I have a vase in which I daily throw
All scraps and useless rubbish—oh that I
Had one wherein to cast away all thoughts,
Imaginations, dreams and memories
Which haunt and vex the soul, to disappear
For ever, lost in fast forgetfulness!
That were a vase indeed, and worth far more
Than that which forms the subject of this tale.
Many centuries ago there was in Naples a young man named Dorione, who studied magic, and his master was a great sorcerer named Virgil. One evening Dorione found himself in company with friends, and there was present another wizard named Belsevo. [58] Now, there was not bread enough in the house for supper for all.
“Never mind,” remarked Belsevo. “He who hath art will find his bread in any part. Observe me.”
Taking a large vase, he turned it upside down and said:
“Viene pane!
Abbiamo fame;
Dimmi o Cerere del pane!
Se questa grazia mi farai,
Sempre fedele a te sarai.”“Come, bread, to me,
For hungry are we!
Oh, Ceres, give us bread!
Grant me this grace benign,
And I will be ever thine!”
Then he removed the vase, and there were on the table eight small loaves.
Then Belsevo said to Dorione:
“Canst thou not give us wine for the bread, O scholar of the grand master Virgil?”
But Dorione, being only a beginner in magic, could not effect such a miracle, and was much ashamed because all laughed at him.
The next morning Dorione told what had happened to Virgil.