I was respected by everyone , and it was said that no king ever deserved it more . `` I was very fond of hunting , and one day , while chasing a stag , I left my attendants far behind ; suddenly I saw the animal leap into a pool of water , and I rashly urged my horse to follow it , but before we had gone many steps I felt an extraordinary heat , instead of the coolness of the water ; the pond dried up , a great gulf opened before me , out of which flames of fire shot up , and I fell helplessly to the bottom of a precipice . `` I gave myself up for lost , but presently a voice said : ` Ungrateful Prince , even this fire is hardly enough to warm your cold heart ! ' '' ` Who complains of my coldness in this dismal place ? ' I cried . '' ` An unhappy being who loves you hopelessly , ' replied the voice , and at the same moment the flames began to flicker and cease to burn , and I saw a fairy , whom I had known as long as I could remember , and whose ugliness had always horrified me . She was leaning upon the arm of a most beautiful young girl , who wore chains of gold on her wrists and was evidently her slave . '' ` Why , Ragotte , ' I said , for that was the fairy 's name , ` what is the meaning of all this ? Is it by your orders that I am here ? ' '' ` And whose fault is it , ' she answered , ` that you have never understood me until now ? Must a powerful fairy like myself condescend to explain her doings to you who are no better than an ant by comparison , though you think yourself a great king ? ' '' ` Call me what you like , ' I said impatiently ; ` but what is it that you want -- my crown , or my cities , or my treasures ? ' '' ` Treasures ! ' said the fairy , disdainfully . ` If I chose I could make any one of my scullions richer and more powerful than you . I do not want your treasures , but , ' she added softly , ` if you will give me your heart -- if you will marry me -- I will add twenty kingdoms to the one you have already ; you shall have a hundred castles full of gold and five hundred full of silver , and , in short , anything you like to ask me for . ' '' ` Madam Ragotte , ' said I , ` when one is at the bottom of a pit where one has fully expected to be roasted alive , it is impossible to think of asking such a charming person as you are to marry one ! I beg that you will set me at liberty , and then I shall hope to answer you fittingly . ' '' ` Ah ! ' said she , ` if you really loved me you would not care where you were -- a cave , a wood , a fox-hole , a desert , would please you equally well .
Do not think that you can deceive me ; you fancy you are going to escape , but I assure you that you are going XXXXX stay here and the first thing I shall give you to do will be to keep my sheep -- they are very good company and speak quite as well as you do .
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