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admit； but you are so much more to me than she is that
I would rather die than leave you。〃
〃Ah； Prince；〃 she said； 〃can I believe that you really
love me so much？〃
〃Time will show； madam；〃 replied the King； 〃but if you
wish to convince me that you have some regard for me； do
not； I beg of you； refuse to aid Bellissima。〃
〃Do you know what you are asking？〃 said the Fairy of
the Desert； frowning； and looking at him suspiciously。
〃Do you want me to employ my art against the Yellow
Dwarf； who is my best friend； and take away from him a
proud princess whom I can but look upon as my rival？〃
The King sighed； but made no answerindeed； what
was there to be said to such a clear…sighted person？ At
last they reached a vast meadow； gay with all sorts of
flowers； a deep river surrounded it； and many little brooks
murmured softly under the shady trees； where it was
always cool and fresh。 A little way off stood a splendid
palace； the walls of which were of transparent emeralds。
As soon as the swans which drew the Fairy's chariot had
alighted under a porch； which was paved with diamonds
and had arches of rubies； they were greeted on all sides by
thousands of beautiful beings； who came to meet them
joyfully； singing these words：
〃When Love within a heart would reign；
Useless to strive against him 'tis。
The proud but feel a sharper pain；
And make a greater triumph his。〃
The Fairy of the Desert was delighted to hear them
sing of her triumphs； she led the King into the most
splendid room that can be imagined； and left him alone
for a little while； just that he might not feel that he was
a prisoner； but he felt sure that she had not really gone
quite away； but was watching him from some hiding…
place。 So walking up to a great mirror； he said to it；
〃Trusty counsellor； let me see what I can do to make
myself agreeable to the charming Fairy of the Desert； for I
can think of nothing but how to please her。〃
And he at once set to work to curl his hair； and； seeing
upon a table a grander coat than his own； he put it on
carefully。 The Fairy came back so delighted that she
could not conceal her joy。
〃I am quite aware of the trouble you have taken to
please me；〃 said she； 〃and I must tell you that you have
succeeded perfectly already。 You see it is not difficult to
do if you really care for me。〃
The King； who had his own reasons for wishing to keep
the old Fairy in a good humor； did not spare pretty
speeches； and after a time he was allowed to walk by
himself upon the sea…shore。 The Fairy of the Desert had
by her enchantments raised such a terrible storm that the
boldest pilot would not venture out in it； so she was not
afraid of her prisoner's being able to escape； and he found
it some relief to think sadly over his terrible situation
without being interrupted by his cruel captor。
Presently； after walking wildly up and down； he wrote
these verses upon the sand with his stick：
〃At last may I upon this shore
Lighten my sorrow with soft tears。
Alas！ alas！ I see no more
My Love； who yet my sadness cheers。
〃And thou； O raging； stormy Sea；
Stirred by wild winds； from depth to height；
Thou hold'st my loved one far from me；
And I am captive to thy might。
〃My heart is still more wild than thine；
For Fate is cruel unto me。
Why must I thus in exile pine？
Why is my Princess snatched from me？
〃O！ lovely Nymphs； from ocean caves；
Who know how sweet true love may be；
Come up and calm the furious waves
And set a desperate lover free！〃
While he was still writing he heard a voice which
attracted his attention in spite of himself。 Seeing that the
waves were rolling in higher than ever； he looked all
round； and presently saw a lovely lady floating gently
toward him upon the crest of a huge billow； her long hair
spread all about her； in one hand she held a mirror； and in
the other a comb； and instead of feet she had a beautiful
tail like a fish； with which she swam。
The King was struck dumb with astonishment at this
unexpected sight； but as soon as she came within speaking
distance； she said to him； 〃I know how sad you are at
losing your Princess and being kept a prisoner by the Fairy
of the Desert； if you like I will help you to escape from
this fatal place； where you may otherwise have to drag on
a weary existence for thirty years or more。〃
The King of the Gold Mines hardly knew what answer
to make to this proposal。 Not because he did not wish
very much to escape； but he was afraid that this might
be only another device by which the Fairy of the Desert
was trying to deceive him。 As he hesitated the Mermaid；
who guessed his thoughts； said to him：
〃You may trust me： I am not trying to entrap you。 I
am so angry with the Yellow Dwarf and the Fairy of the
Desert that I am not likely to wish to help them；
especially since I constantly see your poor Princess； whose
beauty and goodness make me pity her so much； and I
tell you that if you will have confidence in me I will help
you to escape。〃
〃I trust you absolutely；〃 cried the King； 〃and I will do
whatever you tell me； but if you have seen my Princess I
beg of you to tell me how she is and what is happening to
her。
〃We must not waste time in talking；〃 said she。 〃Come
with me and I will carry you to the Castle of Steel； and
we will leave upon this shore a figure so like you that even
the Fairy herself will be deceived by it。〃
So saying； she quickly collected a bundle of sea…weed；
and； blowing it three times； she said：
〃My friendly sea…weeds； I order you to stay here
stretched upon the sand until the Fairy of the Desert
comes to take you away。〃 And at once the sea…weeds became
like the King； who stood looking at them in great
astonishment； for they were even dressed in a coat like
his； but they lay there pale and still as the King himself
might have lain if one of the great waves had overtaken
him and thrown him senseless upon the shore。 And then
the Mermaid caught up the King； and away they swam
joyfully together。
〃Now；〃 said she； 〃I have time to tell you about the
Princess。 In spite of the blow which the Fairy of the
Desert gave her； the Yellow Dwarf compelled her to
mount behind him upon his terrible Spanish cat； but she
soon fainted away with pain and terror； and did not recover
till they were within the walls of his frightful Castle
of Steel。 Here she was received by the prettiest girls it
was possible to find； who had been carried there by the
Yellow Dwarf； who hastened to wait upon her and showed
her every possible attention。 She was laid upon a couch
covered with cloth of gold； embroidered with pearls as big
as nuts。〃
〃Ah！〃 interrupted the King of the Gold Mines； 〃if
Bellissima forgets me； and consents to marry him； I shall
break my heart。〃
〃You need not be afraid of that；〃 answered the