The Flea

Once upon a time a flea bit the king of High-Hill. The flea used such incredible acrobatic tricks to accomplish this feat that the king couldn't bear to kill him.

So he put the flea into a bottle and fed it every day. At the end of seven months, this remarkable flea had grown bigger than a sheep. The king then had the flea's skin removed and issued a statement that whoever could identify the skin could marry the princess.

As soon as this decree was made, people came from all over the countryside to try their luck. One said that it belonged to an ape, another to a lynx, a third to a crocodile. The crowds guessed and guessed, but not one person got it right.

Eventually, though, an ogre, who was the ugliest being in the world, came to try his luck at this guessing contest. No sooner had he turned the skin around and smelled it than he instantly guessed the truth, saying, “This skin belongs to the king of fleas.”

Now the king saw that the ogre had guessed correctly, and so he ordered his daughter Petunia to be called. Petunia was so beautiful that you would never tire of looking at her. The king said to her, “My daughter, you know who I am. I cannot go back on my promise whether it is to a king or a beggar. Who would ever have imagined that the ogre would guess correctly! Have patience then and do not argue with me. My heart tells me that you will be happy, for sometimes rich treasures are found inside a rough earthen jar.”

When Petunia heard this, her face turned pale and she burst into tears. She said to her father, “What crime have I committed that I should be punished like this! How have I ever behaved badly toward you that I should be given up to this monster?”

Petunia was going to say more when the king exclaimed, “Please, do not be angry. Sometimes appearances deceive.”

Poor Petunia, seeing she had no choice in the matter, took the hand of the ogre, who dragged her off, without any servants, to his house in the forest, a rather dismal and gloomy place.

Petunia felt deep despair.

For dinner she had nothing but peas; dessert consisted of parched beans. When the ogre saw that she was still hungry, he said, “I have been invited to a wild boar hunt and will bring you home a couple of boars. We'll make a grand feast with our relations and celebrate the wedding.” So saying he went into the forest.

Now as Petunia stood weeping at the window, an old woman passed by. Famished, she begged for some food.

“Oh, my good woman,” said Petunia, “I am in the power of the ogre who brings me home nothing but peas and dry beans. I have a miserable life and yet I am the daughter of a king and have been brought up in luxury.”

And so saying she began to cry.

The old woman's heart softened at this sight, and she said to Petunia, “Don't worry, my pretty girl. Do not spoil your beauty with crying, for you have met with luck. I can help you. Listen, now. I have seven sons who, you see, are giants: Mase, Nardo, Cola, Micco, Petrullo, Ascaddeo, and Ceccone. They all have special talents. For Mase, every time he lays his ear to the ground, he hears all that is passing within thirty miles. Every time Nardo washes his hands, he makes a great sea of soapsuds. Every time Cola throws a bit of iron on the ground, he makes a field of sharp razors. Whenever Micco flings down a little stick, a tangled forest springs up. If Petrullo lets fall a drop of water, it makes a terrible river. When Ascaddeo wishes a strong tower to spring up, he has only to throw a stone. And Ceccone shoots so straight with the crossbow that he can hit a hen's eye a mile off. Now with the help of my sons, who are all courteous and friendly, I will free you from the ogre.”

“No time better than now,” replied Petunia.

“It cannot be this evening,” replied the old woman, “for I live a long way off. But I promise you that tomorrow morning my sons and I will come and help you out of your trouble.”

Then, the old woman departed. Petunia went to rest with a light heart and slept soundly all night.

At morning's first light the woman and her seven children appeared. They gathered Petunia in their arms and started to carry her away. But they had not gone even half a mile when Mase put his ear to the ground and cried, “Oh, no! I hear the ogre chasing us. He wants Petunia back!”

No sooner did Nardo hear this than he washed his hands and made a sea of soapsuds. When the ogre saw all the suds, he ran home and fetched a sack of sand. He threw the sand about, using it for traction on the slippery ground. This time, Cola flung a piece of iron on the ground and instantly a field of sharp razors sprang up. When the ogre saw the path, he ran home to put on his iron suit, which covered him from head to foot. Then he returned and crossed over the razors.

But Micco was ready with his little stick. In an instant he caused a terrible wood to rise up, so thick that it was hard to get through. When the ogre came to this dense forest, he grabbed a knife and began to cut down the trees. With four or five strokes, he had laid the whole forest on the ground.

Then, Petrullo took water from a little fountain, sprinkled it on the ground, and in a twinkling of an eye a large river rose. When the ogre saw this new obstacle, he jumped in and swam across the river with his clothes piled upon his head.

“Never fear,” said Ascaddeo, “I will soon settle this ugly ragamuffin.” He flung a pebble onto the ground and instantly a tower rose up in which they all hid. When the ogre saw that they had gotten into so safe a place, he ran home, got a ladder, and carried it back on his shoulder to the tower.

The ogre planted his ladder on the ground and began to climb. But Ceccone, taking aim at him, shot out one of his eyes, and laid him at full length on the ground, like a pear dropped from a tree. Then Ceccone climbed out of the tower and cut off the ogre's head. With great joy, they took the head to the king, who was overjoyed to see his daughter again.

Soon after, Petunia was married to a handsome prince. And the seven sons and their mother were given huge bags of gold for their role in saving the beautiful Petunia.