down as essential for the
poet of opera, and I cannot understand why this rich mine of
magnificent opera-plots has been so little drawn upon, hitherto.'

"_Ferdinand_. 'I remember being greatly delighted with Gozzi, when I
read him some years ago; though, of course, I did not then look at him
from your point of view.'

"_Ludwig_. 'One of the best of his tales is "The Raven." A certain King
Millo, of Frattombrosa, cares for nothing but the chase. One day in the
forest he sees a splendid raven, and he sends an arrow through its
heart. The raven falls upon a monumental tomb of the whitest marble,
which there is there under the trees, besprinkling it with his blood.
On this, the forest is shaken, as if by an earthquake; and a terrible
monster comes stalking out of a cave, and thunders forth a curse upon
Millo, in the following terms:--

"Findest thou not a fair woman,
White as this monument's marble,
Red as the raven's heart's blood,
Black as the night of his plumes,
Perish in raving madness."

"'All attempts to discover such a woman are fruitless. But the king's
brother, Gennaro, who is devoted to him, vows that he will never rest
till he finds this woman, who is to restore his brother's reason. He
traverses land and sea; till at last, counselled by an old man versed
in necromancy, he discovers Armilla, daughter of the mighty sorcerer
Norand. White is her skin like the monument's marble, red like the
raven's blood; and black as his plumes are her hair and eyebrows. He
succeeds in carrying her off, and after many adventures, they reach the
shores of Frattombrosa in safety. As he lands on the beach, chance
places in his possession a magnificent charger, and a falcon endowed
with extraordinary powers. He is filled with joy that he is enabled to
restore his brother's reason, and also to have two such acceptable
gifts to offer him. He lies down to rest in a pavilion which has been
prepared for him under a tree. Then two doves come and sit in the
branches, and begin to talk:--

"'"Woe! Woe to Gennaro! Well had he never been born; the falcon will
peck out his brother's eyes--but if he giveth it not, or if he telleth
what he hath heard, he will turn to stone; if his brother mounteth the
horse, it will instantly kill him--but if he giveth it not, or telleth
what he hath heard, he will turn to stone; if his brother weddeth
Armilla, a monster will come on the wedding-n