apartment, where, giving herself wholly up to
sorrow, she spent a whole year in mourning and lamentation. At the end
of that period, she begged permission to erect a burying-place for
herself, within the bounds of the palace, where she would continue, she
told me, to the end of her days: I consented, and she built a stately
edifice, and called it the Palace of Tears. When it was finished, she
caused the object of her care to be conveyed thither; she had hitherto
prevented his dying, by potions which she had administered to him; and
she continued to convey them to him herself every day after he came to
the Palace of Tears.

"Yet, with all her enchantments, she could not cure the wretch; he was
not only unable to walk or support himself, but had also lost the use of
his speech, and exhibited no sign of life except in his looks.

"Every day the queen made him two long visits. I was well apprised of
this, but pretended ignorance. One day my curiosity induced me to go to
the Palace of Tears, to observe how my consort employed herself, and
from a place where she could not see me, I heard her thus address the
wounded ruffian: 'I am afflicted to the highest degree to behold you in
this condition,' she cried, 'I am as sensible as yourself of the
tormenting pain you endure; but, dear soul, I am continually speaking to
you, and you do not answer me: how long will you remain silent? Speak
only one word: alas! the sweetest moments of my life are these I spend
here in partaking of your grief.'

"At these words, which were several times interrupted by her sighs, I
lost all patience: and discovering myself, came up to her, and said,
'Madam, you have wept enough, it is time to give over this sorrow, which
dishonours us both; you have too much forgotten what you owe to me and
to yourself.' 'Sire,' said she, 'if you have any kindness or compassion
for me left, I beseech you to put no restraint upon me; allow me to
indulge my grief, which it is impossible for time to assuage.'

"When I perceived that my remonstrance, instead of restoring her to a
sense of duty, served only to increase her anguish, I ceased speaking
and retired. She continued every day to visit her charge, and for two
whole years abandoned herself to grief and despair.

"I went a second time to the Palace of Tears, while she was there. I
concealed myself again, and heard her thus cry out: 'It is now three
years since you spoke one word to me; you answer not the proofs I