AN IMMENSE DRAGON LYING BY THE WATER-SIDE
“It is just as I say,” the dragon replied. “But I confess I owe you something, and I should hate to eat you feeling that you had a grievance. I’ll tell you what I’ll do. I’ll submit this question to the first three people we meet along the road, and if they decide in my favour you must accept the verdict. Is it agreed?”
“Agreed,” said the knight, who was glad of any chance to escape from the dragon’s coils, so the creature released him, and the two set off together down the road.
They had not gone far before they met the dog.
“Stay a moment, master dog,” said the knight. “What do you understand by The Reward of the World?”
The dog replied, “When I was young I was a splendid watch-dog, and guarded my master’s house against all comers. In those days everybody made a fuss of me. I had plenty of good food to eat, and my own particular place before the fire. Now, alas! I am old. My sight is so weak and my powers so feeble that I can no longer work for my living, and in consequence everybody kicks me out of their way. I eat what I can get, which is not much. Even the children throw stones at me, knowing that my teeth are not sharp enough to bite, and wherever I go people say, ‘There is that beastly hound again! Chase him away with a stick!’ That is The Reward of the World.”
“MY SIGHT IS SO WEAK AND MY POWERS SO FEEBLE”