Free Andrew Lang_Fairy Book 06 by The Grey Fairy Book

standing by his side leaning on a
wheel, and her eyes hidden by a bandage.
    'I am Dame Fortune,' she said, 'and I have a gift for you. Shall
it be wisdom, strength, long life, riches, health, or beauty?
Think well, and tell me what you will have.'
    But Fortunatus, who had proved the truth of the proverb that
'It's ill thinking on an empty stomach,' answered quickly, 'Good
lady, let me have riches in such plenty that I may never again be
as hungry as I am now.'
    And the lady held out a purse and told him he had only to put his
hand into it, and he and his children would always find ten
pieces of gold. But when they were dead it would be a magic purse
no longer.
    At this news Fortunatus was beside himself with joy, and could
hardly find words to thank the lady. But she told him that the
best thing he could do was to find his way out of the wood, and
before bidding him farewell pointed out which path he should
take. He walked along it as fast as his weakness would let him,
until a welcome light at a little distance showed him that a
house was near. It turned out to be an inn, but before entering
Fortunatus thought he had better make sure of the truth of what
the lady had told him, and took out the purse and looked inside.
Sure enough there were the ten pieces of gold, shining brightly.
Then Fortunatus walked boldly up to the inn, and ordered them to
get ready a good supper at once, as he was very hungry, and to
bring him the best wine in the house. And he seemed to care so
little what he spent that everybody thought he was a great lord,
and vied with each other who should run quickest when he called.
    After a night passed in a soft bed, Fortunatus felt so much
better that he asked the landlord if he could find him some
men-servants, and tell him where any good horses were to be got.
The next thing was to provide himself with smart clothes, and
then to take a big house where he could give great feasts to the
nobles and beautiful ladies who lived in palaces round about.
    In this manner a whole year soon slipped away, and Fortunatus was
so busy amusing himself that he never once remembered his parents
whom he had left behind in Cyprus. But though he was thoughtless,
he was not bad-hearted. As soon as their existence crossed his
mind, he set about making preparations to visit them, and as he
was not fond of being alone he looked round for some one older
and wiser than himself to travel with him. It was not long before
he had the good luck to come across an old man who had left his
wife and children in a far country many years before, when he
went out into the world to seek the fortune which he never found.
He agreed to accompany Fortunatus back to Cyprus, but only on
condition he should first be allowed to return for a few weeks to
his own home before venturing to set sail for an island so
strange and distant. Fortunatus agreed to his proposal, and as he
was always fond of anything new, said that he would go with him.
    The journey was long, and they had to cross many large rivers,
and climb over high mountains, and find their way through thick
woods, before they reached at length the old man's castle. His
wife and children had almost given up hopes of seeing him again,
and crowded eagerly round him. Indeed, it did not take Fortunatus
five minutes to fall in love with the youngest daughter, the most
beautiful creature in the whole world, whose name was Cassandra.
    'Give her to me for my wife,' he said to the old man, 'and let us
all go together to Famagosta.'
    So a ship was bought big enough to hold Fortunatus, the old man
and his wife, and their ten children— five of them sons and five
daughters. And the day before they sailed the wedding was
celebrated with magnificent rejoicings, and everybody thought
that Fortunatus must certainly be a prince in disguise. But when
they reached Cyprus, he learned to his sorrow that both his
father and mother were dead, and for some time he shut himself up
in his house and would see nobody, full