The Simpleton

Once upon a time, there lived a man who was as rich as could be. But no happiness in this world is ever quite complete, and he had an only son who was such a simpleton that he could barely add two and two together. At last, his father decided he could no longer put up with his stupidity. He gave him a purse full of gold and sent him off to seek his fortune in foreign lands, remembering the saying:

'How much a fool that's sent to roam Excels a fool that stays at home.'

Moscione—for that was the youth's name—mounted a horse and set out for Venice, hoping to find a ship there that would take him to Cairo. After he had ridden for some time, he saw a man standing at the foot of a poplar tree and said to him: 'What's your name, my friend; where do you come from, and what can you do?'

The man replied, 'My name is Quick-as-Thought, I come from Fleet-town, and I can run like lightning.'

'I should like to see that,' said Moscione.

'Just wait a minute,' said Quick-as-Thought, 'and I will soon show you that I am speaking the truth.'

No sooner had he spoken than a young deer ran right across the field where they stood. Quick-as-Thought let her run a short distance, then he chased her so quickly and so lightly that you could not have followed his footsteps if the field had been covered with flour. In a few bounds he had caught the deer. Moscione was amazed and begged Quick-as-Thought to come with him, promising to reward him handsomely.

Quick-as-Thought agreed, and they continued on their journey together. They had hardly gone a mile when they met another young man. Moscione stopped and asked: 'What's your name, my friend; where do you come from, and what can you do?'

The man answered promptly: 'I am called Hare's-ear, I come from Curiosity Valley, and if I lay my ear on the ground, I can hear everything that goes on in the world—the plots and intrigues of court and cottage, and all the plans of mice and men.'

'If that's true,' said Moscione, 'tell me what's happening in my own home right now.'

The youth laid his ear to the ground and said: 'An old man is saying to his wife, "Heaven be praised that we have got rid of Moscione! Perhaps after he has been out in the world a little, he may gain some common sense and return home less of a fool than when he left."'

'Enough, enough!' cried Moscione. 'You speak the truth, and I believe you. Come with us, and you will be well rewarded.'

The young man agreed, and after they had gone about ten miles, they met a third man. Moscione asked: 'What's your name, my brave fellow; where were you born, and what can you do?'

The man replied, 'I am called Hit-the-Point, I come from the city of Perfect-aim, and I draw my bow so exactly that I can shoot a pea off a stone.'

'I should like to see you do that,' said Moscione.

The man placed a pea on a stone, drew his bow, and shot it right through the middle with the greatest ease. Moscione saw that he had spoken the truth and asked him to join their group.

After they had all traveled together for some days, they came upon a group of people digging a trench in the blazing sun. Moscione felt sorry for them and said: 'My dear friends, how can you stand working so hard in heat that could cook an egg in a minute?'

One of the workers answered: 'We are as fresh as daisies, for we have a young man among us who blows on our backs like the west wind.'

'Let me see him,' said Moscione. The youth was called, and Moscione asked: 'What's your name; where do you come from, and what can you do?'

He answered: 'I am called Blow-Blast, I come from Wind-town, and with my mouth I can make any wind you please. If you want a west wind, I can raise it in a second; if you prefer a north wind, I can blow these houses down before your eyes.'

'Seeing is believing,' said cautious Moscione.

Blow-Blast began at once. First he blew so softly that it felt like a gentle evening breeze, then he turned and raised such a mighty storm that he blew down a whole row of oak trees. Moscione was delighted and begged Blow-Blast to join them.

As they went on, they met another man. Moscione asked: 'What's your name; where do you come from, and what can you do?'

'I am called Strong-Back; I come from Power-borough, and I am so strong that I can carry a mountain on my back as if it were a feather.'

'If that's true,' said Moscione, 'you are a clever fellow! But I need proof.'

Then Strong-Back loaded himself with great boulders and tree trunks—so much that a hundred wagons could not have carried it all. Moscione saw this and convinced Strong-Back to join them. They all continued their journey until they came to a country called Flower Vale.

Here there reigned a king whose only daughter ran as quickly as the wind and so lightly that she could run over a field of young oats without bending a single blade. The king had proclaimed that anyone who could beat the princess in a race would marry her, but all who failed would lose their heads.

As soon as Moscione heard of the proclamation, he hurried to the king and challenged the princess to a race. But on the morning of the race, he sent word that he was not feeling well and would let someone run in his place.

'It's all the same to me,' said Canetella, the princess. 'Let anyone come forward; I am ready.'

On the day of the race, the whole place was crowded with people eager to see the contest. Punctual to the moment, Quick-as-Thought and Canetella—dressed in a short skirt and very light shoes—stood at the starting line.

A silver trumpet sounded, and the two rivals started, looking like a greyhound chasing a hare. Quick-as-Thought, true to his name, outran the princess. When he reached the goal, the people cheered, 'Long live the stranger!'

Canetella was very upset by her defeat, but since the race was to be run a second time, she was determined not to lose again. She went home and sent Quick-as-Thought a magic ring that prevented anyone who wore it from walking, let alone running. She begged him to wear it for her sake.

Early the next morning, the crowd gathered again. Canetella and Quick-as-Thought began their second race. The princess ran as fast as ever, but poor Quick-as-Thought was like an overloaded donkey—he could not move a step.

But Hit-the-Point, who had heard about the princess's trick from Hare's-ear, saw his friend's danger. He seized his bow and arrow and shot the stone out of the ring that Quick-as-Thought was wearing. At once, the youth's legs were free, and in five bounds he caught up with Canetella and won the race.

The king was furious that he must accept Moscione as his son-in-law. He called his wise men to ask for a way out. They decided that Canetella was far too good for a common traveler and advised the king to offer Moscione gold instead of a wife.

The king liked this idea and called Moscione before him. He asked what sum of money would make him give up the princess. Moscione consulted his friends and answered: 'I want as much gold and precious stones as my followers can carry away.'

The king thought that was easy. He brought coffers of gold, sacks of silver, and chests of precious stones. But the more Strong-Back was loaded, the straighter he stood. Soon the treasury was empty, and the king had to borrow from his subjects. Still Strong-Back asked for more.

When the king's counselors saw the result, they said it would be foolish to let some wandering thieves take so much treasure. They urged the king to send soldiers to take it back. So the king sent armed men on foot and horse to recover the treasure.

But Hare's-ear heard the counselors' advice and told his companions just as the dust of the pursuers appeared on the horizon. Blow-Blast took in the danger and raised such a mighty wind that the king's whole army was blown down like ninepins. They could not get up, so Moscione and his friends continued on their way without any trouble.

When they reached Moscione's home, he divided the treasure among his companions. They were delighted. He himself stayed with his father, who had to admit at last that his son was not quite such a simpleton after all.