has a thousand means to extricate himself; but a woman in such cases, has no resource but in the honest servitude: and in the choice of ⟨ono’s⟩ master, methinks it is best to prefer the good and virtuous. You are going to see mine, and you will bo delighted with the innocence of their lives, and the candour and simplicity of their manners.
As she was still speaking, they arrived at the hut: it was divided by a partition from the sheepfold, into which the shephordess turned her flock, counting them over with the most serious attention, heedless of the strangers, who beheld her with admiration. The old folks, such as presented Baucis and Philemon, received their guests with the honest, simple courtesy which recalled the golden age. We have nothing to offer you, said the good woman, but clean straw for your bed, and a hearty welcome to such provisions as heaven affords us, milk, fruit, and oaten bread. On entering the cabin, thoy were amazed to see the order and neatness that appeared every where in so poor a habitation. Their tablo was walnut plank, finely polished by frequent rubbing; their earthorn dishes and dairy pans shone with the nicest cleanness; every thing presented the image of contented poverty, happy to havo wherewith to snpport the real wants of nature. It is our dear daughter, said tho old woman, that manages all our little affairs. At break of day, bofore she leads her flocks to the hills and dalos, whilst they are nipping about our hut the sweet grass surcharged with the morning dew, she employs that time in putting every thing in the neat order and manner you see them placed.—What! said the Countess, interrupting her, is the shepherdess indeed your daughter? Would to heaven she was, replied the good croature: she is the daughter of my heart, and I have a mother’s fondness for her; but I am not so happy as to have brought such perfections into the world, nor are we worthy of such honour. Who is she, then ? Whenco came she? What misfortune has reduced her to so low a station? All that is a secret to us. Three years ago
