you.  Their tears affected me; I prayed them to tell me the reason of their grief, and of the separation they spoke of.  For God’s sake, fair ladies, let me know, said I, if it be in my power to comfort you, or if my assistance can be any way useful to you.  Instead of returning a direct answer, Would to God, said they, we had never seen nor known you.  Several gentlemen have honoured us with their company before you, but never one of them had that comeliness, that sweetness, that pleasantness of humour, and merit, which you have; we know not how to live without you.  After they had spoken these words, they began to weep bitterly.  My dear ladies, said I, be so kind as not to keep me in suspense any more:  Tell me the cause of your sorrow.  Alas! said they, what other thing could be capable of grieving us, but the necessity of parting from you?  It may so happen that we shall never see you again; but if you be so minded, and have command enough over yourself, it is not impossible for us to meet again.  Ladies, said I, I understand not your meaning; pray explain yourselves more clearly.  Oh, then, said one of them, to satisfy you, we must acquaint you, that we are all princesses, daughters of kings; we live here together in such a manner as; you have seen, but, at the end of every year, we are obliged to be absent forty days upon indispensable duties, which we are not permitted to reveal; and afterwards we return again to this castle.  Yesterday was the last day of the year, and we must leave you this day, which is the cause of our grief.  Before we depart, we will leave you the keys to every thing; especially those belonging to the hundred doors, where you will have enough to satisfy your curiosity, and to sweeten your solitude during our absence:  But, for your own welfare, and our particular concern in you, we recommend unto you to forbear opening the golden door; for, if you do, we shall never see you again; and the fear of this augments our grief.  We hope, nevertheless, that you will follow the advice we give you, as you tender your own quiet, and the happiness of your life; therefore take heed that you do not give way to indiscreet curiosity, for you will do yourself a considerable prejudice.  We conjure you, therefore, not to commit this fault, but to let us have the comfort of finding you here again after forty days.  We would willingly carry the key of the golden door along with us; but it would be an affront to a prince like you to question your discretion and modesty.

This discourse of the fair princesses made me extremely sorrowful.  I omitted not to make them sensible how much their absence would afflict me:  I thanked them for their good advice, and assured them that I would follow it, and willingly do what was much more difficult, in order to be so happy as to pass the rest of my days with ladies of such rare qualifications.  We took leave of one another with a great deal of tenderness; and having embraced them all, they at