decided to do all they could for her. They began by naming her
Graziella, and then Placida said: ‘You know, dear sisters, that
the commonest form of spite or punishment amongst us consists of
changing beauty to ugliness, cleverness to stupidity, and oftener
still to change a person's form altogether. Now, as we can only
each bestow one gift, I think the best plan will be for one of
you to give her beauty, the other good understanding, whilst I
will undertake that she shall never be changed into any other
form.'

The two godmothers quite agreed, and as soon as the little
princess had received their gifts, they went home, and Placida
gave herself up to the child's education. She succeeded so well
with it, and little Graziella grew so lovely, that when she was
still quite a child her fame was spread abroad only too much, and
one day Placida was surprised by a visit from the Fairy Queen,
who was attended by a very grave and severe- looking fairy.

The queen began at once: ‘I have been much surprised by your
behaviour to Mutinosa; she had insulted our whole race, and
deserved punishment. You might forgive your own wrongs if you
chose, but not those of others. You treated her very gently
whilst she was with you, and I come now to avenge our wrongs on
her daughter. You have ensured her being lovely and clever, and
not subject to change of form, but I shall place her in an
enchanted prison, which she shall never leave till she finds
herself in the arms of a lover whom she herself loves. It will be
my care to prevent anything of the kind happening.'

The enchanted prison was a large high tower in the midst of the