She succeeded easily enough in her object; for the Queen was in such despair, that, although they urged her to give the requisite directions, she excused herself on the plea that she knew nothing of the art of war. They called together, by her desire, such pagods as had been in besieged cities, or in the cabinets of the greatest commanders. She ordered them to see to everything, and went and shut herself up in her cabinet, looking with an indifferent eye upon all the events of life.
Magotine had for her general that celebrated puppet Punch, who knew his business well, and who had in reserve a large body of wasps, mayflies, and butterflies, who performed wonders against some light armed frogs and lizards. The latter had been for many years in the pay of the pagods, and were, in truth, much more terrible in name than in action.
Magotine amused herself for some time in witnessing the combat. The pagods and pagodines surpassed themselves in their exertions; but the Fairy, with a stroke of her wand, dissolved all their superb edifices. Those charming gardens, those woods, those meadows, those fountains were overwhelmed with their own ruins, and Queen Laidronette could not escape the sad fate of becoming the slave of the most malignant fairy that ever was or will be. Four or five hundred puppets forced her into the presence of Magotine. "Madam," said Punch to the Fairy, "behold the Queen of the Pagods, whom I have taken the liberty to bring before you." "She has been long known to me," said Magotine. "She was the cause of my being insulted on the day she was born, and I will never forget it." "Alas, Madam," said the Queen to her, "I believed you were sufficiently revenged. The gift of ugliness which you bestowed upon me in so supreme a degree might have satisfied any one less vindictive than you." "How she argues!" said the Fairy. "Here is a learned doctor of a new sort! Your first employment shall be teaching philosophy to my ants. Prepare yourself to give them a lesson every day." "How shall I set about it, Madam?" replied the afflicted Queen. "I am ignorant of philosophy, and were I even well versed in it, are your ants capable of understanding it?" "Hear, hear this logician!" exclaimed Magotine. "Very well, Queen. You shall not teach them philosophy; but in spite of yourself you shall set the whole
