Young and Handsome was, much against her will, occupied that morning receiving the ambassadors of several neighbouring monarchs. Never were audiences so short; yet, notwithstanding, a considerable portion of the day passed in the performance of these tiresome ceremonies. The young Fairy suffered as much as her shepherd, whose keen impatience caused him a thousand torments. The sun had set. Alidor had no longer any hope of seeing his shepherdess that day. How great was his grief! He deplored his fate. He sighed incessantly. He made verses on her absence, and with the ferrule of his crook engraved them on the trunk of a young elm. You on whom Venus looks with envious eyes, While round your steps her truant Graces play,-- You on whose glances Cupid so relies That he has thrown all other darts away; How wretched in your absence must I be Who prize you ev'ry earthly bliss above!-- And yet my sorrow has a charm for me, Its gloom is but the shadow of my love. As he finished carving these lines, Young and Handsome appeared in the meadow at a distance, with her nymphs all still attired as shepherdesses. Alidor recognised her a long way off. He ran--he flew towards Young and Handsome, who received him with a smile so charming, that it would have increased the felicity of the gods themselves. He told his love to her with an ardour capable of persuading a heart less tenderly inclined towards him than that of the young Fairy. She desired to see what he had carved on the tree, and was charmed with the talent and affection of her shepherd. He related to her all that happened to him the preceding evening, and offered a thousand times to follow her to the end of the world to fly from the love which a goddess or a fairy had unfortunately conceived for him. "My loss would be too great should you fly from that fairy," replied Young and Handsome, in her sweetest manner. "It is no longer necessary for me to disguise my sentiments from you, as I am convinced of the sincerity of yours. It is I, Alidor!" continued the charming Fairy--"It is I who have given you these proofs of an affection which, if you continue faithful to me, will ensure your happiness and mine for ever!"