LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1707, 9 August 1879, Page 3

LITERATURE.

ECHOES FROM FAIRY-LAND. Tin Crown of Silver Lilies. (Qmtinvtd.) ' So that when I have, In the course of my duty to traverse the kingdom, I have to go about in a very underground and subterfugal manner. And, as you know, lam supposed to be blind, why necessarily, in taking my underground sbape, I have to assume the form of that animal which is supposed to be as blind as justice hersslf—l mean the mole. Fortunately, Cam allowed to wear my own color, even when quite in the dark—white.'

• Madam, I am very glad I was of use.' 'Madam, you were. It is true that I should have been alive again by to-morrow. But I should have suffered the pains of death in the black forester Malefloo's trap—and you have done a worthy deed, which must be rewarded immediately. Pray let me know what I can do for you, and quiokly, for I must resume my rude animal shape, and be off, for they want me very badly in the adjacent kingdom.' 'Madam,' said Pia Ta, 'I want for nothing and I am quite contented. But I have a little prince, who is my future heir, and who is in disgrace at court, for no harm that either he or his mother has done. Grant, siuoe you are the fairv of all justice—grant that justice shall be done him.' The Fairy Giustizia smiled, and said, 1 Sweet sister, your charge is far more fortunate than hia brothers, and I thank my sister, the Fairy Fortunette, who must have stopped her wheel, and shaken a little of her luck upon the boy just after the youngster c»me Into the world. For sure lam that Melioro la much better guarded by a good woman thau he would be at court amongst courtiers (all of whom are falsifiers) with his brothers—all of whom are being morally ruined by their own father. For King Suleymon Soso is the worst example in the world, because he is not only selfish (which is bad enough), but foolish, which is very much worse.'

'Madam, the justioa of your words penetrates me to the very heart. But can you do nothing for my Melioro V 'Yes, mucb, though few men care sufficiently for the gifts I can bestow—albeit, they openly pretend to adore them before all treasures. And I promise you that, in the time to come, the word Melioro shall come to posaesa a totally different meaning in society to that which now it represents here In Atro Nublbo. I say Melioro, our little Melio, shall poaaess the gift of never being able to lie, or flatter, or aooept flattery; that he ahall be simple In his habits, plain in hia appaaranoe, and grave in his intercourse with man. Those who are bad shall fear him, beoause he shall be Incorruptible ; and those who are good shall still the more love him in the knowledge that, when submitted to temptation, he shall be able to resist. Have no fear for Melio. Without my help he would not have gone far wrong. Good-bye, sweet Pia Ta. When thou hast passed through the Valley of the Shadow of Atropos, join me ; we shall be aißters for ever and for ever. Thou wilt be much younger than Giuatizia, and therefore if men shall ever love thee still more than they Bhall me, I promise I will not be jealous. Thus it waa that Prince Melio came to be what he was, when King Soso lay dead in state in the royal palace of Atro Nubibo. But that was many years before, and sweet Pia Ta was dead.

You muet know that aa she died she vanished in a great shower of tears, and thence, absorbed by the air, floated about in sheer atoms, coloring the flowers, which, up to that time, were only cloud-color. Hence It is that we have still endless variety of color in flowers. At all events, this is how some philosophers account for the colors of blossoms, not one millioneth millioneth of which Is seen by mortal eyes. They form palaces and cities for myriads of Insects, and I myself have seen a blue

bell occupied by a score of evidently astonished and delighted little beetles ravished with the beauty of their own home. This mansion suddenly opened by magic, and there was the azure and perfumed palace quite ready for them, and without one grain of rent to pay. "Well—King Baleymon Sobo lay dead, killed, not by his own hand, but by his own aot.

For King Suleymon had taken each of his three elder sons aside, and told each of them that he had made a will by which he was created King, and inheritor of the Crown of the Silver Lilies.

But In reality the King had made no will whatever which disposed of the crown, and he hoped fondly that by thiß means during the remainder of his reign (whioh complacently ho calculated to be about thirty years) ho should govern in complete peace. Poor man, he did not last out thirty days.

For when wo promise ungrateful and unjust people gifts after our death, our coffins have more interest for them than our great coats. When wo cough they are delighted; and if we pass the day in bed, they sit down and have an ugly hour of delight in contemplating what they will do with their legacy. As for manipulating his fool of a son, Molioro, King Suleymon Soso did not dream of any effort in that direstion. So each of the three elder heirs, the Princes Orgueuil, Vanitcux, and Stultus, was interested in hearing of the death of the King. Now, which of the three was it who first hinted that the King had lived long enough ? Whoever it was, the other two readily fell in with his views, and each expressed his opinion after that fashion, for each supposed the crown his, and therefore looked upon his brothers as his well-managed accomplices. But who was to do the deed ? Then it was that their true natures came out. Either of the three was quite willing to administer the poison—but he would not do so, fearing the after-accusation of the other two.

So they agreed that the poison obtained from the witch Eycorax should be divided into three portions, and that each should administer his dose to King Suleymon Soso. Therefore, at the next banquet, they took their measures accordingly. The eldest son presented the soup, the second the fish, the third the m<nt, while the fourth was the wine-bearer.

Now, it was the old custom of each prince, as he presented the dish to his fattier, to partake of it. This was a barbarous old custom, which grew out of the savagery of past times, and when it was quite possible that a son would poison his father. £So when Orgueuil presented the soup he said, ' Sire, this day I forbear eating of the soup, for I have made a vow to fast in honor o£ your Grace's Majesty's health.' ' Sire,' said Vaniteux, when in his turn he presented the fish, * forgive me that this day I do not touch the dish of fish, for I do love your Grace's Majesty equally with my elder brother, and I also fast to-day in desire to maintain the Kings health.' 1 he self-satisfied King smiled and nodded. When the third bod, Stultus, approached with the meat, 'Sire,' he said, ' that I have not thought to fast in honor of your Highnesa's health is true, therefore I have not prepared to fast in your Highness's honor. So, if now I declare I fast, the greater admiration is surely my due, for your Majesty may be assured that I go quite hungry until the morrow. The King bowed. ' Gentles,' he said to his courtiers, 'was ever kingly father blessed with such princely sons ? But we are athirst, and 'tis the Prince Melioro's plaoe to serve our Majesty.' Melioro approached, bringing the wine cup. as usual, he drank from it. • What, ho I' oried the Kine, ' and is is thus that a son of the Crown of Silver Lilies insults, outrages its very wearer ?' 'Sire,' said Melioro, 'no fasting on my part can desire you better herHh than I do wish your Majesty—wishing it you because the people are at heart at peace, and will remain untrammelled by war while you do live. Sire, I wish you health, but will not fast—hoping thereby to please the gods, who, methinks, do laugh at such most arch absurdity." ' Now have we half the heart to banish this our youngest and our shameful son beyond the boundaries of our kingdom. Yet will we be so far merciful, that we defer until the dipping of to-morrow's sun our just decree. Let him repent and fast in honor of our health, and our fair Court is given to his presence. If not, be solitude and shame his sole inheritance!'

Suddenly King Saleymon declined on hia dining-chair of state. ' Look to the King!' cried many voices, ' 'Tia something in the Frinoe Melioro'a ■wine!' cried Orgaenil. ' Impossible !' replied Melioro. ' You see, the cup is full. The King has not drunk of the wine. I did font present it to his Majesty.' ' It is thy wickedness hath half broken his sweet soul!' cried Vaniteux, pointing to Melioro.

' Then is wickedness the truth, for all my wickedness was in the speaking of verity unto his King's high majesty.' ' Pray for the King,' shouted Stultus, 'and bid the augurs come 1' 'Majestio father,' said Prince Melioro, ' here is a oordial given me by one Manea Esculapias when I travelled in fair Greece. He bade me take of it if ever my food burnt in my body.' ' How knows the Prince our father's food burns in hia body V cried Prince Stultus. ' I did not say 'twas so,' said Melioro. ' I used an "if."'

' Something at my heart is lead,' cried the King. ' Take me to 'my throne, and place the Silver Crown of Liliea on my head.'

But, growing insensible, they put him to bed instead, and there he grew colder and colder unto death.

An hour more, and the three princes met each other in the crown room. The first who 'reached the chambor had essayed the crown; the second and the third devoted him to death.

And so King Suleymon Soso the Fooliah died, and, being dead, they buried him. Then came the great question, who was now the King 1 The Privy Council met —in quarrel. For the poor and wretched King had chosen his Ministers—the four who constituted the council—to wrangle rather than to ruin. They were named as follows : —Councillor Sere Sereno, Councillor Espedienzo, Councillor Negativo, and Councillor Ego.

Being assembled, and having quarrelled as to who should apeak first, they cast lots, and the advantage fell to fr'ere Sereno, who said, ' Surely the kingdom could govern itself. Of what avail is to possess a king ? Have we not managed the late King thoroughly, while he has firmly believed that he has managed ua P Have we not had our own ways, one after the other ? And though, perhaps, we have seemed in each other's seats worthless, wo have done very well, and might continue doing so. Ido not think we have clapped each other in prison more than twenty times per man; nor do I think that either of us would have taken off the head of any one of the others that happened to be in disgrace, unless, indeed, it so happened that it had been by an accident. You see, my dear brethren, that the King set ,ua at variance, and loved to make us hate each other, that he might seem to rule. What say you Y Councillor Espedienzo now spoke, and said, ' For my part, I think that whatever is beat Is best, and that which is done for the comfort of the moment is that which is wisely done. Let to-morrow look after tomorrow, while we are expedient enough to look after to-day, If, now, it would bo more convenient to have a prince, by all means let us have a prince. On the other hand, if it would not be expedient to see a prince upon the throne, then let no prince be selected. My proposition Is thiß : that we defer all consideration of this matter until a month is past ; while if the princes rise against each other, their quarrels will be our advantage, and, when the conqueror is evident to the sight, why then we can offer the crown to him. For you will remember, my brother councillors, that the Crown of Silver Lilies was given for bravery. Therefore, It could not be better bestowed than upon a warlike prince, who would keep tha people down.' «Ha I'said Sere Serene; 'but suppose he Bhould keep us down, too V 'Then,' said Councillor Espedienzo, 'it will be expedient to have him accidentally shot, or perhaps drowned by chance!' {To oe continued.)