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186 wand, that was hidden in a hole; and as soon as she had it in her hand, she said—"I wish, in the name of the Royal Fairy Trufio, to speak the language of him I love!" She would have made many other wishes, but Ravagio entered—the Princess held her tongue, and putting back the wand, she very quietly returned to the Prince. "Dear stranger," she said, "your troubles affect me much more than my own do!" At these words the Prince was struck with astonishment. "I understand you, adorable Princess!" said he; "you speak my language, and I hope that you, in your turn, understand that I suffer less for myself than for you; that you are dearer to me than my life, than the light of day, and all that is most beautiful in nature!" "My expressions are more simple," replied the Princess, "but they are not the less sincere. I feel I would give everything in the rocky cavern on the sea-shore,—all my sheep, lambs, in short all I possess, for the pleasure of beholding you."

The Prince thanked her a thousand times for her kindness, and begged her to tell him who had taught her in so short a time to speak, in so perfect a manner, a language till then unknown. She told him of the power of the enchanted wand, and he informed her of her birth, and their relation to each other. The Princess was transported with joy; and as nature had endowed her with extraordinary intellect, she expressed it in such choice and well-turned phrases, that the Prince was more in love with her than ever. They had not much time to lose in settling their affairs; it was a question of flight from these irritated monsters, and speedily to seek an asylum for themselves. They promised to love each other for ever; and to unite their destinies, the moment they were able to be married. The Princess told her lover, that as soon as she saw Ravagio and Tourmentine were asleep, she would fetch their great camel, and that they would get on it, and go wherever it pleased heaven to conduct them. The Prince was so delighted he could with difficulty contain his joy, and many things, that still alarmed him, were effaced by the charming prospect of the future. The night so long looked for arrived: the Princess took some meal, and kneaded it with her white hands, into a cake, in which she put a bean; then, she said, holding the ivory wand, "Oh, bean, little bean! I wish, in the name of the royal fairy,