ot, we landed safely on the
beach.

'When we had left the coast behind us, with its walls of jet, we entered
a lovely country where the fields were greener, the streams clearer, and
the sun brighter than anywhere else. The people crowded round to welcome
their prince, whom they loved dearly, but they told him that the king
was still full of rage at his son's refusal to marry his cousin the
Princess Okimpare, and also at his flight. Indeed, they all begged him
not to visit the capital, as his life would hardly be safe. So, much as
I should have enjoyed seeing the home of my beloved prince, I implored
him to listen to this wise advice and to let us all go to Thelamis's
palace in the middle of a vast forest.

'To my sister and myself, who had been brought up in a cottage, this
house of Thelamis's seemed like fairyland. It was built of pink marble,
so highly polished that the flowers and streams surrounding it were
reflected as in a mirror. One set of rooms was furnished especially for
me in yellow silk and silver, to suit my black hair. Fresh dresses were
provided for us every day, and we had slaves to wait on us. Ah, why
could not this happiness have lasted for ever!

'The peace of our lives was troubled by Thelamis's jealousy of my
sister, as he could not endure to see her on friendly terms with the
prince, though knowing full well that his heart was mine. Every day we
had scenes of tender reproaches and of explanations, but Tezila's tears
never failed to bring Thelamis to his knees, with prayers for
forgiveness.

'We had been living in this way for some months when one day the news
came that the king had fallen dangerously ill. I begged the prince to
hurry at once to the court, both to see his father and also to show
himself to the senators and nobles, but as his love for me was greater
than his desire of a crown, he hesitated as if foreseeing all that
afterwards happened. At last Tezila spoke to him so seriously in
Thelamis's presence, that he determined to go, but promised that he
would return before night.

'Night came but no prince, and Tezila, who had been the cause of his
departure, showed such signs of uneasiness that Thelamis's jealousy was
at once awakened. As for me, I cannot tell what I suffered. Not being
able to sleep I rose from my bed and wandered into the forest, along the
road which he had taken so many hours before. Suddenly I heard in the
distance the sound of a horse's hoofs, and in a few momen