 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 iron couch,
deprived of all his wicked power. But first let us unbar each cell,
wherein is pent some wretched captive, that we may share a general
transport for this our glad deliverance.'

The faithful Fidus, whose heart had known but little joy since he had
lost his loved Amata, now felt a dawning hope that he might once more
chance to find her, if she had survived their fatal separation; and,
without one word of answer, he followed Mignon to the several cells, and
soon released all the astonished captives.

Mignon first carried them to behold their former terror, now, to
appearance, almost a lifeless corpse; who on seeing them all surround
his couch, gave a most hideous roar, which made
