a desire to eat some of them, that she set out for the country in which they lived.  She arrived at their abode which she found to be a magnificent palace, on all sides glittering with gold and precious stones.  She knocked a long time at the gates; but no one came, nor could she perceive the least sign that it had any inhabitant.  The difficulty, however, did but increase the violence of my mother’s longing; for she saw the tops of the trees above the garden walls loaded with the most luscious fruits.  The queen, in despair, ordered her attendants to place tents close to the door of the palace; but having waited six weeks, without seeing any one pass the gates, she fell sick of vexation, and her life was despaired of.

“One night, as she lay half asleep, she turned herself about, and opening her eyes, perceived a little old woman, very ugly and deformed, seated in the easy chair by her bedside.  ‘I, and my sister fairies,’ said she, ’take it very ill that your majesty should so obstinately persist in getting some of our fruit; but since so precious a life is at stake, we consent to give you as much as you can carry away, provided you will give us in return what we shall ask.’  ‘Ah! kind fairy,’ cried the queen, ’I will give you anything I possess, even my very kingdoms, on condition that I eat of your fruit.’  The old fairy then informed the queen that what they required was, that she would give them the child she was going to have, as soon as she should be born; adding, that every possible care should be taken of her, and that she should become the most accomplished princess.  The queen replied, that however cruel the condition, she must accept it, since nothing but the fruit could save her life.  In short, dear prince,” continued the lady, “my mother instantly got out of bed, was dressed by her attendants, entered the palace, and satisfied her longing.  When the queen had eaten her fill, she ordered four thousand mules to be procured, and loaded with the fruit, which had the virtue of continuing all the year round in a state of perfection.  Thus provided, she returned to the king, my father, who with the whole court, received her with rejoicings, as it was before imagined she would die of disappointment.  All this time the queen said nothing to my father of the promise she had made, to give her daughter to the fairies; so that, when the time was come that she expected my birth, she grew very melancholy; till at length, being pressed by the king, she declared to him the truth.  Nothing could exceed his affliction, when he heard that his only child, when born, was to be given to the fairies.  He bore it, however, as well as he could, for fear of adding to my mother’s grief; and also believing he should find some means of keeping me in a place of safety, which the fairies would not be able to approach.  As soon therefore as I was born, he had me conveyed to a tower in the palace, to which there were twenty flights of stairs, and a door to each, of which my father kept the key, so