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ated　her　by　his　side；　and　when　he　related　to　his　mother　the　great　obligation　he　was　under　to　this　beautiful　maiden　and　all　that　she　had　done　for　him；　and　how　it　was　necessary　that　the　promise　he　had　given　should　be　fulfilled；　his　mother；　who　had　no　other　joy　in　life　than　her　son；　said　to　him；　〃Do　as　you　please；　so　that　you　offend　not　this　lady　whom　I　have　given　you　to　wife。〃　〃Be　not　troubled；〃　said　the　lady；　〃for；　to　tell　the　truth；　I　am　very　loth　to　remain　in　this　country；　with　your　kind　permission　I　wish　to　return　to　my　dear　Flanders。〃　Thereupon　the　Prince　with　great　joy　offered　her　a　vessel　and　attendants；　and；　ordering　Filadoro　to　be　dressed　like　a　Princess；　when　the　tables　were　removed；　the　musicians　came　and　they　began　the　ball　which　lasted　until　evening。

So　the　feast　being　now　ended；　they　all　betook　themselves　to　rest；　and　the　Prince　and　Filadoro　lived　happily　ever　after；　proving　the　truth　of　the　proverb　that　　　　　　　　〃He　who　stumbles　and　does　not　fall；　　　　　　Is　helped　on　his　way　like　a　rolling　ball。〃



XVII

CANNETELLA

It　is　an　evil　thing　to　seek　for　better　than　wheaten　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　Cannetella。

The　child　grew　by　hands；　and　when　she　was　as　tall　as　a　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　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。〃

Cannetella　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。　And　one　day；　seeing　a　good…looking　man　go　by；　the　King　said　to　his　daughter；　〃Run；　Cannetella！　see　if　yon　man　comes　up　to　the　measure　of　your　wishes。〃　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　Cannetella；　〃Well；　my　life；　how　does　this　youth　please　you？〃　〃Take　the　fellow　away；〃　said　she；　〃a　man　so　tall　and　so　big　as　he　should　never　have　let　an　almond　drop　out　of　his　mouth。〃

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　Cannetella　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　Cannetella　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　any　one　in　his　kingdom　who　should　answer　to　Cannetella'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。　He；　when　he　heard　of　this　proclamation；　being　a　cunning　magician；　called　a　parcel　of　that　evil　brood　to　him；　and　commanded　them　forthwith　to　make　his　head　and　teeth　of　gold。　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　Cannetella　set　eyes　upon　him　she　cried　out；　〃Ay；　that　is　he！　he　could　not　be　better　if　I　had　kneaded　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　sea…shore。〃　So；　after　arguing　awhile；　Fioravante　at　last　prevailed；　and；　placing　Cannetella　behind　him　on　a　horse；　he　set　out。

In　the　evening；　when　the　red　horses　are　taken　away　from　the　　corn…mill　of　the　sky　and　white　oxen　are　yoked　in　their　place；　they　came　to　a　stable　where　some　horses　were　feeding。　Fioravante　led　Cannetella　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。〃　Cannetella　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　Cannetella　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　sight　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　is　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。

A　little　while　after；　and　before　the　appointed　time；　her　husband　came　back；　and　one　of　his　horses　accused　Cannetella　of　having　taken　the　grapes。　Whereat；　Fioravante　in　a　rage；　drawing　his　knife；　was　about　to　kill　her；　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　Fioravante　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；　and　shall　be　gone　seven　years。　So　take　care　and　plough　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　Cannetella　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。　I　wished　for　a　head　of　gold；　only　to　come　to　grief　and　die　by　iron！　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　sallow；　that　her　own　father　would　not　have　known　her。

At　the　end　of　a　year　the　King's　locksmith；　whom　Cannetella　knew；　happening　to　pass　by　the　stable；　she　called　to　him　and　went　out。　The　smith　heard　his　name；　but　did　not　recognise　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　favour；　he　put　her　into　an　empty　cask　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　a　chamberlain　what　was　the　matter；　ordered　the　smith　to　be　instantly　admitted；　for　he　knew　that　something　unusual　must　have　made　him　come　at　tha