Page 329 - Child's own book

expired you shall certainly be punished with death.” The
woman, frightened to hear such & terrible sentence pronounced
upon her, and yet not know from whence !t came, gave a loud
shriek and fell upon the floor. Her husband asked her what
she ailed; she cried she was a dead woman if the marriage of
her daugliter went forward; and therefore she would not yield
to it for all the world. Her hus­
band laughed at her, and called her
a fool. But the invisible Leauder
accosting the man, “ You old in­
credulous fool,” said he, u believe
your wife, or it will be the worse
for you : break off this match, and
bestow her on the person she loves.”
These words produced a wonderful
effect; and when the lover complained, Leander trod hard upon
his gouty tues, and rang such an alarum in his ears, that not
being able any longer to hear himself speak, away he limped,
murmuring like a hackney- coachmen that would have more
than his hire. Now the distracted lover was sought for, when
he least expected it, and was brought to the castle, where
Leander with patience waited for his coming. The lover and
his mistress were ready to die for joy, and the entertainment
prepared for the nuptials of the old man served for those of
these happy lovers. LeandeT, assuming his own shape, appeared
at the halt door, as a stranger drawn thither by the report of
this extraordinary wedding*
Prom hence he travelled on, and came to a great city, where
upon his arrival, he understood there was a great and solemn
procession, in order to the shutting up of a young viTgin, against
her will, among the vestal nuns. The prince was touched with
compassion; and thinking the best use he could make of his cap,