magnificent dunghill, more nourishing and abundant food, a more sheltered hen-yard to walk about in, or a family that would love you more?"
"Nego" said Medio-pollito in Latin, for he plumed himself on his learning, "my brothers and cousins are ignorant bumpkins." "But, my son," replied the mother, "have you not seen yourself in a glass? Don't you see that you have a foot and an eye too little?" "As far as that goes," answered Medio-pollito, "I must say that you ought to drop down dead with shame to see me in this state. It is entirely your fault. From what sort of an egg was I born into the world? It must have been from an old cock's egg."[1] "No, my child," said his mother, "only basilisks spring from such eggs. You were born from the last egg that I laid, and came into the world weak and imperfect, because it was the last egg in the nest. It certainly was not my fault."
"It may be," said Medio-pollito, while his comb grew red as fire, "it may be perhaps that I shall come across a skilful surgeon, who may supply me with the limbs that are lacking. There is no help here—I'm off."
When the poor mother saw she was not able to dissuade him from his purpose, she said, "At least, listen, my son, to the wise counsels of a good mother. Take care not to pass by those churches on which there is the image of St. Peter. That saint is not well disposed to cocks, and still less to their crowing. Also fly from certain people that there are in the world called 'cooks.' Such are our mortal foes, and will twist our necks before one can cry Amen. And now, my son, may God guide you and the blessed St. Raphael, who is the patron of travellers. Go and ask your father for his blessing."
Medio-pollito approached his father, dropped his head to kiss his foot, and asked his blessing. The worshipful old cock gave it with more dignity than tenderness, for Medio-pollito, by reason of his capricious character, was not a favourite of his.
- ↑ There is a common popular superstition that old cocks lay an egg from which in seven years comes a basilisk. It is also said that it kills with its look the first person that it sees, but that it dies if the person sees it first (Author's note).
