The nights of Straparola, volume 1 [of 2]Straparola, Giovanni Francesco
History
The nights of Straparola, volume 1 [of 2]
Straparola, Giovanni Francesco
Fairy tales -- Italy; Tales -- Italy
Guerrino, after he had heard these words, returned to the presence of
the king, and told him everything as the young man had directed him. The
king then caused to be brought before him a well-skilled marshal smith,
to whom he gave orders that he should carry out whatever work Guerrino
might require of him. When they had gone to the smith’s forge, Guerrino
instructed him how to make the four horseshoes according to the words of
the young stranger, but when the smith understood in what fashion he was
required to make these shoes, he mocked at Guerrino, and treated him
like a madman, for this way of making shoes was quite strange and
unknown to him. When Guerrino saw that the marshal smith was inclined to
mock him, and unwilling to serve him as he had been ordered, he went
once more to the king, and complained that the smith would not carry out
his directions. Wherefore the king bade them bring the marshal before
him, and gave him express command that, under pain of his highest
displeasure, he should at once carry out the duties which had been
imposed upon him, or, failing this, he himself should forthwith make
ready to carry out the perilous task which had been assigned to
Guerrino. The smith, thus hard pressed by the orders of the king, made
the horseshoes in the way described by Guerrino, and shod the horse
therewith.
When the horse was thus shod and well-accoutred with everything that was
necessary for the enterprise, the young stranger addressed Guerrino in
these words: ‘Now mount quickly this my horse, and go in peace, and as
soon as you shall hear the neighing of the wild horse dismount at once,
and, having taken off from him his saddle and his bridle, let him range
at will. You yourself climb up into a high tree, and there await the
issue of the enterprise.’ Guerrino, having been fully instructed by his
dear companion in all that he ought to do, took his leave, and departed
with a light heart.
Already the glorious news had been spread abroad through all the parts
of Irlanda how a valiant and handsome young knight had undertaken to
subjugate and capture the wild horse and to present him to the king, and
for this reason everyone in the city, men and women alike, all flew to
their windows to see him go by on his perilous errand. When they marked
how handsome and young and gallant he was, their hearts were moved to
pity on his account, and they said one to another, ‘Ah, the poor youth!
with what a willing spirit he goes to his death. Of a surety it is a
piteous thing that so valiant a youth should thus wretchedly perish.’
And they could none of them keep back their tears on account of the
compassion they felt.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account