Andrew Lang_Fairy Book 06 (36 page)

'You were so quick,' replied Selnozoura, who had long been aware
of the mischief the fairy had again done, 'and we can only wait
now till Cornichon shall have reached the utmost limits of his
decay, when he will drink of the water, and become a baby once
more, so that Toupette will have to spend her life as a nurse, a
wife, and a caretaker.'

After the anxiety of mind and the weakness of body to which for
so long Toupette had been a prey, it seemed as if she could not
amuse herself enough, and it was seldom indeed that she found
time to visit poor Cornichon, though she did not cease to be fond
of him, or to be kind to him. Still, she was perfectly happy
without him, and this the poor man did not fail to see, almost
blind and deaf from age though he was.

But it was left to Kristopo to undo at last the work of
Dindonette, and give Cornichon back the youth he had lost, and
this the genius did all the more gladly, as he discovered, quite
by accident, that Cornichon was in fact his son. It was on this
plea that he attended the great yearly meeting of the fairies,
and prayed that, in consideration of his services to so many of
the members, this one boon might be granted him. Such a request
had never before been heard in fairyland, and was objected to by
some of the older fairies; but both Kristopo and Selnozoura were
held in such high honour that the murmurs of disgust were set
aside, and the latest victim to the enchanted fountain was
pronounced to be free of the spell. All that the genius asked in
return was that he might accompany the fairy back to Bagota, and
be present when his son assumed his proper shape.

They made up their minds they would just tell Toupette that they
had found a husband for her, and give her a pleasant surprise at
her wedding, which was fixed for the following night. She heard
the news with astonishment, and many pangs for the grief which
Cornichon would certainly feel at his place being taken by
another; but she did not dream of disobeying the fairy, and spent
the whole day wondering who the bridegroom could be.

At the appointed hour, a large crowd assembled at the fairy's
palace, which was decorated with the sweetest flowers, known only
to fairyland. Toupette had taken her place, but where was the
bridegroom?

'Fetch Cornichon!' said the fairy to her chamberlain.

But Toupette interposed: 'Oh, Madam, spare him, I entreat you,
this bitter pain, and let him remain hidden and in peace.'

'It is necessary that he should be here,' answered the fairy,
'and he will not regret it.'

And, as she spoke, Cornichon was led in, smiling with the
foolishness of extreme old age at the sight of the gay crowd.

'Bring him here,' commanded the fairy, waving her hand towards
Toupette, who started back from surprise and horror.

Selnozoura then took the hand of the poor old man, and the genius
came forward and touched him three times with his ring, when
Cornichon was transformed into a handsome young man.

'May you live long,' the genius said, 'to enjoy happiness with
your wife, and to love your father.'

And that was the end of the mischief wrought by the fairy
Dindonette!

(Cabinet des Fées.)

(A Bohemian Story)

Once upon a time there lived a king who had an only son whom he
loved dearly. Now one day the king sent for his son and said to
him:

'My dearest child, my hair is grey and I am old, and soon I shall
feel no more the warmth of the sun, or look upon the trees and
flowers. But before I die I should like to see you with a good
wife; therefore marry, my son, as speedily as possible.'

'My father,' replied the prince, 'now and always, I ask nothing
better than to do your bidding, but I know of no daughter-in-law
that I could give you.'

On hearing these words the old king drew from his pocket a key of
gold, and gave it to his son, saying:

'Go up the staircase, right up to the top of the tower. Look
carefully round you, and then come and tell me which you like
best of all that you see.'

So the young man went up. He had never before been in the tower,
and had no idea what it might contain.

The staircase wound round and round and round, till the prince
was almost giddy, and every now and then he caught sight of a
large room that opened out from the side. But he had been told to
go to the top, and to the top he went. Then he found himself in a
hall, which had an iron door at one end. This door he unlocked
with his golden key, and he passed through into a vast chamber
which had a roof of blue sprinkled with golden stars, and a
carpet of green silk soft as turf. Twelve windows framed in gold
let in the light of the sun, and on every window was painted the
figure of a young girl, each more beautiful than the last. While
the prince gazed at them in surprise, not knowing which he liked
best, the girls began to lift their eyes and smile at him. He
waited, expecting them to speak, but no sound came.

Suddenly he noticed that one of the windows was covered by a
curtain of white silk.

He lifted it, and saw before him the image of a maiden beautiful
as the day and sad as the tomb, clothed in a white robe, having a
girdle of silver and a crown of pearls. The prince stood and
gazed at her, as if he had been turned into stone, but as he
looked the sadness which, was on her face seemed to pass into his
heart, and he cried out:

'This one shall be my wife. This one and no other.'

As he said the words the young girl blushed and hung her head,
and all the other figures vanished.

The young prince went quickly back to his father, and told him
all he had seen and which wife he had chosen. The old man
listened to him full of sorrow, and then he spoke:

'You have done ill, my son, to search out that which was hidden,
and you are running to meet a great danger. This young girl has
fallen into the power of a wicked sorcerer, who lives in an iron
castle. Many young men have tried to deliver her, and none have
ever come back. But what is done is done! You have given your
word, and it cannot be broken. Go, dare your fate, and return to
me safe and sound.'

So the prince embraced his father, mounted his horse, and set
forth to seek his bride. He rode on gaily for several hours, till
he found himself in a wood where he had never been before, and
soon lost his way among its winding paths and deep valleys. He
tried in vain to see where he was: the thick trees shut out the
sun, and he could not tell which was north and which was south,
so that he might know what direction to make for. He felt in
despair, and had quite given up all hope of getting out of this
horrible place, when he heard a voice calling to him.

'Hey! hey! stop a minute!'

The prince turned round and saw behind him a very tall man,
running as fast as his legs would carry him.

'Wait for me,' he panted, 'and take me into your service. If you
do, you will never be sorry.'

'Who are you?' asked the prince, 'and what can you do?'

'Long is my name, and I can lengthen my body at will. Do you see
that nest up there on the top of that pine-tree? Well, I can get
it for you without taking the trouble of climbing the tree,' and
Long stretched himself up and up and up, till he was very soon as
tall as the pine itself. He put the nest in his pocket, and
before you could wink your eyelid he had made himself small
again, and stood before the prince.

'Yes; you know your business,' said he, 'but birds' nests are no
use to me. I am too old for them. Now if you were only able to
get me out of this wood, you would indeed be good for something.'

'Oh, there's no difficulty about that,' replied Long, and he
stretched himself up and up and up till he was three times as
tall as the tallest tree in the forest. Then he looked all round
and said, 'We must go in this direction in order to get out of
the wood,' and shortening himself again, he took the prince's
horse by the bridle, and led him along. Very soon they got clear
of the forest, and saw before them a wide plain ending in a pile
of high rocks, covered here and there with trees, and very much
like the fortifications of a town.

As they left the wood behind, Long turned to the prince and said,
'My lord, here comes my comrade. You should take him into your
service too, as you will find him a great help.'

'Well, call him then, so that I can see what sort of a man he
is.'

'He is a little too far off for that,' replied Long. 'He would
hardly hear my voice, and he couldn't be here for some time yet,
as he has so much to carry. I think I had better go and bring him
myself,' and this time he stretched himself to such a height that
his head was lost in the clouds. He made two or three strides,
took his friend on his back, and set him down before the prince.
The new-comer was a very fat man, and as round as a barrel.

'Who are you?' asked the prince, 'and what can you do?'

'Your worship, Broad is my name, and I can make myself as wide as
I please.'

'Let me see how you manage it.'

'Run, my lord, as fast as you can, and hide yourself in the
wood,' cried Broad, and he began to swell himself out.

The prince did not understand why he should run to the wood, but
when he saw Long flying towards it, he thought he had better
follow his example. He was only just in time, for Broad had so
suddenly inflated himself that he very nearly knocked over the
prince and his horse too. He covered all the space for acres
round. You would have thought he was a mountain!

At length Broad ceased to expand, drew a deep breath that made
the whole forest tremble, and shrank into his usual size.

'You have made me run away,' said the prince. 'But it is not
every day one meets with a man of your sort. I will take you into
my service.'

So the three companions continued their journey, and when they
were drawing near the rocks they met a man whose eyes were
covered by a bandage.

'Your excellency,' said Long, 'this is our third comrade. You
will do well to take him into your service, and, I assure you,
you will find him worth his salt.'

'Who are you?' asked the prince. 'And why are your eyes bandaged?
You can never see your way!'

'It is just the contrary, my lord! It is because I see only too
well that I am forced to bandage my eyes. Even so I see as well
as people who have no bandage. When I take it off my eyes pierce
through everything. Everything I look at catches fire, or, if it
cannot catch fire, it falls into a thousand pieces. They call me
Quickeye.'

And so saying he took off his bandage and turned towards the
rock. As he fixed his eyes upon it a crack was heard, and in a
few moments it was nothing but a heap of sand. In the sand
something might be detected glittering brightly. Quickeye picked
it up and brought it to the prince. It turned out to be a lump of
pure gold.

'You are a wonderful creature,' said the prince, 'and I should be
a fool not to take you into my service. But since your eyes are
so good, tell me if I am very far from the Iron Castle, and what
is happening there just now.'

'If you were travelling alone,' replied Quickeye, 'it would take
you at least a year to get to it; but as we are with you, we
shall arrive there to-night. Just now they are preparing supper.'

'There is a princess in the castle. Do you see her?'

'A wizard keeps her in a high tower, guarded by iron bars.'

'Ah, help me to deliver her!' cried the prince.

And they promised they would.

Then they all set out through the grey rocks, by the breach made
by the eyes of Quickeye, and passed over great mountains and
through deep woods. And every time they met with any obstacle the
three friends contrived somehow to put it aside. As the sun was
setting, the prince beheld the towers of the Iron Castle, and
before it sank beneath the horizon he was crossing the iron
bridge which led to the gates. He was only just in time, for no
sooner had the sun disappeared altogether, than the bridge drew
itself up and the gates shut themselves.

There was no turning back now!

The prince put up his horse in the stable, where everything
looked as if a guest was expected, and then the whole party
marched straight up to the castle. In the court, in the stables,
and all over the great halls, they saw a number of men richly
dressed, but every one turned into stone. They crossed an endless
set of rooms, all opening into each other, till they reached the
dining-hall. It was brilliantly lighted; the table was covered
with wine and fruit, and was laid for four. They waited a few
minutes expecting someone to come, but as nobody did, they sat
down and began to eat and drink, for they were very hungry.

When they had done their supper they looked about for some place
to sleep. But suddenly the door burst open, and the wizard
entered the hall. He was old and hump-backed, with a bald head
and a grey beard that fell to his knees. He wore a black robe,
and instead of a belt three iron circlets clasped his waist. He
led by the hand a lady of wonderful beauty, dressed in white,
with a girdle of silver and a crown of pearls, but her face was
pale and sad as death itself.

The prince knew her in an instant, and moved eagerly forward; but
the wizard gave him no time to speak, and said:

'I know why you are here. Very good; you may have her if for
three nights following you can prevent her making her escape. If
you fail in this, you and your servants will all be turned into
stone, like those who have come before you.' And offering the
princess a chair, he left the hall.

The prince could not take his eyes from the princess, she was so
lovely! He began to talk to her, but she neither answered nor
smiled, and sat as if she were made of marble. He seated himself
by her, and determined not to close his eyes that night, for fear
she should escape him. And in order that she should be doubly
guarded, Long stretched himself like a strap all round the room,
Broad took his stand by the door and puffed himself out, so that
not even a mouse could slip by, and Quickeye leant against a
pillar which stood in the middle of the floor and supported the
roof. But in half a second they were all sound asleep, and they
slept sound the whole night long.