court. He had a daughter who was extremely beautiful, but insupportably haughty and satirical. Notwithstanding this, I was caught by her; I loved her to idolatry. Sometimes she seemed touched by my attentions, and at others repulsed me with such disdain that I lost all patience with her. One day that she had exasperated me, a venerable old woman accosted me, and reproached me for my weakness; but all she could say to me only made me more obstinate; she perceived it, and became angry. 'I condemn thee,' said she, 'to be a canary bird for three years, and thy mistress to be a wasp.' Instantly I felt a change take place in me of the most extraordinary description. Despite my affliction, I could not forbear flying into the Ambassador's garden, to ascertain what was the fate of his daughter. But I had hardly arrived there when I saw her approach in the form of a large wasp, buzzing four times louder than any other. I hovered round her with the devotion of a lover, that nothing can destroy. She tried several times to sting me.
"'Would you kill me, beautiful wasp?' said I. 'It is unnecessary you should use your sting. You have but to command me to die, and I will obey you.' The wasp made no answer. She alighted on some flowers, that had to endure her ill-temper.
"Overwhelmed by her contempt, and the situation to which I was reduced, I flew away without caring whither my wings would take me. I arrived at length at one of the most beautiful cities in the universe, and which they call Paris. I was weary; I flung myself on a tuft of large trees, enclosed within some walls, and before I knew who had caught me, I found myself behind the door of a cage, painted green, and ornamented with gold. The apartment and its furniture were of a magnificence that surprised me. A young lady came immediately and caressed me, and spoke to me so sweetly that I was charmed with her. I was not long a resident in her chamber without learning the secret of her heart. I saw a sort of Matamore[1] visit her, who was always in a rage that nothing could appease, and who, not contented with un-
- ↑ An epithet of Spanish origin, signifying literally, "a Moorkiller," but applied to a ruffianly bully, or professed duellist—the old English "swash-buckler" and the modern "fire-eater."
