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　of　plasters　and　a　mountain　of　rags　upon　his　back；　who　said　to　him；　〃My　gallant　sir；　what　makes　you　so　frightened？〃

〃Have　I；　forsooth；　to　tell　you　my　affairs？〃　answered　Jennariello。　〃　Faith　I　should　do　well　to　tell　my　reason　to　the　constable。〃

〃Softly；　my　fair　youth！〃　replied　the　beggar；　〃for　the　flesh　of　man　is　not　sold　by　weight。　If　Darius　had　not　told　his　troubles　to　a　groom　he　would　not　have　become　king　of　Persia。　It　will　be　no　great　matter；　therefore；　for　you　to　tell　your　affairs　to　a　poor　beggar；　for　there　is　not　a　twig　so　slender　but　it　may　serve　for　a　toothpick。〃

When　Jennariello　heard　the　poor　man　talking　sensibly　and　with　reason；　he　told　him　the　cause　that　had　brought　him　to　that　country；　whereupon　the　beggar　replied；　〃See　now；　my　son；　how　necessary　it　is　to　make　account　of　every　one；　for　though　I　am　only　a　heap　of　rubbish；　yet　I　shall　be　able　to　enrich　the　garden　of　your　hopes。　Now　listenunder　the　pretext　of　begging　alms；　I　will　knock　at　the　door　of　the　young　and　beautiful　daughter　of　a　magician；　then　open　your　eyes　wide；　look　at　her；　contemplate　her；　regard　her；　measure　her　from　head　to　foot；　for　you　will　find　the　image　of　her　whom　your　brother　desires。〃　So　saying；　he　knocked　at　the　door　of　a　house　close　by；　and　Liviella　opening　it　threw　him　a　piece　of　bread。

As　soon　as　Jennariello　saw　her；　she　seemed　to　him　built　after　the　model　which　Milluccio　had　given　him；　then　he　gave　a　good　alms　to　the　beggar　and　sent　him　away；　and　going　to　the　inn　he　dressed　himself　like　a　pedlar；　carrying　in　two　caskets　all　the　wealth　of　the　world。　And　thus　he　walked　up　and　down　before　Liviella's　house　crying　his　wares；　until　at　length　she　called　him；　and　took　a　view　of　the　beautiful　net…caps；　hoods；　ribands；　gauze；　edgings；　lace；　handkerchiefs；　collars；　needles；　cups　of　rouge；　and　head…gear　fit　for　a　queen；　which　he　carried。　And　when　she　had　examined　all　the　things　again　and　again；　she　told　him　to　show　her　something　else；　and　Jennariello　answered；　〃My　lady；　in　these　caskets　I　have　only　cheap　and　paltry　wares；　but　if　you　will　deign　to　come　to　my　ship；　I　will　show　you　things　of　the　other　world；　for　I　have　there　a　host　of　beautiful　goods　worthy　of　any　great　lord。〃

Liviella；　who　was　full　of　curiosity；　not　to　belie　the　nature　of　her　sex；　replied；　〃If　my　father　indeed　were　not　out　he　would　have　given　me　some　money。〃

〃Nay；　you　can　come　all　the　better　if　he　is　out；〃　replied　Jennariello；　〃for　perhaps　he　might　not　allow　you　the　pleasure；　and　I'll　promise　to　show　you　such　splendid　things　as　will　make　you　rave　such　necklaces　and　earrings；　such　bracelets　and　sashes；　such　workmanship　in　paperin　short　I　will　perfectly　astound　you。〃

When　Liviella　heard　all　this　display　of　finery　she　called　a　gossip　of　hers　to　accompany　her；　and　went　to　the　ship。　But　no　sooner　had　she　embarked　than　Jennariello；　whilst　keeping　her　enchanted　with　the　sight　of　all　the　beautiful　things　he　had　brought；　craftily　ordered　the　anchor　to　be　weighed　and　the　sails　to　be　set；　so　that　before　Liviella　raised　her　eyes　from　the　wares　and　saw　that　she　had　left　the　land；　they　had　already　gone　many　miles。　When　at　length　she　perceived　the　trick；　she　began　to　act　Olympia　the　reverse　way；　for　whereas　Olympia　bewailed　being　left　upon　a　rock；　Liviella　lamented　leaving　the　rocks。　But　when　Jennariello　told　her　who　he　was；　whither　he　was　carrying　her；　and　the　good　fortune　that　awaited　her；　and　pictured　to　her；　moreover；　Milluccio's　beauty；　his　valour；　his　virtues；　and　lastly　the　love　with　which　he　would　receive　her；　he　succeeded　in　pacifying　her；　and　she　even　prayed　the　wind　to　bear　her　quickly　to　see　the　colouring　of　the　design　which　Jennariello　had　drawn。

As　they　were　sailing　merrily　along　they　heard　the　waves　grumbling　beneath　the　ship；　and　although　they　spoke　in　an　undertone；　the　captain　of　the　ship；　who　understood　in　an　instant　what　it　meant；　cried　out；　〃All　hands　aboard！　for　here　comes　a　storm；　and　Heaven　save　us！〃　No　sooner　had　he　spoken　these　words　than　there　came　the　testimony　of　a　whistling　of　the　wind；　and　behold　the　sky　was　overcast　with　clouds；　and　the　sea　was　covered　with　white…crested　waves。　And　whilst　the　waves　on　either　side　of　the　ship；　curious　to　know　what　the　others　were　about；　leaped　uninvited　to　the　nuptials　upon　the　deck；　one　man　baled　them　with　a　bowl　into　a　tub；　another　drove　them　off　with　a　pump；　and　whilst　every　sailor　was　hard　at　workas　it　concerned　his　own　safetyone　minding　the　rudder；　another　hauling　the　foresail；　another　the　mainsheet；　Jennariello　ran　up　to　the　topmast；　to　see　with　a　telescope　if　he　could　discover　any　land　where　they　might　cast　anchor。　And　lo！　whilst　he　was　measuring　a　hundred　miles　of　distance　with　two　feet　of　telescope；　he　saw　a　dove　and　its　mate　come　flying　up　and　alight　upon　the　　sail…yard。　Then　the　male　bird　said；　〃Rucche；　rucche！〃　And　his　mate　answered；　〃What's　the　matter；　husband；　that　you　are　lamenting　so？〃　〃This　poor　Prince；〃　replied　the　other；　〃has　bought　a　falcon；　which　as　soon　as　it　shall　be　in　his　brother's　hands　will　pick　out　his　eyes；　but　if　he　does　not　take　it　to　him；　or　if　he　warns　him　of　the　danger；　he　will　turn　to　marble。〃　And　thereupon　he　began　again　to　cry；　〃Rucche；　rucche！〃　And　his　mate　said　to　him；　〃What；　still　lamenting！　Is　there　anything　new？〃　〃Ay；　indeed；〃　answered　the　male　dove；　〃he　has　also　bought　a　horse；　and　the　first　time　his　brother　rides　him　the　horse　will　break　his　neck；　but　if　he　does　not　take　it　to　him；　or　if　he　warns　him　of　the　danger；　he　will　turn　to　marble。〃　〃Rucche；　rucche！〃　he　cried　again。　〃Alas；　with　all　these　RUCCHE；　RUCCHE；〃　said　the　female　dove；　〃what's　the　matter　now？〃　And　her　mate　said；　〃This　man　is　taking　a　beautiful　wife　to　his　brother；　but　the　first　night；　as　soon　as　they　go　to　sleep；　they　will　both　be　devoured　by　a　frightful　dragon；　yet　if　he　does　not　take　her　to　him；　or　if　he　warns　him　of　the　danger；　he　will　turn　to　marble。〃

As　he　spoke；　the　tempest　ceased；　and　the　rage　of　the　sea　and　the　fury　of　the　wind　subsided。　But　a　far　greater　tempest　arose　in　Jennariello's　breast；　from　what　he　had　heard；　and　more　than　twenty　times　he　was　on　the　point　of　throwing　all　the　things　into　the　sea；　in　order　not　to　carry　to　his　brother　the　cause　of　his　ruin。　But　on　the　other　hand　he　thought　of　himself；　and　reflected　that　charity　begins　at　home；　and　fearing　that；　if　he　did　not　carry　these　things　to　his　brother；　or　if　he　warned　him　of　the　danger；　he　should　turn　to　marble；　he　resolved　to　look　rather　to　the　fact　than　to　the　possibility；　since　the　shirt　was　closer　to　him　than　the　jacket。

When　he　arrived　at　Shady…Grove；　he　found　his　brother　on　the　shore；　awaiting　with　great　joy　the　return　of　the　ship；　which　he　had　seen　at　a　distance。　And　when　he　saw　that　it　bore　her　whom　he　carried　in　his　heart；　and　confronting　one　face　with　the　other　perceived　that　there　was　not　the　difference　of　a　hair；　his　joy　was　so　great　that　he　was　almost　weighed　down　under　the　excessive　burden　of　delight。　Then　embracing　his　brother　fervently；　he　said　to　him；　〃What　falcon　is　that　you　are　carrying　on　your　fist？〃　And　Jennariello　answered；　〃I　have　bought　it　on　purpose　to　give　to　you。〃　〃I　see　clearly　that　you　love　me；〃　replied　Milluccio；　〃since　you　go　about　seeking　to　give　me　pleasure。　Truly；　if　you　had　brought　me　a　costly　treasure；　it　could　not　have　given　me　greater　delight　than　this　falcon。〃　And　just　as　he　was　going　to　take　it　in　his　hand；　Jennariello　quickly　drew　a　large　knife　which　he　carried　at　his　side　and　cut　off　its　head。　At　this　deed　the　King　stood　aghast；　and　thought　his　brother　mad　to　have　done　such　a　stupid　act；　but　not　to　interrupt　the　joy　at　his　arrival；　he　remained　silent。　Presently；　however；　he　saw　the　horse；　and　on　asking　his　brother　whose　it　was；　heard　that　it　was　his　own。　Then　he　felt　a　great　desire　to　ride　him；　and　just　as　he　was　ordering　the　stirrup　to　beheld；　Jennariello　quickly　cut　off　the　horse's　legs　with　his　knife。　Thereat　the　King　waxed　wrath；　for　his　brother　seemed　to　have　done　it　on　purpose　to　vex　him；　and　his　choler　began　to　rise。　However；　he　did　not　think　it　a　right　time　to　show　resentment；　lest　he　should　poison　the　pleasure　of　the　bride　at　first　sight；　whom　he　could　never　gaze　upon　enough。

When　they　arrived　at　the　royal　palace；　he　invited　all　the　lords　and　ladies　of　the　city　to　a　grand　feast；　at　which　the　hall　seemed　just　like　a　riding…school　full　of　horses；　curveting　and　prancing；　with　a　number　of　foals　in　the　form　of　women。　But　when　the　ball　was　ended；　and　a　great　banquet　had　been　despatched；　they　all　retired　to　rest。

Jennariello；　who　thought　of　nothing　else　than　to　save　his　brother's　life；　hid　himself　behind　the　bed　of　the　bridal　pair；　and　as　he　stood　watching　to　see　the　dragon　come；　behold　at　midnight　a　fierce　dragon　entered　the　chamber；　who　sent　forth　flames　from　his　eyes　and　smoke　from　his　mouth；　and　who；　from　the　terror　he　carried　in　his　look；　would　have　been　a　good　agent　to　sell　all　the　antidotes　to　fear　in　the　apothecaries'　shops。　As　soon　as　Jennariello　saw　the　monster；　he　began　to　lay　about　him　right　and　left　with　a　Damascus　blade　which　he　had　hidden　under　his　cloak；　and　he　struck　one　blow　so　furiously　that　it　cut　in　halves　a　post　of　the　King's　bed；　at　which　noise　the　King　awoke；　and　the　dragon　disappeared。

When　Milluccio　saw　the　sword　in　his　brother's　hand；　and　the　bedpost　cut　in　two；　he　set　up　a　loud　cry；　〃Help　here！　hola！　help！　This　traitor　of　a　brother　is　come　to　kill　me！〃　Whereupon；　hearing　the　noise；　a　number　of　servants　who　slept　in　the　antechamber　came　running　up；　and　the　King　ordered　Jennariello　to　be　bound；　and　sent　him　the　same　hour　to　prison。

The　next　morning；　as　soon　as　the　Sun　opened　his　bank　to　deliver　the　deposit　of　light　to　the　Creditor　of　the　Day；　the　King　summoned　the　council；　and　when　he　told　them　what　had　passed；　confirming　the　wicked　intention　shown　in　killing　the　falcon　and　the　horse　on　purpose　to　vex　him；　they　judged　that　Jennariello　deserved　to　die。　The　prayers　of　Liviella　were　all　unavailing　to　soften　the　heart　of　the　King；　who　said；　〃You　do　not　love　me；　wife；　for　you　have　more　regard　for　your　brother…in…law　than　for　my　life。　You　have　seen　with　your　own　eyes　this　dog　of　an　assassin　come　with　a　sword　that　would　cut　a　hair　in　the　air　to　kill　me；　and　if　the　bedpost　（the　column　of　my　life）　had　not　protected　me；　you　would　at　this　moment　have　been　a　widow。〃　So　saying；　he