blood flowed from the severed branch? "Heavens!" cried she, I what have I done?—what prodigy is this!" She took the bleeding branch, and vainly attempted to rejoin the portions: she was seized with alarm and an overpowering anxiety.
The poor little Bee, in despair at the sad accident that had happened to her dear Orange-tree, was about to rush out to find death at the point of the fatal sword, in her attempt to avenge her dear Prince; but she preferred living for him, and recollecting a remedy that he needed, she entreated him to let her fly to Arabia that she might bring back some balm for him. After he had consented to her going there, and they had taken a tender and affectionate farewell of each other, she started for that part of the world, with instinct alone for her guide. But to speak more correctly, Love carried her there; and as he flies faster than the swiftest of winged beings, he enabled her rapidly to perform this long journey. She brought back wonderful balm upon her wings, and about her little feet, with which she cured her Prince. It is true, it was not so much by the excellence of the balm, by as the pleasure it afforded him, in seeing the Princess Bee take so much care of his wound. She applied the balm every day, and he had much need of it; for the severed branch was one of his fingers; so had they continued to treat him as Linda had done, he would neither have had legs nor arms. Oh, how acutely did the Bee feel for the sufferings of the Orange-tree! She reproached herself with being the cause, by the impetuosity with which she defended its flowers. Linda, alarmed at what she had seen, could neither sleep nor eat. At last she resolved to send for some Fairies, in the hope of being enlightened upon a matter that seemed so extraordinary. She despatched ambassadors, laden with handsome presents, to invite them to her court.
Queen Trufio was one of the first who arrived at Linda's palace. There never was a person so skilful in Fairy art. She examined the branch and the Orange-tree, she smelt its flowers, and distinguished a human odour, which surprised her. She did not leave a spell untried, and employed some so powerful, that all at once the Orange-tree disappeared, and they perceived the Prince, handsomer and better made than any other man in the world. At this sight Linda became immoveable; she was struck with admiration, and so
