And her thoughts were so doleful that very soon she began to cry, and she cried, and cried, and forgot all about going back to the palace, until she suddenly saw a handsome page standing before her.He was dressed in green, and the cap which he held in his hand was adorned with white plumes.When Graciosa looked at him he went down on one knee, and said to her:
`Princess, the King awaits you.'
The Princess was surprised, and, if the truth must be told, very much delighted at the appearance of this charming page, whom she could not remember to have seen before.Thinking he might belong to the household of the Duchess, she said:
`How long have you been one of the King's pages?'
`I am not in the service of the King, madam,' answered he, `but in yours.'
`In mine?' said the Princess with great surprise.`Then how is it that I have never seen you before?'
`Ah, Princess!' said he, `I have never before dared to present myself to you, but now the King's marriage threatens you with so many dangers that I have resolved to tell you at once how much Ilove you already, and I trust that in time I may win your regard.Iam Prince Percinet, of whose riches you may have heard, and whose fairy gift will, I hope, be of use to you in all your difficulties, if you will permit me to accompany you under this disguise.'
`Ah, Percinet!' cried the Princess, `is it really you? I have so often heard of you and wished to see you.If you will indeed be my friend, I shall not be afraid of that wicked old Duchess any more.'
So they went back to the palace together, and there Graciosa found a beautiful horse which Percinet had brought for her to ride.
As it was very spirited he led it by the bridle, and this arrangement enabled him to turn and look at the Princess often, which he did not fail to do.Indeed, she was so pretty that it was a real pleasure to look at her.When the horse which the Duchess was to ride appeared beside Graciosa's, it looked no better than an old cart horse, and as to their trappings, there was simply no comparison between them, as the Princess's saddle and bridle were one glittering mass of diamonds.The King had so many other things to think of that he did not notice this, but all his courtiers were entirely taken up with admiring the Princess and her charming Page in green, who was more handsome and distinguished-looking than all the rest of the court put together.
When they met the Duchess Grumbly she was seated in an open carriage trying in vain to look dignified.The King and the Princess saluted her, and her horse was brought forward for her to mount.But when she saw Graciosa's she cried angrily:
`If that child is to have a better horse than mine, I will go back to my own castle this very minute.What is the good of being a Queen if one is to be slighted like this?'
Upon this the King commanded Graciosa to dismount and to beg the Duchess to honour her by mounting her horse.The Princess obeyed in silence, and the Duchess, without looking at her or thanking her, scrambled up upon the beautiful horse, where she sat looking like a bundle of clothes, and eight officers had to hold her up for fear she should fall off.
Even then she was not satisfied, and was still grumbling and muttering, so they asked her what was the matter.
`I wish that Page in green to come and lead the horse, as he did when Graciosa rode it,' said she very sharply.
And the King ordered the Page to come and lead the Queen's horse.Percinet and the Princess looked at one another, but said never a word, and then he did as the King commanded, and the procession started in great pomp.The Duchess was greatly elated, and as she sat there in state would not have wished to change places even with Graciosa.But at the moment when it was least expected the beautiful horse began to plunge and rear and kick, and finally to run away at such a pace that it was impossible to stop him.
At first the Duchess clung to the saddle, but she was very soon thrown off and fell in a heap among the stones and thorns, and there they found her, shaken to a jelly, and collected what was left of her as if she had been a broken glass.Her bonnet was here and her shoes there, her face was scratched, and her fine clothes were covered with mud.Never was a bride seen in such a dismal plight.They carried her back to the palace and put her to bed, but as soon as she recovered enough to be able to speak, she began to scold and rage, and declared that the whole affair was Graciosa's fault, that she had contrived it on purpose to try and get rid of her, and that if the King would not have her punished, she would go back to her castle and enjoy her riches by herself.
At this the King was terribly frightened, for he did not at all want to lose all those barrels of gold and jewels.So he hastened to appease the Duchess, and told her she might punish Graciosa in any way she pleased.
