Page:The Pentamerone, or The Story of Stories.djvu/114

90 instantly cried, "Quick, little dog, eat up this woman!" Whereupon the dog flew at her and swallowed her down like the yolk of an egg. Then Meo went further into the house, and there he found his brother seemingly enchanted; but laying two of the dog's hairs upon him, Cienzo appeared to awake as if from a deep sleep. Then Meo told his brother all that had happened to him on his travels, and lastly at the palace; and he was going on to tell him of Mencehella, and how she had mistaken him, when Cienzo in a sudden fit of jealousy snatched up an old sword, and cut off his brother's head like a cucumber.

Hearing the rout the king and his daughter both came out; and when Mcnechclla saw that Cienzo had slain a man exactly like himself, she asked him the cause. And Cienzo said to her, "Ask yourself, you unfaithful woman; it is all through your fault that I have killed him."—"Alas!" said Menechella, how many are slain wrongfully! a brave deed truly you have done!" And then she told him how innocent and discreet his brother had been.

When Cienzo heard this, he repented bitterly the error he had committed in his sudden passion (the son of a hasty judgement and the father of stupidity) and he tore his hair with grief. But suddenly recollecting the plant which the dragon had shown him, he rubbed