Their discourse was so well conducted that they did weep more than talk:
there was very little eloquence, but a great deal of love. He was more
at a loss than she was, and no wonder, as she had time to think on what
to say to him; for it is very probable, though the history mentions
nothing of it, that the good fairy, during so long a sleep, had given
her agreeable dreams. In short, they talked four hours together, and yet
said not half of what they had got to say.
In the meantime, all in the palace awaked, every one thinking on his
particular business; and as all of them were not in love, they were
ready to die with hunger. The chief lady of honour, being as sharp set
as the others, grew very impatient, and told the princess aloud that the
supper was served up. The prince helped the princess to rise, she being
entirely dressed, and very magnificent, though his royal highness did
not forget to tell her that she was dressed like his grandmother, and
had a point-band peeping over a high collar; but, however, she looked no
less beautiful and charming for all that.
They went into the great hall of looking glasses, where they supped, and
were served by the officers of the princess; the violins and hautboys
played all old tunes, but very excellent, though it was now about a
hundred years since they had lived. And after supper without any loss of
time, the lord almoner married them in the chapel of the castle, and the
chief lady of honour drew the curtains. They had but very little sleep
that night, the princess had no occasion; and the prince left her the
next morning to return into the city, where his father had been in great
pain anxious for his return.
The prince told him he had lost his way in the forest as he was hunting,
and had lain at the cottage of a collier, who had given him some brown
bread and cheese.
The king; his father, who was a very good man, readily believed him; but
his mother, the queen, could not be persuaded that this was altogether
true; and seeing that he went almost every day a-hunting, and that he
had always found some excuse for so doing, though he had lain out three
or four nights together, she began to suspect (and very justly too) his
having some little private amour, which he then endeavoured that she
should remain ignorant of.
Now these frequent excursions, which he then made from the palace, were
the times that he retired to the princess, with whom he lived in this
manner for about two years, and by whom he had two fine children, the
eldest of whom was a girl, whom they named Morning, and the youngest a
boy, whom they named Day, because he was a great deal handsomer and much
more beautiful and comely than the sister.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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