dream, having had a sister when the Prince found him
in the wood, but that he had never since heard any tidings of her. Then
the Prince told him to go nearer to the fish, and see what was the
matter, for perhaps this adventure might concern him. As soon as
Nennillo approached the fish, it raised up its head upon the rock, and
opening its throat six palms wide, Nennella stepped out, so beautiful
that she looked just like a nymph in some interlude, come forth from
that animal at the incantation of a magician. And when the Prince asked
her how it had all happened, she told him a part of her sad story, and
the hatred of their stepmother; but not being able to recollect the
name of their father nor of their home, the Prince caused a
proclamation to be issued, commanding that whoever had lost two
children, named Nennillo and Nennella, in a wood, should come to the
royal palace, and he would there receive joyful news of them.

Jannuccio, who had all this time passed a sad and disconsolate life,
believing that his children had been devoured by wolves, now hastened
with the greatest joy to seek the Prince, and told him that he had lost
the children. And when he had related the story, how he had been
compelled to take them to the wood, the Prince gave him a good
scolding, calling him a blockhead for allowing a woman to put her heel
upon his neck till he was brought to send away two such jewels as his
children. But after he had broken Jannuccio's head with these words, he
applied to it the plaster of consolation, showing him the children,
whom the father embraced and kissed for half an hour without being
satisfied. Then the Prince made him pull off his jacket, and had him
dressed like a lord; and sending for Jannuccio's wife, he showed her
those two golden pippins, asked her what that person would deserve who
should do them any harm, and even endanger their lives. And she
replied, "For my part, I would put her into a closed cask, and send her
rolling down a mountain."

"So it shall be done!" said the Prince. "The goat has butted at
herself. Quick now! you have passed the sentence, and you must suffer
it, for having borne these beautiful stepchildren such malice." So he
gave orders that the sentence should be instantly executed. Then
choosing a very rich lord among his vassals, he gave him Nennella to
wife, and the daughter of another great lord to Nennillo; allowing them
enough to live upon, with their father, so that they wanted