When they saw this portrait they fell in love with the Princess -- every one of them , but upon each it had a different effect . One fell ill , one went quite crazy , and a few of the luckiest set off to see her as soon as possible , but these poor princes became her slaves the moment they set eyes on her . Never has there been a gayer Court . Twenty delightful kings did everything they could think of to make themselves agreeable , and after having spent ever so much money in giving a single entertainment thought themselves very lucky if the Princess said `` That 's pretty . '' All this admiration vastly pleased the Queen . Not a day passed but she received seven or eight thousand sonnets , and as many elegies , madrigals , and songs , which were sent her by all the poets in the world . All the prose and the poetry that was written just then was about Bellissima -- for that was the Princess 's name -- and all the bonfires that they had were made of these verses , which crackled and sparkled better than any other sort of wood . Bellissima was already fifteen years old , and every one of the Princes wished to marry her , but not one dared to say so . How could they when they knew that any of them might have cut off his head five or six times a day just to please her , and she would have thought it a mere trifle , so little did she care ? You may imagine how hard-hearted her lovers thought her ; and the Queen , who wished to see her married , did not know how to persuade her to think of it seriously . `` Bellissima , '' she said , `` I do wish you would not be so proud . What makes you despise all these nice kings ? I wish you to marry one of them , and you do not try to please me . '' `` I am so happy , '' Bellissima answered : `` do leave me in peace , madam . I do n't want to care for anyone . '' `` But you would be very happy with any of these Princes , '' said the Queen , `` and I shall be very angry if you fall in love with anyone who is not worthy of you . '' But the Princess thought so much of herself that she did not consider any one of her lovers clever or handsome enough for her ; and her mother , who was getting really angry at her determination not to be married , began to wish that she had not allowed her to have her own way so much . At last , not knowing what else to do , she resolved to consult a certain witch who was called `` The Fairy of the Desert . '' Now this was very difficult to do , as she was guarded by some terrible lions ; but happily the Queen had heard a long time before that whoever wanted to pass these lions safely must throw to them a cake made of millet flour , sugar-candy , and crocodile 's eggs . This cake she prepared with her own hands , and putting it in a little basket , she set out to seek the Fairy .
But as she was not used to walking far , she soon felt very tired and sat down at the foot XXXXX a tree to rest , and presently fell fast asleep .
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