dark; it was strange for her to find herself alone, in the midst of a forest, without knowing which way to turn her steps; not being able to catch a glimpse of earth or sky, and dreading every instant to meet the Giant again.
She walked as fast as she could, and would have fallen a hundred times over, but the animals she had set at liberty, grateful for the favour they had received at her hands, would not forsake her, and were very serviceable to her on her journey. The cat's eyes were so bright that they lighted her like a flambeau; the dog by his barking acted as sentinel; the cock crowed to frighten the lions;[1] the parrot chattered so loudly, that, to hear him, you would have thought twenty people were talking together—so that the robbers slunk away and left the road free for the passage of our fair traveller; and the ram, walking a little in advance of her, preserved her from tumbling into some great holes, which he had considerable difficulty himself in scrambling out of.
Constancia walked at random, recommending herself to her good friend the Fairy, from whom she hoped to receive some assistance, although she reproached herself severely for not having obeyed her commands; but sometimes she feared she was forsaken by her. She would have been very glad if chance could have led her back to the cottage in which she had been secretly brought up; but, as she knew not the way, she did not venture to flatter herself that anything but an especial interposition of Providence could procure her that happiness.
She found herself at daybreak on the bank of a river that watered one of the most agreeable meadows in the world. She looked about her, and saw neither dog, nor cat, nor cock, nor parrot; Ruson was her sole remaining companion.
"Alas! where am I?" said she: "This beautiful spot is unknown to me. What will become of me? Who will protect me? Ah! little ram, how dearly hast thou cost me! If I had not run after thee, I should still be with the Sovereign Fairy, I should neither be in fear of the Giant nor of any unfortunate adventure." Ruson seemed to tremble as he listened to her, and to be aware of his fault. At last the Princess, weary and depressed, left off chiding him, and seated herself beside the
- ↑ Ancient naturalists entertained the idea that the lion was excessively terrified by the crowing of a cock.
