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he laid on the bed beside her。  This done; he thought of nothing

but how best to deliver Rosalie; and he resolved to take

advantage of a visit which the Prince of the Air paid every year

to his mother and brothers in order to strike the blow。



One day Rosalie was sitting alone in her room thinking of her

troubles when she suddenly saw a pen get up from off the desk and

begin to write all by itself on a sheet of white paper。  As she

did not know that it was guided by an invisible hand she was very

much astonished; and the moment that the pen had ceased to move

she instantly went over to the table; where she found some lovely

verses; telling her that another shared her distresses; whatever

they might be; and loved her with all his heart; and that he

would never rest until he had delivered her from the hands of the

man she hated。  Thus encouraged; she told him all her story; and

of the arrival of a young stranger in her father's palace; whose

looks had so charmed her that since that day she had thought of

no one else。  At these words the Prince could contain himself no

longer。  He took the pebble from his mouth; and flung himself at

Rosalie's feet。



When they had got over the first rapture of meeting they began to

make plans to escape from the power of the Prince of the Air。 

But this did not prove easy; for the magic stone would only serve

for one person at a time; and in order to save Rosalie the Prince

of the Golden Isle would have to expose himself to the fury of

his enemy。  But Rosalie would not hear of this。



'No; Prince;' she said; 'since you are here this island no

longer feels a prison。  Besides; you are under the protection of

a Fairy; who always visits your father's court at this season。 

Go instantly and seek her; and when she is found implore the gift

of another stone with similar powers。  Once you have that; there

will be no further difficulty in the way of escape。'



The Prince of the Air returned a few days later from his mother's

palace; but the Invisible Prince had already set out。  He had;

however; entirely forgotten the road by which he had come; and

lost himself for so long in the forest; that when at last he

reached home the Fairy had already left; and; in spite of all his

grief; there was nothing for it but to wait till the Fairy's next

visit; and allow Rosalie to suffer three months longer。  This

thought drove him to despair; and he had almost made up his mind

to return to the place of her captivity; when one day; as he was

strolling along an alley in the woods; he saw a huge oak open its

trunk; and out of it step two Princes in earnest conversation。 

As our hero had the magic stone in his mouth they imagined

themselves alone; and did not lower their voices。



'What!' said one; 'are you always going to allow yourself to be

tormented by a passion which can never end happily; and in your

whole kingdom can you find nothing else to satisfy you?'



'What is the use;' replied the other; 'of being Prince of the

Gnomes; and having a mother who is queen over all the four

elements; if I cannot win the love of the Princess Argentine? 

From the moment that I first saw her; sitting in the forest

surrounded by flowers; I have never ceased to think of her night

and day; and; although I love her; I am quite convinced that she

will never care for me。  You know that I have in my palace the

cabinets of the years。  In the first; great mirrors reflect the

past; in the second; we contemplate the present; in the third;

the future can be read。  It was here that I fled after I had

gazed on the Princess Argentine; but instead of love I only saw

scorn and contempt。  Think how great must be my devotion; when;

in spite of my fate; I still love on!'



Now the Prince of the Golden Isle was enchanted with this

conversation; for the Princess Argentine was his sister; and he

hoped; by means of her influence over the Prince of the Gnomes;

to obtain from his brother the release of Rosalie。  So he

joyfully returned to his father's palace; where he found his

friend the Fairy; who at once presented him with a magic pebble

like his own。  As may be imagined; he lost no time in setting out

to deliver Rosalie; and travelled so fast that he soon arrived at

the forest; in the midst of which she lay a captive。  But though

he found the palace he did not find Rosalie。  He hunted high and

low; but there was no sign of her; and his despair was so great

that he was ready; a thousand times over; to take his own life。 

At last he remembered the conversation of the two Princes about

the cabinets of the years; and that if he could manage to reach

the oak tree; he would be certain to discover what had become of

Rosalie。  Happily; he soon found out the secret of the passage

and entered the cabinet of the present; where he saw reflected in

the mirrors the unfortunate Rosalie sitting on the floor weeping

bitterly; and surrounded with genii; who never left her night or

day。



This sight only increased the misery of the Prince; for he did

not know where the castle was; nor how to set about finding it。 

However; he resolved to seek the whole world through till he came

to the right place。  He began by setting sail in a favourable

wind; but his bad luck followed him even on the sea。  He had

scarcely lost sight of the land when a violent storm arose; and

after several hours of beating about; the vessel was driven on to

some rocks; on which it dashed itself to bits。  The Prince was

fortunate enough to be able to lay hold of a floating spar; and

contrived to keep himself afloat; and; after a long struggle with

the winds and waves; he was cast upon a strange island。  But what

was his surprise; on reaching the shore; to hear sounds of the

most heartrending distress; mingled with the sweetest songs which

had ever charmed him!  His curiosity was instantly roused; and he

advanced cautiously till he saw two huge dragons guarding the

gate of a wood。  They were terrible indeed to look upon。  Their

bodies were covered with glittering scales; their curly tails

extended far over the land; flames darted from their mouths and

noses; and their eyes would have made the bravest shudder; but as

the Prince was invisible and they did not see him; he slipped

past them into the wood。  He found himself at once in a

labyrinth; and wandered about for a long time without meeting

anyone; in fact; the only sight he saw was a circle of human

hands; sticking out of the ground above the wrist; each with a

bracelet of gold; on which a name was written。  The farther he

advanced in the labyrinth the more curious he became; till he was

stopped by two corpses lying in the midst of a cypress alley;

each with a scarlet cord round his neck and a bracelet on his arm

on which were engraved their own names; and those of two

Princesses。



The invisible Prince recognised these dead men as Kings of two

large islands near his own home; but the names of the Princesses

were unknown to him。  He grieved for their unhappy fate; and at

once proceeded to bury them; but no sooner had he laid them in

their graves; than their hands started up through the earth and

remained sticking up like those of their fellows。



The Prince went on his way; thinking about this strange

adventure; when suddenly at the turn of the walk he perceived a

tall man whose face was the picture of misery; holding in his

hands a silken cord of the exact colour of those round the necks

of the dead men。  A few steps further this man came up with

another as miserable to the full as he himself; they silently

embraced; and then without a word passed the cords round their

throats; and fell dead side by side。  In vain the Prince rushed

to their assistance and strove to undo the cord。  He could not

loosen it; so he buried them like the others and continued his

path。



He felt; however; that great prudence was necessary; or he

himself might become the victim of some enchantment; and he was

thankful to slip past the dragons; and enter a beautiful park;

with clear streams and sweet flowers; and a crowd of men and

maidens。  But he could not forget the terrible things he had

seen; and hoped eagerly for a clue to the mystery。  Noticing two

young people talking together; he drew near thinking that he

might get some explanation of what puzzled him。  And so he did。



'You swear;' said the Prince; 'that you will love me till you

die; but I fear your faithless heart; and I feel that I shall

soon have to seek the Fairy Despair; ruler of half this island。 

She carries off the lovers who have been cast away by their

mistresses; and wish to have done with life。  She places them in

a labyrinth where they are condemned to walk for ever; with a

bracelet on their arms and a cord round their necks; unless they

meet another as miserable as themselves。  Then the cord is pulled

and they lie where they fall; till they are buried by the first

pa

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