Dutchman's breeches。 Then he sent for all the doctors in the town； but as the crystal was enchanted the wounds were mortal； and no human remedy availed。 When the King saw this； despairing of his son's condition； he sent out a proclamation that whoever would cure the wounds of the Princeif a woman she should have him for a husbandif a man he should have half his kingdom。
Now when Nella； who was pining away from the loss of the Prince； heard this she dyed her face； disguised herself； and unknown to her sisters she left home to go to see him before his death。 But as by this time the Sun's gilded ball with which he plays in the Fields of Heaven； was running towards the west； night overtook her in a wood close to the house of an ogre； where； in order to get out of the way of danger； she climbed up into a tree。 Meanwhile the ogre and his wife were sitting at table with the windows open in order to enjoy the fresh air while they ate； as soon as they had emptied their cups and put out the lamps they began to chat of one thing and another； so that Nella； who was as near to them as the mouth to the nose； heard every word they spoke。
Among other things the ogress said to her husband； 〃My pretty Hairy…Hide； tell me what news； what do they say abroad in the world？〃 And he answered； 〃Trust me； there is no hand's breadth clean； everything's going topsy…turvy and awry。〃 〃But what is it？〃 replied his wife。 〃Why I could tell pretty stories of all the confusion that is going on；〃 replied the ogre； 〃for one hears things that are enough to drive one mad； such as buffoons rewarded with gifts； rogues esteemed； cowards honoured； robbers protected； and honest men little thought of。 But； as these things only vex one； I will merely tell you what has befallen the King's son。 He had made a crystal path along which he used to go to visit a pretty lass； but by some means or other； I know not how； all the road has been broken； and as he was going along the passage as usual； he has wounded himself in such a manner that before he can stop the leak the whole conduit of his life will run out。 The King has indeed issued a proclamation with great promises to whoever cures his son； but it is all labour lost； and the best he can do is quickly to get ready mourning and prepare the funeral。〃
When Nella heard the cause of the Prince's illness she sobbed and wept bitterly and said to herself； 〃Who is the wicked soul who has broken the passage and caused so much sorrow？〃 But as the ogress now went on speaking Nella was as silent as a mouse and listened。
〃And is it possible；〃 said the ogress； 〃that the world is lost to this poor Prince； and that no remedy can be found for his malady？〃
〃Hark…ye； Granny；〃 replied the ogre； 〃the doctors are not called upon to find remedies that may pass the bounds of nature。 This is not a fever that will yield to medicine and diet； much less are these ordinary wounds which require lint and oil； for the charm that was on the broken glass produces the same effect as onion juice does on the iron heads of arrows； which makes the wound incurable。 There is one thing only that could save his life； but don't ask me to tell it to you； for it is a thing of importance。〃
〃Do tell me； dear old Long…tusk；〃 cried the ogress； 〃tell me； if you would not see me die。〃
〃Well then；〃 said the ogre； 〃I will tell you provided you promise me not to confide it to any living soul； for it would be the ruin of our house and the destruction of our lives。〃
〃Fear nothing； my dear； sweet little husband；〃 replied the ogress； 〃for you shall sooner see pigs with horns； apes with tails； moles with eyes； than a single word shall pass my lips。〃 And so saying； she put one hand upon the other and swore to it。
〃You must know then；〃 said the ogre； 〃that there is nothing under the sky nor above the ground that can save the Prince from the snares of death； but our fat。 If his wounds are anointed with this his soul will be arrested which is just at the point of leaving the dwelling of his body。〃
Nella； who overheard all that passed； gave time to Time to let them finish their chat； and then； getting down from the tree and taking heart； she knocked at the ogre's door crying； 〃Ah！ my good masters； I pray you for charity； alms； some sign of compassion。 Have a little pity on a poor； miserable； wretched creature who is banished by fate far from her own country and deprived of all human aid； who has been overtaken by night in this wood and is dying of cold and hunger。〃 And crying thus； she went on knocking and knocking at the door。
Upon hearing this deafening noise； the ogress was going to throw her half a loaf and send her away。 But the ogre； who was more greedy of flesh than the squirrel is of nuts； the bear of honey； the cat of fish； the sheep of salt； or the ass of bran； said to his wife； 〃Let the poor creature come in； for if she sleeps in the fields； who knows but she may be eaten up by some wolf。〃 In short； he talked so much that his wife at length opened the door for Nella； whilst with all his pretended charity he was all the time reckoning on making four mouthfuls of her。 But the glutton counts one way and the host another； for the ogre and his wife drank till they were fairly tipsy。 When they lay down to sleep Nella took a knife from a cupboard and made a hash of them in a trice。 Then she put all the fat into a phial； went straight to the court； where； presenting herself before the King； she offered to cure the Prince。 At this the King was overjoyed and led her to the chamber of his son； and no sooner had she anoited him well with the fat than the wound closed in a moment just as if she had thrown water on the fire； and he became sound as a fish。
When the King saw this； he said to his son； 〃This good woman deserves the reward promised by the proclamation and that you should marry her。〃 But the Prince replied； 〃It is hopeless； for I have no store…room full of hearts in my body to share among so many； my heart is already disposed of； and another woman is already the mistress of it。〃 Nella； hearing this； replied； 〃You should no longer think of her who has been the cause of all your misfortune。〃 〃My misfortune has been brought on me by her sisters；〃 replied the Prince； 〃and they shall repent it。〃 〃Then do you really love her？〃 said Nella。 And the Prince replied； 〃More than my own life。〃 〃Embrace me then；〃 said Nella； 〃for I am the fire of your heart。〃 But the Prince seeing the dark hue of her face answered； 〃I would sooner take you for the coal than the fire； so keep offdon't blacken me。〃 Whereupon Nella； perceiving that he did not know her； called for a basin of clean water and washed her face。 As soon as the cloud of soot was removed the sun shone forth； and the Prince； recognising her； pressed her to his heart and acknowledged her for his wife。 Then he had her sisters thrown into an oven； thus proving the truth of the old saying
〃No evil ever went without punishment。〃
XII
VIOLET
Envy is a wind which blows with such violence； that it throws down the props of the reputation of good men； and levels with the ground the crops of good fortune。 But； very often； as a punishment from Heaven； when this envious blast seems as if it would cast a person flat on the ground； it aids him instead of attain the happiness he is expecting sooner even than he expected： as you will hear in the story which I shall now tell you。
There was once upon a time a good sort of man named Cola Aniello； who had three daughters； Rose； Pink； and Violet； the last of whom was so beautiful that her very look was a syrup of love； which cured the hearts of beholders of all unhappiness。 The King's son was burning with love of her； and every time he passed by the little cottage where these three sisters sat at work； he took off his cap and said； 〃Good…day； good…day； Violet；〃 and she replied； 〃Good…day； King's son！ I know more than you。〃 At these words her sisters grumbled and murmured； saying； 〃You are an ill…bred creature and will make the Prince in a fine rage。〃 But as Violet paid no heed to what they said； they made a spiteful complaint of her to her father； telling him that she was too bold and forward； and that she answered the Prince without any respect； as if she were just as good as he； and that； some day or other； she would get into trouble and suffer the just punishment of her offence。 So Cola Aniello； who was a prudent man； in order to prevent any mischief； sent Violet to stay with an aunt； to be set to work。
Now the Prince； when he passed by the house as usual； no longer seeing the object of his love； was for some days like a nightingale that has lost her young ones from her nest； and goes from branch to branch wailing and lamenting her loss； but he put his ear so often to the chink that at last he discovered where Violet lived。 Then he went to the aunt； and said to her； 〃Madam； you know who I am； and what power I have； so； between ourselves； do me a favour and then ask for whatever you wish。〃 〃If I can do anything to serve you；〃 replied the old woman； 〃I am entirely at your command。〃 〃I ask nothing of you；〃 said the Prince； 〃but to let me give Violet a kiss。〃 〃If that's all；〃 answered the old woman； 〃go and hide yourself in the room downstairs in the garden； and I will find some pretence or another for sending Violet to you。〃
As soon as the Prince heard this； he stole into the room without loss of time； and the old woman； pretending that she wanted to cut a piece of cloth； said to her niece； 〃Violet； if you love me； go down and fetch me the yard…measure。〃 So Violet went； as her aunt bade her； but when she came to the room she perceived the ambush； and； taking the yard…measure； she slipped out of the room as nimbly as a cat； leaving the Prince with his nose made long out of pure shame and bursting with vexation。
When the old woman saw Violet come running so fast； she suspected that the trick had not succeeded； so presently after； she said to the girl； 〃Go downstairs； niece； and fetch me the ball of thread that is on the top shelf in the cupboard。〃 So Violet ran； and taking the thread slipped like an eel out of the hands of the Prince。 But after a little while the old woman said again； 〃Violet； my dear； if you do not go downstairs and fetch me the scissors； I cann