of plasters and a mountain of rags upon his back； who said to him； 〃My gallant sir； what makes you so frightened？〃
〃Have I； forsooth； to tell you my affairs？〃 answered Jennariello。 〃 Faith I should do well to tell my reason to the constable。〃
〃Softly； my fair youth！〃 replied the beggar； 〃for the flesh of man is not sold by weight。 If Darius had not told his troubles to a groom he would not have become king of Persia。 It will be no great matter； therefore； for you to tell your affairs to a poor beggar； for there is not a twig so slender but it may serve for a toothpick。〃
When Jennariello heard the poor man talking sensibly and with reason； he told him the cause that had brought him to that country； whereupon the beggar replied； 〃See now； my son； how necessary it is to make account of every one； for though I am only a heap of rubbish； yet I shall be able to enrich the garden of your hopes。 Now listenunder the pretext of begging alms； I will knock at the door of the young and beautiful daughter of a magician； then open your eyes wide； look at her； contemplate her； regard her； measure her from head to foot； for you will find the image of her whom your brother desires。〃 So saying； he knocked at the door of a house close by； and Liviella opening it threw him a piece of bread。
As soon as Jennariello saw her； she seemed to him built after the model which Milluccio had given him； then he gave a good alms to the beggar and sent him away； and going to the inn he dressed himself like a pedlar； carrying in two caskets all the wealth of the world。 And thus he walked up and down before Liviella's house crying his wares； until at length she called him； and took a view of the beautiful net…caps； hoods； ribands； gauze； edgings； lace； handkerchiefs； collars； needles； cups of rouge； and head…gear fit for a queen； which he carried。 And when she had examined all the things again and again； she told him to show her something else； and Jennariello answered； 〃My lady； in these caskets I have only cheap and paltry wares； but if you will deign to come to my ship； I will show you things of the other world； for I have there a host of beautiful goods worthy of any great lord。〃
Liviella； who was full of curiosity； not to belie the nature of her sex； replied； 〃If my father indeed were not out he would have given me some money。〃
〃Nay； you can come all the better if he is out；〃 replied Jennariello； 〃for perhaps he might not allow you the pleasure； and I'll promise to show you such splendid things as will make you rave such necklaces and earrings； such bracelets and sashes； such workmanship in paperin short I will perfectly astound you。〃
When Liviella heard all this display of finery she called a gossip of hers to accompany her； and went to the ship。 But no sooner had she embarked than Jennariello； whilst keeping her enchanted with the sight of all the beautiful things he had brought； craftily ordered the anchor to be weighed and the sails to be set； so that before Liviella raised her eyes from the wares and saw that she had left the land； they had already gone many miles。 When at length she perceived the trick； she began to act Olympia the reverse way； for whereas Olympia bewailed being left upon a rock； Liviella lamented leaving the rocks。 But when Jennariello told her who he was； whither he was carrying her； and the good fortune that awaited her； and pictured to her； moreover； Milluccio's beauty； his valour； his virtues； and lastly the love with which he would receive her； he succeeded in pacifying her； and she even prayed the wind to bear her quickly to see the colouring of the design which Jennariello had drawn。
As they were sailing merrily along they heard the waves grumbling beneath the ship； and although they spoke in an undertone； the captain of the ship； who understood in an instant what it meant； cried out； 〃All hands aboard！ for here comes a storm； and Heaven save us！〃 No sooner had he spoken these words than there came the testimony of a whistling of the wind； and behold the sky was overcast with clouds； and the sea was covered with white…crested waves。 And whilst the waves on either side of the ship； curious to know what the others were about； leaped uninvited to the nuptials upon the deck； one man baled them with a bowl into a tub； another drove them off with a pump； and whilst every sailor was hard at workas it concerned his own safetyone minding the rudder； another hauling the foresail； another the mainsheet； Jennariello ran up to the topmast； to see with a telescope if he could discover any land where they might cast anchor。 And lo！ whilst he was measuring a hundred miles of distance with two feet of telescope； he saw a dove and its mate come flying up and alight upon the sail…yard。 Then the male bird said； 〃Rucche； rucche！〃 And his mate answered； 〃What's the matter； husband； that you are lamenting so？〃 〃This poor Prince；〃 replied the other； 〃has bought a falcon； which as soon as it shall be in his brother's hands will pick out his eyes； but if he does not take it to him； or if he warns him of the danger； he will turn to marble。〃 And thereupon he began again to cry； 〃Rucche； rucche！〃 And his mate said to him； 〃What； still lamenting！ Is there anything new？〃 〃Ay； indeed；〃 answered the male dove； 〃he has also bought a horse； and the first time his brother rides him the horse will break his neck； but if he does not take it to him； or if he warns him of the danger； he will turn to marble。〃 〃Rucche； rucche！〃 he cried again。 〃Alas； with all these RUCCHE； RUCCHE；〃 said the female dove； 〃what's the matter now？〃 And her mate said； 〃This man is taking a beautiful wife to his brother； but the first night； as soon as they go to sleep； they will both be devoured by a frightful dragon； yet if he does not take her to him； or if he warns him of the danger； he will turn to marble。〃
As he spoke； the tempest ceased； and the rage of the sea and the fury of the wind subsided。 But a far greater tempest arose in Jennariello's breast； from what he had heard； and more than twenty times he was on the point of throwing all the things into the sea； in order not to carry to his brother the cause of his ruin。 But on the other hand he thought of himself； and reflected that charity begins at home； and fearing that； if he did not carry these things to his brother； or if he warned him of the danger； he should turn to marble； he resolved to look rather to the fact than to the possibility； since the shirt was closer to him than the jacket。
When he arrived at Shady…Grove； he found his brother on the shore； awaiting with great joy the return of the ship； which he had seen at a distance。 And when he saw that it bore her whom he carried in his heart； and confronting one face with the other perceived that there was not the difference of a hair； his joy was so great that he was almost weighed down under the excessive burden of delight。 Then embracing his brother fervently； he said to him； 〃What falcon is that you are carrying on your fist？〃 And Jennariello answered； 〃I have bought it on purpose to give to you。〃 〃I see clearly that you love me；〃 replied Milluccio； 〃since you go about seeking to give me pleasure。 Truly； if you had brought me a costly treasure； it could not have given me greater delight than this falcon。〃 And just as he was going to take it in his hand； Jennariello quickly drew a large knife which he carried at his side and cut off its head。 At this deed the King stood aghast； and thought his brother mad to have done such a stupid act； but not to interrupt the joy at his arrival； he remained silent。 Presently； however； he saw the horse； and on asking his brother whose it was； heard that it was his own。 Then he felt a great desire to ride him； and just as he was ordering the stirrup to beheld； Jennariello quickly cut off the horse's legs with his knife。 Thereat the King waxed wrath； for his brother seemed to have done it on purpose to vex him； and his choler began to rise。 However； he did not think it a right time to show resentment； lest he should poison the pleasure of the bride at first sight； whom he could never gaze upon enough。
When they arrived at the royal palace； he invited all the lords and ladies of the city to a grand feast； at which the hall seemed just like a riding…school full of horses； curveting and prancing； with a number of foals in the form of women。 But when the ball was ended； and a great banquet had been despatched； they all retired to rest。
Jennariello； who thought of nothing else than to save his brother's life； hid himself behind the bed of the bridal pair； and as he stood watching to see the dragon come； behold at midnight a fierce dragon entered the chamber； who sent forth flames from his eyes and smoke from his mouth； and who； from the terror he carried in his look； would have been a good agent to sell all the antidotes to fear in the apothecaries' shops。 As soon as Jennariello saw the monster； he began to lay about him right and left with a Damascus blade which he had hidden under his cloak； and he struck one blow so furiously that it cut in halves a post of the King's bed； at which noise the King awoke； and the dragon disappeared。
When Milluccio saw the sword in his brother's hand； and the bedpost cut in two； he set up a loud cry； 〃Help here！ hola！ help！ This traitor of a brother is come to kill me！〃 Whereupon； hearing the noise； a number of servants who slept in the antechamber came running up； and the King ordered Jennariello to be bound； and sent him the same hour to prison。
The next morning； as soon as the Sun opened his bank to deliver the deposit of light to the Creditor of the Day； the King summoned the council； and when he told them what had passed； confirming the wicked intention shown in killing the falcon and the horse on purpose to vex him； they judged that Jennariello deserved to die。 The prayers of Liviella were all unavailing to soften the heart of the King； who said； 〃You do not love me； wife； for you have more regard for your brother…in…law than for my life。 You have seen with your own eyes this dog of an assassin come with a sword that would cut a hair in the air to kill me； and if the bedpost （the column of my life） had not protected me； you would at this moment have been a widow。〃 So saying； he