caught the name of Constancio; but though it was his own, it might be that of a shepherd as well as of a prince; and he was therefore uncertain, whether it was for him, or for some other, those verses had been composed. He had scarcely mounted a little eminence, covered with trees, when he perceived, at the foot of it, the lovely Constancia; she was seated by the side of a streamlet, the rapid fall of which caused so agreeable a sound, that it appeared as if intended to harmonise with her voice. Her faithful ram crouched on the grass, kept, like the favourite of the flock, much closer to her than any of the others. Constancia gave him occasionally little taps with her crook, caressing him with childish affection; and every time she touched him, he kissed her hand, and looked up in her face with eyes beaming with intelligence. "Ah! how happy wouldst thou be," said the Prince, in an undertone, "if thou didst but know the value of the caresses lavished on thee!" Surely, this shepherdess is more beautiful than when I first saw her. Love! Love! what wouldst thou with me? Ought I to love her? or, rather, am I longer in a condition to resist it? I have studiously avoided her, because I knew full well the danger of seeing her. Ye gods! what emotions did I not suffer from the first! Reason essayed to help me, and I fled so enchanting an object. Alas! I meet with her but to hear her sing of the happy youth she has chosen!"
Whilst he thus meditated, the shepherdess rose to collect her flock, and drive them into another meadow, where she had left her companions. The Prince feared to lose this opportunity of speaking to her; he advanced towards her eagerly. "Charming shepherdess," said he to her, "will you not allow me to ask, if the little service I have rendered you has given you some gratification?" At the sight of the Prince, Constancia blushed; her cheeks became tinged with the deepest crimson. "My Lord," said she to him, "I should have taken care to offer you my very humble thanks, if it could have befitted a poor girl like me to approach a Prince like you; but though I have not done so, heaven is my witness that I am not ungrateful for your kindness, and that I pray the gods to crown your days with happiness." "Constancia," replied he, "if it be true that my endeavours to serve you have inspired you with so much gratitude as you
