Gracieuse, beloved thou art,
And by such a loving heart,
Love's own god, were he to woo thee,
Could not give a fonder to thee!
Hast thou one thyself more hard,
Than rugged bear or spotted pard?
None so fierce the forest rove;
But obey the power of love.
All things to his sceptre bow,
Cold and cruel only thou!
Gracieuse blushed at being so directly addressed by name before the queen and the princesses. She told Percinet that it was painful to her to have such a subject publicly alluded to. "It recals to me a maxim," she continued, "which I perfectly approve.
"Be sparing of thy confidence, and know
That silence can a charm on love bestow;
The world's a wayward judge, and oftentimes
The purest pleasures will denounce as crimes."
The prince requested her pardon for having done anything that was displeasing to her, and the opera ended: the two princesses, by order of the queen, conducted Gracieuse to her apartments. Never was anything so magnificent as the furniture, or so elegant as the bed and bed-chamber appropriated to her. She was waited on by four-and-twenty maidens attired as nymphs, the eldest was but eighteen, and each a miracle of beauty. As soon as she was in bed a strain of exquisite music wooed her to sleep; but wonder prevented her closing her eyes. "All I have seen," said she to herself, "is enchantment! How greatly is so amiable and gifted a prince to be feared! I cannot fly these scenes too soon!"—and yet the idea of leaving them caused her considerable pain. To quit so magnificent a palace to place herself in the power of the barbarous Grognon!—The sacrifice was great—one might at least hesitate: on the other hand, she found Percinet so engaging she feared to remain in a palace of which he was the master. As soon as she rose in the morning they brought her dresses of every colour, sets of jewellery of every fashion, laces, ribbons, gloves, silk stockings, all in the most marvellous taste. Nothing was wanting! Her toilet was of chased gold; she had never been so perfectly dressed, and had never
