HUMPLESS 165

‘and what is more to the purpose, your
generous proposal is one which presents’
no difficulty in the way of its accomplish-
ment. There is an old prophecy in our
country which has always puzzled our wisest
men, and until this moment I must own
that I have had many doubts myself as to
its meaning. Thus runs the thing:

When the royal humpless daughter
Boldly does what love hath taught her,
By a hump-backed lover stands,

On his hump lays both her hands,
Vows to wed him on the morrow,
‘And be true, in joy or sorrow ;

Then to both shall be great thanks
Due from all the mountebanks,

For this way, and thus alone,
Humpty’s hump remains their own.’

As the King concluded the recital of these
words, he beckoned to the lovely Amarylla,
who came. forward in obedience to his com-
mand, and with downcast eyes approached
Prince Filderkin. The latter, who from the
first moment he had set eyes upon the sweet
Princess had felt that there was a sympathy
between them which only required time and
Opportunity to ripen into the fondest love,