Laboulaye's Fairy Book

d, and the Baron Kerver was too noble a knight to take leave of his brave Bretons until they had

rest, and loaded with fruit and flowers, to say nothing of the roast hares, and the peacocks smoking beneath their plumage. At this table the bridal pair were to have been seated in full sight, in order that nothing

the seat at his left vacant, and, calling a page, "Child," said he, "run to the house of the stranger lady who obliged us only too much this morning. It was not

beloved, the page bent one knee to the ground and, in the baron's name, invi

l, proudly, "and tell him that if he is too noble

aster the Baron Kerver struck the table suc

r the first time I own myself beaten. Quick, saddle my dun

for her, and seated her behind him on his own horse, neither more nor less than a duchess in person. Through respect, he did not speak

Judging from her costume, she was a foreigner. Could she be the Duchess of Normandy or the Queen of France? The steward, the bailiff, and the seneschal were appealed to. The s

saw, but did not know her. He cast an indifferent glance at her, then began a

t hope. While talking with the baron, who was charmed with her wit,

let, precio

f it be th

l it became a goblet of chased gold, the most beaut

ind her, she said, in her gentlest tones, "My good seneschal, I entreat you to offer this goblet

nk the wine, and, setting the cup on the table before him, turned to the fair-haired lady who occupied all his thoughts. The lady seemed an

er head and began t

ur glasses. Let us drink to the noble stranger who honors us

is goblet to a level with his eyes. Suddenly he started and stood mu

m along; both embarking in the ship that saved them; both landing on the shore of Brittany; he quitting her for an instant; s

if he were drunk, he rose and looked around him with haggard eyes. At the sight of Finette he clasped hi

Before evening Finette was seated by th

e castle walls, chased by the dogs; and it was the common opinion among the Kervers that the fair-haired lady was none other than the witch, the godmother of the giant. I

any one thinking of resting. The steward's arms were a little heavy, the bailiff rubbed his back at times, and the seneschal felt a sort of weariness in his limbs, but all three had a weight on their consciences which they could not shake off, and which made them tremble and flutter, till finally they fell on the ground an

stle o

this was the child's name, loved nobody in the world but his grandmother; he followed her to the shore every morning before daybreak to pick up the shell-fish or draw the net to the beach, longing for the time when he should be strong enough to go to sea himself an

on the ground to sleep, she always gave him good counsels for him to follow when she was gone; she told him what fishermen to avoid, and how, by being good and industrious, prudent and resolute, he would make his way in the world and finally have a boat and nets of his own. The poor boy paid little heed to all

one you will have two powerful protectors whom more than one prince might envy you. A long time ago I did a f

raceful, who had never seen any wom

orning before daybreak to surprise the crabs asleep in the sand. As I was stooping down, hidden by a rock, I saw a kingfisher slowly floating toward the beach. The kingfisher is a sacred bird which should always be respected; knowing this, I let it alight and did not stir, for fear of frightening it. At the same moment I saw a beautiful green adder come from a cleft of the mountain an

S GAVE HIM GOOD COUNSELS FOR H

chance would doubtless offer. For a whole month I lay in ambush, witnessing the same spectacle every morning, when one day I saw a huge black cat arrive first at the place of meeting and hide itself behind a rock, almost under my hand. A black cat could be nothing else than an enchanter, according to what I had learned in my childhood, and I resolved to watch him. Scarcely had the kingfisher and the adder embraced each other when, beh

a serpent's skin thrown like a scarf across her shoulder. They were, as I have already told you, the Fairy of the Waters and the Fairy of the Woods, who, enchanted by a w

said they, 'and your request

eral, a marquis, a prince, perhaps! When that day comes, thought I, I can give him everything, and a single moment of such happiness will repay me for eighty years of pain and misery. I thanked the fairies, there

e in a vessel of pure water and call on us, making a wish. Should we be at the end o

and blood had disappeared from my hands, and I should have thought that I had been dreami

treasures, grandmam

, the moment has come to give you these precious talismans. You will find at the back of the cupboard a wooden chest hidden under some rags; in the chest is a little pasteboard box, wound abo

who was no longer able to quit her pallet, a

r, and make a wish-wish for fortune, nobility, wit, power, whatever you please; only, as I feel that I am dying, kiss me once more, my child

he bowl in the middle of the room, threw the feather and scale into the water, and shouted at the top of his voice, "Appear, Fairy o

ith red berries, and diamond ear-rings resembling acorns in their cups; she was dressed in a robe of olive green, over which a speckled skin was knotted like a scarf across the right shoulder-this was the Fairy of the Woods. As to the Fairy of the Waters, she wore a garland of reeds on her head, with

must go the Castle of Life, four long days' journey from here, on the coast of Sicily. There you will find the Fountain of Immortality. If you can accomplish each of these four days' journey without turning aside from the road, and, on reaching the castle, can answer three questions that will be put to you by an invisible voice, you

madam," retu

," said the Fairy of the Woods, "

l ladies, that you will not forsake me, and to save

eparating the lead from a broken window-pan

seeming to burn the fairy, who threw the metal on the

all that?" said th

r looking attentively, "that I see a s

," said t

e metal sprang a black and flame-colored spaniel

the way; but I warn you that it is for you to direct him, and not for him to lead y

he Waters, "have I nothing t

died away thousands of little sparks were seen chasing one another about. The fairy watched these sparks with a curious eye; then, as the last one was about to go out, sh

ill show you the way; but I warn you it is for you to direct her, and not for her to lea

good Fairy of the Waters, "and per

f immortality, which would break any vessel made by the hand of man. By the side of the vial Graceful found a dagger with a triangular blade-a very di

swelled, and in less time than it takes to tell it became a beautiful musket, inlaid with mother-of-pearl. A second rush produced a cartridge-box, which Graceful slung arou

be patient, just, and charitable, and, above all, not to wander from the right path. "Not for my sake," added the old woman, "for I would gladly welcome death,

r soon overtook him, and he slept soundly all night, while his poor grandmother watched the face