17
THE WHITE CAT.
An account has long been preserved of a king who had three sons. These young men were all handsome in their forms, interesting in their countenances, noble and generous in their dispositions, and amiable and beneficent in their conduct.
That he might pass the remainder of his days in tranquillity, he determined to employ the princes in such a manner as at once to give each of them the hope of succeeding to the crown.
He sent for them to his closet, and after having kindly conversed with them, he said, "You must be sensible, my dear children, that my advanced age prevents me from attending as closely as I formerly did to the affairs of state. I fear this maybe injurious to my subjects; and I therefore desire to place my crown on the head of one of you.
"It is at least just that you should endeavour, in return for my intention, to give me some proof of your diligence, in fulfilling any desire I may entertain, particularly if it can contribute to the amusement of my old age. I cannot help thinking that a little dog, particularly handsome and faithful, would, of all things, afford me the greatest entertainment. Without, therefore, bestowing a voluntary preference on any one of you, I declare, that he who procures for me the most curious and interesting little dog, shall be my successor."
Each took a different road: we shall record the adventures of the youngest, the most accomplished prince of the age.
Not a day passed, in which he did not purchase all the handsome dogs that he could meet with.
At length, wandering he knew not whither, he found himself in a forest. Night suddenly came on, and with it a violent storm of thunder, lightning, and rain. To add to his perplexity he lost his way. After he had wandered about for along time, he perceived alight, which induced him to believe that he was not far from some house. He pursued his way toward it, and in a short time found himself at the gates of the most magnificent palace he had ever beheld.
The prince was so astonished that he dared not move a step; but presently he felt himself pushed gently on by some other hands from behind him. He walked on in great perplexity, till he entered a vestibule inlaid with porphyry and jasper: at this instant he heard a voice chant the following words:—
