Translation:The Three Princes of Serendip/Novella 2
Novella II - Tuesday
IN the ancient city of Beni Suef there was once a great, and powerful King, to whom many countries and provinces were subject. And because he was a powerful man, he had a beautiful castle in the midst of this city built as his residence which was being guarded at night by a hundred fierce and furious dogs, which among other things used to devour those condemned to death.
This King had an only son, who, while he was endowed with many other virtues, always surpassed all others of his age in archery. And since he was the only child, the father decided to give him a wife, in order to be able to see about him children, who would be successors to his throne. When he called him in one day and made him understand his decision, he told him that many daughters of great princes had been proposed to him.
In response the son told him that he was ready to meet all his wishes, adding that he was begging him dearly for only one thing, that since he had to be the husband, he would be pleased if the choice were left to him. Because if he had to take a wife with whom he had to spend all the time of his life, he wanted to take one that was pleasing to his eyes and none other. The father consented to this, but no one could be found that the son would accept. This was painful beyond measure to the father, and not knowing where he could turn for advice, his life became miserable and sorrowful. Now, his counselor had a wise, and very beautiful daughter, and her governess who was a worthy woman, happened to learn that no damsel could be found whom the young man liked. She thought, that the daughter of the counselor would be pleasing to the young man because of her great beauty. Thus, she looked for an opportunity to be with him, and made him understand that, if he saw her master's daughter, whose prudence and beauty surpassed that of every one of her age, she was certain that he would take her for his wife.
The young man listened to her and asked the governess affectionately to let him know how he could see her. She answered him as follows, “The counselor, my master, habitually almost every Sunday sends his daughter hunting. While the whole week she is occupied with virtuous works, she has at least no duties that day. Therefore, if you desire to see her, this can easily be arranged if you wish to follow us to the countryside the following Sunday." The young man was endlessly grateful to the governess for these words.
He only revealed this to one of his companions with whom he went on horseback on Sunday, and, at some distance, they began to follow the women of the counselors, who went out hunting.
Nearly three miles from the city was a venerable and ancient church, where the damsel, whom the young man recognized from the signs given to him by the governess, halted with her party after she saw two doves in the bell tower. And having a slingshot in her hand, she prepared to want to pull it. But the young man, while he was at some distance from her, saw this. He suddenly pulled the slingshot in his hand before she shot, and one of the doves that he killed with his shot, fell on the ground. And the other which got frightened and flew away was also killed in the air by the slingshot of the damsel.
The king's son greatly admired this, and as a show of recognition of her great shot, he sent his groom to present her the dove which he had killed with the understanding, that she deserved it because she had the better shot. But the damsel, who saw the young man's generous act, could not accept being surpassed in magnanimity of spirit by anyone, asked the groom to thank his master on her behalf for the courtesy of the gift and to have him accept her own. The groom carried out this task.
The son of the King who considered the valor and prudence of the damsel, became ardently inflamed with love for her, although he had not seen her face. And because he wanted to see her face by any means, he dismounted from his horse and hid behind a bush not far from the party of the women. There was a very beautiful and clear fountain nearby. The damsel who was very thirsty from the fatigue of the long hunt uncovered her face and put the water into a small jar. So, when the young man saw her, he was sure that the governess had told him the truth about her beauty and virtue. And he decided to take her as his wife, and wanted to tell this immediately to his father.
This made the King happy and cheerful beyond measure, because he had already lost hope, that his son could find a woman he would like. He summoned his counselor and told him of the desire of the young man. They agreed between hem in secret to conduct the marriage and to reserve the public announcement for a more appropriate time.
Hence the young man, who ardently loved the damsel was filled with marvelous joyfulness, and desired nothing more than to celebrate the nuptials immediately.
But as it pleased God, it was shortly thereafter that the King was overtaken by a grave illness and passed away.
Because of his death, the son succeeded him in the reign of kingdom. After having taken care of the interests of the city and his vassals, the marriage was announced with a great feast and the new spouse was led to the royal palace. And after the wedding was solemnly celebrated there, the new king wanted to lie down with his bride. "Sire," she said, "I know quite well that I am subject to you, and that it is the right thing for me to consent to your wish. Nevertheless, before you lie down beside me, I want to beg you for an honest grace, which is that since you have taken me as your wife, be so contend as to add my name next to yours on the coins of your kingdom." But the King judged that his honor would not allow him to agree to her demand. “Madam," he told her, if any of my predecessor kings had in the past done this, you can be sure, that because of my great love towards you I would be willing to consent not only to this, but to anything else, that may be even more important, and you can easily ascertain this if you let me prove this to you. But because I have not heard that this has ever happened in either this or in another realm, you will be glad to excuse me since I have to respect the honor, which matters more than anything else. Therefore, I can't agree to your request."
In response to these words she replied, "Sire, in truth I would never have believed that you would deny the first grace which I asked of you. But because I really know that I am not very dear to you, and that you would not be willing to satisfy my honest desire, you have to know, that I will also rather suffer death than letting you lie down beside me. If it is the right thing that you have your honor, as you have said, likewise, I too must maintain my respect."
The decision of the Queen greatly annoyed the King, and he thought that, if he could operate astutely, he could attempt not to have to deal with this. Hence, one day, after a long separation of his love towards her, he said, "Madam, since you are really my wife, you greatly insult me, if you do not want to lie beside me if your name is not engraved besides mine on coins. But so that you are sure that I wish to please you in every way, I want you to understand that if you prove that you can be as proficient with the bow and arrows as I am, I will certainly have your name be engraved on the coins." And because she was very accomplished in archery, since she had practiced this skill continually as a child, she happily accepted the King's proposal.
One evening after supper he had led her into a great hall, at the end of which he had placed a rather small basin which he first showed her. After he told her that three arrows had to be shot into it, he withdrew with her to the other end of the room and ordered that the lights were to be dimmed. He pulled the huge bow and shot three arrows into it. The sound was clearly heard when the basin was struck. Having done that, the Queen took her bow in the hand and she also shot three arrows. One could hear the sound of the first one but not the sounds of the second and third strikes. The King was extremely happy about that since he was led to believe that the second, and third arrow had not hit the basin, and he said to himself, "Now that I have freed myself from the arduous demand of the woman, I will no longer be bothered by her in the future and she will not be able to refuse me when I want to enjoy her."
And he had the lights uncovered and looked at his own three arrows, the sound of which had been heard, as they passed through three parts of the basin. The first arrow which the Queen had shot, had hit in the middle of the basin and the other two had hit on top of each other, on top of the first arrow. He very much admired this but it also left him greatly confused and sorrowful. But thus, after everything that had been agreed upon, he was still unable to believe that the Queen had made such great shots. Nevertheless, in some way he did not want to comply with her desire. And knowing that, failing to do what he had promised to the woman, he did something that would not agree with his honor; on the following day he pretended to be overwhelmed by a certain sickness. The Queen, who was wise and discreet, did not want to cause him any trouble and was not looking to him at the time to be engraved on coins, but was entirely devoted to his health.
Now it happened in those days, that news came from some neighboring cities of that kingdom, that a great number of winged unicorns, were present on their territories, and had done great damage. Astute as the King was, he wondered whether this were a good opportunity to liberate himself from his obligation to the Queen. And pretending that he had somewhat recovered from his illness, he told the Queen that as he had got better, he wanted to go with her to where the unicorns were to see if it were in any way possible to drive them from the territory. And so, not much after showing that he had completely recovered his health, he rose the following day from the pretense of infirmity, and proclaimed in his court that everybody should be ready in three days because he wanted to ride to the cities that had been damaged by the unicorns. Therefore, when after that time everyone was prepared, he, together with the Queen, and the whole court went on the road and the harshness of the journey was eased with sweets, and delightful conversation, and in a short time they had arrived in the region where the unicorns were. And after they had spent two days in one of those cities to rest and refresh themselves from the fatigue of the journey, the King ordered all of his people to set up tents, because it was not from inside the city but from the outside that they had to drive away the unicorns from the regions where they were staying.
The order was promptly carried out by everyone, and they all went into the fields, and as ordered by the King, various units on horseback killed a large number of unicorns with arrows.
Now it happened one day, that he and the Queen were in the fields and they saw a male and a female of these animals together, and because the young King was very cunning, he figured that this was the right moment to free himself from the obligation to have the name of his wife engraved on the coins of the kingdom. So, he turned to her and said, “Madam, I know that I lost when we shot the arrows in the basin, and I owe it to have your name engraved on the coins. But I have not been able to repay my debt up to the present because of the illness which I have now overcome and the sudden departure to this region. I promise you that, if with your intelligence you can devise how the male of that animal that we see before us can become a female, and the female can become a male, when we have returned to our city, I will do nothing before I have fairly settled our debt.
The Queen answered that if he would know to do what she was looking for, she would also do immediately what he requested her to do with the unicorns. If it happened otherwise, she was content to free him from the debt he owed her.
The King was immeasurably cheerful and happy about this, and answered her that he was satisfied with the conditions proposed to him. He took the bow in his hand, and with his first arrow he shot the female animal in the tail and from the pain she began kicking up in the air and immediately he shot her in the navel with his second arrow, which penetrated the body in the middle and stayed there. Seen from the outside it resembled a virile organ of such an animal. Then without any delay he pierced the male with an arrow in the location where naturally the female organ would be and the opening of the wound made it look like the female organ. Then turning to the Queen, he said, "Now it's up to you, Madam, to try, if you can do a better shot than mine."
When he had said that, she took the bow in her hand, and the first arrow aimed at the male threw its horn on the ground; the second was thrust in the forehead of the female. In this way, the female looked like the male, and the male resembled the female, who is naturally without the horn.
When the King saw such a shot and knowing therefore that he could no longer deny his wife to have her name engraved on the coins which he somehow did not want to do because of his honor, he was overcome with great anger as he saw that she surpassed him in valor and intelligence and decided to find a way to let her die. But he did not reveal his thoughts for the time being and returned to his tent and he secretly ordered one of his counselors to enter the tent of the Queen the following night, tie her up and take her to the royal city to throw her immediately to a hundred wild and furious dogs which he kept at night in the seraglio of the castle so she would be devoured. The order was promptly carried out by the counselor and he covertly led the miserable young woman to the royal city to have her devoured by the dogs as the King had cruelly ordered.
But his cruel thought failed because the dogs recognized her, because when she became his wife, she used to feed them as part of her familiar duties. They greatly caressed her and she removed a stone over the opening of a trench and she fled outside of the city, unharmed and safe. And she walked until sunrise and in a village not far from the city, she reached the house of a poor peasant who made a living for his family with a monkey. And when asked about her situation she answered that she was a poor stranger who was looking for a master in the area. So, the peasant was moved to compassion, and noticing that the young woman was beautiful in appearance, willingly received her, and as he perceived every day her many virtues, he began loving her greatly and accepted her as a daughter. And he went to the villages with his monkey to earn a living and lovingly nurtured her together with his dependents.
Now, not long afterwards, the King returned to the royal city and heard from the counselor that his order had been carried out. He had already greatly regretted his cruel order and his life passed by in misery and sorrow and he was overcome by a serious illness for which no remedy could be found and signs of an inevitable death became evident.
This news became known in the villages near the city and reached the ears of the Queen who was living in the peasant's house. Because she knew that she was the reason for everything that had happened to the King, her husband, whom she loved dearly, she thought that she wanted to find a remedy for him. And she made the peasant understand that she wanted the King to recover, and that thereby he could earn a large sum of money.
"Go to the court," she told him "and make the barons understand that, while until now no remedy has been found for his illness, you will certainly return him to his previous state of health." And when the farmer asked her what remedy he should offer him, she said to him: “I am certain, from what has been communicated publicly, that his pain has no other reason than that it originates from much melancholy and from deep thinking."
"So, the only thing he needs is enjoyment. As soon as you are in his presence, tell him, ‘Sire, I know very well the nature of your illness, and I have great hope that with God's help I can free you from it. Around the villages of your city there are a great number of beautiful and delightful gardens. Choose the most beautiful one, have accommodation prepared there in a summer house, and have yourself be led there after you have it adapted with everything you may need. I will follow you there without delay to find a remedy for your illness.’” “After you have told him this," added the Queen to the peasant, "and he has followed your advice, take your monkey there and let him play his usual games in an amusing way and he will completely regain his previous state of health." The peasant understood these words, and without further discussion he went to the city and informed the King what the young woman had told him. The King replied that, if what he was told, could rid him of his illness, he would immediately do what was required. And he called his majordomo and ordered him to prepare without delay a summer house for him in one of the most beautiful gardens near the city.
The majordomo immediately carried out the request and the King was taken there the next day with a sedan chair. When he arrived there, he heard the singing of nightingales and other birds in a delightful garden which he seemed to enjoy and in a short while he showed signs of great improvement.
Now the farmer brought his monkey there and presented himself in front of the King. He readily noticed that the change of residence had brightened his heart and he assured him that he would quickly regain his previous state of health. And the King laughed several times when his monkey performed various tricks in his presence.
He then brought the monkey into the kitchen which was outside and he tied him up near a window of the summer house. He then returned to the King and engaged him in lighthearted conversation. The time passed gently in this way, till he seemed to hear some noise in the kitchen. And when he went to the window, he saw the monkey, who was there alone, approaching a pot on the fire, in which two large capons were cooking for the King’s pleasure and delight. The monkey looked around, and since nobody was seeing it, uncovered the pot and took one of the capons out. And when the monkey sat down to start eating, a large kite saw the prey and dove down. It snatched the capon from the monkey's hands and flew off with it in the air, leaving the monkey feeling sorry for itself.
The monkey decided to remain quietly in a corner of the kitchen to ferociously avenge itself if the kite happen to return. After a while, the monkey looked up and saw the kite flying around the kitchen. And being shrewd and cunning, the monkey approached the pot again and took the other capon out and pretended to sit down to want to eat it. The kite happened to come back and dropped down on the monkey in the belief that she could rob him also of the second capon. But the monkey quickly caught the kite and killed it. And not being content with having killed it, the monkey plucked the kite as best he knew how to, and put in the pot on the fire together with the second capon he had previously taken out. The King greatly admired the monkey for its sagacity and the amusement provided, greatly cheered him up.
A little while later the cook returned to the kitchen to see how the King's dinner was coming along. He approached the pot and to his great surprise found it uncovered. As he took the ladle in his hand, believing that he was taking out the capons, he found the unfortunate kite inside. He was very worried since he didn't know how it could have happened. And he was all confused since he was unable to think about what kind of food he could prepare for his master the King, who, because of his illness, could only eat capons. The king who saw the entire episode from the window was so delighted that he, freed from his melancholy, had his previous health being restored. He could not tolerate that the cook should continue to worry. He told him about the sagacity of the monkey and the misadventure with the kite from the beginning and had him quickly prepare another dish.
So, after he spent several days of sweet life amid bird songs and monkey play in the continuous presence of the peasant, he had fully regained his previous strength and thought of returning to the city. And he called the peasant before him and asked him what method had brought him the secret of health. The farmer answered that it was something that he had known for a long time. The King did not believe it since the man seemed to be ignorant and of low status. He forced him to reveal the truth and he was told that he had learned the secret from a young girl who was looking for a master in his village and who happened to come to his house.
The King who had received such a great benefit then immediately obliged the peasant that the next day without fail he should bring her into his presence in the city where he was about to return and that afterwards they would both be sent back to their village, content and happy. So, following the King's order, the peasant returned home and told the Queen everything, and asked her to wear her best clothes when he would bring her the next day before the King, her husband.
When the King looked at her carefully, it seemed to him that she resembled his wife in all respects. "I pray thee, tell me by your faith," he said, "fair young lady, who and whose daughter you are."
To which she replied in this way, “I am, Sire, your unfortunate wife, the one you had thrown to the rabid dogs, who guard your palace at night, and you have always believed that I was devoured by them. They did not harm me in any way, but instead caressed me, because from the moment when I became your wife, I became familiar with them when I used to feed them. I escaped through an opening in the caves of the palace outside the city. And I happened to arrive at the home of this good peasant who was so kind to accept me as his daughter.
After I had lived there a short while, I heard the news of your illness. After I had made an effort to understand the conditions accurately, I came to believe that perhaps you were remorseful about the cruel sentence, to which you had condemned me, and that for this reason you had fallen into such a grave and dangerous illness. I thought that there was no other way to be found than to make you happy. While I could not meet you again as you had condemned me to a cruel death, I tried to liberate you from a certain danger to your life. And my reward is that through this good man you have regained the health that you had lost.
The King could not restrain his tears because of what the Queen had said. He embraced the young woman and asked forgiveness for his grave error. Recognizing that he owed his life to her, he received her as his wife, and had her name engraved on the coins of the kingdom, not only for her high and noble intelligence, but also because he wanted her counsel in administering all of its affairs. And he ordered a great feast to celebrate the Queen, his wife, and his recovery. And the peasant received the entire village where he lived as a gift. For this the peasant thanked the Queen endlessly and he returned happily to his village, a rich man.
Beramo was very delighted and also amazed at the various events of the tale the storyteller had told. And he could not stop laughing at the shrewdness of the monkey and the misfortune that had occurred to the kite. The barons were immeasurably happy because of the major improvements the prince showed daily, and they ordered on his behalf that the next morning on Wednesday everyone had to go to the third palace that had been adorned with various colors. So, the entire court obeyed the order and, dressed in clothing that matched the colors of the palace, they left before dawn.
And having arrived, Beramo enjoyed a good while of time in delightful conversation with the damsel, he found there. After dinner he took a short rest and then asked the third storyteller to join him to tell his tale. And he began as follows: