Page:Peregrinaggio di tre giovani figliuoli del re di Serendippo.djvu/75

 And having a slingshot in her hand, she prepared to want to pull it. But the young man, while he was at some distance from her, saw this. He suddenly pulled the slingshot in his hand before she shot, and one of the doves that he killed with his shot, fell on the ground. And the other which got frightened and flew away was also killed in the air by the slingshot of the damsel.

The king's son greatly admired this, and as a show of recognition of her great shot, he sent his groom to present her the dove which he had killed with the understanding, that she deserved it because she had the better shot. But the damsel, who saw the young man's generous act, could not accept being surpassed in magnanimity of spirit by anyone, asked the groom to thank his master on her behalf for the courtesy of the gift and to have him accept her own. The groom carried out this task. The son of the King who considered the valor and prudence of the damsel, became ardently inflamed with love for her, although he had not seen her face. And because he wanted to see her face by any means, he dismounted from his horse and hid behind a bush not far from the party of the women. There was a very beautiful and clear fountain nearby. The damsel who was very thirsty from the fatigue of the long hunt uncovered her face and put the water into a small jar.