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.

Once upon a time there were three brothers: two had no clothes and one no shirt.

It is related that when the Lord created the world, he also made all the animals, and gave each its name.

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."

Once, while the Master was on a journey with the thirteen apostles, they came to a village where there was no bread.

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.

There was once a mason who had a wife and son.

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.

A king, averse to marriage, commanded his steward to remain single.

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.

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.

There was once a mariner who had a wife and three or four children.

There was once a father who had a son.

There were once three brothers who owned a pear-tree and lived on the pears.

There was once a poor widow with an only son, and whose brother-in-law was a steward.

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.

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.

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.

There was once a mother who had two daughters: one was bad and the other was very good.

There was once a cobbler who one day was so tired of cobbling that he said: "Now I will go and seek my fortune."

There was once a father who had thirteen sons, the youngest of whom was named Thirteenth.

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.

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.

Once upon a time there was a mother who had a son, who went to school.

There was once a king who had four children: three daughters and a son, who was the heir to the throne.

There was once a lady who had two children: the boy was called Oraggio, the girl, Bianchinetta.

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.

There was once a husband and wife who had but one child, a daughter.

Once upon a time there was a man who had three daughters. He was once ordered to go away to work, and said to them: "Since I am about making a journey, what do you want me to bring you when I return?"

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.

There were once three king's sons.

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.

There was once an old man who had three daughters.

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.

Once upon a time Peter Fullone, the stone-cutter, was working at the cemetery, near the church of Santo Spirito;

There was once a huntsman, who, in passing a quarry, found a serpent under a large stone.

There was once in Bohemia a very poor lady named Soriana, who had three sons: one was called Dusolino, the other Tesifone, and the third Constantine the Lucky.

Once upon a time there was a king and queen who had a half-witted son.

A very fine story is related and told to your worships. Once upon a time there was a king with three daughters.

There was once a husband and a wife who had two children, a son and a daughter.

There was once a widower who had a daughter. This daughter was between ten and twelve years old.

A woodman had three daughters. Every morning one after the other, in turn, carried him his bread to the wood.

There was once a king who had lost a valuable ring.

Once upon a time there was a huntsman who had a wife and two children, a son and a daughter; and all lived together in a wood where no one ever came, and so they knew nothing about the world.

There was once a king who, while hunting, saw a peasant working in the fields and asked him: "How much do you earn in a day?"

Once upon a time there was a very poor woman who had a son called Giufa, who was stupid, lazy, and cunning.

Once upon a time there was a doctor who took his apprentice with him when he made his visits.

There was once in a city a priest who became an abbot, and who had his carriages, horses, grooms, steward, secretary, valet, and many other persons on account of the wealth that he had.

There was once a lord whose name was "Abbot-who-eats-and-drinks-without-thinking."

It occurred once to the cock to go to Rome and have himself elected Pope.

Once upon a time there were three goslings who were greatly afraid of the wolf; for if he found them he would eat them.

Once upon a time there was a cock and a mouse.

Once upon a time there was a husband and wife who had no children.

Once upon a time there was a farmer who had a daughter who used to take his dinner to him in the fields.

Here in Venice, heaven knows how many centuries ago, there was a gentleman and a lady, husband and wife, who were rich people.

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 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.

Once upon a time there was a convent at Casteltermini which contained many monks, one of whom was named Brother Giovannone.

Once upon a time there was a father and a mother who had a little boy.

There was once a king and queen who had no children, and who longed to have a son or daughter.

Once upon a time there was a brother and sister who had neither father nor mother, and lived alone together.

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.

There was once a king and a queen who had an only daughter, whom they loved very dearly.

There was once a merchant who had no children. He was obliged to go away for merchandise.

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.

Once upon a time the Devil was seized with a desire to marry.

Once upon a time there was a man with three daughters, who earned his living by gathering wild herbs.

There was once an herb-gatherer who had three daughters who earned their living by spinning.

Once upon a time there was a fisherman who had a wife and many children.