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when all the rooms were full； he commanded his guards to seize her；
alleging she had brought him counterfeit money。 Immediately Leander put
on his little red cap and disappeared。 The guards； believing that the lady
had escaped； ran out and left Furibon alone； when Leander； availing
himself of the opportunity； took the tyrant by the hair； and twisted his head
off with the same ease he would a pullet's； nor did the little wretch of a
king see that hand that killed him。
Leander having got his enemy's head； wished himself in the Palace of
Calm Delights； where he found the princess walking； and with grief
considering the message which her mother had sent her； and on the means
to repel Furibon。
Suddenly she beheld a head hanging in the air； with nobody to hold it。
This prodigy astonished her so that she could not tell what to think of it；
but her amazement was increased when she saw the head laid at her feet；
and heard a voice utter these words：
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〃Charming Princess； cease your fear Of Furibon； whose head see
here。〃
Abricotina； knowing Leander's voice； cried：
〃I protest； madam； the invisible person who speaks is the very stranger
that rescued me。〃
The princess seemed astonished； but yet pleased。
〃Oh；〃 said she； 〃if it be true that the invisible and the stranger are the
same person； I confess I shall be glad to make him my acknowledgments。〃
Leander； still invisible； replied； 〃I will yet do more to deserve them；〃
and so saying he returned to Furibon's army； where the report of the king's
death was already spread throughout the camp。 As soon as Leander
appeared there in his usual habit； everybody knew him； all the officers and
soldiers surrounded him； uttering the loudest acclamations of joy。 In short；
they acknowledged him for their king； and that the crown of right
belonged to him； for which he thanked them； and； as the first mark of his
royal bounty； divided the thirty rooms of gold among the soldiers。 This
done he returned to his princess； ordering his army to march back into his
kingdom。
The princess was gone to bed。 Leander； therefore； retired into his own
apartment； for he was very sleepyso sleepy that he forgot to bolt his door；
and so it happened that the princess； rising early to taste the morning air；
chanced to enter into this very chamber； and was astonished to find a
young prince asleep upon the bed。 She took a full view of him； and was
convinced that he was the person whose picture she had in her diamond
box。 〃It is impossible；〃 said she； 〃that this should be a spirit； for can spirits
sleep？ Is this a body composed of air and fire； without substance； as
Abricotina told me？〃 She softly touched his hair； and heard him breathe；
and looked at him as if she could have looked forever。 While she was thus
occupied； her mother； the fairy entered with such a noise that Leander
started out of his sleep。 But how deeply was he afflicted to behold his
beloved princess in the most deplorable condition！ Her mother dragged
her by the hair and loaded her with a thousand bitter reproaches。 In what
grief and consternation were the two young lovers； who saw themselves
now upon the point of being separated forever！ The princess durst not
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open her lips； but cast her eyes upon Leander； as if to beg his assistance。
He judged rightly that he ought not to deal rudely with a power superior to
his own； and therefore he sought； by his eloquence and submission； to
move the incensed fairy。 He ran to her； threw himself at her feet； and
besought her to have pity upon a young prince who would never change in
his affection for her daughter。 The princess； encouraged； also embraced
her mother's knees； and declared that without Leander she should never be
happy。
〃Happy！〃 cried the fairy； 〃you know not the miseries of love nor the
treacheries of which lovers are capable。 They bewitch us only to poison
our lives； I have known it by experience； and will you suffer the same？〃
〃Is there no exception； madam？〃 replied Leander； and his countenance
showed him to be one。
But neither tears nor entreaties could move the implacable fairy； and it
is very probable that she would have never pardoned them； had not the
lovely Gentilla appeared at that instant in the chamber； more brilliant than
the sun。 Embracing the old fairy：
〃Dear sister；〃 said she； 〃I am persuaded you cannot have forgotten the
good office I did you when； after your unhappy marriage； you besought a
readmittance into Fairyland； since then I never desired any favor at your
hands； but now the time is come。 Pardon； then； this lovely princess；
consent to her nuptials with this young prince。 I will engage he shall be
ever constant to her； the thread of their days shall be spun of gold and silk；
they shall live to complete your happiness； and I will never forget the
obligation you lay upon me。〃
〃Charming Gentilla；〃 cried the fairy； 〃I consent to whatever you desire。
Come； my dear children； and receive my love。〃 So saying； she embraced
them both。
Abricotina； just then entering； cast her eyes upon Leander； she knew
him again； and saw he was perfectly happy； at which she； too； was quite
satisfied。
〃Prince；〃 condescendingly said the fairy… mother； 〃I will remove the
Island of Calm Delights into your own kingdom； live with you myself； and
do you great services。〃
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Whether or not Prince Leander appreciated this offer； he bowed low；
and assured his mother… in…law that no favor could be equal to the one he
had that day received from her hands。 This short compliment pleased the
fairy exceedingly； for she belonged to those ancient days when people
used to stand a whole day upon one leg complimenting one another。 The
nuptials were performed in a most splendid manner； and the young prince
and princess lived together happily many years； beloved by all around
them。
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The Li