[FromCuentosPopularsCatalans,porloDr。D。FranciscodeS。
MasponsyLabros。]
TheOwlandtheEagleOnceuponatime,inasavagecountrywherethesnowliesdeepformanymonthsintheyear,therelivedanowlandaneagle。Thoughtheyweresodifferentinmanywaystheybecamegreatfriends,andatlengthsetuphousetogether,onepassingthedayinhuntingandtheotherthenight。Inthismannertheydidnotseeverymuchofeachother——andperhapsagreedallthebetterforthat;butatanyratetheywereperfectlyhappy,andonlywantedonething,or,rather,twothings,andthatwasawifeforeach。
\'IreallyamtootiredwhenIcomehomeintheeveningtocleanupthehouse,\'saidtheeagle。
\'AndIammuchtoosleepyatdawnafteralongnight\'shuntingtobegintosweepanddust,\'answeredtheowl。Andtheybothmadeuptheirmindsthatwivestheymusthave。
Theyflewaboutintheirsparemomentstotheyoungladiesoftheiracquaintance,butthegirlsalldeclaredtheypreferredonehusbandtotwo。Thepoorbirdsbegantodespair,when,oneevening,aftertheyhadbeenforawonderhuntingtogether,theyfoundtwosistersfastasleepontheirtwobeds。Theeaglelookedattheowlandtheowllookedattheeagle。
\'Theywillmakecapitalwivesiftheywillonlystaywithus,\'saidthey。Andtheyflewofftogivethemselvesawash,andtomakethemselvessmartbeforethegirlsawoke。
Formanyhoursthesistersslepton,fortheyhadcomealongway,fromatownwheretherewasscarcelyanythingtoeat,andfeltweakandtired。Butby—and—bytheyopenedtheireyesandsawthetwobirdswatchingthem。
\'Ihopeyouarerested？\'askedtheowlpolitely。
\'Oh,yes,thankyou,\'answeredthegirls。\'Onlywearesoveryhungry。
Doyouthinkwecouldhavesomethingtoeat？\'
\'Certainly！\'repliedtheeagle。Andheflewawaytoafarmhouseamileortwooff,andbroughtbackanestofeggsinhisstrongbeak;whiletheowl,catchingupatinpot,wenttoacottagewherelivedanoldwomanandhercow,andenteringtheshedbythewindowdippedthepotintothepailofnewmilkthatstoodthere。
Thegirlsweresomuchdelightedwiththekindnessandclevernessoftheirhoststhat,whenthebirdsinquirediftheywouldmarrythemandstaythereforever,theyacceptedwithoutsomuchasgivingitasecondthought。Sotheeagletooktheyoungersistertowife,andtheowltheelder,andneverwasahomemorepeacefulthantheirs！
Allwentwellforseveralmonths,andthentheeagle\'swifehadason,while,onthesameday,theowl\'swifegavebirthtoafrog,whichsheplaceddirectlyonthebanksofastreamnearby,ashedidnotseemtolikethehouse。Thechildrenbothgrewquickly,andwerenevertiredofplayingtogether,orwantedanyothercompanions。
Onenightinthespring,whentheicehadmelted,andthesnowwasgone,thesisterssatspinninginthehouse,awaitingtheirhusbands\'
return。Butlongthoughtheywatched,neithertheowlnortheeagleevercame;neitherthatdaynorthenext,northenext,northenext。
Atlastthewivesgaveupallhopeoftheirreturn;but,beingsensiblewomen,theydidnotsitdownandcry,butcalledtheirchildren,andsetout,determinedtoseekthewholeworldovertillthemissinghusbandswerefound。
Nowthewomenhadnoideainwhichdirectionthelostbirdshadgone,buttheyknewthatsomedistanceoffwasathickforest,wheregoodhuntingwastobefound。Itseemedalikelyplacetofindthem,or,atanyrate,theymighthearsomethingofthem,andtheywalkedquicklyon,cheeredbythethoughtthattheyweredoingsomething。Suddenlytheyoungersister,whowasalittleinfront,gaveacryofsurprise。
\'Oh！lookatthatlake！\'shesaid,\'weshallnevergetacrossit。\'
\'Yesweshall,\'answeredtheelder;\'Iknowwhattodo。\'Andtakingalongpieceofstringfromherpocket,fasteneditintothefrog\'smouth,likeabit。
\'Youmustswimacrossthelake,\'shesaid,stoopingtoputhimin,\'andwewillwalkacrossonthelinebehindyou。\'Andsotheydid,tilltheygottoaboutthemiddleofthelake,whenthefrogboystopped。
\'Idon\'tlikeit,andIwon\'tgoanyfurther,\'criedhesulkily。Andhismotherhadtopromisehimallsortsofnicethingsbeforehewouldgoonagain。
Whenatlasttheyreachedtheotherside,theowl\'swifeuntiedthelinefromthefrog\'smouthandtoldhimhemightrestandplaybythelaketilltheygotbackfromtheforest。Thensheandhersisterandtheboywalkedon,withthegreatforestloomingbeforethem。Buttheyhadbythistimecomefarandwereverytired,andfeltgladenoughtoseesomesmokecurlingupfromalittlehutinfrontofthem。
\'Letusgoinandaskforsomewater,\'saidtheeagle\'swife;andintheywent。
Theinsideofthehutwassodarkthatatfirsttheycouldseenothingatall;butpresentlytheyheardafeeblecroakfromonecorner。Butsistersturnedtolook,andthere,tiedbywingsandfeet,andtheireyessunken,werethehusbandsthattheysought。Quickaslightningthewivescutthedeer—thongswhichboundthem;butthepoorbirdsweretooweakfrompainandstarvationtodomorethanuttersoftsoundsofjoy。Hardly,however,weretheysetfree,thanavoiceofthundermadethetwosistersjump,whilethelittleboyclungtightlyroundhismother\'sneck。
\'Whatareyoudoinginmyhouse？\'criedshe。Andthewivesansweredboldlythatnowtheyhadfoundtheirhusbandstheymeanttosavethemfromsuchawickedwitch。
\'Well,Iwillgiveyouyourchance,\'answeredtheogress,withahideousgrin;\'wewillseeifyoucanslidedownthismountain。Ifyoucanreachthebottomofthecavern,youshallhaveyourhusbandsbackagain。\'Andasshespokeshepushedthembeforeheroutofthedoortotheedgeofaprecipice,whichwentstraightdownseveralhundredsoffeet。Unseenbythewitch,thefrog\'smotherfastenedoneendofthemagiclineabouther,andwhisperedtothelittleboytoholdfasttheother。Shehadscarcelydonesowhenthewitchturnedround。
\'Youdon\'tseemtolikeyourbargain,\'saidshe;butthegirlanswered:
\'Oh,yes,Iamquiteready。Iwasonlywaitingforyou！\'Andsittingdownshebeganherslide。On,on,shewent,downtosuchadepththateventhewitch\'seyescouldnotfollowher;butshetookforgrantedthatthewomanwasdead,andtoldthesistertotakeherplace。Atthatinstant,however,theheadoftheelderappearedabovetherock,broughtupwardsbythemagicline。Thewitchgaveahowlofdisgust,andhidherfaceinherhands;thusgivingtheyoungersistertimetofastenthecordtoherwaistbeforetheogresslookedup。
\'Youcan\'texpectsuchlucktwice,\'shesaid;andthegirlsatdownandslidovertheedge。Butinafewminutesshetoowasbackagain,andthewitchsawthatshehadfailed,andfearedlestherpowerwasgoing。
Tremblingwithragethoughshewas,shedarednotshowit,andonlylaughedhideously。
\'Isha\'n\'tletmyprisonersgoaseasilyasallthat！\'shesaid。\'Makemyhairgrowasthickandasblackasyours,orelseyourhusbandsshallneverseedaylightagain。\'
\'Thatisquitesimple,\'repliedtheeldersister;\'onlyyoumustdoaswedid——andperhapsyouwon\'tlikethetreatment。\'
\'Ifyoucanbearit,ofcourseIcan,\'answeredthewitch。Andsothegirlstoldhertheyhadfirstsmearedtheirheadswithpitchandthenlaidhotstonesuponthem。
\'Itisverypainful,\'saidthey,\'butthereisnootherwaythatweknowof。Andinordertomakesurethatallwillgoright,oneofuswillholdyoudownwhiletheotherpoursonthepitch。\'
Andsotheydid;andtheeldersisterletdownherhairtillithungoverthewitch\'seyes,sothatshemightbelieveitwasherownhairgrowing。Thentheotherbroughtahugestone,and,inshort,therewasanendofthewitch。Thesistersweresavageswhohadneverseenamissionary。
Sowhenthesisterssawthatshewasdeadtheywenttothehut,andnursedtheirhusbandstilltheygrewstrong。Thentheypickedupthefrog,andallwenttomakeanotherhomeontheothersideofthegreatlake。
[FromtheJournaloftheAnthropologicalInstitute。]
TheFrogandtheLionFairyOnceuponatimetherelivedakingwhowasalwaysatwarwithhisneighbours,whichwasverystrange,ashewasagoodandkindman,quitecontentwithhisowncountry,andnotwantingtoseizelandbelongingtootherpeople。Perhapshemayhavetriedtoomuchtopleaseeverybody,andthatoftenendsinpleasingnobody;but,atanyrate,hefoundhimself,attheendofahardstruggle,defeatedinbattle,andobligedtofallbackbehindthewallsofhiscapitalcity。
Oncethere,hebegantomakepreparationsforalongsiege,andthefirstthinghedidwastoplanhowbesttosendhiswifetoaplaceofsecurity。
Thequeen,wholovedherhusbanddearly,wouldgladlyhaveremainedwithhimtosharehisdangers,buthewouldnotallowit。Sotheyparted,withmanytears,andthequeensetoutwithastrongguardtoafortifiedcastleontheoutskirtsofagreatforest,sometwohundredmilesdistant。Shecriednearlyalltheway,andwhenshearrivedshecriedstillmore,foreverythinginthecastlewasdustyandold,andoutsidetherewasonlyagravelledcourtyard,andthekinghadforbiddenhertogobeyondthewallswithoutatleasttwosoldierstotakecareofher。
Nowthequeenhadonlybeenmarriedafewmonths,andinherownhomeshehadbeenusedtowalkandridealloverthehillswithoutanyattendantsatall;soshefeltverydullatherbeingshutupinthisway。However,sheboreitforalongwhilebecauseitwastheking\'swish,butwhentimepassedandtherewerenosignsofthewardriftinginthedirectionofthecastle,shegrewbolder,andsometimesstrayedoutsidethewalls,inthedirectionoftheforest。
Thencameadreadfulperiod,whennewsfromthekingceasedentirely。
\'Hemustsurelybeillordead,\'thoughtthepoorgirl,whoevennowwasonlysixteen。\'Icanbearitnolonger,andifIdonotgetaletterfromhimsoonIshallleavethishorribleplaceandgobacktoseewhatisthematter。Oh！IdowishIhadnevercomeaway！\'
So,withouttellinganyonewhatsheintendedtodo,sheorderedalittlelowcarriagetobebuilt,somethinglikeasledge,onlyitwasontwowheels——justbigenoughtoholdoneperson。
\'Iamtiredofbeingalwaysinthecastle,\'shesaidtoherattendants;
\'andImeantohuntalittle。Quitecloseby,ofcourse,\'sheadded,seeingtheanxiouslookontheirfaces。\'Andthereisnoreasonthatyoushouldnothunttoo。\'
Allthefacesbrightenedatthat,for,totellthetruth,theywerenearlyasdullastheirmistress;sothequeenhadherway,andtwobeautifulhorseswerebroughtfromthestabletodrawthelittlechariot。Atfirstthequeentookcaretokeepneartherestofthehunt,butgraduallyshestayedawaylongerandlonger,andatlast,onemorning,shetookadvantageoftheappearanceofawildboar,afterwhichherwholecourtinstantlygalloped,toturnintoapathintheoppositedirection。
Unluckily,itdidnothappentoleadtowardstheking\'spalace,wheresheintendedtogo,butshewassoafraidherflightwouldbenoticedthatshewhippedupherhorsestilltheyranaway。
Whensheunderstoodwhatwashappeningthepooryoungqueenwasterriblyfrightened,and,droppingthereins,clungtothesideofthechariot。Thehorses,thusleftwithoutanycontrol,dashedblindlyagainstatree,andthequeenwasflungoutontheground,whereshelayforsomeminutesunconscious。
Arustlingsoundnearheratlengthcausedhertoopenhereyes;beforeherstoodahugewoman,almostagiantess,withoutanyclothessavealion\'sskin,whichwasthrownoverhershoulders,whileadriedsnake\'sskinwasplaitedintoherhair。Inonehandsheheldaclubonwhichsheleaned,andintheotheraquiverfullofarrows。
Atthesightofthisstrangefigurethequeenthoughtshemustbedead,andgazingonaninhabitantofanotherworld。Soshemurmuredsoftlytoherself:
\'Iamnotsurprisedthatpeoplearesolothtodiewhentheyknowthattheywillseesuchhorriblecreatures。\'But,lowasshespoke,thegiantesscaughtthewords,andbegantolaugh。
\'Oh,don\'tbeafraid;youarestillalive,andperhaps,afterall,youmaybesorryforit。IamtheLionFairy,andyouaregoingtospendtherestofyourdayswithmeinmypalace,whichisquitenearthis。
Socomealong。\'Butthequeenshrankbackinhorror。
\'Oh,MadamLion,takemeback,Iprayyou,tomycastle;andfixwhatransomyoulike,formyhusbandwillpayit,whateveritis。Butthegiantessshookherhead。
\'Iamrichenoughalready,\'sheanswered,\'butIamoftendull,andI
thinkyoumayamusemealittle。\'And,sosaying,shechangedhershapeintothatofalion,andthrowingthequeenacrossherback,shewentdownthetenthousandstepsthatledtoherpalace。Thelionhadreachedthecentreoftheearthbeforeshestoppedinfrontofahouse,lightedwithlamps,andbuiltontheedgeofalakeofquicksilver。Inthislakevarioushugemonstersmightbeseenplayingorfighting——thequeendidnotknowwhich——andaroundflewrooksandravens,utteringdismalcroaks。Inthedistancewasamountaindownwhosesideswatersslowlycoursed——thesewerethetearsofunhappylovers——andnearerthegateweretreeswithouteitherfruitofflowers,whilenettlesandbramblescoveredtheground。Ifthecastlehadbeengloomy,whatdidthequeenfeelaboutthis？
Forsomedaysthequeenwassomuchshakenbyallshehadgonethroughthatshelaywithhereyesclosed,unableeithertomoveorspeak。
Whenshegotbetter,theLionFairytoldherthatifshelikedshecouldbuildherselfacabin,asshewouldhavetospendherlifeinthatplace。Atthesewordsthequeenburstintotears,andimploredhergaolertoputhertodeathratherthancondemnhertosuchalife;
buttheLionFairyonlylaughed,andcounselledhertotrytomakeherselfpleasant,asmanyworsethingsmightbefallher。
\'IstherenowayinwhichIcantouchyourheart？\'askedthepoorgirlindespair。
\'Well,ifyoureallywishtopleasemeyouwillmakemeapastyoutofthestingsofbees,andbesureitisgood。\'
\'ButIdon\'tseeanybees,\'answeredthequeen,lookinground。
\'Oh,no,therearen\'tany,\'repliedhertormentor;\'butyouwillhavetofindthemallthesame。\'And,sosaying,shewentaway。
\'Afterall,whatdoesitmatter？\'thoughtthequeentoherself,\'Ihaveonlyonelife,andIcanbutloseit。\'Andnotcaringwhatshedid,sheleftthepalaceandseatingherselfunderayewtree,pouredoutallhergrief。
\'Oh,mydearhusband,\'weptshe,\'whatwillyouthinkwhenyoucometothecastletofetchmeandfindmegone？RatherathousandtimesthatyoushouldfancymedeadthanimaginethatIhadforgottenyou！Ah,howfortunatethatthebrokenchariotshouldbelyinginthewood,forthenyoumaygrieveformeasonedevouredbywildbeasts。Andifanothershouldtakemyplaceinyourheart——Well,atleastIshallneverknowit。\'
Shemighthavecontinuedforlonginthisfashionhadnotthevoiceofacrowdirectlyoverheadattractedherattention。Lookinguptoseewhatwasthemattershebeheld,inthedimlight,acrowholdingafatfroginhisclaws,whichheevidentlyintendedforhissupper。Thequeenrosehastilyfromtheseat,andstrikingthebirdsharplyontheclawswiththefanwhichhungfromherside,sheforcedhimtodropthefrog,whichfelltotheroundmoredeadthanalive。Thecrow,furiousathisdisappointment,flewangrilyaway。
Assoonasthefroghadrecoveredhersensesshehoppeduptothequeen,whowasstillsittingundertheyew。Standingonherhindlegs,andbowinglowbeforeher,shesaidgently:
\'Beautifullady,bywhatmischancedoyoucomehere？YouaretheonlycreaturethatIhaveseendoakinddeedsinceafatalcuriosityluredmetothisplace。\'
\'Whatsortofafrogcanyoubethatknowsthelanguageofmortals？\'
askedthequeeninherturn。\'Butifyoudo,tellme,Ipray,ifI
aloneamacaptive,forhithertoIhavebeheldnoonebutthemonstersofthelake。\'
\'Onceuponatimetheyweremenandwomenlikeyourself,\'answeredthefrog,\'buthavingpowerintheirhands,theyuseditfortheirownpleasure。Thereforefatehassentthemhereforawhiletobearthepunishmentoftheirmisdoings。\'
\'Butyou,friendfrog,youarenotoneofthesewickedpeople,Iamsure？\'askedthequeen。
\'Iamhalfafairy,\'repliedthefrog;\'but,althoughIhavecertainmagicgifts,IamnotabletodoallIwish。AndiftheLionFairyweretoknowofmypresenceinherkingdomshewouldhastentokillme。\'
\'Butifyouareafairy,howwasitthatyouweresonearlyslainbythecrow？\'saidthequeen,wrinklingherforehead。
\'Becausethesecretofmypowerliesinmylittlecapthatismadeofroseleaves;butIhadlaiditasideforthemoment,whenthathorriblecrowpounceduponme。OnceitisonmyheadIfearnothing。Butletmerepeat;haditnotbeenforyouIcouldnothaveescapeddeath,andifIcandoanythingtohelpyou,orsoftenyourhardfate,youhaveonlytotellme。\'
\'Alas,\'sighedthequeen,\'IhavebeencommandedbytheLionFairytomakeherapastyoutofthestingsofbees,and,asfarasIcandiscover,therearenonehere;ashowshouldtherebe,seeingtherearenoflowersforthemtofeedon？And,eveniftherewere,howcouldI
catchthem？\'
\'Leaveittome,\'saidthefrog,\'Iwillmanageitforyou。\'And,utteringastrangenoise,shestruckthegroundthricewithherfoot。
Inaninstantsixthousandfrogsappearedbeforeher,oneofthembearingalittlecap。
\'Coveryourselveswithhoney,andhoproundbythebeehives,\'commandedthefrog,puttingonthecapwhichherfriendwasholdinginhermouth。
Andturningtothequeen,headded:
\'TheLionFairykeepsastoreofbeesinasecretplaceneartothebottomofthetenthousandstepsleadingintotheupperworld。Notthatshewantsthemforherself,buttheyaresometimesusefultoherinpunishinghervictims。However,thistimewewillgetthebetterofher。\'
Justasshehadfinishedspeakingthesixthousandfrogsreturned,lookingsostrangewithbeesstickingtoeverypartofthemthat,sadasshefelt,thepoorqueencouldnothelplaughing。Thebeeswereallsostupefiedwithwhattheyhadeatenthatitwaspossibletodrawtheirstingswithouthuntingthem。So,withthehelpofherfriend,thequeensoonmadereadyherpastyandcarriedittotheLionFairy。
\'Notenoughpepper,\'saidthegiantess,gulpingdownlargemorsels,inorderthehidethesurpriseshefelt。\'Well,youhaveescapedthistime,andIamgladtofindIhavegotacompanionalittlemoreintelligentthantheothersIhavetried。Now,youhadbettergoandbuildyourselfahouse。\'
Sothequeenwanderedaway,andpickingupasmallaxewhichlaynearthedoorshebeganwiththehelpofherfriendthefrogtocutdownsomecypresstreesforthepurpose。Andnotcontentwiththatthesixthousandfroggyservantsweretoldtohelpalso,anditwasnotlongbeforetheyhadbuilttheprettiestlittlecabinintheworld,andmadeabedinonecornerofdriedfernswhichtheyfetchedfromthetopofthetenthousandsteps。Itlookedsoftandcomfortable,andthequeenwasverygladtoliedownuponit,sotiredwasshewithallthathadhappenedsincethemorning。Scarcely,however,hadshefallenasleepwhenthelakemonstersbegantomakethemosthorriblenoisesjustoutside,whileasmalldragoncreptinandterrifiedhersothatsheranaway,whichwasjustwhatthedragonwanted！
Thepoorqueencrouchedunderarockfortherestofthenight,andthenextmorning,whenshewokefromhertroubleddreams,shewascheeredatseeingthefrogwatchingbyher。
\'Ihearweshallhavetobuildyouanotherpalace,\'saidshe。\'Well,thistimewewon\'tgosonearthelake。\'Andshesmiledwithherfunnywidemouth,tillthequeentookheart,andtheywenttogethertofindwoodforthenewcabin。
Thetinypalacewassoonready,andafreshbedmadeofwildthyme,whichsmeltdelicious。Neitherthequeennorthefrogsaidanythingaboutit,butsomehow,asalwayshappens,thestorycametotheearsoftheLionFairy,andshesentaraventofetchtheculprit。
\'Whatgodsormenareprotectingyou？\'sheasked,withafrown。\'Thisearth,driedupbyaconstantrainofsulphurandfire,producesnothing,yetIhearthatYOURbedismadeofsweetsmellingherbs。
However,asyoucangetflowersforyourself,ofcourseyoucangetthemforme,andinanhour\'stimeImusthaveinmyroomanosegayoftherarestflowers。Ifnot——！Nowyoucango。\'
Thepoorqueenreturnedtoherhouselookingsosadthatthefrog,whowaswaitingforher,noticeditdirectly。
\'Whatisthematter？\'saidshe,smiling。
\'Oh,howcanyoulaugh！\'repliedthequeen。\'ThistimeIhavetobringherinanhouraposyoftherarestflowers,andwhereamItofindthem？IfIfailIknowshewillkillme。\'
\'Well,ImustseeifIcan\'thelpyou,\'answeredthefrog。\'TheonlypersonIhavemadefriendswithhereisabat。Sheisagoodcreature,andalwaysdoeswhatItellher,soIwilljustlendhermycap,andifsheputsiton,andfliesintotheworld,shewillbringbackallwewant。Iwouldgomyself,onlyshewillbequicker。\'
Thenthequeendriedhereyes,andwaitedpatiently,andlongbeforethehourhadgonebythebatflewinwithallthemostbeautifulandsweetestflowersthatgrewontheearth。Thegirlsprangupoverjoyedatthesight,andhurriedwiththemtotheLionFairy,whowassoastonishedthatforonceshehadnothingtosay。
Nowthesmellandtouchoftheflowershadmadethequeensickwithlongingforherhome,andshetoldthefrogthatshewouldcertainlydieifshedidnotmanagetoescapesomehow。
\'Letmeconsultmycap,\'saidthefrog;andtakingitoffshelaiditinabox,andthrewinafteritafewsprigsofjuniper,somecapers,andtwopeas,whichshecarriedunderherrightleg;shethenshutdownthelidofthebox,andmurmuredsomewordswhichthequeendidnotcatch。
Inafewmomentsavoicewasheardspeakingfromthebox。
\'Fate,whorulesusall,\'saidthevoice,\'forbidsyourleavingthisplacetillthetimeshallcomewhencertainthingsarefulfilled。But,instead,agiftshallbegivenyou,whichwillcomfortyouinallyourtroubles。\'
Andthevoicespoketruly,for,afewdaysafter,whenthefrogpeepedinatthedoorshefoundthemostbeautifulbabyintheworldlyingbythesideofthequeen。
\'Sothecaphaskeptitsword,\'criedthefrogwithdelight。\'Howsoftitscheeksare,andwhattinyfeetithasgot！Whatshallwecallit？\'
Thiswasaveryimportantpoint,andneededmuchdiscussion。A
thousandnameswereproposedandrejectedforathousandsillyreasons。
Onewastoolong,andonewastooshort。Onewastooharsh,andanotherremindedthequeenofsomebodyshedidnotlike;butatlengthanideaflashedintothequeen\'shead,andshecalledout:
\'Iknow！WewillcallherMuffette。\'
\'Thatistheverything,\'shoutedthefrog,jumpinghighintotheair;
andsoitwassettled。
TheprincessMuffettewasaboutsixmonthsoldwhenthefrognoticedthatthequeenhadbeguntogrowsadagain。
\'Whydoyouhavethatlookinyoureyes？\'sheaskedoneday,whenshehadcomeintoplaywiththebaby,whocouldnowcrawl。
ThewaytheyplayedtheirgamewastoletMuffettecreepclosetothefrog,andthenforthefrogtoboundhighintotheairandalightonthechild\'shead,orback,orlegs,whenshealwayssentupashoutofpleasure。Thereisnoplayfellowlikeafrog;butthenitmustbeafairyfrog,orelseyoumighthurtit,andifyoudidsomethingdreadfulmighthappentoyou。Well,asIhavesaid,ourfrogwasstruckwiththequeen\'ssadface,andlostnotimeinaskingherwhatwasthereason。
\'Idon\'tseewhatyouhavetocomplainofnow;Muffetteisquitewellandquitehappy,andeventheLionFairyiskindtoherwhensheseesher。Whatisit？\'
\'Oh！ifherfathercouldonlyseeher！\'brokeforththequeen,claspingherhands。\'OrifIcouldonlytellhimallthathashappenedsinceweparted。Buttheywillhavebroughthimtidingsofthebrokencarriage,andhewillhavethoughtmedead,ordevouredbywildbeasts。Andthoughhewillmournformelong——Iknowthatwell——yetintimetheywillpersuadehimtotakeawife,andshewillbeyoungandfair,andhewillforgetme。\'
Andinallthisthequeenguessedtruly,savethatninelongyearsweretopassbeforehewouldconsenttoputanotherinherplace。
Thefroganswerednothingatthetime,butstoppedhergameandhoppedawayamongthecypresstrees。Hereshesatandthoughtandthought,andthenextmorningshewentbacktothequeenandsaid:
\'Ihavecome,madam,tomakeyouanoffer。ShallIgotothekinginsteadofyou,andtellhimofyoursufferings,andthathehasthemostcharmingbabyintheworldforhisdaughter？Thewayislong,andItravelslowly;but,soonerorlater,Ishallbesuretoarrive。
Only,areyounotafraidtobeleftwithoutmyprotection？Ponderthemattercarefully;itisforyoutodecide。\'
\'Oh,itneedsnopondering,\'criedthequeenjoyfully,holdingupherclaspedhands,andmakingMuffettedolikewise,intokenofgratitude。
ButinorderthathemayknowthatyouhavecomefrommeIwillsendhimaletter。\'Andprickingherarm,shewroteafewwordswithherbloodonthecornerofherhandkerchief。Thentearingitoff,shegaveittothefrog,andtheybadeeachotherfarewell。
Ittookthefrogayearandfourdaystomountthetenthousandstepsthatledtotheupperworld,butthatwasbecauseshewasstillunderthespellofawickedfairy。Bythetimeshereachedthetop,shewassotiredthatshehadtoremainforanotheryearonthebanksofastreamtorest,andalsotoarrangetheprocessionwithwhichshewastopresentherselfbeforetheking。Forsheknewfartoowellwhatwasduetoherselfandherrelations,toappearatCourtasifshewasamerenobody。Atlength,aftermanyconsultationswithhercap,theaffairwassettled,andattheendofthesecondyearafterherpartingwiththequeentheyallsetout。
Firstwalkedherbodyguardofgrasshoppers,followedbyhermaidsofhonour,whowerethosetinygreenfrogsyouseeinthefields,eachonemountedonasnail,andseatedonavelvetsaddle。Nextcamethewater—rats,dressedaspages,andlastlythefrogherself,inalitterbornebyeighttoads,andmadeoftortoiseshell。Hereshecouldlieatherease,withhercaponherhead,foritwasquitelargeandroomy,andcouldeasilyhaveheldtwoeggswhenthefrogwasnotinit。
Thejourneylastedsevenyears,andallthistimethequeensufferedtorturesofhope,thoughMuffettedidherbesttocomforther。Indeed,shewouldmostlikelyhavediedhadnottheLionFairytakenafancythatthechildandhermothershouldgohuntingwithherintheupperworld,and,inspiteofhersorrows,itwasalwaysajoytothequeentoseethesunagain。AsforlittleMuffette,bythetimeshewassevenherarrowsseldommissedtheirmark。So,afterall,theyearsofwaitingpassedmorequicklythanthequeenhaddaredtohope。
Thefrogwasalwayscarefultomaintainherdignity,andnothingwouldhavepersuadedhertoshowherfaceinpublicplaces,orevenalongthehighroad,wheretherewasachanceofmeetinganyone。Butsometimes,whentheprocessionhadtocrossalittlestream,orgooverapieceofmarshyground,orderswouldbegivenforahalt;fineclotheswerethrownoff,bridleswereflungaside,andgrasshoppers,water—rats,eventhefrogherself,spentadelightfulhourortwoplayinginthemud。
Butatlengththeendwasinsight,andthehardshipswereforgotteninthevisionofthetowersoftheking\'spalace;and,onebrightmorning,thecavalcadeenteredthegateswithallthepompandcircumstanceofaroyalembassy。Andsurelynoambassadorhadevercreatedsuchasensation！Doorandwindows,eventheroofsofhouses,werefilledwithpeople,whosecheersreachedtheearsoftheking。However,hehadnotimetoattendtosuchmattersjustthen,as,afternineyears,hehadatlastconsentedtotheentreatiesofhiscourtiers,andwasontheeveofcelebratinghissecondmarriage。
Thefrog\'sheartbeathighwhenherlitterdrewupbeforethestepsofthepalace,andleaningforwardshebeckonedtohersideoneoftheguardswhowerestandinginhisdoorway。
\'IwishtoseehisMajesty,\'saidhe。
\'HisMajestyisengaged,andcanseenoone,\'answeredthesoldier。
\'HisMajestywillseeME,\'returnedthefrog,fixinghereyeuponhim;
andsomehowthemanfoundhimselfleadingtheprocessionalongthegalleryintotheHallofAudience,wherethekingsatsurroundedbyhisnoblesarrangingthedresseswhicheveryonewastowearathismarriageceremony。
Allstaredinsurpriseastheprocessionadvanced,andstillmorewhenthefroggaveoneboundfromthelitterontothefloor,andwithanotherlandedonthearmofthechairofstate。
\'Iamonlyjustintime,sire,\'beganthefrog;\'hadIbeenadaylateryouwouldhavebrokenyourfaithwhichyousworetothequeennineyearsago。\'
\'Herremembrancewillalwaysbedeartome,\'answeredthekinggently,thoughallpresentexpectedhimtorebukethefrogseverelyforherimpertinence。Butknow,LadyFrog,thatakingcanseldomdoashewishes,butmustbeboundbythedesiresofhissubjects。FornineyearsIhaveresistedthem;nowIcandosonolonger,andhavemadechoiceofthefairyoungmaidenplayingatballyonder。\'
\'Youcannotwedher,howeverfairshemaybe,forthequeenyourwifeisstillalive,andsendsyouthisletterwritteninherownblood,\'
saidthefrog,holdingoutthesquareofhandkerchiefasshespoke。
\'And,whatismore,youhaveadaughterwhoisnearlynineyearsold,andmorebeautifulthanalltheotherchildrenintheworldputtogether。\'
Thekingturnedpalewhenheheardthesewords,andhishandtrembledsothathecouldhardlyreadwhatthequeenhadwritten。Thenhekissedthehandkerchieftwiceorthrice,andburstintotears,anditwassomeminutesbeforehecouldspeak。Whenatlengthhefoundhisvoicehetoldhiscouncillorsthatthewritingwasindeedthatofthequeen,andnowthathehadthejoyofknowingshewasalivehecould,ofcourse,proceednofurtherwithhissecondmarriage。Thisnaturallydispleasedtheambassadorswhohadconductedthebridetocourt,andoneoftheminquiredindignantlyifhemeanttoputsuchaninsultontheprincessonthewordofamerefrog。
\'Iamnota\"merefrog,\"andIwillgiveyouproofofit,\'retortedtheangrylittlecreature。Andputtingonhercap,shecried:Fairiesthataremyfriends,comehither！\'Andinamomentacrowdofbeautifulcreatures,eachonewithacrownonherhead,stoodbeforeher。