Chapter 7 The Two Princesses

In the city of Savakis lived a prince who was loved by all men, women, and children, and even the animals of the fields came to pay homage to him. But the people say: "His wife, the princess, doesn't love him; no, she even hates him. One day, a princess from a neighboring city came to visit the princess of Savakis.They sat talking and talked about their husbands. The princess in the city of Savakis said excitedly: "I really envy you and your husband, the prince, who live happily together, even though you have been married for many years. I hate my husband. He does not belong to me alone. Man, I'm really the unluckiest woman in the world."

The princess who wanted to visit stared at the other party and said: "My friend Li, the truth is that you love your husband. Yes, you still have a passion for him that has not been exhausted, but that is the heart of a woman." My life is like spring in a garden. But pity me, and pity my husband, too, for we bear each other in silent patience. And you and the others think this is happiness." The Two Princesses In the city of Shawakis lived a prince, and he was loved by everyone, men and women and children. Even the animals of the field came unto him in greeting. But all the people said that his wife, the princess, loved him not; nay, that she even hated him.

And upon a day the princess of a neighboring city came to visit the princess of Shawakis. And they sat and talked together, and their words led to their husbands. And the princess of Sharakis said with passion, "I envy you your happiness with the prince, your husband, though you have been married these many years. I hate my husband. He belongs not to me alone, and I am indeed a woman most unhappy." Then the visiting princess gazed at her and said, "My friend, the truth is that you love your husband. Aye, and you still have him for a passion unspent, and that is life in woman like unto Spring in a garden. But pity me, and my husband, for we do but endure one another in silent patience. And yet you and others consider this happiness."