Page:Fairytales00auln.djvu/369

Rh promise me, can give me the least pleasure, until my serpent is unserpented." "That will not be till after you have passed three years in the mountain grove," said the Fairy, "and have returned to Magotine with the trefoils and the water in the leaky pitcher."

The Queen promised the Fairy Protectrice she would scrupulously follow her directions. "But, Madam," she added, "shall I be three years without hearing tidings of King-Serpent?" "You deserve never to hear of him again as long as you live; for can anything be more shocking than to have caused him to recommence his penance?" The Queen made no reply,—the tears that flowed down her cheeks, and her silence, sufficiently proved the pain she suffered. She got into her little car; the canary-birds did their duty, and conducted her to the bottom of the valley, where the giants guarded the fountain of Discretion. She quickly took off her iron shoes, and threw them at their heads. The moment the shoes touched them, they fell lifeless as colossal statues. The canaries took the leaky pitcher, and mended it with such wonderful skill, that there was no appearance of its having ever been broken. The name given to this water made her anxious to drink some of it. "It will make me," said she, "more prudent and more discreet than I have been. Alas, if I had possessed those qualities I should still be in the kingdom of Pagodia." After she had drunk a long draught of the water, she washed her face with some of it, and became so beautiful—so beautiful, you would have taken her rather for a goddess than a mortal.

The Fairy Protectrice immediately appeared, and said to her, "You have just done that which has pleased me exceedingly. You knew that this water could embellish your mind as well as your person. I wished to see to which of the two you would give the preference, and it has been to your mind. I laud you for it, and this act will shorten the term of your punishment by four years." "Diminish none of my sufferings," replied the Queen; "I deserve them all; but comfort Green-Serpent, who deserves none of his." "I will do all in my power," said the Fairy, embracing her; "but since you are now so beautiful, I desire you will drop the name of Laidronette, which no longer suits you; you must be called Queen Discrète." So saving she vanished, leaving the Queen a pair