Page 94 [94]
OCR
LABOULAYE’S FAIRY BOOK Graceful rose sadly to resume his journey, and asked what were those reddish square towers which he saw in the distance. “They are the Vermilion Towers,” returned the bull; “they bar the way; and you must pass through the castle of the Fairy Crapaudine in order to continue your road. You will see the fairy, my young friend, and she will offer you hospitality and riches. Take my advice and do like those that have gone before you, all of whom accepted the favors of our mistress, and found that they had done well to abandon their dreams in order to live happy. “And what became of them?" asked Graceful. “They became buffaloes like us,” rejoined the bull, who, not having finished his afternoon nap, closed his eyes and fell asleep. Graceful started and awakened Fido, who rose, grumbling. He called Pensive. Pensive did not answer; she was talking with a spider that had spun a great web between the branches of an ash-tree, which was glittering in the sun, full of flies. "Why take this long journey?" said the spider to the swallow. "What is the use of changing your climate and putting your life at the mercy of the sea, the weather, or a master? Look at me; I depend on nobody, and have everything for myself. I am my own mistress; I enjoy my art and genius; I bring the world to me; nothing can 68
