The old woman shrieked for mercy , but the queen would not listen , and only mocked when she said she was protected by the fairies . At last the poor old thing submitted to be tied up , but when the queen urged her horse on he never stirred . In vain she spurred him , he seemed turned to bronze . At the same moment the cord with which the old woman was tied changed into wreaths of flowers , and she herself into a tall and stately lady . Looking disdainfully at the queen , she said , ` Bad woman , unworthy of your crown ; I wished to judge for myself whether all I heard of you was true . I have now no doubt of it , and you shall see whether the fairies are to be laughed at . ' So saying the fairy Placida -LRB- that was her name -RRB- blew a little gold whistle , and a chariot appeared drawn by six splendid ostriches . In it was seated the fairy queen , escorted by a dozen other fairies mounted on dragons . All having dismounted , Placida told her adventures , and the fairy queen approved all she had done , and proposed turning Mutinosa into bronze like her horse . Placida , however , who was very kind and gentle , begged for a milder sentence , and at last it was settled that Mutinosa should become her slave for life unless she should have a child to take her place . The king was told of his wife 's fate and submitted to it , which , as he could do nothing to help it , was the only course open to him . The fairies then all dispersed , Placida taking her slave with her , and on reaching her palace she said : ` You ought by rights to be scullion , but as you have been delicately brought up the change might be too great for you . I shall therefore only order you to sweep my rooms carefully , and to wash and comb my little dog . ' Mutinosa felt there was no use in disobeying , so she did as she was bid and said nothing . After some time she gave birth to a most lovely little girl , and when she was well again the fairy gave her a good lecture on her past life , made her promise to behave better in future , and sent her back to the king , her husband . Placida now gave herself up entirely to the little princess who was left in her charge . She anxiously thought over which of the fairies she would invite to be godmothers , so as to secure the best gift , for her adopted child . At last she decided on two very kindly and cheerful fairies , and asked them to the christening feast . Directly it was over the baby was brought to them in a lovely crystal cradle hung with red silk curtains embroidered with gold . The little thing smiled so sweetly at the fairies that they decided to do all they could for her .
They began by naming her Graziella , and then Placida said : ` You know , dear sisters , XXXXX the commonest form of spite or punishment amongst us consists of changing beauty to ugliness , cleverness to stupidity , and oftener still to change a person 's form altogether .
At as by for over so that to whether with