deven367/babylm-10M-cbt · Datasets at Hugging Face

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This was a very important point , and needed much discussion .
A thousand names were proposed and rejected for a thousand silly reasons .
One was another reminded the queen of somebody she did not like ; but at length an idea flashed into the queen 's head , and she called out : ' I know !
We will call her Muffette . '
` That is the very thing , ' shouted the frog , jumping high into the air ; and so it was settled .
The princess Muffette was about six months old when the frog noticed that the queen had begun to grow sad again .
` Why do you have that look in your eyes ? '
she asked one day , when she had come in to play with the baby , who could now crawl .
The way they played their game was to let Muffette creep close to the frog , and then for the frog to bound high into the air and alight on the child 's head , or back , or legs , when she always sent up a shout of pleasure .
There is no play fellow like a frog ; but then it must be a fairy frog , or else you might hurt it , and if you did something dreadful might happen to you .
Well , as I have said , our frog was struck with the queen 's sad face , and lost no time in asking her what was the reason . '
I do n't see what you have to complain of now ; Muffette is quite well and quite happy , and even the Lion Fairy is kind to her when she sees her .
What is it ? '
` Oh !
if her father could only see her ! '
broke forth the queen , clasping her hands .
` Or if I could only tell him all that has happened since we parted .
But they will have brought him tidings of the broken carriage , and he will have thought me dead , or devoured by wild beasts .
And though he will mourn for me long -- I know that well -- yet in time they will persuade him to take a wife , and she will be young and fair , and he will forget me . '
And in all this the queen guessed truly , save that nine long years were to pass before he would consent to put another in her place .
The frog answered nothing at the time , but stopped her game and hopped away among the cypress trees .
Here she sat and thought and thought , and the next morning she went back to the queen and said : ' I have come , madam , to make you an offer .
Shall I go to the king instead of you , and tell him of your sufferings , and that he has the most charming baby in the world for his daughter ?
The way is long , and I travel slowly ; but , sooner or later , I shall be sure to arrive .
Only , are you not afraid to be left without my protection ?
Ponder the matter carefully ; it is for you to decide . '
` Oh , it needs no pondering , ' cried the queen joyfully , holding up her clasped hands , and making Muffette do likewise , in token of gratitude .
But in order that he may know that you have come from me I will send him a letter . '
And pricking her arm , she wrote a few words with her blood on the corner of her handkerchief .
Then tearing it off , she gave it to the frog , and they bade each other farewell .
It took the frog a year and four days to mount the ten thousand steps that led to the upper world , but that was because she was still under the spell of a wicked fairy .
By the time she reached the top , she was so tired that she had to remain for another year on the banks of a stream to rest , and also to arrange the procession with which she was to present herself before the king .
For she knew far too well what was due to herself and her relations , to appear at Court as if she was a mere nobody .
At length , after many consultations with her cap , the affair was settled , and at the end of the second year after her parting with the queen they all set out .
First walked her bodyguard of grasshoppers , followed by her maids of honour , who were those tiny green frogs you see in the fields , each one mounted on a snail , and seated on a velvet saddle .
Next came the water-rats , dressed as pages , and lastly the frog herself , in a litter borne by eight toads , and made of tortoiseshell .
Here she could lie at her ease , with her cap on her head , for it was quite large and roomy , and could easily have held two eggs when the frog was not in it .
The journey lasted seven years , and all this time the queen suffered tortures of hope , though Muffette did her best to comfort her .
Indeed , she would most likely have died had not the Lion Fairy taken a fancy that the child and her mother should go hunting with her in the upper world , and , in spite of her sorrows , it was always a joy to the queen to see the sun again .
As for little Muffette , by the time she was seven her arrows seldom missed their mark .
So , after all , the years of waiting passed more quickly than the queen had dared to hope .
The frog was always careful to maintain her dignity , and nothing would have persuaded her to show her face in public places , or even along the high road , where there was a chance of meeting anyone .
But sometimes , when the procession had to cross a little stream , or go over a piece of marshy ground , orders would be given for a halt ; fine clothes were thrown off , bridles were flung aside , and grasshoppers , water-rats , even the frog herself , spent a delightful hour or two playing in the mud .
But at length the end was in sight , and the hardships were forgotten in the vision of the towers of the king 's palace ; and , one bright morning , the cavalcade entered the gates with all the pomp and circumstance of a royal embassy .
And surely no ambassador had ever created such a sensation !
Door and windows , even the roofs of houses , were filled with people , whose cheers reached the ears of the king .
However , he had no time to attend to such matters just then , as , after nine years , he had at last consented to the entreaties of his courtiers , and was on the eve of celebrating his second marriage .
The frog 's heart beat high when her litter drew up before the steps of the palace , and leaning forward she beckoned to her side one of the guards who were standing in his doorway . '
I wish to see his Majesty , ' said he .
` His Majesty is engaged , and can see no one , ' answered the soldier .
` His Majesty will see ME , ' returned the frog , fixing her eye upon him ; and somehow the man found himself leading the procession along the gallery into the Hall of Audience , where the king sat surrounded by his nobles arranging the dresses which everyone was to wear at his marriage ceremony .
All stared in surprise as the procession advanced , and still more when the frog gave one bound from the litter on to the floor , and with another landed on the arm of the chair of state . '
I am only just in time , sire , ' began the frog ; ` had I been a day later you would have broken your faith which you swore to the queen nine years ago . '
` Her remembrance will always be dear to me , ' answered the king gently , though all present expected him to rebuke the frog severely for her impertinence .
But know , Lady Frog , that a king can seldom do as he wishes , but must be bound by the desires of his subjects .
For nine years I have resisted them ; now I can do so no longer , and have made choice of the fair young maiden playing at ball yonder . '
` You can not wed her , however fair she may be , for the queen your wife is still alive , and sends you this letter written in her own blood , ' said the frog , holding out the square of handkerchief as she spoke .
` And , what is more , you have a daughter who is nearly nine years old , and more beautiful than all the other children in the world put together . '
The king turned pale when he heard these words , and his hand trembled so that he could hardly read what the queen had written .
Then he kissed the handkerchief twice or thrice , and burst into tears , and it was some minutes before he could speak .
When at length he found his voice he told his councillors that the writing was indeed that of the queen , and now that he had the joy of knowing she was alive he could , of course , proceed no further with his second marriage .
This naturally displeased the ambassadors who had conducted the bride to court , and one of them inquired indignantly if he meant to put such an insult on the princess on the word of a mere frog . '
I am not a `` mere frog , '' and I will give you proof of it , ' retorted the angry little creature .
And putting on her cap , she cried : Fairies that are my friends , come hither ! '
And in a moment a crowd of beautiful creatures , each one with a crown on her head , stood before her .
Certainly none could have guessed that they were the snails , water-rats , and grasshoppers from which she had chosen her retinue .
At a sign from the frog the fairies danced a ballet , with which everyone was so delighted that they begged to have to repeated ; but now it was not youths and maidens who were dancing , but flowers .
Then these again melted into fountains , whose waters interlaced and , rushing down the sides of the hall , poured out in a cascade down the steps , and formed a river found the castle , with the most beautiful little boats upon it , all painted and gilded .
` Oh , let us go in them for a sail ! '
cried the princess , who had long ago left her game of ball for a sight of these marvels , and , as she was bent upon it , the ambassadors , who had been charged never to lose sight of her , were obliged to go also , though they never entered a boat if they could help it .
But the moment they and the princess had seated themselves on the soft cushions , river and boats vanished , and the princess and the ambassadors vanished too .
Instead the snails and grasshoppers and water-rats stood round the frog in their natural shapes .
` Perhaps , ' said she , ` your Majesty may now be convinced that I am a fairy and speak the truth .
Therefore lose no time in setting in order the affairs of your kingdom and go in search of your wife .
Here is a ring that will admit you into the presence of the queen , and will likewise allow you to address unharmed the Lion Fairy , though she is the most terrible creature that ever existed . '
By this time the king had forgotten all about the princess , whom he had only chosen to please his people , and was as eager to depart on his journey as the frog was for him to go .
He made one of his ministers regent of the kingdom , and gave the frog everything her heart could desire ; and with her ring on his finger he rode away to the outskirts of the forest .
Here he dismounted , and bidding his horse go home , he pushed forward on foot .
Having nothing to guide him as to where he was likely to find the entrance of the under-world , the king wandered hither and thither for a long while , till , one day , while he was resting under a tree , a voice spoke to him .
` Why do you give yourself so much trouble for nought , when you might know what you want to know for the asking ?
Alone you will never discover the path that leads to your wife . '
Much startled , the king looked about him .
He could see nothing , and somehow , when he thought about it , the voice seemed as if it were part of himself .
Suddenly his eyes fell on the ring , and he understood .
` Fool that I was ! '
cried he ; ` and how much precious time have I wasted ?
Dear ring , I beseech you , grant me a vision of my wife and my daughter ! '
And even as he spoke there flashed past him a huge lioness , followed by a lady and a beautiful young maid mounted on fairy horses .
Almost fainting with joy he gazed after them , and then sank back trembling on the ground .
` Oh , lead me to them , lead me to them ! '
he exclaimed .
And the ring , bidding him take courage , conducted him safely to the dismal place where his wife had lived for ten years .
Now the Lion Fairy knew beforehand of his expected presence in her dominions , and she ordered a palace of crystal to be built in the middle of the lake of quicksilver ; and in order to make it more difficult of approach she let it float whither it would .
Immediately after their return from the chase , where the king had seen them , she conveyed the queen and Muffette into the palace , and put them under the guard of the monsters of the lake , who one and all had fallen in love with the princess .
They were horribly jealous , and ready to eat each other up for her sake , so they readily accepted the charge .
Some stationed themselves round the floating palace , some sat by the door , while the smallest and lightest perched themselves on the roof .
Of course the king was quite ignorant of these arrangements , and boldly entered the palace of the Lion Fairy , who was waiting for him , with her tail lashing furiously , for she still kept her lion 's shape .
With a roar that shook the walls she flung herself upon him ; but he was on the watch , and a blow from his sword cut off the paw she had put forth to strike him dead .
She fell back , and with his helmet still on and his shield up , he set his foot on her throat .
` Give me back the wife and the child you have stolen from me , ' he said , ` or you shall not live another second ! '

This was a very important point , and needed much discussion .

A thousand names were proposed and rejected for a thousand silly reasons .

One was another reminded the queen of somebody she did not like ; but at length an idea flashed into the queen 's head , and she called out : ' I know !

We will call her Muffette . '

` That is the very thing , ' shouted the frog , jumping high into the air ; and so it was settled .

The princess Muffette was about six months old when the frog noticed that the queen had begun to grow sad again .

` Why do you have that look in your eyes ? '

she asked one day , when she had come in to play with the baby , who could now crawl .

The way they played their game was to let Muffette creep close to the frog , and then for the frog to bound high into the air and alight on the child 's head , or back , or legs , when she always sent up a shout of pleasure .

There is no play fellow like a frog ; but then it must be a fairy frog , or else you might hurt it , and if you did something dreadful might happen to you .

Well , as I have said , our frog was struck with the queen 's sad face , and lost no time in asking her what was the reason . '

I do n't see what you have to complain of now ; Muffette is quite well and quite happy , and even the Lion Fairy is kind to her when she sees her .

What is it ? '

` Oh !

if her father could only see her ! '

broke forth the queen , clasping her hands .

` Or if I could only tell him all that has happened since we parted .

But they will have brought him tidings of the broken carriage , and he will have thought me dead , or devoured by wild beasts .

And though he will mourn for me long -- I know that well -- yet in time they will persuade him to take a wife , and she will be young and fair , and he will forget me . '

And in all this the queen guessed truly , save that nine long years were to pass before he would consent to put another in her place .

The frog answered nothing at the time , but stopped her game and hopped away among the cypress trees .

Here she sat and thought and thought , and the next morning she went back to the queen and said : ' I have come , madam , to make you an offer .

Shall I go to the king instead of you , and tell him of your sufferings , and that he has the most charming baby in the world for his daughter ?

The way is long , and I travel slowly ; but , sooner or later , I shall be sure to arrive .

Only , are you not afraid to be left without my protection ?

Ponder the matter carefully ; it is for you to decide . '

` Oh , it needs no pondering , ' cried the queen joyfully , holding up her clasped hands , and making Muffette do likewise , in token of gratitude .

But in order that he may know that you have come from me I will send him a letter . '

And pricking her arm , she wrote a few words with her blood on the corner of her handkerchief .

Then tearing it off , she gave it to the frog , and they bade each other farewell .

It took the frog a year and four days to mount the ten thousand steps that led to the upper world , but that was because she was still under the spell of a wicked fairy .

By the time she reached the top , she was so tired that she had to remain for another year on the banks of a stream to rest , and also to arrange the procession with which she was to present herself before the king .

For she knew far too well what was due to herself and her relations , to appear at Court as if she was a mere nobody .

At length , after many consultations with her cap , the affair was settled , and at the end of the second year after her parting with the queen they all set out .

First walked her bodyguard of grasshoppers , followed by her maids of honour , who were those tiny green frogs you see in the fields , each one mounted on a snail , and seated on a velvet saddle .

Next came the water-rats , dressed as pages , and lastly the frog herself , in a litter borne by eight toads , and made of tortoiseshell .

Here she could lie at her ease , with her cap on her head , for it was quite large and roomy , and could easily have held two eggs when the frog was not in it .

The journey lasted seven years , and all this time the queen suffered tortures of hope , though Muffette did her best to comfort her .

Indeed , she would most likely have died had not the Lion Fairy taken a fancy that the child and her mother should go hunting with her in the upper world , and , in spite of her sorrows , it was always a joy to the queen to see the sun again .

As for little Muffette , by the time she was seven her arrows seldom missed their mark .

So , after all , the years of waiting passed more quickly than the queen had dared to hope .

The frog was always careful to maintain her dignity , and nothing would have persuaded her to show her face in public places , or even along the high road , where there was a chance of meeting anyone .

But sometimes , when the procession had to cross a little stream , or go over a piece of marshy ground , orders would be given for a halt ; fine clothes were thrown off , bridles were flung aside , and grasshoppers , water-rats , even the frog herself , spent a delightful hour or two playing in the mud .

But at length the end was in sight , and the hardships were forgotten in the vision of the towers of the king 's palace ; and , one bright morning , the cavalcade entered the gates with all the pomp and circumstance of a royal embassy .

And surely no ambassador had ever created such a sensation !

Door and windows , even the roofs of houses , were filled with people , whose cheers reached the ears of the king .

However , he had no time to attend to such matters just then , as , after nine years , he had at last consented to the entreaties of his courtiers , and was on the eve of celebrating his second marriage .

The frog 's heart beat high when her litter drew up before the steps of the palace , and leaning forward she beckoned to her side one of the guards who were standing in his doorway . '

I wish to see his Majesty , ' said he .

` His Majesty is engaged , and can see no one , ' answered the soldier .

` His Majesty will see ME , ' returned the frog , fixing her eye upon him ; and somehow the man found himself leading the procession along the gallery into the Hall of Audience , where the king sat surrounded by his nobles arranging the dresses which everyone was to wear at his marriage ceremony .

All stared in surprise as the procession advanced , and still more when the frog gave one bound from the litter on to the floor , and with another landed on the arm of the chair of state . '

I am only just in time , sire , ' began the frog ; ` had I been a day later you would have broken your faith which you swore to the queen nine years ago . '

` Her remembrance will always be dear to me , ' answered the king gently , though all present expected him to rebuke the frog severely for her impertinence .

But know , Lady Frog , that a king can seldom do as he wishes , but must be bound by the desires of his subjects .

For nine years I have resisted them ; now I can do so no longer , and have made choice of the fair young maiden playing at ball yonder . '

` You can not wed her , however fair she may be , for the queen your wife is still alive , and sends you this letter written in her own blood , ' said the frog , holding out the square of handkerchief as she spoke .

` And , what is more , you have a daughter who is nearly nine years old , and more beautiful than all the other children in the world put together . '

The king turned pale when he heard these words , and his hand trembled so that he could hardly read what the queen had written .

Then he kissed the handkerchief twice or thrice , and burst into tears , and it was some minutes before he could speak .

When at length he found his voice he told his councillors that the writing was indeed that of the queen , and now that he had the joy of knowing she was alive he could , of course , proceed no further with his second marriage .

This naturally displeased the ambassadors who had conducted the bride to court , and one of them inquired indignantly if he meant to put such an insult on the princess on the word of a mere frog . '

I am not a `` mere frog , '' and I will give you proof of it , ' retorted the angry little creature .

And putting on her cap , she cried : Fairies that are my friends , come hither ! '

And in a moment a crowd of beautiful creatures , each one with a crown on her head , stood before her .

Certainly none could have guessed that they were the snails , water-rats , and grasshoppers from which she had chosen her retinue .

At a sign from the frog the fairies danced a ballet , with which everyone was so delighted that they begged to have to repeated ; but now it was not youths and maidens who were dancing , but flowers .

Then these again melted into fountains , whose waters interlaced and , rushing down the sides of the hall , poured out in a cascade down the steps , and formed a river found the castle , with the most beautiful little boats upon it , all painted and gilded .

` Oh , let us go in them for a sail ! '

cried the princess , who had long ago left her game of ball for a sight of these marvels , and , as she was bent upon it , the ambassadors , who had been charged never to lose sight of her , were obliged to go also , though they never entered a boat if they could help it .

But the moment they and the princess had seated themselves on the soft cushions , river and boats vanished , and the princess and the ambassadors vanished too .

Instead the snails and grasshoppers and water-rats stood round the frog in their natural shapes .

` Perhaps , ' said she , ` your Majesty may now be convinced that I am a fairy and speak the truth .

Therefore lose no time in setting in order the affairs of your kingdom and go in search of your wife .

Here is a ring that will admit you into the presence of the queen , and will likewise allow you to address unharmed the Lion Fairy , though she is the most terrible creature that ever existed . '

By this time the king had forgotten all about the princess , whom he had only chosen to please his people , and was as eager to depart on his journey as the frog was for him to go .

He made one of his ministers regent of the kingdom , and gave the frog everything her heart could desire ; and with her ring on his finger he rode away to the outskirts of the forest .

Here he dismounted , and bidding his horse go home , he pushed forward on foot .

Having nothing to guide him as to where he was likely to find the entrance of the under-world , the king wandered hither and thither for a long while , till , one day , while he was resting under a tree , a voice spoke to him .

` Why do you give yourself so much trouble for nought , when you might know what you want to know for the asking ?

Alone you will never discover the path that leads to your wife . '

Much startled , the king looked about him .

He could see nothing , and somehow , when he thought about it , the voice seemed as if it were part of himself .

Suddenly his eyes fell on the ring , and he understood .

` Fool that I was ! '

cried he ; ` and how much precious time have I wasted ?

Dear ring , I beseech you , grant me a vision of my wife and my daughter ! '

And even as he spoke there flashed past him a huge lioness , followed by a lady and a beautiful young maid mounted on fairy horses .

Almost fainting with joy he gazed after them , and then sank back trembling on the ground .

` Oh , lead me to them , lead me to them ! '

he exclaimed .

And the ring , bidding him take courage , conducted him safely to the dismal place where his wife had lived for ten years .

Now the Lion Fairy knew beforehand of his expected presence in her dominions , and she ordered a palace of crystal to be built in the middle of the lake of quicksilver ; and in order to make it more difficult of approach she let it float whither it would .

Immediately after their return from the chase , where the king had seen them , she conveyed the queen and Muffette into the palace , and put them under the guard of the monsters of the lake , who one and all had fallen in love with the princess .

They were horribly jealous , and ready to eat each other up for her sake , so they readily accepted the charge .

Some stationed themselves round the floating palace , some sat by the door , while the smallest and lightest perched themselves on the roof .

Of course the king was quite ignorant of these arrangements , and boldly entered the palace of the Lion Fairy , who was waiting for him , with her tail lashing furiously , for she still kept her lion 's shape .

With a roar that shook the walls she flung herself upon him ; but he was on the watch , and a blow from his sword cut off the paw she had put forth to strike him dead .

She fell back , and with his helmet still on and his shield up , he set his foot on her throat .

` Give me back the wife and the child you have stolen from me , ' he said , ` or you shall not live another second ! '

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babylm-10M-cbt

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