"What is that?" said the Wolf.
"To succeed in the art of medicine," said the Lion, shaking his mane and beard, "one has only to take the inner bark of this same tree, and apply it to the seat of the disease. For example, if one is blind, a portion of the inner bark of the tree would have to be applied to the eyes."
"That is very strange," said the Wolf, "and I will remember it. But now tell me from whence you come: I have not seen you for many days."
"I have just arrived from the city of the famous King, whose beautiful daughter now lies dangerously ill."
"And how did the famous King's beautiful daughter come to be ill?" inquired the Wolf.
"Well," said the Lion, "as I was passing over the mountain of Aventin, I met the King's daughter riding on a palfrey. She was smiling on all, and giving alms to every unfortunate she met. She was so beautiful, with her great blue eyes, and so simple and so good, that it made me lonely and lovesick, so I caused to be sent her a terrible malady which will consume her, and to-day she should be dying."
"Do you think," said the Wolf, "that the inner bark of this tree would cure the sick princess?"
"No," said the Lion. "It would not be sufficient in this case, for the princess has an evil spirit for an enemy, and she will have to be treated differently. To be cured, she must be given the blood of a frog mixed with muscadine wine, and the second day she must eat the frog's heart cooked in the juice of a fig."
Here the Lion paused, and the Wolf inquired:
"Have you no more good news for me, good friend?"