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a sign to mount and seat myself on his back. I really had not courage to cut capers(??) or ride the great horse with such a monstrous animal but he immediately took me up in his mouth and placed me on his back in spite of me. As his sides were steep and his skin slippery I immediately slipped down to the ground and he quickly lifted me up again and having placed one on his neck I saw that there was a hole among the scales and having fixed myself there I held stoutly with both hands and recommended myself to god as the verse goes

While tis a friend that holds the rope

Whereer he leads me I have hope

When the snake perceived that I had got so firm a hold that there was no farther fear of falling he began to stir himself with such agility that he presently outstripped the wind and every time that he drew his breath aflame of fire burst from his mouth that parched and shriveled the whole desert. When he had travelled on for

[a]