The unfortunate rider, whirling about in this
manner, would have quitted his seat, and left the beast to his
own amusement, but the rotation was so rapid, that the terror of
a severe fall hindered him from attempting to dismount; and, in
the desperation of his heart, he seized one of his ears, which he
pinched so unmercifully, that the creature set up his throat, and
brayed aloud.
This hideous exclamation was no sooner heard by the fair Fleming,
already chilled with panic, and prepared with superstition, than,
believing herself visited by the devil, who was permitted to punish
her for her infidelity to the marriage-bed, she uttered a scream,
and began to repeat her pater noster with a loud voice. Her lover,
finding himself under the necessity of retiring, started up, and,
stung with the most violent pangs of rage and disappointment, ran
directly to the spot from whence this diabolical noise seemed to
proceed. There encountering the ass he discharged such a volley of
blows at him and his rider, that the creature carried him off at
a round trot, and they roared in unison all the way.
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