_, which
made a fifth.

Thus, a fellow unjustly refusing to pay a rightful demand of _one_
penny, was necessitated, much against his inclination, to pay _five_.

XXVI.--OF AVOIDING IMPRECATIONS.

Gervase of Tilbury relates a very remarkable occurrence, but at the same
time full of excellent caution and prudent exhortation.

During the reign of the Roman emperor Otto, there was, in the bishopric
of Girona, in Catalonia, a very high mountain, whose ascent was
extremely arduous, and, except in one place, inaccessible. On the summit
was an unfathomable lake of black water. Here also stood, as it is
reported, a palace of demons, with a large gate, continually closed; but
the palace itself, as well as its inhabitants, existed in invisibility.
If any one cast a stone or other hard substance into this lake, the
demons exhibited their anger by furious storms. In one part of the
mountain was perpetual snow and ice, with abundance of crystal. At its
foot flowed a river, whose sands were of gold; and the precious metal
thus obtained, was denominated, by the vulgar, its _cloak_. The mountain
itself and the parts adjacent, furnished silver; and its inexhaustible
fertility was not the least surprising.

Not far from hence lived a certain farmer, who was much occupied with
domestic matters, and troubled exceedingly by the incessant squalling of
his little girl; insomuch, that at length wearied out by the torment,
in a moment of fretfulness he wished his infant at the devil. This
incautious desire was scarcely uttered, ere the girl was seized by an
invisible hand, and carried off. Seven years afterwards, a person
journeying at the foot of the mountain near the farmer's dwelling,
distinguished a man hurrying along at a prodigious rate, and uttering
the most doleful complaints. He stopped to inquire the occasion; and
was told, that for the space of seven years last passed, he had been
committed to the custody of the demons upon that mountain, who daily
made use of him as of a chariot, in consequence of an unwary exclamation
to that effect. The traveller startled at an assertion so extraordinary,
and a little incredulous, was informed that his neighbour had suffered
in a similar degree; for that having hastily committed his daughter to
their power, they had instantly borne her off. He added, that the
demons, weary of instructing the girl, would willingly restore her,
provided the father presented himself on the mountain and th