But
she recognized him on all fours, with a diabolical grin, and fetching
him a kick with her little foot, caused him to yelp most pitifully.
Running under a little cart which stood in the way, he skinned his
teeth, and growled to himself, 'By the prophet, but I can almost love
her again; she distinguished herself by that kick, which was aimed with
infinite tact; it went right to the spot, and struck me like a
discharge from a catapult, drove all the wind out of me, and left an
absolute vacuum, as if a stomach-pump had sucked me out.
Yap--yow--eaow--yeaow--yap--snif--xquiz;' and, after a good deal of
panting and distress, he at last yawned so wide as nearly to dislocate
his jaws, sneezed once or twice, and then trotted off on three legs,
with his half a tail tucked up underneath, and lay down disconsolate in
an ash-hole.
'Oh, how distressing it is,' said he, 'to be bewitched by a bad woman!
It metamorphoses one entirely. He loses all semblance to his former
self, parts with all his reason, no more walks upright, and bids
philosophy adieu. One drop from the cup of her incantations, and the
gossamer net-work which she threw about him is changed into prisonbars,
her silken chain into links of forged iron; strong will is dwindled, and
he who on some 'heaven-kissing hill' stood up to gaze upon the stars, is
fit to grovel in a sty.
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