] Here was one time a fairy, who wished to marry a certain king; but as her reputation was very bad, the king chose rather to expose himself to all her wrath, than to become the husband of a woman whom nobody esteemed: for there is nothing so vexatious, for an honourable man, as to see his wife despised. A good fairy, who was named Adamant, induced this prince to marry a young princess whom she had brought up, and promised to defend him against the fairy Fury. But some time afterwards, Fury having been appointed queen of the fairies, She had a son named Enchanting; she adored him, although he was the greatest dunce in the world. As she wished to make him happy, at any rate, she stole away a princess, who was perfectly beautiful; but, that she might not be disgusted at the folly of Enchanting, she made her as foolish as him. This princess, who was called Bright Star, lived in the same palace with Enchanting, and although they were over sixteen, she never could teach them to read. Fury had the picture of this princess painted, and carried the portrait to the small house where Intellectual lived. The malice of Fury was attended with success; and although Intellectual knew that the princess Bright Star was in the palace of his enemy, he became so much in love, that he resolved to go there; but, at the same time, recollecting his ugliness, he plainly saw that he should be the most unfortunate of men, since he was sure of appearing horrible in the eyes of this beautiful girl. He resisted for a long time the desire he had of seeing her, but at last love prevailed over reason. - He departed with his servant, and Fury was delighted to see him take this resolution, as she could thus have the pleasure of tormenting him with more convenience to herself. Bright Star was walking in the garden with Adamant, her governess. When she saw the prince approach, she screamed out, she hid her face between her hands, and said to the fairy: "My dear nurse, drive away this hideous man; he will kill me with fright." The prince endeavoured to take advantage of the time, while her eyes were closed, to make her a well-turned compliment; but he might as well have spoken Greek; she was too stupid to understand him. At this moment, Intellectual heard Fury laughing with all her might, and sneering at him. "You have done well enough for the first time," said she to the prince: "you can retire into an apartment I have prepared for you, and from whence you will have the pleasure of seeing the princess at your convenience." You think, perhaps, that Intellectual employed himself in retorting the insults of this wicked creature; but he had too much sense for this: he knew that she wished to vex him, and he would not give her the pleasure of seeing him out of temper. He was, however, deeply afflicted; but his situation became worse when he heard a conversation between Bright Star and Enchanting; for they said so many stupid things, that she no longer appeared to him half so handsome; and he resolved to forget her, and return to his solitude. He wished, before doing this, to take his leave of Adamant. What was his surprise, when the fairy told him he must by no means quit the palace, and that she knew the way of making him beloved by the princess. "I am very much obliged to you, madam," replied the prince: "but I am in no haste to marry. I acknowledge that Bright Star is charming, yet it is only when she does not speak. The fairy Fury has cured me, by allowing me to overhear one of her conversations: I will carry away with me her portrait, which is admirable, because it is silent."" You have done wrong to despise her," said Adamant: "your happiness depends on your marrying the princess."" I assure you, madam, I will never do so, unless I become deaf; besides, I must lose my memory, or otherwise I can never forget the tone of her conversation. I would a hundred times rather marry a woman more ugly than myself, if it were possible to find such, than a stupid one with whom I could have no reasonable conversation, and who would make me tremble whenever I was in company with her, for fear of having her give utterance to some silly speech every time she opened her mouth."" Your fright diverts me," said Adamant: "but, prince, learn a secret known only to your mother and myself. I have endowed you with the power of bestowing talent upon the person you love best; thus you have nothing but to wish it, and Bright Star becomes a most intelligent person. She will thus be perfect; she is the best-tempered in the world, and her heart is excellent."" Ah, madam!" said Intellectual, "you are about to render me miserable. Bright Star will become too lovely for my peace, and I will be utterly unable to please her; but it matters not, I will sacrifice my happiness to hers, and I wish her all the intellect I can bestow."" This is truly generous," said Adamant; "and I hope this noble act will not go unrewarded; meet me in the palace-garden at midnight; it is the time when Fury is obliged to take her rest, and for three hours she loses all her power." The prince having left her, Adamant went to the chamber of Bright Star; she found her seated, her head buried in her hands like a person who is thinking intensely; Adamant having addressed her, Bright Star replied to her, and said: "Ah, madam! if you could see what is passing in me, you would be very much surprised: since the last few moments, I have been, as it were, in a new world; I reflect, I think, my thoughts arrange themselves in a form that gives me a great deal of pleasure, and I feel very much ashamed, when I recall my repugnance to books and knowledge."" Well," said Adamant to her "you can correct yourself; you will in two days marry the prince Enchanting."" He is stupid, so stupid that he makes me tremble to think of him; but tell me, I pray you, why have I not sooner found out the stupidity of this prince V" It is because you were foolish yourself," said the fairy: "but see! here comes Enchanting himself." In truth, he entered the chamber with a nest full of sparrows in his hat. "Keep them," said he: "I have made my master quite angry at me, because, instead of saying my lesson, I have been stealing this nest."" But your master is right to get angry," said Bright Star to him: "it is shameful for a boy, of your age, not to know how to read." "Oh! you plague me as much as he," replied Enchanting: "I am tired of this learning; as for me, I like my kite and my ball far better than all your musty books. Good-by, I am going to fly my kite."" And must I be the wife of this stupid dunce?" said Bright Star, after he had gone out. "What a difference there is between this prince, and him I saw but a little while ago! It is true, he is very ordinary, but when I recall his conversation, he no longer appears to me so disgusting. Why has he not such a face as Enchanting? But, after all, what use is a handsome face? A fit of sickness may destroy it, old age certainly takes it away, and what is then left to those who have no mind? In truth, my dear nurse, if I must choose, I could rather love this prince, in spite of his ugliness, than this stupid fellow who wishes to marry me."" I am glad to find you think in so just a manner," said Adamant: "but I have one piece of advice to give you; conceal carefully from Fury all your talent; every thing is lost, if you let her know the change that is wrought in you."Bright Star obeyed her governess; and as soon as the clock struck twelve, the good fairy proposed to the princess to go down into the garden; they seated themselves upon a bench, and Intellectual failed not to join them. What was his joy when he heard Bright Star speak, and became convinced that he had bestowed upon her as much talent as he possessed himself? Bright Star, on her part, was delighted with the conversation of the prince.But when Adamant informed her of the obligation she was under to Intellectual, her gratitude made her forget his ugliness, although she saw it perfectly by the light of the moon. "How much I am indebted to you!" said she to him: "how can I ever repay the kindness ?"" You can do it very easily," replied the fairy, "by becoming the wife of Intellectual; there is nothing prevents your giving him as much beauty as he has given you mind.""I should grow tired of it," replied Bright Star: "Intellectual pleases me as he is; I will not take the trouble to make him handsome; he is agreeable to me, and that is enough."" Your misfortunes are over," said Adamant: "had you yielded to the temptation of making him handsome, you would have remained subject to Fury; but now you have nought to fear from her rage. I am about to transport you to the kingdom of Intellectual; for his brother if dead, and the hatred that Fury had incited in the people against him, no longer prevails." Indeed, they saw Intellectual return with joy; and he had scarcely dwelt in his kingdom three months, before they became accustomed to his face, but could never sufficiently admire his talents.