column of my life） had not protected me； you would at this moment have been a widow。〃 So saying； he gave orders that justice should take its course。
When Jennariello heard this sentence； and saw himself so ill…rewarded for doing good； he knew not what to think or to do。 If he said nothing； bad； if he spoke； worse； and whatever he should do was a fall from the tree into the wolf's mouth。 If he remained silent； he should lose his head under an axe； if he spoke； he should end his days in a stone。 At length； after various resolutions； he made up his mind to disclose the matter to his brother； and since he must die at all events； he thought it better to tell his brother the truth； and to end his days with the title of an innocent man； than to keep the truth to himself and be sent out of the world as a traitor。 So sending word to the King that he had something to say of importance to his state； he was led into his presence； where he first made a long preamble of the love he had always borne him； then he went on to tell of the deception he had practiced on Liviella in order to give him pleasure； and then what he had heard from the doves about the falcon； and how； to avoid being turned to marble； he had brought it him； and without revealing the secret had killed it in order not to see him without eyes。
As he spoke； he felt his legs stiffen and turn to marble。 And when he went on to relate the affair of the horse in the same manner； he became visibly stone up to the waist； stiffening miserably a thing which at another time he would have paid in ready money； but which now his heart wept at。 At last； when he came to the affair of the dragon； he stood like a statue in the middle of the hall； stone from head to foot。 When the King saw this； reproaching himself for the error he had committed； and the rash sentence he had passed upon so good and loving a brother； he mourned him more than a year； and every time he thought of him he shed a river of tears。
Meanwhile Liviella gave birth to two sons； who were two of the most beautiful creatures in the world。 And after a few months； when the Queen was gone into the country for pleasure； and the father and his two little boys chanced to be standing in the middle of the hall； gazing with tearful eyes on the statuethe memorial of his folly； which had taken from him the flower of men behold a stately and venerable old man entered； whose long hair fell upon his shoulders and whose beard covered his breast。 And making a reverence to the King； the old man said to him； 〃What would your Majesty give to have this noble brother return to his former state？〃 And the King answered； 〃I would give my kingdom。〃 〃Nay；〃 replied the old man； 〃this is not a thing that requires payment in wealth； but being an affair of life； it must be paid for with as much again of life。〃
Then the King； partly out of the love he bore Jennariello； and partly from hearing himself reproached with the injury he had done him； answered； 〃Believe me； my good sir； I would give my own life for his life； and provided that he came out of the stone； I should be content to be enclosed in a stone。〃
Hearing this the old man said； 〃Without putting your life to the risksince it takes so long to rear a manthe blood of these； your two little boys； smeared upon the marble； would suffice to make him instantly come to life。〃 Then the King replied； 〃Children I may have again； but I have a brother； and another I can never more hop to see。〃 So saying； he made a pitiable sacrifice of two little innocent kids before an idol of stone； and besmearing the statue with their blood； it instantly became alive； whereupon the King embraced his brother； and their joy is not to be told。 Then they had these poor little creatures put into a coffin； in order to give them burial with all due honour。 But just at that instant the Queen returned home； and the King； bidding his brother hide himself； said to his wife； 〃What would you give； my heart； to have my brother restored to life？〃 〃I would give this whole kingdom；〃 replied Liviella。 And the King answered； 〃Would you give the blood of your children？〃 〃Nay； not that； indeed；〃 replied the Queen； 〃for I could not be so cruel as to tear out with my own hands the apple of my eyes。〃 〃Alas！〃 said the King； 〃in order to see a brother alive； I have killed my own children！ for this was the price of Jennariello's life！〃
So saying； he showed the Queen the little boys in the coffin； and when she saw this sad spectacle； she cried aloud like one mad； saying； 〃O my children！ you props of my life； joys of my heart； fountains of my blood！ Who has painted red the windows of the sun？ Who has without a doctor's licence bled the chief vein of my life？ Alas； my children； my children！ my hope now taken from me； my light now darkened； my joy now poisoned； my support now lost！ You are stabbed by the sword； I am pierced by grief； you are drowned in blood； I in tears。 Alas that； to give life to an uncle； you have slain your mother！ For I am no longer able to weave the thread of my days without you； the fair counterpoises of the loom of my unhappy life。 The organ of my voice must be silent； now that its bellows are taken away。 O children； children！ why do ye not give answer to your mother； who once gave you the blood in your veins； and now weeps it for you from her eyes？ But since fate shows me the fountain of my happiness dried up； I will no longer live the sport of fortune in the world； but will go at once to find you again！〃
So saying； she ran to a window to throw herself out； but just at that instant her father entered by the same window in a cloud； and called to her； 〃Stop； Liviella！ I have now accomplished what I intended； and killed three birds with one stone。 I have revenged myself on Jennariello； who came to my house to rob me of my daughter； by making him stand all these months like a marble statue in a block of stone。 I have punished you for your ill…conduct in going away in a ship without my permission； by showing you your two children； your two jewels； killed by their own father。 And I have punished the King for the caprice he took into his head； by making him first the judge of his brother； and afterwards the executioner of his children。 But as I have wished only to shear and not to flay you； I desire now that all the poison may turn into sweetmeats for you。 Therefore； go； take again your children and my grandchildren； who are more beautiful than ever。 And you； Milluccio； embrace me。 I receive you as my son…in…law and as my son。 And I pardon Jennariello his offence； having done all that he did out of love to so excellent a brother。〃
And as he spoke； the little children came； and the grandfather was never satisfied with embracing and kissing them； and in the midst of the rejoicings Jennariello entered； as a third sharer in them； who； after suffering so many storms of fate； was now swimming in macaroni broth。 But notwithstanding all the after pleasures that he enjoyed in life； his past dangers never went from his mind； and he was always thinking on the error his brother had committed； and how careful a man ought to be not to fall into the ditch； since
〃All human judgment is false and perverse。〃
XXVI
THE MONTHS
It is a saying worthy to be written in letters as big as those on a monument； that silence never harmed any one： and let it not be imagined that those slanderers who never speak well of others； but are always cutting and stinging； and pinching and biting； ever gain anything by their malice； for when the bags come to be shaken out； it has always been seen； and is so still； that whilst a good word gains love and profit； slander brings enmity and ruin； and when you shall have heard how this happens； you will say I speak with reason。
Once upon a time there were two brothersCianne； who was as rich as a lord； and Lise； who had barely enough to live upon： but poor as one was in fortune； so pitiful was the other in mind； for he would not have given his brother a farthing were it to save his life； so that poor Lise in despair left his country； and set out to wander over the world。 And he wandered on and on； till one wet and cold evening he came to an inn； where he found twelve youths seated around a fire； who； when they saw poor Lise benumbed with cold； partly from the severe season and partly from his ragged clothes； invited him to sit down by the fire。
Lise accepted the invitation； for he needed it greatly； and began to warm himself。 And as he was warming himself； one of the young men whose face was such a picture of moroseness as to make you die of fright； said to him； 〃What think you； countryman； of this weather？〃
〃What do I think of it？〃 replied Lise； 〃I think that all the months of the year perform their duty； but we； who know not what we would have； wish to give laws to Heaven； and wanting to have things our own way； we do not fish deeply enough to the bottom； to find out whether what comes into our fancy be good or evil； useful or hurtful。 In winter； when it rains； we want the sun in Leo； and in the month of August the clouds to discharge themselves； not reflecting； that were this the case； the seasons would be turned topsy…turvy； the seed sown would be lost； the crops would be destroyed； the bodies of men would faint away； and Nature would go head over heels。 Therefore let us leave Heaven to its own course； for it has made the tree to mitigate with its wood the severity of winter； and with its leaves the heat of summer。〃
〃You speak like Samson！〃 replied the youth； 〃but you cannot deny that this month of March； in which we now are； is very impertinent to send all this frost and rain； snow and hail； wind and storm； these fogs and tempests and other troubles； that make one's life a burden。〃
〃You tell only the ill of this poor month；〃 replied Lisa； 〃but do not speak of the benefits it yields us； for； by bringing forward the Spring； it commences the production of things； and is alone the cause that the Sun proves the happiness of the present time； by leading him into the house of the Ram。〃
The youth was greatly pleased at what Lise said； for he was in truth no other than the month of March itself； who had arrived at that inn with his eleven brothers； and to reward Lise's goodness； who had no