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021 - The Wonderful Sheep · Blue Fairy Book

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Speaker 1: The Wonderful Sheep 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: That's l I b ri I v o X dot
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Speaker 1: O r G recording by Christie Nook. The Blue Fairy
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Speaker 1: Book by Andrew Lang The Wonderful Sheep. Once upon a time,
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Speaker 1: in the days when fairies lived, there was a king
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Speaker 1: who had three daughters, who were all young and clever
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Speaker 1: and beautiful. But the youngest of the three, who was
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Speaker 1: called Miranda, was the prettiest and most beloved the king.
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Speaker 1: Her father gave her more dresses and jewels in a
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Speaker 1: month than he gave the others in a year. But
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Speaker 1: she was so generous that she shared everything with her sisters,
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Speaker 1: and they were all as happy and as fond of
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Speaker 1: one another as they could be. Now, the king had
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Speaker 1: some Quarrelsome neighbors, who tired of leaving him in peace,
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Speaker 1: began to make war upon him so fiercely that he
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Speaker 1: feared he would be altogether beaten if he did not
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Speaker 1: make an effort to defend himself. So he collected a
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Speaker 1: great army and set off to fight them, leaving the
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Speaker 1: princesses with their governess in a castle, where news of
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Speaker 1: the war was brought every day, sometimes that the king
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Speaker 1: had taken a town or won a battle, and at
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Speaker 1: last that he had altogether overcome his enemies and chased
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Speaker 1: them out of his kingdom, and was coming back to
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Speaker 1: the castle as quickly as possible to see his dear
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Speaker 1: little Miranda, whom he loved so much. The three princesses
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Speaker 1: put on dresses of satin, which they had made on
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Speaker 1: purpose for this great occasion, one green, one blue, and
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Speaker 1: the third white. Their jewels were the same colors. The
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Speaker 1: eldest wore emeralds, the second turquoises, and the youngest diamonds,
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Speaker 1: And thus adorned, they went to meet the king, singing
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Speaker 1: verses which they had composed about his victories. When he
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Speaker 1: saw them all so beautiful and so gay, he embraced
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Speaker 1: them tenderly, but gave Miranda more kisses than either of
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Speaker 1: the others. Presently, a splendid banquet was served, and the
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Speaker 1: king and his daughter sat down to it. And, as
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Speaker 1: he always thought there was some special meaning in everything,
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Speaker 1: he said to the eldest, tell me why you have
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Speaker 1: chosen a green dress? Sire? She answered, having heard of
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Speaker 1: your victories, I thought that green would signify my joy
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Speaker 1: and the hope of your speedy return. That is a
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Speaker 1: very good answer, said the king, and you, my daughter,
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Speaker 1: he continued, Why did you take a blue dress, sire,
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Speaker 1: said the princess, to show that we constantly hoped for
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Speaker 1: your success, and that the sight of you is as
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Speaker 1: welcome to me as the sky with its most beautiful stars. Why,
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Speaker 1: said the king, Your wise answers astonish me. And you, Miranda,
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Speaker 1: what made you dress yourself all in white? Because, sire,
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Speaker 1: she answered, white suits me better than anything else. What,
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Speaker 1: said the king angrily? Was that all you thought of?
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Speaker 1: Vain child? I thought you would be pleased with me,
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Speaker 1: said the princess. That was all. The King, who loved her,
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Speaker 1: was satisfied with this, and even pretended to be pleased
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Speaker 1: that she had not told him all her reasons at first.
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Speaker 1: And now he said, as I have supped well and
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Speaker 1: it is not time yet to go to bed, tell
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Speaker 1: me what you dreamed last night? The eldest said she
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Speaker 1: had dreamed that he brought her a dress and the
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Speaker 1: precious stones and gold embroidery. On it were brighter than
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Speaker 1: the sun. The dream of the second was that the
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Speaker 1: king had brought her a spinning wheel and a distaff,
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Speaker 1: that she might spin him some shirts. But the youngest said,
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Speaker 1: I dreamed that my second sister was to be married,
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Speaker 1: and on her wedding day you father held a golden
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Speaker 1: ewer and said, come, Miranda, and I will hold the
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Speaker 1: water that you may dip your hands in it. The
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Speaker 1: king was very angry, indeed when he heard this dream,
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Speaker 1: and frowned horribly. Indeed, he made such an ugly face
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Speaker 1: that everyone knew how angry he was. And he got
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Speaker 1: up and went off to bed in a great hurry.
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Speaker 1: But he could not forget his daughter's dream. Does the
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Speaker 1: proud girl wish to make me her slave? He said
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Speaker 1: to himself, I am not surprised at her choosing to
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Speaker 1: dress herself in white satin without a thought of me.
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Speaker 1: She does not think me worthy of her consideration. But
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Speaker 1: I will soon put an end to her pretensions. He
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Speaker 1: rose in a fury, and although it was not yet daylight,
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Speaker 1: he sent for the captain of his bodyguard, and said
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Speaker 1: to him, you have heard the princess Miranda's dream. I
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Speaker 1: consider that it means strange things against me. Therefore I
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Speaker 1: order you to take her away into the forest and
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Speaker 1: kill her, and that I may be sure it is done.
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Speaker 1: You must bring me her heart and her tongue. If
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Speaker 1: you attempt to deceive me, you shall be put to death.
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Speaker 1: The captain of the guard was very much astonished when
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Speaker 1: he heard this barbarous order, but he did not dare
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Speaker 1: to contradict the King, for fear of making him still
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Speaker 1: more angry, or causing him to send some one else.
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Speaker 1: So he answered that he would fetch the princess and
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Speaker 1: do as the King had said. When he went to
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Speaker 1: her room, they would hardly let him in it was
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Speaker 1: so early. But he said that the King had sent
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Speaker 1: for Miranda, and she got up quickly and came out.
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Speaker 1: A little black girl called Patty Patta held up her train,
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Speaker 1: and her pet monkey and her little dog ran after her.
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Speaker 1: The monkey was called Gribugian, and the little dog Tintin.
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Speaker 1: The captain of the guard begged Miranda to come down
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Speaker 1: into the garden, where the King was enjoying the fresh air,
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Speaker 1: and when they got there, he pretended to search for him,
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Speaker 1: but as he was not to be found, he said,
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Speaker 1: no doubt his majesty has strolled into the forest, and
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Speaker 1: he opened the little door that led to it, and
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Speaker 1: they went through. By this time the daylight had begun
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Speaker 1: to appear, and the princess, looking at her conductor, saw
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Speaker 1: that he had tears in his eyes and seemed too
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Speaker 1: sad to speak. What is the matter, she said, in
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Speaker 1: the kindest way, you seem very sorrowful. Alas, Princess, he answered,
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Speaker 1: who would not be sorrowful? Who was ordered to do
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Speaker 1: such a terrible thing as I am. The King has
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Speaker 1: commanded me to kill you here and carry your heart
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Speaker 1: and tongue to him, and if I disobey, I shall
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Speaker 1: lose my life. The poor princess was terrified. She grew
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Speaker 1: very pale and began to cry softly. Looking up at
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Speaker 1: the captain of the Guard with her beautiful eyes, she
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Speaker 1: said gently, will you really have the heart to kill me?
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Speaker 1: I have never done you any harm, and have always
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Speaker 1: spoken well of you to the King. If I had
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Speaker 1: deserved my father's anger, I would suffer without a murmur.
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Speaker 1: But Alas he is unjust to complain of me when
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Speaker 1: I have always treated him with love and respect. Fear nothing, Princess,
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Speaker 1: said the captain of the guard. I would far rather
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Speaker 1: die myself than hurt you. But even if I am killed,
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Speaker 1: you will not be safe. We must find some way
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Speaker 1: of making the king believe that you are dead. What
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Speaker 1: can we do, said Miranda, Unless you take him my
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Speaker 1: heart and my tongue, he will never believe you. The
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Speaker 1: princess and the captain of the guard were talking so
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Speaker 1: earnestly that they did not think of Patty Patda. But
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Speaker 1: she had overheard all they said, and now came and
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Speaker 1: threw herself at Miranda's feet. Madame, she said, I offer
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Speaker 1: you my life, let me be killed. I shall only
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Speaker 1: be too happy to die for such a kind mistress.
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Speaker 1: Why Patty Padda, cried the princess, kissing her that would
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Speaker 1: never do. Your life is as precious to me as
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Speaker 1: my own, especially after such a proof of your affection
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Speaker 1: as you have just given me. You are right, Princess,
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Speaker 1: said grub Boujian, coming forward to love such a faithful
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Speaker 1: slave as Patty Patda, She is of more use to
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Speaker 1: you than I am. I offer you my tongue in
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Speaker 1: my heart most willingly, especially as I wish to make
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Speaker 1: a great name for myself in Goblin Land. Oh no,
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Speaker 1: my little Grabugian, replied Miranda, I cannot bear the thought
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Speaker 1: of taking your life such a good little dog as
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Speaker 1: I am, cried Tintin could not think of letting either
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Speaker 1: of you die for his mistress. If any one is
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Speaker 1: to die for her, it must be me. And then
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Speaker 1: began a great dispute between Patty Padda, Grabugian, and Tintin,
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Speaker 1: and they came to high words, until at last Grobunjian,
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Speaker 1: who was quicker than the others, ran up to the
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Speaker 1: very top of the nearest tree and let herself fall
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Speaker 1: head first to the ground, and there she lay quite dead.
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Speaker 1: The princess was very sorry, but as Grabugian was really dead,
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Speaker 1: she allowed the captain of the guard to take her tongue.
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Speaker 1: But alas it was such a little one, not bigger
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Speaker 1: than the princess's thumb, that they decided sorrowfully that it
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Speaker 1: was of no use at all. The king would not
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Speaker 1: have been taken in by it for a moment. Alas
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Speaker 1: my little monkey cried the princess, I have lost you,
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Speaker 1: and yet I am no better off than I was before.
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Speaker 1: The honor of saving your life is to be mine,
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Speaker 1: interrupted Paddy Padda, And before they could prevent her. She
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Speaker 1: had picked up a knife and cut her head off
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Speaker 1: in an instant, but when the Captain of the Guard
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Speaker 1: would have taken her tongue, it turned out to be
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Speaker 1: quite black, so that would not have deceived the king either.
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Speaker 1: Am I not unlucky, cried the poor princess. I lose
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Speaker 1: everything I love and am none the better for it.
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Speaker 1: If you had accepted my offer, said Tintin, you would
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Speaker 1: only have had me to regret, and I should have
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Speaker 1: had all your gratitude. Miranda kissed her little dog, crying
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Speaker 1: so bitterly that at last she could bear it no longer,
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Speaker 1: and turned away into the forest. When she looked back,
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Speaker 1: the Captain of the Guard was gone, and she was
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Speaker 1: alone except for Paddy, Patda Gribugian and Tintin, who lay
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Speaker 1: upon the ground. She could not leave the place until
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Speaker 1: she had buried them in a pretty little mossy grave
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Speaker 1: at the foot of a tree, and she wrote their
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Speaker 1: names upon the bark of the tree, and how they
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Speaker 1: had all died to save her life. And then she
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Speaker 1: began to think where she could go for safety, for
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Speaker 1: this forest was so close to her father's castle that
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Speaker 1: she might be seen and recognized by the first passer by,
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Speaker 1: And besides that, it was full of line and wolves
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Speaker 1: who would have snapped up a princess just as soon
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Speaker 1: as a stray chicken. So she began to walk as
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Speaker 1: fast as she could, But the forest was so large
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Speaker 1: and the sun was so hot that she nearly died
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Speaker 1: of heat and terror and fatigue. Look which way she
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Speaker 1: would there seemed to be no end to the forest,
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Speaker 1: and she was so frightened that she fancied every minute
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Speaker 1: that she heard the king running after her to kill her.
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Speaker 1: You may imagine how miserable she was, and how she
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Speaker 1: cried as she went on, not knowing which path to follow,
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Speaker 1: and with the thorny bushes scratching her dreadfully and tearing
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Speaker 1: her pretty frock to pieces. At last she heard the
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Speaker 1: bleating of a sheep, and said, to herself, no doubt,
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Speaker 1: there are shepherds here with their flocks. They will show
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Speaker 1: me the way to some village where I can live
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Speaker 1: disguised as a peasant girl. Alas, it is not always
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Speaker 1: kings and princes, who are the happiest people in the world,
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Speaker 1: who could have believed that I should ever be obliged
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Speaker 1: to run away and hide because the king, for no
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Speaker 1: reason at all, wishes to kill me. So saying, she
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Speaker 1: advanced toward the place where she heard the bleeding. But
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Speaker 1: what was her surprise when, in a lovely little glade,
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Speaker 1: quite so trees, she saw a large sheep. Its wool
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Speaker 1: was as white as snow, and its horns shone like gold.
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Speaker 1: It had a garland of flowers round its neck, and
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Speaker 1: strings of great pearls around its legs, and a collar
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Speaker 1: of diamonds. It lay upon a bank of orange flowers
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Speaker 1: under a canopy of cloth of gold, which protected it
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Speaker 1: from the heat of the sun. Nearly a hundred other
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Speaker 1: sheep were scattered about, not eating the grass, but some
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Speaker 1: drinking coffee, lemonade or sherbet, others eating ices, strawberries and cream,
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Speaker 1: or sweetmeats, while others again were playing games. Many of
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Speaker 1: them wore golden collars with jewels, flowers, and ribbons. Miranda
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Speaker 1: stopped short in amazement at this unexpected sight, and was
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Speaker 1: looking in all directions for the shepherd of this surprising flock.
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Speaker 1: When the beautiful sheep came bounding toward her approach, Lovely princess,
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Speaker 1: he cried, have no fear of such gentle and peaceable
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Speaker 1: animals as we are. What a marvel, cried the princess,
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Speaker 1: starting back a little. Here is a sheep that can talk.
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Speaker 1: Your monkey and your dog could talk, Madame said. He
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Speaker 1: are you more astonished at us than at them? A
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Speaker 1: fairy gave them the power to speak, replied Miranda, So
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Speaker 1: I was used to them. Perhaps the same thing has
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Speaker 1: happened to us, he said, smiling sheepishly. But Princess, what
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Speaker 1: can have led you here? A thousand misfortunes? Sir sheep?
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Speaker 1: She answered, I am the unhappiest princess in the world,
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Speaker 1: and I am seeking a shelter against my father's anger.
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Speaker 1: Come with me, Madame, said the sheep. I offer you
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Speaker 1: a hiding place which you only will know of, and
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Speaker 1: where you will be mistress of everything you see. I
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Speaker 1: really cannot follow you, said Miranda, for I am too
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Speaker 1: tired to walk another step. The sheep with the golden
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Speaker 1: horns ordered that his chariot should be fetched, and a
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Speaker 1: moment after appeared six goats harnessed to a pumpkin, which
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Speaker 1: was so big that two people could quite well sit
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Speaker 1: in it, and was all lined with cushions of velvet.
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Speaker 1: And down the princess stepped into it, much amused at
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Speaker 1: such a new kind of carriage, and the King of
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Speaker 1: the sheep took his place beside her, and the goats
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Speaker 1: ran away with them at full speed, and only stopped
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Speaker 1: when they reached a cavern, the entrance to which was
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Speaker 1: blocked by a great stone. This the king touched with
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Speaker 1: his foot, and immediately it fell down, and he invited
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Speaker 1: the princess to enter without fear. Now, if she had
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Speaker 1: not been so alarmed by everything that had happened, nothing
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Speaker 1: could have induced her to go into this frightful cave.
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Speaker 1: But she was so afraid of what might be behind
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Speaker 1: her that she would have thrown herself even down a
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Speaker 1: well at this moment. So without hesitation, she followed the sheep,
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Speaker 1: who went before her, down, down, down, until she thought
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Speaker 1: they must come out at the other side of the world. Indeed,
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Speaker 1: she was not sure that he wasn't leading her into fairyland.
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Speaker 1: At last she saw before her a great plain quite
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Speaker 1: covered with all sorts of flowers, the scent of which
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Speaker 1: seemed to her nicer than anything she had ever smelled before.
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Speaker 1: A broad river of orange flower water flowed round it,
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Speaker 1: and fountains of wine of every kind ran in all
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Speaker 1: directions and made the prettiest little cascades and brooks. The
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Speaker 1: plain was covered with the strangest trees. There were whole
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Speaker 1: avenues where partridges ready roast and hung from every branch.
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Speaker 1: Or If you preferred pheasants, quails, turkeys, or rabbits, you
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Speaker 1: had only to turn to the right hand or to
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Speaker 1: the left, and you were sure to find them in
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Speaker 1: places the air was darkened by showers of lobster patties,
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Speaker 1: white puddings, sausages, tarts, and all sorts of sweetmeats, or
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Speaker 1: with pieces of gold and silver, diamonds and pearls. This
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Speaker 1: unusual kind of rain, and the pleasantness of the whole
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Speaker 1: place would no doubt have attracted numbers of people to
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Speaker 1: it if the King of the Sheep had been of
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Speaker 1: a more sociable disposition. But from all accounts it is
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Speaker 1: evident that he was as grave as a judge. As
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Speaker 1: it was quite the nicest time of the year when
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Speaker 1: Miranda arrived in this delightful land, the only palace she
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Speaker 1: saw was a long row of orange trees, jasmines, honeysuckles,
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Speaker 1: and musk roses, and their interlacing branches made the prettiest
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Speaker 1: rooms possible, which were hung with gold and silver gauze,
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Speaker 1: and had great mirrors and candlesticks and most beautiful pictures.
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Speaker 1: The wonderful sheep begged that the princess would consider herself
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Speaker 1: queen over all that she saw, and assured her that
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Speaker 1: though for some years he had been very sad and
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Speaker 1: in great trouble, she had it in her power to
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Speaker 1: make him forgetful of all his grief. You are so
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Speaker 1: kind and generous, noble sheep, said the princess, that I
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Speaker 1: cannot thank you enough, But I must confess that all
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Speaker 1: I see here seems to me so extraordinary that I
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Speaker 1: don't know what to think of it. As she spoke,
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Speaker 1: a band of lovely fairies came up and offered her
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Speaker 1: amber baskets full of fruit. But when she held out
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Speaker 1: her hands to them, they glided away, and she could
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Speaker 1: feel nothing when she tried to touch them. Oh, she cried,
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Speaker 1: what can they be? Whom am I with? And she
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Speaker 1: began to cry. At this instant, the king of the
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Speaker 1: sheep came back to her and was so distracted to
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Speaker 1: find her in tears that he could have torn his wool.
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Speaker 1: What is the matter, lovely princess, he cried, has anyone
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Speaker 1: failed to treat you with due respect? Oh no, said Miranda.
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Speaker 1: Only I am not used to living with sprites and
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Speaker 1: with sheep that talk, and everything here frightens me. It
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Speaker 1: was very kind of you to bring me to this,
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Speaker 1: but I shall be even more grateful to you if
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Speaker 1: you will take me up into the world again. Do
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Speaker 1: not be afraid, said the wonderful sheep. I entreat you
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Speaker 1: to have patience and listen to the story of my misfortunes.
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Speaker 1: I was once a king, and my kingdom was the
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Speaker 1: most splendid in the world. My subjects loved me, my
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Speaker 1: neighbors envied and feared me. I was respected by every one,
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Speaker 1: and it was said that no king ever deserved it more.
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Speaker 1: I was very fond of hunting, and one day, while
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Speaker 1: chasing a stag, I left my attendants far behind. Suddenly
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Speaker 1: I saw the animal leap into a pool of water,
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Speaker 1: and I rashly urged my horse to follow it. But
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Speaker 1: before we had gone many steps, I felt an extraordinary heat.
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Speaker 1: Instead of the coolness of the water, the pond dried up,
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Speaker 1: A great gulf opened before me, out of which flames
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Speaker 1: of fire shot up, and I fell helplessly to the
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Speaker 1: bottom of a precipice. I gave myself up for lost.
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Speaker 1: But presently a voice said, ungrateful Prince, even this fire
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Speaker 1: is hardly enough to warm your cold heart. Who complains
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Speaker 1: of my coldness in this dismal place, I cried, an
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Speaker 1: unhappy being who loves you, hopelessly, replied the voice. And
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Speaker 1: at the same moment the flames began to flicker and
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Speaker 1: cease to burn, and I saw a fairy whom I
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Speaker 1: had known as long as I could remember, and whose
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Speaker 1: ugliness had always horrified me. She was leaning upon the
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Speaker 1: arm of a most beautiful young girl, who wore chains
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Speaker 1: of gold on her wrists, and was evidently her slave. Why, Ragott,
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Speaker 1: I said, for that was the fairy's name. What is
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Speaker 1: the meaning of all this? Is it by your orders
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Speaker 1: that I am here? And whose fault is it? She
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Speaker 1: answered that you have never understood me until now. Must
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Speaker 1: a powerful fairy like myself condescend to explain her doings
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Speaker 1: to you, who are no better than an aunt by comparison.
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Speaker 1: Though you think yourself a great king, call me what
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Speaker 1: you like, I said, impatiently, But what is it that
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Speaker 1: you want my crown, or my cities, or my treasures, treasures,
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Speaker 1: said the fairy disdainfully. If I choose, I could make
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Speaker 1: any one of my scullions richer and more powerful than you.
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Speaker 1: I do not want your treasures, but she added softly,
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Speaker 1: if you will give me your heart, if you will
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Speaker 1: marry me, I will add twenty kingdoms to the one
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Speaker 1: you have already. You shall have a hundred castles full
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Speaker 1: of gold and five hundred full of silver, and in short,
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Speaker 1: anything you like to ask me for, Madame Ragotte, I said,
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Speaker 1: when one is at the bottom of a pit where
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Speaker 1: one has fully expected to be roasted alive, it is
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Speaker 1: impossible to think of asking such a charming person as
17:21
Speaker 1: you are, to marry one. I beg that you will
17:23
Speaker 1: set me at liberty, and then I shall hope to
17:25
Speaker 1: answer you fittingly. Ah, she said, If you really loved me,
17:30
Speaker 1: you would not care where you were. A cave, a wood,
17:33
Speaker 1: a foxhole, a desert would please you equally well. Do
17:36
Speaker 1: not think that you can deceive me. You fancy you
17:39
Speaker 1: are going to escape, but I assure you that you
17:41
Speaker 1: are going to stay here. And the first thing I
17:43
Speaker 1: shall give you to do will be to keep my sheep.
17:45
Speaker 1: They are very good company and speak quite as well
17:48
Speaker 1: as you do. As she spoke, she advanced and led
17:50
Speaker 1: me to this plain where we now stand, and showed
17:52
Speaker 1: me her flock. But I paid little attention to it
17:55
Speaker 1: or to her, to tell the truth, I was so
17:57
Speaker 1: lost in admiration of her beautiful slave that I got
18:00
Speaker 1: everything else. And the cruel Ragot, perceiving this, turned upon
18:03
Speaker 1: her so furious and terrible a look that she fell
18:06
Speaker 1: lifeless to the ground. At this dreadful sight, I drew
18:09
Speaker 1: my sword and rushed at Ragot, and should certainly have
18:12
Speaker 1: cut off her head, had she not, by her magic arts,
18:14
Speaker 1: chained me to the spot on which I stood. All
18:17
Speaker 1: my efforts to move were useless, And at last, when
18:20
Speaker 1: I threw myself down on the ground in the despair,
18:22
Speaker 1: she said to me, with a scornful smile, I intend
18:25
Speaker 1: to make you feel my power. It seems that you
18:27
Speaker 1: are a lion at present. I mean you to be
18:30
Speaker 1: a sheep, so saying, she touched me with her wand
18:33
Speaker 1: and I became what you see. I did not lose
18:36
Speaker 1: the power of speech or of feeling the misery of
18:38
Speaker 1: my present state. For five years, she said, you shall
18:42
Speaker 1: be a sheep and lord of this pleasant land. While
18:45
Speaker 1: I no longer able to see her face, which I
18:47
Speaker 1: loved so much, shall be better able to hate you
18:50
Speaker 1: as you deserved to be hated. She disappeared as she
18:54
Speaker 1: finished speaking, and if I had not been too unhappy
18:56
Speaker 1: to care about anything, I should have been glad that
18:58
Speaker 1: she was gone. The talk king sheep received me as
19:01
Speaker 1: their king and told me that they too were unfortunate princes,
19:03
Speaker 1: who had, in different ways, offended the revengeful fairy, and
19:07
Speaker 1: had been added to her flock for a certain number
19:09
Speaker 1: of years, some more, some less. From time to time. Indeed,
19:13
Speaker 1: one regains his own proper form and goes back again
19:15
Speaker 1: to his place in the upper world. But the other
19:18
Speaker 1: beings whom you saw are the rivals or the enemies
19:20
Speaker 1: of Ragot, whom she has imprisoned for a hundred years
19:23
Speaker 1: or so, even though they will go back at last.
19:26
Speaker 1: The young slave of whom I told you about is
19:28
Speaker 1: one of these. I have seen her often, and it
19:30
Speaker 1: has been a great pleasure to me. She never speaks
19:32
Speaker 1: to me, and if I were nearer to her, I
19:35
Speaker 1: know I should find her only a shadow, which would
19:37
Speaker 1: be very annoying. However, I noticed that one of my
19:40
Speaker 1: companions in misfortune was also very attentive to this little sprite,
19:44
Speaker 1: and I found out that he had been her lover,
19:46
Speaker 1: whom the cruel ragot had taken away from her long before.
19:49
Speaker 1: Since then, I have cared for and thought of nothing
19:52
Speaker 1: but how I might regain my freedom. I have often
19:55
Speaker 1: been in the forest, that is where I have seen you,
19:57
Speaker 1: lovely princess, sometimes driving your chariot, which you did with
20:00
Speaker 1: all the grace and skill in the world, Sometimes riding
20:03
Speaker 1: to the chase on so spirited a horse that it
20:06
Speaker 1: seemed as if no one but yourself could have managed it.
20:08
Speaker 1: And sometimes running races on the plain with the princesses
20:11
Speaker 1: of your court, running so lightly that it was you
20:13
Speaker 1: always who won the prize. O Princess, I have loved
20:17
Speaker 1: you so long, and yet how dare I tell you
20:19
Speaker 1: of my love? What hope can there be for an
20:21
Speaker 1: unhappy sheep like myself? Miranda was so surprised and confused
20:26
Speaker 1: by all that she had heard that she hardly knew
20:28
Speaker 1: what answer to give to the King of the sheep.
20:30
Speaker 1: But she managed to make some kind of little speech
20:32
Speaker 1: which certainly did not forbid him to hope, and said
20:35
Speaker 1: that she should not be afraid of the shadows. Now
20:37
Speaker 1: she knew that they would some day come to life again.
20:39
Speaker 1: Alas she continued, if my poor Patty Padda, my dear Grebugian,
20:44
Speaker 1: and pretty little Tintin, who all died for my sake,
20:46
Speaker 1: were equally well off, I should have nothing left to
20:49
Speaker 1: wish for here prisoner, though he was the King of
20:52
Speaker 1: the Sheep, had still some powers and privileges. Go, said
20:56
Speaker 1: he to his master of the horse, Go and seek
20:58
Speaker 1: the shadows of the little black girl, the monkey, and
21:00
Speaker 1: the dog. They will amuse our princess. And an instant afterward,
21:04
Speaker 1: Miranda saw them coming toward her, and their presence gave
21:07
Speaker 1: her the greatest pleasure, though they did not come near
21:09
Speaker 1: enough for her to touch them. The King of the
21:11
Speaker 1: Sheep was so kind and amusing, and loved Miranda so
21:14
Speaker 1: dearly that at last she began to love him too.
21:18
Speaker 1: Such a handsome sheep who was so polite and considerate
21:20
Speaker 1: could hardly fail to please, especially if one knew that
21:23
Speaker 1: he was really a king, and that his strange imprisonment
21:26
Speaker 1: would soon come to an end. So the princess's days
21:29
Speaker 1: passed very gaily while she waited for the happy time
21:32
Speaker 1: to come. The King of the sheep, with the help
21:34
Speaker 1: of all the flock, got up balls, concerts and hunting parties,
21:37
Speaker 1: and even the shadows joined in all the fun and
21:40
Speaker 1: came making believe to be their own real selves. One evening,
21:44
Speaker 1: when the couriers arrived for the king sent most carefully
21:47
Speaker 1: for news, and they always brought the very best kinds.
21:50
Speaker 1: It was announced that the sister of the Princess Miranda
21:52
Speaker 1: was going to be married to a great prince. And
21:54
Speaker 1: nothing could be more splendid than all the preparations for
21:57
Speaker 1: the wedding. Ah, cried the young princess. How unlucky I
22:00
Speaker 1: am to miss the sight of so many pretty things.
22:03
Speaker 1: Here am I imprisoned under the earth, with no company
22:06
Speaker 1: but sheep and shadows, while my sister is to be
22:08
Speaker 1: adorned like a queen and surrounded by all who love
22:11
Speaker 1: and admire her, and every one but myself can go
22:13
Speaker 1: to wish her joy. Why do you complain, princess, said
22:17
Speaker 1: the King of the sheep. Did I say that you
22:19
Speaker 1: were not to go to the wedding? Set out as
22:21
Speaker 1: soon as you please. Only promise me that you will
22:24
Speaker 1: come back, for I love you too much to be
22:25
Speaker 1: able to live without you. Miranda was very grateful to him,
22:29
Speaker 1: and promised faithfully that nothing in the world should keep
22:32
Speaker 1: her from coming back. The king caused an escort suitable
22:35
Speaker 1: to her rank to be got ready for her, and
22:37
Speaker 1: she dressed herself splendidly, not forgetting anything that could make
22:40
Speaker 1: her more beautiful. Her chariot was of mother of Pearl,
22:44
Speaker 1: drawn by six dun colored griffins, just brought from the
22:46
Speaker 1: other side of the world, and she was attended by
22:49
Speaker 1: a number of guards and splendid uniforms, who were all
22:52
Speaker 1: at least eight feet high and had come from far
22:54
Speaker 1: and near to ride in the princess's train. Miranda reached
22:57
Speaker 1: her father's palace just as the wedding ceremony he began,
23:00
Speaker 1: and everyone, as soon as she came in was struck
23:03
Speaker 1: with surprise at her beauty and the splendor of her jewels.
23:06
Speaker 1: She heard exclamations of admiration on all sides, and the
23:09
Speaker 1: king her father, looked at her so attentively that she
23:12
Speaker 1: was afraid he must recognize her, But he was so
23:14
Speaker 1: sure that she was dead that the idea never occurred
23:16
Speaker 1: to him. However, the fear of not getting away made
23:20
Speaker 1: her leave before the marriage was over. She went out
23:23
Speaker 1: hastily leaving behind her a little coral casket set with
23:26
Speaker 1: emeralds on It was written in diamond letters Jewels for
23:29
Speaker 1: the bride, and when they opened it, which they did
23:32
Speaker 1: as soon as it was found, there seemed to be
23:33
Speaker 1: no end to the pretty things it contained. The king,
23:37
Speaker 1: who had hoped to join the unknown princess and find
23:39
Speaker 1: out who she was, was dreadfully disappointed when she disappeared
23:42
Speaker 1: so suddenly, and gave orders that if she ever came again,
23:45
Speaker 1: the doors were to be shut, that she might not
23:47
Speaker 1: get away. So easily short as Miranda's absence had been,
23:50
Speaker 1: it had seemed like a hundred years to the King
23:52
Speaker 1: of the Sheep. He was waiting for her by a
23:54
Speaker 1: fountain in the thickest part of the forest, and the
23:57
Speaker 1: ground was strewn with splendid presents which he had prepared
23:59
Speaker 1: for her to show his joy and gratitude at her
24:01
Speaker 1: coming back. As soon as she was in sight, he
24:04
Speaker 1: rushed to meet her, leaping and bounding like a real sheep.
24:07
Speaker 1: He caressed her tenderly, throwing himself at her feet and
24:10
Speaker 1: kissing her hands, and told her how uneasy he had
24:13
Speaker 1: been in her absence, and how impatient for her return
24:15
Speaker 1: was an eloquence which charmed her. After some time came
24:19
Speaker 1: the news that the king's second daughter was going to
24:21
Speaker 1: be married. When Miranda heard it, she begged the King
24:24
Speaker 1: of the Sheep to allow her to go and see
24:26
Speaker 1: the wedding. As before. This request made him feel very sad,
24:29
Speaker 1: as if some misfortune must surely come of it, But
24:32
Speaker 1: his love for the princess being stronger than anything else,
24:35
Speaker 1: he did not like to refuse her. You wish to
24:38
Speaker 1: leave me, princess, said he. It is my unhappy fate.
24:42
Speaker 1: You are not to blame. I consent to your going,
24:45
Speaker 1: but believe me, I can give you no stronger proof
24:48
Speaker 1: of my love than by so doing. The princess assured
24:52
Speaker 1: him that she would only stay a very short time,
24:54
Speaker 1: as she had done before, and begged him not to
24:56
Speaker 1: be uneasy, as she would be quite as much grieved
24:58
Speaker 1: if anything detained her as he he could possibly be.
25:02
Speaker 1: So with the same escort, she set out and reached
25:05
Speaker 1: the palace as the marriage ceremony began. Everybody was delighted
25:08
Speaker 1: to see her. She was so pretty that they thought
25:11
Speaker 1: she must be some fairy princess, and the princes who
25:13
Speaker 1: were there could not take their eyes off her. The
25:16
Speaker 1: King was more glad than any one else that she
25:18
Speaker 1: had come again, and gave orders that the doors should
25:20
Speaker 1: all be shut and bolted. That very minute, when the
25:23
Speaker 1: wedding was all but over, the princess got up quickly,
25:26
Speaker 1: hoping to slip away unnoticed among the crowd, but to
25:29
Speaker 1: her great dismay, she found every door fastened. She felt
25:33
Speaker 1: more at ease when the King came up to her,
25:35
Speaker 1: and with the greatest respect begged her not to run
25:37
Speaker 1: away so soon, but at least to honor him by
25:40
Speaker 1: staying for the splendid feast which was prepared for the
25:42
Speaker 1: princes and princesses. He led her into a magnificent hall
25:46
Speaker 1: where all the court was assembled, and himself, taking up
25:49
Speaker 1: the golden bowl full of water, he offered it to
25:51
Speaker 1: her that she might dip her pretty fingers into it.
25:54
Speaker 1: At this the princess could no longer contain herself, throwing
25:57
Speaker 1: herself at the king's feet, she cried out, my dream
25:59
Speaker 1: has come true. After all, you have offered me water
26:02
Speaker 1: to wash my hands on my sister's wedding day, and
26:04
Speaker 1: it has not vexed you to do it. The King
26:06
Speaker 1: recognized her at once, indeed, he had already thought several
26:09
Speaker 1: times how much like his poor little Miranda she was. Oh,
26:13
Speaker 1: my dear daughter, he cried, kissing her, can you ever
26:15
Speaker 1: forget my cruelty? I ordered you to be put to
26:18
Speaker 1: death because I thought your dream pretended the loss of
26:20
Speaker 1: my crown, and so it did. He added, For now
26:23
Speaker 1: your sisters are both married and have kingdoms of their own,
26:26
Speaker 1: and mine shall be for you. So saying, he put
26:29
Speaker 1: his crown on the princess's head and cried, long Live
26:31
Speaker 1: Queen Miranda. All the court cried long Live Queen Miranda
26:36
Speaker 1: after him, and the young queen's two sisters came running
26:39
Speaker 1: up and threw their arms round her neck and kissed
26:41
Speaker 1: her a thousand times. And then there was such a
26:43
Speaker 1: laughing and crying, talking and kissing all at once, and
26:46
Speaker 1: Miranda thanked her father and began to ask after every one,
26:49
Speaker 1: particularly the Captain of the Guard, to whom she owed
26:51
Speaker 1: so much. But to her great sorrow she heard that
26:54
Speaker 1: he was dead. Presently they sat down to the banquet,
26:57
Speaker 1: and the king asked Miranda to tell them all that
26:59
Speaker 1: had happened to her since the terrible morning when he
27:02
Speaker 1: had sent the Captain of the Guard to fetch her.
27:04
Speaker 1: This she did was so much spirit that all the
27:06
Speaker 1: guests listened with breathless interest. But while she was thus
27:10
Speaker 1: enjoying herself with the king and her sisters, the King
27:13
Speaker 1: of the Sheep was waiting impatiently for the time of
27:15
Speaker 1: her return. And when it came and went and no
27:18
Speaker 1: princess appeared, his anxiety became so great that he could
27:21
Speaker 1: bear it no longer. She is not coming back any more,
27:25
Speaker 1: he cried, My miserable sheep's face displeases her, and without Miranda,
27:29
Speaker 1: what is this life to me? Wretched creature that I am?
27:32
Speaker 1: Oh cruel ruggot, my punishment is complete. For a long
27:36
Speaker 1: time he bewailed his sad fate like this, And then,
27:39
Speaker 1: seeing that it was growing dark and that still there
27:41
Speaker 1: was no sign of the princess, he set out as
27:43
Speaker 1: fast as he could in the direction of the town.
27:46
Speaker 1: When he reached the palace, he asked for Miranda, But
27:49
Speaker 1: by this time everyone had heard the story of her
27:51
Speaker 1: adventure and did not want her to go back again
27:53
Speaker 1: to the King of the Sheep, so they refused sternly
27:55
Speaker 1: to let him see her. In vain, he begged and
27:58
Speaker 1: prayed them to let him in, though his entreaties might
28:01
Speaker 1: have melted hearts of stone. They did not move the
28:03
Speaker 1: guards of the palace, and at last, quite broken hearted,
28:07
Speaker 1: he fell dead at their feet. In the meantime, the king,
28:10
Speaker 1: who had not the least idea of the sad thing
28:12
Speaker 1: that was happening outside the gate of his palace, proposed
28:15
Speaker 1: to Miranda that she should be driven in her chariot
28:17
Speaker 1: all round the town, which was to be eliminated with
28:19
Speaker 1: thousands and thousands of torches placed in windows and balconies
28:23
Speaker 1: and in all the grand squares. But what a sight
28:26
Speaker 1: met her eyes. At the very entrance of the palace.
28:29
Speaker 1: There lay her dear kind sheep, silent and motionless upon
28:33
Speaker 1: the pavement. She threw herself out of the chariot and
28:36
Speaker 1: ran to him, crying bitterly, for she realized that her
28:39
Speaker 1: broken promise had cost him his life. And for a
28:42
Speaker 1: long long time she was so unhappy that they thought
28:45
Speaker 1: she would have died too. So you see that even
28:49
Speaker 1: a princess is not always happy, especially if she forgets
28:52
Speaker 1: to keep her word. And the greatest misfortunes often happen
28:55
Speaker 1: to people just as they think they have obtained their
28:58
Speaker 1: heart's desires. And of the wonderful sheep,