PRINCE RICARDO. 213

 

an Italian knight, Astolfo, who, in old times,
visited the moon, and there found and brought
back the common sense of his friend, Orlando,
‘as you may read in the poem of Ariosto.

‘““Now,” reasoned King Prigio, “‘if there isa
Flying Horse at all, he is in the stables of the
King of Delhi. I must look into this.”

Taking the magic spy-glass, the king surveyed
the world from China to Peru, and, sure enough,
there was the famous Flying Horse in the
king’s stable at Delhi. Hastily the king thrust
his feet into the Shoes of Swiftness—so hastily,
indeed, that, as the poet says, he “‘ madly
crammed a left-hand foot into a right-hand
shoe.” But this, many people think, is a sign
of good luck; so he put the shoes on the proper
feet, and in a few minutes was in the presence
of the Great Mogul.

The monarch received him with some sur-
prise, but with stately kindness, and listened to
Prigio while he explained what he wanted.

‘“‘T am only too happy to assist so adventur-
ous a prince,” remarked the Great Mogul.
“This is like old times! Every horse in my
stable is at your service, but, as you say, only
the Flying Horse is of any use to you in this
expedition.”

He clapped his hands, the Grand Vizier
appeared, and the king gave orders to have the
Flying Horse saddled at once. He then pre-
sented King Prigio with a large diamond, and