FAIRY TALES EVERY CHILD SHOULD KNOW

Edited by

HAMILTON WRIGHT MABIE

The What-Every-Child-Should-Know-Library

Doubleday, Doran & Co. , Inc. , for The Parents' Institute, Inc. Publishers of "The Parents' Magazine"

1905

[Illustration: "A thousand fantasies begin to throng"]

INTRODUCTION TO

"FAIRIES EVERY CHILD SHOULD KNOW"

The fairy tale is a poetic recording of the facts of life, aninterpretation by the imagination of its hard conditions, an effort toreconcile the spirit which loves freedom and goodness and beauty withits harsh, bare and disappointing conditions. It is, in its earliestform, a spontaneous and instinctive endeavor to shape the facts of theworld to meet the needs of the imagination, the cravings of the heart. It involves a free, poetic dealing with realities in accordance with thelaw of mental growth; it is the naïve activity of the young imaginationof the race, untrammelled by the necessity of rigid adherence to thefact. 

The myths record the earliest attempt at an explanation of the world andits life; the fairy tale records the free and joyful play of theimagination, opening doors through hard conditions to the spirit, whichcraves power, freedom, happiness; righting wrongs and redressinginjuries; defeating base designs; rewarding patience and virtue;crowning true love with happiness; placing the powers of darkness undercontrol of man and making their ministers his servants. In the fairystory, men are not set entirely free from their limitations, but, by theaid of fairies, genii, giants and demons, they are put in command ofunusual powers and make themselves masters of the forces of nature. 

The oldest fairy stories constitute a fascinating introduction to thebook of modern science, curiously predicting its discoveries, itsuncovering of the resources of the earth and air, its growing control ofthe tremendous forces which work in earth and air. And it is significantthat the recent progress of science is steadily toward what ourancestors would have considered fairy land; for in all the imaginings ofthe childhood of the race there was nothing more marvellous or moreaudaciously improbable than the transmission of the accents andmodulations of familiar voices through long distances, and the power ofcommunication across leagues of sea without mechanical connections ofany kind. 

The faculty which created the fairy tale is the same faculty which, supplemented by a broader observation and based on more accurateknowledge, has broadened the range and activities of modern man, madethe world accessible to him, enabled him to live in one place but tospeak and act in places thousands of miles distant, given him command ofcolossal forces, and is fast making him rich on a scale which would haveseemed incredible to men of a half-century ago. There is nothing in anyfairy tale more marvellous and inherently improbable than many of theachievements of scientific observation and invention, and we are only atthe beginning of the wonders that lie within the reach of the humanspirit!

No one can understand the modern world without the aid of theimagination, and as the frontiers of knowledge are pushed still furtheraway from the obvious and familiar, there will be an increasing tax onthe imagination. The world of dead matter which our fathers thought theyunderstood has become a world of subtle forces moving with inconceivablevelocity; nothing is inert, all things are transformed into other andmore elusive shapes precisely as the makers of the fairy tales foresawand predicted; the world lives in every atom just as their world lived;forces lie just outside the range of physical sight, but entirely withinthe range of spiritual vision, precisely as the tellers of these oldstories divined; mystery and wonder enfold all things, and not onlyevoke the full play of the mind, but flood it with intimations andsuggestions of the presence of more elusive and subtle forces, of finerand more obedient powers, as the world of fairies, magi and demonsenfolded the ancient earth of daily toil and danger. 

In a word, the fairy stories have come true; they are historical in thesense that they faithfully report a stage of spiritual growth andpredict a higher order of realities through a deeper knowledge ofactualities. They were poetic renderings of facts which science is fastverifying, chiefly by the use of the same faculty which enriched earlyliterature with the myth and the fairy tale. The scientist has turnedpoet in these later days, and the imagination which once expresseditself in a free handling of facts so as to make them answer the needsand demands of the human spirit, now expresses itself in that breadth ofvision which reconstructs an extinct animal from a bone and analyzes thelight of a sun flaming on the outermost boundaries of space. 

This collection of tales, gathered from the rich literature of thechildhood of the world, or from the books of the few modern men who havefound the key of that wonderful world, is put forth not only withoutapology, but with the hope that it may widen the demand for thesecharming reports of a world in which the truths of our working world areloyally upheld, while its hard facts are quietly but authoritativelydismissed from attention. The widest interpretation has been given tothe fairy tale, so as to include many of those classic romances ofchildhood in which no fairy appears, but which are invested with the airand are permeated with the glorious freedom of fairy land. 

No sane man or woman undervalues the immense gains of the modern worldin the knowledge of facts and the application of ideas to things inorder to secure comfort, health, access to the treasure in the earth andon its surface, the means of education and greater freedom from thetyranny of toil by the accumulation of the fruits of toil; but no saneman or woman believes that a mechanical age is other than a transitionalage, that the possession of things is the final achievement of society, and that in multiplication of conveniences civilization will reach itspoint of culmination. 

We are so engrossed in getting rich that we forget that by and by, whenwe have become rich, we shall have to learn how to live; for work cannever be an end in itself; it is a "means of grace" when it is notdrudgery; and it must, in the long run, be a preparation for play. Forplay is not organized idleness, frivolity set in a fanciful order; it isthe normal, spontaneous exercise of physical activity, the wholesomegayety of the mind, the natural expression of the spirit, withoutself-consciousness, constraint, or the tyranny of hours and tasks. It isthe highest form of energy, because it is free and creative; a joy initself, and therefore a joy in the world. This is the explanation of thesense of freedom and elation which come from a great work of art; it isthe instinctive perception of the fact that while immense toil liesbehind the artist's skill, the soul of the creation came from beyond theworld of work and the making of it was a bit of play. The man ofcreative spirit is often a tireless worker, but in his happiest hours heis at play; for all work, when it rises into freedom and power, is play. "We work, " wrote a Greek thinker of the most creative people who haveyet appeared, "in order that we may have leisure. " The note of that lifewas freedom; its activity was not "evoked by external needs, but wasfree, spontaneous and delightful; an ordered energy which stimulates allthe vital and mental powers. "

Robert Louis Stevenson, who knew well how to touch work with the spiritand charm of play, reports of certain evenings spent at a clubhouse nearBrussels, that the men who gathered there "were employed over thefrivolous mercantile concerns of Belgium during the day; but in theevening they found some hours for the serious concerns of life. " Theygave their days to commerce, but their evenings were devoted to moreimportant interests!

These words are written for those older people who have made the mistakeof straying away from childhood; children do not read introductions, because they know that the valuable part of the book is to be found inthe later pages. They read the stories; their elders read theintroduction as well. They both need the stuff of imagination, of whichmyths, legends, and fairy tales are made. So much may be said of theseold stories that it is a serious question where to begin, and a stillmore difficult question where to end. For these tales are the firstoutpourings of that spring of imagination whence flow the mostilluminating, inspiring, refreshing and captivating thoughts and ideasabout life. No philosophy is deeper than that which underlies thesestories; no psychology is more important than that which finds itschoicest illustration in them; no chapter in the history of thought ismore suggestive and engrossing than that which records their growth anddivines their meaning. Fairy tales and myths are so much akin that theyare easily transformed and exchange costumes without changing character;while the legend, which belongs to a later period, often reflects thelarge meaning of the myth and the free fancy of the fairy tale. 

As a class, children not only possess the faculty of imagination, butare very largely occupied with it during the most sensitive andformative years, and those who lack it are brought under its spell bytheir fellows. They do not accurately distinguish between the actual andthe imaginary, and they live at ease in a world out of which paths runin every direction into wonderland. They begin their education when theybegin to play; for play not only affords an outlet for their energy, andso supplies one great means of growth and training, but places them insocial relations with their mates and in conscious contact with theworld about them. The old games that have been played by generations ofchildren not only precede the training of the school and supplement it, but accomplish some results in the nature of the child which are beyondthe reach of the school. When a crowd of boys are rushing across countryin "hounds and deer, " they are giving lungs, heart and muscles the bestpossible exercise; they are sharing certain rules of honor with oneanother, expressed in that significant phrase, "fair play"; and they aregiving rein to their imaginations in the very name of their occupation. Body, spirit and imagination have their part in every good game; for theinterest of a game lies in its appeal to the imagination, as in "houndsand deer, " or in its stimulus to activity, as in "tag" and"hide-and-seek. "

There are few chapters in the biography of the childhood of men ofgenius more significant than those which describe imaginary worlds whichwere, for a time, as real as the actual world in which the boy lived. Goethe entertained and mystified his playmates with accounts of acertain garden in which he wandered at will, but which they could notfind; and De Quincey created a kingdom, with all its complex relationsand varied activities, which he ruled with beneficence and affectionuntil, in an unlucky hour, he revealed his secret to his brother, whostraightway usurped his authority, and governed his subjects with suchtyranny and cruelty that De Quincey was compelled to save his people bydestroying them. 

These elaborate and highly organized efforts of the young imagination, of which boys and girls of unusual inventiveness are capable, areimitated on a smaller scale by all normal children. They endow inanimatethings with life, and play and suffer with them as with their realplaymates. The little girl not only talks with her dolls, but weeps withand for them when disaster overtakes them. The boy faces foes of his ownmaking in the woods, or at lonely places in the road, who are quite asreal to him as the people with whom he lives. By common agreement alocality often becomes a historic spot to a whole group of boys; enemiesare met and overcome there; grave perils are bravely faced; and themagic sometimes lingers long after the dream has been dissolved in thedawning light of definite knowledge, Childhood is one long day ofdiscovery; first, to the unfolding spirit, there is revealed awonderland partly actual and partly created by the action of the mind;then follows the slow awakening, when the growing boy or girl learns todistinguish between tact and fancy, and to separate the real from theimaginary. 

This process of learning to "see things as they are" is often regardedas the substance of education, and to be able to distinguish sharply andaccurately between reality and vision, actual and imaginary image isaccepted as the test of thorough training of the intelligence. Whatreally takes place is the readjustment of the work of the faculties soas to secure harmonious action; and in the happy and sound developmentof the nature the imagination does not give place to observation, butdeals with principles, forces and laws instead of with things. The lossof vision is never compensated for by the gain of sight; to see a thingone must use his mind quite as much as his eye. It too often happens, asthe result of our educational methods, that in training the observer weblight the poet; and the poet is, after all, the most important personin society. He keeps the soul of his fellows alive. Without him themodern world would become one vast, dreary, soul-destroying Coketown, and man would sink to the level of Gradgrind. The practical man developsthe resources of the country, the man of vision discerns, formulates anddirects its spiritual policy and growth; the mechanic builds the house, but the architect creates it; the artisan makes the tools, but theartist uses them; the observer sees and records the fact, but thescientist discovers the law; the man of affairs manages the practicalconcerns of the world from day to day, but the poet makes it spiritual, significant, interesting, worth living in. 

The modern child passes through the same stages as did the children offour thousand years ago. He, too, is a poet. He believes that the worldabout him throbs with life and is peopled with all manner of strange, beautiful, powerful folk, who live just outside the range of his sight;he, too, personifies light and heat and storm and wind and cold as hisremote ancestors did. He, too, lives in and through his imagination; andif, in later life, he grows in power and becomes a creative man, hisachievements are the fruits of the free and vigorous life of hisimagination. The higher kinds of power, the higher opportunities ofmind, the richer resources, the springs of the deeper happiness, areopen to him in the exact degree in which he is able to use hisimagination with individual freedom and intelligence. Formal educationmakes small provision for this great need of his nature; it trains hiseye, his hand, his faculty of observation, his ability to reason, hiscapacity for resolute action; but it takes little account of that higherfaculty which, cooperating with the other faculties, makes him anarchitect instead of a builder, an artist instead of an artisan, a poetinstead of a drudge. 

The fairy tale belongs to the child and ought always to be within hisreach, not only because it is his special literary form and his naturecraves it, but because it is one of the most vital of the textbooksoffered to him in the school of life. In ultimate importance it outranksthe arithmetic, the grammar, the geography, the manuals of science; forwithout the aid of the imagination none of these books is reallycomprehensible. 

HAMILTON WRIGHT MABIE, March, 1905. 

FAIRY TALES

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

ONE EYE, TWO EYES, THREE EYES(Grimm's Fairy Tales)

THE MAGIC MIRROR(Grimm's Fairy Tales)

THE ENCHANTED STAG(Grimm's Fairy Tales)

HANSEL AND GRETHEL(Grimm's Fairy Tales)

THE STORY OF ALADDIN; OR, THE WONDERFUL LAMP("Arabian Nights' Entertainments")

THE HISTORY OF ALI BABA, AND OF THE FORTY ROBBERS KILLED BY ONE SLAVE("Arabian Nights' Entertainments")

THE SECOND VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR("Arabian Nights' Entertainments")

THE WHITE CAT(From the tale by the Comtesse d'Aulnoy)

THE GOLDEN GOOSE(Grimm's Fairy Tales)

THE TWELVE BROTHERS(Grimm's Fairy Tales)

THE FAIR ONE WITH THE GOLDEN LOCKS(From the tale by the Comtesse d'Aulnoy)

TOM THUMB(First written in prose in 1621 by Richard Johnson)

BLUE BEARD(From the French tale by Charles Perrault)

CINDERELLA; OR, THE LITTLE GLASS SLIPPER(From the French tale by Charles Perrault)

PUSS IN BOOTS(From the French tale by Charles Perrault)

THE SLEEPING BEAUTY IN THE WOOD(From the French tale by Charles Perrault)

JACK AND THE BEAN-STALK(Said to be an allegory of the Teutonic Al-fader, The tale written in French by Charles Perrault)

JACK THE GIANT KILLER(From the old British legend told by Geoffrey of Monmouth, of Corineus the Trojan)

LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD(From the French tale by Charles Perrault)

THE THREE BEARS(Robert Southey)

THE PRINCESS ON THE PEA(From the tale by Hans Christian Andersen)

THE UGLY DUCKLING(From the tale by Hans Christian Andersen)

THE LIGHT PRINCESS(George MacDonald)

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST(From the French tale by Madame Gabrielle de Villeneuve)

FAIRY TALES EVERY CHILD

SHOULD KNOW

CHAPTER I

ONE EYE, TWO EYES, THREE EYES

There was once a woman who had three daughters, of whom the eldest wasnamed "One Eye, " because she had only one eye in the middle of herforehead. The second had two eyes, like other people, and she was called"Two Eyes. " The youngest had three eyes, two like her second sister, andone in the middle of her forehead, like the eldest, and she bore thename of "Three Eyes. "

Now because little Two Eyes looked just like other people, her motherand sisters could not endure her. They said to her, "You are not betterthan common folks, with your two eyes; you don't belong to us. "

So they pushed her about, and threw all their old clothes to her for herto wear, and gave her only the pieces that were left to eat, and dideverything that they could to make her miserable. It so happened thatlittle Two Eyes was sent into the fields to take care of the goats, andshe was often very hungry, although her sisters had as much as theyliked to eat. So one day she seated herself on a mound in the field, andbegan to weep and cry so bitterly that two little rivulets flowed fromher eyes. Once, in the midst of her sorrow she looked up, and saw awoman standing near her who said, "What are you weeping for, little TwoEyes?"

"I cannot help weeping, " she replied; "for because I have two eyes, likeother people, my mother and sisters cannot bear me; they push me aboutfrom one corner to another and make we wear their old clothes, and giveme nothing to eat but what is left, so that I am always hungry. To-daythey gave me so little that I am nearly starved. "

"Dry up your tears, little Two Eyes, " said the wise woman; "I will tellyou something to do which will prevent you from ever being hungry again. You have only to say to your own goat:

 "'Little goat, if you're able, Pray deck out my table, '

"and immediately there will be a pretty little table before you full ofall sorts of good things for you to eat, as much as you like. And whenyou have had enough, and you do not want the table any more, you needonly say:

 "'Little goat, when you're able, Remove my nice table, '

"and it will vanish from your eyes. "

Then the wise woman went away. "Now, " thought little Two Eyes, "I willtry if what she says is true, for I am very hungry, " so she said:

 "Little goat, if you're able, Pray deck out my table. "

The words were scarcely spoken, when a beautiful little table stoodreally before her; it had a white cloth and plates, and knives andforks, and silver spoons, and such a delicious dinner, smoking hot as ifit had just come from the kitchen. Then little Two Eyes sat down andsaid the shortest grace she knew--"Pray God be our guest for all time. Amen"--before she allowed herself to taste anything. But oh, how she didenjoy her dinner! and when she had finished, she said, as the wise womanhad taught her:

 "Little goat, when you're able, Remove my nice table. "

In a moment, the table and everything upon it had disappeared. "That isa pleasant way to keep house, " said little Two Eyes, and felt quitecontented and happy. In the evening, when she went home with the goat, she found an earthenware dish with some scraps which her sisters hadleft for her, but she did not touch them. The next morning she went awaywith the goat, leaving them behind where they had been placed for her. The first and second times that she did so, the sisters did not noticeit; but when they found it happened every day, they said one to theother, "There is something strange about little Two Eyes, she leaves hersupper every day, and all that has been put for her has been wasted; shemust get food somewhere else. "

So they determined to find out the truth, and they arranged that whenTwo Eyes took her goat to the field, One Eye should go with her to takeparticular notice of what she did, and discover if anything was broughtfor her to eat and drink. 

So when Two Eyes started with her goat, One Eye said to her, "I am goingwith you to-day to see if the goat gets her food properly while you arewatching the rest. "

But Two Eyes knew what she had in her mind. So she drove the goat intothe long grass, and said, "Come, One Eye, let us sit down here and rest, and I will sing to you. "

One Eye seated herself, and, not being accustomed to walk so far, or tobe out in the heat of the sun, she began to feel tired, and as littleTwo Eyes kept on singing, she closed her one eye and fell fast asleep. 

When Two Eyes saw this, she knew that One Eye could not betray her, soshe said:

 "Little goat, if you are able, Come and deck my pretty table. "

She seated herself when it appeared, and ate and drank very quickly, andwhen she had finished she said:

 "Little goat, when you are able, Come and clear away my table. "

It vanished in the twinkling of an eye; and then Two Eyes woke up OneEye, and said, "Little One Eye, you are a clever one to watch goats;for, while you are asleep, they might be running all over the world. Come, let us go home!"

So they went to the house, and little Two Eyes again left the scraps onthe dish untouched, and One Eye could not tell her mother whether littleTwo Eyes had eaten anything in the field; for she said to excuseherself, "I was asleep. "

The next day the mother said to Three Eyes, "You must go to the fieldthis time, and find out whether there is anyone who brings food tolittle Two Eyes; for she must eat and drink secretly. "

So when little Two Eyes started with her goat, Three Eyes followed, andsaid, "I am going with you to-day, to see if the goats are properly fedand watched. "

But Two Eyes knew her thoughts; so she led the goat through the longgrass to tire Three Eyes, and at last she said, "Let us sit down hereand rest, and I will sing to you, Three Eyes. "

She was glad to sit down, for the walk and the heat of the sun hadreally tired her; and, as her sister continued her song, she was obligedto close two of her eyes, and they slept, but not the third. In fact, Three Eyes was wide awake with one eye, and heard and saw all that TwoEyes did; for poor little Two Eyes, thinking she was asleep, said herspeech to the goat, and the table came with all the good things on it, and was carried away when Two Eyes had eaten enough; and the cunningThree Eyes saw it all with her one eye. But she pretended to be asleepwhen her sister came to wake her and told her she was going home. 

That evening, when little Two Eyes again left the supper they placedaside for her, Three Eyes said to her mother, "I know where the proudthing gets her good eating and drinking;" and then she described all shehad seen in the field. "I saw it all with one eye, " she said; "for shehad made my other two eyes close with her fine singing, but luckily theone in my forehead remained open. "

Then the envious mother cried out to poor little Two Eyes, "You wish tohave better food than we, do you? You shall lose your wish!" She took upa butcher's knife, went out, and stuck the good little goat in theheart, and it fell dead. 

When little Two Eyes saw this, she went out into the field, seatedherself on a mound, and wept most bitter tears. 

Presently the wise woman stood again before her, and said, "Little TwoEyes, why do you weep?"

"Ah!" she replied, "I must weep. The goat, who every day spread my tableso beautifully, has been killed by my mother, and I shall have again tosuffer from hunger and sorrow. "

"Little Two Eyes, " said the wise woman, "I will give you some goodadvice. Go home, and ask your sister to give you the inside of theslaughtered goat, and then go and bury it in the ground in front of thehouse-door. "

On saying this the wise woman vanished. 

Little Two Eyes went home quickly, and said to her sister, "Dear sister, give me some part of my poor goat. I don't want anything valuable; onlygive me the inside. "

Her sister laughed, and said, "Of course you can have that, if you don'twant anything else. "

So little Two Eyes took the inside; and in the evening, when all wasquiet, buried it in the ground outside the house-door, as the wise womanhad told her to do. 

The next morning, when they all rose and looked out of the window, therestood a most wonderful tree, with leaves of silver and apples of goldhanging between them. Nothing in the wide world could be more beautifulor more costly. They none of them knew how the tree could come there inone night, excepting little Two Eyes. She supposed it had grown up fromthe inside of the goat; for it stood over where she had buried it in theearth. 

Then said the mother to little One Eye, "Climb up, my child, and breakoff some of the fruit from the tree. "

One Eye climbed up, but when she tried to catch a branch and pluck oneof the apples, it escaped from her hand, and so it happened every timeshe made the attempt, and, do what she would, she could not reach one. 

"Three Eyes, " said the mother, "climb up, and try what you can do;perhaps you will be able to see better with your three eyes than One Eyecan. "

One Eye slid down from the tree, and Three Eyes climbed up. But ThreeEyes was not more skilful; with all her efforts she could not draw thebranches, nor the fruit, near enough to pluck even a leaf, for theysprang back as she put out her hand. 

At last the mother was impatient, and climbed up herself, but with nomore success, for, as she appeared to grasp a branch, or fruit, her handclosed upon thin air. 

"May I try?" said little Two Eyes; "perhaps I may succeed. "

"You, indeed!" cried her sisters; "you, with your two eyes, what can youdo?"

But Two Eyes climbed up, and the golden apples did not fly back from herwhen she touched them, but almost laid themselves on her hand, and sheplucked them one after another, till she carried down her own littleapron full. 

The mother took them from her, and gave them to her sisters, as she saidlittle Two Eyes did not handle them properly; but this was only fromjealousy, because little Two Eyes was the only one who could reach thefruit, and she went into the house feeling more spiteful to her thanever. 

It happened that while all three sisters were standing under the treetogether a young knight rode by. "Run away, quick, and hide yourself, little Two Eyes; hide yourself somewhere, for we shall be quite ashamedfor you to be seen. " Then they pushed the poor girl, in great haste, under an empty cask, which stood near the tree, and several of thegolden apples that she had plucked along with her. 

As the knight came nearer they saw he was a handsome man; and presentlyhe halted, and looked with wonder and pleasure at the beautiful treewith its silver leaves and golden fruit. 

At last he spoke to the sisters, and asked: "To whom does this beautifultree belong? If a man possessed only one branch he might obtain all hewished for in the world. "

"This tree belongs to us, " said the two sisters, "and we will break offa branch for you if you like. " They gave themselves a great deal oftrouble in trying to do as they offered; but all to no purpose, for thebranches and the fruit evaded their efforts, and sprung back at everytouch. 

"This is wonderful, " exclaimed the knight, "that the tree should belongto you, and yet you are not able to gather even a branch. "

They persisted, however, in declaring that the tree was their ownproperty. At this moment little Two Eyes, who was angry because hersisters had not told the truth, caused two of the golden apples to slipout from under the cask, and they rolled on till they reached the feetof the knight's horse. When he saw them, he asked in astonishment wherethey came from. 

The two ugly maidens replied that they had another sister, but theydared not let him see her, for she had only two eyes, like commonpeople, and was named little Two Eyes. 

But the knight felt very anxious to see her, and called out, "Little TwoEyes, come here. " Then came Two Eyes, quite comforted, from the emptycask, and the knight was astonished to find her so beautiful. 

Then he said, "Little Two Eyes, can you break off a branch of the treefor me?"

"Oh yes, " she replied, "I can, very easily, for the tree belongs to me. "And she climbed up, and, without any trouble, broke off a branch withits silver leaves and golden fruit and gave it to the knight. 

He looked down at her as she stood by his horse, and said: "Little TwoEyes, what shall I give you for this?"

"Ah!" she answered, "I suffer from hunger and thirst, and sorrow, andtrouble, from early morning till late at night; if you would only takeme with you, and release me, I should be so happy. "

Then the knight lifted the little maiden on his horse, and rode homewith her to his father's castle. There she was given beautiful clothesto wear, and as much to eat and drink as she wished, and as she grew upthe young knight loved her so dearly that they were married with greatrejoicings. 

Now, when the two sisters saw little Two Eyes carried away by thehandsome young knight, they were overjoyed at their good fortune. "Thewonderful tree belongs to us now, " they said; "even if we cannot breakoff a branch, yet everybody who passes will stop to admire it, and makeacquaintance with us, and, who knows? we may get husbands after all. "

But when they rose the next morning, lo! the tree had vanished, and withit all their hopes. And on this very morning, when little Two Eyeslooked out of her chamber window of the castle, she saw, to her greatjoy, that the tree had followed her. 

Little Two Eyes lived for a long time in great happiness; but she heardnothing of her sisters, till one day two poor women came to the castle, to beg for alms. Little Two Eyes saw them, and, looking earnestly intheir faces, she recognised her two sisters, who had become so poor thatthey were obliged to beg their bread from door to door. 

But the good sister received them most kindly, and promised to take careof them and give them all they wanted. And then they did indeed repentand feel sorry for having treated her so badly in their youthful days. 

CHAPTER II

THE MAGIC MIRROR

One day in the middle of winter, when the snowflakes fell from the skylike feathers, a queen sat at a window netting. Her netting-needle wasof black ebony, and as she worked, and the snow glittered, she prickedher finger, and three drops of blood fell into the snow. The red spotslooked so beautiful in the white snow that the queen thought to herself:"Oh, if I only had a little child, I should like it to be as fair assnow, as rosy as the red blood, and with hair and eyes as black asebony. "

Very soon after this the queen had a little daughter who was very fair, had rosy cheeks, and hair as black as ebony; and they gave her the nameof Snow-white. But at the birth of the little child the queen died. 

When Snow-white was a year old, the king took another wife. She was veryhandsome, but so proud and vain that she could not endure that anyoneshould surpass her in beauty. She possessed a wonderful mirror, and whenshe stood before it to look at herself she would say:

 "Mirror, mirror on the wall, Am I most beautiful of all?"

Then the mirror would reply:

 "Young queen, thou are so wondrous fair, None can with thee at all compare. "

Then she would go away quite contented, for she knew the magic mirrorcould speak only the truth. 

Years went by, and as Snow-white grew up, she became day after day morebeautiful, till she reached the age of seven years, and then peoplebegan to talk about her, and say that she would be more lovely even thanthe queen herself. So the proud woman went to her magic looking-glass, and asked:

 "Mirror, mirror on the wall, Am I most beautiful of all?"

But the mirror answered:

 "Queen, thou are lovely still to see, But Snow-white will be A thousand times more beautiful than thee. "

Then the queen was terrified, and turned green and yellow with jealousy. If she had caught sight of Snow-white at that moment, she would havebeen ready to tear her heart out of her body, she hated the maiden sofiercely. 

And this jealousy and envy grew every day stronger and stronger in herheart, like a disease, till she had no rest day or night. 

At last she sent for a hunter, who lived near a forest, and said to him, "Hunter, I want to get rid of that child. Take her out into the wood, and if you bring me some proofs that she is dead, I will reward youhandsomely. Never let her appear before my eyes again. "

So the hunter enticed the child into the wood; but when he took out hishunting-knife to thrust into Snow-white's innocent heart, she fell onher knees and wept, and said, "Ah, dear hunter, leave me my life; I willrun away into the wild wood, and never, never come home any more. "

She looked so innocent and beautiful as she knelt, that the hunter'sheart was moved with compassion: "Run away, then, thou poor child, " hecried; "I cannot harm thee. "

Snow-white thanked him so sweetly, and was out of sight in a fewmoments. 

"She will be devoured by wild beasts, " he said to himself. But thethought that he had not killed her was as if a stone-weight had beenlifted from his heart. 

To satisfy the queen, he took part of the inside of a young fawn, whichthe wicked woman thought was poor little Snow-white, and was overjoyedto think she was dead. 

But the poor little motherless child, when she found herself alone inthe wood, and saw nothing but trees and leaves, was dreadfullyfrightened, and knew not what to do. At last she began to run over thesharp stones and through the thorns, and though the wild beasts sprangout before her, they did her no harm. She ran on as long as she couldtill her little feet became quite sore; and towards evening she saw, toher great joy, a pretty little house. So she went up to it, and foundthe door open and no one at home. 

It was a tiny little house, but everything in it was so clean and neatand elegant that it is beyond description. In the middle of the roomstood a small table, covered with a snow-white table-cloth, ready forsupper. On it were arranged seven little plates, seven little spoons, seven little knives and forks, and seven mugs. By the wall stood sevenlittle beds, near each other, covered with white quilts. 

Poor Snow-white, who was hungry and thirsty, ate a few vegetables and alittle bread from each plate, and drank a little drop of wine from eachcup, for she did not like to take all she wanted from one alone. Afterthis, feeling very tired, she thought she would lie down and rest on oneof the beds, but she found it difficult to choose one to suit her. Onewas too long, another too short; so she tried them all till she came tothe seventh, and that was so comfortable that she laid herself down, andwas soon fast asleep. 

When it was quite dark the masters of the house came home. They wereseven little dwarfs, who dug and searched in the mountains for minerals. First they lighted seven little lamps, and as soon as the room was fullof light they saw that some one had been there, for everything did notstand in the order in which they had left it. 

Then said the first, "Who has been sitting in my little chair?"

The second exclaimed, "Who has been eating from my little plate?"

The third cried, "Some one has taken part of my bread. "

"Who has been eating my vegetables?" said the fourth. 

Then said the fifth, "Some one has used my fork. "

The sixth cried, "And who has been cutting with my knife?"

"And some one has been drinking out of my cup, " said the seventh. 

Then the eldest looked at his bed, and, seeing that it looked tumbled, cried out that some one had been upon it. The others came runningforward, and found all their beds in the same condition. But when theseventh approached his bed, and saw Snow-white lying there fast asleep, he called the others, who came quickly, and holding their lights overtheir heads, cried out in wonder as they beheld the sleeping child. "Oh, what a beautiful little child!" they said to each other, and were sodelighted that they would not awaken her, but left her to sleep as longas she liked in the little bed, while its owner slept with one of hiscompanions, and so the night passed away. 

In the morning, when Snow-white awoke, and saw all the dwarfs, she wasterribly frightened. But they spoke kindly to her, till she lost allfear, and they asked her name. 

"I am called Snow-white, " she replied. 

"But how came you to our house?" asked one. 

Then she related to them all that had happened; how her stepmother hadsent her into the wood with the hunter, who had spared her life, andthat, after wandering about for a whole day, she had found their house. 

The dwarfs talked a little while together, and then one said, "Do youthink you could be our little housekeeper, to make the beds, cook thedinner, and wash and sew and knit for us, and keep everything neat andclean and orderly? If you can, then you shall stay here with us, andnobody shall hurt you. "

"Oh yes, I will try, " said Snow-white. So they let her stay, and she wasa clever little thing. She managed very well, and kept the house quiteclean and in order. And while they were gone to the mountains to findgold, she got their supper ready, and they were very happy together. 

But every morning when they left her, the kind little dwarfs warnedSnow-white to be careful. While the maiden was alone they knew she wasin danger, and told her not to show herself, for her stepmother wouldsoon find out where she was, and said, "Whatever you do, let nobody intothe house while we are gone. "

After the wicked queen had proved, as she thought, that Snow-white wasdead, she felt quite satisfied there was no one in the world now likelyto become so beautiful as herself, so she stepped up to her mirror andasked:

 "Mirror, mirror on the wall, Who is most beautiful of all?"

To her vexation the mirror replied:

 "Fair queen, at home there is none like thee, But over the mountains is Snow-white free, With seven little dwarfs, who are strange to see; A thousand times fairer than thou is she. "

The queen was furious when she heard this, for she knew the mirror wastruthful, and that the hunter must have deceived her, and thatSnow-white still lived. So she sat and pondered over these facts, thinking what would be best to do, for as long as she was not the mostbeautiful woman in the land, her jealousy gave her no peace. After atime, she decided what to do. First, she painted her face, and whitenedher hair; then she dressed herself in old woman's clothes, and was sodisguised that no one could have recognised her. 

Watching an opportunity, she left the castle, and took her way to thewood near the mountains, where the seven little dwarfs lived. When shereached the door, she knocked, and cried, "Beautiful goods to sell;beautiful goods to sell. "

Snow-white, when she heard it, peeped through the window, and said, "Good-day, old lady. What have you in your basket for me to buy?"

"Everything that is pretty, " she replied; "laces, and pearls, andearrings, and bracelets of every colour;" and she held up her basket, which was lined with glittering silk. 

"I can let in this respectable old woman, " thought Snow-white; "she willnot harm me. " So she unbolted the door, and told her to come in. Oh, howdelighted Snow-white was with the pretty things; she bought severaltrinkets, and a beautiful silk lace for her stays, but she did not seethe evil eye of the old woman who was watching her. Presently she said, "Child, come here; I will show you how to lace your stays properly. "Snow-white had no suspicion, so she placed herself before the old womanthat she might lace her stays. But no sooner was the lace in the holesthan she began to lace so fast and pull so tight that Snow-white couldnot breathe, and presently fell down at her feet as if dead. 

"Now you are beautiful indeed, " said the woman, and, fancying she heardfootsteps, she rushed away as quickly as she could. 

Not long after, the seven dwarfs came home, and they were terriblyfrightened to see dear little Snow-white lying on the ground withoutmotion, as if she were dead. They lifted her up, and saw in a momentthat her stays had been laced too tight Quickly they cut the stay-lacein two, till Snow-white began to breathe a little, and after a time wasrestored to life. But when the dwarfs heard what had happened, theysaid: "That old market-woman was no other than your wicked stepmother. Snow-white, you must never again let anyone in while we are not withyou. "

The wicked queen when she returned home, after, as she thought, killingSnow-white, went to her looking-glass and asked:

 "Mirror, mirror on the wall, Am I most beautiful of all?"

Then answered the mirror:

 "Queen, thou art not the fairest now; Snow-white over the mountain's brow A thousand times fairer is than thou. "

When she heard this she was so terrified that the blood rushed to herheart, for she knew that after all she had done Snow-white was stillalive. "I must think of something else, " she said to herself, "to getrid of that odious child. "

Now this wicked queen had some knowledge of witchcraft, and she knew howto poison a comb, so that whoever used it would fall dead. This thewicked stepmother soon got ready, and dressing herself again like an oldwoman, but quite different from the last, she started off to travel overthe mountains to the dwarfs' cottage. 

When Snow-white heard the old cry, "Goods to sell, fine goods to sell, "she looked out of the window and said:

"Go away, go away; I must not let you in. "

"Look at this, then, " said the woman; "you shall have it for your own ifyou like, " and she held up before the child's eyes the brighttortoise-shell comb which she had poisoned. 

Poor Snow-white could not refuse such a present, so she opened the doorand let the woman in, quite forgetting the advice of the dwarfs. Aftershe had bought a few things, the old woman said, "Let me try this combin your hair; it is so fine it will make it beautifully smooth andglossy. "

So Snow-white, thinking no wrong, stood before the woman to have herhair dressed; but no sooner had the comb touched the roots of her hairthan the poison took effect, and the maiden fell to the ground lifeless. 

"You paragon of beauty, " said the wicked woman, "all has just happenedas I expected, " and then she went away quickly. 

Fortunately evening soon arrived, and the seven dwarfs returned home. When they saw Snow-white lying dead on the ground, they knew at oncethat the stepmother had been there again; but on seeing the poisonedcomb in her hair they pulled it out quickly, and Snow-white very sooncame to herself, and related all that had passed. 

Again they warned her not to let anyone enter the house during theirabsence, and on no account to open the door; but Snow-white was notclever enough to resist her clever wicked stepmother, and she forgot toobey. 

The wicked queen felt sure now that she had really killed Snow-white; soas soon as she returned home she went to her looking-glass, andinquired:

 "Mirror, mirror on the wall, Who is most beautiful of all?"

But the mirror replied:

 "Queen, thou art the fairest here, But not when Snow-white is near; Over the mountains still is she, Fairer a thousand times than thee. "

As the looking-glass thus replied, the queen trembled and quaked withrage. "Snow-white shall die, " cried she, "if it costs me my own life!"

Then she went into a lonely forbidden chamber where no one was allowedto come, and poisoned a beautiful apple. Outwardly it looked ripe andtempting, of a pale green with rosy cheeks, so that it made everyone'smouth water to look at it, but whoever ate even a small piece must die. 

As soon as this apple was ready, the wicked queen painted her face, disguised her hair, dressed herself as a farmer's wife, and went againover the mountains to the dwarfs' cottage. 

When she knocked at the door, Snow-white stretched her head out of thewindow, and said, "I dare not let you in; the seven dwarfs haveforbidden me. "

"But I am all right, " said the farmer's wife. "Stay, I will show you myapples. Are they not beautiful? let me make you a present of one. "

"No, thank you, " cried Snow-white; "I dare not take it. "

"What!" cried the woman, "are you afraid it is poisoned? Look here now, I will cut the apple in halves; you shall have the rosy-cheek side, andI will eat the other. "

The apple was so cleverly made that the red side alone was poisonous. Snow-white longed so much for the beautiful fruit as she saw thefarmer's wife eat one half that she could not any longer resist, butstretched out her hand from the window and took the poisoned half. Butno sooner had she taken one mouthful than she fell on the ground dead. 

Then the wicked queen glanced in at the window with a horrible look inher eye, and laughed aloud as she exclaimed:

"White as snow, red as blood, and black as ebony; this time the dwarfswill not be able to awake thee. "

And as soon as she arrived at home, and asked her mirror who was themost beautiful in the land, it replied:

 "Fair queen, there is none in all the land So beautiful as thou. "

Then had her envious heart rest, at least such rest as a heart full ofenvy and malice ever can have. 

The little dwarfs, when they came home in the evening, found poorSnow-white on the ground; but though they lifted her up, there were nosigns of breath from her mouth, and they found she was really dead. Yetthey tried in every way to restore her; they tried to extract the poisonfrom her lips, they combed her hair, and washed it with wine and water, but all to no purpose: the dear child gave no signs of life, and at lastthey knew she was dead. Then they laid her on a bier, and the sevendwarfs seated themselves round her, and wept and mourned for three days. They would have buried her then, but there was no change in herappearance; her face was as fresh, and her cheeks and lips had theirusual colour. Then said one, "We cannot lay this beautiful child in thedark, cold earth. "

So they agreed to have a coffin made entirely of glass, transparent allover, that they might watch for any signs of decay, and they wrote inletters of gold her name on the lid, and that she was the daughter of aking. The coffin was placed on the side of the mountain, and each ofthem watched it by turns, so that it was never left alone. And the birdsof the air came near and mourned for Snow-white; first the owl, then theraven, and at last the dove. Snow-white lay for a long, long time in theglass coffin, but showed not the least signs of decay. It seemed as ifshe slept; for her skin was snow white, her cheeks rosy red, and herhair black as ebony. 

It happened one day that the son of a king, while riding in the forest, came by chance upon the dwarfs' house and asked for a night's lodging. As he left the next morning he saw the coffin on the mountain-side, withbeautiful Snow-white lying in it, and read what was written upon the lidin letters of gold. 

Then he said to the dwarfs, "Let me have this coffin, and I will giveyou for it whatever you ask. "

But the elder dwarf answered, "We would not give it thee for all thegold in the world. "

But the prince answered, "Let me have it as a gift, then. I know notwhy, but my heart is drawn towards this beautiful child, and I feel Icannot live without her. If you will let me have her, she shall betreated with the greatest honour and respect as one dearly beloved. "

As he thus spoke the good little dwarfs were full of sympathy for him, and gave him the coffin. Then the prince called his servants, and thecoffin was placed on their shoulders, and they carried it away, followedby the king's son, who watched it carefully. Now it happened that one ofthem made a false step and stumbled. This shook the coffin, and causedthe poisoned piece of apple which Snow-white had bitten to roll out ofher mouth. A little while after she suddenly opened her eyes, lifted upthe coffin-lid, raised herself and was again alive. 

"Oh! where am I?" she cried. 

Full of joy, the king's son approached her, and said, "Dear Snow-white, you are safe; you are with me. "

Then he related to her all that had happened, and what the little dwarfshad told him about her, and said at last, "I love you better than all inthe world besides, dear little Snow-white, and you must come with me tomy father's castle and be my wife. "

Then was Snow-white taken out of the coffin and placed in a carriage totravel with the prince, and the king was so pleased with his son'schoice that the marriage was soon after celebrated with great pomp andmagnificence. 

Now it happened that the stepmother of Snow-white was invited, amongother guests, to the wedding-feast. Before she left her house she stoodin all her rich dress before the magic mirror to admire her ownappearance, but she could not help saying;

 "Mirror, mirror on the wall, Am I most beautiful of all?"

Then to her surprise the mirror replied:

 "Fair queen, thou art the fairest here, But at the palace, now, The bride will prove a thousand times More beautiful than thou. "

Then the wicked woman uttered a curse, and was so dreadfully alarmedthat she knew not what to do. At first she declared she would not go tothis wedding at all, but she felt it impossible to rest until she hadseen the bride, so she determined to go. But what was her astonishmentand vexation when she recognised in the young bride Snow-white herself, now grown a charming young woman, and richly dressed in royal robes! Herrage and terror were so great that she stood still and could not movefor some minutes. At last she went into the ballroom, but the slippersshe wore were to her as iron bands full of coals of fire, in which shewas obliged to dance. And so in the red, glowing shoes she continued todance till she fell dead on the floor, a sad example of envy andjealousy. 

CHAPTER III

THE ENCHANTED STAG

There were once a brother and sister who loved each other dearly; theirmother was dead, and their father had married again a woman who was mostunkind and cruel to them. One day the boy took his sister's hand, andsaid to her, "Dear little sister, since our mother died we have not hadone happy hour. Our stepmother gives us dry hard crusts for dinner andsupper; she often knocks us about, and threatens to kick us out of thehouse. Even the little dogs under the table fare better than we do, forshe often throws them nice pieces to eat. Heaven pity us! Oh, if ourdear mother knew! Come, let us go out into the wide world!"

So they went out, and wandered over fields and meadows the whole daytill evening. At last they found themselves in a large forest; it beganto rain, and the little sister said, "See, brother, heaven and ourhearts weep together. " At last, tired out with hunger and sorrow, andthe long journey, they crept into a hollow tree, laid themselves down, and slept till morning. 

When they awoke the sun was high in the heavens, and shone brightly intothe hollow tree, so they left their place of shelter and wandered awayin search of water. 

"Oh, I am so thirsty!" said the boy. "If we could only find a brook or astream. " He stopped to listen, and said, "Stay, I think I hear a runningstream. " So he took his sister by the hand, and they ran together tofind it. 

Now, the stepmother of these poor children was a wicked witch. She hadseen the children go away, and, following them cautiously like a snake, had bewitched all the springs and streams in the forest. The pleasanttrickling of a brook over the pebbles was heard by the children as theyreached it, and the boy was just stooping to drink, when the sisterheard in the babbling of the brook:

 "Whoever drinks of me, a tiger soon will be. "

Then she cried quickly, "Stay, brother, stay! do not drink, or you willbecome a wild beast, and tear me to pieces. "

Thirsty as he was, the brother conquered his desire to drink at herwords, and said, "Dear sister, I will wait till we come to a spring. " Sothey wandered farther, but as they approached, she heard in the bubblingspring the words--

 "Who drinks of me, a wolf will be. "

"Brother, I pray you, do not drink of this brook; you will be changedinto a wolf, and devour me. "

Again the brother denied himself and promised to wait; but he said, "Atthe next stream I must drink, say what you will, my thirst is so great. "

Not far off ran a pretty streamlet, looking clear and bright; but herealso in its murmuring waters, the sister heard the words--

 "Who dares to drink of me, Turned to a stag will be. "

"Dear brother, do not drink, " she began; but she was too late, for herbrother had already knelt by the stream to drink, and as the first dropof water touched his lips he became a fawn. How the little sister weptover the enchanted brother, and the fawn wept also. 

He did not run away, but stayed close to her; and at last she said, "Stand still, dear fawn; don't fear, I must take care of you, but I willnever leave you. " So she untied her little golden garter and fastened itround the neck of the fawn; then she gathered some soft green rushes, and braided them into a soft string, which she fastened to the fawn'sgolden collar, and then led him away into the depths of the forest. 

After wandering about for some time, they at last found a littledeserted hut, and the sister was overjoyed, for she thought it wouldform a nice shelter for them both. So she led the fawn in, and then wentout alone, to gather moss and dried leaves, to make him a soft bed. 

Every morning she went out to gather dried roots, nuts, and berries, forher own food, and sweet fresh grass for the fawn, which he ate out ofher hand, and the poor little animal went out with her, and played aboutas happy as the day was long. 

When evening came, and the poor sister felt tired, she would kneel downand say her prayers, and then lay her delicate head on the fawn's back, which was a soft warm pillow, on which she could sleep peacefully. Hadthis dear brother only kept his own proper form, how happy they wouldhave been together! After they had been alone in the forest for sometime, and the little sister had grown a lovely maiden, and the fawn alarge stag, a numerous hunting party came to the forest, and amongstthem the king of the country. 

The sounding horn, the barking of the dogs, the holloa of the huntsmen, resounded through the forest, and were heard by the stag, who becameeager to join his companions. 

"Oh dear, " he said, "do let me go and see the hunt; I cannot restrainmyself. " And he begged so hard that at last she reluctantly consented. 

"But remember, " she said, "I must lock the cottage door against thosehuntsmen, so when you come back in the evening, and knock, I shall notadmit you, unless you say, 'Dear little sister let me in. '"

He bounded off as she spoke, scarcely stopping to listen, for it was sodelightful for him to breathe the fresh air and be free again. 

He had not run far when the king's chief hunter caught sight of thebeautiful animal, and started off in chase of him; but it was no easymatter to overtake such rapid footsteps. Once, when he thought he hadhim safe, the fawn sprang over the bushes and disappeared. 

As it was now nearly dark, he ran up to the little cottage, knocked atthe door, and cried, "Dear little sister, let me in. " The door wasinstantly opened, and oh, how glad his sister was to see him safelyresting on his soft pleasant bed!

A few days after this, the huntsmen were again in the forest; and whenthe fawn heard the holloa, he could not rest in peace, but begged hissister again to let him go. 

She opened the door, and said, "I will let you go this time; but pray donot forget to say what I told you, when you return this evening. "

The chief hunter very soon espied the beautiful fawn with the goldencollar, pointed it out to the king, and they determined to hunt it. 

They chased him with all their skill till the evening; but he was toolight and nimble for them to catch, till a shot wounded him slightly inthe foot, so that he was obliged to hide himself in the bushes, and, after the huntsmen were gone, limp slowly home. 

One of them, however, determined to follow him at a distance, anddiscover where he went. What was his surprise at seeing him go up to adoor and knock, and to hear him say, "Dear little sister, let me in. "The door was only opened a little way, and quickly shut; but thehuntsman had seen enough to make him full of wonder, when he returnedand described to the king what he had seen. 

"We will have one more chase to-morrow, " said the king, "and discoverthis mystery. "

In the meantime the loving sister was terribly alarmed at finding thestag's foot wounded and bleeding. She quickly washed off the blood, and, after bathing the wound, placed healing herbs on it, and said, "Lie downon your bed, dear fawn, and the wound will soon heal, if you rest yourfoot. "

In the morning the wound was so much better that the fawn felt the footalmost as strong as ever, and so, when he again heard the holloa of thehunters, he could not rest. "Oh, dear sister, I must go once more; itwill be easy for me to avoid the hunters now, and my foot feels quitewell; they will not hunt me unless they see me running, and I don't meanto do that. "

But his sister wept, and begged him not to go: "If they kill you, dearfawn, I shall be here alone in the forest, forsaken by the whole world. "

"And I shall die of grief, " he said, "if I remain here listening to thehunter's horn. "

So at length his sister, with a heavy heart, set him free, and hebounded away joyfully into the forest. 

As soon as the king caught sight of him, he said to the huntsmen, "Follow that stag about, but don't hurt him. " So they hunted him allday, but at the approach of sunset the king said to the hunter who hadfollowed the fawn the day before, "Come and show me the little cottage. "

So they went together, and when the king saw it he sent his companionhome, and went on alone so quickly that he arrived there before thefawn; and, going up to the little door, knocked and said softly, "Dearlittle sister, let me in. "

As the door opened, the king stepped in, and in great astonishment saw amaiden more beautiful than he had ever seen in his life standing beforehim. But how frightened she felt to see instead of her dear little fawna noble gentleman walk in with a gold crown on his head. 

However, he appeared very friendly, and after a little talk he held outhis hand to her, and said, "Wilt thou go with me to my castle and be mydear wife?"

"Ah yes, " replied the maiden, "I would willingly; but I cannot leave mydear fawn: he must go with me wherever I am. "

"He shall remain with you as long as you live, " replied the king, "and Iwill never ask you to forsake him. "

While they were talking, the fawn came bounding in, looking quite welland happy. Then his sister fastened the string of rushes to his collar, took it in her hand, and led him away from the cottage in the wood towhere the king's beautiful horse waited for him. 

The king placed the maiden before him on his horse and rode away to hiscastle, the fawn following by their side. Soon after, their marriage wascelebrated with great splendour, and the fawn was taken the greatestcare of, and played where he pleased, or roamed about the castle groundsin happiness and safety. 

In the meantime the wicked stepmother, who had caused these two youngpeople such misery, supposed that the sister had been devoured by wildbeasts, and that the fawn had been hunted to death. Therefore when sheheard of their happiness, such envy and malice arose in her heart thatshe could find no rest till she had tried to destroy it. 

She and her ugly daughter came to the castle when the queen had a littlebaby, and one of them pretended to be a nurse, and at last got themother and child into their power. 

They shut the queen up in the bath, and tried to suffocate her, and theold woman put her own ugly daughter in the queen's bed that the kingmight not know she was away. 

She would not, however, let him speak to her, but pretended that shemust be kept quite quiet. 

The queen escaped from the bath-room, where the wicked old woman hadlocked her up, but she did not go far, as she wanted to watch over herchild and the little fawn. 

For two nights the baby's nurse saw a figure of the queen come into theroom and take up her baby and nurse it. Then she told the king, and hedetermined to watch himself. The old stepmother, who acted as nurse toher ugly daughter, whom she tried to make the king believe was his wife, had said that the queen was too weak to see him, and never left herroom. "There cannot be two queens, " said the king to himself, "soto-night I will watch in the nursery. " As soon as the figure came in andtook up her baby, he saw it was his real wife, and caught her in hisarms, saying, "You are my own beloved wife, as beautiful as ever. "

The wicked witch had thrown her into a trance, hoping she would die, andthat the king would then marry her daughter; but on the king speaking toher, the spell was broken. The queen told the king how cruelly she hadbeen treated by her stepmother, and on hearing this he became veryangry, and had the witch and her daughter brought to justice. They wereboth sentenced to die--the daughter to be devoured by wild beasts, andthe mother to be burnt alive. 

No sooner, however, was she reduced to ashes than the charm which heldthe queen's brother in the form of a stag was broken; he recovered hisown natural shape, and appeared before them a tall, handsome young man. 

After this, the brother and sister lived happily and peacefully for therest of their lives. 

CHAPTER IV

HANSEL AND GRETHEL

Near the borders of a large forest dwelt in olden times a poorwood-cutter, who had two children--a boy named Hansel, and his sister, Grethel. They had very little to live upon, and once when there was adreadful season of scarcity in the land, the poor wood-cutter could notearn sufficient to supply their daily food. 

One evening, after the children were gone to bed, the parents sattalking together over their sorrow, and the poor husband sighed, andsaid to his wife, who was not the mother of his children, but theirstepmother, "What will become of us, for I cannot earn enough to supportmyself and you, much less the children? what shall we do with them, forthey must not starve?"

"I know what to do, husband, " she replied; "early to-morrow morning wewill take the children for a walk across the forest and leave them inthe thickest part; they will never find the way home again, you maydepend, and then we shall only have to work for ourselves. "

"No, wife, " said the man, "that I will never do. How could I have theheart to leave my children all alone in the wood, where the wild beastswould come quickly and devour them?"

"Oh, you fool, " replied the stepmother, "if you refuse to do this, youknow we must all four perish with hunger; you may as well go and cut thewood for our coffins. " And after this she let him have no peace till hebecame quite worn out, and could not sleep for hours, but lay thinkingin sorrow about his children. 

The two children, who also were too hungry to sleep, heard all thattheir stepmother had said to their father. Poor little Grethel weptbitter tears as she listened, and said to her brother, "What is going tohappen to us, Hansel?"

"Hush, Grethel, " he whispered, "don't be so unhappy; I know what to do. "

Then they lay quite still till their parents were asleep. 

As soon as it was quiet, Hansel got up, put on his little coat, unfastened the door, and slipped out The moon shone brightly, and thewhite pebble stones which lay before the cottage door glistened like newsilver money. Hansel stooped and picked up as many of the pebbles as hecould stuff in his little coat pockets. He then went back to Grethel andsaid, "Be comforted, dear little sister, and sleep in peace; heaven willtake care of us. " Then he laid himself down again in bed, and slept tillthe day broke. 

As soon as the sun was risen, the stepmother came and woke the twochildren, and said, "Get up, you lazy bones, and come into the wood withme to gather wood for the fire. " Then she gave each of them a piece ofbread, and said, "You must keep that to eat for your dinner, and don'tquarrel over it, for you will get nothing more. "

Grethel took the bread under her charge, for Hansel's pockets were fullof pebbles. Then the stepmother led them a long way into the forest. They had gone but a very short distance when Hansel looked back at thehouse, and this he did again and again. 

At last his stepmother said, "Why do you keep staying behind and lookingback so?"

"Oh, mother, " said the boy, "I can see my little white cat sitting onthe roof of the house, and I am sure she is crying for me. "

"Nonsense, " she replied; "that is not your cat; it is the morning sunshining on the chimney-pot. "

Hansel had seen no cat, but he stayed behind every time to drop a whitepebble from his pocket on the ground as they walked. 

As soon as they reached a thick part of the wood, their stepmother said:

"Come, children, gather some wood, and I will make a fire, for it isvery cold here. "

Then Hansel and Grethel raised quite a high heap of brushwood andfaggots, which soon blazed up into a bright fire, and the woman said tothem:

"Sit down here, children, and rest, while I go and find your father, whois cutting wood in the forest; when we have finished our work, we willcome again and fetch you. "

Hansel and Grethel seated themselves by the fire, and when noon arrivedthey each ate the piece of bread which their stepmother had given themfor their dinner; and as long as they heard the strokes of the axe theyfelt safe, for they believed that their father was working near them. But it was not an axe they heard--only a branch which still hung on awithered tree, and was moved up and down by the wind. At last, when theyhad been sitting there a long time, the children's eyes became heavywith fatigue, and they fell fast asleep. When they awoke it was darknight, and poor Grethel began to cry, and said, "Oh, how shall we getout of the wood?"

But Hansel comforted her. "Don't fear, " he said; "let us wait a littlewhile till the moon rises, and then we shall easily find our way home. "

Very soon the full moon rose, and then Hansel took his little sister bythe hand, and the white pebble stones, which glittered like newly-coinedmoney in the moonlight, and which Hansel had dropped as he walked, pointed out the way. They walked all the night through, and did notreach their father's house till break of day. 

They knocked at the door, and when their stepmother opened it, sheexclaimed: "You naughty children, why have you been staying so long inthe forest? we thought you were never coming back, " But their father wasoverjoyed to see them, for it grieved him to the heart to think thatthey had been left alone in the wood. 

Not long after this there came another time of scarcity and want inevery house, and the children heard their stepmother talking after theywere in bed. "The times are as bad as ever, " she said; "we have justhalf a loaf left, and when that is gone all love will be at an end. Thechildren must go away; we will take them deeper into the forest thistime, and they will not be able to find their way home as they didbefore; it is the only plan to save ourselves from starvation. " But thehusband felt heavy at heart, for he thought it was better to share thelast morsel with his children. 

His wife would listen to nothing he said, but continued to reproach him, and as he had given way to her the first time, he could not refuse to doso now. The children were awake, and heard all the conversation; so, assoon as their parents slept, Hansel got up, intending to go out andgather some more of the bright pebbles to let fall as he walked, thatthey might point out the way home; but his stepmother had locked thedoor, and he could not open it. When he went back to his bed he told hislittle sister not to fret, but to go to sleep in peace, for he was surethey would be taken care of. 

Early the next morning the stepmother came and pulled the children outof bed, and, when they were dressed, gave them each a piece of bread fortheir dinners, smaller than they had had before, and then they startedon their way to the wood. 

As they walked, Hansel, who had the bread in his pocket, broke offlittle crumbs, and stopped every now and then to drop one, turning roundas if he was looking back at his home. 

"Hansel, " said the woman, "what are you stopping for in that way? Comealong directly. "

"I saw my pigeon sitting on the roof, and he wants to say good-bye tome, " replied the boy. 

"Nonsense, " she said; "that is not your pigeon; it is only the morningsun shining on the chimney-top. "

But Hansel did not look back any more; he only dropped pieces of breadbehind him, as they walked through the wood. This time they went on tillthey reached the thickest and densest part of the forest, where they hadnever been before in all their lives. Again they gathered faggots andbrushwood, of which the stepmother made up a large fire. Then she said, "Remain here, children, and rest, while I go to help your father, who iscutting wood in the forest; when you feel tired, you can lie down andsleep for a little while, and we will come and fetch you in the evening, when your father has finished his work. "

So the children remained alone till mid-day, and then Grethel shared herpiece of bread with Hansel, for he had scattered his own all along theroad as they walked. After this they slept for awhile, and the eveningdrew on; but no one came to fetch the poor children. When they awoke itwas quite dark, and poor little Grethel was afraid; but Hansel comfortedher, as he had done before, by telling her they need only wait till themoon rose. "You know, little sister, " he said, "that I have thrownbreadcrumbs all along the road we came, and they will easily point outthe way home. "

But when they went out of the thicket into the moonlight they found nobreadcrumbs, for the numerous birds which inhabited the trees of theforest had picked them all up. 

Hansel tried to hide his fear when he made this sad discovery, and saidto his sister, "Cheer up, Grethel; I dare say we shall find our way homewithout the crumbs. Let us try. " But this they found impossible. Theywandered about the whole night, and the next day from morning tillevening; but they could not get out of the wood, and were so hungry thathad it not been for a few berries which they picked they must havestarved. 

At last they were so tired that their poor little legs could carry themno farther; so they laid themselves down under a tree and went to sleep. When they awoke it was the third morning since they had left theirfather's house, and they determined to try once more to find their wayhome; but it was no use, they only went still deeper into the wood, andknew that if no help came they must starve. 

About noon, they saw a beautiful snow-white bird sitting on the branchof a tree, and singing so beautifully that they stood still to listen. When he had finished his song, he spread out his wings and flew onbefore them. The children followed him, till at last they saw at adistance a small house; and the bird flew and perched on the roof. 

But how surprised were the boy and girl, when they came nearer, to findthat the house was built of gingerbread, and ornamented with sweet cakesand tarts, while the window was formed of barley-sugar. "Oh!" exclaimedHansel, "let us stop here and have a splendid feast. I will have a piecefrom the roof first, Grethel; and you can eat some of the barley-sugarwindow, it tastes so nice. " Hansel reached up on tiptoe, and breakingoff a piece of the gingerbread, he began to eat with all his might, forhe was very hungry. Grethel seated herself on the doorstep, and beganmunching away at the cakes of which it was made. Presently a voice cameout of the cottage:

 "Munching, crunching, munching, Who's eating up my house?"

Then answered the children:

 "The wind, the wind, Only the wind, "

and went on eating as if they never meant to leave off, without asuspicion of wrong. Hansel, who found the cake on the roof taste verygood, broke off another large piece, and Grethel had just taken out awhole pane of barley-sugar from the window, and seated herself to eatit, when the door opened, and a strange-looking old woman came outleaning on a stick. 

Hansel and Grethel were so frightened that they let fall what they heldin their hands. The old woman shook her head at them, and said, "Ah, youdear children, who has brought you here? Come in, and stay with me for alittle while, and there shall no harm happen to you. " She seized themboth by the hands as she spoke, and led them into the house. She gavethem for supper plenty to eat and drink--milk and pancakes and sugar, apples and nuts; and when evening came, Hansel and Grethel were showntwo beautiful little beds with white curtains, and they lay down in themand thought they were in heaven. 

But although the old woman pretended to be friendly, she was a wickedwitch, who had her house built of gingerbread on purpose to entrapchildren. When once they were in her power, she would feed them welltill they got fat, and then kill them and cook them for her dinner; andthis she called her feast-day. Fortunately the witch had weak eyes, andcould not see very well; but she had a very keen scent, as wild animalshave, and could easily discover when human beings were near. As Hanseland Grethel had approached her cottage, she laughed to herselfmaliciously, and said, with a sneer: "I have them now; they shall notescape from me again!"

Early in the morning, before the children were awake, she was up, standing by their beds; and when she saw how beautiful they looked intheir sleep, with their round rosy cheeks, she muttered to herself, "What nice tit-bits they will be!" Then she laid hold of Hansel with herrough hand, dragged him out of bed, and led him to a little cage whichhad a lattice-door, and shut him in; he might scream as much as hewould, but it was all useless. 

After this she went back to Grethel, and, shaking her roughly till shewoke, cried: "Get up, you lazy hussy, and draw some water, that I mayboil something good for your brother, who is shut up in a cage outsidetill he gets fat; and then I shall cook him and eat him!" When Grethelheard this she began to cry bitterly; but it was all useless, she wasobliged to do as the wicked witch told her. 

For poor Hansel's breakfast the best of everything was cooked; butGrethel had nothing for herself but a crab's claw. Every morning the oldwoman would go out to the little cage, and say: "Hansel, stick out yourfinger, that I may feel if you are fat enough for eating. " But Hansel, who knew how dim her old eyes were, always stuck a bone through the barsof his cage, which she thought was his finger, for she could not see;and when she felt how thin it was, she wondered very much why he did notget fat. 

However, as the weeks went on, and Hansel seemed not to get any fatter, she became impatient, and said she could not wait any longer. "Go, Grethel, " she cried to the maiden, "be quick and draw water; Hansel maybe fat or lean, I don't care, to-morrow morning I mean to kill him, andcook him!"

Oh! how the poor little sister grieved when she was forced to draw thewater; and, as the tears rolled down her cheeks, she exclaimed: "Itwould have been better to be eaten by wild beasts, or to have beenstarved to death in the woods; then we should have died together!"

"Stop your crying!" cried the old woman; "it is not of the least use, noone will come to help you. "

Early in the morning Grethel was obliged to go out and fill the greatpot with water, and hang it over the fire to boil. As soon as this wasdone, the old woman said, "We will bake some bread first; I have madethe oven hot, and the dough is already kneaded. " Then she dragged poorlittle Grethel up to the oven door, under which the flames were burningfiercely, and said: "Creep in there, and see if it is hot enough yet tobake the bread. " But if Grethel had obeyed her, she would have shut thepoor child in and baked her for dinner, instead of boiling Hansel. 

Grethel, however, guessed what she wanted to do, and said, "I don't knowhow to get in through that narrow door. "

"Stupid goose, " said the old woman, "why, the oven door is quite largeenough for me; just look, I could get in myself. " As she spoke shestepped forward and pretended to put her head in the oven. 

A sudden thought gave Grethel unusual strength; she started forward, gave the old woman a push which sent her right into the oven, then sheshut the iron door and fastened the bolt. 

Oh! how the old witch did howl, it was quite horrible to hear her. ButGrethel ran away, and therefore she was left to burn, just as she hadleft many poor little children to burn. And how quickly Grethel ran toHansel, opened the door of his cage, and cried, "Hansel, Hansel, we arefree; the old witch is dead. " He flew like a bird out of his cage atthese words as soon as the door was opened, and the children were sooverjoyed that they ran into each other's arms, and kissed each otherwith the greatest love. 

And now that there was nothing to be afraid of, they went back into thehouse, and while looking round the old witch's room, they saw an old oakchest, which they opened, and found it full of pearls and preciousstones. "These are better than pebbles, " said Hansel; and he filled hispockets as full as they would hold. 

"I will carry some home too, " said Grethel, and she held out her apron, which held quite as much as Hansel's pockets. 

"We will go now, " he said, "and get away as soon as we can from thisenchanted forest. "

They had been walking for nearly two hours when they came to a largesheet of water. 

"What shall we do now?" said the boy. "We cannot get across, and thereis no bridge of any sort. "

"Oh! here comes a boat, " cried Grethel, but she was mistaken; it wasonly a white duck which came swimming towards the children. "Perhaps shewill help us across if we ask her, " said the child; and she sung, "Little duck, do help poor Hansel and Grethel; there is not a bridge, nor a boat--will you let us sail across on your white back?"

The good-natured duck came near the bank as Grethel spoke, so closeindeed that Hansel could seat himself and wanted to take his littlesister on his lap, but she said, "No, we shall be too heavy for the kindduck; let her take us over one at a time. "

The good creature did as the children wished; she carried Grethel overfirst, and then came back for Hansel. And then how happy the childrenwere to find themselves in a part of the wood which they rememberedquite well, and as they walked on, the more familiar it became, till atlast they caught sight of their father's house. Then they began to run, and, bursting into the room, threw themselves into their father's arms. 

Poor man, he had not had a moment's peace since the children had beenleft alone in the forest; he was full of joy at finding them safe andwell again, and now they had nothing to fear, for their wickedstepmother was dead. 

But how surprised the poor wood-cutter was when Grethel opened and shookher little apron to see the glittering pearls and precious stonesscattered about the room, while Hansel drew handful after handful fromhis pockets. From this moment all his care and sorrow was at an end, andthe father lived in happiness with his children till his death. 

CHAPTER V

THE STORY OF ALADDIN; OR, THE WONDERFUL LAMP

In one of the large and rich cities of China, there once lived a tailornamed Mustapha. He was very poor. He could hardly, by his daily labour, maintain himself and his family, which consisted only of his wife and ason. 

His son, who was called Aladdin, was a very careless and idle fellow. Hewas disobedient to his father and mother, and would go out early in themorning and stay out all day, playing in the streets and public placeswith idle children of his own age. 

When he was old enough to learn a trade, his father took him into hisown shop, and taught him how to use his needle; but all his father'sendeavours to keep him to his work were vain, for no sooner was his backturned, than he was gone for that day, Mustapha chastised him, butAladdin was incorrigible, and his father, to his great grief, was forcedto abandon him to his idleness; and was so much troubled about him, thathe fell sick and died in a few months. 

Aladdin, who was now no longer restrained by the fear of a father, gavehimself entirely over to his idle habits, and was never out of thestreets from his companions. This course he followed till he was fifteenyears old, without giving his mind to any useful pursuit, or the leastreflection on what would become of him. As he was one day playing, according to custom, in the street, with his evil associates, a strangerpassing by stood to observe him. 

This stranger was a sorcerer, known as the African magician, as he hadbeen but two days arrived from Africa, his native country. 

The African magician, observing in Aladdin's countenance something whichassured him that he was a fit boy for his purpose, inquired his name andhistory of some of his companions, and when he had learnt all he desiredto know, went up to him, and taking him aside from his comrades, said, "Child, was not your father called Mustapha the tailor?" "Yes, sir, "answered the boy, "but he has been dead a long time. "

At these words the African magician threw his arms about Aladdin's neck, and kissed him several times, with tears in his eyes, and said, "I amyour uncle. Your worthy father was my own brother. I knew you at firstsight, you are so like him. " Then he gave Aladdin a handful of smallmoney, saying, "Go, my son, to your mother, give my love to her, andtell her that I will visit her to-morrow, that I may see where my goodbrother lived so long, and ended his days. "

Aladdin ran to his mother, overjoyed at the money his uncle had givenhim. "Mother, " said he, "have I an uncle?" "No, child, " replied hismother, "you have no uncle by your father's side or mine. " "I am justnow come, " said Aladdin, "from a man who says he is my uncle and myfather's brother. He cried and kissed me when I told him my father wasdead, and gave me money, sending his love to you, and promising to comeand pay you a visit, that he may see the house my father lived and diedin. " "Indeed, child, " replied the mother, "your father had no brother, nor have you an uncle. "

The next day the magician found Aladdin playing in another part of thetown, and embracing him as before, put two pieces of gold into his hand, and said to him, "Carry this, child, to your mother; tell her that Iwill come and see her to-night, and bid her get us something for supper;but first show ms the house where you live. "

Aladdin showed the African magician the house, and carried the twopieces of gold to his mother, who went out and bought provisions; andconsidering she wanted various utensils, borrowed them of herneighbours. She spent the whole day in preparing the supper; and atnight, when it was ready, said to her son, "Perhaps the stranger knowsnot how to find our house; go and bring him, if you meet with him. "

Aladdin was just ready to go, when the magician knocked at the door, andcame in loaded with wine and all sorts of fruits, which he brought for adessert. After he had given what he brought into Aladdin's hands, hesaluted his mother, and desired her to show him the place where hisbrother Mustapha used to sit on the sofa; and when she had so done, hefell down and kissed it several times, crying out, with tears in hiseyes, "My poor brother! how unhappy am I, not to have come soon enoughto give you one last embrace. " Aladdin's mother desired him to sit downin the same place, but he declined. "No, " said he, "I shall not do that;but give me leave to sit opposite to it, that although I see not themaster of a family so dear to me, I may at least behold the place wherehe used to sit. "

When the magician had made choice of a place, and sat down, he began toenter into discourse with Aladdin's mother. "My good sister, " said he, "do not be surprised at your never having seen me all the time you havebeen married to my brother Mustapha of happy memory. I have been fortyyears absent from this country, which is my native place, as well as mylate brother's; and during that time have travelled into the Indies, Persia, Arabia, Syria, and Egypt, and afterward crossed over intoAfrica, where I took up my abode. At last, as it is natural for a man, Iwas desirous to see my native country again, and to embrace my dearbrother; and finding I had strength enough to undertake so long ajourney, I made the necessary preparations, and set out. Nothing everafflicted me so much as hearing of my brother's death. But God bepraised for all things! It is a comfort for me to find, as it were, mybrother in a son, who has his most remarkable features. "

The African magician perceiving that the widow wept at the remembranceof her husband, changed the conversation, and turning toward her son, asked him, "What business do you follow? Are you of any trade?"

At this question the youth hung down his head, and was not a littleabashed when his mother answered "Aladdin is an idle fellow. His father, when alive, strove all he could to teach him his trade, but could notsucceed; and since his death, notwithstanding all I can say to him, hedoes nothing but idle away his time in the streets, as you saw him, without considering he is no longer a child; and if you do not make himashamed of it, I despair of his ever coming to any good. For my part, Iam resolved, one of these days, to turn him out of doors, and let himprovide for himself. "

After these words, Aladdin's mother burst into tears; and the magiciansaid, "This is not well, nephew; you must think of helping yourself, andgetting your livelihood. There are many sorts of trades; perhaps you donot like your father's, and would prefer another; I will endeavour tohelp you. If you have no mind to learn any handicraft, I will take ashop for you, furnish it with all sorts of fine stuffs and linens; andthen with the money you make of them you can lay in fresh goods, andlive in an honourable way. Tell me freely what you think of my proposal;you shall always find me ready to keep my word. "

This plan just suited Aladdin, who hated work. He told the magician hehad a greater inclination to that business than to any other, and thathe should be much obliged to him for his kindness. "Well then, " said theAfrican magician, "I will carry you with me to-morrow, clothe you ashandsomely as the best merchants in the city, and afterward we will opena shop as I mentioned. "

The widow, after his promises of kindness to her son, no longer doubtedthat the magician was her husband's brother. She thanked him for hisgood intentions; and after having exhorted Aladdin to render himselfworthy of his uncle's favour, served up supper, at which they talked ofseveral indifferent matters; and then the magician took his leave andretired. 

He came again the next day, as he had promised, and took Aladdin withhim to a merchant, who sold all sorts of clothes for different ages andranks, ready made, and a variety of fine stuffs, and bade Aladdin choosethose he preferred, which he paid for. 

When Aladdin found himself so handsomely equipped, he returned his unclethanks, who thus addressed him: "As you are soon to be a merchant, it isproper you should frequent these shops, and be acquainted with them. " Hethen showed him the largest and finest mosques, carried him to the khansor inns where the merchants and travellers lodged, and afterward to thesultan's palace, where he had free access; and at last brought him tohis own khan, where, meeting with some merchants he had becomeacquainted with since his arrival, he gave them a treat, to bring themand his pretended nephew acquainted. 

This entertainment lasted till night, when Aladdin would have takenleave of his uncle to go home; the magician would not let him go byhimself, but conducted him to his mother, who, as soon as she saw him sowell dressed, was transported with joy, and bestowed a thousandblessings upon the magician. 

Early the next morning the magician called again for Aladdin, and saidhe would take him to spend that day in the country, and on the next hewould purchase the shop. He then led him out at one of the gates of thecity, to some magnificent palaces, to each of which belonged beautifulgardens, into which anybody might enter. At every building he came to, he asked Aladdin if he did not think it fine; and the youth was ready toanswer when any one presented itself, crying out, "Here is a finerhouse, uncle, than any we have yet seen, " By this artifice, the cunningmagician led Aladdin some way into the country; and as he meant to carryhim farther, to execute his design, he took an opportunity to sit downin one of the gardens, on the brink of a fountain of clear water, whichdischarged itself by a lion's mouth of bronze into a basin, pretendingto be tired: "Come, nephew, " said he, "you must be weary as well as I;let us rest ourselves, and we shall be better able to pursue our walk. "

The magician next pulled from his girdle a handkerchief with cakes andfruit, and during this short repast he exhorted his nephew to leave offbad company, and to seek that of wise and prudent men, to improve bytheir conversation; "for, " said he, "you will soon be at man's estate, and you cannot too early begin to imitate their example. " When they hadeaten as much as they liked, they got up, and pursued their walk throughgardens separated from one another only by small ditches, which markedout the limits without interrupting the communication; so great was theconfidence the inhabitants reposed in each other. By this means theAfrican magician drew Aladdin insensibly beyond the gardens, and crossedthe country, till they nearly reached the mountains. 

At last they arrived between two mountains of moderate height and equalsize, divided by a narrow valley, which was the place where the magicianintended to execute the design that had brought him from Africa toChina. "We will go no farther now, " said he to Aladdin; "I will show youhere some extraordinary things, which, when you have seen, you willthank me for: but while I strike a light, gather up all the loose drysticks you can see, to kindle a fire with. "

Aladdin found so many dried sticks, that he soon collected a great heap. The magician presently set them on fire; and when they were in a blaze, threw in some incense, pronouncing several magical words, which Aladdindid not understand. 

He had scarcely done so when the earth opened just before the magician, and discovered a stone with a brass ring fixed in it. Aladdin was sofrightened that he would have run away, but the magician caught hold ofhim, and gave him such a box on the ear that he knocked him down. Aladdin got up trembling, and with tears in his eyes said to themagician, "What have I done, uncle, to be treated in this severemanner?" "I am your uncle, " answered the magician; "I supply the placeof your father, and you ought to make no reply. But child, " added he, softening, "do not be afraid; for I shall not ask anything of you, butthat you obey me punctually, if you would reap the advantages which Iintend you. Know, then, that under this stone there is hidden atreasure, destined to be yours, and which will make you richer than thegreatest monarch in the world. No person but yourself is permitted tolift this stone, or enter the cave; so you must punctually execute whatI may command, for it is a matter of great consequence both to you andme. "

Aladdin, amazed at all he saw and heard, forgot what was past, andrising said, "Well, uncle, what is to be done? Command me, I am ready toobey. " "I am overjoyed, child, " said the African magician, embracinghim, "Take hold of the ring, and lift up that stone. " "Indeed, uncle, "replied Aladdin, "I am not strong enough; you must help me. " "You haveno occasion for my assistance, " answered the magician; "if I help you, we shall be able to do nothing. Take hold of the ring, and lift it up;you will find it will come easily. " Aladdin did as the magician badehim, raised the stone with ease, and laid it on one side. 

When the stone was pulled up, there appeared a staircase about three orfour feet deep, leading to a door. "Descend, my son, " said the Africanmagician, "those steps, and open that door. It will lead you into apalace, divided into three great halls. In each of these you will seefour large brass cisterns placed on each side, full of gold and silver;but take care you do not meddle with them. Before you enter the firsthall, be sure to tuck up your robe, wrap it about you, and then passthrough the second into the third without stopping. Above all things, have a care that you do not touch the walls so much as with yourclothes; for if you do, you will die instantly. At the end of the thirdhall, you will find a door which opens into a garden, planted with finetrees loaded with fruit. Walk directly across the garden to a terrace, where you will see a niche before you, and in that niche a lighted lamp. Take the lamp down and put it out. When you have thrown away the wickand poured out the liquor, put it in your waistband and bring it to me. Do not be afraid that the liquor will spoil your clothes, for it is notoil, and the lamp will be dry as soon as it is thrown out. "

After these words the magician drew a ring off his finger, and put it onone of Aladdin's, saying, "It is a talisman against all evil, so long asyou obey me. Go, therefore, boldly, and we shall both be rich all ourlives. "

Aladdin descended the steps, and, opening the door, found the threehalls just as the African magician had described. He went through themwith all the precaution the fear of death could inspire, crossed thegarden without stopping, took down the lamp from the niche, threw outthe wick and the liquor, and, as the magician had desired, put it in hiswaistband. But as he came down from the terrace, seeing it was perfectlydry, he stopped in the garden to observe the trees, which were loadedwith extraordinary fruit of different colours on each tree. Some borefruit entirely white, and some clear and transparent as crystal; somepale red, and others deeper; some green, blue, and purple, and othersyellow; in short, there was fruit of all colours. The white were pearls;the clear and transparent, diamonds; the deep red, rubies; the paler, balas rubies; the green, emeralds; the blue, turquoises; the purple, amethysts; and the yellow, sapphires. Aladdin, ignorant of their value, would have preferred figs, or grapes, or pomegranates; but as he had hisuncle's permission, he resolved to gather some of every sort. Havingfilled the two new purses his uncle had bought for him with his clothes, he wrapped some up in the skirts of his vest, and crammed his bosom asfull as it could hold. 

Aladdin, having thus loaded himself with riches of which he knew not thevalue, returned through the three halls with the utmost precaution, andsoon arrived at the mouth of the cave, where the African magicianawaited him with the utmost impatience. As soon as Aladdin saw him, hecried out, "Pray, uncle, lend me your hand, to help me out. " "Give methe lamp first, " replied the magician; "it will be troublesome to you, ""Indeed, uncle, " answered Aladdin, "I cannot now, but I will as soon asI am up. " The African magician was determined that he would have thelamp before he would help him up; and Aladdin, who had encumberedhimself so much with his fruit that he could not well get at it, refusedto give it to him till he was out of the cave. The African magician, provoked at this obstinate refusal, flew into a passion, threw a littleof his incense into the fire, and pronounced two magical words, when thestone which had closed the mouth of the staircase moved into its place, with the earth over it in the same manner as it lay at the arrival ofthe magician and Aladdin. 

This action of the magician plainly revealed to Aladdin that he was nouncle of his, but one who designed him evil. The truth was that he hadlearnt from his magic books the secret and the value of this wonderfullamp, the owner of which would be made richer than any earthly ruler, and hence his journey to China. His art had also told him that he wasnot permitted to take it himself, but must receive it as a voluntarygift from the hands of another person. Hence he employed young Aladdin, and hoped by a mixture of kindness and authority to make him obedient tohis word and will. When he found that his attempt had failed, he set outto return to Africa, but avoided the town, lest any person who had seenhim leave in company with Aladdin should make inquiries after the youth. Aladdin being suddenly enveloped in darkness, cried, and called out tohis uncle to tell him he was ready to give him the lamp; but in vain, since his cries could not be heard. He descended to the bottom of thesteps, with a design to get into the palace, but the door, which wasopened before by enchantment, was now shut by the same means. He thenredoubled his cries and tears, sat down on the steps without any hopesof ever seeing light again, and in an expectation of passing from thepresent darkness to a speedy death. In this great emergency he said, "There is no strength or power but in the great and high God"; and injoining his hands to pray he rubbed the ring which the magician had puton his finger. Immediately a genie of frightful aspect appeared, andsaid, "What wouldst thou have? I am ready to obey thee. I serve him whopossesses the ring on thy finger; I, and the other slaves of that ring. "

At another time Aladdin would have been frightened at the sight of soextraordinary a figure, but the danger he was in made him answer withouthesitation, "Whoever thou art, deliver me from this place. " He had nosooner spoken these words, than he found himself on the very spot wherethe magician had last left him, and no sign of cave or opening, nordisturbance of the earth. Returning God thanks to find himself once morein the world, he made the best of his way home. When he got within hismother's door, the joy to see her and his weakness for want ofsustenance made him so faint that he remained for a long time as dead. As soon as he recovered, he related to his mother all that had happenedto him, and they were both very vehement in their complaints of thecruel magician. Aladdin slept very soundly till late the next morning, when the first thing he said to his mother was, that he wanted somethingto eat, and wished she would give him his breakfast. "Alas! child, " saidshe, "I have not a bit of bread to give you; you ate up all theprovisions I had in the house yesterday; but I have a little cottonwhich I have spun; I will go and sell it, and buy bread and somethingfor our dinner. " "Mother, " replied Aladdin, "keep your cotton foranother time, and give me the lamp I brought home with me yesterday; Iwill go and sell it, and the money I shall get for it will serve bothfor breakfast and dinner, and perhaps supper too. "

Aladdin's mother took the lamp and said to her son, "Here it is, but itis very dirty; if it were a little cleaner I believe it would bringsomething more. " She took some fine sand and water to clean it; but hadno sooner begun to rub it, than in an instant a hideous genie ofgigantic size appeared before her, and said to her in a voice ofthunder, "What wouldst thou have? I am ready to obey thee as thy slave, and the slave of all those who have that lamp in their hands; I and theother slaves of the lamp. "

Aladdin's mother, terrified at the sight of the genie, fainted; whenAladdin, who had seen such a phantom in the cavern, snatched the lampout of his mother's hand, and said to the genie boldly, "I am hungry, bring me something to eat. " The genie disappeared immediately, and in aninstant returned with a large silver tray, holding twelve covered dishesof the same metal, which contained the most delicious viands; six largewhite bread cakes on two plates, two flagons of wine, and two silvercups. All these he placed upon a carpet and disappeared; this was donebefore Aladdin's mother recovered from her swoon. 

Aladdin had fetched some water, and sprinkled it in her face to recoverher. Whether that or the smell of the meat effected her cure, it was notlong before she came to herself. "Mother, " said Aladdin, "be not afraid:get up and eat; here is what will put you in heart, and at the same timesatisfy my extreme hunger. "

His mother was much surprised to see the great tray, twelve dishes, sixloaves, the two flagons and cups, and to smell the savoury odour whichexhaled from the dishes. "Child, " said she, "to whom are we obliged forthis great plenty and liberality? Has the sultan been made acquaintedwith our poverty, and had compassion on us?" "It is no matter, mother, "said Aladdin, "let us sit down and eat; for you have almost as much needof a good breakfast as myself; when we have done, I will tell you. "Accordingly, both mother and son sat down and ate with the better relishas the table was so well furnished. But all the time Aladdin's mothercould not forbear looking at and admiring the tray and dishes, thoughshe could not judge whether they were silver or any other metal, and thenovelty more than the value attracted her attention. 

The mother and son sat at breakfast till it was dinner-time, and thenthey thought it would be best to put the two meals together; yet, afterthis they found they should have enough left for supper, and two mealsfor the next day. 

When Aladdin's mother had taken away and set by what was left, she wentand sat down by her son on the sofa, saying, "I expect now that youshould satisfy my impatience, and tell me exactly what passed betweenthe genie and you while I was in a swoon"; which he readily compliedwith. 

She was in as great amazement at what her son told her, as at theappearance of the genie; and said to him, "But, son, what have we to dowith genies? I never heard that any of my acquaintance had ever seenone. How came that vile genie to address himself to me, and not to you, to whom he had appeared before in the cave?" "Mother, " answered Aladdin, "the genie you saw is not the one who appeared to me. If you remember, he that I first saw called himself the slave of the ring on my finger;and this you saw, called himself the slave of the lamp you had in yourhand; but I believe you did not hear him, for I think you fainted assoon as he began to speak. "

"What!" cried the mother, "was your lamp then the occasion of thatcursed genie's addressing himself rather to me than to you? Ah! my son, take it out of my sight, and put it where you please. I had rather youwould sell it than run the hazard of being frightened to death again bytouching it; and if you would take my advice, you would part also withthe ring, and not have anything to do with genies, who, as our prophethas told us, are only devils. "

"With your leave, mother, " replied Aladdin, "I shall now take care how Isell a lamp which may be so serviceable both to you and me. That falseand wicked magician would not have undertaken so long a journey tosecure this wonderful lamp if he had not known its value to exceed thatof gold and silver. And since we have honestly come by it, let us make aprofitable use of it, without making any great show, and exciting theenvy and jealousy of our neighbours. However, since the genies frightenyou so much, I will take it out of your sight, and put it where I mayfind it when I want it. The ring I cannot resolve to part with; forwithout that you had never seen me again; and though I am alive now, perhaps, if it were gone, I might not be so some moments hence;therefore, I hope you will give me leave to keep it, and to wear italways on my finger. " Aladdin's mother replied that he might do what hepleased; for her part, she would have nothing to do with genies, andnever say anything more about them. 

By the next night they had eaten all the provisions the genie hadbrought; and the next day Aladdin, who could not bear the thoughts ofhunger, putting one of the silver dishes tinder his vest, went out earlyto sell it, and addressing himself to a Jew whom he met in the streets, took him aside, and pulling out the plate, asked him if he would buy it. The cunning Jew took the dish, examined it, and as soon as he found thatit was good silver, asked Aladdin at how much he valued it. Aladdin, whohad never been used to such traffic, told him he would trust to hisjudgment and honour. The Jew was somewhat confounded at this plaindealing; and doubting whether Aladdin understood the material or thefull value of what he offered to sell, took a piece of gold out of hispurse and gave it him, though it was but the sixtieth part of the worthof the plate. Aladdin, taking the money very eagerly, retired with somuch haste, that the Jew, not content with the exorbitancy of hisprofit, was vexed he had not penetrated into his ignorance, and wasgoing to run after him, to endeavour to get some change out of the pieceof gold; but he ran so fast, and had got so far, that it would have beenimpossible for him to overtake him. 

Before Aladdin went home, he called at a baker's, bought some cakes ofbread, changed his money, and on his return gave the rest to his mother, who went and purchased provisions enough to last them some time. Afterthis manner they lived, till Aladdin had sold the twelve dishes singly, as necessity pressed, to the Jew, for the same money; who, after thefirst time, durst not offer him less, for fear of losing so good abargain. When he had sold the last dish, he had recourse to the tray, which weighed ten times as much as the dishes, and would have carried itto his old purchaser, but that it was too large and cumbersome;therefore he was obliged to bring him home with him to his mother's, where, after the Jew had examined the weight of the tray, he laid downten pieces of gold, with which Aladdin was very well satisfied. 

When all the money was spent, Aladdin had recourse again to the lamp. Hetook it in his hands, looked for the part where his mother had rubbed itwith the sand, rubbed it also, when the genie immediately appeared, andsaid, "What wouldst thou have? I am ready to obey thee as thy slave, andthe slave of all those who have that lamp in their hands; I, and theother slaves of the lamp. " "I am hungry, " said Aladdin, "bring mesomething to eat. " The genie disappeared, and presently returned with atray, the same number of covered dishes as before, set them down, andvanished. 

As soon as Aladdin found that their provisions were again expended, hetook one of the dishes, and went to look for his Jew chapman; butpassing by a goldsmith's shop, the goldsmith perceiving him, called tohim, and said, "My lad, I imagine that you have something to sell to theJew, whom I often see you visit; but perhaps you do not know that he isthe greatest rogue even among the Jews. I will give you the full worthof what you have to sell, or I will direct you to other merchants whowill not cheat you. "

This offer induced Aladdin to pull his plate from tinder his vest andshow it to the goldsmith; who at first sight saw that it was made of thefinest silver, and asked him if he had sold such as that to the Jew;when Aladdin told him that he had sold him twelve such, for a piece ofgold each. "What a villain!" cried the goldsmith. "But, " added he, "myson, what is past cannot be recalled. By showing you the value of thisplate, which is of the finest silver we use in our shops, I will let yousee how much the Jew has cheated you. "

The goldsmith took a pair of scales, weighed the dish, and assured himthat his plate would fetch by weight sixty pieces of gold, which heoffered to pay down immediately. 

Aladdin thanked him for his fair dealing, and never after went to anyother person. 

Though Aladdin and his mother had an inexhaustible treasure in theirlamp, and might have had whatever they wished for, yet they lived withthe same frugality as before, and it may easily be supposed that themoney for which Aladdin had sold the dishes and tray was sufficient tomaintain them some time. 

During this interval, Aladdin frequented the shops of the principalmerchants, where they sold cloth of gold and silver, linens, silkstuffs, and jewellery, and, oftentimes joining in their conversation, acquired a knowledge of the world, and a desire to improve himself. Byhis acquaintance among the jewellers, he came to know that the fruitswhich he had gathered when he took the lamp were, instead of colouredglass, stones of inestimable value; but he had the prudence not tomention this to any one, not even to his mother. 

One day as Aladdin was walking about the town, he heard an orderproclaimed, commanding the people to shut up their shops and houses, andkeep within doors while the Princess Buddir al Buddoor, the sultan'sdaughter, went to the bath and returned. 

This proclamation inspired Aladdin with eager desire to see theprincess's face, which he determined to gratify, by placing himselfbehind the door of the bath, so that he could not fail to see her face. 

Aladdin had not long concealed himself before the princess came. She wasattended by a great crowd of ladies, slaves, and mutes, who walked oneach side and behind her. When she came within three or four paces ofthe door of the bath, she took off her veil, and gave Aladdin anopportunity of a full view of her face. 

The princess was a noted beauty: her eyes were large, lively, andsparkling; her smile bewitching; her nose faultless; her mouth small;her lips vermilion. It is not therefore surprising that Aladdin, who hadnever before seen such a blaze of charms, was dazzled and enchanted. 

After the princess had passed by, and entered the bath, Aladdin quittedhis hiding-place, and went home. His mother perceived him to be morethoughtful and melancholy than usual; and asked what had happened tomake him so, or if he was ill. He then told his mother all hisadventure, and concluded by declaring, "I love the princess more than Ican express, and am resolved that I will ask her in marriage of thesultan. "

Aladdin's mother listened with surprise to what her son told her; butwhen he talked of asking the princess in marriage, she laughed aloud. "Alas! child, " said she, "what are you thinking of? You must be mad totalk thus. "

"I assure you, mother, " replied Aladdin, "that I am not mad, but in myright senses. I foresaw that you would reproach me with folly andextravagance; but I must tell you once more, that I am resolved todemand the princess of the sultan in marriage; nor do I despair ofsuccess. I have the slaves of the lamp and of the ring to help me, andyou know how powerful their aid is. And I have another secret to tellyou: those pieces of glass, which I got from the trees in the garden ofthe subterranean palace, are jewels of inestimable value, and fit fitfor the greatest monarchs. All the precious stones the jewellers have inBagdad are not to be compared to mine for size or beauty; and I am surethat the offer of them will secure the favour of the sultan. You have alarge porcelain dish fit to hold them; fetch it, and let us see how theywill look, when we have arranged them according to their differentcolours. "

Aladdin's mother brought the china dish, when he took the jewels out ofthe two purses in which he had kept them, and placed them in order, according to his fancy. But the brightness and lustre they emitted inthe daytime, and the variety of the colours, so dazzled the eyes both ofmother and son, that they were astonished beyond measure. Aladdin'smother, emboldened by the sight of these rich jewels, and fearful lesther son should be guilty of greater extravagance, complied with hisrequest, and promised to go early in the next morning to the palace ofthe sultan. Aladdin rose before daybreak, awakened his mother, pressingher to go to the sultan's palace, and to get admittance, if possible, before the grand vizier, the other viziers, and the great officers ofstate went in to take their seats in the divan, where the sultan alwaysattended in person. 

Aladdin's mother took the china dish, in which they had put the jewelsthe day before, wrapped it in two fine napkins, and set forward for thesultan's palace. When she came to the gates, the grand vizier, the otherviziers, and most distinguished lords of the court were just gone in;but notwithstanding the crowd of people was great, she got into thedivan, a spacious hall, the entrance into which was very magnificent. She placed herself just before the sultan, grand vizier, and the greatlords, who sat in council, on his right and left hand. Several causeswere called, according to their order, pleaded and adjudged, until thetime the divan generally broke up, when the sultan, rising, returned tohis apartment, attended by the grand vizier; the other viziers andministers of state then retired, as also did all those whose businesshad called them thither. 

Aladdin's mother, seeing the sultan retire, and all the people depart, judged rightly that he would not sit again that day, and resolved to gohome; and on her arrival said, with much simplicity, "Son, I have seenthe sultan, and am very well persuaded he has seen me, too, for I placedmyself just before him; but he was so much taken up with those whoattended on all sides of him that I pitied him, and wondered at hispatience. At last I believe he was heartily tired, for he rose upsuddenly, and would not hear a great many who were ready prepared tospeak to him, but went away, at which I was well pleased, for indeed Ibegan to lose all patience, and was extremely fatigued with staying solong. But there is no harm done; I will go again to-morrow; perhaps thesultan may not be so busy. "

The next morning she repaired to the sultan's palace with the present, as early as the day before; but when she came there, she found the gatesof the divan shut. She went six times afterward on the days appointed, placed herself always directly before the sultan, but with as littlesuccess as the first morning. 

On the sixth day, however, after the divan was broken up, when thesultan returned to his own apartment, he said to his grand vizier; "Ihave for some time observed a certain woman, who attends constantlyevery day that I give audience, with something wrapped up in a napkin;she always stands up from the beginning to the breaking up of theaudience, and affects to place herself just before me. If this womancomes to our next audience, do not fail to call her, that I may hearwhat she has to say. " The grand vizier made answer by lowering his hand, and then lifting it up above his head, signifying his willingness tolose it if he failed. 

On the next audience day, when Aladdin's mother went to the divan, andplaced herself in front of the sultan as usual, the grand vizierimmediately called the chief of the mace-bearers, and pointing to herbade him bring her before the sultan. The old woman at once followed themace-bearer, and when she reached the sultan bowed her head down to thecarpet which covered the platform of the throne, and remained in thatposture until he bade her rise, which she had no sooner done, than hesaid to her, "Good woman, I have observed you to stand many days fromthe beginning to the rising of the divan; what business brings youhere?"

After these words, Aladdin's mother prostrated herself a second time;and when she arose, said, "Monarch of monarchs, I beg of you to pardonthe boldness of my petition, and to assure me of your pardon andforgiveness. " "Well, " replied the sultan, "I will forgive you, be itwhat it may, and no hurt shall come to you; speak boldly. "

When Aladdin's mother had taken all these precautions, for fear of thesultan's anger, she told him faithfully the errand on which her son hadsent her, and the event which led to his making so bold a request inspite of all her remonstrances. 

The sultan hearkened to this discourse without showing the least anger;but before he gave her any answer, asked her what she had brought tiedup in the napkin. She took the china dish which she had set down at thefoot of the throne, untied it, and presented it to the sultan. 

The sultan's amazement and surprise were inexpressible, when he saw somany large, beautiful and valuable jewels collected in the dish. Heremained for some time lost in admiration. At last, when he hadrecovered himself, he received the present from Aladdin's mother's hand;saying, "How rich, how beautiful!" After he had admired and handled allthe jewels one after another, he turned to his grand vizier, and showinghim the dish, said, "Behold, admire, wonder! and confess that your eyesnever beheld jewels so rich and beautiful before. " The vizier wascharmed. "Well, " continued the sultan, "what sayest thou to such apresent? Is it not worthy of the princess my daughter? And ought I notto bestow her on one who values her at so great a price?" "I cannot butown, " replied the grand vizier, "that the present is worthy of theprincess; but I beg of your majesty to grant me three months before youcome to a final resolution. I hope, before that time, my son, whom youhave regarded with your favour, will be able to make a nobler presentthan this Aladdin, who is an entire stranger to your majesty. "

The sultan granted his request, and he said to the old woman, "Goodwoman, go home, and tell your son that I agree to the proposal you havemade me; but I cannot marry the princess my daughter for three months;at the expiration of that time come again. "

Aladdin's mother returned home much more gratified than she hadexpected, and told her son with much joy the condescending answer shehad received from the sultan's own mouth; and that she was to come tothe divan again that day three months. 

Aladdin thought himself the most happy of all men at hearing this news, and thanked his mother for the pains she had taken in the affair, thegood success of which was of so great importance to his peace, that hecounted every day, week, and even hour as it passed. When two of thethree months were passed, his mother one evening, having no oil in thehouse, went out to buy some, and found a general rejoicing--the housesdressed with foliage, silks, and carpeting, and every one striving toshow their joy according to their ability. The streets were crowded withofficers in habits of ceremony, mounted on horses richly caparisoned, each attended by a great many footmen. Aladdin's mother asked the oilmerchant what was the meaning of all this preparation of publicfestivity. "Whence came you, good woman, " said he, "that you don't knowthat the grand vizier's son is to marry the Princess Buddir al Buddoor, the sultan's daughter, to-night? She will presently return from thebath; and these officers whom you see are to assist at the cavalcade tothe palace, where the ceremony is to be solemnised. "

Aladdin's mother, on hearing these news, ran home very quickly. "Child, "cried she, "you are undone! the sultan's fine promises will come tonought. This night the grand vizier's son is to marry the PrincessBuddir al Buddoor. "

At this account, Aladdin was thunderstruck, and he bethought himself ofthe lamp, and of the genie who had promised to obey him; and withoutindulging in idle words against the sultan, the vizier, or his son, hedetermined, if possible, to prevent the marriage. 

When Aladdin had got into his chamber, he took the lamp, rubbed it inthe same place as before, when immediately the genie appeared, and saidto him, "What wouldst thou have? I am ready to obey thee as thy slave;I, and the other slaves of the lamp. " "Hear me, " said Aladdin; "thouhast hitherto obeyed me, but now I am about to impose on thee a hardertask. The sultan's daughter, who was promised me as my bride, is thisnight married to the son of the grand vizier. Bring them both hither tome immediately they retire to their bedchamber. "

"Master, " replied the genie, "I obey you. "

Aladdin supped with his mother as was their wont, and then went to hisown apartment, and sat up to await the return of the genie, according tohis commands. 

In the mean time the festivities in honour of the princess's marriagewere conducted in the sultan's palace with great magnificence. Theceremonies were at last brought to a conclusion, and the princess andthe son of the vizier retired to the bedchamber prepared for them. Nosooner had they entered it, and dismissed their attendants, than thegenie, the faithful slave of the lamp, to the great amazement and alarmof the bride and bridegroom, took up the bed, and by an agency invisibleto them, transported it in an instant into Aladdin's chamber, where heset it down. "Remove the bridegroom, " said Aladdin to the genie, "andkeep him a prisoner till to-morrow dawn, and then return with him here. "On Aladdin being left alone with the princess, he endeavoured to assuageher fears, and explained to her the treachery practiced upon him by thesultan her father. He then laid himself down beside her, putting a drawnscimitar between them, to show that he was determined to secure hersafety, and to treat her with the utmost possible respect. At break ofday, the genie appeared at the appointed hour, bringing back thebridegroom, whom by breathing upon he had left motionless and entrancedat the door of Aladdin's chamber during the night, and at Aladdin'scommand transported the couch with the bride and bridegroom on it, bythe same invisible agency, into the palace of the sultan. 

At the instant that the genie had set down the couch with the bride andbridegroom in their own chamber, the sultan came to the door to offerhis good wishes to his daughter. The grand vizier's son, who was almostperished with cold, by standing in his thin under-garment all night, nosooner heard the knocking at the door than he got out of bed, and raninto the robing-chamber, where he had undressed himself the nightbefore. 

The sultan having opened the door, went to the bedside, kissed theprincess on the forehead, but was extremely surprised to see her look somelancholy. She only cast at him a sorrowful look, expressive of greataffliction. He suspected there was something extraordinary in thissilence, and thereupon went immediately to the sultaness's apartment, told her in what a state he found the princess, and how she had receivedhim. "Sire, " said the sultaness, "I will go and see her; she will notreceive me in the same manner. "

The princess received her mother with sighs and tears, and signs of deepdejection. At last, upon her pressing on her the duty of telling her allher thoughts, she gave to the sultaness a precise description of allthat happened to her during the night; on which the sultaness enjoinedon her the necessity of silence and discretion, as no one would givecredence to so strange a tale. The grand vizier's son, elated with thehonour of being the sultan's son-in-law, kept silence on his part, andthe events of the night were not allowed to cast the least gloom on thefestivities on the following day, in continued celebration of the royalmarriage. 

When night came, the bride and bridegroom were again attended to theirchamber with the same ceremonies as on the preceding evening. Aladdin, knowing that this would be so, had already given his commands to thegenie of the lamp; and no sooner were they alone than their bed wasremoved in the same mysterious manner as on the preceding evening; andhaving passed the night in the same unpleasant way, they were in themorning conveyed to the palace of the sultan. Scarcely had they beenreplaced in their apartment, when the sultan came to make hiscompliments to his daughter, when the princess could no longer concealfrom him the unhappy treatment she had been subject to, and told him allthat had happened as she had already related it to her mother. Thesultan, on hearing these strange tidings, consulted with the grandvizier; and finding from him that his son had been subjected to evenworse treatment by an invisible agency, he determined to declare themarriage to be cancelled, and all the festivities, which were yet tolast for several days, to be countermanded and terminated. 

This sudden change in the mind of the sultan gave rise to variousspeculations and reports. Nobody but Aladdin knew the secret, and hekept it with the most scrupulous silence; and neither the sultan nor thegrand vizier, who had forgotten Aladdin and his request, had the leastthought that he had any hand in the strange adventures that befell thebride and bridegroom. 

On the very day that the three months contained in the sultan's promiseexpired, the mother of Aladdin again went to the palace, and stood inthe same place in the divan. The sultan knew her again, and directed hisvizier to have her brought before him. 

After having prostrated herself, she made answer, in reply to thesultan: "Sire, I come at the end of three months to ask of you thefulfillment of the promise you made to my son. " The sultan littlethought the request of Aladdin's mother was made to him in earnest, orthat he would hear any more of the matter. He therefore took counselwith his vizier, who suggested that the sultan should attach suchconditions to the marriage that no one of the humble condition ofAladdin could possibly fulfill. In accordance with this suggestion ofthe vizier, the sultan replied to the mother of Aladdin: "Good woman, itis true sultans ought to abide by their word, and I am ready to keepmine, by making your son happy in marriage with the princess mydaughter. But as I cannot marry her without some further proof of yourson being able to support her in royal state, you may tell him I willfulfill my promise as soon as he shall send me forty trays of massygold, full of the same sort of jewels you have already made me a presentof, and carried by the like number of black slaves, who shall be led byas many young and handsome white slaves, all dressed magnificently. Onthese conditions I am ready to bestow the princess my daughter upon him;therefore, good woman, go and tell him so, and I will wait till youbring me his answer. "

Aladdin's mother prostrated herself a second time before the sultan'sthrone, and retired. On her way home, she laughed within herself at herson's foolish imagination. "Where, " said she, "can he get so many largegold trays, and such precious stones to fill them? It is altogether outof his power, and I believe he will not be much pleased with my embassythis time. " When she came home, full of these thoughts, she told Aladdinall the circumstances of her interview with the sultan, and theconditions on which he consented to the marriage. "The sultan expectsyour answer immediately, " said she; and then added, laughing, "I believehe may wait long enough!"

"Not so long, mother, as you imagine, " replied Aladdin, "This demand isa mere trifle, and will prove no bar to my marriage with the princess. Iwill prepare at once to satisfy his request. "

Aladdin retired to his own apartment and summoned the genie of the lamp, and required him to prepare and present the gift immediately, before thesultan closed his morning audience, according to the terms in which ithad been prescribed. The genie professed his obedience to the owner ofthe lamp, and disappeared. Within a very short time, a train of fortyblack slaves, led by the same number of white slaves, appeared oppositethe house in which Aladdin lived. Each black slave carried on his head abasin of massy gold, full of pearls, diamonds, rubies, and emeralds. Aladdin then addressed his mother: "Madam, pray lose no time; before thesultan and the divan rise, I would have you return to the palace withthis present as the dowry demanded for the princess, that he may judgeby my diligence and exactness of the ardent and sincere desire I have toprocure myself the honour of this alliance. "

As soon as this magnificent procession, with Aladdin's mother at itshead, had begun to march from Aladdin's house, the whole city was filledwith the crowds of people desirous to see so grand a sight. The gracefulbearing, elegant form, and wonderful likeness of each slave; their gravewalk at an equal distance from each other, the lustre of their jewelledgirdles, and the brilliancy of the aigrettes of precious stones in theirturbans, excited the greatest admiration in the spectators. As they hadto pass through several streets to the palace, the whole length of theway was lined with files of spectators. Nothing, indeed, was ever seenso beautiful and brilliant in the sultan's palace, and the richest robesof the emirs of his court were not to be compared to the costly dressesof these slaves, whom they supposed to be kings. 

As the sultan, who had been informed of their approach, had given ordersfor them to be admitted, they met with no obstacle, but went into thedivan in regular order, one part turning to the right and the other tothe left. After they were all entered, and had formed a semicirclebefore the sultan's throne, the black slaves laid the golden trays onthe carpet, prostrated themselves, touching the carpet with theirforeheads, and at the same time the white slaves did the same. When theyrose, the black slaves uncovered the trays, and then all stood withtheir arms crossed over their breasts. 

In the mean time, Aladdin's mother advanced to the foot of the throne, and having prostrated herself, said to the sultan, "Sire, my son knowsthis present is much below the notice of Princess Buddir al Buddoor; buthopes, nevertheless, that your majesty will accept of it, and make itagreeable to the princess, and with the greater confidence since he hasendeavoured to conform to the conditions you were pleased to impose. "

The sultan, overpowered at the sight of such more than royalmagnificence, replied without hesitation to the words of Aladdin'smother: "Go and tell your son that I wait with open arms to embrace him;and the more haste he makes to come and receive the princess my daughterfrom my hands, the greater pleasure he will do me. " As soon as Aladdin'smother had retired, the sultan put an end to the audience; and risingfrom his throne ordered that the princess's attendants should come andcarry the trays into their mistress's apartment, whither he went himselfto examine them with her at his leisure. The fourscore slaves wereconducted into the palace; and the sultan, telling the princess of theirmagnificent apparel, ordered them to be brought before her apartment, that she might see through the lattices he had not exaggerated in hisaccount of them. 

In the meantime Aladdin's mother reached home, and showed in her air andcountenance the good news she brought to her son. "My son, " said she, "you may rejoice you are arrived at the height of your desires. Thesultan has declared that you shall marry the Princess Buddir al Buddoor. He waits for you with impatience. "

Aladdin, enraptured with this news, made his mother very little reply, but retired to his chamber. There he rubbed his lamp, and the obedientgenie appeared. "Genie, " said Aladdin, "convey me at once to a bath, andsupply me with the richest and most magnificent robe ever worn by amonarch. " No sooner were the words out of his mouth than the genierendered him, as well as himself, invisible, and transported him into abath of the finest marble of all sorts of colours; where he wasundressed, without seeing by whom, in a magnificent and spacious hall. He was then well rubbed and washed with various scented waters. After hehad passed through several degrees of heat, he came out quite adifferent man from what he was before. His skin was clear as that of achild, his body lightsome and free; and when he returned into the hall, he found, instead of his own poor raiment, a robe, the magnificence ofwhich astonished him. The genie helped him to dress, and when he haddone, transported him back to his own chamber, where he asked him if hehad any other commands. "Yes, " answered Aladdin, "bring me a chargerthat surpasses in beauty and goodness the best in the sultan's stables;with a saddle, bridle, and other caparisons to correspond with hisvalue. Furnish also twenty slaves, as richly clothed as those whocarried the present to the sultan, to walk by my side and follow me, andtwenty more to go before me in two ranks. Besides these, bring my mothersix women slaves to attend her, as richly dressed at least as any of thePrincess Buddir al Buddoor's, each carrying a complete dress fit for anysultaness. I want also ten thousand pieces of gold in ten purses; go, and make haste. "

As soon as Aladdin had given these orders, the genie disappeared, butpresently returned with the horse, the forty slaves, ten of whom carriedeach a purse containing ten thousand pieces of gold, and six womenslaves, each carrying on her head a different dress for Aladdin'smother, wrapt up in a piece of silver tissue, and presented them all toAladdin. 

He presented the six women slaves to his mother, telling her they wereher slaves, and that the dresses they had brought were for her use. Ofthe ten purses Aladdin took four, which he gave to his mother, tellingher, those were to supply her with necessaries; the other six he left inthe hands of the slaves who brought them, with an order to throw them byhandfuls among the people as they went to the sultan's palace. The sixslaves who carried the purses he ordered likewise to march before him, three on the right hand and three on the left. 

When Aladdin had thus prepared himself for his first interview with thesultan, he dismissed the genie, and immediately mounting his charger, began his march, and though he never was on horseback before, appearedwith a grace the most experienced horseman might envy. The innumerableconcourse of people through whom he passed made the air echo with theiracclamations, especially every time the six slaves who carried thepurses threw handfuls of gold among the populace. 

On Aladdin's arrival at the palace, the sultan was surprised to find himmore richly and magnificently robed than he had ever been himself, andwas impressed with his good looks and dignity of manner, which were sodifferent from what he expected in the son of one so humble as Aladdin'smother. He embraced him with all the demonstrations of joy, and when hewould have fallen at his feet, held him by the hand, and made him sitnear his throne. He shortly after led him amidst the sounds of trumpets, hautboys, and all kinds of music, to a magnificent entertainment, atwhich the sultan and Aladdin ate by themselves, and the great lords ofthe court, according to their rank and dignity, sat at different tables. After the feast, the sultan sent for the chief cadi, and commanded himto draw up a contract of marriage between the Princess Buddir al Buddoorand Aladdin. When the contract had been drawn, the sultan asked Aladdinif he would stay in the palace and complete the ceremonies of themarriage that day. "Sire, " said Aladdin, "though great is my impatienceto enter on the honour granted me by your majesty, yet I beg you topermit me first to build a palace worthy to receive the princess yourdaughter. I pray you to grant me sufficient ground near your palace, andI will have it completed with the utmost expedition. " The sultan grantedAladdin his request, and again embraced him. After which he took hisleave with as much politeness as if he had been bred up and had alwayslived at court. 

Aladdin returned home in the order he had come, amidst the acclamationsof the people, who wished him all happiness and prosperity. As soon ashe dismounted, he retired to his own chamber, took the lamp, andsummoned the genie as usual, who professed his allegiance. "Genie, " saidAladdin, "build me a palace fit to receive the Princess Buddir alBuddoor. Let its materials be made of nothing less than porphyry, jasper, agate, lapis lazuli, and the finest marble. Let its walls bemassive gold and silver bricks laid alternately. Let each front containsix windows, and let the lattices of these (except one, which must beleft unfinished) be enriched with diamonds, rubies, and emeralds, sothat they shall exceed everything of the kind ever seen in the world. Let there be an inner and outer court in front of the palace, and aspacious garden; but above all things, provide a safe treasure-house, and fill it with gold and silver. Let there be also kitchens andstorehouses, stables full of the finest horses, with their equerries andgrooms, and hunting equipage, officers, attendants, and slaves, both menand women, to form a retinue for the princess and myself. Go and executemy wishes. "

When Aladdin gave these commands to the genie, the sun was set. The nextmorning at daybreak the genie presented himself, and, having obtainedAladdin's consent, transported him in a moment to the palace he hadmade. The genie led him through all the apartments, where he foundofficers and slaves, habited according to their rank and the services towhich they were appointed. The genie then showed him the treasury, whichwas opened by a treasurer, where Aladdin saw large vases of differentsizes, piled up to the top with money, ranged all round the chamber. Thegenie thence led him to the stables, where were some of the finesthorses in the world, and the grooms busy in dressing them; from thencethey went to the storehouses, which were filled with all thingsnecessary, both for food and ornament. 

When Aladdin had examined every portion of the palace, and particularlythe hall with the four-and-twenty windows, and found it far to exceedhis fondest expectations, he said, "Genie, there is one thing wanting, afine carpet for the princess to walk upon from the sultan's palace tomine. Lay one down immediately. " The genie disappeared, and Aladdin sawwhat he desired executed in an instant. The genie then returned, andcarried him to his own home. 

When the sultan's porters came to open the gates, they were amazed tofind what had been an unoccupied garden filled up with a magnificentpalace, and a splendid carpet extending to it all the way from thesultan's palace. They told the strange tidings to the grand vizier, whoinformed the sultan, who exclaimed, "It must be Aladdin's palace, whichI gave him leave to build for my daughter. He has wished to surprise us, and let us see what wonders can be done in only one night. "

Aladdin, on his being conveyed by the genie to his own home, requestedhis mother to go to the Princess Buddir al Buddoor, and tell her thatthe palace would be ready for her reception in the evening. She went, attended by her women slaves, in the same order as on the preceding day. Shortly after her arrival at the princess's apartment, the sultanhimself came in, and was surprised to find her, whom he knew as hissuppliant at his divan in such humble guise, to be now more richly andsumptuously attired than his own daughter. This gave him a higheropinion of Aladdin, who took such care of his mother, and made her sharehis wealth and honours. Shortly after her departure, Aladdin, mountinghis horse, and attended by his retinue of magnificent attendants, lefthis paternal home forever, and went to the palace in the same pomp as onthe day before. Nor did he forget to take with him the Wonderful Lamp, to which he owed all his good fortune, nor to wear the Ring which wasgiven him as a talisman. The sultan entertained Aladdin with the utmostmagnificence, and at night, on the conclusion of the marriageceremonies, the princess took leave of the sultan her father. Bands ofmusic led the procession, followed by a hundred state ushers, and thelike number of black mutes, in two files, with their officers at theirhead. Four hundred of the sultan's young pages carried flambeaux on eachside, which, together with the illuminations of the sultan's andAladdin's palaces, made it as light as day. In this order the princess, conveyed in her litter, and accompanied also by Aladdin's mother, carried in a superb litter and attended by her women slaves, proceededon the carpet which was spread from the sultan's palace to that ofAladdin. On her arrival Aladdin was ready to receive her at theentrance, and led her into a large hall, illuminated with an infinitenumber of wax candles, where a noble feast was served up. The disheswere of massy gold, and contained the most delicate viands. The vases, basins, and goblets were gold also, and of exquisite workmanship, andall the other ornaments and embellishments of the hall were answerableto this display. The princess, dazzled to see so much riches collectedin one place, said to Aladdin, "I thought, prince, that nothing in theworld was so beautiful as the sultan my father's palace, but the sightof this hall alone is sufficient to show I was deceived. "

When the supper was ended, there entered a company of female dancers, who performed, according to the custom of the country, singing at thesame time verses in praise of the bride and bridegroom. About midnightAladdin's mother conducted the bride to the nuptial apartment, and hesoon after retired. 

The next morning the attendants of Aladdin presented themselves to dresshim, and brought him another habit, as rich and magnificent as that wornthe day before. He then ordered one of the horses to be got ready, mounted him, and went in the midst of a large troop of slaves to thesultan's palace to entreat him to take a repast in the princess'spalace, attended by his grand vizier and all the lords of his court. Thesultan consented with pleasure, rose up immediately, and, preceded bythe principal officers of his palace, and followed by all the greatlords of his court, accompanied Aladdin. 

The nearer the sultan approached Aladdin's palace, the more he wasstruck with its beauty; but when he entered it, came into the hall, andsaw the windows, enriched with diamonds, rubies, emeralds, all largeperfect stones, he was completely surprised, and said to his son-in-law, "This palace is one of the wonders of the world; for where in all theworld besides shall we find walls built of massy gold and silver, anddiamonds, rubies, and emeralds composing the windows? But what mostsurprises me is, that a hall of this magnificence should be left withone of its windows incomplete and unfinished. " "Sire, " answered Aladdin, "the omission was by design, since I wished that you should have theglory of finishing this hall. " "I take your intention kindly, " said thesultan, "and will give orders about it immediately. "

After the sultan had finished this magnificent entertainment, providedfor him and for his court by Aladdin, he was informed that the jewellersand goldsmiths attended; upon which he returned to the hall, and showedthem the window which was unfinished. "I sent for you, " said he, "to fitup this window in as great perfection as the rest. Examine them well, and make all the dispatch you can. "

The jewellers and goldsmiths examined the three-and-twenty windows withgreat attention, and after they had consulted together, to know whateach could furnish, they returned, and presented themselves before thesultan, whose principal jeweller undertaking to speak for the rest, said, "Sire, we are all willing to exert our utmost care and industry toobey you; but among us all we cannot furnish jewels enough for so greata work. " "I have more than are necessary, " said the sultan; "come to mypalace, and you shall choose what may answer your purpose. "

When the sultan returned to his palace, he ordered his jewels to bebrought out, and the jewellers took a great quantity, particularly thoseAladdin had made him a present of, which they soon used, without makingany great advance in their work. They came again several times for more, and in a month's time had not finished half their work. In short, theyused all the jewels the sultan had, and borrowed of the vizier, but yetthe work was not half done. 

Aladdin, who knew that all the sultan's endeavours to make this windowlike the rest were in vain, sent for the jewellers and goldsmiths, andnot only commanded them to desist from their work, but ordered them toundo what they had begun, and to carry all their jewels back to thesultan and to the vizier. They undid in a few hours what they had beensix weeks about, and retired, leaving Aladdin alone in the hall. He tookthe lamp, which he carried about him, rubbed it, and presently the genieappeared. "Genie, " said Aladdin, "I ordered thee to leave one of thefour-and-twenty windows of this hall imperfect, and thou hast executedmy commands punctually; now I would have thee make it like the rest. "The genie immediately disappeared. Aladdin went out of the hall, andreturning soon after, found the window, as he wished it to be, like theothers. 

In the mean time, the jewellers and goldsmiths repaired to the palace, and were introduced into the sultan's presence; where the chief jewellerpresented the precious stones which he had brought back. The sultanasked them if Aladdin had given them any reason for so doing, and theyanswering that he had given them none, he ordered a horse to be brought, which he mounted, and rode to his son-in-law's palace, with some fewattendants on foot, to inquire why he had ordered the completion of thewindow to be stopped. Aladdin met him at the gate, and without givingany reply to his inquiries conducted him to the grand saloon, where thesultan, to his great surprise, found the window, which was leftimperfect, to correspond exactly with the others. He fancied at firstthat he was mistaken, and examined the two windows on each side, andafterward all the four-and-twenty; but when he was convinced that thewindow which several workmen had been so long about was finished in soshort a time, he embraced Aladdin and kissed him between his eyes. "Myson, " said he, "what a man you are to do such surprising things alwaysin the twinkling of an eye! there is not your fellow in the world; themore I know, the more I admire you. "

The sultan returned to the palace, and after this went frequently to thewindow to contemplate and admire the wonderful palace of his son-in-law. 

Aladdin did not confine himself in his palace, but went with much state, sometimes to one mosque, and sometimes to another, to prayers, or tovisit the grand vizier or the principal lords of the court. Every timehe went out, he caused two slaves, who walked by the side of his horse, to throw handfuls of money among the people as he passed through thestreets and squares. This generosity gained him the love and blessingsof the people, and it was common for them to swear by his head. ThusAladdin, while he paid all respect to the sultan, won by his affablebehaviour and liberality the affections of the people. 

Aladdin had conducted himself in this manner several years, when theAfrican magician, who had for some years dismissed him from hisrecollection, determined to inform himself with certainty whether heperished, as he supposed, in the subterranean cave or not. After he hadresorted to a long course of magic ceremonies, and had formed ahoroscope by which to ascertain Aladdin's fate, what was his surprise tofind the appearances to declare that Aladdin, instead of dying in thecave, had made his escape, and was living in royal splendour, by the aidof the genie of the wonderful lamp!

On the very next day, the magician set out and travelled with the utmosthaste to the capital of China, where, on his arrival, he took up hislodgings in a khan. 

He then quickly learnt about the wealth, charities, happiness, andsplendid palace of Prince Aladdin. Directly he saw the wonderful fabric, he knew that none but the genies, the slaves of the lamp, could haveperformed such wonders, and, piqued to the quick at Aladdin's highestate, he returned to the khan. 

On his return he had recourse to an operation of geomancy to find outwhere the lamp was--whether Aladdin carried it about with him, or wherehe left it. The result of his consultation informed him, to his greatjoy, that the lamp was in the palace. "Well, " said he, rubbing his handsin glee, "I shall have the lamp, and I shall make Aladdin return to hisoriginal mean condition. "

The next day the magician learnt, from the chief superintendent of thekhan where he lodged, that Aladdin had gone on a hunting expedition, which was to last for eight days, of which only three had expired. Themagician wanted to know no more, He resolved at once on his plans. Hewent to a coppersmith, and asked for a dozen copper lamps: the master ofthe shop told him he had not so many by him, but if he would havepatience till the next day, he would have them ready. The magicianappointed his time, and desired him to take care that they should behandsome and well polished. 

The next day the magician called for the twelve lamps, paid the man hisfull price, put them into a basket hanging on his arm, and went directlyto Aladdin's palace. As he approached, he began crying, "Who willexchange old lamps for new ones?" As he went along, a crowd of childrencollected, who hooted, and thought him, as did all who chanced to bepassing by, a madman or a fool, to offer to change new lamps for oldones. 

The African magician regarded not their scoffs, hootings, or all theycould say to him, but still continued crying, "Who will change old lampsfor new ones?" He repeated this so often, walking backward and forwardin front of the palace, that the princess, who was then in the hall withthe four-and-twenty windows, hearing a man cry something, and seeing agreat mob crowding about him, sent one of her women slaves to know whathe cried. 

The slave returned, laughing so heartily that the princess rebuked her. "Madam, " answered the slave, laughing still, "who can forbear laughing, to see an old man with a basket on his arm, full of fine new lamps, asking to change them for old ones? the children and mob crowding abouthim, so that he can hardly stir, make all the noise they can in derisionof him. "

Another female slave hearing this, said, "Now you speak of lamps, I knownot whether the princess may have observed it, but there is an old oneupon a shelf of the Prince Aladdin's robing room, and whoever owns itwill not be sorry to find a new one in its stead. If the princesschooses, she may have the pleasure of trying if this old man is so sillyas to give a new lamp for an old one, without taking anything for theexchange. "

The princess, who knew not the value of this lamp, and the interest thatAladdin had to keep it safe, entered into the pleasantry, and commandeda slave to take it and make the exchange. The slave obeyed, went out ofthe hall, and no sooner got to the palace gates than he saw the Africanmagician, called to him, and showing him the old lamp, said, "Give me anew lamp for this. "

The magician never doubted but this was the lamp he wanted. There couldbe no other such in this palace, where every utensil was gold or silver. He snatched it eagerly out of the slave's hand, and thrusting it as faras he could into his breast, offered him his basket, and bade him choosewhich he liked best. The slave picked out one and carried it to theprincess; but the change was no sooner made than the place rung with theshouts of the children, deriding the magician's folly. 

The African magician stayed no longer near the palace, nor cried anymore, "New lamps for old ones, " but made the best of his way to hiskhan. His end was answered, and by his silence he got rid of thechildren and the mob. 

As soon as he was out of sight of the two palaces, he hastened down theleast-frequented streets; and having no more occasion for his lamps orbasket, set all down in a spot where nobody saw him; then going downanother street or two, he walked till he came to one of the city gates, and pursuing his way through the suburbs, which were very extensive, atlength reached a lonely spot, where he stopped till the darkness of thenight, as the most suitable time for the design he had in contemplation. When it became quite dark, he pulled the lamp out of his breast andrubbed it. At that summons the genie appeared, and said, "What wouldstthou have? I am ready to obey thee as thy slave, and the slave of allthose who have that lamp in their hands, both I and the other slaves ofthe lamp. " "I command thee, " replied the magician, "to transport meimmediately, and the palace which thou and the other slaves of the lamphave built in this city, with all the people in it, to Africa. " Thegenie made no reply, but with the assistance of the other genies, theslaves of the lamp, immediately transported him and the palace, entire, to the spot whither he had been desired to convey it. 

Early the next morning, when the sultan, according to custom, went tocontemplate and admire Aladdin's place, his amazement was unbounded tofind that it could nowhere be seen. He could not comprehend how so largea palace which he had seen plainly every day for some years, shouldvanish so soon, and not leave the least remains behind. In hisperplexity he ordered the grand vizier to be sent for with expedition. 

The grand vizier, who, in secret, bore no good will to Aladdin, intimated his suspicion that the palace was built by magic, and thatAladdin had made his hunting excursion an excuse for the removal of hispalace with the same suddenness with which it had been erected. Heinduced the sultan to send a detachment of his guard, and to haveAladdin seized as a prisoner of state. On his son-in-law being broughtbefore him, he would not hear a word from him, but ordered him to be putto death. The decree caused so much discontent among the people, whoseaffection Aladdin had secured by his largesses and charities, that thesultan, fearful of an insurrection, was obliged to grant him his life. When Aladdin found himself at liberty, he again addressed the sultan:"Sire, I pray you to let me know the crime by which I have thus lost thefavour of thy countenance. " "Your crime!" answered the sultan, "wretchedman! do you not know it? Follow me, and I will show you. " The sultanthen took Aladdin into the apartment from whence he was wont to look atand admire his palace, and said, "You ought to know where your palacestood; look, mind, and tell me what has become of it. " Aladdin did so, and being utterly amazed at the loss of his palace, was speechless. Atlast recovering himself, he said, "It is true, I do not see the palace. It is vanished; but I had no concern in its removal. I beg you to giveme forty days, and if in that time I cannot restore it, I will offer myhead to be disposed of at your pleasure. " "I give you the time you ask, but at the end of the forty days, forget not to present yourself beforeme. "

Aladdin went out of the sultan's palace in a condition of exceedinghumiliation. The lords who had courted him in the days of his splendour, now declined to have any communication with him. For three days hewandered about the city, exciting the wonder and compassion of themultitude by asking everybody he met if they had seen his palace, orcould tell him anything of it. On the third day he wandered into thecountry, and as he was approaching a river, he fell down the bank withso much violence that he rubbed the ring which the magician had givenhim so hard by holding on the rock to save himself, that immediately thesame genie appeared whom he had seen in the cave where the magician hadleft him. "What wouldst thou have?" said the genie, "I am ready to obeythee as thy slave, and the slave of all those that have that ring ontheir finger; both I and the other slaves of the ring. "

Aladdin, agreeably surprised at an offer of help so little expected, replied, "Genie, show me where the palace I caused to be built nowstands, or transport it back where it first stood. " "Your command, "answered the genie, "is not wholly in my power; I am only the slave ofthe ring, and not of the lamp. " "I command thee, then, " replied Aladdin, "by the power of the ring, to transport me to the spot where my palacestands, in what part of the world soever it may be. " These words were nosooner out of his mouth, than the genie transported him into Africa, tothe midst of a large plain, where his palace stood, at no great distancefrom a city, and placing him exactly under the window of the princess'sapartment, left him. 

Now it so happened that shortly after Aladdin had been transported bythe slave of the ring to the neighbourhood of his palace, that one ofthe attendants of the Princess Buddir al Buddoor, looking through thewindow, perceived him and instantly told her mistress. The princess, whocould not believe the joyful tidings, hastened herself to the window, and seeing Aladdin, immediately opened it. The noise of opening thewindow made Aladdin turn his head that way, and perceiving the princess, he saluted her with an air that expressed his joy. "To lose no time, "said she to him, "I have sent to have the private door opened for you;enter and come up. "

The private door, which was just under the princess's apartment, wassoon opened, and Aladdin conducted up into the chamber. It is impossibleto express the joy of both at seeing each other, after so cruel aseparation. After embracing and shedding tears of joy, they sat down, and Aladdin said, "I beg of you, princess, to tell me what is become ofan old lamp which stood upon a shelf in my robing-chamber. "

"Alas!" answered the princess, "I was afraid our misfortune might beowing to that lamp; and what grieves me most is, that I have been thecause of it. I was foolish enough to change the old lamp for a new one, and the next morning I found myself in this unknown country, which I amtold is Africa. "

"Princess, " said Aladdin, interrupting her, "you have explained all bytelling me we are in Africa I desire you only to tell me if you knowwhere the old lamp now is. " "The African magician carries it carefullywrapt up in his bosom, " said the princess; "and this I can assure you, because he pulled it out before me, and showed it to me in triumph. "

"Princess, " said Aladdin, "I think I have found the means to deliver youand to regain possession of the lamp, on which all my prosperitydepends; to execute this design it is necessary for me to go to thetown. I shall return by noon, and will then tell you what must be doneby you to insure success. In the mean time, I shall disguise myself, andbeg that the private door may be opened at the first knock. "

When Aladdin was out of the palace, he looked round him on all sides, and perceiving a peasant going into the country, hastened after him; andwhen he had overtaken him, made a proposal to him to change clothes, which the man agreed to. When they had made the exchange, the countrymanwent about his business, and Aladdin entered the neighbouring city. After traversing several streets, he came to that part of the town wherethe merchants and artisans had their particular streets according totheir trades. He went into that of the druggists; and entering one ofthe largest and best furnished shops, asked the druggist if he had acertain powder, which he named. 

The druggist, judging Aladdin by his habit to be very poor, told him hehad it, but that it was very dear; upon which Aladdin, penetrating histhoughts, pulled out his purse, and showing him some gold, asked forhalf a dram of the powder; which the druggist weighed and gave him, telling him the price was a piece of gold. Aladdin put the money intohis hand, and hastened to the palace, which he entered at once by theprivate door. When he came into the princess's apartments, he said toher, "Princess, you must take your part in the scheme which I proposefor our deliverance. You must overcome your aversion to the magician, and assume a most friendly manner toward him, and ask him to oblige youby partaking of an entertainment in your apartments. Before he leaves, ask him to exchange cups with you, which he, gratified at the honour youdo him, will gladly do, when you must give him the cup containing thispowder. On drinking it he will instantly fall asleep, and we will obtainthe lamp, whose slaves will do all our bidding, and restore us and thepalace to the capital of China. "

The princess obeyed to the utmost her husband's instructions. Sheassumed a look of pleasure on the next visit of the magician, and askedhim to an entertainment, which he most willingly accepted. At the closeof the evening, during which the princess had tried all she could toplease him, she asked him to exchange cups with her, and giving thesignal, had the drugged cup brought to her, which she gave to themagician. He drank it out of compliment to the princess to the very lastdrop, when he fell backward lifeless on the sofa. 

The princess, in anticipation of the success of her scheme, had soplaced her women from the great hall to the foot of the staircase, thatthe word was no sooner given that the African magician was fallenbackward, than the door was opened, and Aladdin admitted to the hall. The princess rose from her seat, and ran, overjoyed, to embrace him; buthe stopped her, and said, "Princess, retire to your apartment; and letme be left alone, while I endeavour to transport you back to China asspeedily as you were brought from thence. "

When the princess, her women, and slaves were gone out of the hall, Aladdin shut the door, and going directly to the dead body of themagician, opened his vest, took out the lamp which was carefully wrappedup, and rubbing it, the genie immediately appeared. "Genie, " saidAladdin, "I command thee to transport this palace instantly to the placefrom whence it was brought hither. " The genie bowed his head in token ofobedience, and disappeared. Immediately the palace was transported intoChina, and its removal was only felt by two little shocks, the one whenit was lifted up, the other when it was set down, and both in a veryshort interval of time. 

On the morning after the restoration of Aladdin's palace, the sultan waslooking out of his window, and mourning over the fate of his daughter, when he thought that he saw the vacancy created by the disappearance ofthe palace to be again filled up. 

On looking more attentively, he was convinced beyond the power of doubtthat it was his son-in-law's palace. Joy and gladness succeeded tosorrow and grief. He at once ordered a horse to be saddled, which hemounted that instant, thinking he could not make haste enough to theplace. 

Aladdin rose that morning by daybreak, put on one of the mostmagnificent habits his wardrobe afforded, and went up into the hall oftwenty-four windows, from whence he perceived the sultan approaching, and received him at the foot of the great staircase, helping him todismount. 

He led the sultan into the princess's apartment. The happy fatherembraced her with tears of joy; and the princess, on her side, affordedsimilar testimonies of her extreme pleasure. After a short interval, devoted to mutual explanations of all that had happened, the sultanrestored Aladdin to his favour, and expressed his regret for theapparent harshness with which he had treated him. "My son, " said he, "benot displeased at my proceedings against you; they arose from mypaternal love, and therefore you ought to forgive the excesses to whichit hurried me. " "Sire, " replied Aladdin, "I have not the least reason tocomplain of your conduct, since you did nothing but what your dutyrequired. This infamous magician, the basest of men, was the sole causeof my misfortune. "

The African magician, who was thus twice foiled in his endeavour to ruinAladdin, had a younger brother, who was as skilful a magician ashimself, and exceeded him in wickedness and hatred of mankind. By mutualagreement they communicated with each other once a year, however widelyseparate might be their place of residence from each other. The youngerbrother not having received as usual his annual communication, preparedto take a horoscope and ascertain his brother's proceedings. He, as wellas his brother, always carried a geomantic square instrument about him;he prepared the sand, cast the points, and drew the figures. Onexamining the planetary crystal, he found that his brother was no longerliving, but had been poisoned; and by another observation, that he wasin the capital of the kingdom of China; also, that the person who hadpoisoned him was of mean birth, though married to a princess, a sultan'sdaughter. 

When the magician had informed himself of his brother's fate, heresolved immediately to revenge his death, and at once departed forChina; where, after crossing plains, rivers, mountains, deserts, and along tract of country without delay, he arrived after incrediblefatigues. When he came to the capital of China, he took a lodging at akhan. His magic art soon revealed to him that Aladdin was the person whohad been the cause of the death of his brother. He had heard, too, allthe persons of repute in the city talking of a woman called Fatima, whowas retired from the world, and of the miracles she wrought. As hefancied that this woman might be serviceable to him in the project hehad conceived, he made more minute inquiries, and requested to beinformed more particularly who that holy woman was, and what sort ofmiracles she performed. 

"What!" said the person whom he addressed, "have you never seen or heardof her? She is the admiration of the whole town, for her fasting, herausterities, and her exemplary life. Except Mondays and Fridays, shenever stirs out of her little cell; and on those days on which she comesinto the town she does an infinite deal of good; for there is not aperson who is diseased but she puts her hand on them and cures them. "

Having ascertained the place where the hermitage of this holy woman was, the magician went at night, and, plunging a poniard into her heart, killed this good woman. In the morning he dyed his face of the same hueas hers, and arraying himself in her garb, taking her veil, the largenecklace she wore round her waist, and her stick, went straight to thepalace of Aladdin. 

As soon as the people saw the holy woman, as they imagined him to be, they presently gathered about him in a great crowd. Some begged hisblessing, others kissed his hand, and others, more reserved, only thehem of his garment; while others, suffering from disease, stooped forhim to lay his hands upon them; which he did, muttering some words inform of prayer, and, in short, counterfeiting so well, that everybodytook him for the holy woman. He came at last to the square beforeAladdin's palace. The crowd and the noise were so great that theprincess, who was in the hall of four-and-twenty windows, heard it, andasked what was the matter. One of her women told her it was a greatcrowd of people collected about the holy woman to be cured of diseasesby the imposition of her hands. 

The princess, who had long heard of this holy woman, but had never seenher, was very desirous to have some conversation with her; which thechief officer perceiving, told her it was an easy matter to bring her toher, if she desired and commanded it; and the princess expressing herwishes, he immediately sent four slaves for the pretended holy woman. 

As soon as the crowd saw the attendants from the palace, they made way;and the magician, perceiving also that they were coming for him, advanced to meet them, overjoyed to find his plot succeed so well. "Holywoman, " said one of the slaves, "the princess wants to see you, and hassent us for you. " "The princess does me too great an honour, " repliedthe false Fatima; "I am ready to obey her command, " and at the same timefollowed the slaves to the palace. 

When the pretended Fatima had made her obeisance, the princess said, "Mygood mother, I have one thing to request, which you must not refuse me;it is, to stay with me, that you may edify me with your way of living, and that I may learn from your good example. " "Princess, " said thecounterfeit Fatima, "I beg of you not to ask what I cannot consent towithout neglecting my prayers and devotion. " "That shall be no hindranceto you, " answered the princess; "I have a great many apartmentsunoccupied; you shall choose which you like best, and have as muchliberty to perform your devotions as if you were in your own cell. "

The magician, who really desired nothing more than to introduce himselfinto the palace, where it would be a much easier matter for him toexecute his designs, did not long excuse himself from accepting theobliging offer which the princess made him. "Princess, " said he, "whatever resolution a poor wretched woman as I am may have made torenounce the pomp and grandeur of this world, I dare not presume tooppose the will and commands of so pious and charitable a princess. "

Upon this the princess, rising up, said, "Come with me, I will show youwhat vacant apartments I have, that you may make choice of that you likebest. " The magician followed the princess, and of all the apartments sheshowed him, made choice of that which was the worst, saying that it wastoo good for him, and that he only accepted it to please her. 

Afterward the princess would have brought him back into the great hallto make him dine with her; but he, considering that he should then beobliged to show his face, which he had always taken care to conceal withFatima's veil, and fearing that the princess should find out that he wasnot Fatima, begged of her earnestly to excuse him, telling her that henever ate anything but bread and dried fruits, and desiring to eat thatslight repast in his own apartment. The princess granted his request, saying, "You may be as free here, good mother, as if you were in yourown cell: I will order you a dinner, but remember I expect you as soonas you have finished your repast. "

After the princess had dined, and the false Fatima had been sent for byone of the attendants, he again waited upon her. "My good mother, " saidthe princess, "I am overjoyed to see so holy a woman as yourself, whowill confer a blessing upon this palace. But now I am speaking of thepalace, pray how do you like it? And before I show it all to you, tellme first what you think of this hall. "

Upon this question, the counterfeit Fatima surveyed the hall from oneend to the other. When he had examined it well, he said to the princess, "As far as such a solitary being as I am, who am unacquainted with whatthe world calls beautiful, can judge, this hall is truly admirable;there wants but one thing. " "What is that, good mother?" demanded theprincess; "tell me, I conjure you. For my part, I always believed, andhave heard say, it wanted nothing; but if it does, it shall besupplied. "

"Princess, " said the false Fatima, with great dissimulation, "forgive methe liberty I have taken; but my opinion is, if it can be of anyimportance, that if a roc's egg were hung up in the middle of the dome, this hall would have no parallel in the four quarters of the world, andyour palace would be the wonder of the universe. "

"My good mother, " said the princess, "what is a roc, and where may oneget an egg?" "Princess, " replied the pretended Fatima, "it is a bird ofprodigious size, which inhabits the summit of Mount Caucasus; thearchitect who built your palace can get you one. "

After the princess had thanked the false Fatima for what she believedher good advice, she conversed with her upon other matters; but couldnot forget the roc's egg, which she resolved to request of Aladdin whennext he should visit his apartments. He did so in the course of thatevening, and shortly after he entered, the princess thus addressed him:"I always believed that our palace was the most superb, magnificent, andcomplete in the world: but I will tell you now what it wants, and thatis a roc's egg hung up in the midst of the dome. " "Princess, " repliedAladdin, "it is enough that you think it wants such an ornament; youshall see by the diligence which I use in obtaining it, that there isnothing which I would not do for your sake. "

Aladdin left the Princess Buddir al Buddoor that moment, and went upinto the hall of four-and-twenty windows, where, pulling out of hisbosom the lamp, which after the danger he had been exposed to be alwayscarried about him, he rubbed it; upon which the genie immediatelyappeared. "Genie, " said Aladdin, "I command thee, in the name of thislamp, bring a roc's egg to be hung up in the middle of the dome of thehall of the palace. " Aladdin had no sooner pronounced these words, thanthe hall shook as if ready to fall; and the genie said in a loud andterrible voice, "Is it not enough that I and the other slaves of thelamp have done everything for you, but you, by an unheard-ofingratitude, must command me to bring my master, and hang him up in themidst of this dome? This attempt deserves that you, the princess, andthe palace, should be immediately reduced to ashes; but you are sparedbecause this request does not come from yourself. Its true author is thebrother of the African magician, your enemy whom you have destroyed. Heis now in your palace, disguised in the habit of the holy woman Fatima, whom he has murdered; at his suggestion your wife makes this perniciousdemand. His design is to kill you, therefore take care of yourself. "After these words the genie disappeared. 

Aladdin resolved at once what to do. He returned to the princess'sapartment, and without mentioning a word of what had happened, sat down, and complained of a great pain which had suddenly seized his head. Onhearing this, the princess told him how she had invited the holy Fatimato stay with her, and that she was now in the palace; and at the requestof the prince, ordered her to be summoned to her at once. 

When the pretended Fatima came, Aladdin said, "Come hither, good mother;I am glad to see you here at so fortunate a time. I am tormented with aviolent pain in my head, and request your assistance, and hope you willnot refuse me that cure which you impart to afflicted persons. " Sosaying, he arose, but held down his head. The counterfeit Fatimaadvanced toward him, with his hand all the time on a dagger concealed inhis girdle under his gown; which Aladdin, observing, he snatched theweapon from his hand, pierced him to the heart with his own dagger, andthen pushed him down on the floor. 

"My dear prince, what have you done?" cried the princess, in surprise. "You have killed the holy woman!" "No, my princess, " answered Aladdinwith emotion, "I have not killed Fatima, but a villain, who would haveassassinated me, if I had not prevented him. This wicked man, " added he, uncovering his face, "is the brother of the magician who attempted ourruin. He has strangled the true Fatima, and disguised himself in herclothes with intent to murder me. " Aladdin then informed her how thegenie had told him these facts, and how narrowly she and the palace hadescaped destruction through his treacherous suggestion which had led toher request. 

Thus was Aladdin delivered from the persecution of the two brothers, whowere magicians. Within a few years afterward, the sultan died in a goodold age, and as he left no male children, the Princess Buddir al Buddoorsucceeded him, and she and Aladdin reigned together many years, and lefta numerous and illustrious posterity. 

CHAPTER VI

THE HISTORY OF ALI BABA, AND OF THE FORTY ROBBERS KILLED BY ONE SLAVE

There once lived in a town of Persia two brothers, one named Cassim andthe other Ali Baba. Their father divided a small inheritance equallybetween them. Cassim married a very rich wife, and became a wealthymerchant. Ali Baba married a woman as poor as himself, and lived bycutting wood, and bringing it upon three asses into the town, to sell. 

One day, when Ali Baba was in the forest, and had just cut wood enoughto load his asses, he saw at a distance a great cloud of dust, whichseemed to approach him. He observed it with attention, and distinguishedsoon after a body of horsemen, who he suspected might be robbers. Hedetermined to leave his asses to save himself. He climbed up a largetree, planted on a high rock, whose branches were thick enough toconceal him, and yet enabled him to see all that passed without beingdiscovered. 

The troop, who were to the number of forty, all well mounted and armed, came to the foot of the rock on which the tree stood, and theredismounted Every man unbridled his horse, tied him to some shrub, andhung about his neck a bag of corn which they brought behind them. Theneach of them took off his saddle-bag, which seemed to Ali Baba to befull of gold and silver from its weight. One, whom he took to be theircaptain, came under the tree in which Ali Baba was concealed; and makinghis way through some shrubs, pronounced these words: "Open, Sesame!"[Footnote: "Sesame" is a small grain. ] As soon as the captain of therobbers had thus spoken, a door opened in the rock; and after he hadmade all his troop enter before him, he followed them, when the doorshut again of itself. 

The robbers stayed some time within the rock, during which Ali Baba, fearful of being caught, remained in the tree. 

At last the door opened again, and as the captain went in last, so hecame out first, and stood to see them all pass by him; when Ali Babaheard him make the door close by pronouncing these words, "Shut, Sesame!" Every man at once went and bridled his horse, fastened hiswallet, and mounted again. When the captain saw them all ready, he puthimself at their head, and they returned the way they had come. 

Ali Baba followed them with his eyes as far as he could see them; andafterward stayed a considerable time before he descended. Rememberingthe words the captain of the robbers used to cause the door to open andshut, he had the curiosity to try if his pronouncing them would have thesame effect. Accordingly, he went among the shrubs, and perceiving thedoor concealed behind them, stood before it, and said, "Open, Sesame!"The door instantly flew wide open. 

Ali Baba, who expected a dark, dismal cavern, was surprised to see awell-lighted and spacious chamber, which received the light from anopening at the top of the rock, and in which were all sorts ofprovisions, rich bales of silk, stuff, brocade, and valuable carpeting, piled upon one another; gold and silver ingots in great heaps, and moneyin bags. The sight of all these riches made him suppose that this cavemust have been occupied for ages by robbers, who had succeeded oneanother. 

Ali Baba went boldly into the cave, and collected as much of the goldcoin, which was in bags, as he thought his three asses could carry. Whenhe had loaded them with the bags, he laid wood over them in such amanner that they could not be seen. When he had passed in and out asoften as he wished, he stood before the door, and pronouncing the words, "Shut, Sesame!" the door closed of itself. He then made the best of hisway to town. 

When Ali Baba got home, he drove his asses into a little yard, shut thegates very carefully, threw off the wood that covered the panniers, carried the bags into his house, and ranged them in order before hiswife. He then emptied the bags, which raised such a great heap of goldas dazzled his wife's eyes, and then he told her the whole adventurefrom beginning to end, and, above all, recommended her to keep itsecret. 

The wife rejoiced greatly in their good fortune, and would count all thegold piece by piece. "Wife, " replied Ali Baba, "you do not know what youundertake, when you pretend to count the money; you will never havedone. I will dig a hole, and bury it. There is no time to be lost. " "Youare in the right, husband, " replied she, "but let us know, as nigh aspossible, how much we have. I will borrow a small measure, and measureit, while you dig the hole. "

Away the wife ran to her brother-in-law Cassim, who lived just by, andaddressing herself to his wife, desired her to lend her a measure for alittle while. Her sister-in-law asked her whether she would have a greator a small one. The other asked for a small one. She bade her stay alittle, and she would readily fetch one, The sister-in-law did so, but as she knew Ali Baba's poverty, she wascurious to know what sort of grain his wife wanted to measure, andartfully putting some suet at the bottom of the measure, brought it toher, with an excuse that she was sorry that she had made her stay solong, but that she could not find it sooner. 

Ali Baba's wife went home, set the measure upon the heap of gold, filledit, and emptied it often upon the sofa, till she had done, when she wasvery well satisfied to find the number of measures amounted to so manyas they did, and went to tell her husband, who had almost finisheddigging the hole. While Ali Baba was burying the gold, his wife, to showher exactness and diligence to her sister-in-law, carried the measureback again, but without taking notice that a piece of gold had stuck tothe bottom. "Sister, " said she, giving it to her again, "you see that Ihave not kept your measure long. I am obliged to you for it, and returnit with thanks. "

As soon as Ali Baba's wife was gone, Cassim's looked at the bottom ofthe measure, and was in inexpressible surprise to find a piece of goldsticking to it. Envy immediately possessed her breast. "What!" said she, "has Ali Baba gold so plentiful as to measure it? Whence has he all thiswealth?"

Cassim, her husband, was at his counting-house. When he came home, hiswife said to him, "Cassim, I know you think yourself rich, but Ali Babais infinitely richer than you. He does not count his money, but measuresit. " Cassim desired her to explain the riddle, which she did, by tellinghim the stratagem she had used to make the discovery, and showed him thepiece of money, which was so old that they could not tell in whatprince's reign it was coined. 

Cassim, after he had married the rich widow, had never treated Ali Babaas a brother, but neglected him; and now, instead of being pleased, heconceived a base envy at his brother's prosperity. He could not sleepall that night, and went to him in the morning before sunrise. "AliBaba, " said he, "I am surprised at you; you pretend to be miserablypoor, and yet you measure gold. My wife found this at the bottom of themeasure you borrowed yesterday. "

By this discourse, Ali Baba perceived that Cassim and his wife, throughhis own wife's folly, knew what they had so much reason to conceal; butwhat was done, could not be undone. Therefore, without showing the leastsurprise or trouble, he confessed all, and offered his brother part ofhis treasure to keep the secret. 

"I expect as much, " replied Cassim haughtily; "but I must know exactlywhere this treasure is, and how I may visit it myself when I choose;otherwise, I will go and inform against you, and then you will not onlyget no more, but will lose all you have, and I shall have a share for myinformation. "

Ali Baba told him all he desired, even to the very words he was to useto gain admission into the cave. 

Cassim rose the next morning long before the sun, and set out for theforest with ten mules bearing great chests, which he designed to fill, and followed the road which Ali Baba had pointed out to him. He was notlong before he reached the rock, and found out the place, by the treeand other marks which his brother had given him. When he reached theentrance of the cavern, he pronounced the words, "Open, Sesame!" Thedoor immediately opened, and, when he was in, closed upon him. Inexamining the cave, he was in great admiration to find much more richesthan he had expected from Ali Baba's relation. He quickly laid as manybags of gold as he could carry at the door of the cavern; but histhoughts were so full of the great riches he should possess, that hecould not think of the necessary word to make it open, but instead of"Sesame, " said, "Open, Barley!" and was much amazed to find that thedoor remained fast shut. He named several sorts of grain, but still thedoor would not open. 

Cassim had never expected such an incident, and was so alarmed at thedanger he was in, that the more he endeavoured to remember the word"Sesame, " the more his memory was confounded, and he had as muchforgotten it as if he had never heard it mentioned. He threw down thebags he had loaded himself with, and walked distractedly up and down thecave, without having the least regard to the riches that were aroundhim. 

About noon the robbers visited their cave. At some distance they sawCassim's mules straggling about the rock, with great chests on theirbacks. Alarmed at this, they galloped full speed to the cave. They droveaway the mules, which strayed through the forest so far, that they weresoon out of sight, and went directly, with their naked sabres in theirhands, to the door, which, on their captain pronouncing the properwords, immediately opened. 

Cassim, who heard the noise of the horses' feet, at once guessed thearrival of the robbers, and resolved to make one effort for his life. Herushed to the door, and no sooner saw the door open, than he ran out andthrew the leader down, but could not escape the other robbers, who withtheir scimitars soon deprived him of life. 

The first care of the robbers after this was to examine the cave. Theyfound all the bags which Cassim had brought to the door, to be ready toload his mules, and carried them again to their places, but they did notmiss what Ali Baba had taken away before. Then holding a council, anddeliberating upon this occurrence, they guessed that Cassim, when he wasin, could no get out again, but could not imagine how he had learned thesecret words by which alone he could enter. They could not deny the factof his being there; and to terrify any person or accomplice who shouldattempt the same thing, they agreed to cut Cassim's body into fourquarters--to hang two on one side, and two on the other, within the doorof the cave. They had no sooner taken this resolution than they put itin execution; and when they had nothing more to detain them, left theplace of their hoards well closed. They mounted their horses, went tobeat the roads again, and to attack the caravans they might meet. 

In the mean time, Cassim's wife was very uneasy when night came, and herhusband was not returned. She ran to Ali Baba in great alarm, and said, "I believe, brother-in-law, that you know Cassim is gone to the forest, and upon what account; it is now night, and he has not returned; I amafraid some misfortune has happened to him. " Ali Baba told her that sheneed not frighten herself, for that certainly Cassim would not think itproper to come into the town till the night should be pretty faradvanced. 

Cassim's wife, considering how much it concerned her husband to keep thebusiness secret, was the more easily persuaded to believe herbrother-in-law. She went home again, and waited patiently till midnight. Then her fear redoubled, and her grief was the more sensible because shewas forced to keep it to herself. She repented of her foolish curiosity, and cursed her desire of prying into the affairs of her brother andsister-in-law. She spent all the night in weeping; and as soon as it wasday went to them, telling them, by her tears, the cause of her coming. 

Ali Baba did not wait for his sister-in-law to desire him to go to seewhat was become of Cassim, but departed immediately with his threeasses, begging of her first to moderate her affliction. He went to theforest, and when he came near the rock, having seen neither his brothernor the mules in his way, was seriously alarmed at finding some bloodspilt near the door, which he took for an ill omen; but when he hadpronounced the word, and the door had opened, he was struck with horrorat the dismal sight of his brother's body. He was not long indetermining how he should pay the last dues to his brother; but withoutadverting to the little fraternal affection he had shown for him, wentinto the cave, to find something to enshroud his remains; and havingloaded one of his asses with them, covered them over with wood. Theother two asses he loaded with bags of gold, covering them with woodalso as before; and then bidding the door shut, came away; but was socautious as to stop some time at the end of the forest, that he mightnot go into the town before night. When he came home, he drove the twoasses loaded with gold into his little yard, and left the care ofunloading them to his wife, while he led the other to hissister-in-law's house. 

Ali Baba knocked at the door, which was opened by Morgiana, a clever, intelligent slave, who was fruitful in inventions to meet the mostdifficult circumstances. When he came into the court, he unloaded theass, and taking Morgiana aside, said to her, "You must observe aninviolable secrecy. Your master's body is contained in these twopanniers. We must bury him as if he had died a natural death. Go now andtell your mistress. I leave the matter to your wit and skilful devices. "

Ali Baba helped to place the body in Cassim's house, again recommendedto Morgiana to act her part well, and then returned with his ass. 

Morgiana went out early the next morning to a druggist, and asked for asort of lozenge which was considered efficacious in the most dangerousdisorders. The apothecary inquired who was ill? She replied, with asigh, "Her good master Cassim himself: and that he could neither eat norspeak. " In the evening Morgiana went to the same druggist's again, andwith tears in her eyes, asked for an essence which they used to give tosick people only when at the last extremity. "Alas!" said she, taking itfrom the apothecary, "I am afraid that this remedy will have no bettereffect than the lozenges; and that I shall lose my good master. "

On the other hand, as Ali Baba and his wife were often seen to gobetween Cassim's and their own house all that day, and to seemmelancholy, nobody was surprised in the evening to hear the lamentableshrieks and cries of Cassim's wife and Morgiana, who gave out everywherethat her master was dead. The next morning at daybreak Morgiana went toan old cobbler whom she knew to be always early at his stall, andbidding him good-morrow, put a piece of gold into his hand, saying, "Baba Mustapha, you must bring with you your sewing tackle, and comewith me; but I must tell you, I shall blindfold you when you come tosuch a place. "

Baba Mustapha seemed to hesitate a little at these words. "Oh! oh!"replied he, "you would have me do something against my conscience, oragainst my honour?" "God forbid, " said Morgiana, putting another pieceof gold into his hand, "that I should ask anything that is contrary toyour honour! only come along with me and fear nothing. "

Baba Mustapha went with Morgiana, who, after she had bound his eyes witha handkerchief at the place she had mentioned, conveyed him to herdeceased master's house, and never unloosed his eyes till he had enteredthe room where she had put the corpse together. "Baba Mustapha, " saidshe, "you must make haste and sew the parts of this body together; andwhen you have done, I will give you another piece of gold. "

After Baba Mustapha had finished his task, she blindfolded him again, gave him the third piece of gold as she had promised, and recommendingsecrecy to him carried him back to the place where she first bound hiseyes, pulled off the bandage, and let him go home, but watched him thathe returned toward his stall, till he was quite out of sight, for fearhe should have the curiosity to return and dodge her; she then wenthome. Morgiana, on her return, warmed some water to wash the body, andat the same time Ali Baba perfumed it with incense, and wrapped it inthe burying clothes with the accustomed ceremonies. Not long after theproper officer brought the bier, and when the attendants of the mosque, whose business it was to wash the dead, offered to perform their duty, she told them that it was done already. Shortly after this the imaun andthe other ministers of the mosque arrived. Four neighbours carried thecorpse to the burying-ground, following the imaun, who recited someprayers. Ali Baba came after with some neighbours, who often relievedthe others in carrying the bier to the burying-ground. Morgiana, a slaveto the deceased, followed in the procession, weeping, beating herbreast, and tearing her hair. Cassim's wife stayed at home mourning, uttering lamentable cries with the women of the neighbourhood, who came, according to custom, during the funeral, and joining their lamentationswith hers filled the quarter far and near with sounds of sorrow. 

In this manner Cassim's melancholy death was concealed and hushed upbetween Ali Baba, his widow, and Morgiana, his slave, with so muchcontrivance that nobody in the city had the least knowledge or suspicionof the cause of it. Three or four days after the funeral, Ali Babaremoved his few goods openly to his sister-in-law's house, in which itwas agreed that he should in future live; but the money he had takenfrom the robbers he conveyed thither by night. As for Cassim'swarehouse, he entrusted it entirely to the management of his eldest son. 

While these things were being done, the forty robbers again visitedtheir retreat in the forest. Great, then, was their surprise to findCassim's body taken away, with some of their bags of gold. "We arecertainly discovered, " said the captain. "The removal of the body, andthe loss of some of our money, plainly shows that the man whom we killedhad an accomplice: and for our own lives' sake we must try and find him. What say you, my lads?"

All the robbers unanimously approved of the captain's proposal. 

"Well, " said the captain, "one of you, the boldest and most skilfulamong you, must go into the town, disguised as a traveller and astranger, to try if he can hear any talk of the man whom we have killed, and endeavour to find out who he was, and where he lived. This is amatter of the first importance, and for fear of any treachery, I proposethat whoever undertakes this business without success, even though thefailure arises only from an error of judgment, shall suffer death. "

Without waiting for the sentiments of his companions, one of the robbersstarted up, and said, "I submit to this condition, and think it anhonour to expose my life to serve the troop. "

After this robber had received great commendations from the captain andhis comrades, he disguised himself so that nobody would take him forwhat he was; and taking his leave of the troop that night, went into thetown just at daybreak; and walked up and down, till accidentally he cameto Baba Mustapha's stall, which was always open before any of the shops. 

Baba Mustapha was seated with an awl in his hand, just going to work. The robber saluted him, bidding him good-morrow; and perceiving that hewas old, said, "Honest man, you begin to work very early: is it possiblethat one of your age can see so well? I question, even if it weresomewhat lighter, whether you could see to stitch. "

"You do not know me, " replied Baba Mustapha; "for old as I am, I haveextraordinary good eyes; and you will not doubt it when I tell you thatI sewed the body of a dead man together in a place where I had not somuch light as I have now. "

"A dead body!" exclaimed the robber, with affected amazement. "Yes, yes, " answered Baba Mustapha, "I see you want to have me speak out, butyou shall know no more. "

The robber felt sure that he had discovered what he sought. He pulledout a piece of gold, and putting it into Baba Mustapha's hand, said tohim, "I do not want to learn your secret, though I can assure you youmight safely trust me with it. The only thing I desire of you is to showme the house where you stitched up the dead body. "

"If I were disposed to do you that favour, " replied Baba Mustapha, "Iassure you I cannot. I was taken to a certain place, whence I was ledblindfold to the house, and afterward brought back again in the samemanner; you see, therefore, the impossibility of my doing what youdesire. "

"Well, " replied the robber, "you may, however, remember a little of theway that you were led blindfold. Come, let me blind your eyes at thesame place. We will walk together; perhaps you may recognise some part;and as everybody ought to be paid for their trouble, there is anotherpiece of gold for you; gratify me in what I ask you. " So saying, he putanother piece of gold into his hand. 

The two pieces of gold were great temptations to Baba Mustapha. Helooked at them a long time in his hand, without saying a word, but atlast he pulled out his purse and put them in. "I cannot promise, " saidhe to the robber, "that I can remember the way exactly; but since youdesire, I will try what I can do. " At these words Baba Mustapha rose up, to the great joy of the robber, and led him to the place where Morgianahad bound his eyes. "It was here, " said Baba Mustapha, "I wasblindfolded; and I turned this way. " The robber tied his handkerchiefover his eyes, and walked by him till he stopped directly at Cassim'shouse, where Ali Baba then lived. The thief, before he pulled off theband, marked the door with a piece of chalk, which he had ready in hishand, and then asked him if he knew whose house that was; to which BabaMustapha replied that as he did not live in that neighbourhood, he couldnot tell. 

The robber, finding he could discover no more from Baba Mustapha, thanked him for the trouble he had taken, and left him to go back to hisstall, while he returned to the forest, persuaded that he should be verywell received. 

A little after the robber and Baba Mustapha had parted, Morgiana wentout of Ali Baba's house upon some errand, and upon her return, seeingthe mark the robber had made, stopped to observe it. "What can be themeaning of this mark?" said she to herself; "somebody intends my masterno good: however, with whatever intention it was done, it is advisableto guard against the worst. " Accordingly, she fetched a piece of chalk, and marked two or three doors on each side, in the same manner, withoutsaying a word to her master or mistress. 

In the mean time, the robber rejoined his troop in the forest, andrecounted to them his success; expatiating upon his good fortune, inmeeting so soon with the only person who could inform him of what hewanted to know. All the robbers listened to him with the utmostsatisfaction; when the captain, after commending his diligence, addressing himself to them all, said, "Comrades, we have no time tolose: let us set off well armed, without its appearing who we are; butthat we may not excite any suspicion, let only one or two go into thetown together, and join at our rendezvous, which shall be the greatsquare. In the mean time, our comrade who brought us the good news and Iwill go and find out the house, that we may consult what had best bedone. "

This speech and plan was approved of by all, and they were soon ready. They filed off in parties of two each, after some interval of time, andgot into the town without being in the least suspected. The captain, andhe who had visited the town in the morning as spy, came in the last. Heled the captain into the street where he had marked Ali Baba'sresidence; and when they came to the first of the houses which Morgianahad marked, he pointed it out. But the captain observed that the nextdoor was chalked in the same manner and in the same place; and showingit to his guide, asked him which house it was, that, or the first. Theguide was so confounded, that he knew not what answer to make; but stillmore puzzled, when he and the captain saw five or six houses similarlymarked. He assured the captain, with an oath, that he had marked butone, and could not tell who had chalked the rest, so that he could notdistinguish the house which the cobbler had stopped at. 

The captain, finding that their design had proved abortive, wentdirectly to the place of meeting, and told his troop that they had losttheir labour, and must return to their cave. He himself set them theexample, and they all returned as they had come. 

When the troop was all got together, the captain told them the reason oftheir returning; and presently the conductor was declared by all worthyof death. He condemned himself, acknowledging that he ought to havetaken better precaution, and prepared to receive the stroke from him whowas appointed to cut off his head. 

But as the safety of the troop required the discovery of the secondintruder into the cave, another of the gang, who promised himself thathe should succeed better, presented himself, and his offer beingaccepted, he went and corrupted Baba Mustapha, as the other had done;and being shown the house, marked it in a place more remote from sight, with red chalk. 

Not long after, Morgiana, whose eyes nothing could escape, went out, andseeing the red chalk, and arguing with herself as she had done before, marked the other neighbours' houses in the same place and manner. 

The robber, at his return to his company, valued himself much on theprecaution he had taken, which he looked upon as an infallible way ofdistinguishing Ali Baba's house from the others; and the captain and allof them thought it must succeed. They conveyed themselves into the townwith the same precaution as before; but when the robber and his captaincame to the street, they found the same difficulty; at which the captainwas enraged, and the robber in as great confusion as his predecessor. 

Thus the captain and his troop were forced to retire a second time, andmuch more dissatisfied; while the robber who had been the author of themistake underwent the same punishment, to which he willingly submitted. 

The captain, having lost two brave fellows of his troop, was afraid ofdiminishing it too much by pursuing this plan to get information of theresidence of their plunderer. He found by their example that their headswere not so good as their hands on such occasions; and thereforeresolved to take upon himself the important commission. 

Accordingly, he went and addressed himself to Baba Mustapha, who did himthe same service he had done to the other robbers. He did not set anyparticular mark on the house, but examined and observed it so carefully, by passing often by it, that it was impossible for him to mistake it. 

The captain, well satisfied with his attempt, and informed of what hewanted to know, returned to the forest; and when he came into the cave, where the troop waited for him, said, "Now, comrades, nothing canprevent our full revenge, as I am certain of the house; and in my wayhither I have thought how to put it into execution, but if any one canform a better expedient, let him communicate it. " He then told them hiscontrivance; and as they approved of it, ordered them to go into thevillages about, and buy nineteen mules, with thirty-eight large leatherjars, one full of oil, and the others empty. 

In two or three days' time the robbers had purchased the mules and jars, and as the mouths of the jars were rather too narrow for his purpose, the captain caused them to be widened, and after having put one of hismen into each, with the weapons which he thought fit, leaving open theseam which had been undone to leave them room to breathe, he rubbed thejars on the outside with oil from the full vessel. 

Things being thus prepared, when the nineteen mules were loaded withthirty-seven robbers in jars, and the jar of oil, the captain, as theirdriver, set out with them, and reached the town by the dusk of theevening, as he had intended. He led them through the streets, till hecame to Ali Baba's, at whose door he designed to have knocked; but wasprevented by his sitting there after supper to take a little fresh air. He stopped his mules, addressed himself to him, and said, "I havebrought some oil a great way, to sell at tomorrow's market; and it isnow so late that I do not know where to lodge. If I should not betroublesome to you, do me the favour to let me pass the night with you, and I shall be very much obliged by your hospitality. "

Though Ali Baba had seen the captain of the robbers in the forest, andhad heard him speak, it was impossible to know him in the disguise of anoil merchant. He told him he should be welcome, and immediately openedhis gates for the mules to go into the yard. At the same time he calledto a slave, and ordered him, when the mules were unloaded, to put theminto the stable, and to feed them; and then went to Morgiana, to bid herget a good supper for his guest. After they had finished supper, AliBaba, charging Morgiana afresh to take care of his guest, said to her, "To-morrow morning I design to go to the bath before day; take care mybathing linen be ready, give them to Abdalla (which was the slave'sname), and make me some good broth against my return. " After this hewent to bed. 

In the mean time the captain of the robbers went into the yard, and tookoff the lid of each jar, and gave his people orders what to do. Beginning at the first jar, and so on to the last, he said to each man:"As soon as I throw some stones out of the chamber window where I lie, do not fail to come out, and I will immediately join you. " After this hereturned into the house, when Morgiana, taking up a light, conducted himto his chamber, where she left him; and he, to avoid any suspicion, putthe light out soon after, and laid himself down in his clothes, that hemight be the more ready to rise. 

Morgiana, remembering Ali Baba's orders, got his bathing linen ready, and ordered Abdalla to set on the pot for the broth; but while she waspreparing it the lamp went out, and there was no more oil in the house, nor any candles. What to do she did not know, for the broth must bemade. Abdalla, seeing her very uneasy, said, "Do not fret and teaseyourself, but go into the yard, and take some oil out of one of thejars. "

Morgiana thanked Abdalla for his advice, took the oil-pot, and went intothe yard; when, as she came nigh the first jar, the robber within saidsoftly, "Is it time?"

Though naturally much surprised at finding a man in the jar instead ofthe oil she wanted, she immediately felt the importance of keepingsilence, as Ali Baba, his family, and herself were in great danger; andcollecting herself, without showing the least emotion, she answered, "Not yet, but presently. " She went quietly in this manner to all thejars, giving the same answer, till she came to the jar of oil. 

By this means Morgiana found that her master Ali Baba had admittedthirty-eight robbers into his house, and that this pretended oilmerchant was their captain. She made what haste she could to fill heroil-pot, and returned into her kitchen, where, as soon as she hadlighted her lamp, she took a great kettle, went again to the oil-jar, filled the kettle, set it on a large wood fire, and as soon as it boiledwent and poured enough into every jar to stifle and destroy the robberwithin. 

When this action, worthy of the courage of Morgiana, was executedwithout any noise, as she had projected, she returned into the kitchenwith the empty kettle; and having put out the great fire she had made toboil the oil, and leaving just enough to make the broth, put out thelamp also, and remained silent, resolving not to go to rest till she hadobserved what might follow through a window of the kitchen, which openedinto the yard. 

She had not waited long before the captain of the robbers got up, openedthe window, and finding no light, and hearing no noise, or any onestirring in the house, gave the appointed signal, by throwing littlestones, several of which hit the jars, as he doubted not by the soundthey gave. He then listened, but not hearing or perceiving anythingwhereby he could judge that his companions stirred, he began to growvery uneasy, threw stones again a second and also a third time, andcould not comprehend the reason that none of them should answer hissignal. Much alarmed, he went softly down into the yard, and going tothe first jar, while asking the robber, whom he thought alive, if he wasin readiness, smelt the hot boiled oil, which sent forth a steam out ofthe jar. Hence he suspected that his plot to murder Ali Baba, andplunder his house, was discovered. Examining all the jars, one afteranother, he found that all his gang were dead; and, enraged to despairat having failed in his design, he forced the lock of a door that ledfrom the yard to the garden, and climbing over the walls made hisescape. 

When Morgiana saw him depart, she went to bed, satisfied and pleased tohave succeeded so well in saving her master and family. 

Ali Baba rose before day, and, followed by his slave, went to the baths, entirely ignorant of the important event which had happened at home. 

When he returned from the baths, he was very much surprised to see theoil-jars, and that the merchant was not gone with the mules. He askedMorgiana, who opened the door, the reason of it. "My good master, "answered she, "God preserve you and all your family. You will be betterinformed of what you wish to know when you have seen what I have to showyou, if you will follow me. "

As soon as Morgiana had shut the door, Ali Baba followed her, when sherequested him to look into the first jar, and see if there was any oil. Ali Baba did so, and seeing a man, started back in alarm, and cried out. "Do not be afraid, " said Morgiana "the man you see there can neither doyou nor anybody else any harm. He is dead. " "Ah, Morgiana, " said AliBaba, "what is it you show me? Explain yourself. " "I will, " repliedMorgiana. "Moderate your astonishment, and do not excite the curiosityof your neighbours; for it is of great importance to keep this affairsecret. Look into all the other jars. "

Ali Baba examined all the other jars, one after another; and when hecame to that which had the oil in it, found it prodigiously sunk, andstood for some time motionless, sometimes looking at the jars, andsometimes at Morgiana, without saying a word, so great was his surprise. At last, when he had recovered himself, he said, "And what is become ofthe merchant?"

"Merchant!" answered she; "he is as much one as I am. I will tell youwho he is, and what is become of him; but you had better hear the storyin your own chamber; for it is time for your health that you had yourbroth after your bathing. "

Morgiana then told him all she had done, from the first observing themark upon the house, to the destruction of the robbers, and the flightof their captain. 

On hearing of these brave deeds from the lips of Morgiana, Ali Baba saidto her--"God, by your means, has delivered me from the snares theserobbers laid for my destruction. I owe, therefore, my life to you; and, for the first token of my acknowledgment, give you your liberty fromthis moment, till I can complete your recompense as I intend. "

Ali Baba's garden was very long, and shaded at the further end by agreat number of large trees. Near these he and the slave Abdalla dug atrench, long and wide enough to hold the bodies of the robbers; and asthe earth was light, they were not long in doing it. When this was done, Ali Baba hid the jars and weapons; and as he had no occasion for themules, he sent them at different times to be sold in the market by hisslave. 

While Ali Baba took these measures, the captain of the forty robbersreturned to the forest with inconceivable mortification. He did not staylong; the loneliness of the gloomy cavern became frightful to him. Hedetermined, however, to avenge the fate of his companions, and toaccomplish the death of Ali Baba. For this purpose he returned to thetown, and took a lodging in a khan, and disguised himself as a merchantin silks. Under this assumed character, he gradually conveyed a greatmany sorts of rich stuffs and fine linen to his lodging from the cavern, but with all the necessary precautions to conceal the place whence hebrought them. In order to dispose of the merchandise, when he had thusamassed them together, he took a warehouse, which happened to beopposite to Cassim's, which Ali Baba's son had occupied since the deathof his uncle. 

He took the name of Cogia Houssain, and, as a new-comer, was, accordingto custom, extremely civil and complaisant to all the merchants hisneighbours. Ali Baba's son was, from his vicinity, one of the first toconverse with Cogia Houssain, who strove to cultivate his friendshipmore particularly. Two or three days after he was settled, Ali Baba cameto see his son, and the captain of the robbers recognised him at once, and soon learned from his son who he was. After this he increased hisassiduities, caressed him in the most engaging manner, made him somesmall presents, and often asked him to dine and sup with him, when hetreated him very handsomely. 

Ali Baba's son did not choose to lie under such obligation to CogiaHoussain; but was so much straitened for want of room in his house, thathe could not entertain him. He therefore acquainted his father, AliBaba, with his wish to invite him in return. 

Ali Baba with great pleasure took the treat upon himself. "Son, " saidhe, "to-morrow being Friday, which is a day that the shops of such greatmerchants as Cogia Houssain and yourself are shut, get him to accompanyyou, and as you pass by my door, call in. I will go and order Morgianato provide a supper. "

The next day Ali Baba's son and Cogia Houssain met by appointment, tooktheir walk, and as they returned, Ali Baba's son led Cogia Houssainthrough the street where his father lived, and when they came to thehouse, stopped and knocked at the door. "This, sir, " said he, "is myfather's house, who, from the account I have given him of yourfriendship, charged me to procure him the honour of your acquaintance;and I desire you to add this pleasure to those for which I am alreadyindebted to you. "

Though it was the sole aim of Cogia Houssain to introduce himself intoAli Baba's house, that he might kill him, without hazarding his own lifeor making any noise, yet he excused himself, and offered to take hisleave; but a slave having opened the door, Ali Baba's son took himobligingly by the hand, and, in a manner, forced him in. 

Ali Baba received Cogia Houssain with a smiling countenance, and in themost obliging manner he could wish. He thanked him for all the favourshe had done his son; adding withal, the obligation was the greater, ashe was a young man, not much acquainted with the world, and that hemight contribute to his information. 

Cogia Houssain returned the compliment by assuring Ali Baba that thoughhis son might not have acquired the experience of older men, he had goodsense equal to the experience of many others. After a little moreconversation on different subjects, he offered again to take his leave, when Ali Baba, stopping him, said, "Where are you going, sir, in so muchhaste? I beg you would do me the honour to sup with me, though myentertainment may not be worthy your acceptance; such as it is, Iheartily offer it. " "Sir, " replied Cogia Houssain, "I am thoroughlypersuaded of your good-will; but the truth is, I can eat no victualsthat have any salt in them; therefore judge how I should feel at yourtable. " "If that is the only reason, " said Ali Baba, "it ought not todeprive me of the honour of your company; for, in the first place, thereis no salt ever put into my bread, and as to the meat we shall haveto-night, I promise you there shall be none in that. Therefore you mustdo me the favour to stay. I will return immediately. "

Ali Baba went into the kitchen, and ordered Morgiana to put no salt tothe meat that was to be dressed that night; and to make quickly two orthree ragouts besides what he had ordered, but be sure to put no salt inthem. 

Morgiana, who was always ready to obey her master, could not help beingsurprised at his strange order. "Who is this strange man, " said she, "who eats no salt with his meat? Your supper will be spoiled, if I keepit back so long. " "Do not be angry, Morgiana, " replied Ali Baba; "he isan honest man, therefore do as I bid you. "

Morgiana obeyed, though with no little reluctance, and had a curiosityto see this man who ate no salt. To this end, when she had finished whatshe had to do in the kitchen, she helped Abdalla to carry up the dishes;and looking at Cogia Houssain, knew him at first sight, notwithstandinghis disguise, to be the captain of the robbers, and examining him verycarefully, perceived that he had a dagger under his garment. "I am notin the least amazed, " said she to herself, "that this wicked man, who ismy master's greatest enemy, would eat no salt with him, since he intendsto assassinate him; but I will prevent him. "

Morgiana, while they were at supper, determined in her own mind toexecute one of the boldest acts ever meditated. When Abdalla came forthe dessert of fruit, and had put it with the wine and glasses beforeAli Baba, Morgiana retired, dressed herself neatly, with a suitablehead-dress like a dancer, girded her waist with a silver-gilt girdle, towhich there hung a poniard with a hilt and guard of the same metal, andput a handsome mask on her face. When she had thus disguised herself, she said to Abdalla, "Take your tabour, and let us go and divert ourmaster and his son's friend, as we do sometimes when he is alone. "

Abdalla took his tabour and played all the way into the hall beforeMorgiana, who, when she came to the door, made a low obeisance by way ofasking leave to exhibit her skill, while Abdalla left off playing. "Comein, Morgiana, " said Ali Baba, "and let Cogia Houssain see what you cando, that he may tell us what he thinks of your performance. "

Cogia Houssain, who did not expect this diversion after supper, began tofear he should not be able to take advantage of the opportunity hethought he had found; but hoped, if he now missed his aim, to secure itanother time, by keeping up a friendly correspondence with the fatherand son; therefore, though he could have wished Ali Baba would havedeclined the dance, he pretended to be obliged to him for it, and hadthe complaisance to express his satisfaction at what he said, whichpleased his host. 

As soon as Abdalla saw that Ali Baba and Cogia Houssain had donetalking, he began to play on the tabour, and accompanied it with an air, to which Morgiana, who was an excellent performer, danced in such amanner as would have created admiration in any company. 

After she had danced several dances with much grace, she drew theponiard, and holding it in her hand, began a dance, in which she outdidherself by the many different figures, light movements, and thesurprising leaps and wonderful exertions with which she accompanied it. Sometimes she presented the poniard to one breast, sometimes to another, and oftentimes seemed to strike her own. At last, she snatched thetabour from Abdalla with her left hand, and holding the dagger in herright presented the other side of the tabour, after the manner of thosewho get a livelihood by dancing, and solicit the liberality of thespectators. 

Ali Baba put a piece of gold into the tabour, as did also his son; andCogia Houssain seeing that she was coming to him, had pulled his purseout of his bosom to make her a present; but while he was putting hishand into it, Morgiana, with a courage and resolution worthy of herself, plunged the poniard into his heart. 

Ali Baba and his son, shocked at this action, cried out aloud. "Unhappywoman!" exclaimed Ali Baba, "what have you done to ruin me and myfamily?" "It was to preserve, not to ruin you, " answered Morgiana; "forsee here, " continued she, opening the pretended Cogia Houssain'sgarment, and showing the dagger, "what an enemy you had entertained?Look well at him, and you will find him to be both the fictitious oilmerchant, and the captain of the gang of forty robbers. Remember, too, that he would eat no salt with you; and what would you have more topersuade you of his wicked design? Before I saw him, I suspected him assoon as you told me you had such a guest. I knew him, and you now findthat my suspicion was not groundless. "

Ali Baba, who immediately felt the new obligation he had to Morgiana forsaving his life a second time, embraced her: "Morgiana, " said he, "Igave you your liberty, and then promised you that my gratitude shouldnot stop there, but that I would soon give you higher proofs of itssincerity, which I now do by making you my daughter-in-law. " Thenaddressing himself to his son, he said, "I believe you, son, to be sodutiful a child, that you will not refuse Morgiana for your wife. Yousee that Cogia Houssain sought your friendship with a treacherous designto take away my life; and if he had succeeded, there is no doubt but hewould have sacrificed you also to his revenge. Consider, that bymarrying Morgiana you marry the preserver of my family and your own, "

The son, far from showing any dislike, readily consented to themarriage; not only because he would not disobey his father, but alsobecause it was agreeable to his inclination. After this they thought ofburying the captain of the robbers with his comrades, and did it soprivately that nobody discovered their bones till many years after, whenno one had any concern in the publication of this remarkable history. Afew days afterward, Ali Baba celebrated the nuptials of his son andMorgiana with great solemnity, a sumptuous feast, and the usual dancingand spectacles; and had the satisfaction to see that his friends andneighbours, whom he invited, had no knowledge of the true motives of themarriage; but that those who were not unacquainted with Morgiana's goodqualities commended his generosity and goodness of heart Ali Baba didnot visit the robbers' cave for a whole year, as he supposed the othertwo, whom he could get no account of, might be alive. 

At the year's end, when he found they had not made any attempt todisturb him, he had the curiosity to make another journey. He mountedhis horse, and when he came to the cave he alighted, tied his horse to atree, then approaching the entrance, and pronouncing the words, "Open, Sesame!" the door opened. He entered the cavern, and by the condition hefound things in, judged that nobody had been there since the captain hadfetched the goods for his shop. From this time he believed he was theonly person in the world who had the secret of opening the cave, andthat all the treasure was at his sole disposal. He put as much gold intohis saddle-bag as his horse would carry, and returned to town. Someyears later he carried his son to the cave and taught him the secret, which he handed down to his posterity, who, using their good fortunewith moderation, lived in great honour and splendour. 

CHAPTER VII

THE SECOND VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR

I designed, after my first voyage, to spend the rest of my days atBagdad, but it was not long ere I grew weary of an indolent life, and Iput to sea a second time, with merchants of known probity. We embarkedon board a good ship, and, after recommending ourselves to God, setsail. We traded from island to island, and exchanged commodities withgreat profit. One day we landed on an island covered with several sortsof fruit trees, but we could see neither man nor animal. We walked inthe meadows, along the streams that watered them. While some divertedthemselves with gathering flowers, and others fruits, I took my wine andprovisions, and sat down near a stream betwixt two high trees, whichformed a thick shade. I made a good meal, and afterward fell asleep. Icannot tell how long I slept, but when I awoke the ship was gone. 

In this sad condition, I was ready to die with grief. I cried out inagony, beat my head and breast, and threw myself upon the ground, whereI lay some time in despair. I upbraided myself a hundred times for notbeing content with the produce of my first voyage, that might havesufficed me all my life. But all this was in vain, and my repentancecame too late. At last I resigned myself to the will of God. Not knowingwhat to do, I climbed up to the top of a lofty tree, from whence Ilooked about on all sides, to see if I could discover anything thatcould give me hopes. When I gazed toward the sea I could see nothing butsky and water; but looking over the land, I beheld something white; andcoming down, I took what provision I had left and went toward it, thedistance being so great, that I could not distinguish what it was. 

As I approached, I thought it to be a white dome, of a prodigious heightand extent; and when I came up to it, I touched it, and found it to bevery smooth. I went round to see if it was open on any side, but saw itwas not, and that there was no climbing up to the top, as it was sosmooth. It was at least fifty paces round. 

By this time the sun was about to set, and all of a sudden the skybecame as dark as if it had been covered with a thick cloud. I was muchastonished at this sudden darkness, but much more when I found itoccasioned by a bird of a monstrous size, that came flying toward me. Iremembered that I had often heard mariners speak of a miraculous birdcalled the Roc, and conceived that the great dome which I so muchadmired must be its egg. In short, the bird alighted, and sat over theegg. As I perceived her coming, I crept close to the egg, so that I hadbefore me one of the legs of the bird, which was as big as the trunk ofa tree. I tied myself strongly to it with my turban, in hopes that theroc next morning would carry me with her out of this desert island. After having passed the night in this condition, the bird flew away assoon as it was daylight, and carried me so high, that I could notdiscern the earth; she afterward descended with so much rapidity that Ilost my senses. But when I found myself on the ground, I speedily untiedthe knot, and had scarcely done so, when the roc, having taken up aserpent of a monstrous length in her bill, flew away. 

The spot where it left me was encompassed on all sides by mountains, that seemed to reach above the clouds, and so steep that there was nopossibility of getting out of the valley. This was a new perplexity; sothat when I compared this place with the desert island from which theroc had brought me, I found that I had gained nothing by the change. 

As I walked through this valley, I perceived it was strewed withdiamonds, some of which were of surprising bigness. I took pleasure inlooking upon them; but shortly saw at a distance such objects as greatlydiminished my satisfaction, and which I could not view without terror, namely, a great number of serpents, so monstrous that the least of themwas capable of swallowing an elephant. They retired in the day-time totheir dens, where they hid themselves from the roc, their enemy, andcame out only in the night. 

I spent the day in walking about in the valley, resting myself at timesin such places as I thought most convenient. When night came on I wentinto I cave, where I thought I might repose in safety. I secured theentrance, which was low and narrow, with a great stone, to preserve mefrom the serpents; but not so far as to exclude the light. I supped onpart of my provisions, but the serpents, which began hissing round me, put me into such extreme fear that I did not sleep. When day appearedthe serpents retired, and I came out of the cave trembling. I can justlysay that I walked upon diamonds without feeling any inclination to touchthem. At last I sat down, and notwithstanding my apprehensions, nothaving closed my eyes during the night, fell asleep, after having eatena little more of my provisions. But I had scarcely shut my eyes whensomething that fell by me with a great noise awaked me. This was a largepiece of raw meat; and at the same time I saw several others fall downfrom the rocks in different places. 

I had always regarded as fabulous what I had heard sailors and othersrelate of the valley of diamonds, and of the stratagems employed bymerchants to obtain jewels from thence; but now I found that they hadstated nothing but the truth. For the fact is, that the merchants cometo the neighbourhood of this valley, when the eagles have young ones, and throwing great joints of meat into the valley, the diamonds, uponwhose points they fall, stick to them; the eagles, which are stronger inthis country than anywhere else, pounce with great force upon thosepieces of meat, and carry them to their nests on the precipices of therocks to feed their young: the merchants at this time run to theirnests, disturb and drive off the eagles by their shouts, and take awaythe diamonds that stick to the meat. 

I perceived in this device the means of my deliverance. 

Having collected together the largest diamonds I could find, I put theminto the leather bag in which I used to carry my provisions, I took thelargest of the pieces of meat, tied it close round me with the cloth ofmy turban, and then laid myself upon the ground, with my face downward, the bag of diamonds being made fast to my girdle. 

I had scarcely placed myself in this posture when one of the eagles, having taken me up with the piece of meat to which I was fastened, carried me to his nest on the top of the mountain. The merchantsimmediately began their shouting to frighten the eagles; and when theyhad obliged them to quit their prey, one of them came to the nest whereI was. He was much alarmed when he saw me; but recovering himself, instead of inquiring how I came thither, began to quarrel with me, andasked why I stole his goods? "You will treat me, " replied I, "with morecivility, when you know me better. Do not be uneasy; I have diamondsenough for you and myself, more than all the other merchants together. Whatever they have they owe to chance; but I selected for myself, in thebottom of the valley, those which you see in this bag, " I had scarcelydone speaking, when the other merchants came crowding about us, muchastonished to see me; but they were much more surprised when I told themmy story. 

They conducted me to their encampment; and there having opened my bag, they were surprised at the largeness of my diamonds, and confessed thatthey had never seen any of such size and perfection. I prayed themerchant who owned the nest to which I had been carried (for everymerchant had his own) to take as many for his share as he pleased. Hecontented himself with one, and that, too, the least of them; and when Ipressed him to take more, without fear of doing me any injury, "No, "said he, "I am very well satisfied with this, which is valuable enoughto save me the trouble of making any more voyages, and will raise asgreat a fortune as I desire. "

I spent the night with the merchants, to whom I related my story asecond time, for the satisfaction of those who had not heard it, I couldnot moderate my joy when I found myself delivered from the danger I havementioned. I thought myself in a dream, and could scarcely believemyself out of danger. 

The merchants had thrown their pieces of meat into the valley forseveral days; and each of them being satisfied with the diamonds thathad fallen to his lot, we left the place the next morning, and travellednear high mountains, where there were serpents of a prodigious length, which we had the good fortune to escape. We took shipping at the firstport we reached, and touched at the isle of Roha, where the trees growthat yield camphire. This tree is so large, and its branches so thick, that one hundred men may easily sit under its shade. The juice, of whichthe camphire is made, exudes from a hole bored in the upper part of thetree, and is received in a vessel, where it thickens to a consistency, and becomes what we call camphire. After the juice is thus drawn out, the tree withers and dies. 

In this island is also found the rhinoceros, an animal less than theelephant, but larger than the buffalo. It has a horn upon its nose, about a cubit in length; this horn is solid, and cleft through themiddle. The rhinoceros fights with the elephant, runs his horn into hisbelly, and carries him off upon his head; but the blood and the fat ofthe elephant running into his eyes and making him blind, he falls to theground; and then, strange to relate, the roc comes and carries them bothaway in her claws, for food for her young ones. 

I pass over many other things peculiar to this island, lest I shouldweary you. Here I exchanged some of my diamonds for merchandise. Fromhence we went to other islands, and at last, having touched at severaltrading towns of the continent, we landed at Bussorah, from whence Iproceeded to Bagdad. There I immediately gave large presents to thepoor, and lived honourably upon the vast riches I had brought, andgained with so much fatigue. 

Thus Sindbad ended the relation of the second voyage, gave Hindbadanother hundred sequins, and invited him to come the next day to hearthe account of the third. 

CHAPTER VIII

THE WHITE CAT

There was once a king who had three sons, all remarkably handsome intheir persons, and in their tempers brave and noble. Some wickedcourtiers made the king believe that the princes were impatient to wearthe crown, and that they were contriving a plot to deprive him of hissceptre and his kingdom. The king felt he was growing old; but as hefound himself as capable of governing as he had ever been, he had noinclination to resign his power; and therefore, that he might pass therest of his days peaceably, he determined to employ the princes in sucha manner, as at once to give each of them the hope of succeeding to thecrown, and fill up the time they might otherwise spend in so undutiful amanner. He sent for them to his cabinet, and after conversing with themkindly, he added: "You must be sensible, my dear children, that my greatage prevents me from attending so closely as I have hitherto done tostate affairs. I fear this may be injurious to my subjects; I thereforedesire to place my crown on the head of one of you, but it is no morethan just, that in return for such a present, you should procure me someamusement in my retirement, before I leave the Capital for ever. Icannot help thinking, that a little dog, that is handsome, faithful, andengaging, would be the very thing to make me happy; so that withoutbestowing a preference on either of you, I declare that he who brings methe most perfect little dog shall be my successor. " The princes weremuch surprised at the fancy of their father to have a little dog, yetthey accepted the proposition with pleasure: and accordingly, aftertaking leave of the king, who presented them with abundance of money andjewels, and appointed that day twelvemonth for their return, they setoff on their travels. 

Before taking leave of each other, however, they took some refreshmenttogether, in an old palace about three miles out of town where theyagreed to meet in the same place on that day twelvemonth, and go alltogether with their presents to court. They also agreed to change theirnames, that they might be unknown to every one in their travels. 

Each took a different road; but it is intended to relate the adventuresof only the youngest, who was the handsomest, most amiable, andaccomplished prince that had ever been seen. No day passed, as hetravelled from town to town, that he did not buy all the handsome dogsthat fell in his way; and as soon as he saw one that was handsomer thanthose he had before, he made a present of the last; for twenty servantswould have been scarcely sufficient to take care of all the dogs he wascontinually buying. 

At length, wandering he knew not whither, he found himself in a forest;night suddenly came on, and with it a violent storm of thunder, lightning, and rain. To add to his perplexity, he lost his path, andcould find no way out of the forest. After he had groped about for along time, he perceived a light, which made him suppose that he was notfar from some house: he accordingly pursued his way towards it, and in ashort time found himself at the gates of the most magnificent palace heever beheld. The door that opened into it was made of gold, covered withsapphire stones, which cast so resplendent a brightness over everythingaround, that scarcely could the strongest eyesight bear to look at it. This was the light the prince had seen from the forest. The walls of thebuilding were of transparent porcelain, variously coloured, andrepresented the history of all the fairies that had existed from thebeginning of the world. The prince coming back to the golden door, observed a deer's foot fastened to a chain of diamonds; he could nothelp wondering at the magnificence he beheld, and the security in whichthe inhabitants seemed to live; "for, " said he to himself, "nothing canbe easier than for thieves to steal this chain, and as many of thesapphire stones as would make their fortunes. " He pulled the chain, andheard a bell the sound of which was exquisite. In a few moments the doorwas opened; but he perceived nothing but twelve hands in the air, eachholding a torch. The prince was so astonished that he durst not move astep; when he felt himself gently pushed on by some other hands frombehind him. He walked on, in great perplexity, till he entered avestibule inlaid with porphyry and lapis-stone. There the most melodiousvoice he had ever heard chanted the following words:

 "Welcome, prince, no danger fear, Mirth and love attend you here; You shall break the magic spell, That on a beauteous lady fell. 

 "Welcome, prince, no danger fear, Mirth and love attend you here, "

The prince now advanced with confidence, wondering what these wordscould mean; the hands moved him forward towards a large door of coral, which opened of itself to give him admittance into a splendid apartmentbuilt of mother-of-pearl, through which he passed into others so richlyadorned with paintings and jewels, and so resplendently lighted withthousands of lamps, girandoles and lustres, that the prince imagined hemust be in an enchanted palace. When he had passed through sixtyapartments, all equally splendid, he was stopped by the hands, and alarge easy-chair advanced of itself towards the chimney; and the hands, which he observed were extremely white and delicate, took off his wetclothes, and supplied their place with the finest linen imaginable, andthen added a commodious wrapping-gown, embroidered with the brightestgold, and all over enriched with pearls. The hands next brought him anelegant dressing-table, and combed his hair so very gently that hescarcely felt their touch. They held before him a beautiful basin, filled with perfumes, for him to wash his face and hands, and afterwardstook off the wrapping-gown and dressed him in a suit of clothes of stillgreater splendour. When his dress was complete, they conducted him to anapartment he had not yet seen, and which also was magnificentlyfurnished. There was in it a table spread for a repast, and everythingupon it was of the purest gold adorned with jewels. The prince observedthere were two covers set, and was wondering who was to be hiscompanion, when his attention was suddenly caught by a small figure nota foot high, which just then entered the room, and advanced towards him. It had on a long black veil, and was supported by two cats dressed inmourning, and with swords by their sides: they were followed by anumerous retinue of cats, some carrying cages full of rats and othersmousetraps full of mice. 

The prince was at a loss what to think. The little figure nowapproached, and throwing aside her veil, he beheld a most beautifulwhite cat. She seemed young and melancholy, and addressing herself tothe prince, she said, "Young prince, you are welcome; your presenceaffords me the greatest pleasure. " "Madam, " replied the prince, "I wouldfain thank you for your generosity, nor can I help observing that youmust be an extraordinary creature to possess with your present form thegift of speech and the magnificent palace I have seen. " "All this isvery true, " answered the beautiful cat, "but, prince, I am not fond oftalking, and least of all do I like compliments; let us therefore sitdown to supper. " The trunkless hands then placed the dishes on thetable, and the prince and white cat seated themselves. The first dishwas a pie made of young pigeons, and the next was a fricassee of thefattest mice. The view of the one made the prince almost afraid to tastethe other till the white cat, who guessed his thoughts, assured him thatthere were certain dishes at table in which there was not a morsel ofeither rat or mouse, which had been dressed on purpose for him. Accordingly he ate heartily of such as she recommended. When supper wasover, the prince perceived that the white cat had a portrait set in goldhanging to one of her feet. He begged her permission to look at it;when, to his astonishment, he saw the portrait of a handsome young man, that exactly resembled himself! He thought there was something veryextraordinary in all this: yet, as the white cat sighed and looked verysorrowful, he did not venture to ask any questions. He conversed withher on different subjects, and found her extremely well versed in everything that was passing in the world. When night was far advanced, thewhite cat wished him a good night, and he was conducted by the hands tohis bedchamber, which was different still from any thing he had seen inthe palace, being hung with the wings of butterflies, mixed with themost curious feathers. His bed was of gauze, festooned with bunches ofthe gayest ribands, and the looking-glasses reached from the floor tothe ceiling. The prince was undressed and put into bed by the hands, without speaking a word. He however slept little, and in the morning wasawaked by a confused noise. The hands took him out of bed, and put onhim a handsome hunting-jacket. He looked into the court-yard, andperceived more than five hundred cats, busily employed in preparing forthe field, for this was a day of festival. Presently the white cat cameto his apartment; and having politely inquired after his health, sheinvited him to partake of their amusement. The prince willinglyaccepted, mounted a wooden horse, richly caparisoned, which had beenprepared for him, and which he was assured would gallop to admiration. The beautiful white cat mounted a monkey, dressed in a dragoon's bonnet, which made her look so fierce that all the rats and mice ran away in theutmost terror. 

Every thing being ready, the horns sounded, and away they went; nohunting was ever more agreeable; the cats ran faster than the hares andrabbits; and when they caught any they were hunted in the presence ofthe white cat, and a thousand cunning tricks were played. Nor were thebirds in safety; for the monkey made nothing of climbing up the trees, with the white cat on his back, to the nest of the young eagles. Whenthe hunting was over, the whole retinue returned to the palace; and thewhite cat immediately exchanged her dragoon's cap for the veil, and satdown to supper with the prince, who, being very hungry, ate heartily, and afterwards partook with her of the most delicious liqueurs, whichbeing often repeated made him forget that he was to procure a little dogfor the old king. He thought no longer of any thing but of pleasing thesweet little creature who received him so courteously; accordingly everyday was spent in new amusements. The prince had almost forgotten hiscountry and relations, and sometimes even regretted that he was not acat, so great was his affection for his mewing companions. "Alas!" saidhe to the white cat, "how will it afflict me to leave you whom I love somuch! Either make yourself a lady, or make me a cat. " She smiled at theprince's wish, but made him scarcely any reply. At length thetwelvemonth was nearly expired; the white cat, who knew the very daywhen the prince was to reach his father's palace, reminded him that hehad but three days longer to look for a perfect little dog. The prince, astonished at his own forgetfulness, began to afflict himself; when thecat told him not to be so sorrowful, since she would not only providehim with a little dog, but also with a wooden horse which should conveyhim safely in less than twelve hours. "Look here, " said she, showing himan acorn, "this contains what you desire. " The prince put the acorn tohis ear, and heard the barking of a little dog. Transported with joy, hethanked the cat a thousand times, and the next day, bidding her tenderlyadieu, he set out on his return. 

The prince arrived first at the place of rendezvous, and was soon joinedby his brothers; they mutually embraced, and began to give an account oftheir success; when the youngest showed them only a little mongrel cur, telling them he thought it could not fail to please the king from itsextraordinary beauty, the brothers trod on each other's toes under thetable; as much as to say, we have not much to fear from this sorrylooking animal. The next day they went together to the palace. The dogsof the two elder princes were lying on cushions, and so curiouslywrapped around with embroidered quilts, that one would scarcely ventureto touch them. The youngest produced his cur, dirty all over, and allwondered how the prince could hope to receive a crown for such apresent. The king examined the two little dogs of the elder princes, anddeclared he thought them so equally beautiful that he knew not to which, with justice, he could give the preference. They accordingly began todispute; when the youngest prince, taking his acorn from his pocket, soon ended their contention; for a little dog appeared which could withease go through the smallest ring, and was besides a miracle of beauty. The king could not possibly hesitate in declaring his satisfaction; yet, as he was not more inclined than the year before to part with his crown, he could think of nothing more to his purpose than telling his sons thathe was extremely obliged to them for the pains they had taken; and thatsince they had succeeded so well, he could not but wish they would makea second attempt; he therefore begged they would take another year forprocuring him a piece of cambric, so fine as to be drawn through the eyeof a small needle. 

The three princes thought this very hard; yet they set out in obedienceto the king's command. The two eldest took different roads, and theyoungest remounted his wooden horse, and in a short time arrived at thepalace of his beloved white cat, who received him with the greatest joy, while the trunkless hands helped him to dismount, and provided him withimmediate refreshments; after which the prince gave the white cat anaccount of the admiration which had been bestowed on the beautifullittle dog, and informed her of his father's farther injunction. "Makeyourself perfectly easy, dear prince, " said she, "I have in my palacesome cats that are perfectly clever in making such cambric as the kingrequires; so you have nothing to do but to give me the pleasure of yourcompany while it is making; and I will procure you all the amusementpossible. " She accordingly ordered the most curious fireworks to beplayed off in sight of the window of the apartment in which they weresitting; and nothing but festivity and rejoicing was heard throughoutthe palace for the prince's return. As the white cat continually gaveproofs of an excellent understanding, the prince was by no means tiredof her company; she talked with him of state affairs, of theatres, offashions; in short, she was at a loss on no subject whatever; so thatwhen the prince was alone, he had plenty of amusement in thinking how itcould possibly be that a small white cat could be endowed with all thepowers of human creatures. 

The twelvemonth in this manner again passed insensibly away; but the cattook care to remind the prince of his duty in proper time. "For once, myprince, " said she, "I will have the pleasure of equipping you as suitsyour high rank;" when looking into the court-yard, he saw a superb car, ornamented all over with gold, silver, pearls and diamonds, drawn bytwelve horses as white as snow, and harnessed in the most sumptuoustrappings; and behind the car a thousand guards richly apparelled werein waiting to attend on the prince's person. She then presented him witha nut: "You will find in it, " said she, "the piece of cambric I promisedyou. Do not break the shell till you are in the presence of the kingyour father. " Then, to prevent the acknowledgments which the prince wasabout to offer, she hastily bade him adieu. Nothing could exceed thespeed with which the snow-white horses conveyed this fortunate prince tohis father's palace, where his brothers had just arrived before him. They embraced each other, and demanded an immediate audience of theking, who received them with the greatest kindness. The princes hastenedto place at the feet of his majesty the curious present he had requiredthem to procure. The eldest produced a piece of cambric that was soextremely fine, that his friends had no doubt of its passing the eye ofthe needle, which was now delivered to the king, having been kept lockedup in the custody of his majesty's treasurer all the time, Every onesupposed he would certainly obtain the crown. But when the king tried todraw it through the eye of the needle, it would not pass, though itfailed but very little. Then came the second prince, who made as sure ofobtaining the crown as his brother had done; but, alas! with no bettersuccess: for though his piece of cambric was exquisitely fine, yet itcould not be drawn through the eye of the needle. It was now theyoungest prince's turn, who accordingly advanced, and opening an elegantlittle box inlaid with jewels, he took out a walnut, and cracked theshell, imagining he should immediately perceive his piece of cambric;but what was his astonishment to see nothing but a filbert! He did nothowever lose his hopes; he cracked the filbert, and it presented himwith a cherry-stone. The lords of the court, who had assembled towitness this extraordinary trial, could not, any more than the princeshis brothers, refrain from laughing, to think he should be so silly asto claim with them the crown on no better pretensions. The princehowever cracked the cherry-stone, which was filled with a kernel: hedivided it, and found in the middle a grain of wheat, and in that graina millet seed. He was now absolutely confounded, and could not helpmuttering between his teeth: "O white cat, white cat, thou hast deceivedme!" At this instant he felt his hand scratched by the claw of a cat:upon which he again took courage, and opening the grain of millet seed, to the astonishment of all present, he drew forth a piece of cambricfour hundred yards long, and fine enough to be drawn with perfect easethrough the eye of the needle. When the king found he had no pretextleft for refusing the crown to his youngest son, he sighed deeply, andit was easy to be seen that he was sorry for the prince's success. "Mysons, " said he, "it is so gratifying to the heart of a father to receiveproofs of his children's love and obedience, that I cannot refuse myselfthe satisfaction of requiring of you one thing more. You must undertakeanother expedition; and whichever, by the end of a year, brings me themost beautiful lady, shall marry her, and obtain my crown. "

So they again took leave of the king and of each other, and set outwithout delay, and in less than twelve hours our young prince arrived inhis splendid car at the palace of his dear white cat. Every thing wenton as before, till the end of another year. At length only one dayremained of the year, when the white cat thus addressed him: "To-morrow, my prince, you must present yourself at the palace of your father, andgive him a proof of your obedience. It depends only on yourself toconduct thither the most beautiful princess ever yet beheld, for thetime is come when the enchantment by which I am bound may be ended. Youmust cut off my head and tail, " continued she, "and throw them into thefire. " "I!" said the prince hastily, "I cut off your head and tail! Yousurely mean to try my affection, which, believe me, beautiful cat, istruly yours. " "You mistake me, generous prince, " said she, "I do notdoubt your regard; but if you wish to see me in any other form than thatof a cat, you must consent to do as I desire. Then you will have done mea service I shall never be able sufficiently to repay. " The prince'seyes filled with tears as she spoke, yet he considered himself obligedto undertake the dreadful task, and the cat continuing to press him withgreater eagerness, with a trembling hand he drew his sword, cut off herhead and tail, and threw them into the fire. No sooner was this done, than the most beautiful lady his eyes had ever seen stood before him:and before he had sufficiently recovered from his surprise to speak toher, a long train of attendants, who, at the same moment as theirmistress, were changed to their natural shapes, came to offer theircongratulations to the queen, and inquire her commands. She receivedthem with the greatest kindness; and ordering them to withdraw, she thusaddressed the astonished prince. "Do not imagine, dear prince, that Ihave always been a cat, or that I am of obscure birth. My father was themonarch of six kingdoms; he tenderly loved my mother, leaving her alwaysat liberty to follow her own inclinations. Her prevailing passion was totravel; and a short time before my birth, having heard of some fairieswho were in possession of the largest gardens filled with the mostdelicious fruits, she had so strong a desire to eat some of them, thatshe set out for the country in which they lived. She arrived at theirabode which she found to be a magnificent palace, on all sidesglittering with gold and precious stones. She knocked a long time at thegates; but no one came, nor could she perceive the least sign that ithad any inhabitant. The difficulty, however, did but increase theviolence of my mother's longing; for she saw the tops of the trees abovethe garden walls loaded with the most luscious fruits. The queen, indespair, ordered her attendants to place tents close to the door of thepalace; but having waited six weeks, without seeing any one pass thegates, she fell sick of vexation, and her life was despaired of. 

"One night, as she lay half asleep, she turned herself about, andopening her eyes, perceived a little old woman, very ugly and deformed, seated in the easy chair by her bedside. 'I, and my sister fairies, 'said she, 'take it very ill that your majesty should so obstinatelypersist in getting some of our fruit; but since so precious a life is atstake, we consent to give you as much as you can carry away, providedyou will give us in return what we shall ask. ' 'Ah! kind fairy, ' criedthe queen, 'I will give you anything I possess, even my very kingdoms, on condition that I eat of your fruit. ' The old fairy then informed thequeen that what they required was, that she would give them the childshe was going to have, as soon as she should be born; adding, that everypossible care should be taken of her, and that she should become themost accomplished princess. The queen replied, that however cruel thecondition, she must accept it, since nothing but the fruit could saveher life. In short, dear prince, " continued the lady, "my motherinstantly got out of bed, was dressed by her attendants, entered thepalace, and satisfied her longing. When the queen had eaten her fill, she ordered four thousand mules to be procured, and loaded with thefruit, which had the virtue of continuing all the year round in a stateof perfection. Thus provided, she returned to the king, my father, whowith the whole court, received her with rejoicings, as it was beforeimagined she would die of disappointment. All this time the queen saidnothing to my father of the promise she had made, to give her daughterto the fairies; so that, when the time was come that she expected mybirth, she grew very melancholy; till at length, being pressed by theking, she declared to him the truth. Nothing could exceed hisaffliction, when he heard that his only child, when born, was to begiven to the fairies. He bore it, however, as well as he could, for fearof adding to my mother's grief; and also believing he should find somemeans of keeping me in a place of safety, which the fairies would not beable to approach. As soon therefore as I was born, he had me conveyed toa tower in the palace, to which there were twenty flights of stairs, anda door to each, of which my father kept the key, so that none came nearme without his consent. When the fairies heard of what had been done, they sent first to demand me; and on my father's refusal, they let loosea monstrous dragon, who devoured men, women and children, and the breathof whose nostrils destroyed every thing it came near, so that the treesand plants began to die in great abundance. The grief of the king, atseeing this, could scarcely be equalled; and finding that his wholekingdom would in a short time be reduced to famine, he consented to giveme into their hands. I was accordingly laid in a cradle ofmother-of-pearl, ornamented with gold and jewels, and carried to theirpalace, when the dragon immediately disappeared. The fairies placed mein a tower of their palace, elegantly furnished, but to which there wasno door, so that whoever approached was obliged to come by the windows, which were a great height from the ground: from these I had the libertyof getting out into a delightful garden, in which were baths, and everysort of cooling fruit. In this place was I educated by the fairies, whobehaved to me with the greatest kindness; my clothes were splendid, andI was instructed in every kind of accomplishment. In short, prince, if Ihad never seen any one but themselves, I should have remained veryhappy. One of the windows of my tower overlooked a long avenue shadedwith trees, so that I had never seen in it a human creature. One day, however, as I was talking at this window with my parrot, I perceived ayoung gentleman who was listening to our conversation. As I had neverseen a man, but in pictures, I was not sorry for the opportunity ofgratifying my curiosity. I thought him a very pleasing object, and he atlength bowed in the most respectful manner, without daring to speak, forhe knew that I was in the palace of the fairies. When it began to growdark he went away, and I vainly endeavoured to see which road he took. The next morning, as soon as it was light, I again placed myself at thewindow, and had the pleasure of seeing that the gentleman had returnedto the same place. He now spoke to me through a speaking-trumpet, andinformed me he thought me a most charming lady, and that he should bevery unhappy if he did not pass his life in my company. 

"I resolved to find some means of escaping from my tower with theengaging prince I had seen. I was not long in devising a means for theexecution of my project. I begged the fairies to bring me anetting-needle, a mesh and some cord, saying I wished to make some netsto amuse myself with catching birds at my window. This they readilycomplied with, and in a short time I completed a ladder long enough toreach the ground. I now sent my parrot to the prince, to beg he wouldcome to his usual place, as I wished to speak with him. He did not fail, and finding the ladder, mounted it, and quickly entered my tower. Thisat first alarmed me; but the charms of his conversation had restored meto tranquillity, when all at once the window opened, and the fairyViolent, mounted on the dragon's back, rushed into the tower. My belovedprince thought of nothing but how to defend me from their fury; for Ihad had time to relate to him my story, previous to this cruelinterruption; but their numbers overpowered him, and the fairy Violenthad the barbarity to command the dragon to devour my prince before myeyes. In my despair, I would have thrown myself also into the mouth ofthe horrible monster, but this they took care to prevent, saying my lifeshould be preserved for greater punishment. The fairy then touched mewith her wand, and I instantly became a white cat. She next conducted meto this palace, which belonged to my father, and gave me a train of catsfor my attendants, together with the twelve hands which waited on yourhighness. She then informed me of my birth, and the death of my parents, and pronounced upon me what she imagined the greatest of maledictions:That I should not be restored to my natural figure till a young prince, the perfect resemblance of him I had lost, should cut off my head andtail. You are that perfect resemblance; and, accordingly, you have endedthe enchantment. I need not add, that I already love you more than mylife. Let us therefore hasten to the palace of the king your father, andobtain his approbation to our marriage. "

The prince and princess accordingly set out side by side, in a car ofstill greater splendour than before, and reached the palace just as thetwo brothers had arrived with two beautiful princesses. The king, hearing that each of his sons had succeeded in finding what he hadrequired, again began to think of some new expedient to delay the timeof his resigning his crown; but when the whole court were with the kingassembled to pass judgment, the princess who accompanied the youngest, perceiving his thoughts by his countenance, stepped majesticallyforward, and thus addressed him: "What pity that your majesty, who is socapable of governing, should think of resigning the crown! I amfortunate enough to have six kingdoms in my possession; permit me tobestow one on each of the eldest princes, and to enjoy the remainingfour in the society of the youngest. And may it please your majesty tokeep your own kingdom, and make no decision concerning the beauty ofthree princesses, who, without such a proof of your majesty'spreference, will no doubt live happily together!" The air resounded withthe applauses of the assembly. The young prince and princess embracedthe king, and next their brothers and sisters; the three weddingsimmediately took place; and the kingdoms were divided as the princesshad proposed. 

CHAPTER IX

THE GOLDEN GOOSE

There was a man who had three sons, the youngest of whom was consideredvery silly, and everybody used to mock him and make fun of him. Theeldest son wanted to go and cut wood in the forest, and before he lefthome his mother prepared beautiful pancakes and a bottle of wine for himto take with him, so that he might not suffer from hunger or thirst. 

As he entered the forest he met a gray old man, who bade him"Good-morning, " and said: "Give me a little piece of cake out of yourbasket and a drop of wine out of your bottle, for I am very hungry andthirsty. "

But the clever son replied: "What, give you my cake and my wine! Why, ifI did, I should have none for myself. Not I, indeed, so take yourselfoff!" and he left the man standing and went on. 

The young man began cutting down a tree, but it was not long before hemade a false stroke: the axe slipped and cut his arm so badly that hewas obliged to go home and have it bound up. Now, this false stroke wascaused by the little gray old man. 

Next day the second son went into the forest to cut wood, and his mothergave him a cake and a bottle of wine. As he entered the wood the samelittle old man met him, and begged for a piece of cake and a drop ofwine. But the second son answered rudely: "What I might give to you Ishall want myself, so be off. "

Then he left the little old man standing in the road, and walked on. Hispunishment soon came; he had scarcely given two strokes on a tree withhis axe, when he hit his leg such a terrible blow that he was obliged tolimp home in great pain. 

Then the stupid son said to his father, "Let me go for once and cut woodin the forest. "

But his father said: "No, your brothers have been hurt already, and itwould be worse for you, who don't understand wood-cutting. "

The boy, however, begged so hard to be allowed to go that his fathersaid: "There, get along with you; you will buy your experience verydearly, I expect. "

His mother, however, gave him a cake which had been made with water andbaked in the ashes, and a bottle of sour beer. 

When he reached the wood the very same little old man met him, and aftergreeting him kindly, said: "Give me a little of your cake and a dropfrom your bottle, for I am very hungry and thirsty. "

"Oh, " replied the simple youth, "I have only a cake, which has beenbaked in the ashes, and some sour beer; but you are welcome to a shareof it. Let us sit down, and eat and drink together. "

So they seated themselves, and, lo and behold, when the youth opened hisbasket, the cake had been turned into a beautiful cake, and the sourbeer into wine. After they had eaten and drank enough, the little oldman said: "Because you have been kind-hearted, and shared your dinnerwith me, I will make you in future lucky in all you undertake. Therestands an old tree; cut it down, and you will find something good at theroot. "

Then the old man said "Farewell, " and left him. 

The youth set to work, and very soon succeeded in felling the tree, whenhe found sitting at the roots a goose, whose feathers were of pure gold. He took it up, and, instead of going home, carried it with him to an innat a little distance, where he intended to pass the night. 

The landlord had three daughters, who looked at the goose with enviouseyes. They had never seen such a wonderful bird, and longed to have atleast one of its feathers. "Ah, " thought the eldest, "I shall soon havean opportunity to pluck one of them;" and so it happened, for not longafter the young man left the room. She instantly went up to the bird andtook hold of its wing, but as she did so, the finger and thumb remainedand stuck fast. In a short time after the second sister came in with thefull expectation of gaining a golden feather, but as she touched hersister to move her from the bird, her hand stuck fast to her sister'sdress, and neither of them could free herself. At last, in came thethird sister with the same intention. "Keep away, keep away!" screamedthe other two; "in heaven's name keep away!"

But she could not imagine why she should keep away. If they were nearthe golden bird, why should not she be there? So she made a springforward and touched her second sister, and immediately she also was madea prisoner, and in this position they were obliged to remain by thegoose all night. 

In the morning the young man came in, took the goose on his arm, andwent away without troubling himself about the three girls, who werefollowing close behind him. And as he walked quickly, they were obligedto run one behind the other, left or right of him, just as he wasinclined to go. 

In the middle of a field they were met by the parson of the parish, wholooked with wonder at the procession as it came near him. "Shame onyou!" he cried out. "What are you about, you bold-faced hussies, runningafter a young man in that way through the fields? Go home, all of you. "

He placed his hand on the youngest to pull her back, but the moment hetouched her he also became fixed, and was obliged to follow and run likethe rest. In a few minutes the clerk met them, and when he saw theparson runing after the girls, he wondered greatly, and cried out, "Halloa, master parson, where are you running in such haste? Have youforgotten that there is a christening to-day?" And as the procession didnot stop, he ran after it, and seized the parson's gown. 

In a moment he found that his hand was fixed, and he also had to runlike the rest. And now there were five trotting along, one behind theother. Presently two peasants came by with their sickles from the field. The parson called out to them, and begged them to come and release himand the clerk. Hardly had they touched the clerk when they also stuckfast as the others, and the simpleton with his golden goose travelledwith the seven. 

After awhile they came to a city in which reigned a king who had adaughter of such a melancholy disposition that no one could make herlaugh; therefore he issued a decree that whoever would make the princesslaugh should have her in marriage. 

Now, when the simple youth heard this, he ran before her, and the wholeseven trotted after him. The sight was so ridiculous that the moment theprincess saw it she burst into a violent fit of laughter and theythought she would never leave off. 

After this, the youth went to the king, and demanded his daughter inmarriage, according to the king's decree; but his majesty did not quitelike to have the young man for a son-in-law, so he said that, before hecould consent to the marriage, the youth must bring him a man who coulddrink all the wine in the king's cellar. 

The simpleton went into the forest, for he thought, "If anyone can helpme, it is the little gray man. " When he arrived at the spot where he hadcut down the tree, there stood a man with a very miserable face. 

The youth asked him why he looked so sorrowful. 

"Oh, " he exclaimed, "I suffer such dreadful thirst that nothing seemsable to quench it; and cold water I cannot endure. I have emptied a caskof wine already, but it was just like a drop of water on a hot stone. "

"I can help you, " cried the young man; "come with me, and you shall haveyour fill, I promise you. "

Upon this he led the man into the king's cellar, where he opened thecasks one after another, and drank and drank till his back ached; andbefore the day closed he had quite emptied the king's cellar. 

Again the young man asked for his bride, but the king was annoyed at thethought of giving his daughter to such a common fellow, and to get ridof him he made another condition. He said that no man should have hisdaughter who could not find someone able to eat up a whole mountain ofbread. 

Away went the simpleton to the forest as before, and there in the sameplace sat a man binding himself round tightly with a belt, and makingthe most horrible faces. As the youth approached, he cried, "I haveeaten a whole ovenful of rolls, but it has not satisfied me a bit; I amas hungry as ever, and my stomach feels so empty that I am obliged tobind it round tightly, or I should die of hunger. "

The simpleton could hardly contain himself for joy when he heard this. "Get up, " he exclaimed, "and come with me, and I will give you plenty toeat, I'll warrant. "

So he led him to the king's court, where his majesty had ordered all theflour in the kingdom to be made into bread, and piled up in a hugemountain. The hungry man placed himself before the bread, and began toeat, and before evening the whole pile had disappeared. 

Then the simpleton went a third time to the king, and asked for hisbride, but the king made several excuses, and at last said that if hecould bring him a ship that would travel as well by land as by water, then he should, without any further conditions, marry his daughter. 

The youth went at once straight to the forest, and saw the same old grayman to whom he had given his cake. "Ah, " he said, as the youthapproached, "it was I who sent the men to eat and drink, and I will alsogive you a ship that can travel by land or by sea, because when youthought I was poor you were kind-hearted, and gave me food and drink. "

The youth took the ship, and when the king saw it he was quitesurprised; but he could not any longer refuse to give him his daughterin marriage. The wedding was celebrated with great pomp, and after theking's death the simple wood-cutter inherited the whole kingdom, andlived happily with his wife. 

CHAPTER X

THE TWELVE BROTHERS

There were once a king and queen who had twelve children--all boys. Now, one day the king told his wife that if a daughter should be born, allthe sons must die--that their sister alone might inherit his kingdom andriches. 

So the king had twelve coffins made, which were filled with shavings, and in each was the little pillow for the dead. He had them locked up ina private room, the key of which he gave to the queen, praying her notto speak of it to anyone. But the poor mother was so unhappy that shewept for a whole day, and looked so sad that her youngest son noticedit. 

He had the Bible name of Benjamin, and was always with his mother. 

"Dear mother, " he said, "why are you so sorrowful?"

"My child, I may not tell you, " she replied; but the boy allowed her norest till she unlocked the door of the private room, and showed him thetwelve coffins filled with shavings. 

"Dearest Benjamin, " she said, "these coffins are for you and yourbrothers; for if you should ever have a little sister, you will all die, and be buried in them. "

She wept bitterly as she told him, but her son comforted her, and said, "Do not weep, dear mother. We will take care of ourselves, and go faraway. "

Then she took courage, and said, "Yes, go away with your elevenbrothers, and remain in the forest; and let one climb a tree, fromwhence he will be able to see the tower of the castle; If I should havea son, a white flag shall be hoisted, and then you may return home; butif you see a red flag, you will know it is a girl, and then hasten awayas fast as you can, and may Heaven protect you! Every night I will prayfor you, that you may not suffer from the cold in winter or the heat insummer. "

Then she blessed all her sons, and they went away into the forest, whileeach in turn mounted a high tree daily, to watch for the flag on thetower. 

Eleven days passed, and it was Benjamin's turn to watch. He saw the flaghoisted, and it was red--the signal that they must die. The brotherswere angry, and said, "Shall we suffer death on account of a maiden?When we find one we will kill her, to avenge ourselves. "

They went still farther into the forest, and came upon a most pleasantlittle cottage, which was uninhabited. "We will make this our home, "they said; "and Benjamin, as you are the youngest and weakest, you shallstay at home and keep house, while we go out and procure food. "

So they wandered about the forest, shooting hares, wild rabbits, pigeonsand other birds, which they brought to Benjamin to prepare for food. Inthis cottage they lived for ten years happily together, so that the timepassed quickly. 

Their little sister was growing a great girl. She had a sweetdisposition, and was very beautiful to look upon. She wore rich clothes, and a golden star on her forehead. 

One day, when she was about ten years old, she discovered in hermother's wardrobe twelve shirts. "Mother, " she exclaimed, "whose shirtsare these? They are much too small for my father. "

The queen sighed as she replied, "Dear child, these shirts belong toyour twelve brothers. "

"Twelve brothers!" cried the little maiden. "Where are they? I have noteven heard of them. "

"Heaven knows where they are, " was the reply; "but they are wanderingabout the world somewhere. " Then the queen took her little daughter tothe private room in the castle, and showed her the twelve coffins whichhad been prepared for her brothers, and related to her, with many tears, why they had left home. 

"Dear mother, " said the child, "do not weep. I will go and seek mybrothers. " So she took the twelve shirts with her, and wandered awayinto the forest. 

She walked for a whole day, and in the evening came to a cottage, stepped in, and found a young boy, who stared with astonishment atseeing a beautiful little girl dressed in rich clothing and wearing agolden star on her forehead. 

At last he said, "Who are you, and what do you want?"

"I am a king's daughter, " she said, "and I seek my twelve brothers, andI intend to search for them till I find them;" and she showed him theirshirts. 

Then Benjamin knew that she was his sister, and said, "I am youryoungest brother, Benjamin. " Then she wept for joy. They kissed eachother with deep affection, and were for a time very happy. 

At last Benjamin said, "Dear sister, we have made a vow that the firstyoung maiden we meet should die, because through a maiden we have lostour kingly rights. "

"I would willingly die, " she said, "if by so doing I could restore mybrothers to their rightful possessions. "

"No, you shall not die, " he replied. "Hide yourself behind this tubuntil our eleven brothers come home; then I will make an agreement withthem. "

At night the brothers returned from hunting, and the supper was ready. While they sat at table, one of them said, "Well, Benjamin, have you anynews?"

"Perhaps I have, " he said, "although it seems strange that I, who stayat home, should know more than you, who have been out. "

"Well, tell us your news, " said one. So he said:

"I will tell you if you will make one promise. "

"Yes, yes!" they all cried. "What is it?"

"Well, then, promise me that the first maiden you meet with in theforest shall _not_ die. "

"Yes, yes!" said they all; "she shall have mercy, but tell us. "

"Then, " said the youngest brother, "our sister is here;" and, rising, helifted the tub, and the king's daughter came forth in her royal robesand with a golden star on her forehead, and looking so fair and delicateand beautiful that the brothers were full of joy, and kissed andembraced her with the fondest affection. 

She stayed with Benjamin, and helped him in keeping the house clean andcooking the game which the others brought home. Everything was so nicelymanaged now and with so much order, the curtains and the quilts werebeautifully white, and the dinners cooked so well that the brothers werealways contented, and lived in great unity with their little sister. 

There was a pretty garden around the house in which they lived, and oneday, when they were all at home dining together, and enjoyingthemselves, the maiden went out into the garden to gather them someflowers. 

She had tended twelve lilies with great care, and they were now in suchsplendid bloom that she determined to pluck them for her brothers, toplease them. 

But the moment she gathered the lilies, her twelve brothers were changedinto twelve ravens, and flew away over the trees of the forest, whilethe charming house and garden vanished from her sight. Now was the poorlittle maiden left all alone in the wild wood, and knew not what to do;but on turning round she saw a curious old woman standing near, who saidto her, "My child, what hast thou done? Why didst thou not leave thosewhite flowers to grow on their stems? They were thy twelve brothers, andnow they will always remain ravens. "

"Is there no way to set them free?" asked the maiden, weeping. 

"No way in the world, " she replied, "but one, and that is far toodifficult for thee to perform; yet it would break the spell and set themfree. Hast thou firmness enough to remain dumb seven years, and notspeak to anyone, or even laugh? for if ever you utter a single word, orfail only once in the seven years, all you have done before will bevain, and at this one word your brothers will die. "

"Yes, " said the maiden, "I can do this to set my brothers free. "

Then the maiden climbed into a tree, and, seating herself in thebranches, began to knit. 

She remained here, living on the fruit that grew on the tree, andwithout laughing or uttering a word. 

As she sat in her tree, the king, who was hunting, had a favouritehound, who very soon discovered her, ran to the tree on which the maidensat, sprang up to it, and barked at her violently. 

The king came nearer, and saw the beautiful king's daughter with thegolden star on her forehead. He was so struck with her beauty that hebegged her to come down, and asked her to be his bride. She did notspeak a word, but merely nodded her head. Then the king himself climbedup into the tree, and bringing her down, seated her on his own horse andgalloped away with her to his home. 

The marriage was soon after celebrated with great pomp, but the brideneither spoke nor laughed. 

When they had lived happily together for some years, the king's mother, a wicked woman, began to raise evil reports about the queen, and said tothe king, "It is some beggar girl you have picked up. Who can tell whatwicked tricks she practises. She can't help being dumb, but why does shenever laugh? unless she has a guilty conscience. " The king at firstwould listen to none of these suspicions, but she urged him so long, andaccused the queen of such wicked conduct, that at last he condemned herto be burnt to death. 

Now in the court-yard a great fire was kindled, and the king stoodweeping at a window overlooking the court of the palace, for he stillloved her dearly. He saw her brought forth and tied to the stake; thefire kindled, and the flames with their forked tongues were creepingtowards her, when at the last moment the seven years were past, andsuddenly a rustling noise of wings was heard in the air; twelve blackravens alighted on the earth and instantly assumed their own forms--theywere the brothers of the queen. 

They tore down the pile and extinguished the fire, set their sisterfree, and embraced her tenderly. The queen, who was now able to speak, told the king why she had been dumb and had never laughed. 

The delight of the king was only equalled by his anger against thewicked witch, who was brought to justice and ordered to be thrown into avat of oil full of poisonous snakes, where she died a dreadful death. 

CHAPTER XI

THE FAIR ONE WITH THE GOLDEN LOCKS

There was once a most beautiful and amiable princess who was called "TheFair One with Locks of Gold, " for her hair shone brighter than gold, andflowed in curls down to her feet, her head was always encircled by awreath of beautiful flowers, and pearls and diamonds. 

A handsome, rich, young prince, whose territories joined to hers, wasdeeply in love with the reports he heard of her, and sent to demand herin marriage. The ambassador sent with proposals was most sumptuouslyattired, and surrounded by lackeys on beautiful horses, as well ascharged with every kind of compliment, from the anxious prince, whohoped he would bring the princess back with him; but whether it was thatshe was not that day in a good humour, or that she did not like thespeeches made by the ambassador, I don't know, but she returned thanksto his master for the honour he intended her, and said she had noinclination to marry. When the ambassador arrived at the king's chiefcity, where he was expected with great impatience, the people wereextremely afflicted to see him return without the Fair One with theLocks of Gold; and the king wept like a child. There was a youth atcourt whose beauty outshone the sun, the gracefulness of whose personwas not to be equalled, and for his gracefulness and wit, he was calledAvenant: the king loved him, and indeed every body except the envious. Avenant being one day in company with some persons, inconsideratelysaid, "If the king had sent me to the Fair One with Locks of Gold, Idare say I could have prevailed on her to return with me. " These enviersof Avenant's prosperity immediately ran open mouthed to the king, saying, "Sir sir, what does your majesty think Avenant says? He boaststhat if you had sent him to the Fair One with the Golden Hair, he couldhave brought her with him; which shows he is so vain as to think himselfhandsomer than your majesty and that her love for him would have madeher follow him wherever he went. " This put the king into a violent rage. "What!" said he, "does this youngster make a jest at my misfortune, andpretend to set himself above me? Go and put him immediately in my greattower, and there let him starve to death. " The king's guards went andseized Avenant who thought no more of what he had said, dragged him toprison, and used him in the most cruel manner. 

One day when he was almost quite spent, he said to himself, fetching adeep sigh, "Wherein can I have offended the king? He has not a morefaithful subject than myself; nor have I ever done any thing todisplease him. " The king happened at that time to pass by the tower; andstopped to hear him, notwithstanding the persuasions of those that werewith him; "Hold your peace, " replied the king, "and let me hear himout. " Which having done, and being greatly moved by his sufferings, heopened the door of the tower, and called him by his name. Upon whichAvenant came forth in a sad condition, and, throwing himself at theking's feet, "What have I done, sir, " said he, "that your majesty shoulduse me thus severely?" "Thou hast ridiculed me and my ambassador, "replied the king; "and hast said, that if I had sent thee to the FairOne with Locks of Gold, thou couldst have brought her with thee. " "It istrue, sir, " replied Avenant, "for I would have so thoroughly convincedher of your transcending qualities, that it should not have been in herpower to have denied me; and this, surely, I said in the name of yourmajesty. " The king found in reality he had done no injury; so, he tookhim away with him, repenting heartily of the wrong he had done him. After having given him an excellent supper, the king sent for him intohis cabinet. "Avenant, " said he, "I still love the Fair One with Locksof Gold; I have a mind to send thee to her, to try whether thou canstsucceed, " Avenant replied, he was ready to obey his majesty in allthings, and would depart the very next morning. "Hold, " said the king, "I will provide thee first with a most sumptuous equipage. " "There is nonecessity for that, " answered Avenant; "I need only a good horse andyour letters of credence. " Upon this the king embraced him; beingoverjoyed to see him so soon ready. 

It was upon a Monday morning that he took leave of the king and hisfriends. Being on his journey by break of day, and entering into aspacious meadow, a fine thought came into his head; he alightedimmediately, and seated himself by the bank of a little stream thatwatered one side of the meadow, and wrote the sentiment down in hispocket book. After he had done writing, he looked about him every way, being charmed with the beauties of the place, and suddenly perceived alarge gilded carp, which stirred a little, and that was all it could do, for having attempted to catch some little flies, it had leaped so farout of the water, as to throw itself upon the grass, where it was almostdead, not being able to recover its natural element. Avenant took pityon the poor creature, and though it was a fish-day, and he might havecarried it away for his dinner, he took it up, and gently put it againinto the river, where the carp, feeling the refreshing coolness of thewater, began to rejoice, and sunk to the bottom; but soon rising upagain, brisk and gay, to the side of the river; "Avenant, " said thecarp, "I thank you for the kindness you have done me; had it not beenfor you, I had died; but you have saved my life, and I will reward you. "After this short compliment, the carp darted itself to the bottom of thewater, leaving Avenant not a little surprised at its wit and greatcivility. 

Another day, as he was pursuing his journey, he saw a crow in greatdistress: being pursued by a huge eagle, he took his bow, which healways carried abroad with him, and aiming at the eagle, let fly anarrow, which pierced him through the body, so that he fell down dead;which the crow seeing, came in an ecstasy of joy, and perched upon atree. "Avenant, " said the crow, "you have been extremely generous tosuccour me, who am but a poor wretched crow; but I am not ungrateful andwill do you as good a turn. " Avenant admired the wit of the crow, andcontinuing his journey, he entered into a wood so early one morning, that he could scarcely see his way, where he heard an owl crying outlike an owl in despair. So looking about every where, he at length cameto a place where certain fowlers had spread their nets in the night-timeto catch little birds. "What pity 'tis, " said he, "men are only made totorment one another, or else to persecute poor animals who never do themany harm!" So saying, he drew his knife, cut the cords, and set the owlat liberty; who, before he took wing, said, "Avenant, the fowlers arecoming, I should have been taken, and must have died, without yourassistance: I have a grateful heart, and will remember it. "

These were the three most remarkable adventures that befell Avenant inhis journey; and when he arrived at the end of it, he washed himself, combed and powdered his hair, and put on a suit of cloth of gold: whichhaving done, he put a rich embroidered scarf about his neck, with asmall basket, wherein was a little dog which he was very fond of. AndAvenant was so amiable, and did every thing with so good a grace, thatwhen he presented himself at the gate of the palace, all the guards paidhim great respect, and every one strove who should first give notice tothe Fair One with Locks of Gold, that Avenant, the neighbouring king'sambassador, demanded audience. The princess on hearing the name ofAvenant, said, "It has a pleasing sound, and I dare say he is agreeableand pleases every body; and she said to her maids of honour, go fetch memy rich embroidered gown of blue satin, dress my hair, and bring mywreaths of fresh flowers: let me have my high shoes, and my fan, and letmy audience chamber and throne be clean, and richly adorned; for I wouldhave him every where with truth say, that I am really the Fair One withLocks of Gold. " Thus all her women were employed to dress her as a queenshould be. At length, she went to her great gallery of looking-glasses, to see if any thing was wanting; after which she ascended her throne ofgold, ivory, and ebony, the fragrant smell of which was superior to thechoicest balm. She also commanded her maids of honour to take theirinstruments, and play to their own singing so sweetly that none shouldbe disgusted. 

Avenant was conducted into the chamber of audience, were he stood sotransported with admiration, that, as he afterwards said, he hadscarcely power to open his lips. At length, however, he took courage, and made his speech wonderfully well; wherein he prayed the princess notto let him be so unfortunate as to return without her. "Gentle Avenant, "said she, "all the reasons you have laid before me, are very good, and Iassure you, I would rather favour you than any other; but you must know, about a month since, I went to take the air by the side of a river, withmy maids of honour; as I was pulling off my glove, I pulled a ring frommy finger, which by accident fell into the river. This ring I valuedmore than my whole kingdom; whence you may judge how much I am afflictedby the loss of it. And I have made a vow never to hearken to anyproposals of marriage, unless the ambassador who makes them shall alsobring my ring. This is the present which you have to make me; otherwiseyou may talk your heart out, for months and even years shall neverchange my resolution. " When he returned to his lodgings, he went to bedsupperless; and his little dog, who was called Cabriole, made a fastingnight of it too, and went and lay down by his master; who did nothingall night but sigh and lament, saying, "How can I find a ring that fellinto a great river a month ago? It would be folly to attempt it. Theprincess enjoined me this task, merely because she knew it wasimpossible, " he continued, greatly afflicted; which Cabriole observing, said, "My dear master, pray do not despair of your good fortune; for youare too good to be unhappy. Therefore, when it is day, let us go to theriver side. " Avenant made no answer, but gave his dog two little cuffswith his hand, and being overwhelmed with grief, fell asleep. 

But when Cabriole perceived it was broad day, he fell a barking so loudthat he waked his master. "Rise, sir, " said he, "put on your clothes, and let us go and try our fortune. " Avenant took his little dog'sadvice; got up, and dressed himself, went down into the garden, and outof the garden he walked insensibly to the river side, with his hat overhis eyes, and his arms across, thinking of nothing but taking his leave;when all on a sudden he heard a voice call, "Avenant, Avenant!" uponwhich he looked around him, but seeing nothing, he concluded it was anillusion, and was proceeding in his walk; but he presently heard himselfcalled again. "Who calls me?" said he; Cabriole, who was very little andlooked closely into the water, cried out, "Never believe me, if it isnot a gilded carp. " Immediately the carp appeared, and with an audiblevoice said, "Avenant, you saved my life in the poplar meadow, where Imust have died without your assistance; and now I am come to requiteyour kindness. Here, my dear Avenant, here is the ring which the FairOne with Locks of Gold dropped into the river. " Upon which he stoopedand took it out of the carp's mouth; to whom he returned a thousandthanks. And now, instead of returning home, he went directly to thepalace with little Cabriole, who skipped about, and wagged his tail forjoy, that he had persuaded his master to walk by the side of the river. The princess being told that Avenant desired an audience: "Alas, " saidshe, "the poor youth has come to take his leave of me! He has consideredwhat I enjoined him as impossible, and is returning to his master. " ButAvenant being admitted, presented her the ring, saying, "Madam, behold Ihave executed your command; and now, I hope, you will receive my masterfor your royal consort. " When she saw her ring, and that it was nowaysinjured, she was so amazed that she could hardly believe her eyes. "Surely, courteous Avenant, " said she, "you must be favoured by somefairy; for naturally this is impossible. " "Madam, " said he, "I amacquainted with no fairy; but I was willing to obey your command. ""Well, then, seeing you have so good a will, " continued she, "you mustdo me another piece of service, without which I will never marry. Thereis a certain prince who lives not far from hence, whose name isGalifron, and whom nothing would serve but that he must needs marry me. He declared his mind to me, with most terrible menaces, that if I deniedhim, he would enter my kingdom with fire and sword; but you shall judgewhether I would accept his proposal: he is a giant, as high as asteeple; he devours men as an ape eats chestnuts; when he goes into thecountry, he carries cannons in his pocket, to use instead of pistols;and when he speaks aloud he deafens the ears of those that stand nearhim. I answered him, that I did not choose to marry, and desired him toexcuse me. Nevertheless, he has not ceased to persecute me, and has putan infinite number of my subjects to the sword: therefore, before allother things you must fight him, and bring me his head. "

Avenant was somewhat startled by this proposal; but, having consideredit awhile, "Well, madam, " said he, "I will fight this Galifron; Ibelieve I shall be vanquished; but I will die like a man of courage. "The princess was astonished at his intrepidity, and said a thousandthings to dissuade him from it, but all in vain. At length he arrived atGalifron's castle, the roads all the way being strewed with the bonesand carcasses of men which the giant had devoured, or cut in pieces. Itwas not long before Avenant saw the monster approach, and he immediatelychallenged him; but there was no occasion for this, for he lifted hisiron mace, and had certainly beat out the gentle Avenant's brains at thefirst blow, had not a crow at that instant perched upon the giant'shead, and with his bill pecked out both his eyes. The blood trickleddown his face, whereat he grew desperate, and laid about him on everyside; but Avenant took care to avoid his blows, and gave him many greatwounds with his sword, which he pushed up to the very hilt; so that thegiant fainted, and fell down with loss of blood. Avenant immediately cutoff his head; and while he was in an ecstasy of joy, for his goodsuccess, the crow perched upon a tree, and said, "Avenant, I did notforget the kindnesses I received at your hands, when you killed theeagle that pursued me; I promised to make you amends, and now I havebeen as good as my word. " "I acknowledge your kindness, Mr. Crow, "replied Avenant; "I am still your debtor, and your servant. " So saying, he mounted his courser, and rode away with the giant's horrid head. Whenhe arrived at the city, every body crowded after him, crying out, "Longlive the valiant Avenant, who has slain the cruel monster!" so that theprincess, who heard the noise, and trembling for fear she should haveheard of Avenant's death, durst not inquire what was the matter. Butpresently after, she saw Avenant enter with the giant's head; at thesight of which she trembled, though there was nothing to fear. "Madam, "said he, "behold your enemy is dead; and now, I hope, you will no longerrefuse the king my master. " "Alas!" replied the Fair One with Locks ofGold, "I must still refuse him, unless you can find means to bring mesome of the water of the gloomy cave. Not far from hence, " continuedshe, "there is a very deep cave, about six leagues in compass; theentrance into which is guarded by two dragons. The dragons dart firefrom their mouths and eyes; and when you have got into this cave, youwill meet with a very deep hole, into which you must go down, and youwill find it full of toads, adders and serpents. At the bottom of thishole there is a kind of cellar, through which runs the fountain ofbeauty and health. This is the water I must have; its virtues arewonderful; for the fair, by washing in it, preserve their beauty; andthe deformed it renders beautiful; if they are young, it preserves themalways youthful; and if old it makes them young again. Now judge you, Avenant, whether I will ever leave my kingdom without carrying some ofthis water along with me. " "Madam, " said he, "you are so beautiful, thatthis water will be of no use to you; but I am an unfortunate ambassador, whose death you seek. However, I will go in search of what you desire, though I am certain never to return. "

At length he arrived at the top of a mountain, where he sat down to resthimself; giving his horse liberty to feed, and Cabriole to run after theflies. He knew that the gloomy cave was not far off, and looked about tosee whether he could discover it; and at length he perceived a horridrock as black as ink, whence issued a thick smoke; and immediately afterhe spied one of the dragons casting forth fire from his jaws and eyes;his skin all over yellow and green, with prodigious claws and a longtail rolled up in an hundred folds. Avenant, with a resolution to die inthe attempt, drew his sword, and with the phial which the Fair One withLocks of Gold had given him to fill with the water of beauty, wenttowards the cave, saying to his little dog, "Cabriole, here is an end ofme; I never shall be able to get this water, it is so well guarded bythe dragons; therefore when I am dead, fill this phial with my blood, and carry it to my princess, that she may see what her severity has costme: then go to the king my master and give him an account of mymisfortunes. " While he was saying this, he heard a voice call "Avenant, Avenant!" "Who calls me?" said he; and presently he espied an owl in thehole of an old hollow tree, who, calling him again, said, "You rescuedme from the fowler's net, where I had been assuredly taken, had you notdelivered me. I promised to make you amends, and now the time is come;give me your phial; I am acquainted with all the secret inlets into thegloomy cave, and will go and fetch you the water of beauty. " Avenantmost gladly gave the phial, and the owl, entering without any impedimentinto the cave, filled it, and in less than a quarter of an hour returnedwith it well stopped. Avenant was overjoyed at his good fortune, gavethe owl a thousand thanks, and returned with a merry heart to the city. Being arrived at the palace, he presented the phial to the Fair One withLocks of Gold, who had then nothing further to say. She returned Avenantthanks, and gave orders for every thing that was requisite for herdeparture: after which she set forward with him. The Fair One with Locksof Gold thought Avenant very amiable, and said to him sometimes upon theroad, "If you had been willing, I could have made you a king; and thenwe need not have left my kingdom. " But Avenant replied, "I would nothave been guilty of such a piece of treachery to my master for all thekingdoms of the earth; though I must acknowledge your beauties are moreresplendent than the sun. "

At length they arrived at the king's chief city, who understanding thatthe Fair One with Locks of Gold was arrived, he went forth to meet her, and made her the richest presents in the world. The nuptials weresolemnized with such demonstrations of joy, that nothing else wasdiscoursed of. But the Fair One with Locks of Gold, who loved Avenant inher heart, was never pleased but when she was in his company, and wouldbe always speaking in his praise: "I had never come hither, " said she tothe king, "had it not been for Avenant, who, to serve me, has conqueredimpossibilities; you are infinitely obliged to him; he procured me thewater of beauty and health; by which I shall never grow old, and shallalways preserve my health and beauty. " The enviers of Avenant'shappiness, who heard the queen's words, said to the king, "Were yourmajesty inclined to be jealous, you have reason enough to be so, for thequeen is desperately in love with Avenant. " "Indeed, " said the king, "Iam sensible of the truth of what you tell me; let him be put in thegreat tower, with fetters upon his feet and hands. " Avenant wasimmediately seized. However, his little dog Cabriole never forsook him, but cheered him the best he could, and brought him all the news of thecourt. When the Fair One with Locks of Gold was informed of hismisfortunes, she threw herself at the king's feet, and all in tearsbesought him to release Avenant out of prison. But the more she besoughthim the more he was incensed, believing it was her affection that madeher so zealous a suppliant in his behalf. Finding she could not prevail, she said no more to him, but grew very pensive and melancholy. 

The king took it into his head that she did not think him handsomeenough; so he resolved to wash his face with the water of beauty, inhopes that the queen would then conceive a greater affection for himthan she had. This water stood in a phial upon a table in the queen'schamber, where she had put it, that it might not be out of her sight. But one of the chambermaids going to kill a spider with her besom, byaccident threw down the phial, and broke it, so that the water was lost. She dried it up with all the speed she could, and not knowing what todo, she bethought herself that she had seen a phial of clear water inthe king's cabinet very like that she had broken. Without any more ado, therefore, she went and fetched that phial, and set it upon the table inplace of the other. This water which was in the king's cabinet, was acertain water which he made use of to poison the great lords and princesof his court when they were convicted of any great crime; to whichpurpose, instead of cutting off their heads, or hanging them, he causedtheir faces to be rubbed with this water, which cast them into soprofound a sleep that they never waked again. Now the king one eveningtook this phial, and rubbed his face well with the water, after which hefell asleep and died. Cabriole was one of the first that came to aknowledge of this accident, and immediately ran to inform Avenant of itwho bid him go to the Fair One with Locks of Gold, and remind her of thepoor prisoner. Cabriole slipped unperceived through the crowd, for therewas a great noise and hurry at court upon the king's death; and gettingto the queen, "Madam, " said he, "remember poor Avenant. " She presentlycalled to mind the afflictions he had suffered for her sake, and hisfidelity. Without speaking a word, she went directly to the great tower, and took off the fetters from Avenant's feet and hands herself; afterwhich, putting the crown upon his head, and the royal mantle about hisshoulders, "Amiable Avenant, " said she, "I will make you a sovereignprince, and take you for my consort. " Avenant threw himself at her feet, and in terms the most passionate and respectful returned her thanks. Every body was overjoyed to have him for their king: the nuptials werethe most splendid in the world; and the Fair One. With Locks of Goldlived a long time with her beloved Avenant, both happy and contented inthe enjoyment of each other. 

CHAPTER XII

TOM THUMB

In the days of King Arthur, Merlin, the most learned enchanter of histime, was on a journey; and, being very weary, stopped one day at thecottage of an honest ploughman to ask for refreshment. The ploughman'swife, with great civility, immediately brought him some milk in a woodenbowl, and some brown bread on a wooden platter. Merlin could not helpobserving, that, although every thing within the cottage wasparticularly neat and clean, and in good order, the ploughman and hiswife had the most sorrowful air imaginable. So he questioned them on thecause of their melancholy, and learned that they were very miserablebecause they had no children. The poor woman declared, with tears in hereyes, that she should be the happiest creature in the world if she had ason, although he were no bigger than his father's thumb. Merlin was muchamused with the thoughts of a boy no bigger than a man's thumb, and, assoon as he returned home, he sent for the queen of the fairies (withwhom he was very intimate), and related to her the desire of theploughman and his wife to have a son the size of his father's thumb. Thequeen of the fairies liked the plan exceedingly, and declared their wishshould speedily be granted. Accordingly the ploughman's wife had a son, who in a few minutes grew as tall as his father's thumb. The queen ofthe fairies came in at the window as the mother was sitting up in bedadmiring the child. The queen kissed the infant, and giving it the nameof Tom Thumb, immediately summoned several fairies from Fairy Land toclothe her little new favourite:

 "An oak leaf hat he had for his crown, His shirt it was by spiders spun; With doublet wove of thistle's down, His trousers up with points were done. His stockings, of apple rind, they tie With eye-lash plucked from his mother's eye, His shoes were made of a mouse's skin, Nicely tanned, with the hair within. "

Tom never was any bigger than his father's thumb, which was not a largethumb either; but, as he grew older, he became very cunning and sly, forwhich his mother did not sufficiently correct him, so that when he wasable to play with the boys for cherry stones, and had lost all his own, he used to creep into the boys' bags, fill his pockets, and come outagain to play. But one day as he was getting out of a bag of cherrystones, the boy to whom it belonged chanced to see him. "Ah ha, mylittle Tom Thumb!" said the boy, "have I caught you at your bad tricksat last? Now I will reward you for thieving. " Then drawing the stringtight round his neck, and shaking the bag heartily, the cherry stonesbruised Tom's legs, thighs, and body sadly; which made him beg to be letout, and promise never to be guilty of such things any more. Shortlyafterwards, Tom's mother was making a batter pudding, and, that he mightsee how she mixed it, he climbed on the edge of the bowl; but his foothappening to slip, he fell over head and ears into the batter, and hismother not observing him, stirred him into the pudding, and popped himinto the pot to boil. The hot water made Tom kick and struggle; and hismother, seeing the pudding jump up and down in such a furious manner, thought it was bewitched; and a tinker coming by just at the time, shequickly gave him the pudding, who put it into his budget and walked on. 

As soon as Tom could get the batter out of his mouth, he began to cryaloud; which so frightened the poor tinker, that he flung the puddingover the hedge, and ran away from it as fast as he could run. Thepudding being broken to pieces by the fall, Tom was released, and walkedhome to his mother, who gave him a kiss and put him to bed. Tom Thumb'smother once took him with her when she went to milk the cow; and itbeing a very windy day, she tied him with a needleful of thread to athistle, that he might not be blown away. The cow liking his oak leafhat took him and the thistle up at one mouthful. While the cow chewedthe thistle, Tom, terrified at her great teeth, which seemed ready tocrush him to pieces, roared, "Mother, Mother!" as loud as he could bawl. "Where are you, Tommy, my dear Tommy?" said the mother. "Here, mother, here in the red cow's mouth. " The mother began to cry and wring herhands; but the cow surprised at such odd noises in her throat, openedher mouth and let him drop out. His mother clapped him into her apron, and ran home with him. Tom's father made him a whip of a barley straw todrive the cattle with, and being one day in the field, he slipped into adeep furrow. A raven flying over, picked him up with a grain of corn, and flew with him to the top of a giant's castle, by the seaside, wherehe left him; and old Grumbo the giant, coming soon after to walk uponhis terrace, swallowed Tom like a pill, clothes and all. Tom presentlymade the giant very uncomfortable, and he threw him up into the sea. Agreat fish then swallowed him. The fish was soon after caught, and sentas a present to King Arthur. When it was cut open, every body wasdelighted with little Tom Thumb. The king made him his dwarf; he was thefavourite of the whole court; and, by his merry pranks, often amused thequeen and the knights of the Round Table. The king, when he rode onhorseback, frequently took Tom in his hand; and, if a shower of raincame on, he used to creep into the king's waist-coat pocket, and sleeptill the rain was over. The king also, sometimes questioned Tomconcerning his parents; and when Tom informed his majesty they were verypoor people, the king led him into his treasury, and told him he shouldpay his friends a visit, and take with him as much money as he couldcarry. Tom procured a little purse, and putting a threepenny piece intoit, with much labour and difficulty got it upon his back; and, aftertravelling two days and nights, arrived at his father's house. 

His mother met him at the door, almost tired to death, having inforty-eight hours travelled almost half a mile with a huge silverthreepence upon his back. His parents were glad to see him, especiallywhen he had brought such an amazing sum of money with him. They placedhim in a walnut shell by the fire side, and feasted him for three daysupon a hazel nut, which made him sick, for a whole nut usually servedhim a month. Tom got well, but could not travel because it had rained;therefore his mother took him in her hand, and with one puff blew himinto King Arthur's court; where Tom entertained the king, queen, andnobility at tilts and tournaments, at which he exerted himself so muchthat he brought on a fit of sickness, and his life was despaired of. Atthis juncture the queen of the fairies came in a chariot drawn by flyingmice, placed Tom by her side, and drove through the air, withoutstopping till they arrived at her palace; when, after restoring him tohealth, and permitting him to enjoy all the gay diversions of FairyLand, the queen commanded a fair wind, and, placing Tom before it, blewhim straight to the court of King Arthur. But just as Tom should havealighted in the court-yard of the palace, the cook happened to pass alongwith the king's great bowl of firmity (King Arthur loved firmity), andpoor Tom Thumb fell plump into the middle of it and splashed the hotfirmity into the cook's eyes. Down went the bowl. "Oh dear; oh dear!"cried Tom; "Murder! murder!" bellowed the cook! and away ran the king'snice firmity into the kennel. The cook was a red-faced, cross fellow, and swore to the king, that Tom had done it out of mere mischief; so hewas taken up, tried, and sentenced to be beheaded. Tom hearing thisdreadful sentence, and seeing a miller stand by with his mouth wideopen, he took a good spring, and jumped down the miller's throat, unperceived by all, even by the miller himself. 

Tom being lost, the court broke up, and away went the miller to hismill. But Tom did not leave him long at rest, he began to roll andtumble about, so that the miller thought himself bewitched, and sent fora doctor. When the doctor came, Tom began to dance and sing; the doctorwas as much frightened as the miller, and sent in great haste for fivemore doctors, and twenty learned men. While all these were debating uponthe affair, the miller (for they were very tedious) happened to yawn, and Tom, taking the opportunity, made another jump, and alighted on hisfeet in the middle of the table. The miller, provoked to be thustormented by such a little creature, fell into a great passion, caughthold of Tom, and threw him out of the window, into the river. A largesalmon swimming by, snapped him up in a minute. The salmon was sooncaught and sold in the market to the steward of a lord. The lord, thinking it an uncommon fine fish, made a present of it to the king, whoordered it to be dressed immediately. When the cook cut open the salmon, he found poor Tom, and ran with him directly to the king; but the kingbeing busy with state affairs, desired that he might be brought anotherday. The cook resolving to keep him safely this time, as he had solately given him the slip, clapped him into a mouse-trap, and left himto amuse himself by peeping through the wires for a whole week; when theking sent for him, he forgave him for throwing down the firmity, orderedhim new clothes and knighted him. 

 "His shirt was made of butterflies' wings; His boots were made of chicken skins; His coat and breeches were made with pride; A tailor's needle hung by his side; A mouse for a horse he used to ride. "

Thus dressed and mounted, he rode a hunting with the king and nobility, who all laughed heartily at Tom and his fine prancing steed. As theyrode by a farm house one day, a cat jumped from behind the door, seizedthe mouse and little Tom, and began to devour the mouse. However, Tomboldly drew his sword and attacked the cat, who then let him fall. Theking and his nobles seeing Tom falling, went to his assistance, and oneof the lords caught him in his hat; but poor Tom was sadly scratched, and his clothes were torn by the claws of the cat. In this condition hewas carried home, when a bed of down was made for him in a little ivorycabinet. The queen of the fairies came, and took him again to FairyLand, where she kept him for some years; and then, dressing him inbright green, sent him flying once more through the air to the earth, inthe days of King Thunstone. The people flocked far and near to look athim; and the king, before whom he was carried, asked him who he was, whence he came, and where he lived? Tom answered:

 "My name is Tom Thumb, From the Fairies I come; When King Arthur shone, This court was my home. In me he delighted, By him I was knighted, Did you never hear of Sir Thomas Thumb?"

The king was so charmed with this address, that he ordered a littlechair to be made, in order that Tom might sit on his table, and also apalace of gold a span high, with a door an inch wide, for little Tom tolive in. He also gave him a coach drawn by six small mice. This made thequeen angry, because she had not a new coach too. Therefore, resolvingto ruin Tom, she complained to the king that he had behaved veryinsolently to her. The king sent for him in a rage. Tom, to escape hisfury, crept into an empty snail-shell, and there lay till he was almoststarved; when peeping out of the shell, he saw a fine butterfly settledon the ground. He now ventured out, and getting astride, the butterflytook wing, and mounted into the air with little Tom on his back. Away heflew from field to field, from tree to tree, till at last he flew to theking's court. The king, queen, and nobles, all strove to catch thebutterfly, but could not. At length poor Tom, having neither bridle norsaddle, slipped from his seat, and fell into a white pot, where he wasfound almost drowned. The queen vowed he should be guillotined: butwhile the guillotine was getting ready, he was secured once more in amouse-trap; when the cat seeing something stir, and supposing it to bethe mouse, patted the trap about till she broke it, and set Tom atliberty. Soon afterwards a spider, taking him for a fly, made at him. Tom drew his sword and fought valiantly, but the spider's poisonousbreath overcame him:

 "He fell dead on the ground where late he had stood, And the spider sucked up the last drop of his blood. "

King Thunstone and his whole court went into mourning for little TomThumb. They buried him under a rosebush, and raised a nice white marblemonument over his grave, with the following epitaph:

 "Here lies Tom Thumb, King Arthur's knight, Who died by spider's cruel bite. He was well known in Arthur's court, Where he afforded gallant sport; He rode at tilt and tournament, And on a mouse a hunting went; Alive he filled the court with mirth, His death to sorrow soon gave birth. Wipe, wipe your eyes, and shake your head And cry, 'Alas! Tom Thumb is dead. '"

CHAPTER XIII

BLUE BEARD

There was, some time ago, a gentleman who was very rich. He had finetown and country houses, his dishes and plates were all of gold orsilver, his rooms were hung with damask, his chairs and sofas werecovered with the richest silks, and his carriages were all gilt withgold in a grand style. But it happened that this gentleman had a bluebeard, which made him so very frightful and ugly, that none of theladies, in the parts where he lived, would venture to go into hiscompany. Now there was a certain lady of rank, who lived very near him, and had two daughters, both of them of very great beauty. Blue Beardasked her to bestow one of them upon him for a wife, and left it toherself to choose which of the two it should be. But both the youngladies again and again said they would never marry Blue Beard; yet, tobe as civil as they could, each of them said, the only reason why shewould not have him was, because she was loath to hinder her sister fromthe match, which would be such a good one for her. Still the truth ofthe matter was, they could neither of them bear the thoughts of having ahusband with a blue beard; and besides, they had heard of his havingbeen married to several wives before, and nobody could tell what hadever become of any of them. As Blue Beard wished very much to gain theirfavour, he asked the lady and her daughters, and some ladies who were ona visit at their house, to go with him to one of his country seats, where they spent a whole week, during which they passed all their timein nothing but parties for hunting and fishing, music, dancing, andfeasts. No one even thought of going to bed, and the nights were passedin merry-makings of all kinds. In short, the time rolled on in so muchpleasure, that the youngest of the two sisters began to think that thebeard which she had been so much afraid of, was not so very blue, andthat the gentleman who owned it was vastly civil and pleasing. Soonafter their return home, she told her mother that she had no longer anydislike to accept of Blue Beard for her husband; and in a very shorttime they were married. 

About a month after the marriage had taken place, Blue Beard told hiswife that he should be forced to leave her for a few weeks, as he hadsome affairs to attend to in the country. He desired her to be sure toindulge herself in every kind of pleasure, to invite as many of herfriends as she liked, and to treat them with all sorts of dainties, thather time might pass pleasantly till he came back again. "Here, " said he, "are the keys of the two large wardrobes. This is the key of the greatbox that contains the best plate, which we use for company, this belongsto my strong box, where I keep my money, and this belongs to the casket, in which are all my jewels. Here also is a master-key to all the roomsin the house; but this small key belongs to the closet at the end of thelong gallery on the ground floor. I give you leave, " said he, "to open, or to do what you like with all the rest except this closet. This, mydear, you must not enter, nor even put the key into the lock, for allthe world. If you do not obey me in this one thing, you must expect themost dreadful punishments. " She promised to obey his orders in the mostfaithful manner; and Blue Beard, after kissing her tenderly, steppedinto his coach, and drove away. 

When Blue Beard was gone, the friends of his wife did not wait to beasked, so eager were they to see all the riches and fine things she hadgained by marriage; for they had none of them gone to the wedding, onaccount of their dislike to the blue beard of the bridegroom. As soon asever they came to the house, they ran about from room to room, fromcloset to closet, and then from wardrobe to wardrobe, looking into eachwith wonder and delight, and said, that every fresh one they came to, was richer and finer than what they had seen the moment before. At lastthey came to the drawing-rooms, where their surprise was made stillgreater by the costly grandeur of the hangings, the sofas, the chairs, carpets, tables, sideboards, and looking-glasses; the frames of theselast were silver-gilt, most richly adorned, and in the glasses they sawthemselves from head to foot. In short, nothing could exceed therichness of what they saw; and they all did not fail to admire and envythe good fortune of their friend. But all this time the bride herselfwas far from thinking about the fine speeches they made to her, for shewas eager to see what was in the closet her husband had told her not toopen. So great, indeed, was her desire to do this, that, without oncethinking how rude it would be to leave her guests, she slipped away downa private staircase that led to this forbidden closet, and in such ahurry, that she was two or three times in danger of falling down stairsand breaking her neck. 

When she reached the door of the closet, she stopped for a few momentsto think of the order her husband had given her, and how he had told herthat he would not fail to keep his word and punish her very severely, ifshe did not obey him. But she was so very curious to know what wasinside, that she made up her mind to venture in spite of every thing. She then, with a trembling hand, put the key into the lock, and the doorstraight flew open. As the window shutters were closed, she at firstcould see nothing; but in a short time she saw that the floor wascovered with clotted blood, on which the bodies of several dead womenwere lying. 

These were all the wives whom Blue Beard had married, and killed oneafter another. At this sight she was ready to sink with fear, and thekey of the closet door, which she held in her hand, fell on the floor. When she had a little got the better of her fright, she took it up, locked the door, and made haste back to her own room, that she mighthave a little time to get into a humour to amuse her company; but thisshe could not do, so great was her fright at what she had seen. As shefound that the key of the closet had got stained with blood in fallingon the floor, she wiped it two or three times over to clean it; yetstill the blood kept on it the same as before. She next washed it, butthe blood did not move at all. She then scoured it with brickdust, andafter with sand, but in spite of all she could do, the blood was stillthere; for the key was a fairy who was Blue Beard's friend; so that asfast as she got off the blood on one side, it came again on the other. Early in the same evening Blue Beard came home, saying, that before hehad gone far on his journey he was met by a horseman, who was coming totell him that his affair in the country was settled without his beingpresent; upon which his wife said every thing she could think of, tomake him believe she was in a transport of joy at his sudden return. 

The next morning he asked her for the keys: she gave them to him; but asshe could not help showing her fright, Blue Beard easily guessed whathad been the matter. "How is it, " said he, "that the key of the closetupon the ground floor is not here?" "Is it not?" said the wife, "then Imust have left it on my dressing-table. " "Be sure you give it me by andby, " replied Blue Beard. After going a good many times backwards andforwards, as if she was looking for the key, she was at last forced togive it to Blue Beard. He looked hard at it, and then said: "How camethis blood upon the key?" "I am sure I do not know, " replied the poorlady, at the same time turning as white as a sheet. "You do not know?"said Blue Beard sternly, "but I know well enough. You have been in thecloset on the ground floor! Very well, madam: since you are so mightyfond of this closet, you shall be sure to take your place among theladies you saw there. " His wife, who was almost dead with fear, now fellupon her knees, asked his pardon a thousand times for her fault, andbegged him to forgive her, looking all the time so very mournful andlovely, that she would have melted any heart that was not harder than arock. But Blue Beard only said, "No, no, madam; you shall die this veryminute!" "Alas!" said the poor trembling creature, "if I must die, giveme, as least, a little time to say my prayers. " "I give you, " repliedthe cruel Blue Beard, "half a quarter of an hour: not a moment longer. "When Blue Beard had left her to herself, she called her sister; andafter telling her, as well as she could for sobbing, that she had buthalf a quarter of an hour to live; "Prithee, " said she, "sister Anne, "(this was her sister's name), "run up to the top of the tower, and seeif my brothers are not in sight, for they said they would visit meto-day, and if you see them, make a sign for them to gallop on as fastas ever they can. " Her sister straight did as she was desired; and thepoor trembling lady every minute cried out to her: "Anne! sister Anne!do you see any one coming?" Her sister said, "I see nothing but the sun, which makes a dust, and the grass, which looks green. "

In the meanwhile, Blue Beard, with a great cimeter in his hand, bawledas loud as he could to his wife, "Come down at once, or I will fetchyou. " "One moment longer, I beseech you, " replied she, and again calledsoftly to her sister, "Sister Anne, do you see any one coming?" To whichshe answered, "I see nothing but the sun, which makes a dust, and thegrass, which looks green. " Blue Beard now again bawled out, "Come down, I say, this very moment, or I shall come to fetch you. " "I am coming;indeed I will come in one minute, " sobbed his wretched wife. Then sheonce more cried out, "Anne! sister Anne! do you see any one coming?" "Isee, " said her sister, "a cloud of dust a little to the left. " "Do youthink it is my brothers?" said the wife. "Alas! no, dear sister, "replied she, "it is only a flock of sheep. " "Will you come down, madam?"said Blue Beard, in the greatest rage. "Only one single moment more, "said she. And then she called out for the last time, "Sister Anne!sister Anne! do you see no one coming?" "I see, " replied her sister, "two men on horseback coming; but they are still a great way off. ""Thank God, " cried she, "they are my brothers; beckon them to makehaste. " Blue Beard now cried out so loud for her to come down, that hisvoice shook the whole house. The poor lady, with her hair loose, and allin tears, now came down, and fell on her knees, begging him to spare herlife; but he stopped her, saying, "All this is of no use, for you shalldie, " and then, seizing her by the hair, raised his cimeter to strikeoff her head. The poor woman now begged a single moment to say oneprayer. "No, no, " said Blue Beard, "I will give you no more time. Youhave had too much already. " And again he raised his arm. Just at thisinstant a loud knocking was heard at the gates, which made Blue Beardwait for a moment to see who it was. The gates now flew open, and twoofficers, dressed in their uniform, came in, and, with their swords intheir hands, ran straight to Blue Beard, who, seeing they were hiswife's brothers, tried to escape from their presence; but they pursuedand seized him before he had gone twenty steps, and plunging theirswords into his body he fell down dead at their feet. 

The poor wife, who was almost as dead as her husband, was not able atfirst to rise and embrace her brothers; but she soon came to herself;and, as Blue Beard had no heirs, she found herself the owner of hisgreat riches. She gave a part of his vast fortune as a marriage dowry toher sister Anne, who soon after became the wife of a young gentleman whohad long loved her. Some of the money she laid out in buying captains'commissions for her two brothers, and the rest she gave to a worthygentleman whom she married shortly after, and whose kind treatment soonmade her forget Blue Beard's cruelty. 

CHAPTER XIV

CINDERELLA; OR, THE LITTLE GLASS SLIPPER

There was once a very rich gentleman who lost his wife, and having lovedher exceedingly, he was very sorry when she died. Finding himself quiteunhappy for her loss, he resolved to marry a second time, thinking bythis means he should be as happy as before. Unfortunately, however, thelady he chanced to fix upon was the proudest and most haughty woman everknown; she was always out of humour with every one; nobody could pleaseher, and she returned the civilities of those about her with the mostaffronting disdain. She had two daughters by a former husband. These shebrought up to be proud and idle. Indeed, in temper and behaviour theyperfectly resembled their mother; they did not love their books, andwould not learn to work; in short they were disliked by every body. Thegentleman on his side too had a daughter, who in sweetness of temper andcarriage was the exact likeness of her own mother, whose death he had somuch lamented, and whose tender care of the little girl he was in hopesto see replaced by that of his new bride. But scarcely was the marriageceremony over, before his wife began to show her real temper. She couldnot bear the pretty little girl, because her sweet obliging manners madethose of her own daughters appear a thousand times the more odious anddisagreeable. She therefore ordered her to live in the kitchen; and, ifever she brought any thing into the parlour, always scolded her till shewas out of sight. She made her work with the servants in washing thedishes, and rubbing the tables and chairs; it was her place to cleanmadam's chamber, and that of the misses her daughters, which was allinlaid, had beds of the newest fashion, and looking-glasses so long andbroad, that they saw themselves from head to foot in them; while thelittle creature herself was forced to sleep up in a sorry garret, upon awretched straw bed, without curtains, or any thing to make hercomfortable. The poor child bore this with the greatest patience, notdaring to complain to her father, who, she feared, would only reproveher, for she saw that his wife governed him entirely. When she had doneall her work she used to sit in the chimney-corner among the cinders; sothat in the house she went by the name of Cinderbreech. The youngest ofthe two sisters, however, being rather more civil than the eldest, called her Cinderella. And Cinderella, dirty and ragged as she was, asoften happens in such cases, was a thousand times prettier than hersisters, drest out in all their splendour. It happened that the king'sson gave a ball, to which he invited all the persons of fashion in thecountry. Our two misses were of the number, for the king's son did notknow how disagreeable they were, but supposed, as they were so muchindulged, that they were extremely amiable. He did not inviteCinderella, for he had never seen or heard of her. 

The two sisters began immediately to be very busy in preparing for thehappy day. Nothing could exceed their joy. Every moment of their timewas spent in fancying such gowns, shoes, and head-dresses as would setthem off to the greatest advantage. All this was new vexation to poorCinderella, for it was she who ironed and plaited her sisters' linen. They talked of nothing but how they should be dressed: "I, " said theeldest, "will wear my scarlet velvet with French trimming. " "And I, "said the youngest, "shall wear the same petticoat I had made for thelast ball. But then, to make amends for that, I shall put on my goldmuslin train, and wear my diamonds in my hair; with these I mustcertainly look well. " They sent several miles for the best hair dresserthat was to be had, and all their ornaments were bought at the mostfashionable shops. On the morning of the ball, they called up Cinderellato consult with her about their dress, for they knew she had a greatdeal of taste. Cinderella gave them the best advice she could, and evenoffered to assist in adjusting their head-dresses; which was exactlywhat they wanted, and they accordingly accepted her proposal. WhileCinderella was busily engaged in dressing her sisters, they said to her, "Should you not like, Cinderella, to go to the ball?" "Ah!" repliedCinderella, "you are only laughing at me, it is not for such as I am tothink of going to balls. " "You are in the right, " said they, "folksmight laugh indeed, to see a Cinderbreech dancing in a ball room. " Anyother than Cinderella would have tried to make the haughty creatureslook as ugly as she could; but the sweet tempered girl on the contrary, did every thing she could think of to make them look well. The sistershad scarcely eaten any thing for two days, so great was their joy as thehappy day drew near. More than a dozen laces were broken in endeavouringto give them a fine slender shape, and they were always before thelooking glass. At length the much wished for moment arrived; the proudmisses stepped into a beautiful carriage, and, followed by servants inrich liveries, drove towards the palace. Cinderella followed them withher eyes as far as she could; and when they were out of sight, she satdown in a corner and began to cry. Her godmother, who saw her in tears, asked her what ailed her. "I wish----I w-i-s-h--" sobbed poorCinderella, without being able to say another word. The godmother, whowas a fairy, said to her, "You wish to go to the ball, Cinderella, isnot this the truth?" "Alas! yes, " replied the poor child, sobbing stillmore than before. "Well, well, be a good girl, " said the godmother, "andyou shall go. " She then led Cinderella to her bedchamber, and said toher: "Run into the garden and bring me a pumpkin. " Cinderella flew likelightning, and brought the finest she could lay hold of. Her godmotherscooped out the inside, leaving nothing but the rind; she then struck itwith her wand, and the pumpkin instantly became a fine coach gilded allover with gold. She then looked into her mouse-trap, where she found sixmice all alive and brisk. She told Cinderella to lift up the door of thetrap very gently; and as the mice passed out, she touched them one byone with her wand, and each immediately became a beautiful horse of afine dapple gray mouse colour. "Here, my child, " said the godmother, "isa coach and horses too, as handsome as your sisters', but what shall wedo for a postillion?" "I will run, " replied Cinderella, "and see ifthere be not a rat in the trap. If I find one, he will do very well fora postillion. " "Well thought of, my child, " said her godmother; "makewhat haste you can. "

Cinderella brought the rat trap, which, to her great joy, containedthree of the largest rats ever seen. The fairy chose the one which hadthe longest beard; and touching him with her wand, he was instantlyturned into a handsome postillion, with the finest pair of whiskersimaginable. She next said to Cinderella: "Go again into the garden, andyou will find six lizards behind the watering-pot; bring them hither. "This was no sooner done, than with a stroke from the fairy's wand theywere changed into six footmen, who all jumped up behind the coach intheir laced liveries, and stood side by side as cleverly as if they hadbeen used to nothing else the whole of their lives. The fairy then saidto Cinderella: "Well, my dear, is not this such an equipage as you couldwish for to take you to the ball? Are you not delighted with it?""Y-e-s, " replied Cinderella with hesitation, "but must I go thither inthese filthy rags?" Her godmother touched her with the wand, and herrags instantly became the most magnificent apparel, ornamented with themost costly jewels in the whole world. To these she added a beautifulpair of glass slippers, and bade her set out for the palace. The fairy, however, before she took leave of Cinderella, strictly charged her on noaccount whatever to stay at the ball after the clock had struck twelve, telling her that, should she stay but a single moment after that time, her coach would again become a pumpkin, her horses mice, her footmenlizards, and her fine clothes be changed to filthy rags. Cinderella didnot fail to promise all her godmother desired of her; and almost wildwith joy drove away to the palace. As soon as she arrived, the king'sson, who had been informed that a great princess, whom nobody knew, wascome to the ball, presented himself at the door of her carriage, helpedher out, and conducted her to the ball room. Cinderella no soonerappeared than every one was silent; both the dancing and the musicstopped, and every body was employed in gazing at the uncommon beauty ofthis unknown stranger. Nothing was heard but whispers of "How handsomeshe is!" The king himself, old as he was, could not keep his eyes fromher, and continually repeated to the queen, that it was a long timesince he had seen so lovely a creature. The ladies endeavoured to findout how her clothes were made, that they might get some of the samepattern for themselves by the next day, should they be lucky enough tomeet with such handsome materials, and such good work-people to makethem. 

The king's son conducted her to the most honourable seat, and soon aftertook her out to dance with him. She both moved and danced so gracefully, that every one admired her still more than before, and she was thoughtthe most beautiful and accomplished lady they ever beheld. After sometime a delicious collation was served up; but the young prince was sobusily employed in looking at her, that he did not eat a morsel. Cinderella seated herself near her sisters, paid them a thousandattentions, and offered them a part of the oranges and sweetmeats withwhich the prince had presented her, while they on their part were quiteastonished at these civilities from a lady whom they did not know. Asthey were conversing together, Cinderella heard the clock strike elevenand three quarters. She rose from her seat, curtesied to the company, and hastened away as fast as she could. As soon as she got home she flewto her godmother, and, after thanking her a thousand times, told her shewould give the world to be able to go again to the ball the next day, for the king's son had entreated her to be there. While she was tellingher godmother every thing that had happened to her at the ball, the twosisters knocked a loud rat-tat-tat at the door; which Cinderella opened. "How late you have stayed!" said she, yawning, rubbing her eyes, andstretching herself, as if just awakened out of her sleep, though she hadin truth felt no desire for sleep since they left her. "If you had beenat the ball, " said one of her sisters, "let me tell you, you would nothave been sleepy. There came thither the handsomest, yes, the veryhandsomest princess ever beheld! She paid us a thousand attentions, andmade us take a part of the oranges and sweetmeats the prince had givenher. " Cinderella could scarcely contain herself for joy: she asked hersisters the name of this princess, to which they replied, that nobodyhad been able to discover who she was; that the king's son was extremelygrieved on that account, and had offered a large reward to any personwho could find out where she came from. Cinderella smiled, and said:"How very beautiful she must be! How fortunate you are! Ah, could I butsee her for a single moment! Dear Miss Charlotte, lend me only theyellow gown you wear every day, and let me go to see her. " "Oh! yes, Iwarrant you; lend my clothes to a Cinderbreech! Do you really suppose mesuch a fool? No, no; pray, Miss Forward, mind your proper business, andleave dress and balls to your betters. " Cinderella expected some suchanswer, and was by no means sorry, for she would have been sadly at aloss what to do if her sister had lent her the clothes that she asked ofher. 

The next day the two sisters again appeared at the ball, and so didCinderella, but dressed much more magnificently than the night before. The king's son was continually by her side, and said the most obligingthings imaginable to her. The charming young creature was far from beingtired of all the agreeable things she met with. On the contrary, she wasso delighted with them that she entirely forgot the charge her godmotherhad given her. Cinderella at last heard the striking of a clock, andcounted one, two, three, on till she came to twelve, though she thoughtthat it could be but eleven at most. She got up and flew as nimbly as adeer out of the ball-room. The prince tried to overtake her; but poorCinderella's fright made her run the faster. However, in her greathurry, she dropped one of her glass slippers from her foot, which theprince stooped down and picked up, and took the greatest care of itpossible. Cinderella got home tired and out of breath, in her oldclothes, without either coach or footmen, and having nothing left of hermagnificence but the fellow of the glass slipper which she had dropped. In the mean while, the prince had inquired of all his guards at thepalace gates, if they had not seen a magnificent princess pass out, andwhich way she went? The guards replied, that no princess had passed thegates; and that they had not seen a creature but a little ragged girl, who looked more like a beggar than a princess. When the two sistersreturned from the ball, Cinderella asked them if they had been as muchamused as the night before, and if the beautiful princess had beenthere? They told her that she had; but that as soon as the clock strucktwelve, she hurried away from the ball room, and in the great haste shehad made, had dropped one of her glass slippers, which was the prettiestshape that could be; that the king's son had picked it up, and had donenothing but look at it all the rest of the evening; and that every bodybelieved he was violently in love with the handsome lady to whom itbelonged. 

This was very true; for a few days after, the prince had it proclaimed, by sound of trumpet, that he would marry the lady whose foot shouldexactly fit the slipper he had found. Accordingly the prince'smessengers took the slipper, and carried it first to all the princesses, then to the duchesses, in short, to all the ladies of the court. Butwithout success. They then brought it to the two sisters, who each triedall she could to squeeze her foot into the slipper, but saw at last thatthis was quite impossible. Cinderella who was looking at them all thewhile, and knew her slipper, could not help smiling, and ventured tosay, "Pray, sir, let me try to get on the slipper. " The gentleman madeher sit down; and putting the slipper to her foot, it instantly slippedin, and he saw that it fitted her like wax. The two sisters were amazedto see that the slipper fitted Cinderella; but how much greater wastheir astonishment when she drew out of her pocket the other slipper andput it on! Just at this moment the fairy entered the room, and touchingCinderella's clothes with her wand, made her all at once appear moremagnificently dressed than they had ever seen her before. 

The two sisters immediately perceived that she was the beautifulprincess they had seen at the ball. They threw themselves at her feet, and asked her forgiveness for the ill treatment she had received fromthem. Cinderella helped them to rise, and, tenderly embracing them, saidthat she forgave them with all her heart, and begged them to bestow onher their affection. Cinderella was then conducted, dressed as she was, to the young prince, who finding her more beautiful than ever, instantlydesired her to accept of his hand. The marriage ceremony took place in afew days; and Cinderella, who was as amiable as she was handsome, gaveher sisters magnificent apartments in the palace, and a short time aftermarried them to two great lords of the court. 

CHAPTER XV

PUSS IN BOOTS

There was a miller who had three sons, and when he died he divided whathe possessed among them in the following manner: He gave his mill to theeldest, his ass to the second, and his cat to the youngest. Each of thebrothers accordingly took what belonged to him, without the help of anattorney, who would soon have brought their little fortune to nothing, in law expenses. The poor young fellow who had nothing but the cat, complained that he was hardly used: "My brothers, " said he, "by joiningtheir stocks together, may do well in the world, but for me, when I haveeaten my cat, and made a fur cap of his skin, I may soon die of hunger!"The cat, who all this time sat listening just inside the door of acupboard, now ventured to come out and addressed him as follows: "Do notthus afflict yourself, my good master. You have only to give me a bag, and get a pair of boots made for me, so that I may scamper through thedirt and the brambles, and you shall see that you are not so illprovided for as you imagine. " Though the cat's master did not muchdepend upon these promises, yet, as he had often observed the cunningtricks puss used to catch the rats and mice, such as hanging upon hishind legs, and hiding in the meal to make believe that he was dead, hedid not entirely despair of his being of some use to him in his unhappycondition. 

When the cat had obtained what he asked for, he gayly began to equiphimself: he drew on his boots; and putting the bag about his neck, hetook hold of the strings with his fore paws, and bidding his master takecourage, immediately sallied forth. The first attempt Puss made was togo into a warren in which there were a great number of rabbits. He putsome bran and some parsley into his bag; and then stretching himself outat full length as if he was dead, he waited for some young rabbits, whoas yet knew nothing of the cunning tricks of the world, to come and getinto the bag, the better to feast upon the dainties he had put into it. Scarcely had he lain down before he succeeded as well as could bewished. A giddy young rabbit crept into the bag, and the cat immediatelydrew the strings, and killed him without mercy. Puss, proud of his prey, hastened directly to the palace, where he asked to speak to the king. Onbeing shown into the apartment of his majesty, he made a low bow, andsaid, "I have brought you, sire, this rabbit from the warren of my lordthe marquis of Carabas, who commanded me to present it to your majestywith the assurance of his respect. " (This was the title the cat thoughtproper to bestow upon his master. ) "Tell my lord marquis of Carabas, "replied the king, "that I accept of his present with pleasure, and thatI am greatly obliged to him. " Soon after, the cat laid himself down inthe same manner in a field of corn, and had as much good fortune asbefore; for two fine partridges got into his bag, which he immediatelykilled and carried to the palace: the king received them as he had donethe rabbit, and ordered his servants to give the messenger something todrink. In this manner he continued to carry presents of game to the kingfrom my lord marquis of Carabas, once at least in every week. 

One day, the cat having heard that the king intended to take a ride thatmorning by the river's side with his daughter, who was the mostbeautiful princess in the world, he said to his master: "If you will butfollow my advice, your fortune is made. Take off your clothes, and batheyourself in the river, just in the place I shall show you, and leave therest to me, " The marquis of Carabas did exactly as he was desired, without being able to guess at what the cat intended. While he wasbathing the king passed by, and puss directly called out as loud as hecould bawl: "Help! help! My lord marquis of Carabas is in danger ofbeing drowned!" The king hearing the cries, put his head out at thewindow of his carriage to see what was the matter: when, perceiving thevery cat who had brought him so many presents, he ordered his attendantsto go directly to the assistance of my lord marquis of Carabas. Whilethey were employed in taking the marquis out of the river, the cat ranto the king's carriage, and told his majesty, that while his master wasbathing, some thieves had run off with his clothes as they lay by theriver's side; the cunning cat all the time having hid them under a largestone. The king hearing this, commanded the officers of his wardrobe tofetch one of the handsomest suits it contained, and present it to mylord marquis of Carabas, at the same time loading him with a thousandattentions. As the fine clothes they brought him made him look like agentleman, and set off his person, which was very comely, to thegreatest advantage, the king's daughter was mightily taken with hisappearance, and the marquis of Carabas had no sooner cast upon her twoor three respectful glances, then she became violently in love with him. 

The king insisted on his getting into the carriage and taking a ridewith them. The cat, enchanted to see how well his scheme was likely tosucceed, ran before to a meadow that was reaping, and said to thereapers: "Good people, if you do not tell the king, who will soon passthis way, that the meadow you are reaping belongs to my lord marquis ofCarabas, you shall be chopped as small as mince meat. " The king did notfail to ask the reapers to whom the meadow belonged? "To my lord marquisof Carabas, " said they all at once; for the threats of the cat hadterribly frighted them. "You have here a very fine piece of land, mylord marquis, " said the king. "Truly, sire, " replied he, "it does notfail to bring me every year a plentiful harvest. " The cat who still wenton before, now came to a field where some other labourers were makingsheaves of the corn they had reaped, to whom he said as before: "Goodpeople, if you do not tell the king who will presently pass this way, that the corn you have reaped in this field belongs to my lord marquisof Carabas, you shall be chopped as small as mince meat. " The kingaccordingly passed a moment after, and inquired to whom the corn he sawbelonged? "To my lord marquis of Carabas, " answered they very glibly;upon which the king again complimented the marquis upon his noblepossessions. The cat still continued to go before, and gave the samecharge to all the people he met with; so that the king was greatlyastonished at the splendid fortune of my lord marquis of Carabas. Pussat length arrived at a stately castle, which belonged to an Ogre, therichest ever known; for all the lands the king had passed through andadmired were his. The cat took care to learn every particular about theOgre, and what he could do, and then asked to speak with him, saying, ashe entered the room in which he was, that he could not pass so near hiscastle without doing himself the honour to inquire after his health. TheOgre received him as civilly as an Ogre could do, and desired him to beseated, "I have been informed, " said the cat, "that you have the gift ofchanging yourself to all sorts of animals; into a lion or an elephantfor example. " "It is very true, " replied the Ogre somewhat sternly; "andto convince you I will directly take the form of a lion. " The cat was somuch terrified at finding himself so near to a lion, that he sprang fromhim, and climbed to the roof of the house; but not without muchdifficulty, as his boots were not very fit to walk upon the tiles. 

Some minutes after, the cat perceiving that the Ogre had quitted theform of a lion, ventured to come down from the tiles, and owned that hehad been a good deal frightened, "I have been further informed, "continued the cat, "but I know not how to believe it, that you have thepower of taking the form of the smallest animals also; for example ofchanging yourself to a rat or a mouse: I confess I should think thisimpossible. " "Impossible! you shall see;" and at the same instant hechanged himself into a mouse, and began to frisk about the room. The catno sooner cast his eyes upon the Ogre in this form, than he sprang uponhim and devoured him in an instant. In the meantime the king, admiringas he came near it, the magnificent castle of the Ogre, ordered hisattendants to drive up to the gates, as he wished to take a nearer viewof it. The cat, hearing the noise of the carriage on the drawbridge, immediately came out, saying: "Your majesty is welcome to the castle ofmy lord marquis of Carabas. " "And is this splendid castle yours also, mylord marquis of Carabas? I never saw anything more stately than thebuilding, or more beautiful than the park and pleasure grounds aroundit; no doubt the castle is no less magnificent within than without:pray, my lord marquis, indulge me with a sight of it. "

The marquis gave his hand to the young princess as she alighted, andfollowed the king who went before; they entered a spacious hall, wherethey found a splendid collation which the Ogre had prepared for somefriends he had that day expected to visit him; but who, hearing that theking with the princess and a great gentleman of the court were within, had not dared to enter. The king was so much charmed with the amiablequalities and noble fortune of the marquis of Carabas, and the youngprincess too had fallen so violently in love with him, that when theking had partaken of the collation, and drunk a few glasses of wine, hesaid to the marquis: "It will be you own fault, my lord marquis ofCarabas, if you do not soon become my son-in-law. " The marquis receivedthe intelligence with a thousand respectful acknowledgments, acceptedthe honour conferred upon him, and married the princess that very day. The cat became a great lord, and never after ran after rats and mice butfor his amusement. 

CHAPTER XVI

THE SLEEPING BEAUTY IN THE WOOD

Once upon a time there was a king and a queen who grieved sorely thatthey had no children. When at last the queen gave birth to a daughterthe king was so overjoyed that he gave a great christening feast, thelike of which had never before been known. He asked all the fairies inthe land--there were seven all told--to stand godmothers to the littleprincess, hoping that each might give her a gift, and so she should haveall imaginable perfections. 

After the christening, all the company returned to the palace, where agreat feast had been spread for the fairy godmothers. Before each wasset a magnificent plate, with a gold knife and a gold fork studded withdiamonds and rubies. Just as they were seating themselves, however, there entered an old fairy who had not been invited because more thanfifty years ago she had shut herself up in a tower and it was supposedthat she was either dead or enchanted. 

The king ordered a cover to be laid for her, but it could not be amassive gold one like the others, for only seven had been ordered made. The old fairy thought herself ill-used and muttered between her teeth. One of the young fairies, overhearing her, and fancying she might worksome mischief to the little baby, went and hid herself behind thehangings in the hall, so as to be able to have the last word and undoany harm the old fairy might wish to work. The fairies now began toendow the princess. The youngest, for her gift, decreed that she shouldbe the most beautiful person in the world; the next that she should havethe mind of an angel; the third that she should be perfectly graceful;the fourth that she should dance admirably well; the fifth, that sheshould sing like a nightingale; the sixth, that she should playcharmingly upon every musical instrument. The turn of the old fairy hadnow come, and she declared, while her head shook with malice, that theprincess should pierce her hand with a spindle and die of the wound. This dreadful fate threw all the company into tears of dismay, when theyoung fairy who had hidden herself came forward and said:

"Be of good cheer, king and queen; your daughter shall not so die. It istrue I cannot entirely undo what my elder has done. The princess willpierce her hand with a spindle, but, instead of dying, she will onlyfall into a deep sleep. The sleep will last a hundred years, and at theend of that time a king's son will come to wake her. "

The king, in hopes of preventing what the old fairy had foretold, immediately issued an edict by which he forbade all persons in hisdominion from spinning or even having spindles in their houses underpain of instant death. 

Now fifteen years after the princess was born she was with the king andqueen at one of their castles, and as she was running about by herselfshe came to a little chamber at the top of a tower, and there sat anhonest old woman spinning, for she had never heard of the king's edict. 

"What are you doing?" asked the princess. 

"I am spinning, my fair child, " said the old woman, who did not knowher. 

"How pretty it is!" exclaimed the princess. "How do you do it? Give itto me that I may see if I can do it. " She had no sooner taken up thespindle, than, being hasty and careless, she pierced her hand with thepoint of it, and fainted away. The old woman, in great alarm, called forhelp. People came running in from all sides; they threw water in theprincess's face and did all they could to restore her, but nothing wouldbring her to. The king, who had heard the noise and confusion, came upalso, and remembering what the fairy had said, he had the princesscarried to the finest apartment and laid upon a richly embroidered bed. She lay there in all her loveliness, for the swoon had not made herpale; her lips were cherry-ripe and her cheeks ruddy and fair; her eyeswere closed, but they could hear her breathing quietly; she could not bedead. The king looked sorrowfully upon her. He knew that she would notawake for a hundred years. 

The good fairy who had saved her life and turned her death into sleepwas in the kingdom of Mataquin, twelve thousand leagues away, when thishappened, but she learned of it from a dwarf who had a pair ofseven-league boots, and instantly set out for the castle, where shearrived in an hour, drawn by dragons in a fiery chariot. The king cameforward to receive her and showed his grief. The good fairy was verywise and saw that the princess when she woke would find herself allalone in that great castle and everything about her would be strange. Sothis is what she did. She touched with her wand everybody that was inthe castle, except the king and queen. She touched the governesses, maids of honour, women of the bedchamber, gentlemen, officers, stewards, cooks, scullions, boys, guards, porters, pages, footmen; shetouched the horses in the stable with their grooms, the great mastiffsin the court-yard, and even little Pouste, the tiny lap-dog of theprincess that was on the bed beside her. As soon as she had touched themthey all fell asleep, not to wake again until the time arrived for theirmistress to do so, when they would be ready to wait upon her. Even thespits before the fire, laden with partridges and pheasants, went tosleep, and the fire itself went to sleep also. 

It was the work of a moment. The king and queen kissed their daughterfarewell and left the castle, issuing a proclamation that no personwhatsoever was to approach it. That was needless, for in a quarter of anhour there had grown up about it a wood so thick and filled with thornsthat nothing could get at the castle, and the castle top itself couldonly be seen from a great distance. 

A hundred years went by, and the kingdom was in the hands of anotherroyal family. The son of the king was hunting one day when he discoveredthe towers of the castle above the tops of the trees, and asked whatcastle that was. All manner of answers were given to him. One said itwas an enchanted castle, another that witches lived there, but mostbelieved that it was occupied by a great ogre which carried thither allthe children he could catch and ate them up one at a time, for nobodycould get at him through the wood. The prince did not know what tobelieve, when finally an old peasant said:

"Prince, it is more than fifty years since I heard my father say thatthere was in that castle the most beautiful princess that ever was seen;that she was to sleep for a hundred years, and to be awakened at last bythe king's son, who was to marry her. "

The young prince at these words felt himself on fire. He had not amoment's doubt that he was destined to this great adventure, and full ofardour he determined at once to set out for the castle. Scarcely had hecome to the wood when all the trees and thorns which had made such animpenetrable thicket opened on one side and the other to offer him apath. He walked toward the castle, which appeared now at the end of along avenue, but when he turned to, look for his followers not one wasto be seen; the woods had closed instantly upon him as he had passedthrough. He was entirely alone, and utter silence was about him. Heentered a large forecourt and stood still with amazement and awe. Onevery side were stretched the bodies of men and animals apparentlylifeless. But the faces of the men were rosy, and the goblets by themhad a few drops of wine left. The men had plainly fallen asleep. Hissteps resounded as he passed over the marble pavement and up the marblestaircase. He entered the guard-room; there the guards stood drawn up inline with carbines at their shoulders, but they were sound asleep. Hepassed through one apartment after another, where were ladies andgentlemen asleep in their chairs or standing. He entered a chambercovered with gold, and saw on a bed, the curtains of which were drawn, the most lovely sight he had ever looked upon--a princess, who appearedto be about fifteen or sixteen, and so fair that she seemed to belong toanother world. He drew near, trembling and wondering, and knelt besideher. Her hand lay upon her breast, and he touched his lips to it. Atthat moment, the enchantment being ended, the princess awoke, and, looking drowsily and tenderly at the young man, said:

"Have you come, my prince? I have waited long for you. " The prince wasoverjoyed at the words, and at the tender voice and look, and scarcelyknew how to speak. But he managed to assure her of his love, and theysoon forgot all else as they talked and talked. They talked for fourhours, and had not then said half that was in their heads to say. 

Meanwhile all the rest of the people in the castle had been wakened atthe same moment as the princess, and they were now extremely hungry. Thelady-in-waiting became very impatient, and at length announced to theprincess that they all waited for her. Then the prince took the princessby the hand; she was dressed in great splendour, but he did not hintthat she looked as he had seen pictures of his great-grandmother look;he thought her all the more charming for that. They passed into a hallof mirrors, where they supped, attended by the officers of the princess. The violins and haut-boys played old but excellent pieces of music, andafter supper, to lose no time, the grand almoner married the royallovers in the chapel of the castle. 

When they left the castle the next day to return to the prince's home, they were followed by all the retinue of the princess. They marched downthe long avenue, and the wood opened again to let them pass. Outsidethey met the prince's followers, who were overjoyed to see their master. He turned to show them the castle, but behold! there was no castle to beseen, and no wood; castle and wood had vanished, but the prince andprincess went gayly away, and when the old king and queen died theyreigned in their stead. 

CHAPTER XVII

JACK AND THE BEAN-STALK

In the days of King Alfred, there lived a poor woman whose cottage wassituated in a remote country village, a great many miles from London. She had been a widow some years, and had an only child named Jack, whomshe indulged to a fault. The consequence of her blind partiality was, that Jack did not pay the least attention to any thing she said, but wasindolent, careless, and extravagant. His follies were not owing to a baddisposition, but that his mother had never checked him. By degrees shedisposed of all she possessed--scarcely any thing remained but a cow. The poor woman one day met Jack with tears in her eyes; her distress wasgreat, and for the first time in her life she could not help reproachinghim, saying, "Oh! you wicked child, by your ungrateful course of lifeyou have at last brought me to beggary and ruin. Cruel, cruel boy! Ihave not money enough to purchase even a bit of bread for anotherday--nothing now remains to sell but my poor cow! I am sorry to partwith her; it grieves me sadly, but we must not starve. " For a fewminutes, Jack felt a degree of remorse, but it was soon over, and hebegan teasing his mother to let him sell the cow at the next village, somuch, that she at last consented. As he was going along, he met abutcher, who inquired why he was driving the cow from home? Jackreplied, he was going to sell it. The butcher held some curious beans inhis hat; they were of various colours, and attracted Jack's attention. This did not pass unnoticed by the butcher, who, knowing Jack's easytemper, thought now was the time to take an advantage of it; anddetermined not to let slip so good an opportunity, asked what was theprice of the cow, offering at the same time all the beans in his hat forher. The silly boy could not conceal the pleasure he felt at what hesupposed so great an offer, the bargain was struck instantly, and thecow exchanged for a few paltry beans. Jack made the best of his wayhome, calling aloud to his mother before he reached home, thinking tosurprise her. 

When she saw the beans, and heard Jack's account, her patience quiteforsook her. She kicked the beans away in a passion--they flew in alldirections--some were scattered in the garden. Not having any thing toeat, they both went supperless to bed. Jack woke early in the morning, and seeing something uncommon from the window of his bedchamber, randown stairs into the garden, where he soon discovered that some of thebeans had taken root, and sprung up surprisingly: the stalks were of animmense thickness, and had so entwined, that they formed a ladder nearlylike a chain in appearance. Looking upward, he could not discern thetop, it appeared to be lost in the clouds: he tried it, found it firm, and not to be shaken. He quickly formed the resolution of endeavouringto climb up to the top, in order to seek his fortune, and ran tocommunicate his intention to his mother, not doubting but she would beequally pleased with himself. She declared he should not go; said itwould break her heart if he did--entreated, and threatened--but all invain. Jack set out, and after climbing for some hours, reached the topof the bean-stalk, fatigued and quite exhausted. Looking around, hefound himself in a strange country; it appeared to be a desert, quitebarren, not a tree, shrub, house, or living creature to be seen; hereand there were scattered fragments of stone; and at unequal distances, small heaps of earth were loosely thrown together. 

Jack seated himself pensively upon a block of stone, and thought of hismother--he reflected with sorrow upon his disobedience in climbing thebean-stalk against her will; and concluded that he must die with hunger. However he walked on, hoping to see a house where he might beg somethingto eat and drink; presently a handsome young woman appeared at adistance: as she approached, Jack could not help admiring how beautifuland lively she looked; she was dressed in the most elegant manner, andhad a small white wand in her hand, on the top of which was a peacock ofpure gold. While Jack was looking with great surprise at this charmingfemale, she came up to him, and with a smile of the most bewitchingsweetness, inquired how he came there. Jack related the circumstance ofthe bean-stalk. She asked him if he recollected his father; he repliedhe did not; and added, there must be some mystery relating to him, because if he asked his mother who his father was, she always burst intotears, and appeared violently agitated, nor did she recover herself forsome days after; one thing, however, he could not avoid observing uponthese occasions, which was that she always carefully avoided answeringhim, and even seemed afraid of speaking, as if there was some secretconnected with his father's history which she must not disclose. Theyoung woman replied, "I will reveal the whole story; your mother mustnot. But, before I begin, I require a solemn promise on your part to dowhat I command; I am a fairy, and if you do not perform exactly what Idesire, you will be destroyed, " Jack was frightened at her menaces, butpromised to fulfil her injunctions exactly, and the fairy thus addressedhim:

"Your father was a rich man, his disposition remarkably benevolent: hewas very good to the poor, and constantly relieving them. He made it arule never to let a day pass without doing good to some person. On oneparticular day in the week, he kept open house, and invited only thosewho were reduced and had lived well. He always presided himself, and didall in his power to render his guests comfortable; the rich and thegreat were not invited. The servants were all happy, and greatlyattached to their master and mistress. Your father, though only aprivate gentleman, was as rich as a prince, and he deserved all hepossessed, for he only lived to do good. Such a man was soon known andtalked of. A giant lived a great many miles off: this man was altogetheras wicked as your father was good; he was in his heart envious, covetous, and cruel; but he had the art of concealing those vices. Hewas poor, and wished to enrich himself at any rate. Hearing your fatherspoken of, he formed the design of becoming acquainted with him, hopingto ingratiate himself into your father's favour. He removed quickly intoyour neighbourhood, caused to be reported that he was a gentleman whohad just lost all he possessed by an earth-quake, and found it difficultto escape with his life; his wife was with him. Your father gave creditto his story, and pitied him, gave him handsome apartments in his ownhouse, and caused him and his wife to be treated like visitors ofconsequence, little imagining that the giant was meditating a horridreturn for all his favours. 

"Things went on in this way for some time, the giant becoming daily moreimpatient to put his plan into execution; at last a favourableopportunity presented itself. Your father's house was at some distancefrom the seashore, but with a glass the coast could be seen distinctly. The giant was one day using the telescope; the wind was very high; hesaw a fleet of ships in distress off the rocks; he hastened to yourfather, mentioned the circumstance, and eagerly requested he would sendall the servants he could spare to relieve the sufferers. Every one wasinstantly despatched, except the porter and your nurse; the giant thenjoined your father in the study, and appeared to be delighted--he reallywas so. Your father recommended a favourite book, and was handing itdown: the giant took the opportunity, and stabbed him; he instantly felldown dead. The giant left the body, found the porter and nurse, andpresently despatched them; being determined to have no living witnessesof his crimes. You were then only three months old; your mother had youin her arms in a remote part of the house, and was ignorant of what wasgoing on; she went into the study, but how was she shocked, ondiscovering your father a corpse, and weltering in his blood! she wasstupefied with horror and grief, and was motionless. The giant, who wasseeking her, found her in that state, and hastened to serve her and youas he had done her husband, but she fell at his feet, and in a patheticmanner besought him to spare your life and hers. 

"Remorse, for a moment, seemed to touch the barbarian's heart: hegranted your lives; but first he made her take a most solemn oath, neverto inform you who your father was, or to answer any questions concerninghim: assuring her that if she did, he would certainly discover her, andput both of you to death in the most cruel manner. Your mother took youin her arms, and fled as quickly as possible; she was scarcely gone whenthe giant repented that he had suffered her to escape. He would havepursued her instantly; but he had to provide for his own safety; as itwas necessary he should be gone before the servants returned. Havinggained your father's confidence, he knew where to find all his treasure:he soon loaded himself and his wife, set the house on fire in severalplaces, and when the servants returned, the house was burned quite downto the ground. Your poor mother, forlorn, abandoned, and forsaken, wandered with you a great many miles from this scene of desolation. Fearadded to her haste. She settled in the cottage where you were broughtup, and it was entirety owing to her fear of the giant that she nevermentioned your father to you. I became your father's guardian at hisbirth; but fairies have laws to which they are subject as well asmortals. A short time before the giant went to your father's, Itransgressed; my punishment was a suspension of power for a limitedtime--an unfortunate circumstance, as it totally prevented my succouringyour father. 

"The day on which you met the butcher, as you went to sell your mother'scow, my power was restored. It was I who secretly prompted you to takethe beans in exchange for the cow. By my power, the bean-stalk grew toso great a height, and formed a ladder. I need not add that I inspiredyou with a strong desire to ascend the ladder. The giant lives in thiscountry: you are the person appointed to punish him for all hiswickedness. You will have dangers and difficulties to encounter, but youmust persevere in avenging the death of your father, or you will notprosper in any of your undertakings, but will always be miserable. As tothe giant's possessions, you may seize on all you can; for every thinghe has is yours, though now you are unjustly deprived of it. One thing Idesire--do not let your mother know you are acquainted with yourfather's history, till you see me again. Go along the direct road, youwill soon see the house where your cruel enemy lives. While you do as Iorder you, I will protect and guard you; but, remember, if you daredisobey my commands, a most dreadful punishment awaits you. "

When the fairy had concluded, she disappeared, leaving Jack to pursuehis journey. He walked on till after sunset, when, to his great joy, heespied a large mansion. This agreeable sight revived his droopingspirits; he redoubled his speed, and soon reached it. A plain-lookingwoman was at the door--he accosted her, begging she would give him amorsel of bread and a night's lodging. She expressed the greatestsurprise at seeing him; and said it was quite uncommon to see a humanbeing near their house, for it was well known that her husband was alarge and very powerful giant, and that he would never eat any thing buthuman flesh, if he could possibly get it; that he did not think anything of walking fifty miles to procure it, usually being out the wholeday for that purpose. 

This account greatly terrified Jack, but still he hoped to elude thegiant, and therefore he again entreated the woman to take him in for onenight only, and hide him where she thought proper. The good woman atlast suffered herself to be persuaded, for she was of a compassionateand generous disposition, and took him into the house. First, theyentered a fine large hall, magnificently furnished; they then passedthrough several spacious rooms, all in the same style of grandeur; butthey appeared to be quite forsaken and desolate. A long gallery wasnext; it was very dark--just light enough to show that, instead of awall on one side, there was a grating of iron, which parted off a dismaldungeon, from whence issued the groans of those poor victims whom thecruel giant reserved in confinement for his own voracious appetite. PoorJack was half dead with fear, and would have given the world to havebeen with his mother again, for he now began to fear that he shouldnever see her more, and gave himself up for lost; he even mistrusted thegood woman, and thought she had let him into the house for no otherpurpose than to lock him up among the unfortunate people in the dungeon. At the farther end of the gallery there was a spacious kitchen, and avery excellent fire was burning in the grate. The good woman bid Jacksit down, and gave him plenty to eat and drink. Jack, not seeing anything here to make him uncomfortable, soon forgot his fear, and was justbeginning to enjoy himself, when he was aroused by a loud knocking atthe street-door, which made the whole house shake: the giant's wife ranto secure him in the oven, and then went to let her husband in. Jackheard him accost her in a voice like thunder, saying: "Wife, I smellfresh meat. " "Oh! my dear, " replied she, "it is nothing but the peoplein the dungeon. " The giant appeared to believe her, and walked into thevery kitchen where poor Jack was concealed, who shook, trembled, and wasmore terrified than he had yet been. At last, the monster seated himselfquietly by the fire-side, whilst his wife prepared supper. By degreesJack recovered himself sufficiently to look at the giant through a smallcrevice. He was quite astonished to see what an amazing quantity hedevoured, and thought he never would have done eating and drinking. Whensupper was ended, the giant desired his wife to bring him his hen. Avery beautiful hen was then brought, and placed on the table before him. Jack's curiosity was very great to see what would happen: he observedthat every time the giant said "Lay!" the hen laid an egg of solid gold. The giant amused himself a long time with his hen; meanwhile his wifewent to bed. At length the giant fell asleep by the fire-side, andsnored like the roaring of a cannon. 

At daybreak, Jack, finding the giant still asleep, and not likely toawaken soon, crept softly out of his hiding-place, seized the hen, andran off with her. He met with some difficulty in finding his way out ofthe house, but at last he reached the road with safety. He easily foundthe way to the bean-stalk, and descended it better and quicker than heexpected. His mother was overjoyed to see him; he found her cryingbitterly, and lamenting his hard fate, for she concluded he had come tosome shocking end through his rashness. Jack was impatient to show hishen, and inform his mother how valuable it was. "And now, mother, " saidJack, "I have brought home that which will quickly make us rich; and Ihope to make you some amends for the affliction I have caused youthrough my idleness, extravagance, and folly. " The hen produced as manygolden eggs as they desired: they sold them, and in a little time becamepossessed of as much riches as they wanted. For some months Jack and hismother lived very happily together; but he being very desirous oftravelling, recollecting the fairy's commands, and fearing that if hedelayed, she would put her threats into execution, longed to climb thebean-stalk, and pay the giant another visit, in order to carry away somemore of his treasures; for, during the time that Jack was in the giant'smansion, whilst he lay concealed in the oven, he learned from theconversation that took place between the giant and his wife, that hepossessed some wonderful curiosities. Jack thought of his journey againand again, but still he could not summon resolution enough to break itto his mother, being well assured that she would endeavour to preventhis going. However, one day he told her boldly that he must take ajourney up the bean-stalk; she begged and prayed him not to think of it, and tried all in her power to dissuade him: she told him that thegiant's wife would certainly know him again, and that the giant woulddesire nothing better than to get him into his power, that he might puthim to a cruel death, in order to be revenged for the loss of his hen. Jack, finding that all his arguments were useless, pretended to give upthe point, though resolved to go at all events. He had a dress preparedwhich would disguise him, and something to colour his skin. He thoughtit impossible for any one to recollect him in this dress. 

In a few mornings after this, he arose very early, changed hiscomplexion, and, unperceived by any one, climbed the bean-stalk a secondtime. He was greatly fatigued when he reached the top, and very hungry. Having rested some time on one of the stones, he pursued his journey tothe giant's mansion. He reached it late in the evening: the woman was atthe door as before. Jack addressed her, at the same time telling her apitiful tale, and requesting that she would give him some victuals anddrink, and also a night's lodging. 

She told him (what he knew before very well) about her husband being apowerful and cruel giant; and also that she one night admitted a poor, hungry, friendless boy, who was half dead with travelling; that thelittle ungrateful fellow had stolen one of the giant's treasures; and, ever since that, her husband had been worse than before, used her verycruelly, and continually upbraided her with being the cause of hismisfortune. Jack was at no loss to discover that he was attending to theaccount of a story in which he was the principal actor. He did his bestto persuade the good woman to admit him, but found it a very hard task. At last she consented; and as she led the way, Jack observed that everything was just as he had found it before. She took him into the kitchen, and after he had done eating and drinking, she hid him in an oldlumber-closet. The giant returned at the usual time, and walked in soheavily, that the house was shaken to its foundation. He seated himselfby the fire, and soon after exclaimed: "Wife! I smell fresh meat!" Thewife replied, it was the crows, who had brought a piece of raw meat, andleft it on the top of the house. Whilst supper was preparing, the giantwas very ill-tempered and impatient, frequently lifting up his hand tostrike his wife, for not being quick enough; she, however, was always sofortunate as to elude the blow. He was also continually up-braiding herwith the loss of his wonderful hen. The giant at last having ended hisvoracious supper, and eaten till he was quite satisfied, said to hiswife: "I must have something to amuse me; either my bags of money or myharp. " After a great deal of ill-humour, and having teased his wife somehe commanded her to bring down his bags of gold and silver. Jack, asbefore, peeped out of his hiding-place, and presently his wife broughttwo bags into the room: they were of a very large size; one was filledwith new guineas, and the other with new shillings. They were bothplaced before the giant, who began reprimanding his poor wife mostseverely for staying so long; she replied, trembling with fear, thatthey were so heavy, that she could scarcely lift them; and concluded, atlast, that she would never again bring them down stairs; adding, thatshe had nearly fainted, owing to their weight This so exasperated thegiant, that he raised his hand to strike her; she, however, escaped, andwent to bed, leaving him to count over his treasure, by way ofamusement. The giant took his bags, and after turning them over andover, to see that they were in the same state as he left them, began tocount their contents. First, the bag which contained the silver wasemptied, and the contents placed upon the table. Jack viewed theglittering heaps with delight, and most heartily wished them in his ownpossession. The giant (little thinking he was so narrowly watched)reckoned the silver over several times; and then, having satisfiedhimself that all was safe, put it into the bag again, which he made verysecure. The other bag was opened next, and the guineas placed upon thetable. If Jack was pleased at the sight of the silver, how much moredelighted he felt when he saw such a heap of glittering gold! He evenhad the boldness to think of gaming both bags; but suddenly recollectinghimself, he began to fear that the giant would sham sleep, the better toentrap any one who might be concealed. When the giant had counted overthe gold till he was tired, he put it up, if possible, more secure thanhe had put up the silver before; he then fell back on his chair by thefire-side, and fell asleep. He snored so loud, that Jack compared hisnoise to the roaring of the sea in a high wind, when the tide is comingin. At last, Jack concluded him to be asleep, and therefore secure, stole out of his hiding-place, and approached the giant, in order tocarry off the two bags of money; but just as he laid his hand upon oneof the bags, a little dog, whom he had not perceived before, startedfrom under the giant's chair, and barked at Jack most furiously, who nowgave himself up for lost. Fear riveted him to the spot. Instead ofendeavouring to escape, he stood still, though expecting his enemy toawake every instant. Contrary, however, to his expectation, the giantcontinued in a sound sleep, and the dog grew weary of barking. Jack nowbegan to recollect himself, and on looking round, saw a large piece ofmeat; this he threw to the dog, who instantly seized it, and took itinto the lumber-closet, which Jack had just left. Finding himselfdelivered from a noisy and troublesome enemy, and seeing the giant didnot awake, Jack boldly seized the bags, and throwing them over hisshoulders, ran out of the kitchen. He reached the street door in safety, and found it quite daylight. In his way to the top of the bean-stalk, hefound himself greatly incommoded with the weight of the money-bags; andreally they were so heavy that he could scarcely carry them. Jack wasoverjoyed when he found himself near the bean-stalk; he soon reached thebottom, and immediately ran to seek his mother; to his great surprise, the cottage was deserted; he ran from one room to another, without beingable to find any one; he then hastened into the village, hoping to seesome of the neighbours, who could inform him where he could find hismother. An old woman at last directed him to a neighbouring house, whereshe was ill of a fever. He was greatly shocked on finding her apparentlydying, and could scarcely bear his own reflections, on knowing himselfto be the cause. On being informed of our hero's safe return, hismother, by degrees, revived, and gradually recovered. Jack presented herwith his two valuable bags. They lived happily and comfortably; thecottage was rebuilt, and well furnished. 

For three years Jack heard no more of the bean-stalk, but he could notforget it; though he feared making his mother unhappy. She would notmention the hated bean-stalk, lest it should remind him of takinganother journey. Notwithstanding the comforts Jack enjoyed at home, hismind dwelt continually upon the bean-stalk; for the fairy's menaces, incase of his disobedience, were ever present to his mind, and preventedhim from being happy; he could think of nothing else. It was in vainendeavouring to amuse himself; he became thoughtful, and would arise atthe first dawn of day, and view the bean-stalk for hours together. Hismother saw that something preyed heavily upon his mind, and endeavouredto discover the cause; but Jack knew too well what the consequence wouldbe, should she succeed. He did his utmost, therefore, to conquer thegreat desire he had for another journey up the bean-stalk. Finding, however, that his inclination grew too powerful for him, he began tomake secret preparations for his journey, and on the longest day, aroseas soon as it was light, ascended the bean-stalk, and reached the topwith some little trouble. He found the road, journey, etc. , much as itwas on the two former times; he arrived at the giant's mansion in theevening, and found his wife standing, as usual, at the door. Jack haddisguised himself so completely, that she did not appear to have theleast recollection of him; however, when he pleaded hunger and poverty, in order to gain admittance, he found it very difficult to persuade her. At last he prevailed, and was concealed in the copper. When the giantreturned, he said, "I smell fresh meat!" But Jack felt quite composed, as he had said so before, and had been soon satisfied. However, thegiant started up suddenly, and, notwithstanding all his wife could say, he searched all round the room. Whilst this was going forward, Jack wasexceedingly terrified, and ready to die with fear, wishing himself athome a thousand times; but when the giant approached the copper, and puthis hand upon the lid, Jack thought his death was certain. The giantended his search there, without moving the lid, and seated himselfquietly by the fire-side. This fright nearly overcame poor Jack; he wasafraid of moving or even breathing, lest he should be discovered. Thegiant at last ate a hearty supper. When he had finished, he commandedhis wife to fetch down his harp. Jack peeped under the copper-lid, andsoon saw the most beautiful harp that could be imagined: it was placedby the giant on the table, who said, "Play!" and it instantly played ofits own accord, without being touched. The music was uncommonly fine. Jack was delighted, and felt more anxious to get the harp into hispossession, than either of the former treasures. The giant's soul wasnot attuned to harmony, and the music soon lulled him into a soundsleep. Now, therefore, was the time to carry off the harp, as the giantappeared to be in a more profound sleep than usual Jack soon determined, got out of the copper, and seized the harp, The harp was enchanted by afairy: it called out loudly: "Master! master!" The giant awoke, stoodup, and tried to pursue Jack; but he had drank so much, that he couldhardly stand. Poor Jack ran as fast as he could. In a little time thegiant recovered sufficiently to walk slowly, or rather, to reel afterhim. Had he been sober, he must have overtaken Jack instantly; but, ashe then was, Jack contrived to be first at the top of the bean-stalk. The giant called after him in a voice like thunder, and sometimes wasvery near him. The moment Jack got down the bean-stalk he called out fora hatchet; one was brought him directly; just at that instant, the giantwas beginning to descend; but Jack, with his hatchet, cut the bean-stalkclose off at the root, which made the giant fall headlong into thegarden: the fall killed him, thereby releasing the world from abarbarous enemy. Jack's mother was delighted when she saw the bean-stalkdestroyed. At this instant the fairy appeared: she first addressedJack's mother and explained every circumstance relating to the journeysup the bean-stalk. The fairy charged Jack to be dutiful to his mother, and to follow his father's good example, which was the only way to behappy. She then disappeared. Jack heartily begged his mother's pardonfor all the sorrow and affliction he had caused her, promising mostfaithfully to be very dutiful and obedient to her for the future. 

CHAPTER XVIII

JACK THE GIANT KILLER

In the reign of the famous King Arthur, there lived near the Land's Endof England, in the county of Cornwall, a worthy farmer, who had an onlyson named Jack. Jack was a boy of a bold temper; he took pleasure inhearing or reading stories of wizards, conjurers, giants, and fairies, and used to listen eagerly while his father talked of the great deeds ofthe brave knights of King Arthur's Round Table. When Jack was sent totake care of the sheep and oxen in the fields, he used to amuse himselfwith planning battles, sieges, and the means to conquer or surprise afoe. He was above the common sports of children; but hardly any onecould equal him at wrestling; or, if he met with a match for himself instrength, his skill and address always made him the victor. In thosedays there lived on St. Michael's Mount of Cornwall, which rises out ofthe sea at some distance from the main land, a huge giant. He waseighteen feet high, and three yards round; and his fierce and savagelooks were the terror of all his neighbours. He dwelt in a gloomy cavernon the very top of the mountain, and used to wade over to the main landin search of his prey. When he came near, the people left their houses;and after he had glutted his appetite upon their cattle, he would throwhalf-a-dozen oxen upon his back, and tie three times as many sheep andhogs round his waist, and so march back to his own abode. The giant haddone this for many years, and the coast of Cornwall was greatly hurt byhis thefts, when Jack boldly resolved to destroy him. He therefore tooka horn, a shovel, pickaxe, and a dark lantern, and early in a longwinter's evening he swam to the mount. There he fell to work at once, and before morning he had dug a pit twenty-two feet deep, and almost asmany broad. He covered it over with sticks and straw, and strewed someof the earth over them, to make it look just like solid ground. He thenput his horn to his mouth, and blew such a loud and long tantivy, thatthe giant awoke and came towards Jack, roaring like thunder: "You saucyvillain, you shall pay dearly for breaking my rest; I will broil you formy breakfast. " He had scarcely spoken these words, when he cameadvancing one step farther; but then he tumbled headlong into the pit, and his fall shook the very mountain. "O ho, Mr. Giant!" said Jack, looking into the pit, "have you found your way so soon to the bottom?How is your appetite now? Will nothing serve you for breakfast this coldmorning but broiling poor Jack?" The giant now tried to rise, but Jackstruck him a blow on the crown of the head with his pickaxe, whichkilled him at once. Jack then made haste back to rejoice his friendswith the news of the giant's death. When the justices of Cornwall heardof this valiant action, they sent for Jack, and declared that he shouldalways be called Jack the Giant Killer; and they also gave him a swordand belt, upon which was written in letters of gold:

 "This is the valiant Cornishman Who slew the Giant Cormoran. "

The news of Jack's exploits soon spread over the western parts ofEngland; and another giant, called Old Blunderbore, vowed to haverevenge on Jack, if it should ever be his fortune to get him into hispower. This giant kept an enchanted castle in the midst of a lonelywood. About four months after the death of Cormoran, as Jack was takinga journey into Wales, he passed through this wood; and as he was veryweary, he sat down to rest by the side of a pleasant fountain, and therehe fell into a deep sleep. The giant came to the fountain for water justat this time, and found Jack there; and as the lines on Jack's beltshowed who he was, the giant lifted him up and laid him gently upon hisshoulder to carry him to his castle: but as he passed through thethicket, the rustling of the leaves waked Jack; and he was sadly afraidwhen he found himself in the clutches of Blunderbore. Yet this wasnothing to his fright soon after; for when they reached the castle, hebeheld the floor covered all over with the skulls and bones of men andwomen. The giant took him into a large room where lay the hearts andlimbs of persons who had been lately killed; and he told Jack, with ahorrid grin, that men's hearts, eaten with pepper and vinegar, were hisnicest food; and also, that he thought he should make a dainty meal onhis heart. When he had said this, he locked Jack up in that room, whilehe went to fetch another giant who lived in the same wood, to enjoy adinner off Jack's flesh with him. While he was away, Jack heard dreadfulshrieks, groans, and cries, from many parts of the castle; and soonafter he heard a mournful voice repeat these lines:

 "Haste, valiant stranger, haste away, Lest you become the giant's prey. On his return he'll bring another, Still more savage than his brother: A horrid, cruel monster, who, Before he kills, will torture you. Oh valiant stranger, haste away, Or you'll become these giants' prey. "

This warning was so shocking to poor Jack, that he was ready to go mad. He ran to the window, and saw the two giants coming along arm in arm. This window was right over the gates of the castle. "Now, " thought Jack, "either my death or freedom is at hand. " There were two strong cords inthe room: Jack made a large noose with a slip-knot at the ends of boththese, and as the giants were coming through the gates, he threw theropes over their heads. He then made the other ends fast to a beam inthe ceiling, and pulled with all his might till he had almost strangledthem. When he saw that they were both quite black in the face, and hadnot the least strength left, he drew his sword, and slid down the ropes;he then killed the giants, and thus saved himself from the cruel deaththey meant to put him to. Jack next took a great bunch of keys from thepocket of Blunderbore, and went into the castle again. He made a strictsearch through all the rooms; and in them found three ladies tied up bythe hair of their heads, and almost starved to death. They told him thattheir husbands had been killed by the giants, who had then condemnedthem to be starved to death, because they would not eat the flesh oftheir own dead husbands. "Ladies, " said Jack, "I have put an end to themonster and his wicked brother; and I give you this castle and all theriches it contains, to make you some amends for the dreadful pains youhave felt. " He then very politely gave them the keys of the castle, andwent further on his journey to Wales. As Jack had not taken any of thegiant's riches for himself, and so had very little money of his own, hethought it best to travel as fast as he could. At length he lost hisway, and when night came on he was in a lonely valley between two loftymountains, where he walked about for some hours without seeing anydwelling place, so he thought himself very lucky at last, in finding alarge and handsome house. 

He went up to it boldly, and knocked loudly at the gate, when, to hisgreat terror and surprise, there came forth a monstrous giant with twoheads. He spoke to Jack very civilly, for he was a Welsh giant, and allthe mischief he did was by private and secret malice, under the show offriendship and kindness. Jack told him that he was a traveller who hadlost his way, on which the huge monster made him welcome, and led himinto a room, where there was a good bed to pass the night in. Jack tookoff his clothes quickly; but though he was so weary he could not go tosleep. Soon after this he heard the giant walking backward and forwardin the next room, and saying to himself:

 "Though here you lodge with me this night, You shall not see the morning light; My club shall dash your brains out quite. "

"Say you so?" thought Jack; "are these your tricks upon travellers? ButI hope to prove as cunning as you. " Then getting out of bed, he gropedabout the room, and at last found a large thick billet of wood; he laidit in his own place in the bed, and then hid himself in a dark corner ofthe room. In the middle of the night the giant came with his great club, and struck many heavy blows on the bed, in the very place where Jack hadlaid the billet, and then he went back to his own room, thinking he hadbroken all his bones. Early in the morning, Jack put a bold face uponthe matter, and walked into the giant's room to thank him for hislodgings. The giant started when he saw him, and he began to stammerout, "Oh, dear me! Is it you? Pray, how did you sleep last night? Didyou hear or see any thing in the dead of the night?" "Nothing worthspeaking of, " said Jack carelessly; "a rat, I believe, gave me three orfour slaps with his tail, and disturbed me a little; but I soon went tosleep again. " The giant wondered more and more at this; yet he did notanswer a word, but went to bring two great bowls of hasty-pudding fortheir breakfast. Jack wished to make the giant believe that he could eatas much as himself. So he contrived to button a leathern bag inside hiscoat, and slipped the hasty-pudding into this bag, while he seemed toput it into his mouth. When breakfast was over, he said to the giant:"Now I will show you a fine trick; I can cure all wounds with a touch; Icould cut off my head one minute, and the next, put it sound again on myshoulders: you shall see an example. " He then took hold of the knife, ripped up the leathern bag, and all the hasty-pudding tumbled out uponthe floor. "Ods splutter hur nails, " cried the Welsh giant, who wasashamed to be outdone by such a little fellow as Jack, "hur can do thathurself. " So he snatched up the knife, plunged it into his stomach, andin a moment dropped down dead. 

As soon as Jack had thus tricked the Welsh monster, he went farther onhis journey; and a few days after he met with King Arthur's only son, who had got his father's leave to travel into Wales, to deliver abeautiful lady from the power of a wicked magician, who held her in hisenchantments. When Jack found that the young prince had no servants withhim, he begged leave to attend him; and the prince at once agreed tothis, and gave Jack many thanks for his kindness. The prince was ahandsome, polite, and brave knight, and so good-natured that he gavemoney to every body he met. At length he gave his last penny to an oldwoman, and then turned to Jack, and said: "How shall we be able to getfood for ourselves the rest of our journey?" "Leave that to me sir, "said Jack; "I will provide for my prince. " Night now came on, and theprince began to grow uneasy at thinking where they should lodge. "Sir, "said Jack, "be of good heart; two miles farther there lives a largegiant, whom I know well. He has three heads, and will fight five hundredmen, and make them fly before him. " "Alas!" replied the king's son, "wehad better never have been born than meet with such a monster. " "Mylord, leave me to manage him, and wait here in quiet till I return. " Theprince now staid behind, while Jack rode on full speed. And when he cameto the gates of the castle, he gave a loud knock. The giant, with avoice like thunder, roared out: "Who is there?" And Jack made answer, and said: "No one but your poor cousin Jack. " "Well, " said the giant, "what news, cousin Jack?" "Dear uncle, " said Jack, "I have some heavynews. " "Pooh!" said the giant, "what heavy news can come to me? I am agiant with three heads; and can fight five hundred men, and make themfly before me. " "Alas!" said Jack, "Here is the king's son, coming withtwo thousand men, to kill you, and to destroy the castle and all thatyou have. " "Oh, cousin Jack, " said the giant, "This is heavy newsindeed! But I have a large cellar under ground, where I will hidemyself, and you shall lock, and bar me in, and keep the keys till theking's son is gone. "

Now when Jack had made the giant fast in the vault, he went back andfetched the prince to the castle; they both made themselves merry withthe wine and other dainties that were in the house. So that night theyrested very pleasantly, while the poor giant lay trembling and shakingwith fear in the cellar under ground. Early in the morning, Jack gavethe king's son gold and silver out of the giant's treasure, and set himthree miles forward on his journey. He then went to let his uncle out ofthe hole, who asked Jack what he should give him as a reward for savinghis castle. "Why, good uncle, " said Jack, "I desire nothing but the oldcoat and cap, with the old rusty sword and slippers, which are hangingat your bed's head, " Then said the giant: "You shall have them; and praykeep them for my sake, for they are things of great use: the coat willkeep you invisible, the cap will give you knowledge, the sword cutthrough anything, and the shoes are of vast swiftness; these may beuseful to you in all times of danger, so take them with all my heart. "Jack gave many thanks to the giant, and then set off to the prince. Whenhe had come up with the king's son, they soon arrived at the dwelling ofthe beautiful lady, who was under the power of a wicked magician. Shereceived the prince very politely, and made a noble feast for him; andwhen it was ended, she rose, and wiping her mouth with a finehandkerchief, said: "My lord, you must submit to the custom of mypalace; to-morrow morning I command you to tell me on whom I bestow thishandkerchief or lose your head. " She then went out of the room. Theyoung prince went to bed very mournful: but Jack put on his cap ofknowledge, which told him that the lady was forced, by the power ofenchantment, to meet the wicked magician every night in the middle ofthe forest. Jack now put on his coat of darkness, and his shoes ofswiftness, and was there before her. When the lady came, she gave thehandkerchief to the magician. Jack with his sword of sharpness, at oneblow, cut off his head; the enchantment was then ended in a moment, andthe lady was restored to her former virtue and goodness. 

She was married to the prince on the next day, and soon after went backwith her royal husband, and a great company, to the court of KingArthur, where they were received with loud and joyful welcomes; and thevaliant hero Jack, for the many great exploits he had done for the goodof his country, was made one of the Knights of the Round Table. As Jackhad been so lucky in all his adventures, he resolved not to be idle forthe future, but still to do what services he could for the honour of theking and the nation. He therefore humbly begged his majesty to furnishhim with a horse and money, that he might travel in search of new andstrange exploits. "For, " said he to the king, "there are many giants yetliving in the remote parts of Wales, to the great terror and distress ofyour majesty's subjects; therefore if it please you, sire, to favour mein my design, I will soon rid your kingdom of these giants and monstersin human shape. " Now when the king heard this offer, and began to thinkof the cruel deeds of these blood-thirsty giants and savage monsters, hegave Jack every thing proper for such a journey. After this Jack tookleave of the king, the prince, and all the knights, and set off; takingwith him his cap of knowledge, his sword of sharpness, his shoes ofswiftness, and his invisible coat, the better to perform the greatexploits that might fall in his way. He went along over high hills andlofty mountains, and on the third day he came to a large wide forest, through which his road led. He had hardly entered the forest, when on asudden he heard very dreadful shrieks and cries. He forced his waythrough the trees, and saw a monstrous giant dragging along by the hairof their heads a handsome knight and his beautiful lady. Their tears andcries melted the heart of honest Jack to pity and compassion; healighted from his horse, and tying him to an oak tree he put on hisinvisible coat, under which he carried his sword of sharpness. 

When he came up to the giant, he made several strokes at him, but couldnot reach his body, on account of the enormous height of the terriblecreature, but he wounded his thighs in several places; and at length, putting both hands to his sword, and aiming with all his might, he cutoff both the giant's legs just below the garter; and the trunk of hisbody tumbling to the ground, made not only the trees shake, but theearth itself tremble with the force of his fall. Then Jack, setting hisfoot upon his neck, exclaimed, "Thou barbarous and savage wretch, beholdI come to execute upon thee the just reward for all thy crimes;" andinstantly plunged his sword into the giant's body. The huge monster gavea hideous groan, and yielded up his life into the hands of thevictorious Jack the Giant Killer, whilst the noble knight and thevirtuous lady were both joyful spectators of his sudden death and theirdeliverance. The courteous knight and his fair lady, not only returnedJack hearty thanks for their deliverance, but also invited him to theirhouse, to refresh himself after his dreadful encounter, as likewise toreceive a reward for his good services. "No, " said Jack, "I cannot be atease till I find out the den that was the monster's habitation. " Theknight on hearing this grew very sorrowful, and replied, "Noblestranger, it is too much to run a second hazard; this monster lived in aden under yonder mountain, with a brother of his, more fierce and cruelthan himself; therefore, if you should go thither, and perish in theattempt, it would be a heart-breaking thing to me and my lady; so let mepersuade you to go with us, and desist from any farther pursuit. " "Nay, "answered Jack, "if there be another, even if there were twenty, I wouldshed the last drop of blood in my body before one of them should escapemy fury. When I have finished this task, I will come and pay my respectsto you. " So when they had told him where to find them again, he got onhis horse and went after the dead giant's brother. 

Jack had not rode a mile and a half, before he came in sight of themouth of the cavern; and nigh the entrance of it, he saw the other giantsitting on a huge block of fine timber, with a knotted iron club lyingby his side, waiting for his brother. His eyes looked like flames offire, his face was grim and ugly, and his cheeks seemed like twoflitches of bacon; the bristles of his beard seemed to be thick rods ofiron wire; and his long locks of hair hung down upon his broad shoulderslike curling snakes. Jack got down from his horse, and turned him into athicket; then he put on his coat of darkness, and drew a little nearerto behold this figure, and said softly: "Oh, monster! are you there? Itwill not be long before I shall take you fast by the beard. " The giantall this while, could not see him, by reason of his invisible coat: soJack came quite close to him, and struck a blow at his head with hissword of sharpness, but he missed his aim, and only cut off his nose, which made him roar like loud claps of thunder. And though he rolled hisglaring eyes round on every side, he could not see who had given him theblow; yet he took up his iron club, and began to lay about him like onethat was mad with pain and fury. 

"Nay, " said Jack, "if this be the case I will kill you at once. " Sosaying, he slipped nimbly behind him, and jumping upon the block oftimber, as the giant rose from it, he stabbed him in the back; when, after a few howls, he dropped down dead. Jack cut off his head, and sentit with the head of his brother, whom he had killed before in theforest, to King Arthur, by a wagon which he hired for that purpose, withan account of all his exploits. When Jack had thus killed these twomonsters, he went into their cave in search of their treasure: he passedthrough many turnings and windings, which led him to a room paved withfreestone; at the end of it was a boiling caldron, and on the right handstood a large table where the giants used to dine. He then came to awindow that was secured with iron bars, through which he saw a number ofwretched captives, who cried out when they saw Jack, "Alas! alas! youngman, you are come to be one among us in this horrid den. " "I hope, " saidJack, "you will not stay here long; but pray tell me what is the meaningof your being here at all?" "Alas!" said one poor old man, "I will tellyou, sir. We are persons that have been taken by the giants who holdthis cave, and are kept till they choose to have a feast, then one of usis to be killed, and cooked to please their taste. It is not long sincethey took three for the same purpose. " "Well, " said Jack, "I have giventhem such a dinner that it will be long enough before they have anymore. " The captives were amazed at his words. "You may believe me, " saidJack; "for I have killed them both with the edge of the sword, and havesent their large heads to the court of King Arthur, as marks of my greatsuccess. "

To show them that what he said was true, he unlocked the gate, and setthem all free. Then he led them to the great room, placed them round thetable, and set before them two quarters of beef, with bread and wine;upon which they feasted to their fill. When supper was over, theysearched the giants' coffers, and Jack shared the store in them amongthe captives, who thanked him for their escape. The next morning theyset off to their homes, and Jack to the knight's house, whom he had leftwith his lady not long before. It was just at the time of sunrise thatJack mounted his horse to proceed on his journey. 

He arrived at the knight's house, where he was received with thegreatest joy by the thankful knight and his lady, who, in honour ofJack's exploits, gave a grand feast, to which all the nobles and gentrywere invited. When the company were assembled, the knight declared tothem the great actions of Jack, and gave him, as a mark of respect, afine ring, on which was engraved the picture of the giant dragging theknight and the lady by the hair, with this motto round it:

 "Behold, in dire distress were we, Under a giant's fierce command; But gained our lives and liberty, From valiant Jack's victorious hand. "

Among the guests then present were five aged gentlemen, who were fathersto some of those captives who had been freed by Jack from the dungeon ofthe giants. As soon as they heard that he was the person who had donesuch wonders, they pressed round him with tears of joy, to return himthanks for the happiness he had caused to them. After this the bowl wentround, and every one drank to the health and long life of the gallanthero. Mirth increased, and the hall was filled with peals of laughterand joyful cries. But, on a sudden, a herald, pale and breathless withhaste and terror, rushed into the midst of the company, and told themthat Thundel, a savage giant with two heads, had heard of the death ofhis two kinsmen, and was come to take his revenge on Jack; and that hewas now within a mile of the house; the people flying before him likechaff before the wind. At this news the very boldest of the gueststrembled; but Jack drew his sword, and said: "Let him come, I have a rodfor him also. Pray, ladies and gentlemen, do me the favour to walk intothe garden, and you shall soon behold the giant's defeat and death. " Tothis they all agreed, and heartily wished him success in his dangerousattempt. The knight's house stood in the middle of a moat, thirty feetdeep and twenty wide, over which lay a drawbridge. Jack set men to workto cut the bridge on both sides, almost to the middle; and then dressedhimself in his coat of darkness, and went against the giant with hissword of sharpness. As he came close to him, though the giant could notsee him, for his invisible coat, yet he found some danger was near, which made him cry out:

 "Fa, fe, fi, fo, fum, I smell the blood of an Englishman; Let him be alive, or let him be dead, I'll grind his bones to make me bread. "

"Say you so my friend?" said Jack, "you are a monstrous miller indeed. ""Art thou, " cried the giant, "the villain that killed my kinsmen? Then Iwill tear thee with my teeth, and grind thy bones to powder. " "You mustcatch me first, " said Jack; and throwing off his coat of darkness, andputting on his shoes of swiftness, he began to run; the giant followinghim like a walking castle, making the earth shake at every step. 

Jack led him round and round the walls of the house, that the companymight see the monster; and to finish the work Jack ran over thedrawbridge, the giant going after him with his club. But when the giantcame to the middle, where the bridge had been cut on both sides, thegreat weight of his body made it break, and he tumbled into the water, and rolled about like a large whale. Jack now stood by the side of themoat, and laughed and jeered at him, saying: "I think you told me, youwould grind my bones to powder. When will you begin?" The giant foamedat both his horrid mouths with fury, and plunged from side to side ofthe moat; but he could not get out to have revenge on his little foe. Atlast Jack ordered a cart rope to be brought to him. He then drew it overhis two heads, and by the help of a team of horses, dragged him to theedge of the moat, where he cut off the monster's heads; and before heeither eat or drank, he sent them both to the court of King Arthur. Hethen went back to the table with the company, and the rest of the daywas spent in mirth and good cheer. After staying with the knight forsome time, Jack grew weary of such an idle life, and set out again insearch of new adventures. He went over the hills and dales withoutmeeting any, till he came to the foot of a very high mountain. Here heknocked at the door of a small and lonely house; and an old man, with ahead as white as snow, let him in. "Good father" said Jack, "can youlodge a traveller who has lost his way?" "Yes, " said the hermit, "I can, if you will accept such fare as my poor house affords. " Jack entered, and the old man set before him some bread and fruit for his supper. WhenJack had eaten as much as he chose, the hermit said, "My son, I know youare the famous conqueror of giants; now, on the top of this mountain isan enchanted castle, kept by a giant named Galligantus, who, by the helpof a vile magician, gets many knights into his castle, where he changesthem into the shape of beasts. Above all I lament the hard fate of aduke's daughter, whom they seized as she was walking in her father'sgarden, and brought hither through the air in a chariot drawn by twofiery dragons, and turned her into the shape of a deer. Many knightshave tried to destroy the enchantment, and deliver her; yet none havebeen able to do it, by reason of two fiery griffins who guard the gateof the castle, and destroy all who come nigh. But as you, my son, havean invisible coat, you may pass by them without being seen; and on thegates of the castle, you will find engraved, by what means theenchantment may be broken. "

Jack promised, that in the morning, at the risk of his life he wouldbreak the enchantment: and after a sound sleep he arose early, put onhis invisible coat, and got ready for the attempt. When he had climbedto the top of the mountain, he saw the two fiery griffins; but he passedbetween them without the least fear of danger; for they could not seehim because of his invisible coat. On the castle gate he found a goldentrumpet, under which were written these lines:

 "Whoever can this trumpet blow, Shall cause the giant's overthrow. "

As soon as Jack had read this, he seized the trumpet, and blew a shrillblast which made the gates fly open and the very castle itself tremble. The giant and the conjurer now knew that their wicked course was at anend, and they stood biting their thumbs and shaking with fear. Jack, with his sword of sharpness, soon killed the giant. The magician wasthen carried away by a whirlwind and every knight and beautiful lady, who had been changed into birds and beasts, returned to their propershapes. The castle vanished away like smoke and the head of the giantGalligantus was sent to King Arthur. The knights and ladies rested thatnight at the old man's hermitage, and next day they set out for thecourt. Jack then went up to the king, and gave his majesty an account ofall his fierce battles. Jack's fame had spread through the wholecountry; and at the king's desire, the duke gave him his daughter inmarriage, to the joy of all the kingdom. After this the king gave him alarge estate; on which he and his lady lived the rest of their days, injoy and content. 

CHAPTER XIX

LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD

Once upon a time there lived in a village a country girl, who was thesweetest little creature that ever was seen; her mother naturally lovedher with excessive fondness, and her grandmother doted on her stillmore. The good woman had made for her a pretty little red-coloured hood, which so much became the little girl, that every one called her LittleRed Riding Hood. 

One day her mother having made some cheesecakes, said to her, "Go, mychild, and see how your grandmother does, for I hear she is ill; carryher some of these cakes, and a little pot of butter. " Little Red RidingHood straight set out with a basket filled with the cakes and the pot ofbutter, for her grandmother's house, which was in a village a little wayoff the town that her mother lived in. As she was crossing a wood, whichlay in her road, she met a large wolf, which had a great mind to eat herup, but dared not, for fear of some wood-cutters, who were at work nearthem in the forest. Yet he spoke to her, and asked her whither she wasgoing. The little girl, who did not know the danger of talking to awolf, replied: "I am going to see my grandmamma, and carry these cakesand a pot of butter. " "Does she live far off?" said the wolf. "Oh yes!"answered Little Red Riding Hood; "beyond the mill you see yonder, at thefirst house in the village. " "Well, " said the wolf, "I will take thisway, and you take that, and see which will be there the soonest. "

The wolf set out full speed, running as fast as he could, and taking thenearest way, while the little girl took the longest; and as she wentalong began to gather nuts, run after butterflies, and make nose-gays ofsuch flowers as she found within her reach. The wolf got to the dwellingof the grandmother first, and knocked at the door. "Who is there?" saidsome voice in the house. "It is your grandchild, Little Red RidingHood, " said the wolf, speaking like the little girl as well as he could. "I have brought you some cheesecakes, and a little pot of butter, thatmamma has sent you. " The good old woman, who was ill in bed, called out, "Pull the bobbin, and the latch will go up. " The wolf pulled the bobbin, and the door went open. The wolf then jumped upon the poor oldgrandmother, and ate her up in a moment, for it was three days since hehad tasted any food. The wolf then shut the door, and laid himself downin the bed, and waited for Little Red Riding Hood, who very soon afterreached the house. Tap! tap! "Who is there?" cried he. She was at firsta little afraid at hearing the gruff voice of the wolf, but she thoughtthat perhaps her grandmother had got a cold, so she answered: "It isyour grandchild, Little Red Riding Hood. Mamma has sent you somecheesecakes, and a little pot of butter. " The wolf cried out in a softervoice, "Pull the bobbin, and the latch will go up. " Little Red RidingHood pulled the bobbin, and the door went open. When she came into theroom, the wolf hid himself under the bedclothes, and said to her, tryingall he could to speak in a feeble voice: "Put the basket on the stool, my dear, and take off your clothes, and come into bed. " Little RedRiding Hood, who always used to do as she was told, straight undressedherself, and stepped into bed; but she thought it strange to see how hergrandmother looked in her nightclothes, so she said to her: "Dear me, grandmamma, what great arms you have got!" "They are so much the betterto hug you, my child, " replied the wolf. "But grandmamma, " said thelittle girl, "what great ears you have got!" "They are so much thebetter to hear you, my child, " replied the wolf. "But then, grandmamma, what great eyes you have got!" said the little girl. "They are so muchthe better to see you, my child, " replied the wolf. "And grandmamma, what great teeth you have got!" said the little girl, who now began tobe rather afraid. "They are to eat you up, " said the wolf; and sayingthese words, the wicked creature fell upon Little Red Riding Hood, andate her up in a moment. 

CHAPTER XX

THE THREE BEARS

In a far-off country there was once a little girl who was calledSilver-hair, because her curly hair shone brightly. She was a sad romp, and so restless that she could not be kept quiet at home, but must needsrun out and away, without leave. 

One day she started off into a wood to gather wild flowers, and into thefields to chase butterflies. She ran here and she ran there, and went sofar, at last, that she found herself in a lonely place, where she saw asnug little house, in which three bears lived; but they were not then athome. 

The door was ajar, and Silver-hair pushed it open and found the place tobe quite empty, so she made up her mind to go in boldly, and look allabout the place, little thinking what sort of people lived there. 

Now the three bears had gone out to walk a little before this. They werethe Big Bear, and the Middle-sized Bear, and the Little Bear; but theyhad left their porridge on the table to cool. So when Silver-hair cameinto the kitchen, she saw the three bowls of porridge. She tasted thelargest bowl, which belonged to the Big Bear, and found it too cold;then she tasted the middle-sized bowl, which belonged to theMiddle-sized Bear, and found it too hot; then she tasted the smallestbowl, which belonged to the Little Bear, and it was just right, and sheate it all. 

She went into the parlour, and there were three chairs. She tried thebiggest chair, which belonged to the Big Bear, and found it too high;then she tried the middle-sized chair, which belonged to theMiddle-sized Bear, and she found it too broad; then she tried the littlechair, which belonged to the Little Bear, and found it just right, butshe sat in it so hard that she broke it. 

Now Silver-hair was by this time very tired, and she went upstairs tothe chamber, and there she found three beds. She tried the largest bed, which belonged to the Big Bear, and found it too soft; then she triedthe middle-sized bed, which belonged to the Middle-sized Bear, and shefound it too hard; then she tried the smallest bed, which belonged tothe Little Bear, and found it just right, so she lay down upon it, andfell fast asleep. 

While Silver-hair was lying fast asleep, the three bears came home fromtheir walk. They came into the kitchen, to get their porridge, but whenthe Big Bear went to his, he growled out:

"SOMEBODY HAS BEEN TASTING MY PORRIDGE!"

and the Middle-sized Bear looked into his bowl, and said:

"Somebody Has Been Tasting My Porridge!"

and the Little Bear piped:

"_Somebody has tasted my porridge and eaten it all up!_"

Then they went into the parlour, and the Big Bear growled:

"SOMEBODY HAS BEEN SITTING IN MY CHAIR!"

and the Middle-sized Bear said:

"Somebody Has Been Sitting In My Chair!"

and the Little Bear piped:

"_Somebody has been sitting in my chair, and has broken it all topieces!_"

So they went upstairs into the chamber, and the Big Bear growled:

"SOMEBODY HAS BEEN TUMBLING MY BED!"

and the Middle-sized Bear said:

"Somebody Has Been Tumbling My Bed!"

and the little Bear piped:

"_Somebody has been tumbling my bed, and here she is!_"

At that, Silver-hair woke in a fright, and jumped out of the window andran away as fast as her legs could carry her, and never went near theThree Bears' snug little house again. 

CHAPTER XXI

THE PRINCESS ON THE PEA

There was once a prince who wanted to marry a princess; but she was tobe a _real_ princess. So he travelled about, all through the world, tofind a real one, but everywhere there was something in the way. Therewere princesses enough, but whether they were _real_ princesses he couldnot quite make out: there was always something that did not seem quiteright. So he came home again, and was quite sad: for he wished so muchto have a real princess. One evening a terrible storm came on. Itlightened and thundered, the rain streamed down; it was quite fearful!Then there was a knocking at the town gate, and the old king went out toopen it. 

It was a princess who stood outside the gate. But, mercy! how shelooked, from the rain and the rough weather! The water ran down from herhair and her clothes; it ran in at the points of her shoes, and out atthe heels; and yet she declared that she was a real princess. 

"Yes, we will soon find that out, " thought the old queen. But she saidnothing, only went into the bedchamber, took all the bedding off, andput a pea on the flooring of the bedstead; then she took twentymattresses and laid them upon the pea, and then twenty eider-down bedsupon the mattresses. On this the princess had to lie all night. In themorning she was asked how she had slept. 

"Oh, miserably!" said the princess. "I scarcely closed my eyes all nightlong. Goodness knows what was in my bed. I lay upon something hard, sothat I am black and blue all over. It is quite dreadful!"

Now they saw that she was a real princess, for through the twentymattresses and the twenty eider-down beds she had felt the pea. No onebut a real princess could be so delicate. 

So the prince took her for his wife, for now he knew that he had a trueprincess; and the pea was put in the museum, and it is there now, unlesssomebody has carried it off. 

Look you, this is a true story. 

CHAPTER XXII

THE UGLY DUCKLING

It was so glorious out in the country; it was summer; the cornfieldswere yellow, the oats were green, the hay had been put up in stacks inthe green meadows, and the stork went about on his long red legs, andchattered Egyptian, for this was the language he had learned from hisgood mother. All around the fields and meadows were great forests, andin the midst of these forests lay deep lakes. Yes, it was right gloriousout in the country. In the midst of the sunshine there lay an old farm, with deep canals about it, and from the wall down to the water grewgreat burdocks, so high that little children could stand upright underthe loftiest of them. It was just as wild there as in the deepest wood, and here sat a Duck upon her nest; she had to hatch her ducklings; butshe was almost tired out before the little ones came and then she soseldom had visitors. The other ducks liked better to swim about in thecanals than to run up to sit down under a burdock, and cackle with her. 

At last one egg-shell after another burst open. "Piep! piep!" it cried, and in all the eggs there were little creatures that stuck out theirheads. 

"Quack! quack!" they said; and they all came quacking out as fast asthey could, looking all round them under the green leaves; and themother let them look as much as they chose, for green is good for theeye. 

"How wide the world is!" said all the young ones, for they certainly hadmuch more room now than when they were in the eggs. 

"D'ye think this is all the world?" said the mother. "That stretches faracross the other side of the garden, quite into the parson's field; butI have never been there yet. I hope you are all together, " and she stoodup. "No, I have not all. The largest egg still lies there. How long isthat to last? I am really tired of it. " And she sat down again. 

"Well, how goes it?" asked an old Duck who had come to pay her a visit. 

"It lasts a long time with that one egg, " said the Duck who sat there. "It will not burst. Now, only look at the others; are they not theprettiest little ducks one could possibly see? They are all like theirfather. The rogue, he never comes to see me. "

"Let me see the egg which will not burst, " said the old visitor. "Youmay be sure it is a turkey's egg. I was once cheated in that way, andhad much anxiety and trouble with the young ones, for they are afraid ofthe water. Must I say it to you, I could not get them to venture in. Iquacked and I clacked, but it was no use. Let me see the egg. Yes, that's a turkey's egg. Let it lie there, and teach the other children toswim. "

"I think I will sit on it a little longer, " said the Duck. "I've sat solong now that I can sit a few days more. "

"Just as you please, " said the old Duck; and she went away. 

At last the great egg burst. "Piep! piep!" said the little one, andcrept forth. It was very large and very ugly. The Duck looked at it. 

"It's a very large duckling, " said she; "none of the others look likethat. Can it really be a turkey chick? Well, we shall soon find out. Itmust go into the water, even if I have to thrust it in myself. "

The next day it was bright, beautiful weather; the sun shone on all thegreen trees. The Mother-Duck went down to the canal with all her family. Splash! she jumped into the water. "Quack! quack!" she said, and oneduckling after another plunged in. The water closed over their heads, but they came up in an instant, and swam capitally; their legs went ofthemselves, and they were all in the water. The ugly gray Duckling swamwith them. 

"No, it's not a turkey, " said she; "look how well it can use its legs, and how straight it holds itself. It is my own child! On the whole it'squite pretty, if one looks at it rightly. Quack! quack! come with me, and I'll lead you out into the great world, and present you in theduck-yard; but keep close to me, so that no one may tread on you, andtake care of the cats!"

And so they came into the duck-yard. There was a terrible riot going onin there, for two families were quarrelling about an eel's head, and thecat got it after all. 

"See, that's how it goes in the world!" said the Mother-Duck; and shewhetted her beak, for she too wanted the eel's head. "Only use yourlegs, " she said. "See that you can bustle about, and bow your headsbefore the old Duck yonder. She's the grandest of all here; she's ofSpanish blood--that's why she's so fat; and d'ye see? she has a red raground her leg; that's something particularly fine, and the greatestdistinction a duck can enjoy; it signifies that one does not want tolose her, and that she's to be known by the animals and by men too. Shake yourselves--don't turn in your toes; a well brought-up duck turnsits toes quite out, just like father and mother--so! Now bend your necksand say 'Quack!'"

And they did so: but the other ducks round about looked at them, andsaid quite boldly:

"Look there! now we're to have these hanging on, as if there were notenough of us already! And--fie!--how that duckling yonder looks; wewon't stand that!" And one duck flew up at it, and bit it in the neck. 

"Let it alone, " said the mother; "it does no harm to any one. "

"Yes, but it's too large and peculiar, " said the Duck who had bitten it;"and therefore it must be put down. "

"Those are pretty children that the mother has there, " said the old Duckwith the rag round her leg. "They're all pretty but that one; that wasrather unlucky. I wish she could bear it over again. "

"That cannot be done, my lady, " replied the Mother-Duck. "It is notpretty, but it has a really good disposition, and swims as well as anyother; yes, I may even say it, swims better. I think it will grow uppretty, and become smaller in time; it has lain too long in the egg, andtherefore is not properly shaped. " And then she pinched it in the neck, and smoothed its feathers. "Moreover, it is a drake, " she said, "andtherefore it is not of so much consequence. I think he will be verystrong. He makes his way already. "

"The other ducklings are graceful enough, " said the old Duck. "Makeyourself at home; and if you find an eel's head, you may bring it me. "

And now they were at home. But the poor Duckling which had crept lastout of the egg, and looked so ugly, was bitten and pushed and jeered, asmuch by the ducks as by the chickens. 

"It is too big!" they all said. And the turkey-cock, who had been bornwith spurs, and therefore thought himself an emperor, blew himself uplike a ship in full sail, and bore straight down upon it; then hegobbled and grew quite red in the face. The poor Duckling did not knowwhere it should stand or walk; it was quite melancholy because it lookedugly, and was the butt of the whole duck-yard. 

So it went on the first day; and afterwards it became worse and worse. The poor Duckling was hunted about by every one; even its brothers andsisters were quite angry with it, and said, "If the cat would only catchyou, you ugly creature!" And the mother said, "If you were only faraway!" And the ducks bit it, and the chickens beat it, and the girl whohad to feed the poultry kicked at it with her foot. 

Then it ran and flew over the fence, and the little birds in the bushesflew up in fear. 

"That is because I am so ugly!" thought the Duckling; and it shut itseyes, but flew on farther, and so it came out into the great moor, wherethe wild ducks lived. Here it lay the whole night long; and it was wearyand downcast. 

Towards morning the wild ducks flew up, and looked at their newcompanion. 

"What sort of a one are you?" they asked; and the Duckling turned inevery direction, and bowed as well as it could. "You are remarkablyugly!" said the Wild Ducks. "But that is nothing to us, so long as youdo not marry into our family. "

Poor thing! it certainly did not think of marrying, and only hoped toobtain leave to lie among the reeds and drink some of the swamp water. 

Thus it lay two whole days; then came thither two wild geese, or, properly speaking, two wild ganders. It was not long since each hadcrept out of an egg, and that's why they were so saucy. 

"Listen, comrade, " said one of them. "You're so ugly that I like you. Will you go with us, and become a bird of passage? Near here, in anothermoor, there are a few sweet lovely wild geese, all unmarried, and allable to say 'Rap!' You've a chance of making your fortune, ugly as youare. "

"Piff! paff!" resounded through the air; and the two ganders fell downdead in the swamp, and the water became blood red. "Piff! paff!" itsounded again, and the whole flock of wild geese rose up from the reeds. And then there was another report. A great hunt was going on. Thesportsmen were lying in wait all round the moor, and some were evensitting up in the branches of the trees, which spread far over thereeds. The blue smoke rose up like clouds among the dark trees, and waswafted far away across the water; and the hunting dogs came--splash, splash!--into the swamp, and the rushes and the reeds bent down on everyside. That was a fright for the poor Duckling! It turned its head, andput it under its wing; but at that moment a frightful great dog stoodclose by the Duckling. His tongue hung far out of his mouth, and hiseyes gleamed horrible and ugly; he thrust out his nose close against theDuckling, showed his sharp teeth, and--splash, splash!--on he went, without seizing it. 

"Oh, Heaven be thanked!" sighed the Duckling. "I am so ugly that eventhe dog does not like to bite me!"

And so it lay quite quiet, while the shots rattled through the reeds andgun after gun was fired. At last, late in the day, all was still; butthe poor Duckling did not dare to rise up; it waited several hoursbefore it looked round, and then hastened away out of the moor as fastas it could. It ran on over field and meadow; there was such a stormraging that it was difficult to get from one place to another. 

Towards evening the Duck came to a little miserable peasant's hut. Thishut was so dilapidated that it did not itself know on which side itshould fall; and that's why it remained standing. The storm whistledround the Duckling in such a way that the poor creature was obliged tosit down, to stand against it; and the wind blew worse and worse. Thenthe Duckling noticed that one of the hinges of the door had given way, and the door hung so slanting that the Duckling could slip through thecrack into the room; and that is what it did. 

Here lived a woman, with her Cat and her Hen. And the Cat, whom shecalled Sonnie, could arch his back and purr, he could even give outsparks; but to make him do it one had to stroke his fur the wrong way. The Hen had quite little, short legs, and therefore she was calledChickabiddy Short-shanks. She laid good eggs, and the woman loved herlike her own child. 

In the morning the strange Duckling was at once noticed, and the Catbegan to purr and the Hen to cluck. 

"What's this?" said the woman, and looked all round; but she could notsee well, and therefore she thought the Duckling was a fat duck that hadstrayed. "This is a rare prize!" she said. "Now I shall have duck'seggs. I hope it is not a drake. We must try that. "

And so the Duckling was admitted on trial for three weeks; but no eggscame. And the Cat was master of the House, and the Hen was the lady, andalways said, "We and the world!" for she thought they were half theworld, and by far the better half. 

The Duckling thought one might have a different opinion, but the Henwould not allow it. 

"Can you lay eggs?" she asked. 

"No. "

"Then will you hold your tongue!"

And the Cat said, "Can you curve your back, and purr, and give outsparks?"

"No. "

"Then you will please have no opinion of your own when sensible folksare speaking. "

And the Duckling sat in a corner and was melancholy; then the fresh airand the sunshine streamed in; and it was seized with such a strangelonging to swim on the water, that it could not help telling the Hen ofit. 

"What are you thinking of?" cried the Hen. "You have nothing to do, that's why you have these fancies. Lay eggs, or purr, and they will passover. "

"But it is so charming to swim on the water!" said the Duckling, "sorefreshing to let it close above one's head, and to dive down to thebottom. "

"Yes, that must be a mighty pleasure, truly, " quoth the Hen, "I fancyyou must have gone crazy. Ask the Cat about it--he's the cleverestanimal I know--ask him if he likes to swim on the water, or to divedown--I won't speak about myself. Ask our mistress, the old woman; noone in the world is cleverer than she. Do you think she has any desireto swim, and to let the water close above her head?"

"You don't understand me, " said the Duckling. 

"We don't understand you? Then pray who is to understand you? You surelydon't pretend to be cleverer than the Cat and the woman--I won't sayanything of myself. Don't be conceited, child, and thank your Maker forall the kindness you have received. Did you not get into a warm room, and have you not fallen into company from which you may learn something?But you are a chatterer, and it is not pleasant to associate with you. You may believe me, I speak for your good. I tell you disagreeablethings, and by that one may always know one's true friends! Only takecare that you learn to lay eggs, or to purr, and give out sparks!"

"I think I will go out into the wide world, " said the Duckling. 

"Yes, do go, " replied the Hen. 

And so the Duckling went away. It swam on the water, and dived, but itwas slighted by every creature because of its ugliness. 

Now came the autumn. The leaves in the forest turned yellow and brown;the wind caught them so that they danced about, and up in the air it wasvery cold. The clouds hung low, heavy with hail and snow-flakes, and onthe fence stood the raven, crying, "Croak! croak!" for mere cold; yes, it was enough to make one feel cold to think of this. The poor littleDuckling certainly had not a good time. One evening--the sun was justsetting in his beauty--there came a whole flock of great, handsome birdsout of the bushes. They were dazzlingly white, with long, flexiblenecks--they were swans. They uttered a very peculiar cry, spread forththeir glorious great wings, and flew away from that cold region towarmer lands, to fair open lakes. They mounted so high, so high! and theugly Duckling felt quite strangely as it watched them. It turned roundand round in the water like a wheel, stretched out its neck towardsthem, and uttered such a strange loud cry as frightened itself. Oh! itcould not forget those beautiful, happy birds; and so soon as it couldsee them no longer, it dived down to the very bottom, and when it cameup again it was quite beside itself. It knew not the name of thosebirds, and knew not whither they were flying; but it loved them morethan it had ever loved any one. It was not at all envious of them. Howcould it think of wishing to possess such loveliness as they had? Itwould have been glad if only the ducks would have endured itscompany--the poor, ugly creature!

And the winter grew cold, very cold! The Duckling was forced to swimabout in the water, to prevent the surface from freezing entirely; butevery night the hole in which it swam about became smaller and smaller. It froze so hard that the icy covering crackled again; and the Ducklingwas obliged to use its legs continually to prevent the hole fromfreezing up. At last it became exhausted, and lay quite still, and thusfroze fast into the ice. 

Early in the morning a peasant came by, and when he saw what hadhappened, he took his wooden shoe, broke the ice-crust to pieces, andcarried the Duckling home to his wife. Then it came to itself again. Thechildren wanted to play with it; but the Duckling thought they wanted tohurt it, and in its terror fluttered up into the milk-pan, so that themilk spurted down into the room. The woman clasped her hands, at whichthe Duckling flew down into the butter-tub, and then into themeal-barrel and out again. How it looked then! The woman screamed, andstruck at it with the fire-tongs; the children tumbled over one anotherin their efforts to catch the Duckling; and they laughed and theyscreamed!--well it was that the door stood open, and the poor creaturewas able to slip out between the shrubs into the newly-fallensnow--there it lay quite exhausted. 

But it would be too melancholy if I were to tell all the misery and carewhich the Duckling had to endure in the hard winter. It lay out on themoor among the reeds, when the sun began to shine again and the larks tosing. It was a beautiful spring. 

Then all at once the Duckling could flap its wings. They beat the airmore strongly than before, and bore it strongly away; and before it wellknew how all this happened, it found itself in a great garden, where theelder-trees smelt sweet, and bent their long green branches down to thecanal that wound through the region. Oh, here it was so beautiful, sucha gladness of spring! and from the thicket came three glorious whiteswans; they rustled their wings, and swam lightly on the water. TheDuckling knew the splendid creatures, and felt oppressed by a peculiarsadness. 

"I will fly away to them, to the royal birds, and they will beat me, because I, that am so ugly, dare to come near them. But it is all thesame. Better to be killed by _them_ than to be pursued by ducks, andbeaten by fowls, and pushed about by the girl who takes care of thepoultry yard, and to suffer hunger in winter!" And it flew out into thewater, and swam towards the beautiful swans; these looked at it, andcame sailing down upon it with outspread wings. "Kill me!" said the poorcreature, and bent its head down upon the water, expecting nothing butdeath. But what was this that it saw in the clear water? It beheld itsown image; and, lo! it was no longer a clumsy dark-gray bird, ugly andhateful to look at, but a--swan!

It matters nothing if one is born in a duck-yard if one has only lain ina swan's egg. 

It felt quite glad at all the need and misfortune it had suffered, nowit realised its happiness in all the splendour that surrounded it. Andthe great swans swam round it, and stroked it with their beaks. 

Into the garden came little children, who threw bread and corn into thewater; and the youngest cried, "There is a new one!" and the otherchildren shouted joyously, "Yes, a new one has arrived!" And theyclapped their hands and danced about, and ran to their father andmother; and bread and cake were thrown into the water; and they allsaid, "The new one is the most beautiful of all! so young and handsome!"and the old swans bowed their heads before him. Then he felt quiteashamed, and hid his head under his wings, for he did not know what todo; he was so happy, and yet not at all proud. He thought how he hadbeen persecuted and despised; and now he heard them saying that he wasthe most beautiful of all birds. Even the elder-tree bent its branchesstraight down into the water before him, and the sun shone warm andmild. Then his wings rustled, he lifted his slender neck, and criedrejoicingly from the depths of his heart:

"I never dreamed of so much happiness when I was the Ugly Duckling!"

CHAPTER XXIII

THE LIGHT PRINCESS

I

_What! No Children?_

Once upon a time, so long ago that I have quite forgotten the date, there lived a king and queen who had no children. 

And the king said to himself, "All the queens of my acquaintance havechildren, some three, some seven, and some as many as twelve; and myqueen has not one. I feel ill-used. " So he made up his mind to be crosswith his wife about it. But she bore it all like a good patient queen asshe was. Then the king grew very cross indeed. But the queen pretendedto take it all as a joke, and a very good one too. 

"Why don't you have any daughters, at least?" said he. "I don't say_sons_; that might be too much to expect. "

"I am sure, dear king, I am very sorry, " said the queen. 

"So you ought to be, " retorted the king; "you are not going to make avirtue of _that_, surely. "

But he was not an ill-tempered king, and in any matter of less momentwould have let the queen have her own way with all his heart. This, however, was an affair of State. 

The queen smiled. 

"You must have patience with a lady, you know, dear king, " said she. 

She was, indeed, a very nice queen, and heartily sorry that she couldnot oblige the king immediately. 

The king tried to have patience, but he succeeded very badly. It wasmore than he deserved, therefore, when, at last, the queen gave him adaughter--as lovely a little princess as ever cried. 

II

_Won't I, Just?_

The day drew near when the infant must be christened. The king wrote allthe invitations with his own hand. Of course somebody was forgotten. 

Now it does not generally matter if somebody _is_ forgotten, only youmust mind who. Unfortunately, the king forgot without intending toforget; and so the chance fell upon the Princess Makemnoit, which wasawkward. For the princess was the king's own sister; and he ought not tohave forgotten her. But she had made herself so disagreeable to the oldking, their father, that he had forgotten her in making his will; and soit was no wonder that her brother forgot her in writing his invitations. But poor relations don't do anything to keep you in mind of them. Whydon't they? The king could not see into the garret she lived in, couldhe?

She was a sour, spiteful creature. The wrinkles of contempt crossed thewrinkles of peevishness, and made her face as full of wrinkles as a patof butter. If ever a king could be justified in forgetting anybody, thisking was justified in forgetting his sister, even at a christening. Shelooked very odd, too. Her forehead was as large as all the rest of herface, and projected over it like a precipice. When she was angry, herlittle eyes flashed blue. When she hated anybody, they shone yellow andgreen. What they looked like when she loved anybody, I do not know; forI never heard of her loving anybody but herself, and I do not think shecould have managed that if she had not somehow got used to herself. Butwhat made it highly imprudent in the king to forget her was--that shewas awfully clever. In fact, she was a witch; and when she bewitchedanybody, he very soon had enough of it; for she beat all the wickedfairies in wickedness, and all the clever ones in cleverness. Shedespised all the modes we read of in history, in which offended fairiesand witches have taken their revenges; and therefore, after waiting andwaiting in vain for an invitation, she made up her mind at last to gowithout one, and make the whole family miserable, like a princess as shewas. 

So she put on her best gown, went to the palace, was kindly received bythe happy monarch, who forgot that he had forgotten her, and took herplace in the procession to the royal chapel. When they were all gatheredabout the font, she contrived to get next to it, and throw somethinginto the water; after which she maintained a very respectful demeanourtill the water was applied to the child's face. But at that moment sheturned round in her place three times, and muttered the following words, loud enough for those beside her to hear:

 "Light of spirit, by my charms, Light of body, every part, Never weary human arms-- Only crush thy parents' heart!"

They all thought she had lost her wits, and was repeating some foolishnursery rhyme; but a shudder went through the whole of themnotwithstanding. The baby, on the contrary, began to laugh and crow;while the nurse gave a start and a smothered cry, for, she thought shewas struck with paralysis: she could not feel the baby in her arms. Butshe clasped it tight and said nothing. 

The mischief was done. 

III

_She Can't Be Ours!_

Her atrocious aunt had deprived the child of all her gravity. If you askme how this was effected, I answer, "In the easiest way in the world. She had only to destroy gravitation. " For the princess was aphilosopher, and knew all the ins and outs of the laws of gravitation aswell as the ins and outs of her boot-lace. And being a witch as well, she could abrogate those laws in a moment; or at least so clog theirwheels and rust their bearings that they would not work at all. But wehave more to do with what followed than with how it was done. 

The first awkwardness that resulted from this unhappy privation was, that the moment the nurse began to float the baby up and down, she flewfrom her arms towards the ceiling. Happily, the resistance of the airbrought her ascending career to a close within a foot of it. There sheremained, horizontal as when she left her nurse's arms, kicking andlaughing amazingly. The nurse in terror flew to the bell, and begged thefootman, who answered it, to bring up the house-steps directly. Trembling in every limb, she climbed upon the steps, and had to standupon the very top, and reach up, before she could catch the floatingtail of the baby's long clothes. 

When the strange fact came to be known, there was a terrible commotionin the palace. The occasion of its discovery by the king was naturally arepetition of the nurse's experience. Astonished that he felt no weightwhen the child was laid in his arms, he began to wave her up and--notdown; for she slowly ascended to the ceiling as before, and thereremained floating in perfect comfort and satisfaction, as was testifiedby her peals of tiny laughter. The king stood staring up in speechlessamazement, and trembled so that his beard shook like grass in the wind. At last, turning to the queen, who was just as horror-struck as himself, he said, gasping, staring, and stammering:

"She _can't_ be ours, queen!"

Now the queen was much cleverer than the king, and had begun already tosuspect that "this effect defective came by cause. "

"I am sure she is ours, " answered she. "But we ought to have takenbetter care of her at the christening. People who were never invitedought not to have been present. "

"Oh, ho!" said the king, tapping his forehead with his forefinger, "Ihave it all. I've found her out. Don't you see it, queen? PrincessMakemnoit has bewitched her. "

"That's just what I say, " answered the queen. 

"I beg your pardon, my love; I did not hear you. John! bring the steps Iget on my throne with. "

For he was a little king with a great throne, like many other kings. 

The throne-steps were brought, and set upon the dining-table, and Johngot upon the top of them. But, he could not reach the little princess, who lay like a baby-laughter-cloud in the air, exploding continuously. 

"Take the tongs, John, " said his Majesty; and getting up on the table, he handed them to him. 

John could reach the baby now, and the little princess was handed downby the tongs. 

IV

_Where Is She?_

One fine summer day, a month after these her first adventures, duringwhich time she had been very carefully watched, the princess was lyingon the bed in the queen's own chamber, fast asleep. One of the windowswas open, for it was noon, and the day was so sultry that the littlegirl was wrapped in nothing less ethereal than slumber itself. The queencame into the room, and not observing that the baby was on the bed, opened another window. A frolicsome fairy wind, which had been watchingfor a chance of mischief, rushed in at the one window, and taking itsway over the bed where the child was lying, caught her up, and rollingand floating her along like a piece of flue, or a dandelion seed, carried her with it through the opposite window, and away. The queenwent down-stairs, quite ignorant of the loss she had herself occasioned. 

When the nurse returned, she supposed that her Majesty had carried heroff, and, dreading a scolding, delayed making inquiry about her. Buthearing nothing, she grew uneasy, and went at length to the queen'sboudoir, where she found her Majesty. 

"Please, your Majesty, shall I take the baby?" said she. 

"Where is she?" asked the queen. 

"Please forgive me. I know it was wrong. "

"What do you mean?" said the queen, looking grave. 

"Oh! don't frighten me, your Majesty!" exclaimed the nurse, clasping herhands. 

The queen saw that something was amiss, and fell down in a faint. Thenurse rushed about the palace, screaming, "My baby! my baby!"

Every one ran to the queen's room. But the queen could give no orders. They soon found out, however, that the princess was missing, and in amoment the palace was like a beehive in a garden; and in one minute morethe queen was brought to herself by a great shout and a clapping ofhands. They had found the princess fast asleep under a rose-bush, towhich the elfish little wind-puff had carried her, finishing itsmischief by shaking a shower of red rose-leaves all over the littlewhite sleeper. Startled by the noise the servants made, she woke, and, furious with glee, scattered the rose-leaves in all directions, like ashower of spray in the sunset. 

She was watched more carefully after this, no doubt; yet it would beendless to relate all the odd incidents resulting from this peculiarityof the young princess. But there never was a baby in a house, not to saya palace, that kept the household in such constant good humour, at leastbelow-stairs. If it was not easy for her nurses to hold her, at leastshe made neither their arms nor their hearts ache. And she was so niceto play at ball with! There was positively no danger of letting herfall. They might throw her down, or knock her down, or push her down, but they couldn't _let_ her down. It is true, they might let her flyinto the fire or the coal-hole, or through the window; but none of theseaccidents had happened as yet. If you heard peals of laughter resoundingfrom some unknown region, you might be sure enough of the cause. Goingdown into the kitchen, or _the room_, you would find Jane and Thomas, and Robert and Susan, all and sum, playing at ball with the littleprincess. She was the ball herself, and did not enjoy it the less forthat. Away she went, flying from one to another, screeching withlaughter. And the servants loved the ball itself better even than thegame. But they had to take some care how they threw her, for if shereceived an upward direction, she would never come down again withoutbeing fetched. 

V

_What Is to Be Done?_

But above-stairs it was different. One day, for instance, afterbreakfast, the king went into his counting-house, and counted out hismoney. 

The operation gave him no pleasure. 

"To think, " said he to himself, "that every one of these gold sovereignsweighs a quarter of an ounce, and my real, live, flesh-and-bloodprincess weighs nothing at all!"

And he hated his gold sovereigns, as they lay with a broad smile ofself-satisfaction all over their yellow faces. 

The queen was in the parlour, eating bread and honey. But at the secondmouthful she burst out crying, and could not swallow it. The king heardher sobbing. Glad of anybody, but especially of his queen, to quarrelwith, he clashed his gold sovereigns into his money-box, clapped hiscrown on his head, and rushed into the parlour. 

"What is all this about?" exclaimed he. "What are you crying for, queen?"

"I can't eat it, " said the queen, looking ruefully at the honey-pot. 

"No wonder!" retorted the king. "You've just eaten your breakfast--twoturkey eggs, and three anchovies. "

"Oh, that's not it!" sobbed her Majesty. "It's my child, my child!"

"Well, what's the matter with your child? She's neither up the chimneynor down the draw-well. Just hear her laughing. "

Yet the king could not help a sigh, which he tried to turn into a cough, saying:

"It is a good thing to be light-hearted, I am sure, whether she be oursor not. "

"It is a bad thing to be light-headed, " answered the queen, looking withprophetic soul far into the future. 

"'T is a good thing to be light-handed, " said the king. 

"'T is a bad thing to be light-fingered, " answered the queen. 

"'T is a good thing to be light-footed, " said the king. 

"'T is a bad thing--" began the queen; but the king interrupted her. 

"In fact, " said he, with the tone of one who concludes an argument inwhich he has had only imaginary opponents, and in which, therefore, hehas come off triumphant--"in fact, it is a good thing altogether to belight-bodied. "

"But it is a bad thing altogether to be light-minded, " retorted thequeen, who was beginning to lose her temper. 

This last answer quite discomfited his Majesty, who turned on his heel, and betook himself to his counting-house again. But he was not half-waytowards it, when the voice of his queen overtook him. 

"And it's a bad thing to be light-haired, " screamed she, determined tohave more last words, now that her spirit was roused. 

The queen's hair was black as night; and the king's had been, and hisdaughter's was, golden as morning. But it was not this reflection on hishair that arrested him; it was the double use of the word _light_. Forthe king hated all witticisms, and punning especially. And besides, hecould not tell whether the queen meant light-_haired_ or light-_heired_;for why might she not aspirate her vowels when she was exasperatedherself?

He turned upon his other heel, and rejoined her. She looked angry still, because she knew that she was guilty, or, what was much the same, knewthat he thought so. 

"My dear queen, " said he, "duplicity of any sort is exceedinglyobjectionable between married people of any rank, not to say kings andqueens; and the most objectionable form duplicity can assume is that ofpunning. "

"There!" said the queen, "I never made a jest, but I broke it in themaking. I am the most unfortunate woman in the world!"

She looked so rueful that the king took her in his arms; and they satdown to consult. 

"Can you bear this?" said the king. 

"No, I can't, " said the queen. 

"Well, what's to be done?" said the king. 

"I'm sure I don't know, " said the queen. "But might you not try anapology?"

"To my old sister, I suppose you mean?" said the king. 

"Yes, " said the queen. 

"Well, I don't mind, " said the king. 

So he went the next morning to the house of the princess, and, making avery humble apology, begged her to undo the spell. But the princessdeclared, with a grave face, that she knew nothing at all about it. Hereyes, however, shone pink, which was a sign that she was happy. Sheadvised the king and queen to have patience, and to mend their ways. Theking returned disconsolate. The queen tried to comfort him. 

"We will wait till she is older. She may then be able to suggestsomething herself. She will know at least how she feels, and explainthings to us. "

"But what if she should marry?" exclaimed the king, in suddenconsternation at the idea. 

"Well, what of that?" rejoined the queen. 

"Just think! If she were to have children! In the course of a hundredyears the air might be as full of floating children as of gossamers inautumn. "

"That is no business of ours, " replied the queen. "Besides, by that timethey will have learned to take care of themselves. "

A sigh was the king's only answer. 

He would have consulted the court physicians; but he was afraid theywould try experiments upon her. 

VI

_She Laughs Too Much_

Meantime, notwithstanding awkward occurrences, and griefs that shebrought upon her parents, the little princess laughed and grew--not fat, but plump and tall. She reached the age of seventeen, without havingfallen into any worse scrape than a chimney; by rescuing her from which, a little bird-nesting urchin got fame and a black face. Nor, thoughtlessas she was, had she committed anything worse than laughter at everybodyand everything that came in her way. When she was told, for the sake ofexperiment, that General Clanrunfort was cut to pieces with all histroops, she laughed; when she heard that the enemy was on his way tobesiege her father's capital, she laughed hugely; but when she was toldthat the city would certainly be abandoned to the mercy of the enemy'ssoldiery--why, then she laughed immoderately. She never could be broughtto see the serious side of anything. When her mother cried, she said:

"What queer faces mamma makes! And she squeezes water out of her cheeks!Funny mamma!"

And when her papa stormed at her, she laughed, and danced round andround him, clapping her hands, and crying:

"Do it again, papa. Do it again! It's such fun! Dear, funny papa!"

And if he tried to catch her, she glided from him in an instant, not inthe least afraid of him, but thinking it part of the game not to becaught. With one push of her foot, she would be floating in the airabove his head; or she would go dancing backwards and forwards andsideways, like a great butterfly. It happened several times, when herfather and mother were holding a consultation about her in private, thatthey were interrupted by vainly repressed outbursts of laughter overtheir heads; and looking up with indignation, saw her floating at fulllength in the air above them, whence she regarded them with the mostcomical appreciation of the position. 

One day an awkward accident happened. The princess had come out upon thelawn with one of her attendants, who held her by the hand. Spying herfather at the other side of the lawn, she snatched her hand from themaid's, and sped across to him. Now when she wanted to run alone, hercustom was to catch up a stone in each hand, so that she might come downagain after a bound. Whatever she wore as part of her attire had noeffect in this way. Even gold, when it thus became as it were a part ofherself, lost all its weight for the time. But whatever she only held inher hands retained its downward tendency. On this occasion she could seenothing to catch up but a huge toad, that was walking across the lawn asif he had a hundred years to do it in. Not knowing what disgust meant, for this was one of her peculiarities, she snatched up the toad andbounded away. She had almost reached her father, and he was holding outhis arms to receive her, and take from her lips the kiss which hoveredon them like a butterfly on a rosebud, when a puff of wind blew heraside into the arms of a young page, who had just been receiving amessage from his Majesty. Now it was no great peculiarity in theprincess that, once she was set agoing, it always cost her time andtrouble to check herself. On this occasion there was no time. She _must_kiss--and she kissed the page. She did not mind it much; for she had noshyness in her composition; and she knew, besides, that she could nothelp it. So she only laughed, like a musical box. The poor page faredthe worst. For the princess, trying to correct the unfortunate tendencyof the kiss, put out her hands to keep off the page; so that, along withthe kiss, he received, on the other cheek, a slap with the huge blacktoad, which she poked right into his eye. He tried to laugh, too, butthe attempt resulted in such an odd contortion of countenance, as showedthat there was no danger of his pluming himself on the kiss. As for theking, his dignity was greatly hurt, and he did not speak to the page fora whole month. 

I may here remark that it was very amusing to see her run, if her modeof progression could properly be called running. For first she wouldmake a bound; then, having alighted, she would run a few steps, and makeanother bound. Sometimes she would fancy she had reached the groundbefore she actually had, and her feet would go backwards and forwards, running upon nothing at all, like those of a chicken on its back. Thenshe would laugh like the very spirit of fun; only in her laugh there wassomething missing. What it was, I find myself unable to describe. Ithink it was a certain tone, depending upon the possibility ofsorrow--_morbidezza_, perhaps. She never smiled. 

VII

_Try Metaphysics_

After a long avoidance of the painful subject, the king and queenresolved to hold a council of three upon it; and so they sent for theprincess. In she came, sliding and flitting and gliding from one pieceof furniture to another, and put herself at last in an arm-chair, in asitting posture. Whether she could be said _to sit_, seeing she receivedno support from the seat of the chair, I do not pretend to determine. 

"My dear child, " said the king, "you must be aware by this time that youare not exactly like other people. "

"Oh, you dear funny papa! I have got a nose, and two eyes, and all therest. So have you. So has mamma. "

"Now be serious, my dear, for once, " said the queen. 

"No, thank you, mamma; I had rather not. "

"Would you not like to be able to walk like other people?" said theking. 

"No indeed, I should think not. You only crawl. You are such slowcoaches!"

"How do you feel, my child?" he resumed, after a pause of discomfiture. 

"Quite well, thank you. "

"I mean, what do you feel like?"

"Like nothing at all, that I know of. "

"You must feel like something. "

"I feel like a princess with such a funny papa, and such a dear pet of aqueen-mamma!"

"Now really!" began the queen; but the princess interrupted her. 

"Oh, yes, " she added, "I remember. I have a curious feeling sometimes, as if I were the only person that had any sense in the whole world. "

She had been trying to behave herself with dignity; but now she burstinto a violent fit of laughter, threw herself backwards over the chair, and went rolling about the floor in an ecstasy of enjoyment. The kingpicked her up easier than one does a down quilt, and replaced her in herformer relation to the chair. The exact preposition expressing thisrelation I do not happen to know. 

"Is there nothing you wish for?" resumed the king, who had learned bythis time that it was useless to be angry with her. 

"Oh, you dear papa!--yes, " answered she. 

"What is it, my darling?"

"I have been longing for it--oh, such a time!--ever since last night. "

"Tell me what it is. "

"Will you promise to let me have it?"

The king was on the point of saying yes, but the wiser queen checked himwith a single motion of her head. 

"Tell me what it is first, " said he. 

"No, no. Promise first. "

"I dare not. What is it?"

"Mind, I hold you to your promise. It is--to be tied to the end of astring--a very long string indeed, and be flown like a kite. Oh, suchfun! I would rain rose-water, and hail sugar-plums, and snowwhipped-cream, and--and--and--"

A fit of laughing checked her; and she would have been off again overthe floor, had not the king started up and caught her just in time. Seeing that nothing but talk could be got out of her, he rang the bell, and sent her away with two of her ladies-in-waiting. 

"Now, queen, " he said, turning to her Majesty, "what _is_ to be done?"

"There is but one thing left, " answered she. "Let us consult the collegeof Metaphysicians. "

"Bravo!" cried the king; "we will. "

Now at the head of this college were two very wise Chinesephilosophers--by name Hum-Drum, and Kopy-Keck. For them the king sent;and straightway they came. In a long speech he communicated to them whatthey knew very well already--as who did not?--namely, the peculiarcondition of his daughter in relation to the globe on which she dwelt;and requested them to consult together as to what might be the cause andprobable cure of her _infirmity_. The king laid stress upon the word, but failed to discover his own pun. The queen laughed; but Hum-Drum andKopy-Keck heard with humility and retired in silence. 

Their consultation consisted chiefly in propounding and supporting, forthe thousandth time, each his favourite theories. For the condition ofthe princess afforded delightful scope for the discussion of everyquestion arising from the division of thought--in fact, of all theMetaphysics of the Chinese Empire. But it is only justice to say thatthey did not altogether neglect the discussion of the practicalquestion, _what was to be done_. 

Hum-Drum was a Materialist, and Kopy-Keck was a Spiritualist. The formerwas slow and sententious; the latter was quick and flighty; the latterhad generally the first word; the former the last. 

"I reassert my former assertion, " began Kopy-Keck, with a plunge. "Thereis not a fault in the princess, body or soul; only they are wrong puttogether. Listen to me now, Hum-Drum, and I will tell you in brief whatI think. Don't speak. Don't answer me. I _won't_ hear you till I havedone. At that decisive moment, when souls seek their appointedhabitations, two eager souls met, struck, rebounded, lost their way, andarrived each at the wrong place. The soul of the princess was one ofthose, and she went far astray. She does not belong by rights to thisworld at all, but to some other planet, probably Mercury. Her proclivityto her true sphere destroys all the natural influence which this orbwould otherwise possess over her corporeal frame. She cares for nothinghere. There is no relation between her and this world. 

"She must therefore be taught, by the sternest compulsion, to take aninterest in the earth as the earth. She must study every department ofits history--its animal history, its vegetable history, its mineralhistory, its social history, its moral history, its political history, its scientific history, its literary history, its musical history, itsartistical history, above all, its metaphysical history. She must beginwith the Chinese dynasty and end with Japan. But first of all she muststudy geology, and especially the history of the extinct races ofanimals--their natures, their habits, their loves, their hates, theirrevenges. She must--"

"Hold, h-o-o-old!" roared Hum-Drum. "It is certainly my turn now. Myrooted and insubvertible conviction is, that the causes of the anomaliesevident in the princess's condition are strictly and solely physical. But that is only tantamount to acknowledging that they exist. Hear myopinion. From some cause or other, of no importance to our inquiry, themotion of her heart has been reversed. That remarkable combination ofthe suction and the force-pump works the wrong way--I mean in the caseof the unfortunate princess, it draws in where it should force out, andforces out where it should draw in. The offices of the auricles and theventricles are subverted. The blood is sent forth by the veins, andreturns by the arteries. Consequently it is running the wrong waythrough all her corporeal organism--lungs and all. Is it then at allmysterious, seeing that such is the case, that on the other particularof gravitation as well, she should differ from normal humanity? Myproposal for the cure is this:

"Phlebotomise until she is reduced to the last point of safety. Let itbe effected, if necessary, in a warm bath. When she is reduced to astate of perfect asphyxy, apply a ligature to the left ankle, drawing itas tight as the bone will bear. Apply, at the same moment, another ofequal tension around the right wrist. By means of plates constructed forthe purpose, place the other foot and hand under the receivers of twoair-pumps. Exhaust the receivers. Exhibit a pint of French brandy, andawait the result. "

"Which would presently arrive in the form of grim Death, " saidKopy-Keck. 

"If it should, she would yet die in doing our duty, " retorted Hum-Drum. 

But their Majesties had too much tenderness for their volatile offspringto subject her to either of the schemes of the equally unscrupulousphilosophers. Indeed, the most complete knowledge of the laws of naturewould have been unserviceable in her case; for it was impossible toclassify her. She was a fifth imponderable body, sharing all the otherproperties of the ponderable. 

VIII

_Try a Drop of Water_

Perhaps the best thing for the princess would have been to fall in love. But how a princess who had no gravity could fall into anything is adifficulty--perhaps _the_ difficulty. As for her own feelings on thesubject, she did not even know that there was such a beehive of honeyand stings to be fallen into. But now I come to mention another curiousfact about her. 

The palace was built on the shores of the loveliest lake in the world;and the princess loved this lake more than father or mother. The root ofthis preference no doubt, although the princess did not recognise it assuch, was, that the moment she got into it, she recovered the naturalright of which she had been so wickedly deprived--namely, gravity. Whether this was owing to the fact that water had been employed as themeans of conveying the injury, I do not know. But it is certain that shecould swim and dive like the duck that her old nurse said she was. Themanner in which this alleviation of her misfortune was discovered was asfollows:

One summer evening, during the carnival of the country, she had beentaken upon the lake by the king and queen, in the royal barge. They wereaccompanied by many of the courtiers in a fleet of little boats. In themiddle of the lake she wanted to get into the lord chancellor's barge, for his daughter, who was a great favourite with her, was in it with herfather. Now though the old king rarely condescended to make light of hismisfortune, yet, happening on this occasion to be in a particularly goodhumour, as the barges approached each other, he caught up the princessto throw her into the chancellor's barge. He lost his balance, however, and, dropping into the bottom of the barge, lost his hold of hisdaughter; not, however, before imparting to her the downward tendency ofhis own person, though in a somewhat different direction, for, as theking fell into the boat, she fell into the water. With a burst ofdelighted laughter she disappeared into the lake. A cry of horrorascended from the boats. They had never seen the princess go downbefore. Half the men were under water in a moment; but they had all, oneafter another, come up to the surface again for breath, when--tinkle, tinkle, babble, and gush! came the princess's laugh over the water fromfar away. There she was, swimming like a swan. Nor would she come outfor king or queen, chancellor or daughter. She was perfectly obstinate. 

But at the same time she seemed more sedate than usual. Perhaps that wasbecause a great pleasure spoils laughing. At all events, after this, thepassion of her life was to get into the water, and she was always thebetter behaved and the more beautiful the more she had of it. Summer andwinter it was quite the same; only she could not stay so long in thewater when they had to break the ice to let her in. Any day, frommorning to evening in summer, she might be descried--a streak of whitein the blue water--lying as still as the shadow of a cloud, or shootingalong like a dolphin; disappearing, and coming up again far off, justwhere one did not expect her. She would have been in the lake of a nighttoo, if she could have had her way; for the balcony of her windowoverhung a deep pool in it; and through a shallow reedy passage shecould have swum out into the wide wet water, and no one would have beenany the wiser. Indeed, when she happened to wake in the moonlight shecould hardly resist the temptation. But there was the sad difficulty ofgetting into it. She had as great a dread of the air as some childrenhave of the water. For the slightest gust of wind would blow her away;and a gust might arise in the stillest moment. And if she gave herself apush towards the water and just failed of reaching it, her situationwould be dreadfully awkward, irrespective of the wind; for at best thereshe would have to remain, suspended in her night-gown, till she was seenand angled for by somebody from the window. 

"Oh! if I had my gravity, " thought she, contemplating the water, "Iwould flash off this balcony like a long white sea-bird, headlong intothe darling wetness. Heigh-ho!"

This was the only consideration that made her wish to be like otherpeople. 

Another reason for her being fond of the water was that in it alone sheenjoyed any freedom. For she could not walk without a _cortège_, consisting in part of a troop of light-horse, for fear of the libertieswhich the wind might take with her. And the king grew more apprehensivewith increasing years, till at last he would not allow her to walkabroad at all without some twenty silken cords fastened to as many partsof her dress, and held by twenty noblemen. Of course horseback was outof the question. But she bade good-bye to all this ceremony when she gotinto the water. 

And so remarkable were its effects upon her, especially in restoring herfor the time to the ordinary human gravity, that Hum-Drum and Kopy-Keckagreed in recommending the king to bury her alive for three years; inthe hope that, as the water did her so much good, the earth would do heryet more. But the king had some vulgar prejudices against theexperiment, and would not give his consent. Foiled in this, they yetagreed in another recommendation; which, seeing that one imported hisopinions from China and the other from Thibet, was very remarkableindeed. They argued that, if water of external origin and applicationcould be so efficacious, water from a deeper source might work a perfectcure; in short, that if the poor afflicted princess could by any meansbe made to cry, she might recover her lost gravity. 

But how was this to be brought about? Therein lay all the difficulty--tomeet which the philosophers were not wise enough. To make the princesscry was as impossible as to make her weigh. They sent for a professionalbeggar, commanded him to prepare his most touching oracle of woe, helpedhim out of the court charade box to whatever he wanted for dressing up, and promised great rewards in the event of his success. But it was allin vain. She listened to the mendicant artist's story, and gazed at hismarvellous make up, till she could contain herself no longer, and wentinto the most undignified contortions for relief, shrieking, positivelyscreeching with laughter. 

When she had a little recovered herself, she ordered her attendants todrive him away, and not give him a single copper; whereupon his look ofmortified discomfiture wrought her punishment and his revenge, for itsent her into violent hysterics, from which she was with difficultyrecovered. 

But so anxious was the king that the suggestion should have a fairtrial, that he put himself in a rage one day, and, rushing up to herroom, gave her an awful whipping. Yet not a tear would flow. She lookedgrave, and her laughing sounded uncommonly like screaming--that was all. The good old tyrant, though he put on his best gold spectacles to look, could not discover the smallest cloud in the serene blue of her eyes. 

IX

_Put Me in Again!_

It must have been about this time that the son of a king, who lived athousand miles from Lagobel, set out to look for the daughter of aqueen. He travelled far and wide, but as sure as he found a princess, hefound some fault with her. Of course he could not marry a mere woman, however beautiful; and there was no princess to be found worthy of him. Whether the prince was so near perfection that he had a right to demandperfection itself, I cannot pretend to say. All I know is, that he was afine, handsome, brave, generous, well-bred, and well-behaved youth, asall princes are. 

In his wanderings he had come across some reports about our princess;but as everybody said she was bewitched, he never dreamed that she couldbewitch him. For what indeed could a prince do with a princess that hadlost her gravity? Who could tell what she might not lose next? She mightlose her visibility, or her tangibility; or, in short, the power ofmaking impressions upon the radical sensorium; so that he should neverbe able to tell whether she was dead or alive. Of course he made nofurther inquiries about her. 

One day he lost sight of his retinue in a great forest. These forestsare very useful in delivering princes from their courtiers, like a sievethat keeps back the bran. Then the princes get away to follow theirfortunes. In this way they have the advantage of the princesses, who areforced to marry before they have had a bit of fun. I wish our princessesgot lost in a forest sometimes. 

One lovely evening, after wandering about for many days, he found thathe was approaching the outskirts of this forest; for the trees had gotso thin that he could see the sunset through them; and he soon came upona kind of heath. Next he came upon signs of human neighbourhood; but bythis time it was getting late, and there was nobody in the fields todirect him. 

After travelling for another hour, his horse, quite worn out with longlabour and lack of food, fell, and was unable to rise again. So hecontinued his journey on foot. A length he entered another wood--not awild forest, but a civilised wood, through which a footpath led him tothe side of a lake. Along this path the prince pursued his way throughthe gathering darkness. Suddenly he paused, and listened. Strange soundscame across the water. It was, in fact, the princess laughing. Now therewas something odd in her laugh, as I have already hinted; for thehatching of a real hearty laugh requires the incubation of gravity; andperhaps this was how the prince mistook the laughter for screaming. Looking over the lake, he saw something white in the water; and, in aninstant, he had torn off his tunic, kicked off his sandals, and plungedin. He soon reached the white object, and found that it was a woman. There was not light enough to show that she was a princess, but quiteenough to show that she was a lady, for it does not want much light tosee that. 

Now I cannot tell how it came about--whether she pretended to bedrowning, or whether he frightened her, or caught her so as to embarrassher--but certainly he brought her to shore in a fashion ignominious to aswimmer, and more nearly drowned than she had ever expected to be; forthe water had got into her throat as often as she had tried to speak. 

At the place to which he bore her, the bank was only a foot or two abovethe water; so he gave her a strong lift out of the water, to lay her onthe bank. But, her gravitation ceasing the moment she left the water, away she went up into the air, scolding and screaming. 

"You naughty, _naughty_, Naughty, NAUGHTY man!" she cried. 

No one had ever succeeded in putting her into a passion before. When theprince saw her ascend, he thought he must have been bewitched, and havemistaken a great swan for a lady. But the princess caught hold of thetopmost cone upon a lofty fir. This came off; but she caught at another;and, in fact, stopped herself by gathering cones, dropping them as thestalks gave way. The prince, meantime, stood in the water, staring, andforgetting to get out. But the princess disappearing, he scrambled onshore, and went in the direction of the tree. There he found herclimbing down one of the branches towards the stem. But in the darknessof the wood, the prince continued in some bewilderment as to what thephenomenon could be; until, reaching the ground, and seeing him standingthere, she caught hold of him, and said:

"I'll tell papa, "

"Oh no, you won't!" returned the prince. 

"Yes, I will, " she persisted. "What business had you to pull me down outof the water, and throw me to the bottom of the air? I never did you anyharm. "

"Pardon me. I did not mean to hurt you. "

"I don't believe you have any brains; and that is a worse loss than yourwretched gravity. I pity you. "

The prince now saw that he had come upon the bewitched princess, and hadalready offended her. But before he could think what to say next, sheburst out angrily, giving a stamp with her foot that would have sent heraloft again but for the hold she had of his arm:

"Put me up directly. "

"Put you up where, you beauty?" asked the prince. 

He had fallen in love with her almost, already; for her anger made hermore charming than any one else had ever beheld her; and, as far as hecould see, which certainly was not far, she had not a single fault abouther, except, of course, that she had not any gravity. No prince, however, would judge of a princess by weight. The loveliness of her foothe would hardly estimate by the depth of the impression it could make inmud. 

"Put you up where, you beauty?" asked the prince. 

"In the water, you stupid!" answered the princess. 

"Come, then, " said the prince. 

The condition of her dress, increasing her usual difficulty in walking, compelled her to cling to him; and he could hardly persuade himself thathe was not in a delightful dream, notwithstanding the torrent of musicalabuse with which she overwhelmed him. The prince being therefore in nohurry, they came upon the lake at quite another part, where the bank wastwenty-five feet high at least; and when they had reached the edge, heturned towards the princess, and said:

"How am I to put you in?"

"That is your business, " she answered, quite snappishly. "You took meout--put me in again. "

"Very well, " said the prince; and, catching her up in his arms, hesprang with her from the rock. The princess had just time to give onedelighted shriek of laughter before the water closed over them. Whenthey came to the surface, she found that, for a moment or two, she couldnot even laugh, for she had gone down with such a rush, that it was withdifficulty she recovered her breath. The instant they reached thesurface--

"How do you like falling in?" said the prince. 

After some effort the princess panted out:

"Is that what you call _falling in_?"

"Yes, " answered the prince, "I should think it a very tolerablespecimen. "

"It seemed to me like going up, " rejoined she. 

"My feeling was certainly one of elevation too, " the prince conceded. 

The princess did not appear to understand him, for she retorted hisquestion:

"How do _you_ like falling in?" said the princess. 

"Beyond everything, " answered he; "for I have fallen in with the onlyperfect creature I ever saw. "

"No more of that. I am tired of it, " said the princess. 

Perhaps she shared her father's aversion to punning. 

"Don't you like falling in, then?" said the prince. 

"It is the most delightful fun I ever had in my life, " answered she. "Inever fell before. I wish I could learn. To think I am the only personin my father's kingdom that can't fall!"

Here the poor princess looked almost sad. 

"I shall be most happy to fall in with you any time you like, " said theprince, devotedly. 

"Thank you. I don't know. Perhaps it would not be proper. But I don'tcare. At all events, as we have fallen in, let us have a swim together. "

"With all my heart, " responded the prince. 

And away they went, swimming, and diving, and floating, until at lastthey heard cries along the shore, and saw lights glancing in alldirections. It was now quite late, and there was no moon. 

"I must go home, " said the princess. "I am very sorry, for this isdelightful. "

"So am I, " returned the prince. "But I am glad I haven't a home to goto--at least, I don't exactly know where it is. "

"I wish I hadn't one either, " rejoined the princess; "it is so stupid! Ihave a great mind, " she continued, "to play them all a trick. Whycouldn't they leave me alone? They won't trust me in the lake for asingle night! You see where that green light is burning? That is thewindow of my room. Now if you would just swim there with me veryquietly, and when we are all but under the balcony, give me such apush--_up_ you call it--as you did a little while ago, I should be ableto catch hold of the balcony, and get in at the window; and then theymay look for me till to-morrow morning!"

"With more obedience than pleasure, " said the prince, gallantly; andaway they swam, very gently. 

"Will you be in the lake to-morrow night?" the prince ventured to ask. 

"To be sure I will. I don't think so. Perhaps, " was the princess'ssomewhat strange answer. 

But the prince was intelligent enough not to press her further; andmerely whispered, as he gave her the parting lift, "Don't tell. " Theonly answer the princess returned was a roguish look. She was already ayard above his head. The look seemed to say, "Never fear. It is too goodfun to spoil that way. "

So perfectly like other people had she been in the water, that even yetthe prince could scarcely believe his eyes when he saw her ascendslowly, grasp the balcony, and disappear through the window. He turned, almost expecting to see her still by his side. But he was alone in thewater. So he swam away quietly, and watched the lights roving about theshore for hours after the princess was safe in her chamber. As soon asthey disappeared, he landed in search of his tunic and sword, and, aftersome trouble, found them again. Then he made the best of his way roundthe lake to the other side. There the wood was wilder, and the shoresteeper--rising more immediately towards the mountains which surroundedthe lake on all sides, and kept sending it messages of silvery streamsfrom morning to night, and all night long. He soon found a spot where hecould see the green light in the princess's room, and where, even in thebroad daylight, he would be in no danger of being discovered from theopposite shore. It was a sort of cave in the rock, where he providedhimself a bed of withered leaves, and lay down too tired for hunger tokeep him awake. All night long he dreamed that he was swimming with theprincess. 

X

_Look at the Moon_

Early the next morning the prince set out to look for something to eat, which he soon found at a forester's hut, where for many following dayshe was supplied with all that a brave prince could consider necessary. And having plenty to keep him alive for the present, he would not thinkof wants not yet in existence. Whenever Care intruded, this princealways bowed him out in the most princely manner. 

When he returned from his breakfast to his watch-cave, he saw theprincess already floating about in the lake, attended by the king andqueen--whom he knew by their crowns--and a great company in lovelylittle boats, with canopies of all the colours of the rainbow, and flagsand streamers of a great many more. It was a very bright day, and theprince, burned up with the heat, began to long for the cold water andthe cool princess. But he had to endure till twilight; for the boats hadprovisions on board, and it was not till the sun went down that the gayparty began to vanish. Boat after boat drew away to the shore, followingthat of the king and queen, till only one, apparently the princess's ownboat, remained. But she did not want to go home even yet, and the princethought he saw her order the boat to the shore without her. At allevents it rowed away; and now, of all the radiant company, only onewhite speck remained. Then the prince began to sing. 

And this is what he sung:

 "Lady fair, Swan-white, Lift thine eyes, Banish night By the might Of thine eyes. 

 "Snowy arms, Oars of snow, Oar her hither, Plashing low. Soft and slow, Oar her hither. 

 "Stream behind her O'er the lake, Radiant whiteness! In her wake Following, following, for her sake, Radiant whiteness!

 "Cling about her, Waters blue; Part not from her, But renew Cold and true Kisses round her. 

 "Lap me round, Waters sad That have left her Make me glad, For ye had Kissed her ere ye left her. "

Before he had finished his song, the princess was just under the placewhere he sat, and looking up to find him. Her ears had led her truly. 

"Would you like a fall, princess?" said the prince, looking down. 

"Ah! there you are! Yes, if you please, prince, " said the princess, looking up. 

"How do you know I am a prince, princess?" said the prince. 

"Because you are a very nice young man, prince, " said the princess. 

"Come up then, princess. "

"Fetch me, prince. "

The prince took off his scarf, then his swordbelt then his tunic, andtied them all together, and let them down. But the line was far tooshort. He unwound his turban, and added it to the rest, when it was allbut long enough; and his purse completed it. The princess just managedto lay hold of the knot of money, and was beside him in a moment. Thisrock was much higher than the other, and the splash and the dive weretremendous. The princess was in ecstasies of delight, and their swim wasdelicious. 

Night after night they met, and swam about in the dark clear lake, wheresuch was the prince's gladness, that (whether the princess's way oflooking at things infected him, or he was actually getting light-headed)he often fancied that he was swimming in the sky instead of the lake. But when he talked about being in heaven, the princess laughed at himdreadfully. 

When the moon came, she brought them fresh pleasure. Everything lookedstrange and new in her light, with an old, withered, yet unfadingnewness. When the moon was nearly full, one of their great delights wasto dive deep in the water, and then, turning round, look up through itat the great blot of light close above them, shimmering and tremblingand wavering, spreading and contracting, seeming to melt away, and againgrow solid. Then they would shoot up through the blot, and lo! there wasthe moon, far off, clear and steady and cold, and very lovely, at thebottom of a deeper and bluer lake than theirs, as the princess said. 

The prince soon found out that while in the water the princess was verylike other people. And besides this, she was not so forward in herquestions or pert in her replies at sea as on shore. Neither did shelaugh so much; and when she did laugh, it was more gently. She seemedaltogether more modest and maidenly in the water than out of it. Butwhen the prince, who had really fallen in love when he fell in the lake, began to talk to her about love, she always turned her head towards himand laughed. After a while she began to look puzzled, as if she weretrying to understand what he meant, but could not--revealing a notionthat he meant something. But as soon as ever she left the lake, she wasso altered, that the prince said to himself, "If I marry her, I see nohelp for it: we must turn merman and mermaid, and go out to sea atonce, "

XI

_Hiss_!

The princess's pleasure in the lake had grown to a passion, and shecould scarcely bear to be out of it for an hour. Imagine then herconsternation, when, diving with the prince one night, a suddensuspicion seized her that the lake was not so deep as it used to be. Theprince could not imagine what had happened. She shot to the surface, and, without a word, swam at full speed towards the higher side of thelake. He followed, begging to know if she was ill, or what was thematter. She never turned her head, or took the smallest notice of hisquestion. Arrived at the shore, she coasted the rocks with minuteinspection. But she was not able to come to a conclusion, for the moonwas very small, and so she could not see well. She turned therefore andswam home, without saying a word to explain her conduct to the prince, of whose presence she seemed no longer conscious. He withdrew to hiscave, in great perplexity and distress. 

Next day she made many observations, which, alas! strengthened herfears. She saw that the banks were too dry; and that the grass on theshore, and the trailing plants on the rocks, were withering away. Shecaused marks to be made along the borders, and examined them, day afterday, in all directions of the wind; till at last the horrible ideabecame a certain fact--that the surface of the lake was slowly sinking. 

The poor princess nearly went out of the little mind she had. It wasawful to her to see the lake, which she loved more than any livingthing, lie dying before her eyes. It sank away, slowly vanishing. Thetops of rocks that had never been seen till now, began to appear fardown in the clear water. Before long they were dry in the sun. It wasfearful to think of the mud that would soon lie there baking andfestering, full of lovely creatures dying, and ugly creatures coming tolife, like the unmaking of a world. And how hot the sun would be withoutany lake! She could not bear to swim in it any more, and began to pineaway. Her life seemed bound up with it; and ever as the lake sank, shepined. People said she would not live an hour after the lake was gone. 

But she never cried. 

Proclamation was made to all the kingdom, that whosoever should discoverthe cause of the lake's decrease, would be rewarded after a princelyfashion. Hum-Drum and Kopy-Keck applied themselves to their physics andmetaphysics; but in vain. Not even they could suggest a cause. 

Now the fact was that the old princess was at the root of the mischief. When she heard that her niece found more pleasure in the water than anyone else had out of it, she went into a rage, and cursed herself for herwant of foresight, "But, " said she, "I will soon set all right. The king and the peopleshall die of thirst; their brains shall boil and frizzle in their skullsbefore I will lose my revenge. "

And she laughed a ferocious laugh, that made the hairs on the back ofher black cat stand erect with terror. 

Then she went to an old chest in the room, and opening it, took out whatlooked like a piece of dried seaweed. This she threw into a tub ofwater. Then she threw some powder into the water, and stirred it withher bare arm, muttering over it words of hideous sound, and yet morehideous import. Then she set the tub aside, and took from the chest ahuge bunch of a hundred rusty keys, that clattered in her shaking hands. Then she sat down and proceeded to oil them all. Before she hadfinished, out from the tub, the water of which had kept on a slow motionever since she had ceased stirring it, came the head and half the bodyof a huge gray snake. But the witch did not look round. It grew out ofthe tub, waving itself backwards and forwards with a slow horizontalmotion, till it reached the princess, when it laid its head upon hershoulder, and gave a low hiss in her ear. She started--but with joy; andseeing the head resting on her shoulder, drew it towards her and kissedit. Then she drew it all out of the tub, and wound it round her body. Itwas one of those dreadful creatures which few have ever beheld--theWhite Snakes of Darkness. 

Then she took the keys and went down to her cellar; and as she unlockedthe door she said to herself:

"This _is_ worth living for!"

Locking the door behind her, she descended a few steps into the cellar, and crossing it, unlocked another door into a dark, narrow passage. Shelocked this also behind her, and descended a few more steps. If any onehad followed the witch-princess, he would have heard her unlock exactlyone hundred doors, and descend a few steps after unlocking each. Whenshe had unlocked the last, she entered a vast cave, the roof of whichwas supported by huge natural pillars of rock. Now this roof was theunder side of the bottom of the lake. 

She then untwined the snake from her body, and held it by the tail highabove her. The hideous creature stretched up its head towards the roofof the cavern, which it was just able to reach. It then began to moveits head backwards and forwards, with a slow oscillating motion, as iflooking for something. At the same moment the witch began to walk roundand round the cavern, coming nearer to the centre every circuit; whilethe head of the snake described the same path over the roof that she didover the floor, for she kept holding it up. And still it kept slowlyosculating. Round and round the cavern they went, ever lessening thecircuit, till at last the snake made a sudden dart, and clung to theroof with its mouth. 

"That's right, my beauty!" cried the princess; "drain it dry. "

She let it go, left it hanging, and sat down on a great stone, with herblack cat, which had followed her all round the cave, by her side. Thenshe began to knit and mutter awful words. The snake hung like a hugeleech, sucking at the stone; the cat stood with his back arched, and histail like a piece of cable, looking up at the snake; and the old womansat and knitted and muttered. Seven days and seven nights they remainedthus; when suddenly the serpent dropped from the roof as if exhausted, and shrivelled up till it was again like a piece of dried seaweed. Thewitch started to her feet, picked it up, put it in her pocket, andlooked up at the roof. One drop of water was trembling on the spot wherethe snake had been sucking. As soon as she saw that, she turned andfled, followed by her cat. Shutting the door in a terrible hurry, shelocked it, and having muttered some frightful words, sped to the next, which also she locked and muttered over; and so with all the hundreddoors, till she arrived in her own cellar. Then she sat down on thefloor ready to faint, but listening with malicious delight to therushing of the water, which she could hear distinctly through all thehundred doors. 

But this was not enough. Now that she had tasted revenge, she lost herpatience. Without further measures, the lake would be too long indisappearing. So the next night, with the last shred of the dying oldmoon rising, she took some of the water in which she had revived thesnake, put it in a bottle, and set out, accompanied by her cat. Beforemorning she had made the entire circuit of the lake, muttering fearfulwords as she crossed every stream, and casting into it some of the waterout of her bottle. When she had finished the circuit she muttered yetagain, and flung a handful of water towards the moon. Thereupon everyspring in the country ceased to throb and bubble, dying away like thepulse of a dying man. The next day there was no sound of falling waterto be heard along the borders of the lake. The very courses were dry;and the mountains showed no silvery streaks down their dark sides. Andnot alone had the fountains of mother Earth ceased to flow; for all thebabies throughout the country were crying dreadfully--only withouttears. 

XII

_Where Is the Prince_?

Never since the night when the princess left him so abruptly had theprince had a single interview with her. He had seen her once or twice inthe lake; but as far as he could discover, she had not been in it anymore at night. He had sat and sung, and looked in vain for his Nereid, while she, like a true Nereid, was wasting away with her lake, sinkingas it sank, withering as it dried. When at length he discovered thechange that was taking place in the level of the water, he was in greatalarm and perplexity. He could not tell whether the lake was dyingbecause the lady had forsaken it; or whether the lady would not comebecause the lake had begun to sink. But he resolved to know so much atleast. 

He disguised himself, and, going to the palace, requested to see thelord chamberlain. His appearance at once gained his request; and thelord chamberlain, being a man of some insight, perceived that there wasmore in the prince's solicitation than met the ear. He felt likewisethat no one could tell whence a solution of the present difficultiesmight arise. So he granted the prince's prayer to be made shoeblack tothe princess. It was rather cunning in the prince to request such aneasy post, for the princess could not possibly soil as many shoes asother princesses. 

He soon learned all that could be told about the princess. He wentnearly distracted; but after roaming about the lake for days, and divingin every depth that remained, all that he could do was to put an extrapolish on the dainty pair of boots that was never called for. 

For the princess kept her room, with the curtains drawn to shut out thedying lake, but could not shut it out of her mind for a moment. Ithaunted her imagination so that she felt as if the lake were her soul, drying up within her, first to mud, then to madness and death. She thusbrooded over the change, with all its dreadful accompaniments, till shewas nearly distracted. As for the prince, she had forgotten him. Howevermuch she had enjoyed his company in the water, she did not care for himwithout it. But she seemed to have forgotten her father and mother too. 

The lake went on sinking. Small slimy spots began to appear, whichglittered steadily amidst the changeful shine of the water. These grewto broad patches of mud, which widened and spread, with rocks here andthere, and floundering fishes and crawling eels swarming. The peoplewent everywhere catching these, and looking for anything that might havedropped from the royal boats. 

At length the lake was all but gone, only a few of the deepest poolsremaining unexhausted. 

It happened one day that a party of youngsters found themselves on thebrink of one of these pools in the very centre of the lake. It was arocky basin of considerable depth. Looking in, they saw at the bottomsomething that shone yellow in the sun. A little boy jumped in and divedfor it. It was a plate of gold covered with writing. They carried it tothe king. 

On one side of it stood these words:

 "Death alone from death can save. Love is death, and so is brave. Love can fill the deepest grave. Love loves on beneath the wave. "

Now this was enigmatical enough to the king and courtiers. But thereverse of the plate explained it a little. Its writing amounted tothis:

"If the lake should disappear, they must find the hole through which thewater ran. But it would be useless to try to stop it by any ordinarymeans. There was but one effectual mode. The body of a living man couldalone staunch the flow. The man must give himself of his own will; andthe lake must take his life as it filled. Otherwise the offering wouldbe of no avail. If the nation could not provide one hero, it was time itshould perish, "

XIII

_Here I Am_!

This was a very disheartening revelation to the king--not that he wasunwilling to sacrifice a subject, but that he was hopeless of finding aman willing to sacrifice himself. No time was to be lost however, forthe princess was lying motionless on her bed, and taking no nourishmentbut lake-water, which was now none of the best. Therefore the kingcaused the contents of the wonderful plate of gold to be publishedthroughout the country. 

No one, however, came forward. 

The prince, having gone several days' journey into the forest, toconsult a hermit whom he had met there on his way to Lagobel, knewnothing of the oracle till his return. 

When he had acquainted himself with all the particulars, he sat down andthought:

"She will die if I don't do it, and life would be nothing to me withouther; so I shall lose nothing by doing it. And life will be as pleasantto her as ever, for she will soon forget me. And there will be so muchmore beauty and happiness in the world! To be sure, I shall not see it. "(Here the poor prince gave a sigh. ) "How lovely the lake will be in themoonlight, with that glorious creature sporting in it like a wildgoddess! It is rather hard to be drowned by inches, though. Let mesee--that will be seventy inches of me to drown. " (Here he tried tolaugh, but could not. ) "The longer the better, however, " he resumed, "for can I not bargain that the princess shall be beside me all thetime? So I shall see her once more, kiss her perhaps--who knows? and dielooking in her eyes. It will be no death. At least, I shall not feel it. And to see the lake filling for the beauty again! All right! I amready. "

He kissed the princess's boot, laid it down, and hurried to the king'sapartment. But feeling, as he went, that anything sentimental would bedisagreeable, he resolved to carry off the whole affair withnonchalance. So he knocked at the door of the king's counting-house, where it was all but a capital crime to disturb him. 

When the king heard the knock, he started up, and opened the door in arage. Seeing only the shoeblack, he drew his sword. This, I am sorry tosay, was his usual mode of asserting his regality when he thought hisdignity was in danger. But the prince was not in the least alarmed. 

"Please your majesty, I'm your butler, " said he. 

"My butler! you lying rascal! What do you mean?"

"I mean, I will cork your big bottle. "

"Is the fellow mad?" bawled the king, raising the point of his sword. 

"I will put the stopper--plug--what you call it, in your leaky lake, grand monarch, " said the prince. 

The king was in such a rage that before he could speak he had time tocool, and to reflect that it would be great waste to kill the only manwho was willing to be useful in the present emergency, seeing that inthe end the insolent fellow would be as dead as if he had died by hismajesty's own hand. 

"Oh!" said he at last, putting up his sword with difficulty, it was solong; "I am obliged to you, you young fool! Take a glass of wine?"

"No, thank you, " replied the prince. 

"Very well, " said the king. "Would you like to run and see your parentsbefore you make your experiment?"

"No, thank you, " said the prince. 

"Then we will go and look for the hole at once, " said his majesty, andproceeded to call some attendants. 

"Stop, please your majesty, I have a condition to make, " interposed theprince. 

"What!" exclaimed the king, "a condition! and with me! How dare you?"

"As you please, " returned the prince, coolly. "I wish your majesty agood morning, "

"You wretch! I will have you put in a sack, and stuck in the hole. "

"Very well, your majesty, " replied the prince, becoming a little morerespectful, lest the wrath of the king should deprive him of thepleasure of dying for the princess. "But what good will that do yourmajesty? Please to remember that the oracle says the victim must offerhimself. "

"Well, you _have_ offered yourself, " retorted the king. 

"Yes, upon one condition. "

"Condition again!" roared the king, once more drawing his sword. "Begone! Somebody else will be glad enough to take the honour off yourshoulders. "

"Your majesty knows it will not be easy to get another to take myplace. "

"Well, what is your condition?" growled the king, feeling that theprince was right. 

"Only this, " replied the prince; "that, as I must on no account diebefore I am fairly drowned, and the waiting will be rather wearisome, the princess, your daughter, shall go with me, feed me with her ownhands, and look at me now and then to comfort me; for you must confessit _is_ rather hard. As soon as the water is up to my eyes, she may goand be happy, and forget her poor shoeblack. "

Here the prince's voice faltered, and he very nearly grew sentimental, in spite of his resolution. 

"Why didn't you tell me before what your condition was? Such a fussabout nothing!" exclaimed the king. 

"Do you grant it?" persisted the prince. 

"Of course I do, " replied the king. 

"Very well. I am ready. "

"Go and have some dinner, then, while I set my people to find theplace. "

The king ordered out his guards, and gave directions to the officers tofind the hole in the lake at once. So the bed of the lake was marked outin divisions and thoroughly examined, and in an hour or so the hole wasdiscovered. It was in the middle of a stone, near the centre of thelake, in the very pool where the golden plate had been found. It was athree-cornered hole of no great size. There was water all round thestone, but very little was flowing through the hole. 

XIV

_This Is Very Kind of You_

The prince went to dress for the occasion, for he was resolved to dielike a prince. 

When the princess heard that a man had offered to die for her, she wasso transported that she jumped off the bed, feeble as she was, anddanced about the room for joy. She did not care who the man was; thatwas nothing to her. The hole wanted stopping; and if only a man woulddo, why, take one. In an hour or two more everything was ready. Her maiddressed her in haste, and they carried her to the side of the lake. Whenshe saw it she shrieked, and covered her face with her hands. They boreher across to the stone, where they had already placed a little boat forher. The water was not deep enough to float in, but they hoped it wouldbe, before long. They laid her on cushions, placed in the boat wines andfruits and other nice things, and stretched a canopy over all. 

In a few minutes the prince appeared. The princess recognised him atonce, but did not think it worth while to acknowledge him. 

"Here I am, " said the prince. "Put me in. "

"They told me it was a shoeblack, " said the princess. 

"So I am, " said the prince. "I blacked your little boots three times aday, because they were all I could get of you. Put me in. "

The courtiers did not resent his bluntness, except by saying to eachother that he was taking it out in impudence. 

But how was he to be put in? The golden plate contained no instructionson this point. The prince looked at the hole, and saw but one way. Heput both his legs into it, sitting on the stone, and, stooping forward, covered the corner that remained open with his two hands. In thisuncomfortable position he resolved to abide his fate, and turning to thepeople, said:

"Now you can go. "

The king had already gone home to dinner. 

"Now you can go, " repeated the princess after him, like a parrot. 

The people obeyed her and went. 

Presently a little wave flowed over the stone, and wetted one of theprince's knees. But he did not mind it much. He began to sing, and thesong he sang was this:

 "As a world that has no well, Darkly bright in forest dell; As a world without the gleam Of the downward-going stream; As a world without the glance Of the ocean's fair expanse; As a world where never rain Glittered on the sunny plain;-- Such, my heart, thy world would be, If no love did flow in thee. 

 "As a world without the sound Of the rivulets underground; Or the bubbling of the spring Out of darkness wandering; Or the mighty rush and flowing Of the river's downward going; Or the music-showers that drop On the outspread beech's top; Or the ocean's mighty voice, When his lifted waves rejoice;--Such, my soul, thy world would be, If no love did sing in thee. 

 "Lady, keep thy world's delight, Keep the waters in thy sight Love hath made me strong to go, For thy sake, to realms below, Where the water's shine and hum Through the darkness never come. Let, I pray, one thought of me Spring, a little well, in thee; Lest thy loveless soul be found Like a dry and thirsty ground. "

"Sing again, prince. It makes it less tedious, " said the princess. 

But the prince was too much overcome to sing any more, and a long pausefollowed. 

"This is very kind of you, prince, " said the princess at last, quitecoolly, as she lay in the boat with her eyes shut. 

"I am sorry I can't return the compliment, " thought the prince, "but youare worth dying for, after all. "

Again a wavelet, and another, and another flowed over the stone, andwetted both the prince's knees; but he did not speak or move. Two--three--four hours passed in this way, the princess apparentlyasleep, and the prince very patient. But he was much disappointed in hisposition, for he had none of the consolation he had hoped for. 

At last he could bear it no longer. 

"Princess!" said he. 

But at the moment up started the princess, crying:

"I'm afloat! I'm afloat!"

And the little boat bumped against the stone. 

"Princess!" repeated the prince, encouraged by seeing her wide awake andlooking eagerly at the water. 

"Well?" said she, without looking round. 

"Your papa promised that you should look at me, and you haven't lookedat me once. "

"Did he? Then I suppose I must. But I am so sleepy!"

"Sleep, then, darling, and don't mind me, " said the poor prince. 

"Really, you are very good, " replied the princess. "I think I will go tosleep again. "

"Just give me a glass of wine and a biscuit first, " said the prince, very humbly. 

"With all my heart, " said the princess, and yawned as she said it. 

She got the wine and the biscuit, however, and leaning over the side ofthe boat towards him, was compelled to look at him. 

"Why, prince, " she said, "you don't look well! Are you sure you don'tmind it?"

"Not a bit, " answered he, feeling very faint indeed. "Only I shall diebefore it is of any use to you, unless I have something to eat, "

"There, then, " said she, holding out the wine to him. 

"Ah! you must feed me. I dare not move my hands. The water would runaway directly. "

"Good gracious!" said the princess; and she began at once to feed himwith bits of biscuit and sips of wine. 

As she fed him, he contrived to kiss the tips of her fingers now andthen. She did not seem to mind it, one way or the other. But the princefelt better. 

"Now, for your own sake, princess, " said he, "I cannot let you go tosleep. You must sit and look at me, else I shall not be able to keepup. "

"Well, I will do anything to oblige you, " answered she, withcondescension; and, sitting down, she did look at him, and kept lookingat him with wonderful steadiness, considering all things. 

The sun went down, and the moon rose, and, gush after gush, the waterswere rising up the prince's body. They were up to his waist now. 

"Why can't we go and have a swim?" said the princess. "There seems to bewater enough just about here. "

"I shall never swim more, " said the prince. 

"Oh, I forgot, " said the princess, and was silent. 

So the water grew and grew, and rose up and up on the prince. And theprincess sat and looked at him. She fed him now and then. The night woreon. The waters rose and rose. The moon rose likewise higher and higher, and shone full on the face of the dying prince. The water was up to hisneck. 

"Will you kiss me, princess?" said he, feebly. The nonchalance was allgone now. 

"Yes, I will, " answered the princess, and kissed him with a long, sweet, cold kiss. 

"Now, " said he, with a sigh of content, "I die happy. "

He did not speak again. The princess gave him some wine for the lasttime: he was past eating. Then she sat down again, and looked at him. The water rose and rose. It touched his chin. It touched his lower lip. It touched between his lips. He shut them hard to keep it out. Theprincess began to feel strange. It touched his upper lip. He breathedthrough his nostrils. The princess looked wild. It covered his nostrils. Her eyes looked scared, and shone strange in the moonlight. His headfell back; the water closed over it, and the bubbles of his last breathbubbled up through the water. The princess gave a shriek, and spranginto the lake. 

She laid hold first of one leg, and then of the other, and pulled andtugged, but she could not move either. She stopped to take breath, andthat made her think that he could not get any breath. She was frantic. She got hold of him, and held his head above the water, which waspossible now his hands were no longer on the hole. But it was of no use, for he was past breathing. 

Love and water brought back all her strength. She got under the water, and pulled and pulled with her whole might, till at last she got one legout. The other easily followed. How she got him into the boat she nevercould tell; but when she did, she fainted away. Coming to herself, sheseized the oars, kept herself steady as best she could, and rowed androwed, though she had never rowed before. Round rocks, and overshallows, and through mud she rowed, till she got to the landing-stairsof the palace. By this time her people were on the shore, for they hadheard her shriek. She made them carry the prince to her own room, andlay him in her bed, and light a fire, and send for the doctors. 

"But the lake, your highness!" said the chamberlain, who, roused by thenoise, came in, in his nightcap. 

"Go and drown yourself in it!" she said. 

This was the last rudeness of which the princess was ever guilty; andone must allow that she had good cause to feel provoked with the lordchamberlain. 

Had it been the king himself, he would have fared no better. But both heand the queen were fast asleep. And the chamberlain went back to hisbed. Somehow, the doctors never came. So the princess and her old nursewere left with the prince. But the old nurse was a wise woman, and knewwhat to do. 

They tried everything for a long time without success. The princess wasnearly distracted between hope and fear, but she tried on and on, onething after another, and everything over and over again. 

At last, when they had all but given it up, just as the sun rose, theprince opened his eyes. 

XV

_Look at the Rain_!

The princess burst into a passion of tears and _fell_ on the floor. There she lay for an hour, and her tears never ceased. All the pent-upcrying of her life was spent now. And a rain came on, such as had neverbeen seen in that country. The sun shone all the time, and the greatdrops, which fell straight to the earth, shone likewise. The palace wasin the heart of a rainbow. It was a rain of rubies, and sapphires, andemeralds, and topazes. The torrents poured from the mountains likemolten gold; and if it had not been for its subterraneous outlet, thelake would have overflowed and inundated the country. It was full fromshore to shore. 

But the princess did not heed the lake. She lay on the floor and wept. And this rain within doors was far more wonderful than the rain out ofdoors. For when it abated a little, and she proceeded to rise, shefound, to her astonishment, that she could not. At length, after manyefforts, she succeeded in getting upon her feet. But she tumbled downagain directly. Hearing her fall, her old nurse uttered a yell ofdelight, and ran to her, screaming:

"My darling child! she's found her gravity!"

"Oh, that's it! is it?" said the princess, rubbing her shoulder and herknee alternately. "I consider it very unpleasant. I feel as if I shouldbe crushed to pieces. "

"Hurrah!" cried the prince from the bed. "If you've come round, princess, so have I. How's the lake?"

"Brimful, " answered the nurse. 

"Then we're all happy. "

"That we are indeed!" answered the princess, sobbing. 

And there was rejoicing all over the country that rainy day. Even thebabies forgot their past troubles, and danced and crowed amazingly. Andthe king told stories, and the queen listened to them. And he dividedthe money in his box, and she the honey in her pot, among all thechildren. And there was such jubilation as was never heard of before. 

Of course the prince and princess were betrothed at once. But theprincess had to learn to walk, before they could be married with anypropriety. And this was not so easy at her time of life, for she couldwalk no more than a baby. She was always falling down and hurtingherself. 

"Is this the gravity you used to make so much of?" said she one day tothe prince, as he raised her from the floor. "For my part, I was a greatdeal more comfortable without it. "

"No, no, that's not it. This is it, " replied the prince, as he took herup, and carried her about like a baby, kissing her all the time. "Thisis gravity. "

"That's better, " said she. "I don't mind that so much. "

And she smiled the sweetest, loveliest smile in the prince's face. Andshe gave him one little kiss in return for all his; and he thought themoverpaid, for he was beside himself with delight. I fear she complainedof her gravity more than once after this, notwithstanding. 

It was a long time before she got reconciled to walking. But the pain oflearning it was quite counterbalanced by two things, either of whichwould have been sufficient consolation. The first was, that the princehimself was her teacher; and the second, that she could tumble into thelake as often as she pleased. Still, she preferred to have the princejump in with her; and the splash they made before was nothing to thesplash they made now. 

The lake never sank again. In process of time it wore the roof of thecavern quite through, and was twice as deep as before. 

The only revenge the princess took upon her aunt was to tread prettyhard on her gouty toe the next time she saw her. But she was sorry forit the very next day, when she heard that the water had undermined herhouse, and that it had fallen in the night, burying her in its ruins;whence no one ever ventured to dig up her body. There she lies to thisday. 

So the prince and princess lived and were happy; and had crowns of gold, and clothes of cloth, and shoes of leather, and children of boys andgirls, not one of whom was ever known, on the most critical occasion, tolose the smallest atom of his or her due proportion of gravity. 

CHAPTER XXIV

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

There was once a very rich merchant, who had six children, three boysand three girls. As he was himself a man of great sense, he spared noexpense for their education, but provided them with all sorts of mastersfor their improvement. The three daughters were all handsome, butparticularly the youngest: indeed she was so very beautiful that in herchildhood every one called her the Little Beauty, and being still thesame when she was grown up, nobody called her by any other name, whichmade her sisters very jealous of her. This youngest daughter was notonly more handsome than her sisters, but was also better tempered. Thetwo eldest were vain of being rich, and spoke with pride to those theythought below them. They gave themselves a thousand airs, and would notvisit other merchants' daughters; nor would they indeed be seen with anybut persons of quality. They went every day to balls, plays, and publicwalks, and always made game of their youngest sister for spending hertime in reading, or other useful employments. As it was well known thatthese young ladies would have large fortunes, many great merchantswished to get them for wives; but the two eldest always answered that, for their parts, they had no thoughts of marrying any one below a duke, or an earl at least. Beauty had quite as many offers as her sisters, butshe always answered with the greatest civility, that she was muchobliged to her lovers, but would rather live some years longer with herfather, as she thought herself too young to marry. 

It happened that by some unlucky accident the merchant suddenly lost allhis fortune, and had nothing left but a small cottage in the country. Upon this, he said to his daughters, while the tears ran down his cheeksall the time, "My children, we must now go and dwell in the cottage, andtry to get a living by labour, for we have no other means of support. "The two eldest replied that, for their parts, they did not know how towork, and would not leave town; for they had lovers enough who would beglad to marry them, though they had no longer any fortune. But in thisthey were mistaken; for when the lovers heard what had happened, theysaid, "The girls were so proud and ill-tempered, that all we wanted wastheir fortune; we are not sorry at all to see their pride brought down. Let them give themselves airs to their cows and sheep. " But every bodypitied poor Beauty, because she was so sweet-tempered and kind to allthat knew her; and several gentlemen offered to marry her, though shehad not a penny; but Beauty still refused, and said she could not thinkof leaving her poor father in this trouble and would go and help him inhis labours in the country. At first Beauty could not help sometimescrying in secret for the hardships she was now obliged to suffer; but ina very short time she said to herself, "All the crying in the world willdo me no good, so I will try to be happy without a fortune. "

When they had removed to their cottage, the merchant and his three sonsemployed themselves in ploughing and sowing the fields, and working inthe garden. Beauty also did her part, for she got up by four o'clockevery morning, lighted the fires, cleaned the house, and got thebreakfast for the whole family. At first she found all this very hard;but she soon grew quite used to it, and thought it no hardship at all;and indeed the work greatly amended her health. When she had done, sheused to amuse herself with reading, playing on her music, or singingwhile she spun. But her two sisters were at a loss what to do to passthe time away: they had their breakfast in bed, and did not rise tillten o'clock. Then they commonly walked out; but always found themselvesvery soon tired; when they would often sit down under a shady tree, andgrieve for the loss of their carriage and fine clothes, and say to eachother, "What a mean-spirited poor stupid creature our young sister is, to be so content with our low way of life!" But their father thought inquite another way: he admired the patience of this sweet young creature;for her sisters not only left her to do the whole work of the house, butmade game of her every moment. 

After they had lived in this manner about a year, the merchant receiveda letter, which informed him that one of the richest ships, which hethought was lost, had just come into port. This news made the two eldestsisters almost mad with joy; for they thought they should now leave thecottage, and have all their finery again. When they found that theirfather must take a journey to the ship, the two eldest begged he wouldnot fail to bring them back some new gowns, caps, rings, and all sortsof trinkets. But Beauty asked for nothing; for she thought in herselfthat all the ship was worth would hardly buy every thing her sisterswished for. "Beauty, " said the merchant, "how comes it about that youask for nothing; what can I bring you, my child?" "Since you are so kindas to think of me, dear father, " she answered, "I should be glad if youwould bring me a rose, for we have none in our garden. " Now Beauty didnot indeed wish for a rose, nor any thing else, but she only said this, that she might not affront her sisters, for else they would have saidshe wanted her father to praise her for not asking him for any thing. The merchant took his leave of them and set out on his journey; but whenhe got to the ship, some persons went to law with him about the cargo, and after a deal of trouble, he came back to his cottage as poor as hehad gone away. When he was within thirty miles of his home, and thinkingof the joy he should have in again meeting his children, his road laythrough a thick forest, and he quite lost himself. It rained and snowedvery hard, and besides, the wind was so high as to throw him twice fromhis horse. Night came on, and he thought to be sure he should die ofcold and hunger, or be torn to pieces by the wolves that he heardhowling round him. All at once, he now cast his eyes towards a long rowof trees, and saw a light at the end of them, but it seemed a great wayoff. He made the best of his way towards it, and found that it came froma fine palace, lighted all over. He walked faster, and soon reached thegates, which he opened, and was very much surprised that he did not seea single person or creature in any of the yards. His horse had followedhim, and finding a stable with the door open, went into it at once; andhere the poor beast, being nearly starved, helped himself to a good mealof oats and hay. His master then tied him up, and walked towards thehouse, which he entered, but still without seeing a living creature. Hewent on to a large hall, where he found a good fire, and a table coveredwith some very nice dishes, and only one plate with a knife and fork. Asthe snow and rain had wetted him to the skin, he went up to the fire todry himself. "I hope, " said he, "the master of the house or his servantswill excuse me, for to be sure it will not be long now before I seethem. " He waited a good time, but still nobody came: at last the clockstruck eleven, and the merchant, being quite faint for the want of food, helped himself to a chicken, which he made but two mouthfuls of, andthen to a few glasses of wine, yet all the time trembling with fear. Hesat till the clock struck twelve, but did not see a single creature. Henow took courage, and began to think of looking a little more about him;so he opened a door at the end of the hall, and went through it into avery grand room, In which there was a fine bed; and as he was quite weakand tired, he shut the door, took off his clothes, and got into it. 

It was ten o'clock in the morning before he thought of getting up, whenhe was amazed to see a handsome new suit of clothes laid ready for him, instead of his own, which he had spoiled. "To be sure, " said he tohimself, "this place belongs to some good fairy, who has taken pity onmy ill luck. " He looked out of the window, and, instead of snow, he sawthe most charming arbours covered with all kinds of flowers. He returnedto the hall, where he had supped, and found a breakfast table, with somechocolate got ready for him. "Indeed, my good fairy, " said the merchantaloud, "I am vastly obliged to you for your kind care of me. " He thenmade a hearty breakfast, took his hat, and was going to the stable topay his horse a visit; but as he passed under one of the arbours, whichwas loaded with roses, he thought of what Beauty had asked him to bringback to her, and so he took a bunch of roses to carry home. At the samemoment he heard a most shocking noise, and saw such a frightful beastcoming towards him, that he was ready to drop with fear. "Ungratefulman!" said the beast, in a terrible voice, "I have saved your life byletting you into my palace, and in return you steal my roses, which Ivalue more than any thing else that belongs to me. But you shall makeamends for your fault with your life. You shall die in a quarter of anhour. " The merchant fell on his knees to the beast, and clasping hishands, said, "My lord, I humbly beg your pardon. I did not think itwould offend you to gather a rose for one of my daughters, who wished tohave one. " "I am not a lord, but a beast, " replied the monster; "I donot like false compliments, but that people should say what they think:so do not fancy that you can coax me by any such ways. You tell me thatyou have daughters; now I will pardon you, if one of them will agree tocome and die instead of you. Go; and if your daughters should refuse, promise me that you yourself will return in three months. "

The tender-hearted merchant had no thought of letting any one of hisdaughters die instead of him; but he knew that if he seemed to acceptthe beast's terms, he should at least have the pleasure of seeing themonce again. So he gave the beast his promise; and the beast told him hemight then set off as soon as he liked. "But, " said the beast, "I do notwish you to go back empty-handed. Go to the room you slept in, and youwill find a chest there; fill it with just what you like best, and Iwill get it taken to your own house for you, " When the beast had saidthis, he went away; and the good merchant said to himself, "If I mustdie, yet I shall now have the comfort of leaving my children someriches, " He returned to the room he had slept in, and found a great manypieces of gold. He filled the chest with them to the very brim, lockedit, and mounting his horse, left the palace as sorry as he had been gladwhen he first found it. The horse took a path across the forest of hisown accord, and in a few hours they reached the merchant's house. Hischildren came running round him as he got off his horse; but themerchant, instead of kissing them with joy, could not help crying as helooked at them. He held in his hand the bunch of roses, which he gave toBeauty, saying: "Take these roses, Beauty; but little do you think howdear they have cost your poor father;" and then he gave them an accountof all that he had seen or heard in the palace of the beast. The twoeldest sisters now began to shed tears, and to lay the blame uponBeauty, who they said would be the cause of her father's death "See, "said they, "what happens from the pride of the little wretch. Why didnot she ask for fine things as we did? But, to be sure, miss must not belike other people; and though she will be the cause of her father'sdeath, yet she does not shed a tear. " "It would be of no use, " repliedBeauty, "to weep for the death of my father, for he shall not die now. As the beast will accept of one of his daughters, I will give myself upto him; and think myself happy in being able at once to save his life, and prove my love for the best of fathers. " "No, sister, " said the threebrothers, "you shall not die; we will go in search for this monster, andeither he or we will perish. " "Do not hope to kill him, " said themerchant, "for his power is far too great for you to be able to do anysuch thing. I am charmed with the kindness of Beauty, but I will notsuffer her life to be lost. I myself am old, and cannot expect to livemuch longer; so I shall but give up a few years of my life, and shallonly grieve for the sake of my children. " "Never, father, " cried Beauty, "shall you go to the palace without me; for you cannot hinder my goingafter you. Though young, I am not over fond of life; and I would muchrather be eaten up by the monster, than die of the grief your loss wouldgive me. " The merchant tried in vain to reason with Beauty, for shewould go; which, in truth, made her two sisters glad, for they werejealous of her, because everybody loved her. 

The merchant was so grieved at the thoughts of losing his child, that henever once thought of the chest filled with gold; but at night, to hisgreat surprise, he found it standing by his bedside. He said nothingabout his riches to his eldest daughters, for he knew very well it wouldat once make them want to return to town; but he told Beauty his secret, and she then said, that while he was away, two gentlemen had been on avisit to their cottage, who had fallen in love with her two sisters. Shethen begged her father to marry them without delay; for she was sosweet-tempered, that she loved them for all they had used her so ill, and forgave them with all her heart. When the three months were past, the merchant and Beauty got ready to set out for the palace of thebeast. Upon this, the two sisters rubbed their eyes with an onion, tomake believe they shed a great many tears; but both the merchant and hissons cried in earnest. There was only Beauty who did not, for shethought that this would only make the matter worse. They reached thepalace in a very few hours, and the horse, without bidding, went intothe same stable as before. The merchant and Beauty walked towards thelarge hall, where they found a table covered with every dainty, and twoplates laid ready. The merchant had very little appetite; but Beauty, that she might the better hide her grief, placed herself at the table, and helped her father; she then began herself to eat, and thought allthe time that to be sure the beast had a mind to fatten her before heeat her up, as he had got such good cheer for her. When they had donetheir supper, they heard a great noise, and the good old man began tobid his poor child farewell, for he knew it was the beast coming tothem. When Beauty first saw his frightful form, she could not help beingafraid; but she tried to hide her fear as much as she could. The beastasked her if she had come quite of her own accord, and though she wasnow still more afraid than before, she made shift to say, "Y-e-s. " "Youare a good girl, and I think myself very much obliged to you. " He thenturned towards her father, and said to him, "Good man, you may leave thepalace to-morrow morning, and take care never to come back to it again. Good night, Beauty. " "Good night, beast, " said she; and then the monsterwent out of the room. 

"Ah! my dear child, " said the merchant, kissing his daughter, "I am halfdead already, at the thoughts of leaving you with this dreadful beast;you had better go back, and let me stay in your place. " "No, " saidBeauty boldly, "I will never agree to that; you must go home to-morrowmorning. " They then wished each other good night, and went to bed, bothof them thinking they should not be able to close their eyes; but assoon as ever they had laid down, they fell into a deep sleep, and didnot wake till morning. Beauty dreamed that a lady came up to her, whosaid, "I am very much pleased, Beauty, with the goodness you have shown, in being willing to give your life to save that of your father; and itshall not go without a reward. " As soon as Beauty awoke, she told herfather this dream; but though it gave him some comfort, he could nottake leave of his darling child without shedding many tears. When themerchant got out of sight, Beauty sat down in the large hall, and beganto cry also; yet she had a great deal of courage, and so she soonresolved not to make her sad case still worse by sorrow, which she knewcould not be of any use to her, but to wait as well as she could tillnight, when she thought the beast would not fail to come and eat her up. She walked about to take a view of all the palace, and the beauty ofevery part of it much charmed her. 

But what was her surprise, when she came to a door on which was written, _Beauty's room_! She opened it in haste, and her eyes were all at oncedazzled at the grandeur of the inside of the room. What made her wondermore than all the rest was a large library filled with books, aharpsichord, and many other pieces of music. "The beast takes care Ishall not be at a loss how to amuse myself, " said she. She then thoughtthat it was not likely such things would have been got ready for her, ifshe had but one day to live; and began to hope all would not turn out sobad as she and her father had feared. She opened the library, and sawthese verses written in letters of gold on the back of one of the books:

 "Beauteous lady, dry your tears, Here's no cause for sighs or fears; Command as freely as you may, Enjoyment still shall mark your sway. "

"Alas!" said she, sighing, "there is nothing I so much desire as to seemy poor father and to know what he is doing at this moment, " She saidthis to herself; but just then by chance, she cast her eyes on alooking-glass that stood near her, and in the glass she saw her home, and her father riding up to the cottage in the deepest sorrow. Hersisters came out to meet him, but for all they tried to look sorry, itwas easy to see that in their hearts they were very glad. In a shorttime all this picture went away out of the glass: but Beauty began tothink that the beast was very kind to her, and that she had no need tobe afraid of him. About the middle of the day, she found a table laidready for her; and a sweet concert of music played all the time she waseating her dinner without her seeing a single creature. But at supper, when she was going to seat herself at table, she heard the noise of thebeast, and could not help trembling with fear. "Beauty, " said he, "willyou give me leave to see you sup?" "That is as you please, " answeredshe, very much afraid. "Not in the least, " said the beast; "you alonecommand in this place. If you should not like my company, you need onlyto say so, and I will leave you that moment. But tell me, Beauty, do younot think me very ugly?" "Why, yes, " said she, "for I cannot tell astory; but then I think you are very good. " "You are right, " replied thebeast; "and, besides being ugly, I am also very stupid: I know very wellenough that I am but a beast. "

"I should think you cannot be very stupid, " said Beauty, "if youyourself know this. " "Pray do not let me hinder you from eating, " saidhe; "and be sure you do not want for any thing; for all you see isyours, and I shall be vastly grieved if you are not happy. " "You arevery kind, " said Beauty: "I must needs own that I think very well ofyour good nature, and then I almost forget how ugly you are. " "Yes, yes, I hope I am good-tempered, " said he, "but still I am a monster. " "Thereare many men who are worse monsters than you are, " replied Beauty; "andI am better pleased with you in that form, though it is so ugly, thanwith those who carry wicked hearts under the form of a man. " "If I hadany sense, " said the beast, "I would thank you for what you have said;but I am too stupid to say any thing that would give you pleasure. "Beauty ate her supper with a very good appetite, and almost lost all herdread of the monster; but she was ready to sink with fright, when hesaid to her, "Beauty, will you be my wife?" For a few minutes she wasnot able to speak a word, for she was afraid of putting him in apassion, by refusing. At length she said, "No, beast. " The beast made noreply, but sighed deeply, and went away. When Beauty found herselfalone, she began to feel pity for the poor beast. "Dear!" said she, "what a sad thing it is that he should be so very frightful, since he isso good-tempered!"

Beauty lived three months in this palace, very well pleased. The beastcame to see her every night, and talked with her while she supped; andthough what he said was not very clever, yet as she saw in him every daysome new mark of his goodness, so instead of dreading the time of hiscoming, she was always looking at her watch, to see if it was almostnine o'clock; for that was the time when he never failed to visit her. There was but one thing that vexed her; which was that every night, before the beast went away from her, he always made it a rule to ask herif she would be his wife, and seemed very much grieved at her saying no. At last, one night, she said to him, "You vex me greatly, beast, byforcing me to refuse you so often; I wish I could take such a liking toyou as to agree to marry you, but I must tell you plainly, that I do notthink it will ever happen. I shall always be your friend; so try to letthat make you easy. " "I must needs do so then, " said the beast, "for Iknow well enough how frightful I am; but I love you better than myself. Yet I think I am very lucky in your being pleased to stay with me; nowpromise me, Beauty, that you will never leave me. " Beauty was quitestruck when he said this, for that very day she had seen in her glassthat her father had fallen sick of grief for her sake, and was very illfor the want of seeing her again. "I would promise you, with all myheart, " said she, "never to leave you quite; but I long so much to seemy father, that if you do not give me leave to visit him I shall diewith grief. " "I would rather die myself, Beauty, " answered the beast, "than make you fret; I will send you to your father's cottage, you shallstay there, and your poor beast shall die of sorrow. " "No, " said Beauty, crying, "I love you too well to be the cause of your death; I promise toreturn in a week. You have shown me that my sisters are married, and mybrothers are gone for soldiers, so that my father is left all alone. Letme stay a week with him. " "You shall find yourself with him to-morrowmorning, " replied the beast; "but mind, do not forget your promise. Whenyou wish to return you have nothing to do but to put your ring on atable when you go to bed. Good-bye, Beauty!" The beast then sighed as hesaid these words, and Beauty went to bed very sorry to see him so muchgrieved. When she awoke in the morning, she found herself in herfather's cottage. She rung a bell that was at her bedside, and a servantentered; but as soon as she saw Beauty, the woman gave a loud shriek;upon which the merchant ran up stairs, and when he beheld his daughterhe was ready to die of joy. He ran to the bedside, and kissed her ahundred times. At last Beauty began to remember that she had brought noclothes with her to put on; but the servant told her she had just foundin the next room a large chest full of dresses, trimmed all over withgold, and adorned with pearls and diamonds. 

Beauty in her own mind thanked the beast for his kindness, and put onthe plainest gown she could find among them all. She then told theservant to put the rest away with a great deal of care, for she intendedto give them to her sisters; but as soon as she had spoken these wordsthe chest was gone out of sight in a moment. Her father then said, perhaps the beast chose for her to keep them all for herself; and assoon as he had said this, they saw the chest standing again in the sameplace. While Beauty was dressing herself, a servant brought word to herthat her sisters were come with their husbands to pay her a visit. Theyboth lived unhappily with the gentlemen they had married. The husband ofthe eldest was very handsome; but was so very proud of this, that hethought of nothing else from morning till night, and did not attend tothe beauty of his wife. The second had married a man of great learning;but he made no use of it, only to torment and affront all his friends, and his wife more than any of them. The two sisters were ready to burstwith spite when they saw Beauty dressed like a princess, and look sovery charming. All the kindness that she showed them was of no use; forthey were vexed more than ever, when she told them how happy she livedat the palace of the beast. The spiteful creatures went by themselvesinto the garden, where they cried to think of her good fortune. "Whyshould the little wretch be better off than we?" said they. "We are muchhandsomer than she is. " "Sister, " said the eldest, "a thought has justcome into my head: let us try to keep her here longer than the week thatthe beast gave her leave for: and then he will be so angry, that perhapshe will eat her up in a moment. " "That is well thought of, " answered theother, "but to do this we must seem very kind to her. " They then made uptheir minds to be so, and went to join her in the cottage where theyshowed her so much false love, that Beauty could not help crying forjoy. 

When the week was ended, the two sisters began to pretend so much griefat the thoughts of her leaving them, that she agreed to stay a weekmore; but all that time Beauty could not help fretting for the sorrowthat she knew her staying would give her poor beast; for she tenderlyloved him, and much wished for his company again. The tenth night of herbeing at the cottage she dreamed she was in the garden of the palace, and that the beast lay dying on a grass plot, and, with his last breath, put her in mind of her promise, and laid his death to her keeping awayfrom him; Beauty awoke in a great fright, and burst into tears. "Am notI wicked, " said she, "to behave so ill to a beast who has shown me somuch kindness; why will I not marry him? I am sure I should be morehappy with him than my sisters are with their husbands. He shall not bewretched any longer on my account; for I should do nothing but blamemyself all the rest of my life, "

She then rose, put her ring on the table, got into bed again, and soonfell asleep. In the morning she with joy found herself in the palace ofthe beast. She dressed herself very finely, that she might please himthe better, and thought she had never known a day pass away so slow. Atlast the clock struck nine, but the beast did not come. Beauty thenthought to be sure she had been the cause of his death in earnest. Sheran from room to room all over the palace, calling out his name, butstill she saw nothing of him. After looking for him a long time, shethought of her dream, and ran directly towards the grass plot; and thereshe found the poor beast lying senseless and seeming dead. She threwherself upon his body, thinking nothing at all of his ugliness; andfinding his heart still beat, she ran and fetched some water from a pondin the garden, and threw it on his face. The beast then opened his eyes, and said: "You have forgot your promise, Beauty. My grief for the lossof you has made me resolve to starve myself to death; but I shall diecontent, since I have had the pleasure of seeing you once more. " "No, dear beast, " replied Beauty, "you shall not die; you shall live to be myhusband: from this moment I offer to marry you, and will be only yours. Oh! I thought I felt only friendship for you; but the pain I now feel, shows me that I could not live without seeing you. "

The moment Beauty had spoken these words, the palace was suddenlylighted up, and music, fireworks, and all kinds of rejoicings, appearedround about them. Yet Beauty took no notice of all this, but watchedover her dear beast with the greatest tenderness. But now she was all atonce amazed to see at her feet, instead of her poor beast, thehandsomest prince that ever was seen, who thanked her most warmly forhaving broken his enchantment. Though this young prince deserved all hernotice, she could not help asking him what was become of the beast. "Yousee him at your feet, Beauty, " answered the prince, "for I am he. Awicked fairy had condemned me to keep the form of a beast till abeautiful young lady should agree to marry me, and ordered me, on painof death, not to show that I had any sense. You, alone, dearest Beauty, have kindly judged of me by the goodness of my heart; and in return Ioffer you my hand and my crown, though I know the reward is much lessthan what I owe you. " Beauty, in the most pleasing surprise, helped theprince to rise, and they walked along to the palace, when her wonder wasvery great to find her father and sisters there, who had been brought bythe lady Beauty had seen in her dream. "Beauty, " said the lady (for shewas a fairy), "receive the reward of the choice you have made. You havechosen goodness of heart rather than sense and beauty; therefore youdeserve to find them all three joined in the same person. You are goingto be a great Queen: I hope a crown will not destroy your virtue. "

"As for you, ladies, " said the fairy to the other two sisters, "I havelong known the malice of your hearts, and the wrongs you have done. Youshall become two statues; but under that form you shall still keep yourreason, and shall be fixed at the gates of your sister's palace; and Iwill not pass any worse sentence on you than to see her happy. You willnever appear in your own persons again till you are fully cured of yourfaults; and to tell the truth, I am very much afraid you will remainstatues for ever. "

At the same moment, the fairy, with a stroke of her wand, removed allwho were present to the young prince's country, where he was receivedwith the greatest joy by his subjects. He married Beauty, and passed along and happy life with her, because they still kept in the same courseof goodness from which they had never departed.