Page:Peregrinaggio di tre giovani figliuoli del re di Serendippo.djvu/105

 And from the second he learned, that he knew another secret. He could command all the devils to run to his service whenever he wished. And from the third one he learned, that whenever he spoke some words he knew, his appearance became similar to any other he wanted, and when he spoke some other words, he could make anyone he wished fall asleep. But because he could hardly believe the things, they had told him, he said to them, "how can I be persuaded that what you have told me is true since you have not presented me with any evidence?”

The wayfarers then answered, "you will believe it, if we will show you what we have said." And immediately they presented proof of all three of the things they had told him. The young man greatly admired this but he told them that since these practices were highly deceptive, it would be good if they forgot them and no longer applied them. To this they replied that they did not apply these practices, except when they wanted to avenge abuse they had received.

"Now, because I know," he replied to them, "that revenge is mostly done for convenience and gain, you should abandon your magic practices entirely. I will make you a gift so that you won't need money in the future." And he took most of the jewels of the shoulder bag which he had carried with him and divided them equally among the wayfarers. He made them promise that they would never practice their magic again.