Page:Stories from Old English Poetry-1899.djvu/190

168 Florizel should lose his heart at once to the beautiful girl who walked the fields like the goddess Flora, who was as modest as Diana, and as fair as Cytherea. To all these goddesses he compared her in his thoughts.

It was not long before the prince gained admission to her foster-father’s cottage, and became at home among the shepherd youths. He joined them in their games, and was present at all the feast-days and merry-makings. He kept his rank secret from all but Perdita. To her he avowed his noble parentage, and told her of the love he bore her. Perdita could not withhold her heart from this royal wooer, who was so superior to all the rustic swains, who only dared worship her at a distance; but the lovers dreaded the displeasure of Polixenes, and neither could divine what would be the end of their love. So they gave themselves up to the happiness of the present, and made no plan for the future. Florizel daily sought the cottage and the society of Perdita. His studies were neglected, he was rarely seen at court, and all the royal attendants wondered at his distraught manner, and his frequent absences.

Of course Polixenes could not help noticing all these things, and at length, by the help of some spies whom he set to watch Florizel’s habits, he got very near the truth. And he