the
king's pantry, and told her to make a hole in the corner of the floor
just over the kitchen, through which she would regularly bring her food
to sustain her life. So Porziella bored away until she had made a
passage for the bird, who, watching till the cook was gone out to fetch
a pitcher of water from the well, went down through the hole, and
taking a fine fowl that was cooking at the fire, brought it to
Porziella; then to relieve her thirst, not knowing how to carry her any
drink, she flew to the pantry, where there was a quantity of grapes
hanging, and brought her a fine bunch; and this she did regularly for
many days.

Meanwhile Porziella gave birth to a fine little boy, whom she suckled
and reared with the constant aid of the bird. And when he was grown
big, the fairy advised his mother to make the hole larger, and to raise
so many boards of the floor as would allow Miuccio (for so the child
was called) to pass through; and then, after letting him down with some
cords which the bird brought, to put the boards back into their place,
that it might not be seen where he came from. So Porziella did as the
bird directed her; and as soon as the cook was gone out, she let down
her son, desiring him never to tell whence he came nor whose son he was.

When the cook returned and saw such a fine little boy, he asked him who
he was, whence he came, and what he wanted; whereupon, the child,
remembering his mother's advice, said that he was a poor forlorn boy
who was looking about for a master. As they were talking, the butler
came in, and seeing the spritely little fellow, he thought he would
make a pretty page for the King. So he led him to the royal apartments;
and when the King saw him look so handsome and lovely that he appeared
a very jewel, he was vastly pleased with him, and took him into his
service as a page and to his heart as a son, and had him taught all the
exercises befitting a cavalier, so that Miuccio grew up the most
accomplished one in the court, and the King loved him much better than
his stepson. Now the King's stepmother, who was really the queen, on
this account began to take a dislike to him, and to hold him in
aversion; and her envy and malice gained ground just in proportion as
the favours and kindness which the King bestowed on Miuccio cleared the
way for them; so she resolved to soap the ladder of his fortune in
order that he should tumble down from top to bottom.

Accordingly one evening, when