Tell me, said the princess, what is become of the young man that has lain with me to-night, and whom I love with all my soul?  Madam, replied the nurse, we know of no such person, and cannot pretend to understand your highness, unless you will be pleased to explain yourself.

How do you mean explain myself! quoth the princess.  Why, I had a lovely and most amiable young man that slept with me last night; whom, though I caressed ever so much, I could not awake:  I only ask you where he is?

Madam, answered the nurse, is it to jest and impose upon us that your highness asks these questions?  I beseech your highness to be pleased to rise, and you shall be satisfied in all things that we are capable of satisfying you in.  I am in earnest, then, said the princess; and I must know where this young man is.  Madam, insisted the nurse, you were alone when you went to bed last night; and how any man could come to you without our knowledge, I cannot imagine; for we all lay about the door of your chamber, which was locked, and I had the key in my pocket.

At this the princess lost all patience; and, catching the nurse by the hair, and giving her two or three sound cuffs, cried, Tell me where this young man is, you old sorceress, or I will beat out your brains.  The nurse struggled all she could to get from her, and at last succeeded; when she went immediately, with tears in her eyes, and her face all bloody, to complain to the queen her mother, who was not a little surprised to see the old woman in such a condition.

Madam, began the nurse, you see what a condition the princess has put me in!  She would certainly have murdered me, if I had not escaped out of her hands.  But for what, good nurse? replied the queen:  what occasion did you give my daughter for using you so ill?  I gave none, madam, answered the nurse; and so began to tell the cause of all that passion and rage in the princess.  The queen was mightily surprised to hear it, and could not guess how she came to be so infatuated as to take for a reality what could be no other than a dream.  Your majesty must conclude from all this, madam, continued the nurse, that my mistress the princess is out of her senses.  I would beseech your majesty, therefore, to go and see her, and you will find what I say to be but too true.

The great love the queen bore the princess readily made her comply with the nurse’s proposal; so they went together immediately to the princess’s palace.

The queen of China sat down by her daughter’s bed-side upon her arrival in her apartment, and, after informing herself about her health, began to ask what had made her so angry with her nurse as to treat her after the manner she had done, which great princesses had never condescended or attempted to do before.

Madam, replied the princess, I plainly perceive your majesty is come to mock me; but I declare I will never let you rest till you consent I shall marry the young man that lay with me last night.  You must needs know where he is, and therefore I beg your majesty would let him come to me again.