glad enough to go. The real
lover soon appeared, and he and his fair mistress fell joyfully into one
another's arms, the parents consenting to their union. Leander, assuming
his own shape, appeared at the hall door, as if he were a stranger drawn
thither by the report of this extraordinary wedding.

From hence he traveled on, and came to a great city, where, upon his
arrival, he understood there was a great and solemn procession, in order
to shut up a young woman against her will among the vestal-nuns. The
prince was touched with compassion; and thinking the best use he could
make of his cap was to redress public wrongs and relieve the oppressed,
he flew to the temple, where he saw the young woman, crowned with
flowers, clad in white, and with her disheveled hair flowing about her
shoulders. Two of her brothers led her by each hand, and her mother
followed her with a great crowd of men and women. Leander, being
invisible, cried out, "Stop, stop, wicked brethren: stop, rash and
inconsiderate mother; if you proceed any further, you shall be squeezed
to death like so many frogs." They looked about, but could not conceive
from whence these terrible menaces came. The brothers said it was
only their sister's lover, who had hid himself in some hole; at which
Leander, in wrath, took a long cudgel, and they had no reason to say the
blows were not well laid on. The multitude fled, the vestals ran away,
and Leander was left alone with the victim; immediately he pulled off
his red cap and asked her wherein he might serve her. She answered him
that there was a certain gentleman whom she would be glad to marry, but
that he wanted an estate. Leander then shook his rose so long that he
supplied them with ten millions; after which they were married and lived
happily together.

But his last adventure was the most agreeable. Entering into a wide
forest, he heard lamentable cries. Looking about him every way, at
length he spied four men well armed, who were carrying away by force a
young lady, thirteen or fourteen years of age; upon which, making up to
them as fast as he could, "What harm has that girl done?" said he.

"Ha! ha! my little master," cried he who seemed to be the ringleader of
the rest, "who bade you inquire?"

"Let her alone," said Leander, "and go about your business."

"Oh, yes, to be sure," cried they, laughing; whereupon the prince,
alighting, put on his red cap, not thinking it otherwise prudent to
attack four who s