."

XII

VIOLET

Envy is a wind which blows with such violence, that it throws down the
props of the reputation of good men, and levels with the ground the
crops of good fortune. But, very often, as a punishment from Heaven,
when this envious blast seems as if it would cast a person flat on the
ground, it aids him instead of attain the happiness he is expecting
sooner even than he expected: as you will hear in the story which I
shall now tell you.

There was once upon a time a good sort of man named Cola Aniello, who
had three daughters, Rose, Pink, and Violet, the last of whom was so
beautiful that her very look was a syrup of love, which cured the
hearts of beholders of all unhappiness. The King's son was burning with
love of her, and every time he passed by the little cottage where these
three sisters sat at work, he took off his cap and said, "Good-day,
good-day, Violet," and she replied, "Good-day, King's son! I know more
than you." At these words her sisters grumbled and murmured, saying,
"You are an ill-bred creature and will make the Prince in a fine rage."
But as Violet paid no heed to what they said, they made a spiteful
complaint of her to her father, telling him that she was too bold and
forward; and that she answered the Prince without any respect, as if
she were just as good as he; and that, some day or other, she would get
into trouble and suffer the just punishment of her offence. So Cola
Aniello, who was a prudent man, in order to prevent any mischief, sent
Violet to stay with an aunt, to be set to work.

Now the Prince, when he passed by the house as usual, no longer seeing
the object of his love, was for some days like a nightingale that has
lost her young ones from her nest, and goes from branch to branch
wailing and lamenting her loss; but he put his ear so often to the
chink that at last he discovered where Violet lived. Then he went to
the aunt, and said to her, "Madam, you know who I am, and what power I
have; so, between ourselves, do me a favour and then ask for whatever
you wish." "If I can do anything to serve you," replied the old woman,
"I am entirely at your command." "I ask nothing of you," said the
Prince, "but to let me give Violet a kiss." "If that's all," answered
the old woman, "go and hide yourself in the room downstairs in the
garden, and I will find some pretence or another for sending Violet to
you."

As soon as the Prince heard this, he stole into the room without lo