Page:Gesta Romanorum - Swan - Wright - 2.djvu/131

Rh "Thou, oh staff! art my master, and at night I shall return to your castle. You will question me about the cow and her horns; I answer, 'My lord, the cow has lost her horns; for a robber, coming while I slept, ran off with them.' Now, you reply, 'Rascal! had you not a hundred eyes, how could they all sleep, while the robber stole the horns? This is a lie, and I will put you to death.' And if I say, that I have sold it, I shall be equally exposed to the indignation of my lord." "Get thee gone, then," answered Mercury: "thou shalt have nothing, and yet I will carry off thy charge." With this threat Mercury departed, and the next day returned with a musical instrument. He then began to entertain Argus with buffoonery, and to sing to him; until at last two of his eyes dropped asleep; then two more, and finally, the whole head sunk into a deep slumber. Mercury perceiving this, decapitated him, and bore away the cow with her golden horns. (22)