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worldindeed； she was not sure that he wasn't leading
her into Fairyland。 At last she saw before her a great
plain； quite covered with all sorts of flowers； the scent of
which seemed to her nicer than anything she had ever
smelled before； a broad river of orange…flower water
flowed round it and fountains of wine of every kind ran
in all directions and made the prettiest little cascades and
brooks。 The plain was covered with the strangest trees；
there were whole avenues where partridges； ready
roasted； hung from every branch； or； if you preferred
pheasants； quails； turkeys； or rabbits； you had only to
turn to the right hand or to the left and you were sure to
find them。 In places the air was darkened by showers
of lobster…patties； white puddings； sausages； tarts； and
all sorts of sweetmeats； or with pieces of gold and silver；
diamonds and pearls。 This unusual kind of rain； and
the pleasantness of the whole place； would； no doubt；
have attracted numbers of people to it； if the King of the
Sheep had been of a more sociable disposition； but from
all accounts it is evident that he was as grave as a judge。
As it was quite the nicest time of the year when
Miranda arrived in this delightful land the only palace she
saw was a long row of orange trees； jasmines； honeysuckles；
and musk…roses； and their interlacing branches
made the prettiest rooms possible； which were hung with
gold and silver gauze； and had great mirrors and
candlesticks； and most beautiful pictures。 The Wonderful
Sheep begged that the Princess would consider herself
queen over all that she saw； and assured her that； though
for some years he had been very sad and in great trouble；
she had it in her power to make him forget all his grief。
〃You are so kind and generous； noble Sheep；〃 said the
Princess； 〃that I cannot thank you enough； but I must
confess that all I see here seems to me so extraordinary
that I don't know what to think of it。〃
As she spoke a band of lovely fairies came up and
offered her amber baskets full of fruit； but when she held
out her hands to them they glided away； and she could
feel nothing when she tried to touch them。
〃Oh！〃 she cried； 〃what can they be？ Whom am I
with？〃 and she began to cry。
At this instant the King of the Sheep came back to
her； and was so distracted to find her in tears that he
could have torn his wool。
〃What is the matter； lovely Princess？〃 he cried。 〃Has
anyone failed to treat you with due respect？〃
〃Oh！ no；〃 said Miranda； 〃only I am not used to living
with sprites and with sheep that talk； and everything
here frightens me。 It was very kind of you to bring
me to this place； but I shall be even more grateful to you
if you will take me up into the world again。〃
〃Do not be afraid；〃 said the Wonderful Sheep； 〃I
entreat you to have patience； and listen to the story of
my misfortunes。 I was once a king； and my kingdom
was the most splendid in the world。 My subjects loved
me； my neighbors envied and feared me。 I was respected
by everyone； and it was said that no king ever
deserved it more。
〃I was very fond of hunting； and one day； while chasing
a stag； I left my attendants far behind； suddenly I
saw the animal leap into a pool of water； and I rashly
urged my horse to follow it； but before we had gone many
steps I felt an extraordinary heat； instead of the coolness
of the water； the pond dried up； a great gulf opened
before me； out of which flames of fire shot up； and I fell
helplessly to the bottom of a precipice。
〃I gave myself up for lost； but presently a voice said：
‘Ungrateful Prince； even this fire is hardly enough to
warm your cold heart！'
〃‘Who complains of my coldness in this dismal place？'
I cried。
〃‘An unhappy being who loves you hopelessly；'
replied the voice； and at the same moment the flames began
to flicker and cease to burn； and I saw a fairy； whom I
had known as long as I could remember； and whose ugliness
had always horrified me。 She was leaning upon the
arm of a most beautiful young girl； who wore chains of
gold on her wrists and was evidently her slave。
〃‘Why； Ragotte；' I said； for that was the fairy's name；
‘what is the meaning of all this？ Is it by your orders
that I am here？'
〃‘And whose fault is it；' she answered； ‘that you have
never understood me until now？ Must a powerful fairy
like myself condescend to explain her doings to you who
are no better than an ant by comparison； though you
think yourself a great king？'
〃‘Call me what you like；' I said impatiently； ‘but
what is it that you wantmy crown； or my cities； or my
treasures？'
〃‘Treasures！' said the fairy； disdainfully。 ‘If I chose
I could make any one of my scullions richer and more
powerful than you。 I do not want your treasures； but；'
she added softly； ‘if you will give me your heartif you
will marry meI will add twenty kingdoms to the one
you have already； you shall have a hundred castles full of
gold and five hundred full of silver； and； in short；
anything you like to ask me for。'
〃‘Madam Ragotte；' said I； ‘when one is at the bottom
of a pit where one has fully expected to be roasted alive；
it is impossible to think of asking such a charming per…
son as you are to marry one！ I beg that you will set me
at liberty； and then I shall hope to answer you fittingly。'
〃‘Ah！' said she； ‘if you really loved me you would not
care where you werea cave； a wood； a fox…hole； a
desert； would please you equally well。 Do not think
that you can deceive me； you fancy you are going to
escape； but I assure you that you are going to stay here
and the first thing I shall give you to do will be to keep my
sheepthey are very good company and speak quite as
well as you do。
〃As she spoke she advanced； and led me to this plain
where we now stand； and showed me her flock； but I paid
little attention to it or to her。
〃To tell the truth； I was so lost in admiration of her
beautiful slave that I forgot everything else； and the
cruel Ragotte； perceiving this； turned upon her so furious
and terrible a look that she fell lifeless to the ground。
〃At this dreadful sight I drew my sword and rushed at
Ragotte； and should certainly have cut off her head had
she not by her magic arts chained me to the spot on
which I stood； all my efforts to move were useless； and
at last； when I threw myself down on the ground in
despair； she said to me； with a scornful smile：
〃‘I intend to make you feel my power。 It seems that
you are a lion at present； I mean you to be a sheep。'
〃So saying； she touched me with her wand； and I
became what you see。 I did not lose the power of speech；
or of feeling the misery of my present state。
〃‘For five years；' she said； ‘you shall be a sheep； and
lord of this pleasant land； while I； no longer able to see
your face； which I loved so much； shall be better able to
hate you as you deserve to be hate