Page 143 - Princess Belle-Etoile and Prince Cherie

begun." "Not only one," said the Princess,
"but a hundred, if they are needed." She
kissed it, and the dove reviving, gaily said, "I
know you, in spite of your disguise; learn that
you have undertaken a thing it would be
impossible for you to succeed in, without my
assistance,—follow, therefore, my advice: as
soon as you have arrived at the rock, instead of

trying to ascend it, remain at the bottom of it,
and begin to sing the best and sweetest song
you know; the green bird that tells everything,
will listen to you, and observe from whence
the voice proceeds; you must then pretend to
go to sleep; I will be near you; when it sees
me, it will come down from the point of the

rock to peck me, at that moment you will be
able to seize it."
The Princess, enchanted at this hope, speedily
arrived at the rock; she recognised her
brothers' horses grazing; at sight of them her
grief was renewed, she sat down, and cried
bitterly for some time; but the little green
bird said so many beautiful things, so
consolatory to the unfortunate, that there was

no afflicted heart it did not relieve. She
therefore dried her tears, and began to sing so
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