e the brothers and
sister had the same masters in geography, poetry, history, and even the
secret sciences, and made so wonderful a progress that their tutors were
amazed, and frankly owned that they could teach them nothing more. At
the hours of recreation, the princess learned to sing and play upon all
sorts of instruments; and when the princes were learning to ride she
would not permit them to have that advantage over her, but went through
all the exercises with them, learning to ride also, to bend the bow, and
dart the reed or javelin, and oftentimes outdid them in the race and
other contests of agility.

The intendant of the gardens was so overjoyed to find his adopted
children so accomplished in all the perfections of body and mind, and
that they so well requited the expense he had been at in their
education, that he resolved to be at a still greater; for, as he had
until then been content simply with his lodge at the entrance of the
garden, and kept no country-house, he purchased a mansion at a short
distance from the city, surrounded by a large tract of arable land,
meadows, and woods. As the house was not sufficiently handsome nor
convenient, he pulled it down, and spared no expense in building a more
magnificent residence. He went every day to hasten, by his presence, the
great number of workmen he employed, and as soon as there was an
apartment ready to receive him, passed several days together there when
his presence was not necessary at court; and by the same exertions, the
interior was furnished in the richest manner, in consonance with the
magnificence of the edifice. Afterward he made gardens, according to a
plan drawn by himself. He took in a large extent of ground, which he
walled around, and stocked with fallow deer, that the princes and
princess might divert themselves with hunting when they chose.

When this country seat was finished and fit for habitation, the
intendant of the gardens went and cast himself at the emperor's feet,
and, after representing how long he had served, and the infirmities of
age which he found growing upon him, begged that he might be permitted
to resign his charge into his majesty's disposal and retire. The emperor
gave him leave, with the more pleasure, because he was satisfied with
his long services, both in his father's reign and his own, and when he
granted it, asked what he should do to recompense him. "Sir," replied
the intendant of the gardens, "I have received so m