Jumping, flying, spirting fire through its nostrils, and striking its wings with its dragon's tail, the Chimera with its green eyes, winds round, and barks. The curls of its head, thrown back on one side, intermingle with the hair on its haunches; and on the other side they hang over the sand, and move to and fro with the swaying of its entire body.
The Sphinx is motionless, and gazes at the Chimera:
"Here, Chimera; stop!"
The Chimera—"No, never!"
The Sphinx—"Do not run so quickly; do not fly so high; do not bark so loud!"
The Chimera—"Do not address me, do not address me any more, since you remain forever silent!"
The Sphinx—"Cease casting your flames in my face and flinging your yells in my ears; you shall not melt my granite!"
The Chimera—"You will not get hold of me, terrible Sphinx!"
The Sphinx—"You are too foolish to live with me!"
The Chimera—"You are too clumsy to follow me!"