“You have rescued me from a dreadful fate,” it said. The raven perched on a tree near by and croaked its gratitude: In a moment more the eagle would have overtaken the raven, had not Charming aimed his arrow in time and killed the pursuer. Some day I may repay you.” Naturally, he was greatly surprised at so much politeness from a fish.Ī few days later, while riding along his way, he saw a raven pursued by an eagle. “Thank you, Charming, for saving my life. It sank out of sight, but presently returned to the surface long enough to say: It panted helplessly, and would have died had he not taken pity on it and thrown it back into the river. Not far from where he sat, a golden carp was springing from the water to catch flies, and a bound too high landed it on the grass at Charming’s feet. He took from his pocket a little book, in which he jotted down some happy thoughts that he meant to use in his plea to the Princess. One day when he had ridden a great distance, he dismounted and sat down under a tree that grew beside a river. The King was delighted and offered him a splendid escort, but he asked only for a good horse.Įarly the next day he set forth, with a resolute heart and the King’s letter to the Princess. “Do you think,” asked the King, “that she could be persuaded to change her mind?”Ĭharming replied that he was at the King’s service and willing to undertake the task of winning the Princess for him. While at supper that night, he confided to him that he was as much in love with Goldilocks as ever, and could not be satisfied to accept her answer. The King at once saw that he had been deceived, and restored Charming to favour. Could the Princess see you as my tongue would picture you, I would not return without her.” “True, Sire, I did say that had I been sent to persuade her, I would not have failed with my words. The King told him of the boast his enemies had repeated. His old favorite sadly knelt and kissed his hand, saying: “I am the King’s most faithful subject what have I done to displease him?” Then, in spite of the protests of Charming’s enemies, the King ordered the tower-door opened and Charming brought forth. One day the King happened to be passing the tower and heard him exclaim: In this miserable state he languished for some time, not knowing why he had been imprisoned. The boastful words so offended the King that he ordered Charming to be shut up in the tower, where he had only straw to lie on and bread and water to eat. “He thinks himself so handsome that the Princess could not have resisted him, although she refused his King,” they told his Majesty. His enemies at once went to the King and used the remark to influence him against Charming. One day Charming rashly remarked that if the King had sent him for the Princess, she would have come back with him. Every one loved him, except some who were envious because he was the King’s favorite. Now at the King’s court was a young man so handsome and clever that he was called Charming. When the ambassador returned without the Princess, every one blamed him for his failure and the King’s disappointment was so great that no one could console him. The Princess, however, did not favor the King’s suit, and sent back his gifts with a polite refusal.
With great ceremony, he presented the King’s gifts of pearls and diamonds, together with his message. The ambassador arrived at the palace of the Princess with a hundred horses and as many servants. He sent an ambassador to ask her hand in marriage and so confident was he that the Princess would return with him, that he made every preparation to receive her. The fame of her beauty reached a young King, who determined to marry her, although he had never seen her. She always wore a crown of flowers, and her dresses were embroidered with pearls and diamonds. Her hair fell about her shoulders in waving masses, and because it was the color of gold, she was called Pretty Goldilocks. T HERE was once a Princess so lovely that no one could see her without loving her.
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