Now, thought Mignon, is the lucky moment to fulfil the instructions of
the oracle. And then cautiously getting up the side of the couch, with
trembling hands he put the fillet round the monster’s neck, and tied it
firmly in a threefold knot; and again softly creeping down, he retired
into a corner of the room to wait the wished event. In a few minutes the
giant waked; and opening his enormous eyes, he glared their horrid orbs
around (but without the least motion of his head or body) and spied the
little Mignon where he lay, close shrinking to avoid his baleful sight.
The giant no sooner perceived his little page at liberty, but his heart
sorely smote him, and he began to suspect the worst that could befall;
for, recollecting that he had carelessly left open the little door
leading from the dungeon to the great hall wherein was placed the fatal
magic statue, he was now entirely convinced that Mignon had discovered
the secret charm on which his power depended; for he already found the
magic of the fillet round his neck fully to operate, his sinews all
relax, his joints all tremble; and when he would by his own hand have
tried to free himself, his shivering limbs he found refused obedience to
their office. Thus bereft of all his strength, and well nigh motionless,
in this extremity of impotence he cast about within himself by what sly
fraud (for fraud and subtlety were now his only refuge) he best might
work upon the gentle Mignon to lend his kind assistance to unloose him.
Wherefore with guileful words and seeming courtesy, still striving to
conceal his cursed condition, he thus bespake his little captive:
‘Come hither Mignon; my pretty gentle boy, come near me. This fillet
thou has bound around my neck, to keep me from the cold, gives me some
pain. I know thy gentle nature will not let thee see thy tender master
in the least uneasiness, without affording him thy cheerful aid and kind
relief. Come hither, my dear child, I say, and loose the knot which in
thy kind concern (I thank thee for thy care) thou hast tied so hard, it
somewhat frets my neck.’
These words the insidious wretch uttered in such a low trembling tone of
voice, and with such an affectation of tenderness, that the little page,
who had never before experience from him any such kind of dialect, and
but too well knew his savage nature to believe that anything but guile
or want of power could move him to the least friendly speech, or kind
affection, began now strongly to be persuaded that all was as he wished,
and that the power of the inhuman tyrant was at an end. He knew full
well, that if the giant had not lost the ability of rising from the
couch, he should ere now too sensibly have felt the sad effects of his
malicious resentment, and therefore boldly adventured to approach him,
and coming near the couch, and finding not the least effort in the
monster to reach him, and from thence quite satisfied of the giant’s
total incapacity of doing farther mischief, he flew with raptures to the
cell where Fidus lay confined.
Poor Fidus all this time was quite disconsolate; nor could he guess the
cause why his little friend so long had kept away; one while he thought
the giant’s stern commands had streightened him of all subsistence;
another while his heart misgave him for his gentle friend, lest unawares
his kind beneficence towards him had caused him to fall a sacrifice
to the tyrant’s cruel resentment. With these and many other like
reflections the unhappy youth was busied, when Mignon, suddenly unbarred
the cell, flew to his friend, and eagerly embraced him, cried out, ‘Come
Fidus, haste, my dearest friend; for thou and all of us are from this
moment free. Come and behold the cruel monster, where he lies, bereft of
all his strength. I cannot stay to tell thee now the cause; but haste,
and thou shall see the dreadful tyrant stretched on his iron couch,
deprived of all his wicked power. But first let us unbar each cell,
wherein is pent some wretched captive, that we may share a general
transport for this our glad deliverance.’
The faithful Fidus, whose heart had known but little joy since he had
lost his loved Amata, now felt a dawning hope that he might once more
chance to find her, if she had survived their fatal separation; and,
without one word of answer, he followed Mignon to the several cells, and
soon released all the astonished captives.
Mignon first carried them to behold their former terror, now, to
appearance, almost a lifeless corpse; who on seeing them all surround
his couch, gave a most hideous roar, which made them tremble, all but
the gentle Mignon, who was convinced of the impotence of his rage, and
begged them to give him their attendance in the hall; where they were no
sooner assembled than he showed them the statue, read them the oracle,
and told them every circumstance before related.
They now began to bethink themselves of what method was to be taken
to procure their entire liberty; for the influence of the magic
fillet extended only to the gates of the hall; and still they remained
imprisoned within the dismal cave; and though they knew from the oracle,
as well as from what appeared, that the monster’s power was at an end,
yet still were they to seek the means of their escape from this his
horrid abode. At length Mignon again ascended the couch to find the
massy key, and spying one end of it peep out from under the pillow, he
called to Fidus, who first stepped up to his friend’s assistance; the
rest by his example quickly followed; and now, by their united force,
they dragged the ponderous key from under the monster’s head; and then
descending they all went to the outer door of the cave, where, with some
difficulty, they set wide open the folding iron gates.
They now determined to dispatch a messenger to the good Benefico with
the news, which they knew would be so welcome to him and all his guests,
and with one voice agreed that Fidus should bear the joyful tidings;
and then returned to observe the monster, and to wait the coming of
Benefico. The nimble Fidus soon reached the giant’s dwelling, where, at
a little distance from the castle, he met the good Benefico with a
train of happy friends, enjoying the pleasures of the evening, and the
instructive and cheerful conversation of their kind protector. Fidus
briefly told his errand; and instantly Benefico, with all his train,
joyfully hastened to behold the wonders he had related; for now many
hearts leapt for joy, in hopes of meeting some friend of whom they had
been bereft by the cruelty of the savage Barbarico.
They were not long before they arrived at the horrid cave, where
Benefico, proceeding directly to the monster’s chamber, suddenly
appeared to him at the side of his couch. Barbarico, on seeing him,
gave a hideous yell, and rolled his glaring eyes in such a manner as
expressed the height of rage and envious bitterness.
Benefico, turning to all the company present, thus spoke, ‘How shall I
enough praise and admire the gentle Mignon for having put in my power
to justice on this execrable wretch, and freeing you all from an
insufferable slavery, and the whole country from their terror?’ Then
reaching the monster’s own sword, which hung over his couch, his hand
yet suspended over the impious tyrant, he thus said, ‘Speak, wretch,
if yet the power of speech is left thee; and with thy latest breath
declare, what advantage hast thou found of all thy wicked life?’
Barbarico well knew that too bad had been that life, to leave the least
room for hope of mercy; and therefore, instead of an answer, he gave
another hideous yell, gnashing his horrid teeth, and again rolling his
ghastly eyes on all around.
Benefico seeing him thus impenitent and sullen, lifted on high the
mighty sword, and with one blow severed his odious head from his
enormous body.
The whole assembly gave a shout for joy; and Benefico holding in his
hand the monster’s yet grinning head, thus addressed his half-astonished
companions: ‘See here, my friends, the proper conclusion of a rapacious
cruel life. But let us hasten from this monster’s gloomy cave; and on
the top of one of our highest mountains, fixed on a pole, will I set up
this joyful spectacle, that all the country round may know themselves at
liberty to pursue their rural business or amusements, without the
dread of any annoyance from a devouring vile tormentor. And when his
treasures, which justly all belong to the good patient Mignon, are
removed, we will shut up the mouth of this abominable dwelling; and,
casting on the door a heap of earth, we’ll hope, in time, that both
place and remembrance of this cruel savage may in time be lost.’
Every one readily cried out, that to Benefico, the good Benefico,
alone belonged the tyrant’s treasures; that Benefico should ever be, as
heretofore, their governor, their father, and their kind protector.
The beneficent heart of the good giant was quite melted with this their
kind confidence and dependence upon him, and assured them, he should
ever regard them as his children: and now, exulting in the general joy
that must attend the destruction of this savage monster, when the whole
country should find themselves freed from the terror his rapine and
desolation, he sent before to his castle, to give intelligence to all
within that happy place of the grim monster’s fall, and little Mignon’s
triumph; giving in charge to the harbinger of these tidings, that it
should be his first and chiefest care to glad the gentle bosom of a
fair disconsolate (who kept herself retired and pent up within her own
apartment) with the knowledge that the inhuman monster was no more; and
that henceforth sweet peace and rural innocence might reign in all their
woods and groves. The hearts of all within the castle bounded with
joy, on hearing the report of the inhuman monster’s death, and the
deliverance of all his captives, and with speedy steps they hastened
to meet their kind protector; nor did the melancholy fair one, lest
she should seem unthankful for the general blessing, refuse to join the
train.
It was not long after the messenger that Benefico, and those his joyful
friends, arrived: but the faithful Fidus alone, of all this happy
company, was tortured with the inward pangs of a sad grief he could
not conquer, and his fond heart remained still captivated to a melting
sorrow: nor could even the tender friendship of the gentle Mignon quite
remove, though it alleviated, his sadness; but the thoughts of his loved
lost amata embittered every joy, and overwhelmed his generous soul with
sorrow.
When the company from the castle joined Benefico, he declared to them in
what manner their deliverance was effected; and, as a general shout of
joy resounded through the neighbouring mountains, Fidus, lifting up
his eyes, beheld in the midst of the multitude, standing in a pensive
posture, the fair disconsolate. Her tender heart was at the instant
overflowing in soft tears, caused by a kind participation of their
present transport, yet mixed with the deep sad impression of a grief her
bosom was full fraught with. Her face, at first, was almost hid by her
white handkerchief, with which she wiped away the trickling drops, which
falling, had bedewed her beauteous cheeks: but as she turned her lovely
face to view the joyful conquerors, and to speak a welcome to her kind
protector, what words can speak the raptures, the astonishment, that
swelled the bosom of the faithful youth, when in this fair disconsolate
he saw his loved, his constant, his long-lost Amata! Their delighted
eyes in the same instant beheld each other, and, breaking on each
side from their astonished friends, they flew like lightning into each
other’s arms.
After they had given a short account of what had passed in their
separation, Fidus presented to his loved Amata the kind, the gentle
Mignon, with lavish praises of his generous friendship, and steady
resolution, in hazarding his life by disobeying the injunctions of the
cruel tyrant. No sooner had Amata heard the name of Mignon, but she
cried out, ‘Surely my happiness is now complete, and all my sorrows, by
this joyful moment, are more than fully recompensed; for, in the kind
preserver of my Fidus, I have found my brother. My mother lost her
little Mignon when he was five years old; and pining grief, after some
years vain search, ended her wretched life.’
The generous hearts of all who were present shared the raptures of
the faithful Fidus, the lovely Amata, and gentle Mignon, on this happy
discovery; and in the warmest congratulations they expressed their joy.
Benefico now led all the delighted company into his castle, where
freedom was publicly proclaimed; and every one was left a liberty either
to remain there with Benefico, or, loaded with wealth sufficient for
their use, to go where their attachments or inclinations might invite
them.
Fidus, Amata, and the little Mignon, hesitated not one moment to declare
their choice of staying with the generous Benefico.
The nuptials of the faithful Fidus, and his loved Amata, were solemnized
in the presence of all their friends.
Benefico passed the remainder of his days in pleasing reflections on his
well-spent life.
The treasures of the dead tyrant were turned into blessings by the use
they were now made of: little Mignon was loved and cherished by all his
companions. Peace, harmony and love reigned in every bosom; dissension,
discord, and hatred were banished from this friendly dwelling; and that
happiness, which is the natural consequence of goodness, appeared in
every cheerful countenance throughout the castle of the good Benefico;
and as heretofore affright and terror spread itself from the monster’s
hateful cave, so now from this peaceful castle was diffused tranquility
and joy through all the happy country round.
Thus ended the story of the two giants: and Miss Jenny being tired with
reading, they left the arbour for that night, and agreed to meet there
again the next day.
As soon as they had supped, Mrs. Teachum sent for Miss Jenny Peace into
her closet, and desired an exact account from her of this their first
day’s amusement, that she might judge from thence how far they might be
trusted with the liberty she had given them.
Miss Jenny showed her governess the story she had read; and said, ‘I
hope, madam, you will not think it an improper one; for it was given
me by my mamma; and she told me, that she thought it contained a very
excellent moral.’
Mrs. Teachum, having looked it over, thus spoke: ‘I have no objection,
Miss Jenny, to your reading any stories to amuse you, provided you read
them with the proper disposition of mind not to be hurt by them. A very
good moral may indeed be drawn from the whole, and likewise from almost
every part of it; and as you had this story from your mamma, I doubt not
but you are very well qualified to make the proper remarks yourself
upon the moral of it to your companions. But here let me observe to you
(which I would have you communicate to your little friends) that giants,
magic, fairies, and all sorts of supernatural assistances in a story,
are only introduced to amuse and divert: for a giant is called so only
to express a man of great power; and the magic fillet round the statue
was intended only to show you, that by patience you will overcome all
difficulties. Therefore, by no means let the notion of giants or magic
dwell upon your minds. And you may farther observe, that there is
a different style adapted to every sort of writing; and the various
sounding epithets given to Barbarico are proper to express the raging
cruelty of his wicked mind. But neither this high-sounding language, nor
the supernatural contrivances in this story, do I so thoroughly approve,
as to recommend them much to your reading; except, as I said before,
great care is taken to prevent your being carried away, by these
high-flown things, from that simplicity of taste and manners which it is
my chief study to inculcate.’
Here Miss Jenny looked a little confounded; and, by her down-cast eye,
showed a fear that she had incurred the disapprobation, if not the
displeasure, of her governess: upon which Mrs. Teachum thus proceeded:
‘I do not intend by this, my dear, to blame you for what you have done;
but only to instruct you how to make the best use of even the most
trifling things: and if you have any more stories of this kind, with
an equal good moral, when you are not better employed, I shall not be
against your reading them; always remembering the cautions I have this
evening been giving you.’
Miss Jenny thanked her governess for her instructions, and kind
indulgence to her, and promised to give her an exact account of their
daily amusements; and, taking leave, retired to her rest.