Prince of such
surpassing beauty that it was impossible not to hope that she might owe
her liberty to so charming a person.

Meantime the Fairy had prepared a chariot, to which she harnessed two
powerful eagles; then placing the cage, with the parrot in it,
she charged the bird to conduct it to the window of the Princess's
dressing-room. This was done in a few minutes, and the Princess,
stepping into the chariot with the Prince, was delighted to find her
parrot again.

As they rose through the air the Princess remarked a figure mounted on
an eagle's back flying in front of the chariot. She was rather alarmed,
but the Prince reassured her, telling her it was the good Fairy to
whom she owed so much, and who was now conducting her in safety to her
mother.

That same morning the King woke suddenly from a troubled sleep. He
had dreamt that the Princess was being carried off from him, and,
transforming himself into an eagle, he flew to the palace. When he
failed to find her he flew into a terrible rage, and hastened home to
consult his books, by which means he discovered that it was his son
who had deprived him of this precious treasure. Immediately he took the
shape of a harpy, and, filled with rage, was determined to devour his
son, and even the Princess too, if only he could overtake them.

He set out at full speed; but he started too late, and was further
delayed by a strong wind which the Fairy raised behind the young couple
so as to baffle any pursuit.

You may imagine the rapture with which the Queen received the daughter
she had given up for lost, as well as the amiable Prince who had rescued
her. The Fairy entered with them, and warned the Queen that the Wizard
King would shortly arrive, infuriated by his loss, and that nothing
could preserve the Prince and Princess from his rage and magic unless
they were actually married.

The Queen hastened to inform the King her husband, and the wedding took
place on the spot.

As the ceremony was completed the Wizard King arrived. His despair at
being so late bewildered him so entirely that he appeared in his natural
form and attempted to sprinkle some black liquid over the bride and
bridegroom, which was intended to kill them, but the Fairy stretched out
her wand and the liquid dropped on the Magician himself. He fell down
senseless, and the Princess's father, deeply offended at the cruel
revenge which had been attempted, ordered him to be removed and locked
up in pri