nd
would have done them a mischief had not the king just then appeared. As
it was, the affair produced a quarrel, which ended in Leander's being
sent to a far-away castle belonging to his father.

There, however, he was quite happy, for he was a great lover of hunting,
fishing, and walking: he understood painting, read much, and played upon
several instruments, so that he was glad to be freed from the fantastic
humors of Furibon. One day as he was walking in the garden, finding the
heat increase, he retired into a shady grove and began to play upon the
flute to amuse himself. As he played, he felt something wind about his
leg, and looking down saw a great adder: he took his handkerchief, and
catching it by the head was going to kill it. But the adder, looking
steadfastly in his face, seemed to beg his pardon. At this instant one
of the gardeners happened to come to the place where Leander was, and
spying the snake, cried out to his master: "Hold him fast, sir; it
is but an hour since we ran after him to kill him: it is the most
mischievous creature in the world."

Leander, casting his eyes a second time upon the snake, which was
speckled with a thousand extraordinary colors, perceived the poor
creature still looked upon him with an aspect that seemed to implore
compassion, and never tried in the least to defend itself.

"Though thou hast such a mind to kill it," said he to the gardener,
"yet, as it came to me for refuge, I forbid thee to do it any harm; for
I will keep it, and when it has cast its beautiful skin I will let it
go." He then returned home, and carrying the snake with him, put it into
a large chamber, the key of which he kept himself, and ordered bran,
milk, and flowers to be given to it, for its delight and sustenance;
so that never was snake so happy. Leander went sometimes to see it, and
when it perceived him it made haste to meet him, showing him all the
little marks of love and gratitude of which a poor snake was capable,
which did not a little surprise him, though he took no further notice of
it.

In the meantime all the court ladies were extremely troubled at his
absence, and he was the subject of all their discourse. "Alas!" cried
they, "there is no pleasure at court since Leander is gone, of
whose absence the wicked Furibon is the cause!" Furibon also had his
parasites, for his power over the queen made him feared; they told him
what the ladies said, which enraged him to such a degree that in h