ches that we understood
what had occurred. Indeed the first thought of both of us was that we
must have changed clothes.

'Now in spite of what we may say, we all prefer our own bodies to those
of anybody else, so notwithstanding our love for each other, at first
we could not help feeling a little cross with Thelamis. However, so deep
was the prince's passion for me, that very soon he began to congratulate
himself on the change. "My happiness is perfect," he said; "my heart,
beautiful Dely, has always been yours, and now I have your head also."

'But though the prince made the best of it, Thelamis was much ashamed
of his stupidity. "I have," he said hesitatingly, "two other pastilles
which have the same magic properties as those I used before. Let me cut
off your heads again, and that will put matters straight." The proposal
sounded tempting, but was a little risky, and after consulting together
we decided to let things remain as they were. "Do not blame me then,"
continued Thelamis, "if you will not accept my offer. But take the two
pastilles, and if it ever happens that you are decapitated a second
time, make use of them in the way I have shown you, and each will get
back his own head." So saying he presented us with the pastilles, and we
all returned to the castle.

'However, the troubles caused by the unfortunate exchange were only just
beginning. My head, without thinking what it was doing, led the prince's
body to my apartments. But my women, only looking at the dress, declared
I had mistaken the corridor, and called some slaves to conduct me to his
highness's rooms. This was bad enough, but when--as it was still night
my servants began to undress me, I nearly fainted from surprise and
confusion, and no doubt the prince's head was suffering in the same
manner at the other end of the castle!

'By the next morning--you will easily guess that we slept but little--we
had grown partly accustomed to our strange situation, and when we looked
in the mirror, the prince had become brown-skinned and black-haired,
while my head was covered with his curly golden locks. And after that
first day, everyone in the palace had become so accustomed to the change
that they thought no more about it.

'Some weeks after this, we heard that the king of the Isle of Black
Marble was dead. The prince's head, which once was mine, was full of
ambitious desires, and he longed to ride straight to the capital and
proclaim himself king. But t