Children's literature; Fairy tales; People with disabilities -- Juvenile fiction; Princes -- Juvenile fiction
So he stretched his wings, delighted that he might now have a chance
of approaching his fair Zelia. He flew up to the palace windows, and,
finding one of them open, entered and sought everywhere, but he could
not find Zelia. Then, in despair, he flew out again, resolved to go over
the world until he beheld her once more.
He took flight at once and traversed many countries, swiftly as a bird
can, but found no trace of his beloved. At length in a desert, sitting
beside an old hermit in his cave and par-taking with him his frugal
repast, Cherry saw a poor peasant girl and recognized Zelia. Transported
with joy, he flew in, perched on her shoulder, and expressed his delight
and affection by a thousand caresses.
She, charmed with the pretty little pigeon, caressed it in her turn, and
promised it that if it would stay with her she would love it always.
“What have you done, Zelia?” said the hermit, smiling; and while he
spoke the white pigeon vanished, and there stood Prince Cherry in his
own natural form. “Your enchantment ended, prince, when Zelia promised
to love you. Indeed, she has loved you always, but your many faults
constrained her to hide her love. These are now amended, and you may
both live happy if you will, because your union is founded upon mutual
esteem.”
Cherry and Zelia threw themselves at the feet of the hermit, whose form
also began to change. His soiled garments became of dazzling whiteness,
and his long beard and withered face grew into the flowing hair and
lovely countenance of the fairy Candide.
“Rise up, my children,” said she; “I must now transport you to your
palace and restore to Prince Cherry his father's crown, of which he is
now worthy.”
She had scarcely ceased speaking when they found themselves in the
chamber of Suliman, who, delighted to find again his beloved pupil and
master, willingly resigned the throne, and became the most faithful of
his subjects.
King Cherry and Queen Zelia reigned together for many years, and it is
said that the former was so blameless and strict in all his duties that
though he constantly wore the ring which Candide had restored to him, it
never once pricked his finger enough to make it bleed.
THE PRINCE WITH THE NOSE
THERE was once a king who was passionately in love with a beautiful
princess, but she could not be married because a magician had
enchanted her. The king went to a good fairy to inquire what he should
do. Said the fairy, after receiving him graciously: “Sir, I will tell
you a great secret. The princess has a great cat whom she loves so well
that she cares for nothing and nobody else; but she will be obliged to
marry any person who is adroit enough to walk upon the cat's tail.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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