This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org, recording by Mariah Fallon. The Blue Fairy Book by Andrew Lang. The Bronze Ring. Once upon a time, in a certain country, there lived a king whose palace was surrounded by a spacious garden. But, though the gardeners were many, and the soil was good, this garden yielded neither flowers nor fruits, not even grass or shady trees. The king was in a despair about it, when a wise old man said to him, Your gardeners do not understand their business, but what can you expect of men whose fathers were cobblers and carpenters? How should they have learned to cultivate your garden?  Therefore, continued the old man, you should send for a gardener whose father and grandfather have been gardeners before him.  So the king sent messengers to every town, village, and hamlet in his dominions to look for a gardener whose forefathers had been gardeners also. And after forty days, one was found. Come with us and be gardener to the king, they said to him. How can I go to the king, said the gardener, a poor wretch like me. This is of no consequence, they answered. Here are new clothes for you and your family. But I owe money to several people. We will pay your debts, they said. So the gardener allowed himself to be persuaded, and went away with the messengers, taking his wife and his son with him. And the king, delighted to have found a real gardener, entrusted him with the care of his garden. The man found no difficulty in making the royal garden produce flowers and fruit, and at the end of a year the park was not like the same place, and the king showered gifts upon his new servant. The gardener, as you have already heard, had a son, who was a very handsome young man, with most agreeable manners, and every day he carried the best fruit of the garden to the king, and all the prettiest flowers to his daughter. Now this princess was wonderfully pretty, and was just sixteen years old, and the king was beginning to think it was time that she should be married. My dear child, said he, you are of an age to take a husband, therefore I am thinking of marrying you to the son of my prime minister. Father, replied the princess, I will never marry the son of the minister. Why not, asked the king? Because I love the gardener's son, answered the princess. On hearing this the king was at first very angry, and then he wept, and sighed, and declared that such a husband was not worthy of his daughter, but the young princess was not to be turned from her resolution to marry the gardener's son. Then the king consulted his ministers. This is what you must do, they said. To get rid of the gardener you must send both suitors to a very distant country, and the one who returns first shall marry your daughter.  The day before they started the princess met her lover, and said to him, Be brave, and remember always that I love you, take this purse full of jewels and make the best use you can of them for love of me, and come back quickly and demand my hand. The two suitors left the town together, but the minister's son went off at a gallop on his good horse, and very soon he was lost to sight beyond the most distant hills. He traveled on for some days, and presently reached a fountain beside which an old woman, all in rags, sat upon a stone. Good day to you, young traveller, said she, but the minister's son made no reply. Have pity upon me, traveller, she said again, I am dying of hunger, as you see, and three days have I been here, and no one has given me anything. Leave me alone, old witch, cried the young man, I can do nothing for you, and so saying he went on his way. That same evening the gardener's son rode up to the fountain upon his lame grey horse. Good day to you, young traveller, said the beggar woman. Good day, good woman, answered he, young traveller, have pity upon me. Take my purse, good woman, said he, and mount behind me, for your legs can't be very strong. The old woman didn't wait to be asked twice, but mounted behind him, and in this style they reached the chief city of a powerful kingdom. The minister's son was lodged in a grand inn. The gardener's son and the old woman dismounted in the inn for beggars. The next day the gardener's son heard a great noise in the street, and the king's heralds passed, blowing all kinds of instruments and crying. The king, our master, is old and infirm.  Then the old beggar woman said to her benefactor, This is what you must do to obtain the reward which the king promises. Go out of the town by the south gate, and there you will find three little dogs of different colors. The first will be white, the second black, the third red.  Put the ashes of each dog into a bag of its own color. Then go before the door of the palace and cry out, A celebrated physician has come from Janina in Albania. He alone can cure the king and give him back the strength of his youth.  You must then demand as much what his three meals can carry, and a great cauldron, and must shut yourself in a room with the sultan, and when the cauldron boils you must throw him into it, and there leave him until his flesh is completely separated from his bones. Then arrange the bones in their proper places, and throw over them the ashes of the three bags. The king will come back to life and will be just as he was when he was twenty years old. For your reward you must demand the bronze ring which has the power to grant you everything you desire. Go, my son, and do not forget any of my instructions. The young man followed the old beggar woman's directions. On going out of the town he found the white, red and black dogs, and killed and burnt them, gathering the ashes and three bags. Then he ran to the palace and cried, A celebrated physician has just come from Janina in Albania. He alone can cure the king and give him back the strength of his youth. The king's physicians at first laughed at the unknown wayfarer, but the sultan ordered that the stranger should be admitted. They brought the cauldron and the loads of wood, and very soon the king was boiling away. Toward midday the gardener's son arranged the bones in their places, and he had hardly scattered the ashes over them before the old king revived, to find himself once more young and hardy. How can I reward you, my benefactor? he cried. Will you take half my treasures? No, said the gardener's son. My daughter's hand. No. Take half my kingdom. No. Give me only the bronze ring which can instantly grant me anything I wished for. Alas! cried the king. I set great store by that marvelous ring. Nevertheless, you shall have it. And he gave it to him. The gardener's son went back to say goodbye to the old beggar woman. Then he said to the bronze ring, Prepare a splendid ship in which I may continue my journey. Let the hull be of fine gold, the masts of silver, the sails of brocade. Let the crew consist of twelve young men of noble appearance, the kings. St. Nicholas will be at helm. As to the cargo, let it be diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and carbuncles. And immediately a ship appeared upon the sea which resembled in every particular the description given by the gardener's son. And, stepping on board, he continued his journey. Presently he arrived at a great town and established himself in a wonderful palace. After several days he met his rival, the minister's son, who had spent all his money and was reduced to the disagreeable employment of a carrier of dust and rubbish. The gardener's son said to him, What is your name? What is your family? And from what country do you come? I am the son of the prime minister of a great nation, and yet see what a degrading occupation I am reduced to. Listen to me, though I don't know anything more about you, I am willing to help you.  Whatever it may be, I accept it willingly. Follow me to my palace. The minister's son followed the rich stranger, whom he had not recognized. When they reached the palace, the gardener's son made a sign to his slaves, who completely undressed the newcomer. Make this ring red hot, commanded the master, and marked the man with it upon his back. The slaves obeyed him. Now, young man, said the rich stranger, I am going to give you a vessel which will take you back to your own country. And, going out, he took the bronze ring and said, Bronze ring obey thy master, prepare me a ship of which the half rotten timber shall be painted black, let the sails be in racks, and the sailors infirm and sickly, one shall have lost a leg, another an arm, the third shall be a hunchback, another lame, or club-footed, or blind, and most of them shall be ugly and covered with scars. Go, and let my orders be executed. The minister's son embarked in this old vessel, and, thanks to favorable winds, at length reached his own country. After the pitiable condition in which he returned, they received him joyfully. I am the first to come back, said he to the king, now fulfill your promise and give me the princess in marriage. So they at once began to prepare for the wedding festivities. As to the poor princess, she was sorrowful and angry enough about it. The next morning, at daybreak, a wonderful ship with every sail set came to anchor before the town. The king happened at that moment to be in the palace window. What strange ship is this, he cried, that has a cold and hull, and masks and silken sails. And who are the young men, like princes, who man it? And do I not see St. Nicholas at the helm? Go at once and invite the captain of the ship to come to the palace. His servants obeyed him, and very soon in came an enchantingly handsome young prince dressed in rich silk, ornamented with pearls and diamonds. Young man, said the king, you are welcome, whoever you may be. Do me the favour to be my guest, as long as you remain in my capital. Many thanks, Sire, replied the captain. I accept your offer. Sire is about to be married, said the king. Will you give her away? I shall be charmed, Sire. Soon after came the princess and her betrothed. Why, how is this, cried the young captain. Would you marry this charming princess to such a man as that? But he is my prime minister's son. What's that matter? I cannot give your daughter away. The man she's betrothed to is one of my servants. Your servant? Without doubt. I met him in a distant town reduced to carrying away dust from the houses. I had pity on him, engaged him as one of my servants. It is impossible, cried the king. Do you wish me to prove what I say? This young man returned in a vessel which I fitted out for him. An unseaworthy ship with a black battered hull and the sailors were infirm and crippled. It is quite true, said the king. It is false, cried the minister's son. I do not know this man. Sire, said the young captain, ordered your daughter's betrothed to be stripped and see if the mark of my ring is not branded upon his back. The king was about to give this order. When the minister's son, to save himself from such an indignity, admitted that the story was true. And now, Sire, said the young captain, do you not recognize me? I recognize you, said the princess. You are the gardener's son whom I have always loved, and it is you I wish to marry. Young man, you shall be my son-in-law, cried the king. The marriage festivities are already begun, so you shall marry my daughter this very day. And so that very day the gardener's son married the beautiful princess. Several months passed. The young couple were as happy as the day was long, and the king was more and more pleased with himself for having secured such a son-in-law. But presently, the captain of the golden ship found it necessary to take a long voyage, and after embracing his wife tenderly, he embarked. Now, in the outskirts of the capital, there lived an old man who had spent his life in studying black arts, alchemy, astrology, magic, and enchantment. This man found out that the gardener's son had only succeeded in marrying the princess in the help of the genie who had made the bronze ring. I will have that ring, said he to himself. So he went down to the seashore and caught some little red fishes. Really, they were quite wonderfully pretty.  The princess heard him and sent out one of her slaves who said to the old peddler, What will you take for your fish? A bronze ring. A bronze ring, old simpleton, entered a cushion in the princess's room. The slave went back to her mistress. The old madman will take neither gold nor silver, said she. What does he want, then? A bronze ring that is hidden under a cushion? Find the ring and give it to him, said the princess. And at last the slave found the bronze ring, which the captain of the golden ship had accidentally left behind, and carried it to the man who made off with it instantly. Hardly had he reached his own house when, taking the ring, he said, Bronze ring, obey thy master. I desire that the golden ship shall turn to black wood, and the crew to hideous negroes, that St. Nicholas shall leave the helm and that the only cargo shall be black cats. And the genie of the bronze ring obeyed him. Finding himself upon the sea in this miserable condition, the young captain understood that someone must have stolen the bronze ring from him, and he lamented his misfortune mildly. But that didn't no good. Alas, he said to himself, Whoever has taken my ring has probably taken my dear wife also. What good will it do, if I have my own country? And he sailed about from island to island and from shore to shore, believing that wherever he went, everybody was laughing at him, and very soon his poverty was so great that he and his crew and the poor black cats had nothing to eat but herbs and roots. After wandering about a long time, he reached an island inhabited by mice. The captain landed upon the shore and began to explore the country. There were mice everywhere, and nothing but mice. And made terrible havoc among the mice. Then the queen of the mice held a council. These cats will eat every one of us, she said, if the captain of the ship does not shut the ferocious animals up, let us send a deputation to him of the bravest among us. Several mice offered themselves for this mission and set out to find the young captain. Captain, said they, go a bit quickly from our island or we shall perish, every mouse of us. Willingly replied the young captain upon one condition. Bring back a bronze ring, which some clever magician has stolen from me. If you do not do this, I will end all my cats upon your island and you shall be exterminated. The mice withdrew in great dismay. What is to be done, said the queen. Can we find this bronze ring? She held a new council, calling in mice from every quarter of the globe, but nobody knew where the bronze ring was. Suddenly, three mice arrived from a very distant country. One was blind, the second lame, and the third had her ears cropped. Ho, ho, ho, said the newcomers. We come from a far distant country. Do you know where the bronze ring is, which the genie obey? Ho, ho, ho, we know. An old sorcerer has taken possession of it and now he keeps it in his pocket by day and in his mouth by night.  So the three mice made themselves a boat and set sail from the magician's country. When they reached the capital, they landed and ran to the palace, leaving only the blind mice on the shore to take care of the boat. In the middle of the night, the wicked old man laid down in bed and put the bronze ring into his mouth and very soon he was asleep. Now what shall we do? said the two little animals to each other.  So she dipped her tail first in the oil and then in the pepper and held it to the sorcerer's nose. Sneeze the old man, but he did not wake and the shock made the bronze ring jump out of his mouth. He matched up the precious talisman and carried it off to the boat. Imagine the despair of the magician when he awoke and the bronze ring was nowhere to be found. But by that time our three mice had set sail with their prize. A favoring breeze was carrying them toward the island where the queen of the mice was awaiting them. Naturally they began to talk about the bronze ring. Which of us deserves the most credit? They cried all at once. I do, said the blind mouse, for without my watchfulness our boat would have drifted away to the open sea. Did I not close the ring to jump out of the man's mouth? No, it is mine, cried the lame one, for I ran off with the ring. And from high words they soon came to blows and to last. When the quarrel was fiercest, the bronze ring fell into the sea. How are we to face our queen, said the three mice, when by our folly we have lost the talisman and condemned our people to be utterly exterminated. We cannot go back to our country. Let us land on this desert island in there and our miserable lives. No sooner said than done, the boat reached the island and the mice landed. The blind mouse was speedily deserted by her two sisters who went off to hunt flies, and as she wandered sadly along the shore she found a dead fish and was eating it when she felt something very hard. At her cries the other two mice ran up. It is the bronze ring, it is the talisman! They cried joyfully, and, getting into their boat again, they soon reached the mouse island. It was time they did, for the captain was just going to land his cargo of cats. When a deputation of mice brought him the precious bronze ring. Bronze ring, commanded the young man, left her, let my ship appear as it was before. Immediately the genie of the ring set to work and the old black vessel became once more the wonderful golden ship with sails of brocade. The handsome sailors ran to the silver masts and the silken ropes, and very soon they set sail for the capital. Ah, how merrily the sailors sang as they flew over the glassy sea. At last the port was reached. The captain landed and ran to the palace where he found the wicked old man asleep. The princess clasped her husband in a long embrace. The magician tried to escape, but he was lost and bound with strong cords. The next day the sorcerer tied to the sail of a savage mule loaded with nuts was broken into as many pieces as there were nuts upon the mules back. The end. Prince Hyacinth and the dear little princess of the Blue Fairy Book. This is the LibriVox Recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. This reading by Lucy Bergoyne. The Blue Fairy Book by Andrew Lang. Chapter 2 Prince Hyacinth and the Dear Little Princess. Once upon a time there lived a king who was deeply in love with the princess, but she could not marry anyone because she was under an enchantment. So the king set out to seek a fairy and asked what he could do to win the princess' love. The fairy said to him you know that the princess has a great cat which she is very fond of. Whoever is clever enough to tread on the cat's tail is the man she is destined to marry. The king said to himself that this would not be very difficult and he left the fairy determined to grind the cat's tail to powder rather than not tread on it at all. You may imagine that it was not long before he went to see the princess and Puss, as usual, martyred in before him, arching his back. He took a long step and quite thought he had the tail under his foot, but the cat turned round so sharply that he only trod on air. And so it went on for eight days till the king began to think that this fatal tail must be full of quick silver. It was never still for a moment. At last, however, he was lucky enough to come upon Puss fast asleep and with his tail conveniently spread out. Losing a moment, said his foot upon it heavily. With one terrific yell, the cat sprung up and instantly changed into a tall man who, fixing his angry eyes upon the king, said, you shall marry the princess because you have been able to break the enchantment, but I will have my revenge.  Though the king was horribly afraid of the enchanter, he could not help laughing at this threat. If my son has such a long nose as that, he said to himself he must always see it or feel it, at least if he is not blind or without hands. But, as the enchanter had vanished, he did not waste any more time but went to seek the princess who very soon consented to marry him. But, after all, they had not been married very long when the king died and the queen had nothing left to care for but her little son who was called Hyacinth.  The queen was inconsolable when she saw this great nose but her ladies assured her that it was not really as large as it looked that it was a Roman nose and knew had only to open any history to see that every hero has a large nose. The queen, who was devoted to her baby, was pleased with what they told her and when she looked at Hyacinth again his nose certainly did not seem to her quite so large. The prince was brought up with great care and, as soon as he could speak they told him all sorts of dreadful stories about people who had short noses. No one was allowed to come near him whose nose did not more or less resemble his own and the courtiers to get into favour with the queen took to pulling their baby's noses several times every day to make them grow long but, do what they would they were nothing by comparison with the princes. When he grew sensible he learned history and whenever any great prince or beautiful princess was spoken of his teachers took care to tell him that they had long noses. His room was hung with pictures all of people with very large noses and the prince grew up so convinced that a long nose was a great beauty that he would not, on any account have had his own a single inshorter. With birthday was passed the queen thought it was time that he should be married so she commanded that the portraits of several princesses should be brought for him to see and among the others was a picture of the dear little princess now she was the daughter of a great king and would some day possess several kingdoms herself but Prince Hyacinth had not a thought to spare for anything of that sort he was so much struck by the princess whom he thought quite charming had however a little saucy nose which in her face was the prettiest thing possible but it was a cause of great embarrassment to the courtiers who had got into such a habit of laughing at little noses that they sometimes found themselves laughing at hers before they had time to think but this did not do it all before the prince who quite failed to see the joke which two of his courtiers who had dared to mention disrespectfully the dear little princess's tiny nose the others taking warning from this learned to think twice before they spoke and one even went so far as to tell the prince that though it was quite true that no man could be worth anything unless he had a long nose still a woman's duty was a different thing and he knew a lone man he read in some old manuscripts that the beautiful Cleopatra herself had a tipped tilted nose the prince made him a splendid present as a reward for this good news and at once sent ambassadors to ask the dear little princess in marriage the king her father gave his consent and prince Hyacinth who in his anxiety to see the princess had gone three leagues to meet her was just advancing to kiss her hand to the horror of all who stood by the enchanter appeared as suddenly as a flash of lightning and snatching up the dear little princess whirled her away out of their sight the prince was led quite unconsolable and declared that nothing should induce him to go back to his kingdom until he had found her again and refusing to allow any of his courtiers to follow him he mounted his horse and rode sadly away and the animal choose his own path so it happened that he came presently to a great plain across which he rode all day long without seeing a single house and horse and rider were terribly hungry when, as the night fell the prince caught sight of a light which seemed to shine from a cavern he rode up to it and saw a little old woman who appeared to be at least a hundred years old she put on her spectacles to look at prince Hyacinth but it was quite a long time before she could fix them securely because her nose was so very short the prince and the fairy for that was who she was had no longer looked at one another than that they went into fits of laughter and cried at the same moment oh, what a funny nose not so funny as your own said prince Hyacinth to the fairy but madam, I beg you to leave the consideration of our noses such as they are and to be good enough to give me something to eat for I am starving and so is my poor horse with all my heart said the fairy though your nose is so ridiculous you are nevertheless the son of my best friend I loved your father as if he had been my brother now, he had a very handsome nose and pray what does mine like? said the prince oh, it doesn't like anything on the contrary quite there is only too much of it but never mind one may be a very wordy man though his nose is too long I was telling you that I was your father's friend he often came to see me in the old times and you must know that I was very pretty in those days at least he used to say so I should like to tell you at the conversation we had the last time I ever saw him I said to the prince when I have supped it will give me the greatest pleasure to hear it but consider madam, I beg of you that I have had nothing to eat today the poor boy is right said the fairy I was forgetting come in then and I will give you some supper and while you are eating I can tell you my story in a very few words for I don't like endless tales myself too long a tongue is worse than too long a nose when I was young that I was so much admired for not being a great chatterer they used to tell the queen my mother that it was so for though you see what I am now I was the daughter of a great king my father your father I dare say got something to eat when he was hungry interrupted the prince oh certainly answered the fairy and you also shall have supper directly I only just wanted to tell you but I really cannot listen to anything until I have had something to eat cried the prince who was getting quite angry but then remembering that he had better be polite as he much needed the fairy's help he added I know that in the pleasure of listening to you I should quite forget my own hunger but my horse who cannot hear you must really be fed the fairy was very much flattered by this compliment you shall not wait another minute you are so polite and in spite of the enormous size of your nose you are really very agreeable plague take the old lady how she does go on about my nose said the prince to himself one would almost think that mine had taken all the extra length that hers lacks if I were not so hungry I would soon have done with this chatter pie who thinks she talks very little how stupid people are not to see their own faults that comes being a princess she has been spoiled by flatterers who have made her believe that she is quite a moderate talker meanwhile the servants were putting the supper on the table and the prince was much amused to hear the fairy who asked them a thousand questions simply for the pleasure of hearing herself speak especially he noticed one made who no matter what was being said always contrived to praise her mistress's wisdom wealth he thought as he ate his supper I am very glad I came here this just shows me how sensible I have been in never listening to flatterers people of that sort praise us to our faces without shame and hide our faults or change them into virtues for my part I never will be taken in by them I know my own defects I hope poor prince Hyacinth what he said and had an idea that the people who had praised his nose were laughing at him just as the fairies made was laughing at her for the prince had seen her laugh slyly when she could do so without the fairies noticing her however he said nothing and presently when his hunger began to be appeased the fairies said my dear prince might I beg you to move a little more that way for your nose cast such a shadow that I really cannot see what I have on my plate ah thanks now let us speak of your father when I went to his court he was only a little boy but that is 40 years ago and I have been in this desolate place ever since tell me what goes on nowadays are the ladies as fond of amusement as ever in my time one saw them at parties theatres, balls and promenades every day telling me what a long nose you have I cannot get used to it really madam said the prince I wish you would leave off mentioning my nose it cannot matter to you what it is like I am quite satisfied with it and have no wish to have a shorter one must take what is given one now you are angry with me my core hyacinth said the fairy and I assure you that I didn't mean to vex you I wish to do you a service however though I really cannot help your nose being a shock to me I will try not to say anything about it I will even try to think that you have an ordinary nose to tell the truth it would make three reasonable ones the prince who was no longer hungry grew so impatient at the fairy's continual remarks about his nose that at last he threw himself upon his horse and rode hastily away but wherever he came in his journeyings he thought the people were mad but they all talked of his nose and yet he could not bring himself to admit that it was too long he had been so used all his life to hear it called handsome the old fairy who wished to make him happy at last hit upon a plan she shut the digital princess up in a palace of crystal and put this palace down where the prince would not fail to find it his joy at seeing the princess again was extreme and he set to work with all his might to try to break her prism but in spite of all his efforts he failed utterly in despair he thought at least that he would try to get near enough to speak to the dear little princess who on her part stretched out her hand that he might kiss it but turn which way he might he never could raise it to his lips always prevented it for the first time he realised how long it really was and exclaimed well it must be admitted that my nose is too long in an instant the crystal prism flew into a thousand splinters and the old fairy taking the dear little princess by the hand said to the prince now save you are not very much obliged to me much good it was for me to talk to you about your nose you would never have found out how extraordinary it was if it hadn't hindered you from doing what you wanted to you see how self love keeps us from knowing our own defects of mind and body our reason cries in vain to show them to us we refuse to see them till we find them in the way of our interests prince Hyacinth whose nose was now just like anyone's else did not fail to profit by the lesson he had received the dear little princess and they lived happily ever after footnote the prince desire a la princess mignonne par Madame le prince de Beaumont in the story east of the sun and west of the moon of the blue fairy book this is a Libravox recording all Libravox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit Libravox.org recording by we the blue fairy book by Andrew Lang east of the sun and west of the moon at the time there was a poor husband man who had many children and little to give them in the way either of food or clothing they were all pretty but the prettiest of all was the youngest daughter who was so beautiful that there were no bounds to her beauty so once it was late on a Thursday evening autumn and wild weather outside terribly dark and raining so heavily and blowing so hard that the walls of the cottage shook again they were all sitting together by the fire side each of them busy with something rather when suddenly someone wrapped three times against the window pane the man went out to see what could be the matter and when he got out there he said a great big white bear good evening to you for the white bear good evening to the man will you give me your youngest daughter for the white bear if you will you shall be as rich as you are now poor truly the man would have had no objection to the rich but he thought to himself I'm the first to ask my daughter about this so he went in and told them that there was a great white bear outside who had faithfully promised to make them all rich that he might but have the youngest daughter she said no and would not hear of it so the man went out again and settled with the white bear that he should come again next Thursday evening and get her answer then the man persuaded her and told so much to her about the wealth that they would have and what a good thing it would be for herself she made up her mind to go and washed and mended all her rags made herself as smart as she could and held herself in readiness to set out little enough had she to take away with her next Thursday evening the white bear came to fetch her she seated herself on his back with her bundle and thus they departed when they had gone a great part of the way the white bear said are you afraid no that I am not said she he titled her my fair and then there was no danger said he and thus she rode far far away until it came to a great mountain then the white bear knocked on it and a door opened and they went into a castle where there were many brilliantly lighted rooms which shone with gold and silver likewise a large hall there was a well-spread table and it was so magnificent that it would be hard to make anyone understand how splendid it was the white bear gave her a silver bell and told her that when she needed anything she had but to ring this bell and what she wanted would appear so after she had eaten and night was drawing near she grew sleepy after her journey and thought she would like to go to bed she rang the bell and scarcely had she touched it before she found herself in a chamber where a bed stood ready made for her which was as prettiest anyone could wish to sleep in it had pillows of silk and curtains of silk fringe was gold and everything that was in the room was of gold or silver but when she had laying down and put out the light a man came and laid down beside her and behold it was the white bear who cast off the form of a beast during the night she never saw him however for he always claimed after she had put out her light and went away before daylight appeared so all went well and happily for a time but then she began to be very sad and sorrowful for all day long she had to go about alone and she did so wish to go home with her father and mother and brothers and sisters then the white bear asked what it was that she wanted and she told him that it was so dull there in the mountain and that she had to go about all alone and that in her parents house at home there were older brothers and sisters and it was because she could not go to them that she was so sorrowful there might be a cure for that to the white bear if you would but promise me never to talk with your mother alone but only when the others are there too for she will take hold of your hand said and will want to lead you into a room to talk alone but that he must by no means do or you will bring great misery on both of us so one Sunday the white bear came and said that they could now set out to see her father and mother and they joined each other she sitting on his back and they went a long long way and it took a long long time but at last they came to a large white farmhouse and her brothers and sisters were running about outside right in and it was so pretty that it was a pleasure to look at it your parents dwell here now could the white bear but do not forget what I said to you or you will do much harm both to yourself and me no indeed said she I shall never forget and as soon as she was at home the white bear turned around and went back again there were such rejoicings when she went into her parents that it seemed as if they would never come to an end everyone thought he could never be sufficiently grateful to her for all she had done for them now they had everything that they wanted and everything was as good as it could be they all asked her how she was getting on where she was all was well with her too she said and she had everything that she could want what other answers she gave I cannot say but I am pretty sure that they did not learn much from her but in the afternoon after they had dined midday all happened just as the white bear had said her mother wanted to talk with her alone in her own chamber but she remembered what the white bear had said and would on no account go when we have to say can be said at any time she answered but somehow or other her mother at last persuaded her and she was forced to tell the whole story so she told how every night a man came and lay down beside her when the lights were all put out and how she never saw him because he always went away before it grew light in the morning and how she continually went about in sadness thinking how happy she would be if she could but see him and how all day long she had to go about alone it was so dull and solitary I cried the mother in horror you are very likely sleeping with a cloak but I will take you away to see him you shall have a bit of one of my candles which you can take away with you in your breast look at him with that when he is asleep but take care not to let any tallow drop on him so she took the candle and hid it in her breast and when evening drew near the white bear came to vet her away when they had gone some distance on their way the white bear asked her if everything had not happened just as he had foretold and she could not then if you have done what your mother wished said he you have brought great misery on both of us no sis said I have not done anything at all so when she reached home and had gone to bed it was just the same as it had been before a man came and laid down beside her and late at night when she could hear that he was sleeping she got up and handled a light lit her candle let her light shine on him and saw him and he was the ansomest prince that eyes had ever beheld and she loved him so much that it seemed to her that she must die if she did not kiss him that very moment so she did kiss him but while she was doing it she let three drops of hot tallow fall upon his shirt and he woke what have you done now said he you have brought misery on both of us if you had but held out for the space of one year I should have been free I have a step mother who has bewitched me so that I am a white bear by day and a man by night but now all is at an end between you and me and I must leave you and go to her she lives in a castle which has east of the sun and west of the moon and there too is a princess with a nose which is three elves' mom and she now is the one who I must marry she wept and lamented but all in vain for girl he must then she asked him if she could not go with him but no that could not be can you tell me the way then and I will seek you that I will be sure to be allowed to do yes you may do that said he but there is no way further she lives east of the sun and west of the moon and never would you find her away there which she woke up in the morning both the prince and the castle were gone and she was lying on a small green patch in the midst of a dark thick wood by her side lay the self-sand bundle of rings which she had brought with her from her own home so when she had grabbed the sleep out of her eyes and wept till she was weary she set out on her way and thus she walked for many and many a long day until at last she came to a great mountain outside at an age of women was sitting playing with a golden apple the girl asked her if she knew the way to the prince who lived with his stepmother in the castle which lay east of the sun and west of the moon the princess within those which was three elves long what do you happen to know about him inquired the old woman maybe you are she who had ought to have had him yes indeed I am she said so it is you then said the old woman I know nothing about him but that he dwells in a castle which is east of the sun and west of the moon it will be a long time in getting to it if ever you get to it at all but you shall have the moon of my horse and then you can ride on it to an old woman who is a neighbor of mine perhaps she can tell you about him when you have got there you must just strike the horse beneath the left ear and did it go home again but she may take the golden apple with you so the girl seated herself on the horse in a long, long way and at last she came to the mountain where an aged woman was sitting outside with a gold carding comb the girl asked her if she knew the way to the castle which is the east of the sun and west of the moon but she said what the first old woman had said I know nothing about him but that it is east of the sun and west of the moon and that you will be a long time in getting to it if ever you get there at all but you shall have the moon of my horse to an old woman who lives the nearest to me perhaps she may know where the castle is and when you have got to her you may just strike the horse beneath the left ear and did it go home again and she gave her the gold carding comb and it might perhaps be of use to her she said so the girl seated herself on the horse and rode a very long way onwards again and after a very long time she came to a great mountain where an aged woman was sitting spinning at a golden spinning wheel of this woman too she inquired if she knew the way to the prince and where to find the castle which lay east of the sun and west of the moon but it was only the same thing once again Mary it was you who showed up how the prince said the old yes indeed she must have been the one to the girl but this old crowd knew the way no better than the others it was east of the sun and west of the moon she knew that and you will be a long time in getting to it if ever you get to it at all she said but you may have the law of my horse and I think you had better ride to the east wind and ask him perhaps he may know where the castle is and will blow you thinner but when you have got to him you must just strike the horse beneath the left and he will come home again and then she gave her the golden spinning wheel saying perhaps you may find that you have a use for it the girl had to ride for a great many days and for a long and weary some time before she got there but at last she did arrive and then she asked the east wind if he could tell her the way to the prince who dwelt east of the sun and west of the moon why said east wind I have heard tell the prince that of his castle but I do not know the way to it for I have never blown so far but if you like I will go with you to my brother the west wind he may know that or he is much stronger than I am you may sit on my back and then I can carry you there so she seated herself on his back and they did go so swiftly when they got there the east wind went in and said that the girl whom he had brought was the one who ought to have had the prince up at the castle which laid east of the sun and west of the moon and that now she was travelling about to find him again so he had come there with her and would like to hear if the west wind knew whereabouts the castle was knows that the west wind so far as bad have I never blown but if you like I will go with you to the south wind where he is much stronger than either of us and he has roamed far and wide and perhaps he can tell you what you want to know you may seat yourself on my back and then I will carry you to him so she did this and journeyed to the south wind and there was she very long on the way when they had got there the west wind asked him if he could tell her the way to the castle that laid east of the sun and west of the moon for she was the girl who ought to marry the prince who lived there oh he beat south wind is that she what said he I have wondered about a good deal of my time in all kinds of places but I have never blown so far is that if you like however I will go with you to my brother the north wind he is the oldest strongest of all of us he does not know where it is no one in the whole will be able to tell you you may sit upon my back and then I will carry there so she seated herself on his back and he went from his house in great haste and they were not long on the way when they came near the north winds dwelling it was so wild and frantic they felt cold gusts a long while before they got there what you wore it out from the fire and they froze as they heard said the south wind it is I and this is she who had the prince who lives in the castle which lies east to the sun and west to the wind and now she wishes to ask you if you have an open and can tell her the way for she would gladly fight him again yes to the north wind I know where he is but I was so tired that for many days I was not able to blow it up if you really are anxious to go there and are not afraid to go with me I will take you on my back and try if I can blow you there yet there I must and if there is any way of going I will and I have no fear no matter how fast you go that was that for the north wind but you must sleep here tonight hope we are out to get there we must have the day before us the north wind woke up at times next morning and tested someone and made him so big and so strong it was awful to see him and where they went high up the air as if they would not stop until they reached the very end of the world down below there was such a storm it blew down woods and houses and when they were above the sea the ships were ripped by hunger and thus they tore on and on and a long time went by and then yet more time passed and still they were above the sea and the north wind retired and more tired and at last so utterly wary that he was scarcely able to blow any longer and he sang and sang low and lower until at last he went so low that the crest of the waves dashed against the heels of the poor girl he was carrying I felt a fright so the north wind I have no fear of such a shame and it was true but they were not very very far from land and there was just enough strength left in the north wind to enable him to throw her onto the shore immediately under the windows of a castle which lay east of the sun and west of the moon but then he was so weary and worn out that he was forced to rest for several days before he could go to his own home again next morning she sat down beneath the walls of the castle to play with a golden apple and the first person she saw was the maiden with the long nose was to have the prince how much do you want for that golden apple of yours girl said she opening the window it can't be bought either for gold or money as in the groom if it cannot be bought either for gold or money why will buy it you may say would you please to the princess well if I may go to the princess here and be with him tonight you shall have it so the girl would come with the north wind you may do that for she may never mind what she would do so the princess got the golden apple when the girl went up to the princess apartment that night he was asleep for the princess had so contrived it the poor girl called to him and shook him and between while she left she sat down to take him in the morning as soon as day dawned in came the princess the long nose and drove her out again in the daytime she sat down once more beneath the windows of the castle and began to card with her golden carding card and that all happened as it had happened before the princess asked her what she wanted for it and she replied that it was not for sale either for gold or money but that if she could get leave to go to the prince and be with him during the night she should have it but when she went up to the princess room he was again asleep and let her call him or shake him or weave as she would he still slept on and she could not put any life in him one day like came the morning the princess the long nose came too and once more drove her away one day at point com the girl seated herself under the castle windows to spin with her golden spinning wheel and the princess the long nose wanted to have that also so she opened the window and asked what she would take for it the girls said what she had said on each of the former agents that it was not for sale either for gold or money but if she could get leave to go to the prince who lived there and be with him during the night she should have it so the princess I will gladly consent to that but in that place there were some Christian folk who had been carried on and they had been sitting in the chamber which was next to that of the prince and had heard how a woman had been in there would wept and called on him two nights running and they told the prince of this so that evening when the princess came once more with her sleeping drink he pretended to drink but threw it away behind him or he suspected that it was a sleeping drink so when the girl went into the princess room that time he was awake and she had to tell him how she had come there he was clubbed just in time for the prince here I should have been married tomorrow but I will not have the long-nosed princess and you alone can save me I will say that I want to see what my bride can do and bid her wash the shirt which has the red rocks of color on it this she will consent to do for she does not know that it is you who let them fall on it but no one can wash them out but one born of christian folk it cannot be done by one of a pack of tools and then I will say that no one shall ever be my bride but the woman who can do this and I know that you can there was great joy and grandness between them all that night the next day when the wedding was to take place the prince said I must see what my bride can do that you may do said the stepmother I have a fine shirt which I want to wear as my wedding shirt but three drops of tallow have got upon it which I want to have washed on and I vow to marry no one but the woman who is able to do it if she cannot do that she is not worth having well that was a very small matter they vowed and agreed to do it the princess the long nose began to wash as well as she could but the more she washed and ruined it the larger the spots grew look how it washed at all so the old troll had come as her mother give it to me but she too had not had the shirt very well in her hands before it looked worse still and the more she washed it the blacker grew the spots so the other trolls had to come and wash but the more they did the blacker and the uglier grew the shirt until at length it was as black as if it had been up the chimney all cried the prince not one of you is good for anything at all there was a better girl sitting outside the window and I'll be bound that she can wash better than any of you come in you girl there he cried so she came in how do you wash the shirt clean he cried oh I don't know she said better will try no sooner had she taken the shirt and dipped it in the water then it was white as driven snow and even whiter than that I will marry you so the prince then the troll had flew into such a raid that she burst and the princess with the long nose and all the little trolls must have burst too for they have never been heard of since the prince and his bird set free all the Christian folk who were imprisoned there and took away with them all the gold and silver that they could carry and moved far away from the castle which lay east of the sun and west of the moon and of east of the sun and west of the moon recording by Rhee spareloanbooks.com recording by Ed Good the Blue Fairy Book by Andrew Lang the Yellow Dwarf once upon a time there lived a queen who had been the mother of a great many children and of them all only one daughter was left but then she was worth at least a thousand her mother who since the death of the king her father had nothing in the world she cared for so much as this little princess was so terribly afraid of losing her that she quite spoiled her and never tried to correct any of her faults the consequence was that this little person who was as pretty as possible and was one day to wear a crown grew up so proud and so much in love with her own beauty that she despised everyone else in the world the queen her mother by her caresses and flatteries helped to make her believe that there was nothing too good for her she was dressed almost always in the prettiest frocks as a fairy as a queen going out to hunt and the ladies of the court followed her dressed as forest fairies and to make her more vain than ever the queen caused her portrait to be taken by the cleverest painters and sent it to several neighbouring kings with whom she was very friendly when they saw this portrait they fell in love with the princess every one of them but upon each it had a different effect one fell ill one went quite crazy as soon as possible for these poor princes became her slaves the moment they set eyes on her never has there been a gayer court twenty delightful kings did everything they could think of to make themselves agreeable and after having spent ever so much money in giving a single entertainment not themselves very lucky if the princess said that's pretty all this admiration vastly pleased the queen not a day passed but she received seven or eight thousand sonnets and as many elegies, madrigals and songs which were centred by all the poets in the world all the prose and all the poetry that was written just then was about Belissima for that was the princess's name and all the bonfires that they had were made of these verses which crackled and sparkled better than any other sort of wood Belissima was already fifteen years old and every one of the princes wished to marry her but not one dared say so how could they when they knew that any one of them might have cut off his head five or six times a day just to please her and she would have thought it a mere trifle so little did she care you may imagine how hard-hearted her lovers thought her and the queen who wished to see her married did not know how to persuade her to think of it seriously Belissima she said I do wish you would not be so proud what makes you despise all these nice kings I wish you to marry one of them and you do not try to please me I am so happy to be so answered do leave me in peace madam I don't want to care for anyone but you would be very happy with any of these princes said the queen I shall be very angry if you fall in love with anyone who is not worthy of you but the princess thought so much of herself that she did not consider anyone of her lovers clever or handsome enough for her and her mother who was getting really angry at her determination not to be married began to wish that she had not allowed her to have her own way so much at last not knowing what else to do she resolved to consult a certain witch who was called the fairy of the desert now this was very difficult to do as she was guarded by some terrible lions but happily the queen had heard a long time before that whoever wanted to pass these lions safely must throw to them a cake made of millet flour, sugar candy and crocodile's eggs this cake she prepared with her own hands when cutting it in a little basket she set out to seek the fairy but as she was not used to walking far she soon fell very tired and sat down at the foot of a tree to rest and presently fell fast asleep when she awoke she was dismayed to find her basket empty the cake was all gone and to make matters worse at that moment she heard the roaring of the great lions who had found out that she was near and were coming to look for her what shall I do? she cried eating up and being too frightened to run a single step she began to cry and leaned against the tree under which she had been asleep just then she heard someone say she looked all around her and then up the tree and there she saw a little tiny man who was eating oranges oh queen said he, I know you very well and I know how much afraid you are of the lions and you are quite right too they have eaten many other people and what can you expect as you do not have any cake to give them I must make up my mind to die said the poor queen alas I should not care so much if only my dear daughter were married oh, you have a daughter cried the yellow door that was so called because he was a dwarf and had such a yellow face and lived in the orange tree I'm really glad to hear that for I've been looking for a wife all over the world now if you will promise that she shall marry me not one of the lions, tigers, or bears shall touch you the queen looked at him and was almost as much afraid of his ugly little face as she had been of the lions before so that she could not speak a word what? you hesitate madam? you must be very fond of being eaten alive and as he spoke the queen saw the lions still toward them each one had two heads eight feet and four rows of teeth and their skin was as hard as turtle shells and were bright red at this dreadful sight the poor queen who was trembling like a dove when it sees a hawk cried out as loud as she could oh dear dwarf Belissima shall marry you oh, indeed he said disdainfully Belissima is pretty enough but I don't particularly want to marry her you can keep her oh noble sir said the queen in great distress do not refuse her she is the most charming princess in the world oh well he replied out of charity I will take her but be sure and don't forget that she is mine as he spoke a little door opened in the trunk of the orange free he rushed the queen only just in time and the door shut with a bang in the faces of the lions the queen was so confused that at first she did not notice another little door in the orange tree but presently it opened and she found herself in a field of thistles and nettles it was encircled by a muddy ditch and a little further on it was a tiny thatched cottage out of which came the yellow dwarf with a very jumpy air he wore wooden shoes and a little yellow coat and as he had no hair and very long ears he looked altogether a shocking little object I am delighted he said to the queen that as you are to be my mother-in-law you should see the house in which a bellissima will live with me with these thistles and nettles she can feed a donkey which she can ride whenever she likes under this humble roof no weather can hurt her she will drink the water of this brook and eat frogs which grow very fat about here and then she will have me always with her handsome agreeable and gay as you see me now for if her shadow stands by her more closely than I do I shall be surprised the unhappy queen seeing all at once what a miserable life her daughter would have with this dwarf could not bear the idea and fell down insensible without saying a word when she revived she found to her great surprise that she was lying in her own bed at home and what was more that she had on the loveliest lace nightcap that she had ever seen in her life her adventures the terrible lions and her promise to the yellow dwarf that he should marry bellissima must have been a dream but there was the new cap with his beautiful ribbon and lace to remind her that it was all true which made her so unhappy that she could neither eat, drink nor sleep for thinking of it the princess who in spite of her willfulness really loved her mother with all her heart and was much grieved when she saw her looking so sad and often asked her what was the matter she didn't want her to find out the truth only said that she was ill or that one of her neighbors was threatening to make war against her bellissima knew quite well that something was being hidden from her and that neither of these was the real reason of the queen's uneasiness so she made up her mind that she would go and consult the fairy of the desert about it especially as she had often heard how wise she was and she thought at the same time she might ask her advice as to whether it would be as well to be married or not so was great care she made some of the proper cake to pacify the lions and one night went up to her room very early pretending that she was going to bed but instead of that she wrapped herself in a long light veil and went down a secret staircase and set off all by herself to find the witch but when she got as far as the same fatal orange tree inside covered with flowers and fruit she stopped and began to gather some of the oranges and then putting down her basket she sat down to eat them and it was time to go on again the basket had disappeared and though she looked everywhere not a trace of it could she find the more she hunted for it the more frightened she got and at last she began to cry then all at once she saw before her the yellow dwarf what's the matter with you my pretty one said he what are you crying about alas she answered no wonder that I am crying seeing that I have lost the basket of cake the grave of the fairy of the desert and what do you want with her pretty one said the little monster for I am a friend of hers and for the matter of that I am quite as clever as she is the queen my mother replied the princess has lately fallen into such a deep sadness that I fear that she will die and I am afraid that perhaps I am the cause of it for she very much wishes me to be married and I must tell you that as yet I am not on anyone I consider worthy to be my husband so for all these reasons I wish to talk to the fairy do not give yourself any further trouble princess answer the dwarf I can tell you all you want to know better than she could the queen your mother has promised you in marriage has promised me interrupted the princess oh no I am sure she is not she would have told me if she had I am too much interested in the matter promise anything without my consent you must be mistaken beautiful princess cried the dwarf suddenly throwing himself on her knees before her I flatter myself that you will not be displeased at her choice when I tell you that it is to me she has promised the happiness of marrying you you cried Belissima starting back my mother wishes me to marry you how can you be so silly as to think such a thing it is not that I care much to have that honour cried the dwarf angrily but here are the lions coming they will eat you up in three mouthfuls and there will be an end of you and your pride and indeed at that moment the poor princess heard the dreadful howls coming nearer and nearer what shall I do she cried must all my happy days come to an end like this the malicious dwarf looked at her and began to laugh spitefully pleased said he you have the satisfaction of dying unmarried a lovely princess like you must surely prefer to die rather than be the wife of a poor little dwarf like myself oh don't be angry with me cried the princess clasping her hands I'd rather marry all the dwarfs in the world than to die in this horrible way look at me well princess before you give me your word said he I don't want you to promise me in a hurry oh cried she the lions are coming I have looked at you enough I am so frightened save me this minute or I shall die of terror indeed as she spoke she fell down insensible and when she recovered she found herself in her own bed at home how she got that she could not tell but she was dressed in the most beautiful lace and ribbons and on her finger was a little ring made of a single red hair which fitted so tightly for I she might she could not get it off when the princess saw all these things and remembered what had happened she too fell into the deepest sadness which surprised and alarmed the whole court and the queen more than anyone else a hundred times she asked release him if anything was the matter with her but always she said that there was nothing at last the chief men of the kingdom anxious to see the princess married sent to the queen to beg her to choose a husband for her as soon as possible she replied that nothing would please her better daughter seems so unwilling to marry and she recommended them to go and talk to the princess about it themselves so this they at once did Navelisima was much less proud since her adventure with the yellow dwarf and she could not think of a better way of getting rid of the little monster than to marry some powerful king therefore she replied to the request much more favorably than they had hoped saying that though she was very happy as she was still to please them she would consent to marry the king of the goldmine but he was a very handsome and powerful prince who had been in love with the princess for years but had not thought that she would never care about him at all you can easily imagine how delighted he was when he heard the news and how angry it made all the other kings to lose forever the hope of marrying the princess but after all Navelisima could not have married twenty kings indeed she had found it quite difficult enough to choose one but her vanity made her believe that there was nobody in the world preparations were begun at once for the grandest wedding that had ever been held at the palace the king of the goldmines sent such immense sums of money that the whole sea was covered with ships that brought it messengers were sent to all the gayest and most refined courts particularly of the court of France to seek out everything rare and precious to her during the princess although her beauty was so perfect that nothing she wore could make her look prettier at least that is what the king of the goldmines was never happy unless he was with her as for the princess the more she saw of the king the more she liked him he was so generous so handsome and clever that at last he was almost as much in love with him as he was with her how happy they were as they wandered about in the beautiful gardens together sometimes listening to sweet music and the king used to write songs for beliefima this is the one that she liked very much in the forest all is gay the princess walks that way all the blossoms then are found downward fluttery to the ground hoping she may tread on them and bright flowers on splendor stem gaze up at her as she passes brushing lightly through the grasses oh my princess birds above echo back our songs of love as through this enchanted land life we wonder hand in hand they were really as happy as the day was long all the king's unsuccessful rivals had gone home in despair they said goodbye to the princess so sadly that she could not help being sorry for them ah madam the king of the goldmines said to her how is this why do you waste your pity on these princess who love you so much that all their trouble would be well repaid by a single smile from you I should be sorry answered Belisima if you had not noticed how much I pity these princess who were leaving me forever but for you sire it is very different you have every reason to be pleased with me but they are going sorrowfully away so you must not grudge them by compassion the king of the goldmines was quite overcome by the princess's good-natured way of taking his interference and throwing himself at her feet a thousand times and begged her to forgive him at last the happy day came everything was ready for Belisima's wedding the trumpets sounded all the streets of the town were hung with flags and stream with flowers and the people ran in crowds to the great square before the palace the queen was so overjoyed that she had hardly been able to sleep at all and she got up before it was light to give the necessary orders and to choose the jewels that the princess was to wear these were nothing less than diamonds to her shoes which were covered with them and her dress of silver brocade was embroidered with a dozen of the sun's rays you may imagine how much these had cost but then nothing could have been more brilliant except the beauty of the princess and she wore a splendid crown her lovely hair waved nearly to her feet and her stately figure could easily be distinguished among all the ladies who attended her the king of the goldmines was not less noble and splendid it was easy to see by his face how happy he was and everyone who went near him returned loaded with presents for all around the great banquetting hall had been arranged a thousand barrels full of gold and numberless bags made of velvet embroidered with pearls and filled with money each one containing at least 100,000 gold pieces which were given away to everyone who'd like to hold out his hand which numbers of people hastened to do you may be sure everyone found this by far the most amusing part of the wedding festivities the queen and the princess were just ready to set out with the king when they saw advancing toward them from the end of the long gallery two great basilisks dragging after them a very badly made box behind them came a tall old woman whose ugliness was even more surprising than her extreme old age she wore a rough of black tether a red velvet hood and a farthingale all rags and she leaned heavily upon a crutch this strange old woman without saying a single word hobbled three times round the gallery followed by the basilisks and in stopping in the middle and brandishing her crutch threateningly she cried oh oh queen oh oh princess do you think you are going to break with impunity the promise that you made to my friend the yellow dwarf I am the fairy of the desert without the yellow dwarf and his orange tree my great lions would soon have eaten you up I can tell you and in fairyland we do not suffer ourselves to be insulted like this make up your minds at once what you will do for I vow that you shall marry the yellow dwarf if you don't may I burn my crutch oh princess said the queen weeping what is this that I hear what have you promised ah my mother replied belisimus sadly what did you promise yourself the king of the gold mines indignant at being kept from his happiness by this wicked old woman went up to her and threatening her with his sword said get away out of my country at once and forever miserable creature lest I take your life and so rid myself of your malice he had hardly spoken these words when the lid of the box fell back on the floor with a terrible noise and into their horror outspraying the yellow dwarf mounted upon a great spanish cat rash youth he cried rushing between the fairy of the desert and the king dare to lay a finger on this illustrious fairy your quarrel is with me only I am your enemy and your rival that faithless princess who would have married you is promised to me see if she has not upon her finger a ring made of one of my hairs just try to take it off and you will soon find out that I am more powerful than you are wretched little monster said the king do you dare to call yourself the princess's lover and to lay claim to such a treasure do you know that you are a dwarf that you are so ugly that one cannot bear to look at you and that I should have killed you myself long before this if you have been worthy of such a glorious death the yellow dwarf deeply enraged at these words set spurs to his cat which yelled horribly and leaped hither and thither terrifying everybody except the brave king who pursued the dwarf closely till he, drawing a great knife with which he was armed, challenged the king to meet him in single combat and rushed down to the courtyard of the palace with a terrible clatter the king quite provoked followed him hastily but they had hardly taken their places facing one another and the whole court had only just had time to rush out upon the balconies to watch what was going on when suddenly the sun became red as blood and it was so dark that they could scarcely see at all the thunder crashed and the lightning seemed as if it must burn up everything the two basilisks appeared one on each end of the bad dwarf like giants, mountains high and fire flew from their mouths and ears until they looked like flaming furnaces none of these things could terrify the noble young king in the boldness of his looks and actions reassured those who were looking on and perhaps even embarrassed the yellow dwarf himself but even his courage gave way when he saw what was happening to his beloved princess for the fairy of the desert looking more terrible than before mounted upon a winged griffin and with long snakes crawled around her neck had given her such a blow with the last she carried the basilisks fell into the queen's arms bleeding and senseless her fond mother feeling as much hurt by the blow as the princess herself uttered such piercing cries and lamentations that the king hearing them entirely lost his courage and presence of mind giving up the combat he flew toward the princess to rescue her or die with her but the yellow dwarf was too quick for him leaping with the Spanish cat upon the balcony he snatched Belisima from the queen's arms and before any of the ladies of the court could stop him he had sprung upon the roof of the palace and disappeared with his prize the king motionless with horror looked on despairingly at this dreadful occurrence which he was quite powerless to prevent and to make matters worse his sight failed him everything became dark and he felt himself carried along through the air by a strong hand this new misfortune was the work of the wicked fairy of the desert who had come with the yellow dwarf to help him carry off the princess and had fallen in love with a handsome young king in the gold mines directly she saw him she thought that if she carried him off to some frightful cavern and chained him to a rock then the fear of death would make him forget Belisima and become her slave as soon as they reached the place she gave him back his sight but without releasing him from his chains and by her magic power she appeared before him as a young and beautiful fairy and pretended to have come there quite by chance do I see she cried is it you dear prince what misfortune has brought you to this dismal place the king who was quite deceived by her altered appearance replied alas the beautiful fairy the fairy who brought me here first took away my sight but by her voice I recognized her as the fairy of the desert though what she should have carried me off for I cannot tell you cried the pretended fairy if you have fallen into her hands you won't get away until you have married her she is carried off more than one prince like this and she will certainly have anything she takes a fancy to while she was thus pretending to be sorry for the king he suddenly noticed her feet what were like those of a griffin and knew in a moment that this must be the fairy of the desert for her feet were the one thing she could not change however pretty she might make her face without seeming to have noticed anything he said in a confidential way not that I have any dislike for the fairy of the desert but I really cannot endure the way in which she protects the yellow dwarf and keeps me chained here like a criminal it is true that I love a charming princess but if the fairy should set me free my gratitude will oblige me to love her only they really mean what you say prince said the fairy quite deceived surely replied the prince oh could I deceive you you see it is so much more flattering to my vanity to be loved by a fairy than by a simple princess but even I am dying of love for her I shall pretend to hate her until I am set free the fairy of the desert quite taken in by these words resolved at once to transport the prince to a pleasanter place so making him mount her chariot she had harnessed swans instead of the bats which generally drew it away she flew with him but imagine the distress of the prince when from the giddy height in which they were rushing through the air he saw his beloved princess in a castle built of polished steel the walls of which reflected the sun rays so hotly that no one could approach it without being burned to a cinder released him while sitting in the thicket by a brook leaning her head upon her hand and weeping bitterly but just as they passed she looked up at the king and the fairy of the desert now the fairy was so clever that she could not only seem beautiful to the king but even the poor princess thought her the most lovely being that she had ever seen what she cried was I not unhappy enough in this lonely castle to which that frightful yellow dwarf brought me must I also be made to know that the king of the gold mines ceased to love me as soon as he lost sight of me but who can my rival be whose fatal beauty is greater than mine while she was saying this the king who really loved her as much as ever was feeling terribly sad at being so rapidly torn away from his beloved princess but he knew too well how powerful the fairy was to have any hope of escaping from her except by great patience and cunning the fairy of the desert had also seen Belissima and she tried to read in the king's eyes the effect that this unexpected sight had had upon him no one can tell you what you wish to know better than I can, said he this chance meeting with an unhappy princess for whom I once had a passing fancy before I was lucky enough to meet you has affected me a little I admit but you are so much more to me than she is that I would rather die than leave you I'm a prince, she said can I believe that you really love me so much time will show madam, replied the king but if you wish to convince me that you have some regard for me do not I beg of you refuse to aid Belissima do you know what you are asking said the fairy of the desert frowning and looking at him suspiciously do you want me to employ my art against the yellow dwarf who is my best friend and take away from him a proud princess whom I can but look upon as a rival the king sighed but made no answer indeed what was there to be said to such a clear sighted person at last they reached a vast meadow gay with all sorts of flowers a deep river surrounded it and many little brooks murmured softly under the shady trees where it was always cool and fresh a little way off stood a splendid palace the walls of which were of transparent emeralds as soon as the swans which drew the fairy's chariot had a lighted under a porch which was paved with diamonds and had arches of rubies they were greeted on all sides by thousands of beautiful beings who came to meet them joyfully singing these words when love within a heart would ring useless to strive against him tears the proud but feeble and sharper pain and make greater triumph is the fairy of the desert was delighted to hear them sing of her triumphs she led the king into the most splendid room that can be imagined and left him alone for a little while just that he might not feel that he was a prisoner but he felt sure that she had not really gone quite away but was watching him from some hiding place so walking up to a great mirror he said to it trusty counselor let me see what I can do to make myself agreeable to the charming fairy of the desert for I can think of nothing but how to please her and he at once set to work to curl his hair and sing upon a table a grander coat than his own he put that on carefully the fairy came back so delighted that she could not conceal her joy I'm quite aware of the trouble you have taken to please me said she and I must tell you that you have succeeded perfectly already you see it is not difficult to do if you really care for me the king who had his own reasons for wishing to keep the old fairy in a good humor did not spare pretty speeches and after a time he was allowed to walk by himself upon the seashore the fairy of the desert had by her enchantments raised such a terrible storm that the boldest pilot would not venture out in it so she was not afraid of her prisoners being able to escape and he thought it some relief to think sadly over his terrible situation without being interrupted by his cruel character presently after walking wildly up and down he wrote these verses upon the sand with his stick at last may I upon this shore light my sorrow with soft tears alas alas I see no more by love who yet my sadness cheers and thou o raging stormy sea stirred by wild winds from death to height thou holdest my love one far from me and I am captive to thy might my heart is still more wild than thine for fate is cruel unto me why must I thus in exile pine why is my princess snatched from me all loveliness from ocean caves who know how sweet true love may be come up and calm the furious waves and set my desperate lover free while still writing he heard a voice which attracted his attention in spite of himself seeing that the waves were rolling in higher and higher he looked all around and presently saw a lovely lady floating gently toward him upon the crest of a huge billow her long hair spread all about her in one hand she held a mirror and in the other a comb at instead of feet she had a beautiful tail like a fish with which she swam the king was struck dumb with astonishment unexpected sight but as soon as she came within speaking distance she said to him I know how sad you are at losing your princess and being kept a prisoner by the fairy of the desert if you like I will help you to escape from this fatal place where you may otherwise have to drag on a weary existence for 30 years or more the king of the gold mines hardly knew what answered to make to this proposal not because he did not wish very much to escape but 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 to escape I trust you absolutely 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 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 seaweed and blowing it three times she said my friendly seaweeds I order you to stay here stretched upon the sand until the fairy of the desert comes to take you away at once the seaweeds became like the king who stood looking at them in great astonishment they were even dressed in a coat like his but they lay their 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 stylish cat but she soon turned away with pain and terror and did not recover till they were within the walls of this 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 clothed gold embroidered with pearls as big as nuts ah interrupt the king of the gold mines if Belieson would 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? replied the mermaid Belieson was sitting in the wood when you passed and saw you as a fairy of the desert who was so cleverly disguised that the princess took her to be prettier than herself you may imagine her despair or she thought that you had fallen in love with her she believes that I love her replied the king what a fatal mistake what is to be done to un-deceive her you're no best and kindly at him when people are in as much love as one another as you two are they don't need advice from anyone else as you spoke they reached the castle of steel the side next to the sea being the only one which the yellow dwarf had left unprotected by the dreadful burning wall I know quite well said the mermaid that the princess is sitting by the brookside guess where you saw her as you passed but as you will have many enemies to fight with before you can reach her the sword arm 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 of 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 other 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 gage hoop when she saw a stretched upon the sands the image of the king which the mermaid had made with the seaweeds struck with astonishment and sorrow she uttered a terrible cry and threw herself down beside the pretended king weeping and howling and coming upon her eleven sisters who were also fairies 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 perfery agif and marble golden bronze statues and devices to immortalize the king's memory he had a good mermaid and begging her still to help him which she greciously 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 Belisema but he had not gone far before he was surrounded by four terrible synxes who had very soon have torn him to pieces with her sharp talons if it had not been for the mermaid's diamond sword for no sooner had he flashed it before their eyes then down they fell at his feet quite helpless and he killed them with one blow but he had hardly turned to continuous search when he met six dragons covered with scales that were harder than iron rightful 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 toward 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 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 but as he hesitated a voice in his ear said strike strike and do not spare or your princess is lost forever so without reply to the nymphs he rushed forward instantly breaking the garlands and scattering them in all directions and then went on without further hindrance to the little wood where he had seen Belissima 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 faceless or to blame for what has happened I am a miserable wretch who has displeased you without being able to help myself ah cried Belissima 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 chanting 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 feet and held her by her rope but alas in so doing he let fall the magic sword and the yellow dwarf who is crouching behind the lettuce no sooner saw it than he sprang out and seized it well knowing its wonderful power 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 rivals 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 cry the unhappy king alas cried the princess was to die could anything be more terrible that you should marry that little wretch would be far more terrible answer 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 to the dwarf rather than 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 releasing with tears and cries he stabbed the king to the heart with a 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 a diamond sword as for the wicked dwarf he preferred to see the princess dead rather than marry to the king of the gold mines at the ferry 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 palm trees which stand always side by side whispering together of their faithful love and caressing one another with her interlacing branches end of story recording by Ed Good little red riding hood in the blue fairy book this is a LibriVox recording for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Karen Savage the blue fairy book by Andrew Lang 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 had made for her a little red riding hood which became the girl self extremely well that everybody called her little red riding hood one day her mother having made some custard said to her Bill my dear and see how that grandmother 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 dared not because of some faggot makers hard-buying the forest he asked her whether she was going the poor child who did not know that it was dangerous to stay and hear a wolf talk said to him her grandmother and carry her a custard and a little pot of butter from my mama does she live far off asked the wolf oh I as a 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 if you go that and we shall see who will be there the soonest the wolf began to ram 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 a ma 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 then he shut the door and went into the grandmother's bed expecting little red riding hood who came some time afterward and knocked at the door tap tap who's there little red riding hood hearing the pink voice of the wolf was at first afraid but believing her grandmother had got a cold and was hoarse answered it is your grandchild little red riding hood who has brought you a custard and a little pot of butter and the ma sent 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 bedclothes 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 nightclothes she said to her grandmama what great hours you have got that is the better to hug thee my dear grandmama what great legs you have got that is to run the better my child grandmama what great ears you have got what is the better to hear my child grandmama what great eyes you have got it is to see the better my child grandmama 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 end of little red riding hood sleeping beauty of the wood from the blue fairy book this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org read by Betsy Bush in Marquette, Michigan, July 2007 The Blue Fairy Book by Andrew Laying 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 always 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 godmothers 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 50 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 which could not furnish her with a case of gold as the others because they had only seven 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 youngest 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 instruments 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 this terrible gift made the whole company tremble and everybody fell crying at this very instant the young fairy came out from behind the hangings and spake these words aloud assure yourselves oh 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 distuff 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 woman had never heard of the king's proclamation against spindles what are you doing there goodie? said the princess I am spinning my pretty child said the old woman who did not know who she was huh! said the princess this is very pretty how do you do it give it to me that I may see if I can do so she had no sooner taken it into her hand than whether being very hasty at it, somewhat unhandy or that the decree of the fairy had so ordained it it ran into her hand and she fell down in a swoon the good old woman, not knowing very well what to do in this affair cried out for help people came in from every quarter in great numbers they threw water upon the princess's face unlaced her, struck her on the palms of her hands and rubbed her temples with hungry water but nothing could bring her to herself and now the king who came up at the noise bethought himself of the prediction of the fairies and judging very well that this must necessarily come to pass since the fairies had said it caused the princess to be carried into the finest apartment in his palace and to be laid upon a bed all embroidered with gold and silver one would have taken her for a little angel she was so very beautiful for her swooning away had not diminished one bit of her complexion her cheeks were carnation and her lips were coral indeed her eyes were shut but she was heard to breathe softly which satisfied those about her that she was not dead the king commanded that they should not disturb her but let her sleep quietly till her hour of awakening was come the good fairy who had saved her life by condemning her to sleep a hundred years was in the kingdom of Madakin, twelve thousand leagues off when this accident befell the princess but she was instantly informed of it by a little dwarf who had boots of seven leagues that is boots with which he could tread over seven leagues of ground in one stride the fairy came away immediately and she arrived about an hour later in a fiery chariot drawn by dragons the king handed her out of the chariot and she approved everything he had done but as she had very great foresight she thought when the princess should awake she might not know what to do with herself being all alone in this old palace and this was what she did she touched with her wand everything in the palace except the king and queen governesses, maids of honor with the bed-chamber, gentlemen, officers stewards, cooks, under-cooks skullions, guards with their beef-eaters pages, footmen she likewise touched all the horses which were in the stables, pads as well as others the great dogs in the outward court and pretty little mobsie too the princesses little spaniel which lay by her on the bed immediately upon her touching them they all fell asleep that they might not awake before their mistress and that they might be ready to wait upon her when she wanted them the fire, as full as they could hold of partridges and pheasants, did fall asleep also all this was done in a moment fairies are not long in doing their business and now the king and the queen having kissed their dear child without waking her went out of the palace and put forth a proclamation that nobody should dare to come near it this however was not necessary for in a quarter of an hour's time there grew up all around the park such a vast number of trees great and small, bushes and brambles twining one within another that neither man nor beast could pass through so that nothing could be seen but the very top of the towers of the palace and that too, not unless it was a good way off nobody doubted but the fairy gave herein a very extraordinary sample of her art that the princess while she continued sleeping might have nothing to fear from any curious people when a hundred years were gone and passed the son of the king then reigning and who was of another family from that of the sleeping princess being gone hunting on that side of the country asked what those towers were which he saw in the middle of a great thick wood everyone answered according as they had heard some said that it was a ruinous old castle haunted by spirits others that all the sorcerers and witches of the country kept there their sabbath or knight's meeting the common opinion was that an ogre lived there and that he carried a thither all the little children he could catch that he might eat them up at his leisure without anybody being able to follow him as having himself only the power to pass through the wood the prince was at a stand not knowing what to believe when a very good countryman spake to him thus may it please your royal highness it is now about fifty years since I heard from my father who heard my grandfather say that there was then in this castle a princess the most beautiful was ever seen that she must sleep there a hundred years and should be waked by a king's son for whom she was reserved the young prince was all on fire these words believing without weighing the matter made an end to this rare adventure and pushed on by love and honour resolved that moment to look into it scarce had he advanced toward the wood when all the giant trees, the bushes and brambles gave way of themselves to let him pass through he walked up to the castle which he saw at the end of a large avenue which he went into and what a little surprised him was that he saw none of his people could follow him because the trees closed again as soon as he had passed through them a young and amorous prince is always valiant he came into a spacious onward court where everything he saw might have frozen the most fearless person with horror there rained all over a most frightful silence the image of death everywhere showed itself and there was nothing to be seen but stretched out bodies of men and animals all seeming to be dead he however very well knew by the ruby faces and pimpled noses of the beef eaters that they were only asleep and their goblets wherein still remained some drops of wine showed plainly that they fell asleep in their cups he then crossed a court paved with marble went up the stairs and came into the guard chamber where guards were standing in their ranks with their muskets upon their shoulders and snoring as loud as they could after that he went through several rooms full of gentlemen and ladies all asleep some standing others sitting at last he came into a chamber all gilded with gold where he saw upon a bed the curtains of which were all open the finest sight was ever beheld a princess who appeared to be about fifteen or sixteen years of age and who is bright and in a manner resplendent beauty had somewhat in it divine he approached with trembling and admiration and fell down upon his knees and now as the enchantment was at an end the princess awaked and looking on him with eyes more tender than the first view might seem to admit of is it you my prince? said she to him, you have waited a long while the prince with these words and much more with a manner in which they were spoken knew not how to show his joy and gratitude he assured her that he loved her better than he did himself their discourse was not well connected they did weep more than talk little eloquence a great deal of love he was more at a loss than she and we need not wonder at it she had time to think on what to say to him for it is very probable though history mentions nothing of it that the good fairy during so long asleep had given her very agreeable dreams in short they talked four hours together and yet they said not half what they had to say in the meanwhile all the palace awaked everyone thought upon their particular business and as all of them were not in love they were ready to die for hunger the chief lady of honor being as sharp said as other folks grew very impatient and told the princess aloud that supper was served up the prince helped the princess to rise she was entirely dressed and very magnificently the princess took care not to tell her that she was dressed like his great grandmother and had a point band peeping over a high collar she looked not a bit less charming and beautiful for all that they went into the great hall of looking glasses where they sucked and were served by the princesses officers the violins and hoe boys played old tunes but very excellent though it was now above a hundred years since they had played and after supper without losing any time the lord almoner married them in the chapel of the castle and the chief lady of honor drew the curtains they had but very little sleep the princess had no occasion and the prince left her next morning to return to the city where his father must needs have been in pain for him the prince told him that he lost his way in the forest as he was hunting and that he had lain in the cottage of a charcoal burner who gave him cheese and brown bread the king his father who was a good man believed him but his mother could not be persuaded it was true and seeing that he went almost every day hunting and that he always had some excuse ready for so doing though he had lain out three or four nights together she began to suspect that he was married for he lived with the princess about two whole years and had by her two children the eldest of which who was a daughter was named mourning and the youngest who was a son they called a day because he was a great deal handsomer and more beautiful than his sister the queen spoke several times to her son to inform herself after what manner he did pass his time and that in this he ought in duty to satisfy her but he never dared to trust her with his secret he feared her though he loved her for she was of the race of the ogres and the king would never have married her had it not been for her vast riches it was even whispered about the court that she had ogreish inclinations and that whenever she saw little children passing by she had all the difficulties in the world to avoid falling upon them and so the prince would never tell her one word but when the king was dead which happened about two years afterward and he saw himself lord and master and he went in great ceremony to conduct his queen to the palace they made a magnificent entry into the capital city she riding between her two children soon after the king went to make war with the emperor of Kantalabut his neighbor he left the government of the kingdom to the queen his mother and earnestly recommended to her care his wife and children he was obliged to continue his expedition all the summer and as soon as he departed the queen mother sent her daughter-in-law to a country house among the woods that she might with the more ease of her horrible longing some few days afterward she went to thither herself and said to her clerk of the kitchen I have a mind to eat little morning for my dinner to-morrow Ah madam! cried the clerk of the kitchen I will have it so replied the queen and this she spoke in the tone of an ogreish who had a strong desire to eat fresh meat and will eat her with a sauce, Robert the poor man knowing very well that he must not play tricks with ogreises took his great knife and went up into little morning's chamber she was then four years old and came up to him jumping and laughing to take him about the neck and ask him for some sugar candy upon which he began to weep the great knife fell out of his hand and he went into the back yard and killed a little lamb and dressed it with some good sauce that his mistress assured him that she had never eaten anything so good in her life he had at the same time taken up little morning and carried her to his wife to conceal her in the lodging five days afterward the wicked queen said to the clerk of the kitchen I will sup on little day he answered not a word being resolved to cheat her as he had done before he went to find out little day and saw him with a little foil in his hand with which he was fencing with a great monkey the child being then only three years of age he took him up in his arms and carried him to his wife that she might conceal him in her chamber along with his sister and in the room of little day cooked up a young kid very tender which the ogres found to be wonderfully good this was hitherto all mighty well but one evening this wicked queen said to her clerk of the kitchen I will eat the queen with the same sauce I had with her children it was now that the poor clerk of the kitchen despaired of being able to deceive her the young queen was turned of twenty not reckoning the hundred years she had been asleep and now defined in the yard a beast so firm was what puzzled him he took then a resolution that he might save his own life to cut the queen's throat and going up into her chamber with intent to do it at once he put himself into as great fury as he could possibly and came into the young queen's room with his dagger in his hand he would not however surprise her but told her with a great deal of respect the orders he had received from the queen mother do it, do it said she stretching out her neck execute your orders and then I shall go and see my children, my poor children whom I so much and so tenderly love for she thought them dead ever since they had been taken away without her knowledge no no madam cried to the poor clerk of the kitchen all in tears you shall not die and yet you shall see your children again but then you must go home with me at my lodgings where I have concealed them and I shall deceive the queen once more by giving her in your stead a young hind upon this he forthwith conducted her to his chamber where leaving her to embrace her children and cry along with them the young hind which the queen had for her supper and devoured it with the same appetite as if it had been the young queen exceedingly was she delighted with her cruelty and she had invented a story to tell the king at his return how the mad wolves had eaten up the queen his wife and her two children one evening as she was according to her custom rambling round about the courts and yards of the palace to see if she could smell any fresh meat she heard in a ground room little day crying for his mama was going to whip him as he had been naughty and she heard at the same time little morning begging pardon for her brother the ogres presently knew the voice of the queen and her children and being quite mad that she had been thus deceived she commanded next morning by break of day with the most horrible voice which made everybody tremble that they should bring into the middle of the great court a large tub which she caused to be filled with toads vipers snakes and all sorts of serpents in order to have thrown into it the queen and her children the clerk of the kitchen his wife and maid all whom she had given orders should be brought thither with their hands tied behind them they were brought out accordingly and the executioners were just going to throw them into the tub when the king who was not so soon expected entered the court on horseback for he came post and asked with the utmost astonishment what was the meaning of this horrible spectacle no one dared to tell him when the ogres all enraged to see what had happened threw herself head foremost into the tub and was instantly devoured by the ugly creatures she had ordered to be thrown into it for others the king could not but be very sorry for she was his mother but he soon comforted himself with his beautiful wife and his pretty children and of the sleeping beauty in the wood from the blue fairy book cinderella or the little glass slipper at the blue fairy book this is a lubrovox recording all lubrovox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit lubrovox.org this reading by Lucy Bergeron the blue fairy book by Andrew Lang Chapter 7 Cinderella or the little glass slipper once there was a gentleman who married for his second wife the proudest and most haughty woman that ever was seen she had by a former husband two daughters of her own humour who were indeed exactly like her in all things he had likewise by another wife a young daughter that of unparalleled goodness and sweetness of temper which she took from her mother who was the best creature in the world no sooner were the ceremonies of the wedding over but the mother-in-law began to show herself in her true colours she could not bear the good qualities of this pretty girl and the less because they made her own daughters the more odious she employed her in the meanest work at the house she scaled the dishes, tables etc and scrubbed Madam's chamber and those of Mrs. her daughters she lay up in a sorry garret upon a wretched sprawl bed while her sisters lay in fine rooms with floors all inlaid upon beds of the very newest fashion and where they had looking glasses so large that they might see themselves at their full length from head to foot the poor girl bore all patiently and did not tell her father who would have rattled her off that his wife governed him entirely when she had done her work she used to go into the chimney corner and sit down among cinders and ashes which made her commonly be called cinder wench but the youngest who was not so rude and uncivil as the eldest called her Cinderella however Cinderella notwithstanding her mean apparel was a hundred times handsomer than her sisters though they were always dressed very richly it happened that the king's son gave a ball and invited all persons of fashion to it our young missus were also invited so they cut a very grand figure among the quality they were mightily delighted at this invitation and wonderfully busy in choosing out such gowns petticoats and head clothes as might become them this was a new trouble to Cinderella for it was she who ironed her sister's linen and plaited their ruffles they talked all day long of nothing but how they should be dressed for my part said the eldest I will wear my red velvet suit with french trimming and I said the youngest usual petticoat but then to make amends for that I will put on my gold flowered manteau and the diamond stomacher which is far from being the most ordinary one in the world they said for the best tire woman they could get to make up their head dresses and adjust their double pinners and they had their red brushes and patches from mademoiselle de la poche Cinderella was likewise called up to them to be consulted in all these matters for she had excellent notions and advised them always for the best and offered her services to dress their heads which they were very willing she should do as she was doing this they said to her Cinderella would you not be glad to go to the ball alas said she it is not for such as I am to go further she replied they it would make the people laugh to see a cinderella at a ball anyone but Cinderella would have dressed their heads already but she was very good and dressed them perfectly well they were almost two days without eating so much where they transported with joy they broke above a dozen laces in trying to be laced up close that they might have a fine slender shape and they were continually at last the happy day came they went to court and Cinderella followed them with her eyes as long as she could and when she had lost sight of them she fell a prying her godmother who saw her all in tears asked her what was the matter I wish I could I wish I could she was not able to speak the rest being interrupted by her tears and sobbing this godmother of hers said to her thou wishes thou couldst go to the ball is it not so yes cried Cinderella with a great sigh well said her godmother be that a good girl and I will contrive that they shall go then she took her into her chamber and said to her running to the garden and bring me a pumpkin Cinderella went immediately to gather the finest she could get to her godmother not being able to imagine how this pumpkin could make her go to the ball her godmother scooped out all the inside of it having left nothing but the rind which done she struck it with her wand and the pumpkin was instantly turned into a fine coat filtered all over with gold she then went to look into her mousetrap where she found six mice all alive Cinderella to lift up a little the trap door when sitting each mouse as it went out a little tap with her wand the mouse was that moment turned into a fine horse which all together made a very fine set of six horses a beautiful mouse coloured dapple grey being at a loss for a coachman I will go and see says Cinderella if there is never a rat in the rat trap we may make a coachman of him though art in the right replied her godmother Cinderella brought the trap to her and in it there were three huge rats the fairy made choice of one of the three which had the largest beard and having touched him with her wand he was turned into a fat jolly coachman who had the smartest whiskers eyes ever beheld after that she said to her go again into the garden and you will find six lizards behind the watering pot bring them to me she had no sooner done so but her godmother turned them into six footmen who skipped up immediately behind the coach with their liveries all bedorved with gold and silver and clung as close behind each other as if they had done nothing else their whole lives the fairy then said to Cinderella well you see the page fit to go to the ball with are you not pleased with it oh yes that must I go with her as I am in these nasty rags her godmother only just touched her with her wand and at the same instant her clothes were turned into cloth of gold and silver all beset with jewels this done she gave her a pair of glass slippers the prettiest in the whole world being thus decked out she got up into her coach that her godmother above all things commanded her not to stay till after midnight telling her at the same time that if she stayed one moment longer the coach would be a pumpkin again her horse's mice her coachmen a rat her footmen lizards and her clothes become just as they were before she promised her godmother she would not fail of leaving the ball before midnight and then away she drives scared able to contain herself for joy the king's son who was told that a great princess whom nobody knew was come ran out to receive her he gave her his hand as she alighted out of the coach and let her into the ball among all the company there was immediately a profound silence they looked up dancing and the violins ceased to play so attentive was everyone to contemplate the singular beauties of the unknown newcomer nothing was then heard but a confused noise of ah how handsome she is ah how handsome she is the king himself old as he was could not help watching her and telling the queen softly that it was a long time since he had seen so beautiful a creature all the ladies were busied in considering her clothes and headdress that they might have some made next day after the same pattern provided they could meet with such fine material and as able hands to make them the king's son conducted her to the most honourable feet and afterwards took her out to dance with him she danced so very gracefully that they all more and more admired her her son Collation was served up whereof the young prince ate not a morsel so intently was he busied engaging on her she went and sat down by her sisters showing them a thousand civilities giving them part of the oranges and citrons which the prince had presented her with which very much surprised them but they did not know her while Cinderella was thus amusing her sisters she heard the clock strike eleven and three quarters whereupon she immediately made a curtsy to the company and hosted away as fast as she could when she got home she ran to seek out her godmother and after having thanked her she said she could not but heartily wish she might go next day to the ball because the king's son had desired her as she was eagerly telling her godmother whatever had passed at the ball her two sisters knocked at the door which Cinderella ran and opened how long you have stayed right she gaping rubbing her eyes and stretching herself as if she had been just waked out of her sleep she had not however any manner of inclination to sleep since they went from home if theirs hadn't been at the ball said one of her sisters they would not have been tired with it they came to the finest princess the most beautiful ever was seen with mortal eyes she showed us a thousand civilities and gave us oranges and citrons Cinderella seemed very indifferent in the matter indeed she asked them the name of that princess but they told her they did not know it and that the king's son was very uneasy on her account and would give all the world to know what it was at this Cinderella smiling replied she must then be very beautiful indeed how happy you have been could not I say her ah dear Miss Charlotte do lend me your yellow suit of clothes which you wear every day ah to be sure cried Miss Charlotte lend my clothes to such a dirty Cinderella as they are I should be a fool Cinderella indeed expected well such answer and was very glad of the refusal for she would have been sadly put to it if her sister had lent her what she asked for justinly the next day the two sisters were at the ball and so was Cinderella that dressed more magnificently than before the king's son was always by her and never ceased his compliments and kind speeches to her to whom all this was so far from being tiresome that she quite forgot what her grandmother had recommended to her so that she at last counted the clock striking 12 when she took it to be no more than 11 she then rose up and fled as nimble as a deer the prince followed but could not overtake her she left behind one of her glass slippers which the prince took up most carefully she got home the quiet and had a breath and in her nasty old clothes having nothing left her of all her finery but one of the little slippers fellow to that she dropped the guards at the palace gate were asked if they had not seen a princess go out who said they had seen nobody go out but a young girl very meanly dressed and who had more the air of a poor country wench the princess returned from the ball Cinderella asked them if they had been well diverted and if the fine lady had been there they told her yes but that she had hurried away immediately when it struck 12 and with so much haste that she dropped one of her little glass slippers the prettiest in the world which the king's son had taken up that he had done nothing but look at her all the time at the ball and certainly he was very much in love with the beautiful person who owned the glass slipper what they said was very true for a few days after the king's son caused it to be proclaimed by sound of trumpet that he would marry her whose foot the slipper would just fit they whom he employed began to try it upon the princesses then the duchesses and all the court but in vain it was brought the two sisters who did all they possibly could to thrust their foot into the slipper but they could not affect it Cinderella who saw all this and knew her slipper said to them laughing let me see if it will not fit me her sisters burst out laughing and began to banter her the gentleman who was sent to try the slipper looked earnestly at Cinderella and finding her very handsome said it was but just that she should try and that he had orders to let everyone make trial he obliged Cinderella to sit down and putting the slipper to her foot he found it went on very easily and fitted her as if it had been made of wax the astonishment of her two sisters were in was excessively great but still abundantly greater when Cinderella pulled out of her pocket slipper and put it on her foot thereupon in came her godmother who having touched with a wand Cinderella's clothes made them richer and more magnificent than any of those she had before and now her two sisters found her to be that fine beautiful lady whom they had seen at the ball they threw themselves at her feet to beg pardon for all the ill treatment they had made her undergo Cinderella took them up and as she embraced them cried that she forgave them with all her heart and desired them always to love her she was conducted to the young prince dressed as she was he thought her more charming than ever and a few days after married her Cinderella who was no less good than beautiful gave her two sisters lodgings in the palace very same day matched them with two great lords of the court End of Chapter 7 he would do nothing but play ball all day long in the streets with little idle boys like himself this so grieved of the father that he died yet in spite of his mother's tears and prayers Aladdin did not mend his ways one day when he was playing in the streets as usual a stranger asked him his age and if he was not the son of Mustafa the tailor I am, sir replied Aladdin but he died a long while ago on this the stranger who wa