er set to boil;
whereupon the bear, laying hold on a fowl, scalded and plucked it
handily, and drew it, and then stuck one portion of it on the spit, and
with the other part she made such a delicious hash that the Prince, who
could not relish even sugar, licked his fingers at the taste. And when
he had done eating, the bear handed him drink with such grace that the
Queen was ready to kiss her on the forehead. Thereupon the Prince
arose, and the bear quickly set about making the bed; and running into
the garden, she gathered a clothful of roses and citron-flowers and
strewed them over it, so that the queen said the bear was worth her
weight in gold, and that her son had good reason to be fond of her.

But when the Prince saw these pretty offices they only added fuel to
the fire; and if before he wasted by ounces, he now melted away by
pounds, and he said to the Queen, "My lady mother, if I do not give
this bear a kiss, the breath will leave my body." Whereupon the Queen,
seeing him fainting away, said, "Kiss him, kiss him, my beautiful
beast! Let me not see my poor son die of longing!" Then the bear went
up to the Prince, and taking him by the cheeks, kissed him again and
again. Meanwhile (I know not how it was) the piece of wood slipped out
of Preziosa's mouth, and she remained in the arms of the Prince, the
most beautiful creature in the world; and pressing her to his heart, he
said, "I have caught you, my little rogue! You shall not escape from me
again without a good reason." At these words Preziosa, adding the
colour of modesty to the picture of her natural beauty, said to him, "I
am indeed in your hands--only guard me safely, and marry me when you
will."

Then the Queen inquired who the beautiful maiden was, and what had
brought her to this savage life; and Preziosa related the whole story
of her misfortunes, at which the Queen, praising her as a good and
virtuous girl, told her son that she was content that Preziosa should
be his wife. Then the Prince, who desired nothing else in life,
forthwith pledged her his faith; and the mother giving them her
blessing, this happy marriage was celebrated with great feasting and
illuminations, and Preziosa experienced the truth of the saying that--

"One who acts well may always expect good."

XVI

THE DOVE

He who is born a prince should not act like a beggar boy. The man who
is high in rank ought not to set a bad example to those below him; for
the little do