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6 and the housings of the beautiful steed so blazed with jewels that those of the other could not be compared to them. The king, who was occupied with a thousand things, took no notice of it: but the nobles had no eyes but for the princess, whose beauty was their admiration, and for her green page, who was prettier than all the other Court pages put together.

They met Grognon on the road in an open caleche, looking more ugly and ill-shapen than an old gipsy. The king and the princess embraced her. They led forward her horse, that she might mount, but seeing the one Gracieuse was upon she exclaimed, "How! Is this creature to have a finer horse than I? I had rather never be a queen and return to my precious castle, than be treated in this manner!" The king immediately commanded the princess to dismount, and to beg Grognon would do her honour to ride her horse. The princess obeyed without a murmur. Grognon neither looked at her, nor thanked her. She was hoisted up on the beautiful horse, and looked like a bundle of dirty clothes. Eight gentlemen held her for fear she should fall off. Still she was not satisfied, but muttered threats between her teeth. They inquired what was the matter with her. "The matter is," said she, "that, being the mistress, I choose that the green page shall hold the rein of my horse as he did when Gracieuse rode it." The king ordered the green page to lead the queen's horse. Percinet looked at the princess, and she at him, without speaking a word. He obeyed, and all the Court set forward, the drums and trumpets making a desperate noise. Grognon was in raptures. Notwithstanding her flat nose and her wry mouth she would not have changed persons with Gracieuse.

But at the moment when they were least thinking of it, lo, and behold, the fine horse began to bound, to rear, and at length ran away at such a pace that no one could stop him. Off he went with Grognon, who held on by the saddle and by the mane screaming with all her might. At length she was thrown with her foot in the stirrup. She was dragged for some distance over stones and thorns into a heap of mud where she was almost smothered. As everybody had ran after her as fast as they could, they soon came up to her: but her skin was scratched all over, her head cut open in four or five places, and one of her arms broken. Never was a bride in a more miserable plight.