Page:The Strand Magazine (Volume 3).djvu/532



HERE were once a King and a Queen who had an only daughter—a princess with golden locks, whose beauty surpassed any that was ever seen or heard of. Her forehead had the brightness of the full moon, her lips the freshness of the rose, her complexion the white purity of the lily, and her breath the sweet odour of the jessamine blossom; her voice and looks were so enchanting that no one could help listening to her and gazing upon her.

The first seventeen years of this lovely princess's life were passed in her maiden apartment, and filled with joy the King, the Queen, her governesses and servants. Nobody else saw her, for all approach to her apartment was forbidden to the sons of kings and princes, and she herself never quitted it, nor ever cast her eyes on the external world, nor ever breathed the air without.

For some years past, sons of kings and other princes had sought her hand in marriage, either in person or by ambassadors; but the King had always deferred to another time the giving of his answer. Now, however, after having long deliberated with the Queen, he sent off couriers in all directions to spread the news that, in conformity with the wishes of her parents, the princess would choose a husband, and that he towards whom her heart might incline would obtain, besides the possession of her charms, the right of succession to the kingdom.

Great was the joy of the princess as soon as she was informed of this decision. She took to gazing into the garden through the gilded trellis of her window, dreamed there for a long time, and finished by feeling an irresistible desire to descend into the garden and walk about upon the fresh greensward. So earnestly did she ask permission of her governesses that they could not refuse to allow her to walk in the garden for a little while in their company.

The crystal doors opened, the double doors of oak enclosing the orchard creaked upon their hinges, and the princess stepped upon a velvet lawn. She set off running about the garden, plucking the flowers and inhaling their perfume, and chasing the many-hued butterflies.

Prudence was not yet much developed in her young head; she strayed far away