Myth-Folklore Unit: Italian Popular Tales

Overview. This selection of stories from the Italian Popular Tales by Thomas Crane provides a great introduction to the fabulously rich tradition of Italian folktales and fairy tales. You will find here the distinctively Italian versions of famous European fairy tales, such as Zelinda and the Monster, which is like Beauty and the Beast; The Fair Angiola, which is like Rapunzel; and The Three Goslings, which is a story like The Three Little Pigs, but with little geese whose adventures are much more satisfying (I think) than the traditional pigs-and-wolf story, and not just because the story features macaroni. In addition, you will find some marvelous stories that will be new to you, such as the weird and enchanting fairy tale of "Catherine and her Fate" or the story of the child Crivoliu, who started out his life as an accursed child but who ended up as the Pope of Rome. There's also a story about a rooster who wanted to become the Pope, but, alas, things do not turn out so well for the rooster as they do for Crivoliu!

Language. Crane tells the fairy tales in modern literary prose, so it is not difficult reading.

Story Length. These are almost all single-page stories with just a couple of stories that are two pages long.

Navigation. You will find the table of contents below, and you can also use this link to see the story posts displayed on a single page: Italian Popular Tales.

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READING A:

1. Zelinda and the Monster
2. The Fair Angiola
3. The Fair Angiola (cont.)
4. How the Devil Married Three Sisters
5. Sir Fiorante, Magician
6. Water and Salt
7. Catherine and Her Fate
8. Catherine and Her Fate (cont.)
9. The Man, the Serpent, and the Fox
10. The Ingrates

READING B:

1. The Language of Animals
2. An Incident in Rome
3. The Story of Crivoliu
4. The Sexton's Nose
5. The Cat and the Mouse
6. A Feast Day
7. Buchettino
8. The Three Goslings
9. The Cock That Wished to Become Pope

Italian: Zelinda and the Monster

Thomas Crane selected stories from the different regions of Italy, and this story comes from Tuscany (the region of Italy which includes Florence); specifically, the story come from the town of Montale near Pistoia. The Italian title of the story is Zelinda e il Mostro. As you will see, this is a Beauty-and-the-Beast type of story, and you can see it included in Dan Ashliman's collection of stories of this type: Aarne-Thompson-Uther type 425C.

[Notes by LKG]

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This story is part of the Italian Popular Tales unit. Story source: Italian Popular Tales by Thomas Frederick Crane (1885).

Zelinda and the Monster

THERE was once a poor man who had three daughters, and as the youngest was the fairest and most civil, and had the best disposition, her other two sisters envied her with a deadly envy, although her father, on the contrary, loved her dearly. It happened that in a neighboring town, in the month of January, there was a great fair, and that poor man was obliged to go there to lay in the provisions necessary for the support of his family, and, before departing, he asked his three daughters if they would like some small presents in proportion, you understand, to his means. Rosina wished a dress, Marietta asked him for a shawl, but Zelinda was satisfied with a handsome rose.

The poor man set out on his journey early the next day and, when he arrived at the fair, quickly bought what he needed, and afterward easily found Rosina's dress and Marietta's shawl, but at that season he could not find a rose for his Zelinda, although he took great pains in looking everywhere for one. However, anxious to please his dear Zelinda, he took the first road he came to and, after journeying a while, arrived at a handsome garden enclosed by high walls, but as the gate was partly open, he entered softly. He found the garden filled with every kind of flowers and plants, and in a corner was a tall rosebush full of beautiful rosebuds. Wherever he looked, no living soul appeared from whom he might ask a rose as a gift or for money, so the poor man, without thinking, stretched out his hand and picked a rose for his Zelinda.

Mercy! Scarcely had he pulled the flower from the stalk when there arose a great noise, and flames darted from the earth, and all at once there appeared a terrible monster with the figure of a dragon, and hissed with all his might, and cried out, enraged at that poor Christian, "Rash man! What have you done? Now you must die at once, for you have had the audacity to touch and destroy my rosebush."

The poor man, more than half dead with terror, began to weep and beg for mercy on his knees, asking pardon for the fault he had committed, and told why he had picked the rose, and then he added, "Let me depart; I have a family, and if I am killed they will go to destruction."

But the monster, more wicked than ever, responded, "Listen; one must die. Either bring me the girl that asked for the rose, or I will kill you this very moment." It was impossible to move him by prayers or lamentations; the monster persisted in his decision and did not let the poor man go until he had sworn to bring him there in the garden his daughter Zelinda.

Imagine how downhearted that poor man returned home! He gave his oldest daughters their presents and Zelinda her rose, but his face was distorted and as white as though he had arisen from the dead, so that the girls, in terror, asked him what had happened and whether he had met with any misfortune. They were urgent, and at last the poor man, weeping bitterly, related the misfortunes of that unhappy journey and on what condition he had been able finally to return home. "In short," he exclaimed, "either Zelinda or I must be eaten alive by the monster."

Then the two sisters emptied the vials of their wrath on Zelinda. "Just see," they said, "that affected, capricious girl! She shall go to the monster! She who wanted roses at this season. No, indeed! Papa must stay with us. The stupid creature!"

At all these taunts Zelinda, without growing angry, simply said, "It is right that the one who has caused the misfortune should pay for it. I will go to the monster's. Yes, Papa, take me to the garden, and the Lord's will be done."

The next day Zelinda and her sorrowful father began their journey and at nightfall arrived at the garden gate. When they entered, they saw as usual no one, but they beheld a lordly palace all lighted and the doors wide open. When the two travelers entered the vestibule, suddenly four marble statues, with lighted torches in their hands, descended from their pedestals and accompanied them up the stairs to a large hall where a table was lavishly spread. The travelers, who were very hungry, sat down and began to eat without ceremony, and when they had finished, the same statues conducted them to two handsome chambers for the night. Zelinda and her father were so weary that they slept like dormice all night.

At daybreak Zelinda and her father arose and were served with everything for breakfast by invisible hands. Then they descended to the garden and began to seek the monster.

When they came to the rosebush, he appeared in all his frightful ugliness. Zelinda, on seeing him, became pale with fear, and her limbs trembled, but the monster regarded her attentively with his great fiery eyes and afterward said to the poor man, "Very well; you have kept your word, and I am satisfied. Now depart and leave me alone here with the young girl."

At this command, the old man thought he should die, and Zelinda, too, stood there half stupefied and her eyes full of tears, but entreaties were of no avail; the monster remained as obdurate as a stone, and the poor man was obliged to depart, leaving his dear Zelinda in the monster's power.

When the monster was alone with Zelinda, he began to caress her, and make loving speeches to her, and managed to appear quite civil. There was no danger of his forgetting her, and he saw that she wanted nothing, and every day, talking with her in the garden, he asked her, "Do you love me, Zelinda? Will you be my wife?"

The young girl always answered him in the same way, "I like you, sir, but I will never be your wife."

Then the monster appeared very sorrowful and redoubled his caresses and attentions and, sighing deeply, said, "But you see, Zelinda, if you should marry me wonderful things would happen. What they are I cannot tell you until you will be my wife."

Zelinda, although in her heart not dissatisfied with that beautiful place and with being treated like a queen, still did not feel at all like marrying the monster because he was too ugly and looked like a beast and always answered his requests in the same manner.

One day, however, the monster called Zelinda in haste, and said, "Listen, Zelinda: if you do not consent to marry me, it is fated that your father must die. He is ill and near the end of his life, and you will not be able even to see him again. See whether I am telling you the truth." And, drawing out an enchanted mirror, the monster showed Zelinda her father on his deathbed.

At that spectacle Zelinda, in despair and half mad with grief, cried, "Oh, save my father, for mercy's sake! Let me be able to embrace him once more before he dies. Yes, yes, I promise you I will be your faithful and constant wife, and that without delay. But save my father from death."

Scarcely had Zelinda uttered these words when suddenly the monster was transformed into a very handsome youth. Zelinda was astounded by this unexpected change, and the young man took her by the hand, and said, "Know, dear Zelinda, that I am the son of the King of the Oranges. An old witch, touching me, changed me into the terrible monster I was, and condemned me to be hidden in this rosebush until a beautiful girl consented to become my wife."

[Crane did not translate the rest of the story but just summarized it as follows: Zelinda and her husband strive to obtain his parents' consent to his marriage. They refuse and the young couple run away from the royal palace and fall into the power of an ogre and his wife, from whom they at last escape.]

Next: The Fair Angiola

(1300 words)

Italian: The Fair Angiola

This story comes from the island of Sicily, and it was collected by one of the pioneer folklorists who studied traditional Sicilian stories, Laura Gonzenbach. You can read more about her life and work at Wikipedia.

This is a Rapunzel type of story, which Dan Ashliman has collected here: Rapunzel and Other Folktales of Type 310.

Notes by LKG

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This story is part of the Italian Popular Tales unit. Story source: Italian Popular Tales by Thomas Frederick Crane (1885).

The Fair Angiola

ONCE upon a time there were seven women, neighbors, all of whom were seized with a great longing for some jujubes which only grew in a garden opposite the place where they all lived and which belonged to a witch. Now this witch had a donkey that watched the garden and told the old witch when any one entered. The seven neighbors, however, had such a desire for the jujubes that they entered the garden and threw the donkey some nice soft grass, and, while he was eating it, they filled their aprons with jujubes and escaped before the witch appeared. This they did several times, until at last the witch noticed that some one had been in her garden, for many of the jujubes were gone. She questioned the donkey, but he had eaten the nice grass and noticed nothing. Then she resolved the third day to remain in the garden herself.

In the middle of it was a hole, in which she hid and covered herself with leaves and branches, leaving only one of her long ears sticking out. The seven neighbors once more went into the garden and began picking jujubes, when one of them noticed the witch's ear sticking out of the leaves and thought it was a mushroom and tried to pick it. Then the witch jumped out of the hole and ran after the women, all of whom escaped but one. The witch was going to eat her, but she begged hard for pardon and promised never to enter the garden again. The witch finally forgave her on the condition that she would give her her child, yet unborn, whether a boy or girl, when it was seven years old. The poor woman promised in her distress, and the witch let her go.

Some time after the woman had a beautiful little girl whom she named Angiola. When Angiola was six years old, her mother sent her to school to learn to sew and knit. On her way to school, she had to pass the garden where the witch lived. One day, when she was almost seven, she saw the witch standing in her garden. She beckoned to Angiola and gave her some fine fruits and said: "You see, fair Angiola, I am your aunt. Tell your mother you have seen your aunt, and she sends her word not to forget her promise."

Angiola went home and told her mother, who was frightened and said to herself: "Ah! The time has come when I must give up my Angiola."

Then she said to the child: "When your aunt asks you tomorrow for an answer, tell her you forgot your errand."

The next day she told the witch as she was directed. "Very well," she replied, "tell her today, but don't forget."

Thus several days passed; the witch was constantly on the watch for Angiola when she went to school, and wanted to know her mother's answer, but Angiola always declared that she had forgotten to ask her. One day, however, the witch became angry and said: "Since you are so forgetful, I must give you some token to remind you of your errand." Then she bit Angiola's little finger so hard that she bit a piece out.

Angiola went home in tears and showed her mother her finger. "Ah!" thought her mother. "There is no help for it. I must give my poor child to the witch, or else she will eat her up in her anger."

The next morning as Angiola was going to school, her mother said to her: "Tell your aunt to do with you as she thinks best."

Angiola did so, and the witch said: "Very well, then come with me, for you are mine."

So the witch took the fair Angiola with her and led her away to a tower which had no door and but one small window. There Angiola lived with the witch, who treated her very kindly, for she loved her as her own child. When the witch came home after her excursions, she stood under the window and cried: "Angiola, fair Angiola, let down your pretty tresses and pull me up!" Now Angiola had beautiful full long hair, which she let down and with which she pulled the witch up.

Now it happened one day when Angiola had grown to be a large and beautiful maiden, that the king's son went hunting and chanced to come where the tower was. He was astonished at seeing the house without any door and wondered how people got in. Just then the old witch returned home, stood under the window, and called: "Angiola, fair Angiola, let down your beautiful tresses and pull me up." Immediately the beautiful tresses fell down, and the witch climbed up by them.

This pleased the prince greatly, and he hid himself near by until the witch went away again. Then he went and stood under the window and called: "Angiola, fair Angiola, let down your beautiful tresses and pull me up." Then Angiola let down her tresses and drew up the prince, for she believed it was the witch.

When she saw the prince, she was much frightened at first, but he addressed her in a friendly manner and begged her to fly with him and become his wife.

Next: The Fair Angiola (cont.)

(900 words)

Italian: The Fair Angiola (cont.)

As you will see in the conclusion of the story, that little dog who loved Angiola turns out to be the real hero of the story, even more than the prince! You will see lots of fairy-tale elements in this part of the story, with talking objects and lots of magic, including magical balls of yarn.

Notes by LKG

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This story is part of the Italian Popular Tales unit. Story source: Italian Popular Tales by Thomas Frederick Crane (1885).

The Fair Angiola (cont.)

She finally consented, and in order that the witch should not know where she had gone, she gave all the chairs, tables, and cupboards in the house something to eat, for they were all living beings and might betray her. The broom, however, stood behind the door, so she did not notice it and give it nothing to eat. Then she took from the witch's chamber three magic balls of yarn and fled with the prince. The witch had a little dog that loved the fair Angiola so dearly that it followed her.

Soon after they had fled, the witch came back and called: "Angiola, fair Angiola, let down your beautiful tresses and draw me up." But the tresses were not let down for all she called, and at last she had to get a long ladder and climb in at the window.

When she could not find Angiola, she asked the tables and chairs and cupboards: "Where has she fled?" But they answered: "We do not know." The broom, however, called out from the corner: "The fair Angiola has fled with the king's son, who is going to marry her."

Then the witch started in pursuit of them and nearly overtook them. But Angiola threw down behind her one of the magic balls of yarn, and there arose a great mountain of soap. When the witch tried to climb it she slipped back, but she persevered until at last she succeeded in getting over it, and hastened after the fugitives.

Then Angiola threw down the second ball of yarn, and there arose a great mountain covered all over with nails small and large. Again the witch had to struggle hard to cross it; when she did she was almost flayed.

When Angiola saw that the witch had almost overtaken them again, she threw down the third ball, and there arose a mighty torrent. The witch tried to swim across it, but the stream kept increasing in size until she had at last to turn back. Then in her anger she cursed the fair Angiola, saying: "May your beautiful face be turned into the face of a dog!" and instantly Angiola's face became a dog's face.

The prince was very sorrowful and said: "How can I take you home to my parents? They would never allow me to marry a maiden with a dog's face."

So he took her to a little house where she was to live until the enchantment was removed. He himself returned to his parents, but whenever he went hunting he visited poor Angiola. She often wept bitterly over her misfortunes, until one day the little dog that had followed her from the witch's said: "Do not weep, fair Angiola. I will go to the witch and beg her to remove the enchantment."

Then the little dog started off and returned to the witch and sprang up on her and caressed her. "Are you here again, you ungrateful beast?" cried the witch, and pushed the dog away. "Did you leave me to follow the ungrateful Angiola?"

But the little dog caressed her until she grew friendly again and took him up on her lap. "Mother," said the little dog, "Angiola sends you greeting; she is very sad, for she cannot marry the prince."

"That serves her right," said the witch. "Why did she deceive me? She can keep her dog's face now!"

But the dog begged her so earnestly, saying that poor Angiola was sufficiently punished, that at last the witch gave the dog a flask of water, and said: "Take that to her and she will become the fair Angiola again."

The dog thanked her, ran off with the flask, and brought it safely to poor Angiola. As soon as she washed in the water, her dog's face disappeared, and she became beautiful again, more beautiful even than she had been before. The prince, full of joy, took her to the palace, and the king and queen were so pleased with her beauty that they welcomed her, and gave her a splendid wedding, and all remained happy and contented.

Next: How the Devil Married Three Sisters

(700 words)

Italian: How the Devil Married Three Sisters

This story comes from Venice. It is a variation on the "murdering bridegroom" type of story (like Mister Fox or the Robber Bridegroom or Bluebeard), but in this case the bridegroom is the devil himself.

Notes by LKG

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This story is part of the Italian Popular Tales unit. Story source: Italian Popular Tales by Thomas Frederick Crane (1885).

Devil (sculpture in Bologna, Italy)

How the Devil Married Three Sisters

ONCE upon a time the devil was seized with a desire to marry. He therefore left hell, took the form of a handsome young man, and built a fine large house. When it was completed and furnished in the most fashionable style, he introduced himself to a family where there were three pretty daughters and paid his addresses to the eldest of them. The handsome man pleased the maiden, her parents were glad to see a daughter so well provided for, and it was not long before the wedding was celebrated.

When he had taken his bride home, he presented her with a very tastefully arranged bouquet, led her through all the rooms of the house, and finally to a closed door. "The whole house is at your disposal," said he, "only I must request one thing of you: that is, that you do not on any account open this door."

Of course the young wife promised faithfully, but equally, of course, she could scarcely wait for the moment to come when she might break her promise. When the devil had left the house the next morning, under pretence of going hunting, she ran hastily to the forbidden door, opened it, and saw a terrible abyss full of fire that shot up towards her and singed the flowers on her bosom.

When her husband came home and asked her whether she had kept her promise, she unhesitatingly said, "Yes."

But he saw by the flowers that she was telling a lie and said, "Now I will not put your curiosity to the test any longer. Come with me. I will show you myself what is behind the door." Thereupon he led her to the door, opened it, gave her such a push that she fell down into hell, and shut the door again.

A few months after he wooed the next sister for his wife and won her, but with her everything that had happened with the first wife was exactly repeated.

Finally he courted the third sister. She was a prudent maiden and said to herself, "He has certainly murdered my two sisters, but then it is a splendid match for me, so I will try and see whether I cannot be more fortunate than they." And accordingly she consented. After the wedding the bridegroom gave her a beautiful bouquet but forbade her, also, to open the door which he pointed out.

Not a whit less curious than her sisters, she, too, opened the forbidden door when the devil had gone hunting, but she had previously put her flowers in water. Then she saw behind the door the fatal abyss and her sisters therein. "Ah!" she exclaimed, "poor creature that I am; I thought I had married an ordinary man, and instead of that he is the devil! How can I get away from him?"

She carefully pulled her two sisters out of hell and hid them. When the devil came home, he immediately looked at the bouquet, which she again wore on her bosom, and when he found the flowers so fresh he asked no questions, but, reassured as to his secret, he now, for the first time, really loved her.

After a few days, she asked him if he would carry three chests for her to her parents' house, without putting them down or resting on the way. "But," she added, "you must keep your word, for I shall be watching you."

The devil promised to do exactly as she wished. So the next morning she put one of her sisters in a chest and laid it on her husband's shoulders. The devil, who is very strong, but also very lazy and unaccustomed to work, soon got tired of carrying the heavy chest and wanted to rest before he was out of the street on which he lived, but his wife called out to him, "Don't put it down; I see you!"

The devil went reluctantly on with the chest until he had turned the corner and then said to himself, "She cannot see me here; I will rest a little."

But scarcely had he begun to put the chest down when the sister inside cried out, "Don't put it down; I see you still!" Cursing, he dragged the chest on into another street and was going to lay it down on a doorstep, but he again heard the voice, "Don't lay it down, you rascal; I see you still!"

"What kind of eyes must my wife have," he thought, "to see around corners as well as straight ahead and through walls as if they were made of glass!" and thus thinking he arrived, all in a perspiration and quite tired out, at the house of his mother-in-law, to whom he hastily delivered the chest and then hurried home to strengthen himself with a good breakfast.

The same thing was repeated the next day with the second chest. On the third day she herself was to be taken home in the chest. She therefore prepared a figure which she dressed in her own clothes and placed on the balcony, under the pretext of being able to watch him better, slipped quickly into the chest, and had the maid put it on the devil's back.

"The deuce!" said he; "this chest is a great deal heavier than the others, and today, when she is sitting on the balcony, I shall have so much the less chance to rest." So by dint of the greatest exertions he carried it, without stopping, to his mother-in-law and then hastened home to breakfast, scolding, and with his back almost broken.

But quite contrary to custom, his wife did not come out to meet him, and there was no breakfast ready. "Margerita, where are you?" he cried, but received no answer.

As he was running through the corridors, he at length looked out of a window and saw the figure on the balcony. "Margerita, have you gone to sleep? Come down. I am as tired as a dog, and as hungry as a wolf." But there was no reply.

"If you do not come down instantly I will go up and bring you down," he cried, angrily, but Margerita did not stir.

Enraged, he hastened up to the balcony and gave her such a box on the ear that her head flew off, and he saw that the head was nothing but a milliner's form, and the body, a bundle of rags. Raging, he rushed down and rummaged through the whole house, but in vain; he found only his wife's empty jewel box.

"Ha!" he cried; "she has been stolen from me and her jewels, too!" and he immediately ran to inform her parents of the misfortune. But when he came near the house, to his great surprise he saw on the balcony above the door all three sisters, his wives, who were looking down on him with scornful laughter.

Three wives at once terrified the devil so much that he took his flight with all possible speed.

Since that time he has lost his taste for marrying.

Next: Sir Fiorante, Magician

(1200 words)

Italian: Sir Fiorante, Magician

This is another story from Tuscany; the Italian title is Sor Fiorante mago. You will see that the opening of the story resembles the Beauty-and-the-Beast type of story, but this time the suitor is a snake. More specifically, this story closely resembles the Greco-Roman fairy tale of Cupid and Psyche in which the heroine must carry out a series of tasks in order to recover her supernatural spouse, who is the Sir Fiorante of the story's title.

Notes by LKG

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This story is part of the Italian Popular Tales unit. Story source: Italian Popular Tales by Thomas Frederick Crane (1885).

Sir Fiorante, Magician

A WOODMAN had three daughters. Every morning one after the other, in turn, carried him his bread to the wood. The father and the daughters noticed in a thicket a large snake, which one day asked the old man for one of his daughters in marriage, threatening him with death if none of them would accept such an offer.

The father told his daughters of the snake's offer, and the first and second immediately refused. If the third had refused, too, there would have been no hope of salvation for the father, but for his sake, she declared at once that snakes had always pleased her, and she thought the snake proposed by her father very handsome.

At this, the snake shook his tail in token of great joy and, making his bride mount it, carried her away to the midst of a beautiful meadow, where he caused a splendid palace to arise while he himself became a handsome man and revealed himself as Sir Fiorante with the red and white stockings. But woe to her if she ever disclosed to any one his existence and name! She would lose him forever, unless, to obtain possession of him again, she wore out a pair of iron shoes, a staff, and a hat, and filled with her tears seven bottles. The maiden promised, but she was a woman; she went to visit her cunning sisters; one of them wished to know her husband's name, and was so cunning that at last her sister told her, but when the poor girl went back to see her husband, she found neither husband nor palace.

To find him again, she was obliged in despair to do penance. She walked and walked and walked, and wept unceasingly. She had already filled one bottle with tears when she met an old woman who gave her a fine walnut to crack in time of need and disappeared. When she had filled four bottles, she met another old woman, who gave her a hazelnut to crack in time of need and disappeared. She had filled all seven bottles when a third old woman appeared to her and left her an almond to be cracked in a third case of need, and she, too, disappeared.

At last the young girl reached the castle of Sir Fiorante, who had taken another wife. The girl broke first the walnut, and found in it a beautiful dress which the second wife wanted herself. The young girl said: "You may have it if you will let me sleep with Sir Fiorante." The second wife consented, but meanwhile she gave Sir Fiorante some opium. In the night, the young girl said: "Sir Fiorante with the red and white stockings, I have worn out a pair of iron shoes, the staff, and the hat, and filled seven bottles with tears, wherefore you must recognize your first wife."

He made no answer, for he had taken opium. The next day the girl opened the hazelnut and out came a dress more beautiful than the first; Sir Fiorante's second wife wanted this and obtained it on the same condition as the first, but took care that Sir Fiorante should take some opium before going to bed.

The third day, a faithful servant asked Sir Fiorante if he had not heard in the night the cries that were uttered near him. Sir Fiorante replied, "No," but was careful not to take any opium the third night, when, having broken the almond and found in it a dress of unapproachable beauty, the young girl obtained the second wife's consent to sleep anew with Sir Fiorante. The latter pretended this time to take the opium, but did not. Then he feigned to be asleep, but remained awake in order to hear the cries of his abandoned wife, which he could not resist and began to embrace her.

The next day they left that palace to the second wife and departed together and went to live in happiness at another more wonderful castle.

Next: Water and Salt

(700 words)

Italian: Water and Salt

This is another story from Sicily, and its title in the Sicilian language is "L'Acqua e lu Sali." It is a common folktale type, and Dan Ashliman includes this version in his collection: Love Like Salt.

Folktales often have a formulaic ending spoken in the storytelling frame of the story, and you will see an example of that here at the end when the storyteller says: "... and here we are with nothing."

Notes by LKG

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This story is part of the Italian Popular Tales unit. Story source: Italian Popular Tales by Thomas Frederick Crane (1885).

Water and Salt

ONCE upon a time there was a king and three daughters. These three daughters being at table one day, their father said, "Come now, let us see which of you three loves me."

The oldest said, "Papa, I love you as much as my eyes."

The second answered, "I love you as much as my heart."

The youngest said, "I love you as much as water and salt."

The king heard her with amazement, "Do you value me like water and salt? Quick! Call the executioners, for I will have her killed immediately."

The other sisters privately gave the executioners a little dog and told them to kill it and rend one of the youngest sister's garments, but to leave her in a cave. This they did and brought back to the king the dog's tongue and the rent garment: "Royal majesty, here is her tongue and garment." And his majesty gave them a reward.

The unfortunate princess was found in the forest by a magician, who took her to his house opposite the royal palace. Here the king's son saw her and fell desperately in love with her, and the match was soon agreed upon.

Then the magician came and said, "You must kill me the day before the wedding. You must invite three kings, your father the first. You must order the servants to pass water and salt to all the guests except your father."

Now let us return to the father of this young girl, who the longer he lived the more his love for her increased, and he was sick of grief. When her received the invitation he said, "And how can I go with this love for my daughter?" And he would not go. Then he thought, "But this king will be offended if I do not go and will declare war against me some time."

He accepted and went. The day before the wedding they killed the magician and quartered him, and put a quarter in each of four rooms, and sprinkled his blood in all the rooms and on the stairway, and the blood and flesh became gold and precious stones.

When the three kings came and saw the golden stairs, they did not like to step on them. "Never mind," said the prince, "go up. This is nothing."

That evening, they were married. The next day, they had a banquet. The prince gave orders. "No salt and water to that king."

They sat down at table, and the young queen was near her father, but he did not eat. His daughter said, "Royal majesty, why do you not eat. Does not the food please you?"

"What an idea! It is very fine."

"Why don't you eat then?"

"I don't feel very well."

The bride and groom helped him to some bits of meat, but the king did not want it, and chewed his food over and over again like a goat (as if he could eat it without salt!).

When they finished eating they began to tell stories, and the king told them all about his daughter. She asked him if he could still recognize her and, stepping out of the room, put on the same dress she wore when he sent her away to be killed.

"You caused me to be killed because I told you I loved you as much as salt and water. Now you have seen what it is to eat without salt and water."

Her father could not say a word, but embraced her and begged her pardon. They remained happy and contented, and here we are with nothing.

Next: Catherine and Her Fate

(600 words)

Italian: Catherine and Her Fate

This is another one of the Sicilian stories collected by the folklorist Laura Gonzenbach. The word "fate" here is from the Italian word fata which means something like a "fairy" or a "guardian angel." You might know the Italian word fata in the English phrase Fata Morgana.

Notes by LKG

---

This story is part of the Italian Popular Tales unit. Story source: Italian Popular Tales by Thomas Frederick Crane (1885).

Catherine and Her Fate

THERE was once a merchant who was very rich and had greater treasures than the king. In his reception room stood three wonderfully beautiful seats. One was of silver, the second of gold, and the third of diamonds. This merchant had an only daughter, whose name was Catherine, and who was fairer than the sun.

One day as Catherine was sitting in her chamber, the door suddenly opened of itself, and there entered a tall, beautiful lady, who held in her hand a wheel. "Catherine," said she, "when would you rather enjoy your life, in youth or in old age?"

Catherine gazed at her in amazement, and could make no answer.

The beautiful lady again asked: "Catherine, when would you rather enjoy your life, in youth or in old age?"

Then thought Catherine: "If I say in youth, I must suffer for it in old age; wherefore I will rather enjoy my life in old age, and in youth God's will be done." So she answered: "In old age."

"Be it as you have wished," said the beautiful woman, turned her wheel once, and disappeared. Now this beautiful tall lady was poor Catherine's Fate.

A few days later, her father suddenly received news that some of his ships had been wrecked in a storm; a few days after, he learned that several more of his ships had foundered; and to cut the matter short, scarcely a month had passed when he was himself deprived of all his riches. He had to sell all that he had, and this, too, he lost, until at last he remained poor and wretched. From grief he fell ill and died.

So poor Catherine remained all alone in the world, without a penny, and with no one to give her shelter. She thought: "I will go to another city and seek me a place there." So she set out and walked until she came to another city.

As she was going through the streets, a noble lady happened to be standing by the window, and asked her: "Where are you going, all alone, pretty maiden?"

"Ah! Noble lady, I am a poor girl and would like to find a place to earn my bread. Can you not find use for me?" So the noble lady received her, and Catherine served her faithfully.

Some days later the lady said one evening: "Catherine, I must go out for a time, and will lock the house door."

"Very well," said Catherine, and after her mistress had gone, she took her work and sat down and sewed.

Suddenly the door opened, and her Fate entered. "So," she cried, "are you here, Catherine? And do you think now that I am going to leave you in peace?"

With these words, her Fate ran to all the cupboards, dragged out the linen and clothes of Catherine's mistress, and tore everything into a thousand pieces.

Catherine thought: "Woe is me if my mistress returns and finds everything in this condition; she will certainly kill me!" And in her anguish she opened the door and fled.

Her Fate, however, gathered up all the torn and ruined things, made them whole, and laid them away in their places. When the mistress returned, she called Catherine, but Catherine was nowhere to be seen.

"Can she have robbed me?" she thought, but when she looked about, nothing was gone. She was very much astonished, but Catherine did not return, but hastened on until she came to another city.

As she was passing through the streets, another lady, standing by the window, asked her: "Where are you going, all alone, pretty maiden?"

"Ah! Noble lady, I am a poor girl and would like a place to earn my bread. Can you not make use of me?" Then the lady took her in, and Catherine served her and thought now she could rest in peace. It lasted, however, but a few days.

One evening, when her mistress was out, her Fate appeared again and addressed her harshly: "So, here you are now. Do you think you can escape me?" Then the Fate tore and destroyed everything that it found, so that poor Catherine again fled, in her anguish of heart.

To cut the matter short, poor Catherine led this frightful life seven years, flying from one city to another, and everywhere attempting to find a place. Her Fate always appeared after a few days, and tore and destroyed her employers' things, so that the poor girl had to flee. As soon as she had left the house, the Fate restored everything and put it in its place.

Next: Catherine and Her Fate (cont.)

(800 words)

Italian: Catherine and Her Fate (cont.)

In this story you will see that it is not only Catherine who must deal with a "Fate" who complicates her life; Catherine's next mistress also has a demanding "Fate" of her own.

Notes by LKG

---

This story is part of the Italian Popular Tales unit. Story source: Italian Popular Tales by Thomas Frederick Crane (1885).

Catherine and Her Fate (cont.)

Finally, after seven years, her Fate seemed weary of always persecuting the unfortunate Catherine. One day, Catherine came again to a city and saw a lady standing at a window, who asked her: "Where are you going, all alone, pretty girl?"

"Ah! Noble lady, I am a poor girl and would like to find a place to earn my bread. Can you not find use for me?"

The lady answered: "I will give you a place willingly, but you must perform daily a service, and I do not know whether you have strength for it."

"Tell me what it is," said Catherine, "and if I can, I will do it."

"Do you see yonder high mountain?" asked the lady. "Every morning you must carry up there a large board covered with fresh bread and cry with a loud voice: 'O my mistress' Fate! O my mistress' Fate! O my mistress' Fate!' thrice. Then my Fate will appear and receive the bread."

"I will do that willingly," said Catherine, and the lady took her into her service.

Now Catherine remained years with this lady, and every morning she took a board with fresh bread and carried it up the mountain, and when she had called three times: "O my mistress' Fate!" there appeared a beautiful tall lady, who received the bread.

Catherine often wept when she thought that she, who had once been so rich, must now serve like a poor maid. One day her mistress said to her: "Catherine, why do you weep so much?"

Then Catherine told her how ill it had fared with her, and her mistress said: "I will tell you what, Catherine, when you take the bread to the mountain tomorrow, ask my Fate to try and persuade your Fate to leave you now in peace. Perhaps that will do some good."

This advice pleased poor Catherine, and the next morning, after she had taken the bread to her mistress' Fate, she disclosed her trouble to her and said: "O my mistress' Fate, beg my Fate to persecute me no longer."

Then the Fate answered: "Ah, poor girl, your Fate is just now covered with seven coverlets, so that she cannot hear you, but when you come tomorrow I will take you to her."

After Catherine had returned home, her mistress' Fate went to the young girl's Fate and said: "Dear sister, why are you never weary of making poor Catherine suffer? Permit her again to see some happy days."

The Fate answered: "Bring her to me tomorrow, and I will give her something that will help her out of all her trouble."

When Catherine brought the bread the next morning, her mistress' Fate conducted her to her own Fate, who was covered with seven coverlets. Her Fate gave her a small skein of silk and said: "Preserve it carefully; it will be of use to you."

Then Catherine went home and said to her mistress: "My Fate has given me a little skein of silk; what shall I do with it? It is not worth three grani."

"Well," said her mistress, "preserve it; who knows of what use it may be?"

Now it happened, some time after this, that the young king was to marry, and on that account had royal garments made for himself. As the tailor was about to sew a beautiful dress, there was no silk of the same color to be found. So the king proclaimed throughout the whole land that whoever had such silk should bring it to the court and would be well rewarded.

"Catherine," said her mistress, "your skein is of that color; take it to the king so that he may make you a handsome present."

Then Catherine put on her best clothes and went to the Court, and when she appeared before the king, she was so beautiful that he could not keep his eyes from her.

"Royal Majesty," said she, "I have brought you a little skein of silk of the color that could not be found."

"I will tell you what, royal Majesty," cried one of his ministers, "we will pay the maiden for the silk with its weight in gold."

The king was satisfied and they brought a balance: in one scale the king laid the silk; in the other, a gold coin. Now just imagine what happened: no matter how many gold coins the king laid in the scale, the silk was always heavier.

Then the king had a larger balance brought and threw all his treasures into the scale, but the silk still weighed the more. Then the king at last took his crown from his head and placed it with all the other treasures, and behold! The scale with gold sank and weighed exactly as much as the silk.

"Where did you get this silk?" asked the king.

"Royal Majesty, it was a present from my mistress," answered Catherine.

"No, that is impossible," cried the king. "If you do not tell me the truth, I will have your head cut off"

Then Catherine related all that had happened to her since she was a rich maiden.

Now there lived at the court a wise lady, who said: "Catherine, you have suffered much, but you will now see happy days, and that it was not until the golden crown was put in the scale that the balance was even is a sign that you will be a queen."

"If she is to be a queen," cried the king, "I will make her one, for Catherine and none other shall be my wife."

And so it was; the king informed his betrothed that he no longer wished her, and married the fair Catherine. And after Catherine in her youth had suffered so much, she enjoyed nothing but happiness in her old age, and was happy and contented.

Next: The Man, the Serpent, and the Fox

(1000 words)

Italian: The Man, the Serpent, and the Fox

This story comes from the town of Otranto in Apulia, on Italy's eastern coast. You may recognize this as a variation on the famous story that originally comes from India: The Brahmin and the Tiger. You will find a large collection of this type of story here: Ingratitude Is the World's Reward.

Notes by LKG

---

This story is part of the Italian Popular Tales unit. Story source: Italian Popular Tales by Thomas Frederick Crane (1885).

The Man, the Serpent, and the Fox

THERE was once a huntsman, who, in passing a quarry, found a serpent under a large stone. The serpent asked the hunter to liberate him, but the latter said, "I will not free you, for you will eat me."

The serpent replied, "Liberate me, for I will not eat you."

When the hunter had set the serpent at liberty, the latter wanted to devour him, but the hunter said, "What are you doing? Did you not promise me that you would not eat me?"

The serpent replied that hunger did not observe promises.

The hunter then said, "If you have no right to eat me, will you do it?"

"No," answered the serpent.

"Let us go, then," said the hunter, "and ask three times."

They went into the woods, and found a greyhound, and asked him, and he replied, "I had a master, and I went hunting and caught hares, and when I carried them home my master had nothing too good to give me to eat. Now, when I cannot overtake even a tortoise, because I am old, my master wishes to kill me. For this reason I condemn you to be eaten by the serpent, for he who does good finds evil."

"Do you hear? We have one judge," said the serpent.

They continued their journey, and found a horse, and asked him, and he too replied that the serpent was right to eat the man, "For," he said, "I had a master who fed me when I could travel. Now that I can do so no longer, he would like to hang me."

The serpent said, "Behold, two judges!"

They went on and found a fox. The huntsman said, "Fox, you must aid me. Listen: I was passing a quarry and found this serpent dying under a large stone, and he asked aid from me, and I released him, and now he wants to eat me."

The fox answered, "I will be the judge. Let us return to the quarry to see how the serpent was."

They went there and put the stone on the serpent, and the fox asked, "Is that the way you were?"

"Yes," answered the serpent.

"Very well then, stay so always!" said the fox.

Next: The Ingrates

(400 words)

Italian: The Ingrates

This story from Montferrat in northern Italy is a variation on the previous story, but it has a surprising ending. Just like before, the fox is able to trick the snake and thus save the man, but there is a surprise in store for the fox too. The title of the story gives you a clue: The Ingrates, plural.

Notes by LKG

---

This story is part of the Italian Popular Tales unit. Story source: Italian Popular Tales by Thomas Frederick Crane (1885).

The Ingrates

THERE was once a man who went into the forest to gather wood and saw a snake crushed under a large stone. He raised the stone a little with the handle of his axe, and the snake crawled out.

When it was at liberty, it said to the man, "I am going to eat you."

The man answered, "Softly. First let us hear the judgment of someone, and if I am condemned, then you shall eat me."

The first one they met was a horse as thin as a stick, tied to an oak tree. He had eaten the leaves as far as he could reach, for he was famished.

The snake said to him, "Is it right for me to eat this man who has saved my life?"

The nag answered, "More than right. Just look at me! I was one of the finest horses. I have carried my master so many years, and what have I gained? Now that I am so badly off that I can no longer work they have tied me to this oak, and after I have eaten these few leaves, I shall die of hunger. Eat the man, then. For he who does good is ill rewarded, and he who does evil must be well rewarded. Eat him, for you will be doing a good day's work."

They afterwards happened to find a mulberry tree, all holes, for it was eaten by old age. And the snake asked it if it was right to eat the man who had saved its life.

"Yes," the tree answered at once, "for I have given my master so many leaves that he has raised from them the finest silkworms in the world. Now that I can no longer stand upright, he has said that he is going to throw me into the fire. Eat him, then, for you will do well."

Afterwards they met the fox. The man took her aside and begged her to pronounce in his favor.

The fox said, "The better to render judgment, I must see just how the matter has happened."

They all returned to the spot and arranged matters as they were at first. But as soon as the man saw the snake under the stone he cried out, "Where you are, there I will leave you."

And there the snake remained.

The fox wished in payment a bag of hens, and the man promised them to her for the next morning. The fox went there in the morning, and when the man saw her, he put some dogs in the bag and told the fox not to eat the hens close by, for fear the mistress of the house would hear it. So the fox did not open the bag until she had reached a distant valley. Then the dogs came out and ate her.

And so it is in the world. For who does good is ill rewarded, and who does evil is well rewarded.

Next: The Language of Animals

(500 words)

Italian: The Language of Animals

This story is part of the Italian Popular Tales unit. Story source: Italian Popular Tales by Thomas Frederick Crane (1885).

The Language of Animals

A FATHER once had a son who spent ten years in school. At the end of that time, the teacher wrote the father to take away his son because he could not teach him anything more. The father took the boy home and gave a grand banquet in his honor, to which he invited the most noble gentlemen of the country.

After many speeches by those gentlemen, one of the guests said to the host's son: "Just tell us some fine thing that you have learned."

"I have learned the language of dogs, of frogs, and of birds."

There was universal laughter on hearing this, and all went away ridiculing the pride of the father and the foolishness of the son. The former was so ashamed at his son's answer and so angry at him that he gave him up to two servants, with orders to take him into a wood and kill him and to bring back his heart. The two servants did not dare to obey this command, and instead of the lad, they killed a dog and carried its heart to their master.

The youth fled from the country and came to a castle a long way off where lived the treasurer of the prince, who had immense treasures. There he asked for and obtained a lodging, but scarcely had he entered the house when a multitude of dogs collected about the castle. The treasurer asked the young man why so many dogs had come, and as the latter understood their language, he answered that it meant that a hundred assassins would attack the castle that very evening and that the treasurer should take his precautions. The castellan made two hundred soldiers place themselves in ambush about the castle, and at night they arrested the assassins. The treasurer was so grateful to the youth that he wished to give him his daughter, but he replied that he could not remain now, but that he would return within a year and three days.

After he left that castle, he arrived at a city where the king's daughter was very ill because the frogs which were in a fountain near the palace gave her no rest with their croaking. The lad perceived that the frogs croaked because the princess had thrown a cross into the fountain, and as soon as it was removed the girl recovered. The king, too, wished the lad to marry her, but he again said that he would return within a year and three days.

After leaving the king, he set out for Rome, and on the way met three young men who became his companions. One day it was very warm, and all three lay down to sleep under an oak. Immediately a great flock of birds flew into the oak and awakened the pilgrims by their loud singing.

One of them asked: "Why are these birds singing so joyfully?"

The youth answered: "They are rejoicing with the new Pope, who is to be one of us." And suddenly a dove alighted on his head, and in truth shortly after he was made Pope.

Then he sent for his father, the treasurer, and the king. All presented themselves trembling, for they knew that they had committed some sin. But the Pope made them all relate their deeds and then turned to his father and said: "I am the son whom you sent to be killed because I said I understood the language of birds, of dogs, and of frogs. You have treated me thus, and on the other hand a treasurer and a king have been very grateful for this knowledge of mine."

The father, repenting his fault, wept bitterly, and his son pardoned him and kept him with him while he lived.

Next: An Incident in Rome

(600 words)

Italian: An Incident in Rome

This story is part of the Italian Popular Tales unit. Story source: Italian Popular Tales by Thomas Frederick Crane (1885).

An Incident in Rome

IT is said that the following once took place at Rome: A wagon loaded with stones was crossing a solitary spot in the country when one of the wheels sank into the ground and it was impossible to extricate it for some time. Finally they got it out, but there remained a large hole that opened into a dark room under ground.

"Who wishes to descend into this hole?"

"I," said the carter. They soon procured a rope and lowered the carter into the dark room. We will suppose that this carter's name was Master Francis.

Well, then, Master Francis, when he was let down, turned to the right and saw a door, which he opened and found himself in darkness that you could cut. He turned to the left, the same; he went forward, the same; he turned once more and when he opened the door, what did he see? He saw a man seated before a table; before him, pen, ink, and a written paper that he was reading, and when he finished it, he began over again and never raised his eyes from the paper.

Master Francis, who was of incomparable courage, went up to him and said: "Who are you?"

The man made no answer, but continued to read.

"Who are you?" said Master Francis again, but not a word.

The third time, the man said: "Turn around, open your shirt, and I will write who I am on your back When you leave this place, go to the Pope and make him read who I am. Remember, however, that the Pope alone must read it."

Master Francis turned about, opened his shirt, the man wrote on his back, and then sat down again.

Master Francis was courageous, it is true, but he was not made of wood, and in that moment he was frightened to death. He fixed his shirt and then asked: "How long have you been here?" but could get no answer from him.

Seeing that it was time lost to question him, he gave the signal to those outside and was drawn up.

When they saw him they did not recognize him; he had grown entirely white and seemed like an old man of ninety.

"What was it? What happened?" they all began to say.

"Nothing, nothing," he replied; "take me to the Pope, for I must confess."

Two of those who were present conducted him to the Pope. When he was with him he related what had happened and, taking off his shirt, said to him: "Read, your Holiness!"

His Holiness read: "I AM PILATE."

And as he tittered these words, the poor carter became a statue.

And it is said that that man was Pilate, who was condemned to stay in a cave, always reading the sentence that he had pronounced on Jesus Christ, without ever being able to take his eyes from the paper.

This is the story of Pilate, who is neither saved nor damned.

Next: The Story of Crivoliu

(500 words)

Italian: The Story of Crivoliu

This story is part of the Italian Popular Tales unit. Story source: Italian Popular Tales by Thomas Frederick Crane (1885).

The Story of Crivoliu

ONCE upon a time there was a brother and sister who had neither father nor mother and lived alone together. They loved each other so much that they committed a sin which they should not have committed. When the time came, the sister gave birth to a boy, which the brother had secretly baptized. Then he burnt into his shoulders a cross, with these words: "Crivoliu, who is baptized, son of a brother and sister." After the child was thus marked, he put it in a little box and threw it into the sea.

Now it happened that a fisherman had just gone out to fish and saw the box floating on the waves. "A ship must have sunk somewhere," he thought. "I will get the box, perhaps there is something useful in it."

So he rowed after it and got it. When he opened it and saw the little child in it, he had pity on the innocent child, took it home to his wife, and said: "My dear wife, our youngest child is already old enough to wean; nurse in its place this poor innocent child."

So his wife took little Crivoliu, and nursed him, and loved him as though he were her own child. The boy grew, and thrived, and became every day larger and stronger.

The fisherman's sons, however, were jealous because their parents loved the little foundling as well as them, and when they played with Crivoliu and quarrelled, they called him a "foundling." The boy's heart was saddened by this and he went to his foster-parents and said: "Dear parents, tell me, am I truly not your son?"

The fisherman's wife said: "How should you not be my son? Have I not nursed you when you were a baby?" The fisherman forbade his children very strictly to call little Crivoliu a "foundling."

When the child was larger, the fisherman sent him to school with his sons. The children, when they were out of their father's hearing, began again to mock little Crivoliu and to call him "foundling," and the other children in the school did the same.

Then Crivoliu went again to his foster-parents and asked them if he was not their son. They persuaded him out of it, however, and put him off until he was fourteen. Then he could no longer stand being called "foundling," and went to the fisherman and his wife, and said: "Dear parents, I entreat you to tell me whether I am your child or not."

Then the fisherman told him how he had found him and what was written on his shoulders.

"Then I will go forth, and do penance for the sins of my parents," said Crivoliu.

The fisherman's wife wept and lamented and would not let him go, but Crivoliu would not be detained and wandered out into the wide world.

After he had wandered about a long time, he came one day to a lonely place where there was only an inn. He asked the hostess: "Tell me, good woman, is there a cave near by, to which you alone know the entrance?"

She answered: "Yes, my handsome youth, I know such a cave and will take you to it willingly."

Then Crivoliu took two grani's worth of bread and a little pitcher of water with him and had the hostess show him the cave. It was some distance from the inn, and the entrance was so covered with thorns and bushes that he could scarcely penetrate into the cave. He sent the hostess back, crept into the cave, put the bread and water on the ground, knelt with folded arms, and so did penance for the sins of his parents.

Many, many years passed, I know not how many, but so many, that his knees took root and he grew fast to the ground.

Now it happened that the Pope died at Rome, and a new one was to be chosen. The cardinals all assembled, and a white dove was let loose, for he on whom it should alight was to be Pope. The white dove made several circles in the air, but alighted on no one.

Then all the archbishops and bishops were summoned, and the dove was again let loose, but it did not settle on any one.

Then all the priests and monks and hermits were collected, but the white dove would not choose any of them. The people were in great despair, and the cardinals had to wander forth and search the whole country to see whether another hermit was yet to be found, and a crowd of people accompanied them.

At last they came to the inn in the lonely neighborhood and asked the hostess whether she knew of any hermit or penitent who was yet unknown to the world. The hostess answered: "Many years ago a sorrowful youth came here and made me conduct him to a cave to do penance. He is surely dead long ago, for he took with him only two grani's worth of bread and a pitcher of water."

The cardinals said: "We will look, however, and see whether he is still alive; take us to him."

Then the hostess conducted them to the cave; the entrance was scarcely to be recognized, so overgrown was it with brambles, and before they could enter, the attendants had to cut away the brambles and bushes with axes.

After they had forced their way in, they saw Crivoliu kneeling in the cave, with crossed arms, and his beard had grown so long that it touched the ground, and before him lay the bread, and by it the pitcher of water, for in all those years he had not eaten or drunken.

When they let the white dove loose now, it flew about in a circle for a moment and then alighted on the head of the penitent. Then the cardinals perceived that he was a saint and begged him to come with them and be their Pope. As they were going to raise him up, they noticed that his knees had grown fast, and they had to cut the roots. Then they took him to Rome with them and he was made Pope.

Now it happened that at the same time the sister said to her brother: "Dear brother, when we were young, we committed a sin that we have not yet confessed, for the Pope alone can absolve us from it. Let us go, then, to Rome, before death overtakes us, and confess there our sin."

So they started on their journey to Rome, and when they arrived there, they entered the church where the Pope sat in the confessional.

When they had confessed in a loud voice, for one always confesses openly to the Pope, the Pope said: "Behold, I am your son, for on my shoulder is the mark you speak of. I have done penance many years for your sin, until it has been forgiven you. I absolve you, therefore, from your sin, and you shall stay with me and live in comfort."

So they remained with him, and when their time came, the Lord called them all three to his kingdom.

Next: The Sexton's Nose

(1200 words)

Italian: The Sexton's Nose

This story is part of the Italian Popular Tales unit. Story source: Italian Popular Tales by Thomas Frederick Crane (1885).

The Sexton's Nose

A SEXTON, one day in sweeping the church, found a piece of money (it was a fifth of a cent) and deliberated with himself as to what he would buy with it. If he bought nuts or almonds, he was afraid of the mice, so at last he bought some roasted peas and ate all but the last pea.

This he took to a bakery nearby and asked the mistress to keep it for him. She told him to leave it on a bench, and she would take care of it. When she went to get it, she found that the cock had eaten it. The next day the sexton came for the roast pea, and when he heard what had become of it, he said they must either return the roast pea or give him the cock.

This they did, and the sexton, not having any place to keep it, took it to a miller's wife, who promised to keep it for him. Now she had a pig, which managed to kill the cock. The next day the sexton came for the cock and, on finding it dead, demanded the pig, and the woman had to give it to him.

The pig he left with a friend of his, a pastry cook, whose daughter was to be married the next day. The woman was mean and sly, and killed the pig for her daughter's wedding, meaning to tell the sexton that the pig had run away. The sexton, however, when he heard it, made a great fuss and declared that she must give him back his pig or her daughter. At last she had to give him her daughter, whom he put in a bag and carried away.

He took the bag to a woman who kept a shop, and asked her to keep for him this bag, which he said contained bran. The woman by chance kept chickens, and she thought she would take some of the sexton's bran and feed them. When she opened the bag she found the young girl, who told her how she came there. The woman took her out of the sack and put in her stead a dog.

The next day the sexton came for his bag and, putting it on his shoulder, started for the seashore, intending to throw the young girl in the sea. When he reached the shore, he opened the bag, and the furious dog flew out and bit his nose.

The sexton was in great agony and cried out, while the blood ran down his face in torrents, "Dog, dog, give me a hair to put in my nose and heal the bite."

The dog answered, "Do you want a hair? Give me some bread."

The sexton ran to a bakery and said to the baker, "Baker, give me some bread to give the dog. The dog will give a hair. The hair I will put in my nose and cure the bite."

The baker said, "Do you want bread? Give me some wood."

The sexton ran to the woodman. "Woodman, give me wood to give the baker. The baker will give me bread. The bread I will give to the dog. The dog will give me a hair. The hair I will put in my nose and heal the bite."

The woodman said, "Do you want wood? Give me a mattock."

The sexton ran to a smith. "Smith, give me a mattock to give the woodman. The woodman will give me wood. I will carry the wood to the baker. The baker will give me bread. I will give the bread to the dog. The dog will give me a hair. The hair I will put in my nose and heal the bite."

The smith said, "Do you want a mattock? Give me some coals."

The sexton ran to the collier. "Collier, give me some coals to give the smith. The smith will give me a mattock. The mattock I will give the woodman. The woodman will give me some wood. The wood I will give the baker. The baker will give me bread. The bread I will give the dog. The dog will give me a hair. The hair I will put in my nose and heal the bite."

"Do you want coals? Give me a cart."

The sexton ran to the wagon maker. "Wagon maker, give me a cart to give the collier. The collier will give me some coals. The coals I will carry to the smith. The smith will give me a mattock. The mattock I will give the woodman. The woodman will give me some wood. The wood I will give the baker. The baker will give me bread. The bread I will give to the dog. The dog will give me a hair. The hair I will put in my nose and heal the bite."

The wagon maker, seeing the sexton's great lamentation, is moved to compassion, and gives him the cart. The sexton, well pleased, takes the cart and goes away to the collier. The collier gives him the coals. The coals he takes to the smith. The smith gives him the mattock. The mattock he takes to the woodman. The woodman gives him wood. The wood he carries to the baker. The baker gives him bread. The bread he carries to the dog. The dog gives him a hair. The hair he puts in his nose, and heals the bite.

Next: The Cat and the Mouse

(900 words)

Italian: The Cat and the Mouse

This story is part of the Italian Popular Tales unit. Story source: Italian Popular Tales by Thomas Frederick Crane (1885).

The Cat and the Mouse

ONCE upon a time there was a cat that wanted to get married. So she stood on a corner, and everyone who passed by said, "Little Cat, what's the matter?"

"What's the matter? I want to marry."

A dog passed by and said, "Do you want me?"

"When I see how you can sing."

The dog said, "Bow, wow!"

"Fy! What horrid singing! I don't want you."

A pig passed. "Do you want me, Little Cat?"

"When I see how you sing."

"Uh! uh!"

"Fy! You are horrid! Go away! I don't want you."

A calf passed and said, "Little Cat, will you take me?"

"When I see how you sing."

"Uhm!"

"Go away, for you are horrid! What do you want of me?"

A mouse passed by: "Little Cat, what are you doing ?"

"I am going to get married."

"Will you take me?"

"And how can you sing?"

"Ziu, ziu!"

The cat accepted him and said, "Let us go and be married, for you please me." So they were married.

One day the cat went to buy some pastry and left the mouse at home. "Don't stir out, for I am going to buy some pastry."

The mouse went into the kitchen, saw the pot on the fire, and crept into it, for he wanted to eat the beans. But he did not; for the pot began to boil, and the mouse stayed there. The cat came back and began to cry, but the mouse did not appear. So the cat put the pastry in the pot for dinner. When it was ready the cat ate and put some on a plate for the mouse also. When she took out the pastry, she saw the mouse stuck fast in it.

"Ah! my little mouse! Ah! my little mouse!" So she went and sat behind the door, lamenting the mouse.

"What is the matter," said the door, "that you are scratching yourself so and tearing out your hair?"

The cat said, "What is the matter? My mouse is dead, and so I tear my hair."

The door answered, "And I, as door, will slam."

In the door was a window, which said, "What's the matter, door, that you are slamming?"

"The mouse died, the cat is tearing her hair, and I am slamming."

The window answered, "And I, as window, will open and shut."

In the window was a tree, that said, "Window, why do you open and shut?"

The window answered, "The mouse died, the cat tears her hair, the door slams, and I open and shut."

The tree answered and said, "And I, as tree, will throw myself down."

A bird happened to alight in this tree, and said: "Tree, why did you throw yourself down?"

The tree replied, "The mouse died, the cat tears her hair, the door slams, the window opens and shuts, and I, as tree, threw myself down."

"And I, as bird, will pull out my feathers."

The bird went and alighted on a fountain, which said, "Bird, why are you plucking out your feathers so?"

The bird answered as the others had done, and the fountain said, "And I, as fountain, will dry up."

A cuckoo went to drink at the fountain, and asked, "Fountain, why have you dried up?" And the fountain told him all that had happened.

"And I, as cuckoo, will put my tail in the fire."

A monk of St. Nicholas passed by, and said, "Cuckoo, why is your tail in the fire?"

When the monk heard the answer he said, "And I, as monk of St. Nicholas, will go and say mass without my robes."

Then came the queen, who, when she heard what the matter was, said, "And I, as queen, will go and sift the meal."

At last the king came by, and asked, "Oh, Queen! Why are you sifting the meal?"

When the queen had told him everything, he said: "And I, as king, am going to take my coffee."

Next: A Feast Day

(700 words)

Italian: A Feast Day

This story is part of the Italian Popular Tales unit. Story source: Italian Popular Tales by Thomas Frederick Crane (1885).

A Feast Day

ONCE upon a time, there was a husband and wife; the husband was a boatman. One feast day, the boatman took it into his head to buy a fowl, which he carried home, and said: "See here, wife, today is a feast day; I want a good dinner; cook it well, for my friend Tony is coming to dine with us and has said that he would bring a tart."

"Very well," she said, "I will prepare the fowl at once."

So she cleaned it, washed it, put it on the fire, and said: "While it is boiling I will go and hear a mass." She shut the kitchen door and left the dog and the cat inside.

Scarcely had she closed the door when the dog went to the hearth and perceived that there was a good odor there and said: "Oh, what a good smell!"

He called the cat, also, and said: "Cat, you come here, too; smell what a good odor there is! See if you can push off the cover with your paws."

The cat went and scratched and scratched and down went the cover.

"Now," said the dog, "see if you can catch it with your claws."

Then the cat seized the fowl and dragged it to the middle of the kitchen.

The dog said: "Shall we eat half of it?"

The cat said: "Let us eat it all."

So they ate it all and stuffed themselves like pigs. When they had eaten it, they said: "Alas for us! What shall we do when the mistress comes home? She will surely beat us both."

So they both ran all over the house, here and there, but could find no place in which to hide. They were going to hide under the bed. "No," they said, "for she will see us."

They were going under the sofa, but that would not do, for she would see them there.

Finally the cat looked up and saw under the beams a cobweb. He gave a leap and jumped into it.

The dog looked at him and said: "Run away! You are mad! You can be seen, for your tail sticks out! Come down, come down!"

"I cannot, I cannot, for I am stuck fast!"

"Wait, I will come and pull you out." He gave a spring to catch him by the tail and pull him down. Instead of that he, too, stuck fast to the cat's tail. He made every effort to loosen himself, but he could not and there he had to stay.

Meanwhile, the mistress does not wait until the priest finishes the mass, but runs quickly home. She runs and opens the door and is going to skim the pot, when she discovers that the fowl is no longer there, and in the middle of the kitchen she sees the bones all gnawed.

"Ah, poor me! The cat and the dog have eaten the fowl. Now I will give them both a beating." So she takes a stick and then goes to find them. She looks here, she looks there, but does not find them anywhere.

In despair, she comes back to the kitchen, but does not find them there. "Where the deuce have they hidden?"

Just then she raises her eyes and sees them both stuck fast under the beams. "Ah, are you there? Now just wait!" and she climbs on a table and is going to pull them down, when she sticks fast to the dog's tail. She tries to free herself but cannot.

Her husband knocked at the door. "Here, open!"

"I cannot, I am stuck fast."

"Loosen yourself and open the door! Where the deuce are you fastened?"

"I cannot, I tell you."

"Open! It is noon."

"I cannot, for I am fastened."

"But where are you fastened?"

"To the dog's tail."

"I will give you the dog's tail, you silly woman!" He gave the door two or three kicks, broke it in, went into the kitchen, and saw cat, dog, and mistress all fastened together.

"Ah, you are all fastened, are you? Just wait, I will loosen you." He went to loosen them, but stuck fast himself.

Friend Tony comes and knocks. "Friend? Open! I have the tart here."

"I cannot; my friend, I am stuck fast!"

"Bad luck to you! Are you stuck fast at this time? You knew I was coming and got fast? Come, loosen yourself and open the door!"

He said again: "I cannot come and open, for I am fast."

Finally the friend became angry, kicked in the door, went into the kitchen, and saw all those souls stuck fast and laughed heartily.

"Just wait, for I will loosen you now." So he gave a great pull: the cat's tail was loosened, the cat fell into the dog's mouth, the dog into his mistress' mouth, the mistress into her husband's, her husband into his friend's, and his friend into the mouth of the blockheads who are listening to me.

Next: Buchettino

(800 words)

Italian: Buchettino

This story is part of the Italian Popular Tales unit. Story source: Italian Popular Tales by Thomas Frederick Crane (1885).

Buchettino

ONCE upon a time there was a child whose name was Buchettino. One morning his mamma called him and said: "Buchettino, will you do me a favor? Go and sweep the stairs." Buchettino, who was very obedient, did not wait to be told a second time but went at once to sweep the stairs. All at once he heard a noise, and, after looking all around, he found a penny.

Then be said to himself: "What shall I do with this penny? I have half a mind to buy some dates. . but no! For I should have to throw away the stones. I will buy some apples. . . no! I will not, for I should have to throw away the core. I will buy some nuts . . . but no, for I should have to throw away the shells! What shall I buy, then? I will buy — I will buy — enough: I will buy a pennyworth of figs."

No sooner said than done: he bought a pennyworth of figs and went to eat them in a tree. While he was eating, the ogre passed by and, seeing Buchettino eating figs in the tree, said:

Buchettino,
My dear Buchettino,
Give me a little fig
With your dear little hand;
If not, I will eat you!

Buchettino threw him one, but it fell in the dirt. Then the ogre repeated:

Buchettino,
My dear Buchettino,
Give me a little fig
With your dear little hand;
If not, I will eat you!"

Then Buchettino threw him another, which also fell in the dirt. The ogre said again:

Buchettino,
My dear Buchettino,
Give me a little fig
With your dear little hand;
If not, I will eat you!

Poor Buchettino, who did not see the trick and did not know that the ogre was doing everything to get him into his net and eat him up, what does he do? He leans down and foolishly gives him a fig with his little hand. The ogre, who wanted nothing better, suddenly seized him by the arm and put him in his bag; then he took him on his back and started for home, crying with all his lungs:

Wife, my wife,
Put the kettle on the fire,
For I have caught Buchettino!
Wife, my wife,
Put the kettle on the fire,
For I have caught Buchettino!

When the ogre was near his house, he put the bag on the ground and went off to attend to something else. Buchettino, with a knife that he had in his pocket, cut the bag open in a trice, filled it with large stones, and then:

My legs, it is no shame
To run away when there is need.

When the rascal of an ogre returned, he picked up the bag and scarcely had he arrived home when he said to his wife: "Tell me, my wife, have you put the kettle on the fire?"

She answered at once: "Yes."

"Then," said the ogre, "we will cook Buchettino; come here, help me!"

And both taking the bag, they carried it to the hearth and were going to throw poor Buchettino into the kettle, but instead they found only the stones. Imagine how cheated the ogre was! He was so angry that he bit his hands. He could not swallow the trick played on him by Buchettino and swore to find him again and be revenged.

So the next day, he began to go all about the city and to look into all the hiding places. At last he happened to raise his eyes and saw Buchettino on a roof, ridiculing him and laughing so hard that his mouth extended from ear to ear. The ogre thought he should burst with rage, but he pretended not to see it, and in a very sweet tone he said: "O Buchettino; just tell me, how did you manage to climb up there?"

Buchettino answered: "Do you really want to know? Then listen. I put dishes upon dishes, glasses upon glasses, pans upon pans, kettles upon kettles; afterwards I climbed up on them and here am. I am!"

"Ah! Is that so?" said the ogre; "wait a bit." And quickly he took so many dishes, so many glasses, pans, kettles, and made a great mountain of them; then he began to climb up to go and catch Buchettino. But when he was on the top — brututum — everything fell down, and that rascal of an ogre fell down on the stones and was cheated again.

Then Buchettino, well pleased, ran to his mamma, who put a piece of candy in his little mouth. See whether there is any more!

Next: The Three Goslings

(800 words)

Italian: The Three Goslings

This story is part of the Italian Popular Tales unit. Story source: Italian Popular Tales by Thomas Frederick Crane (1885).

The Three Goslings

ONCE upon a time there were three goslings who were greatly afraid of the wolf, for if he found them he would eat them. One day the largest said to the other two: "Do you know what I think? I think we had better build a little house so that the wolf shall not eat us, and meanwhile let us go and look for something to build the house with."

Then the other two said: "Yes, yes, yes...good! Let us go!"

So they went and found a man who had a load of straw and said to him: "Good man, do us the favor to give us a little of that straw to make a house of so that the wolf shall not eat us."

The man said: "Take it, take it!" and he gave them as much as they wanted. The goslings thanked the man and took the straw and went away to a meadow, and there they built a lovely little house, with a door, and balconies, and kitchen, with everything, in short.

When it was finished, the largest gosling said: "Now I want to see whether one is comfortable in this house."

So she went in and said: "Oh! How comfortable it is in this house! Just wait!" She went, and locked the door with a padlock, and went out on the balcony, and said to the other two goslings: "I am very comfortable alone here; go away, for I want nothing to do with you."

The two poor little goslings began to cry and beg their sister to open the door and let them in; if she did not, the wolf would eat them. But she would not listen to them.

Then the two goslings went away and found a man who had a load of hay. They said to him: "Good man, do us the kindness to give us a little of that hay to build a house with so that the wolf shall not eat us!"

"Yes, yes, yes, take some, take some!" And he gave them as much as they wanted.

The goslings, well pleased, thanked the man and carried the hay to a meadow and built a very pretty little house, prettier than the other. The middle-sized gosling said to the smallest: "Listen, I am going now to see whether one is comfortable in this house, but I will not act like our sister, you know!"

She entered the house and said to herself: "Oh! How comfortable it is here! I don't want my sister! I am very comfortable here alone." So she went and fastened the door with a padlock, and went out on the balcony and said to her sister: "Oh! How comfortable it is in this house! I don't want you here! Go away, go away!"

The poor gosling began to weep and beg her sister to open to her, for she was alone and did not know where to go, and if the wolf found her he would eat her, but it did no good: she shut the balcony and stayed in the house.

Then the gosling, full of fear, went away and found a man who had a load of iron and stones and said to him: "Good man, do me the favor to give me a few of those stones and a little of that iron to build me a house with so that the wolf shall not eat me!"

The man pitied the gosling so much that he said: "Yes, yes, good gosling, or rather I will build your house for you." Then they went away to a meadow, and the man built a very pretty house, with a garden and everything necessary, and very strong, for it was lined with iron, and the balcony and door of iron also. The gosling, well pleased, thanked the man and went into the house and remained there.

Now let us go to the wolf.

The wolf looked everywhere for these goslings but could not find them. After a time, he learned that they had built three houses. "Good, good!" he said; "wait until I find you!"

Then he started out and journeyed and journeyed until he came to the meadow where the first house was. He knocked at the door and the gosling said: "Who is knocking at the door?"

"Come, come," said the wolf; "open, for it is I."

The gosling said, "I will not open for you because you will eat me."

"Open, open! I will not eat you; be not afraid. — Very well," said the wolf, "if you will not open the door, I will blow down your house." And indeed he did blow down the house and ate up the gosling.

"Now that I have eaten one," he said, "I will eat the others too." Then he went away and came at last to the house of the second gosling, and everything happened as to the first: the wolf blew down the house and ate the gosling.

Then he went in search of the third and when he found her, he knocked at the door, but she would not let him in. Then he tried to blow the house down, but could not; then he climbed on the roof and tried to trample the house down, but in vain.

"Very well," he said to himself, "in one way or another I will eat you."

Then he came down from the roof and said to the gosling: "Listen, gosling. Do you wish us to make peace? I don't want to quarrel with you who are so good, and I have thought that tomorrow we will cook some macaroni, and I will bring the butter and cheese, and you will furnish the flour."

"Very good," said the gosling, "bring them then."

The wolf, well satisfied, saluted the gosling and went away. The next day the gosling got up early and went and bought the meal and then returned home and shut the house.

A little later the wolf came and knocked at the door and said: "Come, gosling, open the door, for I have brought you the butter and cheese!"

"Very well, give it to me here by the balcony."

"No indeed; open the door!"

"I will open when all is ready."

Then the wolf gave her the things by the balcony and went away. While he was gone, the gosling prepared the macaroni and put it on the fire to cook in a kettle full of water.

When it was two o'clock, the wolf came and said: "Come, gosling, open the door."

"No, I will not open, for when I am busy I don't want any one in the way; when it is cooked, I will open and you may come in and eat it."

A little while after, the gosling said to the wolf: "Would you like to try a bit of macaroni to see whether it is well cooked?"

"Open the door! That is the better way."

"No, no; don't think you are coming in: put your mouth to the hole in the shelf, and I will pour the macaroni down."

The wolf, all greedy as he was, put his mouth to the hole and then the gosling took the kettle of boiling water and poured the boiling water instead of the macaroni through the hole into the wolf's mouth, and the wolf was scalded and killed.

Then the gosling took a knife and cut open the wolf's stomach, and out jumped the other goslings, who were still alive, for the wolf was so greedy that he had swallowed them whole.

Then these goslings begged their sister's pardon for the mean way in which they had treated her, and she, because she was kind-hearted, forgave them and took them into her house, and there they ate their macaroni and lived together happy and contented.

Next: The Cock That Wished to Become Pope

(1300 words)