day to murmur--Taddeo thus began:

"There is nothing in the world more glorious, my gentle dames, than to
listen to the deeds of others; nor was it without reason that the great
philosopher placed the highest happiness of man in listening to pretty
stories. In hearing pleasing things told, griefs vanish, troublesome
thoughts are put to flight and life is lengthened. And, for this
reason, you see the artisans leave their workshops, the merchants their
country-houses, the lawyers their cases, the shopkeepers their
business, and all repair with open mouths to the barbers' shops and to
the groups of chatterers, to listen to stories, fictions, and news in
the open air. I cannot, therefore, but pardon my wife, who has taken
this strange fancy into her head of hearing the telling of tales. So,
if you will be pleased to satisfy the whim of the Princess and comply
with my wishes, you will, during the next four or five days, each of
you relate daily one of those tales which old women are wont to tell
for the amusement of the little ones. And you will come regularly to
this spot; where, after a good repast, you shall begin to tell stories,
so as to pass life pleasantly--and sorrow to him that dies!"

At these words, all bowed assent to the commands of Taddeo; and the
tables being meanwhile set out and feast spread, they sat down to eat.
And when they had done eating, the Prince took the paper and calling on
each in turn, by name, the stories that follow were told, in due order.

II

THE MYRTLE

There lived in the village of Miano a man and his wife, who had no
children whatever, and they longed with the greatest eagerness to have
an heir. The woman, above all, was for ever saying, "O heavens! if I
might but have a little baby--I should not care, were it even a sprig
of a myrtle." And she repeated this song so often, and so wearied
Heaven with these words, that at last her wish was granted; and at the
end of nine months, instead of a little boy or girl, she placed in the
hands of the nurse a fine sprig of myrtle. This she planted with great
delight in a pot, ornamented with ever so many beautiful figures, and
set it in the window, tending it morning and evening with more
diligence than the gardener does a bed of cabbages from which he
reckons to pay the rent of his garden.

Now the King's son happening to pass by, as he was going to hunt, took
a prodigious fancy to this beautiful plant, and sent to ask the
mistress of th