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not to deal rudely with a power superior to his own； and therefore he sought； by his eloquence and submission； to move the incensed fairy。 He ran to her； threw himself at her feet； and besought her to have pity upon a young prince who would never change in his affection for her daughter。 The princess； encouraged； also embraced her mother's knees； and declared that without Leander she should never be happy。
〃Happy！〃 cried the fairy； 〃you know not the miseries of love nor the treacheries of which lovers are capable。 They bewitch us only to poison our lives； I have known it by experience； and will you suffer the same？〃
〃Is there no exception； madam？〃 replied Leander； and his countenance showed him to be one。
But neither tears nor entreaties could move the implacable fairy； and it is very probable that she would have never pardoned them； had not the lovely Gentilla appeared at that instant in the chamber； more brilliant than the sun。 Embracing the old fairy：
〃Dear sister；〃 said she； 〃I am persuaded you cannot have forgotten the good office I did you when； after your unhappy marriage； you besought a readmittance into Fairyland； since then I never desired any favor at your hands； but now the time is come。 Pardon； then； this lovely princess； consent to her nuptials with this young prince。 I will engage he shall be ever constant to her； the thread of their days shall be spun of gold and silk； they shall live to complete your happiness； and I will never forget the obligation you lay upon me。〃
〃Charming Gentilla；〃 cried the fairy； 〃I consent to whatever you desire。 Come； my dear children； and receive my love。〃 So saying； she embraced them both。
Abricotina； just then entering； cast her eyes upon Leander； she knew him again； and saw he was perfectly happy； at which she； too； was quite satisfied。
〃Prince；〃 condescendingly said the fairy… mother； 〃I will remove the Island of Calm Delights into your own kingdom； live with you myself； and do you great services。〃
Whether or not Prince Leander appreciated this offer； he bowed low； and assured his mother… in…law that no favor could be equal to the one he had that day received from her hands。 This short compliment pleased the fairy exceedingly； for she belonged to those ancient days when people used to stand a whole day upon one leg complimenting one another。 The nuptials were performed in a most splendid manner； and the young prince and princess lived together happily many years； beloved by all around them。
PRINCE CHERRY
PRINCE CHERRY
LONG ago there lived a monarch； who was such a very； honest man that his subjects entitled him the Good King。 One day； when he was out hunting； a little white rabbit； which had been half…killed by his hounds； leaped right into his majesty's arms。 Said he； caressing it： 〃This poor creature has put itself under my protection； and I will allow no one to injure it。〃 So he carried it to his palace； had prepared for it a neat little rabbit…hutch； with abundance of the daintiest food； such as rabbits love； and there he left it。
The same night； when he was alone in his chamber； there appeared to him a beautiful lady。 She was dressed neither in gold； nor silver； nor brocade； but her flowing robes were white as snow； and she wore a garland of white roses on her head。 The Good King was greatly astonished at the sight； for his door was locked； and he wondered how so dazzling a lady could possibly enter； but she soon removed his doubts。
〃I am the fairy Candide；〃 said she； with a smiling and gracious air。 〃Passing through the wood where you were hunting； I took a desire to know if you were as good as men say you are I therefore changed myself into a white rabbit and took refuge in your arms。 You saved me and now I know that those who are merciful to dum beasts will be ten times more so to human beings。 You merit the name your subjects give you： you are the Good King。 I thank you for your protection； and shall be always one of your best friends。 You have but to say what you most desire； and I promise you your wish shall be granted。〃
〃Madam；〃 replied the king； 〃if you are a fairy； you must know； without my telling you； the wish of my heart。 I have one well…beloved son； Prince Cherry： whatever kindly feeling you have toward me； extend it to him。〃
〃Willingly；〃 said Candide。 〃I will make him the handsomest； richest； or most powerful prince in the world： choose whichever you desire for him。〃
〃None of the three；〃 returned the father。 〃I only wish him to be goodthe best prince in the whole world。 Of what use would riches； power； or beauty be to him if he were a bad man？〃
〃You are right；〃 said the fairy； 〃but I can not make him good： he must do that himself。 I can only change his external fortunes； for his personal character； the utmost I can promise is to give him good counsel； reprove him for his faults； and even punish him； if he will not punish himself。 You mortals can do the same with your children。〃
〃Ah； yes！〃 said the king； sighing。 Still； he felt that the kindness of a fairy was something gained for his son； and died not long after； content and at peace。
Prince Cherry mourned deeply； for he dearly loved his father； and would have gladly given all his kingdoms and treasures to keep him in life a little longer。 Two days after the Good King was no more； Prince Cherry was sleeping in his chamber； when he saw the same dazzling vision of the fairy Candide。
〃I promised your father；〃 said she； 〃to be your best friend； and in pledge of this take what I now give you；〃 and she placed a small gold ring upon his finger。 〃Poor as it looks； it is more precious than diamonds； for whenever you do ill it will prick your finger。 If； after that warning； you still continue in evil； you will lose my friendship； and I shall become your direst enemy。〃'
So saying； she disappeared； leaving Cherry in such amazement that he would have believed it all a dream； save for the ring on his finger。
He was for a long time so good that the ring never pricked him at all； and this made him so cheerful and pleasant in his humor that everybody called him 〃Happy Prince Cherry。〃 But one unlucky day he was out hunting and found no sport； which vexed him so much that he showed his ill temper by his looks and ways。 He fancied his ring felt very tight and uncomfortable； but as it did not prick him he took no heed of this： until； re…entering his palace； his little pet dog； Bibi； jumped up upon him and was sharply told to get away。 The creature； accustomed to nothing but caresses； tried to attract his attention by pulling at his garments； when Prince Cherry turned and gave it a severe kick。 At this moment he felt in his finger a prick like a pin。
〃What nonsense！〃 said he to himself。 〃The fairy must be making game of me。 Why； what great evil have I done！ I； the master of a great empire； cannot I kick my own dog？〃
A voice replied； or else Prince Cherry imagined it； 〃No； sire； the master of a great empire has a right to do good； but not evil。 Ia fairyam as much above you as you are above your dog。 I might punish you； kill you； if I chose； but I prefer leaving you to amend your ways。 You have been guilty of three faults todaybad temper； passion； cruelty： d