the Princess of China | MB 133 |

 

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continued the nurse, ‘that the princess is out of her senses. You will
think so yourself if you go and see her. ;

The queen ordered the nurse to follow her; and they went

together to the princess’s palace that very moment.

The Queen of China sat down by her daughter’s bed-side,
immediately upon her arrival in her apartment; and after she had
informed herself about her health, she began to ask what had made
her so angry with her nurse, that she should have treated her in the
‘manner she had done. ‘Daughter,’ said she, ‘this is not right; and a
great Banc like you should not suffer herself to be so transported
by passion.’

‘Madam,’ replied the princess, ‘I plainly perceive your majesty is
come to mock me; but I declare I will! never let you rest till you
consent I shall marry the young man. You must know where he is,
and therefore I beg of your majesty to let him come to me again.’

‘Daughter, answered the queen, ‘you surprise me; I know
nothing of what yourtalk of.’ Then the princess lost all respect for
the queen: ‘Madam,’ replied she, ‘the king my father and you
persecuted me about marrying, when I had no inclination; I now
‘have an inclination, and I will marry this young man I told you of,
or I will kill myself’

Here the queen endeavoured to calm the princess by soft words.
‘Daughter, said she, ‘how could any man come to you?’ But
instead of hearing her, the princess interrupted her, and flew out
into such violence as obliged the queen to leave her, and retire in

~ great affliction to inform the king of all that had passed.

The king hearing it had a mind likewise to be satisfied in person;
and coming to his daughter’s apartment, asked her if what he had
just heard was true. ‘Sir,’ replied the princess, ‘let us talk no more
of that; I only beseech your majesty to grant me the favour that I
may marry the young man. He was the finest and best made youth

the sun ever saw. TI entreat you, do not refuse me. But that your