THE GREEN SNAKE

Goethe

1795

Introduction

Who does not know Goethe?

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was born on August 28, 1749 in Frankfurt, and died on March 22, 1832 in Weimar. Novelist, playwright, poet, art theorist and statesman, keen on science, he took his place in the pantheon of outstanding figures of our civilization.

What is less known about Goethe is his passion for alchemy. Like many scholars, scholars, princes or ecclesiastics of his time, Goethe, initiated into the Masonic lodge “Amalia” in 1780, was interested in esotericism and more particularly in the Art of Hermes.

His Faust , which inspired several composers (Beethoven, Berlioz, Liszt, Schubert, Schumann, Gounod, Mussorgsky, Wagner, Mahler, Stravinsky or even Prokofiev), is in short an "alchemical drama"...

In a tale called The Green Serpent , Goethe also gives us some very direct insights into his knowledge of the Great Alchemical Work.

This can be seen, for example, in the following excerpt from this tale:

At that moment, the goshawk, which carried the mirror, came to hover above the dome, and, collecting the light of the sun, it directed it on the group placed at the altar. The king, queen and her ladies-in-waiting appeared in the dark vault of the temple, illuminated with a celestial light, and all the people prostrated themselves with their faces to the ground.

Excerpt that can be compared to a remark by Eugène Canseliet:

Perhaps this titanic device (the cyclotron) will explain the miracle that the alchemist causes without understanding it, and which simply amounts to capturing, with the appropriate mirror, this universal fluid, called, in modern scientific terminology, cosmic radiation.

(in "The alchemists and the universal fluid", article published in n° 2 of the magazine "Atlantis" in 1946)

We will also note, to conclude this brief introduction, that the universal fluid that Canseliet evokes is associated with the color green, and that the mirror so present in this tale would have some more than symbolic connection with the lunar star...


LAT



Frontispiece of the Ars Magna Lucis and Umbrae
by Athanase Kircher

THE GREEN SNAKE

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Tale (1795)

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, “Interviews with German Emigrants: Tale”
Works of Goethe, volume VII: "The years of travel"
Translation by Jacques Porchat
Paris, Library of L. Hachette and Cie, 1860


At the edge of the great river, which a heavy rain had swollen and caused to overflow, the old ferryman was lying in his little cabin, tired from the work of the day, and he was sleeping. In the middle of the night, some resounding voices awoke him: travelers asking to pass the water.

When he came out in front of his door, he saw swinging on his moored basket two great will-o'-the-wisps, which assured him that they were in a great hurry and that they wanted to be on the other side already. The old man did not hesitate; he drove off, and with his accustomed skill he crossed the river, while the strangers whispered together in an unknown language and very rapidly, and uttered bursts of laughter at intervals, jumping here and there, sometimes on the sides and the benches, sometimes on the bottom of the boat.

"The boat is rocking," cried the old man, "and if you don't stay still, it may capsize." Sit down, wisps! »

At this invitation, they burst out laughing, made fun of the old man and became even more agitated than before. He patiently suffered their impertinence and soon touched the other side.

“Here is your trouble! cried the travellers; and, as they shook each other, many shining pieces of gold fell into the damp boat.
- What in heaven's name are you doing? said the old man; you will be for me the cause of the greatest misfortune. If a piece of gold had fallen into the water, the river, which cannot endure this metal, would have risen in terrible waves, which would have swallowed up both the boat and me. And who knows what would have happened? Take back your gold.
- We cannot take back what we have sown by shaking ourselves.
“So you are still giving me the trouble of picking them up, carrying them to the ground and burying them,” said the old man, bending down and collecting the gold coins in his cap.

The will-o'-the-wisps had rushed out of the boat, and the old man cried out:

“And my salary?
- He who does not accept gold can work for free, replied the will-o'-the-wisps.
- You must know that I can only be paid with the fruits of the earth.
- With the fruits of the earth? We despise them and have never eaten them.
- However, I cannot let you go until you have promised to bring me three cabbages, three artichokes and three large onions. »

The will-o'-the-wisps wanted to sneak away playfully, but they felt chained to the ground in some incomprehensible way. It was the most unpleasant sensation they had ever experienced. They promised to comply soon with the request of the ferryman: he let them go and left the edge.

He was already far away when the will-o'-the-wisps cried out to him:

“Old man, old man, listen! we forgot the most important. »

He did not hear them. He had let himself be carried lower by the current, on the same bank, where he wanted to hide this dangerous gold in a hilly place, which the water could never reach. He found a vast crevasse between two large rocks: he poured the gold into it and recrossed the river.

In this crevasse was the beautiful green snake, which was awakened from its slumber by the tinkling of falling gold. He barely saw the shiny coins than he swallowed them on the spot with great appetite, carefully searching for all those that had been scattered in the bushes and in the crevices of the rock.

No sooner had he swallowed them than he felt, with the most pleasant impression, the gold melting in his entrails and spreading throughout his body, and, to his great joy, he found that he had become luminous and transparent. He had long been assured that this phenomenon was possible; however, as he doubted that this light would last long, curiosity and a desire to take precautions for the future drove him out of the rock to find out who might have poured this fine gold into the crevice. He found no one, but he took great pleasure in admiring himself, as he crawled through the grass and brush, and in seeing the pleasant light he shed among the cool greenery. All the leaves seemed to be emerald, all the flowers beautifully illuminated. He crossed the savage solitude in vain; but his hope increased when he reached the plain and saw in the distance a light similar to his own. “I finally find my match! he cried, and he ran that way. He didn't stop at the difficulty of crawling through the marsh and the reeds; indeed, though he lived by preference in the dry meadows of the mountains and the deep crevices of the rocks; that he loved to nourish himself with aromatic plants, and that he usually quenched his thirst with the sweet dew and the waters of cool springs for the love of this cherished gold, and in the hope of the magnificent light, he would have undertaken whatever was asked of him. “I finally find my match! he cried, and he ran that way. He didn't stop at the difficulty of crawling through the marsh and the reeds; indeed, though he lived by preference in the dry meadows of the mountains and the deep crevices of the rocks; that he loved to nourish himself with aromatic plants, and that he usually quenched his thirst with the sweet dew and the waters of cool springs for the love of this cherished gold, and in the hope of the magnificent light, he would have undertaken whatever was asked of him. “I finally find my match! he cried, and he ran that way. He didn't stop at the difficulty of crawling through the marsh and the reeds; indeed, though he lived by preference in the dry meadows of the mountains and the deep crevices of the rocks; that he loved to nourish himself with aromatic plants, and that he usually quenched his thirst with the sweet dew and the waters of cool springs for the love of this cherished gold, and in the hope of the magnificent light, he would have undertaken whatever was asked of him.

Finally he arrived very tired in a swamp where our two will-o'-the-wisps played from place to place. He walked straight up to them, saluted them, congratulating himself on finding such agreeable lords of his kindred. The wisps slid past him and jumped over, laughing in their own way.

'Our cousin,' they said to him, 'although you are of the horizontal line, that does not matter: we are only cousins ​​in appearance; see indeed (here the two flames lengthened in point, at the expense of the width, as much as it was possible for them), see how this slender length suits us, to us lords of the vertical line. Without offense, my friend, tell us which family can boast of this advantage… Since there are will-o'-the-wisps, none has yet sat or slept. »

The serpent felt very ill at ease in the presence of these parents, for, however high it raised its head, it felt obliged to bend it towards the ground in order to advance, and if, before, it had taken an extraordinary pleasure in seeing itself in the dark forest, in the presence of its cousins, its brightness seemed to it to diminish every moment; he even feared that he would eventually fade away.

In this embarrassment, he quickly asked if Their Lordships could not tell him where this brilliant gold had come from, which had recently fallen into the cleft in the rock: he suspected that it was a shower of gold which fell directly from the sky. The will-o'-the-wisps shook themselves laughing, and rained around them a quantity of gold coins. The serpent pounced on them to swallow them.

"Taste yourselves, our cousin," said the gentle lords to him, "we can serve you more." »

They shook each other a few more times, with great vivacity, so that the snake could barely swallow the precious food fast enough. Its brilliance increased visibly; it shone in a truly admirable way, while the will-o'-the-wisps had grown quite lean and small, yet without losing their cheerful mood in the least.

"I am eternally obliged to you," said the snake, taking breath after its meal; ask me whatever you want, I will do everything in my power for you.
- Very good ! cried the will-o'-the-wisps. Tell us where the Beau Lis lives. Take us as quickly as possible to the palace and garden of the Beau Lis. We are dying to throw ourselves at his feet.
"I cannot render you this service on the spot," said the serpent, heaving a sigh. The Beau Lis remains, unfortunately, on the other side of the water.
- On the other side ! And we make ourselves pass in this stormy night! Cursed river, which separates us! Couldn't the old boatman be called back?
- It would be a useless trouble, answered the snake: indeed, even if you would find it on this bank, it could not take you in its boat: it must pass the people on this side and never on the other.
- Here we are in deep trouble! Is there no other way to cross the river?
- A few more, but not at this moment: I can pass Your Lordships myself, but only at noon.
- It's a time when we hardly travel.
- Well, you can spend the evening in the shadow of the giant.
- What do you mean ?
- The big giant, who does not live far from here, cannot do anything with his body; his hands could not lift a blade of straw, his shoulders could not carry a bundle of twigs; but his shadow can do a lot; she can do anything. This is why it is never more powerful than at sunrise and sunset. One can therefore place oneself, in the evening only, on the neck of one's shade; then the giant gently approaches the shore, and the shadow carries the traveler to the other side. Please meet you at noon at this corner of the wood, where the thick bushes descend to the bank, I can pass you and introduce you to the Beau Lis; if you are afraid of the midday heat, you have only to look for the giant in this hollow of the rock towards evening, he will no doubt show himself complacent. »

The young lords departed with a slight bow, and the serpent was charmed to be delivered from them, either to enjoy its light, or to satisfy a curious desire, which had tormented it for a long time in a singular way.

In the crevices of the rocks, where he often crawled hither and thither, he had made a singular discovery somewhere, for, although he had to crawl without light through these chasms, he could very well distinguish objects by tact. He was accustomed to finding everywhere only irregular products of nature; sometimes he slipped through the points of the great crystals, sometimes he felt the angles and the threads of the native silver, and brought to light this or that gem; but, to his great surprise, he had seen, in a rock closed on all sides, objects which betrayed the industrious hand of man, polished walls which he could not climb, sharp and regular edges, elegant columns, and, what seemed to him the strangest, human figures, around which he had coiled himself more than once, and which he believed to be highly polished bronze or marble. All these discoveries, he wished to observe them at last with the sense of sight, and ascertain what he was still only suspecting. He believed himself in a position to illumine this marvelous subterranean vault with his own light, and flattered himself that he was able to get to know these singular objects perfectly. He ran and soon discovered, following the ordinary route, the cleft through which he used to slip into the sanctuary. and flattered himself that he had come to know these singular objects perfectly. He ran and soon discovered, following the ordinary route, the cleft through which he used to slip into the sanctuary. and flattered himself that he had come to know these singular objects perfectly. He ran and soon discovered, following the ordinary route, the cleft through which he used to slip into the sanctuary.

When he found himself in this place, he looked around him with curiosity, and, although his light could not illuminate all the objects in the rotunda, the nearest ones became quite distinct for him. He looked up in amazement and awe at a shining niche, in which stood the pure golden statue of a venerable king. In dimension, the statue surpassed human height, but the form announced a small man rather than a tall one. His shapely body was enveloped in a simple cloak, and an oak wreath girded his hair.

No sooner had the serpent considered this venerable image than the king began to speak and said:

" Where do you come from ?
- Caves where gold dwells, replied the serpent.
- What is more beautiful than gold? said the king.
- The light.
- What is more pleasant than light?
- The speech. »

During this interview, the snake had leered aside, and had seen, in the neighboring niche, another magnificent statue. In this niche sat a silver king, tall and rather slender; his body was covered with a rich garment; he wore the crown, the belt and the jeweled scepter; on his face appeared the serenity of pride, and he was about to speak, when a dark vein, which extended over the marble wall, suddenly became brilliant, and spread a pleasant light throughout the temple. At this light the serpent saw the third king, who was of bronze and of mighty stature; he was seated and leaning on a club; he was crowned with laurels, and seemed less a man than a rock. The snake wanted to observe a fourth, which was farthest from him,

A man of medium height, who stepped forward, drew the serpent's attention to himself. He was dressed like a peasant woman and carried in his hand a small lamp, the peaceful flame of which was a pleasure to see, and which lighted up the whole dome marvelously, without casting any shadow.

“Why do you come when we have light? said the golden king.
- You know I mustn't light up the darkness.
- Will my reign end? asked the silver king.
"Late or never," replied the old man.

The brazen king spoke in a loud voice:

“When will I get up?
- Soon.
- Who should I make an alliance with?
- With your older brothers.
- What will become of the youngest?
- He will sit down.
- I am not tired, cried the fourth king, in a rough and jerky voice.

During this interview, the snake had moved gently in the temple; he had observed everything, and he could see the fourth king up close. He was standing, leaning against a column, and his remarkable size was rather heavy than handsome. The metal of which it was formed could not be distinguished. Considered carefully, it was a mixture of the three metals of which its brethren were made. But these materials seemed not to have mixed well in the cast iron; veins of gold and silver ran irregularly through the mass of bronze and gave the statue an unpleasant appearance.

However, the golden king said to the old man:

“How many secrets do you know?
- Three.
- What is the most important? said the silver king.
- He who is manifest.
- Do you want to tell us? asked the bronze king.
- As soon as I know the fourth.
- What do I care? whispered the mixed king to himself.
- I know the fourth, said the snake, which approached the old man, and whispered a few words in his ear.
- The time has come ! cried the old man in a loud voice.

The temple resounded, the metal statues resounded, and, at the same moment, the old man sank towards the west, the reptile towards the east, and each of them crossed with great speed the clefts of the rocks.

All the avenues through which the old man passed were filled with gold on his trail, for his lamp had the marvelous property of changing all stones into gold, all wood into silver, dead animals into precious stones, and of annihilating all metals. But, to produce this effect, it had to light up by itself; if there was another light near it, the lamp only shed a beautiful light, which rejoiced all living beings.

The old man arrived in his hut, built at the foot of the mountain, and he found his wife in the greatest affliction. She was sitting by the fire, and was crying and couldn't console herself.

“How unhappy I am! she cried. Ah! I didn't want to let you out today.
- What happened ? said the old man very calmly.
- I had just left, she said sobbing, when two turbulent travelers appeared in front of the door. I let them in recklessly. They seemed honest and polite people. They were dressed in light flames: one would have taken them for will-o'-the-wisps. No sooner are they in the house than they brazenly begin cajoling me a thousand times, and become so insistent that I am ashamed to think of it.
- Good ! These gentlemen were probably joking, said the old man, smiling: given your age, they must have stuck to simple politeness.
- My age ! my age ! resumed the woman. Will I always have to hear about my age? So what is my age? … Simple politeness! …I know what I know. Look around you at the appearance of these walls; look at these old stones, which I had not seen for a hundred years! They licked all the gold from top to bottom, you can't believe how quickly, always ensuring it tasted much better than common gold. When they had cleaned the walls well, they seemed in very good humor, and certainly they had become in a short time much taller, fatter and brighter. Then they resumed their teasing, they caressed me again, calling me their queen; they shook themselves, and a quantity of gold coins fell around them. See how they still shine under the bench. But what misfortune! Our Mops ate some of them, and there he is, dead by the chimney, the poor animal. I cannot console myself. I only noticed it after they left: otherwise I wouldn't have promised to pay their debt to the smuggler.
- What debt?
- Three heads of cabbage, three artichokes and three onions. I promised to take them to the river as soon as it is light.
- You can give them this pleasure: on occasion, they will serve us in turn.
- Whether they will serve us, I do not know, but they have promised and sworn it. »

However, the fire in the fireplace had finished burning; the old man covered the coals with a thick layer of ashes; he put aside the sparkling pieces of gold, and from then on his little lamp alone shone with all its brilliance: the walls were covered with gold, and Mops had become the most beautiful onyx imaginable. The black and brown shades of the gemstone made it the most remarkable work of art.

“Take the basket,” said the old man, “and place the onyx in it; then take three heads of cabbage, three artichokes and three onions, place them around and carry them to the river. Around noon, go through the snake and go visit the Beau Lis; bring him the onyx; the Lily will bring it back to life by its touch, as by its touch it kills every living thing. He will have in the dog a faithful companion. Tell him not to grieve; his deliverance draws near. He can regard the greatest misfortune as the greatest happiness, because the time has come.

The old woman prepared her basket, and when day broke she set out. The rising sun cast its rays over the river, which shone in the distance; the woman walked slowly, for the basket weighed on her head, and it was not the onyx that tired her so; any dead thing she carried she did not feel, and even the basket then tended to rise and float on her head, but fresh vegetables or a small living animal were an extremely heavy burden for her. She had been walking for some time with fatigue, when she suddenly stopped, terrified: she had almost stepped on the giant's shadow, which stretched across the plain almost to her feet. At that moment, she saw the huge giant come out of the water, which had bathed in the river, and she did not know how to avoid it. As soon as he saw the old woman, he began to greet her, playfully, and his shadow's hands went to the basket. With skill and lightness, they removed a cabbage, an artichoke and an onion, and presented them to the mouth of the giant, who then went up along the river and left the woman free passage.

She wondered if she shouldn't go home and take something from her garden to replace the vegetables that were missing, and, still undecided, she continued on her way, so that she soon arrived on the bank of the river. She remained seated for a long time, waiting for the boatman, whom she finally saw approaching, crossing the river with a singular traveler. A noble and handsome young man, whom she could not look at enough, got out of the boat.

"What are you bringing?" said the old man.
- These are the vegetables that the will-o'-the-wisps owe you, she said, producing her wares. »

When the boatman found only two of each species, he became angry, and declared that he could not receive them. The woman begged him, representing to him that she could not then go home, and that the burden would inconvenience her in the journey she had to make. He persisted in his refusal, even assuring that the thing did not depend on him.

“What is mine, I must leave untouched for nine hours, and I must accept nothing without giving a third of it to the river. »

After many words exchanged, the old man finally said:

“There remains one way: bind yourself to the river, agree to recognize yourself as its debtor, and I will take the six pieces for myself; but the thing offers some danger.
- If I keep my word, however, I am in no danger?
- Not the least. Plunge your hand into the river, and promise to pay your debt within twenty-four hours. »

The old woman did as she was told, but how terrified she was when she drew her coal-black hand out of the water! She reproached the old man in the strongest terms, asserting that her hands had always been the most beautiful part of her person, and that, in spite of hard work, she had known how to preserve in these noble limbs their whiteness and their grace. She looked at her hand with great pain, and exclaimed in a voice of despair:

“Here is what is even worse! I see that she has lost a lot of weight: she is much smaller than the other.
- It is still a simple appearance, said the old man; however, if you don't keep your word, it can become a reality. The hand will decrease little by little and will end up disappearing entirely, without you losing the use of it; it will always fulfill its function, only no one will see it.
- I would rather, resumed the old woman, not to be able to use it, and that no one would notice it. But no matter what, I will keep my word to be soon delivered from this black skin and this worry. »

Thereupon she hastened to take the basket, which placed itself on her head, and hovered freely in the air, then she followed, with a nimble step, the young man, who, immersed in his reveries, walked gently on the bank.

His handsome figure and his singular costume had made a deep impression on the old woman. His chest was covered with a brilliant cuirass, under which his waist moved gracefully; over her shoulders was a purple cloak, and her dark hair flowed in elegant ringlets around her bare head; her beautiful face was exposed to the rays of the sun, as well as her well-shaped feet. He walked without shoes, with a calm step, on the burning sand; a deep sadness seemed to dull in him all the impressions of the senses.

The chattering old woman tried to strike up a conversation with him; but he only gave her curt answers, so that in spite of the young man's beautiful eyes, she finally got tired of talking to him, and took leave of him, saying:

“You are going too slow for me, sir; I must not delay a moment in crossing the river on the green serpent, and carrying my husband's magnificent present to the Beau Lis. »

At these words, she continued on her way with great strides, and the young man, assuming an equally quick pace, hastened to follow her track.

“You are going to the Beau Lis! he cried; then our goal is the same. What is this present that you bring him?
- Sir, replied the woman, it is not proper, after having eluded my questions by your monosyllables, to ask me my secrets with such vivacity. Please trade and tell me about your adventures, I won't hide who I am and what my present is. »

They soon agreed; the woman told him her story and that of the dog, and then made him admire this marvelous gift.

He immediately drew this masterpiece of nature from the basket, and took Mops, who seemed to be sleeping peacefully, in his arms.

“Happy animal,” he said, “you will be touched by his hands; you will be animated by it, while the living must flee it so as not to experience a sad fate. But what am I saying, sad! Isn't it much more painful and painful to be paralyzed by his presence than it would be to die by his hands? Look at me, he said to the old woman, see what extremities I must suffer at my age! This cuirass which I wore with honor in war, this purple which I sought to deserve by a wise government, fate left them to me, one as a useless weight, the other as an insignificant adornment. The crown, the scepter and the sword are taken from me; I am besides as naked, as needy as any other son of the earth, for the blue eyes of the Beau Lis have such an unfortunate influence, that they take away their strength from all living beings, and those whom the touch of his hand does not kill feel reduced to the state of living and wandering shadows. »

He pursued his complaints in this way, and in no way satisfied the curiosity of the old woman, who wanted to know his story much more than his feelings. She learned neither the name of her father nor that of her kingdom. He caressed the rigid Mops, which the rays of the sun and the young man's burning chest had warmed, as if he were alive. He asked many questions about the man with the lamp, about the effects of the admirable light, and seemed to promise himself much good in the future for his unfortunate state.

While they were talking thus, they saw from afar the majestic arch of the bridge, which stretched from one bank to the other, shining marvelously in the light of the sun. They were both surprised, because they had not yet seen this magnificent monument.

“Oh what? exclaimed the prince, was he not handsome enough when he presented himself to our eyes like a frame of jasper and agate? Should we not be afraid to set foot there, when it seems constructed, with the most agreeable variety, of emerald, chrysoprase and chrysolite? »

They were both unaware of the metamorphosis that the serpent had undergone; for it was the serpent, which every day at noon rose above the river, and took the form of a bold bridge. The travelers set foot there with respect, and crossed it in silence.

They were hardly on the other side when the deck began to rock and move; it soon touched the surface of the water, and the green serpent, in its true form, crawled on the earth following the travellers. As they had just thanked him for having been able to cross the river on his back, they observed that he must be with them in the company several more people, but whom they could not see with their eyes. They heard a whispering beside them, to which the serpent responded by whispering. They listened, and ended up seizing the following words:

"We will begin," said two voices in turn, "by looking incognito in the park for the Beau Lis, and we ask you to please, at nightfall, as soon as we are a little presentable, to perform in front of this perfect beauty. You will find us at the edge of the big lake.
"Agreed," the snake replied, and a hiss was lost in the air. »

Then our three travelers agreed on the order in which they would present themselves before the beauty: indeed a large number of people could well be around her, but they had to arrive and retire one by one; otherwise they would have to suffer considerable pain.

The woman with the transformed dog approached the garden first, and looked for her protectress, whom she easily found, for she was singing at the moment, accompanying herself on the harp; the soft sounds came first like rings, on the surface of the calm lake, then, like a light breath, they set the grass and the groves in movement. In the enclosure of a green lawn, in the shade of a magnificent group of various trees, she sat, and, from the first, she again enchanted the eyes, the ear and the heart of the woman, who approached her with delight, and swore to herself that the beauty had become still more beautiful in her absence. The good woman addressed her greetings and homage to the amiable young girl from afar.

“What a pleasure to see you! What celestial bliss your presence spreads around you! May the harp lean gracefully against your knees! May your arms encircle him gently! How she seems to lean longingly towards your bosom! And what tender chords she knows how to produce under your delicate fingers! Thrice happy the young man who could take his place! »

Speaking thus, she approached; Beau Lis looked up; her hands left the strings of the harp and she replied:

“Do not afflict me with unwelcome praise! They only make me more sensitive to my misfortune. See, he is lying at my feet, the poor canary who accompanied my songs with so much grace; he was accustomed to perch on my harp, and carefully trained not to touch me; today, as I awoke from a restorative sleep, as I sang a morning hymn, and my little musician sounded harmonious accents, with more gaiety than ever, an goshawk melts over my head; the poor frightened little bird takes refuge on my bosom, and at that very moment I feel the last convulsions of its expiring life. The brigand, struck by my gaze, drags himself, it is true, over there, without strength, at the edge of the water; but what does his punishment mean to me? My favorite is dead
- Beau Lis, take heart! said the woman, wiping away a tear which the story of the unhappy young girl had wrung from her; take courage: my old husband tells you to moderate your affliction, to consider the greatest misfortune as the omen of the greatest happiness, because the moment has come. And really, continued the old woman, everything in the world is going upside down! Look at my hand, how black it has become! It is already much smaller: I must hurry before it disappears altogether. Why was I complacent with the wisps! Why did I meet the giant and why dipped my hand in the river! Could you give me a cabbage, an artichoke and an onion? I'll take them to the river and my hand will turn white as before,
- Cabbage and onions, you may find some; for artichokes, you will look for them in vain. The plants in my large garden bear neither flowers nor fruit, but each branch that I pick and plant on the grave of a loved one turns green and develops immediately. All these groups of trees, these groves and these woods, alas! I have seen them grow. The domes of these pines, the obelisks of these cypresses, these colossi of oaks and beeches, all were small branches, planted by my hand, like a funereal monument, in a soil previously barren. »

The old woman had paid little heed to these words, being always occupied with her hand, which, in the presence of Beau Lis, seemed to her to grow darker and smaller every minute. She was about to take her basket and walk away, when she realized that she had forgotten the best. She pulled the transfigured dog from the basket and placed it on the lawn not far from the beauty.

“My husband,” she said, “sends you this souvenir. You know that you can animate this precious stone by your touch. The nice and faithful animal will certainly give you much pleasure, and I could not console myself to lose it, if I had not the idea that you possess it. »

Le Beau Lis gazed at the pretty beast with pleasure and, it seemed, with astonishment.

“Many signs are found,” she said, “which give birth to some hope in me; but unfortunately ! Isn't it only an illusion of our mind to imagine that we touch the greatest good when many evils besiege us? »

After saying these words, the beauty began to sing the following stanzas:

“What help are they to me, all these auspicious signs, the death of the bird, the black hand of my friend? Does the onyx dog have its equal? And didn't the lamp send it to me?

Far from the sweetness of human society, I only know pain. Ah! why doesn't the temple stand on the edge of the river? Why is the bridge not built? »

The good woman had listened impatiently to this song, which the Beau Lis accompanied by the soft sounds of her harp, and which would have delighted any other person. She was about to leave, when she was again detained by the arrival of the green serpent. He had heard the last words of the song, and thereupon he hastened to tell Beau Lis to be of good courage.

"The prediction of the bridge is fulfilled," he told her. Ask this good woman how magnificent the ark is now! What was only jasper without transparency and simple agate, which the light penetrated only at the edges, has become a diaphanous stone; beryl is less brilliant, emerald is less beautiful.
- I congratulate you, said the Lis, but forgive me if I do not yet believe the prediction fulfilled. Pedestrians alone can pass over your lofty arch, and we are promised that horses and carriages and travelers of every kind will be able to pass and recross the bridge at the same time. Does not the prophecy say that great pillars will rise from the very bosom of the river? »

The old woman, who had always had her eyes fixed on her hand, interrupted the conversation and took her leave.

"Wait a moment longer," said Beau Lis, "and take away my poor little canary." Pray the lamp to change it into a beautiful topaz; I will animate it with my touch and it will be, with your good Mops, my most pleasant amusement. But hurry as much as you can: for, at sunset, the poor animal will inevitably fall into corruption, and its beauty will be destroyed forever. »

The old woman placed the little body wrapped in tender leaves in the basket and walked away.

“Anyway,” said the serpent, resuming the interrupted conversation, “the temple is built.
- But it is not yet at the edge of the river, replied the beauty.
- He is still in the depths of the earth, said the serpent: I have seen the kings and I have spoken to them.
- But when will they get up? asked the Lis.
- I heard this great word resound in the temple: “The time has come!” »

A pleasant serenity spread over the beauty's face.

“Here,” she said, “is the second time I hear these happy words today. When will the day come when I will hear them three times? »

She stood up. A charming young girl immediately came out of the grove and carried away the harp; she was followed by another, who folded up the country chair, of sculpted ivory, on which the beauty had sat, and took the brocade cushion under her arm; a third appeared, with a large parasol embroidered with pearls, at Lis's orders, if she needed it for a walk. These three young girls were beautiful and charming beyond all expression, and yet they only heightened the beauty of the Lily, for everyone had to confess that these young girls could not be compared to her.

However, the Beautiful Lily had looked at the marvelous Mops with interest: she bent down; she touched him and instantly he jumped up. He cast cheerful glances around him, ran hither and thither, and ended by saluting his benefactress in the friendliest manner. She took him in her arms and pressed him against her.

'You are cold,' she told him, 'and you only have half your life; however you are welcome; I will love you tenderly, I will play nicely with you, I will caress you with a friendly hand, and I will press you to my heart. »

Thereupon she let him run, chased him away from her, called him back, played so prettily with him, and pursued him so cheerfully and so innocently on the grass, that one had to admire his joy with a new delight and take part in it, as, a short time before, his sadness had touched all hearts with compassion.

The arrival of the afflicted young man disturbed this serenity, these pleasant games. He advanced, as we know him: only, the heat of the day seemed to have depressed him still more, and, in the presence of his beloved, he grew paler from moment to moment. He carried on his hand the goshawk which stood still like a dove, and its wings drooping.

"It's not amicable of you," exclaimed Beau Lis, as he approached, "to offer to my eyes the monster that this very day killed my little singer."
"Do not condemn this unfortunate bird," replied the young man; rather accuse fate and yourself, and forgive me for associating myself with my companion in misfortune. »

However Mops did not cease to annoy the beauty, who responded in the most caressing manner to the transparent favorite. She clapped her hands to frighten him, then she ran to lure him after her again; she sought to seize him when he fled, and chased him away when he wanted to rush against her. The young man watched the thing in silence, with increasing vexation; but at last, when she took the odious animal, which he found dreadful, in her arms, pressed it against her ivory bosom, and with her divine lips kissed its black muzzle, he lost all patience and cried out in despair:

“Is it necessary, when an unfortunate destiny condemns me to live in your presence in an eternal separation perhaps; when I have lost everything through you and lost myself, must I see before my eyes a monstrous creature excite you to joy, stare at your tenderness and enjoy your embraces! Do I have to go back and forth like this any longer and measure this circle of pain, passing and repassing the river? No, a spark of my first value still slumbers in my heart; let it cast a last flame at this moment! If stones can rest on your bosom, may I become a stone! If your touch causes death, I want to die by your hands. »

As he says these words, he makes a violent gesture; the goshawk flies away, and he himself rushes towards the beauty. She stretches out her arms to stop him, and only touches him faster. He loses consciousness and the Beau Lis feels with horror this charming burden on his chest. She recoils with a cry, and the handsome young man falls lifeless from his arms to the ground.

The misfortune was accomplished. The gentle flower was motionless, staring at the lifeless body. The girl's heart seemed to have stopped beating, and her eyes were tearless.

In vain did Mops seek to obtain a caress from her: the whole world had died with his friend; her mute despair sought no help, she knew none.

On the other hand, the snake gave itself a lot of movement; he seemed to be looking for means of salvation, and at least his bizarre movements delayed for some time the first horrors which were to follow this catastrophe: with his supple body, he formed a large circle around the corpse, took the tip of his tail with his teeth, and remained motionless.

Soon one of the Lily's beautiful maids appeared; she brought the ivory chair, and with graceful gestures she made the beauty sit down; then the second brought a flame-colored veil, with which she adorned rather than covered the head of her mistress; the third presented him with the harp. Scarcely had she leaned the magnificent instrument against her knees and drawn a few sounds from the strings, when the first came back, bringing a brilliant round mirror; she placed herself opposite the beauty, surprised her gaze, and showed her the most admirable object that could be found in nature. Pain enhanced her beauty, the veil her charms, the harp her grace, and, although we hoped to see her sad situation changed, we wished to preserve forever her image as we then saw it.

Resting on the mirror with a tranquil gaze, sometimes she drew a few sweet notes from the strings, sometimes her pain seemed to come alive, and the powerful strings responded to her transports. Sometimes her mouth opened to sing, but her voice failed her, and soon her pain burst into tears; two young girls picked her up in their arms, the harp fell from her knees: the nimble next one barely had time to grab it and put it aside.

“Who will bring us the man with the lamp, before sunset? whispered the serpent, but in such a way as to be heard. »

The girls looked at each other, and Lily's tears increased. At this moment, the woman came back out of breath with her basket.

“I am lost and mutilated! she cried. See, my hand is almost completely gone. Neither the boatman nor the giant wanted to pass me, because I still owe the river. In vain I offered a hundred cabbages and a hundred onions, they only want the three pieces, and I cannot find an artichoke in the vicinity.
- Forget your distress, said the snake, and try to help us. Our salvation may also be yours. Run as quickly as possible to seek the will-o'-the-wisps; it is still too bright to see them, but perhaps you will hear them laughing and fluttering. If they hasten, the giant will pass them by; they can find the man with the lamp and send him to us. »

The woman ran with all her might; the snake seemed to be waiting as impatiently as the Lily for the return of the two people. Unfortunately, the rays of the setting sun were already gilding the tops of the trees in the forest, and elongated shadows stretched over the lake and the meadow; the snake stirred impatiently and the Lily burst into tears.

In this extremity, the snake looked on all sides; he feared, at every moment, that the sun would go down, that corruption would cross the magic circle, and attack the young man irresistibly. Finally he saw in the air the goshawk with purple feathers, whose throat reflected the last rays of the sun. The serpent quivered with joy at this favorable sign, and he was not mistaken, for soon afterwards the man with the lamp was seen to advance, sliding on the lake, as if he had come on skates.

The snake did not leave its position, but the Lily rose and cried:

“What good genius sends you at the moment when we desire you so strongly, when we have such a pressing need of you?
- The genie of my lamp leads me, answered the old man, and the goshawk brings me to this place. This flame sparkles when I am needed, and I have only to look for a sign in the air: a bird, a meteor shows me the direction I should follow. Take it easy, beautiful girl. Can I help you, I don't know: one alone can do nothing, he must unite with many others at the right moment. We must delay and hope. »

“Keep your circle closed,” he continued, turning to the serpent; then he sat down on a mound beside him, and he illuminated the inanimate body. Also bring the nice canary and place it in the circle. »

The young girls took the little bird from the basket, which the old woman had left, and they did as the man had said.

The sun had set, and as the darkness increased, not only did the serpent and the lamp of the man begin to shine in their own way, but the veil of the Lily even shed a soft light, which, like a rising dawn, colored, with infinite grace, his pale cheeks and his white garment. Those present looked at each other in mute expectation; anxiety and sadness were softened by firm hope.

So the company gave a gracious welcome to the old woman, when she appeared accompanied by the two merry flames, who doubtless had been very lavish for some time past, for they had again become extremely thin; but they were all the more amiable with the princess and the other ladies. The will-o'-the-wisps spouted, with great aplomb and a very lively expression, things common enough; they were particularly sensitive to the charm that the luminous veil spread over the Lily and its companions. The ladies lowered their eyes with modesty, and the praise given to their beauty made them even more beautiful. Everyone, except the old woman, was content and quiet. In vain her husband assured her that her hand could not diminish, as long as she was illuminated by her lamp, she maintained more than once that,

The old man with the lamp had lent an attentive ear to the words of the will-o'-the-wisps; he was delighted that this conversation could amuse and amuse the Beau Lis, and, truly, midnight had arrived without anyone knowing how. The old man looked at the stars and found himself saying:

“We have come together at the propitious hour. Let each fulfill his task; Let each do his duty, and a general happiness will absorb particular pains, as a general misfortune devours the joys of each. »

At these words, there was a strange murmur, because everyone present was talking to themselves, and saying aloud what they had to do. The three young girls alone kept silence; one was asleep beside the harp, another beside the parasol, the third beside the ivory chair, and it could not be a crime for them at such a late hour; the flamboyant youngsters, after a few fleeting homages also addressed to the following ones, had ended up becoming attached only to the Lis, as to the beauty of the beauties.

“Take the mirror,” said the old man around, “and let the first rays of the sun shine on the sleepers; awaken them from above with reflected light. »

The snake made a few movements, broke the circle and, with long folds, crawled slowly towards the river; the will-o'-the-wisps followed him with a solemn step: one would have taken them for the most serious flames in the world. The old woman and her husband took the basket, whose soft light had hardly been noticed until then; they pulled it from one side to the other, and the basket grew ever more luminous and larger; they placed the body of the young man there; they placed the canary on his chest; the basket rose in the air and swayed on the head of the old woman, who advanced following the will-o'-the-wisps; Beau Lily took Mops in his arms and followed the old woman; the old man with the lamp brought up the rear. All these various lights shed the strangest brightness over the surroundings.

But the company saw with no less admiration, when they arrived at the edge of the river, a magnificent arch, which rose above, and over which the beneficent serpent offered them a brilliant passage. If one had admired during the day the transparent jewels, of which it seemed that the bridge was built, one marveled, during the night, at their dazzling magnificence. From above, the circle of light stood out sharply against the dark sky; but, from below, bright rays sprang towards the center and showed the mobile solidity of the edifice. The procession crossed it slowly; the boatman, who was watching from his distant hut, contemplated with astonishment the luminous circle and the singular lights which passed over it.

No sooner had they reached the other side than, according to its custom, the ark began to swing and approach the water with undulatory movements; soon the snake advanced towards the shore, the basket landed on the ground, and the reptile again rolled around in a circle. The old man bowed before the serpent and said to it:

“What resolution have you taken?
- To sacrifice myself before I am sacrificed. Promise me you won't leave a stone on the edge. »

The old man promised, and thereupon he said to Beau Lis:

“Touch the serpent with your left hand and your lover with your right hand. »

Le Lis knelt down; she touched the snake and the lifeless body. Instantly the young man seemed to come back to life; he stirred in the basket; he even straightened up and sat down. The beauty wanted to kiss him; but the old man restrained her; he helped the young man to rise, and supported him as he came out of the basket and the circle.

The prince was standing, the canary hovering on his shoulders; life had returned to them both, but not yet their spirit; the handsome friend had his eyes open and could not see, at least he seemed to be looking at everything with indifference. Scarcely was the surprise caused by this event appeased a little, than one suddenly noticed the singular metamorphosis which the serpent had undergone. Her beautiful body, with its slender shape, was separated into a thousand and a thousand brilliant jewels; the old woman, wanting to take her basket, had accidentally bumped into it, and you could no longer see anything of the shape of the serpent, but only a beautiful circle of sparkling stones, strewn on the lawn.

The old man immediately prepared to collect them in the basket; his wife had to help him in this work. Then they both carried the basket to the edge of the water in a high place, and the old man, to the great chagrin of the beauty and his wife, who would have liked very much to choose some for themselves, threw the whole load into the river. Like twinkling stars, the stones sailed with the waves, and it was impossible to distinguish whether they were lost in the distance or whether they sank.

"Gentlemen," said the old man with the will-o'-the-wisps respectfully, "I now show you the way, and clear the way for you; but you will render us the greatest service by opening the door of the sanctuary, by which we must enter this time, and which you alone can open. »

The wisps bowed politely and stood back. The old man with the lamp advanced first into the rock, which opened before him; the young man followed him, as if by a mechanical impulse; Beau Lis walked some distance behind him, uncertain and silent; the old woman did not want to stay behind; she stretched out her hand, so that the light of the lamp might illuminate her; the will-o'-the-wisps brought up the rear, bringing the tips of their flames together, and seeming to be talking together.

They had not walked long when the procession found itself before a large brass door, the doors of which were closed with a golden lock. The old man called for the will-o'-the-wisps, which did not require long pressing, and quickly began to consume the lock and bolts with their sharpest flames.

The bronze resounded, when suddenly the doors opened with a crash, and the noble images of the kings appeared in the sanctuary, illuminated by the lights that came. Each bowed before the venerable monarchs; the will-o'-the-wisps especially did not spare the burlesque bows. After a break:

" Where are you from ? said the golden king.
- People, said the old man.
- Where are you going ? asked the silver king.
- In the world.
- What are you doing here? asked the bronze king.
"Accompany you," said the old man.

The mixed king was about to speak, when the golden king said to the will-o'-the-wisps, which had come too close to him:

“Get away from me! my gold is not for your mouth. »

They turned to the silver king and bowed to him; her dress shone agreeably with their golden reflection.

“Welcome,” he said, “but I cannot feed you: take your food elsewhere and bring me your light. »

They moved away, and, passing in front of the bronze king, who did not seem to notice them, they slipped towards the mixed king.

“Who will rule the world? he shouted in a jerky voice.
- The one who will stand on his feet, answered the old man.
- It's me ! said the mixed king.
- We'll see, said the old man, because the time has come. »

Le Beau Lis threw himself on the old man's neck and kissed him with the liveliest tenderness.

“Holy Father,” she said to him, “I give you a thousand thanks because I have just heard, for the third time, the prophetic word. »

She had scarcely said these words when her arms clung to the old man even more strongly, for the ground shook under their feet; the old woman and the young man also held on to each other; the mobile will-o'-the-wisps were the only ones who didn't notice anything.

One could distinctly feel that the whole temple was moving, like a ship gently moving away from the harbor, when the anchors are lifted; the depths of the earth seemed to open before him as he advanced; he struck nowhere, no rock opposed his progress.

For a few moments, a fine rain seemed to enter through the opening of the cupola. The old man held the Beau Lis more firmly, and said to him:

“We are under the river and we are approaching the goal. »

Shortly after, they thought they were arrested, but it was a mistake, the temple was going up. Then there was a strange noise over their heads, planks and beams, roughly assembled, penetrated, with creaks, through the opening of the cupola. Le Lis and the old woman threw themselves aside; the man with the lamp seized the young man and remained motionless. It was the ferryman's little hut, which the temple, in its ascent, had separated from the ground and which it had absorbed into itself. She descended little by little and covered the young man and the old man.

The women cried out and the temple shook, like a ship hitting the earth unexpectedly. The women wandered anxiously in the darkness around the cabin; the door was closed, and no one heard them knock. They hit harder, and were quite surprised, when at the end the wood made a metallic sound. The virtue of the lamp enclosed in the hut had changed it from inside to outside into silver. Soon she even changed her face; the noble metal left the improvised forms of planks, posts and beams, and extended into an admirable chapel worked in relief. A magnificent little temple stood in the middle of the great one, or, if you will, it was an altar worthy of the temple.

The young man ascended an interior staircase; the man with the lamp illuminated it, and another personage seemed to support him, walking in front of him, in a short white garment, and carrying in his hand a silver oar. At first they recognized him as the ferryman, the former inhabitant of the transformed cabin.

Le Beau Lis climbed the outer steps, which led from the temple to the altar, but she still had to stay away from her beloved. The old woman, whose hand had become ever smaller, as long as the lamp had been hidden, exclaimed:

“Must I still be unhappy? Among so many wonders, is there any that can save my hand? »

Her husband showed her the open door and said:

“You see that the day is beginning to shine: run and bathe in the river.
- What advice ! I will go all black! I will completely disappear! Haven't I paid my debt yet?
- Go, said the old man, and believe me. All debts are paid. »

The old woman ran, and at the same moment the rays of the rising sun lit up the crown of the cupola. The old man advanced between the young man and the virgin and exclaimed:

“There are three who reign over the earth, wisdom, appearance and strength. At the first of these words, the golden king rose; to the second, the king Argent; and, on the third, the bronze king had also risen slowly, when suddenly the mixed king sat down clumsily. All who saw him were on the point of laughing, despite the solemnity of the moment; for he was not sitting, he was not lying, he was not leaning, but he had sagged in an ungainly posture.

The will-o'-the-wisps, which had occupied themselves with him until then, withdrew apart; although the dawn made them pale, they seemed again well nourished and well inflamed; with their sharp tongues they had skilfully licked to the bottom the golden veins of the colossal statue. The resulting irregular empty spaces remained open for some time, and the figure remained in its first form; but, when finally the finest veins were absorbed, suddenly the statue broke, and, unfortunately, precisely at the places of the body which remain fixed when the man sits down; on the contrary, the joints which should have bent retained their rigidity. You had to laugh or look away; this equivocal object, half figure, half formless mass, was dreadful to behold.

The man with the lamp lowered the altar and led the young man, still numb and staring, straight to the bronze king. At the feet of the mighty prince was a sword in a bronze scabbard. The young man attached it to his belt.

"The sword to the left, the right free!" cried the mighty king.

From there they advanced towards the silver king, who lowered his scepter towards the young man. The latter took it with his left hand, and the king said to him in a friendly voice:

“Feed the sheep. »

When they arrived at the golden king, he placed, with his paternal hand, on the head of the young man, the crown of oak, and said to him, blessing him:

“Recognize the supreme good! »

During this walk, the old man had observed the young man attentively. After he had girded the sword, his chest had risen, his hands moved and his feet trod the ground with more firmness; when the scepter had passed through his hand, his strength had seemed to grow softer, and, by an inexpressible charm, to become still more powerful; but when the oak wreath adorned her curly hair, her features brightened, her eyes shone with ineffable intelligence, and the Lily was the first word that came out of her mouth.

“Beautiful Lily! cried he, ascending to meet her on the silver steps, for she had been present at his walk from the balcony of the altar, Lis adored, the man who has received everything in his share, what can he wish more precious than the innocence and the secret affection that your heart brings to me?

O my friend, he continued, turning to the old man and looking at the three sacred statues, it is magnificent and assured, the empire of our fathers; but you have forgotten the fourth power, whose empire over the world is still older, more general, more certain: the power of love. »

At these words, he took the beauty in his arms; she had thrown off her veil, and her cheeks were covered with a more beautiful and more lasting color. The old man said with a smile:

“Love does not reign, it instructs, and that is much better. »

In the midst of this solemnity, these joys, this rapture, it had not been observed that the day had quite come; and suddenly, through the open door, quite new objects struck the eyes of the company. A large square surrounded by columns formed the forecourt, at the end of which was seen a magnificent bridge, the numerous arches of which stretched across the river; it was furnished on both sides with chests of drawers and superb colonnades for the use of travellers, of whom there were already thousands, who came and went diligently. The great avenue in the middle was animated by herds, mules, horsemen and carriages, which, without getting in the way, circulated in long streams; they all seemed to marvel at such a convenient and magnificent work; and as much the new king and his wife found happiness in their mutual love, so much the movement and the life of this great people caused them delight.

"Bless the memory of the serpent," said the old man, "you owe him your life; your peoples owe him the bridge by which these neighboring shores are animated and united. These swimming and shining jewels, remains of his sacrificed body, are the bases of this superb bridge; it is on them that it was built of itself, and that it will maintain itself. »

They were going to ask him the explanation of this strange mystery; suddenly four young girls presented themselves at the door of the temple. At the harp, the parasol, the ivory chair, we first recognized the Lily's companions; but the fourth, the most beautiful, was a stranger, who, playing with them like a sister, quickly crossed the temple and ascended the silver steps.

“Will you believe me now, my dear wife? said the master of the lamp to the beauty. Happy are you! happy is every creature that bathes in the river this morning! »

The old woman, embellished and rejuvenated, and who had not preserved a trace of her first face, surrounded with her young, revived arms the man with the lamp, who received her caresses with friendship.

“If I'm too old for you, he said smiling, you can choose another husband today. From this day no marriage is valid, if it is not concluded again.
- Don't you know then, she said to him, that you are also rejuvenated?
- I am charmed to appear to your young eyes a valiant young man. I receive your hand again, and I will gladly live with you until the next millennium. »

The queen welcomed her new friend, and descended, with her other companions, into the altar, while the king, with the two men, gazed across the bridge and carefully considered the movement of the crowd.

But his joy was not of long duration, for he saw an object which caused him a moment of sorrow. The great giant, who seemed not yet wide awake, staggered on the deck, and caused a great disorder there. He got up very drowsy, as usual, and wanted to bathe in the usual cove. He had found solid ground instead, and he had groped his way over the wide pavement of the bridge. There, although he walked very heavily in the midst of men and cattle, his presence, which astonished everyone, was nevertheless felt by no one. But when the sun struck him in the eyes, and he raised his hands to protect himself from it, the shadow of his huge fists passed and re-passed behind him so abruptly, so clumsily, among the crowd, that people and beasts were thrown down in great troops, wounded,

The king, at the sight of this disorder, raised his hand with an involuntary movement to his sword, and immediately reflected, calmly gazing first at his scepter, then at the lamp and the oar of his companions.

“I divine your thought,” said the master of the lamp; but we and our forces are powerless against this impotent. Don't worry: he is hurting for the last time. Fortunately his shadow does not fall on our side. »

However, the giant had come ever closer. In the presence of what he saw with his eyes, his arms dropped in astonishment: he was doing no more harm, and he entered the forecourt, staring open-mouthed.

He was walking straight to the temple gate, when he was suddenly stopped and pinned to the ground in the middle of the courtyard. He remained there, a mighty and colossal statue of bright, reddish stone. His shadow indicates the hours, which are marked in a circle on the ground around him, not in numbers, but in noble and expressive images.

The king was very charmed to see the shadow of the giant used; the queen was greatly surprised when, coming from the altar, magnificently adorned, with her young servants, she saw the strange figure, which almost hid her view of the bridge.

The people pressed close to the giant, who had become motionless; he surrounded her, admiring her metamorphosis. From there, he went towards the temple, which he seemed to have observed only at this moment, and he advanced in a crowd towards the entrance.

At that moment, the goshawk, which carried the mirror, came to hover above the dome, and, collecting the light of the sun, it directed it on the group placed at the altar. The king, queen and her ladies-in-waiting appeared in the dark vault of the temple, illuminated with a celestial light, and all the people prostrated themselves with their faces to the ground. When the crowd recovered and got up again, the king, with his people, had descended into the altar, in order to gain his palace by secret exits, and the people spread out in the temple to satisfy their curiosity. He gazed with astonishment and respect at the three standing kings; but he was very curious to know what mass could be hidden under the carpet, in the fourth niche; indeed, without stopping at his little merit, a charitable propriety had spread over the fallen king a magnificent carpet,

The people would not have ceased to gaze and admire, and the growing crowd would have been smothered in the temple, if their attention had not been drawn back to the great square.

Gold coins suddenly fell like from the sky, ringing on the marble slabs. The nearest passers-by threw themselves on it to grab it; the prodigy was repeated in isolation, from place to place. It is easy to understand that the will-o'-the-wisps, in withdrawing, had wanted to give themselves another pleasure, and that they were joyously dissipating the gold which they had drawn from the limbs of the fallen king. The greedy people ran hither and thither for some time longer; it pressed and tore, even when no more gold coins fell. Finally it slipped away little by little, it continued on its way, and even today the bridge is teeming with passers-by and the temple is the busiest on earth.


END