Page 59 - Princess Belle-Etoile and Prince Cherie

cedar-wood, the ropes were of green silk
mixed with gold, the sails of gold and green
cloth, and the paintings were beautiful. As it
sailed out of port, Cleopatra, with her Antony,
and even the whole crew of Venus's Galley,
would have lowered their flag to it. The
Princess was seated under a rich canopy near
the poop; her two brothers and her cousin

stood close by her, looking more brilliant than
the planets, and their stars threw out long
dazzling rays of light. They determined to sail
to the very spot where the Corsair had found
them, and accordingly they did so. They made
preparations for a grand sacrifice there to the
gods and to the fairies, to obtain their

protection and guidance to their birth-place.
They were about to immolate a turtle-dove,
but the compassionate Princess thought it so
beautiful that she saved its life, and to preserve
it from such a fate in future she let it fly:—
"Depart," said she, "little bird of Venus; and if,
some day, I should have need of thee, forget
not the kindness I have shown thee."
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