go farther out of the wood than into the meadow,
where she was to meet Rozella, and that she should give her a faithful
account of all that should pass between them.

They met according to appointment, and the princess brought home so good
an account of their conversation, which the queen imagined would help to
improve, rather than seduce her child, that she indulged her in the same
pleasure as often as she asked it. They passed some hours every day
in walking round that delightful wood, in which were many small green
meadows, with little rivulets running through them, on the banks of
which, covered with primroses and violets, Rozella, by the side of her
sweet companion, used to sing the most enchanting songs in the world:
the words were chiefly in praise of innocence and a country life.

The princess came home every day more and more charmed with her young
shepherdess, and recounted, as near as she could remember, every word
that had passed between them. The queen very highly approved of their
manner of amusing themselves; but again enjoined her to omit nothing
that passed in conversation, especially if it had the least tendency
towards alluring her from her duty.

One day, as the princess Hebe and Rozella were walking alone, and
talking, as usual, of their own happy state, and the princess was
declaring how much her own happiness was owing to her thorough obedience
to her mother, Rozella, with a tone of voice as half in jest, said, 'But
don't you think, my little Hebe, that if I take a very great pleasure in
any thing that will do me no hurt, though it is forbidden, I may disobey
my parents in enjoying it, provided I don't tell them of it to vex them
with the thought that I have disobeyed them? And then, my dear, what
harm is done?'

'Great harm (answered the princess, looking grave and half angry): I am
ashamed to hear you talk so, Rozella. Are you not guilty of treachery,
as well as disobedience? Neither ought you to determine that no harm
is done, because you do not feel the immediate effects of your
transgression; for the consequence may be out of our narrow
inexperienced view; and I have been taught whenever my mother lays
any commands on me, to take it for granted, she has some reason for
so doing; and I obey her, without examining what those reasons are;
otherwise, it would not be obeying her, but setting up my own wisdom,
and doing what she bid me, only when I thought proper.'

They held a long argument o