“Just as you please,” answers Hippomanes. “If you are tired, there is a bed. If you have the least inclination, I advise you to try it. Young Asteria, and little Phenice, who are great judges, assure me that it is a good one.” While Hippomanes was talking thus impertinently to Alphana, he pull’d off her gown by the sleeves, unlaced her stays, untied her petticoats, and disengaged her two clumsy feet from two little slippers.

When Alphana was almost naked, then did she perceive that Hippomanes was undressing her.⁠—“What are you doing?” cried she quite surprised. “President, you don’t consider. I shall be angry in earnest.”

“Ah, my queen,” answered Hippomanes, “to be angry with a man who loves you as I do, would be such an oddity as you are not capable of. May I presume to entreat you to walk to this bed?”

“To this bed,” replied Alphana. “Ah! my lord president, you abuse my tenderness. I to go into a bed! I, into a bed!”