nothing can be more tender and amiable than its manners." "And who told you, Madam," replied Abricotine, "that it is so? Did not Psyche believe that Cupid was a serpent? Your adventure resembles hers. You are not less beautiful. If it were Cupid who loves you, would you not return his passion?" "If Cupid and the unknown were the same person," said the Princess, blushing, "I should love Cupid; but such a happiness is not in store for me. I am fascinated by a chimera, and the fatal portrait of that stranger, joined to thy description of him, has caused a revolution in my feelings so opposed to the precepts of my mother, that I dread the punishment it may entail on me." "Pray, Madam," said Abricotine, interrupting her, "have you not already trouble enough, without anticipating evils which will never occur?"—It is easy to imagine the delight this conversation gave Leander.
In the meanwhile little Furibon, still in love with the Princess without having seen her, impatiently awaited the return of the four emissaries he had despatched to the Island of Peaceful Pleasures. One alone found his way back, and gave him an account of all that had happened. He informed him also that the island was defended by Amazons, and that unless he was at the head of a large army, he had no chance of setting foot in it.
The king, his father, was just dead, and Furibon was therefore his own master, with absolute power over everything. He raised an army of upwards of four hundred thousand men, and marched at the head of them. There was a fine general! Briscambille or Perceforêt would, either, have made a much better. His charger was not half-a-yard high. When the Amazons perceived this great army advancing, they gave notice to the Princess, who lost not a moment in sending the faithful Abricotine to the kingdom of the Fairies to request her mother's advice as to the best means of resisting Furibon's invasion. But Abricotine found the Fairy exceedingly angry. "I am aware of everything my daughter has done," said she. "Prince Leander is in her palace; he loves her, and is beloved again. All my care has been insufficient to defend her from the tyranny of Cupid; she is in his fatal power. Alas! the cruel god is not satisfied with the mischief he has done me; he exerts his influence over the being I loved dearer than my life! Such are the decrees of destiny! I cannot
