Page:Gesta Romanorum - Swan - Wright - 2.djvu/302

290 but it is closed against mankind. This house loudly echoes, but its inhabitant is ever silent; and both—the house and inhabitant—move forward together. Now if you are a king, as you aver, you should be wiser than I am. Resolve the riddle."

"To prove to you that I am no impostor," said Apollonius, "I will reply. The house which bounds and rebounds, and echoes, is the wave; the mute inhabitant is a fish, which glides along with its residence ." Tharsia continued, "I am borne rapidly along by the tall daughter of the grove, which equally encloses an innumerable company. I glide over various paths, and leave no footstep ." "When I have answered your