United States or Mozambique ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
And in a moment the fire caught him, and he was burned up. Then the fairest in the world held out her hand to Ciccu and smiled, saying, 'Now we will be man and wife. So Ciccu married the fairest in the world, and became king of the country. Don Giovanni De La Fortuna Sicilianische Mahrchen
And when the fairest in the world saw what he had done, love entered into her heart, and she said to the king, 'One thing more: before I can be your wife, you must jump into the oven as Ciccu has done. 'Willingly, replied the king, stooping over the oven. But on the brink he paused a moment and called to Ciccu, 'Tell me, Ciccu, how did you manage to prevent the fire burning you?
'Don't be anxious, said the old man, throwing the stalks back into the basket; 'just go on and carry the basket to the castle, and it will bring you luck. Ciccu did not much like it; however he went on his way, and with a trembling heart rang the castle bell. 'Here are some lovely figs for the king, said he, 'if his majesty will graciously accept them with my humble duty.
'We can always try, answered Ciccu; 'and if times are bad we can come back here and take up wood-cutting. So saying he picked up his bundle of sticks, and his brothers did the same. But when they reached the town they found that the market was overstocked with firewood, and they did not sell enough to buy themselves a dinner, far less to get any food to carry home.
The brothers hurried on, without needing to be told twice, 'for, thought they, 'he has no money, and of course there will be a row. When they were out of sight Ciccu asked the landlord how much he owed, and then said to his purse, 'Dear purse, give me, I pray you, six florins, and instantly six florins were in the purse. Then he paid the bill and joined his brothers.
It took them many days' hard riding before they reached the country where the Man-eater lived, and then the horse told Ciccu to stop a group of old women who were coming chattering through the wood, and offer them each a shilling if they would collect a number of mosquitos and tie them up in a bag. He himself hid carefully under the bed and waited.
What could Ciccu do? Life was sweet, and he was in the power of the king; so he gave up silently his ill-gotten goods, and was as poor as when he was a boy.
Then he took up the coverlet, and wished he was safe in his own house. No sooner had he gone than the princess hastened to her father and complained of her sufferings. Then the king rose up in a fury, and commanded Ciccu to be brought before him. 'You richly deserve death, said he, 'but I will allow you to live if you will instantly hand over to me the coverlet, the purse, and the horn.
They were wondering sadly what they should do when Ciccu said, 'Come with me to the inn and let us have something to eat. They were so hungry by this time that they did not care much whether they paid for it or not, so they followed Ciccu, who gave his orders to the host. 'Bring us three dishes, the nicest that you have, and a good bottle of wine. 'Ciccu!
So he sent for him and said, 'Ciccu, unless within eight days you bring me the fairest in the whole world, I will have you hewn into a thousand pieces. This mission seemed to Ciccu a hundred times worse than either of the others, and with tears in his eyes he took his way to the stables.
Word Of The Day