192 fh | | = oa The Story of

you to conceal your birth. I will take care to supply you with
a rope and a hatchet.’

The fear of being known, and the necessity I was under of getting
a livelihood, made me agree to this proposal, notwithstanding all the
hardships that attended it. The day following the tailor bought
me a rope, a hatchet, and a short coat, and recommended me to
" some poor people who gained their bread after the same manner,
that they might take me into their company. They conducted me
to the wood, and the first day I brought in as much upon my head
as earned me half a piece of gold, which is the money of that
country; for though the wood is not far distant from the town, yet
it was very scarce. there, for few or none would be at the trouble
to go and cut it. I gained a good sum of money in a short time;
and repaid my tailor what he had advanced for me. .

I continued this way of living for a whole year; and one day,
“when by chance I had gone farther into the wood than usual, I
happened’ to light on a very pleasant place, where I began to cut:
down wood; and in pulling up the root of a tree, I espied an iron
ring, fastened to a trap-door of the same metal. I took away .
the earth that covered: it, and having lifted it up, saw stairs, down
which I went, with my axe in my hand.

» When I came to the bottom of the stairs, I found anysclt in
a large palace, which .put me into great consternation, because of .
a great light which appeared as clear in it-as if it had been
above ground in the open air. I went forward along a gallery:
supported by pillars of jasper, the base and capitals. of massy gold ;
but seeing a lady: of a noble and free air and extremely beautiful
coming towards me, my eyes were taken | off from beholding any
other object but her alone. ue! oo

- Being desirous to spare the lady the trouble of coming to: me,.
I made haste to meet her; ‘and as I was saluting her with a low
bow, she asked me, Oe are you, a man or a genie ?’