onduct her
to her humble habitation.

When Rozella was gone, the queen, though highly possessed in her favour,
both by her beauty and modest behaviour, yet pondered some time on the
thought, whether or no she was a fit companion for her daughter. She
remembered what Sybella had told her, concerning Brunetta's adorning
young shepherdesses with beauty, and other excellences, only to enable
them the better to allure and entice others into wickedness. Rozella's
beginning her acquaintance too with the princess, by flattery, had no
good aspect; and the sudden effect it had upon her, so as to make her
forget, or wilfully disobey, her commands, by inviting Rozella to
Placid Grove, were circumstances which greatly alarmed her. But, by
the repeated entreaties of the princess, she gave her consent that she
should meet Rozella the next day, and walk with her in that meadow, and
in the wood, but upon no account should she go home with her, or
bring Rozella back with her. The queen then, in gentle terms, chid the
princess for her invitation to the young shepherdess, which was contrary
to an absolute command; and said, 'You must, my dear Hebe, be very
careful to guard yourself extremely well against those temptations
which wear the face of virtue. I know that your sudden affection to this
apparent good girl, and your desire of her company, to partake with
you the innocent pleasures of this happy place, arise from a good
disposition; but where the indulgence of the most laudable passion, even
benevolence and compassion itself, interferes with, or runs counter to
your duty, you must endeavour to suppress it, or it will fare with you,
as it did with that hen, who, thinking that she heard the voice of a
little duckling in distress, flew from her young ones, to go and give it
assistance, and following the cry, came at last to a hedge, out of which
jumped a subtle and wicked fox, who had made that noise to deceive
her, and devoured her in an instant. A kite at the same time, taking
advantage of her absence, carried away, one by one, all her little
innocent brood, robbed of that parent who should have been their
protector.' The princess promised her mother that she would punctually
obey all her commands, and be very watchful and observant of everything
Rozella said and did, till she had approved herself worthy of her
confidence and friendship.

The queen the next morning renewed her injunctions to her daughter, that
she should by no means