gging in the
sea and making a wrong reckoning on your fingers. I will never subject
myself to any man who has not a golden head and teeth." The poor King,
seeing his daughter's head thus turned, issued a proclamation, bidding
any one in his kingdom who should answer to Cannetella's wishes to
appear, and he would give him his daughter and the kingdom.

Now this King had a mortal enemy named Fioravante, whom he could not
bear to see so much as painted on a wall. He, when he heard of this
proclamation, being a cunning magician, called a parcel of that evil
brood to him, and commanded them forthwith to make his head and teeth
of gold. So they did as he desired, and when he saw himself with a head
and teeth of pure gold he walked past under the window of the King,
who, when he saw the very man he was looking for, called his daughter.
As soon as Cannetella set eyes upon him she cried out, "Ay, that is he!
he could not be better if I had kneaded him with my own hands."

When Fioravante was getting up to go away the King said to him, "Wait a
little, brother; why in such a hurry! One would think you had
quicksilver in your body! Fair and softly, I will give you my daughter
and baggage and servants to accompany you, for I wish her to be your
wife."

"I thank you," said Fioravante, "but there is no necessity; a single
horse is enough if the beast will carry double, for at home I have
servants and goods as many as the sands on the sea-shore." So, after
arguing awhile, Fioravante at last prevailed, and, placing Cannetella
behind him on a horse, he set out.

In the evening, when the red horses are taken away from the corn-mill
of the sky and white oxen are yoked in their place, they came to a
stable where some horses were feeding. Fioravante led Cannetella into
it and said, "Listen! I have to make a journey to my own house, and it
will take me seven years to get there. Mind, therefore, and wait for me
in this stable and do not stir out, nor let yourself be seen by any
living person, or else I will make you remember it as long as you
live." Cannetella replied, "You are my lord and master, and I will
carry out your commands exactly, but tell me what you will leave me to
live upon in the meantime." And Fioravante answered, "What the horses
leave of their own corn will be enough for you."

Only conceive how poor Cannetella now felt, and guess whether she did
not curse the hour and moment she was born! Cold and frozen, she made
up i