Italian Popular Tales
The Just Man
Once upon a time there was a peasant and his wife who had a child that they would not baptize until they could find a just man for his godfather.
Godfather Misery
Godfather Misery was old, - God knows how old! One day Jesus and St. Peter, while wandering through the world to name the countries, came to Godfather Misery's, who offered his visitors some polenta, and gave them his own bed.
Brother Giovannone
Once upon a time there was a convent at Casteltermini which contained many monks, one of whom was named Brother Giovannone.
Occasion
Once upon a time there was a father and a mother who had a little boy.
The Story of St. James of Galicia
There was once a king and queen who had no children, and who longed to have a son or daughter.
The Story of Crivoliu
Once upon a time there was a brother and sister who had neither father nor mother, and lived alone together.
In This World One Weeps and Another Laughs
Once the Lord, while he was making the world, called one of the apostles and told him to look and see what the people were doing.
The Lord, St. Peter, and the Blacksmith
In a little town about as large as Sehio or Thiene once lived a master-smith, - a good, industrious, and skilful man, but so proud of his skill that he would not deign to reply to anyone who did not address him as "Professor."
The Lord, St. Peter, and the Apostles
Once, while the Master was on a journey with the thirteen apostles, they came to a village where there was no bread.
Italian Popular Tales
The King of Love
Once upon a time there was a man with three daughters, who earned his living by gathering wild herbs.
King Bean
There was once an old man who had three daughters.
The Dancing Water, the Singing Apple and the Speaking Bird
There was once an herb-gatherer who had three daughters who earned their living by spinning.
The Fair Angiola
Once upon a time there were seven women, neighbors, all of whom were seized with a great longing for some jujubes which only grew in a garden opposite the place where they all lived, and which belonged to a witch.
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Italian Popular Tales
Scissors They Were
Once upon a time there was a husband and a wife. The husband was a tailor; so was the wife, and in addition was a good housekeeper.
The Three Brothers
Once upon a time there were three brothers: two had no clothes and one no shirt.
Lionbruno
There was once a mariner who had a wife and three or four children.
Fair Brow
There was once a father who had a son.
Don Joseph Pear
There were once three brothers who owned a pear-tree and lived on the pears.
The Ass That Lays Money
There was once a poor widow with an only son, and whose brother-in-law was a steward.
The Shepherd Who Made the King's Daughter Laugh
There was once a king and a queen who had an only daughter, whom they loved very dearly.
The Fairy Orlanda
There was once a merchant who had no children. He was obliged to go away for merchandise.
The Crumb in the Beard
There was once a king who had a daughter whose name was Stella. She was indescribably beautiful, but was so whimsical and hard to please that she drove her father to despair.
The Story of Catherine and Her Fate
There was once a merchant who was very rich and had greater treasures than the king. In his reception room stood three wonderfully beautiful seats. One was of silver, the second of gold, and the third of diamonds.
The Two Humpbacks
There were once two companions who were humpbacks, but one more so than the other. They were both so poor that they had not a penny to their names.
The Bucket
There was once a mother who had two daughters: one was bad and the other was very good.
The King who Wanted a Beautiful Wife
There was once a king who wanted to marry. But his wife must be more beautiful than the sun, and no matter how many maidens he saw, none was beautiful enough to suit him.
The Cobbler
There was once a cobbler who one day was so tired of cobbling that he said: "Now I will go and seek my fortune."
Thirteenth
There was once a father who had thirteen sons, the youngest of whom was named Thirteenth.
In Love with a Statue
There was once a king who had two sons. The eldest did not wish to marry, and the youngest, although he went about everywhere, found no lady to his taste.
How the Devil Married Three Sisters
Once upon a time the Devil was seized with a desire to marry.
Snow-White-Fire-Red
There was once a king and queen who had no son, and they were always making vows to obtain one; and they promised that if they had a son, or even a daughter, they would maintain two fountains for seven years: one running wine, the other oil. After this vow the queen gave birth to a handsome boy.
Bierde
Once upon a time there was a mother who had a son, who went to school.
The Fair Fiorita
There was once a king who had four children: three daughters and a son, who was the heir to the throne.
Oraggio and Bianchinetta
There was once a lady who had two children: the boy was called Oraggio, the girl, Bianchinetta.
The Curse of the Seven Children
There was once a king and a queen who had six children, all sons. The queen was about to give birth to another child, and the king said that if it was not a daughter all seven children would be cursed.
Fair Maria Wood
There was once a husband and wife who had but one child, a daughter.
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Italian Popular Tales
The Ass
It is related that when the Lord created the world, he also made all the animals, and gave each its name.
Truthful Joseph
Once upon a time there was a mother who had a son named Joseph; and because he never told a lie she called him Truthful Joseph.
The Mason and His Son
There was once a mason who had a wife and son.
The Language of Animals
A father once had a son who spent ten years in school. At the end of that time, the teacher wrote the father to take away his son because he could not teach him anything more.
Vineyard I Was and Vineyard I Am
A king, averse to marriage, commanded his steward to remain single.
The Three Admonitions
A man once left his country to go to foreign parts, and there entered the service of an abbot.
The Treasure
Once upon a time there was a prince who studied and racked his brains so much that he learned magic and the art of finding hidden treasures.
The Peasant and the Master
A peasant one day, conversing in the farmhouse with his master and others, happened, while speaking of sheep and cheese, to say that he had had a present of a little cheese, but the mice had eaten it all up.
Cinderella
Once upon a time there was a man who had three daughters.
The Griffin
There was once a king who had three sons. His eyes were diseased, and he called in a physician who said that to cure them he needed a feather of the griffin.
The Cistern
There were once three king's sons.
Zelinda and the Monster
There was once a poor man who had three daughters; and as the youngest was the fairest and most civil, and had the best disposition, her other two sisters envied her with a deadly envy, although her father, on the contrary, loved her dearly.
The Cloud
Once upon a time there was a fisherman who had a wife and many children.
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