the other
at my feet, with fans in their hands to moderate the heat, and to
prevent the flies from disturbing me. They thought I was asleep, and
spoke in whispers; but as I only closed my eyes, I heard all their
conversation.

"One of them said to the other, 'Is not the queen wrong, not to love so
amiable a prince?' 'Certainly,' replied her companion; 'I do not
understand the reason, neither can I conceive why she goes out every
night, and leaves him alone! Is it possible that he does not perceive
it?' 'Alas!' said the first, 'how should he? She mixes every evening in
his liquor the juice of a certain herb, which makes him sleep so sound
all night that she has time to go where she pleases, and as day begins
to appear she comes and wakes him by the smell of something she puts
under his nostrils.'

"You may guess, my lord, how much I was surprised at this conversation,
and with what sentiments it inspired me; yet whatever emotion it excited
I had sufficient self-command to dissemble, and feigned to awake without
having heard a word.

"The queen returned from the bath, we supped together, and she presented
me with a cup full of such liquid as I was accustomed to drink; but
instead of putting it to my mouth, I went to a window that was open,
threw out the water so quickly that she did not perceive it, and
returned.

"Soon after, believing that I was asleep, she arose with so little
precaution, that she whispered loud enough for me to hear her
distinctly, 'Sleep on, and may you never wake again!' and so saying, she
dressed herself, and went out of the chamber.

"As soon as the queen, my wife, was gone, I arose in haste, took my
cimeter, and followed her so quickly that I soon heard the sound of her
feet before me, and then walked softly after her. She passed through
several gates, which opened upon her pronouncing some magical words, and
the last she opened was that of the garden, which she entered. I stopped
at this gate, that she might not perceive me as she passed along a
parterre; then looking after her as far as the darkness of the night
permitted, I saw her enter a little wood, whose walks were guarded by
thick palisadoes. I went thither by another way, and concealing myself,
I saw her walking there with a man.

"I did not fail to lend the most attentive ear to their discourse, and
heard her address herself thus to her gallant: 'I do not deserve,' she
said, 'to be reproached by you for want of diligence. You we