Page:Legends of Rubezahl, and Other Tales (1845).djvu/112

 damsels daily pine away, until by degrees all the fire of youth was extinguished in their eyes.

At last the poor Princess was perfectly horrified, when one morning, after having enjoyed a long and tranquil night’s rest, on entering her saloon, she beheld a set of wretched, shrivelled, blear-eyed old women, supporting themselves with difficulty on sticks and crutches, and half suffocated by a dry cough, totter forward to meet her. The dear little dog, erewhile so full of life and vivacity, lay on his side with his tongue hanging out, at his last gasp, utterly worn out; while the sweet, gentle Mimi, once so playful and caressing, paralysed in all her limbs, could with difficulty drag herself on a short space to receive her mistress.

Struck with horror, the Princess rushed out of the room to escape the frightful spectacle, and flying to the balcony, loudly called the Gnome, who, in most humble guise, at once presented himself. “Villainous spirit!” cried the angry beauty; “what! dost thou seek to deprive me of the only solace of my now wretched life? Dost thou grudge me even the semblance of my old companions? Is it not enough that thy malice compels my abode in this desert? Would’st thou, moreover, convert it into a hospital? Instantly restore to my maidens their youth and beauty, or expect naught from me but hatred and scorn.”