Page:The Pentamerone, or The Story of Stories.djvu/276

246 his ﬁnger, that he might not again commit such a folly; for

"The dog who has been scalded with hot water has ever after a dread of cold water."

The adventures of Minecco Aniello gave great satisfaction to the Prince and his wife, and they blest the mice a thousand times for getting the stone again for the poor man, and rewarding the magicians with O plus O and a broken neck into the bargain. But as Meneca had now taken her station on the racecourse of story-telling, all present barred the door of words with the bolt of silence, and she began as follows.