many, say that Fortune is not beautiful, for
having seen thee, I can now praise thee more than ever.'

"'I do not cast my favours always on those who deserve them,' replied
Fortune, 'yet this time my wheel shall assist thee. But tell me, thou
man of honesty and without envy, which wouldst thou prefer--to be
fortunate in all things thyself alone, or to give instead as much good
luck to _two_ men as miserable as thou art? If thou wilt gain the prize
for thyself alone, turn and pluck one of these flowers! If for others,
then take two.'

"The poor man replied: 'It is far better, lady, to raise two families to
prosperity than one. As for me, I can work, and I thank God and thee
that I can do so much good to so many, although I do not profit by it
myself;' and saying this, he advanced and plucked two flowers.

"Fortune smiled. 'Thou must have heard,' she said, 'that where I spend,
I am lavish and extravagant, and assuredly thou knowest the saying that
"Three is the lucky number," or nine. Now I make it a rule that when I
relieve families, I always do it by threes--_la spando a tre
famiglie_--so do thou go and pluck a flower for thyself!'

"Then the poor man, hearing this, went to the wheels, and let them turn
till a very large fine flower came forth, and seized it, whereat Fortune
smiled, and said:

"'I always favour the bold. Now go and sit on yonder bench till some one
comes.' And saying this, she vanished.

"There came two very poor woodcutters whom he knew well. One had two
sons, another a son and a daughter, and one and all were as poor and
miserable as could be.

"'What has come over thee, that thou art looking so handsome and young,'
said one amazed, as he came up.

"'And what fine clothes!' remarked the second.

"'It shall be so anon for ye both,' replied the favourite of Fortune;
'only take these flowers and guard them well.'

"Si, Signore, they sat down on the bench three beggars, and they rose
three fine cavaliers, in velvet and satin, with gold-mounted swords, and
found their horses and attendants waiting. And when they got home, they
did not know their wives or children, nor were they known unto them, and
it was an hour before all was got right. Then all went with them as if
it were oiled. The first man found a great treasure the very first day
in his cellar--in fine, they all grew rich, and the three sons married
the three girls, and they all put the three wheels on their _scudi_. One
o