s at the request of the horse. Six maids served them. The horse
now gave Juan the ring of Dona Maria; and as long as he kept this,
he was sure of keeping the maiden. After eating, Dona Maria asked Juan
why she had been brought there; but Juan, following the advice of the
horse, made no reply. She flattered him and tried to get him to sleep,
but he paid no attention to her. At length the horse told them that
they must resume their journey. The horse travelled rapidly, and soon
reached the royal palace; but the gates were closed, for it was then
about midnight. So the riders decided to spend the rest of the night
at Juan's house. There the old mother received them all gladly. When
the saddle and bit had been taken from the horse, the animal said
that it would return the following morning and carry Juan to the
palace. It further warned Juan not to sleep if he valued his life ....

The romance closes with the inevitable war with the Moors, and the
rescue of the kingdom from the hands of the Pagans by the invincible
Juan.

The exact source of this romance I am unable to point to; but without
question it is Occidental, I believe.

TALE 47

THE FATE OF AN ENVIOUS WOMAN.

Narrated by Vicente M. Hilario, a Tagalog from Batangas, Batangas. He
was told the story by his gardener.

There lived once upon a time a young couple of the middle class. The
man was a reckless scapegrace and spendthrift; but the woman was a
pious, faithful, and virtuous housewife. Juan was the husband's name;
Maria, the wife's. One of the worst things about Juan was that he
spent on another woman the greater part of the money which Maria
could with difficulty scrape together. This other woman's name was
Flora. It is true that she surpassed Maria in personal charm, but in
real worth Flora was greatly Maria's inferior. Hence we should not
wonder at the fact that Maria soon grew distasteful to her husband,
and that after a year of married life he should seek to be entertained
by a more beautiful woman. He spent most of his time in listless
indolence by the side of Flora, returning home only to get his meals,
which Maria prepared with the greatest care. But her efforts were all
to no purpose. In vain did Maria array herself in her best clothes,
and scent herself with the most delicate perfumes: her face remained
pitted with small-pox scars, as before.

Years came and passed, and Juan became more and more harsh to his
wife. At last Maria sought