advanced hastily, and was struck with astonishment at seeing him at her chamber-door. "What! Is it you, my son? my dear son!" she exclaimed. "To whom am I indebted for this marvellous resurrection?" "You owe it to your own kindness, Madam," said the Prince; "you have sent to me the most skilful person in the world, I beseech you to reward her in proportion to the service she has rendered me!" "There is no hurry for that," said the Queen, sharply; "she is a poor shepherdess, who will think herself too happy in being still permitted to tend my sheep."
At this moment the King arrived. They had been to tell him the good news of the Prince's recovery; and as he was proceeding towards the Queen's apartments, he caught sight of Constancia: her beauty, brilliant as the sun with its countless rays, dazzled him to such an extent, that he stood some few moments without the power of asking those who were near him, who that wonderful creature was, and how long goddesses had taken up their abode in his palace. At length, recovering himself, he approached her, and learning that she was the enchantress who had cured his son, he embraced her, and politely said that he felt very ill himself, and requested she would cure him also.
He entered the Queen's apartments followed by Constancia. The Queen had never seen her before. Her astonishment cannot be described. She uttered a loud shriek and fainted; casting, as she fell, a look of fury on the shepherdess. Constancio and Constancia were terrified at this event; the King knew not how to account for so sudden a seizure; all the court was in consternation. At length the Queen returned to herself; and the King pressed her to tell him what she had seen to affect her in so extraordinary a manner. She dissembled her vexation, and said it was a fit of the vapours; but the Prince, who knew her well, was exceedingly uneasy. She spoke to the shepherdess with some degree of kindness; telling her that she would retain her near her person, and give her the care of the flowers in her private garden. The Princess was delighted to think she should remain where she could see Constancio every day.
The King, however, induced the Queen to enter his cabinet, and then tenderly inquired what had occurred to vex her. "Ah, Sire," she exclaimed, "I have had a frightful dream.
