🧚 Prince Narcissus and the Princess Potentilla · page 3

The King was greatly annoyed at having to stay and see a visitor at such a time, and pulled off his hunting boots again with many grimaces.114 Meantime the Enchanter was stumping about in the hall, crying:115

‘Where is this King?116 Let him be told that I must see him and his wife also.’117

The King, who was listening at the top of the staircase, thought this was not very polite; however, he took counsel with his favourite huntsman, and, following his advice, presently went down to see what was wanted of him.118 He was struck with astonishment at the sight of the chariot, and was gazing at it, when the Enchanter strode up to him, exclaiming:119

‘Shake hands, Cloverleaf, old fellow!120 Don’t you know me?’121

‘No, I can’t say I do,’ replied the King, somewhat embarrassed.122

‘Why, I am Grumedan, the Enchanter,’ said he, ‘and I am come to make your fortune.123 Let us come in and talk things over a bit.’124

Thereupon he ordered the oxen to go about their business, and they bounded off like stags, and were out of sight in a moment.125 Then, with one blow of his club, he changed the massive chariot into a perfect mountain of gold pieces.126

‘Those are for your lackeys,’ said he to the King, ‘that they may drink my health.’127

Naturally a great scramble ensued, and at last the laughter and shouting awoke the Queen, who rang for her maids to ask the reason of such an unwonted hurry-burly.128 When they said that a visitor was asking for her, and then proceeded each one to tell breathlessly a different tale of wonder, in which she could only distinguish the words, ‘oxen,’ ‘gold,’ ‘club,’ ‘giant,’ ‘lion,’ she thought they were all out of their minds.129 Meanwhile the King was asking the Enchanter to what he was indebted for the honour of this visit, and on his replying that he would not say until the Queen was also present, messenger after messenger was dispatched to her to beg her immediate attendance.130 But Frivola was in a very bad humour at having been so unceremoniously awakened, and declared that she had a pain in her little finger, and that nothing should induce her to come.131

When the Enchanter heard this he insisted that she must come.132

‘Take my club to her Majesty,’ said he, ‘and tell her that if she smells the end of it she will find it wonderfully reviving.’133

So four of the King’s strongest men-at-arms staggered off with it; and after some persuasion the Queen consented to try this novel remedy.134 She had hardly smelt it for an instant when she declared herself to be perfectly restored; but whether that was due to the scent of the wood or to the fact that as soon as she touched it out fell a perfect shower of magnificent jewels, I leave you to decide.135 At any rate, she was now all eagerness to see the mysterious stranger, and hastily throwing on her royal mantle, popped her second-best diamond crown over her night-cap, put a liberal dab of rouge upon each cheek, and holding up her largest fan before her nose--for she was not used to appearing in broad daylight--she went mincing into the great hall.136 The Enchanter waited until the King and Queen had seated themselves upon their throne, and then, taking his place between them, he began solemnly:137

‘My name is Grumedan.138 I am an extremely well-connected Enchanter; my power is immense.139 In spite of all this, the charms of your daughter Potentilla have so fascinated me that I cannot live without her.140 She fancies that she loves a certain contemptible puppy called Narcissus; but I have made very short work with him.141 I really do not care whether you consent to my marriage with your daughter or not, but I am bound to ask your consent, on account of a certain meddling Fairy called Melinette, with whom I have reason for wishing to keep on good terms.’142

The King and Queen were somewhat embarrassed to know what answer to make to this terrible suitor, but at last they asked for time to talk over the matter: since, they said, their subjects might think that the heir to the throne should not be married with as little consideration as a dairymaid.143

‘Oh! take a day or two if you like,’ said the Enchanter; ‘but in the meantime, I am going to send for your daughter.144 Perhaps you will be able to induce her to be reasonable.’145

So saying, he drew out his favourite whistle, and blew one ear-piercing note--whereupon the great lion, who had been dozing in the sunny courtyard, come bounding in on his soft, heavy feet.146 ‘Orion,’ said the Enchanter, ‘go and fetch me the Princess, and bring her here at once.147 Be gentle now!’148

At these words Orion went off at a great pace, and was soon at the other end of the King’s gardens.149 Scattering the guards right and left, he cleared the wall at a bound, and seizing the sleeping Princess, he threw her on to his back, where he kept her by holding her robe in his teeth.150 Then he trotted gently back, and in less than five minutes stood in the great hall before the astonished King and Queen.151

The Enchanter held his club close to the Princess’s charming little nose, whereupon she woke up and shrieked with terror at finding herself in a strange place with the detested Grumedan.152 Frivola, who had stood by, stiff with displeasure at the sight of the lovely Princess, now stepped forward, and with much pretended concern proposed to carry off Potentilla to her own apartments that she might enjoy the quiet she seemed to need.153 Really her one idea was to let the Princess be seen by as few people as possible; so, throwing a veil over her head, she led her away and locked her up securely.154 All this time Prince Narcissus, gloomy and despairing, was kept a prisoner by Melinette in her castle in the air, and in spite of all the splendour by which he was surrounded, and all the pleasures which he might have enjoyed, his one thought was to get back to Potentilla.155 The Fairy, however, left him there, promising to do her very best for him, and commanding all her swallows and butterflies to wait upon him and do his bidding.156 One day, as he paced sadly to and fro, he thought he heard a voice he knew calling to him, and sure enough there was the faithful Philomel, Potentilla’s favourite, who told him all that had passed, and how the sleeping Princess had been carried off by the Lion to the great grief of all her four-footed and feathered subjects, and how, not knowing what to do, he had wandered about until he heard the swallows telling one another of the Prince who was in their airy castle and had come to see if it could be Narcissus.157 The Prince was more distracted than ever, and tried vainly to escape from the castle, by leaping from the roof into the clouds; but every time they caught him, and rolling softly up, brought him back to the place from which he started, so at last he gave up the attempt and waited with desperate patience for the return of Melinette.158 Meanwhile matters were advancing rapidly in the court of King Cloverleaf, for the Queen quite made up her mind that such a beauty as Potentilla must be got out of the way as quickly as possible.159 So she sent for the Enchanter secretly, and after making him promise that he would never turn herself and King Cloverleaf out of their kingdom, and that he would take Potentilla far away, so that never again might she set eyes upon her, she arranged the wedding for the next day but one.160

You may imagine how Potentilla lamented her sad fate, and entreated to be spared.161 All the comfort she could get out of Frivola was, that if she preferred a cup of poison to a rich husband she would certainly provide her with one.162

When, then, the fatal day came the unhappy Potentilla was led into the great hall between the King and Queen, the latter wild with envy at the murmurs of admiration which rose on all sides at the loveliness of the Princess.163 An instant later in came Grumedan by the opposite door.164 His hair stood on end, and he wore a huge bag-purse and a cravat tied in a bow, his mantle was made of a shower of silver coins with a lining of rose colour, and his delight in his own appearance knew no bounds.165 That any Princess could prefer a cup of poison to himself never for an instant occurred to him.166 Nevertheless, that was what did happen, for when Queen Frivola in jest held out the fatal cup to the Princess, she took it eagerly, crying:167

‘Ah! beloved Narcissus, I come to thee!’ and was just raising it to her lips when the window of the great hall burst open, and the Fairy Melinette floated in upon a glowing sunset cloud, followed by the Prince himself:168

All the court looked on in dazzled surprise, while Potentilla, catching sight of her lover, dropped the cup and ran joyfully to meet him.169

The Enchanter’s first thought was to defend himself when he saw Melinette appear, but she slipped round his blind side, and catching him by the eyelashes dragged him off to the ceiling of the hall, where she held him kicking for a while just to give him a lesson, and then touching him with her wand she imprisoned him for a thousand years in a crystal ball which hung from the roof.170 ‘Let this teach you to mind what I tell you another time,’ she remarked severely.171 Then turning to the King and Queen, she begged them to proceed with the wedding, since she had provided a much more suitable bridegroom.172 She also deprived them of their kingdom, for they had really shown themselves unfit to manage it, and bestowed it upon the Prince and Princess, who, though they were unwilling to take it, had no choice but to obey the Fairy.173 However, they took care that the King and Queen were always supplied with everything they could wish for.174

Prince Narcissus and Princess Potentilla lived long and happily, beloved by all their subjects.175 As for the Enchanter, I don’t believe he has been let out yet.176

La Princesse Pimprenella et Le Prince Romarin.177