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！
little monster than to marry some powerful king； therefore
she replied to their request much more favorably
than they had hoped； saying that； though she was very
happy as she was； still； to please them； she would consent
to marry the King of the Gold Mines。 Now he was a very
handsome and powerful Prince； who had been in love
with the Princess for years； but had not thought that she
would ever care about him at all。 You can easily imagine
how delighted he was when he heard the news； and how
angry it made all the other kings to lose for ever the hope
of marrying the Princess； but； after all； Bellissima could
not have married twenty kingsindeed； she had found
it quite difficult enough to choose one； for her vanity
made her believe that there was nobody in the world who
was worthy of her。
Preparations were begun at once for the grandest wedding
that had ever been held at the palace。 The King of
the Gold Mines sent such immense sums of money that
the whole sea was covered with the ships that brought it。
Messengers were sent to all the gayest and most refined
Courts； particularly to the Court of France； to seek out
everything rare and precious to adorn the Princess；
although her beauty was so perfect that nothing she wore
could make her look prettier。 At least that is what the
King of the Gold Mines thought； and he was never happy
unless he was with her。
As for the Princess； the more she saw of the King the
more she liked him； he was so generous； so handsome and
clever； that at last she was almost as much in love with
him as he was with her。 How happy they were as they
wandered about in the beautiful gardens together； sometimes
listening to sweet music！ And the King used to write songs
for Bellissima。 This is one that she liked very much：
In the forest all is gay
When my Princess walks that way。
All the blossoms then are found
Downward fluttering to the ground；
Hoping she may tread on them。
And bright flowers on slender stem
Gaze up at her as she passes
Brushing lightly through the grasses。
Oh！ my Princess； birds above
Echo back our songs of love；
As through this enchanted land
Blithe we wander； hand in hand。
They really were as happy as the day was long。 All the
King's unsuccessful rivals had gone home in despair。
They said good…by to the Princess so sadly that she could
not help being sorry for them。
〃Ah！ madam；〃 the King of the Gold Mines said to her
〃how is this？ Why do you waste your pity on these
princes； who love you so much that all their trouble would
be well repaid by a single smile from you？〃
〃I should be sorry；〃 answered Bellissima； 〃if you had
not noticed how much I pitied these princes who were
leaving me for ever； but for you； sire； it is very different：
you have every reason to be pleased with me； but they are
going sorrowfully away； so you must not grudge them my
compassion。〃
The King of the Gold Mines was quite overcome by the
Princess's good…natured way of taking his interference；
and； throwing himself at her feet； he kissed her hand a
thousand times and begged her to forgive him。
At last the happy day came。 Everything was ready
for Bellissima's wedding。 The trumpets sounded； all the
streets of the town were hung with flags and strewn with
flowers； and the people ran in crowds to the great square
before the palace。 The Queen was so overjoyed that she
had hardly been able to sleep at all； and she got up before
it was light to give the necessary orders and to choose the
jewels that the Princess was to wear。 These were nothing
less than diamonds； even to her shoes； which were covered
with them； and her dress of silver brocade was embroidered
with a dozen of the sun's rays。 You may imagine
how much these had cost； but then nothing could have
been more brilliant； except the beauty of the Princess！
Upon her head she wore a splendid crown； her lovely hair
waved nearly to her feet； and her stately figure could
easily be distinguished among all the ladies who attended
her。
The King of the Gold Mines was not less noble and
splendid； it was easy to see by his face how happy he was；
and everyone who went near him returned loaded with
presents； for all round the great banqueting hall had been
arranged a thousand barrels full of gold； and numberless
bags made of velvet embroidered with pearls and filled
with money； each one containing at least a hundred
thousand gold pieces； which were given away to everyone
who liked to hold out his hand； which numbers of people
hastened to do； you may be sureindeed； some found
this by far the most amusing part of the wedding festivities。
The Queen and the Princess were just ready to set out
with the King when they saw； advancing toward them
from the end of the long gallery； two great basilisks；
dragging after them a very badly made box； behind them
came a tall old woman； whose ugliness was even more
surprising than her extreme old age。 She wore a ruff of
black taffeta； a red velvet hood； and a farthingale all in
rags； and she leaned heavily upon a crutch。 This strange
old woman； without saying a single word； hobbled three
times round the gallery； followed by the basilisks； then
stopping in the middle； and brandishing her crutch
threateningly； she cried：
〃Ho； ho； Queen！ Ho； ho； Princess！ Do you think you
are going to break with impunity the promise that you
made to my friend the Yellow Dwarf？ I am the Fairy of
the Desert； without the Yellow Dwarf and his orange tree
my great lions would soon have eaten you up； I can tell
you； and in Fairyland we do not suffer ourselves to be
insulted like this。 Make up your minds at once what you
will do； for I vow that you shall marry the Yellow Dwarf。
If you don't； may I burn my crutch！〃
〃Ah！ Princess；〃 said the Queen； weeping； 〃what is this
that I hear？ What have you promised？〃
〃Ah！ my mother；〃 replied Bellissima sadly； 〃what did
YOU promise； yourself？〃
The King of the Gold Mines； indignant at being kept
from his happiness by this wicked old woman； went up to
her； and threatening her with his sword； said：
〃Get away out of my country at once； and for ever；
miserable creature； lest I take your life； and so rid myself
of your malice。〃
He had hardly spoken these words when the lid of the
box fell back on the floor with a terrible noise； and to their
horror out sprang the Yellow Dwarf； mounted upon a
great Spanish cat。 〃Rash youth！〃 he cried； rushing between
the Fairy of the Desert and the King。 〃Dare to
lay a finger upon this illustrious Fairy！ Your quarrel is
with me only。 I am your enemy and your rival。 That
faithless Princess who would have married you is promised
to me。 See if she has not upon her finger a ring made of
one of my hairs。 Just try to take it off； and you will soon
find out that I am more powerful than you are！〃
〃Wretched little monster！〃 said the King； 〃do you