Page 238 - Child's own book

liberty, when I would endeavour to please her. Jlut this gave
lior such offcnce, that she- calk'd ni« a traiior, and viiiy angrily
tohl me 1 should slay and keep her sheep. She nfterwarda
brought me into tliis plain, and showed urn her ftnck; hut all
my regard was taken up by a young slave of incomparable
beauty, w ho was loaded with chains of gold. My eyes betrayed
me; whieh the cruel Ragotte observing, flew upon the unfor­
tunate female, and deprived her of life, by stabbing her in the
eye with a bodkin. At this shocking sight, J clapped my hand
upon my sword, and was goi?ig to make an instant sacrifice of
Ragotte, when, by her wicked arts, she rendered me motionless,
and with an ironical smile, said : 1 I will make you fed my
power: yon are at present as a lion, hut shall ere long become
a sheep, and continue so for five years,’ Then, touching me
with iter wand, I became such as you now sec me, retaining my
speech ; and she presently disappeared. The sheep she spoke
of acknowledged me for their king, and I comfort them under
their several misfortunes, which are iit some respects like my
own." Miranda was so forcibly struck with the remarkable
history of the Ham. that she could not tell what reply to make :
however, paying him some civilities, she congratulated him upon
the prospect of soon recovering his former shape and liberty.
Indeed, the royal Ram, who was passionately in love with
Miranda, had made such an impression upon her mind by his
wit and delicacy, that she Iw'gan to feel a tender regard for him,
especially when she considered that he was a king, who would
suon he restored to his throne. Thus the pi incess passed many
days in sweet anticipation of a more happy fate; while the
Ham, who completely idolised her, made a variety of enter­
tainments, and diil everything in his power to divert her. It
is natural to suppose that the royal Ram was very fond of news*
the best of which was constantly brought him by Ins courtiers.