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340 was fierce and obstinate; the fiery lance burnt the monster wherever it struck him, and he uttered horrible yells, which ceased only with his life. He fell completely roasted, and you would have said it was a mountain that had been overthrown; so tremendous was the shock. The frightened shepherds hid themselves—some in a neighbouring forest, others at the bottom of the rocks, in cavities where they could see all, without being seen.

It was there the wise shepherd, who held the little Prince in his arms, took refuge; much more uneasy about what would happen to this amiable child, than what might be the issue to him or to his family, though the latter well deserved consideration. After the death of the Centaur, the Fairy Amazon took a trumpet, which she blew so melodiously that the sick who heard it arose in perfect health, and others felt a secret joy which they could not tell the meaning of.

The shepherd and shepherdesses, at the sound of the harmonious trumpet, reassembled. When the Fairy Amazon saw them, in order to reassure them entirely, she advanced towards them, in her chariot of diamonds, descending by degrees, till she came within three feet of the earth. The cloud on which the chariot rolled was so transparent that it appeared like crystal. The old shepherd, whom they called Sublime, advanced, holding the little Prince in his arms. "Approach, Sublime," said the Fairy, "fear nothing more. I intend peace to reign for the future in these regions, and that you shall enjoy the repose you came to seek in them; but give me this poor child, whose fate is already so extraordinary." The old man, having made a profound reverence, raised his arms, and put the Prince in hers. She kissed and embraced him a thousand times, set him on her knees and talked to him. She knew, nevertheless, that he could neither speak nor understand any language; he uttered cries of joy or of grief, heaved sighs, and made inarticulate noises; for he had never heard any one speak.

He was, however, quite dazzled by the brilliant armour of the Fairy Amazon. He got up on her knee, to reach her helmet, that he might touch it. The fairy laughed at him, and told him, as though he could understand her, "When thou art able to carry arms, my son, thou shalt not be without them." After she had again caressed him very much, she