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148 passage through her closed lids, and trickling down her cheeks resembled those shed by Aurora.

He remained as if immovable at the foot of the bed, not knowing whether he ought to wake her, or leave her still longer in so sad a slumber. It was already clear to him that Trasimene was her lover, and that he had found his hand in the donjon. A thousand confused thoughts were passing through his brain upon so many different subjects, when he heard a charming melody. It was formed by the voices of nightingales and canary birds, who sang with such perfect harmony that they surpassed the most agreeable vocalists. At the same instant an Eagle of extraordinary size entered the apartment. He flew gently, holding in his talons a golden branch laden with rubies, in bunches like cherries. He fixed his eyes steadily on the lovely sleeper. He appeared to gaze on her as though she was the sun, and spreading his great wings hovered before her, now rising, now sinking almost at her feet.

After some few moments, he turned towards the Prince and approached him, placing in his hand the golden branch with its ruby cherries. The singing birds raised their voices till the notes pierced the roof of the palace. The Prince interpreted with so much judgment the various incidents which succeeded each other, that he concluded that the lady was enchanted, and that the honour of so glorious an adventure was reserved for him. He advanced towards her, bent one knee to the ground, touched her with the branch, and said, "Beautiful and charming creature, now sleeping under an influence which is unknown to me, I conjure you, in the name of Trasimene, to resume all those faculties which you appear to have been deprived of." The lady opened her eyes, perceived the Eagle, and exclaimed, "Stay, dear lover, stay!" But the royal bird uttered a piercing and sorrowful cry, and flew away with his little feathered musicians.

The lady turning, at the same time, towards Torticoli, said to him, "I obeyed the impulse of love before that of gratitude. I am aware that I owe everything to you, and that you have restored me to the light of heaven, which I have been deprived of for two hundred years. The Enchanter who loved me, and has made me suffer so many ills, has reserved for you this great adventure. I have the power to serve you, and