6
She had no sooner read tho letter, than she
smiling said, "My dear child, you may see that
all the happy constellations agree, so excellent a
beauty must not bo enjoyed by a mean person; you
are made for a queen, and the yielding now to for-
tuno promised is a large step towards a throne.
Lay aside your blushes, and send him a comfortable
answer. Let not too much modesty hinder you of
being the mistress of so noble a king."
This made her blushes come and go, long strug-
gling within herself, till at last this erafty matron
used so many arguments, that she returned the
following answer :-
"Great Sire,- It is with no small astonishment
I read a letter, subseribed with your royal name,
and sent to me, as I suppose, by your hand. I am
altogether ignorant of any such power in me, as to
make a captive of a king: but could not, I eonfess,
read without pleasure, that my idea, as your majesty
is pleased to flätter me; should have an influenee in
making you a conqueror over your enemies. May
it please your majesty, I eannot but interest myself
so mueh in your affairs, as to rejoice when you are
vietorious, and be glad of your suecess; but as to
my being plaeed in a glittering sphere, above the
reach of those I dread, I neither understand it, nor
daro I give mysolf the liberty of thinking what
your majesty's meaning may be; but; as I know,
I deserve no such promotion, neither do I desire it;
so much as my own innocence, your majesty's royal
goodness is sufficient to keep me from any thing
intended by it, that is ineompatible with the strict-
est rules of honour and virtue. And thereforo
praying for your majesty's happiness, prosperity,
and safe return, I beg leave with the humblest
submission to subscribe in myself,
Your ever dutiful and most obedient subject,
ROSAMOND."
