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〃Behold the brave Charming； who has killed the giant！〃
And their shouts reached the Princess's ear； but she dared
not ask what was happening； for fear she should hear that
Charming had been killed。 But very soon he arrived at
the palace with the giant's head； of which she was still
terrified； though it could no longer do her any harm。
〃Princess；〃 said Charming； 〃I have killed your enemy；
I hope you will now consent to marry the King my master。〃
〃Oh dear！ no；〃 said the Princess； 〃not until you have
brought me some water from the Gloomy Cavern。
〃Not far from here there is a deep cave； the entrance to
which is guarded by two dragons with fiery eyes； who will
not allow anyone to pass them。 When you get into the
cavern you will find an immense hole； which you must go
down； and it is full of toads and snakes； at the bottom of
this hole there is another little cave； in which rises the
Fountain of Health and Beauty。 It is some of this water
that I really must have： everything it touches becomes
wonderful。 The beautiful things will always remain
beautiful； and the ugly things become lovely。 If one is
young one never grows old； and if one is old one becomes
young。 You see； Charming； I could not leave my kingdom
without taking some of it with me。〃
〃Princess；〃 said he； 〃you at least can never need this
water； but I am an unhappy ambassador； whose death
you desire。 Where you send me I will go； though I know
I shall never return。〃
And； as the Princess Goldilocks showed no sign of
relenting； he started with his little dog for the Gloomy
Cavern。 Everyone he met on the way said：
〃What a pity that a handsome young man should
throw away his life so carelessly！ He is going to the cavern
alone； though if he had a hundred men with him he could
not succeed。 Why does the Princess ask impossibilities？〃
Charming said nothing； but he was very sad。 When
he was near the top of a hill he dismounted to let his horse
graze； while Frisk amused himself by chasing flies。
Charming knew he could not be far from the Gloomy
Cavern； and on looking about him he saw a black hideous
rock from which came a thick smoke； followed in a moment
by one of the dragons with fire blazing from his
mouth and eyes。 His body was yellow and green； and his
claws scarlet； and his tail was so long that it lay in a
hundred coils。 Frisk was so terrified at the sight of it that
he did not know where to hide。 Charming； quite determined
to get the water or die； now drew his sword； and；
taking the crystal flask which Pretty Goldilocks had
given him to fill； said to Frisk：
〃I feel sure that I shall never come back from this
expedition； when I am dead； go to the Princess and tell
her that her errand has cost me my life。 Then find the
King my master； and relate all my adventures to him。〃
As he spoke he heard a voice calling： 〃Charming；
Charming！〃
〃Who calls me？〃 said he； then he saw an owl sitting in
a hollow tree； who said to him：
〃You saved my life when I was caught in the net； now
I can repay you。 Trust me with the flask； for I know all
the ways of the Gloomy Cavern； and can fill it from the
Fountain of Beauty。〃 Charming was only too glad to
give her the flask； and she flitted into the cavern quite
unnoticed by the dragon； and after some time returned
with the flask； filled to the very brim with sparkling water。
Charming thanked her with all his heart； and joyfully
hastened back to the town。
He went straight to the palace and gave the flask to the
Princess； who had no further objection to make。 So she
thanked Charming； and ordered that preparations should
be made for her departure； and they soon set out together。
The Princess found Charming such an agreeable companion
that she sometimes said to him： 〃Why didn't we stay
where we were？ I could have made you king； and we
should have been so happy！〃
But Charming only answered：
〃I could not have done anything that would have
vexed my master so much； even for a kingdom； or to
please you； though I think you are as beautiful as the
sun。〃
At last they reached the King's great city； and he came
out to meet the Princess； bringing magnificent presents；
and the marriage was celebrated with great rejoicings。
But Goldilocks was so fond of Charming that she could
not be happy unless he was near her； and she was always
singing his praises。
〃If it hadn't been for Charming；〃 she said to the King；
〃I should never have come here； you ought to be very
much obliged to him； for he did the most impossible things
and got me water from the Fountain of Beauty； so I can
never grow old； and shall get prettier every year。〃
Then Charming's enemies said to the King：
〃It is a wonder that you are not jealous； the Queen
thinks there is nobody in the world like Charming。 As if
anybody you had sent could not have done just as much！〃
〃It is quite true； now I come to think of it；〃 said the
King。 〃Let him be chained hand and foot； and thrown
into the tower。〃
So they took Charming； and as a reward for having
served the King so faithfully he was shut up in the tower；
where he only saw the jailer； who brought him a piece of
black bread and a pitcher of water every day。
However； little Frisk came to console him； and told
him all the news。
When Pretty Goldilocks heard what had happened she
threw herself at the King's feet and begged him to set
Charming free； but the more she cried； the more angry he
was； and at last she saw that it was useless to say any
more； but it made her very sad。 Then the King took it
into his head that perhaps he was not handsome enough
to please the Princess Goldilocks； and he thought he
would bathe his face with the water from the Fountain
of Beauty； which was in the flask on a shelf in the Princess's
room； where she had placed it that she might see it often。
Now it happened that one of the Princess's ladies in chasing
a spider had knocked the flask off the shelf and broken
it； and every drop of the water had been spilt。 Not knowing
what to do； she had hastily swept away the pieces of
crystal； and then remembered that in the King's room
she had seen a flask of exactly the same shape； also filled
with sparkling water。 So； without saying a word； she
fetched it and stood it upon the Queen's shelf。
Now the water in this flask was what was used in the
kingdom for getting rid of troublesome people。 Instead
of having their heads cut off in the usual way； their faces
were bathed with the water； and they instantly fell asleep
and never woke up any more。 So； when the King； thinking
to improve his beauty； took the flask and sprinkled
the water upon his face； HE fell asleep； and nobody could
wake him。
Little Frisk was the first to hear the news； and he ran
to tell Charming； who sent him to beg the Princess not to
forget the poor prisoner。 All the palace was in confusion
on account of the King's death； but tiny Frisk made his
way through the crowd to the Princess's side； and said：
〃Madam； do not forget poor Charming。〃
Then she remembered all he had done for her； and without
saying a word to anyone went straight to the tower；
and with her own hands took off Charming's chains。
Then； putting a golden crown upon his head； and the royal
mantle upon his shoulders； she said：
〃Come； faithful Charming； I make you king； and will
take you for my husband。〃
Charming； once more free and happy； fell at her feet
and thanked her for her gracious words。
Everybody was delighted that he should be king； and
the wedding； which took place at once； was the prettiest
that can be imagined； and Prince Charming and Princess
Goldilocks lived happily ever after。＇1＇
＇1＇ Madame d'Aulnoy。