him, 'Mark how I shall do and keep well in mind that which I
shall say. Above all, have a care, an thou wouldst not mar everything,
that, whatsoever thou hearest or seest, thou say not a single word,
and pray God that the tail may stick fast.' Pietro took the light,
promising to do exactly as he said, whereupon Dom Gianni let strip
Gemmata naked as she was born and caused her stand on all fours,
mare-fashion, enjoining herself likewise not to utter a word for aught
that should betide. Then, passing his hand over her face and her head,
he proceeded to say, 'Be this a fine mare's head,' and touching her
hair, said, 'Be this a fine mare's mane'; after which he touched her
arms, saying, 'Be these fine mare's legs and feet,' and coming
presently to her breast and finding it round and firm, such an one
awoke that was not called and started up on end,[440] whereupon quoth
he, 'Be this a fine mare's chest.' And on like wise he did with her
back and belly and crupper and thighs and legs. Ultimately, nothing
remaining to do but the tail, he pulled up his shirt and taking the
dibble with which he planted men, he thrust it hastily into the furrow
made therefor and said, 'And be this a fine mare's tail.'

[Footnote 440: _i.e._ arrectus est penis ejus.]

Pietro, who had thitherto watched everything intently, seeing this
last proceeding and himseeming it was ill done, said, 'Ho there, Dom
Gianni, I won't have a tail there, I won't have a tail there!' The
radical moisture, wherewith all plants are made fast, was by this
come, and Dom Gianni drew it forth, saying, 'Alack, gossip Pietro,
what hast thou done? Did I not bid thee say not a word for aught that
thou shouldst see? The mare was all made; but thou hast marred
everything by talking, nor is there any means of doing it over again
henceforth.' Quoth Pietro, 'Marry, I did not want that tail there. Why
did you not say to me, "Make it thou"? More by token that you were for
setting it too low.' 'Because,' answered Dom Gianni, 'thou hadst not
known for the first time to set it on so well as I.' The young woman,
hearing all this, stood up and said to her husband, in all good faith,
'Dolt that thou art, why hast thou marred thine affairs and mine? What
mare sawest thou ever without a tail? So God aid me, thou art poor,
but it would serve thee right, wert thou much poorer.' Then, there
being now, by reason of the words that Pietro had spoken, no longer
any means of making a mare of the you