As if blind to his own folly, Van Beunigen, the envoy, placed
himself near to the young Queen; and Christina, full of her own
mischief, began gravely to compliment him on his horsemanship,
and suggested a gallop.
Alas, fatal moment. For while he yet swayed and jolted upon the
back of the restive Hannibal, and even endeavored to discuss with
the fair young scholar who rode beside him, the "Melanippe" of
Euripides, the same fair scholar--who, in spite of all her Greek
learning was only a mischievous and sometimes very rude young
girl--faced him with a sober countenance.
"Good Herr Van Beunigen," she said, "your Greek is truly as
smooth as your face. But it seems to me you do not sufficiently
catch the spirit of the poet's lines commmencing
.[1]
I should rather say that should be----"
[1] The commencement of an extract from the "Melanippe" of
Euripides, meaning, "To raise vain laughter, many exercise the
arts of satire."
Just what should be she never declared, for, as
the envoy of Holland turned upon her a face on which Greek
learning and anxious horsemanship struggled with one another,
Christina slyly touched black Hannibal lightly with her
riding-whip.
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