 Section 12 of the Green Fairy Book. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by James O'Connor. The Green Fairy Book by Andrew Lang. Heart of Ice, Part 1. Once upon a time there lived a king and queen who were foolish beyond all telling, but nevertheless they were vastly fond of one another. It is true that certain spiteful people were heard to say that this was only one proof, the more, of their exceeding foolishness. But of course you will understand that these were not their own courtiers, since after all they were a king and queen, and up to this time all things had prospered with them. For in those days the one thing to be thought of in governing a kingdom was to keep well with all the fairies and enchanters, and on no account to stint them of the cakes, the elves of Ribbon, and similar trifles which were their due, and above all things, when there was a christening, to remember to invite every single one, good, bad, or indifferent to the ceremony. Now the foolish queen had one little son, who was just going to be christened, and for several months she had been hard at work preparing an enormous list of the names of those who were to be invited. But she quite forgot that it would take nearly as long to read it over as it had taken to write it out. So when the moment of the christening arrived, the king, to whom the task had been entrusted, had barely reached the end of the second page, and his tongue was tripping with fatigue and haste, as he repeated the usual formula. I conjure and pray you, fairy so and so, or enchanter such a one, to honor me with a visit, and graciously bestow your gifts upon my son. To make matters worse, word was brought to him that the fairies asked on the first page had already arrived, and were waiting impatiently in the great hall, and grumbling that nobody was there to receive them. Thereupon he gave up the list in despair, and hurried to greet those whom he had succeeded in asking, imploring their good will so humbly, that most of them were touched, and promised that they would do his son no harm. But there happened to be among them a fairy from a far country, about whom they knew nothing, though her name had been written on the first page of the list. This fairy was annoyed that, having taken the trouble to come so quickly, there had been no one to receive her, or help her to alight from the great ostrich on which she had traveled from her distant home, and now she began to mutter to herself in the most alarming way. Oh, prayed away, said she, your son will never be anything to boast of. Say what you will, he will be nothing but a mannequin. No doubt she would have gone on longer in this strain, and given the unhappy little prince half a dozen undesirable gifts, if it had not been for the good fairy Janesta, who held the kingdom under her special protection, and who luckily hurried in just in time to prevent further mischief. When she had, by compliments and entreaties, pacified the unknown fairy, and persuaded her to say no more, she gave the king a hint that now was the time to distribute the presents, after which ceremony they all took their departure, accepting the fairy Janesta, who then went to see the queen and said to her, A nice mess you seem to have made of this business, madam, why did you not condescend to consult me? But foolish people like you always think they can do without help or advice. And I observed that, in spite of all my goodness to you, you had not even the civility to invite me. Ah, dear madam, cried the king, throwing himself at her feet, did I ever have time to get as far as your name? See where I put in this mark when I abandoned the hopeless undertaking, which I had but just begun. There, there, said the fairy, I am not offended, I don't allow myself to be put out by trifles like that with people I am really fond of. But now, above your son, I have saved him from a great many disagreeable things, but you must let me take him away and take care of him, and you will not see him again until he is all covered with fur. At these mysterious words the king and queen burst into tears, for they lived in such a hot climate themselves, that how or why the prince should come to be covered with fur they could not imagine, and thought it must portend some great misfortune to him. However, Janester told them not to disquiet themselves. If I left him to you to bring up, said she, you would be certain to make him as foolish as yourselves. I do not even intend to let him know that he is your son. As for you, you had better give your minds to governing your kingdom properly. So saying, she opened the window, and catching up the little prince, cradle and all, she glided away in the air as if she were skating upon ice, leaving the king and queen in the greatest affliction. They consulted everyone who came near them as to what the fairy could possibly have meant, by saying that when they saw their son again he would be covered with fur. But nobody could offer any solution of the mystery, only they all seemed to agree that it must be something frightful, and the king and queen made themselves more miserable than ever, and wandered about their palace in a way to make anyone pity them. Meantime the fairy had carried off the little prince to her own castle, and placed him under the care of a young peasant woman, whom she bewitched, so as to make her think that this new baby was one of her own children. So the prince grew up healthy and strong, leaving the simple life of a young peasant. The fairy thought that he could have no better training, only as he grew older she kept him more and more with herself, that his mind might be cultivated and exercised as well as his body. But her care did not cease there. She resolved that he should be tried by hardships and disappointments, and the knowledge of his fellow men. For indeed she knew the prince would need every advantage that she could give him. Since, though he increased in years, he did not increase in height, but remained the tiniest of princes. However, in spite of this he was exceedingly active and well-formed, and altogether so handsome and agreeable that the smallness of his stature was of no real consequence. The prince was perfectly aware that he was called by the ridiculous name of Mannequin, but he consoled himself by vowing that happened what might he would make it illustrious. In order to carry out her plans for his welfare, the fairy now began to send Prince Mannequin the most wonderful dreams of adventure by sea and land, and of these adventures he himself was always the hero. Sometimes he rescued a lovely princess from some terrible danger. Again he earned a kingdom by some brave deed. Until at last he longed to go away and seek his fortune in a far country where his humble birth would not prevent his gaining honor and riches by his courage. And it was with a heart full of ambitious projects that he rode one day into a great city, not far from the fairy's castle. As he had set out intending to hunt in the surrounding forest, he was quite simply dressed and carried only a bow and arrows and a light spear. But even thus arrayed he looked graceful and distinguished. As he entered the city he saw that the inhabitants were all racing with one accord towards the marketplace. And he also turned his horse in the same direction, curious to know what was going forward. When he reached the spot he found that certain foreigners of strange and outlandish appearance were about to make a proclamation to the assembled citizens. And he hastily pushed his way into the crowd until he was near enough to hear the words of the venerable old man who was their spokesman. Let the whole world know that he who can reach the summit of the Ice Mountain shall receive as his reward not only the incomparable Subella, fairest of the fair, but also all the realms of which she is queen. Here continued the old man after he had made this proclamation. Here is the list of all those princes who struck by the beauty of the princes have perished in the attempt to winner. And here is the list of these who have just entered upon the high imprise. Prince Mannequin was seized with a violent desire to inscribe his name among the others, but the remembrance of his dependent position and his lack of wealth held him back. But while he hesitated the old man with many respectful ceremonies unveiled a portrait of the lovely Subella, which was carried by some of the attendants, and after one glance at it the prince delayed no longer. But rushing forward demanded permission to add his name to the list. When they saw his tiny stature and simple attire the strangers looked at each other doubtfully, not knowing whether to accept or refuse him. But the prince said hotly, Give me the paper that I may sign it, and they obeyed. What between admiration for the princes and annoyance at the hesitation shown by her ambassadors, the prince was too much agitated to choose any other name than the one by which he was always known. But when, after all the grand titles of the other princes, he simply wrote Mannequin, the ambassadors broke into shouts of laughter. Miserable wretches cried the prince, But for the presence of that lovely portrait I would cut off your heads. But he suddenly remembered that, after all, it was a funny name, and that he had not yet had time to make it famous. So he was calm and inquired the way to the prince's subbellous country. Though his heart did not fail him in the least, still he felt there were many difficulties before him, and he resolved to set out at once, without even taking leave of the ferry, for fear she might try to stop him. Everybody in the town who knew him made great fun of the idea of Mannequin's undertaking such an expedition, and it even came to the ears of the foolish king and queen, who laughed over it more than any of the others, without having an idea that the presumptuous Mannequin was their only son. Meantime the prince was traveling on, though the direction he had received for his journey were none of the clearest. Four hundred leagues north of Mount Caucasus, you will receive your orders and instructions for the conquest of the Ice Mountain. Fine-matching orders those for a man starting from a country near where Japan is nowadays. However, he fared eastward, avoiding all towns, lest the people should laugh at his name, for you see he was not a very experienced traveler, and had not yet learned to enjoy a joke, even if it were against himself. At night he slept in the woods, and at first he lived upon wild fruits, but the ferry, who was keeping a benevolent eye upon him, thought that it would never do to let him be half-starved in that way. So she took to feeding him with all sorts of good things, while he was asleep. And the prince wondered very much that when he was awake he never felt hungry. True to her plan the ferry sent him various adventures to prove his courage, and he came successfully through them all. Only in his last fight with a furious monster, rather like a tiger, he had the ill luck to lose his horse. However, nothing daunted, he struggled on foot, and at last reached a seaport. Here he found a boat sailing for the coast which he desired to reach, and having just enough money to pay his passage, he went on board and they started. But after some days a fearful storm came on, which completely wrecked the little ship, and the prince only saved his life by swimming a long, long way to the only land that was in sight, and which proved to be a desert island. Here he lived by fishing and hunting, always hoping that the good ferry would presently rescue him. One day, as he was looking sadly out to sea, he became aware of a curious-looking boat which was drifting slowly towards the shore, and which presently ran into a little creek, and there stuck fast in the sand. Prince Mannequin rushed down eagerly to examine it, and saw with amazement that the masts and spas were all branched, and covered thickly with leaves, until it looked like a little wood. Thinking from the stillness that there could be no one on board, the prince pushed aside the branches and sprang over the side, and found himself surrounded by the crew, who lay motionless as dead men, and in a most deplorable condition. They, too, had become almost like trees, and were growing to the deck or to the mass, or to the sides of the vessel, or to whatever they had happened to be touching when the enchantment fell upon them. Mannequin was struck with pity for their miserable plight, and set to work with Might and Main to release them. With the shot point of one of his arrows, he gently detached their hands and feet from the wood which held them fast, and carried them on shore, one after another, where he rubbed their rigid limbs, and bathed them with infusions of various herbs with such success that, after a few days, they recovered perfectly, and were as fit to manage a boat as ever. You may be sure that the good fairy Genesta had something to do with this marvelous cure, and she also put it into the prince's head to rub the boat itself with the same magic herbs, which cleared it entirely, and not before it was time, for at the rate at which it was growing before, it would very soon have become a forest. The gratitude of the sailors was extreme, and they willingly promised to land the prince upon any coast he pleased. But when he questioned them about the extraordinary thing that had happened to them, and to their ship, they could in no way explain it, except that they said that, as they were passing along a thickly wooded coast, a sudden gust of wind had reached them from the land, and enveloped them in a dense cloud of dust, after which everything in the boat that was not metal had sprouted and blossomed, as the prince had seen, and that they themselves had grown gradually numb and heavy, and had finally lost all consciousness. Prince Mannequin was deeply interested in this curious story, and collected a quantity of the dust from the bottom of the boat, which he carefully preserved, thinking that its strange property might one day stand him in good stead. Then they joyfully left the desert island, and after a long and prosperous voyage over calm seas, they at length came inside of land, and resolved to go on shore, not only to take in a fresh stock of water and provisions, but also to find out, if possible, where they were, and in what direction to proceed. As they neared the coast, they wondered if this could be another uninhabited land, for no human beings could be distinguished, and yet that something was stirring became evident, for in the dust clouds that moved near the ground, small dark forms were dimly visible. These appeared to be assembling at the exact spot where they were preparing to run ashore, and what was their surprise to find they were nothing more nor less than large and beautiful spaniels. Some mounted as sentries, others grouped in companies and regiments, all eagerly watching their disembarkation. When they found that Prince Mannequin, instead of saying shoot them as they had feared, said, Hi, good dog, in a thoroughly friendly and ingratiating way, they crowded round him with a great wagging of tails and giving of paws, and very soon made him understand that they wanted him to leave his men with the boat and follow them. The Prince was so curious to know more about them that he agreed willingly. So, after arranging with the sailors to wait for him fifteen days, and then if he had not come back to go on their way without him, he set out with his new friends. Their way lay inland, and Mannequin noticed with great surprise that the fields were well cultivated and that the cots and plows were drawn by horses or oxen. Just as they might have been in any other country, and when they passed any village, the cottages were trim and pretty, and an air of prosperity was everywhere. At one of the villages, a dainty little repast was set before the Prince, and while he was eating, a chariot was brought, drawn by two splendid horses, which were driven with great skill by a large spaniel. In this carriage he continued his journey very comfortably, passing many similar equipages upon the road, and being always most courteously saluted by the spaniels who occupied them. At last they drove rapidly into a large town, which Prince Mannequin had no doubt was the capital of the kingdom. News of his approach had evidently been received, for all the inhabitants were at their doors and windows, and all the little spaniels had climbed upon the wall and gates to see him arrive. The Prince was delighted with the hearty welcome they gave him, and looked round him with the deepest interest. After passing through a few wide streets well paved and adorned with avenues of fine trees, they drove into the courtyard of a grand palace, which was full of spaniels who were evidently soldiers. The King's bodyguard thought the Prince to himself as he returned their salutations, and then the carriage stopped, and he was shown into the presence of the King, who lay upon a rich Persian carpet surrounded by several little spaniels who were occupied in chasing away the flies lest they should disturb his majesty. He was the most beautiful of all spaniels, with a look of sadness in his large eyes, which, however, quite disappeared as he sprang up to welcome Prince Mannequin with every demonstration of delight, after which he made a sign to his courtiers, who came one by one to pay their respects to the visitor. The Prince thought that he would find himself puzzled as to how he should carry on a conversation, but as soon as he and the King were once more left alone, a secretary of state was sent for, who wrote from his majesty's dictation a most polite speech in which he regretted much that they were unable to converse except in writing, the language of dogs being difficult to understand. As for the writing, it had remained the same as the Prince's own. End of Heart of Ice, Part 1, Recording by James O'Connor, Randolph, Massachusetts, August 2010 Section 13 of the Green Fairy Book This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org Recording by James O'Connor The Green Fairy Book by Andrew Lang, Heart of Ice, Part 2 Mannequin thereupon wrote a suitable reply, and then begged the King to satisfy his curiosity about all the strange things he had seen and heard since his landing. This appeared to awaken sad recollections in the King's mind, but he informed the Prince that he was called King Bayard and that a fairy whose kingdom was next to his own had fallen violently in love with him and had done all she could to persuade him to marry her, but that he could not do so as he himself was the devoted lover of the Queen of the Spice Islands. Finally, the fairy, furious at the indifference with which her love was treated, had reduced him to the state in which the Prince found him, leaving him unchanged in mind, but deprived of the power of speech, and not content with wrecking her vengeance upon the King alone. She had condemned all his subjects to a similar fate, saying, Park and run upon four feet until the time comes when virtue shall be rewarded by love and fortune. Which, as the poor King remarked, was very much the same thing as if she had said, remain a spaniel for ever and ever. Prince Mannequin was quite of the same opinion. Nevertheless, he said what we should all have said in the same circumstances. Your Majesty must have patience. He was indeed deeply sorry for poor King Bayard, and said all the consoling things he could think of, promising to aid him with all his might if there was anything to be done. In short, they became firm friends, and the King proudly displayed to Mannequin the portrait of the Queen of the Spice Islands, and he quite agreed that it was worthwhile to go through anything for the sake of a creature so lovely. Prince Mannequin in his turn told his own history and the great undertaking upon which he had set out, and King Bayard was able to give him some valuable instructions as to which would be the best way for him to proceed, and then they went together to the place where the boat had been left. The sailors were delighted to see the Prince again, though they had known that he was safe, and when they had taken on board all the supplies which the King had sent for them, they started once more. The King and Prince parted with much regret, and the former insisted that Mannequin should take with him one of his own pages, named Musta, who was charged to attend to him everywhere and serve him faithfully, which he promised to do. The wind being favorable, they were soon out of hearing of the general howl of regret from the whole army, which had been given by order of the King as a great compliment, and it was not long before the land was entirely lost to view. They met with no further adventures worth speaking of, and presently found themselves within two leagues of the harbour for which they were making. The Prince, however, thought it would suit him better to land where he was, so as to avoid the town, since he had no money left, and was very doubtful as to what he should do next. So the sailors said him and Musta unsure, and then went back sorrowfully to their ship, while the Prince and his attendant walked off in what looked to them the most promising direction. They soon reached a lovely green meadow on the border of a wood, which seemed to them so pleasant after their long voyage that they sat down to rest in the shade, and amused themselves by watching the gambles and antics of a pretty tiny monkey in the trees close by. The Prince presently became so fascinated by it that he sprang up and tried to catch it, but it eluded his grasp and kept just out of arm's reach, until it had made him promise to follow wherever it led him, and then it sprang upon his shoulder and whispered in his ear, We have no money, my poor mannequin, and we are altogether badly off, and at a loss to know what to do next. Yes, indeed, answered the Prince ruefully, and I have nothing to give you, no sugar or biscuits, or anything that you like, my pretty one. Since you are so thoughtful for me and so patient about your own affairs, said the little monkey, I will show you the way to the Golden Rock, only you must leave Musta to wait for you here. Prince mannequin agreed willingly, and then the little monkey sprang from his shoulder to the nearest tree, and began to run through the wood from branch to branch, crying, Follow me! This the Prince did not find quite so easy, but the little monkey waited for him, and showed him the easiest places, until presently the wood grew thinner, and they came out into a little clear grassy space at the foot of a mountain, in the midst of which stood a single rock about ten feet high. When they were quite close to it, the little monkey said, This stone looks pretty hard, but give it a blow with your spear, and let us see what will happen. So the Prince took his spear and gave the rock a vigorous dig, which split off several pieces, and showed that, though the surface was thinly coated with stone, inside it was one solid mass of pure gold. Thereupon the little monkey said, laughing at his astonishment, I make you a present of what you have broken off, take as much of it as you think proper. The Prince thanked her gratefully and picked up one of the smallest of the lumps of gold. As he did so, the little monkey was suddenly transformed into a tall and gracious lady who said to him, If you are always as kind and persevering and easily contented as you are now, you may hope to accomplish the most difficult task. Go on your way and have no fear that you will be troubled any more for lack of gold. For that little piece which you modestly chose shall never grow less. Use it as much as you will, but that you may see the danger you have escaped by your moderation come with me. So saying, she led him back into the woods by a different path, and he saw that it was full of men and women. Their faces were pale and haggard, and they ran hither and thither, seeking badly upon the ground or in the air, starting at every sound, pushing and trampling upon one another in their frantic eagerness to find the way to the golden rock. You see how they toil, said the fairy, but it is all of no avail. They will end by dying of despair, as hundreds have done before them. As soon as they had got back to the place where they had left Musta, the fairy disappeared, and the prince and his faithful squire, who had greeted him with every demonstration of joy, took the nearest way to the city. Here they stayed several days, while the prince provided himself with horses and attendants, and made many inquiries about the Princess Cebella and the way to her kingdom, which was still so far away that he could hear but little, and that of the vaguest description. But when he presently reached Mount Caucasus it was quite a different matter. Here they seemed to talk of nothing but the Princess Cebella, and strangers from all parts of the world were traveling towards her father's court. The prince heard plenty of assurances as to her beauty and her riches, but he also heard of the immense number of his rivals and their power. One brought an army at his back, another had vast treasures, a third was as handsome and accomplished as it was possible to be, while as to poor mannequin he had nothing but his determination to succeed, his faithful spaniel and his ridiculous name, which last was hardly likely to help him, but as he could not alter it he wisely determined not to think of it anymore. After journeying for two whole months they came at last to Trelynton, the capital of the Princess Cebella's kingdom, and here he heard dismal stories about the Ice Mountain and how none of those who had attempted to climb it had ever come back. He heard also the story of King Fada Kinbras, Cebella's father. It appeared that he, being a rich and powerful monarch, had married a lovely princess named Birbantin, and they were as happy as the day was long. So happy that as they were out sledging one day they were foolish enough to defy fate to spoil their happiness. We shall see about that, grumbled an old hag who sat by the wayside, blowing her fingers to keep them warm. The king thereupon was very angry and wanted to punish the woman, but the queen prevented him, saying, Alas, Sire, do not let us make bad words. No doubt this is a fairy. You are right there, said the old woman, and immediately she stood up, and as they gazed at her in horror she grew gigantic and terrible. Her staff turned to a fiery dragon without stretched wings, her ragged cloak to a golden mantle, and her wooden shoes to two bundles of rockets. You are right there, and you will see what will come of your fine goings-on, and remember the fairy Gorgonzola. So saying she mounted the dragon and flew off, the rocket shooting in all directions, and leaving long trails of sparks. In vain did Farda Kinbers and Birbantin beg her to return and endeavor by their humble apologies to pacifier. She never so much as looked at them and was very soon out of sight, leaving them afraid to all kinds of dismal forebodings. Very soon after this the queen had a little daughter, who was the most beautiful creature ever seen. All the fairies of the north were invited to her christening and warned against the malicious Gorgonzola. She also was invited, but she neither came to the banquet nor received her present. But as soon as all the others were seated at table, after bestowing their gifts upon the little princess, she stole into the palace disguised as a black cat and hid herself under the cradle until the nurses and the cradle rockers had all turned their backs. And then she sprang out, and in an instant had stolen the little princess's heart and made her escape, only being chased by a few dogs and scullions on her way across the courtyard. Once outside she mounted her chariot and flew straight away to the north pole where she shut up her stolen treasure on the summit of the Ice Mountain and surrounded it with so many difficulties that she felt quite easy about its remaining there as long as the princess lived. And then she went home, chuckling at her success. As to the other fairies, they went home after the banquet without discovering that anything was amiss, and so the king and queen were quite happy. Cibella grew pretty a day by day. She learned everything a princess ought to know without the slightest trouble, and yet something always seemed lacking to make her perfectly charming. She had an exquisite voice, but wither her songs were grave or gay, it did not matter. She did not seem to know what they meant, and everyone who heard her said, she certainly sings perfectly, but there is no tenderness, no hot in her voice. Poor Cibella, how could there be when her heart was far away on the Ice Mountains? And it was just the same with all the other things that she did. As time went on, in spite of the admiration of the whole court and the blind fondness of the king and queen, it became more and more evident that something was fatally wrong. For those who loved no one cannot long be loved, and at last the king called a general assembly and invited the fairies to attend, that they might, if possible, find out what was the matter. After explaining their grief as well as he could, he ended by begging them to see the princess for themselves. It is certain, said he, that something is wrong. What it is, I don't know how to tell you, but in some way your work is imperfect. They all assured him that so far as they knew everything had been done for the princess, and they had forgotten nothing that they could bestow on so good a neighbor as the king had been to them. After this they went to see Cibella, but they had no sooner entered her presence than they cried out with one accord. Oh, horror! She has no heart! On hearing this frightful announcement, the king and queen gave a cry of despair and entreated the fairies to find some remedy for such an unheard of misfortune. Thereupon the eldest fairy consulted her book of magic, which she always carried about with her, hung to her girdle by a thick silver chain, and there she found out at once that it was Gorgonzola who had stolen the princess's heart and also discovered what the wicked old fairy had done with it. What shall we do? What shall we do? cried the king and queen in one breath. You must certainly suffer much annoyance from seeing and loving Cibella who is nothing but a beautiful image, replied the fairy, and this must go on for a long time. But I think I see that. In the end she will once more regain her heart. My advice is that you shall at once cause her portrait to be sent all over the world and promise her hand and all her possessions to the prince who is successful in reaching her heart. Her beauty alone is sufficient to engage all the princes of the world in the quest. This was accordingly done, and Prince Mannequin heard that already five hundred princes had perished in the snow and ice, not to mention their squires and pages, and that more continued to arrive daily, eager to try their fortune. After some consideration he determined to present himself at court, but his arrival made no stir, as his retinue was as inconsiderable as his stature, and the splendor of his rivals was great enough to throw even Phada Kinbrass himself into the shade. However he paid his respects to the king very gracefully and asked permission to kiss the hand of the princes in the usual manner. But when he said he was called Mannequin, the king could hardly repress a smile, and the princes who stood by openly shouted with laughter. Turning to the king, Prince Mannequin said with great dignity, Pray laugh if it pleases your majesty. I am glad that it is in my power to afford you any amusement. But I am not a plaything for these gentlemen, and I must beg them to dismiss any ideas of that kind from their minds at once. With that he turned upon the one who would laugh the loudest and proudly challenged him to a single combat. This prince, who was called Phadasi, accepted the challenge very scornfully, mocking at Mannequin, whom he felt sure had no chance against himself. But the meeting was arranged for the next day. When Prince Mannequin quitted the king's presence, he was conducted to the audience hall of the Princess Subella. The sight of so much beauty and magnificence almost took his breath away for an instant. But recovering himself with an effort, he said, Lovely princess, irresistibly drawn by the beauty of your portrait, I come from the other end of the world to offer my services to you. My devotion knows no bounds, but my absurd name has already involved me in a quarrel with one of your courtiers. Tomorrow I am to fight this ugly overgrown prince, and I beg you to honor the combat with your presence, and prove to the world that there is nothing in a name, and that you deign to accept Mannequin as your knight. When it came to this, the princess could not help being amused. Although she had no heart, she was not without humor. However, she answered graciously that she accepted with pleasure, which encouraged the prince to entreat further that she would not show any favor to his adversary. Alas, said she, I favor none of these foolish people who weary me with their sentiment and their folly. I do very well as I am, and yet from one years into another they talk of nothing but delivering me from some imaginary affliction. Not a word do I understand of all their pradings about love, and who knows what dull things besides, which I declare to you I cannot even remember. Mannequin was quick enough to gather from this speech that to amuse and interest the princess would be a far sure way of gaining her favor than to add himself to the list of those who continually teased her about that mysterious thing called love, which she was so incapable of comprehending. So he began to talk of his rivals, and found in each of them something to make merry over, in which diversion the princess joined him heartily. And so well did he succeed in his attempt to amuse her, that before very long she declared that of all the people at court he was the one to whom she preferred to talk. End of Hard Advice Part 2 Recording by James O'Connor Randolph, Massachusetts August 2010 Section 14 of the Green Fairy Book This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org Recording by James O'Connor The Green Fairy Book by Andrew Lang Hard Advice Part 3 The following day, at the time appointed for the combat, when the king, the queen, and the princess had taken their places, and the whole court and the whole town were assembled to see the show, Prince Fadasse wrote into the list magnificently armed and accoutred, followed by twenty-four squires and a hundred-minute arms, each one leading a splendid horse. While Prince Mannequin entered from the other side, armed only with his spear, and followed by the faithful musta. The contrast between the two champions was so great that there was a shout of laughter from the whole assembly. But when, at the sounding of a trumpet, the combatants rushed upon each other, and Mannequin, alluding the blow aimed at him, succeeded in thrusting Prince Fadasse from his horse, and pinning him to the sand with his spear, it changed to a murmur of admiration. So soon as he had him at his mercy, however, Mannequin, turning to the princess, assured her that he had no desire to kill anyone who called himself her courtier. And then he bade the furious and humiliated Fadasse, rise and thank the princess to whom he owed his life. Then, amid the sounding of the trumpets and the shoutings of the people, he and Musta retired gravely from the lists. The king soon sent for him to congratulate him upon his success and to offer him a lodging in the palace, which he joyfully accepted. While the princess expressed a wish to have Musta brought to her, and when the prince sent for him, she was so delighted with his courtly manners and his marvelous intelligence that she entreated Mannequin to give him to her for her own. The prince consented with alacrity not only out of politeness, but because he foresaw that to have a faithful friend always near the princess might someday be of great service to him. All these events made Prince Mannequin a person of much more consequence at the court. Very soon after there arrived upon the frontier the ambassador of a very powerful king, who sent to Fada Kinbras the following letter, at the same time demanding permission to enter the capital in state to receive the answer. I brand a timor to Fada Kinbras' sin greeting. If I had before this time seen the portrait of your beautiful daughter Stella, I should not have permitted all these adventurers and petty princes to be dancing attendants and getting themselves frozen with the absurd idea of meriting her hand. For myself I am not afraid of any rivals, and now I have declared my intention of marrying your daughter. No doubt they will at once withdraw their pretensions. My ambassador has orders therefore to make arrangements for the princes to come and be married to me without delay. For I attach no importance at all to the Farag Old Nonsense which you have caused to be published all over the world about this ice mountain. If the princess really has no heart be assured that I shall not concern myself about it, since if anybody can help her to discover one it is myself. My worthy father farewell. The reading of this letter embarrassed and displeased Fada Kinbras and Birbantin immensely while the princess was furious at the insolence of the demand. They all three resolved that its contents must be kept a profound secret until they could decide what reply should be sent. But Muster contrived a sin word of all that had passed to Prince Mannequin. He was naturally alarmed and indignant and after thinking it over a little he begged an audience of the princess and led the conversation so cunningly up to the subject that was uppermost in her thoughts as well as his own, that she presently told him all about the matter and asked his advice as to what it would be best to do. This was exactly what he had not been able to decide for himself. However he replied that he should advise her to gain a little time by promising her answer after the grand entry of the ambassador and this was accordingly done. The ambassador did not at all like being put off after that fashion but he was obliged to be content and only said very arrogantly that so soon as his equipages arrived as he expected they would do very shortly he would give all the people of the city and the stranger princes with whom it was inundated an idea of the power and the magnificence of his master. Mannequin in despair resolved that he would for once beg the assistance of the kind fairy Genesta. He often thought of her and always with gratitude but from the moment of his setting out he had determined to seek a raid only on the occasions. That very night when he had fallen asleep quite worn out with thinking over all the difficulties of the situation he dreamed that the fairy stood beside him and said, Mannequin you have done very well so far continue to please me and you shall always find good friends when you need them most. As for this affair with the ambassador you can assure her that she may look forward frankly to his triumphal entry since it will all turn out well for her in the end. The prince tried to throw himself at her feet to thank her but woke to find it was all a dream. Nevertheless he took fresh courage and went next day to see the princess to whom he gave many mysterious assurances that all would yet be well. He even went so far as to ask her if she would not be very grateful to anyone who would rid her of the insolent brand of Timor to which she replied that her gratitude would know no bounds. Then he wanted to know what would be her best wish for the person who was lucky enough to accomplish it to which she said that she would wish them to be as insensible to the folly called love as she was herself. This was indeed a crushing speech to make to such a devoted lover as Prince Mannequin but he concealed the pain it caused him with great courage and now the ambassador sent to say that on the very next day he would come in state to receive his answer and from the earliest dawn the inhabitants were stir to secure the best places for the grand site but the good fairy Genesta was providing them an amount of amusement they were far from expecting. For she so enchanted the eyes of all the spectators that when the ambassador's gorgeous procession appeared the splendid uniforms seemed to them miserable rags that a beggar would have been ashamed to wear. The prancing horses appeared as wretched skeletons hardly able to drag one leg after the other while their trappings which really sparkled with golden jewels looked like old sheepskins that would not have been good enough for a plough horse. The pages resemble the ugliest sweeps the trumpets gave no more sound than whistles made of onion stalks or combs wrapped in paper while the train of fifty carriages looked no better than fifty donkey carts. In the last of these sat the ambassador with the haughty and scornful air which he considered becoming in the representative of so powerful a monarch. For this was the crowning point of the absurdity of the whole procession that all who took part in it were the expression of vanity and self-satisfaction and pride in their own appearance and all their surroundings which they believed their splendor amply justified. The laughter and howls of derision from the whole crowd rose ever louder and louder as the extraordinary cortège advanced and at last reached the ears of the king as he waited in the audience hall and before the procession reached the palace he had been informed of its stature and supposing that it must be intended as an insult he ordered the seats to be closed. You may imagine the fury of the ambassador win after all his pomp and pride the king absolutely and unaccountably refused to receive him. He raved wildly both against king and people and the cortège retired in great confusion, jeered at and pelted with stones of mud by the enraged crowd. It is needless to say that he left the country as fast as horses could carry him but not before he had declared war with the most terrible menaces threatening to devastate the country with fire and sword. Some days after this disastrous embassy King Bayard sent couriers to Prince Mannequin with a most friendly letter offering his services in any difficulty and inquiring with the deepest interest how he fared. Mannequin at once replied relating all that had happened since they parted not forgetting to mention the event which had just involved Fata Kinbrass and Branda Timor in this diddly quarrel and he ended by entreating his faithful friend to dispatch a few thousand of his veteran Spaniels to his assistance. Neither the king, the queen nor the princess could in the least understand the amazing conduct of Branda Timor's ambassador. Nevertheless the preparations for the war went forward briskly and all the princess who had not gone on towards the ice mountain offered their services at the same time demanding all the best appointments in the king's army. Mannequin was one of the first to volunteer but he only asked to go as aid to camp to the commander-in-chief who was a gallant soldier and celebrated for his victories. As soon as the army could be got together it was marched to the frontier where it met the opposing force headed by Branda Timor himself who was full of fury determined to avenge the insult to his ambassador and to possess himself of the princess Subella. All the army of Fata Kinbrass could do being so heavily outnumbered was to act upon the defensive and before long Mannequin won the esteem of the officers for his ability and of the soldiers for his courage and care for their welfare and in all the skirmishes which he conducted he had the good fortune to vanquish the enemy. At last Branda Timor engaged the whole army in a terrific conflict and though the troops of Fata Kinbrass fought with desperate courage their general was killed and they were defeated and forced to retreat with immense loss. Mannequin did wonders and half a dozen times turned the retreating forces and beat back the enemy and he afterwards collected troops enough to keep them in check until the severe winter setting in put an end to hostilities for a while. He then returned to the court where consternation reigned. The king was in despair at the death of his trusty general and ended by imploring Mannequin to take the command of the army and his council was followed in all the affairs of the court. He followed up his former plan of amusing the princess and on no account reminding her of that tedious thing called love so that she was always glad to see him and the winter slipped by Gaeli for both of them. The prince was all the while secretly making plans for the next campaign. He received private intelligence of the arrival of a strong reinforcement of Spaniels to whom he sent orders to post themselves along the frontier without attracting attention and as soon as he possibly could he held a consultation with their commander who was an old and experienced warrior. Following his advice he decided to have a pitch battle as soon as the enemy advanced and this branditimo lost not a moment in doing as he was perfectly persuaded that he was now going to make an end of the war and utterly vanquish Fata Kimbrass but no sooner had he given the order to charge than the Spaniels who had mingled with his troops unperceived, leaped each upon the horse nearest to him and not only through the whole squadron into confusion by the terror they caused but springing at the throats of the riders unhorsed many of them by the suddenness of their attack. Then turning the horses to the rear they spread consternation everywhere and made it easy for Prince Mannequin to gain a complete victory. He met branditimo in single combat and succeeded in taking him prisoner but he did not live to reach the court to which Mannequin had sent him. His pride killed him at the thought of appearing before Cibela under these altered circumstances. In the meantime Prince Fadasi and all the others who had remained behind were setting out with all speed for the conquest of the Ice Mountain being afraid that Prince Mannequin might prove as successful in that as he seemed to be in everything else. And when Mannequin returned he heard of it with great annoyance. True he had been serving the Princess but she only had by it and praised him for his gallant deeds and seemed no wit nearer bestowing on him the love he so ardently desired and all the comfort Muster could give him on the subject was that at least she loved no one else and with that he had to content himself but he determined that come what might he would delay no longer but attempt the great undertaking for which he had come so far when he went to take leave the king and queen they and treated him not to go as they had just heard that Prince Fadasi and all who accompanied him had perished in the snow but he persisted in his resolve as for Cibela she gave him her hand to kiss with precisely the same gracious indifference as she had given it to him the first time they met it happened that this farewell took place before the whole court and so great a favorite had Prince Mannequin become that they were all indignant at the coldness with which the Princess treated him finally the king said to him Prince you have constantly refilled all the gifts which in my gratitude for your invaluable services I have offered to you but I wish the Princess to present you with her cloak of Martin's fur and that I hope you will not reject now this was a splendid fur mantle which the Princess was very fond of wearing not so much because she felt cold as that its richness set off to perfection the delicate tints of her complexion and the brilliant gold of her hair however she took it off and with graceful politeness begged Prince Mannequin to accept it which you may be sure he was charmed to do and taking only this and a little bundle of all kinds of wood and accompanied only by two spaniels out of the fifty would stayed with him when the war was ended he set forth receiving many tokens of love and favor from the people in every town he passed through at the last little village he left his horse behind him to begin his toilful march through the snow which extended blank and terrible in every direction as far as the eye could see here he had appointed to meet the other forty eight spaniels who received him joyfully and assured him that happened what might they would follow and serve him faithfully and so they started full of hot and hope at first there was a slight track difficult but not impossible to follow but this was soon lost and the pole star was their only guide when the time came to call a halt the prince who had after much consideration decided on his plan of action caused a few twigs from the faculty had brought with him to be planted in the snow and then he sprinkled over them a pinch of the magic powder he had collected from the enchanted boat to his great joy they instantly began to sprout and grow and in a marvelously short time a camp was surrounded by a perfect grove of trees of all sorts which blossomed and bore ripe fruit so that all their wants were easily supplied and they were able to make huge fires to warm themselves the prince then sent out several spaniels to reconnoiter and they had the good luck to discover a horse laden with provisions stuck fast in the snow they at once fetched their comrades and brought the spoil triumphantly into the camp and as it consisted principally of biscuits not a spaniel among them went supperless to sleep in this way they journeyed by day and in camp safely at night always remembering to take on a few branches to provide them with food and shelter they passed by the way armies of those who had set out upon the perilous enterprise who stood frozen stiffly without sense or motion but prince mannequins strictly forbade that the camp should be made to thaw them so they went on and on for more than three months and day by day the ice mountain which they had seen for a long time grew clearer until at last they stood close to it and shuttered at its height and steepness but by patience and perseverance they crept up foot by foot aided by their fires of magic wood without which they must have perished in the intense cold until presently they stood at the gates of the magnificent ice palace which crowned the mountain where in diddly silence and icy sleep lay the heart of Subella now the difficulty became immense for if they maintained enough heat to keep themselves alive they were in danger every moment of melting the blocks of solid ice of which the palace was entirely built and bringing the whole structure down upon their heads but cautiously and quickly they traverse courtyards and halls until they found themselves at the foot of a vast throne where upon a cushion of snow lay an enormous and brilliantly sparkling diamond which contained the heart of the lovely princess Subella upon the lowest step of the throne was inscribed in icy letters whosoever thou art who by courage and virtue canst win the heart of Subella enjoy peacefully the good fortune which thou hast richly deserved Prince Mannequin bounded forward and had just strength left to grasp the precious diamond which contained all he coveted in the world before he fell insensible upon the snowy cushion but his good spaniels lost no time in rushing to the rescue and between them they bore him hastily from the hall and not a moment too soon for all around them they heard the clang of the falling blocks of ice as the fairy palace slowly collapsed under the unwanted heat not until they reached the foot of the mountain did they pause to restore the prince to his righteousness and in his joy to find himself the possessor of Subella's heart knew no bounds with all speed they began to retrace their steps but this time the happy prince could not bear the sight of his defeated and disappointed rivals whose frozen forms lined his triumphant way he gave orders to his spaniels to spare no pains to restore them to life and so successful were they that day by day his train increased so that by the time he got back to the little village where he had left his horse he was escorted by five hundred sovereign princes and knights and squires without number and he was so courteous and unassuming that they all followed him willingly anxious to do him honor but then he was so happy and blissful himself that he found it easy to be at peace with all the world it was not long before he met the faithful musta who was coming at the top of his speed hoping to meet the prince and he might tell him of the sudden and wonderful change that had come over the princess who had become jittle and thoughtful and had talked to him of nothing but prince mannequin of the hardship she feared he might be suffering and of her anxiety for him and all this with a hundred faunder expressions which put the finishing stroke to the prince's delight then came a courier bearing the congratulations of the king and queen who had just heard of his successful return and there was even a graceful compliment from Cibela herself the prince sent musta back to her and he was welcomed with joy was he not her lover's present at last the travelers reached the capital and were received with regal magnificence fada kimbrass and beer bantin embraced prince mannequin declaring that they regarded him as their heir and the future husband of the princess to which he replied that they did him too much honor and then he was admitted into the presence of the princess who for the first time in her life blushed as he kissed her hand and could not find a word to say but the prince throwing himself on his knees beside her held out the splendid diamond saying madam this treasure is yours since none of the dangers and difficulties I have gone through have been sufficient to make me deserve it ah prince said she if I take it it is only that I may give it back to you since truly it belongs to you already at this moment in came the king and queen and interrupted them by asking all the questions imaginable and not infrequently the same over and over again it seems that there is always one thing that is sure to be said about an event by everybody and prince mannequin found that the question which he was asked by more than a thousand people on this particular occasion was and didn't you find it very cold the king had come to request prince mannequin and the princess to follow him to the council chamber which they did not knowing that he meant to present the prince to all the nobles assembled there as his son-in-law and successor but when mannequin perceived his intention he begged permission to speak first and told his whole story even to the fact that he believed himself to be a peasant son scarcely had he finished speaking when the sky grew black the thunder growled and the lightning flashed and in the blaze of light the good fairy jenesta suddenly appeared turning to prince mannequin she said I am satisfied with you since you have shown not only courage but a good heart then she addressed king father can breast and informed him of the real history of the prince and how she had determined to give him the education she knew would be best for a man who was to command others you have already found the advantage of having a faithful friend she added to the prince and now you will have the pleasure of seeing king bayard and his subjects regain their natural forms as a reward for his kindness to you just then arrived a chariot drawn by eagles which proved to contain the foolish king and queen who embraced their long lost son with great joy and were greatly struck with the fact that they did indeed find him covered with fur while they were caressing cibela and ringing her hands which is a favorite form of endearment with foolish people chariots were seen approaching from all points of the compass containing numbers of fairies sire said jenesta to fata kinbers I have taken the liberty of appointing your court as a meeting place for all the fairies who could spare the time to come and I hope you can arrange to hold the great call which we have once in a hundred years on this occasion a king having suitably acknowledged the honor done him was next reconciled to gorgonzola and they too presently opened the ball together the fairy mass on time restored their natural forms to king bayard and all his subjects and he appeared once more as handsome a king as you could wish to see one of the fairies immediately dispatched her chariot with a queen of the spice islands and their wedding took place at the same time as that of prince mannequin and the lovely and gracious cibela they lived happily ever afterwards and their vast kingdoms were presently divided between their children the prince out of grateful remembrance of the princess cibela's first gift to him bestowed the right of bearing her name upon the most beautiful of the martins and that is why they are called sables to this day come to kyloos in the part of ice part 3 recording by James O'Connor Randolph Massachusetts August 2010 section 15 of the green fairy book this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by the green fairy book by Andrew Lang the enchanted ring part 15 once upon a time there lived a young man named Rosamund who was as good and handsome as his elder brother breathmindo was ugly and wicked their mother detested her eldest son and had only eyes for the youngest this excited breathmindo's jealousy and he invented a horrible story in order to ruin his brother he told his father that Rosamund was in the habit of visiting a neighbor who was an enemy of the family and betraying to him all that went on in the house and was plotting with him to poison their father the father flew into a rage and flogged his son till the blood came then he threw him into prison and kept him for three days without food and after that he turned him out of the house and threatened to kill him if he ever came back the mother was miserable and did nothing but weep but she dared not say anything the youth left his home with tears in his eyes not knowing where to go and wandered about for many hours till he came to a thick wood night overtook him at the foot of a great rock and he fell asleep on a bank of moss lulled by the music of a little brook it was dawn when he woke and he saw before him a beautiful woman seated on a grey horse with trappings of gold who looked as if she were preparing for the hunt have you seen a stag and some deer hounds go by she asked no madam he replied then she added you look unhappy is there anything the matter take this ring which will make you the happiest and most powerful of men provided you never make a bad use of it if you turn the diamond inside you will become invisible if you turn it outside you will become visible again if you place it on your little finger you will take the shape of the king's son followed by a splendid court if you put it on your fourth finger you will take your own shape then the young man understood that it was a fairy who was speaking to him and when she had finished she plunged into the woods the youth was very impatient to try the ring and returned home immediately he found that the fairy had spoken the truth and that he could see and hear everything while he himself was talking to him it lay with him to revenge himself if he chose on his brother without the slightest danger to himself and he told no one but his mother of all the strange things that had befallen him he afterwards put the enchanted ring on his little finger and appeared as the king's son followed by a hundred fine horses and a guard of officers all richly dressed his father was much surprised to see the king's horse and he felt rather embarrassed not knowing what was the proper way to behave on such a grand occasion then Rosamond asked him how many sons he had two replied he I wish to see them said Rosamond send for them at once I desire to take them both to court in order to make their fortunes the father hesitated then answered here is the eldest whom I have the honor to present to your father but where is the youngest I wish to see him to persisted Rosamond he is not here said the father I had to punish him for a fault and he has run away then Rosamond replied you should have shown him what was right but not have punished him however let the elder come with me and as for you follow these two guards who will escort you to a place that I will point out to them that is the father and the fairy of whom you have heard found him in the forest and beat him with a golden birch rod and cast him into a cave that was very deep and dark where he lay enchanted lie there she said till your son comes to take you out again meanwhile the son went to the king's palace and arrived just when the real prince was absent he had been treary and he had been shipwrecked on unknown shores and taken captive by a savage people Rosamond made his appearance at court in the character of the prince whom everyone wept for as lost and told them that he had been rescued when at the point of death by some merchants his return was a signal for great public rejoicings and the king was so overcome that he became the queen was even more delighted and fets were ordered over the whole kingdom one day the false prince said to his real brother breath minto you know that I brought you here from your native village in order to make your fortune but I have found out that you are a liar and that by your deceit you have been the cause of all the troubles of your brother Rosamond he is in hiding here and I desire that you shall speak to his reproaches breath minto trembled at these words and flinging himself at the prince's feet confessed his crime that is not enough said rosamond it is to your brother that you must confess and I desire that you shall ask his forgiveness he will be very generous if he grants it and it will be more than you deserve he is in my enter room where you shall see him at once I myself will retire into another apartment so as to leave you alone with him breath minto entered as he was told into the enter room then rosamond changed the ring and passed into the room by another door breath minto was filled with shame as soon as he saw his brother's face he implored his pardon and promised to atone for all his faults rosamond embraced him with tears and at once forgave him adding I am in great favour with rest with me to have your head cut off or to condemn you to pass the remainder of your life in prison but I desire to be as good to you as you have been wicked to me breath minto confused and ashamed to listen to his words without daring to lift his eyes or to remind rosamond that he was his brother after this rosamond gave out that he was going to make a secret voyage to marry a princess who lived in a neighbouring kingdom but in reality he only went to see his mother whom he told all that had happened at the court giving her at the same time some money that she needed for the king allowed him to take exactly what he liked though he was always careful not to abuse this permission just then a furious war broke out between the king his master and the sovereign of the adjoining country who was a bad man and one that never kept his word rosamond went straight to the palace of the wicked king and by means of his ring was able to be present at all the councils and learnt all their schemes so that he was able to forestall them and bring them to naught he took the command of the army which was brought against the wicked king and defeated him in a glorious battle so that peace was at once concluded on conditions that were just to everyone henceforth the king's one idea was to marry the young man to a princess who was the heiress to a neighbouring kingdom and besides that was as lovely as the day but one morning while rosamond was hunting in the forest where for the first time he had seen the fairy his benefactress suddenly appeared before him take heed she said to him in severe tones that you do not marry anybody who believes you to be a prince you must never deceive anyone the real prince the whole nation thinks you are will have to succeed his father for that is just and right go and seek him in some distant island and I will send winds that will swell your sails and bring you to him hasten to render this service to your master although it is against your own ambition and prepare like an honest man to return to your natural state if you do not do this you will become wicked and unhappy and I will abandon you to all your former troubles rosamond took these wise councils to heart he gave out that he had undertaken a secret mission to a neighbouring state and embarked on board a vessel the winds carrying him straight to the island where the fairy had told him he would find the real prince this unfortunate youth had been taken captive by a savage people who had kept him to guard their sheep rosamond becoming invisible went to seek him amongst the pastures where he kept his flock and covering him with his mantle he delivered him out of the hands of his cruel masters and bore him back to the ship other winds sent by the fairy swelled the sails and together the two young men entered the king's presence rosamond spoke first and said you have believed me to be your son I am not he but I have brought him back to you the king filled with astonishment turned to his real son and asked was it not you my son who conquered my enemies and won such a glorious peace or is it true that you have been shipwrecked and taken captive and that rosamond has set you free yes my father replied the prince it is he who sought me out in my captivity and set me free and to him I owe the happiness of seeing you once more it is he not I who gained the victory the king could hardly believe his ears but rosamond turning the ring appeared before him in the likeness of the prince and the king gazed distractedly at the two youths who seemed both to be his son then he offered rosamond immense rewards for his services which were refused and the only favor the young man would accept was that one of his posts at court should be conferred on his brother breath minto for he feared for himself the changes of fortune the envy of mankind and his own weakness his desire was to go back to his mother and his native village and to spend his time in cultivating the land one day when he was wandering through the woods he met the fairy who showed him the cavern where his father was imprisoned and told him what words he must use in order to set him free he repeated them joyfully for he had always longed to bring the old man back and to make his last days happy rosamond thus became the benefactor of all his family and had the pleasure of doing good to those who had wished to do him evil as for the court to whom he had rendered such services all he asked was the freedom to live far from its corruption and to crown all fearing that if he kept the ring he might be tempted to use it as his lost place in the world he made up his mind to restore it to the fairy for many days he sought her up and down the woods and at last he found her I want to give you back he said holding out the ring a gift as dangerous as it is powerful and which I fear to use wrongfully I shall never feel safe till I have made it impossible for me to leave my solitude and to satisfy my passions seeking to give back the ring to the fairy breath minto who had failed to learn any lessons from experience gave way to all his desires and tried to persuade the prince lately become king to ill treat rosamond but the fairy who knew all about everything said to rosamond when he was imploring her to accept the ring your wicked brother is doing his best to poison the mind of the king towards you and to ruin you he deserves to be punished and he must die and in order that he may destroy himself I shall give the ring to him rosamond wept at these words and then asked what do you mean by giving him the ring as a punishment he will only use it to persecute everyone and to become master the same things answered the fairy are often a healing medicine to one person and a deadly poison to another is the source of all evil to a naturally wicked man if you wish to punish a scoundrel the first thing to do is to give him power you will see that with this rope he will soon hang himself having said this she disappeared and went straight to the palace where she showed herself to breath minto under the disguise of an old woman covered with rags she had once addressed him in these words I have taken this ring from the hands of your brother to whom I had lent it and by its help he covered himself with glory I now give it to you and be careful what you do with it breath minto replied with a laugh I shall certainly not imitate my brother who was foolish enough to bring back the prince instead of reigning in his place and he was as good as his word the only use he made of the ring was to find out family secrets and betray them to commit murders and every sort of wickedness and to gain wealth for himself unlawfully all these crimes which could be traced to nobody filled the people with astonishment the king seeing so many affairs public and private exposed was at first as puzzled as anyone till breath minto's wonderful prosperity and amazing insolence made him suspect that the enchanted ring had become his property in order to find out the truth he bribed a stranger just arrived at court one of a nation with whom the king was always at war and arranged that he was to steal in the night to breath minto and to offer him untold honors and rewards if he would betray the state's secrets breath minto promised everything and accepted at once the first payment of his crime boasting that he had a ring which rendered him invisible the means of it he could penetrate into the most private places but his triumph was short next day he was seized by order of the king and his ring was taken from him he was searched and on him were found papers which proved his crimes and though rosamund himself came back to the court to entreat his pardon it was refused so breath minto was put to death and the ring had been even more fatal to him than useful in the hands of his brother to console rosamund for the fate of breath minto the king gave him back the enchanted ring as a pearl without price the unhappy rosamund did not look upon it in the same light and the first thing he did on his return home was to seek the fairy in the woods here he said is your ring my brother's experience has made me understand many things that I did not know before keep it it has only led to his destruction oh without it he would be alive now and my father and mother would not in their old age be bowed to the earth with shame and grief perhaps he might have been wise and happy if he had never had the chance of gratifying his wishes oh how dangerous it is to have more power than the rest of the world take back your ring and as ill fortune seems to follow all on whom you bestow it I will implore you as a favor to myself that you will never give it to anyone who is dear to me fenelon end of the enchanted ring part 15 recording by jadapi www.publicdomainaudiobooks.blogspot.com section 16 of the green fairy book this is the LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org this recording is by Mark Smith of Simpsonville, South Carolina the green fairy book by Andrew Lang section 16 the snuff box as it often happens in this world there was once a young man who spent all his time in traveling one day as he was walking along he picked up a snuff box he opened it and the snuff box said to him in the Spanish language what do you want he was very much frightened but luckily, instead of throwing the box away he only shut it tight and put it in his pocket then he went on away away away and as he went he said to himself if it says to me again I shall know better what to say this time so he took out the snuff box and opened it and again it asked what do you want my hat full of gold answered the youth and immediately it was full our young man was enchanted henceforth he should never be in need of anything so on he traveled away away away through thick forests till at last he came to a beautiful castle there lived a king the young man walked round and round the castle not caring who saw him till the king noticed him and asked what he was doing there I was just looking at your castle you would like to have one like it wouldn't you the young man did not reply but when it grew dark he took his snuff box and opened the lid what do you want build me a castle with lots of gold and tiles of diamond which are all of silver and gold he had scarcely finished speaking when there stood in front of him exactly opposite the king's palace a castle built precisely as he had ordered when the king awoke he was struck dumb at the sight of the magnificent house shining in the rays of the sun the servants could not do their work for stopping to stare at it then the king dressed himself and went to see the young man and he told him plainly about the prince and that he hoped that they might all live together in one house or the other and that the king would give him his daughter to wife so it all turned out just as the king wished the young man married the princess and they lived happily in the palace of gold but the king's wife was jealous both of the young man and of her own daughter the princess had told her mother about the snuff box which gave them everything they wanted and the queen bribed a servant to steal the snuff box they noticed carefully where it was put away every night and one evening when the whole world was asleep the woman stole it and brought it to her old mistress oh how happy the queen was she opened the lid and the snuff box said to her what do you want and she answered it once I want you to take me and my husband and my servants and this beautiful house and set us down on the other side of the Red Sea but my daughter and her husband are to stay behind when the young couple woke up they found themselves back in the old castle without their snuff box they hunted for it high and low but quite vainly the young man felt that no time was to be lost and he mounted his horse and filled his pockets with as much gold as he could carry on he went away, away, away but he sought the snuff box and vain all up and down the neighboring countries and very soon he came to the end of all his money but still he went on as fast as the strength of his horse would let him begging his way someone told him that he ought to consult the moon for the moon traveled far and might be able to tell him something so he went away, away, away and ended somehow or other by reaching the land of the moon there he found a little old woman who said to him what are you doing here my son eats all living things he sees and if you are wise you will go away without coming any further but the young man told her all his sad tale and how he possessed a wonderful snuff box and how it had been stolen from him and how he had nothing left now that he was parted from his wife and was in need of everything and he said that perhaps her son who traveled so far might have seen a palace with laths of gold and tiles of diamond and furnished all in silver and gold as he spoke these last words the moon came in and said he smelt mortal flesh and blood but his mother told him that it was an unhappy man who had lost everything and had come all this way to consult him and bade the young man not to be afraid but to come forward and show himself so he went boldly up to the moon and asked if by any accident he had seen a palace with the laths of gold and the tiles of diamond and all the furniture of silver and gold once this house belonged to him but now it was stolen and the moon said no but that the son traveled farther than he did and that the young man had better go and ask him so the young man departed and went away away away as well as his horse would take him begging his living as he rode along and somehow or other at last he got to the land of the sun there he found a little old woman who asked him what are you doing here go away have you not heard that my son feeds upon Christians but he said no and that he would not go for he was so miserable that it was all one to him whether he died or not that he had lost everything and especially a splendid palace like none other in the whole world for it had laths of gold and tiles of diamond and all the furniture was of silver and gold and that he had sought it far and long and in all the earth there was no man more unhappy so the old woman's heart melted and she agreed to hide him when the sun arrived he declared that he smelled Christian flesh and he meant to have it for his dinner but his mother told him such a pitiful story of the miserable wretch who had lost everything and had come from far to ask his help that at last he promised to see him so the young man came out of his hiding-place and begged the sun to tell him if in the course of his travels he had not seen somewhere a palace that had not its like in the whole world for its laths were of gold and its tiles of diamond and all the furniture in silver and gold and the sun said no but that perhaps the wind had seen it for he entered everywhere and saw things that no one else ever saw and if anyone knew where it was it was certainly the wind then the young man again set forth as well as his horse could take him begging his living as he went and somehow or other he ended by reaching the home of the wind he found there a little old woman busily occupied in filling great barrels with water she asked him what had put it into his head to come there for her son ate everything he saw and that he would shortly arrive quite mad and that the young man had better look out but he answered that he was so unhappy that he had ceased to mind anything even being eaten and then he told her that he had been robbed of a palace that had not its equal in all the world and that he had even left his wife and was wandering over the world until he found it and that it was the son who had sent him to consult the wind so she hid him under the staircase and soon they heard the south wind arrive shaking the house to its foundations thirsty as he was he did not wait to drink but he told his mother that he smelt the blood of a Christian man and that she had better bring him out at once than he had eaten but she bade her son eat and drink what was before him and said that the poor young man was much to be pitied and that the son had granted him his life in order that he might consult the wind then she brought out the young man who explained how he was seeking for his palace and that no man had been able to tell him where it was so he had come to the wind and he added that he had been shamefully robbed and that the laughs were of gold and of diamonds and all the furniture in silver and gold and he inquired if the wind had not seen such a palace during his wanderings and the wind said yes and that all that day he had been blowing backwards and forwards over it without being able to move one single tile oh do tell me where it is cried the young man it is a long way off replied the wind but our traveller was not discouraged he had already journeyed too far so he set forth at once and somehow or other he managed to reach that distant land and he inquired if anyone wanted a gardener he was told that the head gardener at the castle had just left and perhaps he might have a chance of getting the place the young man lost no time but walked up to the castle and asked if they were in want of a gardener and how happy he was when they agreed to take him now he passed most of his day in gossiping with the servants about the wealth of their masters and the wonderful things in the house he made friends with one of the maids who told him the history of the snuff box and he coaxed her to let him see it one evening she managed to get hold of it and the young man watched carefully where she hid it away in his secret place in the bed-chamber of her mistress the following night when everyone was fast asleep he crept in and took the snuff box think of his joy as he opened the lid when it asked him as of your what do you want? he replied what do I want? what do I want? why, I want to go with my palace to the old place and for the king and the queen and all their servants to be drowned in the Red Sea he hardly finished speaking when he found himself back again with his wife while all the other inhabitants of the palace were lying at the bottom of the Red Sea End of Section 16 Section 17 of The Green Fairy Book This is the LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org This recording is by Mark Smith of Simpsonville, South Carolina The Green Fairy Book by Andrew Lang Section 17 The Golden Blackbird Once upon a time there was a great lord who had three sons he fell very ill, sent for doctors of every kind, even bone-setters but they, none of them could find out what was the matter with him or even give him any relief At last there came a foreign doctor who declared that the golden blackbird alone could cure the sick man So the old lord dispatched his eldest son to look for the wonderful bird and promised him great riches if he managed to find it and bring it back The young man began his journey and soon arrived at a place where four roads met He did not know which to choose and tossed his cap in the air determining that the direction of its fall should decide him After traveling for two or three days he grew tired of walking without knowing where, or for how long and he stopped at an inn which was filled with merry-makers and ordered something to eat and drink My faith, said he it is sheer folly to waste more time hunting for this bird My father is old and if he dies I shall inherit his goods The old man, after waiting patiently for some time sent his second son to seek the golden blackbird The youth took the same direction as his brother and when he came to the crossroads he too tossed up which road he should take The cap fell in the same place as before and he walked on till he came to the spot where his brother had halted The latter, who was leaning out of the window of the inn called to him to stay where he was and amuse himself You were right, replied the youth Who knows if I should ever find the golden blackbird even if I sought the whole world through for it At the worst, if the old man dies we shall have his property He entered the inn and the two brothers made merry and feasted till very soon their money was all spent They even owed something to their landlord who kept them as hostages till they could pay their debts The youngest son set forth in his turn and he arrived at the place where his brothers were still prisoners They called to him to stop and did all they could to prevent his going further No, he replied My father trusted me and I will go all over the world till I find the golden blackbird Bah, said his brothers You will never succeed any better than we did Let him die if he wants to We will divide the property As he went his way he met a little hare who stopped to look at him and asked Where are you going, my friend? I really don't quite know answered he My father is ill and he cannot be cured unless I bring him back the golden blackbird It is a long time since I set out but no one can tell me where to find it Ah, said the hare You have a long way to go yet You will have to walk at least 700 miles before you get to it And how am I to travel such a distance? I'm out on my back, said the little hare And I will conduct you The young man obeyed At each bound the little hare went 7 miles and it was not long before they reached a castle that was as large and beautiful as a castle could be The golden blackbird is in a little cabin nearby said the little hare and you will easily find it It lives in a little cage with another cage beside it made all of gold But whatever you do Be sure not to put it in the beautiful cage or everybody in the castle will know that you have stolen it The youth found the golden blackbird standing on a wooden perch but as stiff and rigid as if he was dead and beside the beautiful cage was the cage of gold Perhaps he would revive if I were to put him in that lovely cage thought the youth The moment that golden bird had touched the bars of the splendid cage he awoke and began to whistle so that all the servants of the castle ran to see what was the matter saying that he was a thief and must be put in prison No, he answered I am not a thief If I have taken the golden blackbird it is only that it may cure my father who is ill and I have traveled more than 700 miles in order to find it Well, they replied We will let you go and we'll even give you the golden bird if you are able to bring us the porcelain maiden The youth departed weeping and met the little hare who was munching wild time What are you crying for, my friend? asked the hare It is because, he answered the castle people will not allow me to carry off the golden blackbird without giving them the porcelain maiden in exchange You have not followed my advice, said the little hare and you have put the golden bird into the fine cage Alas, yes Don't despair The porcelain maiden is a young girl, beautiful as Venus who dwells 200 miles from here Jump on my back and I will take you there The little hare who took seven miles in a stride was there in no time at all and he stopped on the borders of a lake The porcelain maiden, said the hare to the youth will come here to bathe with her friends while I just eat a mouthful of time to refresh me When she is in the lake be sure you hide her clothes which are of dazzling whiteness and do not give them back to her unless she consents to follow you The little hare left him and almost immediately the porcelain maiden arrived with her friends She undressed herself and got into the water The young man glided up noiselessly and laid hold of her clothes which he hid under a rock at some distance When the porcelain maiden was tired of playing in the water she came out to dress herself but though she hunted for her clothes high and low she could find them nowhere Her friends helped her in the search but seeing it last that it was of no use they left her alone on the bank weeping bitterly Why do you cry? said the young man approaching her Alas! answered she while I was bathing someone stole my clothes and my friends have abandoned me I will find your clothes if you will only come with me and the porcelain maiden agreed to follow him and after having given up her clothes the young man bought a small horse for her which went like the wind The little hare brought them both back to seek for the golden blackbird and when they drew near to the castle where it lived the little hero said to the young man Now do be a little sharper than you were before and you will manage to carry off both the golden blackbird and the porcelain maiden Take the golden cage in one hand and leave the bird in the old cage where he is and bring that away too The little hare then vanished The youth did as he was bid and the castle servants never noticed that he was carrying off the golden bird When he reached the inn where his brothers were detained he delivered them by paying their debt They set out all together but as the two elder brothers were jealous of the success of the youngest they took the opportunity as they were passing by the shores of a lake to throw themselves upon him seize the golden bird and fling him in the water Then they continued their journey taking with them the porcelain maiden in the firm belief that their brother was drowned But happily he had snatched in falling at a tuft of rushes and called loudly for help The little hare came running to him and said Take hold of my leg and pull yourself out of the water When he was safe on shore the little hare said to him Now this is what you have to do Dress yourself like a Breton seeking a place as stable-boy and go and offer your services to your father Once there you will easily be able to make him understand the truth The young man did as the little hare bade him and he went to his father's castle and inquired if they were not in want of a stable-boy Yes, replied his father very much indeed but it is not an easy place There is a little horse in the stable which will not let anyone go near it and it has already kicked to death several people who have tried to groom it I will undertake to groom it said the youth I never saw the horse I was afraid of yet The little horse allowed itself to be rubbed down without a toss of its head and without a kick Good gracious! exclaimed the master How is it that he lets you touch him when no one else can go near him? Perhaps he knows me answered the stable-boy Two or three days later the master said to him The poor slim maiden is here but though she is as lovely as the dawn she is so wicked that she scratches everyone that approaches her Try if she will accept your services When the youth entered the room where she was the golden blackbird broke forth into a joyful song and the poor slim maiden sang too and jumped for joy Good gracious! cried the master The poor slim maiden and the golden blackbird know you too? Yes! replied the youth and the poor slim maiden can tell you the whole truth if she only will Then she told all that had happened and how she had consented to follow the young man who had captured the golden blackbird Yes! added the youth I delivered my brothers who were kept prisoners in an inn and as a reward they threw me into a lake so I disguised myself and came here in order to prove the truth to you So the old lord embraced his son and promised that he should inherit all his possessions and he put to death the two elder ones who had deceived him and had tried to slay their own brother The young man married the poor slim maiden and had a splendid wedding feast