Page:Gesta Romanorum - Swan - Wright - 2.djvu/221

Rh the knight, and he faithfully followed the instructions of his subtle friend. The consequence was, that he became exceedingly wealthy. But it happened that his wife one day said to him, "My lord, how comes it that the serpent in our hall has such infinite profusion of gold? Let us kill him and get possession of the whole." The advice pleased the knight, and at the request of his wife he took a hammer to destroy the serpent, and a vessel of milk. Allured by the milk, it put its head out of the hole, as it had been accustomed; and the knight lifted the hammer to strike it. The serpent, observing his perfidy, suddenly drew back its head; and the blow fell upon the vessel. No sooner had he done this, than his offspring died, and he lost every thing that he formerly possessed. The wife, taught by their mutual loss, said to him, "Alas! I have ill-counselled you; but go now to the hole of the serpent, and humbly acknowledge your offence. Peradventure you may find grace." The knight complied, and standing before the dwelling-place of the serpent, shed many tears, and entreated that