Four and Twenty Fairy Tales: Selected from Those of Perrault, and Other Popular Writers
General
Four and Twenty Fairy Tales: Selected from Those of Perrault, and Other Popular Writers
Fairy tales
When one eats alone, a repast is very soon over. On returning to her
chamber, she threw herself on the sofa; the young man of whom she
had dreamt again presented himself to her thoughts. "'I can make thy
happiness,' were his words. Probably this horrible Beast, who appears
to command all here, keeps him in prison. How can he be extricated?
They repeated to me that I was not to be deceived by appearances. I
understand nothing; but how foolish I am! I amuse myself by seeking for
reasons to explain an illusion formed by sleep, and which my waking
has destroyed. I ought not to pay attention to it. I must only occupy
myself with my present fate, and seek such amusements as will prevent
my being overcome by melancholy."
Shortly afterwards she began to wander through the numerous apartments
of the palace. She was enchanted with them, having never seen
anything so beautiful. The first that she entered was a large cabinet
of mirrors. She saw herself reflected on all sides. At length a
bracelet, suspended to a girandole, caught her sight. She found on it
the portrait of the handsome Cavalier, just as she had seen him in
her sleep. How was it she recognised him immediately? His features
were already too deeply impressed on her mind, and, perhaps, in her
heart. With joyful haste she placed the bracelet on her arm, without
reflecting whether this action was correct. From this cabinet, having
passed into a gallery full of pictures, she there found the same
portrait the size of life, which appeared to regard her with such
tender attention, that she coloured, as if this picture had been the
person himself; or that she had had witnesses of her thoughts.
Continuing her walk, she found herself in a saloon filled with
different kinds of instruments. Knowing how to play on almost all, she
tried several, preferring the harpsichord to the others, because it was
a better accompaniment for the voice. From this saloon, she entered
another gallery, corresponding to that in which were the paintings.
It contained an immense library. She liked reading, and since her
sojourn in the country she had been deprived of this pleasure. Her
father, by the confusion of his affairs, had found himself obliged to
sell his books. Her great taste for study could easily be satisfied
in this place, and would guarantee her against the dulness consequent
on solitude. The day passed before she could see everything. At the
approach of night, all the apartments were illuminated by perfumed
wax-lights, placed in lustres either transparent or of different
colours, and not of crystal, but made of diamonds and rubies.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account