Part 4 (2/2)
”You may disappear now,” Danilo said. ”I will rub the pitcher when I need you.”
Delighted with this unexpected good fortune, he hurried off to the woods to the hut of the old woman who had befriended him before. He showed her the pitcher and demonstrated for her how it worked. Then he asked her to carry a message to Peerless Beauty.
”Tell her,” he said, ”that unless she consents to marry me at once I'll lead a mighty army against her, take her captive, and then send her off in exile to that howling wilderness which people call the Donkeys'
Paradise.”
”I will deliver your message,” the old woman said, ”on condition that you promise me to be on your guard this time. Don't let the maiden trick you again. She is under an enchantment that makes her cruel and crafty and the enchantment will never be broken until she meets a man upon whom her wiles have no effect.”
”Trust me this time,” Danilo said. ”I've had my lesson.”
So the old woman delivered the message and when Peerless Beauty received it with scorn, Danilo at once set out for the castle with the magic pitcher in his hand. He began rubbing and every time he rubbed a company of soldiers appeared. Soon the castle was surrounded by a great army and in fright and dismay Peerless Beauty sent out word that she was ready to make an unconditional surrender.
When Danilo entered the castle he found her humble and meek.
”I have treated you cruelly,” she said. ”Now I am in your power, do with me what you will.” And she began weeping softly until the sight of her tears drove Danilo distracted.
”Weep no more, dear lady!” he cried. ”You have nothing to fear from me!
I love you! I am your slave!”
The Peerless one slowly dried her tears.
”If you love me as you say you do, you will tell me by what magic you have raised this great army.”
Then Danilo, forgetting the old woman's warning, took the magic pitcher out of his s.h.i.+rt and showed the maiden how it worked.
”Ah!” she murmured wonderingly. ”It looks like any old pitcher! Please, Danilo, let me see it in my own hands.”
Danilo handed her the pitcher and, quick as a flash, she rubbed it.
There was a clap of thunder, a company of soldiers appeared, and their captain saluting her respectfully said:
”What does the mistress of the pitcher want?”
”Nay!” cried Danilo, ”it is I who own the pitcher, not she!”
”We are the servants,” the captain said, ”of whoever holds the pitcher.”
At that Peerless Beauty laughed loud and scornfully until the castle rang with her merriment.
”Seize that wretch!” she said, pointing to Danilo. ”Tie his hands and drive him out in exile to the Donkeys' Paradise! Let him stay there until he has another treasure to present me!”
So they drove Danilo out to the wilderness and left him there.
He wandered about for many days hungry and thirsty, subsisting on roots and berries, and having for drink only the water that collected in the hoof prints of the wild beasts.
”See what I've come to!” he cried aloud. ”Why didn't I heed the old woman's warning! If I had, I should have broken the evil enchantment that binds my Peerless Beauty and all would have been well!”
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