The Necklace of Princess Fiorimonde · Chapters
Chapters explained
Chapter companions for The Necklace of Princess Fiorimonde by Mary De Morgan.
Chapter 1
Dedication
Mary De Morgan affectionately dedicates the book of stories to her six little nephews and nieces.
Chapter 2
The Necklace of Princess Fiorimonde
Princess Fiorimonde, a beautiful but wicked sorceress, learns black magic from an old witch. When her father decides she must marry, she uses a magic necklace to turn each suitor into a bead, adding them to her chain. A new suitor, Prince Florestan, arrives with his faithful servant Gervaise. Yolande, the princess's maid, reveals the truth to Gervaise: the necklace is made of transformed princes, and Florestan will be next.
Chapter 3
The Necklace of Princess Fiorimonde
Princess Fiorimonde, a beautiful but wicked sorceress, learns black magic from an old witch. When her father decides she must marry, she uses a magic necklace to turn each suitor into a bead, adding them to her chain. A new suitor, Prince Florestan, arrives with his faithful servant Gervaise. Yolande, the princess's maid, reveals the truth to Gervaise: the necklace is made of transformed princes, and Florestan will be next.
Chapter 4
The Wanderings of Arasmon
Arasmon and his wife Chrysea, a wandering musician and singer, arrive in a spellbound village where a wizard's elves have caused misery. Chrysea learns a magic song from the elves and breaks the spell, but is transformed into a golden harp as punishment. Arasmon searches for her, playing his harp to guide fishermen and inspire soldiers, unaware that the harp is Chrysea.
Chapter 5
The Heart of Princess Joan
Prince Michael learns from a wizard that Princess Joan's heart has been stolen by a fairy, making her cold and unfeeling. He vows to find and restore her heart, receiving a magical glass to follow a crimson star that will lead him to the castle where her heart is imprisoned. The chapter also recounts the backstory of how the fairy cursed Joan after the Queen's proud boast.
Chapter 6
The Pedlar's Pack
A pedlar, a donkey, a raven, and a hedge-sparrow make a series of false promises to each other for services and payment, leading to a quarrel outside a town. The beadle brings them before the mayor, who punishes them all—the pedlar is imprisoned, the donkey thrashed, and the birds have their tail feathers pulled out—while the mayor keeps the blanket that sparked the final dispute. Each character laments their fate, blaming the others rather than their own dishonesty.
Chapter 7
The Bread of Discontent
A baker with a violent temper is visited by a tiny black imp who offers to ensure his bread is never spoiled in exchange for a home in the oven. The imp's bread tastes good but makes all who eat it discontented. The chief justice, his family, the village doctor, a young couple, and a farmer all eat the bread and become unhappy and quarrelsome. Eventually, the baker is punished by the chief justice for saying he is happy, and he drives the imp away, learning to be content with ordinary bread.
Chapter 8
The Three Clever Kings
Old King Roland, dying without a son, proposes that his three nephews—Aldovrand, Aldebert, and Alderete—each try being king in turn. Aldovrand quickly abdicates, finding kingship too burdensome, and becomes a goose-boy. Aldebert, eager to please but indecisive, is manipulated by his ministers and also abdicates to become a tinker. Alderete, the youngest, flees before even being crowned and becomes a sweep's apprentice. The Prime Minister and Chancellor search for a ruler but all three cousins prefer their simple trades to the crown.
Chapter 9
The Wise Princess
Princess Fernanda, driven by an insatiable desire for knowledge, studies under a Wizard for three years and becomes immensely wise, yet remains unhappy. She seeks happiness from a lark, a dog, her maid Doris, a mother, and even a dead soldier, but none can teach her. Finally, she drowns while saving a child, and Death grants her the peace and smile she sought.