Chapter 63 62. Son of a Milanese Merchant

Once upon a time there was a merchant in Milan.He and his wife had two sons.Of the two sons, he prefers the eldest because he has been able to help his father with some business matters.As for his youngest son, it's not that he doesn't love him, it's just that because he is still young, he always treats him as a child and doesn't pay much attention to it.He was already a wealthy businessman, so he only did business that made a lot of money.Now, he was going to France to find some factories, because, according to his calculations, this business would bring him a handsome income.The elder son was supposed to go to France with him, but the younger son named McNikino also kept pestering him all day, saying to him: "Father, I want to go with you too. I must be very obedient and will I'm here to help you. I don't want to stay in Milan alone." The father didn't want to listen to his son's plea at all. In order to make him shut up, he threatened his son, saying: "If you keep going on, I'll give you two slaps .”

When the time for departure came, the merchant and his son asked someone to pack their luggage and got into the carriage.It was night, and because of the darkness and the commotion before departure, the coachman did not notice that Menikino was huddled on the running board behind the carriage. The carriage stops at the first release station to change horses.In order not to be discovered, the younger son jumped off the ground and waited for the carriage to start again before returning to the pedals.When the carriage arrived at the second stop, it was already dawn.McNigino ran to the corner of the road and hid, ready to jump on the carriage when it passed by.However, the carriage started too fast, and before he had time to jump into the carriage, the carriage ran away.He was left alone in the middle of the road.

Seeing himself penniless and alone in a strange place, his stomach growling with hunger, the boy almost burst into tears.But he quickly summoned up his courage and tentatively walked deep into the field.As he was walking, he met an old lady sitting on the side of the road. "Where are you going alone? Are you lost?" said the old lady. "I'm really lost, Granny," said McNekino. "I came in a carriage with my father and brother, but I was left there at a stage post, and that's why I came here. I now Don't even know the way home to find my mother. But anyway, I have nothing to do when I get home, and since my dad left me here, I'd rather take this opportunity to go out into the world. See what luck awaits I."

He thought for a while and said, "Hey, to be honest, my dad didn't know that I was in the car with him. I hid on the running board at the back of the car because I wanted to go to France with him." The old lady said: "Very well, you are very honest, and it is very good to do so. In fact, I already know the truth of the matter, because I am a fairy. You said that you are going to find your good luck, so as long as you are smart and obedient, I will I'll tell you where to find it." "Of course I'm young," said McNigino, "I don't deny that. But I'm fourteen, and I still have some sense. So, grandmother, if you want to help me, don't worry, I will definitely do everything you say."

"Very well," said the Fairy, "I tell you that the King of Portugal has a very learned daughter who can solve any riddle. The King has promised her that whoever can solve a riddle that she cannot explain will give her Who to marry. You are a clever boy, and you will be lucky if you think of a riddle like this." "That's right," said McNekino, "but how do you tell me to find such a riddle to baffle such a clever lady? It requires a learned man, not an ignorant man like me." "Oh," said the old lady, "I will show you the way, and you will learn the rest. I give you this dog, remember, his name is Bello, and he will help you Complete that riddle. Take it and go!"

"Okay, grandma, since you said that, I believe what you say, and at the same time, I would like to express my gratitude to you. You are very kind to me, which is very important to me." Although he doubted what the old lady said, he was still very polite Saying goodbye to her, he led the dog and continued on his way. In the evening, he came to a farmer's home, wanting to ask the family for some food and a place to spend the night.A woman opened the door and asked him, "Why are you walking in the field alone with a dog at this late hour? Where are your father and mother?"

"I wanted to go to France," said McNechino. "I hid in the back of the carriage, but my father left me. Now I'm going to Portugal to tell a riddle to the king's daughter. This dog was given by a fairy. Mine, it will teach me the riddle so that I may marry the King's daughter." This woman is a cruel person, she thought: "Since this dog can teach him riddles, why don't I snatch it and let my son take it to find the princess." So she decided to kill the child. She baked him a poison pie and said, "Here, we call it pizza. I can't keep you at home because my husband won't let me open the door to anyone. But you can come to my thatched cottage." Go to bed. It's just down the woods, take this pizza there and eat it, and I'll wake you up in the morning and bring you some milk."

After McNigino thanked him, he walked towards the thatched cottage.But the dog was hungrier than he was.Jumping around the pizza in his hand, he tore off a piece and threw it to the dog.Bello flew up and caught the piece.But as soon as he swallowed the cake, he began to tremble, and then lay on his back and died.McNekino tossed the rest of the pizza aside and stared at the dog with his mouth open.After a while he shook his head and said aloud: "This is the beginning of my riddle: Pizza killed Bello, Bello saved me.I just need to find the words below. " At this moment, the three crows flying in the sky saw the dead dog, so they all flew down and landed on the dead dog, and began to eat it with big mouthfuls.A minute later, all three crows were poisoned to death.

"The riddle should go on like this," McNekino said: "One dead kills three." He picked up the three crows and tied their necks together with a dog-leading rope. Suddenly, a group of armed robbers jumped out of the woods. They were all hungry and emaciated. "What have you brought?" they asked.McNekino only had these three crows, and he was not afraid at all, saying, "They are three birds for roasting and eating." "Hand them over!" said the robbers, and snatched the birds from him.McNekino hid in a tree to see what would happen next.The robbers roasted the crow on the fire and ate it. After a while, all six robbers died.

In this way, McNigino continued the riddle: "Pizza killed Bello, Bello saved me, One dead kills three, Three killed six more. " Seeing the robbers gobbling up the crows, he remembered that he hadn't eaten.With a fire ready for the roast, he picked up a robber's shotgun and aimed it at a bird in a tree, where its eggs were hatching.The bullet missed the bird, but knocked the bird's nest down.From the broken egg shells emerged a few small birds with not yet full feathers.He put them on the fire where the crows were roasting, tore some pages from a book in a robber's knapsack, lit the fire, and when he had eaten, he went back to the tree, where fell asleep among the branches.By this time he had the whole riddle in his head.

When he arrived in Portugal and entered the capital, he was already covered in dust and ragged due to the long journey.He wants to see the princess immediately.The princess couldn't help laughing out loud: "This little beggar is really thick-skinned. He even tried to stump me and be my husband!" "Please draw conclusions after hearing my riddle," McNekino said, "Your father, His Majesty the King's decree was announced to everyone, and did not differentiate between people." "Yes, you speak very well," said the princess, "but it is too late for you to regret it now, so that you will be spared the pain of the club." McNigino hesitated for a moment, then he recalled the fairy's words again, and he summoned up his courage. "Then my riddle is this," he said: "Pizza killed Bello, Bello saved me. One dead kills three, Three killed six more. I shoot what I see, But it hit something I didn't see. I ate unborn flesh, Cook it with words. I sleep neither in the sky nor on the ground. Guess what, my little queen. " No sooner had Menichino finished the riddle than the princess exclaimed, "Oh, it's so simple. It goes like this: You have a brother or friend named Pisa, who, in order to save you from your enemy Bello, killed Dead him, because of Bello's death, you're saved, because he can't do you any more. Right? And before dying, this Bello killed three, and these three... wait a minute . . . ” She rested her elbows on her knees and rested her chin on her hands.In trying to think, she began scratching the back of her head, making gestures not quite befitting a princess. "There's no raw meat. . . . um... cook it with words . . . meaning . . . if I can get to the point of the problem . . . " At last she gave up, "I give in. The riddle is incredible. You explain it to me." So McNigino told her his story from beginning to end.Asking her at last whether the king's promise was valid, the princess said: "Well, you are right, I cannot refuse you. But I do not want to be your wife at all. But I will be very happy if you can come to an agreement with my father." "Then let's see what kind of compromise it is. If it suits me, I agree. But you have to remember: I'm out into the world to find luck, and if I can't marry the princess, Then there should be something worth exchanging for.” "Not only is it worth it, but you'll make a lot of money," said the princess. "You'll be incredibly rich, and you'll get all your wishes. Don't you want to marry someone who doesn't like you at all, is unhappy all day long, and quarrels with you?" Your princess as a wife? Do you know what I will exchange with you? It is the magic weapon of the wizard on Huashan Mountain. When you get this magic weapon, you will be done." "Where is this magic weapon?" "You have to go to Huashan in person and get it from the wizard. You go to him in my name, and he will give you the magic weapon." McNigino thought carefully about whether it was worth exchanging the good luck that he had already obtained with something he was not sure about.But being the princess's husband frightened him more than pleased him.In the end, he still asked about the way to Huashan, and decided to find the wizard. Huashan is a very steep mountain that is almost impossible to climb. It took a lot of effort for Menikino to climb to the top of the mountain.On the rock on the top of the mountain, there is a huge castle surrounded by large and small gardens. I really don't know how these buildings were built.McNigino stepped forward and knocked on the door of the castle, and the ones who opened the door were some huge monsters, they were neither men nor women, and all of them were ugly enough to frighten people. McNigino imagined them as It was even scarier than this, so he looked at them calmly and asked them to lead the way to the wizard.The wizard's butler was a giant like a devil. He stepped out and said to McNekino: "Child, your courage is indeed extraordinary, but it is better not to know my master, because he has the ability to eat beautiful people raw." Fetish!" McNekino said: "In any case, I want to talk to the wizard face to face, please help me tell the wizard." Wizards usually lie leisurely on expensive carpets with soft pillows on their heads.Hearing the announcement that a young man wanted to see him, he thought to himself: "This man can be my very delicious breakfast." When McNekino walked in, the wizard said, "Who are you? What are you doing here? " "You needn't worry, Mister Wizard," said McNekino, "I have come to you with no malice. I am only a poor lad in search of good luck. I have heard that you are kind to the unfortunate." came here;" Hearing what he said, the wizard couldn't help laughing, and the whole hall shook, "Can you tell me who sent you here?" So Menikino told him what happened.When the wizard had heard this, he propped himself up on one elbow so that he could have a good look at him, and said, "It seems that you are a very courageous boy, and very honest. You deserve this reward, and my magic weapon is this Wand. I give it to you, but if you lose it or let someone else steal it, you will be in trouble. At any time, you just knock it on the ground and tell it what you want , you can get it immediately. Take it and get out of here safely!" When walking down Huashan Mountain, McNigino thought about it carefully, and finally decided that it was best to dress up as a gentleman and go home first, to see if his family members were still alive and remembered him. "This is the first time I've tried the wand," he said to himself.Then he tapped the ground with his wand, and heard a voice say: "Order!" Menikino replied: "I want a four-horse carriage, servants, coachman, and a set of clothes worn by noblemen." Immediately, a carriage with four horses appeared in front of him, and a group of servants offered him a new set of clothes for him to change.Since these horses are magic horses, they pulled the cart and ran to Milan without stopping. When he arrived in Milan, he found that his parents no longer lived in the original palace.The French business, instead of making money for his father, had led him into a swindle in which all the family fortune was lost.Now, they live in a rented thatched cottage on the edge of the city.When McNekino came here with his servants in a carriage, his parents were stunned.He didn't talk about the wand, only that he had made a fortune in business, and that from now on he would look after the family.With his wand he conjured a gigantic palace, which he told his family had been built by ordering the most experienced workmen to do it as quickly as possible.The whole family moved in, and the home contained all kinds of ornate furniture, clothing, horses, servants, not to mention money. The family was full of joy, but Menikino's elder brother had long been secretly jealous of his wealth. As the eldest son of the family and his father's favorite, he had to rely on his younger brother for support.He just couldn't bear it.He began to pay attention to where McNekino's wealth came from. Through the keyhole on the door, he saw his brother holding the wand and thinking hard, so he decided to steal it.McNekino kept the wand in a large drawer in his room, and one day when he was out, his brother came into his room and took the wand away.The brother went back to his room, and began to beat the wand on the ground to try its effect, but nothing happened, for the wand was of no use in his hand, and he said to himself, "I must be mistaken." Now, this is not the magic wand." So he decided to go back to McNekino's room to put the stick back in its place, and then see if there was another stick.But as soon as he entered his brother's room, he heard the sound of Menikino going up the stairs. In order not to be discovered, he broke the magic wand in half and threw it through the window into the garden. McNigino didn't use his wand every day, but only when needed, so he didn't immediately notice its loss.But when he discovered that the wand was missing.He was going crazy, and when he thought that all the glory and wealth were about to disappear, he felt that he was finished.He was wandering in the garden in a low mood, and suddenly saw a wooden stick broken in two on the branch of a tree, and his heart suddenly rose to the top of his throat. He shook the tree so hard that two sticks fell from the tree.The moment they hit the ground, a voice said: "Order!" McNekino went from despair to ecstasy.The stick was his wand, broken but still effective.He tied the two sticks together and vowed to be more careful in the future. At that time, the King of Spain was ordering people to post a notice everywhere: his daughter has reached the age of marriage, and he invited the bravest knights from all over the world to Spain to participate in a three-day contest. Marry his daughter and inherit his throne in the future.McNigino thought this might be a good chance for him to become a prince and become a king in the future.With one blow of his wand he conjured up a dazzling suit of armor, horses, and squires, and set off for Spain.Since he didn't want to reveal his name and identity, he rented a hotel outside the city and stayed there, waiting for the day of the competition. The contest is held in the arena, and the railings of the arena are surrounded by various crowds of onlookers.On the viewing platform, the king and princess can be seen chatting with ministers under parasols.Suddenly, the trumpet sounded, and the knights lined up to enter the arena.Every one tried to show himself as well as he could, and a melee began, but no one was killed, for they were all valiant and mighty fighters.At this time, a new knight rode into the arena at lightning speed. He wore a mask and held a weapon that no one had ever seen before. He challenged everyone.A knight came up to compete with him, but he knocked him off his horse at once.Another knight came up and was quickly impaled in the stomach by him.The spear of the third was cut in two by him, and the helmet of the other was knocked off.In this way, he defeated all the knights present.When people were about to watch him circle the field for a post-victory demonstration, he ran away from the exit of the wooden fence.All the people present were stunned. From the king to the soldiers, they were all guessing who this person was, but no one could find a clue. "Let's see if he comes tomorrow." Everyone said.On the second day, the unknown knight came to the arena again, and he defeated all the knights just like the first day.Before everyone knew him, he ran away. Curious and angry at the same time, the King ordered a double number of soldiers to be placed around the tournament grounds, and he must be caught on the third day.On the third day, the knight came again and won the final victory.He came to the grandstand of the royal family and bowed. When the princess who was already full of love for him threw his embroidered handkerchief to him, he grabbed it in the air, and then rode on his horse and was about to leave. The soldiers tried to stop him. He, but with only a few swings of the sword, he broke the way and escaped, and was unfortunately wounded in the thigh by a spear. The king ordered a search all over the city for the knight, and finally found Menikino in a small hotel, lying on a bed with a wound on one leg.At first, people couldn't believe that he was the unknown knight, because people couldn't understand why such a great knight would choose such a lowly hotel.But when people saw that his wound was bound up with the princess's handkerchief, they stopped doubting him.He was brought before the king.The king inquired about his parentage, for if his honor were not stained he would be prince and heir to the throne. "I have no blemish," said McNigino, "but I am not a knight by birth, but the son of a merchant in Milan." There was a sound of throat clearing and foot mopping from among the princes and ministers, which grew louder as he related his story. When he finished speaking, the king said: "You are not a knight, but a merchant's son. All your wealth is obtained by magic. If one day in the future, this magic fails, what will you have?" ?” Then the princess said: "My lord, see what danger your decree of martial arts puts me in!" The ministers also said: "Should we accept the rule of a person who is lower than us?" The king said: "Be quiet! What are you making a noise about! According to my king's promise, this young man has the right to marry my daughter and inherit my throne without a doubt. But since no one here welcomes him, and does not know where How the people will see him, as long as he wants, I suggest that he give up my daughter and accept some rewards as compensation." "Please make your proposals, Your Majesty," said McNekino, "as long as I feel that they are beneficial to me, I will agree." "My idea is," said the King, "that from now on I will give you a thousand lire a year for as long as you live." "Okay, I agree," McNekino said.So, under the supervision of a notary, he signed this agreement with the king.Then McNichino immediately set off for Milan. After returning home, he found that the old merchant was seriously ill, and soon surrendered his soul to God.There are only two brothers and the old mother left in the family.The family's wealth has piled up like a mountain, and there is no need to rely on magic wands to increase wealth.But the eldest brother's jealousy became stronger and stronger, and finally decided to have McNikino killed, so he hired two assassins.Menichino often went to a friend's villa outside Milan, and the two assassins lay in ambush by the roadside.But McNekino always had his wand with him, and whenever he went out he would tap the ground with it. "Please order!" "I asked the horse to run as fast as thought." So the assassins didn't even see the shadow of the horse, and the horse ran past them. "We'll stop him when he comes back at night." But when McNekino came back, he ran as fast as his thoughts, and the assassins only felt a gust of wind whizzing past them. The eldest brother opened the gate of the palace for the two assassins, and led them to the room where Menikino slept.But McNekino, feeling the air of intrigue, let his wand lock his door so that no one could open it.The two assassins spent the whole night in vain but failed to open his door.Seeing that the sky was getting brighter, they had to run away. At this moment, McNigino made a fatal mistake.If I always carry my wand with me, he thought, if someone tries to set me up, it will be taken from me, so I'd better keep it at home.So he left his wand at home and went hunting with his friends.His older brother, who had been on alert, rummaged through his wardrobe and drawers after he left, and finally found the broken wand. "Haha, that looks like it," he thought, "otherwise my brother wouldn't have picked it up from the garden again. He'd never see it again this time." He ran to the kitchen and threw his wand into the kitchen. in the fire.Immediately, the wand turned to ashes, and at the same time, the palace, money, horses, clothes, everything that was obtained by the efficacy of the wand was also turned to ashes. At that time, McNekino was in the woods, and the shotgun in his hand turned to ashes, and the horse he was riding, the hounds chasing the hare, and everything were blown away by the wind.He realized that through his carelessness all his wealth was gone forever, and he burst into tears. There was no point in going back to Milan.He thought it best to go to Spain, where after all he still had the king's annual salary of a thousand lire.So he began his hike with a sigh. On a river ferry he met a cattle dealer, as travelers do, and they greeted each other and told each other their stories along the way.Because the businessman was very sympathetic to McNigino's misfortune, he asked him to go to the market with him to sell livestock. McNigino negotiated with him on the remuneration, and then began to go back and forth between the various markets.Gradually, he had some savings of his own.But one night, when he was sleeping with his companions in an inn, a group of robbers came and attacked them.Menikino, the shopkeeper, and the cattle dealer took up arms and resisted, but the bandits, outnumbered, overcame and killed them.That was the end of McNekino's good fortune and misfortune. His elder brother had no luck either, becoming poor. He tried in vain to start a business, but gradually he became involved with a gang of professional thieves.It is always difficult to tolerate the existence of newcomers in the gang of thieves.What happened to him: he was watched by inspectors and caught red-handed while committing the crime.He was chained and locked in a cell, and he had no chance to come out until he was accompanied by the requiem priest to the execution ground.In the end, he died under the executioner's axe. (Montale Pistoia area)