Page:The Pentamerone, or The Story of Stories.djvu/421

Rh rind? what sweet dough, from the sour juice of a citron? what lovely maiden sprung from a citron-pip?" At length, seeing that it was all true and no dream, he embraced the fairy, giving her a hundred and a hundred kisses; and after a thousand tender words had passed between them—words which, as a cantofermo, had an accompaniment of sugared kisses—the prince said, "My soul, I cannot take you to my father's kingdom without handsome raiment worthy of so beautiful a person, and an attendance befitting a queen: therefore climb up into this oak-tree, where Nature seems purposely to have made for us a hiding—place in the form of a little room, and here await my return; for I will come back on wings, before a tear can dry, with dresses and servants, and carry you off to my kingdom." So saying, after the usual ceremonies he departed.

Now a black slave, who was sent by her mistress with a pitcher to fetch water, came to that well, and seeing by chance the reﬂection of the fairy in the water, she thought it was herself, and exclaimed in amazement, "Poor Lucia, what do I see? me so pretty and fair, and mistress send me here! No, me will no longer bear." So saying she broke the pitcher and returned home; and when her mistress asked her, "Why have you done this mischief?" she replied, "Me go to the well alone, pitcher break upon a stone." Her