e monster than man,
the spine being covered with bristles, fingers and toes webbed, eyes
covered with a film, and thighs and legs horny with large shining
scales. Clodio, though aware of the real paternity of this creature,
adopted it as his own son, as did King Minos in the case of the
Minotaur, giving him the name Merovig from his piscatory origin. On
Clodio's death the demi-monster succeeded to the throne, and from him
sprang a long line of sovereigns, worthless and imbecile for the most
part.

Childeric, the son and successor of Merovig, enraged his people to such
a degree by his excesses that they drove him from throne and country.
One friend alone remained to him, Winomadus, who, having no female
relations to suffer by the king's attentions, did not find the
friendship so irksome as others; indeed, had been a partner in his
licentious pleasures. He undertook to watch over the interests of
Childeric during his enforced absence in Thuringia at the court of
Basium, king of that country. The Franks had elected Aegidius, a Roman
general, to the sovereignty over them, but as he proved himself no
better than Childeric, whom they had deposed, they once more essayed
to choose another ruler. This was made known to Childeric through his
friend Winomadus. He rapidly returned to the shores of the Rhine and,
reinforcing his following as he proceeded on his march, appeared before
Andernach at the head of a formidable force, composed of many of his
former subjects, together with Thuringian auxiliaries. The people of
Andernach, unable to resist this overwhelming argument, again accepted
Childeric as their king.

Basina the Sorceress

While in Thuringia Childeric had seduced the affections of Basina, the
queen of his protector. When he regained his throne he induced her to
leave her husband, and made her his queen. Basina was a sorceress,
one who could divine the future and also bestow the gift upon others.
Through this she gained great influence over Childeric, who desired to
see and know what fate had in store for himself and his race. Basina
agreed to satisfy his curiosity, and one night, at the midnight hour,
they climbed together to the summit of the hill behind Andernach. There
she bade him stand and look out over the plain while she performed her
magical operations. After some lengthy incantations she bade him look
well and tell her what he saw.

In a trance-like voice the king replied:

"I see a great light upon the