Page 344 - Child's own book

easily know the second* She gave a loud shrink, and looking
upon Abricotina, u There havo. appeared of lute,1' said she, “ so
many wonders io this place, that i know not what to think: of
them ; my birds are all grown witty ; I cannot so much as
wish, but presently I have tny desires; twice have I now seen
(he portrait of him who rescued thee from the ruffians; and
here are silksof all sorts* diamonds, embroideries, laws, and an
infinite number of other rarities. What fiiiry is it that takes
such cure to do me these agreeable servicesV Leander was
overjoyed to hoar and see her so much concerned about his pic­
ture, and calling to mind that thei'ii was in a grotto which she
often frequented a ceituin ped&lnlj, on which a Diana, not yet
finishedt was to lie erected ; o r this pedestal he resolved to
place himself in an extraordinary habit, crowned with laurel,
and holding a lyre in liis hand, on which he played like another
Apollo. He most anxiously waited the princesss retiring to
this grotto, which she did every day, since her thoughts had
been taken up with this unknown person ; for what Abricotina
had said, joined to the sight of the picture^ had almost quite
destroyed her repose; her brisk livelv humour changed into a
pensite melancholy, and she grew 3 great lover of solitude.
When she entered the grotioT she made a sign that nobody
should follow her; so lhat
her young damsels dispeised
themselves into the neigh­
bouring walks. The princess
threw herself upon a fiank of
greeu turf, sighed, wept, and
even talked, hut so softlv,
» r
*
that Leander could not hear
what she said. He had put
his red cap on, that she might
z