FullReads

“The wicked alone are to be feared,” answered Rose. “I am very glad to hear that you are a king, for I know that you will be my husband.”

The prince, who little guessed the enchanter’s communication, was confounded by the unembarrassed freedom of her manner; but it was far from displeasing to him. “You are ambitious,” said he, smiling; “but there is nothing to which beauty may not pretend. Tell me only how I can have the happiness of serving you, and you shall see that everything is possible to love.”

Rose sat down on the grass, and related in very simple terms the story of the purse; confessed that she had deceived him, and that, so far from being severely treated at home, she was now weeping her mother’s loss; that the king must take measures for the discovery and liberation of her family, before he could hope to win her affections, or pretend to her hand.

The enamoured monarch vowed he would not lose a moment; and although she behaved with much dignity, her every word and look was adorable in his eyes. Rose thought all night of the fine fortune of being a queen; she would then no longer wear wooden shoes; and, above all, might have an opportunity of being useful to her dear parents.

These meetings continued every alternate day during a week; and the queen dowager was informed that her son neglected all business, and thought of nothing but making love. She was in despair. This prince was surnamed the Terrible, by reason of his ferocity to women: till that moment he had never loved, but he had frequently made pretence of it, and when successful, it was not unusual with him to cut out the poor ladies’ tongues, put out their eyes, or even throw them into the sea. The least pretext sufficed for this; and the queen, who was of a kind disposition, lamented that yet another victim was preparing. The courtiers begged her to be tranquil; said it was nothing more than the daughter of a poor woodcutter whom his majesty now admired, and that if he did kill her, it would be of little consequence.

But the courtiers, and the queen dowager herself, were altogether bewildered when the king, having liberated the woodcutter and his family, brought Rose to the palace as his wife. She was not at all abashed or out of countenance; she behaved with the utmost respect to the queen, and with affability to all. It was universally remarked: “The king has committed a folly, but that charming girl is his excuse, and no man would have been wiser under similar circumstances.”

A grand ball was given in the evening. Rose danced well enough for a queen; and she yielded herself up entirely to the enchantment of such a happy day. The prince, ever eager to be near her, was figuring away in a quadrille, when twelve o’clock struck: great, then, was his astonishment, while gazing passionately on his partner, he beheld–a negress!

“What metamorphosis is this?” cried he, rudely seizing her arm; “where is the princess I married to-day?”

Rose bent her head in confusion; it still bore her diamonds, and her crown,–no doubt could exist of her identity.

“Wretched, hideous black, thou shalt surely die!” cried the king; “none shall deceive me with impunity.” He then drew a poniard, and was preparing to take instant vengeance, when, recollecting himself–“I do thee too much honour,” said he; “rather let my cooks cut thee in pieces to make a hash for my hounds.”

The old queen, as humane as her son was cruel, knew there was but one means of saving the unfortunate victim; this was to appear still more enraged than the king.

“I truly feel this injury,” said she; “some times you have reproached my weakness, but now behold a proof that I also can avenge. Your orders must be strictly fulfilled–I myself shall witness the execution.” She then signed to the guards to lay hold of the unfortunate Rose, who was dragged away by an iron chain fastened round her neck. She gave herself up for lost, and uttering the most heart-rending cries, was led away to a pigeon-house at the end of the palace, furnished with some clean straw, where, however, the queen promised to come on the following day.