powerful than I am?" This braggart thought was scarcely
formed, ere he rode upon one of his own pitfalls, and immediately
disappeared.

The same day had been taken a lion, a monkey, and a serpent. Terrified
at the situation into which fate had thrown him, he cried out lustily;
and his noise awoke a poor man called Guido, who had come with his ass
into that forest for firewood, by the sale of which he got his bread.
Hastening to the mouth of the pit, and finding the cause of the noise,
he was promised great wealth if he would lift the seneschal out.

"My friend," answered Guido, "I have no means of obtaining a livelihood
except by the faggots which I collect; if I neglect this for one day, I
shall starve."

The seneschal renewed his promises of enriching him. Guido went back to
the city, and returned with a long cord, which he let down into the pit,
and bade the seneschal bind it round his waist. But before he could do
so, the lion leaped forward, and seizing upon the cord, was drawn up in
his stead. Immediately, in high glee, the beast ran off into the wood.
The rope again descended, and the monkey having noticed the success of
the lion, vaulted above the man's head, and shaking the cord, was in
like manner set at liberty. Without staying to return thanks, he hurried
off to his haunts. A third time the cord was let down, and the serpent
twining around it, was drawn up, and escaped.

"O my good friend," said the seneschal, "the beasts are gone, now draw
me up quickly, I pray you."

Guido complied, and afterwards succeeded in drawing up his horse, which
the seneschal instantly mounted and rode back to the palace.

Guido returned home; and his wife observing that he had come without
wood, was very dejected, and inquired the cause. He related what had
occurred, and the riches he was to receive for his service. The wife's
countenance brightened, and early in the morning she posted off her
husband to the palace. But the seneschal denied all knowledge of him,
and ordered him to be whipped for his presumption. The porter executed
the directions, and beat him so severely that he left him half dead. As
soon as Guido's wife understood this, she saddled their ass, and brought
him home. The sickness which ensued, consumed the whole of their little
property; but as soon as he had recovered, he went back to his usual
occupation in the wood.

Whilst he was thus employed, he saw afar off ten asses laden with packs,
and a lion b