' 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. I entreat you, do not refuse me. But that
your majesty may not longer doubt whether I have seen this young
man, whether I did not do my utmost to awake him, without
succeeding, see, if you please, this ring.' She then reached forth
her hand, and showed the king a man's ring on her finger.
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