“First Night, Second Fable.” The Nights of Straparola, Straparola, Giovanni Francesco, translated by Waters, W.G. (William George), London: Lawrence and Bullen, 1894, pp. 20-27.
Tale Summary
A handsome young robber named Cassandrino in the city of Romagna, Perugia, is so magnanimous in offering gifts that come of his thieving, that the city prætor is reluctant to punish him. Taken with Cassandrino, the prætor believes his assertion that complaints are made against him out of jealousy, and is interested in the former’s story of a skilled young thief capable of stealing anything (saying it must be Cassandrino himself). The prætor offers 100 gold florins if he is able to steal his bed that night. Cassandrino takes a recently deceased body, dresses it in his clothes, and drops it into the room of the prætor, who believes it to be the dead thief. The bed is stolen as the body is buried, and the next day Cassandrino is offered another 100 gold florins if he is able to steal the prætor’s best horse. A servant is ordered to sit on the horse to guard it, but when he falls asleep, Cassandrino cuts the reigns and moves the man on the saddle to sit on four poles the same height as the horse, stealing it away. The prætor now demands Cassandrino bring him the priest of Sangallo, Messer Severino, tied in a sack, for another 200 gold florins, and under the threat of being hanged. He tricks the priest into getting into the sack by dressing like an angel and telling him he must enter to get to Paradise. The prætor pays off the irate priest and gives Cassandrino his 400 gold florins with a warning about changing his ways; the thief uses this money to become a respected businessman.
Fairy Tale Title
First Night, Second Fable
Fairy Tale Author(s)/Editor(s)
Giovanni Francesco Straparola
Fairy Tale Illustrator(s)
None listed
Common Tale Type
Tale Classification
Page Range of Tale
pp. 20-27
Full Citation of Tale
“First Night, Second Fable.” The Nights of Straparola, Straparola, Giovanni Francesco, translated by Waters, W.G. (William George), London: Lawrence and Bullen, 1894, pp. 20-27.
Original Source of the Tale
Giovanni Francesco Straparola
Tale Notes
Alteria is the narrator of this story and opens with a proverb about man doing what he wants, and stresses his possession of wit. It is a noteworthy detail that she begins speaking without being asked to. The lady then gives her enigma after the story.
“While I my nightly vigil kept,
A man I spied, who softly crept
Adown the hall, whereon I said,
“To bed, Sir Bernard, get to bed.
Two shall undress for you, four with care
Shut fast the doors, and eight up there
Shall watch, and bid the rest beware.”
While these deceiving words I said,
The thievish wight in terror fled.”
The answer to her riddle is that an old woman is left in charge of a household, and when seeing a robber on a balcony, pretends that the master is still in the house to scare the thief away.
The priest, when tricked into getting into the bag, also tricks his clerk into leaving so that he alone will enter Paradise. Cassandrino repeatedly says that he is not a thief, but earns his money with hard work.
Research and Curation
Kaeli Waggener, 2022
Book Title
The Nights of Straparola
Book Author/Editor(s)
Giovanni Francesco Straparola
Illustrator(s)
Edward Robert Hughes
Publisher
Lawrence and Bullen
Date Published
1894
Decade Published
1890-1899
Publisher City
London
Publisher Country
United Kingdom
Language
English
Rights
Public Domain
Digital Copy
Available at the Internet Archive
Book Notes
This book is a collection of stories that are structured under a ‘frame tale,’ or overarching narrative. After the departure of Milan’s ruler amongst unrest, a party is held on the Island of Murano, with his daughter and her 10 court ladies taking turns to tell stories over the course of 13 nights. Each night 5 ladies will sing before narrating a tale on an agreed-upon theme, offering a pastime and a way to stimulate the wit.
Notes on narrators
Lodovica; admired for her beautiful eyes
Vicenza; possessing beauty and good manners
Lionora; kindly and courteous despite her haughty appearance
Alteria; devoted in service
Lauretta; disdainful and seductive
Eritrea; petite and beautiful
Cateruzza (surnamed Brunetta); graceful, loving, alluring
Arianna; young but grave, virtuous, and well-spoken
Isabella; highly gifted and witty
Fiordiana; Intelligent and willing