THE INVISIBLE PRINCE. 313

fantastic humours of the prince ; nor was he tired in the least
with the solitude of the place. One day as he was walking in
the garden, finding the heat increase, he retired into a grove,
whose lofty and thick-tufted shade afforded him a cool retreat.
And here he began to play upon his flute for his diversion,
when he felt something that wound
itself about his leg, and grasped it very
hard; he looked to see what it was,
and was surprised to find it was a
great adder ; he took his handkerchief,
and catching it hy the head, was going
to kill it. But the adder, winding the
rest of its body round his arm, and
+ looking steadfastly in his face, seemed
to beg his pardon and compassion. At
this instant one of the gardeners hap-
pened tu carlo the plied where Leander weayand epsing the
snake, cried out to his master, ‘* Hold him fast, sir ; it is but an
hour since we ran after him to kill
him; it is the most mischievous. erea-
ture in the world; he spoils all our walks.”
Leander casting his eyes a second time
upon the snake, which was speckled with
a thousand extraordinary colours, per-
ceived the poor creature still looked upon
him with an aspect that seemed to beg
compassion, and never stirred in the least
to defend itself. ‘* Though thou hast such
a mind to kill it,” said he to the gardener, &
“yet as it is come to me for refuge, 1 forbid thee to do
it any harm, for I will keep it, and when it has cast its
beautiful skin 1 will let it go.” He then returned home, and