st he returned it, while embracing the good
woman heartily. He pressed Ginnistan to his heart, and asked her for
the variegated cloth, which he bound becomingly around his thigh. He
took little Fable in his arms. She appeared greatly to delight in him,
and began to prattle. Ginnistan devoted all her attention to him. She
looked exceedingly charming and gay, and pressed him to herself with
the tenderness of a bride. She led him with whispered words to the
chamber door, but Sophia nodded earnestly and pointed to the serpent.
Just then the mother entered, to whom he immediately flew, and with
warm tears welcomed her. The scribe had departed in anger. The father
entered: and as he saw mother and son in silent embrace, he approached
the charming Ginnistan behind them and caressed her. Sophia ascended
the stairs. Little Fable took the scribe's pen and began to write.
Mother and son were deeply engaged in conversation. The father availed
himself of the opportunity, and lavished many a tender word and look
upon Ginnistan, who returned them willingly; and in their sweet
interchange of love, both the presence or absence of any was forgotten.
After some time Sophia returned, and the scribe entered. He drove
little Fable with many rebukes from his seat, and took a long time to
put his things in order. He handed to Sophia the leaves that Fable had
written over, that they might be returned clean; but his displeasure
was extreme, when Sophia drew the writing brilliant and uneffaced from
the bowl, and laid it before him. Fable clang to her mother, who took
her to her breast, and put the chamber in order, opened the windows for
the fresh air, and made preparations for a costly meal. A beautiful
landscape was visible from the windows, and a serene sky overarched the
earth. The father was busily employed in the court. When he was weary,
he looked up towards the window, where Ginnistan stood and threw to him
all sorts of sweetmeats. Mother and son went out in order to assist in
any manner, and to prepare for the resolution they had taken. The
scribe twitched his pen, and always made a wry face, when he was forced
to ask any information of Ginnistan, who had a good memory and
recollected everything that transpired. Eros soon returned, clad in
beautiful armor, round which the varigated cloth was wound like a
scarf. He asked Sophia's advice as to when and how he should commence
his journey. The scribe was very troublesome, and wanted to furnish