7
⟨words⟩ awoke the prince from his dream of pleasure. "Alas!" cried he, "what have I been doing? My honour is lost for ever." ---"Do not afflict yourself," said the White Cat; "I will find a horse that will carry you home in less than twelve hours. And as for the little dog, take this acorn, in which there is one: put it to your ear, and you will hear it hark." The prince did so, and, transported with pleasure, thanked her a thousand times. Bidding her farewell, he mounted the wooden horse, and arrived at his father’s palace just as his brothers entered the courtyard. He ran to embrace them, and all three went together to the king.--- The two eldest presented their dogs, which were so equally beautiful, that it was impossible to know in whose favour to determine. But the youngest soon put an end to the debate; for, pulling the acorn out of his pocket and opening it, they saw a little dog lying on cotton, so small that it might go through a ring; it was of a mixtur of colours, and its ears reached the ground. The king was convinced that nothing could be met with so beautiful; but, being unwilling yet to part with his crown, he told his children, that he must make a further trial of their love and diligence before he performed his promise: they must take another
