o cry, and that she should not only leave the tower, but soon be
married. When Rosetta came down into the garden, she was delighted with
all she saw, and ran about like a child to gather flowers and fruit,
followed by her little dog Fretillon, who was as green as a parrot, and
had long ears, but who danced most admirably. But when the princess
caught sight of a peacock, she thought it the most beautiful creature in
the world, and asked her brothers what it was. On being told that it was
a bird that was occasionally eaten, she replied that it was a sin and a
shame to eat such a beautiful bird, and added, that she would never
marry any one but the king of the peacocks, and then such a sacrilege
should be forbidden. "But, sister," said the king, greatly astonished,
"where on earth can we find the king of the peacocks?" "That is your
look-out," said the young princess; "all I can say is, that no one else
shall become my husband."

[Illustration]

The two brothers then led her to the palace, whither she insisted on
having the peacock removed, and put into her chamber. All the ladies of
the court, who had not seen Rosetta, then came to pay their respects to
her, and brought her a variety of presents, which she received with such
infantine grace and pretty gratitude, as to delight everybody. The king
and his brother were thinking, meanwhile, how they should contrive to
find the king of the peacocks. At length they had Rosetta's picture
taken, and a speaking likeness it was, and with this they set off on
their difficult errand, leaving the princess to govern the kingdom
during their absence.

They at last reached the kingdom of the Cockchafers, and such a buzzing
there was in it, that the king thought he should go deaf or mad. At
length he asked the one who appeared the most rational of the set, where
he could find the king of the peacocks. "Please your majesty," replied
the cockchafer, "his kingdom is thirty thousand miles from hence, and
you have taken the longest road to reach it." "And pray, how can you
know that?" said the king. "Because," rejoined the cockchafer, "you and
we are old acquaintances, for we spend two or three months in your
gardens every year." The king and his brother embraced the cockchafer
for joy, and then they dined together; and after admiring all the
curiosities of the kingdom, where every leaf was worth a guinea, they
continued their journey, till they reached a country where they saw all
the tree