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Bellissima forgets me； and consents to marry him； I shall
break my heart。〃
〃You need not be afraid of that；〃 answered the
Mermaid； 〃the Princess thinks of no one but you； and the
frightful Dwarf cannot persuade her to look at him。〃
〃Pray go on with your story；〃 said the King。
〃What more is there to tell you？〃 replied the Mermaid。
〃Bellissima was sitting in the wood when you passed； and
saw you with the Fairy of the Desert； who was so cleverly
disguised that the Princess took her to be prettier than
herself； you may imagine her despair； for she thought that
you had fallen in love with her。〃
〃She believes that I love her！〃 cried the King。 〃What
a fatal mistake！ What is to be done to undeceive her？〃
〃You know best；〃 answered the Mermaid； smiling
kindly at him。 〃When people are as much in love with
one another as you two are； they don't need advice from
anyone else。〃
As she spoke they reached the Castle of Steel； the side
next the sea being the only one which the Yellow Dwarf
had left unprotected by the dreadful burning walls。
〃I know quite well；〃 said the Mermaid； 〃that the
Princess is sitting by the brook…side； just where you saw her
as you passed； but as you will have many enemies to fight
with before you can reach her； take this sword； armed with
it you may dare any danger； and overcome the greatest
difficulties； only beware of one thingthat is； never to let
it fall from your hand。 Farewell； now I will wait by that
rock； and if you need my help in carrying off your beloved
Princess I will not fail you； for the Queen； her mother； is
my best friend； and it was for her sake that I went to
rescue you。〃
So saying； she gave to the King a sword made from a
single diamond； which was more brilliant than the sun。
He could not find words to express his gratitude； but he
begged her to believe that he fully appreciated the
importance of her gift； and would never forget her help and
kindness。
We must now go back to the Fairy of the Desert。 When
she found that the King did not return； she hastened out
to look for him； and reached the shore； with a hundred of
the ladies of her train； loaded with splendid presents for
him。 Some carried baskets full of diamonds； others
golden cups of wonderful workmanship； and amber； coral；
and pearls； others； again； balanced upon their heads bales
of the richest and most beautiful stuffs； while the rest
brought fruit and flowers； and even birds。 But what was
the horror of the Fairy； who followed this gay troop； when
she saw； stretched upon the sands； the image of the King
which the Mermaid had made with the sea…weeds。 Struck
with astonishment and sorrow； she uttered a terrible cry；
and threw herself down beside the pretended King； weeping；
and howling； and calling upon her eleven sisters； who
were also fairies； and who came to her assistance。 But
they were all taken in by the image of the King； for；
clever as they were； the Mermaid was still cleverer； and
all they could do was to help the Fairy of the Desert to
make a wonderful monument over what they thought was
the grave of the King of the Gold Mines。 But while they
were collecting jasper and porphyry； agate and marble；
gold and bronze； statues and devices； to immortalize the
King's memory； he was thanking the good Mermaid and
begging her still to help him； which she graciously promised
to do as she disappeared； and then he set out for the
Castle of Steel。 He walked fast； looking anxiously round
him； and longing once more to see his darling Bellissima；
but he had not gone far before he was surrounded by four
terrible sphinxes who would very soon have torn him to
pieces with their sharp talons if it had not been for the
Mermaid's diamond sword。 For； no sooner had he flashed
it before their eyes than down they fell at his feet quite
helpless； and he killed them with one blow。 But he had
hardly turned to continue his search when he met six
dragons covered with scales that were harder than iron。
Frightful as this encounter was the King's courage was
unshaken； and by the aid of his wonderful sword he cut
them in pieces one after the other。 Now he hoped his
difficulties were over； but at the next turning he was met
by one which he did not know how to overcome。 Four…
and…twenty pretty and graceful nymphs advanced toward
him； holding garlands of flowers； with which they
barred the way。
〃Where are you going； Prince？〃 they said； 〃it is our
duty to guard this place； and if we let you pass great
misfortunes will happen to you and to us。 We beg you not
to insist upon going on。 Do you want to kill four…and…
twenty girls who have never displeased you in any way？〃
The King did not know what to do or to say。 It went
against all his ideas as a knight to do anything a lady
begged him not to do； but； as he hesitated； a voice in his
ear said：
〃Strike！ strike！ and do not spare； or your Princess is lost
for ever！〃
So； without reply to the nymphs； he rushed forward
instantly； breaking their garlands； and scattering them in
all directions； and then went on without further hindrance
to the little wood where he had seen Bellissima。 She was
seated by the brook looking pale and weary when he
reached her； and he would have thrown himself down at
her feet； but she drew herself away from him with as
much indignation as if he had been the Yellow Dwarf
〃Ah！ Princess；〃 he cried； 〃do not be angry with me。 Let
me explain everything。 I am not faithless or to blame for
what has happened。 I am a miserable wretch who has
displeased you without being able to help himself。〃
〃Ah！〃 cried Bellissima； 〃did I not see you flying through
the air with the loveliest being imaginable？ Was that
against your will？〃
〃Indeed it was； Princess；〃 he answered； 〃the wicked
Fairy of the Desert； not content with chaining me to a
rock； carried me off in her chariot to the other end of the
earth； where I should even now be a captive but for the
unexpected help of a friendly mermaid； who brought me
here to rescue you； my Princess； from the unworthy hands
that hold you。 Do not refuse the aid of your most faithful
lover。〃 So saying； he threw himself at her feet and
held her by her robe。 But； alas！ in so doing he let fall the
magic sword； and the Yellow Dwarf； who was crouching
behind a lettuce； no sooner saw it than he sprang out and
seized it； well knowing its wonderful power。
The Princess gave a cry of terror on seeing the Dwarf；
but this only irritated the little monster； muttering a few
magical words he summoned two giants； who bound the
King with great chains of iron。
〃Now；〃 said the Dwarf； 〃I am master of my rival's
fate； but I will give him his life and permission to depart
unharmed if you； Princess； will consent to marry me。〃
〃Let me die a thousand times rather；〃 cried the
unhappy King。
〃Alas！〃 cried the Princess； 〃must you die？ Could
anything be more terribl