own life and desire to please you,
tell me, I pray, what sort of a husband you would like, what kind of a
man would suit your fancy? Will you have him a scholar or a dunce? a
boy, or man in years? brown or fair or ruddy? tall as a maypole or
short as a peg? small in the waist or round as an ox? Do you choose,
and I am satisfied."

Cannetella thanked her father for these generous offers, but told him
that she would on no account encumber herself with a husband. However,
being urged by the King again and again, she said, "Not to show myself
ungrateful for so much love I am willing to comply with your wish,
provided I have such a husband that he has no like in the world."

Her father, delighted beyond measure at hearing this, took his station
at the window from morning till evening, looking out and surveying,
measuring and examining every one that passed along the street. And one
day, seeing a good-looking man go by, the King said to his daughter,
"Run, Cannetella! see if yon man comes up to the measure of your
wishes." Then she desired him to be brought up, and they made a most
splendid banquet for him, at which there was everything he could
desire. And as they were feasting an almond fell out of the youth's
mouth, whereupon, stooping down, he picked it up dexterously from the
ground and put it under the cloth, and when they had done eating he
went away. Then the King said to Cannetella, "Well, my life, how does
this youth please you?" "Take the fellow away," said she; "a man so
tall and so big as he should never have let an almond drop out of his
mouth."

When the King heard this he returned to his place at the window, and
presently, seeing another well-shaped youth pass by, he called his
daughter to hear whether this one pleased her. Then Cannetella desired
him to be shown up; so he was called, and another entertainment made.
And when they had done eating, and the man had gone away, the King
asked his daughter whether he had pleased her, whereupon she replied,
"What in the world should I do with such a miserable fellow who wants
at least a couple of servants with him to take off his cloak?"

"If that be the case," said the King, "it is plain that these are
merely excuses, and that you are only looking for pretexts to refuse me
this pleasure. So resolve quickly, for I am determined to have you
married." To these angry words Cannetella replied, "To tell you the
truth plainly, dear father, I really feel that you are di