"Young prince, do not seek here for the adder you brought hither. It is here no longer, and you find me in its place to pay you its debt. But to speak more plainly: well, I am fairy Gentille, famous for the many merry and dexterous tricks I know how to perform. All our family live for a hundred years without growing old. We are never ill: we have no sorrows or pains. That time over, we become adders for eight days. It is this period alone that is dangerous for us, for then we can neither foresee nor prevent any misfortunes that may happen to us; and if we are killed we never live again. The eight days past, we assume once more our ordinary shape, our beauty, our power, and our treasures. Now you understand, my lord, what I owe you, and it is only just that I should pay my debt. Think, therefore, what would be useful to you, and be sure of my good will."The young prince, who up to this time had had no dealings with the fairies, was so filled with astonishment that it was long before h
"Old skeptic, if you do not believe what your wife says, you will pay for your doubt with your life. Break off your daughter's wedding, and give her up at once to the man she loves."These words produced a wonderful effect. Without more ado they despatched the bridegroom, telling him they would not have broken off the match but for orders from on high.He did not believe what they said, and would have sought to gain his end by trickery, for he was a Norman; but Ariel shouted so loud in his ear that he was nearly deafened, and to make sure of his departure, he trod so hard on his gouty feet that he nearly squeezed them flat. So they ran to seek for the lover in the wood, who in the meanwhile was in despair.Ariel was waiting for him with the utmost impatience, only less than that of his young mistress. The lover and his bride nearly died of joy. The feast prepared for the old mans wedding served for the happy lovers, and Ariel taking his human shape again, appeared suddenly at the hail
I shall not be beaten," said Ariel, still in the parrot's voice. "She will tell you how much the stranger wished he might come into this palace, to root out from your mind your false ideas against his sex.""Really, my pretty Polly," cried the princess, "it is quite a pity that you are not as amusing every day. I would love you dearly.""Ah if I need only talk to please you," said Ariel, "l shall not stop talking for a minute.""Well, no," said the princess. "Would you not certainly say this parrot was a wizard?""He is too much of a lover to be a wizard," he answered.At that moment Abricotine entered; and threw herself at her fair mistress's feet, she told her adventure, and painted the prince's portrait in the brightest and most pleasing colours."I should have hated all men," she added, "if I had not seen him. Ah! madam, how charming he is! In his look and his whole manner there is something noble and spiritual, and as everything he says is most fascinating, I think I have done wi
At these words Ariel was on the point of making himself known, but he dared not do it yet. "If I terrify this lady whom I love," he said; "if she fears me, she will never love me." This thought made him keep silence, and induced him to retire into a corner of the grotto.The princess, thinking she was alone, called for Abricotine, and told her the wonders of the animated statue, whose voice was so heavenly, and that in her swoon Arjel had tended her so well."What a pity," she said, "that this spirit is deformed and hideous, for could anyone have more gracious and pleasant manners?""And who told you," said Abricotine, "that he is as you imagine him to be? Did not Psyche think that love was a serpent? Your adventure is something like hers. You are no less beautiful. If it were Cupid that loved you, would you not love him?""If Cupid and the unknown were the same," said the princess, blushing, "alas! I would indeed love Cupid. But how far I am from such happiness! I am following a chim
"Ayos lang ba yong kwento?""Yon lang po ba? May iba ka pa ho bang kwento hehe?" Sabi nong batang nasa gitna."Gusto pa po naming makinig." Saad naman nong isa.My god, mauubos yata laway ko nito sa kakakwento eh."Okay sige. Narinig niyo na ba ang kwento na ang pamagat ay the blue bird?" Umiling naman silang tatlo."There was once upon a time a king who was very rich in lands and money. When his wife died he was inconsolable, and for eight whole days he shut himself up in a little room, and knocked his head against the wall, so desperate was he.They feared lest he should kill himself, and they therefore put mattresses between the tapestry and the wall, so that however hard he might strike his head, he could do himself no harm. All his subjects planned amongst themselves to go and see him, and to say everything they could think of as likely to comfort him in his sorrow. Some of them made up grave and serious speeches; others again went with cheerful, even gay words on their tongues,
Now the day of their escape being fixed, the king came to take the princess away in a flying chaise, drawn by winged frogs, which one of his friends, a wizard, had made him a present of. The night was very dark. Truitonne crept out of a little door with great mystery, and the king, who was waiting for her, received her in his arms and swore eternal faithfulness to her. But as he had no desire to go flying through the air in this chaise for ever so long without marrying the princess whom he loved, he asked her when she would like their wedding to take place.She told him that she had for god-mother a very celebrated fairy called Soussio, and that she wished to go and visit her at her castle, Although the king did not know the way, he had nothing to do but tell his big frogs to take them there, for they knew the chart of the whole world, and in no time they landed the king and Truitonne at Soussio's dwelling.The castle was so brilliantly lighted that there the king would have found out
"Do I in truth see you again, my princess?" he cried. "Can I taste such perfect happiness and not die for joy? But, alas! how my joy is troubled by your captivity, and at the shape into which Soussio has changed me for seven years.""And who are you, you charming bird?" said the princess, caressing him."You call me by my name," said the king, "and you pretend not to know me!""What!" said the princess. "The little bird in my hand is King- Charming!""Alas! fair Florine, it is but too true," he replied. "And if anything could console me it is that I have preferred to suffer this rather than give up my love for you.""For me!" said Florine. "Ah! do not seek to deceive me. I know, I know that you have married Truitonne. I recognised the ring on her finger as yours. I saw her sparkling with the diamonds you had given her. She came to insult me in my sad captivity, wearing a grand crown and royal mantle that she got from you; and all the while I was laden with chains and irons.""You saw
This voice, so unexpected, frightened the queen to such a degree that she did not dare to do what she had intended."You see, madam," said the princess, "that the spirits of the air are my friends.""I believe," answered the queen, beside herself with anger, "that you have the demons on your side, but in spite of them your father will know how to right himself.""Heaven grant," cried Florine, "that I may never have worse to fear than my father's wrath! Yours, madam, is more terrible."The queen left her in great trouble at all she had seen and heard, and took counsel as to what she should do to defeat the princess. They told her that if some fairy or some enchanter had taken her under their protection, it would only irritate them to torment her further, and it would he best to try to discover her secret.The queen approved of this suggestion, and sent a young girl to sleep in her room, who played the part of an innocent, and by her orders told Florine she had come for the purpose of w