Page:The Pentamerone, or The Story of Stories.djvu/339

Rh THE RAVEN.

is truly a great proverb,—"Rather a crooked sight than a crooked judgement;" but it is so difficult to adopt it, that the judgement of few men hits the nail on the head. On the contrary, in the sea of human affairs, the greater part are fishers in smooth waters, who catch crabs; and he who thinks to take the most exact measure of the object at which he aims, often shoots widest of the mark. The consequence of this is, that all are running pell-mell, all toiling in the dark, all thinking crookedly, all acting child's-play, all judging at random, and with a hap-hazard blow of a foolish resolution bringing upon themselves a bitter repentance; as was the case with the king of Shady-Grove; and you shall hear how it fared with him, if you summon me within the circle of modesty with the bell of courtesy, and give me a little attention.

is said that there was once a king of Shady-Grove named Milluccio, who was so devoted to the chase, that