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Therewasonceakingwhowaspassionatelyinlovewithabeautifulprincess,butshecouldnotbemarriedbecauseamagicianhadenchantedher.
Thekingwenttoagoodfairytoinquirewhatheshoulddo.
Saidthefairy,afterreceivinghimgraciously:“Sir,Iwilltellyouagreatsecret.
Theprincesshasagreatcatwhomshelovessowellthatshecaresfornothingandnobodyelse;butshewillbeobligedtomarryanypersonwhoisadroitenoughtowalkuponthecat’stail.”
“Thatwillnotbeverydifficult,”thoughtthekingtohimself,anddeparted,resolvingtotramplethecat’stailtopiecesratherthannotsucceedinwalkinguponit.
Hewentimmediatelytothepalaceofhisfairmistressandthecat;theanimalcameinfrontofhim,archingitsbackinangerasitwaswonttodo.
Thekinglifteduphisfoot,thinkingnothingwouldbesoeasyastotreadonthetail,buthefoundhimselfmistaken.
Minon—thatwasthecreature’sname—twisteditselfroundsosharplythatthekingonlyhurthisownfootbystampingonthefloor.
Foreightdaysdidhepursuethecateverywhere:upanddownthepalacehewasafteritfrommorningtillnight,butwithnobettersuccess;thetailseemedmadeofquicksilver,soverylivelywasit.
AtlastthekinghadthegoodfortunetocatchMinonsleeping,whentramp!tramp!hetrodonthetailwithallhisforce.
Minonwokeup,mewedhorribly,andimmediatelychangedfromacatintoalarge,fierce-lookingman,whoregardedthekingwithflashingeyes.
“Youmustmarrytheprincess,”criedhe,“becauseyouhavebrokentheenchantmentinwhichIheldher;butIwillberevengedonyou.
Youshallhaveasonwithanoseaslongas—that;”hemadeintheairacurveofhalfafoot;“yetheshallbelieveitisjustlikeallothernoses,andshallbealwaysunfortunatetillhehasfoundoutitisnot.
Andifyouevertellanybodyofthisthreatofmine,youshalldieonthespot.”Sosayingthemagiciandisappeared.
Theking,whowasatfirstmuchterrified,soonbegantolaughatthisadventure.
“Mysonmighthaveaworsemisfortunethantoolonganose,”thoughthe.
“Atleastitwillhinderhimneitherinseeingnorhearing.
Iwillgoandfindtheprincessandmarryheratonce.”
Hedidso,butheonlylivedafewmonthsafter,anddiedbeforehislittlesonwasborn,sothatnobodyknewanythingaboutthesecretofthenose.
ThelittleprincewassomuchwishedforthatwhenhecameintotheworldtheyagreedtocallhimPrinceWish.
Hehadbeautifulblueeyesandasweetlittlemouth,buthisnosewassobigthatitcoveredhalfhisface.
Thequeen,hismother,wasinconsolable;butherladiestriedtosatisfyherbytellingherthatthenosewasnotnearlysolargeasitseemed,thatitwouldgrowsmallerastheprincegrewbigger,andthatifitdidnotalargenosewasindispensabletoahero.
Allgreatsoldiers,theysaid,hadgreatnoses,aseverybodyknew.
Thequeenwassoveryfondofhersonthatshelistenedeagerlytoallthiscomfort.
Shortlyshegrewsousedtotheprince’snosethatitdidnotseemtoheranylargerthanordinarynosesofthecourt;where,inprocessoftime,everybodywithalongnosewasverymuchadmired,andtheunfortunatepeoplewhohadonlysnubsweretakenverylittlenoticeof.
Greatcarewasobservedintheeducationoftheprince;andassoonashecouldspeaktheytoldhimallsortsofamusingtales,inwhichallthebadpeoplehadshortnoses,andallthegoodpeoplehadlongones.
Nopersonwassufferedtocomenearhimwhohadnotanoseofmorethanordinarylength;nay,tosuchanextentdidthecountriescarrytheirfancy,thatthenosesofallthelittlebabieswereorderedtobepulledoutasfaraspossibleseveraltimesaday,inordertomakethemgrow.
Butgrowastheywould,theynevercouldgrowaslongasthatofPrinceWish.
Whenhewasoldenoughhistutortaughthimhistory;andwheneveranygreatkingorlovelyprincesswasreferredto,thetutoralwaystookcaretomentionthatheorshehadalongnose.
Alltheroyalapartmentswerefilledwithpicturesandportraitshavingthispeculiarity,sothatatlastPrinceWishbegantoregardthelengthofhisnoseashisgreatestperfection,andwouldnothavehaditaninchlesseventosavehiscrown.
Whenhewastwentyyearsoldhismotherandhispeoplewishedhimtomarry.
Theyprocuredforhimthelikenessesofmanyprincesses,buttheonehepreferredwasPrincessDarling,daughterofapowerfulmonarchandheiresstoseveralkingdoms.Alas!
withallherbeauty,thisprincesshadonegreatmisfortune,alittleturned-upnose,which,everyoneelsesaidmadeheronlythemorebewitching.
Buthere,inthekingdomofPrinceWish,thecourtierswerethrownbyitintotheutmostperplexity.
Theywereinthehabitoflaughingatallsmallnoses;buthowdaredtheymakefunofthenoseofPrincessDarling?
Twounfortunategentlemen,whomPrinceWishhadoverhearddoingso,wereignominiouslybanishedfromthecourtandcapital.
Afterthis,thecourtiersbecamealarmed,andtriedtocorrecttheirhabitofspeech;buttheywouldhavefoundthemselvesinconstantdifficulties,hadnotonecleverpersonstruckoutabrightidea.
Hesaidthatthoughitwasindispensablynecessaryforamantohaveagreatnose,womenwereverydifferent;andthatalearnedmanhaddiscoveredinaveryoldmanuscriptthatthecelebratedCleopatra,QueenofEgypt,thebeautyoftheancientworld,hadaturned-upnose.
AtthisinformationPrinceWishwassodelightedthathemadethecourtieraveryhandsomepresent,andimmediatelysentoffambassadorstodemandPrincessDarlinginmarriage.
Sheacceptedhisofferatonce,andreturnedwiththeambassadors.
Hemadeallhastetomeetandwelcomeher,butwhenshewasonlythreeleaguesdistantfromhiscapital,beforehehadtimeeventokissherhand,themagicianwhohadonceassumedtheshapeofhismother’scat,Minon,appearedintheairandcarriedheroffbeforethelover’sveryeyes.
PrinceWish,almostbesidehimselfwithgrief,declaredthatnothingshouldinducehimtoreturntohisthroneandkingdomtillhehadfoundDarling.
Hewouldsuffernoneofhiscourtiersorattendantstofollowhim;butbiddingthemalladieu,mountedagoodhorse,laidthereinsontheanimal’sneck,andlethimtakehimwhereverhewould.
Thehorseenteredawide-extendedplain,andtrottedonsteadilythewholedaywithoutfindingasinglehouse.
Masterandbeastbeganalmosttofaintwithhunger;andPrinceWishmighthavewishedhimselfathomeagain,hadhenotdiscovered,justatdusk,acavern,wheretheresat,besideabrightlantern,alittlewomanwhomighthavebeenmorethanahundredyearsold.
Sheputonherspectaclesthebettertolookatthestranger,andhenoticedthathernosewassosmallthatthespectacleswouldhardlystayon;thentheprinceandthefairy—forshewasafairy—burstintolaughter.
“Whatafunnynose!”criedtheone.
“Notsofunnyasyours,madam,”returnedtheother.“Butprayletusleaveournosesalone,andbegoodenoughtogivemesomethingtoeat,forIamdyingwithhunger,andsoismypoorhorse.”
“Withallmyheart,”answeredthefairy.“Althoughyournoseisridiculouslylong,youarenolessthesonofoneofmybestfriends.Ilovedyourfatherlikeabrother;hehadaveryhandsomenose.”
“Whatiswantingtomynose?”askedWishrathersavagely.
“Oh!nothingatall.
Onthecontrary,thereisagreatdealtoomuchofit;butnevermind,onemaybeaveryhonestman,andyethavetoobiganose.
AsIsaid,Iwasagreatfriendofyourfather’s;hecameoftentoseeme.
Iwasveryprettythen,andoftentimesheusedtosaytome,‘Mysister——’”
“Iwillheartherest,madam,withpleasure,whenIhavesupped;butwillyoucondescendtorememberthatIhavetastednothingallday?”
“Poorboy,”saidthefairy,“Iwillgiveyousomesupperdirectly;andwhileyoueatitIwilltellyoumyhistoryinsixwords,forIhatemuchtalking.
Alongtongueisasinsupportableasalongnose;andIrememberwhenIwasyounghowmuchIusedtobeadmiredbecauseIwasnotatalker;indeed,someonesaidtothequeenmymother—forpoorasyouseemenow,Iamthedaughterofagreatking,whoalways——”
“Atewhenhewashungry,Ihope,”interruptedtheprince,whosepatiencewasfastdeparting.
“Youareright,”saidtheimperturbableoldfairy;“andIwillbringyouyoursupperdirectly,onlyIwishfirstjusttosaythatthekingmyfather——”
“Hangthekingyourfather!”PrinceWishwasabouttoexclaim,buthestoppedhimself,andonlyobservedthathoweverthepleasureofherconversationmightmakehimforgethishunger,itcouldnothavethesameeffectuponhishorse,whowasreallystarving.
Thefairy,pleasedathiscivility,calledherservantsandbadethemsupplyhimatoncewithallheneeded.
“And,”addedshe,“Imustsayyouareverypoliteandverygood-tempered,inspiteofyournose.”
“Whathastheoldwomantodowithmynose?”thoughttheprince.
“IfIwerenotsoveryhungry,Iwouldsoonshowherwhatsheis—aregularoldgossipandchatterbox.Shetofancyshetalkslittle,indeed!
Onemustbeveryfoolishnottoknowone’sowndefects.Thiscomesofbeingbornaprincess.
Flatterershavespoiledherandpersuadedherthatshetalkslittle.Little,indeed!Ineverknewanybodychattersomuch.”
Whiletheprincethusmeditated,theservantswerelayingthetable,thefairyaskingthemahundredunnecessaryquestions,simplyforthepleasureofhearingherselftalk.
“Well,”thoughtWish,“IamdelightedthatIcamehither,ifonlytolearnhowwiseIhavebeeninneverlisteningtoflatterers,whohidefromusourfaults,ormakeusbelievetheyareperfections.Buttheycouldneverdeceiveme.
Iknowallmyownweakpoints,Itrust.”Astrulyhebelievedhedid.
Sohewentoneatingcontentedly,norstoppedtilltheoldfairybegantoaddresshim.
“Prince,”saidshe,“willyoubekindenoughtoturnalittle?
YournosecastssuchashadowthatIcannotseewhatisonmyplate.
And,asIwassaying,yourfatheradmiredmeandalwaysmademewelcomeatcourt.Whatisthecourtetiquettetherenow?
Dotheladiesstillgotoassemblies,promenades,balls?
—Ibegyourpardonforlaughing,buthowverylongyournoseis.”
“Iwishyouwouldceasetospeakofmynose,”saidtheprince,becomingannoyed.“Itiswhatitis,andIdonotdesireitanyshorter.”
“Oh!IseethatIhavevexedyou,”returnedthefairy.
“Nevertheless,Iamoneofyourbestfriends,andsoIshalltakethelibertyofalways——”Shewoulddoubtlesshavegoneontalkingtillmidnight;buttheprince,unabletobearitanylonger,hereinterruptedher,thankedherforherhospitality,badeherahastyadieu,androdeaway.
Hetraveledforalongtime,halfovertheworld,butheheardnonewsofPrincessDarling.
However,ineachplacehewentto,heheardoneremarkablefact—thegreatlengthofhisownnose.
Thelittleboysinthestreetsjeeredathim,thepeasantsstaredathim,andthemorepoliteladiesandgentlemenwhomhemetinsocietyusedtotryinvaintokeepfromlaughing,andtogetoutofhiswayassoonastheycould.
Sothepoorprincebecamegraduallyquiteforlornandsolitary;hethoughtalltheworldwasmad,butstillheneverthoughtoftherebeinganythingqueerabouthisownnose.
Atlasttheoldfairy,who,thoughshewasachatterbox,wasverygood-natured;sawthathewasalmostbreakinghisheart.
Shefeltsorryforhimandwishedtohelphiminspiteofhimself,forsheknewtheenchantmentwhichhidfromhimthePrincessDarlingcouldneverbebrokentillhehaddiscoveredhisowndefect.
Soshewentinsearchoftheprincess,andbeingmorepowerfulthanthemagician,sinceshewasagoodfairyandhewasanevilmagician,shegotherawayfromhimandshutherupinapalaceofcrystal,whichsheplacedontheroadwhichPrinceWishhadtopass.
Hewasridingalong,verymelancholy,whenhesawthepalace;andatitsentrancewasaroom,madeofthepurestglass,inwhichsathisbelovedprincess,smilingandbeautifulasever.
Heleapedfromhishorseandrantowardher.
Sheheldoutherhandforhimtokiss,buthecouldnotgetatitfortheglass.
Transportedwitheagernessanddelight,hedashedhisswordthroughthecrystalandsucceededinbreakingasmallopening,towhichsheputupherbeautifulrosymouth.
Butitwasinvain;PrinceWishcouldnotapproachit.
Hetwistedhisneckabout,andturnedhisheadonallsides,tillatlength,puttinguphishandtohisface,hediscoveredtheimpediment.
“Itmustbeconfessed,”exclaimedhe,“thatmynoseistoolong.”
Thatmomenttheglasswallsallsplitasunder,andtheoldfairyappeared,leadingPrincessDarling.
“Avow,prince,”saidshe,“thatyouareverymuchobligedtome,fornowtheenchantmentisended.
Youmaymarrytheobjectofyourchoice.
But,”addedshe,smiling,“IfearImighthavetalkedtoyouforeveronthesubjectofyournose,andyouwouldnothavebelievedmeinitslength,tillitbecameanobstacletoyourowninclinations.Nowbeholdit!”andsheheldupacrystalmirror.
“Areyousatisfiedtobenodifferentfromotherpeople?”
“Perfectly,”saidPrinceWish,whofoundhisnosehadshrunktoanordinarylength.
AndtakingthePrincessDarlingbythehand,hekissedhercourteously,affectionately,andsatisfactorily.
Thentheydepartedtotheirowncountry,andlivedveryhappilyalltheirdays.
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