ought
not to deal rudely with a power superior to his own, and therefore he
sought, by his eloquence and submission, to move the incensed fairy.
He ran to her, threw himself at her feet, and besought her to have pity
upon a young prince who would never change in his affection for her
daughter. The princess, encouraged, also embraced her mother's knees,
and declared that without Leander she should never be happy.

"Happy!" cried the fairy; "you know not the miseries of love nor the
treacheries of which lovers are capable. They bewitch us only to poison
our lives; I have known it by experience; and will you suffer the same?"

"Is there no exception, madam?" replied Leander, and his countenance
showed him to be one.

But neither tears nor entreaties could move the implacable fairy; and
it is very probable that she would have never pardoned them, had not the
lovely Gentilla appeared at that instant in the chamber, more brilliant
than the sun. Embracing the old fairy:

"Dear sister," said she, "I am persuaded you cannot have forgotten the
good office I did you when, after your unhappy marriage, you besought
a readmittance into Fairyland; since then I never desired any favor
at your hands, but now the time is come. Pardon, then, this lovely
princess; consent to her nuptials with this young prince. I will engage
he shall be ever constant to her; the thread of their days shall be spun
of gold and silk; they shall live to complete your happiness; and I will
never forget the obligation you lay upon me."

"Charming Gentilla," cried the fairy, "I consent to whatever you desire.
Come, my dear children, and receive my love." So saying, she embraced
them both.

Abricotina, just then entering, cast her eyes upon Leander; she knew
him again, and saw he was perfectly happy, at which she, too, was quite
satisfied.

"Prince," condescendingly said the fairy-mother, "I will remove the
Island of Calm Delights into your own kingdom, live with you myself, and
do you great services."

Whether or not Prince Leander appreciated this offer, he bowed low, and
assured his mother-in-law that no favor could be equal to the one he
had that day received from her hands. This short compliment pleased the
fairy exceedingly, for she belonged to those ancient days when people
used to stand a whole day upon one leg complimenting one another. The
nuptials were performed in a most splendid manner, and the young prince
and princess lived together happi