THE PRINCESS CARPILLON.
There was an old king, who, to console himself for a long widowhood, married a beautiful princess, with whom he was very much in love. By his first wife he had one son, who was crooked and who squinted, and was very much vexed at his father's marrying a second time. "Being an only son," said he, "makes me both loved and feared; but if the young queen should have children, my father, who can dispose of his kingdom, will not consider that I am the eldest: he will disinherit me in their favour." He was ambitious, full of malice and dissimulation; so much so, that without showing his uneasiness, he went secretly to consult a fairy, who was considered the cleverest in the world. The moment he appeared, she guessed his name, his rank, and what he wanted. "Prince Bossu," said she—thus he was named—"you have come too late: the Queen will have a son. I will not harm it; but should it die, or any accident happen to it, I promise you that I will prevent there being any other." This promise slightly consoled the humpback. He entreated the fairy to remember him; and resolved within himself to do some mischief to his little brother as soon as he was born. At the end of nine months the Queen had a son, the handsomest in the world; and they remarked, as an extraordinary thing, that he had the figure of an arrow imprinted upon his arm. The Queen loved her child so much, that she would nurse it herself; which annoyed Prince Bossu exceedingly, for the care of a mother is greater than that of a nurse, and it is much more easy to deceive the one than the other. However, the humpback, who was solely bent on gaining his end, evinced so much affection for the Queen, and love
