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594 absurd? I shall be well punished for my pride, if I lose him I love. Alas!" continued she, "the gods, displeased perhaps at my love for Cheri, will take him from me by some tragical end."

There was no evil that her afflicted heart did not imagine would befal him, when in the middle of the night she heard such lovely music, that she could not resist rising and going to the window, to hear it better; she knew not what to think of it. At one time she believed it must be Apollo and the Muses; at another, Venus, the Graces, and the Loves. The symphony approached nearer, and Belle-Etoile continued to listen. At length the Prince arrived. It was beautifully moonlight. He stopped beneath the Princess's balcony, who had retired upon seeing a cavalier in the distance. The apple immediately sang, "Awake, lovely sleeper." The Princess, from curiosity, looked out instantly to see who was singing so well; and, recognising her beloved brother, was ready to throw herself from the window, to be sooner beside him. She spoke so loud, that every body was awakened, and they went to let Cheri in. One may imagine the haste with which he entered. He held in his hand the amber branch, at the end of which was the wonderful fruit; and as he had often smelt it, his wit was increased so much that nothing in the world could compare to him.

Belle-Etoile ran to meet him eagerly. "Do you believe that I thank you, my dear brother?" said she, crying with joy. "No, there is nothing that I do not buy too dearly when I expose you to obtain it for me." "There are no dangers," replied he, "I would not brave to give you the slightest gratification. Accept, Belle-Etoile," he continued, "accept this singular fruit; no one in the world deserves it so much as you do; but what can it bestow on you more than you already possess?" Petit-Soleil and his brother came and interrupted this conversation. They were delighted to see the Prince again. He gave them an account of his journey, which lasted till the morning.