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to discover the true state of the heart of her I love; if she be such as I imagine, how much shall I reproach myself for having thought the proof of this palace necessary! and if she be not, what an angelic illusion shall I lose!

At last we entered the palace, and I cast a trembling eye on my princess: but what was my surprise, when I discovered the celestial, the seraphic Arpalisa was forty-eight years old; was loaded with paint; had pencilled eye-brows, false hair, and a made up form; in fine, that she was bald, red-haired, old, and crooked!

Zumio, who had come to meet me, did not know her in the Palace of Truth; and burst out a laughing, as soon as he beheld a figure so ridiculous leaning familiarly and triumphantly on my arm. I was so much disconcerted, that I hastily quitted the princess, without troubling myself about what she might think of my behaviour.

Zumio followed me; I give you joy of your good fortune, my lord, said he; you have indeed found out a rare beauty. I really wonder how you could make such a conquest:

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