Page:Gesta Romanorum - Swan - Wright - 2.djvu/140

128 centre is Christ. The thunder-storm typifies confession, which being heard, the serpents, that is, sins and devils, are affrighted, and depart. The dragon is the devil, and the merchants are preachers.

emperor possessed a forest, in which was an elephant whom no one dare approach. This caused his majesty no little surprise, and calling together his nobles and wise men, he asked them what was the nature of this elephant. They replied, that he mightily approved pure and modest virgins. Thereupon, the emperor would have despatched