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