that in a short time a very great change will take place in it." Having uttered these words, she disappeared as usual.
The shepherds and shepherdesses, who had hastened to assist them, conducted them in triumph to their village. They placed the lovers in the midst of them, and having crowned them with flowers, in honour of the victory they had just achieved over the terrible bear,—which they dragged after them,—they sang these words upon the affection Carpillon had shown for the Prince:—
"Greater pleasure yet will reign
In these enchanting groves;
Here a shepherd's charms detain
The daughter of the Loves."
In this manner they brought them home to Sublime, to whom they related all that had just happened,—with what courage the shepherd had defended himself against the bear; and how nobly the shepherdess had aided him in the combat; and lastly, what the Fairy Amazon had done for him. The King, delighted at this recital, ran to tell the Queen. "Undoubtedly," said he, "this boy and girl have no common blood in them; their eminent perfections, their beauty, and the care that the Fairy Amazon takes of them, prove there is something extraordinary relating to them." All at once the Queen remembered the diamond ring Carpillon had given her. "I always forgot," said she, "to show you a ring that this young shepherdess put into my hands with an air of uncommon dignity, begging me to accept it, and to give her in exchange for it some dresses like those they wear in this country." "Is the stone a fine one?" inquired the King. "I have scarcely looked at it," added the Queen; "but here it is." She presented him with the ring; and as soon as he looked at it, "Ye gods, what do I see!" cried he. "What! did you not remember a gift I received from your own hands?" At the same time he pressed a little spring, of which he knew the secret. The diamond flew up, and the Queen saw her portrait, that she had had painted for the King, and that she had tied round the neck of her little daughter to play with, when she was nursing her in the tower. "Ah! sire," said she, "what strange adventure is this? It renews all my griefs. However, let us speak to the shepherdess; we must try to know more about it."
