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536 ingenuity. In it she had reproached the Prince tenderly with the perils to which he daily exposed himself in hunting. The note contained these verses:

Whilst the Queen was raving against the shepherdess, Mirtain had hastened to inform his master of the unfortunate adventure of the ram. The Prince very uneasy ran to his mother's apartment, but she had already gone to the King's. "Behold, my Liege," said she, "behold the noble inclinations of your son; he loves this miserable shepherdess, who persuaded us she knew a certain cure for his malady. Alas! she knew one but too well. In short," continued she, "it is love that instructed her. She has restored him to health only to inflict on him greater evils; and if we do not take immediate steps to ward off the misfortunes that threaten us, my dream will prove but too true." "You are naturally severe," said the King, "you expected that your son would think of no one but the Princess you had selected for him. It was not so easy a thing to do. You must make some allowance for his youth." "I cannot endure your prepossession in his favour," cried the Queen; "you can never find fault with him. All I ask of you, Sir, is to consent to his being removed from court for a short time. Absence will have more effect on him than all my arguments."

The King hated contention; he acceded to everything his wife desired, and she returned immediately to her own apartments.

She found the Prince there: he was awaiting her in the utmost anxiety. "My son," said she to him, before he could say a word to her, "the King has just shown me letters from the King my brother, begging him to send you to his court, in order that you may become acquainted with the Princess who has been destined to you from infancy, and also that she may have a similar advantage. Is it not just that you should be allowed an opportunity of forming your own opinion of her merits, and that you should love her before you are