Children's literature; Fairy tales; People with disabilities -- Juvenile fiction; Princes -- Juvenile fiction
Abricotina returned with these ill tidings, whereat the princess was
almost distracted; and this was soon perceived by Leander, who was near
her, though she did not see him. He beheld her grief with the greatest
pain. However, he durst not then open his lips; but recollecting that
Furibon was exceedingly covetous, he thought that, by giving him a sum
of money, he might perhaps prevail with him to retire. Thereupon, he
dressed himself like an Amazon, and wished himself in the forest, to
catch his horse. He had no sooner called him than Gris-de-line came
leaping, prancing, and neighing for joy, for he was grown quite weary
of being so long absent from his dear master; but when he beheld him
dressed as a woman he hardly knew him. However, at the sound of his
voice, he suffered the prince to mount, and they soon arrived in the
camp at Furibon, where they gave notice that a lady was come to speak
with him from the Princess of Calm Delights. Immediately the little
fellow put on his royal robes, and having placed himself upon his
throne, he looked like a great toad counterfeiting a king.
Leander harangued him, and told him that the princess, preferring a
quiet and peaceable life to the fatigues of war, had sent to offer his
majesty as much money as he pleased to demand, provided he would suffer
her to continue in peace; but if he refused her proposal, she would omit
no means that might serve for her defense. Furibon replied that he took
pity on her, and would grant her the honor of his protection; but that
he demanded a hundred thousand millions of pounds, and without which he
would not return to his kingdom. Leander answered that such a vast sum
would be too long a-counting, and therefore, if he would say how many
rooms full he desired to have, the princess was generous and rich enough
to satisfy him. Furibon was astonished to hear that, instead of
entreating, she would rather offer more; and it came into his wicked
mind to take all the money he could get, and then seize the Amazon and
kill her, that she might never return to her mistress. He told Leander,
therefore, that he would have thirty chambers of gold, all full to the
ceiling. Leander, being conducted into the chambers, took his rose and
shook it, till every room was filled with all sorts of coin. Furibon was
in an ecstasy, and the more gold he saw the greater was his desire
to get hold of the Amazon; so that when all the rooms were full,
he commanded his guards to seize her, alleging she had brought him
counterfeit money. Immediately Leander put on his little red cap and
disappeared. The guards, believing that the lady had escaped, ran
out and left Furibon alone; when Leander, availing himself of the
opportunity, took the tyrant by the hair, and twisted his head off with
the same ease he would a pullet's; nor did the little wretch of a king
see that hand that killed him.
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