, and every other precious stone you can think of. + </p> + <p> + This time the King felt obliged to keep his promise, and calling his + daughter to him, he said, ‘My dear Grannonia,’ for that was the Princess’s + name, ‘more as a joke than anything else, I demanded what seemed to me + impossibilities from your bridegroom, but now that he has done all I + required, I am bound to stick to my part of the bargain. Be a good child, + and as you love me, do not force me to break my word, but give yourself up + with as good grace as you can to a most unhappy fate.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Do with me what you like, my lord and father, for your will is my law,’ + answered Grannonia. + </p> + <p> + When the King heard this, he told Cola-Mattheo to bring the snake to the + palace, and said that he was prepared to receive the creature as his + son-in-law. + </p> + <p> + The snake arrived at court in a carriage made of gold and drawn by six + white elephants; but wherever it appeared on the way, the people fled in + terror at the sight of the fearful reptile. + </p> + <p> + When the snake reached the palace, all the courtiers shook and trembled + with fear down to the very scullion, and the King and Queen were in such a + state of nervous collapse that they hid themselves in a far-away turret. + Grannonia alone kept her presence of mind, and although both her father + and mother implored her to fly for her life, she wouldn’t move a step, + saying, ‘I’m certainly not going to fly from the man you have chosen for + my husband.’ + </p> + <p> + As soon as the snake saw Grannonia, it wound its tail round her and kissed + her. Then, leading her into a room, it shut the door, and throwing off its + skin, it changed into a beautiful young man with golden locks, and + flashing eyes, who embraced Grannonia tenderly, and said all sorts of + pretty things to her. + </p> + <p> + When the King saw the snake shut itself into a room with his daughter, he + said to his wife, ‘Heaven be merciful to our child, for I fear it is all + over with her now. This cursed snake has most likely swallowed her up.’ + Then they put their eyes to the keyhole to see what had happened. + </p> + <p> + Their amazement knew no bounds when they saw a beautiful youth standing + before their daughter with the snake’s skin lying on the floor beside him. + In their excitement they burst open the door, and seizing the skin they + threw it into the fire. But no sooner had they done this than the young + man called out, ‘Oh, wretched people! what have you done?’ and before they + had time to look round he had changed himself into a dove, and dashing + against the window he broke a pane of glass, and flew away from their + sight. + </p> + <p> + But Grannonia, who in one and the same moment saw herself merry and sad, + cheerful and despairing, rich and beggared, complained bitterly over this + robbery of her happiness, this poisoning of her cup of joy, this unlucky + stroke of fortune, and laid all the blame on her parents, though they + assured her that they had meant no harm. But the Princess refused to be + comforted, and at night, when all the inhabitants of the palace were + asleep, she stole out by a back door, disguised as a peasant woman, + determined to seek for her lost happiness till she found it. When she got + to the outskirts of the town, led by the light of the moon, she met a fox, + who offered to accompany her, an offer which Grannonia gladly accepted, + saying ‘You are most heartily welcome, for I don’t know my way at all + about the neighbourhood.’ + </p> + <p> + So they went on their way together, and came at last to a wood, where, + being tired with walking, they paused to rest under the shade of a tree, + where a spring of water sported with the tender grass, refreshing it with + its crystal spray. + </p> + <p> + They laid themselves down on the green carpet and soon fell fast asleep, + and did not waken again till the sun was high in the heavens. They rose up + and stood for some time listening to the birds singing, because Grannonia + delighted in their songs. + </p> + <p> + When the fox perceived this, he said: ‘If you only understood, as I do, + what these little birds are saying, your pleasure would be even greater.’ + </p> + <p> + Provoked by his words—for we all know that curiosity is as deeply + inborn in every woman as even the love of talking—Grannonia implored + the fox to tell her what the birds had said. + </p> + <p> + At first the wily fox refused to tell her what he had gathered from the + conversation of the birds, but at last he gave way to her entreaties, and + told her that they had spoken of the misfortunes of a beautiful young + Prince, whom a wicked enchantress had turned into a snake for the period + of seven years. At the end of this time he had fallen in love with a + charming Princess, but that when he had shut himself up into a room with + her, and had thrown off his snake’s skin, her parents had forced their way + into the room and had burnt the skin, whereupon the Prince, changed into + the likeness of a dove, had broken a pane of glass in trying to fly out of + the window, and had wounded himself so badly that the doctors despaired of + his life. + </p> + <p> + Grannonia, when she learnt that they were talking of her lover, asked at + once whose son he was, and if there was any hope of his recovery; to which + the fox made answer that the birds had said he was the son of the King of + Vallone Grosso, and that the only thing that could cure him was to rub the + wounds on his head with the blood of the very birds who had told the tale. + </p> + <p> + Then Grannonia knelt down before the fox, and begged him in her sweetest + way to catch the birds for her and procure their blood, promising at the + same time to reward him richly. + </p> + <p> + ‘All right,’ said the fox, ‘only don’t be in such a hurry; let’s wait till + night, when the little birds have gone to roost, then I’ll climb up and + catch them all for you.’ + </p> + <p> + So they passed the day, talking now of the beauty of the Prince, now of + the father of the Princess, and then of the misfortune that had happened. + At last the night arrived, and all the little birds were asleep high up on + the branches of a big tree. The fox climbed up stealthily and caught the + little creatures with his paws one after the other; and when he had killed + them all he put their blood into a little bottle which he wore at his side + and returned with it to Grannonia, who was beside herself with joy at the + result of the fox’s raid. But the fox said, ‘My dear daughter, your joy is + in vain, because, let me tell you, this blood is of no earthly use to you + unless you add some of mine to it,’ and with these words he took to his + heels. + </p> + <p> + Grannonia, who saw her hopes dashed to the ground in this cruel way, had + recourse to flattery and cunning, weapons which have often stood the sex + in good stead, and called out after the fox, ‘Father Fox, you would be + quite right to save your skin, if, in the first place, I didn’t feel I + owed so much to you, and if, in the second, there weren’t other foxes in + the world; but as you know how grateful I feel to you, and as there are + heaps of other foxes about, you can trust yourself to me. Don’t behave + like the cow that kicks the pail over after it has filled it with milk, + but continue your journey with me, and when we get to the capital you can + sell me to the King as a servant girl.’ + </p> + <p> + It never entered the fox’s head that even foxes can be outwitted, so after + a bit he consented to go with her; but he hadn’t gone far before the + cunning girl seized a stick, and gave him such a blow with it on the head, + that he dropped down dead on the spot. Then Grannonia took some of his + blood and poured it into her little bottle; and went on her way as fast as + she could to Vallone Grosso. + </p> + <p> + When she arrived there she went straight to the Royal palace, and let the + King be told she had come to cure the young Prince. + </p> + <p> + The King commanded her to be brought before him at once, and was much + astonished when he saw that it was a girl who undertook to do what all the + cleverest doctors of his kingdom had failed in. As an attempt hurts no + one, he willingly consented that she should do what she could. + </p> + <p> + ‘All I ask,’ said Grannonia, ‘is that, should I succeed in what you + desire, you will give me your son in marriage.’ + </p> + <p> + The King, who had given up all hopes of his son’s recovery, replied: ‘Only + restore him to life and health and he shall be yours. It is only fair to + give her a husband who gives me a son.’ + </p> + <p> + And so they went into the Prince’s room. The moment Grannonia had rubbed + the blood on his wounds the illness left him, and he was as sound and well + as ever. When the King saw his son thus marvellously restored to life and + health, he turned to him and said: ‘My dear son, I thought of you as dead, + and now, to my great joy and amazement, you are alive again. I promised + this young woman that if she should cure you, to bestow your hand and + heart on her, and seeing that Heaven has been gracious, you must fulfil + the promise I made her; for gratitude alone forces me to pay this debt.’ + </p> + <p> + But the Prince answered: ‘My lord and father, I would that my will were as + free as my love for you is great. But as I have plighted my word to + another maiden, you will see yourself, and so will this young woman, that + I cannot go back from my word, and be faithless to her whom I love.’ + </p> + <p> + When Grannonia heard these words, and saw how deeply rooted the Prince’s + love for her was, she felt very happy, and blushing rosy red, she said: + ‘But should I get the other lady to give up her rights, would you then + consent to marry me?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Far be it from me,’ replied the Prince, ‘to banish the beautiful picture + of my love from my heart. Whatever she may say, my heart and desire will + remain the same, and though I were to lose my life for it, I couldn’t + consent to this exchange.’ + </p> + <p> + Grannonia could keep silence no longer, and throwing off her peasant’s + disguise, she discovered herself to the Prince, who was nearly beside + himself with joy when he recognised his fair lady-love. He then told his + father at once who she was, and what she had done and suffered for his + sake. + </p> + <p> + Then they invited the King and Queen of Starza-Longa to their Court, and + had a great wedding feast, and proved once more that there is no better + seasoning for the joys of true love than a few pangs of grief. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0019" id="link2H_4_0019"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE BITER BIT + </h2> + <p> + Once upon a time there lived a man called Simon, who was very rich, but at + the same time as stingy and miserly as he could be. He had a housekeeper + called Nina, a clever capable woman, and as she did her work carefully and + conscientiously, her master had the greatest respect for her. + </p> + <p> + In his young days Simon had been one of the gayest and most active youths + of the neighbourhood, but as he grew old and stiff he found it very + difficult to walk, and his faithful servant urged him to get a horse so as + to save his poor old bones. At last Simon gave way to the request and + persuasive eloquence of his housekeeper, and betook himself one day to the + market where he had seen a mule, which he thought would just suit him, and + which he bought for seven gold pieces. + </p> + <p> + Now it happened that there were three merry rascals hanging about the + market-place, who much preferred living on other people’s goods to working + for their own living. As soon as they saw that Simon had bought a mule, + one of them said to his two boon companions, ‘My friends, this mule must + be ours before we are many hours older.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘But how shall we manage it,’ asked one of them. + </p> + <p> + ‘We must all three station ourselves at different intervals along the old + man’s homeward way, and must each in his turn declare that the mule he has + bought is a donkey. If we only stick to it you’ll see the mule will soon + be ours.’ This proposal quite satisfied the others, and they all separated + as they had agreed. + </p> + <p> + Now when Simon came by, the first rogue said to him, ‘God bless you, my + fine gentleman.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Thanks for your courtesy,’ replied Simon. + </p> + <p> + ‘Where have you been?’ asked the thief. + </p> + <p> + ‘To the market,’ was the reply. + </p> + <p> + ‘And what did you buy there?’ continued the rogue. + </p> + <p> + ‘This mule.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Which mule?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘The one I’m sitting upon, to be sure,’ replied Simon. + </p> + <p> + ‘Are you in earnest, or only joking?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘What do you mean?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Because it seems to me you’ve got hold of a donkey, and not of a mule.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘A donkey? Rubbish!’ screamed Simon, and without another word he rode on + his way. After a few hundred yards he met the second confederate, who + addressed him, ‘Good day, dear sir, where are you coming from?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘From the market,’ answered Simon. + </p> + <p> + ‘Did things go pretty cheap?’ asked the other. + </p> + <p> + ‘I should just think so,’ said Simon. + </p> + <p> + ‘And did you make any good bargain yourself?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘I bought this mule on which you see me.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Is it possible that you really bought that beast for a mule?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Why certainly.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘But, good heavens, it’s nothing but a donkey!’ + </p> + <p> + ‘A donkey!’ repeated Simon, ‘you don’t mean to say so; if a single other + person tells me that, I’ll make him a present of the wretched animal.’ + </p> + <p> + With these words he continued his way, and very soon met the third knave, + who said to him, ‘God bless you, sir; are you by any chance coming from + the market?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Yes, I am,’ replied Simon. + </p> + <p> + ‘And what bargain did you drive there?’ asked the cunning fellow. + </p> + <p> + ‘I bought this mule on which I am riding.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘A mule! Are you speaking seriously, or do you wish to make a fool of me?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘I’m speaking in sober earnest,’ said Simon; ‘it wouldn’t occur to me to + make a joke of it.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Oh, my poor friend,’ cried the rascal, ‘don’t you see that is a donkey + and not a mule? you have been taken in by some wretched cheats.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘You are the third person in the last two hours who has told me the same + thing,’ said Simon, ‘but I couldn’t believe it,’ and dismounting from the + mule he spoke: ‘Keep the animal, I make you a present of it.’ The rascal + took the beast, thanked him kindly, and rode on to join his comrades, + while Simon continued his journey on foot. + </p> + <p> + As soon as the old man got home, he told his housekeeper that he had + bought a beast under the belief that it was a mule, but that it had turned + out to be a donkey—at least, so he had been assured by several + people he had met on the road, and that in disgust he had at last given it + away. + </p> + <p> + ‘Oh, you simpleton!’ cried Nina; ‘didn’t you see that they were only + playing you a trick? Really, I thought you’d have had more gumption than + that; they wouldn’t have taken me in in that way.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Never mind,’ replied Simon, ‘I’ll play them one worth two of that; for + depend upon it they won’t be contented with having got the donkey out of + me, but they’ll try by some new dodge to get something more, or I’m much + mistaken.’ + </p> + <p> + Now there lived in the village not far from Simon’s house, a peasant who + had two goats, so alike in every respect that it was impossible to + distinguish one from the other. Simon bought them both, paid as small a + price as he could for them, and leading them home with him, he told Nina + to prepare a good meal, as he was going to invite some friends to dinner. + He ordered her to roast some veal, and to boil a pair of chickens, and + gave her some herbs to make a good savoury, and told her to bake the best + tart she could make. Then he took one of the goats and tied it to a post + in the courtyard, and gave it some grass to eat; but he bound a cord round + the neck of the other goat and led it to the market. + </p> + <p> + Hardly had he arrived there, than the three gentlemen who had got his mule + perceived him, and coming up to him said: ‘Welcome, Mr. Simon, what brings + you here; are you on the look out for a bargain?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘I’ve come to get some provisions,’ he answered, ‘because some friends are + coming to dine with me today, and it would give me much pleasure if you + were to honour me with your company also.’ + </p> + <p> + The accomplices willingly accepted this invitation; and after Simon had + made all his purchases, he tied them on to the goat’s back, and said to + it, in the presence of the three cheats, ‘Go home now, and tell Nina to + roast the veal, and boil the chickens, and tell her to prepare a savoury + with herbs, and to bake the best tart she can make. Have you followed me? + Then go, and Heaven’s blessing go with you.’ + </p> + <p> + As soon as it felt itself free, the laden goat trotted off as quickly as + it could, and to this day nobody knows what became of it. But Simon, after + wandering about the market for some time with his three friends and some + others he had picked up, returned home to his house. + </p> + <p> + When he and his guests entered the courtyard, they noticed the goat tied + to the post quietly chewing the cud. They were not a little astonished at + this, for of course they thought it was the same goat that Simon had sent + home laden with provisions. As soon as they reached the house Mr. Simon + said to his housekeeper, ‘Well, Nina, have you done what I told the goat + to tell you to do?’ The artful woman, who at once understood her master, + answered, ‘Certainly I have. The veal is roasted, and the chickens + boiled.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘That’s all right,’ said Simon. + </p> + <p> + When the three rogues saw the cooked meats, and the tart in the oven, and + heard Nina’s words, they were nearly beside themselves with amazement, and + began to consult at once how they were to get the goat into their own + possession. At last, towards the end of the meal, having sought in vain + for some cunning dodge to get the goat away from Mr. Simon, one of them + said to him, ‘My worthy host, you must sell your goat to us.’ + </p> + <p> + Simon replied that he was most unwilling to part with the creature, as no + amount of money would make up to him for its loss; still, if they were + quite set on it, he would let them have the goat for fifty gold pieces. + </p> + <p> + The knaves, who thought they were doing a capital piece of business, paid + down the fifty gold pieces at once, and left the house quite happily, + leading the goat with them. When they got home they said to their wives, + ‘You needn’t begin to cook the dinner to-morrow till we send the + provisions home.’ + </p> + <p> + The following day they went to the market and bought chickens and other + eatables, and after they had packed them on the back of the goat (which + they had brought with them), they told it all the dishes they wished their + wives to prepare. As soon as the goat felt itself free, it ran as quickly + as it could, and was very soon lost to sight, and, as far as I know, was + never heard of again. + </p> + <p> + When the dinner hour approached all three went home and asked their wives + if the goat had returned with the necessary provisions, and had told them + what they wished prepared for their meal. + </p> + <p> + ‘Oh, you fools and blockheads!’ cried their wives, ‘how could you ever + believe for a moment that a goat would do the work of a servant-maid? You + have been finely deceived for once in a way. Of course, if you are always + taking in other people, your turn to be taken in comes too, and this time + you’ve been made to look pretty foolish.’ + </p> + <p> + When the three comrades saw that Mr. Simon had got the better of them, and + done them out of fifty gold pieces, they flew into such a rage that they + made up their minds to kill him, and, seizing their weapons for this + purpose, went to his house. + </p> + <p> + But the sly old man, who was terrified for his life that the three rogues + might do him some harm, was on his guard, and said to his housekeeper, + ‘Nina, take this bladder, which is filled with blood, and hide it under + your cloak; then when these thieves come I’ll lay all the blame on you, + and will pretend to be so angry with you that I will run at you with my + knife, and pierce the bladder with it; then you must fall on the ground as + if you were dead, and leave the rest to me.’ + </p> + <p> + Hardly had Simon said these words when the three rogues appeared and fell + on him to kill him. + </p> + <p> + ‘My friends,’ called out Simon to then, ‘what do you accuse me of? I am in + no way to blame; perhaps my housekeeper has done you some injury of which + I know nothing.’ And with these words, he turned on Nina with his knife, + and stuck it right into her, so that he pierced the bladder filled with + blood. Instantly the housekeeper fell down as if she were dead, and the + blood streamed all over the ground. + </p> + <p> + Simon then pretended to be seized with remorse at the sight of this + dreadful catastrophe, and cried out in a loud voice, ‘Unhappy wretch that + I am! What have I done? Like a madman I have killed the woman who is the + prop and stay of my old age. How could I ever go on living without her?’ + Then he seized a pipe, and when he had blown into it for some time Nina + sprang up alive and well. + </p> + <p> + The rogues were more amazed than ever; they forgot their anger, and buying + the pipe for two hundred gold pieces, they went joyfully home. + </p> + <p> + Not long after this one of them quarrelled with his wife, and in his rage + he thrust his knife into her breast so that she fell dead on the ground. + Then he took Simon’s pipe and blew into it with all his might, in the + hopes of calling his wife back to life. But he blew in vain, for the poor + soul was as dead as a door-nail. + </p> + <p> + When one of his comrades heard what had happened, he said, ‘You blockhead, + you can’t have done it properly; just let me have a try,’ and with these + words he seized his wife by the roots of her hair, cut her throat with a + razor, and then took the pipe and blew into it with all his might but he + couldn’t bring her back to life. The same thing happened to the third + rogue, so that they were now all three without wives. + </p> + <p> + Full of wrath they ran to Simon’s house, and, refusing to listen to a word + of explanation or excuse, they seized the old man and put him into a sack, + meaning to drown him in the neighbouring river. On their way there, + however, a sudden noise threw them into such a panic that they dropped the + sack with Simon in it and ran for their lives. + </p> + <p> + Soon after this a shepherd happened to pass by with his flock, and while + he was slowly following the sheep, who paused here and there by the + wayside to browse on the tender grass, he heard a pitiful voice wailing, + ‘They insist on my taking her, and I don’t want her, for I am too old, and + I really can’t have her.’ The shepherd was much startled, for he couldn’t + make out where these words, which were repeated more than once, came from, + and looked about him to the right and left; at last he perceived the sack + in which Simon was hidden, and going up to it he opened it and discovered + Simon repeating his dismal complaint. The shepherd asked him why he had + been left there tied up in a sack. + </p> + <p> + Simon replied that the king of the country had insisted on giving him one + of his daughters as a wife, but that he had refused the honour because he + was too old and too frail. The simple-minded shepherd, who believed his + story implicitly, asked him, ‘Do you think the king of the country would + give his daughter to me?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Yes, certainly, I know he would,’ answered Simon, ‘if you were tied up in + this sack instead of me.’ Then getting out of the sack, he tied the + confiding shepherd up in it instead, and at his request fastened it + securely and drove the sheep on himself. + </p> + <p> + An hour had scarcely passed when the three rogues returned to the place + where they had left Simon in the sack, and without opening it, one of them + seized it and threw it into the river. And so the poor shepherd was + drowned instead of Mr. Simon! + </p> + <p> + The three rogues, having wreaked their vengeance, set out, for home. On + their way they noticed a flock of sheep grazing not far from the road. + They longed to steal a few of the lambs, and approached the flock, and + were more than startled to recognise Mr. Simon, whom they had drowned in + the river, as the shepherd who was looking after the sheep. They asked him + how he had managed to get out of the river, to which he replied: + </p> + <p> + ‘Get along with you—you are no better than silly donkeys without any + sense; if you had only drowned me in deeper water I would have returned + with three times as many sheep.’ + </p> + <p> + When the three rogues heard this, they said to him: ‘Oh, dear Mr. Simon, + do us the favour to tie us up in sacks and throw us into the river that we + may give up our thieving ways and become the owners of flocks.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘I am ready,’ answered Simon, ‘to do what you please; there’s nothing in + the world I wouldn’t do for you.’ + </p> + <p> + So he took three strong sacks and put a man in each of them, and fastened + them up so tightly that they couldn’t get out, and then he threw them all + into the river; and that was the end of the three rogues. But Mr. Simon + returned home to his faithful Nina rich in flocks and gold, and lived for + many a year in health and happiness. + </p> + <p> + Kletke. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0020" id="link2H_4_0020"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + KING KOJATA (From the Russian) + </h2> + <p> + There was once upon a time a king called Kojata, whose beard was so long + that it reached below his knees. Three years had passed since his + marriage, and he lived very happily with his wife, but Heaven granted him + no heir, which grieved the King greatly. One day he set forth from his + capital, in order to make a journey through his kingdom. He travelled for + nearly a year through the different parts of his territory, and then, + having seen all there was to be seen, he set forth on his homeward way. As + the day was very hot and sultry he commanded his servants to pitch tents + in the open field, and there await the cool of the evening. Suddenly a + frightful thirst seized the King, and as he saw no water near, he mounted + his horse, and rode through the neighbourhood looking for a spring. Before + long he came to a well filled to the brim with water clear as crystal, and + on the bosom of which a golden jug was floating. King Kojata at once tried + to seize the vessel, but though he endeavoured to grasp it with his right + hand, and then with his left, the wretched thing always eluded his efforts + and refused to let itself be caught. First with one hand, and then with + two, did the King try to seize it, but like a fish the goblet always + slipped through his fingers and bobbed to the ground only to reappear at + some other place, and mock the King. + </p> + <p> + ‘Plague on you!’ said King Kojata. ‘I can quench my thirst without you,’ + and bending over the well he lapped up the water so greedily that he + plunged his face, beard and all, right into the crystal mirror. But when + he had satisfied his thirst, and wished to raise himself up, he couldn’t + lift his head, because someone held his beard fast in the water. ‘Who’s + there? let me go!’ cried King Kojata, but there was no answer; only an + awful face looked up from the bottom of the well with two great green + eyes, glowing like emeralds, and a wide mouth reaching from ear to ear + showing two rows of gleaming white teeth, and the King’s beard was held, + not by mortal hands, but by two claws. At last a hoarse voice sounded from + the depths. ‘Your trouble is all in vain, King Kojata; I will only let you + go on condition that you give me something you know nothing about, and + which you will find on your return home.’ + </p> + <p> + The King didn’t pause to ponder long, ‘for what,’ thought he, ‘could be in + my palace without my knowing about it—the thing is absurd;’ so he + answered quickly: + </p> + <p> + ‘Yes, I promise that you shall have it.’ + </p> + <p> + The voice replied, ‘Very well; but it will go ill with you if you fail to + keep your promise.’ Then the claws relaxed their hold, and the face + disappeared in the depths. The King drew his chin out of the water, and + shook himself like a dog; then he mounted his horse and rode thoughtfully + home with his retinue. When they approached the capital, all the people + came out to meet them with great joy and acclamation, and when the King + reached his palace the Queen met him on the threshold; beside her stood + the Prime Minister, holding a little cradle in his hands, in which lay a + new-born child as beautiful as the day. Then the whole thing dawned on the + King, and groaning deeply he muttered to himself ‘So this is what I did + not know about,’ and the tears rolled down his cheeks. All the courtiers + standing round were much amazed at the King’s grief, but no one dared to + ask him the cause of it. He took the child in his arms and kissed it + tenderly; then laying it in its cradle, he determined to control his + emotion and began to reign again as before. + </p> + <p> + The secret of the King remained a secret, though his grave, careworn + expression escaped no one’s notice. In the constant dread that his child + would be taken from him, poor Kojata knew no rest night or day. However, + time went on and nothing happened. Days and months and years passed, and + the Prince grew up into a beautiful youth, and at last the King himself + forgot all about the incident that had happened so long ago. + </p> + <p> + One day the Prince went out hunting, and going in pursuit of a wild boar + he soon lost the other huntsmen, and found himself quite alone in the + middle of a dark wood. The trees grew so thick and near together that it + was almost impossible to see through them, only straight in front of him + lay a little patch of meadowland. Overgrown with thistles and rank weeds, + in the centre of which a leafy lime tree reared itself. Suddenly a + rustling sound was heard in the hollow of the tree, and an extraordinary + old man with green eyes and chin crept out of it. + </p> + <p> + ‘A fine day, Prince Milan,’ he said; ‘you’ve kept me waiting a good number + of years; it was high time for you to come and pay me a visit.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Who are you, in the name of wonder?’ demanded the astonished Prince. + </p> + <p> + ‘You’ll find out soon enough, but in the meantime do as I bid you. Greet + your father King Kojata from me, and don’t forget to remind him of his + debt; the time has long passed since it was due, but now he will have to + pay it. Farewell for the present; we shall meet again.’ + </p> + <p> + With these words the old man disappeared into the tree, and the Prince + returned home rather startled, and told his father all that he had seen + and heard. + </p> + <p> + The King grew as white as a sheet when he heard the Prince’s story, and + said, ‘Woe is me, my son! The time has come when we must part,’ and with a + heavy heart he told the Prince what had happened at the time of his birth. + </p> + <p> + ‘Don’t worry or distress yourself, dear father,’ answered Prince Milan. + ‘Things are never as bad as they look. Only give me a horse for my + journey, and I wager you’ll soon see me back again.’ + </p> + <p> + The King gave him a beautiful charger, with golden stirrups, and a sword. + The Queen hung a little cross round his neck, and after much weeping and + lamentation the Prince bade them all farewell and set forth on his + journey. + </p> + <p> + He rode straight on for two days, and on the third he came to a lake as + smooth as glass and as clear as crystal. Not a breath of wind moved, not a + leaf stirred, all was silent as the grave, only on the still bosom of the + lake thirty ducks, with brilliant plumage, swam about in the water. Not + far from the shore Prince Milan noticed thirty little white garments lying + on the grass, and dismounting from his horse, he crept down under the high + bulrushes, took one of the garments and hid himself with it behind the + bushes which grew round the lake. The ducks swam about all over the place, + dived down into the depths and rose again and glided through the waves. At + last, tired of disporting themselves, they swam to the shore, and + twenty-nine of them put on their little white garments and instantly + turned into so many beautiful maidens. Then they finished dressing and + disappeared. Only the thirtieth little duck couldn’t come to the land; it + swam about close to the shore, and, giving out a piercing cry, it + stretched its neck up timidly, gazed wildly around, and then dived under + again. Prince Milan’s heart was so moved with pity for the poor little + creature that he came out from behind the bulrushes, to see if he could be + of any help. As soon as the duck perceived him, it cried in a human voice, + ‘Oh, dear Prince Milan, for the love of Heaven give me back my garment, + and I will be so grateful to you.’ The Prince lay the little garment on + the bank beside her, and stepped back into the bushes. In a few seconds a + beautiful girl in a white robe stood before him, so fair and sweet and + young that no pen could describe her. She gave the Prince her hand and + spoke. + </p> + <p> + ‘Many thanks, Prince Milan, for your courtesy. I am the daughter of a + wicked magician, and my name is Hyacinthia. My father has thirty young + daughters, and is a mighty ruler in the underworld, with many castles and + great riches. He has been expecting you for ages, but you need have no + fear if you will only follow my advice. As soon as you come into the + presence of my father, throw yourself at once on the ground and approach + him on your knees. Don’t mind if he stamps furiously with his feet and + curses and swears. I’ll attend to the rest, and in the meantime we had + better be off.’ + </p> + <p> + With these words the beautiful Hyacinthia stamped on the ground with her + little foot, and the earth opened and they both sank down into the lower + world. + </p> + <p> + The palace of the Magician was all hewn out of a single carbuncle, + lighting up the whole surrounding region, and Prince Milan walked into it + gaily. + </p> + <p> + The Magician sat on a throne, a sparkling crown on his head; his eyes + blazed like a green fire, and instead of hands he had claws. As soon as + Prince Milan entered he flung himself on his knees. The Magician stamped + loudly with his feet, glared frightfully out of his green eyes, and cursed + so loudly that the whole underworld shook. But the Prince, mindful of the + counsel he had been given, wasn’t the least afraid, and approached the + throne still on his knees. At last the Magician laughed aloud and said, + ‘You rogue, you have been well advised to make me laugh; I won’t be your + enemy any more. Welcome to the underworld! All the same, for your delay in + coming here, we must demand three services from you. For to-day you may + go, but to-morrow I shall have something more to say to you.’ + </p> + <p> + Then two servants led Prince Milan to a beautiful apartment, and he lay + down fearlessly on the soft bed that had been prepared for him, and was + soon fast asleep. + </p> + <p> + Early the next morning the Magician sent for him, and said, ‘Let’s see now + what you’ve learnt. In the first place you must build me a palace + to-night, the roof of purest gold, the walls of marble, and the windows of + crystal; all round you must lay out a beautiful garden, with fish-ponds + and artistic waterfalls. If you do all this, I will reward you richly; but + if you don’t, you shall lose your head.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Oh, you wicked monster!’ thought Prince Milan, ‘you might as well have + put me to death at once.’ Sadly he returned to his room, and with bent + head sat brooding over his cruel fate till evening. When it grew dark, a + little bee flew by, and knocking at the window, it said, ‘Open, and let me + in.’ + </p> + <p> + Milan opened the window quickly, and as soon as the bee had entered, it + changed into the beautiful Hyacinthia. + </p> + <p> + ‘Good evening, Prince Milan. Why are you so sad?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘How can I help being sad? Your father threatens me with death, and I see + myself already without a head.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘And what have you made up your mind to do?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘There’s nothing to be done, and after all I suppose one can only die + once.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Now, don’t be so foolish, my dear Prince; but keep up your spirits, for + there is no need to despair. Go to bed, and when you wake up to-morrow + morning the palace will be finished. Then you must go all round it, giving + a tap here and there on the walls to look as if you had just finished it.’ + </p> + <p> + And so it all turned out just as she had said. As soon as it was daylight + Prince Milan stepped out of his room, and found a palace which was quite a + work of art down to the very smallest detail. The Magician himself was not + a little astonished at its beauty, and could hardly believe his eyes. + </p> + <p> + ‘Well, you certainly are a splendid workman,’ he said to the Prince. ‘I + see you are very clever with your hands, now I must see if you are equally + accomplished with your head. I have thirty daughters in my house, all + beautiful princesses. To-morrow I will place the whole thirty in a row. + You must walk past them three times, and the third time you must show me + which is my youngest daughter Hyacinthia. If you don’t guess rightly, you + shall lose your head.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘This time you’ve made a mistake,’ thought Prince Milan, and going to his + room he sat down at the window. Just fancy my not recognising the + beautiful Hyacinthia! Why, that is the easiest thing in the world.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Not so easy as you think,’ cried the little bee, who was flying past. ‘If + I weren’t to help you, you’d never guess. We are thirty sisters so exactly + alike that our own father can hardly distinguish us apart.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Then what am I to do?’ asked Prince Milan. + </p> + <p> + ‘Listen,’ answered Hyacinthia. ‘You will recognise me by a tiny fly I + shall have on my left cheek, but be careful for you might easily make a + mistake.’ + </p> + <p> + The next day the Magician again commanded Prince Milan to be led before + him. His daughters were all arranged in a straight row in front of him, + dressed exactly alike, and with their eyes bent on the ground. + </p> + <p> + ‘Now, you genius,’ said the Magician, ‘look at these beauties three times, + and then tell us which is the Princess Hyacinthia.’ + </p> + <p> + Prince Milan went past them and looked at them closely. But they were all + so precisely alike that they looked like one face reflected in thirty + mirrors, and the fly was nowhere to be seen; the second time he passed + them he still saw nothing; but the third time he perceived a little fly + stealing down one cheek, causing it to blush a faint pink. Then the Prince + seized the girl’s hand and cried out, ‘This is the Princess Hyacinthia!’ + </p> + <p> + ‘You’re right again,’ said the Magician in amazement; ‘but I’ve still + another task for you to do. Before this candle, which I shall light, burns + to the socket, you must have made me a pair of boots reaching to my knees. + If they aren’t finished in that time, off comes your head.’ + </p> + <p> + The Prince returned to his room in despair; then the Princess Hyacinthia + came to him once more changed into the likeness of a bee, and asked him, + ‘Why so sad, Prince Milan?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘How can I help being sad? Your father has set me this time an impossible + task. Before a candle which he has lit burns to the socket, I am to make a + pair of boots. But what does a prince know of shoemaking? If I can’t do + it, I lose my head.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘And what do you mean to do?’ asked Hyacinthia. + </p> + <p> + ‘Well, what is there to be done? What he demands I can’t and won’t do, so + he must just make an end of me.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Not so, dearest. I love you dearly, and you shall marry me, and I’ll + either save your life or die with you. We must fly now as quickly as we + can, for there is no other way of escape.’ + </p> + <p> + With these words she breathed on the window, and her breath froze on the + pane. Then she led Milan out of the room with her, shut the door, and + threw the key away. Hand in hand, they hurried to the spot where they had + descended into the lower world, and at last reached the banks of the lake. + Prince Milan’s charger was still grazing on the grass which grew near the + water. The horse no sooner recognized his master, than it neighed loudly + with joy, and springing towards him, it stood as if rooted to the ground, + while Prince Milan and Hyacinthia jumped on its back. Then it sped onwards + like an arrow from a bow. + </p> + <p> + In the meantime the Magician was waiting impatiently for the Prince. + Enraged by the delay, he sent his servants to fetch him, for the appointed + time was past. + </p> + <p> + The servants came to the door, and finding it locked, they knocked; but + the frozen breath on the window replied in Prince Milan’s voice, ‘I am + coming directly.’ With this answer they returned to the Magician. But when + the Prince still did not appear, after a time he sent his servants a + second time to bring him. The frozen breath always gave the same answer, + but the Prince never came. At last the Magician lost all patience, and + commanded the door to be burst open. But when his servants did so, they + found the room empty, and the frozen breath laughed aloud. Out of his mind + with rage, the Magician ordered the Prince to be pursued. + </p> + <p> + Then a wild chase began. ‘I hear horses’ hoofs behind us,’ said Hyacinthia + to the Prince. Milan sprang from the saddle, put his ear to the ground and + listened. ‘Yes,’ he answered, ‘they are pursuing us, and are quite close.’ + ‘Then no time must be lost,’ said Hyacinthia, and she immediately turned + herself into a river, Prince Milan into an iron bridge, and the charger + into a blackbird. Behind the bridge the road branched off into three ways. + </p> + <p> + The Magician’s servants hurried after the fresh tracks, but when they came + to the bridge, they stood, not knowing which road to take, as the + footprints stopped suddenly, and there were three paths for them to choose + from. In fear and trembling they returned to tell the Magician what had + happened. He flew into a dreadful rage when he saw them, and screamed out, + ‘Oh, you fools! the river and bridge were they! Go back and bring them to + me at once, or it will be the worse for you.’ + </p> + <p> + Then the pursuit began afresh. ‘I hear horses’ hoofs,’ sighed Hyacinthia. + The Prince dismounted and put his ear to the ground. ‘They are hurrying + after us, and are already quite near.’ In a moment the Princess Hyacinthia + had changed herself, the Prince, and his charger into a thick wood where a + thousand paths and roads crossed each other. Their pursuers entered the + forest, but searched in vain for Prince Milan and his bride. At last they + found themselves back at the same spot they had started from, and in + despair they returned once more with empty hands to the Magician. + </p> + <p> + ‘Then I’ll go after the wretches myself,’ he shouted. ‘Bring a horse at + once; they shan’t escape me.’ + </p> + <p> + Once more the beautiful Hyacinthia murmured, ‘I hear horses’ hoofs quite + near.’ And the Prince answered, ‘They are pursuing us hotly and are quite + close.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘We are lost now, for that is my father himself. But at the first church + we come to his power ceases; he may chase us no further. Hand me your + cross.’ + </p> + <p> + Prince Milan loosened from his neck the little gold cross his mother had + given him, and as soon as Hyacinthia grasped it, she had changed herself + into a church, Milan into a monk, and the horse into a belfry. They had + hardly done this when the magician and his servants rode up. + </p> + <p> + ‘Did you see no one pass by on horseback, reverend father?’ he asked the + monk. + </p> + <p> + ‘Prince Milan and Princess Hyacinthia have just gone on this minute; they + stopped for a few minutes in the church to say their prayers, and bade me + light this wax candle for you, and give you their love.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘I’d like to wring their necks,’ said the magician, and made all haste + home, where he had every one of his servants beaten to within an inch of + their lives. + </p> + <p> + Prince Milan rode on slowly with his bride without fearing any further + pursuit. The sun was just setting, and its last rays lit up a large city + they were approaching. Prince Milan was suddenly seized with an ardent + desire to enter the town. + </p> + <p> + ‘Oh my beloved,’ implored Hyacinthia, ‘please don’t go; for I am + frightened and fear some evil.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘What are you afraid of?’ asked the Prince. ‘We’ll only go and look at + what’s to be seen in the town for about an hour, and then we’ll continue + our journey to my father’s kingdom.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘The town is easy to get into, but more difficult to get out of,’ sighed + Hyacinthia. ‘But let it be as you wish. Go, and I will await you here, but + I will first change myself into a white milestone; only I pray you be very + careful. The King and Queen of the town will come out to meet you, leading + a little child with them. Whatever you do, don’t kiss the child, or you + will forget me and all that has happened to us. I will wait for you here + for three days.’ + </p> + <p> + The Prince hurried to the town, but Hyacinthia remained behind disguised + as a white milestone on the road. The first day passed, and then the + second, and at last the third also, but Prince Milan did not return, for + he had not taken Hyacinthia’s advice. The King and Queen came out to meet + him as she had said, leading with them a lovely fair-haired little girl, + whose eyes shone like two clear stars. The child at once caressed the + Prince, who, carried away by its beauty, bent down and kissed it on the + cheek. From that moment his memory became a blank, and he forgot all about + the beautiful Hyacinthia. + </p> + <p> + When the Prince did not return, poor Hyacinthia wept bitterly and changing + herself from a milestone into a little blue field flower, she said, ‘I + will grow here on the wayside till some passer-by tramples me under foot.’ + And one of her tears remained as a dewdrop and sparkled on the little blue + flower. + </p> + <p> + Now it happened shortly after this that an old man passed by, and seeing + the flower, he was delighted with its beauty. He pulled it up carefully by + the roots and carried it home. Here he planted it in a pot, and watered + and tended the little plant carefully. And now the most extraordinary + thing happened, for from this moment everything in the old man’s house was + changed. When he awoke in the morning he always found his room tidied and + put into such beautiful order that not a speck of dust was to be found + anywhere. When he came home at midday, he found a table laid out with the + most dainty food, and he had only to sit down and enjoy himself to his + heart’s content. At first he was so surprised he didn’t know what to + think, but after a time he grew a little uncomfortable, and went to an old + witch to ask for advice. + </p> + <p> + The witch said, ‘Get up before the cock crows, and watch carefully till + you see something move, and then throw this cloth quickly over it, and + you’ll see what will happen.’ + </p> + <p> + All night the old man never closed an eye. When the first ray of light + entered the room, he noticed that the little blue flower began to tremble, + and at last it rose out of the pot and flew about the room, put everything + in order, swept away the dust, and lit the fire. In great haste the old + man sprang from his bed, and covered the flower with the cloth the old + witch had given him, and in a moment the beautiful Princess Hyacinthia + stood before him. + </p> + <p> + ‘What have you done?’ she cried. ‘Why have you called me back to life? For + I have no desire to live since my bridegroom, the beautiful Prince Milan, + has deserted me.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Prince Milan is just going to be married,’ replied the old man. + ‘Everything is being got ready for the feast, and all the invited guests + are flocking to the palace from all sides.’ + </p> + <p> + The beautiful Hyacinthia cried bitterly when she heard this; then she + dried her tears, and went into the town dressed as a peasant woman. She + went straight to the King’s kitchen, where the white-aproned cooks were + running about in great confusion. The Princess went up to the head cook, + and said, ‘Dear cook, please listen to my request, and let me make a + wedding-cake for Prince Milan.’ + </p> + <p> + The busy cook was just going to refuse her demand and order her out of the + kitchen, but the words died on his lips when he turned and beheld the + beautiful Hyacinthia, and he answered politely, ‘You have just come in the + nick of time, fair maiden. Bake your cake, and I myself will lay it before + Prince Milan.’ + </p> + <p> + The cake was soon made. The invited guests were already thronging round + the table, when the head cook entered the room, bearing a beautiful + wedding cake on a silver dish, and laid it before Prince Milan. The guests + were all lost in admiration, for the cake was quite a work of art. Prince + Milan at once proceeded to cut it open, when to his surprise two white + doves sprang out of it, and one of them said to the other: ‘My dear mate, + do not fly away and leave me, and forget me as Prince Milan forgot his + beloved Hyacinthia.’ + </p> + <p> + Milan sighed deeply when he heard what the little dove said. Then he + jumped up suddenly from the table and ran to the door, where he found the + beautiful Hyacinthia waiting for him. Outside stood his faithful charger, + pawing the ground. Without pausing for a moment, Milan and Hyacinthia + mounted him and galloped as fast as they could into the country of King + Kojata. The King and Queen received them with such joy and gladness as had + never been heard of before, and they all lived happily for the rest of + their lives. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0021" id="link2H_4_0021"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + PRINCE FICKLE AND FAIR HELENA (From the German) + </h2> + <p> + There was once upon a time a beautiful girl called Helena. Her own mother + had died when she was quite a child, and her stepmother was as cruel and + unkind to her as she could be. Helena did all she could to gain her love, + and performed the heavy work given her to do cheerfully and well; but her + stepmother’s heart wasn’t in the least touched, and the more the poor girl + did the more she asked her to do. + </p> + <p> + One day she gave Helena twelve pounds of mixed feathers and bade her + separate them all before evening, threatening her with heavy punishment if + she failed to do so. + </p> + <p> + The poor child sat down to her task with her eyes so full of tears that + she could hardly see to begin. And when she had made one little heap of + feathers, she sighed so deeply that they all blew apart again. And so it + went on, and the poor girl grew more and more miserable. She bowed her + head in her hands and cried, ‘Is there no one under heaven who will take + pity on me?’ + </p> + <p> + Suddenly a soft voice replied, ‘Be comforted, my child: I have come to + help you.’ + </p> + <p> + Terrified to death, Helena looked up and saw a Fairy standing in front of + her, who asked in the kindest way possible, ‘Why are you crying, my dear?’ + </p> + <p> + Helena, who for long had heard no friendly voice, confided her sad tale of + woe to the Fairy, and told her what the new task she had been given to do + was, and how she despaired of ever accomplishing it. + </p> + <p> + ‘Don’t worry yourself about it any more,’ said the kind Fairy; ‘lie down + and go to sleep, and I’ll see that your work is done all right.’ So Helena + lay down, and when she awoke all the feathers were sorted into little + bundles; but when she turned to thank the good Fairy she had vanished. + </p> + <p> + In the evening her stepmother returned and was much amazed to find Helena + sitting quietly with her work all finished before her. + </p> + <p> + She praised her diligence, but at the same time racked her brain as to + what harder task she could set her to do. + </p> + <p> + The next day she told Helena to empty a pond near the house with a spoon + which was full of holes. Helena set to work at once, but she very soon + found that what her stepmother had told her to do was an impossibility. + Full of despair and misery, she was in the act of throwing the spoon away, + when suddenly the kind Fairy stood before her again, and asked her why she + was so unhappy? + </p> + <p> + When Helena told her of her stepmother’s new demand she said, ‘Trust to me + and I will do your task for you. Lie down and have a sleep in the + meantime.’ + </p> + <p> + Helena was comforted and lay down, and before you would have believed it + possible the Fairy roused her gently and told her the pond was empty. Full + of joy and gratitude, Helena hurried to her stepmother, hoping that now at + last her heart would be softened towards her. But the wicked woman was + furious at the frustration of her own evil designs, and only thought of + what harder thing she could set the girl to do. + </p> + <p> + Next morning she ordered her to build before evening a beautiful castle, + and to furnish it all from garret to basement. Helena sat down on the + rocks which had been pointed out to her as the site of the castle, feeling + very depressed, but at the same time with the lurking hope that the kind + Fairy would come once more to her aid. + </p> + <p> + And so it turned out. The Fairy appeared, promised to build the castle, + and told Helena to lie down and go to sleep in the meantime. At the word + of the Fairy the rocks and stones rose and built themselves into a + beautiful castle, and before sunset it was all furnished inside, and left + nothing to be desired. You may think how grateful Helena was when she + awoke and found her task all finished. + </p> + <p> + But her stepmother was anything but pleased, and went through the whole + castle from top to bottom, to see if she couldn’t find some fault for + which she could punish Helena. At last she went down into one of the + cellars, but it was so dark that she fell down the steep stairs and was + killed on the spot. + </p> + <p> + So Helena was now mistress of the beautiful castle, and lived there in + peace and happiness. And soon the noise of her beauty spread abroad, and + many wooers came to try and gain her hand. + </p> + <p> + Among them came one Prince Fickle by name, who very quickly won the love + of fair Helena. One day, as they were sitting happily together under a + lime-tree in front of the castle, Prince Fickle broke the sad news to + Helena that he must return to his parents to get their consent to his + marriage. He promised faithfully to come back to her as soon as he could + and begged her to await his return under the lime-tree where they had + spent so many happy hours. + </p> + <p> + Helena kissed him tenderly at parting on his left cheek, and begged him + not to let anyone else kiss him there while they were parted, and she + promised to sit and wait for him under the lime-tree, for she never + doubted that the Prince would be faithful to her and would return as + quickly as he could. + </p> + <p> + And so she sat for three days and three nights under the tree without + moving. But when her lover never returned, she grew very unhappy, and + determined to set out to look for him. She took as many of her jewels as + she could carry, and three of her most beautiful dresses, one embroidered + with stars, one with moons, and the third with suns, all of pure gold. Far + and wide she wandered through the world, but nowhere did she find any + trace of her bridegroom. At last she gave up the search in despair. She + could not bear to return to her own castle where she had been so happy + with her lover, but determined rather to endure her loneliness and + desolation in a strange land. She took a place as herd-girl with a + peasant, and buried her jewels and beautiful dresses in a safe and hidden + spot. + </p> + <p> + Every day she drove the cattle to pasture, and all the time she thought of + nothing but her faithless bridegroom. She was very devoted to a certain + little calf in the herd, and made a great pet of it, feeding it out of her + own hands. She taught it to kneel before her, and then she whispered in + its ear: + </p> + <p> + ‘Kneel, little calf, kneel; Be faithful and leal, Not like Prince Fickle, + Who once on a time Left his fair Helena Under the lime.’ + </p> + <p> + After some years passed in this way, she heard that the daughter of the + king of the country she was living in was going to marry a Prince called + ‘Fickle.’ Everybody rejoiced at the news except poor Helena, to whom it + was a fearful blow, for at the bottom of her heart she had always believed + her lover to be true. + </p> + <p> + Now it chanced that the way to the capital led right past the village + where Helena was, and often when she was leading her cattle forth to the + meadows Prince Fickle rode past her, without ever noticing the poor + herd-girl, so engrossed was he in thoughts of his new bride. Then it + occurred to Helena to put his heart to the test and to see if it weren’t + possible to recall herself to him. So one day as Prince Fickle rode by she + said to her little calf: + </p> + <p> + ‘Kneel, little calf, kneel; Be faithful and leal, Not like Prince Fickle, + Who once on a time Left his poor Helena Under the lime.’ + </p> + <p> + When Prince Fickle heard her voice it seemed to him to remind him of + something, but of what he couldn’t remember, for he hadn’t heard the words + distinctly, as Helena had only spoken them very low and with a shaky + voice. Helena herself had been far too moved to let her see what + impression her words had made on the Prince, and when she looked round he + was already far away. But she noticed how slowly he was riding, and how + deeply sunk he was in thought, so she didn’t quite give herself up as + lost. + </p> + <p> + In honour of the approaching wedding a feast lasting many nights was to be + given in the capital. Helena placed all her hopes on this, and determined + to go to the feast and there to seek out her bridegroom. + </p> + <p> + When evening drew near she stole out of the peasant’s cottage secretly, + and, going to her hiding-place, she put on her dress embroidered with the + gold suns, and all her jewels, and loosed her beautiful golden hair, which + up to now she had always worn under a kerchief, and, adorned thus, she set + out for the town. + </p> + <p> + When she entered the ball-room all eyes were turned on her, and everyone + marvelled at her beauty, but no one knew who she was. Prince Fickle, too, + was quite dazzled by the charms of the beautiful maiden, and never guessed + that she had once been his own ladylove. He never left her side all night, + and it was with great difficulty that Helena escaped from him in the crowd + when it was time to return home. Prince Fickle searched for her + everywhere, and longed eagerly for the next night, when the beautiful lady + had promised to come again. + </p> + <p> + The following evening the fair Helena started early for the feast. + </p> + <p> + This time she wore her dress embroidered with silver moons, and in her + hair she placed a silver crescent. Prince Fickle was enchanted to see her + again, and she seemed to him even more beautiful than she had been the + night before. He never left her side, and refused to dance with anyone + else. He begged her to tell him who she was, but this she refused to do. + Then he implored her to return again next evening, and this she promised + him she would. + </p> + <p> + On the third evening Prince Fickle was so impatient to see his fair + enchantress again, that he arrived at the feast hours before it began, and + never took his eyes from the door. At last Helena arrived in a dress all + covered with gold and silver stars, and with a girdle of stars round her + waist, and a band of stars in her hair. Prince Fickle was more in love + with her than ever, and begged her once again to tell him her name. + </p> + <p> + Then Helena kissed him silently on the left cheek, and in one moment + Prince Fickle recognized his old love. Full of remorse and sorrow, he + begged for her forgiveness, and Helena, only too pleased to have got him + back again, did not, you may be sure, keep him waiting very long for her + pardon, and so they were married and returned to Helena’s castle, where + they are no doubt still sitting happily together under the lime-tree. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0022" id="link2H_4_0022"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + PUDDOCKY (From the German) + </h2> + <p> + There was once upon a time a poor woman who had one little daughter called + ‘Parsley.’ She was so called because she liked eating parsley better than + any other food, indeed she would hardly eat anything else. Her poor mother + hadn’t enough money always to be buying parsley for her, but the child was + so beautiful that she could refuse her nothing, and so she went every + night to the garden of an old witch who lived near and stole great + branches of the coveted vegetable, in order to satisfy her daughter. + </p> + <p> + This remarkable taste of the fair Parsley soon became known, and the theft + was discovered. The witch called the girl’s mother to her, and proposed + that she should let her daughter come and live with her, and then she + could eat as much parsley as she liked. The mother was quite pleased with + this suggestion, and so the beautiful Parsley took up her abode with the + old witch. + </p> + <p> + One day three Princes, whom their father had sent abroad to travel, came + to the town where Parsley lived and perceived the beautiful girl combing + and plaiting her long black hair at the window. In one moment they all + fell hopelessly in love with her, and longed ardently to have the girl for + their wife; but hardly had they with one breath expressed their desire + than, mad with jealousy, they drew their swords and all three set upon + each other. The struggle was so violent and the noise so loud that the old + witch heard it, and said at once ‘Of course Parsley is at the bottom of + all this.’ + </p> + <p> + And when she had convinced herself that this was so, she stepped forward, + and, full of wrath over the quarrels and feuds Parsley’s beauty gave rise + to, she cursed the girl and said, ‘I wish you were an ugly toad, sitting + under a bridge at the other end of the world.’ + </p> + <p> + Hardly were the words out of her mouth than Parsley was changed into a + toad and vanished from their sight. The Princes, now that the cause of + their dispute was removed, put up their swords, kissed each other + affectionately, and returned to their father. + </p> + <p> + The King was growing old and feeble, and wished to yield his sceptre and + crown in favour of one of his sons, but he couldn’t make up his mind which + of the three he should appoint as his successor. He determined that fate + should decide for him. So he called his three children to him and said, + ‘My dear sons, I am growing old, and am weary of reigning, but I can’t + make up my mind to which of you three I should yield my crown, for I love + you all equally. At the same time I would like the best and cleverest of + you to rule over my people. I have, therefore, determined to set you three + tasks to do, and the one that performs them best shall be my heir. The + first thing I shall ask you to do is to bring me a piece of linen a + hundred yards long, so fine that it will go through a gold ring.’ The sons + bowed low, and, promising to do their best, they started on their journey + without further delay. + </p> + <p> + The two elder brothers took many servants and carriages with them, but the + youngest set out quite alone. In a short time they came to three cross + roads; two of them were gay and crowded, but the third was dark and + lonely. + </p> + <p> + The two elder brothers chose the more frequented ways, but the youngest, + bidding them farewell, set out on the dreary road. + </p> + <p> + Wherever linen was to be bought, there the two elder brothers hastened. + They loaded their carriages with bales of the finest linen they could find + and then returned home. + </p> + <p> + The youngest brother, on the other hand, went on his weary way for many + days, and nowhere did he come across any linen that would have done. So he + journeyed on, and his spirits sank with every step. At last he came to a + bridge which stretched over a deep river flowing through a flat and marshy + land. Before crossing the bridge he sat down on the banks of the stream + and sighed dismally over his sad fate. Suddenly a misshapen toad crawled + out of the swamp, and, sitting down opposite him, asked: ‘What’s the + matter with you, my dear Prince?’ + </p> + <p> + The Prince answered impatiently, ‘There’s not much good my telling you, + Puddocky, for you couldn’t help me if I did.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Don’t be too sure of that,’ replied the toad; ‘tell me your trouble and + we’ll see.’ + </p> + <p> + Then the Prince became most confidential and told the little creature why + he had been sent out of his father’s kingdom. + </p> + <p> + ‘Prince, I will certainly help you,’ said the toad, and, crawling back + into her swamp, she returned dragging after her a piece of linen not + bigger than a finger, which she lay before the Prince, saying, ‘Take this + home, and you’ll see it will help you.’ + </p> + <p> + The Prince had no wish to take such an insignificant bundle with him; but + he didn’t like to hurt Puddocky’s feelings by refusing it, so he took up + the little packet, put it in his pocket, and bade the little toad + farewell. Puddocky watched the Prince till he was out of sight and then + crept back into the water. + </p> + <p> + The further the Prince went the more he noticed that the pocket in which + the little roll of linen lay became heavier, and in proportion his heart + grew lighter. And so, greatly comforted, he returned to the Court of his + father, and arrived home just at the same time as his brothers with their + caravans. The King was delighted to see them all again, and at once drew + the ring from his finger and the trial began. In all the waggon-loads + there was not one piece of linen the tenth part of which would go through + the ring, and the two elder brothers, who had at first sneered at their + youngest brother for returning with no baggage, began to feel rather + small. But what were their feelings when he drew a bale of linen out of + his pocket which in fineness, softness, and purity of colour was + unsurpassable! The threads were hardly visible, and it went through the + ring without the smallest difficulty, at the same time measuring a hundred + yards quite correctly. + </p> + <p> + The father embraced his fortunate son, and commanded the rest of the linen + to be thrown into the water; then, turning to his children he said, ‘Now, + dear Princes, prepare yourselves for the second task. You must bring me + back a little dog that will go comfortably into a walnut-shell.’ + </p> + <p> + The sons were all in despair over this demand, but as they each wished to + win the crown, they determined to do their best, and after a very few days + set out on their travels again. + </p> + <p> + At the cross roads they separated once more. The youngest went by himself + along his lonely way, but this time he felt much more cheerful. Hardly had + he sat down under the bridge and heaved a sigh, than Puddocky came out; + and, sitting down opposite him, asked, ‘What’s wrong with you now, dear + Prince?’ + </p> + <p> + The Prince, who this time never doubted the little toad’s power to help + him, told her his difficulty at once. ‘Prince, I will help you,’ said the + toad again, and crawled back into her swamp as fast as her short little + legs would carry her. She returned, dragging a hazel nut behind her, which + she laid at the Prince’s feet and said, ‘Take this nut home with you and + tell your father to crack it very carefully, and you’ll see then what will + happen.’ The Prince thanked her heartily and went on his way in the best + of spirits, while the little puddock crept slowly back into the water. + </p> + <p> + When the Prince got home he found his brothers had just arrived with great + waggon-loads of little dogs of all sorts. The King had a walnut shell + ready, and the trial began; but not one of the dogs the two eldest sons + had brought with them would in the least fit into the shell. When they had + tried all their little dogs, the youngest son handed his father the + hazel-nut, with a modest bow, and begged him to crack it carefully. Hardly + had the old King done so than a lovely tiny dog sprang out of the + nutshell, and ran about on the King’s hand, wagging its tail and barking + lustily at all the other little dogs. The joy of the Court was great. The + father again embraced his fortunate son, commanded the rest of the small + dogs to be thrown into the water and drowned, and once more addressed his + sons. ‘The two most difficult tasks have been performed. Now listen to the + third and last: whoever brings the fairest wife home with him shall be my + heir.’ + </p> + <p> + This demand seemed so easy and agreeable and the reward was so great, that + the Princes lost no time in setting forth on their travels. At the cross + roads the two elder brothers debated if they should go the same way as the + youngest, but when they saw how dreary and deserted it looked they made up + their minds that it would be impossible to find what they sought in these + wilds, and so they stuck to their former paths. + </p> + <p> + The youngest was very depressed this time and said to himself, ‘Anything + else Puddocky could have helped me in, but this task is quite beyond her + power. How could she ever find a beautiful wife for me? Her swamps are + wide and empty, and no human beings dwell there; only frogs and toads and + other creatures of that sort.’ However, he sat down as usual under the + bridge, and this time he sighed from the bottom of his heart. + </p> + <p> + In a few minutes the toad stood in front of him and asked, ‘What’s the + matter with you now, my dear Prince?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Oh, Puddocky, this time you can’t help me, for the task is beyond even + your power,’ replied the Prince. + </p> + <p> + ‘Still,’ answered the toad, ‘you may as well tell me your difficulty, for + who knows but I mayn’t be able to help you this time also.’ + </p> + <p> + The Prince then told her the task they had been set to do. ‘I’ll help you + right enough, my dear Prince,’ said the little toad; ‘just you go home, + and I’ll soon follow you.’ With these words, Puddocky, with a spring quite + unlike her usual slow movements, jumped into the water and disappeared. + </p> + <p> + The Prince rose up and went sadly on his way, for he didn’t believe it + possible that the little toad could really help him in his present + difficulty. He had hardly gone a few steps when he heard a sound behind + him, and, looking round, he saw a carriage made of cardboard, drawn by six + big rats, coming towards him. Two hedgehogs rode in front as outriders, + and on the box sat a fat mouse as coachman, and behind stood two little + frogs as footmen. In the carriage itself sat Puddocky, who kissed her hand + to the Prince out of the window as she passed by. + </p> + <p> + Sunk deep in thought over the fickleness of fortune that had granted him + two of his wishes and now seemed about to deny him the last and best, the + Prince hardly noticed the absurd equipage, and still less did he feel + inclined to laugh at its comic appearance. + </p> + <p> + The carriage drove on in front of him for some time and then turned a + corner. But what was his joy and surprise when suddenly, round the same + corner, but coming towards him, there appeared a beautiful coach drawn by + six splendid horses, with outriders, coachmen, footmen and other servants + all in the most gorgeous liveries, and seated in the carriage was the most + beautiful woman the Prince had ever seen, and in whom he at once + recognised the beautiful Parsley, for whom his heart had formerly burned. + The carriage stopped when it reached him, and the footmen sprang down and + opened the door for him. He got in and sat down beside the beautiful + Parsley, and thanked her heartily for her help, and told her how much he + loved her. + </p> + <p> + And so he arrived at his father’s capital, at the same moment as his + brothers who had returned with many carriage-loads of beautiful women. But + when they were all led before the King, the whole Court with one consent + awarded the prize of beauty to the fair Parsley. + </p> + <p> + The old King was delighted, and embraced his thrice fortunate son and his + new daughter-in-law tenderly, and appointed them as his successors to the + throne. But he commanded the other women to be thrown into the water and + drowned, like the bales of linen and the little dogs. The Prince married + Puddocky and reigned long and happily with her, and if they aren’t dead I + suppose they are living still. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0023" id="link2H_4_0023"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE STORY OF HOK LEE AND THE DWARFS + </h2> + <p> + There once lived in a small town in China a man named Hok Lee. He was a + steady industrious man, who not only worked hard at his trade, but did all + his own house-work as well, for he had no wife to do it for him. ‘What an + excellent industrious man is this Hok Lee!’ said his neighbours; ‘how hard + he works: he never leaves his house to amuse himself or to take a holiday + as others do!’ + </p> + <p> + But Hok Lee was by no means the virtuous person his neighbours thought + him. True, he worked hard enough by day, but at night, when all + respectable folk were fast asleep, he used to steal out and join a + dangerous band of robbers, who broke into rich people’s houses and carried + off all they could lay hands on. + </p> + <p> + This state of things went on for some time, and, though a thief was caught + now and then and punished, no suspicion ever fell on Hok Lee, he was such + a very respectable, hard-working man. + </p> + <p> + Hok Lee had already amassed a good store of money as his share of the + proceeds of these robberies when it happened one morning on going to + market that a neighbour said to him: + </p> + <p> + ‘Why, Hok Lee, what is the matter with your face? One side of it is all + swelled up.’ + </p> + <p> + True enough, Hok Lee’s right cheek was twice the size of his left, and it + soon began to feel very uncomfortable. + </p> + <p> + ‘I will bind up my face,’ said Hok Lee; ‘doubtless the warmth will cure + the swelling.’ But no such thing. Next day it was worse, and day by day it + grew bigger and bigger till it was nearly as large as his head and became + very painful. + </p> + <p> + Hok Lee was at his wits’ ends what to do. Not only was his cheek unsightly + and painful, but his neighbours began to jeer and make fun of him, which + hurt his feelings very much indeed. + </p> + <p> + One day, as luck would have it, a travelling doctor came to the town. He + sold not only all kinds of medicine, but also dealt in many strange charms + against witches and evil spirits. + </p> + <p> + Hok Lee determined to consult him, and asked him into his house. + </p> + <p> + After the doctor had examined him carefully, he spoke thus: ‘This, O Hok + Lee, is no ordinary swelled face. I strongly suspect you have been doing + some wrong deed which has called down the anger of the spirits on you. + None of my drugs will avail to cure you, but, if you are willing to pay me + handsomely, I can tell you how you may be cured.’ + </p> + <p> + Then Hok Lee and the doctor began to bargain together, and it was a long + time before they could come to terms. However, the doctor got the better + of it in the end, for he was determined not to part with his secret under + a certain price, and Hok Lee had no mind to carry his huge cheek about + with him to the end of his days. So he was obliged to part with the + greater portion of his ill-gotten gains. + </p> + <p> + When the Doctor had pocketed the money, he told Hok Lee to go on the first + night of the full moon to a certain wood and there to watch by a + particular tree. After a time he would see the dwarfs and little sprites + who live underground come out to dance. When they saw him they would be + sure to make him dance too. ‘And mind you dance your very best,’ added the + doctor. ‘If you dance well and please them they will grant you a petition + and you can then beg to be cured; but if you dance badly they will most + likely do you some mischief out of spite.’ With that he took leave and + departed. + </p> + <p> + Happily the first night of the full moon was near, and at the proper time + Hok Lee set out for the wood. With a little trouble he found the tree the + doctor had described, and, feeling nervous, he climbed up into it. + </p> + <p> + He had hardly settled himself on a branch when he saw the little dwarfs + assembling in the moonlight. They came from all sides, till at length + there appeared to be hundreds of them. They seemed in high glee, and + danced and skipped and capered about, whilst Hok Lee grew so eager + watching them that he crept further and further along his branch till at + length it gave a loud crack. All the dwarfs stood still, and Hok Lee felt + as if his heart stood still also. + </p> + <p> + Then one of the dwarfs called out, ‘Someone is up in that tree. Come down + at once, whoever you are, or we must come and fetch you.’ + </p> + <p> + In great terror, Hok Lee proceeded to come down; but he was so nervous + that he tripped near the ground and came rolling down in the most absurd + manner. When he had picked himself up, he came forward with a low bow, and + the dwarf who had first spoken and who appeared to be the leader, said, + ‘Now, then, who art thou, and what brings thee here?’ + </p> + <p> + So Hok Lee told him the sad story of his swelled cheek, and how he had + been advised to come to the forest and beg the dwarfs to cure him. + </p> + <p> + ‘It is well,’ replied the dwarf. ‘We will see about that. First, however, + thou must dance before us. Should thy dancing please us, perhaps we may be + able to do something; but shouldst thou dance badly, we shall assuredly + punish thee, so now take warning and dance away.’ + </p> + <p> + With that, he and all the other dwarfs sat down in a large ring, leaving + Hok Lee to dance alone in the middle. He felt half frightened to death, + and besides was a good deal shaken by his fall from the tree and did not + feel at all inclined to dance. But the dwarfs were not to be trifled with. + </p> + <p> + ‘Begin!’ cried their leader, and ‘Begin!’ shouted the rest in chorus. + </p> + <p> + So in despair Hok Lee began. First he hopped on one foot and then on the + other, but he was so stiff and so nervous that he made but a poor attempt, + and after a time sank down on the ground and vowed he could dance no more. + </p> + <p> + The dwarfs were very angry. They crowded round Hok Lee and abused him. + ‘Thou to come here to be cured, indeed!’ they cried, ‘thou hast brought + one big cheek with thee, but thou shalt take away two.’ And with that they + ran off and disappeared, leaving Hok Lee to find his way home as best he + might. + </p> + <p> + He hobbled away, weary and depressed, and not a little anxious on account + of the dwarfs’ threat. + </p> + <p> + Nor were his fears unfounded, for when he rose next morning his left cheek + was swelled up as big as his right, and he could hardly see out of his + eyes. Hok Lee felt in despair, and his neighbours jeered at him more than + ever. The doctor, too, had disappeared, so there was nothing for it but to + try the dwarfs once more. + </p> + <p> + He waited a month till the first night of the full moon came round again, + and then he trudged back to the forest, and sat down under the tree from + which he had fallen. He had not long to wait. Ere long the dwarfs came + trooping out till all were assembled. + </p> + <p> + ‘I don’t feel quite easy,’ said one; ‘I feel as if some horrid human being + were near us.’ + </p> + <p> + When Hok Lee heard this he came forward and bent down to the ground before + the dwarfs, who came crowding round, and laughed heartily at his comical + appearance with his two big cheeks. + </p> + <p> + ‘What dost thou want?’ they asked; and Hok Lee proceeded to tell them of + his fresh misfortunes, and begged so hard to be allowed one more trial at + dancing that the dwarfs consented, for there is nothing they love so much + as being amused. + </p> + <p> + Now, Hok Lee knew how much depended on his dancing well, so he plucked up + a good spirit and began, first quite slowly, and faster by degrees, and he + danced so well and gracefully, and made such new and wonderful steps, that + the dwarfs were quite delighted with him. + </p> + <p> + They clapped their tiny hands, and shouted, ‘Well done, Hok Lee, well + done, go on, dance more, for we are pleased.’ + </p> + <p> + And Hok Lee danced on and on, till he really could dance no more, and was + obliged to stop. + </p> + <p> + Then the leader of the dwarfs said, ‘We are well pleased, Hok Lee, and as + a recompense for thy dancing thy face shall be cured. Farewell.’ + </p> + <p> + With these words he and the other dwarfs vanished, and Hok Lee, putting + his hands to his face, found to his great joy that his cheeks were reduced + to their natural size. The way home seemed short and easy to him, and he + went to bed happy, and resolved never to go out robbing again. + </p> + <p> + Next day the whole town was full of the news of Hok’s sudden cure. His + neighbours questioned him, but could get nothing from him, except the fact + that he had discovered a wonderful cure for all kinds of diseases. + </p> + <p> + After a time a rich neighbour, who had been ill for some years, came, and + offered to give Hok Lee a large sum of money if he would tell him how he + might get cured. Hok Lee consented on condition that he swore to keep the + secret. He did so, and Hok Lee told him of the dwarfs and their dances. + </p> + <p> + The neighbour went off, carefully obeyed Hok Lee’s directions, and was + duly cured by the dwarfs. Then another and another came to Hok Lee to beg + his secret, and from each he extracted a vow of secrecy and a large sum of + money. This went on for some years, so that at length Hok Lee became a + very wealthy man, and ended his days in peace and prosperity. + </p> + <p> + From the Chinese. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0024" id="link2H_4_0024"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE STORY OF THE THREE BEARS + </h2> + <p> + Once upon a time there were Three Bears, who lived together in a house of + their own in a wood. One of them was a Little, Small, Wee Bear; and one + was a Middle-sized Bear, and the other was a Great, Huge Bear. They had + each a pot for their porridge, a little pot for the Little, Small, Wee + Bear; and a middle-sized pot for the Middle Bear; and a great pot for the + Great, Huge Bear. And they had each a chair to sit in; a little chair for + the Little, Small, Wee Bear; and a middle-sized chair for the Middle Bear; + and a great chair for the Great, Huge Bear. And they had each a bed to + sleep in; a little bed for the Little, Small, Wee Bear; and a middle-sized + bed for the Middle Bear; and a great bed for the Great, Huge Bear. + </p> + <p> + One day, after they had made the porridge for their breakfast, and poured + it into their porridge-pots, they walked out into the wood while the + porridge was cooling, that they might not burn their mouths by beginning + too soon to eat it. And while they were walking, a little old woman came + to the house. She could not have been a good, honest old woman; for, + first, she looked in at the window, and then she peeped in at the keyhole; + and, seeing nobody in the house, she lifted the latch. The door was not + fastened, because the bears were good bears, who did nobody any harm, and + never suspected that anybody would harm them. So the little old woman + opened the door and went in; and well pleased she was when she saw the + porridge on the table. If she had been a good little old woman she would + have waited till the bears came home, and then, perhaps, they would have + asked her to breakfast; for they were good bears—a little rough or + so, as the manner of bears is, but for all that very good-natured and + hospitable. But she was an impudent, bad old woman, and set about helping + herself. + </p> + <p> + So first she tasted the porridge of the Great, Huge Bear, and that was too + hot for her; and she said a bad word about that. And then she tasted the + porridge of the Middle Bear; and that was too cold for her; and she said a + bad word about that too. And then she went to the porridge of the Little, + Small, Wee Bear, and tasted that; and that was neither too hot nor too + cold, but just right; and she liked it so well, that she ate it all up: + but the naughty old woman said a bad word about the little porridge-pot, + because it did not hold enough for her. + </p> + <p> + Then the little old woman sate down in the chair of the Great, Huge Bear, + and that was too hard for her. And then she sate down in the chair of the + Middle Bear, and that was too soft for her. And then she sate down in the + chair of the Little, Small, Wee Bear, and that was neither too hard nor + too soft, but just right. So she seated herself in it, and there she sate + till the bottom of the chair came out, and down came she, plump upon the + ground. And the naughty old woman said a wicked word about that too. + </p> + <p> + Then the little old woman went up stairs into the bed-chamber in which the + three bears slept. And first she lay down upon the bed of the Great, Huge + Bear; but that was too high at the head for her. And next she lay down + upon the bed of the Middle Bear; and that was too high at the foot for + her. And then she lay down upon the bed of the Little, Small, Wee Bear; + and that was neither too high at the head, nor at the foot, but just + right. So she covered herself up comfortably, and lay there till she fell + fast asleep. + </p> + <p> + By this time the three bears thought their porridge would be cool enough; + so they came home to breakfast. Now the little old woman had left the + spoon of the Great, Huge Bear, standing in his porridge. + </p> + <p> + ‘SOMEBODY HAS BEEN AT MY PORRIDGE!’ + </p> + <p> + said the Great, Huge Bear, in his great gruff voice. And when the Middle + Bear looked at his, he saw that the spoon was standing in it too. They + were wooden spoons; if they had been silver ones, the naughty old woman + would have put them in her pocket. + </p> + <p> + ‘Somebody Has Been At My Porridge!’ + </p> + <p> + said the Middle Bear, in his middle voice. + </p> + <p> + Then the Little, Small, Wee Bear looked at his, and there was the spoon in + the porridge-pot, but the porridge was all gone. + </p> + <p> + ‘<i>Somebody has been at my porridge, and has eaten it all up</i>!’ + </p> + <p> + said the Little, Small Wee Bear, in his little, small wee voice. + </p> + <p> + Upon this the three bears, seeing that some one had entered their house, + and eaten up the Little, Small, Wee Bear’s breakfast, began to look about + them. Now the little old woman had not put the hard cushion straight when + she rose from the chair of the Great, Huge Bear. + </p> + <p> + ‘SOMEBODY HAS BEEN SITTING IN MY CHAIR!’ + </p> + <p> + said the Great, Huge Bear, in his great, rough, gruff voice. + </p> + <p> + And the little old woman had squatted down the soft cushion of the Middle + Bear. + </p> + <p> + ‘Somebody Has Been Sitting In My Chair!’ + </p> + <p> + said the Middle Bear, in his middle voice. + </p> + <p> + And you know what the little old woman had done to the third chair. + </p> + <p> + ‘<i>Somebody has been sitting in my chair, and has sate the bottom of it + out</i>!’ + </p> + <p> + said the Little, Small, Wee Bear, in his little, small, wee voice. + </p> + <p> + Then the three bears thought it necessary that they should make farther + search; so they went up stairs into their bed-chamber. Now the little old + woman had pulled the pillow of the Great, Huge Bear out of its place. + </p> + <p> + ‘SOMEBODY HAS BEEN LYING IN MY BED!’ + </p> + <p> + said the Great, Huge Bear, in his great, rough, gruff voice. + </p> + <p> + And the little old woman had pulled the bolster of the Middle Bear out of + its place. + </p> + <p> + ‘Somebody Has Been Lying In My Bed!’ + </p> + <p> + said the Middle Bear in his middle voice. + </p> + <p> + And when the Little, Small, Wee Bear came to look at his bed, there was + the bolster in its place, and the pillow in its place upon the bolster, + and upon the pillow was the little old woman’s ugly, dirty head,—which + was not in its place, for she had no business there. + </p> + <p> + ‘<i>Somebody has been lying in my bed,—and here she is</i>!’ + </p> + <p> + said the Little, Small, Wee Bear, in his little, small, wee voice. + </p> + <p> + The little old woman had heard in her sleep the great, rough, gruff voice + of the Great, Huge Bear; but she was so fast asleep that it was no more to + her than the roaring of wind or the rumbling of thunder. And she had heard + the middle voice of the Middle Bear, but it was only as if she had heard + someone speaking in a dream. But when she heard the little, small, wee + voice of the Little, Small, Wee Bear, it was so sharp, and so shrill, that + it awakened her at once. Up she started; and when she saw the Three Bears + on one side of the bed, she tumbled herself out at the other, and ran to + the window. Now the window was open, because the bears, like good, tidy + bears as they were, always opened their bedchamber window when they got up + in the morning. Out the little old woman jumped; and whether she broke her + neck in the fall, or ran into the wood and was lost there, or found her + way out of the wood and was taken up by the constable and sent to the + House of Correction for a vagrant as she was, I cannot tell. But the Three + Bears never saw anything more of her. + </p> + <p> + Southey. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0025" id="link2H_4_0025"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + PRINCE VIVIEN AND THE PRINCESS PLACIDA + </h2> + <p> + Once upon a time there lived a King and Queen who loved one another + dearly. Indeed the Queen, whose name was Santorina, was so pretty and so + kind-hearted that it would have been a wonder if her husband had not been + fond of her, while King Gridelin himself was a perfect bundle of good + qualities, for the Fairy who presided at his christening had summoned the + shades of all his ancestors, and taken something good from each of them to + form his character. Unfortunately, though, she had given him rather too + much kindness of heart, which is a thing that generally gets its possessor + into trouble, but so far all things had prospered with King Gridelin. + However, it was not to be expected such good fortune could last, and + before very long the Queen had a lovely little daughter who was named + Placida. Now the King, who thought that if she resembled her mother in + face and mind she would need no other gift, never troubled to ask any of + the Fairies to her christening, and this offended them mortally, so that + they resolved to punish him severely for thus depriving them of their + rights. So, to the despair of King Gridelin, the Queen first of all became + very ill, and then disappeared altogether. If it had not been for the + little Princess there is no saying what would have become of him, he was + so miserable, but there she was to be brought up, and luckily the good + Fairy Lolotte, in spite of all that had passed, was willing to come and + take charge of her, and of her little cousin Prince Vivien, who was an + orphan and had been placed under the care of his uncle, King Gridelin, + when he was quite a baby. Although she neglected nothing that could + possibly have been done for them, their characters, as they grew up, + plainly proved that education only softens down natural defects, but + cannot entirely do away with them; for Placida, who was perfectly lovely, + and with a capacity and intelligence which enabled her to learn and + understand anything that presented itself, was at the same time as lazy + and indifferent as it is possible for anyone to be, while Vivien on the + contrary was only too lively, and was for ever taking up some new thing + and as promptly tiring of it, and flying off to something else which held + his fickle fancy an equally short time. As these two children would + possibly inherit the kingdom, it was natural that their people should take + a great interest in them, and it fell out that all the tranquil and + peace-loving citizens desired that Placida should one day be their Queen, + while the rash and quarrelsome hoped great things for Vivien. Such a + division of ideas seemed to promise civil wars and all kinds of troubles + to the State, and even in the Palace the two parties frequently came into + collision. As for the children themselves, though they were too well + brought up to quarrel, still the difference in all their tastes and + feelings made it impossible for them to like one another, so there seemed + no chance of their ever consenting to be married, which was a pity, since + that was the only thing that would have satisfied both parties. Prince + Vivien was fully aware of the feeling in his favour, but being too + honourable to wish to injure his pretty cousin, and perhaps too impatient + and volatile to care to think seriously about anything, he suddenly took + it into his head that he would go off by himself in search of adventure. + Luckily this idea occurred to him when he was on horseback, for he would + certainly have set out on foot rather than lose an instant. As it was, he + simply turned his horse’s head, without another thought than that of + getting out of the kingdom as soon as possible. This abrupt departure was + a great blow to the State, especially as no one had any idea what had + become of the Prince. Even King Gridelin, who had never cared for anything + since the disappearance of Queen Santorina, was roused by this new loss, + and though he could not so much as look at the Princess Placida without + shedding floods of tears, he resolved to see for himself what talents and + capabilities she showed. He very soon found out that in addition to her + natural indolence, she was being as much indulged and spoilt day by day as + if the Fairy had been her grandmother, and was obliged to remonstrate very + seriously upon the subject. Lolotte took his reproaches meekly, and + promised faithfully that she would not encourage the Princess in her + idleness and indifference any more. From this moment poor Placida’s + troubles began! She was actually expected to choose her own dresses, to + take care of her jewels, and to find her own amusements; but rather than + take so much trouble she wore the same old frock from morning till night, + and never appeared in public if she could possibly avoid it. However, this + was not all, King Gridelin insisted that the affairs of the kingdom should + be explained to her, and that she should attend all the councils and give + her opinion upon the matter in hand whenever it was asked of her, and this + made her life such a burden to her that she implored Lolotte to take her + away from a country where too much was required of an unhappy Princess. + </p> + <p> + The Fairy refused at first with a great show of firmness, but who could + resist the tears and entreaties of anyone so pretty as Placida? It came to + this in the end, that she transported the Princess just as she was, cosily + tucked up upon her favourite couch, to her own Grotto, and this new + disappearance left all the people in despair, and Gridelin went about + looking more distracted than ever. But now let us return to Prince Vivien, + and see what his restless spirit has brought him to. Though Placida’s + kingdom was a large one; his horse had carried him gallantly to the limit + of it, but it could go no further, and the Prince was obliged to dismount + and continue his journey on foot, though this slow mode of progress tired + his patience severely. + </p> + <p> + After what seemed to him a very long time, he found himself all alone in a + vast forest, so dark and gloomy that he secretly shuddered; however, he + chose the most promising looking path he could find, and marched along it + courageously at his best speed, but in spite of all his efforts, night + fell before he reached the edge of the wood. + </p> + <p> + For some time he stumbled along, keeping to the path as well as he could + in the darkness, and just as he was almost wearied out he saw before him a + gleam of light. + </p> + <p> + This sight revived his drooping spirits, and he made sure that he was now + close to the shelter and supper he needed so much, but the more he walked + towards the light the further away it seemed; sometimes he even lost sight + of it altogether, and you may imagine how provoked and impatient he was by + the time he finally arrived at the miserable cottage from which the light + proceeded. He gave a loud knock at the door, and an old woman’s voice + answered from within, but as she did not seem to be hurrying herself to + open it he redoubled his blows, and demanded to be let in imperiously, + quite forgetting that he was no longer in his own kingdom. But all this + had no effect upon the old woman, who only noticed all the uproar he was + making by saying gently: + </p> + <p> + ‘You must have patience.’ + </p> + <p> + He could hear that she really was coming to open the door to him, only she + was so very long about it. First she chased away her cat, lest it should + run away when the door was opened, then he heard her talking to herself + and made out that her lamp wanted trimming, that she might see better who + it was that knocked, and then that it lacked fresh oil, and she must + refill it. So what with one thing and another she was an immense time + trotting to and fro, and all the while she now and again bade the Prince + have patience. When at last he stood within the little hut he saw with + despair that it was a picture of poverty, and that not a crumb of anything + eatable was to be seen, and when he explained to the old woman that he was + dying of hunger and fatigue she only answered tranquilly that he must have + patience. However, she presently showed him a bundle of straw on which he + could sleep. + </p> + <p> + ‘But what can I have to eat?’ cried Prince Vivien sharply. + </p> + <p> + ‘Wait a little, wait a little,’ she replied. ‘If you will only have + patience I am just going out into the garden to gather some peas: we will + shell them at our leisure, then I will light a fire and cook them, and + when they are thoroughly done, we can enjoy them peaceably; there is no + hurry.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘I shall have died of starvation by the time all that is done,’ said the + Prince ruefully. + </p> + <p> + ‘Patience, patience,’ said the old woman looking at him with her slow + gentle smile, ‘I can’t be hurried. “All things come at last to him who + waits;” you must have heard that often.’ + </p> + <p> + Prince Vivien was wild with aggravation, but there was nothing to be done. + </p> + <p> + ‘Come then,’ said the old woman, ‘you shall hold the lamp to light me + while I pick the peas.’ + </p> + <p> + The Prince in his haste snatched it up so quickly that it went out, and it + took him a long time to light it again with two little bits of glowing + charcoal which he had to dig out from the pile of ashes upon the hearth. + However, at last the peas were gathered and shelled, and the fire lighted, + but then they had to be carefully counted, since the old woman declared + that she would cook fifty-four, and no more. In vain did the Prince + represent to her that he was famished—that fifty-four peas would go + no way towards satisfying his hunger—that a few peas, more or less, + surely could not matter. It was quite useless, in the end he had to count + out the fifty-four, and worse than that, because he dropped one or two in + his hurry, he had to begin again from the very first, to be sure the + number was complete. As soon as they were cooked the old dame took a pair + of scales and a morsel of bread from the cupboard, and was just about to + divide it when Prince Vivien, who really could wait no longer, seized the + whole piece and ate it up, saying in his turn, ‘Patience.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘You mean that for a joke,’ said the old woman, as gently as ever, ‘but + that is really my name, and some day you will know more about me.’ + </p> + <p> + Then they each ate their twenty-seven peas, and the Prince was surprised + to find that he wanted nothing more, and he slept as sweetly upon his bed + of straw as he had ever done in his palace. + </p> + <p> + In the morning the old woman gave him milk and bread for his breakfast, + which he ate contentedly, rejoicing that there was nothing to be gathered, + or counted, or cooked, and when he had finished he begged her to tell him + who she was. + </p> + <p> + ‘That I will, with pleasure,’ she replied. ‘But it will be a long story.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Oh! if it’s long, I can’t listen,’ cried the Prince. + </p> + <p> + ‘But,’ said she, ‘at your age, you should attend to what old people say, + and learn to have patience.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘But, but,’ said the Prince, in his most impatient tone, ‘old people + should not be so long-winded! Tell me what country I have got into, and + nothing else.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘With all my heart,’ said she. ‘You are in the Forest of the Black Bird; + it is here that he utters his oracles.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘An Oracle,’ cried the Prince. ‘Oh! I must go and consult him.’ Thereupon + he drew a handful of gold from his pocket, and offered it to the old + woman, and when she would not take it, he threw it down upon the table and + was off like a flash of lightning, without even staying to ask the way. He + took the first path that presented itself and followed it at the top of + his speed, often losing his way, or stumbling over some stone, or running + up against a tree, and leaving behind him without regret the cottage which + had been as little to his taste as the character of its possessor. After + some time he saw in the distance a huge black castle which commanded a + view of the whole forest. The Prince felt certain that this must be the + abode of the Oracle, and just as the sun was setting he reached its + outermost gates. The whole castle was surrounded by a deep moat, and the + drawbridge and the gates, and even the water in the moat, were all of the + same sombre hue as the walls and towers. Upon the gate hung a huge bell, + upon which was written in red letters: + </p> + <p> + ‘Mortal, if thou art curious to know thy fate, strike this bell, and + submit to what shall befall thee.’ + </p> + <p> + The Prince, without the smallest hesitation, snatched up a great stone, + and hammered vigorously upon the bell, which gave forth a deep and + terrible sound, the gate flew open, and closed again with a thundering + clang the moment the Prince had passed through it, while from every tower + and battlement rose a wheeling, screaming crowd of bats which darkened the + whole sky with their multitudes. Anyone but Prince Vivien would have been + terrified by such an uncanny sight, but he strode stoutly forward till he + reached the second gate, which was opened to him by sixty black slaves + covered from head to foot in long mantles. + </p> + <p> + He wished to speak to them, but soon discovered that they spoke an utterly + unknown language, and did not seem to understand a word he said. This was + a great aggravation to the Prince, who was not accustomed to keep his + ideas to himself, and he positively found himself wishing for his old + friend Patience. However, he had to follow his guides in silence, and they + led him into a magnificent hall; the floor was of ebony, the walls of jet, + and all the hangings were of black velvet, but the Prince looked round it + in vain for something to eat, and then made signs that he was hungry. In + the same manner he was respectfully given to understand that he must wait, + and after several hours the sixty hooded and shrouded figures re-appeared, + and conducted him with great ceremony, and also very very slowly, to a + banqueting hall, where they all placed themselves at a long table. The + dishes were arranged down the centre of it, and with his usual impetuosity + the Prince seized the one that stood in front of him to draw it nearer, + but soon found that it was firmly fixed in its place. Then he looked at + his solemn and lugubrious neighbours, and saw that each one was supplied + with a long hollow reed through which he slowly sucked up his portion, and + the Prince was obliged to do the same, though he found it a frightfully + tedious process. After supper, they returned as they had come to the ebony + room, where he was compelled to look on while his companions played + interminable games of chess, and not until he was nearly dying of + weariness did they, slowly and ceremoniously as before, conduct him to his + sleeping apartment. The hope of consulting the Oracle woke him very early + the next morning, and his first demand was to be allowed to present + himself before it, but, without replying, his attendants conducted him to + a huge marble bath, very shallow at one end, and quite deep at the other, + and gave him to understand that he was to go into it. The Prince, nothing + loth, was for springing at once into deep water, but he was gently but + forcibly held back and only allowed to stand where it was about an inch + deep, and he was nearly wild with impatience when he found that this + process was to be repeated every day in spite of all he could say or do, + the water rising higher and higher by inches, so that for sixty days he + had to live in perpetual silence, ceremoniously conducted to and fro, + supping all his meals through the long reed, and looking on at innumerable + games of chess, the game of all others which he detested most. But at last + the water rose as high as his chin, and his bath was complete. And that + day the slaves in their black robes, and each having a large bat perched + upon his head, marched in slow procession with the Prince in their midst, + chanting a melancholy song, to the iron gate that led into a kind of + Temple. At the sound of their chanting, another band of slaves appeared, + and took possession of the unhappy Vivien. + </p> + <p> + They looked to him exactly like the ones he had left, except that they + moved more slowly still, and each one held a raven upon his wrist, and + their harsh croakings re-echoed through the dismal place. Holding the + Prince by the arms, not so much to do him honour as to restrain his + impatience, they proceeded by slow degrees up the steps of the Temple, and + when they at last reached the top he thought his long waiting must be at + an end. But on the contrary, after slowly enshrouding him in a long black + robe like their own, they led him into the Temple itself, where he was + forced to witness numbers of lengthy rites and ceremonies. By this time + Vivien’s active impatience had subsided into passive weariness, his yawns + were continual and scandalous, but nobody heeded him, he stared hopelessly + at the thick black curtain which hung down straight in front of him, and + could hardly believe his eyes when it presently began to slide back, and + he saw before him the Black Bird. It was of enormous size, and was perched + upon a thick bar of iron which ran across from one side of the Temple to + the other. At the sight of it all the slaves fell upon their knees and hid + their faces, and when it had three times flapped its mighty wings it + uttered distinctly in Prince Vivien’s own language the words: + </p> + <p> + ‘Prince, your only chance of happiness depends upon that which is most + opposed to your own nature.’ + </p> + <p> + Then the curtain fell before it once more, and the Prince, after many + ceremonies, was presented with a raven which perched upon his wrist, and + was conducted slowly back to the iron gate. Here the raven left him and he + was handed over once more to the care of the first band of slaves, while a + large bat flickered down and settled upon his head of its own accord, and + so he was taken back to the marble bath, and had to go through the whole + process again, only this time he began in deep water which receded daily + inch by inch. When this was over the slaves escorted him to the outer + gate, and took leave of him with every mark of esteem and politeness, to + which it is to be feared he responded but indifferently, since the gate + was no sooner opened than he took to his heels, and fled away with all his + might, his one idea being to put as much space as possible between himself + and the dreary place into which he had ventured so rashly, just to consult + a tedious Oracle who after all had told him nothing. He actually reflected + for about five seconds on his folly, and came to the conclusion that it + might sometimes be advisable to think before one acted. + </p> + <p> + After wandering about for several days until he was weary and hungry, he + at last succeeded in finding a way out of the forest, and soon came to a + wide and rapid river, which he followed, hoping to find some means of + crossing it, and it happened that as the sun rose the next morning he saw + something of a dazzling whiteness moored out in the middle of the stream. + Upon looking more attentively at it he found that it was one of the + prettiest little ships he had ever seen, and the boat that belonged to it + was made fast to the bank quite close to him. The Prince was immediately + seized with the most ardent desire to go on board the ship, and shouted + loudly to attract the notice of her crew, but no one answered. So he + sprang into the little boat and rowed away without finding it at all hard + work, for the boat was made all of white paper and was as light as a rose + leaf. The ship was made of white paper too, as the Prince presently + discovered when he reached it. He found not a soul on board, but there was + a very cosy little bed in the cabin, and an ample supply of all sorts of + good things to eat and drink, which he made up his mind to enjoy until + something new happened. Having been thoroughly well brought up at the + court of King Gridelin, of course he understood the art of navigation, but + when once he had started, the current carried the vessel down at such a + pace that before he knew where he was the Prince found himself out at sea, + and a wind springing up behind him just at this moment soon drove him out + of sight of land. By this time he was somewhat alarmed, and did his best + to put the ship about and get back to the river, but wind and tide were + too strong for him, and he began to think of the number of times, from his + childhood up, that he had been warned not to meddle with water. But it was + too late now to do anything but wish vainly that he had stayed on shore, + and to grow heartily weary of the boat and the sea and everything + connected with it. These two things, however, he did most thoroughly. To + put the finishing touch to his misfortunes he presently found himself + becalmed in mid-ocean, a state of affairs which would be considered trying + by the most patient of men, so you may imagine how it affected Prince + Vivien! He even came to wishing himself back at the Castle of the Black + Bird, for there at least he saw some living beings, whereas on board the + white-paper ship he was absolutely alone, and could not imagine how he was + ever to get away from his wearisome prison. However, after a very long + time, he did see land, and his impatience to be on shore was so great that + he at once flung himself over the ship’s side that he might reach it + sooner by swimming. But this was quite useless, for spring as far as he + might from the vessel, it was always under his feet again before he + reached the water, and he had to resign himself to his fate, and wait with + what patience he could muster until the winds and waves carried the ship + into a kind of natural harbour which ran far into the land. After his long + imprisonment at sea the Prince was delighted with the sight of the great + trees which grew down to the very edge of the water, and leaping lightly + on shore he speedily lost himself in the thick forest. When he had + wandered a long way he stopped to rest beside a clear spring of water, but + scarcely had he thrown himself down upon the mossy bank when there was a + great rustling in the bushes close by, and out sprang a pretty little + gazelle panting and exhausted, which fell at his feet gasping out— + </p> + <p> + ‘Oh! Vivien, save me!’ + </p> + <p> + The Prince in great astonishment leapt to his feet, and had just time to + draw his sword before he found himself face to face with a large green + lion which had been hotly pursuing the poor little gazelle. Prince Vivien + attacked it gallantly and a fierce combat ensued, which, however, ended + before long in the Prince’s dealing his adversary a terrific blow which + felled him to the earth. As he fell the lion whistled loudly three times + with such force that the forest rang again, and the sound must have been + heard for more than two leagues round, after which having apparently + nothing more to do in the world he rolled over on his side and died. The + Prince without paying any further heed to him or to his whistling returned + to the pretty gazelle, saying: + </p> + <p> + ‘Well! are you satisfied now? Since you can talk, pray tell me instantly + what all this is about, and how you happen to know my name.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Oh, I must rest for a long time before I can talk,’ she replied, ‘and + beside, I very much doubt if you will have leisure to listen, for the + affair is by no means finished. In fact,’ she continued in the same + languid tone, ‘you had better look behind you now.’ + </p> + <p> + The Prince turned sharply round and to his horror saw a huge Giant + approaching with mighty strides, crying fiercely— + </p> + <p> + ‘Who has made my lion whistle I should like to know?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘I have,’ replied Prince Vivien boldly, ‘but I can answer for it that he + will not do it again!’ + </p> + <p> + At these words the Giant began to howl and lament. + </p> + <p> + ‘Alas, my poor Tiny, my sweet little pet,’ he cried, ‘but at least I can + avenge thy death.’ + </p> + <p> + Thereupon he rushed at the Prince, brandishing an immense serpent which + was coiled about his wrist. Vivien, without losing his coolness, aimed a + terrific blow at it with his sword, but no sooner did he touch the snake + than it changed into a Giant and the Giant into a snake, with such + rapidity that the Prince felt perfectly giddy, and this happened at least + half-a-dozen times, until at last with a fortunate stroke he cut the + serpent in halves, and picking up one morsel flung it with all his force + at the nose of the Giant, who fell insensible on top of the lion, and in + an instant a thick black cloud rolled up which hid them from view, and + when it cleared away they had all disappeared. + </p> + <p> + Then the Prince, without even waiting to sheathe his sword, rushed back to + the gazelle, crying: + </p> + <p> + ‘Now you have had plenty of time to recover your wits, and you have + nothing more to fear, so tell me who you are, and what this horrible + Giant, with his lion and his serpent, have to do with you and for pity’s + sake be quick about it.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘I will tell you with pleasure,’ she answered, ‘but where is the hurry? I + want you to come back with me to the Green Castle, but I don’t want to + walk there, it is so far, and walking is so fatiguing.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Let us set out at once then,’ replied the Prince severely, ‘or else + really I shall have to leave you where you are. Surely a young and active + gazelle like you ought to be ashamed of not being able to walk a few + steps. The further off this castle is the faster we ought to walk, but as + you don’t appear to enjoy that, I will promise that we will go gently, and + we can talk by the way.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘It would be better still if you would carry me,’ said she sweetly, ‘but + as I don’t like to see people giving themselves trouble, you may carry me, + and make that snail carry you.’ So saying, she pointed languidly with one + tiny foot at what the Prince had taken for a block of stone, but now he + saw that it was a huge snail. + </p> + <p> + ‘What! I ride a snail!’ cried the Prince; ‘you are laughing at me, and + beside we should not get there for a year.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Oh! well then don’t do it,’ replied the gazelle, ‘I am quite willing to + stay here. The grass is green, and the water clear. But if I were you I + should take the advice that was given me and ride the snail.’ + </p> + <p> + So, though it did not please him at all, the Prince took the gazelle in + his arms, and mounted upon the back of the snail, which glided along very + peaceably, entirely declining to be hurried by frequent blows from the + Prince’s heels. In vain did the gazelle represent to him that she was + enjoying herself very much, and that this was the easiest mode of + conveyance she had ever discovered. Prince Vivien was wild with + impatience, and thought that the Green Castle would never be reached. + However, at last, they did get there, and everyone who was in it ran to + see the Prince dismount from his singular steed. + </p> + <p> + But what was his surprise, when having at her request set the gazelle + gently down upon the steps which led up to the castle, he saw her suddenly + change into a charming Princess, and recognized in her his pretty cousin + Placida, who greeted him with her usual tranquil sweetness. His delight + knew no bounds, and he followed her eagerly up into the castle, impatient + to know what strange events had brought her there. But after all he had to + wait for the Princess’s story, for the inhabitants of the Green Lands, + hearing that the Giant was dead, ran to offer the kingdom to his + vanquisher, and Prince Vivien had to listen to various complimentary + harangues, which took a great deal of time, though he cut them as short as + politeness allowed—if not shorter. But at last he was free to rejoin + Placida, who at once began the story of her adventures. + </p> + <p> + ‘After you had gone away,’ said she, ‘they tried to make me learn how to + govern the kingdom, which wearied me to death, so that I begged and prayed + Lolotte to take me away with her, and this she presently did, but very + reluctantly. However, having been transported to her grotto upon my + favourite couch, I spent several delicious days, soothed by the soft green + light, which was like a beech wood in the spring, and by the murmuring of + bees and the tinkle of falling water. But alas! Lolotte was forced to go + away to a general assembly of the Fairies, and she came back in great + dismay, telling me that her indulgence to me had cost her dear, for she + had been severely reprimanded and ordered to hand me over to the Fairy + Mirlifiche, who was already taking charge of you, and who had been much + commended for her management of you.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Fine management, indeed,’ interrupted the Prince, ‘if it is to her I owe + all the adventures I have met with! But go on with your story, my cousin. + I can tell you all about my doings afterwards, and then you can judge for + yourself.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘At first I was grieved to see Lolotte cry,’ resumed the Princess, ‘but I + soon found that grieving was very troublesome, so I thought it better to + be calm, and very soon afterwards I saw the Fairy Mirlifiche arrive, + mounted upon her great unicorn. She stopped before the grotto and bade + Lolotte bring me out to her, at which she cried worse than ever, and + kissed me a dozen times, but she dared not refuse. I was lifted up on to + the unicorn, behind Mirlifiche, who said to me— + </p> + <p> + ‘“Hold on tight, little girl, if you don’t want to break your neck.” + </p> + <p> + ‘And, indeed, I had to hold on with all my might, for her horrible steed + trotted so violently that it positively took my breath away. However, at + last we stopped at a large farm, and the farmer and his wife ran out as + soon as they saw the Fairy, and helped us to dismount. + </p> + <p> + ‘I knew that they were really a King and Queen, whom the Fairies were + punishing for their ignorance and idleness. You may imagine that I was by + this time half dead with fatigue, but Mirlifiche insisted upon my feeding + her unicorn before I did anything else. To accomplish this I had to climb + up a long ladder into the hayloft, and bring down, one after another, + twenty-four handfuls of hay. Never, never before, did I have such a + wearisome task! It makes me shudder to think of it now, and that was not + all. In the same way I had to carry the twenty-four handfuls of hay to the + stable, and then it was supper time, and I had to wait upon all the + others. After that I really thought I should be allowed to go peaceably to + my little bed, but, oh dear no! First of all I had to make it, for it was + all in confusion, and then I had to make one for the Fairy, and tuck her + in, and draw the curtains round her, beside rendering her a dozen little + services which I was not at all accustomed to. Finally, when I was + perfectly exhausted by all this toil, I was free to go to bed myself, but + as I had never before undressed myself, and really did not know how to + begin, I lay down as I was. Unfortunately, the Fairy found this out, and + just as I was falling into a sweet slumber, she made me get up once more, + but even then I managed to escape her vigilance, and only took off my + upper robe. Indeed, I may tell you in confidence, that I always find + disobedience answer very well. One is often scolded, it is true, but then + one has been saved some trouble. + </p> + <p> + ‘At the earliest dawn of day Mirlifiche woke me, and made me take many + journeys to the stable to bring her word how her unicorn had slept, and + how much hay he had eaten, and then to find out what time it was, and if + it was a fine day. I was so slow, and did my errands so badly, that before + she left she called the King and Queen and said to them: + </p> + <p> + ‘“I am much more pleased with you this year. Continue to make the best of + your farm, if you wish to get back to your kingdom, and also take care of + this little Princess for me, and teach her to be useful, that when I come + I may find her cured of her faults. If she is not—” + </p> + <p> + ‘Here she broke off with a significant look, and mounting my enemy the + unicorn, speedily disappeared. + </p> + <p> + ‘Then the King and Queen, turning to me, asked me what I could do. + </p> + <p> + ‘“Nothing at all, I assure you,” I replied in a tone which really ought to + have convinced them, but they went on to describe various employments, and + tried to discover which of them would be most to my taste. However, at + last I persuaded them that to do nothing whatever would be the only thing + that would suit me, and that if they really wanted to be kind to me, they + would let me go to bed and to sleep, and not tease me about doing + anything. To my great joy, they not only permitted this, but actually, + when they had their own meals, the Queen brought my portion up to me. But + early the next morning she appeared at my bedside, saying, with an + apologetic air: + </p> + <p> + ‘“My pretty child, I am afraid you must really make up your mind to get up + to-day. I know quite well how delightful it is to be thoroughly idle, for + when my husband and I were King and Queen we did nothing at all from + morning to night, and I sincerely hope that it will not be long before + those happy days will come again for us. But at present we have not + reached them, nor have you, and you know from what the Fairy said that + perhaps worse things may happen to us if she is not obeyed. Make haste, I + beg of you, and come down to breakfast, for I have put by some delicious + cream for you.” + </p> + <p> + ‘It was really very tiresome, but as there was no help for it I went down! + </p> + <p> + ‘But the instant breakfast was over they began again their cuckoo-cry of + “What will you do?” In vain did I answer— + </p> + <p> + ‘“Nothing at all, if it please you, madam.” + </p> + <p> + ‘The Queen at last gave me a spindle and about four pounds of hemp upon a + distaff, and sent me out to keep the sheep, assuring me that there could + not be a pleasanter occupation, and that I could take my ease as much as I + pleased. I was forced to set out, very unwillingly, as you may imagine, + but I had not walked far before I came to a shady bank in what seemed to + me a charming place. I stretched myself cosily upon the soft grass, and + with the bundle of hemp for a pillow slept as tranquilly as if there were + no such things as sheep in the world, while they for their part wandered + hither and thither at their own sweet will, as if there were no such thing + as a shepherdess, invading every field, and browsing upon every kind of + forbidden dainty, until the peasants, alarmed by the havoc they were + making, raised a clamour, which at last reached the ears of the King and + Queen, who ran out, and seeing the cause of the commotion, hastily + collected their flock. And, indeed, the sooner the better, since they had + to pay for all the damage they had done. As for me I lay still and watched + them run, for I was very comfortable, and there I might be still if they + had not come up, all panting and breathless, and compelled me to get up + and follow them; they also reproached me bitterly, but I need hardly tell + you that they did not again entrust me with the flock. + </p> + <p> + ‘But whatever they found for me to do it was always the same thing, I + spoilt and mismanaged it all, and was so successful in provoking even the + most patient people, that one day I ran away from the farm, for I was + really afraid the Queen would be obliged to beat me. When I came to the + little river in which the King used to fish, I found the boat tied to a + tree, and stepping in I unfastened it, and floated gently down with the + current. The gliding of the boat was so soothing that I did not trouble + myself in the least when the Queen caught sight of me and ran along the + bank, crying— + </p> + <p> + ‘“My boat, my boat! Husband, come and catch the little Princess who is + running away with my boat!” + </p> + <p> + ‘The current soon carried me out of hearing of her cries, and I dreamed to + the song of the ripples and the whisper of the trees, until the boat + suddenly stopped, and I found it was stuck fast beside a fresh green + meadow, and that the sun was rising. In the distance I saw some little + houses which seemed to be built in a most singular fashion, but as I was + by this time very hungry I set out towards them, but before I had walked + many steps, I saw that the air was full of shining objects which seemed to + be fixed, and yet I could not see what they hung from. + </p> + <p> + ‘I went nearer, and saw a silken cord hanging down to the ground, and + pulled it just because it was so close to my hand. Instantly the whole + meadow resounded to the melodious chiming of a peal of silver bells, and + they sounded so pretty that I sat down to listen, and to watch them as + they swung shining in the sunbeams. Before they ceased to sound, came a + great flight of birds, and each one perching upon a bell added its + charming song to the concert. As they ended, I looked up and saw a tall + and stately dame advancing towards me, surrounded and followed by a vast + flock of every kind of bird. + </p> + <p> + ‘“Who are you, little girl,” said she, “who dares to come where I allow no + mortal to live, lest my birds should be disturbed? Still, if you are + clever at anything,” she added, “I might be able to put up with your + presence.” + </p> + <p> + ‘“Madam,” I answered, rising, “you may be very sure that I shall not do + anything to alarm your birds. I only beg you, for pity’s sake, to give me + something to eat.” + </p> + <p> + ‘“I will do that,” she replied, “before I send you where you deserve to + go.” + </p> + <p> + ‘And thereupon she despatched six jays, who were her pages, to fetch me + all sorts of biscuits, while some of the other birds brought ripe fruits. + In fact, I had a delicious breakfast, though I do not like to be waited + upon so quickly. It is so disagreeable to be hurried. I began to think I + should like very well to stay in this pleasant country, and I said so to + the stately lady, but she answered with the greatest disdain: + </p> + <p> + ‘“Do you think I would keep you here? <i>You</i>! Why what do you suppose + would be the good of you in this country, where everybody is wide-awake + and busy? No, no, I have shown you all the hospitality you will get from + me.” + </p> + <p> + ‘With these words she turned and gave a vigorous pull to the silken rope + which I mentioned before, but instead of a melodious chime, there arose a + hideous clanging which quite terrified me, and in an instant a huge Black + Bird appeared, which alighted at the Fairy’s feet, saying in a frightful + voice— + </p> + <p> + ‘“What do you want of me, my sister?” + </p> + <p> + ‘“I wish you to take this little Princess to my cousin, the Giant of the + Green Castle, at once,” she replied, “and beg him from me to make her work + day and night upon his beautiful tapestry.” + </p> + <p> + ‘At these words the great Bird snatched me up, regardless of my cries, and + flew off at a terrific pace—’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Oh! you are joking, cousin,’ interrupted Prince Vivien; ‘you mean as + slowly as possible. I know that horrible Black Bird, and the lengthiness + of all his proceedings and surroundings.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Have it your own way,’ replied Placida, tranquilly. ‘I cannot bear + arguing. Perhaps, this was not even the same bird. At any rate, he carried + me off at a prodigious speed, and set me gently down in this very castle + of which you are now the master. We entered by one of the windows, and + when the Bird had handed me over to the Giant from whom you have been good + enough to deliver me, and given the Fairy’s message, it departed. + </p> + <p> + ‘Then the Giant turned to me, saying, + </p> + <p> + ‘“So you are an idler! Ah! well, we must teach you to work. You won’t be + the first we have cured of laziness. See how busy all my guests are.” + </p> + <p> + ‘I looked up as he spoke, and saw that an immense gallery ran all round + the hall, in which were tapestry frames, spindles, skeins of wool, + patterns, and all necessary things. Before each frame about a dozen people + were sitting, hard at work, at which terrible sight I fainted away, and as + soon as I recovered they began to ask me what I could do. + </p> + <p> + ‘It was in vain that I replied as before, and with the strongest desire to + be taken at my word, “Nothing at all.” + </p> + <p> + ‘The Giant only said, + </p> + <p> + ‘“Then you must learn to do something; in this world there is enough work + for everybody.” + </p> + <p> + ‘It appeared that they were working into the tapestry all the stories the + Fairies liked best, and they began to try and teach me to help them, but + from the first class, where they tried me to begin with, I sank lower and + lower, and not even the most simple stitches could I learn. + </p> + <p> + ‘In vain they punished me by all the usual methods. In vain the Giant + showed me his menagerie, which was entirely composed of children who would + not work! Nothing did me any good, and at last I was reduced to drawing + water for the dyeing of the wools, and even over that I was so slow that + this morning the Giant flew into a rage and changed me into a gazelle. He + was just putting me into the menagerie when I happened to catch sight of a + dog, and was seized with such terror that I fled away at my utmost speed, + and escaped through the outer court of the castle. The Giant, fearing that + I should be lost altogether, sent his green lion after me, with orders to + bring me back, cost what it might, and I should certainly have let myself + be caught, or eaten up, or anything, rather than run any further, if I had + not luckily met you by the fountain. And oh!’ concluded the Princess, ‘how + delightful it is once more to be able to sit still in peace. I was so + tired of trying to learn things.’ + </p> + <p> + Prince Vivien said that, for his part, he had been kept a great deal too + still, and had not found it at all amusing, and then he recounted all his + adventures with breathless rapidity. How he had taken shelter with Dame + Patience, and consulted the Oracle, and voyaged in the paper ship. Then + they went hand in hand to release all the prisoners in the castle, and all + the Princes and Princesses who were in cages in the menagerie, for the + instant the Green Giant was dead they had resumed their natural forms. As + you may imagine, they were all very grateful, and Princess Placida + entreated them never, never to do another stitch of work so long as they + lived, and they promptly made a great bonfire in the courtyard, and + solemnly burnt all the embroidery frames and spinning wheels. Then the + Princess gave them splendid presents, or rather sat by while Prince Vivien + gave them, and there were great rejoicings in the Green Castle, and + everyone did his best to please the Prince and Princess. But with all + their good intentions, they often made mistakes, for Vivien and Placida + were never of one mind about their plans, so it was very confusing, and + they frequently found themselves obeying the Prince’s orders, very, very + slowly, and rushing off with lightning speed to do something that the + Princess did not wish to have done at all, until, by-and-by, the two + cousins took to consulting with, and consoling one another in all these + little vexations, and at last came to be so fond of each other that for + Placida’s sake Vivien became quite patient, and for Vivien’s sake Placida + made the most unheard-of exertions. But now the Fairies who had been + watching all these proceedings with interest, thought it was time to + interfere, and ascertain by further trials if this improvement was likely + to continue, and if they really loved one another. So they caused Placida + to seem to have a violent fever, and Vivien to languish and grow dull, and + made each of them very uneasy about the other, and then, finding a moment + when they were apart, the Fairy Mirlifiche suddenly appeared to Placida, + and said— + </p> + <p> + ‘I have just seen Prince Vivien, and he seemed to me to be very ill.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Alas! yes, madam,’ she answered, ‘and if you will but cure him, you may + take me back to the farm, or bring the Green Giant to life again, and you + shall see how obedient I will be.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘If you really wish him to recover,’ said the Fairy, ‘you have only to + catch the Trotting Mouse and the Chaffinch-on-the-Wing and bring them to + me. Only remember that time presses!’ + </p> + <p> + She had hardly finished speaking before the Princess was rushing headlong + out of the castle gate, and the Fairy after watching her till she was lost + to sight, gave a little chuckle and went in search of the Prince, who + begged her earnestly to send him back to the Black Castle, or to the paper + boat if she would but save Placida’s life. The Fairy shook her head, and + looked very grave. She quite agreed with him, the Princess was in a bad + way—‘But,’ said she, ‘if you can find the Rosy Mole, and give him to + her she will recover.’ So now it was the Prince’s turn to set off in a + vast hurry, only as soon as he left the Castle he happened to go in + exactly the opposite direction to the one Placida had taken. Now you can + imagine these two devoted lovers hunting night and day. The Princess in + the woods, always running, always listening, pursuing hotly after two + creatures which seemed to her very hard to catch, which she yet never + ceased from pursuing. The Prince on the other hand wandering continually + across the meadows, his eyes fixed upon the ground, attentive to every + movement among the moles. He was forced to walk slowly—slowly upon + tip-toe, hardly venturing to breathe. Often he stood for hours motionless + as a statue, and if the desire to succeed could have helped him he would + soon have possessed the Rosy Mole. But alas! all that he caught were black + and ordinary, though strange to say he never grew impatient, but always + seemed ready to begin the tedious hunt again. But this changing of + character is one of the most ordinary miracles which love works. Neither + the Prince nor the Princess gave a thought to anything but their quest. It + never even occurred to them to wonder what country they had reached. So + you may guess how astonished they were one day, when having at last been + successful after their long and weary chase, they cried aloud at the same + instant: ‘At last I have saved my beloved,’ and then recognising each + other’s voice looked up, and rushed to meet one another with the wildest + joy. Surprise kept them silent while for one delicious moment they gazed + into each other’s eyes, and just then who should come up but King + Gridelin, for it was into his kingdom they had accidentally strayed. He + recognized them in his turn and greeted them joyfully, but when they + turned afterwards to look for the Rosy Mole, the Chaffinch, and the + Trotting-Mouse, they had vanished, and in their places stood a lovely lady + whom they did not know, the Black Bird, and the Green Giant. King Gridelin + had no sooner set eyes upon the lady than with a cry of joy he clasped her + in his arms, for it was no other than his long-lost wife, Santorina, about + whose imprisonment in Fairyland you may perhaps read some day. + </p> + <p> + Then the Black Bird and the Green Giant resumed their natural form, for + they were enchanters, and up flew Lolotte and Mirlifiche in their + chariots, and then there was a great kissing and congratulating, for + everybody had regained someone he loved, including the enchanters, who + loved their natural forms dearly. After this they repaired to the Palace, + and the wedding of Prince Vivien and Princess Placida was held at once + with all the splendour imaginable. + </p> + <p> + King Gridelin and Queen Santorina, after all their experiences had no + further desire to reign, so they retired happily to a peaceful place, + leaving their kingdom to the Prince and Princess, who were beloved by all + their subjects, and found their greatest happiness all their lives long in + making other people happy. + </p> + <p> + Nonchalante et Papillon + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0026" id="link2H_4_0026"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + LITTLE ONE-EYE, LITTLE TWO-EYES, AND LITTLE THREE-EYES + </h2> + <p> + There was once a woman who had three daughters, of whom the eldest was + called Little One-eye, because she had only one eye in the middle of her + forehead; and the second, Little Two-eyes, because she had two eyes like + other people; and the youngest, Little Three-eyes, because she had three + eyes, and <i>her</i> third eye was also in the middle of her forehead. But + because Little Two-eyes did not look any different from other children, + her sisters and mother could not bear her. They would say to her, ‘You + with your two eyes are no better than common folk; you don’t belong to + us.’ They pushed her here, and threw her wretched clothes there, and gave + her to eat only what they left, and they were as unkind to her as ever + they could be. + </p> + <p> + It happened one day that Little Two-eyes had to go out into the fields to + take care of the goat, but she was still quite hungry because her sisters + had given her so little to eat. So she sat down in the meadow and began to + cry, and she cried so much that two little brooks ran out of her eyes. But + when she looked up once in her grief there stood a woman beside her who + asked, ‘Little Two-eyes, what are you crying for?’ Little Two-eyes + answered, ‘Have I not reason to cry? Because I have two eyes like other + people, my sisters and my mother cannot bear me; they push me out of one + corner into another, and give me nothing to eat except what they leave. + To-day they have given me so little that I am still quite hungry.’ Then + the wise woman said, ‘Little Two-eyes, dry your eyes, and I will tell you + something so that you need never be hungry again. Only say to your goat, + </p> + <p> + “Little goat, bleat, Little table, appear,” + </p> + <p> + and a beautifully spread table will stand before you, with the most + delicious food on it, so that you can eat as much as you want. And when + you have had enough and don’t want the little table any more, you have + only to say, + </p> + <p> + “Little goat, bleat, Little table, away,” + </p> + <p> + and then it will vanish.’ Then the wise woman went away. + </p> + <p> + But Little Two-eyes thought, ‘I must try at once if what she has told me + is true, for I am more hungry than ever’; and she said, + </p> + <p> + ‘Little goat, bleat, Little table appear,’ + </p> + <p> + and scarcely had she uttered the words, when there stood a little table + before her covered with a white cloth, on which were arranged a plate, + with a knife and fork and a silver spoon, and the most beautiful dishes, + which were smoking hot, as if they had just come out of the kitchen. Then + Little Two-eyes said the shortest grace she knew, and set to work and made + a good dinner. And when she had had enough, she said, as the wise woman + had told her, + </p> + <p> + ‘Little goat, bleat, Little table, away,’ + </p> + <p> + and immediately the table and all that was on it disappeared again. ‘That + is a splendid way of housekeeping,’ thought Little Two-eyes, and she was + quite happy and contented. + </p> + <p> + In the evening, when she went home with her goat, she found a little + earthenware dish with the food that her sisters had thrown to her, but she + did not touch it. The next day she went out again with her goat, and left + the few scraps which were given her. The first and second times her + sisters did not notice this, but when it happened continually, they + remarked it and said, ‘Something is the matter with Little Two-eyes, for + she always leaves her food now, and she used to gobble up all that was + given her. She must have found other means of getting food.’ So in order + to get at the truth, Little One-eye was told to go out with Little + Two-eyes when she drove the goat to pasture, and to notice particularly + what she got there, and whether anyone brought her food and drink. + </p> + <p> + Now when Little Two-eyes was setting out, Little One-eye came up to her + and said, ‘I will go into the field with you and see if you take good care + of the goat, and if you drive him properly to get grass.’ But Little + Two-eyes saw what Little One-eye had in her mind, and she drove the goat + into the long grass and said, ‘Come, Little One-eye, we will sit down + here, and I will sing you something.’ + </p> + <p> + Little One-eye sat down, and as she was very much tired by the long walk + to which she was not used, and by the hot day, and as Little Two-eyes went + on singing. + </p> + <p> + ‘Little One-eye, are you awake? Little One-eye, are you asleep?’ + </p> + <p> + she shut her one eye and fell asleep. When Little Two-eyes saw that Little + One-eye was asleep and could find out nothing, she said, + </p> + <p> + ‘Little goat, bleat, Little table, appear,’ + </p> + <p> + and sat down at her table and ate and drank as much as she wanted. Then + she said again, + </p> + <p> + ‘Little goat, bleat, Little table, away.’ + </p> + <p> + and in the twinkling of an eye all had vanished. + </p> + <p> + Little Two-eyes then woke Little One-eye and said, ‘Little One-eye, you + meant to watch, and, instead, you went to sleep; in the meantime the goat + might have run far and wide. Come, we will go home.’ So they went home, + and Little Two-eyes again left her little dish untouched, and Little + One-eye could not tell her mother why she would not eat, and said as an + excuse, ‘I was so sleepy out-of-doors.’ + </p> + <p> + The next day the mother said to Little Three-eyes, ‘This time you shall go + with Little Two-eyes and watch whether she eats anything out in the + fields, and whether anyone brings her food and drink, for eat and drink + she must secretly.’ So Little Three-eyes went to Little Two-eyes and said, + ‘I will go with you and see if you take good care of the goat, and if you + drive him properly to get grass.’ But little Two-eyes knew what Little + Three-eyes had in her mind, and she drove the goat out into the tall grass + and said, ‘We will sit down here, Little Three-eyes, and I will sing you + something.’ Little Three-eyes sat down; she was tired by the walk and the + hot day, and Little Two-eyes sang the same little song again: + </p> + <p> + ‘Little Three eyes, are you awake?’ + </p> + <p> + but instead of singing as she ought to have done, + </p> + <p> + ‘Little Three-eyes, are you asleep?’ + </p> + <p> + she sang, without thinking, + </p> + <p> + ‘Little <i>Two-eyes</i>, are you asleep?’ + </p> + <p> + She went on singing, + </p> + <p> + ‘Little Three-eyes, are you awake? Little <i>Two-eyes</i>, are you + asleep?’ + </p> + <p> + so that the two eyes of Little Three-eyes fell asleep, but the third, + which was not spoken to in the little rhyme, did not fall asleep. Of + course Little Three-eyes shut that eye also out of cunning, to look as if + she were asleep, but it was blinking and could see everything quite well. + </p> + <p> + And when Little Two-eyes thought that Little Three-eyes was sound asleep, + she said her rhyme, + </p> + <p> + ‘Little goat, bleat, Little table, appear,’ + </p> + <p> + and ate and drank to her heart’s content, and then made the table go away + again, by saying, + </p> + <p> + ‘Little goat, bleat, Little table, away.’ + </p> + <p> + But Little Three-eyes had seen everything. Then Little Two-eyes came to + her, and woke her and said, ‘Well, Little Three-eyes, have you been + asleep? You watch well! Come, we will go home.’ When they reached home, + Little Two-eyes did not eat again, and Little Three-eyes said to the + mother, ‘I know now why that proud thing eats nothing. When she says to + the goat in the field, + </p> + <p> + “Little goat, bleat, Little table, appear,” + </p> + <p> + a table stands before her, spread with the best food, much better than we + have; and when she has had enough, she says, + </p> + <p> + “Little goat, bleat, Little table, away,” + </p> + <p> + and everything disappears again. I saw it all exactly. She made two of my + eyes go to sleep with a little rhyme, but the one in my forehead remained + awake, luckily!’ + </p> + <p> + Then the envious mother cried out, ‘Will you fare better than we do? you + shall not have the chance to do so again!’ and she fetched a knife, and + killed the goat. + </p> + <p> + When Little Two-eyes saw this, she went out full of grief, and sat down in + the meadow and wept bitter tears. Then again the wise woman stood before + her, and said, ‘Little Two-eyes, what are you crying for?’ ‘Have I not + reason to cry?’ she answered, ‘the goat, which when I said the little + rhyme, spread the table so beautifully, my mother has killed, and now I + must suffer hunger and want again.’ The wise woman said, ‘Little Two-eyes, + I will give you a good piece of advice. Ask your sisters to give you the + heart of the dead goat, and bury it in the earth before the house-door; + that will bring you good luck.’ Then she disappeared, and Little Two-eyes + went home, and said to her sisters, ‘Dear sisters, do give me something of + my goat; I ask nothing better than its heart.’ Then they laughed and said, + ‘You can have that if you want nothing more.’ And Little Two-eyes took the + heart and buried it in the evening when all was quiet, as the wise woman + had told her, before the house-door. The next morning when they all awoke + and came to the house-door, there stood a most wonderful tree, which had + leaves of silver and fruit of gold growing on it—you never saw + anything more lovely and gorgeous in your life! But they did not know how + the tree had grown up in the night; only Little Two-eyes knew that it had + sprung from the heart of the goat, for it was standing just where she had + buried it in the ground. Then the mother said to Little One-eye, ‘Climb + up, my child, and break us off the fruit from the tree.’ Little One-eye + climbed up, but just when she was going to take hold of one of the golden + apples the bough sprang out of her hands; and this happened every time, so + that she could not break off a single apple, however hard she tried. Then + the mother said, ‘Little Three-eyes, do you climb up; you with your three + eyes can see round better than Little One-eye.’ So Little One-eye slid + down, and Little Three-eyes climbed up; but she was not any more + successful; look round as she might, the golden apples bent themselves + back. At last the mother got impatient and climbed up herself, but she was + even less successful than Little One-eye and Little Three-eyes in catching + hold of the fruit, and only grasped at the empty air. Then Little Two-eyes + said, ‘I will just try once, perhaps I shall succeed better.’ The sisters + called out, ‘You with your two eyes will no doubt succeed!’ But Little + Two-eyes climbed up, and the golden apples did not jump away from her, but + behaved quite properly, so that she could pluck them off, one after the + other, and brought a whole apron-full down with her. The mother took them + from her, and, instead of behaving better to poor Little Two-eyes, as they + ought to have done, they were jealous that she only could reach the fruit + and behaved still more unkindly to her. + </p> + <p> + It happened one day that when they were all standing together by the tree + that a young knight came riding along. ‘Be quick, Little Two-eyes,’ cried + the two sisters, ‘creep under this, so that you shall not disgrace us,’ + and they put over poor Little Two-eyes as quickly as possible an empty + cask, which was standing close to the tree, and they pushed the golden + apples which she had broken off under with her. When the knight, who was a + very handsome young man, rode up, he wondered to see the marvellous tree + of gold and silver, and said to the two sisters, ‘Whose is this beautiful + tree? Whoever will give me a twig of it shall have whatever she wants.’ + Then Little One-eye and Little Three-eyes answered that the tree belonged + to them, and that they would certainly break him off a twig. They gave + themselves a great deal of trouble, but in vain; the twigs and fruit bent + back every time from their hands. Then the knight said, ‘It is very + strange that the tree should belong to you, and yet that you have not the + power to break anything from it!’ But they would have that the tree was + theirs; and while they were saying this, Little Two-eyes rolled a couple + of golden apples from under the cask, so that they lay at the knight’s + feet, for she was angry with Little One-eye and Little Three-eyes for not + speaking the truth. When the knight saw the apples he was astonished, and + asked where they came from. Little One-eye and Little Three-eyes answered + that they had another sister, but she could not be seen because she had + only two eyes, like ordinary people. But the knight demanded to see her, + and called out, ‘Little Two-eyes, come forth.’ Then Little Two-eyes came + out from under the cask quite happily, and the knight was astonished at + her great beauty, and said, ‘Little Two-eyes, I am sure you can break me + off a twig from the tree.’ ‘Yes,’ answered Little Two-eyes, ‘I can, for + the tree is mine.’ So she climbed up and broke off a small branch with its + silver leaves and golden fruit without any trouble, and gave it to the + knight. Then he said, ‘Little Two-eyes, what shall I give you for this?’ + ‘Ah,’ answered Little Two-eyes, ‘I suffer hunger and thirst, want and + sorrow, from early morning till late in the evening; if you would take me + with you, and free me from this, I should be happy!’ Then the knight + lifted Little Two-eyes on his horse, and took her home to his father’s + castle. There he gave her beautiful clothes, and food and drink, and + because he loved her so much he married her, and the wedding was + celebrated with great joy. + </p> + <p> + When the handsome knight carried Little Two-eyes away with him, the two + sisters envied her good luck at first. ‘But the wonderful tree is still + with us, after all,’ they thought, ‘and although we cannot break any fruit + from it, everyone will stop and look at it, and will come to us and praise + it; who knows whether <i>we</i> may not reap a harvest from it?’ But the + next morning the tree had flown, and their hopes with it; and when Little + Two-eyes looked out of her window there it stood underneath, to her great + delight. Little Two-eyes lived happily for a long time. Once two poor + women came to the castle to beg alms. Then Little Two-eyes looked at then + and recognised both her sisters, Little One-eye and Little Three-eyes, who + had become so poor that they came to beg bread at her door. But Little + Two-eyes bade them welcome, and was so good to them that they both + repented from their hearts of having been so unkind to their sister. + </p> + <p> + Grimm. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0027" id="link2H_4_0027"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + JORINDE AND JORINGEL + </h2> + <p> + There was once upon a time a castle in the middle of a thick wood where + lived an old woman quite alone, for she was an enchantress. In the + day-time she changed herself into a cat or a night-owl, but in the evening + she became like an ordinary woman again. She could entice animals and + birds to come to her, and then she would kill and cook them. If any youth + came within a hundred paces of the castle, he was obliged to stand still, + and could not stir from the spot till she set him free; but if a pretty + girl came within this boundary, the old enchantress changed her into a + bird, and shut her up in a wicker cage, which she put in one of the rooms + in the castle. She had quite seven thousand of such cages in the castle + with very rare birds in them. + </p> + <p> + Now, there was once a maiden called Jorinde, who was more beautiful than + other maidens. She and a youth named Joringel, who was just as + good-looking as she was, were betrothed to one another. Their greatest + delight was to be together, and so that they might get a good long talk, + they went one evening for a walk in the wood. ‘Take care,’ said Joringel, + ‘not to come too close to the castle.’ It was a beautiful evening; the sun + shone brightly between the stems of the trees among the dark green leaves + of the forest, and the turtle-dove sang clearly on the old maybushes. + </p> + <p> + Jorinde wept from time to time, and she sat herself down in the sunshine + and lamented, and Joringel lamented too. They felt as sad as if they had + been condemned to die; they looked round and got quite confused, and did + not remember which was their way home. Half the sun was still above the + mountain and half was behind it when Joringel looked through the trees and + saw the old wall of the castle quite near them. He was terrified and half + dead with fright. Jorinde sang: + </p> + <p> + ‘My little bird with throat so red Sings sorrow, sorrow, sorrow; He sings + to the little dove that’s dead, Sings sorrow, sor—jug, jug, jug.’ + </p> + <p> + Joringel looked up at Jorinde. She had been changed into a nightingale, + who was singing ‘jug, jug.’ A night-owl with glowing eyes flew three times + round her, and screeched three times ‘tu-whit, tu-whit, tu-whoo.’ Joringel + could not stir; he stood there like a stone; he could not weep, or speak, + or move hand or foot. Now the sun set; the owl flew into a bush, and + immediately an old, bent woman came out of it; she was yellow-skinned and + thin, and had large red eyes and a hooked nose, which met her chin. She + muttered to herself, caught the nightingale, and carried her away in her + hand. Joringel could say nothing; he could not move from the spot, and the + nightingale was gone. At last the woman came back again, and said in a + gruff voice, ‘Good evening, Zachiel; when the young moon shines in the + basket, you are freed early, Zachiel.’ Then Joringel was free. He fell on + his knees before the old woman and implored her to give him back his + Jorinde, but she said he should never have her again, and then went away. + He called after her, he wept and lamented, but all in vain. ‘What is to + become of me!’ he thought. Then he went away, and came at last to a + strange village, where he kept sheep for a long time. He often went round + the castle while he was there, but never too close. At last he dreamt one + night that he had found a blood-red flower, which had in its centre a + beautiful large pearl. He plucked this flower and went with it to the + castle; and there everything which he touched with the flower was freed + from the enchantment, and he got his Jorinde back again through it. When + he awoke in the morning he began to seek mountain and valley to find such + a flower. He sought it for eight days, and on the ninth early in the + morning he found the blood-red flower. In its centre was a large dew-drop, + as big as the most lovely pearl. He travelled day and night with this + flower till he arrived at the castle. When he came within a hundred paces + of it he did not cease to be able to move, but he went on till he reached + the gate. He was delighted at his success, touched the great gate with the + flower, and it sprung open. He entered, passed through the courtyard, and + then stopped to listen for the singing of the birds; at last he heard it. + He went in and found the hall in which was the enchantress, and with her + seven thousand birds in their wicker cages. When she saw Joringel she was + furious, and breathed out poison and gall at him, but she could not move a + step towards him. He took no notice of her, and went and looked over the + cages of birds; but there were many hundred nightingales, and how was he + to find his Jorinde from among them? Whilst he was considering, he + observed the old witch take up a cage secretly and go with it towards the + door. Instantly he sprang after her, touched the cage with the flower, and + the old woman as well. Now she could no longer work enchantments, and + there stood Jorinde before him, with her arms round his neck, and more + beautiful than ever. Then he turned all the other birds again into + maidens, and he went home with his Jorinde, and they lived a long and + happy life. + </p> + <p> + Grimm. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0028" id="link2H_4_0028"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + ALLERLEIRAUH; OR, THE MANY-FURRED CREATURE + </h2> + <p> + There was once upon a time a King who had a wife with golden hair, and she + was so beautiful that you couldn’t find anyone like her in the world. It + happened that she fell ill, and when she felt that she must soon die, she + sent for the King, and said, ‘If you want to marry after my death, make no + one queen unless she is just as beautiful as I am, and has just such + golden hair as I have. Promise me this.’ After the King had promised her + this, she closed her eyes and died. + </p> + <p> + For a long time the King was not to be comforted, and he did not even + think of taking a second wife. At last his councillors said, ‘The King <i>must</i> + marry again, so that we may have a queen.’ So messengers were sent far and + wide to seek for a bride equal to the late Queen in beauty. But there was + no one in the wide world, and if there had been she could not have had + such golden hair. Then the messengers came home again, not having been + able to find a queen. + </p> + <p> + Now, the King had a daughter, who was just as beautiful as her dead + mother, and had just such golden hair. One day when she had grown up, her + father looked at her, and saw that she was exactly like her mother, so he + said to his councillors, ‘I will marry my daughter to one of you, and she + shall be queen, for she is exactly like her dead mother, and when I die + her husband shall be king.’ But when the Princess heard of her father’s + decision, she was not at all pleased, and said to him, ‘Before I do your + bidding, I must have three dresses; one as golden as the sun, one as + silver as the moon, and one as shining as the stars. Besides these, I want + a cloak made of a thousand different kinds of skin; every animal in your + kingdom must give a bit of his skin to it.’ But she thought to herself, + ‘This will be quite impossible, and I shall not have to marry someone I do + not care for.’ The King, however, was not to be turned from his purpose, + and he commanded the most skilled maidens in his kingdom to weave the + three dresses, one as golden as the sun, and one as silver as the moon, + and one as shining as the stars; and he gave orders to all his huntsmen to + catch one of every kind of beast in the kingdom, and to get a bit of its + skin to make the cloak of a thousand pieces of fur. At last, when all was + ready, the King commanded the cloak to be brought to him, and he spread it + out before the Princess, and said, ‘Tomorrow shall be your wedding-day.’ + When the Princess saw that there was no more hope of changing her father’s + resolution, she determined to flee away. In the night, when everyone else + was sleeping, she got up and took three things from her treasures, a gold + ring, a little gold spinning-wheel, and a gold reel; she put the sun, + moon, and star dresses in a nut-shell, drew on the cloak of many skins, + and made her face and hands black with soot. Then she commended herself to + God, and went out and travelled the whole night till she came to a large + forest. And as she was very much tired she sat down inside a hollow tree + and fell asleep. + </p> + <p> + The sun rose and she still slept on and on, although it was nearly noon. + Now, it happened that the king to whom this wood belonged was hunting in + it. When his dogs came to the tree, they sniffed, and ran round and round + it, barking. The King said to the huntsmen, ‘See what sort of a wild beast + is in there.’ The huntsmen went in, and then came back and said, ‘In the + hollow tree there lies a wonderful animal that we don’t know, and we have + never seen one like it; its skin is made of a thousand pieces of fur; but + it is lying down asleep.’ The King said, ‘See if you can catch it alive, + and then fasten it to the cart, and we will take it with us.’ When the + huntsmen seized the maiden, she awoke and was frightened, and cried out to + them, ‘I am a poor child, forsaken by father and mother; take pity on me, + and let me go with you.’ Then they said to her, ‘Many-furred Creature, you + can work in the kitchen; come with us and sweep the ashes together.’ So + they put her in the cart and they went back to the palace. There they + showed her a tiny room under the stairs, where no daylight came, and said + to her, ‘Many-furred Creature, you can live and sleep here.’ Then she was + sent into the kitchen, where she carried wood and water, poked the fire, + washed vegetables, plucked fowls, swept up the ashes, and did all the + dirty work. + </p> + <p> + So the Many-furred Creature lived for a long time in great poverty. Ah, + beautiful King’s daughter, what is going to befall you now? + </p> + <p> + It happened once when a great feast was being held in the palace, that she + said to the cook, ‘Can I go upstairs for a little bit and look on? I will + stand outside the doors.’ The cook replied, ‘Yes, you can go up, but in + half-an-hour you must be back here to sweep up the ashes.’ Then she took + her little oil-lamp, and went into her little room, drew off her fur + cloak, and washed off the soot from her face and hands, so that her beauty + shone forth, and it was as if one sunbeam after another were coming out of + a black cloud. Then she opened the nut, and took out the dress as golden + as the sun. And when she had done this, she went up to the feast, and + everyone stepped out of her way, for nobody knew her, and they thought she + must be a King’s daughter. But the King came towards her and gave her his + hand, and danced with her, thinking to himself, ‘My eyes have never beheld + anyone so fair!’ When the dance was ended, she curtseyed to him, and when + the King looked round she had disappeared, no one knew whither. The guards + who were standing before the palace were called and questioned, but no one + had seen her. + </p> + <p> + She had run to her little room and had quickly taken off her dress, made + her face and hands black, put on the fur cloak, and was once more the + Many-furred Creature. When she came into the kitchen and was setting about + her work of sweeping the ashes together, the cook said to her, ‘Let that + wait till to-morrow, and just cook the King’s soup for me; I want to have + a little peep at the company upstairs; but be sure that you do not let a + hair fall into it, otherwise you will get nothing to eat in future!’ So + the cook went away, and the Many-furred Creature cooked the soup for the + King. She made a bread-soup as well as she possibly could, and when it was + done, she fetched her gold ring from her little room, and laid it in the + tureen in which the soup was to be served up. + </p> + <p> + When the dance was ended, the King had his soup brought to him and ate it, + and it was so good that he thought he had never tasted such soup in his + life. But when he came to the bottom of the dish he saw a gold ring lying + there, and he could not imagine how it got in. Then he commanded the cook + to be brought before him. The cook was terrified when he heard the + command, and said to the Many-furred Creature, ‘You must have let a hair + fall into the soup, and if you have you deserve a good beating!’ When he + came before the King, the King asked who had cooked the soup. The cook + answered, ‘I cooked it.’ But the King said, ‘That’s not true, for it was + quite different and much better soup than you have ever cooked.’ Then the + cook said, ‘I must confess; <i>I</i> did not cook the soup; the + Many-furred Creature did.’ ‘Let her be brought before me,’ said the King. + When the Many-furred Creature came, the King asked her who she was. ‘I am + a poor child without father or mother.’ Then he asked her, ‘What do you do + in my palace?’ ‘I am of no use except to have boots thrown at my head.’ + ‘How did you get the ring which was in the soup?’ he asked. ‘I know + nothing at all about the ring,’ she answered. So the King could find out + nothing, and was obliged to send her away. + </p> + <p> + After a time there was another feast, and the Many-furred Creature begged + the cook as at the last one to let her go and look on. He answered, ‘Yes, + but come back again in half-an-hour and cook the King the bread-soup that + he likes so much.’ So she ran away to her little room, washed herself + quickly, took out of the nut the dress as silver as the moon and put it + on. Then she went upstairs looking just like a King’s daughter, and the + King came towards her, delighted to see her again, and as the dance had + just begun, they danced together. But when the dance was ended, she + disappeared again so quickly that the King could not see which way she + went. She ran to her little room and changed herself once more into the + Many-furred Creature, and went into the kitchen to cook the bread-soup. + When the cook was upstairs, she fetched the golden spinning-wheel and put + it in the dish so that the soup was poured over it. It was brought to the + King, who ate it, and liked it as much as the last time. He had the cook + sent to him, and again he had to confess that the Many-furred Creature had + cooked the soup. Then the Many-furred Creature came before the King, but + she said again that she was of no use except to have boots thrown at her + head, and that she knew nothing at all of the golden spinning-wheel. + </p> + <p> + When the King had a feast for the third time, things did not turn out + quite the same as at the other two. The cook said, ‘You must be a witch, + Many-furred Creature, for you always put something in the soup, so that it + is much better and tastes nicer to the King than any that I cook.’ But + because she begged hard, he let her go up for the usual time. Now she put + on the dress as shining as the stars, and stepped into the hall in it. + </p> + <p> + The King danced again with the beautiful maiden, and thought she had never + looked so beautiful. And while he was dancing, he put a gold ring on her + finger without her seeing it, and he commanded that the dance should last + longer than usual. When it was finished he wanted to keep her hands in + his, but she broke from him, and sprang so quickly away among the people + that she vanished from his sight. She ran as fast as she could to her + little room under the stairs, but because she had stayed too long beyond + the half-hour, she could not stop to take off the beautiful dress, but + only threw the fur cloak over it, and in her haste she did not make + herself quite black with the soot, one finger remaining white. The + Many-furred Creature now ran into the kitchen, cooked the King’s + bread-soup, and when the cook had gone, she laid the gold reel in the + dish. When the King found the reel at the bottom, he had the Many-furred + Creature brought to him, and then he saw the white finger, and the ring + which he had put on her hand in the dance. Then he took her hand and held + her tightly, and as she was trying to get away, she undid the fur-cloak a + little bit and the star-dress shone out. The King seized the cloak and + tore it off her. Her golden hair came down, and she stood there in her + full splendour, and could not hide herself away any more. And when the + soot and ashes had been washed from her face, she looked more beautiful + than anyone in the world. But the King said, ‘You are my dear bride, and + we will never be separated from one another.’ So the wedding was + celebrated and they lived happily ever after. + </p> + <p> + Grimm. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0029" id="link2H_4_0029"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE TWELVE HUNTSMEN + </h2> + <p> + Once upon a time there was a King’s son who was engaged to a Princess whom + he dearly loved. One day as he sat by her side feeling very happy, he + received news that his father was lying at the point of death, and desired + to see him before his end. So he said to his love: ‘Alas! I must go off + and leave you, but take this ring and wear it as a remembrance of me, and + when I am King I will return and fetch you home.’ + </p> + <p> + Then he rode off, and when he reached his father he found him mortally ill + and very near death. + </p> + <p> + The King said: ‘Dearest son, I have desired to see you again before my + end. Promise me, I beg of you, that you will marry according to my + wishes’; and he then named the daughter of a neighbouring King who he was + anxious should be his son’s wife. The Prince was so overwhelmed with grief + that he could think of nothing but his father, and exclaimed: ‘Yes, yes, + dear father, whatever you desire shall be done.’ Thereupon the King closed + his eyes and died. + </p> + <p> + After the Prince had been proclaimed King, and the usual time of mourning + had elapsed, he felt that he must keep the promise he had made to his + father, so he sent to ask for the hand of the King’s daughter, which was + granted to him at once. + </p> + <p> + Now, his first love heard of this, and the thought of her lover’s + desertion grieved her so sadly that she pined away and nearly died. Her + father said to her: ‘My dearest child, why are you so unhappy? If there is + anything you wish for, say so, and you shall have it.’ + </p> + <p> + His daughter reflected for a moment, and then said: ‘Dear father, I wish + for eleven girls as nearly as possible of the same height, age, and + appearance as myself.’ + </p> + <p> + Said the King: ‘If the thing is possible your wish shall be fulfilled’; + and he had his kingdom searched till he found eleven maidens of the same + height, size, and appearance as his daughter. + </p> + <p> + Then the Princess desired twelve complete huntsmen’s suits to be made, all + exactly alike, and the eleven maidens had to dress themselves in eleven of + the suits, while she herself put on the twelfth. After this she took leave + of her father, and rode off with her girls to the court of her former + lover. + </p> + <p> + Here she enquired whether the King did not want some huntsmen, and if he + would not take them all into his service. The King saw her but did not + recognize her, and as he thought them very good-looking young people, he + said, ‘Yes, he would gladly engage them all.’ So they became the twelve + royal huntsmen. + </p> + <p> + Now, the King had a most remarkable Lion, for it knew every hidden or + secret thing. + </p> + <p> + One evening the Lion said to the King: ‘So you think you have got twelve + huntsmen, do you?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Yes, certainly,’ said the King, ‘they <i>are</i> twelve huntsmen.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘There you are mistaken,’ said the Lion; ‘they are twelve maidens.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘That cannot possibly be,’ replied the King; ‘how do you mean to prove + that?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Just have a number of peas strewed over the floor of your ante-chamber,’ + said the Lion, ‘and you will soon see. Men have a strong, firm tread, so + that if they happen to walk over peas not one will stir, but girls trip, + and slip, and slide, so that the peas roll all about.’ + </p> + <p> + The King was pleased with the Lion’s advice, and ordered the peas to be + strewn in his ante-room. + </p> + <p> + Fortunately one of the King’s servants had become very partial to the + young huntsmen, and hearing of the trial they were to be put to, he went + to them and said: ‘The Lion wants to persuade the King that you are only + girls’; and then told them all the plot. + </p> + <p> + The King’s daughter thanked him for the hint, and after he was gone she + said to her maidens: ‘Now make every effort to tread firmly on the peas.’ + </p> + <p> + Next morning, when the King sent for his twelve huntsmen, and they passed + through the ante-room which was plentifully strewn with peas, they trod so + firmly and walked with such a steady, strong step that not a single pea + rolled away or even so much as stirred. After they were gone the King said + to the Lion: ‘There now—you have been telling lies—you see + yourself they walk like men.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Because they knew they were being put to the test,’ answered the Lion; + ‘and so they made an effort; but just have a dozen spinning-wheels placed + in the ante-room. When they pass through you’ll see how pleased they will + be, quite unlike any man.’ + </p> + <p> + The King was pleased with the advice, and desired twelve spinning-wheels + to be placed in his ante-chamber. + </p> + <p> + But the good-natured servant went to the huntsmen and told them all about + this fresh plot. Then, as soon as the King’s daughter was alone with her + maidens, she exclaimed: ‘Now, pray make a great effort and don’t even <i>look</i> + at those spinning-wheels.’ + </p> + <p> + When the King sent for his twelve huntsmen next morning they walked + through the ante-room without even casting a glance at the + spinning-wheels. + </p> + <p> + Then the King said once more to the Lion: ‘You have deceived me again; + they <i>are</i> men, for they never once looked at the spinning-wheels.’ + </p> + <p> + The Lion replied: ‘They knew they were being tried, and they did violence + to their feelings.’ But the King declined to believe in the Lion any + longer. + </p> + <p> + So the twelve huntsmen continued to follow the King, and he grew daily + fonder of them. One day whilst they were all out hunting it so happened + that news was brought that the King’s intended bride was on her way and + might soon be expected. When the true bride heard of this she felt as + though a knife had pierced her heart, and she fell fainting to the ground. + The King, fearing something had happened to his dear huntsman, ran up to + help, and began drawing off his gloves. Then he saw the ring which he had + given to his first love, and as he gazed into her face he knew her again, + and his heart was so touched that he kissed her, and as she opened her + eyes, he cried: ‘I am thine and thou art mine, and no power on earth can + alter that.’ + </p> + <p> + To the other Princess he despatched a messenger to beg her to return to + her own kingdom with all speed. ‘For,’ said he, ‘I have got a wife, and he + who finds an old key again does not require a new one.’ + </p> + <p> + Thereupon the wedding was celebrated with great pomp, and the Lion was + restored to the royal favour, for after all he had told the truth. + </p> + <p> + Grimm. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0030" id="link2H_4_0030"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + SPINDLE, SHUTTLE, AND NEEDLE + </h2> + <p> + Once upon a time there lived a girl who lost her father and mother when + she was quite a tiny child. Her godmother lived all alone in a little + cottage at the far end of the village, and there she earned her living by + spinning, weaving, and sewing. The old woman took the little orphan home + with her and brought her up in good, pious, industrious habits. + </p> + <p> + When the girl was fifteen years old, her godmother fell ill, and, calling + the child to her bedside, she said: ‘My dear daughter, I feel that my end + is near. I leave you my cottage, which will, at least, shelter you, and + also my spindle, my weaver’s shuttle, and my needle, with which to earn + your bread.’ + </p> + <p> + Then she laid her hands on the girl’s head, blessed her, and added: ‘Mind + and be good, and then all will go well with you.’ With that she closed her + eyes for the last time, and when she was carried to her grave the girl + walked behind her coffin weeping bitterly, and paid her all the last + honours. + </p> + <p> + After this the girl lived all alone in the little cottage. She worked + hard, spinning, weaving, and sewing, and her old godmother’s blessing + seemed to prosper all she did. The flax seemed to spread and increase; and + when she wove a carpet or a piece of linen, or made a shirt, she was sure + to find a customer who paid her well, so that not only did she feel no + want herself, but she was able to help those who did. + </p> + <p> + Now, it happened that about this time the King’s son was making a tour + through the entire country to look out for a bride. He could not marry a + poor woman, and he did not wish for a rich one. + </p> + <p> + ‘She shall be my wife,’ said he, ‘who is at once the poorest and the + richest.’ + </p> + <p> + When he reached the village where the girl lived, he inquired who was the + richest and who the poorest woman in it. The richest was named first; the + poorest, he was told, was a young girl who lived alone in a little cottage + at the far end of the village. + </p> + <p> + The rich girl sat at her door dressed out in all her best clothes, and + when the King’s son came near she got up, went to meet him, and made him a + low curtsey. He looked well at her, said nothing, but rode on further. + </p> + <p> + When he reached the poor girl’s house he did not find her at her door, for + she was at work in her room. The Prince reined in his horse, looked in at + the window through which the sun was shining brightly, and saw the girl + sitting at her wheel busily spinning away. + </p> + <p> + She looked up, and when she saw the King’s son gazing in at her, she + blushed red all over, cast down her eyes and span on. Whether the thread + was quite as even as usual I really cannot say, but she went on spinning + till the King’s son had ridden off. Then she stepped to the window and + opened the lattice, saying, ‘The room is so hot,’ but she looked after him + as long as she could see the white plumes in his hat. + </p> + <p> + Then she sat down to her work once more and span on, and as she did so an + old saying which, she had often heard her godmother repeat whilst at work, + came into her head, and she began to sing: + </p> + <p> + ‘Spindle, spindle, go and see, If my love will come to me.’ + </p> + <p> + Lo, and behold! the spindle leapt from her hand and rushed out of the + room, and when she had sufficiently recovered from her surprise to look + after it she saw it dancing merrily through the fields, dragging a long + golden thread after it, and soon it was lost to sight. + </p> + <p> + The girl, having lost her spindle, took up the shuttle and, seating + herself at her loom, began to weave. Meantime the spindle danced on and + on, and just as it had come to the end of the golden thread, it reached + the King’s son. + </p> + <p> + ‘What do I see?’ he cried; ‘this spindle seems to wish to point out the + way to me.’ So he turned his horses head and rode back beside the golden + thread. + </p> + <p> + Meantime the girl sat weaving, and sang: + </p> + <p> + ‘Shuttle, weave both web and woof, Bring my love beneath my roof.’ + </p> + <p> + The shuttle instantly escaped from her hand, and with one bound was out at + the door. On the threshold it began weaving the loveliest carpet that was + ever seen. Roses and lilies bloomed on both sides, and in the centre a + thicket seemed to grow with rabbits and hares running through it, stags + and fawns peeping through the branches, whilst on the topmost boughs sat + birds of brilliant plumage and so life-like one almost expected to hear + them sing. The shuttle flew from side to side and the carpet seemed almost + to grow of itself. + </p> + <p> + As the shuttle had run away the girl sat down to sew. She took her needle + and sang: + </p> + <p> + ‘Needle, needle, stitch away, Make my chamber bright and gay,’ + </p> + <p> + and the needle promptly slipped from her fingers and flew about the room + like lightning. You would have thought invisible spirits were at work, for + in next to no time the table and benches were covered with green cloth, + the chairs with velvet, and elegant silk curtains hung before the windows. + The needle had barely put in its last stitch when the girl, glancing at + the window, spied the white plumed hat of the King’s son who was being led + back by the spindle with the golden thread. + </p> + <p> + He dismounted and walked over the carpet into the house, and when he + entered the room there stood the girl blushing like any rose. ‘You are the + poorest and yet the richest,’ said he: ‘come with me, you shall be my + bride.’ + </p> + <p> + She said nothing, but she held out her hand. Then he kissed her, and led + her out, lifted her on his horse and took her to his royal palace, where + the wedding was celebrated with great rejoicings. + </p> + <p> + The spindle, the shuttle, and the needle were carefully placed in the + treasury, and were always held in the very highest honour. + </p> + <p> + Grimm. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0031" id="link2H_4_0031"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE CRYSTAL COFFIN + </h2> + <p> + Now let no one say that a poor tailor can’t get on in the world, and, + indeed, even attain to very high honour. Nothing is required but to set + the right way to work, but of course the really important thing is to + succeed. + </p> + <p> + A very bright active young tailor once set off on his travels, which led + him into a wood, and as he did not know the way he soon lost himself. + Night came on, and there seemed to be nothing for it but to seek out the + best resting-place he could find. He could have made himself quite + comfortable with a bed of soft moss, but the fear of wild beasts disturbed + his mind, and at last he determined to spend the night in a tree. + </p> + <p> + He sought out a tall oak tree, climbed up to the top, and felt devoutly + thankful that his big smoothing-iron was in his pocket, for the wind in + the tree-tops was so high that he might easily have been blown away + altogether. + </p> + <p> + After passing some hours of the night, not without considerable fear and + trembling, he noticed a light shining at a little distance, and hoping it + might proceed from some house where he could find a better shelter than in + the top of the tree, he cautiously descended and went towards the light. + It led him to a little hut all woven together of reeds and rushes. He + knocked bravely at the door, which opened, and by the light which shone + from within he saw an old gray-haired man dressed in a coat made of + bright-coloured patches. ‘Who are you, and what do you want?’ asked the + old man roughly. + </p> + <p> + ‘I am a poor tailor,’ replied the youth. ‘I have been benighted in the + forest, and I entreat you to let me take shelter in your hut till + morning.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Go your way,’ said the old man in a sulky tone, ‘I’ll have nothing to do + with tramps. You must just go elsewhere.’ + </p> + <p> + With these words he tried to slip back into his house, but the tailor laid + hold of his coat-tails, and begged so hard to be allowed to stay that the + old fellow, who was by no means as cross as he appeared, was at length + touched by his entreaties, let him come in, and after giving him some + food, showed him quite a nice bed in one corner of the room. The weary + tailor required no rocking to rest, but slept sound till early morning, + when he was roused from his slumbers by a tremendous noise. Loud screams + and shouts pierced the thin walls of the little hut. The tailor, with + new-born courage, sprang up, threw on his clothes with all speed and + hurried out. There he saw a huge black bull engaged in a terrible fight + with a fine large stag. They rushed at each other with such fury that the + ground seemed to tremble under them and the whole air to be filled with + their cries. For some time it appeared quite uncertain which would be the + victor, but at length the stag drove his antlers with such force into his + opponent’s body that the bull fell to the ground with a terrific roar, and + a few more strokes finished him. + </p> + <p> + The tailor, who had been watching the fight with amazement, was still + standing motionless when the stag bounded up to him, and before he had + time to escape forked him up with its great antlers, and set off at full + gallop over hedges and ditches, hill and dale, through wood and water. The + tailor could do nothing but hold on tight with both hands to the stag’s + horns and resign himself to his fate. He felt as if he were flying along. + At length the stag paused before a steep rock and gently let the tailor + down to the ground. + </p> + <p> + Feeling more dead than alive, he paused for a while to collect his + scattered senses, but when he seemed somewhat restored the stag struck + such a blow on a door in the rock that it flew open. Flames of fire rushed + forth, and such clouds of steam followed that the stag had to avert its + eyes. The tailor could not think what to do or which way to turn to get + away from this awful wilderness, and to find his way back amongst human + beings once more. + </p> + <p> + As he stood hesitating, a voice from the rock cried to him: ‘Step in + without fear, no harm shall befall you.’ + </p> + <p> + He still lingered, but some mysterious power seemed to impel him, and + passing through the door he found himself in a spacious hall, whose + ceiling, walls, and floor were covered with polished tiles carved all over + with unknown figures. He gazed about, full of wonder, and was just + preparing to walk out again when the same voice bade him: ‘Tread on the + stone in the middle of the hall, and good luck will attend you.’ + </p> + <p> + By this time he had grown so courageous that he did not hesitate to obey + the order, and hardly had he stepped on the stone than it began to sink + gently with him into the depths below. On reaching firm ground he found + himself in a hall of much the same size as the upper one, but with much + more in it to wonder at and admire. Round the walls were several niches, + in each of which stood glass vessels filled with some bright-coloured + spirit or bluish smoke. On the floor stood two large crystal boxes + opposite each other, and these attracted his curiosity at once. + </p> + <p> + Stepping up to one of them, he saw within it what looked like a model in + miniature of a fine castle surrounded by farms, barns, stables, and a + number of other buildings. Everything was quite tiny, but so beautifully + and carefully finished that it might have been the work of an accomplished + artist. He would have continued gazing much longer at this remarkable + curiosity had not the voice desired him to turn round and look at the + crystal coffin which stood opposite. + </p> + <p> + What was his amazement at seeing a girl of surpassing loveliness lying in + it! She lay as though sleeping, and her long, fair hair seemed to wrap her + round like some costly mantle. Her eyes were closed, but the bright colour + in her face, and the movement of a ribbon, which rose and fell with her + breath, left no doubt as to her being alive. + </p> + <p> + As the tailor stood gazing at her with a beating heart, the maiden + suddenly opened her eyes, and started with delighted surprise. + </p> + <p> + ‘Great heavens!’ she cried, ‘my deliverance approaches! Quick, quick, help + me out of my prison; only push back the bolt of this coffin and I am + free.’ + </p> + <p> + The tailor promptly obeyed, when she quickly pushed back the crystal lid, + stepped out of the coffin and hurried to a corner of the hall, when she + proceeded to wrap herself in a large cloak. Then she sat down on a stone, + desired the young man to come near, and, giving him an affectionate kiss, + she said, ‘My long-hoped-for deliverer, kind heaven has led you to me, and + has at length put an end to all my sufferings. You are my destined + husband, and, beloved by me, and endowed with every kind of riches and + power, you shall spend the remainder of your life in peace and happiness. + Now sit down and hear my story. I am the daughter of a wealthy nobleman. + My parents died when I was very young, and they left me to the care of my + eldest brother, by whom I was carefully educated. We loved each other so + tenderly, and our tastes and interests were so much alike that we + determined never to marry, but to spend our entire lives together. There + was no lack of society at our home. Friends and neighbours paid us + frequent visits, and we kept open house for all. Thus it happened that one + evening a stranger rode up to the castle and asked for hospitality, as he + could not reach the nearest town that night. We granted his request with + ready courtesy, and during supper he entertained us with most agreeable + conversation, mingled with amusing anecdotes. My brother took such a fancy + to him that he pressed him to spend a couple of days with us, which, after + a little hesitation, the stranger consented to do. We rose late from + table, and whilst my brother was showing our guest to his room I hurried + to mine, for I was very tired and longed to get to bed. I had hardly + dropped off to sleep when I was roused by the sound of some soft and + charming music. Wondering whence it could come, I was about to call to my + maid who slept in the room next mine, when, to my surprise, I felt as if + some heavy weight on my chest had taken all power from me, and I lay there + unable to utter the slightest sound. Meantime, by the light of the night + lamp, I saw the stranger enter my room, though the double doors had been + securely locked. He drew near and told me that through the power of his + magic arts he had caused the soft music to waken me, and had made his way + through bolts and bars to offer me his hand and heart. My repugnance to + his magic was so great that I would not condescend to give any answer. He + waited motionless for some time, hoping no doubt for a favourable reply, + but as I continued silent he angrily declared that he would find means to + punish my pride, and therewith he left the room in a rage. + </p> + <p> + ‘I spent the night in the greatest agitation, and only fell into a doze + towards morning. As soon as I awoke I jumped up, and hurried to tell my + brother all that had happened, but he had left his room, and his servant + told me that he had gone out at daybreak to hunt with the stranger. + </p> + <p> + ‘My mind misgave me. I dressed in all haste, had my palfrey saddled, and + rode of at full gallop towards the forest, attended by one servant only. I + pushed on without pausing, and ere long I saw the stranger coming towards + me, and leading a fine stag. I asked him where he had left my brother, and + how he had got the stag, whose great eyes were overflowing with tears. + Instead of answering he began to laugh, and I flew into such a rage that I + drew a pistol and fired at him; but the bullet rebounded from his breast + and struck my horse in the forehead. I fell to the ground, and the + stranger muttered some words, which robbed me of my senses. + </p> + <p> + ‘When I came to myself I was lying in a crystal coffin in this + subterranean vault. The Magician appeared again, and told me that he had + transformed my brother into a stag, had reduced our castle and all its + defences to miniature and locked them up in a glass box, and after turning + all our household into different vapours had banished them into glass + phials. If I would only yield to his wishes he could easily open these + vessels, and all would then resume their former shapes. + </p> + <p> + ‘I would not say a word more than I had done previously, and he vanished, + leaving me in my prison, where a deep sleep soon fell on me. Amongst the + many dreams which floated through my brain was a cheering one of a young + man who was to come and release me, and to-day, when I opened my eyes, I + recognised you and saw that my dream was fulfilled. Now help me to carry + out the rest of my vision. The first thing is to place the glass box which + contains my castle on this large stone.’ + </p> + <p> + As soon as this was done the stone gently rose through the air and + transported them into the upper hall, whence they easily carried the box + into the outer air. The lady then removed the lid, and it was marvellous + to watch the castle, houses, and farmyards begin to grow and spread + themselves till they had regained their proper size. Then the young couple + returned by means of the movable stone, and brought up all the glass + vessels filled with smoke. No sooner were they uncorked than the blue + vapours poured out and became transformed to living people, in whom the + lady joyfully recognised her many servants and attendants. + </p> + <p> + Her delight was complete when her brother (who had killed the Magician + under the form of a bull) was seen coming from the forest in his proper + shape, and that very day, according to her promise, she gave her hand in + marriage to the happy young tailor. + </p> + <p> + Grimm. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0032" id="link2H_4_0032"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE THREE SNAKE-LEAVES + </h2> + <p> + There was once a poor man who could no longer afford to keep his only son + at home. So the son said to him, ‘Dear father, you are so poor that I am + only a burden to you; I would rather go out into the world and see if I + can earn my own living.’ The father gave him his blessing and took leave + of him with much sorrow. About this time the King of a very powerful + kingdom was carrying on a war; the youth therefore took service under him + and went on the campaign. When they came before the enemy, a battle took + place, there was some hot fighting, and it rained bullets so thickly that + his comrades fell around him on all sides. And when their leader fell too + the rest wished to take to flight; but the youth stepped forward and + encouraged them and called out, ‘We must not let our country be ruined!’ + Then others followed him, and he pressed on and defeated the enemy. When + the King heard that he had to thank him alone for the victory, he raised + him higher than anyone else in rank, gave him great treasures and made him + the first in the kingdom. + </p> + <p> + The King had a daughter who was very beautiful, but she was also very + capricious. She had made a vow to marry no one who would not promise her + that if she died first, he would allow himself to be buried alive with + her. ‘If he loves me truly,’ she used to say, ‘what use would life be to + him then?’ At the same time she was willing to do the same, and if he died + first to be buried with him. This curious vow had up to this time + frightened away all suitors, but the young man was so captivated by her + beauty, that he hesitated at nothing and asked her hand of her father. ‘Do + you know,’ asked the King, ‘what you have to promise?’ ‘I shall have to go + into her grave with her,’ he answered, ‘if I outlive her, but my love is + so great that I do not think of the risk.’ So the King consented, and the + wedding was celebrated with great splendour. + </p> + <p> + Now, they lived for a long time very happily with one another, but then it + came to pass that the young Queen fell seriously ill, and no doctor could + save her. And when she lay dead, the young King remembered what he had + promised, and it made him shudder to think of lying in her grave alive, + but there was no escape. The King had set guards before all the gates, and + it was not possible to avoid his fate. + </p> + <p> + When the day arrived on which the corpse was to be laid in the royal + vault, he was led thither, then the entrance was bolted and closed up. + </p> + <p> + Near the coffin stood a table on which were placed four candles, four + loaves of bread, and four bottles of wine. As soon as this provision came + to an end he would have to die. So he sat there full of grief and misery, + eating every day only a tiny bit of bread, and drinking only a mouthful of + ovine, and he watched death creeping nearer and nearer to him. One day as + he was sitting staring moodily in front of him, he saw a snake creep out + of the corner towards the corpse. Thinking it was going to touch it, he + drew his sword and saying, ‘As long as I am alive you shall not harm her,’ + he cut it in three pieces. After a little time a second snake crept out of + the corner, but when it saw the first one lying dead and in pieces it went + back and came again soon, holding three green leaves in its mouth. Then it + took the three bits of the snake and laid them in order, and put one of + the leaves on each wound. Immediately the pieces joined together, the + snake moved itself and became alive and then both hurried away. The leaves + remained lying on the ground, and it suddenly occurred to the unfortunate + man who had seen everything, that the wonderful power of the leaves might + also be exercised upon a human being. + </p> + <p> + So he picked up the leaves and laid one of them on the mouth and the other + two on the eyes of the dead woman. And scarcely had he done this, before + the blood began to circulate in her veins, then it mounted and brought + colour back to her white face. Then she drew her breath, opened her eyes, + and said, ‘Ah! where am I?’ ‘You are with me, dear lady,’ he answered, and + told her all that had happened, and how he had brought her to life again. + He then gave her some wine and bread, and when all her strength had + returned she got up, and they went to the door and knocked and called so + loudly that the guards heard them, and told the King. The King came + himself to open the door, and there he found both happy and well, and he + rejoiced with them that now all trouble was over. But the young King gave + the three snake-leaves to a servant, saying to him, ‘Keep them carefully + for me, and always carry them with you; who knows but that they may help + us in a time of need!’ + </p> + <p> + It seemed, however, as if a change had come over the young Queen after she + had been restored to life, and as if all her love for her husband had + faded from her heart. Some time afterwards, when he wanted to take a + journey over the sea to his old father, and they were on board the ship, + she forgot the great love and faithfulness he had shown her and how he had + saved her from death, and fell in love with the captain. And one day when + the young King was lying asleep, she called the captain to her, and seized + the head of the sleeping King and made him take his feet, and together + they threw him into the sea. When they had done this wicked deed, she said + to him, ‘Now let us go home and say that he died on the journey. I will + praise you so much to my father that he will marry me to you and make you + the heir to the throne.’ But the faithful servant, who had seen + everything, let down a little boat into the sea, unobserved by them, and + rowed after his master while the traitors sailed on. He took the drowned + man out of the water, and with the help of the three snake-leaves which he + carried with him, placing them on his mouth and eyes, he brought him to + life again. + </p> + <p> + They both rowed as hard as they could night and day, and their little boat + went so quickly that they reached the old King before the other two did. + He was much astonished to see them come back alone, and asked what had + happened to them. When he heard the wickedness of his daughter, he said, + ‘I cannot believe that she has acted so wrongly, but the truth will soon + come to light.’ He made them both go into a secret chamber, and let no one + see them. + </p> + <p> + Soon after this the large ship came in, and the wicked lady appeared + before her father with a very sad face. He said to her, ‘Why have you come + back alone? Where is your husband?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Ah, dear father,’ she replied, ‘I have come home in great grief; my + husband fell ill on the voyage quite suddenly, and died, and if the good + captain had not given me help, I should have died too. He was at his + death-bed and can tell you everything.’ + </p> + <p> + The King said, ‘I will bring the dead to life again,’ and he opened the + door of the room and called them both out. The lady was as if + thunderstruck when she caught sight of her husband; she fell on her knees + and begged for mercy. But the King said, ‘You shall have no mercy. He was + ready to die with you, and restored you to life again; but you killed him + when he was sleeping, and shall receive your deserts.’ + </p> + <p> + So she and her accomplice were put in a ship which was bored through with + holes, and were drawn out into the sea, where they soon perished in the + waves. + </p> + <p> + Grimm. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0033" id="link2H_4_0033"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE RIDDLE + </h2> + <p> + A King’s son once had a great desire to travel through the world, so he + started off, taking no one with him but one trusty servant. One day he + came to a great forest, and as evening drew on he could find no shelter, + and could not think where to spend the night. All of a sudden he saw a + girl going towards a little house, and as he drew nearer he remarked that + she was both young and pretty. He spoke to her, and said, ‘Dear child, + could I and my servant spend the night in this house?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Oh yes,’ said the girl in a sad tone, ‘you can if you like, but I should + not advise you to do so. Better not go in.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Why not?’ asked the King’s son. + </p> + <p> + The girl sighed and answered, ‘My stepmother deals in black arts, and she + is not very friendly to strangers.’ + </p> + <p> + The Prince guessed easily that he had fallen on a witch’s house, but as by + this time it was quite dark and he could go no further, and as moreover he + was not at all afraid, he stepped in. + </p> + <p> + An old woman sat in an armchair near the fire, and as the strangers + entered she turned her red eyes on them. ‘Good evening,’ she muttered, and + pretending to be quite friendly. ‘Won’t you sit down?’ + </p> + <p> + She blew up the fire on which she was cooking something in a little pot, + and her daughter secretly warned the travellers to be very careful not to + eat or drink anything, as the old woman’s brews were apt to be dangerous. + </p> + <p> + They went to bed, and slept soundly till morning. When they were ready to + start and the King’s son had already mounted his horse the old woman said: + ‘Wait a minute, I must give you a stirrup cup.’ Whilst she went to fetch + it the King’s son rode off, and the servant who had waited to tighten his + saddle-girths was alone when the witch returned. + </p> + <p> + ‘Take that to your master,’ she said; but as she spoke the glass cracked + and the poison spurted over the horse, and it was so powerful that the + poor creature sank down dead. The servant ran after his master and told + him what had happened, and then, not wishing to lose the saddle as well as + the horse, he went back to fetch it. When he got to the spot he saw that a + raven had perched on the carcase and was pecking at it. ‘Who knows whether + we shall get anything better to eat to-day!’ said the servant, and he shot + the raven and carried it off. + </p> + <p> + Then they rode on all day through the forest without coming to the end. At + nightfall they reached an inn, which they entered, and the servant gave + the landlord the raven to dress for their supper. Now, as it happened, + this inn was a regular resort of a band of murderers, and the old witch + too was in the habit of frequenting it. + </p> + <p> + As soon as it was dark twelve murderers arrived, with the full intention + of killing and robbing the strangers. Before they set to work, however, + they sat down to table, and the landlord and the old witch joined them, + and they all ate some broth in which the flesh of the raven had been + stewed down. They had hardly taken a couple of spoonfuls when they all + fell down dead, for the poison had passed from the horse to the raven and + so into the broth. So there was no one left belonging to the house but the + landlord’s daughter, who was a good, well-meaning girl, and had taken no + part in all the evil doings. + </p> + <p> + She opened all the doors, and showed the strangers the treasures the + robbers had gathered together; but the Prince bade her keep them all for + herself, as he wanted none of them, and so he rode further with his + servant. + </p> + <p> + After travelling about for some length of time they reached a town where + lived a lovely but most arrogant Princess. She had given out that anyone + who asked her a riddle which she found herself unable to guess should be + her husband, but should she guess it he must forfeit his head. She claimed + three days in which to think over the riddles, but she was so very clever + that she invariably guessed them in a much shorter time. Nine suitors had + already lost their lives when the King’s son arrived, and, dazzled by her + beauty, determined to risk his life in hopes of winning her. + </p> + <p> + So he came before her and propounded his riddle. ‘What is this?’ he asked. + ‘One slew none and yet killed twelve.’ + </p> + <p> + She could not think what it was! She thought, and thought, and looked + through all her books of riddles and puzzles, but she found nothing to + help her, and could not guess; in fact, she was at her wits’ end. As she + could think of no way to guess the riddle, she ordered her maid to steal + at night into the Prince’s bedroom and to listen, for she thought that he + might perhaps talk aloud in his dreams and so betray the secret. But the + clever servant had taken his master’s place, and when the maid came he + tore off the cloak she had wrapped herself in and hunted her off with a + whip. + </p> + <p> + On the second night the Princess sent her lady-in-waiting, hoping that she + might succeed better, but the servant took away her mantle and chased her + away also. + </p> + <p> + On the third night the King’s son thought he really might feel safe, so he + went to bed. But in the middle of the night the Princess came herself, all + huddled up in a misty grey mantle, and sat down near him. When she thought + he was fast asleep, she spoke to him, hoping he would answer in the midst + of his dreams, as many people do; but he was wide awake all the time, and + heard and understood everything very well. + </p> + <p> + Then she asked: ‘One slew none—what is that?’ and he answered: ‘A + raven which fed on the carcase of a poisoned horse.’ + </p> + <p> + She went on: ‘And yet killed twelve—what is that?’ ‘Those are twelve + murderers who ate the raven and died of it.’ + </p> + <p> + As soon as she knew the riddle she tried to slip away, but he held her + mantle so tightly that she was obliged to leave it behind. + </p> + <p> + Next morning the Princess announced that she had guessed the riddle, and + sent for the twelve judges, before whom she declared it. But the young man + begged to be heard, too, and said: ‘She came by night to question me, + otherwise she never could have guessed it.’ + </p> + <p> + The judges said: ‘Bring us some proof.’ So the servant brought out the + three cloaks, and when the judges saw the grey one, which the Princess was + in the habit of wearing, they said: ‘Let it be embroidered with gold and + silver; it shall be your wedding mantle.’ + </p> + <p> + Grimm. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0034" id="link2H_4_0034"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + JACK MY HEDGEHOG + </h2> + <p> + There was once a farmer who lived in great comfort. He had both lands and + money, but, though he was so well off, one thing was wanting to complete + his happiness; he had no children. Many and many a time, when he met other + farmers at the nearest market town, they would teaze him, asking how it + came about that he was childless. At length he grew so angry that he + exclaimed: ‘I must and will have a child of some sort or kind, even should + it only be a hedgehog!’ + </p> + <p> + Not long after this his wife gave birth to a child, but though the lower + half of the little creature was a fine boy, from the waist upwards it was + a hedgehog, so that when his mother first saw him she was quite + frightened, and said to her husband, ‘There now, you have cursed the child + yourself.’ The farmer said, ‘What’s the use of making a fuss? I suppose + the creature must be christened, but I don’t see how we are to ask anyone + to be sponsor to him, and what are we to call him?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘There is nothing we can possibly call him but Jack my Hedgehog,’ replied + the wife. + </p> + <p> + So they took him to be christened, and the parson said: ‘You’ll never be + able to put that child in a decent bed on account of his prickles.’ Which + was true, but they shook down some straw for him behind the stove, and + there he lay for eight years. His father grew very tired of him and often + wished him dead, but he did not die, but lay on there year after year. + </p> + <p> + Now one day there was a big fair at the market town to which the farmer + meant to go, so he asked his wife what he should bring her from it. ‘Some + meat and a couple of big loaves for the house,’ said she. Then he asked + the maid what she wanted, and she said a pair of slippers and some + stockings. Lastly he said, ‘Well, Jack my Hedgehog, and what shall I bring + you?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Daddy,’ said he, ‘do bring me a bagpipe.’ When the farmer came home he + gave his wife and the maid the things they had asked for, and then he went + behind the stove and gave Jack my Hedgehog the bagpipes. + </p> + <p> + When Jack had got his bagpipes he said, ‘Daddy, do go to the smithy and + have the house cock shod for me; then I’ll ride off and trouble you no + more.’ His father, who was delighted at the prospect of getting rid of + him, had the cock shod, and when it was ready Jack my Hedgehog mounted on + its back and rode off to the forest, followed by all the pigs and asses + which he had promised to look after. + </p> + <p> + Having reached the forest he made the cock fly up to the top of a very + tall tree with him, and there he sat looking after his pigs and donkeys, + and he sat on and on for several years till he had quite a big herd; but + all this time his father knew nothing about him. + </p> + <p> + As he sat up in his tree he played away on his pipes and drew the + loveliest music from them. As he was playing one day a King, who had lost + his way, happened to pass close by, and hearing the music he was much + surprised, and sent one of his servants to find out where it came from. + The man peered about, but he could see nothing but a little creature which + looked like a cock with a hedgehog sitting on it, perched up in a tree. + The King desired the servant to ask the strange creature why it sat there, + and if it knew the shortest way to his kingdom. + </p> + <p> + On this Jack my Hedgehog stepped down from his tree and said he would + undertake to show the King his way home if the King on his part would give + him his written promise to let him have whatever first met him on his + return. + </p> + <p> + The King thought to himself, ‘That’s easy enough to promise. The creature + won’t understand a word about it, so I can just write what I choose.’ + </p> + <p> + So he took pen and ink and wrote something, and when he had done Jack my + Hedgehog pointed out the way and the King got safely home. + </p> + <p> + Now when the King’s daughter saw her father returning in the distance she + was so delighted that she ran to meet him and threw herself into his arms. + Then the King remembered Jack my Hedgehog, and he told his daughter how he + had been obliged to give a written promise to bestow whatever he first met + when he got home on an extraordinary creature which had shown him the way. + The creature, said he, rode on a cock as though it had been a horse, and + it made lovely music, but as it certainly could not read he had just + written that he would <i>not</i> give it anything at all. At this the + Princess was quite pleased, and said how cleverly her father had managed, + for that of course nothing would induce her to have gone off with Jack my + Hedgehog. + </p> + <p> + Meantime Jack minded his asses and pigs, sat aloft in his tree, played his + bagpipes, and was always merry and cheery. After a time it so happened + that another King, having lost his way, passed by with his servants and + escort, wondering how he could find his way home, for the forest was very + vast. He too heard the music, and told one of his men to find out whence + it came. The man came under the tree, and looking up to the top there he + saw Jack my Hedgehog astride on the cock. + </p> + <p> + The servant asked Jack what he was doing up there. ‘I’m minding my pigs + and donkeys; but what do you want?’ was the reply. Then the servant told + him they had lost their way, and wanted some one to show it them. Down + came Jack my Hedgehog with his cock, and told the old King he would show + him the right way if he would solemnly promise to give him the first thing + he met in front of his royal castle. + </p> + <p> + The King said ‘Yes,’ and gave Jack a written promise to that effect. + </p> + <p> + Then Jack rode on in front pointing out the way, and the King reached his + own country in safety. + </p> + <p> + Now he had an only daughter who was extremely beautiful, and who, + delighted at her father’s return, ran to meet him, threw her arms round + his neck and kissed him heartily. Then she asked where he had been + wandering so long, and he told her how he had lost his way and might never + have reached home at all but for a strange creature, half-man, + half-hedgehog, which rode a cock and sat up in a tree making lovely music, + and which had shown him the right way. He also told her how he had been + obliged to pledge his word to give the creature the first thing which met + him outside his castle gate, and he felt very sad at the thought that she + had been the first thing to meet him. + </p> + <p> + But the Princess comforted him, and said she should be quite willing to go + with Jack my Hedgehog whenever he came to fetch her, because of the great + love she bore to her dear old father. + </p> + <p> + Jack my Hedgehog continued to herd his pigs, and they increased in number + till there were so many that the forest seemed full of them. So he made up + his mind to live there no longer, and sent a message to his father telling + him to have all the stables and outhouses in the village cleared, as he + was going to bring such an enormous herd that all who would might kill + what they chose. His father was much vexed at this news, for he thought + Jack had died long ago. Jack my Hedgehog mounted his cock, and driving his + pigs before him into the village, he let every one kill as many as they + chose, and such a hacking and hewing of pork went on as you might have + heard for miles off. + </p> + <p> + Then said Jack, ‘Daddy, let the blacksmith shoe my cock once more; then + I’ll ride off, and I promise you I’ll never come back again as long as I + live.’ So the father had the cock shod, and rejoiced at the idea of + getting rid of his son. + </p> + <p> + Then Jack my Hedgehog set off for the first kingdom, and there the King + had given strict orders that if anyone should be seen riding a cock and + carrying a bagpipe he was to be chased away and shot at, and on no account + to be allowed to enter the palace. So when Jack my Hedgehog rode up the + guards charged him with their bayonets, but he put spurs to his cock, flew + up over the gate right to the King’s windows, let himself down on the + sill, and called out that if he was not given what had been promised him, + both the King and his daughter should pay for it with their lives. Then + the King coaxed and entreated his daughter to go with Jack and so save + both their lives. + </p> + <p> + The Princess dressed herself all in white, and her father gave her a coach + with six horses and servants in gorgeous liveries and quantities of money. + She stepped into the coach, and Jack my Hedgehog with his cock and pipes + took his place beside her. They both took leave, and the King fully + expected never to set eyes on them again. But matters turned out very + differently from what he had expected, for when they had got a certain + distance from the town Jack tore all the Princess’s smart clothes off her, + and pricked her all over with his bristles, saying: ‘That’s what you get + for treachery. Now go back, I’ll have no more to say to you.’ And with + that he hunted her home, and she felt she had been disgraced and put to + shame till her life’s end. + </p> + <p> + Then Jack my Hedgehog rode on with his cock and bagpipes to the country of + the second King to whom he had shown the way. Now this King had given + orders that, in the event of Jack’s coming the guards were to present + arms, the people to cheer, and he was to be conducted in triumph to the + royal palace. + </p> + <p> + When the King’s daughter saw Jack my Hedgehog, she was a good deal + startled, for he certainly was very peculiar looking; but after all she + considered that she had given her word and it couldn’t be helped. So she + made Jack welcome and they were betrothed to each other, and at dinner he + sat next her at the royal table, and they ate and drank together. + </p> + <p> + When they retired to rest the Princess feared lest Jack should kiss her + because of his prickles, but he told her not to be alarmed as no harm + should befall her. Then he begged the old King to place a watch of four + men just outside his bedroom door, and to desire them to make a big fire. + When he was about to lie down in bed he would creep out of his hedgehog + skin, and leave it lying at the bedside; then the men must rush in, throw + the skin into the fire, and stand by till it was entirely burnt up. + </p> + <p> + And so it was, for when it struck eleven, Jack my Hedgehog went to his + room, took off his skin and left it at the foot of the bed. The men rushed + in, quickly seized the skin and threw it on the fire, and directly it was + all burnt Jack was released from his enchantment and lay in his bed a man + from head to foot, but quite black as though he had been severely + scorched. + </p> + <p> + The King sent off for his physician in ordinary, who washed Jack all over + with various essences and salves, so that he became white and was a + remarkably handsome young man. When the King’s daughter saw him she was + greatly pleased, and next day the marriage ceremony was performed, and the + old King bestowed his kingdom on Jack my Hedgehog. + </p> + <p> + After some years Jack and his wife went to visit his father, but the + farmer did not recognize him, and declared he had no son; he had had one, + but that one was born with bristles like a hedgehog, and had gone off into + the wide world. Then Jack told his story, and his old father rejoiced and + returned to live with him in his kingdom. + </p> + <p> + Grimm. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0035" id="link2H_4_0035"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE GOLDEN LADS + </h2> + <p> + A poor man and his wife lived in a little cottage, where they supported + themselves by catching fish in the nearest river, and got on as best they + could, living from hand to mouth. One day it happened that when the + fisherman drew in his net he found in it a remarkable fish, for it was + entirely of gold. As he was inspecting it with some surprise, the fish + opened its mouth and said: ‘Listen to me, fisher; if you will just throw + me back into the water I’ll turn your poor little cottage into a splendid + castle.’ + </p> + <p> + The fisher replied: ‘What good, pray, will a castle be to me if I have + nothing to eat in it?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Oh,’ said the gold fish, ‘I’ll take care of that. There will be a + cupboard in the castle, in which you will find dishes of every kind of + food you can wish for most.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘If that’s the case,’ said the man, ‘I’ve no objection to oblige you.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Yes,’ observed the fish, ‘but there is one condition attached to my + offer, and that is that you are not to reveal to a soul where your good + fortune comes from. If you say a word about it, it will all vanish.’ + </p> + <p> + The man threw the fish back into the water, and went home. But on the spot + where his cottage used to stand he found a spacious castle. He opened his + eyes wide, went in and found his wife dressed out in smart clothes, + sitting in a splendidly furnished drawing-room. She was in high spirits, + and cried out: ‘Oh husband! how can this all have happened? I am so + pleased!’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Yes,’ said her husband, ‘so am I pleased; but I’m uncommonly hungry, and + I want something to eat at once.’ + </p> + <p> + Said his wife, ‘I’ve got nothing, and I don’t know where anything is in + this new house.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Never mind,’ replied the man. ‘I see a big cupboard there. Suppose you + unlock it.’ + </p> + <p> + When the cupboard was opened they found meat, cakes, fruit, and wine, all + spread out in the most tempting fashions. The wife clapped her hands with + joy, and cried: ‘Dear heart! what more can one wish for?’ and they sat + down and ate and drank. + </p> + <p> + When they had finished the wife asked, ‘But husband, where do all these + riches come from?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Ah!’ said he, ‘don’t ask me. I dare not tell you. If I reveal the secret + to anyone, it will be all up with us.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Very well,’ she replied, ‘if I’m not to be told, of course I don’t want + to know anything about it.’ + </p> + <p> + But she was not really in earnest, for her curiosity never left her a + moment’s peace by day or night, and she teazed and worried her husband to + such a pitch, that at length he quite lost patience and blurted out that + it all came from a wonderful golden fish which he had caught and set free + again. Hardly were the words well out of his mouth, when castle, cupboard, + and all vanished, and there they were sitting in their poor little fishing + hut once more. + </p> + <p> + The man had to betake himself to his former trade, and set to fishing + again. As luck would have it, he caught the golden fish a second time. + </p> + <p> + ‘Now listen,’ said the fish, ‘if you’ll throw me back into the water, I’ll + give you back the castle and the cupboard with all its good things; but + now take care, and don’t for your life betray where you got them, or + you’ll just lose them again.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘I’ll be very careful,’ promised the fisher, and threw the fish back into + the water. When he went home he found all their former splendour restored, + and his wife overjoyed at their good fortune. But her curiosity still + continued to torment her, and after restraining it with a great effort for + a couple of days, she began questioning her husband again, as to what had + happened, and how he had managed. + </p> + <p> + The man kept silence for some time, but at last she irritated him so much + that he burst out with the secret, and in one moment the castle was gone, + and they sat once more in their wretched old hut. + </p> + <p> + ‘There!’ exclaimed the man, ‘you <i>would</i> have it—now we may + just go on short commons.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Ah!’ said his wife, ‘after all I’d rather not have all the riches in the + world if I can’t know where they come from—I shall not have a + moment’s peace.’ + </p> + <p> + The man took to his fishing again, and one day fate brought the gold fish + into his net for the third time. ‘Well,’ said the fish, ‘I see that I am + evidently destined to fall into your hands. Now take me home, and cut me + into six pieces. Give two bits to your wife to eat, two to your horse, and + plant the remaining two in your garden, and they will bring you a + blessing.’ + </p> + <p> + The man carried the fish home, and did exactly as he had been told. After + a time, it came to pass that from the two pieces he had planted in the + garden two golden lilies grew up, and that his horse had two golden foals, + whilst his wife gave birth to twin boys who were all golden. + </p> + <p> + The children grew up both tall and handsome, and the foals and the lilies + grew with them. + </p> + <p> + One day the children came to their father and said, ‘Father, we want to + mount on golden steeds, and ride forth to see the world.’ + </p> + <p> + Their father answered sadly, ‘How can I bear it if, when you are far away, + I know nothing about you?’ and they said, ‘The golden lilies will tell you + all about us if you look at them. If they seem to droop, you will know we + are ill, and if they fall down and fade away, it will be a sign we are + dead.’ + </p> + <p> + So off they rode, and came to an inn where were a number of people who, as + soon as they saw the two golden lads, began to laugh and jeer at them. + When one of them heard this, his heart failed him, and he thought he would + go no further into the world, so he turned back and rode home to his + father, but his brother rode on till he reached the outskirts of a huge + forest. Here he was told, ‘It will never do for you to ride through the + forest, it is full of robbers, and you’re sure to come to grief, + especially when they see that you and your horse are golden. They will + certainly fall on you and kill you.’ However, he was not to be + intimidated, but said, ‘I must and will ride on.’ + </p> + <p> + So he procured some bears’ skins, and covered himself and his horse with + them, so that not a particle of gold could be seen, and then rode bravely + on into the heart of the forest. + </p> + <p> + When he had got some way he heard a rustling through the bushes and + presently a sound of voices. Someone whispered on one side of him: ‘There + goes someone,’ and was answered from the other side: ‘Oh, let him pass. + He’s only a bear-keeper, and as poor as any church mouse.’ So golden lad + rode through the forest and no harm befell him. + </p> + <p> + One day he came to a village, where he saw a girl who struck him as being + the loveliest creature in the whole world, and as he felt a great love for + her, he went up to her and said: ‘I love you with all my heart; will you + be my wife?’ And the girl liked him so much that she put her hand in his + and replied: ‘Yes, I will be your wife, and will be true to you as long as + I live.’ + </p> + <p> + So they were married, and in the middle of all the festivities and + rejoicings the bride’s father came home and was not a little surprised at + finding his daughter celebrating her wedding. He enquired: ‘And who is the + bridegroom?’ + </p> + <p> + Then someone pointed out to him the golden lad, who was still wrapped up + in the bear’s skin, and the father exclaimed angrily: ‘Never shall a mere + bear-keeper have my daughter,’ and tried to rush at him and kill him. But + the bride did all she could to pacify him, and begged hard, saying: ‘After + all he is my husband, and I love him with all my heart,’ so that at length + he gave in. + </p> + <p> + However, he could not dismiss the thought from his mind, and next morning + he rose very early, for he felt he must go and look at his daughter’s + husband and see whether he really was nothing better than a mere ragged + beggar. So he went to his son-in-law’s room, and who should he see lying + in the bed but a splendid golden man, and the rough bearskin thrown on the + ground close by. Then he slipped quietly away, and thought to himself, + ‘How lucky that I managed to control my rage! I should certainly have + committed a great crime.’ + </p> + <p> + Meantime the golden lad dreamt that he was out hunting and was giving + chase to a noble stag, and when he woke he said to his bride: ‘I must go + off and hunt.’ She felt very anxious, and begged he would stay at home, + adding: ‘Some mishap might so easily befall you,’ but he answered, ‘I must + and will go.’ + </p> + <p> + So he went off into the forest, and before long a fine stag, such as he + had seen in his dream, stopped just in front of him. He took aim, and was + about to fire when the stag bounded away. Then he started off in pursuit, + making his way through bushes and briars, and never stopped all day; but + in the evening the stag entirely disappeared, and when golden lad came to + look about him he found himself just opposite a hut in which lived a + witch. He knocked at the door, which was opened by a little old woman who + asked, ‘What do you want at this late hour in the midst of this great + forest?’ + </p> + <p> + He said, ‘Haven’t you seen a stag about here?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Yes,’ said she, ‘I know the stag well,’ and as she spoke a little dog ran + out of the house and began barking and snapping at the stranger. + </p> + <p> + ‘Be quiet, you little toad,’ he cried, ‘or I’ll shoot you dead.’ + </p> + <p> + Then the witch flew into a great rage, and screamed out, ‘What! you’ll + kill my dog, will you?’ and the next moment he was turned to stone and lay + there immovable, whilst his bride waited for him in vain and thought to + herself, ‘Alas! no doubt the evil I feared, and which has made my heart so + heavy, has befallen him.’ + </p> + <p> + Meantime, the other brother was standing near the golden lilies at home, + when suddenly one of them bent over and fell to the ground. ‘Good + heavens!’ cried he, ‘some great misfortune has befallen my brother. I must + set off at once; perhaps I may still be in time to save him.’ + </p> + <p> + His father entreated him, ‘Stay at home. If I should lose you too, what + would become of me?’ + </p> + <p> + But his son replied, ‘I must and will go.’ + </p> + <p> + Then he mounted his golden horse, and rode off till he reached the forest + where his brother lay transformed to stone. The old witch came out of her + house and called to him, for she would gladly have cast her spells on him + too, but he took care not to go near her, and called out: ‘Restore my + brother to life at once, or I’ll shoot you down on the spot.’ + </p> + <p> + Reluctantly she touched the stone with her finger, and in a moment it + resumed its human shape. The two golden lads fell into each other’s arms + and kissed each other with joy, and then rode off together to the edge of + the forest, where they parted, one to return to his old father, and the + other to his bride. + </p> + <p> + When the former got home his father said, ‘I knew you had delivered your + brother, for all of a sudden the golden lily reared itself up and burst + into blossom.’ + </p> + <p> + Then they all lived happily to their lives’ ends, and all things went well + with them. + </p> + <p> + Grimm. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0036" id="link2H_4_0036"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE WHITE SNAKE + </h2> + <p> + Not very long ago there lived a King, the fame of whose wisdom was spread + far and wide. Nothing appeared to be unknown to him, and it really seemed + as if tidings of the most secret matters must be borne to him by the + winds. He had one very peculiar habit. Every day, after the dinner table + had been cleared, and everyone had retired, a confidential servant brought + in a dish. It was covered, and neither the servant nor anyone else had any + idea what was on it, for the King never removed the cover or partook of + the dish, till he was quite alone. + </p> + <p> + This went on for some time till, one day, the servant who removed the dish + was so overcome with curiosity, that he could not resist carrying it off + to his own room. After carefully locking the door, he lifted the cover, + and there he saw a white snake lying on the dish. On seeing it he could + not restrain his desire to taste it, so he cut off a small piece and put + it in his mouth. + </p> + <p> + Hardly had it touched his tongue than he heard a strange sort of + whispering of tiny voices outside his window. He stepped to the casement + to listen, and found that the sound proceeded from the sparrows, who were + talking together and telling each other all they had seen in the fields + and woods. The piece of the white snake which he had eaten had enabled him + to understand the language of animals. + </p> + <p> + Now on this particular day, it so happened that the Queen lost her + favourite ring, and suspicion fell on the confidential servant who had + access to all parts of the palace. The King sent for him, and threatened + him angrily, saying that if he had not found the thief by the next day, he + should himself be taken up and tried. + </p> + <p> + It was useless to assert his innocence; he was dismissed without ceremony. + In his agitation and distress, he went down to the yard to think over what + he could do in this trouble. Here were a number of ducks resting near a + little stream, and pluming, themselves with their bills, whilst they kept + up an animated conversation amongst themselves. The servant stood still + listening to them. They were talking of where they had been waddling about + all the morning, and of the good food they had found, but one of them + remarked rather sadly, ‘There’s something lying very heavy on my stomach, + for in my haste I’ve swallowed a ring, which was lying just under the + Queen’s window.’ + </p> + <p> + No sooner did the servant hear this than he seized the duck by the neck, + carried it off to the kitchen, and said to the cook, ‘Suppose you kill + this duck; you see she’s nice and fat.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Yes, indeed,’ said the cook, weighing the duck in his hand, ‘she + certainly has spared no pains to stuff herself well, and must have been + waiting for the spit for some time.’ So he chopped off her head, and when + she was opened there was the Queen’s ring in her stomach. + </p> + <p> + It was easy enough now for the servant to prove his innocence, and the + King, feeling he had done him an injustice, and anxious to make some + amends, desired him to ask any favour he chose, and promised to give him + the highest post at Court he could wish for. + </p> + <p> + The servant, however, declined everything, and only begged for a horse and + some money to enable him to travel, as he was anxious to see something of + the world. + </p> + <p> + When his request was granted, he set off on his journey, and in the course + of it he one day came to a large pond, on the edge of which he noticed + three fishes which had got entangled in the reeds and were gasping for + water. Though fish are generally supposed to be quite mute, he heard them + grieving aloud at the prospect of dying in this wretched manner. Having a + very kind heart he dismounted and soon set the prisoners free, and in the + water once more. They flapped with joy, and stretching up their heads + cried to him: ‘We will remember, and reward you for saving us.’ + </p> + <p> + He rode further, and after a while he thought he heard a voice in the sand + under his feet. He paused to listen, and heard the King of the Ants + complaining: ‘If only men with their awkward beasts would keep clear of + us! That stupid horse is crushing my people mercilessly to death with his + great hoofs.’ The servant at once turned into a side path, and the + Ant-King called after him, ‘We’ll remember and reward you.’ + </p> + <p> + The road next led through a wood, where he saw a father and a mother raven + standing by their nest and throwing out their young: ‘Away with you, you + young rascals!’ they cried, ‘we can’t feed you any longer. You are quite + big enough to support yourselves now.’ The poor little birds lay on the + ground flapping and beating their wings, and shrieked, ‘We poor helpless + children, feed ourselves indeed! Why, we can’t even fly yet; what can we + do but die of hunger?’ Then the kind youth dismounted, drew his sword, and + killing his horse left it there as food for the young ravens. They hopped + up, satisfied their hunger, and piped: ‘We’ll remember, and reward you!’ + </p> + <p> + He was now obliged to trust to his own legs, and after walking a long way + he reached a big town. Here he found a great crowd and much commotion in + the streets, and a herald rode about announcing, ‘The King’s daughter + seeks a husband, but whoever would woo her must first execute a difficult + task, and if he does not succeed he must be content to forfeit his life.’ + Many had risked their lives, but in vain. When the youth saw the King’s + daughter, he was so dazzled by her beauty, that he forgot all idea of + danger, and went to the King to announce himself a suitor. + </p> + <p> + On this he was led out to a large lake, and a gold ring was thrown into it + before his eyes. The King desired him to dive after it, adding, ‘If you + return without it you will be thrown back into the lake time after time, + till you are drowned in its depths.’ + </p> + <p> + Everyone felt sorry for the handsome young fellow and left him alone on + the shore. There he stood thinking and wondering what he could do, when + all of a sudden he saw three fishes swimming along, and recognised them as + the very same whose lives he had saved. The middle fish held a mussel in + its mouth, which it laid at the young man’s feet, and when he picked it up + and opened it, there was the golden ring inside. + </p> + <p> + Full of delight he brought it to the King’s daughter, expecting to receive + his promised reward. The haughty Princess, however, on hearing that he was + not her equal by birth despised him, and exacted the fulfilment of a + second task. + </p> + <p> + She went into the garden, and with her own hands she strewed ten sacks + full of millet all over the grass. ‘He must pick all that up to-morrow + morning before sunrise,’ she said; ‘not a grain must be lost.’ + </p> + <p> + The youth sat down in the garden and wondered how it would be possible for + him to accomplish such a task, but he could think of no expedient, and sat + there sadly expecting to meet his death at daybreak. + </p> + <p> + But when the first rays of the rising sun fell on the garden, he saw the + ten sacks all completely filled, standing there in a row, and not a single + grain missing. The Ant-King, with his thousands and thousands of + followers, had come during the night, and the grateful creatures had + industriously gathered all the millet together and put it in the sacks. + </p> + <p> + The King’s daughter came down to the garden herself, and saw to her + amazement that her suitor had accomplished the task she had given him. But + even now she could not bend her proud heart, and she said, ‘Though he has + executed these two tasks, yet he shall not be my husband till he brings me + an apple from the tree of life.’ + </p> + <p> + The young man did not even know where the tree of life grew, but he set + off, determined to walk as far as his legs would carry him, though he had + no hope of ever finding it. + </p> + <p> + After journeying through three different kingdoms he reached a wood one + night, and lying down under a tree prepared to go to sleep there. Suddenly + he heard a sound in the boughs, and a golden apple fell right into his + hand. At the same moment three ravens flew down to him, perched on his + knee and said, ‘We are the three young ravens whom you saved from + starvation. When we grew up and heard you were searching for the golden + apple, we flew far away over the seas to the end of the world, where the + tree of life grows, and fetched the golden apple for you.’ + </p> + <p> + Full of joy the young man started on his way back and brought the golden + apple to the lovely Princess, whose objections were now entirely silenced. + They divided the apple of life and ate it together, and her heart grew + full of love for him, so they lived together to a great age in undisturbed + happiness. + </p> + <p> + Grimm. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0037" id="link2H_4_0037"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE STORY OF A CLEVER TAILOR + </h2> + <p> + Once upon a time there lived an exceedingly proud Princess. If any suitor + for her hand ventured to present himself, she would give him some riddle + or conundrum to guess, and if he failed to do so, he was hunted out of the + town with scorn and derision. She gave out publicly that all comers were + welcome to try their skill, and that whoever could solve her riddle should + be her husband. + </p> + <p> + Now it happened that three tailors had met together, and the two elder + thought, that after having successfully put in so many fine and strong + stitches with never a wrong one amongst them, they were certain to do the + right thing here too. The third tailor was a lazy young scamp who did not + even know his own trade properly, but who thought that surely luck would + stand by him now, just for once, for, if not, what <i>was</i> to become of + him? + </p> + <p> + The two others said to him, ‘You just stay at home, you’ll never get on + much with your small allowance of brains.’ But the little tailor was not + to be daunted, and said he had set his mind on it and meant to shift for + himself, so off he started as though the whole world belonged to him. + </p> + <p> + The three tailors arrived at Court, where they had themselves duly + presented to the Princess, and begged she would propound her riddles, + ‘for,’ said they, ‘here were the right men at last, with wits so sharp and + so fine you might almost thread a needle with them.’ + </p> + <p> + Then said the Princess, ‘I have on my head two different kinds of hair. Of + what colours are they?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘If that’s all,’ said the first tailor, ‘they are most likely black and + white, like the kind of cloth we call pepper-and-salt.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Wrong,’ said the Princess. + </p> + <p> + ‘Then,’ said the second tailor, ‘if they are not black and white, no doubt + they are red and brown, like my father’s Sunday coat.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Wrong again,’ said the Princess; ‘now let the third speak. I see he + thinks he knows all about it.’ + </p> + <p> + Then the young tailor stepped boldly to the front and said, ‘The Princess + has one silver and one golden hair on her head, and those are the two + colours.’ + </p> + <p> + When the Princess heard this she turned quite pale, and almost fainted + away with fear, for the little tailor had hit the mark, and she had firmly + believed that not a soul could guess it. When she had recovered herself + she said, ‘Don’t fancy you have won me yet, there is something else you + must do first. Below in the stable is a bear with whom you must spend the + night, and if when I get up in the morning I find you still alive you + shall marry me.’ + </p> + <p> + She quite expected to rid herself of the tailor in this way, for the bear + had never left anyone alive who had once come within reach of his claws. + The tailor, however, had no notion of being scared, but said cheerily, + ‘Bravely dared is half won.’ + </p> + <p> + When evening came on he was taken to the stable. The bear tried to get at + him at once and to give him a warm welcome with his great paws. ‘Gently, + gently,’ said the tailor, ‘I’ll soon teach you to be quiet,’ and he coolly + drew a handful of walnuts from his pocket and began cracking and eating + them as though he had not a care or anxiety in the world. When the bear + saw this he began to long for some nuts himself. The tailor dived into his + pocket and gave him a handful, but they were pebbles, not nuts. The bear + thrust them into his mouth, but try as he might he could not manage to + crack them. ‘Dear me,’ thought he, ‘what a stupid fool I must be—can’t + even crack a nut,’ and he said to the tailor, ‘I say, crack my nuts for + me, will you?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘You’re a nice sort of fellow,’ said the tailor; ‘the idea of having those + great jaws and not being able even to crack a walnut!’ So he took the + stone, quickly changed it for a nut, and crack! it split open in a moment. + </p> + <p> + ‘Let me try again,’ said the bear; ‘when I see the thing done it looks so + easy I fancy I <i>must</i> be able to manage it myself.’ + </p> + <p> + So the tailor gave him some more pebbles, and the bear bit and gnawed away + as hard as he could, but I need hardly say that he did not succeed in + cracking one of them. + </p> + <p> + Presently the tailor took out a little fiddle and began playing on it. + When the bear heard the music he could not help dancing, and after he had + danced some time he was so pleased that he said to the tailor, ‘I say, is + fiddling difficult?’ ‘Mere child’s play,’ replied the tailor; ‘look here! + you press the strings with the fingers of the left hand, and with the + right, you draw the bow across them, so—then it goes as easily as + possible, up and down, tra la la la la—’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Oh,’ cried the bear, ‘I do wish I could play like that, then I could + dance whenever the fancy took me. What do you think? Would you give me + some lessons?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘With all my heart,’ said the tailor, ‘if you are sharp about it. But just + let me look at your paws. Dear me, your nails are terribly long; I must + really cut them first.’ Then he fetched a pair of stocks, and the bear + laid his paws on them, and the tailor screwed them up tight. ‘Now just + wait whilst I fetch my scissors,’ said he, and left the bear growling away + to his heart’s content, whilst he lay down in a corner and fell fast + asleep. + </p> + <p> + When the Princess heard the bear growling so loud that night, she made + sure he was roaring with delight as he worried the tailor. + </p> + <p> + Next morning she rose feeling quite cheerful and free from care, but when + she looked across towards the stables, there stood the tailor in front of + the door looking as fresh and lively as a fish in the water. + </p> + <p> + After this it was impossible to break the promise she had made so + publicly, so the King ordered out the state coach to take her and the + tailor to church to be married. + </p> + <p> + As they were starting, the two bad-hearted other tailors, who were envious + of the younger one’s happiness, went to the stable and unscrewed the bear. + Off he tore after the carriage, foaming with rage. The Princess heard his + puffing and roaring, and growing frightened she cried: ‘Oh dear! the bear + is after us and will certainly catch us up!’ The tailor remained quite + unmoved. He quietly stood on his head, stuck his legs out at the carriage + window and called out to the bear, ‘Do you see my stocks? If you don’t go + home this minute I’ll screw you tight into them.’ + </p> + <p> + When the bear saw and heard this he turned right round and ran off as fast + as his legs would carry him. The tailor drove on unmolested to church, + where he and the Princess were married, and he lived with her many years + as happy and merry as a lark. Whoever does not believe this story must pay + a dollar. + </p> + <p> + Grimm. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0038" id="link2H_4_0038"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE GOLDEN MERMAID + </h2> + <p> + A powerful king had, among many other treasures, a wonderful tree in his + garden, which bore every year beautiful golden apples. But the King was + never able to enjoy his treasure, for he might watch and guard them as he + liked, as soon as they began to get ripe they were always stolen. At last, + in despair, he sent for his three sons, and said to the two eldest, ‘Get + yourselves ready for a journey. Take gold and silver with you, and a large + retinue of servants, as beseems two noble princes, and go through the + world till you find out who it is that steals my golden apples, and, if + possible, bring the thief to me that I may punish him as he deserves.’ His + sons were delighted at this proposal, for they had long wished to see + something of the world, so they got ready for their journey with all + haste, bade their father farewell, and left the town. + </p> + <p> + The youngest Prince was much disappointed that he too was not sent out on + his travels; but his father wouldn’t hear of his going, for he had always + been looked upon as the stupid one of the family, and the King was afraid + of something happening to him. But the Prince begged and implored so long, + that at last his father consented to let him go, and furnished him with + gold and silver as he had done his brothers. But he gave him the most + wretched horse in his stable, because the foolish youth hadn’t asked for a + better. So he too set out on his journey to secure the thief, amid the + jeers and laughter of the whole court and town. + </p> + <p> + His path led him first through a wood, and he hadn’t gone very far when he + met a lean-looking wolf who stood still as he approached. The Prince asked + him if he were hungry, and when the wolf said he was, he got down from his + horse and said, ‘If you are really as you say and look, you may take my + horse and eat it.’ + </p> + <p> + The wolf didn’t wait to have the offer repeated, but set to work, and soon + made an end of the poor beast. When the Prince saw how different the wolf + looked when he had finished his meal, he said to him, ‘Now, my friend, + since you have eaten up my horse, and I have such a long way to go, that, + with the best will in the world, I couldn’t manage it on foot, the least + you can do for me is to act as my horse and to take me on your back.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Most certainly,’ said the wolf, and, letting the Prince mount him, he + trotted gaily through the wood. After they had gone a little way he turned + round and asked his rider where he wanted to go to, and the Prince + proceeded to tell him the whole story of the golden apples that had been + stolen out of the King’s garden, and how his other two brothers had set + forth with many followers to find the thief. When he had finished his + story, the wolf, who was in reality no wolf but a mighty magician, said he + thought he could tell him who the thief was, and could help him to secure + him. ‘There lives,’ he said, ‘in a neighbouring country, a mighty emperor + who has a beautiful golden bird in a cage, and this is the creature who + steals the golden apples, but it flies so fast that it is impossible to + catch it at its theft. You must slip into the Emperor’s palace by night + and steal the bird with the cage; but be very careful not to touch the + walls as you go out.’ + </p> + <p> + The following night the Prince stole into the Emperor’s palace, and found + the bird in its cage as the wolf had told him he would. He took hold of it + carefully, but in spite of all his caution he touched the wall in trying + to pass by some sleeping watchmen. They awoke at once, and, seizing him, + beat him and put him into chains. Next day he was led before the Emperor, + who at once condemned him to death and to be thrown into a dark dungeon + till the day of his execution arrived. + </p> + <p> + The wolf, who, of course, knew by his magic arts all that had happened to + the Prince, turned himself at once into a mighty monarch with a large + train of followers, and proceeded to the Court of the Emperor, where he + was received with every show of honour. The Emperor and he conversed on + many subjects, and, among other things, the stranger asked his host if he + had many slaves. The Emperor told him he had more than he knew what to do + with, and that a new one had been captured that very night for trying to + steal his magic bird, but that as he had already more than enough to feed + and support, he was going to have this last captive hanged next morning. + </p> + <p> + ‘He must have been a most daring thief,’ said the King, ‘to try and steal + the magic bird, for depend upon it the creature must have been well + guarded. I would really like to see this bold rascal.’ ‘By all means,’ + said the Emperor; and he himself led his guest down to the dungeon where + the unfortunate Prince was kept prisoner. When the Emperor stepped out of + the cell with the King, the latter turned to him and said, ‘Most mighty + Emperor, I have been much disappointed. I had thought to find a powerful + robber, and instead of that I have seen the most miserable creature I can + imagine. Hanging is far too good for him. If I had to sentence him I + should make him perform some very difficult task, under pain of death. If + he did it so much the better for you, and if he didn’t, matters would just + be as they are now and he could still be hanged.’ ‘Your counsel,’ said the + Emperor, ‘is excellent, and, as it happens, I’ve got the very thing for + him to do. My nearest neighbour, who is also a mighty Emperor, possesses a + golden horse which he guards most carefully. The prisoner shall be told to + steal this horse and bring it to me.’ + </p> + <p> + The Prince was then let out of his dungeon, and told his life would be + spared if he succeeded in bringing the golden horse to the Emperor. He did + not feel very elated at this announcement, for he did not know how in the + world he was to set about the task, and he started on his way weeping + bitterly, and wondering what had made him leave his father’s house and + kingdom. But before he had gone far his friend the wolf stood before him + and said, ‘Dear Prince, why are you so cast down? It is true you didn’t + succeed in catching the bird; but don’t let that discourage you, for this + time you will be all the more careful, and will doubtless catch the + horse.’ With these and like words the wolf comforted the Prince, and + warned him specially not to touch the wall or let the horse touch it as he + led it out, or he would fail in the same way as he had done with the bird. + </p> + <p> + After a somewhat lengthy journey the Prince and the wolf came to the + kingdom ruled over by the Emperor who possessed the golden horse. One + evening late they reached the capital, and the wolf advised the Prince to + set to work at once, before their presence in the city had aroused the + watchfulness of the guards. They slipped unnoticed into the Emperor’s + stables and into the very place where there were the most guards, for + there the wolf rightly surmised they would find the horse. When they came + to a certain inner door the wolf told the Prince to remain outside, while + he went in. In a short time he returned and said, ‘My dear Prince, the + horse is most securely watched, but I have bewitched all the guards, and + if you will only be careful not to touch the wall yourself, or let the + horse touch it as you go out, there is no danger and the game is yours. + The Prince, who had made up his mind to be more than cautious this time, + went cheerfully to work. He found all the guards fast asleep, and, + slipping into the horse’s stall, he seized it by the bridle and led it + out; but, unfortunately, before they had got quite clear of the stables a + gadfly stung the horse and caused it to switch its tail, whereby it + touched the wall. In a moment all the guards awoke, seized the Prince and + beat him mercilessly with their horse-whips, after which they bound him + with chains, and flung him into a dungeon. Next morning they brought him + before the Emperor, who treated him exactly as the King with the golden + bird had done, and commanded him to be beheaded on the following day. + </p> + <p> + When the wolf-magician saw that the Prince had failed this time too, he + transformed himself again into a mighty king, and proceeded with an even + more gorgeous retinue than the first time to the Court of the Emperor. He + was courteously received and entertained, and once more after dinner he + led the conversation on to the subject of slaves, and in the course of it + again requested to be allowed to see the bold robber who had dared to + break into the Emperor’s stable to steal his most valuable possession. The + Emperor consented, and all happened exactly as it had done at the court of + the Emperor with the golden bird; the prisoner’s life was to be spared + only on condition that within three days he should obtain possession of + the golden mermaid, whom hitherto no mortal had ever approached. + </p> + <p> + Very depressed by his dangerous and difficult task, the Prince left his + gloomy prison; but, to his great joy, he met his friend the wolf before he + had gone many miles on his journey. The cunning creature pretended he knew + nothing of what had happened to the Prince, and asked him how he had fared + with the horse. The Prince told him all about his misadventure, and the + condition on which the Emperor had promised to spare his life. Then the + wolf reminded him that he had twice got him out of prison, and that if he + would only trust in him, and do exactly as he told him, he would certainly + succeed in this last undertaking. Thereupon they bent their steps towards + the sea, which stretched out before them, as far as their eyes could see, + all the waves dancing and glittering in the bright sunshine. ‘Now,’ + continued the wolf, ‘I am going to turn myself into a boat full of the + most beautiful silken merchandise, and you must jump boldly into the boat, + and steer with my tail in your hand right out into the open sea. You will + soon come upon the golden mermaid. Whatever you do, don’t follow her if + she calls you, but on the contrary say to her, “The buyer comes to the + seller, not the seller to the buyer.” After which you must steer towards + the land, and she will follow you, for she won’t be able to resist the + beautiful wares you have on board your ship.’ + </p> + <p> + The Prince promised faithfully to do all he had been told, whereupon the + wolf changed himself into a ship full of most exquisite silks, of every + shade and colour imaginable. The astonished Prince stepped into the boat, + and, holding the wolf’s tail in his hand, he steered boldly out into the + open sea, where the sun was gilding the blue waves with its golden rays. + Soon he saw the golden mermaid swimming near the ship, beckoning and + calling to him to follow her; but, mindful of the wolf’s warning, he told + her in a loud voice that if she wished to buy anything she must come to + him. With these words he turned his magic ship round and steered back + towards the land. The mermaid called out to him to stand still, but he + refused to listen to her and never paused till he reached the sand of the + shore. Here he stopped and waited for the mermaid, who had swum after him. + When she drew near the boat he saw that she was far more beautiful than + any mortal he had ever beheld. She swam round the ship for some time, and + then swung herself gracefully on board, in order to examine the beautiful + silken stuffs more closely. Then the Prince seized her in his arms, and + kissing her tenderly on the cheeks and lips, he told her she was his for + ever; at the same moment the boat turned into a wolf again, which so + terrified the mermaid that she clung to the Prince for protection. + </p> + <p> + So the golden mermaid was successfully caught, and she soon felt quite + happy in her new life when she saw she had nothing to fear either from the + Prince or the wolf—she rode on the back of the latter, and the + Prince rode behind her. When they reached the country ruled over by the + Emperor with the golden horse, the Prince jumped down, and, helping the + mermaid to alight, he led her before the Emperor. At the sight of the + beautiful mermaid and of the grim wolf, who stuck close to the Prince this + time, the guards all made respectful obeisance, and soon the three stood + before his Imperial Majesty. When the Emperor heard from the Prince how he + had gained possession of his fair prize, he at once recognized that he had + been helped by some magic art, and on the spot gave up all claim to the + beautiful mermaid. ‘Dear youth,’ he said, ‘forgive me for my shameful + conduct to you, and, as a sign that you pardon me, accept the golden horse + as a present. I acknowledge your power to be greater even than I can + understand, for you have succeeded in gaining possession of the golden + mermaid, whom hitherto no mortal has ever been able to approach.’ Then + they all sat down to a huge feast, and the Prince had to relate his + adventures all over again, to the wonder and astonishment of the whole + company. + </p> + <p> + But the Prince was wearying now to return to his own kingdom, so as soon + as the feast was over he took farewell of the Emperor, and set out on his + homeward way. He lifted the mermaid on to the golden horse, and swung + himself up behind her—and so they rode on merrily, with the wolf + trotting behind, till they came to the country of the Emperor with the + golden bird. The renown of the Prince and his adventure had gone before him, + and the Emperor sat on his throne awaiting the arrival of the Prince and + his companions. When the three rode into the courtyard of the palace, they + were surprised and delighted to find everything festively illuminated and + decorated for their reception. When the Prince and the golden mermaid, + with the wolf behind them, mounted the steps of the palace, the Emperor + came forward to meet them, and led them to the throne room. At the same + moment a servant appeared with the golden bird in its golden cage, and the + Emperor begged the Prince to accept it with his love, and to forgive him + the indignity he had suffered at his hands. Then the Emperor bent low + before the beautiful mermaid, and, offering her his arm, he led her into + dinner, closely followed by the Prince and her friend the wolf; the latter + seating himself at table, not the least embarrassed that no one had + invited him to do so. + </p> + <p> + As soon as the sumptuous meal was over, the Prince and his mermaid took + leave of the Emperor, and, seating themselves on the golden horse, + continued their homeward journey. On the way the wolf turned to the Prince + and said, ‘Dear friends, I must now bid you farewell, but I leave you + under such happy circumstances that I cannot feel our parting to be a sad + one.’ The Prince was very unhappy when he heard these words, and begged + the wolf to stay with them always; but this the good creature refused to + do, though he thanked the Prince kindly for his invitation, and called out + as he disappeared into the thicket, ‘Should any evil befall you, dear + Prince, at any time, you may rely on my friendship and gratitude.’ These + were the wolf’s parting words, and the Prince could not restrain his tears + when he saw his friend vanishing in the distance; but one glance at his + beloved mermaid soon cheered him up again, and they continued on their + journey merrily. + </p> + <p> + The news of his son’s adventures had already reached his father’s Court, + and everyone was more than astonished at the success of the once despised + Prince. His elder brothers, who had in vain gone in pursuit of the thief + of the golden apples, were furious over their younger brother’s good + fortune, and plotted and planned how they were to kill him. They hid + themselves in the wood through which the Prince had to pass on his way to + the palace, and there fell on him, and, having beaten him to death, they + carried off the golden horse and the golden bird. But nothing they could + do would persuade the golden mermaid to go with them or move from the + spot, for ever since she had left the sea, she had so attached herself to + her Prince that she asked nothing else than to live or die with him. + </p> + <p> + For many weeks the poor mermaid sat and watched over the dead body of her + lover, weeping salt tears over his loss, when suddenly one day their old + friend the wolf appeared and said, ‘Cover the Prince’s body with all the + leaves and flowers you can find in the wood.’ The maiden did as he told + her, and then the wolf breathed over the flowery grave, and, lo and + behold! the Prince lay there sleeping as peacefully as a child. ‘Now you + may wake him if you like,’ said the wolf, and the mermaid bent over him + and gently kissed the wounds his brothers had made on his forehead, and + the Prince awoke, and you may imagine how delighted he was to find his + beautiful mermaid beside him, though he felt a little depressed when he + thought of the loss of the golden bird and the golden horse. After a time + the wolf, who had likewise fallen on the Prince’s neck, advised them to + continue their journey, and once more the Prince and his lovely bride + mounted on the faithful beast’s back. + </p> + <p> + The King’s joy was great when he embraced his youngest son, for he had + long since despaired of his return. He received the wolf and the beautiful + golden mermaid most cordially too, and the Prince was made to tell his + adventures all over from the beginning. The poor old father grew very sad + when he heard of the shameful conduct of his elder sons, and had them + called before him. They turned as white as death when they saw their + brother, whom they thought they had murdered, standing beside them alive + and well, and so startled were they that when the King asked them why they + had behaved so wickedly to their brother they could think of no lie, but + confessed at once that they had slain the young Prince in order to obtain + possession of the golden horse and the golden bird. Their father’s wrath + knew no bounds, and he ordered them both to be banished, but he could not + do enough to honour his youngest son, and his marriage with the beautiful + mermaid was celebrated with much pomp and magnificence. When the + festivities were over, the wolf bade them all farewell, and returned once + more to his life in the woods, much to the regret of the old King and the + young Prince and his bride. + </p> + <p> + And so ended the adventures of the Prince with his friend the wolf. + </p> + <p> + Grimm. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0039" id="link2H_4_0039"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE WAR OF THE WOLF AND THE FOX + </h2> + <p> + There was once upon a time a man and his wife who had an old cat and an + old dog. One day the man, whose name was Simon, said to his wife, whose + name was Susan, ‘Why should we keep our old cat any longer? She never + catches any mice now-a-days, and is so useless that I have made up my mind + to drown her.’ + </p> + <p> + But his wife replied, ‘Don’t do that, for I’m sure she could still catch + mice.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Rubbish,’ said Simon. ‘The mice might dance on her and she would never + catch one. I’ve quite made up my mind that the next time I see her, I + shall put her in the water.’ + </p> + <p> + Susan was very unhappy when she heard this, and so was the cat, who had + been listening to the conversation behind the stove. When Simon went off + to his work, the poor cat miawed so pitifully, and looked up so + pathetically into Susan’s face, that the woman quickly opened the door and + said, ‘Fly for your life, my poor little beast, and get well away from + here before your master returns.’ + </p> + <p> + The cat took her advice, and ran as quickly as her poor old legs would + carry her into the wood, and when Simon came home, his wife told him that + the cat had vanished. + </p> + <p> + ‘So much the better for her,’ said Simon. ‘And now we have got rid of her, + we must consider what we are to do with the old dog. He is quite deaf and + blind, and invariably barks when there is no need, and makes no sound when + there is. I think the best thing I can do with him is to hang him.’ + </p> + <p> + But soft-hearted Susan replied, ‘Please don’t do so; he’s surely not so + useless as all that.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Don’t be foolish,’ said her husband. ‘The courtyard might be full of + thieves and he’d never discover it. No, the first time I see him, it’s all + up with him, I can tell you.’ + </p> + <p> + Susan was very unhappy at his words, and so was the dog, who was lying in + the corner of the room and had heard everything. As soon as Simon had gone + to his work, he stood up and howled so touchingly that Susan quickly + opened the door, and said ‘Fly for your life, poor beast, before your + master gets home.’ And the dog ran into the wood with his tail between his + legs. + </p> + <p> + When her husband returned, his wife told him that the dog had disappeared. + </p> + <p> + ‘That’s lucky for him,’ said Simon, but Susan sighed, for she had been + very fond of the poor creature. + </p> + <p> + Now it happened that the cat and dog met each other on their travels, and + though they had not been the best of friends at home, they were quite glad + to meet among strangers. They sat down under a holly tree and both poured + forth their woes. + </p> + <p> + Presently a fox passed by, and seeing the pair sitting together in a + disconsolate fashion, he asked them why they sat there, and what they were + grumbling about. + </p> + <p> + The cat replied, ‘I have caught many a mouse in my day, but now that I am + old and past work, my master wants to drown me.’ + </p> + <p> + And the dog said, ‘Many a night have I watched and guarded my master’s + house, and now that I am old and deaf, he wants to hang me.’ + </p> + <p> + The fox answered, ‘That’s the way of the world. But I’ll help you to get + back into your master’s favour, only you must first help me in my own + troubles.’ + </p> + <p> + They promised to do their best, and the fox continued, ‘The wolf has + declared war against me, and is at this moment marching to meet me in + company with the bear and the wild boar, and to-morrow there will be a + fierce battle between us.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘All right,’ said the dog and the cat, ‘we will stand by you, and if we + are killed, it is at any rate better to die on the field of battle than to + perish ignobly at home,’ and they shook paws and concluded the bargain. + The fox sent word to the wolf to meet him at a certain place, and the + three set forth to encounter him and his friends. + </p> + <p> + The wolf, the bear, and the wild boar arrived on the spot first, and when + they had waited some time for the fox, the dog, and the cat, the bear + said, ‘I’ll climb up into the oak tree, and look if I can see them + coming.’ + </p> + <p> + The first time he looked round he said, ‘I can see nothing,’ and the + second time he looked round he said, ‘I can still see nothing.’ But the + third time he said, ‘I see a mighty army in the distance, and one of the + warriors has the biggest lance you ever saw!’ + </p> + <p> + This was the cat, who was marching along with her tail erect. + </p> + <p> + And so they laughed and jeered, and it was so hot that the bear said, ‘The + enemy won’t be here at this rate for many hours to come, so I’ll just curl + myself up in the fork of the tree and have a little sleep.’ + </p> + <p> + And the wolf lay down under the oak, and the wild boar buried himself in + some straw, so that nothing was seen of him but one ear. + </p> + <p> + And while they were lying there, the fox, the cat and the dog arrived. + When the cat saw the wild boar’s ear, she pounced upon it, thinking it was + a mouse in the straw. + </p> + <p> + The wild boar got up in a dreadful fright, gave one loud grunt and + disappeared into the wood. But the cat was even more startled than the + boar, and, spitting with terror, she scrambled up into the fork of the + tree, and as it happened right into the bear’s face. Now it was the bear’s + turn to be alarmed, and with a mighty growl he jumped down from the oak + and fell right on the top of the wolf and killed him as dead as a stone. + </p> + <p> + On their way home from the war the fox caught score of mice, and when they + reached Simon’s cottage he put them all on the stove and said to the cat, + ‘Now go and fetch one mouse after the other, and lay them down before your + master.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘All right,’ said the cat, and did exactly as the fox told her. + </p> + <p> + When Susan saw this she said to her husband, ‘Just look, here is our old + cat back again, and see what a lot of mice she has caught.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Wonders will never cease,’ cried Simon. ‘I certainly never thought the + old cat would ever catch another mouse.’ + </p> + <p> + But Susan answered, ‘There, you see, I always said our cat was a most + excellent creature—but you men always think you know best.’ + </p> + <p> + In the meantime the fox said to the dog, ‘Our friend Simon has just killed + a pig; when it gets a little darker, you must go into the courtyard and + bark with all your might.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘All right,’ said the dog, and as soon as it grew dusk he began to bark + loudly. + </p> + <p> + Susan, who heard him first, said to her husband, ‘Our dog must have come + back, for I hear him barking lustily. Do go out and see what’s the matter; + perhaps thieves may be stealing our sausages.’ + </p> + <p> + But Simon answered, ‘The foolish brute is as deaf as a post and is always + barking at nothing,’ and he refused to get up. + </p> + <p> + The next morning Susan got up early to go to church at the neighbouring + town, and she thought she would take some sausages to her aunt who lived + there. But when she went to her larder, she found all the sausages gone, + and a great hole in the floor. She called out to her husband, ‘I was + perfectly right. Thieves have been here last night, and they have not left + a single sausage. Oh! if you had only got up when I asked you to!’ + </p> + <p> + Then Simon scratched his head and said, ‘I can’t understand it at all. I + certainly never believed the old dog was so quick at hearing.’ + </p> + <p> + But Susan replied, ‘I always told you our old dog was the best dog in the + world—but as usual you thought you knew so much better. Men are the + same all the world over.’ + </p> + <p> + And the fox scored a point too, for he had carried away the sausages + himself! + </p> + <p> + Grimm. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0040" id="link2H_4_0040"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE STORY OF THE FISHERMAN AND HIS WIFE + </h2> + <p> + There was once a fisherman and his wife who lived together in a little hut + close to the sea, and the fisherman used to go down every day to fish; and + he would fish and fish. So he used to sit with his rod and gaze into the + shining water; and he would gaze and gaze. + </p> + <p> + Now, once the line was pulled deep under the water, and when he hauled it + up he hauled a large flounder with it. The flounder said to him, ‘Listen, + fisherman. I pray you to let me go; I am not a real flounder, I am an + enchanted Prince. What good will it do you if you kill me—I shall + not taste nice? Put me back into the water and let me swim away.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Well,’ said the man, ‘you need not make so much noise about it; I am sure + I had much better let a flounder that can talk swim away.’ With these + words he put him back again into the shining water, and the flounder sank + to the bottom, leaving a long streak of blood behind. Then the fisherman + got up, and went home to his wife in the hut. + </p> + <p> + ‘Husband,’ said his wife, ‘have you caught nothing to-day?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘No,’ said the man. ‘I caught a flounder who said he was an enchanted + prince, so I let him swim away again.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Did you wish nothing from him?’ said his wife. + </p> + <p> + ‘No,’ said the man; ‘what should I have wished from him?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Ah!’ said the woman, ‘it’s dreadful to have to live all one’s life in + this hut that is so small and dirty; you ought to have wished for a + cottage. Go now and call him; say to him that we choose to have a cottage, + and he will certainly give it you.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Alas!’ said the man, ‘why should I go down there again?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Why,’ said his wife, ‘you caught him, and then let him go again, so he is + sure to give you what you ask. Go down quickly.’ + </p> + <p> + The man did not like going at all, but as his wife was not to be + persuaded, he went down to the sea. + </p> + <p> + When he came there the sea was quite green and yellow, and was no longer + shining. So he stood on the shore and said: + </p> + <p> + ‘Once a prince, but changed you be Into a flounder in the sea. Come! for + my wife, Ilsebel, Wishes what I dare not tell.’ + </p> + <p> + Then the flounder came swimming up and said, ‘Well, what does she want?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Alas!’ said the man, ‘my wife says I ought to have kept you and wished + something from you. She does not want to live any longer in the hut; she + would like a cottage.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Go home, then,’ said the flounder; ‘she has it.’ + </p> + <p> + So the man went home, and there was his wife no longer in the hut, but in + its place was a beautiful cottage, and his wife was sitting in front of + the door on a bench. She took him by the hand and said to him, ‘Come + inside, and see if this is not much better.’ They went in, and inside the + cottage was a tiny hall, and a beautiful sitting-room, and a bedroom in + which stood a bed, a kitchen and a dining-room all furnished with the best + of everything, and fitted up with every kind of tin and copper utensil. + And outside was a little yard in which were chickens and ducks, and also a + little garden with vegetables and fruit trees. + </p> + <p> + ‘See,’ said the wife, ‘isn’t this nice?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Yes,’ answered her husband; ‘here we shall remain and live very happily.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘We will think about that,’ said his wife. + </p> + <p> + With these words they had their supper and went to bed. All went well for + a week or a fortnight, then the wife said: + </p> + <p> + ‘Listen, husband; the cottage is much too small, and so is the yard and + the garden; the flounder might just as well have sent us a larger house. I + should like to live in a great stone castle. Go down to the flounder, and + tell him to send us a castle.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Ah, wife!’ said the fisherman, ‘the cottage is quite good enough; why do + we choose to live in a castle?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Why?’ said the wife. ‘You go down; the flounder can quite well do that.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘No, wife,’ said the man; ‘the flounder gave us the cottage. I do not like + to go to him again; he might take it amiss.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Go,’ said his wife. ‘He can certainly give it us, and ought to do so + willingly. Go at once.’ + </p> + <p> + The fisherman’s heart was very heavy, and he did not like going. He said + to himself, ‘It is not right.’ Still, he went down. + </p> + <p> + When he came to the sea, the water was all violet and dark-blue, and dull + and thick, and no longer green and yellow, but it was still smooth. + </p> + <p> + So he stood there and said: + </p> + <p> + ‘Once a prince, but changed you be Into a flounder in the sea. Come! for + my wife, Ilsebel, Wishes what I dare not tell.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘What does she want now?’ said the flounder. + </p> + <p> + ‘Ah!’ said the fisherman, half-ashamed, ‘she wants to live in a great + stone castle.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Go home; she is standing before the door,’ said the flounder. + </p> + <p> + The fisherman went home and thought he would find no house. When he came + near, there stood a great stone palace, and his wife was standing on the + steps, about to enter. She took him by the hand and said, ‘Come inside.’ + </p> + <p> + Then he went with her, and inside the castle was a large hall with a + marble floor, and there were heaps of servants who threw open the great + doors, and the walls were covered with beautiful tapestry, and in the + apartments were gilded chairs and tables, and crystal chandeliers hung + from the ceiling, and all the rooms were beautifully carpeted. The best of + food and drink also was set before them when they wished to dine. And + outside the house was a large courtyard with horse and cow stables and a + coach-house—all fine buildings; and a splendid garden with most + beautiful flowers and fruit, and in a park quite a league long were deer + and roe and hares, and everything one could wish for. + </p> + <p> + ‘Now,’ said the wife, ‘isn’t this beautiful?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Yes, indeed,’ said the fisherman. ‘Now we will stay here and live in this + beautiful castle, and be very happy.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘We will consider the matter,’ said his wife, and they went to bed. + </p> + <p> + The next morning the wife woke up first at daybreak, and looked out of the + bed at the beautiful country stretched before her. Her husband was still + sleeping, so she dug her elbows into his side and said: + </p> + <p> + ‘Husband, get up and look out of the window. Could we not become the king + of all this land? Go down to the flounder and tell him we choose to be + king.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Ah, wife!’ replied her husband, ‘why should we be king? I don’t want to + be king.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Well,’ said his wife, ‘if you don’t want to be king, I will be king. Go + down to the flounder; I will be king.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Alas! wife,’ said the fisherman, ‘why do you want to be king? I can’t ask + him that.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘And why not?’ said his wife. ‘Go down at once. I must be king.’ + </p> + <p> + So the fisherman went, though much vexed that his wife wanted to be king. + ‘It is not right! It is not right,’ he thought. He did not wish to go, yet + he went. + </p> + <p> + When he came to the sea, the water was a dark-grey colour, and it was + heaving against the shore. So he stood and said: + </p> + <p> + ‘Once a prince, but changed you be Into a flounder in the sea. Come! for + my wife, Ilsebel, Wishes what I dare not tell.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘What does she want now?’ asked the flounder. + </p> + <p> + ‘Alas!’ said the fisherman, ‘she wants to be king.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Go home; she is that already,’ said the flounder. + </p> + <p> + The fisherman went home, and when he came near the palace he saw that it + had become much larger, and that it had great towers and splendid + ornamental carving on it. A sentinel was standing before the gate, and + there were numbers of soldiers with kettledrums and trumpets. And when he + went into the palace, he found everything was of pure marble and gold, and + the curtains of damask with tassels of gold. Then the doors of the hall + flew open, and there stood the whole Court round his wife, who was sitting + on a high throne of gold and diamonds; she wore a great golden crown, and + had a sceptre of gold and precious stones in her hand, and by her on + either side stood six pages in a row, each one a head taller than the + other. Then he went before her and said: + </p> + <p> + ‘Ah, wife! are you king now?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Yes,’ said his wife; ‘now I am king.’ + </p> + <p> + He stood looking at her, and when he had looked for some time, he said: + </p> + <p> + ‘Let that be enough, wife, now that you are king! Now we have nothing more + to wish for.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Nay, husband,’ said his wife restlessly, ‘my wishing powers are + boundless; I cannot restrain them any longer. Go down to the flounder; + king I am, now I must be emperor.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Alas! wife,’ said the fisherman, ‘why do you want to be emperor?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Husband,’ said she, ‘go to the flounder; I will be emperor.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Ah, wife,’ he said, ‘he cannot make you emperor; I don’t like to ask him + that. There is only one emperor in the kingdom. Indeed and indeed he + cannot make you emperor.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘What!’ said his wife. ‘I am king, and you are my husband. Will you go at + once? Go! If he can make king he can make emperor, and emperor I must and + will be. Go!’ + </p> + <p> + So he had to go. But as he went, he felt quite frightened, and he thought + to himself, ‘This can’t be right; to be emperor is too ambitious; the + flounder will be tired out at last.’ + </p> + <p> + Thinking this he came to the shore. The sea was quite black and thick, and + it was breaking high on the beach; the foam was flying about, and the wind + was blowing; everything looked bleak. The fisherman was chilled with fear. + He stood and said: + </p> + <p> + ‘Once a prince, but changed you be Into a flounder in the sea. Come! for + my wife, Ilsebel, Wishes what I dare not tell.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘What does she want now?’ asked flounder. + </p> + <p> + ‘Alas! flounder,’ he said, ‘my wife wants to be emperor.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Go home,’ said the flounder; ‘she is that already.’ + </p> + <p> + So the fisherman went home, and when he came there he saw the whole castle + was made of polished marble, ornamented with alabaster statues and gold. + Before the gate soldiers were marching, blowing trumpets and beating + drums. Inside the palace were walking barons, counts, and dukes, acting as + servants; they opened the door, which was of beaten gold. And when he + entered, he saw his wife upon a throne which was made out of a single + block of gold, and which was quite six cubits high. She had on a great + golden crown which was three yards high and set with brilliants and + sparkling gems. In one hand she held a sceptre, and in the other the + imperial globe, and on either side of her stood two rows of halberdiers, + each smaller than the other, from a seven-foot giant to the tiniest little + dwarf no higher than my little finger. Many princes and dukes were + standing before her. The fisherman went up to her quietly and said: + </p> + <p> + ‘Wife, are you emperor now?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Yes,’ she said, ‘I am emperor.’ + </p> + <p> + He stood looking at her magnificence, and when he had watched her for some + time, said: + </p> + <p> + ‘Ah, wife, let that be enough, now that you are emperor.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Husband,’ said she, ‘why are you standing there? I am emperor now, and I + want to be pope too; go down to the flounder.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Alas! wife,’ said the fisherman, ‘what more do you want? You cannot be + pope; there is only one pope in Christendom, and he cannot make you that.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Husband,’ she said, ‘I will be pope. Go down quickly; I must be pope + to-day.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘No, wife,’ said the fisherman; ‘I can’t ask him that. It is not right; it + is too much. The flounder cannot make you pope.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Husband, what nonsense!’ said his wife. ‘If he can make emperor, he can + make, pope too. Go down this instant; I am emperor and you are my husband. + Will you be off at once?’ + </p> + <p> + So he was frightened and went out; but he felt quite faint, and trembled + and shook, and his knees and legs began to give way under him. The wind + was blowing fiercely across the land, and the clouds flying across the sky + looked as gloomy as if it were night; the leaves were being blown from the + trees; the water was foaming and seething and dashing upon the shore, and + in the distance he saw the ships in great distress, dancing and tossing on + the waves. Still the sky was very blue in the middle, although at the + sides it was an angry red as in a great storm. So he stood shuddering in + anxiety, and said: + </p> + <p> + ‘Once a prince, but changed you be Into a flounder in the sea. Come! for + my wife, Ilsebel, Wishes what I dare not tell.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Well, what does she want now?’ asked the flounder. + </p> + <p> + ‘Alas!’ said the fisherman, ‘she wants to be pope.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Go home, then; she is that already,’ said the flounder. + </p> + <p> + Then he went home, and when he came there he saw, as it were, a large + church surrounded by palaces. He pushed his way through the people. The + interior was lit up with thousands and thousands of candles, and his wife + was dressed in cloth of gold and was sitting on a much higher throne, and + she wore three great golden crowns. Round her were numbers of Church + dignitaries, and on either side were standing two rows of tapers, the + largest of them as tall as a steeple, and the smallest as tiny as a + Christmas-tree candle. All the emperors and kings were on their knees + before her, and were kissing her foot. + </p> + <p> + ‘Wife,’ said the fisherman looking at her, ‘are you pope now?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Yes,’ said she; ‘I am pope.’ + </p> + <p> + So he stood staring at her, and it was as if he were looking at the bright + sun. When he had watched her for some time he said: + </p> + <p> + ‘Ah, wife, let it be enough now that you are pope.’ + </p> + <p> + But she sat as straight as a tree, and did not move or bend the least bit. + He said again: + </p> + <p> + ‘Wife, be content now that you are pope. You cannot become anything more.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘We will think about that,’ said his wife. + </p> + <p> + With these words they went to bed. But the woman was not content; her + greed would not allow her to sleep, and she kept on thinking and thinking + what she could still become. The fisherman slept well and soundly, for he + had done a great deal that day, but his wife could not sleep at all, and + turned from one side to another the whole night long, and thought, till + she could think no longer, what more she could become. Then the sun began + to rise, and when she saw the red dawn she went to the end of the bed and + looked at it, and as she was watching the sun rise, out of the window, she + thought, ‘Ha! could I not make the sun and man rise?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Husband,’ said she, poking him in the ribs with her elbows, ‘wake up. Go + down to the flounder; I will be a god.’ + </p> + <p> + The fisherman was still half asleep, yet he was so frightened that he fell + out of bed. He thought he had not heard aright, and opened his eyes wide + and said: + </p> + <p> + ‘What did you say, wife?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Husband,’ she said, ‘if I cannot make the sun and man rise when I appear + I cannot rest. I shall never have a quiet moment till I can make the sun + and man rise.’ + </p> + <p> + He looked at her in horror, and a shudder ran over him. + </p> + <p> + ‘Go down at once; I will be a god.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Alas! wife,’ said the fisherman, falling on his knees before her, ‘the + flounder cannot do that. Emperor and pope he can make you. I implore you, + be content and remain pope.’ + </p> + <p> + Then she flew into a passion, her hair hung wildly about her face, she + pushed him with her foot and screamed: + </p> + <p> + ‘I am not contented, and I shall not be contented! Will you go?’ + </p> + <p> + So he hurried on his clothes as fast as possible, and ran away as if he + were mad. + </p> + <p> + But the storm was raging so fiercely that he could scarcely stand. Houses + and trees were being blown down, the mountains were being shaken, and + pieces of rock were rolling in the sea. The sky was as black as ink, it + was thundering and lightening, and the sea was tossing in great waves as + high as church towers and mountains, and each had a white crest of foam. + </p> + <p> + So he shouted, not able to hear his own voice: + </p> + <p> + ‘Once a prince, but changed you be Into a flounder in the sea. Come! for + my wife, Ilsebel, Wishes what I dare not tell.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Well, what does she want now?’ asked the flounder. + </p> + <p> + ‘Alas!’ said he, ‘she wants to be a god.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Go home, then; she is sitting again in the hut.’ + </p> + <p> + And there they are sitting to this day. + </p> + <p> + Grimm. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0041" id="link2H_4_0041"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE THREE MUSICIANS + </h2> + <p> + Once upon a time three musicians left their home and set out on their + travels. They had all learnt music from the same master, and they + determined to stick together and to seek their fortune in foreign lands. + They wandered merrily from place to place and made quite a good living, + and were much appreciated by everyone who heard them play. One evening + they came to a village where they delighted all the company with their + beautiful music. At last they ceased playing, and began to eat and drink + and listen to the talk that was going on around them. They heard all the + gossip of the place, and many wonderful things were related and discussed. + At last the conversation fell on a castle in the neighbourhood, about + which many strange and marvellous things were told. One person said that + hidden treasure was to be found there; another that the richest food was + always to be had there, although the castle was uninhabited; and a third, + that an evil spirit dwelt within the walls, so terrible, that anyone who + forced his way into the castle came out of it more dead than alive. + </p> + <p> + As soon as the three musicians were alone in their bedroom they agreed to + go and examine the mysterious castle, and, if possible, to find and carry + away the hidden treasure. They determined, too, to make the attempt + separately, one after the other, according to age, and they settled that a + whole day was to be given to each adventurer in which to try his luck. + </p> + <p> + The fiddler was the first to set out on his adventures, and did so in the + best of spirits and full of courage. When he reached the castle he found + the outer gate open, quite as if he were an expected guest, but no sooner + had he stepped across the entry than the heavy door closed behind him with + a bang, and was bolted with a huge iron bar, exactly as if a sentinel were + doing his office and keeping watch, but no human being was to be seen + anywhere. An awful terror overcame the fiddler; but it was hopeless to + think of turning back or of standing still, and the hopes of finding gold + and other treasures gave him strength and courage to force his way further + into the castle. Upstairs and downstairs he wandered, through lofty halls, + splendid rooms, and lovely little boudoirs, everything beautifully + arranged, and all kept in the most perfect order. But the silence of death + reigned everywhere, and no living thing, not even a fly, was to be seen. + Notwithstanding, the youth felt his spirits return to him when he entered + the lower regions of the castle, for in the kitchen the most tempting and + delicious food was spread out, the cellars were full of the most costly + wine, and the store-room crammed with pots of every sort of jam you can + imagine. A cheerful fire was burning in the kitchen, before which a roast + was being basted by unseen hands, and all kinds of vegetables and other + dainty dishes were being prepared in like manner. Before the fiddler had + time to think, he was ushered into a little room by invisible hands, and + there a table was spread for him with all the delicious food he had seen + cooking in the kitchen. + </p> + <p> + The youth first seized his fiddle and played a beautiful air on it which + echoed through the silent halls, and then he fell to and began to eat a + hearty meal. Before long, however, the door opened and a tiny man stepped + into the room, not more than three feet high, clothed in a dressing-gown, + and with a small wrinkled face, and a grey beard which reached down to the + silver buckles of his shoes. And the little man sat down beside the + fiddler and shared his meal. When they got to the game course the fiddler + handed the dwarf a knife and fork, and begged him to help himself first, + and then to pass the dish on. The little creature nodded, but helped + himself so clumsily that he dropped the piece of meat he had carved on to + the floor. + </p> + <p> + The good-natured fiddler bent down to pick it up, but in the twinkling of + an eye the little man had jumped on to his back, and beat him till he was + black and blue all over his head and body. At last, when the fiddler was + nearly dead, the little wretch left off, and shoved the poor fellow out of + the iron gate which he had entered in such good spirits a few hours + before. The fresh air revived him a little, and in a short time he was + able to stagger with aching limbs back to the inn where his companions + were staying. It was night when he reached the place, and the other two + musicians were fast asleep. The next morning they were much astonished at + finding the fiddler in bed beside them, and overwhelmed him with + questions; but their friend hid his back and face, and answered them very + shortly, saying, ‘Go there yourselves, and see what’s to be seen! It is a + ticklish matter, that I can assure you.’ + </p> + <p> + The second musician, who was a trumpeter, now made his way to the castle, + and everything happened to him exactly as it had to the fiddler. He was + just as hospitably entertained at first, and then just as cruelly beaten + and belaboured, so that next morning he too lay in his bed like a wounded + hare, assuring his friends that the task of getting into the haunted + castle was no enviable one. Notwithstanding the warning of his companions, + the third musician, who played the flute, was still determined to try his + luck, and, full of courage and daring, he set out, resolved, if possible, + to find and secure the hidden treasure. + </p> + <p> + Fearlessly he wandered the whole castle, and as he roamed through the + splendid empty apartments he thought to himself how nice it would be to + live there always, especially with a full larder and cellar at his + disposal. A table was spread for him too, and when he had wandered about + for some time, singing and playing the flute, he sat down as his + companions had done, prepared to enjoy the delicious food that was spread + out in front of him. Then the little man with the beard entered as before + and seated himself beside the flute-player, who wasn’t the least startled + at his appearance, but chatted away to him as if he had known him all his + life. But he didn’t find his companion very communicative. At last they + came to the game, and, as usual, the little man let his piece fall on the + ground. The flute-player was good-naturedly just going to pick it up, when + he perceived that the little dwarf was in the act of springing on his + back. Then he turned round sharply, and, seizing the little creature by + his beard, he gave him such a shaking that he tore his beard out, and the + dwarf sank groaning to the ground. + </p> + <p> + But as soon as the youth had the beard in his hands he felt so strong that + he was fit for anything, and he perceived all sorts of things in the + castle that he had not noticed before, but, on the other hand, all + strength seemed to have gone from the little man. He whined and sobbed + out: ‘Give, oh give me my beard again, and I will instruct you in all the + magic art that surrounds this castle, and will help you to carry off the + hidden treasure, which will make you rich and happy for ever.’ + </p> + <p> + But the cunning flute-player replied: ‘I will give you back your beard, + but you must first help me as you have promised to do. Till you have done + so, I don’t let your beard out of my hands.’ + </p> + <p> + Then the old man found himself obliged to fulfil his promise, though he + had had no intention of doing so, and had only desired to get his beard + back. He made the youth follow him through dark secret passages, + underground vaults, and grey rocks till at last they came to an open + field, which looked as if it belonged to a more beautiful world than ours. + Then they came to a stream of rushing water; but the little man drew out a + wand and touched the waves, whereupon the waters parted and stood still, + and the two crossed the river with dry feet. And how beautiful everything + on the other side was! lovely green paths leading through woods and fields + covered with flowers, birds with gold and silver feathers singing on the + trees, lovely butterflies and glittering beetles fluttered and crawled + about, and dear little beasts hid in the bushes and hedges. The sky above + them was not blue, but like rays of pure gold, and the stars looked twice + their usual size, and far more brilliant than on our earth. + </p> + <p> + The youth grew more and more astonished when the little grey man led him + into a castle far bigger and more splendid than the one they had left. + Here, too, the deepest silence reigned. They wandered all through the + castle, and came at last to a room in the middle of which stood a bed hung + all round with heavy curtains. Over the bed hung a bird’s cage, and the + bird inside it was singing beautiful songs into the silent space. The + little grey man lifted the curtains from the bed and beckoned the youth to + approach. On the rich silk cushions embroidered with gold a lovely maiden + lay sleeping. She was as beautiful as an angel, with golden hair which + fell in curls over her marble shoulders, and a diamond crown sparkled on + her forehead. But a sleep as of death held her in its spell, and no noise + seemed able to waken the sleeper. + </p> + <p> + Then the little man turned to the wondering youth and said: ‘See, here is + the sleeping child! She is a mighty Princess. This splendid castle and + this enchanted land are hers, but for hundreds of years she has slept this + magic sleep, and during all that time no human being has been able to find + their way here. I alone have kept guard over her, and have gone daily to + my own castle to get food and to beat the greedy gold-seekers who forced + their way into my dwelling. I have watched over the Princess carefully all + these years and saw that no stranger came near her, but all my magic power + lay in my beard, and now that you have taken it away I am helpless, and + can no longer hold the beautiful Princess in her enchanted sleep, but am + forced to reveal my treasured secret to you. So set to work and do as I + tell you. Take the bird which hangs over the Princess’s head, and which by + its song sang her into this enchanted sleep—a song which it has had + to continue ever since; take it and kill it, and cut its little heart out + and burn it to a powder, and then put it into the Princess’s mouth; then + she will instantly awaken, and will bestow on you her heart and hand, her + kingdom and castle, and all her treasures. + </p> + <p> + The little dwarf paused, quite worn out, and the youth did not wait long + to do his bidding. He did all he was told carefully and promptly, and + having cut the little bird’s heart out he proceeded to make it into a + powder. No sooner had he placed it in the Princess’s mouth than she opened + her lovely eyes, and, looking up into the happy youth’s face, she kissed + him tenderly, thanked him for freeing her from her magic sleep, and + promised to be his wife. At the same moment a sound as of thunder was + heard all over the castle, and on all the staircases and in every room + sounds were to be heard. Then a troop of servants, male and female, + flocked into the apartment where the happy couple sat, and after wishing + the Princess and her bridegroom joy, they dispersed all over the castle to + their different occupations. + </p> + <p> + But the little grey dwarf began now to demand his beard again from the + youth, for in his wicked heart he was determined to make an end of all + their happiness; he knew that if only his beard were once more on his + chin, he would be able to do what he liked with them all. But the clever + flute-player was quite a match for the little man in cunning, and said: + ‘All right, you needn’t be afraid, you shall get your beard back before we + part; but you must allow my bride and me to accompany you a bit on your + homeward way.’ + </p> + <p> + The dwarf could not refuse this request, and so they all went together + through the beautiful green paths and flowery meadows, and came at last to + the river which flowed for miles round the Princess’s land and formed the + boundary of her kingdom. There was no bridge or ferryboat to be seen + anywhere, and it was impossible to get over to the other side, for the + boldest swimmer would not have dared to brave the fierce current and + roaring waters. Then the youth said to the dwarf: ‘Give me your wand in + order that I may part the waves.’ + </p> + <p> + And the dwarf was forced to do as he was told because the youth still kept + his beard from him; but the wicked little creature chuckled with joy and + thought to himself: ‘The foolish youth will hand me my beard as soon as we + have crossed the river, and then my power will return, and I will seize my + wand and prevent them both ever returning to their beautiful country.’ + </p> + <p> + But the dwarf’s wicked intentions were doomed to disappointment. The happy + youth struck the water with his wand, and the waves at once parted and + stood still, and the dwarf went on in front and crossed the stream. No + sooner had he done so than the waters closed behind him, and the youth and + his lovely bride stood safe on the other side. Then they threw his beard + to the old man across the river, but they kept his wand, so that the + wicked dwarf could never again enter their kingdom. So the happy couple + returned to their castle, and lived there in peace and plenty for ever + after. But the other two musicians waited in vain for the return of their + companion; and when he never came they said: ‘Ah, he’s gone to play the + flute,’ till the saying passed into a proverb, and was always said of + anyone who set out to perform a task from which he never returned. + </p> + <p> + Grimm. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0042" id="link2H_4_0042"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE THREE DOGS + </h2> + <p> + There was once upon a time a shepherd who had two children, a son and a + daughter. When he was on his death-bed he turned to them and said, ‘I have + nothing to leave you but three sheep and a small house; divide them + between you, as you like, but don’t quarrel over them whatever you do.’ + </p> + <p> + When the shepherd was dead, the brother asked his sister which she would + like best, the sheep or the little house; and when she had chosen the + house he said, ‘Then I’ll take the sheep and go out to seek my fortune in + the wide world. I don’t see why I shouldn’t be as lucky as many another + who has set out on the same search, and it wasn’t for nothing that I was + born on a Sunday.’ + </p> + <p> + And so he started on his travels, driving his three sheep in front of him, + and for a long time it seemed as if fortune didn’t mean to favour him at + all. One day he was sitting disconsolately at a cross road, when a man + suddenly appeared before him with three black dogs, each one bigger than + the other. + </p> + <p> + ‘Hullo, my fine fellow,’ said the man, ‘I see you have three fat sheep. + I’ll tell you what; if you’ll give them to me, I’ll give you my three + dogs.’ + </p> + <p> + In spite of his sadness, the youth smiled and replied, ‘What would I do + with your dogs? My sheep at least feed themselves, but I should have to + find food for the dogs.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘My dogs are not like other dogs,’ said the stranger; ‘they will feed you + instead of you them, and will make your fortune. The smallest one is + called “Salt,” and will bring you food whenever you wish; the second is + called “Pepper,” and will tear anyone to pieces who offers to hurt you; + and the great big strong one is called “Mustard,” and is so powerful that + it will break iron or steel with its teeth.’ + </p> + <p> + The shepherd at last let himself be persuaded, and gave the stranger his + sheep. In order to test the truth of his statement about the dogs, he said + at once, ‘Salt, I am hungry,’ and before the words were out of his mouth + the dog had disappeared, and returned in a few minutes with a large basket + full of the most delicious food. Then the youth congratulated himself on + the bargain he had made, and continued his journey in the best of spirits. + </p> + <p> + One day he met a carriage and pair, all draped in black; even the horses + were covered with black trappings, and the coachman was clothed in crape + from top to toe. Inside the carriage sat a beautiful girl in a black dress + crying bitterly. The horses advanced slowly and mournfully, with their + heads bent on the ground. + </p> + <p> + ‘Coachman, what’s the meaning of all this grief?’ asked the shepherd. + </p> + <p> + At first the coachman wouldn’t say anything, but when the youth pressed + him he told him that a huge dragon dwelt in the neighbourhood, and + required yearly the sacrifice of a beautiful maiden. This year the lot had + fallen on the King’s daughter, and the whole country was filled with woe + and lamentation in consequence. + </p> + <p> + The shepherd felt very sorry for the lovely maiden, and determined to + follow the carriage. In a little it halted at the foot of a high mountain. + The girl got out, and walked slowly and sadly to meet her terrible fate. + The coachman perceived that the shepherd wished to follow her, and warned + him not to do so if he valued his life; but the shepherd wouldn’t listen + to his advice. When they had climbed about half-way up the hill they saw a + terrible-looking monster with the body of a snake, and with huge wings and + claws, coming towards them, breathing forth flames of fire, and preparing + to seize its victim. Then the shepherd called, ‘Pepper, come to the + rescue,’ and the second dog set upon the dragon, and after a fierce + struggle bit it so sharply in the neck that the monster rolled over, and + in a few moments breathed its last. Then the dog ate up the body, all + except its two front teeth, which the shepherd picked up and put in his + pocket. + </p> + <p> + The Princess was quite overcome with terror and joy, and fell fainting at + the feet of her deliverer. When she recovered her consciousness she begged + the shepherd to return with her to her father, who would reward him + richly. But the youth answered that he wanted to see something of the + world, and that he would return again in three years, and nothing would + make him change this resolve. The Princess seated herself once more in her + carriage, and, bidding each other farewell, she and the shepherd + separated, she to return home, and he to see the world. + </p> + <p> + But while the Princess was driving over a bridge the carriage suddenly + stood still, and the coachman turned round to her and said, ‘Your + deliverer has gone, and doesn’t thank you for your gratitude. It would be + nice of you to make a poor fellow happy; therefore you may tell your + father that it was I who slew the dragon, and if you refuse to, I will + throw you into the river, and no one will be any the wiser, for they will + think the dragon has devoured you.’ + </p> + <p> + The maiden was in a dreadful state when she heard these words; but there + was nothing for her to do but to swear that she would give out the + coachman as her deliverer, and not to divulge the secret to anyone. So + they returned to the capital, and everyone was delighted when they saw the + Princess had returned unharmed; the black flags were taken down from all + the palace towers, and gay-coloured ones put up in their place, and the + King embraced his daughter and her supposed rescuer with tears of joy, + and, turning to the coachman, he said, ‘You have not only saved the life + of my child, but you have also freed the country from a terrible scourge; + therefore, it is only fitting that you should be richly rewarded. Take, + therefore, my daughter for your wife; but as she is still so young, do not + let the marriage be celebrated for another year.’ + </p> + <p> + The coachman thanked the King for his graciousness, and was then led away + to be richly dressed and instructed in all the arts and graces that + befitted his new position. But the poor Princess wept bitterly, though she + did not dare to confide her grief to anyone. When the year was over, she + begged so hard for another year’s respite that it was granted to her. But + this year passed also, and she threw herself at her father’s feet, and + begged so piteously for one more year that the King’s heart was melted, + and he yielded to her request, much to the Princess’s joy, for she knew + that her real deliverer would appear at the end of the third year. And so + the year passed away like the other two, and the wedding-day was fixed, + and all the people were prepared to feast and make merry. + </p> + <p> + But on the wedding-day it happened that a stranger came to the town with + three black dogs. He asked what the meaning of all the feasting and fuss + was, and they told him that the King’s daughter was just going to be + married to the man who had slain the terrible dragon. The stranger at once + denounced the coachman as a liar; but no one would listen to him, and he + was seized and thrown into a cell with iron doors. + </p> + <p> + While he was lying on his straw pallet, pondering mournfully on his fate, + he thought he heard the low whining of his dogs outside; then an idea + dawned on him, and he called out as loudly as he could, ‘Mustard, come to + my help,’ and in a second he saw the paws of his biggest dog at the window + of his cell, and before he could count two the creature had bitten through + the iron bars and stood beside him. Then they both let themselves out of + the prison by the window, and the poor youth was free once more, though he + felt very sad when he thought that another was to enjoy the reward that + rightfully belonged to him. He felt hungry too, so he called his dog + ‘Salt,’ and asked him to bring home some food. The faithful creature + trotted off, and soon returned with a table-napkin full of the most + delicious food, and the napkin itself was embroidered with a kingly crown. + </p> + <p> + The King had just seated himself at the wedding-feast with all his Court, + when the dog appeared and licked the Princess’s hand in an appealing + manner. With a joyful start she recognised the beast, and bound her own + table-napkin round his neck. Then she plucked up her courage and told her + father the whole story. The King at once sent a servant to follow the dog, + and in a short time the stranger was led into the Kings presence. The + former coachman grew as white as a sheet when he saw the shepherd, and, + falling on his knees, begged for mercy and pardon. The Princess recognized + her deliverer at once, and did not need the proof of the two dragon’s + teeth which he drew from his pocket. The coachman was thrown into a dark + dungeon, and the shepherd took his place at the Princess’s side, and this + time, you may be sure, she did not beg for the wedding to be put off. + </p> + <p> + The young couple lived for some time in great peace and happiness, when + suddenly one day the former shepherd bethought himself of his poor sister + and expressed a wish to see her again, and to let her share in his good + fortune. So they sent a carriage to fetch her, and soon she arrived at the + court, and found herself once more in her brother’s arms. Then one of the + dogs spoke and said, ‘Our task is done; you have no more need of us. We + only waited to see that you did not forget your sister in your + prosperity.’ And with these words the three dogs became three birds and + flew away into the heavens. + </p> + <p> + Grimm. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Green Fairy Book, by Various + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GREEN FAIRY BOOK *** + +***** This file should be named 7277-h.htm or 7277-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/7/2/7/7277/ + +Produced by JC Byers, and Wendy Crockett, and David Widger + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase “Project +Gutenberg”), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. “Project Gutenberg” is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation (“the Foundation” + or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase “Project Gutenberg” appears, or with which the phrase “Project +Gutenberg” is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase “Project Gutenberg” associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +“Plain Vanilla ASCII” or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original “Plain Vanilla ASCII” or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, “Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation.” + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +“Defects,” such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the “Right +of Replacement or Refund” described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you ‘AS-IS’ WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm’s +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation’s EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state’s laws. + +The Foundation’s principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation’s web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + + +</pre> + </body> +</html> diff --git a/7277.txt b/7277.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e97d15f --- /dev/null +++ b/7277.txt @@ -0,0 +1,12537 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Green Fairy Book, by Various + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Green Fairy Book + +Author: Various + +Editor: Andrew Lang + +Release Date: January, 2005 [EBook #7277] +Posting Date: August 6, 2009 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GREEN FAIRY BOOK *** + + + + +Produced by JC Byers, and Wendy Crockett + + + + + + + + + +THE GREEN FAIRY BOOK + +By Various + +Edited by Andrew Lang + + To + Stella Margaret Alleyne + the + Green Fairy Book + is dedicated + + + +To The Friendly Reader + + +This is the third, and probably the last, of the Fairy Books of many +colours. First there was the Blue Fairy Book; then, children, you asked +for more, and we made up the Red Fairy Book; and, when you wanted more +still, the Green Fairy Book was put together. The stories in all the +books are borrowed from many countries; some are French, some German, +some Russian, some Italian, some Scottish, some English, one Chinese. +However much these nations differ about trifles, they all agree in +liking fairy tales. The reason, no doubt, is that men were much like +children in their minds long ago, long, long ago, and so before they +took to writing newspapers, and sermons, and novels, and long poems, +they told each other stories, such as you read in the fairy books. They +believed that witches could turn people into beasts, that beasts could +speak, that magic rings could make their owners invisible, and all the +other wonders in the stories. Then, as the world became grown-up, the +fairy tales which were not written down would have been quite forgotten +but that the old grannies remembered them, and told them to the little +grandchildren: and when they, in their turn, became grannies, they +remembered them, and told them also. In this way these tales are older +than reading and writing, far older than printing. The oldest fairy +tales ever written down were written down in Egypt, about Joseph's time, +nearly three thousand five hundred years ago. Other fairy stories Homer +knew, in Greece, nearly three thousand years ago, and he made them all +up into a poem, the Odyssey, which I hope you will read some day. Here +you will find the witch who turns men into swine, and the man who bores +out the big foolish giant's eye, and the cap of darkness, and the shoes +of swiftness, that were worn later by Jack the Giant-Killer. These fairy +tales are the oldest stories in the world, and as they were first +made by men who were childlike for their own amusement, so they amuse +children still, and also grown-up people who have not forgotten how they +once were children. + +Some of the stories were made, no doubt, not only to amuse, but to teach +goodness. You see, in the tales, how the boy who is kind to beasts, and +polite, and generous, and brave, always comes best through his trials, +and no doubt these tales were meant to make their hearers kind, +unselfish, courteous, and courageous. This is the moral of them. But, +after all, we think more as we read them of the diversion than of the +lesson. There are grown-up people now who say that the stories are +not good for children, because they are not true, because there are +no witches, nor talking beasts, and because people are killed in them, +especially wicked giants. But probably you who read the tales know very +well how much is true and how much is only make-believe, and I never yet +heard of a child who killed a very tall man merely because Jack killed +the giants, or who was unkind to his stepmother, if he had one, because, +in fairy tales, the stepmother is often disagreeable. If there are +frightful monsters in fairy tales, they do not frighten you now, because +that kind of monster is no longer going about the world, whatever he may +have done long, long ago. He has been turned into stone, and you may +see his remains in museums. Therefore, I am not afraid that you will +be afraid of the magicians and dragons; besides, you see that a really +brave boy or girl was always their master, even in the height of their +power. + +Some of the tales here, like The Half-Chick, are for very little +children; others for older ones. The longest tales, like Heart of Ice, +were not invented when the others were, but were written in French, by +clever men and women, such as Madame d'Aulnoy, and the Count de Caylus, +about two hundred years ago. There are not many people now, perhaps +there are none, who can write really good fairy tales, because they do +not believe enough in their own stories, and because they want to be +wittier than it has pleased Heaven to make them. + +So here we give you the last of the old stories, for the present, and +hope you will like them, and feel grateful to the Brothers Grimm, who +took them down from the telling of old women, and to M. Sebillot and +M. Charles Marelles, who have lent us some tales from their own French +people, and to Mr. Ford, who drew the pictures, and to the ladies, Miss +Blackley, Miss Alma Alleyne, Miss Eleanor Sellar, Miss May Sellar, Miss +Wright, and Mrs. Lang, who translated many of the tales out of French, +German, and other languages. + +If we have a book for you next year, it shall not be a fairy book. +What it is to be is a secret, but we hope that it will not be dull. So +good-bye, and when you have read a fairy book, lend it to other children +who have none, or tell them the stories in your own way, which is a very +pleasant mode of passing the time. + + + +Contents + + The Blue Bird + The Half-Chick + The Story of Caliph Stork + The Enchanted Watch + Rosanella + Sylvain and Jocosa + Fairy Gifts + Prince Narcissus and the Princess Potentilla + Prince Featherhead and the Princess Celandine + The Three Little Pigs + Heart of Ice + The Enchanted Ring + The Snuff-box + The Golden Blackbird + The Little Soldier + The Magic Swan + The Dirty Shepherdess + The Enchanted Snake + The Biter Bit + King Kojata + Prince Fickle and Fair Helena + Puddocky + The Story of Hok Lee and the Dwarfs + The Story of the Three Bears + Prince Vivien and the Princess Placida + Little One-eye, Little Two-eyes, and Little Three-eyes + Jorinde and Joringel + Allerleirauh; or, the Many-furred Creature + The Twelve Huntsmen + Spindle, Shuttle, and Needle + The Crystal Coffin + The Three Snake-leaves + The Riddle + Jack my Hedgehog + The Golden Lads + The White Snake + The Story of a Clever Tailor + The Golden Mermaid + The War of the Wolf and the Fox + The Story of the Fisherman and his Wife + The Three Musicians + The Three Dogs + + + + + + +THE BLUE BIRD + + + +Once upon a time there lived a King who was immensely rich. He had broad +lands, and sacks overflowing with gold and silver; but he did not care +a bit for all his riches, because the Queen, his wife, was dead. He shut +himself up in a little room and knocked his head against the walls +for grief, until his courtiers were really afraid that he would hurt +himself. So they hung feather-beds between the tapestry and the +walls, and then he could go on knocking his head as long as it was any +consolation to him without coming to much harm. All his subjects came +to see him, and said whatever they thought would comfort him: some were +grave, even gloomy with him; and some agreeable, even gay; but not one +could make the least impression upon him. Indeed, he hardly seemed to +hear what they said. At last came a lady who was wrapped in a black +mantle, and seemed to be in the deepest grief. She wept and sobbed until +even the King's attention was attracted; and when she said that, far +from coming to try and diminish his grief, she, who had just lost a good +husband, was come to add her tears to his, since she knew what he +must be feeling, the King redoubled his lamentations. Then he told the +sorrowful lady long stories about the good qualities of his departed +Queen, and she in her turn recounted all the virtues of her departed +husband; and this passed the time so agreeably that the King quite +forgot to thump his head against the feather-beds, and the lady did not +need to wipe the tears from her great blue eyes as often as before. By +degrees they came to talking about other things in which the King took +an interest, and in a wonderfully short time the whole kingdom was +astonished by the news that the King was married again to the sorrowful +lady. + +Now the King had one daughter, who was just fifteen years old. Her name +was Fiordelisa, and she was the prettiest and most charming Princess +imaginable, always gay and merry. The new Queen, who also had a +daughter, very soon sent for her to come to the Palace. Turritella, +for that was her name, had been brought up by her godmother, the Fairy +Mazilla, but in spite of all the care bestowed upon her, she was neither +beautiful nor gracious. Indeed, when the Queen saw how ill-tempered +and ugly she appeared beside Fiordelisa she was in despair, and did +everything in her power to turn the King against his own daughter, in +the hope that he might take a fancy to Turritella. One day the King said +that it was time Fiordelisa and Turritella were married, so he would +give one of them to the first suitable Prince who visited his Court. The +Queen answered: + +'My daughter certainly ought to be the first to be married; she is older +than yours, and a thousand times more charming!' + +The King, who hated disputes, said, 'Very well, it's no affair of mine, +settle it your own way.' + +Very soon after came the news that King Charming, who was the most +handsome and magnificent Prince in all the country round, was on his +way to visit the King. As soon as the Queen heard this, she set all +her jewellers, tailors, weavers, and embroiderers to work upon splendid +dresses and ornaments for Turritella, but she told the King that +Fiordelisa had no need of anything new, and the night before the King +was to arrive, she bribed her waiting woman to steal away all the +Princess's own dresses and jewels, so that when the day came, and +Fiordelisa wished to adorn herself as became her high rank, not even a +ribbon could she find. + +However, as she easily guessed who had played her such a trick, she made +no complaint, but sent to the merchants for some rich stuffs. But they +said that the Queen had expressly forbidden them to supply her with any, +and they dared not disobey. So the Princess had nothing left to put +on but the little white frock she had been wearing the day before; and +dressed in that, she went down when the time of the King's arrival came, +and sat in a corner hoping to escape notice. The Queen received her +guest with great ceremony, and presented him to her daughter, who was +gorgeously attired, but so much splendour only made her ugliness more +noticeable, and the King, after one glance at her, looked the other way. +The Queen, however, only thought that he was bashful, and took pains to +keep Turritella in full view. King Charming then asked it there was not +another Princess, called Fiordelisa. + +'Yes,' said Turritella, pointing with her finger, 'there she is, trying +to keep out of sight because she is not smart.' + +At this Fiordelisa blushed, and looked so shy and so lovely, that the +King was fairly astonished. He rose, and bowing low before her, said-- + +'Madam, your incomparable beauty needs no adornment.' + +'Sire,' answered the Princess, 'I assure you that I am not in the habit +of wearing dresses as crumpled and untidy as this one, so I should have +been better pleased if you had not seen me at all.' + +'Impossible!' cried King Charming. 'Wherever such a marvellously +beautiful Princess appears I can look at nothing else.' + +Here the Queen broke in, saying sharply-- + +'I assure you, Sire, that Fiordelisa is vain enough already. Pray make +her no more flattering speeches.' + +The King quite understood that she was not pleased, but that did not +matter to him, so he admired Fiordelisa to his heart's content, and +talked to her for three hours without stopping. + +The Queen was in despair, and so was Turritella, when they saw how much +the King preferred Fiordelisa. They complained bitterly to the King, and +begged and teased him, until he at last consented to have the Princess +shut up somewhere out of sight while King Charming's visit lasted. +So that night, as she went to her room, she was seized by four masked +figures, and carried up into the topmost room of a high tower, where +they left her in the deepest dejection. She easily guessed that she was +to be kept out of sight for fear the King should fall in love with her; +but then, how disappointing that was, for she already liked him very +much, and would have been quite willing to be chosen for his bride! As +King Charming did not know what had happened to the Princess, he looked +forward impatiently to meeting her again, and he tried to talk about +her with the courtiers who were placed in attendance on him. But by the +Queen's orders they would say nothing good of her, but declared that +she was vain, capricious, and bad-tempered; that she tormented her +waiting-maids, and that, in spite of all the money that the King gave +her, she was so mean that she preferred to go about dressed like a poor +shepherdess, rather than spend any of it. All these things vexed the +King very much, and he was silent. + +'It is true,' thought he, 'that she was very poorly dressed, but then +she was so ashamed that it proves that she was not accustomed to be so. +I cannot believe that with that lovely face she can be as ill-tempered +and contemptible as they say. No, no, the Queen must be jealous of her +for the sake of that ugly daughter of hers, and so these evil reports +are spread.' + +The courtiers could not help seeing that what they had told the King did +not please him, and one of them cunningly began to praise Fiordelisa, +when he could talk to the King without being heard by the others. + +King Charming thereupon became so cheerful, and interested in all he +said, that it was easy to guess how much he admired the Princess. So +when the Queen sent for the courtiers and questioned them about all they +had found out, their report confirmed her worst fears. As to the poor +Princess Fiordelisa, she cried all night without stopping. + +'It would have been quite bad enough to be shut up in this gloomy tower +before I had ever seen King Charming,' she said; 'but now when he is +here, and they are all enjoying themselves with him, it is too unkind.' + +The next day the Queen sent King Charming splendid presents of jewels +and rich stuffs, and among other things an ornament made expressly in +honour of the approaching wedding. It was a heart cut out of one huge +ruby, and was surrounded by several diamond arrows, and pierced by one. +A golden true-lover's knot above the heart bore the motto, 'But one can +wound me,' and the whole jewel was hung upon a chain of immense pearls. +Never, since the world has been a world, had such a thing been made, +and the King was quite amazed when it was presented to him. The page who +brought it begged him to accept it from the Princess, who chose him to +be her knight. + +'What!' cried he, 'does the lovely Princess Fiordelisa deign to think of +me in this amiable and encouraging way?' + +'You confuse the names, Sire,' said the page hastily. 'I come on behalf +of the Princess Turritella.' + +'Oh, it is Turritella who wishes me to be her knight,' said the King +coldly. 'I am sorry that I cannot accept the honour.' And he sent the +splendid gifts back to the Queen and Turritella, who were furiously +angry at the contempt with which they were treated. As soon as he +possibly could, King Charming went to see the King and Queen, and as he +entered the hall he looked for Fiordelisa, and every time anyone came +in he started round to see who it was, and was altogether so uneasy and +dissatisfied that the Queen saw it plainly. But she would not take any +notice, and talked of nothing but the entertainments she was planning. +The Prince answered at random, and presently asked if he was not to have +the pleasure of seeing the Princess Fiordelisa. + +'Sire,' answered the Queen haughtily, 'her father has ordered that she +shall not leave her own apartments until my daughter is married.' + +'What can be the reason for keeping that lovely Princess a prisoner?' +cried the King in great indignation. + +'That I do not know,' answered the Queen; 'and even if I did, I might +not feel bound to tell you.' + +The King was terribly angry at being thwarted like this. He felt certain +that Turritella was to blame for it, so casting a furious glance at her +he abruptly took leave of the Queen, and returned to his own apartments. +There he said to a young squire whom he had brought with him: 'I +would give all I have in the world to gain the good will of one of the +Princess's waiting-women, and obtain a moment's speech with Fiordelisa.' + +'Nothing could be easier,' said the young squire; and he very soon +made friends with one of the ladies, who told him that in the evening +Fiordelisa would be at a little window which looked into the garden, +where he could come and talk to her. Only, she said, he must take very +great care not to be seen, as it would be as much as her place was worth +to be caught helping King Charming to see the Princess. The squire was +delighted, and promised all she asked; but the moment he had run off to +announce his success to the King, the false waiting-woman went and +told the Queen all that had passed. She at once determined that her own +daughter should be at the little window; and she taught her so well all +she was to say and do, that even the stupid Turritella could make no +mistake. + +The night was so dark that the King had not a chance of finding out the +trick that was being played upon him, so he approached the window with +the greatest delight, and said everything that he had been longing +to say to Fiordelisa to persuade her of his love for her. Turritella +answered as she had been taught, that she was very unhappy, and that +there was no chance of her being better treated by the Queen until her +daughter was married. And then the King entreated her to marry him; and +thereupon he drew his ring from his finger and put it upon Turritella's, +and she answered him as well as she could. The King could not help +thinking that she did not say exactly what he would have expected from +his darling Fiordelisa, but he persuaded himself that the fear of being +surprised by the Queen was making her awkward and unnatural. He would +not leave her until she had promised to see him again the next night, +which Turritella did willingly enough. The Queen was overjoyed at the +success of her stratagem, end promised herself that all would now be as +she wished; and sure enough, as soon as it was dark the following night +the King came, bringing with him a chariot which had been given him by +an Enchanter who was his friend. This chariot was drawn by flying frogs, +and the King easily persuaded Turritella to come out and let him put her +into it, then mounting beside her he cried triumphantly-- + +'Now, my Princess, you are free; where will it please you that we shall +hold our wedding?' + +And Turritella, with her head muffled in her mantle, answered that the +Fairy Mazilla was her godmother, and that she would like it to be at her +castle. So the King told the Frogs, who had the map of the whole world +in their heads, and very soon he and Turritella were set down at the +castle of the Fairy Mazilla. The King would certainly have found out his +mistake the moment they stepped into the brilliantly lighted castle, but +Turritella held her mantle more closely round her, and asked to see the +Fairy by herself, and quickly told her all that had happened, and how +she had succeeded in deceiving King Charming. + +'Oho! my daughter,' said the Fairy, 'I see we have no easy task before +us. He loves Fiordelisa so much that he will not be easily pacified. I +feel sure he will defy us!' Meanwhile the King was waiting in a splendid +room with diamond walls, so clear that he could see the Fairy and +Turritella as they stood whispering together, and he was very much +puzzled. + +'Who can have betrayed us?' he said to himself. 'How comes our enemy +here? She must be plotting to prevent our marriage. Why doesn't my +lovely Fiordelisa make haste and come hack to me?' + +But it was worse than anything he had imagined when the Fairy Mazilla +entered, leading Turritella by the hand, and said to him-- + +'King Charming, here is the Princess Turritella to whom you have +plighted your faith. Let us have the wedding at once.' + +'I!' cried the King. 'I marry that little creature! What do you take me +for? I have promised her nothing!' + +'Say no more. Have you no respect for a Fairy?' cried she angrily. + +'Yes, madam,' answered the King, 'I am prepared to respect you as much +as a Fairy can be respected, if you will give me back my Princess.' + +'Am I not here?' interrupted Turritella. 'Here is the ring you gave me. +With whom did you talk at the little window, if it was not with me?' + +'What!' cried the King angrily, 'have I been altogether deceived and +deluded? Where is my chariot? Not another moment will I stay here.' + +'Oho,' said the Fairy, 'not so fast.' And she touched his feet, which +instantly became as firmly fixed to the floor as if they had been nailed +there. + +'Oh! do whatever you like with me,' said the King; 'you may turn me to +stone, but I will marry no one but Fiordelisa.' + +And not another word would he say, though the Fairy scolded and +threatened, and Turritella wept and raged for twenty days and twenty +nights. At last the Fairy Mazilla said furiously (for she was quite +tired out by his obstinacy), 'Choose whether you will marry my +goddaughter, or do penance seven years for breaking your word to her.' + +And then the King cried gaily: 'Pray do whatever you like with me, as +long as you deliver me from this ugly scold!' + +'Scold!' cried Turritella angrily. 'Who are you, I should like to know, +that you dare to call me a scold? A miserable King who breaks his word, +and goes about in a chariot drawn by croaking frogs out of a marsh!' + +'Let us have no more of these insults,' cried the Fairy. 'Fly from that +window, ungrateful King, and for seven years be a Blue Bird.' As she +spoke the King's face altered, his arms turned to wings, his feet to +little crooked black claws. In a moment he had a slender body like a +bird, covered with shining blue feathers, his beak was like ivory, his +eyes were bright as stars, and a crown of white feathers adorned his +head. + +As soon as the transformation was complete the King uttered a dolorous +cry and fled through the open window, pursued by the mocking laughter +of Turritella and the Fairy Mazilla. He flew on until he reached the +thickest part of the wood, and there, perched upon a cypress tree, he +bewailed his miserable fate. 'Alas! in seven years who knows what may +happen to my darling Fiordelisa!' he said. 'Her cruel stepmother may +have married her to someone else before I am myself again, and then what +good will life be to me?' + +In the meantime the Fairy Mazilla had sent Turritella back to the Queen, +who was all anxiety to know how the wedding, had gone off. But when her +daughter arrived and told her all that had happened she was terribly +angry, and of course all her wrath fell upon Fiordelisa. 'She shall have +cause to repent that the King admires her,' said the Queen, nodding her +head meaningly, and then she and Turritella went up to the little room +in the tower where the Princess was imprisoned. Fiordelisa was immensely +surprised to see that Turritella was wearing a royal mantle and a +diamond crown, and her heart sank when the Queen said: 'My daughter +is come to show you some of her wedding presents, for she is King +Charming's bride, and they are the happiest pair in the world, he loves +her to distraction.' All this time Turritella was spreading out lace, +and jewels, and rich brocades, and ribbons before Fiordelisa's unwilling +eyes, and taking good care to display King Charming's ring, which she +wore upon her thumb. The Princess recognised it as soon as her eyes fell +upon it, and after that she could no longer doubt that he had indeed +married Turritella. In despair she cried, 'Take away these miserable +gauds! what pleasure has a wretched captive in the sight of them?' and +then she fell insensible upon the floor, and the cruel Queen laughed +maliciously, and went away with Turritella, leaving her there without +comfort or aid. That night the Queen said to the King, that his daughter +was so infatuated with King Charming, in spite of his never having shown +any preference for her, that it was just as well she should stay in the +tower until she came to her senses. To which he answered that it was her +affair, and she could give what orders she pleased about the Princess. + +When the unhappy Fiordelisa recovered, and remembered all she had just +heard, she began to cry bitterly, believing that King Charming was lost +to her for ever, and all night long she sat at her open window sighing +and lamenting; but when it was dawn she crept away into the darkest +corner of her little room and sat there, too unhappy to care about +anything. As soon as night came again she once more leaned out into the +darkness and bewailed her miserable lot. + +Now it happened that King Charming, or rather the Blue Bird, had been +flying round the palace in the hope of seeing his beloved Princess, +but had not dared to go too near the windows for fear of being seen +and recognised by Turritella. When night fell he had not succeeded in +discovering where Fiordelisa was imprisoned, and, weary and sad, he +perched upon a branch of a tall fir tree which grew close to the tower, +and began to sing himself to sleep. But soon the sound of a soft voice +lamenting attracted his attention, and listening intently he heard it +say-- + +'Ah! cruel Queen! what have I ever done to be imprisoned like this? And +was I not unhappy enough before, that you must needs come and taunt me +with the happiness your daughter is enjoying now she is King Charming's +bride?' + +The Blue Bird, greatly surprised, waited impatiently for the dawn, and +the moment it was light flew off to see who it could have been who +spoke thus. But he found the window shut, and could see no one. The next +night, however, he was on the watch, and by the clear moonlight he saw +that the sorrowful lady at the window was Fiordelisa herself. + +'My Princess! have I found you at last?' said he, alighting close to +her. + +'Who is speaking to me?' cried the Princess in great surprise. + +'Only a moment since you mentioned my name, and now you do not know me, +Fiordelisa,' said he sadly. 'But no wonder, since I am nothing but a +Blue Bird, and must remain one for seven years.' + +'What! Little Blue Bird, are you really the powerful King Charming?' +said the Princess, caressing him. + +'It is too true,' he answered. 'For being faithful to you I am thus +punished. But believe me, if it were for twice as long I would bear it +joyfully rather than give you up.' + +'Oh! what are you telling me?' cried the Princess. 'Has not your bride, +Turritella, just visited me, wearing the royal mantle and the diamond +crown you gave her? I cannot be mistaken, for I saw your ring upon her +thumb.' + +Then the Blue Bird was furiously angry, and told the Princess all that +had happened, how he had been deceived into carrying off Turritella, and +how, for refusing to marry her, the Fairy Mazilla had condemned him to +be a Blue Bird for seven years. + +The Princess was very happy when she heard how faithful her lover +was, and would never have tired of hearing his loving speeches and +explanations, but too soon the sun rose, and they had to part lest the +Blue Bird should be discovered. After promising to come again to the +Princess's window as soon as it was dark, he flew away, and hid himself +in a little hole in the fir-tree, while Fiordelisa remained devoured by +anxiety lest he should be caught in a trap, or eaten up by an eagle. + +But the Blue Bird did not long stay in his hiding-place. He flew away, +and away, until he came to his own palace, and got into it through a +broken window, and there he found the cabinet where his jewels were +kept, and chose out a splendid diamond ring as a present for the +Princess. By the time he got back, Fiordelisa was sitting waiting for +him by the open window, and when he gave her the ring, she scolded him +gently for having run such a risk to get it for her. + +'Promise me that you will wear it always!' said the Blue Bird. And the +Princess promised on condition that he should come and see her in +the day as well as by night. They talked all night long, and the next +morning the Blue Bird flew off to his kingdom, and crept into his palace +through the broken window, and chose from his treasures two bracelets, +each cut out of a single emerald. When he presented them to the +Princess, she shook her head at him reproachfully, saying-- + +'Do you think I love you so little that I need all these gifts to remind +me of you?' + +And he answered-- + +'No, my Princess; but I love you so much that I feel I cannot express +it, try as I may. I only bring you these worthless trifles to show that +I have not ceased to think of you, though I have been obliged to leave +you for a time.' The following night he gave Fiordelisa a watch set in a +single pearl. The Princess laughed a little when she saw it, and said-- + +'You may well give me a watch, for since I have known you I have lost +the power of measuring time. The hours you spend with me pass like +minutes, and the hours that I drag through without you seem years to +me.' + +'Ah, Princess, they cannot seem so long to you as they do to me!' +he answered. Day by day he brought more beautiful things for the +Princess--diamonds, and rubies, and opals; and at night she decked +herself with them to please him, but by day she hid them in her straw +mattress. When the sun shone the Blue Bird, hidden in the tall fir-tree, +sang to her so sweetly that all the passersby wondered, and said that +the wood was inhabited by a spirit. And so two years slipped away, and +still the Princess was a prisoner, and Turritella was not married. The +Queen had offered her hand to all the neighbouring Princes, but they +always answered that they would marry Fiordelisa with pleasure, but +not Turritella on any account. This displeased the Queen terribly. +'Fiordelisa must be in league with them, to annoy me!' she said. 'Let us +go and accuse her of it.' + +So she and Turritella went up into the tower. Now it happened that it +was nearly midnight, and Fiordelisa, all decked with jewels, was sitting +at the window with the Blue Bird, and as the Queen paused outside the +door to listen she heard the Princess and her lover singing together a +little song he had just taught her. These were the words:-- + + 'Oh! what a luckless pair are we, + One in a prison, and one in a tree. + All our trouble and anguish came + From our faithfulness spoiling our enemies' game. + But vainly they practice their cruel arts, + For nought can sever our two fond hearts.' + +They sound melancholy perhaps, but the two voices sang them gaily +enough, and the Queen burst open the door, crying, 'Ah! my Turritella, +there is some treachery going on here!' + +As soon as she saw her, Fiordelisa, with great presence of mind, hastily +shut her little window, that the Blue Bird might have time to escape, +and then turned to meet the Queen, who overwhelmed her with a torrent of +reproaches. + +'Your intrigues are discovered, Madam,' she said furiously; 'and you +need not hope that your high rank will save you from the punishment you +deserve.' + +'And with whom do you accuse me of intriguing, Madam?' said the +Princess. 'Have I not been your prisoner these two years, and who have I +seen except the gaolers sent by you?' + +While she spoke the Queen and Turritella were looking at her in the +greatest surprise, perfectly dazzled by her beauty and the splendour of +her jewels, and the Queen said: + +'If one may ask, Madam, where did you get all these diamonds? Perhaps +you mean to tell me that you have discovered a mine of them in the +tower!' + +'I certainly did find them here,' answered the Princess. + +'And pray,' said the Queen, her wrath increasing every moment, 'for +whose admiration are you decked out like this, since I have often seen +you not half as fine on the most important occasions at Court?' + +'For my own,' answered Fiordelisa. 'You must admit that I have had +plenty of time on my hands, so you cannot be surprised at my spending +some of it in making myself smart.' + +'That's all very fine,' said the Queen suspiciously. 'I think I will +look about, and see for myself.' + +So she and Turritella began to search every corner of the little room, +and when they came to the straw mattress out fell such a quantity of +pearls, diamonds, rubies, opals, emeralds, and sapphires, that they were +amazed, and could not tell what to think. But the Queen resolved to hide +somewhere a packet of false letters to prove that the Princess had been +conspiring with the King's enemies, and she chose the chimney as a good +place. Fortunately for Fiordelisa this was exactly where the Blue Bird +had perched himself, to keep an eye upon her proceedings, and try to +avert danger from his beloved Princess, and now he cried: + +'Beware, Fiordelisa! Your false enemy is plotting against you.' + +This strange voice so frightened the Queen that she took the letter and +went away hastily with Turritella, and they held a council to try and +devise some means of finding out what Fairy or Enchanter was favouring +the Princess. At last they sent one of the Queen's maids to wait upon +Fiordelisa, and told her to pretend to be quite stupid, and to see and +hear nothing, while she was really to watch the Princess day and night, +and keep the Queen informed of all her doings. + +Poor Fiordelisa, who guessed she was sent as a spy, was in despair, and +cried bitterly that she dared not see her dear Blue Bird for fear that +some evil might happen to him if he were discovered. + +The days were so long, and the nights so dull, but for a whole month she +never went near her little window lest he should fly to her as he used +to do. + +However, at last the spy, who had never taken her eyes off the Princess +day or night, was so overcome with weariness that she fell into a deep +sleep, and as son as the Princess saw that, she flew to open her window +and cried softly: + + 'Blue Bird, blue as the sky, + Fly to me now, there's nobody by.' + +And the Blue Bird, who had never ceased to flutter round within sight +and hearing of her prison, came in an instant. They had so much to say, +and were so overjoyed to meet once more, that it scarcely seemed to them +five minutes before the sun rose, and the Blue Bird had to fly away. + +But the next night the spy slept as soundly as before, so that the Blue +Bird came, and he and the Princess began to think they were perfectly +safe, and to make all sorts of plans for being happy as they were before +the Queen's visit. But, alas! the third night the spy was not quite so +sleepy, and when the Princess opened her window and cried as usual: + + 'Blue Bird, blue as the sky, + Fly to me now, there's nobody nigh,' + +she was wide awake in a moment, though she was sly enough to keep +her eyes shut at first. But presently she heard voices, and peeping +cautiously, she saw by the moonlight the most lovely blue bird in the +world, who was talking to the Princess, while she stroked and caressed +it fondly. + +The spy did not lose a single word of the conversation, and as soon as +the day dawned, and the Blue Bird had reluctantly said good-bye to the +Princess, she rushed off to the Queen, and told her all she had seen and +heard. + +Then the Queen sent for Turritella, and they talked it over, and very +soon came to the conclusion than this Blue Bird was no other than King +Charming himself. + +'Ah! that insolent Princess!' cried the Queen. 'To think that when +we supposed her to be so miserable, she was all the while as happy as +possible with that false King. But I know how we can avenge ourselves!' + +So the spy was ordered to go back and pretend to sleep as soundly as +ever, and indeed she went to bed earlier than usual, and snored as +naturally as possible, and the poor Princess ran to the window and +cried: + + 'Blue Bird, blue as the sky, + Fly to me now, there's nobody by!' + +But no bird came. All night long she called, and waited, and listened, +but still there was no answer, for the cruel Queen had caused the +fir tree to be hung all over with knives, swords, razors, shears, +bill-hooks, and sickles, so that when the Blue Bird heard the Princess +call, and flew towards her, his wings were cut, and his little black +feet clipped off, and all pierced and stabbed in twenty places, he fell +back bleeding into his hiding place in the tree, and lay there groaning +and despairing, for he thought the Princess must have been persuaded to +betray him, to regain her liberty. + +'Ah! Fiordelisa, can you indeed be so lovely and so faithless?' he +sighed, 'then I may as well die at once!' And he turned over on his side +and began to die. But it happened that his friend the Enchanter had been +very much alarmed at seeing the Frog chariot come back to him without +King Charming, and had been round the world eight times seeking him, +but without success. At the very moment when the King gave himself up +to despair, he was passing through the wood for the eighth time, and +called, as he had done all over the world: + +'Charming! King Charming! Are you here?' + +The King at once recognised his friend's voice, and answered very +faintly: + +'I am here.' + +The Enchanter looked all round him, but could see nothing, and then the +King said again: + +'I am a Blue Bird.' + +Then the Enchanter found him in an instant, and seeing his pitiable +condition, ran hither and thither without a word, until he had collected +a handful of magic herbs, with which, and a few incantations, he +speedily made the King whole and sound again. + +'Now,' said he, 'let me hear all about it. There must be a Princess at +the bottom of this.' + +'There are two!' answered King Charming, with a wry smile. + +And then he told the whole story, accusing Fiordelisa of having betrayed +the secret of his visits to make her peace with the Queen, and indeed +saying a great many hard things about her fickleness and her deceitful +beauty, and so on. The Enchanter quite agreed with him, and even went +further, declaring that all Princesses were alike, except perhaps in +the matter of beauty, and advised him to have done with Fiordelisa, and +forget all about her. But, somehow or other, this advice did not quite +please the King. + +'What is to be done next?' said the Enchanter, 'since you still have +five years to remain a Blue Bird.' + +'Take me to your palace,' answered the King; 'there you can at least +keep me in a cage safe from cats and swords.' + +'Well, that will be the best thing to do for the present,' said his +friend. 'But I am not an Enchanter for nothing. I'm sure to have a +brilliant idea for you before long.' + +In the meantime Fiordelisa, quite in despair, sat at her window day and +night calling her dear Blue Bird in vain, and imagining over and over +again all the terrible things that could have happened to him, until +she grew quite pale and thin. As for the Queen and Turritella, they +were triumphant; but their triumph was short, for the King, Fiordelisa's +father, fell ill and died, and all the people rebelled against the Queen +and Turritella, and came in a body to the palace demanding Fiordelisa. + +The Queen came out upon the balcony with threats and haughty words, so +that at last they lost their patience, and broke open the doors of the +palace, one of which fell back upon the Queen and killed her. Turritella +fled to the Fairy Mazilla, and all the nobles of the kingdom fetched the +Princess Fiordelisa from her prison in the tower, and made her Queen. +Very soon, with all the care and attention they bestowed upon her, +she recovered from the effects of her long captivity and looked more +beautiful than ever, and was able to take counsel with her courtiers, +and arrange for the governing of her kingdom during her absence. And +then, taking a bagful of jewels, she set out all alone to look for the +Blue Bird, without telling anyone where she was going. + +Meanwhile, the Enchanter was taking care of King Charming, but as his +power was not great enough to counteract the Fairy Mazilla's, he at last +resolved to go and see if he could make any kind of terms with her for +his friend; for you see, Fairies and Enchanters are cousins in a sort +of way, after all; and after knowing one another for five or six +hundred years and falling out, and making it up again pretty often, they +understand one another well enough. So the Fairy Mazilla received him +graciously. 'And what may you be wanting, Gossip?' said she. + +'You can do a good turn for me if you will;' he answered. 'A King, who +is a friend of mine, was unlucky enough to offend you--' + +'Aha! I know who you mean,' interrupted the Fairy. 'I am sorry not to +oblige you, Gossip, but he need expect no mercy from me unless he +will marry my goddaughter, whom you see yonder looking so pretty and +charming. Let him think over what I say.' + +The Enchanter hadn't a word to say, for he thought Turritella really +frightful, but he could not go away without making one more effort for +his friend the King, who was really in great danger as long as he lived +in a cage. Indeed, already he had met with several alarming accidents. +Once the nail on which his cage was hung had given way, and his +feathered Majesty had suffered much from the fall, while Madam Puss, who +happened to be in the room at the time, had given him a scratch in the +eye which came very near blinding him. Another time they had forgotten +to give him any water to drink, so that he was nearly dead with thirst; +and the worst thing of all was that he was in danger of losing his +kingdom, for he had been absent so long that all his subjects believed +him to be dead. So considering all these things the Enchanter agreed +with the Fairy Mazilla that she should restore the King to his natural +form, and should take Turritella to stay in his palace for several +months, and if, after the time was over he still could not make up his +mind to marry her, he should once more be changed into a Blue Bird. + +Then the Fairy dressed Turritella in a magnificent gold and silver robe, +and they mounted together upon a flying Dragon, and very soon reached +King Charming's palace, where he, too, had just been brought by his +faithful friend the Enchanter. + +Three strokes of the Fairy's wand restored his natural form, and he +was as handsome and delightful as ever, but he considered that he paid +dearly for his restoration when he caught sight of Turritella, and the +mere idea of marrying her made him shudder. + +Meanwhile, Queen Fiordelisa, disguised as a poor peasant girl, wearing +a great straw hat that concealed her face, and carrying an old sack over +her shoulder, had set out upon her weary journey, and had travelled far, +sometimes by sea and sometimes by land; sometimes on foot, and sometimes +on horseback, but not knowing which way to go. She feared all the time +that every step she took was leading her farther from her lover. One day +as she sat, quite tired and sad, on the bank of a little brook, cooling +her white feet in the clear running water, and combing her long hair +that glittered like gold in the sunshine, a little bent old woman passed +by, leaning on a stick. She stopped, and said to Fiordelisa: + +'What, my pretty child, are you all alone?' + +'Indeed, good mother, I am too sad to care for company,' she answered; +and the tears ran down her cheeks. + +'Don't cry,' said the old woman, 'but tell me truly what is the matter. +Perhaps I can help you.' + +The Queen told her willingly all that had happened, and how she was +seeking the Blue Bird. Thereupon the little old woman suddenly stood up +straight, and grew tall, and young, and beautiful, and said with a smile +to the astonished Fiordelisa: + +'Lovely Queen, the King whom you seek is no longer a bird. My sister +Mazilla has given his own form back to him, and he is in his own +kingdom. Do not be afraid, you will reach him, and will prosper. Take +these four eggs; if you break one when you are in any great difficulty, +you will find aid.' + +So saying, she disappeared, and Fiordelisa, feeling much encouraged, put +the eggs into her bag and turned her steps towards Charming's kingdom. +After walking on and on for eight days and eight nights, she came at +last to a tremendously high hill of polished ivory, so steep that it was +impossible to get a foothold upon it. Fiordelisa tried a thousand times, +and scrambled and slipped, but always in the end found herself exactly +where she started from. At last she sat down at the foot of it in +despair, and then suddenly bethought herself of the eggs. Breaking one +quickly, she found in it some little gold hooks, and with these fastened +to her feet and hands, she mounted the ivory hill without further +trouble, for the little hooks saved her from slipping. As soon as she +reached the top a new difficulty presented itself, for all the other +side, and indeed the whole valley, was one polished mirror, in which +thousands and thousands of people were admiring their reflections. For +this was a magic mirror, in which people saw themselves just as they +wished to appear, and pilgrims came to it from the four corners of the +world. But nobody had ever been able to reach the top of the hill, and +when they saw Fiordelisa standing there, they raised a terrible outcry, +declaring that if she set foot upon their glass she would break it +to pieces. The Queen, not knowing what to do, for she saw it would +be dangerous to try to go down, broke the second egg, and out came a +chariot, drawn by two white doves, and Fiordelisa got into it, and was +floated softly away. After a night and a day the doves alighted outside +the gate of King Charming's kingdom. Here the Queen got out of the +chariot, and kissed the doves and thanked them, and then with a beating +heart she walked into the town, asking the people she met where she +could see the King. But they only laughed at her, crying: + +'See the King? And pray, why do you want to see the King, my little +kitchen-maid? You had better go and wash your face first, your eyes are +not clear enough to see him!' For the Queen had disguised herself, and +pulled her hair down about her eyes, that no one might know her. As they +would not tell her, she went on farther, and presently asked again, +and this time the people answered that to-morrow she might see the King +driving through the streets with the Princess Turritella, as it was said +that at last he had consented to marry her. This was indeed terrible +news to Fiordelisa. Had she come all this weary way only to find +Turritella had succeeded in making King Charming forget her? + +She was too tired and miserable to walk another step, so she sat down in +a doorway and cried bitterly all night long. As soon as it was light +she hastened to the palace, and after being sent away fifty times by the +guards, she got in at last, and saw the thrones set in the great hall +for the King and Turritella, who was already looked upon as Queen. + +Fiordelisa hid herself behind a marble pillar, and very soon saw +Turritella make her appearance, richly dressed, but as ugly as ever, and +with her came the King, more handsome and splendid even than Fiordelisa +had remembered him. When Turritella had seated herself upon the throne, +the Queen approached her. + +'Who are you, and how dare you come near my high-mightiness, upon my +golden throne?' said Turritella, frowning fiercely at her. + +'They call me the little kitchen-maid,' she replied, 'and I come to +offer some precious things for sale,' and with that she searched in her +old sack, and drew out the emerald bracelets King Charming had given +her. + +'Ho, ho!' said Turritella, those are pretty bits of glass. I suppose you +would like five silver pieces for them.' + +'Show them to someone who understands such things, Madam,' answered the +Queen; 'after that we can decide upon the price.' + +Turritella, who really loved King Charming as much as she could love +anybody, and was always delighted to get a chance of talking to him, now +showed him the bracelets, asking how much he considered them worth. As +soon as he saw them he remembered those he had given to Fiordelisa, and +turned very pale and sighed deeply, and fell into such sad thought that +he quite forgot to answer her. Presently she asked him again, and then +he said, with a great effort: + +'I believe these bracelets are worth as much as my kingdom. I thought +there was only one such pair in the world; but here, it seems, is +another.' + +Then Turritella went back to the Queen, and asked her what was the +lowest price she would take for them. + +'More than you would find it easy to pay, Madam,' answered she; 'but if +you will manage for me to sleep one night in the Chamber of Echoes, I +will give you the emeralds.' + +'By all means, my little kitchen-maid,' said Turritella, highly +delighted. + +The King did not try to find out where the bracelets had come from, not +because he did not want to know, but because the only way would have +been to ask Turritella, and he disliked her so much that he never spoke +to her if he could possibly avoid it. It was he who had told Fiordelisa +about the Chamber of Echoes, when he was a Blue Bird. It was a little +room below the King's own bed-chamber, and was so ingeniously built +that the softest whisper in it was plainly heard in the King's room. +Fiordelisa wanted to reproach him for his faithlessness, and could not +imagine a better way than this. So when, by Turritella's orders, she +was left there she began to weep and lament, and never ceased until +daybreak. + +The King's pages told Turritella, when she asked them, what a sobbing +and sighing they had heard, and she asked Fiordelisa what it was all +about. The Queen answered that she often dreamed and talked aloud. + +But by an unlucky chance the King heard nothing of all this, for he took +a sleeping draught every night before he lay down, and did not wake up +until the sun was high. + +The Queen passed the day in great disquietude. + +'If he did hear me,' she said, 'could he remain so cruelly indifferent? +But if he did not hear me, what can I do to get another chance? I have +plenty of jewels, it is true, but nothing remarkable enough to catch +Turritella's fancy.' + +Just then she thought of the eggs, and broke one, out of which came a +little carriage of polished steel ornamented with gold, drawn by six +green mice. The coachman was a rose-coloured rat, the postilion a grey +one, and the carriage was occupied by the tiniest and most charming +figures, who could dance and do wonderful tricks. Fiordelisa clapped her +hands and danced for joy when she saw this triumph of magic art, and as +soon as it was evening, went to a shady garden-path down which she knew +Turritella would pass, and then she made the mice galop, and the tiny +people show off their tricks, and sure enough Turritella came, and the +moment she saw it all cried: + +'Little kitchen-maid, little kitchen-maid, what will you take for your +mouse-carriage?' + +And the Queen answered: + +'Let me sleep once more in the Chamber of Echoes.' + +'I won't refuse your request, poor creature,' said Turritella +condescendingly. + +And then she turned to her ladies and whispered + +'The silly creature does not know how to profit by her chances; so much +the better for me.' + +When night came Fiordelisa said all the loving words she could think of, +but alas! with no better success than before, for the King slept heavily +after his draught. One of the pages said: + +'This peasant girl must be crazy;' but another answered: + +'Yet what she says sounds very sad and touching.' + +As for Fiordelisa, she thought the King must have a very hard heart if +he could hear how she grieved and yet pay her no attention. She had but +one more chance, and on breaking the last egg she found to her great +delight that it contained a more marvellous thing than ever. It was +a pie made of six birds, cooked to perfection, and yet they were all +alive, and singing and talking, and they answered questions and told +fortunes in the most amusing way. Taking this treasure Fiordelisa once +more set herself to wait in the great hall through which Turritella was +sure to pass, and as she sat there one of the King's pages came by, and +said to her: + +'Well, little kitchen-maid, it is a good thing that the King always +takes a sleeping draught, for if not he would be kept awake all night by +your sighing and lamenting.' + +Then Fiordelisa knew why the King had not heeded her, and taking a +handful of pearls and diamonds out of her sack, she said, 'If you can +promise me that to-night the King shall not have his sleeping draught, I +will give you all these jewels.' + +'Oh! I promise that willingly,' said the page. + +At this moment Turritella appeared, and at the first sight of the +savoury pie, with the pretty little birds all singing and chattering, +she cried:-- + +'That is an admirable pie, little kitchen-maid. Pray what will you take +for it?' + +'The usual price,' she answered. 'To sleep once more in the Chamber of +Echoes.' + +'By all means, only give me the pie,' said the greedy Turritella. And +when night was come, Queen Fiordelisa waited until she thought everybody +in the palace would be asleep, and then began to lament as before. + +'Ah, Charming!' she said, 'what have I ever done that you should forsake +me and marry Turritella? If you could only know all I have suffered, and +what a weary way I have come to seek you.' + +Now the page had faithfully kept his word, and given King Charming a +glass of water instead of his usual sleeping draught, so there he lay +wide awake, and heard every word Fiordelisa said, and even recognised +her voice, though he could not tell where it came from. + +'Ah, Princess!' he said, 'how could you betray me to our cruel enemies +when I loved you so dearly?' + +Fiordelisa heard him, and answered quickly: + +'Find out the little kitchen-maid, and she will explain everything.' + +Then the King in a great hurry sent for his pages and said: + +'If you can find the little kitchen-maid, bring her to me at once.' + +'Nothing could be easier, Sire,' they answered, 'for she is in the +Chamber of Echoes.' + +The King was very much puzzled when he heard this. How could the lovely +Princess Fiordelisa be a little kitchen-maid? or how could a little +kitchen-maid have Fiordelisa's own voice? So he dressed hastily, and +ran down a little secret staircase which led to the Chamber of Echoes. +There, upon a heap of soft cushions, sat his lovely Princess. She had +laid aside all her ugly disguises and wore a white silken robe, and her +golden hair shone in the soft lamp-light. The King was overjoyed at the +sight, and rushed to throw himself at her feet, and asked her a thousand +questions without giving her time to answer one. Fiordelisa was equally +happy to be with him once more, and nothing troubled them but the +remembrance of the Fairy Mazilla. But at this moment in came the +Enchanter, and with him a famous Fairy, the same in fact who had given +Fiordelisa the eggs. After greeting the King and Queen, they said that +as they were united in wishing to help King Charming, the Fairy Mazilla +had no longer any power against him, and he might marry Fiordelisa as +soon as he pleased. The King's joy may be imagined, and as soon as it +was day the news was spread through the palace, and everybody who saw +Fiordelisa loved her directly. When Turritella heard what had happened +she came running to the King, and when she saw Fiordelisa with him she +was terribly angry, but before she could say a word the Enchanter and +the Fairy changed her into a big brown owl, and she floated away out of +one of the palace windows, hooting dismally. Then the wedding was held +with great splendour, and King Charming and Queen Fiordelisa lived +happily ever after. + +L'Oiseau Bleu. Par Mme. d'Aulnoy. + + + + + + +THE HALF-CHICK + + + +Once upon a time there was a handsome black Spanish hen, who had a large +brood of chickens. They were all fine, plump little birds, except the +youngest, who was quite unlike his brothers and sisters. Indeed, he was +such a strange, queer-looking creature, that when he first chipped his +shell his mother could scarcely believe her eyes, he was so different +from the twelve other fluffy, downy, soft little chicks who nestled +under her wings. This one looked just as if he had been cut in two. He +had only one leg, and one wing, and one eye, and he had half a head and +half a beak. His mother shook her head sadly as she looked at him and +said: + +'My youngest born is only a half-chick. He can never grow up a tall +handsome cock like his brothers. They will go out into the world and +rule over poultry yards of their own; but this poor little fellow will +always have to stay at home with his mother.' And she called him Medio +Pollito, which is Spanish for half-chick. + +Now though Medio Pollito was such an odd, helpless-looking little thing, +his mother soon found that he was not at all willing to remain under her +wing and protection. Indeed, in character he was as unlike his brothers +and sisters as he was in appearance. They were good, obedient chickens, +and when the old hen chicked after them, they chirped and ran back to +her side. But Medio Pollito had a roving spirit in spite of his one leg, +and when his mother called to him to return to the coop, he pretended +that he could not hear, because he had only one ear. + +When she took the whole family out for a walk in the fields, Medio +Pollito would hop away by himself, and hide among the Indian corn. Many +an anxious minute his brothers and sisters had looking for him, while +his mother ran to and fro cackling in fear and dismay. + +As he grew older he became more self-willed and disobedient, and his +manner to his mother was often very rude, and his temper to the other +chickens very disagreeable. + +One day he had been out for a longer expedition than usual in the +fields. On his return he strutted up to his mother with the peculiar +little hop and kick which was his way of walking, and cocking his one +eye at her in a very bold way he said: + +'Mother, I am tired of this life in a dull farmyard, with nothing but a +dreary maize field to look at. I'm off to Madrid to see the King.' + +'To Madrid, Medio Pollito!' exclaimed his mother; 'why, you silly chick, +it would be a long journey for a grown-up cock, and a poor little thing +like you would be tired out before you had gone half the distance. No, +no, stay at home with your mother, and some day, when you are bigger, we +will go a little journey together.' + +But Medio Pollito had made up his mind, and he would not listen to his +mother's advice, nor to the prayers and entreaties of his brothers and +sisters. + +'What is the use of our all crowding each other up in this poky little +place?' he said. 'When I have a fine courtyard of my own at the King's +palace, I shall perhaps ask some of you to come and pay me a short +visit,' and scarcely waiting to say good-bye to his family, away he +stumped down the high road that led to Madrid. + +'Be sure that you are kind and civil to everyone you meet,' called his +mother, running after him; but he was in such a hurry to be off, that he +did not wait to answer her, or even to look back. + +A little later in the day, as he was taking a short cut through a field, +he passed a stream. Now the stream was all choked up, and overgrown with +weeds and water-plants, so that its waters could not flow freely. + +'Oh! Medio Pollito,' it cried, as the half-chick hopped along its banks, +'do come and help me by clearing away these weeds.' + +'Help you, indeed!' exclaimed Medio Pollito, tossing his head, and +shaking the few feathers in his tail. 'Do you think I have nothing to do +but to waste my time on such trifles? Help yourself, and don't trouble +busy travellers. I am off to Madrid to see the King,' and hoppity-kick, +hoppity-kick, away stumped Medio Pollito. + +A little later he came to a fire that had been left by some gipsies in a +wood. It was burning very low, and would soon be out. + +'Oh! Medio Pollito,' cried the fire, in a weak, wavering voice as the +half-chick approached, 'in a few minutes I shall go quite out, unless +you put some sticks and dry leaves upon me. Do help me, or I shall die!' + +'Help you, indeed!' answered Medio Pollito. 'I have other things to do. +Gather sticks for yourself, and don't trouble me. I am off to Madrid +to see the King,' and hoppity-kick, hoppity-kick, away stumped Medio +Pollito. + +The next morning, as he was getting near Madrid, he passed a large +chestnut tree, in whose branches the wind was caught and entangled. 'Oh! +Medio Pollito,' called the wind, 'do hop up here, and help me to get +free of these branches. I cannot come away, and it is so uncomfortable.' + +'It is your own fault for going there,' answered Medio Pollito. 'I can't +waste all my morning stopping here to help you. Just shake yourself +off, and don't hinder me, for I am off to Madrid to see the King,' and +hoppity-kick, hoppity-kick, away stumped Medio Pollito in great glee, +for the towers and roofs of Madrid were now in sight. When he entered +the town he saw before him a great splendid house, with soldiers +standing before the gates. This he knew must be the King's palace, and +he determined to hop up to the front gate and wait there until the King +came out. But as he was hopping past one of the back windows the King's +cook saw him: + +'Here is the very thing I want,' he exclaimed, 'for the King has just +sent a message to say that he must have chicken broth for his dinner,' +and opening the window he stretched out his arm, caught Medio Pollito, +and popped him into the broth-pot that was standing near the fire. Oh! +how wet and clammy the water felt as it went over Medio Pollito's head, +making his feathers cling to his side. + +'Water, water!' he cried in his despair, 'do have pity upon me and do +not wet me like this.' + +'Ah! Medio Pollito,' replied the water, 'you would not help me when I +was a little stream away on the fields, now you must be punished.' + +Then the fire began to burn and scald Medio Pollito, and he danced and +hopped from one side of the pot to the other, trying to get away from +the heat, and crying out in pain: + +Fire, fire! do not scorch me like this; you can't think how it hurts.' + +'Ah! Medio Pollito,' answered the fire, 'you would not help me when I +was dying away in the wood. You are being punished.' + +At last, just when the pain was so great that Medio Pollito thought he +must die, the cook lifted up the lid of the pot to see if the broth was +ready for the King's dinner. + +'Look here!' he cried in horror, 'this chicken is quite useless. It is +burnt to a cinder. I can't send it up to the royal table;' and opening +the window he threw Medio Pollito out into the street. But the wind +caught him up, and whirled him through the air so quickly that Medio +Pollito could scarcely breathe, and his heart beat against his side till +he thought it would break. + +'Oh, wind!' at last he gasped out, 'if you hurry me along like this you +will kill me. Do let me rest a moment, or--' but he was so breathless +that he could not finish his sentence. + +'Ah! Medio Pollito,' replied the wind, 'when I was caught in the +branches of the chestnut tree you would not help me; now you are +punished.' And he swirled Medio Pollito over the roofs of the houses +till they reached the highest church in the town, and there he left him +fastened to the top of the steeple. + +And there stands Medio Pollito to this day. And if you go to Madrid, and +walk through the streets till you come to the highest church, you will +see Medio Pollito perched on his one leg on the steeple, with his one +wing drooping at his side, and gazing sadly out of his one eye over the +town. + +Spanish Tradition. + + + + + +THE STORY OF CALIPH STORK + + +I. + +Caliph Chasid, of Bagdad, was resting comfortably on his divan one fine +afternoon. He was smoking a long pipe, and from time to time he sipped a +little coffee which a slave handed to him, and after each sip he stroked +his long beard with an air of enjoyment. In short, anyone could see that +the Caliph was in an excellent humour. This was, in fact, the best time +of day in which to approach him, for just now he was pretty sure to be +both affable and in good spirits, and for this reason the Grand Vizier +Mansor always chose this hour in which to pay his daily visit. + +He arrived as usual this afternoon, but, contrary to his usual custom, +with an anxious face. The Caliph withdrew his pipe for a moment from his +lips and asked, 'Why do you look so anxious, Grand Vizier?' + +The Grand Vizier crossed his arms on his breast and bent low before his +master as he answered: + +'Oh, my Lord! whether my countenance be anxious or not I know not, but +down below, in the court of the palace, is a pedlar with such beautiful +things that I cannot help feeling annoyed at having so little money to +spare.' + +The Caliph, who had wished for some time past to give his Grand Vizier a +present, ordered his black slave to bring the pedlar before him at once. +The slave soon returned, followed by the pedlar, a short stout man with +a swarthy face, and dressed in very ragged clothes. He carried a box +containing all manner of wares--strings of pearls, rings, richly +mounted pistols, goblets, and combs. The Caliph and his Vizier inspected +everything, and the Caliph chose some handsome pistols for himself and +Mansor, and a jewelled comb for the Vizier's wife. Just as the pedlar +was about to close his box, the Caliph noticed a small drawer, and asked +if there was anything else in it for sale. The pedlar opened the drawer +and showed them a box containing a black powder, and a scroll written in +strange characters, which neither the Caliph nor the Mansor could read. + +'I got these two articles from a merchant who had picked them up in the +street at Mecca,' said the pedlar. 'I do not know what they may contain, +but as they are of no use to me, you are welcome to have them for a +trifle.' + +The Caliph, who liked to have old manuscripts in his library, even +though he could not read them, purchased the scroll and the box, and +dismissed the pedlar. Then, being anxious to know what might be the +contents of the scroll, he asked the Vizier if he did not know of anyone +who might be able to decipher it. + +'Most gracious Lord and master,' replied the Vizier, 'near the great +Mosque lives a man called Selim the learned, who knows every language +under the sun. Send for him; it may be that he will be able to interpret +these mysterious characters.' + +The learned Selim was summoned immediately. + +'Selim,' said the Caliph, 'I hear you are a scholar. Look well at this +scroll and see whether you can read it. If you can, I will give you +a robe of honour; but if you fail, I will order you to receive twelve +strokes on your cheeks, and five-and-twenty on the soles of your feet, +because you have been falsely called Selim the learned.' + +Selim prostrated himself and said, 'Be it according to your will, oh +master!' Then he gazed long at the scroll. Suddenly he exclaimed: 'May I +die, oh, my Lord, if this isn't Latin!' + +'Well,' said the Caliph, 'if it is Latin, let us hear what it means.' + +So Selim began to translate: 'Thou who mayest find this, praise Allah +for his mercy. Whoever shall snuff the powder in this box, and at the +same time shall pronounce the word "Mutabor!" can transform himself into +any creature he likes, and will understand the language of all animals. +When he wishes to resume the human form, he has only to bow three times +towards the east, and to repeat the same word. Be careful, however, +when wearing the shape of some beast or bird, not to laugh, or thou wilt +certainly forget the magic word and remain an animal for ever.' + +When Selim the learned had read this, the Caliph was delighted. He made +the wise man swear not to tell the matter to anyone, gave him a splendid +robe, and dismissed him. Then he said to his Vizier, 'That's what I call +a good bargain, Mansor. I am longing for the moment when I can become +some animal. To-morrow morning I shall expect you early; we will go into +the country, take some snuff from my box, and then hear what is being +said in air, earth, and water.' + +II. + +Next morning Caliph Chasid had barely finished dressing, and +breakfasting, when the Grand Vizier arrived, according to orders, to +accompany him in his expedition. The Caliph stuck the snuff-box in his +girdle, and, having desired his servants to remain at home, started off +with the Grand Vizier only in attendance. First they walked through the +palace gardens, but they looked in vain for some creature which could +tempt them to try their magic power. At length the Vizier suggested +going further on to a pond which lay beyond the town, and where he +had often seen a variety of creatures, especially storks, whose grave, +dignified appearance and constant chatter had often attracted his +attention. + +The Caliph consented, and they went straight to the pond. As soon as +they arrived they remarked a stork strutting up and down with a stately +air, hunting for frogs, and now and then muttering something to itself. +At the same time they saw another stork far above in the sky flying +towards the same spot. + +'I would wager my beard, most gracious master,' said the Grand Vizier, +'that these two long legs will have a good chat together. How would it +be if we turned ourselves into storks?' + +'Well said,' replied the Caliph; 'but first let us remember carefully +how we are to become men once more. True! Bow three times towards the +east and say "Mutabor!" and I shall be Caliph and you my Grand Vizier +again. But for Heaven's sake don't laugh or we are lost!' + +As the Caliph spoke he saw the second stork circling round his head and +gradually flying towards the earth. Quickly he drew the box from his +girdle, took a good pinch of the snuff, and offered one to Mansor, who +also took one, and both cried together 'Mutabor!' + +Instantly their legs shrivelled up and grew thin and red; their smart +yellow slippers turned to clumsy stork's feet, their arms to wings; +their necks began to sprout from between their shoulders and grew a +yard long; their beards disappeared, and their bodies were covered with +feathers. + +'You've got a fine long bill, Sir Vizier,' cried the Caliph, after +standing for some time lost in astonishment. 'By the beard of the +Prophet I never saw such a thing in all my life!' + +'My very humble thanks,' replied the Grand Vizier, as he bent his long +neck; 'but, if I may venture to say so, your Highness is even handsomer +as a stork than as a Caliph. But come, if it so pleases you, let us go +near our comrades there and find out whether we really do understand the +language of storks.' + +Meantime the second stork had reached the ground. It first scraped its +bill with its claw, stroked down its feathers, and then advanced towards +the first stork. The two newly made storks lost no time in drawing near, +and to their amazement overheard the following conversation: + +'Good morning, Dame Longlegs. You are out early this morning!' + +'Yes, indeed, dear Chatterbill! I am getting myself a morsel of +breakfast. May I offer you a joint of lizard or a frog's thigh?' + +'A thousand thanks, but I have really no appetite this morning. I +am here for a very different purpose. I am to dance to-day before +my father's guests, and I have come to the meadow for a little quiet +practice.' + +Thereupon the young stork began to move about with the most wonderful +steps. The Caliph and Mansor looked on in surprise for some time; but +when at last she balanced herself in a picturesque attitude on one leg, +and flapped her wings gracefully up and down, they could hold out no +longer; a prolonged peal burst from each of their bills, and it was some +time before they could recover their composure. The Caliph was the first +to collect himself. 'That was the best joke,' said he, 'I've ever seen. +It's a pity the stupid creatures were scared away by our laughter, or no +doubt they would have sung next!' + +Suddenly, however, the Vizier remembered how strictly they had been +warned not to laugh during their transformation. He at once communicated +his fears to the Caliph, who exclaimed, 'By Mecca and Medina! it +would indeed prove but a poor joke if I had to remain a stork for the +remainder of my days! Do just try and remember the stupid word, it has +slipped my memory.' + +'We must bow three times eastwards and say "Mu...mu...mu..."' + +They turned to the east and fell to bowing till their bills touched the +ground, but, oh horror--the magic word was quite forgotten, and +however often the Caliph bowed and however touchingly his Vizier cried +'Mu...mu...' they could not recall it, and the unhappy Chasid and Mansor +remained storks as they were. + +III. + +The two enchanted birds wandered sadly on through the meadows. In +their misery they could not think what to do next. They could not rid +themselves of their new forms; there was no use in returning to the town +and saying who they were; for who would believe a stork who announced +that he was a Caliph; and even if they did believe him, would the people +of Bagdad consent to let a stork rule over them? + +So they lounged about for several days, supporting themselves on fruits, +which, however, they found some difficulty in eating with their long +bills. They did not much care to eat frogs or lizards. Their one comfort +in their sad plight was the power of flying, and accordingly they often +flew over the roofs of Bagdad to see what was going on there. + +During the first few days they noticed signs of much disturbance and +distress in the streets, but about the fourth day, as they sat on the +roof of the palace, they perceived a splendid procession passing below +them along the street. Drums and trumpets sounded, a man in a scarlet +mantle, embroidered in gold, sat on a splendidly caparisoned horse +surrounded by richly dressed slaves; half Bagdad crowded after him, and +they all shouted, 'Hail, Mirza, the Lord of Bagdad!' + +The two storks on the palace roof looked at each other, and Caliph +Chasid said, 'Can you guess now, Grand Vizier, why I have been +enchanted? This Mirza is the son of my deadly enemy, the mighty magician +Kaschnur, who in an evil moment vowed vengeance on me. Still I will not +despair! Come with me, my faithful friend; we will go to the grave of +the Prophet, and perhaps at that sacred spot the spell may be loosed.' + +They rose from the palace roof, and spread their wings toward Medina. + +But flying was not quite an easy matter, for the two storks had had but +little practice as yet. + +'Oh, my Lord!' gasped the Vizier, after a couple of hours, 'I can get +on no longer; you really fly too quick for me. Besides, it is nearly +evening, and we should do well to find some place in which to spend the +night.' + +Chasid listened with favour to his servant's suggestion, and perceiving +in the valley beneath them a ruin which seemed to promise shelter they +flew towards it. The building in which they proposed to pass the night +had apparently been formerly a castle. Some handsome pillars still stood +amongst the heaps of ruins, and several rooms, which yet remained in +fair preservation, gave evidence of former splendour. Chasid and his +companion wandered along the passages seeking a dry spot, when suddenly +Mansor stood still. + +'My Lord and master,' he whispered, 'if it were not absurd for a Grand +Vizier, and still more for a stork, to be afraid of ghosts, I should +feel quite nervous, for someone, or something close by me, has sighed +and moaned quite audibly.' + +The Caliph stood still and distinctly heard a low weeping sound which +seemed to proceed from a human being rather than from any animal. Full +of curiosity he was about to rush towards the spot from whence the +sounds of woe came, when the Vizier caught him by the wing with his +bill, and implored him not to expose himself to fresh and unknown +dangers. The Caliph, however, under whose stork's breast a brave heart +beat, tore himself away with the loss of a few feathers, and hurried +down a dark passage. He saw a door which stood ajar, and through which +he distinctly heard sighs, mingled with sobs. He pushed open the door +with his bill, but remained on the threshold, astonished at the sight +which met his eyes. On the floor of the ruined chamber--which was but +scantily lighted by a small barred window--sat a large screech owl. Big +tears rolled from its large round eyes, and in a hoarse voice it uttered +its complaints through its crooked beak. As soon as it saw the Caliph +and his Vizier--who had crept up meanwhile--it gave vent to a joyful +cry. It gently wiped the tears from its eyes with its spotted brown +wings, and to the great amazement of the two visitors, addressed them in +good human Arabic. + +'Welcome, ye storks! You are a good sign of my deliverance, for it was +foretold me that a piece of good fortune should befall me through a +stork.' + +When the Caliph had recovered from his surprise, he drew up his feet +into a graceful position, bent his long neck, and said: 'Oh, screech +owl! from your words I am led to believe that we see in you a companion +in misfortune. But, alas! your hope that you may attain your deliverance +through us is but a vain one. You will know our helplessness when you +have heard our story.' + +The screech owl begged him to relate it, and the Caliph accordingly told +him what we already know. + +IV. + +When the Caliph had ended, the owl thanked him and said: 'You hear my +story, and own that I am no less unfortunate than yourselves. My father +is the King of the Indies. I, his only daughter, am named Lusa. +That magician Kaschnur, who enchanted you, has been the cause of my +misfortunes too. He came one day to my father and demanded my hand for +his son Mirza. My father--who is rather hasty--ordered him to be thrown +downstairs. The wretch not long after managed to approach me under +another form, and one day, when I was in the garden, and asked for some +refreshment, he brought me--in the disguise of a slave--a draught which +changed me at once to this horrid shape. Whilst I was fainting with +terror he transported me here, and cried to me with his awful voice: +"There shall you remain, lonely and hideous, despised even by the +brutes, till the end of your days, or till some one of his own free will +asks you to be his wife. Thus do I avenge myself on you and your proud +father." + +'Since then many months have passed away. Sad and lonely do I live like +any hermit within these walls, avoided by the world and a terror even +to animals; the beauties of nature are hidden from me, for I am blind by +day, and it is only when the moon sheds her pale light on this spot that +the veil falls from my eyes and I can see.' The owl paused, and once +more wiped her eyes with her wing, for the recital of her woes had drawn +fresh tears from her. + +The Caliph fell into deep thought on hearing this story of the Princess. +'If I am not much mistaken,' said he, 'there is some mysterious +connection between our misfortunes, but how to find the key to the +riddle is the question.' + +The owl answered: 'Oh, my Lord! I too feel sure of this, for in my +earliest youth a wise woman foretold that a stork would bring me +some great happiness, and I think I could tell you how we might save +ourselves.' The Caliph was much surprised, and asked her what she meant. + +'The Magician who has made us both miserable,' said she, 'comes once a +month to these ruins. Not far from this room is a large hall where he is +in the habit of feasting with his companions. I have often watched them. +They tell each other all about their evil deeds, and possibly the magic +word which you have forgotten may be mentioned.' + +'Oh, dearest Princess!' exclaimed the Caliph, 'say, when does he come, +and where is the hall?' + +The owl paused a moment and then said: 'Do not think me unkind, but I +can only grant your request on one condition.' + +'Speak, speak!' cried Chasid; 'command, I will gladly do whatever you +wish!' + +'Well,' replied the owl, 'you see I should like to be free too; but this +can only be if one of you will offer me his hand in marriage.' + +The storks seemed rather taken aback by this suggestion, and the Caliph +beckoned to his Vizier to retire and consult with him. + +When they were outside the door the Caliph said: 'Grand Vizier, this is +a tiresome business. However, you can take her.' + +'Indeed!' said the Vizier; 'so that when I go home my wife may scratch +my eyes out! Besides, I am an old man, and your Highness is still young +and unmarried, and a far more suitable match for a young and lovely +Princess.' + +'That's just where it is,' sighed the Caliph, whose wings drooped in +a dejected manner; 'how do you know she is young and lovely? I call it +buying a pig in a poke.' + +They argued on for some time, but at length, when the Caliph saw plainly +that his Vizier would rather remain a stork to the end of his days than +marry the owl, he determined to fulfil the condition himself. The owl +was delighted. She owned that they could not have arrived at a better +time, as most probably the magicians would meet that very night. + +She then proceeded to lead the two storks to the chamber. They passed +through a long dark passage till at length a bright ray of light shone +before them through the chinks of a half-ruined wall. When they reached +it the owl advised them to keep very quiet. Through the gap near which +they stood they could with ease survey the whole of the large hall. It +was adorned with splendid carved pillars; a number of coloured lamps +replaced the light of day. In the middle of the hall stood a round table +covered with a variety of dishes, and about the table was a divan on +which eight men were seated. In one of these bad men the two recognised +the pedlar who had sold the magic powder. The man next him begged him to +relate all his latest doings, and amongst them he told the story of the +Caliph and his Vizier. + +'And what kind of word did you give them?' asked another old sorcerer. + +'A very difficult Latin word; it is "Mutabor."' + + +V. + +As soon as the storks heard this they were nearly beside themselves with +joy. They ran at such a pace to the door of the ruined castle that the +owl could scarcely keep up with them. When they reached it the Caliph +turned to the owl, and said with much feeling: 'Deliverer of my friend +and myself, as a proof of my eternal gratitude, accept me as your +husband.' Then he turned towards the east. Three times the storks bowed +their long necks to the sun, which was just rising over the mountains. +'Mutabor!' they both cried, and in an instant they were once more +transformed. In the rapture of their newly-given lives master and +servant fell laughing and weeping into each other's arms. Who shall +describe their surprise when they at last turned round and beheld +standing before them a beautiful lady exquisitely dressed! + +With a smile she held out her hand to the Caliph, and asked: 'Do you not +recognise your screech owl?' + +It was she! The Caliph was so enchanted by her grace and beauty, that he +declared being turned into a stork had been the best piece of luck +which had ever befallen him. The three set out at once for Bagdad. +Fortunately, the Caliph found not only the box with the magic powder, +but also his purse in his girdle; he was, therefore, able to buy in the +nearest village all they required for their journey, and so at last they +reached the gates of Bagdad. + +Here the Caliph's arrival created the greatest sensation. He had been +quite given up for dead, and the people were greatly rejoiced to see +their beloved ruler again. + +Their rage with the usurper Mirza, however, was great in proportion. +They marched in force to the palace and took the old magician and +his son prisoners. The Caliph sent the magician to the room where the +Princess had lived as an owl, and there had him hanged. As the son, +however, knew nothing of his father's acts, the Caliph gave him his +choice between death and a pinch of the magic snuff. When he chose the +latter, the Grand Vizier handed him the box. One good pinch, and the +magic word transformed him to a stork. The Caliph ordered him to be +confined in an iron cage, and placed in the palace gardens. + +Caliph Chasid lived long and happily with his wife the Princess. His +merriest time was when the Grand Vizier visited him in the afternoon; +and when the Caliph was in particularly high spirits he would condescend +to mimic the Vizier's appearance when he was a stork. He would strut +gravely, and with well-stiffened legs, up and down the room, chattering, +and showing how he had vainly bowed to the east and cried 'Mu...Mu...' +The Caliphess and her children were always much entertained by this +performance; but when the Caliph went on nodding and bowing, and calling +'Mu...mu...' too long, the Vizier would threaten laughingly to tell the +Chaliphess the subject of the discussion carried on one night outside +the door of Princess Screech Owl. + + + + + +THE ENCHANTED WATCH + + + +Once upon a time there lived a rich man who had three sons. When they +grew up, he sent the eldest to travel and see the world, and three years +passed before his family saw him again. Then he returned, magnificently +dressed, and his father was so delighted with his behaviour, that he +gave a great feast in his honour, to which all the relations and friends +were invited. + +When the rejoicings were ended, the second son begged leave of his +father to go in his turn to travel and mix with the world. The father +was enchanted at the request, and gave him plenty of money for his +expenses, saying, 'If you behave as well as your brother, I will do +honour to you as I did to him.' The young man promised to do his best, +and his conduct during three years was all that it should be. Then he +went home, and his father was so pleased with him that his feast of +welcome was even more splendid than the one before. + +The third brother, whose name was Jenik, or Johnnie, was considered the +most foolish of the three. He never did anything at home except sit +over the stove and dirty himself with the ashes; but he also begged his +father's leave to travel for three years. 'Go if you like, you idiot; +but what good will it do you?' + +The youth paid no heed to his father's observations as long as he +obtained permission to go. The father saw him depart with joy, glad to +get rid of him, and gave him a handsome sum of money for his needs. + +Once, as he was making one of his journeys, Jenik chanced to cross a +meadow where some shepherds were just about to kill a dog. He entreated +them to spare it, and to give it to him instead which they willingly +did, and he went on his way, followed by the dog. A little further on +he came upon a cat, which someone was going to put to death. He implored +its life, and the cat followed him. Finally, in another place, he saved +a serpent, which was also handed over to him and now they made a party +of four--the dog behind Jenik, the cat behind the dog, and the serpent +behind the cat. + +Then the serpent said to Jenik, 'Go wherever you see me go,' for in +the autumn, when all the serpents hide themselves in their holes, this +serpent was going in search of his king, who was king of all the snakes. + +Then he added: 'My king will scold me for my long absence, everyone else +is housed for the winter, and I am very late. I shall have to tell +him what danger I have been in, and how, without your help, I should +certainly have lost my life. The king will ask what you would like in +return, and be sure you beg for the watch which hangs on the wall. It +has all sorts of wonderful properties, you only need to rub it to get +whatever you like.' + +No sooner said than done. Jenik became the master of the watch, and +the moment he got out he wished to put its virtues to the proof. He was +hungry, and thought it would be delightful to eat in the meadow a loaf +of new bread and a steak of good beef washed down by a flask of wine, so +he scratched the watch, and in an instant it was all before him. Imagine +his joy! + +Evening soon came, and Jenik rubbed his watch, and thought it would be +very pleasant to have a room with a comfortable bed and a good supper. +In an instant they were all before him. After supper he went to bed and +slept till morning, as every honest man ought to do. Then he set forth +for his father's house, his mind dwelling on the feast that would be +awaiting him. But as he returned in the same old clothes in which he +went away, his father flew into a great rage, and refused to do anything +for him. Jenik went to his old place near the stove, and dirtied himself +in the ashes without anybody minding. + +The third day, feeling rather dull, he thought it would be nice to see +a three-story house filled with beautiful furniture, and with vessels +of silver and gold. So he rubbed the watch, and there it all was. Jenik +went to look for his father, and said to him: 'You offered me no feast +of welcome, but permit me to give one to you, and come and let me show +you my plate.' + +The father was much astonished, and longed to know where his son had got +all this wealth. Jenik did not reply, but begged him to invite all their +relations and friends to a grand banquet. + +So the father invited all the world, and everyone was amazed to see such +splendid things, so much plate, and so many fine dishes on the table. +After the first course Jenik prayed his father to invite the King, and +his daughter the Princess. He rubbed his watch and wished for a carriage +ornamented with gold and silver, and drawn by six horses, with harness +glittering with precious stones. The father did not dare to sit in +this gorgeous coach, but went to the palace on foot. The King and his +daughter were immensely surprised with the beauty of the carriage, and +mounted the steps at once to go to Jenik's banquet. Then Jenik rubbed +his watch afresh, and wished that for six miles the way to the house +should be paved with marble. Who ever felt so astonished as the King? +Never had he travelled over such a gorgeous road. + +When Jenik heard the wheels of the carriage, he rubbed his watch and +wished for a still more beautiful house, four stories high, and hung +with gold, silver, and damask; filled with wonderful tables, covered +with dishes such as no king had ever eaten before. The King, the Queen, +and the Princess were speechless with surprise. Never had they seen +such a splendid palace, nor such a high feast! At dessert the King asked +Jenik's father to give him the young man for a son-in-law. No sooner +said than done! The marriage took place at once, and the King returned +to his own palace, and left Jenik with his wife in the enchanted house. + +Now Jenik was not a very clever man, and at the end of a very short time +he began to bore his wife. She inquired how he managed to build palaces +and to get so many precious things. He told her all about the watch, and +she never rested till she had stolen the precious talisman. One night +she took the watch, rubbed it, and wished for a carriage drawn by +four horses; and in this carriage she at once set out for her father's +palace. There she called to her own attendants, bade them follow her +into the carriage, and drove straight to the sea-side. Then she rubbed +her watch, and wished that the sea might be crossed by a bridge, and +that a magnificent palace might arise in the middle of the sea. No +sooner said than done. The Princess entered the house, rubbed her watch, +and in an instant the bridge was gone. + +Left alone, Jenik felt very miserable. His father, mother, and brothers, +and, indeed, everybody else, all laughed at him. Nothing remained to him +but the cat and dog whose lives he had once saved. He took them with +him and went far away, for he could no longer live with his family. +He reached at last a great desert, and saw some crows flying towards +a mountain. One of them was a long way behind, and when he arrived his +brothers inquired what had made him so late. 'Winter is here,' they +said, 'and it is time to fly to other countries.' He told them that he +had seen in the middle of the sea the most wonderful house that ever was +built. + +On hearing this, Jenik at once concluded that this must be the +hiding-place of his wife. So he proceeded directly to the shore with his +dog and his cat. When he arrived on the beach, he said to the dog: 'You +are an excellent swimmer, and you, little one, are very light; jump on +the dog's back and he will take you to the palace. Once there, he will +hide himself near the door, and you must steal secretly in and try to +get hold of my watch.' + +No sooner said than done. The two animals crossed the sea; the dog +hid near the house, and the cat stole into the chamber. The Princess +recognised him, and guessed why he had come; and she took the watch down +to the cellar and locked it in a box. But the cat wriggled its way into +the cellar, and the moment the Princess turned her back, he scratched +and scratched till he had made a hole in the box. Then he took the +watch between his teeth, and waited quietly till the Princess came back. +Scarcely had she opened the door when the cat was outside, and the watch +into the bargain. + +The cat was no sooner beyond the gates than she said to the dog: + +'We are going to cross the sea; be very careful not to speak to me.' + +The dog laid this to heart and said nothing; but when they approached +the shore he could not help asking, 'Have you got the watch?' + +The cat did not answer--he was afraid that he might let the talisman +fall. When they touched the shore the dog repeated his question. + +'Yes,' said the cat. + +And the watch fell into the sea. Then our two friends began each to +accuse the other, and both looked sorrowfully at the place where their +treasure had fallen in. Suddenly a fish appeared near the edge of the +sea. The cat seized it, and thought it would make them a good supper. + +'I have nine little children,' cried the fish. 'Spare the father of a +family!' + +'Granted,' replied the cat; 'but on condition that you find our watch.' + +The fish executed his commission, and they brought the treasure back to +their master. Jenik rubbed the watch and wished that the palace, with +the Princess and all its inhabitants, should be swallowed up in the sea. +No sooner said than done. Jenik returned to his parents, and he and his +watch, his cat and his dog, lived together happily to the end of their +days. + +Deulin. + + + + + +ROSANELLA + + + +Everybody knows that though the fairies live hundreds of years they do +sometimes die, and especially as they are obliged to pass one day in +every week under the form of some animal, when of course they are liable +to accident. It was in this way that death once overtook the Queen of +the Fairies, and it became necessary to call a general assembly to elect +a new sovereign. After much discussion, it appeared that the choice lay +between two fairies, one called Surcantine and the other Paridamie; and +their claims were so equal that it was impossible without injustice to +prefer one to the other. Under these circumstances it was unanimously +decided that whichever of the two could show to the world the greatest +wonder should be Queen; but it was to be a special kind of wonder, +no moving of mountains or any such common fairy tricks would do. +Surcantine, therefore, resolved that she would bring up a Prince whom +nothing could make constant. While Paridamie decided to display to +admiring mortals a Princess so charming that no one could see her +without falling in love with her. They were allowed to take their +own time, and meanwhile the four oldest fairies were to attend to the +affairs of the kingdom. + +Now Paridamie had for a long time been very friendly with King +Bardondon, who was a most accomplished Prince, and whose court was the +model of what a court should be. His Queen, Balanice, was also charming; +indeed it is rare to find a husband and wife so perfectly of one mind +about everything. They had one little daughter, whom they had named +'Rosanella,' because she had a little pink rose printed upon her white +throat. From her earliest infancy she had shown the most astonishing +intelligence, and the courtiers knew her smart sayings by heart, and +repeated them on all occasions. In the middle of the night following the +assembly of fairies, Queen Balanice woke up with a shriek, and when her +maids of honour ran to see what was the matter, they found she had had a +frightful dream. + +'I thought,' said she, 'that my little daughter had changed into a +bouquet of roses, and that as I held it in my hand a bird swooped down +suddenly and snatched it from me and carried it away.' + +'Let some one run and see that all is well with the Princess,' she +added. + +So they ran; but what was their dismay when they found that the cradle +was empty; and though they sought high and low, not a trace of Rosanella +could they discover. The Queen was inconsolable, and so, indeed, was the +King, only being a man he did not say quite so much about his feelings. +He presently proposed to Balanice that they should spend a few days at +one of their palaces in the country; and to this she willingly agreed, +since her grief made the gaiety of the capital distasteful to her. One +lovely summer evening, as they sat together on a shady lawn shaped like +a star, from which radiated twelve splendid avenues of trees, the Queen +looked round and saw a charming peasant-girl approaching by each path, +and what was still more singular was that everyone carried something in +a basket which appeared to occupy her whole attention. As each drew near +she laid her basket at Balanice's feet, saying: + +'Charming Queen, may this be some slight consolation to you in your +unhappiness!' + +The Queen hastily opened the baskets, and found in each a lovely +baby-girl, about the same age as the little Princess for whom she +sorrowed so deeply. At first the sight of them renewed her grief; but +presently their charms so gained upon her that she forgot her +melancholy in providing them with nursery-maids, cradle-rockers, and +ladies-in-waiting, and in sending hither and thither for swings and +dolls and tops, and bushels of the finest sweetmeats. + +Oddly enough, every baby had upon its throat a tiny pink rose. The Queen +found it so difficult to decide on suitable names for all of them, +that until she could settle the matter she chose a special colour for +everyone, by which it was known, so that when they were all together +they looked like nothing so much as a nosegay of gay flowers. As they +grew older it became evident that though they were all remarkably +intelligent, and profited equally by the education they received, yet +they differed one from another in disposition, so much so that they +gradually ceased to be known as 'Pearl,' or 'Primrose,' or whatever +might have been their colour, and the Queen instead would say: + +'Where is my Sweet?' or 'my Beautiful,' or 'my Gay.' + +Of course, with all these charms they had lovers by the dozen. Not only +in their own court, but princes from afar, who were constantly arriving, +attracted by the reports which were spread abroad; but these lovely +girls, the first Maids of Honour, were as discreet as they were +beautiful, and favoured no one. + +But let us return to Surcantine. She had fixed upon the son of a king +who was cousin to Bardondon, to bring up as her fickle Prince. She had +before, at his christening, given him all the graces of mind and body +that a prince could possibly require; but now she redoubled her efforts, +and spared no pains in adding every imaginable charm and fascination. +So that whether he happened to be cross or amiable, splendidly or simply +attired, serious or frivolous, he was always perfectly irresistible! In +truth, he was a charming young fellow, since the Fairy had given him the +best heart in the world as well as the best head, and had left nothing +to be desired but--constancy. For it cannot be denied that Prince +Mirliflor was a desperate flirt, and as fickle as the wind; so much so, +that by the time he arrived at his eighteenth birthday there was not a +heart left for him to conquer in his father's kingdom--they were all his +own, and he was tired of everyone! Things were in this state when he was +invited to visit the court of his father's cousin, King Bardondon. + +Imagine his feelings when he arrived and was presented at once to twelve +of the loveliest creatures in the world, and his embarrassment was +heightened by the fact that they all liked him as much as he liked each +one of them, so that things came to such a pass that he was never happy +a single instant without them. For could he not whisper soft speeches +to Sweet, and laugh with Joy, while he looked at Beauty? And in his more +serious moments what could be pleasanter than to talk to Grave upon some +shady lawn, while he held the hand of Loving in his own, and all the +others lingered near in sympathetic silence? For the first time in his +life he really loved, though the object of his devotion was not one +person, but twelve, to whom he was equally attached, and even +Surcantine was deceived into thinking that this was indeed the height of +inconstancy. But Paridamie said not a word. + +In vain did Prince Mirliflor's father write commanding him to return, +and proposing for him one good match after another. Nothing in the world +could tear him from his twelve enchantresses. + +One day the Queen gave a large garden-party, and just as the guests were +all assembled, and Prince Mirliflor was as usual dividing his +attentions between the twelve beauties, a humming of bees was heard. The +Rose-maidens, fearing their stings, uttered little shrieks, and fled all +together to a distance from the rest of the company. Immediately, to the +horror of all who were looking on, the bees pursued them, and, growing +suddenly to an enormous size, pounced each upon a maiden and carried +her off into the air, and in an instant they were all lost to view. This +amazing occurrence plunged the whole court into the deepest affliction, +and Prince Mirliflor, after giving way to the most violent grief at +first, fell gradually into a state of such deep dejection that it was +feared if nothing could rouse him he would certainly die. Surcantine +came in all haste to see what she could do for her darling, but he +rejected with scorn all the portraits of lovely princesses which she +offered him for his collection. In short, it was evident that he was in +a bad way, and the Fairy was at her wits' end. One day, as he wandered +about absorbed in melancholy reflections, he heard sudden shouts and +exclamations of amazement, and if he had taken the trouble to look up he +could not have helped being as astonished as everyone else, for through +the air a chariot of crystal was slowly approaching which glittered +in the sunshine. Six lovely maidens with shining wings drew it +by rose-coloured ribbons, while a whole flight of others, equally +beautiful, were holding long garlands of roses crossed above it, so as +to form a complete canopy. In it sat the Fairy Paridamie, and by her +side a Princess whose beauty positively dazzled all who saw her. At the +foot of the great staircase they descended, and proceeded to the Queen's +apartments, though everyone had run together to see this marvel, till it +was quite difficult to make a way through the crowd; and exclamations +of wonder rose on all sides at the loveliness of the strange Princess. +'Great Queen,' said Paridamie, 'permit me to restore to you your +daughter Rosanella, whom I stole out of her cradle.' + +After the first transports of joy were over the Queen said to Paridamie: + +'But my twelve lovely ones, are they lost to me for ever? Shall I never +see them again?' + +But Paridamie only said: + +'Very soon you will cease to miss them!' in a tone that evidently meant +'Don't ask me any more questions.' And then mounting again into her +chariot she swiftly disappeared. + +The news of his beautiful cousin's arrival was soon carried to the +Prince, but he had hardly the heart to go and see her. However, it +became absolutely necessary that he should pay his respects, and he had +scarcely been five minutes in her presence before it seemed to him that +she combined in her own charming person all the gifts and graces which +had so attracted him in the twelve Rose-maidens whose loss he had so +truly mourned; and after all it is really more satisfactory to make love +to one person at a time. So it came to pass that before he knew where he +was he was entreating his lovely cousin to marry him, and the moment the +words had left his lips, Paridamie appeared, smiling and triumphant, in +the chariot of the Queen of the Fairies, for by that time they had all +heard of her success, and declared her to have earned the kingdom. She +had to give a full account of how she had stolen Rosanella from her +cradle, and divided her character into twelve parts, that each might +charm Prince Mirliflor, and when once more united might cure him of his +inconstancy once and for ever. + +And as one more proof of the fascination of the whole Rosanella, I may +tell you that even the defeated Surcantine sent her a wedding gift, and +was present at the ceremony which took place as soon as the guests could +arrive. Prince Mirliflor was constant for the rest of his life. And +indeed who would not have been in his place? As for Rosanella, she loved +him as much as all the twelve beauties put together, so they reigned in +peace and happiness to the end of their long lives. + +By the Comte de Caylus. + + + + + +SYLVAIN AND JOCOSA + + + +Once upon a time there lived in the same village two children, one +called Sylvain and the other Jocosa, who were both remarkable for beauty +and intelligence. It happened that their parents were not on terms of +friendship with one another, on account of some old quarrel, which had, +however, taken place so long ago, that they had quite forgotten what it +was all about, and only kept up the feud from force of habit. Sylvain +and Jocosa for their parts were far from sharing this enmity, and indeed +were never happy when apart. Day after day they fed their flocks of +sheep together, and spent the long sunshiny hours in playing, or resting +upon some shady bank. It happened one day that the Fairy of the Meadows +passed by and saw them, and was so much attracted by their pretty faces +and gentle manners that she took them under her protection, and the +older they grew the dearer they became to her. At first she showed her +interest by leaving in their favourite haunts many little gifts such as +they delighted to offer one to the other, for they loved each other so +much that their first thought was always, 'What will Jocosa like?' or, +'What will please Sylvain?' And the Fairy took a great delight in their +innocent enjoyment of the cakes and sweetmeats she gave them nearly +every day. When they were grown up she resolved to make herself known to +them, and chose a time when they were sheltering from the noonday sun in +the deep shade of a flowery hedgerow. They were startled at first by the +sudden apparition of a tall and slender lady, dressed all in green, and +crowned with a garland of flowers. But when she spoke to them sweetly, +and told them how she had always loved them, and that it was she who had +given them all the pretty things which it had so surprised them to +find, they thanked her gratefully, and took pleasure in answering the +questions she put to them. When she presently bade them farewell, she +told them never to tell anyone else that they had seen her. 'You will +often see me again,' added she, 'and I shall be with you frequently, +even when you do not see me.' So saying she vanished, leaving them in +a state of great wonder and excitement. After this she came often, and +taught them numbers of things, and showed them many of the marvels of +her beautiful kingdom, and at last one day she said to them, 'You know +that I have always been kind to you; now I think it is time you did +something for me in your turn. You both remember the fountain I call my +favourite? Promise me that every morning before the sun rises you will +go to it and clear away every stone that impedes its course, and every +dead leaf or broken twig that sullies its clear waters. I shall take it +as a proof of your gratitude to me if you neither forget nor delay this +duty, and I promise that so long as the sun's earliest rays find my +favourite spring the clearest and sweetest in all my meadows, you two +shall not be parted from one another.' + +Sylvain and Jocosa willingly undertook this service, and indeed felt +that it was but a very small thing in return for all that the fairy had +given and promised to them. So for a long time the fountain was tended +with the most scrupulous care, and was the clearest and prettiest in all +the country round. But one morning in the spring, long before the sun +rose, they were hastening towards it from opposite directions, when, +tempted by the beauty of the myriads of gay flowers which grew thickly +on all sides, they paused each to gather some for the other. + +'I will make Sylvain a garland,' said Jocosa, and 'How pretty Jocosa +will look in this crown!' thought Sylvain. + +Hither and thither they strayed, led ever farther and farther, for the +brightest flowers seemed always just beyond them, until at last they +were startled by the first bright rays of the rising sun. With one +accord they turned and ran towards the fountain, reaching it at the same +moment, though from opposite sides. But what was their horror to see its +usually tranquil waters seething and bubbling, and even as they looked +down rushed a mighty stream, which entirely engulfed it, and Sylvain and +Jocosa found themselves parted by a wide and swiftly-rushing river. All +this had happened with such rapidity that they had only time to utter a +cry, and each to hold up to the other the flowers they had gathered; but +this was explanation enough. Twenty times did Sylvain throw himself into +the turbulent waters, hoping to be able to swim to the other side, but +each time an irresistible force drove him back upon the bank he had just +quitted, while, as for Jocosa, she even essayed to cross the flood upon +a tree which came floating down torn up by the roots, but her efforts +were equally useless. Then with heavy hearts they set out to follow the +course of the stream, which had now grown so wide that it was only +with difficulty they could distinguish each other. Night and day, over +mountains and through valleys, in cold or in heat, they struggled on, +enduring fatigue and hunger and every hardship, and consoled only by +the hope of meeting once more--until three years had passed, and at last +they stood upon the cliffs where the river flowed into the mighty sea. + +And now they seemed farther apart than ever, and in despair they tried +once more to throw themselves into the foaming waves. But the Fairy of +the Meadows, who had really never ceased to watch over them, did not +intend that they should be drowned at last, so she hastily waved her +wand, and immediately they found themselves standing side by side +upon the golden sand. You may imagine their joy and delight when +they realised that their weary struggle was ended, and their utter +contentment as they clasped each other by the hand. They had so much +to say that they hardly knew where to begin, but they agreed in blaming +themselves bitterly for the negligence which had caused all their +trouble; and when she heard this the Fairy immediately appeared to them. +They threw themselves at her feet and implored her forgiveness, which +she granted freely, and promised at the same time that now their +punishment was ended she would always befriend them. Then she sent for +her chariot of green rushes, ornamented with May dewdrops, which she +particularly valued and always collected with great care; and ordered +her six short-tailed moles to carry them all back to the well-known +pastures, which they did in a remarkably short time; and Sylvain and +Jocosa were overjoyed to see their dearly-loved home once more after all +their toilful wanderings. The Fairy, who had set her mind upon securing +their happiness, had in their absence quite made up the quarrel between +their parents, and gained their consent to the marriage of the faithful +lovers; and now she conducted them to the most charming little cottage +that can be imagined, close to the fountain, which had once more resumed +its peaceful aspect, and flowed gently down into the little brook +which enclosed the garden and orchard and pasture which belonged to the +cottage. Indeed, nothing more could have been thought of, either for +Sylvain and Jocosa or for their flocks; and their delight satisfied even +the Fairy who had planned it all to please them. When they had explored +and admired until they were tired they sat down to rest under the +rose-covered porch, and the Fairy said that to pass the time until the +wedding guests whom she had invited could arrive she would tell them a +story. This is it: + + + +The Yellow Bird + + + +Once upon a time a Fairy, who had somehow or other got into mischief, +was condemned by the High Court of Fairyland to live for several years +under the form of some creature, and at the moment of resuming her +natural appearance once again to make the fortune of two men. It was +left to her to choose what form she would take, and because she loved +yellow she transformed herself into a lovely bird with shining golden +feathers such as no one had ever seen before. When the time of her +punishment was at an end the beautiful yellow bird flew to Bagdad, +and let herself be caught by a Fowler at the precise moment when +Badi-al-Zaman was walking up and down outside his magnificent summer +palace. This Badi-al-Zaman--whose name means 'Wonder-of-the-World'--was +looked upon in Bagdad as the most fortunate creature under the sun, +because of his vast wealth. But really, what with anxiety about his +riches and being weary of everything, and always desiring something he +had not, he never knew a moment's real happiness. Even now he had come +out of his palace, which was large and splendid enough for fifty kings, +weary and cross because he could find nothing new to amuse him. The +Fowler thought that this would be a favourable opportunity for offering +him the marvellous bird, which he felt certain he would buy the instant +he saw it. And he was not mistaken, for when Badi-al-Zaman took the +lovely prisoner into his own hands, he saw written under its right wing +the words, 'He who eats my head will become a king,' and under its left +wing, 'He who eats my heart will find a hundred gold pieces under his +pillow every morning.' In spite of all his wealth he at once began to +desire the promised gold, and the bargain was soon completed. Then the +difficulty arose as to how the bird was to be cooked; for among all his +army of servants not one could Badi-al-Zaman trust. At last he asked the +Fowler if he were married, and on hearing that he was he bade him take +the bird home with him and tell his wife to cook it. + +'Perhaps,' said he, 'this will give me an appetite, which I have not had +for many a long day, and if so your wife shall have a hundred pieces of +silver.' + +The Fowler with great joy ran home to his wife, who speedily made a +savoury stew of the Yellow Bird. But when Badi-al-Zaman reached the +cottage and began eagerly to search in the dish for its head and its +heart he could not find either of them, and turned to the Fowler's wife +in a furious rage. She was so terrified that she fell upon her knees +before him and confessed that her two children had come in just before +he arrived, and had so teased her for some of the dish she was preparing +that she had presently given the head to one and the heart to the other, +since these morsels are not generally much esteemed; and Badi-al-Zaman +rushed from the cottage vowing vengeance against the whole family. The +wrath of a rich man is generally to be feared, so the Fowler and his +wife resolved to send their children out of harm's way; but the wife, to +console her husband, confided to him that she had purposely given them +the head and heart of the bird because she had been able to read +what was written under its wings. So, believing that their children's +fortunes were made, they embraced them and sent them forth, bidding them +get as far away as possible, to take different roads, and to send news +of their welfare. For themselves, they remained hidden and disguised +in the town, which was really rather clever of them; but very soon +afterwards Badi-al-Zaman died of vexation and annoyance at the loss of +the promised treasure, and then they went back to their cottage to wait +for news of their children. The younger, who had eaten the heart of +the Yellow Bird, very soon found out what it had done for him, for each +morning when he awoke he found a purse containing a hundred gold +pieces under his pillow. But, as all poor people may remember for their +consolation, nothing in the world causes so much trouble or requires so +much care as a great treasure. Consequently, the Fowler's son, who spent +with reckless profusion and was supposed to be possessed of a great +hoard of gold, was before very long attacked by robbers, and in trying +to defend himself was so badly wounded that he died. + +The elder brother, who had eaten the Yellow Bird's head, travelled a +long way without meeting with any particular adventure, until at last +he reached a large city in Asia, which was all in an uproar over the +choosing of a new Emir. All the principal citizens had formed themselves +into two parties, and it was not until after a prolonged squabble that +they agreed that the person to whom the most singular thing happened +should be Emir. Our young traveller entered the town at this juncture, +with his agreeable face and jaunty air, and all at once felt something +alight upon his head, which proved to be a snow-white pigeon. Thereupon +all the people began to stare, and to run after him, so that he +presently reached the palace with the pigeon upon his head and all the +inhabitants of the city at his heels, and before he knew where he was +they made him Emir, to his great astonishment. + +As there is nothing more agreeable than to command, and nothing to which +people get accustomed more quickly, the young Emir soon felt quite at +his ease in his new position; but this did not prevent him from making +every kind of mistake, and so misgoverning the kingdom that at last the +whole city rose in revolt and deprived him at once of his authority and +his life--a punishment which he richly deserved, for in the days of his +prosperity he disowned the Fowler and his wife, and allowed them to die +in poverty. + +'I have told you this story, my dear Sylvain and Jocosa,' added the +Fairy, 'to prove to you that this little cottage and all that belongs +to it is a gift more likely to bring you happiness and contentment than +many things that would at first seem grander and more desirable. If you +will faithfully promise me to till your fields and feed your flocks, +and will keep your word better than you did before, I will see that you +never lack anything that is really for your good.' + +Sylvain and Jocosa gave their faithful promise, and as they kept it +they always enjoyed peace and prosperity. The Fairy had asked all their +friends and neighbours to their wedding, which took place at once with +great festivities and rejoicings, and they lived to a good old age, +always loving one another with all their hearts. + +By the Comte de Caylus. + + + + + +FAIRY GIFTS + + + +It generally happens that people's surroundings reflect more or less +accurately their minds and dispositions, so perhaps that is why the +Flower Fairy lived in a lovely palace, with the most delightful +garden you can imagine, full of flowers, and trees, and fountains, and +fish-ponds, and everything nice. For the Fairy herself was so kind +and charming that everybody loved her, and all the young princes and +princesses who formed her court, were as happy as the day was long, +simply because they were near her. They came to her when they were quite +tiny, and never left her until they were grown up and had to go away +into the great world; and when that time came she gave to each whatever +gift he asked of her. But it is chiefly of the Princess Sylvia that you +are going to hear now. The Fairy loved her with all her heart, for she +was at once original and gentle, and she had nearly reached the age at +which the gifts were generally bestowed. However, the Fairy had a great +wish to know how the other princesses who had grown up and left her, +were prospering, and before the time came for Sylvia to go herself, she +resolved to send her to some of them. So one day her chariot, drawn by +butterflies, was made ready, and the Fairy said: 'Sylvia, I am going to +send you to the court of Iris; she will receive you with pleasure for +my sake as well as for your own. In two months you may come back to me +again, and I shall expect you to tell me what you think of her.' + +Sylvia was very unwilling to go away, but as the Fairy wished it she +said nothing--only when the two months were over she stepped joyfully +into the butterfly chariot, and could not get back quickly enough to the +Flower-Fairy, who, for her part, was equally delighted to see her again. + +'Now, child,' said she, 'tell me what impression you have received.' + +'You sent me, madam,' answered Sylvia, 'to the Court of Iris, on whom +you had bestowed the gift of beauty. She never tells anyone, however, +that it was your gift, though she often speaks of your kindness in +general. It seemed to me that her loveliness, which fairly dazzled me at +first, had absolutely deprived her of the use of any of her other gifts +or graces. In allowing herself to be seen, she appeared to think +that she was doing all that could possibly be required of her. But, +unfortunately, while I was still with her she became seriously ill, and +though she presently recovered, her beauty is entirely gone, so that she +hates the very sight of herself, and is in despair. She entreated me to +tell you what had happened, and to beg you, in pity, to give her beauty +back to her. And, indeed, she does need it terribly, for all the things +in her that were tolerable, and even agreeable, when she was so pretty, +seem quite different now she is ugly, and it is so long since she +thought of using her mind or her natural cleverness, that I really don't +think she has any left now. She is quite aware of all this herself, so +you may imagine how unhappy she is, and how earnestly she begs for your +aid.' + +'You have told me what I wanted to know,' cried the Fairy, 'but alas! I +cannot help her; my gifts can be given but once.' + +Some time passed in all the usual delights of the Flower-Fairy's palace, +and then she sent for Sylvia again, and told her she was to stay for a +little while with the Princess Daphne, and accordingly the butterflies +whisked her off, and set her down in quite a strange kingdom. But she +had only been there a very little time before a wandering butterfly +brought a message from her to the Fairy, begging that she might be sent +for as soon as possible, and before very long she was allowed to return. + +'Ah! madam,' cried she, 'what a place you sent me to that time!' + +'Why, what was the matter?' asked the Fairy. 'Daphne was one of the +princesses who asked for the gift of eloquence, if I remember rightly.' + +'And very ill the gift of eloquence becomes a woman,' replied Sylvia, +with an air of conviction. 'It is true that she speaks well, and her +expressions are well chosen; but then she never leaves off talking, and +though at first one may be amused, one ends by being wearied to death. +Above all things she loves any assembly for settling the affairs of her +kingdom, for on those occasions she can talk and talk without fear of +interruption; but, even then, the moment it is over she is ready to +begin again about anything or nothing, as the case may be. Oh! how glad +I was to come away I cannot tell you.' + +The Fairy smiled at Sylvia's unfeigned disgust at her late experience; +but after allowing her a little time to recover she sent her to the +Court of the Princess Cynthia, where she left her for three months. +At the end of that time Sylvia came back to her with all the joy and +contentment that one feels at being once more beside a dear friend. The +Fairy, as usual, was anxious to hear what she thought of Cynthia, who +had always been amiable, and to whom she had given the gift of pleasing. + +'I thought at first,' said Sylvia, 'that she must be the happiest +Princess in the world; she had a thousand lovers who vied with one +another in their efforts to please and gratify her. Indeed, I had nearly +decided that I would ask a similar gift.' + +'Have you altered your mind, then?' interrupted the Fairy. + +'Yes, indeed, madam,' replied Sylvia; 'and I will tell you why. The +longer I stayed the more I saw that Cynthia was not really happy. In her +desire to please everyone she ceased to be sincere, and degenerated +into a mere coquette; and even her lovers felt that the charms and +fascinations which were exercised upon all who approached her without +distinction were valueless, so that in the end they ceased to care for +them, and went away disdainfully.' + +'I am pleased with you, child,' said the Fairy; 'enjoy yourself here for +awhile and presently you shall go to Phyllida.' + +Sylvia was glad to have leisure to think, for she could not make up her +mind at all what she should ask for herself, and the time was drawing +very near. However, before very long the Fairy sent her to Phyllida, and +waited for her report with unabated interest. + +'I reached her court safely,' said Sylvia, 'and she received me with +much kindness, and immediately began to exercise upon me that brilliant +wit which you had bestowed upon her. I confess that I was fascinated +by it, and for a week thought that nothing could be more desirable; the +time passed like magic, so great was the charm of her society. But I +ended by ceasing to covet that gift more than any of the others I +have seen, for, like the gift of pleasing, it cannot really give +satisfaction. By degrees I wearied of what had so delighted me at first, +especially as I perceived more and more plainly that it is impossible +to be constantly smart and amusing without being frequently ill-natured, +and too apt to turn all things, even the most serious, into mere +occasions for a brilliant jest.' + +The Fairy in her heart agreed with Sylvia's conclusions, and felt +pleased with herself for having brought her up so well. + +But now the time was come for Sylvia to receive her gift, and all her +companions were assembled; the Fairy stood in the midst and in the usual +manner asked what she would take with her into the great world. + +Sylvia paused for a moment, and then answered: 'A quiet spirit.' And the +Fairy granted her request. + +This lovely gift makes life a constant happiness to its possessor, and +to all who are brought into contact with her. She has all the beauty of +gentleness and contentment in her sweet face; and if at times it seems +less lovely through some chance grief or disquietude, the hardest thing +that one ever hears said is: + +'Sylvia's dear face is pale to-day. It grieves one to see her so.' + +And when, on the contrary, she is gay and joyful, the sunshine of her +presence rejoices all who have the happiness of being near her. + +By the Comte de Caylus. + + + + + +PRINCE NARCISSUS AND THE PRINCESS POTENTILLA + + + +Once upon a time there lived a King and Queen who, though it is a very +long while since they died, were much the same in their tastes and +pursuits as people nowadays. The King, who was called Cloverleaf, liked +hunting better than anything else; but he nevertheless bestowed as much +care upon his kingdom as he felt equal to--that is to say, he never made +an end of folding and unfolding the State documents. As to the Queen, +she had once been very pretty, and she liked to believe that she was so +still, which is, of course, always made quite easy for queens. Her +name was Frivola, and her one occupation in life was the pursuit of +amusement. Balls, masquerades, and picnics followed one another in rapid +succession, as fast as she could arrange them, and you may imagine +that under these circumstances the kingdom was somewhat neglected. As +a matter of fact, if anyone had a fancy for a town, or a province, he +helped himself to it; but as long as the King had his horses and +dogs, and the Queen her musicians and her actors, they did not trouble +themselves about the matter. King Cloverleaf and Queen Frivola had +but one child, and this Princess had from her very babyhood been +so beautiful, that by the time she was four years old the Queen was +desperately jealous of her, and so fearful that when she was grown up +she would be more admired than herself, that she resolved to keep her +hidden away out of sight. To this end she caused a little house to be +built not far beyond the Palace gardens, on the bank of a river. This +was surrounded by a high wall, and in it the charming Potentilla +was imprisoned. Her nurse, who was dumb, took care of her, and the +necessaries of life were conveyed to her through a little window in the +wall, while guards were always pacing to and fro outside, with orders +to cut off the head of anyone who tried to approach, which they would +certainly have done without thinking twice about it. The Queen told +everyone, with much pretended sorrow, that the Princess was so ugly, and +so troublesome, and altogether so impossible to love, that to keep her +out of sight was the only thing that could be done for her. And this +tale she repeated so often, that at last the whole court believed it. +Things were in this state, and the Princess was about fifteen years old, +when Prince Narcissus, attracted by the report of Queen Frivola's gay +doings, presented himself at the court. He was not much older than +the Princess, and was as handsome a Prince as you would see in a day's +journey, and really, for his age, not so very scatter-brained. His +parents were a King and Queen, whose story you will perhaps read some +day. They died almost at the same time, leaving their kingdom to the +eldest of their children, and commending their youngest son, Prince +Narcissus, to the care of the Fairy Melinette. In this they did very +well for him, for the Fairy was as kind as she was powerful, and she +spared no pains in teaching the little Prince everything it was good for +him to know, and even imparted to him some of her own Fairy lore. But as +soon as he was grown up she sent him out to see the world for himself, +though all the time she was secretly keeping watch over him, ready to +help in any time of need. Before he started she gave him a ring which +would render him invisible when he put it on his finger. These rings +seem to be quite common; you must often have heard of them, even if you +have never seen one. It was in the course of the Prince's wanderings, +in search of experience of men and things, that he came to the court +of Queen Frivola, where he was extremely well received. The Queen was +delighted with him, so were all her ladies; and the King was very polite +to him, though he did not quite see why the whole court was making such +a fuss over him. + +Prince Narcissus enjoyed all that went on, and found the time pass +very pleasantly. Before long, of course, he heard the story about the +Princess Potentilla, and, as it had by that time been repeated many +times, and had been added to here and there, she was represented as such +a monster of ugliness that he was really quite curious to see her, and +resolved to avail himself of the magic power of his ring to accomplish +his design. So he made himself invisible, and passed the guard without +their so much as suspecting that anyone was near. Climbing the wall was +rather a difficulty, but when he at length found himself inside it he +was charmed with the peaceful beauty of the little domain it enclosed, +and still more delighted when he perceived a slender, lovely maiden +wandering among the flowers. It was not until he had sought vainly +for the imaginary monster that he realised that this was the Princess +herself, and by that time he was deeply in love with her, for indeed it +would have been hard to find anyone prettier than Potentilla, as she +sat by the brook, weaving a garland of blue forget-me-nots to crown her +waving golden locks, or to imagine anything more gentle than the way she +tended all the birds and beasts who inhabited her small kingdom, and who +all loved and followed her. Prince Narcissus watched her every movement, +and hovered near her in a dream of delight, not daring as yet to appear +to her, so humble had he suddenly become in her presence. And when +evening came, and the nurse fetched the Princess into her little house, +he felt obliged to go back to Frivola's palace, for fear his absence +should be noticed and someone should discover his new treasure. But he +forgot that to go back absent, and dreamy, and indifferent, when he +had before been gay and ardent about everything, was the surest way +of awakening suspicion; and when, in response to the jesting questions +which were put to him upon the subject, he only blushed and returned +evasive answers, all the ladies were certain that he had lost his heart, +and did their utmost to discover who was the happy possessor of it. As +to the Prince, he was becoming day by day more attached to Potentilla, +and his one thought was to attend her, always invisible, and help her in +everything she did, and provide her with everything that could possibly +amuse or please her. And the Princess, who had learnt to find diversion +in very small things in her quiet life, was in a continual state of +delight over the treasures which the Prince constantly laid where she +must find them. Then Narcissus implored his faithful friend Melinette to +send the Princess such dreams of him as should make her recognise him as +a friend when he actually appeared before her eyes; and this device was +so successful that the Princess quite dreaded the cessation of +these amusing dreams, in which a certain Prince Narcissus was such a +delightful lover and companion. After that he went a step further and +began to have long talks with the Princess--still, however, keeping +himself invisible, until she begged him so earnestly to appear to her +that he could no longer resist, and after making her promise that, no +matter what he was like, she would still love him, he drew the ring from +his finger, and the Princess saw with delight that he was as handsome +as he was agreeable. Now, indeed, they were perfectly happy, and they +passed the whole long summer day in Potentilla's favourite place by the +brook, and when at last Prince Narcissus had to leave her it seemed to +them both that the hours had gone by with the most amazing swiftness. +The Princess stayed where she was, dreaming of her delightful Prince, +and nothing could have been further from her thoughts than any trouble +or misfortune, when suddenly, in a cloud of dust and shavings, by came +the enchanter Grumedan, and unluckily he chanced to catch sight of +Potentilla. Down he came straightway and alighted at her feet, and one +look at her charming blue eyes and smiling lips quite decided him that +he must appear to her at once, though he was rather annoyed to remember +that he had on only his second-best cloak. The Princess sprang to her +feet with a cry of terror at this sudden apparition, for really the +Enchanter was no beauty. To begin with, he was very big and clumsy, then +he had but one eye, and his teeth were long, and he stammered badly; +nevertheless, he had an excellent opinion of himself, and mistook the +Princess's cry of terror for an exclamation of delighted surprise. After +pausing a moment to give her time to admire him, the Enchanter made her +the most complimentary speech he could invent, which, however, did not +please her at all, though he was extremely delighted with it himself. +Poor Potentilla only shuddered and cried: + +'Oh! where is my Narcissus?' + +To which he replied with a self-satisfied chuckle: 'You want a +narcissus, madam? Well, they are not rare; you shall have as many as you +like.' + +Whereupon he waved his wand, and the Princess found herself surrounded +and half buried in the fragrant flowers. She would certainly have +betrayed that this was not the kind of narcissus she wanted, but for the +Fairy Melinette, who had been anxiously watching the interview, and now +thought it quite time to interfere. Assuming the Prince's voice, she +whispered in Potentilla's ear: + +'We are menaced by a great danger, but my only fear is for you, my +Princess. Therefore I beg you to hide what you really feel, and we will +hope that some way out of the difficulty may present itself.' + +The Princess was much agitated by this speech, and feared lest the +Enchanter should have overheard it; but he had been loudly calling +her attention to the flowers, and chuckling over his own smartness in +getting them for her; and it was rather a blow to him when she said very +coldly that they were not the sort she preferred, and she would be glad +if he would send them all away. This he did, but afterwards wished to +kiss the Princess's hand as a reward for having been so obliging; but +the Fairy Melinette was not going to allow anything of that kind. She +appeared suddenly, in all her splendour, and cried: + +'Stay, Grumedan; this Princess is under my protection, and the smallest +impertinence will cost you a thousand years of captivity. If you can win +Potentilla's heart by the ordinary methods I cannot oppose you, but I +warn you that I will not put up with any of your usual tricks.' + +This declaration was not at all to the Enchanter's taste; but he knew +that there was no help for it, and that he would have to behave well, +and pay the Princess all the delicate attentions he could think of; +though they were not at all the sort of thing he was used to. However, +he decided that to win such a beauty it was quite worth while; and +Melinette, feeling that she could now leave the Princess in safety, +hurried off to tell Prince Narcissus what was going forward. Of course, +at the very mention of the Enchanter as a rival he was furious, and I +don't know what foolish things he would not have done if Melinette had +not been there to calm him down. She represented to him what a powerful +enchanter Grumedan was, and how, if he were provoked, he might avenge +himself upon the Princess, since he was the most unjust and churlish of +all the enchanters, and had often before had to be punished by the Fairy +Queen for some of his ill-deeds. Once he had been imprisoned in a tree, +and was only released when it was blown down by a furious wind; another +time he was condemned to stay under a big stone at the bottom of a +river, until by some chance the stone should be turned over; but nothing +could ever really improve him. The Fairy finally made Narcissus promise +that he would remain invisible when he was with the Princess, since she +felt sure that this would make things easier for all of them. Then began +a struggle between Grumedan and the Prince, the latter under the name +of Melinette, as to which could best delight and divert the Princess and +win her approbation. Prince Narcissus first made friends with all the +birds in Potentilla's little domain, and taught them to sing her name +and her praises, with all their sweetest trills and most touching +melodies, and all day long to tell her how dearly he loved her. +Grumedan, thereupon, declared that there was nothing new about that, +since the birds had sung since the world began, and all lovers had +imagined that they sang for them alone. Therefore he said he would +himself write an opera that should be absolutely a novelty and something +worth hearing. When the time came for the performance (which lasted five +weary hours) the Princess found to her dismay that the 'opera' consisted +of this more than indifferent verse, chanted with all their might by ten +thousand frogs: + +'Admirable Potentilla, Do you think it kind or wise In this sudden way +to kill a Poor Enchanter with your eyes?' + +Really, if Narcissus had not been there to whisper in her ear and divert +her attention, I don't know what would have become of poor Potentilla, +for though the first repetition of this absurdity amused her faintly, +she nearly died of weariness before the time was over. Luckily Grumedan +did not perceive this, as he was too much occupied in whipping up the +frogs, many of whom perished miserably from fatigue, since he did not +allow them to rest for a moment. The Prince's next idea for Potentilla's +amusement was to cause a fleet of boats exactly like those of Cleopatra, +of which you have doubtless read in history, to come up the little +river, and upon the most gorgeously decorated of these reclined the +great Queen herself, who, as soon as she reached the place where +Potentilla sat in rapt attention, stepped majestically on shore and +presented the Princess with that celebrated pearl of which you have +heard so much, saying: + +'You are more beautiful than I ever was. Let my example warn you to make +a better use of your beauty!' + +And then the little fleet sailed on, until it was lost to view in the +windings of the river. Grumedan was also looking on at the spectacle, +and said very contemptuously: + +'I cannot say I think these marionettes amusing. What a to-do to make +over a single pearl! But if you like pearls, madam, why, I will soon +gratify you.' + +So saying, he drew a whistle from his pocket, and no sooner had he blown +it than the Princess saw the water of the river bubble and grow muddy, +and in another instant up came hundreds of thousands of great oysters, +who climbed slowly and laboriously towards her and laid at her feet all +the pearls they contained. + +'Those are what I call pearls,' cried Grumedan in high glee. And truly +there were enough of them to pave every path in Potentilla's garden and +leave some to spare! The next day Prince Narcissus had prepared for the +Princess's pleasure a charming arbour of leafy branches, with couches of +moss and grassy floor and garlands everywhere, with her name written in +different coloured blossoms. Here he caused a dainty little banquet +to be set forth, while hidden musicians played softly, and the silvery +fountains plashed down into their marble basins, and when presently +the music stopped a single nightingale broke the stillness with his +delicious chant. + +'Ah!' cried the Princess, recognizing the voice of one of her +favourites, 'Philomel, my sweet one, who taught you that new song?' + +And he answered: 'Love, my Princess.' + +Meanwhile the Enchanter was very ill-pleased with the entertainment, +which he declared was dulness itself. + +'You don't seem to have any idea in these parts beyond little squeaking +birds!' said he. 'And fancy giving a banquet without so much as an ounce +of plate!' + +So the next day, when the Princess went out into her garden, there stood +a summer-house built of solid gold, decorated within and without with +her initials and the Enchanter's combined. And in it was spread an +enormous repast, while the table so glittered with golden cups and +plates, flagons and dishes, candlesticks and a hundred other things +beside, that it was hardly possible to look steadily at it. The +Enchanter ate like six ogres, but the Princess could not touch a morsel. +Presently Grumedan remarked with a grin: + +'I have provided neither musicians nor singers; but as you seem fond of +music I will sing to you myself.' + +Whereupon he began, with a voice like a screech-owl's, to chant the +words of his 'opera,' only this time happily not at such a length, and +without the frog accompaniment. After this the Prince again asked the +aid of his friends the birds, and when they had assembled from all the +country round he tied about the neck of each one a tiny lamp of some +brilliant colour, and when darkness fell he made them go through a +hundred pretty tricks before the delighted Potentilla, who clapped her +little hands with delight when she saw her own name traced in points of +light against the dark trees, or when the whole flock of sparks grouped +themselves into bouquets of different colours, like living flowers. +Grumedan leaning back in his arm-chair, with one knee crossed over the +other and his nose in the air, looked on disdainfully. + +'Oh! if you like fireworks, Princess,' said he; and the next night all +the will-o'-the-wisps in the country came and danced on the plain, which +could be seen from the Princess's windows, and as she was looking out, +and rather enjoying the sight, up sprang a frightful volcano, pouring +out smoke and flames which terrified her greatly, to the intense +amusement of the Enchanter, who laughed like a pack of wolves +quarrelling. After this, as many of the will-o'-the-wisps as could +get in crowded into Potentilla's garden, and by their light the tall +yew-trees danced minuets until the Princess was weary and begged to +be excused from looking at anything more that night. But, in spite of +Potentilla's efforts to behave politely to the tiresome old Enchanter, +whom she detested, he could not help seeing that he failed to please +her, and then he began to suspect very strongly that she must love +someone else, and that somebody besides Melinette was responsible for +all the festivities he had witnessed. So after much consideration +he devised a plan for finding out the truth. He went to the Princess +suddenly, and announced that he was most unwillingly forced to leave +her, and had come to bid her farewell. Potentilla could scarcely hide +her delight when she heard this, and his back was hardly turned before +she was entreating Prince Narcissus to make himself visible once more. +The poor Prince had been getting quite thin with anxiety and annoyance, +and was only too delighted to comply with her request. They greeted one +another rapturously, and were just sitting down to talk over everything +cosily, and enjoy the Enchanter's discomfiture together, when out +he burst in a fury from behind a bush. With his huge club he aimed a +terrific blow at Narcissus, which must certainly have killed him but for +the adroitness of the Fairy Melinette, who arrived upon the scene just +in time to snatch him up and carry him off at lightning speed to her +castle in the air. Poor Potentilla, however, had not the comfort of +knowing this, for at the sight of the Enchanter threatening her beloved +Prince she had given one shriek and fallen back insensible. When she +recovered her senses she was more than ever convinced that he was dead, +since even Melinette was no longer near her, and no one was left to +defend her from the odious old Enchanter. + +To make matters worse, he seemed to be in a very bad temper, and came +blustering and raging at the poor Princess. + +'I tell you what it is, madam,' said he: 'whether you love this +whipper-snapper Prince or not doesn't matter in the least. You are going +to marry me, so you may as well make up your mind to it; and I am going +away this very minute to make all the arrangements. But in case you +should get into mischief in my absence, I think I had better put you to +sleep.' + +So saying, he waved his wand over her, and in spite of her utmost +efforts to keep awake she sank into a profound and dreamless slumber. + +As he wished to make what he considered a suitable entry into the King's +palace, he stepped outside the Princess's little domain, and mounted +upon an immense chariot with great solid wheels, and shafts like the +trunk of an oak-tree, but all of solid gold. This was drawn with great +difficulty by forty-eight strong oxen; and the Enchanter reclined at his +ease, leaning upon his huge club, and holding carelessly upon his knee +a tawny African lion, as if it had been a little lapdog. It was about +seven o'clock in the morning when this extraordinary chariot reached +the palace gates; the King was already astir, and about to set off on +a hunting expedition; as for the Queen, she had only just gone off +into her first sleep, and it would have been a bold person indeed who +ventured to wake her. + +The King was greatly annoyed at having to stay and see a visitor at +such a time, and pulled off his hunting boots again with many grimaces. +Meantime the Enchanter was stumping about in the hall, crying: + +'Where is this King? Let him be told that I must see him and his wife +also.' + +The King, who was listening at the top of the staircase, thought +this was not very polite; however, he took counsel with his favourite +huntsman, and, following his advice, presently went down to see what +was wanted of him. He was struck with astonishment at the sight of the +chariot, and was gazing at it, when the Enchanter strode up to him, +exclaiming: + +'Shake hands, Cloverleaf, old fellow! Don't you know me?' + +'No, I can't say I do,' replied the King, somewhat embarrassed. + +'Why, I am Grumedan, the Enchanter,' said he, 'and I am come to make +your fortune. Let us come in and talk things over a bit.' + +Thereupon he ordered the oxen to go about their business, and they +bounded off like stags, and were out of sight in a moment. Then, with +one blow of his club, he changed the massive chariot into a perfect +mountain of gold pieces. + +'Those are for your lackeys,' said he to the King, 'that they may drink +my health.' + +Naturally a great scramble ensued, and at last the laughter and shouting +awoke the Queen, who rang for her maids to ask the reason of such an +unwonted hurry-burly. When they said that a visitor was asking for her, +and then proceeded each one to tell breathlessly a different tale of +wonder, in which she could only distinguish the words, 'oxen,' 'gold,' +'club,' 'giant,' 'lion,' she thought they were all out of their minds. +Meanwhile the King was asking the Enchanter to what he was indebted +for the honour of this visit, and on his replying that he would not +say until the Queen was also present, messenger after messenger was +dispatched to her to beg her immediate attendance. But Frivola was in a +very bad humour at having been so unceremoniously awakened, and declared +that she had a pain in her little finger, and that nothing should induce +her to come. + +When the Enchanter heard this he insisted that she must come. + +'Take my club to her Majesty,' said he, 'and tell her that if she smells +the end of it she will find it wonderfully reviving.' + +So four of the King's strongest men-at-arms staggered off with it; and +after some persuasion the Queen consented to try this novel remedy. +She had hardly smelt it for an instant when she declared herself to be +perfectly restored; but whether that was due to the scent of the wood or +to the fact that as soon as she touched it out fell a perfect shower of +magnificent jewels, I leave you to decide. At any rate, she was now all +eagerness to see the mysterious stranger, and hastily throwing on her +royal mantle, popped her second-best diamond crown over her night-cap, +put a liberal dab of rouge upon each cheek, and holding up her largest +fan before her nose--for she was not used to appearing in broad +daylight--she went mincing into the great hall. The Enchanter waited +until the King and Queen had seated themselves upon their throne, and +then, taking his place between them, he began solemnly: + +'My name is Grumedan. I am an extremely well-connected Enchanter; my +power is immense. In spite of all this, the charms of your daughter +Potentilla have so fascinated me that I cannot live without her. She +fancies that she loves a certain contemptible puppy called Narcissus; +but I have made very short work with him. I really do not care whether +you consent to my marriage with your daughter or not, but I am bound +to ask your consent, on account of a certain meddling Fairy called +Melinette, with whom I have reason for wishing to keep on good terms.' + +The King and Queen were somewhat embarrassed to know what answer to make +to this terrible suitor, but at last they asked for time to talk over +the matter: since, they said, their subjects might think that the heir +to the throne should not be married with as little consideration as a +dairymaid. + +'Oh! take a day or two if you like,' said the Enchanter; 'but in the +meantime, I am going to send for your daughter. Perhaps you will be able +to induce her to be reasonable.' + +So saying, he drew out his favourite whistle, and blew one ear-piercing +note--whereupon the great lion, who had been dozing in the sunny +courtyard, come bounding in on his soft, heavy feet. 'Orion,' said the +Enchanter, 'go and fetch me the Princess, and bring her here at once. Be +gentle now!' + +At these words Orion went off at a great pace, and was soon at the other +end of the King's gardens. Scattering the guards right and left, he +cleared the wall at a bound, and seizing the sleeping Princess, he threw +her on to his back, where he kept her by holding her robe in his teeth. +Then he trotted gently back, and in less than five minutes stood in the +great hall before the astonished King and Queen. + +The Enchanter held his club close to the Princess's charming little +nose, whereupon she woke up and shrieked with terror at finding herself +in a strange place with the detested Grumedan. Frivola, who had stood +by, stiff with displeasure at the sight of the lovely Princess, now +stepped forward, and with much pretended concern proposed to carry off +Potentilla to her own apartments that she might enjoy the quiet she +seemed to need. Really her one idea was to let the Princess be seen by +as few people as possible; so, throwing a veil over her head, she led +her away and locked her up securely. All this time Prince Narcissus, +gloomy and despairing, was kept a prisoner by Melinette in her castle in +the air, and in spite of all the splendour by which he was surrounded, +and all the pleasures which he might have enjoyed, his one thought was +to get back to Potentilla. The Fairy, however, left him there, promising +to do her very best for him, and commanding all her swallows and +butterflies to wait upon him and do his bidding. One day, as he paced +sadly to and fro, he thought he heard a voice he knew calling to him, +and sure enough there was the faithful Philomel, Potentilla's favourite, +who told him all that had passed, and how the sleeping Princess had been +carried off by the Lion to the great grief of all her four-footed and +feathered subjects, and how, not knowing what to do, he had wandered +about until he heard the swallows telling one another of the Prince who +was in their airy castle and had come to see if it could be Narcissus. +The Prince was more distracted than ever, and tried vainly to escape +from the castle, by leaping from the roof into the clouds; but every +time they caught him, and rolling softly up, brought him back to the +place from which he started, so at last he gave up the attempt and +waited with desperate patience for the return of Melinette. Meanwhile +matters were advancing rapidly in the court of King Cloverleaf, for the +Queen quite made up her mind that such a beauty as Potentilla must be +got out of the way as quickly as possible. So she sent for the Enchanter +secretly, and after making him promise that he would never turn herself +and King Cloverleaf out of their kingdom, and that he would take +Potentilla far away, so that never again might she set eyes upon her, +she arranged the wedding for the next day but one. + +You may imagine how Potentilla lamented her sad fate, and entreated to +be spared. All the comfort she could get out of Frivola was, that if she +preferred a cup of poison to a rich husband she would certainly provide +her with one. + +When, then, the fatal day came the unhappy Potentilla was led into the +great hall between the King and Queen, the latter wild with envy at the +murmurs of admiration which rose on all sides at the loveliness of the +Princess. An instant later in came Grumedan by the opposite door. His +hair stood on end, and he wore a huge bag-purse and a cravat tied in a +bow, his mantle was made of a shower of silver coins with a lining of +rose colour, and his delight in his own appearance knew no bounds. +That any Princess could prefer a cup of poison to himself never for an +instant occurred to him. Nevertheless, that was what did happen, for +when Queen Frivola in jest held out the fatal cup to the Princess, she +took it eagerly, crying: + +'Ah! beloved Narcissus, I come to thee!' and was just raising it to +her lips when the window of the great hall burst open, and the Fairy +Melinette floated in upon a glowing sunset cloud, followed by the Prince +himself: + +All the court looked on in dazzled surprise, while Potentilla, catching +sight of her lover, dropped the cup and ran joyfully to meet him. + +The Enchanter's first thought was to defend himself when he saw +Melinette appear, but she slipped round his blind side, and catching him +by the eyelashes dragged him off to the ceiling of the hall, where +she held him kicking for a while just to give him a lesson, and then +touching him with her wand she imprisoned him for a thousand years in a +crystal ball which hung from the roof. 'Let this teach you to mind what +I tell you another time,' she remarked severely. Then turning to the +King and Queen, she begged them to proceed with the wedding, since she +had provided a much more suitable bridegroom. She also deprived them of +their kingdom, for they had really shown themselves unfit to manage +it, and bestowed it upon the Prince and Princess, who, though they were +unwilling to take it, had no choice but to obey the Fairy. However, they +took care that the King and Queen were always supplied with everything +they could wish for. + +Prince Narcissus and Princess Potentilla lived long and happily, beloved +by all their subjects. As for the Enchanter, I don't believe he has been +let out yet. + +La Princesse Pimprenella et Le Prince Romarin. + + + + + +PRINCE FEATHERHEAD AND THE PRINCESS CELANDINE + + + +Once upon a time there lived a King and Queen, who were the best +creatures in the world, and so kind-hearted that they could not bear +to see their subjects want for anything. The consequence was that +they gradually gave away all their treasures, till they positively +had nothing left to live upon; and this coming to the ears of their +neighbour, King Bruin, he promptly raised a large army and marched into +their country. The poor King, having no means of defending his kingdom, +was forced to disguise himself with a false beard, and carrying his only +son, the little Prince Featherhead, in his arms, and accompanied only by +the Queen, to make the best of his way into the wild country. They were +lucky enough to escape the soldiers of King Bruin, and at last, after +unheard-of fatigues and adventures, they found themselves in a charming +green valley, through which flowed a stream clear as crystal and +overshadowed by beautiful trees. As they looked round them with delight, +a voice said suddenly: 'Fish, and see what you will catch.' Now the King +had always loved fishing, and never went anywhere without a fish-hook +or two in his pocket, so he drew one out hastily, and the Queen lent him +her girdle to fasten it to, and it had hardly touched the water before +it caught a big fish, which made them an excellent meal--and not before +they needed it, for they had found nothing until then but a few wild +berries and roots. They thought that for the present they could not do +better than stay in this delightful place, and the King set to work, and +soon built a bower of branches to shelter them; and when it was finished +the Queen was so charmed with it that she declared nothing was lacking +to complete her happiness but a flock of sheep, which she and the little +Prince might tend while the King fished. They soon found that the fish +were not only abundant and easily caught, but also very beautiful, with +glittering scales of every imaginable hue; and before long the King +discovered that he could teach them to talk and whistle better than any +parrot. Then he determined to carry some to the nearest town and try to +sell them; and as no one had ever before seen any like them the +people flocked about him eagerly and bought all he had caught, so that +presently not a house in the city was considered complete without a +crystal bowl full of fish, and the King's customers were very particular +about having them to match the rest of the furniture, and gave him a +vast amount of trouble in choosing them. However, the money he obtained +in this way enabled him to buy the Queen her flock of sheep, as well as +many of the other things which go to make life pleasant, so that they +never once regretted their lost kingdom. Now it happened that the Fairy +of the Beech-Woods lived in the lovely valley to which chance had led +the poor fugitives, and it was she who had, in pity for their forlorn +condition, sent the King such good luck to his fishing, and generally +taken them under her protection. This she was all the more inclined to +do as she loved children, and little Prince Featherhead, who never +cried and grew prettier day by day, quite won her heart. She made the +acquaintance of the King and the Queen without at first letting them +know that she was a fairy, and they soon took a great fancy to her, and +even trusted her with the precious Prince, whom she carried off to her +palace, where she regaled him with cakes and tarts and every other +good thing. This was the way she chose of making him fond of her; but +afterwards, as he grew older, she spared no pains in educating and +training him as a prince should be trained. But unfortunately, in spite +of all her care, he grew so vain and frivolous that he quitted his +peaceful country life in disgust, and rushed eagerly after all the +foolish gaieties of the neighbouring town, where his handsome face and +charming manners speedily made him popular. The King and Queen deeply +regretted this alteration in their son, but did not know how to mend +matters, since the good old Fairy had made him so self-willed. + +Just at this time the Fairy of the Beech-Woods received a visit from +an old friend of hers called Saradine, who rushed into her house so +breathless with rage that she could hardly speak. + +'Dear, dear! what is the matter?' said the Fairy of the Beech-Woods +soothingly. + +'The matter!' cried Saradine. 'You shall soon hear all about it. You +know that, not content with endowing Celandine, Princess of the Summer +Islands, with everything she could desire to make her charming, I +actually took the trouble to bring her up myself; and now what does she +do but come to me with more coaxings and caresses than usual to beg a +favour. And what do you suppose this favour turns out to be--when I have +been cajoled into promising to grant it? Nothing more nor less than +a request that I will take back all my gifts--"since," says my young +madam, "if I have the good fortune to please you, how am I to know that +it is really I, myself? And that's how it will be all my life long, +whenever I meet anybody. You see what a weariness my life will be to me +under these circumstances, and yet I assure you I am not ungrateful to +you for all your kindness!" I did all I could,' continued Saradine, 'to +make her think better of it, but in vain; so after going through the +usual ceremony for taking back my gifts, I'm come to you for a little +peace and quietness. But, after all, I have not taken anything of +consequence from this provoking Celandine. Nature had already made her +so pretty, and given her such a ready wit of her own, that she will +do perfectly well without me. However, I thought she deserved a little +lesson, so to begin with I have whisked her off into the desert, and +there left her!' + +'What! all alone, and without any means of existence?' cried the +kind-hearted old Fairy. 'You had better hand her over to me. I don't +think so very badly of her after all. I'll just cure her vanity by +making her love someone better than herself. Really, when I come to +consider of it, I declare the little minx has shown more spirit and +originality in the matter than one expects of a princess.' + +Saradine willingly consented to this arrangement, and the old Fairy's +first care was to smooth away all the difficulties which surrounded +the Princess, and lead her by the mossy path overhung with trees to the +bower of the King and Queen, who still pursued their peaceful life in +the valley. + +They were immensely surprised at her appearance, but her charming face, +and the deplorably ragged condition to which the thorns and briers had +reduced her once elegant attire, speedily won their compassion; they +recognised her as a companion in misfortune, and the Queen welcomed +her heartily, and begged her to share their simple repast. Celandine +gracefully accepted their hospitality, and soon told them what had +happened to her. The King was charmed with her spirit, while the Queen +thought she had indeed been daring thus to go against the Fairy's +wishes. + +'Since it has ended in my meeting you,' said the Princess, 'I cannot +regret the step I have taken, and if you will let me stay with you, I +shall be perfectly happy.' + +The King and Queen were only too delighted to have this charming +Princess to supply the place of Prince Featherhead, whom they saw +but seldom, since the Fairy had provided him with a palace in the +neighbouring town, where he lived in the greatest luxury, and did +nothing but amuse himself from morning to night. So Celandine stayed, +and helped the Queen to keep house, and very soon they loved her dearly. +When the Fairy of the Beech-Woods came to them, they presented the +Princess to her, and told her story, little thinking that the Fairy knew +more about Celandine than they did. The old Fairy was equally delighted +with her, and often invited her to visit her Leafy Palace, which was +the most enchanting place that could be imagined, and full of treasures. +Often she would say to the Princess, when showing her some wonderful +thing: + +'This will do for a wedding gift some day.' And Celandine could not help +thinking that it was to her that the Fairy meant to give the two blue +wax-torches which burned without ever getting smaller, or the diamond +from which more diamonds were continually growing, or the boat that +sailed under water, or whatever beautiful or wonderful thing they might +happen to be looking at. It is true that she never said so positively, +but she certainly allowed the Princess to believe it, because she +thought a little disappointment would be good for her. But the person +she really relied upon for curing Celandine of her vanity was Prince +Featherhead. The old Fairy was not at all pleased with the way he had +been going on for some time, but her heart was so soft towards him that +she was unwilling to take him away from the pleasures he loved, except +by offering him something better, which is not the most effectual mode +of correction, though it is without doubt the most agreeable. + +However, she did not even hint to the Princess that Featherhead was +anything but absolutely perfect, and talked of him so much that when at +last she announced that he was coming to visit her, Celandine made up +her mind that this delightful Prince would be certain to fall in love +with her at once, and was quite pleased at the idea. The old Fairy +thought so too, but as this was not at all what she wished, she took +care to throw such an enchantment over the Princess that she appeared to +Featherhead quite ugly and awkward, though to every one else she looked +just as usual. So when he arrived at the Leafy Palace, more handsome and +fascinating even than ever she had been led to expect, he hardly so much +as glanced at the Princess, but bestowed all his attention upon the old +Fairy, to whom he seemed to have a hundred things to say. The Princess +was immensely astonished at his indifference, and put on a cold and +offended air, which, however, he did not seem to observe. Then as a last +resource she exerted all her wit and gaiety to amuse him, but with no +better success, for he was of an age to be more attracted by beauty +than by anything else, and though he responded politely enough, it +was evident that his thoughts were elsewhere. Celandine was deeply +mortified, since for her part the Prince pleased her very well, and +for the first time she bitterly regretted the fairy gifts she had been +anxious to get rid of. Prince Featherhead was almost equally puzzled, +for he had heard nothing from the King and Queen but the praises of this +charming Princess, and the fact that they had spoken of her as so very +beautiful only confirmed his opinion that people who live in the country +have no taste. He talked to them of his charming acquaintances in the +town, the beauties he had admired, did admire, or thought he was going +to admire, until Celandine, who heard it all, was ready to cry with +vexation. The Fairy too was quite shocked at his conceit, and hit upon +a plan for curing him of it. She sent to him by an unknown messenger a +portrait of Princess Celandine as she really was, with this inscription: +'All this beauty and sweetness, with a loving heart and a great kingdom, +might have been yours but for your well-known fickleness.' + +This message made a great impression upon the Prince, but not so much +as the portrait. He positively could not tear his eyes away from it, and +exclaimed aloud that never, never had he seen anything so lovely and +so graceful. Then he began to think that it was too absurd that he, the +fascinating Featherhead, should fall in love with a portrait; and, to +drive away the recollections of its haunting eyes, he rushed back to +the town; but somehow everything seemed changed. The beauties no longer +pleased him, their witty speeches had ceased to amuse; and indeed, for +their parts, they found the Prince far less amiable than of yore, and +were not sorry when he declared that, after all, a country life suited +him best, and went back to the Leafy Palace. Meanwhile, the Princess +Celandine had been finding the time pass but slowly with the King and +Queen, and was only too pleased when Featherhead reappeared. She at once +noticed the change in him, and was deeply curious to find the reason of +it. Far from avoiding her, he now sought her company and seemed to take +pleasure in talking to her, and yet the Princess did not for a moment +flatter herself with the idea that he was in love with her, though it +did not take her long to decide that he certainly loved someone. But one +day the Princess, wandering sadly by the river, spied Prince Featherhead +fast asleep in the shade of a tree, and stole nearer to enjoy the +delight of gazing at his dear face unobserved. Judge of her astonishment +when she saw that he was holding in his hand a portrait of herself! +In vain did she puzzle over the apparent contradictoriness of his +behaviour. Why did he cherish her portrait while he was so fatally +indifferent to herself? At last she found an opportunity of asking him +the name of the Princess whose picture he carried about with him always. + +'Alas! how can I tell you?' replied he. + +'Why should you not?' said the Princess timidly. 'Surely there is +nothing to prevent you.' + +'Nothing to prevent me!' repeated he, 'when my utmost efforts have +failed to discover the lovely original. Should I be so sad if I could +but find her? But I do not even know her name.' + +More surprised than ever, the Princess asked to be allowed to see +the portrait, and after examining it for a few minutes returned it, +remarking shyly that at least the original had every cause to be +satisfied with it. + +'That means that you consider it flattered,' said the Prince severely. +'Really, Celandine, I thought better of you, and should have expected +you to be above such contemptible jealousy. But all women are alike!' + +'Indeed, I meant only that it was a good likeness,' said the Princess +meekly. + +'Then you know the original,' cried the Prince, throwing himself on his +knees beside her. 'Pray tell me at once who it is, and don't keep me in +suspense!' + +'Oh! don't you see that it is meant for me?' cried Celandine. + +The Prince sprang to his feet, hardly able to refrain from telling her +that she must be blinded by vanity to suppose she resembled the lovely +portrait even in the slightest degree; and after gazing at her for an +instant with icy surprise, turned and left her without another word, and +in a few hours quitted the Leafy Palace altogether. + +Now the Princess was indeed unhappy, and could no longer bear to stay +in a place where she had been so cruelly disdained. So, without even +bidding farewell to the King and Queen, she left the valley behind her, +and wandered sadly away, not caring whither. After walking until she +was weary, she saw before her a tiny house, and turned her slow steps +towards it. The nearer she approached the more miserable it appeared, +and at length she saw a little old woman sitting upon the door-step, who +said grimly: + +'Here comes one of these fine beggars who are too idle to do anything +but run about the country!' + +'Alas! madam,' said Celandine, with tears in her pretty eyes, 'a sad +fate forces me to ask you for shelter.' + +'Didn't I tell you what it would be?' growled the old hag. 'From shelter +we shall proceed to demand supper, and from supper money to take us on +our way. Upon my word, if I could be sure of finding some one every +day whose head was as soft as his heart, I wouldn't wish for a more +agreeable life myself! But I have worked hard to build my house and +secure a morsel to eat, and I suppose you think that I am to give away +everything to the first passer-by who chooses to ask for it. Not at all! +I wager that a fine lady like you has more money than I have. I must +search her, and see if it is not so,' she added, hobbling towards +Celandine with the aid of her stick. + +'Alas! madam,' replied the Princess, 'I only wish I had. I would give it +to you with all the pleasure in life.' + +'But you are very smartly dressed for the kind of life you lead,' +continued the old woman. + +'What!' cried the Princess, 'do you think I am come to beg of you?' + +'I don't know about that,' answered she; 'but at any rate you don't +seem to have come to bring me anything. But what is it that you do want? +Shelter? Well, that does not cost much; but after that comes supper, and +that I can't hear of. Oh dear no! Why, at your age one is always ready +to eat; and now you have been walking, and I suppose you are ravenous?' + +'Indeed no, madam,' answered the poor Princess, 'I am too sad to be +hungry.' + +'Oh, well! if you will promise to go on being sad, you may stay for the +night,' said the old woman mockingly. + +Thereupon she made the Princess sit down beside her, and began fingering +her silken robe, while she muttered 'Lace on top, lace underneath! This +must have cost you a pretty penny! It would have been better to save +enough to feed yourself, and not come begging to those who want all +they have for themselves. Pray, what may you have paid for these fine +clothes?' + +'Alas! madam,' answered the Princess, 'I did not buy them, and I know +nothing about money.' + +'What do you know, if I may ask?' said the old dame. + +'Not much; but indeed I am very unhappy,' cried Celandine, bursting into +tears, 'and if my services are any good to you--' + +'Services!' interrupted the hag crossly. 'One has to pay for services, +and I am not above doing my own work.' + +'Madam, I will serve you for nothing,' said the poor Princess, whose +spirits were sinking lower and lower. 'I will do anything you please; +all I wish is to live quietly in this lonely spot.' + +'Oh! I know you are only trying to take me in,' answered she; 'and if +I do let you serve me, is it fitting that you should be so much better +dressed I am? If I keep you, will you give me your clothes and wear some +that I will provide you with? It is true that I am getting old and may +want someone to take care of me some day.' + +'Oh! for pity's sake, do what you please with my clothes,' cried poor +Celandine miserably. + +And the old woman hobbled off with great alacrity, and fetched a little +bundle containing a wretched dress, such as the Princess had never even +seen before, and nimbly skipped round, helping her to put it on instead +of her own rich robe, with many exclamations of: + +'Saints!--what a magnificent lining! And the width of it! It will make +me four dresses at least. Why, child, I wonder you could walk under such +a weight, and certainly in my house you would not have had room to turn +round.' + +So saying, she folded up the robe, and put it by with great care, while +she remarked to Celandine: + +'That dress of mine certainly suits you to a marvel; be sure you take +great care of it.' + +When supper-time came she went into the house, declining all the +Princess's offers of assistance, and shortly afterwards brought out a +very small dish, saying: + +'Now let us sup.' + +Whereupon she handed Celandine a small piece of black bread and +uncovered the dish, which contained two dried plums. + +'We will have one between us,' continued the old dame; 'and as you are +the visitor, you shall have the half which contains the stone; but be +very careful that you don't swallow it, for I keep them against the +winter, and you have no idea what a good fire they make. Now, you take +my advice--which won't cost you anything--and remember that it is always +more economical to buy fruit with stones on this account.' + +Celandine, absorbed in her own sad thoughts, did not even hear this +prudent counsel, and quite forgot to eat her share of the plum, which +delighted the old woman, who put it by carefully for her breakfast, +saying: + +'I am very much pleased with you, and if you go on as you have begun, we +shall do very well, and I can teach you many useful things which people +don't generally know. For instance, look at my house! It is built +entirely of the seeds of all the pears I have eaten in my life. Now, +most people throw them away, and that only shows what a number of things +are wasted for want of a little patience and ingenuity.' + +But Celandine did not find it possible to be interested in this and +similar pieces of advice. And the old woman soon sent her to bed, for +fear the night air might give her an appetite. She passed a sleepless +night; but in the morning the old dame remarked: + +'I heard how well you slept. After such a night you cannot want any +breakfast; so while I do my household tasks you had better stay in bed, +since the more one sleeps the less one need eat; and as it is market-day +I will go to town and buy a pennyworth of bread for the week's eating.' + +And so she chattered on, but poor Celandine did not hear or heed her; +she wandered out into the desolate country to think over her sad fate. +However, the good Fairy of the Beech-Woods did not want her to be +starved, so she sent her an unlooked for relief in the shape of a +beautiful white cow, which followed her back to the tiny house. When the +old woman saw it her joy knew no bounds. + +'Now we can have milk and cheese and butter!' cried she. 'Ah! how good +milk is! What a pity it is so ruinously expensive!' So they made a +little shelter of branches for the beautiful creature which was quite +gentle, and followed Celandine about like a dog when she took it out +every day to graze. One morning as she sat by a little brook, thinking +sadly, she suddenly saw a young stranger approaching, and got up +quickly, intending to avoid him. But Prince Featherhead, for it was +he, perceiving her at the same moment, rushed towards her with every +demonstration of joy: for he had recognised her, not as the Celandine +whom he had slighted, but as the lovely Princess whom he had sought +vainly for so long. The fact was that the Fairy of the Beech-Woods, +thinking she had been punished enough, had withdrawn the enchantment +from her, and transferred it to Featherhead, thereby in an instant +depriving him of the good looks which had done so much towards making +him the fickle creature he was. Throwing himself down at the Princess's +feet, he implored her to stay, and at least speak to him, and she at +last consented, but only because he seemed to wish it so very much. +After that he came every day in the hope of meeting her again, and often +expressed his delight at being with her. But one day, when he had been +begging Celandine to love him, she confided to him that it was quite +impossible, since her heart was already entirely occupied by another. + +'I have,' said she, 'the unhappiness of loving a Prince who is fickle, +frivolous, proud, incapable of caring for anyone but himself, who has +been spoilt by flattery, and, to crown all, who does not love me.' + +'But,' cried Prince Featherhead, 'surely you cannot care for so +contemptible and worthless a creature as that.' + +'Alas! but I do care,' answered the Princess, weeping. + +'But where can his eyes be,' said the Prince, 'that your beauty makes no +impression upon him? As for me, since I have possessed your portrait I +have wandered over the whole world to find you, and, now we have met, +I see that you are ten times lovelier than I could have imagined, and I +would give all I own to win your love.' + +'My portrait?' cried Celandine with sudden interest. 'Is it possible +that Prince Featherhead can have parted with it?' + +'He would part with his life sooner, lovely Princess,' answered he; 'I +can assure you of that, for I am Prince Featherhead.' + +At the same moment the Fairy of the Beech-Woods took away the +enchantment, and the happy Princess recognised her lover, now truly +hers, for the trials they had both undergone had so changed and improved +them that they were capable of a real love for each other. You may +imagine how perfectly happy they were, and how much they had to hear and +to tell. But at length it was time to go back to the little house, and +as they went along Celandine remembered for the first time what a ragged +old dress she was wearing, and what an odd appearance she must present. +But the Prince declared that it became her vastly, and that he thought +it most picturesque. When they reached the house the old woman received +them very crossly. + +'I declare,' said she, 'that it's perfectly true: wherever there is a +girl you may be sure that a young man will appear before long! But don't +imagine that I'm going to have you here--not a bit of it, be off with +you, my fine fellow!' + +Prince Featherhead was inclined to be angry at this uncivil reception, +but he was really too happy to care much, so he only demanded, on +Celandine's behalf, that the old dame should give her back her own +attire, that she might go away suitably dressed. + +This request roused her to fury, since she had counted upon the +Princess's fine robes to clothe her for the rest of her life, so that it +was some time before the Prince could make himself heard to explain that +he was willing to pay for them. The sight of a handful of gold pieces +somewhat mollified her, however, and after making them both promise +faithfully that on no consideration would they ask for the gold back +again, she took the Princess into the house and grudgingly doled out +to her just enough of her gay attire to make her presentable, while the +rest she pretended to have lost. After this they found that they were +very hungry, for one cannot live on love, any more than on air, and then +the old woman's lamentations were louder than before. 'What!' she cried, +'feed people who were as happy as all that! Why, it was simply ruinous!' + +But as the Prince began to look angry, she, with many sighs and +mutterings, brought out a morsel of bread, a bowl of milk, and six +plums, with which the lovers were well content: for as long as they +could look at one another they really did not know what they +were eating. It seemed as if they would go on for ever with their +reminiscences, the Prince telling how he had wandered all over the world +from beauty to beauty, always to be disappointed when he found that no +one resembled the portrait; the Princess wondering how it was he could +have been so long with her and yet never have recognised her, and over +and over again pardoning him for his cold and haughty behaviour to her. + +'For,' she said, 'you see, Featherhead, I love you, and love makes +everything right! But we cannot stay here,' she added; 'what are we to +do?' + +The Prince thought they had better find their way to the Fairy of the +Beech-Woods and put themselves once more under her protection, and they +had hardly agreed upon this course when two little chariots wreathed +with jasmine and honeysuckle suddenly appeared, and, stepping into them, +they were whirled away to the Leafy Palace. Just before they lost sight +of the little house they heard loud cries and lamentations from the +miserly old dame, and, looking round, perceived that the beautiful cow +was vanishing in spite of her frantic efforts to hold it fast. And they +afterwards heard that she spent the rest of her life in trying to put +the handful of gold the Prince had thrown to her into her money-bag. For +the Fairy, as a punishment for her avarice, caused it to slip out again +as fast as she dropped it in. + +The Fairy of the Beech-Woods ran to welcome the Prince and Princess with +open arms, only too delighted to find them so much improved that she +could, with a clear conscience, begin to spoil them again. Very soon +the Fairy Saradine also arrived, bringing the King and Queen with her. +Princess Celandine implored her pardon, which she graciously gave; +indeed the Princess was so charming she could refuse her nothing. She +also restored to her the Summer Islands, and promised her protection +in all things. The Fairy of the Beech-Woods then informed the King and +Queen that their subjects had chased King Bruin from the throne, and +were waiting to welcome them back again; but they at once abdicated in +favour of Prince Featherhead, declaring that nothing could induce them +to forsake their peaceful life, and the Fairies undertook to see the +Prince and Princess established in their beautiful kingdoms. Their +marriage took place the next day, and they lived happily ever +afterwards, for Celandine was never vain and Featherhead was never +fickle any more. + +Le Prince Muguet et la Princesse Zaza. + + + + + +THE THREE LITTLE PIGS + + + +There was once upon a time a pig who lived with her three children on +a large, comfortable, old-fashioned farmyard. The eldest of the little +pigs was called Browny, the second Whitey, and the youngest and best +looking Blacky. Now Browny was a very dirty little pig, and I am sorry +to say spent most of his time rolling and wallowing about in the mud. +He was never so happy as on a wet day, when the mud in the farmyard got +soft, and thick, and slab. Then he would steal away from his mother's +side, and finding the muddiest place in the yard, would roll about in it +and thoroughly enjoy himself. His mother often found fault with him for +this, and would shake her head sadly and say: 'Ah, Browny! some day you +will be sorry that you did not obey your old mother.' But no words of +advice or warning could cure Browny of his bad habits. + +Whitey was quite a clever little pig, but she was greedy. She was always +thinking of her food, and looking forward to her dinner; and when the +farm girl was seen carrying the pails across the yard, she would rise +up on her hind legs and dance and caper with excitement. As soon as the +food was poured into the trough she jostled Blacky and Browny out of the +way in her eagerness to get the best and biggest bits for herself. Her +mother often scolded her for her selfishness, and told her that some day +she would suffer for being so greedy and grabbing. + +Blacky was a good, nice little pig, neither dirty nor greedy. He had +nice dainty ways (for a pig), and his skin was always as smooth and +shining as black satin. He was much cleverer than Browny and Whitey, and +his mother's heart used to swell with pride when she heard the farmer's +friends say to each other that some day the little black fellow would be +a prize pig. + +Now the time came when the mother pig felt old and feeble and near her +end. One day she called the three little pigs round her and said: + +'My children, I feel that I am growing odd and weak, and that I shall +not live long. Before I die I should like to build a house for each +of you, as this dear old sty in which we have lived so happily will +be given to a new family of pigs, and you will have to turn out. Now, +Browny, what sort of a house would you like to have?' + +'A house of mud,' replied Browny, looking longingly at a wet puddle in +the corner of the yard. + +'And you, Whitey?' said the mother pig in rather a sad voice, for she +was disappointed that Browny had made so foolish a choice. + +'A house of cabbage,' answered Whitey, with a mouth full, and scarcely +raising her snout out of the trough in which she was grubbing for some +potato-parings. + +'Foolish, foolish child!' said the mother pig, looking quite distressed. +'And you, Blacky?' turning to her youngest son, 'what sort of a house +shall I order for you?' + +'A house of brick, please mother, as it will be warm in winter, and cool +in summer, and safe all the year round.' + +'That is a sensible little pig,' replied his mother, looking fondly at +him. 'I will see that the three houses are got ready at once. And now +one last piece of advice. You have heard me talk of our old enemy the +fox. When he hears that I am dead, he is sure to try and get hold of +you, to carry you off to his den. He is very sly and will no doubt +disguise himself, and pretend to be a friend, but you must promise me +not to let him enter your houses on any pretext whatever.' + +And the little pigs readily promised, for they had always had a great +fear of the fox, of whom they had heard many terrible tales. A short +time afterwards the old pig died, and the little pigs went to live in +their own houses. + +Browny was quite delighted with his soft mud walls and with the clay +floor, which soon looked like nothing but a big mud pie. But that was +what Browny enjoyed, and he was as happy as possible, rolling about all +day and making himself in such a mess. One day, as he was lying half +asleep in the mud, he heard a soft knock at his door, and a gentle voice +said: + +'May I come in, Master Browny? I want to see your beautiful new house.' + +'Who are you?' said Browny, starting up in great fright, for though the +voice sounded gentle, he felt sure it was a feigned voice, and he feared +it was the fox. + +'I am a friend come to call on you,' answered the voice. + +'No, no,' replied Browny, 'I don't believe you are a friend. You are the +wicked fox, against whom our mother warned us. I won't let you in.' + +'Oho! is that the way you answer me?' said the fox, speaking very +roughly in his natural voice. 'We shall soon see who is master here,' +and with his paws he set to work and scraped a large hole in the soft +mud walls. A moment later he had jumped through it, and catching Browny +by the neck, flung him on his shoulders and trotted off with him to his +den. + +The next day, as Whitey was munching a few leaves of cabbage out of the +corner of her house, the fox stole up to her door, determined to carry +her off to join her brother in his den. He began speaking to her in +the same feigned gentle voice in which he had spoken to Browny; but it +frightened her very much when he said: + +'I am a friend come to visit you, and to have some of your good cabbage +for my dinner.' + +'Please don't touch it,' cried Whitey in great distress. 'The cabbages +are the walls of my house, and if you eat them you will make a hole, and +the wind and rain will come in and give me a cold. Do go away; I am sure +you are not a friend, but our wicked enemy the fox.' And poor Whitey +began to whine and to whimper, and to wish that she had not been such +a greedy little pig, and had chosen a more solid material than cabbages +for her house. But it was too late now, and in another minute the +fox had eaten his way through the cabbage walls, and had caught the +trembling, shivering Whitey, and carried her off to his den. + +The next day the fox started off for Blacky's house, because he had made +up his mind that he would get the three little pigs together in his den, +and then kill them, and invite all his friends to a feast. But when he +reached the brick house, he found that the door was bolted and barred, +so in his sly manner he began, 'Do let me in, dear Blacky. I have +brought you a present of some eggs that I picked up in a farmyard on my +way here.' + +'No, no, Mister Fox,' replied Blacky, 'I am not going to open my door +to you. I know your cunning ways. You have carried off poor Browny and +Whitey, but you are not going to get me.' + +At this the fox was so angry that he dashed with all his force against +the wall, and tried to knock it down. But it was too strong and +well-built; and though the fox scraped and tore at the bricks with his +paws he only hurt himself, and at last he had to give it up, and limp +away with his fore-paws all bleeding and sore. + +'Never mind!' he cried angrily as he went off, 'I'll catch you another +day, see if I don't, and won't I grind your bones to powder when I have +got you in my den!' and he snarled fiercely and showed his teeth. + +Next day Blacky had to go into the neighbouring town to do some +marketing and to buy a big kettle. As he was walking home with it slung +over his shoulder, he heard a sound of steps stealthily creeping after +him. For a moment his heart stood still with fear, and then a happy +thought came to him. He had just reached the top of a hill, and could +see his own little house nestling at the foot of it among the trees. +In a moment he had snatched the lid off the kettle and had jumped in +himself. Coiling himself round he lay quite snug in the bottom of the +kettle, while with his fore-leg he managed to put the lid on, so that he +was entirely hidden. With a little kick from the inside he started the +kettle off, and down the hill it rolled full tilt; and when the fox came +up, all that he saw was a large black kettle spinning over the ground +at a great pace. Very much disappointed, he was just going to turn away, +when he saw the kettle stop close to the little brick house, and in a +moment later Blacky jumped out of it and escaped with the kettle into +the house, when he barred and bolted the door, and put the shutter up +over the window. + +'Oho!' exclaimed the fox to himself, 'you think you will escape me that +way, do you? We shall soon see about that, my friend,' and very quietly +and stealthily he prowled round the house looking for some way to climb +on to the roof. + +In the meantime Blacky had filled the kettle with water, and having put +it on the fire, sat down quietly waiting for it to boil. Just as the +kettle was beginning to sing, and steam to come out of the spout, +he heard a sound like a soft, muffled step, patter, patter, patter +overhead, and the next moment the fox's head and fore-paws were seen +coming down the chimney. But Blacky very wisely had not put the lid +on the kettle, and, with a yelp of pain, the fox fell into the boiling +water, and before he could escape, Blacky had popped the lid on, and the +fox was scalded to death. + +As soon as he was sure that their wicked enemy was really dead, and +could do them no further harm, Blacky started off to rescue Browny and +Whitey. As he approached the den he heard piteous grunts and squeals +from his poor little brother and sister who lived in constant terror of +the fox killing and eating them. But when they saw Blacky appear at the +entrance to the den their joy knew no bounds. He quickly found a sharp +stone and cut the cords by which they were tied to a stake in the +ground, and then all three started off together for Blacky's house, +where they lived happily ever after; and Browny quite gave up rolling +in the mud, and Whitey ceased to be greedy, for they never forgot how +nearly these faults had brought them to an untimely end. + + + + + +HEART OF ICE + + + +Once upon a time there lived a King and Queen who were foolish beyond +all telling, but nevertheless they were vastly fond of one another. It +is true that certain spiteful people were heard to say that this was +only one proof the more of their exceeding foolishness, but of course +you will understand that these were not their own courtiers, since, +after all, they were a King and Queen, and up to this time all things +had prospered with them. For in those days the one thing to be thought +of in governing a kingdom was to keep well with all the Fairies and +Enchanters, and on no account to stint them of the cakes, the ells of +ribbon, and similar trifles which were their due, and, above all things, +when there was a christening, to remember to invite every single one, +good, bad, or indifferent, to the ceremony. Now, the foolish Queen had +one little son who was just going to be christened, and for several +months she had been hard at work preparing an enormous list of the names +of those who were to be invited, but she quite forgot that it would take +nearly as long to read it over as it had taken to write it out. So, when +the moment of the christening arrived the King--to whom the task had +been entrusted--had barely reached the end of the second page and his +tongue was tripping with fatigue and haste as he repeated the usual +formula: 'I conjure and pray you, Fairy so-and-so'--or 'Enchanter +such-a-one'--'to honour me with a visit, and graciously bestow your +gifts upon my son.' + +To make matters worse, word was brought to him that the Fairies asked on +the first page had already arrived and were waiting impatiently in +the Great Hall, and grumbling that nobody was there to receive them. +Thereupon he gave up the list in despair and hurried to greet those whom +he had succeeded in asking, imploring their goodwill so humbly that most +of them were touched, and promised that they would do his son no harm. +But there happened to be among them a Fairy from a far country about +whom they knew nothing, though her name had been written on the first +page of the list. This Fairy was annoyed that after having taken the +trouble to come so quickly, there had been no one to receive her, or +help her to alight from the great ostrich on which she had travelled +from her distant home, and now she began to mutter to herself in the +most alarming way. + +'Oh! prate away,' said she, 'your son will never be anything to boast +of. Say what you will, he will be nothing but a Mannikin--' + +No doubt she would have gone on longer in this strain, and given the +unhappy little Prince half-a-dozen undesirable gifts, if it had not +been for the good Fairy Genesta, who held the kingdom under her special +protection, and who luckily hurried in just in time to prevent further +mischief. When she had by compliments and entreaties pacified the +unknown Fairy, and persuaded her to say no more, she gave the King +a hint that now was the time to distribute the presents, after which +ceremony they all took their departure, excepting the Fairy Genesta, who +then went to see the Queen, and said to her: + +'A nice mass you seem to have made of this business, madam. Why did you +not condescend to consult me? But foolish people like you always think +they can do without help or advice, and I observe that, in spite of all +my goodness to you, you had not even the civility to invite me!' + +'Ah! dear madam,' cried the King, throwing himself at her feet; 'did I +ever have time to get as far as your name? See where I put in this mark +when I abandoned the hopeless undertaking which I had but just begun!' + +'There! there!' said the Fairy, 'I am not offended. I don't allow myself +to be put out by trifles like that with people I really am fond of. +But now about your son: I have saved him from a great many disagreeable +things, but you must let me take him away and take care of him, and you +will not see him again until he is all covered with fur!' + +At these mysterious words the King and Queen burst into tears, for they +lived in such a hot climate themselves that how or why the Prince should +come to be covered with fur they could not imagine, and thought it must +portend some great misfortune to him. + +However, Genesta told them not to disquiet themselves. + +'If I left him to you to bring up,' said she, 'you would be certain to +make him as foolish as yourselves. I do not even intend to let him +know that he is your son. As for you, you had better give your minds to +governing your kingdom properly.' So saying, she opened the window, and +catching up the little Prince, cradle and all, she glided away in the +air as if she were skating upon ice, leaving the King and Queen in the +greatest affliction. They consulted everyone who came near them as to +what the Fairy could possibly have meant by saying that when they saw +their son again he would be covered with fur. But nobody could offer any +solution of the mystery, only they all seemed to agree that it must +be something frightful, and the King and Queen made themselves more +miserable than ever, and wandered about their palace in a way to make +anyone pity them. Meantime the Fairy had carried off the little Prince +to her own castle, and placed him under the care of a young peasant +woman, whom she bewitched so as to make her think that this new baby +was one of her own children. So the Prince grew up healthy and strong, +leading the simple life of a young peasant, for the Fairy thought that +he could have no better training; only as he grew older she kept him +more and more with herself, that his mind might be cultivated and +exercised as well as his body. But her care did not cease there: she +resolved that he should be tried by hardships and disappointments and +the knowledge of his fellowmen; for indeed she knew the Prince would +need every advantage that she could give him, since, though he increased +in years, he did not increase in height, but remained the tiniest of +Princes. However, in spite of this he was exceedingly active and well +formed, and altogether so handsome and agreeable that the smallness of +his stature was of no real consequence. The Prince was perfectly aware +that he was called by the ridiculous name of 'Mannikin,' but he consoled +himself by vowing that, happen what might, he would make it illustrious. + +In order to carry out her plans for his welfare the Fairy now began to +send Prince Mannikin the most wonderful dreams of adventure by sea and +land, and of these adventures he himself was always the hero. Sometimes +he rescued a lovely Princess from some terrible danger, again he earned +a kingdom by some brave deed, until at last he longed to go away and +seek his fortune in a far country where his humble birth would not +prevent his gaining honour and riches by his courage, and it was with a +heart full of ambitious projects that he rode one day into a great city +not far from the Fairy's castle. As he had set out intending to hunt in +the surrounding forest he was quite simply dressed, and carried only +a bow and arrows and a light spear; but even thus arrayed he looked +graceful and distinguished. As he entered the city he saw that the +inhabitants were all racing with one accord towards the market-place, +and he also turned his horse in the same direction, curious to know +what was going forward. When he reached the spot he found that certain +foreigners of strange and outlandish appearance were about to make a +proclamation to the assembled citizens, and he hastily pushed his +way into the crowd until he was near enough to hear the words of the +venerable old man who was their spokesman: + +'Let the whole world know that he who can reach the summit of the Ice +Mountain shall receive as his reward, not only the incomparable Sabella, +fairest of the fair, but also all the realms of which she is Queen!' +'Here,' continued the old man after he had made this proclamation--'here +is the list of all those Princes who, struck by the beauty of the +Princess, have perished in the attempt to win her; and here is the list +of these who have just entered upon the high emprise.' + +Prince Mannikin was seized with a violent desire to inscribe his name +among the others, but the remembrance of his dependent position and his +lack of wealth held him back. But while he hesitated the old man, with +many respectful ceremonies, unveiled a portrait of the lovely Sabella, +which was carried by some of the attendants, and after one glance at it +the Prince delayed no longer, but, rushing forward, demanded permission +to add his name to the list. When they saw his tiny stature anti simple +attire the strangers looked at each other doubtfully, not knowing +whether to accept or refuse him. But the Prince said haughtily: + +'Give me the paper that I may sign it,' and they obeyed. What between +admiration for the Princess and annoyance at the hesitation shown by her +ambassadors the Prince was too much agitated to choose any other name +than the one by which he was always known. But when, after all the grand +titles of the other Princes, he simply wrote 'Mannikin,' the ambassadors +broke into shouts of laughter. + +'Miserable wretches!' cried the Prince; 'but for the presence of that +lovely portrait I would cut off your heads.' + +But he suddenly remembered that, after all, it was a funny name, and +that he had not yet had time to make it famous; so he was calm, and +enquired the way to the Princess Sabella's country. + +Though his heart did not fail him in the least, still he felt there +were many difficulties before him, and he resolved to set out at once, +without even taking leave of the Fairy, for fear she might try to stop +him. Everybody in the town who knew him made great fun of the idea of +Mannikin's undertaking such an expedition, and it even came to the ears +of the foolish King and Queen, who laughed over it more than any of the +others, without having an idea that the presumptuous Mannikin was their +only son! + +Meantime the Prince was travelling on, though the direction he had +received for his journey were none of the clearest. + +'Four hundred leagues north of Mount Caucasus you will receive your +orders and instructions for the conquest of the Ice Mountain.' + +Fine marching orders, those, for a man starting from a country near +where Japan is nowadays! + +However, he fared eastward, avoiding all towns, lest the people +should laugh at his name, for, you see, he was not a very experienced +traveller, and had not yet learned to enjoy a joke even if it were +against himself. At night he slept in the woods, and at first he lived +upon wild fruits; but the Fairy, who was keeping a benevolent eye upon +him, thought that it would never do to let him be half-starved in that +way, so she took to feeding him with all sorts of good things while he +was asleep, and the Prince wondered very much that when he was awake +he never felt hungry! True to her plan the Fairy sent him various +adventures to prove his courage, and he came successfully through them +all, only in his last fight with a furious monster rather like a tiger +he had the ill luck to lose his horse. However, nothing daunted, he +struggled on on foot, and at last reached a seaport. Here he found a +boat sailing for the coast which he desired to reach, and, having just +enough money to pay his passage, he went on board and they started. But +after some days a fearful storm came on, which completely wrecked the +little ship, and the Prince only saved his life by swimming a long, long +way to the only land that was in sight, and which proved to be a desert +island. Here he lived by fishing and hunting, always hoping that the +good Fairy would presently rescue him. One day, as he was looking sadly +out to sea, he became aware of a curious looking boat which was drifting +slowly towards the shore, and which presently ran into a little creek +and there stuck fast in the sand. Prince Mannikin rushed down eagerly +to examine it, and saw with amazement that the masts and spars were all +branched, and covered thickly with leaves until it looked like a little +wood. Thinking from the stillness that there could be no one on board, +the Prince pushed aside the branches and sprang over the side, and found +himself surrounded by the crew, who lay motionless as dead men and in a +most deplorable condition. They, too, had become almost like trees, +and were growing to the deck, or to the masts, or to the sides of +the vessel, or to whatever they had happened to be touching when the +enchantment fell upon them. Mannikin was struck with pity for their +miserable plight, and set to work with might and main to release them. +With the sharp point of one of his arrows he gently detached their hands +and feet from the wood which held them fast, and carried them on shore, +one after another, where he rubbed their rigid limbs, and bathed them +with infusions of various herbs with such success, that, after a few +days, they recovered perfectly and were as fit to manage a boat as ever. +You may be sure that the good Fairy Genesta had something to do with +this marvellous cure, and she also put it into the Prince's head to rub +the boat itself with the same magic herbs, which cleared it entirely, +and not before it was time, for, at the rate at which it was growing +before, it would very soon have become a forest! The gratitude of the +sailors was extreme, and they willingly promised to land the Prince +upon any coast he pleased; but, when he questioned them about the +extraordinary thing that had happened to them and to their ship, they +could in no way explain it, except that they said that, as they were +passing along a thickly wooded coast, a sudden gust of wind had reached +them from the land and enveloped them in a dense cloud of dust, after +which everything in the boat that was not metal had sprouted and +blossomed, as the Prince had seen, and that they themselves had grown +gradually numb and heavy, and had finally lost all consciousness. Prince +Mannikin was deeply interested in this curious story, and collected a +quantity of the dust from the bottom of the boat, which he carefully +preserved, thinking that its strange property might one day stand him in +good stead. + +Then they joyfully left the desert island, and after a long and +prosperous voyage over calm seas they at length came in sight of land, +and resolved to go on shore, not only to take in a fresh stock of water +and provisions, but also to find out, if possible, where they were and +in what direction to proceed. + +As they neared the coast they wondered if this could be another +uninhabited land, for no human beings could be distinguished, and yet +that something was stirring became evident, for in the dust-clouds +that moved near the ground small dark forms were dimly visible. These +appeared to be assembling at the exact spot where they were preparing to +run ashore, and what was their surprise to find they were nothing more +nor less than large and beautiful spaniels, some mounted as sentries, +others grouped in companies and regiments, all eagerly watching their +disembarkation. When they found that Prince Mannikin, instead of saying, +'Shoot them,' as they had feared, said 'Hi, good dog!' in a thoroughly +friendly and ingratiating way, they crowded round him with a great +wagging of tails and giving of paws, and very soon made him understand +that they wanted him to leave his men with the boat and follow them. The +Prince was so curious to know more about them that he agreed willingly; +so, after arranging with the sailors to wait for him fifteen days, and +then, if he had not come back, to go on their way without him, he set +out with his new friends. Their way lay inland, and Mannikin noticed +with great surprise that the fields were well cultivated and that the +carts and ploughs were drawn by horses or oxen, just as they might have +been in any other country, and when they passed any village the cottages +were trim and pretty, and an air of prosperity was everywhere. At one of +the villages a dainty little repast was set before the Prince, and while +he was eating, a chariot was brought, drawn by two splendid horses, +which were driven with great skill by a large spaniel. In this carriage +he continued his journey very comfortably, passing many similar +equipages upon the road, and being always most courteously saluted by +the spaniels who occupied them. At last they drove rapidly into a large +town, which Prince Mannikin had no doubt was the capital of the +kingdom. News of his approach had evidently been received, for all the +inhabitants were at their doors and windows, and all the little spaniels +had climbed upon the wall and gates to see him arrive. The Prince was +delighted with the hearty welcome they gave him, and looked round him +with the deepest interest. After passing through a few wide streets, +well paved, and adorned with avenues of fine trees, they drove into +the courtyard of a grand palace, which was full of spaniels who were +evidently soldiers. 'The King's body-guard,' thought the Prince to +himself as he returned their salutations, and then the carriage stopped, +and he was shown into the presence of the King, who lay upon a rich +Persian carpet surrounded by several little spaniels, who were occupied +in chasing away the flies lest they should disturb his Majesty. He was +the most beautiful of all spaniels, with a look of sadness in his large +eyes, which, however, quite disappeared as he sprang up to welcome +Prince Mannikin with every demonstration of delight; after which he made +a sign to his courtiers, who came one by one to pay their respects to +the visitor. The Prince thought that he would find himself puzzled as +to how he should carry on a conversation, but as soon as he and the King +were once more left alone, a Secretary of State was sent for, who wrote +from his Majesty's dictation a most polite speech, in which he regretted +much that they were unable to converse, except in writing, the language +of dogs being difficult to understand. As for the writing, it had +remained the same as the Prince's own. + +Mannikin thereupon wrote a suitable reply, and then begged the King to +satisfy his curiosity about all the strange things he had seen and heard +since his landing. This appeared to awaken sad recollections in the +King's mind, but he informed the Prince that he was called King Bayard, +and that a Fairy, whose kingdom was next his own, had fallen violently +in love with him, and had done all she could to persuade him to marry +her; but that he could not do so as he himself was the devoted lover +of the Queen of the Spice Islands. Finally, the Fairy, furious at the +indifference with which her love was treated, had reduced him to the +state in which the Prince found him, leaving him unchanged in mind, +but deprived of the power of speech; and, not content with wreaking her +vengeance upon the King alone, she had condemned all his subjects to a +similar fate, saying: + +'Bark, and run upon four feet, until the time comes when virtue shall be +rewarded by love and fortune.' + +Which, as the poor King remarked, was very much the same thing as if she +had said, 'Remain a spaniel for ever and ever.' + +Prince Mannikin was quite of the same opinion; nevertheless he said what +we should all have said in the same circumstances: + +'Your Majesty must have patience.' + +He was indeed deeply sorry for poor King Bayard, and said all the +consoling things he could think of, promising to aid him with all +his might if there was anything to be done. In short they became firm +friends, and the King proudly displayed to Mannikin the portrait of the +Queen of the Spice Islands, and he quite agreed that it was worth while +to go through anything for the sake of a creature so lovely. Prince +Mannikin in his turn told his own history, and the great undertaking +upon which he had set out, and King Bayard was able to give him some +valuable instructions as to which would be the best way for him to +proceed, and then they went together to the place where the boat had +been left. The sailors were delighted to see the Prince again, though +they had known that he was safe, and when they had taken on board all +the supplies which the King had sent for them, they started once more. +The King and Prince parted with much regret, and the former insisted +that Mannikin should take with him one of his own pages, named Mousta, +who was charged to attend to him everywhere, and serve him faithfully, +which he promised to do. + +The wind being favourable they were soon out of hearing of the general +howl of regret from the whole army, which had been given by order of +the King, as a great compliment, and it was not long before the land +was entirely lost to view. They met with no further adventures worth +speaking of, and presently found themselves within two leagues of the +harbour for which they were making. The Prince, however, thought it +would suit him better to land where he was, so as to avoid the town, +since he had no money left and was very doubtful as to what he should +do next. So the sailors set him and Mousta on shore, and then went back +sorrowfully to their ship, while the Prince and his attendant walked off +in what looked to them the most promising direction. They soon reached +a lovely green meadow on the border of a wood, which seemed to them so +pleasant after their long voyage that they sat down to rest in the shade +and amused themselves by watching the gambols and antics of a pretty +tiny monkey in the trees close by. The Prince presently became so +fascinated by it that he sprang up and tried to catch it, but it eluded +his grasp and kept just out of arm's reach, until it had made him +promise to follow wherever it led him, and then it sprang upon his +shoulder and whispered in his ear: + +'We have no money, my poor Mannikin, and we are altogether badly off, +and at a loss to know what to do next.' + +'Yes, indeed,' answered the Prince ruefully, 'and I have nothing to give +you, no sugar or biscuits, or anything that you like, my pretty one.' + +'Since you are so thoughtful for me, and so patient about your own +affairs,' said the little monkey, 'I will show you the way to the Golden +Rock, only you must leave Mousta to wait for you here.' + +Prince Mannikin agreed willingly, and then the little monkey sprang from +his shoulder to the nearest tree, and began to run through the wood from +branch to branch, crying, 'Follow me.' + +This the Prince did not find quite so easy, but the little monkey waited +for him and showed him the easiest places, until presently the wood grew +thinner and they came out into a little clear grassy space at the foot +of a mountain, in the midst of which stood a single rock, about ten feet +high. When they were quite close to it the little monkey said: + +'This stone looks pretty hard, but give it a blow with your spear and +let us see what will happen.' + +So the Prince took his spear and gave the rock a vigorous dig, which +split off several pieces, and showed that, though the surface was thinly +coated with stone, inside it was one solid mass of pure gold. + +Thereupon the little monkey said, laughing at his astonishment: + +'I make you a present of what you have broken off; take as much of it as +you think proper.' + +The Prince thanked her gratefully, and picked up one of the smallest +of the lumps of gold; as he did so the little monkey was suddenly +transformed into a tall and gracious lady, who said to him: + +'If you are always as kind and persevering and easily contented as you +are now you may hope to accomplish the most difficult tasks; go on your +way and have no fear that you will be troubled any more for lack of +gold, for that little piece which you modestly chose shall never grow +less, use it as much as you will. But that you may see the danger you +have escaped by your moderation, come with me.' So saying she led him +back into the wood by a different path, and he saw that it was full of +men and women; their faces were pale and haggard, and they ran hither +and thither seeking madly upon the ground, or in the air, starting at +every sound, pushing and trampling upon one another in their frantic +eagerness to find the way to the Golden Rock. + +'You see how they toil,' said the Fairy; 'but it is all of no avail: +they will end by dying of despair, as hundreds have done before them.' + +As soon as they had got back to the place where they had left Mousta +the Fairy disappeared, and the Prince and his faithful Squire, who had +greeted him with every demonstration of joy, took the nearest way to the +city. Here they stayed several days, while the Prince provided himself +with horses and attendants, and made many enquiries about the Princess +Sabella, and the way to her kingdom, which was still so far away that he +could hear but little, and that of the vaguest description, but when he +presently reached Mount Caucasus it was quite a different matter. Here +they seemed to talk of nothing but the Princess Sabella, and strangers +from all parts of the world were travelling towards her father's Court. + +The Prince heard plenty of assurances as to her beauty and her riches, +but he also heard of the immense number of his rivals and their power. +One brought an army at his back, another had vast treasures, a third was +as handsome and accomplished as it was possible to be; while, as to poor +Mannikin, he had nothing but his determination to succeed, his faithful +spaniel, and his ridiculous name--which last was hardly likely to help +him, but as he could not alter it he wisely determined not to think of +it any more. After journeying for two whole months they came at last to +Trelintin, the capital of the Princess Sabella's kingdom, and here he +heard dismal stories about the Ice Mountain, and how none of those who +had attempted to climb it had ever come back. He heard also the story of +King Farda-Kinbras, Sabella's father. It appeared that he, being a rich +and powerful monarch, had married a lovely Princess named Birbantine, +and they were as happy as the day was long--so happy that as they were +out sledging one day they were foolish enough to defy fate to spoil +their happiness. + +'We shall see about that,' grumbled an old hag who sat by the wayside +blowing her fingers to keep them warm. The King thereupon was very +angry, and wanted to punish the woman; but the Queen prevented him, +saying: + +'Alas! sire, do not let us make bad worse; no doubt this is a Fairy!' + +'You are right there,' said the old woman, and immediately she stood up, +and as they gazed at her in horror she grew gigantic and terrible, her +staff turned to a fiery dragon with outstretched wings, her ragged cloak +to a golden mantle, and her wooden shoes to two bundles of rockets. 'You +are right there, and you will see what will come of your fine goings on, +and remember the Fairy Gorgonzola!' So saying she mounted the dragon and +flew off, the rockets shooting in all directions and leaving long trails +of sparks. + +In vain did Farda-Kinbras and Birbantine beg her to return, and +endeavour by their humble apologies to pacify her; she never so much as +looked at them, and was very soon out of sight, leaving them a prey to +all kinds of dismal forebodings. Very soon after this the Queen had a +little daughter, who was the most beautiful creature ever seen; all the +Fairies of the North were invited to her christening, and warned against +the malicious Gorgonzola. She also was invited, but she neither came to +the banquet nor received her present; but as soon as all the others were +seated at table, after bestowing their gifts upon the little Princess, +she stole into the Palace, disguised as a black cat, and hid herself +under the cradle until the nurses and the cradle-rockers had all turned +their backs, and then she sprang out, and in an instant had stolen the +little Princess's heart and made her escape, only being chased by a few +dogs and scullions on her way across the courtyard. Once outside she +mounted her chariot and flew straight away to the North Pole, where +she shut up her stolen treasure on the summit of the Ice Mountain, and +surrounded it with so many difficulties that she felt quite easy about +its remaining there as long as the Princess lived, and then she went +home, chuckling at her success. As to the other Fairies, they went home +after the banquet without discovering that anything was amiss, and so +the King and Queen were quite happy. Sabella grew prettier day by day. +She learnt everything a Princess ought to know without the slightest +trouble, and yet something always seemed lacking to make her perfectly +charming. She had an exquisite voice, but whether her songs were grave +or gay it did not matter, she did not seem to know what they meant; and +everyone who heard her said: + +'She certainly sings perfectly; but there is no tenderness, no heart in +her voice.' Poor Sabella! how could there be when her heart was far away +on the Ice Mountains? And it was just the same with all the other things +that she did. As time went on, in spite of the admiration of the whole +Court and the blind fondness of the King and Queen, it became more and +more evident that something was fatally wrong: for those who love no one +cannot long be loved; and at last the King called a general assembly, +and invited the Fairies to attend, that they might, if possible, find +out what was the matter. After explaining their grief as well as he +could, he ended by begging them to see the Princess for themselves. 'It +is certain,' said he, 'that something is wrong--what it is I don't know +how to tell you, but in some way your work is imperfect.' + +They all assured him that, so far as they knew, everything had been done +for the Princess, and they had forgotten nothing that they could bestow +on so good a neighbour as the King had been to them. After this they +went to see Sabella; but they had no sooner entered her presence than +they cried out with one accord: + +'Oh! horror!--she has no heart!' + +On hearing this frightful announcement, the King and Queen gave a cry +of despair, and entreated the Fairies to find some remedy for such an +unheard-of misfortune. Thereupon the eldest Fairy consulted her Book of +Magic, which she always carried about with her, hung to her girdle by +a thick silver chain, and there she found out at once that it was +Gorgonzola who had stolen the Princess's heart, and also discovered what +the wicked old Fairy had done with it. + +'What shall we do? What shall we do?' cried the King and Queen in one +breath. + +'You must certainly suffer much annoyance from seeing and loving +Sabella, who is nothing but a beautiful image,' replied the Fairy, 'and +this must go on for a long time; but I think I see that, in the end, +she will once more regain her heart. My advice is that you shall at once +cause her portrait to be sent all over the world, and promise her hand +and all her possessions to the Prince who is successful in reaching her +heart. Her beauty alone is sufficient to engage all the Princes of the +world in the quest.' + +This was accordingly done, and Prince Mannikin heard that already five +hundred Princes had perished in the snow and ice, not to mention their +squires and pages, and that more continued to arrive daily, eager to try +their fortune. After some consideration he determined to present +himself at Court; but his arrival made no stir, as his retinue was as +inconsiderable as his stature, and the splendour of his rivals was great +enough to throw even Farda-Kinbras himself into the shade. However, he +paid his respects to the King very gracefully, and asked permission to +kiss the hand of the Princess in the usual manner; but when he said he +was called 'Mannikin,' the King could hardly repress a smile, and the +Princes who stood by openly shouted with laughter. + +Turning to the King, Prince Mannikin said with great dignity: + +'Pray laugh if it pleases your Majesty, I am glad that it is in my +power to afford you any amusement; but I am not a plaything for these +gentlemen, and I must beg them to dismiss any ideas of that kind from +their minds at once,' and with that he turned upon the one who had +laughed the loudest and proudly challenged him to a single combat. This +Prince, who was called Fadasse, accepted the challenge very scornfully, +mocking at Mannikin, whom he felt sure had no chance against himself; +but the meeting was arranged for the next day. When Prince Mannikin +quitted the King's presence he was conducted to the audience hall of the +Princess Sabella. The sight of so much beauty and magnificence almost +took his breath away for an instant, but, recovering himself with an +effort, he said: + +'Lovely Princess, irresistibly drawn by the beauty of your portrait, +I come from the other end of the world to offer my services to you. My +devotion knows no bounds, but my absurd name has already involved me in +a quarrel with one of your courtiers. Tomorrow I am to fight this ugly, +overgrown Prince, and I beg you to honour the combat with your presence, +and prove to the world that there is nothing in a name, and that you +deign to accept Mannikin as your knight.' + +When it came to this the Princess could not help being amused, for, +though she had no heart, she was not without humour. However, she +answered graciously that she accepted with pleasure, which encouraged +the Prince to entreat further that she would not show any favour to his +adversary. + +'Alas!' said she, 'I favour none of these foolish people, who weary me +with their sentiment and their folly. I do very well as I am, and yet +from one year's end to another they talk of nothing but delivering me +from some imaginary affliction. Not a word do I understand of all their +pratings about love, and who knows what dull things besides, which, I +declare to you, I cannot even remember.' + +Mannikin was quick enough to gather from this speech that to amuse and +interest the Princess would be a far surer way of gaining her favour +than to add himself to the list of those who continually teased her +about that mysterious thing called 'love' which she was so incapable of +comprehending. So he began to talk of his rivals, and found in each +of them something to make merry over, in which diversion the Princess +joined him heartily, and so well did he succeed in his attempt to amuse +her that before very long she declared that of all the people at Court +he was the one to whom she preferred to talk. + +The following day, at the time appointed for the combat, when the King, +the Queen, and the Princess had taken their places, and the whole Court +and the whole town were assembled to see the show, Prince Fadasse +rode into the lists magnificently armed and accoutred, followed by +twenty-four squires and a hundred men-at-arms, each one leading, a +splendid horse, while Prince Mannikin entered from the other side armed +only with his spear and followed by the faithful Mousta. The contrast +between the two champions was so great that there was a shout of +laughter from the whole assembly; but when at the sounding of a trumpet +the combatants rushed upon each other, and Mannikin, eluding the blow +aimed at him, succeeded in thrusting Prince Fadasse from his horse +and pinning him to the sand with his spear, it changed to a murmur of +admiration. + +So soon as he had him at his mercy, however, Mannikin, turning to the +Princess, assured her that he had no desire to kill anyone who called +himself her courtier, and then he bade the furious and humiliated +Fadasse rise and thank the Princess to whom he owed his life. Then, amid +the sounding of the trumpets and the shoutings of the people, he and +Mousta retired gravely from the lists. + +The King soon sent for him to congratulate him upon his success, and to +offer him a lodging in the Palace, which he joyfully accepted. While the +Princess expressed a wish to have Mousta brought to her, and, when the +Prince sent for him, she was so delighted with his courtly manners and +his marvellous intelligence that she entreated Mannikin to give him to +her for her own. The Prince consented with alacrity, not only out of +politeness, but because he foresaw that to have a faithful friend always +near the Princess might some day be of great service to him. All these +events made Prince Mannikin a person of much more consequence at the +Court. Very soon after, there arrived upon the frontier the Ambassador +of a very powerful King, who sent to Farda-Kinbras the following letter, +at the same time demanding permission to enter the capital in state to +receive the answer: + +'I, Brandatimor, to Farda-Kinbras send greeting. If I had before this +time seen the portrait of your beautiful daughter Sabella I should not +have permitted all these adventurers and petty Princes to be dancing +attendance and getting themselves frozen with the absurd idea of +meriting her hand. For myself I am not afraid of any rivals, and, now I +have declared my intention of marrying your daughter, no doubt they will +at once withdraw their pretensions. My Ambassador has orders, therefore, +to make arrangements for the Princess to come and be married to me +without delay--for I attach no importance at all to the farrago of +nonsense which you have caused to be published all over the world about +this Ice Mountain. If the Princess really has no heart, be assured that +I shall not concern myself about it, since, if anybody can help her to +discover one, it is myself. My worthy father-in-law, farewell!' + +The reading of this letter embarrassed and displeased Farda-Kinbras and +Birbantine immensely, while the Princess was furious at the insolence +of the demand. They all three resolved that its contents must be kept a +profound secret until they could decide what reply should be sent, but +Mousta contrived to send word of all that had passed to Prince Mannikin. +He was naturally alarmed and indignant, and, after thinking it over a +little, he begged an audience of the Princess, and led the conversation +so cunningly up to the subject that was uppermost in her thoughts, as +well as his own, that she presently told him all about the matter and +asked his advice as to what it would be best to do. This was exactly +what he had not been able to decide for himself; however, he replied +that he should advise her to gain a little time by promising her answer +after the grand entry of the Ambassador, and this was accordingly done. + +The Ambassador did not at all like being put off after that fashion, but +he was obliged to be content, and only said very arrogantly that so soon +as his equipages arrived, as he expected they would do very shortly, +he would give all the people of the city, and the stranger Princes with +whom it was inundated, an idea of the power and the magnificence of his +master. Mannikin, in despair, resolved that he would for once beg the +assistance of the kind Fairy Genesta. He often thought of her and always +with gratitude, but from the moment of his setting out he had determined +to seek her aid only on the greatest occasions. That very night, when he +had fallen asleep quite worn out with thinking over all the difficulties +of the situation, he dreamed that the Fairy stood beside him, and said: + +'Mannikin, you have done very well so far; continue to please me and +you shall always find good friends when you need them most. As for this +affair with the Ambassador, you can assure Sabella that she may look +forward tranquilly to his triumphal entry, since it will all turn out +well for her in the end.' + +The Prince tried to throw himself at her feet to thank her, but woke to +find it was all a dream; nevertheless he took fresh courage, and went +next day to see the Princess, to whom he gave many mysterious assurances +that all would yet be well. He even went so far as to ask her if she +would not be very grateful to anyone who would rid her of the insolent +Brandatimor. To which she replied that her gratitude would know no +bounds. Then he wanted to know what would be her best wish for the +person who was lucky enough to accomplish it. To which she said that she +would wish them to be as insensible to the folly called 'love' as she +was herself! + +This was indeed a crushing speech to make to such a devoted lover as +Prince Mannikin, but he concealed the pain it caused him with great +courage. + +And now the Ambassador sent to say that on the very next day he would +come in state to receive his answer, and from the earliest dawn the +inhabitants were astir, to secure the best places for the grand sight; +but the good Fairy Genesta was providing them an amount of amusement +they were far from expecting, for she so enchanted the eyes of all the +spectators that when the Ambassador's gorgeous procession appeared, the +splendid uniforms seemed to them miserable rags that a beggar would have +been ashamed to wear, the prancing horses appeared as wretched skeletons +hardly able to drag one leg after the other, while their trappings, +which really sparkled with gold and jewels, looked like old sheepskins +that would not have been good enough for a plough horse. The pages +resembled the ugliest sweeps. The trumpets gave no more sound than +whistles made of onion-stalks, or combs wrapped in paper; while the +train of fifty carriages looked no better than fifty donkey carts. In +the last of these sat the Ambassador with the haughty and scornful air +which he considered becoming in the representative of so powerful a +monarch: for this was the crowning point of the absurdity of the whole +procession, that all who took part in it wore the expression of vanity +and self-satisfaction and pride in their own appearance and all their +surroundings which they believed their splendour amply justified. + +The laughter and howls of derision from the whole crowd rose ever louder +and louder as the extraordinary cortege advanced, and at last reached +the ears of the King as he waited in the audience hall, and before the +procession reached the palace he had been informed of its nature, and, +supposing that it must be intended as an insult, he ordered the gates +to be closed. You may imagine the fury of the Ambassador when, after +all his pomp and pride, the King absolutely and unaccountably refused +to receive him. He raved wildly both against King and people, and the +cortege retired in great confusion, jeered at and pelted with stones and +mud by the enraged crowd. It is needless to say that he left the country +as fast as horses could carry him, but not before he had declared war, +with the most terrible menaces, threatening to devastate the country +with fire and sword. + +Some days after this disastrous embassy King Bayard sent couriers to +Prince Mannikin with a most friendly letter, offering his services in +any difficulty, and enquiring with the deepest interest how he fared. + +Mannikin at once replied, relating all that had happened since they +parted, not forgetting to mention the event which had just involved +Farda-Kinbras and Brandatimor in this deadly quarrel, and he ended +by entreating his faithful friend to despatch a few thousands of his +veteran spaniels to his assistance. + +Neither the King, the Queen, nor the Princess could in the least +understand the amazing conduct of Brandatimor's Ambassador; nevertheless +the preparations for the war went forward briskly and all the Princes +who had not gone on towards the Ice Mountain offered their services, at +the same time demanding all the best appointments in the King's army. +Mannikin was one of the first to volunteer, but he only asked to go as +aide-de-camp to the Commander-in chief, who was a gallant soldier and +celebrated for his victories. As soon as the army could be got together +it was marched to the frontier, where it met the opposing force headed +by Brandatimor himself, who was full of fury, determined to avenge the +insult to his Ambassador and to possess himself of the Princess Sabella. +All the army of Farda-Kinbras could do, being so heavily outnumbered, +was to act upon the defensive, and before long Mannikin won the esteem +of the officers for his ability, and of the soldiers for his courage, +and care for their welfare, and in all the skirmishes which he conducted +he had the good fortune to vanquish the enemy. + +At last Brandatimor engaged the whole army in a terrific conflict, and +though the troops of Farda-Kinbras fought with desperate courage, their +general was killed, and they were defeated and forced to retreat with +immense loss. Mannikin did wonders, and half-a-dozen times turned the +retreating forces and beat back the enemy; and he afterwards collected +troops enough to keep them in check until, the severe winter setting in, +put an end to hostilities for a while. + +He then returned to the Court, where consternation reigned. The King was +in despair at the death of his trusty general, and ended by imploring +Mannikin to take the command of the army, and his counsel was followed +in all the affairs of the Court. He followed up his former plan of +amusing the Princess, and on no account reminding her of that tedious +thing called 'love,' so that she was always glad to see him, and the +winter slipped by gaily for both of them. + +The Prince was all the while secretly making plans for the next +campaign; he received private intelligence of the arrival of a strong +reinforcement of Spaniels, to whom he sent orders to post themselves +along the frontier without attracting attention, and as soon as he +possibly could he held a consultation with their Commander, who was an +old and experienced warrior. Following his advice, he decided to have a +pitched battle as soon as the enemy advanced, and this Brandatimor lost +not a moment in doing, as he was perfectly persuaded that he was now +going to make an end of the war and utterly vanquish Farda-Kinbras. But +no sooner had he given the order to charge than the Spaniels, who had +mingled with his troops unperceived, leaped each upon the horse nearest +to him, and not only threw the whole squadron into confusion by the +terror they caused, but, springing at the throats of the riders, +unhorsed many of them by the suddenness of their attack; then turning +the horses to the rear, they spread consternation everywhere, and +made it easy for Prince Mannikin to gain a complete victory. He met +Brandatimor in single combat, and succeeded in taking him prisoner; but +he did not live to reach the Court, to which Mannikin had sent him: his +pride killed him at the thought of appearing before Sabella under these +altered circumstances. In the meantime Prince Fadasse and all the others +who had remained behind were setting out with all speed for the conquest +of the Ice Mountain, being afraid that Prince Mannikin might prove +as successful in that as he seemed to be in everything else, and when +Mannikin returned he heard of it with great annoyance. True he had +been serving the Princess, but she only admired and praised him for his +gallant deeds, and seemed no whit nearer bestowing on him the love he +so ardently desired, and all the comfort Mousta could give him on the +subject was that at least she loved no one else, and with that he had to +content himself. But he determined that, come what might, he would delay +no longer, but attempt the great undertaking for which he had come so +far. When he went to take leave of the King and Queen they entreated +him not to go, as they had just heard that Prince Fadasse, and all +who accompanied him, had perished in the snow; but he persisted in his +resolve. As for Sabella, she gave him her hand to kiss with precisely +the same gracious indifference as she had given it to him the first time +they met. It happened that this farewell took place before the whole +Court, and so great a favourite had Prince Mannikin become that they +were all indignant at the coldness with which the Princess treated him. + +Finally the King said to him: + +'Prince, you have constantly refilled all the gifts which, in my +gratitude for your invaluable services, I have offered to you, but I +wish the Princess to present you with her cloak of marten's fur, and +that I hope you will not reject!' Now this was a splendid fur mantle +which the Princess was very fond of wearing, not so much because she +felt cold, as that its richness set off to perfection the delicate tints +of her complexion and the brilliant gold of her hair. However, she took +it off, and with graceful politeness begged Prince Mannikin to accept +it, which you may be sure he was charmed to do, and, taking only this +and a little bundle of all kinds of wood, and accompanied only by two +spaniels out of the fifty who had stayed with him when the war was +ended, he set forth, receiving many tokens of love and favour from the +people in every town he passed through. At the last little village he +left his horse behind him, to begin his toilful march through the snow, +which extended, blank and terrible, in every direction as far as the eye +could see. Here he had appointed to meet the other forty-eight spaniels, +who received him joyfully, and assured him that, happen what might, +they would follow and serve him faithfully. And so they started, full +of heart and hope. At first there was a slight track, difficult, but +not impossible to follow; but this was soon lost, and the Pole Star was +their only guide. When the time came to call a halt, the Prince, who +had after much consideration decided on his plan of action, caused a few +twigs from the faggot he had brought with him to be planted in the +snow, and then he sprinkled over them a pinch of the magic powder he had +collected from the enchanted boat. To his great joy they instantly +began to sprout and grow, and in a marvellously short time the camp was +surrounded by a perfect grove of trees of all sorts, which blossomed and +bore ripe fruit, so that all their wants were easily supplied, and they +were able to make huge fires to warm themselves. The Prince then sent +out several spaniels to reconnoitre, and they had the good luck to +discover a horse laden with provisions stuck fast in the snow. They at +once fetched their comrades, and brought the spoil triumphantly into the +camp, and, as it consisted principally of biscuits, not a spaniel among +them went supperless to sleep. In this way they journeyed by day and +encamped safely at night, always remembering to take on a few branches +to provide them with food and shelter. They passed by the way armies +of those who had set out upon the perilous enterprise, who stood frozen +stiffly, without sense or motion; but Prince Mannikin strictly forbade +that any attempt should be made to thaw them. So they went on and on for +more than three months, and day by day the Ice Mountain, which they had +seen for a long time, grew clearer, until at last they stood close +to it, and shuddered at its height and steepness. But by patience and +perseverance they crept up foot by foot, aided by their fires of magic +wood, without which they must have perished in the intense cold, until +presently they stood at the gates of the magnificent Ice Palace which +crowned the mountain, where, in deadly silence and icy sleep, lay +the heart of Sabella. Now the difficulty became immense, for if they +maintained enough heat to keep themselves alive they were in danger +every moment of melting the blocks of solid ice of which the palace was +entirely built, and bringing the whole structure down upon their heads; +but cautiously and quickly they traversed courtyards and halls, until +they found themselves at the foot of a vast throne, where, upon a +cushion of snow, lay an enormous and brilliantly sparkling diamond, +which contained the heart of the lovely Princess Sabella. Upon the +lowest step of the throne was inscribed in icy letters, 'Whosoever +thou art who by courage and virtue canst win the heart of Sabella enjoy +peacefully the good fortune which thou hast richly deserved.' + +Prince Mannikin bounded forward, and had just strength left to grasp the +precious diamond which contained all he coveted in the world before he +fell insensible upon the snowy cushion. But his good spaniels lost no +time in rushing to the rescue, and between them they bore him hastily +from the hall, and not a moment too soon, for all around them they +heard the clang of the falling blocks of ice as the Fairy Palace slowly +collapsed under the unwonted heat. Not until they reached the foot of +the mountain did they pause to restore the Prince to consciousness, and +then his joy to find himself the possessor of Sabella's heart knew no +bounds. + +With all speed they began to retrace their steps, but this time the +happy Prince could not bear the sight of his defeated and disappointed +rivals, whose frozen forms lined his triumphant way. He gave orders +to his spaniels to spare no pains to restore them to life, and so +successful were they that day by day his train increased, so that by the +time he got back to the little village where he had left his horse he +was escorted by five hundred sovereign Princes, and knights and squires +without number, and he was so courteous and unassuming that they all +followed him willingly, anxious to do him honour. But then he was so +happy and blissful himself that he found it easy to be at peace with all +the world. It was not long before he met the faithful Mousta, who was +coming at the top of his speed hoping to meet the Prince, that he might +tell him of the sudden and wonderful change that had come over the +Princess, who had become gentle and thoughtful and had talked to him +of nothing but Prince Mannikin, of the hardships she feared he might +be suffering, and of her anxiety for him, and all this with a hundred +fonder expressions which put the finishing stroke to the Prince's +delight. Then came a courier bearing the congratulations of the King and +Queen, who had just heard of his successful return, and there was even a +graceful compliment from Sabella herself. The Prince sent Mousta back to +her, and he was welcomed with joy, for was he not her lover's present? + +At last the travellers reached the capital, and were received with regal +magnificence. Farda-Kinbras and Birbantine embraced Prince Mannikin, +declaring that they regarded him as their heir and the future husband of +the Princess, to which he replied that they did him too much honour. +And then he was admitted into the presence of the Princess, who for the +first time in her life blushed as he kissed her hand, and could not find +a word to say. But the Prince, throwing himself on his knees beside her, +held out the splendid diamond, saying: + +'Madam, this treasure is yours, since none of the dangers and +difficulties I have gone through have been sufficient to make me deserve +it.' + +'Ah! Prince,' said she, 'if I take it, it is only that I may give it +back to you, since truly it belongs to you already.' + +At this moment in came the King and Queen, and interrupted them by +asking all the questions imaginable, and not infrequently the same over +and over again. It seems that there is always one thing that is sure to +be said about an event by everybody, and Prince Mannikin found that +the question which he was asked by more than a thousand people on this +particular occasion was: + +'And didn't you find it very cold?' + +The King had come to request Prince Mannikin and the Princess to follow +him to the Council Chamber, which they did, not knowing that he meant to +present the Prince to all the nobles assembled there as his son-in-law +and successor. But when Mannikin perceived his intention, he begged +permission to speak first, and told his whole story, even to the fact +that he believed himself to be a peasant's son. Scarcely had he finished +speaking when the sky grew black, the thunder growled, and the lightning +flashed, and in the blaze of light the good Fairy Genesta suddenly +appeared. Turning to Prince Mannikin, she said: + +'I am satisfied with you, since you have shown not only courage but a +good heart.' Then she addressed King Farda-Kinbras, and informed him of +the real history of the Prince, and how she had determined to give +him the education she knew would be best for a man who was to command +others. 'You have already found the advantage of having a faithful +friend,' she added to the Prince 'and now you will have the pleasure +of seeing King Bayard and his subjects regain their natural forms as a +reward for his kindness to you.' + +Just then arrived a chariot drawn by eagles, which proved to contain the +foolish King and Queen, who embraced their long-lost son with great +joy, and were greatly struck with the fact that they did indeed find +him covered with fur! While they were caressing Sabella and wringing +her hands (which is a favourite form of endearment with foolish +people) chariots were seen approaching from all points of the compass, +containing numbers of Fairies. + +'Sire,' said Genesta to Farda-Kinbras, 'I have taken the liberty of +appointing your Court as a meeting-place for all the Fairies who could +spare the time to come; and I hope you can arrange to hold the great +ball, which we have once in a hundred years, on this occasion.' + +The King having suitably acknowledged the honour done him, was next +reconciled to Gorgonzola, and they two presently opened the ball +together. The Fairy Marsontine restored their natural forms to King +Bayard and all his subjects, and he appeared once more as handsome a +king as you could wish to see. One of the Fairies immediately despatched +her chariot for the Queen of the Spice Islands, and their wedding took +place at the same time as that of Prince Mannikin and the lovely and +gracious Sabella. They lived happily ever afterwards, and their vast +kingdoms were presently divided between their children. + +The Prince, out of grateful remembrance of the Princess Sabella's +first gift to him bestowed the right of bearing her name upon the most +beautiful of the martens, and that is why they are called sables to this +day. + +Comte de Caylus. + + + + + +THE ENCHANTED RING + + + +Once upon a time there lived a young man named Rosimond, who was as good +and handsome as his elder brother Bramintho was ugly and wicked. Their +mother detested her eldest son, and had only eyes for the youngest. This +excited Bramintho's jealousy, and he invented a horrible story in order +to ruin his brother. He told his father that Rosimond was in the habit +of visiting a neighbour who was an enemy of the family, and betraying to +him all that went on in the house, and was plotting with him to poison +their father. + +The father flew into a rage, and flogged his son till the blood came. +Then he threw him into prison and kept him for three days without food, +and after that he turned him out of the house, and threatened to kill +him if he ever came back. The mother was miserable, and did nothing but +weep, but she dared not say anything. + +The youth left his home with tears in his eyes, not knowing where to go, +and wandered about for many hours till he came to a thick wood. Night +overtook him at the foot of a great rock, and he fell asleep on a bank +of moss, lulled by the music of a little brook. + +It was dawn when he woke, and he saw before him a beautiful woman seated +on a grey horse, with trappings of gold, who looked as if she were +preparing for the hunt. + +'Have you seen a stag and some deerhounds go by?' she asked. + +'No, madam,' he replied. + +Then she added, 'You look unhappy; is there anything the matter? Take +this ring, which will make you the happiest and most powerful of men, +provided you never make a bad use of it. If you turn the diamond inside, +you will become invisible. If you turn it outside, you will become +visible again. If you place it on your little finger, you will take the +shape of the King's son, followed by a splendid court. If you put it on +your fourth finger, you will take your own shape.' + +Then the young man understood that it was a Fairy who was speaking to +him, and when she had finished she plunged into the woods. The youth was +very impatient to try the ring, and returned home immediately. He found +that the Fairy had spoken the truth, and that he could see and hear +everything, while he himself was unseen. It lay with him to revenge +himself, if he chose, on his brother, without the slightest danger to +himself, and he told no one but his mother of all the strange things +that had befallen him. He afterwards put the enchanted ring on his +little finger, and appeared as the King's son, followed by a hundred +fine horses, and a guard of officers all richly dressed. + +His father was much surprised to see the King's son in his quiet little +house, and he felt rather embarrassed, not knowing what was the proper +way to behave on such a grand occasion. Then Rosimond asked him how many +sons he had. + +'Two,' replied he. + +'I wish to see them,' said Rosimond. 'Send for them at once. I desire to +take them both to Court, in order to make their fortunes.' + +The father hesitated, then answered: 'Here is the eldest, whom I have +the honour to present to your Highness.' + +'But where is the youngest? I wish to see him too,' persisted Rosimond. + +'He is not here,' said the father. 'I had to punish him for a fault, and +he has run away.' + +Then Rosimond replied, 'You should have shown him what was right, but +not have punished him. However, let the elder come with me, and as for +you, follow these two guards, who will escort you to a place that I will +point out to them.' + +Then the two guards led off the father, and the Fairy of whom you have +heard found him in the forest, and beat him with a golden birch rod, +and cast him into a cave that was very deep and dark, where he lay +enchanted. 'Lie there,' she said, 'till your son comes to take you out +again.' + +Meanwhile the son went to the King's palace, and arrived just when the +real prince was absent. He had sailed away to make war on a distant +island, but the winds had been contrary, and he had been shipwrecked on +unknown shores, and taken captive by a savage people. Rosimond made his +appearance at Court in the character of the Prince, whom everyone wept +for as lost, and told them that he had been rescued when at the point +of death by some merchants. His return was the signal for great +public rejoicings, and the King was so overcome that he became quite +speechless, and did nothing but embrace his son. The Queen was even more +delighted, and fetes were ordered over the whole kingdom. + +One day the false Prince said to his real brother, 'Bramintho, you know +that I brought you here from your native village in order to make your +fortune; but I have found out that you are a liar, and that by your +deceit you have been the cause of all the troubles of your brother +Rosimond. He is in hiding here, and I desire that you shall speak to +him, and listen to his reproaches.' + +Bramintho trembled at these words, and, flinging himself at the Prince's +feet, confessed his crime. + +'That is not enough,' said Rosimond. 'It is to your brother that you +must confess, and I desire that you shall ask his forgiveness. He will +be very generous if he grants it, and it will be more than you deserve. +He is in my ante-room, where you shall see him at once. I myself will +retire into another apartment, so as to leave you alone with him.' + +Bramintho entered, as he was told, into the anteroom. Then Rosimond +changed the ring, and passed into the room by another door. + +Bramintho was filled with shame as soon as he saw his brother's face. He +implored his pardon, and promised to atone for all his faults. Rosimond +embraced him with tears, and at once forgave him, adding, 'I am in great +favour with the King. It rests with me to have your head cut off, or to +condemn you to pass the remainder of your life in prison; but I desire +to be as good to you as you have been wicked to me.' Bramintho, confused +and ashamed, listened to his words without daring to lift his eyes or to +remind Rosimond that he was his brother. After this, Rosimond gave out +that he was going to make a secret voyage, to marry a Princess who +lived in a neighbouring kingdom; but in reality he only went to see his +mother, whom he told all that had happened at the Court, giving her at +the same time some money that she needed, for the King allowed him to +take exactly what he liked, though he was always careful not to abuse +this permission. Just then a furious war broke out between the King his +master and the Sovereign of the adjoining country, who was a bad man and +one that never kept his word. Rosimond went straight to the palace of +the wicked King, and by means of his ring was able to be present at +all the councils, and learnt all their schemes, so that he was able to +forestall them and bring them to naught. He took the command of the +army which was brought against the wicked King, and defeated him in a +glorious battle, so that peace was at once concluded on conditions that +were just to everyone. + +Henceforth the King's one idea was to marry the young man to a Princess +who was the heiress to a neighbouring kingdom, and, besides that, was +as lovely as the day. But one morning, while Rosimond was hunting in the +forest where for the first time he had seen the Fairy, his benefactress +suddenly appeared before him. 'Take heed,' she said to him in severe +tones, 'that you do not marry anybody who believes you to be a Prince. +You must never deceive anyone. The real Prince, whom the whole nation +thinks you are, will have to succeed his father, for that is just and +right. Go and seek him in some distant island, and I will send winds +that will swell your sails and bring you to him. Hasten to render this +service to your master, although it is against your own ambition, and +prepare, like an honest man, to return to your natural state. If you do +not do this, you will become wicked and unhappy, and I will abandon you +to all your former troubles.' + +Rosimond took these wise counsels to heart. He gave out that he had +undertaken a secret mission to a neighbouring state, and embarked on +board a vessel, the winds carrying him straight to the island where the +Fairy had told him he would find the real Prince. This unfortunate youth +had been taken captive by a savage people, who had kept him to guard +their sheep. Rosimond, becoming invisible, went to seek him amongst the +pastures, where he kept his flock, and, covering him with his mantle, he +delivered him out of the hands of his cruel masters, and bore him +back to the ship. Other winds sent by the Fairy swelled the sails, and +together the two young men entered the King's presence. + +Rosimond spoke first and said, 'You have believed me to be your son. I +am not he, but I have brought him back to you.' The King, filled with +astonishment, turned to his real son and asked, 'Was it not you, my son, +who conquered my enemies and won such a glorious peace? Or is it true +that you have been shipwrecked and taken captive, and that Rosimond has +set you free?' + +'Yes, my father,' replied the Prince. 'It is he who sought me out in my +captivity and set me free, and to him I owe the happiness of seeing you +once more. It was he, not I, who gained the victory.' + +The King could hardly believe his ears; but Rosimond, turning the ring, +appeared before him in the likeness of the Prince, and the King gazed +distractedly at the two youths who seemed both to be his son. Then he +offered Rosimond immense rewards for his services, which were refused, +and the only favour the young man would accept was that one of his posts +at Court should be conferred on his brother Bramintho. For he feared +for himself the changes of fortune, the envy of mankind and his own +weakness. His desire was to go back to his mother and his native +village, and to spend his time in cultivating the land. + +One day, when he was wandering through the woods, he met the Fairy, who +showed him the cavern where his father was imprisoned, and told him what +words he must use in order to set him free. He repeated them joyfully, +for he had always longed to bring the old man back and to make his last +days happy. Rosimond thus became the benefactor of all his family, and +had the pleasure of doing good to those who had wished to do him evil. +As for the Court, to whom he had rendered such services, all he asked +was the freedom to live far from its corruption; and, to crown all, +fearing that if he kept the ring he might be tempted to use it in order +to regain his lost place in the world, he made up his mind to restore it +to the Fairy. For many days he sought her up and down the woods and at +last he found her. 'I want to give you back,' he said, holding out the +ring, 'a gift as dangerous as it is powerful, and which I fear to use +wrongfully. I shall never feel safe till I have made it impossible for +me to leave my solitude and to satisfy my passions.' + +While Rosimond was seeking to give back the ring to the Fairy, +Bramintho, who had failed to learn any lessons from experience, gave +way to all his desires, and tried to persuade the Prince, lately +become King, to ill-treat Rosimond. But the Fairy, who knew all about +everything, said to Rosimond, when he was imploring her to accept the +ring: + +'Your wicked brother is doing his best to poison the mind of the King +towards you, and to ruin you. He deserves to be punished, and he must +die; and in order that he may destroy himself, I shall give the ring to +him.' + +Rosimond wept at these words, and then asked: + +'What do you mean by giving him the ring as a punishment? He will only +use it to persecute everyone, and to become master.' + +'The same things,' answered the Fairy, 'are often a healing medicine to +one person and a deadly poison to another. Prosperity is the source of +all evil to a naturally wicked man. If you wish to punish a scoundrel, +the first thing to do is to give him power. You will see that with this +rope he will soon hang himself.' + +Having said this, she disappeared, and went straight to the Palace, +where she showed herself to Bramintho under the disguise of an old woman +covered with rags. She at once addressed him in these words: + +'I have taken this ring from the hands of your brother, to whom I had +lent it, and by its help he covered himself with glory. I now give it to +you, and be careful what you do with it.' + +Bramintho replied with a laugh: + +'I shall certainly not imitate my brother, who was foolish enough to +bring back the Prince instead of reigning in his place,' and he was +as good as his word. The only use he made of the ring was to find out +family secrets and betray them, to commit murders and every sort of +wickedness, and to gain wealth for himself unlawfully. All these crimes, +which could be traced to nobody, filled the people with astonishment. +The King, seeing so many affairs, public and private, exposed, was at +first as puzzled as anyone, till Bramintho's wonderful prosperity and +amazing insolence made him suspect that the enchanted ring had become +his property. In order to find out the truth he bribed a stranger just +arrived at Court, one of a nation with whom the King was always at war, +and arranged that he was to steal in the night to Bramintho and to offer +him untold honours and rewards if he would betray the State secrets. + +Bramintho promised everything, and accepted at once the first payment of +his crime, boasting that he had a ring which rendered him invisible, and +that by means of it he could penetrate into the most private places. But +his triumph was short. Next day he was seized by order of the King, +and his ring was taken from him. He was searched, and on him were found +papers which proved his crimes; and, though Rosimond himself came back +to the Court to entreat his pardon, it was refused. So Bramintho was put +to death, and the ring had been even more fatal to him than it had been +useful in the hands of his brother. + +To console Rosimond for the fate of Bramintho, the King gave him back +the enchanted ring, as a pearl without price. The unhappy Rosimond did +not look upon it in the same light, and the first thing he did on his +return home was to seek the Fairy in the woods. + +'Here,' he said, 'is your ring. My brother's experience has made me +understand many things that I did not know before. Keep it, it has only +led to his destruction. Ah! without it he would be alive now, and my +father and mother would not in their old age be bowed to the earth with +shame and grief! Perhaps he might have been wise and happy if he had +never had the chance of gratifying his wishes! Oh! how dangerous it is +to have more power than the rest of the world! Take back your ring, and +as ill fortune seems to follow all on whom you bestow it, I will implore +you, as a favour to myself, that you will never give it to anyone who is +dear to me.' + +Fenelon. + + + + + +THE SNUFF-BOX + + + +As often happens in this world, there was once a young man who spent all +his time in travelling. One day, as he was walking along, he picked up +a snuff-box. He opened it, and the snuff-box said to him in the Spanish +language, 'What do you want?' He was very much frightened, but, luckily, +instead of throwing the box away, he only shut it tight, and put it in +his pocket. Then he went on, away, away, away, and as he went he said to +himself, 'If it says to me again "What do you want?" I shall know better +what to say this time.' So he took out the snuff-box and opened it, and +again it asked 'What do you want?' 'My hat full of gold,' answered the +youth, and immediately it was full. + +Our young man was enchanted. Henceforth he should never be in need of +anything. So on he travelled, away, away, away, through thick forests, +till at last he came to a beautiful castle. In the castle there lived +a King. The young man walked round and round the castle, not caring who +saw him, till the King noticed him, and asked what he was doing there. +'I was just looking at your castle.' 'You would like to have one like +it, wouldn't you?' The young man did not reply, but when it grew dark he +took his snuff-box and opened the lid. 'What do you want?' 'Build me a +castle with laths of gold and tiles of diamond, and the furniture all of +silver and gold.' He had scarcely finished speaking when there stood +in front of him, exactly opposite the King's palace, a castle built +precisely as he had ordered. When the King awoke he was struck dumb at +the sight of the magnificent house shining in the rays of the sun. The +servants could not do their work for stopping to stare at it. Then the +King dressed himself, and went to see the young man. And he told him +plainly that he was a very powerful Prince; and that he hoped that they +might all live together in one house or the other, and that the King +would give him his daughter to wife. So it all turned out just as the +King wished. The young man married the Princess, and they lived happily +in the palace of gold. + +But the King's wife was jealous both of the young man and of her own +daughter. The Princess had told her mother about the snuff-box, which +gave them everything they wanted, and the Queen bribed a servant to +steal the snuff-box. They noticed carefully where it was put away every +night, and one evening, when the whole world was asleep, the woman stole +it and brought it to her old mistress. Oh how happy the Queen was! She +opened the lid, and the snuff-box said to her 'What do you want?' +And she answered at once 'I want you to take me and my husband and my +servants and this beautiful house and set us down on the other side of +the Red Sea, but my daughter and her husband are to stay behind.' + +When the young couple woke up, they found themselves back in the old +castle, without their snuff-box. They hunted for it high and low, but +quite vainly. The young man felt that no time was to be lost, and he +mounted his horse and filled his pockets with as much gold as he could +carry. On he went, away, away, away, but he sought the snuff-box in vain +all up and down the neighbouring countries, and very soon he came to the +end of all his money. But still he went on, as fast as the strength of +his horse would let him, begging his way. + +Someone told him that he ought to consult the moon, for the moon +travelled far, and might be able to tell him something. So he went away, +away, away, and ended, somehow or other, by reaching the land of the +moon. There he found a little old woman who said to him 'What are you +doing here? My son eats all living things he sees, and if you are wise, +you will go away without coming any further.' But the young man told her +all his sad tale, and how he possessed a wonderful snuff-box, and how it +had been stolen from him, and how he had nothing left, now that he was +parted from his wife and was in need of everything. And he said that +perhaps her son, who travelled so far, might have seen a palace with +laths of gold and tiles of diamond, and furnished all in silver and +gold. As he spoke these last words, the moon came in and said he smelt +mortal flesh and blood. But his mother told him that it was an unhappy +man who had lost everything, and had come all this way to consult him, +and bade the young man not to be afraid, but to come forward and show +himself. So he went boldly up to the moon, and asked if by any accident +he had seen a palace with the laths of gold and the tiles of diamond, +and all the furniture of silver and gold. Once this house belonged +to him, but now it was stolen. And the moon said no, but that the sun +travelled farther than he did, and that the young man had better go and +ask him. + +So the young man departed, and went away, away, away, as well as his +horse would take him, begging his living as he rode along, and, somehow +or other, at last he got to the land of the sun. There he found a little +old woman, who asked him, 'What are you doing here? Go away. Have you +not heard that my son feeds upon Christians?' But he said no, and that +he would not go, for he was so miserable that it was all one to him +whether he died or not; that he had lost everything, and especially a +splendid palace like none other in the whole world, for it had laths of +gold and tiles of diamond, and all the furniture was of silver and gold. +And that he had sought it far and long, and in all the earth there was +no man more unhappy. So the old woman's heart melted, and she agreed to +hide him. + +When the Sun arrived, he declared that he smelt Christian flesh, and he +meant to have it for his dinner. But his mother told him such a pitiful +story of the miserable wretch who had lost everything, and had come from +far to ask his help, that at last he promised to see him. + +So the young man came out from his hiding-place and begged the sun to +tell him if in the course of his travels he had not seen somewhere a +palace that had not its like in the whole world, for its laths were of +gold and its tiles of diamond, and all the furniture in silver and gold. + +And the sun said no, but that perhaps the wind had seen it, for he +entered everywhere, and saw things that no one else ever saw, and if +anyone knew where it was, it was certainly the wind. + +Then the poor young man again set forth as well as his horse could take +him, begging his living as he went, and, somehow or other, he ended by +reaching the home of the wind. He found there a little old woman busily +occupied in filling great barrels with water. She asked him what had put +it into his head to come there, for her son ate everything he saw, +and that he would shortly arrive quite mad, and that the young man had +better look out. But he answered that he was so unhappy that he had +ceased to mind anything, even being eaten, and then he told her that he +had been robbed of a palace that had not its equal in all the world, +and of all that was in it, and that he had even left his wife, and was +wandering over the world until he found it. And that it was the sun who +had sent him to consult the wind. So she hid him under the staircase, +and soon they heard the south wind arrive, shaking the house to its +foundations. Thirsty as he was, he did not wait to drink, but he told +his mother that he smelt the blood of a Christian man, and that she had +better bring him out at once and make him ready to be eaten. But she +bade her son eat and drink what was before him, and said that the poor +young man was much to be pitied, and that the sun had granted him his +life in order that he might consult the wind. Then she brought out the +young man, who explained how he was seeking for his palace, and that no +man had been able to tell him where it was, so he had come to the wind. +And he added that he had been shamefully robbed, and that the laths were +of gold and the tiles of diamond, and all the furniture in silver and +gold, and he inquired if the wind had not seen such a palace during his +wanderings. + +And the wind said yes, and that all that day he had been blowing +backwards and forwards over it without being able to move one single +tile. 'Oh, do tell me where it is,' cried the you man. 'It is a long +way off,' replied the wind, 'on the other side of the Red Sea.' But our +traveller was not discouraged, he had already journeyed too far. + +So he set forth at once, and, somehow or other, he managed to reach that +distant land. And he enquired if anyone wanted a gardener. He was told +that the head gardener at the castle had just left, and perhaps he might +have a chance of getting the place. The young man lost no time, but +walked up to the castle and asked if they were in want of a gardener; +and how happy he was when they agreed to take him! Now he passed most of +his day in gossiping with the servants about the wealth of their masters +and the wonderful things in the house. He made friends with one of the +maids, who told him the history of the snuff-box, and he coaxed her to +let him see it. One evening she managed to get hold of it, and the young +man watched carefully where she hid it away, in a secret place in the +bedchamber of her mistress. + +The following night, when everyone was fast asleep, he crept in and took +the snuff-box. Think of his joy as he opened the lid! When it asked him, +as of yore, 'What do you want?' he replied: 'What do I want? What do +I want? Why, I want to go with my palace to the old place, and for the +King and the Queen and all their servants to be drowned in the Red Sea.' +He hardly finished speaking when he found himself back again with his +wife, while all the other inhabitants of the palace were lying at the +bottom of the Red Sea. + +Sebillot. + + + + + +THE GOLDEN BLACKBIRD + + + +Once upon a time there was a great lord who had three sons. He fell very +ill, sent for doctors of every kind, even bonesetters, but they, none of +them, could find out what was the matter with him, or even give him +any relief. At last there came a foreign doctor, who declared that the +Golden Blackbird alone could cure the sick man. + +So the old lord despatched his eldest son to look for the wonderful +bird, and promised him great riches if he managed to find it and bring +it back. + +The young man began his journey, and soon arrived at a place where four +roads met. He did not know which to choose, and tossed his cap in the +air, determining that the direction of its fall should decide him. +After travelling for two or three days, he grew tired of walking without +knowing where or for how long, and he stopped at an inn which was filled +with merrymakers and ordered something to eat and drink. + +'My faith,' said he, 'it is sheer folly to waste more time hunting for +this bird. My father is old, and if he dies I shall inherit his goods.' + +The old man, after waiting patiently for some time, sent his second son +to seek the Golden Blackbird. The youth took the same direction as his +brother, and when he came to the cross roads, he too tossed up which +road he should take. The cap fell in the same place as before, and he +walked on till he came to the spot where his brother had halted. The +latter, who was leaning out of the window of the inn, called to him to +stay where he was and amuse himself. + +'You are right,' replied the youth. 'Who knows if I should ever find the +Golden Blackbird, even if I sought the whole world through for it. At +the worst, if the old man dies, we shall have his property.' + +He entered the inn and the two brothers made merry and feasted, till +very soon their money was all spent. They even owed something to their +landlord, who kept them as hostages till they could pay their debts. + +The youngest son set forth in his turn, and he arrived at the place +where his brothers were still prisoners. They called to him to stop, and +did all they could to prevent his going further. + +'No,' he replied, 'my father trusted me, and I will go all over the +world till I find the Golden Blackbird.' + +'Bah,' said his brothers, 'you will never succeed any better than we +did. Let him die if he wants to; we will divide the property.' + +As he went his way he met a little hare, who stopped to look at him, and +asked: + +'Where are you going, my friend?' + +'I really don't quite know,' answered he. 'My father is ill, and he +cannot be cured unless I bring him back the Golden Blackbird. It is a +long time since I set out, but no one can tell me where to find it.' + +'Ah,' said the hare, 'you have a long way to go yet. You will have to +walk at least seven hundred miles before you get to it.' + +'And how am I to travel such a distance?' + +'Mount on my back,' said the little hare, 'and I will conduct you.' + +The young man obeyed: at each bound the little hare went seven miles, +and it was not long before they reached a castle that was as large and +beautiful as a castle could be. + +'The Golden Blackbird is in a little cabin near by,' said the little +hare, 'and you will easily find it. It lives in a little cage, with +another cage beside it made all of gold. But whatever you do, be sure +not to put it in the beautiful cage, or everybody in the castle will +know that you have stolen it.' + +The youth found the Golden Blackbird standing on a wooden perch, but as +stiff and rigid as if he was dead. And beside the beautiful cage was the +cage of gold. + +'Perhaps he would revive if I were to put him in that lovely cage,' +thought the youth. + +The moment that Golden Bird had touched the bars of the splendid cage he +awoke, and began to whistle, so that all the servants of the castle ran +to see what was the matter, saying that he was a thief and must be put +in prison. + +'No,' he answered, 'I am not a thief. If I have taken the Golden +Blackbird, it is only that it may cure my father, who is ill, and I have +travelled more than seven hundred miles in order to find it.' + +'Well,' they replied, 'we will let you go, and will even give you the +Golden Bird, if you are able to bring us the Porcelain Maiden.' + +The youth departed, weeping, and met the little hare, who was munching +wild thyme. + +'What are you crying for, my friend?' asked the hare. + +'It is because,' he answered, 'the castle people will not allow me to +carry off the Golden Blackbird without giving them the Porcelain Maiden +in exchange.' + +'You have not followed my advice,' said the little hare. 'And you have +put the Golden Bird into the fine cage.' + +'Alas! yes!' + +'Don't despair! the Porcelain Maiden is a young girl, beautiful as +Venus, who dwells two hundred miles from here. Jump on my back and I +will take you there.' + +The little hare, who took seven miles in a stride, was there in no time +at all, and he stopped on the borders of a lake. + +'The Porcelain Maiden,' said the hare to the youth, 'will come here to +bathe with her friends, while I just eat a mouthful of thyme to refresh +me. When she is in the lake, be sure you hide her clothes, which are of +dazzling whiteness, and do not give them back to her unless she consents +to follow you.' + +The little hare left him, and almost immediately the Porcelain Maiden +arrived with her friends. She undressed herself and got into the water. +Then the young man glided up noiselessly and laid hold of her clothes, +which he hid under a rock at some distance. + +When the Porcelain Maiden was tired of playing in the water she came out +to dress herself, but, though she hunted for her clothes high and low, +she could find them nowhere. Her friends helped her in the search, but, +seeing at last that it was of no use, they left her, alone on the bank, +weeping bitterly. + +'Why do you cry?' said the young man, approaching her. + +'Alas!' answered she, 'while I was bathing someone stole my clothes, and +my friends have abandoned me.' + +'I will find your clothes if you will only come with me.' + +And the Porcelain Maiden agreed to follow him, and after having given up +her clothes, the young man bought a small horse for her, which went like +the wind. The little hare brought them both back to seek for the Golden +Blackbird, and when they drew near to the castle where it lived the +little hero said to the young man: + +'Now, do be a little sharper than you were before, and you will manage +to carry off both the Golden Blackbird and the Porcelain Maiden. Take +the golden cage in one hand, and leave the bird in the old cage where he +is, and bring that away too.' + +The little hare then vanished; the youth did as he was bid, and the +castle servants never noticed that he was carrying off the Golden Bird. +When he reached the inn where his brothers were detained, he delivered +them by paying their debt. They set out all together, but as the two +elder brothers were jealous of the success of the youngest, they took +the opportunity as they were passing by the shores of a lake to throw +themselves upon him, seize the Golden Bird, and fling him in the water. +Then they continued their journey, taking with them the Porcelain +Maiden, in the firm belief that their brother was drowned. But, happily, +he had snatched in falling at a tuft of rushes and called loudly for +help. The little hare came running to him, and said 'Take hold of my leg +and pull yourself out of the water.' + +When he was safe on shore the little hare said to him: + +'Now this is what you have to do: dress yourself like a Breton seeking a +place as stable-boy, and go and offer your services to your father. Once +there, you will easily be able to make him understand the truth.' + +The young man did as the little hare bade him, and he went to his +father's castle and enquired if they were not in want of a stable-boy. + +'Yes,' replied his father, 'very much indeed. But it is not an easy +place. There is a little horse in the stable which will not let anyone +go near it, and it has already kicked to death several people who have +tried to groom it.' + +'I will undertake to groom it,' said the youth. 'I never saw the horse +I was afraid of yet.' The little horse allowed itself to be rubbed down +without a toss of its head and without a kick. + +'Good gracious!' exclaimed the master; 'how is it that he lets you touch +him, when no one else can go near him?' + +'Perhaps he knows me,' answered the stable-boy. + +Two or three days later the master said to him: 'The Porcelain Maiden +is here: but, though she is as lovely as the dawn, she is so wicked that +she scratches everyone that approaches her. Try if she will accept your +services.' + +When the youth entered the room where she was, the Golden Blackbird +broke forth into a joyful song, and the Porcelain Maiden sang too, and +jumped for joy. + +'Good gracious!' cried the master. 'The Porcelain Maiden and the Golden +Blackbird know you too?' + +'Yes,' replied the youth, 'and the Porcelain Maiden can tell you the +whole truth, if she only will.' + +Then she told all that had happened, and how she had consented to follow +the young man who had captured the Golden Blackbird. + +'Yes,' added the youth, 'I delivered my brothers, who were kept +prisoners in an inn, and, as a reward, they threw me into a lake. So I +disguised myself and came here, in order to prove the truth to you.' + +So the old lord embraced his son, and promised that he should inherit +all his possessions, and he put to death the two elder ones, who had +deceived him and had tried to slay their own brother. + +The young man married the Porcelain Maiden, and had a splendid +wedding-feast. + +Sebillot. + + + + + +THE LITTLE SOLDIER + + + +I + +Once upon a time there was a little soldier who had just come back from +the war. He was a brave little fellow, but he had lost neither arms nor +legs in battle. Still, the fighting was ended and the army disbanded, so +he had to return to the village where he was born. + +Now the soldier's name was really John, but for some reason or other his +friends always called him the Kinglet; why, no one ever knew, but so it +was. + +As he had no father or mother to welcome him home, he did not hurry +himself, but went quietly along, his knapsack on his back and his sword +by his side, when suddenly one evening he was seized with a wish to +light his pipe. He felt for his match-box to strike a light, but to his +great disgust he found he had lost it. + +He had only gone about a stone's throw after making this discovery when +he noticed a light shining through the trees. He went towards it, and +perceived before him an old castle, with the door standing open. + +The little soldier entered the courtyard, and, peeping through a window, +saw a large fire blazing at the end of a low hall. He put his pipe in +his pocket and knocked gently, saying politely: + +'Would you give me a light?' + +But he got no answer. + +After waiting for a moment John knocked again, this time more loudly. +There was still no reply. + +He raised the latch and entered; the hall was empty. + +The little soldier made straight for the fireplace, seized the tongs, +and was stooping down to look for a nice red hot coal with which to +light his pipe, when clic! something went, like a spring giving way, +and in the very midst of the flames an enormous serpent reared itself up +close to his face. + +And what was more strange still, this serpent had the head of a woman. + +At such an unexpected sight many men would have turned and run for +their lives; but the little soldier, though he was so small, had a true +soldier's heart. He only made one step backwards, and grasped the hilt +of his sword. + +'Don't unsheath it,' said the serpent. 'I have been waiting for you, as +it is you who must deliver me.' + +'Who are you?' + +'My name is Ludovine, and I am the daughter of the King of the Low +Countries. Deliver me, and I will marry you and make you happy for ever +after.' + +Now, some people might not have liked the notion of being made happy by +a serpent with the head of a woman, but the Kinglet had no such fears. +And, besides, he felt the fascination of Ludovine's eyes, which looked +at him as a snake looks at a little bird. They were beautiful green +eyes, not round like those of a cat, but long and almond-shaped, and +they shone with a strange light, and the golden hair which floated round +them seemed all the brighter for their lustre. The face had the beauty +of an angel, though the body was only that of a serpent. + +'What must I do?' asked the Kinglet. + +'Open that door. You will find yourself in a gallery with a room at the +end just like this. Cross that, and you will see a closet, out of which +you must take a tunic, and bring it back to me.' + +The little soldier boldly prepared to do as he was told. He crossed the +gallery in safety, but when he reached the room he saw by the light +of the stars eight hands on a level with his face, which threatened to +strike him. And, turn his eyes which way he would, he could discover no +bodies belonging to them. + +He lowered his head and rushed forward amidst a storm of blows, which he +returned with his fists. When he got to the closet, he opened it, took +down the tunic, and brought it to the first room. + +'Here it is,' he panted, rather out of breath. + +'Clic!' once more the flames parted. Ludovine was a woman down to her +waist. She took the tunic and put it on. + +It was a magnificent tunic of orange velvet, embroidered in pearls, but +the pearls were not so white as her own neck. + +'That is not all,' she said. 'Go to the gallery, take the staircase +which is on the left, and in the second room on the first story you will +find another closet with my skirt. Bring this to me.' + +The Kinglet did as he was told, but in entering the room he saw, +instead of merely hands, eight arms, each holding an enormous stick. He +instantly unsheathed his sword and cut his way through with such vigour +that he hardly received a scratch. + +He brought back the skirt, which was made of silk as blue as the skies +of Spain. + +'Here it is,' said John, as the serpent appeared. She was now a woman as +far as her knees. + +'I only want my shoes and stockings now,' she said. 'Go and get them +from the closet which is on the second story.' + +The little soldier departed, and found himself in the presence of eight +goblins armed with hammers, and flames darting from their eyes. This +time he stopped short at the threshold. 'My sword is no use,' he thought +to himself; 'these wretches will break it like glass, and if I can't +think of anything else, I am a dead man.' At this moment his eyes fell +on the door, which was made of oak, thick and heavy. He wrenched it +off its hinges and held it over his head, and then went straight at the +goblins, whom he crushed beneath it. After that he took the shoes and +stockings out of the closet and brought them to Ludovine, who, directly +she had put them on, became a woman all over. + +When she was quite dressed in her white silk stockings and little blue +slippers dotted over with carbuncles, she said to her deliverer, 'Now +you must go away, and never come back here, whatever happens. Here is a +purse with two hundred ducats. Sleep to-night at the inn which is at the +edge of the wood, and awake early in the morning: for at nine o'clock +I shall pass the door, and shall take you up in my carriage.' 'Why +shouldn't we go now?' asked the little soldier. 'Because the time has +not yet come,' said the Princess. 'But first you may drink my health in +this glass of wine,' and as she spoke she filled a crystal goblet with a +liquid that looked like melted gold. + +John drank, then lit his pipe and went out. + + +II + +When he arrived at the inn he ordered supper, but no sooner had he sat +down to eat it than he felt that he was going sound asleep. + +'I must be more tired than I thought,' he said to himself, and, after +telling them to be sure to wake him next morning at eight o'clock, he +went to bed. + +All night long he slept like a dead man. At eight o'clock they came to +wake him, and at half-past, and a quarter of an hour later, but it was +no use; and at last they decided to leave him in peace. + +The clocks were striking twelve when John awoke. He sprang out of bed, +and, scarcely waiting to dress himself, hastened to ask if anyone had +been to inquire for him. + +'There came a lovely princess,' replied the landlady, 'in a coach of +gold. She left you this bouquet, and a message to say that she would +pass this way to-morrow morning at eight o'clock.' + +The little soldier cursed his sleep, but tried to console himself by +looking at his bouquet, which was of immortelles. + +'It is the flower of remembrance,' thought he, forgetting that it is +also the flower of the dead. + +When the night came, he slept with one eye open, and jumped up twenty +times an hour. When the birds began to sing he could lie still no +longer, and climbed out of his window into the branches of one of the +great lime-trees that stood before the door. There he sat, dreamily +gazing at his bouquet till he ended by going fast asleep. + +Once asleep, nothing was able to wake him; neither the brightness of +the sun, nor the songs of the birds, nor the noise of Ludovine's golden +coach, nor the cries of the landlady who sought him in every place she +could think of. + +As the clock struck twelve he woke, and his heart sank as he came down +out of his tree and saw them laying the table for dinner. + +'Did the Princess come?' he asked. + +'Yes, indeed, she did. She left this flower-coloured scarf for you; said +she would pass by to-morrow at seven o'clock, but it would be the last +time.' + +'I must have been bewitched,' thought the little soldier. Then he took +the scarf, which had a strange kind of scent, and tied it round his left +arm, thinking all the while that the best way to keep awake was not to +go to bed at all. So he paid his bill, and bought a horse with the money +that remained, and when the evening came he mounted his horse and stood +in front of the inn door, determined to stay there all night. + +Every now and then he stooped to smell the sweet perfume of the scarf +round his arm; and gradually he smelt it so often that at last his head +sank on to the horse's neck, and he and his horse snored in company. + +When the Princess arrived, they shook him, and beat him, and screamed at +him, but it was all no good. Neither man nor horse woke till the coach +was seen vanishing away in the distance. + +Then John put spurs to his horse, calling with all his might 'Stop! +stop!' But the coach drove on as before, and though the little soldier +rode after it for a day and a night, he never got one step nearer. + +Thus they left many villages and towns behind them, till they came to +the sea itself. Here John thought that at last the coach must stop, but, +wonder of wonders! it went straight on, and rolled over the water as +easily as it had done over the land. John's horse, which had carried him +so well, sank down from fatigue, and the little soldier sat sadly on the +shore, watching the coach which was fast disappearing on the horizon. + + +III + +However, he soon plucked up his spirits again, and walked along the +beach to try and find a boat in which he could sail after the Princess. +But no boat was there, and at last, tired and hungry, he sat down to +rest on the steps of a fisherman's hut. + +In the hut was a young girl who was mending a net. She invited John to +come in, and set before him some wine and fried fish, and John ate +and drank and felt comforted, and he told his adventures to the little +fisher-girl. But though she was very pretty, with a skin as white as +a gull's breast, for which her neighbours gave her the name of the +Seagull, he did not think about her at all, for he was dreaming of the +green eyes of the Princess. + +When he had finished his tale, she was filled with pity and said: + +'Last week, when I was fishing, my net suddenly grew very heavy, and +when I drew it in I found a great copper vase, fastened with lead. I +brought it home and placed it on the fire. When the lead had melted a +little, I opened the vase with my knife and drew out a mantle of red +cloth and a purse containing fifty crowns. That is the mantle, covering +my bed, and I have kept the money for my marriage-portion. But take it +and go to the nearest seaport, where you will find a ship sailing for +the Low Countries, and when you become King you will bring me back my +fifty crowns.' + +And the Kinglet answered: 'When I am King of the Low Countries, I will +make you lady-in-waiting to the Queen, for you are as good as you are +beautiful. So farewell,' said he, and as the Seagull went back to her +fishing he rolled himself in the mantle and threw himself down on a heap +of dried grass, thinking of the strange things that had befallen him, +till he suddenly exclaimed: + +'Oh, how I wish I was in the capital of the Low Countries!' + + +IV + +In one moment the little soldier found himself standing before a +splendid palace. He rubbed his eyes and pinched himself, and when he was +quite sure he was not dreaming he said to a man who was smoking his pipe +before the door, 'Where am I?' + +'Where are you? Can't you see? Before the King's palace, of course.' + +'What King?' + +'Why the King of the Low Countries!' replied the man, laughing and +supposing that he was mad. + +Was there ever anything so strange? But as John was an honest fellow, he +was troubled at the thought that the Seagull would think he had stolen +her mantle and purse. And he began to wonder how he could restore them +to her the soonest. Then he remembered that the mantle had some hidden +charm that enabled the bearer to transport himself at will from place to +place, and in order to make sure of this he wished himself in the best +inn of the town. In an instant he was there. + +Enchanted with this discovery, he ordered supper, and as it was too late +to visit the King that night he went to bed. + +The next day, when he got up, he saw that all the houses were wreathed +with flowers and covered with flags, and all the church bells were +ringing. The little soldier inquired the meaning of all this noise, and +was told that the Princess Ludovine, the King's beautiful daughter, had +been found, and was about to make her triumphal entry. 'That will just +suit me,' thought the Kinglet; 'I will stand at the door and see if she +knows me.' + +He had scarcely time to dress himself when the golden coach of Ludovine +went by. She had a crown of gold upon her head, and the King and Queen +sat by her side. By accident her eyes fell upon the little soldier, and +she grew pale and turned away her head. + +'Didn't she know me?' the little soldier asked himself, 'or was she +angry because I missed our meetings?' and he followed the crowd till he +got to the palace. When the royal party entered he told the guards that +it was he who had delivered the Princess, and wished to speak to the +King. But the more he talked the more they believed him mad and refused +to let him pass. + +The little soldier was furious. He felt that he needed his pipe to calm +him, and he entered a tavern and ordered a pint of beer. 'It is this +miserable soldier's helmet,' said he to himself 'If I had only money +enough I could look as splendid as the lords of the Court; but what +is the good of thinking of that when I have only the remains of the +Seagull's fifty crowns?' + +He took out his purse to see what was left, and he found that there were +still fifty crowns. + +'The Seagull must have miscounted,' thought he, and he paid for his +beer. Then he counted his money again, and there were still fifty +crowns. He took away five and counted a third time, but there were still +fifty. He emptied the purse altogether and then shut it; when he opened +it the fifty crowns were still there! + +Then a plan came into his head, and he determined to go at once to the +Court tailor and coachbuilder. + +He ordered the tailor to make him a mantle and vest of blue velvet +embroidered with pearls, and the coachbuilder to make him a golden +coach like the coach of the Princess Ludovine. If the tailor and the +coachbuilder were quick he promised to pay them double. + +A few days later the little soldier was driven through the city in his +coach drawn by six white horses, and with four lacqueys richly dressed +standing behind. Inside sat John, clad in blue velvet, with a bouquet of +immortelles in his hand and a scarf bound round his arm. He drove twice +round the city, throwing money to the right and left, and the third +time, as he passed under the palace windows, he saw Ludovine lift a +corner of the curtain and peep out. + + +V + +The next day no one talked of anything but the rich lord who had +distributed money as he drove along. The talk even reached the Court, +and the Queen, who was very curious, had a great desire to see the +wonderful Prince. + +'Very well,' said the King; 'let him be asked to come and play cards +with me.' + +This time the Kinglet was not late for his appointment. + +The King sent for the cards and they sat down to play. They had six +games, and John always lost. The stake was fifty crowns, and each time +he emptied his purse, which was full the next instant. + +The sixth time the King exclaimed, 'It is amazing!' + +The Queen cried, 'It is astonishing!' + +The Princess said, 'It is bewildering!' + +'Not so bewildering,' replied the little soldier, 'as your change into a +serpent.' + +'Hush!' interrupted the King, who did not like the subject. + +'I only spoke of it,' said John, 'because you see in me the man who +delivered the Princess from the goblins and whom she promised to marry.' + +'Is that true?' asked the King of the Princess. + +'Quite true,' answered Ludovine. 'But I told my deliverer to be ready to +go with me when I passed by with my coach. I passed three times, but he +slept so soundly that no one could wake him.' + +'What is your name?' said the King, 'and who are you?' + +'My name is John. I am a soldier, and my father is a boatman.' + +'You are not a fit husband for my daughter. Still, if you will give us +your purse, you shall have her for your wife.' + +'My purse does not belong to me, and I cannot give it away.' + +'But you can lend it to me till our wedding-day,' said the Princess with +one of those glances the little soldier never could resist. + +'And when will that be?' + +'At Easter,' said the monarch. + +'Or in a blue moon!' murmured the Princess; but the Kinglet did not hear +her and let her take his purse. + +Next evening he presented himself at the palace to play picquet with +the King and to make his court to the Princess. But he was told that +the King had gone into the country to receive his rents. He returned the +following day, and had the same answer. Then he asked to see the Queen, +but she had a headache. When this had happened five or six times, he +began to understand that they were making fun of him. + +'That is not the way for a King to behave,' thought John. 'Old +scoundrel!' and then suddenly he remembered his red cloak. + +'Ah, what an idiot I am!' said he. 'Of course I can get in whenever I +like with the help of this.' + +That evening he was in front of the palace, wrapped in his red cloak. + +On the first story one window was lighted, and John saw on the curtains +the shadow of the Princess. + +'I wish myself in the room of the Princess Ludovine,' said he, and in a +second he was there. + +The King's daughter was sitting before a table counting the money that +she emptied from the inexhaustible purse. + +'Eight hundred and fifty, nine hundred, nine hundred and fifty--' + +'A thousand,' finished John. 'Good evening everybody!' + +The Princess jumped and gave a little cry. 'You here! What business have +you to do it? Leave at once, or I shall call--' + +'I have come,' said the Kinglet, 'to remind you of your promise. The +day after to-morrow is Easter Day, and it is high time to think of our +marriage.' + +Ludovine burst out into a fit of laughter. 'Our marriage! Have you +really been foolish enough to believe that the daughter of the King of +the Low Countries would ever marry the son of a boatman?' + +'Then give me back the purse,' said John. + +'Never,' said the Princess, and put it calmly in her pocket. + +'As you like,' said the little soldier. 'He laughs best who laughs the +last;' and he took the Princess in his arms. 'I wish,' he cried, 'that +we were at the ends of the earth;' and in one second he was there, still +clasping the Princess tightly in his arms. + +'Ouf,' said John, laying her gently at the foot of a tree. 'I never +took such a long journey before. What do you say, madam?' The Princess +understood that it was no time for jesting, and did not answer. Besides +she was still feeling giddy from her rapid flight, and had not yet +collected her senses. + + +VI + +The King of the Low Countries was not a very scrupulous person, and +his daughter took after him. This was why she had been changed into a +serpent. It had been prophesied that she should be delivered by a little +soldier, and that she must marry him, unless he failed to appear at the +meeting-place three times running. The cunning Princess then laid her +plans accordingly. + +The wine that she had given to John in the castle of the goblins, the +bouquet of immortelles, and the scarf, all had the power of producing +sleep like death. And we know how they had acted on John. + +However, even in this critical moment, Ludovine did not lose her head. + +'I thought you were simply a street vagabond,' said she, in her most +coaxing voice; 'and I find you are more powerful than any king. Here is +your purse. Have you got my scarf and my bouquet?' + +'Here they are,' said the Kinglet, delighted with this change of tone, +and he drew them from his bosom. Ludovine fastened one in his buttonhole +and the other round his arm. 'Now,' she said, 'you are my lord and +master, and I will marry you at your good pleasure.' + +'You are kinder than I thought,' said John; 'and you shall never be +unhappy, for I love you.' + +'Then, my little husband, tell me how you managed to carry me so quickly +to the ends of the world.' + +The little soldier scratched his head. 'Does she really mean to marry +me,' he thought to himself, 'or is she only trying to deceive me again?' + +But Ludovine repeated, 'Won't you tell me?' in such a tender voice he +did not know how to resist her. + +'After all,' he said to himself, 'what does it matter telling her the +secret, as long as I don't give her the cloak.' + +And he told her the virtue of the red mantle. + +'Oh dear, how tired I am!' sighed Ludovine. 'Don't you think we had +better take a nap? And then we can talk over our plans.' + +She stretched herself on the grass, and the Kinglet did the same. He +laid his head on his left arm, round which the scarf was tied, and was +soon fast asleep. + +Ludovine was watching him out of one eye, and no sooner did she hear him +snore than she unfastened the mantle, drew it gently from under him +and wrapped it round her, took the purse from his pocket, and put it in +hers, and said: 'I wish I was back in my own room.' In another moment +she was there. + + +VII + +Who felt foolish but John, when he awoke, twenty-four hours after, and +found himself without purse, without mantle, and without Princess? He +tore his hair, he beat his breast, he trampled on the bouquet, and tore +the scarf of the traitress to atoms. + +Besides this he was very hungry, and he had nothing to eat. + +He thought of all the wonderful things his grandmother had told him when +he was a child, but none of them helped him now. He was in despair, +when suddenly he looked up and saw that the tree under which he had been +sleeping was a superb plum, covered with fruit as yellow as gold. + +'Here goes for the plums,' he said to himself, 'all is fair in war.' + +He climbed the tree and began to eat steadily. But he had hardly +swallowed two plums when, to his horror, he felt as if something was +growing on his forehead. He put up his hand and found that he had two +horns! + +He leapt down from the tree and rushed to a stream that flowed close +by. Alas! there was no escape: two charming little horns, that would not +have disgraced the head of a goat. + +Then his courage failed him. + +'As if it was not enough,' said he, 'that a woman should trick me, but +the devil must mix himself up in it and lend me his horns. What a pretty +figure I should cut if I went back into the world!' + +But as he was still hungry, and the mischief was done, he climbed boldly +up another tree, and plucked two plums of a lovely green colour. No +sooner had he swallowed two than the horns disappeared. The little +soldier was enchanted, though greatly surprised, and came to the +conclusion that it was no good to despair too quickly. When he had done +eating an idea suddenly occurred to him. + +'Perhaps,' thought he, 'these pretty little plums may help me to recover +my purse, my cloak, and my heart from the hands of this wicked Princess. +She has the eyes of a deer already; let her have the horns of one. If I +can manage to set her up with a pair, I will bet any money that I shall +cease to want her for my wife. A horned maiden is by no means lovely to +look at.' So he plaited a basket out of the long willows, and placed +in it carefully both sorts of plums. Then he walked bravely on for many +days, having no food but the berries by the wayside, and was in great +danger from wild beasts and savage men. But he feared nothing, except +that his plums should decay, and this never happened. + +At last he came to a civilised country, and with the sale of some jewels +that he had about him on the evening of his flight he took passage on +board a vessel for the Low Countries. So, at the end of a year and a +day, he arrived at the capital of the kingdom. + + +VIII + +The next day he put on a false beard and the dress of a date merchant, +and, taking a little table, he placed himself before the door of the +church. + +He spread carefully out on a fine white cloth his Mirabelle plums, which +looked for all the world as if they had been freshly gathered, and +when he saw the Princess coming out of church he began to call out in a +feigned voice: 'Fine plums! lovely plums!' + +'How much are they?' said the Princess. + +'Fifty crowns each.' + +'Fifty crowns! But what is there so very precious about them? Do they +give one wit, or will they increase one's beauty?' + +'They could not increase what is perfect already, fair Princess, but +still they might add something.' + +Rolling stones gather no moss, but they sometimes gain polish; and the +months which John had spent in roaming about the world had not been +wasted. Such a neatly turned compliment flattered Ludovine. + +'What will they add?' she smilingly asked. + +'You will see, fair Princess, when you taste them. It will be a surprise +for you.' + +Ludovine's curiosity was roused. She drew out the purse and shook out as +many little heaps of fifty crowns as there were plums in the basket. The +little soldier was seized with a wild desire to snatch the purse from +her and proclaim her a thief, but he managed to control himself. + +His plums all sold, he shut up shop, took off his disguise, changed his +inn, and kept quiet, waiting to see what would happen. + +No sooner had she reached her room than the Princess exclaimed, 'Now let +us see what these fine plums can add to my beauty,' and throwing off her +hood, she picked up a couple and ate them. + +Imagine with what surprise and horror she felt all of a sudden that +something was growing out of her forehead. She flew to her mirror and +uttered a piercing cry. + +'Horns! so that was what he promised me! Let someone find the +plum-seller at once and bring him to me! Let his nose and ears be cut +off! Let him be flayed alive, or burnt at a slow fire and his ashes +scattered to the winds! Oh, I shall die of shame and despair!' + +Her women ran at the sound of her screams, and tried to wrench off the +horns, but it was of no use, and they only gave her a violent headache. + +The King then sent round a herald to proclaim that he would give +the hand of the Princess to anyone who would rid her of her strange +ornaments. So all the doctors and sorcerers and surgeons in the Low +Countries and the neighbouring kingdoms thronged to the palace, each +with a remedy of his own. But it was all no good, and the Princess +suffered so much from their remedies that the King was obliged to +send out a second proclamation that anyone who undertook to cure the +Princess, and who failed to do it, should be hanged up to the nearest +tree. + +But the prize was too great for any proclamation to put a stop to the +efforts of the crowd of suitors, and that year the orchards of the Low +Countries all bore a harvest of dead men. + + +IX + +The King had given orders that they should seek high and low for the +plum-seller, but in spite of all their pains, he was nowhere to be +found. + +When the little soldier discovered that their patience was worn out, he +pressed the juice of the green Queen Claude plums into a small phial, +bought a doctor's robe, put on a wig and spectacles, and presented +himself before the King of the Low Countries. He gave himself out as a +famous physician who had come from distant lands, and he promised that +he would cure the Princess if only he might be left alone with her. + +'Another madman determined to be hanged,' said the King. 'Very well, +do as he asks; one should refuse nothing to a man with a rope round his +neck.' + +As soon as the little soldier was in the presence of the Princess he +poured some drops of the liquid into a glass. The Princess had scarcely +tasted it, when the tip of the horns disappeared. + +'They would have disappeared completely,' said the pretended doctor, +'if there did not exist something to counteract the effect. It is only +possible to cure people whose souls are as clean as the palm of my hand. +Are you sure you have not committed some little sin? Examine yourself +well.' + +Ludovine had no need to think over it long, but she was torn in pieces +between the shame of a humiliating confession, and the desire to be +unhorned. At last she made answer with downcast eyes, + +'I have stolen a leather purse from a little soldier.' + +'Give it to me. The remedy will not act till I hold the purse in my +hands.' + +It cost Ludovine a great pang to give up the purse, but she remembered +that riches would not benefit her if she was still to keep the horns. + +With a sigh, she handed the purse to the doctor, who poured more of the +liquid into the glass, and when the Princess had drunk it, she found +that the horns had diminished by one half. + +'You must really have another little sin on your conscience. Did you +steal nothing from this soldier but his purse?' + +'I also stole from him his cloak.' + +'Give it me.' + +'Here it is.' + +This time Ludovine thought to herself that when once the horns had +departed, she would call her attendants and take the things from the +doctor by force. + +She was greatly pleased with this idea, when suddenly the pretended +physician wrapped himself in the cloak, flung away the wig and +spectacles, and showed to the traitress the face of the Little Soldier. + +She stood before him dumb with fright. + +'I might,' said John, 'have left you horned to the end of your days, but +I am a good fellow and I once loved you, and besides--you are too like +the devil to have any need of his horns.' + + +X + +John had wished himself in the house of the Seagull. Now the Seagull was +seated at the window, mending her net, and from time to time her eyes +wandered to the sea as if she was expecting someone. At the noise made +by the little soldier, she looked up and blushed. + +'So it is you!' she said. 'How did you get here?' And then she added in +a low voice, 'And have you married your Princess?' + +Then John told her all his adventures, and when he had finished, he +restored to her the purse and the mantle. + +'What can I do with them?' said she. 'You have proved to me that +happiness does not lie in the possession of treasures.' + +'It lies in work and in the love of an honest woman,' replied the little +soldier, who noticed for the first time what pretty eyes she had. 'Dear +Seagull, will you have me for a husband?' and he held out his hand. + +'Yes, I will,' answered the fisher maiden, blushing very red, 'but only +on condition that we seal up the purse and the mantle in the copper +vessel and throw them into the sea.' + +And this they did. + +Charles Deulin. + + + + + +THE MAGIC SWAN + + + +There were once upon a time three brothers, of whom the eldest was +called Jacob, the second Frederick, and the youngest Peter. This +youngest brother was made a regular butt of by the other two, and they +treated him shamefully. If anything went wrong with their affairs, +Peter had to bear the blame and put things right for them, and he had +to endure all this ill-treatment because he was weak and delicate and +couldn't defend himself against his stronger brothers. The poor creature +had a most trying life of it in every way, and day and night he pondered +how he could make it better. One day, when he was in the wood gathering +sticks and crying bitterly, a little old woman came up to him and asked +him what was the matter; and he told her all his troubles. + +'Come, my good youth,' said the old dame, when he had finished his tale +of woe, 'isn't the world wide enough? Why don't you set out and try your +fortune somewhere else?' + +Peter took her words to heart, and left his father's house early one +morning to try his fortune in the wide world, as the old woman had +advised him. But he felt very bitterly parting from the home where +he had been born, and where he had at least passed a short but happy +childhood, and sitting down on a hill he gazed once more fondly on his +native place. + +Suddenly the little old woman stood before him, and, tapping him on the +shoulder, said, 'So far good, my boy; but what do you mean to do now?' + +Peter was at a loss what to answer, for so far he had always thought +that fortune would drop into his mouth like a ripe cherry. The old +woman, who guessed his thoughts, laughed kindly and said, 'I'll tell you +what you must do, for I've taken a fancy to you, and I'm sure you won't +forget me when you've made your fortune.' + +Peter promised faithfully he wouldn't, and the old woman continued: + +'This evening at sunset go to yonder pear-tree which you see growing at +the cross roads. Underneath it you will find a man lying asleep, and a +beautiful large swan will be fastened to the tree close to him. You must +be careful not to waken the man, but you must unfasten the swan and take +it away with you. You will find that everyone will fall in love with +its beautiful plumage, and you must allow anyone who likes to pull out +a feather. But as soon as the swan feels as much as a finger on it, it +will scream out, and then you must say, "Swan, hold fast." Then the hand +of the person who has touched the bird will be held as in a vice, and +nothing will set it free, unless you touch it with this little stick +which I will make you a present of. When you have captured a whole lot +of people in this way, lead your train straight on with you; you will +come to a big town where a Princess lives who has never been known to +laugh. If you can only make her laugh your fortune is made; then I beg +you won't forget your old friend.' + +Peter promised again that he wouldn't, and at sunset he went to the tree +the old woman had mentioned. The man lay there fast asleep, and a large +beautiful swan was fastened to the tree beside him by a red cord. Peter +loosed the bird, and led it away with him without disturbing the bird's +master. + +He walked on with the swan for some time, and came at last to a +building-yard where some men were busily at work. They were all lost in +admiration of the bird's beautiful plumage, and one forward youth, who +was covered with clay from head to foot, called out, 'Oh, if I'd only +one of those feathers how happy I should be!' + +'Pull one out then,' said Peter kindly, and the youth seized one from +the bird's tail; instantly the swan screamed, and Peter called out, +'Swan, hold fast,' and do what he could the poor youth couldn't get his +hand away. The more he howled the more the others laughed, till a girl +who had been washing clothes in the neighbouring stream hurried up to +see what was the matter. When she saw the poor boy fastened to the swan +she felt so sorry for him that she stretched out her hand to free him. +The bird screamed. + +'Swan, hold fast,' called out Peter, and the girl was caught also. + +When Peter had gone on for a bit with his captives, they met a chimney +sweep, who laughed loudly over the extraordinary troop, and asked the +girl what she was doing. + +'Oh, dearest John,' replied the girl, 'give me your hand and set me free +from this cursed young man.' + +'Most certainly I will, if that's all you want,' replied the sweep, and +gave the girl his hand. The bird screamed. + +'Swan, hold fast,' said Peter, and the black man was added to their +number. + +They soon came to a village where a fair was being held. A travelling +circus was giving a performance, and the clown was just doing his +tricks. He opened his eyes wide with amazement when he saw the +remarkable trio fastened on to the swan's tail. + +'Have you gone raving mad, Blackie?' he asked as well as he could for +laughing. + +'It's no laughing matter,' the sweep replied. 'This wench has got so +tight hold of me that I feel as if I were glued to her. Do set me free, +like a good clown, and I'll do you a good turn some day.' + +Without a moment's hesitation the clown grasped the black outstretched +hand. The bird screamed. + +'Swan, hold fast,' called out Peter, and the clown became the fourth of +the party. + +Now in the front row of the spectators sat the respected and popular +Mayor of the village, who was much put out by what he considered nothing +but a foolish trick. So much annoyed was he that he seized the clown by +the hand and tried to tear him away, in order to hand him over to the +police. + +Then the bird screamed, and Peter called out, 'Swan, hold fast,' and the +dignified Mayor shared the fate of his predecessors. + +The Mayoress, a long thin stick of a woman, enraged at the insult done +to her husband, seized his free arm and tore at it with all her might, +with the only result that she too was forced to swell the procession. +After this no one else had any wish to join them. + +Soon Peter saw the towers of the capital in front of him. Just before +entering it, a glittering carriage came out to meet him, in which was +seated a young lady as beautiful as the day, but with a very solemn and +serious expression. But no sooner had she perceived the motley crowd +fastened to the swan's tail than she burst into a loud fit of laughter, +in which she was joined by all her servants and ladies in waiting. + +'The Princess has laughed at last,' they all cried with joy. + +She stepped out of her carriage to look more closely at the wonderful +sight, and laughed again over the capers the poor captives cut. She +ordered her carriage to be turned round and drove slowly back into the +town, never taking her eyes off Peter and his procession. + +When the King heard the news that his daughter had actually laughed, he +was more than delighted, and had Peter and his marvellous train brought +before him. He laughed himself when he saw them till the tears rolled +down his cheeks. + +'My good friend,' he said to Peter, 'do you know what I promised the +person who succeeded in making the Princess laugh?' + +'No, I don't,' said Peter. + +'Then I'll tell you,' answered the King; 'a thousand gold crowns or a +piece of land. Which will you choose?' + +Peter decided in favour of the land. Then he touched the youth, the +girl, the sweep, the clown, the Mayor, and the Mayoress with his little +stick, and they were all free again, and ran away home as if a fire were +burning behind them; and their flight, as you may imagine, gave rise to +renewed merriment. + +Then the Princess felt moved to stroke the swan, at the same time +admiring its plumage. The bird screamed. + +'Swan, hold fast,' called out Peter, and so he won the Princess for +his bride. But the swan flew up into the air, and vanished in the blue +horizon. Peter now received a duchy as a present, and became a very +great man indeed; but he did not forget the little old woman who had +been the cause of all his good fortune, and appointed her as head +housekeeper to him and his royal bride in their magnificent castle. + +Kletke. + + + + + +THE DIRTY SHEPHERDESS + + + +Once upon a time there lived a King who had two daughters, and he loved +them with all his heart. When they grew up, he was suddenly seized with +a wish to know if they, on their part, truly loved him, and he made up +his mind that he would give his kingdom to whichever best proved her +devotion. + +So he called the elder Princess and said to her, 'How much do you love +me?' + +'As the apple of my eye!' answered she. + +'Ah!' exclaimed the King, kissing her tenderly as he spoke, 'you are +indeed a good daughter.' + +Then he sent for the younger, and asked her how much she loved him. + +'I look upon you, my father,' she answered, 'as I look upon salt in my +food.' + +But the King did not like her words, and ordered her to quit the court, +and never again to appear before him. The poor Princess went sadly up +to her room and began to cry, but when she was reminded of her father's +commands, she dried her eyes, and made a bundle of her jewels and her +best dresses and hurriedly left the castle where she was born. + +She walked straight along the road in front of her, without knowing very +well where she was going or what was to become of her, for she had +never been shown how to work, and all she had learnt consisted of a few +household rules, and receipts of dishes which her mother had taught her +long ago. And as she was afraid that no housewife would want to engage a +girl with such a pretty face, she determined to make herself as ugly as +she could. + +She therefore took off the dress that she was wearing and put on some +horrible old rags belonging to a beggar, all torn and covered with mud. +After that she smeared mud all over her hands and face, and shook her +hair into a great tangle. Having thus changed her appearance, she went +about offering herself as a goose-girl or shepherdess. But the farmers' +wives would have nothing to say to such a dirty maiden, and sent her +away with a morsel of bread for charity's sake. + +After walking for a great many days without being able to find any work, +she came to a large farm where they were in want of a shepherdess, and +engaged her gladly. + +One day when she was keeping her sheep in a lonely tract of land, she +suddenly felt a wish to dress herself in her robes of splendour. She +washed herself carefully in the stream, and as she always carried +her bundle with her, it was easy to shake off her rags, and transform +herself in a few moments into a great lady. + +The King's son, who had lost his way out hunting, perceived this lovely +damsel a long way off, and wished to look at her closer. But as soon +as the girl saw what he was at, she fled into the wood as swiftly as a +bird. The Prince ran after her, but as he was running he caught his +foot in the root of a tree and fell, and when he got up again, she was +nowhere to be seen. + +When she was quite safe, she put on her rags again, and smeared over her +face and hands. However the young Prince, who was both hot and thirsty, +found his way to the farm, to ask for a drink of cider, and he inquired +the name of the beautiful lady that kept the sheep. At this everyone +began to laugh, for they said that the shepherdess was one of the +ugliest and dirtiest creatures under the sun. + +The Prince thought some witchcraft must be at work, and he hastened away +before the return of the shepherdess, who became that evening the butt +of everybody's jests. + +But the King's son thought often of the lovely maiden whom he had only +seen for a moment, though she seemed to him much more fascinating than +any lady of the Court. At last he dreamed of nothing else, and grew +thinner day by day till his parents inquired what was the matter, +promising to do all they could to make him as happy as he once was. He +dared not tell them the truth, lest they should laugh at him, so he only +said that he should like some bread baked by the kitchen girl in the +distant farm. + +Although the wish appeared rather odd, they hastened to fulfil it, and +the farmer was told the request of the King's son. The maiden showed no +surprise at receiving such an order, but merely asked for some flour, +salt, and water, and also that she might be left alone in a little room +adjoining the oven, where the kneading-trough stood. Before beginning +her work she washed herself carefully, and even put on her rings; but, +while she was baking, one of her rings slid into the dough. When she had +finished she dirtied herself again, and let the lumps of the dough stick +to her fingers, so that she became as ugly as before. + +The loaf, which was a very little one, was brought to the King's son, +who ate it with pleasure. But in cutting it he found the ring of the +Princess, and declared to his parents that he would marry the girl whom +that ring fitted. + +So the King made a proclamation through his whole kingdom and ladies +came from afar to lay claim to the honour. But the ring was so tiny that +even those who had the smallest hands could only get it on their little +fingers. In a short time all the maidens of the kingdom, including the +peasant girls, had tried on the ring, and the King was just about to +announce that their efforts had been in vain, when the Prince observed +that he had not yet seen the shepherdess. + +They sent to fetch her, and she arrived covered with rags, but with her +hands cleaner than usual, so that she could easily slip on the ring. +The King's son declared that he would fulfil his promise, and when his +parents mildly remarked that the girl was only a keeper of sheep, and a +very ugly one too, the maiden boldly said that she was born a princess, +and that, if they would only give her some water and leave her alone in +a room for a few minutes, she would show that she could look as well as +anyone in fine clothes. + +They did what she asked, and when she entered in a magnificent dress, +she looked so beautiful that all saw she must be a princess in disguise. +The King's son recognized the charming damsel of whom he had once caught +a glimpse, and, flinging himself at her feet, asked if she would +marry him. The Princess then told her story, and said that it would be +necessary to send an ambassador to her father to ask his consent and to +invite him to the wedding. + +The Princess's father, who had never ceased to repent his harshness +towards his daughter, had sought her through the land, but as no one +could tell him anything of her, he supposed her dead. Therefore it was +with great joy he heard that she was living and that a king's son asked +her in marriage, and he quitted his kingdom with his elder daughter so +as to be present at the ceremony. + +By the orders of the bride, they only served her father at the wedding +breakfast bread without salt, and meat without seasoning. Seeing him +make faces, and eat very little, his daughter, who sat beside him, +inquired if his dinner was not to his taste. + +'No,' he replied, 'the dishes are carefully cooked and sent up, but they +are all so dreadfully tasteless.' + +'Did not I tell you, my father, that salt was the best thing in life? +And yet, when I compared you to salt, to show how much I loved you, you +thought slightingly of me and you chased me from your presence.' + +The King embraced his daughter, and allowed that he had been wrong to +misinterpret her words. Then, for the rest of the wedding feast they +gave him bread made with salt, and dishes with seasoning, and he said +they were the very best he had ever eaten. + +Sebillot. + + + + + +THE ENCHANTED SNAKE + + + +There was once upon a time a poor woman who would have given all she +possessed for a child, but she hadn't one. + +Now it happened one day that her husband went to the wood to collect +brushwood, and when he had brought it home, he discovered a pretty +little snake among the twigs. + +When Sabatella, for that was the name of the peasant's wife, saw the +little beast, she sighed deeply and said, 'Even the snakes have their +brood; I alone am unfortunate and have no children.' No sooner had she +said these words than, to her intense surprise, the little snake looked +up into her face and spoke: 'Since you have no children, be a mother to +me instead, and I promise you will never repent it, for I will love you +as if I were your own son.' + +At first Sabatella was frightened to death at hearing a snake speak, +but plucking up her courage, she replied, 'If it weren't for any other +reason than your kindly thought, I would agree to what you say, and I +will love you and look after you like a mother.' + +So she gave the snake a little hole in the house for its bed, fed it +with all the nicest food she could think of, and seemed as if she never +could show it enough kindness. Day by day it grew bigger and fatter, and +at last one morning it said to Cola-Mattheo, the peasant, whom it always +regarded as its father, 'Dear papa, I am now of a suitable age and wish +to marry.' + +'I'm quite agreeable,' answered Mattheo, 'and I'll do my best to find +another snake like yourself and arrange a match between you.' + +'Why, if you do that,' replied the snake, 'we shall be no better than +the vipers and reptiles, and that's not what I want at all. No; I'd much +prefer to marry the King's daughter; therefore I pray you go without +further delay, and demand an audience of the King, and tell him a snake +wishes to marry his daughter.' + +Cola-Mattheo, who was rather a simpleton, went as he was desired to the +King, and having obtained an audience, he said, 'Your Majesty, I have +often heard that people lose nothing by asking, so I have come to inform +you that a snake wants to marry your daughter, and I'd be glad to know +if you are willing to mate a dove with a serpent?' + +The King, who saw at once that the man was a fool, said, in order to get +quit of him, 'Go home and tell your friend the snake that if he can turn +this palace into ivory, inlaid with gold and silver, before to-morrow +at noon, I will let him marry my daughter.' And with a hearty laugh he +dismissed the peasant. + +When Cola-Mattheo brought this answer back to the snake, the little +creature didn't seem the least put out, but said, 'To-morrow morning, +before sunrise, you must go to the wood and gather a bunch of green +herbs, and then rub the threshold of the palace with them, and you'll +see what will happen.' + +Cola-Mattheo, who was, as I have said before, a great simpleton, made no +reply; but before sunrise next morning he went to the wood and gathered +a bunch of St. John's Wort, and rosemary, and suchlike herbs, and rubbed +them, as he had been told, on the floor of the palace. Hardly had he +done so than the walls immediately turned into ivory, so richly inlaid +with gold and silver that they dazzled the eyes of all beholders. The +King, when he rose and saw the miracle that had been performed, was +beside himself with amazement, and didn't know what in the world he was +to do. + +But when Cola-Mattheo came next day, and, in the name of the snake, +demanded the hand of the Princess, the King replied, 'Don't be in such +a hurry; if the snake really wants to marry my daughter, he must do some +more things first, and one of these is to turn all the paths and walls +of my garden into pure gold before noon to-morrow.' + +When the snake was told of this new condition, he replied, 'To-morrow +morning, early, you must go and collect all the odds and ends of rubbish +you can find in the streets, and then take them and throw them on the +paths and walls of the garden, and you'll see then if we won't be more +than a match for the old King.' + +So Cola-Mattheo rose at cock-crow, took a large basket under his arm, +and carefully collected all the broken fragments of pots and pans, and +jugs and lamps, and other trash of that sort. No sooner had he scattered +them over the paths and walls of the King's garden than they became one +blaze of glittering gold, so that everyone's eyes were dazzled with the +brilliancy, and everyone's soul was filled with wonder. The King, too, +was amazed at the sight, but still he couldn't make up his mind to +part with his daughter, so when Cola-Mattheo came to remind him of his +promise he replied, 'I have still a third demand to make. If the snake +can turn all the trees and fruit of my garden into precious stones, then +I promise him my daughter in marriage.' + +When the peasant informed the snake what the King had said, he replied, +'To-morrow morning, early, you must go to the market and buy all the +fruit you see there, and then sow all the stones and seeds in the palace +garden, and, if I'm not mistaken, the King will be satisfied with the +result.' + +Cola-Mattheo rose at dawn, and taking a basket on his arm, he went to +the market, and bought all the pomegranates, apricots, cherries, and +other fruit he could find there, and sowed the seeds and stones in the +palace garden. In one moment, the trees were all ablaze with rubies, +emeralds, diamonds, and every other precious stone you can think of. + +This time the King felt obliged to keep his promise, and calling +his daughter to him, he said, 'My dear Grannonia,' for that was the +Princess's name, 'more as a joke than anything else, I demanded what +seemed to me impossibilities from your bridegroom, but now that he has +done all I required, I am bound to stick to my part of the bargain. Be +a good child, and as you love me, do not force me to break my word, but +give yourself up with as good grace as you can to a most unhappy fate.' + +'Do with me what you like, my lord and father, for your will is my law,' +answered Grannonia. + +When the King heard this, he told Cola-Mattheo to bring the snake to +the palace, and said that he was prepared to receive the creature as his +son-in-law. + +The snake arrived at court in a carriage made of gold and drawn by six +white elephants; but wherever it appeared on the way, the people fled in +terror at the sight of the fearful reptile. + +When the snake reached the palace, all the courtiers shook and trembled +with fear down to the very scullion, and the King and Queen were in +such a state of nervous collapse that they hid themselves in a far-away +turret. Grannonia alone kept her presence of mind, and although both her +father and mother implored her to fly for her life, she wouldn't move +a step, saying, 'I'm certainly not going to fly from the man you have +chosen for my husband.' + +As soon as the snake saw Grannonia, it wound its tail round her and +kissed her. Then, leading her into a room, it shut the door, and +throwing off its skin, it changed into a beautiful young man with golden +locks, and flashing eyes, who embraced Grannonia tenderly, and said all +sorts of pretty things to her. + +When the King saw the snake shut itself into a room with his daughter, +he said to his wife, 'Heaven be merciful to our child, for I fear it is +all over with her now. This cursed snake has most likely swallowed her +up.' Then they put their eyes to the keyhole to see what had happened. + +Their amazement knew no bounds when they saw a beautiful youth standing +before their daughter with the snake's skin lying on the floor beside +him. In their excitement they burst open the door, and seizing the skin +they threw it into the fire. But no sooner had they done this than the +young man called out, 'Oh, wretched people! what have you done?' and +before they had time to look round he had changed himself into a dove, +and dashing against the window he broke a pane of glass, and flew away +from their sight. + +But Grannonia, who in one and the same moment saw herself merry and sad, +cheerful and despairing, rich and beggared, complained bitterly over +this robbery of her happiness, this poisoning of her cup of joy, this +unlucky stroke of fortune, and laid all the blame on her parents, though +they assured her that they had meant no harm. But the Princess refused +to be comforted, and at night, when all the inhabitants of the palace +were asleep, she stole out by a back door, disguised as a peasant woman, +determined to seek for her lost happiness till she found it. When she +got to the outskirts of the town, led by the light of the moon, she met +a fox, who offered to accompany her, an offer which Grannonia gladly +accepted, saying 'You are most heartily welcome, for I don't know my way +at all about the neighbourhood.' + +So they went on their way together, and came at last to a wood, where, +being tired with walking, they paused to rest under the shade of a tree, +where a spring of water sported with the tender grass, refreshing it +with its crystal spray. + +They laid themselves down on the green carpet and soon fell fast asleep, +and did not waken again till the sun was high in the heavens. They +rose up and stood for some time listening to the birds singing, because +Grannonia delighted in their songs. + +When the fox perceived this, he said: 'If you only understood, as I +do, what these little birds are saying, your pleasure would be even +greater.' + +Provoked by his words--for we all know that curiosity is as deeply +inborn in every woman as even the love of talking--Grannonia implored +the fox to tell her what the birds had said. + +At first the wily fox refused to tell her what he had gathered from the +conversation of the birds, but at last he gave way to her entreaties, +and told her that they had spoken of the misfortunes of a beautiful +young Prince, whom a wicked enchantress had turned into a snake for the +period of seven years. At the end of this time he had fallen in love +with a charming Princess, but that when he had shut himself up into +a room with her, and had thrown off his snake's skin, her parents had +forced their way into the room and had burnt the skin, whereupon the +Prince, changed into the likeness of a dove, had broken a pane of glass +in trying to fly out of the window, and had wounded himself so badly +that the doctors despaired of his life. + +Grannonia, when she learnt that they were talking of her lover, asked +at once whose son he was, and if there was any hope of his recovery; to +which the fox made answer that the birds had said he was the son of the +King of Vallone Grosso, and that the only thing that could cure him was +to rub the wounds on his head with the blood of the very birds who had +told the tale. + +Then Grannonia knelt down before the fox, and begged him in her sweetest +way to catch the birds for her and procure their blood, promising at the +same time to reward him richly. + +'All right,' said the fox, 'only don't be in such a hurry; let's wait +till night, when the little birds have gone to roost, then I'll climb up +and catch them all for you.' + +So they passed the day, talking now of the beauty of the Prince, now +of the father of the Princess, and then of the misfortune that had +happened. At last the night arrived, and all the little birds were +asleep high up on the branches of a big tree. The fox climbed up +stealthily and caught the little creatures with his paws one after the +other; and when he had killed them all he put their blood into a little +bottle which he wore at his side and returned with it to Grannonia, who +was beside herself with joy at the result of the fox's raid. But the fox +said, 'My dear daughter, your joy is in vain, because, let me tell you, +this blood is of no earthly use to you unless you add some of mine to +it,' and with these words he took to his heels. + +Grannonia, who saw her hopes dashed to the ground in this cruel way, had +recourse to flattery and cunning, weapons which have often stood the sex +in good stead, and called out after the fox, 'Father Fox, you would be +quite right to save your skin, if, in the first place, I didn't feel I +owed so much to you, and if, in the second, there weren't other foxes in +the world; but as you know how grateful I feel to you, and as there are +heaps of other foxes about, you can trust yourself to me. Don't behave +like the cow that kicks the pail over after it has filled it with milk, +but continue your journey with me, and when we get to the capital you +can sell me to the King as a servant girl.' + +It never entered the fox's head that even foxes can be outwitted, so +after a bit he consented to go with her; but he hadn't gone far before +the cunning girl seized a stick, and gave him such a blow with it on the +head, that he dropped down dead on the spot. Then Grannonia took some of +his blood and poured it into her little bottle; and went on her way as +fast as she could to Vallone Grosso. + +When she arrived there she went straight to the Royal palace, and let +the King be told she had come to cure the young Prince. + +The King commanded her to be brought before him at once, and was much +astonished when he saw that it was a girl who undertook to do what all +the cleverest doctors of his kingdom had failed in. As an attempt hurts +no one, he willingly consented that she should do what she could. + +'All I ask,' said Grannonia, 'is that, should I succeed in what you +desire, you will give me your son in marriage.' + +The King, who had given up all hopes of his son's recovery, replied: +'Only restore him to life and health and he shall be yours. It is only +fair to give her a husband who gives me a son.' + +And so they went into the Prince's room. The moment Grannonia had rubbed +the blood on his wounds the illness left him, and he was as sound and +well as ever. When the King saw his son thus marvellously restored to +life and health, he turned to him and said: 'My dear son, I thought +of you as dead, and now, to my great joy and amazement, you are alive +again. I promised this young woman that if she should cure you, to +bestow your hand and heart on her, and seeing that Heaven has been +gracious, you must fulfil the promise I made her; for gratitude alone +forces me to pay this debt.' + +But the Prince answered: 'My lord and father, I would that my will were +as free as my love for you is great. But as I have plighted my word to +another maiden, you will see yourself, and so will this young woman, +that I cannot go back from my word, and be faithless to her whom I +love.' + +When Grannonia heard these words, and saw how deeply rooted the Prince's +love for her was, she felt very happy, and blushing rosy red, she said: +'But should I get the other lady to give up her rights, would you then +consent to marry me?' + +'Far be it from me,' replied the Prince, 'to banish the beautiful +picture of my love from my heart. Whatever she may say, my heart and +desire will remain the same, and though I were to lose my life for it, I +couldn't consent to this exchange.' + +Grannonia could keep silence no longer, and throwing off her peasant's +disguise, she discovered herself to the Prince, who was nearly beside +himself with joy when he recognised his fair lady-love. He then told his +father at once who she was, and what she had done and suffered for his +sake. + +Then they invited the King and Queen of Starza-Longa to their Court, and +had a great wedding feast, and proved once more that there is no better +seasoning for the joys of true love than a few pangs of grief. + + + + + +THE BITER BIT + + + +Once upon a time there lived a man called Simon, who was very rich, +but at the same time as stingy and miserly as he could be. He had a +housekeeper called Nina, a clever capable woman, and as she did her work +carefully and conscientiously, her master had the greatest respect for +her. + +In his young days Simon had been one of the gayest and most active +youths of the neighbourhood, but as he grew old and stiff he found it +very difficult to walk, and his faithful servant urged him to get a +horse so as to save his poor old bones. At last Simon gave way to the +request and persuasive eloquence of his housekeeper, and betook himself +one day to the market where he had seen a mule, which he thought would +just suit him, and which he bought for seven gold pieces. + +Now it happened that there were three merry rascals hanging about the +market-place, who much preferred living on other people's goods to +working for their own living. As soon as they saw that Simon had bought +a mule, one of them said to his two boon companions, 'My friends, this +mule must be ours before we are many hours older.' + +'But how shall we manage it,' asked one of them. + +'We must all three station ourselves at different intervals along the +old man's homeward way, and must each in his turn declare that the mule +he has bought is a donkey. If we only stick to it you'll see the mule +will soon be ours.' This proposal quite satisfied the others, and they +all separated as they had agreed. + +Now when Simon came by, the first rogue said to him, 'God bless you, my +fine gentleman.' + +'Thanks for your courtesy,' replied Simon. + +'Where have you been?' asked the thief. + +'To the market,' was the reply. + +'And what did you buy there?' continued the rogue. + +'This mule.' + +'Which mule?' + +'The one I'm sitting upon, to be sure,' replied Simon. + +'Are you in earnest, or only joking?' + +'What do you mean?' + +'Because it seems to me you've got hold of a donkey, and not of a mule.' + +'A donkey? Rubbish!' screamed Simon, and without another word he rode +on his way. After a few hundred yards he met the second confederate, who +addressed him, 'Good day, dear sir, where are you coming from?' + +'From the market,' answered Simon. + +'Did things go pretty cheap?' asked the other. + +'I should just think so,' said Simon. + +'And did you make any good bargain yourself?' + +'I bought this mule on which you see me.' + +'Is it possible that you really bought that beast for a mule?' + +'Why certainly.' + +'But, good heavens, it's nothing but a donkey!' + +'A donkey!' repeated Simon, 'you don't mean to say so; if a single other +person tells me that, I'll make him a present of the wretched animal.' + +With these words he continued his way, and very soon met the third +knave, who said to him, 'God bless you, sir; are you by any chance +coming from the market?' + +'Yes, I am,' replied Simon. + +'And what bargain did you drive there?' asked the cunning fellow. + +'I bought this mule on which I am riding.' + +'A mule! Are you speaking seriously, or do you wish to make a fool of +me?' + +'I'm speaking in sober earnest,' said Simon; 'it wouldn't occur to me to +make a joke of it.' + +'Oh, my poor friend,' cried the rascal, 'don't you see that is a donkey +and not a mule? you have been taken in by some wretched cheats.' + +'You are the third person in the last two hours who has told me the same +thing,' said Simon, 'but I couldn't believe it,' and dismounting from +the mule he spoke: 'Keep the animal, I make you a present of it.' The +rascal took the beast, thanked him kindly, and rode on to join his +comrades, while Simon continued his journey on foot. + +As soon as the old man got home, he told his housekeeper that he had +bought a beast under the belief that it was a mule, but that it had +turned out to be a donkey--at least, so he had been assured by several +people he had met on the road, and that in disgust he had at last given +it away. + +'Oh, you simpleton!' cried Nina; 'didn't you see that they were only +playing you a trick? Really, I thought you'd have had more gumption than +that; they wouldn't have taken me in in that way.' + +'Never mind,' replied Simon, 'I'll play them one worth two of that; for +depend upon it they won't be contented with having got the donkey out of +me, but they'll try by some new dodge to get something more, or I'm much +mistaken.' + +Now there lived in the village not far from Simon's house, a peasant +who had two goats, so alike in every respect that it was impossible to +distinguish one from the other. Simon bought them both, paid as small a +price as he could for them, and leading them home with him, he told +Nina to prepare a good meal, as he was going to invite some friends +to dinner. He ordered her to roast some veal, and to boil a pair of +chickens, and gave her some herbs to make a good savoury, and told her +to bake the best tart she could make. Then he took one of the goats and +tied it to a post in the courtyard, and gave it some grass to eat; +but he bound a cord round the neck of the other goat and led it to the +market. + +Hardly had he arrived there, than the three gentlemen who had got his +mule perceived him, and coming up to him said: 'Welcome, Mr. Simon, what +brings you here; are you on the look out for a bargain?' + +'I've come to get some provisions,' he answered, 'because some friends +are coming to dine with me today, and it would give me much pleasure if +you were to honour me with your company also.' + +The accomplices willingly accepted this invitation; and after Simon had +made all his purchases, he tied them on to the goat's back, and said to +it, in the presence of the three cheats, 'Go home now, and tell Nina to +roast the veal, and boil the chickens, and tell her to prepare a savoury +with herbs, and to bake the best tart she can make. Have you followed +me? Then go, and Heaven's blessing go with you.' + +As soon as it felt itself free, the laden goat trotted off as quickly +as it could, and to this day nobody knows what became of it. But Simon, +after wandering about the market for some time with his three friends +and some others he had picked up, returned home to his house. + +When he and his guests entered the courtyard, they noticed the goat tied +to the post quietly chewing the cud. They were not a little astonished +at this, for of course they thought it was the same goat that Simon had +sent home laden with provisions. As soon as they reached the house Mr. +Simon said to his housekeeper, 'Well, Nina, have you done what I told +the goat to tell you to do?' The artful woman, who at once understood +her master, answered, 'Certainly I have. The veal is roasted, and the +chickens boiled.' + +'That's all right,' said Simon. + +When the three rogues saw the cooked meats, and the tart in the +oven, and heard Nina's words, they were nearly beside themselves with +amazement, and began to consult at once how they were to get the goat +into their own possession. At last, towards the end of the meal, having +sought in vain for some cunning dodge to get the goat away from Mr. +Simon, one of them said to him, 'My worthy host, you must sell your goat +to us.' + +Simon replied that he was most unwilling to part with the creature, as +no amount of money would make up to him for its loss; still, if they +were quite set on it, he would let them have the goat for fifty gold +pieces. + +The knaves, who thought they were doing a capital piece of business, +paid down the fifty gold pieces at once, and left the house quite +happily, leading the goat with them. When they got home they said to +their wives, 'You needn't begin to cook the dinner to-morrow till we +send the provisions home.' + +The following day they went to the market and bought chickens and other +eatables, and after they had packed them on the back of the goat (which +they had brought with them), they told it all the dishes they wished +their wives to prepare. As soon as the goat felt itself free, it ran as +quickly as it could, and was very soon lost to sight, and, as far as I +know, was never heard of again. + +When the dinner hour approached all three went home and asked their +wives if the goat had returned with the necessary provisions, and had +told them what they wished prepared for their meal. + +'Oh, you fools and blockheads!' cried their wives, 'how could you ever +believe for a moment that a goat would do the work of a servant-maid? +You have been finely deceived for once in a way. Of course, if you are +always taking in other people, your turn to be taken in comes too, and +this time you've been made to look pretty foolish.' + +When the three comrades saw that Mr. Simon had got the better of them, +and done them out of fifty gold pieces, they flew into such a rage that +they made up their minds to kill him, and, seizing their weapons for +this purpose, went to his house. + +But the sly old man, who was terrified for his life that the three +rogues might do him some harm, was on his guard, and said to his +housekeeper, 'Nina, take this bladder, which is filled with blood, and +hide it under your cloak; then when these thieves come I'll lay all the +blame on you, and will pretend to be so angry with you that I will run +at you with my knife, and pierce the bladder with it; then you must fall +on the ground as if you were dead, and leave the rest to me.' + +Hardly had Simon said these words when the three rogues appeared and +fell on him to kill him. + +'My friends,' called out Simon to then, 'what do you accuse me of? I am +in no way to blame; perhaps my housekeeper has done you some injury of +which I know nothing.' And with these words, he turned on Nina with +his knife, and stuck it right into her, so that he pierced the bladder +filled with blood. Instantly the housekeeper fell down as if she were +dead, and the blood streamed all over the ground. + +Simon then pretended to be seized with remorse at the sight of this +dreadful catastrophe, and cried out in a loud voice, 'Unhappy wretch +that I am! What have I done? Like a madman I have killed the woman +who is the prop and stay of my old age. How could I ever go on living +without her?' Then he seized a pipe, and when he had blown into it for +some time Nina sprang up alive and well. + +The rogues were more amazed than ever; they forgot their anger, and +buying the pipe for two hundred gold pieces, they went joyfully home. + +Not long after this one of them quarrelled with his wife, and in his +rage he thrust his knife into her breast so that she fell dead on the +ground. Then he took Simon's pipe and blew into it with all his might, +in the hopes of calling his wife back to life. But he blew in vain, for +the poor soul was as dead as a door-nail. + +When one of his comrades heard what had happened, he said, 'You +blockhead, you can't have done it properly; just let me have a try,' and +with these words he seized his wife by the roots of her hair, cut her +throat with a razor, and then took the pipe and blew into it with +all his might but he couldn't bring her back to life. The same thing +happened to the third rogue, so that they were now all three without +wives. + +Full of wrath they ran to Simon's house, and, refusing to listen to a +word of explanation or excuse, they seized the old man and put him into +a sack, meaning to drown him in the neighbouring river. On their way +there, however, a sudden noise threw them into such a panic that they +dropped the sack with Simon in it and ran for their lives. + +Soon after this a shepherd happened to pass by with his flock, and while +he was slowly following the sheep, who paused here and there by the +wayside to browse on the tender grass, he heard a pitiful voice wailing, +'They insist on my taking her, and I don't want her, for I am too old, +and I really can't have her.' The shepherd was much startled, for he +couldn't make out where these words, which were repeated more than +once, came from, and looked about him to the right and left; at last +he perceived the sack in which Simon was hidden, and going up to it +he opened it and discovered Simon repeating his dismal complaint. The +shepherd asked him why he had been left there tied up in a sack. + +Simon replied that the king of the country had insisted on giving him +one of his daughters as a wife, but that he had refused the honour +because he was too old and too frail. The simple-minded shepherd, who +believed his story implicitly, asked him, 'Do you think the king of the +country would give his daughter to me?' + +'Yes, certainly, I know he would,' answered Simon, 'if you were tied up +in this sack instead of me.' Then getting out of the sack, he tied the +confiding shepherd up in it instead, and at his request fastened it +securely and drove the sheep on himself. + +An hour had scarcely passed when the three rogues returned to the place +where they had left Simon in the sack, and without opening it, one of +them seized it and threw it into the river. And so the poor shepherd was +drowned instead of Mr. Simon! + +The three rogues, having wreaked their vengeance, set out, for home. On +their way they noticed a flock of sheep grazing not far from the road. +They longed to steal a few of the lambs, and approached the flock, and +were more than startled to recognise Mr. Simon, whom they had drowned in +the river, as the shepherd who was looking after the sheep. They asked +him how he had managed to get out of the river, to which he replied: + +'Get along with you--you are no better than silly donkeys without any +sense; if you had only drowned me in deeper water I would have returned +with three times as many sheep.' + +When the three rogues heard this, they said to him: 'Oh, dear Mr. Simon, +do us the favour to tie us up in sacks and throw us into the river that +we may give up our thieving ways and become the owners of flocks.' + +'I am ready,' answered Simon, 'to do what you please; there's nothing in +the world I wouldn't do for you.' + +So he took three strong sacks and put a man in each of them, and +fastened them up so tightly that they couldn't get out, and then he +threw them all into the river; and that was the end of the three rogues. +But Mr. Simon returned home to his faithful Nina rich in flocks and +gold, and lived for many a year in health and happiness. + +Kletke. + + + + + +KING KOJATA (From the Russian) + + + +There was once upon a time a king called Kojata, whose beard was so +long that it reached below his knees. Three years had passed since his +marriage, and he lived very happily with his wife, but Heaven granted +him no heir, which grieved the King greatly. One day he set forth +from his capital, in order to make a journey through his kingdom. +He travelled for nearly a year through the different parts of his +territory, and then, having seen all there was to be seen, he set forth +on his homeward way. As the day was very hot and sultry he commanded his +servants to pitch tents in the open field, and there await the cool of +the evening. Suddenly a frightful thirst seized the King, and as he saw +no water near, he mounted his horse, and rode through the neighbourhood +looking for a spring. Before long he came to a well filled to the brim +with water clear as crystal, and on the bosom of which a golden jug was +floating. King Kojata at once tried to seize the vessel, but though he +endeavoured to grasp it with his right hand, and then with his left, the +wretched thing always eluded his efforts and refused to let itself be +caught. First with one hand, and then with two, did the King try to +seize it, but like a fish the goblet always slipped through his fingers +and bobbed to the ground only to reappear at some other place, and mock +the King. + +'Plague on you!' said King Kojata. 'I can quench my thirst without you,' +and bending over the well he lapped up the water so greedily that he +plunged his face, beard and all, right into the crystal mirror. But when +he had satisfied his thirst, and wished to raise himself up, he couldn't +lift his head, because someone held his beard fast in the water. 'Who's +there? let me go!' cried King Kojata, but there was no answer; only an +awful face looked up from the bottom of the well with two great green +eyes, glowing like emeralds, and a wide mouth reaching from ear to ear +showing two rows of gleaming white teeth, and the King's beard was held, +not by mortal hands, but by two claws. At last a hoarse voice sounded +from the depths. 'Your trouble is all in vain, King Kojata; I will only +let you go on condition that you give me something you know nothing +about, and which you will find on your return home.' + +The King didn't pause to ponder long, 'for what,' thought he, 'could be +in my palace without my knowing about it--the thing is absurd;' so he +answered quickly: + +'Yes, I promise that you shall have it.' + +The voice replied, 'Very well; but it will go ill with you if you fail +to keep your promise.' Then the claws relaxed their hold, and the face +disappeared in the depths. The King drew his chin out of the water, +and shook himself like a dog; then he mounted his horse and rode +thoughtfully home with his retinue. When they approached the capital, +all the people came out to meet them with great joy and acclamation, +and when the King reached his palace the Queen met him on the threshold; +beside her stood the Prime Minister, holding a little cradle in his +hands, in which lay a new-born child as beautiful as the day. Then +the whole thing dawned on the King, and groaning deeply he muttered to +himself 'So this is what I did not know about,' and the tears rolled +down his cheeks. All the courtiers standing round were much amazed at +the King's grief, but no one dared to ask him the cause of it. He took +the child in his arms and kissed it tenderly; then laying it in its +cradle, he determined to control his emotion and began to reign again as +before. + +The secret of the King remained a secret, though his grave, careworn +expression escaped no one's notice. In the constant dread that his child +would be taken from him, poor Kojata knew no rest night or day. However, +time went on and nothing happened. Days and months and years passed, and +the Prince grew up into a beautiful youth, and at last the King himself +forgot all about the incident that had happened so long ago. + +One day the Prince went out hunting, and going in pursuit of a wild boar +he soon lost the other huntsmen, and found himself quite alone in the +middle of a dark wood. The trees grew so thick and near together that it +was almost impossible to see through them, only straight in front of +him lay a little patch of meadowland. Overgrown with thistles and rank +weeds, in the centre of which a leafy lime tree reared itself. +Suddenly a rustling sound was heard in the hollow of the tree, and an +extraordinary old man with green eyes and chin crept out of it. + +'A fine day, Prince Milan,' he said; 'you've kept me waiting a good +number of years; it was high time for you to come and pay me a visit.' + +'Who are you, in the name of wonder?' demanded the astonished Prince. + +'You'll find out soon enough, but in the meantime do as I bid you. Greet +your father King Kojata from me, and don't forget to remind him of his +debt; the time has long passed since it was due, but now he will have to +pay it. Farewell for the present; we shall meet again.' + +With these words the old man disappeared into the tree, and the Prince +returned home rather startled, and told his father all that he had seen +and heard. + +The King grew as white as a sheet when he heard the Prince's story, and +said, 'Woe is me, my son! The time has come when we must part,' and with +a heavy heart he told the Prince what had happened at the time of his +birth. + +'Don't worry or distress yourself, dear father,' answered Prince Milan. +'Things are never as bad as they look. Only give me a horse for my +journey, and I wager you'll soon see me back again.' + +The King gave him a beautiful charger, with golden stirrups, and a +sword. The Queen hung a little cross round his neck, and after much +weeping and lamentation the Prince bade them all farewell and set forth +on his journey. + +He rode straight on for two days, and on the third he came to a lake as +smooth as glass and as clear as crystal. Not a breath of wind moved, not +a leaf stirred, all was silent as the grave, only on the still bosom of +the lake thirty ducks, with brilliant plumage, swam about in the water. +Not far from the shore Prince Milan noticed thirty little white garments +lying on the grass, and dismounting from his horse, he crept down under +the high bulrushes, took one of the garments and hid himself with it +behind the bushes which grew round the lake. The ducks swam about all +over the place, dived down into the depths and rose again and glided +through the waves. At last, tired of disporting themselves, they swam +to the shore, and twenty-nine of them put on their little white garments +and instantly turned into so many beautiful maidens. Then they finished +dressing and disappeared. Only the thirtieth little duck couldn't +come to the land; it swam about close to the shore, and, giving out a +piercing cry, it stretched its neck up timidly, gazed wildly around, and +then dived under again. Prince Milan's heart was so moved with pity for +the poor little creature that he came out from behind the bulrushes, to +see if he could be of any help. As soon as the duck perceived him, it +cried in a human voice, 'Oh, dear Prince Milan, for the love of Heaven +give me back my garment, and I will be so grateful to you.' The Prince +lay the little garment on the bank beside her, and stepped back into the +bushes. In a few seconds a beautiful girl in a white robe stood before +him, so fair and sweet and young that no pen could describe her. She +gave the Prince her hand and spoke. + +'Many thanks, Prince Milan, for your courtesy. I am the daughter of a +wicked magician, and my name is Hyacinthia. My father has thirty young +daughters, and is a mighty ruler in the underworld, with many castles +and great riches. He has been expecting you for ages, but you need have +no fear if you will only follow my advice. As soon as you come into the +presence of my father, throw yourself at once on the ground and approach +him on your knees. Don't mind if he stamps furiously with his feet and +curses and swears. I'll attend to the rest, and in the meantime we had +better be off.' + +With these words the beautiful Hyacinthia stamped on the ground with her +little foot, and the earth opened and they both sank down into the lower +world. + +The palace of the Magician was all hewn out of a single carbuncle, +lighting up the whole surrounding region, and Prince Milan walked into +it gaily. + +The Magician sat on a throne, a sparkling crown on his head; his eyes +blazed like a green fire, and instead of hands he had claws. As soon as +Prince Milan entered he flung himself on his knees. The Magician stamped +loudly with his feet, glared frightfully out of his green eyes, and +cursed so loudly that the whole underworld shook. But the Prince, +mindful of the counsel he had been given, wasn't the least afraid, and +approached the throne still on his knees. At last the Magician laughed +aloud and said, 'You rogue, you have been well advised to make me laugh; +I won't be your enemy any more. Welcome to the underworld! All the same, +for your delay in coming here, we must demand three services from you. +For to-day you may go, but to-morrow I shall have something more to say +to you.' + +Then two servants led Prince Milan to a beautiful apartment, and he lay +down fearlessly on the soft bed that had been prepared for him, and was +soon fast asleep. + +Early the next morning the Magician sent for him, and said, 'Let's see +now what you've learnt. In the first place you must build me a palace +to-night, the roof of purest gold, the walls of marble, and the +windows of crystal; all round you must lay out a beautiful garden, with +fish-ponds and artistic waterfalls. If you do all this, I will reward +you richly; but if you don't, you shall lose your head.' + +'Oh, you wicked monster!' thought Prince Milan, 'you might as well have +put me to death at once.' Sadly he returned to his room, and with bent +head sat brooding over his cruel fate till evening. When it grew dark, a +little bee flew by, and knocking at the window, it said, 'Open, and let +me in.' + +Milan opened the window quickly, and as soon as the bee had entered, it +changed into the beautiful Hyacinthia. + +'Good evening, Prince Milan. Why are you so sad?' + +'How can I help being sad? Your father threatens me with death, and I +see myself already without a head.' + +'And what have you made up your mind to do?' + +'There's nothing to be done, and after all I suppose one can only die +once.' + +'Now, don't be so foolish, my dear Prince; but keep up your spirits, for +there is no need to despair. Go to bed, and when you wake up to-morrow +morning the palace will be finished. Then you must go all round it, +giving a tap here and there on the walls to look as if you had just +finished it.' + +And so it all turned out just as she had said. As soon as it was +daylight Prince Milan stepped out of his room, and found a palace which +was quite a work of art down to the very smallest detail. The Magician +himself was not a little astonished at its beauty, and could hardly +believe his eyes. + +'Well, you certainly are a splendid workman,' he said to the Prince. +'I see you are very clever with your hands, now I must see if you are +equally accomplished with your head. I have thirty daughters in my +house, all beautiful princesses. To-morrow I will place the whole thirty +in a row. You must walk past them three times, and the third time you +must show me which is my youngest daughter Hyacinthia. If you don't +guess rightly, you shall lose your head.' + +'This time you've made a mistake,' thought Prince Milan, and going to +his room he sat down at the window. Just fancy my not recognising the +beautiful Hyacinthia! Why, that is the easiest thing in the world.' + +'Not so easy as you think,' cried the little bee, who was flying past. +'If I weren't to help you, you'd never guess. We are thirty sisters so +exactly alike that our own father can hardly distinguish us apart.' + +'Then what am I to do?' asked Prince Milan. + +'Listen,' answered Hyacinthia. 'You will recognise me by a tiny fly I +shall have on my left cheek, but be careful for you might easily make a +mistake.' + +The next day the Magician again commanded Prince Milan to be led before +him. His daughters were all arranged in a straight row in front of him, +dressed exactly alike, and with their eyes bent on the ground. + +'Now, you genius,' said the Magician, 'look at these beauties three +times, and then tell us which is the Princess Hyacinthia.' + +Prince Milan went past them and looked at them closely. But they were +all so precisely alike that they looked like one face reflected in +thirty mirrors, and the fly was nowhere to be seen; the second time +he passed them he still saw nothing; but the third time he perceived a +little fly stealing down one cheek, causing it to blush a faint pink. +Then the Prince seized the girl's hand and cried out, 'This is the +Princess Hyacinthia!' + +'You're right again,' said the Magician in amazement; 'but I've still +another task for you to do. Before this candle, which I shall light, +burns to the socket, you must have made me a pair of boots reaching to +my knees. If they aren't finished in that time, off comes your head.' + +The Prince returned to his room in despair; then the Princess Hyacinthia +came to him once more changed into the likeness of a bee, and asked him, +'Why so sad, Prince Milan?' + +'How can I help being sad? Your father has set me this time an +impossible task. Before a candle which he has lit burns to the socket, +I am to make a pair of boots. But what does a prince know of shoemaking? +If I can't do it, I lose my head.' + +'And what do you mean to do?' asked Hyacinthia. + +'Well, what is there to be done? What he demands I can't and won't do, +so he must just make an end of me.' + +'Not so, dearest. I love you dearly, and you shall marry me, and I'll +either save your life or die with you. We must fly now as quickly as we +can, for there is no other way of escape.' + +With these words she breathed on the window, and her breath froze on the +pane. Then she led Milan out of the room with her, shut the door, and +threw the key away. Hand in hand, they hurried to the spot where they +had descended into the lower world, and at last reached the banks of the +lake. Prince Milan's charger was still grazing on the grass which grew +near the water. The horse no sooner recognized his master, than it +neighed loudly with joy, and springing towards him, it stood as if +rooted to the ground, while Prince Milan and Hyacinthia jumped on its +back. Then it sped onwards like an arrow from a bow. + +In the meantime the Magician was waiting impatiently for the Prince. +Enraged by the delay, he sent his servants to fetch him, for the +appointed time was past. + +The servants came to the door, and finding it locked, they knocked; but +the frozen breath on the window replied in Prince Milan's voice, 'I am +coming directly.' With this answer they returned to the Magician. But +when the Prince still did not appear, after a time he sent his servants +a second time to bring him. The frozen breath always gave the same +answer, but the Prince never came. At last the Magician lost all +patience, and commanded the door to be burst open. But when his servants +did so, they found the room empty, and the frozen breath laughed +aloud. Out of his mind with rage, the Magician ordered the Prince to be +pursued. + +Then a wild chase began. 'I hear horses' hoofs behind us,' said +Hyacinthia to the Prince. Milan sprang from the saddle, put his ear to +the ground and listened. 'Yes,' he answered, 'they are pursuing us, and +are quite close.' 'Then no time must be lost,' said Hyacinthia, and +she immediately turned herself into a river, Prince Milan into an iron +bridge, and the charger into a blackbird. Behind the bridge the road +branched off into three ways. + +The Magician's servants hurried after the fresh tracks, but when they +came to the bridge, they stood, not knowing which road to take, as the +footprints stopped suddenly, and there were three paths for them to +choose from. In fear and trembling they returned to tell the Magician +what had happened. He flew into a dreadful rage when he saw them, and +screamed out, 'Oh, you fools! the river and bridge were they! Go back +and bring them to me at once, or it will be the worse for you.' + +Then the pursuit began afresh. 'I hear horses' hoofs,' sighed +Hyacinthia. The Prince dismounted and put his ear to the ground. 'They +are hurrying after us, and are already quite near.' In a moment the +Princess Hyacinthia had changed herself, the Prince, and his charger +into a thick wood where a thousand paths and roads crossed each other. +Their pursuers entered the forest, but searched in vain for Prince Milan +and his bride. At last they found themselves back at the same spot they +had started from, and in despair they returned once more with empty +hands to the Magician. + +'Then I'll go after the wretches myself,' he shouted. 'Bring a horse at +once; they shan't escape me.' + +Once more the beautiful Hyacinthia murmured, 'I hear horses' hoofs quite +near.' And the Prince answered, 'They are pursuing us hotly and are +quite close.' + +'We are lost now, for that is my father himself. But at the first church +we come to his power ceases; he may chase us no further. Hand me your +cross.' + +Prince Milan loosened from his neck the little gold cross his mother had +given him, and as soon as Hyacinthia grasped it, she had changed herself +into a church, Milan into a monk, and the horse into a belfry. They had +hardly done this when the magician and his servants rode up. + +'Did you see no one pass by on horseback, reverend father?' he asked the +monk. + +'Prince Milan and Princess Hyacinthia have just gone on this minute; +they stopped for a few minutes in the church to say their prayers, and +bade me light this wax candle for you, and give you their love.' + +'I'd like to wring their necks,' said the magician, and made all haste +home, where he had every one of his servants beaten to within an inch of +their lives. + +Prince Milan rode on slowly with his bride without fearing any further +pursuit. The sun was just setting, and its last rays lit up a large city +they were approaching. Prince Milan was suddenly seized with an ardent +desire to enter the town. + +'Oh my beloved,' implored Hyacinthia, 'please don't go; for I am +frightened and fear some evil.' + +'What are you afraid of?' asked the Prince. 'We'll only go and look at +what's to be seen in the town for about an hour, and then we'll continue +our journey to my father's kingdom.' + +'The town is easy to get into, but more difficult to get out of,' sighed +Hyacinthia. 'But let it be as you wish. Go, and I will await you here, +but I will first change myself into a white milestone; only I pray you +be very careful. The King and Queen of the town will come out to meet +you, leading a little child with them. Whatever you do, don't kiss the +child, or you will forget me and all that has happened to us. I will +wait for you here for three days.' + +The Prince hurried to the town, but Hyacinthia remained behind disguised +as a white milestone on the road. The first day passed, and then the +second, and at last the third also, but Prince Milan did not return, +for he had not taken Hyacinthia's advice. The King and Queen came out to +meet him as she had said, leading with them a lovely fair-haired little +girl, whose eyes shone like two clear stars. The child at once caressed +the Prince, who, carried away by its beauty, bent down and kissed it on +the cheek. From that moment his memory became a blank, and he forgot all +about the beautiful Hyacinthia. + +When the Prince did not return, poor Hyacinthia wept bitterly and +changing herself from a milestone into a little blue field flower, she +said, 'I will grow here on the wayside till some passer-by tramples me +under foot.' And one of her tears remained as a dewdrop and sparkled on +the little blue flower. + +Now it happened shortly after this that an old man passed by, and seeing +the flower, he was delighted with its beauty. He pulled it up carefully +by the roots and carried it home. Here he planted it in a pot, and +watered and tended the little plant carefully. And now the most +extraordinary thing happened, for from this moment everything in the old +man's house was changed. When he awoke in the morning he always found +his room tidied and put into such beautiful order that not a speck of +dust was to be found anywhere. When he came home at midday, he found a +table laid out with the most dainty food, and he had only to sit down +and enjoy himself to his heart's content. At first he was so surprised +he didn't know what to think, but after a time he grew a little +uncomfortable, and went to an old witch to ask for advice. + +The witch said, 'Get up before the cock crows, and watch carefully till +you see something move, and then throw this cloth quickly over it, and +you'll see what will happen.' + +All night the old man never closed an eye. When the first ray of light +entered the room, he noticed that the little blue flower began to +tremble, and at last it rose out of the pot and flew about the room, +put everything in order, swept away the dust, and lit the fire. In great +haste the old man sprang from his bed, and covered the flower with +the cloth the old witch had given him, and in a moment the beautiful +Princess Hyacinthia stood before him. + +'What have you done?' she cried. 'Why have you called me back to life? +For I have no desire to live since my bridegroom, the beautiful Prince +Milan, has deserted me.' + +'Prince Milan is just going to be married,' replied the old man. +'Everything is being got ready for the feast, and all the invited guests +are flocking to the palace from all sides.' + +The beautiful Hyacinthia cried bitterly when she heard this; then she +dried her tears, and went into the town dressed as a peasant woman. She +went straight to the King's kitchen, where the white-aproned cooks were +running about in great confusion. The Princess went up to the head cook, +and said, 'Dear cook, please listen to my request, and let me make a +wedding-cake for Prince Milan.' + +The busy cook was just going to refuse her demand and order her out of +the kitchen, but the words died on his lips when he turned and beheld +the beautiful Hyacinthia, and he answered politely, 'You have just come +in the nick of time, fair maiden. Bake your cake, and I myself will lay +it before Prince Milan.' + +The cake was soon made. The invited guests were already thronging round +the table, when the head cook entered the room, bearing a beautiful +wedding cake on a silver dish, and laid it before Prince Milan. The +guests were all lost in admiration, for the cake was quite a work of +art. Prince Milan at once proceeded to cut it open, when to his surprise +two white doves sprang out of it, and one of them said to the other: 'My +dear mate, do not fly away and leave me, and forget me as Prince Milan +forgot his beloved Hyacinthia.' + +Milan sighed deeply when he heard what the little dove said. Then he +jumped up suddenly from the table and ran to the door, where he found +the beautiful Hyacinthia waiting for him. Outside stood his faithful +charger, pawing the ground. Without pausing for a moment, Milan and +Hyacinthia mounted him and galloped as fast as they could into the +country of King Kojata. The King and Queen received them with such +joy and gladness as had never been heard of before, and they all lived +happily for the rest of their lives. + + + + + +PRINCE FICKLE AND FAIR HELENA (From the German) + + + +There was once upon a time a beautiful girl called Helena. Her own +mother had died when she was quite a child, and her stepmother was as +cruel and unkind to her as she could be. Helena did all she could to +gain her love, and performed the heavy work given her to do cheerfully +and well; but her stepmother's heart wasn't in the least touched, and +the more the poor girl did the more she asked her to do. + +One day she gave Helena twelve pounds of mixed feathers and bade her +separate them all before evening, threatening her with heavy punishment +if she failed to do so. + +The poor child sat down to her task with her eyes so full of tears that +she could hardly see to begin. And when she had made one little heap of +feathers, she sighed so deeply that they all blew apart again. And so it +went on, and the poor girl grew more and more miserable. She bowed her +head in her hands and cried, 'Is there no one under heaven who will take +pity on me?' + +Suddenly a soft voice replied, 'Be comforted, my child: I have come to +help you.' + +Terrified to death, Helena looked up and saw a Fairy standing in front +of her, who asked in the kindest way possible, 'Why are you crying, my +dear?' + +Helena, who for long had heard no friendly voice, confided her sad tale +of woe to the Fairy, and told her what the new task she had been given +to do was, and how she despaired of ever accomplishing it. + +'Don't worry yourself about it any more,' said the kind Fairy; 'lie +down and go to sleep, and I'll see that your work is done all right.' +So Helena lay down, and when she awoke all the feathers were sorted +into little bundles; but when she turned to thank the good Fairy she had +vanished. + +In the evening her stepmother returned and was much amazed to find +Helena sitting quietly with her work all finished before her. + +She praised her diligence, but at the same time racked her brain as to +what harder task she could set her to do. + +The next day she told Helena to empty a pond near the house with a spoon +which was full of holes. Helena set to work at once, but she very soon +found that what her stepmother had told her to do was an impossibility. +Full of despair and misery, she was in the act of throwing the spoon +away, when suddenly the kind Fairy stood before her again, and asked her +why she was so unhappy? + +When Helena told her of her stepmother's new demand she said, 'Trust +to me and I will do your task for you. Lie down and have a sleep in the +meantime.' + +Helena was comforted and lay down, and before you would have believed +it possible the Fairy roused her gently and told her the pond was empty. +Full of joy and gratitude, Helena hurried to her stepmother, hoping +that now at last her heart would be softened towards her. But the wicked +woman was furious at the frustration of her own evil designs, and only +thought of what harder thing she could set the girl to do. + +Next morning she ordered her to build before evening a beautiful castle, +and to furnish it all from garret to basement. Helena sat down on the +rocks which had been pointed out to her as the site of the castle, +feeling very depressed, but at the same time with the lurking hope that +the kind Fairy would come once more to her aid. + +And so it turned out. The Fairy appeared, promised to build the castle, +and told Helena to lie down and go to sleep in the meantime. At the +word of the Fairy the rocks and stones rose and built themselves into +a beautiful castle, and before sunset it was all furnished inside, and +left nothing to be desired. You may think how grateful Helena was when +she awoke and found her task all finished. + +But her stepmother was anything but pleased, and went through the whole +castle from top to bottom, to see if she couldn't find some fault for +which she could punish Helena. At last she went down into one of the +cellars, but it was so dark that she fell down the steep stairs and was +killed on the spot. + +So Helena was now mistress of the beautiful castle, and lived there in +peace and happiness. And soon the noise of her beauty spread abroad, and +many wooers came to try and gain her hand. + +Among them came one Prince Fickle by name, who very quickly won the love +of fair Helena. One day, as they were sitting happily together under a +lime-tree in front of the castle, Prince Fickle broke the sad news to +Helena that he must return to his parents to get their consent to his +marriage. He promised faithfully to come back to her as soon as he could +and begged her to await his return under the lime-tree where they had +spent so many happy hours. + +Helena kissed him tenderly at parting on his left cheek, and begged him +not to let anyone else kiss him there while they were parted, and she +promised to sit and wait for him under the lime-tree, for she never +doubted that the Prince would be faithful to her and would return as +quickly as he could. + +And so she sat for three days and three nights under the tree without +moving. But when her lover never returned, she grew very unhappy, and +determined to set out to look for him. She took as many of her jewels +as she could carry, and three of her most beautiful dresses, one +embroidered with stars, one with moons, and the third with suns, all of +pure gold. Far and wide she wandered through the world, but nowhere did +she find any trace of her bridegroom. At last she gave up the search in +despair. She could not bear to return to her own castle where she +had been so happy with her lover, but determined rather to endure +her loneliness and desolation in a strange land. She took a place as +herd-girl with a peasant, and buried her jewels and beautiful dresses in +a safe and hidden spot. + +Every day she drove the cattle to pasture, and all the time she thought +of nothing but her faithless bridegroom. She was very devoted to a +certain little calf in the herd, and made a great pet of it, feeding it +out of her own hands. She taught it to kneel before her, and then she +whispered in its ear: + +'Kneel, little calf, kneel; Be faithful and leal, Not like Prince +Fickle, Who once on a time Left his fair Helena Under the lime.' + +After some years passed in this way, she heard that the daughter of the +king of the country she was living in was going to marry a Prince called +'Fickle.' Everybody rejoiced at the news except poor Helena, to whom +it was a fearful blow, for at the bottom of her heart she had always +believed her lover to be true. + +Now it chanced that the way to the capital led right past the village +where Helena was, and often when she was leading her cattle forth to +the meadows Prince Fickle rode past her, without ever noticing the poor +herd-girl, so engrossed was he in thoughts of his new bride. Then it +occurred to Helena to put his heart to the test and to see if it weren't +possible to recall herself to him. So one day as Prince Fickle rode by +she said to her little calf: + +'Kneel, little calf, kneel; Be faithful and leal, Not like Prince +Fickle, Who once on a time Left his poor Helena Under the lime.' + +When Prince Fickle heard her voice it seemed to him to remind him of +something, but of what he couldn't remember, for he hadn't heard the +words distinctly, as Helena had only spoken them very low and with a +shaky voice. Helena herself had been far too moved to let her see what +impression her words had made on the Prince, and when she looked round +he was already far away. But she noticed how slowly he was riding, and +how deeply sunk he was in thought, so she didn't quite give herself up +as lost. + +In honour of the approaching wedding a feast lasting many nights was +to be given in the capital. Helena placed all her hopes on this, and +determined to go to the feast and there to seek out her bridegroom. + +When evening drew near she stole out of the peasant's cottage secretly, +and, going to her hiding-place, she put on her dress embroidered with +the gold suns, and all her jewels, and loosed her beautiful golden hair, +which up to now she had always worn under a kerchief, and, adorned thus, +she set out for the town. + +When she entered the ball-room all eyes were turned on her, and everyone +marvelled at her beauty, but no one knew who she was. Prince Fickle, +too, was quite dazzled by the charms of the beautiful maiden, and never +guessed that she had once been his own ladylove. He never left her side +all night, and it was with great difficulty that Helena escaped from him +in the crowd when it was time to return home. Prince Fickle searched +for her everywhere, and longed eagerly for the next night, when the +beautiful lady had promised to come again. + +The following evening the fair Helena started early for the feast. + +This time she wore her dress embroidered with silver moons, and in her +hair she placed a silver crescent. Prince Fickle was enchanted to see +her again, and she seemed to him even more beautiful than she had been +the night before. He never left her side, and refused to dance with +anyone else. He begged her to tell him who she was, but this she refused +to do. Then he implored her to return again next evening, and this she +promised him she would. + +On the third evening Prince Fickle was so impatient to see his fair +enchantress again, that he arrived at the feast hours before it began, +and never took his eyes from the door. At last Helena arrived in a dress +all covered with gold and silver stars, and with a girdle of stars round +her waist, and a band of stars in her hair. Prince Fickle was more in +love with her than ever, and begged her once again to tell him her name. + +Then Helena kissed him silently on the left cheek, and in one moment +Prince Fickle recognized his old love. Full of remorse and sorrow, he +begged for her forgiveness, and Helena, only too pleased to have got him +back again, did not, you may be sure, keep him waiting very long for her +pardon, and so they were married and returned to Helena's castle, where +they are no doubt still sitting happily together under the lime-tree. + + + + + +PUDDOCKY (From the German) + + + +There was once upon a time a poor woman who had one little daughter +called 'Parsley.' She was so called because she liked eating parsley +better than any other food, indeed she would hardly eat anything else. +Her poor mother hadn't enough money always to be buying parsley for her, +but the child was so beautiful that she could refuse her nothing, and +so she went every night to the garden of an old witch who lived near and +stole great branches of the coveted vegetable, in order to satisfy her +daughter. + +This remarkable taste of the fair Parsley soon became known, and the +theft was discovered. The witch called the girl's mother to her, and +proposed that she should let her daughter come and live with her, and +then she could eat as much parsley as she liked. The mother was quite +pleased with this suggestion, and so the beautiful Parsley took up her +abode with the old witch. + +One day three Princes, whom their father had sent abroad to travel, came +to the town where Parsley lived and perceived the beautiful girl combing +and plaiting her long black hair at the window. In one moment they all +fell hopelessly in love with her, and longed ardently to have the girl +for their wife; but hardly had they with one breath expressed their +desire than, mad with jealousy, they drew their swords and all three set +upon each other. The struggle was so violent and the noise so loud that +the old witch heard it, and said at once 'Of course Parsley is at the +bottom of all this.' + +And when she had convinced herself that this was so, she stepped +forward, and, full of wrath over the quarrels and feuds Parsley's beauty +gave rise to, she cursed the girl and said, 'I wish you were an ugly +toad, sitting under a bridge at the other end of the world.' + +Hardly were the words out of her mouth than Parsley was changed into a +toad and vanished from their sight. The Princes, now that the cause +of their dispute was removed, put up their swords, kissed each other +affectionately, and returned to their father. + +The King was growing old and feeble, and wished to yield his sceptre +and crown in favour of one of his sons, but he couldn't make up his mind +which of the three he should appoint as his successor. He determined +that fate should decide for him. So he called his three children to him +and said, 'My dear sons, I am growing old, and am weary of reigning, but +I can't make up my mind to which of you three I should yield my crown, +for I love you all equally. At the same time I would like the best and +cleverest of you to rule over my people. I have, therefore, determined +to set you three tasks to do, and the one that performs them best shall +be my heir. The first thing I shall ask you to do is to bring me a piece +of linen a hundred yards long, so fine that it will go through a gold +ring.' The sons bowed low, and, promising to do their best, they started +on their journey without further delay. + +The two elder brothers took many servants and carriages with them, but +the youngest set out quite alone. In a short time they came to three +cross roads; two of them were gay and crowded, but the third was dark +and lonely. + +The two elder brothers chose the more frequented ways, but the youngest, +bidding them farewell, set out on the dreary road. + +Wherever linen was to be bought, there the two elder brothers hastened. +They loaded their carriages with bales of the finest linen they could +find and then returned home. + +The youngest brother, on the other hand, went on his weary way for many +days, and nowhere did he come across any linen that would have done. So +he journeyed on, and his spirits sank with every step. At last he came +to a bridge which stretched over a deep river flowing through a flat and +marshy land. Before crossing the bridge he sat down on the banks of the +stream and sighed dismally over his sad fate. Suddenly a misshapen toad +crawled out of the swamp, and, sitting down opposite him, asked: 'What's +the matter with you, my dear Prince?' + +The Prince answered impatiently, 'There's not much good my telling you, +Puddocky, for you couldn't help me if I did.' + +'Don't be too sure of that,' replied the toad; 'tell me your trouble and +we'll see.' + +Then the Prince became most confidential and told the little creature +why he had been sent out of his father's kingdom. + +'Prince, I will certainly help you,' said the toad, and, crawling back +into her swamp, she returned dragging after her a piece of linen not +bigger than a finger, which she lay before the Prince, saying, 'Take +this home, and you'll see it will help you.' + +The Prince had no wish to take such an insignificant bundle with him; +but he didn't like to hurt Puddocky's feelings by refusing it, so he +took up the little packet, put it in his pocket, and bade the little +toad farewell. Puddocky watched the Prince till he was out of sight and +then crept back into the water. + +The further the Prince went the more he noticed that the pocket in which +the little roll of linen lay became heavier, and in proportion his heart +grew lighter. And so, greatly comforted, he returned to the Court of +his father, and arrived home just at the same time as his brothers with +their caravans. The King was delighted to see them all again, and at +once drew the ring from his finger and the trial began. In all the +waggon-loads there was not one piece of linen the tenth part of which +would go through the ring, and the two elder brothers, who had at first +sneered at their youngest brother for returning with no baggage, began +to feel rather small. But what were their feelings when he drew a bale +of linen out of his pocket which in fineness, softness, and purity of +colour was unsurpassable! The threads were hardly visible, and it went +through the ring without the smallest difficulty, at the same time +measuring a hundred yards quite correctly. + +The father embraced his fortunate son, and commanded the rest of the +linen to be thrown into the water; then, turning to his children he +said, 'Now, dear Princes, prepare yourselves for the second task. +You must bring me back a little dog that will go comfortably into a +walnut-shell.' + +The sons were all in despair over this demand, but as they each wished +to win the crown, they determined to do their best, and after a very few +days set out on their travels again. + +At the cross roads they separated once more. The youngest went by +himself along his lonely way, but this time he felt much more cheerful. +Hardly had he sat down under the bridge and heaved a sigh, than Puddocky +came out; and, sitting down opposite him, asked, 'What's wrong with you +now, dear Prince?' + +The Prince, who this time never doubted the little toad's power to help +him, told her his difficulty at once. 'Prince, I will help you,' said +the toad again, and crawled back into her swamp as fast as her short +little legs would carry her. She returned, dragging a hazel nut behind +her, which she laid at the Prince's feet and said, 'Take this nut home +with you and tell your father to crack it very carefully, and you'll see +then what will happen.' The Prince thanked her heartily and went on his +way in the best of spirits, while the little puddock crept slowly back +into the water. + +When the Prince got home he found his brothers had just arrived with +great waggon-loads of little dogs of all sorts. The King had a walnut +shell ready, and the trial began; but not one of the dogs the two eldest +sons had brought with them would in the least fit into the shell. When +they had tried all their little dogs, the youngest son handed his father +the hazel-nut, with a modest bow, and begged him to crack it carefully. +Hardly had the old King done so than a lovely tiny dog sprang out of the +nutshell, and ran about on the King's hand, wagging its tail and barking +lustily at all the other little dogs. The joy of the Court was great. +The father again embraced his fortunate son, commanded the rest of +the small dogs to be thrown into the water and drowned, and once more +addressed his sons. 'The two most difficult tasks have been performed. +Now listen to the third and last: whoever brings the fairest wife home +with him shall be my heir.' + +This demand seemed so easy and agreeable and the reward was so great, +that the Princes lost no time in setting forth on their travels. At the +cross roads the two elder brothers debated if they should go the same +way as the youngest, but when they saw how dreary and deserted it looked +they made up their minds that it would be impossible to find what they +sought in these wilds, and so they stuck to their former paths. + +The youngest was very depressed this time and said to himself, 'Anything +else Puddocky could have helped me in, but this task is quite beyond her +power. How could she ever find a beautiful wife for me? Her swamps are +wide and empty, and no human beings dwell there; only frogs and toads +and other creatures of that sort.' However, he sat down as usual under +the bridge, and this time he sighed from the bottom of his heart. + +In a few minutes the toad stood in front of him and asked, 'What's the +matter with you now, my dear Prince?' + +'Oh, Puddocky, this time you can't help me, for the task is beyond even +your power,' replied the Prince. + +'Still,' answered the toad, 'you may as well tell me your difficulty, +for who knows but I mayn't be able to help you this time also.' + +The Prince then told her the task they had been set to do. 'I'll help +you right enough, my dear Prince,' said the little toad; 'just you go +home, and I'll soon follow you.' With these words, Puddocky, with a +spring quite unlike her usual slow movements, jumped into the water and +disappeared. + +The Prince rose up and went sadly on his way, for he didn't believe +it possible that the little toad could really help him in his present +difficulty. He had hardly gone a few steps when he heard a sound behind +him, and, looking round, he saw a carriage made of cardboard, drawn +by six big rats, coming towards him. Two hedgehogs rode in front as +outriders, and on the box sat a fat mouse as coachman, and behind stood +two little frogs as footmen. In the carriage itself sat Puddocky, who +kissed her hand to the Prince out of the window as she passed by. + +Sunk deep in thought over the fickleness of fortune that had granted him +two of his wishes and now seemed about to deny him the last and best, +the Prince hardly noticed the absurd equipage, and still less did he +feel inclined to laugh at its comic appearance. + +The carriage drove on in front of him for some time and then turned a +corner. But what was his joy and surprise when suddenly, round the same +corner, but coming towards him, there appeared a beautiful coach drawn +by six splendid horses, with outriders, coachmen, footmen and other +servants all in the most gorgeous liveries, and seated in the carriage +was the most beautiful woman the Prince had ever seen, and in whom he at +once recognised the beautiful Parsley, for whom his heart had formerly +burned. The carriage stopped when it reached him, and the footmen sprang +down and opened the door for him. He got in and sat down beside the +beautiful Parsley, and thanked her heartily for her help, and told her +how much he loved her. + +And so he arrived at his father's capital, at the same moment as his +brothers who had returned with many carriage-loads of beautiful women. +But when they were all led before the King, the whole Court with one +consent awarded the prize of beauty to the fair Parsley. + +The old King was delighted, and embraced his thrice fortunate son and +his new daughter-in-law tenderly, and appointed them as his successors +to the throne. But he commanded the other women to be thrown into the +water and drowned, like the bales of linen and the little dogs. The +Prince married Puddocky and reigned long and happily with her, and if +they aren't dead I suppose they are living still. + + + + + +THE STORY OF HOK LEE AND THE DWARFS + + + +There once lived in a small town in China a man named Hok Lee. He was a +steady industrious man, who not only worked hard at his trade, but did +all his own house-work as well, for he had no wife to do it for +him. 'What an excellent industrious man is this Hok Lee!' said his +neighbours; 'how hard he works: he never leaves his house to amuse +himself or to take a holiday as others do!' + +But Hok Lee was by no means the virtuous person his neighbours thought +him. True, he worked hard enough by day, but at night, when all +respectable folk were fast asleep, he used to steal out and join a +dangerous band of robbers, who broke into rich people's houses and +carried off all they could lay hands on. + +This state of things went on for some time, and, though a thief was +caught now and then and punished, no suspicion ever fell on Hok Lee, he +was such a very respectable, hard-working man. + +Hok Lee had already amassed a good store of money as his share of the +proceeds of these robberies when it happened one morning on going to +market that a neighbour said to him: + +'Why, Hok Lee, what is the matter with your face? One side of it is all +swelled up.' + +True enough, Hok Lee's right cheek was twice the size of his left, and +it soon began to feel very uncomfortable. + +'I will bind up my face,' said Hok Lee; 'doubtless the warmth will cure +the swelling.' But no such thing. Next day it was worse, and day by day +it grew bigger and bigger till it was nearly as large as his head and +became very painful. + +Hok Lee was at his wits' ends what to do. Not only was his cheek +unsightly and painful, but his neighbours began to jeer and make fun of +him, which hurt his feelings very much indeed. + +One day, as luck would have it, a travelling doctor came to the town. +He sold not only all kinds of medicine, but also dealt in many strange +charms against witches and evil spirits. + +Hok Lee determined to consult him, and asked him into his house. + +After the doctor had examined him carefully, he spoke thus: 'This, O Hok +Lee, is no ordinary swelled face. I strongly suspect you have been doing +some wrong deed which has called down the anger of the spirits on you. +None of my drugs will avail to cure you, but, if you are willing to pay +me handsomely, I can tell you how you may be cured.' + +Then Hok Lee and the doctor began to bargain together, and it was a long +time before they could come to terms. However, the doctor got the better +of it in the end, for he was determined not to part with his secret +under a certain price, and Hok Lee had no mind to carry his huge cheek +about with him to the end of his days. So he was obliged to part with +the greater portion of his ill-gotten gains. + +When the Doctor had pocketed the money, he told Hok Lee to go on the +first night of the full moon to a certain wood and there to watch by a +particular tree. After a time he would see the dwarfs and little sprites +who live underground come out to dance. When they saw him they would be +sure to make him dance too. 'And mind you dance your very best,' added +the doctor. 'If you dance well and please them they will grant you a +petition and you can then beg to be cured; but if you dance badly they +will most likely do you some mischief out of spite.' With that he took +leave and departed. + +Happily the first night of the full moon was near, and at the proper +time Hok Lee set out for the wood. With a little trouble he found the +tree the doctor had described, and, feeling nervous, he climbed up into +it. + +He had hardly settled himself on a branch when he saw the little dwarfs +assembling in the moonlight. They came from all sides, till at length +there appeared to be hundreds of them. They seemed in high glee, and +danced and skipped and capered about, whilst Hok Lee grew so eager +watching them that he crept further and further along his branch till +at length it gave a loud crack. All the dwarfs stood still, and Hok Lee +felt as if his heart stood still also. + +Then one of the dwarfs called out, 'Someone is up in that tree. Come +down at once, whoever you are, or we must come and fetch you.' + +In great terror, Hok Lee proceeded to come down; but he was so nervous +that he tripped near the ground and came rolling down in the most absurd +manner. When he had picked himself up, he came forward with a low bow, +and the dwarf who had first spoken and who appeared to be the leader, +said, 'Now, then, who art thou, and what brings thee here?' + +So Hok Lee told him the sad story of his swelled cheek, and how he had +been advised to come to the forest and beg the dwarfs to cure him. + +'It is well,' replied the dwarf. 'We will see about that. First, +however, thou must dance before us. Should thy dancing please us, +perhaps we may be able to do something; but shouldst thou dance badly, +we shall assuredly punish thee, so now take warning and dance away.' + +With that, he and all the other dwarfs sat down in a large ring, leaving +Hok Lee to dance alone in the middle. He felt half frightened to death, +and besides was a good deal shaken by his fall from the tree and did +not feel at all inclined to dance. But the dwarfs were not to be trifled +with. + +'Begin!' cried their leader, and 'Begin!' shouted the rest in chorus. + +So in despair Hok Lee began. First he hopped on one foot and then on +the other, but he was so stiff and so nervous that he made but a poor +attempt, and after a time sank down on the ground and vowed he could +dance no more. + +The dwarfs were very angry. They crowded round Hok Lee and abused him. +'Thou to come here to be cured, indeed!' they cried, 'thou hast brought +one big cheek with thee, but thou shalt take away two.' And with that +they ran off and disappeared, leaving Hok Lee to find his way home as +best he might. + +He hobbled away, weary and depressed, and not a little anxious on +account of the dwarfs' threat. + +Nor were his fears unfounded, for when he rose next morning his left +cheek was swelled up as big as his right, and he could hardly see out of +his eyes. Hok Lee felt in despair, and his neighbours jeered at him more +than ever. The doctor, too, had disappeared, so there was nothing for it +but to try the dwarfs once more. + +He waited a month till the first night of the full moon came round +again, and then he trudged back to the forest, and sat down under the +tree from which he had fallen. He had not long to wait. Ere long the +dwarfs came trooping out till all were assembled. + +'I don't feel quite easy,' said one; 'I feel as if some horrid human +being were near us.' + +When Hok Lee heard this he came forward and bent down to the ground +before the dwarfs, who came crowding round, and laughed heartily at his +comical appearance with his two big cheeks. + +'What dost thou want?' they asked; and Hok Lee proceeded to tell them of +his fresh misfortunes, and begged so hard to be allowed one more trial +at dancing that the dwarfs consented, for there is nothing they love so +much as being amused. + +Now, Hok Lee knew how much depended on his dancing well, so he plucked +up a good spirit and began, first quite slowly, and faster by degrees, +and he danced so well and gracefully, and made such new and wonderful +steps, that the dwarfs were quite delighted with him. + +They clapped their tiny hands, and shouted, 'Well done, Hok Lee, well +done, go on, dance more, for we are pleased.' + +And Hok Lee danced on and on, till he really could dance no more, and +was obliged to stop. + +Then the leader of the dwarfs said, 'We are well pleased, Hok Lee, and +as a recompense for thy dancing thy face shall be cured. Farewell.' + +With these words he and the other dwarfs vanished, and Hok Lee, putting +his hands to his face, found to his great joy that his cheeks were +reduced to their natural size. The way home seemed short and easy to +him, and he went to bed happy, and resolved never to go out robbing +again. + +Next day the whole town was full of the news of Hok's sudden cure. His +neighbours questioned him, but could get nothing from him, except the +fact that he had discovered a wonderful cure for all kinds of diseases. + +After a time a rich neighbour, who had been ill for some years, came, +and offered to give Hok Lee a large sum of money if he would tell him +how he might get cured. Hok Lee consented on condition that he swore to +keep the secret. He did so, and Hok Lee told him of the dwarfs and their +dances. + +The neighbour went off, carefully obeyed Hok Lee's directions, and was +duly cured by the dwarfs. Then another and another came to Hok Lee to +beg his secret, and from each he extracted a vow of secrecy and a large +sum of money. This went on for some years, so that at length Hok Lee +became a very wealthy man, and ended his days in peace and prosperity. + +From the Chinese. + + + + + +THE STORY OF THE THREE BEARS + + + +Once upon a time there were Three Bears, who lived together in a house +of their own in a wood. One of them was a Little, Small, Wee Bear; and +one was a Middle-sized Bear, and the other was a Great, Huge Bear. They +had each a pot for their porridge, a little pot for the Little, Small, +Wee Bear; and a middle-sized pot for the Middle Bear; and a great pot +for the Great, Huge Bear. And they had each a chair to sit in; a little +chair for the Little, Small, Wee Bear; and a middle-sized chair for the +Middle Bear; and a great chair for the Great, Huge Bear. And they had +each a bed to sleep in; a little bed for the Little, Small, Wee Bear; +and a middle-sized bed for the Middle Bear; and a great bed for the +Great, Huge Bear. + +One day, after they had made the porridge for their breakfast, and +poured it into their porridge-pots, they walked out into the wood while +the porridge was cooling, that they might not burn their mouths by +beginning too soon to eat it. And while they were walking, a little +old woman came to the house. She could not have been a good, honest old +woman; for, first, she looked in at the window, and then she peeped in +at the keyhole; and, seeing nobody in the house, she lifted the latch. +The door was not fastened, because the bears were good bears, who did +nobody any harm, and never suspected that anybody would harm them. So +the little old woman opened the door and went in; and well pleased +she was when she saw the porridge on the table. If she had been a good +little old woman she would have waited till the bears came home, and +then, perhaps, they would have asked her to breakfast; for they were +good bears--a little rough or so, as the manner of bears is, but for all +that very good-natured and hospitable. But she was an impudent, bad old +woman, and set about helping herself. + +So first she tasted the porridge of the Great, Huge Bear, and that was +too hot for her; and she said a bad word about that. And then she tasted +the porridge of the Middle Bear; and that was too cold for her; and she +said a bad word about that too. And then she went to the porridge of the +Little, Small, Wee Bear, and tasted that; and that was neither too hot +nor too cold, but just right; and she liked it so well, that she ate +it all up: but the naughty old woman said a bad word about the little +porridge-pot, because it did not hold enough for her. + +Then the little old woman sate down in the chair of the Great, Huge +Bear, and that was too hard for her. And then she sate down in the chair +of the Middle Bear, and that was too soft for her. And then she sate +down in the chair of the Little, Small, Wee Bear, and that was neither +too hard nor too soft, but just right. So she seated herself in it, and +there she sate till the bottom of the chair came out, and down came +she, plump upon the ground. And the naughty old woman said a wicked word +about that too. + +Then the little old woman went up stairs into the bed-chamber in which +the three bears slept. And first she lay down upon the bed of the Great, +Huge Bear; but that was too high at the head for her. And next she lay +down upon the bed of the Middle Bear; and that was too high at the foot +for her. And then she lay down upon the bed of the Little, Small, Wee +Bear; and that was neither too high at the head, nor at the foot, but +just right. So she covered herself up comfortably, and lay there till +she fell fast asleep. + +By this time the three bears thought their porridge would be cool +enough; so they came home to breakfast. Now the little old woman had +left the spoon of the Great, Huge Bear, standing in his porridge. + +'SOMEBODY HAS BEEN AT MY PORRIDGE!' + +said the Great, Huge Bear, in his great gruff voice. And when the Middle +Bear looked at his, he saw that the spoon was standing in it too. They +were wooden spoons; if they had been silver ones, the naughty old woman +would have put them in her pocket. + +'Somebody Has Been At My Porridge!' + +said the Middle Bear, in his middle voice. + +Then the Little, Small, Wee Bear looked at his, and there was the spoon +in the porridge-pot, but the porridge was all gone. + +'_Somebody has been at my porridge, and has eaten it all up_!' + +said the Little, Small Wee Bear, in his little, small wee voice. + +Upon this the three bears, seeing that some one had entered their house, +and eaten up the Little, Small, Wee Bear's breakfast, began to look +about them. Now the little old woman had not put the hard cushion +straight when she rose from the chair of the Great, Huge Bear. + +'SOMEBODY HAS BEEN SITTING IN MY CHAIR!' + +said the Great, Huge Bear, in his great, rough, gruff voice. + +And the little old woman had squatted down the soft cushion of the +Middle Bear. + +'Somebody Has Been Sitting In My Chair!' + +said the Middle Bear, in his middle voice. + +And you know what the little old woman had done to the third chair. + +'_Somebody has been sitting in my chair, and has sate the bottom of it +out_!' + +said the Little, Small, Wee Bear, in his little, small, wee voice. + +Then the three bears thought it necessary that they should make farther +search; so they went up stairs into their bed-chamber. Now the little +old woman had pulled the pillow of the Great, Huge Bear out of its +place. + +'SOMEBODY HAS BEEN LYING IN MY BED!' + +said the Great, Huge Bear, in his great, rough, gruff voice. + +And the little old woman had pulled the bolster of the Middle Bear out +of its place. + +'Somebody Has Been Lying In My Bed!' + +said the Middle Bear in his middle voice. + +And when the Little, Small, Wee Bear came to look at his bed, there was +the bolster in its place, and the pillow in its place upon the bolster, +and upon the pillow was the little old woman's ugly, dirty head,--which +was not in its place, for she had no business there. + +'_Somebody has been lying in my bed,--and here she is_!' + +said the Little, Small, Wee Bear, in his little, small, wee voice. + +The little old woman had heard in her sleep the great, rough, gruff +voice of the Great, Huge Bear; but she was so fast asleep that it was no +more to her than the roaring of wind or the rumbling of thunder. And she +had heard the middle voice of the Middle Bear, but it was only as if she +had heard someone speaking in a dream. But when she heard the little, +small, wee voice of the Little, Small, Wee Bear, it was so sharp, and so +shrill, that it awakened her at once. Up she started; and when she saw +the Three Bears on one side of the bed, she tumbled herself out at +the other, and ran to the window. Now the window was open, because +the bears, like good, tidy bears as they were, always opened their +bedchamber window when they got up in the morning. Out the little old +woman jumped; and whether she broke her neck in the fall, or ran into +the wood and was lost there, or found her way out of the wood and was +taken up by the constable and sent to the House of Correction for +a vagrant as she was, I cannot tell. But the Three Bears never saw +anything more of her. + +Southey. + + + + + +PRINCE VIVIEN AND THE PRINCESS PLACIDA + + + +Once upon a time there lived a King and Queen who loved one another +dearly. Indeed the Queen, whose name was Santorina, was so pretty and +so kind-hearted that it would have been a wonder if her husband had not +been fond of her, while King Gridelin himself was a perfect bundle +of good qualities, for the Fairy who presided at his christening had +summoned the shades of all his ancestors, and taken something good from +each of them to form his character. Unfortunately, though, she had given +him rather too much kindness of heart, which is a thing that generally +gets its possessor into trouble, but so far all things had prospered +with King Gridelin. However, it was not to be expected such good fortune +could last, and before very long the Queen had a lovely little daughter +who was named Placida. Now the King, who thought that if she resembled +her mother in face and mind she would need no other gift, never troubled +to ask any of the Fairies to her christening, and this offended +them mortally, so that they resolved to punish him severely for thus +depriving them of their rights. So, to the despair of King Gridelin, the +Queen first of all became very ill, and then disappeared altogether. If +it had not been for the little Princess there is no saying what would +have become of him, he was so miserable, but there she was to be brought +up, and luckily the good Fairy Lolotte, in spite of all that had passed, +was willing to come and take charge of her, and of her little cousin +Prince Vivien, who was an orphan and had been placed under the care +of his uncle, King Gridelin, when he was quite a baby. Although she +neglected nothing that could possibly have been done for them, their +characters, as they grew up, plainly proved that education only softens +down natural defects, but cannot entirely do away with them; for +Placida, who was perfectly lovely, and with a capacity and intelligence +which enabled her to learn and understand anything that presented +itself, was at the same time as lazy and indifferent as it is possible +for anyone to be, while Vivien on the contrary was only too lively, and +was for ever taking up some new thing and as promptly tiring of it, +and flying off to something else which held his fickle fancy an equally +short time. As these two children would possibly inherit the kingdom, it +was natural that their people should take a great interest in them, and +it fell out that all the tranquil and peace-loving citizens desired that +Placida should one day be their Queen, while the rash and quarrelsome +hoped great things for Vivien. Such a division of ideas seemed to +promise civil wars and all kinds of troubles to the State, and even in +the Palace the two parties frequently came into collision. As for the +children themselves, though they were too well brought up to quarrel, +still the difference in all their tastes and feelings made it impossible +for them to like one another, so there seemed no chance of their ever +consenting to be married, which was a pity, since that was the only +thing that would have satisfied both parties. Prince Vivien was fully +aware of the feeling in his favour, but being too honourable to wish to +injure his pretty cousin, and perhaps too impatient and volatile to care +to think seriously about anything, he suddenly took it into his head +that he would go off by himself in search of adventure. Luckily this +idea occurred to him when he was on horseback, for he would certainly +have set out on foot rather than lose an instant. As it was, he simply +turned his horse's head, without another thought than that of getting +out of the kingdom as soon as possible. This abrupt departure was a +great blow to the State, especially as no one had any idea what had +become of the Prince. Even King Gridelin, who had never cared for +anything since the disappearance of Queen Santorina, was roused by +this new loss, and though he could not so much as look at the Princess +Placida without shedding floods of tears, he resolved to see for himself +what talents and capabilities she showed. He very soon found out that +in addition to her natural indolence, she was being as much indulged +and spoilt day by day as if the Fairy had been her grandmother, and was +obliged to remonstrate very seriously upon the subject. Lolotte took his +reproaches meekly, and promised faithfully that she would not encourage +the Princess in her idleness and indifference any more. From this moment +poor Placida's troubles began! She was actually expected to choose her +own dresses, to take care of her jewels, and to find her own amusements; +but rather than take so much trouble she wore the same old frock from +morning till night, and never appeared in public if she could possibly +avoid it. However, this was not all, King Gridelin insisted that the +affairs of the kingdom should be explained to her, and that she should +attend all the councils and give her opinion upon the matter in hand +whenever it was asked of her, and this made her life such a burden to +her that she implored Lolotte to take her away from a country where too +much was required of an unhappy Princess. + +The Fairy refused at first with a great show of firmness, but who could +resist the tears and entreaties of anyone so pretty as Placida? It came +to this in the end, that she transported the Princess just as she was, +cosily tucked up upon her favourite couch, to her own Grotto, and this +new disappearance left all the people in despair, and Gridelin went +about looking more distracted than ever. But now let us return to Prince +Vivien, and see what his restless spirit has brought him to. Though +Placida's kingdom was a large one; his horse had carried him gallantly +to the limit of it, but it could go no further, and the Prince was +obliged to dismount and continue his journey on foot, though this slow +mode of progress tired his patience severely. + +After what seemed to him a very long time, he found himself all alone in +a vast forest, so dark and gloomy that he secretly shuddered; however, +he chose the most promising looking path he could find, and marched +along it courageously at his best speed, but in spite of all his +efforts, night fell before he reached the edge of the wood. + +For some time he stumbled along, keeping to the path as well as he could +in the darkness, and just as he was almost wearied out he saw before him +a gleam of light. + +This sight revived his drooping spirits, and he made sure that he was +now close to the shelter and supper he needed so much, but the more he +walked towards the light the further away it seemed; sometimes he +even lost sight of it altogether, and you may imagine how provoked and +impatient he was by the time he finally arrived at the miserable cottage +from which the light proceeded. He gave a loud knock at the door, and +an old woman's voice answered from within, but as she did not seem to be +hurrying herself to open it he redoubled his blows, and demanded to be +let in imperiously, quite forgetting that he was no longer in his own +kingdom. But all this had no effect upon the old woman, who only noticed +all the uproar he was making by saying gently: + +'You must have patience.' + +He could hear that she really was coming to open the door to him, only +she was so very long about it. First she chased away her cat, lest it +should run away when the door was opened, then he heard her talking to +herself and made out that her lamp wanted trimming, that she might see +better who it was that knocked, and then that it lacked fresh oil, +and she must refill it. So what with one thing and another she was an +immense time trotting to and fro, and all the while she now and again +bade the Prince have patience. When at last he stood within the little +hut he saw with despair that it was a picture of poverty, and that not +a crumb of anything eatable was to be seen, and when he explained to +the old woman that he was dying of hunger and fatigue she only answered +tranquilly that he must have patience. However, she presently showed him +a bundle of straw on which he could sleep. + +'But what can I have to eat?' cried Prince Vivien sharply. + +'Wait a little, wait a little,' she replied. 'If you will only have +patience I am just going out into the garden to gather some peas: we +will shell them at our leisure, then I will light a fire and cook them, +and when they are thoroughly done, we can enjoy them peaceably; there is +no hurry.' + +'I shall have died of starvation by the time all that is done,' said the +Prince ruefully. + +'Patience, patience,' said the old woman looking at him with her slow +gentle smile, 'I can't be hurried. "All things come at last to him who +waits;" you must have heard that often.' + +Prince Vivien was wild with aggravation, but there was nothing to be +done. + +'Come then,' said the old woman, 'you shall hold the lamp to light me +while I pick the peas.' + +The Prince in his haste snatched it up so quickly that it went out, +and it took him a long time to light it again with two little bits of +glowing charcoal which he had to dig out from the pile of ashes upon +the hearth. However, at last the peas were gathered and shelled, and the +fire lighted, but then they had to be carefully counted, since the old +woman declared that she would cook fifty-four, and no more. In vain did +the Prince represent to her that he was famished--that fifty-four peas +would go no way towards satisfying his hunger--that a few peas, more or +less, surely could not matter. It was quite useless, in the end he had +to count out the fifty-four, and worse than that, because he dropped one +or two in his hurry, he had to begin again from the very first, to be +sure the number was complete. As soon as they were cooked the old dame +took a pair of scales and a morsel of bread from the cupboard, and was +just about to divide it when Prince Vivien, who really could wait +no longer, seized the whole piece and ate it up, saying in his turn, +'Patience.' + +'You mean that for a joke,' said the old woman, as gently as ever, 'but +that is really my name, and some day you will know more about me.' + +Then they each ate their twenty-seven peas, and the Prince was surprised +to find that he wanted nothing more, and he slept as sweetly upon his +bed of straw as he had ever done in his palace. + +In the morning the old woman gave him milk and bread for his breakfast, +which he ate contentedly, rejoicing that there was nothing to be +gathered, or counted, or cooked, and when he had finished he begged her +to tell him who she was. + +'That I will, with pleasure,' she replied. 'But it will be a long +story.' + +'Oh! if it's long, I can't listen,' cried the Prince. + +'But,' said she, 'at your age, you should attend to what old people say, +and learn to have patience.' + +'But, but,' said the Prince, in his most impatient tone, 'old people +should not be so long-winded! Tell me what country I have got into, and +nothing else.' + +'With all my heart,' said she. 'You are in the Forest of the Black Bird; +it is here that he utters his oracles.' + +'An Oracle,' cried the Prince. 'Oh! I must go and consult him.' +Thereupon he drew a handful of gold from his pocket, and offered it to +the old woman, and when she would not take it, he threw it down upon the +table and was off like a flash of lightning, without even staying to ask +the way. He took the first path that presented itself and followed it +at the top of his speed, often losing his way, or stumbling over some +stone, or running up against a tree, and leaving behind him without +regret the cottage which had been as little to his taste as the +character of its possessor. After some time he saw in the distance a +huge black castle which commanded a view of the whole forest. The Prince +felt certain that this must be the abode of the Oracle, and just as the +sun was setting he reached its outermost gates. The whole castle was +surrounded by a deep moat, and the drawbridge and the gates, and even +the water in the moat, were all of the same sombre hue as the walls and +towers. Upon the gate hung a huge bell, upon which was written in red +letters: + +'Mortal, if thou art curious to know thy fate, strike this bell, and +submit to what shall befall thee.' + +The Prince, without the smallest hesitation, snatched up a great stone, +and hammered vigorously upon the bell, which gave forth a deep and +terrible sound, the gate flew open, and closed again with a thundering +clang the moment the Prince had passed through it, while from every +tower and battlement rose a wheeling, screaming crowd of bats which +darkened the whole sky with their multitudes. Anyone but Prince Vivien +would have been terrified by such an uncanny sight, but he strode +stoutly forward till he reached the second gate, which was opened to him +by sixty black slaves covered from head to foot in long mantles. + +He wished to speak to them, but soon discovered that they spoke an +utterly unknown language, and did not seem to understand a word he said. +This was a great aggravation to the Prince, who was not accustomed to +keep his ideas to himself, and he positively found himself wishing +for his old friend Patience. However, he had to follow his guides in +silence, and they led him into a magnificent hall; the floor was of +ebony, the walls of jet, and all the hangings were of black velvet, but +the Prince looked round it in vain for something to eat, and then made +signs that he was hungry. In the same manner he was respectfully given +to understand that he must wait, and after several hours the sixty +hooded and shrouded figures re-appeared, and conducted him with great +ceremony, and also very very slowly, to a banqueting hall, where they +all placed themselves at a long table. The dishes were arranged down the +centre of it, and with his usual impetuosity the Prince seized the one +that stood in front of him to draw it nearer, but soon found that it was +firmly fixed in its place. Then he looked at his solemn and lugubrious +neighbours, and saw that each one was supplied with a long hollow +reed through which he slowly sucked up his portion, and the Prince +was obliged to do the same, though he found it a frightfully tedious +process. After supper, they returned as they had come to the ebony +room, where he was compelled to look on while his companions played +interminable games of chess, and not until he was nearly dying of +weariness did they, slowly and ceremoniously as before, conduct him to +his sleeping apartment. The hope of consulting the Oracle woke him +very early the next morning, and his first demand was to be allowed +to present himself before it, but, without replying, his attendants +conducted him to a huge marble bath, very shallow at one end, and quite +deep at the other, and gave him to understand that he was to go into it. +The Prince, nothing loth, was for springing at once into deep water, but +he was gently but forcibly held back and only allowed to stand where it +was about an inch deep, and he was nearly wild with impatience when he +found that this process was to be repeated every day in spite of all he +could say or do, the water rising higher and higher by inches, so +that for sixty days he had to live in perpetual silence, ceremoniously +conducted to and fro, supping all his meals through the long reed, and +looking on at innumerable games of chess, the game of all others which +he detested most. But at last the water rose as high as his chin, and +his bath was complete. And that day the slaves in their black robes, +and each having a large bat perched upon his head, marched in slow +procession with the Prince in their midst, chanting a melancholy song, +to the iron gate that led into a kind of Temple. At the sound of their +chanting, another band of slaves appeared, and took possession of the +unhappy Vivien. + +They looked to him exactly like the ones he had left, except that they +moved more slowly still, and each one held a raven upon his wrist, and +their harsh croakings re-echoed through the dismal place. Holding the +Prince by the arms, not so much to do him honour as to restrain his +impatience, they proceeded by slow degrees up the steps of the Temple, +and when they at last reached the top he thought his long waiting must +be at an end. But on the contrary, after slowly enshrouding him in a +long black robe like their own, they led him into the Temple itself, +where he was forced to witness numbers of lengthy rites and ceremonies. +By this time Vivien's active impatience had subsided into passive +weariness, his yawns were continual and scandalous, but nobody heeded +him, he stared hopelessly at the thick black curtain which hung down +straight in front of him, and could hardly believe his eyes when it +presently began to slide back, and he saw before him the Black Bird. It +was of enormous size, and was perched upon a thick bar of iron which ran +across from one side of the Temple to the other. At the sight of it all +the slaves fell upon their knees and hid their faces, and when it had +three times flapped its mighty wings it uttered distinctly in Prince +Vivien's own language the words: + +'Prince, your only chance of happiness depends upon that which is most +opposed to your own nature.' + +Then the curtain fell before it once more, and the Prince, after many +ceremonies, was presented with a raven which perched upon his wrist, and +was conducted slowly back to the iron gate. Here the raven left him and +he was handed over once more to the care of the first band of slaves, +while a large bat flickered down and settled upon his head of its own +accord, and so he was taken back to the marble bath, and had to go +through the whole process again, only this time he began in deep water +which receded daily inch by inch. When this was over the slaves escorted +him to the outer gate, and took leave of him with every mark of +esteem and politeness, to which it is to be feared he responded but +indifferently, since the gate was no sooner opened than he took to his +heels, and fled away with all his might, his one idea being to put as +much space as possible between himself and the dreary place into which +he had ventured so rashly, just to consult a tedious Oracle who after +all had told him nothing. He actually reflected for about five seconds +on his folly, and came to the conclusion that it might sometimes be +advisable to think before one acted. + +After wandering about for several days until he was weary and hungry, he +at last succeeded in finding a way out of the forest, and soon came to +a wide and rapid river, which he followed, hoping to find some means of +crossing it, and it happened that as the sun rose the next morning he +saw something of a dazzling whiteness moored out in the middle of the +stream. Upon looking more attentively at it he found that it was one of +the prettiest little ships he had ever seen, and the boat that belonged +to it was made fast to the bank quite close to him. The Prince was +immediately seized with the most ardent desire to go on board the +ship, and shouted loudly to attract the notice of her crew, but no +one answered. So he sprang into the little boat and rowed away without +finding it at all hard work, for the boat was made all of white paper +and was as light as a rose leaf. The ship was made of white paper too, +as the Prince presently discovered when he reached it. He found not a +soul on board, but there was a very cosy little bed in the cabin, and an +ample supply of all sorts of good things to eat and drink, which he +made up his mind to enjoy until something new happened. Having been +thoroughly well brought up at the court of King Gridelin, of course +he understood the art of navigation, but when once he had started, the +current carried the vessel down at such a pace that before he knew where +he was the Prince found himself out at sea, and a wind springing up +behind him just at this moment soon drove him out of sight of land. +By this time he was somewhat alarmed, and did his best to put the ship +about and get back to the river, but wind and tide were too strong for +him, and he began to think of the number of times, from his childhood +up, that he had been warned not to meddle with water. But it was too +late now to do anything but wish vainly that he had stayed on shore, and +to grow heartily weary of the boat and the sea and everything connected +with it. These two things, however, he did most thoroughly. To put the +finishing touch to his misfortunes he presently found himself becalmed +in mid-ocean, a state of affairs which would be considered trying by the +most patient of men, so you may imagine how it affected Prince Vivien! +He even came to wishing himself back at the Castle of the Black Bird, +for there at least he saw some living beings, whereas on board the +white-paper ship he was absolutely alone, and could not imagine how he +was ever to get away from his wearisome prison. However, after a very +long time, he did see land, and his impatience to be on shore was so +great that he at once flung himself over the ship's side that he might +reach it sooner by swimming. But this was quite useless, for spring +as far as he might from the vessel, it was always under his feet again +before he reached the water, and he had to resign himself to his fate, +and wait with what patience he could muster until the winds and waves +carried the ship into a kind of natural harbour which ran far into the +land. After his long imprisonment at sea the Prince was delighted with +the sight of the great trees which grew down to the very edge of the +water, and leaping lightly on shore he speedily lost himself in the +thick forest. When he had wandered a long way he stopped to rest beside +a clear spring of water, but scarcely had he thrown himself down upon +the mossy bank when there was a great rustling in the bushes close by, +and out sprang a pretty little gazelle panting and exhausted, which fell +at his feet gasping out-- + +'Oh! Vivien, save me!' + +The Prince in great astonishment leapt to his feet, and had just time to +draw his sword before he found himself face to face with a large green +lion which had been hotly pursuing the poor little gazelle. Prince +Vivien attacked it gallantly and a fierce combat ensued, which, however, +ended before long in the Prince's dealing his adversary a terrific blow +which felled him to the earth. As he fell the lion whistled loudly three +times with such force that the forest rang again, and the sound must +have been heard for more than two leagues round, after which having +apparently nothing more to do in the world he rolled over on his side +and died. The Prince without paying any further heed to him or to his +whistling returned to the pretty gazelle, saying: + +'Well! are you satisfied now? Since you can talk, pray tell me instantly +what all this is about, and how you happen to know my name.' + +'Oh, I must rest for a long time before I can talk,' she replied, 'and +beside, I very much doubt if you will have leisure to listen, for the +affair is by no means finished. In fact,' she continued in the same +languid tone, 'you had better look behind you now.' + +The Prince turned sharply round and to his horror saw a huge Giant +approaching with mighty strides, crying fiercely-- + +'Who has made my lion whistle I should like to know?' + +'I have,' replied Prince Vivien boldly, 'but I can answer for it that he +will not do it again!' + +At these words the Giant began to howl and lament. + +'Alas, my poor Tiny, my sweet little pet,' he cried, 'but at least I can +avenge thy death.' + +Thereupon he rushed at the Prince, brandishing an immense serpent which +was coiled about his wrist. Vivien, without losing his coolness, aimed a +terrific blow at it with his sword, but no sooner did he touch the +snake than it changed into a Giant and the Giant into a snake, with +such rapidity that the Prince felt perfectly giddy, and this happened at +least half-a-dozen times, until at last with a fortunate stroke he cut +the serpent in halves, and picking up one morsel flung it with all his +force at the nose of the Giant, who fell insensible on top of the lion, +and in an instant a thick black cloud rolled up which hid them from +view, and when it cleared away they had all disappeared. + +Then the Prince, without even waiting to sheathe his sword, rushed back +to the gazelle, crying: + +'Now you have had plenty of time to recover your wits, and you have +nothing more to fear, so tell me who you are, and what this horrible +Giant, with his lion and his serpent, have to do with you and for pity's +sake be quick about it.' + +'I will tell you with pleasure,' she answered, 'but where is the hurry? +I want you to come back with me to the Green Castle, but I don't want to +walk there, it is so far, and walking is so fatiguing.' + +'Let us set out at once then,' replied the Prince severely, 'or else +really I shall have to leave you where you are. Surely a young and +active gazelle like you ought to be ashamed of not being able to walk a +few steps. The further off this castle is the faster we ought to walk, +but as you don't appear to enjoy that, I will promise that we will go +gently, and we can talk by the way.' + +'It would be better still if you would carry me,' said she sweetly, 'but +as I don't like to see people giving themselves trouble, you may carry +me, and make that snail carry you.' So saying, she pointed languidly +with one tiny foot at what the Prince had taken for a block of stone, +but now he saw that it was a huge snail. + +'What! I ride a snail!' cried the Prince; 'you are laughing at me, and +beside we should not get there for a year.' + +'Oh! well then don't do it,' replied the gazelle, 'I am quite willing to +stay here. The grass is green, and the water clear. But if I were you I +should take the advice that was given me and ride the snail.' + +So, though it did not please him at all, the Prince took the gazelle +in his arms, and mounted upon the back of the snail, which glided along +very peaceably, entirely declining to be hurried by frequent blows from +the Prince's heels. In vain did the gazelle represent to him that she +was enjoying herself very much, and that this was the easiest mode +of conveyance she had ever discovered. Prince Vivien was wild with +impatience, and thought that the Green Castle would never be reached. +However, at last, they did get there, and everyone who was in it ran to +see the Prince dismount from his singular steed. + +But what was his surprise, when having at her request set the gazelle +gently down upon the steps which led up to the castle, he saw her +suddenly change into a charming Princess, and recognized in her +his pretty cousin Placida, who greeted him with her usual tranquil +sweetness. His delight knew no bounds, and he followed her eagerly up +into the castle, impatient to know what strange events had brought her +there. But after all he had to wait for the Princess's story, for the +inhabitants of the Green Lands, hearing that the Giant was dead, ran to +offer the kingdom to his vanquisher, and Prince Vivien had to listen to +various complimentary harangues, which took a great deal of time, though +he cut them as short as politeness allowed--if not shorter. But at +last he was free to rejoin Placida, who at once began the story of her +adventures. + +'After you had gone away,' said she, 'they tried to make me learn how +to govern the kingdom, which wearied me to death, so that I begged and +prayed Lolotte to take me away with her, and this she presently did, but +very reluctantly. However, having been transported to her grotto upon +my favourite couch, I spent several delicious days, soothed by the +soft green light, which was like a beech wood in the spring, and by the +murmuring of bees and the tinkle of falling water. But alas! Lolotte +was forced to go away to a general assembly of the Fairies, and she came +back in great dismay, telling me that her indulgence to me had cost her +dear, for she had been severely reprimanded and ordered to hand me over +to the Fairy Mirlifiche, who was already taking charge of you, and who +had been much commended for her management of you.' + +'Fine management, indeed,' interrupted the Prince, 'if it is to her I +owe all the adventures I have met with! But go on with your story, my +cousin. I can tell you all about my doings afterwards, and then you can +judge for yourself.' + +'At first I was grieved to see Lolotte cry,' resumed the Princess, 'but +I soon found that grieving was very troublesome, so I thought it better +to be calm, and very soon afterwards I saw the Fairy Mirlifiche arrive, +mounted upon her great unicorn. She stopped before the grotto and bade +Lolotte bring me out to her, at which she cried worse than ever, and +kissed me a dozen times, but she dared not refuse. I was lifted up on to +the unicorn, behind Mirlifiche, who said to me-- + +'"Hold on tight, little girl, if you don't want to break your neck." + +'And, indeed, I had to hold on with all my might, for her horrible steed +trotted so violently that it positively took my breath away. However, at +last we stopped at a large farm, and the farmer and his wife ran out as +soon as they saw the Fairy, and helped us to dismount. + +'I knew that they were really a King and Queen, whom the Fairies were +punishing for their ignorance and idleness. You may imagine that I was +by this time half dead with fatigue, but Mirlifiche insisted upon my +feeding her unicorn before I did anything else. To accomplish this I had +to climb up a long ladder into the hayloft, and bring down, one after +another, twenty-four handfuls of hay. Never, never before, did I have +such a wearisome task! It makes me shudder to think of it now, and that +was not all. In the same way I had to carry the twenty-four handfuls of +hay to the stable, and then it was supper time, and I had to wait upon +all the others. After that I really thought I should be allowed to go +peaceably to my little bed, but, oh dear no! First of all I had to make +it, for it was all in confusion, and then I had to make one for +the Fairy, and tuck her in, and draw the curtains round her, beside +rendering her a dozen little services which I was not at all accustomed +to. Finally, when I was perfectly exhausted by all this toil, I was free +to go to bed myself, but as I had never before undressed myself, and +really did not know how to begin, I lay down as I was. Unfortunately, +the Fairy found this out, and just as I was falling into a sweet +slumber, she made me get up once more, but even then I managed to escape +her vigilance, and only took off my upper robe. Indeed, I may tell you +in confidence, that I always find disobedience answer very well. One is +often scolded, it is true, but then one has been saved some trouble. + +'At the earliest dawn of day Mirlifiche woke me, and made me take many +journeys to the stable to bring her word how her unicorn had slept, and +how much hay he had eaten, and then to find out what time it was, and +if it was a fine day. I was so slow, and did my errands so badly, that +before she left she called the King and Queen and said to them: + +'"I am much more pleased with you this year. Continue to make the best +of your farm, if you wish to get back to your kingdom, and also take +care of this little Princess for me, and teach her to be useful, that +when I come I may find her cured of her faults. If she is not--" + +'Here she broke off with a significant look, and mounting my enemy the +unicorn, speedily disappeared. + +'Then the King and Queen, turning to me, asked me what I could do. + +'"Nothing at all, I assure you," I replied in a tone which really +ought to have convinced them, but they went on to describe various +employments, and tried to discover which of them would be most to my +taste. However, at last I persuaded them that to do nothing whatever +would be the only thing that would suit me, and that if they really +wanted to be kind to me, they would let me go to bed and to sleep, +and not tease me about doing anything. To my great joy, they not only +permitted this, but actually, when they had their own meals, the Queen +brought my portion up to me. But early the next morning she appeared at +my bedside, saying, with an apologetic air: + +'"My pretty child, I am afraid you must really make up your mind to get +up to-day. I know quite well how delightful it is to be thoroughly idle, +for when my husband and I were King and Queen we did nothing at all from +morning to night, and I sincerely hope that it will not be long before +those happy days will come again for us. But at present we have not +reached them, nor have you, and you know from what the Fairy said that +perhaps worse things may happen to us if she is not obeyed. Make +haste, I beg of you, and come down to breakfast, for I have put by some +delicious cream for you." + +'It was really very tiresome, but as there was no help for it I went +down! + +'But the instant breakfast was over they began again their cuckoo-cry of +"What will you do?" In vain did I answer-- + +'"Nothing at all, if it please you, madam." + +'The Queen at last gave me a spindle and about four pounds of hemp upon +a distaff, and sent me out to keep the sheep, assuring me that there +could not be a pleasanter occupation, and that I could take my ease as +much as I pleased. I was forced to set out, very unwillingly, as you may +imagine, but I had not walked far before I came to a shady bank in what +seemed to me a charming place. I stretched myself cosily upon the soft +grass, and with the bundle of hemp for a pillow slept as tranquilly as +if there were no such things as sheep in the world, while they for their +part wandered hither and thither at their own sweet will, as if there +were no such thing as a shepherdess, invading every field, and browsing +upon every kind of forbidden dainty, until the peasants, alarmed by the +havoc they were making, raised a clamour, which at last reached the +ears of the King and Queen, who ran out, and seeing the cause of the +commotion, hastily collected their flock. And, indeed, the sooner the +better, since they had to pay for all the damage they had done. As for +me I lay still and watched them run, for I was very comfortable, +and there I might be still if they had not come up, all panting and +breathless, and compelled me to get up and follow them; they also +reproached me bitterly, but I need hardly tell you that they did not +again entrust me with the flock. + +'But whatever they found for me to do it was always the same thing, I +spoilt and mismanaged it all, and was so successful in provoking even +the most patient people, that one day I ran away from the farm, for I +was really afraid the Queen would be obliged to beat me. When I came to +the little river in which the King used to fish, I found the boat tied +to a tree, and stepping in I unfastened it, and floated gently down +with the current. The gliding of the boat was so soothing that I did not +trouble myself in the least when the Queen caught sight of me and ran +along the bank, crying-- + +'"My boat, my boat! Husband, come and catch the little Princess who is +running away with my boat!" + +'The current soon carried me out of hearing of her cries, and I dreamed +to the song of the ripples and the whisper of the trees, until the boat +suddenly stopped, and I found it was stuck fast beside a fresh green +meadow, and that the sun was rising. In the distance I saw some little +houses which seemed to be built in a most singular fashion, but as I was +by this time very hungry I set out towards them, but before I had walked +many steps, I saw that the air was full of shining objects which seemed +to be fixed, and yet I could not see what they hung from. + +'I went nearer, and saw a silken cord hanging down to the ground, and +pulled it just because it was so close to my hand. Instantly the whole +meadow resounded to the melodious chiming of a peal of silver bells, and +they sounded so pretty that I sat down to listen, and to watch them as +they swung shining in the sunbeams. Before they ceased to sound, came +a great flight of birds, and each one perching upon a bell added its +charming song to the concert. As they ended, I looked up and saw a tall +and stately dame advancing towards me, surrounded and followed by a vast +flock of every kind of bird. + +'"Who are you, little girl," said she, "who dares to come where I allow +no mortal to live, lest my birds should be disturbed? Still, if you are +clever at anything," she added, "I might be able to put up with your +presence." + +'"Madam," I answered, rising, "you may be very sure that I shall not do +anything to alarm your birds. I only beg you, for pity's sake, to give +me something to eat." + +'"I will do that," she replied, "before I send you where you deserve to +go." + +'And thereupon she despatched six jays, who were her pages, to fetch +me all sorts of biscuits, while some of the other birds brought ripe +fruits. In fact, I had a delicious breakfast, though I do not like to be +waited upon so quickly. It is so disagreeable to be hurried. I began to +think I should like very well to stay in this pleasant country, and I +said so to the stately lady, but she answered with the greatest disdain: + +'"Do you think I would keep you here? _You_! Why what do you suppose +would be the good of you in this country, where everybody is wide-awake +and busy? No, no, I have shown you all the hospitality you will get from +me." + +'With these words she turned and gave a vigorous pull to the silken rope +which I mentioned before, but instead of a melodious chime, there arose +a hideous clanging which quite terrified me, and in an instant a huge +Black Bird appeared, which alighted at the Fairy's feet, saying in a +frightful voice-- + +'"What do you want of me, my sister?" + +'"I wish you to take this little Princess to my cousin, the Giant of the +Green Castle, at once," she replied, "and beg him from me to make her +work day and night upon his beautiful tapestry." + +'At these words the great Bird snatched me up, regardless of my cries, +and flew off at a terrific pace--' + +'Oh! you are joking, cousin,' interrupted Prince Vivien; 'you mean as +slowly as possible. I know that horrible Black Bird, and the lengthiness +of all his proceedings and surroundings.' + +'Have it your own way,' replied Placida, tranquilly. 'I cannot bear +arguing. Perhaps, this was not even the same bird. At any rate, he +carried me off at a prodigious speed, and set me gently down in this +very castle of which you are now the master. We entered by one of the +windows, and when the Bird had handed me over to the Giant from whom you +have been good enough to deliver me, and given the Fairy's message, it +departed. + +'Then the Giant turned to me, saying, + +'"So you are an idler! Ah! well, we must teach you to work. You won't be +the first we have cured of laziness. See how busy all my guests are." + +'I looked up as he spoke, and saw that an immense gallery ran all round +the hall, in which were tapestry frames, spindles, skeins of wool, +patterns, and all necessary things. Before each frame about a dozen +people were sitting, hard at work, at which terrible sight I fainted +away, and as soon as I recovered they began to ask me what I could do. + +'It was in vain that I replied as before, and with the strongest desire +to be taken at my word, "Nothing at all." + +'The Giant only said, + +'"Then you must learn to do something; in this world there is enough +work for everybody." + +'It appeared that they were working into the tapestry all the stories +the Fairies liked best, and they began to try and teach me to help them, +but from the first class, where they tried me to begin with, I sank +lower and lower, and not even the most simple stitches could I learn. + +'In vain they punished me by all the usual methods. In vain the Giant +showed me his menagerie, which was entirely composed of children who +would not work! Nothing did me any good, and at last I was reduced to +drawing water for the dyeing of the wools, and even over that I was so +slow that this morning the Giant flew into a rage and changed me into +a gazelle. He was just putting me into the menagerie when I happened to +catch sight of a dog, and was seized with such terror that I fled away +at my utmost speed, and escaped through the outer court of the castle. +The Giant, fearing that I should be lost altogether, sent his green lion +after me, with orders to bring me back, cost what it might, and I should +certainly have let myself be caught, or eaten up, or anything, rather +than run any further, if I had not luckily met you by the fountain. And +oh!' concluded the Princess, 'how delightful it is once more to be able +to sit still in peace. I was so tired of trying to learn things.' + +Prince Vivien said that, for his part, he had been kept a great deal too +still, and had not found it at all amusing, and then he recounted all +his adventures with breathless rapidity. How he had taken shelter with +Dame Patience, and consulted the Oracle, and voyaged in the paper ship. +Then they went hand in hand to release all the prisoners in the castle, +and all the Princes and Princesses who were in cages in the menagerie, +for the instant the Green Giant was dead they had resumed their natural +forms. As you may imagine, they were all very grateful, and Princess +Placida entreated them never, never to do another stitch of work so long +as they lived, and they promptly made a great bonfire in the courtyard, +and solemnly burnt all the embroidery frames and spinning wheels. Then +the Princess gave them splendid presents, or rather sat by while Prince +Vivien gave them, and there were great rejoicings in the Green Castle, +and everyone did his best to please the Prince and Princess. But with +all their good intentions, they often made mistakes, for Vivien and +Placida were never of one mind about their plans, so it was very +confusing, and they frequently found themselves obeying the Prince's +orders, very, very slowly, and rushing off with lightning speed to do +something that the Princess did not wish to have done at all, until, +by-and-by, the two cousins took to consulting with, and consoling one +another in all these little vexations, and at last came to be so fond of +each other that for Placida's sake Vivien became quite patient, and for +Vivien's sake Placida made the most unheard-of exertions. But now the +Fairies who had been watching all these proceedings with interest, +thought it was time to interfere, and ascertain by further trials if +this improvement was likely to continue, and if they really loved one +another. So they caused Placida to seem to have a violent fever, and +Vivien to languish and grow dull, and made each of them very uneasy +about the other, and then, finding a moment when they were apart, the +Fairy Mirlifiche suddenly appeared to Placida, and said-- + +'I have just seen Prince Vivien, and he seemed to me to be very ill.' + +'Alas! yes, madam,' she answered, 'and if you will but cure him, you may +take me back to the farm, or bring the Green Giant to life again, and +you shall see how obedient I will be.' + +'If you really wish him to recover,' said the Fairy, 'you have only to +catch the Trotting Mouse and the Chaffinch-on-the-Wing and bring them to +me. Only remember that time presses!' + +She had hardly finished speaking before the Princess was rushing +headlong out of the castle gate, and the Fairy after watching her till +she was lost to sight, gave a little chuckle and went in search of the +Prince, who begged her earnestly to send him back to the Black Castle, +or to the paper boat if she would but save Placida's life. The Fairy +shook her head, and looked very grave. She quite agreed with him, the +Princess was in a bad way--'But,' said she, 'if you can find the Rosy +Mole, and give him to her she will recover.' So now it was the Prince's +turn to set off in a vast hurry, only as soon as he left the Castle he +happened to go in exactly the opposite direction to the one Placida had +taken. Now you can imagine these two devoted lovers hunting night +and day. The Princess in the woods, always running, always listening, +pursuing hotly after two creatures which seemed to her very hard to +catch, which she yet never ceased from pursuing. The Prince on the other +hand wandering continually across the meadows, his eyes fixed upon the +ground, attentive to every movement among the moles. He was forced to +walk slowly--slowly upon tip-toe, hardly venturing to breathe. Often +he stood for hours motionless as a statue, and if the desire to succeed +could have helped him he would soon have possessed the Rosy Mole. But +alas! all that he caught were black and ordinary, though strange to say +he never grew impatient, but always seemed ready to begin the tedious +hunt again. But this changing of character is one of the most ordinary +miracles which love works. Neither the Prince nor the Princess gave a +thought to anything but their quest. It never even occurred to them to +wonder what country they had reached. So you may guess how astonished +they were one day, when having at last been successful after their long +and weary chase, they cried aloud at the same instant: 'At last I have +saved my beloved,' and then recognising each other's voice looked up, +and rushed to meet one another with the wildest joy. Surprise kept them +silent while for one delicious moment they gazed into each other's eyes, +and just then who should come up but King Gridelin, for it was into his +kingdom they had accidentally strayed. He recognized them in his turn +and greeted them joyfully, but when they turned afterwards to look for +the Rosy Mole, the Chaffinch, and the Trotting-Mouse, they had vanished, +and in their places stood a lovely lady whom they did not know, the +Black Bird, and the Green Giant. King Gridelin had no sooner set eyes +upon the lady than with a cry of joy he clasped her in his arms, for +it was no other than his long-lost wife, Santorina, about whose +imprisonment in Fairyland you may perhaps read some day. + +Then the Black Bird and the Green Giant resumed their natural form, +for they were enchanters, and up flew Lolotte and Mirlifiche in their +chariots, and then there was a great kissing and congratulating, for +everybody had regained someone he loved, including the enchanters, +who loved their natural forms dearly. After this they repaired to the +Palace, and the wedding of Prince Vivien and Princess Placida was held +at once with all the splendour imaginable. + +King Gridelin and Queen Santorina, after all their experiences had no +further desire to reign, so they retired happily to a peaceful place, +leaving their kingdom to the Prince and Princess, who were beloved by +all their subjects, and found their greatest happiness all their lives +long in making other people happy. + +Nonchalante et Papillon + + + + + +LITTLE ONE-EYE, LITTLE TWO-EYES, AND LITTLE THREE-EYES + + + +There was once a woman who had three daughters, of whom the eldest was +called Little One-eye, because she had only one eye in the middle of her +forehead; and the second, Little Two-eyes, because she had two eyes like +other people; and the youngest, Little Three-eyes, because she had three +eyes, and _her_ third eye was also in the middle of her forehead. But +because Little Two-eyes did not look any different from other children, +her sisters and mother could not bear her. They would say to her, 'You +with your two eyes are no better than common folk; you don't belong to +us.' They pushed her here, and threw her wretched clothes there, and +gave her to eat only what they left, and they were as unkind to her as +ever they could be. + +It happened one day that Little Two-eyes had to go out into the fields +to take care of the goat, but she was still quite hungry because her +sisters had given her so little to eat. So she sat down in the meadow +and began to cry, and she cried so much that two little brooks ran out +of her eyes. But when she looked up once in her grief there stood a +woman beside her who asked, 'Little Two-eyes, what are you crying for?' +Little Two-eyes answered, 'Have I not reason to cry? Because I have two +eyes like other people, my sisters and my mother cannot bear me; they +push me out of one corner into another, and give me nothing to eat +except what they leave. To-day they have given me so little that I am +still quite hungry.' Then the wise woman said, 'Little Two-eyes, dry +your eyes, and I will tell you something so that you need never be +hungry again. Only say to your goat, + +"Little goat, bleat, Little table, appear," + +and a beautifully spread table will stand before you, with the most +delicious food on it, so that you can eat as much as you want. And when +you have had enough and don't want the little table any more, you have +only to say, + +"Little goat, bleat, Little table, away," + +and then it will vanish.' Then the wise woman went away. + +But Little Two-eyes thought, 'I must try at once if what she has told me +is true, for I am more hungry than ever'; and she said, + +'Little goat, bleat, Little table appear,' + +and scarcely had she uttered the words, when there stood a little table +before her covered with a white cloth, on which were arranged a plate, +with a knife and fork and a silver spoon, and the most beautiful dishes, +which were smoking hot, as if they had just come out of the kitchen. +Then Little Two-eyes said the shortest grace she knew, and set to work +and made a good dinner. And when she had had enough, she said, as the +wise woman had told her, + +'Little goat, bleat, Little table, away,' + +and immediately the table and all that was on it disappeared again. +'That is a splendid way of housekeeping,' thought Little Two-eyes, and +she was quite happy and contented. + +In the evening, when she went home with her goat, she found a little +earthenware dish with the food that her sisters had thrown to her, but +she did not touch it. The next day she went out again with her goat, and +left the few scraps which were given her. The first and second times +her sisters did not notice this, but when it happened continually, they +remarked it and said, 'Something is the matter with Little Two-eyes, for +she always leaves her food now, and she used to gobble up all that was +given her. She must have found other means of getting food.' So in +order to get at the truth, Little One-eye was told to go out with Little +Two-eyes when she drove the goat to pasture, and to notice particularly +what she got there, and whether anyone brought her food and drink. + +Now when Little Two-eyes was setting out, Little One-eye came up to her +and said, 'I will go into the field with you and see if you take good +care of the goat, and if you drive him properly to get grass.' But +Little Two-eyes saw what Little One-eye had in her mind, and she drove +the goat into the long grass and said, 'Come, Little One-eye, we will +sit down here, and I will sing you something.' + +Little One-eye sat down, and as she was very much tired by the long walk +to which she was not used, and by the hot day, and as Little Two-eyes +went on singing. + +'Little One-eye, are you awake? Little One-eye, are you asleep?' + +she shut her one eye and fell asleep. When Little Two-eyes saw that +Little One-eye was asleep and could find out nothing, she said, + +'Little goat, bleat, Little table, appear,' + +and sat down at her table and ate and drank as much as she wanted. Then +she said again, + +'Little goat, bleat, Little table, away.' + +and in the twinkling of an eye all had vanished. + +Little Two-eyes then woke Little One-eye and said, 'Little One-eye, you +meant to watch, and, instead, you went to sleep; in the meantime the +goat might have run far and wide. Come, we will go home.' So they went +home, and Little Two-eyes again left her little dish untouched, and +Little One-eye could not tell her mother why she would not eat, and said +as an excuse, 'I was so sleepy out-of-doors.' + +The next day the mother said to Little Three-eyes, 'This time you shall +go with Little Two-eyes and watch whether she eats anything out in the +fields, and whether anyone brings her food and drink, for eat and drink +she must secretly.' So Little Three-eyes went to Little Two-eyes and +said, 'I will go with you and see if you take good care of the goat, and +if you drive him properly to get grass.' But little Two-eyes knew what +Little Three-eyes had in her mind, and she drove the goat out into the +tall grass and said, 'We will sit down here, Little Three-eyes, and I +will sing you something.' Little Three-eyes sat down; she was tired by +the walk and the hot day, and Little Two-eyes sang the same little song +again: + +'Little Three eyes, are you awake?' + +but instead of singing as she ought to have done, + +'Little Three-eyes, are you asleep?' + +she sang, without thinking, + +'Little _Two-eyes_, are you asleep?' + +She went on singing, + +'Little Three-eyes, are you awake? Little _Two-eyes_, are you asleep?' + +so that the two eyes of Little Three-eyes fell asleep, but the third, +which was not spoken to in the little rhyme, did not fall asleep. Of +course Little Three-eyes shut that eye also out of cunning, to look as +if she were asleep, but it was blinking and could see everything quite +well. + +And when Little Two-eyes thought that Little Three-eyes was sound +asleep, she said her rhyme, + +'Little goat, bleat, Little table, appear,' + +and ate and drank to her heart's content, and then made the table go +away again, by saying, + +'Little goat, bleat, Little table, away.' + +But Little Three-eyes had seen everything. Then Little Two-eyes came +to her, and woke her and said, 'Well, Little Three-eyes, have you been +asleep? You watch well! Come, we will go home.' When they reached home, +Little Two-eyes did not eat again, and Little Three-eyes said to the +mother, 'I know now why that proud thing eats nothing. When she says to +the goat in the field, + +"Little goat, bleat, Little table, appear," + +a table stands before her, spread with the best food, much better than +we have; and when she has had enough, she says, + +"Little goat, bleat, Little table, away," + +and everything disappears again. I saw it all exactly. She made two +of my eyes go to sleep with a little rhyme, but the one in my forehead +remained awake, luckily!' + +Then the envious mother cried out, 'Will you fare better than we do? you +shall not have the chance to do so again!' and she fetched a knife, and +killed the goat. + +When Little Two-eyes saw this, she went out full of grief, and sat down +in the meadow and wept bitter tears. Then again the wise woman stood +before her, and said, 'Little Two-eyes, what are you crying for?' 'Have +I not reason to cry?' she answered, 'the goat, which when I said the +little rhyme, spread the table so beautifully, my mother has killed, and +now I must suffer hunger and want again.' The wise woman said, 'Little +Two-eyes, I will give you a good piece of advice. Ask your sisters to +give you the heart of the dead goat, and bury it in the earth before the +house-door; that will bring you good luck.' Then she disappeared, and +Little Two-eyes went home, and said to her sisters, 'Dear sisters, do +give me something of my goat; I ask nothing better than its heart.' Then +they laughed and said, 'You can have that if you want nothing more.' And +Little Two-eyes took the heart and buried it in the evening when all was +quiet, as the wise woman had told her, before the house-door. The next +morning when they all awoke and came to the house-door, there stood +a most wonderful tree, which had leaves of silver and fruit of gold +growing on it--you never saw anything more lovely and gorgeous in your +life! But they did not know how the tree had grown up in the night; only +Little Two-eyes knew that it had sprung from the heart of the goat, for +it was standing just where she had buried it in the ground. Then the +mother said to Little One-eye, 'Climb up, my child, and break us off the +fruit from the tree.' Little One-eye climbed up, but just when she was +going to take hold of one of the golden apples the bough sprang out of +her hands; and this happened every time, so that she could not break off +a single apple, however hard she tried. Then the mother said, 'Little +Three-eyes, do you climb up; you with your three eyes can see round +better than Little One-eye.' So Little One-eye slid down, and Little +Three-eyes climbed up; but she was not any more successful; look round +as she might, the golden apples bent themselves back. At last the mother +got impatient and climbed up herself, but she was even less successful +than Little One-eye and Little Three-eyes in catching hold of the fruit, +and only grasped at the empty air. Then Little Two-eyes said, 'I will +just try once, perhaps I shall succeed better.' The sisters called out, +'You with your two eyes will no doubt succeed!' But Little Two-eyes +climbed up, and the golden apples did not jump away from her, but +behaved quite properly, so that she could pluck them off, one after the +other, and brought a whole apron-full down with her. The mother took +them from her, and, instead of behaving better to poor Little Two-eyes, +as they ought to have done, they were jealous that she only could reach +the fruit and behaved still more unkindly to her. + +It happened one day that when they were all standing together by the +tree that a young knight came riding along. 'Be quick, Little Two-eyes,' +cried the two sisters, 'creep under this, so that you shall not disgrace +us,' and they put over poor Little Two-eyes as quickly as possible an +empty cask, which was standing close to the tree, and they pushed the +golden apples which she had broken off under with her. When the knight, +who was a very handsome young man, rode up, he wondered to see the +marvellous tree of gold and silver, and said to the two sisters, 'Whose +is this beautiful tree? Whoever will give me a twig of it shall have +whatever she wants.' Then Little One-eye and Little Three-eyes answered +that the tree belonged to them, and that they would certainly break him +off a twig. They gave themselves a great deal of trouble, but in vain; +the twigs and fruit bent back every time from their hands. Then the +knight said, 'It is very strange that the tree should belong to you, +and yet that you have not the power to break anything from it!' But they +would have that the tree was theirs; and while they were saying this, +Little Two-eyes rolled a couple of golden apples from under the cask, +so that they lay at the knight's feet, for she was angry with Little +One-eye and Little Three-eyes for not speaking the truth. When the +knight saw the apples he was astonished, and asked where they came from. +Little One-eye and Little Three-eyes answered that they had another +sister, but she could not be seen because she had only two eyes, like +ordinary people. But the knight demanded to see her, and called out, +'Little Two-eyes, come forth.' Then Little Two-eyes came out from under +the cask quite happily, and the knight was astonished at her great +beauty, and said, 'Little Two-eyes, I am sure you can break me off a +twig from the tree.' 'Yes,' answered Little Two-eyes, 'I can, for the +tree is mine.' So she climbed up and broke off a small branch with its +silver leaves and golden fruit without any trouble, and gave it to the +knight. Then he said, 'Little Two-eyes, what shall I give you for this?' +'Ah,' answered Little Two-eyes, 'I suffer hunger and thirst, want and +sorrow, from early morning till late in the evening; if you would take +me with you, and free me from this, I should be happy!' Then the knight +lifted Little Two-eyes on his horse, and took her home to his father's +castle. There he gave her beautiful clothes, and food and drink, +and because he loved her so much he married her, and the wedding was +celebrated with great joy. + +When the handsome knight carried Little Two-eyes away with him, the two +sisters envied her good luck at first. 'But the wonderful tree is still +with us, after all,' they thought, 'and although we cannot break any +fruit from it, everyone will stop and look at it, and will come to us +and praise it; who knows whether _we_ may not reap a harvest from it?' +But the next morning the tree had flown, and their hopes with it; and +when Little Two-eyes looked out of her window there it stood underneath, +to her great delight. Little Two-eyes lived happily for a long time. +Once two poor women came to the castle to beg alms. Then Little Two-eyes +looked at then and recognised both her sisters, Little One-eye and +Little Three-eyes, who had become so poor that they came to beg bread at +her door. But Little Two-eyes bade them welcome, and was so good to them +that they both repented from their hearts of having been so unkind to +their sister. + +Grimm. + + + + + +JORINDE AND JORINGEL + + + +There was once upon a time a castle in the middle of a thick wood where +lived an old woman quite alone, for she was an enchantress. In the +day-time she changed herself into a cat or a night-owl, but in the +evening she became like an ordinary woman again. She could entice +animals and birds to come to her, and then she would kill and cook them. +If any youth came within a hundred paces of the castle, he was obliged +to stand still, and could not stir from the spot till she set him free; +but if a pretty girl came within this boundary, the old enchantress +changed her into a bird, and shut her up in a wicker cage, which she put +in one of the rooms in the castle. She had quite seven thousand of such +cages in the castle with very rare birds in them. + +Now, there was once a maiden called Jorinde, who was more beautiful +than other maidens. She and a youth named Joringel, who was just as +good-looking as she was, were betrothed to one another. Their greatest +delight was to be together, and so that they might get a good long +talk, they went one evening for a walk in the wood. 'Take care,' said +Joringel, 'not to come too close to the castle.' It was a beautiful +evening; the sun shone brightly between the stems of the trees among the +dark green leaves of the forest, and the turtle-dove sang clearly on the +old maybushes. + +Jorinde wept from time to time, and she sat herself down in the sunshine +and lamented, and Joringel lamented too. They felt as sad as if they had +been condemned to die; they looked round and got quite confused, and did +not remember which was their way home. Half the sun was still above the +mountain and half was behind it when Joringel looked through the trees +and saw the old wall of the castle quite near them. He was terrified and +half dead with fright. Jorinde sang: + +'My little bird with throat so red Sings sorrow, sorrow, sorrow; He +sings to the little dove that's dead, Sings sorrow, sor--jug, jug, jug.' + +Joringel looked up at Jorinde. She had been changed into a nightingale, +who was singing 'jug, jug.' A night-owl with glowing eyes flew three +times round her, and screeched three times 'tu-whit, tu-whit, tu-whoo.' +Joringel could not stir; he stood there like a stone; he could not weep, +or speak, or move hand or foot. Now the sun set; the owl flew into +a bush, and immediately an old, bent woman came out of it; she was +yellow-skinned and thin, and had large red eyes and a hooked nose, +which met her chin. She muttered to herself, caught the nightingale, and +carried her away in her hand. Joringel could say nothing; he could not +move from the spot, and the nightingale was gone. At last the woman came +back again, and said in a gruff voice, 'Good evening, Zachiel; when the +young moon shines in the basket, you are freed early, Zachiel.' Then +Joringel was free. He fell on his knees before the old woman and +implored her to give him back his Jorinde, but she said he should never +have her again, and then went away. He called after her, he wept and +lamented, but all in vain. 'What is to become of me!' he thought. Then +he went away, and came at last to a strange village, where he kept sheep +for a long time. He often went round the castle while he was there, +but never too close. At last he dreamt one night that he had found a +blood-red flower, which had in its centre a beautiful large pearl. He +plucked this flower and went with it to the castle; and there everything +which he touched with the flower was freed from the enchantment, and he +got his Jorinde back again through it. When he awoke in the morning he +began to seek mountain and valley to find such a flower. He sought +it for eight days, and on the ninth early in the morning he found the +blood-red flower. In its centre was a large dew-drop, as big as the +most lovely pearl. He travelled day and night with this flower till he +arrived at the castle. When he came within a hundred paces of it he did +not cease to be able to move, but he went on till he reached the gate. +He was delighted at his success, touched the great gate with the flower, +and it sprung open. He entered, passed through the courtyard, and then +stopped to listen for the singing of the birds; at last he heard it. He +went in and found the hall in which was the enchantress, and with her +seven thousand birds in their wicker cages. When she saw Joringel she +was furious, and breathed out poison and gall at him, but she could not +move a step towards him. He took no notice of her, and went and looked +over the cages of birds; but there were many hundred nightingales, +and how was he to find his Jorinde from among them? Whilst he was +considering, he observed the old witch take up a cage secretly and go +with it towards the door. Instantly he sprang after her, touched the +cage with the flower, and the old woman as well. Now she could no longer +work enchantments, and there stood Jorinde before him, with her arms +round his neck, and more beautiful than ever. Then he turned all the +other birds again into maidens, and he went home with his Jorinde, and +they lived a long and happy life. + +Grimm. + + + + + +ALLERLEIRAUH; OR, THE MANY-FURRED CREATURE + + + +There was once upon a time a King who had a wife with golden hair, +and she was so beautiful that you couldn't find anyone like her in the +world. It happened that she fell ill, and when she felt that she must +soon die, she sent for the King, and said, 'If you want to marry after +my death, make no one queen unless she is just as beautiful as I am, and +has just such golden hair as I have. Promise me this.' After the King +had promised her this, she closed her eyes and died. + +For a long time the King was not to be comforted, and he did not even +think of taking a second wife. At last his councillors said, 'The King +_must_ marry again, so that we may have a queen.' So messengers were +sent far and wide to seek for a bride equal to the late Queen in beauty. +But there was no one in the wide world, and if there had been she could +not have had such golden hair. Then the messengers came home again, not +having been able to find a queen. + +Now, the King had a daughter, who was just as beautiful as her dead +mother, and had just such golden hair. One day when she had grown up, +her father looked at her, and saw that she was exactly like her mother, +so he said to his councillors, 'I will marry my daughter to one of you, +and she shall be queen, for she is exactly like her dead mother, and +when I die her husband shall be king.' But when the Princess heard of +her father's decision, she was not at all pleased, and said to him, +'Before I do your bidding, I must have three dresses; one as golden as +the sun, one as silver as the moon, and one as shining as the stars. +Besides these, I want a cloak made of a thousand different kinds of +skin; every animal in your kingdom must give a bit of his skin to it.' +But she thought to herself, 'This will be quite impossible, and I shall +not have to marry someone I do not care for.' The King, however, was not +to be turned from his purpose, and he commanded the most skilled maidens +in his kingdom to weave the three dresses, one as golden as the sun, and +one as silver as the moon, and one as shining as the stars; and he gave +orders to all his huntsmen to catch one of every kind of beast in the +kingdom, and to get a bit of its skin to make the cloak of a thousand +pieces of fur. At last, when all was ready, the King commanded the cloak +to be brought to him, and he spread it out before the Princess, and +said, 'Tomorrow shall be your wedding-day.' When the Princess saw +that there was no more hope of changing her father's resolution, she +determined to flee away. In the night, when everyone else was sleeping, +she got up and took three things from her treasures, a gold ring, a +little gold spinning-wheel, and a gold reel; she put the sun, moon, and +star dresses in a nut-shell, drew on the cloak of many skins, and made +her face and hands black with soot. Then she commended herself to God, +and went out and travelled the whole night till she came to a large +forest. And as she was very much tired she sat down inside a hollow tree +and fell asleep. + +The sun rose and she still slept on and on, although it was nearly noon. +Now, it happened that the king to whom this wood belonged was hunting +in it. When his dogs came to the tree, they sniffed, and ran round and +round it, barking. The King said to the huntsmen, 'See what sort of a +wild beast is in there.' The huntsmen went in, and then came back and +said, 'In the hollow tree there lies a wonderful animal that we don't +know, and we have never seen one like it; its skin is made of a thousand +pieces of fur; but it is lying down asleep.' The King said, 'See if you +can catch it alive, and then fasten it to the cart, and we will take +it with us.' When the huntsmen seized the maiden, she awoke and was +frightened, and cried out to them, 'I am a poor child, forsaken by +father and mother; take pity on me, and let me go with you.' Then they +said to her, 'Many-furred Creature, you can work in the kitchen; come +with us and sweep the ashes together.' So they put her in the cart and +they went back to the palace. There they showed her a tiny room under +the stairs, where no daylight came, and said to her, 'Many-furred +Creature, you can live and sleep here.' Then she was sent into the +kitchen, where she carried wood and water, poked the fire, washed +vegetables, plucked fowls, swept up the ashes, and did all the dirty +work. + +So the Many-furred Creature lived for a long time in great poverty. Ah, +beautiful King's daughter, what is going to befall you now? + +It happened once when a great feast was being held in the palace, that +she said to the cook, 'Can I go upstairs for a little bit and look on? +I will stand outside the doors.' The cook replied, 'Yes, you can go up, +but in half-an-hour you must be back here to sweep up the ashes.' Then +she took her little oil-lamp, and went into her little room, drew off +her fur cloak, and washed off the soot from her face and hands, so that +her beauty shone forth, and it was as if one sunbeam after another were +coming out of a black cloud. Then she opened the nut, and took out the +dress as golden as the sun. And when she had done this, she went up to +the feast, and everyone stepped out of her way, for nobody knew her, and +they thought she must be a King's daughter. But the King came towards +her and gave her his hand, and danced with her, thinking to himself, 'My +eyes have never beheld anyone so fair!' When the dance was ended, she +curtseyed to him, and when the King looked round she had disappeared, +no one knew whither. The guards who were standing before the palace were +called and questioned, but no one had seen her. + +She had run to her little room and had quickly taken off her dress, made +her face and hands black, put on the fur cloak, and was once more the +Many-furred Creature. When she came into the kitchen and was setting +about her work of sweeping the ashes together, the cook said to her, +'Let that wait till to-morrow, and just cook the King's soup for me; I +want to have a little peep at the company upstairs; but be sure that you +do not let a hair fall into it, otherwise you will get nothing to eat in +future!' So the cook went away, and the Many-furred Creature cooked the +soup for the King. She made a bread-soup as well as she possibly could, +and when it was done, she fetched her gold ring from her little room, +and laid it in the tureen in which the soup was to be served up. + +When the dance was ended, the King had his soup brought to him and ate +it, and it was so good that he thought he had never tasted such soup in +his life. But when he came to the bottom of the dish he saw a gold ring +lying there, and he could not imagine how it got in. Then he commanded +the cook to be brought before him. The cook was terrified when he heard +the command, and said to the Many-furred Creature, 'You must have let +a hair fall into the soup, and if you have you deserve a good beating!' +When he came before the King, the King asked who had cooked the soup. +The cook answered, 'I cooked it.' But the King said, 'That's not true, +for it was quite different and much better soup than you have ever +cooked.' Then the cook said, 'I must confess; _I_ did not cook the soup; +the Many-furred Creature did.' 'Let her be brought before me,' said the +King. When the Many-furred Creature came, the King asked her who she +was. 'I am a poor child without father or mother.' Then he asked her, +'What do you do in my palace?' 'I am of no use except to have boots +thrown at my head.' 'How did you get the ring which was in the soup?' he +asked. 'I know nothing at all about the ring,' she answered. So the King +could find out nothing, and was obliged to send her away. + +After a time there was another feast, and the Many-furred Creature +begged the cook as at the last one to let her go and look on. He +answered, 'Yes, but come back again in half-an-hour and cook the King +the bread-soup that he likes so much.' So she ran away to her little +room, washed herself quickly, took out of the nut the dress as silver +as the moon and put it on. Then she went upstairs looking just like a +King's daughter, and the King came towards her, delighted to see her +again, and as the dance had just begun, they danced together. But when +the dance was ended, she disappeared again so quickly that the King +could not see which way she went. She ran to her little room and changed +herself once more into the Many-furred Creature, and went into the +kitchen to cook the bread-soup. When the cook was upstairs, she fetched +the golden spinning-wheel and put it in the dish so that the soup was +poured over it. It was brought to the King, who ate it, and liked it as +much as the last time. He had the cook sent to him, and again he had +to confess that the Many-furred Creature had cooked the soup. Then the +Many-furred Creature came before the King, but she said again that she +was of no use except to have boots thrown at her head, and that she knew +nothing at all of the golden spinning-wheel. + +When the King had a feast for the third time, things did not turn out +quite the same as at the other two. The cook said, 'You must be a witch, +Many-furred Creature, for you always put something in the soup, so that +it is much better and tastes nicer to the King than any that I cook.' +But because she begged hard, he let her go up for the usual time. Now +she put on the dress as shining as the stars, and stepped into the hall +in it. + +The King danced again with the beautiful maiden, and thought she had +never looked so beautiful. And while he was dancing, he put a gold ring +on her finger without her seeing it, and he commanded that the dance +should last longer than usual. When it was finished he wanted to keep +her hands in his, but she broke from him, and sprang so quickly away +among the people that she vanished from his sight. She ran as fast +as she could to her little room under the stairs, but because she had +stayed too long beyond the half-hour, she could not stop to take off the +beautiful dress, but only threw the fur cloak over it, and in her haste +she did not make herself quite black with the soot, one finger remaining +white. The Many-furred Creature now ran into the kitchen, cooked the +King's bread-soup, and when the cook had gone, she laid the gold reel +in the dish. When the King found the reel at the bottom, he had the +Many-furred Creature brought to him, and then he saw the white finger, +and the ring which he had put on her hand in the dance. Then he took her +hand and held her tightly, and as she was trying to get away, she undid +the fur-cloak a little bit and the star-dress shone out. The King seized +the cloak and tore it off her. Her golden hair came down, and she stood +there in her full splendour, and could not hide herself away any more. +And when the soot and ashes had been washed from her face, she looked +more beautiful than anyone in the world. But the King said, 'You are +my dear bride, and we will never be separated from one another.' So the +wedding was celebrated and they lived happily ever after. + +Grimm. + + + + + +THE TWELVE HUNTSMEN + + + +Once upon a time there was a King's son who was engaged to a Princess +whom he dearly loved. One day as he sat by her side feeling very happy, +he received news that his father was lying at the point of death, and +desired to see him before his end. So he said to his love: 'Alas! I must +go off and leave you, but take this ring and wear it as a remembrance of +me, and when I am King I will return and fetch you home.' + +Then he rode off, and when he reached his father he found him mortally +ill and very near death. + +The King said: 'Dearest son, I have desired to see you again before +my end. Promise me, I beg of you, that you will marry according to my +wishes'; and he then named the daughter of a neighbouring King who he +was anxious should be his son's wife. The Prince was so overwhelmed +with grief that he could think of nothing but his father, and exclaimed: +'Yes, yes, dear father, whatever you desire shall be done.' Thereupon +the King closed his eyes and died. + +After the Prince had been proclaimed King, and the usual time of +mourning had elapsed, he felt that he must keep the promise he had made +to his father, so he sent to ask for the hand of the King's daughter, +which was granted to him at once. + +Now, his first love heard of this, and the thought of her lover's +desertion grieved her so sadly that she pined away and nearly died. Her +father said to her: 'My dearest child, why are you so unhappy? If there +is anything you wish for, say so, and you shall have it.' + +His daughter reflected for a moment, and then said: 'Dear father, I +wish for eleven girls as nearly as possible of the same height, age, and +appearance as myself.' + +Said the King: 'If the thing is possible your wish shall be fulfilled'; +and he had his kingdom searched till he found eleven maidens of the same +height, size, and appearance as his daughter. + +Then the Princess desired twelve complete huntsmen's suits to be made, +all exactly alike, and the eleven maidens had to dress themselves in +eleven of the suits, while she herself put on the twelfth. After this +she took leave of her father, and rode off with her girls to the court +of her former lover. + +Here she enquired whether the King did not want some huntsmen, and if he +would not take them all into his service. The King saw her but did not +recognize her, and as he thought them very good-looking young people, he +said, 'Yes, he would gladly engage them all.' So they became the twelve +royal huntsmen. + +Now, the King had a most remarkable Lion, for it knew every hidden or +secret thing. + +One evening the Lion said to the King: 'So you think you have got twelve +huntsmen, do you?' + +'Yes, certainly,' said the King, 'they _are_ twelve huntsmen.' + +'There you are mistaken,' said the Lion; 'they are twelve maidens.' + +'That cannot possibly be,' replied the King; 'how do you mean to prove +that?' + +'Just have a number of peas strewed over the floor of your +ante-chamber,' said the Lion, 'and you will soon see. Men have a strong, +firm tread, so that if they happen to walk over peas not one will stir, +but girls trip, and slip, and slide, so that the peas roll all about.' + +The King was pleased with the Lion's advice, and ordered the peas to be +strewn in his ante-room. + +Fortunately one of the King's servants had become very partial to the +young huntsmen, and hearing of the trial they were to be put to, he went +to them and said: 'The Lion wants to persuade the King that you are only +girls'; and then told them all the plot. + +The King's daughter thanked him for the hint, and after he was gone +she said to her maidens: 'Now make every effort to tread firmly on the +peas.' + +Next morning, when the King sent for his twelve huntsmen, and they +passed through the ante-room which was plentifully strewn with peas, +they trod so firmly and walked with such a steady, strong step that not +a single pea rolled away or even so much as stirred. After they were +gone the King said to the Lion: 'There now--you have been telling +lies--you see yourself they walk like men.' + +'Because they knew they were being put to the test,' answered the Lion; +'and so they made an effort; but just have a dozen spinning-wheels +placed in the ante-room. When they pass through you'll see how pleased +they will be, quite unlike any man.' + +The King was pleased with the advice, and desired twelve spinning-wheels +to be placed in his ante-chamber. + +But the good-natured servant went to the huntsmen and told them all +about this fresh plot. Then, as soon as the King's daughter was alone +with her maidens, she exclaimed: 'Now, pray make a great effort and +don't even _look_ at those spinning-wheels.' + +When the King sent for his twelve huntsmen next morning they +walked through the ante-room without even casting a glance at the +spinning-wheels. + +Then the King said once more to the Lion: 'You have deceived me again; +they _are_ men, for they never once looked at the spinning-wheels.' + +The Lion replied: 'They knew they were being tried, and they did +violence to their feelings.' But the King declined to believe in the +Lion any longer. + +So the twelve huntsmen continued to follow the King, and he grew daily +fonder of them. One day whilst they were all out hunting it so happened +that news was brought that the King's intended bride was on her way and +might soon be expected. When the true bride heard of this she felt +as though a knife had pierced her heart, and she fell fainting to the +ground. The King, fearing something had happened to his dear huntsman, +ran up to help, and began drawing off his gloves. Then he saw the ring +which he had given to his first love, and as he gazed into her face he +knew her again, and his heart was so touched that he kissed her, and +as she opened her eyes, he cried: 'I am thine and thou art mine, and no +power on earth can alter that.' + +To the other Princess he despatched a messenger to beg her to return to +her own kingdom with all speed. 'For,' said he, 'I have got a wife, and +he who finds an old key again does not require a new one.' + +Thereupon the wedding was celebrated with great pomp, and the Lion was +restored to the royal favour, for after all he had told the truth. + +Grimm. + + + + + +SPINDLE, SHUTTLE, AND NEEDLE + + + +Once upon a time there lived a girl who lost her father and mother when +she was quite a tiny child. Her godmother lived all alone in a little +cottage at the far end of the village, and there she earned her living +by spinning, weaving, and sewing. The old woman took the little orphan +home with her and brought her up in good, pious, industrious habits. + +When the girl was fifteen years old, her godmother fell ill, and, +calling the child to her bedside, she said: 'My dear daughter, I feel +that my end is near. I leave you my cottage, which will, at least, +shelter you, and also my spindle, my weaver's shuttle, and my needle, +with which to earn your bread.' + +Then she laid her hands on the girl's head, blessed her, and added: +'Mind and be good, and then all will go well with you.' With that she +closed her eyes for the last time, and when she was carried to her grave +the girl walked behind her coffin weeping bitterly, and paid her all the +last honours. + +After this the girl lived all alone in the little cottage. She worked +hard, spinning, weaving, and sewing, and her old godmother's blessing +seemed to prosper all she did. The flax seemed to spread and increase; +and when she wove a carpet or a piece of linen, or made a shirt, she was +sure to find a customer who paid her well, so that not only did she feel +no want herself, but she was able to help those who did. + +Now, it happened that about this time the King's son was making a tour +through the entire country to look out for a bride. He could not marry a +poor woman, and he did not wish for a rich one. + +'She shall be my wife,' said he, 'who is at once the poorest and the +richest.' + +When he reached the village where the girl lived, he inquired who was +the richest and who the poorest woman in it. The richest was named +first; the poorest, he was told, was a young girl who lived alone in a +little cottage at the far end of the village. + +The rich girl sat at her door dressed out in all her best clothes, and +when the King's son came near she got up, went to meet him, and made him +a low curtsey. He looked well at her, said nothing, but rode on further. + +When he reached the poor girl's house he did not find her at her door, +for she was at work in her room. The Prince reined in his horse, looked +in at the window through which the sun was shining brightly, and saw the +girl sitting at her wheel busily spinning away. + +She looked up, and when she saw the King's son gazing in at her, she +blushed red all over, cast down her eyes and span on. Whether the thread +was quite as even as usual I really cannot say, but she went on spinning +till the King's son had ridden off. Then she stepped to the window and +opened the lattice, saying, 'The room is so hot,' but she looked after +him as long as she could see the white plumes in his hat. + +Then she sat down to her work once more and span on, and as she did so +an old saying which, she had often heard her godmother repeat whilst at +work, came into her head, and she began to sing: + +'Spindle, spindle, go and see, If my love will come to me.' + +Lo, and behold! the spindle leapt from her hand and rushed out of the +room, and when she had sufficiently recovered from her surprise to look +after it she saw it dancing merrily through the fields, dragging a long +golden thread after it, and soon it was lost to sight. + +The girl, having lost her spindle, took up the shuttle and, seating +herself at her loom, began to weave. Meantime the spindle danced on and +on, and just as it had come to the end of the golden thread, it reached +the King's son. + +'What do I see?' he cried; 'this spindle seems to wish to point out the +way to me.' So he turned his horses head and rode back beside the golden +thread. + +Meantime the girl sat weaving, and sang: + +'Shuttle, weave both web and woof, Bring my love beneath my roof.' + +The shuttle instantly escaped from her hand, and with one bound was out +at the door. On the threshold it began weaving the loveliest carpet that +was ever seen. Roses and lilies bloomed on both sides, and in the centre +a thicket seemed to grow with rabbits and hares running through it, +stags and fawns peeping through the branches, whilst on the topmost +boughs sat birds of brilliant plumage and so life-like one almost +expected to hear them sing. The shuttle flew from side to side and the +carpet seemed almost to grow of itself. + +As the shuttle had run away the girl sat down to sew. She took her +needle and sang: + +'Needle, needle, stitch away, Make my chamber bright and gay,' + +and the needle promptly slipped from her fingers and flew about the room +like lightning. You would have thought invisible spirits were at work, +for in next to no time the table and benches were covered with green +cloth, the chairs with velvet, and elegant silk curtains hung before +the windows. The needle had barely put in its last stitch when the girl, +glancing at the window, spied the white plumed hat of the King's son who +was being led back by the spindle with the golden thread. + +He dismounted and walked over the carpet into the house, and when he +entered the room there stood the girl blushing like any rose. 'You are +the poorest and yet the richest,' said he: 'come with me, you shall be +my bride.' + +She said nothing, but she held out her hand. Then he kissed her, and led +her out, lifted her on his horse and took her to his royal palace, where +the wedding was celebrated with great rejoicings. + +The spindle, the shuttle, and the needle were carefully placed in the +treasury, and were always held in the very highest honour. + +Grimm. + + + + + +THE CRYSTAL COFFIN + + + +Now let no one say that a poor tailor can't get on in the world, and, +indeed, even attain to very high honour. Nothing is required but to set +the right way to work, but of course the really important thing is to +succeed. + +A very bright active young tailor once set off on his travels, which led +him into a wood, and as he did not know the way he soon lost himself. +Night came on, and there seemed to be nothing for it but to seek out +the best resting-place he could find. He could have made himself +quite comfortable with a bed of soft moss, but the fear of wild beasts +disturbed his mind, and at last he determined to spend the night in a +tree. + +He sought out a tall oak tree, climbed up to the top, and felt devoutly +thankful that his big smoothing-iron was in his pocket, for the wind +in the tree-tops was so high that he might easily have been blown away +altogether. + +After passing some hours of the night, not without considerable fear and +trembling, he noticed a light shining at a little distance, and hoping +it might proceed from some house where he could find a better shelter +than in the top of the tree, he cautiously descended and went towards +the light. It led him to a little hut all woven together of reeds and +rushes. He knocked bravely at the door, which opened, and by the light +which shone from within he saw an old gray-haired man dressed in a coat +made of bright-coloured patches. 'Who are you, and what do you want?' +asked the old man roughly. + +'I am a poor tailor,' replied the youth. 'I have been benighted in +the forest, and I entreat you to let me take shelter in your hut till +morning.' + +'Go your way,' said the old man in a sulky tone, 'I'll have nothing to +do with tramps. You must just go elsewhere.' + +With these words he tried to slip back into his house, but the tailor +laid hold of his coat-tails, and begged so hard to be allowed to stay +that the old fellow, who was by no means as cross as he appeared, was at +length touched by his entreaties, let him come in, and after giving him +some food, showed him quite a nice bed in one corner of the room. The +weary tailor required no rocking to rest, but slept sound till early +morning, when he was roused from his slumbers by a tremendous noise. +Loud screams and shouts pierced the thin walls of the little hut. The +tailor, with new-born courage, sprang up, threw on his clothes with +all speed and hurried out. There he saw a huge black bull engaged in a +terrible fight with a fine large stag. They rushed at each other with +such fury that the ground seemed to tremble under them and the whole air +to be filled with their cries. For some time it appeared quite uncertain +which would be the victor, but at length the stag drove his antlers with +such force into his opponent's body that the bull fell to the ground +with a terrific roar, and a few more strokes finished him. + +The tailor, who had been watching the fight with amazement, was still +standing motionless when the stag bounded up to him, and before he had +time to escape forked him up with its great antlers, and set off at full +gallop over hedges and ditches, hill and dale, through wood and water. +The tailor could do nothing but hold on tight with both hands to the +stag's horns and resign himself to his fate. He felt as if he were +flying along. At length the stag paused before a steep rock and gently +let the tailor down to the ground. + +Feeling more dead than alive, he paused for a while to collect his +scattered senses, but when he seemed somewhat restored the stag struck +such a blow on a door in the rock that it flew open. Flames of fire +rushed forth, and such clouds of steam followed that the stag had to +avert its eyes. The tailor could not think what to do or which way to +turn to get away from this awful wilderness, and to find his way back +amongst human beings once more. + +As he stood hesitating, a voice from the rock cried to him: 'Step in +without fear, no harm shall befall you.' + +He still lingered, but some mysterious power seemed to impel him, and +passing through the door he found himself in a spacious hall, whose +ceiling, walls, and floor were covered with polished tiles carved all +over with unknown figures. He gazed about, full of wonder, and was just +preparing to walk out again when the same voice bade him: 'Tread on the +stone in the middle of the hall, and good luck will attend you.' + +By this time he had grown so courageous that he did not hesitate to obey +the order, and hardly had he stepped on the stone than it began to sink +gently with him into the depths below. On reaching firm ground he found +himself in a hall of much the same size as the upper one, but with much +more in it to wonder at and admire. Round the walls were several niches, +in each of which stood glass vessels filled with some bright-coloured +spirit or bluish smoke. On the floor stood two large crystal boxes +opposite each other, and these attracted his curiosity at once. + +Stepping up to one of them, he saw within it what looked like a model +in miniature of a fine castle surrounded by farms, barns, stables, and a +number of other buildings. Everything was quite tiny, but so beautifully +and carefully finished that it might have been the work of an +accomplished artist. He would have continued gazing much longer at this +remarkable curiosity had not the voice desired him to turn round and +look at the crystal coffin which stood opposite. + +What was his amazement at seeing a girl of surpassing loveliness lying +in it! She lay as though sleeping, and her long, fair hair seemed to +wrap her round like some costly mantle. Her eyes were closed, but the +bright colour in her face, and the movement of a ribbon, which rose and +fell with her breath, left no doubt as to her being alive. + +As the tailor stood gazing at her with a beating heart, the maiden +suddenly opened her eyes, and started with delighted surprise. + +'Great heavens!' she cried, 'my deliverance approaches! Quick, quick, +help me out of my prison; only push back the bolt of this coffin and I +am free.' + +The tailor promptly obeyed, when she quickly pushed back the crystal +lid, stepped out of the coffin and hurried to a corner of the hall, when +she proceeded to wrap herself in a large cloak. Then she sat down on +a stone, desired the young man to come near, and, giving him an +affectionate kiss, she said, 'My long-hoped-for deliverer, kind heaven +has led you to me, and has at length put an end to all my sufferings. +You are my destined husband, and, beloved by me, and endowed with every +kind of riches and power, you shall spend the remainder of your life in +peace and happiness. Now sit down and hear my story. I am the daughter +of a wealthy nobleman. My parents died when I was very young, and +they left me to the care of my eldest brother, by whom I was carefully +educated. We loved each other so tenderly, and our tastes and interests +were so much alike that we determined never to marry, but to spend our +entire lives together. There was no lack of society at our home. Friends +and neighbours paid us frequent visits, and we kept open house for all. +Thus it happened that one evening a stranger rode up to the castle +and asked for hospitality, as he could not reach the nearest town that +night. We granted his request with ready courtesy, and during supper he +entertained us with most agreeable conversation, mingled with amusing +anecdotes. My brother took such a fancy to him that he pressed him to +spend a couple of days with us, which, after a little hesitation, the +stranger consented to do. We rose late from table, and whilst my brother +was showing our guest to his room I hurried to mine, for I was very +tired and longed to get to bed. I had hardly dropped off to sleep when +I was roused by the sound of some soft and charming music. Wondering +whence it could come, I was about to call to my maid who slept in the +room next mine, when, to my surprise, I felt as if some heavy weight on +my chest had taken all power from me, and I lay there unable to utter +the slightest sound. Meantime, by the light of the night lamp, I saw +the stranger enter my room, though the double doors had been securely +locked. He drew near and told me that through the power of his magic +arts he had caused the soft music to waken me, and had made his way +through bolts and bars to offer me his hand and heart. My repugnance to +his magic was so great that I would not condescend to give any answer. +He waited motionless for some time, hoping no doubt for a favourable +reply, but as I continued silent he angrily declared that he would find +means to punish my pride, and therewith he left the room in a rage. + +'I spent the night in the greatest agitation, and only fell into a doze +towards morning. As soon as I awoke I jumped up, and hurried to tell my +brother all that had happened, but he had left his room, and his servant +told me that he had gone out at daybreak to hunt with the stranger. + +'My mind misgave me. I dressed in all haste, had my palfrey saddled, and +rode of at full gallop towards the forest, attended by one servant only. +I pushed on without pausing, and ere long I saw the stranger coming +towards me, and leading a fine stag. I asked him where he had left my +brother, and how he had got the stag, whose great eyes were overflowing +with tears. Instead of answering he began to laugh, and I flew into such +a rage that I drew a pistol and fired at him; but the bullet rebounded +from his breast and struck my horse in the forehead. I fell to the +ground, and the stranger muttered some words, which robbed me of my +senses. + +'When I came to myself I was lying in a crystal coffin in this +subterranean vault. The Magician appeared again, and told me that he had +transformed my brother into a stag, had reduced our castle and all +its defences to miniature and locked them up in a glass box, and after +turning all our household into different vapours had banished them into +glass phials. If I would only yield to his wishes he could easily open +these vessels, and all would then resume their former shapes. + +'I would not say a word more than I had done previously, and he +vanished, leaving me in my prison, where a deep sleep soon fell on me. +Amongst the many dreams which floated through my brain was a cheering +one of a young man who was to come and release me, and to-day, when I +opened my eyes, I recognised you and saw that my dream was fulfilled. +Now help me to carry out the rest of my vision. The first thing is to +place the glass box which contains my castle on this large stone.' + +As soon as this was done the stone gently rose through the air and +transported them into the upper hall, whence they easily carried the box +into the outer air. The lady then removed the lid, and it was marvellous +to watch the castle, houses, and farmyards begin to grow and spread +themselves till they had regained their proper size. Then the young +couple returned by means of the movable stone, and brought up all the +glass vessels filled with smoke. No sooner were they uncorked than the +blue vapours poured out and became transformed to living people, in whom +the lady joyfully recognised her many servants and attendants. + +Her delight was complete when her brother (who had killed the Magician +under the form of a bull) was seen coming from the forest in his proper +shape, and that very day, according to her promise, she gave her hand in +marriage to the happy young tailor. + +Grimm. + + + + + +THE THREE SNAKE-LEAVES + + + +There was once a poor man who could no longer afford to keep his only +son at home. So the son said to him, 'Dear father, you are so poor that +I am only a burden to you; I would rather go out into the world and see +if I can earn my own living.' The father gave him his blessing and +took leave of him with much sorrow. About this time the King of a very +powerful kingdom was carrying on a war; the youth therefore took service +under him and went on the campaign. When they came before the enemy, a +battle took place, there was some hot fighting, and it rained bullets so +thickly that his comrades fell around him on all sides. And when their +leader fell too the rest wished to take to flight; but the youth stepped +forward and encouraged them and called out, 'We must not let our country +be ruined!' Then others followed him, and he pressed on and defeated +the enemy. When the King heard that he had to thank him alone for the +victory, he raised him higher than anyone else in rank, gave him great +treasures and made him the first in the kingdom. + +The King had a daughter who was very beautiful, but she was also very +capricious. She had made a vow to marry no one who would not promise her +that if she died first, he would allow himself to be buried alive with +her. 'If he loves me truly,' she used to say, 'what use would life be +to him then?' At the same time she was willing to do the same, and if he +died first to be buried with him. This curious vow had up to this time +frightened away all suitors, but the young man was so captivated by her +beauty, that he hesitated at nothing and asked her hand of her father. +'Do you know,' asked the King, 'what you have to promise?' 'I shall have +to go into her grave with her,' he answered, 'if I outlive her, but +my love is so great that I do not think of the risk.' So the King +consented, and the wedding was celebrated with great splendour. + +Now, they lived for a long time very happily with one another, but then +it came to pass that the young Queen fell seriously ill, and no doctor +could save her. And when she lay dead, the young King remembered what +he had promised, and it made him shudder to think of lying in her grave +alive, but there was no escape. The King had set guards before all the +gates, and it was not possible to avoid his fate. + +When the day arrived on which the corpse was to be laid in the royal +vault, he was led thither, then the entrance was bolted and closed up. + +Near the coffin stood a table on which were placed four candles, four +loaves of bread, and four bottles of wine. As soon as this provision +came to an end he would have to die. So he sat there full of grief and +misery, eating every day only a tiny bit of bread, and drinking only a +mouthful of ovine, and he watched death creeping nearer and nearer to +him. One day as he was sitting staring moodily in front of him, he saw a +snake creep out of the corner towards the corpse. Thinking it was going +to touch it, he drew his sword and saying, 'As long as I am alive you +shall not harm her,' he cut it in three pieces. After a little time +a second snake crept out of the corner, but when it saw the first one +lying dead and in pieces it went back and came again soon, holding three +green leaves in its mouth. Then it took the three bits of the snake and +laid them in order, and put one of the leaves on each wound. Immediately +the pieces joined together, the snake moved itself and became alive and +then both hurried away. The leaves remained lying on the ground, and it +suddenly occurred to the unfortunate man who had seen everything, that +the wonderful power of the leaves might also be exercised upon a human +being. + +So he picked up the leaves and laid one of them on the mouth and the +other two on the eyes of the dead woman. And scarcely had he done this, +before the blood began to circulate in her veins, then it mounted and +brought colour back to her white face. Then she drew her breath, opened +her eyes, and said, 'Ah! where am I?' 'You are with me, dear lady,' he +answered, and told her all that had happened, and how he had brought her +to life again. He then gave her some wine and bread, and when all her +strength had returned she got up, and they went to the door and knocked +and called so loudly that the guards heard them, and told the King. The +King came himself to open the door, and there he found both happy and +well, and he rejoiced with them that now all trouble was over. But the +young King gave the three snake-leaves to a servant, saying to him, +'Keep them carefully for me, and always carry them with you; who knows +but that they may help us in a time of need!' + +It seemed, however, as if a change had come over the young Queen after +she had been restored to life, and as if all her love for her husband +had faded from her heart. Some time afterwards, when he wanted to take a +journey over the sea to his old father, and they were on board the ship, +she forgot the great love and faithfulness he had shown her and how he +had saved her from death, and fell in love with the captain. And one day +when the young King was lying asleep, she called the captain to her, +and seized the head of the sleeping King and made him take his feet, +and together they threw him into the sea. When they had done this wicked +deed, she said to him, 'Now let us go home and say that he died on the +journey. I will praise you so much to my father that he will marry me to +you and make you the heir to the throne.' But the faithful servant, who +had seen everything, let down a little boat into the sea, unobserved by +them, and rowed after his master while the traitors sailed on. He +took the drowned man out of the water, and with the help of the three +snake-leaves which he carried with him, placing them on his mouth and +eyes, he brought him to life again. + +They both rowed as hard as they could night and day, and their little +boat went so quickly that they reached the old King before the other two +did. He was much astonished to see them come back alone, and asked what +had happened to them. When he heard the wickedness of his daughter, he +said, 'I cannot believe that she has acted so wrongly, but the truth +will soon come to light.' He made them both go into a secret chamber, +and let no one see them. + +Soon after this the large ship came in, and the wicked lady appeared +before her father with a very sad face. He said to her, 'Why have you +come back alone? Where is your husband?' + +'Ah, dear father,' she replied, 'I have come home in great grief; my +husband fell ill on the voyage quite suddenly, and died, and if the good +captain had not given me help, I should have died too. He was at his +death-bed and can tell you everything.' + +The King said, 'I will bring the dead to life again,' and he opened +the door of the room and called them both out. The lady was as if +thunderstruck when she caught sight of her husband; she fell on her +knees and begged for mercy. But the King said, 'You shall have no mercy. +He was ready to die with you, and restored you to life again; but you +killed him when he was sleeping, and shall receive your deserts.' + +So she and her accomplice were put in a ship which was bored through +with holes, and were drawn out into the sea, where they soon perished in +the waves. + +Grimm. + + + + + +THE RIDDLE + + + +A King's son once had a great desire to travel through the world, so he +started off, taking no one with him but one trusty servant. One day he +came to a great forest, and as evening drew on he could find no shelter, +and could not think where to spend the night. All of a sudden he saw +a girl going towards a little house, and as he drew nearer he remarked +that she was both young and pretty. He spoke to her, and said, 'Dear +child, could I and my servant spend the night in this house?' + +'Oh yes,' said the girl in a sad tone, 'you can if you like, but I +should not advise you to do so. Better not go in.' + +'Why not?' asked the King's son. + +The girl sighed and answered, 'My stepmother deals in black arts, and +she is not very friendly to strangers.' + +The Prince guessed easily that he had fallen on a witch's house, but +as by this time it was quite dark and he could go no further, and as +moreover he was not at all afraid, he stepped in. + +An old woman sat in an armchair near the fire, and as the strangers +entered she turned her red eyes on them. 'Good evening,' she muttered, +and pretending to be quite friendly. 'Won't you sit down?' + +She blew up the fire on which she was cooking something in a little pot, +and her daughter secretly warned the travellers to be very careful +not to eat or drink anything, as the old woman's brews were apt to be +dangerous. + +They went to bed, and slept soundly till morning. When they were ready +to start and the King's son had already mounted his horse the old woman +said: 'Wait a minute, I must give you a stirrup cup.' Whilst she went +to fetch it the King's son rode off, and the servant who had waited to +tighten his saddle-girths was alone when the witch returned. + +'Take that to your master,' she said; but as she spoke the glass cracked +and the poison spurted over the horse, and it was so powerful that the +poor creature sank down dead. The servant ran after his master and told +him what had happened, and then, not wishing to lose the saddle as well +as the horse, he went back to fetch it. When he got to the spot he saw +that a raven had perched on the carcase and was pecking at it. 'Who +knows whether we shall get anything better to eat to-day!' said the +servant, and he shot the raven and carried it off. + +Then they rode on all day through the forest without coming to the end. +At nightfall they reached an inn, which they entered, and the servant +gave the landlord the raven to dress for their supper. Now, as it +happened, this inn was a regular resort of a band of murderers, and the +old witch too was in the habit of frequenting it. + +As soon as it was dark twelve murderers arrived, with the full intention +of killing and robbing the strangers. Before they set to work, however, +they sat down to table, and the landlord and the old witch joined them, +and they all ate some broth in which the flesh of the raven had been +stewed down. They had hardly taken a couple of spoonfuls when they all +fell down dead, for the poison had passed from the horse to the raven +and so into the broth. So there was no one left belonging to the house +but the landlord's daughter, who was a good, well-meaning girl, and had +taken no part in all the evil doings. + +She opened all the doors, and showed the strangers the treasures the +robbers had gathered together; but the Prince bade her keep them all +for herself, as he wanted none of them, and so he rode further with his +servant. + +After travelling about for some length of time they reached a town where +lived a lovely but most arrogant Princess. She had given out that anyone +who asked her a riddle which she found herself unable to guess should +be her husband, but should she guess it he must forfeit his head. She +claimed three days in which to think over the riddles, but she was so +very clever that she invariably guessed them in a much shorter time. +Nine suitors had already lost their lives when the King's son arrived, +and, dazzled by her beauty, determined to risk his life in hopes of +winning her. + +So he came before her and propounded his riddle. 'What is this?' he +asked. 'One slew none and yet killed twelve.' + +She could not think what it was! She thought, and thought, and looked +through all her books of riddles and puzzles, but she found nothing to +help her, and could not guess; in fact, she was at her wits' end. As she +could think of no way to guess the riddle, she ordered her maid to steal +at night into the Prince's bedroom and to listen, for she thought that +he might perhaps talk aloud in his dreams and so betray the secret. But +the clever servant had taken his master's place, and when the maid came +he tore off the cloak she had wrapped herself in and hunted her off with +a whip. + +On the second night the Princess sent her lady-in-waiting, hoping that +she might succeed better, but the servant took away her mantle and +chased her away also. + +On the third night the King's son thought he really might feel safe, +so he went to bed. But in the middle of the night the Princess came +herself, all huddled up in a misty grey mantle, and sat down near him. +When she thought he was fast asleep, she spoke to him, hoping he would +answer in the midst of his dreams, as many people do; but he was wide +awake all the time, and heard and understood everything very well. + +Then she asked: 'One slew none--what is that?' and he answered: 'A raven +which fed on the carcase of a poisoned horse.' + +She went on: 'And yet killed twelve--what is that?' 'Those are twelve +murderers who ate the raven and died of it.' + +As soon as she knew the riddle she tried to slip away, but he held her +mantle so tightly that she was obliged to leave it behind. + +Next morning the Princess announced that she had guessed the riddle, and +sent for the twelve judges, before whom she declared it. But the young +man begged to be heard, too, and said: 'She came by night to question +me, otherwise she never could have guessed it.' + +The judges said: 'Bring us some proof.' So the servant brought out the +three cloaks, and when the judges saw the grey one, which the Princess +was in the habit of wearing, they said: 'Let it be embroidered with gold +and silver; it shall be your wedding mantle.' + +Grimm. + + + + + +JACK MY HEDGEHOG + + + +There was once a farmer who lived in great comfort. He had both lands +and money, but, though he was so well off, one thing was wanting to +complete his happiness; he had no children. Many and many a time, when +he met other farmers at the nearest market town, they would teaze him, +asking how it came about that he was childless. At length he grew so +angry that he exclaimed: 'I must and will have a child of some sort or +kind, even should it only be a hedgehog!' + +Not long after this his wife gave birth to a child, but though the lower +half of the little creature was a fine boy, from the waist upwards it +was a hedgehog, so that when his mother first saw him she was quite +frightened, and said to her husband, 'There now, you have cursed the +child yourself.' The farmer said, 'What's the use of making a fuss? I +suppose the creature must be christened, but I don't see how we are to +ask anyone to be sponsor to him, and what are we to call him?' + +'There is nothing we can possibly call him but Jack my Hedgehog,' +replied the wife. + +So they took him to be christened, and the parson said: 'You'll never +be able to put that child in a decent bed on account of his prickles.' +Which was true, but they shook down some straw for him behind the stove, +and there he lay for eight years. His father grew very tired of him and +often wished him dead, but he did not die, but lay on there year after +year. + +Now one day there was a big fair at the market town to which the farmer +meant to go, so he asked his wife what he should bring her from it. +'Some meat and a couple of big loaves for the house,' said she. Then he +asked the maid what she wanted, and she said a pair of slippers and some +stockings. Lastly he said, 'Well, Jack my Hedgehog, and what shall I +bring you?' + +'Daddy,' said he, 'do bring me a bagpipe.' When the farmer came home he +gave his wife and the maid the things they had asked for, and then he +went behind the stove and gave Jack my Hedgehog the bagpipes. + +When Jack had got his bagpipes he said, 'Daddy, do go to the smithy and +have the house cock shod for me; then I'll ride off and trouble you no +more.' His father, who was delighted at the prospect of getting rid of +him, had the cock shod, and when it was ready Jack my Hedgehog mounted +on its back and rode off to the forest, followed by all the pigs and +asses which he had promised to look after. + +Having reached the forest he made the cock fly up to the top of a very +tall tree with him, and there he sat looking after his pigs and donkeys, +and he sat on and on for several years till he had quite a big herd; but +all this time his father knew nothing about him. + +As he sat up in his tree he played away on his pipes and drew the +loveliest music from them. As he was playing one day a King, who had +lost his way, happened to pass close by, and hearing the music he was +much surprised, and sent one of his servants to find out where it +came from. The man peered about, but he could see nothing but a little +creature which looked like a cock with a hedgehog sitting on it, perched +up in a tree. The King desired the servant to ask the strange creature +why it sat there, and if it knew the shortest way to his kingdom. + +On this Jack my Hedgehog stepped down from his tree and said he would +undertake to show the King his way home if the King on his part would +give him his written promise to let him have whatever first met him on +his return. + +The King thought to himself, 'That's easy enough to promise. The +creature won't understand a word about it, so I can just write what I +choose.' + +So he took pen and ink and wrote something, and when he had done Jack my +Hedgehog pointed out the way and the King got safely home. + +Now when the King's daughter saw her father returning in the distance +she was so delighted that she ran to meet him and threw herself into +his arms. Then the King remembered Jack my Hedgehog, and he told his +daughter how he had been obliged to give a written promise to bestow +whatever he first met when he got home on an extraordinary creature +which had shown him the way. The creature, said he, rode on a cock +as though it had been a horse, and it made lovely music, but as it +certainly could not read he had just written that he would _not_ give +it anything at all. At this the Princess was quite pleased, and said how +cleverly her father had managed, for that of course nothing would induce +her to have gone off with Jack my Hedgehog. + +Meantime Jack minded his asses and pigs, sat aloft in his tree, played +his bagpipes, and was always merry and cheery. After a time it so +happened that another King, having lost his way, passed by with his +servants and escort, wondering how he could find his way home, for the +forest was very vast. He too heard the music, and told one of his men to +find out whence it came. The man came under the tree, and looking up to +the top there he saw Jack my Hedgehog astride on the cock. + +The servant asked Jack what he was doing up there. 'I'm minding my pigs +and donkeys; but what do you want?' was the reply. Then the servant told +him they had lost their way, and wanted some one to show it them. Down +came Jack my Hedgehog with his cock, and told the old King he would show +him the right way if he would solemnly promise to give him the first +thing he met in front of his royal castle. + +The King said 'Yes,' and gave Jack a written promise to that effect. + +Then Jack rode on in front pointing out the way, and the King reached +his own country in safety. + +Now he had an only daughter who was extremely beautiful, and who, +delighted at her father's return, ran to meet him, threw her arms round +his neck and kissed him heartily. Then she asked where he had been +wandering so long, and he told her how he had lost his way and might +never have reached home at all but for a strange creature, half-man, +half-hedgehog, which rode a cock and sat up in a tree making lovely +music, and which had shown him the right way. He also told her how he +had been obliged to pledge his word to give the creature the first +thing which met him outside his castle gate, and he felt very sad at the +thought that she had been the first thing to meet him. + +But the Princess comforted him, and said she should be quite willing to +go with Jack my Hedgehog whenever he came to fetch her, because of the +great love she bore to her dear old father. + +Jack my Hedgehog continued to herd his pigs, and they increased in +number till there were so many that the forest seemed full of them. So +he made up his mind to live there no longer, and sent a message to his +father telling him to have all the stables and outhouses in the village +cleared, as he was going to bring such an enormous herd that all who +would might kill what they chose. His father was much vexed at this +news, for he thought Jack had died long ago. Jack my Hedgehog mounted +his cock, and driving his pigs before him into the village, he let every +one kill as many as they chose, and such a hacking and hewing of pork +went on as you might have heard for miles off. + +Then said Jack, 'Daddy, let the blacksmith shoe my cock once more; then +I'll ride off, and I promise you I'll never come back again as long as +I live.' So the father had the cock shod, and rejoiced at the idea of +getting rid of his son. + +Then Jack my Hedgehog set off for the first kingdom, and there the King +had given strict orders that if anyone should be seen riding a cock +and carrying a bagpipe he was to be chased away and shot at, and on no +account to be allowed to enter the palace. So when Jack my Hedgehog rode +up the guards charged him with their bayonets, but he put spurs to his +cock, flew up over the gate right to the King's windows, let himself +down on the sill, and called out that if he was not given what had been +promised him, both the King and his daughter should pay for it with +their lives. Then the King coaxed and entreated his daughter to go with +Jack and so save both their lives. + +The Princess dressed herself all in white, and her father gave her a +coach with six horses and servants in gorgeous liveries and quantities +of money. She stepped into the coach, and Jack my Hedgehog with his cock +and pipes took his place beside her. They both took leave, and the King +fully expected never to set eyes on them again. But matters turned out +very differently from what he had expected, for when they had got +a certain distance from the town Jack tore all the Princess's smart +clothes off her, and pricked her all over with his bristles, saying: +'That's what you get for treachery. Now go back, I'll have no more to +say to you.' And with that he hunted her home, and she felt she had been +disgraced and put to shame till her life's end. + +Then Jack my Hedgehog rode on with his cock and bagpipes to the country +of the second King to whom he had shown the way. Now this King had given +orders that, in the event of Jack's coming the guards were to present +arms, the people to cheer, and he was to be conducted in triumph to the +royal palace. + +When the King's daughter saw Jack my Hedgehog, she was a good deal +startled, for he certainly was very peculiar looking; but after all she +considered that she had given her word and it couldn't be helped. So she +made Jack welcome and they were betrothed to each other, and at dinner +he sat next her at the royal table, and they ate and drank together. + +When they retired to rest the Princess feared lest Jack should kiss her +because of his prickles, but he told her not to be alarmed as no harm +should befall her. Then he begged the old King to place a watch of four +men just outside his bedroom door, and to desire them to make a big +fire. When he was about to lie down in bed he would creep out of his +hedgehog skin, and leave it lying at the bedside; then the men must +rush in, throw the skin into the fire, and stand by till it was entirely +burnt up. + +And so it was, for when it struck eleven, Jack my Hedgehog went to his +room, took off his skin and left it at the foot of the bed. The men +rushed in, quickly seized the skin and threw it on the fire, and +directly it was all burnt Jack was released from his enchantment and +lay in his bed a man from head to foot, but quite black as though he had +been severely scorched. + +The King sent off for his physician in ordinary, who washed Jack all +over with various essences and salves, so that he became white and was a +remarkably handsome young man. When the King's daughter saw him she was +greatly pleased, and next day the marriage ceremony was performed, and +the old King bestowed his kingdom on Jack my Hedgehog. + +After some years Jack and his wife went to visit his father, but the +farmer did not recognize him, and declared he had no son; he had had +one, but that one was born with bristles like a hedgehog, and had gone +off into the wide world. Then Jack told his story, and his old father +rejoiced and returned to live with him in his kingdom. + +Grimm. + + + + + +THE GOLDEN LADS + + + +A poor man and his wife lived in a little cottage, where they supported +themselves by catching fish in the nearest river, and got on as best +they could, living from hand to mouth. One day it happened that when the +fisherman drew in his net he found in it a remarkable fish, for it was +entirely of gold. As he was inspecting it with some surprise, the fish +opened its mouth and said: 'Listen to me, fisher; if you will just +throw me back into the water I'll turn your poor little cottage into a +splendid castle.' + +The fisher replied: 'What good, pray, will a castle be to me if I have +nothing to eat in it?' + +'Oh,' said the gold fish, 'I'll take care of that. There will be a +cupboard in the castle, in which you will find dishes of every kind of +food you can wish for most.' + +'If that's the case,' said the man, 'I've no objection to oblige you.' + +'Yes,' observed the fish, 'but there is one condition attached to my +offer, and that is that you are not to reveal to a soul where your good +fortune comes from. If you say a word about it, it will all vanish.' + +The man threw the fish back into the water, and went home. But on the +spot where his cottage used to stand he found a spacious castle. He +opened his eyes wide, went in and found his wife dressed out in smart +clothes, sitting in a splendidly furnished drawing-room. She was in high +spirits, and cried out: 'Oh husband! how can this all have happened? I +am so pleased!' + +'Yes,' said her husband, 'so am I pleased; but I'm uncommonly hungry, +and I want something to eat at once.' + +Said his wife, 'I've got nothing, and I don't know where anything is in +this new house.' + +'Never mind,' replied the man. 'I see a big cupboard there. Suppose you +unlock it.' + +When the cupboard was opened they found meat, cakes, fruit, and wine, +all spread out in the most tempting fashions. The wife clapped her hands +with joy, and cried: 'Dear heart! what more can one wish for?' and they +sat down and ate and drank. + +When they had finished the wife asked, 'But husband, where do all these +riches come from?' + +'Ah!' said he, 'don't ask me. I dare not tell you. If I reveal the +secret to anyone, it will be all up with us.' + +'Very well,' she replied, 'if I'm not to be told, of course I don't want +to know anything about it.' + +But she was not really in earnest, for her curiosity never left her a +moment's peace by day or night, and she teazed and worried her husband +to such a pitch, that at length he quite lost patience and blurted out +that it all came from a wonderful golden fish which he had caught +and set free again. Hardly were the words well out of his mouth, when +castle, cupboard, and all vanished, and there they were sitting in their +poor little fishing hut once more. + +The man had to betake himself to his former trade, and set to fishing +again. As luck would have it, he caught the golden fish a second time. + +'Now listen,' said the fish, 'if you'll throw me back into the water, +I'll give you back the castle and the cupboard with all its good things; +but now take care, and don't for your life betray where you got them, or +you'll just lose them again.' + +'I'll be very careful,' promised the fisher, and threw the fish back +into the water. When he went home he found all their former splendour +restored, and his wife overjoyed at their good fortune. But her +curiosity still continued to torment her, and after restraining it with +a great effort for a couple of days, she began questioning her husband +again, as to what had happened, and how he had managed. + +The man kept silence for some time, but at last she irritated him so +much that he burst out with the secret, and in one moment the castle was +gone, and they sat once more in their wretched old hut. + +'There!' exclaimed the man, 'you _would_ have it--now we may just go on +short commons.' + +'Ah!' said his wife, 'after all I'd rather not have all the riches +in the world if I can't know where they come from--I shall not have a +moment's peace.' + +The man took to his fishing again, and one day fate brought the gold +fish into his net for the third time. 'Well,' said the fish, 'I see that +I am evidently destined to fall into your hands. Now take me home, and +cut me into six pieces. Give two bits to your wife to eat, two to your +horse, and plant the remaining two in your garden, and they will bring +you a blessing.' + +The man carried the fish home, and did exactly as he had been told. +After a time, it came to pass that from the two pieces he had planted in +the garden two golden lilies grew up, and that his horse had two golden +foals, whilst his wife gave birth to twin boys who were all golden. + +The children grew up both tall and handsome, and the foals and the +lilies grew with them. + +One day the children came to their father and said, 'Father, we want to +mount on golden steeds, and ride forth to see the world.' + +Their father answered sadly, 'How can I bear it if, when you are far +away, I know nothing about you?' and they said, 'The golden lilies will +tell you all about us if you look at them. If they seem to droop, you +will know we are ill, and if they fall down and fade away, it will be a +sign we are dead.' + +So off they rode, and came to an inn where were a number of people who, +as soon as they saw the two golden lads, began to laugh and jeer at +them. When one of them heard this, his heart failed him, and he thought +he would go no further into the world, so he turned back and rode home +to his father, but his brother rode on till he reached the outskirts +of a huge forest. Here he was told, 'It will never do for you to ride +through the forest, it is full of robbers, and you're sure to come to +grief, especially when they see that you and your horse are golden. +They will certainly fall on you and kill you.' However, he was not to be +intimidated, but said, 'I must and will ride on.' + +So he procured some bears' skins, and covered himself and his horse +with them, so that not a particle of gold could be seen, and then rode +bravely on into the heart of the forest. + +When he had got some way he heard a rustling through the bushes and +presently a sound of voices. Someone whispered on one side of him: +'There goes someone,' and was answered from the other side: 'Oh, let +him pass. He's only a bear-keeper, and as poor as any church mouse.' So +golden lad rode through the forest and no harm befell him. + +One day he came to a village, where he saw a girl who struck him as +being the loveliest creature in the whole world, and as he felt a great +love for her, he went up to her and said: 'I love you with all my heart; +will you be my wife?' And the girl liked him so much that she put her +hand in his and replied: 'Yes, I will be your wife, and will be true to +you as long as I live.' + +So they were married, and in the middle of all the festivities and +rejoicings the bride's father came home and was not a little surprised +at finding his daughter celebrating her wedding. He enquired: 'And who +is the bridegroom?' + +Then someone pointed out to him the golden lad, who was still wrapped +up in the bear's skin, and the father exclaimed angrily: 'Never shall +a mere bear-keeper have my daughter,' and tried to rush at him and kill +him. But the bride did all she could to pacify him, and begged hard, +saying: 'After all he is my husband, and I love him with all my heart,' +so that at length he gave in. + +However, he could not dismiss the thought from his mind, and next +morning he rose very early, for he felt he must go and look at his +daughter's husband and see whether he really was nothing better than a +mere ragged beggar. So he went to his son-in-law's room, and who +should he see lying in the bed but a splendid golden man, and the rough +bearskin thrown on the ground close by. Then he slipped quietly away, +and thought to himself, 'How lucky that I managed to control my rage! I +should certainly have committed a great crime.' + +Meantime the golden lad dreamt that he was out hunting and was giving +chase to a noble stag, and when he woke he said to his bride: 'I must go +off and hunt.' She felt very anxious, and begged he would stay at home, +adding: 'Some mishap might so easily befall you,' but he answered, 'I +must and will go.' + +So he went off into the forest, and before long a fine stag, such as he +had seen in his dream, stopped just in front of him. He took aim, and +was about to fire when the stag bounded away. Then he started off in +pursuit, making his way through bushes and briars, and never stopped all +day; but in the evening the stag entirely disappeared, and when golden +lad came to look about him he found himself just opposite a hut in which +lived a witch. He knocked at the door, which was opened by a little old +woman who asked, 'What do you want at this late hour in the midst of +this great forest?' + +He said, 'Haven't you seen a stag about here?' + +'Yes,' said she, 'I know the stag well,' and as she spoke a little dog +ran out of the house and began barking and snapping at the stranger. + +'Be quiet, you little toad,' he cried, 'or I'll shoot you dead.' + +Then the witch flew into a great rage, and screamed out, 'What! you'll +kill my dog, will you?' and the next moment he was turned to stone and +lay there immovable, whilst his bride waited for him in vain and thought +to herself, 'Alas! no doubt the evil I feared, and which has made my +heart so heavy, has befallen him.' + +Meantime, the other brother was standing near the golden lilies at +home, when suddenly one of them bent over and fell to the ground. 'Good +heavens!' cried he, 'some great misfortune has befallen my brother. I +must set off at once; perhaps I may still be in time to save him.' + +His father entreated him, 'Stay at home. If I should lose you too, what +would become of me?' + +But his son replied, 'I must and will go.' + +Then he mounted his golden horse, and rode off till he reached the +forest where his brother lay transformed to stone. The old witch came +out of her house and called to him, for she would gladly have cast her +spells on him too, but he took care not to go near her, and called +out: 'Restore my brother to life at once, or I'll shoot you down on the +spot.' + +Reluctantly she touched the stone with her finger, and in a moment it +resumed its human shape. The two golden lads fell into each other's arms +and kissed each other with joy, and then rode off together to the edge +of the forest, where they parted, one to return to his old father, and +the other to his bride. + +When the former got home his father said, 'I knew you had delivered your +brother, for all of a sudden the golden lily reared itself up and burst +into blossom.' + +Then they all lived happily to their lives' ends, and all things went +well with them. + +Grimm. + + + + + +THE WHITE SNAKE + + + +Not very long ago there lived a King, the fame of whose wisdom was +spread far and wide. Nothing appeared to be unknown to him, and it +really seemed as if tidings of the most secret matters must be borne to +him by the winds. He had one very peculiar habit. Every day, after the +dinner table had been cleared, and everyone had retired, a confidential +servant brought in a dish. It was covered, and neither the servant nor +anyone else had any idea what was on it, for the King never removed the +cover or partook of the dish, till he was quite alone. + +This went on for some time till, one day, the servant who removed the +dish was so overcome with curiosity, that he could not resist carrying +it off to his own room. After carefully locking the door, he lifted the +cover, and there he saw a white snake lying on the dish. On seeing it he +could not restrain his desire to taste it, so he cut off a small piece +and put it in his mouth. + +Hardly had it touched his tongue than he heard a strange sort of +whispering of tiny voices outside his window. He stepped to the casement +to listen, and found that the sound proceeded from the sparrows, who +were talking together and telling each other all they had seen in the +fields and woods. The piece of the white snake which he had eaten had +enabled him to understand the language of animals. + +Now on this particular day, it so happened that the Queen lost her +favourite ring, and suspicion fell on the confidential servant who had +access to all parts of the palace. The King sent for him, and threatened +him angrily, saying that if he had not found the thief by the next day, +he should himself be taken up and tried. + +It was useless to assert his innocence; he was dismissed without +ceremony. In his agitation and distress, he went down to the yard to +think over what he could do in this trouble. Here were a number of ducks +resting near a little stream, and pluming, themselves with their bills, +whilst they kept up an animated conversation amongst themselves. The +servant stood still listening to them. They were talking of where they +had been waddling about all the morning, and of the good food they had +found, but one of them remarked rather sadly, 'There's something lying +very heavy on my stomach, for in my haste I've swallowed a ring, which +was lying just under the Queen's window.' + +No sooner did the servant hear this than he seized the duck by the neck, +carried it off to the kitchen, and said to the cook, 'Suppose you kill +this duck; you see she's nice and fat.' + +'Yes, indeed,' said the cook, weighing the duck in his hand, 'she +certainly has spared no pains to stuff herself well, and must have been +waiting for the spit for some time.' So he chopped off her head, and +when she was opened there was the Queen's ring in her stomach. + +It was easy enough now for the servant to prove his innocence, and the +King, feeling he had done him an injustice, and anxious to make some +amends, desired him to ask any favour he chose, and promised to give him +the highest post at Court he could wish for. + +The servant, however, declined everything, and only begged for a +horse and some money to enable him to travel, as he was anxious to see +something of the world. + +When his request was granted, he set off on his journey, and in the +course of it he one day came to a large pond, on the edge of which +he noticed three fishes which had got entangled in the reeds and were +gasping for water. Though fish are generally supposed to be quite mute, +he heard them grieving aloud at the prospect of dying in this wretched +manner. Having a very kind heart he dismounted and soon set the +prisoners free, and in the water once more. They flapped with joy, and +stretching up their heads cried to him: 'We will remember, and reward +you for saving us.' + +He rode further, and after a while he thought he heard a voice in the +sand under his feet. He paused to listen, and heard the King of the Ants +complaining: 'If only men with their awkward beasts would keep clear of +us! That stupid horse is crushing my people mercilessly to death with +his great hoofs.' The servant at once turned into a side path, and the +Ant-King called after him, 'We'll remember and reward you.' + +The road next led through a wood, where he saw a father and a mother +raven standing by their nest and throwing out their young: 'Away with +you, you young rascals!' they cried, 'we can't feed you any longer. You +are quite big enough to support yourselves now.' The poor little birds +lay on the ground flapping and beating their wings, and shrieked, 'We +poor helpless children, feed ourselves indeed! Why, we can't even fly +yet; what can we do but die of hunger?' Then the kind youth dismounted, +drew his sword, and killing his horse left it there as food for the +young ravens. They hopped up, satisfied their hunger, and piped: 'We'll +remember, and reward you!' + +He was now obliged to trust to his own legs, and after walking a +long way he reached a big town. Here he found a great crowd and much +commotion in the streets, and a herald rode about announcing, 'The +King's daughter seeks a husband, but whoever would woo her must first +execute a difficult task, and if he does not succeed he must be content +to forfeit his life.' Many had risked their lives, but in vain. When the +youth saw the King's daughter, he was so dazzled by her beauty, that he +forgot all idea of danger, and went to the King to announce himself a +suitor. + +On this he was led out to a large lake, and a gold ring was thrown into +it before his eyes. The King desired him to dive after it, adding, 'If +you return without it you will be thrown back into the lake time after +time, till you are drowned in its depths.' + +Everyone felt sorry for the handsome young fellow and left him alone on +the shore. There he stood thinking and wondering what he could do, when +all of a sudden he saw three fishes swimming along, and recognised them +as the very same whose lives he had saved. The middle fish held a mussel +in its mouth, which it laid at the young man's feet, and when he picked +it up and opened it, there was the golden ring inside. + +Full of delight he brought it to the King's daughter, expecting to +receive his promised reward. The haughty Princess, however, on hearing +that he was not her equal by birth despised him, and exacted the +fulfilment of a second task. + +She went into the garden, and with her own hands she strewed ten sacks +full of millet all over the grass. 'He must pick all that up to-morrow +morning before sunrise,' she said; 'not a grain must be lost.' + +The youth sat down in the garden and wondered how it would be possible +for him to accomplish such a task, but he could think of no expedient, +and sat there sadly expecting to meet his death at daybreak. + +But when the first rays of the rising sun fell on the garden, he saw +the ten sacks all completely filled, standing there in a row, and not a +single grain missing. The Ant-King, with his thousands and thousands +of followers, had come during the night, and the grateful creatures had +industriously gathered all the millet together and put it in the sacks. + +The King's daughter came down to the garden herself, and saw to her +amazement that her suitor had accomplished the task she had given him. +But even now she could not bend her proud heart, and she said, 'Though +he has executed these two tasks, yet he shall not be my husband till he +brings me an apple from the tree of life.' + +The young man did not even know where the tree of life grew, but he set +off, determined to walk as far as his legs would carry him, though he +had no hope of ever finding it. + +After journeying through three different kingdoms he reached a wood +one night, and lying down under a tree prepared to go to sleep there. +Suddenly he heard a sound in the boughs, and a golden apple fell right +into his hand. At the same moment three ravens flew down to him, perched +on his knee and said, 'We are the three young ravens whom you saved from +starvation. When we grew up and heard you were searching for the golden +apple, we flew far away over the seas to the end of the world, where the +tree of life grows, and fetched the golden apple for you.' + +Full of joy the young man started on his way back and brought the +golden apple to the lovely Princess, whose objections were now entirely +silenced. They divided the apple of life and ate it together, and her +heart grew full of love for him, so they lived together to a great age +in undisturbed happiness. + +Grimm. + + + + + +THE STORY OF A CLEVER TAILOR + + + +Once upon a time there lived an exceedingly proud Princess. If any +suitor for her hand ventured to present himself, she would give him some +riddle or conundrum to guess, and if he failed to do so, he was hunted +out of the town with scorn and derision. She gave out publicly that all +comers were welcome to try their skill, and that whoever could solve her +riddle should be her husband. + +Now it happened that three tailors had met together, and the two elder +thought, that after having successfully put in so many fine and strong +stitches with never a wrong one amongst them, they were certain to do +the right thing here too. The third tailor was a lazy young scamp who +did not even know his own trade properly, but who thought that surely +luck would stand by him now, just for once, for, if not, what _was_ to +become of him? + +The two others said to him, 'You just stay at home, you'll never get on +much with your small allowance of brains.' But the little tailor was not +to be daunted, and said he had set his mind on it and meant to shift for +himself, so off he started as though the whole world belonged to him. + +The three tailors arrived at Court, where they had themselves duly +presented to the Princess, and begged she would propound her riddles, +'for,' said they, 'here were the right men at last, with wits so sharp +and so fine you might almost thread a needle with them.' + +Then said the Princess, 'I have on my head two different kinds of hair. +Of what colours are they?' + +'If that's all,' said the first tailor, 'they are most likely black and +white, like the kind of cloth we call pepper-and-salt.' + +'Wrong,' said the Princess. + +'Then,' said the second tailor, 'if they are not black and white, no +doubt they are red and brown, like my father's Sunday coat.' + +'Wrong again,' said the Princess; 'now let the third speak. I see he +thinks he knows all about it.' + +Then the young tailor stepped boldly to the front and said, 'The +Princess has one silver and one golden hair on her head, and those are +the two colours.' + +When the Princess heard this she turned quite pale, and almost fainted +away with fear, for the little tailor had hit the mark, and she had +firmly believed that not a soul could guess it. When she had recovered +herself she said, 'Don't fancy you have won me yet, there is something +else you must do first. Below in the stable is a bear with whom you must +spend the night, and if when I get up in the morning I find you still +alive you shall marry me.' + +She quite expected to rid herself of the tailor in this way, for the +bear had never left anyone alive who had once come within reach of his +claws. The tailor, however, had no notion of being scared, but said +cheerily, 'Bravely dared is half won.' + +When evening came on he was taken to the stable. The bear tried to +get at him at once and to give him a warm welcome with his great paws. +'Gently, gently,' said the tailor, 'I'll soon teach you to be quiet,' +and he coolly drew a handful of walnuts from his pocket and began +cracking and eating them as though he had not a care or anxiety in the +world. When the bear saw this he began to long for some nuts himself. +The tailor dived into his pocket and gave him a handful, but they were +pebbles, not nuts. The bear thrust them into his mouth, but try as he +might he could not manage to crack them. 'Dear me,' thought he, 'what +a stupid fool I must be--can't even crack a nut,' and he said to the +tailor, 'I say, crack my nuts for me, will you?' + +'You're a nice sort of fellow,' said the tailor; 'the idea of having +those great jaws and not being able even to crack a walnut!' So he took +the stone, quickly changed it for a nut, and crack! it split open in a +moment. + +'Let me try again,' said the bear; 'when I see the thing done it looks +so easy I fancy I _must_ be able to manage it myself.' + +So the tailor gave him some more pebbles, and the bear bit and gnawed +away as hard as he could, but I need hardly say that he did not succeed +in cracking one of them. + +Presently the tailor took out a little fiddle and began playing on it. +When the bear heard the music he could not help dancing, and after he +had danced some time he was so pleased that he said to the tailor, 'I +say, is fiddling difficult?' 'Mere child's play,' replied the tailor; +'look here! you press the strings with the fingers of the left hand, and +with the right, you draw the bow across them, so--then it goes as easily +as possible, up and down, tra la la la la--' + +'Oh,' cried the bear, 'I do wish I could play like that, then I could +dance whenever the fancy took me. What do you think? Would you give me +some lessons?' + +'With all my heart,' said the tailor, 'if you are sharp about it. But +just let me look at your paws. Dear me, your nails are terribly long; I +must really cut them first.' Then he fetched a pair of stocks, and the +bear laid his paws on them, and the tailor screwed them up tight. +'Now just wait whilst I fetch my scissors,' said he, and left the bear +growling away to his heart's content, whilst he lay down in a corner and +fell fast asleep. + +When the Princess heard the bear growling so loud that night, she made +sure he was roaring with delight as he worried the tailor. + +Next morning she rose feeling quite cheerful and free from care, but +when she looked across towards the stables, there stood the tailor in +front of the door looking as fresh and lively as a fish in the water. + +After this it was impossible to break the promise she had made so +publicly, so the King ordered out the state coach to take her and the +tailor to church to be married. + +As they were starting, the two bad-hearted other tailors, who were +envious of the younger one's happiness, went to the stable and unscrewed +the bear. Off he tore after the carriage, foaming with rage. The +Princess heard his puffing and roaring, and growing frightened she +cried: 'Oh dear! the bear is after us and will certainly catch us up!' +The tailor remained quite unmoved. He quietly stood on his head, stuck +his legs out at the carriage window and called out to the bear, 'Do you +see my stocks? If you don't go home this minute I'll screw you tight +into them.' + +When the bear saw and heard this he turned right round and ran off as +fast as his legs would carry him. The tailor drove on unmolested to +church, where he and the Princess were married, and he lived with her +many years as happy and merry as a lark. Whoever does not believe this +story must pay a dollar. + +Grimm. + + + + +THE GOLDEN MERMAID + + + +A powerful king had, among many other treasures, a wonderful tree in his +garden, which bore every year beautiful golden apples. But the King was +never able to enjoy his treasure, for he might watch and guard them as +he liked, as soon as they began to get ripe they were always stolen. +At last, in despair, he sent for his three sons, and said to the two +eldest, 'Get yourselves ready for a journey. Take gold and silver with +you, and a large retinue of servants, as beseems two noble princes, and +go through the world till you find out who it is that steals my golden +apples, and, if possible, bring the thief to me that I may punish him +as he deserves.' His sons were delighted at this proposal, for they had +long wished to see something of the world, so they got ready for their +journey with all haste, bade their father farewell, and left the town. + +The youngest Prince was much disappointed that he too was not sent out +on his travels; but his father wouldn't hear of his going, for he had +always been looked upon as the stupid one of the family, and the King +was afraid of something happening to him. But the Prince begged and +implored so long, that at last his father consented to let him go, and +furnished him with gold and silver as he had done his brothers. But +he gave him the most wretched horse in his stable, because the foolish +youth hadn't asked for a better. So he too set out on his journey to +secure the thief, amid the jeers and laughter of the whole court and +town. + +His path led him first through a wood, and he hadn't gone very far when +he met a lean-looking wolf who stood still as he approached. The Prince +asked him if he were hungry, and when the wolf said he was, he got down +from his horse and said, 'If you are really as you say and look, you may +take my horse and eat it.' + +The wolf didn't wait to have the offer repeated, but set to work, and +soon made an end of the poor beast. When the Prince saw how different +the wolf looked when he had finished his meal, he said to him, 'Now, my +friend, since you have eaten up my horse, and I have such a long way to +go, that, with the best will in the world, I couldn't manage it on foot, +the least you can do for me is to act as my horse and to take me on your +back.' + +'Most certainly,' said the wolf, and, letting the Prince mount him, +he trotted gaily through the wood. After they had gone a little way +he turned round and asked his rider where he wanted to go to, and the +Prince proceeded to tell him the whole story of the golden apples that +had been stolen out of the King's garden, and how his other two brothers +had set forth with many followers to find the thief. When he had +finished his story, the wolf, who was in reality no wolf but a mighty +magician, said he thought he could tell him who the thief was, and +could help him to secure him. 'There lives,' he said, 'in a neighbouring +country, a mighty emperor who has a beautiful golden bird in a cage, and +this is the creature who steals the golden apples, but it flies so fast +that it is impossible to catch it at its theft. You must slip into the +Emperor's palace by night and steal the bird with the cage; but be very +careful not to touch the walls as you go out.' + +The following night the Prince stole into the Emperor's palace, and +found the bird in its cage as the wolf had told him he would. He took +hold of it carefully, but in spite of all his caution he touched the +wall in trying to pass by some sleeping watchmen. They awoke at once, +and, seizing him, beat him and put him into chains. Next day he was led +before the Emperor, who at once condemned him to death and to be thrown +into a dark dungeon till the day of his execution arrived. + +The wolf, who, of course, knew by his magic arts all that had happened +to the Prince, turned himself at once into a mighty monarch with a large +train of followers, and proceeded to the Court of the Emperor, where he +was received with every show of honour. The Emperor and he conversed on +many subjects, and, among other things, the stranger asked his host if +he had many slaves. The Emperor told him he had more than he knew what +to do with, and that a new one had been captured that very night for +trying to steal his magic bird, but that as he had already more than +enough to feed and support, he was going to have this last captive +hanged next morning. + +'He must have been a most daring thief,' said the King, 'to try and +steal the magic bird, for depend upon it the creature must have been +well guarded. I would really like to see this bold rascal.' 'By all +means,' said the Emperor; and he himself led his guest down to the +dungeon where the unfortunate Prince was kept prisoner. When the Emperor +stepped out of the cell with the King, the latter turned to him and +said, 'Most mighty Emperor, I have been much disappointed. I had thought +to find a powerful robber, and instead of that I have seen the most +miserable creature I can imagine. Hanging is far too good for him. If I +had to sentence him I should make him perform some very difficult task, +under pain of death. If he did it so much the better for you, and if +he didn't, matters would just be as they are now and he could still be +hanged.' 'Your counsel,' said the Emperor, 'is excellent, and, as it +happens, I've got the very thing for him to do. My nearest neighbour, +who is also a mighty Emperor, possesses a golden horse which he guards +most carefully. The prisoner shall be told to steal this horse and bring +it to me.' + +The Prince was then let out of his dungeon, and told his life would be +spared if he succeeded in bringing the golden horse to the Emperor. He +did not feel very elated at this announcement, for he did not know how +in the world he was to set about the task, and he started on his way +weeping bitterly, and wondering what had made him leave his father's +house and kingdom. But before he had gone far his friend the wolf stood +before him and said, 'Dear Prince, why are you so cast down? It is true +you didn't succeed in catching the bird; but don't let that discourage +you, for this time you will be all the more careful, and will doubtless +catch the horse.' With these and like words the wolf comforted the +Prince, and warned him specially not to touch the wall or let the horse +touch it as he led it out, or he would fail in the same way as he had +done with the bird. + +After a somewhat lengthy journey the Prince and the wolf came to the +kingdom ruled over by the Emperor who possessed the golden horse. One +evening late they reached the capital, and the wolf advised the Prince +to set to work at once, before their presence in the city had aroused +the watchfulness of the guards. They slipped unnoticed into the +Emperor's stables and into the very place where there were the most +guards, for there the wolf rightly surmised they would find the horse. +When they came to a certain inner door the wolf told the Prince to +remain outside, while he went in. In a short time he returned and +said, 'My dear Prince, the horse is most securely watched, but I have +bewitched all the guards, and if you will only be careful not to touch +the wall yourself, or let the horse touch it as you go out, there is no +danger and the game is yours. The Prince, who had made up his mind to be +more than cautious this time, went cheerfully to work. He found all the +guards fast asleep, and, slipping into the horse's stall, he seized it +by the bridle and led it out; but, unfortunately, before they had got +quite clear of the stables a gadfly stung the horse and caused it to +switch its tail, whereby it touched the wall. In a moment all the +guards awoke, seized the Prince and beat him mercilessly with their +horse-whips, after which they bound him with chains, and flung him into +a dungeon. Next morning they brought him before the Emperor, who treated +him exactly as the King with the golden bird had done, and commanded him +to be beheaded on the following day. + +When the wolf-magician saw that the Prince had failed this time too, he +transformed himself again into a mighty king, and proceeded with an even +more gorgeous retinue than the first time to the Court of the Emperor. +He was courteously received and entertained, and once more after dinner +he led the conversation on to the subject of slaves, and in the course +of it again requested to be allowed to see the bold robber who had +dared to break into the Emperor's stable to steal his most valuable +possession. The Emperor consented, and all happened exactly as it had +done at the court of the Emperor with the golden bird; the prisoner's +life was to be spared only on condition that within three days he should +obtain possession of the golden mermaid, whom hitherto no mortal had +ever approached. + +Very depressed by his dangerous and difficult task, the Prince left his +gloomy prison; but, to his great joy, he met his friend the wolf before +he had gone many miles on his journey. The cunning creature pretended +he knew nothing of what had happened to the Prince, and asked him how +he had fared with the horse. The Prince told him all about his +misadventure, and the condition on which the Emperor had promised to +spare his life. Then the wolf reminded him that he had twice got him out +of prison, and that if he would only trust in him, and do exactly as he +told him, he would certainly succeed in this last undertaking. Thereupon +they bent their steps towards the sea, which stretched out before them, +as far as their eyes could see, all the waves dancing and glittering +in the bright sunshine. 'Now,' continued the wolf, 'I am going to turn +myself into a boat full of the most beautiful silken merchandise, and +you must jump boldly into the boat, and steer with my tail in your hand +right out into the open sea. You will soon come upon the golden mermaid. +Whatever you do, don't follow her if she calls you, but on the contrary +say to her, "The buyer comes to the seller, not the seller to the +buyer." After which you must steer towards the land, and she will follow +you, for she won't be able to resist the beautiful wares you have on +board your ship.' + +The Prince promised faithfully to do all he had been told, whereupon the +wolf changed himself into a ship full of most exquisite silks, of every +shade and colour imaginable. The astonished Prince stepped into the +boat, and, holding the wolf's tail in his hand, he steered boldly out +into the open sea, where the sun was gilding the blue waves with its +golden rays. Soon he saw the golden mermaid swimming near the ship, +beckoning and calling to him to follow her; but, mindful of the wolf's +warning, he told her in a loud voice that if she wished to buy anything +she must come to him. With these words he turned his magic ship round +and steered back towards the land. The mermaid called out to him to +stand still, but he refused to listen to her and never paused till +he reached the sand of the shore. Here he stopped and waited for the +mermaid, who had swum after him. When she drew near the boat he saw that +she was far more beautiful than any mortal he had ever beheld. She +swam round the ship for some time, and then swung herself gracefully +on board, in order to examine the beautiful silken stuffs more closely. +Then the Prince seized her in his arms, and kissing her tenderly on the +cheeks and lips, he told her she was his for ever; at the same moment +the boat turned into a wolf again, which so terrified the mermaid that +she clung to the Prince for protection. + +So the golden mermaid was successfully caught, and she soon felt quite +happy in her new life when she saw she had nothing to fear either from +the Prince or the wolf--she rode on the back of the latter, and the +Prince rode behind her. When they reached the country ruled over by the +Emperor with the golden horse, the Prince jumped down, and, helping the +mermaid to alight, he led her before the Emperor. At the sight of the +beautiful mermaid and of the grim wolf, who stuck close to the Prince +this time, the guards all made respectful obeisance, and soon the three +stood before his Imperial Majesty. When the Emperor heard from the +Prince how he had gained possession of his fair prize, he at once +recognized that he had been helped by some magic art, and on the spot +gave up all claim to the beautiful mermaid. 'Dear youth,' he said, +'forgive me for my shameful conduct to you, and, as a sign that you +pardon me, accept the golden horse as a present. I acknowledge your +power to be greater even than I can understand, for you have succeeded +in gaining possession of the golden mermaid, whom hitherto no mortal has +ever been able to approach.' Then they all sat down to a huge feast, and +the Prince had to relate his adventures all over again, to the wonder +and astonishment of the whole company. + +But the Prince was wearying now to return to his own kingdom, so as soon +as the feast was over he took farewell of the Emperor, and set out on +his homeward way. He lifted the mermaid on to the golden horse, and +swung himself up behind her--and so they rode on merrily, with the wolf +trotting behind, till they came to the country of the Emperor with the +golden bird. The renown of the Prince and his adventure had gone before +him, and the Emperor sat on his throne awaiting the arrival of the +Prince and his companions. When the three rode into the courtyard of the +palace, they were surprised and delighted to find everything festively +illuminated and decorated for their reception. When the Prince and the +golden mermaid, with the wolf behind them, mounted the steps of the +palace, the Emperor came forward to meet them, and led them to the +throne room. At the same moment a servant appeared with the golden bird +in its golden cage, and the Emperor begged the Prince to accept it with +his love, and to forgive him the indignity he had suffered at his hands. +Then the Emperor bent low before the beautiful mermaid, and, offering +her his arm, he led her into dinner, closely followed by the Prince and +her friend the wolf; the latter seating himself at table, not the least +embarrassed that no one had invited him to do so. + +As soon as the sumptuous meal was over, the Prince and his mermaid +took leave of the Emperor, and, seating themselves on the golden horse, +continued their homeward journey. On the way the wolf turned to the +Prince and said, 'Dear friends, I must now bid you farewell, but I leave +you under such happy circumstances that I cannot feel our parting to be +a sad one.' The Prince was very unhappy when he heard these words, and +begged the wolf to stay with them always; but this the good creature +refused to do, though he thanked the Prince kindly for his invitation, +and called out as he disappeared into the thicket, 'Should any evil +befall you, dear Prince, at any time, you may rely on my friendship and +gratitude.' These were the wolf's parting words, and the Prince could +not restrain his tears when he saw his friend vanishing in the distance; +but one glance at his beloved mermaid soon cheered him up again, and +they continued on their journey merrily. + +The news of his son's adventures had already reached his father's +Court, and everyone was more than astonished at the success of the once +despised Prince. His elder brothers, who had in vain gone in pursuit +of the thief of the golden apples, were furious over their younger +brother's good fortune, and plotted and planned how they were to kill +him. They hid themselves in the wood through which the Prince had to +pass on his way to the palace, and there fell on him, and, having beaten +him to death, they carried off the golden horse and the golden bird. But +nothing they could do would persuade the golden mermaid to go with them +or move from the spot, for ever since she had left the sea, she had so +attached herself to her Prince that she asked nothing else than to live +or die with him. + +For many weeks the poor mermaid sat and watched over the dead body of +her lover, weeping salt tears over his loss, when suddenly one day their +old friend the wolf appeared and said, 'Cover the Prince's body with all +the leaves and flowers you can find in the wood.' The maiden did as he +told her, and then the wolf breathed over the flowery grave, and, lo and +behold! the Prince lay there sleeping as peacefully as a child. 'Now you +may wake him if you like,' said the wolf, and the mermaid bent over him +and gently kissed the wounds his brothers had made on his forehead, and +the Prince awoke, and you may imagine how delighted he was to find his +beautiful mermaid beside him, though he felt a little depressed when +he thought of the loss of the golden bird and the golden horse. After +a time the wolf, who had likewise fallen on the Prince's neck, advised +them to continue their journey, and once more the Prince and his lovely +bride mounted on the faithful beast's back. + +The King's joy was great when he embraced his youngest son, for he +had long since despaired of his return. He received the wolf and the +beautiful golden mermaid most cordially too, and the Prince was made +to tell his adventures all over from the beginning. The poor old father +grew very sad when he heard of the shameful conduct of his elder sons, +and had them called before him. They turned as white as death when they +saw their brother, whom they thought they had murdered, standing beside +them alive and well, and so startled were they that when the King asked +them why they had behaved so wickedly to their brother they could think +of no lie, but confessed at once that they had slain the young Prince +in order to obtain possession of the golden horse and the golden bird. +Their father's wrath knew no bounds, and he ordered them both to be +banished, but he could not do enough to honour his youngest son, and his +marriage with the beautiful mermaid was celebrated with much pomp and +magnificence. When the festivities were over, the wolf bade them all +farewell, and returned once more to his life in the woods, much to the +regret of the old King and the young Prince and his bride. + +And so ended the adventures of the Prince with his friend the wolf. + +Grimm. + + + + + +THE WAR OF THE WOLF AND THE FOX + + + +There was once upon a time a man and his wife who had an old cat and an +old dog. One day the man, whose name was Simon, said to his wife, whose +name was Susan, 'Why should we keep our old cat any longer? She never +catches any mice now-a-days, and is so useless that I have made up my +mind to drown her.' + +But his wife replied, 'Don't do that, for I'm sure she could still catch +mice.' + +'Rubbish,' said Simon. 'The mice might dance on her and she would never +catch one. I've quite made up my mind that the next time I see her, I +shall put her in the water.' + +Susan was very unhappy when she heard this, and so was the cat, who had +been listening to the conversation behind the stove. When Simon went +off to his work, the poor cat miawed so pitifully, and looked up so +pathetically into Susan's face, that the woman quickly opened the door +and said, 'Fly for your life, my poor little beast, and get well away +from here before your master returns.' + +The cat took her advice, and ran as quickly as her poor old legs would +carry her into the wood, and when Simon came home, his wife told him +that the cat had vanished. + +'So much the better for her,' said Simon. 'And now we have got rid of +her, we must consider what we are to do with the old dog. He is quite +deaf and blind, and invariably barks when there is no need, and makes no +sound when there is. I think the best thing I can do with him is to hang +him.' + +But soft-hearted Susan replied, 'Please don't do so; he's surely not so +useless as all that.' + +'Don't be foolish,' said her husband. 'The courtyard might be full of +thieves and he'd never discover it. No, the first time I see him, it's +all up with him, I can tell you.' + +Susan was very unhappy at his words, and so was the dog, who was lying +in the corner of the room and had heard everything. As soon as Simon +had gone to his work, he stood up and howled so touchingly that Susan +quickly opened the door, and said 'Fly for your life, poor beast, before +your master gets home.' And the dog ran into the wood with his tail +between his legs. + +When her husband returned, his wife told him that the dog had +disappeared. + +'That's lucky for him,' said Simon, but Susan sighed, for she had been +very fond of the poor creature. + +Now it happened that the cat and dog met each other on their travels, +and though they had not been the best of friends at home, they were +quite glad to meet among strangers. They sat down under a holly tree and +both poured forth their woes. + +Presently a fox passed by, and seeing the pair sitting together in a +disconsolate fashion, he asked them why they sat there, and what they +were grumbling about. + +The cat replied, 'I have caught many a mouse in my day, but now that I +am old and past work, my master wants to drown me.' + +And the dog said, 'Many a night have I watched and guarded my master's +house, and now that I am old and deaf, he wants to hang me.' + +The fox answered, 'That's the way of the world. But I'll help you to get +back into your master's favour, only you must first help me in my own +troubles.' + +They promised to do their best, and the fox continued, 'The wolf has +declared war against me, and is at this moment marching to meet me in +company with the bear and the wild boar, and to-morrow there will be a +fierce battle between us.' + +'All right,' said the dog and the cat, 'we will stand by you, and if we +are killed, it is at any rate better to die on the field of battle +than to perish ignobly at home,' and they shook paws and concluded the +bargain. The fox sent word to the wolf to meet him at a certain place, +and the three set forth to encounter him and his friends. + +The wolf, the bear, and the wild boar arrived on the spot first, and +when they had waited some time for the fox, the dog, and the cat, the +bear said, 'I'll climb up into the oak tree, and look if I can see them +coming.' + +The first time he looked round he said, 'I can see nothing,' and the +second time he looked round he said, 'I can still see nothing.' But the +third time he said, 'I see a mighty army in the distance, and one of the +warriors has the biggest lance you ever saw!' + +This was the cat, who was marching along with her tail erect. + +And so they laughed and jeered, and it was so hot that the bear said, +'The enemy won't be here at this rate for many hours to come, so I'll +just curl myself up in the fork of the tree and have a little sleep.' + +And the wolf lay down under the oak, and the wild boar buried himself in +some straw, so that nothing was seen of him but one ear. + +And while they were lying there, the fox, the cat and the dog arrived. +When the cat saw the wild boar's ear, she pounced upon it, thinking it +was a mouse in the straw. + +The wild boar got up in a dreadful fright, gave one loud grunt and +disappeared into the wood. But the cat was even more startled than the +boar, and, spitting with terror, she scrambled up into the fork of the +tree, and as it happened right into the bear's face. Now it was the +bear's turn to be alarmed, and with a mighty growl he jumped down from +the oak and fell right on the top of the wolf and killed him as dead as +a stone. + +On their way home from the war the fox caught score of mice, and when +they reached Simon's cottage he put them all on the stove and said to +the cat, 'Now go and fetch one mouse after the other, and lay them down +before your master.' + +'All right,' said the cat, and did exactly as the fox told her. + +When Susan saw this she said to her husband, 'Just look, here is our old +cat back again, and see what a lot of mice she has caught.' + +'Wonders will never cease,' cried Simon. 'I certainly never thought the +old cat would ever catch another mouse.' + +But Susan answered, 'There, you see, I always said our cat was a most +excellent creature--but you men always think you know best.' + +In the meantime the fox said to the dog, 'Our friend Simon has just +killed a pig; when it gets a little darker, you must go into the +courtyard and bark with all your might.' + +'All right,' said the dog, and as soon as it grew dusk he began to bark +loudly. + +Susan, who heard him first, said to her husband, 'Our dog must have +come back, for I hear him barking lustily. Do go out and see what's the +matter; perhaps thieves may be stealing our sausages.' + +But Simon answered, 'The foolish brute is as deaf as a post and is +always barking at nothing,' and he refused to get up. + +The next morning Susan got up early to go to church at the neighbouring +town, and she thought she would take some sausages to her aunt who lived +there. But when she went to her larder, she found all the sausages gone, +and a great hole in the floor. She called out to her husband, 'I was +perfectly right. Thieves have been here last night, and they have not +left a single sausage. Oh! if you had only got up when I asked you to!' + +Then Simon scratched his head and said, 'I can't understand it at all. I +certainly never believed the old dog was so quick at hearing.' + +But Susan replied, 'I always told you our old dog was the best dog in +the world--but as usual you thought you knew so much better. Men are the +same all the world over.' + +And the fox scored a point too, for he had carried away the sausages +himself! + +Grimm. + + + + + +THE STORY OF THE FISHERMAN AND HIS WIFE + + + +There was once a fisherman and his wife who lived together in a little +hut close to the sea, and the fisherman used to go down every day to +fish; and he would fish and fish. So he used to sit with his rod and +gaze into the shining water; and he would gaze and gaze. + +Now, once the line was pulled deep under the water, and when he hauled +it up he hauled a large flounder with it. The flounder said to him, +'Listen, fisherman. I pray you to let me go; I am not a real flounder, I +am an enchanted Prince. What good will it do you if you kill me--I shall +not taste nice? Put me back into the water and let me swim away.' + +'Well,' said the man, 'you need not make so much noise about it; I am +sure I had much better let a flounder that can talk swim away.' With +these words he put him back again into the shining water, and the +flounder sank to the bottom, leaving a long streak of blood behind. Then +the fisherman got up, and went home to his wife in the hut. + +'Husband,' said his wife, 'have you caught nothing to-day?' + +'No,' said the man. 'I caught a flounder who said he was an enchanted +prince, so I let him swim away again.' + +'Did you wish nothing from him?' said his wife. + +'No,' said the man; 'what should I have wished from him?' + +'Ah!' said the woman, 'it's dreadful to have to live all one's life +in this hut that is so small and dirty; you ought to have wished for +a cottage. Go now and call him; say to him that we choose to have a +cottage, and he will certainly give it you.' + +'Alas!' said the man, 'why should I go down there again?' + +'Why,' said his wife, 'you caught him, and then let him go again, so he +is sure to give you what you ask. Go down quickly.' + +The man did not like going at all, but as his wife was not to be +persuaded, he went down to the sea. + +When he came there the sea was quite green and yellow, and was no longer +shining. So he stood on the shore and said: + +'Once a prince, but changed you be Into a flounder in the sea. Come! for +my wife, Ilsebel, Wishes what I dare not tell.' + +Then the flounder came swimming up and said, 'Well, what does she want?' + +'Alas!' said the man, 'my wife says I ought to have kept you and wished +something from you. She does not want to live any longer in the hut; she +would like a cottage.' + +'Go home, then,' said the flounder; 'she has it.' + +So the man went home, and there was his wife no longer in the hut, but +in its place was a beautiful cottage, and his wife was sitting in front +of the door on a bench. She took him by the hand and said to him, 'Come +inside, and see if this is not much better.' They went in, and inside +the cottage was a tiny hall, and a beautiful sitting-room, and a bedroom +in which stood a bed, a kitchen and a dining-room all furnished with +the best of everything, and fitted up with every kind of tin and copper +utensil. And outside was a little yard in which were chickens and ducks, +and also a little garden with vegetables and fruit trees. + +'See,' said the wife, 'isn't this nice?' + +'Yes,' answered her husband; 'here we shall remain and live very +happily.' + +'We will think about that,' said his wife. + +With these words they had their supper and went to bed. All went well +for a week or a fortnight, then the wife said: + +'Listen, husband; the cottage is much too small, and so is the yard and +the garden; the flounder might just as well have sent us a larger house. +I should like to live in a great stone castle. Go down to the flounder, +and tell him to send us a castle.' + +'Ah, wife!' said the fisherman, 'the cottage is quite good enough; why +do we choose to live in a castle?' + +'Why?' said the wife. 'You go down; the flounder can quite well do +that.' + +'No, wife,' said the man; 'the flounder gave us the cottage. I do not +like to go to him again; he might take it amiss.' + +'Go,' said his wife. 'He can certainly give it us, and ought to do so +willingly. Go at once.' + +The fisherman's heart was very heavy, and he did not like going. He said +to himself, 'It is not right.' Still, he went down. + +When he came to the sea, the water was all violet and dark-blue, and +dull and thick, and no longer green and yellow, but it was still smooth. + +So he stood there and said: + +'Once a prince, but changed you be Into a flounder in the sea. Come! for +my wife, Ilsebel, Wishes what I dare not tell.' + +'What does she want now?' said the flounder. + +'Ah!' said the fisherman, half-ashamed, 'she wants to live in a great +stone castle.' + +'Go home; she is standing before the door,' said the flounder. + +The fisherman went home and thought he would find no house. When he came +near, there stood a great stone palace, and his wife was standing on the +steps, about to enter. She took him by the hand and said, 'Come inside.' + +Then he went with her, and inside the castle was a large hall with a +marble floor, and there were heaps of servants who threw open the great +doors, and the walls were covered with beautiful tapestry, and in the +apartments were gilded chairs and tables, and crystal chandeliers hung +from the ceiling, and all the rooms were beautifully carpeted. The best +of food and drink also was set before them when they wished to dine. And +outside the house was a large courtyard with horse and cow stables and +a coach-house--all fine buildings; and a splendid garden with most +beautiful flowers and fruit, and in a park quite a league long were deer +and roe and hares, and everything one could wish for. + +'Now,' said the wife, 'isn't this beautiful?' + +'Yes, indeed,' said the fisherman. 'Now we will stay here and live in +this beautiful castle, and be very happy.' + +'We will consider the matter,' said his wife, and they went to bed. + +The next morning the wife woke up first at daybreak, and looked out of +the bed at the beautiful country stretched before her. Her husband was +still sleeping, so she dug her elbows into his side and said: + +'Husband, get up and look out of the window. Could we not become the +king of all this land? Go down to the flounder and tell him we choose to +be king.' + +'Ah, wife!' replied her husband, 'why should we be king? I don't want to +be king.' + +'Well,' said his wife, 'if you don't want to be king, I will be king. Go +down to the flounder; I will be king.' + +'Alas! wife,' said the fisherman, 'why do you want to be king? I can't +ask him that.' + +'And why not?' said his wife. 'Go down at once. I must be king.' + +So the fisherman went, though much vexed that his wife wanted to be +king. 'It is not right! It is not right,' he thought. He did not wish to +go, yet he went. + +When he came to the sea, the water was a dark-grey colour, and it was +heaving against the shore. So he stood and said: + +'Once a prince, but changed you be Into a flounder in the sea. Come! for +my wife, Ilsebel, Wishes what I dare not tell.' + +'What does she want now?' asked the flounder. + +'Alas!' said the fisherman, 'she wants to be king.' + +'Go home; she is that already,' said the flounder. + +The fisherman went home, and when he came near the palace he saw that +it had become much larger, and that it had great towers and splendid +ornamental carving on it. A sentinel was standing before the gate, and +there were numbers of soldiers with kettledrums and trumpets. And when +he went into the palace, he found everything was of pure marble and +gold, and the curtains of damask with tassels of gold. Then the doors of +the hall flew open, and there stood the whole Court round his wife, +who was sitting on a high throne of gold and diamonds; she wore a great +golden crown, and had a sceptre of gold and precious stones in her hand, +and by her on either side stood six pages in a row, each one a head +taller than the other. Then he went before her and said: + +'Ah, wife! are you king now?' + +'Yes,' said his wife; 'now I am king.' + +He stood looking at her, and when he had looked for some time, he said: + +'Let that be enough, wife, now that you are king! Now we have nothing +more to wish for.' + +'Nay, husband,' said his wife restlessly, 'my wishing powers are +boundless; I cannot restrain them any longer. Go down to the flounder; +king I am, now I must be emperor.' + +'Alas! wife,' said the fisherman, 'why do you want to be emperor?' + +'Husband,' said she, 'go to the flounder; I will be emperor.' + +'Ah, wife,' he said, 'he cannot make you emperor; I don't like to ask +him that. There is only one emperor in the kingdom. Indeed and indeed he +cannot make you emperor.' + +'What!' said his wife. 'I am king, and you are my husband. Will you go +at once? Go! If he can make king he can make emperor, and emperor I must +and will be. Go!' + +So he had to go. But as he went, he felt quite frightened, and +he thought to himself, 'This can't be right; to be emperor is too +ambitious; the flounder will be tired out at last.' + +Thinking this he came to the shore. The sea was quite black and thick, +and it was breaking high on the beach; the foam was flying about, and +the wind was blowing; everything looked bleak. The fisherman was chilled +with fear. He stood and said: + +'Once a prince, but changed you be Into a flounder in the sea. Come! for +my wife, Ilsebel, Wishes what I dare not tell.' + +'What does she want now?' asked flounder. + +'Alas! flounder,' he said, 'my wife wants to be emperor.' + +'Go home,' said the flounder; 'she is that already.' + +So the fisherman went home, and when he came there he saw the whole +castle was made of polished marble, ornamented with alabaster statues +and gold. Before the gate soldiers were marching, blowing trumpets and +beating drums. Inside the palace were walking barons, counts, and dukes, +acting as servants; they opened the door, which was of beaten gold. And +when he entered, he saw his wife upon a throne which was made out of a +single block of gold, and which was quite six cubits high. She had on +a great golden crown which was three yards high and set with brilliants +and sparkling gems. In one hand she held a sceptre, and in the other the +imperial globe, and on either side of her stood two rows of halberdiers, +each smaller than the other, from a seven-foot giant to the tiniest +little dwarf no higher than my little finger. Many princes and dukes +were standing before her. The fisherman went up to her quietly and said: + +'Wife, are you emperor now?' + +'Yes,' she said, 'I am emperor.' + +He stood looking at her magnificence, and when he had watched her for +some time, said: + +'Ah, wife, let that be enough, now that you are emperor.' + +'Husband,' said she, 'why are you standing there? I am emperor now, and +I want to be pope too; go down to the flounder.' + +'Alas! wife,' said the fisherman, 'what more do you want? You cannot +be pope; there is only one pope in Christendom, and he cannot make you +that.' + +'Husband,' she said, 'I will be pope. Go down quickly; I must be pope +to-day.' + +'No, wife,' said the fisherman; 'I can't ask him that. It is not right; +it is too much. The flounder cannot make you pope.' + +'Husband, what nonsense!' said his wife. 'If he can make emperor, he +can make, pope too. Go down this instant; I am emperor and you are my +husband. Will you be off at once?' + +So he was frightened and went out; but he felt quite faint, and trembled +and shook, and his knees and legs began to give way under him. The wind +was blowing fiercely across the land, and the clouds flying across the +sky looked as gloomy as if it were night; the leaves were being blown +from the trees; the water was foaming and seething and dashing upon the +shore, and in the distance he saw the ships in great distress, dancing +and tossing on the waves. Still the sky was very blue in the middle, +although at the sides it was an angry red as in a great storm. So he +stood shuddering in anxiety, and said: + +'Once a prince, but changed you be Into a flounder in the sea. Come! for +my wife, Ilsebel, Wishes what I dare not tell.' + +'Well, what does she want now?' asked the flounder. + +'Alas!' said the fisherman, 'she wants to be pope.' + +'Go home, then; she is that already,' said the flounder. + +Then he went home, and when he came there he saw, as it were, a large +church surrounded by palaces. He pushed his way through the people. The +interior was lit up with thousands and thousands of candles, and his +wife was dressed in cloth of gold and was sitting on a much higher +throne, and she wore three great golden crowns. Round her were numbers +of Church dignitaries, and on either side were standing two rows of +tapers, the largest of them as tall as a steeple, and the smallest as +tiny as a Christmas-tree candle. All the emperors and kings were on +their knees before her, and were kissing her foot. + +'Wife,' said the fisherman looking at her, 'are you pope now?' + +'Yes,' said she; 'I am pope.' + +So he stood staring at her, and it was as if he were looking at the +bright sun. When he had watched her for some time he said: + +'Ah, wife, let it be enough now that you are pope.' + +But she sat as straight as a tree, and did not move or bend the least +bit. He said again: + +'Wife, be content now that you are pope. You cannot become anything +more.' + +'We will think about that,' said his wife. + +With these words they went to bed. But the woman was not content; +her greed would not allow her to sleep, and she kept on thinking and +thinking what she could still become. The fisherman slept well and +soundly, for he had done a great deal that day, but his wife could not +sleep at all, and turned from one side to another the whole night long, +and thought, till she could think no longer, what more she could become. +Then the sun began to rise, and when she saw the red dawn she went to +the end of the bed and looked at it, and as she was watching the sun +rise, out of the window, she thought, 'Ha! could I not make the sun and +man rise?' + +'Husband,' said she, poking him in the ribs with her elbows, 'wake up. +Go down to the flounder; I will be a god.' + +The fisherman was still half asleep, yet he was so frightened that he +fell out of bed. He thought he had not heard aright, and opened his eyes +wide and said: + +'What did you say, wife?' + +'Husband,' she said, 'if I cannot make the sun and man rise when I +appear I cannot rest. I shall never have a quiet moment till I can make +the sun and man rise.' + +He looked at her in horror, and a shudder ran over him. + +'Go down at once; I will be a god.' + +'Alas! wife,' said the fisherman, falling on his knees before her, 'the +flounder cannot do that. Emperor and pope he can make you. I implore +you, be content and remain pope.' + +Then she flew into a passion, her hair hung wildly about her face, she +pushed him with her foot and screamed: + +'I am not contented, and I shall not be contented! Will you go?' + +So he hurried on his clothes as fast as possible, and ran away as if he +were mad. + +But the storm was raging so fiercely that he could scarcely stand. +Houses and trees were being blown down, the mountains were being shaken, +and pieces of rock were rolling in the sea. The sky was as black as ink, +it was thundering and lightening, and the sea was tossing in great waves +as high as church towers and mountains, and each had a white crest of +foam. + +So he shouted, not able to hear his own voice: + +'Once a prince, but changed you be Into a flounder in the sea. Come! for +my wife, Ilsebel, Wishes what I dare not tell.' + +'Well, what does she want now?' asked the flounder. + +'Alas!' said he, 'she wants to be a god.' + +'Go home, then; she is sitting again in the hut.' + +And there they are sitting to this day. + +Grimm. + + + + + +THE THREE MUSICIANS + + + +Once upon a time three musicians left their home and set out on their +travels. They had all learnt music from the same master, and they +determined to stick together and to seek their fortune in foreign lands. +They wandered merrily from place to place and made quite a good living, +and were much appreciated by everyone who heard them play. One evening +they came to a village where they delighted all the company with their +beautiful music. At last they ceased playing, and began to eat and drink +and listen to the talk that was going on around them. They heard all +the gossip of the place, and many wonderful things were related +and discussed. At last the conversation fell on a castle in the +neighbourhood, about which many strange and marvellous things were told. +One person said that hidden treasure was to be found there; another that +the richest food was always to be had there, although the castle was +uninhabited; and a third, that an evil spirit dwelt within the walls, so +terrible, that anyone who forced his way into the castle came out of it +more dead than alive. + +As soon as the three musicians were alone in their bedroom they agreed +to go and examine the mysterious castle, and, if possible, to find +and carry away the hidden treasure. They determined, too, to make the +attempt separately, one after the other, according to age, and they +settled that a whole day was to be given to each adventurer in which to +try his luck. + +The fiddler was the first to set out on his adventures, and did so in +the best of spirits and full of courage. When he reached the castle he +found the outer gate open, quite as if he were an expected guest, but no +sooner had he stepped across the entry than the heavy door closed behind +him with a bang, and was bolted with a huge iron bar, exactly as if a +sentinel were doing his office and keeping watch, but no human being was +to be seen anywhere. An awful terror overcame the fiddler; but it was +hopeless to think of turning back or of standing still, and the hopes of +finding gold and other treasures gave him strength and courage to force +his way further into the castle. Upstairs and downstairs he wandered, +through lofty halls, splendid rooms, and lovely little boudoirs, +everything beautifully arranged, and all kept in the most perfect order. +But the silence of death reigned everywhere, and no living thing, not +even a fly, was to be seen. Notwithstanding, the youth felt his spirits +return to him when he entered the lower regions of the castle, for in +the kitchen the most tempting and delicious food was spread out, the +cellars were full of the most costly wine, and the store-room crammed +with pots of every sort of jam you can imagine. A cheerful fire was +burning in the kitchen, before which a roast was being basted by unseen +hands, and all kinds of vegetables and other dainty dishes were being +prepared in like manner. Before the fiddler had time to think, he was +ushered into a little room by invisible hands, and there a table was +spread for him with all the delicious food he had seen cooking in the +kitchen. + +The youth first seized his fiddle and played a beautiful air on it which +echoed through the silent halls, and then he fell to and began to eat +a hearty meal. Before long, however, the door opened and a tiny man +stepped into the room, not more than three feet high, clothed in a +dressing-gown, and with a small wrinkled face, and a grey beard which +reached down to the silver buckles of his shoes. And the little man sat +down beside the fiddler and shared his meal. When they got to the game +course the fiddler handed the dwarf a knife and fork, and begged him to +help himself first, and then to pass the dish on. The little creature +nodded, but helped himself so clumsily that he dropped the piece of meat +he had carved on to the floor. + +The good-natured fiddler bent down to pick it up, but in the twinkling +of an eye the little man had jumped on to his back, and beat him till he +was black and blue all over his head and body. At last, when the fiddler +was nearly dead, the little wretch left off, and shoved the poor fellow +out of the iron gate which he had entered in such good spirits a few +hours before. The fresh air revived him a little, and in a short time +he was able to stagger with aching limbs back to the inn where his +companions were staying. It was night when he reached the place, and the +other two musicians were fast asleep. The next morning they were much +astonished at finding the fiddler in bed beside them, and overwhelmed +him with questions; but their friend hid his back and face, and answered +them very shortly, saying, 'Go there yourselves, and see what's to be +seen! It is a ticklish matter, that I can assure you.' + +The second musician, who was a trumpeter, now made his way to the +castle, and everything happened to him exactly as it had to the fiddler. +He was just as hospitably entertained at first, and then just as cruelly +beaten and belaboured, so that next morning he too lay in his bed like +a wounded hare, assuring his friends that the task of getting into the +haunted castle was no enviable one. Notwithstanding the warning of +his companions, the third musician, who played the flute, was still +determined to try his luck, and, full of courage and daring, he set out, +resolved, if possible, to find and secure the hidden treasure. + +Fearlessly he wandered the whole castle, and as he roamed through the +splendid empty apartments he thought to himself how nice it would be +to live there always, especially with a full larder and cellar at his +disposal. A table was spread for him too, and when he had wandered +about for some time, singing and playing the flute, he sat down as +his companions had done, prepared to enjoy the delicious food that was +spread out in front of him. Then the little man with the beard entered +as before and seated himself beside the flute-player, who wasn't the +least startled at his appearance, but chatted away to him as if he +had known him all his life. But he didn't find his companion very +communicative. At last they came to the game, and, as usual, the +little man let his piece fall on the ground. The flute-player was +good-naturedly just going to pick it up, when he perceived that the +little dwarf was in the act of springing on his back. Then he turned +round sharply, and, seizing the little creature by his beard, he gave +him such a shaking that he tore his beard out, and the dwarf sank +groaning to the ground. + +But as soon as the youth had the beard in his hands he felt so strong +that he was fit for anything, and he perceived all sorts of things in +the castle that he had not noticed before, but, on the other hand, all +strength seemed to have gone from the little man. He whined and sobbed +out: 'Give, oh give me my beard again, and I will instruct you in all +the magic art that surrounds this castle, and will help you to carry off +the hidden treasure, which will make you rich and happy for ever.' + +But the cunning flute-player replied: 'I will give you back your beard, +but you must first help me as you have promised to do. Till you have +done so, I don't let your beard out of my hands.' + +Then the old man found himself obliged to fulfil his promise, though he +had had no intention of doing so, and had only desired to get his +beard back. He made the youth follow him through dark secret passages, +underground vaults, and grey rocks till at last they came to an open +field, which looked as if it belonged to a more beautiful world than +ours. Then they came to a stream of rushing water; but the little man +drew out a wand and touched the waves, whereupon the waters parted +and stood still, and the two crossed the river with dry feet. And how +beautiful everything on the other side was! lovely green paths leading +through woods and fields covered with flowers, birds with gold and +silver feathers singing on the trees, lovely butterflies and glittering +beetles fluttered and crawled about, and dear little beasts hid in the +bushes and hedges. The sky above them was not blue, but like rays of +pure gold, and the stars looked twice their usual size, and far more +brilliant than on our earth. + +The youth grew more and more astonished when the little grey man led him +into a castle far bigger and more splendid than the one they had left. +Here, too, the deepest silence reigned. They wandered all through the +castle, and came at last to a room in the middle of which stood a bed +hung all round with heavy curtains. Over the bed hung a bird's cage, and +the bird inside it was singing beautiful songs into the silent space. +The little grey man lifted the curtains from the bed and beckoned the +youth to approach. On the rich silk cushions embroidered with gold +a lovely maiden lay sleeping. She was as beautiful as an angel, with +golden hair which fell in curls over her marble shoulders, and a diamond +crown sparkled on her forehead. But a sleep as of death held her in its +spell, and no noise seemed able to waken the sleeper. + +Then the little man turned to the wondering youth and said: 'See, here +is the sleeping child! She is a mighty Princess. This splendid castle +and this enchanted land are hers, but for hundreds of years she has +slept this magic sleep, and during all that time no human being has been +able to find their way here. I alone have kept guard over her, and +have gone daily to my own castle to get food and to beat the greedy +gold-seekers who forced their way into my dwelling. I have watched over +the Princess carefully all these years and saw that no stranger came +near her, but all my magic power lay in my beard, and now that you +have taken it away I am helpless, and can no longer hold the beautiful +Princess in her enchanted sleep, but am forced to reveal my treasured +secret to you. So set to work and do as I tell you. Take the bird which +hangs over the Princess's head, and which by its song sang her into this +enchanted sleep--a song which it has had to continue ever since; take it +and kill it, and cut its little heart out and burn it to a powder, and +then put it into the Princess's mouth; then she will instantly awaken, +and will bestow on you her heart and hand, her kingdom and castle, and +all her treasures. + +The little dwarf paused, quite worn out, and the youth did not wait long +to do his bidding. He did all he was told carefully and promptly, and +having cut the little bird's heart out he proceeded to make it into +a powder. No sooner had he placed it in the Princess's mouth than she +opened her lovely eyes, and, looking up into the happy youth's face, she +kissed him tenderly, thanked him for freeing her from her magic sleep, +and promised to be his wife. At the same moment a sound as of thunder +was heard all over the castle, and on all the staircases and in every +room sounds were to be heard. Then a troop of servants, male and female, +flocked into the apartment where the happy couple sat, and after wishing +the Princess and her bridegroom joy, they dispersed all over the castle +to their different occupations. + +But the little grey dwarf began now to demand his beard again from the +youth, for in his wicked heart he was determined to make an end of all +their happiness; he knew that if only his beard were once more on his +chin, he would be able to do what he liked with them all. But the clever +flute-player was quite a match for the little man in cunning, and said: +'All right, you needn't be afraid, you shall get your beard back before +we part; but you must allow my bride and me to accompany you a bit on +your homeward way.' + +The dwarf could not refuse this request, and so they all went together +through the beautiful green paths and flowery meadows, and came at last +to the river which flowed for miles round the Princess's land and formed +the boundary of her kingdom. There was no bridge or ferryboat to be seen +anywhere, and it was impossible to get over to the other side, for the +boldest swimmer would not have dared to brave the fierce current and +roaring waters. Then the youth said to the dwarf: 'Give me your wand in +order that I may part the waves.' + +And the dwarf was forced to do as he was told because the youth still +kept his beard from him; but the wicked little creature chuckled with +joy and thought to himself: 'The foolish youth will hand me my beard as +soon as we have crossed the river, and then my power will return, and +I will seize my wand and prevent them both ever returning to their +beautiful country.' + +But the dwarf's wicked intentions were doomed to disappointment. The +happy youth struck the water with his wand, and the waves at once parted +and stood still, and the dwarf went on in front and crossed the stream. +No sooner had he done so than the waters closed behind him, and the +youth and his lovely bride stood safe on the other side. Then they threw +his beard to the old man across the river, but they kept his wand, so +that the wicked dwarf could never again enter their kingdom. So the +happy couple returned to their castle, and lived there in peace and +plenty for ever after. But the other two musicians waited in vain for +the return of their companion; and when he never came they said: 'Ah, +he's gone to play the flute,' till the saying passed into a proverb, and +was always said of anyone who set out to perform a task from which he +never returned. + +Grimm. + + + + + +THE THREE DOGS + + + +There was once upon a time a shepherd who had two children, a son and +a daughter. When he was on his death-bed he turned to them and said, 'I +have nothing to leave you but three sheep and a small house; divide them +between you, as you like, but don't quarrel over them whatever you do.' + +When the shepherd was dead, the brother asked his sister which she would +like best, the sheep or the little house; and when she had chosen the +house he said, 'Then I'll take the sheep and go out to seek my fortune +in the wide world. I don't see why I shouldn't be as lucky as many +another who has set out on the same search, and it wasn't for nothing +that I was born on a Sunday.' + +And so he started on his travels, driving his three sheep in front of +him, and for a long time it seemed as if fortune didn't mean to favour +him at all. One day he was sitting disconsolately at a cross road, +when a man suddenly appeared before him with three black dogs, each one +bigger than the other. + +'Hullo, my fine fellow,' said the man, 'I see you have three fat sheep. +I'll tell you what; if you'll give them to me, I'll give you my three +dogs.' + +In spite of his sadness, the youth smiled and replied, 'What would I do +with your dogs? My sheep at least feed themselves, but I should have to +find food for the dogs.' + +'My dogs are not like other dogs,' said the stranger; 'they will feed +you instead of you them, and will make your fortune. The smallest one is +called "Salt," and will bring you food whenever you wish; the second is +called "Pepper," and will tear anyone to pieces who offers to hurt you; +and the great big strong one is called "Mustard," and is so powerful +that it will break iron or steel with its teeth.' + +The shepherd at last let himself be persuaded, and gave the stranger his +sheep. In order to test the truth of his statement about the dogs, he +said at once, 'Salt, I am hungry,' and before the words were out of +his mouth the dog had disappeared, and returned in a few minutes with +a large basket full of the most delicious food. Then the youth +congratulated himself on the bargain he had made, and continued his +journey in the best of spirits. + +One day he met a carriage and pair, all draped in black; even the horses +were covered with black trappings, and the coachman was clothed in crape +from top to toe. Inside the carriage sat a beautiful girl in a black +dress crying bitterly. The horses advanced slowly and mournfully, with +their heads bent on the ground. + +'Coachman, what's the meaning of all this grief?' asked the shepherd. + +At first the coachman wouldn't say anything, but when the youth pressed +him he told him that a huge dragon dwelt in the neighbourhood, and +required yearly the sacrifice of a beautiful maiden. This year the lot +had fallen on the King's daughter, and the whole country was filled with +woe and lamentation in consequence. + +The shepherd felt very sorry for the lovely maiden, and determined +to follow the carriage. In a little it halted at the foot of a high +mountain. The girl got out, and walked slowly and sadly to meet her +terrible fate. The coachman perceived that the shepherd wished to follow +her, and warned him not to do so if he valued his life; but the shepherd +wouldn't listen to his advice. When they had climbed about half-way up +the hill they saw a terrible-looking monster with the body of a snake, +and with huge wings and claws, coming towards them, breathing forth +flames of fire, and preparing to seize its victim. Then the shepherd +called, 'Pepper, come to the rescue,' and the second dog set upon the +dragon, and after a fierce struggle bit it so sharply in the neck that +the monster rolled over, and in a few moments breathed its last. Then +the dog ate up the body, all except its two front teeth, which the +shepherd picked up and put in his pocket. + +The Princess was quite overcome with terror and joy, and fell fainting +at the feet of her deliverer. When she recovered her consciousness she +begged the shepherd to return with her to her father, who would reward +him richly. But the youth answered that he wanted to see something of +the world, and that he would return again in three years, and nothing +would make him change this resolve. The Princess seated herself once +more in her carriage, and, bidding each other farewell, she and the +shepherd separated, she to return home, and he to see the world. + +But while the Princess was driving over a bridge the carriage suddenly +stood still, and the coachman turned round to her and said, 'Your +deliverer has gone, and doesn't thank you for your gratitude. It would +be nice of you to make a poor fellow happy; therefore you may tell your +father that it was I who slew the dragon, and if you refuse to, I will +throw you into the river, and no one will be any the wiser, for they +will think the dragon has devoured you.' + +The maiden was in a dreadful state when she heard these words; but +there was nothing for her to do but to swear that she would give out the +coachman as her deliverer, and not to divulge the secret to anyone. So +they returned to the capital, and everyone was delighted when they saw +the Princess had returned unharmed; the black flags were taken down from +all the palace towers, and gay-coloured ones put up in their place, and +the King embraced his daughter and her supposed rescuer with tears of +joy, and, turning to the coachman, he said, 'You have not only saved the +life of my child, but you have also freed the country from a terrible +scourge; therefore, it is only fitting that you should be richly +rewarded. Take, therefore, my daughter for your wife; but as she is +still so young, do not let the marriage be celebrated for another year.' + +The coachman thanked the King for his graciousness, and was then led +away to be richly dressed and instructed in all the arts and graces that +befitted his new position. But the poor Princess wept bitterly, though +she did not dare to confide her grief to anyone. When the year was over, +she begged so hard for another year's respite that it was granted to +her. But this year passed also, and she threw herself at her father's +feet, and begged so piteously for one more year that the King's heart +was melted, and he yielded to her request, much to the Princess's joy, +for she knew that her real deliverer would appear at the end of the +third year. And so the year passed away like the other two, and the +wedding-day was fixed, and all the people were prepared to feast and +make merry. + +But on the wedding-day it happened that a stranger came to the town with +three black dogs. He asked what the meaning of all the feasting and fuss +was, and they told him that the King's daughter was just going to be +married to the man who had slain the terrible dragon. The stranger at +once denounced the coachman as a liar; but no one would listen to him, +and he was seized and thrown into a cell with iron doors. + +While he was lying on his straw pallet, pondering mournfully on his +fate, he thought he heard the low whining of his dogs outside; then an +idea dawned on him, and he called out as loudly as he could, 'Mustard, +come to my help,' and in a second he saw the paws of his biggest dog at +the window of his cell, and before he could count two the creature had +bitten through the iron bars and stood beside him. Then they both let +themselves out of the prison by the window, and the poor youth was free +once more, though he felt very sad when he thought that another was to +enjoy the reward that rightfully belonged to him. He felt hungry too, +so he called his dog 'Salt,' and asked him to bring home some food. The +faithful creature trotted off, and soon returned with a table-napkin +full of the most delicious food, and the napkin itself was embroidered +with a kingly crown. + +The King had just seated himself at the wedding-feast with all his +Court, when the dog appeared and licked the Princess's hand in an +appealing manner. With a joyful start she recognised the beast, and +bound her own table-napkin round his neck. Then she plucked up her +courage and told her father the whole story. The King at once sent a +servant to follow the dog, and in a short time the stranger was led into +the Kings presence. The former coachman grew as white as a sheet when +he saw the shepherd, and, falling on his knees, begged for mercy and +pardon. The Princess recognized her deliverer at once, and did not need +the proof of the two dragon's teeth which he drew from his pocket. The +coachman was thrown into a dark dungeon, and the shepherd took his place +at the Princess's side, and this time, you may be sure, she did not beg +for the wedding to be put off. + +The young couple lived for some time in great peace and happiness, +when suddenly one day the former shepherd bethought himself of his poor +sister and expressed a wish to see her again, and to let her share in +his good fortune. So they sent a carriage to fetch her, and soon she +arrived at the court, and found herself once more in her brother's arms. +Then one of the dogs spoke and said, 'Our task is done; you have no more +need of us. We only waited to see that you did not forget your sister in +your prosperity.' And with these words the three dogs became three birds +and flew away into the heavens. + +Grimm. + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Green Fairy Book, by Various + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GREEN FAIRY BOOK *** + +***** This file should be named 7277.txt or 7277.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/7/2/7/7277/ + +Produced by JC Byers, and Wendy Crockett + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/7277.zip b/7277.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..1ef7abc --- /dev/null +++ b/7277.zip diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d99bff4 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #7277 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/7277) diff --git a/old/7gfry10.txt b/old/7gfry10.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..51e954f --- /dev/null +++ b/old/7gfry10.txt @@ -0,0 +1,13353 @@ +Project Gutenberg's The Green Fairy Book, by Andrew Lang, Ed. + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the +copyright laws for your country before downloading or redistributing +this or any other Project Gutenberg eBook. + +This header should be the first thing seen when viewing this Project +Gutenberg file. Please do not remove it. Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: The Green Fairy Book + +Author: Andrew Lang, Ed. + +Release Date: January, 2005 [EBook #7277] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on April 6, 2003] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GREEN FAIRY BOOK *** + + + + +Text scanned by JC Byers. Proofreading by Wendy Crockett. + + + + + The Green Fairy Book + + Edited by + Andrew Lang + + To + Stella Margaret Alleyne + the + Green Fairy Book + is dedicated + + + + To The Friendly Reader + + + +This is the third, and probably the last, of the Fairy Books of +many colours. First there was the Blue Fairy Book; then, +children, you asked for more, and we made up the Red Fairy Book; +and, when you wanted more still, the Green Fairy Book was put +together. The stories in all the books are borrowed from many +countries; some are French, some German, some Russian, some +Italian, some Scottish, some English, one Chinese. However much +these nations differ about trifles, they all agree in liking +fairy tales. The reason, no doubt, is that men were much like +children in their minds long ago, long, long ago, and so before +they took to writing newspapers, and sermons, and novels, and +long poems, they told each other stories, such as you read in the +fairy books. They believed that witches could turn people into +beasts, that beasts could speak, that magic rings could make +their owners invisible, and all the other wonders in the stories. +Then, as the world became grown-up, the fairy tales which were +not written down would have been quite forgotten but that the old +grannies remembered them, and told them to the little +grandchildren: and when they, in their turn, became grannies, +they remembered them, and told them also. In this way these tales +are older than reading and writing, far older than printing. The +oldest fairy tales ever written down were written down in Egypt, +about Joseph's time, nearly three thousand five hundred years +ago. Other fairy stories Homer knew, in Greece, nearly three +thousand years ago, and he made them all up into a poem, the +Odyssey, which I hope you will read some day. Here you will find +the witch who turns men into swine, and the man who bores out the +big foolish giant's eye, and the cap of darkness, and the shoes +of swiftness, that were worn later by Jack the Giant-Killer. +These fairy tales are the oldest stories in the world, and as +they were first made by men who were childlike for their own +amusement, so they amuse children still, and also grown-up people +who have not forgotten how they once were children. + +Some of the stories were made, no doubt, not only to amuse, but +to teach goodness. You see, in the tales, how the boy who is kind +to beasts, and polite, and generous, and brave, always comes best +through his trials, and no doubt these tales were meant to make +their hearers kind, unselfish, courteous, and courageous. This is +the moral of them. But, after all, we think more as we read them +of the diversion than of the lesson. There are grown-up people +now who say that the stories are not good for children, because +they are not true, because there are no witches, nor talking +beasts, and because people are killed in them, especially wicked +giants. But probably you who read the tales know very well how +much is true and how much is only make-believe, and I never yet +heard of a child who killed a very tall man merely because Jack +killed the giants, or who was unkind to his stepmother, if he had +one, because, in fairy tales, the stepmother is often +disagreeable. If there are frightful monsters in fairy tales, +they do not frighten you now, because that kind of monster is no +longer going about the world, whatever he may have done long, +long ago. He has been turned into stone, and you may see his +remains in museums. Therefore, I am not afraid that you will be +afraid of the magicians and dragons; besides, you see that a +really brave boy or girl was always their master, even in the +height of their power. + +Some of the tales here, like The Half-Chick, are for very little +children; others for older ones. The longest tales, like Heart of +Ice, were not invented when the others were, but were written in +French, by clever men and women, such as Madame d'Aulnoy, and the +Count de Caylus, about two hundred years ago. There are not many +people now, perhaps there are none, who can write really good +fairy tales, because they do not believe enough in their own +stories, and because they want to be wittier than it has pleased +Heaven to make them. + +So here we give you the last of the old stories, for the present, +and hope you will like them, and feel grateful to the Brothers +Grimm, who took them down from the telling of old women, and to +M. Sebillot and M. Charles Marelles, who have lent us some tales +from their own French people, and to Mr. Ford, who drew the +pictures, and to the ladies, Miss Blackley, Miss Alma Alleyne, +Miss Eleanor Sellar, Miss May Sellar, Miss Wright, and Mrs. Lang, +who translated many of the tales out of French, German, and other +languages. + +If we have a book for you next year, it shall not be a fairy +book. What it is to be is a secret, but we hope that it will not +be dull. So good-bye, and when you have read a fairy book, lend +it to other children who have none, or tell them the stories in +your own way, which is a very pleasant mode of passing the time. + + + + Contents + +The Blue Bird +The Half-Chick +The Story of Caliph Stork +The Enchanted Watch +Rosanella +Sylvain and Jocosa +Fairy Gifts +Prince Narcissus and the Princess Potentilla +Prince Featherhead and the Princess Celandine +The Three Little Pigs +Heart of Ice +The Enchanted Ring +The Snuff-box +The Golden Blackbird +The Little Soldier +The Magic Swan +The Dirty Shepherdess +The Enchanted Snake +The Biter Bit +King Kojata +Prince Fickle and Fair Helena +Puddocky +The Story of Hok Lee and the Dwarfs +The Story of the Three Bears +Prince Vivien and the Princess Placida +Little One-eye, Little Two-eyes, and Little Three-eyes +Jorinde and Joringel +Allerleirauh; or, the Many-furred Creature +The Twelve Huntsmen +Spindle, Shuttle, and Needle +The Crystal Coffin +The Three Snake-leaves +The Riddle +Jack my Hedgehog +The Golden Lads +The White Snake +The Story of a Clever Tailor +The Golden Mermaid +The War of the Wolf and the Fox +The Story of the Fisherman and his Wife +The Three Musicians +The Three Dogs + + + + + + THE BLUE BIRD + + + +Once upon a time there lived a King who was immensely rich. He +had broad lands, and sacks overflowing with gold and silver; but +he did not care a bit for all his riches, because the Queen, his +wife, was dead. He shut himself up in a little room and knocked +his head against the walls for grief, until his courtiers were +really afraid that he would hurt himself. So they hung +feather-beds between the tapestry and the walls, and then he +could go on knocking his head as long as it was any consolation +to him without coming to much harm. All his subjects came to see +him, and said whatever they thought would comfort him: some were +grave, even gloomy with him; and some agreeable, even gay; but +not one could make the least impression upon him. Indeed, he +hardly seemed to hear what they said. At last came a lady who was +wrapped in a black mantle, and seemed to be in the deepest grief. +She wept and sobbed until even the King's attention was +attracted; and when she said that, far from coming to try and +diminish his grief, she, who had just lost a good husband, was +come to add her tears to his, since she knew what he must be +feeling, the King redoubled his lamentations. Then he told the +sorrowful lady long stories about the good qualities of his +departed Queen, and she in her turn recounted all the virtues of +her departed husband; and this passed the time so agreeably that +the King quite forgot to thump his head against the feather-beds, +and the lady did not need to wipe the tears from her great blue +eyes as often as before. By degrees they came to talking about +other things in which the King took an interest, and in a +wonderfully short time the whole kingdom was astonished by the +news that the King was married again to the sorrowful lady. + +Now the King had one daughter, who was just fifteen years old. +Her name was Fiordelisa, and she was the prettiest and most +charming Princess imaginable, always gay and merry. The new +Queen, who also had a daughter, very soon sent for her to come to +the Palace. Turritella, for that was her name, had been brought +up by her godmother, the Fairy Mazilla, but in spite of all the +care bestowed upon her, she was neither beautiful nor gracious. +Indeed, when the Queen saw how ill-tempered and ugly she appeared +beside Fiordelisa she was in despair, and did everything in her +power to turn the King against his own daughter, in the hope that +he might take a fancy to Turritella. One day the King said that +it was time Fiordelisa and Turritella were married, so he would +give one of them to the first suitable Prince who visited his +Court. The Queen answered: + +'My daughter certainly ought to be the first to be married; she +is older than yours, and a thousand times more charming!' + +The King, who hated disputes, said, 'Very well, it's no affair of +mine, settle it your own way.' + +Very soon after came the news that King Charming, who was the +most handsome and magnificent Prince in all the country round, +was on his way to visit the King. As soon as the Queen heard +this, she set all her jewellers, tailors, weavers, and +embroiderers to work upon splendid dresses and ornaments for +Turritella, but she told the King that Fiordelisa had no need of +anything new, and the night before the King was to arrive, she +bribed her waiting woman to steal away all the Princess's own +dresses and jewels, so that when the day came, and Fiordelisa +wished to adorn herself as became her high rank, not even a +ribbon could she find. + +However, as she easily guessed who had played her such a trick, +she made no complaint, but sent to the merchants for some rich +stuffs. But they said that the Queen had expressly forbidden them +to supply her with any, and they dared not disobey. So the +Princess had nothing left to put on but the little white frock +she had been wearing the day before; and dressed in that, she +went down when the time of the King's arrival came, and sat in a +corner hoping to escape notice. The Queen received her guest with +great ceremony, and presented him to her daughter, who was +gorgeously attired, but so much splendour only made her ugliness +more noticeable, and the King, after one glance at her, looked +the other way. The Queen, however, only thought that he was +bashful, and took pains to keep Turritella in full view. King +Charming then asked it there was not another Princess, called +Fiordelisa. + +'Yes,' said Turritella, pointing with her finger, 'there she is, +trying to keep out of sight because she is not smart.' + +At this Fiordelisa blushed, and looked so shy and so lovely, that +the King was fairly astonished. He rose, and bowing low before +her, said-- + +'Madam, your incomparable beauty needs no adornment.' + +'Sire,' answered the Princess, 'I assure you that I am not in the +habit of wearing dresses as crumpled and untidy as this one, so I +should have been better pleased if you had not seen me at all.' + +'Impossible!' cried King Charming. 'Wherever such a marvellously +beautiful Princess appears I can look at nothing else.' + +Here the Queen broke in, saying sharply-- + +'I assure you, Sire, that Fiordelisa is vain enough already. Pray +make her no more flattering speeches.' + +The King quite understood that she was not pleased, but that did +not matter to him, so he admired Fiordelisa to his heart's +content, and talked to her for three hours without stopping. + +The Queen was in despair, and so was Turritella, when they saw +how much the King preferred Fiordelisa. They complained bitterly +to the King, and begged and teased him, until he at last +consented to have the Princess shut up somewhere out of sight +while King Charming's visit lasted. So that night, as she went to +her room, she was seized by four masked figures, and carried up +into the topmost room of a high tower, where they left her in the +deepest dejection. She easily guessed that she was to be kept out +of sight for fear the King should fall in love with her; but +then, how disappointing that was, for she already liked him very +much, and would have been quite willing to be chosen for his +bride! As King Charming did not know what had happened to the +Princess, he looked forward impatiently to meeting her again, and +he tried to talk about her with the courtiers who were placed in +attendance on him. But by the Queen's orders they would say +nothing good of her, but declared that she was vain, capricious, +and bad-tempered; that she tormented her waiting-maids, and that, +in spite of all the money that the King gave her, she was so mean +that she preferred to go about dressed like a poor shepherdess, +rather than spend any of it. All these things vexed the King very +much, and he was silent. + +'It is true,' thought he, 'that she was very poorly dressed, but +then she was so ashamed that it proves that she was not +accustomed to be so. I cannot believe that with that lovely face +she can be as ill-tempered and contemptible as they say. No, no, +the Queen must be jealous of her for the sake of that ugly +daughter of hers, and so these evil reports are spread.' + +The courtiers could not help seeing that what they had told the +King did not please him, and one of them cunningly began to +praise Fiordelisa, when he could talk to the King without being +heard by the others. + +King Charming thereupon became so cheerful, and interested in all +he said, that it was easy to guess how much he admired the +Princess. So when the Queen sent for the courtiers and questioned +them about all they had found out, their report confirmed her +worst fears. As to the poor Princess Fiordelisa, she cried all +night without stopping. + +'It would have been quite bad enough to be shut up in this gloomy +tower before I had ever seen King Charming,' she said; 'but now +when he is here, and they are all enjoying themselves with him, +it is too unkind.' + +The next day the Queen sent King Charming splendid presents of +jewels and rich stuffs, and among other things an ornament made +expressly in honour of the approaching wedding. It was a heart +cut out of one huge ruby, and was surrounded by several diamond +arrows, and pierced by one. A golden true-lover's knot above the +heart bore the motto, 'But one can wound me,' and the whole jewel +was hung upon a chain of immense pearls. Never, since the world +has been a world, had such a thing been made, and the King was +quite amazed when it was presented to him. The page who brought +it begged him to accept it from the Princess, who chose him to be +her knight. + +'What!' cried he, 'does the lovely Princess Fiordelisa deign to +think of me in this amiable and encouraging way?' + +'You confuse the names, Sire,' said the page hastily. 'I come on +behalf of the Princess Turritella.' + +'Oh, it is Turritella who wishes me to be her knight,' said the +King coldly. 'I am sorry that I cannot accept the honour.' And he +sent the splendid gifts back to the Queen and Turritella, who +were furiously angry at the contempt with which they were +treated. As soon as he possibly could, King Charming went to see +the King and Queen, and as he entered the hall he looked for +Fiordelisa, and every time anyone came in he started round to see +who it was, and was altogether so uneasy and dissatisfied that +the Queen saw it plainly. But she would not take any notice, and +talked of nothing but the entertainments she was planning. The +Prince answered at random, and presently asked if he was not to +have the pleasure of seeing the Princess Fiordelisa. + +'Sire,' answered the Queen haughtily, 'her father has ordered +that she shall not leave her own apartments until my daughter is +married.' + +'What can be the reason for keeping that lovely Princess a +prisoner?' cried the King in great indignation. + +'That I do not know,' answered the Queen; 'and even if I did, I +might not feel bound to tell you.' + +The King was terribly angry at being thwarted like this. He felt +certain that Turritella was to blame for it, so casting a furious +glance at her he abruptly took leave of the Queen, and returned +to his own apartments. There he said to a young squire whom he +had brought with him: 'I would give all I have in the world to +gain the good will of one of the Princess's waiting-women, and +obtain a moment's speech with Fiordelisa.' + +'Nothing could be easier,' said the young squire; and he very +soon made friends with one of the ladies, who told him that in +the evening Fiordelisa would be at a little window which looked +into the garden, where he could come and talk to her. Only, she +said, he must take very great care not to be seen, as it would be +as much as her place was worth to be caught helping King Charming +to see the Princess. The squire was delighted, and promised all +she asked; but the moment he had run off to announce his success +to the King, the false waiting-woman went and told the Queen all +that had passed. She at once determined that her own daughter +should be at the little window; and she taught her so well all +she was to say and do, that even the stupid Turritella could make +no mistake. + +The night was so dark that the King had not a chance of finding +out the trick that was being played upon him, so he approached +the window with the greatest delight, and said everything that he +had been longing to say to Fiordelisa to persuade her of his love +for her. Turritella answered as she had been taught, that she was +very unhappy, and that there was no chance of her being better +treated by the Queen until her daughter was married. And then the +King entreated her to marry him; and thereupon he drew his ring +from his finger and put it upon Turritella's, and she answered +him as well as she could. The King could not help thinking that +she did not say exactly what he would have expected from his +darling Fiordelisa, but he persuaded himself that the fear of +being surprised by the Queen was making her awkward and +unnatural. He would not leave her until she had promised to see +him again the next night, which Turritella did willingly enough. +The Queen was overjoyed at the success of her stratagem, end +promised herself that all would now be as she wished; and sure +enough, as soon as it was dark the following night the King came, +bringing with him a chariot which had been given him by an +Enchanter who was his friend. This chariot was drawn by flying +frogs, and the King easily persuaded Turritella to come out and +let him put her into it, then mounting beside her he cried +triumphantly-- + +'Now, my Princess, you are free; where will it please you that we +shall hold our wedding?' + +And Turritella, with her head muffled in her mantle, answered +that the Fairy Mazilla was her godmother, and that she would like +it to be at her castle. So the King told the Frogs, who had the +map of the whole world in their heads, and very soon he and +Turritella were set down at the castle of the Fairy Mazilla. The +King would certainly have found out his mistake the moment they +stepped into the brilliantly lighted castle, but Turritella held +her mantle more closely round her, and asked to see the Fairy by +herself, and quickly told her all that had happened, and how she +had succeeded in deceiving King Charming. + +'Oho! my daughter,' said the Fairy, 'I see we have no easy task +before us. He loves Fiordelisa so much that he will not be easily +pacified. I feel sure he will defy us!' Meanwhile the King was +waiting in a splendid room with diamond walls, so clear that he +could see the Fairy and Turritella as they stood whispering +together, and he was very much puzzled. + +'Who can have betrayed us?' he said to himself. 'How comes our +enemy here? She must be plotting to prevent our marriage. Why +doesn't my lovely Fiordelisa make haste and come hack to me?' + +But it was worse than anything he had imagined when the Fairy +Mazilla entered, leading Turritella by the hand, and said to +him-- + +'King Charming, here is the Princess Turritella to whom you have +plighted your faith. Let us have the wedding at once.' + +'I!' cried the King. 'I marry that little creature! What do you +take me for? I have promised her nothing!' + +'Say no more. Have you no respect for a Fairy?' cried she +angrily. + +'Yes, madam,' answered the King, 'I am prepared to respect you as +much as a Fairy can be respected, if you will give me back my +Princess.' + +'Am I not here?' interrupted Turritella. 'Here is the ring you +gave me. With whom did you talk at the little window, if it was +not with me?' + +'What!' cried the King angrily, 'have I been altogether deceived +and deluded? Where is my chariot? Not another moment will I stay +here.' + +'Oho,' said the Fairy, 'not so fast.' And she touched his feet, +which instantly became as firmly fixed to the floor as if they +had been nailed there. + +'Oh! do whatever you like with me,' said the King; 'you may turn +me to stone, but I will marry no one but Fiordelisa.' + +And not another word would he say, though the Fairy scolded and +threatened, and Turritella wept and raged for twenty days and +twenty nights. At last the Fairy Mazilla said furiously (for she +was quite tired out by his obstinacy), 'Choose whether you will +marry my goddaughter, or do penance seven years for breaking your +word to her.' + +And then the King cried gaily: 'Pray do whatever you like with +me, as long as you deliver me from this ugly scold!' + +'Scold!' cried Turritella angrily. 'Who are you, I should like to +know, that you dare to call me a scold? A miserable King who +breaks his word, and goes about in a chariot drawn by croaking +frogs out of a marsh!' + +'Let us have no more of these insults,' cried the Fairy. 'Fly +from that window, ungrateful King, and for seven years be a Blue +Bird.' As she spoke the King's face altered, his arms turned to +wings, his feet to little crooked black claws. In a moment he had +a slender body like a bird, covered with shining blue feathers, +his beak was like ivory, his eyes were bright as stars, and a +crown of white feathers adorned his head. + +As soon as the transformation was complete the King uttered a +dolorous cry and fled through the open window, pursued by the +mocking laughter of Turritella and the Fairy Mazilla. He flew on +until he reached the thickest part of the wood, and there, +perched upon a cypress tree, he bewailed his miserable fate. +'Alas! in seven years who knows what may happen to my darling +Fiordelisa!' he said. 'Her cruel stepmother may have married her +to someone else before I am myself again, and then what good will +life be to me?' + +In the meantime the Fairy Mazilla had sent Turritella back to the +Queen, who was all anxiety to know how the wedding, had gone off. +But when her daughter arrived and told her all that had happened +she was terribly angry, and of course all her wrath fell upon +Fiordelisa. 'She shall have cause to repent that the King admires +her,' said the Queen, nodding her head meaningly, and then she +and Turritella went up to the little room in the tower where the +Princess was imprisoned. Fiordelisa was immensely surprised to +see that Turritella was wearing a royal mantle and a diamond +crown, and her heart sank when the Queen said: 'My daughter is +come to show you some of her wedding presents, for she is King +Charming's bride, and they are the happiest pair in the world, he +loves her to distraction.' All this time Turritella was spreading +out lace, and jewels, and rich brocades, and ribbons before +Fiordelisa's unwilling eyes, and taking good care to display King +Charming's ring, which she wore upon her thumb. The Princess +recognised it as soon as her eyes fell upon it, and after that +she could no longer doubt that he had indeed married Turritella. +In despair she cried, 'Take away these miserable gauds! what +pleasure has a wretched captive in the sight of them?' and then +she fell insensible upon the floor, and the cruel Queen laughed +maliciously, and went away with Turritella, leaving her there +without comfort or aid. That night the Queen said to the King, +that his daughter was so infatuated with King Charming, in spite +of his never having shown any preference for her, that it was +just as well she should stay in the tower until she came to her +senses. To which he answered that it was her affair, and she +could give what orders she pleased about the Princess. + +When the unhappy Fiordelisa recovered, and remembered all she had +just heard, she began to cry bitterly, believing that King +Charming was lost to her for ever, and all night long she sat at +her open window sighing and lamenting; but when it was dawn she +crept away into the darkest corner of her little room and sat +there, too unhappy to care about anything. As soon as night came +again she once more leaned out into the darkness and bewailed her +miserable lot. + +Now it happened that King Charming, or rather the Blue Bird, had +been flying round the palace in the hope of seeing his beloved +Princess, but had not dared to go too near the windows for fear +of being seen and recognised by Turritella. When night fell he +had not succeeded in discovering where Fiordelisa was imprisoned, +and, weary and sad, he perched upon a branch of a tall fir tree +which grew close to the tower, and began to sing himself to +sleep. But soon the sound of a soft voice lamenting attracted his +attention, and listening intently he heard it say-- + +'Ah! cruel Queen! what have I ever done to be imprisoned like +this? And was I not unhappy enough before, that you must needs +come and taunt me with the happiness your daughter is enjoying +now she is King Charming's bride?' + +The Blue Bird, greatly surprised, waited impatiently for the +dawn, and the moment it was light flew off to see who it could +have been who spoke thus. But he found the window shut, and could +see no one. The next night, however, he was on the watch, and by +the clear moonlight he saw that the sorrowful lady at the window +was Fiordelisa herself. + +'My Princess! have I found you at last?' said he, alighting close +to her. + +'Who is speaking to me?' cried the Princess in great surprise. + +'Only a moment since you mentioned my name, and now you do not +know me, Fiordelisa,' said he sadly. 'But no wonder, since I am +nothing but a Blue Bird, and must remain one for seven years.' + +'What! Little Blue Bird, are you really the powerful King +Charming?' said the Princess, caressing him. + +'It is too true,' he answered. 'For being faithful to you I am +thus punished. But believe me, if it were for twice as long I +would bear it joyfully rather than give you up.' + +'Oh! what are you telling me?' cried the Princess. 'Has not your +bride, Turritella, just visited me, wearing the royal mantle and +the diamond crown you gave her? I cannot be mistaken, for I saw +your ring upon her thumb.' + +Then the Blue Bird was furiously angry, and told the Princess all +that had happened, how he had been deceived into carrying off +Turritella, and how, for refusing to marry her, the Fairy Mazilla +had condemned him to be a Blue Bird for seven years. + +The Princess was very happy when she heard how faithful her lover +was, and would never have tired of hearing his loving speeches +and explanations, but too soon the sun rose, and they had to part +lest the Blue Bird should be discovered. After promising to come +again to the Princess's window as soon as it was dark, he flew +away, and hid himself in a little hole in the fir-tree, while +Fiordelisa remained devoured by anxiety lest he should be caught +in a trap, or eaten up by an eagle. + +But the Blue Bird did not long stay in his hiding-place. He flew +away, and away, until he came to his own palace, and got into it +through a broken window, and there he found the cabinet where his +jewels were kept, and chose out a splendid diamond ring as a +present for the Princess. By the time he got back, Fiordelisa was +sitting waiting for him by the open window, and when he gave her +the ring, she scolded him gently for having run such a risk to +get it for her. + +'Promise me that you will wear it always!' said the Blue Bird. +And the Princess promised on condition that he should come and +see her in the day as well as by night. They talked all night +long, and the next morning the Blue Bird flew off to his kingdom, +and crept into his palace through the broken window, and chose +from his treasures two bracelets, each cut out of a single +emerald. When he presented them to the Princess, she shook her +head at him reproachfully, saying-- + +'Do you think I love you so little that I need all these gifts to +remind me of you?' + +And he answered-- + +'No, my Princess; but I love you so much that I feel I cannot +express it, try as I may. I only bring you these worthless +trifles to show that I have not ceased to think of you, though I +have been obliged to leave you for a time.' The following night +he gave Fiordelisa a watch set in a single pearl. The Princess +laughed a little when she saw it, and said-- + +'You may well give me a watch, for since I have known you I have +lost the power of measuring time. The hours you spend with me +pass like minutes, and the hours that I drag through without you +seem years to me.' + +'Ah, Princess, they cannot seem so long to you as they do to me!' +he answered. Day by day he brought more beautiful things for the +Princess--diamonds, and rubies, and opals; and at night she +decked herself with them to please him, but by day she hid them +in her straw mattress. When the sun shone the Blue Bird, hidden +in the tall fir-tree, sang to her so sweetly that all the +passersby wondered, and said that the wood was inhabited by a +spirit. And so two years slipped away, and still the Princess was +a prisoner, and Turritella was not married. The Queen had offered +her hand to all the neighbouring Princes, but they always +answered that they would marry Fiordelisa with pleasure, but not +Turritella on any account. This displeased the Queen terribly. +'Fiordelisa must be in league with them, to annoy me!' she said. +'Let us go and accuse her of it.' + +So she and Turritella went up into the tower. Now it happened +that it was nearly midnight, and Fiordelisa, all decked with +jewels, was sitting at the window with the Blue Bird, and as the +Queen paused outside the door to listen she heard the Princess +and her lover singing together a little song he had just taught +her. These were the words:-- + + 'Oh! what a luckless pair are we, + One in a prison, and one in a tree. + All our trouble and anguish came + From our faithfulness spoiling our enemies' game. + But vainly they practice their cruel arts, + For nought can sever our two fond hearts.' + +They sound melancholy perhaps, but the two voices sang them gaily +enough, and the Queen burst open the door, crying, 'Ah! my +Turritella, there is some treachery going on here!' + +As soon as she saw her, Fiordelisa, with great presence of mind, +hastily shut her little window, that the Blue Bird might have +time to escape, and then turned to meet the Queen, who +overwhelmed her with a torrent of reproaches. + +'Your intrigues are discovered, Madam,' she said furiously; 'and +you need not hope that your high rank will save you from the +punishment you deserve.' + +'And with whom do you accuse me of intriguing, Madam?' said the +Princess. 'Have I not been your prisoner these two years, and who +have I seen except the gaolers sent by you?' + +While she spoke the Queen and Turritella were looking at her in +the greatest surprise, perfectly dazzled by her beauty and the +splendour of her jewels, and the Queen said: + +'If one may ask, Madam, where did you get all these diamonds? +Perhaps you mean to tell me that you have discovered a mine of +them in the tower!' + +'I certainly did find them here,' answered the Princess. + +'And pray,' said the Queen, her wrath increasing every moment, +'for whose admiration are you decked out like this, since I have +often seen you not half as fine on the most important occasions +at Court?' + +'For my own,' answered Fiordelisa. 'You must admit that I have +had plenty of time on my hands, so you cannot be surprised at my +spending some of it in making myself smart.' + +'That's all very fine,' said the Queen suspiciously. 'I think I +will look about, and see for myself.' + +So she and Turritella began to search every corner of the little +room, and when they came to the straw mattress out fell such a +quantity of pearls, diamonds, rubies, opals, emeralds, and +sapphires, that they were amazed, and could not tell what to +think. But the Queen resolved to hide somewhere a packet of false +letters to prove that the Princess had been conspiring with the +King's enemies, and she chose the chimney as a good place. +Fortunately for Fiordelisa this was exactly where the Blue Bird +had perched himself, to keep an eye upon her proceedings, and try +to avert danger from his beloved Princess, and now he cried: + +'Beware, Fiordelisa! Your false enemy is plotting against you.' + +This strange voice so frightened the Queen that she took the +letter and went away hastily with Turritella, and they held a +council to try and devise some means of finding out what Fairy or +Enchanter was favouring the Princess. At last they sent one of +the Queen's maids to wait upon Fiordelisa, and told her to +pretend to be quite stupid, and to see and hear nothing, while +she was really to watch the Princess day and night, and keep the +Queen informed of all her doings. + +Poor Fiordelisa, who guessed she was sent as a spy, was in +despair, and cried bitterly that she dared not see her dear Blue +Bird for fear that some evil might happen to him if he were +discovered. + +The days were so long, and the nights so dull, but for a whole +month she never went near her little window lest he should fly to +her as he used to do. + +However, at last the spy, who had never taken her eyes off the +Princess day or night, was so overcome with weariness that she +fell into a deep sleep, and as son as the Princess saw that, she +flew to open her window and cried softly: + + 'Blue Bird, blue as the sky, + Fly to me now, there's nobody by.' + +And the Blue Bird, who had never ceased to flutter round within +sight and hearing of her prison, came in an instant. They had so +much to say, and were so overjoyed to meet once more, that it +scarcely seemed to them five minutes before the sun rose, and the +Blue Bird had to fly away. + +But the next night the spy slept as soundly as before, so that +the Blue Bird came, and he and the Princess began to think they +were perfectly safe, and to make all sorts of plans for being +happy as they were before the Queen's visit. But, alas! the third +night the spy was not quite so sleepy, and when the Princess +opened her window and cried as usual: + + 'Blue Bird, blue as the sky, + Fly to me now, there's nobody nigh,' + +she was wide awake in a moment, though she was sly enough to keep +her eyes shut at first. But presently she heard voices, and +peeping cautiously, she saw by the moonlight the most lovely blue +bird in the world, who was talking to the Princess, while she +stroked and caressed it fondly. + +The spy did not lose a single word of the conversation, and as +soon as the day dawned, and the Blue Bird had reluctantly said +good-bye to the Princess, she rushed off to the Queen, and told +her all she had seen and heard. + +Then the Queen sent for Turritella, and they talked it over, and +very soon came to the conclusion than this Blue Bird was no other +than King Charming himself. + +'Ah! that insolent Princess!' cried the Queen. 'To think that +when we supposed her to be so miserable, she was all the while as +happy as possible with that false King. But I know how we can +avenge ourselves!' + +So the spy was ordered to go back and pretend to sleep as soundly +as ever, and indeed she went to bed earlier than usual, and +snored as naturally as possible, and the poor Princess ran to the +window and cried: + + 'Blue Bird, blue as the sky, + Fly to me now, there's nobody by!' + +But no bird came. All night long she called, and waited, and +listened, but still there was no answer, for the cruel Queen had +caused the fir tree to be hung all over with knives, swords, +razors, shears, bill-hooks, and sickles, so that when the Blue +Bird heard the Princess call, and flew towards her, his wings +were cut, and his little black feet clipped off, and all pierced +and stabbed in twenty places, he fell back bleeding into his +hiding place in the tree, and lay there groaning and despairing, +for he thought the Princess must have been persuaded to betray +him, to regain her liberty. + +'Ah! Fiordelisa, can you indeed be so lovely and so faithless?' +he sighed, 'then I may as well die at once!' And he turned over +on his side and began to die. But it happened that his friend the +Enchanter had been very much alarmed at seeing the Frog chariot +come back to him without King Charming, and had been round the +world eight times seeking him, but without success. At the very +moment when the King gave himself up to despair, he was passing +through the wood for the eighth time, and called, as he had done +all over the world: + +'Charming! King Charming! Are you here?' + +The King at once recognised his friend's voice, and answered very +faintly: + +'I am here.' + +The Enchanter looked all round him, but could see nothing, and +then the King said again: + +'I am a Blue Bird.' + +Then the Enchanter found him in an instant, and seeing his +pitiable condition, ran hither and thither without a word, until +he had collected a handful of magic herbs, with which, and a few +incantations, he speedily made the King whole and sound again. + +'Now,' said he, 'let me hear all about it. There must be a +Princess at the bottom of this.' + +'There are two!' answered King Charming, with a wry smile. + +And then he told the whole story, accusing Fiordelisa of having +betrayed the secret of his visits to make her peace with the +Queen, and indeed saying a great many hard things about her +fickleness and her deceitful beauty, and so on. The Enchanter +quite agreed with him, and even went further, declaring that all +Princesses were alike, except perhaps in the matter of beauty, +and advised him to have done with Fiordelisa, and forget all +about her. But, somehow or other, this advice did not quite +please the King. + +'What is to be done next?' said the Enchanter, 'since you still +have five years to remain a Blue Bird.' + +'Take me to your palace,' answered the King; 'there you can at +least keep me in a cage safe from cats and swords.' + +'Well, that will be the best thing to do for the present,' said +his friend. 'But I am not an Enchanter for nothing. I'm sure to +have a brilliant idea for you before long.' + +In the meantime Fiordelisa, quite in despair, sat at her window +day and night calling her dear Blue Bird in vain, and imagining +over and over again all the terrible things that could have +happened to him, until she grew quite pale and thin. As for the +Queen and Turritella, they were triumphant; but their triumph was +short, for the King, Fiordelisa's father, fell ill and died, and +all the people rebelled against the Queen and Turritella, and +came in a body to the palace demanding Fiordelisa. + +The Queen came out upon the balcony with threats and haughty +words, so that at last they lost their patience, and broke open +the doors of the palace, one of which fell back upon the Queen +and killed her. Turritella fled to the Fairy Mazilla, and all the +nobles of the kingdom fetched the Princess Fiordelisa from her +prison in the tower, and made her Queen. Very soon, with all the +care and attention they bestowed upon her, she recovered from the +effects of her long captivity and looked more beautiful than +ever, and was able to take counsel with her courtiers, and +arrange for the governing of her kingdom during her absence. And +then, taking a bagful of jewels, she set out all alone to look +for the Blue Bird, without telling anyone where she was going. + +Meanwhile, the Enchanter was taking care of King Charming, but as +his power was not great enough to counteract the Fairy Mazilla's, +he at last resolved to go and see if he could make any kind of +terms with her for his friend; for you see, Fairies and +Enchanters are cousins in a sort of way, after all; and after +knowing one another for five or six hundred years and falling +out, and making it up again pretty often, they understand one +another well enough. So the Fairy Mazilla received him +graciously. 'And what may you be wanting, Gossip?' said she. + +'You can do a good turn for me if you will;' he answered. 'A +King, who is a friend of mine, was unlucky enough to offend +you--' + +'Aha! I know who you mean,' interrupted the Fairy. 'I am sorry +not to oblige you, Gossip, but he need expect no mercy from me +unless he will marry my goddaughter, whom you see yonder looking +so pretty and charming. Let him think over what I say.' + +The Enchanter hadn't a word to say, for he thought Turritella +really frightful, but he could not go away without making one +more effort for his friend the King, who was really in great +danger as long as he lived in a cage. Indeed, already he had met +with several alarming accidents. Once the nail on which his cage +was hung had given way, and his feathered Majesty had suffered +much from the fall, while Madam Puss, who happened to be in the +room at the time, had given him a scratch in the eye which came +very near blinding him. Another time they had forgotten to give +him any water to drink, so that he was nearly dead with thirst; +and the worst thing of all was that he was in danger of losing +his kingdom, for he had been absent so long that all his subjects +believed him to be dead. So considering all these things the +Enchanter agreed with the Fairy Mazilla that she should restore +the King to his natural form, and should take Turritella to stay +in his palace for several months, and if, after the time was over +he still could not make up his mind to marry her, he should once +more be changed into a Blue Bird. + +Then the Fairy dressed Turritella in a magnificent gold and +silver robe, and they mounted together upon a flying Dragon, and +very soon reached King Charming's palace, where he, too, had just +been brought by his faithful friend the Enchanter. + +Three strokes of the Fairy's wand restored his natural form, and +he was as handsome and delightful as ever, but he considered that +he paid dearly for his restoration when he caught sight of +Turritella, and the mere idea of marrying her made him shudder. + +Meanwhile, Queen Fiordelisa, disguised as a poor peasant girl, +wearing a great straw hat that concealed her face, and carrying +an old sack over her shoulder, had set out upon her weary +journey, and had travelled far, sometimes by sea and sometimes by +land; sometimes on foot, and sometimes on horseback, but not +knowing which way to go. She feared all the time that every step +she took was leading her farther from her lover. One day as she +sat, quite tired and sad, on the bank of a little brook, cooling +her white feet in the clear running water, and combing her long +hair that glittered like gold in the sunshine, a little bent old +woman passed by, leaning on a stick. She stopped, and said to +Fiordelisa: + +'What, my pretty child, are you all alone?' + +'Indeed, good mother, I am too sad to care for company,' she +answered; and the tears ran down her cheeks. + +'Don't cry,' said the old woman, 'but tell me truly what is the +matter. Perhaps I can help you.' + +The Queen told her willingly all that had happened, and how she +was seeking the Blue Bird. Thereupon the little old woman +suddenly stood up straight, and grew tall, and young, and +beautiful, and said with a smile to the astonished Fiordelisa: + +'Lovely Queen, the King whom you seek is no longer a bird. My +sister Mazilla has given his own form back to him, and he is in +his own kingdom. Do not be afraid, you will reach him, and will +prosper. Take these four eggs; if you break one when you are in +any great difficulty, you will find aid.' + +So saying, she disappeared, and Fiordelisa, feeling much +encouraged, put the eggs into her bag and turned her steps +towards Charming's kingdom. After walking on and on for eight +days and eight nights, she came at last to a tremendously high +hill of polished ivory, so steep that it was impossible to get a +foothold upon it. Fiordelisa tried a thousand times, and +scrambled and slipped, but always in the end found herself +exactly where she started from. At last she sat down at the foot +of it in despair, and then suddenly bethought herself of the +eggs. Breaking one quickly, she found in it some little gold +hooks, and with these fastened to her feet and hands, she mounted +the ivory hill without further trouble, for the little hooks +saved her from slipping. As soon as she reached the top a new +difficulty presented itself, for all the other side, and indeed +the whole valley, was one polished mirror, in which thousands and +thousands of people were admiring their reflections. For this was +a magic mirror, in which people saw themselves just as they +wished to appear, and pilgrims came to it from the four corners +of the world. But nobody had ever been able to reach the top of +the hill, and when they saw Fiordelisa standing there, they +raised a terrible outcry, declaring that if she set foot upon +their glass she would break it to pieces. The Queen, not knowing +what to do, for she saw it would be dangerous to try to go down, +broke the second egg, and out came a chariot, drawn by two white +doves, and Fiordelisa got into it, and was floated softly away. +After a night and a day the doves alighted outside the gate of +King Charming's kingdom. Here the Queen got out of the chariot, +and kissed the doves and thanked them, and then with a beating +heart she walked into the town, asking the people she met where +she could see the King. But they only laughed at her, crying: + +'See the King? And pray, why do you want to see the King, my +little kitchen-maid? You had better go and wash your face first, +your eyes are not clear enough to see him!' For the Queen had +disguised herself, and pulled her hair down about her eyes, that +no one might know her. As they would not tell her, she went on +farther, and presently asked again, and this time the people +answered that to-morrow she might see the King driving through +the streets with the Princess Turritella, as it was said that at +last he had consented to marry her. This was indeed terrible news +to Fiordelisa. Had she come all this weary way only to find +Turritella had succeeded in making King Charming forget her? + +She was too tired and miserable to walk another step, so she sat +down in a doorway and cried bitterly all night long. As soon as +it was light she hastened to the palace, and after being sent +away fifty times by the guards, she got in at last, and saw the +thrones set in the great hall for the King and Turritella, who +was already looked upon as Queen. + +Fiordelisa hid herself behind a marble pillar, and very soon saw +Turritella make her appearance, richly dressed, but as ugly as +ever, and with her came the King, more handsome and splendid even +than Fiordelisa had remembered him. When Turritella had seated +herself upon the throne, the Queen approached her. + +'Who are you, and how dare you come near my high-mightiness, upon +my golden throne?' said Turritella, frowning fiercely at her. + +'They call me the little kitchen-maid,' she replied, 'and I come +to offer some precious things for sale,' and with that she +searched in her old sack, and drew out the emerald bracelets King +Charming had given her. + +'Ho, ho!' said Turritella, those are pretty bits of glass. I +suppose you would like five silver pieces for them.' + +'Show them to someone who understands such things, Madam,' +answered the Queen; 'after that we can decide upon the price.' + +Turritella, who really loved King Charming as much as she could +love anybody, and was always delighted to get a chance of talking +to him, now showed him the bracelets, asking how much he +considered them worth. As soon as he saw them he remembered those +he had given to Fiordelisa, and turned very pale and sighed +deeply, and fell into such sad thought that he quite forgot to +answer her. Presently she asked him again, and then he said, with +a great effort: + +'I believe these bracelets are worth as much as my kingdom. I +thought there was only one such pair in the world; but here, it +seems, is another.' + +Then Turritella went back to the Queen, and asked her what was +the lowest price she would take for them. + +'More than you would find it easy to pay, Madam,' answered she; +'but if you will manage for me to sleep one night in the Chamber +of Echoes, I will give you the emeralds.' + +'By all means, my little kitchen-maid,' said Turritella, highly +delighted. + +The King did not try to find out where the bracelets had come +from, not because he did not want to know, but because the only +way would have been to ask Turritella, and he disliked her so +much that he never spoke to her if he could possibly avoid it. It +was he who had told Fiordelisa about the Chamber of Echoes, when +he was a Blue Bird. It was a little room below the King's own +bed-chamber, and was so ingeniously built that the softest +whisper in it was plainly heard in the King's room. Fiordelisa +wanted to reproach him for his faithlessness, and could not +imagine a better way than this. So when, by Turritella's orders, +she was left there she began to weep and lament, and never ceased +until daybreak. + +The King's pages told Turritella, when she asked them, what a +sobbing and sighing they had heard, and she asked Fiordelisa what +it was all about. The Queen answered that she often dreamed and +talked aloud. + +But by an unlucky chance the King heard nothing of all this, for +he took a sleeping draught every night before he lay down, and +did not wake up until the sun was high. + +The Queen passed the day in great disquietude. + +'If he did hear me,' she said, 'could he remain so cruelly +indifferent? But if he did not hear me, what can I do to get +another chance? I have plenty of jewels, it is true, but nothing +remarkable enough to catch Turritella's fancy.' + +Just then she thought of the eggs, and broke one, out of which +came a little carriage of polished steel ornamented with gold, +drawn by six green mice. The coachman was a rose-coloured rat, +the postilion a grey one, and the carriage was occupied by the +tiniest and most charming figures, who could dance and do +wonderful tricks. Fiordelisa clapped her hands and danced for joy +when she saw this triumph of magic art, and as soon as it was +evening, went to a shady garden-path down which she knew +Turritella would pass, and then she made the mice galop, and the +tiny people show off their tricks, and sure enough Turritella +came, and the moment she saw it all cried: + +'Little kitchen-maid, little kitchen-maid, what will you take for +your mouse-carriage?' + +And the Queen answered: + +'Let me sleep once more in the Chamber of Echoes.' + +'I won't refuse your request, poor creature,' said Turritella +condescendingly. + +And then she turned to her ladies and whispered + +'The silly creature does not know how to profit by her chances; +so much the better for me.' + +When night came Fiordelisa said all the loving words she could +think of, but alas! with no better success than before, for the +King slept heavily after his draught. One of the pages said: + +'This peasant girl must he crazy;' but another answered: + +'Yet what she says sounds very sad and touching.' + +As for Fiordelisa, she thought the King must have a very hard +heart if he could hear how she grieved and yet pay her no +attention. She had but one more chance, and on breaking the last +egg she found to her great delight that it contained a more +marvellous thing than ever. It was a pie made of six birds, +cooked to perfection, and yet they were all alive, and singing +and talking, and they answered questions and told fortunes in the +most amusing way. Taking this treasure Fiordelisa once more set +herself to wait in the great hall through which Turritella was +sure to pass, and as she sat there one of the King's pages came +by, and said to her: + +'Well, little kitchen-maid, it is a good thing that the King +always takes a sleeping draught, for if not he would be kept +awake all night by your sighing and lamenting.' + +Then Fiordelisa knew why the King had not heeded her, and taking +a handful of pearls and diamonds out of her sack, she said, 'If +you can promise me that to-night the King shall not have his +sleeping draught, I will give you all these jewels.' + +'Oh! I promise that willingly,' said the page. + +At this moment Turritella appeared, and at the first sight of the +savoury pie, with the pretty little birds all singing and +chattering, she cried:-- + +'That is an admirable pie, little kitchen-maid. Pray what will +you take for it?' + +'The usual price,' she answered. 'To sleep once more in the +Chamber of Echoes.' + +'By all means, only give me the pie,' said the greedy Turritella. +And when night was come, Queen Fiordelisa waited until she +thought everybody in the palace would be asleep, and then began +to lament as before. + +'Ah, Charming!' she said, 'what have I ever done that you should +forsake me and marry Turritella? If you could only know all I +have suffered, and what a weary way I have come to seek you.' + +Now the page had faithfully kept his word, and given King +Charming a glass of water instead of his usual sleeping draught, +so there he lay wide awake, and heard every word Fiordelisa said, +and even recognised her voice, though he could not tell where it +came from. + +'Ah, Princess!' he said, 'how could you betray me to our cruel +enemies when I loved you so dearly?' + +Fiordelisa heard him, and answered quickly: + +'Find out the little kitchen-maid, and she will explain +everything.' + +Then the King in a great hurry sent for his pages and said: + +'If you can find the little kitchen-maid, bring her to me at +once.' + +'Nothing could be easier, Sire,' they answered, 'for she is in +the Chamber of Echoes.' + +The King was very much puzzled when he heard this. How could the +lovely Princess Fiordelisa be a little kitchen-maid? or how could +a little kitchen-maid have Fiordelisa's own voice? So he dressed +hastily, and ran down a little secret staircase which led to the +Chamber of Echoes. There, upon a heap of soft cushions, sat his +lovely Princess. She had laid aside all her ugly disguises and +wore a white silken robe, and her golden hair shone in the soft +lamp-light. The King was overjoyed at the sight, and rushed to +throw himself at her feet, and asked her a thousand questions +without giving her time to answer one. Fiordelisa was equally +happy to be with him once more, and nothing troubled them but the +remembrance of the Fairy Mazilla. But at this moment in came the +Enchanter, and with him a famous Fairy, the same in fact who had +given Fiordelisa the eggs. After greeting the King and Queen, +they said that as they were united in wishing to help King +Charming, the Fairy Mazilla had no longer any power against him, +and he might marry Fiordelisa as soon as he pleased. The King's +joy may be imagined, and as soon as it was day the news was +spread through the palace, and everybody who saw Fiordelisa loved +her directly. When Turritella heard what had happened she came +running to the King, and when she saw Fiordelisa with him she was +terribly angry, but before she could say a word the Enchanter and +the Fairy changed her into a big brown owl, and she floated away +out of one of the palace windows, hooting dismally. Then the +wedding was held with great splendour, and King Charming and +Queen Fiordelisa lived happily ever after. + +L'Oiseau Bleu. Par Mme. d'Aulnoy. + + + + + + THE HALF-CHICK + + + +Once upon a time there was a handsome black Spanish hen, who had +a large brood of chickens. They were all fine, plump little +birds, except the youngest, who was quite unlike his brothers and +sisters. Indeed, he was such a strange, queer-looking creature, +that when he first chipped his shell his mother could scarcely +believe her eyes, he was so different from the twelve other +fluffy, downy, soft little chicks who nestled under her wings. +This one looked just as if he had been cut in two. He had only +one leg, and one wing, and one eye, and he had half a head and +half a beak. His mother shook her head sadly as she looked at him +and said: + +'My youngest born is only a half-chick. He can never grow up a +tall handsome cock like his brothers. They will go out into the +world and rule over poultry yards of their own; but this poor +little fellow will always have to stay at home with his mother.' +And she called him Medio Pollito, which is Spanish for +half-chick. + +Now though Medio Pollito was such an odd, helpless-looking little +thing, his mother soon found that he was not at all willing to +remain under her wing and protection. Indeed, in character he was +as unlike his brothers and sisters as he was in appearance. They +were good, obedient chickens, and when the old hen chicked after +them, they chirped and ran back to her side. But Medio Pollito +had a roving spirit in spite of his one leg, and when his mother +called to him to return to the coop, he pretended that he could +not hear, because he had only one ear. + +When she took the whole family out for a walk in the fields, +Medio Pollito would hop away by himself, and hide among the +Indian corn. Many an anxious minute his brothers and sisters had +looking for him, while his mother ran to and fro cackling in fear +and dismay. + +As he grew older he became more self-willed and disobedient, and +his manner to his mother was often very rude, and his temper to +the other chickens very disagreeable. + +One day he had been out for a longer expedition than usual in the +fields. On his return he strutted up to his mother with the +peculiar little hop and kick which was his way of walking, and +cocking his one eye at her in a very bold way he said: + +'Mother, I am tired of this life in a dull farmyard, with nothing +but a dreary maize field to look at. I'm off to Madrid to see the +King.' + +'To Madrid, Medio Pollito!' exclaimed his mother; 'why, you silly +chick, it would be a long journey for a grown-up cock, and a poor +little thing like you would be tired out before you had gone half +the distance. No, no, stay at home with your mother, and some +day, when you are bigger, we will go a little journey together.' + +But Medio Pollito had made up his mind, and he would not listen +to his mother's advice, nor to the prayers and entreaties of his +brothers and sisters. + +'What is the use of our all crowding each other up in this poky +little place?' he said. 'When I have a fine courtyard of my own +at the King's palace, I shall perhaps ask some of you to come and +pay me a short visit,' and scarcely waiting to say good-bye to +his family, away he stumped down the high road that led to +Madrid. + +'Be sure that you are kind and civil to everyone you meet,' +called his mother, running after him; but he was in such a hurry +to be off, that he did not wait to answer her, or even to look +back. + +A little later in the day, as he was taking a short cut through a +field, he passed a stream. Now the stream was all choked up, and +overgrown with weeds and water-plants, so that its waters could +not flow freely. + +'Oh! Medio Pollito,' it cried, as the half-chick hopped along its +banks, 'do come and help me by clearing away these weeds.' + +'Help you, indeed!' exclaimed Medio Pollito, tossing his head, +and shaking the few feathers in his tail. 'Do you think I have +nothing to do but to waste my time on such trifles? Help +yourself, and don't trouble busy travellers. I am off to Madrid +to see the King,' and hoppity-kick, hoppity-kick, away stumped +Medio Pollito. + +A little later he came to a fire that had been left by some +gipsies in a wood. It was burning very low, and would soon be +out. + +'Oh! Medio Pollito,' cried the fire, in a weak, wavering voice as +the half-chick approached, 'in a few minutes I shall go quite +out, unless you put some sticks and dry leaves upon me. Do help +me, or I shall die!' + +'Help you, indeed!' answered Medio Pollito. 'I have other things +to do. Gather sticks for yourself, and don't trouble me. I am off +to Madrid to see the King,' and hoppity-kick, hoppity-kick, away +stumped Medio Pollito. + +The next morning, as he was getting near Madrid, he passed a +large chestnut tree, in whose branches the wind was caught and +entangled. 'Oh! Medio Pollito,' called the wind, 'do hop up here, +and help me to get free of these branches. I cannot come away, +and it is so uncomfortable.' + +'It is your own fault for going there,' answered Medio Pollito. +'I can't waste all my morning stopping here to help you. Just +shake yourself off, and don't hinder me, for I am off to Madrid +to see the King,' and hoppity-kick, hoppity-kick, away stumped +Medio Pollito in great glee, for the towers and roofs of Madrid +were now in sight. When he entered the town he saw before him a +great splendid house, with soldiers standing before the gates. +This he knew must be the King's palace, and he determined to hop +up to the front gate and wait there until the King came out. But +as he was hopping past one of the back windows the King's cook +saw him: + +'Here is the very thing I want,' he exclaimed, 'for the King has +just sent a message to say that he must have chicken broth for +his dinner,' and opening the window he stretched out his arm, +caught Medio Pollito, and popped him into the broth-pot that was +standing near the fire. Oh! how wet and clammy the water felt as +it went over Medio Pollito's head, making his feathers cling to +his side. + +'Water, water!' he cried in his despair, 'do have pity upon me +and do not wet me like this.' + +'Ah! Medio Pollito,' replied the water, 'you would not help me +when I was a little stream away on the fields, now you must be +punished.' + +Then the fire began to burn and scald Medio Pollito, and he +danced and hopped from one side of the pot to the other, trying +to get away from the heat, and crying out in pain: + +Fire, fire! do not scorch me like this; you can't think how it +hurts.' + +'Ah! Medio Pollito,' answered the fire, 'you would not help me +when I was dying away in the wood. You are being punished.' + +At last, just when the pain was so great that Medio Pollito +thought he must die, the cook lifted up the lid of the pot to see +if the broth was ready for the King's dinner. + +'Look here!' he cried in horror, 'this chicken is quite useless. +It is burnt to a cinder. I can't send it up to the royal table;' +and opening the window he threw Medio Pollito out into the +street. But the wind caught him up, and whirled him through the +air so quickly that Medio Pollito could scarcely breathe, and his +heart beat against his side till he thought it would break. + +'Oh, wind!' at last he gasped out, 'if you hurry me along like +this you will kill me. Do let me rest a moment, or--' but he was +so breathless that he could not finish his sentence. + +'Ah! Medio Pollito,' replied the wind, 'when I was caught in the +branches of the chestnut tree you would not help me; now you are +punished.' And he swirled Medio Pollito over the roofs of the +houses till they reached the highest church in the town, and +there he left him fastened to the top of the steeple. + +And there stands Medio Pollito to this day. And if you go to +Madrid, and walk through the streets till you come to the highest +church, you will see Medio Pollito perched on his one leg on the +steeple, with his one wing drooping at his side, and gazing sadly +out of his one eye over the town. + +Spanish Tradition. + + + + + +THE STORY OF CALIPH STORK + + +I. + +Caliph Chasid, of Bagdad, was resting comfortably on his divan one +fine afternoon. He was smoking a long pipe, and from time to time +he sipped a little coffee which a slave handed to him, and after +each sip he stroked his long beard with an air of enjoyment. In +short, anyone could see that the Caliph was in an excellent +humour. This was, in fact, the best time of day in which to +approach him, for just now he was pretty sure to be both affable +and in good spirits, and for this reason the Grand Vizier Mansor +always chose this hour in which to pay his daily visit. + +He arrived as usual this afternoon, but, contrary to his usual +custom, with an anxious face. The Caliph withdrew his pipe for a +moment from his lips and asked, 'Why do you look so anxious, Grand +Vizier?' + +The Grand Vizier crossed his arms on his breast and bent low +before his master as he answered: + +'Oh, my Lord! whether my countenance be anxious or not I know not, +but down below, in the court of the palace, is a pedlar with such +beautiful things that I cannot help feeling annoyed at having so +little money to spare.' + +The Caliph, who had wished for some time past to give his Grand +Vizier a present, ordered his black slave to bring the pedlar +before him at once. The slave soon returned, followed by the +pedlar, a short stout man with a swarthy face, and dressed in very +ragged clothes. He carried a box containing all manner of wares-- +strings of pearls, rings, richly mounted pistols, goblets, and +combs. The Caliph and his Vizier inspected everything, and the +Caliph chose some handsome pistols for himself and Mansor, and a +jewelled comb for the Vizier's wife. Just as the pedlar was about +to close his box, the Caliph noticed a small drawer, and asked if +there was anything else in it for sale. The pedlar opened the +drawer and showed them a box containing a black powder, and a +scroll written in strange characters, which neither the Caliph nor +the Mansor could read. + +'I got these two articles from a merchant who had picked them up +in the street at Mecca,' said the pedlar. 'I do not know what they +may contain, but as they are of no use to me, you are welcome to +have them for a trifle.' + +The Caliph, who liked to have old manuscripts in his library, even +though he could not read them, purchased the scroll and the box, +and dismissed the pedlar. Then, being anxious to know what might +be the contents of the scroll, he asked the Vizier if he did not +know of anyone who might be able to decipher it. + +'Most gracious Lord and master,' replied the Vizier, 'near the +great Mosque lives a man called Selim the learned, who knows every +language under the sun. Send for him; it may be that he will be +able to interpret these mysterious characters.' + +The learned Selim was summoned immediately. + +'Selim,' said the Caliph, 'I hear you are a scholar. Look well at +this scroll and see whether you can read it. If you can, I will +give you a robe of honour; but if you fail, I will order you to +receive twelve strokes on your cheeks, and five-and-twenty on the +soles of your feet, because you have been falsely called Selim the +learned.' + +Selim prostrated himself and said, 'Be it according to your will, +oh master!' Then he gazed long at the scroll. Suddenly he +exclaimed: 'May I die, oh, my Lord, if this isn't Latin !' + +'Well,' said the Caliph, 'if it is Latin, let us hear what it +means.' + +So Selim began to translate: 'Thou who mayest find this, praise +Allah for his mercy. Whoever shall snuff the powder in this box, +and at the same time shall pronounce the word "Mutabor!" can +transform himself into any creature he likes, and will understand +the language of all animals. When he wishes to resume the human +form, he has only to bow three times towards the east, and to +repeat the same word. Be careful, however, when wearing the shape +of some beast or bird, not to laugh, or thou wilt certainly forget +the magic word and remain an animal for ever.' + +When Selim the learned had read this, the Caliph was delighted. He +made the wise man swear not to tell the matter to anyone, gave him +a splendid robe, and dismissed him. Then he said to his Vizier, +'That's what I call a good bargain, Mansor. I am longing for the +moment when I can become some animal. To-morrow morning I shall +expect you early; we will go into the country, take some snuff +from my box, and then hear what is being said in air, earth, and +water.' + +II. + +Next morning Caliph Chasid had barely finished dressing, and +breakfasting, when the Grand Vizier arrived, according to orders, +to accompany him in his expedition. The Caliph stuck the snuff-box +in his girdle, and, having desired his servants to remain at home, +started off with the Grand Vizier only in attendance. First they +walked through the palace gardens, but they looked in vain for +some creature which could tempt them to try their magic power. At +length the Vizier suggested going further on to a pond which lay +beyond the town, and where he had often seen a variety of +creatures, especially storks, whose grave, dignified appearance +and constant chatter had often attracted his attention. + +The Caliph consented, and they went straight to the pond. As soon +as they arrived they remarked a stork strutting up and down with a +stately air, hunting for frogs, and now and then muttering +something to itself. At the same time they saw another stork far +above in the sky flying towards the same spot. + +'I would wager my beard, most gracious master,' said the Grand +Vizier, 'that these two long legs will have a good chat together. +How would it be if we turned ourselves into storks?' + +'Well said,' replied the Caliph; 'but first let us remember +carefully how we are to become men once more. True! Bow three +times towards the east and say "Mutabor!" and I shall be Caliph +and you my Grand Vizier again. But for Heaven's sake don't laugh +or we are lost!' + +As the Caliph spoke he saw the second stork circling round his +head and gradually flying towards the earth. Quickly he drew the +box from his girdle, took a good pinch of the snuff, and offered +one to Mansor, who also took one, and both cried together +'Mutabor!' + +Instantly their legs shrivelled up and grew thin and red; their +smart yellow slippers turned to clumsy stork's feet, their arms to +wings; their necks began to sprout from between their shoulders +and grew a yard long; their beards disappeared, and their bodies +were covered with feathers. + +'You've got a fine long bill, Sir Vizier,' cried the Caliph, after +standing for some time lost in astonishment. 'By the beard of the +Prophet I never saw such a thing in all my life!' + +'My very humble thanks,' replied the Grand Vizier, as he bent his +long neck; 'but, if I may venture to say so, your Highness is even +handsomer as a stork than as a Caliph. But come, if it so pleases +you, let us go near our comrades there and find out whether we +really do understand the language of storks.' + +Meantime the second stork had reached the ground. It first scraped +its bill with its claw, stroked down its feathers, and then +advanced towards the first stork. The two newly made storks lost +no time in drawing near, and to their amazement overheard the +following conversation: + +'Good morning, Dame Longlegs. You are out early this morning!' + +'Yes, indeed, dear Chatterbill! I am getting myself a morsel of +breakfast. May I offer you a joint of lizard or a frog's thigh?' + +'A thousand thanks, but I have really no appetite this morning. I +am here for a very different purpose. I am to dance to-day before +my father's guests, and I have come to the meadow for a little +quiet practice.' + +Thereupon the young stork began to move about with the most +wonderful steps. The Caliph and Mansor looked on in surprise for +some time; but when at last she balanced herself in a picturesque +attitude on one leg, and flapped her wings gracefully up and down, +they could hold out no longer; a prolonged peal burst from each of +their bills, and it was some time before they could recover their +composure. The Caliph was the first to collect himself. 'That was +the best joke,' said he, 'I've ever seen. It's a pity the stupid +creatures were scared away by our laughter, or no doubt they would +have sung next!' + +Suddenly, however, the Vizier remembered how strictly they had +been warned not to laugh during their transformation. He at once +communicated his fears to the Caliph, who exclaimed, 'By Mecca and +Medina! it would indeed prove but a poor joke if I had to remain a +stork for the remainder of my days! Do just try and remember the +stupid word, it has slipped my memory.' + +'We must bow three times eastwards and say "Mu...mu...mu..."' + +They turned to the east and fell to bowing till their bills +touched the ground, but, oh horror--the magic word was quite +forgotten, and however often the Caliph bowed and however +touchingly his Vizier cried 'Mu...mu...' they could not recall it, +and the unhappy Chasid and Mansor remained storks as they were. + +III. + +The two enchanted birds wandered sadly on through the meadows. In +their misery they could not think what to do next. They could not +rid themselves of their new forms; there was no use in returning +to the town and saying who they were; for who would believe a +stork who announced that he was a Caliph; and even if they did +believe him, would the people of Bagdad consent to let a stork +rule over them? + +So they lounged about for several days, supporting themselves on +fruits, which, however, they found some difficulty in eating with +their long bills. They did not much care to eat frogs or lizards. +Their one comfort in their sad plight was the power of flying, and +accordingly they often flew over the roofs of Bagdad to see what +was going on there. + +During the first few days they noticed signs of much disturbance +and distress in the streets, but about the fourth day, as they sat +on the roof of the palace, they perceived a splendid procession +passing below them along the street. Drums and trumpets sounded, a +man in a scarlet mantle, embroidered in gold, sat on a splendidly +caparisoned horse surrounded by richly dressed slaves; half Bagdad +crowded after him, and they all shouted, 'Hail, Mirza, the Lord of +Bagdad!' + +The two storks on the palace roof looked at each other, and Caliph +Chasid said, 'Can you guess now, Grand Vizier, why I have been +enchanted? This Mirza is the son of my deadly enemy, the mighty +magician Kaschnur, who in an evil moment vowed vengeance on me. +Still I will not despair! Come with me, my faithful friend; we +will go to the grave of the Prophet, and perhaps at that sacred +spot the spell may be loosed.' + +They rose from the palace roof, and spread their wings toward +Medina. + +But flying was not quite an easy matter, for the two storks had +had but little practice as yet. + +'Oh, my Lord!' gasped the Vizier, after a couple of hours, 'I can +get on no longer; you really fly too quick for me. Besides, it is +nearly evening, and we should do well to find some place in which +to spend the night.' + +Chasid listened with favour to his servant's suggestion, and +perceiving in the valley beneath them a ruin which seemed to +promise shelter they flew towards it. The building in which they +proposed to pass the night had apparently been formerly a castle. +Some handsome pillars still stood amongst the heaps of ruins, and +several rooms, which yet remained in fair preservation, gave +evidence of former splendour. Chasid and his companion wandered +along the passages seeking a dry spot, when suddenly Mansor stood +still. + +'My Lord and master,' he whispered, 'if it were not absurd for a +Grand Vizier, and still more for a stork, to be afraid of ghosts, +I should feel quite nervous, for someone, or something close by +me, has sighed and moaned quite audibly.' + +The Caliph stood still and distinctly heard a low weeping sound +which seemed to proceed from a human being rather than from any +animal. Full of curiosity he was about to rush towards the spot +from whence the sounds of woe came, when the Vizier caught him by +the wing with his bill, and implored him not to expose himself to +fresh and unknown dangers. The Caliph, however, under whose +stork's breast a brave heart beat, tore himself away with the loss +of a few feathers, and hurried down a dark passage. He saw a door +which stood ajar, and through which he distinctly heard sighs, +mingled with sobs. He pushed open the door with his bill, but +remained on the threshold, astonished at the sight which met his +eyes. On the floor of the ruined chamber--which was but scantily +lighted by a small barred window--sat a large screech owl. Big +tears rolled from its large round eyes, and in a hoarse voice it +uttered its complaints through its crooked beak. As soon as it saw +the Caliph and his Vizier--who had crept up meanwhile--it gave +vent to a joyful cry. It gently wiped the tears from its eyes with +its spotted brown wings, and to the great amazement of the two +visitors, addressed them in good human Arabic. + +'Welcome, ye storks! You are a good sign of my deliverance, for it +was foretold me that a piece of good fortune should befall me +through a stork.' + +When the Caliph had recovered from his surprise, he drew up his +feet into a graceful position, bent his long neck, and said: 'Oh, +screech owl! from your words I am led to believe that we see in +you a companion in misfortune. But, alas! your hope that you may +attain your deliverance through us is but a vain one. You will +know our helplessness when you have heard our story.' + +The screech owl begged him to relate it, and the Caliph +accordingly told him what we already know. + +IV. + +When the Caliph had ended, the owl thanked him and said: 'You hear +my story, and own that I am no less unfortunate than yourselves. +My father is the King of the Indies. I, his only daughter, am +named Lusa. That magician Kaschnur, who enchanted you, has been +the cause of my misfortunes too. He came one day to my father and +demanded my hand for his son Mirza. My father--who is rather +hasty--ordered him to be thrown downstairs. The wretch not long +after managed to approach me under another form, and one day, when +I was in the garden, and asked for some refreshment, he brought +me--in the disguise of a slave--a draught which changed me at once +to this horrid shape. Whilst I was fainting with terror he +transported me here, and cried to me with his awful voice: "There +shall you remain, lonely and hideous, despised even by the brutes, +till the end of your days, or till some one of his own free will +asks you to be his wife. Thus do I avenge myself on you and your +proud father." + +'Since then many months have passed away. Sad and lonely do I live +like any hermit within these walls, avoided by the world and a +terror even to animals; the beauties of nature are hidden from me, +for I am blind by day, and it is only when the moon sheds her pale +light on this spot that the veil falls from my eyes and I can +see.' The owl paused, and once more wiped her eyes with her wing, +for the recital of her woes had drawn fresh tears from her. + +The Caliph fell into deep thought on hearing this story of the +Princess. 'If I am not much mistaken,' said he, 'there is some +mysterious connection between our misfortunes, but how to find the +key to the riddle is the question.' + +The owl answered: 'Oh, my Lord! I too feel sure of this, for in my +earliest youth a wise woman foretold that a stork would bring me +some great happiness, and I think I could tell you how we might +save ourselves.' The Caliph was much surprised, and asked her what +she meant. + +'The Magician who has made us both miserable,' said she, 'comes +once a month to these ruins. Not far from this room is a large +hall where he is in the habit of feasting with his companions. I +have often watched them. They tell each other all about their evil +deeds, and possibly the magic word which you have forgotten may be +mentioned.' + +'Oh, dearest Princess!' exclaimed the Caliph, 'say, when does he +come, and where is the hall?' + +The owl paused a moment and then said: 'Do not think me unkind, +but I can only grant your request on one condition.' + +'Speak, speak!' cried Chasid; 'command, I will gladly do whatever +you wish!' + +'Well,' replied the owl, 'you see I should like to be free too; +but this can only be if one of you will offer me his hand in +marriage.' + +The storks seemed rather taken aback by this suggestion, and the +Caliph beckoned to his Vizier to retire and consult with him. + +When they were outside the door the Caliph said: 'Grand Vizier, +this is a tiresome business. However, you can take her.' + +'Indeed!' said the Vizier; 'so that when I go home my wife may +scratch my eyes out! Besides, I am an old man, and your Highness +is still young and unmarried, and a far more suitable match for a +young and lovely Princess.' + +'That's just where it is,' sighed the Caliph, whose wings drooped +in a dejected manner; 'how do you know she is young and lovely? I +call it buying a pig in a poke.' + +They argued on for some time, but at length, when the Caliph saw +plainly that his Vizier would rather remain a stork to the end of +his days than marry the owl, he determined to fulfil the condition +himself. The owl was delighted. She owned that they could not have +arrived at a better time, as most probably the magicians would +meet that very night. + +She then proceeded to lead the two storks to the chamber. They +passed through a long dark passage till at length a bright ray of +light shone before them through the chinks of a half-ruined wall. +When they reached it the owl advised them to keep very quiet. +Through the gap near which they stood they could with ease survey +the whole of the large hall. It was adorned with splendid carved +pillars; a number of coloured lamps replaced the light of day. In +the middle of the hall stood a round table covered with a variety +of dishes, and about the table was a divan on which eight men were +seated. In one of these bad men the two recognised the pedlar who +had sold the magic powder. The man next him begged him to relate +all his latest doings, and amongst them he told the story of the +Caliph and his Vizier. + +'And what kind of word did you give them?' asked another old +sorcerer. + +'A very difficult Latin word; it is "Mutabor."' + + +V. + +As soon as the storks heard this they were nearly beside +themselves with joy. They ran at such a pace to the door of the +ruined castle that the owl could scarcely keep up with them. When +they reached it the Caliph turned to the owl, and said with much +feeling: 'Deliverer of my friend and myself, as a proof of my +eternal gratitude, accept me as your husband.' Then he turned +towards the east. Three times the storks bowed their long necks to +the sun, which was just rising over the mountains. 'Mutabor!' they +both cried, and in an instant they were once more transformed. In +the rapture of their newly-given lives master and servant fell +laughing and weeping into each other's arms. Who shall describe +their surprise when they at last turned round and beheld standing +before them a beautiful lady exquisitely dressed! + +With a smile she held out her hand to the Caliph, and asked: 'Do +you not recognise your screech owl?' + +It was she! The Caliph was so enchanted by her grace and beauty, +that he declared being turned into a stork had been the best piece +of luck which had ever befallen him. The three set out at once for +Bagdad. Fortunately, the Caliph found not only the box with the +magic powder, but also his purse in his girdle; he was, therefore, +able to buy in the nearest village all they required for their +journey, and so at last they reached the gates of Bagdad. + +Here the Caliph's arrival created the greatest sensation. He had +been quite given up for dead, and the people were greatly rejoiced +to see their beloved ruler again. + +Their rage with the usurper Mirza, however, was great in +proportion. They marched in force to the palace and took the old +magician and his son prisoners. The Caliph sent the magician to +the room where the Princess had lived as an owl, and there had him +hanged. As the son, however, knew nothing of his father's acts, +the Caliph gave him his choice between death and a pinch of the +magic snuff. When he chose the latter, the Grand Vizier handed him +the box. One good pinch, and the magic word transformed him to a +stork. The Caliph ordered him to be confined in an iron cage, and +placed in the palace gardens. + +Caliph Chasid lived long and happily with his wife the Princess. +His merriest time was when the Grand Vizier visited him in the +afternoon; and when the Caliph was in particularly high spirits he +would condescend to mimic the Vizier's appearance when he was a +stork. He would strut gravely, and with well-stiffened legs, up +and down the room, chattering, and showing how he had vainly bowed +to the east and cried 'Mu...Mu...' The Caliphess and her children +were always much entertained by this performance; but when the +Caliph went on nodding and bowing, and calling 'Mu...mu...' too +long, the Vizier would threaten laughingly to tell the Chaliphess +the subject of the discussion carried on one night outside the +door of Princess Screech Owl. + + + + + +THE ENCHANTED WATCH + + + +Once upon a time there lived a rich man who had three sons. When +they grew up, he sent the eldest to travel and see the world, and +three years passed before his family saw him again. Then he +returned, magnificently dressed, and his father was so delighted +with his behaviour, that he gave a great feast in his honour, to +which all the relations and friends were invited. + +When the rejoicings were ended, the second son begged leave of his +father to go in his turn to travel and mix with the world. The +father was enchanted at the request, and gave him plenty of money +for his expenses, saying, 'If you behave as well as your brother, +I will do honour to you as I did to him.' The young man promised +to do his best, and his conduct during three years was all that it +should be. Then he went home, and his father was so pleased with +him that his feast of welcome was even more splendid than the one +before. + +The third brother, whose name was Jenik, or Johnnie, was +considered the most foolish of the three. He never did anything at +home except sit over the stove and dirty himself with the ashes; +but he also begged his father's leave to travel for three years. +'Go if you like, you idiot; but what good will it do you?' + +The youth paid no heed to his father's observations as long as he +obtained permission to go. The father saw him depart with joy, +glad to get rid of him, and gave him a handsome sum of money for +his needs. + +Once, as he was making one of his journeys, Jenik chanced to cross +a meadow where some shepherds were just about to kill a dog. He +entreated them to spare it, and to give it to him instead which +they willingly did, and he went on his way, followed by the dog. A +little further on he came upon a cat, which someone was going to +put to death. He implored its life, and the cat followed him. +Finally, in another place, he saved a serpent, which was also +handed over to him and now they made a party of four--the dog +behind Jenik, the cat behind the dog, and the serpent behind the +cat. + +Then the serpent said to Jenik, 'Go wherever you see me go,' for +in the autumn, when all the serpents hide themselves in their +holes, this serpent was going in search of his king, who was king +of all the snakes. + +Then he added: 'My king will scold me for my long absence, +everyone else is housed for the winter, and I am very late. I +shall have to tell him what danger I have been in, and how, +without your help, I should certainly have lost my life. The king +will ask what you would like in return, and be sure you beg for +the watch which hangs on the wall. It has all sorts of wonderful +properties, you only need to rub it to get whatever you like.' + +No sooner said than done. Jenik became the master of the watch, +and the moment he got out he wished to put its virtues to the +proof. He was hungry, and thought it would be delightful to eat in +the meadow a loaf of new bread and a steak of good beef washed +down by a flask of wine, so he scratched the watch, and in an +instant it was all before him. Imagine his joy! + +Evening soon came, and Jenik rubbed his watch, and thought it +would be very pleasant to have a room with a comfortable bed and a +good supper. In an instant they were all before him. After supper +he went to bed and slept till morning, as every honest man ought +to do. Then he set forth for his father's house, his mind dwelling +on the feast that would be awaiting him. But as he returned in the +same old clothes in which he went away, his father flew into a +great rage, and refused to do anything for him. Jenik went to his +old place near the stove, and dirtied himself in the ashes without +anybody minding. + +The third day, feeling rather dull, he thought it would be nice to +see a three-story house filled with beautiful furniture, and with +vessels of silver and gold. So he rubbed the watch, and there it +all was. Jenik went to look for his father, and said to him: 'You +offered me no feast of welcome, but permit me to give one to you, +and come and let me show you my plate.' + +The father was much astonished, and longed to know where his son +had got all this wealth. Jenik did not reply, but begged him to +invite all their relations and friends to a grand banquet. + +So the father invited all the world, and everyone was amazed to +see such splendid things, so much plate, and so many fine dishes +on the table. After the first course Jenik prayed his father to +invite the King, and his daughter the Princess. He rubbed his +watch and wished for a carriage ornamented with gold and silver, +and drawn by six horses, with harness glittering with precious +stones. The father did not dare to sit in this gorgeous coach, but +went to the palace on foot. The King and his daughter were +immensely surprised with the beauty of the carriage, and mounted +the steps at once to go to Jenik's banquet. Then Jenik rubbed his +watch afresh, and wished that for six miles the way to the house +should be paved with marble. Who ever felt so astonished as the +King? Never had he travelled over such a gorgeous road. + +When Jenik heard the wheels of the carriage, he rubbed his watch +and wished for a still more beautiful house, four stories high, +and hung with gold, silver, and damask; filled with wonderful +tables, covered with dishes such as no king had ever eaten before. +The King, the Queen, and the Princess were speechless with +surprise. Never had they seen such a splendid palace, nor such a +high feast! At dessert the King asked Jenik's father to give him +the young man for a son-in-law. No sooner said than done! The +marriage took place at once, and the King returned to his own +palace, and left Jenik with his wife in the enchanted house. + +Now Jenik was not a very clever man, and at the end of a very +short time he began to bore his wife. She inquired how he managed +to build palaces and to get so many precious things. He told her +all about the watch, and she never rested till she had stolen the +precious talisman. One night she took the watch, rubbed it, and +wished for a carriage drawn by four horses; and in this carriage +she at once set out for her father's palace. There she called to +her own attendants, bade them follow her into the carriage, and +drove straight to the sea-side. Then she rubbed her watch, and +wished that the sea might be crossed by a bridge, and that a +magnificent palace might arise in the middle of the sea. No sooner +said than done. The Princess entered the house, rubbed her watch, +and in an instant the bridge was gone. + +Left alone, Jenik felt very miserable. His father, mother, and +brothers, and, indeed, everybody else, all laughed at him. Nothing +remained to him but the cat and dog whose lives he had once saved. +He took them with him and went far away, for he could no longer +live with his family. He reached at last a great desert, and saw +some crows flying towards a mountain. One of them was a long way +behind, and when he arrived his brothers inquired what had made +him so late. 'Winter is here,' they said, 'and it is time to fly +to other countries.' He told them that he had seen in the middle +of the sea the most wonderful house that ever was built. + +On hearing this, Jenik at once concluded that this must be the +hiding-place of his wife. So he proceeded directly to the shore +with his dog and his cat. When he arrived on the beach, he said to +the dog: 'You are an excellent swimmer, and you, little one, are +very light; jump on the dog's back and he will take you to the +palace. Once there, he will hide himself near the door, and you +must steal secretly in and try to get hold of my watch.' + +No sooner said than done. The two animals crossed the sea; the dog +hid near the house, and the cat stole into the chamber. The +Princess recognised him, and guessed why he had come; and she took +the watch down to the cellar and locked it in a box. But the cat +wriggled its way into the cellar, and the moment the Princess +turned her back, he scratched and scratched till he had made a +hole in the box. Then he took the watch between his teeth, and +waited quietly till the Princess came back. Scarcely had she +opened the door when the cat was outside, and the watch into the +bargain. + +The cat was no sooner beyond the gates than she said to the dog: + +'We are going to cross the sea; be very careful not to speak to +me.' + +The dog laid this to heart and said nothing; but when they +approached the shore he could not help asking, 'Have you got the +watch?' + +The cat did not answer--he was afraid that he might let the +talisman fall. When they touched the shore the dog repeated his +question. + +'Yes,' said the cat. + +And the watch fell into the sea. Then our two friends began each +to accuse the other, and both looked sorrowfully at the place +where their treasure had fallen in. Suddenly a fish appeared near +the edge of the sea. The cat seized it, and thought it would make +them a good supper. + +'I have nine little children,' cried the fish. 'Spare the father +of a family!' + +'Granted,' replied the cat; 'but on condition that you find our +watch.' + +The fish executed his commission, and they brought the treasure +back to their master. Jenik rubbed the watch and wished that the +palace, with the Princess and all its inhabitants, should be +swallowed up in the sea. No sooner said than done. Jenik returned +to his parents, and he and his watch, his cat and his dog, lived +together happily to the end of their days. + +Deulin. + + + + + +ROSANELLA + + + +Everybody knows that though the fairies live hundreds of years +they do sometimes die, and especially as they are obliged to pass +one day in every week under the form of some animal, when of +course they are liable to accident. It was in this way that death +once overtook the Queen of the Fairies, and it became necessary to +call a general assembly to elect a new sovereign. After much +discussion, it appeared that the choice lay between two fairies, +one called Surcantine and the other Paridamie; and their claims +were so equal that it was impossible without injustice to prefer +one to the other. Under these circumstances it was unanimously +decided that whichever of the two could show to the world the +greatest wonder should be Queen; but it was to be a special kind +of wonder, no moving of mountains or any such common fairy tricks +would do. Surcantine, therefore, resolved that she would bring up +a Prince whom nothing could make constant. While Paridamie decided +to display to admiring mortals a Princess so charming that no one +could see her without falling in love with her. They were allowed +to take their own time, and meanwhile the four oldest fairies were +to attend to the affairs of the kingdom. + +Now Paridamie had for a long time been very friendly with King +Bardondon, who was a most accomplished Prince, and whose court was +the model of what a court should be. His Queen, Balanice, was also +charming; indeed it is rare to find a husband and wife so +perfectly of one mind about everything. They had one little +daughter, whom they had named 'Rosanella,' because she had a +little pink rose printed upon her white throat. From her earliest +infancy she had shown the most astonishing intelligence, and the +courtiers knew her smart sayings by heart, and repeated them on +all occasions. In the middle of the night following the assembly +of fairies, Queen Balanice woke up with a shriek, and when her +maids of honour ran to see what was the matter, they found she had +had a frightful dream. + +'I thought,' said she, 'that my little daughter had changed into a +bouquet of roses, and that as I held it in my hand a bird swooped +down suddenly and snatched it from me and carried it away.' + +'Let some one run and see that all is well with the Princess,' she +added. + +So they ran; but what was their dismay when they found that the +cradle was empty; and though they sought high and low, not a trace +of Rosanella could they discover. The Queen was inconsolable, and +so, indeed, was the King, only being a man he did not say quite so +much about his feelings. He presently proposed to Balanice that +they should spend a few days at one of their palaces in the +country; and to this she willingly agreed, since her grief made +the gaiety of the capital distasteful to her. One lovely summer +evening, as they sat together on a shady lawn shaped like a star, +from which radiated twelve splendid avenues of trees, the Queen +looked round and saw a charming peasant-girl approaching by each +path, and what was still more singular was that everyone carried +something in a basket which appeared to occupy her whole +attention. As each drew near she laid her basket at Balanice's +feet, saying: + +'Charming Queen, may this be some slight consolation to you in +your unhappiness!' + +The Queen hastily opened the baskets, and found in each a lovely +baby-girl, about the same age as the little Princess for whom she +sorrowed so deeply. At first the sight of them renewed her grief; +but presently their charms so gained upon her that she forgot her +melancholy in providing them with nursery-maids, cradle-rockers, +and ladies-in-waiting, and in sending hither and thither for +swings and dolls and tops, and bushels of the finest sweetmeats. + +Oddly enough, every baby had upon its throat a tiny pink rose. The +Queen found it so difficult to decide on suitable names for all of +them, that until she could settle the matter she chose a special +colour for everyone, by which it was known, so that when they were +all together they looked like nothing so much as a nosegay of gay +flowers. As they grew older it became evident that though they +were all remarkably intelligent, and profited equally by the +education they received, yet they differed one from another in +disposition, so much so that they gradually ceased to be known as +'Pearl,' or 'Primrose,' or whatever might have been their colour, +and the Queen instead would say: + +'Where is my Sweet?' or 'my Beautiful,' or 'my Gay.' + +Of course, with all these charms they had lovers by the dozen. Not +only in their own court, but princes from afar, who were +constantly arriving, attracted by the reports which were spread +abroad; but these lovely girls, the first Maids of Honour, were as +discreet as they were beautiful, and favoured no one. + +But let us return to Surcantine. She had fixed upon the son of a +king who was cousin to Bardondon, to bring up as her fickle +Prince. She had before, at his christening, given him all the +graces of mind and body that a prince could possibly require; but +now she redoubled her efforts, and spared no pains in adding every +imaginable charm and fascination. So that whether he happened to +be cross or amiable, splendidly or simply attired, serious or +frivolous, he was always perfectly irresistible! In truth, he was +a charming young fellow, since the Fairy had given him the best +heart in the world as well as the best head, and had left nothing +to be desired but--constancy. For it cannot be denied that Prince +Mirliflor was a desperate flirt, and as fickle as the wind; so +much so, that by the time he arrived at his eighteenth birthday +there was not a heart left for him to conquer in his father's +kingdom--they were all his own, and he was tired of everyone! +Things were in this state when he was invited to visit the court +of his father's cousin, King Bardondon. + +Imagine his feelings when he arrived and was presented at once to +twelve of the loveliest creatures in the world, and his +embarrassment was heightened by the fact that they all liked him +as much as he liked each one of them, so that things came to such +a pass that he was never happy a single instant without them. For +could he not whisper soft speeches to Sweet, and laugh with Joy, +while he looked at Beauty? And in his more serious moments what +could be pleasanter than to talk to Grave upon some shady lawn, +while he held the hand of Loving in his own, and all the others +lingered near in sympathetic silence? For the first time in his +life he really loved, though the object of his devotion was not +one person, but twelve, to whom he was equally attached, and even +Surcantine was deceived into thinking that this was indeed the +height of inconstancy. But Paridamie said not a word. + +In vain did Prince Mirliflor's father write commanding him to +return, and proposing for him one good match after another. +Nothing in the world could tear him from his twelve enchantresses. + +One day the Queen gave a large garden-party, and just as the +guests were all assembled, and Prince Mirliflor was as usual +dividing his attentions between the twelve beauties, a humming of +bees was heard. The Rose-maidens, fearing their stings, uttered +little shrieks, and fled all together to a distance from the rest +of the company. Immediately, to the horror of all who were looking +on, the bees pursued them, and, growing suddenly to an enormous +size, pounced each upon a maiden and carried her off into the air, +and in an instant they were all lost to view. This amazing +occurrence plunged the whole court into the deepest affliction, +and Prince Mirliflor, after giving way to the most violent grief +at first, fell gradually into a state of such deep dejection that +it was feared if nothing could rouse him he would certainly die. +Surcantine came in all haste to see what she could do for her +darling, but he rejected with scorn all the portraits of lovely +princesses which she offered him for his collection. In short, it +was evident that he was in a bad way, and the Fairy was at her +wits' end. One day, as he wandered about absorbed in melancholy +reflections, he heard sudden shouts and exclamations of amazement, +and if he had taken the trouble to look up he could not have +helped being as astonished as everyone else, for through the air a +chariot of crystal was slowly approaching which glittered in the +sunshine. Six lovely maidens with shining wings drew it by rose- +coloured ribbons, while a whole flight of others, equally +beautiful, were holding long garlands of roses crossed above it, +so as to form a complete canopy. In it sat the Fairy Paridamie, +and by her side a Princess whose beauty positively dazzled all who +saw her. At the foot of the great staircase they descended, and +proceeded to the Queen's apartments, though everyone had run +together to see this marvel, till it was quite difficult to make a +way through the crowd; and exclamations of wonder rose on all +sides at the loveliness of the strange Princess. 'Great Queen,' +said Paridamie, 'permit me to restore to you your daughter +Rosanella, whom I stole out of her cradle.' + +After the first transports of joy were over the Queen said to +Paridamie: + +'But my twelve lovely ones, are they lost to me for ever? Shall I +never see them again?' + +But Paridamie only said: + +'Very soon you will cease to miss them!' in a tone that evidently +meant 'Don't ask me any more questions.' And then mounting again +into her chariot she swiftly disappeared. + +The news of his beautiful cousin's arrival was soon carried to the +Prince, but he had hardly the heart to go and see her. However, it +became absolutely necessary that he should pay his respects, and +he had scarcely been five minutes in her presence before it seemed +to him that she combined in her own charming person all the gifts +and graces which had so attracted him in the twelve Rose-maidens +whose loss he had so truly mourned; and after all it is really +more satisfactory to make love to one person at a time. So it came +to pass that before he knew where he was he was entreating his +lovely cousin to marry him, and the moment the words had left his +lips, Paridamie appeared, smiling and triumphant, in the chariot +of the Queen of the Fairies, for by that time they had all heard +of her success, and declared her to have earned the kingdom. She +had to give a full account of how she had stolen Rosanella from +her cradle, and divided her character into twelve parts, that each +might charm Prince Mirliflor, and when once more united might cure +him of his inconstancy once and for ever. + +And as one more proof of the fascination of the whole Rosanella, I +may tell you that even the defeated Surcantine sent her a wedding +gift, and was present at the ceremony which took place as soon as +the guests could arrive. Prince Mirliflor was constant for the +rest of his life. And indeed who would not have been in his place? +As for Rosanella, she loved him as much as all the twelve beauties +put together, so they reigned in peace and happiness to the end of +their long lives. + +By the Comte de Caylus. + + + + + +SYLVAIN AND JOCOSA + + + +Once upon a time there lived in the same village two children, one +called Sylvain and the other Jocosa, who were both remarkable for +beauty and intelligence. It happened that their parents were not +on terms of friendship with one another, on account of some old +quarrel, which had, however, taken place so long ago, that they +had quite forgotten what it was all about, and only kept up the +feud from force of habit. Sylvain and Jocosa for their parts were +far from sharing this enmity, and indeed were never happy when +apart. Day after day they fed their flocks of sheep together, and +spent the long sunshiny hours in playing, or resting upon some +shady bank. It happened one day that the Fairy of the Meadows +passed by and saw them, and was so much attracted by their pretty +faces and gentle manners that she took them under her protection, +and the older they grew the dearer they became to her. At first +she showed her interest by leaving in their favourite haunts many +little gifts such as they delighted to offer one to the other, for +they loved each other so much that their first thought was always, +'What will Jocosa like?' or, 'What will please Sylvain?' And the +Fairy took a great delight in their innocent enjoyment of the +cakes and sweetmeats she gave them nearly every day. When they +were grown up she resolved to make herself known to them, and +chose a time when they were sheltering from the noonday sun in the +deep shade of a flowery hedgerow. They were startled at first by +the sudden apparition of a tall and slender lady, dressed all in +green, and crowned with a garland of flowers. But when she spoke +to them sweetly, and told them how she had always loved them, and +that it was she who had given them all the pretty things which it +had so surprised them to find, they thanked her gratefully, and +took pleasure in answering the questions she put to them. When she +presently bade them farewell, she told them never to tell anyone +else that they had seen her. 'You will often see me again,' added +she, 'and I shall be with you frequently, even when you do not see +me.' So saying she vanished, leaving them in a state of great +wonder and excitement. After this she came often, and taught them +numbers of things, and showed them many of the marvels of her +beautiful kingdom, and at last one day she said to them, 'You know +that I have always been kind to you; now I think it is time you +did something for me in your turn. You both remember the fountain +I call my favourite? Promise me that every morning before the sun +rises you will go to it and clear away every stone that impedes +its course, and every dead leaf or broken twig that sullies its +clear waters. I shall take it as a proof of your gratitude to me +if you neither forget nor delay this duty, and I promise that so +long as the sun's earliest rays find my favourite spring the +clearest and sweetest in all my meadows, you two shall not be +parted from one another.' + +Sylvain and Jocosa willingly undertook this service, and indeed +felt that it was but a very small thing in return for all that the +fairy had given and promised to them. So for a long time the +fountain was tended with the most scrupulous care, and was the +clearest and prettiest in all the country round. But one morning +in the spring, long before the sun rose, they were hastening +towards it from opposite directions, when, tempted by the beauty +of the myriads of gay flowers which grew thickly on all sides, +they paused each to gather some for the other. + +'I will make Sylvain a garland,' said Jocosa, and 'How pretty +Jocosa will look in this crown!' thought Sylvain. + +Hither and thither they strayed, led ever farther and farther, for +the brightest flowers seemed always just beyond them, until at +last they were startled by the first bright rays of the rising +sun. With one accord they turned and ran towards the fountain, +reaching it at the same moment, though from opposite sides. But +what was their horror to see its usually tranquil waters seething +and bubbling, and even as they looked down rushed a mighty stream, +which entirely engulfed it, and Sylvain and Jocosa found +themselves parted by a wide and swiftly-rushing river. All this +had happened with such rapidity that they had only time to utter a +cry, and each to hold up to the other the flowers they had +gathered; but this was explanation enough. Twenty times did +Sylvain throw himself into the turbulent waters, hoping to be able +to swim to the other side, but each time an irresistible force +drove him back upon the bank he had just quitted, while, as for +Jocosa, she even essayed to cross the flood upon a tree which came +floating down torn up by the roots, but her efforts were equally +useless. Then with heavy hearts they set out to follow the course +of the stream, which had now grown so wide that it was only with +difficulty they could distinguish each other. Night and day, over +mountains and through valleys, in cold or in heat, they struggled +on, enduring fatigue and hunger and every hardship, and consoled +only by the hope of meeting once more--until three years had +passed, and at last they stood upon the cliffs where the river +flowed into the mighty sea. + +And now they seemed farther apart than ever, and in despair they +tried once more to throw themselves into the foaming waves. But +the Fairy of the Meadows, who had really never ceased to watch +over them, did not intend that they should be drowned at last, so +she hastily waved her wand, and immediately they found themselves +standing side by side upon the golden sand. You may imagine their +joy and delight when they realised that their weary struggle was +ended, and their utter contentment as they clasped each other by +the hand. They had so much to say that they hardly knew where to +begin, but they agreed in blaming themselves bitterly for the +negligence which had caused all their trouble; and when she heard +this the Fairy immediately appeared to them. They threw themselves +at her feet and implored her forgiveness, which she granted +freely, and promised at the same time that now their punishment +was ended she would always befriend them. Then she sent for her +chariot of green rushes, ornamented with May dewdrops, which she +particularly valued and always collected with great care; and +ordered her six short-tailed moles to carry them all back to the +well-known pastures, which they did in a remarkably short time; +and Sylvain and Jocosa were overjoyed to see their dearly-loved +home once more after all their toilful wanderings. The Fairy, who +had set her mind upon securing their happiness, had in their +absence quite made up the quarrel between their parents, and +gained their consent to the marriage of the faithful lovers; and +now she conducted them to the most charming little cottage that +can be imagined, close to the fountain, which had once more +resumed its peaceful aspect, and flowed gently down into the +little brook which enclosed the garden and orchard and pasture +which belonged to the cottage. Indeed, nothing more could have +been thought of, either for Sylvain and Jocosa or for their +flocks; and their delight satisfied even the Fairy who had planned +it all to please them. When they had explored and admired until +they were tired they sat down to rest under the rose-covered +porch, and the Fairy said that to pass the time until the wedding +guests whom she had invited could arrive she would tell them a +story. This is it: + + + +The Yellow Bird + + + +Once upon a time a Fairy, who had somehow or other got into +mischief, was condemned by the High Court of Fairyland to live for +several years under the form of some creature, and at the moment +of resuming her natural appearance once again to make the fortune +of two men. It was left to her to choose what form she would take, +and because she loved yellow she transformed herself into a lovely +bird with shining golden feathers such as no one had ever seen +before. When the time of her punishment was at an end the +beautiful yellow bird flew to Bagdad, and let herself be caught by +a Fowler at the precise moment when Badi-al-Zaman was walking up +and down outside his magnificent summer palace. This Badi-al- +Zaman--whose name means 'Wonder-of-the-World'--was looked upon in +Bagdad as the most fortunate creature under the sun, because of +his vast wealth. But really, what with anxiety about his riches +and being weary of everything, and always desiring something he +had not, he never knew a moment's real happiness. Even now he had +come out of his palace, which was large and splendid enough for +fifty kings, weary and cross because he could find nothing new to +amuse him. The Fowler thought that this would be a favourable +opportunity for offering him the marvellous bird, which he felt +certain he would buy the instant he saw it. And he was not +mistaken, for when Badi-al-Zaman took the lovely prisoner into his +own hands, he saw written under its right wing the words, 'He who +eats my head will become a king,' and under its left wing, 'He who +eats my heart will find a hundred gold pieces under his pillow +every morning.' In spite of all his wealth he at once began to +desire the promised gold, and the bargain was soon completed. Then +the difficulty arose as to how the bird was to be cooked; for +among all his army of servants not one could Badi-al-Zaman trust. +At last he asked the Fowler if he were married, and on hearing +that he was he bade him take the bird home with him and tell his +wife to cook it. + +'Perhaps,' said he, 'this will give me an appetite, which I have +not had for many a long day, and if so your wife shall have a +hundred pieces of silver.' + +The Fowler with great joy ran home to his wife, who speedily made +a savoury stew of the Yellow Bird. But when Badi-al-Zaman reached +the cottage and began eagerly to search in the dish for its head +and its heart he could not find either of them, and turned to the +Fowler's wife in a furious rage. She was so terrified that she +fell upon her knees before him and confessed that her two children +had come in just before he arrived, and had so teased her for some +of the dish she was preparing that she had presently given the +head to one and the heart to the other, since these morsels are +not generally much esteemed; and Badi-al-Zaman rushed from the +cottage vowing vengeance against the whole family. The wrath of a +rich man is generally to be feared, so the Fowler and his wife +resolved to send their children out of harm's way; but the wife, +to console her husband, confided to him that she had purposely +given them the head and heart of the bird because she had been +able to read what was written under its wings. So, believing that +their children's fortunes were made, they embraced them and sent +them forth, bidding them get as far away as possible, to take +different roads, and to send news of their welfare. For +themselves, they remained hidden and disguised in the town, which +was really rather clever of them; but very soon afterwards Badi- +al-Zaman died of vexation and annoyance at the loss of the +promised treasure, and then they went back to their cottage to +wait for news of their children. The younger, who had eaten the +heart of the Yellow Bird, very soon found out what it had done for +him, for each morning when he awoke he found a purse containing a +hundred gold pieces under his pillow. But, as all poor people may +remember for their consolation, nothing in the world causes so +much trouble or requires so much care as a great treasure. +Consequently, the Fowler's son, who spent with reckless profusion +and was supposed to be possessed of a great hoard of gold, was +before very long attacked by robbers, and in trying to defend +himself was so badly wounded that he died. + +The elder brother, who had eaten the Yellow Bird's head, travelled +a long way without meeting with any particular adventure, until at +last he reached a large city in Asia, which was all in an uproar +over the choosing of a new Emir. All the principal citizens had +formed themselves into two parties, and it was not until after a +prolonged squabble that they agreed that the person to whom the +most singular thing happened should be Emir. Our young traveller +entered the town at this juncture, with his agreeable face and +jaunty air, and all at once felt something alight upon his head, +which proved to be a snow-white pigeon. Thereupon all the people +began to stare, and to run after him, so that he presently reached +the palace with the pigeon upon his head and all the inhabitants +of the city at his heels, and before he knew where he was they +made him Emir, to his great astonishment. + +As there is nothing more agreeable than to command, and nothing to +which people get accustomed more quickly, the young Emir soon felt +quite at his ease in his new position; but this did not prevent +him from making every kind of mistake, and so misgoverning the +kingdom that at last the whole city rose in revolt and deprived +him at once of his authority and his life--a punishment which he +richly deserved, for in the days of his prosperity he disowned the +Fowler and his wife, and allowed them to die in poverty. + +'I have told you this story, my dear Sylvain and Jocosa,' added +the Fairy, 'to prove to you that this little cottage and all that +belongs to it is a gift more likely to bring you happiness and +contentment than many things that would at first seem grander and +more desirable. If you will faithfully promise me to till your +fields and feed your flocks, and will keep your word better than +you did before, I will see that you never lack anything that is +really for your good.' + +Sylvain and Jocosa gave their faithful promise, and as they kept +it they always enjoyed peace and prosperity. The Fairy had asked +all their friends and neighbours to their wedding, which took +place at once with great festivities and rejoicings, and they +lived to a good old age, always loving one another with all their +hearts. + +By the Comte de Caylus. + + + + + +FAIRY GIFTS + + + +It generally happens that people's surroundings reflect more or +less accurately their minds and dispositions, so perhaps that is +why the Flower Fairy lived in a lovely palace, with the most +delightful garden you can imagine, full of flowers, and trees, and +fountains, and fish-ponds, and everything nice. For the Fairy +herself was so kind and charming that everybody loved her, and all +the young princes and princesses who formed her court, were as +happy as the day was long, simply because they were near her. They +came to her when they were quite tiny, and never left her until +they were grown up and had to go away into the great world; and +when that time came she gave to each whatever gift he asked of +her. But it is chiefly of the Princess Sylvia that you are going +to hear now. The Fairy loved her with all her heart, for she was +at once original and gentle, and she had nearly reached the age at +which the gifts were generally bestowed. However, the Fairy had a +great wish to know how the other princesses who had grown up and +left her, were prospering, and before the time came for Sylvia to +go herself, she resolved to send her to some of them. So one day +her chariot, drawn by butterflies, was made ready, and the Fairy +said: 'Sylvia, I am going to send you to the court of Iris; she +will receive you with pleasure for my sake as well as for your +own. In two months you may come back to me again, and I shall +expect you to tell me what you think of her.' + +Sylvia was very unwilling to go away, but as the Fairy wished it +she said nothing--only when the two months were over she stepped +joyfully into the butterfly chariot, and could not get back +quickly enough to the Flower-Fairy, who, for her part, was equally +delighted to see her again. + +'Now, child,' said she, 'tell me what impression you have +received.' + +'You sent me, madam,' answered Sylvia, 'to the Court of Iris, on +whom you had bestowed the gift of beauty. She never tells anyone, +however, that it was your gift, though she often speaks of your +kindness in general. It seemed to me that her loveliness, which +fairly dazzled me at first, had absolutely deprived her of the use +of any of her other gifts or graces. In allowing herself to be +seen, she appeared to think that she was doing all that could +possibly be required of her. But, unfortunately, while I was still +with her she became seriously ill, and though she presently +recovered, her beauty is entirely gone, so that she hates the very +sight of herself, and is in despair. She entreated me to tell you +what had happened, and to beg you, in pity, to give her beauty +back to her. And, indeed, she does need it terribly, for all the +things in her that were tolerable, and even agreeable, when she +was so pretty, seem quite different now she is ugly, and it is so +long since she thought of using her mind or her natural +cleverness, that I really don't think she has any left now. She is +quite aware of all this herself, so you may imagine how unhappy +she is, and how earnestly she begs for your aid.' + +'You have told me what I wanted to know,' cried the Fairy, 'but +alas! I cannot help her; my gifts can be given but once.' + +Some time passed in all the usual delights of the Flower-Fairy's +palace, and then she sent for Sylvia again, and told her she was +to stay for a little while with the Princess Daphne, and +accordingly the butterflies whisked her off, and set her down in +quite a strange kingdom. But she had only been there a very little +time before a wandering butterfly brought a message from her to +the Fairy, begging that she might be sent for as soon as possible, +and before very long she was allowed to return. + +'Ah! madam,' cried she, 'what a place you sent me to that time!' + +'Why, what was the matter?' asked the Fairy. 'Daphne was one of +the princesses who asked for the gift of eloquence, if I remember +rightly.' + +'And very ill the gift of eloquence becomes a woman,' replied +Sylvia, with an air of conviction. 'It is true that she speaks +well, and her expressions are well chosen; but then she never +leaves off talking, and though at first one may be amused, one +ends by being wearied to death. Above all things she loves any +assembly for settling the affairs of her kingdom, for on those +occasions she can talk and talk without fear of interruption; but, +even then, the moment it is over she is ready to begin again about +anything or nothing, as the case may be. Oh! how glad I was to +come away I cannot tell you.' + +The Fairy smiled at Sylvia's unfeigned disgust at her late +experience; but after allowing her a little time to recover she +sent her to the Court of the Princess Cynthia, where she left her +for three months. At the end of that time Sylvia came back to her +with all the joy and contentment that one feels at being once more +beside a dear friend. The Fairy, as usual, was anxious to hear +what she thought of Cynthia, who had always been amiable, and to +whom she had given the gift of pleasing. + +'I thought at first,' said Sylvia, 'that she must be the happiest +Princess in the world; she had a thousand lovers who vied with one +another in their efforts to please and gratify her. Indeed, I had +nearly decided that I would ask a similar gift.' + +'Have you altered your mind, then?' interrupted the Fairy. + +'Yes, indeed, madam,' replied Sylvia; 'and I will tell you why. +The longer I stayed the more I saw that Cynthia was not really +happy. In her desire to please everyone she ceased to be sincere, +and degenerated into a mere coquette; and even her lovers felt +that the charms and fascinations which were exercised upon all who +approached her without distinction were valueless, so that in the +end they ceased to care for them, and went away disdainfully.' + +'I am pleased with you, child,' said the Fairy; 'enjoy yourself +here for awhile and presently you shall go to Phyllida.' + +Sylvia was glad to have leisure to think, for she could not make +up her mind at all what she should ask for herself, and the time +was drawing very near. However, before very long the Fairy sent +her to Phyllida, and waited for her report with unabated interest. + +'I reached her court safely,' said Sylvia, 'and she received me +with much kindness, and immediately began to exercise upon me that +brilliant wit which you had bestowed upon her. I confess that I +was fascinated by it, and for a week thought that nothing could be +more desirable; the time passed like magic, so great was the charm +of her society. But I ended by ceasing to covet that gift more +than any of the others I have seen, for, like the gift of +pleasing, it cannot really give satisfaction. By degrees I wearied +of what had so delighted me at first, especially as I perceived +more and more plainly that it is impossible to be constantly smart +and amusing without being frequently ill-natured, and too apt to +turn all things, even the most serious, into mere occasions for a +brilliant jest.' + +The Fairy in her heart agreed with Sylvia's conclusions, and felt +pleased with herself for having brought her up so well. + +But now the time was come for Sylvia to receive her gift, and all +her companions were assembled; the Fairy stood in the midst and in +the usual manner asked what she would take with her into the great +world. + +Sylvia paused for a moment, and then answered: 'A quiet spirit.' +And the Fairy granted her request. + +This lovely gift makes life a constant happiness to its possessor, +and to all who are brought into contact with her. She has all the +beauty of gentleness and contentment in her sweet face; and if at +times it seems less lovely through some chance grief or +disquietude, the hardest thing that one ever hears said is: + +'Sylvia's dear face is pale to-day. It grieves one to see her so.' + +And when, on the contrary, she is gay and joyful, the sunshine of +her presence rejoices all who have the happiness of being near +her. + +By the Comte de Caylus. + + + + + +PRINCE NARCISSUS AND THE PRINCESS POTENTILLA + + + +Once upon a time there lived a King and Queen who, though it is a +very long while since they died, were much the same in their +tastes and pursuits as people nowadays. The King, who was called +Cloverleaf, liked hunting better than anything else; but he +nevertheless bestowed as much care upon his kingdom as he felt +equal to--that is to say, he never made an end of folding and +unfolding the State documents. As to the Queen, she had once been +very pretty, and she liked to believe that she was so still, which +is, of course, always made quite easy for queens. Her name was +Frivola, and her one occupation in life was the pursuit of +amusement. Balls, masquerades, and picnics followed one another in +rapid succession, as fast as she could arrange them, and you may +imagine that under these circumstances the kingdom was somewhat +neglected. As a matter of fact, if anyone had a fancy for a town, +or a province, he helped himself to it; but as long as the King +had his horses and dogs, and the Queen her musicians and her +actors, they did not trouble themselves about the matter. King +Cloverleaf and Queen Frivola had but one child, and this Princess +had from her very babyhood been so beautiful, that by the time she +was four years old the Queen was desperately jealous of her, and +so fearful that when she was grown up she would be more admired +than herself, that she resolved to keep her hidden away out of +sight. To this end she caused a little house to be built not far +beyond the Palace gardens, on the bank of a river. This was +surrounded by a high wall, and in it the charming Potentilla was +imprisoned. Her nurse, who was dumb, took care of her, and the +necessaries of life were conveyed to her through a little window +in the wall, while guards were always pacing to and fro outside, +with orders to cut off the head of anyone who tried to approach, +which they would certainly have done without thinking twice about +it. The Queen told everyone, with much pretended sorrow, that the +Princess was so ugly, and so troublesome, and altogether so +impossible to love, that to keep her out of sight was the only +thing that could be done for her. And this tale she repeated so +often, that at last the whole court believed it. Things were in +this state, and the Princess was about fifteen years old, when +Prince Narcissus, attracted by the report of Queen Frivola's gay +doings, presented himself at the court. He was not much older than +the Princess, and was as handsome a Prince as you would see in a +day's journey, and really, for his age, not so very scatter- +brained. His parents were a King and Queen, whose story you will +perhaps read some day. They died almost at the same time, leaving +their kingdom to the eldest of their children, and commending +their youngest son, Prince Narcissus, to the care of the Fairy +Melinette. In this they did very well for him, for the Fairy was +as kind as she was powerful, and she spared no pains in teaching +the little Prince everything it was good for him to know, and even +imparted to him some of her own Fairy lore. But as soon as he was +grown up she sent him out to see the world for himself, though all +the time she was secretly keeping watch over him, ready to help in +any time of need. Before he started she gave him a ring which +would render him invisible when he put it on his finger. These +rings seem to be quite common; you must often have heard of them, +even if you have never seen one. It was in the course of the +Prince's wanderings, in search of experience of men and things, +that he came to the court of Queen Frivola, where he was extremely +well received. The Queen was delighted with him, so were all her +ladies; and the King was very polite to him, though he did not +quite see why the whole court was making such a fuss over him. + +Prince Narcissus enjoyed all that went on, and found the time pass +very pleasantly. Before long, of course, he heard the story about +the Princess Potentilla, and, as it had by that time been repeated +many times, and had been added to here and there, she was +represented as such a monster of ugliness that he was really quite +curious to see her, and resolved to avail himself of the magic +power of his ring to accomplish his design. So he made himself +invisible, and passed the guard without their so much as +suspecting that anyone was near. Climbing the wall was rather a +difficulty, but when he at length found himself inside it he was +charmed with the peaceful beauty of the little domain it enclosed, +and still more delighted when he perceived a slender, lovely +maiden wandering among the flowers. It was not until he had sought +vainly for the imaginary monster that he realised that this was +the Princess herself, and by that time he was deeply in love with +her, for indeed it would have been hard to find anyone prettier +than Potentilla, as she sat by the brook, weaving a garland of +blue forget-me-nots to crown her waving golden locks, or to +imagine anything more gentle than the way she tended all the birds +and beasts who inhabited her small kingdom, and who all loved and +followed her. Prince Narcissus watched her every movement, and +hovered near her in a dream of delight, not daring as yet to +appear to her, so humble had he suddenly become in her presence. +And when evening came, and the nurse fetched the Princess into her +little house, he felt obliged to go back to Frivola's palace, for +fear his absence should be noticed and someone should discover his +new treasure. But he forgot that to go back absent, and dreamy, +and indifferent, when he had before been gay and ardent about +everything, was the surest way of awakening suspicion; and when, +in response to the jesting questions which were put to him upon +the subject, he only blushed and returned evasive answers, all the +ladies were certain that he had lost his heart, and did their +utmost to discover who was the happy possessor of it. As to the +Prince, he was becoming day by day more attached to Potentilla, +and his one thought was to attend her, always invisible, and help +her in everything she did, and provide her with everything that +could possibly amuse or please her. And the Princess, who had +learnt to find diversion in very small things in her quiet life, +was in a continual state of delight over the treasures which the +Prince constantly laid where she must find them. Then Narcissus +implored his faithful friend Melinette to send the Princess such +dreams of him as should make her recognise him as a friend when he +actually appeared before her eyes; and this device was so +successful that the Princess quite dreaded the cessation of these +amusing dreams, in which a certain Prince Narcissus was such a +delightful lover and companion. After that he went a step further +and began to have long talks with the Princess--still, however, +keeping himself invisible, until she begged him so earnestly to +appear to her that he could no longer resist, and after making her +promise that, no matter what he was like, she would still love +him, he drew the ring from his finger, and the Princess saw with +delight that he was as handsome as he was agreeable. Now, indeed, +they were perfectly happy, and they passed the whole long summer +day in Potentilla's favourite place by the brook, and when at last +Prince Narcissus had to leave her it seemed to them both that the +hours had gone by with the most amazing swiftness. The Princess +stayed where she was, dreaming of her delightful Prince, and +nothing could have been further from her thoughts than any trouble +or misfortune, when suddenly, in a cloud of dust and shavings, by +came the enchanter Grumedan, and unluckily he chanced to catch +sight of Potentilla. Down he came straightway and alighted at her +feet, and one look at her charming blue eyes and smiling lips +quite decided him that he must appear to her at once, though he +was rather annoyed to remember that he had on only his second-best +cloak. The Princess sprang to her feet with a cry of terror at +this sudden apparition, for really the Enchanter was no beauty. To +begin with, he was very big and clumsy, then he had but one eye, +and his teeth were long, and he stammered badly; nevertheless, he +had an excellent opinion of himself, and mistook the Princess's +cry of terror for an exclamation of delighted surprise. After +pausing a moment to give her time to admire him, the Enchanter +made her the most complimentary speech he could invent, which, +however, did not please her at all, though he was extremely +delighted with it himself. Poor Potentilla only shuddered and +cried: + +'Oh! where is my Narcissus?' + +To which he replied with a self-satisfied chuckle: 'You want a +narcissus, madam? Well, they are not rare; you shall have as many +as you like.' + +Whereupon he waved his wand, and the Princess found herself +surrounded and half buried in the fragrant flowers. She would +certainly have betrayed that this was not the kind of narcissus +she wanted, but for the Fairy Melinette, who had been anxiously +watching the interview, and now thought it quite time to +interfere. Assuming the Prince's voice, she whispered in +Potentilla's ear: + +'We are menaced by a great danger, but my only fear is for you, my +Princess. Therefore I beg you to hide what you really feel, and we +will hope that some way out of the difficulty may present itself.' + +The Princess was much agitated by this speech, and feared lest the +Enchanter should have overheard it; but he had been loudly calling +her attention to the flowers, and chuckling over his own smartness +in getting them for her; and it was rather a blow to him when she +said very coldly that they were not the sort she preferred, and +she would be glad if he would send them all away. This he did, but +afterwards wished to kiss the Princess's hand as a reward for +having been so obliging; but the Fairy Melinette was not going to +allow anything of that kind. She appeared suddenly, in all her +splendour, and cried: + +'Stay, Grumedan; this Princess is under my protection, and the +smallest impertinence will cost you a thousand years of captivity. +If you can win Potentilla's heart by the ordinary methods I cannot +oppose you, but I warn you that I will not put up with any of your +usual tricks.' + +This declaration was not at all to the Enchanter's taste; but he +knew that there was no help for it, and that he would have to +behave well, and pay the Princess all the delicate attentions he +could think of; though they were not at all the sort of thing he +was used to. However, he decided that to win such a beauty it was +quite worth while; and Melinette, feeling that she could now leave +the Princess in safety, hurried off to tell Prince Narcissus what +was going forward. Of course, at the very mention of the Enchanter +as a rival he was furious, and I don't know what foolish things he +would not have done if Melinette had not been there to calm him +down. She represented to him what a powerful enchanter Grumedan +was, and how, if he were provoked, he might avenge himself upon +the Princess, since he was the most unjust and churlish of all the +enchanters, and had often before had to be punished by the Fairy +Queen for some of his ill-deeds. Once he had been imprisoned in a +tree, and was only released when it was blown down by a furious +wind; another time he was condemned to stay under a big stone at +the bottom of a river, until by some chance the stone should be +turned over; but nothing could ever really improve him. The Fairy +finally made Narcissus promise that he would remain invisible when +he was with the Princess, since she felt sure that this would make +things easier for all of them. Then began a struggle between +Grumedan and the Prince, the latter under the name of Melinette, +as to which could best delight and divert the Princess and win her +approbation. Prince Narcissus first made friends with all the +birds in Potentilla's little domain, and taught them to sing her +name and her praises, with all their sweetest trills and most +touching melodies, and all day long to tell her how dearly he +loved her. Grumedan, thereupon, declared that there was nothing +new about that, since the birds had sung since the world began, +and all lovers had imagined that they sang for them alone. +Therefore he said he would himself write an opera that should be +absolutely a novelty and something worth hearing. When the time +came for the performance (which lasted five weary hours) the +Princess found to her dismay that the 'opera' consisted of this +more than indifferent verse, chanted with all their might by ten +thousand frogs: + +'Admirable Potentilla, Do you think it kind or wise In this sudden +way to kill a Poor Enchanter with your eyes?' + +Really, if Narcissus had not been there to whisper in her ear and +divert her attention, I don't know what would have become of poor +Potentilla, for though the first repetition of this absurdity +amused her faintly, she nearly died of weariness before the time +was over. Luckily Grumedan did not perceive this, as he was too +much occupied in whipping up the frogs, many of whom perished +miserably from fatigue, since he did not allow them to rest for a +moment. The Prince's next idea for Potentilla's amusement was to +cause a fleet of boats exactly like those of Cleopatra, of which +you have doubtless read in history, to come up the little river, +and upon the most gorgeously decorated of these reclined the great +Queen herself, who, as soon as she reached the place where +Potentilla sat in rapt attention, stepped majestically on shore +and presented the Princess with that celebrated pearl of which you +have heard so much, saying: + +'You are more beautiful than I ever was. Let my example warn you +to make a better use of your beauty!' + +And then the little fleet sailed on, until it was lost to view in +the windings of the river. Grumedan was also looking on at the +spectacle, and said very contemptuously: + +'I cannot say I think these marionettes amusing. What a to-do to +make over a single pearl! But if you like pearls, madam, why, I +will soon gratify you.' + +So saying, he drew a whistle from his pocket, and no sooner had he +blown it than the Princess saw the water of the river bubble and +grow muddy, and in another instant up came hundreds of thousands +of great oysters, who climbed slowly and laboriously towards her +and laid at her feet all the pearls they contained. + +'Those are what I call pearls,' cried Grumedan in high glee. And +truly there were enough of them to pave every path in Potentilla's +garden and leave some to spare! The next day Prince Narcissus had +prepared for the Princess's pleasure a charming arbour of leafy +branches, with couches of moss and grassy floor and garlands +everywhere, with her name written in different coloured blossoms. +Here he caused a dainty little banquet to be set forth, while +hidden musicians played softly, and the silvery fountains plashed +down into their marble basins, and when presently the music +stopped a single nightingale broke the stillness with his +delicious chant. + +'Ah!' cried the Princess, recognizing the voice of one of her +favourites, 'Philomel, my sweet one, who taught you that new +song?' + +And he answered: 'Love, my Princess.' + +Meanwhile the Enchanter was very ill-pleased with the +entertainment, which he declared was dulness itself. + +'You don't seem to have any idea in these parts beyond little +squeaking birds!' said he. 'And fancy giving a banquet without so +much as an ounce of plate!' + +So the next day, when the Princess went out into her garden, there +stood a summer-house built of solid gold, decorated within and +without with her initials and the Enchanter's combined. And in it +was spread an enormous repast, while the table so glittered with +golden cups and plates, flagons and dishes, candlesticks and a +hundred other things beside, that it was hardly possible to look +steadily at it. The Enchanter ate like six ogres, but the Princess +could not touch a morsel. Presently Grumedan remarked with a grin: + +'I have provided neither musicians nor singers; but as you seem +fond of music I will sing to you myself.' + +Whereupon he began, with a voice like a screech-owl's, to chant +the words of his 'opera,' only this time happily not at such a +length, and without the frog accompaniment. After this the Prince +again asked the aid of his friends the birds, and when they had +assembled from all the country round he tied about the neck of +each one a tiny lamp of some brilliant colour, and when darkness +fell he made them go through a hundred pretty tricks before the +delighted Potentilla, who clapped her little hands with delight +when she saw her own name traced in points of light against the +dark trees, or when the whole flock of sparks grouped themselves +into bouquets of different colours, like living flowers. Grumedan +leaning back in his arm-chair, with one knee crossed over the +other and his nose in the air, looked on disdainfully. + +'Oh! if you like fireworks, Princess,' said he; and the next night +all the will-o'-the-wisps in the country came and danced on the +plain, which could be seen from the Princess's windows, and as she +was looking out, and rather enjoying the sight, up sprang a +frightful volcano, pouring out smoke and flames which terrified +her greatly, to the intense amusement of the Enchanter, who +laughed like a pack of wolves quarrelling. After this, as many of +the will-o'-the-wisps as could get in crowded into Potentilla's +garden, and by their light the tall yew-trees danced minuets until +the Princess was weary and begged to be excused from looking at +anything more that night. But, in spite of Potentilla's efforts to +behave politely to the tiresome old Enchanter, whom she detested, +he could not help seeing that he failed to please her, and then he +began to suspect very strongly that she must love someone else, +and that somebody besides Melinette was responsible for all the +festivities he had witnessed. So after much consideration he +devised a plan for finding out the truth. He went to the Princess +suddenly, and announced that he was most unwillingly forced to +leave her, and had come to bid her farewell. Potentilla could +scarcely hide her delight when she heard this, and his back was +hardly turned before she was entreating Prince Narcissus to make +himself visible once more. The poor Prince had been getting quite +thin with anxiety and annoyance, and was only too delighted to +comply with her request. They greeted one another rapturously, and +were just sitting down to talk over everything cosily, and enjoy +the Enchanter's discomfiture together, when out he burst in a fury +from behind a bush. With his huge club he aimed a terrific blow at +Narcissus, which must certainly have killed him but for the +adroitness of the Fairy Melinette, who arrived upon the scene just +in time to snatch him up and carry him off at lightning speed to +her castle in the air. Poor Potentilla, however, had not the +comfort of knowing this, for at the sight of the Enchanter +threatening her beloved Prince she had given one shriek and fallen +back insensible. When she recovered her senses she was more than +ever convinced that he was dead, since even Melinette was no +longer near her, and no one was left to defend her from the odious +old Enchanter. + +To make matters worse, he seemed to be in a very bad temper, and +came blustering and raging at the poor Princess. + +'I tell you what it is, madam,' said he: 'whether you love this +whipper-snapper Prince or not doesn't matter in the least. You are +going to marry me, so you may as well make up your mind to it; and +I am going away this very minute to make all the arrangements. But +in case you should get into mischief in my absence, I think I had +better put you to sleep.' + +So saying, he waved his wand over her, and in spite of her utmost +efforts to keep awake she sank into a profound and dreamless +slumber. + +As he wished to make what he considered a suitable entry into the +King's palace, he stepped outside the Princess's little domain, +and mounted upon an immense chariot with great solid wheels, and +shafts like the trunk of an oak-tree, but all of solid gold. This +was drawn with great difficulty by forty-eight strong oxen; and +the Enchanter reclined at his ease, leaning upon his huge club, +and holding carelessly upon his knee a tawny African lion, as if +it had been a little lapdog. It was about seven o'clock in the +morning when this extraordinary chariot reached the palace gates; +the King was already astir, and about to set off on a hunting +expedition; as for the Queen, she had only just gone off into her +first sleep, and it would have been a bold person indeed who +ventured to wake her. + +The King was greatly annoyed at having to stay and see a visitor +at such a time, and pulled off his hunting boots again with many +grimaces. Meantime the Enchanter was stumping about in the hall, +crying: + +'Where is this King? Let him be told that I must see him and his +wife also.' + +The King, who was listening at the top of the staircase, thought +this was not very polite; however, he took counsel with his +favourite huntsman, and, following his advice, presently went down +to see what was wanted of him. He was struck with astonishment at +the sight of the chariot, and was gazing at it, when the Enchanter +strode up to him, exclaiming: + +'Shake hands, Cloverleaf, old fellow! Don't you know me?' + +'No, I can't say I do,' replied the King, somewhat embarrassed. + +'Why, I am Grumedan, the Enchanter,' said he, 'and I am come to +make your fortune. Let us come in and talk things over a bit.' + +Thereupon he ordered the oxen to go about their business, and they +bounded off like stags, and were out of sight in a moment. Then, +with one blow of his club, he changed the massive chariot into a +perfect mountain of gold pieces. + +'Those are for your lackeys,' said he to the King, 'that they may +drink my health.' + +Naturally a great scramble ensued, and at last the laughter and +shouting awoke the Queen, who rang for her maids to ask the reason +of such an unwonted hurry-burly. When they said that a visitor was +asking for her, and then proceeded each one to tell breathlessly a +different tale of wonder, in which she could only distinguish the +words, 'oxen,' 'gold,' 'club,' 'giant,' 'lion,' she thought they +were all out of their minds. Meanwhile the King was asking the +Enchanter to what he was indebted for the honour of this visit, +and on his replying that he would not say until the Queen was also +present, messenger after messenger was dispatched to her to beg +her immediate attendance. But Frivola was in a very bad humour at +having been so unceremoniously awakened, and declared that she had +a pain in her little finger, and that nothing should induce her to +come. + +When the Enchanter heard this he insisted that she must come. + +'Take my club to her Majesty,' said he, 'and tell her that if she +smells the end of it she will find it wonderfully reviving.' + +So four of the King's strongest men-at-arms staggered off with it; +and after some persuasion the Queen consented to try this novel +remedy. She had hardly smelt it for an instant when she declared +herself to be perfectly restored; but whether that was due to the +scent of the wood or to the fact that as soon as she touched it +out fell a perfect shower of magnificent jewels, I leave you to +decide. At any rate, she was now all eagerness to see the +mysterious stranger, and hastily throwing on her royal mantle, +popped her second-best diamond crown over her night-cap, put a +liberal dab of rouge upon each cheek, and holding up her largest +fan before her nose--for she was not used to appearing in broad +daylight--she went mincing into the great hall. The Enchanter +waited until the King and Queen had seated themselves upon their +throne, and then, taking his place between them, he began +solemnly: + +'My name is Grumedan. I am an extremely well-connected Enchanter; +my power is immense. In spite of all this, the charms of your +daughter Potentilla have so fascinated me that I cannot live +without her. She fancies that she loves a certain contemptible +puppy called Narcissus; but I have made very short work with him. +I really do not care whether you consent to my marriage with your +daughter or not, but I am bound to ask your consent, on account of +a certain meddling Fairy called Melinette, with whom I have reason +for wishing to keep on good terms.' + +The King and Queen were somewhat embarrassed to know what answer +to make to this terrible suitor, but at last they asked for time +to talk over the matter: since, they said, their subjects might +think that the heir to the throne should not be married with as +little consideration as a dairymaid. + +'Oh! take a day or two if you like,' said the Enchanter; 'but in +the meantime, I am going to send for your daughter. Perhaps you +will be able to induce her to be reasonable.' + +So saying, he drew out his favourite whistle, and blew one ear- +piercing note--whereupon the great lion, who had been dozing in +the sunny courtyard, come bounding in on his soft, heavy feet. +'Orion,' said the Enchanter, 'go and fetch me the Princess, and +bring her here at once. Be gentle now!' + +At these words Orion went off at a great pace, and was soon at the +other end of the King's gardens. Scattering the guards right and +left, he cleared the wall at a bound, and seizing the sleeping +Princess, he threw her on to his back, where he kept her by +holding her robe in his teeth. Then he trotted gently back, and in +less than five minutes stood in the great hall before the +astonished King and Queen. + +The Enchanter held his club close to the Princess's charming +little nose, whereupon she woke up and shrieked with terror at +finding herself in a strange place with the detested Grumedan. +Frivola, who had stood by, stiff with displeasure at the sight of +the lovely Princess, now stepped forward, and with much pretended +concern proposed to carry off Potentilla to her own apartments +that she might enjoy the quiet she seemed to need. Really her one +idea was to let the Princess be seen by as few people as possible; +so, throwing a veil over her head, she led her away and locked her +up securely. All this time Prince Narcissus, gloomy and +despairing, was kept a prisoner by Melinette in her castle in the +air, and in spite of all the splendour by which he was surrounded, +and all the pleasures which he might have enjoyed, his one thought +was to get back to Potentilla. The Fairy, however, left him there, +promising to do her very best for him, and commanding all her +swallows and butterflies to wait upon him and do his bidding. One +day, as he paced sadly to and fro, he thought he heard a voice he +knew calling to him, and sure enough there was the faithful +Philomel, Potentilla's favourite, who told him all that had +passed, and how the sleeping Princess had been carried off by the +Lion to the great grief of all her four-footed and feathered +subjects, and how, not knowing what to do, he had wandered about +until he heard the swallows telling one another of the Prince who +was in their airy castle and had come to see if it could be +Narcissus. The Prince was more distracted than ever, and tried +vainly to escape from the castle, by leaping from the roof into +the clouds; but every time they caught him, and rolling softly up, +brought him back to the place from which he started, so at last he +gave up the attempt and waited with desperate patience for the +return of Melinette. Meanwhile matters were advancing rapidly in +the court of King Cloverleaf, for the Queen quite made up her mind +that such a beauty as Potentilla must be got out of the way as +quickly as possible. So she sent for the Enchanter secretly, and +after making him promise that he would never turn herself and King +Cloverleaf out of their kingdom, and that he would take Potentilla +far away, so that never again might she set eyes upon her, she +arranged the wedding for the next day but one. + +You may imagine how Potentilla lamented her sad fate, and +entreated to be spared. All the comfort she could get out of +Frivola was, that if she preferred a cup of poison to a rich +husband she would certainly provide her with one. + +When, then, the fatal day came the unhappy Potentilla was led into +the great hall between the King and Queen, the latter wild with +envy at the murmurs of admiration which rose on all sides at the +loveliness of the Princess. An instant later in came Grumedan by +the opposite door. His hair stood on end, and he wore a huge bag- +purse and a cravat tied in a bow, his mantle was made of a shower +of silver coins with a lining of rose colour, and his delight in +his own appearance knew no bounds. That any Princess could prefer +a cup of poison to himself never for an instant occurred to him. +Nevertheless, that was what did happen, for when Queen Frivola in +jest held out the fatal cup to the Princess, she took it eagerly, +crying: + +'Ah! beloved Narcissus, I come to thee!' and was just raising it +to her lips when the window of the great hall burst open, and the +Fairy Melinette floated in upon a glowing sunset cloud, followed +by the Prince himself: + +All the court looked on in dazzled surprise, while Potentilla, +catching sight of her lover, dropped the cup and ran joyfully to +meet him. + +The Enchanter's first thought was to defend himself when he saw +Melinette appear, but she slipped round his blind side, and +catching him by the eyelashes dragged him off to the ceiling of +the hall, where she held him kicking for a while just to give him +a lesson, and then touching him with her wand she imprisoned him +for a thousand years in a crystal ball which hung from the roof. +'Let this teach you to mind what I tell you another time,' she +remarked severely. Then turning to the King and Queen, she begged +them to proceed with the wedding, since she had provided a much +more suitable bridegroom. She also deprived them of their kingdom, +for they had really shown themselves unfit to manage it, and +bestowed it upon the Prince and Princess, who, though they were +unwilling to take it, had no choice but to obey the Fairy. +However, they took care that the King and Queen were always +supplied with everything they could wish for. + +Prince Narcissus and Princess Potentilla lived long and happily, +beloved by all their subjects. As for the Enchanter, I don't +believe he has been let out yet. + +La Princesse Pimprenella et Le Prince Romarin. + + + + + +PRINCE FEATHERHEAD AND THE PRINCESS CELANDINE + + + +Once upon a time there lived a King and Queen, who were the best +creatures in the world, and so kind-hearted that they could not +bear to see their subjects want for anything. The consequence was +that they gradually gave away all their treasures, till they +positively had nothing left to live upon; and this coming to the +ears of their neighbour, King Bruin, he promptly raised a large +army and marched into their country. The poor King, having no +means of defending his kingdom, was forced to disguise himself +with a false beard, and carrying his only son, the little Prince +Featherhead, in his arms, and accompanied only by the Queen, to +make the best of his way into the wild country. They were lucky +enough to escape the soldiers of King Bruin, and at last, after +unheard-of fatigues and adventures, they found themselves in a +charming green valley, through which flowed a stream clear as +crystal and overshadowed by beautiful trees. As they looked round +them with delight, a voice said suddenly: 'Fish, and see what you +will catch.' Now the King had always loved fishing, and never went +anywhere without a fish-hook or two in his pocket, so he drew one +out hastily, and the Queen lent him her girdle to fasten it to, +and it had hardly touched the water before it caught a big fish, +which made them an excellent meal--and not before they needed it, +for they had found nothing until then but a few wild berries and +roots. They thought that for the present they could not do better +than stay in this delightful place, and the King set to work, and +soon built a bower of branches to shelter them; and when it was +finished the Queen was so charmed with it that she declared +nothing was lacking to complete her happiness but a flock of +sheep, which she and the little Prince might tend while the King +fished. They soon found that the fish were not only abundant and +easily caught, but also very beautiful, with glittering scales of +every imaginable hue; and before long the King discovered that he +could teach them to talk and whistle better than any parrot. Then +he determined to carry some to the nearest town and try to sell +them; and as no one had ever before seen any like them the people +flocked about him eagerly and bought all he had caught, so that +presently not a house in the city was considered complete without +a crystal bowl full of fish, and the King's customers were very +particular about having them to match the rest of the furniture, +and gave him a vast amount of trouble in choosing them. However, +the money he obtained in this way enabled him to buy the Queen her +flock of sheep, as well as many of the other things which go to +make life pleasant, so that they never once regretted their lost +kingdom. Now it happened that the Fairy of the Beech-Woods lived +in the lovely valley to which chance had led the poor fugitives, +and it was she who had, in pity for their forlorn condition, sent +the King such good luck to his fishing, and generally taken them +under her protection. This she was all the more inclined to do as +she loved children, and little Prince Featherhead, who never cried +and grew prettier day by day, quite won her heart. She made the +acquaintance of the King and the Queen without at first letting +them know that she was a fairy, and they soon took a great fancy +to her, and even trusted her with the precious Prince, whom she +carried off to her palace, where she regaled him with cakes and +tarts and every other good thing. This was the way she chose of +making him fond of her; but afterwards, as he grew older, she +spared no pains in educating and training him as a prince should +be trained. But unfortunately, in spite of all her care, he grew +so vain and frivolous that he quitted his peaceful country life in +disgust, and rushed eagerly after all the foolish gaieties of the +neighbouring town, where his handsome face and charming manners +speedily made him popular. The King and Queen deeply regretted +this alteration in their son, but did not know how to mend +matters, since the good old Fairy had made him so self-willed. + +Just at this time the Fairy of the Beech-Woods received a visit +from an old friend of hers called Saradine, who rushed into her +house so breathless with rage that she could hardly speak. + +'Dear, dear! what is the matter?' said the Fairy of the Beech- +Woods soothingly. + +'The matter!' cried Saradine. 'You shall soon hear all about it. +You know that, not content with endowing Celandine, Princess of +the Summer Islands, with everything she could desire to make her +charming, I actually took the trouble to bring her up myself; and +now what does she do but come to me with more coaxings and +caresses than usual to beg a favour. And what do you suppose this +favour turns out to be--when I have been cajoled into promising to +grant it? Nothing more nor less than a request that I will take +back all my gifts--"since," says my young madam, "if I have the +good fortune to please you, how am I to know that it is really I, +myself? And that's how it will be all my life long, whenever I +meet anybody. You see what a weariness my life will be to me under +these circumstances, and yet I assure you I am not ungrateful to +you for all your kindness!" I did all I could,' continued +Saradine, 'to make her think better of it, but in vain; so after +going through the usual ceremony for taking back my gifts, I'm +come to you for a little peace and quietness. But, after all, I +have not taken anything of consequence from this provoking +Celandine. Nature had already made her so pretty, and given her +such a ready wit of her own, that she will do perfectly well +without me. However, I thought she deserved a little lesson, so to +begin with I have whisked her off into the desert, and there left +her!' + +'What! all alone, and without any means of existence?' cried the +kind-hearted old Fairy. 'You had better hand her over to me. I +don't think so very badly of her after all. I'll just cure her +vanity by making her love someone better than herself. Really, +when I come to consider of it, I declare the little minx has shown +more spirit and originality in the matter than one expects of a +princess.' + +Saradine willingly consented to this arrangement, and the old +Fairy's first care was to smooth away all the difficulties which +surrounded the Princess, and lead her by the mossy path overhung +with trees to the bower of the King and Queen, who still pursued +their peaceful life in the valley. + +They were immensely surprised at her appearance, but her charming +face, and the deplorably ragged condition to which the thorns and +briers had reduced her once elegant attire, speedily won their +compassion; they recognised her as a companion in misfortune, and +the Queen welcomed her heartily, and begged her to share their +simple repast. Celandine gracefully accepted their hospitality, +and soon told them what had happened to her. The King was charmed +with her spirit, while the Queen thought she had indeed been +daring thus to go against the Fairy's wishes. + +'Since it has ended in my meeting you,' said the Princess, 'I +cannot regret the step I have taken, and if you will let me stay +with you, I shall be perfectly happy.' + +The King and Queen were only too delighted to have this charming +Princess to supply the place of Prince Featherhead, whom they saw +but seldom, since the Fairy had provided him with a palace in the +neighbouring town, where he lived in the greatest luxury, and did +nothing but amuse himself from morning to night. So Celandine +stayed, and helped the Queen to keep house, and very soon they +loved her dearly. When the Fairy of the Beech-Woods came to them, +they presented the Princess to her, and told her story, little +thinking that the Fairy knew more about Celandine than they did. +The old Fairy was equally delighted with her, and often invited +her to visit her Leafy Palace, which was the most enchanting place +that could be imagined, and full of treasures. Often she would say +to the Princess, when showing her some wonderful thing: + +'This will do for a wedding gift some day.' And Celandine could +not help thinking that it was to her that the Fairy meant to give +the two blue wax-torches which burned without ever getting +smaller, or the diamond from which more diamonds were continually +growing, or the boat that sailed under water, or whatever +beautiful or wonderful thing they might happen to be looking at. +It is true that she never said so positively, but she certainly +allowed the Princess to believe it, because she thought a little +disappointment would be good for her. But the person she really +relied upon for curing Celandine of her vanity was Prince +Featherhead. The old Fairy was not at all pleased with the way he +had been going on for some time, but her heart was so soft towards +him that she was unwilling to take him away from the pleasures he +loved, except by offering him something better, which is not the +most effectual mode of correction, though it is without doubt the +most agreeable. + +However, she did not even hint to the Princess that Featherhead +was anything but absolutely perfect, and talked of him so much +that when at last she announced that he was coming to visit her, +Celandine made up her mind that this delightful Prince would be +certain to fall in love with her at once, and was quite pleased at +the idea. The old Fairy thought so too, but as this was not at all +what she wished, she took care to throw such an enchantment over +the Princess that she appeared to Featherhead quite ugly and +awkward, though to every one else she looked just as usual. So +when he arrived at the Leafy Palace, more handsome and fascinating +even than ever she had been led to expect, he hardly so much as +glanced at the Princess, but bestowed all his attention upon the +old Fairy, to whom he seemed to have a hundred things to say. The +Princess was immensely astonished at his indifference, and put on +a cold and offended air, which, however, he did not seem to +observe. Then as a last resource she exerted all her wit and +gaiety to amuse him, but with no better success, for he was of an +age to be more attracted by beauty than by anything else, and +though he responded politely enough, it was evident that his +thoughts were elsewhere. Celandine was deeply mortified, since for +her part the Prince pleased her very well, and for the first time +she bitterly regretted the fairy gifts she had been anxious to get +rid of. Prince Featherhead was almost equally puzzled, for he had +heard nothing from the King and Queen but the praises of this +charming Princess, and the fact that they had spoken of her as so +very beautiful only confirmed his opinion that people who live in +the country have no taste. He talked to them of his charming +acquaintances in the town, the beauties he had admired, did +admire, or thought he was going to admire, until Celandine, who +heard it all, was ready to cry with vexation. The Fairy too was +quite shocked at his conceit, and hit upon a plan for curing him +of it. She sent to him by an unknown messenger a portrait of +Princess Celandine as she really was, with this inscription: 'All +this beauty and sweetness, with a loving heart and a great +kingdom, might have been yours but for your well-known +fickleness.' + +This message made a great impression upon the Prince, but not so +much as the portrait. He positively could not tear his eyes away +from it, and exclaimed aloud that never, never had he seen +anything so lovely and so graceful. Then he began to think that it +was too absurd that he, the fascinating Featherhead, should fall +in love with a portrait; and, to drive away the recollections of +its haunting eyes, he rushed back to the town; but somehow +everything seemed changed. The beauties no longer pleased him, +their witty speeches had ceased to amuse; and indeed, for their +parts, they found the Prince far less amiable than of yore, and +were not sorry when he declared that, after all, a country life +suited him best, and went back to the Leafy Palace. Meanwhile, the +Princess Celandine had been finding the time pass but slowly with +the King and Queen, and was only too pleased when Featherhead +reappeared. She at once noticed the change in him, and was deeply +curious to find the reason of it. Far from avoiding her, he now +sought her company and seemed to take pleasure in talking to her, +and yet the Princess did not for a moment flatter herself with the +idea that he was in love with her, though it did not take her long +to decide that he certainly loved someone. But one day the +Princess, wandering sadly by the river, spied Prince Featherhead +fast asleep in the shade of a tree, and stole nearer to enjoy the +delight of gazing at his dear face unobserved. Judge of her +astonishment when she saw that he was holding in his hand a +portrait of herself! In vain did she puzzle over the apparent +contradictoriness of his behaviour. Why did he cherish her +portrait while he was so fatally indifferent to herself? At last +she found an opportunity of asking him the name of the Princess +whose picture he carried about with him always. + +'Alas! how can I tell you?' replied he. + +'Why should you not?' said the Princess timidly. 'Surely there is +nothing to prevent you.' + +'Nothing to prevent me!' repeated he, 'when my utmost efforts have +failed to discover the lovely original. Should I be so sad if I +could but find her? But I do not even know her name.' + +More surprised than ever, the Princess asked to be allowed to see +the portrait, and after examining it for a few minutes returned +it, remarking shyly that at least the original had every cause to +be satisfied with it. + +'That means that you consider it flattered,' said the Prince +severely. 'Really, Celandine, I thought better of you, and should +have expected you to be above such contemptible jealousy. But all +women are alike!' + +'Indeed, I meant only that it was a good likeness,' said the +Princess meekly. + +'Then you know the original,' cried the Prince, throwing himself +on his knees beside her. 'Pray tell me at once who it is, and +don't keep me in suspense!' + +'Oh! don't you see that it is meant for me?' cried Celandine. + +The Prince sprang to his feet, hardly able to refrain from telling +her that she must be blinded by vanity to suppose she resembled +the lovely portrait even in the slightest degree; and after gazing +at her for an instant with icy surprise, turned and left her +without another word, and in a few hours quitted the Leafy Palace +altogether. + +Now the Princess was indeed unhappy, and could no longer bear to +stay in a place where she had been so cruelly disdained. So, +without even bidding farewell to the King and Queen, she left the +valley behind her, and wandered sadly away, not caring whither. +After walking until she was weary, she saw before her a tiny +house, and turned her slow steps towards it. The nearer she +approached the more miserable it appeared, and at length she saw a +little old woman sitting upon the door-step, who said grimly: + +'Here comes one of these fine beggars who are too idle to do +anything but run about the country!' + +'Alas! madam,' said Celandine, with tears in her pretty eyes, 'a +sad fate forces me to ask you for shelter.' + +'Didn't I tell you what it would be?' growled the old hag. 'From +shelter we shall proceed to demand supper, and from supper money +to take us on our way. Upon my word, if I could be sure of finding +some one every day whose head was as soft as his heart, I wouldn't +wish for a more agreeable life myself! But I have worked hard to +build my house and secure a morsel to eat, and I suppose you think +that I am to give away everything to the first passer-by who +chooses to ask for it. Not at all! I wager that a fine lady like +you has more money than I have. I must search her, and see if it +is not so,' she added, hobbling towards Celandine with the aid of +her stick. + +'Alas! madam,' replied the Princess, 'I only wish I had. I would +give it to you with all the pleasure in life.' + +'But you are very smartly dressed for the kind of life you lead,' +continued the old woman. + +'What!' cried the Princess, 'do you think I am come to beg of +you?' + +'I don't know about that,' answered she; 'but at any rate you +don't seem to have come to bring me anything. But what is it that +you do want? Shelter? Well, that does not cost much; but after +that comes supper, and that I can't hear of. Oh dear no! Why, at +your age one is always ready to eat; and now you have been +walking, and I suppose you are ravenous?' + +'Indeed no, madam,' answered the poor Princess, 'I am too sad to +be hungry.' + +'Oh, well! if you will promise to go on being sad, you may stay +for the night,' said the old woman mockingly. + +Thereupon she made the Princess sit down beside her, and began +fingering her silken robe, while she muttered 'Lace on top, lace +underneath! This must have cost you a pretty penny! It would have +been better to save enough to feed yourself, and not come begging +to those who want all they have for themselves. Pray, what may you +have paid for these fine clothes?' + +'Alas! madam,' answered the Princess, 'I did not buy them, and I +know nothing about money.' + +'What do you know, if I may ask?' said the old dame. + +'Not much; but indeed I am very unhappy,' cried Celandine, +bursting into tears, 'and if my services are any good to you--' + +'Services!' interrupted the hag crossly. 'One has to pay for +services, and I am not above doing my own work.' + +'Madam, I will serve you for nothing,' said the poor Princess, +whose spirits were sinking lower and lower. 'I will do anything +you please; all I wish is to live quietly in this lonely spot.' + +'Oh! I know you are only trying to take me in,' answered she; 'and +if I do let you serve me, is it fitting that you should be so much +better dressed I am? If I keep you, will you give me your clothes +and wear some that I will provide you with? It is true that I am +getting old and may want someone to take care of me some day.' + +'Oh! for pity's sake, do what you please with my clothes,' cried +poor Celandine miserably. + +And the old woman hobbled off with great alacrity, and fetched a +little bundle containing a wretched dress, such as the Princess +had never even seen before, and nimbly skipped round, helping her +to put it on instead of her own rich robe, with many exclamations +of: + +'Saints!--what a magnificent lining! And the width of it! It will +make me four dresses at least. Why, child, I wonder you could walk +under such a weight, and certainly in my house you would not have +had room to turn round.' + +So saying, she folded up the robe, and put it by with great care, +while she remarked to Celandine: + +'That dress of mine certainly suits you to a marvel; be sure you +take great care of it.' + +When supper-time came she went into the house, declining all the +Princess's offers of assistance, and shortly afterwards brought +out a very small dish, saying: + +'Now let us sup.' + +Whereupon she handed Celandine a small piece of black bread and +uncovered the dish, which contained two dried plums. + +'We will have one between us,' continued the old dame; 'and as you +are the visitor, you shall have the half which contains the stone; +but be very careful that you don't swallow it, for I keep them +against the winter, and you have no idea what a good fire they +make. Now, you take my advice--which won't cost you anything--and +remember that it is always more economical to buy fruit with +stones on this account.' + +Celandine, absorbed in her own sad thoughts, did not even hear +this prudent counsel, and quite forgot to eat her share of the +plum, which delighted the old woman, who put it by carefully for +her breakfast, saying: + +'I am very much pleased with you, and if you go on as you have +begun, we shall do very well, and I can teach you many useful +things which people don't generally know. For instance, look at my +house! It is built entirely of the seeds of all the pears I have +eaten in my life. Now, most people throw them away, and that only +shows what a number of things are wasted for want of a little +patience and ingenuity.' + +But Celandine did not find it possible to be interested in this +and similar pieces of advice. And the old woman soon sent her to +bed, for fear the night air might give her an appetite. She passed +a sleepless night; but in the morning the old dame remarked: + +'I heard how well you slept. After such a night you cannot want +any breakfast; so while I do my household tasks you had better +stay in bed, since the more one sleeps the less one need eat; and +as it is market-day I will go to town and buy a pennyworth of +bread for the week's eating.' + +And so she chattered on, but poor Celandine did not hear or heed +her; she wandered out into the desolate country to think over her +sad fate. However, the good Fairy of the Beech-Woods did not want +her to be starved, so she sent her an unlooked for relief in the +shape of a beautiful white cow, which followed her back to the +tiny house. When the old woman saw it her joy knew no bounds. + +'Now we can have milk and cheese and butter!' cried she. 'Ah! how +good milk is! What a pity it is so ruinously expensive!' So they +made a little shelter of branches for the beautiful creature which +was quite gentle, and followed Celandine about like a dog when she +took it out every day to graze. One morning as she sat by a little +brook, thinking sadly, she suddenly saw a young stranger +approaching, and got up quickly, intending to avoid him. But +Prince Featherhead, for it was he, perceiving her at the same +moment, rushed towards her with every demonstration of joy: for he +had recognised her, not as the Celandine whom he had slighted, but +as the lovely Princess whom he had sought vainly for so long. The +fact was that the Fairy of the Beech-Woods, thinking she had been +punished enough, had withdrawn the enchantment from her, and +transferred it to Featherhead, thereby in an instant depriving him +of the good looks which had done so much towards making him the +fickle creature he was. Throwing himself down at the Princess's +feet, he implored her to stay, and at least speak to him, and she +at last consented, but only because he seemed to wish it so very +much. After that he came every day in the hope of meeting her +again, and often expressed his delight at being with her. But one +day, when he had been begging Celandine to love him, she confided +to him that it was quite impossible, since her heart was already +entirely occupied by another. + +'I have,' said she, 'the unhappiness of loving a Prince who is +fickle, frivolous, proud, incapable of caring for anyone but +himself, who has been spoilt by flattery, and, to crown all, who +does not love me.' + +'But,' cried Prince Featherhead, 'surely you cannot care for so +contemptible and worthless a creature as that.' + +'Alas! but I do care,' answered the Princess, weeping. + +'But where can his eyes be,' said the Prince, 'that your beauty +makes no impression upon him? As for me, since I have possessed +your portrait I have wandered over the whole world to find you, +and, now we have met, I see that you are ten times lovelier than I +could have imagined, and I would give all I own to win your love.' + +'My portrait?' cried Celandine with sudden interest. 'Is it +possible that Prince Featherhead can have parted with it?' + +'He would part with his life sooner, lovely Princess,' answered +he; 'I can assure you of that, for I am Prince Featherhead.' + +At the same moment the Fairy of the Beech-Woods took away the +enchantment, and the happy Princess recognised her lover, now +truly hers, for the trials they had both undergone had so changed +and improved them that they were capable of a real love for each +other. You may imagine how perfectly happy they were, and how much +they had to hear and to tell. But at length it was time to go back +to the little house, and as they went along Celandine remembered +for the first time what a ragged old dress she was wearing, and +what an odd appearance she must present. But the Prince declared +that it became her vastly, and that he thought it most +picturesque. When they reached the house the old woman received +them very crossly. + +'I declare,' said she, 'that it's perfectly true: wherever there +is a girl you may be sure that a young man will appear before +long! But don't imagine that I'm going to have you here--not a bit +of it, be off with you, my fine fellow!' + +Prince Featherhead was inclined to be angry at this uncivil +reception, but he was really too happy to care much, so he only +demanded, on Celandine's behalf, that the old dame should give her +back her own attire, that she might go away suitably dressed. + +This request roused her to fury, since she had counted upon the +Princess's fine robes to clothe her for the rest of her life, so +that it was some time before the Prince could make himself heard +to explain that he was willing to pay for them. The sight of a +handful of gold pieces somewhat mollified her, however, and after +making them both promise faithfully that on no consideration would +they ask for the gold back again, she took the Princess into the +house and grudgingly doled out to her just enough of her gay +attire to make her presentable, while the rest she pretended to +have lost. After this they found that they were very hungry, for +one cannot live on love, any more than on air, and then the old +woman's lamentations were louder than before. 'What!' she cried, +'feed people who were as happy as all that! Why, it was simply +ruinous!' + +But as the Prince began to look angry, she, with many sighs and +mutterings, brought out a morsel of bread, a bowl of milk, and six +plums, with which the lovers were well content: for as long as +they could look at one another they really did not know what they +were eating. It seemed as if they would go on for ever with their +reminiscences, the Prince telling how he had wandered all over the +world from beauty to beauty, always to be disappointed when he +found that no one resembled the portrait; the Princess wondering +how it was he could have been so long with her and yet never have +recognised her, and over and over again pardoning him for his cold +and haughty behaviour to her. + +'For,' she said, 'you see, Featherhead, I love you, and love makes +everything right! But we cannot stay here,' she added; 'what are +we to do?' + +The Prince thought they had better find their way to the Fairy of +the Beech-Woods and put themselves once more under her protection, +and they had hardly agreed upon this course when two little +chariots wreathed with jasmine and honeysuckle suddenly appeared, +and, stepping into them, they were whirled away to the Leafy +Palace. Just before they lost sight of the little house they heard +loud cries and lamentations from the miserly old dame, and, +looking round, perceived that the beautiful cow was vanishing in +spite of her frantic efforts to hold it fast. And they afterwards +heard that she spent the rest of her life in trying to put the +handful of gold the Prince had thrown to her into her money-bag. +For the Fairy, as a punishment for her avarice, caused it to slip +out again as fast as she dropped it in. + +The Fairy of the Beech-Woods ran to welcome the Prince and +Princess with open arms, only too delighted to find them so much +improved that she could, with a clear conscience, begin to spoil +them again. Very soon the Fairy Saradine also arrived, bringing +the King and Queen with her. Princess Celandine implored her +pardon, which she graciously gave; indeed the Princess was so +charming she could refuse her nothing. She also restored to her +the Summer Islands, and promised her protection in all things. The +Fairy of the Beech-Woods then informed the King and Queen that +their subjects had chased King Bruin from the throne, and were +waiting to welcome them back again; but they at once abdicated in +favour of Prince Featherhead, declaring that nothing could induce +them to forsake their peaceful life, and the Fairies undertook to +see the Prince and Princess established in their beautiful +kingdoms. Their marriage took place the next day, and they lived +happily ever afterwards, for Celandine was never vain and +Featherhead was never fickle any more. + +Le Prince Muguet et la Princesse Zaza. + + + + + +THE THREE LITTLE PIGS + + + +There was once upon a time a pig who lived with her three children +on a large, comfortable, old-fashioned farmyard. The eldest of the +little pigs was called Browny, the second Whitey, and the youngest +and best looking Blacky. Now Browny was a very dirty little pig, +and I am sorry to say spent most of his time rolling and wallowing +about in the mud. He was never so happy as on a wet day, when the +mud in the farmyard got soft, and thick, and slab. Then he would +steal away from his mother's side, and finding the muddiest place +in the yard, would roll about in it and thoroughly enjoy himself. +His mother often found fault with him for this, and would shake +her head sadly and say: 'Ah, Browny! some day you will be sorry +that you did not obey your old mother.' But no words of advice or +warning could cure Browny of his bad habits. + +Whitey was quite a clever little pig, but she was greedy. She was +always thinking of her food, and looking forward to her dinner; +and when the farm girl was seen carrying the pails across the +yard, she would rise up on her hind legs and dance and caper with +excitement. As soon as the food was poured into the trough she +jostled Blacky and Browny out of the way in her eagerness to get +the best and biggest bits for herself. Her mother often scolded +her for her selfishness, and told her that some day she would +suffer for being so greedy and grabbing. + +Blacky was a good, nice little pig, neither dirty nor greedy. He +had nice dainty ways (for a pig), and his skin was always as +smooth and shining as black satin. He was much cleverer than +Browny and Whitey, and his mother's heart used to swell with pride +when she heard the farmer's friends say to each other that some +day the little black fellow would be a prize pig. + +Now the time came when the mother pig felt old and feeble and near +her end. One day she called the three little pigs round her and +said: + +'My children, I feel that I am growing odd and weak, and that I +shall not live long. Before I die I should like to build a house +for each of you, as this dear old sty in which we have lived so +happily will be given to a new family of pigs, and you will have +to turn out. Now, Browny, what sort of a house would you like to +have?' + +'A house of mud,' replied Browny, looking longingly at a wet +puddle in the corner of the yard. + +'And you, Whitey?' said the mother pig in rather a sad voice, for +she was disappointed that Browny had made so foolish a choice. + +'A house of cabbage,' answered Whitey, with a mouth full, and +scarcely raising her snout out of the trough in which she was +grubbing for some potato-parings. + +'Foolish, foolish child!' said the mother pig, looking quite +distressed. 'And you, Blacky?' turning to her youngest son, 'what +sort of a house shall I order for you?' + +'A house of brick, please mother, as it will be warm in winter, +and cool in summer, and safe all the year round.' + +'That is a sensible little pig,' replied his mother, looking +fondly at him. 'I will see that the three houses are got ready at +once. And now one last piece of advice. You have heard me talk of +our old enemy the fox. When he hears that I am dead, he is sure to +try and get hold of you, to carry you off to his den. He is very +sly and will no doubt disguise himself, and pretend to be a +friend, but you must promise me not to let him enter your houses +on any pretext whatever.' + +And the little pigs readily promised, for they had always had a +great fear of the fox, of whom they had heard many terrible tales. +A short time afterwards the old pig died, and the little pigs went +to live in their own houses. + +Browny was quite delighted with his soft mud walls and with the +clay floor, which soon looked like nothing but a big mud pie. But +that was what Browny enjoyed, and he was as happy as possible, +rolling about all day and making himself in such a mess. One day, +as he was lying half asleep in the mud, he heard a soft knock at +his door, and a gentle voice said: + +'May I come in, Master Browny? I want to see your beautiful new +house.' + +'Who are you?' said Browny, starting up in great fright, for +though the voice sounded gentle, he felt sure it was a feigned +voice, and he feared it was the fox. + +'I am a friend come to call on you,' answered the voice. + +'No, no,' replied Browny, 'I don't believe you are a friend. You +are the wicked fox, against whom our mother warned us. I won't let +you in.' + +'Oho! is that the way you answer me?' said the fox, speaking very +roughly in his natural voice. 'We shall soon see who is master +here,' and with his paws he set to work and scraped a large hole +in the soft mud walls. A moment later he had jumped through it, +and catching Browny by the neck, flung him on his shoulders and +trotted off with him to his den. + +The next day, as Whitey was munching a few leaves of cabbage out +of the corner of her house, the fox stole up to her door, +determined to carry her off to join her brother in his den. He +began speaking to her in the same feigned gentle voice in which he +had spoken to Browny; but it frightened her very much when he +said: + +'I am a friend come to visit you, and to have some of your good +cabbage for my dinner.' + +'Please don't touch it,' cried Whitey in great distress. 'The +cabbages are the walls of my house, and if you eat them you will +make a hole, and the wind and rain will come in and give me a +cold. Do go away; I am sure you are not a friend, but our wicked +enemy the fox.' And poor Whitey began to whine and to whimper, and +to wish that she had not been such a greedy little pig, and had +chosen a more solid material than cabbages for her house. But it +was too late now, and in another minute the fox had eaten his way +through the cabbage walls, and had caught the trembling, shivering +Whitey, and carried her off to his den. + +The next day the fox started off for Blacky's house, because he +had made up his mind that he would get the three little pigs +together in his den, and then kill them, and invite all his +friends to a feast. But when he reached the brick house, he found +that the door was bolted and barred, so in his sly manner he +began, 'Do let me in, dear Blacky. I have brought you a present of +some eggs that I picked up in a farmyard on my way here.' + +'No, no, Mister Fox,' replied Blacky, 'I am not going to open my +door to you. I know your cunning ways. You have carried off poor +Browny and Whitey, but you are not going to get me.' + +At this the fox was so angry that he dashed with all his force +against the wall, and tried to knock it down. But it was too +strong and well-built; and though the fox scraped and tore at the +bricks with his paws he only hurt himself, and at last he had to +give it up, and limp away with his fore-paws all bleeding and +sore. + +'Never mind!' he cried angrily as he went off, 'I'll catch you +another day, see if I don't, and won't I grind your bones to +powder when I have got you in my den!' and he snarled fiercely and +showed his teeth. + +Next day Blacky had to go into the neighbouring town to do some +marketing and to buy a big kettle. As he was walking home with it +slung over his shoulder, he heard a sound of steps stealthily +creeping after him. For a moment his heart stood still with fear, +and then a happy thought came to him. He had just reached the top +of a hill, and could see his own little house nestling at the foot +of it among the trees. In a moment he had snatched the lid off the +kettle and had jumped in himself. Coiling himself round he lay +quite snug in the bottom of the kettle, while with his fore-leg he +managed to put the lid on, so that he was entirely hidden. With a +little kick from the inside he started the kettle off, and down +the hill it rolled full tilt; and when the fox came up, all that +he saw was a large black kettle spinning over the ground at a +great pace. Very much disappointed, he was just going to turn +away, when he saw the kettle stop close to the little brick house, +and in a moment later Blacky jumped out of it and escaped with the +kettle into the house, when he barred and bolted the door, and put +the shutter up over the window. + +'Oho!' exclaimed the fox to himself, 'you think you will escape me +that way, do you? We shall soon see about that, my friend,' and +very quietly and stealthily he prowled round the house looking for +some way to climb on to the roof. + +In the meantime Blacky had filled the kettle with water, and +having put it on the fire, sat down quietly waiting for it to +boil. Just as the kettle was beginning to sing, and steam to come +out of the spout, he heard a sound like a soft, muffled step, +patter, patter, patter overhead, and the next moment the fox's +head and fore-paws were seen coming down the chimney. But Blacky +very wisely had not put the lid on the kettle, and, with a yelp of +pain, the fox fell into the boiling water, and before he could +escape, Blacky had popped the lid on, and the fox was scalded to +death. + +As soon as he was sure that their wicked enemy was really dead, +and could do them no further harm, Blacky started off to rescue +Browny and Whitey. As he approached the den he heard piteous +grunts and squeals from his poor little brother and sister who +lived in constant terror of the fox killing and eating them. But +when they saw Blacky appear at the entrance to the den their joy +knew no bounds. He quickly found a sharp stone and cut the cords +by which they were tied to a stake in the ground, and then all +three started off together for Blacky's house, where they lived +happily ever after; and Browny quite gave up rolling in the mud, +and Whitey ceased to be greedy, for they never forgot how nearly +these faults had brought them to an untimely end. + + + + + +HEART OF ICE + + + +Once upon a time there lived a King and Queen who were foolish +beyond all telling, but nevertheless they were vastly fond of one +another. It is true that certain spiteful people were heard to say +that this was only one proof the more of their exceeding +foolishness, but of course you will understand that these were not +their own courtiers, since, after all, they were a King and Queen, +and up to this time all things had prospered with them. For in +those days the one thing to be thought of in governing a kingdom +was to keep well with all the Fairies and Enchanters, and on no +account to stint them of the cakes, the ells of ribbon, and +similar trifles which were their due, and, above all things, when +there was a christening, to remember to invite every single one, +good, bad, or indifferent, to the ceremony. Now, the foolish Queen +had one little son who was just going to be christened, and for +several months she had been hard at work preparing an enormous +list of the names of those who were to be invited, but she quite +forgot that it would take nearly as long to read it over as it had +taken to write it out. So, when the moment of the christening +arrived the King--to whom the task had been entrusted--had barely +reached the end of the second page and his tongue was tripping +with fatigue and haste as he repeated the usual formula: 'I +conjure and pray you, Fairy so-and-so'--or 'Enchanter such-a-one' +--'to honour me with a visit, and graciously bestow your gifts upon +my son.' + +To make matters worse, word was brought to him that the Fairies +asked on the first page had already arrived and were waiting +impatiently in the Great Hall, and grumbling that nobody was there +to receive them. Thereupon he gave up the list in despair and +hurried to greet those whom he had succeeded in asking, imploring +their goodwill so humbly that most of them were touched, and +promised that they would do his son no harm. But there happened to +be among them a Fairy from a far country about whom they knew +nothing, though her name had been written on the first page of the +list. This Fairy was annoyed that after having taken the trouble +to come so quickly, there had been no one to receive her, or help +her to alight from the great ostrich on which she had travelled +from her distant home, and now she began to mutter to herself in +the most alarming way. + +'Oh! prate away,' said she, 'your son will never be anything to +boast of. Say what you will, he will be nothing but a Mannikin--' + +No doubt she would have gone on longer in this strain, and given +the unhappy little Prince half-a-dozen undesirable gifts, if it +had not been for the good Fairy Genesta, who held the kingdom +under her special protection, and who luckily hurried in just in +time to prevent further mischief. When she had by compliments and +entreaties pacified the unknown Fairy, and persuaded her to say no +more, she gave the King a hint that now was the time to distribute +the presents, after which ceremony they all took their departure, +excepting the Fairy Genesta, who then went to see the Queen, and +said to her: + +'A nice mass you seem to have made of this business, madam. Why +did you not condescend to consult me? But foolish people like you +always think they can do without help or advice, and I observe +that, in spite of all my goodness to you, you had not even the +civility to invite me!' + +'Ah! dear madam,' cried the King, throwing himself at her feet; +'did I ever have time to get as far as your name? See where I put +in this mark when I abandoned the hopeless undertaking which I had +but just begun!' + +'There! there!' said the Fairy, 'I am not offended. I don't allow +myself to be put out by trifles like that with people I really am +fond of. But now about your son: I have saved him from a great +many disagreeable things, but you must let me take him away and +take care of him, and you will not see him again until he is all +covered with fur!' + +At these mysterious words the King and Queen burst into tears, for +they lived in such a hot climate themselves that how or why the +Prince should come to be covered with fur they could not imagine, +and thought it must portend some great misfortune to him. + +However, Genesta told them not to disquiet themselves. + +'If I left him to you to bring up,' said she, 'you would be +certain to make him as foolish as yourselves. I do not even intend +to let him know that he is your son. As for you, you had better +give your minds to governing your kingdom properly.' So saying, +she opened the window, and catching up the little Prince, cradle +and all, she glided away in the air as if she were skating upon +ice, leaving the King and Queen in the greatest affliction. They +consulted everyone who came near them as to what the Fairy could +possibly have meant by saying that when they saw their son again +he would be covered with fur. But nobody could offer any solution +of the mystery, only they all seemed to agree that it must be +something frightful, and the King and Queen made themselves more +miserable than ever, and wandered about their palace in a way to +make anyone pity them. Meantime the Fairy had carried off the +little Prince to her own castle, and placed him under the care of +a young peasant woman, whom she bewitched so as to make her think +that this new baby was one of her own children. So the Prince grew +up healthy and strong, leading the simple life of a young peasant, +for the Fairy thought that he could have no better training; only +as he grew older she kept him more and more with herself, that his +mind might be cultivated and exercised as well as his body. But +her care did not cease there: she resolved that he should be tried +by hardships and disappointments and the knowledge of his +fellowmen; for indeed she knew the Prince would need every +advantage that she could give him, since, though he increased in +years, he did not increase in height, but remained the tiniest of +Princes. However, in spite of this he was exceedingly active and +well formed, and altogether so handsome and agreeable that the +smallness of his stature was of no real consequence. The Prince +was perfectly aware that he was called by the ridiculous name of +'Mannikin,' but he consoled himself by vowing that, happen what +might, he would make it illustrious. + +In order to carry out her plans for his welfare the Fairy now +began to send Prince Mannikin the most wonderful dreams of +adventure by sea and land, and of these adventures he himself was +always the hero. Sometimes he rescued a lovely Princess from some +terrible danger, again he earned a kingdom by some brave deed, +until at last he longed to go away and seek his fortune in a far +country where his humble birth would not prevent his gaining +honour and riches by his courage, and it was with a heart full of +ambitious projects that he rode one day into a great city not far +from the Fairy's castle. As he had set out intending to hunt in +the surrounding forest he was quite simply dressed, and carried +only a bow and arrows and a light spear; but even thus arrayed he +looked graceful and distinguished. As he entered the city he saw +that the inhabitants were all racing with one accord towards the +market-place, and he also turned his horse in the same direction, +curious to know what was going forward. When he reached the spot +he found that certain foreigners of strange and outlandish +appearance were about to make a proclamation to the assembled +citizens, and he hastily pushed his way into the crowd until he +was near enough to hear the words of the venerable old man who was +their spokesman: + +'Let the whole world know that he who can reach the summit of the +Ice Mountain shall receive as his reward, not only the +incomparable Sabella, fairest of the fair, but also all the realms +of which she is Queen!' 'Here,' continued the old man after he had +made this proclamation--'here is the list of all those Princes +who, struck by the beauty of the Princess, have perished in the +attempt to win her; and here is the list of these who have just +entered upon the high emprise.' + +Prince Mannikin was seized with a violent desire to inscribe his +name among the others, but the remembrance of his dependent +position and his lack of wealth held him back. But while he +hesitated the old man, with many respectful ceremonies, unveiled a +portrait of the lovely Sabella, which was carried by some of the +attendants, and after one glance at it the Prince delayed no +longer, but, rushing forward, demanded permission to add his name +to the list. When they saw his tiny stature anti simple attire the +strangers looked at each other doubtfully, not knowing whether to +accept or refuse him. But the Prince said haughtily: + +'Give me the paper that I may sign it,' and they obeyed. What +between admiration for the Princess and annoyance at the +hesitation shown by her ambassadors the Prince was too much +agitated to choose any other name than the one by which he was +always known. But when, after all the grand titles of the other +Princes, he simply wrote 'Mannikin,' the ambassadors broke into +shouts of laughter. + +'Miserable wretches!' cried the Prince; 'but for the presence of +that lovely portrait I would cut off your heads.' + +But he suddenly remembered that, after all, it was a funny name, +and that he had not yet had time to make it famous; so he was +calm, and enquired the way to the Princess Sabella's country. + +Though his heart did not fail him in the least, still he felt +there were many difficulties before him, and he resolved to set +out at once, without even taking leave of the Fairy, for fear she +might try to stop him. Everybody in the town who knew him made +great fun of the idea of Mannikin's undertaking such an +expedition, and it even came to the ears of the foolish King and +Queen, who laughed over it more than any of the others, without +having an idea that the presumptuous Mannikin was their only son! + +Meantime the Prince was travelling on, though the direction he had +received for his journey were none of the clearest. + +'Four hundred leagues north of Mount Caucasus you will receive +your orders and instructions for the conquest of the Ice +Mountain.' + +Fine marching orders, those, for a man starting from a country +near where Japan is nowadays! + +However, he fared eastward, avoiding all towns, lest the people +should laugh at his name, for, you see, he was not a very +experienced traveller, and had not yet learned to enjoy a joke +even if it were against himself. At night he slept in the woods, +and at first he lived upon wild fruits; but the Fairy, who was +keeping a benevolent eye upon him, thought that it would never do +to let him be half-starved in that way, so she took to feeding him +with all sorts of good things while he was asleep, and the Prince +wondered very much that when he was awake he never felt hungry! +True to her plan the Fairy sent him various adventures to prove +his courage, and he came successfully through them all, only in +his last fight with a furious monster rather like a tiger he had +the ill luck to lose his horse. However, nothing daunted, he +struggled on on foot, and at last reached a seaport. Here he found +a boat sailing for the coast which he desired to reach, and, +having just enough money to pay his passage, he went on board and +they started. But after some days a fearful storm came on, which +completely wrecked the little ship, and the Prince only saved his +life by swimming a long, long way to the only land that was in +sight, and which proved to be a desert island. Here he lived by +fishing and hunting, always hoping that the good Fairy would +presently rescue him. One day, as he was looking sadly out to sea, +he became aware of a curious looking boat which was drifting +slowly towards the shore, and which presently ran into a little +creek and there stuck fast in the sand. Prince Mannikin rushed +down eagerly to examine it, and saw with amazement that the masts +and spars were all branched, and covered thickly with leaves until +it looked like a little wood. Thinking from the stillness that +there could be no one on board, the Prince pushed aside the +branches and sprang over the side, and found himself surrounded by +the crew, who lay motionless as dead men and in a most deplorable +condition. They, too, had become almost like trees, and were +growing to the deck, or to the masts, or to the sides of the +vessel, or to whatever they had happened to be touching when the +enchantment fell upon them. Mannikin was struck with pity for +their miserable plight, and set to work with might and main to +release them. With the sharp point of one of his arrows he gently +detached their hands and feet from the wood which held them fast, +and carried them on shore, one after another, where he rubbed +their rigid limbs, and bathed them with infusions of various herbs +with such success, that, after a few days, they recovered +perfectly and were as fit to manage a boat as ever. You may be +sure that the good Fairy Genesta had something to do with this +marvellous cure, and she also put it into the Prince's head to rub +the boat itself with the same magic herbs, which cleared it +entirely, and not before it was time, for, at the rate at which it +was growing before, it would very soon have become a forest! The +gratitude of the sailors was extreme, and they willingly promised +to land the Prince upon any coast he pleased; but, when he +questioned them about the extraordinary thing that had happened to +them and to their ship, they could in no way explain it, except +that they said that, as they were passing along a thickly wooded +coast, a sudden gust of wind had reached them from the land and +enveloped them in a dense cloud of dust, after which everything in +the boat that was not metal had sprouted and blossomed, as the +Prince had seen, and that they themselves had grown gradually numb +and heavy, and had finally lost all consciousness. Prince Mannikin +was deeply interested in this curious story, and collected a +quantity of the dust from the bottom of the boat, which he +carefully preserved, thinking that its strange property might one +day stand him in good stead. + +Then they joyfully left the desert island, and after a long and +prosperous voyage over calm seas they at length came in sight of +land, and resolved to go on shore, not only to take in a fresh +stock of water and provisions, but also to find out, if possible, +where they were and in what direction to proceed. + +As they neared the coast they wondered if this could be another +uninhabited land, for no human beings could be distinguished, and +yet that something was stirring became evident, for in the dust- +clouds that moved near the ground small dark forms were dimly +visible. These appeared to be assembling at the exact spot where +they were preparing to run ashore, and what was their surprise to +find they were nothing more nor less than large and beautiful +spaniels, some mounted as sentries, others grouped in companies +and regiments, all eagerly watching their disembarkation. When +they found that Prince Mannikin, instead of saying, 'Shoot them,' +as they had feared, said 'Hi, good dog!' in a thoroughly friendly +and ingratiating way, they crowded round him with a great wagging +of tails and giving of paws, and very soon made him understand +that they wanted him to leave his men with the boat and follow +them. The Prince was so curious to know more about them that he +agreed willingly; so, after arranging with the sailors to wait for +him fifteen days, and then, if he had not come back, to go on +their way without him, he set out with his new friends. Their way +lay inland, and Mannikin noticed with great surprise that the +fields were well cultivated and that the carts and ploughs were +drawn by horses or oxen, just as they might have been in any other +country, and when they passed any village the cottages were trim +and pretty, and an air of prosperity was everywhere. At one of the +villages a dainty little repast was set before the Prince, and +while he was eating, a chariot was brought, drawn by two splendid +horses, which were driven with great skill by a large spaniel. In +this carriage he continued his journey very comfortably, passing +many similar equipages upon the road, and being always most +courteously saluted by the spaniels who occupied them. At last +they drove rapidly into a large town, which Prince Mannikin had no +doubt was the capital of the kingdom. News of his approach had +evidently been received, for all the inhabitants were at their +doors and windows, and all the little spaniels had climbed upon +the wall and gates to see him arrive. The Prince was delighted +with the hearty welcome they gave him, and looked round him with +the deepest interest. After passing through a few wide streets, +well paved, and adorned with avenues of fine trees, they drove +into the courtyard of a grand palace, which was full of spaniels +who were evidently soldiers. 'The King's body-guard,' thought the +Prince to himself as he returned their salutations, and then the +carriage stopped, and he was shown into the presence of the King, +who lay upon a rich Persian carpet surrounded by several little +spaniels, who were occupied in chasing away the flies lest they +should disturb his Majesty. He was the most beautiful of all +spaniels, with a look of sadness in his large eyes, which, +however, quite disappeared as he sprang up to welcome Prince +Mannikin with every demonstration of delight; after which he made +a sign to his courtiers, who came one by one to pay their respects +to the visitor. The Prince thought that he would find himself +puzzled as to how he should carry on a conversation, but as soon +as he and the King were once more left alone, a Secretary of State +was sent for, who wrote from his Majesty's dictation a most polite +speech, in which he regretted much that they were unable to +converse, except in writing, the language of dogs being difficult +to understand. As for the writing, it had remained the same as the +Prince's own. + +Mannikin thereupon wrote a suitable reply, and then begged the +King to satisfy his curiosity about all the strange things he had +seen and heard since his landing. This appeared to awaken sad +recollections in the King's mind, but he informed the Prince that +he was called King Bayard, and that a Fairy, whose kingdom was +next his own, had fallen violently in love with him, and had done +all she could to persuade him to marry her; but that he could not +do so as he himself was the devoted lover of the Queen of the +Spice Islands. Finally, the Fairy, furious at the indifference +with which her love was treated, had reduced him to the state in +which the Prince found him, leaving him unchanged in mind, but +deprived of the power of speech; and, not content with wreaking +her vengeance upon the King alone, she had condemned all his +subjects to a similar fate, saying: + +'Bark, and run upon four feet, until the time comes when virtue +shall be rewarded by love and fortune.' + +Which, as the poor King remarked, was very much the same thing as +if she had said, 'Remain a spaniel for ever and ever.' + +Prince Mannikin was quite of the same opinion; nevertheless he +said what we should all have said in the same circumstances: + +'Your Majesty must have patience.' + +He was indeed deeply sorry for poor King Bayard, and said all the +consoling things he could think of, promising to aid him with all +his might if there was anything to be done. In short they became +firm friends, and the King proudly displayed to Mannikin the +portrait of the Queen of the Spice Islands, and he quite agreed +that it was worth while to go through anything for the sake of a +creature so lovely. Prince Mannikin in his turn told his own +history, and the great undertaking upon which he had set out, and +King Bayard was able to give him some valuable instructions as to +which would be the best way for him to proceed, and then they went +together to the place where the boat had been left. The sailors +were delighted to see the Prince again, though they had known that +he was safe, and when they had taken on board all the supplies +which the King had sent for them, they started once more. The King +and Prince parted with much regret, and the former insisted that +Mannikin should take with him one of his own pages, named Mousta, +who was charged to attend to him everywhere, and serve him +faithfully, which he promised to do. + +The wind being favourable they were soon out of hearing of the +general howl of regret from the whole army, which had been given +by order of the King, as a great compliment, and it was not long +before the land was entirely lost to view. They met with no +further adventures worth speaking of, and presently found +themselves within two leagues of the harbour for which they were +making. The Prince, however, thought it would suit him better to +land where he was, so as to avoid the town, since he had no money +left and was very doubtful as to what he should do next. So the +sailors set him and Mousta on shore, and then went back +sorrowfully to their ship, while the Prince and his attendant +walked off in what looked to them the most promising direction. +They soon reached a lovely green meadow on the border of a wood, +which seemed to them so pleasant after their long voyage that they +sat down to rest in the shade and amused themselves by watching +the gambols and antics of a pretty tiny monkey in the trees close +by. The Prince presently became so fascinated by it that he sprang +up and tried to catch it, but it eluded his grasp and kept just +out of arm's reach, until it had made him promise to follow +wherever it led him, and then it sprang upon his shoulder and +whispered in his ear: + +'We have no money, my poor Mannikin, and we are altogether badly +off, and at a loss to know what to do next.' + +'Yes, indeed,' answered the Prince ruefully, 'and I have nothing +to give you, no sugar or biscuits, or anything that you like, my +pretty one.' + +'Since you are so thoughtful for me, and so patient about your own +affairs,' said the little monkey, 'I will show you the way to the +Golden Rock, only you must leave Mousta to wait for you here.' + +Prince Mannikin agreed willingly, and then the little monkey +sprang from his shoulder to the nearest tree, and began to run +through the wood from branch to branch, crying, 'Follow me.' + +This the Prince did not find quite so easy, but the little monkey +waited for him and showed him the easiest places, until presently +the wood grew thinner and they came out into a little clear grassy +space at the foot of a mountain, in the midst of which stood a +single rock, about ten feet high. When they were quite close to it +the little monkey said: + +'This stone looks pretty hard, but give it a blow with your spear +and let us see what will happen.' + +So the Prince took his spear and gave the rock a vigorous dig, +which split off several pieces, and showed that, though the +surface was thinly coated with stone, inside it was one solid mass +of pure gold. + +Thereupon the little monkey said, laughing at his astonishment: + +'I make you a present of what you have broken off; take as much of +it as you think proper.' + +The Prince thanked her gratefully, and picked up one of the +smallest of the lumps of gold; as he did so the little monkey was +suddenly transformed into a tall and gracious lady, who said to +him: + +'If you are always as kind and persevering and easily contented as +you are now you may hope to accomplish the most difficult tasks; +go on your way and have no fear that you will be troubled any more +for lack of gold, for that little piece which you modestly chose +shall never grow less, use it as much as you will. But that you +may see the danger you have escaped by your moderation, come with +me.' So saying she led him back into the wood by a different path, +and he saw that it was full of men and women; their faces were +pale and haggard, and they ran hither and thither seeking madly +upon the ground, or in the air, starting at every sound, pushing +and trampling upon one another in their frantic eagerness to find +the way to the Golden Rock. + +'You see how they toil,' said the Fairy; 'but it is all of no +avail: they will end by dying of despair, as hundreds have done +before them.' + +As soon as they had got back to the place where they had left +Mousta the Fairy disappeared, and the Prince and his faithful +Squire, who had greeted him with every demonstration of joy, took +the nearest way to the city. Here they stayed several days, while +the Prince provided himself with horses and attendants, and made +many enquiries about the Princess Sabella, and the way to her +kingdom, which was still so far away that he could hear but +little, and that of the vaguest description, but when he presently +reached Mount Caucasus it was quite a different matter. Here they +seemed to talk of nothing but the Princess Sabella, and strangers +from all parts of the world were travelling towards her father's +Court. + +The Prince heard plenty of assurances as to her beauty and her +riches, but he also heard of the immense number of his rivals and +their power. One brought an army at his back, another had vast +treasures, a third was as handsome and accomplished as it was +possible to be; while, as to poor Mannikin, he had nothing but his +determination to succeed, his faithful spaniel, and his ridiculous +name--which last was hardly likely to help him, but as he could +not alter it he wisely determined not to think of it any more. +After journeying for two whole months they came at last to +Trelintin, the capital of the Princess Sabella's kingdom, and here +he heard dismal stories about the Ice Mountain, and how none of +those who had attempted to climb it had ever come back. He heard +also the story of King Farda-Kinbras, Sabella's father. It +appeared that he, being a rich and powerful monarch, had married a +lovely Princess named Birbantine, and they were as happy as the +day was long--so happy that as they were out sledging one day they +were foolish enough to defy fate to spoil their happiness. + +'We shall see about that,' grumbled an old hag who sat by the +wayside blowing her fingers to keep them warm. The King thereupon +was very angry, and wanted to punish the woman; but the Queen +prevented him, saying: + +'Alas! sire, do not let us make bad worse; no doubt this is a +Fairy!' + +'You are right there,' said the old woman, and immediately she +stood up, and as they gazed at her in horror she grew gigantic and +terrible, her staff turned to a fiery dragon with outstretched +wings, her ragged cloak to a golden mantle, and her wooden shoes +to two bundles of rockets. 'You are right there, and you will see +what will come of your fine goings on, and remember the Fairy +Gorgonzola!' So saying she mounted the dragon and flew off, the +rockets shooting in all directions and leaving long trails of +sparks. + +In vain did Farda-Kinbras and Birbantine beg her to return, and +endeavour by their humble apologies to pacify her; she never so +much as looked at them, and was very soon out of sight, leaving +them a prey to all kinds of dismal forebodings. Very soon after +this the Queen had a little daughter, who was the most beautiful +creature ever seen; all the Fairies of the North were invited to +her christening, and warned against the malicious Gorgonzola. She +also was invited, but she neither came to the banquet nor received +her present; but as soon as all the others were seated at table, +after bestowing their gifts upon the little Princess, she stole +into the Palace, disguised as a black cat, and hid herself under +the cradle until the nurses and the cradle-rockers had all turned +their backs, and then she sprang out, and in an instant had stolen +the little Princess's heart and made her escape, only being chased +by a few dogs and scullions on her way across the courtyard. Once +outside she mounted her chariot and flew straight away to the +North Pole, where she shut up her stolen treasure on the summit of +the Ice Mountain, and surrounded it with so many difficulties that +she felt quite easy about its remaining there as long as the +Princess lived, and then she went home, chuckling at her success. +As to the other Fairies, they went home after the banquet without +discovering that anything was amiss, and so the King and Queen +were quite happy. Sabella grew prettier day by day. She learnt +everything a Princess ought to know without the slightest trouble, +and yet something always seemed lacking to make her perfectly +charming. She had an exquisite voice, but whether her songs were +grave or gay it did not matter, she did not seem to know what they +meant; and everyone who heard her said: + +'She certainly sings perfectly; but there is no tenderness, no +heart in her voice.' Poor Sabella! how could there be when her +heart was far away on the Ice Mountains? And it was just the same +with all the other things that she did. As time went on, in spite +of the admiration of the whole Court and the blind fondness of the +King and Queen, it became more and more evident that something was +fatally wrong: for those who love no one cannot long be loved; and +at last the King called a general assembly, and invited the +Fairies to attend, that they might, if possible, find out what was +the matter. After explaining their grief as well as he could, he +ended by begging them to see the Princess for themselves. 'It is +certain,' said he, 'that something is wrong--what it is I don't +know how to tell you, but in some way your work is imperfect.' + +They all assured him that, so far as they knew, everything had +been done for the Princess, and they had forgotten nothing that +they could bestow on so good a neighbour as the King had been to +them. After this they went to see Sabella; but they had no sooner +entered her presence than they cried out with one accord: + +'Oh! horror!--she has no heart!' + +On hearing this frightful announcement, the King and Queen gave a +cry of despair, and entreated the Fairies to find some remedy for +such an unheard-of misfortune. Thereupon the eldest Fairy +consulted her Book of Magic, which she always carried about with +her, hung to her girdle by a thick silver chain, and there she +found out at once that it was Gorgonzola who had stolen the +Princess's heart, and also discovered what the wicked old Fairy +had done with it. + +'What shall we do? What shall we do?' cried the King and Queen in +one breath. + +'You must certainly suffer much annoyance from seeing and loving +Sabella, who is nothing but a beautiful image,' replied the Fairy, +'and this must go on for a long time; but I think I see that, in +the end, she will once more regain her heart. My advice is that +you shall at once cause her portrait to be sent all over the +world, and promise her hand and all her possessions to the Prince +who is successful in reaching her heart. Her beauty alone is +sufficient to engage all the Princes of the world in the quest.' + +This was accordingly done, and Prince Mannikin heard that already +five hundred Princes had perished in the snow and ice, not to +mention their squires and pages, and that more continued to arrive +daily, eager to try their fortune. After some consideration he +determined to present himself at Court; but his arrival made no +stir, as his retinue was as inconsiderable as his stature, and the +splendour of his rivals was great enough to throw even Farda- +Kinbras himself into the shade. However, he paid his respects to +the King very gracefully, and asked permission to kiss the hand of +the Princess in the usual manner; but when he said he was called +'Mannikin,' the King could hardly repress a smile, and the Princes +who stood by openly shouted with laughter. + +Turning to the King, Prince Mannikin said with great dignity: + +'Pray laugh if it pleases your Majesty, I am glad that it is in my +power to afford you any amusement; but I am not a plaything for +these gentlemen, and I must beg them to dismiss any ideas of that +kind from their minds at once,' and with that he turned upon the +one who had laughed the loudest and proudly challenged him to a +single combat. This Prince, who was called Fadasse, accepted the +challenge very scornfully, mocking at Mannikin, whom he felt sure +had no chance against himself; but the meeting was arranged for +the next day. When Prince Mannikin quitted the King's presence he +was conducted to the audience hall of the Princess Sabella. The +sight of so much beauty and magnificence almost took his breath +away for an instant, but, recovering himself with an effort, he +said: + +'Lovely Princess, irresistibly drawn by the beauty of your +portrait, I come from the other end of the world to offer my +services to you. My devotion knows no bounds, but my absurd name +has already involved me in a quarrel with one of your courtiers. +Tomorrow I am to fight this ugly, overgrown Prince, and I beg you +to honour the combat with your presence, and prove to the world +that there is nothing in a name, and that you deign to accept +Mannikin as your knight.' + +When it came to this the Princess could not help being amused, +for, though she had no heart, she was not without humour. However, +she answered graciously that she accepted with pleasure, which +encouraged the Prince to entreat further that she would not show +any favour to his adversary. + +'Alas!' said she, 'I favour none of these foolish people, who +weary me with their sentiment and their folly. I do very well as I +am, and yet from one year's end to another they talk of nothing +but delivering me from some imaginary affliction. Not a word do I +understand of all their pratings about love, and who knows what +dull things besides, which, I declare to you, I cannot even +remember.' + +Mannikin was quick enough to gather from this speech that to amuse +and interest the Princess would be a far surer way of gaining her +favour than to add himself to the list of those who continually +teased her about that mysterious thing called 'love' which she was +so incapable of comprehending. So he began to talk of his rivals, +and found in each of them something to make merry over, in which +diversion the Princess joined him heartily, and so well did he +succeed in his attempt to amuse her that before very long she +declared that of all the people at Court he was the one to whom +she preferred to talk. + +The following day, at the time appointed for the combat, when the +King, the Queen, and the Princess had taken their places, and the +whole Court and the whole town were assembled to see the show, +Prince Fadasse rode into the lists magnificently armed and +accoutred, followed by twenty-four squires and a hundred men-at- +arms, each one leading, a splendid horse, while Prince Mannikin +entered from the other side armed only with his spear and followed +by the faithful Mousta. The contrast between the two champions was +so great that there was a shout of laughter from the whole +assembly; but when at the sounding of a trumpet the combatants +rushed upon each other, and Mannikin, eluding the blow aimed at +him, succeeded in thrusting Prince Fadasse from his horse and +pinning him to the sand with his spear, it changed to a murmur of +admiration. + +So soon as he had him at his mercy, however, Mannikin, turning to +the Princess, assured her that he had no desire to kill anyone who +called himself her courtier, and then he bade the furious and +humiliated Fadasse rise and thank the Princess to whom he owed his +life. Then, amid the sounding of the trumpets and the shoutings of +the people, he and Mousta retired gravely from the lists. + +The King soon sent for him to congratulate him upon his success, +and to offer him a lodging in the Palace, which he joyfully +accepted. While the Princess expressed a wish to have Mousta +brought to her, and, when the Prince sent for him, she was so +delighted with his courtly manners and his marvellous intelligence +that she entreated Mannikin to give him to her for her own. The +Prince consented with alacrity, not only out of politeness, but +because he foresaw that to have a faithful friend always near the +Princess might some day be of great service to him. All these +events made Prince Mannikin a person of much more consequence at +the Court. Very soon after, there arrived upon the frontier the +Ambassador of a very powerful King, who sent to Farda-Kinbras the +following letter, at the same time demanding permission to enter +the capital in state to receive the answer: + +'I, Brandatimor, to Farda-Kinbras send greeting. If I had before +this time seen the portrait of your beautiful daughter Sabella I +should not have permitted all these adventurers and petty Princes +to be dancing attendance and getting themselves frozen with the +absurd idea of meriting her hand. For myself I am not afraid of +any rivals, and, now I have declared my intention of marrying your +daughter, no doubt they will at once withdraw their pretensions. +My Ambassador has orders, therefore, to make arrangements for the +Princess to come and be married to me without delay--for I attach +no importance at all to the farrago of nonsense which you have +caused to be published all over the world about this Ice Mountain. +If the Princess really has no heart, be assured that I shall not +concern myself about it, since, if anybody can help her to +discover one, it is myself. My worthy father-in-law, farewell!' + +The reading of this letter embarrassed and displeased Farda- +Kinbras and Birbantine immensely, while the Princess was furious +at the insolence of the demand. They all three resolved that its +contents must be kept a profound secret until they could decide +what reply should be sent, but Mousta contrived to send word of +all that had passed to Prince Mannikin. He was naturally alarmed +and indignant, and, after thinking it over a little, he begged an +audience of the Princess, and led the conversation so cunningly up +to the subject that was uppermost in her thoughts, as well as his +own, that she presently told him all about the matter and asked +his advice as to what it would be best to do. This was exactly +what he had not been able to decide for himself; however, he +replied that he should advise her to gain a little time by +promising her answer after the grand entry of the Ambassador, and +this was accordingly done. + +The Ambassador did not at all like being put off after that +fashion, but he was obliged to be content, and only said very +arrogantly that so soon as his equipages arrived, as he expected +they would do very shortly, he would give all the people of the +city, and the stranger Princes with whom it was inundated, an idea +of the power and the magnificence of his master. Mannikin, in +despair, resolved that he would for once beg the assistance of the +kind Fairy Genesta. He often thought of her and always with +gratitude, but from the moment of his setting out he had +determined to seek her aid only on the greatest occasions. That +very night, when he had fallen asleep quite worn out with thinking +over all the difficulties of the situation, he dreamed that the +Fairy stood beside him, and said: + +'Mannikin, you have done very well so far; continue to please me +and you shall always find good friends when you need them most. As +for this affair with the Ambassador, you can assure Sabella that +she may look forward tranquilly to his triumphal entry, since it +will all turn out well for her in the end.' + +The Prince tried to throw himself at her feet to thank her, but +woke to find it was all a dream; nevertheless he took fresh +courage, and went next day to see the Princess, to whom he gave +many mysterious assurances that all would yet be well. He even +went so far as to ask her if she would not be very grateful to +anyone who would rid her of the insolent Brandatimor. To which she +replied that her gratitude would know no bounds. Then he wanted to +know what would be her best wish for the person who was lucky +enough to accomplish it. To which she said that she would wish +them to be as insensible to the folly called 'love' as she was +herself! + +This was indeed a crushing speech to make to such a devoted lover +as Prince Mannikin, but he concealed the pain it caused him with +great courage. + +And now the Ambassador sent to say that on the very next day he +would come in state to receive his answer, and from the earliest +dawn the inhabitants were astir, to secure the best places for the +grand sight; but the good Fairy Genesta was providing them an +amount of amusement they were far from expecting, for she so +enchanted the eyes of all the spectators that when the +Ambassador's gorgeous procession appeared, the splendid uniforms +seemed to them miserable rags that a beggar would have been +ashamed to wear, the prancing horses appeared as wretched +skeletons hardly able to drag one leg after the other, while their +trappings, which really sparkled with gold and jewels, looked like +old sheepskins that would not have been good enough for a plough +horse. The pages resembled the ugliest sweeps. The trumpets gave +no more sound than whistles made of onion-stalks, or combs wrapped +in paper; while the train of fifty carriages looked no better than +fifty donkey carts. In the last of these sat the Ambassador with +the haughty and scornful air which he considered becoming in the +representative of so powerful a monarch: for this was the crowning +point of the absurdity of the whole procession, that all who took +part in it wore the expression of vanity and self-satisfaction and +pride in their own appearance and all their surroundings which +they believed their splendour amply justified. + +The laughter and howls of derision from the whole crowd rose ever +louder and louder as the extraordinary cortege advanced, and at +last reached the ears of the King as he waited in the audience +hall, and before the procession reached the palace he had been +informed of its nature, and, supposing that it must be intended as +an insult, he ordered the gates to be closed. You may imagine the +fury of the Ambassador when, after all his pomp and pride, the +King absolutely and unaccountably refused to receive him. He raved +wildly both against King and people, and the cortege retired in +great confusion, jeered at and pelted with stones and mud by the +enraged crowd. It is needless to say that he left the country as +fast as horses could carry him, but not before he had declared +war, with the most terrible menaces, threatening to devastate the +country with fire and sword. + +Some days after this disastrous embassy King Bayard sent couriers +to Prince Mannikin with a most friendly letter, offering his +services in any difficulty, and enquiring with the deepest +interest how he fared. + +Mannikin at once replied, relating all that had happened since +they parted, not forgetting to mention the event which had just +involved Farda-Kinbras and Brandatimor in this deadly quarrel, and +he ended by entreating his faithful friend to despatch a few +thousands of his veteran spaniels to his assistance. + +Neither the King, the Queen, nor the Princess could in the least +understand the amazing conduct of Brandatimor's Ambassador; +nevertheless the preparations for the war went forward briskly and +all the Princes who had not gone on towards the Ice Mountain +offered their services, at the same time demanding all the best +appointments in the King's army. Mannikin was one of the first to +volunteer, but he only asked to go as aide-de-camp to the +Commander-in chief, who was a gallant soldier and celebrated for +his victories. As soon as the army could be got together it was +marched to the frontier, where it met the opposing force headed by +Brandatimor himself, who was full of fury, determined to avenge +the insult to his Ambassador and to possess himself of the +Princess Sabella. All the army of Farda-Kinbras could do, being so +heavily outnumbered, was to act upon the defensive, and before +long Mannikin won the esteem of the officers for his ability, and +of the soldiers for his courage, and care for their welfare, and +in all the skirmishes which he conducted he had the good fortune +to vanquish the enemy. + +At last Brandatimor engaged the whole army in a terrific conflict, +and though the troops of Farda-Kinbras fought with desperate +courage, their general was killed, and they were defeated and +forced to retreat with immense loss. Mannikin did wonders, and +half-a-dozen times turned the retreating forces and beat back the +enemy; and he afterwards collected troops enough to keep them in +check until, the severe winter setting in, put an end to +hostilities for a while. + +He then returned to the Court, where consternation reigned. The +King was in despair at the death of his trusty general, and ended +by imploring Mannikin to take the command of the army, and his +counsel was followed in all the affairs of the Court. He followed +up his former plan of amusing the Princess, and on no account +reminding her of that tedious thing called 'love,' so that she was +always glad to see him, and the winter slipped by gaily for both +of them. + +The Prince was all the while secretly making plans for the next +campaign; he received private intelligence of the arrival of a +strong reinforcement of Spaniels, to whom he sent orders to post +themselves along the frontier without attracting attention, and as +soon as he possibly could he held a consultation with their +Commander, who was an old and experienced warrior. Following his +advice, he decided to have a pitched battle as soon as the enemy +advanced, and this Brandatimor lost not a moment in doing, as he +was perfectly persuaded that he was now going to make an end of +the war and utterly vanquish Farda-Kinbras. But no sooner had he +given the order to charge than the Spaniels, who had mingled with +his troops unperceived, leaped each upon the horse nearest to him, +and not only threw the whole squadron into confusion by the terror +they caused, but, springing at the throats of the riders, unhorsed +many of them by the suddenness of their attack; then turning the +horses to the rear, they spread consternation everywhere, and made +it easy for Prince Mannikin to gain a complete victory. He met +Brandatimor in single combat, and succeeded in taking him +prisoner; but he did not live to reach the Court, to which +Mannikin had sent him: his pride killed him at the thought of +appearing before Sabella under these altered circumstances. In the +meantime Prince Fadasse and all the others who had remained behind +were setting out with all speed for the conquest of the Ice +Mountain, being afraid that Prince Mannikin might prove as +successful in that as he seemed to be in everything else, and when +Mannikin returned he heard of it with great annoyance. True he had +been serving the Princess, but she only admired and praised him +for his gallant deeds, and seemed no whit nearer bestowing on him +the love he so ardently desired, and all the comfort Mousta could +give him on the subject was that at least she loved no one else, +and with that he had to content himself. But he determined that, +come what might, he would delay no longer, but attempt the great +undertaking for which he had come so far. When he went to take +leave of the King and Queen they entreated him not to go, as they +had just heard that Prince Fadasse, and all who accompanied him, +had perished in the snow; but he persisted in his resolve. As for +Sabella, she gave him her hand to kiss with precisely the same +gracious indifference as she had given it to him the first time +they met. It happened that this farewell took place before the +whole Court, and so great a favourite had Prince Mannikin become +that they were all indignant at the coldness with which the +Princess treated him. + +Finally the King said to him: + +'Prince, you have constantly refilled all the gifts which, in my +gratitude for your invaluable services, I have offered to you, but +I wish the Princess to present you with her cloak of marten's fur, +and that I hope you will not reject!' Now this was a splendid fur +mantle which the Princess was very fond of wearing, not so much +because she felt cold, as that its richness set off to perfection +the delicate tints of her complexion and the brilliant gold of her +hair. However, she took it off, and with graceful politeness +begged Prince Mannikin to accept it, which you may be sure he was +charmed to do, and, taking only this and a little bundle of all +kinds of wood, and accompanied only by two spaniels out of the +fifty who had stayed with him when the war was ended, he set +forth, receiving many tokens of love and favour from the people in +every town he passed through. At the last little village he left +his horse behind him, to begin his toilful march through the snow, +which extended, blank and terrible, in every direction as far as +the eye could see. Here he had appointed to meet the other forty- +eight spaniels, who received him joyfully, and assured him that, +happen what might, they would follow and serve him faithfully. And +so they started, full of heart and hope. At first there was a +slight track, difficult, but not impossible to follow; but this +was soon lost, and the Pole Star was their only guide. When the +time came to call a halt, the Prince, who had after much +consideration decided on his plan of action, caused a few twigs +from the faggot he had brought with him to be planted in the snow, +and then he sprinkled over them a pinch of the magic powder he had +collected from the enchanted boat. To his great joy they instantly +began to sprout and grow, and in a marvellously short time the +camp was surrounded by a perfect grove of trees of all sorts, +which blossomed and bore ripe fruit, so that all their wants were +easily supplied, and they were able to make huge fires to warm +themselves. The Prince then sent out several spaniels to +reconnoitre, and they had the good luck to discover a horse laden +with provisions stuck fast in the snow. They at once fetched their +comrades, and brought the spoil triumphantly into the camp, and, +as it consisted principally of biscuits, not a spaniel among them +went supperless to sleep. In this way they journeyed by day and +encamped safely at night, always remembering to take on a few +branches to provide them with food and shelter. They passed by the +way armies of those who had set out upon the perilous enterprise, +who stood frozen stiffly, without sense or motion; but Prince +Mannikin strictly forbade that any attempt should be made to thaw +them. So they went on and on for more than three months, and day +by day the Ice Mountain, which they had seen for a long time, grew +clearer, until at last they stood close to it, and shuddered at +its height and steepness. But by patience and perseverance they +crept up foot by foot, aided by their fires of magic wood, without +which they must have perished in the intense cold, until presently +they stood at the gates of the magnificent Ice Palace which +crowned the mountain, where, in deadly silence and icy sleep, lay +the heart of Sabella. Now the difficulty became immense, for if +they maintained enough heat to keep themselves alive they were in +danger every moment of melting the blocks of solid ice of which +the palace was entirely built, and bringing the whole structure +down upon their heads; but cautiously and quickly they traversed +courtyards and halls, until they found themselves at the foot of a +vast throne, where, upon a cushion of snow, lay an enormous and +brilliantly sparkling diamond, which contained the heart of the +lovely Princess Sabella. Upon the lowest step of the throne was +inscribed in icy letters, 'Whosoever thou art who by courage and +virtue canst win the heart of Sabella enjoy peacefully the good +fortune which thou hast richly deserved.' + +Prince Mannikin bounded forward, and had just strength left to +grasp the precious diamond which contained all he coveted in the +world before he fell insensible upon the snowy cushion. But his +good spaniels lost no time in rushing to the rescue, and between +them they bore him hastily from the hall, and not a moment too +soon, for all around them they heard the clang of the falling +blocks of ice as the Fairy Palace slowly collapsed under the +unwonted heat. Not until they reached the foot of the mountain did +they pause to restore the Prince to consciousness, and then his +joy to find himself the possessor of Sabella's heart knew no +bounds. + +With all speed they began to retrace their steps, but this time +the happy Prince could not bear the sight of his defeated and +disappointed rivals, whose frozen forms lined his triumphant way. +He gave orders to his spaniels to spare no pains to restore them +to life, and so successful were they that day by day his train +increased, so that by the time he got back to the little village +where he had left his horse he was escorted by five hundred +sovereign Princes, and knights and squires without number, and he +was so courteous and unassuming that they all followed him +willingly, anxious to do him honour. But then he was so happy and +blissful himself that he found it easy to be at peace with all the +world. It was not long before he met the faithful Mousta, who was +coming at the top of his speed hoping to meet the Prince, that he +might tell him of the sudden and wonderful change that had come +over the Princess, who had become gentle and thoughtful and had +talked to him of nothing but Prince Mannikin, of the hardships she +feared he might be suffering, and of her anxiety for him, and all +this with a hundred fonder expressions which put the finishing +stroke to the Prince's delight. Then came a courier bearing the +congratulations of the King and Queen, who had just heard of his +successful return, and there was even a graceful compliment from +Sabella herself. The Prince sent Mousta back to her, and he was +welcomed with joy, for was he not her lover's present? + +At last the travellers reached the capital, and were received with +regal magnificence. Farda-Kinbras and Birbantine embraced Prince +Mannikin, declaring that they regarded him as their heir and the +future husband of the Princess, to which he replied that they did +him too much honour. And then he was admitted into the presence of +the Princess, who for the first time in her life blushed as he +kissed her hand, and could not find a word to say. But the Prince, +throwing himself on his knees beside her, held out the splendid +diamond, saying: + +'Madam, this treasure is yours, since none of the dangers and +difficulties I have gone through have been sufficient to make me +deserve it.' + +'Ah! Prince,' said she, 'if I take it, it is only that I may give +it back to you, since truly it belongs to you already.' + +At this moment in came the King and Queen, and interrupted them by +asking all the questions imaginable, and not infrequently the same +over and over again. It seems that there is always one thing that +is sure to be said about an event by everybody, and Prince +Mannikin found that the question which he was asked by more than a +thousand people on this particular occasion was: + +'And didn't you find it very cold?' + +The King had come to request Prince Mannikin and the Princess to +follow him to the Council Chamber, which they did, not knowing +that he meant to present the Prince to all the nobles assembled +there as his son-in-law and successor. But when Mannikin perceived +his intention, he begged permission to speak first, and told his +whole story, even to the fact that he believed himself to be a +peasant's son. Scarcely had he finished speaking when the sky grew +black, the thunder growled, and the lightning flashed, and in the +blaze of light the good Fairy Genesta suddenly appeared. Turning +to Prince Mannikin, she said: + +'I am satisfied with you, since you have shown not only courage +but a good heart.' Then she addressed King Farda-Kinbras, and +informed him of the real history of the Prince, and how she had +determined to give him the education she knew would be best for a +man who was to command others. 'You have already found the +advantage of having a faithful friend,' she added to the Prince +'and now you will have the pleasure of seeing King Bayard and his +subjects regain their natural forms as a reward for his kindness +to you.' + +Just then arrived a chariot drawn by eagles, which proved to +contain the foolish King and Queen, who embraced their long-lost +son with great joy, and were greatly struck with the fact that +they did indeed find him covered with fur! While they were +caressing Sabella and wringing her hands (which is a favourite +form of endearment with foolish people) chariots were seen +approaching from all points of the compass, containing numbers of +Fairies. + +'Sire,' said Genesta to Farda-Kinbras, 'I have taken the liberty +of appointing your Court as a meeting-place for all the Fairies +who could spare the time to come; and I hope you can arrange to +hold the great ball, which we have once in a hundred years, on +this occasion.' + +The King having suitably acknowledged the honour done him, was +next reconciled to Gorgonzola, and they two presently opened the +ball together. The Fairy Marsontine restored their natural forms +to King Bayard and all his subjects, and he appeared once more as +handsome a king as you could wish to see. One of the Fairies +immediately despatched her chariot for the Queen of the Spice +Islands, and their wedding took place at the same time as that of +Prince Mannikin and the lovely and gracious Sabella. They lived +happily ever afterwards, and their vast kingdoms were presently +divided between their children. + +The Prince, out of grateful remembrance of the Princess Sabella's +first gift to him bestowed the right of bearing her name upon the +most beautiful of the martens, and that is why they are called +sables to this day. + +Comte de Caylus. + + + + + +THE ENCHANTED RING + + + +Once upon a time there lived a young man named Rosimond, who was +as good and handsome as his elder brother Bramintho was ugly and +wicked. Their mother detested her eldest son, and had only eyes +for the youngest. This excited Bramintho's jealousy, and he +invented a horrible story in order to ruin his brother. He told +his father that Rosimond was in the habit of visiting a neighbour +who was an enemy of the family, and betraying to him all that went +on in the house, and was plotting with him to poison their father. + +The father flew into a rage, and flogged his son till the blood +came. Then he threw him into prison and kept him for three days +without food, and after that he turned him out of the house, and +threatened to kill him if he ever came back. The mother was +miserable, and did nothing but weep, but she dared not say +anything. + +The youth left his home with tears in his eyes, not knowing where +to go, and wandered about for many hours till he came to a thick +wood. Night overtook him at the foot of a great rock, and he fell +asleep on a bank of moss, lulled by the music of a little brook. + +It was dawn when he woke, and he saw before him a beautiful woman +seated on a grey horse, with trappings of gold, who looked as if +she were preparing for the hunt. + +'Have you seen a stag and some deerhounds go by?' she asked. + +'No, madam,' he replied. + +Then she added, 'You look unhappy; is there anything the matter? +Take this ring, which will make you the happiest and most powerful +of men, provided you never make a bad use of it. If you turn the +diamond inside, you will become invisible. If you turn it outside, +you will become visible again. If you place it on your little +finger, you will take the shape of the King's son, followed by a +splendid court. If you put it on your fourth finger, you will take +your own shape.' + +Then the young man understood that it was a Fairy who was speaking +to him, and when she had finished she plunged into the woods. The +youth was very impatient to try the ring, and returned home +immediately. He found that the Fairy had spoken the truth, and +that he could see and hear everything, while he himself was +unseen. It lay with him to revenge himself, if he chose, on his +brother, without the slightest danger to himself, and he told no +one but his mother of all the strange things that had befallen +him. He afterwards put the enchanted ring on his little finger, +and appeared as the King's son, followed by a hundred fine horses, +and a guard of officers all richly dressed. + +His father was much surprised to see the King's son in his quiet +little house, and he felt rather embarrassed, not knowing what was +the proper way to behave on such a grand occasion. Then Rosimond +asked him how many sons he had. + +'Two,' replied he. + +'I wish to see them,' said Rosimond. 'Send for them at once. I +desire to take them both to Court, in order to make their +fortunes.' + +The father hesitated, then answered: 'Here is the eldest, whom I +have the honour to present to your Highness.' + +'But where is the youngest? I wish to see him too,' persisted +Rosimond. + +'He is not here,' said the father. 'I had to punish him for a +fault, and he has run away.' + +Then Rosimond replied, 'You should have shown him what was right, +but not have punished him. However, let the elder come with me, +and as for you, follow these two guards, who will escort you to a +place that I will point out to them.' + +Then the two guards led off the father, and the Fairy of whom you +have heard found him in the forest, and beat him with a golden +birch rod, and cast him into a cave that was very deep and dark, +where he lay enchanted. 'Lie there,' she said, 'till your son +comes to take you out again.' + +Meanwhile the son went to the King's palace, and arrived just when +the real prince was absent. He had sailed away to make war on a +distant island, but the winds had been contrary, and he had been +shipwrecked on unknown shores, and taken captive by a savage +people. Rosimond made his appearance at Court in the character of +the Prince, whom everyone wept for as lost, and told them that he +had been rescued when at the point of death by some merchants. His +return was the signal for great public rejoicings, and the King +was so overcome that he became quite speechless, and did nothing +but embrace his son. The Queen was even more delighted, and fetes +were ordered over the whole kingdom. + +One day the false Prince said to his real brother, 'Bramintho, you +know that I brought you here from your native village in order to +make your fortune; but I have found out that you are a liar, and +that by your deceit you have been the cause of all the troubles of +your brother Rosimond. He is in hiding here, and I desire that you +shall speak to him, and listen to his reproaches.' + +Bramintho trembled at these words, and, flinging himself at the +Prince's feet, confessed his crime. + +'That is not enough,' said Rosimond. 'It is to your brother that +you must confess, and I desire that you shall ask his forgiveness. +He will be very generous if he grants it, and it will be more than +you deserve. He is in my ante-room, where you shall see him at +once. I myself will retire into another apartment, so as to leave +you alone with him.' + +Bramintho entered, as he was told, into the anteroom. Then +Rosimond changed the ring, and passed into the room by another +door. + +Bramintho was filled with shame as soon as he saw his brother's +face. He implored his pardon, and promised to atone for all his +faults. Rosimond embraced him with tears, and at once forgave him, +adding, 'I am in great favour with the King. It rests with me to +have your head cut off, or to condemn you to pass the remainder of +your life in prison; but I desire to be as good to you as you have +been wicked to me.' Bramintho, confused and ashamed, listened to +his words without daring to lift his eyes or to remind Rosimond +that he was his brother. After this, Rosimond gave out that he was +going to make a secret voyage, to marry a Princess who lived in a +neighbouring kingdom; but in reality he only went to see his +mother, whom he told all that had happened at the Court, giving +her at the same time some money that she needed, for the King +allowed him to take exactly what he liked, though he was always +careful not to abuse this permission. Just then a furious war +broke out between the King his master and the Sovereign of the +adjoining country, who was a bad man and one that never kept his +word. Rosimond went straight to the palace of the wicked King, and +by means of his ring was able to be present at all the councils, +and learnt all their schemes, so that he was able to forestall +them and bring them to naught. He took the command of the army +which was brought against the wicked King, and defeated him in a +glorious battle, so that peace was at once concluded on conditions +that were just to everyone. + +Henceforth the King's one idea was to marry the young man to a +Princess who was the heiress to a neighbouring kingdom, and, +besides that, was as lovely as the day. But one morning, while +Rosimond was hunting in the forest where for the first time he had +seen the Fairy, his benefactress suddenly appeared before him. +'Take heed,' she said to him in severe tones, 'that you do not +marry anybody who believes you to be a Prince. You must never +deceive anyone. The real Prince, whom the whole nation thinks you +are, will have to succeed his father, for that is just and right. +Go and seek him in some distant island, and I will send winds that +will swell your sails and bring you to him. Hasten to render this +service to your master, although it is against your own ambition, +and prepare, like an honest man, to return to your natural state. +If you do not do this, you will become wicked and unhappy, and I +will abandon you to all your former troubles.' + +Rosimond took these wise counsels to heart. He gave out that he +had undertaken a secret mission to a neighbouring state, and +embarked on board a vessel, the winds carrying him straight to the +island where the Fairy had told him he would find the real Prince. +This unfortunate youth had been taken captive by a savage people, +who had kept him to guard their sheep. Rosimond, becoming +invisible, went to seek him amongst the pastures, where he kept +his flock, and, covering him with his mantle, he delivered him out +of the hands of his cruel masters, and bore him back to the ship. +Other winds sent by the Fairy swelled the sails, and together the +two young men entered the King's presence. + +Rosimond spoke first and said, 'You have believed me to be your +son. I am not he, but I have brought him back to you.' The King, +filled with astonishment, turned to his real son and asked, 'Was +it not you, my son, who conquered my enemies and won such a +glorious peace? Or is it true that you have been shipwrecked and +taken captive, and that Rosimond has set you free?' + +'Yes, my father,' replied the Prince. 'It is he who sought me out +in my captivity and set me free, and to him I owe the happiness of +seeing you once more. It was he, not I, who gained the victory.' + +The King could hardly believe his ears; but Rosimond, turning the +ring, appeared before him in the likeness of the Prince, and the +King gazed distractedly at the two youths who seemed both to be +his son. Then he offered Rosimond immense rewards for his +services, which were refused, and the only favour the young man +would accept was that one of his posts at Court should be +conferred on his brother Bramintho. For he feared for himself the +changes of fortune, the envy of mankind and his own weakness. His +desire was to go back to his mother and his native village, and to +spend his time in cultivating the land. + +One day, when he was wandering through the woods, he met the +Fairy, who showed him the cavern where his father was imprisoned, +and told him what words he must use in order to set him free. He +repeated them joyfully, for he had always longed to bring the old +man back and to make his last days happy. Rosimond thus became the +benefactor of all his family, and had the pleasure of doing good +to those who had wished to do him evil. As for the Court, to whom +he had rendered such services, all he asked was the freedom to +live far from its corruption; and, to crown all, fearing that if +he kept the ring he might be tempted to use it in order to regain +his lost place in the world, he made up his mind to restore it to +the Fairy. For many days he sought her up and down the woods and +at last he found her. 'I want to give you back,' he said, holding +out the ring, 'a gift as dangerous as it is powerful, and which I +fear to use wrongfully. I shall never feel safe till I have made +it impossible for me to leave my solitude and to satisfy my +passions.' + +While Rosimond was seeking to give back the ring to the Fairy, +Bramintho, who had failed to learn any lessons from experience, +gave way to all his desires, and tried to persuade the Prince, +lately become King, to ill-treat Rosimond. But the Fairy, who knew +all about everything, said to Rosimond, when he was imploring her +to accept the ring: + +'Your wicked brother is doing his best to poison the mind of the +King towards you, and to ruin you. He deserves to be punished, and +he must die; and in order that he may destroy himself, I shall +give the ring to him.' + +Rosimond wept at these words, and then asked: + +'What do you mean by giving him the ring as a punishment? He will +only use it to persecute everyone, and to become master.' + +'The same things,' answered the Fairy, 'are often a healing +medicine to one person and a deadly poison to another. Prosperity +is the source of all evil to a naturally wicked man. If you wish +to punish a scoundrel, the first thing to do is to give him power. +You will see that with this rope he will soon hang himself.' + +Having said this, she disappeared, and went straight to the +Palace, where she showed herself to Bramintho under the disguise +of an old woman covered with rags. She at once addressed him in +these words: + +'I have taken this ring from the hands of your brother, to whom I +had lent it, and by its help he covered himself with glory. I now +give it to you, and be careful what you do with it.' + +Bramintho replied with a laugh: + +'I shall certainly not imitate my brother, who was foolish enough +to bring back the Prince instead of reigning in his place,' and he +was as good as his word. The only use he made of the ring was to +find out family secrets and betray them, to commit murders and +every sort of wickedness, and to gain wealth for himself +unlawfully. All these crimes, which could be traced to nobody, +filled the people with astonishment. The King, seeing so many +affairs, public and private, exposed, was at first as puzzled as +anyone, till Bramintho's wonderful prosperity and amazing +insolence made him suspect that the enchanted ring had become his +property. In order to find out the truth he bribed a stranger just +arrived at Court, one of a nation with whom the King was always at +war, and arranged that he was to steal in the night to Bramintho +and to offer him untold honours and rewards if he would betray the +State secrets. + +Bramintho promised everything, and accepted at once the first +payment of his crime, boasting that he had a ring which rendered +him invisible, and that by means of it he could penetrate into the +most private places. But his triumph was short. Next day he was +seized by order of the King, and his ring was taken from him. He +was searched, and on him were found papers which proved his +crimes; and, though Rosimond himself came back to the Court to +entreat his pardon, it was refused. So Bramintho was put to death, +and the ring had been even more fatal to him than it had been +useful in the hands of his brother. + +To console Rosimond for the fate of Bramintho, the King gave him +back the enchanted ring, as a pearl without price. The unhappy +Rosimond did not look upon it in the same light, and the first +thing he did on his return home was to seek the Fairy in the +woods. + +'Here,' he said, 'is your ring. My brother's experience has made +me understand many things that I did not know before. Keep it, it +has only led to his destruction. Ah! without it he would be alive +now, and my father and mother would not in their old age be bowed +to the earth with shame and grief! Perhaps he might have been wise +and happy if he had never had the chance of gratifying his wishes! +Oh! how dangerous it is to have more power than the rest of the +world! Take back your ring, and as ill fortune seems to follow all +on whom you bestow it, I will implore you, as a favour to myself, +that you will never give it to anyone who is dear to me.' + +Fenelon. + + + +THE SNUFF-BOX + + + +As often happens in this world, there was once a young man who +spent all his time in travelling. One day, as he was walking +along, he picked up a snuff-box. He opened it, and the snuff-box +said to him in the Spanish language, 'What do you want?' He was +very much frightened, but, luckily, instead of throwing the box +away, he only shut it tight, and put it in his pocket. Then he +went on, away, away, away, and as he went he said to himself, 'If +it says to me again "What do you want?" I shall know better what +to say this time.' So he took out the snuff-box and opened it, and +again it asked 'What do you want?' 'My hat full of gold,' answered +the youth, and immediately it was full. + +Our young man was enchanted. Henceforth he should never be in need +of anything. So on he travelled, away, away, away, through thick +forests, till at last he came to a beautiful castle. In the castle +there lived a King. The young man walked round and round the +castle, not caring who saw him, till the King noticed him, and +asked what he was doing there. 'I was just looking at your +castle.' 'You would like to have one like it, wouldn't you?' The +young man did not reply, but when it grew dark he took his snuff- +box and opened the lid. 'What do you want?' 'Build me a castle +with laths of gold and tiles of diamond, and the furniture all of +silver and gold.' He had scarcely finished speaking when there +stood in front of him, exactly opposite the King's palace, a +castle built precisely as he had ordered. When the King awoke he +was struck dumb at the sight of the magnificent house shining in +the rays of the sun. The servants could not do their work for +stopping to stare at it. Then the King dressed himself, and went +to see the young man. And he told him plainly that he was a very +powerful Prince; and that he hoped that they might all live +together in one house or the other, and that the King would give +him his daughter to wife. So it all turned out just as the King +wished. The young man married the Princess, and they lived happily +in the palace of gold. + +But the King's wife was jealous both of the young man and of her +own daughter. The Princess had told her mother about the snuff- +box, which gave them everything they wanted, and the Queen bribed +a servant to steal the snuff-box. They noticed carefully where it +was put away every night, and one evening, when the whole world +was asleep, the woman stole it and brought it to her old mistress. +Oh how happy the Queen was! She opened the lid, and the snuff-box +said to her 'What do you want?' And she answered at once 'I want +you to take me and my husband and my servants and this beautiful +house and set us down on the other side of the Red Sea, but my +daughter and her husband are to stay behind.' + +When the young couple woke up, they found themselves back in the +old castle, without their snuff-box. They hunted for it high and +low, but quite vainly. The young man felt that no time was to be +lost, and he mounted his horse and filled his pockets with as much +gold as he could carry. On he went, away, away, away, but he +sought the snuff-box in vain all up and down the neighbouring +countries, and very soon he came to the end of all his money. But +still he went on, as fast as the strength of his horse would let +him, begging his way. + +Someone told him that he ought to consult the moon, for the moon +travelled far, and might be able to tell him something. So he went +away, away, away, and ended, somehow or other, by reaching the +land of the moon. There he found a little old woman who said to +him 'What are you doing here? My son eats all living things he +sees, and if you are wise, you will go away without coming any +further.' But the young man told her all his sad tale, and how he +possessed a wonderful snuff-box, and how it had been stolen from +him, and how he had nothing left, now that he was parted from his +wife and was in need of everything. And he said that perhaps her +son, who travelled so far, might have seen a palace with laths of +gold and tiles of diamond, and furnished all in silver and gold. +As he spoke these last words, the moon came in and said he smelt +mortal flesh and blood. But his mother told him that it was an +unhappy man who had lost everything, and had come all this way to +consult him, and bade the young man not to be afraid, but to come +forward and show himself. So he went boldly up to the moon, and +asked if by any accident he had seen a palace with the laths of +gold and the tiles of diamond, and all the furniture of silver and +gold. Once this house belonged to him, but now it was stolen. And +the moon said no, but that the sun travelled farther than he did, +and that the young man had better go and ask him. + +So the young man departed, and went away, away, away, as well as +his horse would take him, begging his living as he rode along, +and, somehow or other, at last he got to the land of the sun. +There he found a little old woman, who asked him, 'What are you +doing here? Go away. Have you not heard that my son feeds upon +Christians?' But he said no, and that he would not go, for he was +so miserable that it was all one to him whether he died or not; +that he had lost everything, and especially a splendid palace like +none other in the whole world, for it had laths of gold and tiles +of diamond, and all the furniture was of silver and gold. And that +he had sought it far and long, and in all the earth there was no +man more unhappy. So the old woman's heart melted, and she agreed +to hide him. + +When the Sun arrived, he declared that he smelt Christian flesh, +and he meant to have it for his dinner. But his mother told him +such a pitiful story of the miserable wretch who had lost +everything, and had come from far to ask his help, that at last he +promised to see him. + +So the young man came out from his hiding-place and begged the sun +to tell him if in the course of his travels he had not seen +somewhere a palace that had not its like in the whole world, for +its laths were of gold and its tiles of diamond, and all the +furniture in silver and gold. + +And the sun said no, but that perhaps the wind had seen it, for he +entered everywhere, and saw things that no one else ever saw, and +if anyone knew where it was, it was certainly the wind. + +Then the poor young man again set forth as well as his horse could +take him, begging his living as he went, and, somehow or other, he +ended by reaching the home of the wind. He found there a little +old woman busily occupied in filling great barrels with water. She +asked him what had put it into his head to come there, for her son +ate everything he saw, and that he would shortly arrive quite mad, +and that the young man had better look out. But he answered that +he was so unhappy that he had ceased to mind anything, even being +eaten, and then he told her that he had been robbed of a palace +that had not its equal in all the world, and of all that was in +it, and that he had even left his wife, and was wandering over the +world until he found it. And that it was the sun who had sent him +to consult the wind. So she hid him under the staircase, and soon +they heard the south wind arrive, shaking the house to its +foundations. Thirsty as he was, he did not wait to drink, but he +told his mother that he smelt the blood of a Christian man, and +that she had better bring him out at once and make him ready to be +eaten. But she bade her son eat and drink what was before him, and +said that the poor young man was much to be pitied, and that the +sun had granted him his life in order that he might consult the +wind. Then she brought out the young man, who explained how he was +seeking for his palace, and that no man had been able to tell him +where it was, so he had come to the wind. And he added that he had +been shamefully robbed, and that the laths were of gold and the +tiles of diamond, and all the furniture in silver and gold, and he +inquired if the wind had not seen such a palace during his +wanderings. + +And the wind said yes, and that all that day he had been blowing +backwards and forwards over it without being able to move one +single tile. 'Oh, do tell me where it is,' cried the you man. 'It +is a long way off,' replied the wind, 'on the other side of the +Red Sea.' But our traveller was not discouraged, he had already +journeyed too far. + +So he set forth at once, and, somehow or other, he managed to +reach that distant land. And he enquired if anyone wanted a +gardener. He was told that the head gardener at the castle had +just left, and perhaps he might have a chance of getting the +place. The young man lost no time, but walked up to the castle and +asked if they were in want of a gardener; and how happy he was +when they agreed to take him! Now he passed most of his day in +gossiping with the servants about the wealth of their masters and +the wonderful things in the house. He made friends with one of the +maids, who told him the history of the snuff-box, and he coaxed +her to let him see it. One evening she managed to get hold of it, +and the young man watched carefully where she hid it away, in a +secret place in the bedchamber of her mistress. + +The following night, when everyone was fast asleep, he crept in +and took the snuff-box. Think of his joy as he opened the lid! +When it asked him, as of yore, 'What do you want?' he replied: +'What do I want? What do I want? Why, I want to go with my palace +to the old place, and for the King and the Queen and all their +servants to be drowned in the Red Sea.' He hardly finished +speaking when he found himself back again with his wife, while all +the other inhabitants of the palace were lying at the bottom of +the Red Sea. + +Sebillot. + + + + + +THE GOLDEN BLACKBIRD + + + +Once upon a time there was a great lord who had three sons. He +fell very ill, sent for doctors of every kind, even bonesetters, +but they, none of them, could find out what was the matter with +him, or even give him any relief. At last there came a foreign +doctor, who declared that the Golden Blackbird alone could cure +the sick man. + +So the old lord despatched his eldest son to look for the +wonderful bird, and promised him great riches if he managed to +find it and bring it back. + +The young man began his journey, and soon arrived at a place where +four roads met. He did not know which to choose, and tossed his +cap in the air, determining that the direction of its fall should +decide him. After travelling for two or three days, he grew tired +of walking without knowing where or for how long, and he stopped +at an inn which was filled with merrymakers and ordered something +to eat and drink. + +'My faith,' said he, 'it is sheer folly to waste more time hunting +for this bird. My father is old, and if he dies I shall inherit +his goods.' + +The old man, after waiting patiently for some time, sent his +second son to seek the Golden Blackbird. The youth took the same +direction as his brother, and when he came to the cross roads, he +too tossed up which road he should take. The cap fell in the same +place as before, and he walked on till he came to the spot where +his brother had halted. The latter, who was leaning out of the +window of the inn, called to him to stay where he was and amuse +himself. + +'You are right,' replied the youth. 'Who knows if I should ever +find the Golden Blackbird, even if I sought the whole world +through for it. At the worst, if the old man dies, we shall have +his property.' + +He entered the inn and the two brothers made merry and feasted, +till very soon their money was all spent. They even owed something +to their landlord, who kept them as hostages till they could pay +their debts. + +The youngest son set forth in his turn, and he arrived at the +place where his brothers were still prisoners. They called to him +to stop, and did all they could to prevent his going further. + +'No,' he replied, 'my father trusted me, and I will go all over +the world till I find the Golden Blackbird.' + +'Bah,' said his brothers, 'you will never succeed any better than +we did. Let him die if he wants to; we will divide the property.' + +As he went his way he met a little hare, who stopped to look at +him, and asked: + +'Where are you going, my friend?' + +'I really don't quite know,' answered he. 'My father is ill, and +he cannot be cured unless I bring him back the Golden Blackbird. +It is a long time since I set out, but no one can tell me where to +find it.' + +'Ah,' said the hare, 'you have a long way to go yet. You will have +to walk at least seven hundred miles before you get to it.' + +'And how am I to travel such a distance?' + +'Mount on my back,' said the little hare, 'and I will conduct +you.' + +The young man obeyed: at each bound the little hare went seven +miles, and it was not long before they reached a castle that was +as large and beautiful as a castle could be. + +'The Golden Blackbird is in a little cabin near by,' said the +little hare, 'and you will easily find it. It lives in a little +cage, with another cage beside it made all of gold. But whatever +you do, be sure not to put it in the beautiful cage, or everybody +in the castle will know that you have stolen it.' + +The youth found the Golden Blackbird standing on a wooden perch, +but as stiff and rigid as if he was dead. And beside the beautiful +cage was the cage of gold. + +'Perhaps he would revive if I were to put him in that lovely +cage,' thought the youth. + +The moment that Golden Bird had touched the bars of the splendid +cage he awoke, and began to whistle, so that all the servants of +the castle ran to see what was the matter, saying that he was a +thief and must be put in prison. + +'No,' he answered, 'I am not a thief. If I have taken the Golden +Blackbird, it is only that it may cure my father, who is ill, and +I have travelled more than seven hundred miles in order to find +it.' + +'Well,' they replied, 'we will let you go, and will even give you +the Golden Bird, if you are able to bring us the Porcelain +Maiden.' + +The youth departed, weeping, and met the little hare, who was +munching wild thyme. + +'What are you crying for, my friend?' asked the hare. + +'It is because,' he answered, 'the castle people will not allow me +to carry off the Golden Blackbird without giving them the +Porcelain Maiden in exchange.' + +'You have not followed my advice,' said the little hare. 'And you +have put the Golden Bird into the fine cage.' + +'Alas! yes!' + +'Don't despair! the Porcelain Maiden is a young girl, beautiful as +Venus, who dwells two hundred miles from here. Jump on my back and +I will take you there.' + +The little hare, who took seven miles in a stride, was there in no +time at all, and he stopped on the borders of a lake. + +'The Porcelain Maiden,' said the hare to the youth, 'will come +here to bathe with her friends, while I just eat a mouthful of +thyme to refresh me. When she is in the lake, be sure you hide her +clothes, which are of dazzling whiteness, and do not give them +back to her unless she consents to follow you.' + +The little hare left him, and almost immediately the Porcelain +Maiden arrived with her friends. She undressed herself and got +into the water. Then the young man glided up noiselessly and laid +hold of her clothes, which he hid under a rock at some distance. + +When the Porcelain Maiden was tired of playing in the water she +came out to dress herself, but, though she hunted for her clothes +high and low, she could find them nowhere. Her friends helped her +in the search, but, seeing at last that it was of no use, they +left her, alone on the bank, weeping bitterly. + +'Why do you cry?' said the young man, approaching her. + +'Alas!' answered she, 'while I was bathing someone stole my +clothes, and my friends have abandoned me.' + +'I will find your clothes if you will only come with me.' + +And the Porcelain Maiden agreed to follow him, and after having +given up her clothes, the young man bought a small horse for her, +which went like the wind. The little hare brought them both back +to seek for the Golden Blackbird, and when they drew near to the +castle where it lived the little hero said to the young man: + +'Now, do be a little sharper than you were before, and you will +manage to carry off both the Golden Blackbird and the Porcelain +Maiden. Take the golden cage in one hand, and leave the bird in +the old cage where he is, and bring that away too.' + +The little hare then vanished; the youth did as he was bid, and +the castle servants never noticed that he was carrying off the +Golden Bird. When he reached the inn where his brothers were +detained, he delivered them by paying their debt. They set out all +together, but as the two elder brothers were jealous of the +success of the youngest, they took the opportunity as they were +passing by the shores of a lake to throw themselves upon him, +seize the Golden Bird, and fling him in the water. Then they +continued their journey, taking with them the Porcelain Maiden, in +the firm belief that their brother was drowned. But, happily, he +had snatched in falling at a tuft of rushes and called loudly for +help. The little hare came running to him, and said 'Take hold of +my leg and pull yourself out of the water.' + +When he was safe on shore the little hare said to him: + +'Now this is what you have to do: dress yourself like a Breton +seeking a place as stable-boy, and go and offer your services to +your father. Once there, you will easily be able to make him +understand the truth.' + +The young man did as the little hare bade him, and he went to his +father's castle and enquired if they were not in want of a stable- +boy. + +'Yes,' replied his father, 'very much indeed. But it is not an +easy place. There is a little horse in the stable which will not +let anyone go near it, and it has already kicked to death several +people who have tried to groom it.' + +'I will undertake to groom it,' said the youth. 'I never saw the +horse I was afraid of yet.' The little horse allowed itself to be +rubbed down without a toss of its head and without a kick. + +'Good gracious!' exclaimed the master; 'how is it that he lets you +touch him, when no one else can go near him?' + +'Perhaps he knows me,' answered the stable-boy. + +Two or three days later the master said to him: 'The Porcelain +Maiden is here: but, though she is as lovely as the dawn, she is +so wicked that she scratches everyone that approaches her. Try if +she will accept your services.' + +When the youth entered the room where she was, the Golden +Blackbird broke forth into a joyful song, and the Porcelain Maiden +sang too, and jumped for joy. + +'Good gracious!' cried the master. 'The Porcelain Maiden and the +Golden Blackbird know you too?' + +'Yes,' replied the youth, 'and the Porcelain Maiden can tell you +the whole truth, if she only will.' + +Then she told all that had happened, and how she had consented to +follow the young man who had captured the Golden Blackbird. + +'Yes,' added the youth, 'I delivered my brothers, who were kept +prisoners in an inn, and, as a reward, they threw me into a lake. +So I disguised myself and came here, in order to prove the truth +to you.' + +So the old lord embraced his son, and promised that he should +inherit all his possessions, and he put to death the two elder +ones, who had deceived him and had tried to slay their own +brother. + +The young man married the Porcelain Maiden, and had a splendid +wedding-feast. + +Sebillot. + + + + + +THE LITTLE SOLDIER + + + +I + +Once upon a time there was a little soldier who had just come back +from the war. He was a brave little fellow, but he had lost +neither arms nor legs in battle. Still, the fighting was ended and +the army disbanded, so he had to return to the village where he +was born. + +Now the soldier's name was really John, but for some reason or +other his friends always called him the Kinglet; why, no one ever +knew, but so it was. + +As he had no father or mother to welcome him home, he did not +hurry himself, but went quietly along, his knapsack on his back +and his sword by his side, when suddenly one evening he was seized +with a wish to light his pipe. He felt for his match-box to strike +a light, but to his great disgust he found he had lost it. + +He had only gone about a stone's throw after making this discovery +when he noticed a light shining through the trees. He went towards +it, and perceived before him an old castle, with the door standing +open. + +The little soldier entered the courtyard, and, peeping through a +window, saw a large fire blazing at the end of a low hall. He put +his pipe in his pocket and knocked gently, saying politely: + +'Would you give me a light?' + +But he got no answer. + +After waiting for a moment John knocked again, this time more +loudly. There was still no reply. + +He raised the latch and entered; the hall was empty. + +The little soldier made straight for the fireplace, seized the +tongs, and was stooping down to look for a nice red hot coal with +which to light his pipe, when clic! something went, like a spring +giving way, and in the very midst of the flames an enormous +serpent reared itself up close to his face. + +And what was more strange still, this serpent had the head of a +woman. + +At such an unexpected sight many men would have turned and run for +their lives; but the little soldier, though he was so small, had a +true soldier's heart. He only made one step backwards, and grasped +the hilt of his sword. + +'Don't unsheath it,' said the serpent. 'I have been waiting for +you, as it is you who must deliver me.' + +'Who are you?' + +'My name is Ludovine, and I am the daughter of the King of the Low +Countries. Deliver me, and I will marry you and make you happy for +ever after.' + +Now, some people might not have liked the notion of being made +happy by a serpent with the head of a woman, but the Kinglet had +no such fears. And, besides, he felt the fascination of Ludovine's +eyes, which looked at him as a snake looks at a little bird. They +were beautiful green eyes, not round like those of a cat, but long +and almond-shaped, and they shone with a strange light, and the +golden hair which floated round them seemed all the brighter for +their lustre. The face had the beauty of an angel, though the body +was only that of a serpent. + +'What must I do?' asked the Kinglet. + +'Open that door. You will find yourself in a gallery with a room +at the end just like this. Cross that, and you will see a closet, +out of which you must take a tunic, and bring it back to me.' + +The little soldier boldly prepared to do as he was told. He +crossed the gallery in safety, but when he reached the room he saw +by the light of the stars eight hands on a level with his face, +which threatened to strike him. And, turn his eyes which way he +would, he could discover no bodies belonging to them. + +He lowered his head and rushed forward amidst a storm of blows, +which he returned with his fists. When he got to the closet, he +opened it, took down the tunic, and brought it to the first room. + +'Here it is,' he panted, rather out of breath. + +'Clic!' once more the flames parted. Ludovine was a woman down to +her waist. She took the tunic and put it on. + +It was a magnificent tunic of orange velvet, embroidered in +pearls, but the pearls were not so white as her own neck. + +'That is not all,' she said. 'Go to the gallery, take the +staircase which is on the left, and in the second room on the +first story you will find another closet with my skirt. Bring this +to me.' + +The Kinglet did as he was told, but in entering the room he saw, +instead of merely hands, eight arms, each holding an enormous +stick. He instantly unsheathed his sword and cut his way through +with such vigour that he hardly received a scratch. + +He brought back the skirt, which was made of silk as blue as the +skies of Spain. + +'Here it is,' said John, as the serpent appeared. She was now a +woman as far as her knees. + +'I only want my shoes and stockings now,' she said. 'Go and get +them from the closet which is on the second story.' + +The little soldier departed, and found himself in the presence of +eight goblins armed with hammers, and flames darting from their +eyes. This time he stopped short at the threshold. 'My sword is no +use,' he thought to himself; 'these wretches will break it like +glass, and if I can't think of anything else, I am a dead man.' At +this moment his eyes fell on the door, which was made of oak, +thick and heavy. He wrenched it off its hinges and held it over +his head, and then went straight at the goblins, whom he crushed +beneath it. After that he took the shoes and stockings out of the +closet and brought them to Ludovine, who, directly she had put +them on, became a woman all over. + +When she was quite dressed in her white silk stockings and little +blue slippers dotted over with carbuncles, she said to her +deliverer, 'Now you must go away, and never come back here, +whatever happens. Here is a purse with two hundred ducats. Sleep +to-night at the inn which is at the edge of the wood, and awake +early in the morning: for at nine o'clock I shall pass the door, +and shall take you up in my carriage.' 'Why shouldn't we go now?' +asked the little soldier. 'Because the time has not yet come,' +said the Princess. 'But first you may drink my health in this +glass of wine,' and as she spoke she filled a crystal goblet with +a liquid that looked like melted gold. + +John drank, then lit his pipe and went out. + + +II + +When he arrived at the inn he ordered supper, but no sooner had he +sat down to eat it than he felt that he was going sound asleep. + +'I must be more tired than I thought,' he said to himself, and, +after telling them to be sure to wake him next morning at eight +o'clock, he went to bed. + +All night long he slept like a dead man. At eight o'clock they +came to wake him, and at half-past, and a quarter of an hour +later, but it was no use; and at last they decided to leave him in +peace. + +The clocks were striking twelve when John awoke. He sprang out of +bed, and, scarcely waiting to dress himself, hastened to ask if +anyone had been to inquire for him. + +'There came a lovely princess,' replied the landlady, 'in a coach +of gold. She left you this bouquet, and a message to say that she +would pass this way to-morrow morning at eight o'clock.' + +The little soldier cursed his sleep, but tried to console himself +by looking at his bouquet, which was of immortelles. + +'It is the flower of remembrance,' thought he, forgetting that it +is also the flower of the dead. + +When the night came, he slept with one eye open, and jumped up +twenty times an hour. When the birds began to sing he could lie +still no longer, and climbed out of his window into the branches +of one of the great lime-trees that stood before the door. There +he sat, dreamily gazing at his bouquet till he ended by going fast +asleep. + +Once asleep, nothing was able to wake him; neither the brightness +of the sun, nor the songs of the birds, nor the noise of +Ludovine's golden coach, nor the cries of the landlady who sought +him in every place she could think of. + +As the clock struck twelve he woke, and his heart sank as he came +down out of his tree and saw them laying the table for dinner. + +'Did the Princess come?' he asked. + +'Yes, indeed, she did. She left this flower-coloured scarf for +you; said she would pass by to-morrow at seven o'clock, but it +would be the last time.' + +'I must have been bewitched,' thought the little soldier. Then he +took the scarf, which had a strange kind of scent, and tied it +round his left arm, thinking all the while that the best way to +keep awake was not to go to bed at all. So he paid his bill, and +bought a horse with the money that remained, and when the evening +came he mounted his horse and stood in front of the inn door, +determined to stay there all night. + +Every now and then he stooped to smell the sweet perfume of the +scarf round his arm; and gradually he smelt it so often that at +last his head sank on to the horse's neck, and he and his horse +snored in company. + +When the Princess arrived, they shook him, and beat him, and +screamed at him, but it was all no good. Neither man nor horse +woke till the coach was seen vanishing away in the distance. + +Then John put spurs to his horse, calling with all his might +'Stop! stop!' But the coach drove on as before, and though the +little soldier rode after it for a day and a night, he never got +one step nearer. + +Thus they left many villages and towns behind them, till they came +to the sea itself. Here John thought that at last the coach must +stop, but, wonder of wonders! it went straight on, and rolled over +the water as easily as it had done over the land. John's horse, +which had carried him so well, sank down from fatigue, and the +little soldier sat sadly on the shore, watching the coach which +was fast disappearing on the horizon. + + +III + +However, he soon plucked up his spirits again, and walked along +the beach to try and find a boat in which he could sail after the +Princess. But no boat was there, and at last, tired and hungry, he +sat down to rest on the steps of a fisherman's hut. + +In the hut was a young girl who was mending a net. She invited +John to come in, and set before him some wine and fried fish, and +John ate and drank and felt comforted, and he told his adventures +to the little fisher-girl. But though she was very pretty, with a +skin as white as a gull's breast, for which her neighbours gave +her the name of the Seagull, he did not think about her at all, +for he was dreaming of the green eyes of the Princess. + +When he had finished his tale, she was filled with pity and said: + +'Last week, when I was fishing, my net suddenly grew very heavy, +and when I drew it in I found a great copper vase, fastened with +lead. I brought it home and placed it on the fire. When the lead +had melted a little, I opened the vase with my knife and drew out +a mantle of red cloth and a purse containing fifty crowns. That is +the mantle, covering my bed, and I have kept the money for my +marriage-portion. But take it and go to the nearest seaport, where +you will find a ship sailing for the Low Countries, and when you +become King you will bring me back my fifty crowns.' + +And the Kinglet answered: 'When I am King of the Low Countries, I +will make you lady-in-waiting to the Queen, for you are as good as +you are beautiful. So farewell,' said he, and as the Seagull went +back to her fishing he rolled himself in the mantle and threw +himself down on a heap of dried grass, thinking of the strange +things that had befallen him, till he suddenly exclaimed: + +'Oh, how I wish I was in the capital of the Low Countries!' + + +IV + +In one moment the little soldier found himself standing before a +splendid palace. He rubbed his eyes and pinched himself, and when +he was quite sure he was not dreaming he said to a man who was +smoking his pipe before the door, 'Where am I?' + +'Where are you? Can't you see? Before the King's palace, of +course.' + +'What King?' + +'Why the King of the Low Countries!' replied the man, laughing and +supposing that he was mad. + +Was there ever anything so strange? But as John was an honest +fellow, he was troubled at the thought that the Seagull would +think he had stolen her mantle and purse. And he began to wonder +how he could restore them to her the soonest. Then he remembered +that the mantle had some hidden charm that enabled the bearer to +transport himself at will from place to place, and in order to +make sure of this he wished himself in the best inn of the town. +In an instant he was there. + +Enchanted with this discovery, he ordered supper, and as it was +too late to visit the King that night he went to bed. + +The next day, when he got up, he saw that all the houses were +wreathed with flowers and covered with flags, and all the church +bells were ringing. The little soldier inquired the meaning of all +this noise, and was told that the Princess Ludovine, the King's +beautiful daughter, had been found, and was about to make her +triumphal entry. 'That will just suit me,' thought the Kinglet; 'I +will stand at the door and see if she knows me.' + +He had scarcely time to dress himself when the golden coach of +Ludovine went by. She had a crown of gold upon her head, and the +King and Queen sat by her side. By accident her eyes fell upon the +little soldier, and she grew pale and turned away her head. + +'Didn't she know me?' the little soldier asked himself, 'or was +she angry because I missed our meetings?' and he followed the +crowd till he got to the palace. When the royal party entered he +told the guards that it was he who had delivered the Princess, and +wished to speak to the King. But the more he talked the more they +believed him mad and refused to let him pass. + +The little soldier was furious. He felt that he needed his pipe to +calm him, and he entered a tavern and ordered a pint of beer. 'It +is this miserable soldier's helmet,' said he to himself 'If I had +only money enough I could look as splendid as the lords of the +Court; but what is the good of thinking of that when I have only +the remains of the Seagull's fifty crowns?' + +He took out his purse to see what was left, and he found that +there were still fifty crowns. + +'The Seagull must have miscounted,' thought he, and he paid for +his beer. Then he counted his money again, and there were still +fifty crowns. He took away five and counted a third time, but +there were still fifty. He emptied the purse altogether and then +shut it; when he opened it the fifty crowns were still there! + +Then a plan came into his head, and he determined to go at once to +the Court tailor and coachbuilder. + +He ordered the tailor to make him a mantle and vest of blue velvet +embroidered with pearls, and the coachbuilder to make him a golden +coach like the coach of the Princess Ludovine. If the tailor and +the coachbuilder were quick he promised to pay them double. + +A few days later the little soldier was driven through the city in +his coach drawn by six white horses, and with four lacqueys richly +dressed standing behind. Inside sat John, clad in blue velvet, +with a bouquet of immortelles in his hand and a scarf bound round +his arm. He drove twice round the city, throwing money to the +right and left, and the third time, as he passed under the palace +windows, he saw Ludovine lift a corner of the curtain and peep +out. + + +V + +The next day no one talked of anything but the rich lord who had +distributed money as he drove along. The talk even reached the +Court, and the Queen, who was very curious, had a great desire to +see the wonderful Prince. + +'Very well,' said the King; 'let him be asked to come and play +cards with me.' + +This time the Kinglet was not late for his appointment. + +The King sent for the cards and they sat down to play. They had +six games, and John always lost. The stake was fifty crowns, and +each time he emptied his purse, which was full the next instant. + +The sixth time the King exclaimed, 'It is amazing!' + +The Queen cried, 'It is astonishing!' + +The Princess said, 'It is bewildering!' + +'Not so bewildering,' replied the little soldier, 'as your change +into a serpent.' + +'Hush!' interrupted the King, who did not like the subject. + +'I only spoke of it,' said John, 'because you see in me the man +who delivered the Princess from the goblins and whom she promised +to marry.' + +'Is that true?' asked the King of the Princess. + +'Quite true,' answered Ludovine. 'But I told my deliverer to be +ready to go with me when I passed by with my coach. I passed three +times, but he slept so soundly that no one could wake him.' + +'What is your name?' said the King, 'and who are you?' + +'My name is John. I am a soldier, and my father is a boatman.' + +'You are not a fit husband for my daughter. Still, if you will +give us your purse, you shall have her for your wife.' + +'My purse does not belong to me, and I cannot give it away.' + +'But you can lend it to me till our wedding-day,' said the +Princess with one of those glances the little soldier never could +resist. + +'And when will that be?' + +'At Easter,' said the monarch. + +'Or in a blue moon!' murmured the Princess; but the Kinglet did +not hear her and let her take his purse. + +Next evening he presented himself at the palace to play picquet +with the King and to make his court to the Princess. But he was +told that the King had gone into the country to receive his rents. +He returned the following day, and had the same answer. Then he +asked to see the Queen, but she had a headache. When this had +happened five or six times, he began to understand that they were +making fun of him. + +'That is not the way for a King to behave,' thought John. 'Old +scoundrel!' and then suddenly he remembered his red cloak. + +'Ah, what an idiot I am!' said he. 'Of course I can get in +whenever I like with the help of this.' + +That evening he was in front of the palace, wrapped in his red +cloak. + +On the first story one window was lighted, and John saw on the +curtains the shadow of the Princess. + +'I wish myself in the room of the Princess Ludovine,' said he, and +in a second he was there. + +The King's daughter was sitting before a table counting the money +that she emptied from the inexhaustible purse. + +'Eight hundred and fifty, nine hundred, nine hundred and fifty--' + +'A thousand,' finished John. 'Good evening everybody!' + +The Princess jumped and gave a little cry. 'You here! What +business have you to do it? Leave at once, or I shall call--' + +'I have come,' said the Kinglet, 'to remind you of your promise. +The day after to-morrow is Easter Day, and it is high time to +think of our marriage.' + +Ludovine burst out into a fit of laughter. 'Our marriage! Have you +really been foolish enough to believe that the daughter of the +King of the Low Countries would ever marry the son of a boatman?' + +'Then give me back the purse,' said John. + +'Never,' said the Princess, and put it calmly in her pocket. + +'As you like,' said the little soldier. 'He laughs best who laughs +the last;' and he took the Princess in his arms. 'I wish,' he +cried, 'that we were at the ends of the earth;' and in one second +he was there, still clasping the Princess tightly in his arms. + +'Ouf,' said John, laying her gently at the foot of a tree. 'I +never took such a long journey before. What do you say, madam?' +The Princess understood that it was no time for jesting, and did +not answer. Besides she was still feeling giddy from her rapid +flight, and had not yet collected her senses. + + +VI + +The King of the Low Countries was not a very scrupulous person, +and his daughter took after him. This was why she had been changed +into a serpent. It had been prophesied that she should be +delivered by a little soldier, and that she must marry him, unless +he failed to appear at the meeting-place three times running. The +cunning Princess then laid her plans accordingly. + +The wine that she had given to John in the castle of the goblins, +the bouquet of immortelles, and the scarf, all had the power of +producing sleep like death. And we know how they had acted on +John. + +However, even in this critical moment, Ludovine did not lose her +head. + +'I thought you were simply a street vagabond,' said she, in her +most coaxing voice; 'and I find you are more powerful than any +king. Here is your purse. Have you got my scarf and my bouquet?' + +'Here they are,' said the Kinglet, delighted with this change of +tone, and he drew them from his bosom. Ludovine fastened one in +his buttonhole and the other round his arm. 'Now,' she said, 'you +are my lord and master, and I will marry you at your good +pleasure.' + +'You are kinder than I thought,' said John; 'and you shall never +be unhappy, for I love you.' + +'Then, my little husband, tell me how you managed to carry me so +quickly to the ends of the world.' + +The little soldier scratched his head. 'Does she really mean to +marry me,' he thought to himself, 'or is she only trying to +deceive me again?' + +But Ludovine repeated, 'Won't you tell me?' in such a tender voice +he did not know how to resist her. + +'After all,' he said to himself, 'what does it matter telling her +the secret, as long as I don't give her the cloak.' + +And he told her the virtue of the red mantle. + +'Oh dear, how tired I am!' sighed Ludovine. 'Don't you think we +had better take a nap? And then we can talk over our plans.' + +She stretched herself on the grass, and the Kinglet did the same. +He laid his head on his left arm, round which the scarf was tied, +and was soon fast asleep. + +Ludovine was watching him out of one eye, and no sooner did she +hear him snore than she unfastened the mantle, drew it gently from +under him and wrapped it round her, took the purse from his +pocket, and put it in hers, and said: 'I wish I was back in my own +room.' In another moment she was there. + + +VII + +Who felt foolish but John, when he awoke, twenty-four hours after, +and found himself without purse, without mantle, and without +Princess? He tore his hair, he beat his breast, he trampled on the +bouquet, and tore the scarf of the traitress to atoms. + +Besides this he was very hungry, and he had nothing to eat. + +He thought of all the wonderful things his grandmother had told +him when he was a child, but none of them helped him now. He was +in despair, when suddenly he looked up and saw that the tree under +which he had been sleeping was a superb plum, covered with fruit +as yellow as gold. + +'Here goes for the plums,' he said to himself, 'all is fair in +war.' + +He climbed the tree and began to eat steadily. But he had hardly +swallowed two plums when, to his horror, he felt as if something +was growing on his forehead. He put up his hand and found that he +had two horns! + +He leapt down from the tree and rushed to a stream that flowed +close by. Alas! there was no escape: two charming little horns, +that would not have disgraced the head of a goat. + +Then his courage failed him. + +'As if it was not enough,' said he, 'that a woman should trick me, +but the devil must mix himself up in it and lend me his horns. +What a pretty figure I should cut if I went back into the world!' + +But as he was still hungry, and the mischief was done, he climbed +boldly up another tree, and plucked two plums of a lovely green +colour. No sooner had he swallowed two than the horns disappeared. +The little soldier was enchanted, though greatly surprised, and +came to the conclusion that it was no good to despair too quickly. +When he had done eating an idea suddenly occurred to him. + +'Perhaps,' thought he, 'these pretty little plums may help me to +recover my purse, my cloak, and my heart from the hands of this +wicked Princess. She has the eyes of a deer already; let her have +the horns of one. If I can manage to set her up with a pair, I +will bet any money that I shall cease to want her for my wife. A +horned maiden is by no means lovely to look at.' So he plaited a +basket out of the long willows, and placed in it carefully both +sorts of plums. Then he walked bravely on for many days, having no +food but the berries by the wayside, and was in great danger from +wild beasts and savage men. But he feared nothing, except that his +plums should decay, and this never happened. + +At last he came to a civilised country, and with the sale of some +jewels that he had about him on the evening of his flight he took +passage on board a vessel for the Low Countries. So, at the end of +a year and a day, he arrived at the capital of the kingdom. + + +VIII + +The next day he put on a false beard and the dress of a date +merchant, and, taking a little table, he placed himself before the +door of the church. + +He spread carefully out on a fine white cloth his Mirabelle plums, +which looked for all the world as if they had been freshly +gathered, and when he saw the Princess coming out of church he +began to call out in a feigned voice: 'Fine plums! lovely plums!' + +'How much are they?' said the Princess. + +'Fifty crowns each.' + +'Fifty crowns! But what is there so very precious about them? Do +they give one wit, or will they increase one's beauty?' + +'They could not increase what is perfect already, fair Princess, +but still they might add something.' + +Rolling stones gather no moss, but they sometimes gain polish; and +the months which John had spent in roaming about the world had not +been wasted. Such a neatly turned compliment flattered Ludovine. + +'What will they add?' she smilingly asked. + +'You will see, fair Princess, when you taste them. It will be a +surprise for you.' + +Ludovine's curiosity was roused. She drew out the purse and shook +out as many little heaps of fifty crowns as there were plums in +the basket. The little soldier was seized with a wild desire to +snatch the purse from her and proclaim her a thief, but he managed +to control himself. + +His plums all sold, he shut up shop, took off his disguise, +changed his inn, and kept quiet, waiting to see what would happen. + +No sooner had she reached her room than the Princess exclaimed, +'Now let us see what these fine plums can add to my beauty,' and +throwing off her hood, she picked up a couple and ate them. + +Imagine with what surprise and horror she felt all of a sudden +that something was growing out of her forehead. She flew to her +mirror and uttered a piercing cry. + +'Horns! so that was what he promised me! Let someone find the +plum-seller at once and bring him to me! Let his nose and ears be +cut off! Let him be flayed alive, or burnt at a slow fire and his +ashes scattered to the winds! Oh, I shall die of shame and +despair!' + +Her women ran at the sound of her screams, and tried to wrench off +the horns, but it was of no use, and they only gave her a violent +headache. + +The King then sent round a herald to proclaim that he would give +the hand of the Princess to anyone who would rid her of her +strange ornaments. So all the doctors and sorcerers and surgeons +in the Low Countries and the neighbouring kingdoms thronged to the +palace, each with a remedy of his own. But it was all no good, and +the Princess suffered so much from their remedies that the King +was obliged to send out a second proclamation that anyone who +undertook to cure the Princess, and who failed to do it, should be +hanged up to the nearest tree. + +But the prize was too great for any proclamation to put a stop to +the efforts of the crowd of suitors, and that year the orchards of +the Low Countries all bore a harvest of dead men. + + +IX + +The King had given orders that they should seek high and low for +the plum-seller, but in spite of all their pains, he was nowhere +to be found. + +When the little soldier discovered that their patience was worn +out, he pressed the juice of the green Queen Claude plums into a +small phial, bought a doctor's robe, put on a wig and spectacles, +and presented himself before the King of the Low Countries. He +gave himself out as a famous physician who had come from distant +lands, and he promised that he would cure the Princess if only he +might be left alone with her. + +'Another madman determined to be hanged,' said the King. 'Very +well, do as he asks; one should refuse nothing to a man with a +rope round his neck.' + +As soon as the little soldier was in the presence of the Princess +he poured some drops of the liquid into a glass. The Princess had +scarcely tasted it, when the tip of the horns disappeared. + +'They would have disappeared completely,' said the pretended +doctor, 'if there did not exist something to counteract the +effect. It is only possible to cure people whose souls are as +clean as the palm of my hand. Are you sure you have not committed +some little sin? Examine yourself well.' + +Ludovine had no need to think over it long, but she was torn in +pieces between the shame of a humiliating confession, and the +desire to be unhorned. At last she made answer with downcast eyes, + +'I have stolen a leather purse from a little soldier.' + +'Give it to me. The remedy will not act till I hold the purse in +my hands.' + +It cost Ludovine a great pang to give up the purse, but she +remembered that riches would not benefit her if she was still to +keep the horns. + +With a sigh, she handed the purse to the doctor, who poured more +of the liquid into the glass, and when the Princess had drunk it, +she found that the horns had diminished by one half. + +'You must really have another little sin on your conscience. Did +you steal nothing from this soldier but his purse?' + +'I also stole from him his cloak.' + +'Give it me.' + +'Here it is.' + +This time Ludovine thought to herself that when once the horns had +departed, she would call her attendants and take the things from +the doctor by force. + +She was greatly pleased with this idea, when suddenly the +pretended physician wrapped himself in the cloak, flung away the +wig and spectacles, and showed to the traitress the face of the +Little Soldier. + +She stood before him dumb with fright. + +'I might,' said John, 'have left you horned to the end of your +days, but I am a good fellow and I once loved you, and besides-- +you are too like the devil to have any need of his horns.' + + +X + +John had wished himself in the house of the Seagull. Now the +Seagull was seated at the window, mending her net, and from time +to time her eyes wandered to the sea as if she was expecting +someone. At the noise made by the little soldier, she looked up +and blushed. + +'So it is you!' she said. 'How did you get here?' And then she +added in a low voice, 'And have you married your Princess?' + +Then John told her all his adventures, and when he had finished, +he restored to her the purse and the mantle. + +'What can I do with them?' said she. 'You have proved to me that +happiness does not lie in the possession of treasures.' + +'It lies in work and in the love of an honest woman,' replied the +little soldier, who noticed for the first time what pretty eyes +she had. 'Dear Seagull, will you have me for a husband?' and he +held out his hand. + +'Yes, I will,' answered the fisher maiden, blushing very red, 'but +only on condition that we seal up the purse and the mantle in the +copper vessel and throw them into the sea.' + +And this they did. + +Charles Deulin. + + + + + +THE MAGIC SWAN + + + +There were once upon a time three brothers, of whom the eldest was +called Jacob, the second Frederick, and the youngest Peter. This +youngest brother was made a regular butt of by the other two, and +they treated him shamefully. If anything went wrong with their +affairs, Peter had to bear the blame and put things right for +them, and he had to endure all this ill-treatment because he was +weak and delicate and couldn't defend himself against his stronger +brothers. The poor creature had a most trying life of it in every +way, and day and night he pondered how he could make it better. +One day, when he was in the wood gathering sticks and crying +bitterly, a little old woman came up to him and asked him what was +the matter; and he told her all his troubles. + +'Come, my good youth,' said the old dame, when he had finished his +tale of woe, 'isn't the world wide enough? Why don't you set out +and try your fortune somewhere else?' + +Peter took her words to heart, and left his father's house early +one morning to try his fortune in the wide world, as the old woman +had advised him. But he felt very bitterly parting from the home +where he had been born, and where he had at least passed a short +but happy childhood, and sitting down on a hill he gazed once more +fondly on his native place. + +Suddenly the little old woman stood before him, and, tapping him +on the shoulder, said, 'So far good, my boy; but what do you mean +to do now?' + +Peter was at a loss what to answer, for so far he had always +thought that fortune would drop into his mouth like a ripe cherry. +The old woman, who guessed his thoughts, laughed kindly and said, +'I'll tell you what you must do, for I've taken a fancy to you, +and I'm sure you won't forget me when you've made your fortune.' + +Peter promised faithfully he wouldn't, and the old woman +continued: + +'This evening at sunset go to yonder pear-tree which you see +growing at the cross roads. Underneath it you will find a man +lying asleep, and a beautiful large swan will be fastened to the +tree close to him. You must be careful not to waken the man, but +you must unfasten the swan and take it away with you. You will +find that everyone will fall in love with its beautiful plumage, +and you must allow anyone who likes to pull out a feather. But as +soon as the swan feels as much as a finger on it, it will scream +out, and then you must say, "Swan, hold fast." Then the hand of +the person who has touched the bird will be held as in a vice, and +nothing will set it free, unless you touch it with this little +stick which I will make you a present of. When you have captured a +whole lot of people in this way, lead your train straight on with +you; you will come to a big town where a Princess lives who has +never been known to laugh. If you can only make her laugh your +fortune is made; then I beg you won't forget your old friend.' + +Peter promised again that he wouldn't, and at sunset he went to +the tree the old woman had mentioned. The man lay there fast +asleep, and a large beautiful swan was fastened to the tree beside +him by a red cord. Peter loosed the bird, and led it away with him +without disturbing the bird's master. + +He walked on with the swan for some time, and came at last to a +building-yard where some men were busily at work. They were all +lost in admiration of the bird's beautiful plumage, and one +forward youth, who was covered with clay from head to foot, called +out, 'Oh, if I'd only one of those feathers how happy I should +be!' + +'Pull one out then,' said Peter kindly, and the youth seized one +from the bird's tail; instantly the swan screamed, and Peter +called out, 'Swan, hold fast,' and do what he could the poor youth +couldn't get his hand away. The more he howled the more the others +laughed, till a girl who had been washing clothes in the +neighbouring stream hurried up to see what was the matter. When +she saw the poor boy fastened to the swan she felt so sorry for +him that she stretched out her hand to free him. The bird +screamed. + +'Swan, hold fast,' called out Peter, and the girl was caught also. + +When Peter had gone on for a bit with his captives, they met a +chimney sweep, who laughed loudly over the extraordinary troop, +and asked the girl what she was doing. + +'Oh, dearest John,' replied the girl, 'give me your hand and set +me free from this cursed young man.' + +'Most certainly I will, if that's all you want,' replied the +sweep, and gave the girl his hand. The bird screamed. + +'Swan, hold fast,' said Peter, and the black man was added to +their number. + +They soon came to a village where a fair was being held. A +travelling circus was giving a performance, and the clown was just +doing his tricks. He opened his eyes wide with amazement when he +saw the remarkable trio fastened on to the swan's tail. + +'Have you gone raving mad, Blackie?' he asked as well as he could +for laughing. + +'It's no laughing matter,' the sweep replied. 'This wench has got +so tight hold of me that I feel as if I were glued to her. Do set +me free, like a good clown, and I'll do you a good turn some day.' + +Without a moment's hesitation the clown grasped the black +outstretched hand. The bird screamed. + +'Swan, hold fast,' called out Peter, and the clown became the +fourth of the party. + +Now in the front row of the spectators sat the respected and +popular Mayor of the village, who was much put out by what he +considered nothing but a foolish trick. So much annoyed was he +that he seized the clown by the hand and tried to tear him away, +in order to hand him over to the police. + +Then the bird screamed, and Peter called out, 'Swan, hold fast,' +and the dignified Mayor shared the fate of his predecessors. + +The Mayoress, a long thin stick of a woman, enraged at the insult +done to her husband, seized his free arm and tore at it with all +her might, with the only result that she too was forced to swell +the procession. After this no one else had any wish to join them. + +Soon Peter saw the towers of the capital in front of him. Just +before entering it, a glittering carriage came out to meet him, in +which was seated a young lady as beautiful as the day, but with a +very solemn and serious expression. But no sooner had she +perceived the motley crowd fastened to the swan's tail than she +burst into a loud fit of laughter, in which she was joined by all +her servants and ladies in waiting. + +'The Princess has laughed at last,' they all cried with joy. + +She stepped out of her carriage to look more closely at the +wonderful sight, and laughed again over the capers the poor +captives cut. She ordered her carriage to be turned round and +drove slowly back into the town, never taking her eyes off Peter +and his procession. + +When the King heard the news that his daughter had actually +laughed, he was more than delighted, and had Peter and his +marvellous train brought before him. He laughed himself when he +saw them till the tears rolled down his cheeks. + +'My good friend,' he said to Peter, 'do you know what I promised +the person who succeeded in making the Princess laugh?' + +'No, I don't,' said Peter. + +'Then I'll tell you,' answered the King; 'a thousand gold crowns +or a piece of land. Which will you choose?' + +Peter decided in favour of the land. Then he touched the youth, +the girl, the sweep, the clown, the Mayor, and the Mayoress with +his little stick, and they were all free again, and ran away home +as if a fire were burning behind them; and their flight, as you +may imagine, gave rise to renewed merriment. + +Then the Princess felt moved to stroke the swan, at the same time +admiring its plumage. The bird screamed. + +'Swan, hold fast,' called out Peter, and so he won the Princess +for his bride. But the swan flew up into the air, and vanished in +the blue horizon. Peter now received a duchy as a present, and +became a very great man indeed; but he did not forget the little +old woman who had been the cause of all his good fortune, and +appointed her as head housekeeper to him and his royal bride in +their magnificent castle. + +Kletke. + + + + + +THE DIRTY SHEPHERDESS + + + +Once upon a time there lived a King who had two daughters, and he +loved them with all his heart. When they grew up, he was suddenly +seized with a wish to know if they, on their part, truly loved +him, and he made up his mind that he would give his kingdom to +whichever best proved her devotion. + +So he called the elder Princess and said to her, 'How much do you +love me?' + +'As the apple of my eye!' answered she. + +'Ah!' exclaimed the King, kissing her tenderly as he spoke, 'you +are indeed a good daughter.' + +Then he sent for the younger, and asked her how much she loved +him. + +'I look upon you, my father,' she answered, 'as I look upon salt +in my food.' + +But the King did not like her words, and ordered her to quit the +court, and never again to appear before him. The poor Princess +went sadly up to her room and began to cry, but when she was +reminded of her father's commands, she dried her eyes, and made a +bundle of her jewels and her best dresses and hurriedly left the +castle where she was born. + +She walked straight along the road in front of her, without +knowing very well where she was going or what was to become of +her, for she had never been shown how to work, and all she had +learnt consisted of a few household rules, and receipts of dishes +which her mother had taught her long ago. And as she was afraid +that no housewife would want to engage a girl with such a pretty +face, she determined to make herself as ugly as she could. + +She therefore took off the dress that she was wearing and put on +some horrible old rags belonging to a beggar, all torn and covered +with mud. After that she smeared mud all over her hands and face, +and shook her hair into a great tangle. Having thus changed her +appearance, she went about offering herself as a goose-girl or +shepherdess. But the farmers' wives would have nothing to say to +such a dirty maiden, and sent her away with a morsel of bread for +charity's sake. + +After walking for a great many days without being able to find any +work, she came to a large farm where they were in want of a +shepherdess, and engaged her gladly. + +One day when she was keeping her sheep in a lonely tract of land, +she suddenly felt a wish to dress herself in her robes of +splendour. She washed herself carefully in the stream, and as she +always carried her bundle with her, it was easy to shake off her +rags, and transform herself in a few moments into a great lady. + +The King's son, who had lost his way out hunting, perceived this +lovely damsel a long way off, and wished to look at her closer. +But as soon as the girl saw what he was at, she fled into the wood +as swiftly as a bird. The Prince ran after her, but as he was +running he caught his foot in the root of a tree and fell, and +when he got up again, she was nowhere to be seen. + +When she was quite safe, she put on her rags again, and smeared +over her face and hands. However the young Prince, who was both +hot and thirsty, found his way to the farm, to ask for a drink of +cider, and he inquired the name of the beautiful lady that kept +the sheep. At this everyone began to laugh, for they said that the +shepherdess was one of the ugliest and dirtiest creatures under +the sun. + +The Prince thought some witchcraft must be at work, and he +hastened away before the return of the shepherdess, who became +that evening the butt of everybody's jests. + +But the King's son thought often of the lovely maiden whom he had +only seen for a moment, though she seemed to him much more +fascinating than any lady of the Court. At last he dreamed of +nothing else, and grew thinner day by day till his parents +inquired what was the matter, promising to do all they could to +make him as happy as he once was. He dared not tell them the +truth, lest they should laugh at him, so he only said that he +should like some bread baked by the kitchen girl in the distant +farm. + +Although the wish appeared rather odd, they hastened to fulfil it, +and the farmer was told the request of the King's son. The maiden +showed no surprise at receiving such an order, but merely asked +for some flour, salt, and water, and also that she might be left +alone in a little room adjoining the oven, where the kneading- +trough stood. Before beginning her work she washed herself +carefully, and even put on her rings; but, while she was baking, +one of her rings slid into the dough. When she had finished she +dirtied herself again, and let the lumps of the dough stick to her +fingers, so that she became as ugly as before. + +The loaf, which was a very little one, was brought to the King's +son, who ate it with pleasure. But in cutting it he found the ring +of the Princess, and declared to his parents that he would marry +the girl whom that ring fitted. + +So the King made a proclamation through his whole kingdom and +ladies came from afar to lay claim to the honour. But the ring was +so tiny that even those who had the smallest hands could only get +it on their little fingers. In a short time all the maidens of the +kingdom, including the peasant girls, had tried on the ring, and +the King was just about to announce that their efforts had been in +vain, when the Prince observed that he had not yet seen the +shepherdess. + +They sent to fetch her, and she arrived covered with rags, but +with her hands cleaner than usual, so that she could easily slip +on the ring. The King's son declared that he would fulfil his +promise, and when his parents mildly remarked that the girl was +only a keeper of sheep, and a very ugly one too, the maiden boldly +said that she was born a princess, and that, if they would only +give her some water and leave her alone in a room for a few +minutes, she would show that she could look as well as anyone in +fine clothes. + +They did what she asked, and when she entered in a magnificent +dress, she looked so beautiful that all saw she must be a princess +in disguise. The King's son recognized the charming damsel of whom +he had once caught a glimpse, and, flinging himself at her feet, +asked if she would marry him. The Princess then told her story, +and said that it would be necessary to send an ambassador to her +father to ask his consent and to invite him to the wedding. + +The Princess's father, who had never ceased to repent his +harshness towards his daughter, had sought her through the land, +but as no one could tell him anything of her, he supposed her +dead. Therefore it was with great joy he heard that she was living +and that a king's son asked her in marriage, and he quitted his +kingdom with his elder daughter so as to be present at the +ceremony. + +By the orders of the bride, they only served her father at the +wedding breakfast bread without salt, and meat without seasoning. +Seeing him make faces, and eat very little, his daughter, who sat +beside him, inquired if his dinner was not to his taste. + +'No,' he replied, 'the dishes are carefully cooked and sent up, +but they are all so dreadfully tasteless.' + +'Did not I tell you, my father, that salt was the best thing in +life? And yet, when I compared you to salt, to show how much I +loved you, you thought slightingly of me and you chased me from +your presence.' + +The King embraced his daughter, and allowed that he had been wrong +to misinterpret her words. Then, for the rest of the wedding feast +they gave him bread made with salt, and dishes with seasoning, and +he said they were the very best he had ever eaten. + +Sebillot. + + + + + +THE ENCHANTED SNAKE + + + +There was once upon a time a poor woman who would have given all +she possessed for a child, but she hadn't one. + +Now it happened one day that her husband went to the wood to +collect brushwood, and when he had brought it home, he discovered +a pretty little snake among the twigs. + +When Sabatella, for that was the name of the peasant's wife, saw +the little beast, she sighed deeply and said, 'Even the snakes +have their brood; I alone am unfortunate and have no children.' No +sooner had she said these words than, to her intense surprise, the +little snake looked up into her face and spoke: 'Since you have no +children, be a mother to me instead, and I promise you will never +repent it, for I will love you as if I were your own son.' + +At first Sabatella was frightened to death at hearing a snake +speak, but plucking up her courage, she replied, 'If it weren't +for any other reason than your kindly thought, I would agree to +what you say, and I will love you and look after you like a +mother.' + +So she gave the snake a little hole in the house for its bed, fed +it with all the nicest food she could think of, and seemed as if +she never could show it enough kindness. Day by day it grew bigger +and fatter, and at last one morning it said to Cola-Mattheo, the +peasant, whom it always regarded as its father, 'Dear papa, I am +now of a suitable age and wish to marry.' + +'I'm quite agreeable,' answered Mattheo, 'and I'll do my best to +find another snake like yourself and arrange a match between you.' + +'Why, if you do that,' replied the snake, 'we shall be no better +than the vipers and reptiles, and that's not what I want at all. +No; I'd much prefer to marry the King's daughter; therefore I pray +you go without further delay, and demand an audience of the King, +and tell him a snake wishes to marry his daughter.' + +Cola-Mattheo, who was rather a simpleton, went as he was desired +to the King, and having obtained an audience, he said, 'Your +Majesty, I have often heard that people lose nothing by asking, so +I have come to inform you that a snake wants to marry your +daughter, and I'd be glad to know if you are willing to mate a +dove with a serpent?' + +The King, who saw at once that the man was a fool, said, in order +to get quit of him, 'Go home and tell your friend the snake that +if he can turn this palace into ivory, inlaid with gold and +silver, before to-morrow at noon, I will let him marry my +daughter.' And with a hearty laugh he dismissed the peasant. + +When Cola-Mattheo brought this answer back to the snake, the +little creature didn't seem the least put out, but said, 'To- +morrow morning, before sunrise, you must go to the wood and gather +a bunch of green herbs, and then rub the threshold of the palace +with them, and you'll see what will happen.' + +Cola-Mattheo, who was, as I have said before, a great simpleton, +made no reply; but before sunrise next morning he went to the wood +and gathered a bunch of St. John's Wort, and rosemary, and +suchlike herbs, and rubbed them, as he had been told, on the floor +of the palace. Hardly had he done so than the walls immediately +turned into ivory, so richly inlaid with gold and silver that they +dazzled the eyes of all beholders. The King, when he rose and saw +the miracle that had been performed, was beside himself with +amazement, and didn't know what in the world he was to do. + +But when Cola-Mattheo came next day, and, in the name of the +snake, demanded the hand of the Princess, the King replied, 'Don't +be in such a hurry; if the snake really wants to marry my +daughter, he must do some more things first, and one of these is +to turn all the paths and walls of my garden into pure gold before +noon to-morrow.' + +When the snake was told of this new condition, he replied, 'To- +morrow morning, early, you must go and collect all the odds and +ends of rubbish you can find in the streets, and then take them +and throw them on the paths and walls of the garden, and you'll +see then if we won't be more than a match for the old King.' + +So Cola-Mattheo rose at cock-crow, took a large basket under his +arm, and carefully collected all the broken fragments of pots and +pans, and jugs and lamps, and other trash of that sort. No sooner +had he scattered them over the paths and walls of the King's +garden than they became one blaze of glittering gold, so that +everyone's eyes were dazzled with the brilliancy, and everyone's +soul was filled with wonder. The King, too, was amazed at the +sight, but still he couldn't make up his mind to part with his +daughter, so when Cola-Mattheo came to remind him of his promise +he replied, 'I have still a third demand to make. If the snake can +turn all the trees and fruit of my garden into precious stones, +then I promise him my daughter in marriage.' + +When the peasant informed the snake what the King had said, he +replied, 'To-morrow morning, early, you must go to the market and +buy all the fruit you see there, and then sow all the stones and +seeds in the palace garden, and, if I'm not mistaken, the King +will be satisfied with the result.' + +Cola-Mattheo rose at dawn, and taking a basket on his arm, he went +to the market, and bought all the pomegranates, apricots, +cherries, and other fruit he could find there, and sowed the seeds +and stones in the palace garden. In one moment, the trees were all +ablaze with rubies, emeralds, diamonds, and every other precious +stone you can think of. + +This time the King felt obliged to keep his promise, and calling +his daughter to him, he said, 'My dear Grannonia,' for that was +the Princess's name, 'more as a joke than anything else, I +demanded what seemed to me impossibilities from your bridegroom, +but now that he has done all I required, I am bound to stick to my +part of the bargain. Be a good child, and as you love me, do not +force me to break my word, but give yourself up with as good grace +as you can to a most unhappy fate.' + +'Do with me what you like, my lord and father, for your will is my +law,' answered Grannonia. + +When the King heard this, he told Cola-Mattheo to bring the snake +to the palace, and said that he was prepared to receive the +creature as his son-in-law. + +The snake arrived at court in a carriage made of gold and drawn by +six white elephants; but wherever it appeared on the way, the +people fled in terror at the sight of the fearful reptile. + +When the snake reached the palace, all the courtiers shook and +trembled with fear down to the very scullion, and the King and +Queen were in such a state of nervous collapse that they hid +themselves in a far-away turret. Grannonia alone kept her presence +of mind, and although both her father and mother implored her to +fly for her life, she wouldn't move a step, saying, 'I'm certainly +not going to fly from the man you have chosen for my husband.' + +As soon as the snake saw Grannonia, it wound its tail round her +and kissed her. Then, leading her into a room, it shut the door, +and throwing off its skin, it changed into a beautiful young man +with golden locks, and flashing eyes, who embraced Grannonia +tenderly, and said all sorts of pretty things to her. + +When the King saw the snake shut itself into a room with his +daughter, he said to his wife, 'Heaven be merciful to our child, +for I fear it is all over with her now. This cursed snake has most +likely swallowed her up.' Then they put their eyes to the keyhole +to see what had happened. + +Their amazement knew no bounds when they saw a beautiful youth +standing before their daughter with the snake's skin lying on the +floor beside him. In their excitement they burst open the door, +and seizing the skin they threw it into the fire. But no sooner +had they done this than the young man called out, 'Oh, wretched +people! what have you done?' and before they had time to look +round he had changed himself into a dove, and dashing against the +window he broke a pane of glass, and flew away from their sight. + +But Grannonia, who in one and the same moment saw herself merry +and sad, cheerful and despairing, rich and beggared, complained +bitterly over this robbery of her happiness, this poisoning of her +cup of joy, this unlucky stroke of fortune, and laid all the blame +on her parents, though they assured her that they had meant no +harm. But the Princess refused to be comforted, and at night, when +all the inhabitants of the palace were asleep, she stole out by a +back door, disguised as a peasant woman, determined to seek for +her lost happiness till she found it. When she got to the +outskirts of the town, led by the light of the moon, she met a +fox, who offered to accompany her, an offer which Grannonia gladly +accepted, saying 'You are most heartily welcome, for I don't know +my way at all about the neighbourhood.' + +So they went on their way together, and came at last to a wood, +where, being tired with walking, they paused to rest under the +shade of a tree, where a spring of water sported with the tender +grass, refreshing it with its crystal spray. + +They laid themselves down on the green carpet and soon fell fast +asleep, and did not waken again till the sun was high in the +heavens. They rose up and stood for some time listening to the +birds singing, because Grannonia delighted in their songs. + +When the fox perceived this, he said: 'If you only understood, as +I do, what these little birds are saying, your pleasure would be +even greater.' + +Provoked by his words--for we all know that curiosity is as deeply +inborn in every woman as even the love of talking--Grannonia +implored the fox to tell her what the birds had said. + +At first the wily fox refused to tell her what he had gathered +from the conversation of the birds, but at last he gave way to her +entreaties, and told her that they had spoken of the misfortunes +of a beautiful young Prince, whom a wicked enchantress had turned +into a snake for the period of seven years. At the end of this +time he had fallen in love with a charming Princess, but that when +he had shut himself up into a room with her, and had thrown off +his snake's skin, her parents had forced their way into the room +and had burnt the skin, whereupon the Prince, changed into the +likeness of a dove, had broken a pane of glass in trying to fly +out of the window, and had wounded himself so badly that the +doctors despaired of his life. + +Grannonia, when she learnt that they were talking of her lover, +asked at once whose son he was, and if there was any hope of his +recovery; to which the fox made answer that the birds had said he +was the son of the King of Vallone Grosso, and that the only thing +that could cure him was to rub the wounds on his head with the +blood of the very birds who had told the tale. + +Then Grannonia knelt down before the fox, and begged him in her +sweetest way to catch the birds for her and procure their blood, +promising at the same time to reward him richly. + +'All right,' said the fox, 'only don't be in such a hurry; let's +wait till night, when the little birds have gone to roost, then +I'll climb up and catch them all for you.' + +So they passed the day, talking now of the beauty of the Prince, +now of the father of the Princess, and then of the misfortune that +had happened. At last the night arrived, and all the little birds +were asleep high up on the branches of a big tree. The fox climbed +up stealthily and caught the little creatures with his paws one +after the other; and when he had killed them all he put their +blood into a little bottle which he wore at his side and returned +with it to Grannonia, who was beside herself with joy at the +result of the fox's raid. But the fox said, 'My dear daughter, +your joy is in vain, because, let me tell you, this blood is of no +earthly use to you unless you add some of mine to it,' and with +these words he took to his heels. + +Grannonia, who saw her hopes dashed to the ground in this cruel +way, had recourse to flattery and cunning, weapons which have +often stood the sex in good stead, and called out after the fox, +'Father Fox, you would be quite right to save your skin, if, in +the first place, I didn't feel I owed so much to you, and if, in +the second, there weren't other foxes in the world; but as you +know how grateful I feel to you, and as there are heaps of other +foxes about, you can trust yourself to me. Don't behave like the +cow that kicks the pail over after it has filled it with milk, but +continue your journey with me, and when we get to the capital you +can sell me to the King as a servant girl.' + +It never entered the fox's head that even foxes can be outwitted, +so after a bit he consented to go with her; but he hadn't gone far +before the cunning girl seized a stick, and gave him such a blow +with it on the head, that he dropped down dead on the spot. Then +Grannonia took some of his blood and poured it into her little +bottle; and went on her way as fast as she could to Vallone +Grosso. + +When she arrived there she went straight to the Royal palace, and +let the King be told she had come to cure the young Prince. + +The King commanded her to be brought before him at once, and was +much astonished when he saw that it was a girl who undertook to do +what all the cleverest doctors of his kingdom had failed in. As an +attempt hurts no one, he willingly consented that she should do +what she could. + +'All I ask,' said Grannonia, 'is that, should I succeed in what +you desire, you will give me your son in marriage.' + +The King, who had given up all hopes of his son's recovery, +replied: 'Only restore him to life and health and he shall be +yours. It is only fair to give her a husband who gives me a son.' + +And so they went into the Prince's room. The moment Grannonia had +rubbed the blood on his wounds the illness left him, and he was as +sound and well as ever. When the King saw his son thus +marvellously restored to life and health, he turned to him and +said: 'My dear son, I thought of you as dead, and now, to my great +joy and amazement, you are alive again. I promised this young +woman that if she should cure you, to bestow your hand and heart +on her, and seeing that Heaven has been gracious, you must fulfil +the promise I made her; for gratitude alone forces me to pay this +debt.' + +But the Prince answered: 'My lord and father, I would that my will +were as free as my love for you is great. But as I have plighted +my word to another maiden, you will see yourself, and so will this +young woman, that I cannot go back from my word, and be faithless +to her whom I love.' + +When Grannonia heard these words, and saw how deeply rooted the +Prince's love for her was, she felt very happy, and blushing rosy +red, she said: 'But should I get the other lady to give up her +rights, would you then consent to marry me?' + +'Far be it from me,' replied the Prince, 'to banish the beautiful +picture of my love from my heart. Whatever she may say, my heart +and desire will remain the same, and though I were to lose my life +for it, I couldn't consent to this exchange.' + +Grannonia could keep silence no longer, and throwing off her +peasant's disguise, she discovered herself to the Prince, who was +nearly beside himself with joy when he recognised his fair lady- +love. He then told his father at once who she was, and what she +had done and suffered for his sake. + +Then they invited the King and Queen of Starza-Longa to their +Court, and had a great wedding feast, and proved once more that +there is no better seasoning for the joys of true love than a few +pangs of grief. + + + + + +THE BITER BIT + + + +Once upon a time there lived a man called Simon, who was very +rich, but at the same time as stingy and miserly as he could be. +He had a housekeeper called Nina, a clever capable woman, and as +she did her work carefully and conscientiously, her master had the +greatest respect for her. + +In his young days Simon had been one of the gayest and most active +youths of the neighbourhood, but as he grew old and stiff he found +it very difficult to walk, and his faithful servant urged him to +get a horse so as to save his poor old bones. At last Simon gave +way to the request and persuasive eloquence of his housekeeper, +and betook himself one day to the market where he had seen a mule, +which he thought would just suit him, and which he bought for +seven gold pieces. + +Now it happened that there were three merry rascals hanging about +the market-place, who much preferred living on other people's +goods to working for their own living. As soon as they saw that +Simon had bought a mule, one of them said to his two boon +companions, 'My friends, this mule must be ours before we are many +hours older.' + +'But how shall we manage it,' asked one of them. + +'We must all three station ourselves at different intervals along +the old man's homeward way, and must each in his turn declare that +the mule he has bought is a donkey. If we only stick to it you'll +see the mule will soon be ours.' This proposal quite satisfied the +others, and they all separated as they had agreed. + +Now when Simon came by, the first rogue said to him, 'God bless +you, my fine gentleman.' + +'Thanks for your courtesy,' replied Simon. + +'Where have you been?' asked the thief. + +'To the market,' was the reply. + +'And what did you buy there?' continued the rogue. + +'This mule.' + +'Which mule?' + +'The one I'm sitting upon, to be sure,' replied Simon. + +'Are you in earnest, or only joking?' + +'What do you mean?' + +'Because it seems to me you've got hold of a donkey, and not of a +mule.' + +'A donkey? Rubbish!' screamed Simon, and without another word he +rode on his way. After a few hundred yards he met the second +confederate, who addressed him, 'Good day, dear sir, where are you +coming from?' + +'From the market,' answered Simon. + +'Did things go pretty cheap?' asked the other. + +'I should just think so,' said Simon. + +'And did you make any good bargain yourself?' + +'I bought this mule on which you see me.' + +'Is it possible that you really bought that beast for a mule?' + +'Why certainly.' + +'But, good heavens, it's nothing but a donkey!' + +'A donkey!' repeated Simon, 'you don't mean to say so; if a single +other person tells me that, I'll make him a present of the +wretched animal.' + +With these words he continued his way, and very soon met the third +knave, who said to him, 'God bless you, sir; are you by any chance +coming from the market?' + +'Yes, I am,' replied Simon. + +'And what bargain did you drive there?' asked the cunning fellow. + +'I bought this mule on which I am riding.' + +'A mule! Are you speaking seriously, or do you wish to make a fool +of me?' + +'I'm speaking in sober earnest,' said Simon; 'it wouldn't occur to +me to make a joke of it.' + +'Oh, my poor friend,' cried the rascal, 'don't you see that is a +donkey and not a mule? you have been taken in by some wretched +cheats.' + +'You are the third person in the last two hours who has told me +the same thing,' said Simon, 'but I couldn't believe it,' and +dismounting from the mule he spoke: 'Keep the animal, I make you a +present of it.' The rascal took the beast, thanked him kindly, and +rode on to join his comrades, while Simon continued his journey on +foot. + +As soon as the old man got home, he told his housekeeper that he +had bought a beast under the belief that it was a mule, but that +it had turned out to be a donkey--at least, so he had been assured +by several people he had met on the road, and that in disgust he +had at last given it away. + +'Oh, you simpleton!' cried Nina; 'didn't you see that they were +only playing you a trick? Really, I thought you'd have had more +gumption than that; they wouldn't have taken me in in that way.' + +'Never mind,' replied Simon, 'I'll play them one worth two of +that; for depend upon it they won't be contented with having got +the donkey out of me, but they'll try by some new dodge to get +something more, or I'm much mistaken.' + +Now there lived in the village not far from Simon's house, a +peasant who had two goats, so alike in every respect that it was +impossible to distinguish one from the other. Simon bought them +both, paid as small a price as he could for them, and leading them +home with him, he told Nina to prepare a good meal, as he was +going to invite some friends to dinner. He ordered her to roast +some veal, and to boil a pair of chickens, and gave her some herbs +to make a good savoury, and told her to bake the best tart she +could make. Then he took one of the goats and tied it to a post in +the courtyard, and gave it some grass to eat; but he bound a cord +round the neck of the other goat and led it to the market. + +Hardly had he arrived there, than the three gentlemen who had got +his mule perceived him, and coming up to him said: 'Welcome, Mr. +Simon, what brings you here; are you on the look out for a +bargain?' + +'I've come to get some provisions,' he answered, 'because some +friends are coming to dine with me today, and it would give me +much pleasure if you were to honour me with your company also.' + +The accomplices willingly accepted this invitation; and after +Simon had made all his purchases, he tied them on to the goat's +back, and said to it, in the presence of the three cheats, 'Go +home now, and tell Nina to roast the veal, and boil the chickens, +and tell her to prepare a savoury with herbs, and to bake the best +tart she can make. Have you followed me? Then go, and Heaven's +blessing go with you.' + +As soon as it felt itself free, the laden goat trotted off as +quickly as it could, and to this day nobody knows what became of +it. But Simon, after wandering about the market for some time with +his three friends and some others he had picked up, returned home +to his house. + +When he and his guests entered the courtyard, they noticed the +goat tied to the post quietly chewing the cud. They were not a +little astonished at this, for of course they thought it was the +same goat that Simon had sent home laden with provisions. As soon +as they reached the house Mr. Simon said to his housekeeper, +'Well, Nina, have you done what I told the goat to tell you to +do?' The artful woman, who at once understood her master, +answered, 'Certainly I have. The veal is roasted, and the chickens +boiled.' + +'That's all right,' said Simon. + +When the three rogues saw the cooked meats, and the tart in the +oven, and heard Nina's words, they were nearly beside themselves +with amazement, and began to consult at once how they were to get +the goat into their own possession. At last, towards the end of +the meal, having sought in vain for some cunning dodge to get the +goat away from Mr. Simon, one of them said to him, 'My worthy +host, you must sell your goat to us.' + +Simon replied that he was most unwilling to part with the +creature, as no amount of money would make up to him for its loss; +still, if they were quite set on it, he would let them have the +goat for fifty gold pieces. + +The knaves, who thought they were doing a capital piece of +business, paid down the fifty gold pieces at once, and left the +house quite happily, leading the goat with them. When they got +home they said to their wives, 'You needn't begin to cook the +dinner to-morrow till we send the provisions home.' + +The following day they went to the market and bought chickens and +other eatables, and after they had packed them on the back of the +goat (which they had brought with them), they told it all the +dishes they wished their wives to prepare. As soon as the goat +felt itself free, it ran as quickly as it could, and was very soon +lost to sight, and, as far as I know, was never heard of again. + +When the dinner hour approached all three went home and asked +their wives if the goat had returned with the necessary +provisions, and had told them what they wished prepared for their +meal. + +'Oh, you fools and blockheads!' cried their wives, 'how could you +ever believe for a moment that a goat would do the work of a +servant-maid? You have been finely deceived for once in a way. Of +course, if you are always taking in other people, your turn to be +taken in comes too, and this time you've been made to look pretty +foolish.' + +When the three comrades saw that Mr. Simon had got the better of +them, and done them out of fifty gold pieces, they flew into such +a rage that they made up their minds to kill him, and, seizing +their weapons for this purpose, went to his house. + +But the sly old man, who was terrified for his life that the three +rogues might do him some harm, was on his guard, and said to his +housekeeper, 'Nina, take this bladder, which is filled with blood, +and hide it under your cloak; then when these thieves come I'll +lay all the blame on you, and will pretend to be so angry with you +that I will run at you with my knife, and pierce the bladder with +it; then you must fall on the ground as if you were dead, and +leave the rest to me.' + +Hardly had Simon said these words when the three rogues appeared +and fell on him to kill him. + +'My friends,' called out Simon to then, 'what do you accuse me of? +I am in no way to blame; perhaps my housekeeper has done you some +injury of which I know nothing.' And with these words, he turned +on Nina with his knife, and stuck it right into her, so that he +pierced the bladder filled with blood. Instantly the housekeeper +fell down as if she were dead, and the blood streamed all over the +ground. + +Simon then pretended to be seized with remorse at the sight of +this dreadful catastrophe, and cried out in a loud voice, 'Unhappy +wretch that I am! What have I done? Like a madman I have killed +the woman who is the prop and stay of my old age. How could I ever +go on living without her?' Then he seized a pipe, and when he had +blown into it for some time Nina sprang up alive and well. + +The rogues were more amazed than ever; they forgot their anger, +and buying the pipe for two hundred gold pieces, they went +joyfully home. + +Not long after this one of them quarrelled with his wife, and in +his rage he thrust his knife into her breast so that she fell dead +on the ground. Then he took Simon's pipe and blew into it with all +his might, in the hopes of calling his wife back to life. But he +blew in vain, for the poor soul was as dead as a door-nail. + +When one of his comrades heard what had happened, he said, 'You +blockhead, you can't have done it properly; just let me have a +try,' and with these words he seized his wife by the roots of her +hair, cut her throat with a razor, and then took the pipe and blew +into it with all his might but he couldn't bring her back to life. +The same thing happened to the third rogue, so that they were now +all three without wives. + +Full of wrath they ran to Simon's house, and, refusing to listen +to a word of explanation or excuse, they seized the old man and +put him into a sack, meaning to drown him in the neighbouring +river. On their way there, however, a sudden noise threw them into +such a panic that they dropped the sack with Simon in it and ran +for their lives. + +Soon after this a shepherd happened to pass by with his flock, and +while he was slowly following the sheep, who paused here and there +by the wayside to browse on the tender grass, he heard a pitiful +voice wailing, 'They insist on my taking her, and I don't want +her, for I am too old, and I really can't have her.' The shepherd +was much startled, for he couldn't make out where these words, +which were repeated more than once, came from, and looked about +him to the right and left; at last he perceived the sack in which +Simon was hidden, and going up to it he opened it and discovered +Simon repeating his dismal complaint. The shepherd asked him why +he had been left there tied up in a sack. + +Simon replied that the king of the country had insisted on giving +him one of his daughters as a wife, but that he had refused the +honour because he was too old and too frail. The simple-minded +shepherd, who believed his story implicitly, asked him, 'Do you +think the king of the country would give his daughter to me?' + +'Yes, certainly, I know he would,' answered Simon, 'if you were +tied up in this sack instead of me.' Then getting out of the sack, +he tied the confiding shepherd up in it instead, and at his +request fastened it securely and drove the sheep on himself. + +An hour had scarcely passed when the three rogues returned to the +place where they had left Simon in the sack, and without opening +it, one of them seized it and threw it into the river. And so the +poor shepherd was drowned instead of Mr. Simon! + +The three rogues, having wreaked their vengeance, set out, for +home. On their way they noticed a flock of sheep grazing not far +from the road. They longed to steal a few of the lambs, and +approached the flock, and were more than startled to recognise Mr. +Simon, whom they had drowned in the river, as the shepherd who was +looking after the sheep. They asked him how he had managed to get +out of the river, to which he replied: + +'Get along with you--you are no better than silly donkeys without +any sense; if you had only drowned me in deeper water I would have +returned with three times as many sheep.' + +When the three rogues heard this, they said to him: 'Oh, dear Mr. +Simon, do us the favour to tie us up in sacks and throw us into +the river that we may give up our thieving ways and become the +owners of flocks.' + +'I am ready,' answered Simon, 'to do what you please; there's +nothing in the world I wouldn't do for you.' + +So he took three strong sacks and put a man in each of them, and +fastened them up so tightly that they couldn't get out, and then +he threw them all into the river; and that was the end of the +three rogues. But Mr. Simon returned home to his faithful Nina +rich in flocks and gold, and lived for many a year in health and +happiness. + +Kletke. + + + + + +KING KOJATA (From the Russian) + + + +There was once upon a time a king called Kojata, whose beard was +so long that it reached below his knees. Three years had passed +since his marriage, and he lived very happily with his wife, but +Heaven granted him no heir, which grieved the King greatly. One +day he set forth from his capital, in order to make a journey +through his kingdom. He travelled for nearly a year through the +different parts of his territory, and then, having seen all there +was to be seen, he set forth on his homeward way. As the day was +very hot and sultry he commanded his servants to pitch tents in +the open field, and there await the cool of the evening. Suddenly +a frightful thirst seized the King, and as he saw no water near, +he mounted his horse, and rode through the neighbourhood looking +for a spring. Before long he came to a well filled to the brim +with water clear as crystal, and on the bosom of which a golden +jug was floating. King Kojata at once tried to seize the vessel, +but though he endeavoured to grasp it with his right hand, and +then with his left, the wretched thing always eluded his efforts +and refused to let itself be caught. First with one hand, and then +with two, did the King try to seize it, but like a fish the goblet +always slipped through his fingers and bobbed to the ground only +to reappear at some other place, and mock the King. + +'Plague on you!' said King Kojata. 'I can quench my thirst without +you,' and bending over the well he lapped up the water so greedily +that he plunged his face, beard and all, right into the crystal +mirror. But when he had satisfied his thirst, and wished to raise +himself up, he couldn't lift his head, because someone held his +beard fast in the water. 'Who's there? let me go!' cried King +Kojata, but there was no answer; only an awful face looked up from +the bottom of the well with two great green eyes, glowing like +emeralds, and a wide mouth reaching from ear to ear showing two +rows of gleaming white teeth, and the King's beard was held, not +by mortal hands, but by two claws. At last a hoarse voice sounded +from the depths. 'Your trouble is all in vain, King Kojata; I will +only let you go on condition that you give me something you know +nothing about, and which you will find on your return home.' + +The King didn't pause to ponder long, 'for what,' thought he, +'could be in my palace without my knowing about it--the thing is +absurd;' so he answered quickly: + +'Yes, I promise that you shall have it.' + +The voice replied, 'Very well; but it will go ill with you if you +fail to keep your promise.' Then the claws relaxed their hold, and +the face disappeared in the depths. The King drew his chin out of +the water, and shook himself like a dog; then he mounted his horse +and rode thoughtfully home with his retinue. When they approached +the capital, all the people came out to meet them with great joy +and acclamation, and when the King reached his palace the Queen +met him on the threshold; beside her stood the Prime Minister, +holding a little cradle in his hands, in which lay a new-born +child as beautiful as the day. Then the whole thing dawned on the +King, and groaning deeply he muttered to himself 'So this is what +I did not know about,' and the tears rolled down his cheeks. All +the courtiers standing round were much amazed at the King's grief, +but no one dared to ask him the cause of it. He took the child in +his arms and kissed it tenderly; then laying it in its cradle, he +determined to control his emotion and began to reign again as +before. + +The secret of the King remained a secret, though his grave, +careworn expression escaped no one's notice. In the constant dread +that his child would be taken from him, poor Kojata knew no rest +night or day. However, time went on and nothing happened. Days and +months and years passed, and the Prince grew up into a beautiful +youth, and at last the King himself forgot all about the incident +that had happened so long ago. + +One day the Prince went out hunting, and going in pursuit of a +wild boar he soon lost the other huntsmen, and found himself quite +alone in the middle of a dark wood. The trees grew so thick and +near together that it was almost impossible to see through them, +only straight in front of him lay a little patch of meadowland. +Overgrown with thistles and rank weeds, in the centre of which a +leafy lime tree reared itself. Suddenly a rustling sound was heard +in the hollow of the tree, and an extraordinary old man with green +eyes and chin crept out of it. + +'A fine day, Prince Milan,' he said; 'you've kept me waiting a +good number of years; it was high time for you to come and pay me +a visit.' + +'Who are you, in the name of wonder?' demanded the astonished +Prince. + +'You'll find out soon enough, but in the meantime do as I bid you. +Greet your father King Kojata from me, and don't forget to remind +him of his debt; the time has long passed since it was due, but +now he will have to pay it. Farewell for the present; we shall +meet again.' + +With these words the old man disappeared into the tree, and the +Prince returned home rather startled, and told his father all that +he had seen and heard. + +The King grew as white as a sheet when he heard the Prince's +story, and said, 'Woe is me, my son! The time has come when we +must part,' and with a heavy heart he told the Prince what had +happened at the time of his birth. + +'Don't worry or distress yourself, dear father,' answered Prince +Milan. 'Things are never as bad as they look. Only give me a horse +for my journey, and I wager you'll soon see me back again.' + +The King gave him a beautiful charger, with golden stirrups, and a +sword. The Queen hung a little cross round his neck, and after +much weeping and lamentation the Prince bade them all farewell and +set forth on his journey. + +He rode straight on for two days, and on the third he came to a +lake as smooth as glass and as clear as crystal. Not a breath of +wind moved, not a leaf stirred, all was silent as the grave, only +on the still bosom of the lake thirty ducks, with brilliant +plumage, swam about in the water. Not far from the shore Prince +Milan noticed thirty little white garments lying on the grass, and +dismounting from his horse, he crept down under the high +bulrushes, took one of the garments and hid himself with it behind +the bushes which grew round the lake. The ducks swam about all +over the place, dived down into the depths and rose again and +glided through the waves. At last, tired of disporting themselves, +they swam to the shore, and twenty-nine of them put on their +little white garments and instantly turned into so many beautiful +maidens. Then they finished dressing and disappeared. Only the +thirtieth little duck couldn't come to the land; it swam about +close to the shore, and, giving out a piercing cry, it stretched +its neck up timidly, gazed wildly around, and then dived under +again. Prince Milan's heart was so moved with pity for the poor +little creature that he came out from behind the bulrushes, to see +if he could be of any help. As soon as the duck perceived him, it +cried in a human voice, 'Oh, dear Prince Milan, for the love of +Heaven give me back my garment, and I will be so grateful to you.' +The Prince lay the little garment on the bank beside her, and +stepped back into the bushes. In a few seconds a beautiful girl in +a white robe stood before him, so fair and sweet and young that no +pen could describe her. She gave the Prince her hand and spoke. + +'Many thanks, Prince Milan, for your courtesy. I am the daughter +of a wicked magician, and my name is Hyacinthia. My father has +thirty young daughters, and is a mighty ruler in the underworld, +with many castles and great riches. He has been expecting you for +ages, but you need have no fear if you will only follow my advice. +As soon as you come into the presence of my father, throw yourself +at once on the ground and approach him on your knees. Don't mind +if he stamps furiously with his feet and curses and swears. I'll +attend to the rest, and in the meantime we had better be off.' + +With these words the beautiful Hyacinthia stamped on the ground +with her little foot, and the earth opened and they both sank down +into the lower world. + +The palace of the Magician was all hewn out of a single carbuncle, +lighting up the whole surrounding region, and Prince Milan walked +into it gaily. + +The Magician sat on a throne, a sparkling crown on his head; his +eyes blazed like a green fire, and instead of hands he had claws. +As soon as Prince Milan entered he flung himself on his knees. The +Magician stamped loudly with his feet, glared frightfully out of +his green eyes, and cursed so loudly that the whole underworld +shook. But the Prince, mindful of the counsel he had been given, +wasn't the least afraid, and approached the throne still on his +knees. At last the Magician laughed aloud and said, 'You rogue, +you have been well advised to make me laugh; I won't be your enemy +any more. Welcome to the underworld! All the same, for your delay +in coming here, we must demand three services from you. For to-day +you may go, but to-morrow I shall have something more to say to +you.' + +Then two servants led Prince Milan to a beautiful apartment, and +he lay down fearlessly on the soft bed that had been prepared for +him, and was soon fast asleep. + +Early the next morning the Magician sent for him, and said, 'Let's +see now what you've learnt. In the first place you must build me a +palace to-night, the roof of purest gold, the walls of marble, and +the windows of crystal; all round you must lay out a beautiful +garden, with fish-ponds and artistic waterfalls. If you do all +this, I will reward you richly; but if you don't, you shall lose +your head.' + +'Oh, you wicked monster!' thought Prince Milan, 'you might as well +have put me to death at once.' Sadly he returned to his room, and +with bent head sat brooding over his cruel fate till evening. When +it grew dark, a little bee flew by, and knocking at the window, it +said, 'Open, and let me in.' + +Milan opened the window quickly, and as soon as the bee had +entered, it changed into the beautiful Hyacinthia. + +'Good evening, Prince Milan. Why are you so sad?' + +'How can I help being sad? Your father threatens me with death, +and I see myself already without a head.' + +'And what have you made up your mind to do?' + +'There's nothing to be done, and after all I suppose one can only +die once.' + +'Now, don't be so foolish, my dear Prince; but keep up your +spirits, for there is no need to despair. Go to bed, and when you +wake up to-morrow morning the palace will be finished. Then you +must go all round it, giving a tap here and there on the walls to +look as if you had just finished it.' + +And so it all turned out just as she had said. As soon as it was +daylight Prince Milan stepped out of his room, and found a palace +which was quite a work of art down to the very smallest detail. +The Magician himself was not a little astonished at its beauty, +and could hardly believe his eyes. + +'Well, you certainly are a splendid workman,' he said to the +Prince. 'I see you are very clever with your hands, now I must see +if you are equally accomplished with your head. I have thirty +daughters in my house, all beautiful princesses. To-morrow I will +place the whole thirty in a row. You must walk past them three +times, and the third time you must show me which is my youngest +daughter Hyacinthia. If you don't guess rightly, you shall lose +your head.' + +'This time you've made a mistake,' thought Prince Milan, and going +to his room he sat down at the window. Just fancy my not +recognising the beautiful Hyacinthia! Why, that is the easiest +thing in the world.' + +'Not so easy as you think,' cried the little bee, who was flying +past. 'If I weren't to help you, you'd never guess. We are thirty +sisters so exactly alike that our own father can hardly +distinguish us apart.' + +'Then what am I to do?' asked Prince Milan. + +'Listen,' answered Hyacinthia. 'You will recognise me by a tiny +fly I shall have on my left cheek, but be careful for you might +easily make a mistake.' + +The next day the Magician again commanded Prince Milan to be led +before him. His daughters were all arranged in a straight row in +front of him, dressed exactly alike, and with their eyes bent on +the ground. + +'Now, you genius,' said the Magician, 'look at these beauties +three times, and then tell us which is the Princess Hyacinthia.' + +Prince Milan went past them and looked at them closely. But they +were all so precisely alike that they looked like one face +reflected in thirty mirrors, and the fly was nowhere to be seen; +the second time he passed them he still saw nothing; but the third +time he perceived a little fly stealing down one cheek, causing it +to blush a faint pink. Then the Prince seized the girl's hand and +cried out, 'This is the Princess Hyacinthia!' + +'You're right again,' said the Magician in amazement; 'but I've +still another task for you to do. Before this candle, which I +shall light, burns to the socket, you must have made me a pair of +boots reaching to my knees. If they aren't finished in that time, +off comes your head.' + +The Prince returned to his room in despair; then the Princess +Hyacinthia came to him once more changed into the likeness of a +bee, and asked him, 'Why so sad, Prince Milan?' + +'How can I help being sad? Your father has set me this time an +impossible task. Before a candle which he has lit burns to the +socket, I am to make a pair of boots. But what does a prince know +of shoemaking? If I can't do it, I lose my head.' + +'And what do you mean to do?' asked Hyacinthia. + +'Well, what is there to be done? What he demands I can't and won't +do, so he must just make an end of me.' + +'Not so, dearest. I love you dearly, and you shall marry me, and +I'll either save your life or die with you. We must fly now as +quickly as we can, for there is no other way of escape.' + +With these words she breathed on the window, and her breath froze +on the pane. Then she led Milan out of the room with her, shut the +door, and threw the key away. Hand in hand, they hurried to the +spot where they had descended into the lower world, and at last +reached the banks of the lake. Prince Milan's charger was still +grazing on the grass which grew near the water. The horse no +sooner recognized his master, than it neighed loudly with joy, and +springing towards him, it stood as if rooted to the ground, while +Prince Milan and Hyacinthia jumped on its back. Then it sped +onwards like an arrow from a bow. + +In the meantime the Magician was waiting impatiently for the +Prince. Enraged by the delay, he sent his servants to fetch him, +for the appointed time was past. + +The servants came to the door, and finding it locked, they +knocked; but the frozen breath on the window replied in Prince +Milan's voice, 'I am coming directly.' With this answer they +returned to the Magician. But when the Prince still did not +appear, after a time he sent his servants a second time to bring +him. The frozen breath always gave the same answer, but the Prince +never came. At last the Magician lost all patience, and commanded +the door to be burst open. But when his servants did so, they +found the room empty, and the frozen breath laughed aloud. Out of +his mind with rage, the Magician ordered the Prince to be pursued. + +Then a wild chase began. 'I hear horses' hoofs behind us,' said +Hyacinthia to the Prince. Milan sprang from the saddle, put his +ear to the ground and listened. 'Yes,' he answered, 'they are +pursuing us, and are quite close.' 'Then no time must be lost,' +said Hyacinthia, and she immediately turned herself into a river, +Prince Milan into an iron bridge, and the charger into a +blackbird. Behind the bridge the road branched off into three +ways. + +The Magician's servants hurried after the fresh tracks, but when +they came to the bridge, they stood, not knowing which road to +take, as the footprints stopped suddenly, and there were three +paths for them to choose from. In fear and trembling they returned +to tell the Magician what had happened. He flew into a dreadful +rage when he saw them, and screamed out, 'Oh, you fools! the river +and bridge were they! Go back and bring them to me at once, or it +will be the worse for you.' + +Then the pursuit began afresh. 'I hear horses' hoofs,' sighed +Hyacinthia. The Prince dismounted and put his ear to the ground. +'They are hurrying after us, and are already quite near.' In a +moment the Princess Hyacinthia had changed herself, the Prince, +and his charger into a thick wood where a thousand paths and roads +crossed each other. Their pursuers entered the forest, but +searched in vain for Prince Milan and his bride. At last they +found themselves back at the same spot they had started from, and +in despair they returned once more with empty hands to the +Magician. + +'Then I'll go after the wretches myself,' he shouted. 'Bring a +horse at once; they shan't escape me.' + +Once more the beautiful Hyacinthia murmured, 'I hear horses' hoofs +quite near.' And the Prince answered, 'They are pursuing us hotly +and are quite close.' + +'We are lost now, for that is my father himself. But at the first +church we come to his power ceases; he may chase us no further. +Hand me your cross.' + +Prince Milan loosened from his neck the little gold cross his +mother had given him, and as soon as Hyacinthia grasped it, she +had changed herself into a church, Milan into a monk, and the +horse into a belfry. They had hardly done this when the magician +and his servants rode up. + +'Did you see no one pass by on horseback, reverend father?' he +asked the monk. + +'Prince Milan and Princess Hyacinthia have just gone on this +minute; they stopped for a few minutes in the church to say their +prayers, and bade me light this wax candle for you, and give you +their love.' + +'I'd like to wring their necks,' said the magician, and made all +haste home, where he had every one of his servants beaten to +within an inch of their lives. + +Prince Milan rode on slowly with his bride without fearing any +further pursuit. The sun was just setting, and its last rays lit +up a large city they were approaching. Prince Milan was suddenly +seized with an ardent desire to enter the town. + +'Oh my beloved,' implored Hyacinthia, 'please don't go; for I am +frightened and fear some evil.' + +'What are you afraid of?' asked the Prince. 'We'll only go and +look at what's to be seen in the town for about an hour, and then +we'll continue our journey to my father's kingdom.' + +'The town is easy to get into, but more difficult to get out of,' +sighed Hyacinthia. 'But let it be as you wish. Go, and I will +await you here, but I will first change myself into a white +milestone; only I pray you be very careful. The King and Queen of +the town will come out to meet you, leading a little child with +them. Whatever you do, don't kiss the child, or you will forget me +and all that has happened to us. I will wait for you here for +three days.' + +The Prince hurried to the town, but Hyacinthia remained behind +disguised as a white milestone on the road. The first day passed, +and then the second, and at last the third also, but Prince Milan +did not return, for he had not taken Hyacinthia's advice. The King +and Queen came out to meet him as she had said, leading with them +a lovely fair-haired little girl, whose eyes shone like two clear +stars. The child at once caressed the Prince, who, carried away by +its beauty, bent down and kissed it on the cheek. From that moment +his memory became a blank, and he forgot all about the beautiful +Hyacinthia. + +When the Prince did not return, poor Hyacinthia wept bitterly and +changing herself from a milestone into a little blue field flower, +she said, 'I will grow here on the wayside till some passer-by +tramples me under foot.' And one of her tears remained as a +dewdrop and sparkled on the little blue flower. + +Now it happened shortly after this that an old man passed by, and +seeing the flower, he was delighted with its beauty. He pulled it +up carefully by the roots and carried it home. Here he planted it +in a pot, and watered and tended the little plant carefully. And +now the most extraordinary thing happened, for from this moment +everything in the old man's house was changed. When he awoke in +the morning he always found his room tidied and put into such +beautiful order that not a speck of dust was to be found anywhere. +When he came home at midday, he found a table laid out with the +most dainty food, and he had only to sit down and enjoy himself to +his heart's content. At first he was so surprised he didn't know +what to think, but after a time he grew a little uncomfortable, +and went to an old witch to ask for advice. + +The witch said, 'Get up before the cock crows, and watch carefully +till you see something move, and then throw this cloth quickly +over it, and you'll see what will happen.' + +All night the old man never closed an eye. When the first ray of +light entered the room, he noticed that the little blue flower +began to tremble, and at last it rose out of the pot and flew +about the room, put everything in order, swept away the dust, and +lit the fire. In great haste the old man sprang from his bed, and +covered the flower with the cloth the old witch had given him, and +in a moment the beautiful Princess Hyacinthia stood before him. + +'What have you done?' she cried. 'Why have you called me back to +life? For I have no desire to live since my bridegroom, the +beautiful Prince Milan, has deserted me.' + +'Prince Milan is just going to be married,' replied the old man. +'Everything is being got ready for the feast, and all the invited +guests are flocking to the palace from all sides.' + +The beautiful Hyacinthia cried bitterly when she heard this; then +she dried her tears, and went into the town dressed as a peasant +woman. She went straight to the King's kitchen, where the white- +aproned cooks were running about in great confusion. The Princess +went up to the head cook, and said, 'Dear cook, please listen to +my request, and let me make a wedding-cake for Prince Milan.' + +The busy cook was just going to refuse her demand and order her +out of the kitchen, but the words died on his lips when he turned +and beheld the beautiful Hyacinthia, and he answered politely, +'You have just come in the nick of time, fair maiden. Bake your +cake, and I myself will lay it before Prince Milan.' + +The cake was soon made. The invited guests were already thronging +round the table, when the head cook entered the room, bearing a +beautiful wedding cake on a silver dish, and laid it before Prince +Milan. The guests were all lost in admiration, for the cake was +quite a work of art. Prince Milan at once proceeded to cut it +open, when to his surprise two white doves sprang out of it, and +one of them said to the other: 'My dear mate, do not fly away and +leave me, and forget me as Prince Milan forgot his beloved +Hyacinthia.' + +Milan sighed deeply when he heard what the little dove said. Then +he jumped up suddenly from the table and ran to the door, where he +found the beautiful Hyacinthia waiting for him. Outside stood his +faithful charger, pawing the ground. Without pausing for a moment, +Milan and Hyacinthia mounted him and galloped as fast as they +could into the country of King Kojata. The King and Queen received +them with such joy and gladness as had never been heard of before, +and they all lived happily for the rest of their lives. + + + + + +PRINCE FICKLE AND FAIR HELENA (From the German) + + + +There was once upon a time a beautiful girl called Helena. Her own +mother had died when she was quite a child, and her stepmother was +as cruel and unkind to her as she could be. Helena did all she +could to gain her love, and performed the heavy work given her to +do cheerfully and well; but her stepmother's heart wasn't in the +least touched, and the more the poor girl did the more she asked +her to do. + +One day she gave Helena twelve pounds of mixed feathers and bade +her separate them all before evening, threatening her with heavy +punishment if she failed to do so. + +The poor child sat down to her task with her eyes so full of tears +that she could hardly see to begin. And when she had made one +little heap of feathers, she sighed so deeply that they all blew +apart again. And so it went on, and the poor girl grew more and +more miserable. She bowed her head in her hands and cried, 'Is +there no one under heaven who will take pity on me?' + +Suddenly a soft voice replied, 'Be comforted, my child: I have +come to help you.' + +Terrified to death, Helena looked up and saw a Fairy standing in +front of her, who asked in the kindest way possible, 'Why are you +crying, my dear?' + +Helena, who for long had heard no friendly voice, confided her sad +tale of woe to the Fairy, and told her what the new task she had +been given to do was, and how she despaired of ever accomplishing +it. + +'Don't worry yourself about it any more,' said the kind Fairy; +'lie down and go to sleep, and I'll see that your work is done all +right.' So Helena lay down, and when she awoke all the feathers +were sorted into little bundles; but when she turned to thank the +good Fairy she had vanished. + +In the evening her stepmother returned and was much amazed to find +Helena sitting quietly with her work all finished before her. + +She praised her diligence, but at the same time racked her brain +as to what harder task she could set her to do. + +The next day she told Helena to empty a pond near the house with a +spoon which was full of holes. Helena set to work at once, but she +very soon found that what her stepmother had told her to do was an +impossibility. Full of despair and misery, she was in the act of +throwing the spoon away, when suddenly the kind Fairy stood before +her again, and asked her why she was so unhappy? + +When Helena told her of her stepmother's new demand she said, +'Trust to me and I will do your task for you. Lie down and have a +sleep in the meantime.' + +Helena was comforted and lay down, and before you would have +believed it possible the Fairy roused her gently and told her the +pond was empty. Full of joy and gratitude, Helena hurried to her +stepmother, hoping that now at last her heart would be softened +towards her. But the wicked woman was furious at the frustration +of her own evil designs, and only thought of what harder thing she +could set the girl to do. + +Next morning she ordered her to build before evening a beautiful +castle, and to furnish it all from garret to basement. Helena sat +down on the rocks which had been pointed out to her as the site of +the castle, feeling very depressed, but at the same time with the +lurking hope that the kind Fairy would come once more to her aid. + +And so it turned out. The Fairy appeared, promised to build the +castle, and told Helena to lie down and go to sleep in the +meantime. At the word of the Fairy the rocks and stones rose and +built themselves into a beautiful castle, and before sunset it was +all furnished inside, and left nothing to be desired. You may +think how grateful Helena was when she awoke and found her task +all finished. + +But her stepmother was anything but pleased, and went through the +whole castle from top to bottom, to see if she couldn't find some +fault for which she could punish Helena. At last she went down +into one of the cellars, but it was so dark that she fell down the +steep stairs and was killed on the spot. + +So Helena was now mistress of the beautiful castle, and lived +there in peace and happiness. And soon the noise of her beauty +spread abroad, and many wooers came to try and gain her hand. + +Among them came one Prince Fickle by name, who very quickly won +the love of fair Helena. One day, as they were sitting happily +together under a lime-tree in front of the castle, Prince Fickle +broke the sad news to Helena that he must return to his parents to +get their consent to his marriage. He promised faithfully to come +back to her as soon as he could and begged her to await his return +under the lime-tree where they had spent so many happy hours. + +Helena kissed him tenderly at parting on his left cheek, and +begged him not to let anyone else kiss him there while they were +parted, and she promised to sit and wait for him under the lime- +tree, for she never doubted that the Prince would be faithful to +her and would return as quickly as he could. + +And so she sat for three days and three nights under the tree +without moving. But when her lover never returned, she grew very +unhappy, and determined to set out to look for him. She took as +many of her jewels as she could carry, and three of her most +beautiful dresses, one embroidered with stars, one with moons, and +the third with suns, all of pure gold. Far and wide she wandered +through the world, but nowhere did she find any trace of her +bridegroom. At last she gave up the search in despair. She could +not bear to return to her own castle where she had been so happy +with her lover, but determined rather to endure her loneliness and +desolation in a strange land. She took a place as herd-girl with a +peasant, and buried her jewels and beautiful dresses in a safe and +hidden spot. + +Every day she drove the cattle to pasture, and all the time she +thought of nothing but her faithless bridegroom. She was very +devoted to a certain little calf in the herd, and made a great pet +of it, feeding it out of her own hands. She taught it to kneel +before her, and then she whispered in its ear: + +'Kneel, little calf, kneel; Be faithful and leal, Not like Prince +Fickle, Who once on a time Left his fair Helena Under the lime.' + +After some years passed in this way, she heard that the daughter +of the king of the country she was living in was going to marry a +Prince called 'Fickle.' Everybody rejoiced at the news except poor +Helena, to whom it was a fearful blow, for at the bottom of her +heart she had always believed her lover to be true. + +Now it chanced that the way to the capital led right past the +village where Helena was, and often when she was leading her +cattle forth to the meadows Prince Fickle rode past her, without +ever noticing the poor herd-girl, so engrossed was he in thoughts +of his new bride. Then it occurred to Helena to put his heart to +the test and to see if it weren't possible to recall herself to +him. So one day as Prince Fickle rode by she said to her little +calf: + +'Kneel, little calf, kneel; Be faithful and leal, Not like +Prince Fickle, Who once on a time Left his poor Helena Under +the lime.' + +When Prince Fickle heard her voice it seemed to him to remind him +of something, but of what he couldn't remember, for he hadn't +heard the words distinctly, as Helena had only spoken them very +low and with a shaky voice. Helena herself had been far too moved +to let her see what impression her words had made on the Prince, +and when she looked round he was already far away. But she noticed +how slowly he was riding, and how deeply sunk he was in thought, +so she didn't quite give herself up as lost. + +In honour of the approaching wedding a feast lasting many nights +was to be given in the capital. Helena placed all her hopes on +this, and determined to go to the feast and there to seek out her +bridegroom. + +When evening drew near she stole out of the peasant's cottage +secretly, and, going to her hiding-place, she put on her dress +embroidered with the gold suns, and all her jewels, and loosed her +beautiful golden hair, which up to now she had always worn under a +kerchief, and, adorned thus, she set out for the town. + +When she entered the ball-room all eyes were turned on her, and +everyone marvelled at her beauty, but no one knew who she was. +Prince Fickle, too, was quite dazzled by the charms of the +beautiful maiden, and never guessed that she had once been his own +ladylove. He never left her side all night, and it was with great +difficulty that Helena escaped from him in the crowd when it was +time to return home. Prince Fickle searched for her everywhere, +and longed eagerly for the next night, when the beautiful lady had +promised to come again. + +The following evening the fair Helena started early for the feast. + +This time she wore her dress embroidered with silver moons, and in +her hair she placed a silver crescent. Prince Fickle was enchanted +to see her again, and she seemed to him even more beautiful than +she had been the night before. He never left her side, and refused +to dance with anyone else. He begged her to tell him who she was, +but this she refused to do. Then he implored her to return again +next evening, and this she promised him she would. + +On the third evening Prince Fickle was so impatient to see his +fair enchantress again, that he arrived at the feast hours before +it began, and never took his eyes from the door. At last Helena +arrived in a dress all covered with gold and silver stars, and +with a girdle of stars round her waist, and a band of stars in her +hair. Prince Fickle was more in love with her than ever, and +begged her once again to tell him her name. + +Then Helena kissed him silently on the left cheek, and in one +moment Prince Fickle recognized his old love. Full of remorse and +sorrow, he begged for her forgiveness, and Helena, only too +pleased to have got him back again, did not, you may be sure, keep +him waiting very long for her pardon, and so they were married and +returned to Helena's castle, where they are no doubt still sitting +happily together under the lime-tree. + + + + + +PUDDOCKY (From the German) + + + +There was once upon a time a poor woman who had one little +daughter called 'Parsley.' She was so called because she liked +eating parsley better than any other food, indeed she would hardly +eat anything else. Her poor mother hadn't enough money always to +be buying parsley for her, but the child was so beautiful that she +could refuse her nothing, and so she went every night to the +garden of an old witch who lived near and stole great branches of +the coveted vegetable, in order to satisfy her daughter. + +This remarkable taste of the fair Parsley soon became known, and +the theft was discovered. The witch called the girl's mother to +her, and proposed that she should let her daughter come and live +with her, and then she could eat as much parsley as she liked. The +mother was quite pleased with this suggestion, and so the +beautiful Parsley took up her abode with the old witch. + +One day three Princes, whom their father had sent abroad to +travel, came to the town where Parsley lived and perceived the +beautiful girl combing and plaiting her long black hair at the +window. In one moment they all fell hopelessly in love with her, +and longed ardently to have the girl for their wife; but hardly +had they with one breath expressed their desire than, mad with +jealousy, they drew their swords and all three set upon each +other. The struggle was so violent and the noise so loud that the +old witch heard it, and said at once 'Of course Parsley is at the +bottom of all this.' + +And when she had convinced herself that this was so, she stepped +forward, and, full of wrath over the quarrels and feuds Parsley's +beauty gave rise to, she cursed the girl and said, 'I wish you +were an ugly toad, sitting under a bridge at the other end of the +world.' + +Hardly were the words out of her mouth than Parsley was changed +into a toad and vanished from their sight. The Princes, now that +the cause of their dispute was removed, put up their swords, +kissed each other affectionately, and returned to their father. + +The King was growing old and feeble, and wished to yield his +sceptre and crown in favour of one of his sons, but he couldn't +make up his mind which of the three he should appoint as his +successor. He determined that fate should decide for him. So he +called his three children to him and said, 'My dear sons, I am +growing old, and am weary of reigning, but I can't make up my mind +to which of you three I should yield my crown, for I love you all +equally. At the same time I would like the best and cleverest of +you to rule over my people. I have, therefore, determined to set +you three tasks to do, and the one that performs them best shall +be my heir. The first thing I shall ask you to do is to bring me a +piece of linen a hundred yards long, so fine that it will go +through a gold ring.' The sons bowed low, and, promising to do +their best, they started on their journey without further delay. + +The two elder brothers took many servants and carriages with them, +but the youngest set out quite alone. In a short time they came to +three cross roads; two of them were gay and crowded, but the third +was dark and lonely. + +The two elder brothers chose the more frequented ways, but the +youngest, bidding them farewell, set out on the dreary road. + +Wherever linen was to be bought, there the two elder brothers +hastened. They loaded their carriages with bales of the finest +linen they could find and then returned home. + +The youngest brother, on the other hand, went on his weary way for +many days, and nowhere did he come across any linen that would +have done. So he journeyed on, and his spirits sank with every +step. At last he came to a bridge which stretched over a deep +river flowing through a flat and marshy land. Before crossing the +bridge he sat down on the banks of the stream and sighed dismally +over his sad fate. Suddenly a misshapen toad crawled out of the +swamp, and, sitting down opposite him, asked: 'What's the matter +with you, my dear Prince?' + +The Prince answered impatiently, 'There's not much good my telling +you, Puddocky, for you couldn't help me if I did.' + +'Don't be too sure of that,' replied the toad; 'tell me your +trouble and we'll see.' + +Then the Prince became most confidential and told the little +creature why he had been sent out of his father's kingdom. + +'Prince, I will certainly help you,' said the toad, and, crawling +back into her swamp, she returned dragging after her a piece of +linen not bigger than a finger, which she lay before the Prince, +saying, 'Take this home, and you'll see it will help you.' + +The Prince had no wish to take such an insignificant bundle with +him; but he didn't like to hurt Puddocky's feelings by refusing +it, so he took up the little packet, put it in his pocket, and +bade the little toad farewell. Puddocky watched the Prince till he +was out of sight and then crept back into the water. + +The further the Prince went the more he noticed that the pocket in +which the little roll of linen lay became heavier, and in +proportion his heart grew lighter. And so, greatly comforted, he +returned to the Court of his father, and arrived home just at the +same time as his brothers with their caravans. The King was +delighted to see them all again, and at once drew the ring from +his finger and the trial began. In all the waggon-loads there was +not one piece of linen the tenth part of which would go through +the ring, and the two elder brothers, who had at first sneered at +their youngest brother for returning with no baggage, began to +feel rather small. But what were their feelings when he drew a +bale of linen out of his pocket which in fineness, softness, and +purity of colour was unsurpassable! The threads were hardly +visible, and it went through the ring without the smallest +difficulty, at the same time measuring a hundred yards quite +correctly. + +The father embraced his fortunate son, and commanded the rest of +the linen to be thrown into the water; then, turning to his +children he said, 'Now, dear Princes, prepare yourselves for the +second task. You must bring me back a little dog that will go +comfortably into a walnut-shell.' + +The sons were all in despair over this demand, but as they each +wished to win the crown, they determined to do their best, and +after a very few days set out on their travels again. + +At the cross roads they separated once more. The youngest went by +himself along his lonely way, but this time he felt much more +cheerful. Hardly had he sat down under the bridge and heaved a +sigh, than Puddocky came out; and, sitting down opposite him, +asked, 'What's wrong with you now, dear Prince?' + +The Prince, who this time never doubted the little toad's power to +help him, told her his difficulty at once. 'Prince, I will help +you,' said the toad again, and crawled back into her swamp as fast +as her short little legs would carry her. She returned, dragging a +hazel nut behind her, which she laid at the Prince's feet and +said, 'Take this nut home with you and tell your father to crack +it very carefully, and you'll see then what will happen.' The +Prince thanked her heartily and went on his way in the best of +spirits, while the little puddock crept slowly back into the +water. + +When the Prince got home he found his brothers had just arrived +with great waggon-loads of little dogs of all sorts. The King had +a walnut shell ready, and the trial began; but not one of the dogs +the two eldest sons had brought with them would in the least fit +into the shell. When they had tried all their little dogs, the +youngest son handed his father the hazel-nut, with a modest bow, +and begged him to crack it carefully. Hardly had the old King done +so than a lovely tiny dog sprang out of the nutshell, and ran +about on the King's hand, wagging its tail and barking lustily at +all the other little dogs. The joy of the Court was great. The +father again embraced his fortunate son, commanded the rest of the +small dogs to be thrown into the water and drowned, and once more +addressed his sons. 'The two most difficult tasks have been +performed. Now listen to the third and last: whoever brings the +fairest wife home with him shall be my heir.' + +This demand seemed so easy and agreeable and the reward was so +great, that the Princes lost no time in setting forth on their +travels. At the cross roads the two elder brothers debated if they +should go the same way as the youngest, but when they saw how +dreary and deserted it looked they made up their minds that it +would be impossible to find what they sought in these wilds, and +so they stuck to their former paths. + +The youngest was very depressed this time and said to himself, +'Anything else Puddocky could have helped me in, but this task is +quite beyond her power. How could she ever find a beautiful wife +for me? Her swamps are wide and empty, and no human beings dwell +there; only frogs and toads and other creatures of that sort.' +However, he sat down as usual under the bridge, and this time he +sighed from the bottom of his heart. + +In a few minutes the toad stood in front of him and asked, 'What's +the matter with you now, my dear Prince?' + +'Oh, Puddocky, this time you can't help me, for the task is beyond +even your power,' replied the Prince. + +'Still,' answered the toad, 'you may as well tell me your +difficulty, for who knows but I mayn't be able to help you this +time also.' + +The Prince then told her the task they had been set to do. 'I'll +help you right enough, my dear Prince,' said the little toad; +'just you go home, and I'll soon follow you.' With these words, +Puddocky, with a spring quite unlike her usual slow movements, +jumped into the water and disappeared. + +The Prince rose up and went sadly on his way, for he didn't +believe it possible that the little toad could really help him in +his present difficulty. He had hardly gone a few steps when he +heard a sound behind him, and, looking round, he saw a carriage +made of cardboard, drawn by six big rats, coming towards him. Two +hedgehogs rode in front as outriders, and on the box sat a fat +mouse as coachman, and behind stood two little frogs as footmen. +In the carriage itself sat Puddocky, who kissed her hand to the +Prince out of the window as she passed by. + +Sunk deep in thought over the fickleness of fortune that had +granted him two of his wishes and now seemed about to deny him the +last and best, the Prince hardly noticed the absurd equipage, and +still less did he feel inclined to laugh at its comic appearance. + +The carriage drove on in front of him for some time and then +turned a corner. But what was his joy and surprise when suddenly, +round the same corner, but coming towards him, there appeared a +beautiful coach drawn by six splendid horses, with outriders, +coachmen, footmen and other servants all in the most gorgeous +liveries, and seated in the carriage was the most beautiful woman +the Prince had ever seen, and in whom he at once recognised the +beautiful Parsley, for whom his heart had formerly burned. The +carriage stopped when it reached him, and the footmen sprang down +and opened the door for him. He got in and sat down beside the +beautiful Parsley, and thanked her heartily for her help, and told +her how much he loved her. + +And so he arrived at his father's capital, at the same moment as +his brothers who had returned with many carriage-loads of +beautiful women. But when they were all led before the King, the +whole Court with one consent awarded the prize of beauty to the +fair Parsley. + +The old King was delighted, and embraced his thrice fortunate son +and his new daughter-in-law tenderly, and appointed them as his +successors to the throne. But he commanded the other women to be +thrown into the water and drowned, like the bales of linen and the +little dogs. The Prince married Puddocky and reigned long and +happily with her, and if they aren't dead I suppose they are +living still. + + + + + +THE STORY OF HOK LEE AND THE DWARFS + + + +There once lived in a small town in China a man named Hok Lee. He +was a steady industrious man, who not only worked hard at his +trade, but did all his own house-work as well, for he had no wife +to do it for him. 'What an excellent industrious man is this Hok +Lee!' said his neighbours; 'how hard he works: he never leaves his +house to amuse himself or to take a holiday as others do!' + +But Hok Lee was by no means the virtuous person his neighbours +thought him. True, he worked hard enough by day, but at night, +when all respectable folk were fast asleep, he used to steal out +and join a dangerous band of robbers, who broke into rich people's +houses and carried off all they could lay hands on. + +This state of things went on for some time, and, though a thief +was caught now and then and punished, no suspicion ever fell on +Hok Lee, he was such a very respectable, hard-working man. + +Hok Lee had already amassed a good store of money as his share of +the proceeds of these robberies when it happened one morning on +going to market that a neighbour said to him: + +'Why, Hok Lee, what is the matter with your face? One side of it +is all swelled up.' + +True enough, Hok Lee's right cheek was twice the size of his left, +and it soon began to feel very uncomfortable. + +'I will bind up my face,' said Hok Lee; 'doubtless the warmth will +cure the swelling.' But no such thing. Next day it was worse, and +day by day it grew bigger and bigger till it was nearly as large +as his head and became very painful. + +Hok Lee was at his wits' ends what to do. Not only was his cheek +unsightly and painful, but his neighbours began to jeer and make +fun of him, which hurt his feelings very much indeed. + +One day, as luck would have it, a travelling doctor came to the +town. He sold not only all kinds of medicine, but also dealt in +many strange charms against witches and evil spirits. + +Hok Lee determined to consult him, and asked him into his house. + +After the doctor had examined him carefully, he spoke thus: 'This, +O Hok Lee, is no ordinary swelled face. I strongly suspect you +have been doing some wrong deed which has called down the anger of +the spirits on you. None of my drugs will avail to cure you, but, +if you are willing to pay me handsomely, I can tell you how you +may be cured.' + +Then Hok Lee and the doctor began to bargain together, and it was +a long time before they could come to terms. However, the doctor +got the better of it in the end, for he was determined not to part +with his secret under a certain price, and Hok Lee had no mind to +carry his huge cheek about with him to the end of his days. So he +was obliged to part with the greater portion of his ill-gotten +gains. + +When the Doctor had pocketed the money, he told Hok Lee to go on +the first night of the full moon to a certain wood and there to +watch by a particular tree. After a time he would see the dwarfs +and little sprites who live underground come out to dance. When +they saw him they would be sure to make him dance too. 'And mind +you dance your very best,' added the doctor. 'If you dance well +and please them they will grant you a petition and you can then +beg to be cured; but if you dance badly they will most likely do +you some mischief out of spite.' With that he took leave and +departed. + +Happily the first night of the full moon was near, and at the +proper time Hok Lee set out for the wood. With a little trouble he +found the tree the doctor had described, and, feeling nervous, he +climbed up into it. + +He had hardly settled himself on a branch when he saw the little +dwarfs assembling in the moonlight. They came from all sides, till +at length there appeared to be hundreds of them. They seemed in +high glee, and danced and skipped and capered about, whilst Hok +Lee grew so eager watching them that he crept further and further +along his branch till at length it gave a loud crack. All the +dwarfs stood still, and Hok Lee felt as if his heart stood still +also. + +Then one of the dwarfs called out, 'Someone is up in that tree. +Come down at once, whoever you are, or we must come and fetch +you.' + +In great terror, Hok Lee proceeded to come down; but he was so +nervous that he tripped near the ground and came rolling down in +the most absurd manner. When he had picked himself up, he came +forward with a low bow, and the dwarf who had first spoken and who +appeared to be the leader, said, 'Now, then, who art thou, and +what brings thee here?' + +So Hok Lee told him the sad story of his swelled cheek, and how he +had been advised to come to the forest and beg the dwarfs to cure +him. + +'It is well,' replied the dwarf. 'We will see about that. First, +however, thou must dance before us. Should thy dancing please us, +perhaps we may be able to do something; but shouldst thou dance +badly, we shall assuredly punish thee, so now take warning and +dance away.' + +With that, he and all the other dwarfs sat down in a large ring, +leaving Hok Lee to dance alone in the middle. He felt half +frightened to death, and besides was a good deal shaken by his +fall from the tree and did not feel at all inclined to dance. But +the dwarfs were not to be trifled with. + +'Begin!' cried their leader, and 'Begin!' shouted the rest in +chorus. + +So in despair Hok Lee began. First he hopped on one foot and then +on the other, but he was so stiff and so nervous that he made but +a poor attempt, and after a time sank down on the ground and vowed +he could dance no more. + +The dwarfs were very angry. They crowded round Hok Lee and abused +him. 'Thou to come here to be cured, indeed!' they cried, 'thou +hast brought one big cheek with thee, but thou shalt take away +two.' And with that they ran off and disappeared, leaving Hok Lee +to find his way home as best he might. + +He hobbled away, weary and depressed, and not a little anxious on +account of the dwarfs' threat. + +Nor were his fears unfounded, for when he rose next morning his +left cheek was swelled up as big as his right, and he could hardly +see out of his eyes. Hok Lee felt in despair, and his neighbours +jeered at him more than ever. The doctor, too, had disappeared, so +there was nothing for it but to try the dwarfs once more. + +He waited a month till the first night of the full moon came round +again, and then he trudged back to the forest, and sat down under +the tree from which he had fallen. He had not long to wait. Ere +long the dwarfs came trooping out till all were assembled. + +'I don't feel quite easy,' said one; 'I feel as if some horrid +human being were near us.' + +When Hok Lee heard this he came forward and bent down to the +ground before the dwarfs, who came crowding round, and laughed +heartily at his comical appearance with his two big cheeks. + +'What dost thou want?' they asked; and Hok Lee proceeded to tell +them of his fresh misfortunes, and begged so hard to be allowed +one more trial at dancing that the dwarfs consented, for there is +nothing they love so much as being amused. + +Now, Hok Lee knew how much depended on his dancing well, so he +plucked up a good spirit and began, first quite slowly, and faster +by degrees, and he danced so well and gracefully, and made such +new and wonderful steps, that the dwarfs were quite delighted with +him. + +They clapped their tiny hands, and shouted, 'Well done, Hok Lee, +well done, go on, dance more, for we are pleased.' + +And Hok Lee danced on and on, till he really could dance no more, +and was obliged to stop. + +Then the leader of the dwarfs said, 'We are well pleased, Hok Lee, +and as a recompense for thy dancing thy face shall be cured. +Farewell.' + +With these words he and the other dwarfs vanished, and Hok Lee, +putting his hands to his face, found to his great joy that his +cheeks were reduced to their natural size. The way home seemed +short and easy to him, and he went to bed happy, and resolved +never to go out robbing again. + +Next day the whole town was full of the news of Hok's sudden cure. +His neighbours questioned him, but could get nothing from him, +except the fact that he had discovered a wonderful cure for all +kinds of diseases. + +After a time a rich neighbour, who had been ill for some years, +came, and offered to give Hok Lee a large sum of money if he would +tell him how he might get cured. Hok Lee consented on condition +that he swore to keep the secret. He did so, and Hok Lee told him +of the dwarfs and their dances. + +The neighbour went off, carefully obeyed Hok Lee's directions, and +was duly cured by the dwarfs. Then another and another came to Hok +Lee to beg his secret, and from each he extracted a vow of secrecy +and a large sum of money. This went on for some years, so that at +length Hok Lee became a very wealthy man, and ended his days in +peace and prosperity. + +From the Chinese. + + + + + +THE STORY OF THE THREE BEARS + + + +Once upon a time there were Three Bears, who lived together in a +house of their own in a wood. One of them was a Little, Small, Wee +Bear; and one was a Middle-sized Bear, and the other was a Great, +Huge Bear. They had each a pot for their porridge, a little pot +for the Little, Small, Wee Bear; and a middle-sized pot for the +Middle Bear; and a great pot for the Great, Huge Bear. And they +had each a chair to sit in; a little chair for the Little, Small, +Wee Bear; and a middle-sized chair for the Middle Bear; and a +great chair for the Great, Huge Bear. And they had each a bed to +sleep in; a little bed for the Little, Small, Wee Bear; and a +middle-sized bed for the Middle Bear; and a great bed for the +Great, Huge Bear. + +One day, after they had made the porridge for their breakfast, and +poured it into their porridge-pots, they walked out into the wood +while the porridge was cooling, that they might not burn their +mouths by beginning too soon to eat it. And while they were +walking, a little old woman came to the house. She could not have +been a good, honest old woman; for, first, she looked in at the +window, and then she peeped in at the keyhole; and, seeing nobody +in the house, she lifted the latch. The door was not fastened, +because the bears were good bears, who did nobody any harm, and +never suspected that anybody would harm them. So the little old +woman opened the door and went in; and well pleased she was when +she saw the porridge on the table. If she had been a good little +old woman she would have waited till the bears came home, and +then, perhaps, they would have asked her to breakfast; for they +were good bears--a little rough or so, as the manner of bears is, +but for all that very good-natured and hospitable. But she was an +impudent, bad old woman, and set about helping herself. + +So first she tasted the porridge of the Great, Huge Bear, and that +was too hot for her; and she said a bad word about that. And then +she tasted the porridge of the Middle Bear; and that was too cold +for her; and she said a bad word about that too. And then she went +to the porridge of the Little, Small, Wee Bear, and tasted that; +and that was neither too hot nor too cold, but just right; and she +liked it so well, that she ate it all up: but the naughty old +woman said a bad word about the little porridge-pot, because it +did not hold enough for her. + +Then the little old woman sate down in the chair of the Great, +Huge Bear, and that was too hard for her. And then she sate down +in the chair of the Middle Bear, and that was too soft for her. +And then she sate down in the chair of the Little, Small, Wee +Bear, and that was neither too hard nor too soft, but just right. +So she seated herself in it, and there she sate till the bottom of +the chair came out, and down came she, plump upon the ground. And +the naughty old woman said a wicked word about that too. + +Then the little old woman went up stairs into the bed-chamber in +which the three bears slept. And first she lay down upon the bed +of the Great, Huge Bear; but that was too high at the head for +her. And next she lay down upon the bed of the Middle Bear; and +that was too high at the foot for her. And then she lay down upon +the bed of the Little, Small, Wee Bear; and that was neither too +high at the head, nor at the foot, but just right. So she covered +herself up comfortably, and lay there till she fell fast asleep. + +By this time the three bears thought their porridge would be cool +enough; so they came home to breakfast. Now the little old woman +had left the spoon of the Great, Huge Bear, standing in his +porridge. + +'SOMEBODY HAS BEEN AT MY PORRIDGE!' + +said the Great, Huge Bear, in his great gruff voice. And when the +Middle Bear looked at his, he saw that the spoon was standing in +it too. They were wooden spoons; if they had been silver ones, the +naughty old woman would have put them in her pocket. + +'Somebody Has Been At My Porridge!' + +said the Middle Bear, in his middle voice. + +Then the Little, Small, Wee Bear looked at his, and there was the +spoon in the porridge-pot, but the porridge was all gone. + +'_Somebody has been at my porridge, and has eaten it all up_!' + +said the Little, Small Wee Bear, in his little, small wee voice. + +Upon this the three bears, seeing that some one had entered their +house, and eaten up the Little, Small, Wee Bear's breakfast, began +to look about them. Now the little old woman had not put the hard +cushion straight when she rose from the chair of the Great, Huge +Bear. + +'SOMEBODY HAS BEEN SITTING IN MY CHAIR!' + +said the Great, Huge Bear, in his great, rough, gruff voice. + +And the little old woman had squatted down the soft cushion of the +Middle Bear. + +'Somebody Has Been Sitting In My Chair!' + +said the Middle Bear, in his middle voice. + +And you know what the little old woman had done to the third +chair. + +'_Somebody has been sitting in my chair, and has sate the bottom +of it out_!' + +said the Little, Small, Wee Bear, in his little, small, wee voice. + +Then the three bears thought it necessary that they should make +farther search; so they went up stairs into their bed-chamber. Now +the little old woman had pulled the pillow of the Great, Huge Bear +out of its place. + +'SOMEBODY HAS BEEN LYING IN MY BED!' + +said the Great, Huge Bear, in his great, rough, gruff voice. + +And the little old woman had pulled the bolster of the Middle Bear +out of its place. + +'Somebody Has Been Lying In My Bed!' + +said the Middle Bear in his middle voice. + +And when the Little, Small, Wee Bear came to look at his bed, +there was the bolster in its place, and the pillow in its place +upon the bolster, and upon the pillow was the little old woman's +ugly, dirty head,--which was not in its place, for she had no +business there. + +'_Somebody has been lying in my bed,--and here she is_!' + +said the Little, Small, Wee Bear, in his little, small, wee voice. + +The little old woman had heard in her sleep the great, rough, +gruff voice of the Great, Huge Bear; but she was so fast asleep +that it was no more to her than the roaring of wind or the +rumbling of thunder. And she had heard the middle voice of the +Middle Bear, but it was only as if she had heard someone speaking +in a dream. But when she heard the little, small, wee voice of the +Little, Small, Wee Bear, it was so sharp, and so shrill, that it +awakened her at once. Up she started; and when she saw the Three +Bears on one side of the bed, she tumbled herself out at the +other, and ran to the window. Now the window was open, because the +bears, like good, tidy bears as they were, always opened their +bedchamber window when they got up in the morning. Out the little +old woman jumped; and whether she broke her neck in the fall, or +ran into the wood and was lost there, or found her way out of the +wood and was taken up by the constable and sent to the House of +Correction for a vagrant as she was, I cannot tell. But the Three +Bears never saw anything more of her. + +Southey. + + + + + +PRINCE VIVIEN AND THE PRINCESS PLACIDA + + + +Once upon a time there lived a King and Queen who loved one +another dearly. Indeed the Queen, whose name was Santorina, was so +pretty and so kind-hearted that it would have been a wonder if her +husband had not been fond of her, while King Gridelin himself was +a perfect bundle of good qualities, for the Fairy who presided at +his christening had summoned the shades of all his ancestors, and +taken something good from each of them to form his character. +Unfortunately, though, she had given him rather too much kindness +of heart, which is a thing that generally gets its possessor into +trouble, but so far all things had prospered with King Gridelin. +However, it was not to be expected such good fortune could last, +and before very long the Queen had a lovely little daughter who +was named Placida. Now the King, who thought that if she resembled +her mother in face and mind she would need no other gift, never +troubled to ask any of the Fairies to her christening, and this +offended them mortally, so that they resolved to punish him +severely for thus depriving them of their rights. So, to the +despair of King Gridelin, the Queen first of all became very ill, +and then disappeared altogether. If it had not been for the little +Princess there is no saying what would have become of him, he was +so miserable, but there she was to be brought up, and luckily the +good Fairy Lolotte, in spite of all that had passed, was willing +to come and take charge of her, and of her little cousin Prince +Vivien, who was an orphan and had been placed under the care of +his uncle, King Gridelin, when he was quite a baby. Although she +neglected nothing that could possibly have been done for them, +their characters, as they grew up, plainly proved that education +only softens down natural defects, but cannot entirely do away +with them; for Placida, who was perfectly lovely, and with a +capacity and intelligence which enabled her to learn and +understand anything that presented itself, was at the same time as +lazy and indifferent as it is possible for anyone to be, while +Vivien on the contrary was only too lively, and was for ever +taking up some new thing and as promptly tiring of it, and flying +off to something else which held his fickle fancy an equally short +time. As these two children would possibly inherit the kingdom, it +was natural that their people should take a great interest in +them, and it fell out that all the tranquil and peace-loving +citizens desired that Placida should one day be their Queen, while +the rash and quarrelsome hoped great things for Vivien. Such a +division of ideas seemed to promise civil wars and all kinds of +troubles to the State, and even in the Palace the two parties +frequently came into collision. As for the children themselves, +though they were too well brought up to quarrel, still the +difference in all their tastes and feelings made it impossible for +them to like one another, so there seemed no chance of their ever +consenting to be married, which was a pity, since that was the +only thing that would have satisfied both parties. Prince Vivien +was fully aware of the feeling in his favour, but being too +honourable to wish to injure his pretty cousin, and perhaps too +impatient and volatile to care to think seriously about anything, +he suddenly took it into his head that he would go off by himself +in search of adventure. Luckily this idea occurred to him when he +was on horseback, for he would certainly have set out on foot +rather than lose an instant. As it was, he simply turned his +horse's head, without another thought than that of getting out of +the kingdom as soon as possible. This abrupt departure was a great +blow to the State, especially as no one had any idea what had +become of the Prince. Even King Gridelin, who had never cared for +anything since the disappearance of Queen Santorina, was roused by +this new loss, and though he could not so much as look at the +Princess Placida without shedding floods of tears, he resolved to +see for himself what talents and capabilities she showed. He very +soon found out that in addition to her natural indolence, she was +being as much indulged and spoilt day by day as if the Fairy had +been her grandmother, and was obliged to remonstrate very +seriously upon the subject. Lolotte took his reproaches meekly, +and promised faithfully that she would not encourage the Princess +in her idleness and indifference any more. From this moment poor +Placida's troubles began! She was actually expected to choose her +own dresses, to take care of her jewels, and to find her own +amusements; but rather than take so much trouble she wore the same +old frock from morning till night, and never appeared in public if +she could possibly avoid it. However, this was not all, King +Gridelin insisted that the affairs of the kingdom should be +explained to her, and that she should attend all the councils and +give her opinion upon the matter in hand whenever it was asked of +her, and this made her life such a burden to her that she implored +Lolotte to take her away from a country where too much was +required of an unhappy Princess. + +The Fairy refused at first with a great show of firmness, but who +could resist the tears and entreaties of anyone so pretty as +Placida? It came to this in the end, that she transported the +Princess just as she was, cosily tucked up upon her favourite +couch, to her own Grotto, and this new disappearance left all the +people in despair, and Gridelin went about looking more distracted +than ever. But now let us return to Prince Vivien, and see what +his restless spirit has brought him to. Though Placida's kingdom +was a large one; his horse had carried him gallantly to the limit +of it, but it could go no further, and the Prince was obliged to +dismount and continue his journey on foot, though this slow mode +of progress tired his patience severely. + +After what seemed to him a very long time, he found himself all +alone in a vast forest, so dark and gloomy that he secretly +shuddered; however, he chose the most promising looking path he +could find, and marched along it courageously at his best speed, +but in spite of all his efforts, night fell before he reached the +edge of the wood. + +For some time he stumbled along, keeping to the path as well as he +could in the darkness, and just as he was almost wearied out he +saw before him a gleam of light. + +This sight revived his drooping spirits, and he made sure that he +was now close to the shelter and supper he needed so much, but the +more he walked towards the light the further away it seemed; +sometimes he even lost sight of it altogether, and you may imagine +how provoked and impatient he was by the time he finally arrived +at the miserable cottage from which the light proceeded. He gave a +loud knock at the door, and an old woman's voice answered from +within, but as she did not seem to be hurrying herself to open it +he redoubled his blows, and demanded to be let in imperiously, +quite forgetting that he was no longer in his own kingdom. But all +this had no effect upon the old woman, who only noticed all the +uproar he was making by saying gently: + +'You must have patience.' + +He could hear that she really was coming to open the door to him, +only she was so very long about it. First she chased away her cat, +lest it should run away when the door was opened, then he heard +her talking to herself and made out that her lamp wanted trimming, +that she might see better who it was that knocked, and then that +it lacked fresh oil, and she must refill it. So what with one +thing and another she was an immense time trotting to and fro, and +all the while she now and again bade the Prince have patience. +When at last he stood within the little hut he saw with despair +that it was a picture of poverty, and that not a crumb of anything +eatable was to be seen, and when he explained to the old woman +that he was dying of hunger and fatigue she only answered +tranquilly that he must have patience. However, she presently +showed him a bundle of straw on which he could sleep. + +'But what can I have to eat?' cried Prince Vivien sharply. + +'Wait a little, wait a little,' she replied. 'If you will only +have patience I am just going out into the garden to gather some +peas: we will shell them at our leisure, then I will light a fire +and cook them, and when they are thoroughly done, we can enjoy +them peaceably; there is no hurry.' + +'I shall have died of starvation by the time all that is done,' +said the Prince ruefully. + +'Patience, patience,' said the old woman looking at him with her +slow gentle smile, 'I can't be hurried. "All things come at last +to him who waits;" you must have heard that often.' + +Prince Vivien was wild with aggravation, but there was nothing to +be done. + +'Come then,' said the old woman, 'you shall hold the lamp to light +me while I pick the peas.' + +The Prince in his haste snatched it up so quickly that it went +out, and it took him a long time to light it again with two little +bits of glowing charcoal which he had to dig out from the pile of +ashes upon the hearth. However, at last the peas were gathered and +shelled, and the fire lighted, but then they had to be carefully +counted, since the old woman declared that she would cook fifty- +four, and no more. In vain did the Prince represent to her that he +was famished--that fifty-four peas would go no way towards +satisfying his hunger--that a few peas, more or less, surely could +not matter. It was quite useless, in the end he had to count out +the fifty-four, and worse than that, because he dropped one or two +in his hurry, he had to begin again from the very first, to be +sure the number was complete. As soon as they were cooked the old +dame took a pair of scales and a morsel of bread from the +cupboard, and was just about to divide it when Prince Vivien, who +really could wait no longer, seized the whole piece and ate it up, +saying in his turn, 'Patience.' + +'You mean that for a joke,' said the old woman, as gently as ever, +'but that is really my name, and some day you will know more about +me.' + +Then they each ate their twenty-seven peas, and the Prince was +surprised to find that he wanted nothing more, and he slept as +sweetly upon his bed of straw as he had ever done in his palace. + +In the morning the old woman gave him milk and bread for his +breakfast, which he ate contentedly, rejoicing that there was +nothing to be gathered, or counted, or cooked, and when he had +finished he begged her to tell him who she was. + +'That I will, with pleasure,' she replied. 'But it will be a long +story.' + +'Oh! if it's long, I can't listen,' cried the Prince. + +'But,' said she, 'at your age, you should attend to what old +people say, and learn to have patience.' + +'But, but,' said the Prince, in his most impatient tone, 'old +people should not be so long-winded! Tell me what country I have +got into, and nothing else.' + +'With all my heart,' said she. 'You are in the Forest of the Black +Bird; it is here that he utters his oracles.' + +'An Oracle,' cried the Prince. 'Oh! I must go and consult him.' +Thereupon he drew a handful of gold from his pocket, and offered +it to the old woman, and when she would not take it, he threw it +down upon the table and was off like a flash of lightning, without +even staying to ask the way. He took the first path that presented +itself and followed it at the top of his speed, often losing his +way, or stumbling over some stone, or running up against a tree, +and leaving behind him without regret the cottage which had been +as little to his taste as the character of its possessor. After +some time he saw in the distance a huge black castle which +commanded a view of the whole forest. The Prince felt certain that +this must be the abode of the Oracle, and just as the sun was +setting he reached its outermost gates. The whole castle was +surrounded by a deep moat, and the drawbridge and the gates, and +even the water in the moat, were all of the same sombre hue as the +walls and towers. Upon the gate hung a huge bell, upon which was +written in red letters: + +'Mortal, if thou art curious to know thy fate, strike this bell, +and submit to what shall befall thee.' + +The Prince, without the smallest hesitation, snatched up a great +stone, and hammered vigorously upon the bell, which gave forth a +deep and terrible sound, the gate flew open, and closed again with +a thundering clang the moment the Prince had passed through it, +while from every tower and battlement rose a wheeling, screaming +crowd of bats which darkened the whole sky with their multitudes. +Anyone but Prince Vivien would have been terrified by such an +uncanny sight, but he strode stoutly forward till he reached the +second gate, which was opened to him by sixty black slaves covered +from head to foot in long mantles. + +He wished to speak to them, but soon discovered that they spoke an +utterly unknown language, and did not seem to understand a word he +said. This was a great aggravation to the Prince, who vas not +accustomed to keep his ideas to himself, and he positively found +himself wishing for his old friend Patience. However, he had to +follow his guides in silence, and they led him into a magnificent +hall; the floor was of ebony, the walls of jet, and all the +hangings were of black velvet, but the Prince looked round it in +vain for something to eat, and then made signs that he was hungry. +In the same manner he was respectfully given to understand that he +must wait, and after several hours the sixty hooded and shrouded +figures re-appeared, and conducted him with great ceremony, and +also very very slowly, to a banqueting hall, where they all placed +themselves at a long table. The dishes were arranged down the +centre of it, and with his usual impetuosity the Prince seized the +one that stood in front of him to draw it nearer, but soon found +that it was firmly fixed in its place. Then he looked at his +solemn and lugubrious neighbours, and saw that each one was +supplied with a long hollow reed through which he slowly sucked up +his portion, and the Prince was obliged to do the same, though he +found it a frightfully tedious process. After supper, they +returned as they had come to the ebony room, where he was +compelled to look on while his companions played interminable +games of chess, and not until he was nearly dying of weariness did +they, slowly and ceremoniously as before, conduct him to his +sleeping apartment. The hope of consulting the Oracle woke him +very early the next morning, and his first demand was to be +allowed to present himself before it, but, without replying, his +attendants conducted him to a huge marble bath, very shallow at +one end, and quite deep at the other, and gave him to understand +that he was to go into it. The Prince, nothing loth, was for +springing at once into deep water, but he was gently but forcibly +held back and only allowed to stand where it was about an inch +deep, and he was nearly wild with impatience when he found that +this process was to be repeated every day in spite of all he could +say or do, the water rising higher and higher by inches, so that +for sixty days he had to live in perpetual silence, ceremoniously +conducted to and fro, supping all his meals through the long reed, +and looking on at innumerable games of chess, the game of all +others which he detested most. But at last the water rose as high +as his chin, and his bath was complete. And that day the slaves in +their black robes, and each having a large bat perched upon his +head, marched in slow procession with the Prince in their midst, +chanting a melancholy song, to the iron gate that led into a kind +of Temple. At the sound of their chanting, another band of slaves +appeared, and took possession of the unhappy Vivien. + +They looked to him exactly like the ones he had left, except that +they moved more slowly still, and each one held a raven upon his +wrist, and their harsh croakings re-echoed through the dismal +place. Holding the Prince by the arms, not so much to do him +honour as to restrain his impatience, they proceeded by slow +degrees up the steps of the Temple, and when they at last reached +the top he thought his long waiting must be at an end. But on the +contrary, after slowly enshrouding him in a long black robe like +their own, they led him into the Temple itself, where he was +forced to witness numbers of lengthy rites and ceremonies. By this +time Vivien's active impatience had subsided into passive +weariness, his yawns were continual and scandalous, but nobody +heeded him, he stared hopelessly at the thick black curtain which +hung down straight in front of him, and could hardly believe his +eyes when it presently began to slide back, and he saw before him +the Black Bird. It was of enormous size, and was perched upon a +thick bar of iron which ran across from one side of the Temple to +the other. At the sight of it all the slaves fell upon their knees +and hid their faces, and when it had three times flapped its +mighty wings it uttered distinctly in Prince Vivien's own language +the words: + +'Prince, your only chance of happiness depends upon that which is +most opposed to your own nature.' + +Then the curtain fell before it once more, and the Prince, after +many ceremonies, was presented with a raven which perched upon his +wrist, and was conducted slowly back to the iron gate. Here the +raven left him and he was handed over once more to the care of the +first band of slaves, while a large bat flickered down and settled +upon his head of its own accord, and so he was taken back to the +marble bath, and had to go through the whole process again, only +this time he began in deep water which receded daily inch by inch. +When this was over the slaves escorted him to the outer gate, and +took leave of him with every mark of esteem and politeness, to +which it is to be feared he responded but indifferently, since the +gate was no sooner opened than he took to his heels, and fled away +with all his might, his one idea being to put as much space as +possible between himself and the dreary place into which he had +ventured so rashly, just to consult a tedious Oracle who after all +had told him nothing. He actually reflected for about five seconds +on his folly, and came to the conclusion that it might sometimes +be advisable to think before one acted. + +After wandering about for several days until he was weary and +hungry, he at last succeeded in finding a way out of the forest, +and soon came to a wide and rapid river, which he followed, hoping +to find some means of crossing it, and it happened that as the sun +rose the next morning he saw something of a dazzling whiteness +moored out in the middle of the stream. Upon looking more +attentively at it he found that it was one of the prettiest little +ships he had ever seen, and the boat that belonged to it was made +fast to the bank quite close to him. The Prince was immediately +seized with the most ardent desire to go on board the ship, and +shouted loudly to attract the notice of her crew, but no one +answered. So he sprang into the little boat and rowed away without +finding it at all hard work, for the boat was made all of white +paper and was as light as a rose leaf. The ship was made of white +paper too, as the Prince presently discovered when he reached it. +He found not a soul on board, but there was a very cosy little bed +in the cabin, and an ample supply of all sorts of good things to +eat and drink, which he made up his mind to enjoy until something +new happened. Having been thoroughly well brought up at the court +of King Gridelin, of course he understood the art of navigation, +but when once he had started, the current carried the vessel down +at such a pace that before he knew where he was the Prince found +himself out at sea, and a wind springing up behind him just at +this moment soon drove him out of sight of land. By this time he +was somewhat alarmed, and did his best to put the ship about and +get back to the river, but wind and tide were too strong for him, +and he began to think of the number of times, from his childhood +up, that he had been warned not to meddle with water. But it was +too late now to do anything but wish vainly that he had stayed on +shore, and to grow heartily weary of the boat and the sea and +everything connected with it. These two things, however, he did +most thoroughly. To put the finishing touch to his misfortunes he +presently found himself becalmed in mid-ocean, a state of affairs +which would be considered trying by the most patient of men, so +you may imagine how it affected Prince Vivien! He even came to +wishing himself back at the Castle of the Black Bird, for there at +least he saw some living beings, whereas on board the white-paper +ship he was absolutely alone, and could not imagine how he was +ever to get away from his wearisome prison. However, after a very +long time, he did see land, and his impatience to be on shore was +so great that he at once flung himself over the ship's side that +he might reach it sooner by swimming. But this was quite useless, +for spring as far as he might from the vessel, it was always under +his feet again before he reached the water, and he had to resign +himself to his fate, and wait with what patience he could muster +until the winds and waves carried the ship into a kind of natural +harbour which ran far into the land. After his long imprisonment +at sea the Prince was delighted with the sight of the great trees +which grew down to the very edge of the water, and leaping lightly +on shore he speedily lost himself in the thick forest. When he had +wandered a long way he stopped to rest beside a clear spring of +water, but scarcely had he thrown himself down upon the mossy bank +when there was a great rustling in the bushes close by, and out +sprang a pretty little gazelle panting and exhausted, which fell +at his feet gasping out-- + +'Oh! Vivien, save me!' + +The Prince in great astonishment leapt to his feet, and had just +time to draw his sword before he found himself face to face with a +large green lion which had been hotly pursuing the poor little +gazelle. Prince Vivien attacked it gallantly and a fierce combat +ensued, which, however, ended before long in the Prince's dealing +his adversary a terrific blow which felled him to the earth. As he +fell the lion whistled loudly three times with such force that the +forest rang again, and the sound must have been heard for more +than two leagues round, after which having apparently nothing more +to do in the world he rolled over on his side and died. The Prince +without paying any further heed to him or to his whistling +returned to the pretty gazelle, saying: + +'Well! are you satisfied now? Since you can talk, pray tell me +instantly what all this is about, and how you happen to know my +name.' + +'Oh, I must rest for a long time before I can talk,' she replied, +'and beside, I very much doubt if you will have leisure to listen, +for the affair is by no means finished. In fact,' she continued in +the same languid tone, 'you had better look behind you now.' + +The Prince turned sharply round and to his horror saw a huge Giant +approaching with mighty strides, crying fiercely-- + +'Who has made my lion whistle I should like to know?' + +'I have,' replied Prince Vivien boldly, 'but I can answer for it +that he will not do it again!' + +At these words the Giant began to howl and lament. + +'Alas, my poor Tiny, my sweet little pet,' he cried, 'but at least +I can avenge thy death.' + +Thereupon he rushed at the Prince, brandishing an immense serpent +which was coiled about his wrist. Vivien, without losing his +coolness, aimed a terrific blow at it with his sword, but no +sooner did he touch the snake than it changed into a Giant and the +Giant into a snake, with such rapidity that the Prince felt +perfectly giddy, and this happened at least half-a-dozen times, +until at last with a fortunate stroke he cut the serpent in +halves, and picking up one morsel flung it with all his force at +the nose of the Giant, who fell insensible on top of the lion, and +in an instant a thick black cloud rolled up which hid them from +view, and when it cleared away they had all disappeared. + +Then the Prince, without even waiting to sheathe his sword, rushed +back to the gazelle, crying: + +'Now you have had plenty of time to recover your wits, and you +have nothing more to fear, so tell me who you are, and what this +horrible Giant, with his lion and his serpent, have to do with you +and for pity's sake be quick about it.' + +'I will tell you with pleasure,' she answered, 'but where is the +hurry? I want you to come back with me to the Green Castle, but I +don't want to walk there, it is so far, and walking is so +fatiguing.' + +'Let us set out at once then,' replied the Prince severely, 'or +else really I shall have to leave you where you are. Surely a +young and active gazelle like you ought to be ashamed of not being +able to walk a few steps. The further off this castle is the +faster we ought to walk, but as you don't appear to enjoy that, I +will promise that we will go gently, and we can talk by the way.' + +'It would be better still if you would carry me,' said she +sweetly, 'but as I don't like to see people giving themselves +trouble, you may carry me, and make that snail carry you.' So +saying, she pointed languidly with one tiny foot at what the +Prince had taken for a block of stone, but now he saw that it was +a huge snail. + +'What! I ride a snail!' cried the Prince; 'you are laughing at me, +and beside we should not get there for a year.' + +'Oh! well then don't do it,' replied the gazelle, 'I am quite +willing to stay here. The grass is green, and the water clear. But +if I were you I should take the advice that was given me and ride +the snail.' + +So, though it did not please him at all, the Prince took the +gazelle in his arms, and mounted upon the back of the snail, which +glided along very peaceably, entirely declining to be hurried by +frequent blows from the Prince's heels. In vain did the gazelle +represent to him that she was enjoying herself very much, and that +this was the easiest mode of conveyance she had ever discovered. +Prince Vivien was wild with impatience, and thought that the Green +Castle would never be reached. However, at last, they did get +there, and everyone who was in it ran to see the Prince dismount +from his singular steed. + +But what was his surprise, when having at her request set the +gazelle gently down upon the steps which led up to the castle, he +saw her suddenly change into a charming Princess, and recognized +in her his pretty cousin Placida, who greeted him with her usual +tranquil sweetness. His delight knew no bounds, and he followed +her eagerly up into the castle, impatient to know what strange +events had brought her there. But after all he had to wait for the +Princess's story, for the inhabitants of the Green Lands, hearing +that the Giant was dead, ran to offer the kingdom to his +vanquisher, and Prince Vivien had to listen to various +complimentary harangues, which took a great deal of time, though +he cut them as short as politeness allowed--if not shorter. But at +last he was free to rejoin Placida, who at once began the story of +her adventures. + +'After you had gone away,' said she, 'they tried to make me learn +how to govern the kingdom, which wearied me to death, so that I +begged and prayed Lolotte to take me away with her, and this she +presently did, but very reluctantly. However, having been +transported to her grotto upon my favourite couch, I spent several +delicious days, soothed by the soft green light, which was like a +beech wood in the spring, and by the murmuring of bees and the +tinkle of falling water. But alas! Lolotte was forced to go away +to a general assembly of the Fairies, and she came back in great +dismay, telling me that her indulgence to me had cost her dear, +for she had been severely reprimanded and ordered to hand me over +to the Fairy Mirlifiche, who was already taking charge of you, and +who had been much commended for her management of you.' + +'Fine management, indeed,' interrupted the Prince, 'if it is to +her I owe all the adventures I have met with! But go on with your +story, my cousin. I can tell you all about my doings afterwards, +and then you can judge for yourself.' + +'At first I was grieved to see Lolotte cry,' resumed the Princess, +'but I soon found that grieving was very troublesome, so I thought +it better to be calm, and very soon afterwards I saw the Fairy +Mirlifiche arrive, mounted upon her great unicorn. She stopped +before the grotto and bade Lolotte bring me out to her, at which +she cried worse than ever, and kissed me a dozen times, but she +dared not refuse. I was lifted up on to the unicorn, behind +Mirlifiche, who said to me-- + +'"Hold on tight, little girl, if you don't want to break your +neck." + +'And, indeed, I had to hold on with all my might, for her horrible +steed trotted so violently that it positively took my breath away. +However, at last we stopped at a large farm, and the farmer and +his wife ran out as soon as they saw the Fairy, and helped us to +dismount. + +'I knew that they were really a King and Queen, whom the Fairies +were punishing for their ignorance and idleness. You may imagine +that I was by this time half dead with fatigue, but Mirlifiche +insisted upon my feeding her unicorn before I did anything else. +To accomplish this I had to climb up a long ladder into the +hayloft, and bring down, one after another, twenty-four handfuls +of hay. Never, never before, did I have such a wearisome task! It +makes me shudder to think of it now, and that was not all. In the +same way I had to carry the twenty-four handfuls of hay to the +stable, and then it was supper time, and I had to wait upon all +the others. After that I really thought I should be allowed to go +peaceably to my little bed, but, oh dear no! First of all I had to +make it, for it was all in confusion, and then I had to make one +for the Fairy, and tuck her in, and draw the curtains round her, +beside rendering her a dozen little services which I was not at +all accustomed to. Finally, when I was perfectly exhausted by all +this toil, I was free to go to bed myself, but as I had never +before undressed myself, and really did not know how to begin, I +lay down as I was. Unfortunately, the Fairy found this out, and +just as I was falling into a sweet slumber, she made me get up +once more, but even then I managed to escape her vigilance, and +only took off my upper robe. Indeed, I may tell you in confidence, +that I always find disobedience answer very well. One is often +scolded, it is true, but then one has been saved some trouble. + +'At the earliest dawn of day Mirlifiche woke me, and made me take +many journeys to the stable to bring her word how her unicorn had +slept, and how much hay he had eaten, and then to find out what +time it was, and if it was a fine day. I was so slow, and did my +errands so badly, that before she left she called the King and +Queen and said to them: + +'"I am much more pleased with you this year. Continue to make the +best of your farm, if you wish to get back to your kingdom, and +also take care of this little Princess for me, and teach her to be +useful, that when I come I may find her cured of her faults. If +she is not--" + +'Here she broke off with a significant look, and mounting my enemy +the unicorn, speedily disappeared. + +'Then the King and Queen, turning to me, asked me what I could do. + +'"Nothing at all, I assure you," I replied in a tone which really +ought to have convinced them, but they went on to describe various +employments, and tried to discover which of them would be most to +my taste. However, at last I persuaded them that to do nothing +whatever would be the only thing that would suit me, and that if +they really wanted to be kind to me, they would let me go to bed +and to sleep, and not tease me about doing anything. To my great +joy, they not only permitted this, but actually, when they had +their own meals, the Queen brought my portion up to me. But early +the next morning she appeared at my bedside, saying, with an +apologetic air: + +'"My pretty child, I am afraid you must really make up your mind +to get up to-day. I know quite well how delightful it is to be +thoroughly idle, for when my husband and I were King and Queen we +did nothing at all from morning to night, and I sincerely hope +that it will not be long before those happy days will come again +for us. But at present we have not reached them, nor have you, and +you know from what the Fairy said that perhaps worse things may +happen to us if she is not obeyed. Make haste, I beg of you, and +come down to breakfast, for I have put by some delicious cream for +you." + +'It was really very tiresome, but as there was no help for it I +went down! + +'But the instant breakfast was over they began again their cuckoo- +cry of "What will you do?" In vain did I answer-- + +'"Nothing at all, if it please you, madam." + +'The Queen at last gave me a spindle and about four pounds of hemp +upon a distaff, and sent me out to keep the sheep, assuring me +that there could not be a pleasanter occupation, and that I could +take my ease as much as I pleased. I was forced to set out, very +unwillingly, as you may imagine, but I had not walked far before I +came to a shady bank in what seemed to me a charming place. I +stretched myself cosily upon the soft grass, and with the bundle +of hemp for a pillow slept as tranquilly as if there were no such +things as sheep in the world, while they for their part wandered +hither and thither at their own sweet will, as if there were no +such thing as a shepherdess, invading every field, and browsing +upon every kind of forbidden dainty, until the peasants, alarmed +by the havoc they were making, raised a clamour, which at last +reached the ears of the King and Queen, who ran out, and seeing +the cause of the commotion, hastily collected their flock. And, +indeed, the sooner the better, since they had to pay for all the +damage they had done. As for me I lay still and watched them run, +for I was very comfortable, and there I might be still if they had +not come up, all panting and breathless, and compelled me to get +up and follow them; they also reproached me bitterly, but I need +hardly tell you that they did not again entrust me with the flock. + +'But whatever they found for me to do it was always the same +thing, I spoilt and mismanaged it all, and was so successful in +provoking even the most patient people, that one day I ran away +from the farm, for I was really afraid the Queen would be obliged +to beat me. When I came to the little river in which the King used +to fish, I found the boat tied to a tree, and stepping in I +unfastened it, and floated gently down with the current. The +gliding of the boat was so soothing that I did not trouble myself +in the least when the Queen caught sight of me and ran along the +bank, crying-- + +'"My boat, my boat! Husband, come and catch the little Princess +who is running away with my boat!" + +'The current soon carried me out of hearing of her cries, and I +dreamed to the song of the ripples and the whisper of the trees, +until the boat suddenly stopped, and I found it was stuck fast +beside a fresh green meadow, and that the sun was rising. In the +distance I saw some little houses which seemed to be built in a +most singular fashion, but as I was by this time very hungry I set +out towards them, but before I had walked many steps, I saw that +the air was full of shining objects which seemed to be fixed, and +yet I could not see what they hung from. + +'I went nearer, and saw a silken cord hanging down to the ground, +and pulled it just because it was so close to my hand. Instantly +the whole meadow resounded to the melodious chiming of a peal of +silver bells, and they sounded so pretty that I sat down to +listen, and to watch them as they swung shining in the sunbeams. +Before they ceased to sound, came a great flight of birds, and +each one perching upon a bell added its charming song to the +concert. As they ended, I looked up and saw a tall and stately +dame advancing towards me, surrounded and followed by a vast flock +of every kind of bird. + +'"Who are you, little girl," said she, "who dares to come where I +allow no mortal to live, lest my birds should be disturbed? Still, +if you are clever at anything," she added, "I might be able to put +up with your presence." + +'"Madam," I answered, rising, "you may be very sure that I shall +not do anything to alarm your birds. I only beg you, for pity's +sake, to give me something to eat." + +'"I will do that," she replied, "before I send you where you +deserve to go." + +'And thereupon she despatched six jays, who were her pages, to +fetch me all sorts of biscuits, while some of the other birds +brought ripe fruits. In fact, I had a delicious breakfast, though +I do not like to be waited upon so quickly. It is so disagreeable +to be hurried. I began to think I should like very well to stay in +this pleasant country, and I said so to the stately lady, but she +answered with the greatest disdain: + +'"Do you think I would keep you here? _You_! Why what do you +suppose would be the good of you in this country, where everybody +is wide-awake and busy? No, no, I have shown you all the +hospitality you will get from me." + +'With these words she turned and gave a vigorous pull to the +silken rope which I mentioned before, but instead of a melodious +chime, there arose a hideous clanging which quite terrified me, +and in an instant a huge Black Bird appeared, which alighted at +the Fairy's feet, saying in a frightful voice-- + +'"What do you want of me, my sister?" + +'"I wish you to take this little Princess to my cousin, the Giant +of the Green Castle, at once," she replied, "and beg him from me +to make her work day and night upon his beautiful tapestry." + +'At these words the great Bird snatched me up, regardless of my +cries, and flew off at a terrific pace--' + +'Oh! you are joking, cousin,' interrupted Prince Vivien; 'you mean +as slowly as possible. I know that horrible Black Bird, and the +lengthiness of all his proceedings and surroundings.' + +'Have it your own way,' replied Placida, tranquilly. 'I cannot +bear arguing. Perhaps, this was not even the same bird. At any +rate, he carried me off at a prodigious speed, and set me gently +down in this very castle of which you are now the master. We +entered by one of the windows, and when the Bird had handed me +over to the Giant from whom you have been good enough to deliver +me, and given the Fairy's message, it departed. + +'Then the Giant turned to me, saying, + +'"So you are an idler! Ah! well, we must teach you to work. You +won't be the first we have cured of laziness. See how busy all my +guests are." + +'I looked up as he spoke, and saw that an immense gallery ran all +round the hall, in which were tapestry frames, spindles, skeins of +wool, patterns, and all necessary things. Before each frame about +a dozen people were sitting, hard at work, at which terrible sight +I fainted away, and as soon as I recovered they began to ask me +what I could do. + +'It was in vain that I replied as before, and with the strongest +desire to be taken at my word, "Nothing at all." + +'The Giant only said, + +'"Then you must learn to do something; in this world there is +enough work for everybody." + +'It appeared that they were working into the tapestry all the +stories the Fairies liked best, and they began to try and teach me +to help them, but from the first class, where they tried me to +begin with, I sank lower and lower, and not even the most simple +stitches could I learn. + +'In vain they punished me by all the usual methods. In vain the +Giant showed me his menagerie, which was entirely composed of +children who would not work! Nothing did me any good, and at last +I was reduced to drawing water for the dyeing of the wools, and +even over that I was so slow that this morning the Giant flew into +a rage and changed me into a gazelle. He was just putting me into +the menagerie when I happened to catch sight of a dog, and was +seized with such terror that I fled away at my utmost speed, and +escaped through the outer court of the castle. The Giant, fearing +that I should be lost altogether, sent his green lion after me, +with orders to bring me back, cost what it might, and I should +certainly have let myself be caught, or eaten up, or anything, +rather than run any further, if I had not luckily met you by the +fountain. And oh!' concluded the Princess, 'how delightful it is +once more to be able to sit still in peace. I was so tired of +trying to learn things.' + +Prince Vivien said that, for his part, he had been kept a great +deal too still, and had not found it at all amusing, and then he +recounted all his adventures with breathless rapidity. How he had +taken shelter with Dame Patience, and consulted the Oracle, and +voyaged in the paper ship. Then they went hand in hand to release +all the prisoners in the castle, and all the Princes and +Princesses who were in cages in the menagerie, for the instant the +Green Giant was dead they had resumed their natural forms. As you +may imagine, they were all very grateful, and Princess Placida +entreated them never, never to do another stitch of work so long +as they lived, and they promptly made a great bonfire in the +courtyard, and solemnly burnt all the embroidery frames and +spinning wheels. Then the Princess gave them splendid presents, or +rather sat by while Prince Vivien gave them, and there were great +rejoicings in the Green Castle, and everyone did his best to +please the Prince and Princess. But with all their good +intentions, they often made mistakes, for Vivien and Placida were +never of one mind about their plans, so it was very confusing, and +they frequently found themselves obeying the Prince's orders, +very, very slowly, and rushing off with lightning speed to do +something that the Princess did not wish to have done at all, +until, by-and-by, the two cousins took to consulting with, and +consoling one another in all these little vexations, and at last +came to be so fond of each other that for Placida's sake Vivien +became quite patient, and for Vivien's sake Placida made the most +unheard-of exertions. But now the Fairies who had been watching +all these proceedings with interest, thought it was time to +interfere, and ascertain by further trials if this improvement was +likely to continue, and if they really loved one another. So they +caused Placida to seem to have a violent fever, and Vivien to +languish and grow dull, and made each of them very uneasy about +the other, and then, finding a moment when they were apart, the +Fairy Mirlifiche suddenly appeared to Placida, and said-- + +'I have just seen Prince Vivien, and he seemed to me to be very +ill.' + +'Alas! yes, madam,' she answered, 'and if you will but cure him, +you may take me back to the farm, or bring the Green Giant to life +again, and you shall see how obedient I will be.' + +'If you really wish him to recover,' said the Fairy, 'you have +only to catch the Trotting Mouse and the Chaffinch-on-the-Wing and +bring them to me. Only remember that time presses!' + +She had hardly finished speaking before the Princess was rushing +headlong out of the castle gate, and the Fairy after watching her +till she was lost to sight, gave a little chuckle and went in +search of the Prince, who begged her earnestly to send him back to +the Black Castle, or to the paper boat if she would but save +Placida's life. The Fairy shook her head, and looked very grave. +She quite agreed with him, the Princess was in a bad way--'But,' +said she, 'if you can find the Rosy Mole, and give him to her she +will recover.' So now it was the Prince's turn to set off in a +vast hurry, only as soon as he left the Castle he happened to go +in exactly the opposite direction to the one Placida had taken. +Now you can imagine these two devoted lovers hunting night and +day. The Princess in the woods, always running, always listening, +pursuing hotly after two creatures which seemed to her very hard +to catch, which she yet never ceased from pursuing. The Prince on +the other hand wandering continually across the meadows, his eyes +fixed upon the ground, attentive to every movement among the +moles. He was forced to walk slowly--slowly upon tip-toe, hardly +venturing to breathe. Often he stood for hours motionless as a +statue, and if the desire to succeed could have helped him he +would soon have possessed the Rosy Mole. But alas! all that he +caught were black and ordinary, though strange to say he never +grew impatient, but always seemed ready to begin the tedious hunt +again. But this changing of character is one of the most ordinary +miracles which love works. Neither the Prince nor the Princess +gave a thought to anything but their quest. It never even occurred +to them to wonder what country they had reached. So you may guess +how astonished they were one day, when having at last been +successful after their long and weary chase, they cried aloud at +the same instant: 'At last I have saved my beloved,' and then +recognising each other's voice looked up, and rushed to meet one +another with the wildest joy. Surprise kept them silent while for +one delicious moment they gazed into each other's eyes, and just +then who should come up but King Gridelin, for it was into his +kingdom they had accidentally strayed. He recognized them in his +turn and greeted them joyfully, but when they turned afterwards to +look for the Rosy Mole, the Chaffinch, and the Trotting-Mouse, +they had vanished, and in their places stood a lovely lady whom +they did not know, the Black Bird, and the Green Giant. King +Gridelin had no sooner set eyes upon the lady than with a cry of +joy he clasped her in his arms, for it was no other than his long- +lost wife, Santorina, about whose imprisonment in Fairyland you +may perhaps read some day. + +Then the Black Bird and the Green Giant resumed their natural +form, for they were enchanters, and up flew Lolotte and Mirlifiche +in their chariots, and then there was a great kissing and +congratulating, for everybody had regained someone he loved, +including the enchanters, who loved their natural forms dearly. +After this they repaired to the Palace, and the wedding of Prince +Vivien and Princess Placida was held at once with all the +splendour imaginable. + +King Gridelin and Queen Santorina, after all their experiences had +no further desire to reign, so they retired happily to a peaceful +place, leaving their kingdom to the Prince and Princess, who were +beloved by all their subjects, and found their greatest happiness +all their lives long in making other people happy. + +Nonchalante et Papillon + + + + + +LITTLE ONE-EYE, LITTLE TWO-EYES, AND LITTLE THREE-EYES + + + +There was once a woman who had three daughters, of whom the eldest +was called Little One-eye, because she had only one eye in the +middle of her forehead; and the second, Little Two-eyes, because +she had two eyes like other people; and the youngest, Little +Three-eyes, because she had three eyes, and _her_ third eye +was also in the middle of her forehead. But because Little Two- +eyes did not look any different from other children, her sisters +and mother could not bear her. They would say to her, 'You with +your two eyes are no better than common folk; you don't belong to +us.' They pushed her here, and threw her wretched clothes there, +and gave her to eat only what they left, and they were as unkind +to her as ever they could be. + +It happened one day that Little Two-eyes had to go out into the +fields to take care of the goat, but she was still quite hungry +because her sisters had given her so little to eat. So she sat +down in the meadow and began to cry, and she cried so much that +two little brooks ran out of her eyes. But when she looked up once +in her grief there stood a woman beside her who asked, 'Little +Two-eyes, what are you crying for?' Little Two-eyes answered, +'Have I not reason to cry? Because I have two eyes like other +people, my sisters and my mother cannot bear me; they push me out +of one corner into another, and give me nothing to eat except what +they leave. To-day they have given me so little that I am still +quite hungry.' Then the wise woman said, 'Little Two-eyes, dry +your eyes, and I will tell you something so that you need never be +hungry again. Only say to your goat, + +"Little goat, bleat, Little table, appear," + +and a beautifully spread table will stand before you, with the +most delicious food on it, so that you can eat as much as you +want. And when you have had enough and don't want the little table +any more, you have only to say, + +"Little goat, bleat, Little table, away," + +and then it will vanish.' Then the wise woman went away. + +But Little Two-eyes thought, 'I must try at once if what she has +told me is true, for I am more hungry than ever'; and she said, + +'Little goat, bleat, Little table appear,' + +and scarcely had she uttered the words, when there stood a little +table before her covered with a white cloth, on which were +arranged a plate, with a knife and fork and a silver spoon, and +the most beautiful dishes, which were smoking hot, as if they had +just come out of the kitchen. Then Little Two-eyes said the +shortest grace she knew, and set to work and made a good dinner. +And when she had had enough, she said, as the wise woman had told +her, + +'Little goat, bleat, Little table, away,' + +and immediately the table and all that was on it disappeared +again. 'That is a splendid way of housekeeping,' thought Little +Two-eyes, and she was quite happy and contented. + +In the evening, when she went home with her goat, she found a +little earthenware dish with the food that her sisters had thrown +to her, but she did not touch it. The next day she went out again +with her goat, and left the few scraps which were given her. The +first and second times her sisters did not notice this, but when +it happened continually, they remarked it and said, 'Something is +the matter with Little Two-eyes, for she always leaves her food +now, and she used to gobble up all that was given her. She must +have found other means of getting food.' So in order to get at the +truth, Little One-eye was told to go out with Little Two-eyes when +she drove the goat to pasture, and to notice particularly what she +got there, and whether anyone brought her food and drink. + +Now when Little Two-eyes was setting out, Little One-eye came up +to her and said, 'I will go into the field with you and see if you +take good care of the goat, and if you drive him properly to get +grass.' But Little Two-eyes saw what Little One-eye had in her +mind, and she drove the goat into the long grass and said, 'Come, +Little One-eye, we will sit down here, and I will sing you +something.' + +Little One-eye sat down, and as she was very much tired by the +long walk to which she was not used, and by the hot day, and as +Little Two-eyes went on singing. + +'Little One-eye, are you awake? Little One-eye, are you asleep?' + +she shut her one eye and fell asleep. When Little Two-eyes saw +that Little One-eye was asleep and could find out nothing, she +said, + +'Little goat, bleat, Little table, appear,' + +and sat down at her table and ate and drank as much as she wanted. +Then she said again, + +'Little goat, bleat, Little table, away.' + +and in the twinkling of an eye all had vanished. + +Little Two-eyes then woke Little One-eye and said, 'Little One- +eye, you meant to watch, and, instead, you went to sleep; in the +meantime the goat might have run far and wide. Come, we will go +home.' So they went home, and Little Two-eyes again left her +little dish untouched, and Little One-eye could not tell her +mother why she would not eat, and said as an excuse, 'I was so +sleepy out-of-doors.' + +The next day the mother said to Little Three-eyes, 'This time you +shall go with Little Two-eyes and watch whether she eats anything +out in the fields, and whether anyone brings her food and drink, +for eat and drink she must secretly.' So Little Three-eyes went to +Little Two-eyes and said, 'I will go with you and see if you take +good care of the goat, and if you drive him properly to get +grass.' But little Two-eyes knew what Little Three-eyes had in her +mind, and she drove the goat out into the tall grass and said, 'We +will sit down here, Little Three-eyes, and I will sing you +something.' Little Three-eyes sat down; she was tired by the walk +and the hot day, and Little Two-eyes sang the same little song +again: + +'Little Three eyes, are you awake?' + +but instead of singing as she ought to have done, + +'Little Three-eyes, are you asleep?' + +she sang, without thinking, + +'Little _Two-eyes_, are you asleep?' + +She went on singing, + +'Little Three-eyes, are you awake? Little _Two-eyes_, are you +asleep?' + +so that the two eyes of Little Three-eyes fell asleep, but the +third, which was not spoken to in the little rhyme, did not fall +asleep. Of course Little Three-eyes shut that eye also out of +cunning, to look as if she were asleep, but it was blinking and +could see everything quite well. + +And when Little Two-eyes thought that Little Three-eyes was sound +asleep, she said her rhyme, + +'Little goat, bleat, Little table, appear,' + +and ate and drank to her heart's content, and then made the table +go away again, by saying, + +'Little goat, bleat, Little table, away.' + +But Little Three-eyes had seen everything. Then Little Two-eyes +came to her, and woke her and said, 'Well, Little Three-eyes, have +you been asleep? You watch well! Come, we will go home.' When they +reached home, Little Two-eyes did not eat again, and Little Three- +eyes said to the mother, 'I know now why that proud thing eats +nothing. When she says to the goat in the field, + +"Little goat, bleat, Little table, appear," + +a table stands before her, spread with the best food, much better +than we have; and when she has had enough, she says, + +"Little goat, bleat, Little table, away," + +and everything disappears again. I saw it all exactly. She made +two of my eyes go to sleep with a little rhyme, but the one in my +forehead remained awake, luckily!' + +Then the envious mother cried out, 'Will you fare better than we +do? you shall not have the chance to do so again!' and she fetched +a knife, and killed the goat. + +When Little Two-eyes saw this, she went out full of grief, and sat +down in the meadow and wept bitter tears. Then again the wise +woman stood before her, and said, 'Little Two-eyes, what are you +crying for?' 'Have I not reason to cry?' she answered, 'the goat, +which when I said the little rhyme, spread the table so +beautifully, my mother has killed, and now I must suffer hunger +and want again.' The wise woman said, 'Little Two-eyes, I will +give you a good piece of advice. Ask your sisters to give you the +heart of the dead goat, and bury it in the earth before the house- +door; that will bring you good luck.' Then she disappeared, and +Little Two-eyes went home, and said to her sisters, 'Dear sisters, +do give me something of my goat; I ask nothing better than its +heart.' Then they laughed and said, 'You can have that if you want +nothing more.' And Little Two-eyes took the heart and buried it in +the evening when all was quiet, as the wise woman had told her, +before the house-door. The next morning when they all awoke and +came to the house-door, there stood a most wonderful tree, which +had leaves of silver and fruit of gold growing on it--you never +saw anything more lovely and gorgeous in your life! But they did +not know how the tree had grown up in the night; only Little Two- +eyes knew that it had sprung from the heart of the goat, for it +was standing just where she had buried it in the ground. Then the +mother said to Little One-eye, 'Climb up, my child, and break us +off the fruit from the tree.' Little One-eye climbed up, but just +when she was going to take hold of one of the golden apples the +bough sprang out of her hands; and this happened every time, so +that she could not break off a single apple, however hard she +tried. Then the mother said, 'Little Three-eyes, do you climb up; +you with your three eyes can see round better than Little One- +eye.' So Little One-eye slid down, and Little Three-eyes climbed +up; but she was not any more successful; look round as she might, +the golden apples bent themselves back. At last the mother got +impatient and climbed up herself, but she was even less successful +than Little One-eye and Little Three-eyes in catching hold of the +fruit, and only grasped at the empty air. Then Little Two-eyes +said, 'I will just try once, perhaps I shall succeed better.' The +sisters called out, 'You with your two eyes will no doubt +succeed!' But Little Two-eyes climbed up, and the golden apples +did not jump away from her, but behaved quite properly, so that +she could pluck them off, one after the other, and brought a whole +apron-full down with her. The mother took them from her, and, +instead of behaving better to poor Little Two-eyes, as they ought +to have done, they were jealous that she only could reach the +fruit and behaved still more unkindly to her. + +It happened one day that when they were all standing together by +the tree that a young knight came riding along. 'Be quick, Little +Two-eyes,' cried the two sisters, 'creep under this, so that you +shall not disgrace us,' and they put over poor Little Two-eyes as +quickly as possible an empty cask, which was standing close to the +tree, and they pushed the golden apples which she had broken off +under with her. When the knight, who was a very handsome young +man, rode up, he wondered to see the marvellous tree of gold and +silver, and said to the two sisters, 'Whose is this beautiful +tree? Whoever will give me a twig of it shall have whatever she +wants.' Then Little One-eye and Little Three-eyes answered that +the tree belonged to them, and that they would certainly break him +off a twig. They gave themselves a great deal of trouble, but in +vain; the twigs and fruit bent back every time from their hands. +Then the knight said, 'It is very strange that the tree should +belong to you, and yet that you have not the power to break +anything from it!' But they would have that the tree was theirs; +and while they were saying this, Little Two-eyes rolled a couple +of golden apples from under the cask, so that they lay at the +knight's feet, for she was angry with Little One-eye and Little +Three-eyes for not speaking the truth. When the knight saw the +apples he was astonished, and asked where they came from. Little +One-eye and Little Three-eyes answered that they had another +sister, but she could not be seen because she had only two eyes, +like ordinary people. But the knight demanded to see her, and +called out, 'Little Two-eyes, come forth.' Then Little Two-eyes +came out from under the cask quite happily, and the knight was +astonished at her great beauty, and said, 'Little Two-eyes, I am +sure you can break me off a twig from the tree.' 'Yes,' answered +Little Two-eyes, 'I can, for the tree is mine.' So she climbed up +and broke off a small branch with its silver leaves and golden +fruit without any trouble, and gave it to the knight. Then he +said, 'Little Two-eyes, what shall I give you for this?' 'Ah,' +answered Little Two-eyes, 'I suffer hunger and thirst, want and +sorrow, from early morning till late in the evening; if you would +take me with you, and free me from this, I should be happy!' Then +the knight lifted Little Two-eyes on his horse, and took her home +to his father's castle. There he gave her beautiful clothes, and +food and drink, and because he loved her so much he married her, +and the wedding was celebrated with great joy. + +When the handsome knight carried Little Two-eyes away with him, +the two sisters envied her good luck at first. 'But the wonderful +tree is still with us, after all,' they thought, 'and although we +cannot break any fruit from it, everyone will stop and look at it, +and will come to us and praise it; who knows whether _we_ may +not reap a harvest from it?' But the next morning the tree had +flown, and their hopes with it; and when Little Two-eyes looked +out of her window there it stood underneath, to her great delight. +Little Two-eyes lived happily for a long time. Once two poor women +came to the castle to beg alms. Then Little Two-eyes looked at +then and recognised both her sisters, Little One-eye and Little +Three-eyes, who had become so poor that they came to beg bread at +her door. But Little Two-eyes bade them welcome, and was so good +to them that they both repented from their hearts of having been +so unkind to their sister. + +Grimm. + + + + + +JORINDE AND JORINGEL + + + +There was once upon a time a castle in the middle of a thick wood +where lived an old woman quite alone, for she was an enchantress. +In the day-time she changed herself into a cat or a night-owl, but +in the evening she became like an ordinary woman again. She could +entice animals and birds to come to her, and then she would kill +and cook them. If any youth came within a hundred paces of the +castle, he was obliged to stand still, and could not stir from the +spot till she set him free; but if a pretty girl came within this +boundary, the old enchantress changed her into a bird, and shut +her up in a wicker cage, which she put in one of the rooms in the +castle. She had quite seven thousand of such cages in the castle +with very rare birds in them. + +Now, there was once a maiden called Jorinde, who was more +beautiful than other maidens. She and a youth named Joringel, who +was just as good-looking as she was, were betrothed to one +another. Their greatest delight was to be together, and so that +they might get a good long talk, they went one evening for a walk +in the wood. 'Take care,' said Joringel, 'not to come too close to +the castle.' It was a beautiful evening; the sun shone brightly +between the stems of the trees among the dark green leaves of the +forest, and the turtle-dove sang clearly on the old maybushes. + +Jorinde wept from time to time, and she sat herself down in the +sunshine and lamented, and Joringel lamented too. They felt as sad +as if they had been condemned to die; they looked round and got +quite confused, and did not remember which was their way home. +Half the sun was still above the mountain and half was behind it +when Joringel looked through the trees and saw the old wall of the +castle quite near them. He was terrified and half dead with +fright. Jorinde sang: + +'My little bird with throat so red Sings sorrow, sorrow, sorrow; +He sings to the little dove that's dead, Sings sorrow, sor--jug, +jug, jug.' + +Joringel looked up at Jorinde. She had been changed into a +nightingale, who was singing 'jug, jug.' A night-owl with glowing +eyes flew three times round her, and screeched three times 'tu- +whit, tu-whit, tu-whoo.' Joringel could not stir; he stood there +like a stone; he could not weep, or speak, or move hand or foot. +Now the sun set; the owl flew into a bush, and immediately an old, +bent woman came out of it; she was yellow-skinned and thin, and +had large red eyes and a hooked nose, which met her chin. She +muttered to herself, caught the nightingale, and carried her away +in her hand. Joringel could say nothing; he could not move from +the spot, and the nightingale was gone. At last the woman came +back again, and said in a gruff voice, 'Good evening, Zachiel; +when the young moon shines in the basket, you are freed early, +Zachiel.' Then Joringel was free. He fell on his knees before the +old woman and implored her to give him back his Jorinde, but she +said he should never have her again, and then went away. He called +after her, he wept and lamented, but all in vain. 'What is to +become of me!' he thought. Then he went away, and came at last to +a strange village, where he kept sheep for a long time. He often +went round the castle while he was there, but never too close. At +last he dreamt one night that he had found a blood-red flower, +which had in its centre a beautiful large pearl. He plucked this +flower and went with it to the castle; and there everything which +he touched with the flower was freed from the enchantment, and he +got his Jorinde back again through it. When he awoke in the +morning he began to seek mountain and valley to find such a +flower. He sought it for eight days, and on the ninth early in the +morning he found the blood-red flower. In its centre was a large +dew-drop, as big as the most lovely pearl. He travelled day and +night with this flower till he arrived at the castle. When he came +within a hundred paces of it he did not cease to be able to move, +but he went on till he reached the gate. He was delighted at his +success, touched the great gate with the flower, and it sprung +open. He entered, passed through the courtyard, and then stopped +to listen for the singing of the birds; at last he heard it. He +went in and found the hall in which was the enchantress, and with +her seven thousand birds in their wicker cages. When she saw +Joringel she was furious, and breathed out poison and gall at him, +but she could not move a step towards him. He took no notice of +her, and went and looked over the cages of birds; but there were +many hundred nightingales, and how was he to find his Jorinde from +among them? Whilst he was considering, he observed the old witch +take up a cage secretly and go with it towards the door. Instantly +he sprang after her, touched the cage with the flower, and the old +woman as well. Now she could no longer work enchantments, and +there stood Jorinde before him, with her arms round his neck, and +more beautiful than ever. Then he turned all the other birds again +into maidens, and he went home with his Jorinde, and they lived a +long and happy life. + +Grimm. + + + + + +ALLERLEIRAUH; OR, THE MANY-FURRED CREATURE + + + +There was once upon a time a King who had a wife with golden hair, +and she was so beautiful that you couldn't find anyone like her in +the world. It happened that she fell ill, and when she felt that +she must soon die, she sent for the King, and said, 'If you want +to marry after my death, make no one queen unless she is just as +beautiful as I am, and has just such golden hair as I have. +Promise me this.' After the King had promised her this, she closed +her eyes and died. + +For a long time the King was not to be comforted, and he did not +even think of taking a second wife. At last his councillors said, +'The King _must_ marry again, so that we may have a queen.' +So messengers were sent far and wide to seek for a bride equal to +the late Queen in beauty. But there was no one in the wide world, +and if there had been she could not have had such golden hair. +Then the messengers came home again, not having been able to find +a queen. + +Now, the King had a daughter, who was just as beautiful as her +dead mother, and had just such golden hair. One day when she had +grown up, her father looked at her, and saw that she was exactly +like her mother, so he said to his councillors, 'I will marry my +daughter to one of you, and she shall be queen, for she is exactly +like her dead mother, and when I die her husband shall be king.' +But when the Princess heard of her father's decision, she was not +at all pleased, and said to him, 'Before I do your bidding, I must +have three dresses; one as golden as the sun, one as silver as the +moon, and one as shining as the stars. Besides these, I want a +cloak made of a thousand different kinds of skin; every animal in +your kingdom must give a bit of his skin to it.' But she thought +to herself, 'This will be quite impossible, and I shall not have +to marry someone I do not care for.' The King, however, was not to +be turned from his purpose, and he commanded the most skilled +maidens in his kingdom to weave the three dresses, one as golden +as the sun, and one as silver as the moon, and one as shining as +the stars; and he gave orders to all his huntsmen to catch one of +every kind of beast in the kingdom, and to get a bit of its skin +to make the cloak of a thousand pieces of fur. At last, when all +was ready, the King commanded the cloak to be brought to him, and +he spread it out before the Princess, and said, 'Tomorrow shall be +your wedding-day.' When the Princess saw that there was no more +hope of changing her father's resolution, she determined to flee +away. In the night, when everyone else was sleeping, she got up +and took three things from her treasures, a gold ring, a little +gold spinning-wheel, and a gold reel; she put the sun, moon, and +star dresses in a nut-shell, drew on the cloak of many skins, and +made her face and hands black with soot. Then she commended +herself to God, and went out and travelled the whole night till +she came to a large forest. And as she was very much tired she sat +down inside a hollow tree and fell asleep. + +The sun rose and she still slept on and on, although it was nearly +noon. Now, it happened that the king to whom this wood belonged +was hunting in it. When his dogs came to the tree, they sniffed, +and ran round and round it, barking. The King said to the +huntsmen, 'See what sort of a wild beast is in there.' The +huntsmen went in, and then came back and said, 'In the hollow tree +there lies a wonderful animal that we don't know, and we have +never seen one like it; its skin is made of a thousand pieces of +fur; but it is lying down asleep.' The King said, 'See if you can +catch it alive, and then fasten it to the cart, and we will take +it with us.' When the huntsmen seized the maiden, she awoke and +was frightened, and cried out to them, 'I am a poor child, +forsaken by father and mother; take pity on me, and let me go with +you.' Then they said to her, 'Many-furred Creature, you can work +in the kitchen; come with us and sweep the ashes together.' So +they put her in the cart and they went back to the palace. There +they showed her a tiny room under the stairs, where no daylight +came, and said to her, 'Many-furred Creature, you can live and +sleep here.' Then she was sent into the kitchen, where she carried +wood and water, poked the fire, washed vegetables, plucked fowls, +swept up the ashes, and did all the dirty work. + +So the Many-furred Creature lived for a long time in great +poverty. Ah, beautiful King's daughter, what is going to befall +you now? + +It happened once when a great feast was being held in the palace, +that she said to the cook, 'Can I go upstairs for a little bit and +look on? I will stand outside the doors.' The cook replied, 'Yes, +you can go up, but in half-an-hour you must be back here to sweep +up the ashes.' Then she took her little oil-lamp, and went into +her little room, drew off her fur cloak, and washed off the soot +from her face and hands, so that her beauty shone forth, and it +was as if one sunbeam after another were coming out of a black +cloud. Then she opened the nut, and took out the dress as golden +as the sun. And when she had done this, she went up to the feast, +and everyone stepped out of her way, for nobody knew her, and they +thought she must be a King's daughter. But the King came towards +her and gave her his hand, and danced with her, thinking to +himself, 'My eyes have never beheld anyone so fair!' When the +dance was ended, she curtseyed to him, and when the King looked +round she had disappeared, no one knew whither. The guards who +were standing before the palace were called and questioned, but no +one had seen her. + +She had run to her little room and had quickly taken off her +dress, made her face and hands black, put on the fur cloak, and +was once more the Many-furred Creature. When she came into the +kitchen and was setting about her work of sweeping the ashes +together, the cook said to her, 'Let that wait till to-morrow, and +just cook the King's soup for me; I want to have a little peep at +the company upstairs; but be sure that you do not let a hair fall +into it, otherwise you will get nothing to eat in future!' So the +cook went away, and the Many-furred Creature cooked the soup for +the King. She made a bread-soup as well as she possibly could, and +when it was done, she fetched her gold ring from her little room, +and laid it in the tureen in which the soup was to be served up. + +When the dance was ended, the King had his soup brought to him and +ate it, and it was so good that he thought he had never tasted +such soup in his life. But when he came to the bottom of the dish +he saw a gold ring lying there, and he could not imagine how it +got in. Then he commanded the cook to be brought before him. The +cook was terrified when he heard the command, and said to the +Many-furred Creature, 'You must have let a hair fall into the +soup, and if you have you deserve a good beating!' When he came +before the King, the King asked who had cooked the soup. The cook +answered, 'I cooked it.' But the King said, 'That's not true, for +it was quite different and much better soup than you have ever +cooked.' Then the cook said, 'I must confess; _I_ did not +cook the soup; the Many-furred Creature did.' 'Let her be brought +before me,' said the King. When the Many-furred Creature came, the +King asked her who she was. 'I am a poor child without father or +mother.' Then he asked her, 'What do you do in my palace?' 'I am +of no use except to have boots thrown at my head.' 'How did you +get the ring which was in the soup?' he asked. 'I know nothing at +all about the ring,' she answered. So the King could find out +nothing, and was obliged to send her away. + +After a time there was another feast, and the Many-furred Creature +begged the cook as at the last one to let her go and look on. He +answered, 'Yes, but come back again in half-an-hour and cook the +King the bread-soup that he likes so much.' So she ran away to her +little room, washed herself quickly, took out of the nut the dress +as silver as the moon and put it on. Then she went upstairs +looking just like a King's daughter, and the King came towards +her, delighted to see her again, and as the dance had just begun, +they danced together. But when the dance was ended, she +disappeared again so quickly that the King could not see which way +she went. She ran to her little room and changed herself once more +into the Many-furred Creature, and went into the kitchen to cook +the bread-soup. When the cook was upstairs, she fetched the golden +spinning-wheel and put it in the dish so that the soup was poured +over it. It was brought to the King, who ate it, and liked it as +much as the last time. He had the cook sent to him, and again he +had to confess that the Many-furred Creature had cooked the soup. +Then the Many-furred Creature came before the King, but she said +again that she was of no use except to have boots thrown at her +head, and that she knew nothing at all of the golden spinning- +wheel. + +When the King had a feast for the third time, things did not turn +out quite the same as at the other two. The cook said, 'You must +be a witch, Many-furred Creature, for you always put something in +the soup, so that it is much better and tastes nicer to the King +than any that I cook.' But because she begged hard, he let her go +up for the usual time. Now she put on the dress as shining as the +stars, and stepped into the hall in it. + +The King danced again with the beautiful maiden, and thought she +had never looked so beautiful. And while he was dancing, he put a +gold ring on her finger without her seeing it, and he commanded +that the dance should last longer than usual. When it was finished +he wanted to keep her hands in his, but she broke from him, and +sprang so quickly away among the people that she vanished from his +sight. She ran as fast as she could to her little room under the +stairs, but because she had stayed too long beyond the half-hour, +she could not stop to take off the beautiful dress, but only threw +the fur cloak over it, and in her haste she did not make herself +quite black with the soot, one finger remaining white. The Many- +furred Creature now ran into the kitchen, cooked the King's bread- +soup, and when the cook had gone, she laid the gold reel in the +dish. When the King found the reel at the bottom, he had the Many- +furred Creature brought to him, and then he saw the white finger, +and the ring which he had put on her hand in the dance. Then he +took her hand and held her tightly, and as she was trying to get +away, she undid the fur-cloak a little bit and the star-dress +shone out. The King seized the cloak and tore it off her. Her +golden hair came down, and she stood there in her full splendour, +and could not hide herself away any more. And when the soot and +ashes had been washed from her face, she looked more beautiful +than anyone in the world. But the King said, 'You are my dear +bride, and we will never be separated from one another.' So the +wedding was celebrated and they lived happily ever after. + +Grimm. + + + + + +THE TWELVE HUNTSMEN + + + +Once upon a time there was a King's son who was engaged to a +Princess whom he dearly loved. One day as he sat by her side +feeling very happy, he received news that his father was lying at +the point of death, and desired to see him before his end. So he +said to his love: 'Alas! I must go off and leave you, but take +this ring and wear it as a remembrance of me, and when I am King I +will return and fetch you home.' + +Then he rode off, and when he reached his father he found him +mortally ill and very near death. + +The King said: 'Dearest son, I have desired to see you again +before my end. Promise me, I beg of you, that you will marry +according to my wishes'; and he then named the daughter of a +neighbouring King who he was anxious should be his son's wife. The +Prince was so overwhelmed with grief that he could think of +nothing but his father, and exclaimed: 'Yes, yes, dear father, +whatever you desire shall be done.' Thereupon the King closed his +eyes and died. + +After the Prince had been proclaimed King, and the usual time of +mourning had elapsed, he felt that he must keep the promise he had +made to his father, so he sent to ask for the hand of the King's +daughter, which was granted to him at once. + +Now, his first love heard of this, and the thought of her lover's +desertion grieved her so sadly that she pined away and nearly +died. Her father said to her: 'My dearest child, why are you so +unhappy? If there is anything you wish for, say so, and you shall +have it.' + +His daughter reflected for a moment, and then said: 'Dear father, +I wish for eleven girls as nearly as possible of the same height, +age, and appearance as myself.' + +Said the King: 'If the thing is possible your wish shall be +fulfilled'; and he had his kingdom searched till he found eleven +maidens of the same height, size, and appearance as his daughter. + +Then the Princess desired twelve complete huntsmen's suits to be +made, all exactly alike, and the eleven maidens had to dress +themselves in eleven of the suits, while she herself put on the +twelfth. After this she took leave of her father, and rode off +with her girls to the court of her former lover. + +Here she enquired whether the King did not want some huntsmen, and +if he would not take them all into his service. The King saw her +but did not recognize her, and as he thought them very good- +looking young people, he said, 'Yes, he would gladly engage them +all.' So they became the twelve royal huntsmen. + +Now, the King had a most remarkable Lion, for it knew every hidden +or secret thing. + +One evening the Lion said to the King: 'So you think you have got +twelve huntsmen, do you?' + +'Yes, certainly,' said the King, 'they _are_ twelve +huntsmen.' + +'There you are mistaken,' said the Lion; 'they are twelve +maidens.' + +'That cannot possibly be,' replied the King; 'how do you mean to +prove that?' + +'Just have a number of peas strewed over the floor of your ante- +chamber,' said the Lion, 'and you will soon see. Men have a +strong, firm tread, so that if they happen to walk over peas not +one will stir, but girls trip, and slip, and slide, so that the +peas roll all about.' + +The King was pleased with the Lion's advice, and ordered the peas +to be strewn in his ante-room. + +Fortunately one of the King's servants had become very partial to +the young huntsmen, and hearing of the trial they were to be put +to, he went to them and said: 'The Lion wants to persuade the King +that you are only girls'; and then told them all the plot. + +The King's daughter thanked him for the hint, and after he was +gone she said to her maidens: 'Now make every effort to tread +firmly on the peas.' + +Next morning, when the King sent for his twelve huntsmen, and they +passed through the ante-room which was plentifully strewn with +peas, they trod so firmly and walked with such a steady, strong +step that not a single pea rolled away or even so much as stirred. +After they were gone the King said to the Lion: 'There now--you +have been telling lies--you see yourself they walk like men.' + +'Because they knew they were being put to the test,' answered the +Lion; 'and so they made an effort; but just have a dozen spinning- +wheels placed in the ante-room. When they pass through you'll see +how pleased they will be, quite unlike any man.' + +The King was pleased with the advice, and desired twelve spinning- +wheels to be placed in his ante-chamber. + +But the good-natured servant went to the huntsmen and told them +all about this fresh plot. Then, as soon as the King's daughter +was alone with her maidens, she exclaimed: 'Now, pray make a great +effort and don't even _look_ at those spinning-wheels.' + +When the King sent for his twelve huntsmen next morning they +walked through the ante-room without even casting a glance at the +spinning-wheels. + +Then the King said once more to the Lion: 'You have deceived me +again; they _are_ men, for they never once looked at the +spinning-wheels.' + +The Lion replied: 'They knew they were being tried, and they did +violence to their feelings.' But the King declined to believe in +the Lion any longer. + +So the twelve huntsmen continued to follow the King, and he grew +daily fonder of them. One day whilst they were all out hunting it +so happened that news was brought that the King's intended bride +was on her way and might soon be expected. When the true bride +heard of this she felt as though a knife had pierced her heart, +and she fell fainting to the ground. The King, fearing something +had happened to his dear huntsman, ran up to help, and began +drawing off his gloves. Then he saw the ring which he had given to +his first love, and as he gazed into her face he knew her again, +and his heart was so touched that he kissed her, and as she opened +her eyes, he cried: 'I am thine and thou art mine, and no power on +earth can alter that.' + +To the other Princess he despatched a messenger to beg her to +return to her own kingdom with all speed. 'For,' said he, 'I have +got a wife, and he who finds an old key again does not require a +new one.' + +Thereupon the wedding was celebrated with great pomp, and the Lion +was restored to the royal favour, for after all he had told the +truth. + +Grimm. + + + + + +SPINDLE, SHUTTLE, AND NEEDLE + + + +Once upon a time there lived a girl who lost her father and mother +when she was quite a tiny child. Her godmother lived all alone in +a little cottage at the far end of the village, and there she +earned her living by spinning, weaving, and sewing. The old woman +took the little orphan home with her and brought her up in good, +pious, industrious habits. + +When the girl was fifteen years old, her godmother fell ill, and, +calling the child to her bedside, she said: 'My dear daughter, I +feel that my end is near. I leave you my cottage, which will, at +least, shelter you, and also my spindle, my weaver's shuttle, and +my needle, with which to earn your bread.' + +Then she laid her hands on the girl's head, blessed her, and +added: 'Mind and be good, and then all will go well with you.' +With that she closed her eyes for the last time, and when she was +carried to her grave the girl walked behind her coffin weeping +bitterly, and paid her all the last honours. + +After this the girl lived all alone in the little cottage. She +worked hard, spinning, weaving, and sewing, and her old +godmother's blessing seemed to prosper all she did. The flax +seemed to spread and increase; and when she wove a carpet or a +piece of linen, or made a shirt, she was sure to find a customer +who paid her well, so that not only did she feel no want herself, +but she was able to help those who did. + +Now, it happened that about this time the King's son was making a +tour through the entire country to look out for a bride. He could +not marry a poor woman, and he did not wish for a rich one. + +'She shall be my wife,' said he, 'who is at once the poorest and +the richest.' + +When he reached the village where the girl lived, he inquired who +was the richest and who the poorest woman in it. The richest was +named first; the poorest, he was told, was a young girl who lived +alone in a little cottage at the far end of the village. + +The rich girl sat at her door dressed out in all her best clothes, +and when the King's son came near she got up, went to meet him, +and made him a low curtsey. He looked well at her, said nothing, +but rode on further. + +When he reached the poor girl's house he did not find her at her +door, for she was at work in her room. The Prince reined in his +horse, looked in at the window through which the sun was shining +brightly, and saw the girl sitting at her wheel busily spinning +away. + +She looked up, and when she saw the King's son gazing in at her, +she blushed red all over, cast down her eyes and span on. Whether +the thread was quite as even as usual I really cannot say, but she +went on spinning till the King's son had ridden off. Then she +stepped to the window and opened the lattice, saying, 'The room is +so hot,' but she looked after him as long as she could see the +white plumes in his hat. + +Then she sat down to her work once more and span on, and as she +did so an old saying which, she had often heard her godmother +repeat whilst at work, came into her head, and she began to sing: + +'Spindle, spindle, go and see, If my love will come to me.' + +Lo, and behold! the spindle leapt from her hand and rushed out of +the room, and when she had sufficiently recovered from her +surprise to look after it she saw it dancing merrily through the +fields, dragging a long golden thread after it, and soon it was +lost to sight. + +The girl, having lost her spindle, took up the shuttle and, +seating herself at her loom, began to weave. Meantime the spindle +danced on and on, and just as it had come to the end of the golden +thread, it reached the King's son. + +'What do I see?' he cried; 'this spindle seems to wish to point +out the way to me.' So he turned his horses head and rode back +beside the golden thread. + +Meantime the girl sat weaving, and sang: + +'Shuttle, weave both web and woof, Bring my love beneath my roof.' + +The shuttle instantly escaped from her hand, and with one bound +was out at the door. On the threshold it began weaving the +loveliest carpet that was ever seen. Roses and lilies bloomed on +both sides, and in the centre a thicket seemed to grow with +rabbits and hares running through it, stags and fawns peeping +through the branches, whilst on the topmost boughs sat birds of +brilliant plumage and so life-like one almost expected to hear +them sing. The shuttle flew from side to side and the carpet +seemed almost to grow of itself. + +As the shuttle had run away the girl sat down to sew. She took her +needle and sang: + +'Needle, needle, stitch away, Make my chamber bright and gay,' + +and the needle promptly slipped from her fingers and flew about +the room like lightning. You would have thought invisible spirits +were at work, for in next to no time the table and benches were +covered with green cloth, the chairs with velvet, and elegant silk +curtains hung before the windows. The needle had barely put in its +last stitch when the girl, glancing at the window, spied the white +plumed hat of the King's son who was being led back by the spindle +with the golden thread. + +He dismounted and walked over the carpet into the house, and when +he entered the room there stood the girl blushing like any rose. +'You are the poorest and yet the richest,' said he: 'come with me, +you shall be my bride.' + +She said nothing, but she held out her hand. Then he kissed her, +and led her out, lifted her on his horse and took her to his royal +palace, where the wedding was celebrated with great rejoicings. + +The spindle, the shuttle, and the needle were carefully placed in +the treasury, and were always held in the very highest honour. + +Grimm. + + + + + +THE CRYSTAL COFFIN + + + +Now let no one say that a poor tailor can't get on in the world, +and, indeed, even attain to very high honour. Nothing is required +but to set the right way to work, but of course the really +important thing is to succeed. + +A very bright active young tailor once set off on his travels, +which led him into a wood, and as he did not know the way he soon +lost himself. Night came on, and there seemed to be nothing for it +but to seek out the best resting-place he could find. He could +have made himself quite comfortable with a bed of soft moss, but +the fear of wild beasts disturbed his mind, and at last he +determined to spend the night in a tree. + +He sought out a tall oak tree, climbed up to the top, and felt +devoutly thankful that his big smoothing-iron was in his pocket, +for the wind in the tree-tops was so high that he might easily +have been blown away altogether. + +After passing some hours of the night, not without considerable +fear and trembling, he noticed a light shining at a little +distance, and hoping it might proceed from some house where he +could find a better shelter than in the top of the tree, he +cautiously descended and went towards the light. It led him to a +little hut all woven together of reeds and rushes. He knocked +bravely at the door, which opened, and by the light which shone +from within he saw an old gray-haired man dressed in a coat made +of bright-coloured patches. 'Who are you, and what do you want?' +asked the old man roughly. + +'I am a poor tailor,' replied the youth. 'I have been benighted in +the forest, and I entreat you to let me take shelter in your hut +till morning.' + +'Go your way,' said the old man in a sulky tone, 'I'll have +nothing to do with tramps. You must just go elsewhere.' + +With these words he tried to slip back into his house, but the +tailor laid hold of his coat-tails, and begged so hard to be +allowed to stay that the old fellow, who was by no means as cross +as he appeared, was at length touched by his entreaties, let him +come in, and after giving him some food, showed him quite a nice +bed in one corner of the room. The weary tailor required no +rocking to rest, but slept sound till early morning, when he was +roused from his slumbers by a tremendous noise. Loud screams and +shouts pierced the thin walls of the little hut. The tailor, with +new-born courage, sprang up, threw on his clothes with all speed +and hurried out. There he saw a huge black bull engaged in a +terrible fight with a fine large stag. They rushed at each other +with such fury that the ground seemed to tremble under them and +the whole air to be filled with their cries. For some time it +appeared quite uncertain which would be the victor, but at length +the stag drove his antlers with such force into his opponent's +body that the bull fell to the ground with a terrific roar, and a +few more strokes finished him. + +The tailor, who had been watching the fight with amazement, was +still standing motionless when the stag bounded up to him, and +before he had time to escape forked him up with its great antlers, +and set off at full gallop over hedges and ditches, hill and dale, +through wood and water. The tailor could do nothing but hold on +tight with both hands to the stag's horns and resign himself to +his fate. He felt as if he were flying along. At length the stag +paused before a steep rock and gently let the tailor down to the +ground. + +Feeling more dead than alive, he paused for a while to collect his +scattered senses, but when he seemed somewhat restored the stag +struck such a blow on a door in the rock that it flew open. Flames +of fire rushed forth, and such clouds of steam followed that the +stag had to avert its eyes. The tailor could not think what to do +or which way to turn to get away from this awful wilderness, and +to find his way back amongst human beings once more. + +As he stood hesitating, a voice from the rock cried to him: 'Step +in without fear, no harm shall befall you.' + +He still lingered, but some mysterious power seemed to impel him, +and passing through the door he found himself in a spacious hall, +whose ceiling, walls, and floor were covered with polished tiles +carved all over with unknown figures. He gazed about, full of +wonder, and was just preparing to walk out again when the same +voice bade him: 'Tread on the stone in the middle of the hall, and +good luck will attend you.' + +By this time he had grown so courageous that he did not hesitate +to obey the order, and hardly had he stepped on the stone than it +began to sink gently with him into the depths below. On reaching +firm ground he found himself in a hall of much the same size as +the upper one, but with much more in it to wonder at and admire. +Round the walls were several niches, in each of which stood glass +vessels filled with some bright-coloured spirit or bluish smoke. +On the floor stood two large crystal boxes opposite each other, +and these attracted his curiosity at once. + +Stepping up to one of them, he saw within it what looked like a +model in miniature of a fine castle surrounded by farms, barns, +stables, and a number of other buildings. Everything was quite +tiny, but so beautifully and carefully finished that it might have +been the work of an accomplished artist. He would have continued +gazing much longer at this remarkable curiosity had not the voice +desired him to turn round and look at the crystal coffin which +stood opposite. + +What was his amazement at seeing a girl of surpassing loveliness +lying in it! She lay as though sleeping, and her long, fair hair +seemed to wrap her round like some costly mantle. Her eyes were +closed, but the bright colour in her face, and the movement of a +ribbon, which rose and fell with her breath, left no doubt as to +her being alive. + +As the tailor stood gazing at her with a beating heart, the maiden +suddenly opened her eyes, and started with delighted surprise. + +'Great heavens!' she cried, 'my deliverance approaches! Quick, +quick, help me out of my prison; only push back the bolt of this +coffin and I am free.' + +The tailor promptly obeyed, when she quickly pushed back the +crystal lid, stepped out of the coffin and hurried to a corner of +the hall, when she proceeded to wrap herself in a large cloak. +Then she sat down on a stone, desired the young man to come near, +and, giving him an affectionate kiss, she said, 'My long-hoped-for +deliverer, kind heaven has led you to me, and has at length put an +end to all my sufferings. You are my destined husband, and, +beloved by me, and endowed with every kind of riches and power, +you shall spend the remainder of your life in peace and happiness. +Now sit down and hear my story. I am the daughter of a wealthy +nobleman. My parents died when I was very young, and they left me +to the care of my eldest brother, by whom I was carefully +educated. We loved each other so tenderly, and our tastes and +interests were so much alike that we determined never to marry, +but to spend our entire lives together. There was no lack of +society at our home. Friends and neighbours paid us frequent +visits, and we kept open house for all. Thus it happened that one +evening a stranger rode up to the castle and asked for +hospitality, as he could not reach the nearest town that night. We +granted his request with ready courtesy, and during supper he +entertained us with most agreeable conversation, mingled with +amusing anecdotes. My brother took such a fancy to him that he +pressed him to spend a couple of days with us, which, after a +little hesitation, the stranger consented to do. We rose late from +table, and whilst my brother was showing our guest to his room I +hurried to mine, for I was very tired and longed to get to bed. I +had hardly dropped off to sleep when I was roused by the sound of +some soft and charming music. Wondering whence it could come, I +was about to call to my maid who slept in the room next mine, +when, to my surprise, I felt as if some heavy weight on my chest +had taken all power from me, and I lay there unable to utter the +slightest sound. Meantime, by the light of the night lamp, I saw +the stranger enter my room, though the double doors had been +securely locked. He drew near and told me that through the power +of his magic arts he had caused the soft music to waken me, and +had made his way through bolts and bars to offer me his hand and +heart. My repugnance to his magic was so great that I would not +condescend to give any answer. He waited motionless for some time, +hoping no doubt for a favourable reply, but as I continued silent +he angrily declared that he would find means to punish my pride, +and therewith he left the room in a rage. + +'I spent the night in the greatest agitation, and only fell into a +doze towards morning. As soon as I awoke I jumped up, and hurried +to tell my brother all that had happened, but he had left his +room, and his servant told me that he had gone out at daybreak to +hunt with the stranger. + +'My mind misgave me. I dressed in all haste, had my palfrey +saddled, and rode of at full gallop towards the forest, attended +by one servant only. I pushed on without pausing, and ere long I +saw the stranger coming towards me, and leading a fine stag. I +asked him where he had left my brother, and how he had got the +stag, whose great eyes were overflowing with tears. Instead of +answering he began to laugh, and I flew into such a rage that I +drew a pistol and fired at him; but the bullet rebounded from his +breast and struck my horse in the forehead. I fell to the ground, +and the stranger muttered some words, which robbed me of my +senses. + +'When I came to myself I was lying in a crystal coffin in this +subterranean vault. The Magician appeared again, and told me that +he had transformed my brother into a stag, had reduced our castle +and all its defences to miniature and locked them up in a glass +box, and after turning all our household into different vapours +had banished them into glass phials. If I would only yield to his +wishes he could easily open these vessels, and all would then +resume their former shapes. + +'I would not say a word more than I had done previously, and he +vanished, leaving me in my prison, where a deep sleep soon fell on +me. Amongst the many dreams which floated through my brain was a +cheering one of a young man who was to come and release me, and +to-day, when I opened my eyes, I recognised you and saw that my +dream was fulfilled. Now help me to carry out the rest of my +vision. The first thing is to place the glass box which contains +my castle on this large stone.' + +As soon as this was done the stone gently rose through the air and +transported them into the upper hall, whence they easily carried +the box into the outer air. The lady then removed the lid, and it +was marvellous to watch the castle, houses, and farmyards begin to +grow and spread themselves till they had regained their proper +size. Then the young couple returned by means of the movable +stone, and brought up all the glass vessels filled with smoke. No +sooner were they uncorked than the blue vapours poured out and +became transformed to living people, in whom the lady joyfully +recognised her many servants and attendants. + +Her delight was complete when her brother (who had killed the +Magician under the form of a bull) was seen coming from the forest +in his proper shape, and that very day, according to her promise, +she gave her hand in marriage to the happy young tailor. + +Grimm. + + + + + +THE THREE SNAKE-LEAVES + + + +There was once a poor man who could no longer afford to keep his +only son at home. So the son said to him, 'Dear father, you are so +poor that I am only a burden to you; I would rather go out into +the world and see if I can earn my own living.' The father gave +him his blessing and took leave of him with much sorrow. About +this time the King of a very powerful kingdom was carrying on a +war; the youth therefore took service under him and went on the +campaign. When they came before the enemy, a battle took place, +there was some hot fighting, and it rained bullets so thickly that +his comrades fell around him on all sides. And when their leader +fell too the rest wished to take to flight; but the youth stepped +forward and encouraged them and called out, 'We must not let our +country be ruined!' Then others followed him, and he pressed on +and defeated the enemy. When the King heard that he had to thank +him alone for the victory, he raised him higher than anyone else +in rank, gave him great treasures and made him the first in the +kingdom. + +The King had a daughter who was very beautiful, but she was also +very capricious. She had made a vow to marry no one who would not +promise her that if she died first, he would allow himself to be +buried alive with her. 'If he loves me truly,' she used to say, +'what use would life be to him then?' At the same time she was +willing to do the same, and if he died first to be buried with +him. This curious vow had up to this time frightened away all +suitors, but the young man was so captivated by her beauty, that +he hesitated at nothing and asked her hand of her father. 'Do you +know,' asked the King, 'what you have to promise?' 'I shall have +to go into her grave with her,' he answered, 'if I outlive her, +but my love is so great that I do not think of the risk.' So the +King consented, and the wedding was celebrated with great +splendour. + +Now, they lived for a long time very happily with one another, but +then it came to pass that the young Queen fell seriously ill, and +no doctor could save her. And when she lay dead, the young King +remembered what he had promised, and it made him shudder to think +of lying in her grave alive, but there was no escape. The King had +set guards before all the gates, and it was not possible to avoid +his fate. + +When the day arrived on which the corpse was to be laid in the +royal vault, he was led thither, then the entrance was bolted and +closed up. + +Near the coffin stood a table on which were placed four candles, +four loaves of bread, and four bottles of wine. As soon as this +provision came to an end he would have to die. So he sat there +full of grief and misery, eating every day only a tiny bit of +bread, and drinking only a mouthful of ovine, and he watched death +creeping nearer and nearer to him. One day as he was sitting +staring moodily in front of him, he saw a snake creep out of the +corner towards the corpse. Thinking it was going to touch it, he +drew his sword and saying, 'As long as I am alive you shall not +harm her,' he cut it in three pieces. After a little time a second +snake crept out of the corner, but when it saw the first one lying +dead and in pieces it went back and came again soon, holding three +green leaves in its mouth. Then it took the three bits of the +snake and laid them in order, and put one of the leaves on each +wound. Immediately the pieces joined together, the snake moved +itself and became alive and then both hurried away. The leaves +remained lying on the ground, and it suddenly occurred to the +unfortunate man who had seen everything, that the wonderful power +of the leaves might also be exercised upon a human being. + +So he picked up the leaves and laid one of them on the mouth and +the other two on the eyes of the dead woman. And scarcely had he +done this, before the blood began to circulate in her veins, then +it mounted and brought colour back to her white face. Then she +drew her breath, opened her eyes, and said, 'Ah! where am I?' 'You +are with me, dear lady,' he answered, and told her all that had +happened, and how he had brought her to life again. He then gave +her some wine and bread, and when all her strength had returned +she got up, and they went to the door and knocked and called so +loudly that the guards heard them, and told the King. The King +came himself to open the door, and there he found both happy and +well, and he rejoiced with them that now all trouble was over. But +the young King gave the three snake-leaves to a servant, saying to +him, 'Keep them carefully for me, and always carry them with you; +who knows but that they may help us in a time of need!' + +It seemed, however, as if a change had come over the young Queen +after she had been restored to life, and as if all her love for +her husband had faded from her heart. Some time afterwards, when +he wanted to take a journey over the sea to his old father, and +they were on board the ship, she forgot the great love and +faithfulness he had shown her and how he had saved her from death, +and fell in love with the captain. And one day when the young King +was lying asleep, she called the captain to her, and seized the +head of the sleeping King and made him take his feet, and together +they threw him into the sea. When they had done this wicked deed, +she said to him, 'Now let us go home and say that he died on the +journey. I will praise you so much to my father that he will marry +me to you and make you the heir to the throne.' But the faithful +servant, who had seen everything, let down a little boat into the +sea, unobserved by them, and rowed after his master while the +traitors sailed on. He took the drowned man out of the water, and +with the help of the three snake-leaves which he carried with him, +placing them on his mouth and eyes, he brought him to life again. + +They both rowed as hard as they could night and day, and their +little boat went so quickly that they reached the old King before +the other two did. He was much astonished to see them come back +alone, and asked what had happened to them. When he heard the +wickedness of his daughter, he said, 'I cannot believe that she +has acted so wrongly, but the truth will soon come to light.' He +made them both go into a secret chamber, and let no one see them. + +Soon after this the large ship came in, and the wicked lady +appeared before her father with a very sad face. He said to her, +'Why have you come back alone? Where is your husband?' + +'Ah, dear father,' she replied, 'I have come home in great grief; +my husband fell ill on the voyage quite suddenly, and died, and if +the good captain had not given me help, I should have died too. He +was at his death-bed and can tell you everything.' + +The King said, 'I will bring the dead to life again,' and he +opened the door of the room and called them both out. The lady was +as if thunderstruck when she caught sight of her husband; she fell +on her knees and begged for mercy. But the King said, 'You shall +have no mercy. He was ready to die with you, and restored you to +life again; but you killed him when he was sleeping, and shall +receive your deserts.' + +So she and her accomplice were put in a ship which was bored +through with holes, and were drawn out into the sea, where they +soon perished in the waves. + +Grimm. + + + + + +THE RIDDLE + + + +A King's son once had a great desire to travel through the world, +so he started off, taking no one with him but one trusty servant. +One day he came to a great forest, and as evening drew on he could +find no shelter, and could not think where to spend the night. All +of a sudden he saw a girl going towards a little house, and as he +drew nearer he remarked that she was both young and pretty. He +spoke to her, and said, 'Dear child, could I and my servant spend +the night in this house?' + +'Oh yes,' said the girl in a sad tone, 'you can if you like, but I +should not advise you to do so. Better not go in.' + +'Why not?' asked the King's son. + +The girl sighed and answered, 'My stepmother deals in black arts, +and she is not very friendly to strangers.' + +The Prince guessed easily that he had fallen on a witch's house, +but as by this time it was quite dark and he could go no further, +and as moreover he was not at all afraid, he stepped in. + +An old woman sat in an armchair near the fire, and as the +strangers entered she turned her red eyes on them. 'Good evening,' +she muttered, and pretending to be quite friendly. 'Won't you sit +down?' + +She blew up the fire on which she was cooking something in a +little pot, and her daughter secretly warned the travellers to be +very careful not to eat or drink anything, as the old woman's +brews were apt to be dangerous. + +They went to bed, and slept soundly till morning. When they were +ready to start and the King's son had already mounted his horse +the old woman said: 'Wait a minute, I must give you a stirrup +cup.' Whilst she went to fetch it the King's son rode off, and the +servant who had waited to tighten his saddle-girths was alone when +the witch returned. + +'Take that to your master,' she said; but as she spoke the glass +cracked and the poison spurted over the horse, and it was so +powerful that the poor creature sank down dead. The servant ran +after his master and told him what had happened, and then, not +wishing to lose the saddle as well as the horse, he went back to +fetch it. When he got to the spot he saw that a raven had perched +on the carcase and was pecking at it. 'Who knows whether we shall +get anything better to eat to-day!' said the servant, and he shot +the raven and carried it off. + +Then they rode on all day through the forest without coming to the +end. At nightfall they reached an inn, which they entered, and the +servant gave the landlord the raven to dress for their supper. +Now, as it happened, this inn was a regular resort of a band of +murderers, and the old witch too was in the habit of frequenting +it. + +As soon as it was dark twelve murderers arrived, with the full +intention of killing and robbing the strangers. Before they set to +work, however, they sat down to table, and the landlord and the +old witch joined them, and they all ate some broth in which the +flesh of the raven had been stewed down. They had hardly taken a +couple of spoonfuls when they all fell down dead, for the poison +had passed from the horse to the raven and so into the broth. So +there was no one left belonging to the house but the landlord's +daughter, who was a good, well-meaning girl, and had taken no part +in all the evil doings. + +She opened all the doors, and showed the strangers the treasures +the robbers had gathered together; but the Prince bade her keep +them all for herself, as he wanted none of them, and so he rode +further with his servant. + +After travelling about for some length of time they reached a town +where lived a lovely but most arrogant Princess. She had given out +that anyone who asked her a riddle which she found herself unable +to guess should be her husband, but should she guess it he must +forfeit his head. She claimed three days in which to think over +the riddles, but she was so very clever that she invariably +guessed them in a much shorter time. Nine suitors had already lost +their lives when the King's son arrived, and, dazzled by her +beauty, determined to risk his life in hopes of winning her. + +So he came before her and propounded his riddle. 'What is this?' +he asked. 'One slew none and yet killed twelve.' + +She could not think what it was! She thought, and thought, and +looked through all her books of riddles and puzzles, but she found +nothing to help her, and could not guess; in fact, she was at her +wits' end. As she could think of no way to guess the riddle, she +ordered her maid to steal at night into the Prince's bedroom and +to listen, for she thought that he might perhaps talk aloud in his +dreams and so betray the secret. But the clever servant had taken +his master's place, and when the maid came he tore off the cloak +she had wrapped herself in and hunted her off with a whip. + +On the second night the Princess sent her lady-in-waiting, hoping +that she might succeed better, but the servant took away her +mantle and chased her away also. + +On the third night the King's son thought he really might feel +safe, so he went to bed. But in the middle of the night the +Princess came herself, all huddled up in a misty grey mantle, and +sat down near him. When she thought he was fast asleep, she spoke +to him, hoping he would answer in the midst of his dreams, as many +people do; but he was wide awake all the time, and heard and +understood everything very well. + +Then she asked: 'One slew none--what is that?' and he answered: 'A +raven which fed on the carcase of a poisoned horse.' + +She went on: 'And yet killed twelve--what is that?' 'Those are +twelve murderers who ate the raven and died of it.' + +As soon as she knew the riddle she tried to slip away, but he held +her mantle so tightly that she was obliged to leave it behind. + +Next morning the Princess announced that she had guessed the +riddle, and sent for the twelve judges, before whom she declared +it. But the young man begged to be heard, too, and said: 'She came +by night to question me, otherwise she never could have guessed +it.' + +The judges said: 'Bring us some proof.' So the servant brought out +the three cloaks, and when the judges saw the grey one, which the +Princess was in the habit of wearing, they said: 'Let it be +embroidered with gold and silver; it shall be your wedding +mantle.' + +Grimm. + + + + + +JACK MY HEDGEHOG + + + +There was once a farmer who lived in great comfort. He had both +lands and money, but, though he was so well off, one thing was +wanting to complete his happiness; he had no children. Many and +many a time, when he met other farmers at the nearest market town, +they would teaze him, asking how it came about that he was +childless. At length he grew so angry that he exclaimed: 'I must +and will have a child of some sort or kind, even should it only be +a hedgehog!' + +Not long after this his wife gave birth to a child, but though the +lower half of the little creature was a fine boy, from the waist +upwards it was a hedgehog, so that when his mother first saw him +she was quite frightened, and said to her husband, 'There now, you +have cursed the child yourself.' The farmer said, 'What's the use +of making a fuss? I suppose the creature must be christened, but I +don't see how we are to ask anyone to be sponsor to him, and what +are we to call him?' + +'There is nothing we can possibly call him but Jack my Hedgehog,' +replied the wife. + +So they took him to be christened, and the parson said: 'You'll +never be able to put that child in a decent bed on account of his +prickles.' Which was true, but they shook down some straw for him +behind the stove, and there he lay for eight years. His father +grew very tired of him and often wished him dead, but he did not +die, but lay on there year after year. + +Now one day there was a big fair at the market town to which the +farmer meant to go, so he asked his wife what he should bring her +from it. 'Some meat and a couple of big loaves for the house,' +said she. Then he asked the maid what she wanted, and she said a +pair of slippers and some stockings. Lastly he said, 'Well, Jack +my Hedgehog, and what shall I bring you?' + +'Daddy,' said he, 'do bring me a bagpipe.' When the farmer came +home he gave his wife and the maid the things they had asked for, +and then he went behind the stove and gave Jack my Hedgehog the +bagpipes. + +When Jack had got his bagpipes he said, 'Daddy, do go to the +smithy and have the house cock shod for me; then I'll ride off and +trouble you no more.' His father, who was delighted at the +prospect of getting rid of him, had the cock shod, and when it was +ready Jack my Hedgehog mounted on its back and rode off to the +forest, followed by all the pigs and asses which he had promised +to look after. + +Having reached the forest he made the cock fly up to the top of a +very tall tree with him, and there he sat looking after his pigs +and donkeys, and he sat on and on for several years till he had +quite a big herd; but all this time his father knew nothing about +him. + +As he sat up in his tree he played away on his pipes and drew the +loveliest music from them. As he was playing one day a King, who +had lost his way, happened to pass close by, and hearing the music +he was much surprised, and sent one of his servants to find out +where it came from. The man peered about, but he could see nothing +but a little creature which looked like a cock with a hedgehog +sitting on it, perched up in a tree. The King desired the servant +to ask the strange creature why it sat there, and if it knew the +shortest way to his kingdom. + +On this Jack my Hedgehog stepped down from his tree and said he +would undertake to show the King his way home if the King on his +part would give him his written promise to let him have whatever +first met him on his return. + +The King thought to himself, 'That's easy enough to promise. The +creature won't understand a word about it, so I can just write +what I choose.' + +So he took pen and ink and wrote something, and when he had done +Jack my Hedgehog pointed out the way and the King got safely home. + +Now when the King's daughter saw her father returning in the +distance she was so delighted that she ran to meet him and threw +herself into his arms. Then the King remembered Jack my Hedgehog, +and he told his daughter how he had been obliged to give a written +promise to bestow whatever he first met when he got home on an +extraordinary creature which had shown him the way. The creature, +said he, rode on a cock as though it had been a horse, and it made +lovely music, but as it certainly could not read he had just +written that he would _not_ give it anything at all. At this +the Princess was quite pleased, and said how cleverly her father +had managed, for that of course nothing would induce her to have +gone off with Jack my Hedgehog. + +Meantime Jack minded his asses and pigs, sat aloft in his tree, +played his bagpipes, and was always merry and cheery. After a time +it so happened that another King, having lost his way, passed by +with his servants and escort, wondering how he could find his way +home, for the forest was very vast. He too heard the music, and +told one of his men to find out whence it came. The man came under +the tree, and looking up to the top there he saw Jack my Hedgehog +astride on the cock. + +The servant asked Jack what he was doing up there. 'I'm minding my +pigs and donkeys; but what do you want?' was the reply. Then the +servant told him they had lost their way, and wanted some one to +show it them. Down came Jack my Hedgehog with his cock, and told +the old King he would show him the right way if he would solemnly +promise to give him the first thing he met in front of his royal +castle. + +The King said 'Yes,' and gave Jack a written promise to that +effect. + +Then Jack rode on in front pointing out the way, and the King +reached his own country in safety. + +Now he had an only daughter who was extremely beautiful, and who, +delighted at her father's return, ran to meet him, threw her arms +round his neck and kissed him heartily. Then she asked where he +had been wandering so long, and he told her how he had lost his +way and might never have reached home at all but for a strange +creature, half-man, half-hedgehog, which rode a cock and sat up in +a tree making lovely music, and which had shown him the right way. +He also told her how he had been obliged to pledge his word to +give the creature the first thing which met him outside his castle +gate, and he felt very sad at the thought that she had been the +first thing to meet him. + +But the Princess comforted him, and said she should be quite +willing to go with Jack my Hedgehog whenever he came to fetch her, +because of the great love she bore to her dear old father. + +Jack my Hedgehog continued to herd his pigs, and they increased in +number till there were so many that the forest seemed full of +them. So he made up his mind to live there no longer, and sent a +message to his father telling him to have all the stables and +outhouses in the village cleared, as he was going to bring such an +enormous herd that all who would might kill what they chose. His +father was much vexed at this news, for he thought Jack had died +long ago. Jack my Hedgehog mounted his cock, and driving his pigs +before him into the village, he let every one kill as many as they +chose, and such a hacking and hewing of pork went on as you might +have heard for miles off. + +Then said Jack, 'Daddy, let the blacksmith shoe my cock once more; +then I'll ride off, and I promise you I'll never come back again +as long as I live.' So the father had the cock shod, and rejoiced +at the idea of getting rid of his son. + +Then Jack my Hedgehog set off for the first kingdom, and there the +King had given strict orders that if anyone should be seen riding +a cock and carrying a bagpipe he was to be chased away and shot +at, and on no account to be allowed to enter the palace. So when +Jack my Hedgehog rode up the guards charged him with their +bayonets, but he put spurs to his cock, flew up over the gate +right to the King's windows, let himself down on the sill, and +called out that if he was not given what had been promised him, +both the King and his daughter should pay for it with their lives. +Then the King coaxed and entreated his daughter to go with Jack +and so save both their lives. + +The Princess dressed herself all in white, and her father gave her +a coach with six horses and servants in gorgeous liveries and +quantities of money. She stepped into the coach, and Jack my +Hedgehog with his cock and pipes took his place beside her. They +both took leave, and the King fully expected never to set eyes on +them again. But matters turned out very differently from what he +had expected, for when they had got a certain distance from the +town Jack tore all the Princess's smart clothes off her, and +pricked her all over with his bristles, saying: 'That's what you +get for treachery. Now go back, I'll have no more to say to you.' +And with that he hunted her home, and she felt she had been +disgraced and put to shame till her life's end. + +Then Jack my Hedgehog rode on with his cock and bagpipes to the +country of the second King to whom he had shown the way. Now this +King had given orders that, in the event of Jack's coming the +guards were to present arms, the people to cheer, and he was to be +conducted in triumph to the royal palace. + +When the King's daughter saw Jack my Hedgehog, she was a good deal +startled, for he certainly was very peculiar looking; but after +all she considered that she had given her word and it couldn't be +helped. So she made Jack welcome and they were betrothed to each +other, and at dinner he sat next her at the royal table, and they +ate and drank together. + +When they retired to rest the Princess feared lest Jack should +kiss her because of his prickles, but he told her not to be +alarmed as no harm should befall her. Then he begged the old King +to place a watch of four men just outside his bedroom door, and to +desire them to make a big fire. When he was about to lie down in +bed he would creep out of his hedgehog skin, and leave it lying at +the bedside; then the men must rush in, throw the skin into the +fire, and stand by till it was entirely burnt up. + +And so it was, for when it struck eleven, Jack my Hedgehog went to +his room, took off his skin and left it at the foot of the bed. +The men rushed in, quickly seized the skin and threw it on the +fire, and directly it was all burnt Jack was released from his +enchantment and lay in his bed a man from head to foot, but quite +black as though he had been severely scorched. + +The King sent off for his physician in ordinary, who washed Jack +all over with various essences and salves, so that he became white +and was a remarkably handsome young man. When the King's daughter +saw him she was greatly pleased, and next day the marriage +ceremony was performed, and the old King bestowed his kingdom on +Jack my Hedgehog. + +After some years Jack and his wife went to visit his father, but +the farmer did not recognize him, and declared he had no son; he +had had one, but that one was born with bristles like a hedgehog, +and had gone off into the wide world. Then Jack told his story, +and his old father rejoiced and returned to live with him in his +kingdom. + +Grimm. + + + + + +THE GOLDEN LADS + + + +A poor man and his wife lived in a little cottage, where they +supported themselves by catching fish in the nearest river, and +got on as best they could, living from hand to mouth. One day it +happened that when the fisherman drew in his net he found in it a +remarkable fish, for it was entirely of gold. As he was inspecting +it with some surprise, the fish opened its mouth and said: 'Listen +to me, fisher; if you will just throw me back into the water I'll +turn your poor little cottage into a splendid castle.' + +The fisher replied: 'What good, pray, will a castle be to me if I +have nothing to eat in it?' + +'Oh,' said the gold fish, 'I'll take care of that. There will be a +cupboard in the castle, in which you will find dishes of every +kind of food you can wish for most.' + +'If that's the case,' said the man, 'I've no objection to oblige +you.' + +'Yes,' observed the fish, 'but there is one condition attached to +my offer, and that is that you are not to reveal to a soul where +your good fortune comes from. If you say a word about it, it will +all vanish.' + +The man threw the fish back into the water, and went home. But on +the spot where his cottage used to stand he found a spacious +castle. He opened his eyes wide, went in and found his wife +dressed out in smart clothes, sitting in a splendidly furnished +drawing-room. She was in high spirits, and cried out: 'Oh husband! +how can this all have happened? I am so pleased!' + +'Yes,' said her husband, 'so am I pleased; but I'm uncommonly +hungry, and I want something to eat at once.' + +Said his wife, 'I've got nothing, and I don't know where anything +is in this new house.' + +'Never mind,' replied the man. 'I see a big cupboard there. +Suppose you unlock it.' + +When the cupboard was opened they found meat, cakes, fruit, and +wine, all spread out in the most tempting fashions. The wife +clapped her hands with joy, and cried: 'Dear heart! what more can +one wish for?' and they sat down and ate and drank. + +When they had finished the wife asked, 'But husband, where do all +these riches come from?' + +'Ah!' said he, 'don't ask me. I dare not tell you. If I reveal the +secret to anyone, it will be all up with us.' + +'Very well,' she replied, 'if I'm not to be told, of course I +don't want to know anything about it.' + +But she was not really in earnest, for her curiosity never left +her a moment's peace by day or night, and she teazed and worried +her husband to such a pitch, that at length he quite lost patience +and blurted out that it all came from a wonderful golden fish +which he had caught and set free again. Hardly were the words well +out of his mouth, when castle, cupboard, and all vanished, and +there they were sitting in their poor little fishing hut once +more. + +The man had to betake himself to his former trade, and set to +fishing again. As luck would have it, he caught the golden fish a +second time. + +'Now listen,' said the fish, 'if you'll throw me back into the +water, I'll give you back the castle and the cupboard with all its +good things; but now take care, and don't for your life betray +where you got them, or you'll just lose them again.' + +'I'll be very careful,' promised the fisher, and threw the fish +back into the water. When he went home he found all their former +splendour restored, and his wife overjoyed at their good fortune. +But her curiosity still continued to torment her, and after +restraining it with a great effort for a couple of days, she began +questioning her husband again, as to what had happened, and how he +had managed. + +The man kept silence for some time, but at last she irritated him +so much that he burst out with the secret, and in one moment the +castle was gone, and they sat once more in their wretched old hut. + +'There!' exclaimed the man, 'you _would_ have it--now we may +just go on short commons.' + +'Ah!' said his wife, 'after all I'd rather not have all the riches +in the world if I can't know where they come from--I shall not +have a moment's peace.' + +The man took to his fishing again, and one day fate brought the +gold fish into his net for the third time. 'Well,' said the fish, +'I see that I am evidently destined to fall into your hands. Now +take me home, and cut me into six pieces. Give two bits to your +wife to eat, two to your horse, and plant the remaining two in +your garden, and they will bring you a blessing.' + +The man carried the fish home, and did exactly as he had been +told. After a time, it came to pass that from the two pieces he +had planted in the garden two golden lilies grew up, and that his +horse had two golden foals, whilst his wife gave birth to twin +boys who were all golden. + +The children grew up both tall and handsome, and the foals and the +lilies grew with them. + +One day the children came to their father and said, 'Father, we +want to mount on golden steeds, and ride forth to see the world.' + +Their father answered sadly, 'How can I bear it if, when you are +far away, I know nothing about you?' and they said, 'The golden +lilies will tell you all about us if you look at them. If they +seem to droop, you will know we are ill, and if they fall down and +fade away, it will be a sign we are dead.' + +So off they rode, and came to an inn where were a number of people +who, as soon as they saw the two golden lads, began to laugh and +jeer at them. When one of them heard this, his heart failed him, +and he thought he would go no further into the world, so he turned +back and rode home to his father, but his brother rode on till he +reached the outskirts of a huge forest. Here he was told, 'It will +never do for you to ride through the forest, it is full of +robbers, and you're sure to come to grief, especially when they +see that you and your horse are golden. They will certainly fall +on you and kill you.' However, he was not to be intimidated, but +said, 'I must and will ride on.' + +So he procured some bears' skins, and covered himself and his +horse with them, so that not a particle of gold could be seen, and +then rode bravely on into the heart of the forest. + +When he had got some way he heard a rustling through the bushes +and presently a sound of voices. Someone whispered on one side of +him: 'There goes someone,' and was answered from the other side: +'Oh, let him pass. He's only a bear-keeper, and as poor as any +church mouse.' So golden lad rode through the forest and no harm +befell him. + +One day he came to a village, where he saw a girl who struck him +as being the loveliest creature in the whole world, and as he felt +a great love for her, he went up to her and said: 'I love you with +all my heart; will you be my wife?' And the girl liked him so much +that she put her hand in his and replied: 'Yes, I will be your +wife, and will be true to you as long as I live.' + +So they were married, and in the middle of all the festivities and +rejoicings the bride's father came home and was not a little +surprised at finding his daughter celebrating her wedding. He +enquired: 'And who is the bridegroom?' + +Then someone pointed out to him the golden lad, who was still +wrapped up in the bear's skin, and the father exclaimed angrily: +'Never shall a mere bear-keeper have my daughter,' and tried to +rush at him and kill him. But the bride did all she could to +pacify him, and begged hard, saying: 'After all he is my husband, +and I love him with all my heart,' so that at length he gave in. + +However, he could not dismiss the thought from his mind, and next +morning he rose very early, for he felt he must go and look at his +daughter's husband and see whether he really was nothing better +than a mere ragged beggar. So he went to his son-in-law's room, +and who should he see lying in the bed but a splendid golden man, +and the rough bearskin thrown on the ground close by. Then he +slipped quietly away, and thought to himself, 'How lucky that I +managed to control my rage! I should certainly have committed a +great crime.' + +Meantime the golden lad dreamt that he was out hunting and was +giving chase to a noble stag, and when he woke he said to his +bride: 'I must go off and hunt.' She felt very anxious, and begged +he would stay at home, adding: 'Some mishap might so easily befall +you,' but he answered, 'I must and will go.' + +So he went off into the forest, and before long a fine stag, such +as he had seen in his dream, stopped just in front of him. He took +aim, and was about to fire when the stag bounded away. Then he +started off in pursuit, making his way through bushes and briars, +and never stopped all day; but in the evening the stag entirely +disappeared, and when golden lad came to look about him he found +himself just opposite a hut in which lived a witch. He knocked at +the door, which was opened by a little old woman who asked, 'What +do you want at this late hour in the midst of this great forest?' + +He said, 'Haven't you seen a stag about here?' + +'Yes,' said she, 'I know the stag well,' and as she spoke a little +dog ran out of the house and began barking and snapping at the +stranger. + +'Be quiet, you little toad,' he cried, 'or I'll shoot you dead.' + +Then the witch flew into a great rage, and screamed out, 'What! +you'll kill my dog, will you?' and the next moment he was turned +to stone and lay there immovable, whilst his bride waited for him +in vain and thought to herself, 'Alas! no doubt the evil I feared, +and which has made my heart so heavy, has befallen him.' + +Meantime, the other brother was standing near the golden lilies at +home, when suddenly one of them bent over and fell to the ground. +'Good heavens!' cried he, 'some great misfortune has befallen my +brother. I must set off at once; perhaps I may still be in time to +save him.' + +His father entreated him, 'Stay at home. If I should lose you too, +what would become of me?' + +But his son replied, 'I must and will go.' + +Then he mounted his golden horse, and rode off till he reached the +forest where his brother lay transformed to stone. The old witch +came out of her house and called to him, for she would gladly have +cast her spells on him too, but he took care not to go near her, +and called out: 'Restore my brother to life at once, or I'll shoot +you down on the spot.' + +Reluctantly she touched the stone with her finger, and in a moment +it resumed its human shape. The two golden lads fell into each +other's arms and kissed each other with joy, and then rode off +together to the edge of the forest, where they parted, one to +return to his old father, and the other to his bride. + +When the former got home his father said, 'I knew you had +delivered your brother, for all of a sudden the golden lily reared +itself up and burst into blossom.' + +Then they all lived happily to their lives' ends, and all things +went well with them. + +Grimm. + + + + + +THE WHITE SNAKE + + + +Not very long ago there lived a King, the fame of whose wisdom was +spread far and wide. Nothing appeared to be unknown to him, and it +really seemed as if tidings of the most secret matters must be +borne to him by the winds. He had one very peculiar habit. Every +day, after the dinner table had been cleared, and everyone had +retired, a confidential servant brought in a dish. It was covered, +and neither the servant nor anyone else had any idea what was on +it, for the King never removed the cover or partook of the dish, +till he was quite alone. + +This went on for some time till, one day, the servant who removed +the dish was so overcome with curiosity, that he could not resist +carrying it off to his own room. After carefully locking the door, +he lifted the cover, and there he saw a white snake lying on the +dish. On seeing it he could not restrain his desire to taste it, +so he cut off a small piece and put it in his mouth. + +Hardly had it touched his tongue than he heard a strange sort of +whispering of tiny voices outside his window. He stepped to the +casement to listen, and found that the sound proceeded from the +sparrows, who were talking together and telling each other all +they had seen in the fields and woods. The piece of the white +snake which he had eaten had enabled him to understand the +language of animals. + +Now on this particular day, it so happened that the Queen lost her +favourite ring, and suspicion fell on the confidential servant who +had access to all parts of the palace. The King sent for him, and +threatened him angrily, saying that if he had not found the thief +by the next day, he should himself be taken up and tried. + +It was useless to assert his innocence; he was dismissed without +ceremony. In his agitation and distress, he went down to the yard +to think over what he could do in this trouble. Here were a number +of ducks resting near a little stream, and pluming, themselves +with their bills, whilst they kept up an animated conversation +amongst themselves. The servant stood still listening to them. +They were talking of where they had been waddling about all the +morning, and of the good food they had found, but one of them +remarked rather sadly, 'There's something lying very heavy on my +stomach, for in my haste I've swallowed a ring, which was lying +just under the Queen's window.' + +No sooner did the servant hear this than he seized the duck by the +neck, carried it off to the kitchen, and said to the cook, +'Suppose you kill this duck; you see she's nice and fat.' + +'Yes, indeed,' said the cook, weighing the duck in his hand, 'she +certainly has spared no pains to stuff herself well, and must have +been waiting for the spit for some time.' So he chopped off her +head, and when she was opened there was the Queen's ring in her +stomach. + +It was easy enough now for the servant to prove his innocence, and +the King, feeling he had done him an injustice, and anxious to +make some amends, desired him to ask any favour he chose, and +promised to give him the highest post at Court he could wish for. + +The servant, however, declined everything, and only begged for a +horse and some money to enable him to travel, as he was anxious to +see something of the world. + +When his request was granted, he set off on his journey, and in +the course of it he one day came to a large pond, on the edge of +which he noticed three fishes which had got entangled in the reeds +and were gasping for water. Though fish are generally supposed to +be quite mute, he heard them grieving aloud at the prospect of +dying in this wretched manner. Having a very kind heart he +dismounted and soon set the prisoners free, and in the water once +more. They flapped with joy, and stretching up their heads cried +to him: 'We will remember, and reward you for saving us.' + +He rode further, and after a while he thought he heard a voice in +the sand under his feet. He paused to listen, and heard the King +of the Ants complaining: 'If only men with their awkward beasts +would keep clear of us! That stupid horse is crushing my people +mercilessly to death with his great hoofs.' The servant at once +turned into a side path, and the Ant-King called after him, 'We'll +remember and reward you.' + +The road next led through a wood, where he saw a father and a +mother raven standing by their nest and throwing out their young: +'Away with you, you young rascals!' they cried, 'we can't feed you +any longer. You are quite big enough to support yourselves now.' +The poor little birds lay on the ground flapping and beating their +wings, and shrieked, 'We poor helpless children, feed ourselves +indeed! Why, we can't even fly yet; what can we do but die of +hunger?' Then the kind youth dismounted, drew his sword, and +killing his horse left it there as food for the young ravens. They +hopped up, satisfied their hunger, and piped: 'We'll remember, and +reward you!' + +He was now obliged to trust to his own legs, and after walking a +long way he reached a big town. Here he found a great crowd and +much commotion in the streets, and a herald rode about announcing, +'The King's daughter seeks a husband, but whoever would woo her +must first execute a difficult task, and if he does not succeed he +must be content to forfeit his life.' Many had risked their lives, +but in vain. When the youth saw the King's daughter, he was so +dazzled by her beauty, that he forgot all idea of danger, and went +to the King to announce himself a suitor. + +On this he was led out to a large lake, and a gold ring was thrown +into it before his eyes. The King desired him to dive after it, +adding, 'If you return without it you will be thrown back into the +lake time after time, till you are drowned in its depths.' + +Everyone felt sorry for the handsome young fellow and left him +alone on the shore. There he stood thinking and wondering what he +could do, when all of a sudden he saw three fishes swimming along, +and recognised them as the very same whose lives he had saved. The +middle fish held a mussel in its mouth, which it laid at the young +man's feet, and when he picked it up and opened it, there was the +golden ring inside. + +Full of delight he brought it to the King's daughter, expecting to +receive his promised reward. The haughty Princess, however, on +hearing that he was not her equal by birth despised him, and +exacted the fulfilment of a second task. + +She went into the garden, and with her own hands she strewed ten +sacks full of millet all over the grass. 'He must pick all that up +to-morrow morning before sunrise,' she said; 'not a grain must be +lost.' + +The youth sat down in the garden and wondered how it would be +possible for him to accomplish such a task, but he could think of +no expedient, and sat there sadly expecting to meet his death at +daybreak. + +But when the first rays of the rising sun fell on the garden, he +saw the ten sacks all completely filled, standing there in a row, +and not a single grain missing. The Ant-King, with his thousands +and thousands of followers, had come during the night, and the +grateful creatures had industriously gathered all the millet +together and put it in the sacks. + +The King's daughter came down to the garden herself, and saw to +her amazement that her suitor had accomplished the task she had +given him. But even now she could not bend her proud heart, and +she said, 'Though he has executed these two tasks, yet he shall +not be my husband till he brings me an apple from the tree of +life.' + +The young man did not even know where the tree of life grew, but +he set off, determined to walk as far as his legs would carry him, +though he had no hope of ever finding it. + +After journeying through three different kingdoms he reached a +wood one night, and lying down under a tree prepared to go to +sleep there. Suddenly he heard a sound in the boughs, and a golden +apple fell right into his hand. At the same moment three ravens +flew down to him, perched on his knee and said, 'We are the three +young ravens whom you saved from starvation. When we grew up and +heard you were searching for the golden apple, we flew far away +over the seas to the end of the world, where the tree of life +grows, and fetched the golden apple for you.' + +Full of joy the young man started on his way back and brought the +golden apple to the lovely Princess, whose objections were now +entirely silenced. They divided the apple of life and ate it +together, and her heart grew full of love for him, so they lived +together to a great age in undisturbed happiness. + +Grimm. + + + + + +THE STORY OF A CLEVER TAILOR + + + +Once upon a time there lived an exceedingly proud Princess. If any +suitor for her hand ventured to present himself, she would give +him some riddle or conundrum to guess, and if he failed to do so, +he was hunted out of the town with scorn and derision. She gave +out publicly that all comers were welcome to try their skill, and +that whoever could solve her riddle should be her husband. + +Now it happened that three tailors had met together, and the two +elder thought, that after having successfully put in so many fine +and strong stitches with never a wrong one amongst them, they were +certain to do the right thing here too. The third tailor was a +lazy young scamp who did not even know his own trade properly, but +who thought that surely luck would stand by him now, just for +once, for, if not, what _was_ to become of him? + +The two others said to him, 'You just stay at home, you'll never +get on much with your small allowance of brains.' But the little +tailor was not to be daunted, and said he had set his mind on it +and meant to shift for himself, so off he started as though the +whole world belonged to him. + +The three tailors arrived at Court, where they had themselves duly +presented to the Princess, and begged she would propound her +riddles, 'for,' said they, 'here were the right men at last, with +wits so sharp and so fine you might almost thread a needle with +them.' + +Then said the Princess, 'I have on my head two different kinds of +hair. Of what colours are they?' + +'If that's all,' said the first tailor, 'they are most likely +black and white, like the kind of cloth we call pepper-and-salt.' + +'Wrong,' said the Princess. + +'Then,' said the second tailor, 'if they are not black and white, +no doubt they are red and brown, like my father's Sunday coat.' + +'Wrong again,' said the Princess; 'now let the third speak. I see +he thinks he knows all about it.' + +Then the young tailor stepped boldly to the front and said, 'The +Princess has one silver and one golden hair on her head, and those +are the two colours.' + +When the Princess heard this she turned quite pale, and almost +fainted away with fear, for the little tailor had hit the mark, +and she had firmly believed that not a soul could guess it. When +she had recovered herself she said, 'Don't fancy you have won me +yet, there is something else you must do first. Below in the +stable is a bear with whom you must spend the night, and if when I +get up in the morning I find you still alive you shall marry me.' + +She quite expected to rid herself of the tailor in this way, for +the bear had never left anyone alive who had once come within +reach of his claws. The tailor, however, had no notion of being +scared, but said cheerily, 'Bravely dared is half won.' + +When evening came on he was taken to the stable. The bear tried to +get at him at once and to give him a warm welcome with his great +paws. 'Gently, gently,' said the tailor, 'I'll soon teach you to +be quiet,' and he coolly drew a handful of walnuts from his pocket +and began cracking and eating them as though he had not a care or +anxiety in the world. When the bear saw this he began to long for +some nuts himself. The tailor dived into his pocket and gave him a +handful, but they were pebbles, not nuts. The bear thrust them +into his mouth, but try as he might he could not manage to crack +them. 'Dear me,' thought he, 'what a stupid fool I must be--can't +even crack a nut,' and he said to the tailor, 'I say, crack my +nuts for me, will you?' + +'You're a nice sort of fellow,' said the tailor; 'the idea of +having those great jaws and not being able even to crack a +walnut!' So he took the stone, quickly changed it for a nut, and +crack! it split open in a moment. + +'Let me try again,' said the bear; 'when I see the thing done it +looks so easy I fancy I _must_ be able to manage it myself.' + +So the tailor gave him some more pebbles, and the bear bit and +gnawed away as hard as he could, but I need hardly say that he did +not succeed in cracking one of them. + +Presently the tailor took out a little fiddle and began playing on +it. When the bear heard the music he could not help dancing, and +after he had danced some time he was so pleased that he said to +the tailor, 'I say, is fiddling difficult?' 'Mere child's play,' +replied the tailor; 'look here! you press the strings with the +fingers of the left hand, and with the right, you draw the bow +across them, so--then it goes as easily as possible, up and down, +tra la la la la--' + +'Oh,' cried the bear, 'I do wish I could play like that, then I +could dance whenever the fancy took me. What do you think? Would +you give me some lessons?' + +'With all my heart,' said the tailor, 'if you are sharp about it. +But just let me look at your paws. Dear me, your nails are +terribly long; I must really cut them first.' Then he fetched a +pair of stocks, and the bear laid his paws on them, and the tailor +screwed them up tight. 'Now just wait whilst I fetch my scissors,' +said he, and left the bear growling away to his heart's content, +whilst he lay down in a corner and fell fast asleep. + +When the Princess heard the bear growling so loud that night, she +made sure he was roaring with delight as he worried the tailor. + +Next morning she rose feeling quite cheerful and free from care, +but when she looked across towards the stables, there stood the +tailor in front of the door looking as fresh and lively as a fish +in the water. + +After this it was impossible to break the promise she had made so +publicly, so the King ordered out the state coach to take her and +the tailor to church to be married. + +As they were starting, the two bad-hearted other tailors, who were +envious of the younger one's happiness, went to the stable and +unscrewed the bear. Off he tore after the carriage, foaming with +rage. The Princess heard his puffing and roaring, and growing +frightened she cried: 'Oh dear! the bear is after us and will +certainly catch us up!' The tailor remained quite unmoved. He +quietly stood on his head, stuck his legs out at the carriage +window and called out to the bear, 'Do you see my stocks? If you +don't go home this minute I'll screw you tight into them.' + +When the bear saw and heard this he turned right round and ran off +as fast as his legs would carry him. The tailor drove on +unmolested to church, where he and the Princess were married, and +he lived with her many years as happy and merry as a lark. Whoever +does not believe this story must pay a dollar. + +Grimm. + + + + +THE GOLDEN MERMAID + + + +A powerful king had, among many other treasures, a wonderful tree +in his garden, which bore every year beautiful golden apples. But +the King was never able to enjoy his treasure, for he might watch +and guard them as he liked, as soon as they began to get ripe they +were always stolen. At last, in despair, he sent for his three +sons, and said to the two eldest, 'Get yourselves ready for a +journey. Take gold and silver with you, and a large retinue of +servants, as beseems two noble princes, and go through the world +till you find out who it is that steals my golden apples, and, if +possible, bring the thief to me that I may punish him as he +deserves.' His sons were delighted at this proposal, for they had +long wished to see something of the world, so they got ready for +their journey with all haste, bade their father farewell, and left +the town. + +The youngest Prince was much disappointed that he too was not sent +out on his travels; but his father wouldn't hear of his going, for +he had always been looked upon as the stupid one of the family, +and the King was afraid of something happening to him. But the +Prince begged and implored so long, that at last his father +consented to let him go, and furnished him with gold and silver as +he had done his brothers. But he gave him the most wretched horse +in his stable, because the foolish youth hadn't asked for a +better. So he too set out on his journey to secure the thief, amid +the jeers and laughter of the whole court and town. + +His path led him first through a wood, and he hadn't gone very far +when he met a lean-looking wolf who stood still as he approached. +The Prince asked him if he were hungry, and when the wolf said he +was, he got down from his horse and said, 'If you are really as +you say and look, you may take my horse and eat it.' + +The wolf didn't wait to have the offer repeated, but set to work, +and soon made an end of the poor beast. When the Prince saw how +different the wolf looked when he had finished his meal, he said +to him, 'Now, my friend, since you have eaten up my horse, and I +have such a long way to go, that, with the best will in the world, +I couldn't manage it on foot, the least you can do for me is to +act as my horse and to take me on your back.' + +'Most certainly,' said the wolf, and, letting the Prince mount +him, he trotted gaily through the wood. After they had gone a +little way he turned round and asked his rider where he wanted to +go to, and the Prince proceeded to tell him the whole story of the +golden apples that had been stolen out of the King's garden, and +how his other two brothers had set forth with many followers to +find the thief. When he had finished his story, the wolf, who was +in reality no wolf but a mighty magician, said he thought he could +tell him who the thief was, and could help him to secure him. +'There lives,' he said, 'in a neighbouring country, a mighty +emperor who has a beautiful golden bird in a cage, and this is the +creature who steals the golden apples, but it flies so fast that +it is impossible to catch it at its theft. You must slip into the +Emperor's palace by night and steal the bird with the cage; but be +very careful not to touch the walls as you go out.' + +The following night the Prince stole into the Emperor's palace, +and found the bird in its cage as the wolf had told him he would. +He took hold of it carefully, but in spite of all his caution he +touched the wall in trying to pass by some sleeping watchmen. They +awoke at once, and, seizing him, beat him and put him into chains. +Next day he was led before the Emperor, who at once condemned him +to death and to be thrown into a dark dungeon till the day of his +execution arrived. + +The wolf, who, of course, knew by his magic arts all that had +happened to the Prince, turned himself at once into a mighty +monarch with a large train of followers, and proceeded to the +Court of the Emperor, where he was received with every show of +honour. The Emperor and he conversed on many subjects, and, among +other things, the stranger asked his host if he had many slaves. +The Emperor told him he had more than he knew what to do with, and +that a new one had been captured that very night for trying to +steal his magic bird, but that as he had already more than enough +to feed and support, he was going to have this last captive hanged +next morning. + +'He must have been a most daring thief,' said the King, 'to try +and steal the magic bird, for depend upon it the creature must +have been well guarded. I would really like to see this bold +rascal.' 'By all means,' said the Emperor; and he himself led his +guest down to the dungeon where the unfortunate Prince was kept +prisoner. When the Emperor stepped out of the cell with the King, +the latter turned to him and said, 'Most mighty Emperor, I have +been much disappointed. I had thought to find a powerful robber, +and instead of that I have seen the most miserable creature I can +imagine. Hanging is far too good for him. If I had to sentence him +I should make him perform some very difficult task, under pain of +death. If he did it so much the better for you, and if he didn't, +matters would just be as they are now and he could still be +hanged.' 'Your counsel,' said the Emperor, 'is excellent, and, as +it happens, I've got the very thing for him to do. My nearest +neighbour, who is also a mighty Emperor, possesses a golden horse +which he guards most carefully. The prisoner shall be told to +steal this horse and bring it to me.' + +The Prince was then let out of his dungeon, and told his life +would be spared if he succeeded in bringing the golden horse to +the Emperor. He did not feel very elated at this announcement, for +he did not know how in the world he was to set about the task, and +he started on his way weeping bitterly, and wondering what had +made him leave his father's house and kingdom. But before he had +gone far his friend the wolf stood before him and said, 'Dear +Prince, why are you so cast down? It is true you didn't succeed in +catching the bird; but don't let that discourage you, for this +time you will be all the more careful, and will doubtless catch +the horse.' With these and like words the wolf comforted the +Prince, and warned him specially not to touch the wall or let the +horse touch it as he led it out, or he would fail in the same way +as he had done with the bird. + +After a somewhat lengthy journey the Prince and the wolf came to +the kingdom ruled over by the Emperor who possessed the golden +horse. One evening late they reached the capital, and the wolf +advised the Prince to set to work at once, before their presence +in the city had aroused the watchfulness of the guards. They +slipped unnoticed into the Emperor's stables and into the very +place where there were the most guards, for there the wolf rightly +surmised they would find the horse. When they came to a certain +inner door the wolf told the Prince to remain outside, while he +went in. In a short time he returned and said, 'My dear Prince, +the horse is most securely watched, but I have bewitched all the +guards, and if you will only be careful not to touch the wall +yourself, or let the horse touch it as you go out, there is no +danger and the game is yours. The Prince, who had made up his mind +to be more than cautious this time, went cheerfully to work. He +found all the guards fast asleep, and, slipping into the horse's +stall, he seized it by the bridle and led it out; but, +unfortunately, before they had got quite clear of the stables a +gadfly stung the horse and caused it to switch its tail, whereby +it touched the wall. In a moment all the guards awoke, seized the +Prince and beat him mercilessly with their horse-whips, after +which they bound him with chains, and flung him into a dungeon. +Next morning they brought him before the Emperor, who treated him +exactly as the King with the golden bird had done, and commanded +him to be beheaded on the following day. + +When the wolf-magician saw that the Prince had failed this time +too, he transformed himself again into a mighty king, and +proceeded with an even more gorgeous retinue than the first time +to the Court of the Emperor. He was courteously received and +entertained, and once more after dinner he led the conversation on +to the subject of slaves, and in the course of it again requested +to be allowed to see the bold robber who had dared to break into +the Emperor's stable to steal his most valuable possession. The +Emperor consented, and all happened exactly as it had done at the +court of the Emperor with the golden bird; the prisoner's life was +to be spared only on condition that within three days he should +obtain possession of the golden mermaid, whom hitherto no mortal +had ever approached. + +Very depressed by his dangerous and difficult task, the Prince +left his gloomy prison; but, to his great joy, he met his friend +the wolf before he had gone many miles on his journey. The cunning +creature pretended he knew nothing of what had happened to the +Prince, and asked him how he had fared with the horse. The Prince +told him all about his misadventure, and the condition on which +the Emperor had promised to spare his life. Then the wolf reminded +him that he had twice got him out of prison, and that if he would +only trust in him, and do exactly as he told him, he would +certainly succeed in this last undertaking. Thereupon they bent +their steps towards the sea, which stretched out before them, as +far as their eyes could see, all the waves dancing and glittering +in the bright sunshine. 'Now,' continued the wolf, 'I am going to +turn myself into a boat full of the most beautiful silken +merchandise, and you must jump boldly into the boat, and steer +with my tail in your hand right out into the open sea. You will +soon come upon the golden mermaid. Whatever you do, don't follow +her if she calls you, but on the contrary say to her, "The buyer +comes to the seller, not the seller to the buyer." After which you +must steer towards the land, and she will follow you, for she +won't be able to resist the beautiful wares you have on board your +ship.' + +The Prince promised faithfully to do all he had been told, +whereupon the wolf changed himself into a ship full of most +exquisite silks, of every shade and colour imaginable. The +astonished Prince stepped into the boat, and, holding the wolf's +tail in his hand, he steered boldly out into the open sea, where +the sun was gilding the blue waves with its golden rays. Soon he +saw the golden mermaid swimming near the ship, beckoning and +calling to him to follow her; but, mindful of the wolf's warning, +he told her in a loud voice that if she wished to buy anything she +must come to him. With these words he turned his magic ship round +and steered back towards the land. The mermaid called out to him +to stand still, but he refused to listen to her and never paused +till he reached the sand of the shore. Here he stopped and waited +for the mermaid, who had swum after him. When she drew near the +boat he saw that she was far more beautiful than any mortal he had +ever beheld. She swam round the ship for some time, and then swung +herself gracefully on board, in order to examine the beautiful +silken stuffs more closely. Then the Prince seized her in his +arms, and kissing her tenderly on the cheeks and lips, he told her +she was his for ever; at the same moment the boat turned into a +wolf again, which so terrified the mermaid that she clung to the +Prince for protection. + +So the golden mermaid was successfully caught, and she soon felt +quite happy in her new life when she saw she had nothing to fear +either from the Prince or the wolf--she rode on the back of the +latter, and the Prince rode behind her. When they reached the +country ruled over by the Emperor with the golden horse, the +Prince jumped down, and, helping the mermaid to alight, he led her +before the Emperor. At the sight of the beautiful mermaid and of +the grim wolf, who stuck close to the Prince this time, the guards +all made respectful obeisance, and soon the three stood before his +Imperial Majesty. When the Emperor heard from the Prince how he +had gained possession of his fair prize, he at once recognized +that he had been helped by some magic art, and on the spot gave up +all claim to the beautiful mermaid. 'Dear youth,' he said, +'forgive me for my shameful conduct to you, and, as a sign that +you pardon me, accept the golden horse as a present. I acknowledge +your power to be greater even than I can understand, for you have +succeeded in gaining possession of the golden mermaid, whom +hitherto no mortal has ever been able to approach.' Then they all +sat down to a huge feast, and the Prince had to relate his +adventures all over again, to the wonder and astonishment of the +whole company. + +But the Prince was wearying now to return to his own kingdom, so +as soon as the feast was over he took farewell of the Emperor, and +set out on his homeward way. He lifted the mermaid on to the +golden horse, and swung himself up behind her--and so they rode on +merrily, with the wolf trotting behind, till they came to the +country of the Emperor with the golden bird. The renown of the +Prince and his adventure had gone before him, and the Emperor sat +on his throne awaiting the arrival of the Prince and his +companions. When the three rode into the courtyard of the palace, +they were surprised and delighted to find everything festively +illuminated and decorated for their reception. When the Prince and +the golden mermaid, with the wolf behind them, mounted the steps +of the palace, the Emperor came forward to meet them, and led them +to the throne room. At the same moment a servant appeared with the +golden bird in its golden cage, and the Emperor begged the Prince +to accept it with his love, and to forgive him the indignity he +had suffered at his hands. Then the Emperor bent low before the +beautiful mermaid, and, offering her his arm, he led her into +dinner, closely followed by the Prince and her friend the wolf; +the latter seating himself at table, not the least embarrassed +that no one had invited him to do so. + +As soon as the sumptuous meal was over, the Prince and his mermaid +took leave of the Emperor, and, seating themselves on the golden +horse, continued their homeward journey. On the way the wolf +turned to the Prince and said, 'Dear friends, I must now bid you +farewell, but I leave you under such happy circumstances that I +cannot feel our parting to be a sad one.' The Prince was very +unhappy when he heard these words, and begged the wolf to stay +with them always; but this the good creature refused to do, though +he thanked the Prince kindly for his invitation, and called out as +he disappeared into the thicket, 'Should any evil befall you, dear +Prince, at any time, you may rely on my friendship and gratitude.' +These were the wolf's parting words, and the Prince could not +restrain his tears when he saw his friend vanishing in the +distance; but one glance at his beloved mermaid soon cheered him +up again, and they continued on their journey merrily. + +The news of his son's adventures had already reached his father's +Court, and everyone was more than astonished at the success of the +once despised Prince. His elder brothers, who had in vain gone in +pursuit of the thief of the golden apples, were furious over their +younger brother's good fortune, and plotted and planned how they +were to kill him. They hid themselves in the wood through which +the Prince had to pass on his way to the palace, and there fell on +him, and, having beaten him to death, they carried off the golden +horse and the golden bird. But nothing they could do would +persuade the golden mermaid to go with them or move from the spot, +for ever since she had left the sea, she had so attached herself +to her Prince that she asked nothing else than to live or die with +him. + +For many weeks the poor mermaid sat and watched over the dead body +of her lover, weeping salt tears over his loss, when suddenly one +day their old friend the wolf appeared and said, 'Cover the +Prince's body with all the leaves and flowers you can find in the +wood.' The maiden did as he told her, and then the wolf breathed +over the flowery grave, and, lo and behold! the Prince lay there +sleeping as peacefully as a child. 'Now you may wake him if you +like,' said the wolf, and the mermaid bent over him and gently +kissed the wounds his brothers had made on his forehead, and the +Prince awoke, and you may imagine how delighted he was to find his +beautiful mermaid beside him, though he felt a little depressed +when he thought of the loss of the golden bird and the golden +horse. After a time the wolf, who had likewise fallen on the +Prince's neck, advised them to continue their journey, and once +more the Prince and his lovely bride mounted on the faithful +beast's back. + +The King's joy was great when he embraced his youngest son, for he +had long since despaired of his return. He received the wolf and +the beautiful golden mermaid most cordially too, and the Prince +was made to tell his adventures all over from the beginning. The +poor old father grew very sad when he heard of the shameful +conduct of his elder sons, and had them called before him. They +turned as white as death when they saw their brother, whom they +thought they had murdered, standing beside them alive and well, +and so startled were they that when the King asked them why they +had behaved so wickedly to their brother they could think of no +lie, but confessed at once that they had slain the young Prince in +order to obtain possession of the golden horse and the golden +bird. Their father's wrath knew no bounds, and he ordered them +both to be banished, but he could not do enough to honour his +youngest son, and his marriage with the beautiful mermaid was +celebrated with much pomp and magnificence. When the festivities +were over, the wolf bade them all farewell, and returned once more +to his life in the woods, much to the regret of the old King and +the young Prince and his bride. + +And so ended the adventures of the Prince with his friend the +wolf. + +Grimm. + + + + + +THE WAR OF THE WOLF AND THE FOX + + + +There was once upon a time a man and his wife who had an old cat +and an old dog. One day the man, whose name was Simon, said to his +wife, whose name was Susan, 'Why should we keep our old cat any +longer? She never catches any mice now-a-days, and is so useless +that I have made up my mind to drown her.' + +But his wife replied, 'Don't do that, for I'm sure she could still +catch mice.' + +'Rubbish,' said Simon. 'The mice might dance on her and she would +never catch one. I've quite made up my mind that the next time I +see her, I shall put her in the water.' + +Susan was very unhappy when she heard this, and so was the cat, +who had been listening to the conversation behind the stove. When +Simon went off to his work, the poor cat miawed so pitifully, and +looked up so pathetically into Susan's face, that the woman +quickly opened the door and said, 'Fly for your life, my poor +little beast, and get well away from here before your master +returns.' + +The cat took her advice, and ran as quickly as her poor old legs +would carry her into the wood, and when Simon came home, his wife +told him that the cat had vanished. + +'So much the better for her,' said Simon. 'And now we have got rid +of her, we must consider what we are to do with the old dog. He is +quite deaf and blind, and invariably barks when there is no need, +and makes no sound when there is. I think the best thing I can do +with him is to hang him.' + +But soft-hearted Susan replied, 'Please don't do so; he's surely +not so useless as all that.' + +'Don't be foolish,' said her husband. 'The courtyard might be full +of thieves and he'd never discover it. No, the first time I see +him, it's all up with him, I can tell you.' + +Susan was very unhappy at his words, and so was the dog, who was +lying in the corner of the room and had heard everything. As soon +as Simon had gone to his work, he stood up and howled so +touchingly that Susan quickly opened the door, and said 'Fly for +your life, poor beast, before your master gets home.' And the dog +ran into the wood with his tail between his legs. + +When her husband returned, his wife told him that the dog had +disappeared. + +'That's lucky for him,' said Simon, but Susan sighed, for she had +been very fond of the poor creature. + +Now it happened that the cat and dog met each other on their +travels, and though they had not been the best of friends at home, +they were quite glad to meet among strangers. They sat down under +a holly tree and both poured forth their woes. + +Presently a fox passed by, and seeing the pair sitting together in +a disconsolate fashion, he asked them why they sat there, and what +they were grumbling about. + +The cat replied, 'I have caught many a mouse in my day, but now +that I am old and past work, my master wants to drown me.' + +And the dog said, 'Many a night have I watched and guarded my +master's house, and now that I am old and deaf, he wants to hang +me.' + +The fox answered, 'That's the way of the world. But I'll help you +to get back into your master's favour, only you must first help me +in my own troubles.' + +They promised to do their best, and the fox continued, 'The wolf +has declared war against me, and is at this moment marching to +meet me in company with the bear and the wild boar, and to-morrow +there will be a fierce battle between us.' + +'All right,' said the dog and the cat, 'we will stand by you, and +if we are killed, it is at any rate better to die on the field of +battle than to perish ignobly at home,' and they shook paws and +concluded the bargain. The fox sent word to the wolf to meet him +at a certain place, and the three set forth to encounter him and +his friends. + +The wolf, the bear, and the wild boar arrived on the spot first, +and when they had waited some time for the fox, the dog, and the +cat, the bear said, 'I'll climb up into the oak tree, and look if +I can see them coming.' + +The first time he looked round he said, 'I can see nothing,' and +the second time he looked round he said, 'I can still see +nothing.' But the third time he said, 'I see a mighty army in the +distance, and one of the warriors has the biggest lance you ever +saw!' + +This was the cat, who was marching along with her tail erect. + +And so they laughed and jeered, and it was so hot that the bear +said, 'The enemy won't be here at this rate for many hours to +come, so I'll just curl myself up in the fork of the tree and have +a little sleep.' + +And the wolf lay down under the oak, and the wild boar buried +himself in some straw, so that nothing was seen of him but one +ear. + +And while they were lying there, the fox, the cat and the dog +arrived. When the cat saw the wild boar's ear, she pounced upon +it, thinking it was a mouse in the straw. + +The wild boar got up in a dreadful fright, gave one loud grunt and +disappeared into the wood. But the cat was even more startled than +the boar, and, spitting with terror, she scrambled up into the +fork of the tree, and as it happened right into the bear's face. +Now it was the bear's turn to be alarmed, and with a mighty growl +he jumped down from the oak and fell right on the top of the wolf +and killed him as dead as a stone. + +On their way home from the war the fox caught score of mice, and +when they reached Simon's cottage he put them all on the stove and +said to the cat, 'Now go and fetch one mouse after the other, and +lay them down before your master.' + +'All right,' said the cat, and did exactly as the fox told her. + +When Susan saw this she said to her husband, 'Just look, here is +our old cat back again, and see what a lot of mice she has +caught.' + +'Wonders will never cease,' cried Simon. 'I certainly never +thought the old cat would ever catch another mouse.' + +But Susan answered, 'There, you see, I always said our cat was a +most excellent creature--but you men always think you know best.' + +In the meantime the fox said to the dog, 'Our friend Simon has +just killed a pig; when it gets a little darker, you must go into +the courtyard and bark with all your might.' + +'All right,' said the dog, and as soon as it grew dusk he began to +bark loudly. + +Susan, who heard him first, said to her husband, 'Our dog must +have come back, for I hear him barking lustily. Do go out and see +what's the matter; perhaps thieves may be stealing our sausages.' + +But Simon answered, 'The foolish brute is as deaf as a post and is +always barking at nothing,' and he refused to get up. + +The next morning Susan got up early to go to church at the +neighbouring town, and she thought she would take some sausages to +her aunt who lived there. But when she went to her larder, she +found all the sausages gone, and a great hole in the floor. She +called out to her husband, 'I was perfectly right. Thieves have +been here last night, and they have not left a single sausage. Oh! +if you had only got up when I asked you to!' + +Then Simon scratched his head and said, 'I can't understand it at +all. I certainly never believed the old dog was so quick at +hearing.' + +But Susan replied, 'I always told you our old dog was the best dog +in the world--but as usual you thought you knew so much better. +Men are the same all the world over.' + +And the fox scored a point too, for he had carried away the +sausages himself! + +Grimm. + + + + + +THE STORY OF THE FISHERMAN AND HIS WIFE + + + +There was once a fisherman and his wife who lived together in a +little hut close to the sea, and the fisherman used to go down +every day to fish; and he would fish and fish. So he used to sit +with his rod and gaze into the shining water; and he would gaze +and gaze. + +Now, once the line was pulled deep under the water, and when he +hauled it up he hauled a large flounder with it. The flounder said +to him, 'Listen, fisherman. I pray you to let me go; I am not a +real flounder, I am an enchanted Prince. What good will it do you +if you kill me--I shall not taste nice? Put me back into the water +and let me swim away.' + +'Well,' said the man, 'you need not make so much noise about it; I +am sure I had much better let a flounder that can talk swim away.' +With these words he put him back again into the shining water, and +the flounder sank to the bottom, leaving a long streak of blood +behind. Then the fisherman got up, and went home to his wife in +the hut. + +'Husband,' said his wife, 'have you caught nothing to-day?' + +'No,' said the man. 'I caught a flounder who said he was an +enchanted prince, so I let him swim away again.' + +'Did you wish nothing from him?' said his wife. + +'No,' said the man; 'what should I have wished from him?' + +'Ah!' said the woman, 'it's dreadful to have to live all one's +life in this hut that is so small and dirty; you ought to have +wished for a cottage. Go now and call him; say to him that we +choose to have a cottage, and he will certainly give it you.' + +'Alas!' said the man, 'why should I go down there again?' + +'Why,' said his wife, 'you caught him, and then let him go again, +so he is sure to give you what you ask. Go down quickly.' + +The man did not like going at all, but as his wife was not to be +persuaded, he went down to the sea. + +When he came there the sea was quite green and yellow, and was no +longer shining. So he stood on the shore and said: + +'Once a prince, but changed you be Into a flounder in the sea. +Come! for my wife, Ilsebel, Wishes what I dare not tell.' + +Then the flounder came swimming up and said, 'Well, what does she +want?' + +'Alas!' said the man, 'my wife says I ought to have kept you and +wished something from you. She does not want to live any longer in +the hut; she would like a cottage.' + +'Go home, then,' said the flounder; 'she has it.' + +So the man went home, and there was his wife no longer in the hut, +but in its place was a beautiful cottage, and his wife was sitting +in front of the door on a bench. She took him by the hand and said +to him, 'Come inside, and see if this is not much better.' They +went in, and inside the cottage was a tiny hall, and a beautiful +sitting-room, and a bedroom in which stood a bed, a kitchen and a +dining-room all furnished with the best of everything, and fitted +up with every kind of tin and copper utensil. And outside was a +little yard in which were chickens and ducks, and also a little +garden with vegetables and fruit trees. + +'See,' said the wife, 'isn't this nice?' + +'Yes,' answered her husband; 'here we shall remain and live very +happily.' + +'We will think about that,' said his wife. + +With these words they had their supper and went to bed. All went +well for a week or a fortnight, then the wife said: + +'Listen, husband; the cottage is much too small, and so is the +yard and the garden; the flounder might just as well have sent us +a larger house. I should like to live in a great stone castle. Go +down to the flounder, and tell him to send us a castle.' + +'Ah, wife!' said the fisherman, 'the cottage is quite good enough; +why do we choose to live in a castle?' + +'Why?' said the wife. 'You go down; the flounder can quite well do +that.' + +'No, wife,' said the man; 'the flounder gave us the cottage. I do +not like to go to him again; he might take it amiss.' + +'Go,' said his wife. 'He can certainly give it us, and ought to do +so willingly. Go at once.' + +The fisherman's heart was very heavy, and he did not like going. +He said to himself, 'It is not right.' Still, he went down. + +When he came to the sea, the water was all violet and dark-blue, +and dull and thick, and no longer green and yellow, but it was +still smooth. + +So he stood there and said: + +'Once a prince, but changed you be Into a flounder in the sea. +Come! for my wife, Ilsebel, Wishes what I dare not tell.' + +'What does she want now?' said the flounder. + +'Ah!' said the fisherman, half-ashamed, 'she wants to live in a +great stone castle.' + +'Go home; she is standing before the door,' said the flounder. + +The fisherman went home and thought he would find no house. When +he came near, there stood a great stone palace, and his wife was +standing on the steps, about to enter. She took him by the hand +and said, 'Come inside.' + +Then he went with her, and inside the castle was a large hall with +a marble floor, and there were heaps of servants who threw open +the great doors, and the walls were covered with beautiful +tapestry, and in the apartments were gilded chairs and tables, and +crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, and all the rooms were +beautifully carpeted. The best of food and drink also was set +before them when they wished to dine. And outside the house was a +large courtyard with horse and cow stables and a coach-house--all +fine buildings; and a splendid garden with most beautiful flowers +and fruit, and in a park quite a league long were deer and roe and +hares, and everything one could wish for. + +'Now,' said the wife, 'isn't this beautiful?' + +'Yes, indeed,' said the fisherman. 'Now we will stay here and live +in this beautiful castle, and be very happy.' + +'We will consider the matter,' said his wife, and they went to +bed. + +The next morning the wife woke up first at daybreak, and looked +out of the bed at the beautiful country stretched before her. Her +husband was still sleeping, so she dug her elbows into his side +and said: + +'Husband, get up and look out of the window. Could we not become +the king of all this land? Go down to the flounder and tell him we +choose to be king.' + +'Ah, wife!' replied her husband, 'why should we be king? I don't +want to be king.' + +'Well,' said his wife, 'if you don't want to be king, I will be +king. Go down to the flounder; I will be king.' + +'Alas! wife,' said the fisherman, 'why do you want to be king? I +can't ask him that.' + +'And why not?' said his wife. 'Go down at once. I must be king.' + +So the fisherman went, though much vexed that his wife wanted to +be king. 'It is not right! It is not right,' he thought. He did +not wish to go, yet he went. + +When he came to the sea, the water was a dark-grey colour, and it +was heaving against the shore. So he stood and said: + +'Once a prince, but changed you be Into a flounder in the sea. +Come! for my wife, Ilsebel, Wishes what I dare not tell.' + +'What does she want now?' asked the flounder. + +'Alas!' said the fisherman, 'she wants to be king.' + +'Go home; she is that already,' said the flounder. + +The fisherman went home, and when he came near the palace he saw +that it had become much larger, and that it had great towers and +splendid ornamental carving on it. A sentinel was standing before +the gate, and there were numbers of soldiers with kettledrums and +trumpets. And when he went into the palace, he found everything +was of pure marble and gold, and the curtains of damask with +tassels of gold. Then the doors of the hall flew open, and there +stood the whole Court round his wife, who was sitting on a high +throne of gold and diamonds; she wore a great golden crown, and +had a sceptre of gold and precious stones in her hand, and by her +on either side stood six pages in a row, each one a head taller +than the other. Then he went before her and said: + +'Ah, wife! are you king now?' + +'Yes,' said his wife; 'now I am king.' + +He stood looking at her, and when he had looked for some time, he +said: + +'Let that be enough, wife, now that you are king! Now we have +nothing more to wish for.' + +'Nay, husband,' said his wife restlessly, 'my wishing powers are +boundless; I cannot restrain them any longer. Go down to the +flounder; king I am, now I must be emperor.' + +'Alas! wife,' said the fisherman, 'why do you want to be emperor?' + +'Husband,' said she, 'go to the flounder; I will be emperor.' + +'Ah, wife,' he said, 'he cannot make you emperor; I don't like to +ask him that. There is only one emperor in the kingdom. Indeed and +indeed he cannot make you emperor.' + +'What!' said his wife. 'I am king, and you are my husband. Will +you go at once? Go! If he can make king he can make emperor, and +emperor I must and will be. Go!' + +So he had to go. But as he went, he felt quite frightened, and he +thought to himself, 'This can't be right; to be emperor is too +ambitious; the flounder will be tired out at last.' + +Thinking this he came to the shore. The sea was quite black and +thick, and it was breaking high on the beach; the foam was flying +about, and the wind was blowing; everything looked bleak. The +fisherman was chilled with fear. He stood and said: + +'Once a prince, but changed you be Into a flounder in the sea. +Come! for my wife, Ilsebel, Wishes what I dare not tell.' + +'What does she want now?' asked flounder. + +'Alas! flounder,' he said, 'my wife wants to be emperor.' + +'Go home,' said the flounder; 'she is that already.' + +So the fisherman went home, and when he came there he saw the +whole castle was made of polished marble, ornamented with +alabaster statues and gold. Before the gate soldiers were +marching, blowing trumpets and beating drums. Inside the palace +were walking barons, counts, and dukes, acting as servants; they +opened the door, which was of beaten gold. And when he entered, he +saw his wife upon a throne which was made out of a single block of +gold, and which was quite six cubits high. She had on a great +golden crown which was three yards high and set with brilliants +and sparkling gems. In one hand she held a sceptre, and in the +other the imperial globe, and on either side of her stood two rows +of halberdiers, each smaller than the other, from a seven-foot +giant to the tiniest little dwarf no higher than my little finger. +Many princes and dukes were standing before her. The fisherman +went up to her quietly and said: + +'Wife, are you emperor now?' + +'Yes,' she said, 'I am emperor.' + +He stood looking at her magnificence, and when he had watched her +for some time, said: + +'Ah, wife, let that be enough, now that you are emperor.' + +'Husband,' said she, 'why are you standing there? I am emperor +now, and I want to be pope too; go down to the flounder.' + +'Alas! wife,' said the fisherman, 'what more do you want? You +cannot be pope; there is only one pope in Christendom, and he +cannot make you that.' + +'Husband,' she said, 'I will be pope. Go down quickly; I must be +pope to-day.' + +'No, wife,' said the fisherman; 'I can't ask him that. It is not +right; it is too much. The flounder cannot make you pope.' + +'Husband, what nonsense!' said his wife. 'If he can make emperor, +he can make, pope too. Go down this instant; I am emperor and you +are my husband. Will you be off at once?' + +So he was frightened and went out; but he felt quite faint, and +trembled and shook, and his knees and legs began to give way under +him. The wind was blowing fiercely across the land, and the clouds +flying across the sky looked as gloomy as if it were night; the +leaves were being blown from the trees; the water was foaming and +seething and dashing upon the shore, and in the distance he saw +the ships in great distress, dancing and tossing on the waves. +Still the sky was very blue in the middle, although at the sides +it was an angry red as in a great storm. So he stood shuddering in +anxiety, and said: + +'Once a prince, but changed you be Into a flounder in the sea. +Come! for my wife, Ilsebel, Wishes what I dare not tell.' + +'Well, what does she want now?' asked the flounder. + +'Alas!' said the fisherman, 'she wants to be pope.' + +'Go home, then; she is that already,' said the flounder. + +Then he went home, and when he came there he saw, as it were, a +large church surrounded by palaces. He pushed his way through the +people. The interior was lit up with thousands and thousands of +candles, and his wife was dressed in cloth of gold and was sitting +on a much higher throne, and she wore three great golden crowns. +Round her were numbers of Church dignitaries, and on either side +were standing two rows of tapers, the largest of them as tall as a +steeple, and the smallest as tiny as a Christmas-tree candle. All +the emperors and kings were on their knees before her, and were +kissing her foot. + +'Wife,' said the fisherman looking at her, 'are you pope now?' + +'Yes,' said she; 'I am pope.' + +So he stood staring at her, and it was as if he were looking at +the bright sun. When he had watched her for some time he said: + +'Ah, wife, let it be enough now that you are pope.' + +But she sat as straight as a tree, and did not move or bend the +least bit. He said again: + +'Wife, be content now that you are pope. You cannot become +anything more.' + +'We will think about that,' said his wife. + +With these words they went to bed. But the woman was not content; +her greed would not allow her to sleep, and she kept on thinking +and thinking what she could still become. The fisherman slept well +and soundly, for he had done a great deal that day, but his wife +could not sleep at all, and turned from one side to another the +whole night long, and thought, till she could think no longer, +what more she could become. Then the sun began to rise, and when +she saw the red dawn she went to the end of the bed and looked at +it, and as she was watching the sun rise, out of the window, she +thought, 'Ha! could I not make the sun and man rise?' + +'Husband,' said she, poking him in the ribs with her elbows, 'wake +up. Go down to the flounder; I will be a god.' + +The fisherman was still half asleep, yet he was so frightened that +he fell out of bed. He thought he had not heard aright, and opened +his eyes wide and said: + +'What did you say, wife?' + +'Husband,' she said, 'if I cannot make the sun and man rise when I +appear I cannot rest. I shall never have a quiet moment till I can +make the sun and man rise.' + +He looked at her in horror, and a shudder ran over him. + +'Go down at once; I will be a god.' + +'Alas! wife,' said the fisherman, falling on his knees before her, +'the flounder cannot do that. Emperor and pope he can make you. I +implore you, be content and remain pope.' + +Then she flew into a passion, her hair hung wildly about her face, +she pushed him with her foot and screamed: + +'I am not contented, and I shall not be contented! Will you go?' + +So he hurried on his clothes as fast as possible, and ran away as +if he were mad. + +But the storm was raging so fiercely that he could scarcely stand. +Houses and trees were being blown down, the mountains were being +shaken, and pieces of rock were rolling in the sea. The sky was as +black as ink, it was thundering and lightening, and the sea was +tossing in great waves as high as church towers and mountains, and +each had a white crest of foam. + +So he shouted, not able to hear his own voice: + +'Once a prince, but changed you be Into a flounder in the sea. +Come! for my wife, Ilsebel, Wishes what I dare not tell.' + +'Well, what does she want now?' asked the flounder. + +'Alas!' said he, 'she wants to be a god.' + +'Go home, then; she is sitting again in the hut.' + +And there they are sitting to this day. + +Grimm. + + + + + +THE THREE MUSICIANS + + + +Once upon a time three musicians left their home and set out on +their travels. They had all learnt music from the same master, and +they determined to stick together and to seek their fortune in +foreign lands. They wandered merrily from place to place and made +quite a good living, and were much appreciated by everyone who +heard them play. One evening they came to a village where they +delighted all the company with their beautiful music. At last they +ceased playing, and began to eat and drink and listen to the talk +that was going on around them. They heard all the gossip of the +place, and many wonderful things were related and discussed. At +last the conversation fell on a castle in the neighbourhood, about +which many strange and marvellous things were told. One person +said that hidden treasure was to be found there; another that the +richest food was always to be had there, although the castle was +uninhabited; and a third, that an evil spirit dwelt within the +walls, so terrible, that anyone who forced his way into the castle +came out of it more dead than alive. + +As soon as the three musicians were alone in their bedroom they +agreed to go and examine the mysterious castle, and, if possible, +to find and carry away the hidden treasure. They determined, too, +to make the attempt separately, one after the other, according to +age, and they settled that a whole day was to be given to each +adventurer in which to try his luck. + +The fiddler was the first to set out on his adventures, and did so +in the best of spirits and full of courage. When he reached the +castle he found the outer gate open, quite as if he were an +expected guest, but no sooner had he stepped across the entry than +the heavy door closed behind him with a bang, and was bolted with +a huge iron bar, exactly as if a sentinel were doing his office +and keeping watch, but no human being was to be seen anywhere. An +awful terror overcame the fiddler; but it was hopeless to think of +turning back or of standing still, and the hopes of finding gold +and other treasures gave him strength and courage to force his way +further into the castle. Upstairs and downstairs he wandered, +through lofty halls, splendid rooms, and lovely little boudoirs, +everything beautifully arranged, and all kept in the most perfect +order. But the silence of death reigned everywhere, and no living +thing, not even a fly, was to be seen. Notwithstanding, the youth +felt his spirits return to him when he entered the lower regions +of the castle, for in the kitchen the most tempting and delicious +food was spread out, the cellars were full of the most costly +wine, and the store-room crammed with pots of every sort of jam +you can imagine. A cheerful fire was burning in the kitchen, +before which a roast was being basted by unseen hands, and all +kinds of vegetables and other dainty dishes were being prepared in +like manner. Before the fiddler had time to think, he was ushered +into a little room by invisible hands, and there a table was +spread for him with all the delicious food he had seen cooking in +the kitchen. + +The youth first seized his fiddle and played a beautiful air on it +which echoed through the silent halls, and then he fell to and +began to eat a hearty meal. Before long, however, the door opened +and a tiny man stepped into the room, not more than three feet +high, clothed in a dressing-gown, and with a small wrinkled face, +and a grey beard which reached down to the silver buckles of his +shoes. And the little man sat down beside the fiddler and shared +his meal. When they got to the game course the fiddler handed the +dwarf a knife and fork, and begged him to help himself first, and +then to pass the dish on. The little creature nodded, but helped +himself so clumsily that he dropped the piece of meat he had +carved on to the floor. + +The good-natured fiddler bent down to pick it up, but in the +twinkling of an eye the little man had jumped on to his back, and +beat him till he was black and blue all over his head and body. At +last, when the fiddler was nearly dead, the little wretch left +off, and shoved the poor fellow out of the iron gate which he had +entered in such good spirits a few hours before. The fresh air +revived him a little, and in a short time he was able to stagger +with aching limbs back to the inn where his companions were +staying. It was night when he reached the place, and the other two +musicians were fast asleep. The next morning they were much +astonished at finding the fiddler in bed beside them, and +overwhelmed him with questions; but their friend hid his back and +face, and answered them very shortly, saying, 'Go there +yourselves, and see what's to be seen! It is a ticklish matter, +that I can assure you.' + +The second musician, who was a trumpeter, now made his way to the +castle, and everything happened to him exactly as it had to the +fiddler. He was just as hospitably entertained at first, and then +just as cruelly beaten and belaboured, so that next morning he too +lay in his bed like a wounded hare, assuring his friends that the +task of getting into the haunted castle was no enviable one. +Notwithstanding the warning of his companions, the third musician, +who played the flute, was still determined to try his luck, and, +full of courage and daring, he set out, resolved, if possible, to +find and secure the hidden treasure. + +Fearlessly he wandered the whole castle, and as he roamed through +the splendid empty apartments he thought to himself how nice it +would be to live there always, especially with a full larder and +cellar at his disposal. A table was spread for him too, and when +he had wandered about for some time, singing and playing the +flute, he sat down as his companions had done, prepared to enjoy +the delicious food that was spread out in front of him. Then the +little man with the beard entered as before and seated himself +beside the flute-player, who wasn't the least startled at his +appearance, but chatted away to him as if he had known him all his +life. But he didn't find his companion very communicative. At last +they came to the game, and, as usual, the little man let his piece +fall on the ground. The flute-player was good-naturedly just going +to pick it up, when he perceived that the little dwarf was in the +act of springing on his back. Then he turned round sharply, and, +seizing the little creature by his beard, he gave him such a +shaking that he tore his beard out, and the dwarf sank groaning to +the ground. + +But as soon as the youth had the beard in his hands he felt so +strong that he was fit for anything, and he perceived all sorts of +things in the castle that he had not noticed before, but, on the +other hand, all strength seemed to have gone from the little man. +He whined and sobbed out: 'Give, oh give me my beard again, and I +will instruct you in all the magic art that surrounds this castle, +and will help you to carry off the hidden treasure, which will +make you rich and happy for ever.' + +But the cunning flute-player replied: 'I will give you back your +beard, but you must first help me as you have promised to do. Till +you have done so, I don't let your beard out of my hands.' + +Then the old man found himself obliged to fulfil his promise, +though he had had no intention of doing so, and had only desired +to get his beard back. He made the youth follow him through dark +secret passages, underground vaults, and grey rocks till at last +they came to an open field, which looked as if it belonged to a +more beautiful world than ours. Then they came to a stream of +rushing water; but the little man drew out a wand and touched the +waves, whereupon the waters parted and stood still, and the two +crossed the river with dry feet. And how beautiful everything on +the other side was! lovely green paths leading through woods and +fields covered with flowers, birds with gold and silver feathers +singing on the trees, lovely butterflies and glittering beetles +fluttered and crawled about, and dear little beasts hid in the +bushes and hedges. The sky above them was not blue, but like rays +of pure gold, and the stars looked twice their usual size, and far +more brilliant than on our earth. + +The youth grew more and more astonished when the little grey man +led him into a castle far bigger and more splendid than the one +they had left. Here, too, the deepest silence reigned. They +wandered all through the castle, and came at last to a room in the +middle of which stood a bed hung all round with heavy curtains. +Over the bed hung a bird's cage, and the bird inside it was +singing beautiful songs into the silent space. The little grey man +lifted the curtains from the bed and beckoned the youth to +approach. On the rich silk cushions embroidered with gold a lovely +maiden lay sleeping. She was as beautiful as an angel, with golden +hair which fell in curls over her marble shoulders, and a diamond +crown sparkled on her forehead. But a sleep as of death held her +in its spell, and no noise seemed able to waken the sleeper. + +Then the little man turned to the wondering youth and said: 'See, +here is the sleeping child! She is a mighty Princess. This +splendid castle and this enchanted land are hers, but for hundreds +of years she has slept this magic sleep, and during all that time +no human being has been able to find their way here. I alone have +kept guard over her, and have gone daily to my own castle to get +food and to beat the greedy gold-seekers who forced their way into +my dwelling. I have watched over the Princess carefully all these +years and saw that no stranger came near her, but all my magic +power lay in my beard, and now that you have taken it away I am +helpless, and can no longer hold the beautiful Princess in her +enchanted sleep, but am forced to reveal my treasured secret to +you. So set to work and do as I tell you. Take the bird which +hangs over the Princess's head, and which by its song sang her +into this enchanted sleep--a song which it has had to continue +ever since; take it and kill it, and cut its little heart out and +burn it to a powder, and then put it into the Princess's mouth; +then she will instantly awaken, and will bestow on you her heart +and hand, her kingdom and castle, and all her treasures. + +The little dwarf paused, quite worn out, and the youth did not +wait long to do his bidding. He did all he was told carefully and +promptly, and having cut the little bird's heart out he proceeded +to make it into a powder. No sooner had he placed it in the +Princess's mouth than she opened her lovely eyes, and, looking up +into the happy youth's face, she kissed him tenderly, thanked him +for freeing her from her magic sleep, and promised to be his wife. +At the same moment a sound as of thunder was heard all over the +castle, and on all the staircases and in every room sounds were to +be heard. Then a troop of servants, male and female, flocked into +the apartment where the happy couple sat, and after wishing the +Princess and her bridegroom joy, they dispersed all over the +castle to their different occupations. + +But the little grey dwarf began now to demand his beard again from +the youth, for in his wicked heart he was determined to make an +end of all their happiness; he knew that if only his beard were +once more on his chin, he would be able to do what he liked with +them all. But the clever flute-player was quite a match for the +little man in cunning, and said: 'All right, you needn't be +afraid, you shall get your beard back before we part; but you must +allow my bride and me to accompany you a bit on your homeward +way.' + +The dwarf could not refuse this request, and so they all went +together through the beautiful green paths and flowery meadows, +and came at last to the river which flowed for miles round the +Princess's land and formed the boundary of her kingdom. There was +no bridge or ferryboat to be seen anywhere, and it was impossible +to get over to the other side, for the boldest swimmer would not +have dared to brave the fierce current and roaring waters. Then +the youth said to the dwarf: 'Give me your wand in order that I +may part the waves.' + +And the dwarf was forced to do as he was told because the youth +still kept his beard from him; but the wicked little creature +chuckled with joy and thought to himself: 'The foolish youth will +hand me my beard as soon as we have crossed the river, and then my +power will return, and I will seize my wand and prevent them both +ever returning to their beautiful country.' + +But the dwarf's wicked intentions were doomed to disappointment. +The happy youth struck the water with his wand, and the waves at +once parted and stood still, and the dwarf went on in front and +crossed the stream. No sooner had he done so than the waters +closed behind him, and the youth and his lovely bride stood safe +on the other side. Then they threw his beard to the old man across +the river, but they kept his wand, so that the wicked dwarf could +never again enter their kingdom. So the happy couple returned to +their castle, and lived there in peace and plenty for ever after. +But the other two musicians waited in vain for the return of their +companion; and when he never came they said: 'Ah, he's gone to +play the flute,' till the saying passed into a proverb, and was +always said of anyone who set out to perform a task from which he +never returned. + +Grimm. + + + + + +THE THREE DOGS + + + +There was once upon a time a shepherd who had two children, a son +and a daughter. When he was on his death-bed he turned to them and +said, 'I have nothing to leave you but three sheep and a small +house; divide them between you, as you like, but don't quarrel +over them whatever you do.' + +When the shepherd was dead, the brother asked his sister which she +would like best, the sheep or the little house; and when she had +chosen the house he said, 'Then I'll take the sheep and go out to +seek my fortune in the wide world. I don't see why I shouldn't be +as lucky as many another who has set out on the same search, and +it wasn't for nothing that I was born on a Sunday.' + +And so he started on his travels, driving his three sheep in front +of him, and for a long time it seemed as if fortune didn't mean to +favour him at all. One day he was sitting disconsolately at a +cross road, when a man suddenly appeared before him with three +black dogs, each one bigger than the other. + +'Hullo, my fine fellow,' said the man, 'I see you have three fat +sheep. I'll tell you what; if you'll give them to me, I'll give +you my three dogs.' + +In spite of his sadness, the youth smiled and replied, 'What would +I do with your dogs? My sheep at least feed themselves, but I +should have to find food for the dogs.' + +'My dogs are not like other dogs,' said the stranger; 'they will +feed you instead of you them, and will make your fortune. The +smallest one is called "Salt," and will bring you food whenever +you wish; the second is called "Pepper," and will tear anyone to +pieces who offers to hurt you; and the great big strong one is +called "Mustard," and is so powerful that it will break iron or +steel with its teeth.' + +The shepherd at last let himself be persuaded, and gave the +stranger his sheep. In order to test the truth of his statement +about the dogs, he said at once, 'Salt, I am hungry,' and before +the words were out of his mouth the dog had disappeared, and +returned in a few minutes with a large basket full of the most +delicious food. Then the youth congratulated himself on the +bargain he had made, and continued his journey in the best of +spirits. + +One day he met a carriage and pair, all draped in black; even the +horses were covered with black trappings, and the coachman was +clothed in crape from top to toe. Inside the carriage sat a +beautiful girl in a black dress crying bitterly. The horses +advanced slowly and mournfully, with their heads bent on the +ground. + +'Coachman, what's the meaning of all this grief?' asked the +shepherd. + +At first the coachman wouldn't say anything, but when the youth +pressed him he told him that a huge dragon dwelt in the +neighbourhood, and required yearly the sacrifice of a beautiful +maiden. This year the lot had fallen on the King's daughter, and +the whole country was filled with woe and lamentation in +consequence. + +The shepherd felt very sorry for the lovely maiden, and determined +to follow the carriage. In a little it halted at the foot of a +high mountain. The girl got out, and walked slowly and sadly to +meet her terrible fate. The coachman perceived that the shepherd +wished to follow her, and warned him not to do so if he valued his +life; but the shepherd wouldn't listen to his advice. When they +had climbed about half-way up the hill they saw a terrible-looking +monster with the body of a snake, and with huge wings and claws, +coming towards them, breathing forth flames of fire, and preparing +to seize its victim. Then the shepherd called, 'Pepper, come to +the rescue,' and the second dog set upon the dragon, and after a +fierce struggle bit it so sharply in the neck that the monster +rolled over, and in a few moments breathed its last. Then the dog +ate up the body, all except its two front teeth, which the +shepherd picked up and put in his pocket. + +The Princess was quite overcome with terror and joy, and fell +fainting at the feet of her deliverer. When she recovered her +consciousness she begged the shepherd to return with her to her +father, who would reward him richly. But the youth answered that +he wanted to see something of the world, and that he would return +again in three years, and nothing would make him change this +resolve. The Princess seated herself once more in her carriage, +and, bidding each other farewell, she and the shepherd separated, +she to return home, and he to see the world. + +But while the Princess was driving over a bridge the carriage +suddenly stood still, and the coachman turned round to her and +said, 'Your deliverer has gone, and doesn't thank you for your +gratitude. It would be nice of you to make a poor fellow happy; +therefore you may tell your father that it was I who slew the +dragon, and if you refuse to, I will throw you into the river, and +no one will be any the wiser, for they will think the dragon has +devoured you.' + +The maiden was in a dreadful state when she heard these words; but +there was nothing for her to do but to swear that she would give +out the coachman as her deliverer, and not to divulge the secret +to anyone. So they returned to the capital, and everyone was +delighted when they saw the Princess had returned unharmed; the +black flags were taken down from all the palace towers, and gay- +coloured ones put up in their place, and the King embraced his +daughter and her supposed rescuer with tears of joy, and, turning +to the coachman, he said, 'You have not only saved the life of my +child, but you have also freed the country from a terrible +scourge; therefore, it is only fitting that you should be richly +rewarded. Take, therefore, my daughter for your wife; but as she +is still so young, do not let the marriage be celebrated for +another year.' + +The coachman thanked the King for his graciousness, and was then +led away to be richly dressed and instructed in all the arts and +graces that befitted his new position. But the poor Princess wept +bitterly, though she did not dare to confide her grief to anyone. +When the year was over, she begged so hard for another year's +respite that it was granted to her. But this year passed also, and +she threw herself at her father's feet, and begged so piteously +for one more year that the King's heart was melted, and he yielded +to her request, much to the Princess's joy, for she knew that her +real deliverer would appear at the end of the third year. And so +the year passed away like the other two, and the wedding-day was +fixed, and all the people were prepared to feast and make merry. + +But on the wedding-day it happened that a stranger came to the +town with three black dogs. He asked what the meaning of all the +feasting and fuss was, and they told him that the King's daughter +was just going to be married to the man who had slain the terrible +dragon. The stranger at once denounced the coachman as a liar; but +no one would listen to him, and he was seized and thrown into a +cell with iron doors. + +While he was lying on his straw pallet, pondering mournfully on +his fate, he thought he heard the low whining of his dogs outside; +then an idea dawned on him, and he called out as loudly as he +could, 'Mustard, come to my help,' and in a second he saw the paws +of his biggest dog at the window of his cell, and before he could +count two the creature had bitten through the iron bars and stood +beside him. Then they both let themselves out of the prison by the +window, and the poor youth was free once more, though he felt very +sad when he thought that another was to enjoy the reward that +rightfully belonged to him. He felt hungry too, so he called his +dog 'Salt,' and asked him to bring home some food. The faithful +creature trotted off, and soon returned with a table-napkin full +of the most delicious food, and the napkin itself was embroidered +with a kingly crown. + +The King had just seated himself at the wedding-feast with all his +Court, when the dog appeared and licked the Princess's hand in an +appealing manner. With a joyful start she recognised the beast, +and bound her own table-napkin round his neck. Then she plucked up +her courage and told her father the whole story. The King at once +sent a servant to follow the dog, and in a short time the stranger +was led into the Kings presence. The former coachman grew as white +as a sheet when he saw the shepherd, and, falling on his knees, +begged for mercy and pardon. The Princess recognized her deliverer +at once, and did not need the proof of the two dragon's teeth +which he drew from his pocket. The coachman was thrown into a dark +dungeon, and the shepherd took his place at the Princess's side, +and this time, you may be sure, she did not beg for the wedding to +be put off. + +The young couple lived for some time in great peace and happiness, +when suddenly one day the former shepherd bethought himself of his +poor sister and expressed a wish to see her again, and to let her +share in his good fortune. So they sent a carriage to fetch her, +and soon she arrived at the court, and found herself once more in +her brother's arms. Then one of the dogs spoke and said, 'Our task +is done; you have no more need of us. We only waited to see that +you did not forget your sister in your prosperity.' And with these +words the three dogs became three birds and flew away into the +heavens. + +Grimm. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Green Fairy Book +by Andrew Lang, Ed. + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GREEN FAIRY BOOK *** + +This file should be named 7gfry10.txt or 7gfry10.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, 7gfry11.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, 7gfry10a.txt + +Text scanned by JC Byers. Proofreading by Wendy Crockett. + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we usually do not +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +We are now trying to release all our eBooks one year in advance +of the official release dates, leaving time for better editing. +Please be encouraged to tell us about any error or corrections, +even years after the official publication date. + +Please note neither this listing nor its contents are final til +midnight of the last day of the month of any such announcement. +The official release date of all Project Gutenberg eBooks is at +Midnight, Central Time, of the last day of the stated month. A +preliminary version may often be posted for suggestion, comment +and editing by those who wish to do so. + +Most people start at our Web sites at: +http://gutenberg.net or +http://promo.net/pg + +These Web sites include award-winning information about Project +Gutenberg, including how to donate, how to help produce our new +eBooks, and how to subscribe to our email newsletter (free!). + + +Those of you who want to download any eBook before announcement +can get to them as follows, and just download by date. This is +also a good way to get them instantly upon announcement, as the +indexes our cataloguers produce obviously take a while after an +announcement goes out in the Project Gutenberg Newsletter. + +http://www.ibiblio.org/gutenberg/etext03 or +ftp://ftp.ibiblio.org/pub/docs/books/gutenberg/etext03 + +Or /etext02, 01, 00, 99, 98, 97, 96, 95, 94, 93, 92, 92, 91 or 90 + +Just search by the first five letters of the filename you want, +as it appears in our Newsletters. + + +Information about Project Gutenberg (one page) + +We produce about two million dollars for each hour we work. The +time it takes us, a rather conservative estimate, is fifty hours +to get any eBook selected, entered, proofread, edited, copyright +searched and analyzed, the copyright letters written, etc. Our +projected audience is one hundred million readers. If the value +per text is nominally estimated at one dollar then we produce $2 +million dollars per hour in 2002 as we release over 100 new text +files per month: 1240 more eBooks in 2001 for a total of 4000+ +We are already on our way to trying for 2000 more eBooks in 2002 +If they reach just 1-2% of the world's population then the total +will reach over half a trillion eBooks given away by year's end. + +The Goal of Project Gutenberg is to Give Away 1 Trillion eBooks! +This is ten thousand titles each to one hundred million readers, +which is only about 4% of the present number of computer users. + +Here is the briefest record of our progress (* means estimated): + +eBooks Year Month + + 1 1971 July + 10 1991 January + 100 1994 January + 1000 1997 August + 1500 1998 October + 2000 1999 December + 2500 2000 December + 3000 2001 November + 4000 2001 October/November + 6000 2002 December* + 9000 2003 November* +10000 2004 January* + + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation has been created +to secure a future for Project Gutenberg into the next millennium. + +We need your donations more than ever! + +As of February, 2002, contributions are being solicited from people +and organizations in: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, +Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, +Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, +Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New +Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, +Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South +Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West +Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. + +We have filed in all 50 states now, but these are the only ones +that have responded. + +As the requirements for other states are met, additions to this list +will be made and fund raising will begin in the additional states. +Please feel free to ask to check the status of your state. + +In answer to various questions we have received on this: + +We are constantly working on finishing the paperwork to legally +request donations in all 50 states. If your state is not listed and +you would like to know if we have added it since the list you have, +just ask. + +While we cannot solicit donations from people in states where we are +not yet registered, we know of no prohibition against accepting +donations from donors in these states who approach us with an offer to +donate. + +International donations are accepted, but we don't know ANYTHING about +how to make them tax-deductible, or even if they CAN be made +deductible, and don't have the staff to handle it even if there are +ways. + +Donations by check or money order may be sent to: + +Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +PMB 113 +1739 University Ave. +Oxford, MS 38655-4109 + +Contact us if you want to arrange for a wire transfer or payment +method other than by check or money order. + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation has been approved by +the US Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) organization with EIN +[Employee Identification Number] 64-622154. Donations are +tax-deductible to the maximum extent permitted by law. As fund-raising +requirements for other states are met, additions to this list will be +made and fund-raising will begin in the additional states. + +We need your donations more than ever! + +You can get up to date donation information online at: + +http://www.gutenberg.net/donation.html + + +*** + +If you can't reach Project Gutenberg, +you can always email directly to: + +Michael S. Hart <hart@pobox.com> + +Prof. Hart will answer or forward your message. + +We would prefer to send you information by email. + + +**The Legal Small Print** + + +(Three Pages) + +***START**THE SMALL PRINT!**FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN EBOOKS**START*** +Why is this "Small Print!" statement here? You know: lawyers. +They tell us you might sue us if there is something wrong with +your copy of this eBook, even if you got it for free from +someone other than us, and even if what's wrong is not our +fault. So, among other things, this "Small Print!" statement +disclaims most of our liability to you. It also tells you how +you may distribute copies of this eBook if you want to. + +*BEFORE!* YOU USE OR READ THIS EBOOK +By using or reading any part of this PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm +eBook, you indicate that you understand, agree to and accept +this "Small Print!" statement. If you do not, you can receive +a refund of the money (if any) you paid for this eBook by +sending a request within 30 days of receiving it to the person +you got it from. If you received this eBook on a physical +medium (such as a disk), you must return it with your request. + +ABOUT PROJECT GUTENBERG-TM EBOOKS +This PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm eBook, like most PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm eBooks, +is a "public domain" work distributed by Professor Michael S. Hart +through the Project Gutenberg Association (the "Project"). +Among other things, this means that no one owns a United States copyright +on or for this work, so the Project (and you!) can copy and +distribute it in the United States without permission and +without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, set forth +below, apply if you wish to copy and distribute this eBook +under the "PROJECT GUTENBERG" trademark. + +Please do not use the "PROJECT GUTENBERG" trademark to market +any commercial products without permission. + +To create these eBooks, the Project expends considerable +efforts to identify, transcribe and proofread public domain +works. Despite these efforts, the Project's eBooks and any +medium they may be on may contain "Defects". Among other +things, Defects may take the form of incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other +intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged +disk or other eBook medium, a computer virus, or computer +codes that damage or cannot be read by your equipment. + +LIMITED WARRANTY; DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES +But for the "Right of Replacement or Refund" described below, +[1] Michael Hart and the Foundation (and any other party you may +receive this eBook from as a PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm eBook) disclaims +all liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including +legal fees, and [2] YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE OR +UNDER STRICT LIABILITY, OR FOR BREACH OF WARRANTY OR CONTRACT, +INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE +OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE +POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. + +If you discover a Defect in this eBook within 90 days of +receiving it, you can receive a refund of the money (if any) +you paid for it by sending an explanatory note within that +time to the person you received it from. If you received it +on a physical medium, you must return it with your note, and +such person may choose to alternatively give you a replacement +copy. If you received it electronically, such person may +choose to alternatively give you a second opportunity to +receive it electronically. + +THIS EBOOK IS OTHERWISE PROVIDED TO YOU "AS-IS". NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, ARE MADE TO YOU AS +TO THE EBOOK OR ANY MEDIUM IT MAY BE ON, INCLUDING BUT NOT +LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A +PARTICULAR PURPOSE. + +Some states do not allow disclaimers of implied warranties or +the exclusion or limitation of consequential damages, so the +above disclaimers and exclusions may not apply to you, and you +may have other legal rights. + +INDEMNITY +You will indemnify and hold Michael Hart, the Foundation, +and its trustees and agents, and any volunteers associated +with the production and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm +texts harmless, from all liability, cost and expense, including +legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of the +following that you do or cause: [1] distribution of this eBook, +[2] alteration, modification, or addition to the eBook, +or [3] any Defect. + +DISTRIBUTION UNDER "PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm" +You may distribute copies of this eBook electronically, or by +disk, book or any other medium if you either delete this +"Small Print!" and all other references to Project Gutenberg, +or: + +[1] Only give exact copies of it. Among other things, this + requires that you do not remove, alter or modify the + eBook or this "small print!" statement. You may however, + if you wish, distribute this eBook in machine readable + binary, compressed, mark-up, or proprietary form, + including any form resulting from conversion by word + processing or hypertext software, but only so long as + *EITHER*: + + [*] The eBook, when displayed, is clearly readable, and + does *not* contain characters other than those + intended by the author of the work, although tilde + (~), asterisk (*) and underline (_) characters may + be used to convey punctuation intended by the + author, and additional characters may be used to + indicate hypertext links; OR + + [*] The eBook may be readily converted by the reader at + no expense into plain ASCII, EBCDIC or equivalent + form by the program that displays the eBook (as is + the case, for instance, with most word processors); + OR + + [*] You provide, or agree to also provide on request at + no additional cost, fee or expense, a copy of the + eBook in its original plain ASCII form (or in EBCDIC + or other equivalent proprietary form). + +[2] Honor the eBook refund and replacement provisions of this + "Small Print!" statement. + +[3] Pay a trademark license fee to the Foundation of 20% of the + gross profits you derive calculated using the method you + already use to calculate your applicable taxes. If you + don't derive profits, no royalty is due. Royalties are + payable to "Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation" + the 60 days following each date you prepare (or were + legally required to prepare) your annual (or equivalent + periodic) tax return. Please contact us beforehand to + let us know your plans and to work out the details. + +WHAT IF YOU *WANT* TO SEND MONEY EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO? +Project Gutenberg is dedicated to increasing the number of +public domain and licensed works that can be freely distributed +in machine readable form. + +The Project gratefully accepts contributions of money, time, +public domain materials, or royalty free copyright licenses. +Money should be paid to the: +"Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +If you are interested in contributing scanning equipment or +software or other items, please contact Michael Hart at: +hart@pobox.com + +[Portions of this eBook's header and trailer may be reprinted only +when distributed free of all fees. Copyright (C) 2001, 2002 by +Michael S. Hart. Project Gutenberg is a TradeMark and may not be +used in any sales of Project Gutenberg eBooks or other materials be +they hardware or software or any other related product without +express permission.] + +*END THE SMALL PRINT! FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN EBOOKS*Ver.02/11/02*END* + diff --git a/old/7gfry10.zip b/old/7gfry10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..f5401df --- /dev/null +++ b/old/7gfry10.zip diff --git a/old/8gfry10.txt b/old/8gfry10.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..509e736 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/8gfry10.txt @@ -0,0 +1,13353 @@ +Project Gutenberg's The Green Fairy Book, by Andrew Lang, Ed. + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the +copyright laws for your country before downloading or redistributing +this or any other Project Gutenberg eBook. + +This header should be the first thing seen when viewing this Project +Gutenberg file. Please do not remove it. Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: The Green Fairy Book + +Author: Andrew Lang, Ed. + +Release Date: January, 2005 [EBook #7277] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on April 6, 2003] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-Latin-1 + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GREEN FAIRY BOOK *** + + + + +Text scanned by JC Byers. Proofreading by Wendy Crockett. + + + + + The Green Fairy Book + + Edited by + Andrew Lang + + To + Stella Margaret Alleyne + the + Green Fairy Book + is dedicated + + + + To The Friendly Reader + + + +This is the third, and probably the last, of the Fairy Books of +many colours. First there was the Blue Fairy Book; then, +children, you asked for more, and we made up the Red Fairy Book; +and, when you wanted more still, the Green Fairy Book was put +together. The stories in all the books are borrowed from many +countries; some are French, some German, some Russian, some +Italian, some Scottish, some English, one Chinese. However much +these nations differ about trifles, they all agree in liking +fairy tales. The reason, no doubt, is that men were much like +children in their minds long ago, long, long ago, and so before +they took to writing newspapers, and sermons, and novels, and +long poems, they told each other stories, such as you read in the +fairy books. They believed that witches could turn people into +beasts, that beasts could speak, that magic rings could make +their owners invisible, and all the other wonders in the stories. +Then, as the world became grown-up, the fairy tales which were +not written down would have been quite forgotten but that the old +grannies remembered them, and told them to the little +grandchildren: and when they, in their turn, became grannies, +they remembered them, and told them also. In this way these tales +are older than reading and writing, far older than printing. The +oldest fairy tales ever written down were written down in Egypt, +about Joseph's time, nearly three thousand five hundred years +ago. Other fairy stories Homer knew, in Greece, nearly three +thousand years ago, and he made them all up into a poem, the +Odyssey, which I hope you will read some day. Here you will find +the witch who turns men into swine, and the man who bores out the +big foolish giant's eye, and the cap of darkness, and the shoes +of swiftness, that were worn later by Jack the Giant-Killer. +These fairy tales are the oldest stories in the world, and as +they were first made by men who were childlike for their own +amusement, so they amuse children still, and also grown-up people +who have not forgotten how they once were children. + +Some of the stories were made, no doubt, not only to amuse, but +to teach goodness. You see, in the tales, how the boy who is kind +to beasts, and polite, and generous, and brave, always comes best +through his trials, and no doubt these tales were meant to make +their hearers kind, unselfish, courteous, and courageous. This is +the moral of them. But, after all, we think more as we read them +of the diversion than of the lesson. There are grown-up people +now who say that the stories are not good for children, because +they are not true, because there are no witches, nor talking +beasts, and because people are killed in them, especially wicked +giants. But probably you who read the tales know very well how +much is true and how much is only make-believe, and I never yet +heard of a child who killed a very tall man merely because Jack +killed the giants, or who was unkind to his stepmother, if he had +one, because, in fairy tales, the stepmother is often +disagreeable. If there are frightful monsters in fairy tales, +they do not frighten you now, because that kind of monster is no +longer going about the world, whatever he may have done long, +long ago. He has been turned into stone, and you may see his +remains in museums. Therefore, I am not afraid that you will be +afraid of the magicians and dragons; besides, you see that a +really brave boy or girl was always their master, even in the +height of their power. + +Some of the tales here, like The Half-Chick, are for very little +children; others for older ones. The longest tales, like Heart of +Ice, were not invented when the others were, but were written in +French, by clever men and women, such as Madame d'Aulnoy, and the +Count de Caylus, about two hundred years ago. There are not many +people now, perhaps there are none, who can write really good +fairy tales, because they do not believe enough in their own +stories, and because they want to be wittier than it has pleased +Heaven to make them. + +So here we give you the last of the old stories, for the present, +and hope you will like them, and feel grateful to the Brothers +Grimm, who took them down from the telling of old women, and to +M. Sebillot and M. Charles Marelles, who have lent us some tales +from their own French people, and to Mr. Ford, who drew the +pictures, and to the ladies, Miss Blackley, Miss Alma Alleyne, +Miss Eleanor Sellar, Miss May Sellar, Miss Wright, and Mrs. Lang, +who translated many of the tales out of French, German, and other +languages. + +If we have a book for you next year, it shall not be a fairy +book. What it is to be is a secret, but we hope that it will not +be dull. So good-bye, and when you have read a fairy book, lend +it to other children who have none, or tell them the stories in +your own way, which is a very pleasant mode of passing the time. + + + + Contents + +The Blue Bird +The Half-Chick +The Story of Caliph Stork +The Enchanted Watch +Rosanella +Sylvain and Jocosa +Fairy Gifts +Prince Narcissus and the Princess Potentilla +Prince Featherhead and the Princess Celandine +The Three Little Pigs +Heart of Ice +The Enchanted Ring +The Snuff-box +The Golden Blackbird +The Little Soldier +The Magic Swan +The Dirty Shepherdess +The Enchanted Snake +The Biter Bit +King Kojata +Prince Fickle and Fair Helena +Puddocky +The Story of Hok Lee and the Dwarfs +The Story of the Three Bears +Prince Vivien and the Princess Placida +Little One-eye, Little Two-eyes, and Little Three-eyes +Jorinde and Joringel +Allerleirauh; or, the Many-furred Creature +The Twelve Huntsmen +Spindle, Shuttle, and Needle +The Crystal Coffin +The Three Snake-leaves +The Riddle +Jack my Hedgehog +The Golden Lads +The White Snake +The Story of a Clever Tailor +The Golden Mermaid +The War of the Wolf and the Fox +The Story of the Fisherman and his Wife +The Three Musicians +The Three Dogs + + + + + + THE BLUE BIRD + + + +Once upon a time there lived a King who was immensely rich. He +had broad lands, and sacks overflowing with gold and silver; but +he did not care a bit for all his riches, because the Queen, his +wife, was dead. He shut himself up in a little room and knocked +his head against the walls for grief, until his courtiers were +really afraid that he would hurt himself. So they hung +feather-beds between the tapestry and the walls, and then he +could go on knocking his head as long as it was any consolation +to him without coming to much harm. All his subjects came to see +him, and said whatever they thought would comfort him: some were +grave, even gloomy with him; and some agreeable, even gay; but +not one could make the least impression upon him. Indeed, he +hardly seemed to hear what they said. At last came a lady who was +wrapped in a black mantle, and seemed to be in the deepest grief. +She wept and sobbed until even the King's attention was +attracted; and when she said that, far from coming to try and +diminish his grief, she, who had just lost a good husband, was +come to add her tears to his, since she knew what he must be +feeling, the King redoubled his lamentations. Then he told the +sorrowful lady long stories about the good qualities of his +departed Queen, and she in her turn recounted all the virtues of +her departed husband; and this passed the time so agreeably that +the King quite forgot to thump his head against the feather-beds, +and the lady did not need to wipe the tears from her great blue +eyes as often as before. By degrees they came to talking about +other things in which the King took an interest, and in a +wonderfully short time the whole kingdom was astonished by the +news that the King was married again to the sorrowful lady. + +Now the King had one daughter, who was just fifteen years old. +Her name was Fiordelisa, and she was the prettiest and most +charming Princess imaginable, always gay and merry. The new +Queen, who also had a daughter, very soon sent for her to come to +the Palace. Turritella, for that was her name, had been brought +up by her godmother, the Fairy Mazilla, but in spite of all the +care bestowed upon her, she was neither beautiful nor gracious. +Indeed, when the Queen saw how ill-tempered and ugly she appeared +beside Fiordelisa she was in despair, and did everything in her +power to turn the King against his own daughter, in the hope that +he might take a fancy to Turritella. One day the King said that +it was time Fiordelisa and Turritella were married, so he would +give one of them to the first suitable Prince who visited his +Court. The Queen answered: + +My daughter certainly ought to be the first to be married; she +is older than yours, and a thousand times more charming!' + +The King, who hated disputes, said, Very well, it's no affair of +mine, settle it your own way.' + +Very soon after came the news that King Charming, who was the +most handsome and magnificent Prince in all the country round, +was on his way to visit the King. As soon as the Queen heard +this, she set all her jewellers, tailors, weavers, and +embroiderers to work upon splendid dresses and ornaments for +Turritella, but she told the King that Fiordelisa had no need of +anything new, and the night before the King was to arrive, she +bribed her waiting woman to steal away all the Princess's own +dresses and jewels, so that when the day came, and Fiordelisa +wished to adorn herself as became her high rank, not even a +ribbon could she find. + +However, as she easily guessed who had played her such a trick, +she made no complaint, but sent to the merchants for some rich +stuffs. But they said that the Queen had expressly forbidden them +to supply her with any, and they dared not disobey. So the +Princess had nothing left to put on but the little white frock +she had been wearing the day before; and dressed in that, she +went down when the time of the King's arrival came, and sat in a +corner hoping to escape notice. The Queen received her guest with +great ceremony, and presented him to her daughter, who was +gorgeously attired, but so much splendour only made her ugliness +more noticeable, and the King, after one glance at her, looked +the other way. The Queen, however, only thought that he was +bashful, and took pains to keep Turritella in full view. King +Charming then asked it there was not another Princess, called +Fiordelisa. + +Yes,' said Turritella, pointing with her finger, there she is, +trying to keep out of sight because she is not smart.' + +At this Fiordelisa blushed, and looked so shy and so lovely, that +the King was fairly astonished. He rose, and bowing low before +her, said-- + +Madam, your incomparable beauty needs no adornment.' + +Sire,' answered the Princess, I assure you that I am not in the +habit of wearing dresses as crumpled and untidy as this one, so I +should have been better pleased if you had not seen me at all.' + +Impossible!' cried King Charming. Wherever such a marvellously +beautiful Princess appears I can look at nothing else.' + +Here the Queen broke in, saying sharply-- + +I assure you, Sire, that Fiordelisa is vain enough already. Pray +make her no more flattering speeches.' + +The King quite understood that she was not pleased, but that did +not matter to him, so he admired Fiordelisa to his heart's +content, and talked to her for three hours without stopping. + +The Queen was in despair, and so was Turritella, when they saw +how much the King preferred Fiordelisa. They complained bitterly +to the King, and begged and teased him, until he at last +consented to have the Princess shut up somewhere out of sight +while King Charming's visit lasted. So that night, as she went to +her room, she was seized by four masked figures, and carried up +into the topmost room of a high tower, where they left her in the +deepest dejection. She easily guessed that she was to be kept out +of sight for fear the King should fall in love with her; but +then, how disappointing that was, for she already liked him very +much, and would have been quite willing to be chosen for his +bride! As King Charming did not know what had happened to the +Princess, he looked forward impatiently to meeting her again, and +he tried to talk about her with the courtiers who were placed in +attendance on him. But by the Queen's orders they would say +nothing good of her, but declared that she was vain, capricious, +and bad-tempered; that she tormented her waiting-maids, and that, +in spite of all the money that the King gave her, she was so mean +that she preferred to go about dressed like a poor shepherdess, +rather than spend any of it. All these things vexed the King very +much, and he was silent. + +It is true,' thought he, that she was very poorly dressed, but +then she was so ashamed that it proves that she was not +accustomed to be so. I cannot believe that with that lovely face +she can be as ill-tempered and contemptible as they say. No, no, +the Queen must be jealous of her for the sake of that ugly +daughter of hers, and so these evil reports are spread.' + +The courtiers could not help seeing that what they had told the +King did not please him, and one of them cunningly began to +praise Fiordelisa, when he could talk to the King without being +heard by the others. + +King Charming thereupon became so cheerful, and interested in all +he said, that it was easy to guess how much he admired the +Princess. So when the Queen sent for the courtiers and questioned +them about all they had found out, their report confirmed her +worst fears. As to the poor Princess Fiordelisa, she cried all +night without stopping. + +It would have been quite bad enough to be shut up in this gloomy +tower before I had ever seen King Charming,' she said; but now +when he is here, and they are all enjoying themselves with him, +it is too unkind.' + +The next day the Queen sent King Charming splendid presents of +jewels and rich stuffs, and among other things an ornament made +expressly in honour of the approaching wedding. It was a heart +cut out of one huge ruby, and was surrounded by several diamond +arrows, and pierced by one. A golden true-lover's knot above the +heart bore the motto, But one can wound me,' and the whole jewel +was hung upon a chain of immense pearls. Never, since the world +has been a world, had such a thing been made, and the King was +quite amazed when it was presented to him. The page who brought +it begged him to accept it from the Princess, who chose him to be +her knight. + +What!' cried he, does the lovely Princess Fiordelisa deign to +think of me in this amiable and encouraging way?' + +You confuse the names, Sire,' said the page hastily. I come on +behalf of the Princess Turritella.' + +Oh, it is Turritella who wishes me to be her knight,' said the +King coldly. I am sorry that I cannot accept the honour.' And he +sent the splendid gifts back to the Queen and Turritella, who +were furiously angry at the contempt with which they were +treated. As soon as he possibly could, King Charming went to see +the King and Queen, and as he entered the hall he looked for +Fiordelisa, and every time anyone came in he started round to see +who it was, and was altogether so uneasy and dissatisfied that +the Queen saw it plainly. But she would not take any notice, and +talked of nothing but the entertainments she was planning. The +Prince answered at random, and presently asked if he was not to +have the pleasure of seeing the Princess Fiordelisa. + +Sire,' answered the Queen haughtily, her father has ordered +that she shall not leave her own apartments until my daughter is +married.' + +What can be the reason for keeping that lovely Princess a +prisoner?' cried the King in great indignation. + +That I do not know,' answered the Queen; and even if I did, I +might not feel bound to tell you.' + +The King was terribly angry at being thwarted like this. He felt +certain that Turritella was to blame for it, so casting a furious +glance at her he abruptly took leave of the Queen, and returned +to his own apartments. There he said to a young squire whom he +had brought with him: I would give all I have in the world to +gain the good will of one of the Princess's waiting-women, and +obtain a moment's speech with Fiordelisa.' + +Nothing could be easier,' said the young squire; and he very +soon made friends with one of the ladies, who told him that in +the evening Fiordelisa would be at a little window which looked +into the garden, where he could come and talk to her. Only, she +said, he must take very great care not to be seen, as it would be +as much as her place was worth to be caught helping King Charming +to see the Princess. The squire was delighted, and promised all +she asked; but the moment he had run off to announce his success +to the King, the false waiting-woman went and told the Queen all +that had passed. She at once determined that her own daughter +should be at the little window; and she taught her so well all +she was to say and do, that even the stupid Turritella could make +no mistake. + +The night was so dark that the King had not a chance of finding +out the trick that was being played upon him, so he approached +the window with the greatest delight, and said everything that he +had been longing to say to Fiordelisa to persuade her of his love +for her. Turritella answered as she had been taught, that she was +very unhappy, and that there was no chance of her being better +treated by the Queen until her daughter was married. And then the +King entreated her to marry him; and thereupon he drew his ring +from his finger and put it upon Turritella's, and she answered +him as well as she could. The King could not help thinking that +she did not say exactly what he would have expected from his +darling Fiordelisa, but he persuaded himself that the fear of +being surprised by the Queen was making her awkward and +unnatural. He would not leave her until she had promised to see +him again the next night, which Turritella did willingly enough. +The Queen was overjoyed at the success of her stratagem, end +promised herself that all would now be as she wished; and sure +enough, as soon as it was dark the following night the King came, +bringing with him a chariot which had been given him by an +Enchanter who was his friend. This chariot was drawn by flying +frogs, and the King easily persuaded Turritella to come out and +let him put her into it, then mounting beside her he cried +triumphantly-- + +Now, my Princess, you are free; where will it please you that we +shall hold our wedding?' + +And Turritella, with her head muffled in her mantle, answered +that the Fairy Mazilla was her godmother, and that she would like +it to be at her castle. So the King told the Frogs, who had the +map of the whole world in their heads, and very soon he and +Turritella were set down at the castle of the Fairy Mazilla. The +King would certainly have found out his mistake the moment they +stepped into the brilliantly lighted castle, but Turritella held +her mantle more closely round her, and asked to see the Fairy by +herself, and quickly told her all that had happened, and how she +had succeeded in deceiving King Charming. + +Oho! my daughter,' said the Fairy, I see we have no easy task +before us. He loves Fiordelisa so much that he will not be easily +pacified. I feel sure he will defy us!' Meanwhile the King was +waiting in a splendid room with diamond walls, so clear that he +could see the Fairy and Turritella as they stood whispering +together, and he was very much puzzled. + +Who can have betrayed us?' he said to himself. How comes our +enemy here? She must be plotting to prevent our marriage. Why +doesn't my lovely Fiordelisa make haste and come hack to me?' + +But it was worse than anything he had imagined when the Fairy +Mazilla entered, leading Turritella by the hand, and said to +him-- + +King Charming, here is the Princess Turritella to whom you have +plighted your faith. Let us have the wedding at once.' + +I!' cried the King. I marry that little creature! What do you +take me for? I have promised her nothing!' + +Say no more. Have you no respect for a Fairy?' cried she +angrily. + +Yes, madam,' answered the King, I am prepared to respect you as +much as a Fairy can be respected, if you will give me back my +Princess.' + +Am I not here?' interrupted Turritella. Here is the ring you +gave me. With whom did you talk at the little window, if it was +not with me?' + +What!' cried the King angrily, have I been altogether deceived +and deluded? Where is my chariot? Not another moment will I stay +here.' + +Oho,' said the Fairy, not so fast.' And she touched his feet, +which instantly became as firmly fixed to the floor as if they +had been nailed there. + +Oh! do whatever you like with me,' said the King; you may turn +me to stone, but I will marry no one but Fiordelisa.' + +And not another word would he say, though the Fairy scolded and +threatened, and Turritella wept and raged for twenty days and +twenty nights. At last the Fairy Mazilla said furiously (for she +was quite tired out by his obstinacy), Choose whether you will +marry my goddaughter, or do penance seven years for breaking your +word to her.' + +And then the King cried gaily: Pray do whatever you like with +me, as long as you deliver me from this ugly scold!' + +Scold!' cried Turritella angrily. Who are you, I should like to +know, that you dare to call me a scold? A miserable King who +breaks his word, and goes about in a chariot drawn by croaking +frogs out of a marsh!' + +Let us have no more of these insults,' cried the Fairy. Fly +from that window, ungrateful King, and for seven years be a Blue +Bird.' As she spoke the King's face altered, his arms turned to +wings, his feet to little crooked black claws. In a moment he had +a slender body like a bird, covered with shining blue feathers, +his beak was like ivory, his eyes were bright as stars, and a +crown of white feathers adorned his head. + +As soon as the transformation was complete the King uttered a +dolorous cry and fled through the open window, pursued by the +mocking laughter of Turritella and the Fairy Mazilla. He flew on +until he reached the thickest part of the wood, and there, +perched upon a cypress tree, he bewailed his miserable fate. +Alas! in seven years who knows what may happen to my darling +Fiordelisa!' he said. Her cruel stepmother may have married her +to someone else before I am myself again, and then what good will +life be to me?' + +In the meantime the Fairy Mazilla had sent Turritella back to the +Queen, who was all anxiety to know how the wedding, had gone off. +But when her daughter arrived and told her all that had happened +she was terribly angry, and of course all her wrath fell upon +Fiordelisa. She shall have cause to repent that the King admires +her,' said the Queen, nodding her head meaningly, and then she +and Turritella went up to the little room in the tower where the +Princess was imprisoned. Fiordelisa was immensely surprised to +see that Turritella was wearing a royal mantle and a diamond +crown, and her heart sank when the Queen said: My daughter is +come to show you some of her wedding presents, for she is King +Charming's bride, and they are the happiest pair in the world, he +loves her to distraction.' All this time Turritella was spreading +out lace, and jewels, and rich brocades, and ribbons before +Fiordelisa's unwilling eyes, and taking good care to display King +Charming's ring, which she wore upon her thumb. The Princess +recognised it as soon as her eyes fell upon it, and after that +she could no longer doubt that he had indeed married Turritella. +In despair she cried, Take away these miserable gauds! what +pleasure has a wretched captive in the sight of them?' and then +she fell insensible upon the floor, and the cruel Queen laughed +maliciously, and went away with Turritella, leaving her there +without comfort or aid. That night the Queen said to the King, +that his daughter was so infatuated with King Charming, in spite +of his never having shown any preference for her, that it was +just as well she should stay in the tower until she came to her +senses. To which he answered that it was her affair, and she +could give what orders she pleased about the Princess. + +When the unhappy Fiordelisa recovered, and remembered all she had +just heard, she began to cry bitterly, believing that King +Charming was lost to her for ever, and all night long she sat at +her open window sighing and lamenting; but when it was dawn she +crept away into the darkest corner of her little room and sat +there, too unhappy to care about anything. As soon as night came +again she once more leaned out into the darkness and bewailed her +miserable lot. + +Now it happened that King Charming, or rather the Blue Bird, had +been flying round the palace in the hope of seeing his beloved +Princess, but had not dared to go too near the windows for fear +of being seen and recognised by Turritella. When night fell he +had not succeeded in discovering where Fiordelisa was imprisoned, +and, weary and sad, he perched upon a branch of a tall fir tree +which grew close to the tower, and began to sing himself to +sleep. But soon the sound of a soft voice lamenting attracted his +attention, and listening intently he heard it say-- + +Ah! cruel Queen! what have I ever done to be imprisoned like +this? And was I not unhappy enough before, that you must needs +come and taunt me with the happiness your daughter is enjoying +now she is King Charming's bride?' + +The Blue Bird, greatly surprised, waited impatiently for the +dawn, and the moment it was light flew off to see who it could +have been who spoke thus. But he found the window shut, and could +see no one. The next night, however, he was on the watch, and by +the clear moonlight he saw that the sorrowful lady at the window +was Fiordelisa herself. + +My Princess! have I found you at last?' said he, alighting close +to her. + +Who is speaking to me?' cried the Princess in great surprise. + +Only a moment since you mentioned my name, and now you do not +know me, Fiordelisa,' said he sadly. But no wonder, since I am +nothing but a Blue Bird, and must remain one for seven years.' + +What! Little Blue Bird, are you really the powerful King +Charming?' said the Princess, caressing him. + +It is too true,' he answered. For being faithful to you I am +thus punished. But believe me, if it were for twice as long I +would bear it joyfully rather than give you up.' + +Oh! what are you telling me?' cried the Princess. Has not your +bride, Turritella, just visited me, wearing the royal mantle and +the diamond crown you gave her? I cannot be mistaken, for I saw +your ring upon her thumb.' + +Then the Blue Bird was furiously angry, and told the Princess all +that had happened, how he had been deceived into carrying off +Turritella, and how, for refusing to marry her, the Fairy Mazilla +had condemned him to be a Blue Bird for seven years. + +The Princess was very happy when she heard how faithful her lover +was, and would never have tired of hearing his loving speeches +and explanations, but too soon the sun rose, and they had to part +lest the Blue Bird should be discovered. After promising to come +again to the Princess's window as soon as it was dark, he flew +away, and hid himself in a little hole in the fir-tree, while +Fiordelisa remained devoured by anxiety lest he should be caught +in a trap, or eaten up by an eagle. + +But the Blue Bird did not long stay in his hiding-place. He flew +away, and away, until he came to his own palace, and got into it +through a broken window, and there he found the cabinet where his +jewels were kept, and chose out a splendid diamond ring as a +present for the Princess. By the time he got back, Fiordelisa was +sitting waiting for him by the open window, and when he gave her +the ring, she scolded him gently for having run such a risk to +get it for her. + +Promise me that you will wear it always!' said the Blue Bird. +And the Princess promised on condition that he should come and +see her in the day as well as by night. They talked all night +long, and the next morning the Blue Bird flew off to his kingdom, +and crept into his palace through the broken window, and chose +from his treasures two bracelets, each cut out of a single +emerald. When he presented them to the Princess, she shook her +head at him reproachfully, saying-- + +Do you think I love you so little that I need all these gifts to +remind me of you?' + +And he answered-- + +No, my Princess; but I love you so much that I feel I cannot +express it, try as I may. I only bring you these worthless +trifles to show that I have not ceased to think of you, though I +have been obliged to leave you for a time.' The following night +he gave Fiordelisa a watch set in a single pearl. The Princess +laughed a little when she saw it, and said-- + +You may well give me a watch, for since I have known you I have +lost the power of measuring time. The hours you spend with me +pass like minutes, and the hours that I drag through without you +seem years to me.' + +Ah, Princess, they cannot seem so long to you as they do to me!' +he answered. Day by day he brought more beautiful things for the +Princess--diamonds, and rubies, and opals; and at night she +decked herself with them to please him, but by day she hid them +in her straw mattress. When the sun shone the Blue Bird, hidden +in the tall fir-tree, sang to her so sweetly that all the +passersby wondered, and said that the wood was inhabited by a +spirit. And so two years slipped away, and still the Princess was +a prisoner, and Turritella was not married. The Queen had offered +her hand to all the neighbouring Princes, but they always +answered that they would marry Fiordelisa with pleasure, but not +Turritella on any account. This displeased the Queen terribly. +Fiordelisa must be in league with them, to annoy me!' she said. +Let us go and accuse her of it.' + +So she and Turritella went up into the tower. Now it happened +that it was nearly midnight, and Fiordelisa, all decked with +jewels, was sitting at the window with the Blue Bird, and as the +Queen paused outside the door to listen she heard the Princess +and her lover singing together a little song he had just taught +her. These were the words:-- + + Oh! what a luckless pair are we, + One in a prison, and one in a tree. + All our trouble and anguish came + From our faithfulness spoiling our enemies' game. + But vainly they practice their cruel arts, + For nought can sever our two fond hearts.' + +They sound melancholy perhaps, but the two voices sang them gaily +enough, and the Queen burst open the door, crying, Ah! my +Turritella, there is some treachery going on here!' + +As soon as she saw her, Fiordelisa, with great presence of mind, +hastily shut her little window, that the Blue Bird might have +time to escape, and then turned to meet the Queen, who +overwhelmed her with a torrent of reproaches. + +Your intrigues are discovered, Madam,' she said furiously; and +you need not hope that your high rank will save you from the +punishment you deserve.' + +And with whom do you accuse me of intriguing, Madam?' said the +Princess. Have I not been your prisoner these two years, and who +have I seen except the gaolers sent by you?' + +While she spoke the Queen and Turritella were looking at her in +the greatest surprise, perfectly dazzled by her beauty and the +splendour of her jewels, and the Queen said: + +If one may ask, Madam, where did you get all these diamonds? +Perhaps you mean to tell me that you have discovered a mine of +them in the tower!' + +I certainly did find them here,' answered the Princess. + +And pray,' said the Queen, her wrath increasing every moment, +for whose admiration are you decked out like this, since I have +often seen you not half as fine on the most important occasions +at Court?' + +For my own,' answered Fiordelisa. You must admit that I have +had plenty of time on my hands, so you cannot be surprised at my +spending some of it in making myself smart.' + +That's all very fine,' said the Queen suspiciously. I think I +will look about, and see for myself.' + +So she and Turritella began to search every corner of the little +room, and when they came to the straw mattress out fell such a +quantity of pearls, diamonds, rubies, opals, emeralds, and +sapphires, that they were amazed, and could not tell what to +think. But the Queen resolved to hide somewhere a packet of false +letters to prove that the Princess had been conspiring with the +King's enemies, and she chose the chimney as a good place. +Fortunately for Fiordelisa this was exactly where the Blue Bird +had perched himself, to keep an eye upon her proceedings, and try +to avert danger from his beloved Princess, and now he cried: + +Beware, Fiordelisa! Your false enemy is plotting against you.' + +This strange voice so frightened the Queen that she took the +letter and went away hastily with Turritella, and they held a +council to try and devise some means of finding out what Fairy or +Enchanter was favouring the Princess. At last they sent one of +the Queen's maids to wait upon Fiordelisa, and told her to +pretend to be quite stupid, and to see and hear nothing, while +she was really to watch the Princess day and night, and keep the +Queen informed of all her doings. + +Poor Fiordelisa, who guessed she was sent as a spy, was in +despair, and cried bitterly that she dared not see her dear Blue +Bird for fear that some evil might happen to him if he were +discovered. + +The days were so long, and the nights so dull, but for a whole +month she never went near her little window lest he should fly to +her as he used to do. + +However, at last the spy, who had never taken her eyes off the +Princess day or night, was so overcome with weariness that she +fell into a deep sleep, and as son as the Princess saw that, she +flew to open her window and cried softly: + + Blue Bird, blue as the sky, + Fly to me now, there's nobody by.' + +And the Blue Bird, who had never ceased to flutter round within +sight and hearing of her prison, came in an instant. They had so +much to say, and were so overjoyed to meet once more, that it +scarcely seemed to them five minutes before the sun rose, and the +Blue Bird had to fly away. + +But the next night the spy slept as soundly as before, so that +the Blue Bird came, and he and the Princess began to think they +were perfectly safe, and to make all sorts of plans for being +happy as they were before the Queen's visit. But, alas! the third +night the spy was not quite so sleepy, and when the Princess +opened her window and cried as usual: + + Blue Bird, blue as the sky, + Fly to me now, there's nobody nigh,' + +she was wide awake in a moment, though she was sly enough to keep +her eyes shut at first. But presently she heard voices, and +peeping cautiously, she saw by the moonlight the most lovely blue +bird in the world, who was talking to the Princess, while she +stroked and caressed it fondly. + +The spy did not lose a single word of the conversation, and as +soon as the day dawned, and the Blue Bird had reluctantly said +good-bye to the Princess, she rushed off to the Queen, and told +her all she had seen and heard. + +Then the Queen sent for Turritella, and they talked it over, and +very soon came to the conclusion than this Blue Bird was no other +than King Charming himself. + +Ah! that insolent Princess!' cried the Queen. To think that +when we supposed her to be so miserable, she was all the while as +happy as possible with that false King. But I know how we can +avenge ourselves!' + +So the spy was ordered to go back and pretend to sleep as soundly +as ever, and indeed she went to bed earlier than usual, and +snored as naturally as possible, and the poor Princess ran to the +window and cried: + + Blue Bird, blue as the sky, + Fly to me now, there's nobody by!' + +But no bird came. All night long she called, and waited, and +listened, but still there was no answer, for the cruel Queen had +caused the fir tree to be hung all over with knives, swords, +razors, shears, bill-hooks, and sickles, so that when the Blue +Bird heard the Princess call, and flew towards her, his wings +were cut, and his little black feet clipped off, and all pierced +and stabbed in twenty places, he fell back bleeding into his +hiding place in the tree, and lay there groaning and despairing, +for he thought the Princess must have been persuaded to betray +him, to regain her liberty. + +Ah! Fiordelisa, can you indeed be so lovely and so faithless?' +he sighed, then I may as well die at once!' And he turned over +on his side and began to die. But it happened that his friend the +Enchanter had been very much alarmed at seeing the Frog chariot +come back to him without King Charming, and had been round the +world eight times seeking him, but without success. At the very +moment when the King gave himself up to despair, he was passing +through the wood for the eighth time, and called, as he had done +all over the world: + +Charming! King Charming! Are you here?' + +The King at once recognised his friend's voice, and answered very +faintly: + +I am here.' + +The Enchanter looked all round him, but could see nothing, and +then the King said again: + +I am a Blue Bird.' + +Then the Enchanter found him in an instant, and seeing his +pitiable condition, ran hither and thither without a word, until +he had collected a handful of magic herbs, with which, and a few +incantations, he speedily made the King whole and sound again. + +Now,' said he, let me hear all about it. There must be a +Princess at the bottom of this.' + +There are two!' answered King Charming, with a wry smile. + +And then he told the whole story, accusing Fiordelisa of having +betrayed the secret of his visits to make her peace with the +Queen, and indeed saying a great many hard things about her +fickleness and her deceitful beauty, and so on. The Enchanter +quite agreed with him, and even went further, declaring that all +Princesses were alike, except perhaps in the matter of beauty, +and advised him to have done with Fiordelisa, and forget all +about her. But, somehow or other, this advice did not quite +please the King. + +What is to be done next?' said the Enchanter, since you still +have five years to remain a Blue Bird.' + +Take me to your palace,' answered the King; there you can at +least keep me in a cage safe from cats and swords.' + +Well, that will be the best thing to do for the present,' said +his friend. But I am not an Enchanter for nothing. I'm sure to +have a brilliant idea for you before long.' + +In the meantime Fiordelisa, quite in despair, sat at her window +day and night calling her dear Blue Bird in vain, and imagining +over and over again all the terrible things that could have +happened to him, until she grew quite pale and thin. As for the +Queen and Turritella, they were triumphant; but their triumph was +short, for the King, Fiordelisa's father, fell ill and died, and +all the people rebelled against the Queen and Turritella, and +came in a body to the palace demanding Fiordelisa. + +The Queen came out upon the balcony with threats and haughty +words, so that at last they lost their patience, and broke open +the doors of the palace, one of which fell back upon the Queen +and killed her. Turritella fled to the Fairy Mazilla, and all the +nobles of the kingdom fetched the Princess Fiordelisa from her +prison in the tower, and made her Queen. Very soon, with all the +care and attention they bestowed upon her, she recovered from the +effects of her long captivity and looked more beautiful than +ever, and was able to take counsel with her courtiers, and +arrange for the governing of her kingdom during her absence. And +then, taking a bagful of jewels, she set out all alone to look +for the Blue Bird, without telling anyone where she was going. + +Meanwhile, the Enchanter was taking care of King Charming, but as +his power was not great enough to counteract the Fairy Mazilla's, +he at last resolved to go and see if he could make any kind of +terms with her for his friend; for you see, Fairies and +Enchanters are cousins in a sort of way, after all; and after +knowing one another for five or six hundred years and falling +out, and making it up again pretty often, they understand one +another well enough. So the Fairy Mazilla received him +graciously. And what may you be wanting, Gossip?' said she. + +You can do a good turn for me if you will;' he answered. A +King, who is a friend of mine, was unlucky enough to offend +you-- + +Aha! I know who you mean,' interrupted the Fairy. I am sorry +not to oblige you, Gossip, but he need expect no mercy from me +unless he will marry my goddaughter, whom you see yonder looking +so pretty and charming. Let him think over what I say.' + +The Enchanter hadn't a word to say, for he thought Turritella +really frightful, but he could not go away without making one +more effort for his friend the King, who was really in great +danger as long as he lived in a cage. Indeed, already he had met +with several alarming accidents. Once the nail on which his cage +was hung had given way, and his feathered Majesty had suffered +much from the fall, while Madam Puss, who happened to be in the +room at the time, had given him a scratch in the eye which came +very near blinding him. Another time they had forgotten to give +him any water to drink, so that he was nearly dead with thirst; +and the worst thing of all was that he was in danger of losing +his kingdom, for he had been absent so long that all his subjects +believed him to be dead. So considering all these things the +Enchanter agreed with the Fairy Mazilla that she should restore +the King to his natural form, and should take Turritella to stay +in his palace for several months, and if, after the time was over +he still could not make up his mind to marry her, he should once +more be changed into a Blue Bird. + +Then the Fairy dressed Turritella in a magnificent gold and +silver robe, and they mounted together upon a flying Dragon, and +very soon reached King Charming's palace, where he, too, had just +been brought by his faithful friend the Enchanter. + +Three strokes of the Fairy's wand restored his natural form, and +he was as handsome and delightful as ever, but he considered that +he paid dearly for his restoration when he caught sight of +Turritella, and the mere idea of marrying her made him shudder. + +Meanwhile, Queen Fiordelisa, disguised as a poor peasant girl, +wearing a great straw hat that concealed her face, and carrying +an old sack over her shoulder, had set out upon her weary +journey, and had travelled far, sometimes by sea and sometimes by +land; sometimes on foot, and sometimes on horseback, but not +knowing which way to go. She feared all the time that every step +she took was leading her farther from her lover. One day as she +sat, quite tired and sad, on the bank of a little brook, cooling +her white feet in the clear running water, and combing her long +hair that glittered like gold in the sunshine, a little bent old +woman passed by, leaning on a stick. She stopped, and said to +Fiordelisa: + +What, my pretty child, are you all alone?' + +Indeed, good mother, I am too sad to care for company,' she +answered; and the tears ran down her cheeks. + +Don't cry,' said the old woman, but tell me truly what is the +matter. Perhaps I can help you.' + +The Queen told her willingly all that had happened, and how she +was seeking the Blue Bird. Thereupon the little old woman +suddenly stood up straight, and grew tall, and young, and +beautiful, and said with a smile to the astonished Fiordelisa: + +Lovely Queen, the King whom you seek is no longer a bird. My +sister Mazilla has given his own form back to him, and he is in +his own kingdom. Do not be afraid, you will reach him, and will +prosper. Take these four eggs; if you break one when you are in +any great difficulty, you will find aid.' + +So saying, she disappeared, and Fiordelisa, feeling much +encouraged, put the eggs into her bag and turned her steps +towards Charming's kingdom. After walking on and on for eight +days and eight nights, she came at last to a tremendously high +hill of polished ivory, so steep that it was impossible to get a +foothold upon it. Fiordelisa tried a thousand times, and +scrambled and slipped, but always in the end found herself +exactly where she started from. At last she sat down at the foot +of it in despair, and then suddenly bethought herself of the +eggs. Breaking one quickly, she found in it some little gold +hooks, and with these fastened to her feet and hands, she mounted +the ivory hill without further trouble, for the little hooks +saved her from slipping. As soon as she reached the top a new +difficulty presented itself, for all the other side, and indeed +the whole valley, was one polished mirror, in which thousands and +thousands of people were admiring their reflections. For this was +a magic mirror, in which people saw themselves just as they +wished to appear, and pilgrims came to it from the four corners +of the world. But nobody had ever been able to reach the top of +the hill, and when they saw Fiordelisa standing there, they +raised a terrible outcry, declaring that if she set foot upon +their glass she would break it to pieces. The Queen, not knowing +what to do, for she saw it would be dangerous to try to go down, +broke the second egg, and out came a chariot, drawn by two white +doves, and Fiordelisa got into it, and was floated softly away. +After a night and a day the doves alighted outside the gate of +King Charming's kingdom. Here the Queen got out of the chariot, +and kissed the doves and thanked them, and then with a beating +heart she walked into the town, asking the people she met where +she could see the King. But they only laughed at her, crying: + +See the King? And pray, why do you want to see the King, my +little kitchen-maid? You had better go and wash your face first, +your eyes are not clear enough to see him!' For the Queen had +disguised herself, and pulled her hair down about her eyes, that +no one might know her. As they would not tell her, she went on +farther, and presently asked again, and this time the people +answered that to-morrow she might see the King driving through +the streets with the Princess Turritella, as it was said that at +last he had consented to marry her. This was indeed terrible news +to Fiordelisa. Had she come all this weary way only to find +Turritella had succeeded in making King Charming forget her? + +She was too tired and miserable to walk another step, so she sat +down in a doorway and cried bitterly all night long. As soon as +it was light she hastened to the palace, and after being sent +away fifty times by the guards, she got in at last, and saw the +thrones set in the great hall for the King and Turritella, who +was already looked upon as Queen. + +Fiordelisa hid herself behind a marble pillar, and very soon saw +Turritella make her appearance, richly dressed, but as ugly as +ever, and with her came the King, more handsome and splendid even +than Fiordelisa had remembered him. When Turritella had seated +herself upon the throne, the Queen approached her. + +Who are you, and how dare you come near my high-mightiness, upon +my golden throne?' said Turritella, frowning fiercely at her. + +They call me the little kitchen-maid,' she replied, and I come +to offer some precious things for sale,' and with that she +searched in her old sack, and drew out the emerald bracelets King +Charming had given her. + +Ho, ho!' said Turritella, those are pretty bits of glass. I +suppose you would like five silver pieces for them.' + +Show them to someone who understands such things, Madam,' +answered the Queen; after that we can decide upon the price.' + +Turritella, who really loved King Charming as much as she could +love anybody, and was always delighted to get a chance of talking +to him, now showed him the bracelets, asking how much he +considered them worth. As soon as he saw them he remembered those +he had given to Fiordelisa, and turned very pale and sighed +deeply, and fell into such sad thought that he quite forgot to +answer her. Presently she asked him again, and then he said, with +a great effort: + +I believe these bracelets are worth as much as my kingdom. I +thought there was only one such pair in the world; but here, it +seems, is another.' + +Then Turritella went back to the Queen, and asked her what was +the lowest price she would take for them. + +More than you would find it easy to pay, Madam,' answered she; +but if you will manage for me to sleep one night in the Chamber +of Echoes, I will give you the emeralds.' + +By all means, my little kitchen-maid,' said Turritella, highly +delighted. + +The King did not try to find out where the bracelets had come +from, not because he did not want to know, but because the only +way would have been to ask Turritella, and he disliked her so +much that he never spoke to her if he could possibly avoid it. It +was he who had told Fiordelisa about the Chamber of Echoes, when +he was a Blue Bird. It was a little room below the King's own +bed-chamber, and was so ingeniously built that the softest +whisper in it was plainly heard in the King's room. Fiordelisa +wanted to reproach him for his faithlessness, and could not +imagine a better way than this. So when, by Turritella's orders, +she was left there she began to weep and lament, and never ceased +until daybreak. + +The King's pages told Turritella, when she asked them, what a +sobbing and sighing they had heard, and she asked Fiordelisa what +it was all about. The Queen answered that she often dreamed and +talked aloud. + +But by an unlucky chance the King heard nothing of all this, for +he took a sleeping draught every night before he lay down, and +did not wake up until the sun was high. + +The Queen passed the day in great disquietude. + +If he did hear me,' she said, could he remain so cruelly +indifferent? But if he did not hear me, what can I do to get +another chance? I have plenty of jewels, it is true, but nothing +remarkable enough to catch Turritella's fancy.' + +Just then she thought of the eggs, and broke one, out of which +came a little carriage of polished steel ornamented with gold, +drawn by six green mice. The coachman was a rose-coloured rat, +the postilion a grey one, and the carriage was occupied by the +tiniest and most charming figures, who could dance and do +wonderful tricks. Fiordelisa clapped her hands and danced for joy +when she saw this triumph of magic art, and as soon as it was +evening, went to a shady garden-path down which she knew +Turritella would pass, and then she made the mice galop, and the +tiny people show off their tricks, and sure enough Turritella +came, and the moment she saw it all cried: + +Little kitchen-maid, little kitchen-maid, what will you take for +your mouse-carriage?' + +And the Queen answered: + +Let me sleep once more in the Chamber of Echoes.' + +I won't refuse your request, poor creature,' said Turritella +condescendingly. + +And then she turned to her ladies and whispered + +The silly creature does not know how to profit by her chances; +so much the better for me.' + +When night came Fiordelisa said all the loving words she could +think of, but alas! with no better success than before, for the +King slept heavily after his draught. One of the pages said: + +This peasant girl must he crazy;' but another answered: + +Yet what she says sounds very sad and touching.' + +As for Fiordelisa, she thought the King must have a very hard +heart if he could hear how she grieved and yet pay her no +attention. She had but one more chance, and on breaking the last +egg she found to her great delight that it contained a more +marvellous thing than ever. It was a pie made of six birds, +cooked to perfection, and yet they were all alive, and singing +and talking, and they answered questions and told fortunes in the +most amusing way. Taking this treasure Fiordelisa once more set +herself to wait in the great hall through which Turritella was +sure to pass, and as she sat there one of the King's pages came +by, and said to her: + +Well, little kitchen-maid, it is a good thing that the King +always takes a sleeping draught, for if not he would be kept +awake all night by your sighing and lamenting.' + +Then Fiordelisa knew why the King had not heeded her, and taking +a handful of pearls and diamonds out of her sack, she said, If +you can promise me that to-night the King shall not have his +sleeping draught, I will give you all these jewels.' + +Oh! I promise that willingly,' said the page. + +At this moment Turritella appeared, and at the first sight of the +savoury pie, with the pretty little birds all singing and +chattering, she cried:-- + +That is an admirable pie, little kitchen-maid. Pray what will +you take for it?' + +The usual price,' she answered. To sleep once more in the +Chamber of Echoes.' + +By all means, only give me the pie,' said the greedy Turritella. +And when night was come, Queen Fiordelisa waited until she +thought everybody in the palace would be asleep, and then began +to lament as before. + +Ah, Charming!' she said, what have I ever done that you should +forsake me and marry Turritella? If you could only know all I +have suffered, and what a weary way I have come to seek you.' + +Now the page had faithfully kept his word, and given King +Charming a glass of water instead of his usual sleeping draught, +so there he lay wide awake, and heard every word Fiordelisa said, +and even recognised her voice, though he could not tell where it +came from. + +Ah, Princess!' he said, how could you betray me to our cruel +enemies when I loved you so dearly?' + +Fiordelisa heard him, and answered quickly: + +Find out the little kitchen-maid, and she will explain +everything.' + +Then the King in a great hurry sent for his pages and said: + +If you can find the little kitchen-maid, bring her to me at +once.' + +Nothing could be easier, Sire,' they answered, for she is in +the Chamber of Echoes.' + +The King was very much puzzled when he heard this. How could the +lovely Princess Fiordelisa be a little kitchen-maid? or how could +a little kitchen-maid have Fiordelisa's own voice? So he dressed +hastily, and ran down a little secret staircase which led to the +Chamber of Echoes. There, upon a heap of soft cushions, sat his +lovely Princess. She had laid aside all her ugly disguises and +wore a white silken robe, and her golden hair shone in the soft +lamp-light. The King was overjoyed at the sight, and rushed to +throw himself at her feet, and asked her a thousand questions +without giving her time to answer one. Fiordelisa was equally +happy to be with him once more, and nothing troubled them but the +remembrance of the Fairy Mazilla. But at this moment in came the +Enchanter, and with him a famous Fairy, the same in fact who had +given Fiordelisa the eggs. After greeting the King and Queen, +they said that as they were united in wishing to help King +Charming, the Fairy Mazilla had no longer any power against him, +and he might marry Fiordelisa as soon as he pleased. The King's +joy may be imagined, and as soon as it was day the news was +spread through the palace, and everybody who saw Fiordelisa loved +her directly. When Turritella heard what had happened she came +running to the King, and when she saw Fiordelisa with him she was +terribly angry, but before she could say a word the Enchanter and +the Fairy changed her into a big brown owl, and she floated away +out of one of the palace windows, hooting dismally. Then the +wedding was held with great splendour, and King Charming and +Queen Fiordelisa lived happily ever after. + +L'Oiseau Bleu. Par Mme. d'Aulnoy. + + + + + + THE HALF-CHICK + + + +Once upon a time there was a handsome black Spanish hen, who had +a large brood of chickens. They were all fine, plump little +birds, except the youngest, who was quite unlike his brothers and +sisters. Indeed, he was such a strange, queer-looking creature, +that when he first chipped his shell his mother could scarcely +believe her eyes, he was so different from the twelve other +fluffy, downy, soft little chicks who nestled under her wings. +This one looked just as if he had been cut in two. He had only +one leg, and one wing, and one eye, and he had half a head and +half a beak. His mother shook her head sadly as she looked at him +and said: + +My youngest born is only a half-chick. He can never grow up a +tall handsome cock like his brothers. They will go out into the +world and rule over poultry yards of their own; but this poor +little fellow will always have to stay at home with his mother.' +And she called him Medio Pollito, which is Spanish for +half-chick. + +Now though Medio Pollito was such an odd, helpless-looking little +thing, his mother soon found that he was not at all willing to +remain under her wing and protection. Indeed, in character he was +as unlike his brothers and sisters as he was in appearance. They +were good, obedient chickens, and when the old hen chicked after +them, they chirped and ran back to her side. But Medio Pollito +had a roving spirit in spite of his one leg, and when his mother +called to him to return to the coop, he pretended that he could +not hear, because he had only one ear. + +When she took the whole family out for a walk in the fields, +Medio Pollito would hop away by himself, and hide among the +Indian corn. Many an anxious minute his brothers and sisters had +looking for him, while his mother ran to and fro cackling in fear +and dismay. + +As he grew older he became more self-willed and disobedient, and +his manner to his mother was often very rude, and his temper to +the other chickens very disagreeable. + +One day he had been out for a longer expedition than usual in the +fields. On his return he strutted up to his mother with the +peculiar little hop and kick which was his way of walking, and +cocking his one eye at her in a very bold way he said: + +Mother, I am tired of this life in a dull farmyard, with nothing +but a dreary maize field to look at. I'm off to Madrid to see the +King.' + +To Madrid, Medio Pollito!' exclaimed his mother; why, you silly +chick, it would be a long journey for a grown-up cock, and a poor +little thing like you would be tired out before you had gone half +the distance. No, no, stay at home with your mother, and some +day, when you are bigger, we will go a little journey together.' + +But Medio Pollito had made up his mind, and he would not listen +to his mother's advice, nor to the prayers and entreaties of his +brothers and sisters. + +What is the use of our all crowding each other up in this poky +little place?' he said. When I have a fine courtyard of my own +at the King's palace, I shall perhaps ask some of you to come and +pay me a short visit,' and scarcely waiting to say good-bye to +his family, away he stumped down the high road that led to +Madrid. + +Be sure that you are kind and civil to everyone you meet,' +called his mother, running after him; but he was in such a hurry +to be off, that he did not wait to answer her, or even to look +back. + +A little later in the day, as he was taking a short cut through a +field, he passed a stream. Now the stream was all choked up, and +overgrown with weeds and water-plants, so that its waters could +not flow freely. + +Oh! Medio Pollito,' it cried, as the half-chick hopped along its +banks, do come and help me by clearing away these weeds.' + +Help you, indeed!' exclaimed Medio Pollito, tossing his head, +and shaking the few feathers in his tail. Do you think I have +nothing to do but to waste my time on such trifles? Help +yourself, and don't trouble busy travellers. I am off to Madrid +to see the King,' and hoppity-kick, hoppity-kick, away stumped +Medio Pollito. + +A little later he came to a fire that had been left by some +gipsies in a wood. It was burning very low, and would soon be +out. + +Oh! Medio Pollito,' cried the fire, in a weak, wavering voice as +the half-chick approached, in a few minutes I shall go quite +out, unless you put some sticks and dry leaves upon me. Do help +me, or I shall die!' + +Help you, indeed!' answered Medio Pollito. I have other things +to do. Gather sticks for yourself, and don't trouble me. I am off +to Madrid to see the King,' and hoppity-kick, hoppity-kick, away +stumped Medio Pollito. + +The next morning, as he was getting near Madrid, he passed a +large chestnut tree, in whose branches the wind was caught and +entangled. Oh! Medio Pollito,' called the wind, do hop up here, +and help me to get free of these branches. I cannot come away, +and it is so uncomfortable.' + +It is your own fault for going there,' answered Medio Pollito. +I can't waste all my morning stopping here to help you. Just +shake yourself off, and don't hinder me, for I am off to Madrid +to see the King,' and hoppity-kick, hoppity-kick, away stumped +Medio Pollito in great glee, for the towers and roofs of Madrid +were now in sight. When he entered the town he saw before him a +great splendid house, with soldiers standing before the gates. +This he knew must be the King's palace, and he determined to hop +up to the front gate and wait there until the King came out. But +as he was hopping past one of the back windows the King's cook +saw him: + +Here is the very thing I want,' he exclaimed, for the King has +just sent a message to say that he must have chicken broth for +his dinner,' and opening the window he stretched out his arm, +caught Medio Pollito, and popped him into the broth-pot that was +standing near the fire. Oh! how wet and clammy the water felt as +it went over Medio Pollito's head, making his feathers cling to +his side. + +Water, water!' he cried in his despair, do have pity upon me +and do not wet me like this.' + +Ah! Medio Pollito,' replied the water, you would not help me +when I was a little stream away on the fields, now you must be +punished.' + +Then the fire began to burn and scald Medio Pollito, and he +danced and hopped from one side of the pot to the other, trying +to get away from the heat, and crying out in pain: + +Fire, fire! do not scorch me like this; you can't think how it +hurts.' + +Ah! Medio Pollito,' answered the fire, you would not help me +when I was dying away in the wood. You are being punished.' + +At last, just when the pain was so great that Medio Pollito +thought he must die, the cook lifted up the lid of the pot to see +if the broth was ready for the King's dinner. + +Look here!' he cried in horror, this chicken is quite useless. +It is burnt to a cinder. I can't send it up to the royal table;' +and opening the window he threw Medio Pollito out into the +street. But the wind caught him up, and whirled him through the +air so quickly that Medio Pollito could scarcely breathe, and his +heart beat against his side till he thought it would break. + +Oh, wind!' at last he gasped out, if you hurry me along like +this you will kill me. Do let me rest a moment, or-- but he was +so breathless that he could not finish his sentence. + +Ah! Medio Pollito,' replied the wind, when I was caught in the +branches of the chestnut tree you would not help me; now you are +punished.' And he swirled Medio Pollito over the roofs of the +houses till they reached the highest church in the town, and +there he left him fastened to the top of the steeple. + +And there stands Medio Pollito to this day. And if you go to +Madrid, and walk through the streets till you come to the highest +church, you will see Medio Pollito perched on his one leg on the +steeple, with his one wing drooping at his side, and gazing sadly +out of his one eye over the town. + +Spanish Tradition. + + + + + +THE STORY OF CALIPH STORK + + +I. + +Caliph Chasid, of Bagdad, was resting comfortably on his divan one +fine afternoon. He was smoking a long pipe, and from time to time +he sipped a little coffee which a slave handed to him, and after +each sip he stroked his long beard with an air of enjoyment. In +short, anyone could see that the Caliph was in an excellent +humour. This was, in fact, the best time of day in which to +approach him, for just now he was pretty sure to be both affable +and in good spirits, and for this reason the Grand Vizier Mansor +always chose this hour in which to pay his daily visit. + +He arrived as usual this afternoon, but, contrary to his usual +custom, with an anxious face. The Caliph withdrew his pipe for a +moment from his lips and asked, Why do you look so anxious, Grand +Vizier?' + +The Grand Vizier crossed his arms on his breast and bent low +before his master as he answered: + +Oh, my Lord! whether my countenance be anxious or not I know not, +but down below, in the court of the palace, is a pedlar with such +beautiful things that I cannot help feeling annoyed at having so +little money to spare.' + +The Caliph, who had wished for some time past to give his Grand +Vizier a present, ordered his black slave to bring the pedlar +before him at once. The slave soon returned, followed by the +pedlar, a short stout man with a swarthy face, and dressed in very +ragged clothes. He carried a box containing all manner of wares-- +strings of pearls, rings, richly mounted pistols, goblets, and +combs. The Caliph and his Vizier inspected everything, and the +Caliph chose some handsome pistols for himself and Mansor, and a +jewelled comb for the Vizier's wife. Just as the pedlar was about +to close his box, the Caliph noticed a small drawer, and asked if +there was anything else in it for sale. The pedlar opened the +drawer and showed them a box containing a black powder, and a +scroll written in strange characters, which neither the Caliph nor +the Mansor could read. + +I got these two articles from a merchant who had picked them up +in the street at Mecca,' said the pedlar. I do not know what they +may contain, but as they are of no use to me, you are welcome to +have them for a trifle.' + +The Caliph, who liked to have old manuscripts in his library, even +though he could not read them, purchased the scroll and the box, +and dismissed the pedlar. Then, being anxious to know what might +be the contents of the scroll, he asked the Vizier if he did not +know of anyone who might be able to decipher it. + +Most gracious Lord and master,' replied the Vizier, near the +great Mosque lives a man called Selim the learned, who knows every +language under the sun. Send for him; it may be that he will be +able to interpret these mysterious characters.' + +The learned Selim was summoned immediately. + +Selim,' said the Caliph, I hear you are a scholar. Look well at +this scroll and see whether you can read it. If you can, I will +give you a robe of honour; but if you fail, I will order you to +receive twelve strokes on your cheeks, and five-and-twenty on the +soles of your feet, because you have been falsely called Selim the +learned.' + +Selim prostrated himself and said, Be it according to your will, +oh master!' Then he gazed long at the scroll. Suddenly he +exclaimed: May I die, oh, my Lord, if this isn't Latin !' + +Well,' said the Caliph, if it is Latin, let us hear what it +means.' + +So Selim began to translate: Thou who mayest find this, praise +Allah for his mercy. Whoever shall snuff the powder in this box, +and at the same time shall pronounce the word "Mutabor!" can +transform himself into any creature he likes, and will understand +the language of all animals. When he wishes to resume the human +form, he has only to bow three times towards the east, and to +repeat the same word. Be careful, however, when wearing the shape +of some beast or bird, not to laugh, or thou wilt certainly forget +the magic word and remain an animal for ever.' + +When Selim the learned had read this, the Caliph was delighted. He +made the wise man swear not to tell the matter to anyone, gave him +a splendid robe, and dismissed him. Then he said to his Vizier, +That's what I call a good bargain, Mansor. I am longing for the +moment when I can become some animal. To-morrow morning I shall +expect you early; we will go into the country, take some snuff +from my box, and then hear what is being said in air, earth, and +water.' + +II. + +Next morning Caliph Chasid had barely finished dressing, and +breakfasting, when the Grand Vizier arrived, according to orders, +to accompany him in his expedition. The Caliph stuck the snuff-box +in his girdle, and, having desired his servants to remain at home, +started off with the Grand Vizier only in attendance. First they +walked through the palace gardens, but they looked in vain for +some creature which could tempt them to try their magic power. At +length the Vizier suggested going further on to a pond which lay +beyond the town, and where he had often seen a variety of +creatures, especially storks, whose grave, dignified appearance +and constant chatter had often attracted his attention. + +The Caliph consented, and they went straight to the pond. As soon +as they arrived they remarked a stork strutting up and down with a +stately air, hunting for frogs, and now and then muttering +something to itself. At the same time they saw another stork far +above in the sky flying towards the same spot. + +I would wager my beard, most gracious master,' said the Grand +Vizier, that these two long legs will have a good chat together. +How would it be if we turned ourselves into storks?' + +Well said,' replied the Caliph; but first let us remember +carefully how we are to become men once more. True! Bow three +times towards the east and say "Mutabor!" and I shall be Caliph +and you my Grand Vizier again. But for Heaven's sake don't laugh +or we are lost!' + +As the Caliph spoke he saw the second stork circling round his +head and gradually flying towards the earth. Quickly he drew the +box from his girdle, took a good pinch of the snuff, and offered +one to Mansor, who also took one, and both cried together +Mutabor!' + +Instantly their legs shrivelled up and grew thin and red; their +smart yellow slippers turned to clumsy stork's feet, their arms to +wings; their necks began to sprout from between their shoulders +and grew a yard long; their beards disappeared, and their bodies +were covered with feathers. + +You've got a fine long bill, Sir Vizier,' cried the Caliph, after +standing for some time lost in astonishment. By the beard of the +Prophet I never saw such a thing in all my life!' + +My very humble thanks,' replied the Grand Vizier, as he bent his +long neck; but, if I may venture to say so, your Highness is even +handsomer as a stork than as a Caliph. But come, if it so pleases +you, let us go near our comrades there and find out whether we +really do understand the language of storks.' + +Meantime the second stork had reached the ground. It first scraped +its bill with its claw, stroked down its feathers, and then +advanced towards the first stork. The two newly made storks lost +no time in drawing near, and to their amazement overheard the +following conversation: + +Good morning, Dame Longlegs. You are out early this morning!' + +Yes, indeed, dear Chatterbill! I am getting myself a morsel of +breakfast. May I offer you a joint of lizard or a frog's thigh?' + +A thousand thanks, but I have really no appetite this morning. I +am here for a very different purpose. I am to dance to-day before +my father's guests, and I have come to the meadow for a little +quiet practice.' + +Thereupon the young stork began to move about with the most +wonderful steps. The Caliph and Mansor looked on in surprise for +some time; but when at last she balanced herself in a picturesque +attitude on one leg, and flapped her wings gracefully up and down, +they could hold out no longer; a prolonged peal burst from each of +their bills, and it was some time before they could recover their +composure. The Caliph was the first to collect himself. That was +the best joke,' said he, I've ever seen. It's a pity the stupid +creatures were scared away by our laughter, or no doubt they would +have sung next!' + +Suddenly, however, the Vizier remembered how strictly they had +been warned not to laugh during their transformation. He at once +communicated his fears to the Caliph, who exclaimed, By Mecca and +Medina! it would indeed prove but a poor joke if I had to remain a +stork for the remainder of my days! Do just try and remember the +stupid word, it has slipped my memory.' + +We must bow three times eastwards and say "Mu...mu...mu..."' + +They turned to the east and fell to bowing till their bills +touched the ground, but, oh horror--the magic word was quite +forgotten, and however often the Caliph bowed and however +touchingly his Vizier cried Mu...mu...' they could not recall it, +and the unhappy Chasid and Mansor remained storks as they were. + +III. + +The two enchanted birds wandered sadly on through the meadows. In +their misery they could not think what to do next. They could not +rid themselves of their new forms; there was no use in returning +to the town and saying who they were; for who would believe a +stork who announced that he was a Caliph; and even if they did +believe him, would the people of Bagdad consent to let a stork +rule over them? + +So they lounged about for several days, supporting themselves on +fruits, which, however, they found some difficulty in eating with +their long bills. They did not much care to eat frogs or lizards. +Their one comfort in their sad plight was the power of flying, and +accordingly they often flew over the roofs of Bagdad to see what +was going on there. + +During the first few days they noticed signs of much disturbance +and distress in the streets, but about the fourth day, as they sat +on the roof of the palace, they perceived a splendid procession +passing below them along the street. Drums and trumpets sounded, a +man in a scarlet mantle, embroidered in gold, sat on a splendidly +caparisoned horse surrounded by richly dressed slaves; half Bagdad +crowded after him, and they all shouted, Hail, Mirza, the Lord of +Bagdad!' + +The two storks on the palace roof looked at each other, and Caliph +Chasid said, Can you guess now, Grand Vizier, why I have been +enchanted? This Mirza is the son of my deadly enemy, the mighty +magician Kaschnur, who in an evil moment vowed vengeance on me. +Still I will not despair! Come with me, my faithful friend; we +will go to the grave of the Prophet, and perhaps at that sacred +spot the spell may be loosed.' + +They rose from the palace roof, and spread their wings toward +Medina. + +But flying was not quite an easy matter, for the two storks had +had but little practice as yet. + +Oh, my Lord!' gasped the Vizier, after a couple of hours, I can +get on no longer; you really fly too quick for me. Besides, it is +nearly evening, and we should do well to find some place in which +to spend the night.' + +Chasid listened with favour to his servant's suggestion, and +perceiving in the valley beneath them a ruin which seemed to +promise shelter they flew towards it. The building in which they +proposed to pass the night had apparently been formerly a castle. +Some handsome pillars still stood amongst the heaps of ruins, and +several rooms, which yet remained in fair preservation, gave +evidence of former splendour. Chasid and his companion wandered +along the passages seeking a dry spot, when suddenly Mansor stood +still. + +My Lord and master,' he whispered, if it were not absurd for a +Grand Vizier, and still more for a stork, to be afraid of ghosts, +I should feel quite nervous, for someone, or something close by +me, has sighed and moaned quite audibly.' + +The Caliph stood still and distinctly heard a low weeping sound +which seemed to proceed from a human being rather than from any +animal. Full of curiosity he was about to rush towards the spot +from whence the sounds of woe came, when the Vizier caught him by +the wing with his bill, and implored him not to expose himself to +fresh and unknown dangers. The Caliph, however, under whose +stork's breast a brave heart beat, tore himself away with the loss +of a few feathers, and hurried down a dark passage. He saw a door +which stood ajar, and through which he distinctly heard sighs, +mingled with sobs. He pushed open the door with his bill, but +remained on the threshold, astonished at the sight which met his +eyes. On the floor of the ruined chamber--which was but scantily +lighted by a small barred window--sat a large screech owl. Big +tears rolled from its large round eyes, and in a hoarse voice it +uttered its complaints through its crooked beak. As soon as it saw +the Caliph and his Vizier--who had crept up meanwhile--it gave +vent to a joyful cry. It gently wiped the tears from its eyes with +its spotted brown wings, and to the great amazement of the two +visitors, addressed them in good human Arabic. + +Welcome, ye storks! You are a good sign of my deliverance, for it +was foretold me that a piece of good fortune should befall me +through a stork.' + +When the Caliph had recovered from his surprise, he drew up his +feet into a graceful position, bent his long neck, and said: Oh, +screech owl! from your words I am led to believe that we see in +you a companion in misfortune. But, alas! your hope that you may +attain your deliverance through us is but a vain one. You will +know our helplessness when you have heard our story.' + +The screech owl begged him to relate it, and the Caliph +accordingly told him what we already know. + +IV. + +When the Caliph had ended, the owl thanked him and said: You hear +my story, and own that I am no less unfortunate than yourselves. +My father is the King of the Indies. I, his only daughter, am +named Lusa. That magician Kaschnur, who enchanted you, has been +the cause of my misfortunes too. He came one day to my father and +demanded my hand for his son Mirza. My father--who is rather +hasty--ordered him to be thrown downstairs. The wretch not long +after managed to approach me under another form, and one day, when +I was in the garden, and asked for some refreshment, he brought +me--in the disguise of a slave--a draught which changed me at once +to this horrid shape. Whilst I was fainting with terror he +transported me here, and cried to me with his awful voice: "There +shall you remain, lonely and hideous, despised even by the brutes, +till the end of your days, or till some one of his own free will +asks you to be his wife. Thus do I avenge myself on you and your +proud father." + +Since then many months have passed away. Sad and lonely do I live +like any hermit within these walls, avoided by the world and a +terror even to animals; the beauties of nature are hidden from me, +for I am blind by day, and it is only when the moon sheds her pale +light on this spot that the veil falls from my eyes and I can +see.' The owl paused, and once more wiped her eyes with her wing, +for the recital of her woes had drawn fresh tears from her. + +The Caliph fell into deep thought on hearing this story of the +Princess. If I am not much mistaken,' said he, there is some +mysterious connection between our misfortunes, but how to find the +key to the riddle is the question.' + +The owl answered: Oh, my Lord! I too feel sure of this, for in my +earliest youth a wise woman foretold that a stork would bring me +some great happiness, and I think I could tell you how we might +save ourselves.' The Caliph was much surprised, and asked her what +she meant. + +The Magician who has made us both miserable,' said she, comes +once a month to these ruins. Not far from this room is a large +hall where he is in the habit of feasting with his companions. I +have often watched them. They tell each other all about their evil +deeds, and possibly the magic word which you have forgotten may be +mentioned.' + +Oh, dearest Princess!' exclaimed the Caliph, say, when does he +come, and where is the hall?' + +The owl paused a moment and then said: Do not think me unkind, +but I can only grant your request on one condition.' + +Speak, speak!' cried Chasid; command, I will gladly do whatever +you wish!' + +Well,' replied the owl, you see I should like to be free too; +but this can only be if one of you will offer me his hand in +marriage.' + +The storks seemed rather taken aback by this suggestion, and the +Caliph beckoned to his Vizier to retire and consult with him. + +When they were outside the door the Caliph said: Grand Vizier, +this is a tiresome business. However, you can take her.' + +Indeed!' said the Vizier; so that when I go home my wife may +scratch my eyes out! Besides, I am an old man, and your Highness +is still young and unmarried, and a far more suitable match for a +young and lovely Princess.' + +That's just where it is,' sighed the Caliph, whose wings drooped +in a dejected manner; how do you know she is young and lovely? I +call it buying a pig in a poke.' + +They argued on for some time, but at length, when the Caliph saw +plainly that his Vizier would rather remain a stork to the end of +his days than marry the owl, he determined to fulfil the condition +himself. The owl was delighted. She owned that they could not have +arrived at a better time, as most probably the magicians would +meet that very night. + +She then proceeded to lead the two storks to the chamber. They +passed through a long dark passage till at length a bright ray of +light shone before them through the chinks of a half-ruined wall. +When they reached it the owl advised them to keep very quiet. +Through the gap near which they stood they could with ease survey +the whole of the large hall. It was adorned with splendid carved +pillars; a number of coloured lamps replaced the light of day. In +the middle of the hall stood a round table covered with a variety +of dishes, and about the table was a divan on which eight men were +seated. In one of these bad men the two recognised the pedlar who +had sold the magic powder. The man next him begged him to relate +all his latest doings, and amongst them he told the story of the +Caliph and his Vizier. + +And what kind of word did you give them?' asked another old +sorcerer. + +A very difficult Latin word; it is "Mutabor."' + + +V. + +As soon as the storks heard this they were nearly beside +themselves with joy. They ran at such a pace to the door of the +ruined castle that the owl could scarcely keep up with them. When +they reached it the Caliph turned to the owl, and said with much +feeling: Deliverer of my friend and myself, as a proof of my +eternal gratitude, accept me as your husband.' Then he turned +towards the east. Three times the storks bowed their long necks to +the sun, which was just rising over the mountains. Mutabor!' they +both cried, and in an instant they were once more transformed. In +the rapture of their newly-given lives master and servant fell +laughing and weeping into each other's arms. Who shall describe +their surprise when they at last turned round and beheld standing +before them a beautiful lady exquisitely dressed! + +With a smile she held out her hand to the Caliph, and asked: Do +you not recognise your screech owl?' + +It was she! The Caliph was so enchanted by her grace and beauty, +that he declared being turned into a stork had been the best piece +of luck which had ever befallen him. The three set out at once for +Bagdad. Fortunately, the Caliph found not only the box with the +magic powder, but also his purse in his girdle; he was, therefore, +able to buy in the nearest village all they required for their +journey, and so at last they reached the gates of Bagdad. + +Here the Caliph's arrival created the greatest sensation. He had +been quite given up for dead, and the people were greatly rejoiced +to see their beloved ruler again. + +Their rage with the usurper Mirza, however, was great in +proportion. They marched in force to the palace and took the old +magician and his son prisoners. The Caliph sent the magician to +the room where the Princess had lived as an owl, and there had him +hanged. As the son, however, knew nothing of his father's acts, +the Caliph gave him his choice between death and a pinch of the +magic snuff. When he chose the latter, the Grand Vizier handed him +the box. One good pinch, and the magic word transformed him to a +stork. The Caliph ordered him to be confined in an iron cage, and +placed in the palace gardens. + +Caliph Chasid lived long and happily with his wife the Princess. +His merriest time was when the Grand Vizier visited him in the +afternoon; and when the Caliph was in particularly high spirits he +would condescend to mimic the Vizier's appearance when he was a +stork. He would strut gravely, and with well-stiffened legs, up +and down the room, chattering, and showing how he had vainly bowed +to the east and cried Mu...Mu...' The Caliphess and her children +were always much entertained by this performance; but when the +Caliph went on nodding and bowing, and calling Mu...mu...' too +long, the Vizier would threaten laughingly to tell the Chaliphess +the subject of the discussion carried on one night outside the +door of Princess Screech Owl. + + + + + +THE ENCHANTED WATCH + + + +Once upon a time there lived a rich man who had three sons. When +they grew up, he sent the eldest to travel and see the world, and +three years passed before his family saw him again. Then he +returned, magnificently dressed, and his father was so delighted +with his behaviour, that he gave a great feast in his honour, to +which all the relations and friends were invited. + +When the rejoicings were ended, the second son begged leave of his +father to go in his turn to travel and mix with the world. The +father was enchanted at the request, and gave him plenty of money +for his expenses, saying, If you behave as well as your brother, +I will do honour to you as I did to him.' The young man promised +to do his best, and his conduct during three years was all that it +should be. Then he went home, and his father was so pleased with +him that his feast of welcome was even more splendid than the one +before. + +The third brother, whose name was Jenik, or Johnnie, was +considered the most foolish of the three. He never did anything at +home except sit over the stove and dirty himself with the ashes; +but he also begged his father's leave to travel for three years. +Go if you like, you idiot; but what good will it do you?' + +The youth paid no heed to his father's observations as long as he +obtained permission to go. The father saw him depart with joy, +glad to get rid of him, and gave him a handsome sum of money for +his needs. + +Once, as he was making one of his journeys, Jenik chanced to cross +a meadow where some shepherds were just about to kill a dog. He +entreated them to spare it, and to give it to him instead which +they willingly did, and he went on his way, followed by the dog. A +little further on he came upon a cat, which someone was going to +put to death. He implored its life, and the cat followed him. +Finally, in another place, he saved a serpent, which was also +handed over to him and now they made a party of four--the dog +behind Jenik, the cat behind the dog, and the serpent behind the +cat. + +Then the serpent said to Jenik, Go wherever you see me go,' for +in the autumn, when all the serpents hide themselves in their +holes, this serpent was going in search of his king, who was king +of all the snakes. + +Then he added: My king will scold me for my long absence, +everyone else is housed for the winter, and I am very late. I +shall have to tell him what danger I have been in, and how, +without your help, I should certainly have lost my life. The king +will ask what you would like in return, and be sure you beg for +the watch which hangs on the wall. It has all sorts of wonderful +properties, you only need to rub it to get whatever you like.' + +No sooner said than done. Jenik became the master of the watch, +and the moment he got out he wished to put its virtues to the +proof. He was hungry, and thought it would be delightful to eat in +the meadow a loaf of new bread and a steak of good beef washed +down by a flask of wine, so he scratched the watch, and in an +instant it was all before him. Imagine his joy! + +Evening soon came, and Jenik rubbed his watch, and thought it +would be very pleasant to have a room with a comfortable bed and a +good supper. In an instant they were all before him. After supper +he went to bed and slept till morning, as every honest man ought +to do. Then he set forth for his father's house, his mind dwelling +on the feast that would be awaiting him. But as he returned in the +same old clothes in which he went away, his father flew into a +great rage, and refused to do anything for him. Jenik went to his +old place near the stove, and dirtied himself in the ashes without +anybody minding. + +The third day, feeling rather dull, he thought it would be nice to +see a three-story house filled with beautiful furniture, and with +vessels of silver and gold. So he rubbed the watch, and there it +all was. Jenik went to look for his father, and said to him: You +offered me no feast of welcome, but permit me to give one to you, +and come and let me show you my plate.' + +The father was much astonished, and longed to know where his son +had got all this wealth. Jenik did not reply, but begged him to +invite all their relations and friends to a grand banquet. + +So the father invited all the world, and everyone was amazed to +see such splendid things, so much plate, and so many fine dishes +on the table. After the first course Jenik prayed his father to +invite the King, and his daughter the Princess. He rubbed his +watch and wished for a carriage ornamented with gold and silver, +and drawn by six horses, with harness glittering with precious +stones. The father did not dare to sit in this gorgeous coach, but +went to the palace on foot. The King and his daughter were +immensely surprised with the beauty of the carriage, and mounted +the steps at once to go to Jenik's banquet. Then Jenik rubbed his +watch afresh, and wished that for six miles the way to the house +should be paved with marble. Who ever felt so astonished as the +King? Never had he travelled over such a gorgeous road. + +When Jenik heard the wheels of the carriage, he rubbed his watch +and wished for a still more beautiful house, four stories high, +and hung with gold, silver, and damask; filled with wonderful +tables, covered with dishes such as no king had ever eaten before. +The King, the Queen, and the Princess were speechless with +surprise. Never had they seen such a splendid palace, nor such a +high feast! At dessert the King asked Jenik's father to give him +the young man for a son-in-law. No sooner said than done! The +marriage took place at once, and the King returned to his own +palace, and left Jenik with his wife in the enchanted house. + +Now Jenik was not a very clever man, and at the end of a very +short time he began to bore his wife. She inquired how he managed +to build palaces and to get so many precious things. He told her +all about the watch, and she never rested till she had stolen the +precious talisman. One night she took the watch, rubbed it, and +wished for a carriage drawn by four horses; and in this carriage +she at once set out for her father's palace. There she called to +her own attendants, bade them follow her into the carriage, and +drove straight to the sea-side. Then she rubbed her watch, and +wished that the sea might be crossed by a bridge, and that a +magnificent palace might arise in the middle of the sea. No sooner +said than done. The Princess entered the house, rubbed her watch, +and in an instant the bridge was gone. + +Left alone, Jenik felt very miserable. His father, mother, and +brothers, and, indeed, everybody else, all laughed at him. Nothing +remained to him but the cat and dog whose lives he had once saved. +He took them with him and went far away, for he could no longer +live with his family. He reached at last a great desert, and saw +some crows flying towards a mountain. One of them was a long way +behind, and when he arrived his brothers inquired what had made +him so late. Winter is here,' they said, and it is time to fly +to other countries.' He told them that he had seen in the middle +of the sea the most wonderful house that ever was built. + +On hearing this, Jenik at once concluded that this must be the +hiding-place of his wife. So he proceeded directly to the shore +with his dog and his cat. When he arrived on the beach, he said to +the dog: You are an excellent swimmer, and you, little one, are +very light; jump on the dog's back and he will take you to the +palace. Once there, he will hide himself near the door, and you +must steal secretly in and try to get hold of my watch.' + +No sooner said than done. The two animals crossed the sea; the dog +hid near the house, and the cat stole into the chamber. The +Princess recognised him, and guessed why he had come; and she took +the watch down to the cellar and locked it in a box. But the cat +wriggled its way into the cellar, and the moment the Princess +turned her back, he scratched and scratched till he had made a +hole in the box. Then he took the watch between his teeth, and +waited quietly till the Princess came back. Scarcely had she +opened the door when the cat was outside, and the watch into the +bargain. + +The cat was no sooner beyond the gates than she said to the dog: + +We are going to cross the sea; be very careful not to speak to +me.' + +The dog laid this to heart and said nothing; but when they +approached the shore he could not help asking, Have you got the +watch?' + +The cat did not answer--he was afraid that he might let the +talisman fall. When they touched the shore the dog repeated his +question. + +Yes,' said the cat. + +And the watch fell into the sea. Then our two friends began each +to accuse the other, and both looked sorrowfully at the place +where their treasure had fallen in. Suddenly a fish appeared near +the edge of the sea. The cat seized it, and thought it would make +them a good supper. + +I have nine little children,' cried the fish. Spare the father +of a family!' + +Granted,' replied the cat; but on condition that you find our +watch.' + +The fish executed his commission, and they brought the treasure +back to their master. Jenik rubbed the watch and wished that the +palace, with the Princess and all its inhabitants, should be +swallowed up in the sea. No sooner said than done. Jenik returned +to his parents, and he and his watch, his cat and his dog, lived +together happily to the end of their days. + +Deulin. + + + + + +ROSANELLA + + + +Everybody knows that though the fairies live hundreds of years +they do sometimes die, and especially as they are obliged to pass +one day in every week under the form of some animal, when of +course they are liable to accident. It was in this way that death +once overtook the Queen of the Fairies, and it became necessary to +call a general assembly to elect a new sovereign. After much +discussion, it appeared that the choice lay between two fairies, +one called Surcantine and the other Paridamie; and their claims +were so equal that it was impossible without injustice to prefer +one to the other. Under these circumstances it was unanimously +decided that whichever of the two could show to the world the +greatest wonder should be Queen; but it was to be a special kind +of wonder, no moving of mountains or any such common fairy tricks +would do. Surcantine, therefore, resolved that she would bring up +a Prince whom nothing could make constant. While Paridamie decided +to display to admiring mortals a Princess so charming that no one +could see her without falling in love with her. They were allowed +to take their own time, and meanwhile the four oldest fairies were +to attend to the affairs of the kingdom. + +Now Paridamie had for a long time been very friendly with King +Bardondon, who was a most accomplished Prince, and whose court was +the model of what a court should be. His Queen, Balanice, was also +charming; indeed it is rare to find a husband and wife so +perfectly of one mind about everything. They had one little +daughter, whom they had named Rosanella,' because she had a +little pink rose printed upon her white throat. From her earliest +infancy she had shown the most astonishing intelligence, and the +courtiers knew her smart sayings by heart, and repeated them on +all occasions. In the middle of the night following the assembly +of fairies, Queen Balanice woke up with a shriek, and when her +maids of honour ran to see what was the matter, they found she had +had a frightful dream. + +I thought,' said she, that my little daughter had changed into a +bouquet of roses, and that as I held it in my hand a bird swooped +down suddenly and snatched it from me and carried it away.' + +Let some one run and see that all is well with the Princess,' she +added. + +So they ran; but what was their dismay when they found that the +cradle was empty; and though they sought high and low, not a trace +of Rosanella could they discover. The Queen was inconsolable, and +so, indeed, was the King, only being a man he did not say quite so +much about his feelings. He presently proposed to Balanice that +they should spend a few days at one of their palaces in the +country; and to this she willingly agreed, since her grief made +the gaiety of the capital distasteful to her. One lovely summer +evening, as they sat together on a shady lawn shaped like a star, +from which radiated twelve splendid avenues of trees, the Queen +looked round and saw a charming peasant-girl approaching by each +path, and what was still more singular was that everyone carried +something in a basket which appeared to occupy her whole +attention. As each drew near she laid her basket at Balanice's +feet, saying: + +Charming Queen, may this be some slight consolation to you in +your unhappiness!' + +The Queen hastily opened the baskets, and found in each a lovely +baby-girl, about the same age as the little Princess for whom she +sorrowed so deeply. At first the sight of them renewed her grief; +but presently their charms so gained upon her that she forgot her +melancholy in providing them with nursery-maids, cradle-rockers, +and ladies-in-waiting, and in sending hither and thither for +swings and dolls and tops, and bushels of the finest sweetmeats. + +Oddly enough, every baby had upon its throat a tiny pink rose. The +Queen found it so difficult to decide on suitable names for all of +them, that until she could settle the matter she chose a special +colour for everyone, by which it was known, so that when they were +all together they looked like nothing so much as a nosegay of gay +flowers. As they grew older it became evident that though they +were all remarkably intelligent, and profited equally by the +education they received, yet they differed one from another in +disposition, so much so that they gradually ceased to be known as +Pearl,' or Primrose,' or whatever might have been their colour, +and the Queen instead would say: + +Where is my Sweet?' or my Beautiful,' or my Gay.' + +Of course, with all these charms they had lovers by the dozen. Not +only in their own court, but princes from afar, who were +constantly arriving, attracted by the reports which were spread +abroad; but these lovely girls, the first Maids of Honour, were as +discreet as they were beautiful, and favoured no one. + +But let us return to Surcantine. She had fixed upon the son of a +king who was cousin to Bardondon, to bring up as her fickle +Prince. She had before, at his christening, given him all the +graces of mind and body that a prince could possibly require; but +now she redoubled her efforts, and spared no pains in adding every +imaginable charm and fascination. So that whether he happened to +be cross or amiable, splendidly or simply attired, serious or +frivolous, he was always perfectly irresistible! In truth, he was +a charming young fellow, since the Fairy had given him the best +heart in the world as well as the best head, and had left nothing +to be desired but--constancy. For it cannot be denied that Prince +Mirliflor was a desperate flirt, and as fickle as the wind; so +much so, that by the time he arrived at his eighteenth birthday +there was not a heart left for him to conquer in his father's +kingdom--they were all his own, and he was tired of everyone! +Things were in this state when he was invited to visit the court +of his father's cousin, King Bardondon. + +Imagine his feelings when he arrived and was presented at once to +twelve of the loveliest creatures in the world, and his +embarrassment was heightened by the fact that they all liked him +as much as he liked each one of them, so that things came to such +a pass that he was never happy a single instant without them. For +could he not whisper soft speeches to Sweet, and laugh with Joy, +while he looked at Beauty? And in his more serious moments what +could be pleasanter than to talk to Grave upon some shady lawn, +while he held the hand of Loving in his own, and all the others +lingered near in sympathetic silence? For the first time in his +life he really loved, though the object of his devotion was not +one person, but twelve, to whom he was equally attached, and even +Surcantine was deceived into thinking that this was indeed the +height of inconstancy. But Paridamie said not a word. + +In vain did Prince Mirliflor's father write commanding him to +return, and proposing for him one good match after another. +Nothing in the world could tear him from his twelve enchantresses. + +One day the Queen gave a large garden-party, and just as the +guests were all assembled, and Prince Mirliflor was as usual +dividing his attentions between the twelve beauties, a humming of +bees was heard. The Rose-maidens, fearing their stings, uttered +little shrieks, and fled all together to a distance from the rest +of the company. Immediately, to the horror of all who were looking +on, the bees pursued them, and, growing suddenly to an enormous +size, pounced each upon a maiden and carried her off into the air, +and in an instant they were all lost to view. This amazing +occurrence plunged the whole court into the deepest affliction, +and Prince Mirliflor, after giving way to the most violent grief +at first, fell gradually into a state of such deep dejection that +it was feared if nothing could rouse him he would certainly die. +Surcantine came in all haste to see what she could do for her +darling, but he rejected with scorn all the portraits of lovely +princesses which she offered him for his collection. In short, it +was evident that he was in a bad way, and the Fairy was at her +wits' end. One day, as he wandered about absorbed in melancholy +reflections, he heard sudden shouts and exclamations of amazement, +and if he had taken the trouble to look up he could not have +helped being as astonished as everyone else, for through the air a +chariot of crystal was slowly approaching which glittered in the +sunshine. Six lovely maidens with shining wings drew it by rose- +coloured ribbons, while a whole flight of others, equally +beautiful, were holding long garlands of roses crossed above it, +so as to form a complete canopy. In it sat the Fairy Paridamie, +and by her side a Princess whose beauty positively dazzled all who +saw her. At the foot of the great staircase they descended, and +proceeded to the Queen's apartments, though everyone had run +together to see this marvel, till it was quite difficult to make a +way through the crowd; and exclamations of wonder rose on all +sides at the loveliness of the strange Princess. Great Queen,' +said Paridamie, permit me to restore to you your daughter +Rosanella, whom I stole out of her cradle.' + +After the first transports of joy were over the Queen said to +Paridamie: + +But my twelve lovely ones, are they lost to me for ever? Shall I +never see them again?' + +But Paridamie only said: + +Very soon you will cease to miss them!' in a tone that evidently +meant Don't ask me any more questions.' And then mounting again +into her chariot she swiftly disappeared. + +The news of his beautiful cousin's arrival was soon carried to the +Prince, but he had hardly the heart to go and see her. However, it +became absolutely necessary that he should pay his respects, and +he had scarcely been five minutes in her presence before it seemed +to him that she combined in her own charming person all the gifts +and graces which had so attracted him in the twelve Rose-maidens +whose loss he had so truly mourned; and after all it is really +more satisfactory to make love to one person at a time. So it came +to pass that before he knew where he was he was entreating his +lovely cousin to marry him, and the moment the words had left his +lips, Paridamie appeared, smiling and triumphant, in the chariot +of the Queen of the Fairies, for by that time they had all heard +of her success, and declared her to have earned the kingdom. She +had to give a full account of how she had stolen Rosanella from +her cradle, and divided her character into twelve parts, that each +might charm Prince Mirliflor, and when once more united might cure +him of his inconstancy once and for ever. + +And as one more proof of the fascination of the whole Rosanella, I +may tell you that even the defeated Surcantine sent her a wedding +gift, and was present at the ceremony which took place as soon as +the guests could arrive. Prince Mirliflor was constant for the +rest of his life. And indeed who would not have been in his place? +As for Rosanella, she loved him as much as all the twelve beauties +put together, so they reigned in peace and happiness to the end of +their long lives. + +By the Comte de Caylus. + + + + + +SYLVAIN AND JOCOSA + + + +Once upon a time there lived in the same village two children, one +called Sylvain and the other Jocosa, who were both remarkable for +beauty and intelligence. It happened that their parents were not +on terms of friendship with one another, on account of some old +quarrel, which had, however, taken place so long ago, that they +had quite forgotten what it was all about, and only kept up the +feud from force of habit. Sylvain and Jocosa for their parts were +far from sharing this enmity, and indeed were never happy when +apart. Day after day they fed their flocks of sheep together, and +spent the long sunshiny hours in playing, or resting upon some +shady bank. It happened one day that the Fairy of the Meadows +passed by and saw them, and was so much attracted by their pretty +faces and gentle manners that she took them under her protection, +and the older they grew the dearer they became to her. At first +she showed her interest by leaving in their favourite haunts many +little gifts such as they delighted to offer one to the other, for +they loved each other so much that their first thought was always, +What will Jocosa like?' or, What will please Sylvain?' And the +Fairy took a great delight in their innocent enjoyment of the +cakes and sweetmeats she gave them nearly every day. When they +were grown up she resolved to make herself known to them, and +chose a time when they were sheltering from the noonday sun in the +deep shade of a flowery hedgerow. They were startled at first by +the sudden apparition of a tall and slender lady, dressed all in +green, and crowned with a garland of flowers. But when she spoke +to them sweetly, and told them how she had always loved them, and +that it was she who had given them all the pretty things which it +had so surprised them to find, they thanked her gratefully, and +took pleasure in answering the questions she put to them. When she +presently bade them farewell, she told them never to tell anyone +else that they had seen her. You will often see me again,' added +she, and I shall be with you frequently, even when you do not see +me.' So saying she vanished, leaving them in a state of great +wonder and excitement. After this she came often, and taught them +numbers of things, and showed them many of the marvels of her +beautiful kingdom, and at last one day she said to them, You know +that I have always been kind to you; now I think it is time you +did something for me in your turn. You both remember the fountain +I call my favourite? Promise me that every morning before the sun +rises you will go to it and clear away every stone that impedes +its course, and every dead leaf or broken twig that sullies its +clear waters. I shall take it as a proof of your gratitude to me +if you neither forget nor delay this duty, and I promise that so +long as the sun's earliest rays find my favourite spring the +clearest and sweetest in all my meadows, you two shall not be +parted from one another.' + +Sylvain and Jocosa willingly undertook this service, and indeed +felt that it was but a very small thing in return for all that the +fairy had given and promised to them. So for a long time the +fountain was tended with the most scrupulous care, and was the +clearest and prettiest in all the country round. But one morning +in the spring, long before the sun rose, they were hastening +towards it from opposite directions, when, tempted by the beauty +of the myriads of gay flowers which grew thickly on all sides, +they paused each to gather some for the other. + +I will make Sylvain a garland,' said Jocosa, and How pretty +Jocosa will look in this crown!' thought Sylvain. + +Hither and thither they strayed, led ever farther and farther, for +the brightest flowers seemed always just beyond them, until at +last they were startled by the first bright rays of the rising +sun. With one accord they turned and ran towards the fountain, +reaching it at the same moment, though from opposite sides. But +what was their horror to see its usually tranquil waters seething +and bubbling, and even as they looked down rushed a mighty stream, +which entirely engulfed it, and Sylvain and Jocosa found +themselves parted by a wide and swiftly-rushing river. All this +had happened with such rapidity that they had only time to utter a +cry, and each to hold up to the other the flowers they had +gathered; but this was explanation enough. Twenty times did +Sylvain throw himself into the turbulent waters, hoping to be able +to swim to the other side, but each time an irresistible force +drove him back upon the bank he had just quitted, while, as for +Jocosa, she even essayed to cross the flood upon a tree which came +floating down torn up by the roots, but her efforts were equally +useless. Then with heavy hearts they set out to follow the course +of the stream, which had now grown so wide that it was only with +difficulty they could distinguish each other. Night and day, over +mountains and through valleys, in cold or in heat, they struggled +on, enduring fatigue and hunger and every hardship, and consoled +only by the hope of meeting once more--until three years had +passed, and at last they stood upon the cliffs where the river +flowed into the mighty sea. + +And now they seemed farther apart than ever, and in despair they +tried once more to throw themselves into the foaming waves. But +the Fairy of the Meadows, who had really never ceased to watch +over them, did not intend that they should be drowned at last, so +she hastily waved her wand, and immediately they found themselves +standing side by side upon the golden sand. You may imagine their +joy and delight when they realised that their weary struggle was +ended, and their utter contentment as they clasped each other by +the hand. They had so much to say that they hardly knew where to +begin, but they agreed in blaming themselves bitterly for the +negligence which had caused all their trouble; and when she heard +this the Fairy immediately appeared to them. They threw themselves +at her feet and implored her forgiveness, which she granted +freely, and promised at the same time that now their punishment +was ended she would always befriend them. Then she sent for her +chariot of green rushes, ornamented with May dewdrops, which she +particularly valued and always collected with great care; and +ordered her six short-tailed moles to carry them all back to the +well-known pastures, which they did in a remarkably short time; +and Sylvain and Jocosa were overjoyed to see their dearly-loved +home once more after all their toilful wanderings. The Fairy, who +had set her mind upon securing their happiness, had in their +absence quite made up the quarrel between their parents, and +gained their consent to the marriage of the faithful lovers; and +now she conducted them to the most charming little cottage that +can be imagined, close to the fountain, which had once more +resumed its peaceful aspect, and flowed gently down into the +little brook which enclosed the garden and orchard and pasture +which belonged to the cottage. Indeed, nothing more could have +been thought of, either for Sylvain and Jocosa or for their +flocks; and their delight satisfied even the Fairy who had planned +it all to please them. When they had explored and admired until +they were tired they sat down to rest under the rose-covered +porch, and the Fairy said that to pass the time until the wedding +guests whom she had invited could arrive she would tell them a +story. This is it: + + + +The Yellow Bird + + + +Once upon a time a Fairy, who had somehow or other got into +mischief, was condemned by the High Court of Fairyland to live for +several years under the form of some creature, and at the moment +of resuming her natural appearance once again to make the fortune +of two men. It was left to her to choose what form she would take, +and because she loved yellow she transformed herself into a lovely +bird with shining golden feathers such as no one had ever seen +before. When the time of her punishment was at an end the +beautiful yellow bird flew to Bagdad, and let herself be caught by +a Fowler at the precise moment when Badi-al-Zaman was walking up +and down outside his magnificent summer palace. This Badi-al- +Zaman--whose name means Wonder-of-the-World'--was looked upon in +Bagdad as the most fortunate creature under the sun, because of +his vast wealth. But really, what with anxiety about his riches +and being weary of everything, and always desiring something he +had not, he never knew a moment's real happiness. Even now he had +come out of his palace, which was large and splendid enough for +fifty kings, weary and cross because he could find nothing new to +amuse him. The Fowler thought that this would be a favourable +opportunity for offering him the marvellous bird, which he felt +certain he would buy the instant he saw it. And he was not +mistaken, for when Badi-al-Zaman took the lovely prisoner into his +own hands, he saw written under its right wing the words, He who +eats my head will become a king,' and under its left wing, He who +eats my heart will find a hundred gold pieces under his pillow +every morning.' In spite of all his wealth he at once began to +desire the promised gold, and the bargain was soon completed. Then +the difficulty arose as to how the bird was to be cooked; for +among all his army of servants not one could Badi-al-Zaman trust. +At last he asked the Fowler if he were married, and on hearing +that he was he bade him take the bird home with him and tell his +wife to cook it. + +Perhaps,' said he, this will give me an appetite, which I have +not had for many a long day, and if so your wife shall have a +hundred pieces of silver.' + +The Fowler with great joy ran home to his wife, who speedily made +a savoury stew of the Yellow Bird. But when Badi-al-Zaman reached +the cottage and began eagerly to search in the dish for its head +and its heart he could not find either of them, and turned to the +Fowler's wife in a furious rage. She was so terrified that she +fell upon her knees before him and confessed that her two children +had come in just before he arrived, and had so teased her for some +of the dish she was preparing that she had presently given the +head to one and the heart to the other, since these morsels are +not generally much esteemed; and Badi-al-Zaman rushed from the +cottage vowing vengeance against the whole family. The wrath of a +rich man is generally to be feared, so the Fowler and his wife +resolved to send their children out of harm's way; but the wife, +to console her husband, confided to him that she had purposely +given them the head and heart of the bird because she had been +able to read what was written under its wings. So, believing that +their children's fortunes were made, they embraced them and sent +them forth, bidding them get as far away as possible, to take +different roads, and to send news of their welfare. For +themselves, they remained hidden and disguised in the town, which +was really rather clever of them; but very soon afterwards Badi- +al-Zaman died of vexation and annoyance at the loss of the +promised treasure, and then they went back to their cottage to +wait for news of their children. The younger, who had eaten the +heart of the Yellow Bird, very soon found out what it had done for +him, for each morning when he awoke he found a purse containing a +hundred gold pieces under his pillow. But, as all poor people may +remember for their consolation, nothing in the world causes so +much trouble or requires so much care as a great treasure. +Consequently, the Fowler's son, who spent with reckless profusion +and was supposed to be possessed of a great hoard of gold, was +before very long attacked by robbers, and in trying to defend +himself was so badly wounded that he died. + +The elder brother, who had eaten the Yellow Bird's head, travelled +a long way without meeting with any particular adventure, until at +last he reached a large city in Asia, which was all in an uproar +over the choosing of a new Emir. All the principal citizens had +formed themselves into two parties, and it was not until after a +prolonged squabble that they agreed that the person to whom the +most singular thing happened should be Emir. Our young traveller +entered the town at this juncture, with his agreeable face and +jaunty air, and all at once felt something alight upon his head, +which proved to be a snow-white pigeon. Thereupon all the people +began to stare, and to run after him, so that he presently reached +the palace with the pigeon upon his head and all the inhabitants +of the city at his heels, and before he knew where he was they +made him Emir, to his great astonishment. + +As there is nothing more agreeable than to command, and nothing to +which people get accustomed more quickly, the young Emir soon felt +quite at his ease in his new position; but this did not prevent +him from making every kind of mistake, and so misgoverning the +kingdom that at last the whole city rose in revolt and deprived +him at once of his authority and his life--a punishment which he +richly deserved, for in the days of his prosperity he disowned the +Fowler and his wife, and allowed them to die in poverty. + +I have told you this story, my dear Sylvain and Jocosa,' added +the Fairy, to prove to you that this little cottage and all that +belongs to it is a gift more likely to bring you happiness and +contentment than many things that would at first seem grander and +more desirable. If you will faithfully promise me to till your +fields and feed your flocks, and will keep your word better than +you did before, I will see that you never lack anything that is +really for your good.' + +Sylvain and Jocosa gave their faithful promise, and as they kept +it they always enjoyed peace and prosperity. The Fairy had asked +all their friends and neighbours to their wedding, which took +place at once with great festivities and rejoicings, and they +lived to a good old age, always loving one another with all their +hearts. + +By the Comte de Caylus. + + + + + +FAIRY GIFTS + + + +It generally happens that people's surroundings reflect more or +less accurately their minds and dispositions, so perhaps that is +why the Flower Fairy lived in a lovely palace, with the most +delightful garden you can imagine, full of flowers, and trees, and +fountains, and fish-ponds, and everything nice. For the Fairy +herself was so kind and charming that everybody loved her, and all +the young princes and princesses who formed her court, were as +happy as the day was long, simply because they were near her. They +came to her when they were quite tiny, and never left her until +they were grown up and had to go away into the great world; and +when that time came she gave to each whatever gift he asked of +her. But it is chiefly of the Princess Sylvia that you are going +to hear now. The Fairy loved her with all her heart, for she was +at once original and gentle, and she had nearly reached the age at +which the gifts were generally bestowed. However, the Fairy had a +great wish to know how the other princesses who had grown up and +left her, were prospering, and before the time came for Sylvia to +go herself, she resolved to send her to some of them. So one day +her chariot, drawn by butterflies, was made ready, and the Fairy +said: Sylvia, I am going to send you to the court of Iris; she +will receive you with pleasure for my sake as well as for your +own. In two months you may come back to me again, and I shall +expect you to tell me what you think of her.' + +Sylvia was very unwilling to go away, but as the Fairy wished it +she said nothing--only when the two months were over she stepped +joyfully into the butterfly chariot, and could not get back +quickly enough to the Flower-Fairy, who, for her part, was equally +delighted to see her again. + +Now, child,' said she, tell me what impression you have +received.' + +You sent me, madam,' answered Sylvia, to the Court of Iris, on +whom you had bestowed the gift of beauty. She never tells anyone, +however, that it was your gift, though she often speaks of your +kindness in general. It seemed to me that her loveliness, which +fairly dazzled me at first, had absolutely deprived her of the use +of any of her other gifts or graces. In allowing herself to be +seen, she appeared to think that she was doing all that could +possibly be required of her. But, unfortunately, while I was still +with her she became seriously ill, and though she presently +recovered, her beauty is entirely gone, so that she hates the very +sight of herself, and is in despair. She entreated me to tell you +what had happened, and to beg you, in pity, to give her beauty +back to her. And, indeed, she does need it terribly, for all the +things in her that were tolerable, and even agreeable, when she +was so pretty, seem quite different now she is ugly, and it is so +long since she thought of using her mind or her natural +cleverness, that I really don't think she has any left now. She is +quite aware of all this herself, so you may imagine how unhappy +she is, and how earnestly she begs for your aid.' + +You have told me what I wanted to know,' cried the Fairy, but +alas! I cannot help her; my gifts can be given but once.' + +Some time passed in all the usual delights of the Flower-Fairy's +palace, and then she sent for Sylvia again, and told her she was +to stay for a little while with the Princess Daphne, and +accordingly the butterflies whisked her off, and set her down in +quite a strange kingdom. But she had only been there a very little +time before a wandering butterfly brought a message from her to +the Fairy, begging that she might be sent for as soon as possible, +and before very long she was allowed to return. + +Ah! madam,' cried she, what a place you sent me to that time!' + +Why, what was the matter?' asked the Fairy. Daphne was one of +the princesses who asked for the gift of eloquence, if I remember +rightly.' + +And very ill the gift of eloquence becomes a woman,' replied +Sylvia, with an air of conviction. It is true that she speaks +well, and her expressions are well chosen; but then she never +leaves off talking, and though at first one may be amused, one +ends by being wearied to death. Above all things she loves any +assembly for settling the affairs of her kingdom, for on those +occasions she can talk and talk without fear of interruption; but, +even then, the moment it is over she is ready to begin again about +anything or nothing, as the case may be. Oh! how glad I was to +come away I cannot tell you.' + +The Fairy smiled at Sylvia's unfeigned disgust at her late +experience; but after allowing her a little time to recover she +sent her to the Court of the Princess Cynthia, where she left her +for three months. At the end of that time Sylvia came back to her +with all the joy and contentment that one feels at being once more +beside a dear friend. The Fairy, as usual, was anxious to hear +what she thought of Cynthia, who had always been amiable, and to +whom she had given the gift of pleasing. + +I thought at first,' said Sylvia, that she must be the happiest +Princess in the world; she had a thousand lovers who vied with one +another in their efforts to please and gratify her. Indeed, I had +nearly decided that I would ask a similar gift.' + +Have you altered your mind, then?' interrupted the Fairy. + +Yes, indeed, madam,' replied Sylvia; and I will tell you why. +The longer I stayed the more I saw that Cynthia was not really +happy. In her desire to please everyone she ceased to be sincere, +and degenerated into a mere coquette; and even her lovers felt +that the charms and fascinations which were exercised upon all who +approached her without distinction were valueless, so that in the +end they ceased to care for them, and went away disdainfully.' + +I am pleased with you, child,' said the Fairy; enjoy yourself +here for awhile and presently you shall go to Phyllida.' + +Sylvia was glad to have leisure to think, for she could not make +up her mind at all what she should ask for herself, and the time +was drawing very near. However, before very long the Fairy sent +her to Phyllida, and waited for her report with unabated interest. + +I reached her court safely,' said Sylvia, and she received me +with much kindness, and immediately began to exercise upon me that +brilliant wit which you had bestowed upon her. I confess that I +was fascinated by it, and for a week thought that nothing could be +more desirable; the time passed like magic, so great was the charm +of her society. But I ended by ceasing to covet that gift more +than any of the others I have seen, for, like the gift of +pleasing, it cannot really give satisfaction. By degrees I wearied +of what had so delighted me at first, especially as I perceived +more and more plainly that it is impossible to be constantly smart +and amusing without being frequently ill-natured, and too apt to +turn all things, even the most serious, into mere occasions for a +brilliant jest.' + +The Fairy in her heart agreed with Sylvia's conclusions, and felt +pleased with herself for having brought her up so well. + +But now the time was come for Sylvia to receive her gift, and all +her companions were assembled; the Fairy stood in the midst and in +the usual manner asked what she would take with her into the great +world. + +Sylvia paused for a moment, and then answered: A quiet spirit.' +And the Fairy granted her request. + +This lovely gift makes life a constant happiness to its possessor, +and to all who are brought into contact with her. She has all the +beauty of gentleness and contentment in her sweet face; and if at +times it seems less lovely through some chance grief or +disquietude, the hardest thing that one ever hears said is: + +Sylvia's dear face is pale to-day. It grieves one to see her so.' + +And when, on the contrary, she is gay and joyful, the sunshine of +her presence rejoices all who have the happiness of being near +her. + +By the Comte de Caylus. + + + + + +PRINCE NARCISSUS AND THE PRINCESS POTENTILLA + + + +Once upon a time there lived a King and Queen who, though it is a +very long while since they died, were much the same in their +tastes and pursuits as people nowadays. The King, who was called +Cloverleaf, liked hunting better than anything else; but he +nevertheless bestowed as much care upon his kingdom as he felt +equal to--that is to say, he never made an end of folding and +unfolding the State documents. As to the Queen, she had once been +very pretty, and she liked to believe that she was so still, which +is, of course, always made quite easy for queens. Her name was +Frivola, and her one occupation in life was the pursuit of +amusement. Balls, masquerades, and picnics followed one another in +rapid succession, as fast as she could arrange them, and you may +imagine that under these circumstances the kingdom was somewhat +neglected. As a matter of fact, if anyone had a fancy for a town, +or a province, he helped himself to it; but as long as the King +had his horses and dogs, and the Queen her musicians and her +actors, they did not trouble themselves about the matter. King +Cloverleaf and Queen Frivola had but one child, and this Princess +had from her very babyhood been so beautiful, that by the time she +was four years old the Queen was desperately jealous of her, and +so fearful that when she was grown up she would be more admired +than herself, that she resolved to keep her hidden away out of +sight. To this end she caused a little house to be built not far +beyond the Palace gardens, on the bank of a river. This was +surrounded by a high wall, and in it the charming Potentilla was +imprisoned. Her nurse, who was dumb, took care of her, and the +necessaries of life were conveyed to her through a little window +in the wall, while guards were always pacing to and fro outside, +with orders to cut off the head of anyone who tried to approach, +which they would certainly have done without thinking twice about +it. The Queen told everyone, with much pretended sorrow, that the +Princess was so ugly, and so troublesome, and altogether so +impossible to love, that to keep her out of sight was the only +thing that could be done for her. And this tale she repeated so +often, that at last the whole court believed it. Things were in +this state, and the Princess was about fifteen years old, when +Prince Narcissus, attracted by the report of Queen Frivola's gay +doings, presented himself at the court. He was not much older than +the Princess, and was as handsome a Prince as you would see in a +day's journey, and really, for his age, not so very scatter- +brained. His parents were a King and Queen, whose story you will +perhaps read some day. They died almost at the same time, leaving +their kingdom to the eldest of their children, and commending +their youngest son, Prince Narcissus, to the care of the Fairy +Melinette. In this they did very well for him, for the Fairy was +as kind as she was powerful, and she spared no pains in teaching +the little Prince everything it was good for him to know, and even +imparted to him some of her own Fairy lore. But as soon as he was +grown up she sent him out to see the world for himself, though all +the time she was secretly keeping watch over him, ready to help in +any time of need. Before he started she gave him a ring which +would render him invisible when he put it on his finger. These +rings seem to be quite common; you must often have heard of them, +even if you have never seen one. It was in the course of the +Prince's wanderings, in search of experience of men and things, +that he came to the court of Queen Frivola, where he was extremely +well received. The Queen was delighted with him, so were all her +ladies; and the King was very polite to him, though he did not +quite see why the whole court was making such a fuss over him. + +Prince Narcissus enjoyed all that went on, and found the time pass +very pleasantly. Before long, of course, he heard the story about +the Princess Potentilla, and, as it had by that time been repeated +many times, and had been added to here and there, she was +represented as such a monster of ugliness that he was really quite +curious to see her, and resolved to avail himself of the magic +power of his ring to accomplish his design. So he made himself +invisible, and passed the guard without their so much as +suspecting that anyone was near. Climbing the wall was rather a +difficulty, but when he at length found himself inside it he was +charmed with the peaceful beauty of the little domain it enclosed, +and still more delighted when he perceived a slender, lovely +maiden wandering among the flowers. It was not until he had sought +vainly for the imaginary monster that he realised that this was +the Princess herself, and by that time he was deeply in love with +her, for indeed it would have been hard to find anyone prettier +than Potentilla, as she sat by the brook, weaving a garland of +blue forget-me-nots to crown her waving golden locks, or to +imagine anything more gentle than the way she tended all the birds +and beasts who inhabited her small kingdom, and who all loved and +followed her. Prince Narcissus watched her every movement, and +hovered near her in a dream of delight, not daring as yet to +appear to her, so humble had he suddenly become in her presence. +And when evening came, and the nurse fetched the Princess into her +little house, he felt obliged to go back to Frivola's palace, for +fear his absence should be noticed and someone should discover his +new treasure. But he forgot that to go back absent, and dreamy, +and indifferent, when he had before been gay and ardent about +everything, was the surest way of awakening suspicion; and when, +in response to the jesting questions which were put to him upon +the subject, he only blushed and returned evasive answers, all the +ladies were certain that he had lost his heart, and did their +utmost to discover who was the happy possessor of it. As to the +Prince, he was becoming day by day more attached to Potentilla, +and his one thought was to attend her, always invisible, and help +her in everything she did, and provide her with everything that +could possibly amuse or please her. And the Princess, who had +learnt to find diversion in very small things in her quiet life, +was in a continual state of delight over the treasures which the +Prince constantly laid where she must find them. Then Narcissus +implored his faithful friend Melinette to send the Princess such +dreams of him as should make her recognise him as a friend when he +actually appeared before her eyes; and this device was so +successful that the Princess quite dreaded the cessation of these +amusing dreams, in which a certain Prince Narcissus was such a +delightful lover and companion. After that he went a step further +and began to have long talks with the Princess--still, however, +keeping himself invisible, until she begged him so earnestly to +appear to her that he could no longer resist, and after making her +promise that, no matter what he was like, she would still love +him, he drew the ring from his finger, and the Princess saw with +delight that he was as handsome as he was agreeable. Now, indeed, +they were perfectly happy, and they passed the whole long summer +day in Potentilla's favourite place by the brook, and when at last +Prince Narcissus had to leave her it seemed to them both that the +hours had gone by with the most amazing swiftness. The Princess +stayed where she was, dreaming of her delightful Prince, and +nothing could have been further from her thoughts than any trouble +or misfortune, when suddenly, in a cloud of dust and shavings, by +came the enchanter Grumedan, and unluckily he chanced to catch +sight of Potentilla. Down he came straightway and alighted at her +feet, and one look at her charming blue eyes and smiling lips +quite decided him that he must appear to her at once, though he +was rather annoyed to remember that he had on only his second-best +cloak. The Princess sprang to her feet with a cry of terror at +this sudden apparition, for really the Enchanter was no beauty. To +begin with, he was very big and clumsy, then he had but one eye, +and his teeth were long, and he stammered badly; nevertheless, he +had an excellent opinion of himself, and mistook the Princess's +cry of terror for an exclamation of delighted surprise. After +pausing a moment to give her time to admire him, the Enchanter +made her the most complimentary speech he could invent, which, +however, did not please her at all, though he was extremely +delighted with it himself. Poor Potentilla only shuddered and +cried: + +Oh! where is my Narcissus?' + +To which he replied with a self-satisfied chuckle: You want a +narcissus, madam? Well, they are not rare; you shall have as many +as you like.' + +Whereupon he waved his wand, and the Princess found herself +surrounded and half buried in the fragrant flowers. She would +certainly have betrayed that this was not the kind of narcissus +she wanted, but for the Fairy Melinette, who had been anxiously +watching the interview, and now thought it quite time to +interfere. Assuming the Prince's voice, she whispered in +Potentilla's ear: + +We are menaced by a great danger, but my only fear is for you, my +Princess. Therefore I beg you to hide what you really feel, and we +will hope that some way out of the difficulty may present itself.' + +The Princess was much agitated by this speech, and feared lest the +Enchanter should have overheard it; but he had been loudly calling +her attention to the flowers, and chuckling over his own smartness +in getting them for her; and it was rather a blow to him when she +said very coldly that they were not the sort she preferred, and +she would be glad if he would send them all away. This he did, but +afterwards wished to kiss the Princess's hand as a reward for +having been so obliging; but the Fairy Melinette was not going to +allow anything of that kind. She appeared suddenly, in all her +splendour, and cried: + +Stay, Grumedan; this Princess is under my protection, and the +smallest impertinence will cost you a thousand years of captivity. +If you can win Potentilla's heart by the ordinary methods I cannot +oppose you, but I warn you that I will not put up with any of your +usual tricks.' + +This declaration was not at all to the Enchanter's taste; but he +knew that there was no help for it, and that he would have to +behave well, and pay the Princess all the delicate attentions he +could think of; though they were not at all the sort of thing he +was used to. However, he decided that to win such a beauty it was +quite worth while; and Melinette, feeling that she could now leave +the Princess in safety, hurried off to tell Prince Narcissus what +was going forward. Of course, at the very mention of the Enchanter +as a rival he was furious, and I don't know what foolish things he +would not have done if Melinette had not been there to calm him +down. She represented to him what a powerful enchanter Grumedan +was, and how, if he were provoked, he might avenge himself upon +the Princess, since he was the most unjust and churlish of all the +enchanters, and had often before had to be punished by the Fairy +Queen for some of his ill-deeds. Once he had been imprisoned in a +tree, and was only released when it was blown down by a furious +wind; another time he was condemned to stay under a big stone at +the bottom of a river, until by some chance the stone should be +turned over; but nothing could ever really improve him. The Fairy +finally made Narcissus promise that he would remain invisible when +he was with the Princess, since she felt sure that this would make +things easier for all of them. Then began a struggle between +Grumedan and the Prince, the latter under the name of Melinette, +as to which could best delight and divert the Princess and win her +approbation. Prince Narcissus first made friends with all the +birds in Potentilla's little domain, and taught them to sing her +name and her praises, with all their sweetest trills and most +touching melodies, and all day long to tell her how dearly he +loved her. Grumedan, thereupon, declared that there was nothing +new about that, since the birds had sung since the world began, +and all lovers had imagined that they sang for them alone. +Therefore he said he would himself write an opera that should be +absolutely a novelty and something worth hearing. When the time +came for the performance (which lasted five weary hours) the +Princess found to her dismay that the opera' consisted of this +more than indifferent verse, chanted with all their might by ten +thousand frogs: + +Admirable Potentilla, Do you think it kind or wise In this sudden +way to kill a Poor Enchanter with your eyes?' + +Really, if Narcissus had not been there to whisper in her ear and +divert her attention, I don't know what would have become of poor +Potentilla, for though the first repetition of this absurdity +amused her faintly, she nearly died of weariness before the time +was over. Luckily Grumedan did not perceive this, as he was too +much occupied in whipping up the frogs, many of whom perished +miserably from fatigue, since he did not allow them to rest for a +moment. The Prince's next idea for Potentilla's amusement was to +cause a fleet of boats exactly like those of Cleopatra, of which +you have doubtless read in history, to come up the little river, +and upon the most gorgeously decorated of these reclined the great +Queen herself, who, as soon as she reached the place where +Potentilla sat in rapt attention, stepped majestically on shore +and presented the Princess with that celebrated pearl of which you +have heard so much, saying: + +You are more beautiful than I ever was. Let my example warn you +to make a better use of your beauty!' + +And then the little fleet sailed on, until it was lost to view in +the windings of the river. Grumedan was also looking on at the +spectacle, and said very contemptuously: + +I cannot say I think these marionettes amusing. What a to-do to +make over a single pearl! But if you like pearls, madam, why, I +will soon gratify you.' + +So saying, he drew a whistle from his pocket, and no sooner had he +blown it than the Princess saw the water of the river bubble and +grow muddy, and in another instant up came hundreds of thousands +of great oysters, who climbed slowly and laboriously towards her +and laid at her feet all the pearls they contained. + +Those are what I call pearls,' cried Grumedan in high glee. And +truly there were enough of them to pave every path in Potentilla's +garden and leave some to spare! The next day Prince Narcissus had +prepared for the Princess's pleasure a charming arbour of leafy +branches, with couches of moss and grassy floor and garlands +everywhere, with her name written in different coloured blossoms. +Here he caused a dainty little banquet to be set forth, while +hidden musicians played softly, and the silvery fountains plashed +down into their marble basins, and when presently the music +stopped a single nightingale broke the stillness with his +delicious chant. + +Ah!' cried the Princess, recognizing the voice of one of her +favourites, Philomel, my sweet one, who taught you that new +song?' + +And he answered: Love, my Princess.' + +Meanwhile the Enchanter was very ill-pleased with the +entertainment, which he declared was dulness itself. + +You don't seem to have any idea in these parts beyond little +squeaking birds!' said he. And fancy giving a banquet without so +much as an ounce of plate!' + +So the next day, when the Princess went out into her garden, there +stood a summer-house built of solid gold, decorated within and +without with her initials and the Enchanter's combined. And in it +was spread an enormous repast, while the table so glittered with +golden cups and plates, flagons and dishes, candlesticks and a +hundred other things beside, that it was hardly possible to look +steadily at it. The Enchanter ate like six ogres, but the Princess +could not touch a morsel. Presently Grumedan remarked with a grin: + +I have provided neither musicians nor singers; but as you seem +fond of music I will sing to you myself.' + +Whereupon he began, with a voice like a screech-owl's, to chant +the words of his opera,' only this time happily not at such a +length, and without the frog accompaniment. After this the Prince +again asked the aid of his friends the birds, and when they had +assembled from all the country round he tied about the neck of +each one a tiny lamp of some brilliant colour, and when darkness +fell he made them go through a hundred pretty tricks before the +delighted Potentilla, who clapped her little hands with delight +when she saw her own name traced in points of light against the +dark trees, or when the whole flock of sparks grouped themselves +into bouquets of different colours, like living flowers. Grumedan +leaning back in his arm-chair, with one knee crossed over the +other and his nose in the air, looked on disdainfully. + +Oh! if you like fireworks, Princess,' said he; and the next night +all the will-o'-the-wisps in the country came and danced on the +plain, which could be seen from the Princess's windows, and as she +was looking out, and rather enjoying the sight, up sprang a +frightful volcano, pouring out smoke and flames which terrified +her greatly, to the intense amusement of the Enchanter, who +laughed like a pack of wolves quarrelling. After this, as many of +the will-o'-the-wisps as could get in crowded into Potentilla's +garden, and by their light the tall yew-trees danced minuets until +the Princess was weary and begged to be excused from looking at +anything more that night. But, in spite of Potentilla's efforts to +behave politely to the tiresome old Enchanter, whom she detested, +he could not help seeing that he failed to please her, and then he +began to suspect very strongly that she must love someone else, +and that somebody besides Melinette was responsible for all the +festivities he had witnessed. So after much consideration he +devised a plan for finding out the truth. He went to the Princess +suddenly, and announced that he was most unwillingly forced to +leave her, and had come to bid her farewell. Potentilla could +scarcely hide her delight when she heard this, and his back was +hardly turned before she was entreating Prince Narcissus to make +himself visible once more. The poor Prince had been getting quite +thin with anxiety and annoyance, and was only too delighted to +comply with her request. They greeted one another rapturously, and +were just sitting down to talk over everything cosily, and enjoy +the Enchanter's discomfiture together, when out he burst in a fury +from behind a bush. With his huge club he aimed a terrific blow at +Narcissus, which must certainly have killed him but for the +adroitness of the Fairy Melinette, who arrived upon the scene just +in time to snatch him up and carry him off at lightning speed to +her castle in the air. Poor Potentilla, however, had not the +comfort of knowing this, for at the sight of the Enchanter +threatening her beloved Prince she had given one shriek and fallen +back insensible. When she recovered her senses she was more than +ever convinced that he was dead, since even Melinette was no +longer near her, and no one was left to defend her from the odious +old Enchanter. + +To make matters worse, he seemed to be in a very bad temper, and +came blustering and raging at the poor Princess. + +I tell you what it is, madam,' said he: whether you love this +whipper-snapper Prince or not doesn't matter in the least. You are +going to marry me, so you may as well make up your mind to it; and +I am going away this very minute to make all the arrangements. But +in case you should get into mischief in my absence, I think I had +better put you to sleep.' + +So saying, he waved his wand over her, and in spite of her utmost +efforts to keep awake she sank into a profound and dreamless +slumber. + +As he wished to make what he considered a suitable entry into the +King's palace, he stepped outside the Princess's little domain, +and mounted upon an immense chariot with great solid wheels, and +shafts like the trunk of an oak-tree, but all of solid gold. This +was drawn with great difficulty by forty-eight strong oxen; and +the Enchanter reclined at his ease, leaning upon his huge club, +and holding carelessly upon his knee a tawny African lion, as if +it had been a little lapdog. It was about seven o'clock in the +morning when this extraordinary chariot reached the palace gates; +the King was already astir, and about to set off on a hunting +expedition; as for the Queen, she had only just gone off into her +first sleep, and it would have been a bold person indeed who +ventured to wake her. + +The King was greatly annoyed at having to stay and see a visitor +at such a time, and pulled off his hunting boots again with many +grimaces. Meantime the Enchanter was stumping about in the hall, +crying: + +Where is this King? Let him be told that I must see him and his +wife also.' + +The King, who was listening at the top of the staircase, thought +this was not very polite; however, he took counsel with his +favourite huntsman, and, following his advice, presently went down +to see what was wanted of him. He was struck with astonishment at +the sight of the chariot, and was gazing at it, when the Enchanter +strode up to him, exclaiming: + +Shake hands, Cloverleaf, old fellow! Don't you know me?' + +No, I can't say I do,' replied the King, somewhat embarrassed. + +Why, I am Grumedan, the Enchanter,' said he, and I am come to +make your fortune. Let us come in and talk things over a bit.' + +Thereupon he ordered the oxen to go about their business, and they +bounded off like stags, and were out of sight in a moment. Then, +with one blow of his club, he changed the massive chariot into a +perfect mountain of gold pieces. + +Those are for your lackeys,' said he to the King, that they may +drink my health.' + +Naturally a great scramble ensued, and at last the laughter and +shouting awoke the Queen, who rang for her maids to ask the reason +of such an unwonted hurry-burly. When they said that a visitor was +asking for her, and then proceeded each one to tell breathlessly a +different tale of wonder, in which she could only distinguish the +words, oxen,' gold,' club,' giant,' lion,' she thought they +were all out of their minds. Meanwhile the King was asking the +Enchanter to what he was indebted for the honour of this visit, +and on his replying that he would not say until the Queen was also +present, messenger after messenger was dispatched to her to beg +her immediate attendance. But Frivola was in a very bad humour at +having been so unceremoniously awakened, and declared that she had +a pain in her little finger, and that nothing should induce her to +come. + +When the Enchanter heard this he insisted that she must come. + +Take my club to her Majesty,' said he, and tell her that if she +smells the end of it she will find it wonderfully reviving.' + +So four of the King's strongest men-at-arms staggered off with it; +and after some persuasion the Queen consented to try this novel +remedy. She had hardly smelt it for an instant when she declared +herself to be perfectly restored; but whether that was due to the +scent of the wood or to the fact that as soon as she touched it +out fell a perfect shower of magnificent jewels, I leave you to +decide. At any rate, she was now all eagerness to see the +mysterious stranger, and hastily throwing on her royal mantle, +popped her second-best diamond crown over her night-cap, put a +liberal dab of rouge upon each cheek, and holding up her largest +fan before her nose--for she was not used to appearing in broad +daylight--she went mincing into the great hall. The Enchanter +waited until the King and Queen had seated themselves upon their +throne, and then, taking his place between them, he began +solemnly: + +My name is Grumedan. I am an extremely well-connected Enchanter; +my power is immense. In spite of all this, the charms of your +daughter Potentilla have so fascinated me that I cannot live +without her. She fancies that she loves a certain contemptible +puppy called Narcissus; but I have made very short work with him. +I really do not care whether you consent to my marriage with your +daughter or not, but I am bound to ask your consent, on account of +a certain meddling Fairy called Melinette, with whom I have reason +for wishing to keep on good terms.' + +The King and Queen were somewhat embarrassed to know what answer +to make to this terrible suitor, but at last they asked for time +to talk over the matter: since, they said, their subjects might +think that the heir to the throne should not be married with as +little consideration as a dairymaid. + +Oh! take a day or two if you like,' said the Enchanter; but in +the meantime, I am going to send for your daughter. Perhaps you +will be able to induce her to be reasonable.' + +So saying, he drew out his favourite whistle, and blew one ear- +piercing note--whereupon the great lion, who had been dozing in +the sunny courtyard, come bounding in on his soft, heavy feet. +Orion,' said the Enchanter, go and fetch me the Princess, and +bring her here at once. Be gentle now!' + +At these words Orion went off at a great pace, and was soon at the +other end of the King's gardens. Scattering the guards right and +left, he cleared the wall at a bound, and seizing the sleeping +Princess, he threw her on to his back, where he kept her by +holding her robe in his teeth. Then he trotted gently back, and in +less than five minutes stood in the great hall before the +astonished King and Queen. + +The Enchanter held his club close to the Princess's charming +little nose, whereupon she woke up and shrieked with terror at +finding herself in a strange place with the detested Grumedan. +Frivola, who had stood by, stiff with displeasure at the sight of +the lovely Princess, now stepped forward, and with much pretended +concern proposed to carry off Potentilla to her own apartments +that she might enjoy the quiet she seemed to need. Really her one +idea was to let the Princess be seen by as few people as possible; +so, throwing a veil over her head, she led her away and locked her +up securely. All this time Prince Narcissus, gloomy and +despairing, was kept a prisoner by Melinette in her castle in the +air, and in spite of all the splendour by which he was surrounded, +and all the pleasures which he might have enjoyed, his one thought +was to get back to Potentilla. The Fairy, however, left him there, +promising to do her very best for him, and commanding all her +swallows and butterflies to wait upon him and do his bidding. One +day, as he paced sadly to and fro, he thought he heard a voice he +knew calling to him, and sure enough there was the faithful +Philomel, Potentilla's favourite, who told him all that had +passed, and how the sleeping Princess had been carried off by the +Lion to the great grief of all her four-footed and feathered +subjects, and how, not knowing what to do, he had wandered about +until he heard the swallows telling one another of the Prince who +was in their airy castle and had come to see if it could be +Narcissus. The Prince was more distracted than ever, and tried +vainly to escape from the castle, by leaping from the roof into +the clouds; but every time they caught him, and rolling softly up, +brought him back to the place from which he started, so at last he +gave up the attempt and waited with desperate patience for the +return of Melinette. Meanwhile matters were advancing rapidly in +the court of King Cloverleaf, for the Queen quite made up her mind +that such a beauty as Potentilla must be got out of the way as +quickly as possible. So she sent for the Enchanter secretly, and +after making him promise that he would never turn herself and King +Cloverleaf out of their kingdom, and that he would take Potentilla +far away, so that never again might she set eyes upon her, she +arranged the wedding for the next day but one. + +You may imagine how Potentilla lamented her sad fate, and +entreated to be spared. All the comfort she could get out of +Frivola was, that if she preferred a cup of poison to a rich +husband she would certainly provide her with one. + +When, then, the fatal day came the unhappy Potentilla was led into +the great hall between the King and Queen, the latter wild with +envy at the murmurs of admiration which rose on all sides at the +loveliness of the Princess. An instant later in came Grumedan by +the opposite door. His hair stood on end, and he wore a huge bag- +purse and a cravat tied in a bow, his mantle was made of a shower +of silver coins with a lining of rose colour, and his delight in +his own appearance knew no bounds. That any Princess could prefer +a cup of poison to himself never for an instant occurred to him. +Nevertheless, that was what did happen, for when Queen Frivola in +jest held out the fatal cup to the Princess, she took it eagerly, +crying: + +Ah! beloved Narcissus, I come to thee!' and was just raising it +to her lips when the window of the great hall burst open, and the +Fairy Melinette floated in upon a glowing sunset cloud, followed +by the Prince himself: + +All the court looked on in dazzled surprise, while Potentilla, +catching sight of her lover, dropped the cup and ran joyfully to +meet him. + +The Enchanter's first thought was to defend himself when he saw +Melinette appear, but she slipped round his blind side, and +catching him by the eyelashes dragged him off to the ceiling of +the hall, where she held him kicking for a while just to give him +a lesson, and then touching him with her wand she imprisoned him +for a thousand years in a crystal ball which hung from the roof. +Let this teach you to mind what I tell you another time,' she +remarked severely. Then turning to the King and Queen, she begged +them to proceed with the wedding, since she had provided a much +more suitable bridegroom. She also deprived them of their kingdom, +for they had really shown themselves unfit to manage it, and +bestowed it upon the Prince and Princess, who, though they were +unwilling to take it, had no choice but to obey the Fairy. +However, they took care that the King and Queen were always +supplied with everything they could wish for. + +Prince Narcissus and Princess Potentilla lived long and happily, +beloved by all their subjects. As for the Enchanter, I don't +believe he has been let out yet. + +La Princesse Pimprenella et Le Prince Romarin. + + + + + +PRINCE FEATHERHEAD AND THE PRINCESS CELANDINE + + + +Once upon a time there lived a King and Queen, who were the best +creatures in the world, and so kind-hearted that they could not +bear to see their subjects want for anything. The consequence was +that they gradually gave away all their treasures, till they +positively had nothing left to live upon; and this coming to the +ears of their neighbour, King Bruin, he promptly raised a large +army and marched into their country. The poor King, having no +means of defending his kingdom, was forced to disguise himself +with a false beard, and carrying his only son, the little Prince +Featherhead, in his arms, and accompanied only by the Queen, to +make the best of his way into the wild country. They were lucky +enough to escape the soldiers of King Bruin, and at last, after +unheard-of fatigues and adventures, they found themselves in a +charming green valley, through which flowed a stream clear as +crystal and overshadowed by beautiful trees. As they looked round +them with delight, a voice said suddenly: Fish, and see what you +will catch.' Now the King had always loved fishing, and never went +anywhere without a fish-hook or two in his pocket, so he drew one +out hastily, and the Queen lent him her girdle to fasten it to, +and it had hardly touched the water before it caught a big fish, +which made them an excellent meal--and not before they needed it, +for they had found nothing until then but a few wild berries and +roots. They thought that for the present they could not do better +than stay in this delightful place, and the King set to work, and +soon built a bower of branches to shelter them; and when it was +finished the Queen was so charmed with it that she declared +nothing was lacking to complete her happiness but a flock of +sheep, which she and the little Prince might tend while the King +fished. They soon found that the fish were not only abundant and +easily caught, but also very beautiful, with glittering scales of +every imaginable hue; and before long the King discovered that he +could teach them to talk and whistle better than any parrot. Then +he determined to carry some to the nearest town and try to sell +them; and as no one had ever before seen any like them the people +flocked about him eagerly and bought all he had caught, so that +presently not a house in the city was considered complete without +a crystal bowl full of fish, and the King's customers were very +particular about having them to match the rest of the furniture, +and gave him a vast amount of trouble in choosing them. However, +the money he obtained in this way enabled him to buy the Queen her +flock of sheep, as well as many of the other things which go to +make life pleasant, so that they never once regretted their lost +kingdom. Now it happened that the Fairy of the Beech-Woods lived +in the lovely valley to which chance had led the poor fugitives, +and it was she who had, in pity for their forlorn condition, sent +the King such good luck to his fishing, and generally taken them +under her protection. This she was all the more inclined to do as +she loved children, and little Prince Featherhead, who never cried +and grew prettier day by day, quite won her heart. She made the +acquaintance of the King and the Queen without at first letting +them know that she was a fairy, and they soon took a great fancy +to her, and even trusted her with the precious Prince, whom she +carried off to her palace, where she regaled him with cakes and +tarts and every other good thing. This was the way she chose of +making him fond of her; but afterwards, as he grew older, she +spared no pains in educating and training him as a prince should +be trained. But unfortunately, in spite of all her care, he grew +so vain and frivolous that he quitted his peaceful country life in +disgust, and rushed eagerly after all the foolish gaieties of the +neighbouring town, where his handsome face and charming manners +speedily made him popular. The King and Queen deeply regretted +this alteration in their son, but did not know how to mend +matters, since the good old Fairy had made him so self-willed. + +Just at this time the Fairy of the Beech-Woods received a visit +from an old friend of hers called Saradine, who rushed into her +house so breathless with rage that she could hardly speak. + +Dear, dear! what is the matter?' said the Fairy of the Beech- +Woods soothingly. + +The matter!' cried Saradine. You shall soon hear all about it. +You know that, not content with endowing Celandine, Princess of +the Summer Islands, with everything she could desire to make her +charming, I actually took the trouble to bring her up myself; and +now what does she do but come to me with more coaxings and +caresses than usual to beg a favour. And what do you suppose this +favour turns out to be--when I have been cajoled into promising to +grant it? Nothing more nor less than a request that I will take +back all my gifts--"since," says my young madam, "if I have the +good fortune to please you, how am I to know that it is really I, +myself? And that's how it will be all my life long, whenever I +meet anybody. You see what a weariness my life will be to me under +these circumstances, and yet I assure you I am not ungrateful to +you for all your kindness!" I did all I could,' continued +Saradine, to make her think better of it, but in vain; so after +going through the usual ceremony for taking back my gifts, I'm +come to you for a little peace and quietness. But, after all, I +have not taken anything of consequence from this provoking +Celandine. Nature had already made her so pretty, and given her +such a ready wit of her own, that she will do perfectly well +without me. However, I thought she deserved a little lesson, so to +begin with I have whisked her off into the desert, and there left +her!' + +What! all alone, and without any means of existence?' cried the +kind-hearted old Fairy. You had better hand her over to me. I +don't think so very badly of her after all. I'll just cure her +vanity by making her love someone better than herself. Really, +when I come to consider of it, I declare the little minx has shown +more spirit and originality in the matter than one expects of a +princess.' + +Saradine willingly consented to this arrangement, and the old +Fairy's first care was to smooth away all the difficulties which +surrounded the Princess, and lead her by the mossy path overhung +with trees to the bower of the King and Queen, who still pursued +their peaceful life in the valley. + +They were immensely surprised at her appearance, but her charming +face, and the deplorably ragged condition to which the thorns and +briers had reduced her once elegant attire, speedily won their +compassion; they recognised her as a companion in misfortune, and +the Queen welcomed her heartily, and begged her to share their +simple repast. Celandine gracefully accepted their hospitality, +and soon told them what had happened to her. The King was charmed +with her spirit, while the Queen thought she had indeed been +daring thus to go against the Fairy's wishes. + +Since it has ended in my meeting you,' said the Princess, I +cannot regret the step I have taken, and if you will let me stay +with you, I shall be perfectly happy.' + +The King and Queen were only too delighted to have this charming +Princess to supply the place of Prince Featherhead, whom they saw +but seldom, since the Fairy had provided him with a palace in the +neighbouring town, where he lived in the greatest luxury, and did +nothing but amuse himself from morning to night. So Celandine +stayed, and helped the Queen to keep house, and very soon they +loved her dearly. When the Fairy of the Beech-Woods came to them, +they presented the Princess to her, and told her story, little +thinking that the Fairy knew more about Celandine than they did. +The old Fairy was equally delighted with her, and often invited +her to visit her Leafy Palace, which was the most enchanting place +that could be imagined, and full of treasures. Often she would say +to the Princess, when showing her some wonderful thing: + +This will do for a wedding gift some day.' And Celandine could +not help thinking that it was to her that the Fairy meant to give +the two blue wax-torches which burned without ever getting +smaller, or the diamond from which more diamonds were continually +growing, or the boat that sailed under water, or whatever +beautiful or wonderful thing they might happen to be looking at. +It is true that she never said so positively, but she certainly +allowed the Princess to believe it, because she thought a little +disappointment would be good for her. But the person she really +relied upon for curing Celandine of her vanity was Prince +Featherhead. The old Fairy was not at all pleased with the way he +had been going on for some time, but her heart was so soft towards +him that she was unwilling to take him away from the pleasures he +loved, except by offering him something better, which is not the +most effectual mode of correction, though it is without doubt the +most agreeable. + +However, she did not even hint to the Princess that Featherhead +was anything but absolutely perfect, and talked of him so much +that when at last she announced that he was coming to visit her, +Celandine made up her mind that this delightful Prince would be +certain to fall in love with her at once, and was quite pleased at +the idea. The old Fairy thought so too, but as this was not at all +what she wished, she took care to throw such an enchantment over +the Princess that she appeared to Featherhead quite ugly and +awkward, though to every one else she looked just as usual. So +when he arrived at the Leafy Palace, more handsome and fascinating +even than ever she had been led to expect, he hardly so much as +glanced at the Princess, but bestowed all his attention upon the +old Fairy, to whom he seemed to have a hundred things to say. The +Princess was immensely astonished at his indifference, and put on +a cold and offended air, which, however, he did not seem to +observe. Then as a last resource she exerted all her wit and +gaiety to amuse him, but with no better success, for he was of an +age to be more attracted by beauty than by anything else, and +though he responded politely enough, it was evident that his +thoughts were elsewhere. Celandine was deeply mortified, since for +her part the Prince pleased her very well, and for the first time +she bitterly regretted the fairy gifts she had been anxious to get +rid of. Prince Featherhead was almost equally puzzled, for he had +heard nothing from the King and Queen but the praises of this +charming Princess, and the fact that they had spoken of her as so +very beautiful only confirmed his opinion that people who live in +the country have no taste. He talked to them of his charming +acquaintances in the town, the beauties he had admired, did +admire, or thought he was going to admire, until Celandine, who +heard it all, was ready to cry with vexation. The Fairy too was +quite shocked at his conceit, and hit upon a plan for curing him +of it. She sent to him by an unknown messenger a portrait of +Princess Celandine as she really was, with this inscription: All +this beauty and sweetness, with a loving heart and a great +kingdom, might have been yours but for your well-known +fickleness.' + +This message made a great impression upon the Prince, but not so +much as the portrait. He positively could not tear his eyes away +from it, and exclaimed aloud that never, never had he seen +anything so lovely and so graceful. Then he began to think that it +was too absurd that he, the fascinating Featherhead, should fall +in love with a portrait; and, to drive away the recollections of +its haunting eyes, he rushed back to the town; but somehow +everything seemed changed. The beauties no longer pleased him, +their witty speeches had ceased to amuse; and indeed, for their +parts, they found the Prince far less amiable than of yore, and +were not sorry when he declared that, after all, a country life +suited him best, and went back to the Leafy Palace. Meanwhile, the +Princess Celandine had been finding the time pass but slowly with +the King and Queen, and was only too pleased when Featherhead +reappeared. She at once noticed the change in him, and was deeply +curious to find the reason of it. Far from avoiding her, he now +sought her company and seemed to take pleasure in talking to her, +and yet the Princess did not for a moment flatter herself with the +idea that he was in love with her, though it did not take her long +to decide that he certainly loved someone. But one day the +Princess, wandering sadly by the river, spied Prince Featherhead +fast asleep in the shade of a tree, and stole nearer to enjoy the +delight of gazing at his dear face unobserved. Judge of her +astonishment when she saw that he was holding in his hand a +portrait of herself! In vain did she puzzle over the apparent +contradictoriness of his behaviour. Why did he cherish her +portrait while he was so fatally indifferent to herself? At last +she found an opportunity of asking him the name of the Princess +whose picture he carried about with him always. + +Alas! how can I tell you?' replied he. + +Why should you not?' said the Princess timidly. Surely there is +nothing to prevent you.' + +Nothing to prevent me!' repeated he, when my utmost efforts have +failed to discover the lovely original. Should I be so sad if I +could but find her? But I do not even know her name.' + +More surprised than ever, the Princess asked to be allowed to see +the portrait, and after examining it for a few minutes returned +it, remarking shyly that at least the original had every cause to +be satisfied with it. + +That means that you consider it flattered,' said the Prince +severely. Really, Celandine, I thought better of you, and should +have expected you to be above such contemptible jealousy. But all +women are alike!' + +Indeed, I meant only that it was a good likeness,' said the +Princess meekly. + +Then you know the original,' cried the Prince, throwing himself +on his knees beside her. Pray tell me at once who it is, and +don't keep me in suspense!' + +Oh! don't you see that it is meant for me?' cried Celandine. + +The Prince sprang to his feet, hardly able to refrain from telling +her that she must be blinded by vanity to suppose she resembled +the lovely portrait even in the slightest degree; and after gazing +at her for an instant with icy surprise, turned and left her +without another word, and in a few hours quitted the Leafy Palace +altogether. + +Now the Princess was indeed unhappy, and could no longer bear to +stay in a place where she had been so cruelly disdained. So, +without even bidding farewell to the King and Queen, she left the +valley behind her, and wandered sadly away, not caring whither. +After walking until she was weary, she saw before her a tiny +house, and turned her slow steps towards it. The nearer she +approached the more miserable it appeared, and at length she saw a +little old woman sitting upon the door-step, who said grimly: + +Here comes one of these fine beggars who are too idle to do +anything but run about the country!' + +Alas! madam,' said Celandine, with tears in her pretty eyes, a +sad fate forces me to ask you for shelter.' + +Didn't I tell you what it would be?' growled the old hag. From +shelter we shall proceed to demand supper, and from supper money +to take us on our way. Upon my word, if I could be sure of finding +some one every day whose head was as soft as his heart, I wouldn't +wish for a more agreeable life myself! But I have worked hard to +build my house and secure a morsel to eat, and I suppose you think +that I am to give away everything to the first passer-by who +chooses to ask for it. Not at all! I wager that a fine lady like +you has more money than I have. I must search her, and see if it +is not so,' she added, hobbling towards Celandine with the aid of +her stick. + +Alas! madam,' replied the Princess, I only wish I had. I would +give it to you with all the pleasure in life.' + +But you are very smartly dressed for the kind of life you lead,' +continued the old woman. + +What!' cried the Princess, do you think I am come to beg of +you?' + +I don't know about that,' answered she; but at any rate you +don't seem to have come to bring me anything. But what is it that +you do want? Shelter? Well, that does not cost much; but after +that comes supper, and that I can't hear of. Oh dear no! Why, at +your age one is always ready to eat; and now you have been +walking, and I suppose you are ravenous?' + +Indeed no, madam,' answered the poor Princess, I am too sad to +be hungry.' + +Oh, well! if you will promise to go on being sad, you may stay +for the night,' said the old woman mockingly. + +Thereupon she made the Princess sit down beside her, and began +fingering her silken robe, while she muttered Lace on top, lace +underneath! This must have cost you a pretty penny! It would have +been better to save enough to feed yourself, and not come begging +to those who want all they have for themselves. Pray, what may you +have paid for these fine clothes?' + +Alas! madam,' answered the Princess, I did not buy them, and I +know nothing about money.' + +What do you know, if I may ask?' said the old dame. + +Not much; but indeed I am very unhappy,' cried Celandine, +bursting into tears, and if my services are any good to you-- + +Services!' interrupted the hag crossly. One has to pay for +services, and I am not above doing my own work.' + +Madam, I will serve you for nothing,' said the poor Princess, +whose spirits were sinking lower and lower. I will do anything +you please; all I wish is to live quietly in this lonely spot.' + +Oh! I know you are only trying to take me in,' answered she; and +if I do let you serve me, is it fitting that you should be so much +better dressed I am? If I keep you, will you give me your clothes +and wear some that I will provide you with? It is true that I am +getting old and may want someone to take care of me some day.' + +Oh! for pity's sake, do what you please with my clothes,' cried +poor Celandine miserably. + +And the old woman hobbled off with great alacrity, and fetched a +little bundle containing a wretched dress, such as the Princess +had never even seen before, and nimbly skipped round, helping her +to put it on instead of her own rich robe, with many exclamations +of: + +Saints!--what a magnificent lining! And the width of it! It will +make me four dresses at least. Why, child, I wonder you could walk +under such a weight, and certainly in my house you would not have +had room to turn round.' + +So saying, she folded up the robe, and put it by with great care, +while she remarked to Celandine: + +That dress of mine certainly suits you to a marvel; be sure you +take great care of it.' + +When supper-time came she went into the house, declining all the +Princess's offers of assistance, and shortly afterwards brought +out a very small dish, saying: + +Now let us sup.' + +Whereupon she handed Celandine a small piece of black bread and +uncovered the dish, which contained two dried plums. + +We will have one between us,' continued the old dame; and as you +are the visitor, you shall have the half which contains the stone; +but be very careful that you don't swallow it, for I keep them +against the winter, and you have no idea what a good fire they +make. Now, you take my advice--which won't cost you anything--and +remember that it is always more economical to buy fruit with +stones on this account.' + +Celandine, absorbed in her own sad thoughts, did not even hear +this prudent counsel, and quite forgot to eat her share of the +plum, which delighted the old woman, who put it by carefully for +her breakfast, saying: + +I am very much pleased with you, and if you go on as you have +begun, we shall do very well, and I can teach you many useful +things which people don't generally know. For instance, look at my +house! It is built entirely of the seeds of all the pears I have +eaten in my life. Now, most people throw them away, and that only +shows what a number of things are wasted for want of a little +patience and ingenuity.' + +But Celandine did not find it possible to be interested in this +and similar pieces of advice. And the old woman soon sent her to +bed, for fear the night air might give her an appetite. She passed +a sleepless night; but in the morning the old dame remarked: + +I heard how well you slept. After such a night you cannot want +any breakfast; so while I do my household tasks you had better +stay in bed, since the more one sleeps the less one need eat; and +as it is market-day I will go to town and buy a pennyworth of +bread for the week's eating.' + +And so she chattered on, but poor Celandine did not hear or heed +her; she wandered out into the desolate country to think over her +sad fate. However, the good Fairy of the Beech-Woods did not want +her to be starved, so she sent her an unlooked for relief in the +shape of a beautiful white cow, which followed her back to the +tiny house. When the old woman saw it her joy knew no bounds. + +Now we can have milk and cheese and butter!' cried she. Ah! how +good milk is! What a pity it is so ruinously expensive!' So they +made a little shelter of branches for the beautiful creature which +was quite gentle, and followed Celandine about like a dog when she +took it out every day to graze. One morning as she sat by a little +brook, thinking sadly, she suddenly saw a young stranger +approaching, and got up quickly, intending to avoid him. But +Prince Featherhead, for it was he, perceiving her at the same +moment, rushed towards her with every demonstration of joy: for he +had recognised her, not as the Celandine whom he had slighted, but +as the lovely Princess whom he had sought vainly for so long. The +fact was that the Fairy of the Beech-Woods, thinking she had been +punished enough, had withdrawn the enchantment from her, and +transferred it to Featherhead, thereby in an instant depriving him +of the good looks which had done so much towards making him the +fickle creature he was. Throwing himself down at the Princess's +feet, he implored her to stay, and at least speak to him, and she +at last consented, but only because he seemed to wish it so very +much. After that he came every day in the hope of meeting her +again, and often expressed his delight at being with her. But one +day, when he had been begging Celandine to love him, she confided +to him that it was quite impossible, since her heart was already +entirely occupied by another. + +I have,' said she, the unhappiness of loving a Prince who is +fickle, frivolous, proud, incapable of caring for anyone but +himself, who has been spoilt by flattery, and, to crown all, who +does not love me.' + +But,' cried Prince Featherhead, surely you cannot care for so +contemptible and worthless a creature as that.' + +Alas! but I do care,' answered the Princess, weeping. + +But where can his eyes be,' said the Prince, that your beauty +makes no impression upon him? As for me, since I have possessed +your portrait I have wandered over the whole world to find you, +and, now we have met, I see that you are ten times lovelier than I +could have imagined, and I would give all I own to win your love.' + +My portrait?' cried Celandine with sudden interest. Is it +possible that Prince Featherhead can have parted with it?' + +He would part with his life sooner, lovely Princess,' answered +he; I can assure you of that, for I am Prince Featherhead.' + +At the same moment the Fairy of the Beech-Woods took away the +enchantment, and the happy Princess recognised her lover, now +truly hers, for the trials they had both undergone had so changed +and improved them that they were capable of a real love for each +other. You may imagine how perfectly happy they were, and how much +they had to hear and to tell. But at length it was time to go back +to the little house, and as they went along Celandine remembered +for the first time what a ragged old dress she was wearing, and +what an odd appearance she must present. But the Prince declared +that it became her vastly, and that he thought it most +picturesque. When they reached the house the old woman received +them very crossly. + +I declare,' said she, that it's perfectly true: wherever there +is a girl you may be sure that a young man will appear before +long! But don't imagine that I'm going to have you here--not a bit +of it, be off with you, my fine fellow!' + +Prince Featherhead was inclined to be angry at this uncivil +reception, but he was really too happy to care much, so he only +demanded, on Celandine's behalf, that the old dame should give her +back her own attire, that she might go away suitably dressed. + +This request roused her to fury, since she had counted upon the +Princess's fine robes to clothe her for the rest of her life, so +that it was some time before the Prince could make himself heard +to explain that he was willing to pay for them. The sight of a +handful of gold pieces somewhat mollified her, however, and after +making them both promise faithfully that on no consideration would +they ask for the gold back again, she took the Princess into the +house and grudgingly doled out to her just enough of her gay +attire to make her presentable, while the rest she pretended to +have lost. After this they found that they were very hungry, for +one cannot live on love, any more than on air, and then the old +woman's lamentations were louder than before. What!' she cried, +feed people who were as happy as all that! Why, it was simply +ruinous!' + +But as the Prince began to look angry, she, with many sighs and +mutterings, brought out a morsel of bread, a bowl of milk, and six +plums, with which the lovers were well content: for as long as +they could look at one another they really did not know what they +were eating. It seemed as if they would go on for ever with their +reminiscences, the Prince telling how he had wandered all over the +world from beauty to beauty, always to be disappointed when he +found that no one resembled the portrait; the Princess wondering +how it was he could have been so long with her and yet never have +recognised her, and over and over again pardoning him for his cold +and haughty behaviour to her. + +For,' she said, you see, Featherhead, I love you, and love makes +everything right! But we cannot stay here,' she added; what are +we to do?' + +The Prince thought they had better find their way to the Fairy of +the Beech-Woods and put themselves once more under her protection, +and they had hardly agreed upon this course when two little +chariots wreathed with jasmine and honeysuckle suddenly appeared, +and, stepping into them, they were whirled away to the Leafy +Palace. Just before they lost sight of the little house they heard +loud cries and lamentations from the miserly old dame, and, +looking round, perceived that the beautiful cow was vanishing in +spite of her frantic efforts to hold it fast. And they afterwards +heard that she spent the rest of her life in trying to put the +handful of gold the Prince had thrown to her into her money-bag. +For the Fairy, as a punishment for her avarice, caused it to slip +out again as fast as she dropped it in. + +The Fairy of the Beech-Woods ran to welcome the Prince and +Princess with open arms, only too delighted to find them so much +improved that she could, with a clear conscience, begin to spoil +them again. Very soon the Fairy Saradine also arrived, bringing +the King and Queen with her. Princess Celandine implored her +pardon, which she graciously gave; indeed the Princess was so +charming she could refuse her nothing. She also restored to her +the Summer Islands, and promised her protection in all things. The +Fairy of the Beech-Woods then informed the King and Queen that +their subjects had chased King Bruin from the throne, and were +waiting to welcome them back again; but they at once abdicated in +favour of Prince Featherhead, declaring that nothing could induce +them to forsake their peaceful life, and the Fairies undertook to +see the Prince and Princess established in their beautiful +kingdoms. Their marriage took place the next day, and they lived +happily ever afterwards, for Celandine was never vain and +Featherhead was never fickle any more. + +Le Prince Muguet et la Princesse Zaza. + + + + + +THE THREE LITTLE PIGS + + + +There was once upon a time a pig who lived with her three children +on a large, comfortable, old-fashioned farmyard. The eldest of the +little pigs was called Browny, the second Whitey, and the youngest +and best looking Blacky. Now Browny was a very dirty little pig, +and I am sorry to say spent most of his time rolling and wallowing +about in the mud. He was never so happy as on a wet day, when the +mud in the farmyard got soft, and thick, and slab. Then he would +steal away from his mother's side, and finding the muddiest place +in the yard, would roll about in it and thoroughly enjoy himself. +His mother often found fault with him for this, and would shake +her head sadly and say: Ah, Browny! some day you will be sorry +that you did not obey your old mother.' But no words of advice or +warning could cure Browny of his bad habits. + +Whitey was quite a clever little pig, but she was greedy. She was +always thinking of her food, and looking forward to her dinner; +and when the farm girl was seen carrying the pails across the +yard, she would rise up on her hind legs and dance and caper with +excitement. As soon as the food was poured into the trough she +jostled Blacky and Browny out of the way in her eagerness to get +the best and biggest bits for herself. Her mother often scolded +her for her selfishness, and told her that some day she would +suffer for being so greedy and grabbing. + +Blacky was a good, nice little pig, neither dirty nor greedy. He +had nice dainty ways (for a pig), and his skin was always as +smooth and shining as black satin. He was much cleverer than +Browny and Whitey, and his mother's heart used to swell with pride +when she heard the farmer's friends say to each other that some +day the little black fellow would be a prize pig. + +Now the time came when the mother pig felt old and feeble and near +her end. One day she called the three little pigs round her and +said: + +My children, I feel that I am growing odd and weak, and that I +shall not live long. Before I die I should like to build a house +for each of you, as this dear old sty in which we have lived so +happily will be given to a new family of pigs, and you will have +to turn out. Now, Browny, what sort of a house would you like to +have?' + +A house of mud,' replied Browny, looking longingly at a wet +puddle in the corner of the yard. + +And you, Whitey?' said the mother pig in rather a sad voice, for +she was disappointed that Browny had made so foolish a choice. + +A house of cabbage,' answered Whitey, with a mouth full, and +scarcely raising her snout out of the trough in which she was +grubbing for some potato-parings. + +Foolish, foolish child!' said the mother pig, looking quite +distressed. And you, Blacky?' turning to her youngest son, what +sort of a house shall I order for you?' + +A house of brick, please mother, as it will be warm in winter, +and cool in summer, and safe all the year round.' + +That is a sensible little pig,' replied his mother, looking +fondly at him. I will see that the three houses are got ready at +once. And now one last piece of advice. You have heard me talk of +our old enemy the fox. When he hears that I am dead, he is sure to +try and get hold of you, to carry you off to his den. He is very +sly and will no doubt disguise himself, and pretend to be a +friend, but you must promise me not to let him enter your houses +on any pretext whatever.' + +And the little pigs readily promised, for they had always had a +great fear of the fox, of whom they had heard many terrible tales. +A short time afterwards the old pig died, and the little pigs went +to live in their own houses. + +Browny was quite delighted with his soft mud walls and with the +clay floor, which soon looked like nothing but a big mud pie. But +that was what Browny enjoyed, and he was as happy as possible, +rolling about all day and making himself in such a mess. One day, +as he was lying half asleep in the mud, he heard a soft knock at +his door, and a gentle voice said: + +May I come in, Master Browny? I want to see your beautiful new +house.' + +Who are you?' said Browny, starting up in great fright, for +though the voice sounded gentle, he felt sure it was a feigned +voice, and he feared it was the fox. + +I am a friend come to call on you,' answered the voice. + +No, no,' replied Browny, I don't believe you are a friend. You +are the wicked fox, against whom our mother warned us. I won't let +you in.' + +Oho! is that the way you answer me?' said the fox, speaking very +roughly in his natural voice. We shall soon see who is master +here,' and with his paws he set to work and scraped a large hole +in the soft mud walls. A moment later he had jumped through it, +and catching Browny by the neck, flung him on his shoulders and +trotted off with him to his den. + +The next day, as Whitey was munching a few leaves of cabbage out +of the corner of her house, the fox stole up to her door, +determined to carry her off to join her brother in his den. He +began speaking to her in the same feigned gentle voice in which he +had spoken to Browny; but it frightened her very much when he +said: + +I am a friend come to visit you, and to have some of your good +cabbage for my dinner.' + +Please don't touch it,' cried Whitey in great distress. The +cabbages are the walls of my house, and if you eat them you will +make a hole, and the wind and rain will come in and give me a +cold. Do go away; I am sure you are not a friend, but our wicked +enemy the fox.' And poor Whitey began to whine and to whimper, and +to wish that she had not been such a greedy little pig, and had +chosen a more solid material than cabbages for her house. But it +was too late now, and in another minute the fox had eaten his way +through the cabbage walls, and had caught the trembling, shivering +Whitey, and carried her off to his den. + +The next day the fox started off for Blacky's house, because he +had made up his mind that he would get the three little pigs +together in his den, and then kill them, and invite all his +friends to a feast. But when he reached the brick house, he found +that the door was bolted and barred, so in his sly manner he +began, Do let me in, dear Blacky. I have brought you a present of +some eggs that I picked up in a farmyard on my way here.' + +No, no, Mister Fox,' replied Blacky, I am not going to open my +door to you. I know your cunning ways. You have carried off poor +Browny and Whitey, but you are not going to get me.' + +At this the fox was so angry that he dashed with all his force +against the wall, and tried to knock it down. But it was too +strong and well-built; and though the fox scraped and tore at the +bricks with his paws he only hurt himself, and at last he had to +give it up, and limp away with his fore-paws all bleeding and +sore. + +Never mind!' he cried angrily as he went off, I'll catch you +another day, see if I don't, and won't I grind your bones to +powder when I have got you in my den!' and he snarled fiercely and +showed his teeth. + +Next day Blacky had to go into the neighbouring town to do some +marketing and to buy a big kettle. As he was walking home with it +slung over his shoulder, he heard a sound of steps stealthily +creeping after him. For a moment his heart stood still with fear, +and then a happy thought came to him. He had just reached the top +of a hill, and could see his own little house nestling at the foot +of it among the trees. In a moment he had snatched the lid off the +kettle and had jumped in himself. Coiling himself round he lay +quite snug in the bottom of the kettle, while with his fore-leg he +managed to put the lid on, so that he was entirely hidden. With a +little kick from the inside he started the kettle off, and down +the hill it rolled full tilt; and when the fox came up, all that +he saw was a large black kettle spinning over the ground at a +great pace. Very much disappointed, he was just going to turn +away, when he saw the kettle stop close to the little brick house, +and in a moment later Blacky jumped out of it and escaped with the +kettle into the house, when he barred and bolted the door, and put +the shutter up over the window. + +Oho!' exclaimed the fox to himself, you think you will escape me +that way, do you? We shall soon see about that, my friend,' and +very quietly and stealthily he prowled round the house looking for +some way to climb on to the roof. + +In the meantime Blacky had filled the kettle with water, and +having put it on the fire, sat down quietly waiting for it to +boil. Just as the kettle was beginning to sing, and steam to come +out of the spout, he heard a sound like a soft, muffled step, +patter, patter, patter overhead, and the next moment the fox's +head and fore-paws were seen coming down the chimney. But Blacky +very wisely had not put the lid on the kettle, and, with a yelp of +pain, the fox fell into the boiling water, and before he could +escape, Blacky had popped the lid on, and the fox was scalded to +death. + +As soon as he was sure that their wicked enemy was really dead, +and could do them no further harm, Blacky started off to rescue +Browny and Whitey. As he approached the den he heard piteous +grunts and squeals from his poor little brother and sister who +lived in constant terror of the fox killing and eating them. But +when they saw Blacky appear at the entrance to the den their joy +knew no bounds. He quickly found a sharp stone and cut the cords +by which they were tied to a stake in the ground, and then all +three started off together for Blacky's house, where they lived +happily ever after; and Browny quite gave up rolling in the mud, +and Whitey ceased to be greedy, for they never forgot how nearly +these faults had brought them to an untimely end. + + + + + +HEART OF ICE + + + +Once upon a time there lived a King and Queen who were foolish +beyond all telling, but nevertheless they were vastly fond of one +another. It is true that certain spiteful people were heard to say +that this was only one proof the more of their exceeding +foolishness, but of course you will understand that these were not +their own courtiers, since, after all, they were a King and Queen, +and up to this time all things had prospered with them. For in +those days the one thing to be thought of in governing a kingdom +was to keep well with all the Fairies and Enchanters, and on no +account to stint them of the cakes, the ells of ribbon, and +similar trifles which were their due, and, above all things, when +there was a christening, to remember to invite every single one, +good, bad, or indifferent, to the ceremony. Now, the foolish Queen +had one little son who was just going to be christened, and for +several months she had been hard at work preparing an enormous +list of the names of those who were to be invited, but she quite +forgot that it would take nearly as long to read it over as it had +taken to write it out. So, when the moment of the christening +arrived the King--to whom the task had been entrusted--had barely +reached the end of the second page and his tongue was tripping +with fatigue and haste as he repeated the usual formula: I +conjure and pray you, Fairy so-and-so'--or Enchanter such-a-one' +--to honour me with a visit, and graciously bestow your gifts upon +my son.' + +To make matters worse, word was brought to him that the Fairies +asked on the first page had already arrived and were waiting +impatiently in the Great Hall, and grumbling that nobody was there +to receive them. Thereupon he gave up the list in despair and +hurried to greet those whom he had succeeded in asking, imploring +their goodwill so humbly that most of them were touched, and +promised that they would do his son no harm. But there happened to +be among them a Fairy from a far country about whom they knew +nothing, though her name had been written on the first page of the +list. This Fairy was annoyed that after having taken the trouble +to come so quickly, there had been no one to receive her, or help +her to alight from the great ostrich on which she had travelled +from her distant home, and now she began to mutter to herself in +the most alarming way. + +Oh! prate away,' said she, your son will never be anything to +boast of. Say what you will, he will be nothing but a Mannikin-- + +No doubt she would have gone on longer in this strain, and given +the unhappy little Prince half-a-dozen undesirable gifts, if it +had not been for the good Fairy Genesta, who held the kingdom +under her special protection, and who luckily hurried in just in +time to prevent further mischief. When she had by compliments and +entreaties pacified the unknown Fairy, and persuaded her to say no +more, she gave the King a hint that now was the time to distribute +the presents, after which ceremony they all took their departure, +excepting the Fairy Genesta, who then went to see the Queen, and +said to her: + +A nice mass you seem to have made of this business, madam. Why +did you not condescend to consult me? But foolish people like you +always think they can do without help or advice, and I observe +that, in spite of all my goodness to you, you had not even the +civility to invite me!' + +Ah! dear madam,' cried the King, throwing himself at her feet; +did I ever have time to get as far as your name? See where I put +in this mark when I abandoned the hopeless undertaking which I had +but just begun!' + +There! there!' said the Fairy, I am not offended. I don't allow +myself to be put out by trifles like that with people I really am +fond of. But now about your son: I have saved him from a great +many disagreeable things, but you must let me take him away and +take care of him, and you will not see him again until he is all +covered with fur!' + +At these mysterious words the King and Queen burst into tears, for +they lived in such a hot climate themselves that how or why the +Prince should come to be covered with fur they could not imagine, +and thought it must portend some great misfortune to him. + +However, Genesta told them not to disquiet themselves. + +If I left him to you to bring up,' said she, you would be +certain to make him as foolish as yourselves. I do not even intend +to let him know that he is your son. As for you, you had better +give your minds to governing your kingdom properly.' So saying, +she opened the window, and catching up the little Prince, cradle +and all, she glided away in the air as if she were skating upon +ice, leaving the King and Queen in the greatest affliction. They +consulted everyone who came near them as to what the Fairy could +possibly have meant by saying that when they saw their son again +he would be covered with fur. But nobody could offer any solution +of the mystery, only they all seemed to agree that it must be +something frightful, and the King and Queen made themselves more +miserable than ever, and wandered about their palace in a way to +make anyone pity them. Meantime the Fairy had carried off the +little Prince to her own castle, and placed him under the care of +a young peasant woman, whom she bewitched so as to make her think +that this new baby was one of her own children. So the Prince grew +up healthy and strong, leading the simple life of a young peasant, +for the Fairy thought that he could have no better training; only +as he grew older she kept him more and more with herself, that his +mind might be cultivated and exercised as well as his body. But +her care did not cease there: she resolved that he should be tried +by hardships and disappointments and the knowledge of his +fellowmen; for indeed she knew the Prince would need every +advantage that she could give him, since, though he increased in +years, he did not increase in height, but remained the tiniest of +Princes. However, in spite of this he was exceedingly active and +well formed, and altogether so handsome and agreeable that the +smallness of his stature was of no real consequence. The Prince +was perfectly aware that he was called by the ridiculous name of +Mannikin,' but he consoled himself by vowing that, happen what +might, he would make it illustrious. + +In order to carry out her plans for his welfare the Fairy now +began to send Prince Mannikin the most wonderful dreams of +adventure by sea and land, and of these adventures he himself was +always the hero. Sometimes he rescued a lovely Princess from some +terrible danger, again he earned a kingdom by some brave deed, +until at last he longed to go away and seek his fortune in a far +country where his humble birth would not prevent his gaining +honour and riches by his courage, and it was with a heart full of +ambitious projects that he rode one day into a great city not far +from the Fairy's castle. As he had set out intending to hunt in +the surrounding forest he was quite simply dressed, and carried +only a bow and arrows and a light spear; but even thus arrayed he +looked graceful and distinguished. As he entered the city he saw +that the inhabitants were all racing with one accord towards the +market-place, and he also turned his horse in the same direction, +curious to know what was going forward. When he reached the spot +he found that certain foreigners of strange and outlandish +appearance were about to make a proclamation to the assembled +citizens, and he hastily pushed his way into the crowd until he +was near enough to hear the words of the venerable old man who was +their spokesman: + +Let the whole world know that he who can reach the summit of the +Ice Mountain shall receive as his reward, not only the +incomparable Sabella, fairest of the fair, but also all the realms +of which she is Queen!' Here,' continued the old man after he had +made this proclamation--here is the list of all those Princes +who, struck by the beauty of the Princess, have perished in the +attempt to win her; and here is the list of these who have just +entered upon the high emprise.' + +Prince Mannikin was seized with a violent desire to inscribe his +name among the others, but the remembrance of his dependent +position and his lack of wealth held him back. But while he +hesitated the old man, with many respectful ceremonies, unveiled a +portrait of the lovely Sabella, which was carried by some of the +attendants, and after one glance at it the Prince delayed no +longer, but, rushing forward, demanded permission to add his name +to the list. When they saw his tiny stature anti simple attire the +strangers looked at each other doubtfully, not knowing whether to +accept or refuse him. But the Prince said haughtily: + +Give me the paper that I may sign it,' and they obeyed. What +between admiration for the Princess and annoyance at the +hesitation shown by her ambassadors the Prince was too much +agitated to choose any other name than the one by which he was +always known. But when, after all the grand titles of the other +Princes, he simply wrote Mannikin,' the ambassadors broke into +shouts of laughter. + +Miserable wretches!' cried the Prince; but for the presence of +that lovely portrait I would cut off your heads.' + +But he suddenly remembered that, after all, it was a funny name, +and that he had not yet had time to make it famous; so he was +calm, and enquired the way to the Princess Sabella's country. + +Though his heart did not fail him in the least, still he felt +there were many difficulties before him, and he resolved to set +out at once, without even taking leave of the Fairy, for fear she +might try to stop him. Everybody in the town who knew him made +great fun of the idea of Mannikin's undertaking such an +expedition, and it even came to the ears of the foolish King and +Queen, who laughed over it more than any of the others, without +having an idea that the presumptuous Mannikin was their only son! + +Meantime the Prince was travelling on, though the direction he had +received for his journey were none of the clearest. + +Four hundred leagues north of Mount Caucasus you will receive +your orders and instructions for the conquest of the Ice +Mountain.' + +Fine marching orders, those, for a man starting from a country +near where Japan is nowadays! + +However, he fared eastward, avoiding all towns, lest the people +should laugh at his name, for, you see, he was not a very +experienced traveller, and had not yet learned to enjoy a joke +even if it were against himself. At night he slept in the woods, +and at first he lived upon wild fruits; but the Fairy, who was +keeping a benevolent eye upon him, thought that it would never do +to let him be half-starved in that way, so she took to feeding him +with all sorts of good things while he was asleep, and the Prince +wondered very much that when he was awake he never felt hungry! +True to her plan the Fairy sent him various adventures to prove +his courage, and he came successfully through them all, only in +his last fight with a furious monster rather like a tiger he had +the ill luck to lose his horse. However, nothing daunted, he +struggled on on foot, and at last reached a seaport. Here he found +a boat sailing for the coast which he desired to reach, and, +having just enough money to pay his passage, he went on board and +they started. But after some days a fearful storm came on, which +completely wrecked the little ship, and the Prince only saved his +life by swimming a long, long way to the only land that was in +sight, and which proved to be a desert island. Here he lived by +fishing and hunting, always hoping that the good Fairy would +presently rescue him. One day, as he was looking sadly out to sea, +he became aware of a curious looking boat which was drifting +slowly towards the shore, and which presently ran into a little +creek and there stuck fast in the sand. Prince Mannikin rushed +down eagerly to examine it, and saw with amazement that the masts +and spars were all branched, and covered thickly with leaves until +it looked like a little wood. Thinking from the stillness that +there could be no one on board, the Prince pushed aside the +branches and sprang over the side, and found himself surrounded by +the crew, who lay motionless as dead men and in a most deplorable +condition. They, too, had become almost like trees, and were +growing to the deck, or to the masts, or to the sides of the +vessel, or to whatever they had happened to be touching when the +enchantment fell upon them. Mannikin was struck with pity for +their miserable plight, and set to work with might and main to +release them. With the sharp point of one of his arrows he gently +detached their hands and feet from the wood which held them fast, +and carried them on shore, one after another, where he rubbed +their rigid limbs, and bathed them with infusions of various herbs +with such success, that, after a few days, they recovered +perfectly and were as fit to manage a boat as ever. You may be +sure that the good Fairy Genesta had something to do with this +marvellous cure, and she also put it into the Prince's head to rub +the boat itself with the same magic herbs, which cleared it +entirely, and not before it was time, for, at the rate at which it +was growing before, it would very soon have become a forest! The +gratitude of the sailors was extreme, and they willingly promised +to land the Prince upon any coast he pleased; but, when he +questioned them about the extraordinary thing that had happened to +them and to their ship, they could in no way explain it, except +that they said that, as they were passing along a thickly wooded +coast, a sudden gust of wind had reached them from the land and +enveloped them in a dense cloud of dust, after which everything in +the boat that was not metal had sprouted and blossomed, as the +Prince had seen, and that they themselves had grown gradually numb +and heavy, and had finally lost all consciousness. Prince Mannikin +was deeply interested in this curious story, and collected a +quantity of the dust from the bottom of the boat, which he +carefully preserved, thinking that its strange property might one +day stand him in good stead. + +Then they joyfully left the desert island, and after a long and +prosperous voyage over calm seas they at length came in sight of +land, and resolved to go on shore, not only to take in a fresh +stock of water and provisions, but also to find out, if possible, +where they were and in what direction to proceed. + +As they neared the coast they wondered if this could be another +uninhabited land, for no human beings could be distinguished, and +yet that something was stirring became evident, for in the dust- +clouds that moved near the ground small dark forms were dimly +visible. These appeared to be assembling at the exact spot where +they were preparing to run ashore, and what was their surprise to +find they were nothing more nor less than large and beautiful +spaniels, some mounted as sentries, others grouped in companies +and regiments, all eagerly watching their disembarkation. When +they found that Prince Mannikin, instead of saying, Shoot them,' +as they had feared, said Hi, good dog!' in a thoroughly friendly +and ingratiating way, they crowded round him with a great wagging +of tails and giving of paws, and very soon made him understand +that they wanted him to leave his men with the boat and follow +them. The Prince was so curious to know more about them that he +agreed willingly; so, after arranging with the sailors to wait for +him fifteen days, and then, if he had not come back, to go on +their way without him, he set out with his new friends. Their way +lay inland, and Mannikin noticed with great surprise that the +fields were well cultivated and that the carts and ploughs were +drawn by horses or oxen, just as they might have been in any other +country, and when they passed any village the cottages were trim +and pretty, and an air of prosperity was everywhere. At one of the +villages a dainty little repast was set before the Prince, and +while he was eating, a chariot was brought, drawn by two splendid +horses, which were driven with great skill by a large spaniel. In +this carriage he continued his journey very comfortably, passing +many similar equipages upon the road, and being always most +courteously saluted by the spaniels who occupied them. At last +they drove rapidly into a large town, which Prince Mannikin had no +doubt was the capital of the kingdom. News of his approach had +evidently been received, for all the inhabitants were at their +doors and windows, and all the little spaniels had climbed upon +the wall and gates to see him arrive. The Prince was delighted +with the hearty welcome they gave him, and looked round him with +the deepest interest. After passing through a few wide streets, +well paved, and adorned with avenues of fine trees, they drove +into the courtyard of a grand palace, which was full of spaniels +who were evidently soldiers. The King's body-guard,' thought the +Prince to himself as he returned their salutations, and then the +carriage stopped, and he was shown into the presence of the King, +who lay upon a rich Persian carpet surrounded by several little +spaniels, who were occupied in chasing away the flies lest they +should disturb his Majesty. He was the most beautiful of all +spaniels, with a look of sadness in his large eyes, which, +however, quite disappeared as he sprang up to welcome Prince +Mannikin with every demonstration of delight; after which he made +a sign to his courtiers, who came one by one to pay their respects +to the visitor. The Prince thought that he would find himself +puzzled as to how he should carry on a conversation, but as soon +as he and the King were once more left alone, a Secretary of State +was sent for, who wrote from his Majesty's dictation a most polite +speech, in which he regretted much that they were unable to +converse, except in writing, the language of dogs being difficult +to understand. As for the writing, it had remained the same as the +Prince's own. + +Mannikin thereupon wrote a suitable reply, and then begged the +King to satisfy his curiosity about all the strange things he had +seen and heard since his landing. This appeared to awaken sad +recollections in the King's mind, but he informed the Prince that +he was called King Bayard, and that a Fairy, whose kingdom was +next his own, had fallen violently in love with him, and had done +all she could to persuade him to marry her; but that he could not +do so as he himself was the devoted lover of the Queen of the +Spice Islands. Finally, the Fairy, furious at the indifference +with which her love was treated, had reduced him to the state in +which the Prince found him, leaving him unchanged in mind, but +deprived of the power of speech; and, not content with wreaking +her vengeance upon the King alone, she had condemned all his +subjects to a similar fate, saying: + +Bark, and run upon four feet, until the time comes when virtue +shall be rewarded by love and fortune.' + +Which, as the poor King remarked, was very much the same thing as +if she had said, Remain a spaniel for ever and ever.' + +Prince Mannikin was quite of the same opinion; nevertheless he +said what we should all have said in the same circumstances: + +Your Majesty must have patience.' + +He was indeed deeply sorry for poor King Bayard, and said all the +consoling things he could think of, promising to aid him with all +his might if there was anything to be done. In short they became +firm friends, and the King proudly displayed to Mannikin the +portrait of the Queen of the Spice Islands, and he quite agreed +that it was worth while to go through anything for the sake of a +creature so lovely. Prince Mannikin in his turn told his own +history, and the great undertaking upon which he had set out, and +King Bayard was able to give him some valuable instructions as to +which would be the best way for him to proceed, and then they went +together to the place where the boat had been left. The sailors +were delighted to see the Prince again, though they had known that +he was safe, and when they had taken on board all the supplies +which the King had sent for them, they started once more. The King +and Prince parted with much regret, and the former insisted that +Mannikin should take with him one of his own pages, named Mousta, +who was charged to attend to him everywhere, and serve him +faithfully, which he promised to do. + +The wind being favourable they were soon out of hearing of the +general howl of regret from the whole army, which had been given +by order of the King, as a great compliment, and it was not long +before the land was entirely lost to view. They met with no +further adventures worth speaking of, and presently found +themselves within two leagues of the harbour for which they were +making. The Prince, however, thought it would suit him better to +land where he was, so as to avoid the town, since he had no money +left and was very doubtful as to what he should do next. So the +sailors set him and Mousta on shore, and then went back +sorrowfully to their ship, while the Prince and his attendant +walked off in what looked to them the most promising direction. +They soon reached a lovely green meadow on the border of a wood, +which seemed to them so pleasant after their long voyage that they +sat down to rest in the shade and amused themselves by watching +the gambols and antics of a pretty tiny monkey in the trees close +by. The Prince presently became so fascinated by it that he sprang +up and tried to catch it, but it eluded his grasp and kept just +out of arm's reach, until it had made him promise to follow +wherever it led him, and then it sprang upon his shoulder and +whispered in his ear: + +We have no money, my poor Mannikin, and we are altogether badly +off, and at a loss to know what to do next.' + +Yes, indeed,' answered the Prince ruefully, and I have nothing +to give you, no sugar or biscuits, or anything that you like, my +pretty one.' + +Since you are so thoughtful for me, and so patient about your own +affairs,' said the little monkey, I will show you the way to the +Golden Rock, only you must leave Mousta to wait for you here.' + +Prince Mannikin agreed willingly, and then the little monkey +sprang from his shoulder to the nearest tree, and began to run +through the wood from branch to branch, crying, Follow me.' + +This the Prince did not find quite so easy, but the little monkey +waited for him and showed him the easiest places, until presently +the wood grew thinner and they came out into a little clear grassy +space at the foot of a mountain, in the midst of which stood a +single rock, about ten feet high. When they were quite close to it +the little monkey said: + +This stone looks pretty hard, but give it a blow with your spear +and let us see what will happen.' + +So the Prince took his spear and gave the rock a vigorous dig, +which split off several pieces, and showed that, though the +surface was thinly coated with stone, inside it was one solid mass +of pure gold. + +Thereupon the little monkey said, laughing at his astonishment: + +I make you a present of what you have broken off; take as much of +it as you think proper.' + +The Prince thanked her gratefully, and picked up one of the +smallest of the lumps of gold; as he did so the little monkey was +suddenly transformed into a tall and gracious lady, who said to +him: + +If you are always as kind and persevering and easily contented as +you are now you may hope to accomplish the most difficult tasks; +go on your way and have no fear that you will be troubled any more +for lack of gold, for that little piece which you modestly chose +shall never grow less, use it as much as you will. But that you +may see the danger you have escaped by your moderation, come with +me.' So saying she led him back into the wood by a different path, +and he saw that it was full of men and women; their faces were +pale and haggard, and they ran hither and thither seeking madly +upon the ground, or in the air, starting at every sound, pushing +and trampling upon one another in their frantic eagerness to find +the way to the Golden Rock. + +You see how they toil,' said the Fairy; but it is all of no +avail: they will end by dying of despair, as hundreds have done +before them.' + +As soon as they had got back to the place where they had left +Mousta the Fairy disappeared, and the Prince and his faithful +Squire, who had greeted him with every demonstration of joy, took +the nearest way to the city. Here they stayed several days, while +the Prince provided himself with horses and attendants, and made +many enquiries about the Princess Sabella, and the way to her +kingdom, which was still so far away that he could hear but +little, and that of the vaguest description, but when he presently +reached Mount Caucasus it was quite a different matter. Here they +seemed to talk of nothing but the Princess Sabella, and strangers +from all parts of the world were travelling towards her father's +Court. + +The Prince heard plenty of assurances as to her beauty and her +riches, but he also heard of the immense number of his rivals and +their power. One brought an army at his back, another had vast +treasures, a third was as handsome and accomplished as it was +possible to be; while, as to poor Mannikin, he had nothing but his +determination to succeed, his faithful spaniel, and his ridiculous +name--which last was hardly likely to help him, but as he could +not alter it he wisely determined not to think of it any more. +After journeying for two whole months they came at last to +Trelintin, the capital of the Princess Sabella's kingdom, and here +he heard dismal stories about the Ice Mountain, and how none of +those who had attempted to climb it had ever come back. He heard +also the story of King Farda-Kinbras, Sabella's father. It +appeared that he, being a rich and powerful monarch, had married a +lovely Princess named Birbantine, and they were as happy as the +day was long--so happy that as they were out sledging one day they +were foolish enough to defy fate to spoil their happiness. + +We shall see about that,' grumbled an old hag who sat by the +wayside blowing her fingers to keep them warm. The King thereupon +was very angry, and wanted to punish the woman; but the Queen +prevented him, saying: + +Alas! sire, do not let us make bad worse; no doubt this is a +Fairy!' + +You are right there,' said the old woman, and immediately she +stood up, and as they gazed at her in horror she grew gigantic and +terrible, her staff turned to a fiery dragon with outstretched +wings, her ragged cloak to a golden mantle, and her wooden shoes +to two bundles of rockets. You are right there, and you will see +what will come of your fine goings on, and remember the Fairy +Gorgonzola!' So saying she mounted the dragon and flew off, the +rockets shooting in all directions and leaving long trails of +sparks. + +In vain did Farda-Kinbras and Birbantine beg her to return, and +endeavour by their humble apologies to pacify her; she never so +much as looked at them, and was very soon out of sight, leaving +them a prey to all kinds of dismal forebodings. Very soon after +this the Queen had a little daughter, who was the most beautiful +creature ever seen; all the Fairies of the North were invited to +her christening, and warned against the malicious Gorgonzola. She +also was invited, but she neither came to the banquet nor received +her present; but as soon as all the others were seated at table, +after bestowing their gifts upon the little Princess, she stole +into the Palace, disguised as a black cat, and hid herself under +the cradle until the nurses and the cradle-rockers had all turned +their backs, and then she sprang out, and in an instant had stolen +the little Princess's heart and made her escape, only being chased +by a few dogs and scullions on her way across the courtyard. Once +outside she mounted her chariot and flew straight away to the +North Pole, where she shut up her stolen treasure on the summit of +the Ice Mountain, and surrounded it with so many difficulties that +she felt quite easy about its remaining there as long as the +Princess lived, and then she went home, chuckling at her success. +As to the other Fairies, they went home after the banquet without +discovering that anything was amiss, and so the King and Queen +were quite happy. Sabella grew prettier day by day. She learnt +everything a Princess ought to know without the slightest trouble, +and yet something always seemed lacking to make her perfectly +charming. She had an exquisite voice, but whether her songs were +grave or gay it did not matter, she did not seem to know what they +meant; and everyone who heard her said: + +She certainly sings perfectly; but there is no tenderness, no +heart in her voice.' Poor Sabella! how could there be when her +heart was far away on the Ice Mountains? And it was just the same +with all the other things that she did. As time went on, in spite +of the admiration of the whole Court and the blind fondness of the +King and Queen, it became more and more evident that something was +fatally wrong: for those who love no one cannot long be loved; and +at last the King called a general assembly, and invited the +Fairies to attend, that they might, if possible, find out what was +the matter. After explaining their grief as well as he could, he +ended by begging them to see the Princess for themselves. It is +certain,' said he, that something is wrong--what it is I don't +know how to tell you, but in some way your work is imperfect.' + +They all assured him that, so far as they knew, everything had +been done for the Princess, and they had forgotten nothing that +they could bestow on so good a neighbour as the King had been to +them. After this they went to see Sabella; but they had no sooner +entered her presence than they cried out with one accord: + +Oh! horror!--she has no heart!' + +On hearing this frightful announcement, the King and Queen gave a +cry of despair, and entreated the Fairies to find some remedy for +such an unheard-of misfortune. Thereupon the eldest Fairy +consulted her Book of Magic, which she always carried about with +her, hung to her girdle by a thick silver chain, and there she +found out at once that it was Gorgonzola who had stolen the +Princess's heart, and also discovered what the wicked old Fairy +had done with it. + +What shall we do? What shall we do?' cried the King and Queen in +one breath. + +You must certainly suffer much annoyance from seeing and loving +Sabella, who is nothing but a beautiful image,' replied the Fairy, +and this must go on for a long time; but I think I see that, in +the end, she will once more regain her heart. My advice is that +you shall at once cause her portrait to be sent all over the +world, and promise her hand and all her possessions to the Prince +who is successful in reaching her heart. Her beauty alone is +sufficient to engage all the Princes of the world in the quest.' + +This was accordingly done, and Prince Mannikin heard that already +five hundred Princes had perished in the snow and ice, not to +mention their squires and pages, and that more continued to arrive +daily, eager to try their fortune. After some consideration he +determined to present himself at Court; but his arrival made no +stir, as his retinue was as inconsiderable as his stature, and the +splendour of his rivals was great enough to throw even Farda- +Kinbras himself into the shade. However, he paid his respects to +the King very gracefully, and asked permission to kiss the hand of +the Princess in the usual manner; but when he said he was called +Mannikin,' the King could hardly repress a smile, and the Princes +who stood by openly shouted with laughter. + +Turning to the King, Prince Mannikin said with great dignity: + +Pray laugh if it pleases your Majesty, I am glad that it is in my +power to afford you any amusement; but I am not a plaything for +these gentlemen, and I must beg them to dismiss any ideas of that +kind from their minds at once,' and with that he turned upon the +one who had laughed the loudest and proudly challenged him to a +single combat. This Prince, who was called Fadasse, accepted the +challenge very scornfully, mocking at Mannikin, whom he felt sure +had no chance against himself; but the meeting was arranged for +the next day. When Prince Mannikin quitted the King's presence he +was conducted to the audience hall of the Princess Sabella. The +sight of so much beauty and magnificence almost took his breath +away for an instant, but, recovering himself with an effort, he +said: + +Lovely Princess, irresistibly drawn by the beauty of your +portrait, I come from the other end of the world to offer my +services to you. My devotion knows no bounds, but my absurd name +has already involved me in a quarrel with one of your courtiers. +Tomorrow I am to fight this ugly, overgrown Prince, and I beg you +to honour the combat with your presence, and prove to the world +that there is nothing in a name, and that you deign to accept +Mannikin as your knight.' + +When it came to this the Princess could not help being amused, +for, though she had no heart, she was not without humour. However, +she answered graciously that she accepted with pleasure, which +encouraged the Prince to entreat further that she would not show +any favour to his adversary. + +Alas!' said she, I favour none of these foolish people, who +weary me with their sentiment and their folly. I do very well as I +am, and yet from one year's end to another they talk of nothing +but delivering me from some imaginary affliction. Not a word do I +understand of all their pratings about love, and who knows what +dull things besides, which, I declare to you, I cannot even +remember.' + +Mannikin was quick enough to gather from this speech that to amuse +and interest the Princess would be a far surer way of gaining her +favour than to add himself to the list of those who continually +teased her about that mysterious thing called love' which she was +so incapable of comprehending. So he began to talk of his rivals, +and found in each of them something to make merry over, in which +diversion the Princess joined him heartily, and so well did he +succeed in his attempt to amuse her that before very long she +declared that of all the people at Court he was the one to whom +she preferred to talk. + +The following day, at the time appointed for the combat, when the +King, the Queen, and the Princess had taken their places, and the +whole Court and the whole town were assembled to see the show, +Prince Fadasse rode into the lists magnificently armed and +accoutred, followed by twenty-four squires and a hundred men-at- +arms, each one leading, a splendid horse, while Prince Mannikin +entered from the other side armed only with his spear and followed +by the faithful Mousta. The contrast between the two champions was +so great that there was a shout of laughter from the whole +assembly; but when at the sounding of a trumpet the combatants +rushed upon each other, and Mannikin, eluding the blow aimed at +him, succeeded in thrusting Prince Fadasse from his horse and +pinning him to the sand with his spear, it changed to a murmur of +admiration. + +So soon as he had him at his mercy, however, Mannikin, turning to +the Princess, assured her that he had no desire to kill anyone who +called himself her courtier, and then he bade the furious and +humiliated Fadasse rise and thank the Princess to whom he owed his +life. Then, amid the sounding of the trumpets and the shoutings of +the people, he and Mousta retired gravely from the lists. + +The King soon sent for him to congratulate him upon his success, +and to offer him a lodging in the Palace, which he joyfully +accepted. While the Princess expressed a wish to have Mousta +brought to her, and, when the Prince sent for him, she was so +delighted with his courtly manners and his marvellous intelligence +that she entreated Mannikin to give him to her for her own. The +Prince consented with alacrity, not only out of politeness, but +because he foresaw that to have a faithful friend always near the +Princess might some day be of great service to him. All these +events made Prince Mannikin a person of much more consequence at +the Court. Very soon after, there arrived upon the frontier the +Ambassador of a very powerful King, who sent to Farda-Kinbras the +following letter, at the same time demanding permission to enter +the capital in state to receive the answer: + +I, Brandatimor, to Farda-Kinbras send greeting. If I had before +this time seen the portrait of your beautiful daughter Sabella I +should not have permitted all these adventurers and petty Princes +to be dancing attendance and getting themselves frozen with the +absurd idea of meriting her hand. For myself I am not afraid of +any rivals, and, now I have declared my intention of marrying your +daughter, no doubt they will at once withdraw their pretensions. +My Ambassador has orders, therefore, to make arrangements for the +Princess to come and be married to me without delay--for I attach +no importance at all to the farrago of nonsense which you have +caused to be published all over the world about this Ice Mountain. +If the Princess really has no heart, be assured that I shall not +concern myself about it, since, if anybody can help her to +discover one, it is myself. My worthy father-in-law, farewell!' + +The reading of this letter embarrassed and displeased Farda- +Kinbras and Birbantine immensely, while the Princess was furious +at the insolence of the demand. They all three resolved that its +contents must be kept a profound secret until they could decide +what reply should be sent, but Mousta contrived to send word of +all that had passed to Prince Mannikin. He was naturally alarmed +and indignant, and, after thinking it over a little, he begged an +audience of the Princess, and led the conversation so cunningly up +to the subject that was uppermost in her thoughts, as well as his +own, that she presently told him all about the matter and asked +his advice as to what it would be best to do. This was exactly +what he had not been able to decide for himself; however, he +replied that he should advise her to gain a little time by +promising her answer after the grand entry of the Ambassador, and +this was accordingly done. + +The Ambassador did not at all like being put off after that +fashion, but he was obliged to be content, and only said very +arrogantly that so soon as his equipages arrived, as he expected +they would do very shortly, he would give all the people of the +city, and the stranger Princes with whom it was inundated, an idea +of the power and the magnificence of his master. Mannikin, in +despair, resolved that he would for once beg the assistance of the +kind Fairy Genesta. He often thought of her and always with +gratitude, but from the moment of his setting out he had +determined to seek her aid only on the greatest occasions. That +very night, when he had fallen asleep quite worn out with thinking +over all the difficulties of the situation, he dreamed that the +Fairy stood beside him, and said: + +Mannikin, you have done very well so far; continue to please me +and you shall always find good friends when you need them most. As +for this affair with the Ambassador, you can assure Sabella that +she may look forward tranquilly to his triumphal entry, since it +will all turn out well for her in the end.' + +The Prince tried to throw himself at her feet to thank her, but +woke to find it was all a dream; nevertheless he took fresh +courage, and went next day to see the Princess, to whom he gave +many mysterious assurances that all would yet be well. He even +went so far as to ask her if she would not be very grateful to +anyone who would rid her of the insolent Brandatimor. To which she +replied that her gratitude would know no bounds. Then he wanted to +know what would be her best wish for the person who was lucky +enough to accomplish it. To which she said that she would wish +them to be as insensible to the folly called love' as she was +herself! + +This was indeed a crushing speech to make to such a devoted lover +as Prince Mannikin, but he concealed the pain it caused him with +great courage. + +And now the Ambassador sent to say that on the very next day he +would come in state to receive his answer, and from the earliest +dawn the inhabitants were astir, to secure the best places for the +grand sight; but the good Fairy Genesta was providing them an +amount of amusement they were far from expecting, for she so +enchanted the eyes of all the spectators that when the +Ambassador's gorgeous procession appeared, the splendid uniforms +seemed to them miserable rags that a beggar would have been +ashamed to wear, the prancing horses appeared as wretched +skeletons hardly able to drag one leg after the other, while their +trappings, which really sparkled with gold and jewels, looked like +old sheepskins that would not have been good enough for a plough +horse. The pages resembled the ugliest sweeps. The trumpets gave +no more sound than whistles made of onion-stalks, or combs wrapped +in paper; while the train of fifty carriages looked no better than +fifty donkey carts. In the last of these sat the Ambassador with +the haughty and scornful air which he considered becoming in the +representative of so powerful a monarch: for this was the crowning +point of the absurdity of the whole procession, that all who took +part in it wore the expression of vanity and self-satisfaction and +pride in their own appearance and all their surroundings which +they believed their splendour amply justified. + +The laughter and howls of derision from the whole crowd rose ever +louder and louder as the extraordinary cortege advanced, and at +last reached the ears of the King as he waited in the audience +hall, and before the procession reached the palace he had been +informed of its nature, and, supposing that it must be intended as +an insult, he ordered the gates to be closed. You may imagine the +fury of the Ambassador when, after all his pomp and pride, the +King absolutely and unaccountably refused to receive him. He raved +wildly both against King and people, and the cortege retired in +great confusion, jeered at and pelted with stones and mud by the +enraged crowd. It is needless to say that he left the country as +fast as horses could carry him, but not before he had declared +war, with the most terrible menaces, threatening to devastate the +country with fire and sword. + +Some days after this disastrous embassy King Bayard sent couriers +to Prince Mannikin with a most friendly letter, offering his +services in any difficulty, and enquiring with the deepest +interest how he fared. + +Mannikin at once replied, relating all that had happened since +they parted, not forgetting to mention the event which had just +involved Farda-Kinbras and Brandatimor in this deadly quarrel, and +he ended by entreating his faithful friend to despatch a few +thousands of his veteran spaniels to his assistance. + +Neither the King, the Queen, nor the Princess could in the least +understand the amazing conduct of Brandatimor's Ambassador; +nevertheless the preparations for the war went forward briskly and +all the Princes who had not gone on towards the Ice Mountain +offered their services, at the same time demanding all the best +appointments in the King's army. Mannikin was one of the first to +volunteer, but he only asked to go as aide-de-camp to the +Commander-in chief, who was a gallant soldier and celebrated for +his victories. As soon as the army could be got together it was +marched to the frontier, where it met the opposing force headed by +Brandatimor himself, who was full of fury, determined to avenge +the insult to his Ambassador and to possess himself of the +Princess Sabella. All the army of Farda-Kinbras could do, being so +heavily outnumbered, was to act upon the defensive, and before +long Mannikin won the esteem of the officers for his ability, and +of the soldiers for his courage, and care for their welfare, and +in all the skirmishes which he conducted he had the good fortune +to vanquish the enemy. + +At last Brandatimor engaged the whole army in a terrific conflict, +and though the troops of Farda-Kinbras fought with desperate +courage, their general was killed, and they were defeated and +forced to retreat with immense loss. Mannikin did wonders, and +half-a-dozen times turned the retreating forces and beat back the +enemy; and he afterwards collected troops enough to keep them in +check until, the severe winter setting in, put an end to +hostilities for a while. + +He then returned to the Court, where consternation reigned. The +King was in despair at the death of his trusty general, and ended +by imploring Mannikin to take the command of the army, and his +counsel was followed in all the affairs of the Court. He followed +up his former plan of amusing the Princess, and on no account +reminding her of that tedious thing called love,' so that she was +always glad to see him, and the winter slipped by gaily for both +of them. + +The Prince was all the while secretly making plans for the next +campaign; he received private intelligence of the arrival of a +strong reinforcement of Spaniels, to whom he sent orders to post +themselves along the frontier without attracting attention, and as +soon as he possibly could he held a consultation with their +Commander, who was an old and experienced warrior. Following his +advice, he decided to have a pitched battle as soon as the enemy +advanced, and this Brandatimor lost not a moment in doing, as he +was perfectly persuaded that he was now going to make an end of +the war and utterly vanquish Farda-Kinbras. But no sooner had he +given the order to charge than the Spaniels, who had mingled with +his troops unperceived, leaped each upon the horse nearest to him, +and not only threw the whole squadron into confusion by the terror +they caused, but, springing at the throats of the riders, unhorsed +many of them by the suddenness of their attack; then turning the +horses to the rear, they spread consternation everywhere, and made +it easy for Prince Mannikin to gain a complete victory. He met +Brandatimor in single combat, and succeeded in taking him +prisoner; but he did not live to reach the Court, to which +Mannikin had sent him: his pride killed him at the thought of +appearing before Sabella under these altered circumstances. In the +meantime Prince Fadasse and all the others who had remained behind +were setting out with all speed for the conquest of the Ice +Mountain, being afraid that Prince Mannikin might prove as +successful in that as he seemed to be in everything else, and when +Mannikin returned he heard of it with great annoyance. True he had +been serving the Princess, but she only admired and praised him +for his gallant deeds, and seemed no whit nearer bestowing on him +the love he so ardently desired, and all the comfort Mousta could +give him on the subject was that at least she loved no one else, +and with that he had to content himself. But he determined that, +come what might, he would delay no longer, but attempt the great +undertaking for which he had come so far. When he went to take +leave of the King and Queen they entreated him not to go, as they +had just heard that Prince Fadasse, and all who accompanied him, +had perished in the snow; but he persisted in his resolve. As for +Sabella, she gave him her hand to kiss with precisely the same +gracious indifference as she had given it to him the first time +they met. It happened that this farewell took place before the +whole Court, and so great a favourite had Prince Mannikin become +that they were all indignant at the coldness with which the +Princess treated him. + +Finally the King said to him: + +Prince, you have constantly refilled all the gifts which, in my +gratitude for your invaluable services, I have offered to you, but +I wish the Princess to present you with her cloak of marten's fur, +and that I hope you will not reject!' Now this was a splendid fur +mantle which the Princess was very fond of wearing, not so much +because she felt cold, as that its richness set off to perfection +the delicate tints of her complexion and the brilliant gold of her +hair. However, she took it off, and with graceful politeness +begged Prince Mannikin to accept it, which you may be sure he was +charmed to do, and, taking only this and a little bundle of all +kinds of wood, and accompanied only by two spaniels out of the +fifty who had stayed with him when the war was ended, he set +forth, receiving many tokens of love and favour from the people in +every town he passed through. At the last little village he left +his horse behind him, to begin his toilful march through the snow, +which extended, blank and terrible, in every direction as far as +the eye could see. Here he had appointed to meet the other forty- +eight spaniels, who received him joyfully, and assured him that, +happen what might, they would follow and serve him faithfully. And +so they started, full of heart and hope. At first there was a +slight track, difficult, but not impossible to follow; but this +was soon lost, and the Pole Star was their only guide. When the +time came to call a halt, the Prince, who had after much +consideration decided on his plan of action, caused a few twigs +from the faggot he had brought with him to be planted in the snow, +and then he sprinkled over them a pinch of the magic powder he had +collected from the enchanted boat. To his great joy they instantly +began to sprout and grow, and in a marvellously short time the +camp was surrounded by a perfect grove of trees of all sorts, +which blossomed and bore ripe fruit, so that all their wants were +easily supplied, and they were able to make huge fires to warm +themselves. The Prince then sent out several spaniels to +reconnoitre, and they had the good luck to discover a horse laden +with provisions stuck fast in the snow. They at once fetched their +comrades, and brought the spoil triumphantly into the camp, and, +as it consisted principally of biscuits, not a spaniel among them +went supperless to sleep. In this way they journeyed by day and +encamped safely at night, always remembering to take on a few +branches to provide them with food and shelter. They passed by the +way armies of those who had set out upon the perilous enterprise, +who stood frozen stiffly, without sense or motion; but Prince +Mannikin strictly forbade that any attempt should be made to thaw +them. So they went on and on for more than three months, and day +by day the Ice Mountain, which they had seen for a long time, grew +clearer, until at last they stood close to it, and shuddered at +its height and steepness. But by patience and perseverance they +crept up foot by foot, aided by their fires of magic wood, without +which they must have perished in the intense cold, until presently +they stood at the gates of the magnificent Ice Palace which +crowned the mountain, where, in deadly silence and icy sleep, lay +the heart of Sabella. Now the difficulty became immense, for if +they maintained enough heat to keep themselves alive they were in +danger every moment of melting the blocks of solid ice of which +the palace was entirely built, and bringing the whole structure +down upon their heads; but cautiously and quickly they traversed +courtyards and halls, until they found themselves at the foot of a +vast throne, where, upon a cushion of snow, lay an enormous and +brilliantly sparkling diamond, which contained the heart of the +lovely Princess Sabella. Upon the lowest step of the throne was +inscribed in icy letters, Whosoever thou art who by courage and +virtue canst win the heart of Sabella enjoy peacefully the good +fortune which thou hast richly deserved.' + +Prince Mannikin bounded forward, and had just strength left to +grasp the precious diamond which contained all he coveted in the +world before he fell insensible upon the snowy cushion. But his +good spaniels lost no time in rushing to the rescue, and between +them they bore him hastily from the hall, and not a moment too +soon, for all around them they heard the clang of the falling +blocks of ice as the Fairy Palace slowly collapsed under the +unwonted heat. Not until they reached the foot of the mountain did +they pause to restore the Prince to consciousness, and then his +joy to find himself the possessor of Sabella's heart knew no +bounds. + +With all speed they began to retrace their steps, but this time +the happy Prince could not bear the sight of his defeated and +disappointed rivals, whose frozen forms lined his triumphant way. +He gave orders to his spaniels to spare no pains to restore them +to life, and so successful were they that day by day his train +increased, so that by the time he got back to the little village +where he had left his horse he was escorted by five hundred +sovereign Princes, and knights and squires without number, and he +was so courteous and unassuming that they all followed him +willingly, anxious to do him honour. But then he was so happy and +blissful himself that he found it easy to be at peace with all the +world. It was not long before he met the faithful Mousta, who was +coming at the top of his speed hoping to meet the Prince, that he +might tell him of the sudden and wonderful change that had come +over the Princess, who had become gentle and thoughtful and had +talked to him of nothing but Prince Mannikin, of the hardships she +feared he might be suffering, and of her anxiety for him, and all +this with a hundred fonder expressions which put the finishing +stroke to the Prince's delight. Then came a courier bearing the +congratulations of the King and Queen, who had just heard of his +successful return, and there was even a graceful compliment from +Sabella herself. The Prince sent Mousta back to her, and he was +welcomed with joy, for was he not her lover's present? + +At last the travellers reached the capital, and were received with +regal magnificence. Farda-Kinbras and Birbantine embraced Prince +Mannikin, declaring that they regarded him as their heir and the +future husband of the Princess, to which he replied that they did +him too much honour. And then he was admitted into the presence of +the Princess, who for the first time in her life blushed as he +kissed her hand, and could not find a word to say. But the Prince, +throwing himself on his knees beside her, held out the splendid +diamond, saying: + +Madam, this treasure is yours, since none of the dangers and +difficulties I have gone through have been sufficient to make me +deserve it.' + +Ah! Prince,' said she, if I take it, it is only that I may give +it back to you, since truly it belongs to you already.' + +At this moment in came the King and Queen, and interrupted them by +asking all the questions imaginable, and not infrequently the same +over and over again. It seems that there is always one thing that +is sure to be said about an event by everybody, and Prince +Mannikin found that the question which he was asked by more than a +thousand people on this particular occasion was: + +And didn't you find it very cold?' + +The King had come to request Prince Mannikin and the Princess to +follow him to the Council Chamber, which they did, not knowing +that he meant to present the Prince to all the nobles assembled +there as his son-in-law and successor. But when Mannikin perceived +his intention, he begged permission to speak first, and told his +whole story, even to the fact that he believed himself to be a +peasant's son. Scarcely had he finished speaking when the sky grew +black, the thunder growled, and the lightning flashed, and in the +blaze of light the good Fairy Genesta suddenly appeared. Turning +to Prince Mannikin, she said: + +I am satisfied with you, since you have shown not only courage +but a good heart.' Then she addressed King Farda-Kinbras, and +informed him of the real history of the Prince, and how she had +determined to give him the education she knew would be best for a +man who was to command others. You have already found the +advantage of having a faithful friend,' she added to the Prince +and now you will have the pleasure of seeing King Bayard and his +subjects regain their natural forms as a reward for his kindness +to you.' + +Just then arrived a chariot drawn by eagles, which proved to +contain the foolish King and Queen, who embraced their long-lost +son with great joy, and were greatly struck with the fact that +they did indeed find him covered with fur! While they were +caressing Sabella and wringing her hands (which is a favourite +form of endearment with foolish people) chariots were seen +approaching from all points of the compass, containing numbers of +Fairies. + +Sire,' said Genesta to Farda-Kinbras, I have taken the liberty +of appointing your Court as a meeting-place for all the Fairies +who could spare the time to come; and I hope you can arrange to +hold the great ball, which we have once in a hundred years, on +this occasion.' + +The King having suitably acknowledged the honour done him, was +next reconciled to Gorgonzola, and they two presently opened the +ball together. The Fairy Marsontine restored their natural forms +to King Bayard and all his subjects, and he appeared once more as +handsome a king as you could wish to see. One of the Fairies +immediately despatched her chariot for the Queen of the Spice +Islands, and their wedding took place at the same time as that of +Prince Mannikin and the lovely and gracious Sabella. They lived +happily ever afterwards, and their vast kingdoms were presently +divided between their children. + +The Prince, out of grateful remembrance of the Princess Sabella's +first gift to him bestowed the right of bearing her name upon the +most beautiful of the martens, and that is why they are called +sables to this day. + +Comte de Caylus. + + + + + +THE ENCHANTED RING + + + +Once upon a time there lived a young man named Rosimond, who was +as good and handsome as his elder brother Bramintho was ugly and +wicked. Their mother detested her eldest son, and had only eyes +for the youngest. This excited Bramintho's jealousy, and he +invented a horrible story in order to ruin his brother. He told +his father that Rosimond was in the habit of visiting a neighbour +who was an enemy of the family, and betraying to him all that went +on in the house, and was plotting with him to poison their father. + +The father flew into a rage, and flogged his son till the blood +came. Then he threw him into prison and kept him for three days +without food, and after that he turned him out of the house, and +threatened to kill him if he ever came back. The mother was +miserable, and did nothing but weep, but she dared not say +anything. + +The youth left his home with tears in his eyes, not knowing where +to go, and wandered about for many hours till he came to a thick +wood. Night overtook him at the foot of a great rock, and he fell +asleep on a bank of moss, lulled by the music of a little brook. + +It was dawn when he woke, and he saw before him a beautiful woman +seated on a grey horse, with trappings of gold, who looked as if +she were preparing for the hunt. + +Have you seen a stag and some deerhounds go by?' she asked. + +No, madam,' he replied. + +Then she added, You look unhappy; is there anything the matter? +Take this ring, which will make you the happiest and most powerful +of men, provided you never make a bad use of it. If you turn the +diamond inside, you will become invisible. If you turn it outside, +you will become visible again. If you place it on your little +finger, you will take the shape of the King's son, followed by a +splendid court. If you put it on your fourth finger, you will take +your own shape.' + +Then the young man understood that it was a Fairy who was speaking +to him, and when she had finished she plunged into the woods. The +youth was very impatient to try the ring, and returned home +immediately. He found that the Fairy had spoken the truth, and +that he could see and hear everything, while he himself was +unseen. It lay with him to revenge himself, if he chose, on his +brother, without the slightest danger to himself, and he told no +one but his mother of all the strange things that had befallen +him. He afterwards put the enchanted ring on his little finger, +and appeared as the King's son, followed by a hundred fine horses, +and a guard of officers all richly dressed. + +His father was much surprised to see the King's son in his quiet +little house, and he felt rather embarrassed, not knowing what was +the proper way to behave on such a grand occasion. Then Rosimond +asked him how many sons he had. + +Two,' replied he. + +I wish to see them,' said Rosimond. Send for them at once. I +desire to take them both to Court, in order to make their +fortunes.' + +The father hesitated, then answered: Here is the eldest, whom I +have the honour to present to your Highness.' + +But where is the youngest? I wish to see him too,' persisted +Rosimond. + +He is not here,' said the father. I had to punish him for a +fault, and he has run away.' + +Then Rosimond replied, You should have shown him what was right, +but not have punished him. However, let the elder come with me, +and as for you, follow these two guards, who will escort you to a +place that I will point out to them.' + +Then the two guards led off the father, and the Fairy of whom you +have heard found him in the forest, and beat him with a golden +birch rod, and cast him into a cave that was very deep and dark, +where he lay enchanted. Lie there,' she said, till your son +comes to take you out again.' + +Meanwhile the son went to the King's palace, and arrived just when +the real prince was absent. He had sailed away to make war on a +distant island, but the winds had been contrary, and he had been +shipwrecked on unknown shores, and taken captive by a savage +people. Rosimond made his appearance at Court in the character of +the Prince, whom everyone wept for as lost, and told them that he +had been rescued when at the point of death by some merchants. His +return was the signal for great public rejoicings, and the King +was so overcome that he became quite speechless, and did nothing +but embrace his son. The Queen was even more delighted, and fetes +were ordered over the whole kingdom. + +One day the false Prince said to his real brother, Bramintho, you +know that I brought you here from your native village in order to +make your fortune; but I have found out that you are a liar, and +that by your deceit you have been the cause of all the troubles of +your brother Rosimond. He is in hiding here, and I desire that you +shall speak to him, and listen to his reproaches.' + +Bramintho trembled at these words, and, flinging himself at the +Prince's feet, confessed his crime. + +That is not enough,' said Rosimond. It is to your brother that +you must confess, and I desire that you shall ask his forgiveness. +He will be very generous if he grants it, and it will be more than +you deserve. He is in my ante-room, where you shall see him at +once. I myself will retire into another apartment, so as to leave +you alone with him.' + +Bramintho entered, as he was told, into the anteroom. Then +Rosimond changed the ring, and passed into the room by another +door. + +Bramintho was filled with shame as soon as he saw his brother's +face. He implored his pardon, and promised to atone for all his +faults. Rosimond embraced him with tears, and at once forgave him, +adding, I am in great favour with the King. It rests with me to +have your head cut off, or to condemn you to pass the remainder of +your life in prison; but I desire to be as good to you as you have +been wicked to me.' Bramintho, confused and ashamed, listened to +his words without daring to lift his eyes or to remind Rosimond +that he was his brother. After this, Rosimond gave out that he was +going to make a secret voyage, to marry a Princess who lived in a +neighbouring kingdom; but in reality he only went to see his +mother, whom he told all that had happened at the Court, giving +her at the same time some money that she needed, for the King +allowed him to take exactly what he liked, though he was always +careful not to abuse this permission. Just then a furious war +broke out between the King his master and the Sovereign of the +adjoining country, who was a bad man and one that never kept his +word. Rosimond went straight to the palace of the wicked King, and +by means of his ring was able to be present at all the councils, +and learnt all their schemes, so that he was able to forestall +them and bring them to naught. He took the command of the army +which was brought against the wicked King, and defeated him in a +glorious battle, so that peace was at once concluded on conditions +that were just to everyone. + +Henceforth the King's one idea was to marry the young man to a +Princess who was the heiress to a neighbouring kingdom, and, +besides that, was as lovely as the day. But one morning, while +Rosimond was hunting in the forest where for the first time he had +seen the Fairy, his benefactress suddenly appeared before him. +Take heed,' she said to him in severe tones, that you do not +marry anybody who believes you to be a Prince. You must never +deceive anyone. The real Prince, whom the whole nation thinks you +are, will have to succeed his father, for that is just and right. +Go and seek him in some distant island, and I will send winds that +will swell your sails and bring you to him. Hasten to render this +service to your master, although it is against your own ambition, +and prepare, like an honest man, to return to your natural state. +If you do not do this, you will become wicked and unhappy, and I +will abandon you to all your former troubles.' + +Rosimond took these wise counsels to heart. He gave out that he +had undertaken a secret mission to a neighbouring state, and +embarked on board a vessel, the winds carrying him straight to the +island where the Fairy had told him he would find the real Prince. +This unfortunate youth had been taken captive by a savage people, +who had kept him to guard their sheep. Rosimond, becoming +invisible, went to seek him amongst the pastures, where he kept +his flock, and, covering him with his mantle, he delivered him out +of the hands of his cruel masters, and bore him back to the ship. +Other winds sent by the Fairy swelled the sails, and together the +two young men entered the King's presence. + +Rosimond spoke first and said, You have believed me to be your +son. I am not he, but I have brought him back to you.' The King, +filled with astonishment, turned to his real son and asked, Was +it not you, my son, who conquered my enemies and won such a +glorious peace? Or is it true that you have been shipwrecked and +taken captive, and that Rosimond has set you free?' + +Yes, my father,' replied the Prince. It is he who sought me out +in my captivity and set me free, and to him I owe the happiness of +seeing you once more. It was he, not I, who gained the victory.' + +The King could hardly believe his ears; but Rosimond, turning the +ring, appeared before him in the likeness of the Prince, and the +King gazed distractedly at the two youths who seemed both to be +his son. Then he offered Rosimond immense rewards for his +services, which were refused, and the only favour the young man +would accept was that one of his posts at Court should be +conferred on his brother Bramintho. For he feared for himself the +changes of fortune, the envy of mankind and his own weakness. His +desire was to go back to his mother and his native village, and to +spend his time in cultivating the land. + +One day, when he was wandering through the woods, he met the +Fairy, who showed him the cavern where his father was imprisoned, +and told him what words he must use in order to set him free. He +repeated them joyfully, for he had always longed to bring the old +man back and to make his last days happy. Rosimond thus became the +benefactor of all his family, and had the pleasure of doing good +to those who had wished to do him evil. As for the Court, to whom +he had rendered such services, all he asked was the freedom to +live far from its corruption; and, to crown all, fearing that if +he kept the ring he might be tempted to use it in order to regain +his lost place in the world, he made up his mind to restore it to +the Fairy. For many days he sought her up and down the woods and +at last he found her. I want to give you back,' he said, holding +out the ring, a gift as dangerous as it is powerful, and which I +fear to use wrongfully. I shall never feel safe till I have made +it impossible for me to leave my solitude and to satisfy my +passions.' + +While Rosimond was seeking to give back the ring to the Fairy, +Bramintho, who had failed to learn any lessons from experience, +gave way to all his desires, and tried to persuade the Prince, +lately become King, to ill-treat Rosimond. But the Fairy, who knew +all about everything, said to Rosimond, when he was imploring her +to accept the ring: + +Your wicked brother is doing his best to poison the mind of the +King towards you, and to ruin you. He deserves to be punished, and +he must die; and in order that he may destroy himself, I shall +give the ring to him.' + +Rosimond wept at these words, and then asked: + +What do you mean by giving him the ring as a punishment? He will +only use it to persecute everyone, and to become master.' + +The same things,' answered the Fairy, are often a healing +medicine to one person and a deadly poison to another. Prosperity +is the source of all evil to a naturally wicked man. If you wish +to punish a scoundrel, the first thing to do is to give him power. +You will see that with this rope he will soon hang himself.' + +Having said this, she disappeared, and went straight to the +Palace, where she showed herself to Bramintho under the disguise +of an old woman covered with rags. She at once addressed him in +these words: + +I have taken this ring from the hands of your brother, to whom I +had lent it, and by its help he covered himself with glory. I now +give it to you, and be careful what you do with it.' + +Bramintho replied with a laugh: + +I shall certainly not imitate my brother, who was foolish enough +to bring back the Prince instead of reigning in his place,' and he +was as good as his word. The only use he made of the ring was to +find out family secrets and betray them, to commit murders and +every sort of wickedness, and to gain wealth for himself +unlawfully. All these crimes, which could be traced to nobody, +filled the people with astonishment. The King, seeing so many +affairs, public and private, exposed, was at first as puzzled as +anyone, till Bramintho's wonderful prosperity and amazing +insolence made him suspect that the enchanted ring had become his +property. In order to find out the truth he bribed a stranger just +arrived at Court, one of a nation with whom the King was always at +war, and arranged that he was to steal in the night to Bramintho +and to offer him untold honours and rewards if he would betray the +State secrets. + +Bramintho promised everything, and accepted at once the first +payment of his crime, boasting that he had a ring which rendered +him invisible, and that by means of it he could penetrate into the +most private places. But his triumph was short. Next day he was +seized by order of the King, and his ring was taken from him. He +was searched, and on him were found papers which proved his +crimes; and, though Rosimond himself came back to the Court to +entreat his pardon, it was refused. So Bramintho was put to death, +and the ring had been even more fatal to him than it had been +useful in the hands of his brother. + +To console Rosimond for the fate of Bramintho, the King gave him +back the enchanted ring, as a pearl without price. The unhappy +Rosimond did not look upon it in the same light, and the first +thing he did on his return home was to seek the Fairy in the +woods. + +Here,' he said, is your ring. My brother's experience has made +me understand many things that I did not know before. Keep it, it +has only led to his destruction. Ah! without it he would be alive +now, and my father and mother would not in their old age be bowed +to the earth with shame and grief! Perhaps he might have been wise +and happy if he had never had the chance of gratifying his wishes! +Oh! how dangerous it is to have more power than the rest of the +world! Take back your ring, and as ill fortune seems to follow all +on whom you bestow it, I will implore you, as a favour to myself, +that you will never give it to anyone who is dear to me.' + +Fenelon. + + + +THE SNUFF-BOX + + + +As often happens in this world, there was once a young man who +spent all his time in travelling. One day, as he was walking +along, he picked up a snuff-box. He opened it, and the snuff-box +said to him in the Spanish language, What do you want?' He was +very much frightened, but, luckily, instead of throwing the box +away, he only shut it tight, and put it in his pocket. Then he +went on, away, away, away, and as he went he said to himself, If +it says to me again "What do you want?" I shall know better what +to say this time.' So he took out the snuff-box and opened it, and +again it asked What do you want?' My hat full of gold,' answered +the youth, and immediately it was full. + +Our young man was enchanted. Henceforth he should never be in need +of anything. So on he travelled, away, away, away, through thick +forests, till at last he came to a beautiful castle. In the castle +there lived a King. The young man walked round and round the +castle, not caring who saw him, till the King noticed him, and +asked what he was doing there. I was just looking at your +castle.' You would like to have one like it, wouldn't you?' The +young man did not reply, but when it grew dark he took his snuff- +box and opened the lid. What do you want?' Build me a castle +with laths of gold and tiles of diamond, and the furniture all of +silver and gold.' He had scarcely finished speaking when there +stood in front of him, exactly opposite the King's palace, a +castle built precisely as he had ordered. When the King awoke he +was struck dumb at the sight of the magnificent house shining in +the rays of the sun. The servants could not do their work for +stopping to stare at it. Then the King dressed himself, and went +to see the young man. And he told him plainly that he was a very +powerful Prince; and that he hoped that they might all live +together in one house or the other, and that the King would give +him his daughter to wife. So it all turned out just as the King +wished. The young man married the Princess, and they lived happily +in the palace of gold. + +But the King's wife was jealous both of the young man and of her +own daughter. The Princess had told her mother about the snuff- +box, which gave them everything they wanted, and the Queen bribed +a servant to steal the snuff-box. They noticed carefully where it +was put away every night, and one evening, when the whole world +was asleep, the woman stole it and brought it to her old mistress. +Oh how happy the Queen was! She opened the lid, and the snuff-box +said to her What do you want?' And she answered at once I want +you to take me and my husband and my servants and this beautiful +house and set us down on the other side of the Red Sea, but my +daughter and her husband are to stay behind.' + +When the young couple woke up, they found themselves back in the +old castle, without their snuff-box. They hunted for it high and +low, but quite vainly. The young man felt that no time was to be +lost, and he mounted his horse and filled his pockets with as much +gold as he could carry. On he went, away, away, away, but he +sought the snuff-box in vain all up and down the neighbouring +countries, and very soon he came to the end of all his money. But +still he went on, as fast as the strength of his horse would let +him, begging his way. + +Someone told him that he ought to consult the moon, for the moon +travelled far, and might be able to tell him something. So he went +away, away, away, and ended, somehow or other, by reaching the +land of the moon. There he found a little old woman who said to +him What are you doing here? My son eats all living things he +sees, and if you are wise, you will go away without coming any +further.' But the young man told her all his sad tale, and how he +possessed a wonderful snuff-box, and how it had been stolen from +him, and how he had nothing left, now that he was parted from his +wife and was in need of everything. And he said that perhaps her +son, who travelled so far, might have seen a palace with laths of +gold and tiles of diamond, and furnished all in silver and gold. +As he spoke these last words, the moon came in and said he smelt +mortal flesh and blood. But his mother told him that it was an +unhappy man who had lost everything, and had come all this way to +consult him, and bade the young man not to be afraid, but to come +forward and show himself. So he went boldly up to the moon, and +asked if by any accident he had seen a palace with the laths of +gold and the tiles of diamond, and all the furniture of silver and +gold. Once this house belonged to him, but now it was stolen. And +the moon said no, but that the sun travelled farther than he did, +and that the young man had better go and ask him. + +So the young man departed, and went away, away, away, as well as +his horse would take him, begging his living as he rode along, +and, somehow or other, at last he got to the land of the sun. +There he found a little old woman, who asked him, What are you +doing here? Go away. Have you not heard that my son feeds upon +Christians?' But he said no, and that he would not go, for he was +so miserable that it was all one to him whether he died or not; +that he had lost everything, and especially a splendid palace like +none other in the whole world, for it had laths of gold and tiles +of diamond, and all the furniture was of silver and gold. And that +he had sought it far and long, and in all the earth there was no +man more unhappy. So the old woman's heart melted, and she agreed +to hide him. + +When the Sun arrived, he declared that he smelt Christian flesh, +and he meant to have it for his dinner. But his mother told him +such a pitiful story of the miserable wretch who had lost +everything, and had come from far to ask his help, that at last he +promised to see him. + +So the young man came out from his hiding-place and begged the sun +to tell him if in the course of his travels he had not seen +somewhere a palace that had not its like in the whole world, for +its laths were of gold and its tiles of diamond, and all the +furniture in silver and gold. + +And the sun said no, but that perhaps the wind had seen it, for he +entered everywhere, and saw things that no one else ever saw, and +if anyone knew where it was, it was certainly the wind. + +Then the poor young man again set forth as well as his horse could +take him, begging his living as he went, and, somehow or other, he +ended by reaching the home of the wind. He found there a little +old woman busily occupied in filling great barrels with water. She +asked him what had put it into his head to come there, for her son +ate everything he saw, and that he would shortly arrive quite mad, +and that the young man had better look out. But he answered that +he was so unhappy that he had ceased to mind anything, even being +eaten, and then he told her that he had been robbed of a palace +that had not its equal in all the world, and of all that was in +it, and that he had even left his wife, and was wandering over the +world until he found it. And that it was the sun who had sent him +to consult the wind. So she hid him under the staircase, and soon +they heard the south wind arrive, shaking the house to its +foundations. Thirsty as he was, he did not wait to drink, but he +told his mother that he smelt the blood of a Christian man, and +that she had better bring him out at once and make him ready to be +eaten. But she bade her son eat and drink what was before him, and +said that the poor young man was much to be pitied, and that the +sun had granted him his life in order that he might consult the +wind. Then she brought out the young man, who explained how he was +seeking for his palace, and that no man had been able to tell him +where it was, so he had come to the wind. And he added that he had +been shamefully robbed, and that the laths were of gold and the +tiles of diamond, and all the furniture in silver and gold, and he +inquired if the wind had not seen such a palace during his +wanderings. + +And the wind said yes, and that all that day he had been blowing +backwards and forwards over it without being able to move one +single tile. Oh, do tell me where it is,' cried the you man. It +is a long way off,' replied the wind, on the other side of the +Red Sea.' But our traveller was not discouraged, he had already +journeyed too far. + +So he set forth at once, and, somehow or other, he managed to +reach that distant land. And he enquired if anyone wanted a +gardener. He was told that the head gardener at the castle had +just left, and perhaps he might have a chance of getting the +place. The young man lost no time, but walked up to the castle and +asked if they were in want of a gardener; and how happy he was +when they agreed to take him! Now he passed most of his day in +gossiping with the servants about the wealth of their masters and +the wonderful things in the house. He made friends with one of the +maids, who told him the history of the snuff-box, and he coaxed +her to let him see it. One evening she managed to get hold of it, +and the young man watched carefully where she hid it away, in a +secret place in the bedchamber of her mistress. + +The following night, when everyone was fast asleep, he crept in +and took the snuff-box. Think of his joy as he opened the lid! +When it asked him, as of yore, What do you want?' he replied: +What do I want? What do I want? Why, I want to go with my palace +to the old place, and for the King and the Queen and all their +servants to be drowned in the Red Sea.' He hardly finished +speaking when he found himself back again with his wife, while all +the other inhabitants of the palace were lying at the bottom of +the Red Sea. + +Sebillot. + + + + + +THE GOLDEN BLACKBIRD + + + +Once upon a time there was a great lord who had three sons. He +fell very ill, sent for doctors of every kind, even bonesetters, +but they, none of them, could find out what was the matter with +him, or even give him any relief. At last there came a foreign +doctor, who declared that the Golden Blackbird alone could cure +the sick man. + +So the old lord despatched his eldest son to look for the +wonderful bird, and promised him great riches if he managed to +find it and bring it back. + +The young man began his journey, and soon arrived at a place where +four roads met. He did not know which to choose, and tossed his +cap in the air, determining that the direction of its fall should +decide him. After travelling for two or three days, he grew tired +of walking without knowing where or for how long, and he stopped +at an inn which was filled with merrymakers and ordered something +to eat and drink. + +My faith,' said he, it is sheer folly to waste more time hunting +for this bird. My father is old, and if he dies I shall inherit +his goods.' + +The old man, after waiting patiently for some time, sent his +second son to seek the Golden Blackbird. The youth took the same +direction as his brother, and when he came to the cross roads, he +too tossed up which road he should take. The cap fell in the same +place as before, and he walked on till he came to the spot where +his brother had halted. The latter, who was leaning out of the +window of the inn, called to him to stay where he was and amuse +himself. + +You are right,' replied the youth. Who knows if I should ever +find the Golden Blackbird, even if I sought the whole world +through for it. At the worst, if the old man dies, we shall have +his property.' + +He entered the inn and the two brothers made merry and feasted, +till very soon their money was all spent. They even owed something +to their landlord, who kept them as hostages till they could pay +their debts. + +The youngest son set forth in his turn, and he arrived at the +place where his brothers were still prisoners. They called to him +to stop, and did all they could to prevent his going further. + +No,' he replied, my father trusted me, and I will go all over +the world till I find the Golden Blackbird.' + +Bah,' said his brothers, you will never succeed any better than +we did. Let him die if he wants to; we will divide the property.' + +As he went his way he met a little hare, who stopped to look at +him, and asked: + +Where are you going, my friend?' + +I really don't quite know,' answered he. My father is ill, and +he cannot be cured unless I bring him back the Golden Blackbird. +It is a long time since I set out, but no one can tell me where to +find it.' + +Ah,' said the hare, you have a long way to go yet. You will have +to walk at least seven hundred miles before you get to it.' + +And how am I to travel such a distance?' + +Mount on my back,' said the little hare, and I will conduct +you.' + +The young man obeyed: at each bound the little hare went seven +miles, and it was not long before they reached a castle that was +as large and beautiful as a castle could be. + +The Golden Blackbird is in a little cabin near by,' said the +little hare, and you will easily find it. It lives in a little +cage, with another cage beside it made all of gold. But whatever +you do, be sure not to put it in the beautiful cage, or everybody +in the castle will know that you have stolen it.' + +The youth found the Golden Blackbird standing on a wooden perch, +but as stiff and rigid as if he was dead. And beside the beautiful +cage was the cage of gold. + +Perhaps he would revive if I were to put him in that lovely +cage,' thought the youth. + +The moment that Golden Bird had touched the bars of the splendid +cage he awoke, and began to whistle, so that all the servants of +the castle ran to see what was the matter, saying that he was a +thief and must be put in prison. + +No,' he answered, I am not a thief. If I have taken the Golden +Blackbird, it is only that it may cure my father, who is ill, and +I have travelled more than seven hundred miles in order to find +it.' + +Well,' they replied, we will let you go, and will even give you +the Golden Bird, if you are able to bring us the Porcelain +Maiden.' + +The youth departed, weeping, and met the little hare, who was +munching wild thyme. + +What are you crying for, my friend?' asked the hare. + +It is because,' he answered, the castle people will not allow me +to carry off the Golden Blackbird without giving them the +Porcelain Maiden in exchange.' + +You have not followed my advice,' said the little hare. And you +have put the Golden Bird into the fine cage.' + +Alas! yes!' + +Don't despair! the Porcelain Maiden is a young girl, beautiful as +Venus, who dwells two hundred miles from here. Jump on my back and +I will take you there.' + +The little hare, who took seven miles in a stride, was there in no +time at all, and he stopped on the borders of a lake. + +The Porcelain Maiden,' said the hare to the youth, will come +here to bathe with her friends, while I just eat a mouthful of +thyme to refresh me. When she is in the lake, be sure you hide her +clothes, which are of dazzling whiteness, and do not give them +back to her unless she consents to follow you.' + +The little hare left him, and almost immediately the Porcelain +Maiden arrived with her friends. She undressed herself and got +into the water. Then the young man glided up noiselessly and laid +hold of her clothes, which he hid under a rock at some distance. + +When the Porcelain Maiden was tired of playing in the water she +came out to dress herself, but, though she hunted for her clothes +high and low, she could find them nowhere. Her friends helped her +in the search, but, seeing at last that it was of no use, they +left her, alone on the bank, weeping bitterly. + +Why do you cry?' said the young man, approaching her. + +Alas!' answered she, while I was bathing someone stole my +clothes, and my friends have abandoned me.' + +I will find your clothes if you will only come with me.' + +And the Porcelain Maiden agreed to follow him, and after having +given up her clothes, the young man bought a small horse for her, +which went like the wind. The little hare brought them both back +to seek for the Golden Blackbird, and when they drew near to the +castle where it lived the little hero said to the young man: + +Now, do be a little sharper than you were before, and you will +manage to carry off both the Golden Blackbird and the Porcelain +Maiden. Take the golden cage in one hand, and leave the bird in +the old cage where he is, and bring that away too.' + +The little hare then vanished; the youth did as he was bid, and +the castle servants never noticed that he was carrying off the +Golden Bird. When he reached the inn where his brothers were +detained, he delivered them by paying their debt. They set out all +together, but as the two elder brothers were jealous of the +success of the youngest, they took the opportunity as they were +passing by the shores of a lake to throw themselves upon him, +seize the Golden Bird, and fling him in the water. Then they +continued their journey, taking with them the Porcelain Maiden, in +the firm belief that their brother was drowned. But, happily, he +had snatched in falling at a tuft of rushes and called loudly for +help. The little hare came running to him, and said Take hold of +my leg and pull yourself out of the water.' + +When he was safe on shore the little hare said to him: + +Now this is what you have to do: dress yourself like a Breton +seeking a place as stable-boy, and go and offer your services to +your father. Once there, you will easily be able to make him +understand the truth.' + +The young man did as the little hare bade him, and he went to his +father's castle and enquired if they were not in want of a stable- +boy. + +Yes,' replied his father, very much indeed. But it is not an +easy place. There is a little horse in the stable which will not +let anyone go near it, and it has already kicked to death several +people who have tried to groom it.' + +I will undertake to groom it,' said the youth. I never saw the +horse I was afraid of yet.' The little horse allowed itself to be +rubbed down without a toss of its head and without a kick. + +Good gracious!' exclaimed the master; how is it that he lets you +touch him, when no one else can go near him?' + +Perhaps he knows me,' answered the stable-boy. + +Two or three days later the master said to him: The Porcelain +Maiden is here: but, though she is as lovely as the dawn, she is +so wicked that she scratches everyone that approaches her. Try if +she will accept your services.' + +When the youth entered the room where she was, the Golden +Blackbird broke forth into a joyful song, and the Porcelain Maiden +sang too, and jumped for joy. + +Good gracious!' cried the master. The Porcelain Maiden and the +Golden Blackbird know you too?' + +Yes,' replied the youth, and the Porcelain Maiden can tell you +the whole truth, if she only will.' + +Then she told all that had happened, and how she had consented to +follow the young man who had captured the Golden Blackbird. + +Yes,' added the youth, I delivered my brothers, who were kept +prisoners in an inn, and, as a reward, they threw me into a lake. +So I disguised myself and came here, in order to prove the truth +to you.' + +So the old lord embraced his son, and promised that he should +inherit all his possessions, and he put to death the two elder +ones, who had deceived him and had tried to slay their own +brother. + +The young man married the Porcelain Maiden, and had a splendid +wedding-feast. + +Sebillot. + + + + + +THE LITTLE SOLDIER + + + +I + +Once upon a time there was a little soldier who had just come back +from the war. He was a brave little fellow, but he had lost +neither arms nor legs in battle. Still, the fighting was ended and +the army disbanded, so he had to return to the village where he +was born. + +Now the soldier's name was really John, but for some reason or +other his friends always called him the Kinglet; why, no one ever +knew, but so it was. + +As he had no father or mother to welcome him home, he did not +hurry himself, but went quietly along, his knapsack on his back +and his sword by his side, when suddenly one evening he was seized +with a wish to light his pipe. He felt for his match-box to strike +a light, but to his great disgust he found he had lost it. + +He had only gone about a stone's throw after making this discovery +when he noticed a light shining through the trees. He went towards +it, and perceived before him an old castle, with the door standing +open. + +The little soldier entered the courtyard, and, peeping through a +window, saw a large fire blazing at the end of a low hall. He put +his pipe in his pocket and knocked gently, saying politely: + +Would you give me a light?' + +But he got no answer. + +After waiting for a moment John knocked again, this time more +loudly. There was still no reply. + +He raised the latch and entered; the hall was empty. + +The little soldier made straight for the fireplace, seized the +tongs, and was stooping down to look for a nice red hot coal with +which to light his pipe, when clic! something went, like a spring +giving way, and in the very midst of the flames an enormous +serpent reared itself up close to his face. + +And what was more strange still, this serpent had the head of a +woman. + +At such an unexpected sight many men would have turned and run for +their lives; but the little soldier, though he was so small, had a +true soldier's heart. He only made one step backwards, and grasped +the hilt of his sword. + +Don't unsheath it,' said the serpent. I have been waiting for +you, as it is you who must deliver me.' + +Who are you?' + +My name is Ludovine, and I am the daughter of the King of the Low +Countries. Deliver me, and I will marry you and make you happy for +ever after.' + +Now, some people might not have liked the notion of being made +happy by a serpent with the head of a woman, but the Kinglet had +no such fears. And, besides, he felt the fascination of Ludovine's +eyes, which looked at him as a snake looks at a little bird. They +were beautiful green eyes, not round like those of a cat, but long +and almond-shaped, and they shone with a strange light, and the +golden hair which floated round them seemed all the brighter for +their lustre. The face had the beauty of an angel, though the body +was only that of a serpent. + +What must I do?' asked the Kinglet. + +Open that door. You will find yourself in a gallery with a room +at the end just like this. Cross that, and you will see a closet, +out of which you must take a tunic, and bring it back to me.' + +The little soldier boldly prepared to do as he was told. He +crossed the gallery in safety, but when he reached the room he saw +by the light of the stars eight hands on a level with his face, +which threatened to strike him. And, turn his eyes which way he +would, he could discover no bodies belonging to them. + +He lowered his head and rushed forward amidst a storm of blows, +which he returned with his fists. When he got to the closet, he +opened it, took down the tunic, and brought it to the first room. + +Here it is,' he panted, rather out of breath. + +Clic!' once more the flames parted. Ludovine was a woman down to +her waist. She took the tunic and put it on. + +It was a magnificent tunic of orange velvet, embroidered in +pearls, but the pearls were not so white as her own neck. + +That is not all,' she said. Go to the gallery, take the +staircase which is on the left, and in the second room on the +first story you will find another closet with my skirt. Bring this +to me.' + +The Kinglet did as he was told, but in entering the room he saw, +instead of merely hands, eight arms, each holding an enormous +stick. He instantly unsheathed his sword and cut his way through +with such vigour that he hardly received a scratch. + +He brought back the skirt, which was made of silk as blue as the +skies of Spain. + +Here it is,' said John, as the serpent appeared. She was now a +woman as far as her knees. + +I only want my shoes and stockings now,' she said. Go and get +them from the closet which is on the second story.' + +The little soldier departed, and found himself in the presence of +eight goblins armed with hammers, and flames darting from their +eyes. This time he stopped short at the threshold. My sword is no +use,' he thought to himself; these wretches will break it like +glass, and if I can't think of anything else, I am a dead man.' At +this moment his eyes fell on the door, which was made of oak, +thick and heavy. He wrenched it off its hinges and held it over +his head, and then went straight at the goblins, whom he crushed +beneath it. After that he took the shoes and stockings out of the +closet and brought them to Ludovine, who, directly she had put +them on, became a woman all over. + +When she was quite dressed in her white silk stockings and little +blue slippers dotted over with carbuncles, she said to her +deliverer, Now you must go away, and never come back here, +whatever happens. Here is a purse with two hundred ducats. Sleep +to-night at the inn which is at the edge of the wood, and awake +early in the morning: for at nine o'clock I shall pass the door, +and shall take you up in my carriage.' Why shouldn't we go now?' +asked the little soldier. Because the time has not yet come,' +said the Princess. But first you may drink my health in this +glass of wine,' and as she spoke she filled a crystal goblet with +a liquid that looked like melted gold. + +John drank, then lit his pipe and went out. + + +II + +When he arrived at the inn he ordered supper, but no sooner had he +sat down to eat it than he felt that he was going sound asleep. + +I must be more tired than I thought,' he said to himself, and, +after telling them to be sure to wake him next morning at eight +o'clock, he went to bed. + +All night long he slept like a dead man. At eight o'clock they +came to wake him, and at half-past, and a quarter of an hour +later, but it was no use; and at last they decided to leave him in +peace. + +The clocks were striking twelve when John awoke. He sprang out of +bed, and, scarcely waiting to dress himself, hastened to ask if +anyone had been to inquire for him. + +There came a lovely princess,' replied the landlady, in a coach +of gold. She left you this bouquet, and a message to say that she +would pass this way to-morrow morning at eight o'clock.' + +The little soldier cursed his sleep, but tried to console himself +by looking at his bouquet, which was of immortelles. + +It is the flower of remembrance,' thought he, forgetting that it +is also the flower of the dead. + +When the night came, he slept with one eye open, and jumped up +twenty times an hour. When the birds began to sing he could lie +still no longer, and climbed out of his window into the branches +of one of the great lime-trees that stood before the door. There +he sat, dreamily gazing at his bouquet till he ended by going fast +asleep. + +Once asleep, nothing was able to wake him; neither the brightness +of the sun, nor the songs of the birds, nor the noise of +Ludovine's golden coach, nor the cries of the landlady who sought +him in every place she could think of. + +As the clock struck twelve he woke, and his heart sank as he came +down out of his tree and saw them laying the table for dinner. + +Did the Princess come?' he asked. + +Yes, indeed, she did. She left this flower-coloured scarf for +you; said she would pass by to-morrow at seven o'clock, but it +would be the last time.' + +I must have been bewitched,' thought the little soldier. Then he +took the scarf, which had a strange kind of scent, and tied it +round his left arm, thinking all the while that the best way to +keep awake was not to go to bed at all. So he paid his bill, and +bought a horse with the money that remained, and when the evening +came he mounted his horse and stood in front of the inn door, +determined to stay there all night. + +Every now and then he stooped to smell the sweet perfume of the +scarf round his arm; and gradually he smelt it so often that at +last his head sank on to the horse's neck, and he and his horse +snored in company. + +When the Princess arrived, they shook him, and beat him, and +screamed at him, but it was all no good. Neither man nor horse +woke till the coach was seen vanishing away in the distance. + +Then John put spurs to his horse, calling with all his might +Stop! stop!' But the coach drove on as before, and though the +little soldier rode after it for a day and a night, he never got +one step nearer. + +Thus they left many villages and towns behind them, till they came +to the sea itself. Here John thought that at last the coach must +stop, but, wonder of wonders! it went straight on, and rolled over +the water as easily as it had done over the land. John's horse, +which had carried him so well, sank down from fatigue, and the +little soldier sat sadly on the shore, watching the coach which +was fast disappearing on the horizon. + + +III + +However, he soon plucked up his spirits again, and walked along +the beach to try and find a boat in which he could sail after the +Princess. But no boat was there, and at last, tired and hungry, he +sat down to rest on the steps of a fisherman's hut. + +In the hut was a young girl who was mending a net. She invited +John to come in, and set before him some wine and fried fish, and +John ate and drank and felt comforted, and he told his adventures +to the little fisher-girl. But though she was very pretty, with a +skin as white as a gull's breast, for which her neighbours gave +her the name of the Seagull, he did not think about her at all, +for he was dreaming of the green eyes of the Princess. + +When he had finished his tale, she was filled with pity and said: + +Last week, when I was fishing, my net suddenly grew very heavy, +and when I drew it in I found a great copper vase, fastened with +lead. I brought it home and placed it on the fire. When the lead +had melted a little, I opened the vase with my knife and drew out +a mantle of red cloth and a purse containing fifty crowns. That is +the mantle, covering my bed, and I have kept the money for my +marriage-portion. But take it and go to the nearest seaport, where +you will find a ship sailing for the Low Countries, and when you +become King you will bring me back my fifty crowns.' + +And the Kinglet answered: When I am King of the Low Countries, I +will make you lady-in-waiting to the Queen, for you are as good as +you are beautiful. So farewell,' said he, and as the Seagull went +back to her fishing he rolled himself in the mantle and threw +himself down on a heap of dried grass, thinking of the strange +things that had befallen him, till he suddenly exclaimed: + +Oh, how I wish I was in the capital of the Low Countries!' + + +IV + +In one moment the little soldier found himself standing before a +splendid palace. He rubbed his eyes and pinched himself, and when +he was quite sure he was not dreaming he said to a man who was +smoking his pipe before the door, Where am I?' + +Where are you? Can't you see? Before the King's palace, of +course.' + +What King?' + +Why the King of the Low Countries!' replied the man, laughing and +supposing that he was mad. + +Was there ever anything so strange? But as John was an honest +fellow, he was troubled at the thought that the Seagull would +think he had stolen her mantle and purse. And he began to wonder +how he could restore them to her the soonest. Then he remembered +that the mantle had some hidden charm that enabled the bearer to +transport himself at will from place to place, and in order to +make sure of this he wished himself in the best inn of the town. +In an instant he was there. + +Enchanted with this discovery, he ordered supper, and as it was +too late to visit the King that night he went to bed. + +The next day, when he got up, he saw that all the houses were +wreathed with flowers and covered with flags, and all the church +bells were ringing. The little soldier inquired the meaning of all +this noise, and was told that the Princess Ludovine, the King's +beautiful daughter, had been found, and was about to make her +triumphal entry. That will just suit me,' thought the Kinglet; I +will stand at the door and see if she knows me.' + +He had scarcely time to dress himself when the golden coach of +Ludovine went by. She had a crown of gold upon her head, and the +King and Queen sat by her side. By accident her eyes fell upon the +little soldier, and she grew pale and turned away her head. + +Didn't she know me?' the little soldier asked himself, or was +she angry because I missed our meetings?' and he followed the +crowd till he got to the palace. When the royal party entered he +told the guards that it was he who had delivered the Princess, and +wished to speak to the King. But the more he talked the more they +believed him mad and refused to let him pass. + +The little soldier was furious. He felt that he needed his pipe to +calm him, and he entered a tavern and ordered a pint of beer. It +is this miserable soldier's helmet,' said he to himself If I had +only money enough I could look as splendid as the lords of the +Court; but what is the good of thinking of that when I have only +the remains of the Seagull's fifty crowns?' + +He took out his purse to see what was left, and he found that +there were still fifty crowns. + +The Seagull must have miscounted,' thought he, and he paid for +his beer. Then he counted his money again, and there were still +fifty crowns. He took away five and counted a third time, but +there were still fifty. He emptied the purse altogether and then +shut it; when he opened it the fifty crowns were still there! + +Then a plan came into his head, and he determined to go at once to +the Court tailor and coachbuilder. + +He ordered the tailor to make him a mantle and vest of blue velvet +embroidered with pearls, and the coachbuilder to make him a golden +coach like the coach of the Princess Ludovine. If the tailor and +the coachbuilder were quick he promised to pay them double. + +A few days later the little soldier was driven through the city in +his coach drawn by six white horses, and with four lacqueys richly +dressed standing behind. Inside sat John, clad in blue velvet, +with a bouquet of immortelles in his hand and a scarf bound round +his arm. He drove twice round the city, throwing money to the +right and left, and the third time, as he passed under the palace +windows, he saw Ludovine lift a corner of the curtain and peep +out. + + +V + +The next day no one talked of anything but the rich lord who had +distributed money as he drove along. The talk even reached the +Court, and the Queen, who was very curious, had a great desire to +see the wonderful Prince. + +Very well,' said the King; let him be asked to come and play +cards with me.' + +This time the Kinglet was not late for his appointment. + +The King sent for the cards and they sat down to play. They had +six games, and John always lost. The stake was fifty crowns, and +each time he emptied his purse, which was full the next instant. + +The sixth time the King exclaimed, It is amazing!' + +The Queen cried, It is astonishing!' + +The Princess said, It is bewildering!' + +Not so bewildering,' replied the little soldier, as your change +into a serpent.' + +Hush!' interrupted the King, who did not like the subject. + +I only spoke of it,' said John, because you see in me the man +who delivered the Princess from the goblins and whom she promised +to marry.' + +Is that true?' asked the King of the Princess. + +Quite true,' answered Ludovine. But I told my deliverer to be +ready to go with me when I passed by with my coach. I passed three +times, but he slept so soundly that no one could wake him.' + +What is your name?' said the King, and who are you?' + +My name is John. I am a soldier, and my father is a boatman.' + +You are not a fit husband for my daughter. Still, if you will +give us your purse, you shall have her for your wife.' + +My purse does not belong to me, and I cannot give it away.' + +But you can lend it to me till our wedding-day,' said the +Princess with one of those glances the little soldier never could +resist. + +And when will that be?' + +At Easter,' said the monarch. + +Or in a blue moon!' murmured the Princess; but the Kinglet did +not hear her and let her take his purse. + +Next evening he presented himself at the palace to play picquet +with the King and to make his court to the Princess. But he was +told that the King had gone into the country to receive his rents. +He returned the following day, and had the same answer. Then he +asked to see the Queen, but she had a headache. When this had +happened five or six times, he began to understand that they were +making fun of him. + +That is not the way for a King to behave,' thought John. Old +scoundrel!' and then suddenly he remembered his red cloak. + +Ah, what an idiot I am!' said he. Of course I can get in +whenever I like with the help of this.' + +That evening he was in front of the palace, wrapped in his red +cloak. + +On the first story one window was lighted, and John saw on the +curtains the shadow of the Princess. + +I wish myself in the room of the Princess Ludovine,' said he, and +in a second he was there. + +The King's daughter was sitting before a table counting the money +that she emptied from the inexhaustible purse. + +Eight hundred and fifty, nine hundred, nine hundred and fifty-- + +A thousand,' finished John. Good evening everybody!' + +The Princess jumped and gave a little cry. You here! What +business have you to do it? Leave at once, or I shall call-- + +I have come,' said the Kinglet, to remind you of your promise. +The day after to-morrow is Easter Day, and it is high time to +think of our marriage.' + +Ludovine burst out into a fit of laughter. Our marriage! Have you +really been foolish enough to believe that the daughter of the +King of the Low Countries would ever marry the son of a boatman?' + +Then give me back the purse,' said John. + +Never,' said the Princess, and put it calmly in her pocket. + +As you like,' said the little soldier. He laughs best who laughs +the last;' and he took the Princess in his arms. I wish,' he +cried, that we were at the ends of the earth;' and in one second +he was there, still clasping the Princess tightly in his arms. + +Ouf,' said John, laying her gently at the foot of a tree. I +never took such a long journey before. What do you say, madam?' +The Princess understood that it was no time for jesting, and did +not answer. Besides she was still feeling giddy from her rapid +flight, and had not yet collected her senses. + + +VI + +The King of the Low Countries was not a very scrupulous person, +and his daughter took after him. This was why she had been changed +into a serpent. It had been prophesied that she should be +delivered by a little soldier, and that she must marry him, unless +he failed to appear at the meeting-place three times running. The +cunning Princess then laid her plans accordingly. + +The wine that she had given to John in the castle of the goblins, +the bouquet of immortelles, and the scarf, all had the power of +producing sleep like death. And we know how they had acted on +John. + +However, even in this critical moment, Ludovine did not lose her +head. + +I thought you were simply a street vagabond,' said she, in her +most coaxing voice; and I find you are more powerful than any +king. Here is your purse. Have you got my scarf and my bouquet?' + +Here they are,' said the Kinglet, delighted with this change of +tone, and he drew them from his bosom. Ludovine fastened one in +his buttonhole and the other round his arm. Now,' she said, you +are my lord and master, and I will marry you at your good +pleasure.' + +You are kinder than I thought,' said John; and you shall never +be unhappy, for I love you.' + +Then, my little husband, tell me how you managed to carry me so +quickly to the ends of the world.' + +The little soldier scratched his head. Does she really mean to +marry me,' he thought to himself, or is she only trying to +deceive me again?' + +But Ludovine repeated, Won't you tell me?' in such a tender voice +he did not know how to resist her. + +After all,' he said to himself, what does it matter telling her +the secret, as long as I don't give her the cloak.' + +And he told her the virtue of the red mantle. + +Oh dear, how tired I am!' sighed Ludovine. Don't you think we +had better take a nap? And then we can talk over our plans.' + +She stretched herself on the grass, and the Kinglet did the same. +He laid his head on his left arm, round which the scarf was tied, +and was soon fast asleep. + +Ludovine was watching him out of one eye, and no sooner did she +hear him snore than she unfastened the mantle, drew it gently from +under him and wrapped it round her, took the purse from his +pocket, and put it in hers, and said: I wish I was back in my own +room.' In another moment she was there. + + +VII + +Who felt foolish but John, when he awoke, twenty-four hours after, +and found himself without purse, without mantle, and without +Princess? He tore his hair, he beat his breast, he trampled on the +bouquet, and tore the scarf of the traitress to atoms. + +Besides this he was very hungry, and he had nothing to eat. + +He thought of all the wonderful things his grandmother had told +him when he was a child, but none of them helped him now. He was +in despair, when suddenly he looked up and saw that the tree under +which he had been sleeping was a superb plum, covered with fruit +as yellow as gold. + +Here goes for the plums,' he said to himself, all is fair in +war.' + +He climbed the tree and began to eat steadily. But he had hardly +swallowed two plums when, to his horror, he felt as if something +was growing on his forehead. He put up his hand and found that he +had two horns! + +He leapt down from the tree and rushed to a stream that flowed +close by. Alas! there was no escape: two charming little horns, +that would not have disgraced the head of a goat. + +Then his courage failed him. + +As if it was not enough,' said he, that a woman should trick me, +but the devil must mix himself up in it and lend me his horns. +What a pretty figure I should cut if I went back into the world!' + +But as he was still hungry, and the mischief was done, he climbed +boldly up another tree, and plucked two plums of a lovely green +colour. No sooner had he swallowed two than the horns disappeared. +The little soldier was enchanted, though greatly surprised, and +came to the conclusion that it was no good to despair too quickly. +When he had done eating an idea suddenly occurred to him. + +Perhaps,' thought he, these pretty little plums may help me to +recover my purse, my cloak, and my heart from the hands of this +wicked Princess. She has the eyes of a deer already; let her have +the horns of one. If I can manage to set her up with a pair, I +will bet any money that I shall cease to want her for my wife. A +horned maiden is by no means lovely to look at.' So he plaited a +basket out of the long willows, and placed in it carefully both +sorts of plums. Then he walked bravely on for many days, having no +food but the berries by the wayside, and was in great danger from +wild beasts and savage men. But he feared nothing, except that his +plums should decay, and this never happened. + +At last he came to a civilised country, and with the sale of some +jewels that he had about him on the evening of his flight he took +passage on board a vessel for the Low Countries. So, at the end of +a year and a day, he arrived at the capital of the kingdom. + + +VIII + +The next day he put on a false beard and the dress of a date +merchant, and, taking a little table, he placed himself before the +door of the church. + +He spread carefully out on a fine white cloth his Mirabelle plums, +which looked for all the world as if they had been freshly +gathered, and when he saw the Princess coming out of church he +began to call out in a feigned voice: Fine plums! lovely plums!' + +How much are they?' said the Princess. + +Fifty crowns each.' + +Fifty crowns! But what is there so very precious about them? Do +they give one wit, or will they increase one's beauty?' + +They could not increase what is perfect already, fair Princess, +but still they might add something.' + +Rolling stones gather no moss, but they sometimes gain polish; and +the months which John had spent in roaming about the world had not +been wasted. Such a neatly turned compliment flattered Ludovine. + +What will they add?' she smilingly asked. + +You will see, fair Princess, when you taste them. It will be a +surprise for you.' + +Ludovine's curiosity was roused. She drew out the purse and shook +out as many little heaps of fifty crowns as there were plums in +the basket. The little soldier was seized with a wild desire to +snatch the purse from her and proclaim her a thief, but he managed +to control himself. + +His plums all sold, he shut up shop, took off his disguise, +changed his inn, and kept quiet, waiting to see what would happen. + +No sooner had she reached her room than the Princess exclaimed, +Now let us see what these fine plums can add to my beauty,' and +throwing off her hood, she picked up a couple and ate them. + +Imagine with what surprise and horror she felt all of a sudden +that something was growing out of her forehead. She flew to her +mirror and uttered a piercing cry. + +Horns! so that was what he promised me! Let someone find the +plum-seller at once and bring him to me! Let his nose and ears be +cut off! Let him be flayed alive, or burnt at a slow fire and his +ashes scattered to the winds! Oh, I shall die of shame and +despair!' + +Her women ran at the sound of her screams, and tried to wrench off +the horns, but it was of no use, and they only gave her a violent +headache. + +The King then sent round a herald to proclaim that he would give +the hand of the Princess to anyone who would rid her of her +strange ornaments. So all the doctors and sorcerers and surgeons +in the Low Countries and the neighbouring kingdoms thronged to the +palace, each with a remedy of his own. But it was all no good, and +the Princess suffered so much from their remedies that the King +was obliged to send out a second proclamation that anyone who +undertook to cure the Princess, and who failed to do it, should be +hanged up to the nearest tree. + +But the prize was too great for any proclamation to put a stop to +the efforts of the crowd of suitors, and that year the orchards of +the Low Countries all bore a harvest of dead men. + + +IX + +The King had given orders that they should seek high and low for +the plum-seller, but in spite of all their pains, he was nowhere +to be found. + +When the little soldier discovered that their patience was worn +out, he pressed the juice of the green Queen Claude plums into a +small phial, bought a doctor's robe, put on a wig and spectacles, +and presented himself before the King of the Low Countries. He +gave himself out as a famous physician who had come from distant +lands, and he promised that he would cure the Princess if only he +might be left alone with her. + +Another madman determined to be hanged,' said the King. Very +well, do as he asks; one should refuse nothing to a man with a +rope round his neck.' + +As soon as the little soldier was in the presence of the Princess +he poured some drops of the liquid into a glass. The Princess had +scarcely tasted it, when the tip of the horns disappeared. + +They would have disappeared completely,' said the pretended +doctor, if there did not exist something to counteract the +effect. It is only possible to cure people whose souls are as +clean as the palm of my hand. Are you sure you have not committed +some little sin? Examine yourself well.' + +Ludovine had no need to think over it long, but she was torn in +pieces between the shame of a humiliating confession, and the +desire to be unhorned. At last she made answer with downcast eyes, + +I have stolen a leather purse from a little soldier.' + +Give it to me. The remedy will not act till I hold the purse in +my hands.' + +It cost Ludovine a great pang to give up the purse, but she +remembered that riches would not benefit her if she was still to +keep the horns. + +With a sigh, she handed the purse to the doctor, who poured more +of the liquid into the glass, and when the Princess had drunk it, +she found that the horns had diminished by one half. + +You must really have another little sin on your conscience. Did +you steal nothing from this soldier but his purse?' + +I also stole from him his cloak.' + +Give it me.' + +Here it is.' + +This time Ludovine thought to herself that when once the horns had +departed, she would call her attendants and take the things from +the doctor by force. + +She was greatly pleased with this idea, when suddenly the +pretended physician wrapped himself in the cloak, flung away the +wig and spectacles, and showed to the traitress the face of the +Little Soldier. + +She stood before him dumb with fright. + +I might,' said John, have left you horned to the end of your +days, but I am a good fellow and I once loved you, and besides-- +you are too like the devil to have any need of his horns.' + + +X + +John had wished himself in the house of the Seagull. Now the +Seagull was seated at the window, mending her net, and from time +to time her eyes wandered to the sea as if she was expecting +someone. At the noise made by the little soldier, she looked up +and blushed. + +So it is you!' she said. How did you get here?' And then she +added in a low voice, And have you married your Princess?' + +Then John told her all his adventures, and when he had finished, +he restored to her the purse and the mantle. + +What can I do with them?' said she. You have proved to me that +happiness does not lie in the possession of treasures.' + +It lies in work and in the love of an honest woman,' replied the +little soldier, who noticed for the first time what pretty eyes +she had. Dear Seagull, will you have me for a husband?' and he +held out his hand. + +Yes, I will,' answered the fisher maiden, blushing very red, but +only on condition that we seal up the purse and the mantle in the +copper vessel and throw them into the sea.' + +And this they did. + +Charles Deulin. + + + + + +THE MAGIC SWAN + + + +There were once upon a time three brothers, of whom the eldest was +called Jacob, the second Frederick, and the youngest Peter. This +youngest brother was made a regular butt of by the other two, and +they treated him shamefully. If anything went wrong with their +affairs, Peter had to bear the blame and put things right for +them, and he had to endure all this ill-treatment because he was +weak and delicate and couldn't defend himself against his stronger +brothers. The poor creature had a most trying life of it in every +way, and day and night he pondered how he could make it better. +One day, when he was in the wood gathering sticks and crying +bitterly, a little old woman came up to him and asked him what was +the matter; and he told her all his troubles. + +Come, my good youth,' said the old dame, when he had finished his +tale of woe, isn't the world wide enough? Why don't you set out +and try your fortune somewhere else?' + +Peter took her words to heart, and left his father's house early +one morning to try his fortune in the wide world, as the old woman +had advised him. But he felt very bitterly parting from the home +where he had been born, and where he had at least passed a short +but happy childhood, and sitting down on a hill he gazed once more +fondly on his native place. + +Suddenly the little old woman stood before him, and, tapping him +on the shoulder, said, So far good, my boy; but what do you mean +to do now?' + +Peter was at a loss what to answer, for so far he had always +thought that fortune would drop into his mouth like a ripe cherry. +The old woman, who guessed his thoughts, laughed kindly and said, +I'll tell you what you must do, for I've taken a fancy to you, +and I'm sure you won't forget me when you've made your fortune.' + +Peter promised faithfully he wouldn't, and the old woman +continued: + +This evening at sunset go to yonder pear-tree which you see +growing at the cross roads. Underneath it you will find a man +lying asleep, and a beautiful large swan will be fastened to the +tree close to him. You must be careful not to waken the man, but +you must unfasten the swan and take it away with you. You will +find that everyone will fall in love with its beautiful plumage, +and you must allow anyone who likes to pull out a feather. But as +soon as the swan feels as much as a finger on it, it will scream +out, and then you must say, "Swan, hold fast." Then the hand of +the person who has touched the bird will be held as in a vice, and +nothing will set it free, unless you touch it with this little +stick which I will make you a present of. When you have captured a +whole lot of people in this way, lead your train straight on with +you; you will come to a big town where a Princess lives who has +never been known to laugh. If you can only make her laugh your +fortune is made; then I beg you won't forget your old friend.' + +Peter promised again that he wouldn't, and at sunset he went to +the tree the old woman had mentioned. The man lay there fast +asleep, and a large beautiful swan was fastened to the tree beside +him by a red cord. Peter loosed the bird, and led it away with him +without disturbing the bird's master. + +He walked on with the swan for some time, and came at last to a +building-yard where some men were busily at work. They were all +lost in admiration of the bird's beautiful plumage, and one +forward youth, who was covered with clay from head to foot, called +out, Oh, if I'd only one of those feathers how happy I should +be!' + +Pull one out then,' said Peter kindly, and the youth seized one +from the bird's tail; instantly the swan screamed, and Peter +called out, Swan, hold fast,' and do what he could the poor youth +couldn't get his hand away. The more he howled the more the others +laughed, till a girl who had been washing clothes in the +neighbouring stream hurried up to see what was the matter. When +she saw the poor boy fastened to the swan she felt so sorry for +him that she stretched out her hand to free him. The bird +screamed. + +Swan, hold fast,' called out Peter, and the girl was caught also. + +When Peter had gone on for a bit with his captives, they met a +chimney sweep, who laughed loudly over the extraordinary troop, +and asked the girl what she was doing. + +Oh, dearest John,' replied the girl, give me your hand and set +me free from this cursed young man.' + +Most certainly I will, if that's all you want,' replied the +sweep, and gave the girl his hand. The bird screamed. + +Swan, hold fast,' said Peter, and the black man was added to +their number. + +They soon came to a village where a fair was being held. A +travelling circus was giving a performance, and the clown was just +doing his tricks. He opened his eyes wide with amazement when he +saw the remarkable trio fastened on to the swan's tail. + +Have you gone raving mad, Blackie?' he asked as well as he could +for laughing. + +It's no laughing matter,' the sweep replied. This wench has got +so tight hold of me that I feel as if I were glued to her. Do set +me free, like a good clown, and I'll do you a good turn some day.' + +Without a moment's hesitation the clown grasped the black +outstretched hand. The bird screamed. + +Swan, hold fast,' called out Peter, and the clown became the +fourth of the party. + +Now in the front row of the spectators sat the respected and +popular Mayor of the village, who was much put out by what he +considered nothing but a foolish trick. So much annoyed was he +that he seized the clown by the hand and tried to tear him away, +in order to hand him over to the police. + +Then the bird screamed, and Peter called out, Swan, hold fast,' +and the dignified Mayor shared the fate of his predecessors. + +The Mayoress, a long thin stick of a woman, enraged at the insult +done to her husband, seized his free arm and tore at it with all +her might, with the only result that she too was forced to swell +the procession. After this no one else had any wish to join them. + +Soon Peter saw the towers of the capital in front of him. Just +before entering it, a glittering carriage came out to meet him, in +which was seated a young lady as beautiful as the day, but with a +very solemn and serious expression. But no sooner had she +perceived the motley crowd fastened to the swan's tail than she +burst into a loud fit of laughter, in which she was joined by all +her servants and ladies in waiting. + +The Princess has laughed at last,' they all cried with joy. + +She stepped out of her carriage to look more closely at the +wonderful sight, and laughed again over the capers the poor +captives cut. She ordered her carriage to be turned round and +drove slowly back into the town, never taking her eyes off Peter +and his procession. + +When the King heard the news that his daughter had actually +laughed, he was more than delighted, and had Peter and his +marvellous train brought before him. He laughed himself when he +saw them till the tears rolled down his cheeks. + +My good friend,' he said to Peter, do you know what I promised +the person who succeeded in making the Princess laugh?' + +No, I don't,' said Peter. + +Then I'll tell you,' answered the King; a thousand gold crowns +or a piece of land. Which will you choose?' + +Peter decided in favour of the land. Then he touched the youth, +the girl, the sweep, the clown, the Mayor, and the Mayoress with +his little stick, and they were all free again, and ran away home +as if a fire were burning behind them; and their flight, as you +may imagine, gave rise to renewed merriment. + +Then the Princess felt moved to stroke the swan, at the same time +admiring its plumage. The bird screamed. + +Swan, hold fast,' called out Peter, and so he won the Princess +for his bride. But the swan flew up into the air, and vanished in +the blue horizon. Peter now received a duchy as a present, and +became a very great man indeed; but he did not forget the little +old woman who had been the cause of all his good fortune, and +appointed her as head housekeeper to him and his royal bride in +their magnificent castle. + +Kletke. + + + + + +THE DIRTY SHEPHERDESS + + + +Once upon a time there lived a King who had two daughters, and he +loved them with all his heart. When they grew up, he was suddenly +seized with a wish to know if they, on their part, truly loved +him, and he made up his mind that he would give his kingdom to +whichever best proved her devotion. + +So he called the elder Princess and said to her, How much do you +love me?' + +As the apple of my eye!' answered she. + +Ah!' exclaimed the King, kissing her tenderly as he spoke, you +are indeed a good daughter.' + +Then he sent for the younger, and asked her how much she loved +him. + +I look upon you, my father,' she answered, as I look upon salt +in my food.' + +But the King did not like her words, and ordered her to quit the +court, and never again to appear before him. The poor Princess +went sadly up to her room and began to cry, but when she was +reminded of her father's commands, she dried her eyes, and made a +bundle of her jewels and her best dresses and hurriedly left the +castle where she was born. + +She walked straight along the road in front of her, without +knowing very well where she was going or what was to become of +her, for she had never been shown how to work, and all she had +learnt consisted of a few household rules, and receipts of dishes +which her mother had taught her long ago. And as she was afraid +that no housewife would want to engage a girl with such a pretty +face, she determined to make herself as ugly as she could. + +She therefore took off the dress that she was wearing and put on +some horrible old rags belonging to a beggar, all torn and covered +with mud. After that she smeared mud all over her hands and face, +and shook her hair into a great tangle. Having thus changed her +appearance, she went about offering herself as a goose-girl or +shepherdess. But the farmers' wives would have nothing to say to +such a dirty maiden, and sent her away with a morsel of bread for +charity's sake. + +After walking for a great many days without being able to find any +work, she came to a large farm where they were in want of a +shepherdess, and engaged her gladly. + +One day when she was keeping her sheep in a lonely tract of land, +she suddenly felt a wish to dress herself in her robes of +splendour. She washed herself carefully in the stream, and as she +always carried her bundle with her, it was easy to shake off her +rags, and transform herself in a few moments into a great lady. + +The King's son, who had lost his way out hunting, perceived this +lovely damsel a long way off, and wished to look at her closer. +But as soon as the girl saw what he was at, she fled into the wood +as swiftly as a bird. The Prince ran after her, but as he was +running he caught his foot in the root of a tree and fell, and +when he got up again, she was nowhere to be seen. + +When she was quite safe, she put on her rags again, and smeared +over her face and hands. However the young Prince, who was both +hot and thirsty, found his way to the farm, to ask for a drink of +cider, and he inquired the name of the beautiful lady that kept +the sheep. At this everyone began to laugh, for they said that the +shepherdess was one of the ugliest and dirtiest creatures under +the sun. + +The Prince thought some witchcraft must be at work, and he +hastened away before the return of the shepherdess, who became +that evening the butt of everybody's jests. + +But the King's son thought often of the lovely maiden whom he had +only seen for a moment, though she seemed to him much more +fascinating than any lady of the Court. At last he dreamed of +nothing else, and grew thinner day by day till his parents +inquired what was the matter, promising to do all they could to +make him as happy as he once was. He dared not tell them the +truth, lest they should laugh at him, so he only said that he +should like some bread baked by the kitchen girl in the distant +farm. + +Although the wish appeared rather odd, they hastened to fulfil it, +and the farmer was told the request of the King's son. The maiden +showed no surprise at receiving such an order, but merely asked +for some flour, salt, and water, and also that she might be left +alone in a little room adjoining the oven, where the kneading- +trough stood. Before beginning her work she washed herself +carefully, and even put on her rings; but, while she was baking, +one of her rings slid into the dough. When she had finished she +dirtied herself again, and let the lumps of the dough stick to her +fingers, so that she became as ugly as before. + +The loaf, which was a very little one, was brought to the King's +son, who ate it with pleasure. But in cutting it he found the ring +of the Princess, and declared to his parents that he would marry +the girl whom that ring fitted. + +So the King made a proclamation through his whole kingdom and +ladies came from afar to lay claim to the honour. But the ring was +so tiny that even those who had the smallest hands could only get +it on their little fingers. In a short time all the maidens of the +kingdom, including the peasant girls, had tried on the ring, and +the King was just about to announce that their efforts had been in +vain, when the Prince observed that he had not yet seen the +shepherdess. + +They sent to fetch her, and she arrived covered with rags, but +with her hands cleaner than usual, so that she could easily slip +on the ring. The King's son declared that he would fulfil his +promise, and when his parents mildly remarked that the girl was +only a keeper of sheep, and a very ugly one too, the maiden boldly +said that she was born a princess, and that, if they would only +give her some water and leave her alone in a room for a few +minutes, she would show that she could look as well as anyone in +fine clothes. + +They did what she asked, and when she entered in a magnificent +dress, she looked so beautiful that all saw she must be a princess +in disguise. The King's son recognized the charming damsel of whom +he had once caught a glimpse, and, flinging himself at her feet, +asked if she would marry him. The Princess then told her story, +and said that it would be necessary to send an ambassador to her +father to ask his consent and to invite him to the wedding. + +The Princess's father, who had never ceased to repent his +harshness towards his daughter, had sought her through the land, +but as no one could tell him anything of her, he supposed her +dead. Therefore it was with great joy he heard that she was living +and that a king's son asked her in marriage, and he quitted his +kingdom with his elder daughter so as to be present at the +ceremony. + +By the orders of the bride, they only served her father at the +wedding breakfast bread without salt, and meat without seasoning. +Seeing him make faces, and eat very little, his daughter, who sat +beside him, inquired if his dinner was not to his taste. + +No,' he replied, the dishes are carefully cooked and sent up, +but they are all so dreadfully tasteless.' + +Did not I tell you, my father, that salt was the best thing in +life? And yet, when I compared you to salt, to show how much I +loved you, you thought slightingly of me and you chased me from +your presence.' + +The King embraced his daughter, and allowed that he had been wrong +to misinterpret her words. Then, for the rest of the wedding feast +they gave him bread made with salt, and dishes with seasoning, and +he said they were the very best he had ever eaten. + +Sebillot. + + + + + +THE ENCHANTED SNAKE + + + +There was once upon a time a poor woman who would have given all +she possessed for a child, but she hadn't one. + +Now it happened one day that her husband went to the wood to +collect brushwood, and when he had brought it home, he discovered +a pretty little snake among the twigs. + +When Sabatella, for that was the name of the peasant's wife, saw +the little beast, she sighed deeply and said, Even the snakes +have their brood; I alone am unfortunate and have no children.' No +sooner had she said these words than, to her intense surprise, the +little snake looked up into her face and spoke: Since you have no +children, be a mother to me instead, and I promise you will never +repent it, for I will love you as if I were your own son.' + +At first Sabatella was frightened to death at hearing a snake +speak, but plucking up her courage, she replied, If it weren't +for any other reason than your kindly thought, I would agree to +what you say, and I will love you and look after you like a +mother.' + +So she gave the snake a little hole in the house for its bed, fed +it with all the nicest food she could think of, and seemed as if +she never could show it enough kindness. Day by day it grew bigger +and fatter, and at last one morning it said to Cola-Mattheo, the +peasant, whom it always regarded as its father, Dear papa, I am +now of a suitable age and wish to marry.' + +I'm quite agreeable,' answered Mattheo, and I'll do my best to +find another snake like yourself and arrange a match between you.' + +Why, if you do that,' replied the snake, we shall be no better +than the vipers and reptiles, and that's not what I want at all. +No; I'd much prefer to marry the King's daughter; therefore I pray +you go without further delay, and demand an audience of the King, +and tell him a snake wishes to marry his daughter.' + +Cola-Mattheo, who was rather a simpleton, went as he was desired +to the King, and having obtained an audience, he said, Your +Majesty, I have often heard that people lose nothing by asking, so +I have come to inform you that a snake wants to marry your +daughter, and I'd be glad to know if you are willing to mate a +dove with a serpent?' + +The King, who saw at once that the man was a fool, said, in order +to get quit of him, Go home and tell your friend the snake that +if he can turn this palace into ivory, inlaid with gold and +silver, before to-morrow at noon, I will let him marry my +daughter.' And with a hearty laugh he dismissed the peasant. + +When Cola-Mattheo brought this answer back to the snake, the +little creature didn't seem the least put out, but said, To- +morrow morning, before sunrise, you must go to the wood and gather +a bunch of green herbs, and then rub the threshold of the palace +with them, and you'll see what will happen.' + +Cola-Mattheo, who was, as I have said before, a great simpleton, +made no reply; but before sunrise next morning he went to the wood +and gathered a bunch of St. John's Wort, and rosemary, and +suchlike herbs, and rubbed them, as he had been told, on the floor +of the palace. Hardly had he done so than the walls immediately +turned into ivory, so richly inlaid with gold and silver that they +dazzled the eyes of all beholders. The King, when he rose and saw +the miracle that had been performed, was beside himself with +amazement, and didn't know what in the world he was to do. + +But when Cola-Mattheo came next day, and, in the name of the +snake, demanded the hand of the Princess, the King replied, Don't +be in such a hurry; if the snake really wants to marry my +daughter, he must do some more things first, and one of these is +to turn all the paths and walls of my garden into pure gold before +noon to-morrow.' + +When the snake was told of this new condition, he replied, To- +morrow morning, early, you must go and collect all the odds and +ends of rubbish you can find in the streets, and then take them +and throw them on the paths and walls of the garden, and you'll +see then if we won't be more than a match for the old King.' + +So Cola-Mattheo rose at cock-crow, took a large basket under his +arm, and carefully collected all the broken fragments of pots and +pans, and jugs and lamps, and other trash of that sort. No sooner +had he scattered them over the paths and walls of the King's +garden than they became one blaze of glittering gold, so that +everyone's eyes were dazzled with the brilliancy, and everyone's +soul was filled with wonder. The King, too, was amazed at the +sight, but still he couldn't make up his mind to part with his +daughter, so when Cola-Mattheo came to remind him of his promise +he replied, I have still a third demand to make. If the snake can +turn all the trees and fruit of my garden into precious stones, +then I promise him my daughter in marriage.' + +When the peasant informed the snake what the King had said, he +replied, To-morrow morning, early, you must go to the market and +buy all the fruit you see there, and then sow all the stones and +seeds in the palace garden, and, if I'm not mistaken, the King +will be satisfied with the result.' + +Cola-Mattheo rose at dawn, and taking a basket on his arm, he went +to the market, and bought all the pomegranates, apricots, +cherries, and other fruit he could find there, and sowed the seeds +and stones in the palace garden. In one moment, the trees were all +ablaze with rubies, emeralds, diamonds, and every other precious +stone you can think of. + +This time the King felt obliged to keep his promise, and calling +his daughter to him, he said, My dear Grannonia,' for that was +the Princess's name, more as a joke than anything else, I +demanded what seemed to me impossibilities from your bridegroom, +but now that he has done all I required, I am bound to stick to my +part of the bargain. Be a good child, and as you love me, do not +force me to break my word, but give yourself up with as good grace +as you can to a most unhappy fate.' + +Do with me what you like, my lord and father, for your will is my +law,' answered Grannonia. + +When the King heard this, he told Cola-Mattheo to bring the snake +to the palace, and said that he was prepared to receive the +creature as his son-in-law. + +The snake arrived at court in a carriage made of gold and drawn by +six white elephants; but wherever it appeared on the way, the +people fled in terror at the sight of the fearful reptile. + +When the snake reached the palace, all the courtiers shook and +trembled with fear down to the very scullion, and the King and +Queen were in such a state of nervous collapse that they hid +themselves in a far-away turret. Grannonia alone kept her presence +of mind, and although both her father and mother implored her to +fly for her life, she wouldn't move a step, saying, I'm certainly +not going to fly from the man you have chosen for my husband.' + +As soon as the snake saw Grannonia, it wound its tail round her +and kissed her. Then, leading her into a room, it shut the door, +and throwing off its skin, it changed into a beautiful young man +with golden locks, and flashing eyes, who embraced Grannonia +tenderly, and said all sorts of pretty things to her. + +When the King saw the snake shut itself into a room with his +daughter, he said to his wife, Heaven be merciful to our child, +for I fear it is all over with her now. This cursed snake has most +likely swallowed her up.' Then they put their eyes to the keyhole +to see what had happened. + +Their amazement knew no bounds when they saw a beautiful youth +standing before their daughter with the snake's skin lying on the +floor beside him. In their excitement they burst open the door, +and seizing the skin they threw it into the fire. But no sooner +had they done this than the young man called out, Oh, wretched +people! what have you done?' and before they had time to look +round he had changed himself into a dove, and dashing against the +window he broke a pane of glass, and flew away from their sight. + +But Grannonia, who in one and the same moment saw herself merry +and sad, cheerful and despairing, rich and beggared, complained +bitterly over this robbery of her happiness, this poisoning of her +cup of joy, this unlucky stroke of fortune, and laid all the blame +on her parents, though they assured her that they had meant no +harm. But the Princess refused to be comforted, and at night, when +all the inhabitants of the palace were asleep, she stole out by a +back door, disguised as a peasant woman, determined to seek for +her lost happiness till she found it. When she got to the +outskirts of the town, led by the light of the moon, she met a +fox, who offered to accompany her, an offer which Grannonia gladly +accepted, saying You are most heartily welcome, for I don't know +my way at all about the neighbourhood.' + +So they went on their way together, and came at last to a wood, +where, being tired with walking, they paused to rest under the +shade of a tree, where a spring of water sported with the tender +grass, refreshing it with its crystal spray. + +They laid themselves down on the green carpet and soon fell fast +asleep, and did not waken again till the sun was high in the +heavens. They rose up and stood for some time listening to the +birds singing, because Grannonia delighted in their songs. + +When the fox perceived this, he said: If you only understood, as +I do, what these little birds are saying, your pleasure would be +even greater.' + +Provoked by his words--for we all know that curiosity is as deeply +inborn in every woman as even the love of talking--Grannonia +implored the fox to tell her what the birds had said. + +At first the wily fox refused to tell her what he had gathered +from the conversation of the birds, but at last he gave way to her +entreaties, and told her that they had spoken of the misfortunes +of a beautiful young Prince, whom a wicked enchantress had turned +into a snake for the period of seven years. At the end of this +time he had fallen in love with a charming Princess, but that when +he had shut himself up into a room with her, and had thrown off +his snake's skin, her parents had forced their way into the room +and had burnt the skin, whereupon the Prince, changed into the +likeness of a dove, had broken a pane of glass in trying to fly +out of the window, and had wounded himself so badly that the +doctors despaired of his life. + +Grannonia, when she learnt that they were talking of her lover, +asked at once whose son he was, and if there was any hope of his +recovery; to which the fox made answer that the birds had said he +was the son of the King of Vallone Grosso, and that the only thing +that could cure him was to rub the wounds on his head with the +blood of the very birds who had told the tale. + +Then Grannonia knelt down before the fox, and begged him in her +sweetest way to catch the birds for her and procure their blood, +promising at the same time to reward him richly. + +All right,' said the fox, only don't be in such a hurry; let's +wait till night, when the little birds have gone to roost, then +I'll climb up and catch them all for you.' + +So they passed the day, talking now of the beauty of the Prince, +now of the father of the Princess, and then of the misfortune that +had happened. At last the night arrived, and all the little birds +were asleep high up on the branches of a big tree. The fox climbed +up stealthily and caught the little creatures with his paws one +after the other; and when he had killed them all he put their +blood into a little bottle which he wore at his side and returned +with it to Grannonia, who was beside herself with joy at the +result of the fox's raid. But the fox said, My dear daughter, +your joy is in vain, because, let me tell you, this blood is of no +earthly use to you unless you add some of mine to it,' and with +these words he took to his heels. + +Grannonia, who saw her hopes dashed to the ground in this cruel +way, had recourse to flattery and cunning, weapons which have +often stood the sex in good stead, and called out after the fox, +Father Fox, you would be quite right to save your skin, if, in +the first place, I didn't feel I owed so much to you, and if, in +the second, there weren't other foxes in the world; but as you +know how grateful I feel to you, and as there are heaps of other +foxes about, you can trust yourself to me. Don't behave like the +cow that kicks the pail over after it has filled it with milk, but +continue your journey with me, and when we get to the capital you +can sell me to the King as a servant girl.' + +It never entered the fox's head that even foxes can be outwitted, +so after a bit he consented to go with her; but he hadn't gone far +before the cunning girl seized a stick, and gave him such a blow +with it on the head, that he dropped down dead on the spot. Then +Grannonia took some of his blood and poured it into her little +bottle; and went on her way as fast as she could to Vallone +Grosso. + +When she arrived there she went straight to the Royal palace, and +let the King be told she had come to cure the young Prince. + +The King commanded her to be brought before him at once, and was +much astonished when he saw that it was a girl who undertook to do +what all the cleverest doctors of his kingdom had failed in. As an +attempt hurts no one, he willingly consented that she should do +what she could. + +All I ask,' said Grannonia, is that, should I succeed in what +you desire, you will give me your son in marriage.' + +The King, who had given up all hopes of his son's recovery, +replied: Only restore him to life and health and he shall be +yours. It is only fair to give her a husband who gives me a son.' + +And so they went into the Prince's room. The moment Grannonia had +rubbed the blood on his wounds the illness left him, and he was as +sound and well as ever. When the King saw his son thus +marvellously restored to life and health, he turned to him and +said: My dear son, I thought of you as dead, and now, to my great +joy and amazement, you are alive again. I promised this young +woman that if she should cure you, to bestow your hand and heart +on her, and seeing that Heaven has been gracious, you must fulfil +the promise I made her; for gratitude alone forces me to pay this +debt.' + +But the Prince answered: My lord and father, I would that my will +were as free as my love for you is great. But as I have plighted +my word to another maiden, you will see yourself, and so will this +young woman, that I cannot go back from my word, and be faithless +to her whom I love.' + +When Grannonia heard these words, and saw how deeply rooted the +Prince's love for her was, she felt very happy, and blushing rosy +red, she said: But should I get the other lady to give up her +rights, would you then consent to marry me?' + +Far be it from me,' replied the Prince, to banish the beautiful +picture of my love from my heart. Whatever she may say, my heart +and desire will remain the same, and though I were to lose my life +for it, I couldn't consent to this exchange.' + +Grannonia could keep silence no longer, and throwing off her +peasant's disguise, she discovered herself to the Prince, who was +nearly beside himself with joy when he recognised his fair lady- +love. He then told his father at once who she was, and what she +had done and suffered for his sake. + +Then they invited the King and Queen of Starza-Longa to their +Court, and had a great wedding feast, and proved once more that +there is no better seasoning for the joys of true love than a few +pangs of grief. + + + + + +THE BITER BIT + + + +Once upon a time there lived a man called Simon, who was very +rich, but at the same time as stingy and miserly as he could be. +He had a housekeeper called Nina, a clever capable woman, and as +she did her work carefully and conscientiously, her master had the +greatest respect for her. + +In his young days Simon had been one of the gayest and most active +youths of the neighbourhood, but as he grew old and stiff he found +it very difficult to walk, and his faithful servant urged him to +get a horse so as to save his poor old bones. At last Simon gave +way to the request and persuasive eloquence of his housekeeper, +and betook himself one day to the market where he had seen a mule, +which he thought would just suit him, and which he bought for +seven gold pieces. + +Now it happened that there were three merry rascals hanging about +the market-place, who much preferred living on other people's +goods to working for their own living. As soon as they saw that +Simon had bought a mule, one of them said to his two boon +companions, My friends, this mule must be ours before we are many +hours older.' + +But how shall we manage it,' asked one of them. + +We must all three station ourselves at different intervals along +the old man's homeward way, and must each in his turn declare that +the mule he has bought is a donkey. If we only stick to it you'll +see the mule will soon be ours.' This proposal quite satisfied the +others, and they all separated as they had agreed. + +Now when Simon came by, the first rogue said to him, God bless +you, my fine gentleman.' + +Thanks for your courtesy,' replied Simon. + +Where have you been?' asked the thief. + +To the market,' was the reply. + +And what did you buy there?' continued the rogue. + +This mule.' + +Which mule?' + +The one I'm sitting upon, to be sure,' replied Simon. + +Are you in earnest, or only joking?' + +What do you mean?' + +Because it seems to me you've got hold of a donkey, and not of a +mule.' + +A donkey? Rubbish!' screamed Simon, and without another word he +rode on his way. After a few hundred yards he met the second +confederate, who addressed him, Good day, dear sir, where are you +coming from?' + +From the market,' answered Simon. + +Did things go pretty cheap?' asked the other. + +I should just think so,' said Simon. + +And did you make any good bargain yourself?' + +I bought this mule on which you see me.' + +Is it possible that you really bought that beast for a mule?' + +Why certainly.' + +But, good heavens, it's nothing but a donkey!' + +A donkey!' repeated Simon, you don't mean to say so; if a single +other person tells me that, I'll make him a present of the +wretched animal.' + +With these words he continued his way, and very soon met the third +knave, who said to him, God bless you, sir; are you by any chance +coming from the market?' + +Yes, I am,' replied Simon. + +And what bargain did you drive there?' asked the cunning fellow. + +I bought this mule on which I am riding.' + +A mule! Are you speaking seriously, or do you wish to make a fool +of me?' + +I'm speaking in sober earnest,' said Simon; it wouldn't occur to +me to make a joke of it.' + +Oh, my poor friend,' cried the rascal, don't you see that is a +donkey and not a mule? you have been taken in by some wretched +cheats.' + +You are the third person in the last two hours who has told me +the same thing,' said Simon, but I couldn't believe it,' and +dismounting from the mule he spoke: Keep the animal, I make you a +present of it.' The rascal took the beast, thanked him kindly, and +rode on to join his comrades, while Simon continued his journey on +foot. + +As soon as the old man got home, he told his housekeeper that he +had bought a beast under the belief that it was a mule, but that +it had turned out to be a donkey--at least, so he had been assured +by several people he had met on the road, and that in disgust he +had at last given it away. + +Oh, you simpleton!' cried Nina; didn't you see that they were +only playing you a trick? Really, I thought you'd have had more +gumption than that; they wouldn't have taken me in in that way.' + +Never mind,' replied Simon, I'll play them one worth two of +that; for depend upon it they won't be contented with having got +the donkey out of me, but they'll try by some new dodge to get +something more, or I'm much mistaken.' + +Now there lived in the village not far from Simon's house, a +peasant who had two goats, so alike in every respect that it was +impossible to distinguish one from the other. Simon bought them +both, paid as small a price as he could for them, and leading them +home with him, he told Nina to prepare a good meal, as he was +going to invite some friends to dinner. He ordered her to roast +some veal, and to boil a pair of chickens, and gave her some herbs +to make a good savoury, and told her to bake the best tart she +could make. Then he took one of the goats and tied it to a post in +the courtyard, and gave it some grass to eat; but he bound a cord +round the neck of the other goat and led it to the market. + +Hardly had he arrived there, than the three gentlemen who had got +his mule perceived him, and coming up to him said: Welcome, Mr. +Simon, what brings you here; are you on the look out for a +bargain?' + +I've come to get some provisions,' he answered, because some +friends are coming to dine with me today, and it would give me +much pleasure if you were to honour me with your company also.' + +The accomplices willingly accepted this invitation; and after +Simon had made all his purchases, he tied them on to the goat's +back, and said to it, in the presence of the three cheats, Go +home now, and tell Nina to roast the veal, and boil the chickens, +and tell her to prepare a savoury with herbs, and to bake the best +tart she can make. Have you followed me? Then go, and Heaven's +blessing go with you.' + +As soon as it felt itself free, the laden goat trotted off as +quickly as it could, and to this day nobody knows what became of +it. But Simon, after wandering about the market for some time with +his three friends and some others he had picked up, returned home +to his house. + +When he and his guests entered the courtyard, they noticed the +goat tied to the post quietly chewing the cud. They were not a +little astonished at this, for of course they thought it was the +same goat that Simon had sent home laden with provisions. As soon +as they reached the house Mr. Simon said to his housekeeper, +Well, Nina, have you done what I told the goat to tell you to +do?' The artful woman, who at once understood her master, +answered, Certainly I have. The veal is roasted, and the chickens +boiled.' + +That's all right,' said Simon. + +When the three rogues saw the cooked meats, and the tart in the +oven, and heard Nina's words, they were nearly beside themselves +with amazement, and began to consult at once how they were to get +the goat into their own possession. At last, towards the end of +the meal, having sought in vain for some cunning dodge to get the +goat away from Mr. Simon, one of them said to him, My worthy +host, you must sell your goat to us.' + +Simon replied that he was most unwilling to part with the +creature, as no amount of money would make up to him for its loss; +still, if they were quite set on it, he would let them have the +goat for fifty gold pieces. + +The knaves, who thought they were doing a capital piece of +business, paid down the fifty gold pieces at once, and left the +house quite happily, leading the goat with them. When they got +home they said to their wives, You needn't begin to cook the +dinner to-morrow till we send the provisions home.' + +The following day they went to the market and bought chickens and +other eatables, and after they had packed them on the back of the +goat (which they had brought with them), they told it all the +dishes they wished their wives to prepare. As soon as the goat +felt itself free, it ran as quickly as it could, and was very soon +lost to sight, and, as far as I know, was never heard of again. + +When the dinner hour approached all three went home and asked +their wives if the goat had returned with the necessary +provisions, and had told them what they wished prepared for their +meal. + +Oh, you fools and blockheads!' cried their wives, how could you +ever believe for a moment that a goat would do the work of a +servant-maid? You have been finely deceived for once in a way. Of +course, if you are always taking in other people, your turn to be +taken in comes too, and this time you've been made to look pretty +foolish.' + +When the three comrades saw that Mr. Simon had got the better of +them, and done them out of fifty gold pieces, they flew into such +a rage that they made up their minds to kill him, and, seizing +their weapons for this purpose, went to his house. + +But the sly old man, who was terrified for his life that the three +rogues might do him some harm, was on his guard, and said to his +housekeeper, Nina, take this bladder, which is filled with blood, +and hide it under your cloak; then when these thieves come I'll +lay all the blame on you, and will pretend to be so angry with you +that I will run at you with my knife, and pierce the bladder with +it; then you must fall on the ground as if you were dead, and +leave the rest to me.' + +Hardly had Simon said these words when the three rogues appeared +and fell on him to kill him. + +My friends,' called out Simon to then, what do you accuse me of? +I am in no way to blame; perhaps my housekeeper has done you some +injury of which I know nothing.' And with these words, he turned +on Nina with his knife, and stuck it right into her, so that he +pierced the bladder filled with blood. Instantly the housekeeper +fell down as if she were dead, and the blood streamed all over the +ground. + +Simon then pretended to be seized with remorse at the sight of +this dreadful catastrophe, and cried out in a loud voice, Unhappy +wretch that I am! What have I done? Like a madman I have killed +the woman who is the prop and stay of my old age. How could I ever +go on living without her?' Then he seized a pipe, and when he had +blown into it for some time Nina sprang up alive and well. + +The rogues were more amazed than ever; they forgot their anger, +and buying the pipe for two hundred gold pieces, they went +joyfully home. + +Not long after this one of them quarrelled with his wife, and in +his rage he thrust his knife into her breast so that she fell dead +on the ground. Then he took Simon's pipe and blew into it with all +his might, in the hopes of calling his wife back to life. But he +blew in vain, for the poor soul was as dead as a door-nail. + +When one of his comrades heard what had happened, he said, You +blockhead, you can't have done it properly; just let me have a +try,' and with these words he seized his wife by the roots of her +hair, cut her throat with a razor, and then took the pipe and blew +into it with all his might but he couldn't bring her back to life. +The same thing happened to the third rogue, so that they were now +all three without wives. + +Full of wrath they ran to Simon's house, and, refusing to listen +to a word of explanation or excuse, they seized the old man and +put him into a sack, meaning to drown him in the neighbouring +river. On their way there, however, a sudden noise threw them into +such a panic that they dropped the sack with Simon in it and ran +for their lives. + +Soon after this a shepherd happened to pass by with his flock, and +while he was slowly following the sheep, who paused here and there +by the wayside to browse on the tender grass, he heard a pitiful +voice wailing, They insist on my taking her, and I don't want +her, for I am too old, and I really can't have her.' The shepherd +was much startled, for he couldn't make out where these words, +which were repeated more than once, came from, and looked about +him to the right and left; at last he perceived the sack in which +Simon was hidden, and going up to it he opened it and discovered +Simon repeating his dismal complaint. The shepherd asked him why +he had been left there tied up in a sack. + +Simon replied that the king of the country had insisted on giving +him one of his daughters as a wife, but that he had refused the +honour because he was too old and too frail. The simple-minded +shepherd, who believed his story implicitly, asked him, Do you +think the king of the country would give his daughter to me?' + +Yes, certainly, I know he would,' answered Simon, if you were +tied up in this sack instead of me.' Then getting out of the sack, +he tied the confiding shepherd up in it instead, and at his +request fastened it securely and drove the sheep on himself. + +An hour had scarcely passed when the three rogues returned to the +place where they had left Simon in the sack, and without opening +it, one of them seized it and threw it into the river. And so the +poor shepherd was drowned instead of Mr. Simon! + +The three rogues, having wreaked their vengeance, set out, for +home. On their way they noticed a flock of sheep grazing not far +from the road. They longed to steal a few of the lambs, and +approached the flock, and were more than startled to recognise Mr. +Simon, whom they had drowned in the river, as the shepherd who was +looking after the sheep. They asked him how he had managed to get +out of the river, to which he replied: + +Get along with you--you are no better than silly donkeys without +any sense; if you had only drowned me in deeper water I would have +returned with three times as many sheep.' + +When the three rogues heard this, they said to him: Oh, dear Mr. +Simon, do us the favour to tie us up in sacks and throw us into +the river that we may give up our thieving ways and become the +owners of flocks.' + +I am ready,' answered Simon, to do what you please; there's +nothing in the world I wouldn't do for you.' + +So he took three strong sacks and put a man in each of them, and +fastened them up so tightly that they couldn't get out, and then +he threw them all into the river; and that was the end of the +three rogues. But Mr. Simon returned home to his faithful Nina +rich in flocks and gold, and lived for many a year in health and +happiness. + +Kletke. + + + + + +KING KOJATA (From the Russian) + + + +There was once upon a time a king called Kojata, whose beard was +so long that it reached below his knees. Three years had passed +since his marriage, and he lived very happily with his wife, but +Heaven granted him no heir, which grieved the King greatly. One +day he set forth from his capital, in order to make a journey +through his kingdom. He travelled for nearly a year through the +different parts of his territory, and then, having seen all there +was to be seen, he set forth on his homeward way. As the day was +very hot and sultry he commanded his servants to pitch tents in +the open field, and there await the cool of the evening. Suddenly +a frightful thirst seized the King, and as he saw no water near, +he mounted his horse, and rode through the neighbourhood looking +for a spring. Before long he came to a well filled to the brim +with water clear as crystal, and on the bosom of which a golden +jug was floating. King Kojata at once tried to seize the vessel, +but though he endeavoured to grasp it with his right hand, and +then with his left, the wretched thing always eluded his efforts +and refused to let itself be caught. First with one hand, and then +with two, did the King try to seize it, but like a fish the goblet +always slipped through his fingers and bobbed to the ground only +to reappear at some other place, and mock the King. + +Plague on you!' said King Kojata. I can quench my thirst without +you,' and bending over the well he lapped up the water so greedily +that he plunged his face, beard and all, right into the crystal +mirror. But when he had satisfied his thirst, and wished to raise +himself up, he couldn't lift his head, because someone held his +beard fast in the water. Who's there? let me go!' cried King +Kojata, but there was no answer; only an awful face looked up from +the bottom of the well with two great green eyes, glowing like +emeralds, and a wide mouth reaching from ear to ear showing two +rows of gleaming white teeth, and the King's beard was held, not +by mortal hands, but by two claws. At last a hoarse voice sounded +from the depths. Your trouble is all in vain, King Kojata; I will +only let you go on condition that you give me something you know +nothing about, and which you will find on your return home.' + +The King didn't pause to ponder long, for what,' thought he, +could be in my palace without my knowing about it--the thing is +absurd;' so he answered quickly: + +Yes, I promise that you shall have it.' + +The voice replied, Very well; but it will go ill with you if you +fail to keep your promise.' Then the claws relaxed their hold, and +the face disappeared in the depths. The King drew his chin out of +the water, and shook himself like a dog; then he mounted his horse +and rode thoughtfully home with his retinue. When they approached +the capital, all the people came out to meet them with great joy +and acclamation, and when the King reached his palace the Queen +met him on the threshold; beside her stood the Prime Minister, +holding a little cradle in his hands, in which lay a new-born +child as beautiful as the day. Then the whole thing dawned on the +King, and groaning deeply he muttered to himself So this is what +I did not know about,' and the tears rolled down his cheeks. All +the courtiers standing round were much amazed at the King's grief, +but no one dared to ask him the cause of it. He took the child in +his arms and kissed it tenderly; then laying it in its cradle, he +determined to control his emotion and began to reign again as +before. + +The secret of the King remained a secret, though his grave, +careworn expression escaped no one's notice. In the constant dread +that his child would be taken from him, poor Kojata knew no rest +night or day. However, time went on and nothing happened. Days and +months and years passed, and the Prince grew up into a beautiful +youth, and at last the King himself forgot all about the incident +that had happened so long ago. + +One day the Prince went out hunting, and going in pursuit of a +wild boar he soon lost the other huntsmen, and found himself quite +alone in the middle of a dark wood. The trees grew so thick and +near together that it was almost impossible to see through them, +only straight in front of him lay a little patch of meadowland. +Overgrown with thistles and rank weeds, in the centre of which a +leafy lime tree reared itself. Suddenly a rustling sound was heard +in the hollow of the tree, and an extraordinary old man with green +eyes and chin crept out of it. + +A fine day, Prince Milan,' he said; you've kept me waiting a +good number of years; it was high time for you to come and pay me +a visit.' + +Who are you, in the name of wonder?' demanded the astonished +Prince. + +You'll find out soon enough, but in the meantime do as I bid you. +Greet your father King Kojata from me, and don't forget to remind +him of his debt; the time has long passed since it was due, but +now he will have to pay it. Farewell for the present; we shall +meet again.' + +With these words the old man disappeared into the tree, and the +Prince returned home rather startled, and told his father all that +he had seen and heard. + +The King grew as white as a sheet when he heard the Prince's +story, and said, Woe is me, my son! The time has come when we +must part,' and with a heavy heart he told the Prince what had +happened at the time of his birth. + +Don't worry or distress yourself, dear father,' answered Prince +Milan. Things are never as bad as they look. Only give me a horse +for my journey, and I wager you'll soon see me back again.' + +The King gave him a beautiful charger, with golden stirrups, and a +sword. The Queen hung a little cross round his neck, and after +much weeping and lamentation the Prince bade them all farewell and +set forth on his journey. + +He rode straight on for two days, and on the third he came to a +lake as smooth as glass and as clear as crystal. Not a breath of +wind moved, not a leaf stirred, all was silent as the grave, only +on the still bosom of the lake thirty ducks, with brilliant +plumage, swam about in the water. Not far from the shore Prince +Milan noticed thirty little white garments lying on the grass, and +dismounting from his horse, he crept down under the high +bulrushes, took one of the garments and hid himself with it behind +the bushes which grew round the lake. The ducks swam about all +over the place, dived down into the depths and rose again and +glided through the waves. At last, tired of disporting themselves, +they swam to the shore, and twenty-nine of them put on their +little white garments and instantly turned into so many beautiful +maidens. Then they finished dressing and disappeared. Only the +thirtieth little duck couldn't come to the land; it swam about +close to the shore, and, giving out a piercing cry, it stretched +its neck up timidly, gazed wildly around, and then dived under +again. Prince Milan's heart was so moved with pity for the poor +little creature that he came out from behind the bulrushes, to see +if he could be of any help. As soon as the duck perceived him, it +cried in a human voice, Oh, dear Prince Milan, for the love of +Heaven give me back my garment, and I will be so grateful to you.' +The Prince lay the little garment on the bank beside her, and +stepped back into the bushes. In a few seconds a beautiful girl in +a white robe stood before him, so fair and sweet and young that no +pen could describe her. She gave the Prince her hand and spoke. + +Many thanks, Prince Milan, for your courtesy. I am the daughter +of a wicked magician, and my name is Hyacinthia. My father has +thirty young daughters, and is a mighty ruler in the underworld, +with many castles and great riches. He has been expecting you for +ages, but you need have no fear if you will only follow my advice. +As soon as you come into the presence of my father, throw yourself +at once on the ground and approach him on your knees. Don't mind +if he stamps furiously with his feet and curses and swears. I'll +attend to the rest, and in the meantime we had better be off.' + +With these words the beautiful Hyacinthia stamped on the ground +with her little foot, and the earth opened and they both sank down +into the lower world. + +The palace of the Magician was all hewn out of a single carbuncle, +lighting up the whole surrounding region, and Prince Milan walked +into it gaily. + +The Magician sat on a throne, a sparkling crown on his head; his +eyes blazed like a green fire, and instead of hands he had claws. +As soon as Prince Milan entered he flung himself on his knees. The +Magician stamped loudly with his feet, glared frightfully out of +his green eyes, and cursed so loudly that the whole underworld +shook. But the Prince, mindful of the counsel he had been given, +wasn't the least afraid, and approached the throne still on his +knees. At last the Magician laughed aloud and said, You rogue, +you have been well advised to make me laugh; I won't be your enemy +any more. Welcome to the underworld! All the same, for your delay +in coming here, we must demand three services from you. For to-day +you may go, but to-morrow I shall have something more to say to +you.' + +Then two servants led Prince Milan to a beautiful apartment, and +he lay down fearlessly on the soft bed that had been prepared for +him, and was soon fast asleep. + +Early the next morning the Magician sent for him, and said, Let's +see now what you've learnt. In the first place you must build me a +palace to-night, the roof of purest gold, the walls of marble, and +the windows of crystal; all round you must lay out a beautiful +garden, with fish-ponds and artistic waterfalls. If you do all +this, I will reward you richly; but if you don't, you shall lose +your head.' + +Oh, you wicked monster!' thought Prince Milan, you might as well +have put me to death at once.' Sadly he returned to his room, and +with bent head sat brooding over his cruel fate till evening. When +it grew dark, a little bee flew by, and knocking at the window, it +said, Open, and let me in.' + +Milan opened the window quickly, and as soon as the bee had +entered, it changed into the beautiful Hyacinthia. + +Good evening, Prince Milan. Why are you so sad?' + +How can I help being sad? Your father threatens me with death, +and I see myself already without a head.' + +And what have you made up your mind to do?' + +There's nothing to be done, and after all I suppose one can only +die once.' + +Now, don't be so foolish, my dear Prince; but keep up your +spirits, for there is no need to despair. Go to bed, and when you +wake up to-morrow morning the palace will be finished. Then you +must go all round it, giving a tap here and there on the walls to +look as if you had just finished it.' + +And so it all turned out just as she had said. As soon as it was +daylight Prince Milan stepped out of his room, and found a palace +which was quite a work of art down to the very smallest detail. +The Magician himself was not a little astonished at its beauty, +and could hardly believe his eyes. + +Well, you certainly are a splendid workman,' he said to the +Prince. I see you are very clever with your hands, now I must see +if you are equally accomplished with your head. I have thirty +daughters in my house, all beautiful princesses. To-morrow I will +place the whole thirty in a row. You must walk past them three +times, and the third time you must show me which is my youngest +daughter Hyacinthia. If you don't guess rightly, you shall lose +your head.' + +This time you've made a mistake,' thought Prince Milan, and going +to his room he sat down at the window. Just fancy my not +recognising the beautiful Hyacinthia! Why, that is the easiest +thing in the world.' + +Not so easy as you think,' cried the little bee, who was flying +past. If I weren't to help you, you'd never guess. We are thirty +sisters so exactly alike that our own father can hardly +distinguish us apart.' + +Then what am I to do?' asked Prince Milan. + +Listen,' answered Hyacinthia. You will recognise me by a tiny +fly I shall have on my left cheek, but be careful for you might +easily make a mistake.' + +The next day the Magician again commanded Prince Milan to be led +before him. His daughters were all arranged in a straight row in +front of him, dressed exactly alike, and with their eyes bent on +the ground. + +Now, you genius,' said the Magician, look at these beauties +three times, and then tell us which is the Princess Hyacinthia.' + +Prince Milan went past them and looked at them closely. But they +were all so precisely alike that they looked like one face +reflected in thirty mirrors, and the fly was nowhere to be seen; +the second time he passed them he still saw nothing; but the third +time he perceived a little fly stealing down one cheek, causing it +to blush a faint pink. Then the Prince seized the girl's hand and +cried out, This is the Princess Hyacinthia!' + +You're right again,' said the Magician in amazement; but I've +still another task for you to do. Before this candle, which I +shall light, burns to the socket, you must have made me a pair of +boots reaching to my knees. If they aren't finished in that time, +off comes your head.' + +The Prince returned to his room in despair; then the Princess +Hyacinthia came to him once more changed into the likeness of a +bee, and asked him, Why so sad, Prince Milan?' + +How can I help being sad? Your father has set me this time an +impossible task. Before a candle which he has lit burns to the +socket, I am to make a pair of boots. But what does a prince know +of shoemaking? If I can't do it, I lose my head.' + +And what do you mean to do?' asked Hyacinthia. + +Well, what is there to be done? What he demands I can't and won't +do, so he must just make an end of me.' + +Not so, dearest. I love you dearly, and you shall marry me, and +I'll either save your life or die with you. We must fly now as +quickly as we can, for there is no other way of escape.' + +With these words she breathed on the window, and her breath froze +on the pane. Then she led Milan out of the room with her, shut the +door, and threw the key away. Hand in hand, they hurried to the +spot where they had descended into the lower world, and at last +reached the banks of the lake. Prince Milan's charger was still +grazing on the grass which grew near the water. The horse no +sooner recognized his master, than it neighed loudly with joy, and +springing towards him, it stood as if rooted to the ground, while +Prince Milan and Hyacinthia jumped on its back. Then it sped +onwards like an arrow from a bow. + +In the meantime the Magician was waiting impatiently for the +Prince. Enraged by the delay, he sent his servants to fetch him, +for the appointed time was past. + +The servants came to the door, and finding it locked, they +knocked; but the frozen breath on the window replied in Prince +Milan's voice, I am coming directly.' With this answer they +returned to the Magician. But when the Prince still did not +appear, after a time he sent his servants a second time to bring +him. The frozen breath always gave the same answer, but the Prince +never came. At last the Magician lost all patience, and commanded +the door to be burst open. But when his servants did so, they +found the room empty, and the frozen breath laughed aloud. Out of +his mind with rage, the Magician ordered the Prince to be pursued. + +Then a wild chase began. I hear horses' hoofs behind us,' said +Hyacinthia to the Prince. Milan sprang from the saddle, put his +ear to the ground and listened. Yes,' he answered, they are +pursuing us, and are quite close.' Then no time must be lost,' +said Hyacinthia, and she immediately turned herself into a river, +Prince Milan into an iron bridge, and the charger into a +blackbird. Behind the bridge the road branched off into three +ways. + +The Magician's servants hurried after the fresh tracks, but when +they came to the bridge, they stood, not knowing which road to +take, as the footprints stopped suddenly, and there were three +paths for them to choose from. In fear and trembling they returned +to tell the Magician what had happened. He flew into a dreadful +rage when he saw them, and screamed out, Oh, you fools! the river +and bridge were they! Go back and bring them to me at once, or it +will be the worse for you.' + +Then the pursuit began afresh. I hear horses' hoofs,' sighed +Hyacinthia. The Prince dismounted and put his ear to the ground. +They are hurrying after us, and are already quite near.' In a +moment the Princess Hyacinthia had changed herself, the Prince, +and his charger into a thick wood where a thousand paths and roads +crossed each other. Their pursuers entered the forest, but +searched in vain for Prince Milan and his bride. At last they +found themselves back at the same spot they had started from, and +in despair they returned once more with empty hands to the +Magician. + +Then I'll go after the wretches myself,' he shouted. Bring a +horse at once; they shan't escape me.' + +Once more the beautiful Hyacinthia murmured, I hear horses' hoofs +quite near.' And the Prince answered, They are pursuing us hotly +and are quite close.' + +We are lost now, for that is my father himself. But at the first +church we come to his power ceases; he may chase us no further. +Hand me your cross.' + +Prince Milan loosened from his neck the little gold cross his +mother had given him, and as soon as Hyacinthia grasped it, she +had changed herself into a church, Milan into a monk, and the +horse into a belfry. They had hardly done this when the magician +and his servants rode up. + +Did you see no one pass by on horseback, reverend father?' he +asked the monk. + +Prince Milan and Princess Hyacinthia have just gone on this +minute; they stopped for a few minutes in the church to say their +prayers, and bade me light this wax candle for you, and give you +their love.' + +I'd like to wring their necks,' said the magician, and made all +haste home, where he had every one of his servants beaten to +within an inch of their lives. + +Prince Milan rode on slowly with his bride without fearing any +further pursuit. The sun was just setting, and its last rays lit +up a large city they were approaching. Prince Milan was suddenly +seized with an ardent desire to enter the town. + +Oh my beloved,' implored Hyacinthia, please don't go; for I am +frightened and fear some evil.' + +What are you afraid of?' asked the Prince. We'll only go and +look at what's to be seen in the town for about an hour, and then +we'll continue our journey to my father's kingdom.' + +The town is easy to get into, but more difficult to get out of,' +sighed Hyacinthia. But let it be as you wish. Go, and I will +await you here, but I will first change myself into a white +milestone; only I pray you be very careful. The King and Queen of +the town will come out to meet you, leading a little child with +them. Whatever you do, don't kiss the child, or you will forget me +and all that has happened to us. I will wait for you here for +three days.' + +The Prince hurried to the town, but Hyacinthia remained behind +disguised as a white milestone on the road. The first day passed, +and then the second, and at last the third also, but Prince Milan +did not return, for he had not taken Hyacinthia's advice. The King +and Queen came out to meet him as she had said, leading with them +a lovely fair-haired little girl, whose eyes shone like two clear +stars. The child at once caressed the Prince, who, carried away by +its beauty, bent down and kissed it on the cheek. From that moment +his memory became a blank, and he forgot all about the beautiful +Hyacinthia. + +When the Prince did not return, poor Hyacinthia wept bitterly and +changing herself from a milestone into a little blue field flower, +she said, I will grow here on the wayside till some passer-by +tramples me under foot.' And one of her tears remained as a +dewdrop and sparkled on the little blue flower. + +Now it happened shortly after this that an old man passed by, and +seeing the flower, he was delighted with its beauty. He pulled it +up carefully by the roots and carried it home. Here he planted it +in a pot, and watered and tended the little plant carefully. And +now the most extraordinary thing happened, for from this moment +everything in the old man's house was changed. When he awoke in +the morning he always found his room tidied and put into such +beautiful order that not a speck of dust was to be found anywhere. +When he came home at midday, he found a table laid out with the +most dainty food, and he had only to sit down and enjoy himself to +his heart's content. At first he was so surprised he didn't know +what to think, but after a time he grew a little uncomfortable, +and went to an old witch to ask for advice. + +The witch said, Get up before the cock crows, and watch carefully +till you see something move, and then throw this cloth quickly +over it, and you'll see what will happen.' + +All night the old man never closed an eye. When the first ray of +light entered the room, he noticed that the little blue flower +began to tremble, and at last it rose out of the pot and flew +about the room, put everything in order, swept away the dust, and +lit the fire. In great haste the old man sprang from his bed, and +covered the flower with the cloth the old witch had given him, and +in a moment the beautiful Princess Hyacinthia stood before him. + +What have you done?' she cried. Why have you called me back to +life? For I have no desire to live since my bridegroom, the +beautiful Prince Milan, has deserted me.' + +Prince Milan is just going to be married,' replied the old man. +Everything is being got ready for the feast, and all the invited +guests are flocking to the palace from all sides.' + +The beautiful Hyacinthia cried bitterly when she heard this; then +she dried her tears, and went into the town dressed as a peasant +woman. She went straight to the King's kitchen, where the white- +aproned cooks were running about in great confusion. The Princess +went up to the head cook, and said, Dear cook, please listen to +my request, and let me make a wedding-cake for Prince Milan.' + +The busy cook was just going to refuse her demand and order her +out of the kitchen, but the words died on his lips when he turned +and beheld the beautiful Hyacinthia, and he answered politely, +You have just come in the nick of time, fair maiden. Bake your +cake, and I myself will lay it before Prince Milan.' + +The cake was soon made. The invited guests were already thronging +round the table, when the head cook entered the room, bearing a +beautiful wedding cake on a silver dish, and laid it before Prince +Milan. The guests were all lost in admiration, for the cake was +quite a work of art. Prince Milan at once proceeded to cut it +open, when to his surprise two white doves sprang out of it, and +one of them said to the other: My dear mate, do not fly away and +leave me, and forget me as Prince Milan forgot his beloved +Hyacinthia.' + +Milan sighed deeply when he heard what the little dove said. Then +he jumped up suddenly from the table and ran to the door, where he +found the beautiful Hyacinthia waiting for him. Outside stood his +faithful charger, pawing the ground. Without pausing for a moment, +Milan and Hyacinthia mounted him and galloped as fast as they +could into the country of King Kojata. The King and Queen received +them with such joy and gladness as had never been heard of before, +and they all lived happily for the rest of their lives. + + + + + +PRINCE FICKLE AND FAIR HELENA (From the German) + + + +There was once upon a time a beautiful girl called Helena. Her own +mother had died when she was quite a child, and her stepmother was +as cruel and unkind to her as she could be. Helena did all she +could to gain her love, and performed the heavy work given her to +do cheerfully and well; but her stepmother's heart wasn't in the +least touched, and the more the poor girl did the more she asked +her to do. + +One day she gave Helena twelve pounds of mixed feathers and bade +her separate them all before evening, threatening her with heavy +punishment if she failed to do so. + +The poor child sat down to her task with her eyes so full of tears +that she could hardly see to begin. And when she had made one +little heap of feathers, she sighed so deeply that they all blew +apart again. And so it went on, and the poor girl grew more and +more miserable. She bowed her head in her hands and cried, Is +there no one under heaven who will take pity on me?' + +Suddenly a soft voice replied, Be comforted, my child: I have +come to help you.' + +Terrified to death, Helena looked up and saw a Fairy standing in +front of her, who asked in the kindest way possible, Why are you +crying, my dear?' + +Helena, who for long had heard no friendly voice, confided her sad +tale of woe to the Fairy, and told her what the new task she had +been given to do was, and how she despaired of ever accomplishing +it. + +Don't worry yourself about it any more,' said the kind Fairy; +lie down and go to sleep, and I'll see that your work is done all +right.' So Helena lay down, and when she awoke all the feathers +were sorted into little bundles; but when she turned to thank the +good Fairy she had vanished. + +In the evening her stepmother returned and was much amazed to find +Helena sitting quietly with her work all finished before her. + +She praised her diligence, but at the same time racked her brain +as to what harder task she could set her to do. + +The next day she told Helena to empty a pond near the house with a +spoon which was full of holes. Helena set to work at once, but she +very soon found that what her stepmother had told her to do was an +impossibility. Full of despair and misery, she was in the act of +throwing the spoon away, when suddenly the kind Fairy stood before +her again, and asked her why she was so unhappy? + +When Helena told her of her stepmother's new demand she said, +Trust to me and I will do your task for you. Lie down and have a +sleep in the meantime.' + +Helena was comforted and lay down, and before you would have +believed it possible the Fairy roused her gently and told her the +pond was empty. Full of joy and gratitude, Helena hurried to her +stepmother, hoping that now at last her heart would be softened +towards her. But the wicked woman was furious at the frustration +of her own evil designs, and only thought of what harder thing she +could set the girl to do. + +Next morning she ordered her to build before evening a beautiful +castle, and to furnish it all from garret to basement. Helena sat +down on the rocks which had been pointed out to her as the site of +the castle, feeling very depressed, but at the same time with the +lurking hope that the kind Fairy would come once more to her aid. + +And so it turned out. The Fairy appeared, promised to build the +castle, and told Helena to lie down and go to sleep in the +meantime. At the word of the Fairy the rocks and stones rose and +built themselves into a beautiful castle, and before sunset it was +all furnished inside, and left nothing to be desired. You may +think how grateful Helena was when she awoke and found her task +all finished. + +But her stepmother was anything but pleased, and went through the +whole castle from top to bottom, to see if she couldn't find some +fault for which she could punish Helena. At last she went down +into one of the cellars, but it was so dark that she fell down the +steep stairs and was killed on the spot. + +So Helena was now mistress of the beautiful castle, and lived +there in peace and happiness. And soon the noise of her beauty +spread abroad, and many wooers came to try and gain her hand. + +Among them came one Prince Fickle by name, who very quickly won +the love of fair Helena. One day, as they were sitting happily +together under a lime-tree in front of the castle, Prince Fickle +broke the sad news to Helena that he must return to his parents to +get their consent to his marriage. He promised faithfully to come +back to her as soon as he could and begged her to await his return +under the lime-tree where they had spent so many happy hours. + +Helena kissed him tenderly at parting on his left cheek, and +begged him not to let anyone else kiss him there while they were +parted, and she promised to sit and wait for him under the lime- +tree, for she never doubted that the Prince would be faithful to +her and would return as quickly as he could. + +And so she sat for three days and three nights under the tree +without moving. But when her lover never returned, she grew very +unhappy, and determined to set out to look for him. She took as +many of her jewels as she could carry, and three of her most +beautiful dresses, one embroidered with stars, one with moons, and +the third with suns, all of pure gold. Far and wide she wandered +through the world, but nowhere did she find any trace of her +bridegroom. At last she gave up the search in despair. She could +not bear to return to her own castle where she had been so happy +with her lover, but determined rather to endure her loneliness and +desolation in a strange land. She took a place as herd-girl with a +peasant, and buried her jewels and beautiful dresses in a safe and +hidden spot. + +Every day she drove the cattle to pasture, and all the time she +thought of nothing but her faithless bridegroom. She was very +devoted to a certain little calf in the herd, and made a great pet +of it, feeding it out of her own hands. She taught it to kneel +before her, and then she whispered in its ear: + +Kneel, little calf, kneel; Be faithful and leal, Not like Prince +Fickle, Who once on a time Left his fair Helena Under the lime.' + +After some years passed in this way, she heard that the daughter +of the king of the country she was living in was going to marry a +Prince called Fickle.' Everybody rejoiced at the news except poor +Helena, to whom it was a fearful blow, for at the bottom of her +heart she had always believed her lover to be true. + +Now it chanced that the way to the capital led right past the +village where Helena was, and often when she was leading her +cattle forth to the meadows Prince Fickle rode past her, without +ever noticing the poor herd-girl, so engrossed was he in thoughts +of his new bride. Then it occurred to Helena to put his heart to +the test and to see if it weren't possible to recall herself to +him. So one day as Prince Fickle rode by she said to her little +calf: + +Kneel, little calf, kneel; Be faithful and leal, Not like +Prince Fickle, Who once on a time Left his poor Helena Under +the lime.' + +When Prince Fickle heard her voice it seemed to him to remind him +of something, but of what he couldn't remember, for he hadn't +heard the words distinctly, as Helena had only spoken them very +low and with a shaky voice. Helena herself had been far too moved +to let her see what impression her words had made on the Prince, +and when she looked round he was already far away. But she noticed +how slowly he was riding, and how deeply sunk he was in thought, +so she didn't quite give herself up as lost. + +In honour of the approaching wedding a feast lasting many nights +was to be given in the capital. Helena placed all her hopes on +this, and determined to go to the feast and there to seek out her +bridegroom. + +When evening drew near she stole out of the peasant's cottage +secretly, and, going to her hiding-place, she put on her dress +embroidered with the gold suns, and all her jewels, and loosed her +beautiful golden hair, which up to now she had always worn under a +kerchief, and, adorned thus, she set out for the town. + +When she entered the ball-room all eyes were turned on her, and +everyone marvelled at her beauty, but no one knew who she was. +Prince Fickle, too, was quite dazzled by the charms of the +beautiful maiden, and never guessed that she had once been his own +ladylove. He never left her side all night, and it was with great +difficulty that Helena escaped from him in the crowd when it was +time to return home. Prince Fickle searched for her everywhere, +and longed eagerly for the next night, when the beautiful lady had +promised to come again. + +The following evening the fair Helena started early for the feast. + +This time she wore her dress embroidered with silver moons, and in +her hair she placed a silver crescent. Prince Fickle was enchanted +to see her again, and she seemed to him even more beautiful than +she had been the night before. He never left her side, and refused +to dance with anyone else. He begged her to tell him who she was, +but this she refused to do. Then he implored her to return again +next evening, and this she promised him she would. + +On the third evening Prince Fickle was so impatient to see his +fair enchantress again, that he arrived at the feast hours before +it began, and never took his eyes from the door. At last Helena +arrived in a dress all covered with gold and silver stars, and +with a girdle of stars round her waist, and a band of stars in her +hair. Prince Fickle was more in love with her than ever, and +begged her once again to tell him her name. + +Then Helena kissed him silently on the left cheek, and in one +moment Prince Fickle recognized his old love. Full of remorse and +sorrow, he begged for her forgiveness, and Helena, only too +pleased to have got him back again, did not, you may be sure, keep +him waiting very long for her pardon, and so they were married and +returned to Helena's castle, where they are no doubt still sitting +happily together under the lime-tree. + + + + + +PUDDOCKY (From the German) + + + +There was once upon a time a poor woman who had one little +daughter called Parsley.' She was so called because she liked +eating parsley better than any other food, indeed she would hardly +eat anything else. Her poor mother hadn't enough money always to +be buying parsley for her, but the child was so beautiful that she +could refuse her nothing, and so she went every night to the +garden of an old witch who lived near and stole great branches of +the coveted vegetable, in order to satisfy her daughter. + +This remarkable taste of the fair Parsley soon became known, and +the theft was discovered. The witch called the girl's mother to +her, and proposed that she should let her daughter come and live +with her, and then she could eat as much parsley as she liked. The +mother was quite pleased with this suggestion, and so the +beautiful Parsley took up her abode with the old witch. + +One day three Princes, whom their father had sent abroad to +travel, came to the town where Parsley lived and perceived the +beautiful girl combing and plaiting her long black hair at the +window. In one moment they all fell hopelessly in love with her, +and longed ardently to have the girl for their wife; but hardly +had they with one breath expressed their desire than, mad with +jealousy, they drew their swords and all three set upon each +other. The struggle was so violent and the noise so loud that the +old witch heard it, and said at once Of course Parsley is at the +bottom of all this.' + +And when she had convinced herself that this was so, she stepped +forward, and, full of wrath over the quarrels and feuds Parsley's +beauty gave rise to, she cursed the girl and said, I wish you +were an ugly toad, sitting under a bridge at the other end of the +world.' + +Hardly were the words out of her mouth than Parsley was changed +into a toad and vanished from their sight. The Princes, now that +the cause of their dispute was removed, put up their swords, +kissed each other affectionately, and returned to their father. + +The King was growing old and feeble, and wished to yield his +sceptre and crown in favour of one of his sons, but he couldn't +make up his mind which of the three he should appoint as his +successor. He determined that fate should decide for him. So he +called his three children to him and said, My dear sons, I am +growing old, and am weary of reigning, but I can't make up my mind +to which of you three I should yield my crown, for I love you all +equally. At the same time I would like the best and cleverest of +you to rule over my people. I have, therefore, determined to set +you three tasks to do, and the one that performs them best shall +be my heir. The first thing I shall ask you to do is to bring me a +piece of linen a hundred yards long, so fine that it will go +through a gold ring.' The sons bowed low, and, promising to do +their best, they started on their journey without further delay. + +The two elder brothers took many servants and carriages with them, +but the youngest set out quite alone. In a short time they came to +three cross roads; two of them were gay and crowded, but the third +was dark and lonely. + +The two elder brothers chose the more frequented ways, but the +youngest, bidding them farewell, set out on the dreary road. + +Wherever linen was to be bought, there the two elder brothers +hastened. They loaded their carriages with bales of the finest +linen they could find and then returned home. + +The youngest brother, on the other hand, went on his weary way for +many days, and nowhere did he come across any linen that would +have done. So he journeyed on, and his spirits sank with every +step. At last he came to a bridge which stretched over a deep +river flowing through a flat and marshy land. Before crossing the +bridge he sat down on the banks of the stream and sighed dismally +over his sad fate. Suddenly a misshapen toad crawled out of the +swamp, and, sitting down opposite him, asked: What's the matter +with you, my dear Prince?' + +The Prince answered impatiently, There's not much good my telling +you, Puddocky, for you couldn't help me if I did.' + +Don't be too sure of that,' replied the toad; tell me your +trouble and we'll see.' + +Then the Prince became most confidential and told the little +creature why he had been sent out of his father's kingdom. + +Prince, I will certainly help you,' said the toad, and, crawling +back into her swamp, she returned dragging after her a piece of +linen not bigger than a finger, which she lay before the Prince, +saying, Take this home, and you'll see it will help you.' + +The Prince had no wish to take such an insignificant bundle with +him; but he didn't like to hurt Puddocky's feelings by refusing +it, so he took up the little packet, put it in his pocket, and +bade the little toad farewell. Puddocky watched the Prince till he +was out of sight and then crept back into the water. + +The further the Prince went the more he noticed that the pocket in +which the little roll of linen lay became heavier, and in +proportion his heart grew lighter. And so, greatly comforted, he +returned to the Court of his father, and arrived home just at the +same time as his brothers with their caravans. The King was +delighted to see them all again, and at once drew the ring from +his finger and the trial began. In all the waggon-loads there was +not one piece of linen the tenth part of which would go through +the ring, and the two elder brothers, who had at first sneered at +their youngest brother for returning with no baggage, began to +feel rather small. But what were their feelings when he drew a +bale of linen out of his pocket which in fineness, softness, and +purity of colour was unsurpassable! The threads were hardly +visible, and it went through the ring without the smallest +difficulty, at the same time measuring a hundred yards quite +correctly. + +The father embraced his fortunate son, and commanded the rest of +the linen to be thrown into the water; then, turning to his +children he said, Now, dear Princes, prepare yourselves for the +second task. You must bring me back a little dog that will go +comfortably into a walnut-shell.' + +The sons were all in despair over this demand, but as they each +wished to win the crown, they determined to do their best, and +after a very few days set out on their travels again. + +At the cross roads they separated once more. The youngest went by +himself along his lonely way, but this time he felt much more +cheerful. Hardly had he sat down under the bridge and heaved a +sigh, than Puddocky came out; and, sitting down opposite him, +asked, What's wrong with you now, dear Prince?' + +The Prince, who this time never doubted the little toad's power to +help him, told her his difficulty at once. Prince, I will help +you,' said the toad again, and crawled back into her swamp as fast +as her short little legs would carry her. She returned, dragging a +hazel nut behind her, which she laid at the Prince's feet and +said, Take this nut home with you and tell your father to crack +it very carefully, and you'll see then what will happen.' The +Prince thanked her heartily and went on his way in the best of +spirits, while the little puddock crept slowly back into the +water. + +When the Prince got home he found his brothers had just arrived +with great waggon-loads of little dogs of all sorts. The King had +a walnut shell ready, and the trial began; but not one of the dogs +the two eldest sons had brought with them would in the least fit +into the shell. When they had tried all their little dogs, the +youngest son handed his father the hazel-nut, with a modest bow, +and begged him to crack it carefully. Hardly had the old King done +so than a lovely tiny dog sprang out of the nutshell, and ran +about on the King's hand, wagging its tail and barking lustily at +all the other little dogs. The joy of the Court was great. The +father again embraced his fortunate son, commanded the rest of the +small dogs to be thrown into the water and drowned, and once more +addressed his sons. The two most difficult tasks have been +performed. Now listen to the third and last: whoever brings the +fairest wife home with him shall be my heir.' + +This demand seemed so easy and agreeable and the reward was so +great, that the Princes lost no time in setting forth on their +travels. At the cross roads the two elder brothers debated if they +should go the same way as the youngest, but when they saw how +dreary and deserted it looked they made up their minds that it +would be impossible to find what they sought in these wilds, and +so they stuck to their former paths. + +The youngest was very depressed this time and said to himself, +Anything else Puddocky could have helped me in, but this task is +quite beyond her power. How could she ever find a beautiful wife +for me? Her swamps are wide and empty, and no human beings dwell +there; only frogs and toads and other creatures of that sort.' +However, he sat down as usual under the bridge, and this time he +sighed from the bottom of his heart. + +In a few minutes the toad stood in front of him and asked, What's +the matter with you now, my dear Prince?' + +Oh, Puddocky, this time you can't help me, for the task is beyond +even your power,' replied the Prince. + +Still,' answered the toad, you may as well tell me your +difficulty, for who knows but I mayn't be able to help you this +time also.' + +The Prince then told her the task they had been set to do. I'll +help you right enough, my dear Prince,' said the little toad; +just you go home, and I'll soon follow you.' With these words, +Puddocky, with a spring quite unlike her usual slow movements, +jumped into the water and disappeared. + +The Prince rose up and went sadly on his way, for he didn't +believe it possible that the little toad could really help him in +his present difficulty. He had hardly gone a few steps when he +heard a sound behind him, and, looking round, he saw a carriage +made of cardboard, drawn by six big rats, coming towards him. Two +hedgehogs rode in front as outriders, and on the box sat a fat +mouse as coachman, and behind stood two little frogs as footmen. +In the carriage itself sat Puddocky, who kissed her hand to the +Prince out of the window as she passed by. + +Sunk deep in thought over the fickleness of fortune that had +granted him two of his wishes and now seemed about to deny him the +last and best, the Prince hardly noticed the absurd equipage, and +still less did he feel inclined to laugh at its comic appearance. + +The carriage drove on in front of him for some time and then +turned a corner. But what was his joy and surprise when suddenly, +round the same corner, but coming towards him, there appeared a +beautiful coach drawn by six splendid horses, with outriders, +coachmen, footmen and other servants all in the most gorgeous +liveries, and seated in the carriage was the most beautiful woman +the Prince had ever seen, and in whom he at once recognised the +beautiful Parsley, for whom his heart had formerly burned. The +carriage stopped when it reached him, and the footmen sprang down +and opened the door for him. He got in and sat down beside the +beautiful Parsley, and thanked her heartily for her help, and told +her how much he loved her. + +And so he arrived at his father's capital, at the same moment as +his brothers who had returned with many carriage-loads of +beautiful women. But when they were all led before the King, the +whole Court with one consent awarded the prize of beauty to the +fair Parsley. + +The old King was delighted, and embraced his thrice fortunate son +and his new daughter-in-law tenderly, and appointed them as his +successors to the throne. But he commanded the other women to be +thrown into the water and drowned, like the bales of linen and the +little dogs. The Prince married Puddocky and reigned long and +happily with her, and if they aren't dead I suppose they are +living still. + + + + + +THE STORY OF HOK LEE AND THE DWARFS + + + +There once lived in a small town in China a man named Hok Lee. He +was a steady industrious man, who not only worked hard at his +trade, but did all his own house-work as well, for he had no wife +to do it for him. What an excellent industrious man is this Hok +Lee!' said his neighbours; how hard he works: he never leaves his +house to amuse himself or to take a holiday as others do!' + +But Hok Lee was by no means the virtuous person his neighbours +thought him. True, he worked hard enough by day, but at night, +when all respectable folk were fast asleep, he used to steal out +and join a dangerous band of robbers, who broke into rich people's +houses and carried off all they could lay hands on. + +This state of things went on for some time, and, though a thief +was caught now and then and punished, no suspicion ever fell on +Hok Lee, he was such a very respectable, hard-working man. + +Hok Lee had already amassed a good store of money as his share of +the proceeds of these robberies when it happened one morning on +going to market that a neighbour said to him: + +Why, Hok Lee, what is the matter with your face? One side of it +is all swelled up.' + +True enough, Hok Lee's right cheek was twice the size of his left, +and it soon began to feel very uncomfortable. + +I will bind up my face,' said Hok Lee; doubtless the warmth will +cure the swelling.' But no such thing. Next day it was worse, and +day by day it grew bigger and bigger till it was nearly as large +as his head and became very painful. + +Hok Lee was at his wits' ends what to do. Not only was his cheek +unsightly and painful, but his neighbours began to jeer and make +fun of him, which hurt his feelings very much indeed. + +One day, as luck would have it, a travelling doctor came to the +town. He sold not only all kinds of medicine, but also dealt in +many strange charms against witches and evil spirits. + +Hok Lee determined to consult him, and asked him into his house. + +After the doctor had examined him carefully, he spoke thus: This, +O Hok Lee, is no ordinary swelled face. I strongly suspect you +have been doing some wrong deed which has called down the anger of +the spirits on you. None of my drugs will avail to cure you, but, +if you are willing to pay me handsomely, I can tell you how you +may be cured.' + +Then Hok Lee and the doctor began to bargain together, and it was +a long time before they could come to terms. However, the doctor +got the better of it in the end, for he was determined not to part +with his secret under a certain price, and Hok Lee had no mind to +carry his huge cheek about with him to the end of his days. So he +was obliged to part with the greater portion of his ill-gotten +gains. + +When the Doctor had pocketed the money, he told Hok Lee to go on +the first night of the full moon to a certain wood and there to +watch by a particular tree. After a time he would see the dwarfs +and little sprites who live underground come out to dance. When +they saw him they would be sure to make him dance too. And mind +you dance your very best,' added the doctor. If you dance well +and please them they will grant you a petition and you can then +beg to be cured; but if you dance badly they will most likely do +you some mischief out of spite.' With that he took leave and +departed. + +Happily the first night of the full moon was near, and at the +proper time Hok Lee set out for the wood. With a little trouble he +found the tree the doctor had described, and, feeling nervous, he +climbed up into it. + +He had hardly settled himself on a branch when he saw the little +dwarfs assembling in the moonlight. They came from all sides, till +at length there appeared to be hundreds of them. They seemed in +high glee, and danced and skipped and capered about, whilst Hok +Lee grew so eager watching them that he crept further and further +along his branch till at length it gave a loud crack. All the +dwarfs stood still, and Hok Lee felt as if his heart stood still +also. + +Then one of the dwarfs called out, Someone is up in that tree. +Come down at once, whoever you are, or we must come and fetch +you.' + +In great terror, Hok Lee proceeded to come down; but he was so +nervous that he tripped near the ground and came rolling down in +the most absurd manner. When he had picked himself up, he came +forward with a low bow, and the dwarf who had first spoken and who +appeared to be the leader, said, Now, then, who art thou, and +what brings thee here?' + +So Hok Lee told him the sad story of his swelled cheek, and how he +had been advised to come to the forest and beg the dwarfs to cure +him. + +It is well,' replied the dwarf. We will see about that. First, +however, thou must dance before us. Should thy dancing please us, +perhaps we may be able to do something; but shouldst thou dance +badly, we shall assuredly punish thee, so now take warning and +dance away.' + +With that, he and all the other dwarfs sat down in a large ring, +leaving Hok Lee to dance alone in the middle. He felt half +frightened to death, and besides was a good deal shaken by his +fall from the tree and did not feel at all inclined to dance. But +the dwarfs were not to be trifled with. + +Begin!' cried their leader, and Begin!' shouted the rest in +chorus. + +So in despair Hok Lee began. First he hopped on one foot and then +on the other, but he was so stiff and so nervous that he made but +a poor attempt, and after a time sank down on the ground and vowed +he could dance no more. + +The dwarfs were very angry. They crowded round Hok Lee and abused +him. Thou to come here to be cured, indeed!' they cried, thou +hast brought one big cheek with thee, but thou shalt take away +two.' And with that they ran off and disappeared, leaving Hok Lee +to find his way home as best he might. + +He hobbled away, weary and depressed, and not a little anxious on +account of the dwarfs' threat. + +Nor were his fears unfounded, for when he rose next morning his +left cheek was swelled up as big as his right, and he could hardly +see out of his eyes. Hok Lee felt in despair, and his neighbours +jeered at him more than ever. The doctor, too, had disappeared, so +there was nothing for it but to try the dwarfs once more. + +He waited a month till the first night of the full moon came round +again, and then he trudged back to the forest, and sat down under +the tree from which he had fallen. He had not long to wait. Ere +long the dwarfs came trooping out till all were assembled. + +I don't feel quite easy,' said one; I feel as if some horrid +human being were near us.' + +When Hok Lee heard this he came forward and bent down to the +ground before the dwarfs, who came crowding round, and laughed +heartily at his comical appearance with his two big cheeks. + +What dost thou want?' they asked; and Hok Lee proceeded to tell +them of his fresh misfortunes, and begged so hard to be allowed +one more trial at dancing that the dwarfs consented, for there is +nothing they love so much as being amused. + +Now, Hok Lee knew how much depended on his dancing well, so he +plucked up a good spirit and began, first quite slowly, and faster +by degrees, and he danced so well and gracefully, and made such +new and wonderful steps, that the dwarfs were quite delighted with +him. + +They clapped their tiny hands, and shouted, Well done, Hok Lee, +well done, go on, dance more, for we are pleased.' + +And Hok Lee danced on and on, till he really could dance no more, +and was obliged to stop. + +Then the leader of the dwarfs said, We are well pleased, Hok Lee, +and as a recompense for thy dancing thy face shall be cured. +Farewell.' + +With these words he and the other dwarfs vanished, and Hok Lee, +putting his hands to his face, found to his great joy that his +cheeks were reduced to their natural size. The way home seemed +short and easy to him, and he went to bed happy, and resolved +never to go out robbing again. + +Next day the whole town was full of the news of Hok's sudden cure. +His neighbours questioned him, but could get nothing from him, +except the fact that he had discovered a wonderful cure for all +kinds of diseases. + +After a time a rich neighbour, who had been ill for some years, +came, and offered to give Hok Lee a large sum of money if he would +tell him how he might get cured. Hok Lee consented on condition +that he swore to keep the secret. He did so, and Hok Lee told him +of the dwarfs and their dances. + +The neighbour went off, carefully obeyed Hok Lee's directions, and +was duly cured by the dwarfs. Then another and another came to Hok +Lee to beg his secret, and from each he extracted a vow of secrecy +and a large sum of money. This went on for some years, so that at +length Hok Lee became a very wealthy man, and ended his days in +peace and prosperity. + +From the Chinese. + + + + + +THE STORY OF THE THREE BEARS + + + +Once upon a time there were Three Bears, who lived together in a +house of their own in a wood. One of them was a Little, Small, Wee +Bear; and one was a Middle-sized Bear, and the other was a Great, +Huge Bear. They had each a pot for their porridge, a little pot +for the Little, Small, Wee Bear; and a middle-sized pot for the +Middle Bear; and a great pot for the Great, Huge Bear. And they +had each a chair to sit in; a little chair for the Little, Small, +Wee Bear; and a middle-sized chair for the Middle Bear; and a +great chair for the Great, Huge Bear. And they had each a bed to +sleep in; a little bed for the Little, Small, Wee Bear; and a +middle-sized bed for the Middle Bear; and a great bed for the +Great, Huge Bear. + +One day, after they had made the porridge for their breakfast, and +poured it into their porridge-pots, they walked out into the wood +while the porridge was cooling, that they might not burn their +mouths by beginning too soon to eat it. And while they were +walking, a little old woman came to the house. She could not have +been a good, honest old woman; for, first, she looked in at the +window, and then she peeped in at the keyhole; and, seeing nobody +in the house, she lifted the latch. The door was not fastened, +because the bears were good bears, who did nobody any harm, and +never suspected that anybody would harm them. So the little old +woman opened the door and went in; and well pleased she was when +she saw the porridge on the table. If she had been a good little +old woman she would have waited till the bears came home, and +then, perhaps, they would have asked her to breakfast; for they +were good bears--a little rough or so, as the manner of bears is, +but for all that very good-natured and hospitable. But she was an +impudent, bad old woman, and set about helping herself. + +So first she tasted the porridge of the Great, Huge Bear, and that +was too hot for her; and she said a bad word about that. And then +she tasted the porridge of the Middle Bear; and that was too cold +for her; and she said a bad word about that too. And then she went +to the porridge of the Little, Small, Wee Bear, and tasted that; +and that was neither too hot nor too cold, but just right; and she +liked it so well, that she ate it all up: but the naughty old +woman said a bad word about the little porridge-pot, because it +did not hold enough for her. + +Then the little old woman sate down in the chair of the Great, +Huge Bear, and that was too hard for her. And then she sate down +in the chair of the Middle Bear, and that was too soft for her. +And then she sate down in the chair of the Little, Small, Wee +Bear, and that was neither too hard nor too soft, but just right. +So she seated herself in it, and there she sate till the bottom of +the chair came out, and down came she, plump upon the ground. And +the naughty old woman said a wicked word about that too. + +Then the little old woman went up stairs into the bed-chamber in +which the three bears slept. And first she lay down upon the bed +of the Great, Huge Bear; but that was too high at the head for +her. And next she lay down upon the bed of the Middle Bear; and +that was too high at the foot for her. And then she lay down upon +the bed of the Little, Small, Wee Bear; and that was neither too +high at the head, nor at the foot, but just right. So she covered +herself up comfortably, and lay there till she fell fast asleep. + +By this time the three bears thought their porridge would be cool +enough; so they came home to breakfast. Now the little old woman +had left the spoon of the Great, Huge Bear, standing in his +porridge. + +SOMEBODY HAS BEEN AT MY PORRIDGE!' + +said the Great, Huge Bear, in his great gruff voice. And when the +Middle Bear looked at his, he saw that the spoon was standing in +it too. They were wooden spoons; if they had been silver ones, the +naughty old woman would have put them in her pocket. + +Somebody Has Been At My Porridge!' + +said the Middle Bear, in his middle voice. + +Then the Little, Small, Wee Bear looked at his, and there was the +spoon in the porridge-pot, but the porridge was all gone. + +_Somebody has been at my porridge, and has eaten it all up_!' + +said the Little, Small Wee Bear, in his little, small wee voice. + +Upon this the three bears, seeing that some one had entered their +house, and eaten up the Little, Small, Wee Bear's breakfast, began +to look about them. Now the little old woman had not put the hard +cushion straight when she rose from the chair of the Great, Huge +Bear. + +SOMEBODY HAS BEEN SITTING IN MY CHAIR!' + +said the Great, Huge Bear, in his great, rough, gruff voice. + +And the little old woman had squatted down the soft cushion of the +Middle Bear. + +Somebody Has Been Sitting In My Chair!' + +said the Middle Bear, in his middle voice. + +And you know what the little old woman had done to the third +chair. + +_Somebody has been sitting in my chair, and has sate the bottom +of it out_!' + +said the Little, Small, Wee Bear, in his little, small, wee voice. + +Then the three bears thought it necessary that they should make +farther search; so they went up stairs into their bed-chamber. Now +the little old woman had pulled the pillow of the Great, Huge Bear +out of its place. + +SOMEBODY HAS BEEN LYING IN MY BED!' + +said the Great, Huge Bear, in his great, rough, gruff voice. + +And the little old woman had pulled the bolster of the Middle Bear +out of its place. + +Somebody Has Been Lying In My Bed!' + +said the Middle Bear in his middle voice. + +And when the Little, Small, Wee Bear came to look at his bed, +there was the bolster in its place, and the pillow in its place +upon the bolster, and upon the pillow was the little old woman's +ugly, dirty head,--which was not in its place, for she had no +business there. + +_Somebody has been lying in my bed,--and here she is_!' + +said the Little, Small, Wee Bear, in his little, small, wee voice. + +The little old woman had heard in her sleep the great, rough, +gruff voice of the Great, Huge Bear; but she was so fast asleep +that it was no more to her than the roaring of wind or the +rumbling of thunder. And she had heard the middle voice of the +Middle Bear, but it was only as if she had heard someone speaking +in a dream. But when she heard the little, small, wee voice of the +Little, Small, Wee Bear, it was so sharp, and so shrill, that it +awakened her at once. Up she started; and when she saw the Three +Bears on one side of the bed, she tumbled herself out at the +other, and ran to the window. Now the window was open, because the +bears, like good, tidy bears as they were, always opened their +bedchamber window when they got up in the morning. Out the little +old woman jumped; and whether she broke her neck in the fall, or +ran into the wood and was lost there, or found her way out of the +wood and was taken up by the constable and sent to the House of +Correction for a vagrant as she was, I cannot tell. But the Three +Bears never saw anything more of her. + +Southey. + + + + + +PRINCE VIVIEN AND THE PRINCESS PLACIDA + + + +Once upon a time there lived a King and Queen who loved one +another dearly. Indeed the Queen, whose name was Santorina, was so +pretty and so kind-hearted that it would have been a wonder if her +husband had not been fond of her, while King Gridelin himself was +a perfect bundle of good qualities, for the Fairy who presided at +his christening had summoned the shades of all his ancestors, and +taken something good from each of them to form his character. +Unfortunately, though, she had given him rather too much kindness +of heart, which is a thing that generally gets its possessor into +trouble, but so far all things had prospered with King Gridelin. +However, it was not to be expected such good fortune could last, +and before very long the Queen had a lovely little daughter who +was named Placida. Now the King, who thought that if she resembled +her mother in face and mind she would need no other gift, never +troubled to ask any of the Fairies to her christening, and this +offended them mortally, so that they resolved to punish him +severely for thus depriving them of their rights. So, to the +despair of King Gridelin, the Queen first of all became very ill, +and then disappeared altogether. If it had not been for the little +Princess there is no saying what would have become of him, he was +so miserable, but there she was to be brought up, and luckily the +good Fairy Lolotte, in spite of all that had passed, was willing +to come and take charge of her, and of her little cousin Prince +Vivien, who was an orphan and had been placed under the care of +his uncle, King Gridelin, when he was quite a baby. Although she +neglected nothing that could possibly have been done for them, +their characters, as they grew up, plainly proved that education +only softens down natural defects, but cannot entirely do away +with them; for Placida, who was perfectly lovely, and with a +capacity and intelligence which enabled her to learn and +understand anything that presented itself, was at the same time as +lazy and indifferent as it is possible for anyone to be, while +Vivien on the contrary was only too lively, and was for ever +taking up some new thing and as promptly tiring of it, and flying +off to something else which held his fickle fancy an equally short +time. As these two children would possibly inherit the kingdom, it +was natural that their people should take a great interest in +them, and it fell out that all the tranquil and peace-loving +citizens desired that Placida should one day be their Queen, while +the rash and quarrelsome hoped great things for Vivien. Such a +division of ideas seemed to promise civil wars and all kinds of +troubles to the State, and even in the Palace the two parties +frequently came into collision. As for the children themselves, +though they were too well brought up to quarrel, still the +difference in all their tastes and feelings made it impossible for +them to like one another, so there seemed no chance of their ever +consenting to be married, which was a pity, since that was the +only thing that would have satisfied both parties. Prince Vivien +was fully aware of the feeling in his favour, but being too +honourable to wish to injure his pretty cousin, and perhaps too +impatient and volatile to care to think seriously about anything, +he suddenly took it into his head that he would go off by himself +in search of adventure. Luckily this idea occurred to him when he +was on horseback, for he would certainly have set out on foot +rather than lose an instant. As it was, he simply turned his +horse's head, without another thought than that of getting out of +the kingdom as soon as possible. This abrupt departure was a great +blow to the State, especially as no one had any idea what had +become of the Prince. Even King Gridelin, who had never cared for +anything since the disappearance of Queen Santorina, was roused by +this new loss, and though he could not so much as look at the +Princess Placida without shedding floods of tears, he resolved to +see for himself what talents and capabilities she showed. He very +soon found out that in addition to her natural indolence, she was +being as much indulged and spoilt day by day as if the Fairy had +been her grandmother, and was obliged to remonstrate very +seriously upon the subject. Lolotte took his reproaches meekly, +and promised faithfully that she would not encourage the Princess +in her idleness and indifference any more. From this moment poor +Placida's troubles began! She was actually expected to choose her +own dresses, to take care of her jewels, and to find her own +amusements; but rather than take so much trouble she wore the same +old frock from morning till night, and never appeared in public if +she could possibly avoid it. However, this was not all, King +Gridelin insisted that the affairs of the kingdom should be +explained to her, and that she should attend all the councils and +give her opinion upon the matter in hand whenever it was asked of +her, and this made her life such a burden to her that she implored +Lolotte to take her away from a country where too much was +required of an unhappy Princess. + +The Fairy refused at first with a great show of firmness, but who +could resist the tears and entreaties of anyone so pretty as +Placida? It came to this in the end, that she transported the +Princess just as she was, cosily tucked up upon her favourite +couch, to her own Grotto, and this new disappearance left all the +people in despair, and Gridelin went about looking more distracted +than ever. But now let us return to Prince Vivien, and see what +his restless spirit has brought him to. Though Placida's kingdom +was a large one; his horse had carried him gallantly to the limit +of it, but it could go no further, and the Prince was obliged to +dismount and continue his journey on foot, though this slow mode +of progress tired his patience severely. + +After what seemed to him a very long time, he found himself all +alone in a vast forest, so dark and gloomy that he secretly +shuddered; however, he chose the most promising looking path he +could find, and marched along it courageously at his best speed, +but in spite of all his efforts, night fell before he reached the +edge of the wood. + +For some time he stumbled along, keeping to the path as well as he +could in the darkness, and just as he was almost wearied out he +saw before him a gleam of light. + +This sight revived his drooping spirits, and he made sure that he +was now close to the shelter and supper he needed so much, but the +more he walked towards the light the further away it seemed; +sometimes he even lost sight of it altogether, and you may imagine +how provoked and impatient he was by the time he finally arrived +at the miserable cottage from which the light proceeded. He gave a +loud knock at the door, and an old woman's voice answered from +within, but as she did not seem to be hurrying herself to open it +he redoubled his blows, and demanded to be let in imperiously, +quite forgetting that he was no longer in his own kingdom. But all +this had no effect upon the old woman, who only noticed all the +uproar he was making by saying gently: + +You must have patience.' + +He could hear that she really was coming to open the door to him, +only she was so very long about it. First she chased away her cat, +lest it should run away when the door was opened, then he heard +her talking to herself and made out that her lamp wanted trimming, +that she might see better who it was that knocked, and then that +it lacked fresh oil, and she must refill it. So what with one +thing and another she was an immense time trotting to and fro, and +all the while she now and again bade the Prince have patience. +When at last he stood within the little hut he saw with despair +that it was a picture of poverty, and that not a crumb of anything +eatable was to be seen, and when he explained to the old woman +that he was dying of hunger and fatigue she only answered +tranquilly that he must have patience. However, she presently +showed him a bundle of straw on which he could sleep. + +But what can I have to eat?' cried Prince Vivien sharply. + +Wait a little, wait a little,' she replied. If you will only +have patience I am just going out into the garden to gather some +peas: we will shell them at our leisure, then I will light a fire +and cook them, and when they are thoroughly done, we can enjoy +them peaceably; there is no hurry.' + +I shall have died of starvation by the time all that is done,' +said the Prince ruefully. + +Patience, patience,' said the old woman looking at him with her +slow gentle smile, I can't be hurried. "All things come at last +to him who waits;" you must have heard that often.' + +Prince Vivien was wild with aggravation, but there was nothing to +be done. + +Come then,' said the old woman, you shall hold the lamp to light +me while I pick the peas.' + +The Prince in his haste snatched it up so quickly that it went +out, and it took him a long time to light it again with two little +bits of glowing charcoal which he had to dig out from the pile of +ashes upon the hearth. However, at last the peas were gathered and +shelled, and the fire lighted, but then they had to be carefully +counted, since the old woman declared that she would cook fifty- +four, and no more. In vain did the Prince represent to her that he +was famished--that fifty-four peas would go no way towards +satisfying his hunger--that a few peas, more or less, surely could +not matter. It was quite useless, in the end he had to count out +the fifty-four, and worse than that, because he dropped one or two +in his hurry, he had to begin again from the very first, to be +sure the number was complete. As soon as they were cooked the old +dame took a pair of scales and a morsel of bread from the +cupboard, and was just about to divide it when Prince Vivien, who +really could wait no longer, seized the whole piece and ate it up, +saying in his turn, Patience.' + +You mean that for a joke,' said the old woman, as gently as ever, +but that is really my name, and some day you will know more about +me.' + +Then they each ate their twenty-seven peas, and the Prince was +surprised to find that he wanted nothing more, and he slept as +sweetly upon his bed of straw as he had ever done in his palace. + +In the morning the old woman gave him milk and bread for his +breakfast, which he ate contentedly, rejoicing that there was +nothing to be gathered, or counted, or cooked, and when he had +finished he begged her to tell him who she was. + +That I will, with pleasure,' she replied. But it will be a long +story.' + +Oh! if it's long, I can't listen,' cried the Prince. + +But,' said she, at your age, you should attend to what old +people say, and learn to have patience.' + +But, but,' said the Prince, in his most impatient tone, old +people should not be so long-winded! Tell me what country I have +got into, and nothing else.' + +With all my heart,' said she. You are in the Forest of the Black +Bird; it is here that he utters his oracles.' + +An Oracle,' cried the Prince. Oh! I must go and consult him.' +Thereupon he drew a handful of gold from his pocket, and offered +it to the old woman, and when she would not take it, he threw it +down upon the table and was off like a flash of lightning, without +even staying to ask the way. He took the first path that presented +itself and followed it at the top of his speed, often losing his +way, or stumbling over some stone, or running up against a tree, +and leaving behind him without regret the cottage which had been +as little to his taste as the character of its possessor. After +some time he saw in the distance a huge black castle which +commanded a view of the whole forest. The Prince felt certain that +this must be the abode of the Oracle, and just as the sun was +setting he reached its outermost gates. The whole castle was +surrounded by a deep moat, and the drawbridge and the gates, and +even the water in the moat, were all of the same sombre hue as the +walls and towers. Upon the gate hung a huge bell, upon which was +written in red letters: + +Mortal, if thou art curious to know thy fate, strike this bell, +and submit to what shall befall thee.' + +The Prince, without the smallest hesitation, snatched up a great +stone, and hammered vigorously upon the bell, which gave forth a +deep and terrible sound, the gate flew open, and closed again with +a thundering clang the moment the Prince had passed through it, +while from every tower and battlement rose a wheeling, screaming +crowd of bats which darkened the whole sky with their multitudes. +Anyone but Prince Vivien would have been terrified by such an +uncanny sight, but he strode stoutly forward till he reached the +second gate, which was opened to him by sixty black slaves covered +from head to foot in long mantles. + +He wished to speak to them, but soon discovered that they spoke an +utterly unknown language, and did not seem to understand a word he +said. This was a great aggravation to the Prince, who vas not +accustomed to keep his ideas to himself, and he positively found +himself wishing for his old friend Patience. However, he had to +follow his guides in silence, and they led him into a magnificent +hall; the floor was of ebony, the walls of jet, and all the +hangings were of black velvet, but the Prince looked round it in +vain for something to eat, and then made signs that he was hungry. +In the same manner he was respectfully given to understand that he +must wait, and after several hours the sixty hooded and shrouded +figures re-appeared, and conducted him with great ceremony, and +also very very slowly, to a banqueting hall, where they all placed +themselves at a long table. The dishes were arranged down the +centre of it, and with his usual impetuosity the Prince seized the +one that stood in front of him to draw it nearer, but soon found +that it was firmly fixed in its place. Then he looked at his +solemn and lugubrious neighbours, and saw that each one was +supplied with a long hollow reed through which he slowly sucked up +his portion, and the Prince was obliged to do the same, though he +found it a frightfully tedious process. After supper, they +returned as they had come to the ebony room, where he was +compelled to look on while his companions played interminable +games of chess, and not until he was nearly dying of weariness did +they, slowly and ceremoniously as before, conduct him to his +sleeping apartment. The hope of consulting the Oracle woke him +very early the next morning, and his first demand was to be +allowed to present himself before it, but, without replying, his +attendants conducted him to a huge marble bath, very shallow at +one end, and quite deep at the other, and gave him to understand +that he was to go into it. The Prince, nothing loth, was for +springing at once into deep water, but he was gently but forcibly +held back and only allowed to stand where it was about an inch +deep, and he was nearly wild with impatience when he found that +this process was to be repeated every day in spite of all he could +say or do, the water rising higher and higher by inches, so that +for sixty days he had to live in perpetual silence, ceremoniously +conducted to and fro, supping all his meals through the long reed, +and looking on at innumerable games of chess, the game of all +others which he detested most. But at last the water rose as high +as his chin, and his bath was complete. And that day the slaves in +their black robes, and each having a large bat perched upon his +head, marched in slow procession with the Prince in their midst, +chanting a melancholy song, to the iron gate that led into a kind +of Temple. At the sound of their chanting, another band of slaves +appeared, and took possession of the unhappy Vivien. + +They looked to him exactly like the ones he had left, except that +they moved more slowly still, and each one held a raven upon his +wrist, and their harsh croakings re-echoed through the dismal +place. Holding the Prince by the arms, not so much to do him +honour as to restrain his impatience, they proceeded by slow +degrees up the steps of the Temple, and when they at last reached +the top he thought his long waiting must be at an end. But on the +contrary, after slowly enshrouding him in a long black robe like +their own, they led him into the Temple itself, where he was +forced to witness numbers of lengthy rites and ceremonies. By this +time Vivien's active impatience had subsided into passive +weariness, his yawns were continual and scandalous, but nobody +heeded him, he stared hopelessly at the thick black curtain which +hung down straight in front of him, and could hardly believe his +eyes when it presently began to slide back, and he saw before him +the Black Bird. It was of enormous size, and was perched upon a +thick bar of iron which ran across from one side of the Temple to +the other. At the sight of it all the slaves fell upon their knees +and hid their faces, and when it had three times flapped its +mighty wings it uttered distinctly in Prince Vivien's own language +the words: + +Prince, your only chance of happiness depends upon that which is +most opposed to your own nature.' + +Then the curtain fell before it once more, and the Prince, after +many ceremonies, was presented with a raven which perched upon his +wrist, and was conducted slowly back to the iron gate. Here the +raven left him and he was handed over once more to the care of the +first band of slaves, while a large bat flickered down and settled +upon his head of its own accord, and so he was taken back to the +marble bath, and had to go through the whole process again, only +this time he began in deep water which receded daily inch by inch. +When this was over the slaves escorted him to the outer gate, and +took leave of him with every mark of esteem and politeness, to +which it is to be feared he responded but indifferently, since the +gate was no sooner opened than he took to his heels, and fled away +with all his might, his one idea being to put as much space as +possible between himself and the dreary place into which he had +ventured so rashly, just to consult a tedious Oracle who after all +had told him nothing. He actually reflected for about five seconds +on his folly, and came to the conclusion that it might sometimes +be advisable to think before one acted. + +After wandering about for several days until he was weary and +hungry, he at last succeeded in finding a way out of the forest, +and soon came to a wide and rapid river, which he followed, hoping +to find some means of crossing it, and it happened that as the sun +rose the next morning he saw something of a dazzling whiteness +moored out in the middle of the stream. Upon looking more +attentively at it he found that it was one of the prettiest little +ships he had ever seen, and the boat that belonged to it was made +fast to the bank quite close to him. The Prince was immediately +seized with the most ardent desire to go on board the ship, and +shouted loudly to attract the notice of her crew, but no one +answered. So he sprang into the little boat and rowed away without +finding it at all hard work, for the boat was made all of white +paper and was as light as a rose leaf. The ship was made of white +paper too, as the Prince presently discovered when he reached it. +He found not a soul on board, but there was a very cosy little bed +in the cabin, and an ample supply of all sorts of good things to +eat and drink, which he made up his mind to enjoy until something +new happened. Having been thoroughly well brought up at the court +of King Gridelin, of course he understood the art of navigation, +but when once he had started, the current carried the vessel down +at such a pace that before he knew where he was the Prince found +himself out at sea, and a wind springing up behind him just at +this moment soon drove him out of sight of land. By this time he +was somewhat alarmed, and did his best to put the ship about and +get back to the river, but wind and tide were too strong for him, +and he began to think of the number of times, from his childhood +up, that he had been warned not to meddle with water. But it was +too late now to do anything but wish vainly that he had stayed on +shore, and to grow heartily weary of the boat and the sea and +everything connected with it. These two things, however, he did +most thoroughly. To put the finishing touch to his misfortunes he +presently found himself becalmed in mid-ocean, a state of affairs +which would be considered trying by the most patient of men, so +you may imagine how it affected Prince Vivien! He even came to +wishing himself back at the Castle of the Black Bird, for there at +least he saw some living beings, whereas on board the white-paper +ship he was absolutely alone, and could not imagine how he was +ever to get away from his wearisome prison. However, after a very +long time, he did see land, and his impatience to be on shore was +so great that he at once flung himself over the ship's side that +he might reach it sooner by swimming. But this was quite useless, +for spring as far as he might from the vessel, it was always under +his feet again before he reached the water, and he had to resign +himself to his fate, and wait with what patience he could muster +until the winds and waves carried the ship into a kind of natural +harbour which ran far into the land. After his long imprisonment +at sea the Prince was delighted with the sight of the great trees +which grew down to the very edge of the water, and leaping lightly +on shore he speedily lost himself in the thick forest. When he had +wandered a long way he stopped to rest beside a clear spring of +water, but scarcely had he thrown himself down upon the mossy bank +when there was a great rustling in the bushes close by, and out +sprang a pretty little gazelle panting and exhausted, which fell +at his feet gasping out-- + +Oh! Vivien, save me!' + +The Prince in great astonishment leapt to his feet, and had just +time to draw his sword before he found himself face to face with a +large green lion which had been hotly pursuing the poor little +gazelle. Prince Vivien attacked it gallantly and a fierce combat +ensued, which, however, ended before long in the Prince's dealing +his adversary a terrific blow which felled him to the earth. As he +fell the lion whistled loudly three times with such force that the +forest rang again, and the sound must have been heard for more +than two leagues round, after which having apparently nothing more +to do in the world he rolled over on his side and died. The Prince +without paying any further heed to him or to his whistling +returned to the pretty gazelle, saying: + +Well! are you satisfied now? Since you can talk, pray tell me +instantly what all this is about, and how you happen to know my +name.' + +Oh, I must rest for a long time before I can talk,' she replied, +and beside, I very much doubt if you will have leisure to listen, +for the affair is by no means finished. In fact,' she continued in +the same languid tone, you had better look behind you now.' + +The Prince turned sharply round and to his horror saw a huge Giant +approaching with mighty strides, crying fiercely-- + +Who has made my lion whistle I should like to know?' + +I have,' replied Prince Vivien boldly, but I can answer for it +that he will not do it again!' + +At these words the Giant began to howl and lament. + +Alas, my poor Tiny, my sweet little pet,' he cried, but at least +I can avenge thy death.' + +Thereupon he rushed at the Prince, brandishing an immense serpent +which was coiled about his wrist. Vivien, without losing his +coolness, aimed a terrific blow at it with his sword, but no +sooner did he touch the snake than it changed into a Giant and the +Giant into a snake, with such rapidity that the Prince felt +perfectly giddy, and this happened at least half-a-dozen times, +until at last with a fortunate stroke he cut the serpent in +halves, and picking up one morsel flung it with all his force at +the nose of the Giant, who fell insensible on top of the lion, and +in an instant a thick black cloud rolled up which hid them from +view, and when it cleared away they had all disappeared. + +Then the Prince, without even waiting to sheathe his sword, rushed +back to the gazelle, crying: + +Now you have had plenty of time to recover your wits, and you +have nothing more to fear, so tell me who you are, and what this +horrible Giant, with his lion and his serpent, have to do with you +and for pity's sake be quick about it.' + +I will tell you with pleasure,' she answered, but where is the +hurry? I want you to come back with me to the Green Castle, but I +don't want to walk there, it is so far, and walking is so +fatiguing.' + +Let us set out at once then,' replied the Prince severely, or +else really I shall have to leave you where you are. Surely a +young and active gazelle like you ought to be ashamed of not being +able to walk a few steps. The further off this castle is the +faster we ought to walk, but as you don't appear to enjoy that, I +will promise that we will go gently, and we can talk by the way.' + +It would be better still if you would carry me,' said she +sweetly, but as I don't like to see people giving themselves +trouble, you may carry me, and make that snail carry you.' So +saying, she pointed languidly with one tiny foot at what the +Prince had taken for a block of stone, but now he saw that it was +a huge snail. + +What! I ride a snail!' cried the Prince; you are laughing at me, +and beside we should not get there for a year.' + +Oh! well then don't do it,' replied the gazelle, I am quite +willing to stay here. The grass is green, and the water clear. But +if I were you I should take the advice that was given me and ride +the snail.' + +So, though it did not please him at all, the Prince took the +gazelle in his arms, and mounted upon the back of the snail, which +glided along very peaceably, entirely declining to be hurried by +frequent blows from the Prince's heels. In vain did the gazelle +represent to him that she was enjoying herself very much, and that +this was the easiest mode of conveyance she had ever discovered. +Prince Vivien was wild with impatience, and thought that the Green +Castle would never be reached. However, at last, they did get +there, and everyone who was in it ran to see the Prince dismount +from his singular steed. + +But what was his surprise, when having at her request set the +gazelle gently down upon the steps which led up to the castle, he +saw her suddenly change into a charming Princess, and recognized +in her his pretty cousin Placida, who greeted him with her usual +tranquil sweetness. His delight knew no bounds, and he followed +her eagerly up into the castle, impatient to know what strange +events had brought her there. But after all he had to wait for the +Princess's story, for the inhabitants of the Green Lands, hearing +that the Giant was dead, ran to offer the kingdom to his +vanquisher, and Prince Vivien had to listen to various +complimentary harangues, which took a great deal of time, though +he cut them as short as politeness allowed--if not shorter. But at +last he was free to rejoin Placida, who at once began the story of +her adventures. + +After you had gone away,' said she, they tried to make me learn +how to govern the kingdom, which wearied me to death, so that I +begged and prayed Lolotte to take me away with her, and this she +presently did, but very reluctantly. However, having been +transported to her grotto upon my favourite couch, I spent several +delicious days, soothed by the soft green light, which was like a +beech wood in the spring, and by the murmuring of bees and the +tinkle of falling water. But alas! Lolotte was forced to go away +to a general assembly of the Fairies, and she came back in great +dismay, telling me that her indulgence to me had cost her dear, +for she had been severely reprimanded and ordered to hand me over +to the Fairy Mirlifiche, who was already taking charge of you, and +who had been much commended for her management of you.' + +Fine management, indeed,' interrupted the Prince, if it is to +her I owe all the adventures I have met with! But go on with your +story, my cousin. I can tell you all about my doings afterwards, +and then you can judge for yourself.' + +At first I was grieved to see Lolotte cry,' resumed the Princess, +but I soon found that grieving was very troublesome, so I thought +it better to be calm, and very soon afterwards I saw the Fairy +Mirlifiche arrive, mounted upon her great unicorn. She stopped +before the grotto and bade Lolotte bring me out to her, at which +she cried worse than ever, and kissed me a dozen times, but she +dared not refuse. I was lifted up on to the unicorn, behind +Mirlifiche, who said to me-- + +"Hold on tight, little girl, if you don't want to break your +neck." + +And, indeed, I had to hold on with all my might, for her horrible +steed trotted so violently that it positively took my breath away. +However, at last we stopped at a large farm, and the farmer and +his wife ran out as soon as they saw the Fairy, and helped us to +dismount. + +I knew that they were really a King and Queen, whom the Fairies +were punishing for their ignorance and idleness. You may imagine +that I was by this time half dead with fatigue, but Mirlifiche +insisted upon my feeding her unicorn before I did anything else. +To accomplish this I had to climb up a long ladder into the +hayloft, and bring down, one after another, twenty-four handfuls +of hay. Never, never before, did I have such a wearisome task! It +makes me shudder to think of it now, and that was not all. In the +same way I had to carry the twenty-four handfuls of hay to the +stable, and then it was supper time, and I had to wait upon all +the others. After that I really thought I should be allowed to go +peaceably to my little bed, but, oh dear no! First of all I had to +make it, for it was all in confusion, and then I had to make one +for the Fairy, and tuck her in, and draw the curtains round her, +beside rendering her a dozen little services which I was not at +all accustomed to. Finally, when I was perfectly exhausted by all +this toil, I was free to go to bed myself, but as I had never +before undressed myself, and really did not know how to begin, I +lay down as I was. Unfortunately, the Fairy found this out, and +just as I was falling into a sweet slumber, she made me get up +once more, but even then I managed to escape her vigilance, and +only took off my upper robe. Indeed, I may tell you in confidence, +that I always find disobedience answer very well. One is often +scolded, it is true, but then one has been saved some trouble. + +At the earliest dawn of day Mirlifiche woke me, and made me take +many journeys to the stable to bring her word how her unicorn had +slept, and how much hay he had eaten, and then to find out what +time it was, and if it was a fine day. I was so slow, and did my +errands so badly, that before she left she called the King and +Queen and said to them: + +"I am much more pleased with you this year. Continue to make the +best of your farm, if you wish to get back to your kingdom, and +also take care of this little Princess for me, and teach her to be +useful, that when I come I may find her cured of her faults. If +she is not--" + +Here she broke off with a significant look, and mounting my enemy +the unicorn, speedily disappeared. + +Then the King and Queen, turning to me, asked me what I could do. + +"Nothing at all, I assure you," I replied in a tone which really +ought to have convinced them, but they went on to describe various +employments, and tried to discover which of them would be most to +my taste. However, at last I persuaded them that to do nothing +whatever would be the only thing that would suit me, and that if +they really wanted to be kind to me, they would let me go to bed +and to sleep, and not tease me about doing anything. To my great +joy, they not only permitted this, but actually, when they had +their own meals, the Queen brought my portion up to me. But early +the next morning she appeared at my bedside, saying, with an +apologetic air: + +"My pretty child, I am afraid you must really make up your mind +to get up to-day. I know quite well how delightful it is to be +thoroughly idle, for when my husband and I were King and Queen we +did nothing at all from morning to night, and I sincerely hope +that it will not be long before those happy days will come again +for us. But at present we have not reached them, nor have you, and +you know from what the Fairy said that perhaps worse things may +happen to us if she is not obeyed. Make haste, I beg of you, and +come down to breakfast, for I have put by some delicious cream for +you." + +It was really very tiresome, but as there was no help for it I +went down! + +But the instant breakfast was over they began again their cuckoo- +cry of "What will you do?" In vain did I answer-- + +"Nothing at all, if it please you, madam." + +The Queen at last gave me a spindle and about four pounds of hemp +upon a distaff, and sent me out to keep the sheep, assuring me +that there could not be a pleasanter occupation, and that I could +take my ease as much as I pleased. I was forced to set out, very +unwillingly, as you may imagine, but I had not walked far before I +came to a shady bank in what seemed to me a charming place. I +stretched myself cosily upon the soft grass, and with the bundle +of hemp for a pillow slept as tranquilly as if there were no such +things as sheep in the world, while they for their part wandered +hither and thither at their own sweet will, as if there were no +such thing as a shepherdess, invading every field, and browsing +upon every kind of forbidden dainty, until the peasants, alarmed +by the havoc they were making, raised a clamour, which at last +reached the ears of the King and Queen, who ran out, and seeing +the cause of the commotion, hastily collected their flock. And, +indeed, the sooner the better, since they had to pay for all the +damage they had done. As for me I lay still and watched them run, +for I was very comfortable, and there I might be still if they had +not come up, all panting and breathless, and compelled me to get +up and follow them; they also reproached me bitterly, but I need +hardly tell you that they did not again entrust me with the flock. + +But whatever they found for me to do it was always the same +thing, I spoilt and mismanaged it all, and was so successful in +provoking even the most patient people, that one day I ran away +from the farm, for I was really afraid the Queen would be obliged +to beat me. When I came to the little river in which the King used +to fish, I found the boat tied to a tree, and stepping in I +unfastened it, and floated gently down with the current. The +gliding of the boat was so soothing that I did not trouble myself +in the least when the Queen caught sight of me and ran along the +bank, crying-- + +"My boat, my boat! Husband, come and catch the little Princess +who is running away with my boat!" + +The current soon carried me out of hearing of her cries, and I +dreamed to the song of the ripples and the whisper of the trees, +until the boat suddenly stopped, and I found it was stuck fast +beside a fresh green meadow, and that the sun was rising. In the +distance I saw some little houses which seemed to be built in a +most singular fashion, but as I was by this time very hungry I set +out towards them, but before I had walked many steps, I saw that +the air was full of shining objects which seemed to be fixed, and +yet I could not see what they hung from. + +I went nearer, and saw a silken cord hanging down to the ground, +and pulled it just because it was so close to my hand. Instantly +the whole meadow resounded to the melodious chiming of a peal of +silver bells, and they sounded so pretty that I sat down to +listen, and to watch them as they swung shining in the sunbeams. +Before they ceased to sound, came a great flight of birds, and +each one perching upon a bell added its charming song to the +concert. As they ended, I looked up and saw a tall and stately +dame advancing towards me, surrounded and followed by a vast flock +of every kind of bird. + +"Who are you, little girl," said she, "who dares to come where I +allow no mortal to live, lest my birds should be disturbed? Still, +if you are clever at anything," she added, "I might be able to put +up with your presence." + +"Madam," I answered, rising, "you may be very sure that I shall +not do anything to alarm your birds. I only beg you, for pity's +sake, to give me something to eat." + +"I will do that," she replied, "before I send you where you +deserve to go." + +And thereupon she despatched six jays, who were her pages, to +fetch me all sorts of biscuits, while some of the other birds +brought ripe fruits. In fact, I had a delicious breakfast, though +I do not like to be waited upon so quickly. It is so disagreeable +to be hurried. I began to think I should like very well to stay in +this pleasant country, and I said so to the stately lady, but she +answered with the greatest disdain: + +"Do you think I would keep you here? _You_! Why what do you +suppose would be the good of you in this country, where everybody +is wide-awake and busy? No, no, I have shown you all the +hospitality you will get from me." + +With these words she turned and gave a vigorous pull to the +silken rope which I mentioned before, but instead of a melodious +chime, there arose a hideous clanging which quite terrified me, +and in an instant a huge Black Bird appeared, which alighted at +the Fairy's feet, saying in a frightful voice-- + +"What do you want of me, my sister?" + +"I wish you to take this little Princess to my cousin, the Giant +of the Green Castle, at once," she replied, "and beg him from me +to make her work day and night upon his beautiful tapestry." + +At these words the great Bird snatched me up, regardless of my +cries, and flew off at a terrific pace-- + +Oh! you are joking, cousin,' interrupted Prince Vivien; you mean +as slowly as possible. I know that horrible Black Bird, and the +lengthiness of all his proceedings and surroundings.' + +Have it your own way,' replied Placida, tranquilly. I cannot +bear arguing. Perhaps, this was not even the same bird. At any +rate, he carried me off at a prodigious speed, and set me gently +down in this very castle of which you are now the master. We +entered by one of the windows, and when the Bird had handed me +over to the Giant from whom you have been good enough to deliver +me, and given the Fairy's message, it departed. + +Then the Giant turned to me, saying, + +"So you are an idler! Ah! well, we must teach you to work. You +won't be the first we have cured of laziness. See how busy all my +guests are." + +I looked up as he spoke, and saw that an immense gallery ran all +round the hall, in which were tapestry frames, spindles, skeins of +wool, patterns, and all necessary things. Before each frame about +a dozen people were sitting, hard at work, at which terrible sight +I fainted away, and as soon as I recovered they began to ask me +what I could do. + +It was in vain that I replied as before, and with the strongest +desire to be taken at my word, "Nothing at all." + +The Giant only said, + +"Then you must learn to do something; in this world there is +enough work for everybody." + +It appeared that they were working into the tapestry all the +stories the Fairies liked best, and they began to try and teach me +to help them, but from the first class, where they tried me to +begin with, I sank lower and lower, and not even the most simple +stitches could I learn. + +In vain they punished me by all the usual methods. In vain the +Giant showed me his menagerie, which was entirely composed of +children who would not work! Nothing did me any good, and at last +I was reduced to drawing water for the dyeing of the wools, and +even over that I was so slow that this morning the Giant flew into +a rage and changed me into a gazelle. He was just putting me into +the menagerie when I happened to catch sight of a dog, and was +seized with such terror that I fled away at my utmost speed, and +escaped through the outer court of the castle. The Giant, fearing +that I should be lost altogether, sent his green lion after me, +with orders to bring me back, cost what it might, and I should +certainly have let myself be caught, or eaten up, or anything, +rather than run any further, if I had not luckily met you by the +fountain. And oh!' concluded the Princess, how delightful it is +once more to be able to sit still in peace. I was so tired of +trying to learn things.' + +Prince Vivien said that, for his part, he had been kept a great +deal too still, and had not found it at all amusing, and then he +recounted all his adventures with breathless rapidity. How he had +taken shelter with Dame Patience, and consulted the Oracle, and +voyaged in the paper ship. Then they went hand in hand to release +all the prisoners in the castle, and all the Princes and +Princesses who were in cages in the menagerie, for the instant the +Green Giant was dead they had resumed their natural forms. As you +may imagine, they were all very grateful, and Princess Placida +entreated them never, never to do another stitch of work so long +as they lived, and they promptly made a great bonfire in the +courtyard, and solemnly burnt all the embroidery frames and +spinning wheels. Then the Princess gave them splendid presents, or +rather sat by while Prince Vivien gave them, and there were great +rejoicings in the Green Castle, and everyone did his best to +please the Prince and Princess. But with all their good +intentions, they often made mistakes, for Vivien and Placida were +never of one mind about their plans, so it was very confusing, and +they frequently found themselves obeying the Prince's orders, +very, very slowly, and rushing off with lightning speed to do +something that the Princess did not wish to have done at all, +until, by-and-by, the two cousins took to consulting with, and +consoling one another in all these little vexations, and at last +came to be so fond of each other that for Placida's sake Vivien +became quite patient, and for Vivien's sake Placida made the most +unheard-of exertions. But now the Fairies who had been watching +all these proceedings with interest, thought it was time to +interfere, and ascertain by further trials if this improvement was +likely to continue, and if they really loved one another. So they +caused Placida to seem to have a violent fever, and Vivien to +languish and grow dull, and made each of them very uneasy about +the other, and then, finding a moment when they were apart, the +Fairy Mirlifiche suddenly appeared to Placida, and said-- + +I have just seen Prince Vivien, and he seemed to me to be very +ill.' + +Alas! yes, madam,' she answered, and if you will but cure him, +you may take me back to the farm, or bring the Green Giant to life +again, and you shall see how obedient I will be.' + +If you really wish him to recover,' said the Fairy, you have +only to catch the Trotting Mouse and the Chaffinch-on-the-Wing and +bring them to me. Only remember that time presses!' + +She had hardly finished speaking before the Princess was rushing +headlong out of the castle gate, and the Fairy after watching her +till she was lost to sight, gave a little chuckle and went in +search of the Prince, who begged her earnestly to send him back to +the Black Castle, or to the paper boat if she would but save +Placida's life. The Fairy shook her head, and looked very grave. +She quite agreed with him, the Princess was in a bad way--But,' +said she, if you can find the Rosy Mole, and give him to her she +will recover.' So now it was the Prince's turn to set off in a +vast hurry, only as soon as he left the Castle he happened to go +in exactly the opposite direction to the one Placida had taken. +Now you can imagine these two devoted lovers hunting night and +day. The Princess in the woods, always running, always listening, +pursuing hotly after two creatures which seemed to her very hard +to catch, which she yet never ceased from pursuing. The Prince on +the other hand wandering continually across the meadows, his eyes +fixed upon the ground, attentive to every movement among the +moles. He was forced to walk slowly--slowly upon tip-toe, hardly +venturing to breathe. Often he stood for hours motionless as a +statue, and if the desire to succeed could have helped him he +would soon have possessed the Rosy Mole. But alas! all that he +caught were black and ordinary, though strange to say he never +grew impatient, but always seemed ready to begin the tedious hunt +again. But this changing of character is one of the most ordinary +miracles which love works. Neither the Prince nor the Princess +gave a thought to anything but their quest. It never even occurred +to them to wonder what country they had reached. So you may guess +how astonished they were one day, when having at last been +successful after their long and weary chase, they cried aloud at +the same instant: At last I have saved my beloved,' and then +recognising each other's voice looked up, and rushed to meet one +another with the wildest joy. Surprise kept them silent while for +one delicious moment they gazed into each other's eyes, and just +then who should come up but King Gridelin, for it was into his +kingdom they had accidentally strayed. He recognized them in his +turn and greeted them joyfully, but when they turned afterwards to +look for the Rosy Mole, the Chaffinch, and the Trotting-Mouse, +they had vanished, and in their places stood a lovely lady whom +they did not know, the Black Bird, and the Green Giant. King +Gridelin had no sooner set eyes upon the lady than with a cry of +joy he clasped her in his arms, for it was no other than his long- +lost wife, Santorina, about whose imprisonment in Fairyland you +may perhaps read some day. + +Then the Black Bird and the Green Giant resumed their natural +form, for they were enchanters, and up flew Lolotte and Mirlifiche +in their chariots, and then there was a great kissing and +congratulating, for everybody had regained someone he loved, +including the enchanters, who loved their natural forms dearly. +After this they repaired to the Palace, and the wedding of Prince +Vivien and Princess Placida was held at once with all the +splendour imaginable. + +King Gridelin and Queen Santorina, after all their experiences had +no further desire to reign, so they retired happily to a peaceful +place, leaving their kingdom to the Prince and Princess, who were +beloved by all their subjects, and found their greatest happiness +all their lives long in making other people happy. + +Nonchalante et Papillon + + + + + +LITTLE ONE-EYE, LITTLE TWO-EYES, AND LITTLE THREE-EYES + + + +There was once a woman who had three daughters, of whom the eldest +was called Little One-eye, because she had only one eye in the +middle of her forehead; and the second, Little Two-eyes, because +she had two eyes like other people; and the youngest, Little +Three-eyes, because she had three eyes, and _her_ third eye +was also in the middle of her forehead. But because Little Two- +eyes did not look any different from other children, her sisters +and mother could not bear her. They would say to her, You with +your two eyes are no better than common folk; you don't belong to +us.' They pushed her here, and threw her wretched clothes there, +and gave her to eat only what they left, and they were as unkind +to her as ever they could be. + +It happened one day that Little Two-eyes had to go out into the +fields to take care of the goat, but she was still quite hungry +because her sisters had given her so little to eat. So she sat +down in the meadow and began to cry, and she cried so much that +two little brooks ran out of her eyes. But when she looked up once +in her grief there stood a woman beside her who asked, Little +Two-eyes, what are you crying for?' Little Two-eyes answered, +Have I not reason to cry? Because I have two eyes like other +people, my sisters and my mother cannot bear me; they push me out +of one corner into another, and give me nothing to eat except what +they leave. To-day they have given me so little that I am still +quite hungry.' Then the wise woman said, Little Two-eyes, dry +your eyes, and I will tell you something so that you need never be +hungry again. Only say to your goat, + +"Little goat, bleat, Little table, appear," + +and a beautifully spread table will stand before you, with the +most delicious food on it, so that you can eat as much as you +want. And when you have had enough and don't want the little table +any more, you have only to say, + +"Little goat, bleat, Little table, away," + +and then it will vanish.' Then the wise woman went away. + +But Little Two-eyes thought, I must try at once if what she has +told me is true, for I am more hungry than ever'; and she said, + +Little goat, bleat, Little table appear,' + +and scarcely had she uttered the words, when there stood a little +table before her covered with a white cloth, on which were +arranged a plate, with a knife and fork and a silver spoon, and +the most beautiful dishes, which were smoking hot, as if they had +just come out of the kitchen. Then Little Two-eyes said the +shortest grace she knew, and set to work and made a good dinner. +And when she had had enough, she said, as the wise woman had told +her, + +Little goat, bleat, Little table, away,' + +and immediately the table and all that was on it disappeared +again. That is a splendid way of housekeeping,' thought Little +Two-eyes, and she was quite happy and contented. + +In the evening, when she went home with her goat, she found a +little earthenware dish with the food that her sisters had thrown +to her, but she did not touch it. The next day she went out again +with her goat, and left the few scraps which were given her. The +first and second times her sisters did not notice this, but when +it happened continually, they remarked it and said, Something is +the matter with Little Two-eyes, for she always leaves her food +now, and she used to gobble up all that was given her. She must +have found other means of getting food.' So in order to get at the +truth, Little One-eye was told to go out with Little Two-eyes when +she drove the goat to pasture, and to notice particularly what she +got there, and whether anyone brought her food and drink. + +Now when Little Two-eyes was setting out, Little One-eye came up +to her and said, I will go into the field with you and see if you +take good care of the goat, and if you drive him properly to get +grass.' But Little Two-eyes saw what Little One-eye had in her +mind, and she drove the goat into the long grass and said, Come, +Little One-eye, we will sit down here, and I will sing you +something.' + +Little One-eye sat down, and as she was very much tired by the +long walk to which she was not used, and by the hot day, and as +Little Two-eyes went on singing. + +Little One-eye, are you awake? Little One-eye, are you asleep?' + +she shut her one eye and fell asleep. When Little Two-eyes saw +that Little One-eye was asleep and could find out nothing, she +said, + +Little goat, bleat, Little table, appear,' + +and sat down at her table and ate and drank as much as she wanted. +Then she said again, + +Little goat, bleat, Little table, away.' + +and in the twinkling of an eye all had vanished. + +Little Two-eyes then woke Little One-eye and said, Little One- +eye, you meant to watch, and, instead, you went to sleep; in the +meantime the goat might have run far and wide. Come, we will go +home.' So they went home, and Little Two-eyes again left her +little dish untouched, and Little One-eye could not tell her +mother why she would not eat, and said as an excuse, I was so +sleepy out-of-doors.' + +The next day the mother said to Little Three-eyes, This time you +shall go with Little Two-eyes and watch whether she eats anything +out in the fields, and whether anyone brings her food and drink, +for eat and drink she must secretly.' So Little Three-eyes went to +Little Two-eyes and said, I will go with you and see if you take +good care of the goat, and if you drive him properly to get +grass.' But little Two-eyes knew what Little Three-eyes had in her +mind, and she drove the goat out into the tall grass and said, We +will sit down here, Little Three-eyes, and I will sing you +something.' Little Three-eyes sat down; she was tired by the walk +and the hot day, and Little Two-eyes sang the same little song +again: + +Little Three eyes, are you awake?' + +but instead of singing as she ought to have done, + +Little Three-eyes, are you asleep?' + +she sang, without thinking, + +Little _Two-eyes_, are you asleep?' + +She went on singing, + +Little Three-eyes, are you awake? Little _Two-eyes_, are you +asleep?' + +so that the two eyes of Little Three-eyes fell asleep, but the +third, which was not spoken to in the little rhyme, did not fall +asleep. Of course Little Three-eyes shut that eye also out of +cunning, to look as if she were asleep, but it was blinking and +could see everything quite well. + +And when Little Two-eyes thought that Little Three-eyes was sound +asleep, she said her rhyme, + +Little goat, bleat, Little table, appear,' + +and ate and drank to her heart's content, and then made the table +go away again, by saying, + +Little goat, bleat, Little table, away.' + +But Little Three-eyes had seen everything. Then Little Two-eyes +came to her, and woke her and said, Well, Little Three-eyes, have +you been asleep? You watch well! Come, we will go home.' When they +reached home, Little Two-eyes did not eat again, and Little Three- +eyes said to the mother, I know now why that proud thing eats +nothing. When she says to the goat in the field, + +"Little goat, bleat, Little table, appear," + +a table stands before her, spread with the best food, much better +than we have; and when she has had enough, she says, + +"Little goat, bleat, Little table, away," + +and everything disappears again. I saw it all exactly. She made +two of my eyes go to sleep with a little rhyme, but the one in my +forehead remained awake, luckily!' + +Then the envious mother cried out, Will you fare better than we +do? you shall not have the chance to do so again!' and she fetched +a knife, and killed the goat. + +When Little Two-eyes saw this, she went out full of grief, and sat +down in the meadow and wept bitter tears. Then again the wise +woman stood before her, and said, Little Two-eyes, what are you +crying for?' Have I not reason to cry?' she answered, the goat, +which when I said the little rhyme, spread the table so +beautifully, my mother has killed, and now I must suffer hunger +and want again.' The wise woman said, Little Two-eyes, I will +give you a good piece of advice. Ask your sisters to give you the +heart of the dead goat, and bury it in the earth before the house- +door; that will bring you good luck.' Then she disappeared, and +Little Two-eyes went home, and said to her sisters, Dear sisters, +do give me something of my goat; I ask nothing better than its +heart.' Then they laughed and said, You can have that if you want +nothing more.' And Little Two-eyes took the heart and buried it in +the evening when all was quiet, as the wise woman had told her, +before the house-door. The next morning when they all awoke and +came to the house-door, there stood a most wonderful tree, which +had leaves of silver and fruit of gold growing on it--you never +saw anything more lovely and gorgeous in your life! But they did +not know how the tree had grown up in the night; only Little Two- +eyes knew that it had sprung from the heart of the goat, for it +was standing just where she had buried it in the ground. Then the +mother said to Little One-eye, Climb up, my child, and break us +off the fruit from the tree.' Little One-eye climbed up, but just +when she was going to take hold of one of the golden apples the +bough sprang out of her hands; and this happened every time, so +that she could not break off a single apple, however hard she +tried. Then the mother said, Little Three-eyes, do you climb up; +you with your three eyes can see round better than Little One- +eye.' So Little One-eye slid down, and Little Three-eyes climbed +up; but she was not any more successful; look round as she might, +the golden apples bent themselves back. At last the mother got +impatient and climbed up herself, but she was even less successful +than Little One-eye and Little Three-eyes in catching hold of the +fruit, and only grasped at the empty air. Then Little Two-eyes +said, I will just try once, perhaps I shall succeed better.' The +sisters called out, You with your two eyes will no doubt +succeed!' But Little Two-eyes climbed up, and the golden apples +did not jump away from her, but behaved quite properly, so that +she could pluck them off, one after the other, and brought a whole +apron-full down with her. The mother took them from her, and, +instead of behaving better to poor Little Two-eyes, as they ought +to have done, they were jealous that she only could reach the +fruit and behaved still more unkindly to her. + +It happened one day that when they were all standing together by +the tree that a young knight came riding along. Be quick, Little +Two-eyes,' cried the two sisters, creep under this, so that you +shall not disgrace us,' and they put over poor Little Two-eyes as +quickly as possible an empty cask, which was standing close to the +tree, and they pushed the golden apples which she had broken off +under with her. When the knight, who was a very handsome young +man, rode up, he wondered to see the marvellous tree of gold and +silver, and said to the two sisters, Whose is this beautiful +tree? Whoever will give me a twig of it shall have whatever she +wants.' Then Little One-eye and Little Three-eyes answered that +the tree belonged to them, and that they would certainly break him +off a twig. They gave themselves a great deal of trouble, but in +vain; the twigs and fruit bent back every time from their hands. +Then the knight said, It is very strange that the tree should +belong to you, and yet that you have not the power to break +anything from it!' But they would have that the tree was theirs; +and while they were saying this, Little Two-eyes rolled a couple +of golden apples from under the cask, so that they lay at the +knight's feet, for she was angry with Little One-eye and Little +Three-eyes for not speaking the truth. When the knight saw the +apples he was astonished, and asked where they came from. Little +One-eye and Little Three-eyes answered that they had another +sister, but she could not be seen because she had only two eyes, +like ordinary people. But the knight demanded to see her, and +called out, Little Two-eyes, come forth.' Then Little Two-eyes +came out from under the cask quite happily, and the knight was +astonished at her great beauty, and said, Little Two-eyes, I am +sure you can break me off a twig from the tree.' Yes,' answered +Little Two-eyes, I can, for the tree is mine.' So she climbed up +and broke off a small branch with its silver leaves and golden +fruit without any trouble, and gave it to the knight. Then he +said, Little Two-eyes, what shall I give you for this?' Ah,' +answered Little Two-eyes, I suffer hunger and thirst, want and +sorrow, from early morning till late in the evening; if you would +take me with you, and free me from this, I should be happy!' Then +the knight lifted Little Two-eyes on his horse, and took her home +to his father's castle. There he gave her beautiful clothes, and +food and drink, and because he loved her so much he married her, +and the wedding was celebrated with great joy. + +When the handsome knight carried Little Two-eyes away with him, +the two sisters envied her good luck at first. But the wonderful +tree is still with us, after all,' they thought, and although we +cannot break any fruit from it, everyone will stop and look at it, +and will come to us and praise it; who knows whether _we_ may +not reap a harvest from it?' But the next morning the tree had +flown, and their hopes with it; and when Little Two-eyes looked +out of her window there it stood underneath, to her great delight. +Little Two-eyes lived happily for a long time. Once two poor women +came to the castle to beg alms. Then Little Two-eyes looked at +then and recognised both her sisters, Little One-eye and Little +Three-eyes, who had become so poor that they came to beg bread at +her door. But Little Two-eyes bade them welcome, and was so good +to them that they both repented from their hearts of having been +so unkind to their sister. + +Grimm. + + + + + +JORINDE AND JORINGEL + + + +There was once upon a time a castle in the middle of a thick wood +where lived an old woman quite alone, for she was an enchantress. +In the day-time she changed herself into a cat or a night-owl, but +in the evening she became like an ordinary woman again. She could +entice animals and birds to come to her, and then she would kill +and cook them. If any youth came within a hundred paces of the +castle, he was obliged to stand still, and could not stir from the +spot till she set him free; but if a pretty girl came within this +boundary, the old enchantress changed her into a bird, and shut +her up in a wicker cage, which she put in one of the rooms in the +castle. She had quite seven thousand of such cages in the castle +with very rare birds in them. + +Now, there was once a maiden called Jorinde, who was more +beautiful than other maidens. She and a youth named Joringel, who +was just as good-looking as she was, were betrothed to one +another. Their greatest delight was to be together, and so that +they might get a good long talk, they went one evening for a walk +in the wood. Take care,' said Joringel, not to come too close to +the castle.' It was a beautiful evening; the sun shone brightly +between the stems of the trees among the dark green leaves of the +forest, and the turtle-dove sang clearly on the old maybushes. + +Jorinde wept from time to time, and she sat herself down in the +sunshine and lamented, and Joringel lamented too. They felt as sad +as if they had been condemned to die; they looked round and got +quite confused, and did not remember which was their way home. +Half the sun was still above the mountain and half was behind it +when Joringel looked through the trees and saw the old wall of the +castle quite near them. He was terrified and half dead with +fright. Jorinde sang: + +My little bird with throat so red Sings sorrow, sorrow, sorrow; +He sings to the little dove that's dead, Sings sorrow, sor--jug, +jug, jug.' + +Joringel looked up at Jorinde. She had been changed into a +nightingale, who was singing jug, jug.' A night-owl with glowing +eyes flew three times round her, and screeched three times tu- +whit, tu-whit, tu-whoo.' Joringel could not stir; he stood there +like a stone; he could not weep, or speak, or move hand or foot. +Now the sun set; the owl flew into a bush, and immediately an old, +bent woman came out of it; she was yellow-skinned and thin, and +had large red eyes and a hooked nose, which met her chin. She +muttered to herself, caught the nightingale, and carried her away +in her hand. Joringel could say nothing; he could not move from +the spot, and the nightingale was gone. At last the woman came +back again, and said in a gruff voice, Good evening, Zachiel; +when the young moon shines in the basket, you are freed early, +Zachiel.' Then Joringel was free. He fell on his knees before the +old woman and implored her to give him back his Jorinde, but she +said he should never have her again, and then went away. He called +after her, he wept and lamented, but all in vain. What is to +become of me!' he thought. Then he went away, and came at last to +a strange village, where he kept sheep for a long time. He often +went round the castle while he was there, but never too close. At +last he dreamt one night that he had found a blood-red flower, +which had in its centre a beautiful large pearl. He plucked this +flower and went with it to the castle; and there everything which +he touched with the flower was freed from the enchantment, and he +got his Jorinde back again through it. When he awoke in the +morning he began to seek mountain and valley to find such a +flower. He sought it for eight days, and on the ninth early in the +morning he found the blood-red flower. In its centre was a large +dew-drop, as big as the most lovely pearl. He travelled day and +night with this flower till he arrived at the castle. When he came +within a hundred paces of it he did not cease to be able to move, +but he went on till he reached the gate. He was delighted at his +success, touched the great gate with the flower, and it sprung +open. He entered, passed through the courtyard, and then stopped +to listen for the singing of the birds; at last he heard it. He +went in and found the hall in which was the enchantress, and with +her seven thousand birds in their wicker cages. When she saw +Joringel she was furious, and breathed out poison and gall at him, +but she could not move a step towards him. He took no notice of +her, and went and looked over the cages of birds; but there were +many hundred nightingales, and how was he to find his Jorinde from +among them? Whilst he was considering, he observed the old witch +take up a cage secretly and go with it towards the door. Instantly +he sprang after her, touched the cage with the flower, and the old +woman as well. Now she could no longer work enchantments, and +there stood Jorinde before him, with her arms round his neck, and +more beautiful than ever. Then he turned all the other birds again +into maidens, and he went home with his Jorinde, and they lived a +long and happy life. + +Grimm. + + + + + +ALLERLEIRAUH; OR, THE MANY-FURRED CREATURE + + + +There was once upon a time a King who had a wife with golden hair, +and she was so beautiful that you couldn't find anyone like her in +the world. It happened that she fell ill, and when she felt that +she must soon die, she sent for the King, and said, If you want +to marry after my death, make no one queen unless she is just as +beautiful as I am, and has just such golden hair as I have. +Promise me this.' After the King had promised her this, she closed +her eyes and died. + +For a long time the King was not to be comforted, and he did not +even think of taking a second wife. At last his councillors said, +The King _must_ marry again, so that we may have a queen.' +So messengers were sent far and wide to seek for a bride equal to +the late Queen in beauty. But there was no one in the wide world, +and if there had been she could not have had such golden hair. +Then the messengers came home again, not having been able to find +a queen. + +Now, the King had a daughter, who was just as beautiful as her +dead mother, and had just such golden hair. One day when she had +grown up, her father looked at her, and saw that she was exactly +like her mother, so he said to his councillors, I will marry my +daughter to one of you, and she shall be queen, for she is exactly +like her dead mother, and when I die her husband shall be king.' +But when the Princess heard of her father's decision, she was not +at all pleased, and said to him, Before I do your bidding, I must +have three dresses; one as golden as the sun, one as silver as the +moon, and one as shining as the stars. Besides these, I want a +cloak made of a thousand different kinds of skin; every animal in +your kingdom must give a bit of his skin to it.' But she thought +to herself, This will be quite impossible, and I shall not have +to marry someone I do not care for.' The King, however, was not to +be turned from his purpose, and he commanded the most skilled +maidens in his kingdom to weave the three dresses, one as golden +as the sun, and one as silver as the moon, and one as shining as +the stars; and he gave orders to all his huntsmen to catch one of +every kind of beast in the kingdom, and to get a bit of its skin +to make the cloak of a thousand pieces of fur. At last, when all +was ready, the King commanded the cloak to be brought to him, and +he spread it out before the Princess, and said, Tomorrow shall be +your wedding-day.' When the Princess saw that there was no more +hope of changing her father's resolution, she determined to flee +away. In the night, when everyone else was sleeping, she got up +and took three things from her treasures, a gold ring, a little +gold spinning-wheel, and a gold reel; she put the sun, moon, and +star dresses in a nut-shell, drew on the cloak of many skins, and +made her face and hands black with soot. Then she commended +herself to God, and went out and travelled the whole night till +she came to a large forest. And as she was very much tired she sat +down inside a hollow tree and fell asleep. + +The sun rose and she still slept on and on, although it was nearly +noon. Now, it happened that the king to whom this wood belonged +was hunting in it. When his dogs came to the tree, they sniffed, +and ran round and round it, barking. The King said to the +huntsmen, See what sort of a wild beast is in there.' The +huntsmen went in, and then came back and said, In the hollow tree +there lies a wonderful animal that we don't know, and we have +never seen one like it; its skin is made of a thousand pieces of +fur; but it is lying down asleep.' The King said, See if you can +catch it alive, and then fasten it to the cart, and we will take +it with us.' When the huntsmen seized the maiden, she awoke and +was frightened, and cried out to them, I am a poor child, +forsaken by father and mother; take pity on me, and let me go with +you.' Then they said to her, Many-furred Creature, you can work +in the kitchen; come with us and sweep the ashes together.' So +they put her in the cart and they went back to the palace. There +they showed her a tiny room under the stairs, where no daylight +came, and said to her, Many-furred Creature, you can live and +sleep here.' Then she was sent into the kitchen, where she carried +wood and water, poked the fire, washed vegetables, plucked fowls, +swept up the ashes, and did all the dirty work. + +So the Many-furred Creature lived for a long time in great +poverty. Ah, beautiful King's daughter, what is going to befall +you now? + +It happened once when a great feast was being held in the palace, +that she said to the cook, Can I go upstairs for a little bit and +look on? I will stand outside the doors.' The cook replied, Yes, +you can go up, but in half-an-hour you must be back here to sweep +up the ashes.' Then she took her little oil-lamp, and went into +her little room, drew off her fur cloak, and washed off the soot +from her face and hands, so that her beauty shone forth, and it +was as if one sunbeam after another were coming out of a black +cloud. Then she opened the nut, and took out the dress as golden +as the sun. And when she had done this, she went up to the feast, +and everyone stepped out of her way, for nobody knew her, and they +thought she must be a King's daughter. But the King came towards +her and gave her his hand, and danced with her, thinking to +himself, My eyes have never beheld anyone so fair!' When the +dance was ended, she curtseyed to him, and when the King looked +round she had disappeared, no one knew whither. The guards who +were standing before the palace were called and questioned, but no +one had seen her. + +She had run to her little room and had quickly taken off her +dress, made her face and hands black, put on the fur cloak, and +was once more the Many-furred Creature. When she came into the +kitchen and was setting about her work of sweeping the ashes +together, the cook said to her, Let that wait till to-morrow, and +just cook the King's soup for me; I want to have a little peep at +the company upstairs; but be sure that you do not let a hair fall +into it, otherwise you will get nothing to eat in future!' So the +cook went away, and the Many-furred Creature cooked the soup for +the King. She made a bread-soup as well as she possibly could, and +when it was done, she fetched her gold ring from her little room, +and laid it in the tureen in which the soup was to be served up. + +When the dance was ended, the King had his soup brought to him and +ate it, and it was so good that he thought he had never tasted +such soup in his life. But when he came to the bottom of the dish +he saw a gold ring lying there, and he could not imagine how it +got in. Then he commanded the cook to be brought before him. The +cook was terrified when he heard the command, and said to the +Many-furred Creature, You must have let a hair fall into the +soup, and if you have you deserve a good beating!' When he came +before the King, the King asked who had cooked the soup. The cook +answered, I cooked it.' But the King said, That's not true, for +it was quite different and much better soup than you have ever +cooked.' Then the cook said, I must confess; _I_ did not +cook the soup; the Many-furred Creature did.' Let her be brought +before me,' said the King. When the Many-furred Creature came, the +King asked her who she was. I am a poor child without father or +mother.' Then he asked her, What do you do in my palace?' I am +of no use except to have boots thrown at my head.' How did you +get the ring which was in the soup?' he asked. I know nothing at +all about the ring,' she answered. So the King could find out +nothing, and was obliged to send her away. + +After a time there was another feast, and the Many-furred Creature +begged the cook as at the last one to let her go and look on. He +answered, Yes, but come back again in half-an-hour and cook the +King the bread-soup that he likes so much.' So she ran away to her +little room, washed herself quickly, took out of the nut the dress +as silver as the moon and put it on. Then she went upstairs +looking just like a King's daughter, and the King came towards +her, delighted to see her again, and as the dance had just begun, +they danced together. But when the dance was ended, she +disappeared again so quickly that the King could not see which way +she went. She ran to her little room and changed herself once more +into the Many-furred Creature, and went into the kitchen to cook +the bread-soup. When the cook was upstairs, she fetched the golden +spinning-wheel and put it in the dish so that the soup was poured +over it. It was brought to the King, who ate it, and liked it as +much as the last time. He had the cook sent to him, and again he +had to confess that the Many-furred Creature had cooked the soup. +Then the Many-furred Creature came before the King, but she said +again that she was of no use except to have boots thrown at her +head, and that she knew nothing at all of the golden spinning- +wheel. + +When the King had a feast for the third time, things did not turn +out quite the same as at the other two. The cook said, You must +be a witch, Many-furred Creature, for you always put something in +the soup, so that it is much better and tastes nicer to the King +than any that I cook.' But because she begged hard, he let her go +up for the usual time. Now she put on the dress as shining as the +stars, and stepped into the hall in it. + +The King danced again with the beautiful maiden, and thought she +had never looked so beautiful. And while he was dancing, he put a +gold ring on her finger without her seeing it, and he commanded +that the dance should last longer than usual. When it was finished +he wanted to keep her hands in his, but she broke from him, and +sprang so quickly away among the people that she vanished from his +sight. She ran as fast as she could to her little room under the +stairs, but because she had stayed too long beyond the half-hour, +she could not stop to take off the beautiful dress, but only threw +the fur cloak over it, and in her haste she did not make herself +quite black with the soot, one finger remaining white. The Many- +furred Creature now ran into the kitchen, cooked the King's bread- +soup, and when the cook had gone, she laid the gold reel in the +dish. When the King found the reel at the bottom, he had the Many- +furred Creature brought to him, and then he saw the white finger, +and the ring which he had put on her hand in the dance. Then he +took her hand and held her tightly, and as she was trying to get +away, she undid the fur-cloak a little bit and the star-dress +shone out. The King seized the cloak and tore it off her. Her +golden hair came down, and she stood there in her full splendour, +and could not hide herself away any more. And when the soot and +ashes had been washed from her face, she looked more beautiful +than anyone in the world. But the King said, You are my dear +bride, and we will never be separated from one another.' So the +wedding was celebrated and they lived happily ever after. + +Grimm. + + + + + +THE TWELVE HUNTSMEN + + + +Once upon a time there was a King's son who was engaged to a +Princess whom he dearly loved. One day as he sat by her side +feeling very happy, he received news that his father was lying at +the point of death, and desired to see him before his end. So he +said to his love: Alas! I must go off and leave you, but take +this ring and wear it as a remembrance of me, and when I am King I +will return and fetch you home.' + +Then he rode off, and when he reached his father he found him +mortally ill and very near death. + +The King said: Dearest son, I have desired to see you again +before my end. Promise me, I beg of you, that you will marry +according to my wishes'; and he then named the daughter of a +neighbouring King who he was anxious should be his son's wife. The +Prince was so overwhelmed with grief that he could think of +nothing but his father, and exclaimed: Yes, yes, dear father, +whatever you desire shall be done.' Thereupon the King closed his +eyes and died. + +After the Prince had been proclaimed King, and the usual time of +mourning had elapsed, he felt that he must keep the promise he had +made to his father, so he sent to ask for the hand of the King's +daughter, which was granted to him at once. + +Now, his first love heard of this, and the thought of her lover's +desertion grieved her so sadly that she pined away and nearly +died. Her father said to her: My dearest child, why are you so +unhappy? If there is anything you wish for, say so, and you shall +have it.' + +His daughter reflected for a moment, and then said: Dear father, +I wish for eleven girls as nearly as possible of the same height, +age, and appearance as myself.' + +Said the King: If the thing is possible your wish shall be +fulfilled'; and he had his kingdom searched till he found eleven +maidens of the same height, size, and appearance as his daughter. + +Then the Princess desired twelve complete huntsmen's suits to be +made, all exactly alike, and the eleven maidens had to dress +themselves in eleven of the suits, while she herself put on the +twelfth. After this she took leave of her father, and rode off +with her girls to the court of her former lover. + +Here she enquired whether the King did not want some huntsmen, and +if he would not take them all into his service. The King saw her +but did not recognize her, and as he thought them very good- +looking young people, he said, Yes, he would gladly engage them +all.' So they became the twelve royal huntsmen. + +Now, the King had a most remarkable Lion, for it knew every hidden +or secret thing. + +One evening the Lion said to the King: So you think you have got +twelve huntsmen, do you?' + +Yes, certainly,' said the King, they _are_ twelve +huntsmen.' + +There you are mistaken,' said the Lion; they are twelve +maidens.' + +That cannot possibly be,' replied the King; how do you mean to +prove that?' + +Just have a number of peas strewed over the floor of your ante- +chamber,' said the Lion, and you will soon see. Men have a +strong, firm tread, so that if they happen to walk over peas not +one will stir, but girls trip, and slip, and slide, so that the +peas roll all about.' + +The King was pleased with the Lion's advice, and ordered the peas +to be strewn in his ante-room. + +Fortunately one of the King's servants had become very partial to +the young huntsmen, and hearing of the trial they were to be put +to, he went to them and said: The Lion wants to persuade the King +that you are only girls'; and then told them all the plot. + +The King's daughter thanked him for the hint, and after he was +gone she said to her maidens: Now make every effort to tread +firmly on the peas.' + +Next morning, when the King sent for his twelve huntsmen, and they +passed through the ante-room which was plentifully strewn with +peas, they trod so firmly and walked with such a steady, strong +step that not a single pea rolled away or even so much as stirred. +After they were gone the King said to the Lion: There now--you +have been telling lies--you see yourself they walk like men.' + +Because they knew they were being put to the test,' answered the +Lion; and so they made an effort; but just have a dozen spinning- +wheels placed in the ante-room. When they pass through you'll see +how pleased they will be, quite unlike any man.' + +The King was pleased with the advice, and desired twelve spinning- +wheels to be placed in his ante-chamber. + +But the good-natured servant went to the huntsmen and told them +all about this fresh plot. Then, as soon as the King's daughter +was alone with her maidens, she exclaimed: Now, pray make a great +effort and don't even _look_ at those spinning-wheels.' + +When the King sent for his twelve huntsmen next morning they +walked through the ante-room without even casting a glance at the +spinning-wheels. + +Then the King said once more to the Lion: You have deceived me +again; they _are_ men, for they never once looked at the +spinning-wheels.' + +The Lion replied: They knew they were being tried, and they did +violence to their feelings.' But the King declined to believe in +the Lion any longer. + +So the twelve huntsmen continued to follow the King, and he grew +daily fonder of them. One day whilst they were all out hunting it +so happened that news was brought that the King's intended bride +was on her way and might soon be expected. When the true bride +heard of this she felt as though a knife had pierced her heart, +and she fell fainting to the ground. The King, fearing something +had happened to his dear huntsman, ran up to help, and began +drawing off his gloves. Then he saw the ring which he had given to +his first love, and as he gazed into her face he knew her again, +and his heart was so touched that he kissed her, and as she opened +her eyes, he cried: I am thine and thou art mine, and no power on +earth can alter that.' + +To the other Princess he despatched a messenger to beg her to +return to her own kingdom with all speed. For,' said he, I have +got a wife, and he who finds an old key again does not require a +new one.' + +Thereupon the wedding was celebrated with great pomp, and the Lion +was restored to the royal favour, for after all he had told the +truth. + +Grimm. + + + + + +SPINDLE, SHUTTLE, AND NEEDLE + + + +Once upon a time there lived a girl who lost her father and mother +when she was quite a tiny child. Her godmother lived all alone in +a little cottage at the far end of the village, and there she +earned her living by spinning, weaving, and sewing. The old woman +took the little orphan home with her and brought her up in good, +pious, industrious habits. + +When the girl was fifteen years old, her godmother fell ill, and, +calling the child to her bedside, she said: My dear daughter, I +feel that my end is near. I leave you my cottage, which will, at +least, shelter you, and also my spindle, my weaver's shuttle, and +my needle, with which to earn your bread.' + +Then she laid her hands on the girl's head, blessed her, and +added: Mind and be good, and then all will go well with you.' +With that she closed her eyes for the last time, and when she was +carried to her grave the girl walked behind her coffin weeping +bitterly, and paid her all the last honours. + +After this the girl lived all alone in the little cottage. She +worked hard, spinning, weaving, and sewing, and her old +godmother's blessing seemed to prosper all she did. The flax +seemed to spread and increase; and when she wove a carpet or a +piece of linen, or made a shirt, she was sure to find a customer +who paid her well, so that not only did she feel no want herself, +but she was able to help those who did. + +Now, it happened that about this time the King's son was making a +tour through the entire country to look out for a bride. He could +not marry a poor woman, and he did not wish for a rich one. + +She shall be my wife,' said he, who is at once the poorest and +the richest.' + +When he reached the village where the girl lived, he inquired who +was the richest and who the poorest woman in it. The richest was +named first; the poorest, he was told, was a young girl who lived +alone in a little cottage at the far end of the village. + +The rich girl sat at her door dressed out in all her best clothes, +and when the King's son came near she got up, went to meet him, +and made him a low curtsey. He looked well at her, said nothing, +but rode on further. + +When he reached the poor girl's house he did not find her at her +door, for she was at work in her room. The Prince reined in his +horse, looked in at the window through which the sun was shining +brightly, and saw the girl sitting at her wheel busily spinning +away. + +She looked up, and when she saw the King's son gazing in at her, +she blushed red all over, cast down her eyes and span on. Whether +the thread was quite as even as usual I really cannot say, but she +went on spinning till the King's son had ridden off. Then she +stepped to the window and opened the lattice, saying, The room is +so hot,' but she looked after him as long as she could see the +white plumes in his hat. + +Then she sat down to her work once more and span on, and as she +did so an old saying which, she had often heard her godmother +repeat whilst at work, came into her head, and she began to sing: + +Spindle, spindle, go and see, If my love will come to me.' + +Lo, and behold! the spindle leapt from her hand and rushed out of +the room, and when she had sufficiently recovered from her +surprise to look after it she saw it dancing merrily through the +fields, dragging a long golden thread after it, and soon it was +lost to sight. + +The girl, having lost her spindle, took up the shuttle and, +seating herself at her loom, began to weave. Meantime the spindle +danced on and on, and just as it had come to the end of the golden +thread, it reached the King's son. + +What do I see?' he cried; this spindle seems to wish to point +out the way to me.' So he turned his horses head and rode back +beside the golden thread. + +Meantime the girl sat weaving, and sang: + +Shuttle, weave both web and woof, Bring my love beneath my roof.' + +The shuttle instantly escaped from her hand, and with one bound +was out at the door. On the threshold it began weaving the +loveliest carpet that was ever seen. Roses and lilies bloomed on +both sides, and in the centre a thicket seemed to grow with +rabbits and hares running through it, stags and fawns peeping +through the branches, whilst on the topmost boughs sat birds of +brilliant plumage and so life-like one almost expected to hear +them sing. The shuttle flew from side to side and the carpet +seemed almost to grow of itself. + +As the shuttle had run away the girl sat down to sew. She took her +needle and sang: + +Needle, needle, stitch away, Make my chamber bright and gay,' + +and the needle promptly slipped from her fingers and flew about +the room like lightning. You would have thought invisible spirits +were at work, for in next to no time the table and benches were +covered with green cloth, the chairs with velvet, and elegant silk +curtains hung before the windows. The needle had barely put in its +last stitch when the girl, glancing at the window, spied the white +plumed hat of the King's son who was being led back by the spindle +with the golden thread. + +He dismounted and walked over the carpet into the house, and when +he entered the room there stood the girl blushing like any rose. +You are the poorest and yet the richest,' said he: come with me, +you shall be my bride.' + +She said nothing, but she held out her hand. Then he kissed her, +and led her out, lifted her on his horse and took her to his royal +palace, where the wedding was celebrated with great rejoicings. + +The spindle, the shuttle, and the needle were carefully placed in +the treasury, and were always held in the very highest honour. + +Grimm. + + + + + +THE CRYSTAL COFFIN + + + +Now let no one say that a poor tailor can't get on in the world, +and, indeed, even attain to very high honour. Nothing is required +but to set the right way to work, but of course the really +important thing is to succeed. + +A very bright active young tailor once set off on his travels, +which led him into a wood, and as he did not know the way he soon +lost himself. Night came on, and there seemed to be nothing for it +but to seek out the best resting-place he could find. He could +have made himself quite comfortable with a bed of soft moss, but +the fear of wild beasts disturbed his mind, and at last he +determined to spend the night in a tree. + +He sought out a tall oak tree, climbed up to the top, and felt +devoutly thankful that his big smoothing-iron was in his pocket, +for the wind in the tree-tops was so high that he might easily +have been blown away altogether. + +After passing some hours of the night, not without considerable +fear and trembling, he noticed a light shining at a little +distance, and hoping it might proceed from some house where he +could find a better shelter than in the top of the tree, he +cautiously descended and went towards the light. It led him to a +little hut all woven together of reeds and rushes. He knocked +bravely at the door, which opened, and by the light which shone +from within he saw an old gray-haired man dressed in a coat made +of bright-coloured patches. Who are you, and what do you want?' +asked the old man roughly. + +I am a poor tailor,' replied the youth. I have been benighted in +the forest, and I entreat you to let me take shelter in your hut +till morning.' + +Go your way,' said the old man in a sulky tone, I'll have +nothing to do with tramps. You must just go elsewhere.' + +With these words he tried to slip back into his house, but the +tailor laid hold of his coat-tails, and begged so hard to be +allowed to stay that the old fellow, who was by no means as cross +as he appeared, was at length touched by his entreaties, let him +come in, and after giving him some food, showed him quite a nice +bed in one corner of the room. The weary tailor required no +rocking to rest, but slept sound till early morning, when he was +roused from his slumbers by a tremendous noise. Loud screams and +shouts pierced the thin walls of the little hut. The tailor, with +new-born courage, sprang up, threw on his clothes with all speed +and hurried out. There he saw a huge black bull engaged in a +terrible fight with a fine large stag. They rushed at each other +with such fury that the ground seemed to tremble under them and +the whole air to be filled with their cries. For some time it +appeared quite uncertain which would be the victor, but at length +the stag drove his antlers with such force into his opponent's +body that the bull fell to the ground with a terrific roar, and a +few more strokes finished him. + +The tailor, who had been watching the fight with amazement, was +still standing motionless when the stag bounded up to him, and +before he had time to escape forked him up with its great antlers, +and set off at full gallop over hedges and ditches, hill and dale, +through wood and water. The tailor could do nothing but hold on +tight with both hands to the stag's horns and resign himself to +his fate. He felt as if he were flying along. At length the stag +paused before a steep rock and gently let the tailor down to the +ground. + +Feeling more dead than alive, he paused for a while to collect his +scattered senses, but when he seemed somewhat restored the stag +struck such a blow on a door in the rock that it flew open. Flames +of fire rushed forth, and such clouds of steam followed that the +stag had to avert its eyes. The tailor could not think what to do +or which way to turn to get away from this awful wilderness, and +to find his way back amongst human beings once more. + +As he stood hesitating, a voice from the rock cried to him: Step +in without fear, no harm shall befall you.' + +He still lingered, but some mysterious power seemed to impel him, +and passing through the door he found himself in a spacious hall, +whose ceiling, walls, and floor were covered with polished tiles +carved all over with unknown figures. He gazed about, full of +wonder, and was just preparing to walk out again when the same +voice bade him: Tread on the stone in the middle of the hall, and +good luck will attend you.' + +By this time he had grown so courageous that he did not hesitate +to obey the order, and hardly had he stepped on the stone than it +began to sink gently with him into the depths below. On reaching +firm ground he found himself in a hall of much the same size as +the upper one, but with much more in it to wonder at and admire. +Round the walls were several niches, in each of which stood glass +vessels filled with some bright-coloured spirit or bluish smoke. +On the floor stood two large crystal boxes opposite each other, +and these attracted his curiosity at once. + +Stepping up to one of them, he saw within it what looked like a +model in miniature of a fine castle surrounded by farms, barns, +stables, and a number of other buildings. Everything was quite +tiny, but so beautifully and carefully finished that it might have +been the work of an accomplished artist. He would have continued +gazing much longer at this remarkable curiosity had not the voice +desired him to turn round and look at the crystal coffin which +stood opposite. + +What was his amazement at seeing a girl of surpassing loveliness +lying in it! She lay as though sleeping, and her long, fair hair +seemed to wrap her round like some costly mantle. Her eyes were +closed, but the bright colour in her face, and the movement of a +ribbon, which rose and fell with her breath, left no doubt as to +her being alive. + +As the tailor stood gazing at her with a beating heart, the maiden +suddenly opened her eyes, and started with delighted surprise. + +Great heavens!' she cried, my deliverance approaches! Quick, +quick, help me out of my prison; only push back the bolt of this +coffin and I am free.' + +The tailor promptly obeyed, when she quickly pushed back the +crystal lid, stepped out of the coffin and hurried to a corner of +the hall, when she proceeded to wrap herself in a large cloak. +Then she sat down on a stone, desired the young man to come near, +and, giving him an affectionate kiss, she said, My long-hoped-for +deliverer, kind heaven has led you to me, and has at length put an +end to all my sufferings. You are my destined husband, and, +beloved by me, and endowed with every kind of riches and power, +you shall spend the remainder of your life in peace and happiness. +Now sit down and hear my story. I am the daughter of a wealthy +nobleman. My parents died when I was very young, and they left me +to the care of my eldest brother, by whom I was carefully +educated. We loved each other so tenderly, and our tastes and +interests were so much alike that we determined never to marry, +but to spend our entire lives together. There was no lack of +society at our home. Friends and neighbours paid us frequent +visits, and we kept open house for all. Thus it happened that one +evening a stranger rode up to the castle and asked for +hospitality, as he could not reach the nearest town that night. We +granted his request with ready courtesy, and during supper he +entertained us with most agreeable conversation, mingled with +amusing anecdotes. My brother took such a fancy to him that he +pressed him to spend a couple of days with us, which, after a +little hesitation, the stranger consented to do. We rose late from +table, and whilst my brother was showing our guest to his room I +hurried to mine, for I was very tired and longed to get to bed. I +had hardly dropped off to sleep when I was roused by the sound of +some soft and charming music. Wondering whence it could come, I +was about to call to my maid who slept in the room next mine, +when, to my surprise, I felt as if some heavy weight on my chest +had taken all power from me, and I lay there unable to utter the +slightest sound. Meantime, by the light of the night lamp, I saw +the stranger enter my room, though the double doors had been +securely locked. He drew near and told me that through the power +of his magic arts he had caused the soft music to waken me, and +had made his way through bolts and bars to offer me his hand and +heart. My repugnance to his magic was so great that I would not +condescend to give any answer. He waited motionless for some time, +hoping no doubt for a favourable reply, but as I continued silent +he angrily declared that he would find means to punish my pride, +and therewith he left the room in a rage. + +I spent the night in the greatest agitation, and only fell into a +doze towards morning. As soon as I awoke I jumped up, and hurried +to tell my brother all that had happened, but he had left his +room, and his servant told me that he had gone out at daybreak to +hunt with the stranger. + +My mind misgave me. I dressed in all haste, had my palfrey +saddled, and rode of at full gallop towards the forest, attended +by one servant only. I pushed on without pausing, and ere long I +saw the stranger coming towards me, and leading a fine stag. I +asked him where he had left my brother, and how he had got the +stag, whose great eyes were overflowing with tears. Instead of +answering he began to laugh, and I flew into such a rage that I +drew a pistol and fired at him; but the bullet rebounded from his +breast and struck my horse in the forehead. I fell to the ground, +and the stranger muttered some words, which robbed me of my +senses. + +When I came to myself I was lying in a crystal coffin in this +subterranean vault. The Magician appeared again, and told me that +he had transformed my brother into a stag, had reduced our castle +and all its defences to miniature and locked them up in a glass +box, and after turning all our household into different vapours +had banished them into glass phials. If I would only yield to his +wishes he could easily open these vessels, and all would then +resume their former shapes. + +I would not say a word more than I had done previously, and he +vanished, leaving me in my prison, where a deep sleep soon fell on +me. Amongst the many dreams which floated through my brain was a +cheering one of a young man who was to come and release me, and +to-day, when I opened my eyes, I recognised you and saw that my +dream was fulfilled. Now help me to carry out the rest of my +vision. The first thing is to place the glass box which contains +my castle on this large stone.' + +As soon as this was done the stone gently rose through the air and +transported them into the upper hall, whence they easily carried +the box into the outer air. The lady then removed the lid, and it +was marvellous to watch the castle, houses, and farmyards begin to +grow and spread themselves till they had regained their proper +size. Then the young couple returned by means of the movable +stone, and brought up all the glass vessels filled with smoke. No +sooner were they uncorked than the blue vapours poured out and +became transformed to living people, in whom the lady joyfully +recognised her many servants and attendants. + +Her delight was complete when her brother (who had killed the +Magician under the form of a bull) was seen coming from the forest +in his proper shape, and that very day, according to her promise, +she gave her hand in marriage to the happy young tailor. + +Grimm. + + + + + +THE THREE SNAKE-LEAVES + + + +There was once a poor man who could no longer afford to keep his +only son at home. So the son said to him, Dear father, you are so +poor that I am only a burden to you; I would rather go out into +the world and see if I can earn my own living.' The father gave +him his blessing and took leave of him with much sorrow. About +this time the King of a very powerful kingdom was carrying on a +war; the youth therefore took service under him and went on the +campaign. When they came before the enemy, a battle took place, +there was some hot fighting, and it rained bullets so thickly that +his comrades fell around him on all sides. And when their leader +fell too the rest wished to take to flight; but the youth stepped +forward and encouraged them and called out, We must not let our +country be ruined!' Then others followed him, and he pressed on +and defeated the enemy. When the King heard that he had to thank +him alone for the victory, he raised him higher than anyone else +in rank, gave him great treasures and made him the first in the +kingdom. + +The King had a daughter who was very beautiful, but she was also +very capricious. She had made a vow to marry no one who would not +promise her that if she died first, he would allow himself to be +buried alive with her. If he loves me truly,' she used to say, +what use would life be to him then?' At the same time she was +willing to do the same, and if he died first to be buried with +him. This curious vow had up to this time frightened away all +suitors, but the young man was so captivated by her beauty, that +he hesitated at nothing and asked her hand of her father. Do you +know,' asked the King, what you have to promise?' I shall have +to go into her grave with her,' he answered, if I outlive her, +but my love is so great that I do not think of the risk.' So the +King consented, and the wedding was celebrated with great +splendour. + +Now, they lived for a long time very happily with one another, but +then it came to pass that the young Queen fell seriously ill, and +no doctor could save her. And when she lay dead, the young King +remembered what he had promised, and it made him shudder to think +of lying in her grave alive, but there was no escape. The King had +set guards before all the gates, and it was not possible to avoid +his fate. + +When the day arrived on which the corpse was to be laid in the +royal vault, he was led thither, then the entrance was bolted and +closed up. + +Near the coffin stood a table on which were placed four candles, +four loaves of bread, and four bottles of wine. As soon as this +provision came to an end he would have to die. So he sat there +full of grief and misery, eating every day only a tiny bit of +bread, and drinking only a mouthful of ovine, and he watched death +creeping nearer and nearer to him. One day as he was sitting +staring moodily in front of him, he saw a snake creep out of the +corner towards the corpse. Thinking it was going to touch it, he +drew his sword and saying, As long as I am alive you shall not +harm her,' he cut it in three pieces. After a little time a second +snake crept out of the corner, but when it saw the first one lying +dead and in pieces it went back and came again soon, holding three +green leaves in its mouth. Then it took the three bits of the +snake and laid them in order, and put one of the leaves on each +wound. Immediately the pieces joined together, the snake moved +itself and became alive and then both hurried away. The leaves +remained lying on the ground, and it suddenly occurred to the +unfortunate man who had seen everything, that the wonderful power +of the leaves might also be exercised upon a human being. + +So he picked up the leaves and laid one of them on the mouth and +the other two on the eyes of the dead woman. And scarcely had he +done this, before the blood began to circulate in her veins, then +it mounted and brought colour back to her white face. Then she +drew her breath, opened her eyes, and said, Ah! where am I?' You +are with me, dear lady,' he answered, and told her all that had +happened, and how he had brought her to life again. He then gave +her some wine and bread, and when all her strength had returned +she got up, and they went to the door and knocked and called so +loudly that the guards heard them, and told the King. The King +came himself to open the door, and there he found both happy and +well, and he rejoiced with them that now all trouble was over. But +the young King gave the three snake-leaves to a servant, saying to +him, Keep them carefully for me, and always carry them with you; +who knows but that they may help us in a time of need!' + +It seemed, however, as if a change had come over the young Queen +after she had been restored to life, and as if all her love for +her husband had faded from her heart. Some time afterwards, when +he wanted to take a journey over the sea to his old father, and +they were on board the ship, she forgot the great love and +faithfulness he had shown her and how he had saved her from death, +and fell in love with the captain. And one day when the young King +was lying asleep, she called the captain to her, and seized the +head of the sleeping King and made him take his feet, and together +they threw him into the sea. When they had done this wicked deed, +she said to him, Now let us go home and say that he died on the +journey. I will praise you so much to my father that he will marry +me to you and make you the heir to the throne.' But the faithful +servant, who had seen everything, let down a little boat into the +sea, unobserved by them, and rowed after his master while the +traitors sailed on. He took the drowned man out of the water, and +with the help of the three snake-leaves which he carried with him, +placing them on his mouth and eyes, he brought him to life again. + +They both rowed as hard as they could night and day, and their +little boat went so quickly that they reached the old King before +the other two did. He was much astonished to see them come back +alone, and asked what had happened to them. When he heard the +wickedness of his daughter, he said, I cannot believe that she +has acted so wrongly, but the truth will soon come to light.' He +made them both go into a secret chamber, and let no one see them. + +Soon after this the large ship came in, and the wicked lady +appeared before her father with a very sad face. He said to her, +Why have you come back alone? Where is your husband?' + +Ah, dear father,' she replied, I have come home in great grief; +my husband fell ill on the voyage quite suddenly, and died, and if +the good captain had not given me help, I should have died too. He +was at his death-bed and can tell you everything.' + +The King said, I will bring the dead to life again,' and he +opened the door of the room and called them both out. The lady was +as if thunderstruck when she caught sight of her husband; she fell +on her knees and begged for mercy. But the King said, You shall +have no mercy. He was ready to die with you, and restored you to +life again; but you killed him when he was sleeping, and shall +receive your deserts.' + +So she and her accomplice were put in a ship which was bored +through with holes, and were drawn out into the sea, where they +soon perished in the waves. + +Grimm. + + + + + +THE RIDDLE + + + +A King's son once had a great desire to travel through the world, +so he started off, taking no one with him but one trusty servant. +One day he came to a great forest, and as evening drew on he could +find no shelter, and could not think where to spend the night. All +of a sudden he saw a girl going towards a little house, and as he +drew nearer he remarked that she was both young and pretty. He +spoke to her, and said, Dear child, could I and my servant spend +the night in this house?' + +Oh yes,' said the girl in a sad tone, you can if you like, but I +should not advise you to do so. Better not go in.' + +Why not?' asked the King's son. + +The girl sighed and answered, My stepmother deals in black arts, +and she is not very friendly to strangers.' + +The Prince guessed easily that he had fallen on a witch's house, +but as by this time it was quite dark and he could go no further, +and as moreover he was not at all afraid, he stepped in. + +An old woman sat in an armchair near the fire, and as the +strangers entered she turned her red eyes on them. Good evening,' +she muttered, and pretending to be quite friendly. Won't you sit +down?' + +She blew up the fire on which she was cooking something in a +little pot, and her daughter secretly warned the travellers to be +very careful not to eat or drink anything, as the old woman's +brews were apt to be dangerous. + +They went to bed, and slept soundly till morning. When they were +ready to start and the King's son had already mounted his horse +the old woman said: Wait a minute, I must give you a stirrup +cup.' Whilst she went to fetch it the King's son rode off, and the +servant who had waited to tighten his saddle-girths was alone when +the witch returned. + +Take that to your master,' she said; but as she spoke the glass +cracked and the poison spurted over the horse, and it was so +powerful that the poor creature sank down dead. The servant ran +after his master and told him what had happened, and then, not +wishing to lose the saddle as well as the horse, he went back to +fetch it. When he got to the spot he saw that a raven had perched +on the carcase and was pecking at it. Who knows whether we shall +get anything better to eat to-day!' said the servant, and he shot +the raven and carried it off. + +Then they rode on all day through the forest without coming to the +end. At nightfall they reached an inn, which they entered, and the +servant gave the landlord the raven to dress for their supper. +Now, as it happened, this inn was a regular resort of a band of +murderers, and the old witch too was in the habit of frequenting +it. + +As soon as it was dark twelve murderers arrived, with the full +intention of killing and robbing the strangers. Before they set to +work, however, they sat down to table, and the landlord and the +old witch joined them, and they all ate some broth in which the +flesh of the raven had been stewed down. They had hardly taken a +couple of spoonfuls when they all fell down dead, for the poison +had passed from the horse to the raven and so into the broth. So +there was no one left belonging to the house but the landlord's +daughter, who was a good, well-meaning girl, and had taken no part +in all the evil doings. + +She opened all the doors, and showed the strangers the treasures +the robbers had gathered together; but the Prince bade her keep +them all for herself, as he wanted none of them, and so he rode +further with his servant. + +After travelling about for some length of time they reached a town +where lived a lovely but most arrogant Princess. She had given out +that anyone who asked her a riddle which she found herself unable +to guess should be her husband, but should she guess it he must +forfeit his head. She claimed three days in which to think over +the riddles, but she was so very clever that she invariably +guessed them in a much shorter time. Nine suitors had already lost +their lives when the King's son arrived, and, dazzled by her +beauty, determined to risk his life in hopes of winning her. + +So he came before her and propounded his riddle. What is this?' +he asked. One slew none and yet killed twelve.' + +She could not think what it was! She thought, and thought, and +looked through all her books of riddles and puzzles, but she found +nothing to help her, and could not guess; in fact, she was at her +wits' end. As she could think of no way to guess the riddle, she +ordered her maid to steal at night into the Prince's bedroom and +to listen, for she thought that he might perhaps talk aloud in his +dreams and so betray the secret. But the clever servant had taken +his master's place, and when the maid came he tore off the cloak +she had wrapped herself in and hunted her off with a whip. + +On the second night the Princess sent her lady-in-waiting, hoping +that she might succeed better, but the servant took away her +mantle and chased her away also. + +On the third night the King's son thought he really might feel +safe, so he went to bed. But in the middle of the night the +Princess came herself, all huddled up in a misty grey mantle, and +sat down near him. When she thought he was fast asleep, she spoke +to him, hoping he would answer in the midst of his dreams, as many +people do; but he was wide awake all the time, and heard and +understood everything very well. + +Then she asked: One slew none--what is that?' and he answered: A +raven which fed on the carcase of a poisoned horse.' + +She went on: And yet killed twelve--what is that?' Those are +twelve murderers who ate the raven and died of it.' + +As soon as she knew the riddle she tried to slip away, but he held +her mantle so tightly that she was obliged to leave it behind. + +Next morning the Princess announced that she had guessed the +riddle, and sent for the twelve judges, before whom she declared +it. But the young man begged to be heard, too, and said: She came +by night to question me, otherwise she never could have guessed +it.' + +The judges said: Bring us some proof.' So the servant brought out +the three cloaks, and when the judges saw the grey one, which the +Princess was in the habit of wearing, they said: Let it be +embroidered with gold and silver; it shall be your wedding +mantle.' + +Grimm. + + + + + +JACK MY HEDGEHOG + + + +There was once a farmer who lived in great comfort. He had both +lands and money, but, though he was so well off, one thing was +wanting to complete his happiness; he had no children. Many and +many a time, when he met other farmers at the nearest market town, +they would teaze him, asking how it came about that he was +childless. At length he grew so angry that he exclaimed: I must +and will have a child of some sort or kind, even should it only be +a hedgehog!' + +Not long after this his wife gave birth to a child, but though the +lower half of the little creature was a fine boy, from the waist +upwards it was a hedgehog, so that when his mother first saw him +she was quite frightened, and said to her husband, There now, you +have cursed the child yourself.' The farmer said, What's the use +of making a fuss? I suppose the creature must be christened, but I +don't see how we are to ask anyone to be sponsor to him, and what +are we to call him?' + +There is nothing we can possibly call him but Jack my Hedgehog,' +replied the wife. + +So they took him to be christened, and the parson said: You'll +never be able to put that child in a decent bed on account of his +prickles.' Which was true, but they shook down some straw for him +behind the stove, and there he lay for eight years. His father +grew very tired of him and often wished him dead, but he did not +die, but lay on there year after year. + +Now one day there was a big fair at the market town to which the +farmer meant to go, so he asked his wife what he should bring her +from it. Some meat and a couple of big loaves for the house,' +said she. Then he asked the maid what she wanted, and she said a +pair of slippers and some stockings. Lastly he said, Well, Jack +my Hedgehog, and what shall I bring you?' + +Daddy,' said he, do bring me a bagpipe.' When the farmer came +home he gave his wife and the maid the things they had asked for, +and then he went behind the stove and gave Jack my Hedgehog the +bagpipes. + +When Jack had got his bagpipes he said, Daddy, do go to the +smithy and have the house cock shod for me; then I'll ride off and +trouble you no more.' His father, who was delighted at the +prospect of getting rid of him, had the cock shod, and when it was +ready Jack my Hedgehog mounted on its back and rode off to the +forest, followed by all the pigs and asses which he had promised +to look after. + +Having reached the forest he made the cock fly up to the top of a +very tall tree with him, and there he sat looking after his pigs +and donkeys, and he sat on and on for several years till he had +quite a big herd; but all this time his father knew nothing about +him. + +As he sat up in his tree he played away on his pipes and drew the +loveliest music from them. As he was playing one day a King, who +had lost his way, happened to pass close by, and hearing the music +he was much surprised, and sent one of his servants to find out +where it came from. The man peered about, but he could see nothing +but a little creature which looked like a cock with a hedgehog +sitting on it, perched up in a tree. The King desired the servant +to ask the strange creature why it sat there, and if it knew the +shortest way to his kingdom. + +On this Jack my Hedgehog stepped down from his tree and said he +would undertake to show the King his way home if the King on his +part would give him his written promise to let him have whatever +first met him on his return. + +The King thought to himself, That's easy enough to promise. The +creature won't understand a word about it, so I can just write +what I choose.' + +So he took pen and ink and wrote something, and when he had done +Jack my Hedgehog pointed out the way and the King got safely home. + +Now when the King's daughter saw her father returning in the +distance she was so delighted that she ran to meet him and threw +herself into his arms. Then the King remembered Jack my Hedgehog, +and he told his daughter how he had been obliged to give a written +promise to bestow whatever he first met when he got home on an +extraordinary creature which had shown him the way. The creature, +said he, rode on a cock as though it had been a horse, and it made +lovely music, but as it certainly could not read he had just +written that he would _not_ give it anything at all. At this +the Princess was quite pleased, and said how cleverly her father +had managed, for that of course nothing would induce her to have +gone off with Jack my Hedgehog. + +Meantime Jack minded his asses and pigs, sat aloft in his tree, +played his bagpipes, and was always merry and cheery. After a time +it so happened that another King, having lost his way, passed by +with his servants and escort, wondering how he could find his way +home, for the forest was very vast. He too heard the music, and +told one of his men to find out whence it came. The man came under +the tree, and looking up to the top there he saw Jack my Hedgehog +astride on the cock. + +The servant asked Jack what he was doing up there. I'm minding my +pigs and donkeys; but what do you want?' was the reply. Then the +servant told him they had lost their way, and wanted some one to +show it them. Down came Jack my Hedgehog with his cock, and told +the old King he would show him the right way if he would solemnly +promise to give him the first thing he met in front of his royal +castle. + +The King said Yes,' and gave Jack a written promise to that +effect. + +Then Jack rode on in front pointing out the way, and the King +reached his own country in safety. + +Now he had an only daughter who was extremely beautiful, and who, +delighted at her father's return, ran to meet him, threw her arms +round his neck and kissed him heartily. Then she asked where he +had been wandering so long, and he told her how he had lost his +way and might never have reached home at all but for a strange +creature, half-man, half-hedgehog, which rode a cock and sat up in +a tree making lovely music, and which had shown him the right way. +He also told her how he had been obliged to pledge his word to +give the creature the first thing which met him outside his castle +gate, and he felt very sad at the thought that she had been the +first thing to meet him. + +But the Princess comforted him, and said she should be quite +willing to go with Jack my Hedgehog whenever he came to fetch her, +because of the great love she bore to her dear old father. + +Jack my Hedgehog continued to herd his pigs, and they increased in +number till there were so many that the forest seemed full of +them. So he made up his mind to live there no longer, and sent a +message to his father telling him to have all the stables and +outhouses in the village cleared, as he was going to bring such an +enormous herd that all who would might kill what they chose. His +father was much vexed at this news, for he thought Jack had died +long ago. Jack my Hedgehog mounted his cock, and driving his pigs +before him into the village, he let every one kill as many as they +chose, and such a hacking and hewing of pork went on as you might +have heard for miles off. + +Then said Jack, Daddy, let the blacksmith shoe my cock once more; +then I'll ride off, and I promise you I'll never come back again +as long as I live.' So the father had the cock shod, and rejoiced +at the idea of getting rid of his son. + +Then Jack my Hedgehog set off for the first kingdom, and there the +King had given strict orders that if anyone should be seen riding +a cock and carrying a bagpipe he was to be chased away and shot +at, and on no account to be allowed to enter the palace. So when +Jack my Hedgehog rode up the guards charged him with their +bayonets, but he put spurs to his cock, flew up over the gate +right to the King's windows, let himself down on the sill, and +called out that if he was not given what had been promised him, +both the King and his daughter should pay for it with their lives. +Then the King coaxed and entreated his daughter to go with Jack +and so save both their lives. + +The Princess dressed herself all in white, and her father gave her +a coach with six horses and servants in gorgeous liveries and +quantities of money. She stepped into the coach, and Jack my +Hedgehog with his cock and pipes took his place beside her. They +both took leave, and the King fully expected never to set eyes on +them again. But matters turned out very differently from what he +had expected, for when they had got a certain distance from the +town Jack tore all the Princess's smart clothes off her, and +pricked her all over with his bristles, saying: That's what you +get for treachery. Now go back, I'll have no more to say to you.' +And with that he hunted her home, and she felt she had been +disgraced and put to shame till her life's end. + +Then Jack my Hedgehog rode on with his cock and bagpipes to the +country of the second King to whom he had shown the way. Now this +King had given orders that, in the event of Jack's coming the +guards were to present arms, the people to cheer, and he was to be +conducted in triumph to the royal palace. + +When the King's daughter saw Jack my Hedgehog, she was a good deal +startled, for he certainly was very peculiar looking; but after +all she considered that she had given her word and it couldn't be +helped. So she made Jack welcome and they were betrothed to each +other, and at dinner he sat next her at the royal table, and they +ate and drank together. + +When they retired to rest the Princess feared lest Jack should +kiss her because of his prickles, but he told her not to be +alarmed as no harm should befall her. Then he begged the old King +to place a watch of four men just outside his bedroom door, and to +desire them to make a big fire. When he was about to lie down in +bed he would creep out of his hedgehog skin, and leave it lying at +the bedside; then the men must rush in, throw the skin into the +fire, and stand by till it was entirely burnt up. + +And so it was, for when it struck eleven, Jack my Hedgehog went to +his room, took off his skin and left it at the foot of the bed. +The men rushed in, quickly seized the skin and threw it on the +fire, and directly it was all burnt Jack was released from his +enchantment and lay in his bed a man from head to foot, but quite +black as though he had been severely scorched. + +The King sent off for his physician in ordinary, who washed Jack +all over with various essences and salves, so that he became white +and was a remarkably handsome young man. When the King's daughter +saw him she was greatly pleased, and next day the marriage +ceremony was performed, and the old King bestowed his kingdom on +Jack my Hedgehog. + +After some years Jack and his wife went to visit his father, but +the farmer did not recognize him, and declared he had no son; he +had had one, but that one was born with bristles like a hedgehog, +and had gone off into the wide world. Then Jack told his story, +and his old father rejoiced and returned to live with him in his +kingdom. + +Grimm. + + + + + +THE GOLDEN LADS + + + +A poor man and his wife lived in a little cottage, where they +supported themselves by catching fish in the nearest river, and +got on as best they could, living from hand to mouth. One day it +happened that when the fisherman drew in his net he found in it a +remarkable fish, for it was entirely of gold. As he was inspecting +it with some surprise, the fish opened its mouth and said: Listen +to me, fisher; if you will just throw me back into the water I'll +turn your poor little cottage into a splendid castle.' + +The fisher replied: What good, pray, will a castle be to me if I +have nothing to eat in it?' + +Oh,' said the gold fish, I'll take care of that. There will be a +cupboard in the castle, in which you will find dishes of every +kind of food you can wish for most.' + +If that's the case,' said the man, I've no objection to oblige +you.' + +Yes,' observed the fish, but there is one condition attached to +my offer, and that is that you are not to reveal to a soul where +your good fortune comes from. If you say a word about it, it will +all vanish.' + +The man threw the fish back into the water, and went home. But on +the spot where his cottage used to stand he found a spacious +castle. He opened his eyes wide, went in and found his wife +dressed out in smart clothes, sitting in a splendidly furnished +drawing-room. She was in high spirits, and cried out: Oh husband! +how can this all have happened? I am so pleased!' + +Yes,' said her husband, so am I pleased; but I'm uncommonly +hungry, and I want something to eat at once.' + +Said his wife, I've got nothing, and I don't know where anything +is in this new house.' + +Never mind,' replied the man. I see a big cupboard there. +Suppose you unlock it.' + +When the cupboard was opened they found meat, cakes, fruit, and +wine, all spread out in the most tempting fashions. The wife +clapped her hands with joy, and cried: Dear heart! what more can +one wish for?' and they sat down and ate and drank. + +When they had finished the wife asked, But husband, where do all +these riches come from?' + +Ah!' said he, don't ask me. I dare not tell you. If I reveal the +secret to anyone, it will be all up with us.' + +Very well,' she replied, if I'm not to be told, of course I +don't want to know anything about it.' + +But she was not really in earnest, for her curiosity never left +her a moment's peace by day or night, and she teazed and worried +her husband to such a pitch, that at length he quite lost patience +and blurted out that it all came from a wonderful golden fish +which he had caught and set free again. Hardly were the words well +out of his mouth, when castle, cupboard, and all vanished, and +there they were sitting in their poor little fishing hut once +more. + +The man had to betake himself to his former trade, and set to +fishing again. As luck would have it, he caught the golden fish a +second time. + +Now listen,' said the fish, if you'll throw me back into the +water, I'll give you back the castle and the cupboard with all its +good things; but now take care, and don't for your life betray +where you got them, or you'll just lose them again.' + +I'll be very careful,' promised the fisher, and threw the fish +back into the water. When he went home he found all their former +splendour restored, and his wife overjoyed at their good fortune. +But her curiosity still continued to torment her, and after +restraining it with a great effort for a couple of days, she began +questioning her husband again, as to what had happened, and how he +had managed. + +The man kept silence for some time, but at last she irritated him +so much that he burst out with the secret, and in one moment the +castle was gone, and they sat once more in their wretched old hut. + +There!' exclaimed the man, you _would_ have it--now we may +just go on short commons.' + +Ah!' said his wife, after all I'd rather not have all the riches +in the world if I can't know where they come from--I shall not +have a moment's peace.' + +The man took to his fishing again, and one day fate brought the +gold fish into his net for the third time. Well,' said the fish, +I see that I am evidently destined to fall into your hands. Now +take me home, and cut me into six pieces. Give two bits to your +wife to eat, two to your horse, and plant the remaining two in +your garden, and they will bring you a blessing.' + +The man carried the fish home, and did exactly as he had been +told. After a time, it came to pass that from the two pieces he +had planted in the garden two golden lilies grew up, and that his +horse had two golden foals, whilst his wife gave birth to twin +boys who were all golden. + +The children grew up both tall and handsome, and the foals and the +lilies grew with them. + +One day the children came to their father and said, Father, we +want to mount on golden steeds, and ride forth to see the world.' + +Their father answered sadly, How can I bear it if, when you are +far away, I know nothing about you?' and they said, The golden +lilies will tell you all about us if you look at them. If they +seem to droop, you will know we are ill, and if they fall down and +fade away, it will be a sign we are dead.' + +So off they rode, and came to an inn where were a number of people +who, as soon as they saw the two golden lads, began to laugh and +jeer at them. When one of them heard this, his heart failed him, +and he thought he would go no further into the world, so he turned +back and rode home to his father, but his brother rode on till he +reached the outskirts of a huge forest. Here he was told, It will +never do for you to ride through the forest, it is full of +robbers, and you're sure to come to grief, especially when they +see that you and your horse are golden. They will certainly fall +on you and kill you.' However, he was not to be intimidated, but +said, I must and will ride on.' + +So he procured some bears' skins, and covered himself and his +horse with them, so that not a particle of gold could be seen, and +then rode bravely on into the heart of the forest. + +When he had got some way he heard a rustling through the bushes +and presently a sound of voices. Someone whispered on one side of +him: There goes someone,' and was answered from the other side: +Oh, let him pass. He's only a bear-keeper, and as poor as any +church mouse.' So golden lad rode through the forest and no harm +befell him. + +One day he came to a village, where he saw a girl who struck him +as being the loveliest creature in the whole world, and as he felt +a great love for her, he went up to her and said: I love you with +all my heart; will you be my wife?' And the girl liked him so much +that she put her hand in his and replied: Yes, I will be your +wife, and will be true to you as long as I live.' + +So they were married, and in the middle of all the festivities and +rejoicings the bride's father came home and was not a little +surprised at finding his daughter celebrating her wedding. He +enquired: And who is the bridegroom?' + +Then someone pointed out to him the golden lad, who was still +wrapped up in the bear's skin, and the father exclaimed angrily: +Never shall a mere bear-keeper have my daughter,' and tried to +rush at him and kill him. But the bride did all she could to +pacify him, and begged hard, saying: After all he is my husband, +and I love him with all my heart,' so that at length he gave in. + +However, he could not dismiss the thought from his mind, and next +morning he rose very early, for he felt he must go and look at his +daughter's husband and see whether he really was nothing better +than a mere ragged beggar. So he went to his son-in-law's room, +and who should he see lying in the bed but a splendid golden man, +and the rough bearskin thrown on the ground close by. Then he +slipped quietly away, and thought to himself, How lucky that I +managed to control my rage! I should certainly have committed a +great crime.' + +Meantime the golden lad dreamt that he was out hunting and was +giving chase to a noble stag, and when he woke he said to his +bride: I must go off and hunt.' She felt very anxious, and begged +he would stay at home, adding: Some mishap might so easily befall +you,' but he answered, I must and will go.' + +So he went off into the forest, and before long a fine stag, such +as he had seen in his dream, stopped just in front of him. He took +aim, and was about to fire when the stag bounded away. Then he +started off in pursuit, making his way through bushes and briars, +and never stopped all day; but in the evening the stag entirely +disappeared, and when golden lad came to look about him he found +himself just opposite a hut in which lived a witch. He knocked at +the door, which was opened by a little old woman who asked, What +do you want at this late hour in the midst of this great forest?' + +He said, Haven't you seen a stag about here?' + +Yes,' said she, I know the stag well,' and as she spoke a little +dog ran out of the house and began barking and snapping at the +stranger. + +Be quiet, you little toad,' he cried, or I'll shoot you dead.' + +Then the witch flew into a great rage, and screamed out, What! +you'll kill my dog, will you?' and the next moment he was turned +to stone and lay there immovable, whilst his bride waited for him +in vain and thought to herself, Alas! no doubt the evil I feared, +and which has made my heart so heavy, has befallen him.' + +Meantime, the other brother was standing near the golden lilies at +home, when suddenly one of them bent over and fell to the ground. +Good heavens!' cried he, some great misfortune has befallen my +brother. I must set off at once; perhaps I may still be in time to +save him.' + +His father entreated him, Stay at home. If I should lose you too, +what would become of me?' + +But his son replied, I must and will go.' + +Then he mounted his golden horse, and rode off till he reached the +forest where his brother lay transformed to stone. The old witch +came out of her house and called to him, for she would gladly have +cast her spells on him too, but he took care not to go near her, +and called out: Restore my brother to life at once, or I'll shoot +you down on the spot.' + +Reluctantly she touched the stone with her finger, and in a moment +it resumed its human shape. The two golden lads fell into each +other's arms and kissed each other with joy, and then rode off +together to the edge of the forest, where they parted, one to +return to his old father, and the other to his bride. + +When the former got home his father said, I knew you had +delivered your brother, for all of a sudden the golden lily reared +itself up and burst into blossom.' + +Then they all lived happily to their lives' ends, and all things +went well with them. + +Grimm. + + + + + +THE WHITE SNAKE + + + +Not very long ago there lived a King, the fame of whose wisdom was +spread far and wide. Nothing appeared to be unknown to him, and it +really seemed as if tidings of the most secret matters must be +borne to him by the winds. He had one very peculiar habit. Every +day, after the dinner table had been cleared, and everyone had +retired, a confidential servant brought in a dish. It was covered, +and neither the servant nor anyone else had any idea what was on +it, for the King never removed the cover or partook of the dish, +till he was quite alone. + +This went on for some time till, one day, the servant who removed +the dish was so overcome with curiosity, that he could not resist +carrying it off to his own room. After carefully locking the door, +he lifted the cover, and there he saw a white snake lying on the +dish. On seeing it he could not restrain his desire to taste it, +so he cut off a small piece and put it in his mouth. + +Hardly had it touched his tongue than he heard a strange sort of +whispering of tiny voices outside his window. He stepped to the +casement to listen, and found that the sound proceeded from the +sparrows, who were talking together and telling each other all +they had seen in the fields and woods. The piece of the white +snake which he had eaten had enabled him to understand the +language of animals. + +Now on this particular day, it so happened that the Queen lost her +favourite ring, and suspicion fell on the confidential servant who +had access to all parts of the palace. The King sent for him, and +threatened him angrily, saying that if he had not found the thief +by the next day, he should himself be taken up and tried. + +It was useless to assert his innocence; he was dismissed without +ceremony. In his agitation and distress, he went down to the yard +to think over what he could do in this trouble. Here were a number +of ducks resting near a little stream, and pluming, themselves +with their bills, whilst they kept up an animated conversation +amongst themselves. The servant stood still listening to them. +They were talking of where they had been waddling about all the +morning, and of the good food they had found, but one of them +remarked rather sadly, There's something lying very heavy on my +stomach, for in my haste I've swallowed a ring, which was lying +just under the Queen's window.' + +No sooner did the servant hear this than he seized the duck by the +neck, carried it off to the kitchen, and said to the cook, +Suppose you kill this duck; you see she's nice and fat.' + +Yes, indeed,' said the cook, weighing the duck in his hand, she +certainly has spared no pains to stuff herself well, and must have +been waiting for the spit for some time.' So he chopped off her +head, and when she was opened there was the Queen's ring in her +stomach. + +It was easy enough now for the servant to prove his innocence, and +the King, feeling he had done him an injustice, and anxious to +make some amends, desired him to ask any favour he chose, and +promised to give him the highest post at Court he could wish for. + +The servant, however, declined everything, and only begged for a +horse and some money to enable him to travel, as he was anxious to +see something of the world. + +When his request was granted, he set off on his journey, and in +the course of it he one day came to a large pond, on the edge of +which he noticed three fishes which had got entangled in the reeds +and were gasping for water. Though fish are generally supposed to +be quite mute, he heard them grieving aloud at the prospect of +dying in this wretched manner. Having a very kind heart he +dismounted and soon set the prisoners free, and in the water once +more. They flapped with joy, and stretching up their heads cried +to him: We will remember, and reward you for saving us.' + +He rode further, and after a while he thought he heard a voice in +the sand under his feet. He paused to listen, and heard the King +of the Ants complaining: If only men with their awkward beasts +would keep clear of us! That stupid horse is crushing my people +mercilessly to death with his great hoofs.' The servant at once +turned into a side path, and the Ant-King called after him, We'll +remember and reward you.' + +The road next led through a wood, where he saw a father and a +mother raven standing by their nest and throwing out their young: +Away with you, you young rascals!' they cried, we can't feed you +any longer. You are quite big enough to support yourselves now.' +The poor little birds lay on the ground flapping and beating their +wings, and shrieked, We poor helpless children, feed ourselves +indeed! Why, we can't even fly yet; what can we do but die of +hunger?' Then the kind youth dismounted, drew his sword, and +killing his horse left it there as food for the young ravens. They +hopped up, satisfied their hunger, and piped: We'll remember, and +reward you!' + +He was now obliged to trust to his own legs, and after walking a +long way he reached a big town. Here he found a great crowd and +much commotion in the streets, and a herald rode about announcing, +The King's daughter seeks a husband, but whoever would woo her +must first execute a difficult task, and if he does not succeed he +must be content to forfeit his life.' Many had risked their lives, +but in vain. When the youth saw the King's daughter, he was so +dazzled by her beauty, that he forgot all idea of danger, and went +to the King to announce himself a suitor. + +On this he was led out to a large lake, and a gold ring was thrown +into it before his eyes. The King desired him to dive after it, +adding, If you return without it you will be thrown back into the +lake time after time, till you are drowned in its depths.' + +Everyone felt sorry for the handsome young fellow and left him +alone on the shore. There he stood thinking and wondering what he +could do, when all of a sudden he saw three fishes swimming along, +and recognised them as the very same whose lives he had saved. The +middle fish held a mussel in its mouth, which it laid at the young +man's feet, and when he picked it up and opened it, there was the +golden ring inside. + +Full of delight he brought it to the King's daughter, expecting to +receive his promised reward. The haughty Princess, however, on +hearing that he was not her equal by birth despised him, and +exacted the fulfilment of a second task. + +She went into the garden, and with her own hands she strewed ten +sacks full of millet all over the grass. He must pick all that up +to-morrow morning before sunrise,' she said; not a grain must be +lost.' + +The youth sat down in the garden and wondered how it would be +possible for him to accomplish such a task, but he could think of +no expedient, and sat there sadly expecting to meet his death at +daybreak. + +But when the first rays of the rising sun fell on the garden, he +saw the ten sacks all completely filled, standing there in a row, +and not a single grain missing. The Ant-King, with his thousands +and thousands of followers, had come during the night, and the +grateful creatures had industriously gathered all the millet +together and put it in the sacks. + +The King's daughter came down to the garden herself, and saw to +her amazement that her suitor had accomplished the task she had +given him. But even now she could not bend her proud heart, and +she said, Though he has executed these two tasks, yet he shall +not be my husband till he brings me an apple from the tree of +life.' + +The young man did not even know where the tree of life grew, but +he set off, determined to walk as far as his legs would carry him, +though he had no hope of ever finding it. + +After journeying through three different kingdoms he reached a +wood one night, and lying down under a tree prepared to go to +sleep there. Suddenly he heard a sound in the boughs, and a golden +apple fell right into his hand. At the same moment three ravens +flew down to him, perched on his knee and said, We are the three +young ravens whom you saved from starvation. When we grew up and +heard you were searching for the golden apple, we flew far away +over the seas to the end of the world, where the tree of life +grows, and fetched the golden apple for you.' + +Full of joy the young man started on his way back and brought the +golden apple to the lovely Princess, whose objections were now +entirely silenced. They divided the apple of life and ate it +together, and her heart grew full of love for him, so they lived +together to a great age in undisturbed happiness. + +Grimm. + + + + + +THE STORY OF A CLEVER TAILOR + + + +Once upon a time there lived an exceedingly proud Princess. If any +suitor for her hand ventured to present himself, she would give +him some riddle or conundrum to guess, and if he failed to do so, +he was hunted out of the town with scorn and derision. She gave +out publicly that all comers were welcome to try their skill, and +that whoever could solve her riddle should be her husband. + +Now it happened that three tailors had met together, and the two +elder thought, that after having successfully put in so many fine +and strong stitches with never a wrong one amongst them, they were +certain to do the right thing here too. The third tailor was a +lazy young scamp who did not even know his own trade properly, but +who thought that surely luck would stand by him now, just for +once, for, if not, what _was_ to become of him? + +The two others said to him, You just stay at home, you'll never +get on much with your small allowance of brains.' But the little +tailor was not to be daunted, and said he had set his mind on it +and meant to shift for himself, so off he started as though the +whole world belonged to him. + +The three tailors arrived at Court, where they had themselves duly +presented to the Princess, and begged she would propound her +riddles, for,' said they, here were the right men at last, with +wits so sharp and so fine you might almost thread a needle with +them.' + +Then said the Princess, I have on my head two different kinds of +hair. Of what colours are they?' + +If that's all,' said the first tailor, they are most likely +black and white, like the kind of cloth we call pepper-and-salt.' + +Wrong,' said the Princess. + +Then,' said the second tailor, if they are not black and white, +no doubt they are red and brown, like my father's Sunday coat.' + +Wrong again,' said the Princess; now let the third speak. I see +he thinks he knows all about it.' + +Then the young tailor stepped boldly to the front and said, The +Princess has one silver and one golden hair on her head, and those +are the two colours.' + +When the Princess heard this she turned quite pale, and almost +fainted away with fear, for the little tailor had hit the mark, +and she had firmly believed that not a soul could guess it. When +she had recovered herself she said, Don't fancy you have won me +yet, there is something else you must do first. Below in the +stable is a bear with whom you must spend the night, and if when I +get up in the morning I find you still alive you shall marry me.' + +She quite expected to rid herself of the tailor in this way, for +the bear had never left anyone alive who had once come within +reach of his claws. The tailor, however, had no notion of being +scared, but said cheerily, Bravely dared is half won.' + +When evening came on he was taken to the stable. The bear tried to +get at him at once and to give him a warm welcome with his great +paws. Gently, gently,' said the tailor, I'll soon teach you to +be quiet,' and he coolly drew a handful of walnuts from his pocket +and began cracking and eating them as though he had not a care or +anxiety in the world. When the bear saw this he began to long for +some nuts himself. The tailor dived into his pocket and gave him a +handful, but they were pebbles, not nuts. The bear thrust them +into his mouth, but try as he might he could not manage to crack +them. Dear me,' thought he, what a stupid fool I must be--can't +even crack a nut,' and he said to the tailor, I say, crack my +nuts for me, will you?' + +You're a nice sort of fellow,' said the tailor; the idea of +having those great jaws and not being able even to crack a +walnut!' So he took the stone, quickly changed it for a nut, and +crack! it split open in a moment. + +Let me try again,' said the bear; when I see the thing done it +looks so easy I fancy I _must_ be able to manage it myself.' + +So the tailor gave him some more pebbles, and the bear bit and +gnawed away as hard as he could, but I need hardly say that he did +not succeed in cracking one of them. + +Presently the tailor took out a little fiddle and began playing on +it. When the bear heard the music he could not help dancing, and +after he had danced some time he was so pleased that he said to +the tailor, I say, is fiddling difficult?' Mere child's play,' +replied the tailor; look here! you press the strings with the +fingers of the left hand, and with the right, you draw the bow +across them, so--then it goes as easily as possible, up and down, +tra la la la la-- + +Oh,' cried the bear, I do wish I could play like that, then I +could dance whenever the fancy took me. What do you think? Would +you give me some lessons?' + +With all my heart,' said the tailor, if you are sharp about it. +But just let me look at your paws. Dear me, your nails are +terribly long; I must really cut them first.' Then he fetched a +pair of stocks, and the bear laid his paws on them, and the tailor +screwed them up tight. Now just wait whilst I fetch my scissors,' +said he, and left the bear growling away to his heart's content, +whilst he lay down in a corner and fell fast asleep. + +When the Princess heard the bear growling so loud that night, she +made sure he was roaring with delight as he worried the tailor. + +Next morning she rose feeling quite cheerful and free from care, +but when she looked across towards the stables, there stood the +tailor in front of the door looking as fresh and lively as a fish +in the water. + +After this it was impossible to break the promise she had made so +publicly, so the King ordered out the state coach to take her and +the tailor to church to be married. + +As they were starting, the two bad-hearted other tailors, who were +envious of the younger one's happiness, went to the stable and +unscrewed the bear. Off he tore after the carriage, foaming with +rage. The Princess heard his puffing and roaring, and growing +frightened she cried: Oh dear! the bear is after us and will +certainly catch us up!' The tailor remained quite unmoved. He +quietly stood on his head, stuck his legs out at the carriage +window and called out to the bear, Do you see my stocks? If you +don't go home this minute I'll screw you tight into them.' + +When the bear saw and heard this he turned right round and ran off +as fast as his legs would carry him. The tailor drove on +unmolested to church, where he and the Princess were married, and +he lived with her many years as happy and merry as a lark. Whoever +does not believe this story must pay a dollar. + +Grimm. + + + + +THE GOLDEN MERMAID + + + +A powerful king had, among many other treasures, a wonderful tree +in his garden, which bore every year beautiful golden apples. But +the King was never able to enjoy his treasure, for he might watch +and guard them as he liked, as soon as they began to get ripe they +were always stolen. At last, in despair, he sent for his three +sons, and said to the two eldest, Get yourselves ready for a +journey. Take gold and silver with you, and a large retinue of +servants, as beseems two noble princes, and go through the world +till you find out who it is that steals my golden apples, and, if +possible, bring the thief to me that I may punish him as he +deserves.' His sons were delighted at this proposal, for they had +long wished to see something of the world, so they got ready for +their journey with all haste, bade their father farewell, and left +the town. + +The youngest Prince was much disappointed that he too was not sent +out on his travels; but his father wouldn't hear of his going, for +he had always been looked upon as the stupid one of the family, +and the King was afraid of something happening to him. But the +Prince begged and implored so long, that at last his father +consented to let him go, and furnished him with gold and silver as +he had done his brothers. But he gave him the most wretched horse +in his stable, because the foolish youth hadn't asked for a +better. So he too set out on his journey to secure the thief, amid +the jeers and laughter of the whole court and town. + +His path led him first through a wood, and he hadn't gone very far +when he met a lean-looking wolf who stood still as he approached. +The Prince asked him if he were hungry, and when the wolf said he +was, he got down from his horse and said, If you are really as +you say and look, you may take my horse and eat it.' + +The wolf didn't wait to have the offer repeated, but set to work, +and soon made an end of the poor beast. When the Prince saw how +different the wolf looked when he had finished his meal, he said +to him, Now, my friend, since you have eaten up my horse, and I +have such a long way to go, that, with the best will in the world, +I couldn't manage it on foot, the least you can do for me is to +act as my horse and to take me on your back.' + +Most certainly,' said the wolf, and, letting the Prince mount +him, he trotted gaily through the wood. After they had gone a +little way he turned round and asked his rider where he wanted to +go to, and the Prince proceeded to tell him the whole story of the +golden apples that had been stolen out of the King's garden, and +how his other two brothers had set forth with many followers to +find the thief. When he had finished his story, the wolf, who was +in reality no wolf but a mighty magician, said he thought he could +tell him who the thief was, and could help him to secure him. +There lives,' he said, in a neighbouring country, a mighty +emperor who has a beautiful golden bird in a cage, and this is the +creature who steals the golden apples, but it flies so fast that +it is impossible to catch it at its theft. You must slip into the +Emperor's palace by night and steal the bird with the cage; but be +very careful not to touch the walls as you go out.' + +The following night the Prince stole into the Emperor's palace, +and found the bird in its cage as the wolf had told him he would. +He took hold of it carefully, but in spite of all his caution he +touched the wall in trying to pass by some sleeping watchmen. They +awoke at once, and, seizing him, beat him and put him into chains. +Next day he was led before the Emperor, who at once condemned him +to death and to be thrown into a dark dungeon till the day of his +execution arrived. + +The wolf, who, of course, knew by his magic arts all that had +happened to the Prince, turned himself at once into a mighty +monarch with a large train of followers, and proceeded to the +Court of the Emperor, where he was received with every show of +honour. The Emperor and he conversed on many subjects, and, among +other things, the stranger asked his host if he had many slaves. +The Emperor told him he had more than he knew what to do with, and +that a new one had been captured that very night for trying to +steal his magic bird, but that as he had already more than enough +to feed and support, he was going to have this last captive hanged +next morning. + +He must have been a most daring thief,' said the King, to try +and steal the magic bird, for depend upon it the creature must +have been well guarded. I would really like to see this bold +rascal.' By all means,' said the Emperor; and he himself led his +guest down to the dungeon where the unfortunate Prince was kept +prisoner. When the Emperor stepped out of the cell with the King, +the latter turned to him and said, Most mighty Emperor, I have +been much disappointed. I had thought to find a powerful robber, +and instead of that I have seen the most miserable creature I can +imagine. Hanging is far too good for him. If I had to sentence him +I should make him perform some very difficult task, under pain of +death. If he did it so much the better for you, and if he didn't, +matters would just be as they are now and he could still be +hanged.' Your counsel,' said the Emperor, is excellent, and, as +it happens, I've got the very thing for him to do. My nearest +neighbour, who is also a mighty Emperor, possesses a golden horse +which he guards most carefully. The prisoner shall be told to +steal this horse and bring it to me.' + +The Prince was then let out of his dungeon, and told his life +would be spared if he succeeded in bringing the golden horse to +the Emperor. He did not feel very elated at this announcement, for +he did not know how in the world he was to set about the task, and +he started on his way weeping bitterly, and wondering what had +made him leave his father's house and kingdom. But before he had +gone far his friend the wolf stood before him and said, Dear +Prince, why are you so cast down? It is true you didn't succeed in +catching the bird; but don't let that discourage you, for this +time you will be all the more careful, and will doubtless catch +the horse.' With these and like words the wolf comforted the +Prince, and warned him specially not to touch the wall or let the +horse touch it as he led it out, or he would fail in the same way +as he had done with the bird. + +After a somewhat lengthy journey the Prince and the wolf came to +the kingdom ruled over by the Emperor who possessed the golden +horse. One evening late they reached the capital, and the wolf +advised the Prince to set to work at once, before their presence +in the city had aroused the watchfulness of the guards. They +slipped unnoticed into the Emperor's stables and into the very +place where there were the most guards, for there the wolf rightly +surmised they would find the horse. When they came to a certain +inner door the wolf told the Prince to remain outside, while he +went in. In a short time he returned and said, My dear Prince, +the horse is most securely watched, but I have bewitched all the +guards, and if you will only be careful not to touch the wall +yourself, or let the horse touch it as you go out, there is no +danger and the game is yours. The Prince, who had made up his mind +to be more than cautious this time, went cheerfully to work. He +found all the guards fast asleep, and, slipping into the horse's +stall, he seized it by the bridle and led it out; but, +unfortunately, before they had got quite clear of the stables a +gadfly stung the horse and caused it to switch its tail, whereby +it touched the wall. In a moment all the guards awoke, seized the +Prince and beat him mercilessly with their horse-whips, after +which they bound him with chains, and flung him into a dungeon. +Next morning they brought him before the Emperor, who treated him +exactly as the King with the golden bird had done, and commanded +him to be beheaded on the following day. + +When the wolf-magician saw that the Prince had failed this time +too, he transformed himself again into a mighty king, and +proceeded with an even more gorgeous retinue than the first time +to the Court of the Emperor. He was courteously received and +entertained, and once more after dinner he led the conversation on +to the subject of slaves, and in the course of it again requested +to be allowed to see the bold robber who had dared to break into +the Emperor's stable to steal his most valuable possession. The +Emperor consented, and all happened exactly as it had done at the +court of the Emperor with the golden bird; the prisoner's life was +to be spared only on condition that within three days he should +obtain possession of the golden mermaid, whom hitherto no mortal +had ever approached. + +Very depressed by his dangerous and difficult task, the Prince +left his gloomy prison; but, to his great joy, he met his friend +the wolf before he had gone many miles on his journey. The cunning +creature pretended he knew nothing of what had happened to the +Prince, and asked him how he had fared with the horse. The Prince +told him all about his misadventure, and the condition on which +the Emperor had promised to spare his life. Then the wolf reminded +him that he had twice got him out of prison, and that if he would +only trust in him, and do exactly as he told him, he would +certainly succeed in this last undertaking. Thereupon they bent +their steps towards the sea, which stretched out before them, as +far as their eyes could see, all the waves dancing and glittering +in the bright sunshine. Now,' continued the wolf, I am going to +turn myself into a boat full of the most beautiful silken +merchandise, and you must jump boldly into the boat, and steer +with my tail in your hand right out into the open sea. You will +soon come upon the golden mermaid. Whatever you do, don't follow +her if she calls you, but on the contrary say to her, "The buyer +comes to the seller, not the seller to the buyer." After which you +must steer towards the land, and she will follow you, for she +won't be able to resist the beautiful wares you have on board your +ship.' + +The Prince promised faithfully to do all he had been told, +whereupon the wolf changed himself into a ship full of most +exquisite silks, of every shade and colour imaginable. The +astonished Prince stepped into the boat, and, holding the wolf's +tail in his hand, he steered boldly out into the open sea, where +the sun was gilding the blue waves with its golden rays. Soon he +saw the golden mermaid swimming near the ship, beckoning and +calling to him to follow her; but, mindful of the wolf's warning, +he told her in a loud voice that if she wished to buy anything she +must come to him. With these words he turned his magic ship round +and steered back towards the land. The mermaid called out to him +to stand still, but he refused to listen to her and never paused +till he reached the sand of the shore. Here he stopped and waited +for the mermaid, who had swum after him. When she drew near the +boat he saw that she was far more beautiful than any mortal he had +ever beheld. She swam round the ship for some time, and then swung +herself gracefully on board, in order to examine the beautiful +silken stuffs more closely. Then the Prince seized her in his +arms, and kissing her tenderly on the cheeks and lips, he told her +she was his for ever; at the same moment the boat turned into a +wolf again, which so terrified the mermaid that she clung to the +Prince for protection. + +So the golden mermaid was successfully caught, and she soon felt +quite happy in her new life when she saw she had nothing to fear +either from the Prince or the wolf--she rode on the back of the +latter, and the Prince rode behind her. When they reached the +country ruled over by the Emperor with the golden horse, the +Prince jumped down, and, helping the mermaid to alight, he led her +before the Emperor. At the sight of the beautiful mermaid and of +the grim wolf, who stuck close to the Prince this time, the guards +all made respectful obeisance, and soon the three stood before his +Imperial Majesty. When the Emperor heard from the Prince how he +had gained possession of his fair prize, he at once recognized +that he had been helped by some magic art, and on the spot gave up +all claim to the beautiful mermaid. Dear youth,' he said, +forgive me for my shameful conduct to you, and, as a sign that +you pardon me, accept the golden horse as a present. I acknowledge +your power to be greater even than I can understand, for you have +succeeded in gaining possession of the golden mermaid, whom +hitherto no mortal has ever been able to approach.' Then they all +sat down to a huge feast, and the Prince had to relate his +adventures all over again, to the wonder and astonishment of the +whole company. + +But the Prince was wearying now to return to his own kingdom, so +as soon as the feast was over he took farewell of the Emperor, and +set out on his homeward way. He lifted the mermaid on to the +golden horse, and swung himself up behind her--and so they rode on +merrily, with the wolf trotting behind, till they came to the +country of the Emperor with the golden bird. The renown of the +Prince and his adventure had gone before him, and the Emperor sat +on his throne awaiting the arrival of the Prince and his +companions. When the three rode into the courtyard of the palace, +they were surprised and delighted to find everything festively +illuminated and decorated for their reception. When the Prince and +the golden mermaid, with the wolf behind them, mounted the steps +of the palace, the Emperor came forward to meet them, and led them +to the throne room. At the same moment a servant appeared with the +golden bird in its golden cage, and the Emperor begged the Prince +to accept it with his love, and to forgive him the indignity he +had suffered at his hands. Then the Emperor bent low before the +beautiful mermaid, and, offering her his arm, he led her into +dinner, closely followed by the Prince and her friend the wolf; +the latter seating himself at table, not the least embarrassed +that no one had invited him to do so. + +As soon as the sumptuous meal was over, the Prince and his mermaid +took leave of the Emperor, and, seating themselves on the golden +horse, continued their homeward journey. On the way the wolf +turned to the Prince and said, Dear friends, I must now bid you +farewell, but I leave you under such happy circumstances that I +cannot feel our parting to be a sad one.' The Prince was very +unhappy when he heard these words, and begged the wolf to stay +with them always; but this the good creature refused to do, though +he thanked the Prince kindly for his invitation, and called out as +he disappeared into the thicket, Should any evil befall you, dear +Prince, at any time, you may rely on my friendship and gratitude.' +These were the wolf's parting words, and the Prince could not +restrain his tears when he saw his friend vanishing in the +distance; but one glance at his beloved mermaid soon cheered him +up again, and they continued on their journey merrily. + +The news of his son's adventures had already reached his father's +Court, and everyone was more than astonished at the success of the +once despised Prince. His elder brothers, who had in vain gone in +pursuit of the thief of the golden apples, were furious over their +younger brother's good fortune, and plotted and planned how they +were to kill him. They hid themselves in the wood through which +the Prince had to pass on his way to the palace, and there fell on +him, and, having beaten him to death, they carried off the golden +horse and the golden bird. But nothing they could do would +persuade the golden mermaid to go with them or move from the spot, +for ever since she had left the sea, she had so attached herself +to her Prince that she asked nothing else than to live or die with +him. + +For many weeks the poor mermaid sat and watched over the dead body +of her lover, weeping salt tears over his loss, when suddenly one +day their old friend the wolf appeared and said, Cover the +Prince's body with all the leaves and flowers you can find in the +wood.' The maiden did as he told her, and then the wolf breathed +over the flowery grave, and, lo and behold! the Prince lay there +sleeping as peacefully as a child. Now you may wake him if you +like,' said the wolf, and the mermaid bent over him and gently +kissed the wounds his brothers had made on his forehead, and the +Prince awoke, and you may imagine how delighted he was to find his +beautiful mermaid beside him, though he felt a little depressed +when he thought of the loss of the golden bird and the golden +horse. After a time the wolf, who had likewise fallen on the +Prince's neck, advised them to continue their journey, and once +more the Prince and his lovely bride mounted on the faithful +beast's back. + +The King's joy was great when he embraced his youngest son, for he +had long since despaired of his return. He received the wolf and +the beautiful golden mermaid most cordially too, and the Prince +was made to tell his adventures all over from the beginning. The +poor old father grew very sad when he heard of the shameful +conduct of his elder sons, and had them called before him. They +turned as white as death when they saw their brother, whom they +thought they had murdered, standing beside them alive and well, +and so startled were they that when the King asked them why they +had behaved so wickedly to their brother they could think of no +lie, but confessed at once that they had slain the young Prince in +order to obtain possession of the golden horse and the golden +bird. Their father's wrath knew no bounds, and he ordered them +both to be banished, but he could not do enough to honour his +youngest son, and his marriage with the beautiful mermaid was +celebrated with much pomp and magnificence. When the festivities +were over, the wolf bade them all farewell, and returned once more +to his life in the woods, much to the regret of the old King and +the young Prince and his bride. + +And so ended the adventures of the Prince with his friend the +wolf. + +Grimm. + + + + + +THE WAR OF THE WOLF AND THE FOX + + + +There was once upon a time a man and his wife who had an old cat +and an old dog. One day the man, whose name was Simon, said to his +wife, whose name was Susan, Why should we keep our old cat any +longer? She never catches any mice now-a-days, and is so useless +that I have made up my mind to drown her.' + +But his wife replied, Don't do that, for I'm sure she could still +catch mice.' + +Rubbish,' said Simon. The mice might dance on her and she would +never catch one. I've quite made up my mind that the next time I +see her, I shall put her in the water.' + +Susan was very unhappy when she heard this, and so was the cat, +who had been listening to the conversation behind the stove. When +Simon went off to his work, the poor cat miawed so pitifully, and +looked up so pathetically into Susan's face, that the woman +quickly opened the door and said, Fly for your life, my poor +little beast, and get well away from here before your master +returns.' + +The cat took her advice, and ran as quickly as her poor old legs +would carry her into the wood, and when Simon came home, his wife +told him that the cat had vanished. + +So much the better for her,' said Simon. And now we have got rid +of her, we must consider what we are to do with the old dog. He is +quite deaf and blind, and invariably barks when there is no need, +and makes no sound when there is. I think the best thing I can do +with him is to hang him.' + +But soft-hearted Susan replied, Please don't do so; he's surely +not so useless as all that.' + +Don't be foolish,' said her husband. The courtyard might be full +of thieves and he'd never discover it. No, the first time I see +him, it's all up with him, I can tell you.' + +Susan was very unhappy at his words, and so was the dog, who was +lying in the corner of the room and had heard everything. As soon +as Simon had gone to his work, he stood up and howled so +touchingly that Susan quickly opened the door, and said Fly for +your life, poor beast, before your master gets home.' And the dog +ran into the wood with his tail between his legs. + +When her husband returned, his wife told him that the dog had +disappeared. + +That's lucky for him,' said Simon, but Susan sighed, for she had +been very fond of the poor creature. + +Now it happened that the cat and dog met each other on their +travels, and though they had not been the best of friends at home, +they were quite glad to meet among strangers. They sat down under +a holly tree and both poured forth their woes. + +Presently a fox passed by, and seeing the pair sitting together in +a disconsolate fashion, he asked them why they sat there, and what +they were grumbling about. + +The cat replied, I have caught many a mouse in my day, but now +that I am old and past work, my master wants to drown me.' + +And the dog said, Many a night have I watched and guarded my +master's house, and now that I am old and deaf, he wants to hang +me.' + +The fox answered, That's the way of the world. But I'll help you +to get back into your master's favour, only you must first help me +in my own troubles.' + +They promised to do their best, and the fox continued, The wolf +has declared war against me, and is at this moment marching to +meet me in company with the bear and the wild boar, and to-morrow +there will be a fierce battle between us.' + +All right,' said the dog and the cat, we will stand by you, and +if we are killed, it is at any rate better to die on the field of +battle than to perish ignobly at home,' and they shook paws and +concluded the bargain. The fox sent word to the wolf to meet him +at a certain place, and the three set forth to encounter him and +his friends. + +The wolf, the bear, and the wild boar arrived on the spot first, +and when they had waited some time for the fox, the dog, and the +cat, the bear said, I'll climb up into the oak tree, and look if +I can see them coming.' + +The first time he looked round he said, I can see nothing,' and +the second time he looked round he said, I can still see +nothing.' But the third time he said, I see a mighty army in the +distance, and one of the warriors has the biggest lance you ever +saw!' + +This was the cat, who was marching along with her tail erect. + +And so they laughed and jeered, and it was so hot that the bear +said, The enemy won't be here at this rate for many hours to +come, so I'll just curl myself up in the fork of the tree and have +a little sleep.' + +And the wolf lay down under the oak, and the wild boar buried +himself in some straw, so that nothing was seen of him but one +ear. + +And while they were lying there, the fox, the cat and the dog +arrived. When the cat saw the wild boar's ear, she pounced upon +it, thinking it was a mouse in the straw. + +The wild boar got up in a dreadful fright, gave one loud grunt and +disappeared into the wood. But the cat was even more startled than +the boar, and, spitting with terror, she scrambled up into the +fork of the tree, and as it happened right into the bear's face. +Now it was the bear's turn to be alarmed, and with a mighty growl +he jumped down from the oak and fell right on the top of the wolf +and killed him as dead as a stone. + +On their way home from the war the fox caught score of mice, and +when they reached Simon's cottage he put them all on the stove and +said to the cat, Now go and fetch one mouse after the other, and +lay them down before your master.' + +All right,' said the cat, and did exactly as the fox told her. + +When Susan saw this she said to her husband, Just look, here is +our old cat back again, and see what a lot of mice she has +caught.' + +Wonders will never cease,' cried Simon. I certainly never +thought the old cat would ever catch another mouse.' + +But Susan answered, There, you see, I always said our cat was a +most excellent creature--but you men always think you know best.' + +In the meantime the fox said to the dog, Our friend Simon has +just killed a pig; when it gets a little darker, you must go into +the courtyard and bark with all your might.' + +All right,' said the dog, and as soon as it grew dusk he began to +bark loudly. + +Susan, who heard him first, said to her husband, Our dog must +have come back, for I hear him barking lustily. Do go out and see +what's the matter; perhaps thieves may be stealing our sausages.' + +But Simon answered, The foolish brute is as deaf as a post and is +always barking at nothing,' and he refused to get up. + +The next morning Susan got up early to go to church at the +neighbouring town, and she thought she would take some sausages to +her aunt who lived there. But when she went to her larder, she +found all the sausages gone, and a great hole in the floor. She +called out to her husband, I was perfectly right. Thieves have +been here last night, and they have not left a single sausage. Oh! +if you had only got up when I asked you to!' + +Then Simon scratched his head and said, I can't understand it at +all. I certainly never believed the old dog was so quick at +hearing.' + +But Susan replied, I always told you our old dog was the best dog +in the world--but as usual you thought you knew so much better. +Men are the same all the world over.' + +And the fox scored a point too, for he had carried away the +sausages himself! + +Grimm. + + + + + +THE STORY OF THE FISHERMAN AND HIS WIFE + + + +There was once a fisherman and his wife who lived together in a +little hut close to the sea, and the fisherman used to go down +every day to fish; and he would fish and fish. So he used to sit +with his rod and gaze into the shining water; and he would gaze +and gaze. + +Now, once the line was pulled deep under the water, and when he +hauled it up he hauled a large flounder with it. The flounder said +to him, Listen, fisherman. I pray you to let me go; I am not a +real flounder, I am an enchanted Prince. What good will it do you +if you kill me--I shall not taste nice? Put me back into the water +and let me swim away.' + +Well,' said the man, you need not make so much noise about it; I +am sure I had much better let a flounder that can talk swim away.' +With these words he put him back again into the shining water, and +the flounder sank to the bottom, leaving a long streak of blood +behind. Then the fisherman got up, and went home to his wife in +the hut. + +Husband,' said his wife, have you caught nothing to-day?' + +No,' said the man. I caught a flounder who said he was an +enchanted prince, so I let him swim away again.' + +Did you wish nothing from him?' said his wife. + +No,' said the man; what should I have wished from him?' + +Ah!' said the woman, it's dreadful to have to live all one's +life in this hut that is so small and dirty; you ought to have +wished for a cottage. Go now and call him; say to him that we +choose to have a cottage, and he will certainly give it you.' + +Alas!' said the man, why should I go down there again?' + +Why,' said his wife, you caught him, and then let him go again, +so he is sure to give you what you ask. Go down quickly.' + +The man did not like going at all, but as his wife was not to be +persuaded, he went down to the sea. + +When he came there the sea was quite green and yellow, and was no +longer shining. So he stood on the shore and said: + +Once a prince, but changed you be Into a flounder in the sea. +Come! for my wife, Ilsebel, Wishes what I dare not tell.' + +Then the flounder came swimming up and said, Well, what does she +want?' + +Alas!' said the man, my wife says I ought to have kept you and +wished something from you. She does not want to live any longer in +the hut; she would like a cottage.' + +Go home, then,' said the flounder; she has it.' + +So the man went home, and there was his wife no longer in the hut, +but in its place was a beautiful cottage, and his wife was sitting +in front of the door on a bench. She took him by the hand and said +to him, Come inside, and see if this is not much better.' They +went in, and inside the cottage was a tiny hall, and a beautiful +sitting-room, and a bedroom in which stood a bed, a kitchen and a +dining-room all furnished with the best of everything, and fitted +up with every kind of tin and copper utensil. And outside was a +little yard in which were chickens and ducks, and also a little +garden with vegetables and fruit trees. + +See,' said the wife, isn't this nice?' + +Yes,' answered her husband; here we shall remain and live very +happily.' + +We will think about that,' said his wife. + +With these words they had their supper and went to bed. All went +well for a week or a fortnight, then the wife said: + +Listen, husband; the cottage is much too small, and so is the +yard and the garden; the flounder might just as well have sent us +a larger house. I should like to live in a great stone castle. Go +down to the flounder, and tell him to send us a castle.' + +Ah, wife!' said the fisherman, the cottage is quite good enough; +why do we choose to live in a castle?' + +Why?' said the wife. You go down; the flounder can quite well do +that.' + +No, wife,' said the man; the flounder gave us the cottage. I do +not like to go to him again; he might take it amiss.' + +Go,' said his wife. He can certainly give it us, and ought to do +so willingly. Go at once.' + +The fisherman's heart was very heavy, and he did not like going. +He said to himself, It is not right.' Still, he went down. + +When he came to the sea, the water was all violet and dark-blue, +and dull and thick, and no longer green and yellow, but it was +still smooth. + +So he stood there and said: + +Once a prince, but changed you be Into a flounder in the sea. +Come! for my wife, Ilsebel, Wishes what I dare not tell.' + +What does she want now?' said the flounder. + +Ah!' said the fisherman, half-ashamed, she wants to live in a +great stone castle.' + +Go home; she is standing before the door,' said the flounder. + +The fisherman went home and thought he would find no house. When +he came near, there stood a great stone palace, and his wife was +standing on the steps, about to enter. She took him by the hand +and said, Come inside.' + +Then he went with her, and inside the castle was a large hall with +a marble floor, and there were heaps of servants who threw open +the great doors, and the walls were covered with beautiful +tapestry, and in the apartments were gilded chairs and tables, and +crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, and all the rooms were +beautifully carpeted. The best of food and drink also was set +before them when they wished to dine. And outside the house was a +large courtyard with horse and cow stables and a coach-house--all +fine buildings; and a splendid garden with most beautiful flowers +and fruit, and in a park quite a league long were deer and roe and +hares, and everything one could wish for. + +Now,' said the wife, isn't this beautiful?' + +Yes, indeed,' said the fisherman. Now we will stay here and live +in this beautiful castle, and be very happy.' + +We will consider the matter,' said his wife, and they went to +bed. + +The next morning the wife woke up first at daybreak, and looked +out of the bed at the beautiful country stretched before her. Her +husband was still sleeping, so she dug her elbows into his side +and said: + +Husband, get up and look out of the window. Could we not become +the king of all this land? Go down to the flounder and tell him we +choose to be king.' + +Ah, wife!' replied her husband, why should we be king? I don't +want to be king.' + +Well,' said his wife, if you don't want to be king, I will be +king. Go down to the flounder; I will be king.' + +Alas! wife,' said the fisherman, why do you want to be king? I +can't ask him that.' + +And why not?' said his wife. Go down at once. I must be king.' + +So the fisherman went, though much vexed that his wife wanted to +be king. It is not right! It is not right,' he thought. He did +not wish to go, yet he went. + +When he came to the sea, the water was a dark-grey colour, and it +was heaving against the shore. So he stood and said: + +Once a prince, but changed you be Into a flounder in the sea. +Come! for my wife, Ilsebel, Wishes what I dare not tell.' + +What does she want now?' asked the flounder. + +Alas!' said the fisherman, she wants to be king.' + +Go home; she is that already,' said the flounder. + +The fisherman went home, and when he came near the palace he saw +that it had become much larger, and that it had great towers and +splendid ornamental carving on it. A sentinel was standing before +the gate, and there were numbers of soldiers with kettledrums and +trumpets. And when he went into the palace, he found everything +was of pure marble and gold, and the curtains of damask with +tassels of gold. Then the doors of the hall flew open, and there +stood the whole Court round his wife, who was sitting on a high +throne of gold and diamonds; she wore a great golden crown, and +had a sceptre of gold and precious stones in her hand, and by her +on either side stood six pages in a row, each one a head taller +than the other. Then he went before her and said: + +Ah, wife! are you king now?' + +Yes,' said his wife; now I am king.' + +He stood looking at her, and when he had looked for some time, he +said: + +Let that be enough, wife, now that you are king! Now we have +nothing more to wish for.' + +Nay, husband,' said his wife restlessly, my wishing powers are +boundless; I cannot restrain them any longer. Go down to the +flounder; king I am, now I must be emperor.' + +Alas! wife,' said the fisherman, why do you want to be emperor?' + +Husband,' said she, go to the flounder; I will be emperor.' + +Ah, wife,' he said, he cannot make you emperor; I don't like to +ask him that. There is only one emperor in the kingdom. Indeed and +indeed he cannot make you emperor.' + +What!' said his wife. I am king, and you are my husband. Will +you go at once? Go! If he can make king he can make emperor, and +emperor I must and will be. Go!' + +So he had to go. But as he went, he felt quite frightened, and he +thought to himself, This can't be right; to be emperor is too +ambitious; the flounder will be tired out at last.' + +Thinking this he came to the shore. The sea was quite black and +thick, and it was breaking high on the beach; the foam was flying +about, and the wind was blowing; everything looked bleak. The +fisherman was chilled with fear. He stood and said: + +Once a prince, but changed you be Into a flounder in the sea. +Come! for my wife, Ilsebel, Wishes what I dare not tell.' + +What does she want now?' asked flounder. + +Alas! flounder,' he said, my wife wants to be emperor.' + +Go home,' said the flounder; she is that already.' + +So the fisherman went home, and when he came there he saw the +whole castle was made of polished marble, ornamented with +alabaster statues and gold. Before the gate soldiers were +marching, blowing trumpets and beating drums. Inside the palace +were walking barons, counts, and dukes, acting as servants; they +opened the door, which was of beaten gold. And when he entered, he +saw his wife upon a throne which was made out of a single block of +gold, and which was quite six cubits high. She had on a great +golden crown which was three yards high and set with brilliants +and sparkling gems. In one hand she held a sceptre, and in the +other the imperial globe, and on either side of her stood two rows +of halberdiers, each smaller than the other, from a seven-foot +giant to the tiniest little dwarf no higher than my little finger. +Many princes and dukes were standing before her. The fisherman +went up to her quietly and said: + +Wife, are you emperor now?' + +Yes,' she said, I am emperor.' + +He stood looking at her magnificence, and when he had watched her +for some time, said: + +Ah, wife, let that be enough, now that you are emperor.' + +Husband,' said she, why are you standing there? I am emperor +now, and I want to be pope too; go down to the flounder.' + +Alas! wife,' said the fisherman, what more do you want? You +cannot be pope; there is only one pope in Christendom, and he +cannot make you that.' + +Husband,' she said, I will be pope. Go down quickly; I must be +pope to-day.' + +No, wife,' said the fisherman; I can't ask him that. It is not +right; it is too much. The flounder cannot make you pope.' + +Husband, what nonsense!' said his wife. If he can make emperor, +he can make, pope too. Go down this instant; I am emperor and you +are my husband. Will you be off at once?' + +So he was frightened and went out; but he felt quite faint, and +trembled and shook, and his knees and legs began to give way under +him. The wind was blowing fiercely across the land, and the clouds +flying across the sky looked as gloomy as if it were night; the +leaves were being blown from the trees; the water was foaming and +seething and dashing upon the shore, and in the distance he saw +the ships in great distress, dancing and tossing on the waves. +Still the sky was very blue in the middle, although at the sides +it was an angry red as in a great storm. So he stood shuddering in +anxiety, and said: + +Once a prince, but changed you be Into a flounder in the sea. +Come! for my wife, Ilsebel, Wishes what I dare not tell.' + +Well, what does she want now?' asked the flounder. + +Alas!' said the fisherman, she wants to be pope.' + +Go home, then; she is that already,' said the flounder. + +Then he went home, and when he came there he saw, as it were, a +large church surrounded by palaces. He pushed his way through the +people. The interior was lit up with thousands and thousands of +candles, and his wife was dressed in cloth of gold and was sitting +on a much higher throne, and she wore three great golden crowns. +Round her were numbers of Church dignitaries, and on either side +were standing two rows of tapers, the largest of them as tall as a +steeple, and the smallest as tiny as a Christmas-tree candle. All +the emperors and kings were on their knees before her, and were +kissing her foot. + +Wife,' said the fisherman looking at her, are you pope now?' + +Yes,' said she; I am pope.' + +So he stood staring at her, and it was as if he were looking at +the bright sun. When he had watched her for some time he said: + +Ah, wife, let it be enough now that you are pope.' + +But she sat as straight as a tree, and did not move or bend the +least bit. He said again: + +Wife, be content now that you are pope. You cannot become +anything more.' + +We will think about that,' said his wife. + +With these words they went to bed. But the woman was not content; +her greed would not allow her to sleep, and she kept on thinking +and thinking what she could still become. The fisherman slept well +and soundly, for he had done a great deal that day, but his wife +could not sleep at all, and turned from one side to another the +whole night long, and thought, till she could think no longer, +what more she could become. Then the sun began to rise, and when +she saw the red dawn she went to the end of the bed and looked at +it, and as she was watching the sun rise, out of the window, she +thought, Ha! could I not make the sun and man rise?' + +Husband,' said she, poking him in the ribs with her elbows, wake +up. Go down to the flounder; I will be a god.' + +The fisherman was still half asleep, yet he was so frightened that +he fell out of bed. He thought he had not heard aright, and opened +his eyes wide and said: + +What did you say, wife?' + +Husband,' she said, if I cannot make the sun and man rise when I +appear I cannot rest. I shall never have a quiet moment till I can +make the sun and man rise.' + +He looked at her in horror, and a shudder ran over him. + +Go down at once; I will be a god.' + +Alas! wife,' said the fisherman, falling on his knees before her, +the flounder cannot do that. Emperor and pope he can make you. I +implore you, be content and remain pope.' + +Then she flew into a passion, her hair hung wildly about her face, +she pushed him with her foot and screamed: + +I am not contented, and I shall not be contented! Will you go?' + +So he hurried on his clothes as fast as possible, and ran away as +if he were mad. + +But the storm was raging so fiercely that he could scarcely stand. +Houses and trees were being blown down, the mountains were being +shaken, and pieces of rock were rolling in the sea. The sky was as +black as ink, it was thundering and lightening, and the sea was +tossing in great waves as high as church towers and mountains, and +each had a white crest of foam. + +So he shouted, not able to hear his own voice: + +Once a prince, but changed you be Into a flounder in the sea. +Come! for my wife, Ilsebel, Wishes what I dare not tell.' + +Well, what does she want now?' asked the flounder. + +Alas!' said he, she wants to be a god.' + +Go home, then; she is sitting again in the hut.' + +And there they are sitting to this day. + +Grimm. + + + + + +THE THREE MUSICIANS + + + +Once upon a time three musicians left their home and set out on +their travels. They had all learnt music from the same master, and +they determined to stick together and to seek their fortune in +foreign lands. They wandered merrily from place to place and made +quite a good living, and were much appreciated by everyone who +heard them play. One evening they came to a village where they +delighted all the company with their beautiful music. At last they +ceased playing, and began to eat and drink and listen to the talk +that was going on around them. They heard all the gossip of the +place, and many wonderful things were related and discussed. At +last the conversation fell on a castle in the neighbourhood, about +which many strange and marvellous things were told. One person +said that hidden treasure was to be found there; another that the +richest food was always to be had there, although the castle was +uninhabited; and a third, that an evil spirit dwelt within the +walls, so terrible, that anyone who forced his way into the castle +came out of it more dead than alive. + +As soon as the three musicians were alone in their bedroom they +agreed to go and examine the mysterious castle, and, if possible, +to find and carry away the hidden treasure. They determined, too, +to make the attempt separately, one after the other, according to +age, and they settled that a whole day was to be given to each +adventurer in which to try his luck. + +The fiddler was the first to set out on his adventures, and did so +in the best of spirits and full of courage. When he reached the +castle he found the outer gate open, quite as if he were an +expected guest, but no sooner had he stepped across the entry than +the heavy door closed behind him with a bang, and was bolted with +a huge iron bar, exactly as if a sentinel were doing his office +and keeping watch, but no human being was to be seen anywhere. An +awful terror overcame the fiddler; but it was hopeless to think of +turning back or of standing still, and the hopes of finding gold +and other treasures gave him strength and courage to force his way +further into the castle. Upstairs and downstairs he wandered, +through lofty halls, splendid rooms, and lovely little boudoirs, +everything beautifully arranged, and all kept in the most perfect +order. But the silence of death reigned everywhere, and no living +thing, not even a fly, was to be seen. Notwithstanding, the youth +felt his spirits return to him when he entered the lower regions +of the castle, for in the kitchen the most tempting and delicious +food was spread out, the cellars were full of the most costly +wine, and the store-room crammed with pots of every sort of jam +you can imagine. A cheerful fire was burning in the kitchen, +before which a roast was being basted by unseen hands, and all +kinds of vegetables and other dainty dishes were being prepared in +like manner. Before the fiddler had time to think, he was ushered +into a little room by invisible hands, and there a table was +spread for him with all the delicious food he had seen cooking in +the kitchen. + +The youth first seized his fiddle and played a beautiful air on it +which echoed through the silent halls, and then he fell to and +began to eat a hearty meal. Before long, however, the door opened +and a tiny man stepped into the room, not more than three feet +high, clothed in a dressing-gown, and with a small wrinkled face, +and a grey beard which reached down to the silver buckles of his +shoes. And the little man sat down beside the fiddler and shared +his meal. When they got to the game course the fiddler handed the +dwarf a knife and fork, and begged him to help himself first, and +then to pass the dish on. The little creature nodded, but helped +himself so clumsily that he dropped the piece of meat he had +carved on to the floor. + +The good-natured fiddler bent down to pick it up, but in the +twinkling of an eye the little man had jumped on to his back, and +beat him till he was black and blue all over his head and body. At +last, when the fiddler was nearly dead, the little wretch left +off, and shoved the poor fellow out of the iron gate which he had +entered in such good spirits a few hours before. The fresh air +revived him a little, and in a short time he was able to stagger +with aching limbs back to the inn where his companions were +staying. It was night when he reached the place, and the other two +musicians were fast asleep. The next morning they were much +astonished at finding the fiddler in bed beside them, and +overwhelmed him with questions; but their friend hid his back and +face, and answered them very shortly, saying, Go there +yourselves, and see what's to be seen! It is a ticklish matter, +that I can assure you.' + +The second musician, who was a trumpeter, now made his way to the +castle, and everything happened to him exactly as it had to the +fiddler. He was just as hospitably entertained at first, and then +just as cruelly beaten and belaboured, so that next morning he too +lay in his bed like a wounded hare, assuring his friends that the +task of getting into the haunted castle was no enviable one. +Notwithstanding the warning of his companions, the third musician, +who played the flute, was still determined to try his luck, and, +full of courage and daring, he set out, resolved, if possible, to +find and secure the hidden treasure. + +Fearlessly he wandered the whole castle, and as he roamed through +the splendid empty apartments he thought to himself how nice it +would be to live there always, especially with a full larder and +cellar at his disposal. A table was spread for him too, and when +he had wandered about for some time, singing and playing the +flute, he sat down as his companions had done, prepared to enjoy +the delicious food that was spread out in front of him. Then the +little man with the beard entered as before and seated himself +beside the flute-player, who wasn't the least startled at his +appearance, but chatted away to him as if he had known him all his +life. But he didn't find his companion very communicative. At last +they came to the game, and, as usual, the little man let his piece +fall on the ground. The flute-player was good-naturedly just going +to pick it up, when he perceived that the little dwarf was in the +act of springing on his back. Then he turned round sharply, and, +seizing the little creature by his beard, he gave him such a +shaking that he tore his beard out, and the dwarf sank groaning to +the ground. + +But as soon as the youth had the beard in his hands he felt so +strong that he was fit for anything, and he perceived all sorts of +things in the castle that he had not noticed before, but, on the +other hand, all strength seemed to have gone from the little man. +He whined and sobbed out: Give, oh give me my beard again, and I +will instruct you in all the magic art that surrounds this castle, +and will help you to carry off the hidden treasure, which will +make you rich and happy for ever.' + +But the cunning flute-player replied: I will give you back your +beard, but you must first help me as you have promised to do. Till +you have done so, I don't let your beard out of my hands.' + +Then the old man found himself obliged to fulfil his promise, +though he had had no intention of doing so, and had only desired +to get his beard back. He made the youth follow him through dark +secret passages, underground vaults, and grey rocks till at last +they came to an open field, which looked as if it belonged to a +more beautiful world than ours. Then they came to a stream of +rushing water; but the little man drew out a wand and touched the +waves, whereupon the waters parted and stood still, and the two +crossed the river with dry feet. And how beautiful everything on +the other side was! lovely green paths leading through woods and +fields covered with flowers, birds with gold and silver feathers +singing on the trees, lovely butterflies and glittering beetles +fluttered and crawled about, and dear little beasts hid in the +bushes and hedges. The sky above them was not blue, but like rays +of pure gold, and the stars looked twice their usual size, and far +more brilliant than on our earth. + +The youth grew more and more astonished when the little grey man +led him into a castle far bigger and more splendid than the one +they had left. Here, too, the deepest silence reigned. They +wandered all through the castle, and came at last to a room in the +middle of which stood a bed hung all round with heavy curtains. +Over the bed hung a bird's cage, and the bird inside it was +singing beautiful songs into the silent space. The little grey man +lifted the curtains from the bed and beckoned the youth to +approach. On the rich silk cushions embroidered with gold a lovely +maiden lay sleeping. She was as beautiful as an angel, with golden +hair which fell in curls over her marble shoulders, and a diamond +crown sparkled on her forehead. But a sleep as of death held her +in its spell, and no noise seemed able to waken the sleeper. + +Then the little man turned to the wondering youth and said: See, +here is the sleeping child! She is a mighty Princess. This +splendid castle and this enchanted land are hers, but for hundreds +of years she has slept this magic sleep, and during all that time +no human being has been able to find their way here. I alone have +kept guard over her, and have gone daily to my own castle to get +food and to beat the greedy gold-seekers who forced their way into +my dwelling. I have watched over the Princess carefully all these +years and saw that no stranger came near her, but all my magic +power lay in my beard, and now that you have taken it away I am +helpless, and can no longer hold the beautiful Princess in her +enchanted sleep, but am forced to reveal my treasured secret to +you. So set to work and do as I tell you. Take the bird which +hangs over the Princess's head, and which by its song sang her +into this enchanted sleep--a song which it has had to continue +ever since; take it and kill it, and cut its little heart out and +burn it to a powder, and then put it into the Princess's mouth; +then she will instantly awaken, and will bestow on you her heart +and hand, her kingdom and castle, and all her treasures. + +The little dwarf paused, quite worn out, and the youth did not +wait long to do his bidding. He did all he was told carefully and +promptly, and having cut the little bird's heart out he proceeded +to make it into a powder. No sooner had he placed it in the +Princess's mouth than she opened her lovely eyes, and, looking up +into the happy youth's face, she kissed him tenderly, thanked him +for freeing her from her magic sleep, and promised to be his wife. +At the same moment a sound as of thunder was heard all over the +castle, and on all the staircases and in every room sounds were to +be heard. Then a troop of servants, male and female, flocked into +the apartment where the happy couple sat, and after wishing the +Princess and her bridegroom joy, they dispersed all over the +castle to their different occupations. + +But the little grey dwarf began now to demand his beard again from +the youth, for in his wicked heart he was determined to make an +end of all their happiness; he knew that if only his beard were +once more on his chin, he would be able to do what he liked with +them all. But the clever flute-player was quite a match for the +little man in cunning, and said: All right, you needn't be +afraid, you shall get your beard back before we part; but you must +allow my bride and me to accompany you a bit on your homeward +way.' + +The dwarf could not refuse this request, and so they all went +together through the beautiful green paths and flowery meadows, +and came at last to the river which flowed for miles round the +Princess's land and formed the boundary of her kingdom. There was +no bridge or ferryboat to be seen anywhere, and it was impossible +to get over to the other side, for the boldest swimmer would not +have dared to brave the fierce current and roaring waters. Then +the youth said to the dwarf: Give me your wand in order that I +may part the waves.' + +And the dwarf was forced to do as he was told because the youth +still kept his beard from him; but the wicked little creature +chuckled with joy and thought to himself: The foolish youth will +hand me my beard as soon as we have crossed the river, and then my +power will return, and I will seize my wand and prevent them both +ever returning to their beautiful country.' + +But the dwarf's wicked intentions were doomed to disappointment. +The happy youth struck the water with his wand, and the waves at +once parted and stood still, and the dwarf went on in front and +crossed the stream. No sooner had he done so than the waters +closed behind him, and the youth and his lovely bride stood safe +on the other side. Then they threw his beard to the old man across +the river, but they kept his wand, so that the wicked dwarf could +never again enter their kingdom. So the happy couple returned to +their castle, and lived there in peace and plenty for ever after. +But the other two musicians waited in vain for the return of their +companion; and when he never came they said: Ah, he's gone to +play the flute,' till the saying passed into a proverb, and was +always said of anyone who set out to perform a task from which he +never returned. + +Grimm. + + + + + +THE THREE DOGS + + + +There was once upon a time a shepherd who had two children, a son +and a daughter. When he was on his death-bed he turned to them and +said, I have nothing to leave you but three sheep and a small +house; divide them between you, as you like, but don't quarrel +over them whatever you do.' + +When the shepherd was dead, the brother asked his sister which she +would like best, the sheep or the little house; and when she had +chosen the house he said, Then I'll take the sheep and go out to +seek my fortune in the wide world. I don't see why I shouldn't be +as lucky as many another who has set out on the same search, and +it wasn't for nothing that I was born on a Sunday.' + +And so he started on his travels, driving his three sheep in front +of him, and for a long time it seemed as if fortune didn't mean to +favour him at all. One day he was sitting disconsolately at a +cross road, when a man suddenly appeared before him with three +black dogs, each one bigger than the other. + +Hullo, my fine fellow,' said the man, I see you have three fat +sheep. I'll tell you what; if you'll give them to me, I'll give +you my three dogs.' + +In spite of his sadness, the youth smiled and replied, What would +I do with your dogs? My sheep at least feed themselves, but I +should have to find food for the dogs.' + +My dogs are not like other dogs,' said the stranger; they will +feed you instead of you them, and will make your fortune. The +smallest one is called "Salt," and will bring you food whenever +you wish; the second is called "Pepper," and will tear anyone to +pieces who offers to hurt you; and the great big strong one is +called "Mustard," and is so powerful that it will break iron or +steel with its teeth.' + +The shepherd at last let himself be persuaded, and gave the +stranger his sheep. In order to test the truth of his statement +about the dogs, he said at once, Salt, I am hungry,' and before +the words were out of his mouth the dog had disappeared, and +returned in a few minutes with a large basket full of the most +delicious food. Then the youth congratulated himself on the +bargain he had made, and continued his journey in the best of +spirits. + +One day he met a carriage and pair, all draped in black; even the +horses were covered with black trappings, and the coachman was +clothed in crape from top to toe. Inside the carriage sat a +beautiful girl in a black dress crying bitterly. The horses +advanced slowly and mournfully, with their heads bent on the +ground. + +Coachman, what's the meaning of all this grief?' asked the +shepherd. + +At first the coachman wouldn't say anything, but when the youth +pressed him he told him that a huge dragon dwelt in the +neighbourhood, and required yearly the sacrifice of a beautiful +maiden. This year the lot had fallen on the King's daughter, and +the whole country was filled with woe and lamentation in +consequence. + +The shepherd felt very sorry for the lovely maiden, and determined +to follow the carriage. In a little it halted at the foot of a +high mountain. The girl got out, and walked slowly and sadly to +meet her terrible fate. The coachman perceived that the shepherd +wished to follow her, and warned him not to do so if he valued his +life; but the shepherd wouldn't listen to his advice. When they +had climbed about half-way up the hill they saw a terrible-looking +monster with the body of a snake, and with huge wings and claws, +coming towards them, breathing forth flames of fire, and preparing +to seize its victim. Then the shepherd called, Pepper, come to +the rescue,' and the second dog set upon the dragon, and after a +fierce struggle bit it so sharply in the neck that the monster +rolled over, and in a few moments breathed its last. Then the dog +ate up the body, all except its two front teeth, which the +shepherd picked up and put in his pocket. + +The Princess was quite overcome with terror and joy, and fell +fainting at the feet of her deliverer. When she recovered her +consciousness she begged the shepherd to return with her to her +father, who would reward him richly. But the youth answered that +he wanted to see something of the world, and that he would return +again in three years, and nothing would make him change this +resolve. The Princess seated herself once more in her carriage, +and, bidding each other farewell, she and the shepherd separated, +she to return home, and he to see the world. + +But while the Princess was driving over a bridge the carriage +suddenly stood still, and the coachman turned round to her and +said, Your deliverer has gone, and doesn't thank you for your +gratitude. It would be nice of you to make a poor fellow happy; +therefore you may tell your father that it was I who slew the +dragon, and if you refuse to, I will throw you into the river, and +no one will be any the wiser, for they will think the dragon has +devoured you.' + +The maiden was in a dreadful state when she heard these words; but +there was nothing for her to do but to swear that she would give +out the coachman as her deliverer, and not to divulge the secret +to anyone. So they returned to the capital, and everyone was +delighted when they saw the Princess had returned unharmed; the +black flags were taken down from all the palace towers, and gay- +coloured ones put up in their place, and the King embraced his +daughter and her supposed rescuer with tears of joy, and, turning +to the coachman, he said, You have not only saved the life of my +child, but you have also freed the country from a terrible +scourge; therefore, it is only fitting that you should be richly +rewarded. Take, therefore, my daughter for your wife; but as she +is still so young, do not let the marriage be celebrated for +another year.' + +The coachman thanked the King for his graciousness, and was then +led away to be richly dressed and instructed in all the arts and +graces that befitted his new position. But the poor Princess wept +bitterly, though she did not dare to confide her grief to anyone. +When the year was over, she begged so hard for another year's +respite that it was granted to her. But this year passed also, and +she threw herself at her father's feet, and begged so piteously +for one more year that the King's heart was melted, and he yielded +to her request, much to the Princess's joy, for she knew that her +real deliverer would appear at the end of the third year. And so +the year passed away like the other two, and the wedding-day was +fixed, and all the people were prepared to feast and make merry. + +But on the wedding-day it happened that a stranger came to the +town with three black dogs. He asked what the meaning of all the +feasting and fuss was, and they told him that the King's daughter +was just going to be married to the man who had slain the terrible +dragon. The stranger at once denounced the coachman as a liar; but +no one would listen to him, and he was seized and thrown into a +cell with iron doors. + +While he was lying on his straw pallet, pondering mournfully on +his fate, he thought he heard the low whining of his dogs outside; +then an idea dawned on him, and he called out as loudly as he +could, Mustard, come to my help,' and in a second he saw the paws +of his biggest dog at the window of his cell, and before he could +count two the creature had bitten through the iron bars and stood +beside him. Then they both let themselves out of the prison by the +window, and the poor youth was free once more, though he felt very +sad when he thought that another was to enjoy the reward that +rightfully belonged to him. He felt hungry too, so he called his +dog Salt,' and asked him to bring home some food. The faithful +creature trotted off, and soon returned with a table-napkin full +of the most delicious food, and the napkin itself was embroidered +with a kingly crown. + +The King had just seated himself at the wedding-feast with all his +Court, when the dog appeared and licked the Princess's hand in an +appealing manner. With a joyful start she recognised the beast, +and bound her own table-napkin round his neck. Then she plucked up +her courage and told her father the whole story. The King at once +sent a servant to follow the dog, and in a short time the stranger +was led into the Kings presence. The former coachman grew as white +as a sheet when he saw the shepherd, and, falling on his knees, +begged for mercy and pardon. The Princess recognized her deliverer +at once, and did not need the proof of the two dragon's teeth +which he drew from his pocket. The coachman was thrown into a dark +dungeon, and the shepherd took his place at the Princess's side, +and this time, you may be sure, she did not beg for the wedding to +be put off. + +The young couple lived for some time in great peace and happiness, +when suddenly one day the former shepherd bethought himself of his +poor sister and expressed a wish to see her again, and to let her +share in his good fortune. So they sent a carriage to fetch her, +and soon she arrived at the court, and found herself once more in +her brother's arms. Then one of the dogs spoke and said, Our task +is done; you have no more need of us. We only waited to see that +you did not forget your sister in your prosperity.' And with these +words the three dogs became three birds and flew away into the +heavens. + +Grimm. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Green Fairy Book +by Andrew Lang, Ed. + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GREEN FAIRY BOOK *** + +This file should be named 8gfry10.txt or 8gfry10.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, 8gfry11.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, 8gfry10a.txt + +Text scanned by JC Byers. Proofreading by Wendy Crockett. + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we usually do not +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +We are now trying to release all our eBooks one year in advance +of the official release dates, leaving time for better editing. +Please be encouraged to tell us about any error or corrections, +even years after the official publication date. + +Please note neither this listing nor its contents are final til +midnight of the last day of the month of any such announcement. +The official release date of all Project Gutenberg eBooks is at +Midnight, Central Time, of the last day of the stated month. A +preliminary version may often be posted for suggestion, comment +and editing by those who wish to do so. + +Most people start at our Web sites at: +http://gutenberg.net or +http://promo.net/pg + +These Web sites include award-winning information about Project +Gutenberg, including how to donate, how to help produce our new +eBooks, and how to subscribe to our email newsletter (free!). + + +Those of you who want to download any eBook before announcement +can get to them as follows, and just download by date. This is +also a good way to get them instantly upon announcement, as the +indexes our cataloguers produce obviously take a while after an +announcement goes out in the Project Gutenberg Newsletter. + +http://www.ibiblio.org/gutenberg/etext03 or +ftp://ftp.ibiblio.org/pub/docs/books/gutenberg/etext03 + +Or /etext02, 01, 00, 99, 98, 97, 96, 95, 94, 93, 92, 92, 91 or 90 + +Just search by the first five letters of the filename you want, +as it appears in our Newsletters. + + +Information about Project Gutenberg (one page) + +We produce about two million dollars for each hour we work. The +time it takes us, a rather conservative estimate, is fifty hours +to get any eBook selected, entered, proofread, edited, copyright +searched and analyzed, the copyright letters written, etc. Our +projected audience is one hundred million readers. If the value +per text is nominally estimated at one dollar then we produce $2 +million dollars per hour in 2002 as we release over 100 new text +files per month: 1240 more eBooks in 2001 for a total of 4000+ +We are already on our way to trying for 2000 more eBooks in 2002 +If they reach just 1-2% of the world's population then the total +will reach over half a trillion eBooks given away by year's end. + +The Goal of Project Gutenberg is to Give Away 1 Trillion eBooks! +This is ten thousand titles each to one hundred million readers, +which is only about 4% of the present number of computer users. + +Here is the briefest record of our progress (* means estimated): + +eBooks Year Month + + 1 1971 July + 10 1991 January + 100 1994 January + 1000 1997 August + 1500 1998 October + 2000 1999 December + 2500 2000 December + 3000 2001 November + 4000 2001 October/November + 6000 2002 December* + 9000 2003 November* +10000 2004 January* + + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation has been created +to secure a future for Project Gutenberg into the next millennium. + +We need your donations more than ever! + +As of February, 2002, contributions are being solicited from people +and organizations in: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, +Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, +Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, +Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New +Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, +Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South +Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West +Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. + +We have filed in all 50 states now, but these are the only ones +that have responded. + +As the requirements for other states are met, additions to this list +will be made and fund raising will begin in the additional states. +Please feel free to ask to check the status of your state. + +In answer to various questions we have received on this: + +We are constantly working on finishing the paperwork to legally +request donations in all 50 states. If your state is not listed and +you would like to know if we have added it since the list you have, +just ask. + +While we cannot solicit donations from people in states where we are +not yet registered, we know of no prohibition against accepting +donations from donors in these states who approach us with an offer to +donate. + +International donations are accepted, but we don't know ANYTHING about +how to make them tax-deductible, or even if they CAN be made +deductible, and don't have the staff to handle it even if there are +ways. + +Donations by check or money order may be sent to: + +Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +PMB 113 +1739 University Ave. +Oxford, MS 38655-4109 + +Contact us if you want to arrange for a wire transfer or payment +method other than by check or money order. + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation has been approved by +the US Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) organization with EIN +[Employee Identification Number] 64-622154. Donations are +tax-deductible to the maximum extent permitted by law. As fund-raising +requirements for other states are met, additions to this list will be +made and fund-raising will begin in the additional states. + +We need your donations more than ever! + +You can get up to date donation information online at: + +http://www.gutenberg.net/donation.html + + +*** + +If you can't reach Project Gutenberg, +you can always email directly to: + +Michael S. Hart <hart@pobox.com> + +Prof. Hart will answer or forward your message. + +We would prefer to send you information by email. + + +**The Legal Small Print** + + +(Three Pages) + +***START**THE SMALL PRINT!**FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN EBOOKS**START*** +Why is this "Small Print!" statement here? You know: lawyers. +They tell us you might sue us if there is something wrong with +your copy of this eBook, even if you got it for free from +someone other than us, and even if what's wrong is not our +fault. So, among other things, this "Small Print!" statement +disclaims most of our liability to you. It also tells you how +you may distribute copies of this eBook if you want to. + +*BEFORE!* YOU USE OR READ THIS EBOOK +By using or reading any part of this PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm +eBook, you indicate that you understand, agree to and accept +this "Small Print!" statement. If you do not, you can receive +a refund of the money (if any) you paid for this eBook by +sending a request within 30 days of receiving it to the person +you got it from. If you received this eBook on a physical +medium (such as a disk), you must return it with your request. + +ABOUT PROJECT GUTENBERG-TM EBOOKS +This PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm eBook, like most PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm eBooks, +is a "public domain" work distributed by Professor Michael S. Hart +through the Project Gutenberg Association (the "Project"). +Among other things, this means that no one owns a United States copyright +on or for this work, so the Project (and you!) can copy and +distribute it in the United States without permission and +without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, set forth +below, apply if you wish to copy and distribute this eBook +under the "PROJECT GUTENBERG" trademark. + +Please do not use the "PROJECT GUTENBERG" trademark to market +any commercial products without permission. + +To create these eBooks, the Project expends considerable +efforts to identify, transcribe and proofread public domain +works. Despite these efforts, the Project's eBooks and any +medium they may be on may contain "Defects". Among other +things, Defects may take the form of incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other +intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged +disk or other eBook medium, a computer virus, or computer +codes that damage or cannot be read by your equipment. + +LIMITED WARRANTY; DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES +But for the "Right of Replacement or Refund" described below, +[1] Michael Hart and the Foundation (and any other party you may +receive this eBook from as a PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm eBook) disclaims +all liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including +legal fees, and [2] YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE OR +UNDER STRICT LIABILITY, OR FOR BREACH OF WARRANTY OR CONTRACT, +INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE +OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE +POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. + +If you discover a Defect in this eBook within 90 days of +receiving it, you can receive a refund of the money (if any) +you paid for it by sending an explanatory note within that +time to the person you received it from. If you received it +on a physical medium, you must return it with your note, and +such person may choose to alternatively give you a replacement +copy. If you received it electronically, such person may +choose to alternatively give you a second opportunity to +receive it electronically. + +THIS EBOOK IS OTHERWISE PROVIDED TO YOU "AS-IS". NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, ARE MADE TO YOU AS +TO THE EBOOK OR ANY MEDIUM IT MAY BE ON, INCLUDING BUT NOT +LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A +PARTICULAR PURPOSE. + +Some states do not allow disclaimers of implied warranties or +the exclusion or limitation of consequential damages, so the +above disclaimers and exclusions may not apply to you, and you +may have other legal rights. + +INDEMNITY +You will indemnify and hold Michael Hart, the Foundation, +and its trustees and agents, and any volunteers associated +with the production and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm +texts harmless, from all liability, cost and expense, including +legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of the +following that you do or cause: [1] distribution of this eBook, +[2] alteration, modification, or addition to the eBook, +or [3] any Defect. + +DISTRIBUTION UNDER "PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm" +You may distribute copies of this eBook electronically, or by +disk, book or any other medium if you either delete this +"Small Print!" and all other references to Project Gutenberg, +or: + +[1] Only give exact copies of it. Among other things, this + requires that you do not remove, alter or modify the + eBook or this "small print!" statement. You may however, + if you wish, distribute this eBook in machine readable + binary, compressed, mark-up, or proprietary form, + including any form resulting from conversion by word + processing or hypertext software, but only so long as + *EITHER*: + + [*] The eBook, when displayed, is clearly readable, and + does *not* contain characters other than those + intended by the author of the work, although tilde + (~), asterisk (*) and underline (_) characters may + be used to convey punctuation intended by the + author, and additional characters may be used to + indicate hypertext links; OR + + [*] The eBook may be readily converted by the reader at + no expense into plain ASCII, EBCDIC or equivalent + form by the program that displays the eBook (as is + the case, for instance, with most word processors); + OR + + [*] You provide, or agree to also provide on request at + no additional cost, fee or expense, a copy of the + eBook in its original plain ASCII form (or in EBCDIC + or other equivalent proprietary form). + +[2] Honor the eBook refund and replacement provisions of this + "Small Print!" statement. + +[3] Pay a trademark license fee to the Foundation of 20% of the + gross profits you derive calculated using the method you + already use to calculate your applicable taxes. If you + don't derive profits, no royalty is due. Royalties are + payable to "Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation" + the 60 days following each date you prepare (or were + legally required to prepare) your annual (or equivalent + periodic) tax return. Please contact us beforehand to + let us know your plans and to work out the details. + +WHAT IF YOU *WANT* TO SEND MONEY EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO? +Project Gutenberg is dedicated to increasing the number of +public domain and licensed works that can be freely distributed +in machine readable form. + +The Project gratefully accepts contributions of money, time, +public domain materials, or royalty free copyright licenses. +Money should be paid to the: +"Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +If you are interested in contributing scanning equipment or +software or other items, please contact Michael Hart at: +hart@pobox.com + +[Portions of this eBook's header and trailer may be reprinted only +when distributed free of all fees. Copyright (C) 2001, 2002 by +Michael S. Hart. Project Gutenberg is a TradeMark and may not be +used in any sales of Project Gutenberg eBooks or other materials be +they hardware or software or any other related product without +express permission.] + +*END THE SMALL PRINT! FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN EBOOKS*Ver.02/11/02*END* + diff --git a/old/8gfry10.zip b/old/8gfry10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..173e656 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/8gfry10.zip |