She had seen the two ears of the sorcerer, which peeped out uncovered. So she took hold of one and pulled.
“It will not come out!” she cried. “Do thou pull at one, while I draw at this.”
Each pulled, when the magician raised his awful face and glared at them. E sorte fuori la terribile testa del mago!
“Now you shall die for robbing me!” he exclaimed.
They were in a fine fright. At last Virgil said:
“I will spare thy life, if thou wilt give me all thou bearest—all within thee.”
She consented, and they departed. After a time she became a mother, and the magician came and demanded the child. And as she had promised it, she consented to give it to him, but begged that it might be left to her for a time.
“I will give it to thee for seven years,” he replied. Saying this, he left her in peace for a long time. So the child, which was a boy, was born, and as he grew older was sent every day to school.
One morning the magician met him, and said: “Tell thy mother to remember her promise.” Then he gave the child some sweets, and left him. When at home the boy said:
“Mamma, a gentleman met me to-day at the door of the school, and said to me that I should tell you to remember your promise. Then he gave me some comfits.”