The knight at once inquired where the princess was to be found, and
was informed, at about a quarter of a league's distance, where she was
expecting the fiery one to appear and carry her off to his den. Then
the knight started off at once to the place indicated, and found the
princess bathed in tears, and trembling from head to foot.
"Fly away!" cried the princess, when she saw the Knight of the Fish
approach; "fly away, rash one! the monster is coming here, and if he
sees you, heaven help you!"
"I shall not go away," responded the gallant youth, "because I have
come to save you."
"To save me! Is that possible?"
"I am going to see," responded the valiant champion. "Are there any
German merchants in the city?"
"Yes," answered the princess in astonishment; "but why do you ask?"
"You will see," said the knight, and galloped off to the city of
mourning.
He speedily returned with an immense mirror which he had purchased
from a German dealer. This he rested against the trunk of a tree, and
covered it with the princess's veil, placing her in front of it, and
instructing her that when the dragon was near to her she was to pull
off the veil and slip behind the glass. So saying, the knight retired
behind an adjacent wall.
In a little while the fiery dragon appeared, and gradually drew near
to the fair one, eying her with all the insolence and effrontery
possible. When he was quite close, the princess, as she had been
instructed by her champion, withdrew the veil, and slipping behind the
mirror, disappeared from before the eyes of the fiery dragon, which
remained stupefied at finding his amorous glances directed at a dragon
similar to himself. He made a movement; his resemblance did the same.
His eyes sparkled red and brilliant as two rubies; whilst those of his
opponent gleamed like two carbuncles. This increased his fury; he
erected his scales as a porcupine would its quills, and those of his
rival likewise stood up. He opened his tremendous mouth, which would
have been without parallel but for that of his opponent, who, far from
being intimidated, opened an identical one. The dragon dashed
furiously against his intrepid adversary, giving such an awful blow
with his head against the mirror that he was completely stunned; and
as he had broken the glass, and in every piece saw a piece of his own
body, he fancied that with one blow he had dashed his rival to atoms.
The knight availed himself of this moment of confusion and
stupefaction, and dashing forth impetuously from his retreat, with his
good lance deprived the dragon of its life, and would have been ready
to deprive it of a hundred lives had it possessed so many.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account