Fairy tales and novels

18 TALES OF THE FAmiES.found in their cradle : who went immediately andfetched them out of her closet, where she kept themsafe, and tied them all upon Fair-Star, whom sheembraced with all motherly affection, wetting herface with her tears.]Sever was any separation more melancholy; thecorsair and liis wife were ready to die with grief:but their sorrows proceeded not from interestthey had already amassed too much riches to desireany more. In short Bright-Sun, Felix, Chery, andFair-Star, went aboard a vessel which the corsairhad fitted out with all masnititence, and finepaintings, of the stories of Cleopatra and MarkAntony, and all the attendants of Venus. Thecourse they steered was to the same degrees oflatitude where the corsair found them, and prepareda great sacrifice for the jiods and fairies toobtain their protection, and guide tiiem to the placeof their birth. Ihey took a turtle dove, and v,eregoing to sacrifice it, but that the compassionateprincess thought it so beautiful, that she saved its' life, and let it fly, saying, Go thou pretty bird ofVenus; if I should ever want thy assistance, rememberwhat 1 have done for thee.' Awa^- wentthe bird, and when the sacrifice was over, there washeard such a charming concert of music, that allnature seemed to keep a profound silence to listento it; the seas were calm, and the winds onlybreathed gentle zephyrs, which only disordered theprincess's veil and hair: and a syren arose out oitlie water, and sung, while the princess and herbrothers admired her. After some airs, she turned'herself towards them, and said, Ee not uneasy;let your vessel drive before the wind ; and whereit stoj)s, there disembark ; and let those who love,stilllove on.'Fair-Star and Chery were sensible of an extraordinaryjoy at these words of the syren's ;neverdisputing but that they related to them; and bysigns gave each other to understand as much,