The Green Fairy Book

A >> Andrew Lang, Ed. >> The Green Fairy Book

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They looked to him exactly like the ones he had left, except that
they moved more slowly still, and each one held a raven upon his
wrist, and their harsh croakings re-echoed through the dismal
place. Holding the Prince by the arms, not so much to do him
honour as to restrain his impatience, they proceeded by slow
degrees up the steps of the Temple, and when they at last reached
the top he thought his long waiting must be at an end. But on the
contrary, after slowly enshrouding him in a long black robe like
their own, they led him into the Temple itself, where he was
forced to witness numbers of lengthy rites and ceremonies. By this
time Vivien's active impatience had subsided into passive
weariness, his yawns were continual and scandalous, but nobody
heeded him, he stared hopelessly at the thick black curtain which
hung down straight in front of him, and could hardly believe his
eyes when it presently began to slide back, and he saw before him
the Black Bird. It was of enormous size, and was perched upon a
thick bar of iron which ran across from one side of the Temple to
the other. At the sight of it all the slaves fell upon their knees
and hid their faces, and when it had three times flapped its
mighty wings it uttered distinctly in Prince Vivien's own language
the words:

'Prince, your only chance of happiness depends upon that which is
most opposed to your own nature.'

Then the curtain fell before it once more, and the Prince, after
many ceremonies, was presented with a raven which perched upon his
wrist, and was conducted slowly back to the iron gate. Here the
raven left him and he was handed over once more to the care of the
first band of slaves, while a large bat flickered down and settled
upon his head of its own accord, and so he was taken back to the
marble bath, and had to go through the whole process again, only
this time he began in deep water which receded daily inch by inch.
When this was over the slaves escorted him to the outer gate, and
took leave of him with every mark of esteem and politeness, to
which it is to be feared he responded but indifferently, since the
gate was no sooner opened than he took to his heels, and fled away
with all his might, his one idea being to put as much space as
possible between himself and the dreary place into which he had
ventured so rashly, just to consult a tedious Oracle who after all
had told him nothing. He actually reflected for about five seconds
on his folly, and came to the conclusion that it might sometimes
be advisable to think before one acted.

After wandering about for several days until he was weary and
hungry, he at last succeeded in finding a way out of the forest,
and soon came to a wide and rapid river, which he followed, hoping
to find some means of crossing it, and it happened that as the sun
rose the next morning he saw something of a dazzling whiteness
moored out in the middle of the stream. Upon looking more
attentively at it he found that it was one of the prettiest little
ships he had ever seen, and the boat that belonged to it was made
fast to the bank quite close to him. The Prince was immediately
seized with the most ardent desire to go on board the ship, and
shouted loudly to attract the notice of her crew, but no one
answered. So he sprang into the little boat and rowed away without
finding it at all hard work, for the boat was made all of white
paper and was as light as a rose leaf. The ship was made of white
paper too, as the Prince presently discovered when he reached it.
He found not a soul on board, but there was a very cosy little bed
in the cabin, and an ample supply of all sorts of good things to
eat and drink, which he made up his mind to enjoy until something
new happened. Having been thoroughly well brought up at the court
of King Gridelin, of course he understood the art of navigation,
but when once he had started, the current carried the vessel down
at such a pace that before he knew where he was the Prince found
himself out at sea, and a wind springing up behind him just at
this moment soon drove him out of sight of land. By this time he
was somewhat alarmed, and did his best to put the ship about and
get back to the river, but wind and tide were too strong for him,
and he began to think of the number of times, from his childhood
up, that he had been warned not to meddle with water. But it was
too late now to do anything but wish vainly that he had stayed on
shore, and to grow heartily weary of the boat and the sea and
everything connected with it. These two things, however, he did
most thoroughly. To put the finishing touch to his misfortunes he
presently found himself becalmed in mid-ocean, a state of affairs
which would be considered trying by the most patient of men, so
you may imagine how it affected Prince Vivien! He even came to
wishing himself back at the Castle of the Black Bird, for there at
least he saw some living beings, whereas on board the white-paper
ship he was absolutely alone, and could not imagine how he was
ever to get away from his wearisome prison. However, after a very
long time, he did see land, and his impatience to be on shore was
so great that he at once flung himself over the ship's side that
he might reach it sooner by swimming. But this was quite useless,
for spring as far as he might from the vessel, it was always under
his feet again before he reached the water, and he had to resign
himself to his fate, and wait with what patience he could muster
until the winds and waves carried the ship into a kind of natural
harbour which ran far into the land. After his long imprisonment
at sea the Prince was delighted with the sight of the great trees
which grew down to the very edge of the water, and leaping lightly
on shore he speedily lost himself in the thick forest. When he had
wandered a long way he stopped to rest beside a clear spring of
water, but scarcely had he thrown himself down upon the mossy bank
when there was a great rustling in the bushes close by, and out
sprang a pretty little gazelle panting and exhausted, which fell
at his feet gasping out--

'Oh! Vivien, save me!'

The Prince in great astonishment leapt to his feet, and had just
time to draw his sword before he found himself face to face with a
large green lion which had been hotly pursuing the poor little
gazelle. Prince Vivien attacked it gallantly and a fierce combat
ensued, which, however, ended before long in the Prince's dealing
his adversary a terrific blow which felled him to the earth. As he
fell the lion whistled loudly three times with such force that the
forest rang again, and the sound must have been heard for more
than two leagues round, after which having apparently nothing more
to do in the world he rolled over on his side and died. The Prince
without paying any further heed to him or to his whistling
returned to the pretty gazelle, saying:

'Well! are you satisfied now? Since you can talk, pray tell me
instantly what all this is about, and how you happen to know my
name.'

'Oh, I must rest for a long time before I can talk,' she replied,
'and beside, I very much doubt if you will have leisure to listen,
for the affair is by no means finished. In fact,' she continued in
the same languid tone, 'you had better look behind you now.'

The Prince turned sharply round and to his horror saw a huge Giant
approaching with mighty strides, crying fiercely--

'Who has made my lion whistle I should like to know?'

'I have,' replied Prince Vivien boldly, 'but I can answer for it
that he will not do it again!'

At these words the Giant began to howl and lament.

'Alas, my poor Tiny, my sweet little pet,' he cried, 'but at least
I can avenge thy death.'

Thereupon he rushed at the Prince, brandishing an immense serpent
which was coiled about his wrist. Vivien, without losing his
coolness, aimed a terrific blow at it with his sword, but no
sooner did he touch the snake than it changed into a Giant and the
Giant into a snake, with such rapidity that the Prince felt
perfectly giddy, and this happened at least half-a-dozen times,
until at last with a fortunate stroke he cut the serpent in
halves, and picking up one morsel flung it with all his force at
the nose of the Giant, who fell insensible on top of the lion, and
in an instant a thick black cloud rolled up which hid them from
view, and when it cleared away they had all disappeared.

Then the Prince, without even waiting to sheathe his sword, rushed
back to the gazelle, crying:

'Now you have had plenty of time to recover your wits, and you
have nothing more to fear, so tell me who you are, and what this
horrible Giant, with his lion and his serpent, have to do with you
and for pity's sake be quick about it.'

'I will tell you with pleasure,' she answered, 'but where is the
hurry? I want you to come back with me to the Green Castle, but I
don't want to walk there, it is so far, and walking is so
fatiguing.'

'Let us set out at once then,' replied the Prince severely, 'or
else really I shall have to leave you where you are. Surely a
young and active gazelle like you ought to be ashamed of not being
able to walk a few steps. The further off this castle is the
faster we ought to walk, but as you don't appear to enjoy that, I
will promise that we will go gently, and we can talk by the way.'

'It would be better still if you would carry me,' said she
sweetly, 'but as I don't like to see people giving themselves
trouble, you may carry me, and make that snail carry you.' So
saying, she pointed languidly with one tiny foot at what the
Prince had taken for a block of stone, but now he saw that it was
a huge snail.

'What! I ride a snail!' cried the Prince; 'you are laughing at me,
and beside we should not get there for a year.'

'Oh! well then don't do it,' replied the gazelle, 'I am quite
willing to stay here. The grass is green, and the water clear. But
if I were you I should take the advice that was given me and ride
the snail.'

So, though it did not please him at all, the Prince took the
gazelle in his arms, and mounted upon the back of the snail, which
glided along very peaceably, entirely declining to be hurried by
frequent blows from the Prince's heels. In vain did the gazelle
represent to him that she was enjoying herself very much, and that
this was the easiest mode of conveyance she had ever discovered.
Prince Vivien was wild with impatience, and thought that the Green
Castle would never be reached. However, at last, they did get
there, and everyone who was in it ran to see the Prince dismount
from his singular steed.

But what was his surprise, when having at her request set the
gazelle gently down upon the steps which led up to the castle, he
saw her suddenly change into a charming Princess, and recognized
in her his pretty cousin Placida, who greeted him with her usual
tranquil sweetness. His delight knew no bounds, and he followed
her eagerly up into the castle, impatient to know what strange
events had brought her there. But after all he had to wait for the
Princess's story, for the inhabitants of the Green Lands, hearing
that the Giant was dead, ran to offer the kingdom to his
vanquisher, and Prince Vivien had to listen to various
complimentary harangues, which took a great deal of time, though
he cut them as short as politeness allowed--if not shorter. But at
last he was free to rejoin Placida, who at once began the story of
her adventures.

'After you had gone away,' said she, 'they tried to make me learn
how to govern the kingdom, which wearied me to death, so that I
begged and prayed Lolotte to take me away with her, and this she
presently did, but very reluctantly. However, having been
transported to her grotto upon my favourite couch, I spent several
delicious days, soothed by the soft green light, which was like a
beech wood in the spring, and by the murmuring of bees and the
tinkle of falling water. But alas! Lolotte was forced to go away
to a general assembly of the Fairies, and she came back in great
dismay, telling me that her indulgence to me had cost her dear,
for she had been severely reprimanded and ordered to hand me over
to the Fairy Mirlifiche, who was already taking charge of you, and
who had been much commended for her management of you.'

'Fine management, indeed,' interrupted the Prince, 'if it is to
her I owe all the adventures I have met with! But go on with your
story, my cousin. I can tell you all about my doings afterwards,
and then you can judge for yourself.'

'At first I was grieved to see Lolotte cry,' resumed the Princess,
'but I soon found that grieving was very troublesome, so I thought
it better to be calm, and very soon afterwards I saw the Fairy
Mirlifiche arrive, mounted upon her great unicorn. She stopped
before the grotto and bade Lolotte bring me out to her, at which
she cried worse than ever, and kissed me a dozen times, but she
dared not refuse. I was lifted up on to the unicorn, behind
Mirlifiche, who said to me--

'"Hold on tight, little girl, if you don't want to break your
neck."

'And, indeed, I had to hold on with all my might, for her horrible
steed trotted so violently that it positively took my breath away.
However, at last we stopped at a large farm, and the farmer and
his wife ran out as soon as they saw the Fairy, and helped us to
dismount.

'I knew that they were really a King and Queen, whom the Fairies
were punishing for their ignorance and idleness. You may imagine
that I was by this time half dead with fatigue, but Mirlifiche
insisted upon my feeding her unicorn before I did anything else.
To accomplish this I had to climb up a long ladder into the
hayloft, and bring down, one after another, twenty-four handfuls
of hay. Never, never before, did I have such a wearisome task! It
makes me shudder to think of it now, and that was not all. In the
same way I had to carry the twenty-four handfuls of hay to the
stable, and then it was supper time, and I had to wait upon all
the others. After that I really thought I should be allowed to go
peaceably to my little bed, but, oh dear no! First of all I had to
make it, for it was all in confusion, and then I had to make one
for the Fairy, and tuck her in, and draw the curtains round her,
beside rendering her a dozen little services which I was not at
all accustomed to. Finally, when I was perfectly exhausted by all
this toil, I was free to go to bed myself, but as I had never
before undressed myself, and really did not know how to begin, I
lay down as I was. Unfortunately, the Fairy found this out, and
just as I was falling into a sweet slumber, she made me get up
once more, but even then I managed to escape her vigilance, and
only took off my upper robe. Indeed, I may tell you in confidence,
that I always find disobedience answer very well. One is often
scolded, it is true, but then one has been saved some trouble.

'At the earliest dawn of day Mirlifiche woke me, and made me take
many journeys to the stable to bring her word how her unicorn had
slept, and how much hay he had eaten, and then to find out what
time it was, and if it was a fine day. I was so slow, and did my
errands so badly, that before she left she called the King and
Queen and said to them:

'"I am much more pleased with you this year. Continue to make the
best of your farm, if you wish to get back to your kingdom, and
also take care of this little Princess for me, and teach her to be
useful, that when I come I may find her cured of her faults. If
she is not--"

'Here she broke off with a significant look, and mounting my enemy
the unicorn, speedily disappeared.

'Then the King and Queen, turning to me, asked me what I could do.

'"Nothing at all, I assure you," I replied in a tone which really
ought to have convinced them, but they went on to describe various
employments, and tried to discover which of them would be most to
my taste. However, at last I persuaded them that to do nothing
whatever would be the only thing that would suit me, and that if
they really wanted to be kind to me, they would let me go to bed
and to sleep, and not tease me about doing anything. To my great
joy, they not only permitted this, but actually, when they had
their own meals, the Queen brought my portion up to me. But early
the next morning she appeared at my bedside, saying, with an
apologetic air:

'"My pretty child, I am afraid you must really make up your mind
to get up to-day. I know quite well how delightful it is to be
thoroughly idle, for when my husband and I were King and Queen we
did nothing at all from morning to night, and I sincerely hope
that it will not be long before those happy days will come again
for us. But at present we have not reached them, nor have you, and
you know from what the Fairy said that perhaps worse things may
happen to us if she is not obeyed. Make haste, I beg of you, and
come down to breakfast, for I have put by some delicious cream for
you."

'It was really very tiresome, but as there was no help for it I
went down!

'But the instant breakfast was over they began again their cuckoo-
cry of "What will you do?" In vain did I answer--

'"Nothing at all, if it please you, madam."

'The Queen at last gave me a spindle and about four pounds of hemp
upon a distaff, and sent me out to keep the sheep, assuring me
that there could not be a pleasanter occupation, and that I could
take my ease as much as I pleased. I was forced to set out, very
unwillingly, as you may imagine, but I had not walked far before I
came to a shady bank in what seemed to me a charming place. I
stretched myself cosily upon the soft grass, and with the bundle
of hemp for a pillow slept as tranquilly as if there were no such
things as sheep in the world, while they for their part wandered
hither and thither at their own sweet will, as if there were no
such thing as a shepherdess, invading every field, and browsing
upon every kind of forbidden dainty, until the peasants, alarmed
by the havoc they were making, raised a clamour, which at last
reached the ears of the King and Queen, who ran out, and seeing
the cause of the commotion, hastily collected their flock. And,
indeed, the sooner the better, since they had to pay for all the
damage they had done. As for me I lay still and watched them run,
for I was very comfortable, and there I might be still if they had
not come up, all panting and breathless, and compelled me to get
up and follow them; they also reproached me bitterly, but I need
hardly tell you that they did not again entrust me with the flock.

'But whatever they found for me to do it was always the same
thing, I spoilt and mismanaged it all, and was so successful in
provoking even the most patient people, that one day I ran away
from the farm, for I was really afraid the Queen would be obliged
to beat me. When I came to the little river in which the King used
to fish, I found the boat tied to a tree, and stepping in I
unfastened it, and floated gently down with the current. The
gliding of the boat was so soothing that I did not trouble myself
in the least when the Queen caught sight of me and ran along the
bank, crying--

'"My boat, my boat! Husband, come and catch the little Princess
who is running away with my boat!"

'The current soon carried me out of hearing of her cries, and I
dreamed to the song of the ripples and the whisper of the trees,
until the boat suddenly stopped, and I found it was stuck fast
beside a fresh green meadow, and that the sun was rising. In the
distance I saw some little houses which seemed to be built in a
most singular fashion, but as I was by this time very hungry I set
out towards them, but before I had walked many steps, I saw that
the air was full of shining objects which seemed to be fixed, and
yet I could not see what they hung from.

'I went nearer, and saw a silken cord hanging down to the ground,
and pulled it just because it was so close to my hand. Instantly
the whole meadow resounded to the melodious chiming of a peal of
silver bells, and they sounded so pretty that I sat down to
listen, and to watch them as they swung shining in the sunbeams.
Before they ceased to sound, came a great flight of birds, and
each one perching upon a bell added its charming song to the
concert. As they ended, I looked up and saw a tall and stately
dame advancing towards me, surrounded and followed by a vast flock
of every kind of bird.

'"Who are you, little girl," said she, "who dares to come where I
allow no mortal to live, lest my birds should be disturbed? Still,
if you are clever at anything," she added, "I might be able to put
up with your presence."

'"Madam," I answered, rising, "you may be very sure that I shall
not do anything to alarm your birds. I only beg you, for pity's
sake, to give me something to eat."

'"I will do that," she replied, "before I send you where you
deserve to go."

'And thereupon she despatched six jays, who were her pages, to
fetch me all sorts of biscuits, while some of the other birds
brought ripe fruits. In fact, I had a delicious breakfast, though
I do not like to be waited upon so quickly. It is so disagreeable
to be hurried. I began to think I should like very well to stay in
this pleasant country, and I said so to the stately lady, but she
answered with the greatest disdain:

'"Do you think I would keep you here? _You_! Why what do you
suppose would be the good of you in this country, where everybody
is wide-awake and busy? No, no, I have shown you all the
hospitality you will get from me."

'With these words she turned and gave a vigorous pull to the
silken rope which I mentioned before, but instead of a melodious
chime, there arose a hideous clanging which quite terrified me,
and in an instant a huge Black Bird appeared, which alighted at
the Fairy's feet, saying in a frightful voice--

'"What do you want of me, my sister?"

'"I wish you to take this little Princess to my cousin, the Giant
of the Green Castle, at once," she replied, "and beg him from me
to make her work day and night upon his beautiful tapestry."

'At these words the great Bird snatched me up, regardless of my
cries, and flew off at a terrific pace--'

'Oh! you are joking, cousin,' interrupted Prince Vivien; 'you mean
as slowly as possible. I know that horrible Black Bird, and the
lengthiness of all his proceedings and surroundings.'

'Have it your own way,' replied Placida, tranquilly. 'I cannot
bear arguing. Perhaps, this was not even the same bird. At any
rate, he carried me off at a prodigious speed, and set me gently
down in this very castle of which you are now the master. We
entered by one of the windows, and when the Bird had handed me
over to the Giant from whom you have been good enough to deliver
me, and given the Fairy's message, it departed.

'Then the Giant turned to me, saying,

'"So you are an idler! Ah! well, we must teach you to work. You
won't be the first we have cured of laziness. See how busy all my
guests are."

'I looked up as he spoke, and saw that an immense gallery ran all
round the hall, in which were tapestry frames, spindles, skeins of
wool, patterns, and all necessary things. Before each frame about
a dozen people were sitting, hard at work, at which terrible sight
I fainted away, and as soon as I recovered they began to ask me
what I could do.

'It was in vain that I replied as before, and with the strongest
desire to be taken at my word, "Nothing at all."

'The Giant only said,

'"Then you must learn to do something; in this world there is
enough work for everybody."

'It appeared that they were working into the tapestry all the
stories the Fairies liked best, and they began to try and teach me
to help them, but from the first class, where they tried me to
begin with, I sank lower and lower, and not even the most simple
stitches could I learn.

'In vain they punished me by all the usual methods. In vain the
Giant showed me his menagerie, which was entirely composed of
children who would not work! Nothing did me any good, and at last
I was reduced to drawing water for the dyeing of the wools, and
even over that I was so slow that this morning the Giant flew into
a rage and changed me into a gazelle. He was just putting me into
the menagerie when I happened to catch sight of a dog, and was
seized with such terror that I fled away at my utmost speed, and
escaped through the outer court of the castle. The Giant, fearing
that I should be lost altogether, sent his green lion after me,
with orders to bring me back, cost what it might, and I should
certainly have let myself be caught, or eaten up, or anything,
rather than run any further, if I had not luckily met you by the
fountain. And oh!' concluded the Princess, 'how delightful it is
once more to be able to sit still in peace. I was so tired of
trying to learn things.'

Prince Vivien said that, for his part, he had been kept a great
deal too still, and had not found it at all amusing, and then he
recounted all his adventures with breathless rapidity. How he had
taken shelter with Dame Patience, and consulted the Oracle, and
voyaged in the paper ship. Then they went hand in hand to release
all the prisoners in the castle, and all the Princes and
Princesses who were in cages in the menagerie, for the instant the
Green Giant was dead they had resumed their natural forms. As you
may imagine, they were all very grateful, and Princess Placida
entreated them never, never to do another stitch of work so long
as they lived, and they promptly made a great bonfire in the
courtyard, and solemnly burnt all the embroidery frames and
spinning wheels. Then the Princess gave them splendid presents, or
rather sat by while Prince Vivien gave them, and there were great
rejoicings in the Green Castle, and everyone did his best to
please the Prince and Princess. But with all their good
intentions, they often made mistakes, for Vivien and Placida were
never of one mind about their plans, so it was very confusing, and
they frequently found themselves obeying the Prince's orders,
very, very slowly, and rushing off with lightning speed to do
something that the Princess did not wish to have done at all,
until, by-and-by, the two cousins took to consulting with, and
consoling one another in all these little vexations, and at last
came to be so fond of each other that for Placida's sake Vivien
became quite patient, and for Vivien's sake Placida made the most
unheard-of exertions. But now the Fairies who had been watching
all these proceedings with interest, thought it was time to
interfere, and ascertain by further trials if this improvement was
likely to continue, and if they really loved one another. So they
caused Placida to seem to have a violent fever, and Vivien to
languish and grow dull, and made each of them very uneasy about
the other, and then, finding a moment when they were apart, the
Fairy Mirlifiche suddenly appeared to Placida, and said--

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