The Fairy Tales of Charles Perrault 11

The Fairy Tales of Charles Perrault 11

The Princess had so little wit, and, at the same time, so great a

longing to have some, that she imagined the end of that year would

never be; therefore she accepted the proposal which was made her. She

had no sooner promised Riquet with the Tuft that she would marry him

on that day twelvemonth, than she found herself quite otherwise than

she was before; she had an incredible facility of speaking whatever

she pleased, after a polite, easy, and natural manner; she began that

moment a very gallant conversation with Riquet with the Tuft, wherein

she tattled at such a rate, that Riquet with the Tuft believed he had

given her more wit than he had reserved for himself.

 

When she returned to the palace, the whole Court knew not what to

think of such a sudden and extraordinary change; for they heard from

her now as much sensible discourse, and as many infinitely witty

turns, as they had stupid and silly impertinences before. The whole

Court was overjoyed at it beyond imagination; it pleased all but her

younger sister; because having no longer the advantage of her in

respect of wit, she appeared, in comparison of her, a very

disagreeable, homely puss. The King governed himself by her advice,

and would even sometimes hold a council in her apartment. The noise of

this change spreading every where, all the young Princes of the

neighbouring kingdoms strove all they could to gain her favour, and

almost all of them asked her in marriage; but she found not one of

them had wit enough for her, and she gave them all a hearing, but

would not engage herself to any.

 

However, there came one so powerful, rich, witty and handsome, that

she could not help having a good inclination for him. Her father

perceived it, and told her that she was her own mistress as to the

choice of a husband, and that she might declare her intentions. As the

more wit we have, the greater difficulty we find to make a firm

resolution upon such affairs, this made her desire her father, after

having thanked him, to give her time to consider of it.

 

She went accidentally to walk in the same wood where she met Riquet

with the Tuft, to think, the more conveniently, what she ought to do.

While she was walking in a profound meditation, she heard a confused

noise under her feet, as it were of a great many people who went

backwards and forwards, and were very busy. Having listened more

attentively, she heard one say:

 

"Bring me that pot"; another "Give me that kettle"; and a third, "Put

some wood upon the fire."

 

The ground at the same time opened, and she seemingly saw under her

feet, a great kitchen full of cooks, scullions, and all sorts of

servants necessary for a magnificent entertainment. There came out of

it a company of roasters, to the number of twenty, or thirty, who went

to plant themselves in a fine alley of wood, about a very long table,

with their larding pins in their hands, and skewers in their caps,

who began to work, keeping time, to the tune of a very harmonious

song.

 

The Princess, all astonished at this sight, asked them who they worked

for.

 

"For Prince Riquet with the Tuft," said the chief of them, "who is to

be married to-morrow."

 

The Princess was more surprised than ever, and recollecting that it

was now that day twelvemonth on which she had promised to marry Riquet

with the Tuft, she was like to sink into the ground.

 

What made her forget this was that, when she made this promise, she

was very silly, and having obtained that vast stock of wit which the

Prince had bestowed on her, she had intirely forgot her stupidity. She

continued walking, but had not taken thirty steps before Riquet with

the Tuft presented himself to her, bravely and most magnificently

dressed, like a Prince who was going to be married.

 

"You see, Madam," said he, "I am very exact in keeping my word, and

doubt not, in the least, but you are come hither to perform yours, and

to make me, by giving me your hand, the happiest of men."

 

"I shall freely own to you," answered the Princess, "that I have not

yet taken any resolution on this affair, and believe I never shall

take such a one as you desire."

 

"You astonish me, Madam," said Riquet with the Tuft.

 

"I believe it," said the Princess, "and surely if I had to do with a

clown, or a man of no wit, I should find myself very much at a loss.

'A Princess always observes her word,' would he say to me, 'and you

must marry me, since you promised to do so.' But as he whom I talk to

is the man of the world who is master of the greatest sense and

judgment, I am sure he will hear reason. You know, that when I was but

a fool, I could, notwithstanding, never come to a resolution to marry

you; why will you have me, now I have so much judgment as you gave me,

and which makes me a more difficult person than I was at that time, to

come to such a resolution, which I could not then determine to agree

to? If you sincerely thought to make me your wife, you have been

greatly in the wrong to deprive me of my dull simplicity, and make me

see things much more clearly than I did."

 

"If a man of no wit and sense," replied Riquet with the Tuft, "would

be entitled, as you say, to reproach you for breach of your word, why

will you not let me, Madam, do likewise in a matter wherein all the

happiness of my life is concerned? Is it reasonable that persons of

wit and sense should be in a worse condition than those who have none?

Can you pretend this; you who have so great a share, and desired so

earnestly to have it? But let us come to fact, if you please. Setting

aside my ugliness and deformity, is there any thing in me which

displeases you? Are you dissatisfied with my birth, my wit, humour, or

manners?"

 

[Illustration: "RIQUET WITH THE TUFT APPEARED TO HER THE FINEST PRINCE

UPON EARTH"]

 

"Not at all," answered the Princess; "I love you and respect you in

all that you mention." "If it be so," said Riquet with the Tuft, "I

am like to be happy, since it is in your power to make me the most

lovable of men."

 

"How can that be?" said the Princess.

 

"It will come about," said Riquet with the Tuft; "if you love me

enough to wish it to be so; and that you may no ways doubt, Madam, of

what I say, know that the same Fairy, who, on my birth-day, gave me

for gift the power of making the person who should please me extremely

witty and judicious, has, in like manner, given you for gift the power

of making him, whom you love, and would grant that favour to,

extremely handsome."

 

"If it be so," said the Princess, "I wish, with all my heart, that you

may be the most lovable Prince in the world, and I bestow it on you,

as much as I am able."

 

The Princess had no sooner pronounced these words, but Riquet with the

Tuft appeared to her the finest Prince upon earth; the handsomest and

most amiable man she ever saw. Some affirm that it was not the

enchantments of the Fairy which worked this change, but that love

alone caused the metamorphosis. They say, that the Princess, having

made due reflection on the perseverance of her lover, his discretion,

and all the good qualities of his mind, his wit and judgment, saw no

longer the deformity of his body, nor the ugliness of his face; that

his hump seemed to her no more than the homely air of one who has a

broad back; and that whereas till then she saw him limp horribly, she

found it nothing more than a certain sidling air, which charmed her.

They say farther, that his eyes, which were very squinting, seemed to

her all the more bright and sparkling; that their irregularity passed

in her judgment for a mark of a violent excess of love; and, in short,

that his great red nose had, in her opinion, somewhat of the martial

and heroic.

 

Howsoever it was, the Princess promised immediately to marry him, on

condition he obtained her father's consent. The King being acquainted

that his daughter had abundance of esteem for Riquet with the Tuft,

whom he knew otherwise for a most sage and judicious Prince, received

him for his son-in-law with pleasure; and the next morning their

nuptials were celebrated, as Riquet with the Tuft had foreseen, and

according to the orders he had a long time before given.

 

[Illustration]

 

 

_The Moral_

 

_What in this little Tale we find,

Is less a fable than real truth.

In those we love appear rare gifts of mind,

And body too: wit, judgment, beauty, youth._

 

 

_Another_

 

_A countenance whereon, by natures hand,

Beauty is trac'd, also the lively stain

Of such complexion art can ne'er attain,

With all these gifts hath not so much command

On hearts, as hath one secret charm alone.

Love finds that out, to all besides unknown._

 

 

 

 

_Little Thumb_

 

[Illustration]

 

[Illustration: "LITTLE THUMB WAS AS GOOD AS HIS WORD, AND RETURNED

THAT SAME NIGHT WITH THE NEWS" (_page_ 123)]

 

 

Little Thumb

 

 

There was, once upon a time, a man and his wife, faggot-makers by

trade, who had seven children, all boys. The eldest was but ten years

old, and the youngest only seven. One might wonder how that the

faggot-maker could have so many children in so little a time; but it

was because his wife went nimbly about her business and never brought

fewer than two at a birth. They were very poor, and their seven

children incommoded them greatly, because not one of them was able to

earn his bread. That which gave them yet more uneasiness was, that the

youngest was of a very puny constitution, and scarce ever spake a