coyed away from me, whom she now keeps in her castle;
where they live in splendor and seeming joy, but in real misery, from
perpetual jars and tumults, railed by envy, malice, and all the train of
tumultuous and tormenting passions.'

The Princess Hebe said, she doubted not but she should be able to
withstand any of Brunetta's temptations. Her mother interrupting her,
cried out, 'Oh, my dear child, though you are endowed with wisdom enough
to direct you in the way to virtue, yet if you grow conceited and proud
of that wisdom, and fancy yourself above temptation, it will lead you
into the worst of all evils.' Here the fairy interposed, and told the
Princess Hebe, that if she would always carefully observe and obey her
mother, who had learned wisdom in that best school, adversity, she would
then, indeed, be able to withstand and overcome every temptation, and
would likewise be happy herself, and able to dispense happiness to all
around her. Nothing was omitted by the fairy to make this retirement
agreeable to her royal guests; and they had now passed near seven years
in this delightful grove, in perfect peace and tranquillity; when one
evening, as they were walking in the pleasant wood which surrounded
their habitation, they espied under the shade, and leaning against
the bark of a large oak, a poor old man, whose limbs were withered and
decayed, and whose eyes were hollow, and sunk with age and misery. They
stopped as soon as they saw him, and heard him in the anguish of his
heart, with a loud groan, utter these words: 'When will my sorrows end?
Where shall I find the good fairy Sybella?' The fairy immediately begged
to know his business with her; and said, if his sorrows would end on
finding Sybella, he might set his heart at ease; for she stood now
before him, and ready to serve him, if his distresses were such as would
admit of relief, and he could prove himself worthy of her friendship.
The old Man appeared greatly overjoyed at having found the fairy, and
began the following story:

'I live from hence a thousand leagues. All this tiresome way have I come
in search of you. My whole life has been spent in amassing wealth, to
enrich one only son, whom I doted on to distraction. It is now five
years since I have given him up all the riches I had laboured to get,
only to make him happy. But, alas how am I disappointed! His wealth
enables him to command whatever this world produces; and yet the poorest
wretch that begs hi