Page:The Pentamerone, or The Story of Stories.djvu/79

Rh after dinner parched beans. Then the ogre went out to hunt, and returned home laden with the quarters of men whom he had killed, saying, "Now, wife, you cannot complain that I don't take good care of you; here's a fine store of eatables for you; take and make merry, and love me well, for the sky will fall before I let you want for food."

Poor Porziella was sick at this horrible sight, and turned her face away. But when the ogre saw this, he cried, "Ha! this is throwing sweetmeats before swine: no matter however; only have patience till tomorrow morning; for I have been invited to a wild-boar hunt, and will bring you home a couple of boars, and we'll make a grand feast with our kinsfolk, and celebrate our wedding." So saying, away he went into the forest.

Now as Porziella stood weeping at the window, it chanced that an old woman passed by, who, being famished with hunger, begged some refreshment of her. Ah, my good woman!" said Porziella, Heaven knows I am in the power of a devil, who brings me home nothing but quarters and pieces of men he has killed; indeed I know not how it is that I have the stomach even to look upon such odious things. I pass the most miserable life that ever a Christian soul led; and yet I am the