226 THE ROYAL RAM.

ordered me to kill you, and to carry him your heart and
tongue, upon pain of being put to a cruel death myself.” The
innocent princess turned pale at this sad intelligence, and said,
fixing her eyes on the captain : “ Are you hard-hearted enough
to kill me, who never did you an injury in my life, but always
spoke to the king in your favour?” —* Fear not, fair princess,”
rejoined the officer, “I will sooner suffer the death I am
threatened with, than be guilty of so barbarous an action.
But cannot we find out some way to persuade the king you are
dead?” —“ What way can we find out,” inquired Miranda,
“since he will not be satisfied unless he sees my tongue and
heart?” At these words the little Moor, who was affectionately
attached to the princess, came and threw herself at Miranda's
feet, saying, Dear madam, let me be the sacrifice: I shall be
but too happy in dying to preserve so good a mistress.”-—‘ No,”
said the princess, kissing her, “your life ought now to be as
dear to me as my own.” Her young ape, Grabugeon, next
advanced and said: “ ‘ruly, my princess, your slave Patypata
may be more serviceable to you than I can, therefore I offer
you my heart and tongue with cheerfulness.” —“ Oh! my
pretty Grabugeon,” returned Miranda, “I cannot bear the
thought of taking your life away.” Her faithful little dog,
Tintin, then cried out that he could not bear the thought of any
one but himself dying for his beloved mistress. In short, after
along dispute between Patypata, Grabugeon, and Tintin, which
of them should suffer death instead of the princess, Grabugeon
nimbly climbed up to the top of a tree, and throwing himself
down, broke his neck. The captain of the guard, with much
persuasion, got leave of the princess to cut out his tongue ; but
it proved too small to venture to cheat the king with.

“ Alas! my poor little ape,” said the princess, “ thou hast lost
thy life without doing me any service!”—"That honour,”