We should be mad to consent. A pretty alliance she would inflict on us. Some little peachicks for nephews!" The Prince was no less troubled about it; "It is a most unfortunate whim," said he, "that she has taken into her head! What could have induced her to imagine there was a King of the Peacocks in the world?"
When they arrived at the principal city, they perceived it was full of men and women; but that they were dressed in clothes made of peacocks' feathers, and wore a profusion of them everywhere as very fine ornaments. They met the king, who was driving out in a fine little coach of gold and diamonds, drawn by twelve peacocks fully caparisoned.
This King of the Peacocks was so handsome—so handsome—that the King and the Prince were charmed with him. He had long curly light hair, an exceedingly fair complexion, and wore a crown of feathers from the tail of a peacock. When he saw the two brothers, he judged that, as their dresses were of a different fashion to those worn by the people of the country, they must be foreigners, and to ascertain the fact he stopped his coach and ordered them to be called before him.
The King and the Prince approached him, and having made their obeisance, said to him, "Sire, we have come from a great distance to show you a beautiful portrait." They took out of their portmanteau the grand portrait of Rosette. When the King of the Peacocks had examined it attentively, "I cannot believe," said he, "that there is such a beautiful maid in the world!" "She is a hundred times more beautiful," said the King, her brother. "Oh, you are jesting;" replied the King of the Peacocks. "Sire," said the Prince, "there is my brother, who is a king as well as you. He is styled the King, and I am called the Prince. Our sister, of whom this is the portrait, is the Princess Rosette. We come to ask you if you will espouse her. She is beautiful and very virtuous, and we will give her a bushel of golden crowns." "Yes, truly," said the king, "I will marry her with all my heart. She shall lack for nothing at my court; I will love her excessively; but I declare to you that I expect she is as handsome as her portrait, and that if it flatter her in the slightest degree, I will put you to death." "Well, we
