Pagina 208 di 1116

the wall clave asunder, and out burst a black slave like a huge

rock or a remnant of the tribe Ad[FN#108] bearing in hand a

branch of a green tree; and he cried in loud and terrible tones,

"O fish! O fish! be ye all constant to your antique covenant?"

whereupon the fishes lifted their heads from the frying pan and

said, "Yes! Yes ! we be true to our vow;" and they again recited

the couplet:

Come back and so will I! Keep faith and so will I! * But if ye

fain forsake, I'll requite till quits we cry!