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Updated: June 22, 2025
The prince bowed respectfully to Lady Molinda: "Madam, my cousin," said he, "your clemency will excuse my answer, and you will not misinterpret the apparent discourtesy of my conduct. I am compelled, most unwillingly, to slight your charms, and to select the Extreme Rigour of the Law. Executioner, lead on! Do your duty; for me, Prigio est pret;" for this was his motto, and meant that he was ready.
He went to his own room, took a portmanteau in his hand, sat down on the carpet, and said: "I wish I were in Gluckstein." In a moment there he found himself; for this was that famous carpet which Prince Hussein bought long ago, in the market at Bisnagar, and which the fairies had brought, with the other presents, to the christening of Prince Prigio.
Then Prigio bustled about, got ready some cold luncheon from the store- room, took all his fairy things that he was likely to need, sat down with them on the flying carpet, and wished himself at the mountain of the Firedrake. "I have the king now," he said; "for if I can't find the ashes of my brothers, by Jove! I'll! Do you know what he meant to do, if he could not find his brothers?
"Honour bright!" answered the prince, and, for the first time in many months, the royal father and son shook hands. "For you, madam," said Prigio in a stately way to Lady Molinda, "in less than a week I trust we shall be taking our vows at the same altar, and that the close of the ceremony which finds us cousins will leave us brother and sister."
Then he went back to his arithmetic and his slate, and the king had to send for Prince Alphonso and Prince Enrico. They both came in very warm; for they had been whipping tops, and the day was unusually hot. "Look here," said the king, "just you two younger ones look at Prigio!
But he never came back again! After shedding torrents of tears, the king summoned Prince Prigio to his presence. "Dastard!" he said. "Poltroon! Your turn, which should have come first, has arrived at last. You must fetch me the horns and the tail of the Firedrake. Probably you will be grilled, thank goodness; but who will give me back Enrico and Alphonso?"
"And if I were you, I'd take a light garden-engine, full of water, to squirt at the enemy." "Happy thought!" said Alphonso. "I will!" But he never came back any more! Everyone wept bitterly everyone but Prince Prigio; for he thought it was a practical joke, and said that Alphonso had taken the opportunity to start off on his travels and see the world.
By this time, you or I, or anyone who was not so extremely clever as Prince Prigio, would have understood what was the matter. He had put on, without knowing it, not only the seven-league boots, but the cap of darkness, and had taken Fortunatus's purse, which could never be empty, however often you took all the money out.
"And so is that of a crown prince," answered Prigio; "and mine is pledged to a lady." "She shall be a mourning bride," cried the king savagely, "unless" here he paused for a moment "unless you bring me back Alphonso and Enrico, safe and well!" The prince thought for the space of a flash of lightning. "I accept the alternative," he said, "if your majesty will grant me my conditions."
A more terrible and cruel beast cannot be imagined; for, if you go near it, you are at once broiled by the Firedrake. But the king was not ill-pleased: "for," thought he, "of course my three sons must go after the brute, the eldest first; and, as usual, it will kill the first two, and be beaten by the youngest. It is a little hard on Enrico, poor boy; but anything to get rid of that Prigio!"
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