16-the white cat-第4部分

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reach　to　the　foot　of　the　tower；　but；　alas！　just　as　my　prince

was　helping　me　to　descend　it；　the　crossest　and　ugliest　of

the　old　fairies　flew　in。　Before　he　had　time　to　defend

himself　my　unhappy　lover　was　swallowed　up　by　the　dragon。

As　for　me；　the　fairies；　furious　at　having　their　plans

defeated；　for　they　intended　me　to　marry　the　king　of　the

dwarfs；　and　I　utterly　refused；　changed　me　into　a　white

cat。　When　they　brought　me　here　I　found　all　the　lords

and　ladies　of　my　father's　court　awaiting　me　under　the

same　enchantment；　while　the　people　of　lesser　rank　had

been　made　invisible；　all　but　their　hands。



〃As　they　laid　me　under　the　enchantment　the　fairies

told　me　all　my　history；　for　until　then　I　had　quite　believed

that　I　was　their　child；　and　warned　me　that　my　only

chance　of　regaining　my　natural　form　was　to　win　the　love

of　a　prince　who　resembled　in　every　way　my　unfortunate

lover。



〃And　you　have　won　it；　lovely　Princess；〃　interrupted

the　Prince。



〃You　are　indeed　wonderfully　like　him；〃　resumed　the

Princess〃in　voice；　in　features；　and　everything；　and　if

you　really　love　me　all　my　troubles　will　be　at　an　end。〃



〃And　mine　too；〃　cried　the　Prince；　throwing　himself　at

her　feet；　〃if　you　will　consent　to　marry　me。〃



〃I　love　you　already　better　than　anyone　in　the　world；〃

she　said；　〃but　now　it　is　time　to　go　back　to　your　father；　and

we　shall　hear　what　he　says　about　it。〃



So　the　Prince　gave　her　his　hand　and　led　her　out；　and

they　mounted　the　chariot　together；　it　was　even　more

splendid　than　before；　and　so　was　the　whole　company。

Even　the　horses'　shoes　were　of　rubies　with　diamond　nails；

and　I　suppose　that　is　the　first　time　such　a　thing　was　ever

seen。



As　the　Princess　was　as　kind　and　clever　as　she　was

beautiful；　you　may　imagine　what　a　delightful　journey　the

Prince　found　it；　for　everything　the　Princess　said　seemed

to　him　quite　charming。



When　they　came　near　the　castle　where　the　brothers

were　to　meet；　the　Princess　got　into　a　chair　carried　by　four

of　the　guards；　it　was　hewn　out　of　one　splendid　crystal；　and

had　silken　curtains；　which　she　drew　round　her　that　she

might　not　be　seen。



The　Prince　saw　his　brothers　walking　upon　the　terrace；

each　with　a　lovely　princess；　and　they　came　to　meet　him；

asking　if　he　had　also　found　a　wife。　He　said　that　he　had

found　something　much　rarera　white　cat！　At　which　they

laughed　very　much；　and　asked　him　if　he　was　afraid　of

being　eaten　up　by　mice　in　the　palace。　And　then　they　set

out　together　for　the　town。　Each　prince　and　princess　rode

in　a　splendid　carriage；　the　horses　were　decked　with　plumes

of　feathers；　and　glittered　with　gold。　After　them　came　the

youngest　prince；　and　last　of　all　the　crystal　chair；　at　which

everybody　looked　with　admiration　and　curiosity。　When

the　courtiers　saw　them　coming　they　hastened　to　tell　the

King。



〃Are　the　ladies　beautiful？〃　he　asked　anxiously。



And　when　they　answered　that　nobody　had　ever　before

seen　such　lovely　princesses　he　seemed　quite　annoyed。



However；　he　received　them　graciously；　but　found　it

impossible　to　choose　between　them。



Then　turning　to　his　youngest　son　he　said：



〃Have　you　come　back　alone；　after　all？〃



〃Your　Majesty；〃　replied　the　Prince；　〃will　find　in　that

crystal　chair　a　little　white　cat；　which　has　such　soft　paws；

and　mews　so　prettily；　that　I　am　sure　you　will　be　charmed

with　it。〃



The　King　smiled；　and　went　to　draw　back　the　curtains

himself；　but　at　a　touch　from　the　Princess　the　crystal

shivered　into　a　thousand　splinters；　and　there　she　stood　in

all　her　beauty；　her　fair　hair　floated　over　her　shoulders　and

was　crowned　with　flowers；　and　her　softly　falling　robe　was

of　the　purest　white。　She　saluted　the　King　gracefully；

while　a　murmur　of　admiration　rose　from　all　around。



〃Sire；〃　she　said；　〃I　am　not　come　to　deprive　you　of　the

throne　you　fill　so　worthily。　I　have　already　six　kingdoms；

permit　me　to　bestow　one　upon　you；　and　upon　each　of　your

sons。　I　ask　nothing　but　your　friendship；　and　your　consent

to　my　marriage　with　your　youngest　son；　we　shall　still　have

three　kingdoms　left　for　ourselves。〃



The　King　and　all　the　courtiers　could　not　conceal　their

joy　and　astonishment；　and　the　marriage　of　the　three

Princes　was　celebrated　at　once。　The　festivities　lasted

several　months；　and　then　each　king　and　queen　departed　to

their　own　kingdom　and　lived　happily　ever　after。＇1＇





＇1＇　La　Chatte　blanche。　Par　Madame　la　Comtesse　d'Aulnoy。