Page:The Pentamerone, or The Story of Stories.djvu/302

272 one kindness if you love me,—when I am dead, take a sponge dipped in the blood of this dragon, and anoint with it all the extremities of my body before you bury me."

"That is but a small thing for the love I bear you," replied the king; "and if the blood of the dragon is not enough, I will add my own to give you satisfaction." The queen was about to thank him, but the breath left her with the speech; for just then Miuccio had made an end of scoring the dragon.

No sooner had Miuccio come into the king's presence, with the news of what he had done, than the king ordered him to go back for the dragon's blood; but being curious to see the deed done by Miuccio's hand, he followed him. And as Miuccio was going out of the palace-gate, the bird met him and said, "Whither are you going?" and Miuccio answered, "I am going whither the king sends me; he makes me fly backwards and forwards like a shuttle, and never lets me rest an hour." "What to do?" said the bird. "To fetch the blood of the dragon," said Miuccio. And the bird replied, "Ah wretched youth! this dragon's blood will be bulls' blood to you, and