ds of scent, followed her closely.

She rejected and disclaimed the homage which Thomas desired to pay her;
so that, passing from one extremity to the other, Thomas became as bold
as he had at first been humble. The lady warned him he must become her
slave if he wished to prosecute his suit. Before their interview
terminated, the appearance of the beautiful lady was changed into that of
the most hideous hag in existence. A witch from the spital or almshouse
would have been a goddess in comparison to the late beautiful huntress.
Hideous as she was, Thomas felt that he had placed himself in the power
of this hag, and when she bade him take leave of the sun, and of the leaf
that grew on the tree, he felt himself under the necessity of obeying
her. A cavern received them, in which, following his frightful guide, he
for three days travelled in darkness, sometimes hearing the booming of a
distant ocean, sometimes walking through rivers of blood, which crossed
their subterranean path. At length they emerged into daylight, in a most
beautiful orchard. Thomas, almost fainting for want of food, stretched
out his hand towards the goodly fruit which hung around him, but was
forbidden by his conductress, who informed him that these were the fatal
apples which were the cause of the fall of man. He perceived also that
his guide had no sooner entered this mysterious ground and breathed its
magic air than she was revived in beauty, equipage, and splendour, as
fair or fairer than he had first seen her on the mountain. She then
proceeded to explain to him the character of the country.

"Yonder right-hand path," she says, "conveys the spirits of the blest to
paradise. Yon downward and well-worn way leads sinful souls to the place
of everlasting punishment. The third road, by yonder dark brake,
conducts to the milder place of pain, from which prayer and mass may
release offenders. But see you yet a fourth road, sweeping along the
plain to yonder splendid castle? Yonder is the road to Elfland, to which
we are now bound. The lord of the castle is king of the country, and I
am his queen; and when we enter yonder castle, you must observe strict
silence, and answer no question that is asked you, and I will account for
your silence by saying I took your speech when I brought you from middle
earth."

Having thus instructed him, they journeyed on to the castle, and,
entering by the kitchen, found themselves in the midst of such a fest