Wonder Tales

by Marina Warner

  It would be hard to describe Izmir’s grief and despair. He considered countless different strategies, but the only one about which he was quite definite was that he must kill himself. His confidant managed in the end to dissuade him by pointing out that, if Starlight was still alive, as there was reason to believe, the king and queen would condemn the poor innocent thing to death, since they would regard her as the sole cause of the prince’s death: he should therefore preserve himself for her sake and wait to see what time would bring. The wretched Izmir accepted this sensible advice, but made up his mind to lock himself away in his private room and only come out if and when they gave him back his beautiful Starlight.

  All this came to King Peacemaker’s ears just as he received news that King Warmonger, having secured various military advantages and forced all the approaches, was about to appear at the gates of the capital. He went in haste to Izmir’s apartments.

  To what depths of shame and demented passion, my son, will you sink? said the old man in despair. Like a coward, you abandon your country, your father, your crown. See, Izmir, see the extremity to which I am reduced: feed your eyes on my agony and despair; delight in the pleasure of seeing my old age wither, and with it the illustrious blood of your ancestors. King Warmonger, at the head of a mighty army, is already at our walls and threatening to scale them. My leaderless troops are on the point of deserting us, and you will soon see a terrible spectacle: I shall be sacrificed to the fury of our enemies. If you are indifferent to your father’s interests and safety, if you have made up your mind to let me perish, so be it, I assent; but, in the name of the gods, save your wretched and faithful people; and save yourself, my dear son!

  With these words, he stopped; grief stifled his voice, and he fell back on his seat, tearing his white hair.

  Izmir, moved to the depths of his soul by this speech and by his father’s cruel plight, took the poor old man’s hands, held them tenderly in his own, fell on his knees, and cried: Father! I beg you to forgive me. Live, if you want me to live, and grant me also this one last favour: let me have Starlight back once I have defeated your enemies; I’m going this very minute to fight them. Keep your crown, Starlight alone will suffice to make me happy: just tell me that she’s still alive.

  The old king was delighted to find that his son was worthy of him once more. He embraced him with tears of joy and swore by everything he held sacred that no one had made an attempt on Starlight’s life and that he would see her on his return. Persuaded by these pledges and savouring in advance the joy of seeing his beloved Starlight once more, the tender Izmir kissed the king’s hands, washing them with his tears. Then a magnificent suit of armour was brought in. It was all shining with gold, rubies and diamonds; his father chose to arm him with his own hands, and gave him a superb mount. Izmir, handsome as daylight, impatient for the fray, respectfully embraced the king once more; then he proudly mounted his horse and went straight to the gates of the town. He had them opened at once and sped out to meet the enemy.

  At the imminent prospect of seeing Starlight again, he fell into a delightful daydream which was nearly fatal to him: he altogether forgot that he was in the presence of the enemy, and only regained his senses when he was entirely surrounded and in great danger of losing his life or his liberty.

  The advance guard, seeing such a fine-looking knight approaching, thought at first that he was one of King Peacemaker’s senior officers, sent by the king perhaps to offer terms; but when they saw that he continued to advance without deigning to reply to their questions, they surrounded him. Izmir then finally awoke from his dream and recognised the peril to which he had so incautiously exposed himself. But, far from being alarmed, he grasped his sword and swooped like an eagle on those who were closest to him: he cut down a dozen in a moment, and forced a passage for himself. Then the others, angry and eager to avenge their companions, attacked him from all sides; but Izmir, fell and terrible to behold, soon made them regret their temerity. Cutting the arms off some, running others through, and sending heads flying through the air, he unseated, killed or put to flight the whole guard. Meanwhile, his troops, who had been left behind by the amazing speed of his horse, had finally arrived. They took advantage of the terror and disarray that the incomparable Izmir had spread among the enemy: bearing bravely down on troops astonished by this abrupt and unexpected attack, they drove all before them. King Warmonger made the greatest efforts to rally his scattering army, but in vain. Izmir caught sight of him, and a terrible combat began between them, in which each showed off his valour and strength with great brilliance. King Warmonger was finally defeated and captured, and his army quit the field entirely.

  Thus ended that glorious day. Izmir returned to his camp, where joy reigned throughout the night, and sent a messenger to King Peacemaker to give him news of his victory. He treated his illustrious prisoner generously, ordering him to be served no differently from himself. At dawn, he gave him a richly caparisoned horse to mount and led him to his father the king.

  Peacemaker was beside himself with joy, and ordered celebrations which were to last for several days.

  Izmir still thought of nothing but his beloved. He now expected the promised reward, but his father said no word to him about it, and he dared not remind him of it that day. The next morning, however, he went to ask him for Starlight.

  How dare you ask such a thing, Izmir? said the king in a tone of absolute authority. You’ve just covered yourself with glory; how could I give my consent to such craven self-indulgence on your part? Choose a princess worthy of you; speak to me no more of a subject that has already provoked my anger all too often; you would force me to resort to violence.

  Thus are promises fulfilled when the fear of danger is past. Resolute as Izmir was by nature, these words struck him like a thunderbolt and he trembled, not for himself, but for Starlight’s life. He made no reply; hiding his anger, he left his father and went to find the captive king. He approached him with such overmastering emotion that Warmonger shook with fear.

  Have no fear, sire, he said, his voice unsteady and strange, I come to give you back your freedom. It is in my power, I am your conqueror; so accept it from me as a gift. I make one condition, however: as soon as you are back in your own country, quickly gather together your army and come to seize this kingdom, from which all plain dealing and good faith have been banished. I shall myself help you to conquer it.

  King Warmonger, astonished by this strange proposition, looked intently at Izmir, whose face was so changed as to be unrecognisable; he reflected for a moment, then replied: Freedom is so precious, prince, that I would have accepted it with gratitude if you had not combined it with so momentous a gift; but, precious as it is, I cannot accept it. How could I betray my honour by depriving my liberator of a possession which I would protect for him at the expense of my life? I will not stain my reputation in such a way.

  O Virtue, how powerful is thy example! Izmir, recalling his own high principles, and touched by this noble and generous refusal, burst into tears; then he told the king about his misfortunes and explained why he was entitled to complain about his father. King Warmonger listened to him attentively, commiserated with him, consoled him, and promised him a refuge in his own kingdom if he should need one.

  Izmir, who was still determined to set his prisoner free, came at nightfall to open the door of his prison with his own hands, accompanied him on horseback as far as the city gates, then returned in secret to the palace.

  The next morning, when King Peacemaker heard that his enemy had escaped, he had no doubt that his son was responsible. The queen was even angrier than he was. She forced her husband to have Izmir arrested at once, and he was locked up at the bottom of a tower on the edge of the palace gardens; a heavy guard was placed on his prison. He remained unmoved by this treatment, and was only too happy to be alone so that he could think of his love without interruption.

  Meanwhile, young Starlight was still a prisoner; but she too cared little for the l
oss of her freedom except that it prevented her from seeing her lover. When the noise of the public celebrations reached her ears, she guessed that he had been victorious; the old woman who was her gaoler confirmed it, and the news consoled her somewhat for the sufferings her separation from Izmir caused her.

  One night she was standing at the dungeon window in the moonlight. It was one of those beautiful moments when the silence of all things in nature seems to give a special power to the imagination, and Starlight’s overexcited mind rehearsed all her misfortunes in such bright colours that her eyes, accustomed as they were to weeping, poured out an unstoppable flood of tears, until her cheeks and her breast were quite wet.

  Her cat, her sole and faithful companion, had come to sit on the windowsill next to her and was watching Starlight attentively. The unhappy girl did not notice at first, but then the charming cat began to sigh too, and gently wiped away her mistress’s tears with her paw. Starlight could not resist stroking her.

  Alas! my dear Pussy-White, she said to her, you alone in all the universe show pity for my misfortunes. Even Izmir himself, intent on his glory, has no doubt forgotten me.

  I’m trying to solve your problems, lovely Starlight, replied the cat; and to begin with, let me tell you that your lover isn’t in the least ungrateful. He’s been locked up in a tower by his father and he’s suffering just as much as you are.

  Many people will doubtless be surprised that Starlight didn’t faint when she heard a cat talking. But quite apart from the fact that the animal was saying extremely interesting things (she was after all speaking of Izmir), Starlight had greatly improved her mind by reading fairy tales: indeed, all the intelligentsia of that country spent their time studying nothing else. To be quite honest, she was somewhat taken aback; but, far from being frightened, she took the cat in her arms and sat down on her little pallet to listen more comfortably to what else she might have to say.

  What! my little Pussy-White, said Starlight, covering the pretty animal with kisses, you take an interest in my sufferings? But yes, sweet Starlight, replied the cat, and you’ll soon see how.

  Then she jumped to the ground, and suddenly turned into a tall beautiful woman, dressed in ermine, with strings of diamonds in scallops on her skirt and a stunning coiffure.

  When Starlight saw this sudden transformation, she threw herself at the fairy’s feet. Rise, lovely Starlight, said the fairy, kissing her; I am Ermine-White, and I generally live in this tower so that I can help the wretches who are imprisoned here, sometimes as unjustly as you are. But I presided at your birth, and you are the daughter of the great and powerful King of Arabia the Blest, so I have a special reason for caring for you. I cannot turn aside the destiny that pursues you; but I wanted at least to console you, because you have a kind heart, as I see from the care you took of me in the form I temporarily assumed. I judged you worthy of my help and of my favours, and you are about to see what they can do.

  Starlight was so carried away by all this, and so ecstatic to hear that her family was as good as her lover’s, that it never once occurred to her to interrupt Fairy Ermine-White. But as she had said that Izmir was in prison, she ventured to ask her why, and whether she would not deign to protect him also. The fairy satisfied her curiosity about the prince’s imprisonment, adding that she could do nothing for him just yet.

  But, dear child, she went on, I am this very moment going to provide you with the means to see him and console him. Meanwhile, take this little box, and remember not to open it except in the hour of your greatest peril. I shall always protect you if you do not reveal this secret to your lover. I shall now arrange your exit from the tower: that is all I can do for you at present.

  With these words, the fairy tapped the dungeon walls with her wand. The stones gently collapsed, then rearranged themselves at once, in the cleverest way imaginable, to form a broad, spacious stairway. The fairy kissed Starlight again and made her promise that she would never tell her lover who had set her free; then Starlight tripped ecstatically down this wonderful stairway and found herself on an immense plain that stretched out on one side of her tower. When she turned round, she saw with astonishment that the stones that had formed the stairway had risen of their own accord and resumed their original position, as if the job had been done by skilled workmen. Then she left the spot and made her way directly to the tower where the prince was imprisoned. It was in a corner of the palace grounds and was entirely surrounded by guards, except on the side where the plain was, for on that side there was only a single narrow window with stout bars; a sentry was on watch day and night on the flat roof of the tower.

  Starlight trembled as she drew near Izmir’s prison. Thick clouds concealed her approach, and she reached the little window without being seen. Then the moon came out, giving her enough light to make out her beloved Izmir. He was lying on a reed mattress, pale, disfigured, almost motionless. But one cannot deceive the eyes of a woman in love.

  Izmir! dearest Izmir! she softly cried; your Starlight is here: love has brought her back to you. Come close, dear prince, come and reassure her that you still love her. I only wish I were able to reach you! The sound of this beloved voice went straight to Izmir’s heart and aroused all his senses. He staggered to his feet and managed to summon up enough strength to reach the window, where Starlight, charming as ever, stood holding out her arms to him.

  Queen of my life, delight of my soul! cried the amorous prince, kissing Starlight’s hands a thousand times; is it really you? He lacked the strength to say more. He was so overcome by joy and pain that he thought he would faint; if the beautiful princess had not been holding him, he would have fallen to the ground. Tears poured from his eyes – Starlight’s hands were wet with them – and this gave him some relief.

  His beloved was scarcely in a better state, but at last, after a long silence more eloquent than the most graceful of speeches, they began to talk about their shared misfortunes. They asked each other a hundred questions, said the same things a thousand times, and exchanged vows of eternal passion.

  Starlight did not yet tell her lover how she had escaped from the tower where the queen had imprisoned her, but she had the pleasure of informing him that she was a princess by birth. As Izmir felt that this went without saying, he was not in the least surprised, and did not even ask how she knew.

  He spoke only of the quickest way of being with her again. He had no doubt that the king would set him free as soon as he heard that Starlight had escaped, so he advised her to leave this dangerous place at once. He begged her to hide her beauty as best she could, swearing that he would die without fail if he should ever hear that another man loved her and was fortunate enough to gain her favour.

  My heart is yours for ever, dear prince, Starlight tenderly replied; never doubt my constancy: I would rather die than be unfaithful to you.

  Reassured by this, the prince implored Starlight to let him know as soon as she could where she had chosen to seek refuge: she could send the letter, he said, to his confidant Myrtiz, a young lord who was entirely devoted to him. He pointed out to her the village at the other end of the plain, saying that it was a place where she could wait for him for a few days. They were thus busy making their arrangements when a great white cat flashed past, crying: Run, girl, run: the king’s men are coming, and they mean to kill you. Fear possessed the lovers. Taken by surprise, Starlight could see no other way of avoiding the posse than to wrap herself up in her cloak and hide in a particularly thick bush which had sprung up at the foot of the tower.

  Just in time: for Peacemaker had in fact been informed that Starlight was no longer in the dungeon and had at once ordered guardsmen and musketeers to mount their horses and hunt her down. It was his intention to have her burnt alive; but, although the troops passed close to where Starlight was hiding, they failed to see her and ran off in all directions. As soon as they had gone, the poor princess, trembling with fear, came up to the window, where Izmir stood almost dead with fright for her sake. Starlight cu
t a lock of her beautiful fair hair and gave it to the prince as a pledge of her love. Then fear lent her wings, and she ran towards the hamlet with such lightness that the grass scarcely bent beneath her feet; they were bare, and her legs, like ivory columns, dimmed the whiteness of the lilies and daisies.

  But the princess was so agitated that she lost her way. When dawn came, finding herself on the edge of a vast forest, she ventured in. After walking for an hour, she came to a fine lawn watered by a rustic spring in the shade of oaks as old as time and prodigiously high. Overcome with fatigue, Starlight chose this spot to sit and rest.

  Then, recalling all her misfortunes and comparing the brief moment of happiness she had spent with her lover to the immense passage of time she might have to endure before she met him again, she shed so many tears that the ground was wet with them. The sweetness of sleep had become unfamiliar to her; but now she grew drowsy, her eyes closed, and she fell into a deep sleep.

  Now this forest had for many centuries been the home of the yellow centaurs. It was the refuge they had chosen after that unfortunate business with the Lapiths at the wedding of Pirithous.15 A number of them who were out hunting happened to pass close by the place where Starlight was sleeping. They were so struck by the novelty of the sight, and by her ravishing beauty, that they stopped, and they were soon joined by many others. Opening her eyes, the princess was extremely alarmed to find herself alone in a wood amid a crowd of such creatures; but when she saw the centaurs looking at her with wonder, and saying to one another that she must surely be a fairy or some kind of divinity, her fear soon faded away.