Page:Peregrinaggio di tre giovani figliuoli del re di Serendippo.djvu/128

 The next day at the usual hour he sent for the second young woman whose assigned quarters were above the kitchen. He engaged with her until late in varied conversation and after dinner was prepared, they set down alone at the table. And they passed a long time in pleasant conversation. They left the table and the Prince pretended to fall asleep and stayed that way for two hours. The young woman was led to believe that he was really sleeping. Then, she quietly got up, opened the door of the room and went to the kitchen. But the Prince who was not asleep at all and was fully aware of everything, followed her slowly and saw that the young woman who, as soon as she had arrived in the kitchen, was tightly embraced by the cook who took her by the hand and had her lie down on a pile of thorny branches, where they lingered sweetly in amorous pleasures.

The Prince was greatly surprised that she was not at all upset by the thorny branches while she had been so annoyed when the light touch of an ermine garment had caused her to almost faint. "She really is," he said, "no less wicked and malicious than the other woman and he knew now that the statue had judged her very truly as well."

Nevertheless, he let it all pass by in silence and returned to lie down with her in anticipation of a third test the following night.