have to be more joyous than any other." "And what reasons do you consider I have for being joyous?" she inquired. "I am reduced to tend sheep, far from my own land, hearing nothing of my relations: is all this so very agreeable?" "No," replied Mirtain; "but you are the most charming person in the world: you have much wit, you sing exquisitely, and nothing can be compared to your beauty." "Supposing I possessed all these advantages, they would be of little value to me," said she, heaving a deep sigh. "Nay, then," said Mirtain, "you are ambitious; you believe one must be born to a throne, or descended from the gods, to live happily. Ah! undeceive yourself; I serve Prince Constancio, and, notwithstanding the disparity of our rank, I am frequently permitted to approach him. I have studied him; I can see what is passing in his mind, and I know that he is far from happy." "And what disturbs his peace?" said the Princess. "A fatal passion," continued Mirtain. "He is in love!" exclaimed Constancia, with an air of anxiety. "Alas! how I pity him! But what am I saying?" she continued, blushing deeply: "he is too amiable not to be beloved." "He dares not so much flatter himself, fair shepherdess," said Mirtain; "but if you would kindly assure him of that fact, he would have more faith in your words than in those of any other." "It would not befit me," said she, "to meddle in the affairs of a great prince. Those of which you speak are too delicate for me to think of entering upon. Adieu, Mirtain," she added, quitting him hastily: "if you would oblige me, you will speak no more to me about your Prince, or his amours."
She hurried away, greatly agitated. She could not have been insensible to the merits of the Prince; her first meeting with him had never been effaced from her mind, and but for the secret spell which detained her despite herself, it is certain she would have risked everything to find once more the Sovereign Fairy. We might, indeed, feel surprised that that skilful person, who knew everything, did not fly to her assistance; but it no longer depended upon her to do so. From the moment the Giant had met the Princess, the latter was subjected to the influence of the stars for a certain period: her destiny had to be fulfilled; so that the Fairy was obliged to be contented with going to see her occasionally in
