a single shirt to his back。〃 When the King heard this； he instantly commanded his retainers to take out of his own wardrobe a quantity of clothes and linen； and sent them to Pippo； and； before two hours had passed； Pippo went to the palace； conducted by the cat； where he received a thousand compliments from the King； who made him sit beside himself； and gave him a banquet that would amaze you。
While they were eating； Pippo from time to time turned to the cat and said to her； 〃My pretty puss； pray take care that those rags don't slip through our fingers。〃 Then the cat answered； 〃Be quiet； be quiet； don't be talking of these beggarly things。〃 The King； wishing to know the subject of their talk； the cat made answer that Pippo had taken a fancy to a small lemon； whereupon the King instantly sent out to the garden for a basketful。 But Pippo returned to the same tune about the old coats and shirts； and the cat again told him to hold his tongue。 Then the King once more asked what was the matter； and the cat had another excuse to make amends for Pippo's rudeness。
At last； when they had eaten and conversed for some time about one thing and another； Pippo took his leave； and the cat stayed with the King； describing the worth； the wisdom； and the judgment of Pippo； and； above all； the great wealth he had in the plains of Rome and Lombardy； which well entitled him to marry even into the family of a crowned King。 Then the King asked what might be his fortune； and the cat replied that no one could ever count the moveables； the fixtures； and the household furniture of this rich man； who did not even know what he possessed。 If the King wished to be informed of it； he had only to send messengers with the cat； and she would prove to him that there was no wealth in the world equal to his。
Then the King called some trusty persons； and commanded them to inform themselves minutely of the truth； so they followed in the footsteps of the cat； who； as soon as they had passed the frontier of the kingdom； from time to time ran on before； under the pretext of providing refreshments for them on the road。 Whenever she met a flock of sheep； a herd of cows； a troop of horses； or a drove of pigs； she would say to the herdsmen and keepers； 〃Ho！ have a care！ A troop of robbers is coming to carry off everything in the country。 So if you wish to escape their fury； and to have your things respected； say that they all belong to the Lord Pippo； and not a hair will be touched。〃
She said the same at all the farmhouses； so that wherever the King's people came they found the pipe tuned； for everything they met with； they were told； belonged to the Lord Pippo。 At last they were tired of asking； and returned to the King； telling seas and mountains of the riches of Lord Pippo。 The King； hearing this report； promised the cat a good drink if she should manage to bring about the match； and the cat； playing the shuttle between them； at last concluded the marriage。 So Pippo came； and the King gave him his daughter and a large portion。
At the end of a month of festivities； Pippo wished to take his bride to his estates； so the King accompanied them as far as the frontiers； and he went on to Lombardy； where； by the cat's advice； he purchased a large estate and became a baron。
Pippo； seeing himself now so rich； thanked the cat more than words can express； saying that he owed his life and his greatness to her good offices； and that the ingenuity of a cat had done more for him that the wit of his father。 Therefore； said he； she might dispose of his life and his property as she pleased； and he gave her his word that when she died； which he prayed might not be for a hundred years； he would have her embalmed and put into a golden coffin； and set in his own chamber； that he might keep her memory always before his eyes。
The cat listened to these lavish professions； and before three days she pretended to be dead； and stretched herself at full length in the garden。 When Pippo's wife saw her； she cried out； 〃Oh； husband； what a sad misfortune！ The cat is dead！〃 〃Devil die with her！〃 said Pippo。 〃Better her than we！〃 〃What shall we do with her？〃 replied the wife。 〃Take her by the leg；〃 said he； 〃and fling her out of the window！〃
Then the cat； who heard this fine reward when she least expected it； began to say； 〃Is this the return you make for my taking you from beggary？ Are these the thanks I get for freeing you from rags that you might have hung distaffs with？ Is this my reward for having put good clothes on your back when you were a poor； starved； miserable； tatter…shod ragamuffin？ But such is the fate of him who washes an ass's head！ Go！ A curse upon all I have done for you！ A fine gold coffin you had prepared for me！ A fine funeral you were going to give me！ Go； now！ serve； labour； toil； sweat to get this fine reward！ Unhappy is he who does a good deed in hope of a return。 Well was it said by the philosopher； He who lies down an ass； an ass he finds himself。' But let him who does most； expect least； smooth words and ill deeds deceive alike both fools and wise！〃
So saying； she drew her cloak about her and went her way。 All that Pippo； with the utmost humility； could do to soothe her was of no avail。 She would not return； but ran on and on without ever turning her head about； saying
〃Heaven keep me from the rich grown poor； And from the beggar who of wealth gains store。〃
XIV
THE SERPENT
It always happens that he who is over…curious in prying into the affairs of other people； strikes his own foot with the axe； and the King of Long…Furrow is a proof of this； who； by poking his nose into secrets； brought his daughter into trouble and ruined his unhappy son…in…lawwho； in attempting to make a thrust with his head was left with it broken。
There was once on a time a gardener's wife； who longed to have a son more than a man in a fever for cold water； or the innkeeper for the arrival of the mail…coach。
It chanced one day that the poor man went to the mountain to get a faggot； and when he came home and opened it he found a pretty little serpent among the twigs。 At the sight of this； Sapatella （for that was the name of the gardener's wife） heaved a deep sigh； and said； 〃Alas！ even the serpents have their little serpents； but I brought ill…luck with me into this world。〃 At these words； the little serpent spoke； and said； 〃Well； then； since you cannot have children； take me for a child； and you will make a good bargain； for I shall love you better than my mother。〃 Sapatella； hearing a serpent speak thus； nearly fainted； but； plucking up courage； she said； 〃If it were for nothing else than the affection which you offer； I am content to take you； and treat you as if you were really my own child。〃 So saying； she assigned him a hole in a corner of the house for a cradle； and gave him for food a share of what she had with the greatest goodwill in the world。
The serpent increased in size from day to day； and when he had grown pretty big； he said to Cola Matteo； the gardener； whom he looked on as his father； 〃Daddy； I want to get married。〃 〃With all my heart；〃 said Cola Matteo。 〃We must look out for another serpent like yourself； and try to make up a match between you。〃 〃What serpent are you talking of？〃 said the little serpent。 〃I suppose； forsooth； we are all the same with vipers and adders！ It is easy to see you are nothing but a country bumpkin； and make a nosegay of every plant。 I want the King's daughter； so go this very instant and ask the King for her； and tell him it is a serpent who demands her。〃 Cola Matteo； who was a plain； straightforward kind of man； and knew nothing about matters of this sort； went innocently to the King and delivered his message； saying
〃The messenger should not be beaten more Than are the sands upon the shore！〃
〃Know then that a serpent wants your daughter for his wife； and I am come to try if we can make a match between a serpent and a dove！〃 The King； who saw at a glance that he was a blockhead； to get rid of him； said； 〃Go and tell the serpent that I will give him my daughter if he turns all the fruit of this orchard into gold。〃 And so saying； he burst out a…laughing； and dismissed him。
When Cola Matteo went home and delivered the answer to the serpent； he said； 〃Go to…morrow morning and gather up all the fruit…stones you can find in the city； and sow them in the orchard； and you will see pearls strung on rushes！〃 Cola Mateo； who was no conjurer； neither knew how to comply nor refuse； so next morning； as soon as the Sun with his golden broom had swept away the dirt of the Night from the fields watered by the dawn； he took a basket on his arm and went from street to street； picking up all the stones of peaches； plums； nectarines； apricots； and cherries that he could find。 He then went to the orchard of the palace and sowed them； as the serpent had desired。 In an instant the trees shot up； and stems and branches； leaves； flowers； and fruit were all of glittering goldat the sight of which the King was in an ecstasy of amazement； and cried aloud with joy。
But when Cola Matteo was sent by the serpent to the King； to demand the performance of his promise； the King said； 〃Fair and easy； I must first have something else if he would have my daughter； and it is that he make all the walls and the ground of the orchard to be of precious stones。〃
When the gardener told this to the serpent； he made answer； 〃Go to…morrow morning and gather up all the bits of broken crockery…ware you can find； and throw them on the walks and on the walls of the orchard； for we will not let this small difficulty stand in our way。〃 As soon； therefore； as the Night； having aided the robbers； is banished from the sky； and goes about collecting the faggots of twilight； Cola Matteo took a basket under his arm； and went about collecting bits of tiles； lids and bottoms of pipkins； pieces of plate and dishes； handles of jugs； spouts of pitchers。 He picked up all the spoiled； broken； cracked lamps and all the fragments of pottery he could find in his way。 And when he had done all that the serpent had told him； you could see the whole orchard mantled with emeralds and chalcedonies； and coated with rubies and carbuncles； so that the lustre dazz