s
beautiful lady home with me as my wife."

"Hush!" answered the Falcon, "for the bean springs up where you least
expect it. We'll soon make him dance upon a sixpence, and take good
care that he shall have little ground enough."

"Let us lose no time," said the Stag, "troubles and macaroni are
swallowed hot."

So the Falcon summoned a large flock of griffins, who, flying to the
window of the tower, carried off the damsel, bearing her over the lake
to where Tittone was standing with his three brothers-in-law; and if
from afar she appeared a moon, believe me, when near she looked truly
like a sun, she was so beautiful.

Whilst Tittone was embracing her and telling her how he loved her, the
dragon awoke; and, rushing out of the window, he came swimming across
the lake to devour Tittone. But the Stag instantly called up a squadron
of lions, tigers, panthers, bears, and wild-cats, who, falling upon the
dragon, tore him in pieces with their claws. Then Tittone wishing to
depart, the Dolphin said, "I likewise desire to do something to serve
you." And in order that no trace should remain of the frightful and
accursed place, he made the sea rise so high that, overflowing its
bounds, it attacked the tower furiously, and overthrew it to its
foundations.

When Tittone saw these things, he thanked the animals in the best
manner he could, telling the damsel at the same time that she ought to
do so too, as it was by their aid she had escaped from peril. But the
animals answered, "Nay, we ought rather to thank this beauteous lady,
since she is the means of restoring us to our proper shapes; for a
spell was laid upon us at our birth, caused by our mother's having
offended a fairy, and we were compelled to remain in the form of
animals until we should have freed the daughter of a King from some
great trouble. And now behold the time is arrived which we have longed
for; the fruit is ripe, and we already feel new spirit in our breasts,
new blood in our veins." So saying, they were changed into three
handsome youths, and one after another they embraced their
brother-in-law, and shook hands with the lady, who was in an ecstasy of
joy.

When Tittone saw this, he was on the point of fainting away; and
heaving a deep sigh, he said, "O Heavens! why have not my mother and
father a share in this happiness? They would be out of their wits with
joy were they to see such graceful and handsome sons-in-law before
their eyes."

"Nay," answere