The Little Green Frog

Little

Green Frog, he lay down on the grass to rest himself.

‘Now,’ she began, ‘be sure you do exactly in every respect what I tell

you. First you must call together your attendants, and order them to

remain in a little hamlet close by until you want them. Then go, quite

alone, down a road that you will find on your right hand, looking

southwards. This road is planted all the way with cedars of Lebanon;

and after going down it a long way you will come at last to a

magnificent castle. And now,’ she went on, ‘attend carefully to what I

am going to say. Take this tiny grain of sand, and put it into the

ground as close as you can to the gate of the castle. It has the

virtue both of opening the gate and also of sending to sleep all the

inhabitants. Then go at once to the stable, and pay no heed to

anything except what I tell you. Choose the handsomest of all the

horses, leap quickly on its back, and come to me as fast as you can.

Farewell, Prince; I wish you good luck,’ and with these words the

Little Frog plunged into the water and disappeared.

The Prince, who felt more hopeful than he had done since he left home,

did precisely as he had been ordered. He left his attendants in the

hamlet, found the road the frog had described to him, and followed it

all alone, and at last he arrived at the gate of the castle, which was

even more splendid than he had expected, for it was built of crystal,

and all its ornaments were of massive gold. However, he had no

thoughts to spare for its beauty, and quickly buried his grain of sand

in the earth. In one instant the gates flew open, and all the dwellers

inside fell sound asleep. Saphir flew straight to the stable, and

already had his hand on the finest horse it contained, when his eye

was caught by a suit of magnificent harness hanging up close by. It

occurred to him directly that the harness belonged to the horse, and

without ever thinking of harm (for indeed he who steals a horse can

hardly be blamed for taking his saddle), he hastily placed it on the

animal’s back. Suddenly the people in the castle became broad awake,

and rushed to the stable. They flung themselves on the Prince, seized

him, and dragged him before their lord; but, luckily for the Prince,

who could only find very lame excuses for his conduct, the lord of the

castle took a fancy to his face, and let him depart without further

questions.

[Illustration: Prince Saphir steals the horse and harness]

Very sad, and very much ashamed of himself poor Saphir crept back to

the fountain, where the Frog was awaiting him with a good scolding.

‘Whom do you take me for?’ she exclaimed angrily. ‘Do you really

believe that it was just for the pleasure of talking that I gave you

the advice you have neglected so abominably?’

But the Prince was so deeply grieved, and apologised so very humbly,

that after some time the heart of the good little Frog was softened,

and she gave him another tiny little grain, but instead of being sand

it was now a grain of gold. She directed him to do just as he had done

before, with only this difference, that instead of going to the stable

which had been the ruin of his hopes, he was to enter right into the

castle itself, and to glide as fast as he could down the passages till

he came to a room filled with perfume, where he would find a beautiful

maiden asleep on a bed. He was to wake the maiden instantly and carry

her off, and to be sure not to pay any heed to whatever resistance she

might make.

The Prince obeyed the Frog’s orders one by one, and all went well for

this second time also. The gate opened, the inhabitants fell sound

asleep, and he walked down the passage till he found the girl on her

bed, exactly as he had been told he would. He woke her, and begged her

firmly, but politely, to follow him quickly. After a little persuasion

the maiden consented, but only on condition that she was allowed first

to put on her dress. This sounded so reasonable and natural that it

did not enter the Prince’s head to refuse her request.

But the maiden’s hand had hardly touched the dress when the palace

suddenly awoke from its sleep, and the Prince was seized and bound. He

was so vexed with his own folly, and so taken aback at the disaster,

that he did not attempt to explain his conduct, and things would have

gone badly with him if his friends the fairies had not softened the

hearts of his captors, so that they once more allowed him to leave

quietly. However, what troubled him most was the idea of having to

meet the Frog who had been his benefactress. How was he ever to appear

before her with this tale? Still, after a long struggle with himself,

he made up his mind that there was nothing else to be done, and that

he deserved whatever she might say to him. And she said a great deal,

for she had worked herself into a terrible passion; but the Prince

humbly implored her pardon, and ventured to point out that it would

have been very hard to refuse the young lady’s reasonable request.

‘You must learn to do as you are told,’ was all the Frog would reply.

But poor Saphir was so unhappy, and begged so hard for forgiveness,

that at last the Frog’s anger gave way, and she held up to him a tiny

diamond stone. ‘Go back,’ she said, ‘to the castle, and bury this

little diamond close to the door. But be careful not to return to the

stable or to the bedroom; they have proved too fatal to you. Walk

straight to the garden and enter through a portico, into a small green

wood, in the midst of which is a tree with a trunk of gold and leaves

of emeralds. Perched on this tree you will see the beautiful bird you

have been seeking so long. You must cut the branch on which it is

sitting, and bring it back to me without delay. But I warn you

solemnly that if you disobey my directions, as you have done twice

before, you have nothing more to expect either of me or anyone else.’

With these words she jumped into the water, and the Prince, who had

taken her threats much to heart, took his departure, firmly resolved

not to deserve them. He found it all just as he had been told: the

portico, the wood, the magnificent tree, and the beautiful bird, which

was sleeping soundly on one of the branches. He speedily lopped off

the branch, and though he noticed a splendid golden cage hanging close

by, which would have been very useful for the bird to travel in, he

left it alone, and came back to the fountain, holding his breath and

walking on tip-toe all the way, for fear lest he should awake his

prize. But what was his surprise, when instead of finding the fountain

in the spot where he had left it, he saw in its place a little rustic

palace built in the best taste, and standing in the doorway a charming

maiden, at whose sight his mind seemed to give way.

‘What! Madam!’ he cried, hardly knowing what he said. ‘What! Is it

you?’

The maiden blushed and answered: ‘Ah, my lord, it is long since I

first beheld your face, but I did not think you had ever seen mine.’

‘Oh, madam,’ replied he, ‘you can never guess the days and the hours I

have passed lost in admiration of you.’ And after these words they

each related all the strange things that had happened, and the more

they talked the more they felt convinced of the truth of the images

they had seen in their mirrors. After some time spent in the most

tender conversation, the Prince could not restrain himself from asking

the lovely unknown by what lucky chance she was wandering in the

forest; where the fountain had gone; and if she knew anything of the

Frog to whom he owed all his happiness, and to whom he must give up

the bird, which, somehow or other, was still sound asleep.

‘Ah, my lord,’ she replied, with rather an awkward air, ‘as to the

Frog, she stands before you. Let me tell you my story; it is not a

long one. I know neither my country nor my parents, and the only thing

I can say for certain is that I am called Serpentine. The fairies, who

have taken care of me ever since I was born, wished me to be in

ignorance as to my family, but they have looked after my education,

and have bestowed on me endless kindness. I have always lived in

seclusion, and for the last two years I have wished for nothing

better. I had a mirror’—here shyness and embarrassment choked her

words—but regaining her self-control, she added, ‘You know that

fairies insist on being obeyed without questioning. It was they who

changed the little house you saw before you into the fountain for

which you are now asking, and, having turned me into a frog, they

ordered me to say to the first person who came to the fountain exactly

what I repeated to you. But, my lord, when you stood before me, it was

agony to my heart, filled as it was with thoughts of you, to appear to

your eyes under so monstrous a form. However, there was no help for

it, and, painful as it was, I had to submit. I desired your success

with all my soul, not only for your own sake, but also for my own,

because I could not get back my proper shape till you had become

master of the beautiful bird, though I am quite ignorant as to your

reason for seeking it.’

On this Saphir explained about the state of his father’s health, and

all that has been told before.

On hearing this story Serpentine grew very sad, and her lovely eyes

filled with tears.

‘Ah, my lord,’ she said, ‘you know nothing of me but what you have

seen in the mirror; and I, who cannot even name my parents, learn that

you are a king’s son.’

In vain Saphir declared that love made them equal; Serpentine would

only reply: ‘I love you too much to allow you to marry beneath your

rank. I shall be very unhappy, of course, but I shall never alter my

mind. If I do not find from the fairies that my birth is worthy of

you, then, whatever be my feelings, I will never accept your hand.’

The conversation was at this point, and bid fair to last some time

longer, when one of the fairies appeared in her ivory car, accompanied

by a beautiful woman past her early youth. At this moment the bird

suddenly awakened, and, flying on to Saphir’s shoulder (which it never

afterwards left), began fondling him as well as a bird can do. The

fairy told Serpentine that she was quite satisfied with her conduct,

and made herself very agreeable to Saphir, whom she presented to the

lady she had brought with her, explaining that the lady was no other

than his Aunt Aglantine, widow of Diamantino.

[Illustration: ‘Standing in the Doorway a Charming Maiden at Whose

Sight His Mind Seemed to Give Way’]

Then they all fell into each other’s arms, till the fairy mounted her

chariot, placed Aglantine by her side, and Saphir and Serpentine on

the front seat. She also sent a message to the Prince’s attendants

that they might travel slowly back to the Court of King Peridor, and

that the beautiful bird had really been found. This matter being

comfortably arranged, she started off her chariot. But in spite of the

swiftness with which they flew through the air, the time passed even

quicker for Saphir and Serpentine, who had so much to think about.

They were still quite confused with the pleasure of seeing each other,

when the chariot arrived at King Peridor’s palace. He had had himself

carried to a room on the roof, where his nurses thought that he would

die at any moment. Directly the chariot drew within sight of the

castle the beautiful bird took flight, and, making straight for the

dying King, at once cured him of his sickness. Then she resumed her

natural shape, and he found that the bird was no other than the Queen

Constance, whom he had long believed to be dead. Peridor was rejoiced

to embrace his wife and his son once more, and with the help of the

fairies began to make preparations for the marriage of Saphir and

Serpentine, who turned out to be the daughter of Aglantine and

Diamantino, and as much a princess as he was a prince. The people of

the kingdom were delighted, and everybody lived happy and contented to

the end of their lives.

THE SEVEN-HEADED SERPENT[9]

Once upon a time there was a king who determined to take a long

voyage. He assembled his fleet and all the seamen, and set out. They

went straight on night and day, until they came to an island which was

covered with large trees, and under every tree lay a lion. As soon as

the King had landed his men, the lions all rose up together and tried

to devour them. After a long battle they managed to overcome the wild

beasts, but the greater number of the men were killed. Those who

remained alive now went on through the forest and found on the other

side of it a beautiful garden, in which all the plants of the world

flourished together. There were also in the garden three springs: the

first flowed with silver, the second with gold, and the third with

pearls. The men unbuckled their knapsacks and filled them with those

precious things. In the middle of the garden they found a large lake,

and when they reached the edge of it the Lake began to speak, and said

to them, ‘What men are you, and what brings you here? Are you come to

visit our king?’ But they were too much frightened to answer.

Then the Lake said, ‘You do well to be afraid, for it is at your peril

that you are come hither. Our king, who has seven heads, is now

asleep, but in a few minutes he will wake up and come to me to take

his bath! Woe to anyone who meets him in the garden, for it is

impossible to escape from him. This is what you must do if you wish to

save your lives. Take off your clothes and spread them on the path

which leads from here to the castle. The King will then glide over

something soft, which he likes very much, and he will be so pleased

with that that he will not devour you. He will give you some

punishment, but then he will let you go.’

[Footnote 9: ‘Die Siebenköpfige Schlange,’ from Schmidt’s _Griechische

Mährchen_.]

The men did as the Lake advised them, and waited for a time. At noon

the earth began to quake, and opened in many places, and out of the

openings appeared lions, tigers, and other wild beasts, which

surrounded the castle, and thousands and thousands of beasts came out

of the castle following their king, the Seven-headed Serpent. The

Serpent glided over the clothes which were spread for him, came to the

Lake, and asked it who had strewed those soft things on the path? The

Lake answered that it had been done by people who had come to do him

homage. The King commanded that the men should be brought before him.

They came humbly on their knees, and in a few words told him their

story. Then he spoke to them with a mighty and terrible voice, and

said, ‘Because you have dared to come here, I lay upon you the

punishment. Every year you must bring me from among your people twelve

youths and twelve maidens, that I may devour them. If you do not do

this, I will destroy your whole nation.’

Then he desired one of his beasts to show the men the way out of the

garden, and dismissed them. They then left the island and went back to

their own country, where they related what had happened to them. Soon

the time came round when the king of the beasts would expect the

youths and maidens to be brought to him. The King therefore issued a

proclamation inviting twelve youths and twelve maidens to offer

themselves up to save their country; and immediately many young

people, far more than enough, hastened to do so. A new ship was built,

and set with black sails, and in it the youths and maidens who were

appointed for the king of the beasts embarked and set out for his

country. When they arrived there they went at once to the Lake, and

this time the lions did not stir, nor did the springs flow, and

neither did the Lake speak. So they waited then, and it was not long

before the earth quaked even more terribly than the first time. The

Seven-headed Serpent came without his train of beasts, saw his prey

waiting for him, and devoured it at one mouthful. Then the ship’s crew

returned home, and the same thing happened yearly until many years had

passed.

Now the King of this unhappy country was growing old, and so was the

Queen, and they had no children. One day the Queen was sitting at the

window weeping bitterly because she was childless, and knew that the

crown would therefore pass to strangers after the King’s death.

Suddenly a little old woman appeared before her, holding an apple in

her hand, and said, ‘Why do you weep, my Queen, and what makes you so

unhappy?’

‘Alas, good mother,’ answered the Queen, ‘I am unhappy because I have

no children.’

‘Is that what vexes you?’ said the old woman. ‘Listen to me. I am a

nun from the Spinning Convent[10] and my mother when she died left

me this apple. Whoever eats this apple shall have a child.’

The Queen gave money to the old woman, and bought the apple from her.

Then she peeled it, ate it, and threw the rind out of the window, and

it so happened that a mare that was running loose in the court below

ate up the rind. After a time the Queen had a little boy, and the mare

also had a male foal. The boy and the foal grew up together and loved

each other like brothers. In course of time the King died, and so did

the Queen, and their son, who was now nineteen years old, was left

alone. One day, when he and his horse were talking together, the Horse

said to him, ‘Listen to me, for I love you and wish for your good and

that of the country. If you go on every year sending twelve youths and

twelve maidens to the King of the Beasts, your country will very soon

be ruined. Mount upon my back: I will take you to a woman who can

direct you how to kill the Seven-headed Serpent.’

Then the youth mounted his horse, who carried him far away to a

mountain which was hollow, for in its side was a great underground

cavern. In the cavern sat an old woman spinning. This was the cloister

of the nuns, and the old woman was the Abbess. They all spent their

time in spinning, and that is why the convent has this name. All round

the walls of the cavern there were beds cut out of the solid rock,

upon which the nuns slept, and in the middle a light was burning. It

was the duty of the nuns to watch the light in turns, that it might

never go out, and if anyone of them let it go out the others put her

to death.

As soon as the King’s son saw the old Abbess spinning he threw himself

at her feet and entreated her to tell him how he could kill the

Seven-headed Serpent.

[Footnote 10: Convent Gnothi.]

She made the youth rise, embraced him, and said, ‘Know, my son, that

it is I who sent the nun to your mother and caused you to be born, and

with you the horse, with whose help you will be able to free the world

from the monster. I will tell you what you have to do. Load your horse

with cotton, and go by a secret passage which I will show you, which

is hidden from the wild beasts, to the Serpent’s palace. You will find

the King asleep upon his bed, which is all hung round with bells, and

over his bed you will see a sword hanging. With this sword only it is

possible to kill the Serpent, because even if its blade breaks a new

one will grow again for every head the monster has. Thus you will be

able to cut off all his seven heads. And this you must also do in

order to deceive the King: you must slip into his bed-chamber very

softly, and stop up all the bells which are round his bed with cotton.

Then take down the sword gently, and quickly give the monster a blow

on his tail with it. This will make him waken up, and if he catches

sight of you he will seize you. But you must quickly cut off his first

head, and then wait till the next one comes up. Then strike it off

also, and so go on till you have cut off all his seven heads.’

[Illustration: The Seven-headed Serpent]

The old Abbess then gave the Prince her blessing, and he set out upon

his enterprise, arrived at the Serpent’s castle by following the

secret passage which she had shown him, and by carefully attending to

all her directions he happily succeeded in killing the monster. As

soon as the wild beasts heard of their king’s death, they all hastened

to the castle, but the youth had long since mounted his horse and was

already far out of their reach. They pursued him as fast as they

could, but they found it impossible to overtake him, and he reached

home in safety. Thus he freed his country from this terrible

oppression.

THE GRATEFUL BEASTS[11]

There was once upon a time a man and woman who had three fine-looking

sons, but they were so poor that they had hardly enough food for

themselves, let alone their children. So the sons determined to set

out into the world and to try their luck. Before starting their mother

gave them each a loaf of bread and her blessing, and having taken a

tender farewell of her and their father the three set forth on their

travels.

The youngest of the three brothers, whose name was Ferko, was a

beautiful youth, with a splendid figure, blue eyes, fair hair, and a

complexion like milk and roses. His two brothers were as jealous of

him as they could be, for they thought that with his good looks he

would be sure to be more fortunate than they would ever be.

One day all the three were sitting resting under a tree, for the sun

was hot and they were tired of walking. Ferko fell fast asleep, but

the other two remained awake, and the eldest said to the second

brother, ‘What do you say to doing our brother Ferko some harm? He is

so beautiful that everyone takes a fancy to him, which is more than

they do to us. If we could only get him out of the way we might

succeed better.’

‘I quite agree with you,’ answered the second brother, ‘and my advice

is to eat up his loaf of bread, and then to refuse to give him a bit

of ours until he has promised to let us put out his eyes or break his

legs.’

His eldest brother was delighted with this proposal, and the two

wicked wretches seized Ferko’s loaf and ate it all up, while the poor

boy was still asleep.

When he did awake he felt very hungry and turned to eat his bread, but

his brothers cried out, ‘You ate your loaf in your sleep, you glutton,

and you may starve as long as you like, but you won’t get a scrap of

ours.’

[Footnote 11: From the Hungarian. Kletke.]

Ferko was at a loss to understand how he could have eaten in his

sleep, but he said nothing, and fasted all that day and the next

night. But on the following morning he was so hungry that he burst

into tears, and implored his brothers to give him a little bit of

their bread. Then the cruel creatures laughed, and repeated what they

had said the day before; but when Ferko continued to beg and beseech

them, the eldest said at last, ‘If you will let us put out one of your

eyes and break one of your legs, then we will give you a bit of our

bread.’

At these words poor Ferko wept more bitterly than before, and bore the

torments of hunger till the sun was high in the heavens; then he could

stand it no longer, and he consented to allow his left eye to be put

out and his left leg to be broken. When this was done he stretched out

his hand eagerly for the piece of bread, but his brothers gave him

such a tiny scrap that the starving youth finished it in a moment and

besought them for a second bit.

But the more Ferko wept and told his brothers that he was dying of

hunger, the more they laughed and scolded him for his greed. So he

endured the pangs of starvation all that day, but when night came his

endurance gave way, and he let his right eye be put out and his right

leg broken for a second piece of bread.

After his brothers had thus successfully maimed and disfigured him for

life, they left him groaning on the ground and continued their journey

without him.

Poor Ferko ate up the scrap of bread they had left him and wept

bitterly, but no one heard him or came to his help. Night came on, and

the poor blind youth had no eyes to close, and could only crawl along

the ground, not knowing in the least where he was going. But when the

sun was once more high in the heavens, Ferko felt the blazing heat

scorch him, and sought for some cool shady place to rest his aching

limbs. He climbed to the top of a hill and lay down in the grass, and

as he thought under the shadow of a big tree. But it was no tree he

leant against, but a gallows on which two ravens were seated. The one

was saying to the other as the weary youth lay down, ‘Is there

anything the least wonderful or remarkable about this neighbourhood?’

‘I should just think there was,’ replied the other; ‘many things that

don’t exist anywhere else in the world. There is a lake down there

below us, and anyone who bathes in it, though he were at death’s door,

becomes sound and well on the spot, and those who wash their eyes with

the dew on this hill become as sharp-sighted as the eagle, even if

they have been blind from their youth.’

‘Well,’ answered the first raven, ‘my eyes are in no want of this

healing bath, for, Heaven be praised, they are as good as ever they

were; but my wing has been very feeble and weak ever since it was shot

by an arrow many years ago, so let us fly at once to the lake that I

may be restored to health and strength again.’ And so they flew away.

Their words rejoiced Ferko’s heart, and he waited impatiently till

evening should come and he could rub the precious dew on his sightless

eyes.

At last it began to grow dusk, and the sun sank behind the mountains;

gradually it became cooler on the hill, and the grass grew wet with

dew. Then Ferko buried his face in the ground till his eyes were damp

with dew-drops, and in a moment he saw clearer than he had ever done

in his life before. The moon was shining brightly, and lighted him to

the lake where he could bathe his poor broken legs.

Then Ferko crawled to the edge of the lake and dipped his limbs in the

water. No sooner had he done so than his legs felt as sound and strong

as they had been before, and Ferko thanked the kind fate that had led

him to the hill where he had overheard the ravens’ conversation. He

filled a bottle with the healing water, and then continued his journey

in the best of spirits.

He had not gone far before he met a wolf, who was limping

disconsolately along on three legs, and who on perceiving Ferko began

to howl dismally.

‘My good friend,’ said the youth, ‘be of good cheer, for I can soon

heal your leg,’ and with these words he poured some of the precious

water over the wolf’s paw, and in a minute the animal was springing

about sound and well on all fours. The grateful creature thanked his

benefactor warmly, and promised Ferko to do him a good turn if he

should ever need it.

Ferko continued his way till he came to a ploughed field. Here he

noticed a little mouse creeping wearily along on its hind paws, for

its front paws had both been broken in a trap.

Ferko felt so sorry for the little beast that he spoke to it in the

most friendly manner, and washed its small paws with the healing

water. In a moment the mouse was sound and whole, and after thanking

the kind physician it scampered away over the ploughed furrows.

Ferko again proceeded on his journey, but he hadn’t gone far before a

queen bee flew against him, trailing one wing behind her, which had

been cruelly torn in two by a big bird. Ferko was no less willing to

help her than he had been to help the wolf and the mouse, so he poured

some healing drops over the wounded wing. On the spot the queen bee

was cured, and turning to Ferko she said, ‘I am most grateful for your

kindness, and shall reward you some day.’ And with these words she

flew away humming gaily.

[Illustration: Ferko Healed by Magic Waters]

Then Ferko wandered on for many a long day, and at length reached a

strange kingdom. Here, he thought to himself, he might as well go

straight to the palace and offer his services to the King of the

country, for he had heard that the King’s daughter was as beautiful as

the day.

So he went to the royal palace, and as he entered the door the first

people he saw were his two brothers who had so shamefully ill-treated

him. They had managed to obtain places in the King’s service, and when

they recognised Ferko with his eyes and legs sound and well they were

frightened to death, for they feared he would tell the King of their

conduct, and that they would be hung.

[Illustration: Ferko Before the King]

No sooner had Ferko entered the palace than all eyes were turned on

the handsome youth, and the King’s daughter herself was lost in

admiration, for she had never seen anyone so handsome in her life

before. His brothers noticed this, and envy and jealousy were added to

their fear, so much so that they determined once more to destroy him.

They went to the King and told him that Ferko was a wicked magician,

who had come to the palace with the intention of carrying off the

Princess.

Then the King had Ferko brought before him, and said, ‘You are accused

of being a magician who wishes to rob me of my daughter, and I condemn

you to death; but if you can fulfil three tasks which I shall set you

to do your life shall be spared, on condition you leave the country;

but if you cannot perform what I demand you shall be hung on the

nearest tree.’

And turning to the two wicked brothers he said, ‘Suggest something for

him to do; no matter how difficult, he must succeed in it or die.’

They did not think long, but replied, ‘Let him build your Majesty in

one day a more beautiful palace than this, and if he fails in the

attempt let him be hung.’

The King was pleased with this proposal, and commanded Ferko to set to

work on the following day. The two brothers were delighted, for they

thought they had now got rid of Ferko for ever. The poor youth himself

was heart-broken, and cursed the hour he had crossed the boundary of

the King’s domain. As he was wandering disconsolately about the

meadows round the palace, wondering how he could escape being put to

death, a little bee flew past, and settling on his shoulder whispered

in his ear, ‘What is troubling you, my kind benefactor? Can I be of

any help to you? I am the bee whose wing you healed, and would like to

show my gratitude in some way.’

Ferko recognised the queen bee, and said, ‘Alas! how could you help

me? for I have been set to do a task which no one in the whole world

could do, let him be ever such a genius! To-morrow I must build a

palace more beautiful than the King’s, and it must be finished before

evening.’

‘Is that all?’ answered the bee, ‘then you may comfort yourself; for

before the sun goes down to-morrow night a palace shall be built

unlike any that King has dwelt in before. Just stay here till I come

again and tell you that it is finished.’ Having said this she flew

merrily away, and Ferko, reassured by her words, lay down on the grass

and slept peacefully till the next morning.

Early on the following day the whole town was on its feet, and

everyone wondered how and where the stranger would build the wonderful

palace. The Princess alone was silent and sorrowful, and had cried all

night till her pillow was wet, so much did she take the fate of the

beautiful youth to heart.

Ferko spent the whole day in the meadows waiting the return of the

bee. And when evening was come the queen bee flew by, and perching on

his shoulder she said, ‘The wonderful palace is ready. Be of good

cheer, and lead the King to the hill just outside the city walls.’ And

humming gaily she flew away again.

Ferko went at once to the King and told him the palace was finished.

The whole court went out to see the wonder, and their astonishment was

great at the sight which met their eyes. A splendid palace reared

itself on the hill just outside the walls of the city, made of the

most exquisite flowers that ever grew in mortal garden. The roof was

all of crimson roses, the windows of lilies, the walls of white

carnations, the floors of glowing auriculas and violets, the doors of

gorgeous tulips and narcissi with sunflowers for knockers, and all

round hyacinths and other sweet-smelling flowers bloomed in masses, so

that the air was perfumed far and near and enchanted all who were

present.

This splendid palace had been built by the grateful queen bee, who had

summoned all the other bees in the kingdom to help her.

The King’s amazement knew no bounds, and the Princess’s eyes beamed

with delight as she turned them from the wonderful building on the

delighted Ferko. But the two brothers had grown quite green with envy,

and only declared the more that Ferko was nothing but a wicked

magician.

The King, although he had been surprised and astonished at the way his

commands had been carried out, was very vexed that the stranger should

escape with his life, and turning to the two brothers he said, ‘He has

certainly accomplished the first task, with the aid no doubt of his

diabolical magic; but what shall we give him to do now? Let us make it

as difficult as possible, and if he fails he shall die.’

Then the eldest brother replied, ‘The corn has all been cut, but it

has not yet been put into barns; let the knave collect all the grain

in the kingdom into one big heap before to-morrow night, and if as

much as a stalk of corn is left let him be put to death.’

The Princess grew white with terror when she heard these words; but

Ferko felt much more cheerful than he had done the first time, and

wandered out into the meadows again, wondering how he was to get out

of the difficulty. But he could think of no way of escape. The sun

sank to rest and night came on, when a little mouse started out of the

grass at Ferko’s feet, and said to him, ‘I’m delighted to see you, my

kind benefactor; but why are you looking so sad? Can I be of any help

to you, and thus repay your great kindness to me?’

Then Ferko recognised the mouse whose front paws he had healed, and

replied, ‘Alas! how can you help me in a matter that is beyond any

human power! Before to-morrow night all the grain in the kingdom has

to be gathered into one big heap, and if as much as a stalk of corn is

wanting I must pay for it with my life.’

‘Is that all?’ answered the mouse; ‘that needn’t distress you much.

Just trust in me, and before the sun sets again you shall hear that

your task is done.’ And with these words the little creature scampered

away into the fields.

Ferko, who never doubted that the mouse would be as good as its word,

lay down comforted on the soft grass and slept soundly till next

morning. The day passed slowly, and with the evening came the little

mouse and said, ‘Now there is not a single stalk of corn left in any

field; they are all collected in one big heap on the hill out there.’

Then Ferko went joyfully to the King and told him that all he demanded

had been done. And the whole Court went out to see the wonder, and

were no less astonished than they had been the first time. For in a

heap higher than the King’s palace lay all the grain of the country,

and not a single stalk of corn had been left behind in any of the

fields. And how had all this been done? The little mouse had summoned

every other mouse in the land to its help, and together they had

collected all the grain in the kingdom.

The King could not hide his amazement, but at the same time his wrath

increased, and he was more ready than ever to believe the two

brothers, who kept on repeating that Ferko was nothing more nor less

than a wicked magician. Only the beautiful Princess rejoiced over

Ferko’s success, and looked on him with friendly glances, which the

youth returned.

The more the cruel King gazed on the wonder before him, the more angry

he became, for he could not, in the face of his promise, put the

stranger to death. He turned once more to the two brothers and said,

‘His diabolical magic has helped him again, but now what third task

shall we set him to do? No matter how impossible it is, he must do it

or die.’

The eldest answered quickly, ‘Let him drive all the wolves of the

kingdom on to this hill before to-morrow night. If he does this he may

go free; if not he shall be hung as you have said.’

At these words the Princess burst into tears, and when the King saw

this he ordered her to be shut up in a high tower and carefully

guarded till the dangerous magician should either have left the

kingdom or been hung on the nearest tree.

Ferko wandered out into the fields again, and sat down on the stump of

a tree wondering what he should do next. Suddenly a big wolf ran up to

him, and standing still said, ‘I’m very glad to see you again, my kind

benefactor. What are you thinking about all alone by yourself? If I

can help you in any way only say the word, for I would like to give

you a proof of my gratitude.’

Ferko at once recognised the wolf whose broken leg he had healed, and

told him what he had to do the following day if he wished to escape

with his life. ‘But how in the world,’ he added, ‘am I to collect all

the wolves of the kingdom on to that hill over there?’

‘If that’s all you want done,’ answered the wolf, ‘you needn’t worry

yourself. I’ll undertake the task, and you’ll hear from me again

before sunset to-morrow. Keep your spirits up.’ And with these words

he trotted quickly away.

Then the youth rejoiced greatly, for now he felt that his life was

safe; but he grew very sad when he thought of the beautiful Princess,

and that he would never see her again if he left the country. He lay

down once more on the grass and soon fell fast asleep.

All the next day he spent wandering about the fields, and toward

evening the wolf came running to him in a great hurry and said, ‘I

have collected together all the wolves in the kingdom, and they are

waiting for you in the wood. Go quickly to the King, and tell him to

go to the hill that he may see the wonder you have done with his own

eyes. Then return at once to me and get on my back, and I will help

you to drive all the wolves together.’

Then Ferko went straight to the palace and told the King that he was

ready to perform the third task if he would come to the hill and see

it done. Ferko himself returned to the fields, and mounting on the

wolf’s back he rode to the wood close by.

Quick as lightning the wolf flew round the wood, and in a minute many

hundred wolves rose up before him, increasing in number every moment,

till they could be counted by thousands. He drove them all before him

on to the hill, where the King and his whole Court and Ferko’s two

brothers were standing. Only the lovely Princess was not present, for

she was shut up in her tower weeping bitterly.

The wicked brothers stamped and foamed with rage when they saw the

failure of their wicked designs. But the King was overcome by a sudden

terror when he saw the enormous pack of wolves approaching nearer and

nearer, and calling out to Ferko he said, ‘Enough, enough, we don’t

want any more.’

[Illustration: Ferko leads the wolves on.]

But the wolf on whose back Ferko sat, said to its rider, ‘Go on! go

on!’ and at the same moment many more wolves ran up the hill, howling

horribly and showing their white teeth.

The King in his terror called out, ‘Stop a moment; I will give you

half my kingdom if you will drive all the wolves away.’ But Ferko

pretended not to hear, and drove some more thousands before him, so

that everyone quaked with horror and fear.

Then the King raised his voice again and called out, ‘Stop! you shall

have my whole kingdom, if you will only drive these wolves back to the

places they came from.’

But the wolf kept on encouraging Ferko, and said, ‘Go on! go on!’ So

he led the wolves on, till at last they fell on the King and on the

wicked brothers, and ate them and the whole Court up in a moment.

Then Ferko went straight to the palace and set the Princess free, and

on the same day he married her and was crowned King of the country.

And the wolves all went peacefully back to their own homes, and Ferko

and his bride lived for many years in peace and happiness together,

and were much beloved by great and small in the land.

THE GIANTS AND THE HERD-BOY[12]

[Illustration: The Herd-boy binds up the Giant’s foot.]

There was once upon a time a poor boy who had neither father nor

mother. In order to gain a living he looked after the sheep of a great

Lord. Day and night he spent out in the open fields, and only when it

was very wet and stormy did he take refuge in a little hut on the edge

of a big forest. Now one night, when he was sitting on the grass

beside his flocks, he heard not very far from him the sound as of some

one crying. He rose up and followed the direction of the noise. To his

dismay and astonishment he found a Giant lying at the entrance of the

wood; he was about to run off as fast as his legs could carry him,

when the Giant called out: ‘Don’t be afraid, I won’t harm you. On the

contrary, I will reward you handsomely if you will bind up my foot. I

hurt it when I was trying to root up an oak-tree.’ The Herd-boy took

off his shirt, and bound up the Giant’s wounded foot with it. Then the

Giant rose up and said, ‘Now come and I will reward you. We are going

to celebrate a marriage to-day, and I promise you we shall have plenty

of fun. Come and enjoy yourself, but in order that my brothers mayn’t

see you, put this band round your waist and then you’ll be invisible.’

With these words he handed the Herd-boy a belt, and walking on in

front he led him to a fountain where hundreds of Giants and Giantesses

were assembled preparing to hold a wedding. They danced and played

different games till midnight; then one of the Giants tore up a plant

by its roots, and all the Giants and Giantesses made themselves so

thin that they disappeared into the earth through the hole made by the

uprooting of the plant. The wounded Giant remained behind to the last

and called out, ‘Herd-boy, where are you?’ ‘Here I am, close to you,’

was the reply. ‘Touch me,’ said the Giant, ‘so that you too may come

with us under ground.’ The Herd-boy did as he was told, and before he

could have believed it possible he found himself in a big hall, where

even the walls were made of pure gold. Then to his astonishment he saw

that the hall was furnished with the tables and chairs that belonged

to his master. In a few minutes the company began to eat and drink.

The banquet was a very gorgeous one, and the poor youth fell to and

ate and drank lustily. When he had eaten and drunk as much as he could

he thought to himself, ‘Why shouldn’t I put a loaf of bread in my

pocket? I shall be glad of it to-morrow.’ So he seized a loaf when no

one was looking and stowed it away under his tunic. No sooner had he

done so than the wounded Giant limped up to him and whispered softly,

‘Herd-boy, where are you?’ ‘Here I am,’ replied the youth. ‘Then hold

on to me,’ said the Giant, ‘so that I may lead you up above again.’ So

the Herd-boy held on to the Giant, and in a few moments he found

himself on the earth once more, but the Giant had vanished. The

Herd-boy returned to his sheep, and took off the invisible belt which

he hid carefully in his bag.

[Footnote 12: From the Bukowniaer. Von Wliolocki.]

The next morning the lad felt hungry, and thought he would cut off a

piece of the loaf he had carried away from the Giants’ wedding feast,

and eat it. But although he tried with all his might, he couldn’t cut

off the smallest piece. Then in despair he bit the loaf, and what was

his astonishment when a piece of gold fell out of his mouth and rolled

at his feet. He bit the bread a second and third time, and each time a

piece of gold fell out of his mouth; but the bread remained untouched.

The Herd-boy was very much delighted over his stroke of good fortune,

and, hiding the magic loaf in his bag, he hurried off to the nearest

village to buy himself something to eat, and then returned to his

sheep.

Now the Lord whose sheep the Herd-boy looked after had a very lovely

daughter, who always smiled and nodded to the youth when she walked

with her father in his fields. For a long time the Herd-boy had made

up his mind to prepare a surprise for this beautiful creature on her

birthday. So when the day approached he put on his invisible belt,

took a sack of gold pieces with him, and slipping into her room in the

middle of the night, he placed the bag of gold beside her bed and

returned to his sheep. The girl’s joy was great, and so was her

parents’ next day when they found the sack full of gold pieces. The

Herd-boy was so pleased to think what pleasure he had given that the

next night he placed another bag of gold beside the girl’s bed. And

this he continued to do for seven nights, and the girl and her parents

made up their minds that it must be a good Fairy who brought the gold

every night. But one night they determined to watch, and see from

their hiding-place who the bringer of the sack of gold really was.

On the eighth night a fearful storm of wind and rain came on while the

Herd-boy was on his way to bring the beautiful girl another bag of

gold. Then for the first time he noticed, just as he reached his

master’s house, that he had forgotten the belt which made him

invisible. He didn’t like the idea of going back to his hut in the

wind and wet, so he just stepped as he was into the girl’s room, laid

the sack of gold beside her, and was turning to leave the room, when

his master confronted him and said, ‘You young rogue, so you were

going to steal the gold that a good Fairy brings every night, were

you?’ The Herd-boy was so taken aback by his words, that he stood

trembling before him, and did not dare to explain his presence. Then

his master spoke. ‘As you have hitherto always behaved well in my

service I will not send you to prison; but leave your place instantly

and never let me see your face again.’ So the Herd-boy went back to

his hut, and taking his loaf and belt with him, he went to the nearest

town. There he bought himself some fine clothes, and a beautiful coach

with four horses, hired two servants, and drove back to his master.

You may imagine how astonished he was to see his Herd-boy returning to

him in this manner! Then the youth told him of the piece of good luck

that had befallen him, and asked him for the hand of his beautiful

daughter. This was readily granted, and the two lived in peace and

happiness to the end of their lives.

THE INVISIBLE PRINCE

Once upon a time there lived a Fairy who had power over the earth, the

sea, fire, and the air; and this Fairy had four sons. The eldest, who

was quick and lively, with a vivid imagination, she made Lord of Fire,

which was in her opinion the noblest of all the elements. To the

second son, whose wisdom and prudence made amends for his being rather

dull, she gave the government of the earth. The third was wild and

savage, and of monstrous stature; and the Fairy, his mother, who was

ashamed of his defects, hoped to hide them by creating him King of the

Seas. The youngest, who was the slave of his passions and of a very

uncertain temper, became Prince of the Air.

Being the youngest, he was naturally his mother’s favourite; but this

did not blind her to his weaknesses, and she foresaw that some day he

would suffer much pain through falling in love. So she thought the

best thing she could do was to bring him up with a horror of women;

and, to her great delight, she saw this dislike only increased as he

grew older. From his earliest childhood he heard nothing but stories

of princes who had fallen into all sorts of troubles through love; and

she drew such terrible pictures of poor little Cupid that the young

man had no difficulty in believing that he was the root of all evil.

All the time that this wise mother could spare from filling her son

with hatred for all womenkind she passed in giving him a love of the

pleasures of the chase, which henceforth became his chief joy. For his

amusement she had made a new forest, planted with the most splendid

trees, and turned loose in it every animal that could be found in any

of the four quarters of the globe. In the midst of this forest she

built a palace which had not its equal for beauty in the whole world,

and then she considered that she had done enough to make any prince

happy.

Now it is all very well to abuse the God of Love, but a man cannot

struggle against his fate. In his secret heart the Prince got tired of

his mother’s constant talk on this subject; and when one day she

quitted the palace to attend to some business, begging him never to go

beyond the grounds, he at once jumped at the chance of disobeying her.

Left to himself the Prince soon forgot the wise counsels of his

mother, and feeling very much bored with his own company, he ordered

some of the spirits of the air to carry him to the court of a

neighbouring sovereign. This kingdom was situated in the Island of

Roses, where the climate is so delicious that the grass is always

green and the flowers always sweet. The waves, instead of beating on

the rocks, seemed to die gently on the shore; clusters of golden

bushes covered the land, and the vines were bent low with grapes.

The King of this island had a daughter named Rosalie, who was more

lovely than any girl in the whole world. No sooner had the eyes of the

Prince of the Air rested on her than he forgot all the terrible woes

which had been prophesied to him ever since he was born, for in one

single moment the plans of years are often upset. He instantly began

to think how best to make himself happy, and the shortest way that

occurred to him was to have Rosalie carried off by his attendant

spirits.

It is easy to imagine the feelings of the King when he found that his

daughter had vanished. He wept her loss night and day, and his only

comfort was to talk over it with a young and unknown prince, who had

just arrived at the Court. Alas! he did not know what a deep interest

the stranger had in Rosalie, for he too had seen her, and had fallen a

victim to her charms.

One day the King, more sorrowful than usual, was walking sadly along

the seashore, when after a long silence the unknown Prince, who was

his only companion, suddenly spoke. ‘There is no evil without a

remedy,’ he said to the unhappy father; ‘and if you will promise me

your daughter in marriage, I will undertake to bring her back to you.’

‘You are trying to soothe me by vain promises,’ answered the King.

‘Did I not see her caught up into the air, in spite of cries which

would have softened the heart of any one but the barbarian who has

robbed me of her? The unfortunate girl is pining away in some unknown

land, where perhaps no foot of man has ever trod, and I shall see her

no more. But go, generous stranger; bring back Rosalie if you can, and

live happy with her ever after in this country, of which I now declare

you heir.’

Although the stranger’s name and rank were unknown to Rosalie’s

father, he was really the son of the King of the Golden Isle, which

had for capital a city that extended from one sea to another. The

walls, washed by the quiet waters, were covered with gold, which made

one think of the yellow sands. Above them was a rampart of orange and

lemon trees, and all the streets were paved with gold.

The King of this beautiful island had one son, for whom a life of

adventure had been foretold at his birth. This so frightened his

father and mother that in order to comfort them a Fairy, who happened

to be present at the time, produced a little pebble which she told

them to keep for the Prince till he grew up, as by putting it in his

mouth he would become invisible, as long as he did not try to speak,

for if he did the stone would lose all its virtue. In this way the

good fairy hoped that the Prince would be protected against all

dangers.

No sooner did the Prince begin to grow out of boyhood than he longed

to see if the other countries of the world were as splendid as the one

in which he lived. So, under pretence of visiting some small islands

that belonged to his father, he set out. But a frightful storm drove

his ship on to unknown shores, where most of his followers were put to

death by the savages, and the Prince himself only managed to escape by

making use of his magic pebble. By this means he passed through the

midst of them unseen, and wandered on till he reached the coast, where

he re-embarked on board his ship.

The first land he sighted was the Island of Roses, and he went at once

to the court of the King, Rosalie’s father. The moment his eyes beheld

the Princess, he fell in love with her like everyone else.

He had already spent several months in this condition when the Prince

of the Air whirled her away, to the grief and despair of every man on

the island. But sad though everybody was, the Prince of the Golden

Isle was perfectly inconsolable, and he passed both days and nights in

bemoaning his loss.

‘Alas!’ he cried; ‘shall I never see my lovely Princess again? Who

knows where she may be, and what fairy may have her in his keeping? I

am only a man, but I am strong in my love, and I will seek the whole

world through till I find her.’

So saying, he left the court, and made ready for his journey.

He travelled many weary days without hearing a single word of the lost

Princess, till one morning, as he was walking through a thick forest,

he suddenly perceived a magnificent palace standing at the end of a

pine avenue, and his heart bounded to think that he might be gazing on

Rosalie’s prison. He hastened his steps, and quickly arrived at the

gate of the palace, which was formed of a single agate. The gate swung

open to let him through, and he next passed successively three courts,

surrounded by deep ditches filled with running water, with birds of

brilliant plumage flying about the banks. Everything around was rare

and beautiful, but the Prince scarcely raised his eyes to all these

wonders. He thought only of the Princess and where he should find her,

but in vain he opened every door and searched in every corner; he

neither saw Rosalie nor anyone else. At last there was no place left

for him to search but a little wood, which contained in the centre a

sort of hall built entirely of orange-trees, with four small rooms

opening out of the corners. Three of these were empty except for

statues and wonderful things, but in the fourth the Invisible Prince

caught sight of Rosalie. His joy at beholding her again was, however,

somewhat lessened by seeing that the Prince of the Air was kneeling at

her feet, and pleading his own cause. But it was in vain that he

implored her to listen; she only shook her head. ‘No,’ was all she

would say; ‘you snatched me from my father whom I loved, and all the

splendour in the world can never console me. Go! I can never feel

anything towards you but hate and contempt.’ With these words she

turned away and entered her own apartments.

Unknown to herself the Invisible Prince had followed her, but fearing

to be discovered by the Princess in the presence of others, he made up

his mind to wait quietly till dark; and employed the long hours in

writing a poem to the Princess, which he laid on the bed beside her.

This done, he thought of nothing but how best to deliver Rosalie, and

he resolved to take advantage of a visit which the Prince of the Air

paid every year to his mother and brothers in order to strike the

blow.

One day Rosalie was sitting alone in her room thinking of her troubles

when she suddenly saw a pen get up from off the desk and begin to

write all by itself on a sheet of white paper. As she did not know

that it was guided by an invisible hand she was very much astonished,

and the moment that the pen had ceased to move she instantly went over

to the table, where she found some lovely verses, telling her that

another shared her distresses, whatever they might be, and loved her

with all his heart; and that he would never rest until he had

delivered her from the hands of the man she hated. Thus encouraged,

she told him all her story, and of the arrival of a young stranger in

her father’s palace, whose looks had so charmed her that since that

day she had thought of no one else. At these words the Prince could

contain himself no longer. He took the pebble from his mouth, and

flung himself at Rosalie’s feet.

[Illustration: The Pen Got Up and Wrote All By Itself—Rosalie]

When they had got over the first rapture of meeting they began to make

plans to escape from the power of the Prince of the Air. But this did

not prove easy, for the magic stone would only serve for one person at

a time, and in order to save Rosalie the Prince of the Golden Isle

would have to expose himself to the fury of his enemy. But Rosalie

would not hear of this.

‘No, Prince,’ she said; ‘since you are here this island no longer

feels a prison. Besides, you are under the protection of a Fairy, who

always visits your father’s court at this season. Go instantly and

seek her, and when she is found implore the gift of another stone with

similar powers. Once you have that, there will be no further

difficulty in the way of escape.’

The Prince of the Air returned a few days later from his mother’s

palace, but the Invisible Prince had already set out. He had, however,

entirely forgotten the road by which he had come, and lost himself for

so long in the forest, that when at last he reached home the Fairy had

already left, and, in spite of all his grief, there was nothing for it

but to wait till the Fairy’s next visit, and allow Rosalie to suffer

three months longer. This thought drove him to despair, and he had

almost made up his mind to return to the place of her captivity, when

one day, as he was strolling along an alley in the woods, he saw a

huge oak open its trunk, and out of it step two Princes in earnest

conversation. As our hero had the magic stone in his mouth they

imagined themselves alone, and did not lower their voices.

‘What!’ said one, ‘are you always going to allow yourself to be

tormented by a passion which can never end happily, and in your whole

kingdom can you find nothing else to satisfy you?’

‘What is the use,’ replied the other, ‘of being Prince of the Gnomes,

and having a mother who is queen over all the four elements, if I

cannot win the love of the Princess Argentine? From the moment that I

first saw her, sitting in the forest surrounded by flowers, I have

never ceased to think of her night and day, and, although I love her,

I am quite convinced that she will never care for me. You know that I

have in my palace the cabinets of the years. In the first, great

mirrors reflect the past; in the second, we contemplate the present;

in the third, the future can be read. It was here that I fled after I

had gazed on the Princess Argentine, but instead of love I only saw

scorn and contempt. Think how great must be my devotion, when, in

spite of my fate, I still love on!’

Now the Prince of the Golden Isle was enchanted with this

conversation, for the Princess Argentine was his sister, and he hoped,

by means of her influence over the Prince of the Gnomes, to obtain

from his brother the release of Rosalie. So he joyfully returned to

his father’s palace, where he found his friend the Fairy, who at once

presented him with a magic pebble like his own. As may be imagined, he

lost no time in setting out to deliver Rosalie, and travelled so fast

that he soon arrived at the forest, in the midst of which she lay a

captive. But though he found the palace he did not find Rosalie. He

hunted high and low, but there was no sign of her, and his despair was

so great that he was ready, a thousand times over, to take his own

life. At last he remembered the conversation of the two Princes about

the cabinets of the years, and that if he could manage to reach the

oak-tree, he would be certain to discover what had become of Rosalie.

Happily, he soon found out the secret of the passage and entered the

cabinet of the present, where he saw reflected in the mirrors the

unfortunate Rosalie sitting on the floor weeping bitterly, and

surrounded with genii, who never left her night or day.

[Illustration: Guarded by the Genii—The Mirror of the Present]

This sight only increased the misery of the Prince, for he did not

know where the castle was, nor how to set about finding it. However,

he resolved to seek the whole world through till he came to the right

place. He began by setting sail in a favourable wind, but his bad luck

followed him even on the sea. He had scarcely lost sight of the land

when a violent storm arose, and after several hours of beating about,

the vessel was driven on to some rocks, on which it dashed itself to

bits. The Prince was fortunate enough to be able to lay hold of a

floating spar, and contrived to keep himself afloat; and, after a long

struggle with the winds and waves, he was cast upon a strange island.

But what was his surprise, on reaching the shore, to hear sounds of

the most heartrending distress, mingled with the sweetest songs which

had ever charmed him! His curiosity was instantly roused, and he

advanced cautiously till he saw two huge dragons guarding the gate of

a wood. They were terrible indeed to look upon. Their bodies were

covered with glittering scales; their curly tails extended far over

the land; flames darted from their mouths and noses, and their eyes

would have made the bravest shudder; but as the Prince was invisible

and they did not see him, he slipped past them into the wood. He found

himself at once in a labyrinth, and wandered about for a long time

without meeting anyone; in fact, the only sight he saw was a circle of

human hands, sticking out of the ground above the wrist, each with a

bracelet of gold, on which a name was written. The farther he advanced

in the labyrinth the more curious he became, till he was stopped by

two corpses lying in the midst of a cypress alley, each with a scarlet

cord round his neck and a bracelet on his arm on which were engraved

their own names, and those of two Princesses.

[Illustration: In The Labyrinth of Despair]

The invisible Prince recognised these dead men as Kings of two large

islands near his own home, but the names of the Princesses were

unknown to him. He grieved for their unhappy fate, and at once

proceeded to bury them; but no sooner had he laid them in their

graves, than their hands started up through the earth and remained

sticking up like those of their fellows.

The Prince went on his way, thinking about this strange adventure,

when suddenly at the turn of the walk he perceived a tall man whose

face was the picture of misery, holding in his hands a silken cord of

the exact colour of those round the necks of the dead men. A few steps

further this man came up with another as miserable to the full as he

himself; they silently embraced, and then without a word passed the

cords round their throats, and fell dead side by side. In vain the

Prince rushed to their assistance and strove to undo the cord. He

could not loosen it; so he buried them like the others and continued

his path.

He felt, however, that great prudence was necessary, or he himself

might become the victim of some enchantment; and he was thankful to

slip past the dragons, and enter a beautiful park, with clear streams

and sweet flowers, and a crowd of men and maidens. But he could not

forget the terrible things he had seen, and hoped eagerly for a clue

to the mystery. Noticing two young people talking together, he drew

near thinking that he might get some explanation of what puzzled him.

And so he did.

‘You swear,’ said the Prince, ‘that you will love me till you die, but

I fear your faithless heart, and I feel that I shall soon have to seek

the Fairy Despair, ruler of half this island. She carries off the

lovers who have been cast away by their mistresses, and wish to have

done with life. She places them in a labyrinth where they are

condemned to walk for ever, with a bracelet on their arms and a cord

round their necks, unless they meet another as miserable as

themselves. Then the cord is pulled and they lie where they fall, till

they are buried by the first passer-by. Terrible as this death would

be,’ added the Prince, ‘it would be sweeter than life if I had lost

your love.’

The sight of all these happy lovers only made the Prince grieve the

more, and he wandered along the seashore spending his days; but one

day he was sitting on a rock bewailing his fate, and the impossibility

of leaving the island, when all in a moment the sea appeared to raise

itself nearly to the skies, and the caves echoed with hideous screams.

As he looked a woman rose from the depths of the sea, flying madly

before a furious giant. The cries she uttered softened the heart of

the Prince; he took the stone from his mouth, and drawing his sword he

rushed after the giant, so as to give the lady time to escape. But

hardly had he come within reach of the enemy, than the giant touched

him with a ring that he held in his hand, and the Prince remained

immovable where he stood. The giant then hastily rejoined his prey,

and, seizing her in his arms, he plunged her into the sea. Then he

sent some tritons to bind chains about the Prince of the Golden Isle,

and he too felt himself borne to the depths of the ocean, and without

the hope of ever again seeing the Princess.

Now the giant whom the invisible had so rashly attacked was the Lord

of the Sea, and the third son of the Queen of the Elements, and he had

touched the youth with a magic ring which enabled a mortal to live

under water. So the Prince of the Golden Isle found, when bound in

chains by the tritons, he was carried through the homes of strange

monsters and past immense seaweed forests, till he reached a vast

sandy space, surrounded by huge rocks. On the tallest of the rocks sat

the giant as on a throne.

‘Rash mortal,’ said he, when the Prince was dragged before him, ‘you

have deserved death, but you shall live only to suffer more cruelly.

Go, and add to the number of those whom it is my pleasure to torture.’

At these words the unhappy Prince found himself tied to a rock; but he

was not alone in his misfortunes, for all round him were chained

Princes and Princesses, whom the giant had led captive. Indeed, it was

his chief delight to create a storm, in order to add to the list of

his prisoners.

As his hands were fastened, it was impossible for the Prince of the

Golden Isle to make use of his magic stone, and he passed his nights

and days dreaming of Rosalie. But at last the time came when the giant

took it into his head to amuse himself by arranging fights between

some of his captives. Lots were drawn, and one fell upon our Prince,

whose chains were immediately loosened. The moment he was set free, he

snatched up his stone, and became invisible.

The astonishment of the giant at the sudden disappearance of the

Prince may well be imagined. He ordered all the passages to be

watched, but it was too late, for the Prince had already glided

between two rocks. He wandered for a long while through the forests,

where he met nothing but fearful monsters; he climbed rock after rock,

steered his way from tree to tree, till at length he arrived at the

edge of the sea, at the foot of a mountain that he remembered to have

seen in the cabinet of the present, where Rosalie was held captive.

Filled with joy, he made his way to the top of the mountain which

pierced the clouds, and there he found a palace. He entered, and in

the middle of a long gallery he discovered a crystal room, in the

midst of which sat Rosalie, guarded night and day by genii. There was

no door anywhere, nor any window. At this sight the Prince became more

puzzled than ever, for he did not know how he was to warn Rosalie of

his return. Yet it broke his heart to see her weeping from dawn till

dark.

One day, as Rosalie was walking up and down her room, she was

surprised to see that the crystal which served for a wall had grown

cloudy, as if some one had breathed on it, and, what was more,

wherever she moved the brightness of the crystal always became

clouded. This was enough to cause the Princess to suspect that her

lover had returned. In order to set the Prince of the Air’s mind at

rest she began by being very gracious to him, so that when she begged

that her captivity might be a little lightened she should not be

refused. At first the only favour she asked was to be allowed to walk

for one hour every day up and down the long gallery. This was granted,

and the Invisible Prince speedily took the opportunity of handing her

the stone, which she at once slipped into her mouth. No words can

paint the fury of her captor at her disappearance. He ordered the

spirits of the air to fly through all space, and to bring back Rosalie

wherever she might be. They instantly flew off to obey his commands,

and spread themselves over the whole earth.

Meantime Rosalie and the Invisible Prince had reached, hand in hand, a

door of the gallery which led through a terrace into the gardens. In

silence they glided along, and thought themselves already safe, when a

furious monster dashed itself by accident against Rosalie and the

Invisible Prince, and in her fright she let go his hand. No one can

speak as long as he is invisible, and besides, they knew that the

spirits were all around them, and at the slightest sound they would be

recognised; so all they could do was to feel about in the hope that

their hands might once more meet.

[Illustration: Prince Gnome Learns the Name of His Rival at the Golden

Fountain]

But, alas! the joy of liberty lasted but a short time. The Princess,

having wandered in vain up and down the forest, stopped at last on the

edge of a fountain. As she walked she wrote on the trees: ‘If ever the

Prince, my lover, comes this way, let him know that it is here I

dwell, and that I sit daily on the edge of this fountain, mingling my

tears with its waters.’

These words were read by one of the genii, who repeated them to his

master. The Prince of the Air, in his turn making himself invisible,

was led to the fountain, and waited for Rosalie. When she drew near he

held out his hand, which she grasped eagerly, taking it for that of

her lover; and, seizing his opportunity, the Prince passed a cord

round her arms, and throwing off his invisibility cried to his spirits

to drag her into the lowest pit.

It was at this moment that the Invisible Prince appeared, and at the

sight of the Prince of the Genii mounting into the air, holding a

silken cord, he guessed instantly that he was carrying off Rosalie.

He felt so overwhelmed by despair that he thought for an instant of

putting an end to his life. ‘Can I survive my misfortunes?’ he cried.

‘I fancied I had come to an end of my troubles, and now they are worse

than ever. What will become of me? Never can I discover the place

where this monster will hide Rosalie.’

The unhappy youth had determined to let himself die, and indeed his

sorrow alone was enough to kill him, when the thought that by means of

the cabinets of the years he might find out where the Princess was

imprisoned, gave him a little ray of comfort. So he continued to walk

on through the forest, and after some hours he arrived at the gate of

a temple, guarded by two huge lions. Being invisible, he was able to

enter unharmed. In the middle of the temple was an altar, on which lay

a book, and behind the altar hung a great curtain. The Prince

approached the altar and opened the book, which contained the names of

all the lovers in the world; and in it he read that Rosalie had been

carried off by the Prince of the Air to an abyss which had no entrance

except the one that lay by way of the Fountain of Gold.

Now, as the Prince had not the smallest idea where this fountain was

to be found, it might be thought that he was not much nearer Rosalie

than before. This was not, however, the view taken by the Prince.

‘Though every step that I take may perhaps lead me further from her,’

he said to himself, ‘I am still thankful to know that she is alive

somewhere.’

On leaving the temple the Invisible Prince saw six paths lying before

him, each of which led through the wood. He was hesitating which to

choose, when he suddenly beheld two people coming towards him, down

the track which lay most to his right. They turned out to be the

Prince Gnome and his friend, and the sudden desire to get some news of

his sister, Princess Argentine, caused the Invisible Prince to follow

them and to listen to their conversation.

‘Do you think,’ the Prince Gnome was saying, ‘do you think that I

would not break my chains if I could? I know that the Princess

Argentine will never love me, yet each day I feel her dearer still.

And as if this were not enough, I have the horror of feeling that she

probably loves another. So I have resolved to put myself out of my

pain by means of the Golden Fountain. A single drop of its water

falling on the sand around will trace the name of my rival in her

heart. I dread the test, and yet this very dread convinces me of my

misfortune.’

It may be imagined that after listening to these words the Invisible

Prince followed Prince Gnome like his shadow, and after walking some

time they arrived at the Golden Fountain. The unhappy lover stooped

down with a sigh, and dipping his finger in the water let fall a drop

on the sand. It instantly wrote the name of Prince Flame, his brother.

The shock of this discovery was so real, that Prince Gnome sank

fainting into the arms of his friend.

Meanwhile the Invisible Prince was turning over in his mind how he

could best deliver Rosalie. As, since he had been touched by the

Giant’s ring, he had the power to live in the water as well as on

land, he at once dived into the fountain. He perceived in one corner a

door leading into the mountain, and at the foot of the mountain was a

high rock on which was fixed an iron ring with a cord attached. The

Prince promptly guessed that the cord was used to chain the Princess,

and drew his sword and cut it. In a moment he felt the Princess’s hand

in his, for she had always kept her magic pebble in her mouth, in

spite of the prayers and entreaties of the Prince of the Air to make

herself visible.

So hand in hand the