Chapter 107 106. Nero and Bertha

This Berta was a poor woman who could only spin because she was a good spinner. Once, she met the Roman Emperor Nero on the road, and she said: "May God bless you with good health and enable you to live a thousand years!" People were disgusted with Nero, because no one could see anyone as bad as him, and when he heard that he was wished to live a thousand years, he asked, "Why do you say this to me, good lady?" "Because every bad guy is followed by another bad guy." So Nero said to her, "Well, bring me to the palace all the thread you have spun from now until tomorrow morning." Then he left.

As Berta spun, he said to himself: What does he want me to do with these threads?As long as I don't use them as ropes to hang me tomorrow when I give him the thread, that's all!From this scoundrel, that's all he can hope for! The next morning she arrived at Nero's palace punctually.Nero let her in, took the thread she spun, and said to her, "Tie one end of this thread to the palace gate, and then carry the thread and walk until it is finished." Then, he called the steward. , said to him: "No matter how long the line is, the land on both sides of the road along the line belongs to this woman."

Berta thanked the emperor and left happily.After that she never had to spin again, for she became a lady. The story spread throughout Rome, and all the hungry women came to Nero for a reward like Berta's. However, Nero replied: "It is no longer the time for Bertha to spin the thread."[1] (Rome area) -------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ [1] There is an Italian saying: "At the time when Bertha spun the thread." Means a long, long time ago.This story is what explains where the phrase comes from.