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