longer, confessed to her that this magnificent son-in-law was none other than an abominable fish.
“Alas!” sighed the Countess, “what an unhappy mother am I! Was I only blessed with children to see them become the prey of ferocious monsters! What are all the treasures in the world to a childless mother!”
“Dear wife,” said the Count, “take comfort; grieve as we may, we cannot recal what has been done, so make thyself content with things as they are.”
But the Countess was not to be so consoled, and she went on mourning, mourning, oh! so mournfully! ever wishing that death would come and end her woes, but he came not.
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BOOK II.
ALL the damsels and waiting women about the Countess’s person fully shared in the grief of their kind lady, weeping and lamenting with her, though endeavouring at other times to cheer her up with songs and music; but she was no longer capable of being so amused. Each, moreover, gave some sage advice as to the best means of exorcising the foul fiend Melancholy, but nothing could be devised to lessen the Countess’s sorrow. The damsel whose
