.

The King seeing this victory of a blockhead, the palm thus carried off
by a simpleton, the triumph of a fool, bethought himself seriously
whether or no he should give him his daughter; and taking counsel with
the wiseacres of his court, they replied that Ciannetella was not a
mouthful for the tooth of such a miserable dog and lose-the-day bird,
and that, without breaking his word, he might commute the promise of
his daughter for a gift of crowns, which would be more to the taste of
a poor beggar like Moscione than all the women in the world.

This advice pleased the King, and he asked Moscione how much money he
would take instead of the wife who had been promised him. Then
Moscione, after consulting with the others, answered, "I will take as
much gold and silver as one of my comrades can carry on his back." The
king consented; whereupon they brought Strong-back, on whom they began
to load bales of ducats, sacks of patacas, large purses full of crowns,
barrels of copper money, chests full of chains and rings; but the more
they loaded him the firmer he stood, just like a tower, so that the
treasury, the banks, the usurers, and the money-dealers of the city did
not suffice, and he sent to all the great people in every direction to
borrow their silver candlesticks, basins, jugs, plates, trays, and
baskets; and yet all was not enough to make up the full load. At length
they went away, not laden but tired and satisfied.

When the councillors saw what heaps and stores these six miserable dogs
were carrying off, they said to the King that it was a great piece of
assery to load them with all the sinews of his kingdom, and that it
would be well to send people after them to lessen the load of that
Atlas who was carrying on his shoulders a heaven of treasure. The King
gave ear to this advice, and immediately despatched a party of armed
men, foot and horse, to overtake Moscione and his friends. But
Quick-ear, who had heard this counsel, informed his comrades; and while
the dust was rising to the sky from the trampling of those who were
coming to unload the rich cargo, Blow-blast, seeing that things were
come to a bad pass, began to blow at such a rate that he not only made
the enemies fall flat on the ground, but he sent them flying more than
a mile distant, as the north wind does the folks who pass through that
country. So without meeting any more hindrance, Moscione arrived at his
father's house, where he shared the booty wit