ThecruelBarbaricowasnosoonerarrivedathisgloomycave，thanhecalledtohimhislittlepage;who，tremblingtohearthetyrantnowagainreturned，quicklydrewneartoattendhissterncommands：whendrawingoutofthewalletthepoorFidus，moredeadthanalive，themonstercriedout，’Here，caitiff，takeinchargethissmoothed—facedmiscreant;and，d’yehearme？seethathisallowancebenomorethanonesmallounceofmouldybreadandhalfapintofstandingwater，foreachday’ssupport，tillhisnowbloomingskinbewithered，hisfleshbewastedfromhisbones，andhedwindletoameagreskeleton。’Sosayingheleftthem，ashehoped，tobewaileachother’ssadcondition。ButtheunhappyFidus，bereftofhisAmata，wasnottobeappalledbyanyofthemosthorridthreats;fornowhisonlycomfortwasthehopesofaspeedyendtohismiserablelife，andtofindarefugefromhismisfortunesinthepeacefulgrave。WiththisreflectionthefaithfulFiduswasendeavouringtocalmtheinwardtroublesofhismind，whenthelittlepage，withlooksofthemosttendercompassion，andingentlewords，bidhimbecomforted，andwithpatienceendurehispresentaffliction;addingthathehimselfhadlongsufferedthemostrigorousfate，yetdespairednotbutthatonedaywouldgivethemanopportunitytofreethemselvesfromthewickedwretch，whosesoledelightwasinothers’torments。’Astohisinhumancommands，’continuedhe，’Iwillsoonerdiethanobeythem;andinamutualfriendshipperhapswemayfindsomeconsolation，eveninthisdismalcave。’
ThislittlepagethecruelBarbaricohadstolenfromhisparentsatfiveyearsold;eversincewhichtimehehadtorturedandabusedhim，tillhehadnowattainedtheageofone—and—twenty。
HismotherhadgivenhimthenameofMignon;bywhichnamethemonsteralwayscalledhim，asitgratifiedhisinsolencetomakeuseofthatfondappellationwhilsthewasabusinghim，onlywhenhesaidMignonhewouldinderisionaddthewordDwarf;for，tosaythetruth，Mignonwasoneoftheleastmenthatwaseverseen，thoughatthesametimeoneoftheprettiest：hislimbs，thoughsmall，wereexactlyproportioned;hiscountenancewasatoncesprightlyandsoft;andwhateverhisheadthought，orhisheartfelt，hiseyesbytheirlooksexpressed;andhistemperwasassweetashispersonwasamiable。SuchwasthegentlecreatureBarbaricochosetotorment。Forwickedgiants，nolessthanwickedmenandwomen，areconstantlytormentedattheappearanceofthoseperfectionsinanother，towhichtheythemselveshavenopretensions。
ThefriendshipandaffectionofFidusandMignonnoweverydayincreased;andthelongertheywereacquainted，themeredelighttheytookineachother’scompany。ThefaithfulFidusrelatedtohiscompanionthestoryofhislovedAmata，whilstthetenderMignonconsoledhisfriend’sinwardsorrows，andsuppliedhimwithnecessaries，notwithstandingtheventureherunofthecrueltyrant’sheavydispleasure。ThegiantceasednoteverydaytoviewthehaplessFidus，toseeifthecrueltyofhisintentionshadinanydegreewroughtitsdesiredeffect;butperceivinginhimnoalteration，henowbegantobesuspiciousthatthelittleMignonhadnotpunctuallyobeyedhissavagecommand。Inorderthereforetosatisfyhiswickedcuriosity，heresolvedwithinhimselfnarrowlytowatcheveryoccasionthesepoorunhappycaptiveshadofconversingwitheachother。Mignon，wellknowingtheimplacableandrevengefuldispositionofthisbarbaroustyrant，hadtakenalltheprecautionsimaginabletoavoiddiscovery;andthereforegenerallysoughteveryopportunityofbeingalonewithFidus，andcarryinghimhisdailyprovisionsatthosehoursheknewthegiantwasmostlikelytobeasleep。
Itsobefellthat，onacertainday，thewickedgianthad，aswashisusualcustom，beenabroadformanyhoursinsearchofsomeunhappycreatureonwhomtogluthishatefulinhumanity;when，tiredwithfruitlessroaming，hereturnedtohisgloomycave，beguiledofallhishorridpurposes;forhehadnotoncethatdayespiedsomuchasthetrackofman，orotherharmlessanimal，togivehimhopeseventogratifyhisrageorcruelty;butnowravingwithinwardtormentanddespair，helaidhimdownuponhisironcouch，totryifhecouldclosehiseyesandquietthetumultuouspassionsofhisbreast。Hetossedandtumbledandcouldgetnorest，startingwithfearfuldreams，andhorridvisionsoftormentingfuries。