If ever you feel an inclination to know it, do so, sire; the history is worth the trouble--it is I who tell you so.

You will there read that the lion, fatigued, harassed, out of breath, at length cried for quarter, and the justice must be rendered him to say that he gave as much as he required.

Oh! those were glorious times, sire, strewed over with battles like one of Tasso's or Ariosto's epics.

The wonders of those times, to which the people of ours would refuse belief, were every-day occurrences.

For five years together, I was a hero every day; at least, so I was told by persons of judgment; and that is a long period for heroism, trust me, sire, a period of five years.
Nevertheless, I have faith in what these people told me, for they were good judges.