a poetic rendition of
THE ROOSTER’S STONE
Day 4, Tale 1
A Ring of Fortune
All that Mineco Aniello possessed
was a cock which ate crumbs from his bread.
But one day Aniello’s own hunger was such,
I must sell you for money, he said.
Off to the market he went with the cock
where two thieves soon agreed to the trade.
We’ll pay what you ask, but the coin is at home.
If you follow us there, you’ll be paid.
Now these men were magicians. They chortled with glee
as they walked with Aniello behind.
This is the cock with a stone in its head.
What a fabulous, wonderful find!
We’ll chop off its head and get hold of the stone
which we’ll set in a magical ring.
We’ll be rich! But Aniello could translate the words
that they spoke, and he heard everything.
Whatever we ask will be ours, laughed the thieves.
But Aniello at once turned around
and ran home with the cock where he chopped off its head
to see whether a stone could be found.
There it was! Old Aniello made haste to the town
where he had a ring made out of gold.
Then he hurried back home with the ring on his hand.
I no longer wish to be old.
I would like to be youthful and have an estate
with a palace. At once it was done.
And now with my riches I’ll wager the king
will be happy to call me his son.
The palace was filled with great statues and jewels,
swarms of servants, and coaches to ride.
The king was impressed and said, Handsome young man,
I will give you my daughter as bride.
The marriage was happy. A daughter was born.
But meanwhile the thieves in despair
had for years tried to find where Aniello had gone.
And one day they discovered him there.
They fashioned a doll out of rags. It could dance
and could sing a melodious tune.
They took it to show to his daughter, Pentella,
at his home on the next afternoon.
I want it! I’ll buy it! How much does it cost?
cried the child. Will you sell it to me?
Not for cash, said the thieves, but one favor we ask.
If you grant it, she’s yours, and for free.
Your father possesses a ring which he wears.
We would like to repeat the design.
You must lend us that ring, which we’ll surely return.
And you promise the doll will be mine?
Then come back in the morning. I’ll do it, she said.
I’ll say that I want it for play.
I’ll say that I’m sad and that only his ring
can chase all my sorrows away.
She coaxed and she sweet-talked Aniello that night
until, heaving a fatherly sigh,
he took off the ring for his daughter to hold,
never dreaming of evil nearby.
Next morning the thieves, with the ring in their grasp,
disappeared without leaving a trace.
Imagine the tears in that little girl’s eyes.
Imagine the shame on her face,
for as soon as they had it they used it to break
all the wishes Aniello had made.
The palace was gone and Aniello was old.
He wore rags where he’d once worn brocade.
His molars fell out. His arms and legs shook
and the hump on his back came in view.
When the king saw this sight, he said, Throw the tramp out
and beat him relentlessly, too.
Aniello returned to his daughter and asked
for the ring. Daughter, give it to me!
Then he cursed what she’d done and was tempted to jump
out the window and into the sea.
He decided instead to go traveling abroad
to get news of the thieves and their prize.
With a sack on his back and a staff in his hand
he set forth with revenge in his eyes.
Having wandered about for a year and a day
he encountered a kingdom of mice.
They, believing he must be a spy for the cats,
hauled him off to their king for advice.
Aniello said, King, here’s a tribute for you,
bits of cheese and a nice piece of lard.
I am just, as you see, a poor beggar myself
who’s been treated exceptionally hard.
He related the tale of what happened to him
and why he was traveling now.
The king called his council together and said,
It is our wish to help him. But how?
Among the mice elders were two who by chance
had been scouting a tavern nearby.
They said to Aniello, Don’t worry. It’s clear
that your search is near ended. Here’s why.
We heard two men talking when well in their cups
about cheating a man of his stone
by deceiving his daughter. And now they are rich
because of a ring that they own.
If you help me to find them, I’ll give you a cheese
and some salt pork to share with the rest.
They set off at once and located the house.
The mice said, It’s probably best
if we wait until dark and then enter in stealth
when the two men are soundly asleep.
And whichever of them has the ring on his hand
will find that it’s not his to keep.
They found the man snoring, and one of them gnawed
at his finger, which caused him such grief
that he yanked off the ring which he laid by his bed
until morning. Oh ill-fated thief!
As soon as Aniello had regained the ring,
he wished, just as fast as he could,
that the thieves in their beds would grow hooves and a tail.
And before him two jackasses stood.
He piled onto one all the cheese he could find
and some bacon, a plentiful load.
Then he straddled the other and, now a young man,
straight back to the mouse king he rode.
King, here is your bounty and here is my wish:
that you’ll never be caught in a trap,
that your people will always be safe from the cats,
and that poison won’t cause you mishap.
He departed for home, more handsome and rich
than ever before he had been.
But first had the jackasses thrown from a cliff
where they perished as payment for sin.
The king and his daughter received him with joy.
Aniello made sure from that day
that the ring on his finger stayed right where it was
lest calamity stumble his way.
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