Fairy tales (1)/Princess Fair-Star and Prince Cherry

the

STORY

of

PRINCESS FAIR STAR

and

PRINCE CHERRY.

THERE was a Princess, who having gone thro' several misfortunes, had nothing left of all her past grandeur. She took a pretty little house nigh a great city, and made the best fricasees and ragouts imaginable, insomuch, that she had a considerable trade.

One day there came a little woman to her house. I am come said she to the Princess, to make a good meal before I die, that I may brag I have had one. As the princess had at that time her hands fully employed, she called down her three daughters, whose names were Rousetta, Brunetta, and Blondina, but the youngest was the handsomest and best natured. The daughters soon set before the old woman a very good dinner, which she ate with an extraordinary appetite. When she had done, she rose up saying. Honest friends, had I any money I would pay you; but I have been poor these many years and wanted so kind an entertainment as you have given me; however, assure yourselves, the first wish you make without thinking of me, shall be completed. Then she went away leaving them some reasons to think her a fairy.

One day the king going a hunting resolved to call at the house, to see if the Princess was as notable a cook as she was reported to be. The three sisters were in the garden gathering strawberries, when he passed by. Ah! said Rosetta, was I so happy as to marry the admiral, I boast that I could spin thread enough to make sails for his whole navy. And I, said Brunetta, was my fortune so good that I should marry the King’s brother, I would work lace enough with my needle to hang his palace. And I said, Blondina, would the King have me, I boast at the end of nine months, to bring him forth two fine boys and a girl, with stars in their foreheads, and chains of gold about their necks, from whose hair, hanging on curlious rings should drop valuable jewels. One of the king's favourites overhearing the discourse, went and informed the king thereof, who ordered them so come to him, and being charmed with the modesty of Blondina, he resolved to marry her: As did his brother, and the admiral, the other two. But when the queen-mother who was the most cruel of all women, heard that the king and prince were married to two girls of obscure birth, she flew into such a passion, as frightened the whole court.

The fair queen and the princess were united by a strict friendship, but Rosetta envied them for their good fortune; which made her enter into all the queen mother’s measures who only waited an opportunity to do Brunetta and Blondina, all the mischief she could. The queen and princess both proved with child, but by ill fortune a war happened which obliged the king to put himself at the head of his troops; so taking leave of his spouse with great tenderness, he departed.

Whilst the king was at the wars, the queen was brought to bed of two boys and a girls, with stars in their foreheads, and chains of gold about their necks, as was the princess the same day of a beautiful boy; but Brunetta died in the birth. Rousetta's thoughts were wholly employed how to injure the queen; and seeing such charming children and that she herself had none her encreased, and she resolved to speak with the queen-mother. I have said she, to her, a little bitch that has just pupped two dogs and a bitch, with stars on their foreheads and rings about their necks. We must make the queen believe she has been delivered of these creatures, and make away with her three children, and that of the princess deceased. This project was approved by the inhuman queen mother who ordered Fehitifa, one of her maids of honour, to fetch the whelps, and dress them in as fine a linen and laces as the queen's children should be, and put them into the cradles; as for the poor queen, she had like to die with grief, on seeing the whole litter of whelps lie by her, not knowing that the old queen had ordered Feintifa to take the four children and strangle them, but just as she was going to execute that fatal commission, seeing the stars in their foreheads, which she thought might portend something extraordinary, durst not lay criminal hands on them, but put them into their cradles on board a little boat, and with some jewels committed them to the mercy of the seas.

The King, whose thoughts were always on his dear Spouse, having concluded a truce for some time, returned with all speed home, and arrived about twelve hours after her delivery; but when he heard she was delivered of whelps, he ordered both them and her to be put into a litter, and sent home to her mother's, where she arrived almost dead.

But Heaven looked with a more favourable eye over the Princes and Princess; so after floating out to sea, they were taken up by a Corsair, who being touched with the beauty of these children, and having none of his own, turned back, and gave them to his wife, to be educated and brought up as their own; but they were not a little surprised, when they came to comb them, to see jewels and diamonds fall out of their hair. The Princess they called Fair-star, the eldest brother Bright sun, the second son Felix, and the Princess’s son Cherry.

They lived with the Corsair and his wife till they grew up, when they expressed a great desire to travel; the Corsair agreed to their request, and they set out altogether, and travelled till they without knowing it, came to the very place of their nativity.

The news of the arrival of four such extraordinary personages, soon reached the ears of the queen-mother; who collecting the circumstances of the stars and chains of gold, was struck with amazement, and retiring to her closet sent for Feihtifa, who coming half dead with fear, cast herself at her feet, told her all she had done, and promised to destroy them.

Accordingly she went to their house, and being introduced to Fair-star, complimented her on her beauty, but told her she wanted one thing quite necessary, and that was the dancing water, which had the power of making every one handsome to the greatest degree that was possessed of it, and added, it was no where to be got but in the burning forest.

Cherry, when he went home from hunting, observed Fair-star to be sorrowful, and asking her the reason, she told him. Cherry, who loved her greatly, took no further notice of the affair; but while his sister was busy, mounted his horse and rode away.

He travelled till he came to the top of a hill, and being faint with the heat of the burning forest, stopped at a rivulet to drink, when he had done drinking, he perceived a turtle drowning, and taking pity on it, and having wiped the feathers, put it in his bosom, where it recovered.

Prince, said the turtle, this is not the first time I have received signal favours from your family. I have it in my power to reward you; follow me. Cherry did so till he come to the mouth of a vault, then jumped off his horse, and the turtle conducted him to the fountain; he immediately filled a vessel he brought, and pulled two hearty draughts, which made him ten times handsomer than he was before; so mounting his horse, returned home, carrying some of the water with him to his sister.

The restless Feintifa knew by her spies that Cherry was returned, and that he and his sister, by washing themselves in the dancing water, were more beautiful than ever. However, she contrived to see Fair-star again; and congratulated her on Cherry’s success but told her at the asme time, she should think of getting the singing apple, which was a great embellishment to the wit, and beside, sung so fine, that it ravished all that heard it.

Cherry heard of this by chance, and when all were gone to bed, mounted his white nag again, and set out in search of the apple. After several days journey, he perceived in the road, a turtle almost dead, and taking pity on it, wiped the feathers which were bloody, took out of his pocket, a box of an admirable ointment, and no sooner applied it to the wound of the poor turtle, than it opened its eyes, stretched out its wings, and looking at Prince Cherry, said. You are destined to save my life, and perhaps I may do you a signal service, follow me, and l will assist you in this enterprize. The Prince let her go, and followed her till they came to a great mountain of sand. Dig here, said the turtle, which he accordingly did, sometimes with his hand, and sometimes with his sword; after some hours hard working, he found a complete suit of armour for man and horse, all of glass; he had however scarce got it on, before the dragon that guarded the apple, came roaring towards him; but When he saw his own terrible figure multiplied so many times in the prince’s glass-armour, he ran away, frighted to see so many such monsters as himself. After that, Cherry searching about, discovered with joy the beautiful tree, and breaking off the bough that bore the apple, he made haste back to present it to his beloved Fair-star.

When the wicked Feintifa heard of Prince Cherry’s success, she could hardly contain herself; but repaired to Fair-star, who as soon as she saw her, cried. Ah! keep your advice to yourself, for though the benefits I receive are great, they make not amends for the uneasiness I am under. You must notwithstanding that be told, said Feintifa, that you want the little green bird, who tells every thing; and then left her abruptly.

Fair-star reflected how great pleasure it would be to them to know their parents, and thereupon cried; Cherry, who came in soon after from hunting, saw it, and asked the cause, which she refused to tell him; he thereupon threatened to kill himself, and by that means extorted the secret from her, but she insisted, that he should not with his life seek to satisfy her desires. However, as soon as she and her brothers were retired to their chambers, he mounted his horse again, and went away without saying a word to any one.

The Prince wandered up and down, asking all he met, where he might find the Green Bird, to be short, one morning by sun rise, he perceived a rock, which was very high and craggy, and on the top of it, the bird talked like an oracle; Cherry thought he might catch it with very little trouble since it appeared to be very tame. He alighted off his horse, and climbed up without making any noise, when all on a sudden the rock opened, and he fell motionless into a large hall. His two brothers likewise set out with the same hopes, and met with the same misfortune.

Fair-star seeing none of her brother’s return; was inconsolable, and without farther hesitation, ordered their servant to stay six months, and if neither she nor her brothers returned in that time, to go and acquaint the Corsair and his wife with their deaths. Then dressing herself in man’s clothes, to secure her from any insults on her journey. Feintifa had the pleasure to see her set out on her Isabella horse; and immediately ran, full of joy to regale the queen with the news.

Fair-star in her way saw a turtle-dove, no less white nor cold than the snow it lay upon, and taking it up, said, What shall I do lovely turtle to save thy life? To which it answered, One sweet kiss Fair-star, will finish what you have so charitably begun. She kissed it immediately, and the turtle reviving, said, I thank you for what you have done, and now I will do something for you. When you come to the rock, instead of attempting to climb it, stay at the bottom, and pretend to be asleep; when the green bird sees me, he will come from the rock to peck me, and then you must take the advantage and catch him. She did so, and by the direction of the turtle took a red feather out of the green bird's wing, and touching the rock with it three times, the enchantment was broke, and her brothers with many others set free.

When the king heard of their return, he sent for them and their curiosities to court, where the green bird gave an account of their births.

Never was joy greater than theirs, their mother was sent for, and while they were embracing each other; the Fairy appearing, told them how she had protected them under the shape of a turtle, and all upon account of the charitable reception the Queen Blondina gave her. Cherry to complete his happiness was married to Fair-star, who before he took for his sister. But as for the Queen mother Rousetta and Feintifa, her maid or honour, they were sent into perpetual banishment.