ly the sun strove to preserve itself, ever more pale and
spotted it became. The flame grew whiter and more intense, as the sun
faded. It attracted the light more and more strongly; the glory around
the star of day was soon consumed, and it stood there a pale,
glimmering disk, every new agitation of spite and rage aiding the
escape of the flying light-waves. Finally, nought of the sun remained
but a black, exhausted dross, which fell into the sea. The splendor of
the flame was beyond description. It slowly ascended, and bore towards
the North. Fable entered the court, which was desolate; the house had
fallen. Briars were growing in the crevices of the window frames, and
vermin of every kind were creeping about on the broken staircase. She
heard a terrible noise in the chamber; the scribe and his associates
had been devoting her mother to the flames, but had been greatly
terrified by the sudden destruction of the sun.

They had in vain struggled to extinguish the flame, and had not escaped
unhurt. They vented their pain and anxiety in fearful curses and
wailings. But more terrified were they, when Fable entered the chamber,
and rushed upon them with a furious cry, letting her anger loose upon
them. She stepped behind the cradle, and her pursuers rushed madly into
the web of the tarantulas, which revenged themselves by a thousand
wounds. The whole crowd commenced a frantic dance, to which Fable
played a merry tune. With much laughter at their ludicrous
performances, she approached the fragments of the altar, and cleared
them away, in order to find the hidden staircase, which she descended
with her train of tarantulas.

The Sphinx asked, "what comes more suddenly than the lightning?"

"Revenge," said Fable.

"What is most transient?"

"Wrongful possession."

"Who knows the world?"

"He who knows himself."

"What is the eternal mystery?"

"Love."

"With whom does it rest?"

"With Sophia."

The Sphinx bowed herself mournfully, and Fable entered the cave.

"Here I bring you tarantulas," said she to the old sisters, who again
had lighted their lamp and were busily employed. They were overwhelmed
with fear, and one of them rushed upon her with the shears to murder
her. Unwarily she stepped upon a tarantula, which stung her in the
foot. She cried piteously; the others came to her assistance, and were
likewise stung by the irritated reptiles. They could not now attack
Fable, and danced wildly about.

"Spin dire