Page:Fairytales00auln.djvu/374

328 Magotine burst into a fit of laughter, thinking on the fatigue the poor Queen must have undergone; but, looking at her more attentively, "What's this I see!" she exclaimed. "Laidronette has become quite lovely! How came you by this beauty?" The Queen informed her that she had washed herself with the water of Discretion, and that this miracle had been the consequence. At these tidings Magotine dashed the pitcher on the ground. "Oh, thou power that defiest me!" she exclaimed, "I will be revenged. Get your iron shoes ready," said she to the Queen. "You must go for me to the infernal regions, and demand of Proserpine the Essence of long life; I am always afraid of falling sick, and perhaps dying; when I am possessed of that antidote, I shall have no more cause for alarm. Take care, therefore, you do not uncork the bottle, nor taste the liquor she gives you, or you will diminish my portion."

The poor Queen had never been so astonished as she was by this order. "Which is the way to the infernal regions?" said she. "Can those who go to them return? Alas, Madam, will you never weary of persecuting me? Under what luckless star was I born? My sister is much happier than I. It must no longer be thought that the constellations are equally favourable to everybody." She began to weep, and Magotine exulting at the sight of her tears, laughed loudly, and cried, "Go! go! Do not delay a moment your departure on a voyage from which I shall reap so much gratification." She filled for her a wallet with old nuts and black bread, and with this handsome provision the poor Queen started, determined to dash her brains out against the first rock she came to, and terminate her sorrows.

She walked for some time at random, now turning one way and now another, and thinking it was a most extraordinary affair to be thus sent to the infernal regions. When she was tired, she laid down at the foot of a tree, and began to think of the poor serpent, forgetting all about her own journey, when suddenly she beheld the Fairy Protectrice, who said to her, "Know you not, beautiful Queen, that to release your husband from the shades in which the commands of Magotine detain him, it is necessary you should seek the home of Proserpine?" "I would go much further, if it were possible,