He then buys an ox. The eagle tells him to get upon his back. The
man climbs up there with his ox, and when he opens his mouth he gives
him a morsel of the ox, which kept gradually diminishing.
They were obliged to cross over the sea, and there was no bridge to it
there. The ox was finished when they were in the middle of the sea,
and there was a great rock there. The eagle opens his mouth again,
and, as there was no more beef, what does he do? As he was afraid of
being left upon that rock, he cuts a morsel from the back of his own
thighs, and puts it in his mouth. [108] They arrive on the other side
of the sea. The eagle leaves him there, saying to him,
"You are in the City of the Four Quarters. Do your own business
here. I am going off to my own home."
This young gentleman asks what is the news in this city. They tell
him that the king's daughter is going to be married to-day. In this
city it was permitted only to the wedding party to enter the church,
but Dragon had bribed one of the keepers with money, (saying) that
he would stop quiet in a corner of the church. It was also the custom
in this city to publish the banns at the moment of marriage. When the
priest began to publish them, Dragon came out of his corner, and said--
"I make an objection."
He goes to the young lady, who recognises him; and he shows her the
ring and the kerchiefs, and asks her in marriage. She says--
"This shall be my husband; he has well deserved it."
He was still lame, as a piece of his flesh was still wanting. They were
married then. The other bridegroom went back home quite ashamed. The
others lived very happily, because both had suffered much. Then I
was there, now I am here.
Louise Lanusse,
St. Jean Pied de Port.