Page:The Pentamerone, or The Story of Stories.djvu/121

Rh who, after hearing his message, said that his master should be a thousand times welcome, and that neither bread nor knife should be wanting there. The king, on hearing this reply, went to the palace, and was received like a cavalier: a hundred pages went out to meet him with lighted torches, so that it appeared like the grand funeral of a rich man: a hundred other pages brought the dishes to the table, who looked like so many attendants in an hospital carrying cups of broth to the sick: a hundred others made a deafening din with musical instruments; but, above all, Renzolla served the king, and handed him drink with such grace that he drank more love than wine.

When dinner was over, and the tables were removed, the king went to bed, and Renzolla herself drew the stockings from his feet and the heart from his breast so cleverly that, when touched by her fair hand, he felt the amorous poison rise from the tips of his feet and infect his very soul. So, to prevent his death, he resolved to try and get the antidote to these beauties; and calling the fairy in whose care Renzolla was, he asked her for his wife; whereupon the fairy, who wished for nothing but Renzolla's good, not only freely consented, but gave her a dowry of seven millions of gold.

The king, overjoyed at this piece of good fortune, departed with Renzolla, who, ill-mannered and