CH I LORE N'S BOOK
COLLECTION
LIBRARY OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNI
LOS ANGELES
V
THE
f ,
F A I R I E S T;
O R.
SURPRISING AND ENTERTAINING
ADVENTURES
or THB
. R I A L BEINGS;
IN WHICH ARE RELATED SEVERAL
CURIOUS ACCIDENTS j AMD HAPPY CONCLUSIONS}
THE WHOLE SELECTED TO
AMUSE AND IMPROVE JUVENILE MINDS.
Here Vice and Virtue you may feej
Painted in their juft Degree.
LONDON:
PRINTED FOR WILLIAM LANE,
LE ADEN JI ALL- STREET.
For the Defcription of the elegant" Frontifpiece,
fes Page 20.
THE
F A R I E S T.
THE
STORY
O F
F O R T U N I O,
THE
FORTUNATE KNIGHT.
' 1 ''HERE once reigned a powerful king, who was a
JL prince of great clemency, and very well beloved
by his fubjecls; but being engaged in a war with an
emperor, whofe name was Matapa, a neighbouring and
potent prince, after'feveral battles, the emperor at laft
gained an entire and fignal victory. The king had
moft oi his officers and foldiers killed, or taken priioners,
and the emperor foon after belieged his capital town,
and took it; by which means he became mafter of ail
the treafures. The king had much ado to elcape him-
felf, with the queen dowager, his lifter, who was young,
beautiful, and witty, but withal proud, hafty, and dif-
ficult of accefs. The emperor tranfported all his jewels
and rich furniture to his own. pa lace-, and took a great
number of young damfels, horfes, and whatever might
be ufeful and agreeable to him ; and when he had de-
A 2 populated
4 THE STORY OF FORTUS*I<J.
populated the greateft par* of the kingdoms, returned in
triumph home, where he was received by the emprefs
and the princefs his daughter, with all the joy imagina-
ble; while the dethroned king endured, with the utmoft
impatience, his misfortunes. He aflembled what troops
he had left, formed a fmall party, and to augment it
asfoonas poffible, publifhed an ordinance, requiring all
gentlemen, who were his fubjecls, either to come and
ferve him in their own proper perfons, or to fend one
cf their ions well mounted and armed.
There lived on the frontiers an old lord, who had
feen full fourfcore years, and was a man of extraordi-
niry parts, but had partaken fo much of the frowns of
fortune ; thnt he was very much reduced, and had bore
all his ill fortune with more patience, had not three
beautiful daughters fhared it with him. But as they
we; e women of good fen fe, they never murmured at
their misfortunes, but rather, when they fpoke, com-
f >rted their father, than added to his afflictions. In
this manner they lived with him in an old country houfe,
free from ambition, when this ordinance reached the
old gentleman's ear; \vho called his daughters, and,
with a countenance that difcovered the grief of his mind,
fa id to them, * What (hall we do? The king has or-
* dered all perfons of diftinclion in his dominions to
4 ferve hun a?ainft the emperor, or pay fuch a fine,
' which I am n t able to do; and thefe extremities will
' either coft me my life, or be our ruin.' His three
daughters were as much concerned as himfelf at this
news, but yetdefired him not to be di (heartened, fince
they were perfuaded fome remedy mi^ht be found out.
The next d?.y the eldeft went to her father, as he was
walking melancholy in his little orchard, and faid to
him, ' I come my lord, to entreat you to let me go to
' the nrmy ; J am of an advantage jus height enough,
' androbuft: I will drefs myfe'f in men's cloaths, and
* pafs for your fon : If I do no heroic actions, I fhall
* however fave you a journey or the tax, which is a great
4 deal in our circumftances.' The count embraced her
tenderly, and at firft oppofed f exti a ordinary a defign ;
but
THE STORY or FORTUNIO. 5
but fhe reprefented to him, with great firn*ne:fe of mind,
that there was no cv.her expedient, ^nd thereby got his
confent. Her father provided cloaths and arms for her.
and gave her the beft of four horfes, which he kei.t to
go to plow and cart, and sfier the moft tender farewell
on both tides, (lie fet out on her journey. After fome
days travel, as fhe pafTed by a large meadow, befet
with a quickfet hedge, fhe faw a {hejherdefs very much
grieved, who was endesvmirine to pnll a fhee^ onf of
a ditch: What are you doing there fhepherdefs?' (faid
* (he) Alas ! (replied the fhepherdefs) I am driving
1 to fave a fheep that is almoft drowned, and am to
1 weak, that I cannot draw him out.' I pity yru.'
(faid (he,) and, without offering her afliftance, rid away.
Whereupon the fhepherdefs cried out, ' Good-bye,
* difgui fed fair. 1 Which put our heroine into an inex-
preflible furprife. How is it poffible, (faid fhe to
' herfelf) that I mould be known? This oM fhephfr-
* defs has but jaft fet eyes on me, and has difcovered
' what J am ; what (hall I do? I (hall be known to all
1 the world, and how afhamed and vexed (hall 1 be, if the
' king mould find me out! He will think my father a
* coward, that durft not expofe himfelf to danger.'
At la ft fhe cr ncluded to go home again.
The count and his daughters were talking of her, and
reckoning row long fhe had been gone, when they faw
her come in, who told them her adventure. The good
old count faid it was nothing but what he forefaw; that
if (he would have taken his advice, fhe had not gone,
becaufe he thought it impoflible but (he muft be dif-
covered. This little family was embarrafled again,
when the fecond daughter faid to her father, * I am
4 not furpri fed that my fifter mould be difcovered, fince
' fhe never was on horfeback befr.re; but for my part,
1 it" you will let me go in her ftead, I dare promife, you
* mall not need to repent it.* Jt was in vain for the
old count to refufe her; he was forced to confent, and
(he took other cloaths and arms, and another horfe;
and when fhe was thus equipped, embraced her father
and lifters, and refolved to ferve the king; but as (he
A 3 pafled
C THE STORY OF FORTUNIO.
pafTed by the fame meadow, me faw the fame fhepherd-
cfs drawing a fheep out of a deep ditch, who cried out,
* Unfortunate wretch that I am, to lofe half my flock in
* thisrnnnner; if anybody would help me, I might
* fave this poor creature.' * What! fhepherdefs (cried
* out this iecond daughter) do you take no better caie
1 of vour fheep, than to let them fall into the water?'
Then fpur'd on her horfe, and rid away. * Farewell,
difguifed fair,* ( cried the old woman to her.) Which
words were no fmill affliction to our Amazon. How
* unfortunate (fa id (he) is it to be thus known: 'I have
* no better lack than my lifter: It will be ridiculous for
' me to go to the army with fuch an effeminate air.*
Thereupon (he returned home very much vexed at her
bad fuccefs.
The old count received her with a great deal of tender-
nefs, anil commended her prudence, but could net help
being chagrined at the expcnce he had been at, of two
fuits of cioaths and other things, though he concealed it
as much as poffible from his daughters. At iaft the
youngeft daughter defired him, with the moft prefling
in fiances to give her leave, as he had done both her lif-
ters. ' Perhaps (faid fhe) you may think it prefump-
4 tioTi in me to think to fucceed better than they, yet Ide-
* lire 1 may try; I am fomewhat taller than they; you
' knew 1 have been ufed to hunting, which exercife bears
* parra'iel with war; and my great deure to comfort
* you in your misfortunes, will infpire me with extra-
4 ordinary courage.' As the count loved this daughter
better than the other two, becaufe fhe always took mofl
care of him, and read to divert him, and killed game 1
for him; he ufed all the arguments he was matter of,
to diffuade her from 'her deiign. * If you leave me,
4 my dear child (faid he) your abfence will be my
4 death; for fliould fortune favour you in your under-
4 taking, and you mould return crowned with laurels,
' I fhall not have the pleafure of feeing it, fince I am in
4 fo advanced an age.' * No father (faid (he) do not
* think the time long, the war muft foon be at an end ;
' and if I find out any other way to fulfil the king's
orders,
THE STORY OF FORTUNI&. 7
* orders, I will not negledl it: for I can afTure you, if
' my abfencc is a trouble to you, it is no lefs to me/
By thefe words fhe at laft perfuaded him into a confent;
and alter that made up a plain fuit of cloaths, for her
fitters had exhaufted the old count's treafures too much
for her to have any better; and was forced to take up
with one of the worft horfes, becaufe the others were
lamed: but all this could not difcourage her: She em-
braced her father, afked his blefftng, and after fhedding
fome tears with him and her lifters, fet forwards on her
j mrney.
As fhe went by the fame meadow, fhe faw the old
fhepherdefs endeavouring to pull the fheep out of a ditch.
4 What are you doing there, fhepherdefs?' (faid fhe.)
1 Ihave been doing, Sir, (replied the old woman) till
* I can do no longer : I have been ever fince the break
* of day ftriving to get this fheep cut, and all to no pur-
' pofe; and lam fo weiry I can fcarce ftand : there is
' never a day psfTesover my head but fome misfortune
1 attends me, and nobody will help me.' ' Indeed I
* pity you (f^idour young warrior) and to fhew it the
' more, will aflitt you.* Thereupon aiighted.from her
horfe, and jumping over the hedge, fhe went into the
ditch, where fhe worked till me got this favourite fheep
out. * Do not cry, fhepherdtfs (foid fhe) here is your
* fheep; and considering the time he has lain in the
' water, he is very brifk.' ' You fliall not find me un-
' grateful, charming maid, (faid the fhepherdefs) I
* know where you are going and all your deligns; your
' fitter pafTed by this meadow, I knew them and their
* thoughts; but they were fo hard-hearted and unkind,
* that I found the means to prevent their journey ; but
4 for your part, you fhall find it otherwife. I am a
' fairy, and have a great inclination to reward
' thofe that are deferving. That horfe you ride is but
* a poor forry one, I will give you a better.* There-
upon ftriking the ground with her crook, our warrior
heard a whinnying behind a holt of trees, and prefently
fa w a beautiful horfe galbpping about the meadow. The
fairy called this courfer to her, and touching him with
A 4 her
g THE STORY OF FORTUNIO.
her crook, faid, faithful Comrade, be accoutered finer
than the befl horfe of the Emperor Metapa ; and imme-
diately Comrade had on a faddle and hcufing of green
velvet embroidered with diamonds, a bridle ftrung with
pearls, withbofles and bit of gold.
1 What you fee (faid the fairy) is the leaft thing you
' ought to admire this horfe for ; he hns a great many
1 rare qualities which I will inform you of. Firft, he
* eats but once in eight days : and then he knows what
* is paft, prefent, and to come: for I have had him a
1 long time, and brought him tip to my hand. When
1 you want to be informed of any thing, or are at a lofs
' for advice, you muft addrefs yourfelf to him, and muft
1 look on him more like your friend than a horfe. Be-
' fides, I do not like your habit, I will give you one
4 fhall pleafe you better.' Then /hiking en the ground
with Jier crook, there arofe up a turkey leather trunk,
adorned with nails of gold; the fairy looked on the
grafs for the key which opened it: It was lined with
fpanifh leather embroidered, and contained a dozen
complete fuifsof clothes, with dozens of all appurtenan-
ces, a< fu'crds, linen, Sec. The cloaths '.vere fo rich with
embroidery and diamonds that our Amazon could hard-
ly lift them. The fairy bid her chufe which fhe liked
beft, and told her the reft mould follow her wherever (he
went; ?nd that fhe reeded but to ftamp with her foot,
and call for her turkey-leather trunk, and it fhculd come
to her full ot money and jewels, or full of fine linen and
Inces, which fhe called for, either into her chamber or
in the field. ' But, (faid the Fairy) you muft make
* choice of fome name agreeable to your profeflion ; and
* I think you may call yourfelf Fcrtunio : Befides, I
' think it not improper you fhculd knew me in my
own perfon.' At that very. moment (he caft off her old
fkin, and pppeared fo beautiful that fhe dazzled the eyes
of ourycung heroine. Her habit was b!ue velvet lined
with ermine, her hair was platted with pearl?, and on
her head flood a ftately crown. Our young warrior \vas
fo tranfported with admiration, fhe caft herfelf at her
feet, fo great was her acknowledgment. The fairy
raifed
THE STORY OF FORTUNIO. 9
raifed her up, and embraced her tenderly, and bid her
take a habit of gold and green brocade, which me ac-
cordingly obeyed, and mounted her horfe, continued
on her journey, fo penetrated with the extraordinary
foitune (he had met with, that fhe could think
of nothing e lfe She examined with herfelf by whr.t
good fortune fhe had gained the good will of fo powerful
a frity; for fhe fa id to herfelf, ' She cculd with one
* ftroke of her wand hnve drawn out, without nay afTift-
* ance, a \vh .le flock from the center of the earth. It
' was fortunate for me I was fo ready to oblige her; fhe
' knew the fentiments of my heart, and approved of
1 them. If my father faw me new fo rirh, and in all
* this magnificence, how over] :yed would he be, and
* how well plea fed mould 1 be to have my family pnr-
* takers with me !'
As fhe made an end of thefe reflections, fhe arrived
at a great city, and drew on her the eyes of all the
people, who followed and crowded about her, faying,
they never faw fo fine and handfrme a knight, and fo
graceful a horfe before. She had all manner of re-
fpecls paid to her, which fhe returned with all imaginable
civility. As foon as fhe came to an inn, the governors,
who had feen her ?s he was walking out, and admired
her, and fent a gentleman to defire her to accept of an
apartment in hiscaftle. Fortunio, for fo we muft call
her, anfwered, that as he had nol the honour to be known
to him, he would not take that freedom, but would come
and pay his refpects to him; but withal defircd he
would let him have a trufty frrvant to fend to his fa-
ther; which the Covernordid mftantly, and our knight
defired him tocomeagain that night, becaufe hisdifpatch*
es were not ready. He fruit himfelf up faft in his cham-
ber, then flarnping with his fo( t, and calling for the
Turkey leather trunk full of diamonds and piftoles,
it appeared that moment; but then he was at a lofs for
the key, and knew not where to find it, and thought
with himfelf it would be a thoufand pities to break open
a trunk fo curioufly wrought and to have fo much riches
cxpofed to the indifcretion or knavery of a Icckfmith,
that
io THE STORY OF FORTUNIO.
that might talk publicly of them, and by that means
inform all robbers of it. ' What ufe are thefe favcurs
* of, (Fortunio cried) fince I can neither enjoy them
* myfelf nor let my lather receive ?ny benefit from
' them? Then muling and walking about, he remem-
bered he fhould confult his horfe: away he goes to the
ftable, and whifpered foftly to him, * Pray, Comrade,
' tell me where I fh?Ii find the key of the Turkey-lea-
* ther trunk.' * In my ear,' (anfwered he.) The
knight looked in his e?randfaw a green ribbon, by
which he pulled out the key. He opened the trunk,
and filled three little chetts full of diamonds and pif-
toles, cne for bis father, and two for his fitters, and fent
the governor's man with them, defiring him not to ftcp
night nor day, till he arrived at the old count's. When
the meflenger told him he came from his fon the knight,
and brought him a very hesvy cheft ; he was very much
furprifed at what it could contain, for he knew he had fo
little mcney when he fet cut, thst he could not buy
any thing, nor psy the pcrfon for bringing his prefent.
Firft he opened his letter, and when he fsw what his
clear daughter had fent him, he was ready to die with
joy: the fight of the jewels and gold, made good her
words: but what w?s mott extraordinary, when the two
fitters opened thei; chetts, there were nought but cut glafs
and irHe piftofes; fo unwilling was- the fairy that they
fhould receive any favours from her: infomuch that
they thought their fitter mocked them, and thereupon
conceived an inexpreffible hatred agsinft her. The
count feeing them fo angry, gave them a great many
of the jewels; but as foon as ever they touched them,
they changed like the reft, by which they knew fome
unknown power acted agsinft them, and begged of their
father to keep them to himfeif.
Fortunio never ftaid for the return of the meiFenger,
fo fhort was the time limited to obey the king's edi&
in, but went and took his leave of the governor. The
whole city was aflembling together to fee him : his per-
f en and all his actions had iomewhat fo engaging in
them, that they could net but love and admire him.
He
THE STORY OF FORTUNIO. if
He never fpoke, but they erfprefled a pleafure at every
word ; and the crowd was fp great, that he who had
been ufed alt his life-time to the country, knew not
what it was owing to. After all civilities paid and re-
ceived, he fet forward on his journey, and was enter-
tained nioft agreeably by his horfe, who told him of a
great many remarkable things both in old and modern
hiftories, until they arrived at a vaft foreft ; when Com-
rade laid to the knight, * Matter, there lives her a man
1 who may be of great ufe to us: he is a wood-man;
' and one who is gifted.' * What do you mean by that?'
(interrupted the knight.) * One (faid the horfe) who is
* endowed by fairies with fome rare qualities; there-
* fore we muft engage him to go along with us.' At
that inftant they came to the place where the wood-man
was at work. The young knight approached him with
a fweet and pleafant air, and afked him feveral quef-
t ions about the place where they were: whether there
were any wild beads in the foreft, and if people were
allowed to hunt them ; to which the woodman returned
him very fu Stable anfwers. Then he afked him who
helped him to fell fo many trees; he anfwered, he had
felled them all himfelf ; and that it W3S the work only
of fome few hours; and that he muft fell a few more
to make a little burden. ' What (faid the knight) do
you pretend to carry all this wood to day.' ' O Sir,
(faid ftrong-back, which was his name) I am extra-
ordinary ftrong.' * Then (faid fortunio) your gain
muft be great.' ' Very little, (replied the woodman)
we are very poor in this plare; and every one does
his own work.' ' Since it is fo (added the knight)
come along with me, and you fhall want nothing;
and when you have a mind to go home again, t will
give you money to defray your expences.' Which
propofal he approved of, and left his wedges and other
tools, and followed his new m after.
When he had crcfTed the foreft, he faw a man in
the plain, holding in his hands ribbons, with which he
tied his legs, leaving one would think or imagine, fcarce
liberty enough to walk. Comrade flopped, and faid to
his
12 THE STORY OF FORTCSIO.
his mafter, * This is another gifted man; you will
' have occafion fcr him, therefore take him along with
' you/ At that the fortunate knight advanced towards
him with his natural grncefuinefs, and afked him
why he tied his legs fo? ' O, (anfwered he) 1 am pre-
4 pairing for a hunt.' HJW (faid the knight, fmiling)
* do you p'etend to run beft when you are fettered r f
' No, Sir, (replied he) I do not pretend to run fo fa ft,
* but that is net my intention; there are neither (lags
1 nor hares, but what I out-run when my legs are ?t
' liberty; fo that by ahvsys out-going them they efcape,
* and 1 feldom catch them.' * You leem to me a very
' extraordinary man, (faid the knight) what is ycur
4 name ?' * Lightfoot (replied he) and I arn very well
' known in this country.' If you would fee another,
' (added cur hero) I fhould be glad you would go with
' me: I willufe you very kindly.' Which offer, Light-
fcot, as he lived but indifferently, accepted of with
thanks, and followed the fortunate kr.icht.
The next day he met with a man by a marfh fide,
binding his eye 1 ?. The horfe faid to his raafter, * I
* would advifeyou, Sir, to take this man into your fer-
*- vice.* Fortunio afked him what m^de him bind his
eyes; to which he anf\vered, that he favv too clearly;
that he cculd fee game above four leagues; and that
he never QiLt but he killed always more than hedelired;
that he was forced to bind his eyes, left hs mould deftroy
all the partridges, pheafants, &.c. in the country. * You
are a nclabie man, ^replied Fortunio) what is your
name?* * They call me Markfman, (anfwered he)
and I wop id not leave off that employ for any thing
in the world.' * However, (faid the knig t) I have
a great defire to propofe to you to travel ^long with
me; it (hMl net hinder you from exercifing your
. talent.' The Markfmin raifed fome objections, and
the knight found it harder to get his ccnfent than any
of the reft ; for thefe fort of people are generally
great lovers of liberty: however he brought it about,
atid they all left the marfh together.
After
THE Sroxy OF FORTUNIO. 13
After feme days journey they came by a l^ng mea-
dow, where they faw a man laid all on one fide upon,
the ground. * Mafter (faid Comrade) this is a gifted
' man, who will, I forefee, be very neceflary to you.'
Fortunio went into the meadow, and d^-fired to know
* what he wasdoing. ' I want fome fimples (anfwered
' he) and I am liflening to the giafs that is growing.
' to know if there are any fuch as ? want coming up.'
* What (faid the knight) is your ear fo quick as to hear
' the grafs grow, and know what will come up?' * Yes,
' (replied he) and for that reafon I am called Fine-Ear.*
* Well, Fine-Ear, (faid Fortunio) have you an incli-
* nation to follow me? I will give you good wages;
, * you frnll have no reafon to complain.' This pro-
pjfnl was fo agree ible to him, he, without anv manner
of hefitation, added himfelf to increafe their number.
The knight purfuing his travels, faw by a great roa'd
fide a rmn whofe cheeks were fo blown up, that he re-
prefented the piclure of Erlus; he was ftanding with
his face towards a high hill, ab ut two leagues off, on
which there flood fifty or fixty windmils. The horfe faid
to his mailer, ' There is another of our gifted men ; do
* what you can to take him along with you.' Fortunio,
who was as engaging in his perfon as fpeech, sccofted him,
a'ked him, what he was doing there. * 1 am blowing
* a little, Sir, (anfwered he) to fet thofe mills at work/
* YJU feem too far off,' (faid the knight.) On the
contrary (replied the blower) I am too nigh; if I did
' not hold in my breath, I mould overturn the mills,
' and perhaps the hill itfelf; fo that by this means I
* often do a great deal of mifchief againft my will. I
' will tell you, Sir, I once was in Jove, and very ill ufed
< by mymirtrefs, and as I fighed in the woods, myfighs
* tore up trees by their roots, and made fuch a havock,
* thai in this country they called me the Boifterer.' * If
' you are troublefome tothem (laid Fortunio) go along
' with me; here are thofe that will bear you company,
* who have each of them extraordinary talents.* ' I
4 have a natural curiofity (replied the Boifterer) and
* on that condition accept of your offer.'
Every
14 STORY OF FORTUNIO.
Every thing fucceeding thus to Fortunio's defire, he
]eft this place, and after crofting a thick inclofed country,
faw a large lake into which feveral fprings difcharged
their waters; and by its fide a man who looked very
earneftly at him. ' Sir (faid Comrade to his matter)
' this man is wanting to compleat your equipage; it
' would be well if you could engage him to follow you.'
The knight xvent to him and faid, * Pray, friend, what
* are you doing there?' * You mail fee, Sir, (anfwered
' the man) as foon as the lake is full, I will drink it up
at one draught; for 1 am very dry, though I have
' emptied it twice already.' Accordingly he ftooped
down, and left fcarce enough for the leaft fifh to fwim
in. Fortunio and his troop were all very much fur-
prifed. * What, (faidhe) are you always thus thirfty ?'
' No, (faid the water-drinker) only after eating fait
' meat, or upon a wager. I am known by the name of
' Tippler.' ' Come along with me, Tippler, (faid the
' knight) and you {hall tipple wine, you will like better
' than this water.* This promife carried tco great a
temptation with it forTipplerto withftand, who imme-
diately got up, and followed them.
The knight had got within fight of the place of ren-
dezvous, where they were all to aflemble, when he per-
ceived a man who eat fo greedily, that though he had
lixty thoufand loves of bread before him, he feemed re-
folved not to leave one bit. Comrade faid to his matter,
* Sir, you only want this man ; pray engage him to ro
' with you/ Upon which the knight made up to him,
and fmiling faid, * Are you refolved to eat up all this
4 bread at your breakfaft ?' ' Yes (replied he) and am
4 vexed to fee fo little: thefe bakers are a lazy fort of
* peopiej who care not if one was ftarved.' * If you
4 eat as much every day (added ^Fortunio) you arc
4 able to caufe a famine in the country of the world.'
4 O! Sir, (replcd Grugeon, which was his name, and
4 which fignines a great eater) I fhould be forry to have
* fo great a ftomach, fince neither what I could get my-
4 felf, nor what my neighbours had, would fatisfy me:
* indeed, fometimes I am glad to regale myfelf after
3 4 this
THE STORY OF FORTUNIO. 15
' this manner/ * Well, Grugeon (faid the knight) if
* you will fallow me, you (hall not want for good cheer,
nor recent your chuiing me for your matter.' .Com-
rade, whofe fenfe and foreli2,ht were of great fervice to
our knuht, told him, it would be proper that he forbid
his attendants from boafting of their extraordinary gifts ;
which he failed not to do and each of them fwore they
would punctually obey his commands. Soon after the
knight, whofe beauty and good mien far exceeded the
richneis of his habit, entered the capital city, mounted
on his excellent h )rfe, and followed by hisfeven attend-
ants, for whom he provided rich liveries, laced with
gold, and good horfes ; and going to the beft inn, ftayed
there till the day appointed for the review; all which
time he was the jubjecT; of difcourfe of the whole city,
infomuch that the king hearing of him, had a great defire
to fee him.
The troop afTembled on a large plain, the king and
his lifter, the queen dowager, came to review them.
She abated in no wife her pomp and ftate. notwithftand-
ing the troubles of the kingdom ; but dazzled Fortunio's
eyes with the riches with which fhe was adorned; whofe
beauty had the fame eftecl: upon that noble train, as her
magnificence had on him. Every body inquired who
that handfome young knight was; and the kinghimfelf,
as he pafled by, made a fign for him to come to him.
Fortunio alighted from off his horfe, to make the king a
low bow, but at the fame time could not forbear blufbing,
feeing him look fo earneftly at him, which gave a great
luftre to his complexion. * I mould be glad (faid the
king) to know who you are, and your name;' *' Sir,
(anfwered he) I am called Fortunio, though I have
no reafon to bear tJiatname, fince my father is an aid
count -who lives on the frontiers; who, though he is a
man of birth, has noeftate/ ' Though fortune may
have proved unkind hitherto, (anfwered the king)
fhe has made amends, by bringing you hither. I have
a particular affection for you, and remember that
your father did mine fome fignal ferv-ices, which I will
wcornpeufe in you.' * It is juft you (hould, ((aid
the
16 THE STORY OF FORTUNIO.
* the queen dowager, who had not yet opened her lips)
' And as I am older than you, brother, I remember
4 more particularly than you do, what great things the
' old count performed in the fervice of his countiy;
therefore 1 defire I may have the care of the preferment
' of this young knight/
Fortunio, overjoyed at this reception, could not thank
the king and queen enough, and durft not enlarge too
much on the fentiments uf his acknowledgment, think-
ing itmore refpeclfulto hold his tongue, than tofpeaktoo
much, though what he did fay was fo proper and well adapt-
ed, that every one cominende d him. Afterwards he mount-
ed his horfe again, and mixed among the lords and gen-
tlemen who attended on the king ; when the queen call-
ng him, often afked him queftions, and turning herfclf
.owards Florida, who was her confident, faid to her foft-
', * What do you think of this young fpark? can
there be a more noble air, and more regular features ?
I muft confefs, I never in my life faw any thing
more lovely/ Florida's fentiments differed not from
her miftrefs's; fhe praifed him even to exaggeration.
Our knight could n jt forbear cafting his eyes often on
the king, who was not only a handfome prince, but in
all his ways was engaging ; and our female warrior,
though (lie had changed her habit, " had not renounced
her fex, but was fenfible of his merit. The king told
Fortunio after the review, that he was afraid the war
would be very bloody, therefore he was refolved always
to keep him nigh his own perfon. The queen dowager,
who was then by, faid, me was juft thinking that he
ought not to be expofed to the dangers of a long campaign,
and that as the place of the fteward of her houfhold was
vacant, fhe would give it to him. ' No, (faid the king)
' I will make him mafter of the horfe to myfeif/ Thus
they difputed who fhould prefer Fortunio; when the
queen, fearing left me mould too much betray the fecret
emotions of her heart, yielded to the king.
There was never a day paffedbut Fortunio called for
his turkey-leather trunk, and took a new drefs; by which
deans he appeared more magnificent than all the prin-
ces
THE STORY OF FORTUXIO. . 17
ces of the court : infomuch that thequeen afked him often
how his father could afford to be at fo vaft an expence?
Sometimes fhe bantered him, and faid, * Come, con-
* fefs truly, you have a miflrefs, who fupports you in.
* all this finery,' Upon which Fortunio would blufh,
andexcufe himfelfthe beft he could. He acquitted him-
felf admirably well in his poft, and his heart, Which was
fenfibleof a tendernefs for the king, attached hijn more
to his perfon than he wifhed to be. * What is my fate,
' (faid our knight) I love a great and powerful king,
* without any hopes of the like return, or thathefhould
1 have any regard for the pains I endure?' The king
* loaded him with his favours ; he thought nothing well
done, but what was done by the handfome knight, and
the queen, deceived by his habit, thought ferioufly of
marrying him ; but the inequality of their birth was the*
* only obftacle that flood in her way. Neither was fhe
the only perfon that was taken with the beautiful For-
tunio, all the fine ladies of the court iighed for him.
He was continually peftered with tender letters, appoint-
ments for rendezvoufes, prefents, and a thpufand other
gallantries; which he anfwered with all imaginable in-
difference, which made them fufpedt he had left a mif-
trefs behind him in his own country. At ail tourna-
ments he won the prize, and in hunting, or any other
fport, killed -more game than all the company befides,
and danced at all balls more gracefully than all the
courtiers; in fhort, he charmed all who faw or heard
him.
The queen, that fhe might not be obliged to declare
her fentiments to him herfelf, charged Florida, to let
him underfland, that fuch marks of bounty from a young
queen ought not to be fo carelefsly received. Florida,
who had not been able to avoid the fate of moft that
had feen this knight, was very much embarrafTed with
this commiffion ; he appeared too lovely in her eyes, for
her to think of preferring her miftrefs's intereft before
her own; infomuch that whenever the queen gave her
an opportunity of difcourfing with him, inflead of
fpeaking of the beauty an.t great qualifications of that
B princefs,
l8 THE STORY OF FORTUNIO.
princefs, fhc told him how ill-hunjoured fhe was, how
much her woman endured with her; how unjufl flic wus,
and the ill ufe fhe made of the great power ihe had
ufurped; and at laft, comparing fentiments, ftid,
* Though I was not born to be a queen, I ought to have
* been one, fince I have a great and generous foul, that
* induces me to do good to every body. O! (continued
' fhe) was I in that high flation, how happy would I
' mak'e the charming Fortunio! he mould love me out
' of gratitude, if he could not love me through inclina*
' tion.'
The young knight was entirely at a lofs, and knew
not what anfwer to make, but ever after carefully avoid-
ed having any private difcourfe with her; while the im-
patient queen never failed to afk Florida how far fhe
bad wrought on Fortunio, who faid to her, * He is, Ma-
' dam, fo timorous, that he will not believe any thing
* tha"t I tell him favourably from you, or pretends not
* to believe it, becaufe he is engaged in fome other paf-
* fion.' * I believe fo too, (faid the alarmed queen)
' but is it poffible his love mould hold out againft his
ambition?' ' And can you, Madam (replied Florida)
' bear the thoughts of owing his heart to your crown ?
' ought a princefs fo young and beautiful as you are,
' to haverecourfe to a diadem ?' ' Yes, to every thing,
* (cried the queen) when it is to fubdue a rebellious
* heart." By this Florida knew very well that it was
impoffible to cure her miftrefs of her paffion. The
queen waited everyday for fome happy effect from the
cares of her confident ; but the fmall progrefs fhe made
on Fortunio, obliged her to find out other ways to dif-
courfe with him. As fhe knew that he went early every
morning into a little wood, into which the windows of
her apartment looked; fhe arofe with the morning, and
looking out fhe perceived him walking in a carelefs
melancholy air, and calling Florida, faid to her, * What
' you told me appears but too true; Fortunio, without
' difpute, is in Jove with fome lady, either in this
' court, or in hispwn country: cbferve but the fadnefs
' which hangs on his face.* ' I have taken notice of it in
all
THE STORY OF FORTUNIO. *9
1 all the converfation I had with him (replied Florida)
4 therefore, Madam, it would be well if you could for-
' get him.' * It is now too late, (cried the queen,
' fetching a deep figh) but if he goes into that green
* arbour, we will go to him.' Florida durft in no wife
offer to oppofe the queen, though fhe had a great delirc
to it; for me was cruelly afraid fhe mould be loved by
Fortunio, knowing a rival of her rank to be always dan-
gerous. When the queen came within fome fmall dif-
tance of the arbour, fhe heard the knight, whofe voice
was very agreeable, ling thefe words:
In vulnjoft cafe, the love tofs'd heart furfues.
Evnin poffej/ion of the long fought joy,
We rob the bou.ntf.cus God of half his dues,
And future fears the frefent blifs deilroy.
Fortunio made thefe lines, with relation to the fett-
timent wherewith the young king had infpired her, the
favcfurs fhe had received from that prince, and the ap-
prehen lions fhe was under, left fhe fhould be known,
and be forced to leave a court, which' fhe chofe to live in
fooner than any other place in the world. The queen
who flopped to hear her, was in cruel uneaiinefs: * What
* am 1 going to attempt ? (faid fhe foftly 16 Florida)
* this young irvgrate defpifes the honour of pleating me,
4 thinks himfelf happy, feems content with hisconqueft,
* and facrifices me to another.' * He is now atthat age
* (anfwered Florida) when reafon has not fully eftablifh-
* ed itfelf. If 1 durft give your majefty advice, it
* fhould be to forget him, {ince he knows net how to va-
* lue his good fortune.' The queen, who would have
been better pleafed that her confident hod fpcke after
another manner, caft an angry eye upon her, and ad-
vancing forwards, went direclly into the arbour where
the knight was and pretended to be furprifed to find
him there, and to be vexed he fhould fee her in a difha-
bille, though at the fame time fhe had neglected nothing
that was rich and gallant. As foon as he law her, he
was for retiring, out of refpecl ; but fhe bid him ftay,
B 2 that
20 THE STORY OF FORTUNIO.
that {he might lean on him back again. * I was this
mornirg (faidfhe) agreeably awakened by the warb-
ling of the birds, and the Jrefhnefs of the air invited
me to come nigher to them. Ahs! how happy are
they! they know nought but pleafures, they know na
troubles.' I am of opinion, madam (replied Fortu-
nio) that they are not abfolutcly exempt from trou-
bles and difquiets! they are always in danger of the
murdering {hot and fnares of fportfmen, befides trat
of the birds of prey, which make a ciuel war upon
them; and then again, when a hard and fevere wi-
ter congeals the earth, and covers it with fnow, they
die for want of food, and are every year put to the
trouble of feeking out a new miftrefs.' ' Do you
think it then a trouble? (faid the queen fmiling)
there are men who do it every month. What (con-
tinued (he) you feem furpHfed, as if your heart was
not of thisftamp, and that you have not hitherto been
given to change.' ' I cannot yet tell Madam, (faid he)
what I may be capable of, fince I was never feniib'e
of love; but I dare believe, if I mould be, my paffion
would be lading.* * You have never been in love !
(cried the queen, looking fo earneft at him, that the
poor knight blufhed) you have not been in love? O
Fortunio ! how can you tell a queen fo ? who reads, in
your face and eyes, the paffion that poflefies your
heart, and which your own words, which you fun g to
a new fafhioned tune, have informed me of.' * In-
deed, Madam (anfwered the knight) the lines were
made, but I made them without any particular defign ;
for my companions and acquaintances engage me to
make drinking catches, (though I drink naught but
water) and tender paflicnate fongs; fo that 1 fing
both love and bacchus, though I am neither a lover
nor a drinker.'
The queen liftened to him with that concern, that
{he could hardly contain herfelf. What he faid, re-
kindled in her heart the hope Florida would have ba-
niftied: ' If I could think you fincere, (faid ihe) I mould
have reafon to be furprifed, that you have net found
' in
THE STORY OF FORTUNIO. 21
* in this court a lady amiable enough to fix your choice.'
' Madam (replied Fortunio) I have fo much to do in
* the office I am in, 1 have no time to throw away in
* fighing.' Then you love nothing?' (added me with
' eagernefs.) ' No, Madam (faid he) I have not a
' heart of fo gallant a character; I am a kind of mifan-
* thropift, that loves my liberty, and would not lofe it
4 for all the world.' The queen fat herfelf down, and
fixing her eyes moft obligingly on him, replied, * There
* are fome chains fo eafy and glorious to bear, that if
' fortune has deftined any fuch for you, 1 would ad-
1 vife you to renounce your liberty.' In this difcourfe
her eyes explained her thoughts but two intelligibly for
our knight, whofe iufpicions were too great before not
to be confirmed in them; and fearing left the conver-
(ation fhould go too far/he pulled out a watch, and fet-
ting the hand forward, faid, I beg of your majefty
to give me leave to go to the palace, it is the king's
time of riling, and he ordered me to be at his levee.*
Go, indifferent youth, (faid (he, fetching a deep figh)
you are in the right to pay court to my brother ; but
remember it would not be amifs to let me have fome
(hare of your devoirs.' The queen followed him with
her eyes; then lowering them, and reflecting on what
had pa (Ted, blufhed with fhaine and rage; and what
troubled her moft, was, Florida's being a witncfs, and
the joyful air that appeared all over her countenance,
which was as much as to fay, (he had better have taken
her advice, tltffa fpoke to Fortunio,
Florida adled her part very well with the queen, and
comforted her the beft fhc could, giving her fome flatter-
ing hopes, of which at that time fhe ft cod in great need.
* Fortunio, Madam, (faid fhe) thinks himfelf fo much
* beneath you, that perhaps he did not underftand what
* you meant, and I think he has affured you he loves
* noperfon.' As it is natural for us to flatter ourfelves,
the queen recovered fomewhat out of her fears, not dream-
ing in the leaft that the malicious Florida was engaging
her to declare herfelf more plainly, that he might offend
her the more by the indifference of his anfwers. The
3 $ knight
22 THE STORY OF FCRTUNIO.
knight, for his part, was in the utraofi confufion, the
iituaticTi he was in feemed cruel, and he would have
made no difficulty to have left the court, had not the
fatal ftroke, wherewith the little god had wounded his
hesrt, chained him in fpiteof himfelf. He never came
near the queen but on drawing-room nights, and then
with the king; and as foon as (he perceived this new
change in his behaviour, (he gave him often the moft
favourable opportunities to make his court to her, which
he 33 often neglecled; when one day, as (he was going
down fome fteps into the gardens, fhe faw him eroding
a large alley, and making towards the woods. Upon
which, calling to him, he, left fhe fhould be difpleafed,
came to her and preteued that he did not fee her.
* You remember knight (faid fhe) the converfation we
4 had fome time fince in the green arbour.' 'lam not,
' Madam, (anfwered he) capable of forgetting that
1 honour.* * Then, without doubt, (faid fhe) the
* queftions I put to you were not very pleating; for
* fince that day, 'you would not let it be in my power
* to afk you any more.' * As chance alone, (anfwered
' he) procured me that favour, I thought it would be
' too great boldnefa to pretend to any other.' Say
4 rather ungrateful man, (continued fhe blufhing) you
' have avoided my prefence: you know my fentiments
' but too well * Fortunio, through raodefty and con-
fufion, lowered his eyes, and as he did not make a quick
reply, * You are very much confounded, (fsid fhe) go,
feek not for an anfwer, I underftand you better than
* I would/ Sh? had, perhaps, faid a great deal more,
but that fhe perceived the king coming that way ; where-
upon fhe made towards him, feeing him penlive and
melancholy, conjured him to tell her the reafon, * You
4 know, (faid the king) that I have received advice
* this month of a dragon of a prodigious fize, that ra-
* vages the wholecountry. I thought he might be killed,
' and to that end ga ve r: ere iTary orders ; but all that has
* been tried has proved in vain. He devours my fub-
* jecls and their flecks, and all that comes nigh him ; he
* poifons all the rive/s and lakes he drinks at, and
* wherever
THE STORY OF FORTUNIO. 23
* wherever he lies, withers all the grafs and herbs about
him.'
While the king was making this complaint, the en-
raged queen was thinking how (he might facrifice the
knight to her refentment. * I am not unacquainted with
* the ill news you have received^ Fortunio, whom you
' faw with me, informed me. thereof; but, brother,
* you will be furprifed nt what I have to tell you; he has
* begged of me with the greatelt importunity, to afk
* your leave to let Jiirn go to fight this terrible dragon ;
* indeed he has a wonderful addrefs and handles his
* arms .fo well, that I am not fo much amazed at his
* prefiiming fo much of himfelf; betides, he has told
* me he has a fecret, by which he can lay the moft wake-
1 ful dragon afleep: but that muft not be mentioned,
* bscaufe it (hews not fo much courage in the action.*
* Be it how it will, (replied the king) it will be glo-
4 riou3 for him, and of great fervice to us, if ,he mould
* fucceed ; but I am afraid this proceeds from an in-
* difcreet zeal, and that it fhould coft him his life.*
* No, brother (added the queen) fear not, he has told
4 me very furprifing things on this j abject. You know
4 he is naturally very fevere; and befides, what honour
4 can he hope to gain by throwing away his life rafhly?
4 In fhort, (continued me) 1 have promifed to obtain
4 for him what he fo earneftly defires, and if you refui'e
* him, you will break his heart.' * I confent (faid the
4 king) yet I muft own, not very freely : however, let us
4 call him ' And thereupon making a (ign for him to
come to him, faid to him in an obliging manner, * lun-
4 derftand by the queen, you have a great defire to fis^ht
4 the dragon, that preys fo much on our country ; which
' is fo bold a refolution, that I can fcarcely belive you
4 know the danger you run/ * I have reprefented that
* already to him, (anfwered the queen) but his zeal for
4 your fervice, and his defire to fignalize himfelf, are fo
* great, that nothing can difluade him from it; and
4 therefore I forefee fome happy fuccefs will attend him.'
Fortunio was very much furprifed to hear the kin^
and queen talk after this manner, and had too much
B 4 fenfe
24 THE STORY OF FORTUNIO.
fenfe not to penetrate into the ill defies of that prin-
ceTs; but his fweetnefs of temper would not fuflfer him
to explain hirafelf. So, without returning any anfwer,
he let her talk on, while he made low bows ; which the
king took for fo many new entreaties to grant what he
fo much defired. ' Go, (fa id the king, fighing) go
* where honour calls ; I know you do every thing fo well,
' and in particular have fo much courage and conduct,
4 that this monfter will not be able to efcapeyour arms.'
' Sir, (anfwered the knight) however fortune decides
' the fuht, 1 fhail be fatisned: Cnce I fhall either deli-
* ver you from a terrible fcourge, or die in your fervice :
4 But honour me with one favour, which will be infinitely
* dear to me.' Afk what you will have,' (faid the
* king.) ' Then let me be fo bold (continued he) as to
' beg ycur picture.' The king was mightily plesfed,
that he mould think of his picture at a time when his
thoughts might have been employed on fo many other
important things, and the queen was chagrined anew,
that he had not made the fame requeft to her. The king
returned to his palace, and the queen to hers, and For-
tunio, who was not a little embarrafiVd on his word which
he had given, went to his horfe: * Comrade (faid he)
* I have ftrange news to tell your.' * I know it, Sir,
already,* (replied the horfe) What {hall we then do?'
(aflced Fortunio) ' We muft go as fx>n as poflible;
* (anfwered the horfe) get tre king's ccmmiflion, where-
by he orders you to fight the dragon, and afterwards
* we will do our duty.' Thefe words were very com-
fortable to. our young knight, who failed not to wait on
the king early the next morning in a campaining habit,
as handfome and gallant as any of his other.
As foon as the king faw him, he cried out, ' What,
* are you ready to go ?' * Yes, Sir, (replied he) ore
' cannot make too much hafte to execute your com-
' mands ; therefore 1 am come to take my leave of you.*
The king could not but relent, feeing fo young, fo beau-
tiful, and fo sccomplilhed a knight, then going to ex-
pofe himfelf to the greateft danger, man could ever en-
counter ; he embraced him, and gave him his picture let in
diamonds,
THE STORY of FoftTijNfo; 25
diamonds, which Fortunio received with extraordinary
joy; for the king's great qualities had fuch an effedlupon
him, that he could not think any fo lovely as him; and
if he had any reiuclancy to go, it proceeded more
from being deprived of his prefence, than his fear of
being devoured by the dragon. The king would have
a general order included in Fortunio's commiflion, for
all his jubjecls to aid and affift him, whenever he fhould
ftand in need. Afterwards he took his leave of the king,
and that nothing might be remarked in his behaviour,
went alfo to the queen, who was fet at her toilet, fur-
rounded by a great number of ladies. She changed co-
lour, as foon as ever (he faw him, fo much had fhe to
reproach herfelf withal ; he fainted her refpedtfully, and
afked her if fhe would honour him with her commands,
fince he was juft then going. Thefe laft words put
her into the utmoft corifternation, while Florida, who
knew not what the queen had plotted againft the knight,
remained like one thunder- ftruck, and would willingly
have had fome private difcourfe with him, but that he
avoided it as much as poilible: * I befeech Heaven (faid
* the queen) that you may conquer, and return in
' triumph.' Madam, (replied the knight) your ma
* jefty honours me too much, and lam fenfibie, knows
* very well the danger to which I fhall be expofed; yet
' I have a great deal of confidence, and perhaps am the
' only perfon that entertains any hopes on thiscccafion.*
The queen underftocd very well what he meant, and,
without difpute, had returned him fome anfwer to this
reproach, had there not been fo many witnefles prefent.
The king afterwards went a way, and he ordered his fc-
ven notable domefticsto takehorfe, and follow him, be-
caufe the time was then come to make proof of what they
could do. They all expreffed their joy to ferve him ;
and got every thing done in lefs than an hour's time, and
went along with him, affuring him, that they would neg-
lect nothing they could do to ferve him ; and when they
were out in the country, fhewed their addrefs, Trin-
quet drank up the lake and ponds, and catched delicate
fiih for his matter's dinner : Lightfoot hunted down ve-
B 5 nifon
20 THE STORY or FORTUNIC.
nifen, and catched hares by the ears ; and for tr:e good
Markfraan, he neither gave partridge nor pheafant any
quarter; and whatever came they killed, Strongback
carried it. By this means Fortunio had no oceafion to
draw his purfe-ftrings all his journey, and might have
had very good diverfion, if his thoughts had been lefs
employed on thofe he left behind him. The king's me-
rit was always in his mind, and the queen's malice ap-
peared fo great, that he could not but deteft her. Thus
he travelled all the way very thoughtful, till he was
roufed from hismufings by the fhrieks of poor peafsnts
half devoured by the dragon. Some that had eicapcd,
he faw flying as faft as they could, who would not ftop
nor ft ay, which obliged him to ride after them to get in-
telligence. After he had talked with them, and learnt
that the dragon was not far off, he afked them how
they fecured themfelves from him. To which they
anfwered, * That as water was veryicarcein that coun-
' try, that they had none but what thev preferred when it
* rained in ponds; at which the dragon, when he went
' his rounds came to drink, making a terrible noife and
* roaring, which might be heard a league off; that every
* body hid themfelves, and fhut their doors and windows.'
The knight went into an inn, not fo much to refthim-
fe]f, as to advife with his horfe; When every one was
retired and gone to reft, he went into the ftable, and
faid, * Comrade, how (hall we conquer this dragon ?'
To which the horfe replied, * Sir, I will dream to night,
* and give you an scccunt in the morning; when he came
again, he faid, * let FineJFear.liften whether the dra-
' gen is nigh at hand, or not.' . Fine-Ear laid himfelf
on the ground, and heard the dragon about feven leagues
off. When the horfe was informed of this, he faid to
Fortunio, * Bid Trinquit go and drink up all tie water
* out of a large pond, and Strongback carry wine enough
* to fill it: 1 then let there be dried raifms prepared,
' and ialted meats fet by it : afterwards order all the
' inhabitants to keep their houfes, and likewife do you
* and your attendants the fame; the dragon will not
* fail to eat and drink, he will like the wine, and you
will .
THE STORY OF FORTUNIO. 27
* will fee what will happen.' No fooner had the horfe
thus appointed what was to be done, but every one did
what he was ordered : the knight went to a houfe, whence
he might fee the pond; and was no fconer within the
doors but the dragon came and drank a little : afterwards
he eat fome of that repaft prepared for him; and then
drank fo much, that he was quite drunk, infomuch that
he could not ftir. He was laid on one (ide, with his
head hanging down, and his eyesfhut. When Fortunio
iaw him in this condition, he thought proper to lofe no
time, but went out with his fword in his hand, and at-
tacked him. The dragon rinding himfelf wounded on
all fides, would have got up, and fallen upon the knight,
who overjoyed that he had i educed him to this extremity,
called his attendants to bind thismonfter, that the king
might have the honour and pleafure of putting an end to
his life, and that being fo bound, he might be carried
without danger, to the capital city.
Fortunio marched at the head of his little troop, and
when he was within fome few hours march of the palace,
he fent Lightfoot to acquaint the king with the good news
of his fuccefs ; which feemed almoft incredible, till the
monfler appeared bound faft upon a machine for that
purpofe. The king went to Fortunio, embraced him,
and faid, * The Gods have referved this victory for you.
* J am not fenfible of half fo much joy to fee this mon-
1 flcr in this condition, as to fee my dear knight again.'
' Sir (replied he) your majefty yourfelf may give him
' thelaft blow, I brought him hither on purpofe that he
* might receive it at your hand.' At that the king drew
his fword, and killed this his moft cruel enemy, while all
the people gave fhouts and acclemations of joy at fuccefs
little expecled. Florida, who during his abfence, had
not enjoyed many quiet hours, was not long before (he
was informed of her charming knight's return, and ran
to tell the queen; who was fo much furprifcd and con-
founded through love and hatred, that me could return
noanfwer to what her favourite told her, but reproached
herfelf a thoufand times for the ill turn fhe had played,
him; but then again would have been better pleafed to
B6 have/.
28 THE STORY OF FORTUNIO.
have heard of his death, than to fee him fo indifferent:
infomuch that fhe knew not whether (he fhould be vexed
or pleafed at his return to court, where his prefence
might difturb her repofe. The king, impatient to tell
her the happy fuccefs of fo extraordinary an adventure,
went into her chamber, leaning on the knight. * Here
' is the man (faid he) that has vanquifhed the dragon,
' and has done me the greateft fervice I could defire
' from the moft faithful fubjcct. It was to you madam,
* that he firft fpoke of his defire to fight that monfter,
' and I hope you will refpcct him for the danger to
* which he expofed himfelF/ The queen compofing
her countenance, honoured Fortunio with a gracious re-
ception, and a thoufand praifes, found him much more
lovely than when he went away, and gave him to under-
fland how much her heart was wounded, by looking fo
earneftiy at him.
But not fatisfied with explaining her fentiments by
her eyes, one day as fhe was hunting with the king,
fhe pretended to be out of order, that (he could not fol-
Jow the dogs: and turning herfelf towards the young
knight, who was juft by her, faid to him, * You will do
* me the pleafure to ftay with me, for I have a mind
' to alight, and reft myfelf a little.' Then bidding
thofe who attended on her to go forwards, (lie and For-
tunio alighted, and ftt down by a brook-fide, where fhe
remained forfome time in a profound (ilence, thinking
on what fhe mould fay. Afterwards lifting up her eyes,
and fixing them on the knight, fhe faid, * As good in-
* tent ions do "not always fhew themfelves, I am afraid
1 you have not penetrated into the motives that engaged
* me to prejs the king to fend you to fight the dragon.
I was aflured by a fore knowledge, that never deceives
* me, that you would behave yourfejf with bravery, of
' which your enemies fpoke very indifferently, becaufe
' you went not to the army, that you lay under a ne-
* ceffity of performing fome fuch illuftrious action
* as this to ftop their mouths. I fhould have acquainted
' you (continued fhe) with what they faid on this fub-
4 je&, or ought to have done it, but that I was perfuad-
ed
THE STORY OF FORTUNIO. 2-9-
* ed your refentment would be attended with fome
fatal confequences, and that it would be better to
* filence your enemies by your intrepidity in danger,
* than by an authority that would (hew more cf the
* favourite than the foidier.' * The diftance between
* us is fo great, madam (replied he modeftly) that I am
' not worthy of this explanation, nor the care you took
* to hazard my life for the fake of my honour. Heaven
4 has protected me more than my enemies wifhed for,
* and I (hall efteem myfelf always happy to venture for
* the king, and your fervice, a life which is more indif-
* ferent to me than fome people imagine.'
"Thisrefpeftful reproach embarraffed the queen, who
underftood very well what 'he meant; but ihe thought
him too amiable to exafperate him by toofevere a reply.
On the contrary me pretended to be of his opinion ; and
told him again, how glorioufly he had flain the dragon.
Fortunio had been fo cautious, to let no perfcn know that
it was owing to the afliftanceoi hid retinue, but boafted
of his meeting that terrible enemy barefaced, and that
the victory was gained entirely by his courage. In the
mean time the queen, who thought not fo much on what
he was telling her, interrupted him, to afk him if he was
fatisfied how much me was interrefted in hisfafety ; and
that converfation had been carried farther, but he faid,
* Madam, the king is coming this way, I hear the horn,
' and will not your majefly be pleafed to mount again?*
* No (faid me, with an air of rage) i-t is enough that
* you go.' ' The king, madam (replied he) will blame
* me for leaving you alone, in a place expofed to fo
* many dangers.' * I difpenfe with this your care
* (added (he in a haughty tone) Go, your prefence is
' troublefome.' At that the knight made a low bow,
mounted his horfe, and rid out of fight, very much con-
cerned at the confequences that might attend this new '
refentment. Upon this he confulted his horfe: * Tell
* me, Comrade (faid he) whether this love-fick paflion-
' ate queen will find out another monfter for me ?*
* No other befide herfelf (replied the horfe) but fhe is
4 ftill more dangerous than the dragon you have killed,
and
30 THE STORY OF FORTLNIO.
and will exercife both your patience and virtue fuffi-
4 ciently.' * Will (he make me lofe the king's favour
(faid he) for that is all I 'am afraid of.' * I cannot
4 tell what will happen in relation to that (faid Com-
* rade) it is enough that I am always upon the watch/
There was no more faid then becaufe the king appeared,
:.nd Fortunio went to him, and told him the queen was
indifpofed, and had ordered him to flay with her, * I
* think (faid the king fmiling) you are very much in
' her favour, and declare your mind more freely to her
* than to me : I have not yet forgot your requeft, to
4 her to procure you leave to fight the dragon.' * Sir,
4 (anfwered the knight') J dare not pretend to clear rayfel f
from what you alledge againfl me: But I can affure
* your majefty, I look upon your favour and the queen's
' with a great deal of difference; and was a fubject al-
* lowed to make his fovereign his confidant, I fhould
4 do myfelf an infinite pleafure to declare to you the
' fentiments of my heart.' Here the king interrupted
him, to afk where he had left the queen, who all the
time of their difcourfe was complaining to Florida of
Fortunio's indifference. * The fight of him (cried fhe)
4 is .hateful to me: either he or 1 muft leave the court,
4 for I cannot bear that fuch an ungrateful wretch fhould
4 fhew me fo much difdain; what man would not think
4 himfelf happy to pleafe fo powerful a queen? He is
* the only perfon whom the Gcds have reierved to dii-
turb the rcpofe of my life.' Florida was in no wife
* difpleafed to fee her miftrefs fo chagrined, but inflead
of appeafing her, rather aggravated her, by recaPing to
her remembrance a thoufand circum fiances, which fhe
perhaps would not have taken notice of: which increafed
her rage, and made her think on a new project to ruin,
the poor knight.
When the king came to her, he exprefTed his concern
for her health; to which fhe faid, ' I muft own I was
* very ill, but one cannot be long fo, when Fortunio's
* by, he is fo merry, and his jefts are fo diverting: but
' you mud know, (continued fhe) he has defired me to
* afk another favour of your majefly. He infifts, with
the
STORY OF FORTUKIO. 31
1 the utmofl: confidence, that he (hall fucceed in one o
* the moft raih enterprizes imaginable.' * W T hat
* (cried the king) would he fight with fome new dra-
* gon ?' * With a great many at once (ftid Ihe) and
* makes as if he was fure to conquer. I will tell you;
* in lliort, he boafts to make the emperor reftore us to
* all our treafures, and to do it without an army/
4 What a pity is this (replied the king) that this poor
4 boy mould be guilty of fo much extravegaijce?' * His
4 viclory over the dragon (added the queen) has puffed
4 him up; and what do you hazard, in giving him
* leave to expofe himfelf again for your fervice?' 4 I
4 hazard his life, which is dear to me (replied the king)
4 I Ihould be very forry to be the occafion of his death/
To this the queen anfwered, that his deiire was fo great,
that if he refufed, he would languifh and die away.
The king upon this, looked very melancholy, and faid,
4 I cannot imagine who it is that fills his head with thefe
' chimeras; it is unknoxvn what I endure to fee him in'
4 this condition/ * Why the matter is (replied the
4 queen) he has fought a dragon, and been victorious,
1 perhaps he may fucceed as well in this; I have often
4 a very juft forefight, and my mind now tells me, that
4 this undertaking will not be unfortunate; therefore,
4 brother, oppofe not his zeal/ Let him be called
4 then, (faid the king) and his dangers be represented
" to him/ * That' is the way to make him defpair,
4 (replied the queen) he will believe you are againft his
4 . going; and I allure you he is not to be detained by
* any consideration that regards himfelf ; for I faid all
4 that can be thought on that. fubjecV 4 Well (cried
4 the king) I confent/ Upon this, the queen was over-
joyed, and called Fortunio in : * Go, knight (faid fhe)
4 and thank the king; he has granted the leave you fo
4 much delired, to go to the emperor Ma ta pa, and make
4 him, by fare means or force, reftore our treafures:
4 make the fame difpatch, as when you. went to fight
* the dragon/
Fortunio at firft was furprifed, but was foon fenlible
that this proceeded from thoqueen's rage; however he
felt
g2 THE STORY OF FORTUNIO.
felt a fecret pleafure, in being able to lay down bis life
fora prince that was fo dear to him : and ' without ex-
cufing himfelf from fuch an extraordinary coismiflion,
kneeled on one knee and kilTed the king's hand, whofe
heart at that inftant relented. The queen felt an in-
ward fhame, to fee with what rcfpecl he behaved himfelf,
though fent to meet a certain death. * Would to hea-
* ven (faid (he to herfelf) he had any regard for me;
* how noble it is not to contradict what I h? ve advanced,
* but rather to bear the ill turn I have d.ne him, than
' complain !' The king faid little to the knight, but
mounted his horfe again ; and the queen pretended all
that time tc be ill went into her cbaife. Fortunio ac-
companied them to the end of the foreft, and afterwards
returned back to have fome difcourfe with his horfe :
* My faithful Comrade (faid he) 'tis done, J rmift die,
* the queen ha<? compleated that which I never expected
* from her. 1 ' My lovely matter (replied the horfe)
* fiieht not ycurfelf, though I have not. been prefent at
* what is pafled, I know all; the ebobafly is not fo ter-
* rible as you imagine/ * You do not know (contin-
* ued thekr.i?ht) that this emperor i$ the moft paffion-
* ate of all men ; and that it I propofe that he reftore
' what he has taken from the king my mafter, he will
' return me no other anfwer, than order a ftone to be
* tied about my neck, that I may be thrown into a river.*
' I am not uninformed of his violence; (faid Comrade)
' but that does not hinder you from taking your people
4 along with you, and if we perim, it fhall be one and
4 all ; but I hope for better fuccefs/
The knight returned home fomewhat comforted, where
he gave the neceflary orders, and afterwards went to re-
ceive his credentials. * Tell the emperor (faid the
4 king) that I remand back all my fubjecb he has in
' ilavery, all my foldiers- that are prifoners, all my
* horfes and other goods and treafure.' * What
* muft I offer him for all this?' (faid Foitunio.) ' No-
' thing (anfwered the king) but my friendfhip.* The
young ambafTador had no occafion for a great memory
to keep thefe inftru&ions in his mind ; He went without
feeing
THE STORY OF FORTUNIO. 33
feeing the queen, at which fhe was very angry: but he
had no reafon to regard that; for what could fhe do
more in the height of her rage, than what fhe had ac-
complifhed in the greateft transport of friendfhip? and
a tendernefs of this kind was to him the moft formida-
ble thing in the world. Nay, her confidant, who knew
the whole fecret, wns enraged againft her miftrefs, for
ftriving to facrifice the flower of all knighthood. For-
tunio took whatever was necefTary for his journey out of
his turkey-leather trunk, and was not content to cloath
himfelf magnificently, but his feven fervants alfo : and
as they had all excellent horfes, and Comrade feemed
rather to fly than run, they arrived foon at the em-
peror's capital, which was noways inferior to any city
of Europe.
Fortunio was very much furprifed to fee a town of fuch
a large extent. He demanded an audience of the em-
peror, and had it granted: but when he declared, the
i'ubjecl: of his embafiy, though it was with a grace that
gave force to his arguments, the emperor could not help
(railing. * Were you at the head of five hundred thou-
fand men, (faidhe) one might hearken to you; where-
* as, I am told you have only feven/ 4 I never under*
1 took, Sir (fa H Fortunio) to compel you by force of
arms, but only by feme rcmonftrances.' * Whatever
* thofe be (added the emperor) you fhall rtever bring
* them to bear, unlefs you will do a thing that is juft
1 now come into my head, that is, to find a man that
' can eat for his breakfaft as much hot bread as ferves
* this city for a whole day.' The knight, at this propo-
fition, feemed overjoyed, and as he. fpoke not presently,
the emperor burft out into a laughter. * Sir (faidFor-
4 tunio) I accept of your propc fit ion, and will bring to*
1 morrow a man, who mall not only eat all the new
* bread, but alfo the flale ; order it to be brought out,
* and you fhall have the pleafure of feeing him lick up
* the very crumbs.' The emperor faid he confented ;
and all the difcourfe of that diy ran upon the folly of this
ambafTador, whom Matapa fwore he would put to death,
if he was not as good as his word. When he returned
back
34 THE STORY 01 FORTUKIO.
back to the houfe where ambDiTndors were lodged, he
called Grueeon, and told him what had patted between
him and the emperor. ' Never be uneafy msfter (f?.id
' Grugeon) I will eat till ihey be tired firft.' However,
notwithftanding this afTurance of Gru^ion's, Fortur.io
could not help being under fome apprehenlions, but
foibid him from eating any fupper, that he might eat
his breakfaftthe better.
A belcony was raifed on purpofe for the emperor,
and his confort and daughter, to fee this light. Fortu-
nio came with his little train ; and when be law fix great
mountains of bread, he turned pale; which had a quite
contrary effect upon Giugeon, he being pleafed there-
with. The emperor laughed and jefkd with all his
court at the knight and his retinue's extravagant under-
taking, while Grugeon was impatient for the fignal.
At laft it was made by the founding tf truir-pets, and
beat of drum, and Grugecn fell upon one of the heaps,
and devoured it in lefs than a quarter of zn hour, and
after that all the reft. Never was greater aftonifbment !
every \ dy thought it was :\ piece of v.rrVrn.ft, c,r thn
their eyeS deceived them : which made them go to the
place xvhere the bread was piled up to be fatisfied. ' For-
tunio, who was infinitely well piealed with his gogd fuc-
cefs, went to the emperor and afked him if he would be
as good as his word, to which the ernperor, enraged to
be thus over-reached, replied, that it was too much to eat
without drinking; therefore he, or fome of his train,
rnuft drink all the water in the aquedudls and fountains
that were in that city, and all the wine in its cellars.
Sir, (faid Fortunio) you will put it out of my power
to obey your commands; however, 1 will try, if I may
flatter myfelf that you will reftore to my mafter what
I have demanded.' * It fhall be done, (faid the em-
peror) if you fucceed in your undertaking.' The
knight afked the emperor, if he himfelf would be pre-
fent ; he anfwered, yes, he would, becaufe fo rare an
action deferved his curiofity: and getting that inftant
into his chariot, carried him to a fountain oi feven mar-
ble lions, which vomited up as much water as formed a
large
THE STORY OF FORTUNIO. 35
large river. Trinquit made up to the bafon, and with-
out fo much as ever fetching his breath, drank it up, and
left the fifties in the mud andfancT. In like manner he
did by all the aquedudls and ponds belonging to the city.
After this experiment, the emperor never doubted but
he would drink the wine as well as the water : fo that he,
as well as the owners, had no inclination to try him :
but Trinquit complained highly of that injuftice, alleg-
ing that he had as much right to the wine as the water;
infomuch that the emperor, that he might not be thought
altogether covetous, confentcd to his defires. After that
Fortunio, taking his opportunity, put him. in mind of
Mspromife; which he being unwilling to perform put
him out of humour. He called his council, and told
them how much he was concerned, that he had promif*
ed this young ambaffador to return what he had taken
from his matter; but withal, he thought the conditions
he agreed on were impracticable : therefore he afiembled
them, to know how he might avoid what was fo much
againft his intereft and inclination. The princefshis
daughter, who was a very beautiful princefs, having
heard how much he was embarraffed, came to him, and
faid, * Sir, as you know that none that ever ran with
* me, could ever boaft of the viclory, if you think pio-
4 per I will contend with him, and if he reaches firft the
* goal, you promife not to elude the \vo:dyou have
* given.'
The emperor embraced his daughter, approved of
her propofal, and the next day, when Fortunio came to
an audience, faid to him, * I have one thing more to
' inform you of, which is, that if you, or any of your at-
1 tendants will run againft the princes, I fwear by ail
* the elements, .that if you or he gain the race, 1 will
* give your mafter all manner of fatisfaclion. Fortunio
accepted the challenge, and Matapa appointed the time
to be within two hours, and accordingly lent to his daugh-
ter, to bid her prepare herfelf againft that time for the
exercife, which was what fhe had been ufed to from her
cradle. She appeared at the time in a long walk of
orange-trees above three miles lonj, which was fo care-
fully
36 THE STORY OF FORTUNIO.
fully rolled and managed, that there was not a ftone fo
big as a pea to be feen. She was drefled in a light gown
of rofe- coloured taffety, embroidered in the feams with
gold and filver; her hair, which was very fine, was tied
behind her with a ribbon, and fell carelefsly on her
(boulders; her (hoes were made like pumps, without
heels; fhe had on a girdle of jewels, to fhevv her fhspe,
which was delicate: in fhort (he thus appeared like ano-
ther Atalanta. Soon after Fortunio followed, attended
by Lighfoot and his other domeftics. The emperor and
the whole court, were prefent, and feated along the
walk, when the ambaflador propofed Lightfoot to have
the honour to run with the princefs. He was furniftied
out of the miraculous trunk, with a fine white Holland
habit, adorned with Flanders lace, tilk ftockings of a
fire-colour, with a white plume of feathers in his cap. In
this drefs he appeared to have a good mien, but the
princefs made no exceptions againft him ; but before fhe
let out, (he had liquor brought, to make her more fwift
and ftrong. Our racer demanded the fame; the prin-
cefs faid, that it was too juft a requeft to be reiufed,
and ordered that he might have fome; but as he xvas
not ufeH to that liquor, which was very ftrong, it got
into his head, and he lay down by an orange-tree, and
fell fafUfleep. In the mean time the (ignal was given,
and was repeated three times. The princefs waited
fometime that lightfoot might awake and come to him-
felf j but thinking it a matter of great confequence to
free her father from his promife, (he fet out with a
charming grace and wonderful fwiftnefs.
Fortunio was at the other end of the walk, and knew
nothing of what had happened, when he (aw the prineefs
running by herfelf and within half a mile of the goal.
* O ye powers! (cried he, fpeaking to his horfe) we arc
undone, I fee nothing of Lightfoot.' Sir (faid Com-
* rade) let Fine ear liften, he perhaps may inform you
' whereabouts he is.' Thereupon Fine-ear laid himfelf
down, and though he was three miles off, heard him fnore ;
whereupon he faid to them, he had no thoughts of coming,
for that he was in as found a fleep as if he was in his bed.
Alas!
THE STORY OF FORTUNIO. 37
* Alas! (cried Fortunio again) v.hat fhall we do?' * O!
* (fa id Comrade) let the good Markfman let fly an
* arrow in the tip of his ear, to awake him.' At that
he took his bow immediately, and hit him fo nicely,
that the arrow went quire through his ear ; the pain and
anguifh of which awakened him, and when he opened his
eyes, he faw the princefs almoft at the soal, and heard
'great fhouts and acclamations of joy. At firft he was
furprifed, but he loon recovered wh?.t he had loft by
fleeping: he fleemed as if he rnd been carried by the
wind, and in fhort arrived firft at the goal, wi^ the
arrow in his ear; for he had not time to pull it out.
The emperor was fo much amazed at the extraordinary
things that had happened fincethe arrival of the ambai-
fador, that he believed the gods interrefted themfelves in
his behalf, and that be could no longer defer the per-
formance of his promife. He ordered the ambaflador
to come to him, and laid, * I confent that you take
along with you as much or" your mafter's treafures as
one man c?.n carry ; for I will never part with any more.'
The ambaflador made a low bow, and thanked his ma-
jefty, and defired him to give orders that they might be
delivered to him. Matapa -accordingly fpoke to his trea-
furer, and afterwards went to his palace of retreat, with-
in fome few miles of the city. Fortunio and his attend-
ants went immediately and demanded entrance to ths
place where ail the treafure was kept. Strongback pre-
fented himfelf, and by his affiftance the ambaflador
carried off mod of the furniture that was in the emperor's
palace; as five hundred gigantic ftatues of gold, coaches
and chariots, and all manner of conveniences; and with
thefe Strong back walked as nimbly as if he had not
above a pound weight on his back.
When the minifters of ftate faw the palace thus gutted,
they made all the hafte imaginable to acquaint the em-
peror; whofe amazement was not to be exprefTed, when
they told him that one man carried all: he cried out h.e
would not allow it ; and immediately ordered his guards
to mount, and to purfue thofe robbers of his treafury.
And though Fortunio was then above ten miles off,
Fine-ear
g8 THE STORY or FORTUNIO.
Fine ear told him, that he heard a great body of horfe
coming after them with full fpeed : and the good Markf-
man. whufe fight was excellent, faw them, juft as they
themfelves came to the river-fide. Fortunio faid to
Trinquit, ' As \ve have no boats, you muft drink up
4 this water, that we may pafs it.' Which Trinquit
readily performed ; and Fortunio was for making all
poffible hafteto get away, when his horfe bid him not be
uneafy, but let the enemy approach. Soon after, they
appeared on the banks of the river, and knowing where
the fifhermen's boats lay, embarked immediately.
When the Boifterer began to fwell his cheeks, and with a
fudden blaft over-fet the boats, fo that not ont of that
detachment efcaped. This happy fuccefs puffed them
up with fo great expectation, that every one began to
think of the recompence he deferved, and were for mak-
ing themfelves matters of all the riches they were carry-
ing with them; whereupon a great difpute arofe among
them : Lightfoot faid, * They had got nothing if he had
* not won the race. * Well (faid Fine- ear) if I had
' not heard you fnore, where had you been then?'
* And who would ha ve a WD ken *d you, if I had not?' (add-
* ed the Markfman) * Well (faid Strong-back) I can-
* not but admire you for your difputes : fure none dare
* pretend to lay fo good a claim as myfelf, fince I car-
4 ried all, and without my affiftance, you would not
* have been able to have partaken of them.' * Say ra-
* ther without mine (interrupted Trinquit) fince you
* were in a bad plight, if I had not drank your way.'
* Nay, and you were equally in the fame danger (faid
* the Boifterer) had I not overfet the boats,' ' Hither-
* to (interrupted Gnrgeon) I have held my peace, but
* I cannot forbear reprefenting to you, that I opened
1 the fccne to all thefe events; for if I had left one cruft
* of bread, all had been i_ft.'
Friends (faid Fortunio, with an air of command)
' you have all done wonders ; but we ought to leave it
* to the king to recompenfe our fervices ; for I mould
* be forry to be rewarded by any other befides him.
* Let us all truft to his generofity, he fent us to fetch
t> his
THE STORY OF FORTUNIO. 39
his riches, and not to rob him of them ; which thought
is fo (ha'.neful, that in my opinion it ought to he
' fmotheted: for. my own part, I will do fo well by you,
that you mill have no reafon to repine, mould it be
poffible for the king to neglect you.'
The feven gifted men penetrated with this remon-
ftranceof their m after, threw themfe'ves at his feet, and
promifed that his will fhould be theirs. After all this,
the lovely Fortunio found himfelf, as he drew nigh the
city, agitated with a thoufand different troubles; the
joy that he had done the king fuch considerable fervices,
for whom he had fo great an attachment, and the hope
to fee him again, and be favourably received by him,
flattered him rnoft agreeably. On the other hand, the
fear of enraging the queen, and being perfecuted again
by her and Florida, put him into a heavy concern. In
fhort, he arrived at the town, where the people, overjoyed
to fee fo much riches and treafure, followed him to the
palace with great acclamations of joy. The king, who
could fcarcely believe fuch extraordinary news, ran- to
acquaint the queen with it, who was at firft ftruck on a
heap, but recovering herfelf afterwards, faid, * The
* Gods protect him, therefore I am not furprifed he
* mould fucceed in what he undertakes.' And juft as
fhe made an end ofthefe words, me faw him enter the
room. He informed their majefties of what he had done,
and added, that the treafures were left in the park, no
other place being large enough to hold them : and we
muft eafily believe the king exprefled a great friendfhip
for fo loving and faithful a fubje<5L
The knight's prefence, and the advantages of his good
fortune, opened again and dilated thofe wounds in the
queen's heart which were hardly clofed up: (bethought
him more charming than ever, and as foon as fhe was at
liberty to talk with Florida, fhe renewed her complaints,
* You know (faid fhe) what 1 have done to ruin him,
' which 1 thought was the only means to forget him, yet
his unparalleled good fortune brings him fafe home
' again: and whatever reafons I have to defpife a man
* fomuch inferior to me, and who has repaid my fenti-
' ments
I
^o TH STORY or FORTUNIO.
' timents xvith the blackeft ingratitude, I cannot forbear
4 loving him, and am refolved to marry him privately.'
* Marry him, madam ! (cried Florida) it is impoffible ;
' certainly my ears (ail me.' * No (replied the queen)
* ycu know my intention, and muft fecond me in it.
* I charge you to bring Fortunio this night into my clo-
* fet; I will myfelf declare to him the love I have for
' him.' Florida in defpair to be made the inftrtiment
of her miftrefs's marriage with her lover, forgot nothing
fhe could fay to diffuade the queen from feeing him.
She reprefented that the king would be angry, mould it
be found out, and perhaps might pt the knight to
death, or at leaft would condemn him to perpetual im-
rifonment, where fhe would never have the fight of
im again : but all her eloquence was in vain : fhe faw
the queen began to be in a paflion, and therefore was
obliged to obey her. She found Fortunio in the gallery
of the palace, ranging in order the golden ftatues he
brought from the emperor Matapa. She went to him,
with the mefTage from the queen, which made him trem-
ble, and caufed Florida no fmall trouble. * O heavens !
* (faid fhe) how much I pity you; why could not that
4 princtfi's heart efcape you? Alas! 1 know one not
' half fo dangerous, that dares not explain itfelf.* The
knight would not engage in this new declaration; too
much was he chagrin'd already, but left her, and as he
had no defire to pleafe the queen, drefled himfelf but in-
differently, that fhe might not think he ftrove to fet him-
felf off ; but if he could throw oft his jewels and embroi-
deries, he could not do the fame by his natural charms.
The queen, for her part, did what fhe could to heighten
the luftre of her's by an extraordinary fine drefs, and
obferved with pleafuie that Fortunio feemed furprifed,
Appearances (faid fhe) are fometimes fo deceitful,
that I was willing to juftify myfelf concerning what
you have thought withojt doubt of my conducl;
when I engaged the king to fend you to the emperor,
it feemed in all appearance as if I defigned to facrifice
v you; Imt depend upon it, good knight, I knew what
would happen, and had no other vie\vs than your im-
mortal
THE STORY OF FORTUNIO. 41
* honour.* * Madam (f?id he) you are too much a^ove
* me to need any explanation; 1 enter not into the
* motives that engaged you; it is enough lor me that
1 I obey the king my fovereign. ' ' You fhew too
4 much indifference (added fhe) for the declaration I
* make you of, my fentiments; but it is time
* I convince you of my bounty. Ome, Fortunio,
* receive my hand as the pledge of my faith.'
The poor knight, quite thunder- firuck', was twenty
times going to acquaint the queen with his fex, but
durft not ; and anfwering thofe tokens of friendfhip
with great coldnefs, ufed a great many arguments
upon the king's anger, when he fhould know a fubjedb
tiurft be fo bold as to contract in his couit, fo im-
portant a marriage without his confent. After the queen
had endeavoured though in vain, to remove the ob-
ftacles which he feemed to fear, fhe all on a fud-
<3en aflumed the countenance and voice of a fury,
loaded him with menaces and wrongs, and fought
and Scratched him; after that, turning her rage upon
herfelf, fhe tore off her hair, claw'd her face and
neck till fhe was all in a gore blood, rent her veil
and head drefs all in pieces, and then called in her
guards, ordered them to carry the wretch, as fhe called
him, to fome dungeon, and in the mean time ran her-
felf to the king to demand juftice againft that young
monfter: telling him that he had a long time the
boldnefs to declare his pafTion, and that in hopes that
abfence and her feverities might have cured him, fhe had
let no opportunity flip, as he might well obferve, to have
him removed out of the way ; but that he was one
that nothing could change: that hehimfelf was a wit-
nefs to what extremities his paffion had brought him,
that flie would have him profecuted with all rigour;
and that if he refufed her that juftice, fhe fhould
be obliged to ftand upon her own guard for the future.
The manner in which fhe fpoke, amafed the^ting,
he knew her to be a woman of a moft violent tem-
per, and that withal fhe had a great power, and
could raife great diffractions in the kingdom. For-
C tunio's
42 THE STORY OF FORTUNIO.
tunio's boldnefs defervcd an exemplary punifh-
rnent : what was paffed was publicly known to the
whole world, and it was his duty to revenge his lifter's
affront : but alas ! on whom was his fury to light ?
on a knight who had expofed his life to the great-
eft dangers, to whom he owed his quiet and all
his treafures, and one, befides, for whom he had a
particular value and love. He would have ahnoft
loft his own life to fave this dear favourite. He
reprefented to the queen the fervices he had done
both him and the ftate, his youth, and whatever
might induce her to forgive him : but (he would
give no ear to what he faid, but demanded his life.
The king feeing he could not poflibly avoid his be-
ing tried, appointed judges, that he thought to be
the moft mild and fufceptible of tendernefs, who
might put the moft favourable conftruclion upon
the letter of the law: but he was miftaken in his
conjectures: the judges were for eftablifhing their
reputation at this poor unhappy knight's expence :
and as it was an affair that would make a great
noife in the world, they armed themfelves with
the utmoft rigour, and condemned Fortunio with-
out hearing him plead for himfelf. His fentence
was to receive three ftabs in the heart, as the heart
was the principal part concerned.
The king dreaded this fentence as much as if it
was to have been pronounced againft himfelf ; he
banifhed all the judges, but could not fave his be-
loved Fortunio, while the queen triumphed in the
punifhment he was to fuffer. The king made ufe
of frefh arguments, which only exafperated her the
more. To be fhort, the day appointed for this
horrid execution came : the knight was brought out
of the prifon where he had been kept from the fpeech
of all perfons, not knowing the crime he was accu-
fed of, but imagined it was fome new perfecution
which his indifference for the queen had brought
upon him ; yet what troubled him the moft was,
he thought the king feconded that princefs in what
me
THE STORY OF FORTUNIO. 43
me did. In the mean time Florida, inconfolable
tor the condition to which her lover was reduced, tock
a refolufion of the utmoft violence, which was to
poifon both the queen and herfeH, if Foitunio was
to fuffer death fo unjuftly. As foon as fhe knew
the fcntence, defpair pc fluffed her foul, and {he thought
of ncthing but the execution of herdefigns; but it
happened that the poifon was not prepared fo (bong
as fhe intended it : Infomuch that though fhe had
g : ven it the queen, fhe felt not prefently the efTVcls
of it, but had the lovely knight brought to the gr.at
fpace before the pallace, that Ihe might have the fa-
tisfa<5lion of feeing him die. When the executioners
had taken hinr out of the dungeon where he lay,
and brought him like a tender iamb going to the
{laughter; the firft object that his eyes beheld when he
came upon the fcafTold, was the queen, who thought
fhe could not be too nigh, being defirous to have
his blood fpurt on her. But alas! the poor king fhut
himfelf up in his clofet, that he might with more
freedom bewail the Fate of his dear favourite.
But when they had bound Fortunio, and came to
open his breaft ; how great was the furprife of that
numerous nffembly, when they faw the white breaft of a
lovely maid, and knew that fhe was an innocent dam-
fel unjuftly accufed ! the queen was in fogreat a con-
fufion, that the poifon began to work, and threvfr
her into ftrong convulfions, out -of which fhe never
recovered but to exprefs her bitter regret. Jn the
mean time the people, who loved Fortunio, fet her
at liberty ; and the news was prefently carried to the
king, who had abandoned himfelf to maiancholy. At
that inftant joy took place; he ran to the palace,
snd was charmed to fee the new matamorphofis of
his dear Fortunio; however, the laft fighs and groans
ot the queen fufpended in fome meafure his tranf-
ports ; but when he came to reflect on her malice,
he wa& not forry. He refolved to marry this his
young heroine, to repay with a crown his great ob-
ligations to her; and declared his intentions to her,
C 2 which
^4. THE STORY OF FORTONIO.
which we may eafily believe completed the height
of her defires, which where not fo much to be a queen,
as to enjoy the perfon of a prince for whom (he had
always entertained a moft tender aflfeclion. The day
of celebrating the marriage was fixed ; our young
knight laid afide her man's habit, and affumed that
of her own fex, in which fhe appeared a thoufand
times more beautiful. She confulted her horfe what
adventures mould hnppen to her for the future ; but
as he could promife none more agreenble, fhe in
gratitude for the great fervices he had done her, built
him a ftable paved with ebony and ivory, and in-
flead of being lite^ed with ftraw, he lay always on
mats of fattin : and for the feven attendants, they were
all rewarded according to their fervices.
After all this was done, news was brought to our
young queen that comrade was not to be found ;
which was no lefs trouble to the king, who adored
her, than to herfelf. She made inquiry for three days,
all to no purpofe, and on the fourth fhe arofe with
the morning, and went into the garden, which fhe
croffed, and fo into a thick wood, and thence into
a large meadow, called out, 'Comrade ! my dear
* Comrade! where art thou?what,do you forfakeme !
I have occafion for thy advice,' And as fhe was
talking after this manner, fhe faw all on a fudden
another fun arifing in the weft, which made her ftand
to admire that prodigy ; but her amazement ftill
increafed to fee it approach her nigher, and efpe-
cially when fhe knew her horfe again covered with jew-
els, and prancing before a chariot of pearls and topa-
zes, drawn by four and twenty fheep that were co-
vered with gold fringe inftead of wool : their har-
nefs was crimfon fattin, buckled on with emeralds,
their horns were adorned with carbunkles. The new
queen knew the fairy her protectrefs in the chariot,
and her father and two lifters, who cried out clap-
ping their hands, and making profeffions offriend-
fhip, that they were come to her wedding. Their
lifter, for her part, thought ihe fhould have expired
with
ir
PERFECT LOVE. 4;
with joy at feeing them again : (he neither knew whnt
fhe faid or did : but at la ft recovering herfelf, (he got
into the chariot, and returned with this pompous equi-
page to the palace; where every thing was prepared
for celebrating the moft magnificent Feaft that ever
was made in that kingdom. Thus the enamoured
king united himfelf to his fair deliverer, and afford-
ed us this charming adventure, which has been han-
ded dcwn from one age to another.
THE
STORY
OF
PERFECT LOVE.
TT N one of thofe agreeable countries that depend on
J[ the empire of the fairies, there reigned the for-
midable Danamo, who was as knowing in her art,
as cruel in her actions, and boafting of the honour
of being defended from the celebrated Calipfo, whole
charms had the glory and power of ftarving the famous
Ulyfes, and triumping over the prudence of the
conquerors of Troy. She was lufty, had a wild look
and her pride made her with fome difficulty fubmit
3 to
46 PERFECT LOVE.
to the hard laws of matrimony: for love was not able
to reach her heart : but the defigri of uniting a flou-
rifhing kingdom to that fhe was queen of, and ano-
ther fhe had ufurped, made her confent to marry
an old neighbouring king, who died fome few years
afier their marriage, and kit the fairy a daughter
palled Azira, who was very ugly: but appeared not
fo in the eye of Dannmo, who thought her char-
ming, perhaps becaufe like herfelf. She was to be
the queen of three kingdoms, which circumftance qua-
lified all her defects, and cnufed her to be aflced
in the marriage by the mull powerful princes of the
neighbouring countries.
This together with the blind fondnefs of Danamo,
rendered her vanity infupportable, (ince (he was de-
fired with an ardour which (he did in no wife de-
ferve. But as Danamo thought of nothing but ren-
dering the princefs's happinefs complear, fhe brought
up in hsr palace a young prince, her Brother's fon
who was called Parcinus: he had a noble air, a de-
licate fhape, a fine head of hair, fo admirably white,
that love himfelf might have been jealous of his pow-
er ; for that god never had golden fhafts more fure
of triumphing over hearts without refiftance, than the
eyes of Parcinus. He did every thing well, danced
and fung extraordinary fine, and gained all the
prizes at tournaments, whei ever he contended for them.
This young prince was the delight of the court ;
and Danamo, who had her defigns, was not againft
the refpedl and value they mewed him. The king,
his father, was the fairy's brother, whom fhe decla-
$ed war againft without any pretence whatfoever.
This king fought courageoufly at the head of his
troops; but what could an army do againft fo pow-
erful a fairy as Lanamo? who fuffered the victo-
ry not to balance lon after her brother's death, who
was killed in the aclion, with one ftroke of her
wand difperfed her enemies and became miftrefs
of the kingdom.
Parcinus was then an infant in arms: they brought
him
PREFECT IOVE. 47
him to Danamo ; for it would have been in vain
to have concealed him from a fairy : he had then fuch
engaging fmiles, that they won all hearts : and Da-
namo careffing him, in a few days after carried him
home with her to her own kingdom.
The prince was about eighteen years old, when
the faivy willing to execute what fhe had fo long
deligned, refolved to marry him with her daughter;
and not doubting but the prince, who was born one,
but by his misfortunes made a fubject, would be o-
verjoyed to become one day a fovereign of three em-
pires, fent for the princefs, and difcovered to her
the choice fhe had made.
The princefs harkcned to this difcourfe with an
emotion that made the fairy think thst this refolu-
tion in favor of Parcinns, difpleafed her daughter.
I fee (faid fhe to her, obferving her diforder increafe)
* that your ambition carries you fo far, that you
* would add to your empire the dominions of one
4 of thefe kings, who have demanded you fo often.
* But what kings may not Parcinus overcome? his
* courage is beyond every thing: the fubjec1:s of a
4 prince fo accomplifhed, may fome time revolt in his
* favor; and by giving you to him, I make fure of
* the pofleffion of his kingdom. And for his perfon,
4 we need not fpeak of that ; you know the proudeft
* beauties are not able to refift his charms.
The princes cafting herfelf fuddcnly at the feet
of the fairy, interrupted her difcourfe, and confefled
to her, that her heart had not had the power to with-
ftand that young vi&or, fo famous fbr his conquefts
* But (ndded fhe biufhing) I have given the infen-
* fible Parcinus a thoufand marks of my tender-
* nefs, which he received with a coldnefs that makes
* me defpair.' It was becaufe ' he durft not raife his
4 thoughts up to you (replied the proud fairy) he
4 was without doubt afraid of difpleafing me; I know
4 his refpecl.*
This flattering opinicn was too agreeable to the prin-
cefs's inclination and vanity,, tor her not to be per-
C 3. fuaded
4*3 PERFECT LOVE.
perfuaded to if. In fhort, the fairy fent for Parci-
nus, who came to her in a magnificent chariot, where
fhe oiid the princefs her daughter, waited for him :
when me faid to him, as foon as fhe faw him, * Call
all your courage to your aid : I fent for you not
' eafy to perceive his joy had not the greateft (have)
' I marry the princefs, (continued he, Tailing back
* fome Reps) alas! what god concerns himfeifin my
* fate, not to leave it to him alone from whom I
* ask r-lTiftance.
Theie words were pronounced by the prince with
an heat which his heart had too great a (hare in to
be withftood "by his reafon. The fairy thought that
this unlocked for happinefs fad put him befide him-
felf; but the princes loved, and love makes levers
more penetrating than wifdom itfelf. 'What gcd, Par-
* cinus (Paid fhe to him with diforder) do you fo
tenderly implore the affiftanceof; I know too well
* 1 have no mare in the vows you offer up to him.*
The young prince, had had time to recover his
firft furprife, and who knew he had been guilty cf
an imprudence in what he had faid, fummoned all
his wit to the aid of his heart, and anfwered the
princefs more gallantly than (he hoped for ; and thanked
the fairy with an air of grandeur, that (hewed him
not only worthy the empire offered him, but that of
the whole world.
Danamo, and her proud daughter, who were both
fatisfied with this difcourfe, fettled all things before
they went out of the clofet : the fairy deferred the
day of the nuptials, only to give the court time to
prepare themfelves on fo great an occafion. After
this, the news cf Parcinus's marriage with Azira,
was fpread all about the court; and the courtiers came
in crowds to congratulate the prince.
Parcinus received all their compliments with an
air
PERFECT LOVE. 49
air of coldnefs, which very much furpufed his new
fubjecls, that he fhould appear chagrined and out
of humour: all the reft of the day he was perplexed
with the congratulations of the whoje court, and the
continual declarations of Azira's pailion.
f What a condition was the young prince in, who vvasfeized
with a lively grief? the day feem'd to him a thoufand
times longer than ordinary. The impatient Parci-
nus longed for night, which at laft came; when with
hafte he left that place where he had fuffered fo much,
and went to his own apartment ; and after having
fent all his attendants away, opened a: door that went
into the gardens of the palace, which he crofled, fol-
lowed only by a young flave.
A tine but fmall river ran at the end of thefe
gardens, and feparated the fairy's palace from a caftle
flanked with four towers, and furrounded by a deep
ditch that was filled by the river: thither flew par-
cinus's wifhes and defires.
A wonder was fhut up in it, which treafure,Da*
namo had carefully guarded. It was a young prin
cefs, her lifter's daughter, who when fhe died left
her to the care of the fairy ; her beauty worthy of
the admiration of the whole world, appearing too dan*
g^rous for Danamo to permit her to be feen nigh
Azira. Sometimes the charming Irolita, which was
her name, was fuffered to come to the palace to fee
the fairy, and the princefsher daughter ; but was never
allowed to appear in public : yet her charms though
concealed, were not unknown to the world.
The prince Parcinus favv her with the princefs
Azira, and adored her from that very moment.
Their nearnefs of blood gave this young prince no
privilege with Irolita : for after (he was grown up,
the mercilefs Danamo permitted none to fee her.
In the mean time, Parcinus burnt with a raging
flame, which the charms of Irolita had kindled : {he
was ab~.ut fourteen years old, her beauty was per-
fect, her hair of a fine brown, her complexion bloom-
ing asthe fpring; her mouth delicate, her teeth admi*
5 rably
5^ PERFECT LOVE.
rsbly white and even ; and her fmilej engaging,
her eyes vvere of a fine hazzle colour, and pitrcine,
and her looks feerned to (peak a thoufand things htr
young heart as yet knew nothing of.
She had been brought up in great folitude, nigh the
fairy's palace, in the caftle where (he lived: but faw
no more of the world than if fhe i ad been in a de-
fert. Danamo's orders where fo exactly obeyed, that
the fair Irolita pafled her days only among thofe wo-
men appointed her, whofe number was very fmall,
but yet as many as were neceflary in fo lonely and
retired a court; however, Fame, which regarded not
Danamo, publifhed fo many wonders of this young
princefs, that perfons at the greateft diftance from
the court, offered themfelves to be with the young
Irolita. And her prefence belied not what fame had
reported, lince they always found her worthy their
admiration.
A governante of great wit and knowledge, former-
ly attached to the princefs her mother, lived with
her, and often groaned under the rigours of Dana-
mo toward the charming Irolita : fhe was called Mans;
and her defire of fetting the princes at liberty and
reftoring her to her ri<;ht and dignity, made her yield
to Parcinus's love. It was then three years fince he
was introduced into the caftle in the habit of a (lave;
zt which time he found her in the garden, and dii-
covered to her his pnflion; and as (he was then but
a child, fhe loved Parcinus only afe a brother. Ma-
rta, who was never abfent long from her, furpriied
the young .prince in the garden one day, when he
acquainted her with his love for the princefs, and
the defign he had formed to lofe his life or reftore
her liberty ? and feeking, by (hewing himfelf to his
fubjecls, a glorious revenge on Danamo, and placed
Irolita on the throne. As the rifing merit of Par-
cinus was capable ot rendering the moft difficult pro-
jeclis credible, and was the only means to deliver
Irolita, Mana fuffered him to come fomtimes to the
caftie, when it was night ; but never let him fee the
5 princefs,
PERFFCT Lovr. 51
princefs, except in her prefence. He, with his ten-
der difcourfe, and his conftant fedulities, endeavour-
ed to infpire in her as violent a pafiion as his own.
Thus employed for three years, he went almoft every
night to the caftle, and fpent all the days in .nothing
but thinking of the princefs. But to return to where
we left him croffing the gardens, followed by a flave,
and pierced with grief at the refolutions of the fairy ;
when he came to the river-fide, a gilded boat which Azira,
fometimesto: k the air in, that was fattened to the bank fer-
ved to carry this amorous prince over. The flave row-
ed, and as foon as Parcinus had got up a filken ladder,
that was thrown out from cflfa little terrafs, that fronted
the caftle, the faithful flave rowed the boat back again,
where he waited for thelignal he made him, which was
to (hew him alighted flambeaux from off the terrafs.
That night the prince took his ufual tour ; the filken lad-
der was let down, and he entered without any obfticle the
young Irolita's chamber, whom he found laid on the bed
all in tears : but the beauty that appeared in that melan-
choly pofture, had an extraordinary effect on the prince!
* What ails my princefs? (faid he, falling on his
* knees by the bedfide whereupon fhe lay? what could
1 caufe thefe precious tears ? alas! (continued he n'gh-
* ing) have I yet new misfortunes to hear?' the tears
and iighs of riiefe young lovers were intermixed, and
they were forced to vent their paflion before they could
tell the caufe of their grief. At length the young prince
defired Irolita to tell him what new feverity the fairy
had ufedto her, ' She will marry Azira fanfwered the
* beautiful Irolita blufhing) which, of all her cruelties,
is the moft painful to me.' ' O my dear princefs (cried
* the prince) you fear left I mould marry Azira : my
* fate is a thoufand times more kind than I thought it.*
4 Can you praife fate, (replied the young Irolita, lan-
' guifhingly) when it is ready to feparate us? I cannot
' exprefs the torments, the dread of that makes me feel.
* O ! Parcinus, you are in the right, the love of a lover,
* and that of a brother is quite different. The amorous
prince thought to thank his fortune ; he never till then
C 6 knew
52 PERFECT LOVE,
"knew the love the voting Irolita had for him : and, in
fhort, could no longer doubt of the good fortune of ha-
ving infpired fuch tender fentiments into the princefs.
This happfnefs, which he did not expecl, rcufed up all
his hopes. *No (cried he in a tranfport) I defpare not
* now of overcoming our misfortunes, (ince I am afTu-
* red of your tendernefs. Let us fly, my princefs, Jet
' us avoid the rage of Danamo, and her hatefjl Daugh-
' te; ; let us not truftto fo fatal an abode; love alone
* will make us happy.' 'Should I go away with you
' (replied the prjncefs with furprife) what would the
' world lay of my flight?' Lay aiide thefe vain reflec-
' tions, (fair Irolita) interrupted the impatient Parci-
' nus ; eveiy circurnftance urges us to leave this place ;
* let us go ' 4 But where will you go ! (replied the
prudent Man3, who was always with them, and who,,
lefs engaged than thofc young lovers, forefaw all the
difficulties in their Sight) ' I will give you an account of
' my delign (replied the prince) bat how did you hear
* fo foon the news from the fairy's court ? A relation
* of mine(anfweied Maiia)writto me as foon as it was
* wifpered about the paiace, and I thought it my duty
* to inform the princefs of it.* * And what have I endu-
. * red fir.ce ? (replied the lovely Irolita) no, Parcinus,
* I cannot live without you.* The young prince tranf-
ported \viih love, and charmed with thefe words, kiiTed
Irolita's hand with an ardour and tendernefs, that had
all the thinks of a firft and mod agreeable favour. Day
began to appear, and informed Parcinus too foon trnt
it was time he retired, when he affured the princefs he
would come again the next night, and impart to her his
project : he got to the boat and (lave again, and retired
to his apartment. He was fo overjoyed with the plca-
fure of being beloved bv the fair Irolita, and agitated by
the difficulties he forefaw they mould meet with in their
flight, that fleep could not calm that uneafinefs, nor
make him forget a moment of his hzppinefs.
It was hardly morning, when a dwaif entered his
chamber, and prefented him with a Bne fcarf f-cm the
princefs Azira, who by a billet ragre tender thm he
wiflbed
PERFECT LOVE. 53
wimed for, defired him to wear from that day that fcarf.
He fent an anfwer, which very much confounded him ;
but he was obliged to it, to deliver Irolita, and to con-
flrain himftlf for her liberty. When he had fent Azira's
Dwarf away, a giant came from Danamo, and prefen-
ted him with a fabre of extraordinary beauty, the han-
dle of which was of one fingle ftone, more beautiful
than a diamond, and which gave a great light in the
night ; on this fabre were engraved thefe words.
For the hand of a conqueror.
Parcinus was mightily plenfed with the fairy's prefent,,
and went and thanked her with that and the fcarf on.
The tendernefs of Irolita fufperid'ed all difquiets ; fhe
had railed in his heart that fvveetand perfect fatisfaclion
fuccefsful love fee's : a pleafant air appeared in all his
actions, which Azira attributed to her charms, and the
fairy to Parcinus's ambition : the day was fpent in plea-
fares and rliverlions, which in no wife diminilhed the
infupportable length Parcinus thought it.
In the evening they took the air in the gardens of the
palace, and on the fame river fo well known to the
prince, who in going in the boat, felt a fenfible concern,
to lee what difference there was between the pleafures
it ufed to give him, and the cruel torments he then endu-
red. Parcinus could not forbear looking often at the
habitation of the charming Irolita, who never appeared
when the fairy or Azira were on the water. That Prin-
ce fs, who watched all the actions of the prince, obferved
that his eyes were often turned towards the caftle.
* What do you look at, prince? (faid fhe) in the midflf
' of honours done you, is Irolita's prifon worthy your
* regard ?' 'Yf-s, madam (replied the prince very impru-
' dently) lam feniible of the fufferings ofthofe who de-
* ferve them not.' You are too compaffionate (anfwer-
' ed Azira difdainfully) but to eafe you of your pain,
' I can tell you, Irolita will not be long a prifoner.'
* And what will become of her (replied the young prince
fhort) * The queen will marry h.r in five days to the
prince
.j PERFECT LOVE.
prince Brutus (returned Azira :) he is of our blood you
know, and according to the intentions or' the queen,
1 he will the next day afrer their marriage carry Jrolita
' into a fortvefs, from whence fhe will never return to
' court.' * What ! (faid the prince, in an extraordinary
' diforder) will the queen give that beautiful princefs
' to fo hideous a prince, whole ill quslities exceed his
' deformity? \vh;;t cruelty is this?' (This laft word
came from him againft his will, but he could no longer
conceal his refentment. 4 1 thought that you, of all
* people, Parcinus (anfwered the princefs haughtily)
' mould not complain of Danamo's cruelties.' This
converfation, without doubt, had beenpufhed toofar for
the young prince, whofe bufinefs it was to diflembie, if
the attendants of Azira had not come up, and the fairy,
appeared on tne river fide. Azira returned to the fairy,
and Parcinus coming out of the boat, feigned to be fick,
th^t he might have the more liberty to go and complain,
without any witnefs of his new misfortunes.
The fairy, and above all Azira, (hewed a great unea-
finefs for his being ill. He retired, accufing fate a thou-
fand times for the misfortunes that threatened the charm-
ing Irolita, abandoning himielf to all his grief and ten-
dernefs ; but beginning at length to recover thofe diforders
faithful lovers are fo fubjfct to, he writ in the moft mo-
ving expreiiions his love could diclate, to oneof his aunts,
whole name was Favourable; who was a fairy as well
as Danamo, but one who took as much plea fu re in com-
forting and affifting the unfortunate, as Danamo did
in making them fo. He told her to what a cruel con-
dition his love and fortune had reduced him ; and not
daring to leave Danamo's court without discovering his
defigns, he fent his faithful flave with it.
When every body was retired, he left his apartment
asufual, and croffing the gardens alone, went into the
boat, without knowing whether he could row or not; but
what will not bve teach us? he rowed as well as the moft
expert feaman, and got into the caftle, where he" was
very much furprifed to find Mana only, and fhe all in
tears, in the princefs's chamber, What is the matter
with
PERFECT LOVE. /;5
' with you, Mana (faid the prince in hafte) and where
* is my dear Irolita ?' ' Alas ! fir, ({"aid Mana) fhe is not
' here, a troop of thequeen's guards, and fome woman,
' carried her away from this caftle three or four hours
* ago.' Parcinus heard not the end of thefe words, but
fwooned away as foon as he underftood the princefs was
gone. Mana took a great deal of pains to bring him
tohimfelf again, which was no fconer done, but faliing
fuddenly into a piffion, he drew a little dagger he wore
in his girdle, and had pierced his heart, had not the wife
Mana, holding his arm, and falling on her knees, faid
* What, iir, will you forfake Irolita; live to deliver her
4 from Danamo's rage. Alas ! without you, where will
' fhe find fuccoar againft the cruelty of the fairy ?' thefe
words fufpended the unhappy prince's defpair : * Alas !
' (replied he fhedding tears, which all his courage could
* not rettrain) where is my princefs? yes, Mana, I will
* live to have the fad fatisfoction of dying for her, and
* expiring in revenging her of her enemies.' After thefe
words, Mann begged of him to leave that difmal place,
to avoi-d frefh misfortunes. 'Go prince (faid (he) how
* know we but the fairy has Com body here to give her
' an account of what paTes ? take care of a life fo dear
* to a princefs you adore.' After this advice, the
prince went away, and returned to his own apartment
with all the grief fo unhappy and tender a paffion could
infpire. He pafled the night on a couch he threw him-
feif on when he went in, where day furprifed him ;
which had appeared fome hours, when he heard a noife
at his chamber door. He ran with that eager impati-
ence we generally exprefs, when weexpecl: news, where*
in our hearts are fo much concerned ; and found that
his people h;vi brought him a man "who wanted to fpeak
with him in hafte, and whom he knew to be one of Mana '3
relations, he gave Parcinus a letter, who went into his
clofet to hide the trouble it might give him; where he
opened it, and found thefe words
Mana,
PR7SCT LOVE.
M A N A,
To the greatejl Pnnce in the uo;U.
E afTured, fir, our princefs is in fafety ; if that
cxprefTion may be allowed, while in the power of
* her enemy ; ihe has afked Danamo for me, who has
' fuffered me to be with her; there is a guard in the
* palace. Yeflerday the queen fent for her into her clo-
* fet, and ordered her proudly to look on the prince
' Brutus, as one that was to be her hufband in a few
' days, and prefented to her that prince, fo unworthy
* of being your rival. The princefs was fo much afflic~t-
' ed, that fhe made her no anfwer, but by tears, which
' are not yet dried up. You, fir, mud find out means r
* if poffible, to affift her againft fuch prcfling Misfor-
' tunes/
At the bottom of the letter thefe words were written-
blotted, and with a trembling hand.
-' T TO W much l^ity you my dear prince ! your
' (~Jl calamities are more grievous to me than my own:
' I fpare your tendernefs the recital of what I have en-
' dufed fince yefterday ; why mould I trouble the re-
' pofe of yonr life? alas! without me you might have
* been happy."
What joy and grief did the prince feel? what kifies
he gave this invaluable token, of the divine Irolita's
love ? he was fomuch befide himfelf, that he had much
sdo to return a fuitable anfwer; he thanked the piudent
Mana, informed the princefs of the auiftance he expec-
ted from the fairy Kavourable, and faid a thoufand
things on his grief and love : afterwards he gave the
letter to Ma na's relation and with it a prefent of fine
jewels of an ineftimable value, to recGmpep.iJe him for
the pleaiure he had done him. He \yas icarcely g:one,
when the queen and the princefs Azira fent to know how
the prince did. If was eafy to know, by his locks,
that he was not well ; they prefled him to go tombed,
v, hich
PERFECT LOVE. 57
which he agreed to, thinking he mould be lefs con {train-
ed then if he went to the fairy.
After dinner the queen went herfelf tor fee him, and
fpoke to him of Irolita's marriage with the prince Bru-
tus, as a thing refolved on. Parcinus, who had at iaft
refolved to reflrain himfeif to carry on his defigns the
better, feerning to approve of the fairy's intentions, and
defired her only to flay till he had recovered, becaufe
he had a great mind to be at the folemnity. The fairy
and Azira,who defpaired at his ficknefs, and promifed him
what he afked; by which means he ictarded the difmal
nuptials of Irolita for fome days, the converlation he
had on the water with Azira forwarded the misfortune
of the princefj he loved fo tenderly ; for Azira had given
the queen an account of his- difcourfe and his compafiion
for Irolita. And the queen, who never delayed the
execution of her will, fent that evening for Irolita, and
refolved with Azirj, to finifh the marriage of that prin-
cefs, and to haften her departure before Parcinu-> had
a more eftabiifhed authority? but in the mean time,
before the expiration of the time, the faithful Have arri-
ved. How great was Parcinus's joy, to find in the letter
Favourable had wrote, marks of her compafiion and
friendftnp for him andlrolita ! me fent him a little rinc
compofed of four different metals, gold, filver, brais,
and iron : this ring had the power of fecuring them four
times againft the perfections of the cruel Danamo:
and Favourable allured the prince, that the wicked fairy
could n.jt purfue them oftrer than the ring had power
to fave them. This good news reftored the young
prince to his health ; he fent in all hafte for Mana's rela-
tion and gave him a letter, that informed Irolita of the
hnppy fucccfs they might flatter thernfelves withal.-
They had no time to lofe, the queen was for comfum-
mating prince Brutus's marriage in three days, and that
fame night Azira made a ball, andlrolita was to be
there. Parcinus could not think of being negligent oa
that occafion : he drefied himfeif in a magnificent fuit,.
and appeared a thoufand times mo e bright than the
day; but dm ft not fpeak to Irolita, except with his eyes*
w hich
58 PERF CT LOVE.
which often met thofe of that fair princefs. Irolita had
on the nobleit drefs imaginable : the fairy had given her
very fine jewels ; and as the had but four days to ftay in
her palace, refolved to treat her as (he ought to be.
Her beauty not nfed to be fet cffwith fuch ornaments,
feemed wcndei rul toal!, and much mere to the amorous
Parcinus, who thought, by the joy that he frw in her
bright eyes, (he had received his letter.' The prince
Brutus talked often with Irolita ; but he appeared of fo
ill a mien unto the gold and jewels he was, loaded with,
that he was net a rival worthy the young prince's jealoufy.
The ball was almoft over, when Parcinus, tranfported
with his love, deGied with great ardour, the liberty of
talking a moment with the princefs. * Cruel queen,
and thou hateful Azira, (faid he to himfelr) willytu de-
prive me yet longer cf the charming pieafure of tel-
ling the fair Irolita a thoufand times h. w I adore her ?
why leave you not, you jealous witneffcsof my happi-
nefs, the place, u'oce love can only triumph in your
abfence;' he had hardly formed this wifh, but the
fairy finding herfelf a little out of order, called Azira,
and went with her into the next room, whither prince
Brutus followed them: Parcinus had then the ring on
bis finger the fail y Favourable had fent him. Heought
to have preferved the fucccurs given him lor more pref-
fing occa lions, but violent love and prudence are fel-
dom companions ; the young prince thought, by the fairy's
and Azira's departure, that the ring began to favour
his love: he flew to the charming Irolita, and fpoke. to
her cf his p?flion in the moft touching and eloquent
exprefiions ; when he perceived that he had made ufe of
Favourable's charms fillily, but could not repent of an
imprudence which gained him the pleafure of entertain-
ing his dear Irolita : they refolved on their place and
hour to put an end to their cruel flavery the next day.
The fairy and Azira returned again fome time after,
Parcinus parted with no fmall regret from Irolita, and
locking on his ring, perceived that the iron was
mixed with the other metals, and faw very well that
he had but th:ee wifhe* to make, which he refolved to
employ
PERFECT LOVE. 59
employ better than the~fir{l for his princefsPbut trufted
none with his departuie, but his faithful flave. The
next day he appeared to the queen very eafy, ani
more pleafant than ordinary: he puffed fora'e compii-
menfs on the prince Brutus upon his marriage, and did
it, in n manner capable tf removing all fufpicions they
might entertain of his piffian. At two o' clock in the
morning he went to the fairy's park, where he iound his
faithful flave, who, according to his mailer's orders had
brought four of his horfes. The prince waited a little,
when the lovely Irolita came wearied, and leaning on
Mana ; for that young princcfs endured fo much in the
walk, that love alone, without Danamo's cruelties, and
the ill qualities of prince Brutus, would not have been
capable to have made her undertake it. It was then
fummer, the night was clear, and the moon and ftars
mined fo bright, that it was as light as day. The prince
made up in hafte towaids. her, kitted her hand, for it
was not a place to talk in, and helped her on her horfe,
for {he rid wonderfully well, it being one of heramufe-
mentsto take horfe with her maids and ride into a little
wood, fome diftance from the caftle, which the fairy
fuftered her to take the air in. Afterwards Parcinus
mounted his horfe, and Mana and the flave theirs.
The young prince drawing the brillaint fabre the fairy
gave him, fvvore to the fair Irolita, to adore her all his
life, and to die, if neceflaiy, in her defence. After thefe
words they went away, and the zephiis feemed to corref-
pond with them, or to take Irolita for Flora, by always
attending them.
In the mean time, day difcovered to Danamo a piece
of news fhe little expected. The ladies who where about
Irolita, where amazed that fhe flept fo long; but obey-
ing the prudent Mana, who lay in the fame chamber
with Irolita, from whence they went out at a little back-
door, that led them into a court of the palace, very little
frequented, by a door that was in Irolita's clofet, and
was nailed up ; but in two or three nights they found out
the means to open it. In fhort, the queen fent forlrolita :
in obedience to the fairy, they knocked at the princefs's
chamber
60 PERFECT LOVE.
chamber door, and nobody anfxvered. But when tfitf
prince Brutusairivcd, who came to conduct the princefs
to the queen, he was ve ; y much furprifed : He broke
open the doer, and went in, and feeing the little door in
the clofet forced, he no longer doubted of the princefs's
flight. When the news was carried to the queen, fhe
fhaked with anger, and ordered them to fearch every
'where for Irolita; but it was all in vain, nobody could
give any account of her. The prince Brutus himfelf
went to feck after her, and fent the fairy's guards with
all fpeed on the roads he thought they might take. In
the mean time, Azira obferved that Parcinus did not
appear in this general confletnation : and jealouiy open-
ing her eyes, (he fent in hade to him, and began to think
that the prince had taken Irolita away. The fairy herlelf
could not believe it: but on confulting her books, fhe
found Azira's fufpicion to be a matter of fact. In the
mean time, the princefs having learned that Parcinut
was not in his apartment, nor the palace, fent to the
caftle where Irolita had been fo Ions:, to fee if fhe could
find anything weveby fhe might juflify or condemn the
prince. The prudent Mana had taken care to leave
nothing that might difcover Irolita's correfpondence
with Parcinus, but Azira's fcarf, which was f und on
the couch he fvvooned on, and had been untied while
he was in that condition ; and which neither the prince
nor Mana, who where full of giief, perceived. What
did not the haughty Azira feel at the ii^ht of that fcarf ?
her love and pride fuffered both alike ; (he afflicted her-
felf to excefs, and fent all the fervantsof Irolita and the
prince to prifon. The ingratitude the queen thought
Parcinus had fhewed her, pufhed her natural rage to
the Jaft extremity. She would willingly have given
one of her kingdoms to have been revenged on thofc
two lovers, who at the fame time where purfued on all
fides: prince Brutus and his troop met with frefh horfes
every where by the fairy's order, whereas thofe of Parci-
nus's where tired, and anfwered not the impatience of
their Mafter. At the further fide of a Foreft he over-
took them : the firft motion of the prince was to go and
fight
PERFECT LOVE. 61
fight that unworthy rival ; he was nding up to him with
his fabre drawn, when Irolita cried out, ' prince feek
' not an unprofitable danger, obey the orders of the fairy
* Favourable.' Thefe words gave a check toPaicinus's
rage, who to obey the princefs and the fairy, wifhedthe
princefs was in faiety againft the perfecutions of the
cruel queen. He had fcarcely made his wifh, but the
earth opened between him and his rival; a little ugly
man, magnificently drefled, appeared, and made a fign
to him to follow him. The defent was eafy on their
fide, he went down en hovfeback, with, Irolita and
Man2, and the flave, and the earth elofed. Brutus,
furprifed at fo extraordinary an event, went in hafte to
give Danamo an account of it ; and in the mean time
our young lovers followed the little man through a dark
road, that led to a large palace, lighted with flambeaux
and lamps. They alighted from off their horfes, went
into a prodigious large hall, fupported by mining pil-
lars of earth, covered with ornaments of gold ; a little
man loaded with jewels, fat on a throne of- gold at the
bottom of the hall, with a great number of people like
himfelf about him, who conducted the prince to that place
who, as foon as he appeared with the charmmg Irolita,
the little man arofe from his throne, and faid to him,
* Come, prince, the great fairy Favourable, who has
' been a long time one of my friends, hath defired me
* to fecure you againft the cruelties of Danamo. I am.
* king of the Gnomes, you and the princefs are welcome
* to my palace.' Parcinus thanked him for his a(Tif-
tance. The king and all his fubjecls where enchanted
at the beauty of Irolita ; they took her for a ftar that
came to brighten their abode, and ferved up a magnifi-
cent entertainment. The king of the Gnomes paid
them all manner of refpecl, in harmonious concert, but
fomewhat wild was the diverfion of the night, where
they fung the charms of Irolita, and repeated feveral
times thefe verfes ;
Whatftar is this that thus curfighl invades,
And, darts fuch beams on thefe our gloomy Jhades ?
Which, while its lujlre fondly we, admire.
Dazzles our eyes, and jets our hearts onfre.
62 PERFECT LOVE.
After the mufick was done, they led the prince and
princefs, each into a magnificent room, and Mara and
the faithful flave followed them. The next day they
(hewed them the king's palace, who difpofed of all the
riches of the earth; nothing could be added to that
treafure, which was a confufed mafs of fine things un-
formed. The prince and princefs remained eight days
in this fubterraneous abode; Favourable had ordered
the king of the Gnomes, during that time, to make the
princefs and her lover gallant and magnificent enter-
tainments. The night before their departure, the king,
to immortalize the memory of their refidence in his
empire, had their two ftatues erected in gold on each
fide his throne, on pedeftals of white marble, with thefe
words writ in letters of diamonds on the pedeftal of the
princefs's ftatue:
We dcfire no more the Jig Jit of the fun;
IFe Lave Jem this prince.
Who is brighter and more beautify!.
And on the pedeftal of the princefs's ftatue
To the immortal hcncvr
Of the goddefs of beauty,
Who defcended here.
Under the name of Irolita.
The ninth day the prince had very fine horfes given
him, whofe trappings where cf gold, laid over with
diamonds, and left, with his fmall troop, the dark abode
of the Gnomes, after paying their acknowledgments to
their king, and found himfelf in the fame place where
prince Brutus attacked him? and looking on his ring,
perceived only the Silver and brafs. He purfued his
way with the charming, Irolita, and haftened to arrive
at the habitation cf the fairy Favourable, where they
were to be in fafety : when all on a fudden coming out
of a vale, they met a troop of Danamo's guards, who
whereftillinfearch after them ; and were juft ready to
fall 011 them ; when the prince wifhed, and prefently
there
PERFECT LOVE. 63
there appeared a great fpace of water between them and
the fairy troops. A beautiful nymph half naked, rofe
up in the middle of the water, in a boat of ruihes, laced
together, and making towards the ihore, delired the
prince nnd his beautiful miftrefs to come into it ; who,
with Mana and the Have, left their horfes in the field,
and went into the boat* -which funk under water, and
made the guards think they chofe rather to drown them-
felves, than fall into their hands. Immediately they
found themfelves in a palace, the walls of which where
great drops of water, which falling continually, made
halls, chambers, clofets, and en com pi fled gardens, where
a thoufand fpoutings of water, of odd Figuies. formed
the detign of parterres. None but Naids could live in
this palace, fo fine and (ingular as it was; therefore to
afford the prince and the fair Irolita a more folid habi-
tation, the Naid that conducted them, carried thern
into grottos of (hell-work, compofed of coral", pearls, and
all the riches of the lea. Their beds were of mofs,
a hundred dolphins guarded Irolita's grot, and twenty
whales the prince's. The Naids admired at their re-
turn, the beauty of Irolita ? and moreover, a Triton
grew jealous of the prince's looks and care : they gave
them in the prince's grotto, a collation of fine fruits;
twelve Syronscame to charm, by their fweet voices, the
trouble of the prince and Irolita, and fung the follow-
ing fong;
Wherever love our hearts conveys,
He makes us happy different ways :
Perfeft lovers, triumph in your chains,
And let your pajfions Jilll Jurmount your pains.
At night there was an entertainment, confiding wholly
of fifh, of an extraordinary fize and exquifite tafte.
After thisrepaft, the Naids danced in habits offifh fcales
of different colours, which was very fine; bodies of Tri-
tons, with inftruments unknown to men, compofed a
fymphony, which was odd, but new and very agreeable.
Parcinus and the lair Irolita were four days in this em-
pire
64 PER FECT LOVE.
empire; the fifth day the Naids came in crowds to con
duel: the prince and princefs ; which two lovers went
into a Boat of one eniire fhell.and the Naids halfout of the
water, accompanied them to the river-fide, where Par-
cinus found his horfes again, and fet forward with fpeed ;
when looking on his ring, he perceived only the brafs ;
but they were then ni^h Favourable's palace. They
travelled three days, when on the fourth, at fun-riling,
they perceived men in arms, who, when they came near,
appeared to be the prince Brutus and his troop, whom
Danamo had fent again to purfue them, xvith orders not
to leave them, if they found them, nor to ftir off the
fpot, where any thing extraordinary (hould fall out ;
and above all, to endeavour to engage the prince to (U'ht.
Danamo knew very well, after what Brutus had told
her, that a fairy protected the prince and princefs; but
her knowledge was fo great, that fhe defpaired not of
overcoming them by more peweriul charms. Prince
Brutus overjoyed to fee the prince and Irolita again,
whom he fought after with fo much diligence, rid with
his fword in his hand up to Parcinus, to endeavour to
fight him, according to Danamo's orders. The young
prince drew his fword with fo fierce an air, that Brutus
repented more than once of his undertaking ; but Par-
cinus perceiving Irolita all in tears, moved with com-
panion at that tight made his fourth wifh, and prefently
their arofe a great fire up to the flues, which feparated
Parcinus from his enemy. This fire made prince Brutus
and his troop fall back. The young prince and Irolita,
who were always attended by the faithful flave and
Mana, found themfelves in a palace, the fight of which,
being all fire, at firft frightened Irolita ; but fhe was
foon encouraged, when fhe perceived fhe felt no grea-
ter heat than that of the fun, and that this fire had only
the flaming quality, and not thofe others, which render
it infupportable. A great many young and handfome
perfons, richly cloathed. came from whence the flames
feen ed to rife, to receive the princefs and her lover.
One of them, whom they judged to bj the queen of that
place, by the refpeds paid to her, faid, ' Come, char-
ming
PERFECT LOVE. 65
1 charming princefs, and you lovely Parcinus you are
' in the kingdom of Salamanders: I am the queen, and
* with pleafure am charged by Favourable to conceal
' you feven days in my palace:! wiih only your abode
' here was to be longer.' After thefe words (he carried
them into a large apaitment all on fire, like the reft
of the palace, and which gave as great a light as the fun.
That night they fupped with the queen, and had a no-
ble entertainment: after it was over, they went on a
terras, to fee an artificial fire of wonderful beauty,
and a very iingular defign, which was prepared in a
great court before the Salamander's palace. Twelve
loves were on pillars of marble, of different colours: fix
of them feemed ready to draw their bows, and the fix
others held out a great plate, whereon thefe words were
written in charecters of fire:
Where er fair Irolite appears,
A glorious conqueft there (lie bears;
Our raging flames and hotteft fre, J
Fall (hort of what her eyes iufpire C
So great's the torment of dejlre. 3
The young Irolita blufhed at her own glory, and
Parcinus was overjoyed that fhewas thought as hand fome
as (he appeared to him. In the mean time the cupids
drew their arrows of fire, which crofting in the air, formed
in a thoufand places the cypher and name of Irolita,
and carried it up to the heavens. The feven days they
flayed in this palace where fpent in pleafures and diver-
lions. Parcinus obferved, that all the Salamanders had
a great deal of fpirit, and a charming vivacity, were all
gallant and amorous, and that the queen herfelf was not
exempt from that paflion, fince fhe was in love with a
young Salamander of extraordinary beauty. The
eighth day they left with regret an abode fo agreeable to
their tendernefs, and found themfelves in a fine field
where Parcinus looking on his ring, found on the four
metals mixed together, thefe words engraved :
Ten wijhed too Joon.
D Thefe
66 PERFECT LOVE.
Thefe words afflicted the prince and young princefs,
but they were fo nigh Favourable's habitation, that they
hoped to reach it that day. This thought fufpended
their grief, they went forwards, calling on fortune and
love, too often deceitful guides. The prince Brutus
followed the fairy's orders, never ftirred from the place
where the fire feparated them, but lay encamped behind
a wood, when his centinals, who kept continual watch,
informed him that the prince and princefs appeared on
the plain again. He mounted his troop, and came up
by night with the unfortunate prince and divine Irolita.
Parcinus was not in the leaft difmayed at the great
number of thofe who attacked him all at once : he flew
on them with a courage that terrified them : ' I fulfil my
' promife, fair Irolita (faid he, dra wing his fabre) I will
' dye for you, or deliver you from your enemies/
After thefe words, he ftruck the firft he met, and felled
him at his feet : but, O grief unexpected ! that fabre.
which he had of the fairy, broke into a thoufand pieces.
It was what the fairy expected trom the combat with the
young prince ; for when fhe gave any arms, me char-
med them in fuch a m?nner, that when they were
madeufe cf againft herfelf, they fhould break at the
firft blew into a thoufsnd pieces. Parcinus thus dif-
armed, could not long relift the numbers that furrcunded
him : took him, leaded him with chains, and made
the young Irolita undergo the fame fate. O ! Fairy Fa-
vourable (cried the prince melancholy) abandon me
to all the rage of Danamo, but fave the fair Irolita/
You have difcbeyed the fairy (anfwered a ycung man
of furprifing beauty, who appeared in the air) you
muil endure the punifheient ; if you had not been
fo prodigal of Favcurable's ?fiiftance,wefc2d preferved
you againft the cruelties of Danamo. Thexvhole king-
dom of the Sylphs are vexed that they had not the
glory of rendering fo charming a prince, and fo beau-
tiful a princef?, happy/ After this he difappeared.
Parcinus groaned at his imprudence , he appeared infen-
iible of his own misfortunes, but was cruelly agitated
with thofe of Irolita : and the regret of having contribu-
ted
PERFECT LOVE. 67
ted to them, had made him to die away for grief, if
fate had not prepared more cruel torments for him to
undergo. The young Irolita mewed a courage worthy
her illuftrious blood ; and the mercilefs Bfutus, far from
relenting at fo moving a light, redoubled their calami-
ties, which he was partly the cauie of. He feparated
them, and deprived them ot the pleafure of complaining
to each other without redrefs. After a cruel journey,
they arrived at the wicked fairy's, who expreiled a ma-
lign joy to fee the prince and young princefs in a con-
dition fo worthy of creating pit^n any othei's breaft
but her's ; however, Azira had feme for Parcinus, but
durft not mew it before the fairy : * I will (fa id that
cruel queen, addreffing herfelfto the young prince)
have the ^pleafure of revenging my felt' on thy ingrati-
tude; go,'inftead of afcendin^ the throne my bounty
defignedyou, to the prifon of the fea, where I will put
an end to thy mifcrable life, by the moft horrible pu-
nimments.' * I chufe rather the moft wretched pri-
fon (replied the prince, looking on her fiercely) than
the favours of fo unjuft a queen.' Which words pro-
voked her much more, who expected to have feen him
proftrate at her feet. She made him be carried away
to the appointed prifon : Irolita cried on feeing him go;
Azira could not refrain her fighs ; and all the court
groaned fecretly at fo cruel an order. For the fair Iro-
fita, the queen fent her to the caftle where me had been
kept fo long, had her caietully guarded, and uied her
as inhumanly as fhe was capable of.
The prince's prifon was in a tower in the mid ft of
the fea, built on a fmall defer t ille : there he was kept
loaded with irons, and underwent all manner ot hard-
fhips. What a place was this for a prince fit to rule the
whole world ? the remembrance^of Irolita was his lole.
employ ; he called on Favourable only to her afliftance,
"and wifhed a thoufand times to diet to expiate the crime
he had committed: his faithful fiave was put into the
fame prifon, but had not the fatisfaclicn of ferving his
illuftrious mafter, who had none but rude foldiers about
him, devoted to the fairy ; who, though obedient to her,
D 2 could
6# PERFECT LOVE.
could not but refpect the unhappy prince. His youth,
beauty, and above all, his courage, touched them with
an admiration tint made them look on him as a man
fuperior to all others. The prudent Mina was treated
in the caftle with Irolita, in the fame manner as the
faithful (lave. None but Danamo's creatures came
nigh the princefs, who, by her order, excited in her a
frefh grief every moment, by telling her what the
prince fuffered. The calamities of Parcinus made the
princefs fometimes forget the remembrance of her own,
and renewed her tears in a place where me had fo often
heard that charming prince fwear to her eternal fidelity:
' Alas '. (faid (he to herfelf, why was you fo conftant,
* my dear prince ; indeed, your infidelity would have
' coft me my life, but what Signified that ? you would
' after that, have been hnppy. Danamo, who took
fome time to prepare a charm of extraordinary force,
fent Irolka, in the morning, two lamps one of Cold,
the other of cryftal ; the golden one was lighted, Dana-
rno ordered her not to let one of thefe two lamps go out,
but told her, * She might keep which (he plea fed lighted/
Jrolita anfwered, with her natural fweetnefs, (he mould
obey her, without fcarching into the fignification of it.
She carried the two I amps carefully into her clofet, and
as the golden one was lighted, fheput it not out all that
.day, and lighted the other the next day, and fo con-
tinued to obey the fairy. She had kept thefe lamps
fifteen days, when her health began to dirninifh, which
fhe thought mjght be occafioned by her grief? bat when
they told her Parcinus was very ill, her piercing grief,
and violent oppreffion, raifed pity in all the women
about her. One night, when they were all a fleep, one
of them went foftiy to the princefs, and feeing the
cryftal lamp burning : 4 What is it you do, great prin-
* cefs ! (faid fhe to her) put out that fatal light, your
* health depends upon it, preferve a life fo valuable,
from the cruelties of Danamo.' Alas (replied the me-
* lanchcly Irolita, in a languifhing air) fhe had made
* it fo miferable, that it is a kind of a favour in the
* fairy to afford me the means of putting an end to it :
but
PERFECT LOVE. g
4 but, (continued fhe, with an emotion that brought a
' colour in her face) whofe life does that golden lamp
' prevail over ?* 'Parcinus's (replied Dan-amo's conft-
' dent, who fpoke to the princefs by her order ; for
that wicked fairy had a mind to torment her, by letting
her know how cruel her late was. At this news the
grief of having herfelf taken care to put an end to
Parcinus's days, made her lay fome time infenfible ;
but when fhe came to herfelf, and in recovering her
fenfes, refumed her forrows. * Odious fairy (faid fhe,
* when fhe had power to fpeak) barbarous fairy ! is
* not my death lufficieiit to appeafe thy rage ? but to
4 be more cruel thou muft dtftroy, by my hands, a
4 prince fo dear to me, who is defcrving of the tender-
4 eft and moft perfect love ? but death, a thoufand times
* more kind than thou, will fhortly deliver me from
* all the mifchiefs thy rage invents, againft a paffion
4 fo violent and faithful. The young princefs cried
continually over the fatal lamp, on which Parcinus's
life depended, and lighted none but her own, which fhe
faw btirn with joy, as a facrifice fhe offered up to her
love and lover. All this time that unhappy prince was
tormented with punifhments his courage could not
fupport : the fairy made the foldiers, who guarded him,
and feigned to be fenfible of that illuftrious prince's for-
rows, tell him, * That Jrolita had confented to marry
4 the prince Brutus in a few days after he was put
* into prifon, and that the princefs feemed very well
4 content with her marriage, at all the feafts that were
4 made to celebrate it ; and in fhort, that fhe was gone
4 away with her hufband.' This was a misfortune the
prince did not expect, and was the only one that could
be greater then his conftancy. ' What, my dear, Irolita,
4 are you unfaithful to me (faid the fad prince) to be
4 prince Brutus's ? you have only bewailed my misfor-
4 tunes, and thought of putting an end to thofe my ten-
4 deinefs caufed you : but live happy ungreatful Iroti-
4 ta, i adore you, inconftantas you are, and will die for
4 my love, though not permitted the honour of dying
4 or my princefs.' Whiift the unfortunate Parcinus
l>3 was-.
70 PERFECT LOVE.
\vas thus afflicting himfelf, and the tender Irolita was
vaifting her life to prolong her lover's, Danamo was
afFecled with Azira's defpair, who died away with grief
at the hardships of Parcinus, In fhort, the cruel fairy
perceiving, that to fa ve her daughter's life, fhe muft
paidon the prince, fuffered her to go and fee him, and
to promife him ?!1 he (hould name, if he would marry
her ; and at the fame time refolved to have put Irolita to
death, as foon as the prince had accepted the propoii-
tions. The hopes of feeing Parcinus again; gave the
melancholy Azira new life ; the queen bid her fend to
Irolita for the lamp, that {he might be fhure it did not
burn ; which order feemed more cruel th.m all the reft
to the forrowful Irolita How great was her uneafinefs
fjr the life of farcinus ? * Be no?- fo concerned for the
* life of that prince, (faid the women to her, who were
about her) he is going to marry the princefs Azira,
' ' and it is fhe who, careful of his life, fends for the
4 lamp.' The torment of jealoufv, which was wan-
ting among all her misfortunes, never till after thefe
words had any mare in her calamities. Neverthelefs
Azira went to fee the prince, and offered herfelf and
kingdoms to him, pretending to be ignprant that he had
heard of Irolita's marriage with Brutus ; by uhichexam-
ple fhe would have convinced him, he had carried his
conftancy too far. Parcinus, to whom nothing was
valuable but his beloved Irolita, prefered his prifon and
fufferings before liberty and empire. Azira defpaired
at his refufal, and her grief rendered her equally unhappy
with that prince.
During this time the fairy Favourable, who till then
had boafted of the infenfibility of her heart, was not
able to refift the charms of a young prince in her court,
who was in love with her ; and this fairy could not have
refolved to liften to him, had not the pride of her foul
been overcome by this violence of her paflion. In
ihort, (he yielded to the defire of letting him know how
he triumphed. The pleafure of fpeaking to what we
love, feemed then fo charming to her, and fo worthy
of being defired, that approving what fhe had blamed
fo
PERFECT LOVE. 71
fo much, me came in hafte to the Affiftance of Parcinus
and the fair Jrolita.
Had The {laid a little longer, it would have been too
late, the fatal lamp of Irolita had but fix days to burn,
and the grief of the unhappy Parcinus had almoft put
an end to his days. Favourable arrived at Danamo's
palace, and as her power was fuperior to hers, (he
would be obeyed in fpite of the wicked fairy. The
prince was fetched out of his prifon, from whence he
would notflir, till he was allured by Favourable, that
the fair Irolita might dill be his. He appeared for all his
palenefs, as handfome as the day, and went with the
fairy Favourable to the piincefs's caftle, whofe lamp
traftbut a glimmering light. The dying Irolita would
not confent to have it put out, till (he was allured of the
fidelity of her happy lover. No words or expreffions
are lively and tender enough, to give an idea of their
joy to fee each other again, Favourable made them in-
ftantly refume their former charms, and endowed them
with a long lite and conftant happinefs ; but for their
tendernefs fhe had nought to add to that. Danamo,
outrageous to fee her authority defeated, killed herfelf,
leaving the fate of Azira and Brutus entirely to Irolita,
who took HO other revenge than mirrying them both
together. Parcinus was generous as conftant, accepted
only of his father's kingdom, and left thofe of Danamo's
to Azira. The nuptials of the prince and divine Irolita,
were iblernnized with great magnificence; and after ha-
ving psid their acknowledgement to Favourable, and
rewarded the (lave, and prudent Mana, they fet out for
th ir kingdom ; where theprince and lovely Irolita en-
joyed the hapinefs of a paiiion, ^s tender and conftant it}
their profperity, as it was violent and faithful in their
adveriity.
THE
(7* )
THE
STORY
oF THE
PRINCESS ROSETTA.
UP O N a time, there was a king and queen of a
,1 certain country, who had txvo fine boys, whom the
queen took fuchcare to have well bred, that they impro-
ved greatly. Her majefty was never brought to bed,
but (lie fent to invite the fairies to her labour, and beg-
ged them to tell her her child's fortune as foon as it was
born.
She became with child again, and was delivered of a
daughter, fo very fair, that every one who faw her was
in !ove with her. The queen commanded the fairies
to be very well treated ; and when they where almoft
ready to take their leaves of her, fhe defired them not
to forget their good cuftom, but to tell her what mould
happen to Rofetta (fo the infant princefs was called.)
The fairies told hf r, they had left their fcheme book at
home, and would come another time to fatisfy her.
Ah, fays the queen, this does not prophefy good: you
are not willing to trouble me with an unwelcome pre-
dicftion ; ' fpeak freely I beg it of you; let me know
* theworftof her fate ;hide nothing from me,' They
all defired to be excufed ; and the more backward they
xvere to tell her fortune, the more eager the queen was
toknow. At Jaft the chief of them faid, 'IV e a re afraid,
madam Rofetta will be the caufe of a very great mif-
f -rtune to her brothers, and that they will die for her
fomehowoi other. * This is all that we can forefee
* of the fair princefs, and we are very forry we have
* no better information to give you/ The fairies
went away, and left the queen fo melancholy, that the
king took notice of it, and demanded the reafon. She
snftvered, ' That fitting too near the fire, fhe happened
to
THE STORY ofPRiNCEss ROSETTA. 73
' to burn all the flax on her fpindle.' ' Is that all (quoth
' the king' :) So he goes up into the garret, and fetched
her more flax than fhe could fpin in an hundred years.
The queen continued melancholy, and the king be-
ing inquifitive to know the caufe of it, fhe replied,
* That walking near the river fide, fhe let one of her
green fatin flippers fall into the water. ' Is that all,
(quoth the king.') He prefently fet all the fhoe-makers
in the kingdom to work, and brought her ten thoufand
pair of green fatin flippers to make up the matter. Still
fhe continued as melancholy as ever. He a iked her the
caufe of it again. She told him, * That eating one day
' with too hafty an appetite, fhe chanced to f wallow
* her wedding ring, which fhe had upon her finger.*
The king knowing fhe did not fpeak truth then, (for
he had locked up the ring) faid to her, ' My dear wife,
' this cannot be true, for I have your ring fafe under
4 lock and key;' and he immediately went and fetched
it. The queen finding fhe was caught in an untruth^,
one of the fouleit crimes in the world, to vindicate her-
felf, confefTed what the fairies had foretold of little Ro-
fetta, and defired him, if he could thinkof any means, to
prevent it, to let her know it. The king was mightily
Concerned, and faid to the queen, he knew no way of
preventing the deftruclion of their two fons, but to kill
the child while the was in her Twaddling clothes. His
wife wifhed fhe might die herfelf firft, and bid him con-
trive fome other means to fave their two boys, for fha
would never confent to that.
The king and queen thinking of nothing e!fe, ftudied
fo many ways, that in the end they thought they had
found out one. The queen was informed that there was
an old hermit in a wood near the city, whofe dwelling
was in a hollow tree, and that he was a wonderful per--
fon in matters of counfel. She therefore refolved to go
and'cqnfult him, the fairies not having told the remedy
when they predicted the evil. She rofe one morning
early, mounted on a little white mule mod with gold ;
and was attended by two of her maids of honour on
horfe-back, each upon a fine horfe* When the queen
I>5 and
74 THE STORY of PRIKCESS ROSETTA.
and her maids arrived at the entrance of the wood,
they alighted, and walked on foot to the place where
the old hermit lived in his tree. The folitairedid not
like to fee women ; but wnen he faw it was the queen,
he cried, * you are welcome, what would you have of
' me ?' She then related what the fairies had foretold
her of Rofetta ; and afked his advice in the cafe. He
bade her (hut the princels up in a tower, and never let
her come out of it The queen thanked him, gave hina
alms, and returned to tell the king her adventure.
His majefty approving of the hermit's cbufel, order-
ed a large tower to be built, andenclofed his daughter
in it. There me lived : and that fhe might not be wea-
ry of fo retired a life, the king, queen, and her two
brothers, vifited her every day. The eldeft of them
was called the ereat prince, and the ycungeft the little
prince, for diftin&ion fake. They loved their fitter
moft dearly, for fhe was one of the beft and moft beau-
tiful creatures in the world, and the leaft glance of hers
was worth an hundred pounds. When me was fifteen
years old, the great prince faid to the king, * Papa,
' they fay that m> lifter is big enough to be married :
' fhali not we go foon to her wedding ?' the little prince
fpoke to the fame effect to the queen ; and their majef-
ties amufed them with evalive anfwers, without taking
notice of the marriage.
At laft the king and queen fell very ill, and died
both in one day. Difmal was the ftate of the court ;
every one was in tears! nothing was to be feen but
black coats and gowns, and nothing to be heard but tol-
ling of bells. Rofetta above all wanted to be comforted,
for the lofs of fo good a mother.
When the king and queen were buried, the marqui-
fes and dukes of the kingdom conducted the great prince
to a throne of gold and diamonds, on which he amended,
had a royal crown put : pon his head, and was arrayed
in robes of purple velvet, embroidered with a fun and
ftars. Then the whole court flicuted, * Long live the
' king !' and their forrow for their late msjefties deaths
Was forgot in their joy for his prefent majefty's fucceffion.
The
THE STORY of PRINCESS ROSETTA. 75
The king and his brother conferring together, fpoke
to this purpofe : * Now the power is in our own hands,
* let us releafe our lifter out of the tower, wherein fhe
' has already been .too. long fhut up.' It was no fooner
faid than done. They had only a garden to crofs, and
t ey came to the tower, which was built in one corner
of it, as high as it could be made ; for the late king and
queen refoived fhe mould (lay there all her lire time.
Rolecta was then embroidering a robe in a frame which
flood before her ; but as foon as fhe faw her brothers,
fhe rofe, and taking the king by the hand, addreffed
herfelf to him in thefe words : ' good morrow, {ir ; you
* are now king, and I am now your poor obedient fer-
' vant ; I beg you to let me come out of this tower, for
' I am quite tired with flaying here.' She then burft
out into a flood of tears. The king embraced her, bade
her not weep* for he came thereon purpofe to fetch her
thence, and carry her to a fine palace. The prince's
pockets were full ot fweet-meats, which he gave to Ro-
fetta. . * Corpe (fays he) let us leave this filthy tower :
* -do not afflidl thyfelf, the king will get thee a hufband
* in a little while/
When Rofetta law the gardens full of flowers, fruits,
and fountains, fhe was fo ravifhed that the could not fay
a word, for fhe had never feen any thing like it before.
She gazed about her as if fhe had been wild ; fometimes
walked, and fometimes flopped: fhe gathered the fruits
of the trees, the flowers in the borders. Fretillion, her
little dog, who was as green as a prtrrot, and had but one
ear, danced all the way before her, and jumped and
capered about as if he was as glad as his miftrefs that
they wereg tou't into the frefh air.
The company were well pleafed xvith Fretillion's
frifking and leaping ever the walks : when all of a hid-
den he ran to a little wood. The princefs followed her
dog, and never was woman more aftonifhed than (lie
was at the light of a huge peacock, that ftrutted as (he
approached him, and fpread out his tail. She was fo
charmed with him, and thought him fo very fine, that
fhe could not take her eyes off of him. . The king end
D 6 prince
76 THE STORY of PRINCESS ROSETTA.
prince followed her, aflted what fhe was fo taken with ?
fhe (hewed them the peacock, and afked what it was.
They tald her it was a bird which they fometimes eat of.
' How (faid fhe) are you fo cruel to kiil and eat fo
* lovely a bird ? I here proteft to you, that I will never
' marry with any one but the King of the Peacocks, and
' when 1 am queen, I will hinder your eating them/
The king was furprifed at this beyond meafure : * But,
' fifter, (replied he) where will you find the King of
* the Peacocks?' Where you pleafe (quoth the princefs,)
' but I never marry any one elfe.*
Upon this the two brothers conducted her to their
palace, whither the peacock was brought, and carried
to her bed-chamber, for fhe was mightily ennamoured
of him. All the ladies who had not feen Rofetta, came
to wait upon her, and made their court ; when fome
brought her comfits, others fugar-plumbs, others robes
of cloth of gold, others ribbons, others toys, others
embroidered fhoes, adorned with pearls and diamonds :
every body gave her fomething to welcome her abroad ;
and fhe was fo very obliging, courtious, and thankful for
what fhe had received at the hands of her vifitants,
that they all of them went away very well fatisfied.
While fhe was taken up with a great deal of company,
the king and the prince endeavoured to find out the
King of the Peacocks, if there was any fuch monarch
in the world. They thought it convenient to have their
filler's piclure drawn, to fhew to the prince with the
broad tail, if thev mould happen to light upon him :
and it was indeed drawn fo beautifully, that it wanted
fpeech only to be as lovely as the original. When that
was done, the two brothers told the princefs, that fmce
fhe would marry nobody but the King of the Peacocks,,
they would go together all over the world in fearch of
him. If we find him, we will bring him fo you with
joy ; in the mean time do you take care of our kingdom,
till we return.
Rofetta thanked them for the trouble they took for
her fake, and afTured them fhe would carefully govern
the kingdom in their abfence ; during which all her de-
light
THE STORY of PRINCESS ROSETTA. 77
light would he in the lovely Peacock in her chamber,
and the tricks of the little Fretillion. So they bade
each other adieu, not without fome (bowers of tears at
parting.
As they faid, they did : the,king and prince rambled
up and down, afking every where for the King of the
Peacocks : nobody knew him. They went fo far, fo
very far, that nobody ever went farther.
They arrived at the kingdom of Locufts, and never
faw the like be ore, there was fuch buzzing, that his ma-
jefty was afraid of Ijfing his hearing. He afked one
of them, who looked to be a locuft of parts, if he could
tell where he might find the King of the Peacocks?
' Sir, (replied the infect) his kingdom is thirty thoufand
' leagues off: you have gone out of your way to' it/
* How do you know that ? (fays the king) Oh, fir,
' (quoth the Locuft) we know you very well, for we
' come every year to fpend twoor three months in your
' gardens.' Immediately the king and his brother be-
came acquainted with the Locuft, and many civil things
pa (fed between them. They dined together, and his ma-
jeftyand highnefs took delight in viewing thecuriofitiesof
the country, where the leaft leaf on a t. ee was worth a gui-
nea. When they had been kindly treated by the hoft,
they proceeded on their journey ; and knowing the way
to the place they were bound to, it was not long before
they arrived at it. The trees were all loaded with Pea-
cocks, and the number of them fo great, that their chuck-
ling might be heard two leagues off. Says the king to
his brother , ' If the King of the Peacocks mould be a
' Peacock himfelf, how can our fifter pretend to have
* him for a hufband ? we fhould be made to confent
' to it ; and what a fine alliance will (he engage us in !
' betides, what an honour it will be to us to have a little
' Pea chicken for our nephew !' The prince was as much
concerned about it as the king. * It is a wretched fan-
* cy of her's (quoth he) who could put it into her head,
* that there was fuch a creature upon the earth as the
' King of the Peacocks?' When they arrived at the ca-
pital city they faw that it was full of men and women,
but
73 THE STORY of PRINCESS ROSETTA.
but that their clothes were all made of Peacocks feathers
which they met with wherever they came. They found
the king taking the air in a rich little coach of gold and
diamonds. This monarch was fo hand feme, iLat the
king and prince were charmed with him. His hair
was fair, curled and Icng; his complexion fair alfo; ;
and on his head he wore a crown made of a peacock's
tail. When heefpied them, he imagined by their drefs
that they were ftrangers ; and to inform himfelfconcer-
mg them, flopped his coach, and ordered them to be
called to him.
The king and prince approached him, made him a
very low bow, faying, *Sir, we are come from a farcoun-
* try, to {hew to you a lovely picture ;' and then pulled
out that of their fifter, which they carried in a cafe.
When the King of the Peacocks law it, * I do not believe
(faid he) ' there is fo beautiful a lady in the univerfe.'
The king anfwered, ' She is a hundred times handfomeF
* than her picture. * You banter me (quoth the mo-
* narchofthe fine tailed nation.*) The prince then
took his brother's part. * Sir (faid he) my brother is a
* kingas well as yourfelf ; he is called the king, and I am
called the prince; our fifter, whofe picture you fee
here, is named Rofetta. We are come to afk you if
you will marry her : fhe is handfome and difcreet,
4 and we will give you with her a bufhel of crowns of ';
' gold. ' Say you fo (quoth the King of the Peacocks)
1 will marry her with all my heart : but be you mure
that fhe is 2 s handfome as her picture, for otherwife
* you fball be both put to death.' Agreed (replied Ro-
fetta's two brothers.') Then here (fays the king to
' the captain of his guards) put thefe two perfons into
* prifbn ; they fhalt remain there till the princefs arrives.
The princes obeyed, without making any difficulty of i
it, for they knew Rofetta was handfomer than her por-
trait.
During their confinement they were treated to a
wonder : the king came often to vifit them, and hung
Rofetta's picture up in his paiace, being fo enamoured
with it, that he could not fleep night nor day, the image
of
THE STORY of PRINCESS ROSETTA. 79
of the fair lady tanning always in his mind. The king
and the prince wrote from their prifon to the princefs
by the poft, to come away with all fpeed, for the King
of the Peacocks expecled her. They did not let her
know they were prifoners, for fear of troubling her too
much.
When me received the letter, me was fo overjoyed
me could hardly contain herfelf. She told every body
(he met, the King of the Peacocks was found, and me
was ta marry him. Bonfires were prefenly lighted
through all the city : the cannon difcharged ; thechoifeft
viands and fweet-meats were devoured by cart loads;
and the princefs for three days kept open houfe, treating
all her guefls with the richeft wines.. After which (he
beftowed her fine babies on her beft friends, and, com-
mitting the government to the oldeft and wifell perfons
of the city, recommending to them to have a care of
the ftate, to fpend nothing, but to fave all they could for
the king ; packed up her baggage, and departed, leaving
her Peacock behind her, having given the regents a ftricl:
charge to be careful of him. Her dog Fretrillion, her
nurfe, and fofter-fifter, were the only companions of
her voyage, for (he went by fea. She carried with her
the bufhel of crowns of gold that were to be her portion,
and change of fuits fufficient to laft her ten years, at
two fuits a day. She did nothing but ling and dance :
and her nurfe was always inquiring of the mafterof the
veffel, whether they were not conje near the kingdom
of the Peacocks ? he ftill anfwered, No, no.' She afked
him ftill, ' Are we now come ?' * Have a little patience
' good woman (quoth the tar) we ihall arrive in good
* time.' * Are we come now ? (fays the nurfe again.*)
* Yes, you are come (replied the mariner.') And when
he had faid it, (he drew up near him, feated herfelf
down by him, and fpoke to him thus: * It is now in thy
4 power to make thyfdf as rich as thou pleafeft ; do as
' I would have thee, and thou (halt have as much money
' as thou wilt.' He anfwered, What muft I do for
* it ?' * I will give thee thy pocket full of guineas (quoth
fhe,') * Will you fo, faysthe mariner, I delire no better
fport
80 THE STORY of PRINCESS ROSETTA.
* fport ; let us fineer them as foon as you pleafe', The
nurfe went on, * What I require of you in return is, that
this night, when theprincefs isafleep, thou wilt help me
' to throw her into the fea ; when (he is drowned, 1
will drefs my daughter up in her cloaths, and we will
' carry her to the King of the Peacocks, who will marry
' her ; and for thy reward thou ihalt have a diamond
bracelet.
The mariner was furprifed at the nurfe's cruel propo-
fal. ' It is a pity (laid hej to drown fuch a fair prin-
cefs.' But the wicked woman cured his fcruples with
a bottle or two of wine, and he agreed to ferve her.
About midnight, the princefs being fa fl a fleep, with
her little dog Fretrillion by her, the nurfe went to the
mariner, and made him enter Rofetta's cabin : They
took her up, bed and all, and th r ew her into the fea,
her fofter-fifter lending her helping hand. The prin-
cefs did not wake with the ftir they made, nor with the
blow of the fall; but what was happy for her, the feathers
of her bed were phoenix's, which are very rare, and
have that good quality, they never link, fo Rofetta
f\vam upon her bed as fafely, and as much at her eafe,
as if me had been in the veflel. The water by degrees
however wetted the matting fir ft, and then the bed and
blankets. The princefs feeling the wet about her,
was at firft a little alarmed, bat was quiekly recovered.
Her turning herfclf from one fide to the other waked
Fretillion, who had an excellent nofe, and fmeit the fcles
and flounders that were near him : He fella barking, fo
that it waked ail the other fifrt, who began to fwim
about them. The great fifh ran their heads againft the
princefs's bed, which being fattened to nothing, was
tofled to and fro like a (huttle-cock. My lady wondered
what was the matter. * How, (fays me) does our vef-
' fel dance fo upon the water ? I never lay fo uneafy
' in ray life as I have done to night.* Fretillion in
the mean while barked at the fifh fo lolidly, trnt the
nurfe and mariner heard him. *That rogue of a dog
(faid me) 4 is, I warrant ye, drinking our health
* with his miftrefs; let us not mind th&m, but make
to
THE STORY of PRINCESS ROSETTA. Bi
' te port as faft as we can :' And it was not long before
they arrived at the King of the Peacock's capita].
The monarch ordered a hundred coaches, drawn by
all forts of rare beads to meet the princefs at the fea
fide. Some were drawn by lions, fome by bears, fome
by flags, wolves, horfes, oxen, alTes, eagles, and peacocks.
The coach which Rofetta was to ride in, was drawn by
iix blue monkeys, who capered and danced, and played a
thoufand pretty tricks : Their harnefs was made of crim*
fon velvet, with plates of gold. The king commanded
lixty young virgins to wait upon her at her arrival.-
They were drefied in all forts of colours; andfilver and
gold were Meleaft things about them.
Thenurfehad taken agreat deal of pains tofetoffher
daughter; me drefied her head with Rofetu's diamonds,
and clothed her in her fined robes. But with all her
finery fhe was exceeding ugly : Her hair was black and
greafy ; her eyes fquinted ; fhe was hump-backed, and
of fuch an ill humour, that fhe was always a fcolding.
When the King of the Peacock's fervant faw her come
out of the veflel, they were ftruck dumb with aftonifh-
ment. * Who is here (quoth fhe) What, are you all
* faft a lleep ? Go, go, ye rafcals, fetch me fomething
* to tat, or I will have you all hanged.' They were
ftartled at her threats, and faid one to another, ' What
' filthy beaft is comeamongft us ; fhe is as ill natured
* as fhe is ugly : Our king is finely helped up in a wife :
' there was no need of fending to the end of the world
' for fuch a lady as this is.' The pretended princefs
continued her airs, and for little or nothing tell foul
upon her attendants with her tongue and fi(h
Her equipage being very great, fhe could not go faft
along. She lolled in her coach like a queen; but the
peacocks, who had polled themfeives on the trees there-'
abouts, to falute her, as fhe pafTcd by, intending to
welcome her with fhouts of * Long live the fair queen
* Rofetta,' when they faw this fair creature, cried out,
' Fie, fie, how ugly fhe is !' The jade, enraged at them
bid her guards kill thofe rafcally peacocks ; dare they
affront and rail at me ! the peacocks laughed at her and
flew away.
The
#2 THE STORY of PRINCESS ROSETTA.
The rogue of a mariner, who faw what pafled, \vh!f-
pered the nurfe, * Mother we are in a forty condition;
' your daughter fhould have been a little handfomer/
She replied, ' Hold your tongue, you blockhead, or you
will fpoil all.
The king receiving intimation that the princefs ap-
proached ; * Well faid he to his courtiers, have the two
* brothers told me truth ? is fhe handfomer than hef
' picture/ They anfwered, * It were to be wifhed, fir,
' that (he would prove as handfcme/ * I defire no
' more, fays the king; let us go and fee what fhe is :*
for by this time the mock princefs and her train were
arrived in the great court in the palace, and the noife
was fuch, that he could not diftinguith what they faid,
only he could hear fome of the crowd that were neareft
to him cry, * Out upon her, how ugly fhe is!' The king
thought they fpoke it of fome dwarf or monkey that fhe
had brought along with her, for he could not imagine
that it was fhe herfelf they faid this of,
Rofetta's picture was carried before the king at the
end of along ftaff, and his majefty followed it gravely
with his barons, his peacocks, and the ambafladors of,
the feveral kingdoms refident in his court. The king
was very impatient to fee his dear Rofetta ; but when he-
fa w her lady Chip, it was feared he would drop d^wn.
dead in the place: He fell in the moft tenible paffion
that ever was feen ; tore his garments, and would not
come near her, being afraid of her as if (he h d been
a fiend, and not a human creature.
' Have thefe two villains, wh^m I have in prifon
(faid he) * had the impudence to make a jeft of me
* and propofe a baboon to me fur a wife ? rfcey fhall
' die; go t?ke that gipfey, her nurfe, and he that
* brought them, thr w them into thr dungeon in my
* great tower ; I will make examples of 'hem all/.'
In the mean time, the king and his brother, who were
prifoners, hearing their lifter was arrived, and was ma-
king her public entry, had dreffed themfelves as fine as
tiey could to receive her : but, inftead of opening their
prifon doors tofet them at liberty, the gaoler came with
twenty.
THE STORY of PRINCESS ROSETTA. 83
twenty foldiers, and caried them down into a dark
dungeon, which was full of naftinefs and vermin, and
where they flood up to their necks in water. Nothing
can be imagined more dreadful to perfons of theirrank.
* Alas (faid they to each other) it is an unhappy wed-
* ding day to us !' What could be the caufc of their fuf-
ferings they could not conceive, only they faw their
death was refolved on, and weie both in a moft deplo-
rable ftate of defpair. Three days paft over their heads,
and they heard no tidings of any thing. At laft the
King of the Peacocks came, and railed at them thro* a
hole. You have ufurped the title of king and prince
to deceive me, and itnpofe your fitter, on me; but yea
are all a company of rafcals, who do not deferve the
water you drink : I fhall take a courfe with you :
your judges are preparing for your trial, and the rope
is making that is to hang you. * King of the Peacocks,
(replied the king in a rage) do not make fo much hafte,
you may repent it one time or other : lain a king
as well as ycurfelf ; I have a large kingdom royal
robes, crowns and money in good ftore. You are
merry fure, when you talk of hanging us : have we
ftolen any thing from you ?
When the king heard him fpeak with fo much refolu-
tion, he could not tell what to do: he had a 1 moft a
mind to releafe them, and fend them home with their
fifter ; but one of his favourites (a true court flatterer)
confirmed him in his defign to have them tied up ;
otherwife, he faid, every body would fcorn him, to be
tricked by fuch forry fellows. He then fwore he would
never forgive them, and ordered rh-it they fhouldbe
brought to a trial ; which did not laft long, for there
was no need of much proof : the portrait of the real Ro-
fetta was produced, as alfo theperfon of the counterfeit.
The impofture was plain : fo the two princes were con-
demned to be beheaded as cheats, for having promifed
the king a beautiful princefs, and inftead of fuch a one,
prefented him with an ugly wench, hardly fit for his
groom.
The
84 THE STORY of PRINCESS ROSETTA.
The judges went in great folemnity to the prffon, to
pronounce the princes fentence; who cried cut, they
had not put any trick upon him ; that their fitter was
a princefs, and as bright as the day ; that there niuft be
fomemiftake in the matter ; and defired refpite of execu-
tion for feven days, in which time their innocence might be
made appear. The King of the Peacocks, who was
mightily enraged at them, could hardly be perfuaded
to favour them fo far; but at lafthe was prevailed with
to fparetheir jives fo long.
While things went on thus at court, the poor princefs
Rofetta was in a miferable condition. As foon as day
broke, fhe was amazed to find herfelf in the middle of
the fea, and Fretillion in no lefs amazement than his
itiiftrefs. She wept, and wept as if fhe meant to iwell
the ocean with her tears. The fifh who beheld them,
pitied the forowful princefs. She knew not what to do,
nor what to think. * Certainly (faid fhe to herfelf) I
' was flung here by the King of the Peacock's order ;
' he repents of marrying me, and to get rid of me would
'have me drowned. He is a ftrange fort of a man
* furely, for I mould have loved him fo well, and we
* mould have lived fo comfortably together ?, She then
fell a weeping again more than ever, for, fhe could not
h-lp loving him.
Two days fhe remained floating upon the fea, foaked
to the very bone, numbed with cold, and almcft ready
to give up the ghoft; and indeed, had it not been for
the company of her Fretillion, fhe had died a hundred
times in thofe two days, if it had been pofTible. She
was very hungry ; but fhe took up oyfters as many as
(he could, and fwa Mowed them. Fretillion did not
love them, yet as he muft eat them or fta,rve,it brought
bis ftomach too a little. When night came, Rofetta's.
tears increafed ; and quoth fhe to her dog, * Bark, Fre-
*> tijlion, leaft the fifh eat us.' He barked all night,
^nd the curren.t drove the princefs's bed on fhore, near
an old man's houfe, who lived alone in a little cottage,
where nobody ever came to fee him. He was very poor,
and did not mind worldly goods, provided he had eafe
and
THE STORY of PRINCESS ROSETTA. 85
and fuftenance. When he heard Fretrillion bark he was
furprifed, and could not tell whether he was rwake or
afleep, there being no dogs in his neighbourhood. He
imagined that forae travellers were got out of their way,
and came out of his hut with a charitable intention to
put them into it. On a fudden he efpied the princefs
and Fretrillion fwimmingon the fea ; and the princefs
feeing him, held up her hand, crying out. * Help me
* father, or we fhali perifh : I have Janguimed already
* thefe two days.'
When he heard her make that pitiful moan, he was
touched to the heart with compaffion, ran into his houfe
to fetch out a long pole with a crook at the end, to pull
the bed afhore, and went into the fea up to his chin to
hawl her out, which, not without much danger and diffi-
culty, he effecled. Rofetta and Fretrillion both rejoiced
when they fet foot on dry ground* She thanked the
good man for afliftingher, and wrapped herfelf up in
her coverlid : then, barefoot as fhe was, me walked to
his cottage, where he lighted a fire of dry leaves, and
took his late wife's bed-gown, with fome clean fh-oes and
ftockings, to clothe the princefs ; who, thus drefled like
a country girl, looked as fair as the morning, and Fre-
trillion leaped about to divert her.
And when the perils of the deep are o'er,
With food fupply'd the fainting fair ajbore\
None everfuch an ufeful creature knew,
Or dog fo jtrviceable andfo true.
Rofetta, who Jo much had fujfered, fpar'd
The traitors , fearful of their crime's reward.
Learn ye, who have been injured, to forgive
Like her, and to reflrain your vengeance jlrive :
Bejides that fortune, now your friend, may change t
^Tis greater to forgive, than to revenge.
The good old man perceived that Rofetta was a lady
of quality, for the coverlid of her bed was cloth of gold
and filver, and her quilt of fatin. He begged her to
tell him her adventures, and promifed not to fay a
6 word
86 THE STORY ofPaiNCEss ROSETTA.
word, if fhe exacted iilence from him. To fatisfy hJm,
(he told him the whole ftory from one end to the other,
ending her relation with tears ; for fhe ftill believed that
the king of the Peacocks had ordered her to be drbwned.
* What (hall I get for you, that you may eat ? (quoth
the old man) fo great a princefs as you muft have been
* muft have been ufed to dainties ; and as for me, 1
* have nothing but my brown bread and turnips, which
* will be but a forry meal for your highnefs ; if you
* would give me leave I will go and tell the King of the
' Peacocks that you are here; for certainly, as foon as
* he fees you, he will marry you.* ' Ah ! (replied Ro-
' fetta) he is a rogue, he would have me drowned ; but
' if you have a little bafket, tie it about my dog's neck,
' and he will be more unfortunate than ever I knew
' him, if he does not fetch us fome provi liens.* The
old man brought out a bn fleet, and gave it the princefs,
who tied it about Fretillion's neck, faying, * Go, firah,
* to the befl pot in the city, and bring me what is in it.'
Fretillion ran to the town, and the king's pot being the
beft, went ftrait to the kitchen royal, opened the pot,
and took out what was within it, and returned to his
miftrefs. Kofetta patted him on the back, and bade
him go back and do his office again. Fretillion retur-
n d a fecond time, fo loaded with bread and wine,
fruits and fweet-rr.ears, that he could hardly lug them
a long. When the King of the Peacocks called for his'
dinner the cook examining the pot which was over
the fire, found there was nothing in it, and the defert
was alfo milling. The feivants of the houfehold ftared
upon one another, and could notguefs hew it was gone.
7"he King fell into a violent paifion : however, he was
forced to go without his dinner. ' Well, (faid he) let
* me have fomething foafted for fupper, or you mall
pay for it feverely.' Supper-time being come, fays
the princefs to Fretillion, * Go to town, and fetch me
* thebeft thing out of the beft kitchen there ' The dog
who had been taught to fetch and carry, did as his mif-
trefs commanded him ; and knowing no kitchen better
than the king's, went thither, entered it foftiy, and very
dextror.ily
THE STORY of PRINCESS ROSETTA. 87
tf>
dextroufly carried off the roaft meat. He returned to
the princefs with his bafket full; and fhe commanding
him again to do his office, he went to the palace again,
and brought away the defert afecond time.
The King having no dinner, had a good ftomach to
his fupper, and ordered it to be ready early; but there
was nothing for him, which threw him into a greater
rage than before. He raved and ftormed, but all to no
purpofe; the roafted meat was gone, and he was com-
pelled to go to bed fupperlefs. He was ferved the fame
trick the next day at dinner and fupper: fo that his
majefty lived three days without eating or drinking :
for whenever he fat down, the meat was always mif-
fing. The chief favourite and miniuer, who was con-
cerned for the health of the King, hid himfelf in a little
Cjrner of the kitchen, and kept his eye upon the pot that
was over the fire. He had not ftayed there long, before,
to his great furprife, he faw a little green dog with one
ear enter foftly, open the pot, take out the meat, and
put it into his bafket, he followed, to fee where he went ;
the dog ran directly to his miftrefs at the old man's
houfe. The favourite returned to court, and told the
King what he had feen, and that both his roaft meat and
boiled meat was every day carried to a poor peafant's
houfe. The King was amazed at it, and commanded
the country man to be brought before him. The prime
miniuer took fome ferjeants with him, and away they
went to the peafant's hou(e, where they found the prin-
cefs and the old man at dinner, eating his majeftv's
boiled and roaft very contentedly. The favourite bade
the ferjeants apprehend them : fo Rofetta, the old man
and Fretil'ion, were bound and led away to the palace.
When they arrived there, word was brought to the
King ; who anfwered, to-morrow is the laft day that
thfefe two cheats have to live ; let the thief who robbed
me of my dinner die with them. He then entered the
hall of jaftice to try the criminals ; the old man fell
upon his knees, and promifed toconfefs all, if he would
fparehis life. While he wasfpeaking the king looked
upon the fair princefs, and pitied her when he faw her
weep : but when the old man declared that (he was the
princefs Roletta, whom the wicked nurfe and mariner
3 had
88 THE STORY of PRINCESS ROSETT A.
had thrown into the fea : though the King was faint e-
nough with three days fading, he gave three leaps for
joy, thai fhewed his majrfty could cut a caper with the
nimbleft of them. He ran to the princefs, unbound
her, embraced her, and faid he loved her dearly.
He prefently gave orders to bring forth the princes
who imagined it was to their execution, held down their
heads like condemned men. The nurfeandher daught.r
were alfo fent for. When they all met together, they
all knew one another. The princefs threw her arms
abouj: her brothers necks: thenurfe and mariner begged
pardon upon their knees. The king and the princefs
were fo overjoyed, that they forgave them. The good
old countryman was liberally rewarded, and had an
apartment in the palace, where h? lived all his life-time
afterwards. The King of the Peacocks did his utmoft
to make the princes amends for their fufferings. The
nurfe r.ftored Rofetta her rich robes and the bufhel of
crowns of gold. The nuptial feftival lafted fifteen days ;
every one was pleafed, not excepting even Fretiilion,
who would eat nothing for the future but the wings of
partridges.
THE MORAL.
Heaven is our guard, and innocence its care,
Nor need the juft the worft of dangers fear j
It pities die defenctlei's virgin's grief,
And fends her, when /he calls, help and relief j
It arms the fureft fuccour and the beft,
Delivers and revenges the dillrefs'd.
When fair Rofetta on the waves was toft,
What hope had me to reach the diftant coaft ?
Who that had beard the billows round her roar
Could think, fhe ever could have gain'd the more ?
Who would not have believ'd her lovely flefh
Would be ibnie hungry whale's delicious dit'h ?
Soft pity muft have melted all his frame,
To view the dangers of the floating dame.
Heav'n heard her cries, or foon Ihe'd been a prey
To death and the fell monfters of the fea.
His part her little dog Fretillion play'd.
Who fnapt the finny foes to lave the maid.
THE
CURIOUS STORY
OF THE
WHITE MOUSE.
,T>1 : .!;-:;jr'V^; ft*'*.' '
TT N the kingdom of Bonbobbin, which, by the Chinefe
annals appears to have fiourifhed twenty thoufand
years ago, there reigned a prince, endowed with every
accomplimment which generally diftinguifhes the fons
of kings. His beauty was brighter than the fun. The
fun, to which he was nearly related, would iometimes
Hop hiscourfe, in order to look down and admire him.
His mind was not lefs perfect than his body ; he knew
all things without having ever read ; philofophers, poets,
and hiftorians fubmitted their works to his decifion ;
and fo penetrating was he, that he could tell the merit
of a book, by looking on the cover. He made epick
poems, tragedies, and paftorals, withfurprifing facility;
fong, epigram or rebus, was all one to him ; though, it
is obferved he could never finifh anacroftick. In fiiort,
the fairy who precided at his birth, had endowed him
with almoft every perfection, or what was juftthe fame,
his fubjecls were ready to acknowledge he poflefled them
all ; and, for his own part, he knew nothing to the con-
trary. A prince fo accomplifhed , received a name lui
table to his merit : and he was called Bonbenin*bonbob-
E bia
90 THE -STORY of the WHITE MOUSE.
bin-bonbobbinet, which fignifies enlightener of the fun.
As he was very powerful, and yet unmarried, all the
neighbouring kings earneftly fought his alliance. Each
lent his daughter, drefTed cut in the moft magnificent
manner, and with the moft fumptuous retinue imagi-
nable, in order to allure the prince ; fo that, at one time,
there were feen at his court, not lefs than feven hundred
foreign princefles, of exquifite fentiment and beauty,
each alone fufficient to make feven hundred ordinary
men happy.
Diftracled in fuch a variety, the generous Bonbenin,
had he not been obliged by the laws of the empire to
make choice of one, would very willingly have married
them all, for none underftood gallantry better. He
fpent numberlefs hours of folicitude, in endeavouring
to determine whom he mould chufe: one lady was pof-
fefled of every perfeclion, but he difliked her eye-
brows ; another was brighter than the morning ftar,
but he difapproved of her fong whang ; a third did not
lay white enough on her cheeks : and the fourth did not
fufficiently blacken her nails. At laft, after numberlefs
difappointmentsontheone fide and the other, hemade
choice of the incomparable Nanhoa, queen of the fcarlet
-dragons.
The preparations for the royal nuptials, or the envy
of the difappointed ladies, needs no defcription ; both
the one and the other were as great as they could be.
The beautiful princefs was conducted, amidft admiring
multitudes to the royal couch, where, after being divef-
ted of every incumbering ornament, he came more
chearful than the morning ; and, printing on her lips a
burning kifs, the attendants took this as a proper iignal
to withdraw.
Perhaps 1 ought to have mentioned, in the beginning,
that among feveral other qualifications, the prince was
fondof collecting and breedingmice, which being a harm-
Jefs paftime, none of his councellors thought proper to
diffuade him from ; he therefore kept a great variety of
ihefe pretty little animals, in the moft beautiful cages,
enriched
THE STORY of the WHITE MOUSE. 91
enriched with diamonds, rubies, emeralds, pearls, and
other precious Hones ; thus he innocently fpent four hours
each day in contemplating their innocent little paftimes.
But, to proceed Thefrir.ee and princefs were now
retired to repofe ; and though night and fecrecy had
drawn the curtain, yet delicacy retarded thofe enjoy-
ments which pafiion prefented to their view. The prince
happened to look towards the outride of the bed, percei-
ved one of the mod beautiful animals in the world, a
white moufe with green eyes, playing about the flo'.r,
and performing a hundred prttty tricks. He was aliea-
dy mafter of blue mice, red mice, and mice with green,
eyes, was what he long endeavoured to pofTef? : where-
fore, leaping from bed, with the utmoft impatience and
agility, the youthful prince attempted to ieize the little
charmer; but it was fled in a moment ; for, alas! the
moufe was fentby a difcontented princefs, and was itfclf
a fairy.
It is impoflible to defcribe the agony of the prince
upon this occafion. He fought round and round every
part of the room, even the bed where the princefs lay
was not exempt from the inquiry : he turned the prin-
cefs on one fide and the other, ftripped her quite naked,
but no moufe was to be found ; the princefs heifeli was
kind enough toaflift, but flill to no {.urpofe.
* Alas, (cried the young prince in on agony) how un-
' happy am I to be thus difappointed 1 never fure was
4 fo beautiful an animal feen ; I would give half my
' kingdom and my princefs to him that would find it.*
The princefs, though not much plea fed with the latter
part of his offer, endeavoured to comfort him as well as
ihe could : ihe let him know that he had a hundred mice,
already, which ought to be at leaft fufficient to fctisfy
any philofopher like him. Though none of them had
green eyes, yet he mould learn to thank heaven that
they had eyes. She told him (for {he was a profound
moralift) that incurable evils mufl be borne, and that
ufelefs lamentations were vain, and that man wash; in
o misfortunes : fhe even entreated him to return t> bed,
suid fhe would endeavour to lull him on her bofom tq
2 repofe ;
92 TH E STORY of the WHITE MOUSE.
repcfe : but (till the prince continued inconfolable r
and, regarded her with a ftern air, for which his family
was remarkable ; he vowed never to fleep in a royal pa-
lace or indulge himfelf in the innocent pleafures of
matrimony, till he had found the moufe with the green
eyes.
When morning came, he publifhed an edict, offering
half his kingdom, and his princefs, to that perfon who
mould catch and bring him the white moufe with green
eyes.
The edict was fcarcely publifhed, when all the traps
is the kingdom were baited with chcefe : numberiefs
mice were taken and deftroyed : but dill the much wifh-
ed for moufe was not among the number. The privy
council were aflembled more than once to give their ad-
vice; but all their deliberations came to nothing; even
tho* there were two complete vermin killers, and three
profeffed rat-catchers of the number. Frequent ad-
dreffes, as is ufual on extraordinary occafions, were fent
from all parts of the empire ; but though thefe promifed
well, though in them he received an atlurance, that his
faithful fubjects would aflift in his fearch, with their
lives and fortunes, yet, with all their loyalty they failed,
when the time came that the moufe was to be caught.
The prince, therefore, was refolved to go himfelf in
fearch, determined never to lay two nights in one place,
till he had found what he fougfet for. Thus quitting
his palace, without attendants, he fet out upon his jour-
ney, and travelled through many a defert, and crofTed
many a river, high over hills, and down among vales,
ftill reftlefs, ftill inquiring wherever he came : but no
white moufe was to be found.
As one day, fatigued with his journey, he was ma-
ding himfelf, from the heat of the mid-day fun, under
the arching branches of a banana tree, meditatineon the
object of his.purfu it, he perceived an old woman hideouf-
ly deformed, approaching him : by her ftoop and the
wrinkles of her vifage, fhe feemed at leaft five hundred
years old; and the fpotted toad was not more freckled
than was herfkin. * Ah? prince Bonbenin-bonbobbin-
bonbobinet
THE STORY cif the WHITE Mouj5 I 93
f bonbobinet (cried the creature) what has led you fo
' many thoufand miles from your own kingdom ?
' what is it you look for, and what induces you to travel
1 into the kingdom of the emmits ?' The prince, who
was cxceffively complaifant, told her the whole ftory
three times over, for fhe was was hard of hearing.
* well faid the old fairy, (for fuch fhe was) I prom if e" to
* put you in poifeffion of the White Moufe, with green
* eyes, and that immediately too, upon one condition.
* One condition (continued the prince in a rapture)
' name a thoufand ; I mall undergo them all with plea-
' fure.' * Nay (interrupted the old fairy) I afk but one,
' and that not very mortifying neither ; it is only that
' you inftantly confent to marry me.' It is itnpomble
to exprefs the prince's con fufion at this demand: he
loved the moufe, but he detefted the bride ; he helita-
ted; hedeiired time to think on the propofal. He would
have been glad to confult his friends on fuch an occafi-
on. * Nay, nay, cried the odious fairy, if you demur,
' I retract my promife ; I do notdefireto force my fa-
* .vors on any man. Here, you my attendant, (cried
fhe, (lamping with her foot) let mymachinebedrivenup :
*' Barbacela, queen of Emmets, is not ufed to contemp-
' tuous. treatment.' She had no focner fpoken than
her fiery chariot appeared in the air, drawn by two
. fnails ; and me was juft going to fiep in, when the prinee
refiedted, that now or never was the time to be in po{
feiHon of the white moufe ; and quite f >rg-etting his law-
,ful princefs, Nanhoa, falling on his knees, he implored
iforgivenefs for having rafhiy rejected fo much beauty)*
This well-timed compiiment inftantly ar>peafed the an-
gry fairy. She affec'led an hideous leer of approbation,
and taking the young prince by the hand, conducted
him to a neighbouring church, where they were mar-
ried together in a moment. As foon as the ceremony
was performed, the prince who was to the k;ft decree
delirous of feeing his favourite moufe, reminded the
bride of her promife. To confefs a truth, my prince
(cried fhe) I myfelf am that very white mctife you faw
* on your wedding night in the royal apartment. I
3 now
94- THE STORY of the WHITE MOUSE.
* now therefore give you your choice, whether you would
' have me a moufe by day, and a woman by night, or
* a moufe by night, and a woman by day.' Though
the prince was an excellent cafuift, he was quite at a
lofs how to determine ; but at laft thought it inoft pru-
dent to have recourfe to a blue cat, that had followed
him from his own dominions, and frequently arnufed
kirn with its converfation, and afiifted^ him with its nd-
vice : in fad this cat was no other than the faithful
princefs Nanhoa herfelf, who had ihared wi^i him all
his hardmips in thisdifguife.
By her inftrucYtons he was determined in his choice ;
and, returning to the old fairy, prudently obferved,
that, as ihe muft have been fenfible he had married her
only for the fake of what (he had, and not for her perfon-
al qualifications, he thought it would, for feveralrea fans,
be moft convenient, if me continued a woman by day,
and appeared a moufe by night.
The eld fairy was a good deal mortified at her huf-
band's want of gallantry, though me was reluctantly o-
bliged to comply: the day was therefore fpent in the
moft polite amufement, the gentlemen talked, the
ladies laughed, and were angry. At laft the happy night
drew near; the blue cat ftill ftuclcby thefide of its maf-
ter, and even followed him to the bridal apartment.
Barbacela entered the chamber, wearing a train fif
teen yards long, fupported by porcupines, and all over
befet with jewels, which ferved to render her more detef-
teble. She was juft ftepping into bed to the prince,
forgetting her promife, when he infifted upon feeing
her in the fhape of a moufe. She had promifed, and no
fairy can break her word ; wherefore afluming the fi-
gure of the moft beautiful moufe in the world, fhe fkip-
|>ed and played about with an infinity of amufement.
The prince in an agony of rapture, was deiirous of fee-
ing his pretty playfellow move a flow dance about the
floor to his own Tinging ; he began to fmg, and the
*noufe immediately to perform with the moft perfect
knowledge of time, and the fineft grace and greateft gra-
vity imaginable ; it only began, for Nanhoa, who had
long
THE STORY of PRINCESS VERENATA. 55
long waited for the opportunity, in the fhape of a cat,
fiew upon it inftantly, without remorfe, and eating it
up in the hundredth part of a moment, broke the charm,
and then relumed her natural figure.
The prince now found that he had all along been un-
der the power of enchantment ; that his paflion for the
White Moufe was entirely ficlious, and not the genuine
complexion of his foul : he now faw, that his earneftnefs
after mice was an illiberal amufement, and much more
becoming a rat-catcher than a prince. All his meannefles
now ftared him in the face ; he begged the princefs's
pardon an hundred times. The princefs very readily
forgave him ; and both returned to their palace in Ban-
bobbin, lived very happily together, and reigned many
years, with all that wifdom which by the ftory, they
appear to have been poflefled of. Perfectly convinced
by their former abventures, that they who place their
afFedlions on trifles at firft for amufement, will find
thofc trifles at laft become their moft ferious concern.
THE
,fUin:; .
STORY
fcne .th8 Ismis-xir' <-?:*.? ovp-ncl. r*w ; n U
OF
-
PRINCESS VERENATA.
IT happened upon a time, there was a certain Hng
and queen, who had feveral children, but thfy all
died ; and the king and queen were fo mightily trou-
bled at it, that never any body could be more fo. Their
E 4 coffers
6 THE STORY of PRINCESS VER.ENAT/U
<*offers *vf re all full, and they wanted only children to
Itave their treafures to. Five years were pait fince the
<queen had a child, and all the world believed (he would
have no more, becaufe {he afflicted herielf too xr.uch
for thofe pretty princes which (he had buried.
Bat at laft (he was with child, and all her thoughts,
night and day, were what (he fhould do to preferve the
royal infant when it was born, what name (he fhould
give it, what clothes, what babies, and play-things pro-
vide for it.
Proclamation was made, and orders fet up In all pla-
ces, that the beft nurfes in the kingdom mould come to
court, that the queen might chufe one out of them to
nurfe the expelled baby. Immediately the good women
came from all quarters: the court was full of nurfes,
with their little children in their arms. The queen
being one day walking to take the air in a neighbour-
ing wood, and the king with her, fhe fat down to reft
herfelf, and faid to his majefty, * Sir, pray give order*
* that all thofe nuifes be brought hither, that we may
4 make choice of one of them, for all the cows we have
' will not yield milk enough to make pap for the children
they have brought with them.* * Very well, my dear
(replied the king') and ftreight he commanded that the
nurfes mould come to them. They accordingly came*
ene after ar ether, and made each a fine courtfy to their
majcfties. Then they flood along in a row, and the
king and queen furveyed them in general firft, and
afterwards in particular : they examined their frefh
complexions, their white teeth, ai,d their breaft full of
milk. Among the reft came an ugly jade, drawn in a
weel-barrow, by two nafty dwarfs: fhe was a cripple,,
and fo crooked that her chin and knees almoft met.
She had a great wen in her face? fhe fquinted, and her
flun was as black as ink : fhe held fomethingin her arms
like a little infant monkey, to which fhe gave fuck, and
fpake a jargon that nobody underflood. She approach- .
ed their majefties ,in her turn to offer her fervice, but
the queen bid he,r be gone ; * Get ye hence you filthy
bcaft
THE STORY of PRINCESS VERENATA. 97
beaft. ! (quoth her mijefty ;) what put it into your head
' of fuch a cre'jture as thou art to come hither ? if. thou
^ not get thee away inftantly, 1 flnll older thee to
iven after another manner/ The beidavn rnut-
herielf and retreated to an old tree, where ihe
lay in a crevice ot the trunk and faw all that paffed.
The queen thinking no more of her, chofe a handfome
young woman to be her nurfe ; but as foon as (he had
named her, a horrible fnake, which lay in the grafs,
ftung her in the foot, and (he fell down as if me had
been dead. The queen was very forry for the accident,
and made choice of another. She had no fooner done it,
but an eagle, which flew over the nurfe's head \vitha
huge turtle in her claws dropped it o i the woman's
head, and broke it in pieces as it it had been glafs. The
queen was more concerned at this accident than the o-
tber ; yet me chofe a third nurfe for the child that was to
be born ; and this woman running too haftily towaids
her, fell down againft the {lump of a tree, and ftruck
her eye out. * Alas ! (fays her majefty) I fee this is an
' unfortunate day ; I cannot pitch upon a nurfe, but
* prefentiy fome mifchief comes to her : let a furgeon
' be fent for to look after them.' So (he arofe from
her feat, and was returning to the palace, when fhe
heard fomebody laugh aloud ; and turning back, fhe
efpied the old deformed beldam behind her, like a ba
'boon's mate with her young ape in a wheel-barrow.
She laughed at the whole company, and at the queen
in particular : which fo enraged her m?jefty, that fhe
would have fallen upon and beaten her, very much
fufpecYtng that me had been the caufe of the mifchiefs
that had befallen the nudes. But the jade ftruck thrice
with her wand, and the dwarfs were immediately chan-
.ged into dragons, the weei-barrow into a chariot of fire,
and away fhe rlew into the air, threatnine what (he
would do to all of them, and making dreadful cries.
Alas, (faid the king) we are undone ! it is the fairy
* CaraboITa ; the wretch has hated me ever lince i was
a little boy, for playing her a trick once, and throwing
5 fome
f 3 THE STORY of PRINCESS VE&ENATA.
c
feme brimftone into her porridge : {he vowed to be
revenged, and has from that time taken all opportuni-
, ties to exercife her vengeance upon me. 1 The queen
wept, and replied, ' Had I known who fhe was, fir,
' I had given her good words, and endeavoured to have
* m dehermy friend. This misfortune will certainly
' be the death of me.* When the king faw (he grieved
fo much about it ; he ftrove to comfort her, though he
wanted comfort himfelf. * Come, my dear (fays the
monarch) let us go and confult our council upon the
' matter.' He then took her by the arm, and held her
up as me walked home, for (he trembled ftill at the
thoughts of the danger fhe was in from Carabofla's re-
venge.
When their majefties returned to their palace, they
fummoned their chief counfe'lors to attend them in their
chamber. The doors and windows were (hut very clofe
that they might not be overheard ; and it was gravely
refolved, that all the fairies a thcufand leagues about
fhould be invited to the queen's labour. Couriers
\vere difpatched, and very civil letters written to the
fairy ladies todeurethem to come to her majefty's crying-
out, and to keep the matter fecret, for fear C?rabo(Ta
. fhould hear of it. To fatLfy them for their trouble,
-; of them was promifed a waiftcoat of blue velvet,
a petticoat pf criraion, force pink fatin, flippers of the
fame colour, fome gilded fciffars, and a needle-cafe full
of fine needles.
As loon as the mefTengers were departed, the queen
and her maids fet to work to provide the things that
v.ere prorqifed to be given the fairies. She knew feve-
rsl, but there came only five. They arrived in the
very moment that the queen was brought to bed of a
princefs. r i he fairies would each give her a blefling :
t tie endowed her with perfect beauty ; another with an
. infinite deal of wit ; a third with a talent to fing admi-
rably ; a forth with a genious to write well in profe
andverfe. As the fifth was going to fpeak, they
.rd a noife in the chimney like that of a great
. s falling down from the top of a fleeple, and Cara-
bo(Ta,
THE STORY of PRINCESS VERENATA. 99
bofla appeared all over in a fweat, crying out, ' And I
* aifo endow this little creature j
' Mifdief (lie (hall give and take
* '7*11 her years doth twenty make/
who was in her bed, fell a weeping at
thefe words, and begged Carabofia to pity the poor inno-
cent princefs. All, the fairies did the fame ; faying,
' Pray, lifter, uncHarni her.' But the ugly wretch was
inexorable, and v^cxii Id i^t be perfuaded to it. So the
fifth fairy who hadtiCdlWothing, to make up the mat-
ter, endowed her wifh a long and happy life, after the
time of Carabofla's cnrfe was expired. The beldam*
fairy did nothing but laugh at them, fung fonre fongs
in contempt of them, and mounting her inviiible car r
returned as fhe came, through the chimney. All the
lifters were in great confternation : the poor queen was
at death's door, fo clofe had Carabofla's wayward charms
flruck her. However, -fhe gave the fairies what fhe
had promiled them ,~ and added feme ribbons, of which
they are very fond.. The courtiers made much of them r
and the oldeft of them, when fhe went away, advifed
the queen- to let the princefsbe kept in fome place or
other till fhe was twenty years old, where fhe might be
leen by none, except by her woman, who fhould be com-
manded to keep her locked up clofely. Upon this -the
king ordered a tower to be built, clcfe and fail at top r
and no windows to it; with only 3 lamp burning within*
it. The way to it was through a valley, which ran a-
Jong a league underground. The nurfes and gover*
nants had every thing they wanted conveyed to them
by this dark pafTage ; and every twenty paces there was
a ftrong door, and guards fet to watch- The princefs
was called Verenata, becaufe therofe and the lily joined
Li the colour of her complexion, which was as frefh and
fair as the face of the fpring. As {he grew up fhe became
a wonder in all the perfections with which the fairies
had endowed her. The moft difficult fciences were as
icon learned by her as the moil eafy; and fhe was fo
EG- beautiful
ioo THF STORY of PRINCESS VERENATA.
beautiful, and fo well fhaped, that the king and queen
always wept for joy when they faw her. She be:.ged
them fometimes to ftay with her, or to fuffer her to go
out with them ; for fhe was tired, though fhe could not
tell *vhy ; but they always excufed themfelves
Her nurfe, who had lived with her from the time of
her birth, and did not want wit, ufed to tell her what
the world was, and fhe prefently comprehended it as much
as iffhehad feenit.The kingfaidtothe queen,' My dear,
*Carab-j(Ta will be deceived, and ourVerenata wiilbehap-
pyin fpite of all her prediAions.' And the queen *as
extremely pleafed, to think how they mould baulk the
mifchievous fairy's malace. They had ordered Vere-
nata's picture to be drawn, and fent feveral of them to
all the courts they could think of: for the time of , er
relea-fement approached, and they refolved to marry her,
fhe being within fcur days of twenty yearsof a^e. The
court^nd city prepared ie^>icings for the day of the prin-
cefs's liberry; and the public joy was increafedby news
that king Merlin had defired her in marriage for his
fon. Fanfarinet, Merlin's ambaffador, arrived to de-
mand her ,' and her nurfe having reprefented that no-
thing in the world was fo fine as his entry woull be,
the princefs longed paffi nately to fee it. * How un-
happy am I (faid (he) to be locked up in a dark tower !
I have never feen the heavens, the fun, nor ftars, of
which I have heard fuch wonders : I have never feen
a horfe, an ape, or a lion, uulefs itbein painting.
The kin^ arid queen told me I mould come out when
I was twenty years old, but they only faid it to amufe
me, that I may be patient. It is pi in, I am defti-
ned to perilh here, without having given offence to
any one.' She then wept fo bitterly that her eyes
fwelled in her head : her nurfe, her fofter- lifter, her
drefTer and rocker, and all her women who waited upon
her, loved her entire! v, and wept as much as fhe to lee
her weep. The whole company were altr.oft drowned
in tears, and choaked with lighs. Never was furrow fo
complete. And rhe princefs obferved that they were
aii mightily concerned for her, took up a knife, threat-
ening
THE STORY of PRINCESS VERENATA. 101
threatening them, if they did not contrive feme way or
other for her feeing Fantarinet's public entry, ihe wo Id
ftrike it to her heart. She added, neither the king or
queen fhould ever know it : conftder with yourfelves,
had you rather 1 Ihould ftab myieithere, than give me
the fatisfaction { delireofyou ? at thefe words, thenurfe
and the other attendant, broke out into t ars, weeping
and fighing and they reiolved they would get her an
opportunity to fee Fanfarinet, or die in attempting it.
They confulted the whole night how to bring it about,
but could nut think of the means to effect it. the prin-
cefs, who was eager to fee the tight, animated the.n in
their coniultati n,, by laying, ' Never tell me you
* Jove me again ; if you did, you would find out a way
4 to oblige me in this one requeft. I have Vead, that
' .love and friendfhip furmount all difficulties.' At laft
they came to a refolution, to dig out a hole in the tower
on that Ode of the city where Fanfarinet was to make
his entry. They took down the princels's bed, and all
cf them were employed night and day in the bulinefs
they had undertaken. They firft fcraped ot the plaifter,
and then took out the ftones. They removed fo many,
that a little hole was at lail made, not fo big as the eye
ot a needle, through which the light appeared ; and that
was the fiift time fhe faw it ; it dazzled her, and me ga-
zed at it continually. The women could not widen it, fo
ihe was forced to be content with what they had done;
and looking through it fvinerime, at laft ba farinetcame
by at the head of a noble train. He was mounted on a
finehorfe, which danced to the found oi trumpets, and
curveted to a miracle. Before him marched iix mufi-
cians, playing upon flutes^and lix hautboys> which anf-
weredone another by echos ; then followed -trumpets and
kettle drums. Fanfarinet had a coat on embroidred
with pearls: his plume was of carnation colour: -he
could hardly be ieeu f r ribbons and diamonds, which,
were not fo rare in thcfe c >un tries as in our r s, king mer-
lin hrving whole chambers full of them. In a word he
madefnch a Ihininp Figure, that the light did not feem
brighter in the princefs's eyes. She wa& fo ftruck at the
light
j02 THE STORY of PRINCESS VF.RENATA.
fight, that fhe no longer remained miftrefs of herfelf
and having thought of it a little, fhe declared fhe w^uld
never marry any man but Fanfarinet, for it was not
likely that his mailer could be fo amiable as he. She
faid, her education had cured her of ambition, and it
would be no hard matter for a princeis, who had been
bred up in a dark tower, to retire with him to a country
houfe, if they were driven to it : that fne had rather
live upon bread and water with him, than have all the
rarities in the world with another. In fhort fhe fpoke
fo heartily, that her women began to be more alarmed,
than ever, fearing what would be the effects of herpafli-
on. They reprefented to her the injury fhe would do
her own rank, to match with one of his. But their talic
was in vain : She did not barken to them, refolved to fol-
low her own inclination when fhe had it in her power.
As foon as Fanfarinet arrived at the king's palace,
the queen fent for her daughter. All the ftreets were
fpread with tapeftry, and the windows crowded with
ladies; fome had bafkets of flowers inrheir hands,
others bafkets of laurels, others excellent odours, with
which they fcented the air to welcome the fair princeis
abroad. Her women beginning to drefs her, a dwarf
knocked at the tower gate, mounted on an elephant,
- fent by the five good fairies who had endowed her on
her birth-day. They fent her a crown and feptre, a
robe of golden brocade, a petticoat of butterflies wines
(a wonderful piece of work ^and a cafket full of inefti-
mable jewels : fuch a treafure was never feen together,
before. The queen fwooned with aftonifhment at the
- light. The princefs, on her part, took little notice of
them, for all her thoughts were on Fanfarinet. The
dwarf was thanked, and rewarded for his trouble with
one tlioufand ellsof fine ribbon, of feveral colours, with
which he made garters, cravat-ftnngs, and hatbands.-
The queen defired him to fhy till fhs had fetched fom-
thing for the fairies, worthy their acceptance : and the
frincefs,Avho was very generous, made them a p^efent
offomegerman fpinning wheels, and cedar fpindles.
The rare things which the drarf brought were made ufe
of
THE STORY of PRINCESS VERENATA. 103
of to adorn her : and fhe appeared fo furprifingly beau-
tiful to every body who faw her, that the fun's luftre was
thought to be taint to her's. She walked through the
ftreers on rich tapeftry ; and the people who flecked to
behold her, cried out continually, how lovely fhe is, how
charming !
As fhe marched along in this pomp and fplendour,
accompanied by the queen and four or five dozen of
princefles of the blood, befides ten dozen more who
came from the neighbouring kingdoms to affift at this
feafi:, the fky on a fudden darkened, the thunder rum-
bled in the air, and rain and hail fell in torrents. The
queen flung her royal robes over her head ; the ladies
did the fame by theirs : and Verenata was going to do
it, when the found and cry of athoufand ravens, crows,
owls, and other birds of ill omen was heard, which fee-
med to prefage that nothing good would come to this
fefuval. At the fame time a rafcally owl, of a prodigious
bignefs, was feen flying towards the princefs with a
cobweb fcarf in his mouth, embroidered with bats wings,
which he let fall on Verenata's moulders. He had no
fooner done it, but the company heard a loud laughter,
and fuppofed it was a fcurvy trick played them by
Caraboffa,
Every one was grieved at this melancholy fight, and
the queen more than all of them : fhe wept, and endea^
voured to take off the black fcarf from her daughter's
ihoulders, but it ftuck as clofe as if it had been a part
of her. * Ah (cried fhe) our enemy is too hard for us
4 (lill; nothing will appeafe her. I fent her fifty
' pounds of comfits, as much double refined fugar, and
' two Weftphalia hams, and fhe is as mifchievous as
' ever.*
While (he was complaning thus, the princefs, and all
that attended her, began to be wet to their fkins.
Verenata, whofe head was full of the ambaffador, got
ground of them all in the proceflion, and went on with-
out faying a word. She thought, if fhe had the good luck
to pleafe the man (he loved, fhe would neither care for
Carabofla nor for her fcarf,. though it was looked upon
to
104 THE STORY of PRINCESS VERENATA
to be fuch a bid prefage. She admired, within herfelf,
why he did not come to meet her ; but her admiration
was at an end, when (he faw him advanc ng by the hie
of the king; upon which the trumpets founded, the
drum? beat and the violins made an agreeable entertain-
ment to the 'flembly, who redoubled their {houts, and
their joy was as extraordinary as the occafion of it.
Fanfarinet had a great deal of wit: but wh^n he be-
held the grace, majefty, and beauty of the princefs
he ivas fo tranfported, that inftead of ferioufly talking
when he courted her, one would have imagined he was
drunk, though he drank nothing but a dim of chocolate.
He become like a madman, when he perceived that with
one glance he hsd forgot that fine harangue he had pre-
pared for her, and which he had got fo by heart, that
he could before this minute repeat it in his fleep. While
be was endeavouring to recollect himfelf, he made feve-
ral low bows to the princefs, who on her fide aifo made
him half a dozen courtfies, not considering what fhe
did. At laft fhe broke filence and to help him out of
the confufton which fhe fa\v he was in, addrefied herfelf
thus to him : * My lord Fanfarinet, I can eaiily imagine
that all that you would fay to me is charming; I doubt
not but your wit is anfwerable to your character : Let
us however nnke hafte to the palace ; it rains like
4 a deluge: and Carab ;fTa, who owes us this ill turn,
' will njt fpare us till \ve get thither.' Fanfarinet re-
plied very gallantly, ' Thefai'y had very wifely provided
rain, to quench the fires which thofe bright eyes xvou'd.
light.' He then took her by the hand, and led her forward
As they were walking, fhe faid to himfoftly, * You will
not g<iets at thcopinion I have of you, unlefs I explain,
myfelf further, ; it is true, 1 cannot do it witho-.it
4 pain ; but, Hnifoit qui mal v penfc, Evil be to them
4 that evil think. Know then, my lord AmbafTador,
4 that I have beheld you w.th wonder, and was furpri-
4 ei at the chir-ning figure you made on h rf'back at
4 your public entry, when the horfe danced and curve-
ted ; lam forry you came hither on any other man's
account. It you have as much courage as I to hnd out
ft*
THE STORY of PRINCESS VERENATA. 105
an expedient for it, inftead of marrying you in your
matter's name, I will marry you in your own. I
know you are not a prince ; what then ? I like you as
well as if you were : we'll fly together to fome corner
of the world ; we mall be blamed at firft ; no matter,
others may do worfe ; and when people are weary of
blaming us, they will leave us in quiet to enjoy our
retirement, where I (hall be glad to be with you.'
Fanfarinet thought he dreamt, fcr Verenata was a
princefs of admirable qualities and perfections, that he
could never have hoped for that honour, tinlefs fome
ftrange whimfy had feized her. He had not prefence of
mind enough to anfwer her; had they been alone, he
would have thrown himfelf at her feet; he now could
only clafp her hand, which hedid fo cloiely, that he hurt
her little finger, yet fl>e did not cry out : fo much her
paffion ran inner Jiead, that fhewas infeniible of any
thing elfe. Wherf ihe entered the palace, a thoufand
of feveral forts of muiical inftruments were tuned for
Jier we4eeme, to which were added a concert of fuch
heavenly voices, that the audience were afraid of brea-
thing, left they fhould make too much noife, and fo
interrupt the harmony. The king having kifTed his
daughter's forehead and cheeks, fpoke to her as follows :
* my pretty lambkin (for he was ufed to give her fuch
Jittle tender names) are not you glad you are going to
* marry the great king Merlin's fon ? the Lord Fanfari-
4 net, whom you fee here, is come to perform the cere-
* mony, and. will carry you into the fineft kingdom in
* the world.? The princefs courteiied down to the
ground, and anfwered, ' I fhall obey you, father, in all
4 ihings with pleafure, if my dear mamma will- con fen t
* to it.' The princefs was bred up in fo much tender-
nefs to her parents, that Ihe had not forgot the pretty
terms fhe'ufed in her leading firings ; ' I confent (fays her
mother) with all my heart, (and embraced her as a
token of her joy.) 'Let dinner be got ready immedi-
* ately,' (quoth the qmzen.) It wasni fooner faid, but
an hundred tnbk-.s werelpread in an inltant, and all the
company fell too hurtiiy, except Vorenata and Fanfa-
riner, who looked atone another fo much, that they had
no time for eating, nor thinking upon any thing eiie.
io6 THE STORY of PRINCESS VERENATA.
After thefeaft ther* \vasa ball and a play : but it was
fo late before they had done fupper, and they had eat to
plentifully, that mod of the people of quality, and others
who were there, fiept as they fat. Their ma jefties them -
felves fell into a iound nap on a couch ; the lords and
ladies fnored again, and the fidlers nodded over their
inftruments, and knew not what they did. Our lovers
were the only perfons that were well awake : and feeing
they were not obferved, toyed as lovers are ufed to do
when they have an opportunity to fhew their pa fBons.
Verenata perceiving the guards, as well as the left, wer
afleep, faid to Fanfarinet, 'this minute is ours ; Ictus
improve it and be gone ; if we (lay till the marriage
ceremony is over, the king will-place fome ladies cf
the court about me, and order a prince to accompany
me to your matter's court ; it is better for us to take
hold of the pi efent opportunity than to wait for ano-
ther.' She then rofe up, and took the king's dagger
from his fide, which was all over fet in diamonds. She
a Ifo carried away with her the queen's mantle, which
(he had laid by, to fleep the more at her eafe, in which
was a carbuncle of ineftimabie value, and a diamond
that rendered the perfon who wore it invifible. Faufa-
rinet took her by her lily white hand, and bending one
knee to the ground, replied, * I fwearby all that is held
4 facred in heaven or earth, that 1 will eternally be
4 faithful and obedient to your highnefs : you do
4 every thing forme madam, andean there beany thing
4 that I will not do for you ?' They then went both of
them out of the palace, the ambafTador taking a dark
lanthorn in his hand. They patted through feveral
bye-frreets and lanes, till they came to the fea-fide,
where they took a boat. Their mariner w?.s a poor old
fellow who lay afleep in his bark. They \vak d
him ; and when he faw Verenata fo beautiful and glitter-
ing with jewels, with the black batt-feather fcarf on her
fhoulders, he took her for the godc'efs of night, and fell
down to worfhip her. The lovers had no time for cere-
monies ; they commanded him to put to fea, which he
was not ever willing to do, for there was neither moon
nor
THE STORY of PRNICESS VERENATA. 107
nor ftars to be feen, the weather being ftill cloudy,
occaiioned by the tempeft CarabofTa had raifed. It is
true, there was a casbuncle on the queen's mantle, which
{hone more than fifty lighted torches, and Fanfarinet
might, as we are told, have faved himfelf the trouble of
carrying a dark lanthorn with him. The ambaffador
aiked the princefs whither {h~ would go ? * Alas (faid me)
' I will go along with you ; wherever you will go, I will
' go ; I think of nothing elfe.' * But, madam,, (quoth
Fanfarinet)! dare not conduct you to the court of king
* Merlin ; it is as much as my neck is worth to be
' caught within his dominie n>. Well then (replied
Verenata) let us go to the deiei t ifle of Squirrels ; it is
' far enough off, and we need not fear being followed
1 thither,' She ordered the mariner to fet fail ; and
though his bark was of a very (mall iize, he obeyed her.
As day began to break, the kin?, queen, and court,
having fhook their ears and rubbed their eyes a little, got
up, intending to finifh the folemnity of the princefs's
marriage. The queen haftily called for her mantle,
and fearch was diredlly made after it, from theclofet to
the kitchen, but no mantle was to be found. Then her
majefty went herfelf tofeek it, ran up ftairs and down
flairs into the cellar and garret, but no tidings could be
heard of it.
The king alfoin his turn was willing to adjuft him-
felf, and in order to it to put his bright dagger by his
fide, which being miffing, as well as the mantle royal,
half the court were employed to fearch for it ; boxes and
coffers were opened, whofe infide had not feen the fun in
an hundred years. A thoufand rarities were found,
puppets that could turn about their heads and eyes, gol-
den (heep with their little lambs, fweet-meats and com-
fits : but no dagger ; fo the kingwas inconfolable ; he tore
his reverend beard, arid the queen her hair to keep him
company. Indeed the lofs was great, for the mantle
and dagger were worth more than ten cities as big as
London.
When the king defpared of finding what they had
loft, he took heart, and faid to the queen, * courage my
dear
1 18 THE STORY of PRIMCESS V^REKATA.
4 dear, let us finifh thefoiemnity of our daughter's nup-
* tials, which has already coft us fo dear.' He alked
where the princefs was ? her nurfe. came up and told
him, that Ihe had been leeking her above two hours,
and couid not find her. This bad news fo increafed
the king and his confort's trouble, that they could not
fupport themfeives under it. The queen cried out like
an eagle that had loft her young, and fell into a iwoon.
AnH never was a more melancholy fight ; above two
pails oi hungary water were thrown upon her majefty's
face before they could fetch her to life again. The la-
dies and maids of honour wept as if they had been at a
funeral, and not at a wedding, The fervants came one
and all, in a doleful tone, laying, * What, is the king's
* daughter loft ?' And the king feeing me was not to be
found, bade his page look out Fanlarinet, who doubtlefs,
fays he is fleeping in one corner of the room or other,
and let him come and grive with us. The page fought
after him every where, and could hear no more tidings
of him than of the mantle and dagger. This misfor-
tune was another affliction to their majefties, .who
in truth had enough before to render them the moft dii-
confolate couple on earth.
The king fummoned all the councellors and officers,
civ.l and military, to attend him in the great hall of
the palace, where he and his queen, who we may per-
ceive was a conliderable perion in the government,
.went to them clad in deep mourning. Their rich robes
being thrown off, each ot thtm had a biack gown on,
tied round with a rope, to exprefs the great nets of their
forrows. When the affembiy fa,w them in this lamen-
table condition, the hall refounded with lighs and groans,
-and the flour was overwhelmed with BooHs of tears.
The king, who hadnot time enough to pr pare a fpeech,
fuitable to the occalion, was iilent three hours. At
length he opened his majeftic mouth and fpok ; as follows.
Hear, little and great; hear your king, and help him mih.
yoia~ advice. 1 have loji my dear dough er Verenata, and.
know not uhethtrtki isdeftroyedcr tlolenfromw; the quesn's
martti*
THE STORY of PRINCESS VERENATA. icg
mantle and my dagger, which are worth more tlan their
weight in gold, are alfogone; and what is wor',1 (f all, the
ambajjhd'r Fanfarinet is not to be found. It is (o be feared,
when the kin* his matter is informed of this accident^ he will
come and fetk after him, and charge us with cutting him as
fmall as minced meat, for a chrijtmas pye. I fhould not take
it fo muck to heart, if I had money to [pare ; out I mujl confefs
to you plainly, the charges of the wedding have undone wt?.
Tell me, my dear lubjecis, what (hall I do, and what me^ns you
would have me make ufe of to retrieve my daughter, Fantarinef,
the mantle, and the aagger.
Every body admired the kind's eloquent fpeech, he
never made fo florid a one in his life ; and my lord
Gambello, chancellor of the kingdom, in the name of
the aflembly, replied thus, not bating him an ace in elo-
quence :
SIR,
We are all forryfor your forrow, and would rather have
parted with our wives and children, than you should have had fo'
much caufe togrieve ; but it is plain, this is a fnc&o/"Carabo{Ta
the fairy : the princsfs's twentieth year is not yet expired ;
and fince I mujl fpeak my fentiments, or your majefty fuffer by
my double-dealings with you, I freely declare, that I obferved
Jhe was always ogling Fanfarinet, and he her. Perhaps love
has been playing one of his pranks, as often happens with per' '
fons of their ages.
The queen, who was naturally hafty, interrupted the.
chancellor, faying, Have a care what you fay, my
4 lord chancellor ; the princefs, I would have you to
* know, is no fuch fort of perfon as to fall in love
' with Fanfarinet ; I have bred her up too well for that.*
Then the nurfe, w,ho was one of the company, fell at
the king's feet, and iaid, *I am come to tell your ma-
' jefties the whole truth of the matter. The princefs
' fwore (he would fee Fanfarinet make his public entry,
or ftab herfelf on the fpot : we made a tittle hole in,
* the tower through which fhe faw him, and immedi-
ately
I io THE STORY of PRINCESS VEREN'ATA.
' a'ely proteOed fhe would never marry any man but
* him.' The afTembly hearing this, ivere extremely
troubled at Verenata's folly and fortune : they faw that
Gambello's penetration was greater than her majefty's ;
who all in a rage, fcolded at Verenata's nurfe, and dref-
fer, rocker, fofter-fifter and companion, fo terribly,
that hanging would hardly have been a worfe punim-
ment. Admiral Sharp-Cap interrupting the queen,
cried cut, ' My lords, let's after Fanfarinet, for without
' doubt this jackanapes has carried off our princefs.'
Every body clapped their hands in applaufe of their ad-
miral, and there was not a man but faid he would fol-
low him. Some of them went by fea, and others by
land, who traveling from kingdom to kingdom, with
drums beating and trumpets founding, made proclama-
tion, 'That whoever could tell tale or tidings of the
' princefs Verenata, whom Fanfarinet had ftolen.
* out of her father's palace, mould have for their reward
* a fine baby, fome fweet-meats wet and dry, fome
' little fciflars, a gown made of cloth of gold, and a fa-
* tin bonnet.' Theanfwer every where was, ' Youmuft
' go fome where elfe, we know nothing of them.'
Thofe who went by fea were more fortunate; for,
after a pretty long voyage, they one night perceived
fomething before them which fhone like a great fire,
bat were afraid of coming up near to it, not knowing
what it was ; when all on a fudden the light flopped at
the defer t ifle of Squirrels, for it was indeed the princefs's
carbuncle that was.fo luminous : and fhe and her lover
landing there gave the mariner one hundred crowns of
gold, bid him farewell, and charged him for his life not
to fpeak a word to any one what ever of his adventure.
The good man in his way back, met the king's {hips,
which he no fooner faw but he endeavoured to avoid
them. The admiral perceived it, ordered a galley to
give him chace, and the old man was too weak to rcw
from her. So the admiral's men came up with him,
took him, and carried him before their commander, who
caufed him to be fecured, and the hundred pieces of
gold being found in his pocket, the very fame pieces that
had
6
THE STORY of PRINCESS VEREXATA 1 1 1
had been coined in honour of the princefs's nuptials,
Sharp-cap examined him : and the mariner, that he
might not be obliged tofpeak the truth, affected to ap-
pear deaf and dumb. * So, fo (fays the admiral) we
' fhall f jon bring him to his tongue, I will warrant ye.*
So he commanded him to be tied to the main mafl:
and exercifcd with a cat o'nine-tails ; one of the beft re-
medies in the world for mates. When the old man
faw they were in earneft, he confefTed that a heavenly
creature, in the fliape of a young lady, and a gallant
gentleman, had hired his bo^t to convey them to the
defert ifleof Squirrels. The admiral imagined pre-
fcntly it was the princefs and Fanfarinet, and failed to that
iiland in purfuit of them.
In the mean time Verenata, tired with the fatigue of
the fea, and finding a green bank under a covert of trees,
laid down and fell afleep. Fanfarinet whofe ftomach was
fharper than his love, did not let her deep long. ' Do
* you think, madam, (fays he waking her) that I can
' flay here for ever ? I do not fee any thing that
* is eatable upon the place : though you were fairer
4 than Aurora, that would not fatisfy my hunger; one
4 muft have fome nourifhment, or there is no living ;
4 my ftomach's fharp, and my belly empty/ How !
(replied Verenata ;) do the marks that I have given you
V of my friendfhip go for nothing with you ; is it poffi-
* ble your mind can be biafTed about anything but the
' contemplation of your good fortune ?' * It is rather ta
* ken up (fa id Fanfarinet) about my bad; would to
' heaven you were in your black tower again.' * Do
' not be fo out of humour, my good cavelier (quoth the
princefs, fmiling) ' I will go fearch the woods, and per-
' haps I may light upon fome fruit to fatisfy you.*
* I had rather you might find a wolf to eat you (replied
Fanfarinet, churlifhly .') Verenata, as fhe afterwards faid,
went up and down the woods, tearing her robes among
the briars, and her white fkin with the thorns, fhe was
fcratched as if fhe had been playing with cats. And thus it
is, if young women will fall in love with young fellows,
there is nothing but trouble comes oi' it. When fhe had
fearched
if 2 THE STORY ofParNCEss VERENATA.
fcarchd 'every where in vain, fhe returned very forrovr-
ful to Fantarinet and told him the uncomfortable news.
He turned his back upon her, and left her, muttering
between his teeth.
The next clay they looked about for fame eatables 33
unfuccefsfuily as the firft ; fo that they were forced for
three days together to live upon leaves and loeufts
Though the princefs hid been, without comparifon,
much more delicately bred than the ambaflTador, yet
(he did not complain. * I mould be content, (faid fhe
to her lover) if I fuffered alone, and would be willing to
' die of hunger if 1 could procure fome good cheer for
' you.* ' It is all one to me (quoth Fanfarinet) whe
' ther you live or die, provided L have what I want.'
' Is it poffible (cried Verenata) that you mould be fo
* little concerned at my death ? are thefe the oaths which
' you fwore when you left my f ather's court ?' * There
4 is a great deal of difference (fays the ambafiador) be-
' tween a man at his eafe, who has r,f ither hunger nor
thirft, and a wretch ready to be flarved.' She anf-
* wered, I am in as much danger as you, and I do not
* complain/ * You may well bear it with a good grace,
(fays Fanfarinet) who was fo mad as to leave father
' and mother, to run up and down here like a vagabond;
4 we are in a very pretty condition truly :' * It is for
' love of you (replied Verenata) and at the fame time
gave him her hand. * I would have excufed you, (faid Fan-
farinet) had I known what you would have brought me
* to ;' and then turned ?fidefrom her. The fair prin-
cefs, overwhelmed with grief, wept incefTantly, enough
to have foftened a heart of fiint with her tears. She
fat under a bufh loaded with rofes, white and red, to
which fhe thus addrefTed herfelf, after fhe had for fome
time gazed upon them : ' How blefied are you, ye
* young flowers; the zephyrs carefs, the dew waters, the
* fun beautifies, the bees love you, your prickles defend
* you, and all the world admire you ; muft you alas be
' more happy than I !' She then fell a weeping fo ex-
ceflively,that the root of the rofe tree was moiftened with
her tears ; and fhe had fcarce done fpeaking, before, to
5 her
THE STORY of PRINCESS VERENATA. 1 13
her great furprife, the bufh ftirred, the flowers blew,
and the faireftof them anfwered her thus ; ' If thou
* had ft never loved, thy deftiny would have been to be
' envied as much as mine, love expofes people to the
' word misfortunes. Poor princefs, look in the hollow
* of this tree, and you'll find a honeycomb, but do not
* be fo filly as to give it to Fanfarinet.* Verenata rofe
immediately, not knowing whether (he was afleep or
awake ; fearched the tree, found the hole, and honey in
it, which me prefently carried to her ungrateful lover.
* Here, fays (he, is a honeycomb, for you : I might have
* eat it all myfelf, but I had rather mare it with you/
The ambafTador fnatched it out of her hand, without fo
much as thanking her, or looking upon her, eat it all
up, and refufed to give her the leaft bit. He was fuch a
brute as to infult her, by faying it was too fweet for her,
and would fpoil her teeth ; with feveral other imperti-
nent jefts. Verenata, more forrowful than ever, fat
down under an oak, and made much the fame fort of
complaint as (he had made to the rofe tree. The oak,
touched with compaflion, bowed down fome of its bran-
ches, and fpoke to this purpofe, (for it wasallenchanted-
groundthat metiod upon:) ' It is a pity, fair Verenata,
* you mould die fo young : take this pitcher of milk and
' drink it, without giving a drop to your ungrateful lover.'
The princefs, more aftonifhed than before, looked behind
her, and fpied a great pitcher of milk. She forgot her
own thirft prefently, and remembered Fanfarinet, whom
{he believed might well be thirfty after eating about
fifteen pounds of honey ; fo me ran to him with the
milk, bidding him quench his thirft, and remember to
fave her fome, forfhe wasalmoft dead for want ofit.
He took the pitcher rudely from her, drank it oft' every
drop, flung the pitcher to the ground, and broke it to
pieces, faying, with a malicious fmile. ' Thofe that
4 have had no meat need no drink.'
The princefs lifted up her hands and bright eyes to
heaven, cried out, *It is juft ye powers ! I have deferved
* this punifhment for leaving my father and mother
* to love, and follow a man whom I never knew, with-
F out
H4 THE STORY of PRINCESS VEEENATA.
' out confidering my duty to my parents, and my rank,
' or thinking on the miferies which CarabofTa threatened
' me with.' After fhe had done fpeaking (he wept
more bitterly than fhe had done all her life time, and
retired into the thickeft of the wood, where out of mere
f?intnefs fhe fell down at the foot of an elm, on which a
nightingale perched, and fung fo wonderful'y fxveet,
that her notes had almoft charmed the wretched Vere-
nata with pleafure. The bird, like the tree, had the gift
of fpeech, and fluttering its wings, repeated thefe verfes,
which it had learnt on purpofe out of Ovid, as if it had
understood the princefs's diftemper, and had brought her
Cupid's a bnve, the traitor never [miles,
Bat when he nould enjlaye us by his vies :
And etrr, u'ith his favours he imparts
A deadly poifon, that torments our hearts.
' Who knows him better than I ? (anfwered Verenata,
interi opting the bird :) I am tco well acquainted with
his cruelty and my evil deftiny.' Take heart (fays
the amorous nightingale ;) under yonder plant you will
' find fome fugar-plumbs and almonds, but do not be
* fo foolifh as to give any of them to Fanfarinet.'
The princefs did not want that precaution novr ; fhe
had not forgot the two laft tricks he played her ; befides
ffce was fo very hungry that fhe needed net many argu-
ments to perfuade her to eat when fhe had got food. So
fhe cracked the almonds, eat the plumbs, and feafted
on them by herfelf. Fanfarinet feeing her eat alone,
fell in a furious paffion : his eyes ffafhed fire, and he
ran with his fword drawn to kill her: fhe, to defend her-
felf, expofed the miraculous diamond, and fo became
iru'ifibleto him ; fhe got out of his way, and reproached
him with his ingratitude, in ttfrms that fhewed fuffici-
ently that fhe could not yet hate him.
In the mean time admiral Sharp-Cap difpatched a-
way John Prattlebox, courier in ordinary of the clofet,
to inform the king, that the princefs and Fanfarinet,
were
THE STORY of PRINCESS VERENATA. 115
were landed on the ifle of Squirrels, but that being a
ftranger in the country, he was cautious of making a
decent for fear of ambufcades. Upon this news, which
was joyful tidings to their majefties and their court, the
king fent for a huge book, every leaf of which was eight
ells long ; It was the raafter-piece of a learned fairy,
and contained a defcription of the whole world. The
king found out in an inftant that the ifle of Squirrels
was not inhabited. 4 Go, (fays he to John Prattlebcx)
1 and command the admiral in my name to land imme-
diately ; it may be of ill confcquence to leave Fanfa-
1 rinet and my daughter fo long together.
As foonas the Courier arrived at the fleet, the admi-
ral ordered the trumpets to found, the drums to beat ;
cymbals, hautboys, flutes, violins, viols, organs, guitars,
and a confufcd variety of inftruments were played
upon ; which alarmed the princefs and her lover, who
was not very brave. Fanfaririet feeing the danger that
approached, made his peace, in hopes of afliftance from
his miftrefs ; who was too readily reconciled to him.
Stand behind me (quoth Verenata) I will go before,
' hide you with my invifible diamond, and kill our
enemies with my father's dagger, while you flay them
with your fword.'
The invisible princefs advanced again ft the foldiers,
and (he and Fanfarinet flew them all without being
feen by them. Nothing was heard but cries; the poor
foldiers drew their fwords in vain, they fought with the
air, while every blow the ambaffador and Verenata
ftruck gave certain death ; and every where fuch lamen-
table groans as thcfe were heard, Oh ! lam killed :
Oh ! Idie !' The twoinvifible lovers fought as fafe as if
the/ had to do with a flock of geefe ; they dropt down
like ducks, avoided their enemies blows, and eafily de-
ftroyed them. The admiral, obferving how his men
fell by unfeen hands, founded a retreat and returned
very melancholy to hold a council of war.
Night drawing on apace, the princefs and Fanfarinet
retired into the thickeft of the wood ; She was fo weary,
that fbe lay down on the grafs, and had almoft
F 2 drcpt
n6 THE STORY of PRINCESS VERENATA.
dropt aflccp, when fhe heard a voice whifpering to her,
' Save yourfelf, Verenata, for Fanfarinet will kill a*id
' eat you.' She opened her eyes, and by the light of the
carbuncle fhe fpied the wretch Fanfarinet with his arm
lifted up ready to run his fword to her heart : for per-
reiving her (kin was fo white, and her flefh fo plump,
his hunger infpired him with other thoughts than love,
and the opportunity might have put it into his head ;
Jje had a mind to make a meal of her, and intended to
murder her for that purpofe. Verenata did not (land
long deliberating what me mould do ; (he drew out her
dagger gently, having kept it for her own ufe ever fince
the battle, and ftabbed him fo very fiercely in. the eye
that he fell down dead. ' Go, ingrate, me cried, take
the laft favour, which thou haftbeft deferved from me ;
bean example for the future, to all faithlefs lovers,
' and may thy difloyal heart never find reft in the world
' to which I havefent thee.
When the firft tranfport of her pafiion was over, and
ftie reflected on the condition (he was in, fhe had almoft
as little life in her, as the man whom fhe had juft fhin.
4 What will become of me, (faid (he weeping) I am left
' alone in thisdefolate ifland ; the wild beads will either
devour me, or I mail die with hunger.* She was even
forty that fhe had not fuffered Fanfarinet to eat her,
rather than expofe herfelf to be eaten by the monftera
of the defert ; fhe fat down trembling, and wiftiing for
morning.
As fhe refted herfelf againft a tree, fhe efpied on one
fide of her a golden chariot, drawn by fix great hens
with cropped crowns. Acock was the coachman, and
a fat hen the poftillion. In the chariot there rode a
lady, fo fair, that the fun loft all his luftre, wherever fhe
fhone, and night illuminated by her eyes, was brighter
than meridian day. Her robe was all over fet with
fpangles of iilver and gold. On the other fide of her
Verenata faw another chariot drawn by fix bats ; a crow
was the coachman, and a beetle the poftillion. Within
the chariot fat a little frightful hag, cloathed with fnakes-
(kin garment, and on her head fhe wore a great toad,
which ferved her inftead of a top knot.
Never
THE STORY of PRINCESS VERENAT A. 117
Never was a woman more furprifed than the young
princefs was at this light : while fhe flood gazing t pon
it, (he faw the two chariots advance again ft each other,
The beautiful lady held a golden lance in her hand, and
the ugly one an old rufty fpear. They came up fiercely
to the combat, which lifted a quarter of an hour. /U
laft the fair heroine got the viclory, and the deformed
hag fled with her bats. The battle being over, the
handfome lady defcended to the earth, and thus ad-
drefled herfelf to Verenata :
Fear nothing lovely princefs ; I come hither only to
oblige you ; I fought with CarabofTa out of love to you ;
fhe pretended to an authority to whip you, becaufe you
came out of the tower four days before your twentieth
>ear expired. You fee I took your part, and have dri
ven her away ; rejoice at the happinefs 1 b: ing you.
The grateful princefs fell proftrate at her feet, and
made this anfwer: * Great queen of the fairies, lam
* tranlported at your generofity, and cannot find words
1 to exprefs my gratitude : but this I know, that there
1 is not a drop of that blood which you have faved, which
1 I am not ready to facrifice for your fervice.* The
fairy embraced her twice, and by her fpells rendered
her, if it was poffible, more beautiful than fhe was be-
fore. She commanded tjie cock, her coachman, to go
to the king's fhip, and bid the admiral come to the
Erincefs, for there was nothing now that he need be a-
raid of; and her poftillion the hen, to her own palace,
to fetch fome new robes for Verenata, which were the
richeft that ever eyes were fet upon.
The admiral was fo ravifhed with the news which the
cock brought him, that it was like to have thrown him
into a fit of ficknefs : he landed immediately in the
ifland, taking all his men with him ; and among the
reft Jack Prattlebox, the exprefs that arrived lately from
court, who feeing every one run afbore did the fame,,
and carried along with him a fpit with wild fowl upon.
it half roafted.
Admiral Sharp-Cap had fcarce gone a league before
he faw the chariot drawn by hens ina great road in the?
F 3 wood
1 1 3 THE STORY of PRINCESS VERENATA.
wood, and the two ladies walking together. He knew
the princefs, and bowed to the ground, was going to
begin a notable fpeech. Verenata, interrupting him,
faid, * All thofe honours were due to the generous fairy,
who defended her from Carabofla's clutches.' Upon
this the admiral kifled the hem of her fairy majefty's
garment, and made her one of the fineft compliments
hat ever came out of the mouth of a tar on fuch an oc-
cafion. While he was talking to her, the princefs cried
out, * Certainly I fmell roafl meat. Yes, madam, (re-
plied Prattlebov, and produced his fpit with the birds
on it*) your ladyfhip never eat better in your life.' ' I
am very glad ot it (quoth the fairy) though not fo
much on my own account as on the princefs's, who
' want* fome refrelhment.' The admiral fent away to
his fhips for other neceffaries : and the joy of his whole
crew for his finding the princefs, joined with their good
cheer, made them all wonderful merry.
The feaft being over, and the fat hen returned, the
fairy dren*ed the princefs in a robe of green (ilk, brocaded
with gold, fet with rubies and pearls ; (he bound up her
hair locks with ftrings of jewels and emeralds ; fhe crowned
her with garlands of flowers, and placed her in the cha*
riot ; where, as fhe rode, all the ftars that faw her, took
her for the morning, and tainted her as (he pafled by,
crying, * Good morrow, Aurora.
The fairy carried her to thefea-fide; when they arri-
ved there, they bid one another many a hearty adieu,
Ah, madam (faid the princefs) will you not let me tell
my mother to whom I owe this mighty obligation ?*
The fairy anfwered, Embrace her on my behalf, and
4 tell her I am the fifth fairy that endowed you at your
birth.'
The princefs going aboard, the admiral commanded
all the cannon to be fired ; and welcomed her with a
volley of fmall arms. The fleet returned fafely to the
port of her father's capital city ; and when fhe landed, the
king and queen, who waited on the more for her coming,
received her with fuch tranfport of joy, that they did not
give her time to beg pardon for her paft extravagancies,
though
THE SIORY of PRINCESS VERENATA. ng
though fhehad thrown herfelf at their feet as foon as fhe
faw them. Their parental tendernefs laid all the fault
on Carabofla ; and the princefs was excufed, as adling
by an irrefiftible impulfe of fate.
At the fame time the great king Merlin's fon arrived,
very much troubled that he heard no news of his ambaf-
fador. He had a train of one thoufand horfe, and
thirty pages richly drefTed in fcarlet liveries, embroide-
red and laced with gold : he was an hundred times hand-
fomer than the ungrateful wretch Fanfarinet. Care was
taken not to let him know anything of his flight, and the
princefs's, becaufe that might have created fufpicions
which would have mocked a lover. He was told very
gravely, that the ambaflador being dry, went to draw
water out of a well, fell into it, and was drowned.
Hishighnefs believed every word of it ; was married to
the princefs ; and the joy of the whole court wasfo great,
that they quite forgot their late forrow.
Ye lovers, be your objects what they will,
Keep ye within the rules of duty (till : ! , t y'r,
j&nd never be by paffion led away,
So much, but reaf on Jlill (hall have thefway:
Let her rejlrain the rage of your defires,
And make her mijlrejs of your vows and fres.
THE
(120)
THE
STORY
OF
FLORIO and FLORELLA.
' I *HERE was a country-woman, who, upon her in-
timacy with a fairy, defired her to come and
aflift at her labour. The good woman was delivered of
a daughter: when, the fairy taking the infant in her
arms, faid to the mother, * Make your choice: the child
(if you have a mind) fhall be exquifitely handfome ;
excell in wit, even more than in beauty ; and be the
queen of a mighty empire; but withal unhappy ; or (if
you had rather) fhe mail be an ordinary, ugly, country
creature, like yourfelf ; but contented with her condi-
' tion.' The mother immediately chofe wit and beauty
for her daughter ; at the hazard of any misfortune.
As the child grew, new beauties opened daily in her
face : till in a few years, fhe furpafled all the rural hfles
that the oldeft people had ever feen. Her turn of wit
was gentle, polite, and infinuating : fhe was of a ready
apprehenfion ; and foon learned every thing, fo as to
excel her teachers. Every holiday fee danced upon the
green, with afuperior grace to any of her companions.
Her voice was fweeter than any fhepherd's pipe ; and (he
made the fbngs (he ufed to ling.
For
THE STORY of FLORID and FLORELLA. 121
For fome time, (he was not apprifed of her own
charms ; when, diverting herfelf with her playfellows,
on the green flowery border ot a fountain ; fhe was fur-
prifed with the reflect-ion of her face : fhe obferved, how
different her features and her coinplexionfeemed from
the reft of her company ; and admired herfelf. The
country, flocked from day today to obtain a fight of her;
made her yet more feniible of her beauty. Her mo-
ther, who relied on the predictions of the fairy, began
already to treat her as a queen, and fpoiled her with
flatteries. The young damfel would neither few nor
fpin, nor look after the fheep : her whole amufement
was, to gather flowers, to drefs her hair with them, to
ling, and todancein the made.
The king of the country was a very powerful king :
and he had but one fon ; whofe name was Florio : for
which reafon, his father was impatientto have him mar-
ried. Tne young prince could never bear the mention-
ing any of the princefTes of the neighbouring nations ;
becaufe a fairy had told him, that he mould find a
fhepherdefs more beautiful, and more accomplifhed
than all the princefles in the world. Therefore the king
gave orders to aflemble all the village nymphs of his
realm, who where under the age of eighteen, to make a
choice of her, who mould appear worthy of fo great an
honour. In purfuanceof the order, when they came to
be forted; a vaft number of" virgins, whofe beauty was
not very extraordinary, were refufed admittance ; and
only thirty picked out, who infinitely furpafTed all
others. Thefe thirty virgins, were ranged in a great
hall, in the figure of a half moon : that the king and his
fon might have a diftin<5i view of them together. Flo-
rello (our young damfel) appeared in the raidft of her
competitors, like a lily amidft marygolds ; or, as an o-
range-tree in bloflbm, fbews amongft the mountain
fhrubs. The king immediately declared aloud, that
fhe deferved his crown : and FLorio thought himfelf
happy in the pofTeffion of Florella.
Our ihepherdefs was inftantly defired to caft off her
country weeds and to accept a habit richly embroidered
with
122 THE STORY of FLORIO and FLORELLA.
with gold. In a few minutes, fhe faw herfelf covered
with pearls and diamonds ; and a troop of ladies were
appointed to ferve her. Every one was attentive to pre-
vent her de{ires, before fhe fpoke ; and fhe was lodged
withm the palace, in a magnificent apaitment: where
inftead of tapeftry, there were large pannels of looking-
glafs, from the floor to the ceiling ; that (he might have
the pleafure of feeing her beauty multiplied on all fides ;
and that the prince might admire her, wherever he
caft his eyes. Florio, in a few days, quitted the chace,
and all the manly ex rcifes in which before he delighted ;
that he might be perpetually with his miftrefs. The
nuptials were concluded : and foon after, the old king
died. Thereupon, Florella becoming queen, all the
councils and affairs of ftate were directed by her wifdom.
The queen mother (whofe name was Invidefla) grew
jealous of her daughter in-law. She was on ar'ful, per-
verfe, cruel woman ; and age had fo much aggravated
her natural deformity, that fhe feemed a fury. The
youth ai?d beauty of Florella, made her appear yet more
frightful ; (he could not bear the fight of fofine a crea-
ture : (he likewife dreaded feer wit and underftanding ;
and gave herfelf up to all the rage of envy. ' You
* want the foul of a prince (would ihe often fay to h^r
fon)or you would not have married this mesn cottager.
How can you be fo abje:t as to make an idol of her ?
Then, fhe is as haughty as if fhe had been born in the
palace where (he lives. You (hould have followed the
example of the king your father; when he thought of
takingawife, he prefered me, becaufe I was thedaueh-
ter of a monarch, equsl to himfelf. Send away this
infignificant (hepherdefs to her hamlet, and take to
your bed and throne, fome young princefs, whofe birth
is anfwerable to your own.'
Florio continued deaf to theinftances of his mother :
but one morning, Invidefla got a billet into her hands,
which Florella had writ to the king; this (he gave to a
young courtier, who by her inftructicns, (hewed t to**
the king ; pretending to have received a letter from his
queen, with fuch marks of affection, as weredue only
to his majefty. Florio blinded by his je?loufy, and the
malignant
THE STORY of FLORIO and FLORELLA. 1*3
malignant infinuations of his mother, immediately or-
dered Florella to be imprifcned for life, in a high tower,
built on the point of a rock, that ftood in the fea.
There fhe wept night and day ; not knowing for what
fuppofed crime (he was fj feverely treated by the king,
who had fo pafiionately loved her. She was permitted
to-?e no perfon but an old woman, to whom Invideffa
had intruded her ; and whofe bulinefs it was to iniult
her upon all occafions.
Now Fiorella called ta mind the village, the cottage,
the fweet privacy, and the rural pieafures fhe had quit-
ted. One day ns (he fat in a penfive pofture, over-
whelmed with grief, and to herfeif accufecl the folly of
her mother, who chofe rather to have her a beautiful
unfortunate queen, than an ugly contented fht-pherdefs ;
the old woman, who was her tormentor, came to acr
quaint her that the king had ferit an executioner to
take off her head ; and that fhe muft prepare to die.
Florella replied, that fhe was ready to receive rhe ftroke.
Accordingly, the executioner fent by the king's crder,
at the periuafions of InvidefTa, appeared with a drawn
fabre in his hand, ready to perform his commiffijn ;
when a woman ftepped in, who faid, fhe came from the
queejn -mother, to fpeaka word ortwo in p ivate toFiore'b,
before fhe was put to death. The old w /man imagining
her to be one of the ladies of the court, iuffered her to
deliver her mefTage; but it was the fairy, who had fore-
told the misfortunes of Florella at her birth ; and had
nowaffumed the likenefs of oneoflnvideffa's attendants.
She defired thecompany to retire a while; and then
fpoke thus to Florella in fecret ; 4 Are you willing to
' renounce that beauty, which has proved fo fatal to you ?
1 are you willing to quit the title of queen,- to put on
' your former habit, and to return to your village ?'
Florella was tranfported at the offtr. Thereupon the
fairy applied an enchanted vizard to her face her fea-
tures inftantly became defoimed ; all the fymmetry
vanifhed, and fhe was now as difagreeable as fhe had
been hindfomc. Under rhis change, it was not poflible
to know her ; and fhe palled without difficulty, thrcugh
4 the
12$ THE STORY of FLORIO and FLORELLA.
the company who came to fee her execution. In vain
did they fearch the tower ; Florella was not to be found.
the news of this efcape was foon brought to the king,
and to Invideffa, who commanded diligent fearch to be
made after her throughout the kingdom ; but to no pur-
pofe.
The fairy by this time, had reftored Florella to fcer
mother ; who would never have been able to recollect
her altered looks, had (he not been let into the circum-
ftances of her ftory. Our fhepherdefs was now conten-
ted to live an ugly, poor unknown creature, in the
village where me tended (heep. She frequently heard
people relate, and lament over her adventures ; fongs
were made upon them, which drew tears from all eyes:
(he often took a pleafure in finging thofe fongs, with
her companions, and would often weep with the reft:
but ftiil, (he thought herfelf happy, with her little flock ;
and was never once tempted todifcover herfelf to any of
her acquaint; nee.
Alter all the care and attendance of the fairy upon
the unf rtunate Florella, me did not forget amply to
reward t! e queen-mother, who was the principal inflru-
ment of her darling's unhapinefs. And therefore to
com pen (ate, in fome meafure, for her misfortunesjfhe
infpired the king's chief minifter with notions that his
artful and cruel mother had formed a delign to take the
government into her own hands, and wed with a pow-
erful monarch, whofedifpoiition perfectly correfponded
with her own. Enraged at the information, he called
together fome of his nobles, toconfult thereon, who gave it
as their opinion, that fhe deferved death ; but as the ties
of nature prevented it, her fon commanded her to be
placed in that tower from whence his once loved Florella
had efcaped, where (he fpentthe remainder of her life.
The MORAL.
This tale mews the folly of wifhing to be in any ftate
of life for which we were not deiigned, and th.it true
happinefs coniifts in being eafy and content.
FINIS'
