Page:Peregrinaggio di tre giovani figliuoli del re di Serendippo.djvu/85

 And he called his majordomo and ordered him to prepare without delay a summer house for him in one of the most beautiful gardens near the city.

The majordomo immediately carried out the request and the King was taken there the next day with a sedan chair. When he arrived there, he heard the singing of nightingales and other birds in a delightful garden which he seemed to enjoy and in a short while he showed signs of great improvement.

Now the farmer brought his monkey there and presented himself in front of the King. He readily noticed that the change of residence had brightened his heart and he assured him that he would quickly regain his previous state of health. And the King laughed several times when his monkey performed various tricks in his presence.

He then brought the monkey into the kitchen which was outside and he tied him up near a window of the summer house. He then returned to the King and engaged him in lighthearted conversation. The time passed gently in this way, till he seemed to hear some noise in the kitchen. And when he went to the window, he saw the monkey, who was there alone, approaching a pot on the fire, in which two large capons were cooking for the King’s pleasure and delight. The monkey looked around, and since nobody was seeing it, uncovered the pot and took one of the capons out.