Page:The Pentamerone, or The Story of Stories.djvu/347

Rh so?"—"This poor prince," replied the other, "has bought a falcon, which as soon as it shall be in his brother's hands will pick out his eyes; but if he does not take it him, or if he warns him of the danger, he will turn to marble." And thereupon he began again to cry, "Rucche, rucche!" And his mate said to him, "What, still lamenting! is there anything new?"—"Ay indeed," answered the male dove; "he has also bought a horse, and the first time his brother rides him the horse will break his neck; but if he does not take it him, or if he warns him of the danger, he will turn to marble. "Rucche, rucche!" he cried again. "Alas with all these Rucche, rucche" said the female dove; "what's the matter now?" And her mate said, "This man is taking a beautiful wife to his brother; but the first night, as soon as they go to sleep, they will both be devoured by a frightful dragon; yet if he does not take her to him, or if he warns him of the danger, he will turn to marble."

As he spoke, the tempest ceased, and the rage of the sea and the fury of the wind subsided; but a far greater tempest arose in Jennariello's breast, from what he had heard, and more than twenty times he was on the point of throwing all the things into the sea, in order not to carry to his brother the cause of his ruin. But on the other hand he thought of himself, and reflected that