Even this valley,
the retreat of princes, the abode of happiness, might be violated
by the sudden descent of some of the naked nations that swarm on
the coast of the southern sea!"
The Prince promised secrecy, and waited for the performance, not
wholly hopeless of success. He visited the work from time to time,
observed its progress, and remarked many ingenious contrivances to
facilitate motion and unite levity with strength. The artist was
every day more certain that he should leave vultures and eagles
behind him, and the contagion of his confidence seized upon the
Prince. In a year the wings were finished; and on a morning
appointed the maker appeared, furnished for flight, on a little
promontory; he waved his pinions awhile to gather air, then leaped
from his stand, and in an instant dropped into the lake. His
wings, which were of no use in the air, sustained him in the water;
and the Prince drew him to land half dead with terror and vexation.
CHAPTER VII-- THE PRINCE FINDS A MAN OF LEARNING.
The Prince was not much afflicted by this disaster, having suffered
himself to hope for a happier event only because he had no other
means of escape in view.
Pages:
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37