Stories from Pentamerone | Page 6

gave the same answer as before, that he might have it as a gift.
Taddeo, therefore, who could not do otherwise, made necessity kick at
discretion, and accepted the beautiful present.
But after four days more, Zoza opened the hazel-nut, and forth came a
doll which spun gold--an amazing sight. As soon as it was placed at the
same window, the Slave saw it and, calling to Taddeo, said, "I must
have that doll, or I will kill the child." Taddeo, who let his proud wife
toss him about like a shuttle, had nevertheless not the heart to send to
Zoza for the doll, but resolved to go himself, recollecting the sayings:
"No messenger is better than yourself," and "Let him who would eat a
fish take it by the tail." So he went and besought Zoza to pardon his
impertinence, on account of the caprices of his wife; and Zoza, who
was in ecstasies at beholding the cause of her sorrow, put a constraint
on herself; and so let him entreat her the longer to keep in sight the
object of her love, who was stolen from her by an ugly slave. At length
she gave him the doll, as she had done the other things, but before
placing it in his hands, she prayed the little doll to put a desire into the

heart of the Slave to hear stories told by her. And when Taddeo saw the
doll in his hand, without his paying a single coin, he was so filled with
amazement at such courtesy that he offered his kingdom and his life in
exchange for the gift. Then, returning to his palace, he placed it in his
wife's hands; and instantly such a longing seized her to hear stories told,
that she called her husband and said, "Bid some story-tellers come and
tell me stories, or I promise you, I will kill the child."
Taddeo, to get rid of this madness, ordered a proclamation instantly to
be made, that all the women of the land should come on the appointed
day. And on that day, at the hour when the star of Venus appears, who
awakes the Dawn, to strew the road along which the Sun has to pass,
the ladies were all assembled at the palace. But Taddeo, not wishing to
detain such a rabble for the mere amusement of his wife, chose ten only
of the best of the city who appeared to him most capable and eloquent.
These were Bushy-haired Zeza, Bandy-legged Cecca, Wen-necked
Meneca, Long-nosed Tolla, Humph-backed Popa, Bearded Antonella,
Dumpy Ciulla, Blear-eyed Paola, Bald-headed Civonmetella, and
Square-shouldered Jacova. Their names he wrote down on a sheet of
paper; and then, dismissing the others, he arose with the Slave from
under the canopy, and they went gently to the garden of the palace,
where the leafy branches were so closely interlaced, that the Sun could
not separate them with all the industry of his rays. And seating
themselves under a pavilion, formed by a trellis of vines, in the middle
of which ran a great fountain--the schoolmaster of the courtiers, whom
he taught everyday to murmur--Taddeo thus began:
"There is nothing in the world more glorious, my gentle dames, than to
listen to the deeds of others; nor was it without reason that the great
philosopher placed the highest happiness of man in listening to pretty
stories. In hearing pleasing things told, griefs vanish, troublesome
thoughts are put to flight and life is lengthened. And, for this reason,
you see the artisans leave their workshops, the merchants their
country-houses, the lawyers their cases, the shopkeepers their business,
and all repair with open mouths to the barbers' shops and to the groups
of chatterers, to listen to stories, fictions, and news in the open air. I
cannot, therefore, but pardon my wife, who has taken this strange fancy
into her head of hearing the telling of tales. So, if you will be pleased to
satisfy the whim of the Princess and comply with my wishes, you will,

during the next four or five days, .each of you relate daily one of those
tales which old women are wont to tell for the amusement of the little
ones. And you will come regularly to this spot; where, after a good
repast, you shall begin to tell stories, so as to pass life pleasantly--and
sorrow to him that dies!"
At these words, all bowed assent to the commands of Taddeo; and the
tables being meanwhile set out and feast spread, they sat down to eat.
And when they had done eating, the Prince took the paper and calling
on each in turn, by name, the stories that follow were told, in due order.

II THE MYRTLE
There lived in the village of Miano a man