Christians! such a fight as there was then between the good cavalier and the cursed dog of a Lucifer the world has never seen; as, naturally, it would not see, since Lucifer never comes to fight above here in his own form. But the gentleman crossed himself, and, as every man must who commends his cause to God, vanquished the devil. He did more; for he cut off one of his ears.
The state Lucifer would be in at seeing his ear in the hands of a Christian, I leave to your consideration. His yells had such an effect upon Hear-all that he repeated every jerk and spring. You would have said that he was being repeatedly stung by a tarantula.
"Give me my ear!" shouted Lucifer in the voice of a trumpet.
"You will give me a good ransom if you get it," answered the cavalier; "for I have taken it like a true knight in fair combat; therefore, I shall make three conditions with which you must comply."
"Insolent braggart!" said Lucifer.
"Oh! you may spit out the gall; but I warn you that I am going to pickle your ear and show it for money," replied the cavalier.
Lucifer danced with rage.
"What are your conditions, low-born, ill-bred, and worse-thriven?" he demanded.
"The first is, that you instantly return this princess to her own kingdom and palace," said the cavalier.
There was nothing for it but to comply; so Lucifer placed the princess in her royal palace, and then said to the cavalier, "Give me my ear."