son had made； who after travelling about so long to find a white dove had brought home at last a black crow。 However； as they could do no less； they gave up the crown to their children； and placed the golden tripod upon that face of coal。
Now whilst they were preparing splendid feasts and banquets； and the cooks were busy plucking geese； killing little pigs； flaying kids； basting the roast meat； skimming pots； mincing meat for dumplings； larding capons； and preparing a thousand other delicacies； a beautiful dove came flying to the kitchen window； and said；
〃O cook of the kitchen； tell me； I pray； What the King and the slave are doing to…day。〃
The cook at first paid little heed to the dove； but when she returned a second and a third time； and repeated the same words； he ran to the dining…hall to tell the marvellous thing。 But no sooner did the lady hear this music than she gave orders for the dove to be instantly caught and made into a hash。 So the cook went； and he managed to catch the dove； and did all that the slave had commanded。 And having scalded the bird in order to pluck it； he threw the water with the feathers out from a balcony on to a garden…bed； on which； before three days had passed； there sprang up a beautiful citron…tree； which quickly grew to its full size。
Now it happened that the King； going by chance to a window that looked upon the garden； saw the tree； which he had never observed before； and calling the cook； he asked him when and by whom it had been planted。 No sooner had he heard all the particulars from Master Pot…ladle； than he began to suspect how matters stood。 So he gave orders； under pain of death； that the tree should not be touched； but that it should be tended with the greatest care。
At the end of a few days three most beautiful citrons appeared； similar to those which the ogress had given Ciommetiello。 And when they were grown larger； he plucked them； and shutting himself up in a chamber； with a large basin of water and the knife； which he always carried at his side； he began to cut the citrons。 Then it all fell out with the first and second fairy just as it had done before； but when at last he cut the third citron； and gave the fairy who came forth from it to drink； behold； there stood before him the self…same maiden whom he had left up in the tree； and who told him all the mischief that the slave had done。
Who now can tell the least part of the delight the King felt at this good turn of fortune？ Who can describe the shouting and leaping for joy that there was？ For the King was swimming in a sea of delight； and was wafted to Heaven on a tide of rapture。 Then he embraced the fairy； and ordered her to be handsomely dressed from head to foot； and taking her by the hand he led her into the middle of the hall； where all the courtiers and great folks of the city were met to celebrate the feast。 Then the King called on them one by one； and said； 〃Tell me； what punishment would that person deserve who should do any harm to this beautiful lady！〃 And one replied that such a person would deserve a hempen collar； another； a breakfast of stones； a third； a good beating； a fourth； a draught of poison； a fifth； a millstone for a broochin short； one said this thing and another that。 At last he called on the black Queen； and putting the same question； she replied； 〃Such a person would deserve to be burned； and that her ashes should be thrown from the roof of the castle。〃
When the King heard this； he said to her； 〃You have struck your own foot with the axe； you have made your own fetters； you have sharpened the knife and mixed the poison； for no one has done this lady so much harm as yourself； you good…for…nothing creature！ Know you that this is the beautiful maiden whom you wounded with the hairpin？ Know you that this is the pretty dove which you ordered to be killed and cooked in a stewpan？ What say you now？ It is all your own doing； and one who does ill may expect ill in return。〃 So saying； he ordered the slave to be seized and cast alive on to a large burning pile of wood； and her ashes were thrown from the top of the castle to all the winds of Heaven； verifying the truth of the saying that
〃He who sows thorns should not go barefoot。〃
XXXII
CONCLUSION
All sat listening to Ciommetella's last story。 Some praised the skill with which she had told it； while others murmured at her indiscretion； saying that； in the presence of the Princess； she ought not to have exposed to blame the ill…deeds of another slave； and run the risk of stopping the game。 But Lucia herself sat upon thorns； and kept turning and twisting herself about all the time the story was being told； insomuch that the restlessness of her body betrayed the storm that was in her heart； at seeing in the tale of another slave the exact image of her own deceit。 Gladly would she have dismissed the whole company； but that； owing to the desire which the doll had given her to hear stories； she could not restrain her passion for them。 And； partly also not to give Taddeo cause for suspicion； she swallowed this bitter pill； intending to take a good revenge in proper time and place。 But Taddeo； who had grown quite fond of the amusement； made a sign to Zoza to relate her story； and； after making her curtsey； she began
〃Truth； my Lord Prince； has always been the mother of hatred； and I would not wish； therefore； by obeying your commands； to offend any one of those about me。 But as I am not accustomed to weave fictions or to invent stories； I am constrained； both by nature and habit； to speak the truth； and； although the proverb says； Tell truth and fear nothing； yet knowing well that truth is not welcome in the presence of princes； I tremble lest I say anything that may offend you。〃
〃Say all you wish；〃 replied Taddeo； 〃for nothing but what is sweet can come from those pretty lips。〃
These words were stabs to the heart of the Slave； as all would have seen plainly if black faces were； as white ones； the book of the soul。 And she would have given a finger of her hand to have been rid of these stories； for all before her eyes had grown blacker even than her face。 She feared that the last story was only the fore…runner of mischief to follow； and from a cloudy morning she foretold a bad day。 But Zoza； meanwhile； began to enchant all around her with the sweetness of her words； relating her sorrows from first to last； and beginning with her natural melancholy； the unhappy augury of all she had to suffer。 Then she went on to tell of the old woman's curse； her painful wanderings； her arrival at the fountain； her bitter weeping； and the treacherous sleep which had been the cause of her ruin。
The Slave； hearing Zoza tell the story in all its breadth and length； and seeing the boat go out of its course； exclaimed； 〃Be quiet and hold your tongue！ or I will not answer for the consequences。〃 But Taddeo； who had discovered how matters stood； could no longer contain himself； so； stripping off the mask and throwing the saddle on the ground； he exclaimed； 〃Let her tell her story to the end； and have done with this nonsense。 I have been made a fool of for long enough； and； if what I suspect is true； it were better that you had never been born。〃 Then he commanded Zoza to continue her story in spite of his wife； and Zoza； who only waited for the sign； went on to tell how the Slave had found the pitcher and had treacherously robbed her of her good fortune。 And； thereupon； she fell to weeping in such a manner； that every person present was affected at the sight。
Taddeo； who； from Zoza's tears and the Slave's silence； discerned the truth of the matter； gave Lucia a rare scolding； and made her confess her treachery with her own lips。 Then he gave instant orders that she should be buried alive up to her neck； that she might die a more painful death。 And； embracing Zoza； he caused her to be treated with all honour as his Princess and wife； sending to invite the King of Wood…Valley to come to the feast。
With these fresh nuptials terminated the greatness of the Slave and the amusement of these stories。 And much good may they do you； and promote your health！ And may you lay them down as unwillingly as I do； taking my leave with regret at my heels and a good spoonful of honey in my mouth。
End