eir passions
as not to think themselves miserable in a safe retreat from noise and
confusion. This was the reason I could not gratify you in relating the
history of my life, whilst you gave way to raging passions, which only
serve to blind your eyes, and shut your ears from truth. But now, great
queen (for I know your state, from what you vented in your grief), I am
ready to endow this little princess with any gift in my power, that I
know will tend really to her good; and I hope your experience of the
world has made you too reasonable to require any other.'

The queen considered a little while, and then desired Sybella to endow
the princess with that only wisdom which would enable her to see and
follow what was her own true good, to know the value of everything
around her, and to be sensible that following the paths of goodness and
performing her duty was the only road to content and happiness.

Sybella was overjoyed at the queen's request, and immediately granted
it, only telling the Princess Hebe, that it was absolutely necessary
towards the attainment of this great blessing, that she should entirely
obey the queen her mother, without ever pretending to examine her
commands; for 'true obedience (said she) consists in submission; and
when we pretend to choose what commands are proper and fit for us,
we don't obey, but set up our own wisdom in opposition to our
governors--this, my dear Hebe, you must be very careful of avoiding, if
you would be happy.' She then cautioned her against giving way to the
persuasions of any of the young shepherdesses thereabouts, who would
endeavour to allure her to disobedience, by striving to raise in her
mind a desire of thinking herself wise, whilst they were tearing from
her what was indeed true wisdom. 'For (said Sybella) my sister Brunetta,
who lives in the castle she drove me from (about a mile from this wood)
endows young shepherdesses with great beauty, and everything that is in
appearance amiable, and likely to persuade, in order to allure away and
make wretched, those persons I would preserve: and all the wisdom with
which I have endowed the Princess Hebe will not prevent her falling into
my sister's snares, if she gives the least way to temptation; for my
father's gift to Brunetta, in her infancy, enables her (as I told you)
to succeed in all her designs, except they are resisted by the virtue of
the person she is practising against. Many poor wretches has my sister
already de