The Olive Fairy Book

whose name was Lino. He had grown up under the wise rule of his father, who had lately died, and though he was only nineteen, he did not believe, like many young me

im, and that was that he did not seem in any hurry to be marr

an ambassador at the young king’s court, and on hearing the grumbles of the citizens that Lino showed no signs of taking a wife, the good man resolved that he would try his han

or was well used to the ways of courts, and after several conversations on the art of painting, which Lino loved, he led the talk to portraits, and mentioned carelessly that a particular

it, and looked

ed! It cannot be possible that any wom

y see her,’ answe

s not at all surprised when, the following mo

ble to banish the face of the princess from my thoughts. I have summoned you here to inform you tha

’ replied the ambassador, stroking his beard in order to conceal the satisfaction

hen, instead of sending envoys, I will go myself, and take you with

king had already started for the court of the Swan fairy. Riquette was thrown into transports of grief, and implored her father to prevent the marriage, which Ismenor promised to do; and calling for an ugly and humpbacked little dwarf named Rabot, he performed some spells which transported them quickly to a rocky valley through which the king and his escort were bound to pass. When the tramp of horses was heard, the magician took out an enchanted handkerchief, which rendered invisible any one who touched it. Giving one end to Rabot, and holding the other himself, t

til you have wedded the da

ower that Rabot positively believ

who stared with astonishment at the dirty garments in which he was dressed; but before he had ti

others, who never guessed for a mome

he, ‘give me somet

the tents are not even set up, and it will be at leas

rudely. ‘You are nothing but a fool! Get me some horse

too! Why he was so delicate in his appetite that he lived mostly on fruit and cakes. Well, well, there was no knowing what people would come to; and, anyhow, he must

they were forced to walk up to the palace on foot. Hiding their surprise as best they could, they begged the king to follow them, dismounting from their own ho

journey is long, and I was hungry and ate my horse, which is the best meat in the world; and I forced my courtiers to eat

ings Lino

hich was so different from anything she had been led to expect. ‘You possess my daughter’s po

e searched everywhere, while the ladies-in-waiting looked on with astonishment, but of course found n

have remembered it. Let us have the wedding as soon as possible; and, meantime, I should like to go to sleep, for your country is

conduct him to his room, where he was soon snoring so l

r speaking of the young man’s grace and charm had never left her pocket. True, the portrait was faithful enough, but how could that fair outside contain so rough and rude a soul? Yet this even she might have forgiven had the king

ce of her majesty, and no sooner were they alone than he told her that he feared th

portrait, which he never would part from for a single instant, my amazement knows no bounds. Perhaps, madam, your fairy gifts may be a

hest which she kept in a secret room, she drew from it a small mirror. In this mirror she could see faithfully re

oks into her

ng hastily to her daughter, she bade her also look, and Hermosa had the pleasure of gazing on Lino, who was behaving exactly as she could have wished. The mirror was still in her hand when the door of the prison opened, and there entered the hideous Riquette, who, from her upraised eyes, seemed to be begging from Lino some favour which he refused to grant. Of course Hermosa and her mother could not hear th

we are to rescue the king from the power of those wicked people. And first it i

the false lover; and the glass gave back a vision of a dirty

u, and if the false king asks why, then answer that I have to settle some affairs on the borders of my kingdom. Meanwhile, be sure you treat him most politely, and arrange fêtes to amuse him. If he shows any sign of being suspicious, you can even give him to understand that, on your marriage, I intend

back. At length, by putting forth all the power she possessed, she managed to descend to the foot of the tower, and there, weak and faint as she was with her exertions, she lost no time in working her spells, and found that she could only overcome Ismenor by means of a stone from the ring o

brings the

four soldiers were stationed in the passage outside, therefore the fairy was able to enter, and even to hop on his shoulder, but he was so much occupied with gazing at the princess’s portrait that it was some time before she could attract his attention. At last she gently scratched his cheek with the corner of the note, and he looked round with a start. On perceiving the swallow he knew a

appeared and informed him that if he wished to break the bonds which bound him to the faithless princess and transfer his affections to the daughter of Ismenor, he must have in his possession for a day and a night a stone from the ring of Gyges, now in the possession of the magician. This news so enchanted Riquette, that she flung her arms

ve held communication with the Swan fairy. Still, he would do nothing hastily, and, hiding his dismay, he told Riquette that his only wish was to make her happy, and that as she wished so much for th

by all means, but a stone that will turn everyone who touches it into

er father, who, holding tightly the enchanted handkerchief, was able, unseen, to watch the working of the spell. As he expected, at the foot of the tower stood the Swan fairy, who had had the imprudence to appear in her natural shape, waiting for the stone which t

ntinued, dragging the king to the window, ‘you shall turn into a parrot, and

changed everybody into statues, exactly in the positions in which he found them, not even excepting Rabot himself. Only Hermosa was spared, and her he ordered t

e a tree, and a tree you will remain until you have crushed the head of the person you love best in the

ged for a wood-cutter’s axe to put an end to her misery. How were they to be delivered from their doom? And even supposing that King Lino did fly that way, there were thou

just married a beautiful young wife. Grenadine, for such was her name, led a very dull life, and was delighted to have a playfellow, so she gav

I’m sure you would try,’ she was fond of say

ne, hopped to the table, and, picking up a pencil, wrote some verses on a piece of paper. He had ju

curtain which hung over the doorway, and advanced into the room. Seeing a

ess, to win

hold discou

ough, were

tt’ring like

e hurried to his wife, who was lying on some cushions under the tree on which the parrot had perched, and informed her that her favourite was really the king of a great country, and that, if she would whistle for the bird, they would all go together to a certain spot in the Forest of Marvels, ‘where I will restore him to his own shape. Only you must not be afraid or cry out, whatever I do,’ added he, ‘or everything will be spo

wife whistles

rot on that branch, he will be quite safe, and go yourself to a little di

nwhile the magician took a spade, and loosened the earth of the roots of the three trees so that they might fall all together. Directly the parrot observed them totter he spread

at the feet of the magician, who was smiling with delight at the success of his plan, s

ed his books he would have seen what his enemy was doing, he might have protected himself; but he had been eating and drinking too much, and had gone to bed, sleeping heavily. Changing himself into a bat, the magician flew into the room, and hid

midst, beaming with happiness, Hermosa and King Lino. Standing behind them, though a long way off, was Rabot; but his dirty

they will have many years of happiness before them af

d from Le Cabinet des