Page:The Pentamerone, or The Story of Stories.djvu/344

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
312
THE PENTAMERONE.

rubbish; yet I shall be able to enrich the garden of your hopes. Now listen,—under the pretext of begging alms, I will knock at the door of the young and beautiful daughter of a magician: then open your eyes wide, look at her, contemplate her, regard her, measure her from head to foot, for you will find the image of her whom your brother desires." So saying, he knocked at the door of a house close by, and Liviella opening it threw him a piece of bread.

As soon as Jennariello saw her, she seemed to him built after the model which Milluccio had given him: then he gave a good alms to the beggar, and sent him away, and going to the inn he dressed himself like a pedlar, carrying in two caskets all the wealth of the world. And thus he walked up and down before Liviella's house, crying his wares, until at length she called him, and took a view of the beautiful net-caps, hoods, ribbands, gauze, edgings, lace, handkerchiefs, collars, needles, cups of rouge, and head-gear fit for a queen, which he carried. And when she had examined all the things again and again, she told him to show her something else; and Jennariello answered, "My lady, in these caskets I have only cheap and paltry wares; but if you will deign to come to my ship, I will show you things of the other world, for I have there a host of beautiful goods worthy of any great lord."