Once upon a time, a king had three beautiful daughters. The youngest, Princess Miranda, was his favourite, though she was also generous and shared her fine clothes and jewels with her sisters.
When the king returned victorious from war, the princesses dressed in colourful satin gowns to welcome him. At supper, he asked why they had chosen their particular colours. Miranda simply explained that white suited her best. Although her answer displeased him, he soon forgave her and asked his daughters what they had dreamed.
Miranda dreamed that, on her second sister’s wedding day, her father would hold a golden bowl of water and invite her to wash her hands.
The king took the dream as an insult. Convinced that his daughter considered him unworthy of her respect, he ordered his captain of the guard to take Miranda into the forest and return with her heart and tongue as proof of her death.
Explore more stories from our Andrew Lang’s Colour Fairy Books collection.
The captain could not bear to harm the innocent princess. He revealed the king’s cruel command and helped her seek a way to escape. Miranda’s loyal companions, Patypata, a little girl who served her, Grabugeon, her pet monkey, and Tintin, her dog, each offered to die in her place.
Grabugeon sacrificed herself first, but her tiny tongue could not convince the king. Patypata then gave her life, yet her tongue was unsuitable too. Heartbroken, Miranda refused to sacrifice Tintin and fled into the forest after burying her companions beneath a tree.
The Wonderful Sheep and His Hidden Kingdom
Exhausted, frightened, and lost, Miranda eventually heard a sheep bleating. She expected to find shepherds, but instead discovered a magnificent white sheep with golden horns, a garland of flowers, pearls, and a diamond collar.
The sheep spoke and invited her to follow him. When Miranda admitted that she needed somewhere to hide from her father, he summoned an extraordinary carriage: a giant pumpkin drawn by six goats.
The carriage carried her through a cavern and into a magical underground kingdom filled with flowers, fountains, enchanted trees, sumptuous food, and treasures. There, talking sheep lived among mysterious fairy spirits and shadows of people who had been imprisoned by magic.
Although the kingdom was beautiful, Miranda felt frightened by its strange inhabitants and begged to return to the world above. The Wonderful Sheep asked her to listen to his story first.
He explained that he had once been a powerful and respected king. While hunting, he had fallen into a magical pit, where he encountered Ragout, a fairy who had loved him for years. She offered him wealth and additional kingdoms if he would marry her, but he refused.
Ragout then transformed him into a sheep and condemned him to remain that way for five years. She had also killed a beautiful young woman whom he admired, leaving him devastated. The other talking sheep were unfortunate princes who had suffered similar enchantments, while the shadowy spirits were prisoners destined eventually to regain their true forms.
The Wonderful Sheep confessed that he had watched Miranda in the forest and had fallen deeply in love with her. Touched by his kindness and sadness, Miranda gradually returned his affection. He even used his remaining magical privileges to bring her companions’ shadows to comfort her.
For a time, Miranda lived happily in the enchanted kingdom, surrounded by music, celebrations, and the gentle affection of the sheep king.
Miranda Returns to Her Father’s Palace
One day, news arrived that Miranda’s eldest sister was to be married. Longing to see her family again, Miranda asked permission to attend the wedding.
The Wonderful Sheep agreed, but only after she promised faithfully to return. He loved her too much to refuse, though the thought of her departure filled him with sadness.
Miranda travelled to the palace in a magnificent carriage and appeared at the wedding dressed in extraordinary splendour. Nobody recognised her as the princess believed to be dead. Before leaving, she presented the bride with a beautiful jewel-studded casket containing wonderful gifts.
Her father was fascinated by the mysterious visitor, but Miranda escaped before he could discover her identity.
When she returned, the Wonderful Sheep welcomed her with extraordinary joy. His fears disappeared, and their happiness continued.
Soon, however, Miranda’s second sister was to be married. Once again, Miranda asked to attend the celebration. The Wonderful Sheep felt uneasy, but his love for her overcame his fear, and he allowed her to go after she promised to return promptly.
The Promise That Changed Everything
At the second wedding, Miranda attracted even greater admiration. The king, determined not to lose the mysterious princess again, ordered every door of the palace to be locked.
When Miranda tried to leave, she discovered that she was trapped. Her father approached her and, with great courtesy, offered her a golden bowl of water in which to wash her hands.
At that moment, Miranda realised that her childhood dream had come true. Overcome with emotion, she fell at his feet and revealed herself.
The king immediately recognised his beloved daughter. He confessed that he had ordered her death because he had misunderstood her dream. Now that both her sisters had married princes and gained kingdoms of their own, he declared that his own kingdom should belong to Miranda. Placing his crown upon her head, he proclaimed her queen.
Miranda was reunited with her sisters and told the court about her adventures. But while everyone celebrated, the Wonderful Sheep waited anxiously for her return.
When the promised hour passed, his fear turned to despair. Believing that Miranda had abandoned him because of his sheepish appearance, he rushed to the palace. The guards refused to let him see her, and, broken-hearted, he fell dead outside the gates.
Shortly afterwards, Miranda left the palace for a celebratory procession. At the entrance, she discovered the lifeless body of the Wonderful Sheep. She understood that her failure to keep her promise had cost him his life, and her grief was so overwhelming that everyone feared she would die of sorrow.
Thus ended the happiness of the princess who had regained her crown but lost the friend who had given her shelter, love, and hope.
Explore our complete Historic Folklore & Fairy-Tale Collections archive.
Moral
Think carefully before making a promise, and never treat another person’s trust lightly. Rash judgment can cause terrible suffering, while loyalty, kindness, and compassion can offer hope in the darkest circumstances. Even when happiness seems within reach, breaking a sincere promise may bring consequences that cannot be undone.
Knowledge Check
1. Why did the king order Miranda’s death?
He misunderstood her dream about washing her hands on her sister’s wedding day and believed it showed disrespect toward him.
2. Who helped Miranda escape her father’s command?
The captain of the guard tried to save her, while Patypata, Grabugeon, and Tintin demonstrated their loyalty by offering their lives.
3. Why had the Wonderful Sheep been transformed?
The fairy Ragout transformed him after he refused to marry her and became enchanted by another woman.
4. Why did Miranda return to the palace?
She wanted to attend her sisters’ weddings and see her family again.
5. What caused the Wonderful Sheep’s death?
Miranda failed to return after promising that she would, and his despair over her apparent abandonment proved fatal.
Source
Andrew Lang (editor), The Blue Fairy Book. London: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1889. “The Wonderful Sheep.” Digital edition: Project Gutenberg, eBook No. 503.
Explore More Andrew Lang’s Colour Fairy Books Folktales
- Prince Hyacinth and the Dear Little Princess
- The Bronze Ring: A Classic Fairy Tale
- Why the Sea Is Salt: The Blue Fairy Book
- The Shepherd and the Clever Chacal
- The Dish That Floated Away
- The Old Man and the River Spirit
- The Enchanted Date Palm of the Oasis
