Bab Bab 14 · The Story of the Queen of the Flowery Isles

. The Story of the Queen of the Flowery Isles

There once lived a queen who ruled over the Flowery Isles, whose

husband, to her extreme grief, died a few years after their marriage. On

being left a widow she devoted herself almost entirely to the education

of the two charming princesses, her only children. The elder of them was

so lovely that as she grew up her mother greatly feared she would excite

the jealousy of the Queen of all the Isles, who prided herself on being

the most beautiful woman in the world, and insisted on all rivals bowing

before her charms.

In order the better to gratify her vanity she had urged the king, her

husband, to make war on all the surrounding islands, and as his

greatest wish was to please her, the only conditions he imposed on any

newly-conquered country was that each princess of every royal house

should attend his court as soon as she was fifteen years old, and do

homage to the transcendent beauty of his queen.

The queen of the Flowery Isles, well aware of this law, was fully

determined to present her daughter to the proud queen as soon as her

fifteenth birthday was past.

The queen herself had heard a rumour of the young princess’s great

beauty, and awaited her visit with some anxiety, which soon developed

into jealousy, for when the interview took place it was impossible not

to be dazzled by such radiant charms, and she was obliged to admit that

she had never beheld anyone so exquisitely lovely.

Of course she thought in her own mind ‘excepting myself!’ for nothing

could have made her believe it possible that anyone could eclipse her.

But the outspoken admiration of the entire court soon undeceived her,

and made her so angry that she pretended illness and retired to her own

rooms, so as to avoid witnessing the princess’s triumph. She also sent

word to the Queen of the Flowery Isles that she was sorry not to be well

enough to see her again, and advised her to return to her own states

with the princess, her daughter.

This message was entrusted to one of the great ladies of the court, who

was an old friend of the Queen of the Flowery Isles, and who advised her

not to wait to take a formal leave but to go home as fast as she could.

The queen was not slow to take the hint, and lost no time in obeying it.

Being well aware of the magic powers of the incensed queen, she warned

her daughter that she was threatened by some great danger if she left

the palace for any reason whatever during the next six months.

The princess promised obedience, and no pains were spared to make the

time pass pleasantly for her.

The six months were nearly at an end, and on the very last day a

splendid fête was to take place in a lovely meadow quite near the

palace. The princess, who had been able to watch all the preparations

from her window, implored her mother to let her go as far as the meadow;

and the queen, thinking all risk must be over, consented, and promised

to take her there herself.

The whole court was delighted to see their much-loved princess at

liberty, and everyone set off in high glee to join in the fête.

The princess, overjoyed at being once more in the open air, was walking

a little in advance of her party when suddenly the earth opened under

her feet and closed again after swallowing her up!

The queen fainted away with terror, and the younger princess burst into

floods of tears and could hardly be dragged away from the fatal spot,

whilst the court was overwhelmed with horror at so great a calamity.

Orders were given to bore the earth to a great depth, but in vain; not a

trace of the vanished princess was to be found.

She sank right through the earth and found herself in a desert place

with nothing but rocks and trees and no sign of any human being. The

only living creature she saw was a very pretty little dog, who ran up to

her and at once began to caress her. She took him in her arms, and after

playing with him for a little put him down again, when he started off in

front of her, looking round from time to time as though begging her to

follow.

She let him lead her on, and presently reached a little hill, from which

she saw a valley full of lovely fruit trees, bearing flowers and fruit

together. The ground was also covered with fruit and flowers, and in the

middle of the valley rose a fountain surrounded by a velvety lawn.

The princess hastened to this charming spot, and sitting down on the

grass began to think over the misfortune which had befallen her, and

burst into tears as she reflected on her sad condition.

The fruit and clear fresh water would, she knew, prevent her from dying

of hunger or thirst, but how could she escape if any wild beast appeared

and tried to devour her?

At length, having thought over every possible evil which could happen,

the princess tried to distract her mind by playing with the little dog.

She spent the whole day near the fountain, but as night drew on she

wondered what she should do, when she noticed that the little dog was

pulling at her dress.

She paid no heed to him at first, but as he continued to pull her

dress and then run a few steps in one particular direction, she at last

decided to follow him; he stopped before a rock with a large opening in

the centre, which he evidently wished her to enter.

The princess did so and discovered a large and beautiful cave lit up

by the brilliancy of the stones with which it was lined, with a little

couch covered with soft moss in one corner. She lay down on it and the

dog at once nestled at her feet. Tired out with all she had gone through

she soon fell asleep.

Next morning she was awakened very early by the songs of many birds.

The little dog woke up too, and sprang round her in his most caressing

manner. She got up and went outside, the dog as before running on in

front and turning back constantly to take her dress and draw her on.

She let him have his way and he soon led her back to the beautiful

garden where she had spent part of the day before. Here she ate some

fruit, drank some water of the fountain, and felt as if she had made an

excellent meal. She walked about amongst the flowers, played with her

little dog, and at night returned to sleep in the cave.

In this way the princess passed several months, and as her first terrors

died away she gradually became more resigned to her fate. The little

dog, too, was a great comfort, and her constant companion.

One day she noticed that he seemed very sad and did not even caress her

as usual. Fearing he might be ill she carried him to a spot where she

had seen him eat some particular herbs, hoping they might do him good,

but he would not touch them. He spent all the night, too, sighing and

groaning as if in great pain.

At last the princess fell asleep, and when she awoke her first thought

was for her little pet, but not finding him at her feet as usual, she

ran out of the cave to look for him. As she stepped out of the cave she

caught sight of an old man, who hurried away so fast that she had barely

time to see him before he disappeared.

This was a fresh surprise and almost as great a shock as the loss of her

little dog, who had been so faithful to her ever since the first day she

had seen him. She wondered if he had strayed away or if the old man had

stolen him.

Tormented by all kinds of thoughts and fears she wandered on, when

suddenly she felt herself wrapped in a thick cloud and carried through

the air. She made no resistance and before very long found herself, to

her great surprise, in an avenue leading to the palace in which she had

been born. No sign of the cloud anywhere.

As the princess approached the palace she perceived that everyone was

dressed in black, and she was filled with fear as to the cause of this

mourning. She hastened on and was soon recognised and welcomed with

shouts of joy. Her sister hearing the cheers ran out and embraced the

wanderer, with tears of happiness, telling her that the shock of her

disappearance had been so terrible that their mother had only survived

it a few days. Since then the younger princess had worn the crown, which

she now resigned to her sister to whom it by right belonged.

But the elder wished to refuse it, and would only accept the crown on

condition that her sister should share in all the power.

The first acts of the new queen were to do honour to the memory of

her dear mother and to shower every mark of generous affection on her

sister. Then, being still very grieved at the loss of her little dog,

she had a careful search made for him in every country, and when nothing

could be heard of him she was so grieved that she offered half her

kingdom to whoever should restore him to her.

Many gentlemen of the court, tempted by the thought of such a reward,

set off in all directions in search of the dog; but all returned

empty-handed to the queen, who, in despair announced that since life was

unbearable without her little dog, she would give her hand in marriage

to the man who brought him back.

The prospect of such a prize quickly turned the court into a desert,

nearly every courtier starting on the quest. Whilst they were away the

queen was informed one day that a very ill-looking man wished to speak

with her. She desired him to be shown into a room where she was sitting

with her sister.

On entering her presence he said that he was prepared to give the queen

her little dog if she on her side was ready to keep her word.

The princess was the first to speak. She said that the queen had

no right to marry without the consent of the nation, and that on so

important an occasion the general council must be summoned. The queen

could not say anything against this statement; but she ordered an

apartment in the palace to be given to the man, and desired the council

to meet on the following day.

Next day, accordingly, the council assembled in great state, and by the

princess’s advice it was decided to offer the man a large sum of money

for the dog, and should he refuse it, to banish him from the kingdom

without seeing the queen again. The man refused the price offered and

left the hall.

The princess informed the queen of what had passed, and the queen

approved of all, but added that as she was her own mistress she had made

up her mind to abdicate her throne, and to wander through the world till

she had found her little dog.

The princess was much alarmed by such a resolution, and implored the

queen to change her mind. Whilst they were discussing the subject,

one of the chamberlains appeared to inform the queen that the bay was

covered with ships. The two sisters ran to the balcony, and saw a large

fleet in full sail for the port.

In a little time they came to the conclusion that the ships must come

from a friendly nation, as every vessel was decked with gay flags,

streamers, and pennons, and the way was led by a small ship flying a

great white flag of peace.

The queen sent a special messenger to the harbour, and was soon informed

that the fleet belonged to the Prince of the Emerald Isles, who begged

leave to land in her kingdom, and to present his humble respects to

her. The queen at once sent some of the court dignitaries to receive the

prince and bid him welcome.

She awaited him seated on her throne, but rose on his appearance, and

went a few steps to meet him; then begged him to be seated, and for

about an hour kept him in close conversation.

The prince was then conducted to a splendid suite of apartments, and the

next day he asked for a private audience. He was admitted to the queen’s

own sitting-room, where she was sitting alone with her sister.

After the first greetings the prince informed the queen that he had some

very strange things to tell her, which she only would know to be true.

‘Madam,’ said he, ‘I am a neighbour of the Queen of all the Isles; and

a small isthmus connects part of my states with hers. One day, when

hunting a stag, I had the misfortune to meet her, and not recognising

her, I did not stop to salute her with all proper ceremony. You, Madam,

know better than anyone how revengeful she is, and that she is also a

mistress of magic. I learnt both facts to my cost. The ground opened

under my feet, and I soon found myself in a far distant region

transformed into a little dog, under which shape I had the honour to

meet your Majesty. After six months, the queen’s vengeance not being yet

satisfied, she further changed me into a hideous old man, and in this

form I was so afraid of being unpleasant in your eyes, Madam, that I hid

myself in the depths of the woods, where I spent three months more. At

the end of that time I was so fortunate as to meet a benevolent fairy

who delivered me from the proud queen’s power, and told me all your

adventures and where to find you. I now come to offer you a heart which

has been entirely yours, Madam, since first we met in the desert.’

A few days later a herald was sent through the kingdom to proclaim the

joyful news of the marriage of the Queen of the Flowery Isles with the

young prince. They lived happily for many years, and ruled their people

well.

As for the bad queen, whose vanity and jealousy had caused so much

mischief, the Fairies took all her power away for a punishment.

[‘Cabinet des Fées.’]