the forelock, and I let her
escape out of my hand. Here's a man offers to give me the half of a
treasure he finds, and I care no more for it than a German for cold
water; the fairy wishes to entertain me in her palace, and I care as
little for it as an ass for music; and now that I am called to the
crown, here I stand and let a rascally thief cheat me out of my
trump-card!" So saying he took an inkstand, seized a pen, and spreading
out a sheet of paper, began to write:

"To the most beautiful jewel of women, Menechella--Having, by the
favour of Sol in Leo, saved thy life, I hear that another plumes
himself with my labours, that another claims the reward of the service
which I rendered. Thou, therefore, who wast present at the dragon's
death, canst assure the King of the truth, and prevent his allowing
another to gain this reward while I have had all the toil. For it will
be the right effect of thy fair royal grace and the merited recompense
of this strong hero's fist. In conclusion, I kiss thy delicate little
hands.

"From the Inn of the Flower-pot, Sunday."

Having written this letter, and sealed it with a wafer, he placed it in
the mouth of the enchanted dog, saying, "Run off as fast as you can and
take this to the King's daughter. Give it to no one else, but place it
in the hand of that silver-faced maiden herself."

Away ran the dog to the palace as if he were flying, and going up the
stairs he found the King, who was still paying compliments to the
country clown. When the man saw the dog with the letter in his mouth,
he ordered it to be taken from him; but the dog would not give it to
any one, and bounding up to Menechella he placed it in her hand. Then
Menechella rose from her seat, and, making a curtsey to the King, she
gave him the letter to read; and when the King had read it he ordered
that the dog should be followed to see where he went, and that his
master should be brought before him. So two of the courtiers
immediately followed the dog, until they came to the tavern, where they
found Cienzo; and, delivering the message from the King, they conducted
him to the palace, into the presence of the King. Then the King
demanded how it was that he boasted of having killed the dragon, since
the heads were brought by the man who was sitting crowned at his side.
And Cienzo answered, "That fellow deserves a pasteboard mitre rather
than a crown, since he has had the impudence to tell you a bouncing
lie. But to pr