The nights of Straparola, volume 1 [of 2]Straparola, Giovanni Francesco
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The nights of Straparola, volume 1 [of 2]
Straparola, Giovanni Francesco
Fairy tales -- Italy; Tales -- Italy
Very soon the fame and glory of the supreme and immortal beauty of
Biancabella began to spread itself through the whole world, and many
kings and princes and nobles came together from all parts in order to
win her love and favour and have her to wife, but not one of all these
suitors was counted worthy to enjoy her, inasmuch as each one of them
proved to be lacking in respect of one thing or another. But at last one
day there came a-wooing Ferrandino, King of Naples, who by his prowess
and by his illustrious name blazed out resplendent like the sun in the
midst of the smaller luminaries, and, having presented himself to the
marquis, demanded of him the hand of his daughter in marriage. The
marquis, seeing that the suitor was seemly of countenance, and well knit
in person, and full of grace, besides being a prince of great power and
possessions and wealth, gave his consent to the nuptials at once, and,
having summoned his daughter, without further parleying the two were
betrothed by joining of hands and by kissing one another.
Scarcely were the rites of betrothal completed, when Biancabella called
back to mind the words which her sister Samaritana had so lovingly
spoken to her, wherefore she withdrew herself from the presence of her
spouse under the pretext that she had certain business of her own to see
to, and, having gone to her own chamber, made fast the door thereof from
within, and then passed by a secret thoroughfare into the garden. When
she had come into the garden, she began to call upon Samaritana in a low
voice. But the serpent no more manifested herself as heretofore, and
Biancabella, when she perceived this, was mightily astonished, and,
after she had searched through every part of the garden without finding
a trace of Samaritana, a deep grief fell upon her, for she knew that
this thing had happened to her because she had not given due attention
and obedience to the commands which her sister had laid upon her.
Wherefore, grieving and bewailing heavily on account of the mischance
that had befallen her, she returned into her chamber, and having opened
the door, she went to rejoin her spouse, who had been waiting a long
time for her, and sat down beside him. When the marriage ceremonies were
completed, Ferrandino led his bride away with him to Naples, where, with
sumptuous state and magnificent festivities and the sound of trumpets,
they were welcomed by the whole city with the highest honour.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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