However , so deep was the prince 's passion for me , that very soon he began to congratulate himself on the change . `` My happiness is perfect , '' he said , `` my heart , beautiful Dely , has always been yours , and now I have your head also . '' ` But though the prince made the best of it , Thelamis was much ashamed of his stupidity . `` I have , '' he said hesitatingly , `` two other pastilles which have the same magic properties as those I used before . Let me cut off your heads again , and that will put matters straight . '' The proposal sounded tempting , but was a little risky , and after consulting together we decided to let things remain as they were . `` Do not blame me then , '' continued Thelamis , `` if you will not accept my offer . But take the two pastilles , and if it ever happens that you are decapitated a second time , make use of them in the way I have shown you , and each will get back his own head . '' So saying he presented us with the pastilles , and we all returned to the castle . ` However , the troubles caused by the unfortunate exchange were only just beginning . My head , without thinking what it was doing , led the prince 's body to my apartments . But my women , only looking at the dress , declared I had mistaken the corridor , and called some slaves to conduct me to his Highness 's rooms . This was bad enough , but when -- as it was still night -- my servants began to undress me , I nearly fainted from surprise and confusion , and no doubt the Prince 's head was suffering in the same manner at the other end of the castle ! ` By the next morning -- you will easily guess that we slept but little -- we had grown partly accustomed to our strange situation , and when we looked in the mirror , the prince had become brown-skinned and black-haired , while my head was covered with his curly golden locks . And after that first day , every one in the palace had become so accustomed to the change that they thought no more about it . ` Some weeks after this , we heard that the king of the Isle of Black Marble was dead . The prince 's head , which once was mine , was full of ambitious desires , and he longed to ride straight to the capital and proclaim himself king . But then came the question as to whether the nobles would recognise the prince with a girl 's body , and indeed , when we came to think of it , which was prince and which was girl ? ` At last , after much argument , my head carried the day and we set out ; but only to find that the king had declared the Princess Okimpare his successor . The greater part of the senators and nobles openly professed that they would much have preferred the rightful heir , but as they could not recognise him either in the Prince or me , they chose to consider us as impostors and threw us into prison . '
A few days later Tezila and Thelamis , who had followed us to the capital , came to tell us that the new queen had accused us of high treason , and had herself been present XXXXX our trial -- which was conducted without us .
as at for of on that though to while with