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calling on them； first one and then the other。
Now the King's stepmother had grown suspicious at his long absence at the chase； and when she heard him calling thus on Talia； Sun； and Moon； she waxed wroth； and said to the King's secretary； 〃Hark ye； friend； you stand in great danger； between the axe and the block； tell me who it is that my stepson is enamoured of； and I will make you rich； but if you conceal the truth from me； I'll make you rue it。〃
The man； moved on the one side by fear； and on the other pricked by interest； which is a bandage to the eyes of honour； the blind of justice； and an old horse…shoe to trip up good faith； told the Queen the whole truth。 Whereupon she sent the secretary in the King's name to Talia； saying that he wished to see the children。 Then Talia sent them with great joy； but the Queen commanded the cook to kill them； and serve them up in various ways for her wretched stepson to eat。
Now the cook； who had a tender heart； seeing the two pretty little golden pippins； took compassion on them； and gave them to his wife； bidding her keep them concealed； then he killed and dressed two little kids in a hundred different ways。 When the King came； the Queen quickly ordered the dishes served up； and the King fell to eating with great delight； exclaiming； 〃How good this is！ Oh； how excellent； by the soul of my grandfather！〃 And the old Queen all the while kept saying； 〃Eat away； for you know what you eat。〃 At first the King paid no attention to what she said； but at last； hearing the music continue； he replied； 〃Ay； I know well enough what I eat； for YOU brought nothing to the house。〃 And at last； getting up in a rage； he went off to a villa at a little distance to cool his anger。
Meanwhile the Queen； not satisfied with what she had done； called the secretary again； and sent him to fetch Talia； pretending that the King wished to see her。 At this summons Talia went that very instant； longing to see the light of her eyes； and not knowing that only the smoke awaited her。 But when she came before the Queen； the latter said to her； with the face of a Nero； and full of poison as a viper； 〃Welcome； Madam Sly…cheat！ Are you indeed the pretty mischief…maker？ Are you the weed that has caught my son's eye and given me all this trouble。〃
When Talia heard this she began to excuse herself； but the Queen would not listen to a word； and having a large fire lighted in the courtyard； she commanded that Talia should be thrown into the flames。 Poor Talia； seeing matters come to a bad pass； fell on her knees before the Queen； and besought her at least to grant her time to take the clothes from off her back。 Whereupon the Queen； not so much out of pity for the unhappy girl； as to get possession of her dress； which was embroidered all over with gold and pearls； said to her； 〃Undress yourselfI allow you。〃 Then Talia began to undress； and as she took off each garment she uttered an exclamation of grief； and when she had stripped off her cloak； her gown； and her jacket； and was proceeding to take off her petticoat； they seized her and were dragging her away。 At that moment the King came up； and seeing the spectacle he demanded to know the whole truth； and when he asked also for the children； and heard that his stepmother had ordered them to be killed； the unhappy King gave himself up to despair。
He then ordered her to be thrown into the same fire which had been lighted for Talia； and the secretary with her； who was the handle of this cruel game and the weaver of this wicked web。 Then he was going to do the same with the cook； thinking that he had killed the children； but the cook threw himself at the King's feet and said； 〃Truly； sir King； I would desire no other sinecure in return for the service I have done you than to be thrown into a furnace full of live coals； I would ask no other gratuity than the thrust of a spike； I would wish for no other amusement than to be roasted in the fire； I would desire no other privilege than to have the ashes of the cook mingled with those of a Queen。 But I look for no such great reward for having saved the children； and brought them back to you in spite of that wicked creature who wished to kill them〃
When the King heard these words he was quite beside himself； he appeared to dream； and could not believe what his ears had heard。 Then he said to the cook； 〃If it is true that you have saved the children； be assured I will take you from turning the spit； and reward you so that you shall call yourself the happiest man in the world。〃
As the King was speaking these words； the wife of the cook； seeing the dilemma her husband was in； brought Sun and Moon before the King； who； playing at the game of three with Talia and the other children； went round and round kissing first one and then another。 Then giving the cook a large reward； he made him his chamberlain； and he took Talia to wife； who enjoyed a long life with her husband and the children； acknowledging that
〃He who has luck may go to bed； And bliss will rain upon his head。〃
XXX
NENNILLO AND NENNELLA
Woe to him who thinks to find a governess for his children by giving them a stepmother！ He only brings into his house the cause of their ruin。 There never yet was a stepmother who looked kindly on the children of another； or if by chance such a one were ever found； she would be regarded as a miracle； and be called a white crow。 But beside all those of whom you may have heard； I will now tell you of another； to be added to the list of heartless stepmothers； whom you will consider well deserving the punishment she purchased for herself with ready money。
There was once a good man named Jannuccio； who had two children； Nennillo and Nennella； whom he loved as much as his own life。 But Death having； with the smooth file of Time； severed the prison…bars of his wife's soul； he took to himself a cruel woman； who had no sooner set foot in his house than she began to ride the high horse； saying； 〃Am I come here indeed to look after other folk's children？ A pretty job I have undertaken； to have all this trouble and be for ever teased by a couple of squalling brats！ Would that I had broken my neck ere I ever came to this place； to have bad food； worse drink； and get no sleep at night！ Here's a life to lead！ Forsooth I came as a wife； and not as a servant； but I must find some means of getting rid of these creatures； or it will cost me my life： better to blush once than to grow pale a hundred times； so I've done with them； for I am resolved to send them away； or to leave the house myself for ever。〃
The poor husband； who had some affection for this woman； said to her； 〃Softly； wife！ Don't be angry； for sugar is dear； and to…morrow morning； before the cock crows； I will remove this annoyance in order to please you。〃 So the next morning； ere the Dawn had hung out the red counterpane at the window of the East to air it； Jannuccio took the children； one by each hand； and with a good basketful of things to eat upon his arm； he led them to a wood； where an army of poplars and beech…trees were holding the shades besieged。 Then Jannuccio said； 〃My little children； stay here in this wood； and eat and drink merrily； but if you want anything； follow this line of ashes which I have been strewing as we came along； this will be a clue to lead you out of the labyrinth and bring you straight home。〃 Then giving them both a kiss； he returned weeping to his house。
But at the hour when all creatures； summoned by the constables of Night； pay to Nature the tax of needful repose； the two children began to feel afraid at remaining in that lonesome place； where the waters of a river； which was thrashing the impertinent stones for obstructing its course； would have frightened even a hero。 So they went slowly along the path of ashes； and it was already midnight ere they reached their home。 When Pascozza； their stepmother； saw the children； she acted not like a woman； but a perfect fury； crying aloud； wringing her hands； stamping with her feet； snorting like a frightened horse； and exclaiming； 〃What fine piece of work is this？ Is there no way of ridding the house of these creatures？ Is it possible； husband； that you are determined to keep them here to plague my very life out？ Go； take them out of my sight！ I'll not wait for the crowing of cocks and the cackling of hens； or else be assured that to…morrow morning I'll go off to my parents' house； for you do not deserve me。 I have not brought you so many fine things； only to be made the slave of children who are not my own。〃
Poor Jannuccio； who saw that matters were growing rather too warm； immediately took the little ones and returned to the wood； where giving the children another basketful of food； he said to them； 〃You see； my dears； how this wife of minewho is come to my house to be your ruin and a nail in my hearthates you； therefore remain in this wood； where the trees； more compassionate； will give you shelter from the sun； where the river； more charitable； will give you drink without poison； and the earth； more kind； will give you a pillow of grass without danger。 And when you want food； follow this little path of bran which I have made for you in a straight line； and you can come and seek