ts that I gathered by the way. I continued my journey
for several successive days without finding any place of abode; but
after a month's time I came to a large town, well inhabited. It was
surrounded by several streams, so that it seemed to enjoy perpetual
spring.

My face, hands, and feet were black and sunburnt; and by my long
journey, my boots were quite worn out, so that I was forced to walk
barefooted; and my clothes were all in rags. I entered the town to
inform myself where I was, and addressed myself to a tailor that was
at work in his shop. He made me sit down by him, and asked me who I
was, from whence I came, and what had brought me thither. I did not
conceal anything that had befallen me, nor made I any scruple to
reveal to him my rank. The tailor listened to me with attention; then
he brought me something to eat, and offered me an apartment at his
house, which I accepted.

Some days after my arrival the tailor asked me if I knew anything by
which I could acquire a livelihood. I told him that I was well versed
in the science of laws, both human and divine; that I was a
grammarian, a poet, and, above all, that I wrote remarkably well.

"None of these things will avail you here. If you will follow my
advice," he added, "you will procure a short jacket, and as you are
strong and in good health, you may go into the neighboring forest and
cut wood for fuel. You may then go and expose it for sale in the
market. By these means you will be enabled to wait till the cloud
which hangs over you, and obliges you to conceal your birth, shall
have blown over. I will furnish you with a cord and hatchet."

The next day the tailor brought me a rope, a hatchet, and a short
jacket, and recommended me to some poor people who gained their bread
after the same manner, that they might take me into their company.
They conducted me to the wood, and the first day I brought in as much
upon my head as procured me half a piece of gold of the money of that
country; for though the wood was not far distant from the town, yet it
was very scarce, by reason that few would be at the trouble of
fetching it for themselves. I gained a good sum of money in a short
time, and repaid my tailor what he had loaned me.

I continued this way of living for a whole year. One day, having by
chance penetrated farther into the wood than usual, I happened to
light on a pleasant spot, where I began to cut. In pulling up the root
of a tree I espied an iron