en repeated by you; for
I am an utter stranger to what you mean by it."--"Sir," says she, "pray
answer me first how you came here?"--"Madam," replied I, "will you
please to take a walk to the verge of the wood, I will show you the very
passage."--"Sir," says she, "I perfectly know the range of the rocks all
round, and by the least description, without going to see them, can tell
from which you descended."--"In truth," said I, "most charming lady, I
descended from no rock at all; nor would I for a thousand worlds attempt
what could not be accomplished but by my destruction."--"Sir," says
she, in some anger, "it is false, and you impose upon me."--"I declare
to you," says I, "madam, what I tell you is strictly true; I never was
near the summit of any of the surrounding rocks, or anything like it;
but as you are not far from the verge of the wood, be so good as to step
a little farther and I will show you my entrance in hither."--"Well,"
says she, "now this odious dazzle of light is lessened, I don't care if
I do go with you."

When we came far enough to see the bridge, "There, madam," says I,
"there is my entrance, where the sea pours into this lake from yonder
cavern."--"It is not possible," says she; "this is another untruth; and
as I see you would deceive me, and are not to be believed, farewell; I
must be gone. But, hold," says she, "let me ask you one thing more; that
is, by what means did you come through that cavern? You could not have
used to have come over the rock?"--"Bless me, madam!" says I, "do you
think I and my boat could fly? Come over the rock, did you say? No,
madam; I sailed from the great sea, the main ocean, in my boat, through
that cavern into this very lake here."--"What do you mean by your boat?"
says she. "You seem to make two things of your boat you say you sailed
with and yourself."--"I do so," replied I; "for, madam, I take myself
to be good flesh and blood, but my boat is made of wood and other
materials."--"Is it so?" says she. "And, pray, where is this boat
that is made of wood and other materials?--under your jacket?"--"Lord,
madam!" says I, "you put me in fear that you were angry; but now I hope
you only joke with me. What, put a boat under my jacket! No, madam; my
boat is in the lake."--"What, more untruths?" says she.--"No, madam," I
replied; "if you would be satisfied of what I say (every word of which
is as true as that my boat now is in the lake), pray walk with me
thither and make yo