按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
cried the Queen； ‘that will be something quite new。' The
old fairy whistled twice； then she cried：
〃‘Apricots； peaches； nectarines； cherries； plums； pears；
melons； grapes； apples； oranges； lemons； gooseberries；
strawberries； raspberries； come！'
〃And in an instant they came tumbling in one over
another； and yet they were neither dusty nor spoilt； and
the Queen found them quite as good as she had fancied
them。 You see they grew upon fairy trees。
〃The old fairy gave her golden baskets in which to take
the fruit away； and it was as much as four hundred mules
could carry。 Then she reminded the Queen of her agreement；
and led her back to the camp； and next morning
she went back to her kingdom； but before she had gone
very far she began to repent of her bargain； and when the
King came out to meet her she looked so sad that he
guessed that something had happened； and asked what
was the matter。 At first the Queen was afraid to tell him；
but when； as soon as they reached the palace； five frightful
little dwarfs were sent by the fairies to fetch me； she
was obliged to confess what she had promised。 The
King was very angry； and had the Queen and myself shut
up in a great tower and safely guarded； and drove the
little dwarfs out of his kingdom； but the fairies sent a
great dragon who ate up all the people he met； and whose
breath burnt up everything as he passed through the
country； and at last； after trying in vain to rid himself of
this monster； the King； to save his subjects； was obliged
to consent that I should be given up to the fairies。 This
time they came themselves to fetch me； in a chariot of
pearl drawn by sea…horses； followed by the dragon； who
was led with chains of diamonds。 My cradle was placed
between the old fairies； who loaded me with caresses； and
away we whirled through the air to a tower which they
had built on purpose for me。 There I grew up surrounded
with everything that was beautiful and rare； and learning
everything that is ever taught to a princess； but without
any companions but a parrot and a little dog； who could
both talk； and receiving every day a visit from one of the
old fairies； who came mounted upon the dragon。 One
day； however； as I sat at my window I saw a handsome
young prince； who seemed to have been hunting in the
forest which surrounded my prison； and who was standing
and looking up at me。 When he saw that I observed him
he saluted me with great deference。 You can imagine
that I was delighted to have some one new to talk to； and
in spite of the height of my window our conversation was
prolonged till night fell； then my prince reluctantly bade
me farewell。 But after that he came again many times
and at last I consented to marry him； but the question
was how was I to escape from my tower。 The fairies
always supplied me with flax for my spinning； and by
great diligence I made enough cord for a ladder that would
reach to the foot of the tower； but； alas！ just as my prince
was helping me to descend it； the crossest and ugliest of
the old fairies flew in。 Before he had time to defend
himself my unhappy lover was swallowed up by the dragon。
As for me； the fairies； furious at having their plans
defeated； for they intended me to marry the king of the
dwarfs； and I utterly refused； changed me into a white
cat。 When they brought me here I found all the lords
and ladies of my father's court awaiting me under the
same enchantment； while the people of lesser rank had
been made invisible； all but their hands。
〃As they laid me under the enchantment the fairies
told me all my history； for until then I had quite believed
that I was their child； and warned me that my only
chance of regaining my natural form was to win the love
of a prince who resembled in every way my unfortunate
lover。
〃And you have won it； lovely Princess；〃 interrupted
the Prince。
〃You are indeed wonderfully like him；〃 resumed the
Princess〃in voice； in features； and everything； and if
you really love me all my troubles will be at an end。〃
〃And mine too；〃 cried the Prince； throwing himself at
her feet； 〃if you will consent to marry me。〃
〃I love you already better than anyone in the world；〃
she said； 〃but now it is time to go back to your father； and
we shall hear what he says about it。〃
So the Prince gave her his hand and led her out； and
they mounted the chariot together； it was even more
splendid than before； and so was the whole company。
Even the horses' shoes were of rubies with diamond nails；
and I suppose that is the first time such a thing was ever
seen。
As the Princess was as kind and clever as she was
beautiful； you may imagine what a delightful journey the
Prince found it； for everything the Princess said seemed
to him quite charming。
When they came near the castle where the brothers
were to meet； the Princess got into a chair carried by four
of the guards； it was hewn out of one splendid crystal； and
had silken curtains； which she drew round her that she
might not be seen。
The Prince saw his brothers walking upon the terrace；
each with a lovely princess； and they came to meet him；
asking if he had also found a wife。 He said that he had
found something much rarera white cat！ At which they
laughed very much； and asked him if he was afraid of
being eaten up by mice in the palace。 And then they set
out together for the town。 Each prince and princess rode
in a splendid carriage； the horses were decked with plumes
of feathers； and glittered with gold。 After them came the
youngest prince； and last of all the crystal chair； at which
everybody looked with admiration and curiosity。 When
the courtiers saw them coming they hastened to tell the
King。
〃Are the ladies beautiful？〃 he asked anxiously。
And when they answered that nobody had ever before
seen such lovely princesses he seemed quite annoyed。
However； he received them graciously； but found it
impossible to choose between them。
Then turning to his youngest son he said：
〃Have you come back alone； after all？〃
〃Your Majesty；〃 replied the Prince； 〃will find in that
crystal chair a little white cat； which has such soft paws；
and mews so prettily； that I am sure you will be charmed
with it。〃
The King smiled； and went to draw back the curtains
himself； but at a touch from the Princess the crystal
shivered into a thousand splinters； and there she stood in
all her beauty； her fair hair floated over her shoulders and
was crowned with flowers； and her softly falling robe was
of the purest white。 She saluted the King gracefully；
while a murmur of admiration rose from all around。
〃Sire；〃 she said； 〃I am not come to deprive you of the
throne you fill so worthily。 I have already six kingdoms；
permit me to bestow one upon you； and upon each of your
sons。 I ask nothing but your friendship； and your consent
to my marriage with your youngest son； we shall still have
three kingdoms left for ourselves。〃
The King and all the courtiers could not conceal their
joy and astonishment； and the marriage of the three
Princes was celebrated at once。 The festivities lasted
several months； and then each king and queen departed to
their own kingdom and lived happily ever after。＇1＇
＇1＇ La Chatte blanche。 Par Madame la Comtesse d'Aulnoy。