Short Story

Name: Litia Darmawati
SN: 12.23.030
D.4.1


The Butterfly
From "The Fairy Book" by Miss Mulock
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n the time of the illustrious Merinous, it was indeed a pleasure to be a king; the
laws were just, the people obedient, and peace was over the land. This monarch
would have been the happiest of men, but for the continual complaints of his
consort, which tore his very heart in twain. She wept continually for her daughters,
nineteen of whom had perished in the flower of youth. The Fairy of the Fountain
had promised a twentieth; but years passed away in fruitless expectation. “You have
neglected to do the fairy sufficient homage,” said the king one day; “I shall give orders to
conduct you to the foot of the mountain with pomp and splendour. But when arrived there
the mountain itself must be climbed on foot, with many fatigues: most women would rather
die childless than encounter them.”
“Courage shall not be wanting on my part,” said the queen, “and I wish to set out
immediately.”
The king kissed her forehead, bade her good-night, and fell asleep.
At early dawn appeared in the grand court of the palace an equipage, dazzling as the sun
itself; the wheels were of massy gold, with emerald nails, which sparkled in the light. It was
drawn by forty-two horses, white as snow, whose reins were of rose-coloured satin, the
fashion of that period. They snorted impatiently, striking fire from the pavement beneath
their feet; their eyes were inflamed; their bits covered with foam, and their proud and
triumphant air seemed already to announce the success of the queen’s enterprise. Three
thousand chevaliers, armed at all points and mounted on fiery coursers, wheeled about the
chariot, the air resounding with their joyful acclamations of—”Long live King Merinous and
his august spouse!”
The queen saluted the people with the utmost grace and condescension, which caused such
immoderate joy, that she was almost stifled by the pressure of the crowd: but the guards
gently kept them at a distance, and the procession passed on.
When her majesty had reached the foot of the mountain, she alighted from her chariot, and,
accompanied by only four maids-of-honour, proceeded on foot.
This mountain was formed of slippery earth, slightly covered over with green turf, but giving
way at every step. The queen’s pretty little white satin shoes were soon left behind; and her
feet next stuck so fast that she could not withdraw them; her fair hands were in the same
plight; she cried aloud for succour, fearing she should be completely buried alive.
Turning then round to look for her maids-of-honour, she perceived that they had fallen flat
on their faces (the impression remains till this day), and were struggling, making the most
desperate efforts, less in consideration of their own danger than that of the queen. In fine,
after four hours and a half’s patient perseverance they succeeded in regaining their feet; and
strange to say, no mud or clay attached itself to their clothes; nothing worse than a slight
shade of the green turf, which assumed the appearance of a gauze veil. The fairy then, seeing
the queen willing to overcome difficulties, would not try her further, but with one stroke of a
wand reduced the mountain two or three hundred feet; the remaining height was very dry
and easy of ascent.
I
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The queen was thus conducted to a delicious grove: a coral fountain rose in the midst; its
waters, of the purest rose-colour, wound along the meadow, murmuring plaintive airs, whose
words were perfectly distinguishable. The fairy there welcomed her majesty, who prepared to
explain the occasion of her journey; but that was quite unnecessary. The fairy, exacting
profound secrecy, presented her with a phial of water drawn from the fountain, strictly
ordering that it should be broken when she had drank it all. The queen, charmed by this
reception, made presents of inestimable value, and rejoined her maids-of-honour, who had
been thrown into an enchanted sleep. They then returned to the palace in such high spirits,
that all the court danced and sung for a month afterwards.
In due course her majesty became, for the twentieth time, a joyful mother.
The magnificence and liberality displayed on this occasion exceed belief. The royal palace
was surrounded by three hundred large spouts which poured forth alternately, night and day
the choicest sweetmeats, confectionery, and money; the streets, in fact, were filled—the
passengers had only to stoop down and be satisfied.
But in the midst of these festivities the Fairy of the Fountain, uncovering the little princess’s
cradle, which was of mother-o’-pearl studded with diamonds, perceived a beautiful butterfly,
placed immediately under the infant’s left eye.
The chief cradle-rocker, who dreaded being taxed with negligence, took a humming-bird’s
wing, and endeavoured to chase it away, but all in vain: it remained quite unconcerned in the
same spot, extending its large wings of rose-colour and azure-blue on the face of the
princess, appearing rather to caress than to wish to do her any injury. “Ah!” said the fairy,
“this butterfly is not what you imagine. It is a powerful fairy, who presides at the birth of the
most distinguished princesses, and endows them with a degree of levity which generally leads
to misfortune. I can lessen the evil, without doubt, but I cannot entirely avert it.” The queen
wept bitterly at this sad news, and the king saw no person during eight days. He then ceased
to think on the subject.
Misfortunes rarely enter into the speculations of kings. Masters of the destinies of others,
mankind flatter them into a belief that their power can almost control fate itself.
Accordingly, the visit of the butterfly did not produce much permanent inquietude. The
poets-laureate and literati of the court turned it into numerous sentimental conceits; amongst
others, that the insect had fastened on the princess’s cheek mistaking it for a rose. This idea
branched out into a hundred elegies, a thousand madrigals, and fifteen hundred songs, which
were sung in all the principal families, and adapted to airs, some already known, and others
composed for the occasion.
The fairy frequently visited her little charge, but was unable to conquer her fickle
disposition. Ten different nurses had already been obliged to give her up; she scratched
them, bit them, and obstinately refused to be fed. When she grew older, and began her
education, she was so easily wearied and vexed, that no one dared to contradict her. The
fairy was consulted; who made her smell at a very rare flower. This produced a degree of
intelligence so extraordinary, that in three days she could read, write, speak all languages, and
play on every instrument after just twenty-three minutes’ application.
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The queen was now delighted, for the princess’s talents were noised abroad equally with her
beauty. She had scarcely attained the age of fourteen when many kings sought the honour of
her hand. The good King Merinous was well stricken in years, and fondly desired to see
Papillette established. All who seemed worthy of her received a favourable reception, and
amongst this number was the accomplished Prince Favourite. After he had been presented
in due form, the old monarch asked his daughter what she thought of their new guest.
“Sire,” replied the maiden, “I have been brought up with too much modesty and reserve to
bestow attention on strangers of the other sex.”
“That is true,” returned the monarch; “but merely regarding him as a picture, how has he
appeared to you?”
“Tall and handsome,” answered Papillette, “his chestnut hair clinging in close and crisping
curls to his ivory brow; his eyes of violet-blue, filled with soft vivacity; his teeth, of the most
brilliant white, divide lips of coral; his nose is perfect Grecian, and his limbs like the rarest
statuary. I might say more, had I ventured to look at the prince.”
“It is enough,” said the king; “your first glance has shown you enough. I am delighted that
you are so sensible to the merits of Prince Favourite, as I design him for your husband. Love
him accordingly.”
“Your majesty’s commands are laws to your dutiful daughter,” replied Papillette.
One may easily imagine with what magnificence preparations were made for the nuptials; the
king hastened them, lest his daughter’s fickleness and levity might cause disappointment to
their dearest hopes.
Papillette one day, while steadily regarding her lover, who was kneeling before her, appeared
struck by something which made an impression as sudden as disagreeable. She repulsed
Prince Favourite, saying she was seized with a headache, and could not be troubled with
company.
The lover submissively arose and went to seek the queen, beseeching her to find out what he
had done, and to intercede in his favour. Her majesty accordingly questioned the princess,
who, bathed in tears, threw herself into the arms of her mother, confessing that she had
made a discovery which totally altered her sentiments regarding the prince. “Is it possible,”
added she, “that you have not perceived his ears, of so unusual a size, and a deep red
colour?”
“Is that all?” cried the queen. “In truth, I have not observed it; but to take notice of an
imperfection so very trifling, would make us appear ridiculous indeed.”
“People cannot help their feelings,” replied Papillette; “I have quite a horror of red ears; it is
little worth while to be daughter of a great king, if one must be crossed and thwarted in the
most important arrangement of life.”
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The queen reasoned long; but this only increased Papillette’s resistance: therefore, being
quite defenceless against the tears of a child so dear, her majesty promised to speak to the
king.
Merinous was firm in all his resolutions; he therefore declared, that his daughter should
become the wife of Prince Favourite, whether she liked it or not.
The queen had not courage to impart this dreadful intelligence; but she threw herself on the
generosity of the prince, beseeching that he would himself break the engagement—thus
shielding Papillette from the resentment of the king.
The distracted lover was ready to die with grief: but promised to do all she requested. He
asked but three days’ grace.
The queen consented; and Prince Favourite then summoned Queséca, chief barber to the
king, “Barber,” said he, “each country has its particular prejudices—its own ideas of beauty;
here I find large ears are deemed a deformity; therefore, I command thee to cut off mine.”
“I cannot do it,” replied the barber; “your royal highness has been grossly deceived. I have
the honour of shaving the first lords of the court, and I know many of them whose ears are
equally red and ten times as long as those of your royal highness. These very lords are
amongst the most distinguished favourites of the king.”
“I have summoned thee,” replied the prince, “to operate and not to prate; obey my orders,
and inflame not my ears still further by thy discourse.”
“Alas!” said the barber, “since your royal highness means to sacrifice them to an
unreasonable caprice, what signifies it whether they are inflamed or not?”
At these words the prince made a threatening gesture; and Queséca, no longer daring to
resist, took his razor, and with a trembling hand separated two of the handsomest ears from
one of the finest heads in the world: for be it known, that the princess only made a pretext
of this assertion, because she had taken a fancy for somebody else.
The wound bled profusely: the prince applied healing balm; and when in a condition to
appear before her, enclosed his two ears in a little box, rare and precious, and presented it to
Papillette, his heart once more filled with hope and love.
The princess eagerly opened the beautiful little casket, then dashed it with horror to the
ground. “Prince!” she cried, “what can have induced you to mutilate yourself so cruelly?
Could you imagine that I would ever wed a man who submitted to lose his ears?”
“Madam,” said the prince, in consternation, “it was by my own order that—”
“What a fool you were then!” cried Papillette. “If you are not willing to become the ridicule
of the court, I advise you to quit it with the greatest expedition imaginable.”
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The prince dared not call her cruel and ungrateful: he retired to the thickest retreats of a
forest, and soon after entirely lost his reason.
The princess, once more free, confessed that amongst her numerous suitors there was one
whom she preferred; this was Prince Malabar, whose martial mien announced the soul of a
hero. The queen did not deny that Malabar had sought her daughter’s hand, even before
Favourite aspired to that honour, and King Merinous could now no longer insist on a
marriage with this unfortunate prince, since he was quite insane, ran naked through the
woods, sometimes believing himself a hind, sometimes a wolf, and never stopping until
exhausted by grief and despair. But in consenting to the marriage of his daughter with Prince
Malabar, the king declared that, should she again change her mind, he would never forgive
her.
The happy day was once more fixed, and Papillette, three days preceding, invited her lover
to meet her in a delightful grove at the extremity of the gardens. This grove was planted with
myrtles, so thick and high that they afforded a pleasant shade. Beautiful flowers sprang up
on all sides; and, added to the warblings of the birds in the trees, were the voices of hidden
musicians, singing a chorus, composed by the princess herself. This, however, Malabar, who
was a soldier, and not a musician, and who naturally wished to have his lady-love’s society all
to himself, did not sufficiently appreciate.
“Princess,” said he, “I had much rather hear you talk than these people sing.”
“Are then those cares despised,” replied Papillette, “which I have so assiduously employed
to amuse and gratify you by the display of my talents?”
“Your dearest talent,” cried he, “is that of pleasing: it comprises every other. Send away
these people, I pray.” He added in a tone of the utmost irritation: “I hate—I detest music!”
“Have I rightly heard?” exclaimed the princess angrily; “and do you pretend to love, if your
soul is insensible to such transporting sounds?”
“I wish they would transport themselves far enough away,” returned the lover, who, like
most other lovers, could be in an ill humour sometimes. “My princess, do order this scraping
and squalling to cease.”
“On the contrary, I order my musicians to remain,” answered Papillette, quite indignant,
“and never, never will I unite myself to him whom divine melody hath no power to move.
Go, prince, barbarous alike in taste and science, seek some rustic maid, best suited to your
insensibility.”
The musicians, too far distant to hear these words, struck up a lively tune. Malabar imagined
this done in derision, and it required all his respect for the princess to prevent him from
falling on them sword in hand. He repented much his words, but considered it beneath his
dignity to retract them; the princess also refused to retract hers: so they parted.
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Malabar resolved on instant death. Mounting the noblest courser in his stable, he rode down
to the sea-coast, and plunged him right over a perpendicular cliff into the waters below.
The tide happened to be coming in, so that the body was soon washed on shore, and
brought before the eyes of the cruel princess, laid on a litter formed of willow, hung with
draperies of black crape.
She was standing at the window when the melancholy procession passed, and inquired what
it was. None dared answer; they only removed the covering from the face of the corpse. She
ottered a loud shriek, and fainted away.
The king and queen lavished on her the most tender cares, but all in vain: she declared that
she regarded herself as an inconsolable widow, and insisted upon putting on the deepest
weeds.
King Merinous respected this caprice, and ordered twenty thousand yards of crape for her
use. She was just giving orders to have her apartments festooned with it, and holding a
cambric handkerchief to her eyes, when a little green ape (a drawing-room favourite) dressed
itself in weepers, and disposed one of the widow’s caps most tastefully under its chin.
At this sight the princess burst out laughing so loudly and heartily, that all the court ladies,
who had been trying which could pull the longest and most sympathetic countenance, were
greatly relieved, and began immediately to smile a little.
Gradually, they removed from her eyes the trappings of woe, and substituted ribbons of
rose-colour and blue of every shade and variety: trying on these, so diverted Papillette’s
melancholy, that the poor drowned prince was soon forgotten. Her tears indeed were vain;
he had already enough of water.
The king was in despair. “Alas!” said he to the queen, “we shall never have the consolation
of marrying Papillette, or beholding our grandchildren. Of two monarchs so worthy of her,
one has lost his reason, the other has cast himself into the sea; and while we continue to
weep, she, already consoled, thinks only of diverting herself!”
“Sire,” replied the queen, “calm your apprehensions. Our daughter is yet too young to feel
true love in all its fervour; let us have patience, and seek alliance with none but those truly
worthy of her affections.”
“Such is my wish,” replied the king, “and I begin to turn my views upon Prince Patipata; he
has seen the portrait of Papillette, and is satisfied; but, though a wise and noble monarch, his
personal qualifications are little in his favor.”
“How so!” rejoined the queen.
“Because he is stiff, tall, and spare; his eyes bleared and filmy; his hair red, and so scanty
withal, that it seems like a few stripes of blasted flax hung around a distaff.”
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A few days after this conversation, Prince Patipata arrived at court; and the queen did not
conceal from Papillette, that, notwithstanding his personal disadvantages, he was intended
for her spouse.
The princess laughed immoderately, yet, just for amusement, she displayed towards him all
the arts and graces of coquetry to perfection.
Prince Patipata having been informed of the deplorable end of his predecessors, concealed
his love as carefully as the others had proclaimed theirs. He was so reserved and cold, that
the princess longed exceedingly to discover the state of his feelings. Accordingly, one day,
while Patipata was walking with Salmoé, his intimate confidant, she hid herself in the trunk
of an old tree, which had been hollowed out by lightning, and afforded apparently a secure
retreat. The prince seated himself at the foot of it, but he had observed the princess; and,
making a sign of intelligence to his companion, feigned to continue a conversation of which
she was the subject. “Assuredly,” said he, “the princess is very handsome; but flatterers,
poets, and painters always overstep the truth. Her portrait has deceived me: its large blue
eyes bear assuredly some resemblance to those of Papillette, but they bespeak an ardent and
feeling heart, while hers is frivolous, volatile, and incapable of love. Her smile would be
charming, but for its satirical irony. And what is the value of the loveliest lips in the world, if
they open but to deceive and betray!”
“I am much surprised,” replied Salmoé; “I believed that your royal highness was equally
loving and beloved.”
“Far from it,” returned Patipata; “it would ill become me, plain as I am, to be confident of
pleasing; and I am not dupe enough to yield my heart without return. Do not you approve of
this?”
“No,” answered Salmoé, “your royal highness is too modest; I cannot sufficiently appreciate
your humility.”
The prince affected to be dissatisfied with this praise, and then moved onwards in order to
liberate Papillette, who was very inconveniently cramped, and almost suffocated with anger.
Disagreeable truths seldom reach the ear of princesses; her resentment, therefore, was to be
expected. Meanwhile, her heart being equally capricious as her understanding, she felt ready
to pardon, and even, on reflection, to justify Patipata. But pride soon combated this
weakness; and she determined to send him away. She complained to her father; assured him,
that by mere chance she had heard the most odious calumnies uttered by a prince who
sported with their dignity, by falsely pretending to the hand of her whom he slighted and
despised. The king was surprised; but, not having entered into any positive engagements
with Patipata, he readily entered into her feelings, and intimated to the prince that his adieus
would be well received. This Patipata expected; but, although not naturally presumptuous, he
had read sufficiently into the heart of Papillette to feel some degree of consolation.
As no decisive explanation of any kind occurred, he was permitted to take leave of the
princess. This he did with much firmness; while she appeared so much agitated, that it was
remarked by all the court. The men attributed this to hatred; but the ladies, who knew better,
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pronounced it love. They were convinced of the fact, when day by day she began to pine and
refused to eat; and had not the chief cook every day invented some new ragout, she would
inevitably have died of hunger.
The queen was in despair, and dispatched a billet to the Fairy of the Fountain, fastening it to
the tail of a little white mouse, which served as a messenger on this occasion; it was perfectly
acquainted with the way, and in a few minutes the fairy arrived at the palace. The late events
were mentioned to her, and the melancholy situation of the princess.
“I understand this case,” said the fairy; “but it is necessary that Papillette should give me her
confidence.”
The fairy was so amiable and so much beloved by the princess, that she easily yielded; and
casting down her eyes, confessed that she loved one who regarded her with contemptuous
indifference; and what rendered her choice still more degrading was, its object being equally
ugly as insensible.
“I am then to understand,” replied the fairy, “that you wish to be cured of this unfortunate
passion?”
“Alas, no!” rejoined Papillette, “for my only pleasure is in thinking of him, speaking to him
as if he could hear, and persuading myself that, notwithstanding appearances, he could have
loved me, had he believed my heart capable of steady affections. I shall therefore die, leaving
him alike ignorant of my regrets and my repentance.”
“I would not advise you to die,” said the fairy “that is the only evil in the world without a
remedy. But, my dear Papillette, what can I do to console you?”
“Let me see the prince once more, under some metamorphose in which it is impossible for
him to recognise me.”
“Very well,” replied the fairy. “But since you wish to risk it, and that a simple butterfly can
scarcely compromise her dignity in following a king, under this form I shall transport you to
his court.”
So saying, the Fairy of the Fountain placed on her finger a little emerald ring, and the
princess distinctly felt her arms change their shape—expand—become flexible, and form
two light wings, clothed in the most brilliant colours. Her little feet quitted the earth, and as
the window was open, she flew out, traversing the air, with a degree of rapidity which at first
caused some sensations of fear. But soon the eager desire of seeing Patipata urged her
forward, although natural instinct so far prevailed, as to cause frequent descents to earth,
where she rested on every tempting flower.
At length, entering the prince’s gardens, she beheld him walking on a terrace watering a
beautiful orange-tree. Her heart beat so violently, that her first emotion was to hide, but,
soon recovering self-possession, she flew forwards and rested on a branch which he had just
gathered.
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“What a charming butterfly!” observed the king to his chief gardener. “Its colours are truly
exquisite; I never recollect having seen any such before.”
“Some new species, come to do mischief, I suppose,” said the gardener, preparing to brush
it rudely away. But it took refuge on the bosom of the king, with such caressing and tender
familiarity, that only a hard heart could have done it injury.
“Ah, little traitor!” cried Patipata, “thou wishest to win me by thy fleeting charms, and then
escape for ever. I already know too well the pain of loving fickle beings such as thou. Yet
still I must defend thee, and permit thy return to my orange-tree as often as thou desirest.”
Papillette easily penetrated the thoughts of the prince, and although they uttered a reproach
for her inconstancy, she fancied they also breathed the language of love; and returned in
better spirits than usual to her father’s palace, where her absence had been unobserved.
From thenceforward she never omitted making use of the emerald ring, which transported
her in a few moments to her royal lover: she followed him to his palace, saw him give
audiences, preside in council, and everywhere prove himself just, great, generous, and worthy
of all her affection. It is true that his eyes were still filmy, his body spare, and his hair as red
as ever; but what signifies an outside casket when containing a priceless jewel within?
Patipata was determined against marriage; he therefore adopted as heir to the crown the son
of a cousin, a young orphan, whom he purposed bringing up beneath his own eye. This
prince little resembled his uncle: he had been much spoiled in infancy, and it was impossible
to improve him. One day, while conversing with Patipata, “Sire,” said he, “I have a favour to
ask your majesty, and I pray you not to refuse me.”
“I shall willingly grant you anything reasonable,” replied the king.
“It is but your beautiful rose-coloured butterfly, which follows you everywhere.”
“And if I were to give it to you, what then?”
“I would run this golden pin through its body, and stick it to a branch of the orange-tree, to
see how long it would live. Oh, nothing could be more amusing!”
“Nothing could be more barbarous!” answered Patipata indignantly. “Go, you inspire me
with horror; I banish you from my presence during three entire days, and remember, that if
my butterfly should receive any injury, you shall be punished with unexampled severity!”
The poor butterfly, who had heard this discourse, knew not how to express its gratitude and
joy; it flapped its wings, and sported around its benefactor. The king held out his finger, and
it rested there. “Thou shalt quit me no more,” said he. “It is so sweet to be loved, even by a
butterfly, that I would not willingly prove myself ungrateful: thou shalt feed at my table; I
will serve thee with the finest fruits, the fairest flowers. Ah! if I can only make thee happy!”
On the following day, Patipata went out hunting. In vain Papillette sought him in the park,
in the garden, and near the favourite orange-tree. But his nephew, taking advantage of his
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absence, began chasing the pretty butterfly. The courtiers knew that he would one day be in
power, and, eager to gratify his whims, assisted in the wanton sport: ministers the most
pompous, members of council the most profound, climbed on trees, and capered through
the meadows,—one would have supposed them mad. But the royal insect, so familiar with
the king, was for all others the most capricious of butterflies. It amused itself in leading the
court a long chase, and at length rested in the private cabinet of the king, where they never
once thought of seeking it.
Papillette, now all alone, could not resist the opportunity afforded of looking over a great
quantity of writing which lay on the bureau. What was her surprise and joy, on there finding
verses, the most passionate and tender, which Patipata had written in her praise! They indeed
revealed that he was proud, and would not risk a second refusal; but they vowed to remain
faithful to her, and never to wed another.
The princess was so affected, that two little tiny tears stood in her butterfly-eyes. Well
indeed she might shed them, for at this moment, the wicked little prince, her enemy, came
behind, and seizing her by her two lovely wings, popped her into his hat.
“Now I have you!” cried he; and it is impossible to say what would have happened, had not
the king opportunely returned; when, in taking off his hat to his uncle, he let the butterfly go.
She, recovering from her fright, testified affection by many little endearments; and Patipata,
now accustomed to speak to her, exclaimed: “Beautiful insect, how happy art thou!—thou
wanderest from flower to flower, without giving the preference to any—thou knowest not
love—thou hast not found ingratitude! I, a king, can not boast of such happiness. I adore the
lovely Princess Papillette, and am dismissed from her court. I am ugly, it is true; but were I
ever so handsome, I should not be more fortunate, for I too well know her fickle—”
The butterfly here sighed so deeply, that the king started.
“Is it possible thou canst feel?” said he. “Oh, if my princess had but as much sensibility, I
would know no other care! With her I would live in a hut, far, far from the deceitful
splendour of a throne.”
“The Princess Papillette would willingly accompany you,” said a little voice, in tones of the
finest and purest melody: and the butterfly’s rosy wings blushed deep as crimson.
“What a prodigy!” cried Patipata. “Ah! butterfly, what dost thou know of my Papillette?”
“Suppose it were herself!” said a voice, which seemed to proceed from a little fountain of
rock-crystal which stood between the windows.
The prince turned round; but instead of the butterfly, he beheld the Fairy of the Fountain,
holding the fair Papillette by the hand. They were both encircled by a light rose-coloured
cloud, which shed a softly brilliant light around the apartment.
Patipata bent one knee to the earth, and kissed the hem of the princess’s garment.
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“Come, prince,” said the fairy, “King Merinous is apprised of what passes here. Papillette
has overcome her evil destiny. Her affections are fixed and sure; and their object is yourself
And however ready you may both be to live in a hut together, I advise you not to do it. Love
is sweeter than royalty, no doubt, but it is not impossible to unite both.”
The lovers, transported with joy, placed their feet on the rose-colored cloud, which instantly
carried them to the palace of the king. The Fairy of the Fountain, to complete her
benefactions, rendered Patipata as handsome as he was amiable, and the nuptials were
celebrated with suitable pomp and festivity. We are informed that Papillette had, at first,
some slight returns of her natural disposition; but in one year she became a mother, and
from thenceforward never knew frivolity more.
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The Yellow Dwarf
From "The Fairy Book" by Miss Mulock
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here was once a queen, who had been the mother of several children, but all
were dead, except one daughter, of whom she was excessively fond,
humouring and indulging her in all her ways and wishes. This princess was so
extremely beautiful, that she was called All-Fair, and twenty kings were, at one
time, paying their addresses to her. She had so many lovers, indeed, that she
did not know which to choose, and refused them all. Her mother, being advanced in years,
was anxious to see her married and settled before she died; but as no entreaties could prevail,
she determined to go to the Desert Fairy to ask advice concerning her stubborn daughter.
Now, this fairy being guarded by two fierce lions, the queen made a cake of millet, sugarcandy,
and crocodiles’ eggs, in order to appease their fury, and pass by them; and having thus
provided herself, she set out. After travelling some time she found herself weary, and lying
down under a tree fell asleep. When she awoke, she heard the roaring of the lions which
guarded the fairy, and on looking for her cake she found it was gone. This threw her into the
utmost agony, as she felt sure she should be devoured; when, hearing somebody approach,
she raised her eyes, and saw in a tree a little yellow man half a yard high, picking and eating
oranges.
“Ah! queen,” said the Yellow Dwarf, for so he was called on account of his complexion, and
the orange-tree in which he lived, “how will you escape the lions? There is but one way; I
know what business brought you here; promise me your daughter in marriage and I will save
you.”
The queen, though she could not look without horror upon so frightful a figure, was forced
to consent; and having agreed to the terms proposed, she instantly found herself in her own
palace, and all that had passed seemed much like a dream: nevertheless, she was so
thoroughly persuaded of the reality of it, that she became melancholy.
The young princess being unable to learn the cause of her mother’s dejection, resolved in
her turn to go and inquire of the Desert Fairy; and, accordingly, having prepared a cake for
the lions, she also set off on the same journey. It happened that All-Fair took exactly the
route her mother had done before her; and coming to the fatal tree which was loaded with
oranges, she felt inclined to pick some; therefore, laying down her basket, in which she
carried the cake, she plentifully indulged herself with the delicious fruit.
The lions now began to roar; All-Fair, looking for her cake, was thrown into the utmost
despair to find it gone; and as she was lamenting her deplorable situation, the Yellow Dwarf
presented himself to her with these words:—”Lovely princess, dry your tears, and hear what
I am going to say. You need not proceed to the Desert Fairy, to know the reason of your
mother’s indisposition—it is this: she is ungenerous enough to repent having promised you,
her only daughter, to me in marriage—”
“How!” interrupted the princess; “my mother promised me to you in marriage;—you such a
fright as you!”
“None of your scoffs,” returned the Yellow Dwarf; “I warn you not to rouse my anger. If
you will promise to marry me, I will be the tenderest and most loving husband in the world;
if not, save yourself from the lions, if you can.”
O
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The princess, overcome with terror, gave the promise; but such was the agony of her mind,
that she fell into a swoon, and, when she recovered, she found herself in her own bed, finely
adorned with ribands, with a ring of a single red hair so fastened round her finger that it
could not be got off.
This adventure had the same effect upon All Fair as the former one had had upon her
mother. She grew melancholy, which was remarked and wondered at by the whole court.
The best way to divert her, they thought, would be to urge her to marry; which the princess,
who was now become less obstinate on that point than formerly, consented to. Trusting that
such a pigmy as the Yellow Dwarf would not dare to contend with so gallant a person as the
King of the Golden Mines, she fixed upon that prince for her husband. He was exceedingly
rich and powerful, and loved her to distraction. The most superb preparations were made
for the nuptials, and the happy day was fixed when, as they were proceeding to the
ceremony, they saw moving towards them a box, upon which sat an old woman remarkable
for her ugliness.
“Hold, queen and princess!” cried she, knitting her brows; “remember the promises you
have both made to my friend the Yellow Dwarf. I am the Desert Fairy; and unless All-Fair
consent to marry him, I solemnly swear to burn my crutch.”
The queen and princess were struck almost motionless by this unexpected address of the
fairy; but the Prince of the Golden Mines was exceeding angry, and holding his sword to her
throat, he said, “Fly, wretch! or thy malice shall cost thee thy life.”
No sooner had he uttered these words, than the top of the box flying off, out came the
Yellow Dwarf, mounted upon a large Spanish cat. Placing himself between the king and the
fairy, he exclaimed, “Rash youth! thy rage shall be levelled at me, not at the Desert Fairy. I
am thy rival, and claim thy princess, who is fast bound to me by her own promise, her
mother’s, and the single red hair that you see round her finger.”
This so enraged the king, that he cried out, “Contemptible creature! wert thou worthy of
notice, I would sacrifice thee for thy presumption.”
The Yellow Dwarf, clapping spurs to his cat, and drawing a cutlass, now defied the king to
combat; and down they went into the courtyard. The sun was immediately turned as red as
blood, the air became dark, it thundered heavily, and the flashes of lightning discovered two
giants vomiting fire on each side of the Yellow Dwarf. The king behaved with such
undaunted courage, as to give the dwarf great trouble; but he was dismayed when he saw the
Desert Fairy, mounted on a winged griffin, and with her head covered with snakes, strike the
princess so hard with a lance, that she fell into the queen’s arms, covered with blood. He
immediately left the combat, to go to the relief of his beloved, but the dwarf was too quick
for him; and flying on his Spanish cat to the balcony where she was, he took her from her
mother’s arms, leaped with her upon the top of the palace, and immediately disappeared.
As the king stood confused and astonished at this strange adventure, he suddenly found a
mist before his eyes, and felt himself lifted up in the air by some extraordinary power; for the
Desert Fairy had fallen in love with him. To secure him for herself, therefore, she carried
him to a frightful cavern, hoping he would there forget All-Fair. But finding this scheme
ineffectual, she resolved to carry him to a place altogether as pleasant as the other was
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terrible; and accordingly placed him in a chariot drawn by swans. In passing through the air,
he was unspeakably surprised to see his beloved princess in a castle of polished steel, leaning
her head on one hand, and wiping away her tears with the other. She happened to look up,
and had the mortification to see the king sitting by the fairy who then, by her art, made
herself appear extremely beautiful. Had not the king been sensible of the fairy’s power, he
would certainly have tried to free himself from her by some means or other; but he knew it
would be in vain, and therefore made believe to have a liking for her. At last they came to a
stately palace, fenced on one side by walls of emeralds, and on the other by a boisterous sea.
The king, by pretending an attachment to the fairy, obtained the liberty to walk by himself
on the shore. There, one day, he heard a voice, and presently after was surprised by the
appearance of a mermaid, who, swimming up to him with a pleasing smile, spoke to this
effect:—”O King of the Golden Mines, I well know all that has befallen you and the
Princess All-Fair. Do not suspect this to be a contrivance of the fairy to try you, for I am an
inveterate enemy both to her and the Yellow Dwarf; therefore, if you will place confidence
in me, I will lend you my assistance to procure the release, not only of yourself, but of All-
Fair also.”
The overjoyed king promised to do whatever the mermaid should direct, and seating himself
by her desire upon her fish’s tail, they sailed away together over the rolling sea.
When they had sailed some time, “Now,” said the mermaid to the king, “we are approaching
the place where your princess is kept prisoner by the Yellow Dwarf. You will have many
enemies to fight before you can come to her, take, therefore, this sword, with which you may
overcome everything, provided you never let it go out of your hand.”
The king returned her all the thanks that the most grateful heart could suggest; and the
mermaid landed and took leave of him, promising him farther assistance when necessary.
The king boldly advanced, and, meeting with two terrible sphinxes, laid them dead at his feet
with the sword. Next he attacked six dragons that opposed him, and despatched them also.
Then he met four-and-twenty nymphs, crowned with garlands of flowers, at the sight of
whom he stopped, being unwilling to destroy so much beauty; when he heard a voice say,
“Strike! strike! or you lose your princess for ever!” So he threw himself into the midst of the
nymphs, smiting right and left, and soon dispersed them.
Presently he came to the castle, where was imprisoned the princess All-Fair. “O my
princess,” exclaimed he, “behold your faithful lover!”
“Faithful lover!” she replied, drawing herself back: “Did I not see you passing through the
air with a beautiful nymph? were you faithful then?”
“Yes,” replied the king, “I was. That was the detested Desert Fairy, who was carrying me to
a place where I must have languished out all my days, had it not been for a kind mermaid, by
whose assistance it is that I am now come to release you.” Having uttered these words, he
threw himself at her feet; but, catching hold of her gown he unfortunately let go the magic
sword, which the Yellow Dwarf no sooner discovered, than, leaping from behind a shrub,
where he had been concealed, he ran and seized it. By two cabalistical words he then
conjured up a couple of giants, who laid the king in irons.
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“Now,” said the Dwarf, “my rival’s fate is in my own hands; however, if he will consent to
my marriage with the princess All-Fair, he shall have his life and liberty.”
“No,” said the king, “I scorn thy favour on such terms.”
The dwarf was so exasperated by this reply, that he instantly stabbed the king to the heart.
The disconsolate princess stood a moment petrified, and then exclaimed, “Thou hideous
creature! since entreaties could not avail thee, perhaps thou now reliest upon force; but thou
shalt be disappointed. I will die for the love I have for the King of the Golden Mines!” and
so saying she sank down upon his body, and expired without a sigh.
Thus ended the fate of these two faithful lovers, whom the mermaid very much regretted;
but as all her power lay in the sword, she could only change them into two palm-trees,
which, preserving a constant and mutual affection, still fondly unite their branches together.
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