cause he thinks she does not love him as much as her older
sisters. A good example of this class is Pitre, No. 10, _L'Acqua e lu
Sali_.

XXIII. WATER AND SALT.

A very fine story is related and told to your worships. Once upon a time
there was a king with three daughters. These three daughters being at
table one day, their father said: "Come now, let us see which of you
three loves me." The oldest said: "Papa, I love you as much as my eyes."
The second answered: "I love you as much as my heart." The youngest
said: "I love you as much as water and salt." The king heard her with
amazement: "Do you value me like water and salt? Quick! call the
executioners, for I will have her killed immediately." The other sisters
privately gave the executioners a little dog, and told them to kill it
and rend one of the youngest sister's garments, but to leave her in a
cave. This they did, and brought back to the king the dog's tongue and
the rent garment: "Royal Majesty, here is her tongue and garment." And
his Majesty gave them a reward. The unfortunate princess was found in
the forest by a magician, who took her to his house opposite the royal
palace. Here the king's son saw her and fell desperately in love with
her, and the match was soon agreed upon. Then the magician came and
said: "You must kill me the day before the wedding. You must invite
three kings, your father the first. You must order the servants to pass
water and salt to all the guests except your father." Now let us return
to the father of this young girl, who the longer he lived the more his
love for her increased, and he was sick of grief. When he received the
invitation he said: "And how can I go with this love for my daughter?"
And he would not go. Then he thought: "But this king will be offended if
I do not go, and will declare war against me some time." He accepted and
went. The day before the wedding they killed the magician and quartered
him, and put a quarter in each of four rooms, and sprinkled his blood in
all the rooms and on the stairway, and the blood and flesh became gold
and precious stones. When the three kings came and saw the golden
stairs, they did not like to step on them. "Never mind," said the
prince, "go up: this is nothing." That evening they were married: the
next day they had a banquet. The prince gave orders: "No salt and water
to that king." They sat down at table, and the young queen was near her
father, but he did not eat. His daughter sa