kles, they desired the ring to destroy
the spell by which the old man had become young again. And instantly
Minecco Aniello, who was just at that moment in the presence of the
King, was suddenly seen to grow hoary, his hairs to whiten, his
forehead to wrinkle, his eyebrows to grow bristly, his eyes to sink in,
his face to be furrowed, his mouth to become toothless, his beard to
grow bushy, his back to be humped, his legs to tremble, and, above all,
his glittering garments to turn to rags and tatters.

The King, seeing the miserable beggar seated beside him at table,
ordered him to be instantly driven away with blows and hard words,
whereupon Aniello, thus suddenly fallen from his good luck, went
weeping to his daughter, and asked for the ring in order to set matters
to rights again. But when he heard the fatal trick played by the false
merchants he was ready to throw himself out of the window, cursing a
thousand times the ignorance of his daughter, who, for the sake of a
silly doll had turned him into a miserable scarecrow, and for a paltry
thing of rags had brought him to rags himself, adding that he was
resolved to go wandering about the world like a bad shilling, until he
should get tidings of those merchants. So saying he threw a cloak about
his neck and a wallet on his back, drew his sandals on his feet, took a
staff in his hand, and, leaving his daughter all chilled and frozen, he
set out walking desperately on and on until he arrived at the kingdom
of Deep-Hole, inhabited by the mice, where, being taken for a big spy
of the cats, he was instantly led before Rosecone, the King. Then the
King asked him who he was, whence he came, and what he was about in
that country; and Minecco Aniello, after first giving the King a
cheese-paring, in sign of tribute, related to him all his misfortunes
one by one, and concluded by saying that he was resolved to continue
his toil and travel, until he should get tidings of those thievish
villains who had robbed him of so precious a jewel, taking from him at
once the flower of his youth, the source of his wealth, and the prop of
his honour.

At these words Rosecone felt pity nibbling at his heart, and, wishing
to comfort the poor man, he summoned the eldest mice to a council, and
asked their opinions on the misfortunes of Minecco Aniello, commanding
them to use all diligence and endeavour to obtain some tidings of these
false merchants. Now, among the rest, it happened that Rudolo a