"May I tell you," said Prince Tristan, holding out his rose, "that you
are the most beautiful princess I have ever seen?"

"May I tell you," said Prince Martin, "that your eyes are like stars?"

Prince Lorenzo remained mute because his heart was too full for speech,
and King Theophile looked coldly upon him; but the Princess Elene gazed
at him until he blushed. Then she seated herself on her throne and bade
the princes speak to her of what pleased them best.

Prince Tristan began at once to tell her of his hunting exploits, and
what joy he took in the chase. But the Princess's face grew colder and
colder as she listened, for she loved all living things, and could not
bear to see any of them hurt. Tristan did not observe this, for like all
vain people, he was thinking of his own charms, and so was unaware of the
effect he was producing.

He finished with a flourish, and Prince Martin stumbled in on the last
words, so eager was he to render in his turn a glowing account of all his
fine deeds. These were not few, for he was a brave lad, so for an hour he
discoursed upon tourneys and battles; nor did he observe that the
Princess Elene grew pale--and trembled, for her mother's sorrow over war
lived again in her heart.

To her relief he came at last to the end of his recital; then with a sigh
Elene turned her beautiful eyes upon Prince Lorenzo. "And what have you
to tell me, my Prince?"

For answer he said to a page, "Give me thy harp"; and when it was
delivered to him he struck the strings and sang: