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you like a little rogue of a mouse, which steals and eats every thing, better than your own child? Very well, madam, you are not much to be pitied; remain in the good company you have chosen; I can have plenty of mice without you; so I care but little about it;" and, scolding in this manner, she hobbled away.
Although the queen had a good repast before her, the mouse played about as usual; she never raised her eyes from the ground where she had fixed them, and tears ran down her cheeks.
On this same night the little princess came into the world, and her beauty surpassed all the queen had ever beheld: instead of crying at her birth, as other children do, she smiled on her affectionate parent, and extended her little hands, as if she had already a good understanding. The queen carressed and kissed her fondly, at the same time sorrowfully reflecting, "Alas! my dear child, if you fall into the hands of the wicked king, it will cost you your life;" she shut it up in the basket, with a paper attached to the clothes, on which was written
O! you, whose steps the fav'ring pow'rs direct
To these lone scenes, your generous aid I claim;
My hapless child, in infant years, protect
From sorrow's grasp—and Juliet be her name.
And having turned away for a moment, she
