nose fell off, and put my hand to my ears and my ears fell off. Wherat
all the people wondred greatly, and laughed me to scorne: but I beeing
strucken in a cold sweat, crept between their legs for shame and escaped
away. So I disfigured returned home againe, and covered the losse of
myne ears with my long hair, and glewed this clout to my face to hide my
shame. As soon as Bellephoron had told his tale, they which sate at the
table replenished with wine, laughed heartily. And while they drank one
to another, Byrrhena spake to me and said, from the first foundation of
this city we have a custome to celebrate the festivall day of the god
Risus, and to-morrow is the feast when as I pray you to bee present, to
set out the same more honourably, and I would with all my heart that you
could find or devise somewhat of your selfe, that might be in honour
of so great a god. To whom I answered, verily cousin I will do as you
command me, and right glad would I be, if I might invent any laughing
or merry matter to please of satisfy Risus withall. Then I rose from the
table and took leave of Byrrhena and departed. And when I came into the
first street my torch went out, that with great pain I could scarce get
home, by reason it was so dark, for ear of stumbling: and when I was
well nigh come unto the dore, behold I saw three men of great stature,
heaving and lifting at Milos gates to get in: and when they saw me they
were nothing afeard, but assaied with more force to break down the dores
whereby they gave mee occasion, and not without cause, to thinke that
they were strong theeves. Whereupon I by and by drew out my sword which
I carried for that purpose under my cloak, and ran in amongst them, and
wounded them in such sort that they fell downe dead before my face.
Thus when I had slaine them all, I knocked sweating and breathing at
the doore til Fotis let me in. And then full weary with the slaughter of
those Theeves, like Hercules when he fought against the king Gerion, I
went to my chamber and layd me down to sleep.