Princess Orinda and her five sisters were born and raised in a fairy cave on a remote island. When they came of age, their guardian fairy told them of six treasures that would help them to restore the mainland kingdom of their exiled parents. So, after a fond farewell, the six princesses went separate ways.
Princess Orinda, in loveliness of person, surpassed the most lavish description: She was tall, fair, finely proportioned and, in short, might truly be considered a complete beauty: Her adventures at first consisted chiefly in acts of Benevolence to weary and distressed Travellers, as she passed on the road; pleasing herself with the many acts of superior relief the Magnet would empower her to indulge herself in at her return, she pursued her journey with such cheerful speed, that she passed far beyond the turn marked out in her directory.
Thus, she came to a rocky country and to the ruined castle of an ugly old scoundrel, who wanted to take her for a wife, and tried to escape for three long and toilsome days.
In the utmost despair she now saw the morning of the fourth day approach, when, going to essay the Rock for the last time, she perceived a young man standing on the top.— Orinda, who had no time to lose, giving him to understand, by signs, her miserable condition, he descended; and, with very little difficulty, led her to the summit; Here the Princess discovered an open plain, on which stood a superb Mansion: It was surrounded by most delightful plantations ; ornamented with fine pieces of water, and gardens dressed with clumps of fragrant flowers; so that the Princess, from the contrast to that she had so lately left, fancied herself in a perfect Paradise: And thought she could never sufficiently express her gratitude to the young Man, who had delivered her from a situation which she now, if possible, considered worse than before.
As they proceeded on their way,. Luxury; (for that was the name of her Conductor) informed her, that the noble Building which appeared in view belonged to Extravagance, one of the most renowned Lords in those parts; to whom himself had the honour to be chief Steward and Favourite: "I will introduce you to my Lord," said he, "who is never "so happy as when we can rescue any one from the power of "that filthy Magician, Avarice."As he ended these words, they entered the House. Luxury then introduced her to two
bloated Females, with ruddy countenances, who occasionally assisted when Extravagance chose to entertain the Ladies of his family: They, with Luxury, accompanied the Princess through a grand saloon into an apartment, the furniture of which was beyond all description: Elegant sofas, fringed with costly Pearl; embroidered hangings, enriched with the finest Paintings, and most superb lustres, that cast a radiance round him. Here sat Extravagance, in his morning dress; he was an elegant young man, robed in a verd-coloured silk, embroidered with silver; and buttoned to the breast by a knot of Diamonds: His hair fancifully braided, and scented wih the richest perfumes. Luxury, his favourite, approached, and presented the Princess to him; informing him, that he had been so happy as to assist her in escaping from the Castle of Avarice.
Extravagance received the Princess with great politeness; and assured her, nothing made him so happy as vexing that sordid Being, whose utter extirpation he had long aimed at; and, if Example could have any influence, he was determined to destroy the reputation of Avarice, with all hat knew him.
Extravagance was so struck with the beauty of the Princess, although she was dressed in a plain white Robe, that he thought she far eclipsed any beauty he had before seen: He felt an unusual pleasure in viewing her; and at last: absolutely determined, in his own mind, to make her an offer of marriage: Accordingly, he began in the most insinuating manner to address her, in order to gain her affection, which was no very difficult task, for she began already to be much captivated with his person and agreeable manner, so different from her old Lover, Avarice: But Orinda gave him to understand, that, as she was under the Guardianship of the good Benigna, she was not at liberty to encourage his addresses, till she had performed her appointed journey, and acquired the Magnet of true Generosity- Extravagance no sooner heard this, than he, with a smiling countenance, said, he was happy he could save her the fatigue of so tedious a journey, for that the Magnet was then actually in his possession, "which, said he, "I will resign the instant you become mv Bride."—Orinda, not in the least doubting what he said, consented to remain his Guest a few days, till she could receive the approbation of Benigna, her guardian fairy.
The remainder of the day was spent in the highest strain of mirth and festivity, the Princess becoming more and more pleased with Extravagance, and his Favourite, Luxury, whose indefatigable attention prevented even her wishes, by procuring every thing in the greatest profusion: All went on very pleasantly till the evening, when, as they were sitting at a splendid splendid supper, the Princess beheld, to her utter amazement, the Faces of Luxury and her intended Bridegroom gradually transformed into those of pigs. The shock was so violent that she swooned: The two old Females, who "never once suspected the cause of her disorder, (as they frequently, in the evening, were afflicted with a dimness in their sight, which rendered them perfectly insensible to the other's deformity) contrived to remove the Princess into a proper apartment; where, after laying her on a sofa to repose, they sunk into sleep themselves; leaving Extravagance and his companions to finish their nightly Revels.
But now, as I am apt to believe that the readers will be impatient to learn the cause of this strange transformation, I cannot proceed without acquainting them (perhaps to their surprise) that Avarice and Extravagance were Brothers, and Sons to an old Fairy called Excess.
Extravagance had always a pleasing form, till he got acquainted with Luxury, the offspring of a very disagreeable mixt family of the Centaurs and Gluttons: He inherited the disposition and manners of his family at times; so much of the Swine, that Extravagance, soon after his associating with him, grew so very like Luxury, as even to astonish his Mother, the Fairy Excess: However, at the request of her Son, she endowed him and his Favourite with the the power of transforming themselves to any appearance they pleased, to hide their Beastly visages, whilst the day lasted; but no sooner did the night commence, than their natural deformity returned ; of which they themselves, at the time, were ignorant.
But to return to the Princess: She spent the night, when she recovered her senses, in the greatest uneasiness; doubting whether she had now changed her situation for the better: Yet she trembled at the thought of again falling into the hands of Avarice; for, notwithstanding that Extravagance and he were sworn enemies, and sincerely hated each other, there was one point in which they closely united; which was, that of intercepting the passage of those who were in search of the Magnet of true Generosity; knowing when That was discovered, and produced to the world, their Power of Enchantment would cease: For this grand reason, therefore, they joined interests; and planted themselves opposite each other, near the entrance of a Road that must unavoidably be passed; and employed their utmost art to this one eflential point.
The Princess was convinced that the horrid transformation, which so much terrified her, must proceed from some evil Enchantment; she therefore determined, if possible, to make her escape: To this end, in the morning, she rose; but now perceived the countenances of her Lover, and his Favourite, the fame as when she first entered the house: She would fain have persuaded herself that what she had the night before seen was but a Dream, occasioned by restless slumbers; but, when she considered every circumstance still strong on her memory, she was well assured of it's reality; and determined instantly to leave a place which, notwitstanding all its allurements, was replete with so much danger. She accordingly set out, and walked slowly forward, without the least observation; the house being in great confusion and bustle, preparing sumptuous banquets.
The Princess soon arrived at the entrance of a pleasant little Wood; at the side of which, under the shade of a venerable Oak, sat a very amiable young Knight, bearing a Shield, which cast a mild, resplendent lustre round him; on it was engraved the Shield of Moderation. No sooner did he descend, than two enraged Lions rushed from a thicket, and fell upon him; but the Knight, covering himself with his Shield, at one blow laid them both senseless; and was passing on to take possession of the Magnet, when the Princess, to her inconceivable amazement, perceived the one which was White, rife and recover, in the form of her young Lover, Extravagance; and the other, a Black one, in that of her old one, Avarice. The Knight instantly turned; and, seizing Extravagance, by the wonderful power of the Shield, totally subdued him.
Thus fell the dashing and wealthy Extravagance, slain by the knight, his equal in youth and beauty, but superior to him in strength and speed, due to a less self-indulgent lifestyle and the endurance of many hardships.
The young knight's name was Manfred. He was royalty, in fact, he was Extravagance's liege and the ruler of the whole kingdom. Both his parents had died when he was but a child. One autumn day, during a hunt in the woods, he fell asleep on the bank of some violent rapids. Then, a beautiful young woman appeared from the underbrush and woke him up, thus saving his life. This experience was branded on his youthful mind: he became obsessed with his unearthly saviour, neglecting the pleasures of the royal court. Years later, while mourning, after his mother's death, in a dark and thick forest, he encountered an elderly fairy, who brought him to the top of a tall cliff and told him about the shield's effectiveness against the effete, wicked Extravagance (and his misshapen older brother). Beneath the precipice, the young ruler found the fabled Shield of Moderation. Then, he came upon Orinda, the spitting image of the girl who had once saved his life from a watery grave.
The Princess Orinda was no sooner acquainted that the underground passage, she and the Prince had ventured, had led her again to the Castle of Avarice, than she informed them of her late escape; and, as she then hoped, to a much happier situation; then acquainted them of the terrors she met with in the house of his Brother, Extravagance: At this they sighed; and told her their ideas of that Enchanter had so affected their minds on a tour they were making, to observe the various manners of humankind, that, to avoid being captivated by his alluring invitations, should he meet them on the Road, had induced them to take a turn directly contrary, where they lost themselves; and wandering still more from a middle road, (which a part of their company asserted there was, and therefore left them) they travelled on a short time when they heard a loud talking of various voices; and, hoping from these to get direction to the better road, they followed the sound till they heard one of them say, with great vehemence, "I will ruin Extravagance." He then approached and informed the person who was speaking, that he had wandered so far out of our way, as even to disregard many poor Travellers we met on the road, on pretence that he dare not stop so near Extravagance.
For, as we have said before, Extravagance had already met his fate. The young monarch, determined to make the plain and its residents directly subservient to the Crown, had diverted the mob of vassals hell-bent on storming the mansion.
But what happened to Luxury, His Lordship's half-centaur steward/catamite? The story tells that Princess Orinda and Sir Manfred (the knight who had saved her and slain Extravagance, and had obviously become the betrothed of so beautiful and clever a royal child) arrived at the court of the Fairy Virtue, who was determined to punish every miscreant in the land.
Luxury, who in general was treated with contempt after the destruction of Extravagance, was ordained to spend his days among swine, as best suited to his nature and disposition.
The nuptials of the Princesses were now celebrated with the greatest magnificence, all the good Fairies assisting at the ceremonies: Several days were spent in rejoicing, during which time the most elegant entertainments and diversions were displayed, to solace the guests of the Temple of Virtue; after which the Princesies, endowed with the benefit of Benigna's good council, retired with their princely Knights to their respective governments.
Thus, Manfred and Orinda became the rulers of a vast, prosperous kingdom. As a wedding gift for his consort, the young ruler even seized the beautiful mansion and verdant plain that once were ruled by Extravagance. Said province became the jewel in their royal crown, and the portrait of its late lord and his steward was hung upside-down in the great hall were revels were held in the olden days, to remind us all for prosperity of the consequences of unchecked self-indulgence.
In spite of the fact that they spent time in the lands that once were Extravagance's when the duties of state and the routines at court weighed heavy upon their hearts, Their Royal Majesties Manfred II and Orinda the Liberal were never corrupted by too carefree and easy a lifestyle, and they lived to a ripe old age, to see their grandchildren grow up in purity and self-control.
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