The Blue Fairy Book

children; so sorry that it cannot be expressed. They went to all the waters

hers all the fairies they could find in the whole kingdom (they found seven), that every one of them might give her

a magnificent cover with a case of massive gold, wherein were a spoon, knife, and fork, all of pure gold set with diamonds and rubies. But as they were all sitting down at table they saw c

ed, and muttered some threats between her teeth. One of the young fairies who sat by her overheard how she grumbled; and, judging that she might give the little Princess some unlucky

e world; the next, that she should have the wit of an angel; the third, that she should have a wonderful grace in everything she did; the fourth, that she sh

said that the Princess should have her hand pierced with a spindle and die of the wo

iry came out from behind the hang

tirely what my elder has done. The Princess shall indeed pierce her hand with a spindle; but, instead of dying, she shall only

e in their houses. About fifteen or sixteen years after, the King and Queen being gone to one of their houses of pleasure, the young Princess happened one day to divert herself in running up and down the palace; when going u

ng there, goody?”

hild,” said the old woman,

y pretty; how do you do it? Give it t

hasty at it, somewhat unhandy, or that the decree of the Fairy had

rom every quarter in great numbers; they threw water upon the Princess’s face, unlaced her, struck her on

very well that this must necessarily come to pass, since the fairies had said it, caused the Princess to be c

er cheeks were carnation, and her lips were coral; indeed, her eyes were shut, but she was heard to breathe softly, which satisfied those abo

cident befell the Princess; but she was instantly informed of it by a little dwarf, who had boots of seven leagues, that is, boots with which he could tr

and this was what she did: she touched with her wand everything in the palace (except the King and Queen)— governesses, maids of honor, ladies of the bedchamber, gentlemen, officers, stewards, cooks, undercooks, scullions, guards, with their

might be ready to wait upon her when she wanted them. The very spits at the fire, as full as they could hold of partr

hild without waking her, went out of the palace and put fo

e within another, that neither man nor beast could pass through; so that nothing could be seen but the very top of the towers of the palace; and that, too, not unless it was a good way

reigning, and who was of another family from that of the sleeping

hich he saw in the middl

ccording as they ha

nous old castle,

witches of the country kept there

little children he could catch, that he might eat them up at his leisure, without anyb

wing what to believe, when a very

my grandfather say, that there was then in this castle a princess, the most beautiful was ever seen; tha

eighing the matter, that he could put an end to this rare adventure;

astle which he saw at the end of a large avenue which he went into; and what a little surprised him was that he saw none of his people could follow him, becaus

death everywhere showed itself, and there was nothing to be seen but stretched-out bodies of men and animals, all seeming to be dead. He, however, very well knew, by the ruby face

gh several rooms full of gentlemen and ladies, all asleep, some standing, others sitting. At last he came into a chamber all gilded with gold, where he saw upon a bed, the curtains of which were all open, the finest sight was ever beheld

incess awaked, and looking on him with eyes more

said she to him. “You ha

s not well connected, they did weep more than talk — little eloquence, a great deal of love. He was more at a loss than she, and we need not wonder at it; she had time to think on what to say to him; for it is very pro

p set as other folks, grew very impatient, and told the Princess aloud that supper was served up. The Prince helped the Princess to rise; she was entirely dressed, and very magnificently, but his ro

bove a hundred years since they had played; and after supper, without losing any time, the lord almoner married them in the chapel of the castle, and the chief lady of honor drew the curtains. Th

ing, and that he had lain in the cottage of a cha

e ready for so doing, though he had lain out three or four nights together, she began to suspect that he was married, for he lived with the Princess above two whole years, and had by her two c

he feared her, though he loved her, for she was of the race of the Ogres, and the King would never have married her had it not been for her vast riches; it was even whispered about the Court that s

master, he openly declared his marriage; and he went in great ceremony to conduct his Queen to the

and earnestly recommended to her care his wife and children. He was obliged to continue his expedition all the summer, and as soon as he depart

ent thither herself, and said

t little Morning for

ried the clerk

oke in the tone of an Ogress who had a strong desire to

about the neck, and ask him for some sugar-candy. Upon which he began to weep, the great knife fell out of his hand, and he went into the back yard, and killed a little lamb, and dressed it with such good sauce that his

ed Queen said to the clerk of the k

ch he was fencing with a great monkey, the child being then only three years of age. He took him up in his arms and carried him to his wife, that she might con

but one evening this wicked Queen

with the same sauce I

o firm was what puzzled him. He took then a resolution, that he might save his own life, to cut the Queen’s throat; and going up into her chamber, with intent to do it at once, he put himself into as great fury as

ute your orders, and then I shall go and see my children,

er since they had been taken

ou shall see your children again; but then you must go home with me to my lodgings, where I have c

hind, which the Queen had for her supper, and devoured it with the same appetite as if it had been the young Queen. Exceedingly was she delighted wi

if she could smell any fresh meat, she heard, in a ground room, little Day crying, for his mamma was going to whi

, which made everybody tremble), that they should bring into the middle of the great court a large tub, which she caused to be filled with toads, vipers, snakes, and all sorts of serpents, in

tub, when the King (who was not so soon expected) entered the court on horseback (for he came

b, and was instantly devoured by the ugly creatures she had ordered to be thrown into it for others. The King could not