with a gracious smile。
〃Young prince；〃 said she； 〃you find no longer your pet snake； but me； the fairy Gentilla； ready to requite your generosity。 For know that we fairies live a hundred years in flourishing youth； without diseases； without trouble or pain； and this term being expired； we become snakes for eight days。 During that time it is not in our power to prevent any misfortune that may befall us； and if we happen to be killed； we never revive again。 But these eight days being expired； we resume our usual form and recover our beauty； our power； and our riches。 Now you know how much I am obliged to your goodness； and it is but just that I should repay my debt of gratitude； think how I can serve you and depend on me。〃
The young prince； who had never conversed with a fairy till now； was so surprised that it was a long time before he could speak。 But at length； making a profound reverence； 〃Madam；〃 said he； 〃since I have had the honor to serve you； I know not any other happiness that I can wish for。〃
〃I should be sorry；〃 replied she； 〃not to be of service to you in something； consider； it is in my power to bestow on you long life； kingdoms； riches； to give you mines of diamonds and houses full of gold； I can make you an excellent orator； poet； musician； and painter； or； if you desire it； a spirit of the air； the water； or the earth。〃
Here Leander interrupted her。 〃Permit me； madam；〃 said he； 〃to ask you what benefit it would be to me to be a spirit？〃
〃Much；〃 replied the fairy； 〃you would be invisible when you pleased； and might in an instant traverse the whole earth； you would be able to fly without wings； to descend into the abyss of the earth without dying； and walk at the bottom of the sea without being drowned； nor doors； nor windows； though fast shut and locked； could hinder you from entering anywhere； and whenever you had a mind； you might resume your natural form。〃
〃Oh； madam！〃 cried Leander； 〃then let me be a spirit； I am going to travel； and should prefer it above all those other advantages you have so generously offered me。〃
Gentilla thereupon stroking his face three times； 〃Be a spirit；〃 said she； and then； embracing him； she gave him a little red cap with a plume of feathers。 〃When you put on this cap you shall be invisible； but when you take it off you shall again become visible。〃
Leander； overjoyed； put his little red cap upon his head and wished himself in the forest； that he might gather some wild roses which he had observed there： his body immediately became as light as thought； he flew through the window like a bird； though； in flying over the river； he was not without fear lest he should fall into it； and the power of the fairy not be able to save him。 But he arrived in safety at the rose… bushes； plucked the three roses； and returned immediately to his chamber； presented his roses to the fairy； overjoyed that his first experiments had succeeded so well。 She bade him keep the roses； for that one of them would supply him with money whenever he wanted it； that if he put the other into his mistress' bosom； he would know whether she was faithful or not； and that the third would keep him always in good health。 Then； without staying to receive his thanks； she wished him success in his travels and disappeared。
Leander； infinitely pleased； settled his affairs； mounted the finest horse in the stable； called Gris…de…line； and attended by some of his servants in livery； made his return to court。 Now you must know Furibon had given out that had it not been for his courage Leander would have murdered him when they were a…hunting； so the king； being importuned by the queen； gave orders that Leander should be apprehended。 But when he came； he showed so much courage and resolution that Furibon ran to the queen's chamber and prayed her to order him to be seized。 The queen； who was extremely diligent in everything that her son desired； went immediately to the king。 Furibon； being impatient to know what would be resolved； followed her； but stopped at the door and laid his ear to the keyhole； putting his hair aside that he might the better hear what was said。 At the same time； Leander entered the court…hall of the palace with his red cap upon his head； and perceiving Furibon listening at the door of the king's chamber； he took a nail and a hammer and nailed his ear to the door。 Furibon began to roar； so that the queen； hearing her son's voice； ran and opened the door； and； pulling it hastily； tore her son's ear from his head。 Half out of her wits； she set him in her lap； took up his ear； kissed it； and clapped it again upon its place； but the invisible Leander； seizing upon a handful of twigs； with which they corrected the king's little dogs； gave the queen several lashes upon her hands； and her son as many on the nose： upon which the queen cried out； 〃Murder！ murder！〃 and the king looked about； and the people came running in； but nothing was to be seen。 Some cried that the queen was mad； and that her madness proceeded from her grief to see that her son had lost one ear； and the king was as ready as any to believe it； so that when she came near him he avoided her； which made a very ridiculous scene。 Leander； then leaving the chamber； went into the garden； and there； assuming his own shape； he boldly began to pluck the queen's cherries； apricots； strawberries； and flowers； though he knew she set such a high value on them that it was as much as a man's life was worth to touch one。 The gardeners； all amazed； came and told their majesties that Prince Leander was making havoc of all the fruits and flowers in the queen's gardens
〃What insolence！〃 said the queen： then turning to Furibon； 〃my pretty child； forget the pain of thy ear but for a moment； and fetch that vile wretch hither； take our guards； both horse and foot； seize him； and punish him as he deserves。〃
Furibon； encouraged by his mother； and attended by a great number of armed soldiers； entered the garden and saw Leander； who； taking refuge under a tree； pelted them all with oranges。 But when they came running toward him； thinking to have seized him； he was not to be seen； he had slipped behind Furibon； who was in a bad condition already。 But Leander played him one trick more； for he pushed him down upon the gravel walk； and frightened him so that the soldiers had to take him up； carry him away； and put him to bed。
Satisfied with this revenge； he returned to his servants； who waited for him； and giving them money； sent them back to his castle； that none might know the secret of his red cap and roses。 As yet he had not determined whither to go； however； he mounted his fine horse Gris… de…line； and； laying the reins upon his neck； let him take his own road： at length he arrived in a forest； where he stopped to shelter himself from the heat。 He had not been above a minute there before he heard a lamentable noise of sighing and sobbing； and looking about him； beheld a man； who ran； stopped； then ran again； sometimes crying； sometimes silent； then tearing his hair； then thumping his breast like some unfortunate madman。 Yet he seemed to be both handsome and young： his garments had been magnificent； but he had torn them all to tatters。 The prince； moved with compassion； made toward him； and mildly accosted him。 〃Sir；〃 said he； 〃your condition appears so deplorable that I must ask the cause of your sorrow； assuring you of every assistance in my power。〃
〃Oh； sir；〃 answered the young man； 〃nothing can cure my grief； this day my dear mistress is to be sacrificed to a rich old ruffian of a husband who will make her miserable。〃
〃Does she love you； then？〃 asked Leander。
〃I flatter myself so；〃 answered the young man。
〃Where is she？〃 continued Leander。
〃In the castle at the end of this forest；〃 replied the lover。
〃Very well；〃 said Leander； 〃stay you here till I come again； and in a little while I will bring you good news。〃
He then put on his little red cap and wished himself in the castle。 He had hardly got thither before he heard all sorts of music； he entered into a great room； where the friends and kindred of the old man and the young lady were assembled。 No one could look more amiable than she； but the paleness of her complexion； the melancholy that appeared in her countenance； and the tears that now and then dropped； as it were by stealth from her eyes； betrayed the trouble of her mind。
Leander now became invisible； and placed himself in a corner of the room。 He soon perceived the father and mother of the bride； and coming behind the mother's chair； whispered in her ear； 〃If you marry your daughter to that old dotard； before eight days are over you shall certainly die。〃 The woman； frightened to hear such a terrible sentence pronounced upon her； and yet not know from whence it came； gave a loud shriek and dropped upon the floor。 Her husband asked what ailed her： she cried that she was a dead woman if the marriage of her daughter went forward； and therefore she would not consent to it for all the world。 Her husband laughed at her and called her a fool。 But the invisible Leander accosting the man； threatened him in the same way； which frightened him so terribly that he also insisted on the marriage being broken off。 When the lover complain