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only a slight prick for a trifling fault； but when he was
really naughty it made his finger actually bleed。 At
last he got tired of being constantly reminded； and wanted
to be able to do as he liked； so he threw his ring aside；
and thought himself the happiest of men to have got rid
of its teasing pricks。 He gave himself up to doing every
foolish thing that occurred to him； until he became quite
wicked and nobody could like him any longer。
One day； when the Prince was walking about； he saw
a young girl who was so very pretty that he made up
his mind at once that he would marry her。 Her name
was Celia； and she was as good as she was beautiful。
Prince Darling fancied that Celia would think herself
only too happy if he offered to make her a great queen；
but she said fearlessly：
〃Sire； I am only a shepherdess； and a poor girl； but；
nevertheless； I will not marry you。〃
〃Do you dislike me？〃 asked the Prince； who was very
much vexed at this answer。
〃No； my Prince；〃 replied Celia； 〃I cannot help
thinking you very handsome； but what good would riches be
to me； and all the grand dresses and splendid carriages
that you would give me； if the bad deeds which I should
see you do every day made me hate and despise you？〃
The Prince was very angry at this speech； and
commanded his officers to make Celia a prisoner and carry
her off to his palace。 All day long the remembrance of
what she had said annoyed him； but as he loved her he
could not make up his mind to have her punished。
One of the Prince's favorite companions was his foster…
brother； whom he trusted entirely； but he was not at all
a good man； and gave Prince Darling very bad advice；
and encouraged him in all his evil ways。 When he saw
the Prince so downcast he asked what was the matter；
and when he explained that he could not bear Celia's
bad opinion of him； and was resolved to be a better man
in order to please her； this evil adviser said to him：
〃You are very kind to trouble yourself about this little
girl； if I were you I would soon make her obey me。
Remember that you are a king； and that it would be laughable
to see you trying to please a shepherdess； who ought
to be only too glad to be one of your slaves。 Keep her
in prison； and feed her on bread and water for a little
while； and then； if she still says she will not marry you；
have her head cut off； to teach other people that you
mean to be obeyed。 Why； if you cannot make a girl
like that do as you wish； your subjects will soon forget
that they are only put into this world for our pleasure。〃
〃But；〃 said Prince Darling； 〃would it not be a shame
if I had an innocent girl put to death？ For Celia has
done nothing to deserve punishment。〃
〃If people will not do as you tell them they ought to
suffer for it；〃 answered his foster…brother； 〃but even if
it were unjust； you had better be accused of that by your
subjects than that they should find out that they may
insult and thwart you as often as they please。〃
In saying this he was touching a weak point in his
brother's character； for the Prince's fear of losing any
of his power made him at once abandon his first idea of
trying to be good； and resolve to try and frighten the
shepherdess into consenting to marry him。
His foster…brother； who wanted him to keep this
resolution； invited three young courtiers； as wicked as himself
to sup with the Prince； and they persuaded him to drink
a great deal of wine； and continued to excite his anger
against Celia by telling him that she had laughed at his
love for her； until at last； in quite a furious rage； he
rushed off to find her； declaring that if she still refused
to marry him she should be sold as a slave the very next
day。
But when he reached the room in which Celia had
been locked up； he was greatly surprised to find that she
was not in it； though he had the key in his own pocket
all the time。 His anger was terrible； and he vowed
vengeance against whoever had helped her to escape。 His
bad friends； when they heard him； resolved to turn his
wrath upon an old nobleman who had formerly been his
tutor； and who still dared sometimes to tell the Prince
of his faults； for he loved him as if he had been his own
son。 At first Prince Darling had thanked him； but after
a time he grew impatient and thought it must be just
mere love of fault…finding that made his old tutor blame
him when everyone else was praising and flattering him。
So he ordered him to retire from his Court； though he still；
from time to time； spoke of him as a worthy man whom
he respected； even if he no longer loved him。 His
unworthy friends feared that he might some day take it
into his head to recall his old tutor； so they thought they
now had a good opportunity of getting him banished for
ever。
They reported to the Prince that Suilman； for that
was the tutor's name； had boasted of having helped Celia
to escape； and they bribed three men to say that Suilman
himself had told them about it。 The Prince； in
great anger； sent his foster…brother with a number of
soldiers to bring his tutor before him； in chains； like a
criminal。 After giving this order he went to his own
room； but he had scarcely got into it when there was a
clap of thunder which made the ground shake； and the
Fairy Truth appeared suddenly before him。
〃I promised your father；〃 said she sternly； 〃to give
you good advice； and to punish you if you refused to
follow it。 You have despised my counsel； and have gone
your own evil way until you are only outwardly a man；
really you are a monsterthe horror of everyone who
knows you。 It is time that I should fulfil my promise；
and begin your punishment。 I condemn you to resemble
the animals whose ways you have imitated。 You
have made yourself like the lion by your anger； and like
the wolf by your greediness。 Like a snake； you have
ungratefully turned upon one who was a second father to
you； your churlishness has made you like a bull。 Therefore；
in your new form； take the appearance of all these
animals。〃
The Fairy had scarcely finished speaking when Prince
Darling saw to his horror that her words were fulfilled。
He had a lion's head； a bull's horns； a wolf's feet； and a
snake's body。 At the same instant he found himself in
a great forest； beside a clear lake； in which he could see
plainly the horrible creature he had become； and a voice
said to him：
〃Look carefully at the state to which your wickedness
has brought you； believe me； your soul is a thousand
times more hideous than your body。〃
Prince Darling recognized the voice of the Fairy Truth
and turned in a fury to catch her and eat her up if he
possibly could； but he saw no one； and the same voice
went on：
〃I laugh at your powerlessness and anger； and I intend
to punish your pride by letting you fall into the
hands of your own subjects。〃
The Prince began to think that the