11
to speak, till thou cuttest a thread which grows under his tongue.
The head having thus ended his speech, Valentine tenderly embraced Orson, and immediately cut the thread that grew under his tongue, upon which hc spake very distinctly, and related his manner of living in the wood. Then Valentine made the lady Clerimond turn Christian, and married her, at which the whole island was exceedingly rejoiced. But alas! all thcir joy was soon interrupted, as you shall hear.
In this castle lived a dwarf, named Pacolet, who was an enchanter, and had by his art contrived a horse of wood, and in his forehead he fixed a pin, by turning of which, it would carry him through the air in a day to any part of the world. This enchanter, perceiving what was done in the castle, took his horse and rode to Portugal, and acquainted the giant Ferragus of his sister’s nuptials, and that she was turned to the Christian religion: which when the giant heard, he was so enraged, that he swore by Mahomet that he would make her repent her transaction contrary to his pleasure. Hc directly got ready his fleet, and sailed towards the castle of Clerimond; and when he arrived, ho concealed his malice from his sister and the two Knights, telling them that he came to fetch them into Portugal, the better to celebrate their marriage; and that he would turn Christian at their arrival at his castle. All which they believed, and so quickly embarked with him. When he got them into the ship, he commanded them to be seized, and laden with irons; which so grieved his sister Clerimond, that she endeavoured to throw herself into the sea, but was prevented by her attendants.
