Page:The English and Scottish Popular Ballads, Volume 01.djvu/169



I have unaccountably failed to mention (though I had made note of them) three versions of 'L'Avvelenato' which are cited by Professor D’Ancona in his Poesia popolare italiana, p. 106 ff.

D. The Canon Lorenzo Panciatichi refers to the ballad in a 'Ciecalata in lode della Padella e della Frittura,' recited at the Crusca, September 24, 1656, and in such manner as shows that it was well known. He quotes the first question of the mother, 'Dove andastù a cena,' etc. To this the son answered, he says, that he had been poisoned with a roast eel; and the mother asking what the lady had cooked it in, the reply was, In the oil pot.

E. A version obtained by D'Ancona from the singing of a young fellow from near Pisa, of which the first four stanzas are given. Some verses after these are lost, for the testament is said to supervene immediately.

F. A version from Lecco, which has the title, derived from its burden, 'De lu cavalieri e figliu de re,' A. Trifone Nutricati Briganti, Intorno ai Canti e Raeconti popolari del Leccese, p. 17. The first four stanzas are cited, and it appears from these that the prince had cooked the eel himself, and, appropriately, in a gold pan.

I will take the opportunity to remark that Nigra has just republished in Romania, 391, 'Luggieri,' a version, from Arezzo, of 'Rizzardo bello,’ previously printed by Giulio Salvatori in the Rassegna Settimanale, No. 77, Rome, June 22, 1879. Nigra treats 'Luggieri' as a variety of 'Jean Renaud.' To me it seems an independent ballad.