As the King went often to see his Wives, there is no question but he was fond to shew them his Watch, and that every one admir'd the Genius of the Workman. For tho' they had seen the Clock a thousand times, and seem'd even astonish'd at its Performance, they thought it nothing in comparison to this pretty Instrument, which, though small, went as regularly, and pointed out all the Parts of the Day as exactly as the great one.
Lidola in particular, who was the King's second Wife, gave broad Hints that she long'd to be Mistress of it; but the King, who did not care to part with it, and indeed could not, without raising the Jealousy of all his other Ladies, and making the Empress her self uneasy, pretended not to understand her Meaning. Lidola was so disobliged by it, that after Supper, when she was to have entertain'd the King, who had given her to understand that he would spend that Night with her (which he did very frequently, because he was much more enamour'd with her than with any of the other Ladies) she counterfeited an Indisposition, and sent to desire the King not to come to her that Night. The King, mistrusting nothing of the Matter, sent next Morning to inquire after her Health, which he repeated for several Days together. But at last perceiving no Alteration in her for the better, and that she not only receiv'd his Messengers very cavalierly, but that as he himself saw her en passant, she look'd upon him with a Coldness enough to have chill'd the very Blood in his Veins, he guess'd what she had taken Pet at, but wou'd not seem to know it; and having a mind to see how far she would carry her Indifference, he left off his Visits by degrees, and gave himself up so intirely to his last Queen, that he was very seldom with any but her.
La Foret, who knew no more than my self what had pass'd, was surpris'd one Evening, as he was walking under the Galleries, with a Voice that call'd him by his Name. Turning about to it very hastily, and being suddenly struck with Astonishment at the Beauty of the finest Lady that ever he had seen in his Life (for she was not veil'd, tho' 'tis an establish'd Rule of the Country, that marry'd Women are not seen in Mens Company without a Veil, which almost hides their Faces) he stood with his Eyes fix'd upon her, and had not Power to ask what was her Pleasure. Fair Genius, said she, you seem to be surpris'd, but don't be frighten'd; I only call'd to you to let you know how glad I am to see you whenever you pass by my Apartment, and to give you this Melon. There, take it, and farewel. Then she dropp'd the Fruit, and immediately withdrew and shut her Casement.
La Foret could never be tax'd either with Stupidity or Ignorance, yet he knew not what to think of this Frolick. Tho' he was not nimble enough to catch the Melon before it fell to the Ground, he snatch'd it up without saying one Word, and brought it to our Chamber where he told me in Confidence what had pass'd. I immediately took the Melon, and going to stick my Knife into it, I perceiv'd it had been open'd already very nicely towards the Stalk; which made me cautious in cutting it, for fear of spoiling anything that might happen to be within it, where, instead of the little Kernels which are by Nature contain'd in that excellent Fruit, we found a Scroll of the finest Vellum, with Writing on it in the Language of the Country, to this Effect.
I have seen you pass by my Window a thousand times, but scarce ever heard you talk. The Judgment which I form of your Mind, by your easy Deportment, and your uncommon Productions, excites my Curiosity to have the Happiness of your Conversation when I am disengag'd. I fancy that you can say nothing but what is very good. Prepare therefore to give me that Satisfaction. I expect you to-morrow without fail at my Door. Be sure to be there at the first Stroke of your curious Machine, after Midnight, and you'll oblige
LIDOLA.
I was alarm'd at the reading of this Billet, and told La Foret what I thought of it, very seriously; but it all signify'd nothing. He was lusty, well-proportion'd, as vigorous as a Man could possibly be at 30 Years of Age, and no Enemy to the Sex. The Friendship the King shew'd to us, induc'd him to think that he would be far from suspecting him of a Design upon any of his Wives, and therefore, without weighing the Consequences, he resolv'd to lay hold of the Opportunity at all Events. What confounded him most was his want of Eloquence, and the other necessary Talents for expressing himself politely; for he came of an obscure Family, and had seen but little of the World. As he knew not how to behave, and had a better Opinion of me than of himself, he would fain have engag'd me to take the first Step, and to pave the way for him: But besides that, his Stature and mine were very different, he being at least taller than me by the Head, which would have been too gross a Cheat to pass, I had other Reasons against embarking in an Affair of this Nature. But all this did not discourage La Foret.
Next Day he dress'd as sprucely as he could, equipp'd himself as a Galant ought to do when he goes to visit his Mistress, and study'd every thing that might contribute to her Pleasure. Being thus rigg'd, he took his Leave of me, and at the appointed time went to the Place of Assignation. The Fair One, who probably hearken'd for his coming, open'd the Door to him softly, and after injoining him by a Signal to profound Silence, conducted him into her Closet. She was in her Deshabille, which was very fine, and notwithstanding the careless Air of it, seem'd to be the Effect of Contrivance. Her Head and Shoulders were cover'd with a Veil of fine Linen, in which there had been an infinite Expence of Art; but whether it was by Chance, or by Design, under pretence of handling the said Veil, and tossing it forwards and backwards to hide what Modesty should have taught her to conceal, she often gave a Glimpse of Beauties enough to have stir'd a Heart not near so susceptible of Love as La Foret's, who could not stand those Charms. For his very Eyes were dazzled with the Glare of so many Wonders, and, as if he had been perfectly inchanted, he had not Strength to open his Lips, notwithstanding the firm Resolution he had made to say abundance of fine things to her.
Lidola perceiving her Lover so mute, fetch'd a deep Sigh, and said to him with a most languishing Countenance, I'm in love with you, fair Stranger; I did not imagine I should have had the Trouble of telling you so, because I thought you would easily guess it: Your Silence does Violence to my Modesty; I am asham'd that I have let fall the Expression; but make a prudent Use of it, and remember to be discreet, if you would be happy with Ladies. La Foret answer'd with very great Respect, 'Don't reproach me, Madam, I beseech you; my very Silence has an Eloquence in it which must fully apprize you of the Sentiments of my Heart. Tho' your Presence, continued he, has depriv'd me of the Faculty of Speech, it is only suspended to give me the more Leisure to contemplate the Delicacy of your Charms. Words are not always in season. There are Moments when the Eyes express themselves infinitely better than the Tongue can, so that without being a Conjurer, a Person, by observing their Motions, may know the Sentiments of the Soul. I confess I was in the wrong to keep Silence, but it was well for me that I did not speak, because the fined Expressions that I could have thought of in a Language with which I am so little acquainted, would not have fetch'd that from your pretty Mouth in an Age, which Silence has drawn from it in an Instant. What! you in love with me, Madam? O Heavens! how shall I contain my Joy at so tender a Confession! Who would ever have imagin'd that a Queen could debase her self so much as to declare such a Kindness for the lowest of her Slaves. Persist, I beg you; That shall be the utmost Boundary of the greatest of all my Wishes, because undoubtedly I never ought to think of any thing else.'
Just as she was going to answer him, a Waiting-maid bolted into the Room, to the Terror of our Lover, who knew not the Meaning of it at first, and so great was his Surprise, that he could not hide it. But Lidola dissembled hers, for fear of putting him into Confusion. I had given Orders, she said to him, for some dry Sweetmeats, and a Glass of Mead to be brought; you perceive they are obey'd. I hope you'll meet with something or other in this Bason that, you like. La Foret, who was too impatient for amorous Endearments to mind Sweetmeats, was mad to find their Conversation interrupted by an impertinent Witness. He had much rather have spent the Time in Dalliance, than have wasted the precious Moments in Eating. But for the sake of Complaisance, he was under a Necessity of admiring the Extent of her Civility, and he even acknowledg'd how much he was oblig'd to her for it. The Fair One, who was not willing to omit any Proof of her Tenderness for him, took one half of a Nectarin, and wantonly put it to his Mouth. Once she pluck'd from his Lips what he had in part chew'd, and eat it with an inconceivable Greediness; at another time she made him bite a Piece which she held between her white Teeth; in short, there was no wanton Air which she did not invent to increase the Passion of the new Lover.