"But, my dear princess, whatever singular adventures may have happened to him, you never can extort these secrets from him but by flattery. Having formerly deceived women, it is equitable that a woman in her turn should deceive him."
"I will do my utmost," said the princess, and departed with her maids of honor. The old woman was feeding the bull at a considerable distance.
Mambres left Amasidia to herself, and went and discoursed with the witch. One lady of honor chatted with the she-ass, the others amused themselves with the goat, the dog, the raven, and the pigeon. As for the large fish that frightened everybody, he plunged himself into the Nile by order of the old woman.
The serpent then attended the beautiful Amasidia into the grove, where they had the following conversation:
Serpent.—You cannot imagine, mademoiselle, how much I am flattered with the honor which your highness deigns to confer upon me.
Princess.—Your great reputation, sir, the beauty of your countenance, and the brilliancy of your eyes have emboldened me to seek for this conversation. I know by public report (if it be not false) that you were formerly a very great lord in the empyrean heaven.
Serpent.—It is true, Miss, I had there a very distinguished place. It is pretended I am a disgraced favorite. This is a report which once went
