16-the white cat-第5章

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of　the　guards；　it　was　hewn　out　of　one　splendid　crystal；　and

had　silken　curtains；　which　she　drew　round　her　that　she

might　not　be　seen。



The　Prince　saw　his　brothers　walking　upon　the　terrace；

each　with　a　lovely　princess；　and　they　came　to　meet　him；

asking　if　he　had　also　found　a　wife。　He　said　that　he　had

found　something　much　rarera　white　cat！　At　which　they

laughed　very　much；　and　asked　him　if　he　was　afraid　of

being　eaten　up　by　mice　in　the　palace。　And　then　they　set

out　together　for　the　town。　Each　prince　and　princess　rode

in　a　splendid　carriage；　the　horses　were　decked　with　plumes

of　feathers；　and　glittered　with　gold。　After　them　came　the

youngest　prince；　and　last　of　all　the　crystal　chair；　at　which

everybody　looked　with　admiration　and　curiosity。　When

the　courtiers　saw　them　coming　they　hastened　to　tell　the

King。



〃Are　the　ladies　beautiful？〃　he　asked　anxiously。



And　when　they　answered　that　nobody　had　ever　before

seen　such　lovely　princesses　he　seemed　quite　annoyed。



However；　he　received　them　graciously；　but　found　it

impossible　to　choose　between　them。



Then　turning　to　his　youngest　son　he　said：



〃Have　you　come　back　alone；　after　all？〃



〃Your　Majesty；〃　replied　the　Prince；　〃will　find　in　that

crystal　chair　a　little　white　cat；　which　has　such　soft　paws；

and　mews　so　prettily；　that　I　am　sure　you　will　be　charmed

with　it。〃



The　King　smiled；　and　went　to　draw　back　the　curtains

himself；　but　at　a　touch　from　the　Princess　the　crystal

shivered　into　a　thousand　splinters；　and　there　she　stood　in

all　her　beauty；　her　fair　hair　floated　over　her　shoulders　and

was　crowned　with　flowers；　and　her　softly　falling　robe　was

of　the　purest　white。　She　saluted　the　King　gracefully；

while　a　murmur　of　admiration　rose　from　all　around。



〃Sire；〃　she　said；　〃I　am　not　come　to　deprive　you　of　the

throne　you　fill　so　worthily。　I　have　already　six　kingdoms；

permit　me　to　bestow　one　upon　you；　and　upon　each　of　your

sons。　I　ask　nothing　but　your　friendship；　and　your　consent

to　my　marriage　with　your　youngest　son；　we　shall　still　have

three　kingdoms　left　for　ourselves。〃



The　King　and　all　the　courtiers　could　not　conceal　their

joy　and　astonishment；　and　the　marriage　of　the　three

Princes　was　celebrated　at　once。　The　festivities　lasted

several　months；　and　then　each　king　and　queen　departed　to

their　own　kingdom　and　lived　happily　ever　after。＇1＇





＇1＇　La　Chatte　blanche。　Par　Madame　la　Comtesse　d'Aulnoy。