means of tearing the Prince from her heart, and that the only hope of doing so lay in her avoiding the sight of him.
What were the feelings of Constancio when his shepherdess fled from him so abruptly. Mirtain was with him. "Thou seest," said the Prince to him, "thou seest the effect of thy labours. Constancia hates me: I dare not follow her to obtain an explanation from her myself."
"You have too much consideration, my Lord, for a mere country girl," replied Mirtain; "and if you will permit me, I will go and order her, in your name, to come back to you." "Ah! Mirtain," exclaimed the Prince, "What a difference exists between the lover and the confidant! I think only of doing everything to please this charming girl; I have observed in her a sort of refinement, which would ill accord with the rough measures thou art for adopting. I had rather continue to suffer than offend her." As he uttered these words, he turned his steps in another direction, with so melancholy an air, that one who was much less interested in him than Constancia might have pitied him.
As soon as he was out of sight, she retraced her steps to have the pleasure of being on the spot he had just quitted. "'Tis here," said she, "he stood; 'twas from thence he looked at me: but, alas! in every place I find how little he thinks of me. He comes hither but to muse in freedom upon her he loves; and yet," continued she, "have I a right to complain? What chance was there that he should attach himself to a girl he thinks so much beneath him?" She felt disposed sometimes to relate her adventures to him; but the Sovereign Fairy had so strictly forbidden her to speak of them, that her duty always prevailed over her inclination, and she eventually determined to keep her secret.
In the course of a few days, the Prince again made his appearance. She avoided him carefully. He was much distressed at it, and desired Mirtain to reproach her with her behaviour. She pretended she had acted unconsciously; but as the Prince had condescended to remark it, she would not do so in future. Mirtain, much gratified by having obtained this promise from her, informed his master, and the next morning he went in search of her. On his accosting her she appeared speechless and motionless; and her confusion if possible increased when he declared his passion. Much as she desired to
