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he　found　Marziella；　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；　where　by　his　command　all　the　handsome　ladies　of　the　land　were　assembled；　who　received　Marziella　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　Troccola　should　be　shut　up　in　a　tub；　and　made　to　suffer　for　the　treachery　she　had　shown　to　Marziella。　Then　sending　for　Luceta；　he　gave　her　and　Ciommo　enough　to　live　upon　like　princes；　whilst　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。〃



XXIV　

THE　SEVEN　DOVES

He　who　gives　pleasure　meets　with　it：　kindness　is　the　bond　of　friendship　and　the　hook　of　love：　he　who　sows　not　reaps　not；　of　which　truth　Ciulla　has　given　you　the　foretaste　of　example；　and　I　will　give　you　the　dessert；　if　you　will　bear　in　mind　what　Cato　says；　〃Speak　little　at　table。〃　Therefore　have　the　kindness　to　lend　me　your　ears　awhile；　and　may　Heaven　cause　them　to　stretch　continually；　to　listen　to　pleasant　and　amusing　things。

There　was　once　in　the　county　of　Arzano　a　good　woman　who　every　year　gave　birth　to　a　son；　until　at　length　there　were　seven　of　them；　who　looked　like　the　pipes　of　the　god　Pan；　with　seven　reeds；　one　larger　than　another。　And　when　they　had　changed　their　first　teeth；　they　said　to　Jannetella　their　mother；　〃Hark　ye；　mother；　if；　after　so　many　sons；　you　do　not　this　time　have　a　daughter；　we　are　resolved　to　leave　home；　and　go　wandering　through　the　world　like　the　sons　of　the　blackbirds。〃

When　their　mother　heard　this　sad　announcement；　she　prayed　Heaven　to　remove　such　an　intention　from　her　sons；　and　prevent　her　losing　seven　such　jewels　as　they　were。　And　when　the　hour　of　the　birth　was　at　hand；　the　sons　said　to　Jannetella；　〃We　will　retire　to　the　top　of　yonder　hill　or　rock　opposite；　if　you　give　birth　to　a　son；　put　an　inkstand　and　a　pen　up　at　the　window；　but　if　you　have　a　little　girl；　put　up　a　spoon　and　a　distaff。　For　if　we　see　the　signal　of　a　daughter；　we　shall　return　home　and　spend　the　rest　of　our　lives　under　your　wings；　but　if　we　see　the　signal　of　a　son；　then　forget　us；　for　you　may　know　that　we　have　taken　ourselves　off。〃

Soon　after　the　sons　had　departed　it　pleased　Heaven　that　Jannetella　should　bring　forth　a　pretty　little　daughter；　then　she　told　the　nurse　to　make　the　signal　to　the　brothers；　but　the　woman　was　so　stupid　and　confused　that　she　put　up　the　inkstand　and　the　pen。　As　soon　as　the　seven　brothers　saw　this　signal；　they　set　off；　and　walked　on　and　on；　until　at　the　end　of　three　years　they　came　to　a　wood；　where　the　trees　were　performing　the　sword…dance　to　the　sound　of　a　river　which　made　music　upon　the　stones。　In　this　wood　was　the　house　of　an　ogre　whose　eyes　having　been　blinded　whilst　asleep　by　a　woman；　he　was　such　an　enemy　to　the　sex　that　he　devoured　all　whom　he　could　catch。

When　the　youths　arrived　at　the　ogre's　house；　tired　out　with　walking　and　exhausted　with　hunger；　they　begged　him　for　pity's　sake　to　give　them　a　morsel　of　bread。　And　the　ogre　replied　that　if　they　would　serve　him　he　would　give　them　food；　and　they　would　have　nothing　else　to　do　but　to　watch　over　him　like　a　dog；　each　in　turn　for　a　day。　The　youths；　upon　hearing　this；　thought　they　had　found　father　and　mother；　so　they　consented；　and　remained　in　the　service　of　the　ogre；　who；　having　gotten　their　names　by　heart；　called　once　for　Giangrazio；　at　another　time　for　Cecchitiello；　now　for　Pascale；　now　Nuccio；　now　Pone；　now　Pezzillo；　and　now　Carcavecchia；　for　so　the　brothers　were　named；　and　giving　them　a　room　in　the　lower　part　of　the　house；　he　allowed　them　enough　to　live　upon。

Meanwhile　their　sister　had　grown　up；　and　hearing　that　her　seven　brothers；　owing　to　the　stupidity　of　the　nurse；　had　set　out　to　walk　through　the　world；　and　that　no　tidings　of　them　had　ever　been　received；　she　took　it　into　her　head　to　go　in　search　of　them。　And　she　begged　and　prayed　her　mother　so　long；　that　at　last；　overcome　by　her　entreaties；　she　gave　her　leave　to　go；　and　dressed　her　like　a　pilgrim。　Then　the　maiden　walked　and　walked；　asking　at　every　place　she　came　to　whether　any　one　had　seen　seven　brothers。　And　thus　she　journeyed　on；　until　at　length　she　got　news　of　them　at　an　inn；　where　having　enquired　the　way　to　the　wood；　one　morning；　at　the　hour　when　the　Sun　with　the　penknife　of　his　rays　scratches　out　the　inkspots　made　by　Night　upon　the　sheet　of　Heaven；　she　arrived　at　the　ogre's　house；　where　she　was　recognised　by　her　brothers　with　great　joy；　who　cursed　the　inkstand　and　the　pen　for　writing　falsely　such　misfortune　for　them。　Then　giving　her　a　thousand　caresses；　they　told　her　to　remain　quiet　in　their　chamber；　that　the　ogre　might　not　see　her；　bidding　her　at　the　same　time　give　a　portion　of　whatever　she　had　to　eat　to　a　cat　which　was　in　the　room；　or　otherwise　she　would　do　her　some　harm。　Cianna　（for　so　the　sister　was　named）　wrote　down　this　advice　in　the　pocket…book　of　her　heart；　and　shared　everything　with　the　cat；　like　a　good　companion；　always　cutting　justly；　and　saying；　〃This　for　methis　for　thee；　this　for　the　daughter　of　the　king；〃　giving　the　cat　a　share　to　the　last　morsel。

Now　it　happened　one　day　that　the　brothers；　going　to　hunt　for　the　ogre；　left　Cianna　a　little　basket　of　chick…peas　to　cook；　and　as　she　was　picking　them；　by　ill…luck　she　found　among　them　a　　hazel…nut；　which　was　the　stone　of　disturbance　to　her　quiet；　for　having　swallowed　it　without　giving　half　to　the　cat；　the　latter　out　of　spite　jumped　on　the　table　and　blew　out　the　candle。　Cianna　seeing　this；　and　not　knowing　what　to　do；　left　the　room；　contrary　to　the　command　of　her　brothers；　and　going　into　the　ogre's　chamber　begged　him　for　a　little　light。　Then　the　ogre；　hearing　a　woman's　voice；　said；　〃Welcome；　madam！　wait　awhile；you　have　found　what　you　are　seeking。〃　And　so　saying　he　took　a　Genoa　stone；　and　daubing　it　with　oil　he　fell　to　whetting　his　tusks。　But　Cianna；　who　saw　the　cart　on　a　wrong　track；　seizing　a　lighted　stick　ran　to　her　chamber；　and　bolting　the　door　inside；　she　placed　against　it　bars；　stools；　bedsteads；　tables；　stones；　and　everything　there　was　in　the　room。

As　soon　as　the　ogre　had　put　an　edge　on　his　teeth　he　ran　to　the　chamber　of　the　brothers；　and　finding　the　door　fastened；　he　fell　to　kicking　it　to　break　it　open。　At　this　noise　and　disturbance　the　seven　brothers　at　once　came　home；　and　hearing　themselves　accused　by　the　ogre　of　treachery　for　making　their　chamber　a　refuge　for　one　of　his　women　enemies；　Giangrazio；　who　was　the　eldest　and　had　more　sense　than　the　others；　and　saw　matters　going　badly；　said　to　the　ogre；　〃We　know　nothing　of　this　affair；　and　it　may　be　that　this　wicked　woman　has　perchance　come　into　the　room　whilst　we　were　at　the　chase；　but　as　she　has　fortified　herself　inside；　come　with　me　and　I　will　take　you　to　a　place　where　we　can　seize　her　without　her　being　able　to　defend　herself。〃

Then　they　took　the　ogre　by　the　hand；　and　led　him　to　a　deep；　deep　pit；　where；　giving　him　a　push；　they　sent　him　headlong　to　the　bottom；　and　taking　a　shovel；　which　they　found　on　the　ground；　they　covered　him　with　earth。　Then　they　bade　their　sister　unfasten　the　door；　and　they　rated　her　soundly　for　the　fault　she　had　committed；　and　the　danger　in　which　she　had　placed　herself；　telling　her　to　be　more　careful　in　future；　and　to　beware　of　plucking　grass　upon　the　spot　where　the　ogre　was　buried；　or　they　would　be　turned　into　seven　doves。

〃Heaven　keep　me　from　bringing　such　a　misfortune　upon　you！〃　replied　Cianna。　So　taking　possession　of　all　the　ogre's　goods　and　chattels；　and　making　themselves　masters　of　the　whole　house；　they　lived　there　merrily　enough；　waiting　until　winter　should　pass　away；　and　the　Sun；　on　taking　possession　of　the　house　of　the　Bull；　give　a　present　to　the　Earth　of　a　green　gown　embroidered　with　flowers；　when　they　might　set　out　on　their　journey　home。

Now　it　happened　one　day；　when　the　brothers　were　gone　to　the　mountains　to　get　firewood　to　defend　themselves　against　the　cold；　which　increased　from　day　to　day；　that　a　poor　pilgrim　came　to　the　ogre's　wood；　and　made　faces　at　an　ape　that　was　perched　up　in　a　pine…tree；　whereupon　the　ape　threw　down　one　of　the　fir…apples　from　the　tree　upon　the　man's　pate；　which　made　such　a　terrible　bump　that　the　poor　fellow　set　up　a　loud　cry。　Cianna　hearing　the　noise　went　out；　and　taking　pity　on　his　disaster；　she　quickly　plucked　a　sprig　of　rosemary　from　a　tuft　which　grew　upon　the　ogre's　grave；　then　she　made　him　a　plaster　of　it　with　boiled　bread　and　salt；　and　after　giving　the　man　some　breakfast　she　sent　him　away。

Whilst　Cianna　was　laying　the　cloth；　and　expecting　her　brothers；　lo！　she　saw　seven　doves　come　flying；　who　said　to　her；　〃Ah！　better　that　your　hand　had　been　cut　off；　you　cause　of　all　our　misfortune；　ere　it　plucked　that　accursed　rosemary　and　brought　such　a　calamity　upon　us！　Have　you　eaten　the　brains　of　a　cat；　O　sister；　that　you　have　driven　our　advice　from　your　mind？　Behold　us；　turned　to　birds；　a　prey　to　the　talons　of　kites；　hawks；　and　falcons！　Behold　us　made　companions　of　water…hens；　snipes；　goldfinches；　woodpeckers；　jays；　owls；　magpies；　jackdaws；　rooks；　starlings；　woodcocks；　cocks；　hens　and　chickens；　turkey…cocks；　blackbirds；　thrushes；　chaffinches；　tomtits；　jenny…wrens；　lapwings；　linnets；　greenfinches；　crossbills；　flycatchers；　larks；　plovers；　kingfishers；　wagtails；　redbreasts；　redfinches；　sparrows；　ducks；　fieldfares；　woodpigeons　and　bullfinches！　A　rare　thing　you　have　done！　And　now　we　may　return　to　our　country　to　find　nets　laid　and　twigs　limed　for　us！　To　heal　the　head　of　a　pilgrim；　you　have　broken　the　heads　of　seven　brothers；　nor　is　there　any　help　for　our　misfortune；　unless　you　find　the　Mother　of　Time；　who　will　tell　you　the　way　to　get　us　out　of　trouble。〃

Cianna；　looking　like　a　plucked　quail　at　the　fault　she　had　committed；　begged　pardon　of　her　brothers；　and　offered　to　go　round　the　world　until　she　should　find　the　dwelling　of　the　old　woman。　Then　praying