Page:Peregrinaggio di tre giovani figliuoli del re di Serendippo.djvu/90

 Novella III – Wednesday

N India there was a city above the sea, named Zeheb, which was ruled by a rich and great Lord, an idolater who adored the Lion. This Lord always had various craftsmen of exceptional skill at his court, but there was one goldsmith among them whose talent in that art was unequalled in the world. And because he was continually making beautiful and wonderful pieces of art, the Lord got the idea that he should make a great golden Lion for him. So, he called him into his presence and had ten thousand gold coins of that land to him delivered, ordering him to produce a golden Lion of the most stunning beauty.

Since the goldsmith had received such a quantity of gold, he had no other thought in mind than to make a Lion of such excellence that no one anywhere in his land could criticize it. And in the space of ten months he produced a golden lion, which lacked only the spirit to be alive. And since the lion was so heavy, he placed some wheels under its paws so that it could be easily be moved anywhere by only ten men. The King was greatly pleased by the excellent workmanship.