They opened the basket and took from it an enormous goose, but not in its natural attire. A clever artist had made a very amusing thing of it. On its wings a silk dress, such as was then worn by fashionable ladies, had been put; on its feet there were slippers, while its head was ornamented with a wig and feathers.
The apparition of the frightened bird was received with a burst of laughter, as it began to scream and wanted to fly away; but its wings were entangled in the dress, its feet in the shoes; so it opened its beak as if crying for help and rolled among the spectators.
The Prince laughed till the tears came; all laughed, even the stern Princess.
'The second prize!' cried Frederick.
'Your Majesty,' said Guarini, 'The first prize is called Angelo o l'amorosal.'
'Who takes the second prize?' the Prince asked.
The second prize was won by Sulkowski, who was disgusted with Guarini's joke.
The second basket was brought out--and from it jumped a monkey dressed as a clown; the monkey was not less frightened than the goose, but notwithstanding the clothing, it began to run away and having reached the first tree climbed up it.
The Prince seized a rifle and fired: the monkey screaming, hanging bleeding on the branch, fell to the ground.
The third prize, destined for Brühl, was an enormous hare, dressed as Crispino. The Prince killed the hare also. He was much excited and happy; his hands trembled, his eyes shone, he laughed.