Page:Fairytales00auln.djvu/481

Rh Princess; and, under the disguise of an old woman, she had entertained her for several days.

As soon as the Prince had recognised his troops, and gone to seek the King his father, the Fairy entered Désirée's chamber. She breathed upon her arm and cured her wound. She then gave her the rich dress in which she appeared before the King, who was so charmed he could scarcely believe her to be mortal. He said all that one can imagine most courteous upon such an occasion, and entreated her not to delay making his subjects happy by becoming their Queen. "For," continued he, "I am resolved to give up my kingdom to Prince Guerrier, to render him more worthy of you." Désirée replied with all the politeness that might be expected from so well-bred a person; then, casting her eyes upon the two prisoners who were in the chariot, and who hid their faces with their hands, she had the generosity to ask for their pardon, and that they might be sent in the same chariot wherever they would wish to go. The King consented to her request; not without admiring and praising her for her kindness of heart.

The army was ordered to march back again. The Prince mounted a horse, that he might accompany his lovely Princess. They were received in the capital city with a thousand shouts of joy; everything was prepared for the nuptials, which were rendered more solemn by the presence of the six benignant fairies who loved the Princess. They made her the richest presents that could possibly be imagined; among others, the magnificent palace, where the Queen had been to see them, appeared suddenly in the air, carried by fifty thousand Cupids, who placed it in a beautiful plain on the bank of the river. No greater gift could possibly be bestowed upon her.

The faithful Becafigue entreated his master to speak to Giroflée for him, that he might be united to her when he married the Princess. The Prince did so willingly; that amiable girl was very happy to meet with so advantageous an establishment on her arrival in a foreign kingdom. The fairy Tulip, who was even more liberal than her sisters, presented her with four gold mines in the Indies, that her husband should not be able to say he was richer than herself. The