https://ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/p/perrault/charles/fairy_tales/index.html

FAIRY·TALES·OF·PERRAULT

INTRODUCTION

LITTLEREDRIDING-HOODTHEFAIRY

BLUEBEARDTHESLEEPINGBEAUTYINTHEWOOD

THEMASTERCATORPUSSINBOOTSCINDERILLA;OR,THELITTLEGLASSSLIPPER

RIQUETWITHTHETUFTLITTLETHUMB

THERIDICULOUSWISHESDONKEY-SKIN

 

“HEASKEDHERWHITHERSHEWASGOING”

“‘WHATISTHISISEE?’SAIDHERMOTHER”“‘AMICOMEHITHERTOSERVEYOUWITHWATER,PRAY?’”

“THISMANHADTHEMISFORTUNETOHAVEABLUEBEARD”“‘WHAT,ISNOTTHEKEYOFMYCLOSETAMONGTHEREST?’”

“ATTHISVERYINSTANTTHEYOUNGFAIRYCAMEOUTFROMBEHINDTHEHANGINGS”“THEPRINCEENQUIRESOFTHEAGEDCOUNTRYMAN”

“HESAW,UPONABED,THEFINESTSIGHTWASEVERBEHELD”“‘IWILLHAVEITSO,’REPLIEDTHEQUEEN,‘ANDWILLEATHERWITHASAUCEROBERT’”

“THEMARQUISGAVEHISHANDTOTHEPRINCESS,ANDFOLLOWEDTHEKING,WHOWENTUPFIRST”“ANYONEBUTCINDERILLAWOULDHAVEDRESSEDTHEIRHEADSAWRY”

“AWAYSHEDROVE,SCARCEABLETOCONTAINHERSELFFORJOY”“SHELEFTBEHINDONEOFHERGLASSSLIPPERS,WHICHTHEPRINCETOOKUPMOSTCAREFULLY”

“THEPRINCEBELIEVEDHEHADGIVENHERMOREWITTHANHEHADRESERVEDFORHIMSELF”“RIQUETWITHTHETUFTAPPEAREDTOHERTHEFINESTPRINCEUPONEARTH”

“HEBROUGHTTHEMHOMEBYTHEVERYSAMEWAYTHEYCAME”“LITTLETHUMBWASASGOODASHISWORD,ANDRETURNEDTHATSAMENIGHTWITHTHENEWS”

“JUPITERAPPEAREDBEFOREHIMWIELDINGHISMIGHTYTHUNDERBOLTS”“ALONGBLACKPUDDINGCAMEWINDINGANDWRIGGLINGTOWARDSHER”

“TRUTHTOTELL,THISNEWORNAMENTDIDNOTSETOFFHERBEAUTY”“HETHOUGHTTHEPRINCESSWASHISQUEEN”

“ANOTHERGOWNTHECOLOUROFTHEMOON”“CURIOSITYMADEHIMPUTHISEYETOTHEKEYHOLE”

FAIRY·TALES·OF·PERRAULT

CHARLESPERRAULTmust havebeenas charminga fellowasamancouldmeet.Hewasoneof thebest-likedpersonagesofhisowngreatage,andhehasremainedeversinceaprimefavouriteofmankind.We

are fortunate in knowing a great deal about his varied life, deriving ourknowledgemainly fromD’Alembert’shistoryof theFrenchAcademyand from

“Avecardeurilaimalesbeauxarts.”–GRISELIDIS

hisownmemoirs,whichwerewrittenforhisgrandchildren,butnotpublishedtillsixty-sixyearsafterhisdeath.Weshould, I think,bemore fortunatestill if thememoirshadnotceasedinmid-career,orif theirauthorhadpermittedhimselftowriteofhisfamilyaffairswithoutreserveorrestraint,intheapprovedmannerofmodernautobiography.Weshouldlike,forexample,toknowmuchmorethanwedoaboutthewifeandthetwosonstowhomhewassodevoted.

Perrault was born in Paris in 1628, the fifth son of Pierre Perrault, aprosperous parliamentary lawyer; and, at the age of nine,was sent to a day-school— the Collège de Beauvais. His father helped himwith his lessons athome,ashehimself,lateron,wasaccustomedtohelphisownchildren.Hecanneverhavebeenamodelschoolboy,thoughhewasalwaysfirstinhisclass,andhe ended his school career prematurely by quarrelling with his master andbiddinghimaformalfarewell.

The cause of this quarrel throws a bright light on Perraults subsequentcareer. He refused to accept his teacher’s philosophical tenets on the mereground of their traditional authority. He claimed that novelty was in itself amerit, andon this theyparted.Hedidnotgoalone.Oneofhis friends,aboycalledBeaurain,espousedhiscause,andforthenextthreeorfouryearsthetworead together, haphazard, in theLuxembourgGardens.This planof studyhadalmost certainly a bad effect on Beaurain, for we hear no more of him. ItcertainlypreventedPerraultfrombeingathoroughscholar,thoughitmadehimamanoftaste,asincereindependent,andanundauntedamateur.

In1651hetookhisdegreeattheUniversityofOrléans,wheredegreesweregiven with scandalous readiness, payment of fees being the only essentialpreliminary. In the mean-time he had walked the hospitals with some vaguenotionoffollowinghisbrotherClaudeintotheprofessionofmedicine,andhadplayedasmallpartasatheologicalcontroversialistinthequarrelthenraging,about the nature of grace, between the Jesuits and the Jansenists. HavingabandonedmedicineandtheologyhegotcalledtotheBar,practisedforawhile

withdistinct success, and coquettedwithanotionof codifying the lawsof therealm.TheBarprovedtooaridaprofessiontoengageforlonghisattention;sohenext soughtand foundaplace in theofficeofanotherbrother,Pierre,whowasChiefCommissionerofTaxesinParis.HerePerraulthadlittletodosavetoreadatlargeintheexcellentlibrarywhichhisbrotherhadformed.

Forwantof furtheroccupationhereturnedto thewritingofverse,oneofthechiefpleasuresofhisboyhood.Hisfirstsustainedliteraryefforthadbeenaparody of the sixth book of the “Æneid”; which, perhaps fortunately for hisreputation,wasneverpublishedandhasnotsurvived.BeaurainandhisbrotherNicholas, a doctor of the Sorbonne, assisted him in this perpetration, andClaudemadethepen-and-inksketcheswithwhichitwasillustrated.InthefewyearsthathadelapsedsincethewritingofthisburlesquePerraulthadacquiredmoresenseandtaste,andhisnewpoems—inparticularthe“Portraitd’Iris”and the “Dialogue entre l’Amour et l’Amitié"—were found charming by hiscontemporaries.Theywereissuedanonymously,andQuinault,himselfapoetofestablishedreputation,usedsomeofthemtoforwardhissuitwithayounglady,allowingher to thinkthat theywerehisown.Perrault,whentoldofQuinault’spretensions,deemed itnecessary todisclosehisauthorship;but,onhearingofthe use to which his work had been put, he gallantly remained in thebackground,forgavethefraud,andmadeafriendoftheculprit.

Architecturenextengagedhisattention,andin1657hedesignedahouseatViryforhisbrotherandsuperviseditsconstruction.Colbertapprovedsomuchof this performance that he employed him in the superintendence of the royalbuildingsandputhiminspecialchargeofVersailles,whichwastheninprocessoferection.Perraultflunghimselfwithardourintothiswork,thoughnottotheexclusion of his other activities. He wrote odes in honour of the King; heplanneddesigns forGobelin tapestriesanddecorativepaintings;hebecameamemberof the select littleAcademyofMedalsand InscriptionswhichColbertbrought into being to devise suitable legends for the royal palaces and

monuments;heencouragedmusiciansand fought thecauseofLulli;he joinedwithClaudeinasuccessfulefforttofoundtheAcademyofScience.

ClaudePerrault had somethingofhisbrother’s versatilityand sharedhislove forarchitecture,and the twonowbecamedeeply interested in thevariousschemes which were mooted for the completion of the Louvre. Bernini wassummonedbytheKingfromRome,andentrustedwiththetask;butthebrothersPerrault intervened. Charles conceived the idea of the great east front andcommunicatedittoClaude,whodrewtheplansandwascommissionedtocarrythem out. The work was finished in 1671, and is still popularly known asPerrault’sColonnade.

InthesameyearCharleswaselectedtotheAcademywithoutanypersonalcanvasonhispart for thehonour.His inauguraladdresswasheardwithsuchapproval that he ventured to suggest that the inauguration of futuremembersshouldbeapublic function.The suggestionwasadopted, and theseaddressesbecamethemostfamousfeatureoftheAcademy’sproceedingsandaresotothepresent day. This was not his only service to the Academy, for he carried amotionto theeffect that futureelectionsshouldbebyballot;andinventedandprovided,athisownexpense,aballot-boxwhich,thoughhedoesnotdescribeit,wasprobablythemodelofthoseinuseinallmodernclubsandsocieties.

The novelty of his views did not always commend them to his brother‘Immortals.’Those expressed in his poem“LeSiècle deLouisXIV,”whichheread as an Academician of sixteen years’ standing, initiated one of the mostfamousandlastingliteraryquarrelsoftheera.Perrault,inpraisingthewritersofhisownage,venturedtodisparagesomeof thegreatauthorsof theancientclassics. Boileau lashed himself into a fury of opposition and hurled stridentinsultsagainsttheheretic.Racine,moreadroit,pretendedtothinkthatthepoemwasapieceofingeniousirony.Mostmenoflettershastenedtoparticipateinthebattle.NodoubtPerrault’spositionwasuntenable,butheconductedhisdefencewithperfecttemperandmuchwit;andBoileaumadehimselfnotalittleabsurd

by his violence and his obvious longing to display the extent of his learning.Perrault’scaseisfinallystatedinhisfourvolumes,“LeParallèledesAnciensetdesModernes,”whichwere published in 1688-1696.He evidently took vastlymore pride in this dull and now almost forgotten work than in the matchlessstorieswhichhavemadehimfamousforever.

After twentyyears in theserviceofColbert, thesunofPerrault’s fortunespasseditszenith.Hisbrother,theCommissionerofTaxes,hadadisputewiththeMinisterandwasdisgraced.ThenPerraultgotmarriedtoayoungladyofwhomweknownothingexcept thathermarriagewas the subjectof someoppositionfromhispowerfulemployer.InamatterofthesortPerrault,thoughacourtier,could be relied on to consider no wishes save those of his future wife andhimself.Colbert’sown influencewith theKingbecameshaky,and thisaffectedhis temper. SoPerrault, then just fifty-five, slid quietly fromhis service in theyear1683.

Before he went, he succeeded in frustrating a project for closing theTuileries Gardens against the people of Paris and their children. Colbertproposedtoreservethemtotheroyaluse,butPerraultpersuadedhimtocomethereonedayforawalk,showedhimthecitizenstakingtheairandplayingwiththeir children; got the gardeners to testify that these privileges were neverabused,andcarriedhispointbydeclaring,finally,that“theKing’spleasauncewassospaciousthattherewasroomforallhischildrentowalkthere.”

Sainte-Beuve,seventyyearsago,pleadedthatthisservicetothechildrenofParis should be commemorated by a statue of Perrault in the centre of theTuileries.Thestatuehasneverbeenerected;and, to thepresentday,Paris,soplentifully providedwith statues and pictures of the greatmen of France, hasneithertheonenortheothertoshowthatsheappreciatesthegeniusofPerrault.Indeed,thereisnostatueofhiminexistence;andtheonlypaintingofhimwithwhichIamacquaintedisadoubtfulonehungfarawayinanobscurecornerofthepalaceofVersailles.

ThecloseofPerrault’sofficialcareermarkedthebeginningofhisperiodofgreatest literaryactivity. In1686hepublishedhis longnarrativepoem“SaintPaulinEvesque deNole”with“aChristianEpistle uponPenitence” and“anOdetotheNewly-converted,”whichhededicatedtoBossuet.Betweentheyears1688and1696appearedthe“ParallèledesAnciensetdesModernes”towhichIhavealreadyreferred.In1693hebroughtouthis“CabinetdesBeauxArts,”beautifullyillustratedbyengravings,andcontainingapoemonpaintingwhichevenBoileaucondescendedtoadmire. In1694hepublishedhis“ApologiedesFemmes.” He wrote two comedies — “L’Oublieux” in 1691, and “LesFontanges.” These were not printed till 1868. They added nothing to hisreputation.Between1691and1697werecomposedtheimmortal“HistoiresouContesduTempsPassé”andthe“ContesenVers.”Towardtheendofhislifehebusiedhimselfwiththe“ÉlogesdesHommesIllustresduSiècledeLouisXIV.”Thefirstofthesetwostatelyvolumescameoutin1696andthesecondin1700.Theywereillustratedbyahundredandtwoexcellentengravings,includingone,by Edelinck, of Perrault himself and another of his brother Claude. Thesebiographiesarewrittenwithkindlyjustice,andformavaluablecontributiontothe history of the reign of the Roi Soleil. I have not exhausted the list ofPerrault’swritings,but,tospeakfrankly,therestarenotworthmentioning.

Hedied,agedseventy-five,in1703,deservedlyadmiredandregrettedbyallwhoknewhim.Thiswasnotstrange.Forhewasclever,honest,courteous,andwitty.Hedidhisdutytohisfamily,hisemployer,hisfriends,andtothepublicatlarge.Inanageofgreatmen,butalsoofgreatprejudices,hefoughthisownwaytofameandfortune.Heservedallthearts,andpractisedmostofthem.Painters,writers, sculptors, musicians, andmen of science all gladlymade him free oftheircompany.AsagoodCivilServanthewasnopolitician,andheshowednoleaningwhatever towardwhatwas regarded in his time as the greatest of allprofessions—thatofarms.Thesetwodeficiencies,ifdeficienciestheybe,onlyendearhimthemoretous.Everyonelikesamanwhodeservestoenjoylifeand

does,infact,enjoyit.Perraultwassuchaman.Hewasmore.Hewasthecauseofenjoymenttocountlessofhisfellows,andhisstoriesstillpromiseenjoymenttocountlessotherstocome.

It is amazing to remember that Perrault was rather ashamed of his“HistoiresouContesduTempsPassé"—perhapsbetterknownas“LesContesdemaMèrel’Oye,”or“MotherGoose’sTales,”fromtheroughprintwhichwasinserted as a frontispiece to the first collected edition in 1697. He would notevenpublishtheminhisownname.TheyweredeclaredtobebyP.Darmancour,Perrault’s young son. In order that the secret might be well kept, Perraultabandonedhisusualpublisher,Coignard,andwent toBarbin.Thestorieshadpreviouslyappearedfromtimetotime,anonymously,inMoetjens’littlemagazinethe “Recueil,” which was published from The Hague. “La Belle au BoisDormant”(“SleepingBeauty”)was the first:andinrapidsuccession followed“Le Petit Chaperon Rouge” (“Red Riding-Hood”), “Le Maistre Chat, ou leChatBotté”(“Puss inBoots”),“LesFées”(“TheFairy”),“Cendrillon,ou laPetite Pantoufle de Verre” (“Cinderella”), “Riquet à laHouppe” (“Riquet oftheTuft”),and“LePetitPoucet”(“TomThumb”).

Perrault was not so shy in admitting the authorship of his three versestories—“Griselidis,”“LesSouhaitsRidicules,”and“Peaud’Asne.”Thefirstappeared,anonymouslyitistrue,in1961;but,whenitcametobereprintedwith“LesSouhaitsRidicules”and“Peaud’Asne”in1695,theywereentrustedtothefirm of Coignard and described as being by “Mr Perrault, de l’AcademieFrançoise.”LaFontainehadmadeafashionofthissortofexercise.

It would not be fair to assume that P. Darmancour had no connectionwhateverwith thecompositionof thestorieswhichborehisname.ThebestofPerrault’scritics,PauldeStVictorandAndrewLangamongothers,seeinthebookamarvellouscollaborationofcrabbedageandyouth.Theboy,probably,gatheredthestoriesfromhisnurseandbroughtthemtohisfather,whotouchedthemup, and toned themdown, andwrote themout.Paul Lacroix, in his fine

editionof1886,goesasfarastoattributetheentireauthorshipoftheprosetalestoPerrault’sson.Hedeferred,however,touniversalusagewhenheentitledhisvolume“LesContesenprosedeCharlesPerrault.”

“LesContesduTempsPassé”hadanimmediatesuccess.Imitatorssprungupat onceby the dozen, and still persist; but noneof themhas ever rivalled,much less surpassed, the inimitable originals. Every few years a new andsumptuous edition appears in France. The best are probably those by PaulLacroixandAndréleFèvre.

The stories soon crossed theChannel; anda translation“byMrSamber,printed for J.Pote”wasadvertised in the“MonthlyChronicle”of1729.“MrSamber”waspresumablyoneRobertSamberofNewInn,whotranslatedothertalesfromtheFrench,forEdmondCurlthebookseller,aboutthistime.NocopyofthefirsteditionofhisPerraultisknowntoexist.Yetitwonawidepopularity,asisshownbythefactthattherewasaseventheditionpublishedin1795,forJ.Rivington,abookseller,ofPearlStreet,NewYork.

NoEnglish translationofPerrault’s fairy taleshasattainedunquestionedliterarypre-eminence.Sothepublishersofthepresentbookhavethoughtitbestto use Samber’s translation, which has a special interest of its own in beingalmostcontemporarywiththeoriginal.Thetexthasbeenthoroughlyrevisedandcorrected by Mr J. E. Mansion, who has purged it of many errors withoutdetracting fromitsold-fashionedquality.ToMrMansionalso isdue thecreditfor the translation of the “Les Souhaits Ridicules” and for the adaptation of“Peaud’Asne.”“Griselidis”isexcludedfromthisbookfor twogoodreasons;firstly, because it is an admitted borrowing by Perrault from Boccaccio;secondly,becauseitisnota‘fairy’taleinthetruesenseoftheword.

It is, perhaps, unnecessary for me to add anything about Mr Clarke’sillustrations.Manyofthereadersofthisbookwillbealreadyfamiliarwithhiswork. Besides, I always feel that it is an impertinence to describe pictures intheirpresence.MrClarke’sspeakforthemselves.TheyspeakforPerraulttoo.It

is seldom, indeed, thatan illustratorenters so thoroughly into the spiritofhistext. The grace, delicacy, urbanity, tenderness, and humourwhichwent to themakingofPerrault’sstoriesmust,itseems,havealsogoneinsomewhatsimilarproportionstothemakingofthesedelightfuldrawings.IamsurethattheywouldhavegivenpleasuretoPerraulthimself.

THOMASBODKIN

 

OLittleRedRiding-Hood

nceuponatime,therelivedinacertainvillage,alittlecountrygirl,theprettiest creaturewas ever seen.Hermotherwas excessively fond ofher;andhergrand-motherdoatedonhermuchmore.Thisgoodwoman

gotmade for her a little red riding-hood;which became the girl so extremelywell,thateverybodycalledherLittleRedRiding-Hood.

Oneday,hermother,havingmadesomegirdle-cakes,saidtoher:

“Go,mydear,andseehowthygrand-mammadoes,forIhearshehasbeenveryill,carryheragirdle-cake,andthislittlepotofbutter.”

LittleRedRiding-Hoodsetoutimmediatelytogotohergrand-mother,wholivedinanothervillage.Asshewasgoingthro’thewood,shemetwithGafferWolf,whohadaverygreatmindtoeatherup,buthedurstnot,becauseofsomefaggot-makershardbyintheforest.

Heaskedherwhithershewasgoing.Thepoorchild,whodidnotknowthatitwasdangeroustostayandhearaWolftalk,saidtohim:

“I amgoing to seemygrand-mamma, and carry her a girdle-cake, and alittlepotofbutter,frommymamma.”

“Doesshelivefaroff?”saidtheWolf.

LittleRedRiding-Hood

“Oh!ay,”answeredLittleRedRiding-Hood,“itisbeyondthatmillyouseethere,atthefirsthouseinthevillage.”

“Well,”saidtheWolf,“andI’llgoandseehertoo:I’llgothisway,andyougo

“Heaskedherwhithershewasgoing”

that,andweshallseewhowillbetheresoonest.”

TheWolfbegantorunasfastashecould,takingthenearestway;andthelittlegirlwentbythatfarthestabout,divertingherselfingatheringnuts,runningafterbutterflies,andmakingnosegaysofsuchlittleflowersasshemetwith.TheWolfwasnot longbeforehegot to theoldwoman’shouse:heknockedat thedoor,tap,tap.

“Who’sthere?”

“Your grand-child, Little Red Riding-Hood,” replied the Wolf,counterfeitinghervoice,“whohasbroughtyouagirdle-cake,andalittlepotofbutter,sentyoubymamma.”

The good grand-mother, who was in bed, because she found herselfsomewhatill,cry’dout:

“Pullthepeg,andtheboltwillfall.”

TheWolf pull’d the peg, and the door opened, and thenpresently he felluponthegoodwoman,andateherupinamoment;foritwasabovethreedaysthathehadnot touchedabit.He then shut thedoor, andwent into thegrand-mother’s bed, expecting Little Red Riding-Hood, who came some timeafterwards,andknock’datthedoor,tap,tap.

“Who’sthere?”

Little Red Riding-Hood, hearing the big voice of the Wolf, was at firstafraid;butbelievinghergrand-motherhadgotacold,andwashoarse,answered:

“’Tis your grand-child, Little Red Riding-Hood, who has brought you agirdle-cake,andalittlepotofbutter,mammasendsyou.”

TheWolfcriedouttoher,softeninghisvoiceasmuchashecould,“Pullthepeg,andtheboltwillfall.”

Little Red Riding-Hood pulled the peg, and the door opened. TheWolfseeinghercomein,saidtoher,hidinghimselfunderthebedclothes:

“Putthecake,andthelittlepotofbutteruponthebread-bin,andcomeand

lyedownwithme.”

LittleRedRiding-Hoodundressedherself,andwentintobed;where,beinggreatly amazed to see how her grand-mother looked in her night-cloaths, shesaidtoher:

“Grand-mamma,whatgreatarmsyouhavegot!”

“Thatisthebettertohugthee,mydear.”

“Grand-mamma,whatgreatlegsyouhavegot!”

“Thatistorunthebetter,mychild.”

“Grand-mamma,whatgreatearsyouhavegot!”

“Thatistohearthebetter,mychild.”

“Grand-mamma,whatgreateyesyouhavegot!”

“Itistoseethebetter,mychild.”

“Grand-mamma,whatgreatteethyouhavegot!”

“Thatistoeattheeup.”

And, saying these words, this wicked Wolf fell upon poor Little RedRiding-Hood,andateherallup.

TheMoral

FromthisshortstoryeasywediscernWhatconductallyoungpeopleoughttolearn.Butaboveall,young,growingmissesfair,Whoseorientrosybloomsbegint’appear:Who,beautiesinthefragrantspringofage,Withprettyairsyoungheartsareaptt’engage.Illdotheylistentoallsortsoftongues,SincesomeinchantandlurelikeSyrens’songs.Nowondertherefore’tis,ifover-power’d,

 

SomanyofthemhastheWolfdevour’d.TheWolf,Isay,forWolvestoosurethereareOfeverysort,andeverycharacter.Someofthemmildandgentle-humour’dbe,Ofnoiseandgall,andrancourwhollyfree;Whotame,familiar,fullofcomplaisanceOgleandleer,languish,cajoleandglance;Withluringtongues,andlanguagewond’roussweet,Followyoungladiesastheywalkthestreet,Ev’ntotheirveryhouses,nay,bedside,And,artful,tho’theirtruedesignstheyhide;Yetah!thesesimperingWolves!WhodoesnotseeMostdangerousofWolvesindeedtheybe?

TTheFairy

herewas,onceuponatime,awidow,whohadtwodaughters.Theeldestwassomuchlikeherinthefaceandhumour,thatwhoeverlookeduponthe daughter saw themother. They were both so disagreeable, and so

proud, that there was no living with them. The youngest, who was the verypictureofherfather,forcourtesyandsweetnessoftemper,waswithaloneofthemostbeautifulgirlseverseen.Aspeoplenaturallylovetheirownlikeness,thismotherevendoatedonhereldestdaughter,andatthesametimehadahorribleaversionfortheyoungest.Shemadehereatinthekitchen,andworkcontinually.

Amongotherthings,thispoorchildwasforcedtwiceadaytodrawwateraboveamileandahalfoff thehouse,andbringhomeapitcherfullof it.Oneday,asshewasatthisfountain,therecametoherapoorwoman,whobeggedof

TheFairy

hertoletherdrink.

“O ay, with all my heart, Goody,” said this pretty maid; and rinsingimmediately thepitcher,shetookupsomewaterfromtheclearestplaceof thefountain,andgaveittoher,holdingupthepitcherallthewhile,thatshemightdrinktheeasier.

Thegoodwomanhavingdrank,saidtoher:

“Youare soverypretty,mydear, sogoodand somannerly, that I cannothelpgivingyouagift”(forthiswasaFairy,whohadtakentheformofapoorcountry-woman,toseehowfarthecivilityandgoodmannersofthisprettygirlwouldgo). “Iwill giveyou forgift,” continued theFairy, “that at everywordyouspeak,thereshallcomeoutofyourmoutheitheraflower,orajewel.”

Whenthisprettygirlcamehome,hermotherscoldedatherforstayingsolongatthefountain.

“I beg your pardon, mamma,” said the poor girl, “for not making morehaste,”and,inspeakingthesewords,therecameoutofhermouthtworoses,two

“‘WhatisthisIsee?’saidhermother”

pearls,andtwodiamonds.

“WhatisthisIsee?”saidhermotherquiteastonished,“IthinkIseepearlsanddiamondscomeoutofthegirl’smouth!Howhappensthis,child?”(Thiswasthefirsttimesheevercalledherchild.)

Thepoorcreaturetoldherfranklyallthematter,notwithoutdroppingoutinfinitenumbersofdiamonds.

“In good faith,” cried the mother, “I must send my child thither. Comehither, Fanny, look what comes out of thy sister’s mouth when she speaks!Would’stnot thoubeglad,mydear, tohavethesamegiftgivento thee?Thouhastnothingelse todobutgoanddrawwateroutof thefountain,andwhenacertainpoorwomanaskstheetoletherdrink,togiveitherverycivilly.”

“Itwouldbeaveryfinesightindeed,”saidthisill-bredminx,“toseemegodrawwater!”

“Youshallgo,hussey,”saidthemother,“andthisminute.”

So away shewent, but grumbling all theway, takingwith her the best silvertankardinthehouse.

Shewasnosooneratthefountain,thanshesawcomingoutofthewoodaladymostgloriouslydressed,whocameuptoher,andaskedtodrink.Thiswas,youmustknow,theveryFairywhoappearedtohersister,buthadnowtakenthe

“‘AmIcomehithertoserveyouwithwater,pray?’”

airanddressofaprincess,toseehowfarthisgirl’srudenesswouldgo.

“AmIcomehither,” said theproud, saucyslut, “to serveyouwithwater,pray?Isupposethesilvertankardwasbroughtpurelyforyourladyship,wasit?However,youmaydrinkoutofit,ifyouhaveafancy.”

“You are not over and above mannerly,” answered the Fairy, withoutputtingherselfinapassion.“Wellthen,sinceyouhavesolittlebreeding,andaresodisobliging,Igiveyouforgift,thatateverywordyouspeakthereshallcomeoutofyourmouthasnakeoratoad.”

Sosoonashermothersawhercoming,shecriedout:“Well,daughter?”

“Well,mother?”answeredtheperthussey,throwingoutofhermouthtwovipersandtwotoads.

“Omercy!”criedthemother,“whatisitIsee!O,itisthatwretchhersisterwhohasoccasionedallthis;butsheshallpayforit”;andimmediatelysherantobeat her. The poor child fled away from her and went to hide herself in theforest,notfarfromthence.

TheKing’sson,thenonhisreturnfromhunting,mether,andseeinghersoverypretty,askedherwhatshedidtherealone,andwhyshecried.

“Alas!sir,mymammahasturnedmeoutofdoors.”

TheKing’sson,whosawfiveorsixpearls,andasmanydiamonds,comeoutofhermouth,desiredhertotellhimhowthathappened.Shethereupontoldhimthewholestory;andsotheKing’ssonfellinlovewithher;and,consideringwith himself that such a gift was worth more than any marriage-portionwhatsoever in another, conductedher to thepalaceof theKinghis father, andtheremarriedher.

As for her sister, she made herself so much hated that her own motherturnedheroff;and themiserablewretch,havingwanderedaboutagoodwhilewithoutfindinganybodytotakeherin,wenttoacornerinthewoodandtheredied.

TheMoral

Another

 

Moneyandjewelsstill,wefind,Stampstrongimpressionsonthemind.Butsweetdiscoursemorepotentrichesyields;Ofhighervalueisthepow’ritwields.

Civilbehaviourcostsindeedsomepains,Requiresofcomplaisancesomelittleshare;Butsoonorlateitsduerewarditgains,Andmeetsitoftenwhenwe’renotaware.

TBlueBeard

herewasamanwhohadfinehouses,bothintownandcountry,adealofsilverandgoldplate,embroideredfurniture,andcoachesgildedalloverwithgold.Butthismanhadthemisfortunetohaveabluebeard,which

madehimsofrightfullyugly,thatallthewomenandgirlsranawayfromhim.

BlueBeard

One of his neighbours, a lady of quality, had two daughters who wereperfectbeauties.Hedesiredofheroneof theminmarriage, leaving toher thechoicewhich of the two shewould bestow upon him. Theywould neither ofthemhavehim,andeachmadetheotherwelcomeofhim,beingnotabletobearthe thought ofmarrying amanwhohad a bluebeard.Andwhat besides gavethemdisgustandaversion,washishavingalreadybeenmarriedtoseveralwives,andnobodyeverknewwhatbecameofthem.

BlueBeard,toengagetheiraffection,tookthem,withtheladytheirmother,and three or four ladies of their acquaintance,with other young people of theneighbourhood, to one of his country seats,where they stayed awholeweek.There was nothing then to be seen but parties of pleasure, hunting, fishing,dancing, mirth and feasting. Nobody went to bed, but all passed the night inplayingtricksuponeachother.Inshort,everythingsucceededsowell,thattheyoungestdaughterbegantothinkthemasterofthehousenottohaveabeardsoveryblue,and thathewasamightycivilgentleman.Assoonas they returnedhome,themarriagewasconcluded.

AboutamonthafterwardsBlueBeardtoldhiswifethathewasobligedtotakeacountryjourneyforsixweeksatleast,aboutaffairsofverygreatconsequence,desiring her to divert herself in his absence, to send for her friends andacquaintances,tocarrythemintothecountry,ifshepleased,andtomakegood

“Thismanhadthemisfortunetohaveabluebeard”

cheerwherevershewas.

“Here,”saidhe,“are thekeysof the twogreatwardrobes,whereinIhavemybestfurniture;theseareofmysilverandgoldplate,whichisnoteverydayinuse;theseopenmystrongboxes,whichholdmymoney,bothgoldandsilver;thesemycasketsofjewels;andthisisthemaster-keytoallmyapartments.Butforthislittleonehere,itisthekeyoftheclosetattheendofthegreatgalleryonthegroundfloor.Openthemall;gointoallandeveryoneofthem;exceptthatlittleclosetwhichIforbidyou,andforbiditinsuchamannerthat,ifyouhappentoopenit,therewillbenoboundstomyjustangerandresentment.”

Shepromisedtoobserve,veryexactly,whateverhehadordered;whenhe,afterhavingembracedher,gotintohiscoachandproceededonhisjourney.

Her neighbours and good friends did not stay to be sent for by thenewmarriedlady,sogreatwastheirimpatiencetoseealltherichfurnitureofherhouse, not daring to come while her husband was there, because of his bluebeard which frightened them. They ran thro’ all the rooms, closets, andwardrobes, which were all so rich and fine, that they seemed to surpass oneanother.

Afterthat,theywentupintothetwogreatrooms,wherewerethebestandrichestfurniture;theycouldnotsufficientlyadmirethenumberandbeautyofthetapestry, beds, couches, cabinets, stands, tables, and looking-glasses in whichyoumightseeyourselffromheadtofoot;someofthemwereframedwithglass,otherswithsilver,plainandgilded,thefinestandmostmagnificentwhichwereeverseen.Theyceasednottoextolandenvythehappinessoftheirfriend,whointhemeantimenowaydivertedherself inlookinguponall theserichthings,becauseoftheimpatienceshehadtogoandopentheclosetofthegroundfloor.Shewassomuchpressedbyhercuriosity,that,withoutconsideringthatitwasveryuncivil to leaveher company, shewentdowna little back-stair-case, andwithsuchexcessivehaste, thatshehad twiceor thrice like tohavebrokenherneck.

Being come to the closet door, shemade a stop for some time, thinkinguponherhusband’sorders,andconsideringwhatunhappinessmightattendherifshewasdisobedient;butthetemptationwassostrongshecouldnotovercomeit.She took then the littlekey,andopened it trembling;butcouldnotat first seeany thing plainly, because the windows were shut. After some moments shebegantoperceivethatthefloorwasallcoveredoverwithclottedblood,inwhichwerereflectedthebodiesofseveraldeadwomenrangedagainstthewalls:thesewere all the wives whom Blue Beard had married and murdered one afteranother.Shewasliketohavediedforfear,andthekey,whichshepulledoutofthelock,felloutofherhand.

Afterhavingsomewhat recoveredher senses, she tookup thekey, lockedthedoor,andwentupstairs intoherchamber torecoverherself;butshecouldnot,somuchwasshefrightened.Havingobservedthatthekeyoftheclosetwasstained with blood, she tried two or three times to wipe it off, but the bloodwouldnotcomeoff;invaindidshewashit,andevenrubitwithsoapandsand,theblood still remained, for thekeywasaFairy, and shecouldnevermake itquite clean;when thebloodwasgoneoff fromone side, it cameagainon theother.

Blue Beard returned from his journey the same evening, and said, he hadreceivedlettersupontheroad,informinghimthattheaffairhewentaboutwasended to his advantage. His wife did all she could to convince him she wasextremely glad of his speedy return.Nextmorning he asked her for the keys,whichshegavehim,butwithsuchatremblinghand,thatheeasilyguessedwhathadhappened.

“‘What,isnotthekeyofmyclosetamongtherest?’”

“What,”saidhe,“isnotthekeyofmyclosetamongtherest?”

“Imustcertainly,”answeredshe,“haveleftitaboveuponthetable.”

“Failnot,”saidBlueBeard,“tobringitmepresently.”

After puttinghimoff several times, shewas forced tobringhim thekey.BlueBeard,havingveryattentivelyconsideredit,saidtohiswife:

“Howcomesthisblooduponthekey?”

“Idonotknow,”criedthepoorwoman,palerthandeath.

“You do not know,” replied Blue Beard; “I very well know, you wereresolvedtogointothecloset,wereyounot?Mightywell,Madam;youshallgoin,andtakeyourplaceamongtheladiesyousawthere.”

Upon this she threwherself at herhusband’s feet, andbeggedhispardonwith all the signs of a true repentance for her disobedience. She would havemelteda rock,sobeautifulandsorrowfulwasshe;butBlueBeardhadaheartharderthananyrock.

“Youmustdie,Madam,”saidhe,“andthatpresently.”

“Since I must die,” answered she, looking upon him with her eyes allbathedintears,“givemesomelittletimetosaymyprayers.”

“I give you,” repliedBlueBeard, “half a quarter of an hour, but not onemomentmore.”

Whenshewasalone,shecalledouttohersister,andsaidtoher:

“SisterAnne”(forthatwashername),“goupIbegyou,uponthetopofthetower, and look if my brothers are not coming; they promised me that theywouldcometo-day,andifyouseethem,givethemasigntomakehaste.”

HersisterAnnewentupupon the topof the tower,and thepoorafflictedwife cried out from time to time, “Anne, sister Anne, do you see any onecoming?”

AndsisterAnnesaid:

“I see nothing but the sun, which makes a dust, and the grass growing

green.”

In themeanwhileBlueBeard,holdingagreat scimitar inhishand,criedoutasloudashecouldbawltohiswife:

“Comedowninstantly,orIshallcomeuptoyou.”

“Onemoment longer, ifyouplease,”saidhiswife,andthenshecriedoutverysoftly:

“Anne,sisterAnne,dostthouseeanybodycoming?”

AndsisterAnneanswered:

“I see nothing but the sun, which makes a dust, and the grass growinggreen.”

“Comedownquickly,”criedBlueBeard,“orIwillcomeuptoyou.”

“Iamcoming,”answeredhiswife;andthenshecried:

“Anne,sisterAnne,dostthouseeanyonecoming?”

“Isee,”repliedsisterAnne,“agreatdustthatcomesthisway.”

“Aretheymybrothers?”

“Alas!no,mydearsister,Iseeaflockofsheep.”

“Willyounotcomedown?”criedBlueBeard.

“Onemomentlonger,”saidhiswife,andthenshecriedout:

“Anne,sisterAnne,dostthouseenobodycoming?”

“Isee,”saidshe,“twohorsemencoming,buttheyareyetagreatwayoff.”

“God be praised,” she cried presently, “they are my brothers; I ambeckoningtothem,aswellasIcan,forthemtomakehaste.”

Then Blue Beard bawled out so loud, that he made the whole housetremble. The distressed wife came down, and threw herself at his feet, all intears,withherhairabouthershoulders.

“Noughtwillavail,”saidBlueBeard,“youmustdie”;then,takingholdofherhairwithonehand,andliftinguphisscimitarwiththeother,hewasgoingto

takeoffherhead.

Thepoor lady turningabout tohim, and lookingat himwithdyingeyes,desiredhimtoaffordheronelittlemomenttorecollectherself.

“No, no,” said he, “recommend thyself to God,” and was just ready tostrike.

At thisvery instant therewassucha loudknockingat thegate, thatBlueBeard made a sudden stop. The gate was opened, and presently entered twohorsemen,whodrawingtheirswords,randirectlytoBlueBeard.Heknewthemtobehiswife’sbrothers,oneadragoon,theotheramusqueteer;sothatheranaway immediately to savehimself;but the twobrotherspursued soclose, thattheyovertookhimbeforehecouldgettothestepsoftheporch,whentheyrantheirswordsthro’hisbodyandlefthimdead.Thepoorwifewasalmostasdeadasherhusband,andhadnotstrengthenoughtoriseandwelcomeherbrothers.

BlueBeardhadnoheirs,andsohiswifebecamemistressofallhisestate.Shemadeuseofonepartof it tomarryhersisterAnne toayounggentlemanwhohadlovedheralongwhile;anotherparttobuycaptains’commissionsforherbrothers;andtheresttomarryherselftoaveryworthygentleman,whomadeherforgettheilltimeshehadpassedwithBlueBeard.

TheMoral

Another

Ocuriosity,thoumortalbane!Spiteofthycharms,thoucausestoftenpainAndsoreregret,ofwhichwedailyfindAthousandinstancesattendmankind:Forthou—Omayitnotdispleasethefair—Afleetingpleasureart,butlastingcare.Andalwaysproves,alas!toodeartheprize,Which,inthemomentofpossession,dies.

 

Averylittleshareofcommonsense,Andknowledgeoftheworld,willsoonevinceThatthisastoryisoftimelongpass’d;Nohusbandsnowsuchpanicterrorscast;Norweakly,withavaindespotichand,Imperious,what’simpossible,command:Andbetheydiscontented,orthefireOfwickedjealousytheirheartsinspire,Theysoftlysing;andofwhateverhueTheirbeardsmaychancetobe,orblack,orblue,Grizeld,orrusset,itishardtosayWhichofthetwo,themanorwife,bearssway.

TheSleepingBeautyintheWood

TTheSleepingBeautyintheWood

herewereformerlyaKingandaQueen,whoweresosorrythattheyhadno children, so sorry that it cannot be expressed.Theywent to all thewatersintheworld;vows,pilgrimages,allwaysweretriedandalltono

purpose.Atlast,however,theQueenprovedwithchild,andwasbroughttobedof a daughter.Therewas a very fine christening; and thePrincess had for her

godmothers all the Fairies they could find in thewhole kingdom (they foundseven),thateveryoneofthemmightgiveheragift,aswasthecustomofFairiesinthosedays,andthatbythismeansthePrincessmighthavealltheperfectionsimaginable.

Aftertheceremoniesofthechristeningwereover,allthecompanyreturnedtotheKing’spalace,wherewaspreparedagreatfeastfortheFairies.Therewasplaced before every one of them amagnificent cover with a case of massivegold,whereinwereaspoon,knifeandfork,allofpuregoldsetwithdiamondsandrubies.Butastheywereallsittingdownattable,theysawcomeintothehalla very old Fairywhom they had not invited, because itwas above fifty yearssinceshehadbeenoutofacertaintower,andshewasbelievedtobeeitherdeadorinchanted.TheKingorderedheracover,butcouldnotfurnishherwithacaseofgoldas theothers,because theyhadsevenonlymadefor thesevenFairies.TheoldFairy fanciedshewasslighted,andmutteredsome threatbetweenherteeth.Oneof theyoungFairies,whosatbyher,overheardhowshegrumbled;and judging that shemightgive the littlePrincess someunluckygift,went, assoonas theyrose fromthe table,andhidherselfbehind thehangings, that shemightspeak last,andrepair,asmuchaspossibleshecould, theevilwhich theoldFairymightintend.

“Atthisveryinstanttheyoungfairycameoutfrombehindthehangings”

In themeanwhileall theFairiesbegan togive theirgifts to thePrincess.Theyoungestgaveher forgift, that she shouldbe themostbeautifulperson in theworld; the next, that she should have the wit of an angel; the third, that sheshouldhaveawonderfulgraceineverythingshedid;thefourth,thatsheshoulddanceperfectlywell; the fifth, that she should sing like anightingale; and the

sixth,thatsheshouldplayuponallkindsofmusictotheutmostperfection.

TheoldFairy’sturncomingnext,withaheadshakingmorewithspitethanage,shesaid,thatthePrincessshouldhaveherhandpiercedwithaspindle,anddieofthewound.Thisterriblegiftmadethewholecompanytremble,andeverybodyfella-crying.

At this very instant the youngFairy came out frombehind the hangings,andspakethesewordsaloud:

“Be reassured, O King and Queen; your daughter shall not die of thisdisaster:itistrue,Ihavenopowertoundointirelywhatmyelderhasdone.ThePrincess shall indeedpierceherhandwitha spindle;but insteadofdying, sheshall only fall into a profound sleep, which shall last a hundred years; at theexpirationofwhichaking’ssonshallcomeandawakeher.”

The King, to avoid the misfortune foretold by the old Fairy, causedimmediatelyproclamationstobemade,wherebyevery-bodywasforbidden,onpain of death, to spin with a distaff and spindle or to have so much as anyspindleintheirhouses.

Aboutfifteenorsixteenyearsafter,theKingandQueenbeinggonetooneof their houses of pleasure, the young Princess happened one day to divertherselfrunningupanddownthepalace;whengoingupfromoneapartmenttoanother, she came into a little room on the top of a tower, where a good oldwoman,alone,wasspinningwithherspindle.ThisgoodwomanhadneverheardoftheKing’sproclamationagainstspindles.

“Whatareyoudoingthere,Goody?”saidthePrincess.

“Iamspinning,myprettychild,” said theoldwoman,whodidnotknowwhoshewas.

“Ha!”said thePrincess,“this isverypretty;howdoyoudo it?Give it tome,thatImayseeifIcandoso.”Shehadnosoonertakenthespindleintoherhand,than,whetherbeingveryhastyatit,somewhatunhandy,orthatthedecree

of the Fairy had so ordained it, it ran into her hand, and she fell down in aswoon.

Thegoodoldwomannotknowingverywellwhattodointhisaffair,criedout for help. People came in from every quarter in great numbers; they threwwateruponthePrincess’sface,unlacedher,struckheronthepalmsofherhands,and rubbed her temples with Hungary-water; but nothing would bring her toherself.

And now the King, who came up at the noise, bethought himself of thepredictionoftheFairies,andjudgingverywellthatthismustnecessarilycometopass, since theFairieshadsaid it, caused thePrincess tobecarried into thefinest apartment inhispalace, and tobe laiduponabedall embroideredwithgold and silver. One would have taken her for an angel, she was so verybeautiful;forherswooningawayhadnotdiminishedonebitofhercomplexion;hercheekswerecarnation,andherlipslikecoral;indeedhereyeswereshut,butshewasheardtobreathesoftly,whichsatisfiedthoseaboutherthatshewasnotdead.TheKing commanded that they shouldnot disturbher, but let her sleepquietlytillherhourofawakeningwascome.

The good Fairy, who had saved her life by condemning her to sleep ahundred years, was in the kingdom ofMatakin, twelve thousand leagues off,whenthisaccidentbefellthePrincess;butshewasinstantlyinformedofitbyalittledwarf,whohadbootsofsevenleagues,thatis,bootswithwhichhecouldtread over seven leagues of ground at one stride. The Fairy came awayimmediately, and shearrived, about anhourafter, in a fierychariot,drawnbydragons.TheKinghandedheroutofthechariot,andsheapprovedeverythinghe had done; but, as she had a very great foresight, she thought, when thePrincess should awake, shemightnotknowwhat todowithherself, beingallaloneinthisoldpalace;andthiswaswhatshedid:Shetouchedwithherwandeverythinginthepalace(excepttheKingandtheQueen),governesses,maidsofhonour, ladiesof thebedchamber, gentlemen,officers, stewards, cooks, under-

cooks, scullions, guards, with their beef-eaters, pages, footmen; she likewisetouched all the horseswhichwere in the stables, aswell as their grooms, thegreatdogsintheoutwardcourt,andprettylittleMopseytoo,thePrincess’slittlespaniel-bitch,whichlaybyheronthebed.

Immediatelyuponher touching them, theyall fell asleep, that theymightnotawakebefore theirmistress,andthat theymightbereadytowaituponherwhenshewantedthem.Theveryspitsat thefire,asfullas theycouldholdofpartridgesandpheasants,didfallasleep,andthefirelikewise.Allthiswasdoneinamoment.Fairiesarenotlongindoingtheirbusiness.

Andnow theKingand theQueen,havingkissed their dear childwithoutwakingher,went out of thepalace, andput forth aproclamation, that nobodyshoulddaretocomenearit.This,however,wasnotnecessary;for,inaquarterofanhour’stime,theregrewup,allroundaboutthepark,suchavastnumberoftrees, great and small, bushes and brambles, twining one within another, thatneithermannorbeastcouldpassthro’;sothatnothingcouldbeseenbuttheverytopofthetowersofthepalace;andthat too,notunlessitwasagoodwayoff.NobodydoubtedbuttheFairygavehereinasampleofherart,thatthePrincess,while she continued sleeping, might have nothing to fear from any curiouspeople.

“Theprinceenquiresoftheagedcountryman”

Whenahundredyearsweregoneandpast, the sonof theKing then reigning,andwhowasofanotherfamilyfromthatofthesleepingPrincess,beinggonea-huntingonthatsideofthecountry,asked,whatwerethosetowerswhichhesawinthemiddleofagreatthickwood?Everyoneansweredaccordingastheyhadheard;somesaidthatitwasaruinousoldcastle,hauntedbyspirits;others,that

all the sorcerers andwitches of the country kept there their sabbath, or nightsmeeting.ThecommonopinionwasthatanOgre1livedthere,andthathecarriedthither all the little children he could catch, that hemight eat them up at hisleisure,withoutany-body’sbeingabletofollowhim,ashavinghimself,only,thepowertopassthro’thewood.

The Prince was at a stand, not knowing what to believe, when a very agedcountrymanspake tohim thus:“May itpleaseyourRoyalHighness, it isnowabovefiftyyearssinceIheardmyfather,whohadheardmygrandfather,saythatthere thenwas in thiscastle,aPrincess, themostbeautifulwaseverseen; thatshemustsleepthereahundredyears,andshouldbeawakedbyaking’sson;forwhom she was reserved.” The young Prince was all on fire at these words,believing, without a moment’s doubt, that he could put an end to this rareadventure;andpushedonbyloveandhonourresolvedthatmomenttolookintoit.

Scarce had he advanced towards the wood, when all the great trees, thebushesandbrambles,gavewayof themselves to lethimpass thro’;hewalkeduptothecastlewhichhesawattheendofalargeavenuewhichhewentinto;andwhatalittlesurprisedhimwas,thathesawnoneofhispeoplecouldfollowhim, because the trees closed again, as soon as he had pass’d thro’ them.However,hedidnotceasefromcontinuinghisway;ayoungandamorousPrinceisalwaysvaliant.Hecameintoaspaciousoutwardcourt,whereeverythinghesawmighthave frozenup themost fearlesspersonwithhorror.There reignedoverall amost frightful silence; the imageofdeatheverywhere shewed itself,andtherewasnothingtobeseenbutstretchedoutbodiesofmenandanimals,allseemingtobedead.He,however,verywellknew,bytherubyfacesandpimplednosesof thebeef-eaters, that theywereonlyasleep;and theirgoblets,wherein

1OGREisagiant,withlongteethandclaws,witharawheadandbloody-bones,whorunsawaywithnaughtylittleboysandgirls,andeatsthemup.[Notebythetranslator.]

stillremainedsomedropsofwine,shewedplainly,thattheyfellasleepintheircups.

He then crossed a court pavedwithmarble,went up the stairs, and cameintotheguard-chamber,wheretheguardswerestandingintheirranks,withtheirmusketsupon their shoulders,andsnoringas loudas theycould.After thathewent through several rooms full of gentlemen and ladies, all asleep, somestanding, others sitting. At last he came into a chamber all gilded with gold,wherehesaw,uponabed,thecurtainsofwhichwereallopen,thefinestsightwaseverbeheld:aPrincess,whoappearedtobeaboutfifteenorsixteenyearsofage,andwhosebright,andinamannerresplendentbeauty,hadsomewhatinitdivine.Heapproachedwithtremblingandadmiration,andfelldownbeforeheruponhisknees.

Andnow,astheinchantmentwasatanend,thePrincessawaked,andlookingonhimwitheyesmoretenderthanthefirstviewmightseemtoadmitof:“Isityou,myPrince,”saidshetohim,“youhavetarriedlong.”

ThePrince,charmedwiththesewords,andmuchmorewiththemannerinwhichtheywerespoken,knewnothowtoshewhisjoyandgratitude;heassured

“Hesaw,uponabed,thefinestsightwaseverbeheld”

her, that he loved her better than he did himself; his discourse was not wellconnected,butitpleasedherallthemore;littleeloquence,agreatdealoflove.Hewasmoreatalossthanshe,andweneednotwonderatit;shehadtimetothink onwhat to say to him; for it is very probable (though historymentionsnothingofit)thatthegoodFairy,duringsolongasleep,hadentertainedherwithpleasant dreams. In short,when they talked four hours together, they said nothalfwhattheyhadtosay.

In the mean while, all the palace awaked; every one thought upon theirparticularbusiness;andasallofthemwerenotinlove,theywerereadytodieforhunger;thechiefladyofhonour,beingassharpsetasotherfolks,grewveryimpatient, and told thePrincess aloud,That supperwas servedup.ThePrincehelpedthePrincesstorise,shewasentirelydressed,andverymagnificently,buthisRoyalHighnesstookcarenot totellher thatshewasdressedlikehisgreatgrand-mother,andhadapoint-bandpeepingoverahighcollar;shelookednotabitthelessbeautifulandcharmingforallthat.

Theywent into the great hall of looking-glasses,where they supped, andwereservedbythePrincess’sofficers;theviolinsandhautboysplayedoldtunes,butveryexcellent, tho’ itwasnowaboveahundredyearssince theyhadbeenplayed;andaftersupper,withoutlosinganytime,thelordalmonermarriedtheminthechapelofthecastle,andthechiefladyofhonourdrewthecurtains.Theyhadbut very little sleep; thePrincess hadnooccasion, and thePrince left hernext morning to return into the city, where his father must needs have beenanxiousonhisaccount.ThePrincetoldhimthathelosthiswayintheforest,ashewashunting, and thathehad lainat thecottageofacollier,whogavehimcheeseandbrownbread.

TheKinghisfather,whowasofaneasydisposition,believedhim;buthismother could not be persuaded thiswas true; and seeing that hewent almosteverydaya-hunting,andthathealwayshadsomeexcusereadywhenhehadlaidoutthreeorfournightstogether,shenolongerdoubtedhehadsomelittleamour,

for he lived with the Princess above two whole years, and had by her twochildren, theeldestofwhich,whowasadaughter,wasnamedAurora,and theyoungest,whowasason,theycalledDay,becausehewasevenhandsomerandmorebeautifulthanhissister.

TheQueensaidmorethanoncetoherson,inordertobringhimtospeakfreelytoher,thatayoungmanmuste’entakehispleasure;butheneverdaredtotrustherwithhissecret;hefearedher,tho’helovedher;forshewasoftheraceoftheOgres,andtheKingwouldneverhavemarriedher,haditnotbeenforhervast riches; it was even whispered about the court, that she had Ogreishinclinations,andthat,whenevershesawlittlechildrenpassingby,shehadallthedifficulty in the world to refrain from falling upon them. And so the Princewouldnevertellheroneword.

ButwhentheKingwasdead,whichhappenedabouttwoyearsafterwards;and he saw himself lord andmaster, he openly declared hismarriage; and hewent in great ceremony to fetch his Queen from the castle. They made amagnificententryintothecapitalcity,sheridingbetweenhertwochildren.

Sometimeafter,theKingwenttomakewarwiththeEmperorCantalabutte,hisneighbour.HeleftthegovernmentofthekingdomtotheQueenhismother,andearnestlyrecommendedtohercarehiswifeandchildren.Hewasliketobeatwarall the summer, andas soonashedeparted, theQueen-mother sentherdaughter-in-lawandherchildrentoacountry-houseamongthewoods,thatshemightwiththemoreeasegratifyherhorriblelonging.

Somefewdaysafterwardsshewentthitherherself,andsaidtoherclerkofthekitchen:

“IhaveamindtoeatlittleAuroraformydinnertomorrow.”

“Ah!Madam,”criedtheclerkofthekitchen.

“Iwillhaveitso,”repliedtheQueen(andthisshespakeinthetoneofan

“‘Iwillhaveitso,’repliedtheQueen,‘andwilleatherwithaSauceRobert’”

Ogress,whohadastrongdesiretoeatfreshmeat),“andwilleatherwithaSauceRobert.”2

The poorman knowing verywell that hemust not play trickswithOgresses,tookhisgreatknifeandwentupintolittleAurora’schamber.Shewasthenfouryearsold,andcameuptohimjumpingandlaughing,totakehimabouttheneck,and ask him for some sugar-candy. Upon which he began to weep, the greatknifefelloutofhishand,andhewentintotheback-yard,andkilledalittlelamb,anddresseditwithsuchgoodsauce,thathismistressassuredhimshehadnevereaten anything so good in her life. He had at the same time taken up littleAurora,andcarriedher tohiswife, toconcealher in thelodginghehadat theendofthecourtyard.

About eight days afterwards, the wicked Queen said to the clerk of thekitchen:

“IwillsupuponlittleDay.”

Heanswerednotaword,beingresolvedtocheather,ashehaddonebefore.Hewent to findout littleDay,andsawhimwitha little foil inhishand,withwhichhewasfencingwithagreatmonkey;thechildbeingthenonlythreeyearsofage.Hetookhimupinhisarms,andcarriedhimtohiswife,thatshemightconcealhiminherchamberalongwithhissister,andintheroomoflittleDaycookedupayoungkidvery tender,which theOgressfoundtobewonderfullygood.

Thiswashithertoallmightywell:butoneeveningthiswickedQueensaidtoherclerkofthekitchen:

“IwilleattheQueenwiththesamesauceIhadwithherchildren.”

It was now that the poor clerk of the kitchen despaired of being able to

2ThisisaFrenchsauce,madewithonionsshreddedandboiledtenderinbutter,towhichisaddedvinegar,mustard,salt,pepper,andalittlewine.[Notebythetranslator.]

deceiveher.TheyoungQueenwasturnedoftwenty,notreckoningthehundredyears she had been asleep: her skin was somewhat tough, tho’ very fair andwhite;andhow to find in theyardabeast so firm,waswhatpuzzledhim.Hetookthenaresolution,thathemightsavehisownlife,tocuttheQueen’sthroat;andgoingupintoherchamber,withintenttodoitatonce,heputhimselfintoasgreatafuryashecouldpossibly,andcameinto theyoungQueen’sroomwithhisdaggerinhishand.Hewouldnot,however,surpriseher,buttoldher,withagreatdealofrespect,theordershehadreceivedfromtheQueen-mother.

“Do it,do it,” saidshestretchingoutherneck,“executeyourorders,andthenIshallgoandseemychildren,mypoorchildren,whomIsomuchandsotenderlyloved,”forshethoughtthemdeadeversincetheyhadbeentakenawaywithoutherknowledge.

“No,no,Madam,”criedthepoorclerkofthekitchen,allintears,“youshallnotdie,andyetyoushallseeyourchildrenagain;butitmustbeinmylodgings,where I have concealed them, and I shall deceive the Queen once more, bygivingherinyoursteadayounghind.”

Uponthisheforthwithconductedhertohischamber;whereleavinghertoembrace her children, and cry along with them, he went and dressed a hind,whichtheQueenhadforhersupper,anddevoureditwiththesameappetite,asifit hadbeen theyoungQueen.Exceedinglywas shedelightedwithher cruelty,andshehadinventedastorytotelltheKing,athisreturn,howravenouswolveshadeatenuptheQueenhiswife,andhertwochildren.

One evening, as shewas, according to her custom, rambling round aboutthecourtsandyardsofthepalace,toseeifshecouldsmellanyfreshmeat,sheheard, in a ground-room littleDay crying, for hismammawas going towhiphim,becausehehadbeennaughty;andsheheard,atthesametime,littleAurorabeggingpardonforherbrother.

TheOgress presently knew the voice of theQueen and her children, andbeingquitemadthatshehadbeenthusdeceived,shecommandednextmorning,

bybreakofday (withamosthorriblevoice,whichmadeeverybody tremble)that theyshouldbringintothemiddleof thegreatcourta largetub,whichshecausedtobefilledwithtoads,vipers,snakes,andallsortsofserpents,inordertohavethrownintoittheQueenandherchildren,theclerkofthekitchen,hiswifeandmaid; allwhomshehadgivenorders shouldbebrought thitherwith theirhandstiedbehindthem.

Theywerebroughtoutaccordingly,andtheexecutionerswerejustgoingtothrowthemintothetub,whentheKing(whowasnotsosoonexpected)enteredthe court on horse-back (for he came post) and asked, with the utmostastonishment,whatwasthemeaningofthathorriblespectacle?Noonedaredtotellhim;whentheOgress,all inragedtoseewhathadhappened, threwherselfhead-foremostintothetub,andwasinstantlydevouredbytheuglycreaturesshehadorderedtobethrownintoitforothers.TheKingcouldnotbutbeverysorry,forshewashismother;buthesooncomfortedhimselfwithhisbeautifulwife,andhisprettychildren.

TheMoral

Togetasprizeahusbandrichandgay.Ofhumoursweet,withmanyyearstostay,Isnaturalenough,’tistrue;

 

Towaitforhimahundredyears,Andallthatwhileasleep,appearsAthingentirelynew.Nowatthistimeofday,NotoneofallthesexweseeDothsleepwithsuchprofoundtranquillity:ButyetthisFableseemstoletusknowThatveryoftenHymen’sblissessweet,Altho’sometediousobstaclestheymeet,Arenotlesshappyforapproachingslow.’Tisnature’swaythatladiesfairShouldyearnconjugaljoystoshare;AndsoI’venotthehearttopreachAmoralthat’sbeyondtheirreach.

T

TheMasterCatorPussinBoots

TheMasterCatorPussinBoots

herewasamiller,wholeftnomoreestatetothethreesonshehad,thanhisMill,hisAss,andhisCat.Thepartitionwassoonmade.Neitherthescrivenernorattorneyweresentfor.Theywouldsoonhaveeatenupall

the poor patrimony. The eldest had the Mill, the second the Ass, and theyoungestnothingbuttheCat.

Thepooryoungfellowwasquitecomfortlessathavingsopooralot.

“My brothers,” said he, “may get their living handsomely enough, byjoiningtheirstockstogether;butformypart,whenIhaveeatenupmyCat,andmademeamuffofhisskin,Imustdiewithhunger.”

TheCat,whoheardall this,butmadeas ifhedidnot,said tohimwithagraveandseriousair:

“Donotthusafflictyourself,mygoodmaster;youhaveonlytogivemeabag,andgetapairofbootsmadeforme,thatImayscamperthro’thedirtandthebrambles,andyoushallseethatyouhavenotsobadaportionofmeasyouimagine.”

Tho’ theCat’smasterdidnotbuildverymuchuponwhathesaid,hehadhoweveroftenseenhimplayagreatmanycunningtrickstocatchratsandmice;aswhenheusedtohangbytheheels,orhidehimselfinthemeal,andmakeasifhewere dead; so that he did not altogether despair of his affording him somehelpinhismiserablecondition.

WhentheCathadwhatheaskedfor,hebootedhimselfverygallantly;andputtinghisbagabouthisneck,heheldthestringsofitinhistwoforepaws,andwentintoawarrenwherewasgreatabundanceofrabbits.Heputbranandsow-thistleintohisbag,andstretchinghimselfoutatlength,asifhehadbeendead,he waited for some young rabbit, not yet acquainted with the deceits of theworld,tocomeandrummagehisbagforwhathehadputintoit.

Scarcewas he lain down, but he hadwhat hewanted; a rash and foolishyoung rabbit jumped into his bag, and Monsieur Puss, immediately drawingclose the strings, took andkilledhimwithoutpity.Proudofhis prey, hewentwith it to thepalace, andasked to speakwithhisMajesty.Hewas shewedupstairsintotheKing’sapartment,and,makingalowreverence,saidtohim:

“I have brought you, sir, a rabbit of thewarrenwhichmynoble lord theMarquisofCarabas”(for thatwas the titlewhichPusswaspleased togivehismaster)“hascommandedmetopresenttoyourMajestyfromhim.”

“Tell thymaster,”said theKing,“thatI thankhim,andthathedoesmeagreatdealofpleasure.”

Anothertimehewentandhidhimselfamongsomestandingcorn,holdingstillhisbagopen;andwhenabraceofpartridgesranintoit,hedrewthestrings,andsocaughtthemboth.HewentandmadeapresentofthesetotheKing,ashehad done before of the rabbit which he took in the warren. TheKing in likemanner received the partridges with great pleasure, and ordered him somemoneytodrink.

TheCatcontinuedfortwoorthreemonths,thustocarryhisMajesty,fromtimetotime,gameofhismaster’staking.Onedayinparticular,whenheknewfor certain that the King was to take the air, along the river side, with hisdaughter,themostbeautifulPrincessintheworld,hesaidtohismaster:

“Ifyouwillfollowmyadvice,yourfortuneismade;youhavenothingelsetodo,butgoandwashyourself in the river, in thatpart I shall shewyou,andleavetheresttome.”

TheMarquisofCarabasdidwhattheCatadvisedhimto,withoutknowingwhyorwherefore.

Whilehewaswashing,theKingpassedby,andtheCatbegantocryout,asloudashecould:

“Help,help,mylordMarquisofCarabasisdrowning.”

AtthisnoisetheKingputhisheadoutofhiscoach-window,andfindingitwastheCatwhohadsooftenbroughthimsuchgoodgame,hecommandedhisguards to run immediately to the assistance of his lordship the Marquis ofCarabas.

WhiletheyweredrawingthepoorMarquisoutoftheriver,theCatcameuptothecoach,andtoldtheKingthatwhilehismasterwaswashing,therecamebysome rogues, who went off with his clothes, tho’ he had cried out “Thieves,thieves,”severaltimes,asloudashecould.ThiscunningCathadhiddenthem

under a great stone. The King immediately commanded the officers of hiswardrobetorunandfetchoneofhisbestsuitsforthelordMarquisofCarabas.

TheKingreceivedhimwithgreatkindness,andasthefineclotheshehadgiven him extremely set off his good mien (for he was well made, and veryhandsome inhisperson), theKing’sdaughter took a secret inclination tohim,and the Marquis of Carabas had no sooner cast two or three respectful andsomewhattenderglances,butshefellinlovewithhimtodistraction.TheKingwouldneedshavehimcomeintohiscoach,andtakepartoftheairing.TheCat,quite overjoyed to see his project begin to succeed, marched on before, andmeetingwithsomecountrymen,whoweremowingameadow,hesaidtothem:

“Goodpeople,youwhoaremowing, ifyoudonot tell theKing, that themeadowyoumowbelongstomylordMarquisofCarabas,youshallbechoppedassmallasmince-meat.”

TheKing did not fail asking of themowers, to whom themeadow theyweremowingbelonged.

“TomylordMarquisofCarabas,”answeredtheyalltogether;fortheCat’sthreatshadmadethemterriblyafraid.

“Trulyafineestate,”saidtheKingtotheMarquisofCarabas.

“You see, sir,” said theMarquis, “this is ameadowwhich never fails toyieldaplentifulharvesteveryyear.”

TheMasterCat,whostillwentonbefore,metwithsomereapers,andsaidtothem:

“Goodpeople,youwhoarereaping,ifyoudonottelltheKingthatallthiscornbelongstotheMarquisofCarabas,youshallbechoppedassmallasmince-meat.”

TheKing,whopassedbyamomentafter,wouldneedsknowtowhomallthat corn, which he then saw, did belong. “Tomy lordMarquis of Carabas,”repliedthereapers;andtheKingagaincongratulatedtheMarquis.

TheMaster Cat,whowent always before, said the samewords to all hemet; and the King was astonished at the vast estates of my lord Marquis ofCarabas.

MonsieurPusscameatlasttoastatelycastle,themasterofwhichwasanOgre,therichesthadeverbeenknown;forallthelandswhichtheKinghadthengoneoverbelongedtothiscastle.TheCat,whohadtakencaretoinformhimselfwhothisOgrewas,andwhathecoulddo,askedtospeakwithhim,saying,hecould not pass so near his castle, without having the honour of paying hisrespectstohim.

TheOgre receivedhimas civilly as anOgre coulddo, andmadehim sitdown.

“Ihavebeenassured,”saidtheCat,“thatyouhavethegiftofbeingabletochange yourself into all sorts of creatures you have a mind to; you can, forexample,transformyourselfintoalion,orelephant,andthelike.”

“This is true,”answeredtheOgreverybriskly,“andtoconvinceyou,youshallseemenowbecomealion.”

Puss was so sadly terrified at the sight of a lion so near him, that heimmediately got into the gutter, notwithout abundance of trouble and danger,because of his boots,whichwere ill-suited forwalking upon the tiles.A littlewhileafter,whenPusssawthattheOgrehadresumedhisnaturalform,hecamedown,andownedhehadbeenverymuchfrightened.

“I have beenmoreover informed,” said theCat, “but I know not how tobelieveit,thatyouhavealsothepowertotakeonyoutheshapeofthesmallestanimals;forexample,tochangeyourselfintoaratoramouse;butImustowntoyou,Itakethistobeimpossible.”

“Impossible?” cried the Ogre, “you shall see that presently,” and at thesametimechangedintoamouse,andbegantorunaboutthefloor.

Pussnosoonerperceivedthis,buthefelluponhim,andatehimup.

MeanwhiletheKing,whosaw,ashepassed,thisfinecastleoftheOgre’s,had a mind to go into it. Puss, who heard the noise of his Majesty’s coachrunningoverthedrawbridge,ranoutandsaidtotheKing:

“YourMajestyiswelcometothiscastleofmylordMarquisofCarabas.”

“What!mylordMarquis?”criedtheKing,“anddoesthiscastlealsobelongtoyou?Therecanbenothingfinerthanthiscourt,andall thestatelybuildingswhichsurroundit;letusgointoit,ifyouplease.”

TheMarquisgavehishandtothePrincess,andfollowedtheKing,whowentupfirst.Theypassedintoaspacioushall,wheretheyfoundamagnificentcollationwhichtheOgrehadpreparedforhisfriends,whowerethatverydaytovisithim,butdarednot toenterknowing theKingwas there.HisMajestywasperfectlycharmed with the good qualities of my lord Marquis of Carabas, as was hisdaughterwhowasfallenviolentlyinlovewithhim;andseeingthevastestatehepossessed,saidtohim,afterhavingdrankfiveorsixglasses:

“Itwillbeowingtoyourselfonly,mylordMarquis,ifyouarenotmyson-in-law.”

The Marquis making several low bows, accepted the honour which hisMajesty conferred upon him, and forthwith, that very same day, married thePrincess.

Pussbecameagreatlord,andneverranaftermiceanymore,butonlyforhisdiversion.

TheMoral

“TheMarquisgavehishandtothePrincess,andfollowedtheKing,whowentupfirst”

Another

 

Howadvantageousitmaybe,Bylongdescentofpedigree,T’enjoyagreatestate,Yetknowledgehowtoact,wesee,Join’dwithconsummateindustry,(Norwonderyethereat)Dothoftenproveagreaterboon,Asshouldbetoyoungpeopleknown.

IfthesonofamillersosoongainstheheartOfabeautifulprincess,andmakesherimpartSweetlanguishingglances,eyesmeltingforlove,Itmustberemark’doffineclotheshowtheymove,Andthatyouth,agoodface,agoodair,withgoodmien,ArenotalwaysindifferentmediumstowinTheloveofthefair,andgentlyinspireTheflamesofsweetpassion,andtenderdesire.

O

Cinderilla;or,TheLittleGlassSlipper

Cinderilla;or,TheLittleGlassSlipper

nce there was a gentleman who married, for his second wife, theproudest andmosthaughtywoman thatwasever seen.Shehad,byaformer husband, two daughters of her own humour and they were

indeedexactlylikeherinallthings.Hehadlikewise,byanotherwife,ayoungdaughter,butofunparalleledgoodnessandsweetnessoftemper,whichshetookfromhermother,whowasthebestcreatureintheworld.

No soonerwere the ceremonies of thewedding over, but the stepmotherbegan to shewherself inher colours.Shecouldnotbear thegoodqualitiesofthisprettygirl; and the less, because theymadeherowndaughters appear themoreodious.Sheemployedherinthemeanestworkofthehouse;shescouredthedishes, tables,&c.andrubbedMadam’schamber,andthoseofMisses,herdaughters; she lay up in a sorry garret, upon awretched straw-bed,while her

sisters lay in fine rooms,with floors all inlaid, upon beds of the very newestfashion, and where they had looking-glasses so large, that they might seethemselvesattheirfulllength,fromheadtofoot.

The poor girl bore all patiently, and dared not tell her father,whowouldhaverattledheroff;forhiswifegovernedhimintirely.Whenshehaddoneherwork,sheusedtogointothechimney-corner,andsitdownamongcindersandashes, which made her commonly be called Cinder-breech; but the youngest,whowasnotso rudeanduncivilas theeldest,calledherCinderilla.However,Cinderilla, notwithstandinghermean apparel,was ahundred timeshandsomerthanhersisters,tho’theywerealwaysdressedveryrichly.

IthappenedthattheKing’ssongaveaball,andinvitedallpersonsoffashiontoit.Ouryoungmisseswerealsoinvited;fortheycutaverygrandfigureamongthequality.Theyweremightilydelightedatthisinvitation,andwonderfullybusyin chusingout suchgowns, petticoats, andhead-clothes asmight best becomethem.ThiswasanewtroubletoCinderilla;foritwasshewhoironedhersisters’

“AnyonebutCinderillawouldhavedressedtheirheadsawry”

linen,andplaitedtheirruffles;theytalkedalldaylongofnothingbuthowtheyshouldbedressed.“Formypart,”saidtheeldest,“Iwillwearmyredvelvetsuit,withFrench trimming.”“AndI,”said theyoungest,“shallonlyhavemyusualpetticoat; but then, to make amends for that, I will put on my gold-floweredmanteau,andmydiamondstomacher,whichisfarfrombeingthemostordinaryoneintheworld.”Theysentforthebesttire-womantheycouldget,tomakeuptheir head-dresses, and adjust their double-pinners,3 and they had their redbrushes,andpatchesfromthefashionablemaker.

Cinderillawaslikewisecalleduptothemtobeconsultedinallthesematters,forshehadexcellentnotions,andadvisedthemalwaysforthebest,nayandofferedherservicetodresstheirheads,whichtheywereverywillingsheshoulddo.Asshewasdoingthis,theysaidtoher:

“Cinderilla,wouldyounotbegladtogototheball?”

“Ah!”saidshe,“youonlyjeeratme;itisnotforsuchasIamtogothither.”

“Thouartintherightofit,”repliedthey,“itwouldmakethepeoplelaughtoseeaCinder-breechataball.”

AnyonebutCinderillawouldhavedressed theirheadsawry,butshewasverygood,anddressedthemperfectlywell.Theywerealmosttwodayswithouteating, somuch theywere transportedwith joy; they broke above a dozen oflaces in trying tobe lacedupclose, that theymighthavea fineslender shape,and theywere continually at their looking-glass.At last the happy day came;theywent toCourt,andCinderilla followed themwithhereyesas longasshecould,andwhenshehadlostsightofthemshefella-crying.

Hergodmother,whosawherallintears,askedherwhatwasthematter.

“IwishIcould——IwishIcould—;”shewasnotabletospeaktherest,

3‘Pinners’werecoifswithtwolongside-flapspinnedon.‘Double-pinners’—withtwoside-flapsoneachside—accuratelytranslatestheFrenchcornettesàdeuxrangs.

beinginterruptedbyhertearsandsobbing.

Thisgodmotherofhers,whowasaFairy,saidtoher:

“Thouwishestthoucouldestgototheball,isitnotso?”

“Y—es,”criedCinderilla,withagreatsigh.

“Well,” said her godmother, “be but a good girl, and Iwill contrive thatthoushaltgo.”Thenshetookherintoherchamber,andsaidtoher:

“Runintothegarden,andbringmeapumpkin.”

Cinderillawentimmediatelytogatherthefinestshecouldget,andbroughtittohergodmother,notbeingabletoimaginehowthispumpkincouldmakehergototheball.Hergodmotherscoopedoutalltheinsideofit,leavingnothingbuttherind;whichdone,shestruckitwithherwand,andthepumpkinwasinstantlyturnedintoafinecoach,gildedalloverwithgold.

She thenwent to look into hermouse-trap,where she found sixmice allalive, andorderedCinderilla to lift up a little the trap-door,whengiving eachmouse,asitwentout,alittletapwithherwand,themousewasatthatmomentturnedintoafairhorse,whichaltogethermadeaveryfinesetofsixhorsesofabeautifulmouse-coloureddapple-grey.

Being at a loss for a coachman, “I will go and see,” says Cinderilla, “iftherebeneveraratintherat-trap,thatwemaymakeacoachmanofhim.”

“Thouartintheright,”repliedhergodmother;“goandlook.”

Cinderillabroughtthetraptoher,andinittherewerethreehugerats.TheFairymadechoiceofoneofthethree,whichhadthelargestbeard,and,havingtouchedhimwithherwand,hewas turned intoa fat jollycoachman,whohadthesmartestwhiskerseyeseverbeheld.

Afterthat,shesaidtoher:

“Goagainintothegarden,andyouwillfindsixlizardsbehindthewateringpot;bringthemtome.”

She had no sooner done so, but her godmother turned them into six

footmen,whoskippedup immediatelybehind thecoach,with their liveriesallbedaubedwithgoldandsilver,andclungasclosebehindit,asiftheyhaddonenothingelsetheirwholelives.TheFairythensaidtoCinderilla:

“Well, you see here an equipage fit to go to the ball with; are you notpleasedwithit?”

“O yes,” cried she, “butmust I go thither as I am, in these poison nastyrags?”

Her godmother only just touched her with her wand, and, at the sameinstant, her clothes were turned into cloth of gold and silver, all beset withjewels.Thisdoneshegaveherapairofglass-slippers,4theprettiestinthewholeworld.

Beingthusdeckedout,shegotupintohercoach;buthergodmother,aboveallthings, commanded her not to stay till aftermidnight, telling her, at the sametime, that if she stayed at the ball onemoment longer, her coachwould be apumpkin again, herhorsesmice, her coachmana rat, her footmen lizards, andherclothesbecomejustastheywerebefore.

4InPerrault’stale:pantouflesdeverre.Thereisnodoubtthat inthemedievalversionsof thisancient taleCinderillawasgivenpantouflesdevair— i.e.,ofagrey, or grey and white, fur, the exact nature of which has been amatter ofcontroversy,butwhichwasprobablyagreysquirrel.Longbeforetheseventeenthcenturythewordvairhadpassedoutofuse,exceptasaheraldicterm,andhadceasedtoconveyanymeaningtothepeople.Thusthepantouflesdevairofthefairytalebecame,intheoraltradition,thehomonymouspantouflesdeverre,orglassslippers,adelightfulimprovementontheearlierversion.

She promised her godmother, she would not fail of leaving the ball beforemidnight;and thenawayshedrove, scarceable tocontainherself for joy.TheKing’sson,whowastoldthatagreatPrincess,whomnobodyknew,wascome,ranouttoreceiveher;hegaveherhishandasshealightedoutofthecoach,andledherintothehall,amongallthecompany.Therewasimmediatelyaprofound

“Awayshedrove,scarceabletocontainherselfforjoy”

silence, they left off dancing, and the violins ceased to play, so attentivewasevery one to contemplate the singular beauty of this unknown new comer.Nothingwasthenheardbutaconfusednoiseof,

“Ha!howhandsomesheis!Ha!howhandsomesheis!”

TheKinghimself,oldashewas,couldnothelpoglingher,andtellingtheQueensoftly,“thatitwasalongtimesincehehadseensobeautifulandlovelyacreature.”Alltheladieswerebusiedinconsideringherclothesandhead-dress,thattheymighthavesomemadenextdayafterthesamepattern,providedtheycouldmeetwithsuchfinematerials,andasablehandstomakethem.

TheKing’ssonconductedhertothemosthonourableseat,andafterwardstookherouttodancewithhim:shedancedsoverygracefully,thattheyallmoreandmoreadmiredher.Afinecollationwasservedup,whereoftheyoungPrinceatenotamorsel, so intentlywashebusied ingazingonher.Shewentandsatdownbyhersisters,shewingthemathousandcivilities,givingthempartoftheorangesandcitronswhichthePrincehadpresentedherwith;whichverymuchsurprisedthem,fortheydidnotknowher.

WhileCinderillawas thus amusing her sisters, she heard the clock strikeeleven and three quarters, whereupon she immediately made a curtesy to thecompany,andhastedawayasfastasshecould.

Being got home, she ran to seek out her godmother, and after havingthankedher,shesaid,“shecouldnotbutheartilywishshemightgonextdaytotheball,becausetheKing’ssonhaddesiredher.”Asshewaseagerlytellinghergodmotherwhateverhadpassedattheball,hertwosistersknockedatthedoorwhichCinderillaranandopened.

“How long you have stayed,” cried she, gaping, rubbing her eyes, andstretchingherselfas ifshehadbeen justawakedoutofhersleep;shehadnot,however,anymannerofinclinationtosleepsincetheywentfromhome.

“If thouhadstbeenat theball,”saidoneofhersisters,“thouwouldstnothavebeentiredwithit;therecamethitherthefinestPrincess,themostbeautiful

everwasseenwithmortaleyes;sheshewedusathousandcivilities,andgaveusoranges and citrons.”Cinderillawas transportedwith joy; she asked them thenameofthatPrincess;buttheytoldhertheydidnotknowit;andthattheKing’ssonwasveryanxioustolearnit,andwouldgivealltheworldtoknowwhoshewas.AtthisCinderilla,smiling,replied:

“Shemustthenbeverybeautifulindeed;Lord!howhappyhaveyoubeen;could not I see her?Ah! dearMissCharlotte, do lendmeyour yellow suit ofcloathswhichyouweareveryday!”

“Ay, to be sure!” criedMiss Charlotte, “lendmy cloaths to such a dirtyCinder-breechasthouart;who’sthefoolthen?”

Cinderilla, indeed, expected some such answer, andwas very glad of therefusal;forshewouldhavebeensadlyputtoit,ifhersisterhadlentherwhatsheaskedforjestingly.

The next day the two sisterswere at the ball, and sowasCinderilla, butdressedmoremagnificentlythanbefore.TheKing’ssonwasalwaysbyher,andnever ceased his compliments and amorous speeches to her; towhom all thiswas so far frombeing tiresome, that shequite forgotwhathergodmotherhadrecommendedtoher,sothatshe,atlast,countedtheclockstrikingtwelve,whenshetookittobenomorethaneleven;shethenroseup,andfledasnimbleasadeer.

ThePrincefollowed,butcouldnotovertakeher.Sheleftbehindoneofherglassslippers,whichthePrincetookupmostcarefully.Shegothome,butquiteout of breath,without coach or footmen, and in her nasty old cloaths, havingnothingleftherofallherfinery,butoneofthelittleslippers,fellowtothatshedropped.TheguardsatthepalacegatewereaskediftheyhadnotseenaPrincessgoout;whosaid, theyhadseennobodygoout,butayounggirl,verymeanlydressed, and who had more the air of a poor country wench, than a gentle-woman.

When the twosisters returnedfromtheball,Cinderillaasked themif theyhadbeenwelldiverted,andif thefine ladyhadbeenthere.Theytoldher,Yes,butthat she hurried away immediately when it struck twelve, and with so muchhaste,thatshedroppedoneofherlittleglassslippers,theprettiestintheworld,andwhichtheKing’ssonhadtakenup;thathehaddonenothingbutlookatitduringallthelatterpartoftheball,andthatmostcertainlyhewasverymuchinlovewiththebeautifulpersonwhoownedthelittleslipper.

“Sheleftbehindoneofherglassslippers,whichthePrincetookupmostcarefully”

Whattheysaidwasverytrue;forafewdaysafter,theKing’ssoncausedittobeproclaimedbysoundoftrumpet,thathewouldmarryherwhosefootthisslipper would just fit. They whom he employed began to try it on upon thePrincesses,thentheduchesses,andalltheCourt,butinvain.Itwasbroughttothe two sisters, who did all they possibly could to thrust their feet into theslipper,buttheycouldnoteffectit.

Cinderilla,whosawallthis,andknewherslipper,saidtothemlaughing:

“Letmeseeifitwillnotfitme?”

Her sisters burst out a-laughing, and began to banter her. The gentlemanwhowassent to try theslipper, lookedearnestlyatCinderilla,and findingherveryhandsome,saiditwasbutjustthatsheshouldtry,andthathehadorderstolet every one make tryal. He invited Cinderilla to sit down, and putting theslipper toher foot, he found itwentonvery easily, and fittedher, as if it hadbeenmade ofwax. The astonishment her two sisterswere inwas excessivelygreat,butstillabundantlygreater,whenCinderillapulledoutofherpocket theother slipper, and put it on her foot. Thereupon, in came her godmother,whohavingtouched,withherwand,Cinderilla’scloaths,madethemricherandmoremagnificentthananyofthoseshehadbefore.

Andnowhertwosistersfoundhertobethatfinebeautifulladywhomtheyhadseenattheball.Theythrewthemselvesatherfeet,tobegpardonforalltheill treatment they hadmade her undergo.Cinderilla took them up, and as sheembracedthem,criedthatsheforgavethemwithallherheart,anddesiredthemalwaystoloveher.

ShewasconductedtotheyoungPrince,dressedasshewas;hethoughthermorecharmingthanever,and,afewdaysafter,marriedher.

Cinderilla, who was no less good than beautiful, gave her two sisterslodgings in the palace, and that very same daymatched themwith two greatlordsofthecourt.

TheMoral

Beauty’stothesexatreasure,Stilladmir’dbeyondallmeasure,Andneveryetwasanyknown,Bystilladmiring,wearygrown.Butthatrarequalitycall’dgrace,Exceeds,byfar,ahandsomeface;Itslastingcharmssurpasstheother,AndthisrichgiftherkindgodmotherBestow’donCinderillafair,Whomsheinstructedwithsuchcare.Shegavetohersuchgracefulmien,Thatshe,thereby,becameaqueen.Forthus(mayevertruthprevail)Wedrawourmoralfromthistale.Thisquality,fairladies,knowPrevailsmuchmore(you’llfinditso)T’ingageandcaptivateaheart,Thanafineheaddress’dupwithart.Thefairies’giftofgreatestworthIsgraceofbearing,nothighbirth;Withoutthisgiftwe’llmisstheprize;

Another

 

Possessiongivesuswingstorise.

Agreatadvantage’tis,nodoubt,toman,Tohavewit,courage,birth,goodsense,andbrain,Andothersuch-likequalities,whichweReceiv’dfromheaven’skindhand,anddestiny.Butnoneoftheserichgracesfromabove,ToyouradvancementintheworldwillproveIfgodmothersandsiresyoudisobey,Or‘gainsttheirstrictadvicetoolongyoustay.

TRiquetwiththeTuft

herewas,onceuponatime,aQueen,whowasbroughttobedofason,sohideouslyugly,thatitwaslongdisputed,whetherhehadhumanform.AFairy,whowasathisbirth,affirmed,hewouldbeverylovableforall

that,sinceheshouldbeindowedwithabundanceofwit.Sheevenadded,thatitwouldbeinhispower,byvirtueofagiftshehadjustthengivenhim,tobestow

RiquetwiththeTuft

on the person he most loved as much wit as he pleased. All this somewhatcomforted the poor Queen, who was under a grievous affliction for havingbrought into the world such an ugly brat. It is true, that this child no soonerbegantoprattle,buthesaidathousandprettythings,andthatinallhisactionstherewassomethingsotaking,thathecharmedevery-body.Iforgottotellyou,thathecameintotheworldwithalittletuftofhairuponhishead,whichmadethemcallhimRiquetwiththeTuft,forRiquetwasthefamilyname.

Sevenoreightyearsafterthis, theQueenofaneighbouringkingdomwasdelivered of two daughters at a birth. The first-born of these was beautifulbeyondcompare,whereat theQueenwassoveryglad, that thosepresentwereafraid that her excess of joy would do her harm. The same Fairy, who hadassistedatthebirthoflittleRiquetwiththeTuft,washerealso;and,tomoderatetheQueen’sgladness,shedeclared,thatthislittlePrincessshouldhavenowitatall,butbeasstupidasshewaspretty.ThismortifiedtheQueenextreamly,butsomemomentsafterwardsshehad fargreater sorrow; for, theseconddaughtershewasdeliveredof,wasveryugly.

“Donotafflictyourselfsomuch,Madam,”said theFairy;“yourdaughtershall have so great a portion of wit, that her want of beauty will scarcely beperceived.”

“Godgrantit,”repliedtheQueen;“butistherenowaytomaketheeldest,whoissopretty,havesomelittlewit?”

“I can do nothing for her, Madam, as to wit,” answered the Fairy, “buteverything as tobeauty; and as there is nothingbutwhat Iwoulddo for yoursatisfaction,Igiveherforgift,thatsheshallhavethepowertomakehandsomethepersonwhoshallbestpleaseher.”

As thesePrincessesgrewup, theirperfectionsgrewupwith them;all thepublictalkwasofthebeautyoftheeldest,andthewitoftheyoungest.Itistruealsothattheirdefectsincreasedconsiderablywiththeirage;theyoungestvisiblygrewuglieranduglier,andtheeldestbecameeverydaymoreandmorestupid;

sheeithermadenoansweratalltowhatwasaskedher,orsaidsomethingverysilly; shewaswithall this sounhandy, that shecouldnotplace fourpiecesofchinauponthemantlepiece,withoutbreakingoneofthem,nordrinkaglassofwaterwithout spilling half of it upon her cloaths. Tho’ beauty is a very greatadvantage in young people, yet here the youngest sister bore away the bell,almostalways,inallcompaniesfromtheeldest;peoplewouldindeed,gofirsttotheBeautytolookupon,andadmireher,butturnasidesoonaftertotheWit,tohear a thousandmost entertaining and agreeable turns, and itwas amazing tosee,inlessthanaquarterofanhour’stime,theeldestwithnotasoulwithherandthewholecompanycrowdingabouttheyoungest.Theeldest, tho’shewasunaccountablydull,couldnotbutnoticeit,andwouldhavegivenallherbeautytohavehalfthewitofhersister.TheQueen,prudentasshewas,couldnothelpreproachingher several times,whichhad like tohavemade thispoorPrincessdieforgrief.

One day, as she retired into thewood to bewail hermisfortune, she saw,coming toher,a littleman,verydisagreeable,butmostmagnificentlydressed.ThiswastheyoungPrinceRiquetwiththeTuft,whohavingfalleninlovewithher,byseeingherpicture,manyofwhichwentall theworldover,had lefthisfather’skingdom,tohavethepleasureofseeingandtalkingwithher.

Overjoyed to findher thus all alone,he addressedhimself toherwith allimaginablepolitenessandrespect.Havingobserved,afterhehadmadeher theordinarycompliments,thatshewasextremelymelancholy,hesaidtoher:

“Icannotcomprehend,Madam,howapersonsobeautifulasyouare,canbesosorrowfulasyouseemtobe; for tho’ Icanboastofhavingseen infinitenumbersof ladies exquisitely charming, I can say that I neverbeheld anyonewhosebeautyapproachesyours.”

“Youarepleasedtosayso,”answeredthePrincess,andhereshestopped.

“Beauty,” repliedRiquetwith theTuft, “is such agreat advantage, that itought to take theplaceofall things;andsinceyoupossess this treasure, I see

nothingthatcanpossiblyverymuchafflictyou.”

“Ihadfarrather,”criedthePrincess,“beasuglyasyouare,andhavewit,thanhavethebeautyIpossess,andbesostupidasIam.”

“There is nothing,Madam,” returned he, “shewsmore that we havewit,thantobelievewehavenone;andit is thenatureofthatexcellentquality, thatthemorepeoplehaveofit,themoretheybelievetheywantit.”

“Idonotknowthat,”said thePrincess;“but Iknow,verywell, that Iamverysenseless,andthenceproceedsthevexationwhichalmostkillsme.”

“Ifthatbeall,Madam,whichtroublesyou,Icanveryeasilyputanendtoyouraffliction.”

“Andhowwillyoudothat?”criedthePrincess.

“Ihave thepower,Madam,”repliedRiquetwith theTuft,“togive to thatpersonwhomIshalllovebest,asmuchwitascanbehad;andasyou,Madam,arethatveryperson,itwillbeyourfaultonly,ifyouhavenotasgreatashareofitasanyoneliving,providedyouwillbepleasedtomarryme.”

ThePrincessremainedquiteastonished,andanswerednotaword.

“Isee,”repliedRiquetwiththeTuft,“thatthisproposalmakesyouveryuneasy,andIdonotwonderatit,butIwillgiveyouawholeyeartoconsiderofit.”

ThePrincesshadsolittlewit,and,atthesametime,sogreatalongingtohavesome,thatsheimaginedtheendofthatyearwouldneverbe;thereforesheacceptedtheproposalwhichwasmadeher.ShehadnosoonerpromisedRiquetwiththeTuftthatshewouldmarryhimonthatdaytwelvemonth,thanshefound

“ThePrincebelievedhehadgivenhermorewitthanhehadreservedforhimself”

herself quite otherwise than she was before; she had an incredible facility ofspeaking whatever she pleased, after a polite, easy, and natural manner; shebegan that moment a very gallant conversation with Riquet with the Tuft,whereinshetattledatsucharate,thatRiquetwiththeTuftbelievedhehadgivenhermorewitthanhehadreservedforhimself.

Whenshereturnedtothepalace,thewholeCourtknewnotwhattothinkofsuchasuddenandextraordinarychange;fortheyheardfromhernowasmuchsensible discourse, and asmany infinitely witty turns, as they had stupid andsilly impertinences before. The whole Court was overjoyed at it beyondimagination;itpleasedallbutheryoungersister;becausehavingnolongertheadvantageofher in respectofwit, sheappeared, in comparisonofher, averydisagreeable,homelypuss.TheKinggovernedhimselfbyheradvice,andwouldeven sometimes hold a council in her apartment. The noise of this changespreading every where, all the young Princes of the neighbouring kingdomsstrove all they could to gain her favour, and almost all of them asked her inmarriage;butshefoundnotoneof themhadwitenoughforher,andshegavethemallahearing,butwouldnotengageherselftoany.

However, therecameonesopowerful, rich,wittyandhandsome, thatshecouldnot help having a good inclination for him.Her father perceived it, andtoldherthatshewasherownmistressastothechoiceofahusband,andthatshemightdeclareherintentions.Asthemorewitwehave,thegreaterdifficultywefindtomakeafirmresolutionuponsuchaffairs,thismadeherdesireherfather,afterhavingthankedhim,togivehertimetoconsiderofit.

ShewentaccidentallytowalkinthesamewoodwhereshemetRiquetwiththeTuft, tothink,themoreconveniently,whatsheoughttodo.Whileshewaswalkinginaprofoundmeditation,sheheardaconfusednoiseunderherfeet,asit were of a greatmany peoplewhowent backwards and forwards, andwereverybusy.Havinglistenedmoreattentively,sheheardonesay:

“Bringmethatpot”;another“Givemethatkettle”;andathird,“Putsome

wooduponthefire.”

Thegroundatthesametimeopened,andsheseeminglysawunderherfeet,agreatkitchenfullofcooks,scullions,andallsortsofservantsnecessaryforamagnificent entertainment.There cameout of it a companyof roasters, to thenumber of twenty, or thirty, who went to plant themselves in a fine alley ofwood,aboutaverylongtable,withtheirlardingpinsintheirhands,andskewersintheircaps,whobegantowork,keepingtime,tothetuneofaveryharmonioussong.

ThePrincess,allastonishedatthissight,askedthemwhotheyworkedfor.

“For PrinceRiquetwith the Tuft,” said the chief of them, “who is to bemarriedto-morrow.”

ThePrincesswasmoresurprisedthanever,andrecollectingthatitwasnowthatdaytwelvemonthonwhichshehadpromisedtomarryRiquetwiththeTuft,shewasliketosinkintotheground.

Whatmadeherforgetthiswasthat,whenshemadethispromise,shewasvery silly, and having obtained that vast stock of wit which the Prince hadbestowedonher,shehadintirelyforgotherstupidity.Shecontinuedwalking,buthadnot takenthirtystepsbeforeRiquetwith theTuftpresentedhimself toher,bravely and most magnificently dressed, like a Prince who was going to bemarried.

“You see,Madam,” said he, “I am very exact in keeping my word, anddoubtnot, in the least,butyouarecomehither toperformyours,and tomakeme,bygivingmeyourhand,thehappiestofmen.”

“I shall freely own to you,” answered the Princess, “that I have not yettakenanyresolutiononthisaffair,andbelieveInevershall takesuchaoneasyoudesire.”

“Youastonishme,Madam,”saidRiquetwiththeTuft.

“Ibelieveit,”saidthePrincess,“andsurelyifIhadtodowithaclown,ora

man of nowit, I should findmyself verymuch at a loss. ‘A Princess alwaysobserves herword,’would he say tome, ‘and youmustmarryme, since youpromised to do so.’But as hewhom I talk to is themanof theworldwho ismasterof thegreatest senseand judgment, I amsurehewillhear reason.Youknow, that when I was but a fool, I could, notwithstanding, never come to aresolutiontomarryyou;whywillyouhaveme,nowIhavesomuchjudgmentasyou gaveme, andwhichmakesme amore difficult person than Iwas at thattime,tocometosucharesolution,whichIcouldnotthendeterminetoagreeto?If you sincerely thought tomakeme yourwife, you have been greatly in thewrongtodeprivemeofmydullsimplicity,andmakemeseethingsmuchmoreclearlythanIdid.”

“Ifamanofnowitandsense,”repliedRiquetwiththeTuft,“wouldbeentitled,asyousay, toreproachyouforbreachofyourword,whywillyounot letme,Madam, do likewise in a matter wherein all the happiness of my life isconcerned?Is it reasonable thatpersonsofwitandsenseshouldbe inaworse

“RiquetwiththeTuftappearedtoherthefinestPrinceuponEarth”

condition than thosewho have none?Can you pretend this; youwho have sogreatashare,anddesiredsoearnestlytohaveit?Butletuscometofact,ifyouplease.Settingasidemyuglinessanddeformity,isthereanythinginmewhichdispleases you? Are you dissatisfied with my birth, my wit, humour, ormanners?”

“Notatall,”answeredthePrincess;“Iloveyouandrespectyouinallthatyoumention.”“If itbe so,” saidRiquetwith theTuft, “Iam like tobehappy,sinceitisinyourpowertomakemethemostlovableofmen.”

“Howcanthatbe?”saidthePrincess.

“Itwillcomeabout,”saidRiquetwiththeTuft;“ifyoulovemeenoughtowishittobeso;andthatyoumaynowaysdoubt,Madam,ofwhatIsay,knowthatthesameFairy,who,onmybirth-day,gavemeforgiftthepowerofmakingthe person who should please me extremely witty and judicious, has, in likemanner,givenyouforgiftthepowerofmakinghim,whomyoulove,andwouldgrantthatfavourto,extremelyhandsome.”

“Ifitbeso,”saidthePrincess,“Iwish,withallmyheart,thatyoumaybethemost lovablePrince in theworld,andIbestowitonyou,asmuchasIamable.”

ThePrincesshadno soonerpronounced thesewords,butRiquetwith theTuft appeared to her the finest Prince upon earth; the handsomest and mostamiablemansheeversaw.SomeaffirmthatitwasnottheenchantmentsoftheFairywhichworkedthischange,butthatlovealonecausedthemetamorphosis.Theysay, that thePrincess,havingmadeduereflectionon theperseveranceofher lover, his discretion, and all the good qualities of his mind, his wit andjudgment,sawnolongerthedeformityofhisbody,northeuglinessofhisface;thathishumpseemedtohernomorethanthehomelyairofonewhohasabroadback;andthatwhereastillthenshesawhimlimphorribly,shefounditnothingmore than a certain sidling air, which charmed her. They say farther, that hiseyes, which were very squinting, seemed to her all the more bright and

sparkling; that their irregularitypassedinher judgmentforamarkofaviolentexcess of love; and, in short, that his great red nose had, in her opinion,somewhatofthemartialandheroic.

Howsoever it was, the Princess promised immediately to marry him, onconditionheobtainedher father’sconsent.TheKingbeingacquainted thathisdaughter had abundance of esteem for Riquet with the Tuft, whom he knewotherwiseforamostsageandjudiciousPrince,receivedhimforhisson-in-lawwith pleasure; and the next morning their nuptials were celebrated, as RiquetwiththeTufthadforeseen,andaccordingtotheordershehadalongtimebeforegiven.

TheMoral

Another

WhatinthislittleTalewefind,Islessafablethanrealtruth.Inthoseweloveappearraregiftsofmind,Andbodytoo:wit,judgment,beauty,youth.

 

Acountenancewhereon,bynatureshand,Beautyistrac’d,alsothelivelystainOfsuchcomplexionartcanne’erattain,WithallthesegiftshathnotsomuchcommandOnhearts,ashathonesecretcharmalone.Lovefindsthatout,toallbesidesunknown.

TLittleThumb

herewas,onceuponatime,amanandhiswife,faggot-makersbytrade,whohadsevenchildren,allboys.Theeldestwasbuttenyearsold,andtheyoungestonlyseven.Onemightwonderhowthatthefaggot-maker

couldhavesomanychildreninsolittleatime;butitwasbecausehiswifewentnimbly about her business and never brought fewer than two at a birth. They

LittleThumb

wereverypoor,andtheirsevenchildrenincommodedthemgreatly,becausenotone of them was able to earn his bread. That which gave them yet moreuneasinesswas, that the youngestwas of a very puny constitution, and scarceeverspakeaword,whichmadethemtakethatforstupiditywhichwasasignofgood sense. Hewas very little, and, when born, no bigger than one’s thumb;whichmadehimbecalledLittleThumb.

Thepoorchildboretheblameofwhatsoeverwasdoneamissinthehouse,and guilty or not was always in the wrong; he was, notwithstanding, morecunningandhadafargreatershareofwisdomthanallhisbrothersputtogether,andifhespakelittleheheardandthoughtthemore.

Therehappenednowtocomeaverybadyear,andthefaminewassogreat,thatthesepoorpeopleresolvedtoridthemselvesoftheirchildren.Oneevening,whentheywereallinbedandthefaggot-makerwassittingwithhiswifeatthefire,hesaidtoher,withhisheartreadytoburstwithgrief:

“Thousee’stplainlythatwearenotabletokeepourchildren,andIcannotseethemstarvetodeathbeforemyface;Iamresolvedtolosetheminthewoodto-morrow,whichmayveryeasilybedone;forwhiletheyarebusyintyingupthefaggots,wemayrunaway,andleavethem,withouttheirtakinganynotice.”

“Ah!”criedouthiswife,“andcan’stthouthyselfhavethehearttotakethy

“Hebroughtthemhomebytheverysamewaytheycame”

childrenoutalongwiththeeonpurposetolosethem?”

Invaindidherhusbandrepresent toher theirextremepoverty;shewouldnot consent to it; she was, indeed poor, but she was their mother. However,havingconsideredwhatagriefitwouldbetohertoseethemperishwithhunger,sheatlastconsentedandwenttobedallintears.

LittleThumbheardeverywordthathadbeenspoken;forobserving,ashelay inhisbed, that theywere talkingverybusily,hehadgotupsoftlyandhidhimselfunderhisfather’sstool,thathemighthearwhattheysaid,withoutbeingseen.Hewent tobed again, but didnot sleep awink all the rest of thenight,thinkingonwhatheoughttodo.Hegotupearlyinthemorning,andwenttotheriver side, where he filled his pockets full of small white pebbles, and thenreturnedhome.Theyallwentabroad,butLittleThumbnever toldhisbrothersone syllable ofwhat he knew.Theywent into a very thick forest,where theycouldnotseeoneanotherattenpacesdistance.Thefaggot-makerbegantocutwood, and the children to gather up sticks to make faggots. Their father andmotherseeingthembusyattheirwork,gotfromthembydegrees,andthenranawayfromthemallatonce,alongaby-way,thro’thewindingbushes.

When thechildrensaw theywere leftalone, theybegan tocryas loudastheycould.LittleThumb let themcryon,knowingverywellhow togohomeagain;forashecamehehadtakencaretodropallalongthewaythelittlewhitepebbleshehadinhispockets.Thensaidhetothem:

“Benotafraid,brothers,fatherandmotherhaveleftushere,butIwillleadyouhomeagain,onlyfollowme.”Theydidso,andhebrought themhomebythevery sameway theycame into the forest.Theydarednot togo in, but satthemselves down at the door, listening to what their father and mother weresaying.

Theverymomentthefaggot-makerandhiswifeweregothome,thelordofthemanor sent them ten crowns,which he had owed them a longwhile, andwhich theyneverexpected.Thisgave themnewlife; for thepoorpeoplewere

almostfamished.Thefaggot-makersenthiswifeimmediatelytothebutcher’s.Asitwasalongwhilesincetheyhadeatenabit,sheboughtthriceasmuchmeataswouldsuptwopeople.Havingfilledtheirbellies,thewomansaid:

“Alas!wherearenowourpoorchildren?Theywouldmakeagoodfeastofwhatwehave lefthere;but then itwasyou,William,whohadamind to losethem;Itoldyouweshouldrepentofit:whataretheynowdoingintheforest?Alas!dearGod,thewolveshave,perhaps,alreadyeatenthemup:thouartveryinhumanthustohavelostthychildren.”

The faggot-makergrewat lastquiteoutofpatience, for she repeated thisabovetwentytimes,thattheyshouldrepentofit,andshewasintherightofitforsosaying.Hethreatenedtobeather,ifshedidnotholdhertongue.Itwasnotthat thefaggot-makerwasnot,perhaps,morevexedthanhiswife,but thatsheteized him, and that hewas of the humour of a greatmany others, who lovewiveswhospeakright,butthinkthoseveryimportunatewhoarealwaysintheright.Shewashalfdrownedintears,cryingout:

“Alas!wherearenowmychildren,mypoorchildren?”

Shespakethissoveryloud,thatthechildrenwhowereatthedoor,begantocryoutalltogether:

“Hereweare,hereweare.”

Sheranimmediatelytoopenthedoor,andsaid,huggingthem:

“Iamglad toseeyou,mydearchildren;youareveryhungryandweary;andmypoorPeter,thouarthorriblybemired;comeinandletmecleanthee.”

Now,youmustknow,thatPeterwashereldestson,whomshelovedabovealltherest,becausehewassomewhatcarrotty,assheherselfwas.Theysatdowntosupper,andatewithsuchagoodappetiteaspleasedbothfatherandmother,whomtheyacquaintedhowfrightenedtheywereintheforest;speakingalmostalways all together. The good folkswere extremely glad to see their childrenoncemoreathome,andthisjoycontinuedwhilethetencrownslasted;butwhen

the money was all gone, they fell again into their former uneasiness, andresolvedtolosethemagain;and,thattheymightbethesurerofdoingit,tocarrythem at a much greater distance than before. They could not talk of this sosecretly,buttheywereoverheardbyLittleThumb,whomadeaccounttogetoutof this difficulty as well as the former; but though he got up betimes in themorning, to go and pick up some little pebbles, he was disappointed; for hefoundthehouse-doordouble-locked,andwasatastandwhattodo.Whentheirfatherhadgiveneachofthemapieceofbreadfortheirbreakfast,hefanciedhemightmakeuseofthisbreadinsteadofthepebbles,bythrowingitinlittlebitsallalongthewaytheyshouldpass;andsoheputitupintohispocket.

Their father andmother brought them into the thickest andmost obscurepartoftheforest;when,stealingawayintoaby-path,theythereleftthem.LittleThumbwasnotveryuneasyat it; forhe thoughthecouldeasily find thewayagain,bymeansofhisbreadwhichhehadscatteredallalongashecame.Buthewas verymuch surprisedwhen he could not find somuch as one crumb; thebirdshadcomeandeatenitupeverybit.Theywerenowingreataffliction,forthefarthertheywent, themoretheywereoutoftheirway,andweremoreandmorebewilderedintheforest.

Nightnowcameon,andtherearoseaterriblehighwind,whichmadethemdreadfullyafraid.Theyfanciedtheyheardoneverysideofthemthehoulingofwolvescoming toeat themup; theyscarcedared tospeak,or turn theirheads.Afterthis, itrainedveryhard,whichwetthemtotheskin;theirfeetslippedateverystep theytook,andtheyfell into themire,whencetheygotupinaverydirtypickle;theirhandswereinasorrystate.

LittleThumbclimbeduptothetopofatree,toseeifhecoulddiscoveranything; and having turned his head about on every side, he saw at last aglimmeringlight,likethatofacandle,butalongwayfromtheforest.Hecamedown,and,whenupontheground,hecouldseeitnomore,whichgrievedhimsadly.However,havingwalkedforsometimewithhisbrotherstowardsthatside

onwhichhehadseenthelight,heperceiveditagainashecameoutofthewood.

They came at last to the house where this candle was, not withoutabundanceoffear;forveryoftentheylostsightofit,whichhappenedeverytimetheycameintoabottom.Theyknockedatthedoor,andagoodwomancameandopen’dit;sheaskedthemwhattheywished.

Little Thumb told her theywere poor children who had been lost in theforest, and desired to lodge there forGod’s sake. Thewoman seeing them soverypretty,begantoweep,andsaidtothem:

“Alas! poor babies, whither are ye come? Do ye know that this housebelongstoacruelOgre,whoeatsuplittlechildren?”

“Ah!dearMadam,” answeredLittleThumb (who trembledevery joint ofhim,aswellashisbrothers)“whatshallwedo?Tobesure, thewolvesof theforest will devour us to-night, if you refuse us to lie here; and so, wewouldratherthegentlemanshouldeatus.Perhapshewilltakepityonus,especiallyifyoupleasetobegitofhim.”

TheOgre’swife,whobelievedshecouldconceal themfromherhusbandtillmorning,letthemcomein,andbroughtthemtowarmthemselvesataverygood fire; for there was a whole sheep upon the spit roasting for the Ogre’ssupper.

Astheybegantobealittlewarm,theyheardthreeorfourgreatrapsatthedoor;thiswastheOgre,whowascomehome.Uponthisshehidthemunderthebed,andwenttoopenthedoor.TheOgrepresentlyaskedifsupperwasready,andthewinedrawn;andthenhesathimselfdowntotable.Thesheepwasasyetallrawandbloody;buthelikeditthebetterforthat.Hesniffedabouttotherightandleft,saying,“Ismellfreshmeat.”

“Whatyousmellso,”saidhiswife,“mustbethecalfwhichIhavejustnowkilledandflayed.”

“Ismellfreshmeat,Itelltheeoncemore,”repliedtheOgre,lookingcrossly

athiswife,“andthereissomethingherewhichIdonotunderstand.”

Ashespakethesewords,hegotupfromthetable,andwentdirectlytothebed.

“Ah!” saidhe, “I seehow thouwould’st cheatme, thoucursedwoman; IknownotwhyIdonoteatuptheetoo;butitiswellfortheethatthouartatoughold carrion. Here is good game, which comes very luckily to entertain threeOgresofmyacquaintance,whoaretopaymeavisitinadayortwo.”

With thathedragged themout fromunder thebedonebyone.Thepoorchildren fellupon theirknees,andbeggedhispardon;but theyhad todowithoneofthemostcruelOgresintheworld,who,farfromhavinganypityonthem,hadalreadydevouredthemwithhiseyes;hetoldhiswifetheywouldbedelicateeating,whentossedupwithgoodsavourysauce.Hethentookagreatknife,andcominguptothesepoorchildren,whettedituponagreatwhet-stonewhichheheldinhislefthand.Hehadalreadytakenholdofoneofthem,whenhiswifesaidtohim:

“Whatneedyoudoitnow?Itistimeenoughto-morrow?”

“Holdyourprattling,”saidtheOgre,“theywilleatthetenderer.”

“But you have so much meat already,” replied his wife, “you have nooccasion.Hereisacalf,twosheep,andhalfahog.”

“Thatistrue,”saidtheOgre,“givethemtheirbelly-full,thattheymaynotfallaway,andputthemtobed.”

Thegoodwomanwasoverjoyedatthis,andgavethemagoodsupper;buttheyweresomuchafraid,theycouldnoteatabit.AsfortheOgre,hesatdownagain to drink, being highly pleased that he had got wherewithal to treat hisfriends. He drank a dozen glasses more than ordinary, which got up into hishead,andobligedhimtogotobed.

TheOgrehadsevendaughters,alllittlechildren,andtheseyoungOgresseshadallofthemveryfinecomplexions,becausetheyusedtoeatfreshmeatlike

their father; but they had little grey eyes, quite round, hooked noses, widemouths,andverylongsharpteethstandingatagooddistancefromeachother.Theywerenotasyetoverandabovemischievous;but theypromisedveryfairforit,fortheyalreadybitlittlechildren,thattheymightsucktheirblood.Theyhadbeenputtobedearly,witheveryoneacrownofgolduponherhead.Therewasinthesamechamberanotherbedofthelikebigness,anditwasintothisbedthe Ogre’s wife put the seven little boys; after which she went to bed to herhusband.

LittleThumb,whohadobserved that theOgre’sdaughtershadcrownsofgoldupontheirheads,andwasafraidlesttheOgreshouldrepenthisnotkillingthem,gotupaboutmidnight;andtakinghisbrothers’bonnetsandhisown,wentvery softly, put themupon the heads of the seven littleOgresses, after havingtaken off their crowns of gold, which he put upon his own head and hisbrothers’,thattheOgremighttakethemforhisdaughters,andhisdaughtersforthe little boys whom he wanted to kill. All this succeeded according to hisdesire;fortheOgrewakingaboutmidnight,andsorrythathedeferredtodothattillmorningwhichhemighthavedoneover-night,threwhimselfhastilyoutofbed,andtakinghisgreatknife:

“Letussee,”saidhe,“howourlittleroguesdo,andnotmaketwojobsofthematter.”

He then went up, groping all the way, into his daughters’ chamber; andcame to the bed where the little boys lay, who were every soul of them fastasleep; exceptLittleThumb,whowas terribly afraidwhen he found theOgrefumblingabouthishead,ashehaddoneabouthisbrothers’.TheOgre,feelingthegoldencrowns,said:

“I shouldhavemadea finepieceofworkof it truly; I find Iguzzled toomuchlastnight.”

Thenhewent to thebedwhere thegirls lay; andhaving found theboys’littlebonnets:“Hah!”saidhe,“mymerrylads,areyouthere?Letustowork!”

And saying these words, without more ado, he cut the throats of all hissevendaughters.

Wellpleasedwithwhathehaddone,hewenttobedagaintohiswife.Sosoon as Little Thumb heard theOgre snore, hewaked his brothers, and badethemputontheirclothespresently,andfollowhim.Theystoledownsoftlyintothegarden,andgotoverthewall.Theykeptrunningalmostallnight,tremblingallthewhile,withoutknowingwhichwaytheywent.

TheOgre,whenhewaked,saidtohiswife:

“Goupstairsanddressthoseyoungrascalswhocameherelastnight.”

TheOgresswasverymuchsurprisedat thisgoodnessofherhusband,notdreamingafterwhatmannerheintendedsheshoulddressthem;butthinkingthathehadorderedher togoandputon their cloaths,wentup, andwas strangelyastonishedwhensheperceivedhersevendaughterskilled,andwelteringintheirblood.Shefaintedaway;forthisisthefirstexpedientalmostallwomenfindinsuch-likecases.TheOgre,fearinghiswifewouldbetoolongindoingwhathehadordered,wentuphimselftohelpher.Hewasnolessamazedthanhiswife,atthisfrightfulspectacle.

“Ah!what have I done?” criedhe. “The cursedwretches shall pay for it,andthatinstantly.”

Hethrewthenapitcherofwateruponhiswife’sface;andhavingbroughthertoherself:

“Givemequickly,”criedhe,“mybootsofsevenleagues,thatImaygoandcatchthem.”

Hewentout;and,havingrunoveravastdealofground,bothonthissideandthat,hecameatlastintotheveryroadwherethepoorchildrenwere,andnotabove a hundred paces from their father’s house. They espied the Ogre, whowent at one step frommountain tomountain, and over rivers as easily as thenarrowest channels. Little Thumb, seeing a hollow rock near the placewhere

theywere,madehisbrothershidethemselvesinit,andcrowdedintoithimself,mindingalwayswhatwouldbecomeoftheOgre.

TheOgre,whofoundhimselfmuchtiredwithhislongandfruitlessjourney(forthesebootsofsevenleaguesextremelyfatiguethewearer),hadagreatmindtoresthimself,and,bychance,wenttositdownupontherockwheretheselittleboyshadhidthemselves.Ashewaswornout,hefellasleep:and,afterreposinghimselfsometimehebegantosnoresofrightfully,thatthepoorchildrenwerenolessafraidofhim,thanwhenhehelduphisgreatknife,andwasgoingtocuttheirthroats.LittleThumbwasnotsomuchfrightenedashisbrothers,andtoldthemthattheyshouldrunawayimmediatelytowardshome,whiletheOgrewasasleepsosoundly;andthattheyshouldnotbeanxiousabouthim.Theytookhisadvice,andgothomepresently.LittleThumbcameuptotheOgre,pulledoffhisbootsgently,andputthemonuponhisownlegs.Thebootswereverylongandlarge; but as they were Fairies, they had the gift of becoming big and little,accordingtothelegsofthosewhoworethem;sothattheyfittedhisfeetandlegsaswellasiftheyhadbeenmadeonpurposeforhim.

Hewent immediately to theOgre’s house,where he saw hiswife cryingbitterlyforthelossofhermurdereddaughters.

“Yourhusband,”saidLittleThumb,“isinverygreatdanger,beingtakenbyagangofthieves,whohavesworntokillhim,ifhedoesnotgivethemallhisgoldandsilver.Justwhentheyheldtheirdaggersathisthroat,heperceivedme,anddesiredmetocomeandtellyoutheconditionheisin,andthatyoushouldgive me whatsoever he has of value, without retaining any one thing; forotherwisetheywillkillhimwithoutmercy;and,ashiscaseisverypressing,hedesiredmetomakeuse(youseeIhavethemon)ofhisboots,thatImightmakethemorehaste,andtoshewyouthatIdonotimposeuponyou.”

The goodwoman, being sadly frightened, gave him all she had: for thisOgre was a very good husband, tho’ he used to eat up little children. LittleThumb,havingthusgotalltheOgre’smoney,camehometohisfather’shouse,

wherehewasreceivedwithabundanceofjoy.

Therearemanypeoplewhodonotagreeinthiscircumstance,andpretendthatLittleThumbnever robbed theOgre at all, and that heonly thought hemightveryjustly,andwithsafeconsciencetakeoffhisbootsofsevenleagues,becausehemadenootheruseofthem,buttorunafterlittlechildren.Thesefolksaffirm,

“LittleThumbwasasgoodashisword,andreturnedthatsamenightwiththenews”

thattheywereverywellassuredofthis,andthemore,ashavingdrankandeatenoftenatthefaggot-maker’shouse.Theyaver,that,whenLittleThumbhadtakenoff theOgre’sboots,hewent toCourt,wherehewas informed that theywereveryanxiousaboutacertainarmy,whichwastwohundredleaguesoff,andthesuccess of a battle. He went, say they, to the King, and told him that, if hedesired it, he would bring him news from the army before night. The Kingpromisedhimagreat sumofmoneyupon thatcondition.LittleThumbwasasgoodashisword,andreturnedthatverysamenightwiththenews;andthisfirstexpeditioncausinghimtobeknown,hegotwhateverhepleased;for theKingpaidhimverywellforcarryinghisorderstothearmy,andabundanceofladiesgavehimwhathewouldtobringthemnewsfromtheirlovers;andthatthiswashisgreatestgain.Thereweresomemarriedwomen,too,whosentlettersbyhimto theirhusbands,but theypaidhimso ill that itwasnotworthhiswhile,andturned to such small account, that he scorned ever to reckonwhat he got thatway.Afterhaving, for some time,carriedon thebusinessofamessenger, andgainedtherebygreatwealth,hewenthometohisfather,whereitwasimpossibletoexpressthejoytheywereallinathisreturn.Hemadethewholefamilyverywell-to-do,boughtplacesforhisfatherandbrothers;andbythatmeanssettledthem very handsomely in the world, and, in the mean time, rose high in theKing’sfavour.

TheMoral

Atmanychildrenparentsdon’trepine,Iftheyarehandsome;intheirjudgmentshine;Politeincarriageare,inbodystrong,Gracefulinmien,andelegantintongue.Butifperchanceanoffspringprovebutweak,Himtheyrevile,laughat,defraudandcheat.Suchisthewretchedworld’scurs’dway;andyetSometimesthisurchinwhomdespis’dwesee,Throughunforeseeneventsdothhonourget,Andfortunebringtoallhisfamily.

 

ITheRidiculousWishes

n days long past there lived a poorwoodcutterwho found life very hard.Indeed, itwashis lot to toil for littleguerdon,andalthoughhewasyoungandhappilymarriedthereweremomentswhenhewishedhimselfdeadand

belowground.

Onedaywhileathisworkhewasagainlamentinghisfate.

TheRidiculousWishes

“Some men,” he said, “have only to make known their desires, andstraightway thesearegranted, and their everywish fulfilled;but ithasavailedmelittletowishforought,forthegodsaredeaftotheprayersofsuchasI.”

As he spoke thesewords therewas a great noise of thunder, and Jupiterappeared before him wielding his mighty thunderbolts. Our poor man wasstrickenwithfearandthrewhimselfontheground.

“My lord,” he said, “forget my foolish speech; heed not my wishes, butceasethythundering!”

“Havenofear,”answeredJupiter;“Ihaveheardthyplaint,andhavecomehithertoshowtheehowgreatlythoudostwrongme.Hark!I,whoamsovereignlord of thisworld, promise to grant in full the first threewisheswhich itwillpleasetheetoutter,whateverthesemaybe.Considerwellwhatthingscanbringtheejoyandprosperity,andas thyhappiness isatstake,benotover-hasty,butrevolvethematterinthymind.”

HavingthusspokenJupiterwithdrewhimselfandmadehisascenttoOlympus.As for ourwoodcutter, he blithely cordedhis faggot, and throwing it over hisshoulder,madeforhishome.Toonesolightofhearttheloadalsoseemedlight,and his thoughts were merry as he strode along.Many a wish came into hismind, but he was resolved to seek the advice of his wife, who was a youngwomanofgoodunderstanding.

“Jupiterappearedbeforehimwieldinghismightythunderbolts”

Hehadsoonreachedhiscottage,andcastingdownhisfaggot:

“Beholdme,Fanny,”hesaid.“Makeupthefireandspreadtheboard,andlettherebenostint.Wearewealthy,Fanny,wealthyforevermore;wehaveonlytowishforwhatsoeverwemaydesire.”

Thereuponhetoldherthestoryofwhathadbefallenthatday.Fanny,whosemind was quick and active, immediately conceived many plans for the

“Alongblackpuddingcamewindingandwrigglingtowardsher”

advancementoftheirfortune,butsheapprovedherhusband’sresolvetoactwithprudenceandcircumspection.

“’Twereapity,”shesaid,“tospoilourchancesthroughimpatience.Wehadbesttakecounselofthenight,andwishnowishesuntilto-morrow.”

“That iswell spoken,” answeredHarry. “Meanwhile fetch a bottle of ourbest,andweshalldrinktoourgoodfortune.”

Fanny brought a bottle from the store behind the faggots, and our manenjoyedhisease,leaningbackinhischairwithhistoestothefireandhisgobletinhishand.

“Whatfineglowingembers!”hesaid,“andwhatafinetoastingfire!Iwishwehadablackpuddingathand.”

Hardly had he spoken these words when his wife beheld, to her greatastonishment,alongblackpuddingwhich,issuingfromacornerofthehearth,camewinding andwriggling towards her. She uttered a cry of fear, and thenagainexclaimedindismay,whensheperceivedthatthisstrangeoccurrencewasduetothewishwhichherhusbandhadsorashlyandfoolishlyspoken.Turningupon him, in her anger and disappointment she called the poor man all theabusivenamesthatshecouldthinkof.

“What!” she said to him, “when you can call for a kingdom, for gold,pearls, rubies, diamonds, for princely garments and wealth untold, is this thetimetosetyourminduponblackpuddings!”

“Nay!”answeredtheman,“’twasathoughtlessspeech,andasadmistake;butIshallnowbeonmyguard,andshalldobetternexttime.”

“Whoknowsthatyouwill?”returnedhiswife.“Onceawitlessfool,alwaysawitlessfool!”andgivingfreereintohervexationandill-tempershecontinuedto upbraid her husband until his anger also was stirred, and he had wellnighmadeasecondbidandwishedhimselfawidower.

“Enough!woman,”hecriedatlast;“putacheckuponthyfrowardtongue!

Whoever heard such impertinence as this!Aplagueon the shrewandonherpudding!Wouldtoheavenithungattheendofhernose!”

Nosoonerhad thehusbandgivenvoice to thesewords than thewishwasstraightwaygranted,andthelongcoilofblackpuddingappearedgraftedtotheangrydame’snose.

Ourmanpausedwhenhebeheldwhathehadwrought.Fannywasacomelyyoungwoman, andblestwithgood looks, and truth to tell, thisnewornamentdid not set off her beauty. Yet it offered one advantage, that as it hung rightbeforehermouth,itwouldthuseffectivelycurbherspeech.

So,havingnowbutonewishleft,hehadallbutresolvedtomakegooduseofitwithoutfurtherdelay,and,beforeanyothermischancecouldbefall,towishhimselfakingdomofhisown.Hewasabout tospeak theword,whenhewasstayedbyasuddenthought.

“It is true,”hesaid tohimself,“that there isnonesogreatasaKing,butwhatof theQueen thatmust sharehisdignity?Withwhatgracewould she sitbesidemeonthethronewithayardofblackpuddingforanose?”

In thisdilemmahe resolved toput the case toFanny, and to leaveher todecidewhethershewouldratherbeaQueen,withthismosthorribleappendagemarring her good looks, or remain a peasant wife, but with her shapely noserelievedofthisuntowardaddition.

Fanny’s mind was soon made up: although she had dreamt of a crown andsceptre,yetawoman’sfirstwishisalwaystoplease.Tothisgreatdesireallelsemustyield,andFannywouldratherbefairindruggetthanbeaQueenwithanuglyface.

Thusourwoodcutterdidnotchangehisstate,didnotbecomeapotentate,nor fill his purse with golden crowns. He was thankful enough to use his

“Truthtotell,thisnewornamentdidnotsetoffherbeauty”

remainingwishtoamorehumblepurpose,andforthwithrelievedhiswifeofherencumbrance.

TheMoral

Ah!soitisthatmiserableman,Bynaturefickle,blind,unwise,andrash,OftfailstoreapaharvestfromgreatgiftsBestoweduponhimbytheheav’nlygods.

 

ODonkey-skin

nceuponatimetherewasaKing,sogreat,sobelovedbyhispeople,andsorespectedbyallhisneighboursandalliesthatonemightalmostsay he was the happiest monarch alive. His good fortune was made

evengreaterbythechoicehehadmadeforwifeofaPrincessasbeautifulasshewas virtuous, with whom he lived in perfect happiness. Now, of this chaste

Donkey-skin

marriage was born a daughter endowed with so many gifts that they had noregretbecauseotherchildrenwerenotgiventothem.

Magnificence,goodtaste,andabundancereignedinthepalace;therewerewise and cleverministers, virtuous anddevoted courtiers, faithful anddiligentservants.Thespaciousstableswerefilledwith themostbeautifulhorses in theworld, and coverts of rich caparison; butwhatmost astonished strangerswhocametoadmirethemwastosee,inthefineststall,amasterdonkey,withgreatlongears.

Now,itwasnotforawhimbutforagoodreasonthattheKinghadgiventhisdonkeyaparticularanddistinguishedplace.Thespecialqualitiesofthisrareanimaldeserved thedistinction, sincenaturehadmade it in soextraordinaryawaythatitslitter,insteadofbeinglikethatofotherdonkeys,wascoveredeverymorning with an abundance of beautiful golden crowns, and golden louis ofeverykind,whichwerecollecteddaily.

Since the vicissitudes of lifewait onKings asmuch as on their subjects,andgood is alwaysmingledwith ill, it so befell that theQueenwas suddenlyattackedbyafatalillness,and,inspiteofscience,andtheskillofthedoctors,noremedy could be found. There was great mourning throughout the land. TheKing who, notwithstanding the famous proverb, that marriage is the tomb oflove,wasdeeplyattachedtohiswife,wasdistressedbeyondmeasureandmadeferventvowstoall the temples inhiskingdom,andoffered togivehis lifeforthatofhisbelovedconsort;butheinvokedthegodsandtheFairiesinvain.TheQueen,feelingherlasthourapproach,saidtoherhusband,whowasdissolvedintears:“It iswell that I shouldspeak toyouofacertainmatterbefore Idie: if,perchance, you should desire tomarry again. . . . ” At these words the Kingbrokeintopiteouscries,tookhiswife’shandsinhisown,andassuredherthatitwasuselesstospeaktohimofasecondmarriage.

“No,mydear spouse,” he said at last, “speak tome rather of how Imayfollowyou.”

“TheState,” continued theQueenwith a finalitywhich but increased thelamentsoftheKing,“theStatedemandssuccessors,andsinceIhaveonlygivenyouadaughter,itwillurgeyoutobegetsonswhoresembleyou;butIaskyouearnestlynottogivewaytothepersuasionsofyourpeopleuntilyouhavefounda Princess more beautiful and more perfectly fashioned than I. I beg you toswearthistome,andthenIshalldiecontent.”

Perchance, the Queen, who did not lack self-esteem, exacted this oathfirmlybelievingthattherewasnotherequalintheworld,andsofeltassuredthattheKingwould nevermarry again.Be this as itmay, at length she died, andnever didhusbandmake somuch lamentation; theKingwept and sobbeddayandnight,andthepunctiliousfulfilmentoftheritesofwidower-hood,eventhesmallest,washissoleoccupation.

Butevengreatgriefsdonotlastforever.AfteratimethemagnatesoftheStateassembledandcametotheKing,urginghimtotakeanotherwife.Atfirstthisrequestseemedhardtohimandmadehimshedfreshtears.Hepleadedthevowshehadmade to theQueen, anddefiedhis counsellors to findaPrincessmorebeautifulandbetterfashionedthanwasshe,thinkingthistobeimpossible.But theCouncil treated the promise as a trifle, and said that itmattered littleaboutbeauty if theQueenwerebutvirtuousand fruitful.For theStateneededPrinces for its peace and prosperity, and though, in truth, the Princess, hisdaughter, had all the qualities requisite for making a great Queen, yet ofnecessityshemustchooseanalienforherhusband,andthenthestrangerwouldtakeherawaywithhim. If,on theotherhand,heremained inhercountryandsharedthethronewithher,theirchildrenwouldnotbeconsideredtobeofpurenative stock, and so, there beingnoPrinceof his name, neighbouringpeopleswouldstirupwars,andthekingdomwouldberuined.

TheKing,impressedbytheseconsiderations,promisedthathewouldthinkoverthematter.AndsosearchwasmadeamongallthemarriageablePrincessesforonethatwouldsuithim.Everydaycharmingportraitswerebroughthim,but

none gave promise of the beauty of his late Queen; instead of coming to adecisionhebroodedoverhissorrowuntilintheendhisreasonlefthim.Inhisdelusionsheimaginedhimselfoncemoreayoungman;hethoughtthePrincesshisdaughter,inheryouthandbeauty,washisQueenashehadknownherinthedaysoftheircourtship,andlivingthusinthepastheurgedtheunhappygirltospeedilybecomehisbride.

TheyoungPrincess,whowasvirtuousandchaste,threwherselfatthefeetof the King her father and conjured him, with all the eloquence she couldcommand,nottoconstrainhertoconsenttohisunnaturaldesire.

TheKing,inhismadness,couldnotunderstandthereasonofherdesperatereluctance,andaskedanoldDruid-priesttosettheconscienceofthePrincessatrest. Now this Druid, less religious than ambitious, sacrificed the cause ofinnocenceandvirtuetothefavourofsogreatamonarch,andinsteadoftryingtorestoretheKingtohisrightmind,heencouragedhiminhisdelusion.

The young Princess, beside herself with misery, at last bethought her of theLilac-fairy,hergodmother;determinedtoconsulther,shesetoutthatsamenightinaprettylittlecarriagedrawnbyagreatsheepwhoknewalltheroads.WhenshearrivedtheFairy,wholovedthePrincess,toldherthatsheknewallshehadcometosay,butthatsheneedhavenofear,fornothingwouldharmherifonly

“HethoughtthePrincesswashisQueen”

shefaithfullyfulfilledtheFairy’sinjunctions.“For,mydearchild,”shesaidtoher,“itwouldbeagreatsintosubmittoyourfather’swishes,butyoucanavoidthenecessitywithoutdispleasinghim.Tellhimthattosatisfyawhimyouhave,hemustgiveyouadressthecolouroftheweather.Never,inspiteofallhisloveandhispowerwillhebeabletogiveyouthat.”

ThePrincessthankedhergodmotherfromherheart,andthenextmorningspoke to the King as the Fairy had counselled her, and protested that no onewouldwinherhandunlesshegaveheradress thecolourof theweather.TheKing, overjoyed and hopeful, called together the most skilful workmen, anddemandedthisrobeofthem;otherwisetheyshouldbehanged.Buthewassavedfromresorting to thisextrememeasure,since,on thesecondday, theybroughtthemuchdesiredrobe.Theheavensarenotamorebeautifulblue,whentheyaregirdledwith clouds of gold, thanwas that lovely dresswhen itwas unfolded.ThePrincesswasverysadbecauseofit,anddidnotknowwhattodo.

OncemoreshewenttoherFairy-godmotherwho,astonishedthatherplanhadbeenfoiled,nowtoldhertoaskforanothergownthecolourofthemoon.

The King again sought out the most clever workmen and expresslycommandedthemtomakeadressthecolourofthemoon;andwoebetidethemif between the giving of the order and the bringing of the dress more thantwenty-fourhoursshouldelapse.

ThePrincess,thoughpleasedwiththedresswhenitwasdelivered,gavewaytodistresswhenshewaswithherwomenandhernurse.TheLilac-fairy,whoknewall, hastened to comfort her and said: “Either I am greatly deceived or it iscertainthatifyouaskforadressthecolourofthesunweshallatlastbaffletheKingyour father, for itwouldneverbepossible tomake suchagown; in anycaseweshouldgaintime.”

“AnothergownthecolouroftheMoon”

So the Princess asked for yet another gown as the Fairy bade her. TheinfatuatedKingcouldrefusehisdaughternothing,andhegavewithoutregretallthediamondsandrubiesinhiscrowntoaidthissuperbwork;nothingwastobesparedthatcouldmakethedressasbeautifulasthesun.And,indeed,whenthedress appeared, all thosewho unfolded itwere obliged to close their eyes, somuchweretheydazzled.And,truthtotell,greenspectaclesandsmokedglassesdatefromthattime.

WhatwasthePrincesstodo?Neverhadsobeautifulandsoartisticarobebeenseen.Shewasdumb-founded,andpretendingthatitsbrilliancehadhurthereyessheretiredtoherchamber,whereshefoundtheFairyawaitingher.

Onseeingthedresslikethesun,theLilac-fairybecameredwithrage.“Oh!this time,mychild,”shesaid to thePrincess,“wewillput theKing to terribleproof.InspiteofhismadnessIthinkhewillbealittleastonishedbytherequestthatIcounselyoutomakeofhim;itisthatheshouldgiveyoutheskinofthatasshe lovessodearly,andwhichsupplieshimsoprofuselywith themeansofpayingallhisexpenses.Go,anddonotfailtotellhimthatyouwantthisskin.”ThePrincess,overjoyedatfindingyetanotheravenueofescape;forshethoughtthatherfathercouldneverbringhimself tosacrifice theass,went tofindhim,andunfoldedtohimherlatestdesire.

Although the King was astonished by this whim, he did not hesitate tosatisfyit;thepoorasswassacrificedandtheskinbrought,withdueceremony,tothe Princess, who, seeing no other way of avoiding her ill-fortune, wasdesperate.

At thatmomenthergodmotherarrived. “Whatareyoudoing,mychild?”sheasked,seeingthePrincesstearingherhair,herbeautifulcheeksstainedwithtears.“Thisis themosthappymomentofyourlife.Wrapyourself inthisskin,leave thepalace,andwalkso longasyoucan findground tocarryyou:whenonesacrificeseverythingtovirtuethegodsknowhowtometeoutreward.Go,andIwilltakecarethatyourpossessionsfollowyou;inwhateverplaceyourest,

yourchestwithyourclothesandyourjewelswillfollowyoursteps,andhereismywandwhichIwillgiveyou:tapthegroundwithitwhenyouhaveneedofthechest,anditwillappearbeforeyoureyes:buthastetosetforth,anddonotdelay.”ThePrincessembracedhergodmothermanytimes,andbeggedhernottoforsakeher.Thenaftershehadsmearedherselfwithsootfromthechimney,shewrappedherselfupin thatuglyskinandwentoutfromthemagnificentpalacewithoutbeingrecognisedbyasingleperson.

TheabsenceofthePrincesscausedagreatcommotion.TheKing,whohadcausedasumptuousbanquettobeprepared,wasinconsolable.Hesentoutmorethanahundredgendarmes,andmorethanathousandmusketeersinquestofher;but the Lilac-fairy made her invisible to the cleverest seekers, and thus sheescapedtheirvigilance.

MeanwhilethePrincesswalkedfar,farandevenfartheraway;afteratimeshesoughtforarestingplace,butalthoughoutofcharitypeoplegaveherfood,shewassodishevelledanddirtythatnoonewantedtokeepher.Atlengthshecame to a beautiful town, at the gate of which was a small farm. Now thefarmer’swifehadneedofawenchtowashthedishesandtoattendtothegeeseandthepigs,andseeingsodirtyavagrantofferedtoengageher.ThePrincess,whowasnowmuchfatigued,acceptedjoyfully.Shewasputintoarecessinthekitchenwhereforthefirstdaysshewassubjectedtothecoarsejokesofthemen-servants, sodirtyandunpleasantdid thedonkey-skinmakeherappear.At lastthey tiredof theirpleasantries;moreovershewassoattentive toherwork thatthe farmer’s wife took her under her protection. She minded the sheep, andpennedthemupwhenitwasnecessary,andshetookthegeeseouttofeedwithsuch intelligence that it seemed as if she had never done anything else.Everythingthatherbeautifulhandsundertookwasdonewell.

Onedayshewassittingnearaclear fountainwheresheoften repaired tobemoan her sad condition,when she thought shewould look at herself in thewater. The horrible donkey-skinwhich covered her from head to toe revolted

her.Ashamed, shewashed her face and her hands,which becamewhiter thanivory,andonceagainherlovelycomplexiontookitsnaturalfreshness.Thejoyoffindingherselfsobeautifulfilledherwiththedesiretobatheinthepool,andthisshedid.Butshehadtodonherunworthyskinagainbeforeshereturnedtothefarm.

By good fortune the next day chanced to be a holiday, and so she hadleisuretotapforherchestwiththefairy’swand,arrangehertoilet,powderherbeautifulhairandputonthelovelygownwhichwasthecolouroftheweather;but theroomwassosmall that the traincouldnotbeproperlyspreadout.Thebeautiful Princess looked at herself, and with good reason, admired herappearancesomuchthatsheresolvedtowearhermagnificentdressesinturnonholidays andSundays forherownamusement, and this she regularlydid.Sheentwinedflowersanddiamondsinherlovelyhairwithadmirableart,andoftenshesighedthatshehadnowitnessofherbeautysavethesheepandgeese,wholoved her just as much in the horrible donkey-skin after which she had beennamedatthefarm.

OneholidaywhenDonkey-skinhadputonhersun-hueddress, thesonoftheKingtowhomthefarmbelongedalightedtheretorestonhisreturnfromthehunt. This Princewas young and handsome, beloved of his father and of theQueenhismother,andadoredbythepeople.Afterhehadpartakenofthesimplecollationwhichwasofferedhimhesetout to inspect the farm-yardandall itsnooksandcorners.Ingoingthusfromplacetoplace,heenteredadarkalleyatthebottomofwhichwasacloseddoor.Curiositymadehimputhiseye to thekeyhole.ImaginehisastonishmentatseeingaPrincesssobeautifulandsorichlydressed, andwithal of sonoble anddignified amien, that he tookher tobe adivinity.The impetuosityofhis feelingsat thismomentwouldhavemadehimforce thedoor,had itnotbeenfor therespectwithwhich thatcharmingfigurefilledhim.

Itwaswith difficulty that hewithdrew from this gloomy little alley, intent ondiscoveringwhotheinmateofthetinyroommightbe.HewastoldthatitwasascullioncalledDonkey-skinbecauseoftheskinwhichshealwayswore,andthatshewassodirtyandunpleasantthatnoonetookanynoticeofher,orevenspoketoher;shehadjustbeentakenoutofpitytolookafterthegeese.

“Curiositymadehimputhiseyetothekeyhole”

ThePrince,thoughlittlesatisfiedbythisinformation,sawthatthesedensepeopleknewnomore,andthatitwasuselesstoquestionthem.Sohereturnedtothe palace of the King his father, beyond words in love, having continuallybeforehiseyesthebeautifulimageofthegoddesswhomhehadseenthroughthekeyhole.Hewasfullofregretthathehadnotknockedatthedoor,andpromisedhimself thathewouldnot fail todosonext time.But the fervencyofhis lovecausedhimsuchgreatagitationthatthesamenighthewasseizedbyaterriblefever,andwassoonatdeath’sdoor.TheQueen,whohadnootherchild,wasindespairbecauseallremediesproveduseless.Invainshepromisedgreatrewardstothedoctors;thoughtheyexertedalltheirskill,nothingwouldcurethePrince.Atlasttheydecidedthatsomegreatsorrowhadcausedthisterriblefever.TheytoldtheQueen,who,fulloftendernessforherson,wenttohimandbeggedhimtotellherhistrouble.Shedeclaredthatevenifitwasamatterofgivinghimthecrown,hisfatherwouldyieldthethronetohimwithoutregret;orifhedesiredsomePrincess, even though there should bewarwith theKing her father andtheir subjects should,with reason, complain, all should be sacrificed to obtainwhathewished.Sheimploredhimwithtearsnottodie,sincetheirlifedependedon his. The Queen did not finish this touching discourse without moving thePrincetotears.

“Madam,”hesaidat last, inavery feeblevoice,“Iamnot sobase that Idesirethecrownofmyfather,rathermayHeavengranthimlifeformanyyears,and that I may always be the most faithful and the most respectful of hissubjects! As to the Princesses that you speak of, I have never yet thought ofmarriage,andyouwellknowthat,subjectasIamtoyourwishes,Ishallobeyyoualways,eventhoughitbepainfultome.”

“Ah!myson,”repliedtheQueen,“wewillsparenothingtosaveyourlife.But,my dear child, savemine and that of theKing your father by tellingmewhatyoudesire,andbeassuredthatyoushallhaveit.”

“Well,Madam,”hesaid,“sinceyouwouldhavemetellyoumythought,I

obeyyou.Itwouldindeedbeasin toplace indanger twolivessodear tome.Know,mymother, that IwishDonkey-skin tomakemeacake,and tohave itbroughttomewhenitisready.”

TheQueen,astonishedatthisstrangename,askedwhoDonkey-skinmightbe.

“Itis,Madam,”repliedoneofherofficerswhohadbychanceseenthisgirl,“Itisthemostuglycreatureimaginableafterthewolf,aslutwholodgesatyourfarm,andmindsyourgeese.”

“Itmattersnot,”saidtheQueen;“myson,onhiswayhomefromthechase,has perchance eaten of her cakes; it is awhim such as thosewho are sick dosometimes have. In aword, Iwish thatDonkey-skin, sinceDonkey-skin it is,makehimpresentlyacake.”

AmessengerrantothefarmandtoldDonkey-skinthatshewastomakeacake for the Prince as well as she possibly could. Now, some believe thatDonkey-skinhadbeenawareofthePrinceinherheartatthemomentwhenhehadputhiseyetothekeyhole;andthen,lookingfromherlittlewindow,shehadseenhim,soyoung,sohandsome,andsoshapely,thattheremembranceofhimhadremained,andthatoftenthethoughtofhimhadcosthersomesighs.Bethatasitmay,Donkey-skin,eitherhavingseenhim,orhavingheardhimspokenofwithpraise,wasoverjoyed to think that shemightbecomeknown tohim.Sheshutherselfinherlittleroom,threwofftheuglyskin,bathedherfaceandhands,arranged her hair, put on a beautiful corsage of bright silver, and an equallybeautifulpetticoat,andthensetherselftomakethemuchdesiredcake.Shetookthefinestflour,andnewesteggsandfreshestbutter,andwhileshewasworkingthem,whetherbydesignorno,aringwhichshehadonherfingerfellintothecakeandwasmixedinit.Whenthecookingwasdoneshemuffledherselfinherhorrible skin and gave the cake to themessenger, asking him for news of thePrince;but themanwouldnotdeign to reply, andwithout aword ranquicklybacktothepalace.

The Prince took the cake greedily from theman’s hands, and ate it withsuchvoracitythatthedoctorswhowerepresentdidnotfailtosaythatthishastewasnotagoodsign.Indeed,thePrincecameneartobeingchokedbythering,whichhenearlyswallowed,inoneofthepiecesofcake.Buthedrewitcleverlyfromhismouth, andhis desire for the cakewas forgotten as he examined thefineemeraldsetinagoldkeeper-ring,aringsosmallthatheknewitcouldonlybewornontheprettiestlittlefingerintheworld.

Hekissedtheringathousandtimes,putitunderhispillow,anddrewitoutevery moment that he thought himself unobserved. The torment that he gavehimself,planninghowhemightseehertowhomtheringbelonged,notdaringtobelievethatifheaskedforDonkey-skinshewouldbeallowedtocome,andnotdaringtospeakofwhathehadseenthroughthekeyholeforfearthathewouldbe laughed at for a dreamer, brought back the fever with great violence. Thedoctors,notknowingwhatmore todo,declared to theQueen that thePrince’smaladywas love,whereupon theQueenand thedisconsolateKingran to theirson.

“Myson,mydearson,”criedtheaffectedmonarch,“tellusthenameofherwhomyoudesire:weswearthatwewillgivehertoyou.Eventhoughshewerethevilestofslaves.”

TheQueenembracinghim,agreedwithallthattheKinghadsaid,andthePrince, moved by their tears and caresses, said to them: “My father and mymother,Iinnowaydesiretomakeamarriagewhichisdispleasingtoyou.”Anddrawingtheemeraldfromunderhispillowheadded:“Toprovethetruthofthis,I desire tomarry her towhom this ring belongs. It is not likely that shewhoownssoprettyaringisarusticorapeasant.”

TheKingandtheQueentookthering,examineditwithgreatcuriosity,andagreedwiththePrincethatitcouldonlybelongtothedaughterofagoodhouse.Then theKing, having embraced his son, and entreated him to getwell,wentout.Heorderedthedrumsandfifesandtrumpetstobesoundedthroughoutthe

town,andtheheraldstocrythatshewhosefingeracertainringwouldfitshouldmarrytheheirtothethrone.

FirstthePrincessesarrived,thentheduchesses,andthemarquises,andthebaronesses;butthoughtheydidalltheycouldtomaketheirfingerssmall,nonecouldputonthering.Sothecountrygirlshadtobetried,butprettythoughtheyall were, they all had fingers that were too fat. The Prince, who was feelingbetter,madethetrialhimself.Atlastitwastheturnofthechamber-maids;buttheysucceedednobetter.Then,wheneveryoneelsehadtried,thePrinceaskedfor thekitchen-maids, thescullions,andthesheep-girls.Theywereallbroughtto the palace, but their coarse red, short, fingerswould hardly go through thegoldenhoopasfarasthenail.

“YouhavenotbroughtthatDonkey-skin,whomademethecake,”saidthePrince.

Everyonelaughedandsaid,“No,”sodirtyandunpleasantwasshe.

“Letsomeonefetchheratonce,”saidtheKing;“itshallnotbesaidthatIleft out the lowliest.”And the servants ran laughing andmocking to find thegoose-girl.

ThePrincess,whohadheardthedrumsandthecriesoftheheralds,hadnodoubtthattheringwasthecauseofthisuproar.Now,shelovedthePrince,and,as true loveis timorousandhasnovanity,shewas inperpetualfear thatsomeotherladywouldbefoundtohaveafingerassmallashers.Great,then,washerjoywhen themessengers came and knocked at her door. Since she knew thattheywereseekingtheownerof therightfingeronwhichtosetherring,someimpulse hadmoved her to arrange her hairwith great care, and to put on herbeautiful silver corsage, and the petticoat full of furbelows and silver lacestuddedwithemeralds.Atthefirstknockshequicklycoveredherfinerywiththedonkey-skinandopenedthedoor.Thevisitors,inderision,toldherthattheKinghadsentforherinordertomarryhertohisson.ThenwithloudpealsoflaughtertheyledhertothePrince,whowasastonishedatthegarbofthisgirl,anddared

notbelievethatitwasshewhomhehadseensomajesticandsobeautiful.Sadandconfounded,hesaid,“Isityouwholodgeatthebottomofthatdarkalleyinthethirdyardofthefarm?”

“Yes,yourHighness,”shereplied.

“Showmeyourhand,”saidthePrincetrembling,andheavingadeepsigh.

Imagine how astonished everyone was! The King and the Queen, thechamberlainsandallthecourtiersweredumb-founded,whenfrombeneaththatblackanddirtyskincameadelicatelittlewhiteandrose-pinkhand,andtheringslippedwithoutdifficultyontotheprettiestlittlefingerintheworld.Then,byalittlemovementwhichthePrincessmade,theskinfellfromhershouldersandsoenchantingwasherguise,thatthePrince,weakthoughhewas,fellonhiskneesandheldhersocloselythatsheblushed.Butthatwasscarcelynoticed,for theKingandQueencametoembraceherheartily,andtoaskherifshewouldmarrytheir son. The Princess, confused by all these caresses and by the love of thehandsome young Prince, was about to thank them when suddenly the ceilingopened, and the Lilac-fairy descended in a chariot made of the branches andflowersfromwhichshetookhername,and,withgreatcharm,toldthePrincess’sstory. TheKing andQueen, overjoyed to know thatDonkey-skinwas a greatPrincessredoubledtheircaresses,butthePrincewasevenmoresensibleofhervirtue,andhis love increasedas theFairyunfoldedher tale.His impatience tomarry her, indeed, was so great that he could scarcely allow time for thenecessarypreparationsforthegrandweddingwhichwastheirdue.TheKingandQueen, now entirely devoted to their daughter-in-law, overwhelmed her withaffection. She had declared that she could not marry the Prince without theconsentoftheKingherfather,so,hewasthefirsttowhomaninvitationtotheweddingwassent;hewasnot,however,toldthenameofthebride.TheLilac-fairy, who, as was right, presided over all, had recommended this course topreventtrouble.Kingscamefromallthecountriesround,someinsedan-chairs,others in beautiful carriages; thosewho came from themost distant countries

rode on elephants and tigers and eagles. But the most magnificent and mostglorious of all was the father of the Princess. He had happily recovered hisreason,andhadmarriedaQueenwhowasawidowandverybeautiful,butbywhomhehadnochild.ThePrincessrantohim,andherecognisedheratonceandembracedherwithgreattendernessbeforeshehadtimetothrowherselfonherknees.TheKingandQueenpresentedtheirsontohim,andthehappinessofallwascomplete.Thenuptialswerecelebratedwithallimaginablepomp,buttheyoungcouplewerehardlyawareof theceremony,sowrappedupwere they inoneanother.

Inspiteoftheprotestsofthenoble-heartedyoungman,thePrince’sfathercausedhissontobecrownedthesameday,andkissinghishand,placedhimonthethrone.

Thecelebrationsofthisillustriousmarriagelastednearlythreemonths,buttheloveofthetwoyoungpeoplewouldhaveenduredformorethanahundredyears,hadtheyout-livedthatage,sogreatwastheiraffectionforoneanother.

TheMoral

Itscarcemaybebelieved,ThistaleofDonkey-skin;

 

Butlaughingchildreninthehome;Yea,mothers,andgrandmotherstoo,Arelittlemovedbyfacts!Bythem’twillbereceived.

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