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 n 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