Page 232 - Child's own book

dreams, desired his daughters one evening to tell him what they
had dreamed on the preceding night. The eldest said that she
had dreamed that he pave her a gown, tlte gold and jewels of
which were brighter than the sun ; the sccond said she dreamed
he had bought her & golden ^ irin b ^ v h ^ l and distaff, for her
to spin herself some linen ; and (he youngest said her dream
was, that li& had given her second sister in marnage, and on
the weddinp-day hud held a golden basin, and said, “ Come,
Miranda, come and wash.” The king was s o much disturbed
hy this last dream, that he went immediately and threw
himself on his bed, tormented with the thought that it fore­
boded the loss of Itis crown. Nay, he wrought himself np to
such a pitch with this suspicion, that cruelty tool: place of
a flection, and ho determined to have Ids once darling daughter
despatched out of the way. For this purpose he commanded
the captain of his guards to carry her into the forest, and kill
h e r ; and, lliat he mi^ht be s u t h fif its being done, lift ordered
the officer to bring her heart and tongue to the palace,
threatening him with the most cniel death, in case of disobe­
dience to this injunction. The captain, with much sorrow,
went at nn early hour to (he princess’s apartment, telling- her
the king had sent him for her. She arose immediately and
followed him, accompanied by a little Moor, called Patypata,
who held up her train J also by a young ape, called Grabugcon,
and a little dog, called Tint in. which ran by her side.
Not finding the king in the garden, where the captain said
he was taking the fresh air, he pretended he had gone into the
forest, and said they must follow him thither. Itut as they
were passing on, and the sun arose, the princess observed that
her conductor was weeping, and with the utmost sweetness
asked him the cause of his heing so afflicted. 11 Alas, madam I"
he exclaimed, ** how can 1 be otherwise? The king haa
a