Chapter 3

           ThefrequentlaboursIunderwenteveryday,made,inafewweeks,averyconsiderablechangeinmyhealth:themoremymastergotbyme,themoreinsatiablehegrew.Ihadquitelostmystomach,andwasalmostreducedtoaskeleton.Thefarmerobservedit,andconcludingImustsoondie,resolvedtomakeasgoodahandofmeashecould.Whilehewasthusreasoningandresolvingwithhimself,asardral,orgentleman-usher,camefromcourt,commandingmymastertocarrymeimmediatelythitherforthediversionofthequeenandherladies.Someofthelatterhadalreadybeentoseeme,andreportedstrangethingsofmybeauty,behaviour,andgoodsense.Hermajesty,andthosewhoattendedher,werebeyondmeasuredelightedwithmydemeanour.Ifellonmyknees,andbeggedthehonourofkissingherimperialfoot;butthisgraciousprincessheldoutherlittlefingertowardsme,afterIwassetonthetable,whichIembracedinbothmyarms,andputthetipofitwiththeutmostrespecttomylip.Shemademesomegeneralquestionsaboutmycountryandmytravels,whichIansweredasdistinctly,andinasfewwordsasIcould.Sheasked,"whetherIcouldbecontenttoliveatcourt?"Iboweddowntotheboardofthetable,andhumblyanswered"thatIwasmymaster’sslave:but,ifIwereatmyowndisposal,Ishouldbeproudtodevotemylifetohermajesty’sservice."Shethenaskedmymaster,"whetherhewaswillingtosellmeatagoodprice?"He,whoapprehendedIcouldnotliveamonth,wasreadyenoughtopartwithme,anddemandedathousandpiecesofgold,whichwereorderedhimonthespot,eachpiecebeingaboutthebignessofeighthundredmoidores;butallowingfortheproportionofallthingsbetweenthatcountryandEurope,andthehighpriceofgoldamongthem,washardlysogreatasumasathousandguineaswouldbeinEngland.