Page:The Pentamerone, or The Story of Stories.djvu/304

274 of her, and of his son for all the dangers to which he had exposed him. Then he ordered her to be clothed in the richest dress of the dead queen, and took her to wife. And when the king heard that her preservation, and the escape of his son from so many dangers, were entirely owing to the bird, which had given food to the one and counsel to the other, he offered her his kingdom and his life. But the bird said she desired no other reward for her services than to have Miuccio for a husband; and as she uttered the words she was changed into a beautiful maiden, and, to the great joy and satisfaction of the king and Porziella, she was given to Miuecio to wife. Then the newly married couple, to give still greater festivals, went their way to their own kingdom, where they were anxiously expected; every one ascribing this good fortune to the fairy, for the kindness that Porziella had done her; for at the end of the end

"A good deed is never lost."

Popa's story gave the greatest pleasure, and all felt glad at Porziella's happy lot. No one however envied her good fortune, which was purchased with such