III. “Laideronnette, Empress of the Pagodas.” The French give the name pagode to a little grotesque figure with a movable head, and thus extend the meaning, which was also found in English for pagoda, “an idol or image.” This latter use of the word is now obsolete in the English language. A laideron is any ugly young girl or young woman. There is this quotation from “Serpentin Vert” by the Countess Marie Catherine d’Aulnoy (about 1655-1705) who wrote romances and also fairy tales in imitation of Perrault. “She undressed herself and went into the bath. The pagodes and pagodines began to sing and play on instruments; some had theorbos made of walnut shells; some had viols made of almond shells; for they were obliged to proportion the instruments to their figure.” Laideronnette, in the story, the daughter of a king and queen, was cursed in her cradle by Magotine, a wicked fairy, with the curse of the most horrible ugliness. When the princess grew up, she asked that she might dwell far away in a castle where no one could see her. In the forest near by she met a huge green serpent, who told her that he was once handsomer than she was. Laideronnette had many adventures. In a little boat, guarded by the serpent, she went out to sea and was wrecked on the coast of a land inhabited by pagodes, a little folk whose bodies were formed from porcelain, crystal, diamonds, emeralds, etc. The ruler was an unseen monarch—the green snake who also had been enchanted by Magotine. Finally, he was changed into human shape, and he married Laideronnette, whose beauty was restored.
IV. “The Conversations of Beauty and the Beast.” Quotations from Mme Leprince de Beaumont are given:
“‘When I think how good-hearted you are, you do not seem to me so ugly.’
“‘Yes, I have, indeed, a kind heart; but I am a monster.’
“‘There are many men more monstrous than you.’
“‘If I had wit, I would invent a fine compliment to thank you, but I am only a beast.’
. . . . . . .
“‘Beauty, will you be my wife?’
“‘No, Beast!’
“‘I die content since I have the pleasure of seeing you again.’