[2] ‘Chi è?’ ‘amicè.’ See note 3, p. 187. [↑]
[3] The reader will bear in mind, in this and other places, that ‘papa’ and ‘mama’ are vernacular for ‘father’ and ‘mother’ among children of the lowest classes in Italy. [↑]
[4] ‘Son’ io.’ I have generally found these stories told with a great deal of effect, especially to suit the tone to the dialogues. It was particularly the case with this one, e.g. the ‘son’ io’ was said in the lamentable tone of a person wearied with fatigue and disappointment.’ [↑]
[5] ‘Vatene, brutta cornuda!’ [↑]
THE ENCHANTED ROSE-TREE.[1]
They say there was once a merchant who, when he was going out to buy rare merchandise, asked his daughter what rich present he should bring home to her. She, however, would hear of nothing but only a simple rose-tree.
‘That,’ said her father, ‘is too easy. However, as you are bent on having a rose-tree, you shall have the most beautiful rose-tree I can find in all my travels.’
In all his travels, however, he met with no rose-tree that he deemed choice enough. But one day, when he was walking outside the walls of his own city, he came to a garden which he had never observed before, filled with all manner of beautiful flowers.
‘This is a wonderful garden indeed,’ said the merchant to himself; ‘I never saw it before, and yet these luxuriant plants seem to have many years’ growth in them. There must be something wonderful about them, so this is just the place to look for my daughter’s rose-tree.’ In he went therefore to look for the rose-tree.