Page:The Pentamerone, or The Story of Stories.djvu/115

This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
THE MERCHANT.
91

it upon his brother's neck, which instantly drew close and joined on to the head, so that Meo became sound and well again. Then Cienzo embraced his brother joyfully, begging him to pardon his hasty passion, and the wrong he had done in sending him out of the world without first hearing the affair to the end. Whereupon they all went in a coach to the palace, whither they sent to invite Antoniello, together with all his family; and Antoniello soon got into great favour with the king, and saw in the person of his son the saying verified—

"A straight port to a crooked ship[1]."




As soon as Ciulla had ended her story, which was as sweet as sugar, Paola, whose turn it was to take up the dance, began as follows.

  1. 'More by luck than wit.'