ant fell at his feet, entreating to
know the cause of his disgrace. "Did you not make game both of myself
and my ambassador?" said the king; "and did you not boast, that had I
sent you to the Fair One with Golden Locks, you would have prevailed on
her to return with you?" "True, Sire," replied Avenant; "for I should
have set forth all your great qualities so irresistibly, that I am
certain she could not have said nay. Methinks there is no treason in
that." The king was so convinced of his innocence, that he straightway
released Avenant from prison and brought him back to the palace. After
having given him a good supper, the king took him into his cabinet, and
confessed to him that he was still so in love with the Fair One with
Golden Locks, that he had a great mind to send him to obtain her hand,
and meant to prepare a splendid equipage befitting the ambassador of a
great nation. But Avenant said: "That is not necessary. Only give me a
good horse and the necessary credentials, and I will set off to-morrow."

On the following morning Avenant left the court, and set out alone on
his journey, thinking as he went of all the fine things he should say to
the princess, and stopping ever and anon, when any pretty conceit came
into his head, to jot it down on his tablets. One day as he halted for
this purpose in a lovely meadow by the side of a rivulet, he perceived a
large golden carp that lay gasping upon the grass, having jumped so high
to snap at the flies, that she had overreached herself, and was unable
to get back into the water. Avenant took pity on her, and, gently
lifting her up, restored her to her native element. The carp took a
plunge to refresh herself, then reappearing on the surface she said:
"Thanks, Avenant, for having saved my life. I will do you a good turn if
ever I can." So saying she dived back into the water, leaving Avenant
greatly surprised at her civility.

Another time, he saw a crow closely pursued by a large eagle, when,
thinking it would be a shame not to defend the weak against the strong,
he let fly an arrow that brought the cruel bird of prey to the ground,
while the crow perched upon a tree in great delight, crying: "It was
very generous of you, Avenant, to help a poor crow like me. But I will
prove grateful, and do you a good turn whenever I can."

[Illustration]

Avenant was pleased with the crow's good feelings and continued his
journey; when, some days after, as he crossed a thick wood,