22-the golden branch-第3章

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is　she　also　who　permits　me　to　show　my　gratitude　to　you　by　granting

whatever　favour　you　may　ask　of　me。　Tell　me；　Princess；　what　is　it

that　you　wish　for　most？　Shall　I　make　you　as　beautiful　as　you

deserve　to　be？'



‘Ah；　if　you　only　would！'　cried　the　Princess；　and　at　the　same

moment　she　heard　a　crick…cracking　in　all　her　bones。　She　grew　tall

and　straight　and　pretty；　with　eyes　like　shining　stars；　and　a　skin　as

white　as　milk。



‘Oh；　wonderful！　can　this　really　be　my　poor　little　self？'　she

exclaimed；　looking　down　in　amazement　at　her　tiny　worn…out　crutch

as　it　lay　upon　the　floor。



‘Indeed；　Princess；'　replied　Florimond；　‘it　is　yourself；　but　you

must　have　a　new　name；　since　the　old　one　does　not　suit　you　now。

Be　called　Princess　Sunbeam；　for　you　are　bright　and　charming

enough　to　deserve　the　name。'



And　so　saying　he　disappeared；　and　the　Princess；　without　knowing

how　she　got　there；　found　herself　walking　under　shady　trees　by

a　clear　river。　Of　course；　the　first　thing　she　did　was　to　look　at　her

own　reflection　in　the　water；　and　she　was　extremely　surprised　to　find

that　she　was　exactly　like　the　shepherdess　she　had　so　much　admired；

and　wore　the　same　white　dress　and　flowery　wreath　that　she　had　seen

in　the　painted　windows。　To　complete　the　resemblance；　her　flock

of　sheep　appeared；　grazing　round　her；　and　she　found　a　gay　crook

adorned　with　flowers　upon　the　bank　of　the　river。　Quite　tired　out　by　so

many　new　and　wonderful　experiences；　the　Princess　sat　down　to　rest

at　the　foot　of　a　tree；　and　there　she　fell　fast　asleep。　Now　it　happened

that　it　was　in　this　very　country　that　Prince　Peerless　had　been　set

down；　and　while　the　Princess　Sunbeam　was　still　sleeping　peacefully；

he　came　strolling　along　in　search　of　a　shady　pasture　for　his　sheep。



The　moment　he　caught　sight　of　the　Princess　he　recognised　her

as　the　charming　shepherdess　whose　picture　he　had　seen　so　often

in　the　tower；　and　as　she　was　far　prettier　than　he　had　remembered

her；　he　was　delighted　that　chance　had　led　him　that　way。



He　was　still　watching　her　admiringly　when　the　Princess　opened

her　eyes；　and　as　she　also　recognised　him　they　were　soon　great

friends。　The　Princess　asked　Prince　Peerless；　as　he　knew　the

country　better　than　she　did；　to　tell　her　of　some　peasant　who　would

give　her　a　lodging；　and　he　said　he　knew　of　an　old　woman　whose　cottage

would　be　the　very　place　for　her；　it　was　so　nice　and　so　pretty。　So

they　went　there　together；　and　the　Princess　was　charmed　with　the

old　woman　and　everything　belonging　to　her。　Supper　was　soon

spread　for　her　under　a　shady　tree；　and　she　invited　the　Prince　to

share　the　cream　and　brown　bread　which　the　old　woman　provided。

This　he　was　delighted　to　do；　and　having　first　fetched　from　his　own

garden　all　the　strawberries；　cherries；　nuts　and　flowers　he　could　find。

they　sat　down　together　and　were　very　merry。　After　this　they　met

every　day　as　they　guarded　their　flocks；　and　were　so　happy　that　Prince

Peerless　begged　the　Princess　to　marry　him；　so　that　they　might　never

be　parted　again。　Now　though　the　Princess　Sunbeam　appeared　to

be　only　a　poor　shepherdess；　she　never　forgot　that　she　was　a　real

Princess；　and　she　was　not　at　all　sure　that　she　ought　to　marry　a

humble　shepherd；　though　she　knew　she　would　like　to　do　so　very

much。



So　she　resolved　to　consult　an　Enchanter　of　whom　she　had　heard

a　great　deal　since　she　had　been　a　shepherdess；　and　without　saying

a　word　to　anybody　she　set　out　to　find　the　castle　in　which　he　lived

with　his　sister；　who　was　a　powerful　Fairy。　The　way　was　long；

and　lay　through　a　thick　wood；　where　the　Princess　heard　strange

voices　calling　to　her　from　every　side；　but　she　was　in　such　a　hurry

that　she　stopped　for　nothing；　and　at　last　she　came　to　the　courtyard

of　the　Enchanter's　castle。



The　grass　and　briers　were　growing　as　high　as　if　it　were　a

hundred　years　since　anyone　had　set　foot　there；　but　the　Princess　got

through　at　last；　though　she　gave　herself　a　good　many　scratches　by

the　way；　and　then　she　went　into　a　dark；　gloomy　hall；　where　there

was　but　one　tiny　hole　in　the　wall　through　which　the　daylight　could

enter。　The　hangings　were　all　of　bats'　wings；　and　from　the　ceiling

hung　twelve　cats；　who　filled　the　hall　with　their　ear　piercing　yells。

Upon　the　long　table　twelve　mice　were　fastened　by　the　tail；　and　just

in　front　of　each　one's　nose；　but　quite　beyond　its　reach；　lay　a　tempting

morsel　of　fat　bacon。　So　the　cats　could　always　see　the　mice；　but　could　not

touch　them；　and　the　hungry　mice　were　tormented　by　the　sight　and　smell

of　the　delicious　morsels　which　they　could　never　seize。



The　Princess　was　looking　at　the　poor　creatures　in　dismay；　when

the　Enchanter　suddenly　entered；　wearing　a　long　black　robe　and

with　a　crocodile　upon　his　head。　In　his　hand　he　carried　a　whip

made　of　twenty　long　snakes；　all　alive　and　writhing；　and　the　Princess

was　so　terrified　at　the　sight　that　she　heartily　wished　she　had　never

come。　Without　saying　a　word　she　ran　to　the　door；　but　it　was

covered　with　a　thick　spider's　web；　and　when　she　broke　it　she　found

another；　and　another；　and　another。　In　fact；　there　was　no　end　to

them；　the　Princess's　arms　ached　with　tearing　them　down；　and　yet

she　was　no　nearer　to　getting　out；　and　the　wicked　Enchanter　behind

her　laughed　maliciously。　At　last　he　said：



‘You　might　spend　the　rest　of　your　life　over　that　without　doing

any　good；　but　as　you　are　young；　and　quite　the　prettiest　creature　I

have　seen　for　a　long　time；　I　will　marry　you　if　you　like；　and　I　will

give　you　those　cats　and　mice　that　you　see　there　for　your　own。

They　are　princes　and　princesses　who　have　happened　to　offend　me。

They　used　to　love　one　another　as　much　as　they　now　hate　one

another。　Aha！　It's　a　pretty　little　revenge　to　keep　them　like　that。'



‘Oh！　If　you　would　only　change　me　into　a　mouse　too；'　cried　the　Princess。



‘Oh！　so　you　won't　marry　me？'　said　he。　‘Little　simpleton；　you

should　have　everything　heart　can　desire。'



‘No；　indeed；　nothing　should　make　me　marry　you；　in　fact；　I

don't　think　I　shall　ever　love　anyone；'　cried　the　Princess。



‘In　that　case；'　said　the　Enchanter；　touching　her；　‘you　had

better　become　a　particular　kind　of　creature　that　is　neither　fish　nor

fowl；　you　shall　be　light　and　airy；　and　as　green　as　the　grass　you　live

in。　Off　with　you；　Madam　Grasshopper。'　And　the　Princess；　rejoicing

to　find　herself　free　once　more；　skipped　out　into　the　garden；　the

prettiest　little　green　Grasshopper　in　the　world。　But　as　soon　as　she

was　safely　out　she　began　to　be　rather　sorry　for　herself。



‘Ah！　Florimond；'　she　sighed；　‘is　this　the　end　of　your　gift？

Certainly　beauty　is　short…lived；　and　this　funny　little　face　and　a　green

crape　dress　are　a　comical　end　to　it。　I　had　better　have　married　my

amiable　shepherd。　It　must　be　for　my　pride　that　I　am　condemned

to　be　a　Grasshopper；　and　sing　day　and　night　in　the　grass　by　this

brook；　when　I　feel　far　more　inclined　to　cry。'



In　the　meantime　Prince　Peerless　had　discovered　the　Princess's

absence；　and　was　lamenting　over　it　by　the　river's　brim；　when　he

suddenly　became　aware　of　the　presence　of　a　little　old　woman。　She

was　quaintly　dressed　in　a　ruff　and　farthingale；　and　a　velvet　hood

covered　her　snow…white　hair。



‘You　seem　sorrowful；　my　son；'　she　said。　‘What　is　the　matter？'



‘Alas！　mother；'　answered　the　Prince；　‘I　have　lost　my　sweet

shepherdess；　but　I　am　determined　to　find　her　again；　though　I　should

have　to　traverse　the　whole　world　in　search　of　her。'



‘Go　that　way；　my　son；'　said　the　old　woman；　pointing　towards　the

path　that　led　to　the　castle。　‘I　have　an　idea　that　you　will　soon

overtake　her。'



The　Prince　thanked　her　heartily　and　set　out。　As　he　met　with

no　hindrance；　he　soon　reached　the　enchanted　wood　which　surrounded

the　castle；　and　there　he　thought　he　saw　the　Princess　Sunbeam

gliding　before　him　among　the　trees。　Prince　Peerless　hastened

after　her　at　the　top　of　his　speed；　but　could　not　get　any　nearer；

then　he　called　to　her：



‘Sunbeam；　my　darlingonly　wait　for　me　a　moment。'



But　the　phantom　did　but　fly　the　faster；　and　the　Prince　spent

the　whole　day　in　this　vain　pursuit。　When　night　came　he　saw

the　castle　before　him　all　lighted　up；　and　as　he　imagined　that　the

Princess　must　be　in　it；　he　made　haste　to　get　there　too。　He　entered

without　difficulty；　and　in　the　hall　the　terrible　old　Fairy　met　him。

She　was　so　thin　that　the　light　shone　through　her；　and　her　eyes

glowed　like　lamps；　her　skin　was　like　a　shark's；　her　arms　were　thin

as　laths；　and　her　fingers　like　spindles。　Nevertheless　she　wore

rouge　and　patches；　a　mantle　of　silver　brocade　and　a　crown　of

diamonds；　and　her　dress　was　covered　with　jewels；　and　green　and

pink　ribbons。



‘At　last　you　have　come　to　see　me；　Prince；'　said　she。　‘Don't

waste　another　thought　upon　that　little　shepherdess；　who　is

unworthy　of　your　notice。　I　am　the　Queen　of　the　Comets；　and　can

bring　you　to　great　honour　if　you　will　marry　me。'



‘Marry　you；　Madam；'　cried　the　Prince；　in　horror。　‘No；　I　will

never　consent　to　that。'



Thereupon　the　Fairy；　in　a　rage；　gave　two　strokes　of　her　wand

and　filled　the　gallery　with　horrible　goblins；　against　whom　the

Prince　had　to　fight　for　his　life。　Though　he　had　only　his　dagger；　he

defended　himself　so　well　that　he　escaped　without　any　harm；　and

presently　the　old　Fairy　stopped　the　fray　and　asked　the　Prince　if

he　was　still　of　the　same　mind。　When　he　answered　firmly　that　he

was；　she　called　up　the　appearance　of　the　Princess　Sunbeam　to　the

other　end　of　the　gallery；　and　said：



‘You　see　your　beloved　there？　Take　care　what　you　are　about；

for　if　you　again　refuse　to　marry　me　she　shall　be　torn　in　pieces　by

two　tigers。'



The　Prince　was　distracted；　for　he　fancied　he　heard　his　dear

shepherdess　weeping　and　begging　him　to　save　her。　In　despair　he

cried：



‘Oh；　Fairy　Douceline；　have　you　abandoned　me　after　so　many

promises　of　friendship？　Help；　help　us　now！'



Immediately　a　soft　voice　said　in　his　ear：



‘Be　firm；　happen　what　may；　and　seek　the　Golden　Branch。'



Thus　encouraged；　the　Prince　persevered　in　his　refusal；　and　at

length　the　old　Fairy　in　a　fury　cried：



‘Get　out　of　my　sight；　obstinate　Prince。　Become　a　Cricket！'



And　instantly　the　handsome　Prince　Peerless　became　a　poor　little

black　Cricket；　whose　only　idea　would　have　been　to　find　himself　a

cosy　cranny　behind　some　blazing　hearth；　if　he　had　not　luckily

remembered　the　Fairy　Douceline's　injunction　to　seek　the　Golden　Branch。



So　he　hastened　to　depart　from　the　fatal　castle；　and　sought　shelter

in　a　hollow　tree；　where　he　found　a　forlorn　looking　little　Grasshopper

crouching　in　a　corner；　too　miserable　to　sing。



Without　in　the　least　expecting　an　answer；　the　Prince　asked　it：



‘And　where　may　you　be　going；　Gammer　Grasshopper？'



‘Where　are　you　going　yourself；　Gaffer　Cricket？'　replied　the　Grasshopper。



‘What！　can　you　speak？'　said　he。



‘Why　should　I　not　speak　as　well　as　you？　Isn't　a　Grasshopper

as　good　as　a　Cricket？'　said　she。



‘I　can　talk　because　I　was　a　Prince；'