A great many hundred years ago, the mountains of Wales were inhabited
by two giants; one of whom was the terror of all his neighbours and the
plague of the whole country. He greatly exceeded the size of any giant
recorded in history; and his eyes looked so fierce and terrible, that
they frightened all who were so unhappy as to behold them.
The name of this enormous wretch was Barbarico. A name which filled
all who heard it with fear and astonishment. The whole delight of this
monster’s life was in acts of inhumanity and mischief; and he was the
most miserable as well as the most wicked creature that ever yet was
born. He had no sooner committed one outrage, but he was in agonies
till he could commit another; never satisfied, unless he could find an
opportunity of either torturing or devouring some innocent creature.
And whenever he happened to be disappointed in any of his malicious
purposes, he would stretch his immense bulk on the top of some high
mountain, and groan, and beat the earth, and bellow with such a hollow
voice, that the whole country heard and trembled at the sound.
The other giant, whose name was Benefico, was not so tall and bulky as
the hideous Barbarico. He was handsome, well proportioned, and of a very
good-natured turn of mind. His delight was no less in acts of goodness
and benevolence than the other’s was in cruelty and mischief. His
constant care was to endeavour if possible to repair the injuries
committed by this horrid tyrant, which he had sometimes an opportunity
of doing; for though Barbarico was much larger and stronger than
Benefico, yet his coward mind was afraid to engage with him, and always
shunned a meeting; leaving the pursuit of any prey, if he himself was
pursued by Benefico: nor could the good Benefico trust farther to
this coward spirit of his base adversary, than only to make the horrid
creature fly; for he well knew that a close engagement might make him
desperate; and fatal to himself might be the consequence of such a
brutal desperation; therefore he prudently declined any attempt to
destroy this cruel monster, till he should gain some sure advantage over
him.
It happened on a certain day, that as the inhuman Barbarico was prowling
along the side of a craggy mountain overgrown with brambles and briery
thickets, taking most horrid strides, rolling his ghastly eyes around
in quest of human blood, and having his breast tortured with inward rage
and grief, that he had been so unhappy as to live one whole day without
some act of violence, he beheld, in a pleasant valley at a distance, a
little rivulet winding its gentle course through rows of willows mixed
with flowery shrubs. Hither the giant hasted; and being arrived, he
gazed about to see if in this sweet retirement any were so unhappy as to
fall within his power; but finding none, the disappointment set him in
a flame of rage, which, burning like an inward furnace, parched his
throat. And now he laid him down on the bank, to try if in the cool
stream, that murmured as it flowed, he could assuage or slack the fiery
thirst that burnt within him.
He bent him down to drink; and at the same time casting his baleful eyes
towards the opposite side, he discovered within a little natural arbour
formed by the branches of a spreading tree, within the meadow’s flowery
lawn, the shepherd Fidus and his loved Amata.
The gloomy tyrant no sooner perceived this happy pair, than his heart
exulted with joy; and, suddenly leaping up on the ground, he forgot his
thirst, and left the stream untasted. He stood for a short space to
view them in their sweet retirement; and was soon convinced that, in
the innocent enjoyment of reciprocal affection, their happiness was
complete. His eyes, inflamed with envy to behold such bliss, darted a
fearful glare; and his breast swelling with malice and envenomed rage,
he with gigantic pace approached their peaceful seat.
The happy Fidus was at that time busy in entertaining his loved Amata
with a song which he had that very morning composed in praise of
constancy; and the giant was now within one stride of them, when Amata,
perceiving him, cried out in a trembling voice, ‘Fly, Fidus, fly, or
we are lost for ever; we are pursued by the hateful Barbarico!’ She had
scarce uttered these words, when the savage tyrant seized them by the
waist in either hand, and holding up to his nearer view, thus said:
‘Speak, miscreants; and, if you would avoid immediate death, tell me
who you are, and whence arises that tranquility of mind, which even at a
distance was visible in your behaviour.’
Poor Fidus, with looks that would have melted the hardest heart,
innocently replied, that they were wandering that way without designing
offence to any creature on earth. That they were faithful lovers; and,
with the consent of all their friends and relations, were soon to be
married; therefore he entreated him not to part them.
The giant now no sooner perceived, from the last words of the affrighted
youth, what was most likely to give them the greatest torment, than with
a spiteful grin which made his horrible face yet more horrible, and in
a hollow voice, as loud as thunder, he tauntingly cried out, ‘Ho-hoh!
You’d not be parted, would you? For once I’ll gratify thy will, and thou
shalt follow this thy whimpering fondling down my capatious maw.’ So
saying, he turned his ghastly visage on the trembling Amata who, being
now no longer able to support herself under his cruel threats, fainted
away, and remained in his hand but as a lifeless corpse. When lifting
up his eyes towards the hill on the opposite side, he beheld Benefico
coming hastily towards him. This good giant having been that morning
informed that Barbarico was roaming in the mountains after prey,
left his peaceful castle, in hopes of giving protection to whatever
unfortunate creature should fall into the clutches of this so cruel a
monster.
Barbarico, at the sight of the friendly Benefico, started with fear; for
although in bulk and stature he was, as we have said, the superior: yet
that cowardice, which ever accompanies wickedness, now wrought in him in
such a manner that he could not bear to confront him, well knowing the
courage and fortitude that always attend the good and virtuous; and
therefore instantly putting Fidus into the wallet that hung over his
shoulder, he flung the fainting Amata, whom he took to be quite expired,
into the stream that ran hard by, and fled to his cave, not daring once
to cast his eyes behind him.
The good Benefico perceiving the monster’s flight, and not doubting but
he had been perpetrating some horrid mischief, immediately hastened
to the brook; where he found the half-expiring Amata floating down
the stream, for her clothes had yet borne her up on the surface of the
water. He speedily stepped in and drew her out, and taking her in his
arms, pressed her to his warm bosom; and in a short space perceiving
in her face the visible marks of returning life, his heart swelled with
kind compassion, and he thus bespoke the tender maid: ‘Unhappy damsel,
lift up thy gentle eyes, and tell me by what hard fate thou hast fallen
into the power of that barbarous monster, whose savage nature delights
in nothing but ruin and desolation. Tremble not thus, but without fear
or terror behold one who joys in the thought of having saved thee from
destruction, and will bring thee every comfort his utmost power can
procure.’
The gentle Amata was now just enough recovered to open her eyes: but
finding herself in a giant’s arms, and still retaining in her mind the
frightful image of the horrid Barbarico, she fetched a deep sigh, crying
out in broken accents, ‘Fly, Fidus, fly;’ and again sunk down upon the
friendly giant’s breast. On hearing these words, and plainly seeing by
the anguish of her mind that some settled grief was deeply rooted at her
heart, and therefore despairing to bring her to herself immediately, the
kind Benefico hastened with her to his hospitable castle; where every
imaginable assistance was administered to her relief, in order to
recover her lost sense, and to reconcile her to her wretched fate.
The cruel Barbarico was no sooner arrived at his gloomy cave, than he
called to him his little page; who, trembling to hear the tyrant now
again returned, quickly drew near to attend his stern commands: when
drawing out of the wallet the poor Fidus, more dead than alive, the
monster cried out, ‘Here, caitiff, take in charge this smoothed-faced
miscreant; and, d’ye hear me? see that his allowance be no more than one
small ounce of mouldy bread and half a pint of standing water, for each
day’s support, till his now blooming skin be withered, his flesh be
wasted from his bones, and he dwindle to a meagre skeleton.’ So saying
he left them, as he hoped, to bewail each other’s sad condition. But the
unhappy Fidus, bereft of his Amata, was not to be appalled by any of the
most horrid threats; for now his only comfort was the hopes of a speedy
end to his miserable life, and to find a refuge from his misfortunes
in the peaceful grave. With this reflection the faithful Fidus was
endeavouring to calm the inward troubles of his mind, when the little
page, with looks of the most tender compassion, and in gentle words,
bid him be comforted, and with patience endure his present affliction;
adding that he himself had long suffered the most rigorous fate, yet
despaired not but that one day would give them an opportunity to free
themselves from the wicked wretch, whose sole delight was in others’
torments. ‘As to his inhuman commands,’ continued he, ‘I will sooner
die than obey them; and in a mutual friendship perhaps we may find some
consolation, even in this dismal cave.’
This little page the cruel Barbarico had stolen from his parents at five
years old; ever since which time he had tortured and abused him, till he
had now attained the age of one-and-twenty. His mother had given him
the name of Mignon; by which name the monster always called him, as it
gratified his insolence to make use of that fond appellation whilst he
was abusing him, only when he said Mignon he would in derision add the
word Dwarf; for, to say the truth, Mignon was one of the least men that
was ever seen, though at the same time one of the prettiest: his limbs,
though small, were exactly proportioned; his countenance was at once
sprightly and soft; and whatever his head thought, or his heart felt,
his eyes by their looks expressed; and his temper was as sweet as his
person was amiable. Such was the gentle creature Barbarico chose to
torment. For wicked giants, no less than wicked men and women, are
constantly tormented at the appearance of those perfections in another,
to which they themselves have no pretensions.
The friendship and affection of Fidus and Mignon now every day
increased; and the longer they were acquainted, the mere delight
they took in each other’s company. The faithful Fidus related to
his companion the story of his loved Amata, whilst the tender Mignon
consoled his friend’s inward sorrows, and supplied him with necessaries,
notwithstanding the venture he run of the cruel tyrant’s heavy
displeasure. The giant ceased not every day to view the hapless Fidus,
to see if the cruelty of his intentions had in any degree wrought its
desired effect; but perceiving in him no alteration, he now began to be
suspicious that the little Mignon had not punctually obeyed his savage
command. In order therefore to satisfy his wicked curiosity, he resolved
within himself narrowly to watch every occasion these poor unhappy
captives had of conversing with each other. Mignon, well knowing the
implacable and revengeful disposition of this barbarous tyrant, had
taken all the precautions imaginable to avoid discovery; and therefore
generally sought every opportunity of being alone with Fidus, and
carrying him his daily provisions at those hours he knew the giant was
most likely to be asleep.
It so befell that, on a certain day, the wicked giant had, as was his
usual custom, been abroad for many hours in search of some unhappy
creature on whom to glut his hateful inhumanity; when, tired with
fruitless roaming, he returned to his gloomy cave, beguiled of all his
horrid purposes; for he had not once that day espied so much as the
track of man, or other harmless animal, to give him hopes even to
gratify his rage or cruelty; but now raving with inward torment and
despair, he laid him down upon his iron couch, to try if he could close
his eyes and quiet the tumultuous passions of his breast. He tossed and
tumbled and could get no rest, starting with fearful dreams, and horrid
visions of tormenting furies.
Meanwhile the gentle Mignon had prepared a little delicate repast, and
having seen the monster lay himself at length, and thinking now that a
fit occasion offered in which to comfort and refresh his long-expecting
friend, was hastening with it to the cell where the faithful Fidus
was confined. At the fatal moment the giant, rearing himself up on his
couch, perceived the little Mignon just at the entrance of the cell;
when calling to him in a hollow voice, that dismally resounded through
the cave, he so startled the poor unhappy page, that he dropped the
cover from his trembling hand and stood fixed and motionless as a
statue.
‘Come hither, Mignon, caitiff, dwarf,’ said then the taunting homicide:
but the poor little creature was so thunderstruck he was quite unable
to stir one foot. Whereat the giant, rousing himself from off his couch,
with one huge stride reached out his brawny arm, and seized him by
the waist; and, pointing to the scattered delicates, cried out, ‘Vile
miscreant! is it thus thou hast obeyed my orders? Is this the mouldy
bread and muddy water, with which alone it was my command thou shouldst
sustain that puny mortal? But I’ll--’ Here raising him aloft, he was
about to dash him to the ground, when suddenly revolving in his wicked
thoughts, that if at once he should destroy his patient slave, his
cruelty to him must also have an end, he paused--and then recovering, he
stretched out his arm, and bringing the little trembler near his glaring
eyes, he thus subjoins: ‘No; I’ll not destroy thy wretched life; but
thou shalt waste thy weary days in a dark dungeon, as far remote from
the least dawn of light as from thy loved companion. And I myself will
carefully supply you both so equally with mouldy bread and water,
that each by his own sufferings shall daily know what his dear friend
endures.’ So saying, he hastened with him to his deepest dungeon; and
having thrust him in, he doubly barred the iron door. And now again
retiring to his couch, this new-wrought mischief, which greatly
gratified his raging mind, soon sunk him down into a sound and heavy
sleep. The reason this horrid monster had not long ago devoured his
little captive (for he thought him a delicious morsel) was, that he
might never want an object at hand to gratify his cruelty. For though
extremely great was his voracious hunger, yet greater still was his
desire of tormenting; and oftentimes when he had teased, beat, and
tortured the poor gentle Mignon, so as to force from him tears, and
sometimes a soft complaint, he would, with a malicious sneer, scornfully
reproach him in the following words: ‘Little does it avail to whine, to
blubber, or complain; for, remember, abject wretch,
I am a giant, and I can eat thee:
Thou art a dwarf, and thou canst not eat me.’
When Mignon was thus alone, he threw himself on the cold ground,
bemoaning his unhappy fate. However, he soon recollected that patience
and resignation were his only succour in this distressful condition; not
doubting but that, as goodness cannot always suffer, he should in time
meet with some unforeseen deliverance from the savage power of the
inhuman Barbarico.
Whilst the gentle Mignon was endeavouring to comfort himself in his
dungeon with these good reflections, he suddenly perceived, at a little
distance from him, a small glimmering light. Immediately he rose from
the ground, and going towards it, found that it shone through a little
door that had been left at jar, which led him to a spacious hall,
wherein the giant hoarded his immense treasures. Mignon was at first
dazzled with the lustre of so much gold and silver, and sparkling jewels
as were there heaped together. But casting his eyes on a statue that was
placed in the middle of the room, he read on the pedestal, written in
very small letters, the following verses:
Wouldst thou from the rage be free
Of the tyrant’s tyranny,
Loose the fillet which is bound
Twice three times my brows around;
Bolts and bars shall open fly,
By a magic sympathy.
Take him in his sleeping hour;
Bind his neck and break his pow’r.
Patience bids, make no delay:
Haste to bind him, haste away.
Mignon’s little heart now leapt for joy, that he had found the means
of such a speedy deliverance; and eagerly climbing up the statue, he
quickly unbound the magic fillet; which was no sooner done, but suddenly
the bolts and bars of the brazen gates through which the giant used to
pass to this his treasury, were all unloosed, and the folding-doors of
their own accord flew open, grating harsh thunder on their massy hinges.
At the same instant, stretched on his iron couch in the room adjoining
to the hall, the giant gave a deadly groan. Here again the little
Mignon’s trembling heart began to fail; for he feared the monster was
awakened by the noise, and that he should now suffer the cruellest
torments his wicked malice could invent. Wherefore for a short space he
remained clinging round the statue, till he perceived that all again was
hushed and silent; when, getting down, he gently stole into the giant’s
chamber, where he found him still in a profound sleep.
But here, to the great mortification of Miss Jenny’s attentive hearers,
the hour of entertaining themselves being at an end, they were obliged
to leave the poor little Mignon in the greatest distress and fright
lest the giant should awake before he could fulfil the commands of
the oracle, and to wait for the remainder of the story till another
opportunity.
In the evening, as soon as school was over, the little company again met
in their arbour, and nothing could be greater than their impatience to
hear the event of Mignon’s hazardous undertaking. Miss Dolly Friendly
said that if the poor little creature was destroyed, she should not
sleep that night. But they all joined in entreating Miss Jenny to
proceed; which she did in the following manner: