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and the great Eagle sailed in beating with his wings for joy。 The
Princess lost no time in offering it the carbuncle box； which it
grasped in its talons； and instantly disappeared； leaving in its place
the most beautiful Prince she had ever seen； who was splendidly
dressed； and wore a diamond crown。
‘Princess；' said he； ‘for two hundred years has a wicked
enchanter kept me here。 We both loved the same Fairy； but she pre…
ferred me。 However； he was more powerful than I； and succeeded；
when for a moment I was off my guard； in changing me into an
Eagle； while my Queen was left in an enchanted sleep。 I knew
that after two hundred years a Prince would recall her to the light
of day； and a Princess； in restoring to me the hand which my enemy
had cut off； would give me back my natural form。 The Fairy who
watches over your destiny told me this； and it was she who guided
you to the cabinet in the turret； where she had placed my hand。 It
is she also who permits me to show my gratitude to you by granting
whatever favour you may ask of me。 Tell me； Princess； what is it
that you wish for most？ Shall I make you as beautiful as you
deserve to be？'
‘Ah； if you only would！' cried the Princess； and at the same
moment she heard a crick…cracking in all her bones。 She grew tall
and straight and pretty； with eyes like shining stars； and a skin as
white as milk。
‘Oh； wonderful！ can this really be my poor little self？' she
exclaimed； looking down in amazement at her tiny worn…out crutch
as it lay upon the floor。
‘Indeed； Princess；' replied Florimond； ‘it is yourself； but you
must have a new name； since the old one does not suit you now。
Be called Princess Sunbeam； for you are bright and charming
enough to deserve the name。'
And so saying he disappeared； and the Princess； without knowing
how she got there； found herself walking under shady trees by
a clear river。 Of course； the first thing she did was to look at her
own reflection in the water； and she was extremely surprised to find
that she was exactly like the shepherdess she had so much admired；
and wore the same white dress and flowery wreath that she had seen
in the painted windows。 To complete the resemblance； her flock
of sheep appeared； grazing round her； and she found a gay crook
adorned with flowers upon the bank of the river。 Quite tired out by so
many new and wonderful experiences； the Princess sat down to rest
at the foot of a tree； and there she fell fast asleep。 Now it happened
that it was in this very country that Prince Peerless had been set
down； and while the Princess Sunbeam was still sleeping peacefully；
he came strolling along in search of a shady pasture for his sheep。
The moment he caught sight of the Princess he recognised her
as the charming shepherdess whose picture he had seen so often
in the tower； and as she was far prettier than he had remembered
her； he was delighted that chance had led him that way。
He was still watching her admiringly when the Princess opened
her eyes； and as she also recognised him they were soon great
friends。 The Princess asked Prince Peerless； as he knew the
country better than she did； to tell her of some peasant who would
give her a lodging； and he said he knew of an old woman whose cottage
would be the very place for her； it was so nice and so pretty。 So
they went there together； and the Princess was charmed with the
old woman and everything belonging to her。 Supper was soon
spread for her under a shady tree； and she invited the Prince to
share the cream and brown bread which the old woman provided。
This he was delighted to do； and having first fetched from his own
garden all the strawberries； cherries； nuts and flowers he could find。
they sat down together and were very merry。 After this they met
every day as they guarded their flocks； and were so happy that Prince
Peerless begged the Princess to marry him； so that they might never
be parted again。 Now though the Princess Sunbeam appeared to
be only a poor shepherdess； she never forgot that she was a real
Princess； and she was not at all sure that she ought to marry a
humble shepherd； though she knew she would like to do so very
much。
So she resolved to consult an Enchanter of whom she had heard
a great deal since she had been a shepherdess； and without saying
a word to anybody she set out to find the castle in which he lived
with his sister； who was a powerful Fairy。 The way was long；
and lay through a thick wood； where the Princess heard strange
voices calling to her from every side； but she was in such a hurry
that she stopped for nothing； and at last she came to the courtyard
of the Enchanter's castle。
The grass and briers were growing as high as if it were a
hundred years since anyone had set foot there； but the Princess got
through at last； though she gave herself a good many scratches by
the way； and then she went into a dark； gloomy hall； where there
was but one tiny hole in the wall through which the daylight could
enter。 The hangings were all of bats' wings； and from the ceiling
hung twelve cats； who filled the hall with their ear piercing yells。
Upon the long table twelve mice were fastened by the tail； and just
in front of each one's nose； but quite beyond its reach； lay a tempting
morsel of fat bacon。 So the cats could always see the mice； but could not
touch them； and the hungry mice were tormented by the sight and smell
of the delicious morsels which they could never seize。
The Princess was looking at the poor creatures in dismay； when
the Enchanter suddenly entered； wearing a long black robe and
with a crocodile upon his head。 In his hand he carried a whip
made of twenty long snakes； all alive and writhing； and the Princess
was so terrified at the sight that she heartily wished she had never
come。 Without saying a word she ran to the door； but it was
covered with a thick spider's web； and when she broke it she found
another； and another； and another。 In fact； there was no end to
them； the Princess's arms ached with tearing them down； and yet
she was no nearer to getting out； and the wicked Enchanter behind
her laughed maliciously。 At last he said：
‘You might spend the rest of your life over that without doing
any good； but as you are young； and quite the prettiest creature I
have seen for a long time； I will marry you if you like； and I will
give you those cats and mice that you see there for your own。
They are princes and princesses who have happened to offend me。
They used to love one another as much as they now hate one
another。 Aha！ It's a pretty little revenge to keep them like that。'
‘Oh！ If you would only change me into a mouse too；' cried the Princess。
‘Oh！ so you won't marry me？' said he。 ‘Little simpleton； you
should have everything heart can desire。'
‘No； indeed； nothing should make me marry you； in fact； I
don't think I shall ever love anyone；' cried the Princess。
‘In that case；' s