Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 1, 1890.djvu/596

 148 TABULATION OF FOLKTALES.

[No. 58.] Title Of Story. ^a Candeliera.

Dramatis PerSOnSS. King. Princess (his daughter). Ugly old king. Goldsmith. Chamberlain. Prince of neighbouring country. Servants. King and queen.

Abstract Of Story. (1) King wishes daughter to marry ugly old king, she begs to be spared, at last says before she marries, her father must do something for her ; he readily agrees. (2) She chooses to have made a great candelabrum, 10ft. high, with a stem thicker than a man's body. King sends for goldsmith and orders one to be made quickly, princess says she is very pleased with it. In the evening princess calls her chamberlain, says she does not like candlestick at all; he must take it and sell it for she can't bear the sight, of it ; he may keep the price himself, but must take it away early before king is up. (3) Chamberlain gets up early, but princess gets up earlier, and hides herself in candelabrum, thus carried away with it. Chamberlain takes it to market place of capital of neighbouring sovereign, and sets it up for sale there. People seeing how costly it is no one will offer for it. Prince of country hears of it, goes to see it, buys it for three hundred scudi, and has it taken up to his room. (4) Prince tells valet to have his supper taken up into his room, as he is going to the play and will be late. Coming home, he finds supper eaten and glasses and dishes dis- arranged, scolds man, who asserts all had been properly laid. Next night same happens. Third night calls servant, says aloud he is to lay supper before prince goes out, and he will lock the door and take the key with him, but in reality he stays concealed in room. (5) Soon after candela- brum, of which he had not thought since buying it, opens, and beautiful princess appears. " Welcome princess," says he ; they sit down and eat supper together. Next night orders double supper brought up, and after that all his meals, and never leaves his apartment. (6) King and queen interfere, say he ought to marry, and not stay alone all day. He says he will marry no one but candelabrum. They think him mad, but one day queen surprises princess sitting with him. Struck with her beauty she says, " If this is what you were thinking of when you said you would marry the candelabrum, it was well judged." Takes princess to king, they give her to prince to be his wife. The king her father hearing of alliance is glad, says he esteems it far above that of ugly old king whom he wanted her to have married at first.

Alphabetical List of Incidents.

Candlestick in which princess conceals herself (2, 3, 4, 5, 6.)

Prince, buys candelabrum (3), loses supper and conceals himself to discover

cause (4), spends all his time in his room (5), marries princess (6). Princess, to marry ugly old king (1), has candlestick made (2), escapes in it