CHAPTER XVII It is an evil thing to seek for better than wheat and bread, for a man comes at last to desire what others throw away, and must content himself with honesty. He who loses all and walks on the tops of the trees has as much madness in his head as danger under his feet, as was the case with the daughter of a king whose story I have now to tell you. There was once on a time a king of High Hill, who longed for children more than the porters do for a funeral, that they may gather wax, and at last his wife presented him with a little girl, to whom he gave the name Canatella. The child grew by hands, and when she was as tall as the pole, the king said to her, My daughter, you are now grown as big as an oak, and it is full time to provide you with a husband worthy of that pretty face. Since therefore I love you as my own life and desire to please you, tell me, I pray, what sort of a husband you would like, what kind of a man would suit your fancy? Will you have him a scholar or a dunce, a boy or a man in years, brown or fair or ruddy, tall as a maypole or short as a peg, small in the waist or round as an ox? Do you choose, and I am satisfied. Canatella thanked her father for these generous offers, but told him that she would on no account encumber herself with a husband. However, being urged by the king again and again, she said, Not to show myself ungrateful for so much love, I am willing to comply with your wish, provided I have such a husband that he has no like in the world. Her father, delighted beyond measure at hearing this, took his station at the window from morning till evening, looking out and surveying, measuring and examining every one that passed along the street.  Then she desired him to be brought up, and they made a most splendid banquet for him, at which there was everything he could desire. And as they were feasting, an almond fell out of the youth's mouth, whereupon, stooping down, he picked it up dexterously from the ground and put it under the cloth. And when they had done eating, he went away. Then the king said to Canatella, Well, my life, how does this youth please you?  When the king heard this, he returned to his place at the window. And presently, seeing another well-shaped youth pass by, he called his daughter to hear whether this one pleased her. Then Canatella desired him to be shown up. So he was called, and another entertainment made. And when they had done eating, and the man had gone away, the king asked his daughter whether he had pleased her. Whereupon, she replied, What in the world should I do with such a miserable fellow who wants at least a couple of servants with him to take off his cloak? If that be the case, said the king, it is plain that these are merely excuses, and that you are only looking for pretexts to refuse me this pleasure. So resolve quickly, for I am determined to have you married. To these angry words Canatella replied, To tell you the truth plainly, dear father, I really feel that you are digging in the sea and making a wrong reckoning on your fingers. I will never subject myself to any man who has not a golden head and teeth. The poor king, seeing his daughter's head thus turned, issued a proclamation, bidding anyone in his kingdom who should answer to Canatella's wishes to appear, and he would give him his daughter and the kingdom. Now this king had a mortal enemy named Fioravante, whom he could not bear to see so much as painted on a wall.  So they did as he desired, and when he saw himself with a head and teeth of pure gold, he walked past under the window of the king, who, when he saw the very man he was looking for, called his daughter. As soon as Canatella set eyes upon him she cried out, I, that is he, he could not be better if I had needed him with my own hands. When Fioravante was getting up to go away, the king said to him, Wait a little brother, why in such a hurry? One would think you had quicksilver in your body. Fair and softly I will give you my daughter and baggage and servants to accompany you, for I wish her to be your wife. I thank you, said Fioravante, but there is no necessity. A single horse is enough if the beast will carry double, for at home I have servants and goods as many as the sands on the seashore. So after arguing a while, Fioravante at last prevailed, and placing Canatella behind him on a horse, he sat out. In the evening, when the red horses are taken away from the corner of the sky, and white oxen are yoked in their place, they came to a stable where some horses were feeding. Fioravante led Canatella into it and said, Listen, I have to make a journey to my own house, and it will take me seven years to get there. Mind therefore and wait for me in this stable, and do not stir out, nor let yourself be seen by any living person, or else I will make you remember it as long as you live. Canatella replied, You are my lord and master, and I will carry out your commands exactly, but tell me what you will leave me to live upon in the meantime. And Fioravante answered, What the horses leave of their own corn will be enough for you. Only conceive how poor Canatella now felt, and guess whether she did not curse the hour and moment she was born. Cold and frozen, she made up in tears what she wanted in food, bewailing her fate which had brought her down from a royal palace to a stable, from mattresses of barbary wool to straw, from nice, delicate morsels to the leavings of horses. And she led this miserable life for several months, during which time corn was given to the horses by an unseen hand, and what they left supported her. But at the end of this time, as she was standing one day looking through a hole, she saw a most beautiful garden, in which there were so many espaliers of lemons and grottoes of citron, beds of flowers and fruit trees and trellises of vines, that it was a joy to behold. At this site a great longing seized her for a great bunch of grapes that caught her eye, and she said to herself, come what will, and if the sky fall, I will go out silently and softly and pluck it. What will it matter a hundred years, hence, who was there to tell my husband, and should he by chance hear of it, what will he do to me? Moreover, these grapes are none of the common sort. So saying, she went out and refreshed her spirits, which were weakened by hunger.  But falling on her knees, she besought him to stay his hand, since hunger drives the wolf from the wood. And she begged so hard that Firovante replied, I forgive you this time and grant you your life out of charity, but if ever again you are tempted to disobey me, and I find that you have let the sun see you, I will make mincemeat of you. Now, mind me, I am going away once more, shall be gone seven years, so take care and plow straight, for you will not escape so easily again, but I shall pay you off the new and the old scores together. So saying, he departed, and Canatella shed a river of tears, and wringing her hands, beating her breast, and tearing her hair, she cried, Oh, that ever I was born into the world to be destined to this wretched fate. Oh, Father, why have you ruined me? But why do I complain of my father when I have brought this ill upon myself? I alone am the cause of my misfortunes.  This is the punishment of fate, for I ought to have done my father's will, and not have had such whims and fancies. He who minds not what his father and mother say goes a road he does not know. And so she lamented every day until her eyes became two fountains, and her face was so thin and shallow that her own father would not have known her. At the end of a year, the king's locksmith, whom Canatella knew, happening to pass by the stable, she called to him and went out. The smith heard his name, but did not recognize the poor girl, who was so much altered. But when he knew who she was and how she had become thus changed, partly out of pity, and partly to gain the king's favor, he put her into an empty casque he had with him on a pack horse, and trotting off towards High Hill, he arrived at midnight at the king's palace. Then he knocked at the door, and at first the servants would not let him in, but roundly abused him for coming at such an hour to disturb the sleep of the whole house. The king, however, hearing the uproar, and being told by Chamberlain what was the matter, ordered the smith to be instantly admitted, for he knew that something unusual must have made him come at that hour. Then the smith, unloading his beast, knocked out the head of the casque, and forth came Canatella, who needed more than words to make her father recognize her, and had it not been for a mole on her arm, she might well have been dismissed. But as soon as he was assured of the truth, he embraced and kissed her a thousand times. Then he instantly commanded a warm bath to be got ready. When she was washed from head to foot, and had dressed herself, he ordered food to be brought, for she was faint with hunger. Then her father said to her, who would ever have told me, my child, that I should see you in this plight? Who has brought you to this sad condition? And she answered, Alas, my dear Sire, that Vahri Turk has made me lead the life of a dog, so that I was nearly at death's door again and again. I cannot tell you what I have suffered, but now that I am here, nevermore will I stir from your feet. Rather will I be a servant in your house, than a queen in another. Rather will I wear setcloth where you are, than a golden mantel away from you. Rather will I turn a spit in your kitchen, than hold a scepter under the canopy of another. Meanwhile, Fioravante, returning home, was told by the horses that the locksmith had carried off Canatella in the casque, on hearing which, burning with shame and all on fire with rage, off he ran towards High Hill, and, meeting an old woman who lived opposite to the palace, he said to her, What will you charge, good mother, to let me see the king's daughter? Then she asked a hundred duckets, and Fioravante, putting his hand in his purse, instantly counted them out, one atop of the other. Thereupon the old woman took him up on the roof, where he saw Canatella drying her hair on a balcony. But, just as if her heart had whispered to her, the maiden turned that way and saw the nave. She rushed downstairs and ran to her father, crying out, My lord, if you do not this very instant make me a chamber with seven iron doors, I am lost and undone. I would not lose you for such a trifle, said her father. I would pluck out an eye to gratify such a dear daughter. So no sooner said than done the doors were instantly made. When Fioravante heard of this, he went again to the old woman and said to her, What shall I give you now? Go to the king's house under pretext of selling pots of rouge and make your way to the chamber of the king's daughter. When you are there, contrive to slip this little piece of paper between the bedclothes, saying, in an undertone as you place it there, that every one now soundly sleep, but Canatella awake shall keep. So the old woman agreed for another hundred dockets and she served him faithfully. Now, as soon as she had done this trick, such a sound sleep fell on the people of the house that they seemed as if they were all dead. Canatella alone remained awake and when she heard the doors bursting open, she began to cry out loud as if she were burnt. But no one heard her and there is no one to run to her aid. So Fioravante threw down all the seven doors and entering her room, seized up Canatella bedclothes and all to carry her off. But as luck would have it, the paper the old woman had put there fell on the ground and the spell was broken. All the people of the house awoke and hearing Canatella's cries, they ran, cats, dogs and all, and laying hold on the ogre, quickly cut him in pieces like a pickled tunny. Thus he was caught in the trap he had laid for poor Canatella, learning to his cost that no one suffereth greater pain than he who by his own sword is slain. End of chapter 17. Chapter 18 of Stories from Pantamerone. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Joy Chan. Stories from Pantamerone by Giambattista Basire. Chapter 18, Corvette. I once heard say that Juno went to Candia to find falsehood. But if anyone were to ask me where fraud and hypocrisy might truly be found, I should know of no other place to name than the court where detraction always wears the mask of amusement, where at the same time people cut and sew up, wound and heal, break and glue together, of which I will give you one instance in the story that I'm going to tell you. There was once upon a time in the service of the king of Wide River, an excellent youth named Corvette, who for his good conduct was beloved by his master, and for this very cause was disliked and hated by all the courtiers. These courtiers were filled with spite and malice, and bursting with envy at the kindness which the king showed to Corvette. So that all day long, in every corner of the palace, they did nothing but tattle and whisper, murmur and grumble at the poor lad saying, what sorcery has this fellow practised on the king that he takes such a fancy to him? How comes he by this luck that not a day passes that he receives some new favours whilst we are forever going backward like a rope maker and getting from bad to worse, though we slave like dogs, toil like field labourers, and run about like deer to hit the king's pleasure to her hair? Truly one must be born to good fortune in this world, and he who has not luck might as well be thrown into the sea. What is to be done? We can only look on and envy. These and other words fell from their mouths like poisoned arrows aimed at the ruin of Corvette as at a target. Alas for him who was condemned to that den the court, where flattery is sold by the Kildokin, malignity and ill officers are measured out in bushels, deceit and treachery are weighed by the ton. But who can count all the attempts these courtiers made to bring him to grief, or the false tales that they told the king to destroy his reputation? But Corvette, who was enchanted, and perceived the traps and discovered the tricks, was aware of all the entries and the ambascades, the plots and conspiracies of his enemies. He kept his ears always on the alert and his eyes open in order not to take a false step, well knowing that the fortune of courtiers is as glass. But the higher the lad continued to rise, the lower the others fell, to let last being puzzled to know how to take him off his feet as their slander was not believed. They thought of leading him to disaster by the path of flattery, which they attempted in the following manner. Ten miles distant from Scotland, where the seat of this king was, there dwelt an ogre, the most inhuman and savage that had ever been in Ogreland, who, being persecuted by the king, had fought a fight himself in a lonesome wood on the top of a mountain where no bird ever flew, and was so thick and tangled that one could never see the sun there. This ogre had a most beautiful horse, which looked as if it were formed with a pencil, and amongst other wonderful things, it could speak like any man. Now the courtiers who knew how wicked the ogre was, how thick the wood, how high the mountain, and how difficult it was to get at the horse, went to the king, and telling him minutely the perfections of the animal, which was a thing worthy of a king, added that he ought to endeavour by all means to get it out of the ogre's claws, and that Corvetto was just the lad to do this, as he was expert and clever at escaping out of the fire. The king, who knew not that under the flowers of these words a serpent was concealed, instantly called Corvetto and said to him, if you love me, see that in some way or another you obtain for me the horse of my enemy, the ogre, and you shall have no cause to regret having done me this service. Corvetto knew well that this drum was sounded by those who wished him ill. Nevertheless, to obey the king, he set out and took the road to the mountain. Then going very quietly to the ogre's stable, he saddled and mounted the horse, and fixing his feet firmly in the stirrup, took his way back. But as soon as the horse saw himself spurred out of the palace, he cried aloud, hello, be on your guard, Corvetto is riding off with me. At this alarm the ogre instantly set out with all the animals that served him to cut Corvetto in pieces. From this side jumped an ape, from that was seen a large bear. Here sprang forth a lion, there came running a wolf. But the youth, by the aid of bridal and spur, distanced the mountain, and galloping without stop to the city, arrived at the court where he presented the horse to the king. Then the king embraced him more than a son, and pulling out his purse filled his hands with crown pieces. At this the rage of the courtiers knew no bounds, and whereas at first they were puffed up with a little pipe, they were now bursting with the blasts of a smith's bellows, seeing that the crowbars with which they thought to lay Corvetto's good fortune in ruins only served to smooth the road to his prosperity. Knowing, however, that walls are not leveled by the first attack of the battering ram, they resolved to try their luck a second time, and said to the king, we wish you joy of the beautiful horse, it will indeed be an ornament to the royal stable. But what a pity you have not the ogre's tapestry, which is a thing more beautiful than words can tell, and would spread your fame far and wide. There is no one, however, able to procure this treasure but Corvetto, who was just the lad to do such a kind of service. Then the king, who danced to every tune and ate only the peel of this bitter but sugared fruit, called Corvetto, and begged him to procure for him the ogre's tapestry. Off went Corvetto, and in four seconds was on the top of the mountain where the ogre lived. Then passing unseen into the chamber in which he slept, he hid himself under the bed and waited as still as a mouse, until night to make the stars laugh puts a carnival mask on the face of the sky. And as soon as the ogre and his wife were gone to bed, Corvetto stripped the walls of the chamber very quietly, and wishing to steal the counterpane of the bed likewise, he began to pull it gently. Thereupon the ogre, suddenly starting up, told his wife not to pull so, for she was dragging all the clothes off him and would give him his death of cold. "'Why, you are uncovering me,' answered the ogre's. "'Where is the counterpane?' replied the ogre, and stretching out his hand to the floor, he touched Corvetto's face. Whereupon he set up a loud cry. "'The imp! The imp! "'Hello, here, lights! Run quickly!'' Till the whole house was turned topsy-turvy with the noise. But Corvetto, after throwing the clothes out of the window, let himself drop down upon them. Then making up a good bundle, he set out on the road to the city, where the reception he met with from the king and the vexation of the courtiers, who were bursting with spite, are not to be told. Nevertheless, they laid a plan to fall upon Corvetto with the rear guard of their ogre, and went again to the king, who was almost beside himself with delight at the tapestry, which was not only of silk embroidered with gold, but had besides more than a thousand devices and thoughts worked on it. And amongst the rest, if I remember right, there was a cock in the act of crowing at daybreak, and out of its mouth was seen coming a motto in Tuscan, "'If I only see you.'" And in another part, a drooping heliotrope with a Tuscan motto, at sunset, with so many other pretty things that it would require a better memory and more time than I have to relate them. When the courtiers came to the king, who was thus transported with joy, they said to him, "'As Corvetto has done so much to serve you, it would be no great matter for him in order to give you a signal pleasure to get the ogre's palace, which is fit for an emperor to live in, for it has so many rooms and chambers, inside and out, that it can hold an army. And you would never believe all the courtyards, porticoes, colonnades, balconies and spiral chimneys which there are, built with such marvellous architecture that art prides herself upon them. Nature is abashed and stupor is in delight.'" The king, who had a fruitful brain which conceived quickly, called Corvetto again, and telling him the great longing that had seized him for the ogre's palace, begged him to add this service to all the others he had done him, promising to score it up with the talk of gratitude at the tavern of memory. So Corvetto instantly set out, heels overhead, and arriving at the ogre's palace, he found that the ogre's, whilst her husband was gone to invite the king's folk, was busying herself with preparing the feast. Then Corvetto, entering with a look of compassion, said, "'Good day, my good woman. Truly you are a brave housewife. But why do you torment the very life out of you in this way?  "'I have no one to help me.'" "'I am here,' answered Corvetto, "'ready to help you tooth and nail.'" "'Welcome, then,' said the ogre's, and as you proffer me so much kindness, just help me to split four logs of wood.'" "'With all my heart,' answered Corvetto, "'but if four logs are not enough, let me split five.'" And taking up a newly-ground axe, instead of striking the wood, he struck the ogre's on the neck and made her fall to the ground like a pair. Then running quickly to the gate, he dug a deep hole before the entrance, and covering it ogre with bushes and earth, he hid himself behind the gate. As soon as Corvetto saw the ogre coming with his kinsfolk, he set up a loud cry in the courtyard, "'Stop, stop! I've caught him!' "'And long live the king of wide river.'" When the ogre heard this challenge, he ran like mad at Corvetto to make a hash of him. But rushing furiously towards the gate, down he tumbled with all his companions, head over heels to the bottom of the pit, where Corvetto speedily stoned them to death. Then he shut the door and took the keys to the king, who, seeing the valour and cleverness of the lad in spite of ill fortune, and the envy and annoyance of the courtiers, gave him his daughter to wife, so that the crosses of envy had proved rollers to launch Corvetto's bark of life on the sea of greatness, whilst his enemies remained confounded and bursting with rage, and went to bed without a candle for the punishment of ill deeds passed, though long delayed, yet comes at last. End of Chapter 18. Chapter 19 of Stories from Pantamerone. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Joy Chan. Stories from Pantamerone. Chapter 19. The Booby. An ignorant man who associates with clever people has always been more praised than a wise man who keeps the company of fools. For as much profit and fame as one may gain from the former, so much wealth and honour one may lose by the fault of the latter. And as the proof of the puddings in the eating, you will know from the story which I am going to tell you whether my proposition be true. There was once a man who was as rich as the sea, but as there can never be any perfect happiness in this world, he had a son so idle and good for nothing that he could not tell a bean from a cucumber. So, being unable any longer to put up with his folly, he gave him a good handful of crowns and sent him to trade in the Levant. For he well knew that seeing various countries and mixing with diverse people awakened the genius and sharpened the judgment and make men expert. Moschione, for that was the name of the son, got on horseback and began his journey towards Venice, the arsenal of the wonders of the world, to embark on board some vessel bound for Cairo. And when he had travelled a good day's journey, he met with a person who was standing fixed at the foot of a poplar, to whom he said, What is your name, my lad? Whence are you, and what is your trade? And the lad replied, My name is Lightning. I am from Arrowland, and I can run like the wind. I should like to see your proof of it, said Moschione, and Lightning answered, Wait a moment, and you will see whether it is dust or flower. When they had stood waiting a little while, a doe came bounding over the plain, and Lightning, letting her pass on some way to give her the more law, darted after her so rapidly and light afoot, that he would have gone over a place covered with flower without leaving the mark of his shoe, and in forebounds he came up with her. Moschione amazed that this exploit asked if he would come and live with him, and promised to pay him royally. So Lightning consented, and they went on their way together, but they had not journeyed many miles when they met another youth, and Moschione said, What is your name, comrade? What country are you from, and what is your trade? My name, replied the lad, is Quickyear. I am from Veil Curious, and when I put my ear, the ground, I hear all that is passing in the world without stirring from the spot. I perceive the monopolies and agreements of tradespeople to raise the prices of things, the ill offices of courtiers, the appointments of lovers, the plots of robbers, the reports of spies, the complaints of servants, the gossiping of old women, and the oaths of sailors, so that no one has ever been able to discover so much as my ears can. If that be true, said Moschione, tell me what they are now saying at my home. So the lad put his ear to the ground and replied, An old man is talking to his wife and saying, Praised be soul in Leo, I have got rid from my sight of that fellow Moschione, that face of old-fashioned crockery, that nail in my heart.  You tell the truth and I believe you. So come along with me, for you have found the road to good luck. Well and good, said the youth, so they all went on together and travelled ten miles farther when they met another man to whom Moschione said, What is your name, my brave fellow? Where were you born and what can you do in the world? And the man answered, My name is Shoot Straight, I am from Castle Aimewell, and I can shoot with a crossbow so point-blank as to hit a crab-apple in the middle. I should like to see the proof, said Moschione. So the lad charged his crossbow, took aim, and he leaped from the top of a stone, whereupon Moschione took him also like the others into his company. And they travelled on another day's journey till they came to some people who were building a large pier in the scorching heat of the sun, and who might well say, Boy, put water to the wine for my heart is burning. So Moschione had compassion on them and said, My masters, how is it you have the head to stand in this furnace with a buffalo? And one of them answered, Oh, we are as cool as a rose, for we have a young man here who blows upon us from behind in such a manner that it seems just as if the west wind were blowing. Let me see him, I pray, cried Moschione. So the mason called the lad, and Moschione said to him, Tell me, by the life of your father, what is your name, what country are you from, and what is your profession? And Moschione replied, My name is blow-blast, I am from windy land, and I can make all the winds with my mouth. If you wish for a zephyr, I will breathe one that will send you in transports. If you wish for a squall, I will throw down houses. Seeing is believing, said Moschione. We're upon blow-blast breathed at first quite gently so that it seemed to be the wind that blows at Posalippo towards evening. Suddenly, to some trees, he sent forth such a furious blast that it uprooted a row of oaks. When Moschione saw this, he took him for a companion, and travelling on as far again he met another lad, to whom he said, What is your name, if I may make so bold? When's are you, if one may ask? And what is your trade, if it is a fair question? And the lad answered, My name is strong-back, I am from Valentino, I have such strength that I can take a mountain on my back and it seems to me only a feather. If that be the case, said Moschione, you deserve to be the king of the custom house, and you should be chosen for standard bearer on the first of May, but I should like to see a proof of what you say. Then strong-back began to load himself with masses of rock, trunks of trees, and so many other weights that a thousand large wagons have carried them, which when Moschione saw he agreed with the lad to join him. So they travelled on till they came to Fairflower, the king of which place had a daughter who ran like the wind and could pass over the waving corn without bending an ear, and the king had issued a proclamation that whoever could overtake her in running should have her to wife, but whoever was left behind should lose his head. When Moschione arrived in this country and heard the proclamation, he went straight to the king and offered to run with his daughter, making the wise agreement either to win the race, or leave his noddle there, but in the morning he sent to inform the king that he was taken ill, and being unable to run himself he would send another young man in his place. Come who will, said Chanatella, for she was the king's daughter. I care not of fig, it is all one to me. So when the great square was filled with people come to see the race, in so much that the men swarmed like ants and the windows and roofs were all as full as an egg, lightning came out and took his station at the top of the square, waiting for the signal, and lo, forth came Chanatella, dressed in a little gown, tucked half way up her legs, and a neat and pretty little shoe with a single sole. Then they placed themselves shoulder to shoulder, and as soon as the Tarantara and Tutu of the trumpets was heard, off they darted, running at such a rate that their heels touched their shoulders, and in truth they seemed just like hairs with the greyhounds after them, horses broken loose from the stable, or dogs with kettles tied to their tails. But lightning, as he was both by name and nature, left the princess more than a hand's breadth behind him, and came first to the goal. Then you should have heard the hussaring and shouting, the cries and the uproar, the whistling and clapping of hands of all the people bawling out, hurrah! Long life to the stranger! Where Chanatella's face turned as red as a schoolboy's who was going to be whipped, and she stood lost in shame and confusion at seeing herself vanquished. But as there were to be two heats to the race, she felt a planning how to be revenge and, going home, she put a charm into a ring of such power that if anyone had it upon his finger his legs would totter so that he would not be able to walk, much less run. Then she sent it as a present to lightning, begging him to wear it on his finger for love of her. Quickyear, who heard this trick plotted between the father and daughter, said nothing, and waited to see the upshot of the affair. And when, at the trumpeting of the birds, the sun whipped on the night who sat mounted on the jackass of the shades, they returned to the field where at the usual signal they were going home, she put a charm into a ring of such power that if anyone had it upon his finger his legs would totter so that he would not be able to walk, much less run. Then she sent it as a present to lightning, begging him to wear it on his finger for love of her. Quickyear, who heard this trick plotted between the father and daughter, said nothing, and waited to see the upshot of the affair. And when, at the trumpeting of the birds, the sun whipped on the night who sat mounted on the jackass of the shades, they returned to the field where at the usual signal they fell to playing their heels. But if Chanatella was like another Atalanta, lightning had become no less like an old donkey and a founded horse, for he could not stir a step. But shoot straight who saw his comrades' danger and heard from Quickyear how matters stood, laid hold of his crossbow and shot a bolt so exactly that it hit lightning's finger and out flew the stone from the ring in which the virtue of the charm lay, whereupon his legs that had been tied were set free and with four goat leaps he passed Chanatella and won the race. The king, seeing this victory of a blockhead, the palm thus carried off by Simpleton, the triumph of a fool, but thought himself seriously whether or no he should give him his daughter. And taking counsel with the wise acres of his court, they replied that Chanatella was not a mouthful for the tooth of such a miserable dog and lose the day bird. And that without breaking his word he might commute the promise of his daughter for a gift of crowns, which would be more to the taste of a poor beggar like Moschione than women in the world. This advice pleased the king and he asked Moschione how much money he would take instead of the wife who had been promised him. Then Moschione, after consulting with the others, answered, I will take as much gold and silver as one of my comrades can carry on his back.  But the more they loaded him the firmer he stood, just like a tower, so that the treasury, the banks, the usurers, and the money deals of the city did not suffice. And he sent to all the great people in every direction to borrow their silver candlesticks, basins, jugs, plates, trays, and baskets. And yet all was not enough to make up the full load. They went away, not laden but tired and satisfied. When the councillors saw what heaps and stores these six miserable dogs were carrying off they said to the king that it was a great piece of asery to load them with all the sinews of his kingdom and that it would be well to send people after them to lessen the load of that atlas who was carrying on his shoulders a heaven of treasure. The king gave ear to this advice and immediately dispatched a party of armed men, foot and horse, to overtake Moschione and his friends. But quick ear who had heard this council informed his comrades and while the dust was rising to the sky from the trampling of those who were coming to unload the rich cargo blow blast seeing that things were come to a bad pass began to blow at such a rate that he not only made the enemies fall flat on the ground but he sent them flying more than a mile distant as the North wind does the folks who pass through that country so without meeting any more hindrance Moschione arrived at his father's house where he shared the booty with his companions since as the saying goes a good deed deserves a good mead so he sent them away content and happy but he stayed with his father rich beyond measure and saw himself a simpleton laden with gold not giving the lie to the saying and sends biscuits to him who has no teeth End of Chapter 19 Chapter 20 of Stories from Potemperone This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Joy Chan Stories from Potemperone by Giampattista Pacire Chapter 20 The Stone in the Cox Head The robber's wife does not always laugh He who weaves fraud works his own ruin There is no deceit which is not at last discovered, no treachery that does not come to light Walls have ears and are spies to rogues The earth gapes and discovers theft as I will prove to you if you pay attention There was once in the city of Darkrotto a certain man named Mineco Aniello who was so persecuted by fortune that all his fixtures and movables consisted only of a short-legged cock which he had reared upon breadcrumbs But one morning being pinched with appetite for hunger drives the wolf from the thicket He took it into his head to sell the cock and, taking it to the market he met two thievish magicians with whom he made a bargain and sold it for a half a crown So they told him to take it to their house and they would count him out the money Then the magicians went their way and Mineco Aniello, following them overheard them talking gibberish together and saying who would have told us that we should meet with such a piece of good luck, Generone This cock will make our fortune to a certainty by the stone which, you know, he has in his fate We will quickly have it set in a ring and then we shall have everything we can ask for Be quiet, Giacorutio as a Generone I see myself rich and can hardly believe it and I am longing to twist the cock's neck and give a kick in the face of beggary for in this world virtue without money goes for nothing and a man is judged of by his coat When Mineco Aniello who had travelled about in the world and eaten bread for more than one oven heard this gibberish he turned on his heel and scampered off he twisted the cock's neck and opening its head found the stone which he had instantly set in a brass ring Then to make a trial of its virtue he said, I wish to become a youth 18 years old Hardly had he uttered the words when his blood began to flow more quickly his nerves became stronger his limbs firmer his flesh fresher his eyes more fiery his silver hairs were turned into gold his mouth which was a sacked village became peepled with teeth his beard which was as thick as a wood became like a nursery garden in short he was changed to a most beautiful youth then he said again I wish for a splendid palace and to marry the king's daughter and lo there instantly appeared a palace of incredible magnificence in which were apartments that would amaze you columns to astound you pictures to fill you with wonder silver glittered around and gold was trodden underfoot the jewels dazzled your eyes the servants swarmed like ants the horses and carriages were not to be countered In short there was such a display of riches that the king stared at the sight and willingly gave him his daughter Natalysia Meanwhile the magicians having discovered Mineco Aniello's great wealth laid a plan to rob him of his good fortune so they made a pretty little doll which played and danced by means of clockwork and dressing themselves like merchants they went to Pentella the daughter of Mineco Aniello under pretext of selling it to her when Pentella saw the beautiful little thing she asked them what price they put upon it and they replied that it was not to be bought with money but that she might have it and welcome if she would only do them a favour which was to let them see the make of the ring which her father possessed in order to take the model and make another like it then they would give her the doll without any payment at all Pentella who had never heard the proverb think well before you buy anything cheap instantly accepted this offer and bidding them return the next morning she promised to ask her father to lend her the ring so the magicians went away and when her father returned home Pentella cooks and caressed him until at last she persuaded him to give her the ring making the excuse that she was sad at heart and wished to divert her mind a little when the next day came as soon as the scavenger of the sun sweeps the last traces of the shades from the streets and squares of heaven the magicians returned and no sooner had they the ring in their hands than they instantly vanished and not a trace of them was to be seen so that poor Pentella had liked to have died with terror but when the magicians came to a wood where the branches of some of the trees were dancing the sword dance and the bows of the others were playing together at hot cockles they desired the ring to destroy the spell by which the old man had become young again and instantly Meneco Aniello who was just at that moment in the presence of the king was suddenly seen to grow hoary as a whiten his forehead to wrinkle his eyebrows to grow bristly his eyes to sink in his face to be furrowed his mouth to become toothless his beard to grow bushy his back to be humped his legs to tremble and above all his glittering garments to turn to rags and tatters the king seeing the miserable beggar seated beside him at table ordered him to be instantly driven away by the hard words whereupon Aniello thus suddenly fallen from his good luck went weeping to his daughter and asked for the ring in order to set matters to rights again but when he heard the fatal trick played by the false merchants he was ready to throw himself out of the window cursing a thousand times the ignorance of his daughter who for the sake of a silly doll had turned him into a miserable scarecrow and for a paltry thing of rags had brought him to rags himself adding that he was resolved to go wandering about the world like a bad shilling until he should get tidings of those merchants so saying he threw a cloak about his neck and a wallet on his back drew his handles on his feet took a staff in his hand and leaving his daughter all chilled and frozen he set out walking desperately on and on until he arrived at the kingdom of deep hole inhabited by the mice where being taken for a big spy of the cats he was instantly led before Rosecourne the king then the king asked him who he was whence he came and what he was about in that country and Mineco Aniello after first giving the king a cheese pairing in sign of tribute related to him all his misfortunes one by one and concluded by saying that he was resolved to continue his twirl and travel until he should get tidings of those thievish villains who had robbed him of so precious a drool taking from him at once the flower of his youth the source of his wealth and the prop of his honour at these words Rosecourne felt pity nibbling at his heart and wishing to comfort the poor man he summoned the eldest mice to a council and asked their opinions on the misfortunes of Mineco Aniello commanding them to use all diligence and endeavour to obtain some tidings of these false merchants now among the rest it happened that Rodolo and Saltariello were present mice who were well used to the ways of the world and had lived for six years at a tavern of great resort hard by and they said to Aniello be of good heart comrade matters will turn out better than you imagine you must know that one day when we were in a room in the hostelry of the horn were the most famous men in the world lodge and make merry two persons from Hook Castle came in who after they had eaten their fill and had seen the bottom of their flag and felt a talking of a trick that had played a certain old man of dark grotto and how they had cheated him out of a stone of great value which one of them, named Generone said he would never take from his finger that he might not run the risk of losing it as the old man's daughter had done when Mineco Aniello heard this he told the two mice that if they would trust themselves to accompanying him to the country where these rows lived and recovered the ring for him he would give them a good lot of cheese and salt meat which they might eat and enjoy with his majesty the king then the two mice after bargaining for a reward offered to go over sea and mountain and taking leave of his mousey majesty they set out after journeying a long way they arrived at Hook Castle where the mice told Mineco Aniello to remain under some trees on the brink of a river which like a leech drew the moisture from the land and discharged it into the sea then they went to seek the house of the magicians and observing that Generone never took the ring from his finger they sought to gain the victory by strategy so waiting till night had died with purple grape juice the sun burnt face and the magicians had gone to bed and were fast asleep Rodolo began to nibble the finger in which the ring was where upon Generone feeling the smart took the ring off and laid it on a table at the head of the bed but as soon as Salteriello saw this he popped the ring into his mouth and in four skips he was off to find Mineco Aniello who with even greater joy than a man at the gallows feels when a pardon arrives he instantly turned the magicians into two jackasses and turning his mantle over one of them he bestowed him like a noble count then he loaded the other with cheese and bacon and set off toward deep hole where having given presents to the king and his counsellors he thanked them for all the good fortune he had received by their assistance Praying heaven that no mousetrap might ever lay hold of them that no cat might ever harm them and that no arsenic might ever poison them then leaving that country Mineco Aniello returned to Dark Grotto even more handsome than before and was received by the king and his daughter with the greatest affection in the world and having ordered the two asses to be cast down from a rock he lived happily with his wife never more taking the ring from his finger that he might not again commit such a folly for the cat who has been burned with fire ever after fears the cold hearthstone End of Chapter 20 Chapter 21 of Stories from Pantamerone This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Joy Chan Stories from Pantamerone by Giampattista Pesire Chapter 21 The Three Enchanted Princes Once upon a time the King of Greenbank had three daughters who were perfect jewels with whom three sons of the King of Firmero were desperately in love but these princes having been changed into animals by the spell of a fairy the King of Greenbank disdained to give them his daughters to wife We're upon the first who was a beautiful falcon called together all the birds to a council and there came the chaffinches tomtits, woodpeckers, flycatchers jays, blackbirds cocoons, thrushes and every other kind of bird and when they were all assembled at his summons he ordered them to destroy all the blossoms on the trees of Greenbank so that not a flower or leaf should remain The second prince who was a stag summoning all the goats, rabbits, hedgehogs and other animals of that country laid waste all the corn fields so that there was not a single blade of grass or corn left The third prince who was a dolphin consulting together with a hundred monsters of the sea made such a tempest arise upon the coast that not a boat escaped Now the King saw that matters were going from bad to worse that he could not remedy the mischief which these three wild lovers were causing so he resolved to get out of his trouble and made up his mind to give them his daughters to wife and there upon without wanting either feasts or songs they carried their brides off and out of the kingdom Unparting from her daughters Grenzola the Queen gave each of them a ring one exactly like the other telling them that if they happened to be separated and after a while to meet again or to see any of their kinsfolk they would recognise one another by means of these rings So taking their leave they departed and the falcon carried Fabiola who was the eldest of the sisters and after the journey to the river mountain which was so high that passing the confines of the clouds it reached with a dry head to a region where it never rains and there leading her to a most beautiful palace she lived like a queen The stag carried Vasta the second sister into a wood which was so thick that the shades when summoned by the night could not find their way out to escort her in a wonderfully splendid house with a garden The dolphin swam with Rita the third sister on his back into the middle of the sea where upon a large rock he showed her a mansion in which three crowned kings might live Meanwhile Grenzola gave birth to a fine little boy whom they named Titone and when he was 15 years old hearing his mother lamented continually that she never heard any tidings of her three daughters who were married to three animals he took it into his head to travel through the world until he should obtain some news of them So after begging and in treating his father and mother for a long time they granted him permission bidding him take for his journey attendance and everything needful and befitting a prince and the queen also gave him another ring similar to those she had given to her daughters Titone went his way and left no corner of Italy not a nook of France nor any part of Spain unsearched Then he passed through England and traversed Livonia and visited Poland and in short travelled both east and west At length leaving all his servants some at the taverns and some at the hospitals he set out without a father in his pocket and came to the top of the mountain where dwelt the falcon and Fabiola and as he stood there beside himself with amazement contemplating the beauty of the palace the cornerstones of which were of porphyry the walls of alabaster the windows of gold and the tiles of silver his sister observed him and ordering him to be called she demanded who he was whence he came and what chance had brought him to that country When Titone told her his country his father and mother and his name Fabiola knew him to be her brother and he prepared the ring upon his finger with that which her mother had given her and embracing him with great joy she concealed him fearing that her husband would be angry when he returned home as soon as the falcon came home Fabiola began to tell him that a great longing had come over her to see her parents and the falcon answered let the wish pass wife for that cannot be unless the humour takes me let us at least Fabiola sent to fetch one of my kinsfolk to keep my company and pray who will come so far to see you replied the falcon nay, but if anyone should come added Fabiola would you be displeased why should I be displeased said the falcon it would be enough that he were one of your kinsfolk to make me take him to my heart when Fabiola heard this she took courage to send her brother to come forth she presented him to the falcon who exclaimed love passes through the glove and water through the boot a hearty welcome to you you are master in this house command and do just as you like then he gave orders that Titone should be served and treated with the same honour as himself now when Titone had stayed a fortnight on the mountain it came into his head to go forth so taking leave of Fabiola and his brother-in-law the falcon gave him one of his feathers saying take this and prize it my dear Titone for you may one day be in trouble and you will then esteem it a treasure enough take good care of it and if ever you meet with any mishap throw it on the ground and say come hither, come hither and you shall have cause to think me Titone wrapped the feather up in a sheet of paper in a pocket after a thousand ceremonies departed and travelling on and on a very long way he arrived at last at the wood where the stag lived with Vasta and going half dead with hunger into the garden to pluck some fruit his sister saw him and recognised him in the same manner as Fabiola had done then she presented Titone to her husband who received him with the greatest friendship and treated him truly like a prince at the end of a fortnight when Titone wished to depart and go in search of his other sister the stag gave him one of his hairs repeating the same words as the falcon had spoken about the feather and setting out on his way with a bag full of crown pieces which the falcon had given him and as many more which the stag gave him he walked on and on until he came to the end of the earth where being stopped by the sea and unable to walk any further he took ship intending to seek through all the islands for tidings of his sister so setting sail he went about and about until at length he was carried to an island where lived the dolphin with Rita and no sooner had he landed than his sister saw and recognised him in the same manner as the others had done and he was received by her husband with all possible affection now after a while Titone wished to set out again to go and visit his father and mother whom he had not seen for so long a time so the dolphin gave him one of his scales telling him the same as the others had and Titone mounting a horse set out on his travels but he had hardly proceeded half a mile from the sea shore when entering a wood the abode of fear in the shades where continual fear of darkness and terror was kept up he found a great tower in the middle of a lake whose waters were kissing the feet of the trees and in treating them not to let the sun witness their pranks at a window in the tower Titone saw a most beautiful maiden sitting at the feet of a hideous dragon who was asleep when the damsel saw Titone she said in a low and piteous voice O noble youth sent perchance by heaven to comfort me in my miseries in this place where the face of a Christian is never seen release me from the power of this tyrannical serpent who has carried me off from my father, the king of Bright Valley and shut me up in this frightful tower where I must die a miserable death unless my beautiest lady replied to Titone what can I do to serve thee who can pass this lake who can climb this tower who can approach your unhorried dragon who is ever in his look sows fear and causes dismay to spring up but softly, wait a minute and we'll find a way with another's help to drive this serpent away step by step the more haste the worse speed we shall soon see whether it is egg or wind and so saying he threw the feather, the hair and the scale which his brothers-in-law had given him on the ground exclaiming come hither, come hither and falling on the earth like drops of summer rain which makes the frog spring up suddenly they appeared the falcon, the stag and the dolphin who cried out altogether behold us here what are your commands when Titone saw this he said with great joy I wish for nothing but to release this poor damsel from the claws of your dragon to take her away from this tower to lay it all in ruins and to carry this beautiful lady home with me as my wife hush, answered the falcon for the bean springs up where you least expect it we'll soon make him dance upon a sixpence and take good care that he shall have little ground enough let us lose no time, said the stag Troubles and macaronia swallowed hot so the falcon summoned a large flock of griffins who, flying to the window of the tower, carried off the damsel burying her over the lake to where Titone was standing with his three brothers-in-law and if from afar she appeared a moon believe me, when near she looked truly like a sun she was so beautiful whilst Titone was embracing her and telling her how he loved her the dragon awoke and rushing out of the window he came swimming across the lake to devour Titone but the stag instantly called up a squadron of lions, tigers panthers, bears and wildcats who, falling upon the dragon tore him in pieces with their claws then Titone wishing to depart the dolphin said I likewise desire to do something to serve you and in order that no trace should remain of the frightful and accursed place he made the sea rise so high that, overflowing its bounds it attacked the tower furiously and overthrew it to its foundations when Titone saw these things he thanked the animals in the best manner he could telling the damsel at the same time that she ought to do so too as it was by their aid she had escaped from peril but the animals answered nay, we ought rather to thank this beautiest lady since she is the means of restoring us to our proper shapes for a spell was laid upon us at our birth caused by our mothers having offended a fairy and we were compelled to remain in the form of animals until we should have freed the daughter of a king from some great trouble and now behold, the time has arrived which we have longed for the fruit is ripe and we already feel new spirit in our breasts new blood in our veins so saying they were changed into three handsome youths and one after another they embraced their brother-in-law and shook hands with the lady who was in an ecstasy of joy when to turn they saw this he was on the point of fainting away and heaving a deep sigh he said oh heavens why have not my mother and father a share in this happiness they would be out of their wits with joy were they to see such graceful and handsome sons-in-law before their eyes nay, answered the princes it is not yet night the shame at seeing ourselves so transformed obliged us to flee from the sight of men but now that thank heaven we can appear in the world again we will all go and live with our wives under one roof and spend our lives merrily let us therefore set out instantly and before the sun tomorrow morning unpacks the bails of his rays at the custom house of the east our wives shall be with you so saying in order that they might not have to go on foot for there was only an old broken down mare which to turn he had brought the brothers caused a most beautiful kerch to appear drawn by six lions in which they all five seated themselves and having travelled the whole day they came in the evening to a tavern where, whilst the supper was being prepared they passed the time in reading all the proofs of men's ignorance which were scribbled upon the walls at length when all had eaten their fill and retired to rest the three youths feigning to go to bed went out and walked about the whole night long till in the morning when the stars like bashful maidens retire from the gaze of the sun they found themselves in the same in with their wives whereupon there was a great embracing and a joy beyond the beyonds then they all ate seated themselves in the same kerch and after a long journey arrived at Greenbank where they were received with incredible affection by the king and queen who had not only regained the capital but more children whom they had considered lost but likewise the interest of three sons-in-law and a daughter-in-law who were verily four columns of the temple of beauty and when the news of the adventures of their children was brought to the kings of Fair Meadow and Bright Valley they both came to the feasts which were made adding the rich ingredient of joy to the purge of their satisfaction and receiving a full recompense for all their past misfortunes one hour of joy dispels the cares and sufferings of a thousand years End of Chapter 21 Chapter 22 of Stories from Pantamerone This is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Joy Chan Stories from Pantamerone by Giampa Tista Pasire Chapter 22 The Dragon He who seeks the injury of another finds his own hurt and he who spreads the snares of treachery and deceit often falls into them himself as you shall hear in the story of a queen who with her own hands constructed the trap in which she was caught by the foot There was one time a king of Haishor who practised such tyranny and cruelty that whilst he was once gone on a visit of pleasure to a castle at a distance his royal seat was usurped by a certain sorceress Whereupon having consulted a wooden statue which used to give oracular responses it answered that he would recover his dominions when the sorceress should lose her sight but seeing that the sorceress besides being well guarded knew her to glance the people whom he sent to annoy her and did dogs justice upon them he became quite desperate and out of spite to her he killed all the women of that place whom he could get into his hands now after hundreds and hundreds had been led thither by their ill luck only to lose their lives their chance among others to come and made and named Pozella the most beautiful creature that could be seen on the whole earth and the king could not help falling in love with her and making her his wife but he was so cruel and spiteful to women that after a while he was going to kill her like the rest but just as he was raising the dagger a bird let fall a certain root upon his arm and he was seized with such a trembling that the weapon fell from his hand this bird was a fairy who a few days before having gone to sleep in a wood where beneath the tent of the shades fear kept watch and defied the sun's heat a certain satyr was about to rob her when she was awakened by Pozella and for this kindness she continually followed her steps in order to make her a return when the king saw this he thought that the beauty of Pozella's face had arrested his arm and bewitched the dagger to prevent its piercing her as it had done so many others he resolved therefore not to make the attempt a second time but that she should die built up in a garret of his palace no sooner said than done the unhappy creature was enclosed within four walls without having anything to eat or drink and left to waste away and die little by little the bird seeing her in this wretched state consoled her with kind words bidding her be of good cheer and promising in return for the great kindness she had done her to aid her if necessary with her very life in spite however of all the entreaties of Pozella the bird would never tell her who she was but only said that she was under obligations to her and would leave nothing undone to serve her and seeing that the poor girl was famished with hunger she flew out and speedily returned with a pointed knife which she had taken from the king's pantry and told her to make a hole in the corner of the floor just over the kitchen through which she would regularly bring her food to sustain her life so Pozella bore away until she made a passage for the bird who, watching till the cook was gone out to fetch a picture of water from the well went down through the hole and taking a fine file that was cooking at the fire brought it to Pozella then to relieve her thirst not knowing how to carry her any drink she flew to the pantry where there was a quantity of grapes hanging and brought her a fine bunch and this she did regularly for many days meanwhile Pozella gave birth to a fine little boy whom she suckled and reared with the constant aid of the bird and when he was growing big the fairy advised his mother to make the hole larger and to raise so many boards off the floor as would allow mutial for so the child was called to pass through and then after letting him down with some cords which the bird brought to put the boards back into their place that it might not be seen where he came from so Pozella did as the bird directed her and as soon as the cook was gone out she let down her son desiring him never to tell whence he came nor whose son he was when the cook returned and saw such a fine little boy he asked him who he was whence he came and what he wanted where upon the child remembering his mother's advice said that he was a poor four lawn boy who was looking about for a master as they were talking the butler came in and seeing the sprightly little fellow he thought he would make a pretty page for the king so he led him to the royal apartments and when the king saw him look so handsome and lovely that he appeared a very dual he was vastly pleased with him and took him into his service as a page and to his heart as a son and had him taught all the exercises befitting a cavalier so that Mutio grew up the most accomplished one in the court and the king loved him much better than his stepson now the king's stepmother who was really the queen on this account began to take a dislike to him and to hold him in aversion and her envy and malice gained ground just in proportion as the favours and kindness which the king bestowed on Mutio cleared the way for them so she resolved to soap the ladder of his fortune in order that he should tumble down from top to bottom accordingly one evening the stepmother had tuned their instruments together and were making music of their discourse the queen told the king that Mutio had boasted he would build three castles in the air so the next morning at the time when the moon the school mistress of the shades gives a holiday to her scholars for the festival of the sun the king, either from surprise or to gratify the old queen ordered Mutio to be called and commanded him forthwith the castles in the airs he had promised or else he would make him dance a jig in the air when Mutio heard this he went to his chamber and began to lament bitterly seeing what glass the favour of princes is and how short a time it lasts and while he was weeping thus lo the bird came and said to him take heart Mutio and fear not while you have me by your side for I am able to draw you out of the fire then she directed him to take pasteboard and glue and make three large castles and calling up three large griffins she tied a castle to each and away they flew up into the air there upon Mutio called the king who came running with all his court to see the sight and when he saw the ingenuity of Mutio he had a still greater affection for him and lavished on him caresses of the other world which added snow to the air which added snow to the envy of the queen and fired to her rage seeing that all her plans failed in so much that both sleeping and waking she was forever thinking of some way to remove this thorn from her eyes so at last after some days she said to the king son the time has now come for us to return to our former greatness and the pleasures of past times since Mutio has offered to blind the sorceress and by the disbursement of her eyes to make you recover your lost kingdom the king who felt himself touched in the sore place called for Mutio that very instant and said to him I am greatly surprised that notwithstanding all my love for you and that you have the power to restore me to the seat from which I have fallen you remain thus careless instead of endeavoring to relieve me from the misery I am in reduced thus from a kingdom to a wood from a city to a portrait castle and from commanding so greater people to be hardly waited on by a parcel of half-starved menials if therefore you do not wish me ill run now at once and blind the eyes of the fairy who is possession of my property for by putting out her lanterns you will light the lamps of my honour that are now dark and dismal when Mutio heard this proposal he was about to reply that the king was ill-informed and had mistaken him as he was neither a raven to pick out eyes nor all good to bore holes but the king said no more words so I will have it so let it be done remember now that in the mint of this brain of mine I have the balance ready in one scale the reward if you do what I tell you in the other the punishment if you neglect doing what I command Mutio who could not but against the rock and had to do with a man who was not to be moved went into a corner to bemoan himself and the bird came to him and said is it possible Mutio that you will always be drowning yourself in a tumbler of water if I were dead indeed you could not make more fuss do you not know that I have more regard for your life than for my own therefore don't lose courage come with me and you shall see what I can do so saying off she flew and delighted in the wood where as soon as she began to chirp there came a large flock of birds about her to whom she told the story assuring them that whoever would venture to deprive the sorceress of sight should have from her a safeguard against the talons of the hawks and kites and a letter of protection against the guns crossbows, longbows and bird-lime of the fowlers there was among them a swallow who had made her nest against a beam of the royal palace and who hated the sorceress because when making her accursed conjurations she had several times driven her out of the chamber with her fumigations for which reason partly out of a desire of revenge and partly to gain the reward that the bird promised she offered herself to perform the service so away she flew like lightning to the city and entering the palace found the fairy lying on a couch with two damsels fanning her then the swallow came and a lighting directly over the fairy pecks out her eyes where upon the fairy thus seeing night at midday knew that by this closing of the custom house the merchandise of the kingdom was all lost and uttering yells as of a condemned soul she abandoned the scepter and went off to hide herself in a certain cave where she knocked her head continually against the wall until at length she ended her days when the sorceress was gone the councilors sent ambassadors to the king praying him to come back to his castle the blinding of the sorceress had caused him to see this happy day and at the same time they arrived came also Mutio who by the bird's direction said to the king I have served you to the best of my power the sorceress is blinded the kingdom is yours wherefore if I deserve recompense for this service I wish for no other than to be left to my ill fortune without being again exposed to these dangers but the king embracing him with great affection bade him put on his cap and sit beside him and how the queen was enraged at this heaven knows for by the bow of many colours that appeared in her face might be knowing the wind of the storm that was brewing in her heart against poor Mutio not far from this castle lived the most ferocious dragon who was born the same owl with the queen and the astrologers being called by her father to astrologise on this event that his daughter would be safe as long as the dragon was safe and that when one died the other would of necessity die also one thing alone could bring back the queen to life and that was to anoint her temples chest nostrils and pulse with the blood of the same dragon now the queen knowing the strength and fury of this animal resolved to send Mutio into his claws will assured that the beast would make his mouth full of him and that he would be like a strawberry in the throat of a bear so turning to the king she said upon my word this Mutio is the treasure of your house and you would be ungrateful indeed if you did not love him especially as he had expressed his desire to kill the dragon who though he is my brother is nevertheless your enemy and I care more for a hair of your head than for a hundred brothers you would have killed the dragon mortally and knew not how to remove him out of his sight instantly called Mutio and said to him I know that you can put your hand to whatever you will therefore as you have done so much grant me yet another pleasure and then turn me witho so ever you will go this very instant and kill the dragon for you will do me a singular service and I will reward you well for it Mutio at these words was near losing his senses and as soon as he was able to speak he said to the king alas what a headache have you given me by your continually teasing is my life a black goat skin rug that you are forever wearing it away thus this is not a paired pair ready to drop into one's mouth but a dragon that tears with his claws breaks to pieces with his head crushes with his tail crunches with his teeth poisons with his eyes and kills with his breath wherefore do you want to send me to death is this the sinicure you gave me for having given you a kingdom who is the wicked soul that has set this die on the table what son of perdition has taught you these capers and put these words into your mouth then the king who although he let himself be tossed to infer his light as a ball was firmer than a rock and keeping to what he had once said stamped with his feet and exclaimed after all you have done do you fail at the last but no more words so rid my kingdom of this plague unless you would have me rid you of life poor Mutu who thus received one minute a favour at another a threat now a pat on the face and now a kick now a kind word and now a cruel one reflected how mutable court fortune is and would feign have been without the acquaintance of the king but knowing that to reply to great men is a folly unlike plucking a lion by the beard through cursing his fate which had led him to the court only to curtail the days of his life and as he was sitting on one of the door steps with his head between his knees washing his shoes with his tears and warming the ground with his sighs behold the bird came flying with a plant in her beak and throwing it to him said get up Mutu and take courage for you are not going to play it unload the ass with your days but at that gammon with the life of the dragon this plant and when you come to the cave of that horrid animal throw it in and instantly such a drowsiness will come over him that he will fall fast asleep wear upon nicking and sticking him with a good knife you may soon make an end of him then come away for things will turn out better than you think enough cried Mutu I know what I carry under my belt we have more time than money and he who has time has life so saying he got up with a pruning knife in his belt and taking the plant he went his way to the dragon's cave which was under a mountain of such goodly growth that the three mountains that were steps to the giants would not have reached up to its waist when he came there he threw the plant into the cave and instantly a deep sleep laid hold on the dragon and Mutu began to cut him in pieces now just at the time that he was busy thus the queen felt a cutting pain at her heart and seeing herself brought to a bad pass she perceived her error in having put to death with ready money so she caught her stepson and told him what the astrologers had predicted how her life depended on that of the dragon and how she feared that Mutu had killed him for she felt herself gradually sliding away then the king replied if you knew that the life of the dragon was the prop of your life and the root of your days why did you make me send Mutu who was in fault you must have done yourself the mischief and you must suffer for it you have broken the glass and you may pay the cost and the queen answered I never thought that such a stripling could have the skill and strength to overflow an animal which made nothing of an army and I expected that he would have left his rags there but since I reckoned without my host and the bark of my projects has gone out of its course do me one kindness if you love me when I am dead take a sponge dipped in the blood of this dragon and anoint with it all the extremities of my body before you bury me that is but a small thing for the love I bear you replied the king and if the blood of the dragon is not enough I will add my own to give you satisfaction the queen was about to thank him but the breath left her with the speech for just then Mutu had made an end of scoring the dragon no sooner had Mutu come into the king's presence with the news of what he had done than the king ordered him to go back for the dragon's blood but being curious to see the deed done by Mutu's hand he followed him and as Mutu was going out of the palace gate the bird met him and said where are you going and Mutu answered I am going where the king sends me he makes me fly backwards and forwards like a shuttle and never lets me rest an hour what to do? said the bird to fish the blood of the dragon said Mutu and the bird replied oh wretched youth this dragon's blood will be bull's blood to you and make you burst for this blood will cause the spring up again the evil seed of all your misfortunes the queen is continually exposing you to new dangers that you may lose your life and the king who lets this odious creature put the pack's saddle on him orders you like a castaway to endanger your person which is his own flesh and blood and a chute of his stem but the wretched man does not know you though the inborn affection he bears you should have betrayed your kindred moreover the services you have rendered the king and the gain to himself are so handsome as son and heir ought to obtain favour for unhappy Poziela your mother who has now for fourteen years been buried alive in a garret whereas seen a temple of beauty built up within a little chamber while the fairy was thus speaking the king who had heard every word stepped forward to learn the truth of the matter better and finding that Mutio was his own and Poziela's son and that Poziela was still alive in the garret he instantly gave orders that she should be set free and brought before him and when he saw her looking more beautiful than ever owing to the care taken of her by the bird he embraced her with the greatest affection and was never satisfied with pressing to his heart first the mother and then the son praying forgiveness of Poziela for his ill treatment of her and of his son for all the dangers to which he had exposed him then he ordered her to be clothed in the richest robes and had her crowned queen before all the people and when the king heard that her preservation and the escape of his son from so many dangers was entirely owing to the bird which had given food to the one and counsel to the other he offered her his kingdom and his life but the bird said she desired no other reward for her services than to have Mutio for her husband and as she uttered the words she was changed into a beautiful maiden and to the great joy and satisfaction of the king and Poziela she was given to Mutio to wife then the newly married couple to give still greater festivals went their way to their own kingdom where they were anxiously expected everyone is scribing this good fortune to the fairy for the kindness that Poziela had done her for at the end of the end a good deed is never lost End of Chapter 22 Chapter 23 of Stories from Pettamerone This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Joy Chang Stories from Pettamerone by Giampattista Pesire Chapter 23 The Two Cakes I have always heard say that he who gives pleasure finds it the bell of Manfredonia says give me, I give thee he who does not bait the hook of the affections with courtesy never catches the fish of kindness and if you wish to hear the proof of this listen to my story and then say whether the cover does not always lose more than the liberal one There were once two sisters named Lucetta and Trocola who had two daughters Masiela and Poziela Masiela was as fair to look upon as she was good at heart whilst on the contrary Poziela by the same rule had a face of ugliness and a heart of pestilence but the girl resembled her parent for Trocola was a happy within and a very scarecrow without Now it happened that Lucetta had occasion to boil some parsnips in order to fry them with green sauce so she said to her daughter Masiela my dear go to the well and fetch me a picture of water With all my heart mother replied the girl but if you love me give me a cake for I should like to eat it with a draft of the fresh water By all means said the mother took from a basket that hung upon a hook a beautiful cake for she had baked a batch the day before and gave it to Masiela who set the picture on a pad upon her head and went to the fountain which like a charlatan upon a marble bench to the music of the falling water were selling secrets to drive away thirst and as she was stooping down to fill her picture up came a humpbacked old woman and seeing the beautiful cake which Masiela was just going to buy it she said to her my pretty girl give me a little piece of your cake and may heaven send you good fortune Masiela who was as generous as a queen replied take it all my good woman and I am only sorry that it is not made of sugar and almonds for I would equally give it to you with all my heart the old woman seeing Masiela's kindness said to her go and may heaven reward you for the goodness you have shown me and I pray all the stars that you may ever be content and happy that when you breathe roses and jesemines may fall from your mouth that when you comb your locks pearls and garnets may fall from them and when you set your foot on the ground lilies and violets may spring up Masiela thanked the old woman and went away home where her mother having cooked a bit of supper they paid the natural debt to the body and thus ended the day when the sun displayed in the marketplace of the celestial fields the merchandise of life which she had brought from the east as Masiela was combing her hair she saw a shower of pearls and garnets fall from it into her lap whereupon calling her mother with great joy they put them all into a basket and Luchata went to sell a great part of them to a user who was a friend of hers Miwa Trocola came to see her sister and finding Masiela in great delight and busied with the pearls she asked her how, when and where she had gotten them but the maiden who did not understand the ways of the world and had perhaps never heard the proverb do not all you are able eat not all you wish spend not all you have and tell not all you know related the whole affair to her aunt who no longer cared to await her sister's return for every hour seemed to her a thousand years until she got home again then giving a cake to her daughter she sent her for water to the fountain where Pucia found the same old woman and when the old woman asked her for a little piece of cake she answered roughly have I nothing to do for Sooth but to give you cake do you take me to be so foolish as to give to you what belongs to me lucky charity begins at home and so saying she swallowed the cake in four pieces making the old woman's mouth water who when she saw the last morsel disappear and her hopes varied with the cake exclaimed in a rage be gone and whenever you breathe may you foam at the mouth like a doctor's mule may toads drop from your lips and every time you set foot to the ground may their spring up ferns and thistles Pucia took the picture of water and returned home where her mother was all impatient to hear what had befallen her at the fountain but no sooner did Pucia open her lips than a shower of toads fell from them at the sight of which her mother added the fire of rage to the snow of envy sending forth flame and smoke through nose and mouth now it happened some time afterwards that Teomo, the brother of Marzela was at the court of the king of Kyunzo and the conversation turning on the beauty of various women he stepped forward unasked and said that all the handsome women might hide their heads and his sister made her appearance who beside the beauty of her form which made harmony on the song of a noble soul possessed also a wonderful virtue in her hair mouth and feet which was given to her by a fairy when the king heard these praises he told Teomo to bring his sister to the court adding that if he found her such as he had represented he would take her to wife now Teomo thought this a chance not to be lost the wolf with sent a messenger post-haste to his mother telling her what had happened and begging her to come instantly with her daughter in order not to let slip the good luck but the Cheta who was very unwell commending the lamb to the wolf begged her sister to have the kindness to accompany Marzela to the court of Kyunzo for such and such a thing whereupon Tricola who saw that matters were playing into her hand promised her sister to take Marzela safe and sound to her brother and then embarked with her niece and Putia in a boat but when they were some way out at sea whilst the sailors were asleep she threw Marzela into the water and just as the poor girl was on the point of being drowned they came a most beautiful siren who took her in her arms and carried her off when Tricola arrived at Kyunzo Teomo who had not seen his sister for so long a time mistook Putia and received her as if she were Marzela and led her instantly to the king but no sooner did she open her lips then toads dropped on the ground and when the king looked at her more closely he saw that as she breathed hard from the fatigue of the journey she made a lather at her mouth which looked just like a wash tub then looking down on the ground he saw a meadow of stinking plants the sight of which made him quite ill upon this he drove Putia and her mother away and sent Teomo in disgrace to keep the geese of the court then Teomo in despair and not knowing what had happened to him drove the geese into the fields and letting them go their way along the seashore he used to retire into a little straw shed where he bewailed his lot until evening when it was time to return home but whilst the geese were running about on the shore Marzela would come out of the water and feed them sweet meats and give them rose water to drink so that the geese grew as big as sheep and were so fat that they could not see out of their eyes and in the evening when they came into a little garden under the king's window they began to sing pire pire pire the sun and the moon are bright and clear but she who feeds us is still more fair now the king hearing this goose music every evening ordered Teomo to be called and asked him where and how and upon what he fed his geese and Teomo replied I give them nothing to eat but the fresh grass of the field but the king who was not satisfied with this answer sent a trusty servant after Teomo to watch and observe where he drove the geese then the man followed in his footsteps and saw him go into the little straw shed leaving the geese to themselves and going their way they had no sooner to come to the shore than Marciela rose up out of the sea and I do not believe that even the mother of that blind boy who, as the poet says desires no other arms than tears ever rose from the waves so fair when the servant of the king saw this he ran back to his master beside himself with amazement and told him the pretty spectacle he had seen upon the seashore the curiosity of the king was increased by what the man told him he had a great desire to go himself and see the beautiful sight so the next morning when the cock the ringleader of the birds excited them all to arm mankind against the night and Teomo went with the geese to their custom spot the king followed him closely and when the geese came to the seashore without Teomo who remained as usual in the little shed the king saw Marciela rise out of the water and after giving the geese a tray full of sweet meats to eat and a cup full of rose water to drink she seated herself on a rock and began to comb her locks from which fell handfuls of pearls and garnets at the same time a cloud of flowers dropped from her mouth and under her feet was a Syrian carpet of lilies and violets when the king saw this sight he ordered Teomo to be called and pointing to Marciela asked him whether he knew that beautiful maiden then Teomo recognising his sister ran to embrace her and in the presence of the king heard from her all the treacherous conduct of Trocola and how the envy of that wicked creature had brought that fair fire of love to dwell in the waters of the sea the joy of the king is not to be told at the acquisition of so fair a jewel and turning to the brother he said that he had good reason to praise Marciela so much and indeed that he found her three times more beautiful than he had described her he deemed her therefore more than worthy to be his wife if she would content to receive the scepter of his kingdom alas would to heaven it could be so answered Marciela and that I could serve you as the slave of your crown but see you knot this golden chain upon my foot by which the sorceress holds me prisoner when I take too much fresh air and tarry too long on the shore she draws me into the waves and thus keeps me held in rich slavery by a golden chain what way is there said the king to free you from the claws of the siren the way replied Marciela would be to cut this chain with a smooth file and to loose me from it wait till tomorrow morning answered the king I will then come with all that is needful and take you home with me where you shall be the pupil of my eye the core of my heart and the life of my soul and then exchanging a shake of the hands as the earnest money of their love she went back into the water and he into the fire and into such a fire indeed that he had not an hours rest the whole day long and when the black old hag of the night came forth to have a country dance with the stars he never closed an eye but lay ruminating in his memory over the beauties of Marciela discoursing in thought of the marvels of her hair the miracles of her mouth and the wonders of her feet and applying the gold of her graces to the touchstone of judgement he found that it was four and twenty carats fine but he upgraded the night for not leaving off her embroidery of the stars and chided the sun for not arriving with the chariot of light to enrich his house with the treasure he longed for a mine of gold which produced pearls a pearl shell from which sprang flowers but whilst he was thus at sea thinking of her who was all the while in the sea behold the pioneers of the sun appeared who smoothed the road along which he has to pass with the army of his rays then the king dressed himself and went with Xhomur to the seashore where he found Marciela and the king with his own hand cut the chain from the foot of the beloved object with the file which they had brought but all the while he forged a still stronger one for his heart and setting her on the saddle behind him she who was already fixed on the saddle of his heart he set out for the royal palace whereby his command all the handsome ladies of the land were assembled who received Marciela as their mistress with all due honour then the king married her and there were great festivities and among all the casks which were burnt for the illuminations the king ordered that Trocola should be shut up in a tub and made to suffer for the treachery she had shown to Marciela then sending for Lucheta Xhomo enough to live upon like princes Waltz Puccia driven out of the kingdom wandered about as a beggar and as the reward of her not having sown a little bit of cake she had now to suffer a constant want of bread for it is the will of heaven that he who shows no pity finds none End of Chapter 23