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Hoping she may tread on them。
And bright flowers on slender stem
Gaze up at her as she passes
Brushing lightly through the grasses。
Oh！ my Princess； birds above
Echo back our songs of love；
As through this enchanted land
Blithe we wander； hand in hand。
They really were as happy as the day was long。 All the
King's unsuccessful rivals had gone home in despair。
They said good…by to the Princess so sadly that she could
not help being sorry for them。
〃Ah！ madam；〃 the King of the Gold Mines said to her
〃how is this？ Why do you waste your pity on these
princes； who love you so much that all their trouble would
be well repaid by a single smile from you？〃
〃I should be sorry；〃 answered Bellissima； 〃if you had
not noticed how much I pitied these princes who were
leaving me for ever； but for you； sire； it is very different：
you have every reason to be pleased with me； but they are
going sorrowfully away； so you must not grudge them my
compassion。〃
The King of the Gold Mines was quite overcome by the
Princess's good…natured way of taking his interference；
and； throwing himself at her feet； he kissed her hand a
thousand times and begged her to forgive him。
At last the happy day came。 Everything was ready
for Bellissima's wedding。 The trumpets sounded； all the
streets of the town were hung with flags and strewn with
flowers； and the people ran in crowds to the great square
before the palace。 The Queen was so overjoyed that she
had hardly been able to sleep at all； and she got up before
it was light to give the necessary orders and to choose the
jewels that the Princess was to wear。 These were nothing
less than diamonds； even to her shoes； which were covered
with them； and her dress of silver brocade was embroidered
with a dozen of the sun's rays。 You may imagine
how much these had cost； but then nothing could have
been more brilliant； except the beauty of the Princess！
Upon her head she wore a splendid crown； her lovely hair
waved nearly to her feet； and her stately figure could
easily be distinguished among all the ladies who attended
her。
The King of the Gold Mines was not less noble and
splendid； it was easy to see by his face how happy he was；
and everyone who went near him returned loaded with
presents； for all round the great banqueting hall had been
arranged a thousand barrels full of gold； and numberless
bags made of velvet embroidered with pearls and filled
with money； each one containing at least a hundred
thousand gold pieces； which were given away to everyone
who liked to hold out his hand； which numbers of people
hastened to do； you may be sureindeed； some found
this by far the most amusing part of the wedding festivities。
The Queen and the Princess were just ready to set out
with the King when they saw； advancing toward them
from the end of the long gallery； two great basilisks；
dragging after them a very badly made box； behind them
came a tall old woman； whose ugliness was even more
surprising than her extreme old age。 She wore a ruff of
black taffeta； a red velvet hood； and a farthingale all in
rags； and she leaned heavily upon a crutch。 This strange
old woman； without saying a single word； hobbled three
times round the gallery； followed by the basilisks； then
stopping in the middle； and brandishing her crutch
threateningly； she cried：
〃Ho； ho； Queen！ Ho； ho； Princess！ Do you think you
are going to break with impunity the promise that you
made to my friend the Yellow Dwarf？ I am the Fairy of
the Desert； without the Yellow Dwarf and his orange tree
my great lions would soon have eaten you up； I can tell
you； and in Fairyland we do not suffer ourselves to be
insulted like this。 Make up your minds at once what you
will do； for I vow that you shall marry the Yellow Dwarf。
If you don't； may I burn my crutch！〃
〃Ah！ Princess；〃 said the Queen； weeping； 〃what is this
that I hear？ What have you promised？〃
〃Ah！ my mother；〃 replied Bellissima sadly； 〃what did
YOU promise； yourself？〃
The King of the Gold Mines； indignant at being kept
from his happiness by this wicked old woman； went up to
her； and threatening her with his sword； said：
〃Get away out of my country at once； and for ever；
miserable creature； lest I take your life； and so rid myself
of your malice。〃
He had hardly spoken these words when the lid of the
box fell back on the floor with a terrible noise； and to their
horror out sprang the Yellow Dwarf； mounted upon a
great Spanish cat。 〃Rash youth！〃 he cried； rushing between
the Fairy of the Desert and the King。 〃Dare to
lay a finger upon this illustrious Fairy！ Your quarrel is
with me only。 I am your enemy and your rival。 That
faithless Princess who would have married you is promised
to me。 See if she has not upon her finger a ring made of
one of my hairs。 Just try to take it off； and you will soon
find out that I am more powerful than you are！〃
〃Wretched little monster！〃 said the King； 〃do you dare
to call yourself the Princess's lover； and to lay claim to
such a treasure？ Do you know that you are a dwarf
that you are so ugly that one cannot bear to look at you
and that I should have killed you myself long before
this if you had been worthy of such a glorious death？〃
The Yellow Dwarf； deeply enraged at these words； set
spurs to his cat； which yelled horribly； and leaped hither
and thitherterrifying everybody except the brave King；
who pursued the Dwarf closely； till he； drawing a great
knife with which he was armed； challenged the King to
meet him in single combat； and rushed down into the
courtyard of the palace with a terrible clatter。 The King；
quite provoked； followed him hastily； but they had hardly
taken their places facing one another； and the whole
Court had only just had time to rush out upon the
balconies to watch what was going on； when suddenly the
sun became as red as blood； and it was so dark that they
could scarcely see at all。 The thunder crashed； and the
lightning seemed as if it must burn up everything； the two
basilisks appeared； one on each side of the bad Dwarf； like
giants； mountains high； and fire flew from their mouths
and ears； until they looked like flaming furnaces。 None
of these things could terrify the noble young King； and
the boldness of his looks and actions reassured those who
were looking on； and perhaps even embarrassed the Yellow
Dwarf himself； but even HIS courage gave way when he
saw what was happening to his beloved Princess。 For the
Fairy of the Desert； looking more terrible than before；
mounted upon a winged griffin； and with long snakes
coiled round her neck； had given her such a blow with the
lance she carried that Bellissima fell into the Queen's
arms bleeding and senseless。 Her fond mother； feeling as
much hurt by the blow as the Princess herself； uttered
such piercing cries and lamentations that the King； hearing
them； entirely lost his courage and presence of mind。
Giving up the combat； he flew toward the Princess； to
rescue or to die with her； but the Yellow Dwarf was too
quick for him。 Leaping with his Spanish cat upon the
balcony； he snatched Bellissima from the Queen's arms；
and before any of the ladies of the Court could stop him
he had sprung upon the roof of the palace and disappeared
with his prize。
The King； motionless with horror； looked on despairingly
at this dreadful occurrence； which he was quite
powerless to prevent； and to make matters worse his
sight failed him； everything became dark； and he felt himself
carried along through the air by a strong hand。
This new misfortune was the work of the wicked Fairy
of the Desert； who had come with the Yellow Dwarf to
help him carry off the Princess； and had fallen in love
with the handsome young King of the Gold Mines directly
she saw him。 She thought that if she carried him off to
some frightful cavern and