“No, no, my queen,” answered Hippomanes. “That is not the thing, who desires you to go to it. But you must, if you please, suffer yourself to be conducted to it: for you may easily conclude from your size, that I cannot be in the humor of carrying you to it.”⁠—Nevertheless he grasped her about the waist, and making some efforts, “Oh how weighty she is,” says he. “But, my child, if you do not lend a helping hand, we shall never reach it.”

Alphana was sensible that he spoke truth, lent her assistance, compassed getting on her legs, advanced towards that bed, at which she had been so scared, partly on her own feet, and partly on the shoulders of Hippomanes, to whom she pantingly said: “Surely I must have been a great fool to come hither. I confided in your good conduct, and your extravagance is quite unreasonable.”

“Not at all,” answered the president, “not at all. You see that what I do is decent, very decent.”