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 394 purity. After a wearisome journey through deserts and over rocks and mountains, their eyes discovered in the distance a glorious landscape, with a profusion of woods, lakes, gardens and ripe fruit. The travellers were delighted at the sight, and did not at first notice that in order to arrive at their new-found Paradise it would be necessary for them to pass through a wide expanse of stagnant water, full of slime and snakes. The Ermine was the first to attempt a passage. Going delicately on the tips of his toes he made a few steps forward, but soon drew back, saying, with assumed indifference, "The country is certainly rich and beautiful, but it will not suit me. I would rather lose it all than soil the delicacy of my beautiful coat." The Beaver said, "Have a little patience, brothers; we live in scientific times you, know, and I am a first-rate architect. In two months I will guarantee to build you a bridge over which you may pass to our future home without fear of mud or snakes." "Two months, slow-coach," said the Boar, "why, we may all be dead before that: you are much too slow for me." And so saying, he plunged into the slime. Splash, dash, he had reached the opposite side, in spite of the mud and reptiles. And while shaking off the mud, he said to his ignorant companions, "Paradise is not made for cowards or coxcombs, but for the strong." We may all profit by this lesson.

(From Spanish Fables by Fernandez Cayetano. Translated by Margaret R. Cresswell.)