uncovered litter to feast his eyes upon all the horrors of the spectacle. The King, as I said before, did not know that the Princess Carpillon was a prisoner; so that when he saw her dragged to execution, with her poor governess, whom the humpback had condemned also, and the young shepherd more beautiful than the day, he commanded that they should be brought upon the terrace, where he was surrounded by the whole court.
He did not wait for the Princess to complain of the unworthy treatment she had received, but hastened to cut the cords with which she was bound; and then, looking at the young shepherd, he felt a yearning of tenderness and pity for him. "Rash youth," said he, endeavouring to speak harshly to him, "who inspired thee with boldness enough to attack a great Prince, and nearly deprive him of existence!" The shepherd, at the sight of this venerable old man in his royal robes, was on his part inspired with feelings of respect and confidence that he had never experienced before. "Great monarch," said he, with admirable calmness, "the peril in which I saw this beautiful Princess was the cause of my rashness. I did not know your son, and how should I recognise a Prince in an action so violent and unworthy his rank?" As he spoke his voice and action became more animated, his arm was uncovered, the mark of the arrow that was on it was too visible for the King not to observe it, "O heavens!" cried he, "am I deceived, or do I find in thee the dear son that I had lost?" "No, great King," said the Fairy Amazon, appearing high in the air, and mounted upon a superb winged horse, "no, you are not deceived; behold your son; I protected him, in the eagle's nest, where his cruel brother caused him to be placed. Let that son now console you for the loss of the other." With these words she rushed upon the guilty humpback, and, piercing him to the heart with her fiery lance, she did not allow him much time to contemplate the horrors of death, for he was consumed as though it had been by lightning.
She then approached the terrace, and presented the Prince with weapons and armour. "I promised them to thee," said she; "thou shalt be invulnerable with them, and the greatest warrior in the world." Immediately was heard the flourish of a thousand trumpets and all sorts of warlike instruments
