Right proud was the carnation to find himself thus grandly enthroned; far too proud to have a thought of compassion for the other flowers. cast away for his sake; too triumphant even to smart under the puncture of the hair-pin which fixed him on the maja's head. Many a scornful glance he cast at the broken olla which had been his nursery, and the cot of the lowly child who had nurtured him.

Thus he was borne about, displaying his beautiful hues in the sun, and charming every one with his perfume all day. Then night came: the maja stood at her reja', looking out for her serenader. He came at last, and brought in his hand a beautiful white rose; the maja stretched out her hand to receive it with delight; with loud and joyous thanks she placed it on her head, flinging the hapless carnation from her without a thought.

Instead of blooming on his lordly stalk as at the first, the pride and pet of the peasant maid, he was soon trampled to atoms by a drove of pigs, passing on their way to market!

1 See p. 68 and note.

THE ILL-TEMPERED PRINCESS.

HERE was once a poor young knight, and

he went out into the world, to seek ad

ventures and do knightly deeds. As he went, he met a man standing in front of a long narrow tunnel in a rock, and blowing through it with his cheeks stretched like two ripe pomegranates, to whom the knight called out, "Halloa! fellow, what do you do there?"

And the man made reply, "Disturb me not, your worship, for with my breath I am turning five hundred and thirty-two mills."

So the knight asked, "Then who are you?"

And the man made answer, "I am Blowo, son of Blowon', the good blower."

Then the knight said, "Will you come out with me to seek fortune ?"

And the man made answer, "Your worship is not readier to ask than I to accept, for I am tired enough of blowing." So he gave one more good

1 On is the Spanish augmentative.

strong blow, enough to set the mills twirling for a long time, and walked on behind the knight.

A little farther along they came upon a man toiling up the hill-side, with a load of a hundred and thirty-two hundred-weight upon his back.

To whom the knight called out, "Halloa! man, you carry more than a waggon with two yoke of oxen! Who are you ?"

And the man made answer, "I am Porto, son of Porton, the strong porter."

Then the knight said, "Will you come out with me to seek fortune?"

And the man made answer, "Your worship is not more ready to ask, than I to accept, for I am weary of this burden." So he laid the weight down by the road-side, and walked along behind the knight.

A little farther on they came to a long stretch where the road was very straight, and by the side a man walked up and down twisting a rope, to whom the knight cried out,—

"Halloa! fellow, what do you there? and who are you ?"

And the man made answer, "I am Ropo, son of Ropon, the cunning rope-maker, and I make ropes which none can break."

Then the knight said, "Will you come out with me to seek fortune?"

And the man made answer, "Your worship is

not more ready to ask than I to accept, for I am weary of twisting this rope." So he left there his rope by the road-side, and walked along behind the knight.

A little farther on they came upon a man crouched down by the way-side.

you?"

To whom the knight called out, "Halloa! fellow, what do you there? and who are you And the man made answer, "I am Listeno, son of Listenon, the ready listener."

So the knight said, "What are you listening for?"

And the man made answer, "Blowo has left off turning the mills, and I am listening for the wind to come down from the mountains of Burgos."

"Fellow! the mountains of Burgos are a hundred leagues off."

"What does that signify, if my hearing reaches as far?"

Then the knight said, "Will you come along with me and seek fortune?"

And the man made answer, "Your worship is not more ready to ask than I to accept, for I am weary of straining my ears." So he set up three flags, that all the country might know the wind would be there in three days, and walked along behind the knight.

Then, after three days' journey, they came in sight of a magnificent castle, extending half a mile

every way over the top of a mountain, but all desolate and in ruins; and the way up to it was overgrown with interlacing brambles and briars, so that they could hardly pass through. Then to increase their difficulty, a heavy storm came on, which would soon have wetted them through; but Blowo cried out,

"Never fear, your worship; for I will soon clear the air."

So he blew a mighty blast, and sent all the big thunder-clouds travelling back to the Sierra; and they went on toiling up the brake.

When they came up to the castle, they found there was no door or opening, nor any way in. Porto, Ropo, Listeno, and Blowo wanted to give up the attempt, and pass on farther; but the knight would not hear of abandoning the ad

venture.

"If your worship is so determined," said Porto, "I'll open a way for you."

So he broke off a huge piece of rock as big as two men, and, standing a hundred yards off, he flung it against the wall, with a noise that could be heard a hundred miles off. The wall trembled and clattered; but it was held together by a stronger than human power, and all Porto's great strength could produce no effect on it.

"Let us go away from here, Master," pleaded Ropo, "this is no place for us. There is some