Page:Mother goose's fairy tales (2).pdf/21

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Fairy Tales.
21

got into the gutter, not without abundance of trouble and danger, becauſe of his boots, which were of no uſe at all to him in walking upon the tiles. A little while after, when Puſs ſaw that the Ogre had reſumed his natural form, he came down and owned he had been very much frightened.

"I have been moreover informed," ſaid the Cat, "but I know not how to believe it, that you have alſo the power to take upon you the ſmalleſt animal; for example, to change yourſelf into a rat or a mouſe: but I muſt own to you, I take this to be impoſſible." "Impoſſible," cried the Ogre, "you ſhall ſee that preſently," and at the ſame time, changed himſelf into a mouſe, and began to run about the floor Puſs no ſooner perceived this, but he fell upon him, and eat him up.

Meanwhile the king, who ſaw as he paſſed, this fine caſtle of the Ogre's, had a mind to go into it. Puſs who heard the noiſe of his majeſty's coach, running over the draw-bridge, run out and ſaid to the king," your majeſty is welcome to this caſtle of my Lord marquis of Carabas." "Wnat! my Lord Marquis? cried the king: And does this caſtel alſo belong to you? There can be nothing finer than this court, and all the ſtately buildings which ſurround it, let us go into it if you pleaſe." The king went up firſt, the Marquis, handing the princeſs, following. They paſſed into a ſpacious hall, where they found a magnificent collation the Ogre had prepared for his friends, who dared not enter, knowing the king was there. His majeſty was perfectly charmed with the good qualities of the Marquis, and his daughter was violently in love with him. The king, after having drank five or ſix glaſſes, ſaid to him, "My Lord Marquis, you will be only to blame, if you are not my ſon-in-law." The marquis making ſeveral low bows, accepted the honour his majeſty conferred upon him, and