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016 - The White Cat · Blue Fairy Book

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  Speaker 1: The White Cat of The Blue Fairy Book. This is
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  Speaker 1: a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain.
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  Speaker 1: For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org.
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  Speaker 1: Recording by Scott Mather. The Blue Fairy Book by Andrew
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  Speaker 1: Lang The White Cat. Once upon a time there was
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  Speaker 1: a king who had three sons, who were all so
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  Speaker 1: clever and brave that he began to be afraid that
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  Speaker 1: they would want to reign over the kingdom before he
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  Speaker 1: was dead. Now the king, though he felt that he
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  Speaker 1: was growing old, did not at all wish to give
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  Speaker 1: up the government of his kingdom while he could still
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  Speaker 1: manage it very well. So he thought the best way
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  Speaker 1: to live in peace would be to divert the minds
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  Speaker 1: of his sons by promises, which he could always get
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  Speaker 1: out of when the time came for keeping them. So
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  Speaker 1: he sent for them all, and after speaking to them kindly,
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  Speaker 1: he added, you will quite agree with me, my dear children,
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  Speaker 1: that my great age makes it impossible for me to
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  Speaker 1: look after my affairs of state as carefully as I
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  Speaker 1: once did. I begin to fear that this may affect
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  Speaker 1: the welfare of my subjects. Therefore I wish that one
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  Speaker 1: of you should succeed to my crown. But in return
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  Speaker 1: for such a gift as this, it is only right
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  Speaker 1: that you should do something for me. Now, as I
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  Speaker 1: think of retiring into the country, it seems to me
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  Speaker 1: that a pretty lively, faithful little dog would be very
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  Speaker 1: good company for me. So, without any regard for your ages,
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  Speaker 1: I promise that the one who brings me the most
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  Speaker 1: beautiful little dog shall succeed me at once. The three
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  Speaker 1: princes were greatly surprised by their father's sudden fancy for
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  Speaker 1: a little dog, But as it gave the two younger
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  Speaker 1: ones a chance they would not otherwise have had of
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  Speaker 1: being king, and as the eldest was too polite to
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  Speaker 1: make any objection, they accepted the commission with pleasure. They
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  Speaker 1: bade farewell to the king, who gave them presents of
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  Speaker 1: silver and precious stones, and appointed to meet them at
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  Speaker 1: the same hour in the same place after a year
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  Speaker 1: had passed, to see the little dogs they had brought
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  Speaker 1: for him. Then they went together to a castle which
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  Speaker 1: was about a league from the city, accompanied by all
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  Speaker 1: their particular friends, to whom they gave a grand banquet,
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  Speaker 1: and the three brothers promised to be friends, always to
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  Speaker 1: share whatever good fortune befell them, and not to be
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  Speaker 1: parted by any envy or jealousy. And so they set out,
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  Speaker 1: agreeing to meet at the same castle at the appointed
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  Speaker 1: time to present themselves before the king. Together. Each one
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  Speaker 1: took a different road, and the two eldest met with
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  Speaker 1: many adventures. But it is about the youngest that you
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  Speaker 1: are going to hear. He was young, and gay and handsome,
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  Speaker 1: and knew everything that a prince ought to know. And
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  Speaker 1: as for his courage, there was simply no end to it.
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  Speaker 1: Hardly a day passed without his buying several big and
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  Speaker 1: little greyhounds, mastiffs, spaniels, and lap dogs. As soon as
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  Speaker 1: he had bought a pretty one, he was sure to
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  Speaker 1: see a still prettier, And then he had to get
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  Speaker 1: rid of all the others, and by that one. As
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  Speaker 1: being alone, he found it impossible to take thirty or
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  Speaker 1: forty thousand dogs about with him. He journeyed from day
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  Speaker 1: to day, not knowing where he was going, until at last,
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  Speaker 1: just at nightfall, he reached a great gloomy forest. He
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  Speaker 1: did not know his way, and to make matters worse,
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  Speaker 1: it began to thunder and the rain poured down. He
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  Speaker 1: took the first path he could find, and after walking
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  Speaker 1: for a long time, he fancied he saw a faint
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  Speaker 1: light and began to hope that he was coming to
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  Speaker 1: some cottage where he might find shelter for the night.
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  Speaker 1: At length, guided by the light, he reached the door
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  Speaker 1: of the most splendid castle he could have imagined. This
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  Speaker 1: door was of gold, covered with carbuncles, and it was
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  Speaker 1: the pure red light which shone from them, that had
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  Speaker 1: shown him the way through the forest. The walls were
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  Speaker 1: of the finest porcelain, in all the most delicate colors,
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  Speaker 1: and the prince saw that all the stories he had
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  Speaker 1: ever read were pictured upon them. But as he was
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  Speaker 1: terribly wet and the rain still fell in torrents, he
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  Speaker 1: could not stay to look about any more, but came
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  Speaker 1: back to the golden door. There he saw a deer's
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  Speaker 1: foot hanging by a chain of diamonds, and he began
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  Speaker 1: to wonder who could live in this magnificent castle. They
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  Speaker 1: must feel very secure against robbers, He said to himself,
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  Speaker 1: What is to hinder anyone from cutting off that chain
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  Speaker 1: and digging out those carbuncles, and making himself rich for life.
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  Speaker 1: He pulled the deer's foot, and immediately a silver bell sounded,
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  Speaker 1: and the door flew open. But the prince could see
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  Speaker 1: nothing but numbers of hands in the air, each holding
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  Speaker 1: a torch. He was so surprised that he stood quite
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  Speaker 1: still until he felt himself pushed forward word by other hands,
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  Speaker 1: so that though he was somewhat uneasy, he could not
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  Speaker 1: help going on with his hand on his sword, to
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  Speaker 1: be prepared for whatever might happen. He entered a hall
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  Speaker 1: paved with lapus lazulae, while two lovely voices sang, the
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  Speaker 1: hands you see floating above will swiftly your bidding obey.
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  Speaker 1: If your heart dreads not conquering love in this place,
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  Speaker 1: you may fearlessly stay. The prince could not believe that
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  Speaker 1: any danger threatened him when he was welcomed in this way, So,
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  Speaker 1: guided by the mysterious hands, he went toward a door
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  Speaker 1: of coral, which opened of its own accord, and he
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  Speaker 1: found himself in a vast hall of mother of pearl,
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  Speaker 1: out of which opened a number of other rooms, glittering
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  Speaker 1: with thousands of lights, and full of such beautiful pictures
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  Speaker 1: and precious things that the prince felt quite bewildered. After
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  Speaker 1: passing through sixty rooms. The hands that conducted him stopped,
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  Speaker 1: and the Prince saw a most comfortable looking arm chair
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  Speaker 1: drawn up close to the chimney corner. At the same moment,
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  Speaker 1: the fire lighted itself, and the pretty, soft, clever hands
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  Speaker 1: took off the prince's wet, muddy clothes and presented him
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  Speaker 1: with fresh ones made of the richest stuffs, all embroidered
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  Speaker 1: with gold and emeralds. He could not help admiring everything
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  Speaker 1: he saw and the deft way in which the hands
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  Speaker 1: waited on him, though they sometimes appeared so suddenly that
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  Speaker 1: they made him jump when he was quite ready. And
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  Speaker 1: I can assure you that he looked very different from
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  Speaker 1: the wet and weary prince who had stood outside in
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  Speaker 1: the rain and pulled the deer's foot. The hands led
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  Speaker 1: him to a splendid room, upon the walls of which
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  Speaker 1: were painted the histories of Puss in Boots and a
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  Speaker 1: number of other famous cats. The table was laid for
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  Speaker 1: supper with two golden plates and golden spoons and forks,
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  Speaker 1: and the sideboard was covered with dishes and glasses of
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  Speaker 1: crystal set with precious stones. The prince was wondering who
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  Speaker 1: the second place could be for when suddenly in came
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  Speaker 1: about a dozen cats, carrying guitars and rolls of music,
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  Speaker 1: who took their places at one end of the room, and,
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  Speaker 1: under the direction of a cat who beat time with
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  Speaker 1: a roll of paper, began to muw into every imaginable key,
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  Speaker 1: and to draw their claws across the strings of the guitars,
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  Speaker 1: making the strangest kind of music that could be heard.
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  Speaker 1: The prince hastily stocked up his ears, but even then
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  Speaker 1: the sight of these comical musicians sent him into fits
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  Speaker 1: of laughter. Wa What funny thing shall I see next?
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  Speaker 1: He said to himself. And instantly the door opened, and
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  Speaker 1: in came a tiny figure covered by a long black veil.
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  Speaker 1: It was conducted by two cats wearing black mantles and
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  Speaker 1: carrying swords, and a large party of cats followed, who
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  Speaker 1: brought in cages full of rats and mice. The prince
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  Speaker 1: was so much astonished that he thought he must be dreaming.
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  Speaker 1: But the little figure came up to him and threw
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  Speaker 1: back its veil, and he saw that it was the
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  Speaker 1: loveliest little white cat. It is possible to imagine. She
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  Speaker 1: looked very young and very sad, and in a sweet
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  Speaker 1: little voice that went straight to his heart. She said
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  Speaker 1: to the prince King's son, you are welcome. The Queen
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  Speaker 1: of the cats is glad to see you. Lady Cat,
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  Speaker 1: replied the prince, I thank you for receiving me so kindly.
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  Speaker 1: But surely you are no ordinary pussy cat. Indeed, the
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  Speaker 1: way you speak and the magnificence of your castle proves
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  Speaker 1: it plainly. King's Son said the white Cat, bear you
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  Speaker 1: to spare me these compliments, for I am not used
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  Speaker 1: to them. But now she added, let supper be served,
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  Speaker 1: and let the musicians be silent, as the Prince does
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  Speaker 1: not understand what they are saying. So the mysterious hands
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  Speaker 1: began to bring in the supper, and first they put
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  Speaker 1: on the table two dishes, one containing stewed pigeons and
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  Speaker 1: the other a frickacy of fat mice. The sight of
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  Speaker 1: the latter made the Prince feel as if he could
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  Speaker 1: not enjoy his supper at all. But the White Cat,
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  Speaker 1: seeing this, assured him that the dishes intended for him
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  Speaker 1: were prepared in a separate kitchen, and you might be
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  Speaker 1: quite certain that they contained neither rats nor mice. And
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  Speaker 1: the Prince felt so sure that she would not deceive him,
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  Speaker 1: that he had no more hesitation in beginning. Presently, he
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  Speaker 1: noticed that on the little paw that was next him,
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  Speaker 1: the white cat wore a bracelet containing a portrait, and
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  Speaker 1: he begged to be allowed to look at it. To
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  Speaker 1: his surprise, he found it rep presented an extremely handsome
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  Speaker 1: young man who was so like himself that it might
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  Speaker 1: have been his own portrait. The white cat sighed as
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  Speaker 1: he looked at it, and seemed sadder than ever, and
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  Speaker 1: the prince dared not ask any questions for fear of
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  Speaker 1: displeasing her. So he began to talk about other things,
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  Speaker 1: and found that she was interested in all the subjects
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  Speaker 1: he cared for himself, and seemed to know quite well
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  Speaker 1: what was going on in the world. After supper, they
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  Speaker 1: went into another room which was fitted up as a theater,
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  Speaker 1: and the cats acted and danced for their amusement, and
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  Speaker 1: then the white cat said good night to him, and
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  Speaker 1: the hands conducted him into a room he had not
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  Speaker 1: seen before. Hung with taperestry worked with butterflies wings of
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  Speaker 1: every color. There were mirrors that reached from the ceiling
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  Speaker 1: to the floor, and a little white bed with curtains
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  Speaker 1: of gauze tied up with ribbons. The Prince went to
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  Speaker 1: the bed in silence, as he did not quite know
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  Speaker 1: how to begin a conversation with the hands that waited
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  Speaker 1: on him. And in the morning he was awakened by
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  Speaker 1: a noise and confusion outside of his window, and the
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  Speaker 1: hands came and quickly dressed him in his hunting costume.
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  Speaker 1: When he looked out, all the cats were assembled in
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  Speaker 1: the courtyard, some leading greyhounds, some blowing horns, for the
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  Speaker 1: white cat was going out hunting. The hands led a
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  Speaker 1: wooden horse up to the Prince and seemed to expect
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  Speaker 1: him to mount it, at which he was variant indignant,
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  Speaker 1: But it was no use for him to eject, for
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  Speaker 1: he speedily found himself upon its back, and it pranced
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  Speaker 1: gaily off with him. The white cat herself was riding
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  Speaker 1: a monkey, which climbed even up to the eagle's nests.
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  Speaker 1: When she had a fancy for the young eaglets. Never
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  Speaker 1: was there a pleasanter hunting party. And when they returned
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  Speaker 1: to the castle, the Prince and the white cat supped
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  Speaker 1: together as before, But when they had finished, she offered
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  Speaker 1: him a crystal goblet which must have contained a magic draft,
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  Speaker 1: for as soon as he had swallowed its contents. He
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  Speaker 1: forgot everything, even the little dog that he was seeking
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  Speaker 1: for the king, and only thought how happy he was
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  Speaker 1: to be with the white cat. And so the days
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  Speaker 1: passed in every kind of amusement, until the year was
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  Speaker 1: nearly gone. The prince had forgotten all about meeting his brothers.
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  Speaker 1: He did not even know what country he belonged to.
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  Speaker 1: But the white cat knew knew when he ought to
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  Speaker 1: go back, And one day she said to him, do
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  Speaker 1: you know that you have only three days left to
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  Speaker 1: look for the little dog? For your father and your
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  Speaker 1: brothers have found lovely ones. Then the prince suddenly recovered
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  Speaker 1: his memory, and he cried, what can have made me
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  Speaker 1: forget such an important thing? My whole fortune depends upon it.
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  Speaker 1: And even if I could in such a short time
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  Speaker 1: find a dog pretty enough to gain me a kingdom,
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  Speaker 1: where should I find a horse who would carry me
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  Speaker 1: all that way in three days? He began to be
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  Speaker 1: very vexed, But the white cat said to him King's son,
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  Speaker 1: do not trouble yourself. I am your friend and will
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  Speaker 1: make everything easy for you. You can still stay here
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  Speaker 1: for a day, as the good wooden horse can take
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  Speaker 1: you to your country in twelve hours. I thank you,
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  Speaker 1: beautiful cat, said the prince. But what good will it
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  Speaker 1: do me to get back if I have not a
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  Speaker 1: dog to take to my father. See here, answered the
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  Speaker 1: white cat, holding up an acorn. There is a prettier
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  Speaker 1: one in this than in the dog star. Oh, white cat, dear,
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  Speaker 1: said the prince. How unkind you are to laugh at me? Now?
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  Speaker 1: Only listen, she said, holding the acorn to his ear,
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  Speaker 1: and inside it he distinctly heard a tiny voice say, wow, wow. Oh.
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  Speaker 1: The Prince was delighted. For a dog that can be
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  Speaker 1: shut up in an acorn must be very small. Indeed,
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  Speaker 1: he wanted to take it out and look at it,
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  Speaker 1: but the white cat said it would be better not
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  Speaker 1: to open the acorn till he was before the king,
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  Speaker 1: in case the tiny dog should be cold on the journey.
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  Speaker 1: He thanked her a thousand times and said good bye,
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  Speaker 1: quite sadly when the time came for him to set out.
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  Speaker 1: The days have passed so quickly with you, he said,
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  Speaker 1: I only wish I could take you with me now.
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  Speaker 1: But the white cat shook her head and sighed deeply
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  Speaker 1: in answer. After all, the Prince was the first to
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  Speaker 1: arrive at the castle, where he had agreed to meet
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  Speaker 1: his brothers, but they came soon after and stared in
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  Speaker 1: amazement when they saw the wooden horse in the courtyard,
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  Speaker 1: jumping like a hunter. The prince met them joyfully, and
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  Speaker 1: they began to tell him all their adventures, but he
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  Speaker 1: managed to hide from them what he had been doing,
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  Speaker 1: and even led them to think that a turnspit dog
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  Speaker 1: which he had with him, was the one he was
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  Speaker 1: bringing for the king. Fond is they all were of
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  Speaker 1: one another, the two eldest could not help being glad
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  Speaker 1: to think that their dogs certainly had a better chance.
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  Speaker 1: The next morning, they started in the same chariot. The
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  Speaker 1: elder brothers carried in baskets two such tiny, fragile dogs
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  Speaker 1: that they hardly dared to touch them. As for the turnspit,
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  Speaker 1: he ran after the chariot and got so covered with
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  Speaker 1: mud that one could hardly see what he was like
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  Speaker 1: at all. When they reached the palace, everyone crowded round
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  Speaker 1: to welcome them. As they went into the king's great hall,
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  Speaker 1: and when the two brothers presented their little dogs, nobody
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  Speaker 1: could decide which was the prettier. They were already arranging
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  Speaker 1: between themselves to share the kingdom equally. When the youngest
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  Speaker 1: stepped forward, drawing from his pocket the acorn the white
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  Speaker 1: cat had given him. He opened it quickly, and there
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  Speaker 1: upon a white cushion they saw a dog, so small
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  Speaker 1: that it could easily have been put through a ring.
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  Speaker 1: The prince laid it upon the ground, and it got
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  Speaker 1: up at once and began to dance. The king did
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  Speaker 1: not know what to say, for it was impossible that
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  Speaker 1: anything could be prettier than this little creature. Nevertheless, as
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  Speaker 1: he was in no hurry to part with his crown,
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  Speaker 1: he told his sons that, as they had been so
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  Speaker 1: successful a first time, he would ask them to go
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  Speaker 1: once again and seek by land and sea for a
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  Speaker 1: piece of muslin so fine that it could be drawn
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  Speaker 1: through the eye of a needle. The brothers were not
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  Speaker 1: very willing to set out again, but the two eldest
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  Speaker 1: consented because it gave them another chance, and they started
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  Speaker 1: as before. The youngest again mounted the wooden horse and
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  Speaker 1: rode back at full speed to his beloved white cat.
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  Speaker 1: Every door of the castle stood wide open, and every
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  Speaker 1: window and turret was illuminated, so it looked more wonderful
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  Speaker 1: than before. The hands hastened to meet him and led
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  Speaker 1: the wooden horse off to the stable while he hurried
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  Speaker 1: in to find the white cat. She was asleep in
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  Speaker 1: a little basket on a white satin cushion, but she
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  Speaker 1: very soon started up when she heard the prince and
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  Speaker 1: was overjoyed at meeting him once more. How could I
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  Speaker 1: hope that you would come back to me King's son,
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  Speaker 1: she said, And then he stroked and petted her and
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  Speaker 1: told her of his successful journey and how he had
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  Speaker 1: come back to ask her help as he believed that
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  Speaker 1: it was impossible to find what the king demanded. The
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  Speaker 1: white cat looked serious and said she must think what
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  Speaker 1: was to be done, but that luckily there were some
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  Speaker 1: cats in the castle who could spin very well, and
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  Speaker 1: if anybody could manage it, they could, and she would
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  Speaker 1: set them the task herself. And then the hands appeared
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  Speaker 1: carrying torches and conducted the prince and the white cat
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  Speaker 1: to a long gallery which overlooked the river, from the
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  Speaker 1: windows of which they saw a magnificent display of fireworks
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  Speaker 1: of all sorts, after which they had supper, which the
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  Speaker 1: Prince liked even better than the fireworks, for it was
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  Speaker 1: very late and he was hungry after his long ride,
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  Speaker 1: and so the days passed quickly. As before, it was
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  Speaker 1: impossible to feel dull with the white cat, and she
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  Speaker 1: had quite a talent for inventing new amusements. Indeed, she
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  Speaker 1: was cleverer than a cat has any right to be.
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  Speaker 1: But when the Prince asked her how it was that
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  Speaker 1: she was so wise, she only said, King's son, do
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  Speaker 1: not ask me. Guess what you please. I may not
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  Speaker 1: tell you anything. The Prince was so happy that he
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  Speaker 1: did not trouble himself at all about the time. But
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  Speaker 1: presently the white cat told him that a year was gone,
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  Speaker 1: and that he need not be at all anxious about
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  Speaker 1: the piece of muslin, as they had made it very
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  Speaker 1: well this time. She added, I can give you a
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  Speaker 1: suitable escort, And on looking out into the courtyard, the
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  Speaker 1: prince saw a superb chariot of burnished gold enameled in
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  Speaker 1: flame color, with a thousand different devices. It was dr
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  Speaker 1: by twelve snow white horses, harnessed four abreast. Their trappings
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  Speaker 1: were flame colored velvet embroidered with diamonds. A hundred chariots followed,
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  Speaker 1: each drawn by eight horses and filled with officers in
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  Speaker 1: splendid uniforms, and a thousand guards surrounded the procession, go,
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  Speaker 1: said the white cat, And when you appear before the
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  Speaker 1: King in such state, he surely will not refuse you
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  Speaker 1: the crown which you deserve. Take this walnut, but do
• 19:33
  Speaker 1: not open it until you are before him. Then you
• 19:37
  Speaker 1: will find in it the piece of stuff you asked
• 19:39
  Speaker 1: me for. Lovely Blanchet, said the prince, How can I
• 19:46
  Speaker 1: thank you properly for all your kindness to me? Only
• 19:50
  Speaker 1: tell me that you wish it, and I will give
• 19:52
  Speaker 1: up forever all thought of being king and will stay
• 19:55
  Speaker 1: here with you always King's son. She replied. It shows
• 20:00
  Speaker 1: the goodness of your heart that you should care so
• 20:02
  Speaker 1: much for a little white cat who is good for
• 20:05
  Speaker 1: nothing but to catch mice. But you must not stay.
• 20:10
  Speaker 1: So the prince kissed her little paw and set out.
• 20:14
  Speaker 1: You can imagine how fast he traveled when I tell
• 20:16
  Speaker 1: you that they reached the King's palace in just half
• 20:19
  Speaker 1: the time it had taken the wooden horse to get there.
• 20:23
  Speaker 1: This time, the prince was so late that he did
• 20:26
  Speaker 1: not try to meet his brothers at their castle, so
• 20:29
  Speaker 1: they thought he could not be coming, and were rather
• 20:32
  Speaker 1: glad of it, and displayed their pieces of muslin to
• 20:34
  Speaker 1: the king. Proudly, feeling sure of success. And indeed the
• 20:38
  Speaker 1: stuff was very fine and would go through the eye
• 20:42
  Speaker 1: of a very large needle. But the King, who was
• 20:46
  Speaker 1: only too glad to make a difficulty, sent for a
• 20:48
  Speaker 1: particular needle, which was kept among the crown jewels, and
• 20:52
  Speaker 1: had such a small eye that everybody saw at once
• 20:56
  Speaker 1: that it was impossible that the muslin should pass through it.
• 21:00
  Speaker 1: The princes were angry and were begin to complain that
• 21:03
  Speaker 1: it was a trick, when suddenly the trumpet sounded and
• 21:07
  Speaker 1: the youngest prince came in. His father and brothers were
• 21:11
  Speaker 1: quite astonished at his magnificence, and after he had greeted them,
• 21:15
  Speaker 1: he took the walnut from his pocket and opened it fully,
• 21:18
  Speaker 1: expecting to find the piece of muslin, But instead there
• 21:23
  Speaker 1: was only a hazel nut. He cracked it, and there
• 21:28
  Speaker 1: lay a cherry stone. Everybody was looking on, and the
• 21:33
  Speaker 1: King was chuckling to himself at the idea of finding
• 21:36
  Speaker 1: the piece of muslin in a nutshell. However, the prince
• 21:41
  Speaker 1: cracked the cherry stone, but everyone laughed when he saw
• 21:45
  Speaker 1: it contain only its own kernel. He opened that and
• 21:49
  Speaker 1: found a grain of wheat, and in that was a
• 21:52
  Speaker 1: millet seed, and then he himself began to wonder and
• 21:56
  Speaker 1: muttered softly, white cat, White cat, are you making fun
• 22:02
  Speaker 1: of me? In an instant he felt a cat's clow
• 22:05
  Speaker 1: give his hand quite a sharp scratch, and, hoping that
• 22:08
  Speaker 1: it was meant as an encouragement, he opened the millet
• 22:11
  Speaker 1: seed and drew out of it a piece of muslin
• 22:14
  Speaker 1: four hundred ells long, woven with the loveliest colors and
• 22:19
  Speaker 1: most wonderful patterns. And when the needle was brought it
• 22:23
  Speaker 1: went through the eye six times with the greatest of ease.
• 22:28
  Speaker 1: The king turned pale, and the other princes stood silent
• 22:32
  Speaker 1: and sorrowful, for nobody could deny that this was the
• 22:36
  Speaker 1: most marvelous piece of muslin that was to be found
• 22:38
  Speaker 1: in the world. Presently, the king turned to his sons
• 22:43
  Speaker 1: and said, with a deep sigh, nothing could console me
• 22:48
  Speaker 1: more in my old age than to realize your willingness
• 22:51
  Speaker 1: to gratify my wishes. Go then once more, and whoever
• 22:57
  Speaker 1: at the end of a year can bring in fact
• 23:00
  Speaker 1: the loveliest princess, shall be married to her, and shall
• 23:04
  Speaker 1: without further delay receive the crown. For my successor must
• 23:09
  Speaker 1: certainly be married the prince considered that he had earned
• 23:13
  Speaker 1: the kingdom fairly twice over, but still he was too
• 23:18
  Speaker 1: well bred to argue about it, so he just went
• 23:21
  Speaker 1: back to his gorgeous chariot, and, surrounded by his escort,
• 23:25
  Speaker 1: returned to the White Cat faster than he had come.
• 23:28
  Speaker 1: This time. She was expecting him. The path was strewn
• 23:32
  Speaker 1: with flowers, and a thousand braziers were burning scented woods
• 23:37
  Speaker 1: which perfumed the air. Seated in a gallery from which
• 23:41
  Speaker 1: she could see his arrival, the White Cat waited for him. Well,
• 23:45
  Speaker 1: King's son, she said, Here you are once more without
• 23:50
  Speaker 1: a crown. Madam said he, Thanks to your generosity, I
• 23:54
  Speaker 1: have earned one twice over. But the fact is that
• 23:58
  Speaker 1: my father is so loath department with it that it
• 24:01
  Speaker 1: would be no pleasure to me to take it. Never mind,
• 24:05
  Speaker 1: she answered, it's just as well to try and deserve it,
• 24:10
  Speaker 1: as you must take back a lovely princess with you.
• 24:13
  Speaker 1: Next time, I will be on the lookout for one
• 24:15
  Speaker 1: for you. In the meantime, let us enjoy ourselves to night.
• 24:19
  Speaker 1: I have ordered a battle between my cats and the
• 24:22
  Speaker 1: river rats on purpose to amuse you. So this year
• 24:26
  Speaker 1: slipped away even more pleasantly than the preceding ones. Sometimes
• 24:30
  Speaker 1: the Prince could not help asking the white cat how
• 24:33
  Speaker 1: it was she could talk. Perhaps you are a fairy,
• 24:38
  Speaker 1: he said, or has some enchanter changed you into a cat.
• 24:43
  Speaker 1: But she only gave him answers that told him nothing
• 24:47
  Speaker 1: days go by so quickly when one is very happy.
• 24:50
  Speaker 1: That it is certain the Prince would never have thought
• 24:52
  Speaker 1: of its being time to go back. When one evening,
• 24:55
  Speaker 1: as they sat together, the white cat said to him
• 24:57
  Speaker 1: that if he wanted to take a lovely princess with
• 24:59
  Speaker 1: him the next day, he must be prepared to do
• 25:02
  Speaker 1: what she told him. Take this sword, she said, and
• 25:08
  Speaker 1: cut off my head. I cried the Prince, I cut
• 25:15
  Speaker 1: off your head, blanchet darling, how could I do it?
• 25:20
  Speaker 1: I entreat you to do as I tell you, King's son,
• 25:23
  Speaker 1: she replied. The tears came into the Prince's eyes as
• 25:28
  Speaker 1: he begged her to ask him anything but that to
• 25:31
  Speaker 1: set him any task she pleased, as a proof of
• 25:33
  Speaker 1: his devotion, but to spare him the grief of killing
• 25:37
  Speaker 1: his dear pussy. But nothing he could say altered her determination,
• 25:43
  Speaker 1: and at last he drew out his sword and desperately
• 25:48
  Speaker 1: with a trembling hand cut off the little white head.
• 25:55
  Speaker 1: But imagine his astonishment and delight when suddenly a lovely
• 25:59
  Speaker 1: princess stood before him. And while he was still speechless
• 26:03
  Speaker 1: with amazement, the door opened and a goodly company of
• 26:06
  Speaker 1: knights and ladies entered, each carrying a cat's skin. They
• 26:11
  Speaker 1: hastened with every sign of joy to the princess, kissing
• 26:15
  Speaker 1: her hand and congratulating her on being once more restored
• 26:18
  Speaker 1: to her natural shape. She received them graciously, but after
• 26:24
  Speaker 1: a few minutes begged that they would leave her alone
• 26:26
  Speaker 1: with the prince, to whom she said, you see, Prince,
• 26:31
  Speaker 1: that you were right in supposing me to be no
• 26:33
  Speaker 1: ordinary cat. My father reigned over six kingdoms. The Queen
• 26:39
  Speaker 1: my mother, whom he loved dearly, had a passion for
• 26:42
  Speaker 1: traveling and exploring, and when I was only a few
• 26:45
  Speaker 1: weeks old, she obtained his permission to visit a certain
• 26:49
  Speaker 1: mountain of which she had heard many marvelous tales, and
• 26:52
  Speaker 1: set out, taking with her a number of her attendants.
• 26:55
  Speaker 1: On the way, they had to pass near an old
• 26:58
  Speaker 1: castle belonging to the fairy. Nobody had ever been into it,
• 27:03
  Speaker 1: but it was reported to be full of the most
• 27:04
  Speaker 1: wonderful things, and my mother remembered to have heard that
• 27:08
  Speaker 1: the fairies had in their garden such fruits as were
• 27:11
  Speaker 1: to be seen and tasted nowhere else. She began to
• 27:15
  Speaker 1: wish to try them for herself, and turned her steps
• 27:19
  Speaker 1: in the direction of the garden. On arriving at the door,
• 27:22
  Speaker 1: which blazed with gold and jewels, she ordered her servants
• 27:26
  Speaker 1: to knock loudly, but it was useless. It seemed as
• 27:30
  Speaker 1: if all the inhabitants of the castle must be asleep
• 27:34
  Speaker 1: or dead. Now the more difficult it became to obtain
• 27:38
  Speaker 1: the fruit, the more the queen was determined that habit
• 27:41
  Speaker 1: she would, so she ordered that they should bring ladders
• 27:45
  Speaker 1: and get over the wall into the garden. But though
• 27:48
  Speaker 1: the wall did not look very high, and they tied
• 27:51
  Speaker 1: the ladders together to make them very long, it was
• 27:54
  Speaker 1: quite impossible to get to the top. The queen was
• 27:58
  Speaker 1: in despair, but as night was coming on, she ordered
• 28:02
  Speaker 1: that they should encamp just where they were, and went
• 28:05
  Speaker 1: to bed herself, feeling quite ill. She felt so disappointed.
• 28:09
  Speaker 1: In the middle of the night, she was suddenly awakened
• 28:11
  Speaker 1: and saw, to her surprise a tiny, ugly old woman
• 28:15
  Speaker 1: seated by her bedside, who said to her, must say
• 28:21
  Speaker 1: that we consider it somewhat troublesome of your majesty to
• 28:24
  Speaker 1: insist upon tasting our fruit. But to save you annoyance,
• 28:29
  Speaker 1: my sisters and I will consent to give you as
• 28:31
  Speaker 1: much as you can carry away, on one condition. That
• 28:36
  Speaker 1: is that you shall give us your little daughter to
• 28:39
  Speaker 1: bring up as our own. Oh, my dear madam, cried
• 28:44
  Speaker 1: the queen. Is there nothing else that you will take
• 28:47
  Speaker 1: for the fruit? I will give you my kingdoms willingly, No,
• 28:54
  Speaker 1: replied the old fairy. We will have nothing but your
• 28:56
  Speaker 1: little daughter. She shall be as happy as the day
• 28:59
  Speaker 1: is long, and we will give her everything that is
• 29:01
  Speaker 1: worth having in fairy lad But you must not see
• 29:04
  Speaker 1: her again until she is married. Though it is a
• 29:09
  Speaker 1: hard condition, said the Queen. I consent, for I shall
• 29:14
  Speaker 1: certainly die if I do not taste the fruit, and
• 29:18
  Speaker 1: so I should lose my little daughter either way. So
• 29:23
  Speaker 1: the old fairy led her into the castle, and though
• 29:26
  Speaker 1: it was still the middle of the night, the queen
• 29:28
  Speaker 1: could see plainly that it was far more beautiful than
• 29:31
  Speaker 1: she had been told, Which you can easily believe, Prince,
• 29:34
  Speaker 1: said the white cat, when I tell you that it
• 29:36
  Speaker 1: was this castle that we are now in. Well, you
• 29:41
  Speaker 1: gather the fruit yourself, queen, said the old fairy. Or
• 29:44
  Speaker 1: shall I call it to come to you? Oh? I
• 29:48
  Speaker 1: beg you to let me see it. Come when it
• 29:51
  Speaker 1: is called, cried the queen. That will be something quite new.
• 29:55
  Speaker 1: The old fairy whistled twice, and then she cried.
• 30:00
  Speaker 2: Apricots, peaches, nectarines, cherries, plums, pears, melons, grapes, apples, oranges, lemons, gooseberries, strawberries,
• 30:14
  Speaker 2: raspberries come.
• 30:17
  Speaker 1: And in an instant they came, tumbling in, one over another.
• 30:21
  Speaker 1: And yet they were neither dusty nor spoilt. And the
• 30:25
  Speaker 1: queen found them quite as good as she had fancied them.
• 30:28
  Speaker 1: You see, they grew upon fairy trees. The old fairy
• 30:32
  Speaker 1: gave her golden baskets in which to take the fruit away,
• 30:35
  Speaker 1: and it was as much as four hundred mules could carry.
• 30:39
  Speaker 1: Then she reminded the queen of her agreement and led
• 30:41
  Speaker 1: her back to the camp. And next morning she went
• 30:44
  Speaker 1: back to her kingdom. But before she had gone very far,
• 30:48
  Speaker 1: she began to repent of her bargain, And when the
• 30:51
  Speaker 1: king came out to meet her, she looked so sad
• 30:54
  Speaker 1: that he guessed that something had happened and asked what
• 30:57
  Speaker 1: was the matter. At first the queen was afraid to
• 30:59
  Speaker 1: tell him, But when as soon as they reached the palace,
• 31:05
  Speaker 1: five frightful little dwarfs were sent by the fairies to
• 31:08
  Speaker 1: fetch me, she was obliged to confess what she had promised.
• 31:14
  Speaker 1: The king was very angry and had the queen and
• 31:16
  Speaker 1: myself shut up in a great tower and safely guarded,
• 31:19
  Speaker 1: and drove the little dwarfs out of his kingdom. But
• 31:23
  Speaker 1: the fairies sent a great dragon, who ate up all
• 31:25
  Speaker 1: the people he met, and whose breath burnt up everything
• 31:29
  Speaker 1: as he passed through the country. And at last, after
• 31:32
  Speaker 1: trying in vain to rid himself of this monster, the king,
• 31:37
  Speaker 1: to save his subjects, was obliged to consent that I
• 31:40
  Speaker 1: should be given up to the fairies. This time they
• 31:44
  Speaker 1: came themselves to fetch me in a chariot of pearl
• 31:47
  Speaker 1: drawn by sea horses, followed by the dragon, who was
• 31:51
  Speaker 1: led with chains of diamonds. My cradle was placed between
• 31:56
  Speaker 1: the old fairies, who loaded me with caresses, and away
• 32:00
  Speaker 1: we whirled through the air to a tower which they
• 32:02
  Speaker 1: had built on purpose for me. There I grew up
• 32:05
  Speaker 1: surrounded with everything that was beautiful and rare, and learning
• 32:09
  Speaker 1: everything that is ever taught to a princess, but without
• 32:13
  Speaker 1: any companions but a parrot and a little dog who
• 32:17
  Speaker 1: could both talk, and receiving every day a visit from
• 32:20
  Speaker 1: one of the old fairies who came mounted upon the dragon.
• 32:25
  Speaker 1: One day, however, as I sat at my window, I
• 32:27
  Speaker 1: saw a handsome young prince who had seemed to have
• 32:30
  Speaker 1: been hunting in the forest which surrounded my prison, and
• 32:34
  Speaker 1: who was standing and looking up at me. When he
• 32:37
  Speaker 1: saw that I observed him, he saluted me with great deference.
• 32:41
  Speaker 1: You can imagine that I was delighted to have some
• 32:44
  Speaker 1: one new to talk to, And in spite of the
• 32:46
  Speaker 1: height of my window, our conversation was prolonged till night fell.
• 32:51
  Speaker 1: Then my prince reluctantly bade me farewell. But after that
• 32:55
  Speaker 1: he came again many times, and at last I consented
• 32:58
  Speaker 1: to marry him. But the question was how was I
• 33:01
  Speaker 1: to escape from my tower. The fairies always supplied me
• 33:05
  Speaker 1: with flax from my spinning, and by great diligence I
• 33:09
  Speaker 1: made enough cord for a ladder that would reach the
• 33:11
  Speaker 1: foot of the tower. But alas, just as my prince
• 33:16
  Speaker 1: was helping me to descend, the crossest and ugliest of
• 33:20
  Speaker 1: the old fairies flew in. Before he had time to
• 33:23
  Speaker 1: defend himself, my unhappy lover was swallowed up by the
• 33:27
  Speaker 1: dragon as from me. The fairies, furious at having their
• 33:32
  Speaker 1: plans defeated, for they intended me to marry the king
• 33:35
  Speaker 1: of the dwarfs, and I utterly refused, changed me into
• 33:39
  Speaker 1: a white cat. When they brought me here, I found
• 33:43
  Speaker 1: all the lords and ladies of my father's court awaiting
• 33:46
  Speaker 1: me under the same enchantment, while the people of lesser
• 33:49
  Speaker 1: rank had been made invisible all but their hands. As
• 33:55
  Speaker 1: they laid me under the enchantment, the fairies told me
• 33:58
  Speaker 1: all my history, for until then I had quite believed
• 34:01
  Speaker 1: that I was their child, and warned me that my
• 34:04
  Speaker 1: only chance of regaining my natural form was to win
• 34:06
  Speaker 1: the love of a prince who resembled in every way
• 34:10
  Speaker 1: my unfortunate lover. And you have won it, lovely princess,
• 34:16
  Speaker 1: interrupted the prince. You are indeed wonderfully like him, resumed
• 34:20
  Speaker 1: the princess, in voice, in features and everything. And if
• 34:25
  Speaker 1: you really love me, all my troubles will be at
• 34:27
  Speaker 1: an end, and mine too, cried the prince, throwing himself
• 34:32
  Speaker 1: at her feet. If you will consent to marry me,
• 34:35
  Speaker 1: I love you already better than any one in the world,
• 34:37
  Speaker 1: she said, But now it is time to go back
• 34:40
  Speaker 1: to your father, and we shall hear what he says
• 34:43
  Speaker 1: about it. So the prince gave her his hand and
• 34:47
  Speaker 1: led her out, and they mounted the chariot together. It
• 34:52
  Speaker 1: was even more splendid than before, and so was the
• 34:54
  Speaker 1: whole company. Even the horses shoes were of rubies with
• 34:58
  Speaker 1: diamond nails. And I suppose that is the first time
• 35:03
  Speaker 1: such a thing was ever seen. As the princess was
• 35:07
  Speaker 1: as kind and clever as she was beautiful, you may
• 35:09
  Speaker 1: imagine what a delightful journey the prince found it, for
• 35:12
  Speaker 1: everything the princess said seemed to him quite charming. When
• 35:16
  Speaker 1: they came near the castle where the brothers were to meet,
• 35:19
  Speaker 1: the princess got into a chair carried by four of
• 35:21
  Speaker 1: the guards. It was hewn out of one splendid crystal,
• 35:25
  Speaker 1: and had silken curtains, which she drew round her that
• 35:28
  Speaker 1: she might not be seen. The prince saw his brothers
• 35:32
  Speaker 1: walking upon the terrace, each with a lovely princess, and
• 35:35
  Speaker 1: they came to meet him, asking if he had also
• 35:37
  Speaker 1: found a wife. He said that he had found something
• 35:42
  Speaker 1: much rarer, a white cat, at which they laughed very much,
• 35:47
  Speaker 1: and asked him if he was afraid of being eaten
• 35:49
  Speaker 1: up by mice in the palace. And then they set
• 35:52
  Speaker 1: out together for the town. Each prince and princess rode
• 35:56
  Speaker 1: in a splendid carriage. The horses were decked with plumes
• 35:59
  Speaker 1: of feather and glittered with gold. After them came the
• 36:03
  Speaker 1: youngest prince, and last of all the crystal chair, at
• 36:07
  Speaker 1: which everybody looked with admiration and curiosity. When the courtiers
• 36:12
  Speaker 1: saw them coming, they hastened to tell the King, are
• 36:17
  Speaker 1: the ladies beautiful? He asked anxiously, and when they answered
• 36:21
  Speaker 1: that nobody had ever before seen such lovely princesses, he
• 36:25
  Speaker 1: seemed quite annoyed. However, he received them graciously, but found
• 36:29
  Speaker 1: it impossible to choose between them. Then, turning to his
• 36:33
  Speaker 1: youngest son, he said, have you come back alone? After all?
• 36:39
  Speaker 1: Your majesty replied, the Prince will find in that crystal
• 36:42
  Speaker 1: chair a little white cat, which has such soft paws,
• 36:46
  Speaker 1: and muse so prettily that I am sure you will
• 36:49
  Speaker 1: be charmed with it. The king smiled and went to
• 36:53
  Speaker 1: draw back the curtains himself, but at a touch from
• 36:56
  Speaker 1: the princess, the crystal shivered into a thousand splinters, and
• 37:00
  Speaker 1: there she stood in all her beauty. Her fair hair
• 37:04
  Speaker 1: floated over her shoulders and was crowned with flowers, and
• 37:08
  Speaker 1: her softly falling robe was of the purest white. She
• 37:12
  Speaker 1: saluted the king gracefully, while a murmur of admiration rose
• 37:16
  Speaker 1: from all around. Sire, she said, I am not come
• 37:21
  Speaker 1: to deprive you of the throne you feel so worthily.
• 37:24
  Speaker 1: I have already six kingdoms. Permit me to bestow one
• 37:29
  Speaker 1: upon you, and upon each of your sons. I ask
• 37:33
  Speaker 1: nothing but your friendship and your consent to my marriage
• 37:36
  Speaker 1: with your youngest son. We shall still have three kingdoms
• 37:40
  Speaker 1: left for ourselves. The king and all the courtiers could
• 37:45
  Speaker 1: not conceal their joy and astonishment, and the marriage of
• 37:49
  Speaker 1: the three princes was celebrated at once. The festivities lasted
• 37:53
  Speaker 1: several months, and then each king and queen departed to
• 37:57
  Speaker 1: their own kingdom and lived happily of her affort. End
• 38:02
  Speaker 1: of the White cat