Prince Prigio / From "His Own Fairy Book"

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

21935

Title

Prince Prigio / From "His Own Fairy Book"

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

A whimsical fairy tale about Prince Prigio, a clever but socially awkward heir who inherits magical gifts from fairies. After being ostracized for his intellect, he embarks on a perilous quest to slay a Firedrake and a Remora to win a princess's love, ultimately learning that humility and kindness are more valuable than raw intelligence.

Summary up to 500 words

In the ancient kingdom of Pantouflia, King Grognio and Queen Molinda long for a child. When their son, Prince Prigio, is born, the Queen, who disbelieves in fairies, refuses to invite them to the christening. Consequently, uninvited fairies arrive and bestow magical gifts upon the infant, including seven-league boots, a cap of darkness, a carpet of flight, and a wishing cap. However, the final fairy curses the prince to be 'too clever.' As Prigio grows, his excessive intelligence alienates everyone; he critiques his father's wealth, exposes the ignorance of his tutors, and sneers at his peers. Eventually exiled from the court, he lives in a lonely castle seeking redemption. To win the hand of Lady Molinda, Prigio must retrieve the horns and tail of a Firedrake. Using his magical items, he locates the beast on a volcano and the icy Remora on a frozen mountain. He orchestrates a battle between the two mythical creatures. The Remora freezes the Firedrake, while the Firedrake burns the Remora; both eventually perish from their mutual assault. Prigio retrieves the parts, but the King, initially furious at the loss of the monsters, refuses to restore Prigio to his position as crown prince. Prigio then discovers that his brothers, Alphonso and Enrico, were killed by the monsters. Using magical water from the Fountain of Lions, he resurrects them and the knights frozen by the Remora. Upon returning to the court, the Queen dismisses the events as a simple trip. Prigio realizes his wife, Lady Rosalind, loves him but fears his overwhelming cleverness. To please her, he uses his wishing cap not to lose his intelligence, but to merely *seem* less clever. He becomes the most popular and beloved ruler in Pantouflia, retaining his wit while gaining the affection of his subjects and family. The story explores themes of wisdom versus popularity, the dangers of arrogance, and the importance of empathy, concluding with Prigio as a wise and beloved king.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

Download URL

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/21935.epub.noimages

Local file path

data/epubs/pg21935.epub

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Categories

• Fairy Tales
• Children's stories