 Chapter 14 of the Red 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 Rachel Trishka. The Red Fairy Book by Andrew Lang. Chapter 14. Graciosa in Personae. Once upon a time there lived a king and queen who had one charming daughter. She was so graceful and pretty and clever that she was called Graciosa and the queen was so fond of her that she could think of nothing else. Every day she gave the princess a lovely new frock of gold briquette or satin or velvet and when she was hungry she'd bowls full of sugar plums and at least 20 pots of jam. And everybody said that she was the happiest princess in the world. Now they lived at the same court, a very rich old duchess whose name was Grumbly. She was more frightful than tongue can tell. Her hair was red as fire and she had about one eye and that not a pretty one. Her face was as broad as a full moon and her mouth was so large that everybody who met her would have been afraid they were going to be eaten up. Only she had no teeth. As she was as cross as she was ugly she could not bear to hear everyone saying how pretty and how charming Graciosa was. So she presently went away from the court to her own castle. She was not far off. But if anybody who went to see her happened to mention the charming princess she would cry angrily. It's not true that she is lovely. I have more beauty in my little finger than she has in her whole body. Soon after this, to the great grief of the princess the queen was taken ill and died. And the king became so melancholy that for a whole year he shut himself up in his palace. At last his facisions, fearing that he would fall ill ordered that he should go out and use himself. So a hunting party was arranged. But as it was very hot weather the king soon got tired and said he would dismount and rest at a castle which they were passing. This happened to be Grumbly's castle. And when she heard that the king was coming she went out to meet him and said that the cellar was the coolest place in the whole castle if he would come to seem to come down into it. So down they went together and the king seeing about 200 great castes ranged side by side asked if it was only for herself that she had this immense store of wine. Yes, Sire, answered she, just for myself alone but I shall be most happy to let you taste some of it. Which do you like? Canary, Songelian, Champagne, Hermitage-Chetzak, Pheasant or Cider? Well, said the king, since you are so kindest to ask me I prefer Champagne to everything else. Then Duchess Grumbly took up a little hammer and tapped upon the castle twice and out came at least a thousand crowns. What's the meaning of this? said she, smiling. Then she tapped the next castle and out came a bushel of gold pieces. I don't understand this at all. said the Duchess, smiling more than ever. Then she went on to the third castle. Te. And out came such a stream of diamonds and pearls that the ground was covered with them. Ah, she cried. This is altogether beyond my comprehension, Sire. Someone must have stolen my good wine and put all this rush in its place. Rubbish, do you call it, Madame Grumbly? cried the king. Rubbish! Why, there's nothing there to buy tin kingdoms. Well, said she, you must know that all those castles are full of golden jewels. And if you like to marry me, it shall all be yours. Now the king loved money more than anything else in the world. So he cried joyfully, marry you? Why, with all my heart? Tomorrow, if you like. But I make one condition, said the Duchess. I must have entire control of your daughter to do as I please with her. Oh, certainly you should have your own way. Let us shake hands upon the bargain, said the king. So they shook hands and went up out of the cellar of a treasure together. And the Duchess locked the door and gave the key to the king. When he got back to his own palace, Graciosa ran out to meet him and asked if he had had good sport. I have quarter-dub, answered he. Oh, do give it to me, said the princess, and I will keep it and take care of it. I can hardly do that, said he. For, to speak more plainly, I mean that I met the Duchess grumbly. I have promised to marry her. Well, her adove, cried the princess. I should have called her a screech, how. Hold your tongue, said the king, very crossly. I continued to behave pristly to her. So now go and make yourself fit to be seen, as I am going to take you to visit her. So the princess went very sorrowfully to her own room. And her nurse, seeing her tears, asked what was vexing her. Alas, who would not be vexed, answered she. For the king intends to marry again, and has chosen for his new bride my enemy, the hideous Duchess grumbly. Oh, well, answered the nurse. You must remember that you are a princess, and are expected to set a good example in making the best of whatever happens. You must promise me not to let the Duchess see how much you dislike her. At first the princess would not promise, but the nurse showed her so many good reasons for it, that in the end she agreed to be amiable to her stepmother. Then the nurse dressed her in a robe of pale green and gold brocade, and combed out her long, fair hair till it floated round her like golden mantel, and put on her head a crown of roses and jasmine with emerald leaves. When she was ready nobody could have been prettier, but she still could not help looking sad. Meanwhile the Duchess grumbly was also occupied in attiring herself. She had one of her shoe heels made an inch or so higher than the other, but she might not lump so much, and put in a cunningly made glass sigh in the place of the one she had lost. She dyed her red hair black, and painted her face. Then she put on a gorgeous robe of lilac satin lined with blue, and a yellow petticoat trimmed with violet ribbons, and because she had heard that queens always rode into their new domains, she ordered a horse to be made ready for her to ride. While Gracia was still waiting until the king should be ready to set out, she went down all alone through the garden into a little wood, where she sat down upon a mossy bank and began to think, and her thoughts were so doleful that very soon she began to cry, and she cried, and she cried, and she was all about going back to the palace, until she suddenly saw a handsome page standing before her. He was dressed in green, and the cap which he held in his hand was adorned with white plumes. When Gracia said looked at him, he went down on one knee, and said to her, Princess, the king awaits you. The princess was surprised, and, if the truth must be told, very much delighted at the appearance of this charming page, whom she could not remember to have seen before, thinking he might belong to the household of the Duchess. She said, how long have you been one of the king's pages? I am not in the service of the king madame, answered he, but in yours. In mine? said the princess, with great surprise. Then how is it that I have never seen you before? Ah, princess, said he, I have never before dared to present myself to you, but now the king's marriage threatens you with so many dangers, that I have resolved to tell you at once how much I love you already, and I trust that in time I may win your regard. I am prince personally, with whose riches you may have heard, and to his very gift will, I hope, grant you in all your difficulties, if you will permit me to accompany you under this disguise. Ah, personally? cried the princess. Is it really you? I have so often heard of you and wished to see you. If you will indeed be, my friend, I shall not be afraid of that wicked old Duchess any more. So they went back to the palace together, and near Graciosa found a beautiful horse which a person had bought for her to ride. As it was very spirited, he led it by the bridle, and this arrangement enabled him to turn and look at the princess often, which he did not fail to do. Indeed, she was so pretty that it was a real pleasure to look at her. When the horse which had Duchess was to ride appeared, sighed Graciosa's, it looked no better than an old cart horse, and as to their trappings, there was simply no comparison between them, as the princesses saddle and bridle were one glittering mass of diamonds. The king had so many other things to think of that he did not notice this, but all his courtiers were entirely taken up with admiring the princess in her charming page in green, who was more handsome and distinguished looking than all the rest of the court put together. When they met the Duchess grumbly, she was seated in an open carriage, trying in vain to look dignified. The king and the princess saluted her, and her horse was brought forward for her to mount. But when she saw Graciosa's, she cried angrily, if that child is to have a better horse than mine, I will go back to my own castle at the very minute. What is the good of being a queen if one is to be slightly like this? Upon this, the king commanded Graciosa to dismount, and to bed Duchess to honour her by mounting her horse. And the Duchess, without looking at her or thinking her, scrambled up upon the beautiful horse, where she sat looking like a bundle of clothes, and eight officers had to hold her up for fear she should fall off. Even then she was not satisfied, and was still grumbling and muttering. So they asked her what was the matter. I wished that page in green to come and lead the horse. As she did when Graciosa rode it, said she very sharply, the king ordered the page to come and lead the queen's horse. The person they and the princess looked at one another, but said never a word, and then he did as the king commanded, and the procession started in great pomp. The Duchess was greatly elated, and as she sat there and stayed, would not have wished to change places even with Graciosa. Which had the moment when it was least expected the beautiful horse began to plunge and rear and kick, and finally to run away at such a pace that it was impossible to stop him. At first the Duchess clung to the saddle, but she was very soon thrown off and fell in the heap among the stones and thorns, and there they found her, shaken to a jelly, and collected what was left of her as if she had been a broken glass. Her bonnet was here, and her shoes there, her face was scratched, and her fine clothes were covered with mud. Never was a bright scene in such a dismal plight. They carried her back to the palace and put her to bed, but as soon as she recovered enough to be able to speak, she began to scold and rage, and declared that the whole affair was Graciosa's fault, that she had contrived it on purpose to try to get rid of her, she would go back to her castle and enjoy her riches by herself. This the king was terribly frightened, for he did not at all want to lose all those barrels of gold and jewels. So he hastened to appease the Duchess, and told her she might punish Graciosa in any way she pleased. Thereupon she sent for Graciosa, who turned pale and trembled at the summons, for she guessed that it promised nothing agreeable for her. She lived all her life with her. She looked all about for personae, but he was nowhere to be seen, so she had no choice but to go to the Duchess grumbly's room. She had hardly got inside the door when she was seized by four waiting women who looked so tall and strong and cruel that the princess shattered at the sight of them, and still more when she saw them arming themselves with great bundles of rods, and heard the Duchess call out to them from her bed to beat the princess without mercy. But no sooner did they begin to beat her than she found to her great relief that the rods had changed above most of Peacock's feathers. And though the Duchess's women went on till they were so tired that they could no longer raise the arms from their sides, yet she was not hurt at least. However, the Duchess thought that she must be black and blue after such a beating. So, graciosa, when she was released pretended to feel very bad and went away into her own room where she told her nurse all that had happened, and then the nurse left her, and when the princess turned round there stood Personae beside her. She thanked them gratefully for helping her so cleverly, and they laughed and were very merry taking in the Duchess and her waiting maids. But Personae advised her still to pretend to be very ill for a few days, and after promising to come to her aid whenever she needed him, he disappeared as suddenly as he had come. The Duchess was so delighted at the idea that Graciosa was really ill that she herself recovered twice as fast as she would have done otherwise, and the wedding was held great magnificence. Now as the King knew that, above all other things, the Queen loved to be told that she was beautiful. He ordered that her portrait should be painted, and that a tournament should be held, at which all the bravest knights of his court should maintain against all comers that grumbly was the most beautiful princess in the world. Numbers of knights came from far and wide to accept the challenge, and the hideous Queen set in great state in a balcony hung with a cloth of gold to watch the contests. And Graciosa had to stand up behind her, where her loveliness was so conspicuous that the combatants could not keep their eyes off her. But the Queen was so vain that she thought all the admiring glance were for herself, especially as, in spite of the badness of their cause, the King's knights were so brave that they were the victors in every combat. However, when nearly all the strangers had been defeated, a young unknown knight presented himself. He carried a portrait, and closed in a bow and crusted with diamonds, and he declared himself willing to maintain against them all that the Queen was the ugliest creature in the world, and that the princess whose portrait he carried was the most beautiful. So one by one the knights came out against him, and one by one he vanquished them all, and then he opened the box and said that to console them he would show them the portrait of his Queen of Beauty, and when he did so over and recognised the Princess Graciosa, the unknown knight then saluted her gracefully and retired, without telling his name to anybody. But Graciosa had no difficulty in getting that it was personal. As the Queen, she was so furiously angry that she could hardly speak. But she soon recovered her voice and overwhelmed Graciosa with a torrent of reproaches. What? She said, Do you dare to dispute with me for the prize of beauty, and expect me to endure this insult to my knights? But I will not bear it, Proud Princess. I will have my revenge. I assure you, madame, said the Princess, that I had nothing to do with it and am quite willing that you shall be to clear Queen of Beauty. Ha! You are pleased to just pop and jay, said the Queen. But it will make my turn soon. The King was speedily told of what had happened and how the Princess was in terror of the angry Queen. But he only said, The Queen must do as she pleases. Graciosa belongs to her. The wicked Queen waited impatiently until night fell and then she ordered her carriage to be brought. Graciosa, much against her will, was forced into it and away they drove and never stopped until they reached a great forest, a hundred leagues from the palace. This forest was so gloomy and so full of lions, tigers, bears and wolves that nobody dared pass through it even by daylight and here they sat down the unhappy Princess in the middle of a black night and left her in spite of all her tears and entreaties. The Princess stood quite still at first from sheer bewilderment but when the last sound of the retreating characters died away in the distance she began to run aimlessly hither and thither, sometimes knocking herself against a tree, sometimes tripping over a stone fearing every minute that she would be eaten up by the lions. Presently she was too tired to advance another step so she threw herself down upon the ground and cried miserably, Who personally? How are you? Have you forgotten me altogether? She had hardly spoken when all the forest was lighted up with a sudden glow. Every tree seemed to be sending out a soft radiance which was clearer than moonlight and softer than daylight and at the end of the long avenue of trees opposite to her the Princess saw a palace of clear crystal which blazed like the sun. At that moment it sound behind her made her start around and there stood Person A himself and did I fratern you, my Princess? said he. I come to bid you welcome to our fairy palace and the name of the Queen and my mother who is prepared to love you as much as I do. The Princess joyfully mounted with him into a little sledge drawn by two stags which bounded off and drew them swiftly to the wonderful palace where the Queen received her with the greatest kindness and a splendid banquet was served at once Graciosa was so happy to have found Person A and to have escaped from the gloomy forest with all its terrors that she was very hungry and very merry and they were a gay party. After supper they went into another lovely room where the crystal walls were covered with pictures and the Princess saw with great surprise that her own history was represented even down to the moment when Person A found her in the forest your painters must indeed be diligent she said pointing out the last picture to the Prince they are obliged to be for I will not have anything forgotten that happens to you he answered When the Princess grew sleepy 24 charming maidens put her to bed in the prettiest room she had ever seen and then sang to her so sweetly that Graciosa's dreams were all of mermaids and core sea waves and caverns in which she wandered with Person A but when she woke up again her first thought was that delightful as this fairy palace seemed to her yet she could not stay in it but must go back to her father when she had been dressed by the four and twenty maidens in a charming robe which the Queen had sent to her and in which she looked prettier than ever Prince Person A came to see her and was bitterly disappointed when she told him what she had been thinking he begged her to consider again how unhappy the wicked Queen would make her and how if she would but marry him all the fairy palace would be hers and just one thought would be to please her but in spite of everything he could say the Princess was quite determined to go back though he had last persuaded her to stay eight days which was so full of pleasure and amusement that they passed like a few hours on the last day Graciosa who'd often felt anxious to know what the Queen had told him her father's palace said to Prince Person A that she was sure that he could find out for her if he would what reason the Queen had given her father for her sudden disappearance Prince Person A had first offered to send his courier to find out but the Princess said oh isn't there a quicker way of knowing than that very well said Prince Person A so if they went together to the top of a very high tower which like the rest of the castle was built entirely of rock crystal there the Prince held Graciosa's hand in his and made her put the tip of her little finger into her mouth and looked toward the tower and immediately she saw the wicked Queen go to the king and heard her say to him that miserable princess is dead and no great loss either I've ordered that she'll be buried at once and then the Princess saw how she dressed up a log of wood and had it buried and how the old king cried and all the people murmured that the Queen had killed Graciosa with her cruelties and that she ought to have her head cut off when the Princess saw that the king was so sorry for her pretender death that he could neither eat nor drink she cried ah Person A take me back quickly if you love me and so though he did not want to at all he was obliged to promise that he would let her go you may not regret me princess he said sadly for I fear that you do not love me well enough but I foresee that you will more than once regret that you live this very palace where we have been so happy but in spite of all he could say she bade farewell to the Queen, his mother and prepared to set out so Person A very unwillingly brought the little sledge with the stag and she mounted beside him but they had hardly gone twenty yards with a tremendous noise behind her made Graciosa look back and she saw the Palace of Crystal fly into a million splinters like the spray of a fountain and vanish oh Person A she cried what has happened the palace has gone yes he answered my palace is a thing of the past you will see it again but not until after you have been buried now you are angry with me said Graciosa and her most coaxing voice though after all I am more to be pity than you are when they got near the Palace the Prince made the sledge in themselves invisible so the Princess got in and unobserved and ran up to the Great Hall where the King was sitting all by himself at first he was very much startled by Graciosa's sudden appearance but she told him how the Queen had left her out in the forest and how she had caused the log of wood to be buried King who did not know what to think seemed quickly and had it dug up and sure enough it was as the Princess had said and then he caressed Graciosa and made us sit down to supper with him and they were as happy as possible but someone had by this time told the wicked Queen that Graciosa had come back and was at supper with the King and then she flew in a terrible fury the poor old King quite trembled before her and when she declared that Graciosa was not the Princess after all but a wicked imposter that if the King did not give her up at once she would go back to her own castle and never see him again he had not a word to say and really seemed to believe that it was not Graciosa after all so the Queen, great triumph sent for her waiting woman who dragged the unhappy Princess away and shut her up in a garret they took away all her jewels and her pretty dress and gave her a rough cotton frock wooden shoes and a little cloth cap there was some straw in a corner which was all she had for her bed and they gave her a very little bit of black bread to eat and this miserable plight Graciosa did indeed regret the fairy palace and she would have called Percenator her aide only she felt sure that he was still vexed with her for leaving him and I felt that she could not expect him to come meanwhile the Queen had sent for an old fairy as malicious as herself and said to her you must find me some task for this fine Princess which she cannot possibly do for I mean to punish her and if she does not do what I order she will not be able to say that I am unjust so the old fairy said she would think it over and come again next day when she returned she brought with her a scheme of thread three times as big as herself she was so fine that a breath of air would break it and so tangled that it was impossible to see the beginning or the end of it the Queen sent for Graciosa and said to her do you see the scheme set your clumsy fingers to work upon it for I must have it disentangled by sunset and if you break a single thread it will be the worst for you so saying she left her locking the door behind her with three keys the Princess stood dismayed at the sight of the terrible scheme she did but turn it over to see where it began she broke a thousand threads and not one could she disentangle but last she threw it into the middle of the floor crying oh personne this fateful scheme will be the death of me if you will not forgive me and help me once more and immediately in came personne as easily as if he had had all the keys in his own position here I am Princess as much as ever it to a service said he though really you are not very kind to me then he just struck the scheme with his wand and all the broken threads joined themselves together and the whole scheme wound itself smoothly off in the most surprising manner and the Prince turned into Glaciosa asked if there was nothing else that she wished him to do for her and if the time would never come when she would wish him for his own sake don't be fixed with me personne she said I am unhappy enough without that but why should you be unhappy my Princess cried he only come with me and we shall be as happy as the day is long together suppose you get tired of me said Glaciosa the Prince was so grieved at this want of confidence that he left her without another word Queen was in such a hurry to punish Glaciosa that she thought the sun would never set indeed it was before the appointed time that she came with her four fairies and as she fitted the three keys into the locks she said I'll venture to say that the idol of Minx has not done anything at all she prefers to sit with her hands before her to keep them white but as soon as she entered Glaciosa presented her with the ball of thread and perfect order so that she had no fault to find and could only pretend to discover that it was soiled for which imaginary fault she gave Glaciosa a blow on each cheek they made her white and pink skin turn green and yellow and then she sent her back to be locked into the garret once more then the Queen sent for the fairy again and scolded her furiously don't make such a mistake again find me something that it will be quite impossible for her to do she said next day the fairy appeared with a huge barrel full of the feathers of all sorts of birds there were nightingales, canaries, goldfinches, planets, tomtats, parrots, owls, sparrows, doves, ostriches, bustards, peacocks, larks, partridges and everything else that you can think of these feathers were all mixed up in such confusion but the birds themselves could not have chosen out their own here, said the fairy there's a little task which it will take all the prisoners' skill and patience to accomplish tell her to pick out and lay in a separate heap the feathers of each bird she would need to be a fairy to do it the Queen was more than delighted at the thought of the despair this task would cause the princess she sent for her and with the same threats as before lock shopped with the three kings ordering that all the feathers should be sorted by sunset gracioso set to work at once but before she had taken out a dozen feathers she found that it was perfectly impossible to know one from another ah, well she sighed the Queen wishes to kill me and if I must die I must I cannot ask Pias to know to help me again for if he really loved me he would not wait till I called him he would come without that I am here my gracioso cried Pias to know springing out of the barrel where he had been hiding how can you still doubt that I love you with all my heart then he gave three strokes of his wand upon the barrel and all the feathers flew around in a cloud and settled down in neat little separate heaps all around the room what should I do without you Pias and you said gracioso gratefully but still she could not quite make up her mind to go with him and leave her father's kingdom forever so she begged him to give her more time to think of it and he had to go away disappointed once more when the wicked Queen came at sunset she was amazed and infuriated to find the task done however she complained that the heaps of feathers were badly arranged and for that the princes was beaten and sent back to her garret then the Queen sent for the ferry once more and scolded her until she was fairly terrified and promised to go home and think of another task for Graciosa worse than either of the others at the end of three days she came back again bringing with her a box tell your slave said she to carry this wherever you please but on no account to open it she will not be able to help doing so and then you'll be quite satisfied with the result so the Queen came to Graciosa and said carry this box to my castle and place it upon the table in my own room but I forbid you on pain of death to look at what it contains Graciosa set out wearing her little cap and wooden shoes and the old cotton frog but even in this disguise she was so beautiful that all the passes by wondered who she could be she had not gone far before the heat of the sun and the weight of the box tied her down so much that she sat to rest in the shade of a little wood which lay on one side of a green meadow she was carefully holding the box upon her lap and she suddenly felt the greatest desire to open it what could possibly happen if I did she said to herself I should not take anything out but she'd only just see what was there and without further hesitation she left with the cover instantly out came swarms of little men and women no taller than her finger and scattered themselves all over the meadow singing and dancing and playing the merriest games so that at first Graciosa was delighted and watched them with much amusement but presently when she was arrested and wished to go on her way she found that do what she would she could not get them back into their box she chased them into the meadow they fled into the wood and if she pursued them into the wood they dodged round trees and behind sprigs of moss and the peels of elven laughter scabbered back again into the meadow at last, wary and terrified she sat down and cried it is my own fault she said sadly Piaissonne if you can still care for such an imprudent princess do come and help me once more immediately Piaissonne stood before her ah, princess he said but for the wicked queen I fear you would never think of me at all indeed I should said Graciosa I am not so ungrateful as you think only waste a little and I believe I shall love you quite dearly Piaissonne was pleased at this and with one stroke of his wand compelled all the willful little people to come back to their places in the box and then rendering the princess invisible he took her with him and his chariot to the castle when the princess presented herself at the door I said that the queen had ordered her to place the box in her own room the governor laughed heartily at the idea no no no my little shepherdess said he this is not the place for you no wooden chairs have ever been over that floor yet then Graciosa begged him to give her a written message telling the queen that he had refused to admit her this he did and she went back to Piaissonne who was waiting for her and they set out together for the palace you may imagine that they did not go the shortest way but the princess did not find it too long and before they parted she had promised that if the queen was still cruel to her and tried again to play her any spiteful trick she would leave her and come to Piaissonne forever when the queen saw her returning she fell upon the ferry whom she had kept with her and pulled her hair and scratched her face and would really have killed her if the ferry could be killed and when the princess presented the letter in the box she threw them both upon the fire without opening them and looked very much as if she would like to throw the princess after them however what she really did do was have a great hole as deep as a well dug in her garden and the top of it covered with a flat stone and walked near it and said to Graciosa and all her ladies who were with her I am told that a great treasure lies under that stone let us see if we can lift it so they all began to push and pull at it and Graciosa amongst the others which was just what the queen wanted for as soon as the stone was lifted high enough she gave the princess a push which sent her down to the bottom of the well and then the stone was let fall again and there she was prisoner Graciosa felt that now indeed she was hopelessly lost surely not even Pierre Sonnais could find her in the heart of the earth this is like being buried alive she said with a shudder oh Pierre Sonnais if you only knew how I am suffering from I want to trust in you but how could I be sure that you would not be like other men and tired of me from the moment you were sure I loved you and as she spoke she suddenly saw a little door open and the sunshine blazed into the dismal well Graciosa did not hesitate an instant but passed through into a charming garden flowers and fruit grew on every side fountains splashed and birds sang in the branches overhead and when she reached a great avenue of trees and looked up to see where it would lead her she found herself close to the Palace of Crystal yes, there was no mistaking it and the Queen and Pierre Sonnais were coming to meet her ah, Princess said the Queen don't keep this poor Pierre Sonnais in suspense any longer you little guest the anxiety he has suffered while you were in the power of that miserable Queen the Princess kissed her gratefully and promised to do as she wished in everything and holding out her hand to Pierre Sonnais with a smile she said do you remember telling me that I should not see your Palace again until I had been buried I wonder if you guessed then that when that happened I should tell you that I love you with all my heart and will marry you whenever you like Prince Pierre Sonnais joyfully took the hand that was given him and for fear the Princess should change her mind the wedding was held at once with the greatest splendour and Graciosa and Pierre Sonnais lived happily ever after End of Chapter 14 Graciosa and Pierre Sonnais Recording by Rachel Trishka New South Wales, Australia Chapter 15 of the Red 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 The Red Fairy Book by Andrew Lane Chapter 15 The Three Princesses of Whiteland There was once upon a time a fisherman who lived hard by a palace and fished for the King's Table One day he was out fishing but caught nothing at all Letting do what he might with rod and line There was never even so much as a sprat on his hook But when the day was well nigh over a head rose up out of the water and said If you will give me what your wife shows you when you go home you shall catch fish enough So the man said Yes, in a moment and then he caught fish in plenty But when he got home at night and his wife showed him a baby which had just been born and fell a weeping and wailing when he told her of the promise which he had given he was very unhappy All this was soon told to the King up at the palace and when he heard what sorrow the woman was in and the reason of it he said that he himself would take the child and see if he could not save it The baby was a boy and the King took him at once and brought him up as his own son until the lad grew up Then one day he begged to have lead to go out with his father to fish He had a strong desire to do this he said The King was very unwilling to permit it but at last the lad got leave He stayed with his father and all went prosperously and well with them the whole day until they came back to the land in the evening Then the lad found that he had lost his pocket handkerchief and would go out in the boat after it But no sooner had he got into the boat than it began to move off with him so quickly that the water foamed all round about and all that the lad did to keep the boat back with the oars was done to no purpose for it went on and on the whole night through and at last he came to a white strand that lay far, far away There he landed and when he had walked on for some distance he met an old man with a long white beard What is the name of this country, said the youth White land answered the man and then he begged the youth to tell him whence he came and what he was going to do and the youth did so Well then, said the man If you walk on farther along the seashore here you will come to three princesses who are standing in the earth so that their heads alone are out of it Then the first of them will call you she is the eldest and will beg you very prettily to come to her and help her and the second will do the same but you must not go near either of them Hurry past as if you neither saw nor heard them but you shall go to the third and do what she bids you it will bring you good fortune When the youth came to the first princess she called to him and begged him to come to her very prettily but he walked on as if he did not even see her and he passed by the second in the same way but he went up to the third If thou wilt do what I tell thee thou shalt choose among us three said the princess so the lad said that he was most willing and she told him that three troves had planted them all three there in the earth but that formerly they had dwelt in the castle which he could see at some distance in the wood Now she said thou shalt go into the castle and let the troves beat thee one night for each of us and if thou canst but endure that they wilt set us free Yes answered the lad I will certainly try to do so When thou go astide continued the princess two lions wilt stand by the doorway but if thou only go astide between them they will do thee no harm Go straight forward into a small dark chamber there thou shalt lie down then the troll will come and beat thee but thou shalt take the flask which is hanging on the wall and anoint thyself wheresoever he has wounded thee after which thou shalt be as well as before then lay hold of the sword which is hanging by the side of the flask and smite the troll dead so he did what the princess had told him he walked straight in between the lions just as if he did not see them and then into the small chamber and lay down on the bed the first night a troll came with three heads and three rods and beat the lad most unmercifully but he held out until the troll was done with him and then he took the flask and rubbed himself having done this he grasped the sword and smote the troll dead in the morning when he went to the seashore the princesses were out of the earth as far as their wastes the next night everything happened in the same way but the troll who came then had six heads and six rods and he beat him much more severely than the first had done but when the lad went out of doors next morning the princesses were out of the earth as far as their knees on the third night a troll came who had nine heads and nine rods and he struck the lad and flogged him so long that at last he swooned away so the troll took him up and flung him against the wall and this made the flask of ointment fall down and it splashed all over him and he became as strong as ever again then without loss of time he grasped the sword and struck the troll dead and in the morning when he went out of the castle the princesses were standing there entirely out of the earth so he took the youngest for his queen and lived with her very happily for a long time at last however he took a fancy to go home for a short time to see his parents his queen did not like this but when his longing grew so great that he told her he must and would go she said to him one thing shot thou promise me and that is to do what though father bids thee but not what thy mother bids thee and this he promised so she gave him a ring which enabled him who wore it to obtain two wishes he wished himself at home and instantly found himself there but his parents were so amazed at the splendour of his apparel that their wonder never ceased when he had been at home for some days his mother wanted him to go up to the palace to show the king what a great man he had become the father said no he must not do that if he does we shall have no more delight in him this time but he spoke in vain for the mother begged and prayed until at last he went when he arrived there he was more splendid both in Raymond and in all else than the other king who did not like it and said well you can see what kind of queen mine is but I can't see yours I do not believe you have such a pretty queen as I have would to heaven she were standing here and then you would be able to see said the young king and in an instant she was standing there but she was very sorrowful and said to him why did thou not remember my words and listen only to what thy father said now must I go home again at once and thou hast wasted both thy wishes then she tied a ring in his hair which had her name upon it and wished herself at home again and now the young king was deeply afflicted and day out and day in went about thinking of Nautaus but how to get back again to his queen I will try to see if there is any place where I can learn how to find white land he thought and journeyed forth out into the world when he had gone some distance he came to a mountain where he met a man who was lord over all the beasts in the forest but they all came to him when he blew a horn which he had so the king asked where white land was I do not know that he answered but I will ask my beasts then he blew his horn and inquired whether any of them knew where white land lay but there was not one who knew that so the man gave him a pair of snow shoes when you have these on he said you will come to my brother who lives hundreds of miles from here he is lord over all the birds in the air ask him when you have got there just turn the shoes so that the toes point this way and then they will come home again at their own accord when the king arrived there he turned the shoes as the lord of the beasts had bitten him and they went back and now he once more asked after white land and the man summoned all the birds together and inquired if any of them knew where white land lay no none knew this long after the others there came an old eagle he had been absent ten whole years that he too knew no more than the rest well well said the man then you shall have the loan at the pair of snow shoes of mine if you wear them you will go to my brother who lives hundreds of miles from here he is lord of all the fish in the sea you can ask him but do not forget to turn the shoes round the king thanked him put on the shoes and when he had got to him who was lord of all the fish in the sea he turned the shoes round and back they went just as the others had gone and he asked once more where white land was the man called the fish together with his horn but none of them knew anything about it at last came an old old pike which he had great difficulty in bringing home to him when he asked the pike it said yes white land is well known to me for I have been cooked there these ten years tomorrow morning I have to go back there for now the queen whose king is staying away is to marry someone else if that be the case I will give you a piece of advice said the man not far from here on a moor stand three brothers who have stood there a hundred years fighting for a hat a cloak and a pair of boots if anyone has these three things he can make himself invisible and if he desires to go to any place he has but to wish and he is there you may tell them that you have a desire to try these things and then you will be able to decide which of the men is to have them so the king thanked him and went and did what he had said what is this that you are standing fighting about forever and ever said he to the brothers let me make a trial of these things and then I will judge between you they willingly consented to this but when he had got the hat the cloak and the boots he said next time we meet you shall have my decision and here upon he wished himself away while he was going quickly through the air he fell in with the north wind and where may you be going said the north wind to white land said the king and then he related what had happened to him well said the north wind you can easily go a little quicker than I can for I have to puff and blow into every corner but when you get there place yourself on the stairs by the side of the door and then I will come blustering in as if I wanted to blow down the whole castle and when the prince who is to have your queen comes out to see what is a stir just take him by the throat and fling him out and then I will try to carry him away from court as the north wind had said so did the king he stood on the stairs and when the north wind came howling and roaring he brought the roof and walls of the castle till they shook again the prince went out to see what was the matter but as soon as he came the king took him by the neck and flung him out and then the north wind laid hold of him and carried him off and when he was rid of him the king went into the castle at first the queen did not know him because he had grown so thin and pale from having travelled so long and so sorrowfully but when she saw her ring she was heartily glad and then the rightful wedding was held and held in such a way that it was talked about far and wide from Jay Mo End of Chapter 15 of The Red Fairy Book Chapter 16 of The Red 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 The Red Fairy Book by Andrew Lang Chapter 16 The Voice of Death Once upon a time there lived a man whose one wish and prayer was to get rich Day and night he thought of nothing else and at last his prayers were granted and he became very wealthy now being so rich and having so much to lose he felt that it would be a terrible thing to die and leave all his possessions behind so he made up his mind to set out in search of a land where there was no death he got ready for his journey to cleave off his wife and started Whenever he came to a new country the first question that he asked was whether people died in that land and when he heard that they did he set out again on his quest at last he reached a country where he was told that the people did not even know the meaning of the word death Our traveler was delighted when he heard this and said but surely there are great numbers of people in your land if no one ever dies No they replied there are not great numbers for you see from time to time a voice is heard calling first one and then another and whoever hears that voice gets up and goes away and never comes back and do they see the person who calls them he asked or do they only hear his voice they both see and hear him was the answer well the man was amazed when he heard that the people were stupid enough to follow the voice though they knew that if they went when it called them they would never return and he went back to his own home and got all his possessions together and taking his wife and family he set out resolve to go and live in that country where the people did not die but where instead they heard a voice calling them which they followed into a land from which they never returned for he had made up his own mind that when he or any of his family heard that voice they would pay no heed to it however loudly it called after he had settled down in his new home and had got everything in order about him he warned his wife and family that unless they wanted to die they must on no account listen to a voice which they might someday hear calling them for some years everything went well with them and they lived happily in their new home but one day why they were all sitting together round the table his wife suddenly started up exclaiming in a loud voice I'm coming, I'm coming and she began to look round the room for her fur coat but her husband jumped up and taking firm hold of her by the hand held her fast and reproached her saying don't you remember what I told you stay where you are unless you wish to die but don't you hear that voice calling me she answered I am merely going to see why I am wanted I shall come back directly so she fought and struggled to get away from her husband and to go where the voice summoned but he would not let her go and had all the doors of the house shut and bolted when she saw that he had done this she said very well dear husband I shall do what you wish and remain where I am so her husband believed that it was all right and that she had thought better of it and had got over her mad impulse to obey the voice but a few minutes later she made a sudden dash for one of the doors opened it and darted out followed by her husband he caught her by the fur coat and begged and implored her not to go for if she did she would certainly never return she said nothing but let her arms fall backwards and suddenly bending herself forward she slipped out of the coat leaving it in her husband's hands he poor man seemed turned to stone as he gazed after her hurrying away from him and calling at the top of her voice as she ran I'm coming, I'm coming when she was quite out of sight her husband recovered his wits and went back into his house murmuring if she's so foolish as to wish to die I can't help it I warned and implored her to pay no heed to that voice however loudly it might call well days and weeks and months and years passed and nothing happened to disturb the peace of the household but one day the man was at the barbers as usual being shaved the shop was full of people and his chin had just been covered with a ladder of soap when suddenly starting up from his chair he called out in a loud voice I won't come, do you hear I won't come the barber and the other people in the shop listened to him with amazement but again looking towards the door he exclaimed I tell you once and for all I do not mean to come so go away and a few minutes later he called out again go away I tell you or it will be the worst for you you may call as much as you like but you will never get me to come and he got so angry that you might have thought that someone was actually standing at the door tormenting him at last he jumped up and caught the razor out of the barber's hand exclaiming give me that razor and I'll teach him to let people alone for the future and he rushed out of the door as if he were running after someone whom no one else saw the barber determined not to lose his razor but the man and they both continued running at full speed till they had got well out of the town when all of a sudden the man fell head foremost down a precipice and never was seen again so he too like the others had been forced against his will to follow the voice that called him the barber who went home whistling and congratulating himself on the escape he had made described what had happened and it was noise the broad in the country that the people who had gone away and had never returned had all fallen into that pit for till then they had never known what had happened to those who had heard the voice and obeyed its call but when crowds of people went out from the town to examine the ill-fated pit that had swallowed up such numbers and yet never seemed to be full they could discover nothing all that they could see was a vast plain that looked as if it had been there since the beginning of the world and from that time the people of the country began to die like ordinary mortals all the world over note Romanian tales from the German of Maite Thremnitz end of chapter 16 the voice of death recording by Iswa in Belgium in January 2009 chapter 17 of the Red 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 the Red Fairy Book by Andrew Lang chapter 17 the six sillies once upon a time there was a young girl who reached the age of 37 without ever having had a lover for she was so foolish that no one wanted to marry her one day however a young man arrived to pay his addresses to her and her mother beaming with joy sent her daughter down to the cellar to draw a jug of beer as the girl never came back the mother went down to see what had become of her and found her sitting on the stairs her head in her hands while by her side the beer was running all over the floor as she had forgotten to close the tap what are you doing there asked the mother I was thinking what I shall call my first child after I am married to that young man all the names in the calendar are taken already the mother sat down on the staircase beside her daughter I will think about it with you my dear the father who had stayed upstairs with the young man was surprised that neither his wife nor his daughter came back and in his turn went down to look for them he found them both sitting on the stairs while beside them the beer was running all over the ground from the tap which was wide open what are you doing there the beer is running all over the cellar we were thinking what we should call the children that our daughter will have when she marries that young man all the names in the calendar are taken already well said the father I will think about it with you as neither mother nor daughter came upstairs again the lover grew impatient and went down into the cellar to see what they could all be doing he found them all three sitting on the stairs while beside them the beer was running all over the ground from the tap which was wide open what in the world are you all doing that you don't come upstairs and that you let the beer run all over the cellar yes I know my boy save the father but if you marry our daughter what shall you call your children all the names in the calendar are taken when the young man heard this answer he replied well goodbye I am going away when I shall have found three people sillier than you I will come back and marry your daughter so he continued his journey and after walking a long way he reached an orchard then he saw some people knocking down walnuts and trying to throw them into a cart with a fork what are you doing there he asked we want to load the cart with our walnuts but we can't manage to do it the lover advised them to use a basket and to put the walnuts in it so as to turn them into the cart well he said to himself I have already found someone more foolish than those three so he went on his way and by and by he came to a wood there he saw a man who wanted to give his pig some corns to eat and was trying with all his might to make him climb up the oak tree what are you doing my good man asked he I want to make my pig eat some corns and I can't get him to go up the tree if you were to climb up and shake down the corns the pig would pick them up oh I never thought of that here is the second idiot said the lover to himself some way farther along the road he came upon a man who had never worn any trousers and who was trying to put on a pair so he had fastened them to a tree and was jumping with all his might up in the air so that he should hit the two legs of the trousers as he came down it would be much better if you held them in your hands said the idiot and then put your legs one after the other in each hole deem me to be sure you are sharper than I am for that never occurred to me and having found three people more foolish than his bride or her father or her mother the lover went back to marry the young lady and in course of time they had a great many children story from Enou Em Le Moine La Tradition No. 34 End of Chapter 17 The Six Siles Recording by Ezoa in Belgium in January 2009 Chapter 18 of the Red 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 Brianna Simmons The Red Fairy Book by Andrew Lang Chapter 18 Carrie Woodengown There was once upon a time a king who had become a widower His queen had left one daughter behind her and she was so wise and so pretty it was impossible for anyone to be the wiser or prettier for a long time the king went sorrowing for his wife for he had loved her exceedingly but at last he grew tired of living alone and married a queen who was a widow and she also had a daughter who was just as ill-favored and wicked as the other was good and beautiful The stepmother and her daughter were so envious of the king's daughter because she was so pretty but so long as the king was at home they dared do her no harm because his love for her was so great Then there came a time when he made war on another king and went away to fight and then the new queen thought that she could do what she liked so she both hungered and beat the king's daughter and chased her about into every corner At last she thought that everything was too good for her and set her to work to look after the cattle so she went about with the cattle and herded them into the woods and in the fields of food she got little or none and grew pale and thin and was nearly always weeping and sad Among the herd there was a great blue bull which always kept itself very smart and sleek and often came to the king's daughter and let her stroke him so one day when she was again sitting, crying and sorrowing the bull came up to her and asked why she was always so full of care She made no answer but continued to weep Well, said the bull I know what it is though you will not tell me you are weeping because the queen is unkind to you and because she wants to starve you to death but you need be under no concern about food for in my left ear there lies a cloth and if you will but take it and spread it out you can have as many dishes as you like she did this and took the cloth and spread it out upon the grass and then it was covered with the daintiest dishes that anyone could desire and there was wine and mead and cake and now she became brisk and well again and grew so rosy and plump and fair that the queen and her scraggie daughter turned blue and white with vexation at it the queen could not imagine how her stepdaughter could look so well on such bad food so she ordered one of her handmaidens to follow her into the wood and watch her and see how it was for she thought that some of the servants must be giving her food so the maid followed her into the wood and watched and saw how the stepdaughter took the cloth out of the blue bull's ear and spread it out and how the cloth was then covered with the most delicate dishes which the stepdaughter ate and regaled herself with so the waiting maid went home and told the queen and now the king came home and he had conquered the other king with whom he had been at war so there was great gladness in the palace but no one was more glad than the king's daughter the queen however pretended to be ill and the doctor much money to say that she would never be well again unless she had some of the flesh of the blue bull to eat both the king's daughter and the people in the palace asked the doctor if there was no other means of saving her and begged for the bull's life for they were all fond of him and they all declared that there was no such bull in the whole country but it was all in vain he was to be killed and nothing else would serve when the king's daughter heard it she was full of sorrow and went down to the buyer to the bull he too was standing there hanging his head and looking so downcast that she fell a weeping over him what are you weeping for said the bull so she told him that the king had come home again and that the queen had pretended to be ill and that she had made the doctor say that she could never be well again some of the flesh of the blue bull was given to her to eat and that now he was to be killed when once they have taken my life they will soon kill you also said the bull if you are of the same mind with me we will take our departure this very night the king's daughter thought that it was bad to go and leave her father but that it was worse still to be in the same house with the queen so she promised the bull that she would come at night when all others had gone to bed the king's daughter still softly down to the buyer to the bull and he took her on his back and got out of the courtyard as quickly as he could so at cock crow next morning when the people came to kill the bull he was gone and when the king got up and asked for his daughter she was gone too he sent forth messengers to all parts of the kingdom to search for them he was lost in all of the parish churches but there was no one who had seen anything of them in the meantime the bull traveled through many lands with the king's daughter on his back and one day they came to a great copper wood where the trees and the branches and the leaves and the flowers and everything else was of copper but before they entered the wood the bull said to the king's daughter when we enter into this wood you must take the greatest care not to touch a leaf of it or all will be over both with me and with you for a troll with three heads who is the owner of the wood lives here so she said she would be on her guard and not touch anything and she was very careful and bent herself out of the way of the branches and put them aside with her hands but it was so thickly wooded that it was all but impossible to get forward and do what she might she somehow or other tore off a leaf which got into her hand oh oh what have you done now said the bull it will now cost us a battle for life or death but do be careful to keep the leaf very soon afterwards they came to the end of the wood and the troll with three heads came rushing up to them who is that who is touching said the troll this wood is just as much mine as yours said the bull we shall have a tussle for that shriek the troll that may be said the bull so they rushed on each other and fought and as for the bull he butted and kicked with all his strength of his body but the troll fought quite well as he did and the whole day went by before the bull put an end to him and then he himself and so worn out that he was scarcely able to move so they had to wait a day and the bull told the king's daughter to take the horn of ointment which hung at the troll's belt and rub him with it then he was himself again and the next day they set off once more and now they journeyed on for many many days and then after a long long time they came to a silver wood the trees and the bows the flowers and everything else was of silver before the bull went into the wood he said to the king's daughter when we enter into this wood you must for heaven's sake be very careful not to touch anything at all and not to pluck off even so much as one leaf or else all will be over both with you and with me a troll with six heads lives here who is the owner of the wood I don't think I should be able to overcome him yes said the king's daughter I will take good care not to touch what you do not wish me to touch but when they got into the wood it was so crowded and the trees so close together that they could scarcely get forward she was as careful as she could be and bent aside to get out of the way of the branches and thrust them away from before her with her hands the branch struck against her eyes and in spite of all her care she happened to pull off one leaf oh oh what have you done now said the bull it will now cost us a battle for life or death for this troll has six heads and is twice as strong as the other but do be careful to keep the leaf just as he said this came the troll who is this who is touching my wood it is just as much mine as yours we shall have a tussle for that screamed the troll that may be said the bull and rushed at the troll and gored out his eyes and drove his horns right through him so that his entrails gushed out but the troll fought just as well as he did and it was three whole days before the bull got the life out of him but the bull was then so weak and worn out he was only with the pain and effort that he could move and so covered with wounds that the blood streamed from him so he told the king's daughter to take the horn-avointment that was hanging at the troll's belt and anoint him with it she did this and then he came to himself again but they had to stay there and rest for a week before the bull was able to go any further at last the troll was still weak and at first he could not go quickly the king's daughter wished to spare him and said that she was so young and light of foot that she would willingly walk but he would not give her leave to do that and she was forced to seat herself on his back again so they traveled for a long time and through many lands and the king's daughter did not at all know where he was taking her but after a long, long time they came to a goldwood it was so golden that the gold dripped off it and the trees and the branches and the flowers and the leaves were all of pure gold here all happened just as happened in the copperwood and silverwood the bull told the king's daughter that on no account was she to touch it for there was a troll with nine heads who was the owner who was larger and stronger than both the others put together and that he did not believe that he could overcome him so she said that she would take great care not to touch anything and he should see that she did but when they got into the wood it was still thicker than the silverwood and the farther they got into it the worse it grew the wood became thicker and thicker and closer and closer and at last she thought there was no way whatsoever by which they could get forward she was so terrified lest she should break anything off that she sat and twisted and turned herself on this side and on that to get out of the way of the branches and push them away from her with her hands but every moment they struck against her eyes so that she could not see what she was clutching at and before she knew what she was doing she had a golden apple in her hands she was now in such terror that she began to cry and wanted to throw it away but the bull said that she was to keep it and take the greatest care of it and comforted her as well as he could but he believed that it would be a hard struggle and he doubted whether it would go well with him just then the troll with nine heads came and he was so frightful that the king's daughter scarcely looked at him who is breaking into my wood he screamed it is just as much mine as yours said the bull we shall have a tussle for that screamed the troll that may be said the bull so they rushed at each other and fought and it was such a dreadful sight that the king's daughter was very nearly swooned the bull gored the troll's eyes out and ran his horns right through him as well as he did and when the bull had gored one head to death the other heads breathed life into it again so it was a whole week before the bull was able to kill him but then he himself was so worn out and weak that he could not move at all his body was all one wound and he could not even so much as tell the king's daughter to take the horn of ointment out of the troll's belt and rub him with it and he was being told so he came to himself again but he had to lie there for three weeks and rest before he was in a state to move then they journeyed onwards by degrees for the bull said that they had still a little further to go and in this way they crossed many high hills and thick woods this lasted for a while and then they came upon the fells do you see anything no I see nothing but the sky above and the wild fell side said the king's daughter then they climbed up higher and the fell grew more level so that they could see further around them do you see anything now said the bull yes I see a small castle far far away said the princess it is not so very little after all said the bull after a long long time they came to a high hill where there was a precipitous wall of rock do you see nothing now said the bull yes now I see the castle quite near and now it is much much larger said the king's daughter thithers shall you go said the bull immediately below the castle there is a pigsty where you shall dwell when you get there you will find a wooden gown and then go to the castle and say that you are called Kerry Wooden gown and that you are seeking a place but now you must take out your little knife and cut off my head with it and then you must flame me and roll up my hide and put it there under the rock beneath the hide and you must lay the copper leaf and the silver leaf and the golden apple close beside the rock a stick is standing if you want me for anything you have only to knock at the wall of the rock with that at first she would not do it but when the bull said that this was the only reward that he would have for what he had done for her she could do no otherwise so though she thought it very cruel she slaved on and cut at the great animal with the knife till she had cut off his head and hide then she folded up the hide with the mountain wall and put the copper leaf and the silver leaf and the golden apple inside it when she had done that she went away to the pig's die but all the way as she went she wept and she was very sorrowful then she put on the wooden gown and walked to the king's palace when she got there she went into the kitchen and begged for a place saying that her name was Kerry Wooden gown the cook told her that she might have a place and leave to stay there at once and wash up for the girl who had done that before had just gone away and as soon as you get tired of being here you will take yourself off too said he no said she that I certainly shall not and then she washed up and did it very tidily on Sunday some strangers were coming to the king's palace and begged to have leave to Kerry up the water for the prince's bath but the others laughed at her and said what do you want there do you think the prince will ever look at such a fright as you she would not give it up however but went on begging until at last she got leave when she was going upstairs her wooden gown made such a clatter that the prince came out and said what sort of creature may you be I was to take this water to you said Kerry do you suppose that I will have any water that you bring said the prince and emptied it over her she had to bear that but then she asked permission to go to church she got that for the church was very near but first she went to the rock and knocked at it with a stick which was standing there as the bull had told her to do instantly a man came forth and asked what she wanted that she had got leave to go to church and listen to the priest but that she had no clothes to go in so he brought her a gown that was as bright as the copper wood and she got a horse and a saddle too from him when she reached the church she was so pretty and so splendidly dressed that everyone wondered who she could be and hardly anyone listened to what the priest was saying for they were all looking far too much at her and the prince himself liked her so well that he could not take his eyes off her for an instant as she was walking out of the church the prince followed her and shut the church door after her and thus he kept one of her gloves in his hand then she went away mounted her horse again the prince again followed her and asked her when she came oh I am from back land said Carrie and when the prince took out the glove he went back to her she said darkness behind me but light on my way that the prince may not see where I am going today the prince had never seen the equal of that glove and he went far and wide asking after the country which the proud lady who rode away without her glove had said that she came from but there was no one who could tell him where it lay next Sunday someone had to take a battal prince ah may I have leave to go up with that said Carrie what would be the use of that said the others who were in the kitchen you saw what happened last time Carrie would not give in but went on begging for leave till she got it and then she ran up the stairs so that her wooden gown clattered again out came the prince and when he saw that it was Carrie he snatched the towel from her and flung it right in her eyes once you ugly troll said he do you think that I will have a towel that has been touched by your dirty fingers after that the prince went to church and Carrie also asked leave to go they all asked how she could want to go to church when she had nothing to wear but that wooden gown which was so black and hideous but Carrie said she thought the priest was such a good man at preaching that she had got so much benefit at last she got leave when she went to the rock and knocked whereupon out came the man and gave her a gown which was much more magnificent than the first it was embroidered with silver all over it and it shone like the silver wood and he gave her also a most beautiful horse with housings embroidered in silver and a bridle of silver too when the king's daughter got to the church all the people were standing outside upon the hillside and all of them wondered who on earth she could be and the prince was on the alert in a moment and came and wanted to hold her horse while she alighted but she jumped off and said that there was no need for that for the horse was so well broken in that it stood still when she baited and came when she called it so they all went into the church together but there was scarcely anyone who listened to what the priest was saying for they were all looking far too much at her and the prince fell much more deeply in love with her than he had been before when the sermon was over and she went out of the church and was just going to mount her horse the prince again came and asked her where she came from I am from towel land said the king's daughter and as she spoke she dropped her riding whip and while the prince was stooping to pick it up she said the prince may not see where I am going today and she was gone again neither could the prince see what had become of her he went far and wide to inquire for that country from which she had said she came but there was no one who could tell him where it lay so he was forced to have patients once more next Sunday someone had to go to the prince with a comb carry bag leave to go with it but the others didn't know what had happened last time and scolded her for wanting to let the prince see her when she was so black and so ugly in her wooden gown but she would not give up asking until they gave her leave to go up to the prince with the comb when she went clattering up the stairs again out came the prince and took the comb and flung it at her and ordered her to be off as fast as she could after that the prince went to church and carry also bag leave to go and carry also asked what she would do there she who was so black and ugly and had no clothes that she could be seen in by other people the prince or someone else might very easily catch sight of her they said and then both she and they would suffer for it but carry said that they had something else to do than to look at her and she never ceased begging until she got leave to go and now all happened just as it had happened twice already she went away to the rock and knocked at it with the stick and then the man came out and gave her a gown which was very much more magnificent than either of the others it was almost entirely made of pure gold and diamonds and she also got a noble horse with housings embroidered with gold and a golden bridle when the king's daughter came to the church then the priest and the people were all standing on the hillside waiting for her and the prince ran up and wanted to hold the horse but she jumped off saying no thank you there is no need my horse is so well broken in that it will stand still when I bid it so they all hastened into the church together and the priest got into the pulpit but no one listened to what he said for they were looking far too much at her and wondering whence she came and the prince was far more in love than he had been on either of the former occasions and he was mindful of nothing but of looking at her when the sermon was over and the king's daughter was about to leave the church the prince had caused a fricken of tar to be emptied out in the porch in order that he might go to help her over it she however did not trouble herself in the least about the tar but set her foot down in the middle of it and jumped over it and thus one of her gold shoes was left sticking in it when she had seated herself on the horse the prince came running out of the church and asked her whence she came from Comeland said Carrie but when the prince wanted to reach her gold shoe she said darkness behind me but light on my way that the prince may not see where I am going today the prince did not know what had become of her so he traveled for a long and weary some time all over the world where Comeland was but when no one could tell him where that country was he caused it to be made known everywhere that he would marry any woman who could put on the gold shoe so fair maidens and ugly maidens came thither from all regions but there was none who had a foot so small that she could put on the gold shoe after a long long while came Carrie Wooden gowns wicked stepmother with her daughter too she too fitted her but she was so ugly and looked so loathsome that the prince was very unwilling to do what he had promised nevertheless all was got ready for the wedding and she was decked out as a bride but as they were riding to church a little bird sat upon a tree and sang a slice off her heel and a slice off her toes Carrie Wooden gowns shoe fills with blood as she goes to it the bird had spoken the truth for blood was trickling out of the shoe so all the waiting maids and all women kind in the castle had to come and try on the shoe but there was not one whom it would fit but where is this Carrie Wooden gown then asked the prince when all the others had tried on the shoe for he understood the song of the birds and it came to his mind what the bird had said oh that creature said the others it's not the least use for her to come here for she has feet like a horse that may be said the prince but as all the others have tried it Carrie may try it too Carrie he called out through the door and Carrie came upstairs and her wooden gown clattered as if a whole regiment of dragoons was coming up now you are to try on the gold shoe and be a princess said the other servants and they laughed at her and mocked her Carrie took up the shoe put her foot into it as easily as possible and then threw off her wooden gown and there she stood in the golden gown which flashed like rays of sunshine and on her other foot she had the fellow to the gold shoe the prince knew her in a moment and was so glad that he ran and took her into his arms and kissed her and when he heard that she was a king's daughter he was glad her still End of Chapter 18 Recording by Breanna Simmons Carson City, Nevada www.simyspot.blogspot.com Chapter 19 of the Red Fairy Book This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer www.simyspot.com Recording by Breanna Simmons The Red Fairy Book by Andrew Lang Chapter 19 Drake's Tale Drake's Tale was very little that is why he was called Drake's Tale but tiny as he was he had brains and he knew what he was about for having begun with nothing he ended by amassing a hundred crowns Now the king of the country was so extravagant and never kept any money having heard that Drake's Tale had some went one day in his own person to borrow his hoard and my word in those days Drake's Tale was not a little proud of having lent money to the king but after the first and second year seeing that they never even dreamed of paying the interest he became uneasy so much so that at last he could live and get repaid so one fine morning Drake's Tale very spruce and fresh takes the road singing quack quack quack when shall I get my money back he had not gone far when he met friend Fox on his rounds that way good morning neighbor says the friend where are you off to so early I am going to the king for what he owes me oh take me with thee Drake's Tale said to himself one can't have too many friends I will says he but I am going on all fours you will soon be tired make yourself quite small get into my throat go into my gizzard and I will carry you happy thought says friend Fox he takes bag and baggage and presto is gone like a letter into the post and Drake's Tale is off again all spruce and fresh still singing quack quack quack when shall I have my money back he had not gone far when he met his lady friend latter leaning on her wall good morning my duckling says the lady friend with her away so bold I am going to the king for what he owes me oh take me with thee Drake's Tale said to himself one can't have too many friends I will says he but with your wooden legs you will soon be tired make yourself quite small and get into my throat and go into my gizzard and I will carry you happy thought says my friend latter and nimble bag and baggage goes to keep company with friend Fox and quack quack quack Drake's Tale is off again singing in spruce as before wandering quietly in the sunshine thou my cherub says she with her so lonesome with arching tail on this muddy road I am going to the king you know for what he owes me oh take me with thee Drake's Tale said to himself we can't be too many friends I will says he but you who sleep while you walk will soon be tired make yourself quite small and get into my throat go into my gizzard and I will carry you oh happy thought says my friend river she takes bag and baggage and glue glue glue she takes her place between friend Fox and my friend latter and quack quack quack Drake's Tale is off again singing a little farther he meets comrade wasps nest maneuvering his wasps then Drake's Tale said the comrade wasps nest where are we bound for so spruce and fresh I am going to the king for what he owes me oh take me with thee Drake's Tale said to himself one can't have too many friends I will says he but with your battalion to drag along you will soon be tired make yourself quite small go into my throat get into my gizzard and I will carry you by jove I think that's a good idea says comrade wasps nest and left file he takes the same road to join the others with all his party there was not much more room but by closing up a bit they managed and Drake's Tale is off again singing he arrived thus at the capital and threaded his way straight up the high street still running and singing quack quack quack when shall I give my money back to the great astonishment of the good folks till he came to the king's palace he strikes with the knocker duck duck who is there asks the porter putting his head out of the wicket to his eye Drake's tale I wish to speak to the king speak to the king that's not easily said the king is dining and will not be disturbed tell him that it is I and I have come he will know why the porter shuts his wicket and goes to say it to the king who is just sitting down to dinner with a napkin round his neck and all his minsters good good says the king laughing I know what it is make him come in and put him with the turkeys and chickens the porter descends have the goodness to enter good says Drake tell to himself I shall now see how they eat at court this way this way says the porter one step further there there you are how what in the poultry yard fancy how vexed Drake's tale was ah so that's it says he wait I will compel you to receive me quack quack quack when shall I have my money back but turkeys and chickens are creatures who don't like people that are not as themselves when they saw the newcomer and how he was made and when they heard him crying too they began to look black at him what is it what does he want finally they all rushed at him together to overwhelm him with pecks I am lost said Drake's tell to himself when by good luck he remembers his comrade friend fox and he cries Reynard Reynard come out of your earth or Drake's tells life is of little worth then friend fox who was only waiting for these words hastens out throws himself on the wicked fowls and quick quack he tears them to pieces so much so that at the end of five minutes there was not one left alive and Drake's tell quite content began to sing again quack quack quack when shall I get my money back when the king who was still at the table heard this refrain and the poultry woman came to tell him what had been going on in the yard he was terribly annoyed he ordered them to throw his tale of a Drake into the well to make an end of him and it was done as he commanded Drake's tell was in despair of getting himself out of such a deep hole when he remembered his lady friend the latter latter latter come out of thy hold or Drake's tell's days will soon be told my friend latter who was only waiting for these words hastens out leans her two arms on the edge of the well then Drake's tell climbs nimbly on her back and hop in the yard where he begins to sing louder than ever when the king who was still at a table and laughing at the good trick he had played on his creditor heard him again reclaiming his money he became livid with rage he commanded that the furnace should be heated and this tell of a Drake thrown into it because he must be a sorcerer the furnace was soon hot but this time Drake's tell was not so afraid he counted on his sweetheart my friend river river river outward flow or to death Drake's tell must go my friend river hastens out and roof throws herself onto the furnace which she floods with all the people who had lighted it after which she flowed growling into the hall of the palace to the height of more than four feet and Drake's tell quite content begins to swim singing definitely when shall I get my money back the king was still at the table and thought himself quite sure of his game but when he heard Drake's tell singing again and when they told him all that had passed he became furious and got up from his table brandishing his fists bring him here and I'll cut his throat bring him here quick quickly two foot men ran to fetch for Drake's tell at last said the poor chap going up the great stairs they have decided to receive me imagine his terror went on entering he sees the king as red as a turkey cock and all his ministers attending him standing sword in hand he thought this time it was all up with him happily he remembered that there was still one remaining friend and he cried with dying accents wasps nest wasps nest make a Sally or Drake's tell never more may rally here upon the scene changes bzz bzz bzz bane at them the brave wasps nest rushes out with all his wasps they threw themselves on the infuriated king and his ministers and stung them so fiercely in the face that they lost their heads and not knowing where to hide themselves they all jumped pel mail from the window and broke their necks on the pavement behold Drake's tell much astonished all alone in the big saloon and master of the field he could not get over it nevertheless he remembered shortly what he had come for to the palace and improving the occasion he said to work to hunt for his dear money but in vain he rummaged in all the drawers he found nothing all had been spent and ferreting thus from room to room he came at last to one with the throne on it and fatigued he sat himself down on it to think over his adventure in the meanwhile the people had found their king and his ministers with their feet in the air on the pavement and they had gone into the palace to know how it had occurred and entering the throne room when the crowd saw that there was already someone on the royal seat they broke out in cries of surprise and joy the king is dead long live the king heaven has sent us down this thing Drake's tell receive the acclimations of the people as if he had never done anything else all his life a few of them certainly murmured that a Drake's tale would make a fine king those who knew him replied that knowing Drake's tale was a more worthy king than a spendthrift like him who was lying in the pavement in short they ran and took the crown off the head of the deceased and placed it on that of Drake's tale whom it fitted like wax thus he became king and now said he after the ceremony ladies and gentlemen let's go to supper I am so hungry end of chapter 19 recording by Breanna Simmons Carson City, Nevada www.Simmyspot.blogspot.com