THE SEVENTH NIGHT.

FOR this Night's Entertainment, my pretty Schoolfellows, I will repeat to you a Fairy Tale, which my French Mafter gave me a few Days ago to tranflate into English. I know you are all of you so much of my own Way of thinking, that I am fure it will not displease you.

Some hundred Years ago, there was a Youth, whofe Name was Rofimond. He was as beautiful as Nature herself, and as virtuous and difcreet, as his elder Brother, Bramintes, was homely, difagreeable, inhuman, and morofe. It is no Wonder, therefore, that their Mother should be doatingly fond of the younger, and think little of the elder.

It could not be long before Bramintes difcovered it, and, ftung with the most violent Jealoufy, invented a moft fcandalous Falfehood on his Brother, in order to ruin him He immediately informed his Father, that Rofimond held a Correfpondence with a Neighbour, whom he had long before declared as his Enemy; and this with a View to inform

him

him of every private Affair that was transacted in his Family. Bramintes further infinuated, that this Correfpondence between his Brother and their Neighbour would certainly end in the Death of him, their Father,

The old Gentleman, highly enraged with Rofimond, beat him in a moft cruel Manner, wounding him in feveral Places, and then confined him for fome Days without any Kind of Nourishment. At length he turned him out of Doors, threatening to be the Death of him, if ever he returned. His unhappy Mother dared not to fay a Word, and Could only utter her Complaints in Sighs and Tears. Poor Rofimond went away overwhelmed with Grief, not knowing what Course to take.

Rambling through an extenfiye Wood in the Evening, Night overtook him, juft as he was got to the Foot of a large Rock. He laid himself down at the Entrance of a Cave, upon a moffy Bank, near which a chryftal Stream ran purling down, and being quite worn out with Fatigue, he fell into a found Sleep.

Waking as foon as it was Break of Day, he faw a beautiful Damfel mounted on a white Horfe, with Gold embroidered Houfing, and dreffed in the Habit of a Huntress. Have you not feen a Stag and a Pack of Hounds pafs by this Way? faid the. Rof mond answered, he had not. You feem much dejected! faid the to him: What is the Matter with you? Here, take this Ring, continued fhe; it will make you the greatest and the happiest Man living, provided you make Ufe of it properly. As often as you fhall turn the Diamond to the Infide of your

Hand,

Hand, you shall instantly become invisible; and as foon as you turn it out, that Moment you shall be visible again. When you wear it on your little Finger, you shall perfonate the King's fon, with a numerous and fplendid Retinue. When you wear it on your fourth Finger, you fhall appear in your natural Form.

Poor Rofimond was now convinced, that a Fairy was talking to him, who had no fooner given him the Ring, and thefe proper Inftructions for ufing it, than the ftruck into the Woods; and he, on the other Hand, returned immediately home, impatient to make Trial of this invaluable Secret. Here he faw and heard every Thing he wanted without being perceived. It was now in his Power to gratify his Revenge on his Brother, without any Fear of being difcovered; but he contented himself with going to his Mother, embracing her, and acquainting her with the Whole of this strange Adventure.

He then put his Ring on his little Finger, and at once appeared to be the young Prince, attended by a hundred Courtiers, Horfe Guards, and a numerous Train of Officers

richly

richly dreffed. His Father was in a terrible Tremor, on feeing the King's Son in his humble Cottage, and in the utmost Confufion, not knowing how to carry himself on fuch an Occafion. Rofimond then asked him, how many Sons he had; and on his Father's replying he had two, Rofimond demanded to fee them: I will take both with me to Court, faid he, and raise their Fortunes. The old Man, for fome Time at a Loss what Answer to make, at last presented his eldest to the fuppofed Prince. Where is your Youngest fays Refimond; I must take him with me likewise. He is not at Home, Sir, faid the Father; I corrected him for a Fault he had committed, on which he ran away, and I have not fince feen him. Rofimond then told him, he ought to reprove, but not turn a Son out of Doors. Let your eldest Son, however, faid he, follow me; and do you, ftill fpeaking to his Father, go along with thefe two Officers, who will conduct you to the Place where I have ordered them. Immediately two of the Guards conducted the Father away; and the Fairy before mentioned, meeting them in a Foreft, ftruck him

with