Fable VII. History of King Alfarout and Clarisile

^nr^ HERE was once a King named Alfarout,,vhp -^ was feared by all his neighbours, and loved, by all his fubjeAs: he was wife, good, just, valiant, capable; in (hort, nothing was wanting to him. a fairy came to wait on him, and to warn him that, there would soon befal him great misfortunes, if he did not make use of a ring, which (he put upon his finger, when he turned the diamond to the inside of his hand» he became forthwith invisible, and whenever he turned it outward, he was visible as before, this ring was very convenient, and afforded him great pleasure: when he fufpeded any of his fubjedls, he went into that person's closet, witji his diamond turned inward, and there he heard and saw unperceived, all his.domelHc secrets: if he dreaded the dcfigns of any neighbouring

KING ALFA&OOT AND CLARIFILB. 5^,

King, away he went, and penetrated into his most fecret counsels, where he learned erery thing, undifcovered; thus did he, without difficulty, prerent whatever was intended against him; he defeated several confpiracies formed against his person, and disconcerted his enemies, who meditated his orerthrow.

He was not, however, contented with his ring, but desired of the fairy, a means of transporting himself, in a oioment, from one country to another, to enable him to make a speedier, and more commodious use of the ring which rendered him invisible. the fairy answered him, with a sigh, you aik too much; dread, dread the consequence of such a gift, he would hear nothing, but perfided in his demand, well then, said (he, since it must be fo, I ihall give you, tho* mudi contrary to my inclination, what you will repent of having;, and having fo said, she anointed his fhouMers with a sweet smelling liquor: immediately he felt little wings sprouting upon his back; these diminutive wings did not appear under his cloaths, but when he had a mmd to fly, he had only to touch them with his hand, and forthwith they became fo long, that.he was capable of infinitely out-dripping the rapid flight of an eagle; whenever he wanted to fly no longer, he had but to give his wings another touch, and instantly they contra<Sted themselves, fo as not to be perceived under his cloaths: by this means, the King ^ent. wherever be pleased in a few momeott i he knew every uiifi|^ 'nd no inotf cond c onoei fc nw, ror li^ woold &ut himrdf «p, 4md&eM to xeaaui whdt dap io kis clofety witkMit JHy one darng to come into Jbib; mhooevcr lie gat dKPc, he Tendered bimkM m^Ekk, by ha ling, expaDdedbe vdngs by a tonck, and over-slew immeafe cocmcraes^ be theiciby engaged Inmfetf in great wars, whepeoi iie gnt wkatTidoiieB befkafed; bat as Ihe was oasftandy privy to the fecrett of nien» lie ofafenred thea fo widoed and dtfenhlMf, that he durst no longer tvuft any one: the mere 'be became powerful and fisrmidatile, the less be was beJoved) an4 he soand be was not belomed by anyone, ef«B of ibofe va wfaom lie had conlenicd xtit ipeatsft §nmkn, tt ftonfort himieiif, he reibhrodix) ^ tbro' M the oooh iries of the world, in qoeft of an acGompliflied man, wbonn jie nught <aice to wife, of wbom he bt beloved, and iywhom be might be made happy, iong did he ieek her; and as he &w every thing, bim- ^els onfeen, he bad acoefi to the noft vmpenetmfaie ileorets. Ik went iihcoaU courts; beifound eveiy wbece uooqoettifk women, who wanted to be beloved, but who ioved diemselves too ORicfa, tmly to iove ^iui£bnnd. Jie neitt 4nade a tour thro' liie prmte bonfes; tbeie one woman had a li^t and inconstant temper, -ano- -dier was cQnmng,a^ird haq^sty, and a.foorth wUm- -lioal, almost all ialfe, vain, and idoliaeiB'cf^heir'per- 'fcns. he then defeendedto the bweft rank, and4bere, >«t Jeogtb, 'he;found ^ daiq^tter of a poorifadbnodwtaSf beaoteoM at the non^ but fiaiple and iigeiui COS ilk her beam)r, iiludi iieowk ikde account of, aad which was iadetd luer (kaikft ^lalit^; far {h« kada wit and mtuc wiiidk fiurpa&d att tb? graces of her person; aU the jovfk of her neighbouriiood crouded to &e her, and ever^p jFOQ^g man wonld hare thought to leaire his hafpiaefi^ say making her his vrife. KxDg jUfaront dould not behold her» widioat Ming passi* onateFf ia hwe with her. he* demanded her of her fiuher, who was transported with jaj to find that hin daoi^ter flionld be a great Qoeeiu Clarifile (for that was her name) paflcd firoiu her fiuhcr's cottage into n ndi pafaice» where a nameroos court receired her. she was not at aU dazzled with its splendor, bat prefenred her finphcitj, her aiodeftj, her virtue, and, at the pinade of honours, forgot not whence she fpruog. die Xing redooblcd his teodemefs for her, and thought at length he should come to be happy; and indeed he wasted litde of being fo already, fb much did he begin to confide in the Queen's goodness of heart; he would every now and then render himself inviiible, in order to obierye, and to forprife her; but he discovered ne< ver any thing in her that he did not think worthy to be admired*

There was now but one small remnant of jealou«> fy and distrust, which dill disturbed him a little in his fondness. the fairy who had foretold him the fatal consequences of her last gift, continued to warn him of them, till at length he began to be pestered with her; wherefore, he gave orders that (he (hould no longer be admitted into the palace, and forbid the Queen to re< ceive her. the Queen promised to obey^ bat with no small reluAance, for (he loyed the good fairy.. One day the fairy wanting to gire the Qgeen some inteUigence of futurity, got access to her in the ihape of an officer, and upon her declaring to the Queen who she was, her Majesty embraced her tenderly, the Kbg, who was then in the room invisible, seeing this was transported with jealousy to diftra^on: he drew his sword, and dabbed the Qijeen to the heart, who dropped down, expiring in his arms, that moment the fairy re-afiiuned her true fliape. the King knew her, and perceiving the Queen's innocence, would have killed himself; but the fairy held his hand, and endeavoured to comfort him. the Queen with her last breath said to him, tho' I die by your hand, I die wholly yours. Alfarout deplored his misfortune, in having, in spite of the fairy, inGfted upon a gift, which proved fo fatal to him. he returned her the ring, and prayed her to take away his wings, the remainder of his days he spent in bittemefs and sorrow; nor had he any o^ ther consolation than that of going and ihedding tears over the tomb of Clarifile.

O F A N

OLD Q^UEEN

A N D A

YOUNG COUNTRY-MAID.