2THE SATYRS.They say there was a queen whose husband was dead, and she had one only son. Imagine how devoted she was to him, her only child, soon to be the king of vast dominions.One day a lady, unknown to her, came and asked if she might put a horse of hers in her stable.‘No,’ said the queen; ‘I cannot have the horses of anyone else mixed up there.’The lady turned to go; but as she went, she met the prince coming in from hunting, surrounded by all his suite. The lady was a fairy, and in her indignation at the queen’s refusal of her demand, she turned the prince and all those following him intosalvatichi.1Imagine the horror and the cries of the queen whenshe saw what had happened. What was to be done? Much as she adored her son, it was impossible to keep him in the palace now.‘You must put him in the stables,’ said the cruel fairy, who had waited to enjoy her revenge, and now preserved her coolness amid the confusion and excitement of those around. ‘You must put him in the stables, and all the others too now. Your stables will be full enough, indeed!’But the queen’s grief was too deep to waste itself in a strife of words with her.‘There is only one mode of redemption for him. If he can find a maiden to consent to marry him as he is, without knowing he is a prince, I will come and remove the spell.’The queen had seen the proof of her relentless spirit, and knew it would be vain if she should humble herself to entreat her to alter her sentence. So she said nothing, and the fairy went away.To find a maiden who should consent to marry such a monster as her son now was, and who should yet be meet to be his wife when restored to his due estate, was a hopeless task indeed; but what will not a mother’s love attempt? With endless fatigue and continued mortifications she made the fruitless effort in every quarter. When this had utterly failed, she condescended to maidens of lower estate, and tried daughters of merchants and tradesmen, and even peasants, to whom the elevation of rank might in some measure compensate the ill-conditioned union. But it was all in vain, there were only fresh repulses and deeper mortifications.It happened that adjoining the paddock in which the stables lay, were the grounds of a duke. One day the duke’s daughter was walking in her garden, and the prince immediately turned his head and saw her, and began beckoning to her, for he had the head and arms and body of a man from the waist upwards still, and the rest of himwas like the hindquarters of a goat, only he stood upright, like a man. The duke’s daughter was perplexed, however, at the sight of such a monster, and ran away.Nevertheless the next day she came back, and the prince beckoned to her again, and all his suite, who were satyrs like himself, beckoned to her too, till at last she came near.‘Do you wish me well?’2he asked.‘No!’ exclaimed the duke’s daughter with disgust, because she could not say that she loved him: and she ran away. Every day it was the same thing; and when she told her mother what had happened, she bid her keep away, and beware of going near such a monster.For a whole month, therefore, she kept away; but curiosity overcame her at last, and she went down into the garden as before. All the satyrs began beckoning as usual, and she went up to them.‘If you will say you wish me well, you will give me endless happiness,’ said the prince; ‘and if not, I will dash my head against this wall, and put an end to my life.’He was so much in earnest, and the tears were in his eyes, and his sighs and entreaties were so moving, that she almost forgot his monstrous form. The prince observed that her face betrayed signs of interest, and he redoubled his sighs, and all the other satyrs made signs and gesticulations to her that she should consent.‘Say you wish me well! Let me just have the happiness of once hearing you say so!’ continued the prince.‘Poor fellow, he seems so sad, and so anxious I should just say it once. There can’t be much harm in saying just once that I wish him well,’ said the maiden to herself.‘Say, say just once, that you wish me well!’ persisted the prince; and the maiden in her compassion said:‘Yes! I wish you well.’Immediately the fairy appeared and took the spell from off the prince, and from off all his suite.When the duke’s daughter found to what a fine handsome prince she was promised, she saw her compassion was well rewarded.1Bazzarini gives ‘salvatico’ as synonymous with ‘satiro.’↑2‘Mi volete bene,’ literally, only ‘do you wish me well?’ but the accepted form of saying, ‘do you love me?’ when therefore the girl says the words at last she is supposed to make a sort of compromise by means of which she saves the prince and her own good taste at the same time.↑AMADEA.Amadea was a beautiful queen who fell in love with a king not of her own country; he loved her too, and married her, and took her home. But the king her father, and the prince her brother, were very wroth that she should go away with the stranger.When Amadea heard that her brother was preparing to prevent her going away with her husband, she turned upon him and killed him, and then cut his body in pieces, and threw the mangled limbs in her father’s way, to show him what he might expect if he followed after her too. Andwhen she found that he was not deterred by the sight, she turned and killed him in like manner.Only fancy what a woman she must have been!When her husband, who had liked her before, saw this, he began to be afraid of her; nevertheless, they lived for some time happily together, and had two beautiful children. But after that again, her husband’s love cooled towards her when he thought of the horrors she had committed, and he took their two children and went away and left her.After a time Amadea not only found out where he was, but found out that she had a rival. Then she made her way to the place, and demanded to see her rival; but knowing of what she was capable, this her husband would by no means allow. Then she prepared a most beautiful necklace of pearls, and sent it as a present to her rival. But she had poisoned it by her arts, for she was a sort of witch, and when her rival put it on she died.Meantime she had sent a message to her husband, saying, ‘If I may not come to your court, at least let me see my children for one hour, and then I will go away, and molest you no more for ever.’‘ThatI will grant you,’ was his answer; and the children were brought to her.When she saw her children, she wept, and embraced them, and wept again, and said:‘Now, my children, I must kill you.’‘And why must you kill us?’ asked the little boy.‘Because of the too great love I bear you,’ she replied, and drew out her dagger.At that instant her husband came into the room, and she stabbed the children before his eyes. After that she stabbed herself, and he died of grief.[It was about the time that Prince Amadeo gave up his attempt to hold the throne of Spain that I was visiting a poorperson who had before given me some of the stories of this collection. The abdication of Prince Amadeo being the subject of the hour, we, of course, talked about that; when she said: ‘Ah, you who are so fond offavola, do you know thefavolaof Queen Amadea, for one name brings up another?’ I told her I did not; for I expected she meant some legend of the House of Savoy; she then told me the story of Medeia in the text. It is very rare, however, to meet remnants of classical traditions in such direct form.]THE KING OF PORTUGAL.They say that once there was a king of Portugal who had a beautiful daughter, and there came a prince to marry her. When the prince saw how old and feeble the king was, he seized him, and shut him up in prison, and ordered him to be fed on only bread and water, that he might die without killing him. ‘And then,’ he said, ‘I shall take the government.’Then he would send and ask, ‘How does he look today? Does he grow lean and pale? Does he look like to die?’But the answer ever was, ‘Nay, prince, he looks hale and stout. Every day his face is fresher and fatter. Every day he seems stronger and firmer.’Then the prince grew in despair of ever accomplishing his design, and he said, ‘It cannot be as you say, unless there is treachery,’ and he changed the guards, and set a watch upon them; but the same thing happened, and the old king continued to grow stouter and stronger. He made them search the princess, too, when she went to see her father, and they assured themselves that she took nothing to him. Then he bade them watch her, and they saw that she placed her breast against the prison bars, and fed him with her own milk.For it had been thus, that when she learnt what was the design of the prince, she was filled with earnest desire to save her father’s life, and prayed so hard that she might have wherewith to support him, that, young girl as she was, the means was afforded her, and thus by her devotion she preserved him in life and health.When the prince heard what she did, he was seized with compunction, and sent and released the king, and restored him to his throne, and went his way in shame. But the king sent for him back, and forgave him: he gave him his daughter also, and when he died he left him the succession to the kingdom.[‘I have no “favole” for you to-day,’ was one day my greeting from an old lady who had given me many, ‘but there has just come to mind a “bell’ fatto” (a grand deed), which is better than a “favola” for it is historic truth.’ Then she told me the story in the text, and I was surprised to find she was positive it was a king of Portugal and that she never seemed to have heard of the ‘Carità Romana.’ It is odd that while so many legends get localised any should get dis-localised.]
2THE SATYRS.They say there was a queen whose husband was dead, and she had one only son. Imagine how devoted she was to him, her only child, soon to be the king of vast dominions.One day a lady, unknown to her, came and asked if she might put a horse of hers in her stable.‘No,’ said the queen; ‘I cannot have the horses of anyone else mixed up there.’The lady turned to go; but as she went, she met the prince coming in from hunting, surrounded by all his suite. The lady was a fairy, and in her indignation at the queen’s refusal of her demand, she turned the prince and all those following him intosalvatichi.1Imagine the horror and the cries of the queen whenshe saw what had happened. What was to be done? Much as she adored her son, it was impossible to keep him in the palace now.‘You must put him in the stables,’ said the cruel fairy, who had waited to enjoy her revenge, and now preserved her coolness amid the confusion and excitement of those around. ‘You must put him in the stables, and all the others too now. Your stables will be full enough, indeed!’But the queen’s grief was too deep to waste itself in a strife of words with her.‘There is only one mode of redemption for him. If he can find a maiden to consent to marry him as he is, without knowing he is a prince, I will come and remove the spell.’The queen had seen the proof of her relentless spirit, and knew it would be vain if she should humble herself to entreat her to alter her sentence. So she said nothing, and the fairy went away.To find a maiden who should consent to marry such a monster as her son now was, and who should yet be meet to be his wife when restored to his due estate, was a hopeless task indeed; but what will not a mother’s love attempt? With endless fatigue and continued mortifications she made the fruitless effort in every quarter. When this had utterly failed, she condescended to maidens of lower estate, and tried daughters of merchants and tradesmen, and even peasants, to whom the elevation of rank might in some measure compensate the ill-conditioned union. But it was all in vain, there were only fresh repulses and deeper mortifications.It happened that adjoining the paddock in which the stables lay, were the grounds of a duke. One day the duke’s daughter was walking in her garden, and the prince immediately turned his head and saw her, and began beckoning to her, for he had the head and arms and body of a man from the waist upwards still, and the rest of himwas like the hindquarters of a goat, only he stood upright, like a man. The duke’s daughter was perplexed, however, at the sight of such a monster, and ran away.Nevertheless the next day she came back, and the prince beckoned to her again, and all his suite, who were satyrs like himself, beckoned to her too, till at last she came near.‘Do you wish me well?’2he asked.‘No!’ exclaimed the duke’s daughter with disgust, because she could not say that she loved him: and she ran away. Every day it was the same thing; and when she told her mother what had happened, she bid her keep away, and beware of going near such a monster.For a whole month, therefore, she kept away; but curiosity overcame her at last, and she went down into the garden as before. All the satyrs began beckoning as usual, and she went up to them.‘If you will say you wish me well, you will give me endless happiness,’ said the prince; ‘and if not, I will dash my head against this wall, and put an end to my life.’He was so much in earnest, and the tears were in his eyes, and his sighs and entreaties were so moving, that she almost forgot his monstrous form. The prince observed that her face betrayed signs of interest, and he redoubled his sighs, and all the other satyrs made signs and gesticulations to her that she should consent.‘Say you wish me well! Let me just have the happiness of once hearing you say so!’ continued the prince.‘Poor fellow, he seems so sad, and so anxious I should just say it once. There can’t be much harm in saying just once that I wish him well,’ said the maiden to herself.‘Say, say just once, that you wish me well!’ persisted the prince; and the maiden in her compassion said:‘Yes! I wish you well.’Immediately the fairy appeared and took the spell from off the prince, and from off all his suite.When the duke’s daughter found to what a fine handsome prince she was promised, she saw her compassion was well rewarded.1Bazzarini gives ‘salvatico’ as synonymous with ‘satiro.’↑2‘Mi volete bene,’ literally, only ‘do you wish me well?’ but the accepted form of saying, ‘do you love me?’ when therefore the girl says the words at last she is supposed to make a sort of compromise by means of which she saves the prince and her own good taste at the same time.↑AMADEA.Amadea was a beautiful queen who fell in love with a king not of her own country; he loved her too, and married her, and took her home. But the king her father, and the prince her brother, were very wroth that she should go away with the stranger.When Amadea heard that her brother was preparing to prevent her going away with her husband, she turned upon him and killed him, and then cut his body in pieces, and threw the mangled limbs in her father’s way, to show him what he might expect if he followed after her too. Andwhen she found that he was not deterred by the sight, she turned and killed him in like manner.Only fancy what a woman she must have been!When her husband, who had liked her before, saw this, he began to be afraid of her; nevertheless, they lived for some time happily together, and had two beautiful children. But after that again, her husband’s love cooled towards her when he thought of the horrors she had committed, and he took their two children and went away and left her.After a time Amadea not only found out where he was, but found out that she had a rival. Then she made her way to the place, and demanded to see her rival; but knowing of what she was capable, this her husband would by no means allow. Then she prepared a most beautiful necklace of pearls, and sent it as a present to her rival. But she had poisoned it by her arts, for she was a sort of witch, and when her rival put it on she died.Meantime she had sent a message to her husband, saying, ‘If I may not come to your court, at least let me see my children for one hour, and then I will go away, and molest you no more for ever.’‘ThatI will grant you,’ was his answer; and the children were brought to her.When she saw her children, she wept, and embraced them, and wept again, and said:‘Now, my children, I must kill you.’‘And why must you kill us?’ asked the little boy.‘Because of the too great love I bear you,’ she replied, and drew out her dagger.At that instant her husband came into the room, and she stabbed the children before his eyes. After that she stabbed herself, and he died of grief.[It was about the time that Prince Amadeo gave up his attempt to hold the throne of Spain that I was visiting a poorperson who had before given me some of the stories of this collection. The abdication of Prince Amadeo being the subject of the hour, we, of course, talked about that; when she said: ‘Ah, you who are so fond offavola, do you know thefavolaof Queen Amadea, for one name brings up another?’ I told her I did not; for I expected she meant some legend of the House of Savoy; she then told me the story of Medeia in the text. It is very rare, however, to meet remnants of classical traditions in such direct form.]THE KING OF PORTUGAL.They say that once there was a king of Portugal who had a beautiful daughter, and there came a prince to marry her. When the prince saw how old and feeble the king was, he seized him, and shut him up in prison, and ordered him to be fed on only bread and water, that he might die without killing him. ‘And then,’ he said, ‘I shall take the government.’Then he would send and ask, ‘How does he look today? Does he grow lean and pale? Does he look like to die?’But the answer ever was, ‘Nay, prince, he looks hale and stout. Every day his face is fresher and fatter. Every day he seems stronger and firmer.’Then the prince grew in despair of ever accomplishing his design, and he said, ‘It cannot be as you say, unless there is treachery,’ and he changed the guards, and set a watch upon them; but the same thing happened, and the old king continued to grow stouter and stronger. He made them search the princess, too, when she went to see her father, and they assured themselves that she took nothing to him. Then he bade them watch her, and they saw that she placed her breast against the prison bars, and fed him with her own milk.For it had been thus, that when she learnt what was the design of the prince, she was filled with earnest desire to save her father’s life, and prayed so hard that she might have wherewith to support him, that, young girl as she was, the means was afforded her, and thus by her devotion she preserved him in life and health.When the prince heard what she did, he was seized with compunction, and sent and released the king, and restored him to his throne, and went his way in shame. But the king sent for him back, and forgave him: he gave him his daughter also, and when he died he left him the succession to the kingdom.[‘I have no “favole” for you to-day,’ was one day my greeting from an old lady who had given me many, ‘but there has just come to mind a “bell’ fatto” (a grand deed), which is better than a “favola” for it is historic truth.’ Then she told me the story in the text, and I was surprised to find she was positive it was a king of Portugal and that she never seemed to have heard of the ‘Carità Romana.’ It is odd that while so many legends get localised any should get dis-localised.]
2THE SATYRS.They say there was a queen whose husband was dead, and she had one only son. Imagine how devoted she was to him, her only child, soon to be the king of vast dominions.One day a lady, unknown to her, came and asked if she might put a horse of hers in her stable.‘No,’ said the queen; ‘I cannot have the horses of anyone else mixed up there.’The lady turned to go; but as she went, she met the prince coming in from hunting, surrounded by all his suite. The lady was a fairy, and in her indignation at the queen’s refusal of her demand, she turned the prince and all those following him intosalvatichi.1Imagine the horror and the cries of the queen whenshe saw what had happened. What was to be done? Much as she adored her son, it was impossible to keep him in the palace now.‘You must put him in the stables,’ said the cruel fairy, who had waited to enjoy her revenge, and now preserved her coolness amid the confusion and excitement of those around. ‘You must put him in the stables, and all the others too now. Your stables will be full enough, indeed!’But the queen’s grief was too deep to waste itself in a strife of words with her.‘There is only one mode of redemption for him. If he can find a maiden to consent to marry him as he is, without knowing he is a prince, I will come and remove the spell.’The queen had seen the proof of her relentless spirit, and knew it would be vain if she should humble herself to entreat her to alter her sentence. So she said nothing, and the fairy went away.To find a maiden who should consent to marry such a monster as her son now was, and who should yet be meet to be his wife when restored to his due estate, was a hopeless task indeed; but what will not a mother’s love attempt? With endless fatigue and continued mortifications she made the fruitless effort in every quarter. When this had utterly failed, she condescended to maidens of lower estate, and tried daughters of merchants and tradesmen, and even peasants, to whom the elevation of rank might in some measure compensate the ill-conditioned union. But it was all in vain, there were only fresh repulses and deeper mortifications.It happened that adjoining the paddock in which the stables lay, were the grounds of a duke. One day the duke’s daughter was walking in her garden, and the prince immediately turned his head and saw her, and began beckoning to her, for he had the head and arms and body of a man from the waist upwards still, and the rest of himwas like the hindquarters of a goat, only he stood upright, like a man. The duke’s daughter was perplexed, however, at the sight of such a monster, and ran away.Nevertheless the next day she came back, and the prince beckoned to her again, and all his suite, who were satyrs like himself, beckoned to her too, till at last she came near.‘Do you wish me well?’2he asked.‘No!’ exclaimed the duke’s daughter with disgust, because she could not say that she loved him: and she ran away. Every day it was the same thing; and when she told her mother what had happened, she bid her keep away, and beware of going near such a monster.For a whole month, therefore, she kept away; but curiosity overcame her at last, and she went down into the garden as before. All the satyrs began beckoning as usual, and she went up to them.‘If you will say you wish me well, you will give me endless happiness,’ said the prince; ‘and if not, I will dash my head against this wall, and put an end to my life.’He was so much in earnest, and the tears were in his eyes, and his sighs and entreaties were so moving, that she almost forgot his monstrous form. The prince observed that her face betrayed signs of interest, and he redoubled his sighs, and all the other satyrs made signs and gesticulations to her that she should consent.‘Say you wish me well! Let me just have the happiness of once hearing you say so!’ continued the prince.‘Poor fellow, he seems so sad, and so anxious I should just say it once. There can’t be much harm in saying just once that I wish him well,’ said the maiden to herself.‘Say, say just once, that you wish me well!’ persisted the prince; and the maiden in her compassion said:‘Yes! I wish you well.’Immediately the fairy appeared and took the spell from off the prince, and from off all his suite.When the duke’s daughter found to what a fine handsome prince she was promised, she saw her compassion was well rewarded.1Bazzarini gives ‘salvatico’ as synonymous with ‘satiro.’↑2‘Mi volete bene,’ literally, only ‘do you wish me well?’ but the accepted form of saying, ‘do you love me?’ when therefore the girl says the words at last she is supposed to make a sort of compromise by means of which she saves the prince and her own good taste at the same time.↑
2THE SATYRS.
They say there was a queen whose husband was dead, and she had one only son. Imagine how devoted she was to him, her only child, soon to be the king of vast dominions.One day a lady, unknown to her, came and asked if she might put a horse of hers in her stable.‘No,’ said the queen; ‘I cannot have the horses of anyone else mixed up there.’The lady turned to go; but as she went, she met the prince coming in from hunting, surrounded by all his suite. The lady was a fairy, and in her indignation at the queen’s refusal of her demand, she turned the prince and all those following him intosalvatichi.1Imagine the horror and the cries of the queen whenshe saw what had happened. What was to be done? Much as she adored her son, it was impossible to keep him in the palace now.‘You must put him in the stables,’ said the cruel fairy, who had waited to enjoy her revenge, and now preserved her coolness amid the confusion and excitement of those around. ‘You must put him in the stables, and all the others too now. Your stables will be full enough, indeed!’But the queen’s grief was too deep to waste itself in a strife of words with her.‘There is only one mode of redemption for him. If he can find a maiden to consent to marry him as he is, without knowing he is a prince, I will come and remove the spell.’The queen had seen the proof of her relentless spirit, and knew it would be vain if she should humble herself to entreat her to alter her sentence. So she said nothing, and the fairy went away.To find a maiden who should consent to marry such a monster as her son now was, and who should yet be meet to be his wife when restored to his due estate, was a hopeless task indeed; but what will not a mother’s love attempt? With endless fatigue and continued mortifications she made the fruitless effort in every quarter. When this had utterly failed, she condescended to maidens of lower estate, and tried daughters of merchants and tradesmen, and even peasants, to whom the elevation of rank might in some measure compensate the ill-conditioned union. But it was all in vain, there were only fresh repulses and deeper mortifications.It happened that adjoining the paddock in which the stables lay, were the grounds of a duke. One day the duke’s daughter was walking in her garden, and the prince immediately turned his head and saw her, and began beckoning to her, for he had the head and arms and body of a man from the waist upwards still, and the rest of himwas like the hindquarters of a goat, only he stood upright, like a man. The duke’s daughter was perplexed, however, at the sight of such a monster, and ran away.Nevertheless the next day she came back, and the prince beckoned to her again, and all his suite, who were satyrs like himself, beckoned to her too, till at last she came near.‘Do you wish me well?’2he asked.‘No!’ exclaimed the duke’s daughter with disgust, because she could not say that she loved him: and she ran away. Every day it was the same thing; and when she told her mother what had happened, she bid her keep away, and beware of going near such a monster.For a whole month, therefore, she kept away; but curiosity overcame her at last, and she went down into the garden as before. All the satyrs began beckoning as usual, and she went up to them.‘If you will say you wish me well, you will give me endless happiness,’ said the prince; ‘and if not, I will dash my head against this wall, and put an end to my life.’He was so much in earnest, and the tears were in his eyes, and his sighs and entreaties were so moving, that she almost forgot his monstrous form. The prince observed that her face betrayed signs of interest, and he redoubled his sighs, and all the other satyrs made signs and gesticulations to her that she should consent.‘Say you wish me well! Let me just have the happiness of once hearing you say so!’ continued the prince.‘Poor fellow, he seems so sad, and so anxious I should just say it once. There can’t be much harm in saying just once that I wish him well,’ said the maiden to herself.‘Say, say just once, that you wish me well!’ persisted the prince; and the maiden in her compassion said:‘Yes! I wish you well.’Immediately the fairy appeared and took the spell from off the prince, and from off all his suite.When the duke’s daughter found to what a fine handsome prince she was promised, she saw her compassion was well rewarded.
They say there was a queen whose husband was dead, and she had one only son. Imagine how devoted she was to him, her only child, soon to be the king of vast dominions.
One day a lady, unknown to her, came and asked if she might put a horse of hers in her stable.
‘No,’ said the queen; ‘I cannot have the horses of anyone else mixed up there.’
The lady turned to go; but as she went, she met the prince coming in from hunting, surrounded by all his suite. The lady was a fairy, and in her indignation at the queen’s refusal of her demand, she turned the prince and all those following him intosalvatichi.1
Imagine the horror and the cries of the queen whenshe saw what had happened. What was to be done? Much as she adored her son, it was impossible to keep him in the palace now.
‘You must put him in the stables,’ said the cruel fairy, who had waited to enjoy her revenge, and now preserved her coolness amid the confusion and excitement of those around. ‘You must put him in the stables, and all the others too now. Your stables will be full enough, indeed!’
But the queen’s grief was too deep to waste itself in a strife of words with her.
‘There is only one mode of redemption for him. If he can find a maiden to consent to marry him as he is, without knowing he is a prince, I will come and remove the spell.’
The queen had seen the proof of her relentless spirit, and knew it would be vain if she should humble herself to entreat her to alter her sentence. So she said nothing, and the fairy went away.
To find a maiden who should consent to marry such a monster as her son now was, and who should yet be meet to be his wife when restored to his due estate, was a hopeless task indeed; but what will not a mother’s love attempt? With endless fatigue and continued mortifications she made the fruitless effort in every quarter. When this had utterly failed, she condescended to maidens of lower estate, and tried daughters of merchants and tradesmen, and even peasants, to whom the elevation of rank might in some measure compensate the ill-conditioned union. But it was all in vain, there were only fresh repulses and deeper mortifications.
It happened that adjoining the paddock in which the stables lay, were the grounds of a duke. One day the duke’s daughter was walking in her garden, and the prince immediately turned his head and saw her, and began beckoning to her, for he had the head and arms and body of a man from the waist upwards still, and the rest of himwas like the hindquarters of a goat, only he stood upright, like a man. The duke’s daughter was perplexed, however, at the sight of such a monster, and ran away.
Nevertheless the next day she came back, and the prince beckoned to her again, and all his suite, who were satyrs like himself, beckoned to her too, till at last she came near.
‘Do you wish me well?’2he asked.
‘No!’ exclaimed the duke’s daughter with disgust, because she could not say that she loved him: and she ran away. Every day it was the same thing; and when she told her mother what had happened, she bid her keep away, and beware of going near such a monster.
For a whole month, therefore, she kept away; but curiosity overcame her at last, and she went down into the garden as before. All the satyrs began beckoning as usual, and she went up to them.
‘If you will say you wish me well, you will give me endless happiness,’ said the prince; ‘and if not, I will dash my head against this wall, and put an end to my life.’
He was so much in earnest, and the tears were in his eyes, and his sighs and entreaties were so moving, that she almost forgot his monstrous form. The prince observed that her face betrayed signs of interest, and he redoubled his sighs, and all the other satyrs made signs and gesticulations to her that she should consent.
‘Say you wish me well! Let me just have the happiness of once hearing you say so!’ continued the prince.
‘Poor fellow, he seems so sad, and so anxious I should just say it once. There can’t be much harm in saying just once that I wish him well,’ said the maiden to herself.
‘Say, say just once, that you wish me well!’ persisted the prince; and the maiden in her compassion said:
‘Yes! I wish you well.’
Immediately the fairy appeared and took the spell from off the prince, and from off all his suite.
When the duke’s daughter found to what a fine handsome prince she was promised, she saw her compassion was well rewarded.
1Bazzarini gives ‘salvatico’ as synonymous with ‘satiro.’↑2‘Mi volete bene,’ literally, only ‘do you wish me well?’ but the accepted form of saying, ‘do you love me?’ when therefore the girl says the words at last she is supposed to make a sort of compromise by means of which she saves the prince and her own good taste at the same time.↑
1Bazzarini gives ‘salvatico’ as synonymous with ‘satiro.’↑
2‘Mi volete bene,’ literally, only ‘do you wish me well?’ but the accepted form of saying, ‘do you love me?’ when therefore the girl says the words at last she is supposed to make a sort of compromise by means of which she saves the prince and her own good taste at the same time.↑
AMADEA.Amadea was a beautiful queen who fell in love with a king not of her own country; he loved her too, and married her, and took her home. But the king her father, and the prince her brother, were very wroth that she should go away with the stranger.When Amadea heard that her brother was preparing to prevent her going away with her husband, she turned upon him and killed him, and then cut his body in pieces, and threw the mangled limbs in her father’s way, to show him what he might expect if he followed after her too. Andwhen she found that he was not deterred by the sight, she turned and killed him in like manner.Only fancy what a woman she must have been!When her husband, who had liked her before, saw this, he began to be afraid of her; nevertheless, they lived for some time happily together, and had two beautiful children. But after that again, her husband’s love cooled towards her when he thought of the horrors she had committed, and he took their two children and went away and left her.After a time Amadea not only found out where he was, but found out that she had a rival. Then she made her way to the place, and demanded to see her rival; but knowing of what she was capable, this her husband would by no means allow. Then she prepared a most beautiful necklace of pearls, and sent it as a present to her rival. But she had poisoned it by her arts, for she was a sort of witch, and when her rival put it on she died.Meantime she had sent a message to her husband, saying, ‘If I may not come to your court, at least let me see my children for one hour, and then I will go away, and molest you no more for ever.’‘ThatI will grant you,’ was his answer; and the children were brought to her.When she saw her children, she wept, and embraced them, and wept again, and said:‘Now, my children, I must kill you.’‘And why must you kill us?’ asked the little boy.‘Because of the too great love I bear you,’ she replied, and drew out her dagger.At that instant her husband came into the room, and she stabbed the children before his eyes. After that she stabbed herself, and he died of grief.[It was about the time that Prince Amadeo gave up his attempt to hold the throne of Spain that I was visiting a poorperson who had before given me some of the stories of this collection. The abdication of Prince Amadeo being the subject of the hour, we, of course, talked about that; when she said: ‘Ah, you who are so fond offavola, do you know thefavolaof Queen Amadea, for one name brings up another?’ I told her I did not; for I expected she meant some legend of the House of Savoy; she then told me the story of Medeia in the text. It is very rare, however, to meet remnants of classical traditions in such direct form.]
AMADEA.
Amadea was a beautiful queen who fell in love with a king not of her own country; he loved her too, and married her, and took her home. But the king her father, and the prince her brother, were very wroth that she should go away with the stranger.When Amadea heard that her brother was preparing to prevent her going away with her husband, she turned upon him and killed him, and then cut his body in pieces, and threw the mangled limbs in her father’s way, to show him what he might expect if he followed after her too. Andwhen she found that he was not deterred by the sight, she turned and killed him in like manner.Only fancy what a woman she must have been!When her husband, who had liked her before, saw this, he began to be afraid of her; nevertheless, they lived for some time happily together, and had two beautiful children. But after that again, her husband’s love cooled towards her when he thought of the horrors she had committed, and he took their two children and went away and left her.After a time Amadea not only found out where he was, but found out that she had a rival. Then she made her way to the place, and demanded to see her rival; but knowing of what she was capable, this her husband would by no means allow. Then she prepared a most beautiful necklace of pearls, and sent it as a present to her rival. But she had poisoned it by her arts, for she was a sort of witch, and when her rival put it on she died.Meantime she had sent a message to her husband, saying, ‘If I may not come to your court, at least let me see my children for one hour, and then I will go away, and molest you no more for ever.’‘ThatI will grant you,’ was his answer; and the children were brought to her.When she saw her children, she wept, and embraced them, and wept again, and said:‘Now, my children, I must kill you.’‘And why must you kill us?’ asked the little boy.‘Because of the too great love I bear you,’ she replied, and drew out her dagger.At that instant her husband came into the room, and she stabbed the children before his eyes. After that she stabbed herself, and he died of grief.[It was about the time that Prince Amadeo gave up his attempt to hold the throne of Spain that I was visiting a poorperson who had before given me some of the stories of this collection. The abdication of Prince Amadeo being the subject of the hour, we, of course, talked about that; when she said: ‘Ah, you who are so fond offavola, do you know thefavolaof Queen Amadea, for one name brings up another?’ I told her I did not; for I expected she meant some legend of the House of Savoy; she then told me the story of Medeia in the text. It is very rare, however, to meet remnants of classical traditions in such direct form.]
Amadea was a beautiful queen who fell in love with a king not of her own country; he loved her too, and married her, and took her home. But the king her father, and the prince her brother, were very wroth that she should go away with the stranger.
When Amadea heard that her brother was preparing to prevent her going away with her husband, she turned upon him and killed him, and then cut his body in pieces, and threw the mangled limbs in her father’s way, to show him what he might expect if he followed after her too. Andwhen she found that he was not deterred by the sight, she turned and killed him in like manner.
Only fancy what a woman she must have been!
When her husband, who had liked her before, saw this, he began to be afraid of her; nevertheless, they lived for some time happily together, and had two beautiful children. But after that again, her husband’s love cooled towards her when he thought of the horrors she had committed, and he took their two children and went away and left her.
After a time Amadea not only found out where he was, but found out that she had a rival. Then she made her way to the place, and demanded to see her rival; but knowing of what she was capable, this her husband would by no means allow. Then she prepared a most beautiful necklace of pearls, and sent it as a present to her rival. But she had poisoned it by her arts, for she was a sort of witch, and when her rival put it on she died.
Meantime she had sent a message to her husband, saying, ‘If I may not come to your court, at least let me see my children for one hour, and then I will go away, and molest you no more for ever.’
‘ThatI will grant you,’ was his answer; and the children were brought to her.
When she saw her children, she wept, and embraced them, and wept again, and said:
‘Now, my children, I must kill you.’
‘And why must you kill us?’ asked the little boy.
‘Because of the too great love I bear you,’ she replied, and drew out her dagger.
At that instant her husband came into the room, and she stabbed the children before his eyes. After that she stabbed herself, and he died of grief.
[It was about the time that Prince Amadeo gave up his attempt to hold the throne of Spain that I was visiting a poorperson who had before given me some of the stories of this collection. The abdication of Prince Amadeo being the subject of the hour, we, of course, talked about that; when she said: ‘Ah, you who are so fond offavola, do you know thefavolaof Queen Amadea, for one name brings up another?’ I told her I did not; for I expected she meant some legend of the House of Savoy; she then told me the story of Medeia in the text. It is very rare, however, to meet remnants of classical traditions in such direct form.]
THE KING OF PORTUGAL.They say that once there was a king of Portugal who had a beautiful daughter, and there came a prince to marry her. When the prince saw how old and feeble the king was, he seized him, and shut him up in prison, and ordered him to be fed on only bread and water, that he might die without killing him. ‘And then,’ he said, ‘I shall take the government.’Then he would send and ask, ‘How does he look today? Does he grow lean and pale? Does he look like to die?’But the answer ever was, ‘Nay, prince, he looks hale and stout. Every day his face is fresher and fatter. Every day he seems stronger and firmer.’Then the prince grew in despair of ever accomplishing his design, and he said, ‘It cannot be as you say, unless there is treachery,’ and he changed the guards, and set a watch upon them; but the same thing happened, and the old king continued to grow stouter and stronger. He made them search the princess, too, when she went to see her father, and they assured themselves that she took nothing to him. Then he bade them watch her, and they saw that she placed her breast against the prison bars, and fed him with her own milk.For it had been thus, that when she learnt what was the design of the prince, she was filled with earnest desire to save her father’s life, and prayed so hard that she might have wherewith to support him, that, young girl as she was, the means was afforded her, and thus by her devotion she preserved him in life and health.When the prince heard what she did, he was seized with compunction, and sent and released the king, and restored him to his throne, and went his way in shame. But the king sent for him back, and forgave him: he gave him his daughter also, and when he died he left him the succession to the kingdom.[‘I have no “favole” for you to-day,’ was one day my greeting from an old lady who had given me many, ‘but there has just come to mind a “bell’ fatto” (a grand deed), which is better than a “favola” for it is historic truth.’ Then she told me the story in the text, and I was surprised to find she was positive it was a king of Portugal and that she never seemed to have heard of the ‘Carità Romana.’ It is odd that while so many legends get localised any should get dis-localised.]
THE KING OF PORTUGAL.
They say that once there was a king of Portugal who had a beautiful daughter, and there came a prince to marry her. When the prince saw how old and feeble the king was, he seized him, and shut him up in prison, and ordered him to be fed on only bread and water, that he might die without killing him. ‘And then,’ he said, ‘I shall take the government.’Then he would send and ask, ‘How does he look today? Does he grow lean and pale? Does he look like to die?’But the answer ever was, ‘Nay, prince, he looks hale and stout. Every day his face is fresher and fatter. Every day he seems stronger and firmer.’Then the prince grew in despair of ever accomplishing his design, and he said, ‘It cannot be as you say, unless there is treachery,’ and he changed the guards, and set a watch upon them; but the same thing happened, and the old king continued to grow stouter and stronger. He made them search the princess, too, when she went to see her father, and they assured themselves that she took nothing to him. Then he bade them watch her, and they saw that she placed her breast against the prison bars, and fed him with her own milk.For it had been thus, that when she learnt what was the design of the prince, she was filled with earnest desire to save her father’s life, and prayed so hard that she might have wherewith to support him, that, young girl as she was, the means was afforded her, and thus by her devotion she preserved him in life and health.When the prince heard what she did, he was seized with compunction, and sent and released the king, and restored him to his throne, and went his way in shame. But the king sent for him back, and forgave him: he gave him his daughter also, and when he died he left him the succession to the kingdom.[‘I have no “favole” for you to-day,’ was one day my greeting from an old lady who had given me many, ‘but there has just come to mind a “bell’ fatto” (a grand deed), which is better than a “favola” for it is historic truth.’ Then she told me the story in the text, and I was surprised to find she was positive it was a king of Portugal and that she never seemed to have heard of the ‘Carità Romana.’ It is odd that while so many legends get localised any should get dis-localised.]
They say that once there was a king of Portugal who had a beautiful daughter, and there came a prince to marry her. When the prince saw how old and feeble the king was, he seized him, and shut him up in prison, and ordered him to be fed on only bread and water, that he might die without killing him. ‘And then,’ he said, ‘I shall take the government.’
Then he would send and ask, ‘How does he look today? Does he grow lean and pale? Does he look like to die?’
But the answer ever was, ‘Nay, prince, he looks hale and stout. Every day his face is fresher and fatter. Every day he seems stronger and firmer.’
Then the prince grew in despair of ever accomplishing his design, and he said, ‘It cannot be as you say, unless there is treachery,’ and he changed the guards, and set a watch upon them; but the same thing happened, and the old king continued to grow stouter and stronger. He made them search the princess, too, when she went to see her father, and they assured themselves that she took nothing to him. Then he bade them watch her, and they saw that she placed her breast against the prison bars, and fed him with her own milk.
For it had been thus, that when she learnt what was the design of the prince, she was filled with earnest desire to save her father’s life, and prayed so hard that she might have wherewith to support him, that, young girl as she was, the means was afforded her, and thus by her devotion she preserved him in life and health.
When the prince heard what she did, he was seized with compunction, and sent and released the king, and restored him to his throne, and went his way in shame. But the king sent for him back, and forgave him: he gave him his daughter also, and when he died he left him the succession to the kingdom.
[‘I have no “favole” for you to-day,’ was one day my greeting from an old lady who had given me many, ‘but there has just come to mind a “bell’ fatto” (a grand deed), which is better than a “favola” for it is historic truth.’ Then she told me the story in the text, and I was surprised to find she was positive it was a king of Portugal and that she never seemed to have heard of the ‘Carità Romana.’ It is odd that while so many legends get localised any should get dis-localised.]