Fable VIII. History of an Old Queen and a Young Country-Maid

T^HERE was once a Queen fo old, fo very old, "■- that her Majesty was grown both bald and toothless; her head (hook like an aspen-leaf; (he no longer saw, even with fpedades; her nose and chin met; (he was (hrunk into a shapeless clew, with a back fo bowed, that you would have thought (he had been gl ways crooked.

A fairy, who had aiEfted at her birth, came to her, <U)d faids do you desire to grow young again? mod eamefUy, replied the Queen; I would give all the jewels I am miflrefs of, to be no more than twenty, you mad then, continued the fairy, transfer your age and infirmities to some one, who (hall be contented to spare you her youth and health: to whom, therefore, shall we give yoor hundred years?

^Z AN OLD ^UEEM AND

The Queen caused immediate search to be made throughout the whole kingdom, for a person who should be willing to barter youth for age» upon a valuable consideration. there soon came a number of beggars, who were willing to be old, in order to be rich: but when they had feeo the Queen coughing, spitting, living upon spoon-meat, ghastly, distrefied, and doating, they were no longer inclinable to take upon them the burden of her ye'krs; they chose rather to beg, and to enjoy youth and health is rags, there came also some ambitious persons, to whom she promised great honours and preferments: but what sliall those honours avail us, said they, upon seeing her, when we shall be fo forbidding woA frig|itful, as not to dare to fiiew our faces?

At last there presented herself a young covntry^ lass, beautifiil as the rosy morn, who demanded ths: crown, as the price of her youth; her name waa Pe* roncl. the Queen grew angry at the bold demand; but what availed her anger? she wanted to be young a^ato. let us ihare, said she to Peronel, nay kiagdont; you shall have one half, and I the other; that is more tbas enough sior you, who are but a little CQuntry-^h no, replied the damsel, u ia not enough lor me; I will have all or nothing; let me enjoy my coodkioft of a country>girl, with my blooouog complexiofr» aod. let your Majefly keep, with all my heart, your htm*. dred years, with your wrinkkf aod d«ath at your d*.

i YOtTNd COUNf bow. but then, replied the Queeo, what should I do, if r wanted a kingdom ^ why you would laugh, dance, and (ing as I do, answered the girl; and with that (he fell a laughing, dancing, and (inging. the Queen, who was far enough from doing the like, said then to hvr, what would you do in my place? you, who are neither accudomed to old-age, nor to empire. I do not know, said the damsel, what I would do; but I would fain try it, for I hare always heard that it is a fine thing to be a Queen.

While the parties were about (Inking the bargain, in came the fairy, and, addressing herself to Peronel, said; are you willing to take a trial of the trade of an old Queen, to know how it will suit you? with all my heart, replied the girl, that indant wrinkles furrow her brow; her hair whitens, she grows peerifh and crabbed, her head shakes, her teeth loosen; in short, she is already an hundred years old. the fairy then opens a little box, and forth springs a niUltitude of officers and courtiers, of both sexes, richly apparelled, who grow up as fafl as they come out, and pay a thousand refpedls to the new Queen, (he is conduced to her chair of (late, and a sumptuous banquet is set before her; but alas! flie has no appetite, nor teeth to chew; she is aWkward and bashful, and in a maze; (he knows neither what to say nor do; (he coughs till (he is ready to burst; (he beholds herself in the glass, and is (hocked at her own deformity, iq

60.AN OLD qUEBM AN9 the raean time, the true Queen (lands in a corner, fmirking, and beginning to grow handsome. her hair returns, and her teeth also; she regains a fresh rosy complexion, she now fmugs herself up, with a thousand little youthful airs; but she was troubled to find herself shabbily drefTed; her coats short andfcanty, and her jacket of an humble gray; she was not used to be thus poorly equipt, and the guards taking her for some' country cook-maid, were for turning her out of the palace, then Peronel said to her, I perceire yon are not a little uneasy in being no longer a Queen, and I am no less fo in being one. here, take your crown, * and give me back my gray, the exchange was fordiwith made; the Queen grew old, and Peronel young, scarce was the exchange finished, when they both repented, but It was too late: for the fairy condemned each to remain in her condition, the Queen bemoaned herself daily, upon the smallest indlfpofition. alas! would she say, if 1 was Peronel at this time, I should sleep in a cottage, and seed upon chefnuts; but then by day I should dance under the elm with the shepherds, to the sweet music of the pipe, what avails it me to have a bed of down, where I am never free from pain, and fo many attendants, who can give me no relief?

Her vexation increased her ailments, as did also the phyGcians, of whom flie had conflantly a dozen at leafl about her. in fine, she died at the end of twft nonths. Peronel was in the midst of a dance with her companions, by the side of a crystal brook, when (he received the tidings of the Queen's death, then (he was fendble that (he had been more happy than wife^ in having lofl the queenship.

Some time after the fairy came again to visit her, and gave her the choice of three husbands; one old, peevish, difa^eeable, jealous, and cruel, but Withal, rich, powerful, and a great lord, who should never be able to be without her night or day; another comely, kind, complaisant, amiable, and ofhigh birth, but poor, and unfortunate in everything; the third and last, a peafantj like herself, who should be neither handsome nor homely, who should love her neither too - much, nor too little, and who should be neither rich v nor poor. Peronel was at a loss which to take; for * (he was naturally fond of fine doaths, equipages, and honours, but the fairy told her, go to, you are a fool; ' do you see the peasant? that is the husband fit for you. you would love too much the second; you would be too ' much beloved by the first; both would render you un- ^ happy; it is very fair that the third do not beat you: it is better to dance upon the grass, or heath, than in ' a palace, and to be plain Peronel in the country, than ' an unhappy lady at court, if you do not regret the *

ft want of grandeur, you will be happy with your plonghinan all your life time. r

DEPARTURE

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