to-morrow to claim her, and bring her here." In the meantime, the wicked King's son, being extremely angry with Joliette, sat down under a tree, where he gave way so to his grief that he quite howled. His father heard him; he went to the window and called out to him, "What art thou crying about, making a fool of thyself?" He answered, "Our turkey-keeper will not love me." "How! she will not love thee?" said the wicked King, "I will make her love thee, or she shall die." He called his guards, and said to them, "Go and fetch her, for I will make her suffer so much that she shall repent of her obstinacy." They went to the poultry-yard, and found Joliette in a white satin dress, embroidered all over with gold, with pink diamonds, and more than a thousand yards of riband all about it.[1] Never had they seen so fine a lady, in all her grandeur; they did not dare speak to her, taking her for a princess. She said very civilly to them, "Pray tell me whom you seek here?" "Madam," said they, "we are looking for a miserable little wretch they call Joliette." "Alas! it is I," said she; "what do you want with me?" They instantly seized her, and tied her feet and hands with thick cords, for fear she would run away. They led her in this manner to the wicked King, who was with his son. When he saw her so beautiful, he could not avoid being a little moved; and no doubt would have had pity upon her, had he not been one of the most wicked and cruel men in the world. He said to her, "Hah! hah! little rogue! little toad! you will not then love my son? He is a hundred times handsomer than you are! one of his looks is worth more than your whole person. Come, love him directly, or I will have you flayed." The Princess, trembling like a little pigeon, knelt before him, and said, "Sire, I entreat you not to flay me: that would be too cruel. Let me have two or three days to think what I ought to do, after which, be it as you will." His son, in a state of fury, insisted on her being flayed. They agreed at last to shut her up in a tower, where she could see nothing but the sky. At this moment the good Fairy arrived in her flying chariot, with the Queen. They heard all the news. The Queen began to cry bitterly, saying, how unfortunate she always was, and that she would rather her child
- ↑ The enormous quantity of ribands worn at this period by gentlemen, as well as ladies, makes this scarcely an exaggeration.
