Music Welcome to snoozecast, a podcast designed to help you fall asleep. Find us on snoozecast.com and if you enjoy our show, please share us with a friend. This episode is brought to you by Plumes of Feathers. Tonight we'll read the second half of The White Cat penned by Madem de Lnoi in 1698, the first half aired last week. This story is one of the earliest examples of the Coutiffy or fairy tales that were a hallmark of French literary culture in the late 17th century. These stories gained popularity not only for their fantastical, but also for their subtle commentaries on social norms and gender roles, often woven into the intricate plots. Unlike Charles Perot, whose tales like Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty became classics, Madame Del Nois' work was often marked by a stronger emphasis on clever, resourceful female protagonists and the nuanced exploration of power dynamics within courtly life. Her stories, including the white cat catered to an aristocratic audience that enjoyed wit, irony, and moral lessons hidden beneath layers of enchantment. The White Cat stands out not only for its magical setting, but also for its structure, which reflects the taste of the era for episodic storytelling and rich

ornate descriptions.

The enchanted castle, where a prince spends time with a talking cat, offers readers a

blend of whimsy and allegory, symbolizing deeper ideas about loyalty, love and transformation. Let's get cozy. Close your eyes. your body into the softness of your bed. Now take a few deep breaths. travel. breath. After traveling on his magical wooden horse, the prince was actually the first to arrive at the castle where he had agreed to meet his brothers. But they came soon after and stared in amazement when they saw the wooden horse in the courtyard jumping like a hunter. The prince met them joyfully and they began to tell him all their adventures, but he managed to hide from them what he had been doing, and even led them to think that a turnspit dog which he had with him was the one he was bringing for the king. Fond as they were of one another, the two eldest could not help being glad to think that their dogs certainly had a better chance. The next morning, they started in the same chariot. The elder brothers carried in baskets two such tiny, fragile dogs that they hardly dared to touch them. As for the turnspit, he ran after the chariot and got so covered with mud that one could hardly see what he was like at all. And they reached the palace, everyone crowded round to welcome them as they went into the king's great hall. And when the two brothers presented their little dogs, nobody could decide which was the prettier. They were already arranging between themselves to

share the kingdom equally. When the youngest stepped forward, drawing from his pocket, the A corn, the white cat had given him. He opened it quickly, and there, upon a white cushion, they saw a dog so small that it could easily have been put through a ring. The prince laid it upon the ground, and it got up at once and began to dance. The king did not know what to say, for it was impossible that anything could be prettier than this little creature. Nevertheless, as he was in no hurry to part with his crown, he told his sons that, as they had been so successful the first time, he would ask them to go once again and seek by land and sea for a piece of muslin so fine that it could be drawn through the eye of a needle. The brothers were not very willing to set out again, but the two eldest consented because it gave them another chance, and they started as before. The youngest again mounted the wooden horse and rode back at full speed to his beloved white cat. door of the castle stood wide open, and every window and turret was illuminated, so it looked more wonderful than before. The hands hastened to meet him, and led the wooden horse off to the stable while he hurried in to find the white cat. She was asleep in a little basket on a white satin cushion, but she very soon started up when she heard the prince and was overjoyed at seeing him once more. How could I hope that you would come back to me King's son? She said. And then he stroked and petted her and told her of his successful journey and how he had come back to ask her help, as he believed that it was impossible to find what the king demanded. The white cat looked serious and said she must think what was to be done, but that, luckily there were some cats in the castle who could spin very well and if anybody could manage it, they could. And she would set them the task herself. And then the hands appeared carrying torches, and conducted the prince and the white cat to a long gallery which overlooked the river. From the windows of which they saw a magnificent display of fireworks of all sorts, after which they had supper, which the prince liked even better than the fireworks, for it was very late, and he was hungry after his long ride. And so, the days passed quickly as before. And she had quite a talent for inventing new amusements. Indeed, she was cleverer than a cat has any right to be. But when the prince asked her how it was that she was so wise, she only said, King Sun, do not ask me, guess what you please, I may not tell you anything." The prince was so happy that he did not trouble himself at all about the time, but presently, the white cat told him that the year was gone, and that he need not be anxious at all about the peace of Muslim as they had made it very well. This time she added, I can give you a suitable escort, and I'm looking out into the courtyard. The prince saw a superb chariot of burnished gold enameled in flame color with a thousand different devices. It was drawn by twelve snow-white horses, harnessed for a breast. Their trappings were flame-colored velvet, embroidered with diamonds. A hundred chariots followed, each drawn by eight horses, and filled with officers in splendid uniforms, and a thousand guards surrounded the procession. Go, set the white cat, and when you appear before the king in such state, he surely will not refuse you the crown which you deserve.

Take this walnut, but do not open it until you are before him. Then you will find in it the piece of stuff you asked me for. Lovely, plant chat.

Said the prince.

How can I thank you properly for all your kindness to me? Only tell me that you wish it, and I will give up forever all thought of being King, and will stay here with you always. King Sun, she replied, It shows the goodness of your heart, that you should care so much for a little white cat, who is good for nothing but to catch mice, but you must not stay. So the prince kissed her little paw and set out. You can imagine how fast he traveled when I tell you that they reached the king's palace in just half the time it had taken the wooden horse

to get there. This time the prince was so late that he did not try to meet his brothers at their castle, so they thought he could not be coming, and were rather glad of it, and displayed their pieces of muslin to the king proudly, feeling sure of success. Indeed, the stuff was very fine, and would go through the eye of a very large needle, but the king, who was only too glad to make a difficulty, sent for a particular needle, which was kept among the crown jewels, and had such a small eye that everybody saw at once that it was impossible that the muslin should pass through it. The princes were angry, and were beginning to complain that it was a trick. When suddenly the trumpet sounded, and the youngest prince came in. His father and brothers were quite astonished at his magnificence, and after he had greeted them, he took the walnut from his pocket and opened it, fully expecting to find the piece of muslin. But instead, there was only a hazelnut. He cracked it, and there lay a cherry stone. Everybody was looking on, and the king was chuckling to himself at the idea of finding the piece of muslin in a nutshell. However, the prince cracked the cherry stone, but everyone laughed when he saw it only contained its own kernel. He opened that and found a grain of wheat. And in that was a millet seed. Then he himself began to wonder and muttered softly. White cat, white cat, are you making fun of me? In an instant he felt a cat's claw give his hand quite a sharp scratch and hoping that it was meant as an encouragement. He opened the millet seed and drew out of it a piece of muslin, 400 L's long woven with the loveliest colors and most wonderful patterns. And when the needle was brought, it was through the eye six times with the greatest ease, The king turned pale, and the other princes stood silent and sorrowful. For nobody could deny that this was the most marvelous piece of muslin that had ever been seen in the world. Presently, the king turned to his sons and said, with a deep sigh, nothing could console me more in my old age than to realize your willingness to gratify my wishes. Go then once more, and whoever at the end of the year can bring back the loveliest Princess shall be married to her, and shall, without further delay, receive the crown, for my successor must certainly be married." The prince considered that he had earned the kingdom fairly twice over, but still he was too well-bred to argue about it. So he just went back to his gorgeous chariot and surrounded by his escort, returned to the white cat faster than he had come. This time she was expecting him. The path was strewn with flowers and a thousand torches of burning-centred wood which perfumed the air. Seated in a gallery from which she could see him arrive, the white cat waited for him. Well, King Sun, she said, Here you are once more without a crown. Madam said he. Thanks to your generosity, I have earned one twice over, but the fact is that my father is so loath to part with it, that it would be no pleasure to me to take it.

Never mind, she answered, it's just as well to try and deserve it. As you must take back I will be on the lookout for one for you. In the meantime, let us enjoy ourselves. Tonight I have ordered a battle between my cats and the river rats on purpose to amuse you. So this year slipped away even more pleasantly than the preceding ones. Sometimes the prince could not help asking the white cat how it was that she could talk.

Perhaps you are a fairy, he said, or has some enchanter changed you into a cat? But she only gave him answers that told him nothing. Days go by so quickly when one is very happy that it is certain the prince would never have thought of its being time to go back when one evening as they sat together the white cat sent to him that if he wanted to take a lovely princess home with him the next day he must be prepared to do what she told him. Take this sword, she said, and cut off my head. I cried the prince. I cut off your head. Blanchet darling. How could I do it? I entreat you to do as I tell you, King Sun. She replied. The tears came into the prince's eyes as he begged her to ask him to do anything but that. To set him any task she pleased as a proof of his devotion, but to spare him the grief of killing his dear planchette. But nothing he could say altered her determination, and at last he drew his sword and desperately with a trembling hand cut off the little white head. Even his astonishment and delight, when suddenly a lovely princess stood before him, and while he was still speechless with amazement, the door opened and a goodly company of knights, and ladies entered, each carrying a cat skin. They hastened with every sign of joy to the princess, kissing her hand, and congratulating her on being once more restored to her natural shape. She received them graciously, but after a few minutes begged that they would leave her alone with the prince, to whom she said. You see, prince, that you were right in supposing me to be no ordinary cat. My father reigned over six kingdoms, the queen, my mother, whom he loved dearly, had a passion for traveling and exploring. And when I was only a few weeks old, she obtained his permission to visit a certain mountain of which she had heard many marvelous tales, and set out, taking with her a number of her attendants. the way they had to pass near an old castle belonging to the fairies. Nobody had ever been into it, but it was reported to be full of the most wonderful things. my mother remembered to have heard that the fairies had in their garden such fruits as were to be seen and tasted nowhere else. She began to wish to try them for herself and turned her steps in the direction of the garden. On arriving at the door, which blazed with gold and jewels, she ordered her servants to knock loudly, but it was useless.

It's... She ordered her servants to knock loudly, but it was useless.

It seemed as if all the inhabitants of the castle must be asleep or dead. Now, the more difficult it became to obtain the fruit, the more the queen was determined that habit she would. So she ordered that they bring a ladder and get over the wall into the garden. But low the wall did not look very high and they tied the ladders together to make them very, very long. It was quite impossible to get to the top. The queen was in despair, but as night was coming on, she ordered that they should encamp just where they were and went to bed herself. She was so disappointed. In the middle of the night she awakened and saw to her surprise a tiny old woman seated beside her who said, I must say that we consider it somewhat troublesome of your majesty to insist upon tasting our fruit. But to save you annoyance, my sisters and I will consent to give you as much as you can carry away on one condition. That is, that you shall give us your little daughter to bring up as our own. Ah, my dear Madame! Cry the Queen. Is there nothing else that you will take for the fruit? I will give you my kingdoms willingly. No, replied the old fairy.

We will have nothing but your little daughter. She shall be as happy as the day is long, and we will give her everything that is worth having in very land. But you must not see her again until she is married. Yn yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n y