mixed with the most curious feathers.  His bed was of gauze, festooned with bunches of the gayest ribands, and the looking-glasses reached from the floor to the ceiling.  The prince was undressed and put into bed by the hands, without speaking a word.  He however slept little, and in the morning was awaked by a confused noise.  The hands took him out of bed, and put on him a handsome hunting-jacket.  He looked into the court-yard, and perceived more than five hundred cats, busily employed in preparing for the field, for this was a day of festival.  Presently the white cat came to his apartment; and having politely inquired after his health, she invited him to partake of their amusement.  The prince willingly accepted, mounted a wooden horse, richly caparisoned, which had been prepared for him, and which he was assured would gallop to admiration.  The beautiful white cat mounted a monkey, dressed in a dragoon’s bonnet, which made her look so fierce that all the rats and mice ran away in the utmost terror.

Every thing being ready, the horns sounded, and away they went; no hunting was ever more agreeable; the cats ran faster than the hares and rabbits; and when they caught any they were hunted in the presence of the white cat, and a thousand cunning tricks were played.  Nor were the birds in safety; for the monkey made nothing of climbing up the trees, with the white cat on his back, to the nest of the young eagles.  When the hunting was over, the whole retinue returned to the palace; and the white cat immediately exchanged her dragoon’s cap for the veil, and sat down to supper with the prince, who, being very hungry, ate heartily, and afterwards partook with her of the most delicious liqueurs, which being often repeated made him forget that he was to procure a little dog for the old king.  He thought no longer of any thing but of pleasing the sweet little creature who received him so courteously; accordingly every day was spent in new amusements.  The prince had almost forgotten his country and relations, and sometimes even regretted that he was not a cat, so great was his affection for his mewing companions.  “Alas!” said he to the white cat, “how will it afflict me to leave you whom I love so much!  Either make yourself a lady, or make me a cat.”  She smiled at the prince’s wish, but made him scarcely any reply.  At length the twelvemonth was nearly expired; the white cat, who knew the very day when the prince was to reach his father’s palace, reminded him that he had but three days longer to look for a perfect little dog.  The prince, astonished at his own forgetfulness, began to afflict himself; when the cat told him not to be so sorrowful, since she would not only provide him with a little dog, but also with a wooden horse which should convey him safely in less than twelve hours.  “Look here,” said she, showing him an acorn, “this contains what you desire.”  The prince put the acorn to his ear, and heard the barking of a little dog.  Transported with joy, he thanked the cat a thousand times, and the next day, bidding her tenderly adieu, he set out on his return.