The Queen , your mother , has promised you in marriage -- '' `` Has promised me ! '' interrupted the Princess . `` Oh ! no . I 'm sure she has not . She would have told me if she had . I am too much interested in the matter for her to promise anything without my consent -- you must be mistaken . '' `` Beautiful Princess , '' cried the Dwarf suddenly , throwing himself on his knees before her , `` I flatter myself that you will not be displeased at her choice when I tell you that it is to me she has promised the happiness of marrying you . '' `` You ! '' cried Bellissima , starting back . `` My mother wishes me to marry you ! How can you be so silly as to think of such a thing ? '' `` Oh ! it is n't that I care much to have that honor , '' cried the Dwarf angrily ; `` but here are the lions coming ; they 'll eat you up in three mouthfuls , and there will be an end of you and your pride . '' And , indeed , at that moment the poor Princess heard their dreadful howls coming nearer and nearer . `` What shall I do ? '' she cried . `` Must all my happy days come to an end like this ? '' The malicious Dwarf looked at her and began to laugh spitefully . `` At least , '' said he , `` you have the satisfaction of dying unmarried .
A lovely Princess like you must surely prefer XXXXX die rather than be the wife of a poor little dwarf like myself . ''
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