Stranica 51 [51]
2 Zhe Haind in the Wood
As soon as the crab had left, the Queen asked the fairies to preserve her
daughter from the threatened evil, and they decided to build a palace without
doors or windows, and to educate the Princess there till the fatal period should
have expired. Three taps of a wand produced this grand edifice, in which
there was no light but that of wax candles and lamps; but there were so
many of these that it was as light as day. The Princess’s intelligence and
skill enabled her to learn very quickly, while her wit and beauty charmed
everybody ; the Queen would never have lost sight of her, if her duty had not
obliged her to be near the King. The good fairies every now and then went
to see the Princess. As the time drew near for her to leave the palace, the
Queen had her portrait taken, and sent it to the greatest courts of the world.
There was not a prince who did not admire it; but there was one who could
never leave it. He shut himself up, and talked to it as though it could
understand him. The King, who now hardly ever saw his son, inquired
what prevented his appearing as cheerful as usual. Some courtiers told him
they feared the Prince would go out of his mind; for he remained whole days
Shut up in his room, talking as though he had some lady with him. The
King sent for his son, and asked him why he was so altered. The Prince threw
himself at his father’s feet, and said, ‘“‘I confess that I am desperately in love
with Princess Désirée, and wish to marry her. He ran for the portrait, and
brought it to the King, who said, ‘‘Ah! my dear Guerrier, I consent to your wish.
I shall become young again when I have so lovely a Princess at my court."
The Prince begged the King to send an ambassador to Princess Désirée ;
and Becafigue, a very eloquent young nobleman, was selected.
The ambassador took his leave of the Prince, who said, ‘‘ Remember, my
dear Becafigue, that my life depends upon this marriage. Omit no means of
bringing the lovely Princess back with you.”
The ambassador took with him many presents for the Princess, and alsoa
portrait of the Prince.
On his arrival, the King and Queen were enchanted; they had heard of
Prince Guerrier’s personal merits, and were well content to have found a hus¬
band for their daughter so worthy of her.
The King and Queen resolved that the ambassador should see Désirée, but
the Fairy Tulip said to the Queen, “ Take care, Madam, that you do not intro¬
duce Becafigue to the Princess; he must not see her yet, and do not consent
to let her go until she is fifteen years old; for if she quit her palace before
then some misfortune will befall her.” And the Queen promised to follow her
advice.
On the amt ador’s atrival, he asked to see the Princess, and was surprised
that that favou: nied him. ‘It isnocaprice of ours, my Lord Becafigue,