Stories　from　Pentamerone
  by　Giambattista　Basile
  NOTE
  The　collection　of　folk…tales　known　as　Il　Pentamerone　was　first
  published　at　Naples　and　in　the　Neopolitan　dialect；　by　Giambattista
  Basile；　Conte　di　Torrone；　who　is　believed　to　have　collected　them
  chiefly　in　Crete　and　Venice；　and　to　have　died　about　the　year　1637。
  CONTENTS
  1。　　How　the　Tales　came　to　be　told
  2。　　The　Myrtle
  3。　　Peruonto
  4。　　Vardiello
  5。　　The　Flea
  6。　　Cenerentola
  7。　　The　Merchant
  8。　　Goat…Face
  9。　　The　Enchanted　Doe
  10。　Parsley
  11。　The　Three　Sisters
  12。　Violet
  13。　Pippo
  14。　The　Serpent
  15。　The　She…Bear
  16。　The　Dove
  17。　Cannetella
  18。　Corvetto
  19。　The　Booby
  20。　The　Stone　in　the　Cock's　Head
  21。　The　Three　Enchanted　Princes
  22。　The　Dragon
  23。　The　Two　Cakes
  24。　The　Seven　Doves
  25。　The　Raven
  26。　The　Months
  27。　Pintosmalto
  28。　The　Golden　Root
  29。　Sun；　Moon；　and　Talia
  30。　Nennillo　and　Nennella
  31。　The　Three　Citrons
  32。　Conclusion
  I　HOW　THE　TALES　CAME　TO　BE　TOLD
  It　is　an　old　saying；　that　he　who　seeks　what　he　should　not；　finds　what　he　would　not。　Every　one　has　heard　of　the　ape　who；　in　trying　to　pull　on　his　boots；　was　caught　by　the　foot。　And　it　happened　in　like　manner　to　a　wretched　slave；　who；　although　she　never　had　shoes　to　her　feet；　wanted　to　wear　a　crown　on　her　head。　But　the　straight　road　is　the　best；　and；　sooner　or　later；　a　day　comes　which　settles　all　accounts。　At　last；　having　by　evil　means　usurped　what　belonged　to　another；　she　fell　to　the　ground；　and　the　higher　she　had　mounted；　the　greater　was　her　fallas　you　shall　see。
  Once　upon　a　time　the　King　of　Woody　Valley　had　a　daughter　named　Zoza；　who　was　never　seen　to　laugh。　The　unhappy　father；　who　had　no　other　comfort　in　life　but　this　only　daughter；　left　nothing　untried　to　drive　away　her　melancholy。　So　he　sent　for　folks　who　walk　on　stilts；　fellows　who　jump　through　hoops；　for　boxers；　for　conjurers；　for　jugglers　who　perform　sleight…of…hand　tricks；　for　strong　men；　for　dancing　dogs；　for　leaping　clowns；　for　the　donkey　that　drinks　out　of　a　tumblerin　short；　he　tried　first　one　thing　and　then　another　to　make　her　laugh。　But　all　was　time　lost；　for　nothing　could　bring　a　smile　to　her　lips。
  So　at　length　the　poor　father；　at　wit's　end；　and　to　make　a　last　trial；　ordered　a　large　fountain　of　oil　to　be　set　in　front　of　the　palace　gates；　thinking　to　himself　that　when　the　oil　ran　down　the　street；　along　which　the　people　passed　like　a　troop　of　ants；　they　would　be　obliged；　in　order　not　to　soil　their　clothes；　to　skip　like　grasshoppers；　leap　like　goats；　and　run　like　hares；　while　one　would　go　picking　and　choosing　his　way；　and　another　go　creeping　along　the　wall。　In　short；　he　hoped　that　something　might　come　to　pass　to　make　his　daughter　laugh。
  So　the　fountain　was　made；　and　as　Zoza　was　one　day　standing　at　the　window；　grave　and　demure；　and　looking　as　sour　as　vinegar；　there　came　by　chance　an　old　woman；　who；　soaking　up　the　oil　with　a　sponge；　began　to　fill　a　little　pitcher　which　she　had　brought　with　her。　And　as　she　was　labouring　hard　at　this　ingenious　device；　a　young　page　of　the　court　passing　by　threw　a　stone　so　exactly　to　a　hair　that　he　hit　the　pitcher　and　broke　it　to　pieces。　Whereupon　the　old　woman；　who　had　no　hair　on　her　tongue；　turned　to　the　page；　full　of　wrath；　and　exclaimed；　〃Ah；　you　impertinent　young　dog；　you　mule；　you　gallows…rope；　you　spindle…legs！　Ill　luck　to　you！　May　you　be　pierced　by　a　Catalan　lance！　May　a　thousand　ills　befall　you　and　something　more　to　boot；　you　thief；　you　knave！〃
  The　lad；　who　had　little　beard　and　less　discretion；　hearing　this　string　of　abuse；　repaid　the　old　woman　in　her　own　coin；　saying；　〃Have　you　done；　you　grandmother　of　witches；　you　old　hag；　you　child…strangler！〃
  When　the　old　woman　heard　these　compliments　she　flew　into　such　a　rage　that；　losing　hold　of　the　bridle　and　escaping　from　the　stable　of　patience；　she　acted　as　if　she　were　mad；　cutting　capers　in　the　air　and　grinning　like　an　ape。　At　this　strange　spectacle　Zoza　burst　into　such　a　fit　of　laughter　that　she　well…nigh　fainted　away。　But　when　the　old　woman　saw　herself　played　this　trick；　she　flew　into　a　passion；　and　turning　a　fierce　look　on　Zoza　she　exclaimed：　〃May　you　never　have　the　least　little　bit　of　a　husband；　unless　you　take　the　Prince　of　Round…Field。〃
  Upon　hearing　this；　Zoza　ordered　the　old　woman　to　be　called；　and　desired　to　know　whether；　in　her　words；　she　had　laid　on　her　a　curse；　or　had　only　meant　to　insult　her。　And　the　old　woman　answered；　〃Know　then；　that　the　Prince　of　whom　I　spoke　is　a　most　handsome　creature；　and　is　named　Taddeo；　who；　by　the　wicked　spell　of　a　fairy；　having　given　the　last　touch　to　the　picture　of　life；　has　been　placed　in　a　tomb　outside　the　walls　of　the　city；　and　there　is　an　inscription　upon　a　stone；　saying　that　whatever　woman　shall　in　three　days　fill　with　tears　a　pitcher　that　hangs　there　upon　a　hook　will　bring　the　Prince　to　life　and　shall　take　him　for　a　husband。　But　as　it　is　impossible　for　two　human　eyes　to　weep　so　much　as　to　fill　a　pitcher　that　would　hold　half　a　barrel；　I　have　wished　you　this　wish　in　return　for　your　scoffing　and　jeering　at　me。　And　I　pray　that　it　may　come　to　pass；　to　avenge　the　wrong　you　have　done　me。〃　So　saying；　she　scuttled　down　the　stairs；　for　fear　of　a　beating。
  Zoza　pondered　over　the　words　of　the　old　woman；　and　after　turning　over　a　hundred　thoughts　in　her　mind；　until　her　head　was　like　a　mill　full　of　doubts；　she　was　at　last　struck　by　a　dart　of　the　passion　that　blinds　the　judgment　and　puts　a　spell　on　the　reasoning　of　man。　She　took　a　handful　of　dollars　from　her　father's　coffers　and　left　the　palace；　walking　on　and　on；　until　she　arrived　at　the　castle　of　a　fairy；　to　whom　she　unburdened　her　heart。　The　fairy；　out　of　pity　for　such　a　fair　young　girl；　who　had　two　spurs　to　make　her　falllittle　help　and　much　love　for　an　unknown　objectgave　her　a　letter　of　recommendation　to　a　sister　of　hers；　who　was　also　a　fairy。　And　this　second　fairy　received　her　likewise　with　great　kindness；　and　on　the　following　morning；　when　Night　commands　the　birds　to　proclaim　that　whoever　has　seen　a　flock　of　black　shadows　gone　astray　shall　be　well　rewarded；　she　gave　her　a　beautiful　walnut；　saying；　〃Take　this；　my　dear　daughter；　and　keep　it　carefully；　but　never　open　it；　but　in　time　of　the　greatest　need。〃　And　then　she　gave　her　also　a　letter；　commending　her　to　another　sister。
  After　journeying　a　long　way；　Zoza　arrived　at　this　fairy's　castle；　and　was　received　with　the　same　affection。　And　the　next　morning　this　fairy　likewise　gave　her　a　letter　to　another　sister；　together　with　a　chestnut；　cautioning　her　in　the　same　manner。　Then　Zoza　travelled　on　to　the　next　castle；　where　she　was　received　with　a　thousand　caresses　and　given　a　filbert；　which　she　was　never　to　open；　unless　the　greatest　necessity　obliged　her。　So　she　set　out　upon　her　journey；　and　passed　so　many　forests　and　rivers；　that　at　the　end　of　seven　years；　just　at　the　time　of　day　when　the　Sun；　awakened　by　the　coming　of　the　cocks；　has　saddled　his　steed　to　run　his　accustomed　stages；　she　arrived　almost　lame　at　Round…Field。
  There；　at　the　entrance　to　the　city；　she　saw　a　marble　tomb；　at　the　foot　of　a　fountain；　which　was　weeping　tears　of　crystal　at　seeing　itself　shut　up　in　a　porphyry　prison。　And；　lifting　up　the　pitcher；　she　placed　it　in　her　lap　and　began　to　weep　into　it；　imitating　the　fountain　to　make　two　little　fountains　of　her　eyes。　And　thus　she　continued　without　ever　raising　her　head　from　the　mouth　of　the　pitcheruntil；　at　the　end　of　two　days；　it　was　full　within　two　inches　of　the　top。　But；　being　wearied　with　so　much　weeping；　she　was　unawares　overtaken　by　sleep；　and　was　obliged　to　rest　for　an　hour　or　so　under　the　canopy　of　her　eyes。
  Meanwhile　a　certain　Slave；　with　the　legs　of　a　grasshopper；　came；　as　she　was　wont；　to　the　fountain；　to　fill　her　water…cask。　Now　she　knew　the　meaning　of　the　fountain　which　was　talked　of　everywhere；　and　when　she　saw　Zoza　weeping　so　incessantly；　and　making　two　little　streams　from　her　eyes；　she　was　always　watching　and　spying　until　the　pitcher　should　be　full　enough　for　her　to　add　the　last　drops　to　it；　and　thus　to　leave　Zoza　cheated　of　her　hopes。　Now；　therefore；　seeing　Zoza　asleep；　she　seized　her　opportunity；　and　dexterously　removing　the　pitcher　from　under　Zoza；　and　placing　her　own　eyes　over　it；　she　filled　it　in　four　seconds。　But　hardly　was　it　full；　when　the　Prince　arose　from　the　white　marble　shrine；　as　if　awakened　from　a　deep　sleep；　and　embraced　that　mass　of　dark　flesh；　and　carried　her　straightways　to　his　palace；　feasts　and　marvellous　illuminations　were　made；　and　he　took　her　for　his　wife。
  When　Zoza　awoke　and　saw　the　pitcher　gone；　and　her　hopes　with　it；　and　the　shrine　open；　her　heart　grew　so　heavy　that　she　was　on　the　point　of　unpacking　the　bales　of　her　soul　at　the　custom…house　of　Death。　But；　at　last；　seeing　that　there　was　no　help　for　her　misfortune；　and　that　she　could　only　blame　her　own　eyes；　which　had　served　her　so　ill；　she　went　her　way；　step　by　step；　into　the　city。　And　when　she　heard　of　the　feasts　which　the　Prince　had　made；　and　the　dainty　creature　he　had　married；　she　instantly　knew　how　all　this　mischief　had　come　to　pass；　and　said　to　herself；　sighing；　〃Alas；　two　dark　things　have　brought　me　to　the　ground；sleep　and　a　black　slave！〃　Then　she　took　a　fine　house　facing　the　palace　of　the　Prince；　from　whence；　though　she　could　not　see　the　idol