Page:The Pentamerone, or The Story of Stories.djvu/298

268 Not far from this castle lived a most ferocious dragon, who was born the same hour with the queen; and the astrologers being called by her father to astrologize on this event, said that his daughter would be safe as long as the dragon was safe, and that when one died the other would of necessity die also. One thing alone could bring back the queen to life, and that was to anoint her temples, chest, nostrils and pulse with the blood of the same dragon.

Now the queen, knowing the strength and fury of this animal, resolved to send Miuccio into his claws, well assured that the beast would make but a mouthful of him, and that he would be like a strawberry in the throat of a bear. So turning to the king she said, "Upon my word, this Miuccio is the treasure of your house, and you would be ungrateful indeed if you did not love him, especially as he has expressed his desire to kill the dragon, who, though he is my brother, is nevertheless your enemy; and I care more for a hair of my husband's head than for a hundred brothers."

The king, who hated the dragon mortally, and knew not how to remove him out of his sight, instantly called for Miuccio, and said to him, "I know that you can put your hand to whatever you wlll; therefore, as you have done so much, grant me yet another pleasure, and then turn me whithersoever you will. Go this