I had never seen this young shepherdess, when my imagination portrayed her to me so faithfully, that the instant I cast my eyes upon her I recognised the features. I thought she was married to my son. I am much deceived if this wretched country girl does not cause me a great deal of sorrow." "You place too much trust in things the most delusive in the world," said the King. "I advise you not to act from such motives. Send this shepherdess back to tend your flocks again, and do not afflict yourself unseasonably."
The King's advice was by no means agreeable to the Queen; far from following it, she thought of nothing but how to discover her son's sentiments for Constancia.
The Prince lost no opportunity of seeing her. As she had charge of the flowers, she was frequently in the garden, watering them; and it seemed as if they became more brilliant and beautiful when she touched them. Ruson was still her companion; she talked to him sometimes about the Prince, although he could not understand her; and when Constancio himself accosted her, she was so embarrassed, that her eyes sufficiently betrayed to him the secret of her heart. He was enchanted, and said everything to her that the tenderest passion could dictate.
The Queen, on the strength of her dream, and still more on account of Constancia's incomparable beauty, became so uneasy she could no longer sleep in peace. She rose before daybreak; she hid herself behind the palisades, sometimes in the recesses of a grotto, to overhear what her son said to that beautiful girl; but they were both prudent enough to speak so low, that she could only act upon suspicion. This but increased her anxiety; she looked on the Prince with perfect contempt, thinking day and night that he would place that shepherdess on the throne.
Constancio was as guarded as he possibly could be; but in spite of all he could do, everybody perceived he loved Constancia; and whether he praised her naturally because he admired her, or pretended to find fault with her, in either case he spoke like an interested person. Constancia, on her side, could not refrain from talking of the Prince to her companions, and as she often sang songs which she had made about him, the Queen, who heard her, was no less surprised at her admirable voice than at the subject of the verses. "Just
