Puss in Boots

"Puss in Boots" by Charles Perrault

There once was a miller who had three sons, and when he died, he left them all he had. The oldest son got the mill, the second son got the donkey, and the youngest, Marcos, was left with nothing more than the cat.

"Once I've eaten it," he grumbled, "there'll be nothing left for me but to die of hunger."

But the cat overheard this, and he hatched a plan. "Don't eat me master! If you let me live, I'll work for you and get you everything you need."

"All you do is catch mice and rats," said Marcos. "What good will that do me?"

"Just give me a few days to show you. All I need is a bag, and a set of four boots, one for each of my feet."

Marcos was skeptical, but he was desperate, so he did as the cat asked.

"Also just be sure that when people ask, you tell them that your name is now The Marquis," added the cat.

Puss looked gallant in his new boots, which he used to walk out into the forest. He put some food into his bag, and then stretched out on the ground as if he were dead. Soon enough, a foolish young rabbit jumped into his bag, and Puss immediately trapped and killed it.

Proud of his success, Puss went straight to the palace and asked to speak with the King. "I've brought you a rabbit, which my noble master, the Marquis, has asked me to present to your majesty."

The King was pleased. "Tell your master that I thank him for this," he said.

Later, Puss went and hid himself among some corn and held his bag open. When two hens ran into it, he closed the bag and caught them both. He went again to present the hens to the King, who received them with great pleasure.

One day, when he knew for certain the King would be taking a carriage ride near the river with his daughter, the beautiful Princess, he said to his master, "If you follow my advice, your fortune will be made. Go wash yourself in the river, and leave the rest to me."

The Marquis was puzzled, but also curious to see what the cat had in mind. While he was washing, the King passed by, and Puss began to cry out: "Help, help! The Marquis is drowning!"

The King stuck his head out of the window of his coach. He recognized the cat that had brought him many gifts, so he commanded his guards to save the Marquis. While they were pulling him out of the river, Puss came up to the coach and told the King that a band of thieves had come by and stolen his master's clothes while he was in the river. The King told his officers to run and get one of his best suits for the Marquis at once.

The fine clothes made him look very handsome, and the King's daughter immediately took notice. The King invited Puss and the Marquis to continue their ride with them.

Puss, seeing that his project was succeeding, walked along ahead. He soon met some farmers who were mowing a meadow. "You must do me a favor," he told them, "and tell the King that this meadow belongs to the Marquis."

When the King arrived, he indeed asked who the meadow belonged to, and they did as Puss told them. "To the Marquis," they all answered.

"This meadow has a wonderful harvest every year," the Marquis said, and the King was impressed.

Up ahead, the cat came across some reapers who were harvesting corn. "You must do me a favor," he said. "You must tell the King that all this corn belongs to the Marquis."

And when the king passed by a moment later, he was pleased to learn from the reapers that the corn belonged to the Marquis. The cat, who always went on ahead, said the same words to everyone he met, and the King was astonished by the vast estates of the Marquis.

At last, Puss came to a stately castle owned by the richest Ogre that had ever been known. The owner, as Puss knew, was the true owner of all the fields they had just traveled across. Puss asked to speak with him, and the ogre let him in with a scowl.

"I've been told," said the cat, "that you are able to change yourself into any creature you like."

"This is true," answered the ogre impatiently, "and to convince you, I'll turn myself into a lion."

The newly appeared lion growled and chased Puss into a corner, where Puss hid just out of the lion's reach.

"I've also been told you can turn yourself into the smallest of animals," said the cat. "Like a rat or a mouse for example. But how can that be? It seems impossible."

"Impossible?" cried the ogre. "Just watch."

And at the same moment, he changed himself into a mouse and began to run around the floor. In an instant, Puss jumped upon him and ate him up.

Meanwhile, the King saw the beautiful castle as they passed, and decided he wanted to go inside. Puss heard the noise of his coach approaching, and ran outside. "Your Majesty is welcome to the castle of the Marquis," he announced to the King.

"What?" cried the king, turning to the Marquis. "Does this castle really belong to you? There is no finer palace in all the kingdom."

The Marquis offered his hand to the princess, and they all went inside. The king was amazed by the Marquis, as was his daughter. And seeing the vast fortune he possessed, the King asked the Marquis to marry his daughter. The Marquis bowed and accepted the honor, and married the princess on that very same day.

As for Puss, he became a great lord, and never again ran after any mice unless it was for fun.