more extensive. Visit my royal treasury, and you will see more gold than all the mines of Peru have ever yielded; and then look at the blackness of my complexion—this flattened nose, these thick lips: is it not thus one should be, to be beautiful?" "Madam," answered the ambassador, (who feared the bastinado more than any they sent to the Sublime Porte,) "I blame my master as much as a subject is permitted to do; and, if I had been placed upon the first throne in the universe, I know very well with whom I should have offered to share it." "That speech has saved your life," said she; "I had determined to commence my revenge upon you; but that would have been unjust, since you are not to blame for the base conduct of your prince. Go and tell him, that I am delighted he has broken off with me, because I abhor dishonest people." The ambassador, who wished for nothing better than leave to depart, profited by it as soon as he obtained it.
But the Ethiopian was too much offended with Prince Guerrier to pardon him. She mounted an ivory car drawn by six ostriches that went at the rate of ten leagues an hour; she repaired to the palace of the Fairy of the Fountain, who was her godmother, and her best friend; she gave an account of her adventure,—and entreated her, with the greatest importunity, to revenge her. The Fairy felt for her god-daughter's grief—she looked in the book that tells everything, and she instantly knew that Prince Guerrier had abandoned the Black Princess for the Princess Désirée; that he was passionately in love with her; and that he was even ill from his impatience to see her. This knowledge rekindled her anger, which was nearly extinguished; and, as she had never seen Désirée from the moment of her birth, it is likely that would not have harmed her, if the vindictive Blackamoor had not induced her to do so. "How!" cried she; "is this miserable Désirée to be always vexing me? No, charming Princess; no, my darling, I will not allow thee to be thus insulted. The heavens and all the elements are interested in this affair; return home, and depend upon thy dear godmother." The Black Princess thanked her, and made her presents of flowers and fruit, which she received with much pleasure.
The ambassador Becafigue posted with the greatest speed
