Page:Peregrinaggio di tre giovani figliuoli del re di Serendippo.djvu/120

 he ordered that the next day, which was Friday, they should go to the fifth palace which was completely decorated in green and that the court should dress in the same color.

This order was carried out by all. And at the third hour they all arrived there. He entertained himself for a good while with the damsel who was there, and enjoyed some delicious food. He then had the fifth storyteller come to him. He knew the reason why he was called, and after having greeted the Emperor reverently, he began as follows:

 Novella 5 – Friday

N the land of Hottenne, there was a great and excellent philosopher who found delight in the mechanical arts. And as a goldsmith he was so proficient that nobody in his time surpassed him. And among the many other beautiful works that he was continually creating was a silver statue so artfully designed that if anyone in its vicinity would lie, it would start to laugh immediately.

This came to the attention of the local prince who was a Mussulman. He wanted to see it and greatly admired the great craftmanship. When it was shown to him, he asked the philosopher to sell it to him, offering him a great sum of gold. But the philosopher who had little regard for money and who wished to do his Lord a favor, gave it to him as a gift. Because of this statue the prince had a large and beautiful seraglio constructed near his palace which was quadrangular. 