ABSTRACT
When Huon had heard Gerames, then he demaunded further of him if he could goe to Babilon. Yes, sir, (quoth Gerames) I can goe thether by two wayes; the most surest way is hence about fortie dayes journey, and the other is but fifteene dayes journey: but I councell you to take the Ionge way, for if you take the shorter way, you must passe thorow a wood about sixteene leagues of length, but the way is so full of the Fayryes and strang[ e) things, that such as passe that way are lost, for in that wood abideth a King of the Fayryes named Oberon; he is of height but of three foote, and crooked shouldered, but yet he hath an Angell-like visage, so that there is no mortal man that seeth him, but that taketh great pleasure to behold his face; and you shall no sooner be entred into that wood, if you go that way, but he wil find the meanes to speake with you, and if you speake unto him, you are lost for ever, and you shall ever find him before you, so that it shall be in manner impossible that you can scape from him without speaking to him, for his
391 words be so pleasant to heare, that there is no mortall man that can well scape without speaking unto him. And if he see that you will not spcake a word unto him, then he will be sore displeased with you, and before you can get out of the wood, he will cause raine and wind, hayle and snowe, and will make marvelous tempests, with thunder and lightenings, so that it shall seeme unto you that all the world should perish, and he will make to seeme before you a great running River blacke and deepe: but you may passe it at your ease, and it shall not wet the feet of your horse, for all is but fantasie and enchauntments that the Dwarfe shall make, to the entent to have you with him, and if you can keepe yourselfe whhout speaking unto him, you may then well escape. But, Sir, to eschew all perils, I councell you to take the longer way, for I thinke you cannot escape from him: and then you be lost for ever.
