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armed soldiers； entered the garden and saw Leander； who； taking refuge
under a tree； pelted them all with oranges。 But when they came running
toward him； thinking to have seized him； he was not to be seen； he had
slipped behind Furibon； who was in a bad condition already。 But Leander
played him one trick more； for he pushed him down upon the gravel walk；
and frightened him so that the soldiers had to take him up； carry him away；
and put him to bed。
Satisfied with this revenge； he returned to his servants； who waited for
him； and giving them money； sent them back to his castle； that none might
know the secret of his red cap and roses。 As yet he had not determined
whither to go； however； he mounted his fine horse Gris… de…line； and；
laying the reins upon his neck； let him take his own road： at length he
arrived in a forest； where he stopped to shelter himself from the heat。 He
had not been above a minute there before he heard a lamentable noise of
sighing and sobbing； and looking about him； beheld a man； who ran；
stopped； then ran again； sometimes crying； sometimes silent； then tearing
his hair； then thumping his breast like some unfortunate madman。 Yet he
seemed to be both handsome and young： his garments had been
magnificent； but he had torn them all to tatters。 The prince； moved with
compassion； made toward him； and mildly accosted him。 〃Sir；〃 said he；
〃your condition appears so deplorable that I must ask the cause of your
sorrow； assuring you of every assistance in my power。〃
〃Oh； sir；〃 answered the young man； 〃nothing can cure my grief； this
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day my dear mistress is to be sacrificed to a rich old ruffian of a husband
who will make her miserable。〃
〃Does she love you； then？〃 asked Leander。
〃I flatter myself so；〃 answered the young man。
〃Where is she？〃 continued Leander。
〃In the castle at the end of this forest；〃 replied the lover。
〃Very well；〃 said Leander； 〃stay you here till I come again； and in a
little while I will bring you good news。〃
He then put on his little red cap and wished himself in the castle。 He
had hardly got thither before he heard all sorts of music； he entered into a
great room； where the friends and kindred of the old man and the young
lady were assembled。 No one could look more amiable than she； but the
paleness of her complexion； the melancholy that appeared in her
countenance； and the tears that now and then dropped； as it were by stealth
from her eyes； betrayed the trouble of her mind。
Leander now became invisible； and placed himself in a corner of the
room。 He soon perceived the father and mother of the bride； and coming
behind the mother's chair； whispered in her ear； 〃If you marry your
daughter to that old dotard； before eight days are over you shall certainly
die。〃 The woman； frightened to hear such a terrible sentence pronounced
upon her； and yet not know from whence it came； gave a loud shriek and
dropped upon the floor。 Her husband asked what ailed her： she cried that
she was a dead woman if the marriage of her daughter went forward； and
therefore she would not consent to it for all the world。 Her husband
laughed at her and called her a fool。 But the invisible Leander accosting
the man； threatened him in the same way； which frightened him so terribly
that he also insisted on the marriage being broken off。 When the lover
complained； Leander trod hard upon his gouty toes and rang such an alarm
in his ears that； not being able any longer to hear himself speak； away he
limped； glad enough to go。 The real lover soon appeared； and he and his
fair mistress fell joyfully into one another's arms； the parents consenting to
their union。 Leander； assuming his own shape； appeared at the hall door； as
if he were a stranger drawn thither by the report of this extraordinary
wedding。
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The Little Lame Prince
From hence he traveled on； and came to a great city； where； upon his
arrival； he understood there was a great and solemn procession； in order to
shut up a young woman against her will among the vestal…nuns。 The
prince was touched with compassion； and thinking the best use he could
make of his cap was to redress public wrongs and relieve the oppressed； he
flew to the temple； where he saw the young woman； crowned with flowers；
clad in white； and with her disheveled hair flowing about her shoulders。
Two of her brothers led her by each hand； and her mother followed her
with a great crowd of men and women。 Leander； being invisible； cried out；
〃Stop； stop； wicked brethren： stop； rash and inconsiderate mother； if you
proceed any further； you shall be squeezed to death like so many frogs。〃
They looked about； but could not conceive from whence these terrible
menaces came。 The brothers said it was only their sister's lover； who had
hid himself in some hole； at which Leander； in wrath； took a long cudgel；
and they had no reason to say the blows were not well laid on。 The
multitude fled； the vestals ran away； and Leander was left alone with the
victim； immediately he pulled off his red cap and asked her wherein he
might serve her。 She answered him that there was a certain gentleman
whom she would be glad to marry； but that he wanted an estate。 Leander
then shook his rose so long that he supplied them with ten millions； after
which they were married and lived happily together。
But his last adventure was the most agreeable。 Entering into a wide
forest； he heard lamentable cries。 Looking about him every way； at length
he spied four men well armed； who were carrying away by force a young
lady； thirteen or fourteen years of age； upon which； making up to them as
fast as he could； 〃What harm has that girl done？〃 said he。
〃Ha！ ha！ my little master；〃 cried he who seemed to be the ringleader of
the rest； 〃who bade you inquire？〃
〃Let her alone；〃 said Leander； 〃and go about your business。〃
〃Oh； yes； to be sure；〃 cried they； laughing； whereupon the prince；
alighting； put on his red cap； not thinking it otherwise prudent to attack
four who seemed strong enough to fight a dozen。 One of them stayed to
take care of the young lady； while the three others went after Gris…de…line；
who gave th