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BLANCH AND
ROSALINDA
Having said this,
the fairy went away, leaving both mother and daughters greatly astonished. They
went into the farm-house, and were quite charmed with the neatness of the
furniture: the chairs were only wood, but so bright, you might see your face in
them. The beds were of linen-cloth, as white as snow. There were forty sheep in
the sheep-pen; four oxen and four cows in their stalls; and in the yard all
sorts of poultry — hens, ducks, pigeons, &c. There was also a pretty
garden, well stocked with flowers, fruit, and vegetables. Blanch saw the
fairy’s gift to her sister, without being jealous, and was wholly taken up with
the thoughts of being a queen; when, all of a sudden, she heard some hunters
riding by, and going to the gate to see them, she appeared so charming in the
king’s eyes, that he resolved to marry her. When Blanch was a queen, she said
to her sister Rosalinda, ‘I do not care you should be a farmer. Come with me,
sister, and I will match you to some great lord.’ — ‘I am very much obliged to
you, sister,’ replied Rosalinda, ‘but I am used to a country life, and I choose
to stay where I am.’ Queen Blanch arrived at her palace, and was so delighted
with her new dignity, that she could not sleep for several nights: the first
three months, her thoughts were wholly engrossed by dress, balls, and plays, so
that she thought of nothing else. She was soon accustomed to all this, and
nothing now diverted her; on the contrary, she found a great deal of trouble.
The ladies of the court were all very respectful in her presence, but she knew
very well that they did not love her; and, when out of her sight, would often
say to one another, ‘See, what airs this little country girl gives herself;
sure his Majesty must have a very mean fancy, to make choice of such a consort.’
These discourses soon reached the king’s ears, and made him reflect on what he
had done: he began to think he was wrong, and repented his marriage. The
courtiers saw this, and accordingly paid her little or no respect: she was very
unhappy, for she had not a single friend to whom she could declare her griefs;
she saw it was the fashion at court to betray the dearest friend for interest;
to caress and smile upon those they most hated; and to lie every instant. She
was obliged to be always serious, because they told her, a queen ought to look
grave and majestic. She had several children, and all the time there was a
physician to inspect whatever she eat or drank, and to order every thing she
liked off the table: not a grain of salt was allowed to be put in her soup, nor
was she permitted to take a walk, though she had ever so much a mind to it.
Governesses were appointed to her children, who brought them up contrary to her
wishes; yet, she had not the liberty to find fault. Poor queen Blanch was dying
with grief, and grew so thin, that it was a pity to see her. She had not seen
her sister for three years, because she imagined it would disgrace for a person
of her rank and dignity to visit a farmer’s wife. Her extreme melancholy made
her very ill, and her physicians ordered change of air. She therefore resolved
to spend a few days in the country, to divert her uneasiness, and improve her
health.
Rosalinda was
married to a farmer’s son, who had no fortune of his own, — but then he ever
remembered, that he was indebted to his wife for every thing he had; and he
strove to show his gratitude by his obliging behaviour. Rosalinda had not many
servants; but those she had, loved her as though she had been their mother,
because she used them kindly. She was beloved by all her neighbours, and they
all endeavoured to show it. She neither had, nor wanted, much money: corn,
wine, and oil, were the growth of her farm: her cows supplied her with milk,
butter, and cheese. The wool of her sheep was spun to clothe herself, her
husband, and two children she had. They enjoyed perfect health; and when the
work of the day was over, they spent the evening in all sorts of pastimes.
‘Alas!’ cried the queen, the fairy made me a sad present in giving me a crown.
Content is not found in magnificent palaces, but in an innocent country life.’
Scarce had she done speaking, before the fairy appeared. ‘In making you a
queen,’ said the fairy, ‘I did not intend to reward, but punish you, for giving
me your plums with an ill-will. To be contented and happy, you must, like your
sister, possess only what is necessary, and wish for nothing else.’ — ‘Ah!
madam,’ cried Blanch, ‘you are sufficiently revenged: pray, put an end to my
distress.’ — ‘It is at an end,’ said the fairy; ‘the king, who loves you no
longer, has just married another wife, and tomorrow his officers will come to
forbid you returning any more to the palace.’ — It happened just as the fairy
had foretold; and Blanch passed the remainder of her days with her sister
Rosalinda, in all manner of happiness and content: never thought again of
court, unless it was to thank the fairy for having brought her back to her
native village. |