Page:Peregrinaggio di tre giovani figliuoli del re di Serendippo.djvu/73

 He came before him, kissed his hands, and was ordered by the counselor to tell his story. Following the order, he began his story quickly as follows:  Novella II - Tuesday

N the ancient city of Beni Suef there was once a great, and powerful King, to whom many countries and provinces were subject. And because he was a powerful man, he had a beautiful castle in the midst of this city built as his residence which was being guarded at night by a hundred fierce and furious dogs, which among other things used to devour those condemned to death.

This King had an only son, who, while he was endowed with many other virtues, always surpassed all others of his age in archery. And since he was the only child, the father decided to give him a wife, in order to be able to see about him children, who would be successors to his throne. When he called him in one day and made him understand his decision, he told him that many daughters of great princes had been proposed to him.

In response the son told him that he was ready to meet all his wishes, adding that he was begging him dearly for only one thing, that since he had to be the husband, he would be pleased if the choice were left to him. Because if he had to take a wife with whom he had to spend all the time of his life, he wanted to take one that was pleasing to his eyes and none other. The father consented to this, but no one could be found that the son would accept. This was painful beyond measure to the father, and not knowing where he could turn for advice, his life became miserable and sorrowful. 