United States or Brazil ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
"I never have made any such boast, your majesty," replied D. Joaõ. He went to Guimara and told her about it. "I am an enchantress," said Guimara. "Leave it to me and we will surprise my father." The very next night Guimara and D. Joaõ tore down the giant's palace and set it up again exactly as it was before. The giant was greatly surprised.
The next time that Guimara saw her father coming she thought of a new plan. She changed herself into a church. She turned D. Joaõ into a padre, the horse into a bell, the saddle into an altar and the musket into a mass-book. When the giant approached the church he was completely deceived.
The giant's wife was nearly as enormous as he was, and their only child was as tall as her mother. Her name was Guimara. When the giant saw D. Joaõ he called out, "O, little man, what are you doing down there?" D. Joaõ narrated his adventures to the giant, and the giant said, "Your story of your wanderings interests me. It is not often that little men like you pass this way.
When they had started out on the journey, Guimara had said, "O, D. Joaõ, whatever happens, don't forget me for one single minute. Think of me all the time." He had promised and he had remembered her every instant on the journey.
I am going with you, myself, this time, to see that Guimara does not play any more tricks on you." This time the fugitives had travelled far when Guimara's parents overtook them. They had almost reached D. Joaõ's own kingdom. Guimara threw a handful of dust into her parents' eyes, and it became so dark that they could not see. Guimara and D. Joaõ escaped safely into his own kingdom.
At midnight Guimara crept out of her room and ran to the place where D. Joaõ was waiting for her with the horse, which travelled one hundred leagues at each step. They mounted the horse and rode away. Early the next morning the princess Guimara was missed from the royal palace. Soon it was discovered that D. Joaõ was gone too, and also the best horse from the stables.
When Guimara became small she lost her power as an enchantress entirely. Her lovely eyes were always a trifle sad because D. Joaõ had forgotten her that one little minute. She never went back to Giantland but reigned as queen of D. Joaõ's kingdom for many years. Long ago there was a man and woman who lived in a little mud hut under the palm trees on the river bank.
The king was greatly surprised to see the garden in the morning and he was very angry at Guimara and D. Joaõ. Guimara was so frightened at her father's terrible wrath that she decided to run away with D. Joaõ. She counselled him to procure the best horse from her father's stable for them to ride.
He was so happy at being home that, just for one little minute, he forgot all about Guimara. When D. Joaõ remembered Guimara he turned around to look at her. When he saw her he could hardly believe his eyes. Instead of being a tall, tall giantess with her head up in the clouds, she reached just to D. Joaõ's own shoulder. D. Joaõ was so surprised that he had to sit down in a chair and be fanned.
He told Guimara about it and she said that it would be great fun to escape from her room that night and make over the Isle of the Wild Beasts into a lovely garden. Accordingly Guimara worked hard all night long helping D. Joaõ to make the Isle of the Wild Beasts over into a garden full of all sorts of beautiful flowers and with a silvery fountain in the centre.
Word Of The Day