They talked thus to each other till they reached the city, where the good old King resided, the father of the horrible humpback. He was informed they had brought his son home on a litter, as a young shepherd, in defending his shepherdess, had struck him with a stone from his sling with so much force, that he was dangerously wounded. At these tidings the king, shocked to learn his only son was in this state, ordered them to put the shepherd in prison. The humpback gave a secret order that Carpillon should be treated in like manner. He had resolved, either that she should marry him, or that she should be tortured to death, so that the lovers were separated only by an ill-made door, through the chinks of which they had the sad consolation of seeing each other while it was broad daylight, and the rest of the day and night they could converse together.
What did they not say that was affectionate and loving to each other! All that the heart could feel, or the mind imagine, they expressed in such touching terms, that they were bathed in tears; and perhaps the reader would be equally affected if we repeated them.
The confidants of the humpback came every day to see the Princess, and threaten her with speedy execution if she did not purchase her life by consenting with a good grace to marry him. She received these propositions with a firmness, and an air of defiance, that made them despair of their undertaking; and as soon as she could speak to the Prince she said, "Fear not, my shepherd, that the dread of the most cruel tortures will shake my constancy; we will die, since we cannot live together." "Do you hope then to comfort me, beautiful Princess?" said he. "Alas! would I not rather see you in that monster's arms than in the hands of the executioner with which he threatens you?" She chided him for such sentiments, accused him of weakness, and assured him again and again that she would show him how to die with courage.
The humpback's wound being nearly healed, his love, irritated by the continual refusals of the Princess, made him determined to sacrifice to his rage the shepherd who had ill-used him. He fixed the day for this dismal tragedy, and invited the King, with all his senators, and the grandees of the kingdom, to come and witness it. He was there in an
