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544 She sent immediately the captain of her guard, in whom she placed great confidence, down to the harbour, to see if there were not any ships ready to sail for very distant parts. He found one that was to sail at nightfal [sic]. The Queen was greatly delighted at this, and had a proposal made to the master, to sell him the most beautiful slave in the world. The merchant was enchanted; he came to the palace and was shown poor Constancia in the garden without her being in the least aware of it. He was struck with astonishment at the beauty of that incomparable girl; and the Queen, who knew well how to make a good bargain, for she was very avaricious, sold her to him at an exceedingly high price.

Constancia, ignorant of the fresh misfortunes that were in store for her, retired early to her little chamber to have the pleasure of thinking undisturbed of Constancio, and of answering one of his letters which she had at last contrived to receive. She was reading it over and over again, unable to desist from so agreeable an occupation, when she saw the Queen enter the room. She had a key which opened all the locks in the palace. She was followed by two mutes and the captain of the guard. The mutes stuffed a handkerchief into Constancia's mouth, bound her hands, and carried her off. Ruson tried to follow his dear mistress; the Queen flung herself on him and held him fast; for she feared his bleating would be heard, and she wished the whole affair to be conducted with the greatest silence and secresy [sic]. Constancia, therefore, finding no help, was carried on board the vessel; and, as they only waited for her, they put to sea immediately.

We must leave her on her voyage. Such was her sad fate, for the Sovereign Fairy had not been able to move destiny in her favour, and all she could do was to follow her everywhere in a thick cloud, invisible to mortal eyes. In the meanwhile, Prince Constancio, engrossed by his passion, kept no terms with the princess they had chosen for him. Though he was naturally the most courteous of men, he was continually so rude to her that she often complained of him to her father, who could not avoid quarrelling with his nephew about it, so that the marriage was postponed almost indefinitely. When the Queen thought proper to write to the Prince that Constancia was dangerously ill, his anguish was