mind on this point; enlighten yourself on the matter, as you may so easily." The Queen said as much, and her son-in-law still more.
The poor Princess was so confused and so agitated, that, after having sent all her family home, laden with presents, which sufficiently repaid the zinzolin taffety and the muff-riband, she resolved, come what would, to obtain a sight of her husband. Oh, fatal curiosity, which a thousand fearful examples fail to correct in us, how dearly art thou about to cost this unfortunate Princess! She would have thought it a great pity not to imitate her predecessor, Psyche; so she concealed a lamp in the same manner, and by the aid of its light gazed upon the hitherto invisible king, so dear to her heart. But what frightful shrieks did she not utter, when, instead of the tender Cupid, fair, white, young, and every way charming, she beheld the horrible green serpent, with his long bristling mane. He awoke in a paroxysm of rage and despair. "Cruel woman," cried he, "is this the reward of so much affection?" The Princess heard him not—she had fainted with terror; and the serpent in an instant was far away.
At the disturbance caused by this tragical scene, some pagods ran to the spot; they carried the Princess to her couch, and gave her every assistance. Imagination cannot paint the distress of Laidronette, upon returning to her senses. How did she reproach herself for the affliction she had brought upon her husband! She loved him tenderly, but she was horrified at his form, and would have cheerfully given half the remainder of her days never to have seen him.
But these sad reflections were interrupted by the entrance of some pagods into her chamber, with alarm in their countenances. They came to inform her that several ships full of puppets, with Magotine at their head, had entered the harbour, without meeting any resistance. The puppets and the pagods have been enemies from the earliest periods. They are opposed to each other in a thousand ways; and the puppets enjoy the privilege of talking wherever they go, which is denied the pagods. Magotine was their queen. Her hatred of poor Green-Serpent, and of the unfortunate Laidronette, prompted her to assemble her forces, with the intention to come and harass them at the moment they were in the greatest affliction.
