English
Longagotherelivedamonarch,whowassuchavery,honestmanthathissubjectsentitledhimtheGoodKing.
Oneday,whenhewasouthunting,alittlewhiterabbit,whichhadbeenhalf-killedbyhishounds,leapedrightintohismajesty’sarms.
Saidhe,caressingit:“Thispoorcreaturehasputitselfundermyprotection,andIwillallownoonetoinjureit.”
Sohecarriedittohispalace,hadpreparedforitaneatlittlerabbit-hutch,withabundanceofthedaintiestfood,suchasrabbitslove,andthereheleftit.
Thesamenight,whenhewasaloneinhischamber,thereappearedtohimabeautifullady.
Shewasdressedneitheringold,norsilver,norbrocade;butherflowingrobeswerewhiteassnow,andsheworeagarlandofwhiterosesonherhead.
TheGoodKingwasgreatlyastonishedatthesight;forhisdoorwaslocked,andhewonderedhowsodazzlingaladycouldpossiblyenter;butshesoonremovedhisdoubts.
“IamthefairyCandide,”saidshe,withasmilingandgraciousair.
“Passingthroughthewoodwhereyouwerehunting,ItookadesiretoknowifyouwereasgoodasmensayyouareIthereforechangedmyselfintoawhiterabbitandtookrefugeinyourarms.
YousavedmeandnowIknowthatthosewhoaremercifultodumbeastswillbetentimesmoresotohumanbeings.
Youmeritthenameyoursubjectsgiveyou:youaretheGoodKing.
Ithankyouforyourprotection,andshallbealwaysoneofyourbestfriends.
Youhavebuttosaywhatyoumostdesire,andIpromiseyouyourwishshallbegranted.”
“Madam,”repliedtheking,“ifyouareafairy,youmustknow,withoutmytellingyou,thewishofmyheart.
Ihaveonewell-belovedson,PrinceCherry:whateverkindlyfeelingyouhavetowardme,extendittohim.”
“Willingly,”saidCandide.“Iwillmakehimthehandsomest,richest,ormostpowerfulprinceintheworld:choosewhicheveryoudesireforhim.”
“Noneofthethree,”returnedthefather.“Ionlywishhimtobegood—thebestprinceinthewholeworld.Ofwhatusewouldriches,power,orbeautybetohimifhewereabadman?”
“Youareright,”saidthefairy;“butIcannotmakehimgood:hemustdothathimself.
Icanonlychangehisexternalfortunes;forhispersonalcharacter,theutmostIcanpromiseistogivehimgoodcounsel,reprovehimforhisfaults,andevenpunishhim,ifhewillnotpunishhimself.
Youmortalscandothesamewithyourchildren.”
“Ah,yes!”saidtheking,sighing.Still,hefeltthatthekindnessofafairywassomethinggainedforhisson,anddiednotlongafter,contentandatpeace.
PrinceCherrymourneddeeply,forhedearlylovedhisfather,andwouldhavegladlygivenallhiskingdomsandtreasurestokeephiminlifealittlelonger.
TwodaysaftertheGoodKingwasnomore,PrinceCherrywassleepinginhischamber,whenhesawthesamedazzlingvisionofthefairyCandide.
“Ipromisedyourfather,”saidshe,“tobeyourbestfriend,andinpledgeofthistakewhatInowgiveyou;”andsheplacedasmallgoldringuponhisfinger.
“Poorasitlooks,itismorepreciousthandiamonds;forwheneveryoudoillitwillprickyourfinger.
If,afterthatwarning,youstillcontinueinevil,youwilllosemyfriendship,andIshallbecomeyourdirestenemy.”
Sosaying,shedisappeared,leavingCherryinsuchamazementthathewouldhavebelieveditalladream,savefortheringonhisfinger.
Hewasforalongtimesogoodthattheringneverprickedhimatall;andthismadehimsocheerfulandpleasantinhishumorthateverybodycalledhim“HappyPrinceCherry.”
Butoneunluckydayhewasouthuntingandfoundnosport,whichvexedhimsomuchthatheshowedhisilltemperbyhislooksandways.
Hefanciedhisringfeltverytightanduncomfortable,butasitdidnotprickhimhetooknoheedofthis:until,re-enteringhispalace,hislittlepetdog,Bibi,jumpedupuponhimandwassharplytoldtogetaway.
Thecreature,accustomedtonothingbutcaresses,triedtoattracthisattentionbypullingathisgarments,whenPrinceCherryturnedandgaveitaseverekick.
Atthismomenthefeltinhisfingerapricklikeapin.
“Whatnonsense!”saidhetohimself.“Thefairymustbemakinggameofme.Why,whatgreatevilhaveIdone!I,themasterofagreatempire,cannotIkickmyowndog?”
Avoicereplied,orelsePrinceCherryimaginedit,“No,sire;themasterofagreatempirehasarighttodogood,butnotevil.
I—afairy—amasmuchaboveyouasyouareaboveyourdog.
Imightpunishyou,killyou,ifIchose;butIpreferleavingyoutoamendyourways.
Youhavebeenguiltyofthreefaultstoday—badtemper,passion,cruelty:dobettertomorrow.”
Theprincepromised,andkepthiswordawhile;buthehadbeenbroughtupbyafoolishnurse,whoindulgedhimineverywayandwasalwaystellinghimthathewouldbeakingoneday,whenhemightdoashelikedinallthings.
Hefoundoutnowthatevenakingcannotalwaysdothat;itvexedhimandmadehimangry.
Hisringbegantoprickhimsooftenthathislittlefingerwascontinuallybleeding.
Hedislikedthis,aswasnatural,andsoonbegantoconsiderwhetheritwouldnotbeeasiertothrowtheringawayaltogetherthantobeconstantlyannoyedbyit.
Itwassuchastrangethingforakingtohaveaspotofbloodonhisfinger!
Atlast,unabletoputupwithitanymore,hetookhisringoffandhiditwherehewouldneverseeit;andbelievedhimselfthehappiestofmen,forhecouldnowdoexactlywhatheliked.
Hedidit,andbecameeverydaymoreandmoremiserable.
Onedayhesawayounggirl,sobeautifulthat,beingalwaysaccustomedtohavehisownway,heimmediatelydeterminedtoespouseher.
Heneverdoubtedthatshewouldbeonlytoogladtobemadeaqueen,forshewasverypoor.
ButZelia—thatwashername—answered,tohisgreatastonishment,thatshewouldrathernotmarryhim.
“DoIdispleaseyou?”askedtheprince,intowhosemindithadneverenteredthathecoulddispleaseanybody.
“Notatall,myprince,”saidthehonestpeasantmaiden.
“Youareveryhandsome,verycharming;butyouarenotlikeyourfathertheGoodKing.
Iwillnotbeyourqueen,foryouwouldmakememiserable.”
Atthesewordstheprince’sloveseemedalltoturntohatred:hegaveorderstohisguardstoconveyZeliatoaprisonnearthepalace,andthentookcounselwithhisfosterbrother,theoneofallhisillcompanionswhomostincitedhimtodowrong.
“Sir,”saidthisman,“ifIwereinyourmajesty’splace,Iwouldnevervexmyselfaboutapoorsillygirl.
Feedheronbreadandwatertillshecomestohersenses;andifshestillrefusesyou,letherdieintorment,asawarningtoyourothersubjectsshouldtheyventuretodisputeyourwill.
Youwillbedisgracedshouldyousufferyourselftobeconqueredbyasimplegirl.”
“But,”saidPrinceCherry,“shallInotbedisgracedifIharmacreaturesoperfectlyinnocent?”
“Nooneisinnocentwhodisputesyourmajesty’sauthority,”saidthecourtier,bowing;“anditisbettertocommitaninjusticethanallowittobesupposedyoucaneverbecontradictedwithimpunity.”
ThistouchedCherryonhisweakpoint—hisgoodimpulsesfaded;heresolvedoncemoretoaskZeliaifshewouldmarryhim,andifsheagainrefused,tosellherasaslave.
Arrivedatthecellinwhichshewasconfined,whatwashisastonishmenttofindhergone!
Heknewnotwhomtoaccuse,forhehadkeptthekeyinhispocketthewholetime.
Atlast,thefoster-brothersuggestedthattheescapeofZeliamighthavebeencontrivedbyanoldman,Sulimanbyname,theprince’sformertutor,whowastheonlyonewhonowventuredtoblamehimforanythingthathedid.
Cherrysentimmediately,andorderedhisoldfriendtobebroughttohim,loadedheavilywithirons.
Then,fulloffury,hewentandshuthimselfupinhisownchamber,wherehewentragingtoandfro,tillstartledbyanoiselikeaclapofthunder.ThefairyCandidestoodbeforehim.
“Prince,”saidshe,inaseverevoice,“Ipromisedyourfathertogiveyougoodcounselsandtopunishyouifyourefusedtofollowthem.
Mycounselswereforgotten,mypunishmentdespised.
Underthefigureofaman,youhavebeennobetterthanthebeastsyouchase:likealioninfury,awolfingluttony,aserpentinrevenge,andabullinbrutality.
Take,therefore,inyournewformthelikenessofalltheseanimals.”
ScarcelyhadPrinceCherryheardthesewordsthantohishorrorhefoundhimselftransformedintowhattheFairyhadnamed.
Hewasacreaturewiththeheadofalion,thehornsofabull,thefeetofawolf,andthetailofaserpent.
Atthesametimehefelthimselftransportedtoadistantforest,where,standingonthebankofastream,hesawreflectedinthewaterhisownfrightfulshape,andheardavoicesaying:
“Lookatthyself,andknowthysoulhasbecomeathousandtimesugliereventhanthybody.”
CherryrecognizedthevoiceofCandide,andinhisragewouldhavesprunguponheranddevouredher;buthesawnothingandthesamevoicesaidbehindhim:
“Ceasethyfeeblefury,andlearntoconquerthypridebybeinginsubmissiontothineownsubjects.”
Hearingnomore,hesoonquittedthestream,hopingatleasttogetridofthesightofhimself;buthehadscarcelygonetwentypaceswhenhetumbledintoapitfallthatwaslaidtocatchbears;thebear-hunters,descendingfromsometreeshardby,caughthim,chainedhim,andonlytoodelightedtogetholdofsuchacurious-lookinganimal,ledhimalongwiththemtothecapitalofhisownkingdom.
Theregreatrejoicingsweretakingplace,andthebear-hunters,askingwhatitwasallabout,weretoldthatitwasbecausePrinceCherry,thetormentofhissubjects,hadjustbeenstruckdeadbyathunderbolt—justpunishmentofallhiscrimes.
Fourcourtiers,hiswickedcompanions,hadwishedtodividehisthronebetweenthem;butthepeoplehadrisenupagainstthemandofferedthecrowntoSuliman,theoldtutorwhomCherryhadorderedtobearrested.
Allthisthepoormonsterheard.HeevensawSulimansittinguponhisownthroneandtryingtocalmthepopulacebyrepresentingtothemthatitwasnotcertainPrinceCherrywasdead;thathemightreturnonedaytoreassumewithhonorthecrownwhichSulimanonlyconsentedtowearasasortofviceroy.
“Iknowhisheart,”saidthehonestandfaithfuloldman;“itistainted,butnotcorrupt.
Ifalive,hemayreformyet,andbeallhisfatheroveragaintoyou,hispeople,whomhehascausedtosuffersomuch.”
Thesewordstouchedthepoorbeastsodeeplythatheceasedtobeathimselfagainsttheironbarsofthecageinwhichthehunterscarriedhimabout,becamegentleasalamb,andsufferedhimselftobetakenquietlytoamenagerie,wherewerekeptallsortsofstrangeandferociousanimalsaplacewhichhehadhimselfoftenvisitedasaboy,butneverthoughtheshouldbeshutuptherehimself.
However,heownedhehaddeserveditall,andbegantomakeamendsbyshowinghimselfveryobedienttohiskeeper.
Thismanwasalmostasgreatabruteastheanimalshehadchargeof,andwhenhewasinillhumorheusedtobeatthemwithoutrhymeorreason.
Oneday,whilehewassleeping,atigerbrokelooseandleapeduponhim,eagertodevourhim.
Cherryatfirstfeltathrillofpleasureatthethoughtofbeingrevenged;then,seeinghowhelplessthemanwas,hewishedhimselffree,thathemightdefendhim.
Immediatelythedoorsofhiscageopened.
Thekeeper,wakingup,sawthestrangebeastleapout,andimagined,ofcourse,thathewasgoingtobeslainatonce.
Instead,hesawthetigerlyingdead,andthestrangebeastcreepingupandlayingitselfathisfeettobecaressed.
Butashelifteduphishandtostrokeit,avoicewasheardsaying,“Goodactionsnevergounrewarded”;andinsteadofthefrightfulmonster,therecrouchedonthegroundnothingbutaprettylittledog.
Cherry,delightedtofindhimselfthusmetamorphosed,caressedthekeeperineverypossibleway,tillatlastthemantookhimupintohisarmsandcarriedhimtotheking,towhomherelatedthiswonderfulstory,frombeginningtoend.
Thequeenwishedtohavethecharminglittledog;andCherrywouldhavebeenexceedinglyhappycouldhehaveforgottenthathewasoriginallyamanandaking.
Hewaslodgedmostelegantly,hadtherichestofcollarstoadornhisneck,andheardhimselfpraisedcontinually.
Buthisbeautyratherbroughthimintotrouble,forthequeen,afraidlesthemightgrowtoolargeforapet,tookadviceofdog-doctors,whoorderedthatheshouldbefedentirelyuponbread,andthatverysparingly;sopoorCherrywassometimesnearlystarved.
Oneday,whentheygavehimhiscrustforbreakfast,afancyseizedhimtogoandeatitinthepalacegarden;sohetookthebreadinhismouthandtrottedawaytowardastreamwhichheknew,andwherehesometimesstoppedtodrink.
Butinsteadofthestreamhesawasplendidpalace,glitteringwithgoldandpreciousstones.
Enteringthedoorswasacrowdofmenandwomen,magnificentlydressed;andwithintherewassinginganddancingandgoodcheerofallsorts.
Yet,howevergrandlyandhappilythepeoplewentin,Cherrynoticedthatthosewhocameoutwerepale,thin,ragged,half-naked,coveredwithwoundsandsores.
Someofthemdroppeddeadatonce;othersdraggedthemselvesonalittlewayandthenlaydown,dyingofhunger,andvainlybeggedamorselofbreadfromotherswhowereenteringin—whonevertooktheleastnoticeofthem.
Cherryperceivedonewoman,whowastryingfeeblytogatherandeatsomegreenherbs.“Poorthing!”
saidhetohimself;“Iknowwhatitistobehungry,andIwantmybreakfastbadlyenough;butstillitwillkillmetowaittilldinnertime,andmycrustmaysavethelifeofthispoorwoman.”
Sothelittledogranuptoheranddroppedhisbreadatherfeet;shepickeditupandateitwithavidity.
Soonshelookedquiterecovered,andCherry,delighted,wastrottingbackagaintohiskennel,whenheheardloudcries,andsawayounggirldraggedbyfourmentothedoorofthepalace,whichtheyweretryingtocompelhertoenter.
Oh,howhewishedhimselfamonsteragain,aswhenheslewthetiger!
—fortheyounggirlwasnootherthanhisbelovedZelia.Alas!
whatcouldapoorlittledogdotodefendher?
Butheranforwardandbarkedatthemen,andbittheirheels,untilatlasttheychasedhimawaywithheavyblows.
Andthenhelaydownoutsidethepalacedoor,determinedtowatchandseewhathadbecomeofZelia.
Conscienceprickedhimnow.“What!”
thoughthe,“Iamfuriousagainstthesewickedmen,whoarecarryingheraway;anddidInotdothesamemyself?
DidInotcastherintoprison,andintendtosellherasaslave?
WhoknowshowmuchmorewickednessImightnothavedonetoherandothers,ifHeaven’sjusticehadnotstoppedmeintime?”
Whilehelaythinkingandrepenting,heheardawindowopenandsawZeliathrowoutofitabitofdaintymeat.
Cherry,whofelthungryenoughbythistime,wasjustabouttoeatit,whenthewomantowhomhehadgivenhiscrustsnatchedhimupinherarms.
“Poorlittlebeast!”criedshe,pattinghim,“everybitoffoodinthatpalaceispoisoned:youshallnottouchamorsel.”
Andatthesametimethevoiceintheairrepeatedagain,“Goodactionsnevergounrewarded”;andCherryfoundhimselfchangedintoabeautifullittlewhitepigeon.
HerememberedwithjoythatwhitewasthecolorofthefairyCandide,andbegantohopethatshewastakinghimintofavoragain.
Sohestretchedhiswings,delightedthathemightnowhaveachanceofapproachinghisfairZelia.
Heflewuptothepalacewindows,and,findingoneofthemopen,enteredandsoughteverywhere,buthecouldnotfindZelia.
Then,indespair,heflewoutagain,resolvedtogoovertheworlduntilhebeheldheroncemore.
Hetookflightatonceandtraversedmanycountries,swiftlyasabirdcan,butfoundnotraceofhisbeloved.
Atlengthinadesert,sittingbesideanoldhermitinhiscaveandpartakingwithhimhisfrugalrepast,CherrysawapoorpeasantgirlandrecognizedZelia.
Transportedwithjoy,heflewin,perchedonhershoulder,andexpressedhisdelightandaffectionbyathousandcaresses.
She,charmedwiththeprettylittlepigeon,caresseditinherturn,andpromiseditthatifitwouldstaywithhershewouldloveitalways.
“Whathaveyoudone,Zelia?”saidthehermit,smiling;andwhilehespokethewhitepigeonvanished,andtherestoodPrinceCherryinhisownnaturalform.
“Yourenchantmentended,prince,whenZeliapromisedtoloveyou.
Indeed,shehaslovedyoualways,butyourmanyfaultsconstrainedhertohideherlove.
Thesearenowamended,andyoumaybothlivehappyifyouwill,becauseyourunionisfoundeduponmutualesteem.”
CherryandZeliathrewthemselvesatthefeetofthehermit,whoseformalsobegantochange.
Hissoiledgarmentsbecameofdazzlingwhiteness,andhislongbeardandwitheredfacegrewintotheflowinghairandlovelycountenanceofthefairyCandide.
“Riseup,mychildren,”saidshe;“ImustnowtransportyoutoyourpalaceandrestoretoPrinceCherryhisfather’scrown,ofwhichheisnowworthy.”
ShehadscarcelyceasedspeakingwhentheyfoundthemselvesinthechamberofSuliman,who,delightedtofindagainhisbelovedpupilandmaster,willinglyresignedthethrone,andbecamethemostfaithfulofhissubjects.
KingCherryandQueenZeliareignedtogetherformanyyears,anditissaidthattheformerwassoblamelessandstrictinallhisdutiesthatthoughheconstantlyworetheringwhichCandidehadrestoredtohim,itneveronceprickedhisfingerenoughtomakeitbleed.
Share this article to
FINISH