The Blue Fairy Book Page 6

  The King of the Gold Mines hardly knew what answer to make to this proposal. Not because he did not wish very much to escape, but he was afraid that this might be only another device by which the Fairy of the Desert was trying to deceive him. As he hesitated the Mermaid, who guessed his thoughts, said to him:

  ‘ You may trust me: I am not trying to entrap you. I am so angry with the Yellow Dwarf and the Fairy of the Desert that -I am not likely to wish to help them, especially since I constantly see your poor Princess, whose beauty and goodness make me pity her so much: and I tell you that if you will have confidence in me I will help you to escape.’

  ‘ I trust you absolutely,’ cried the King, ‘ and I will do whatever you tell me; but if you have seen my Princess I beg of you to tell me how she is and what is happening to her.’

  ‘ We must not waste time in talking,’ said she. ‘ Come with me and I will carry you to the Castle of Steel, and we will leave upon this shore a figure so like you that even the Fairy herself will be deceived by it.’

  So saying she quickly collected a bundle of sea-weed, and, blowing it three times, she said:

  ‘ My friendly sea-weeds, I order you to stay here stretched upon the sand until the Fairy of the Desert comes to take you away.’ And at once the sea-weeds became like the King, who stood looking at them in great astonishment, for they were even dressed in a coat like his, but they lay there pale and still as the King himself might have lain if one of the great waves had overtaken him and thrown him senseless upon the shore. And then the Mermaid caught up the King, and away they swam joyfully together.

  ‘Now,’ said she, ‘I have time to tell you about the Princess. In spite of the blow which the Fairy of the Desert gave her, the Yellow Dwarf compelled her to mount behind him upon his terrible Spanish cat; but she soon fainted away with pain and terror, and did not recover till they were within the walls of his frightful Castle of Steel. Here she was received by the prettiest girls it was possible to find, who had been carried there by the Yellow Dwarf, who hastened to wait upon her and showed her every possible attention. She was laid upon a couch covered with cloth of gold, embroidered with pearls as big as nuts.’

  ‘ Ah!’ interrupted the King of the Gold Mines, ‘if Bellissima forgets me, and consents to marry him, I shall break my heart.’

  ‘ You need not be afraid of that,’ answered the Mermaid ; ‘the Princess thinks of no one but you, and the frightful Dwarf cannot persuade her to look at him.’

  ‘ Pray go on with your story,’ said the King.

  ‘ What more is there to tell you ?’ replied the Mermaid. ‘Bellissima was sitting in the wood when you passed, and saw you with the Fairy of the Desert, who was so cleverly disguised that the Princess took her to be prettier than herself; you may imagine her despair, for she thought that you had fallen in love with her.’

  ‘She believes that I love her!’ cried the King. ‘What a fatal mistake ! What is to be done to undeceive her?’

  ‘You know best,’ answered the Mermaid, smiling kindly at him. ‘When people are as much in love with one another as you two are, they don’t need advice from anyone else.’

  As she spoke they reached the Castle of Steel, the side next the sea being the only one which the Yellow Dwarf had left unprotected by the dreadful burning walls.

  ‘ I know quite well,’ said the Mermaid, ‘ that the Princess is sitting by the brook-side, just where you saw her as you passed, but as you will have many enemies to fight with before you can reach her, take this sword; armed with it you may dare any danger, and overcome the greatest difficulties, only beware of one thing—that is, never to let it fall from your hand. Farewell; now I will wait by that rock, and if you need my help in carrying off your beloved Princess I will not fail you, for the Queen, her mother, is my best friend, and it was for her sake that I went to rescue you.’

  So saying, she gave to the King a sword made from a single diamond, which was more brilliant than the sun. He could not find words to express his gratitude, but he begged her to believe that he fully appreciated the importance of her gift, and would never forget her help and kindness.

  We must now go back to the Fairy of the Desert. When she found that the King did not return, she hastened out to look for him, and reached the shore, with a hundred of the ladies of her train, loaded with splendid presents for him. Some carried baskets full of diamonds, others golden cups of wonderful workmanship, and amber, coral, and pearls, others, again, balanced upon their heads bales of the richest and most beautiful stuffs, while the rest brought fruit and flowers, and even birds. But what was the horror of the Fairy, who followed this gay troop, when she saw, stretched upon the sands, the image of the King which the Mermaid had made with the sea-weeds. Struck with astonishment and sorrow, she uttered a terrible cry, and threw herself down beside the pretended King, weeping, and howling, and calling upon her eleven sisters, who were also fairies, and who came to her assistance. But they were all taken in by the image of the King, for, clever as they were, the Mermaid was still cleverer, and all they could do was to help the Fairy of the Desert to make a wonderful monument over what they thought was the grave of the King of the Gold Mines. But while they were collecting jasper and porphyry, agate and marble, gold and bronze, statues and devices, to immortalise the King’s memory, he was thanking the good Mermaid and begging her still to help him, which she graciously promised to do as she disappeared; and then he set out for the Castle of Steel. He walked fast, looking anxiously round him, and longing once more to see his darling Bellissima, but he had not gone far before he was surrounded by four terrible sphinxes who would very soon have torn him to pieces with their sharp talons if it had not been for the Mermaid’s diamond sword. For, no sooner had he flashed it before their eyes than down they fell at his feet quite helpless, and he killed them with one blow. But he had hardly turned to continue his search when he met six dragons covered with scales that were harder than iron. Frightful as this encounter was the King’s courage was unshaken, and by the aid of his wonderful sword he cut them in pieces one after the other. Now he hoped his difficulties were over, but at the next turning he was met by one which he did not know how to overcome. Four-and-twenty pretty and graceful nymphs advanced towards him, holding garlands of flowers, with which they barred the way.

  ‘Where are you going, Prince?’ they said; ‘it is our duty to guard this place, and if we let you pass great misfortunes will happen to you and to us. We beg you not to insist upon going on. Do you want to kill four-and-twenty girls who have never displeased you in any way?’

  The King did not know what to do or to say. It went against all his ideas as a knight to do anything a lady begged him not to do; but, as he hesitated, a voice in his ear said:

  ‘Strike! strike! and do not spare, or your Princess is lost for ever!’

  So, without replying to the nymphs, he rushed forward instantly, breaking their garlands, and scattering them in all directions; and then went on without further hindrance to the little wood where he had seen Bellissima. She was seated by the brook looking pale and weary when he reached her, and he would have thrown himself down at her feet, but she drew herself away from him with as much indignation as if he had been the Yellow Dwarf.

  ‘Ah! Princess,’ he cried, ‘do not be angry with me. Let me explain everything. I am not faithless or to blame for what has happened. I am a miserable wretch who has displeased you without being able to help himself.’

  ‘Ah!’ cried Bellissima, ‘did I not see you flying through the air with the loveliest being imaginable? Was that against your will?’

  ‘Indeed it was, Princess,’ he answered; ‘the wicked Fairy of the Desert, not content with chaining me to a rock, carried me off in her chariot to the other end of the earth, where I should even now be a captive but for the unexpected help of a friendly mermaid, who brought me here to rescue you, my Princess, from the unworthy hands that hold you. Do not refuse the aid of your most faithful lover.’ So saying, he threw himself at her f
eet and held her by her robe. But, alas! in so doing he let fall the magic sword, and the Yellow Dwarf, who was crouching behind a lettuce, no sooner saw it than he sprang out and seized it, well knowing its wonderful power.

  THE KING OF THE GOLD MINES ENCOUNTERS THE FOUR-AND-TWENTY MAIDENS.

  The Princess gave a cry of terror on seeing the Dwarf, but this only irritated the little monster; muttering a few magical words he summoned two giants, who bound the King with great chains of iron.

  ‘Now,’ said the Dwarf, ‘I am master of my rival’s fate, but I will give him his life and permission to depart unharmed if you, Princess, will consent to marry me.’

  ‘Let me die a thousand times rather,’ cried the unhappy King.

  ‘Alas!’ cried the Princess, ‘must you die? Could anything be more terrible?’

  ‘That you should marry that little wretch would be far more terrible,’ answered the King.

  ‘At least,’ continued she, ‘let us die together.’

  ‘Let me have the satisfaction of dying for you, my Princess,’ said he.

  ‘Oh, no, no!’ she cried, turning to the Dwarf; ‘rather than that I will do as you wish.’

  ‘Cruel Princess!’ said the King, ‘would you make my life horrible to me by marrying another before my eyes?’

  ‘Not so,’ replied the Yellow Dwarf; ‘you are a rival of whom I am too much afraid: you shall not see our marriage.’ So saying, in spite of Bellissima’s tears and cries, he stabbed the King to the heart with the diamond sword.

  The poor Princess, seeing her lover lying dead at her feet, could no longer live without him; she sank down by him and died of a broken heart.

  So ended these unfortunate lovers, whom not even the Mermaid could help, because all the magic power had been lost with the diamond sword.

  As to the wicked Dwarf, he preferred to see the Princess dead rather than married to the King of the Gold Mines; and the Fairy of the Desert, when she heard of the King’s adventures, pulled down the grand monument which she had built, and was so angry at the trick that had been played her that she hated him as much as she had loved him before.

  The kind Mermaid, grieved at the sad fate of the lovers, caused them to be changed into two tall palm trees, which stand always side by side, whispering together of their faithful love and caressing one another with their interlacing branches.3

  LITTLE RED RIDING-HOOD

  ONCE upon a time there lived in a certain village a little country girl, the prettiest creature was ever seen. Her mother was excessively fond of her; and her grandmother doted on her still more. This good woman got made for her a little red riding-hood; which became the girl so extremely well that everybody called her Little Red Riding-Hood.

  One day her mother, having made some custards, said to her: ‘Go, my dear, and see how thy grandmamma does, for I hear she has been very ill; carry her a custard, and this little pot of butter.’

  Little Red Riding-Hood set out immediately to go to her grandmother, who lived in another village.

  As she was going through the wood, she met with Gaffer Wolf, who had a very great mind to eat her up, but he durst not, because of some faggot-makers hard by in the forest. He asked her whither she was going. The poor child, who did not know that it was dangerous to stay and hear a wolf talk, said to him:

  ‘I am going to see my grandmamma and carry her a custard and a little pot of butter from my mamma.’

  ‘Does she live far off?’ said the Wolf.

  ‘Oh! ay,’ answered Little Red Riding-Hood; ‘it is beyond that mill you see there, at the first house in the village.’

  ‘Well,’ said the Wolf, ‘and I’ll go and see her too. I’ll go this way and go you that, and we shall see who will be there soonest.’

  The Wolf began to run as fast as he could, taking the nearest way, and the little girl went by that farthest about, diverting herself in gathering nuts, running after butterflies, and making nosegays of such little flowers as she met with. The Wolf was not long before he got to the old woman’s house. He knocked at the door—tap, tap.

  ‘Who’s there?’

  ‘Your grandchild, Little Red Riding-Hood,’ replied the Wolf, counterfeiting her voice; ‘who has brought you a custard and a little pot of butter sent you by mamma.’

  The good grandmother, who was in bed, because she was somewhat ill, cried out:

  ‘Pull the bobbin, and the latch will go up.’

  The Wolf pulled the bobbin, and the door opened, and then presently he fell upon the good woman and ate her up in a moment, for it was above three days that he had not touched a bit. He then shut the door and went into the grandmother’s bed, expecting Little Red Riding-Hood, who came some time afterwards and knocked at the door—tap, tap.

  ‘Who’s there?’

  Little Red Riding-Hood, hearing the big voice of the Wolf, was at first afraid; but believing her grandmother had got a cold and was hoarse, answered:

  “Tis your grandchild, Little Red Riding-Hood, who has brought you a custard and a little pot of butter mamma sends you.’

  The Wolf cried out to her, softening his voice as much as he could:

  ‘Pull the bobbin, and the latch will go up.’

  Little Red Riding-Hood pulled the bobbin, and the door opened.

  The Wolf, seeing her come in, said to her, hiding himself under the bed-clothes:

  ‘Put the custard and the little pot of butter upon the stool, and come and lie down with me.’

  Little Red Riding-Hood undressed herself and went into bed, where, being greatly amazed to see how her grandmother looked in her night-clothes, she said to her:

  ‘Grandmamma, what great arms you have got!’

  ‘That is the better to hug thee, my dear.’

  ‘Grandmamma, what great legs you have got!’

  ‘That is to run the better, my child.’

  ‘Grandmamma, what great ears you have got!’

  ‘That is to hear the better, my child.’

  ‘Grandmamma, what great eyes you have got!’

  ‘It is to see the better, my child.’

  ‘Grandmamma, what great teeth you have got!’

  ‘That is to eat thee up.’

  And, saying these words, this wicked wolf fell upon Little Red Riding-Hood, and ate her all up.

  THE SLEEPING BEAUTY IN THE WOOD

  THERE were formerly a king and a queen, who were so sorry that they had no children; so sorry that it cannot be expressed. They went to all the waters in the world; vows, pilgrimages, all ways were tried, and all to no purpose.

  At last, however, the Queen had a daughter. There was a very fine christening; and the Princess had for her god-mothers all the fairies they could find in the whole kingdom (they found seven), that every one of them might give her a gift, as was the custom of fairies in those days. By this means the Princess had all the perfections imaginable.

  After the ceremonies of the christening were over, all the company returned to the King’s palace, where was prepared a great feast for the fairies. There was placed before every one of them a magnificent cover with a case of massive gold, wherein were a spoon, knife, and fork, all of pure gold set with diamonds and rubies. But as they were all sitting down at table they saw come into the hall a very old fairy, whom they had not invited, because it was above fifty years since she had been out of a certain tower, and she was believed to be either dead or enchanted.

  The King ordered her a cover, but could not furnish her with a case of gold as the others, because they had seven only made for the seven fairies. The old Fairy fancied she was slighted, and muttered some threats between her teeth. One of the young fairies who sat by her overheard how she grumbled; and, judging that she might give the little Princess some unlucky gift, went, as soon as they rose from table, and hid herself behind the hangings, that she might speak last, and repair, as much as she could, the evil which the old Fairy might intend.

  In the meanwhile all the fairies began to give their gifts to the Princess. The youn
gest gave her for gift that she should be the most beautiful person in the world; the next, that she should have the wit of an angel; the third, that she should have a wonderful grace in everything she did; the fourth, that she should dance perfectly well; the fifth, that she should sing like a nightingale; and the sixth, that she should play all kinds of music to the utmost perfection.

  The old Fairy’s turn coming next, with a head shaking more with spite than age, she said that the Princess should have her hand pierced with a spindle and die of the wound. This terrible gift made the whole company tremble, and everybody fell a-crying.

  At this very instant the young Fairy came out from behind the hangings, and spake these words aloud:

  ‘Assure yourselves, O King and Queen, that your daughter shall not die of this disaster. It is true, I have no power to undo entirely what my elder has done. The Princess shall indeed pierce her hand with a spindle; but, instead of dying, she shall only fall into a profound sleep, which shall last a hundred years, at the expiration of which a king’s son shall come and awake her.’

  The King, to avoid the misfortune foretold by the old Fairy, caused immediately proclamation to be made, whereby everybody was forbidden, on pain of death, to spin with a distaff and spindle, or to have so much as any spindle in their houses. About fifteen or sixteen years after, the King and Queen being gone to one of their houses of pleasure, the young Princess happened one day to divert herself in running up and down the palace; when going up from one apartment to another, she came into a little room on the top of the tower, where a good old woman, alone, was spinning with her spindle. This good woman had never heard of the King’s proclamation against spindles.

  ‘What are you doing there, goody?’ said the Princess.

  ‘I am spinning, my pretty child,’ said the old woman, who did not know who she was.