and partisans which began to stand upright, tore my
clothes. Suffice it to say,--I do not know how it was,--that my sight
and hearing failed me, and that I recovered from my terror and the
stupor into which I had been thrown, at the foot of a linden tree,
against which the railing, while raising itself, had thrown me. My
malice returned with my senses, and increased still more, when from the
other side I heard the jeers and laughter of my adversary, who had
probably come to the ground somewhat more softly than myself. I
therefore got up, and as saw scattered around me, my own little army
with its leaden Achilles, which the rising rails had thrown off
together with myself, I began by catching hold of the hero, and dashing
him against a tree. His resuscitation and flight gave me double
pleasure, for the prettiest sight in the world was associated with all
the delight of gratified malice, and I was on the point of sending the
rest of the Greeks after him, when all of a sudden water came hissing
from every side, from the stones and walls, from the ground and
branches; and wherever I turned it pelted me furiously. My light dress
was soon completely wet through, and as it had been already torn, I
lost no time in flinging it off altogether. My slippers I threw aside,
and then one covering after the other, finding it very pleasant in the
sultry day to take such a shower-bath. Stark naked, I walked gravely
along between the welcome waters, and I thought I might thus go on
pleasantly for some time. My rage had cooled, and I now desired
nothing more than a reconciliation with my little adversary. All of a
sudden the water stopped, and I now stood completely wet on ground that
was soaked through. The presence of the old man, who unexpectedly came
before me, was any thing but welcome. I should have wished, if not to
hide myself, at any rate to put on some covering. Shame, cold, and an
endeavour to cover myself in some measure, made me cut a very miserable
figure, and the old man lost no time in loading me with the bitterest
reproaches. "What hinders me," he cried, "from taking one of the green
cords, and fitting it to your back at any rate, if not to your neck!"
This threat I took very ill. "Hark ye," said I, "you had better take
care of such words, or even such thoughts, or you and your mistresses
will be lost!" "Who are you?" said he, in a tone of defiance, "that
dare to talk in this way?" "A favourite of the gods,"