Italo Calvino by Italian Folktales

Author:Italian Folktales
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2012-01-09T09:26:16+00:00

them for fools. But the two youths didn’t give up hope and continued their search. One evening the older boy met an old man who was part-sorcerer. “Tell me, is there a king of the peacocks?”

“There certainly is.”

“What is he like? Where does he live?”

“He’s a handsome young man who dresses like a peacock. Peru is his kingdom, and to see him you have to go there.”

The youth thanked and rewarded the man, then headed for Peru. After traveling a great distance, he entered a meadow planted with strange trees, and all around him voices said, “There he is! There he is! He’s come to offer his sister in marriage to the king! Make way for him! “

The youth glanced about, but still saw nothing but a flutter of brightly colored feathers in the air.

“Where am I?” he asked.

“In Peru,” answered the voices. “In the realm of the king of the peacocks.”

“Would you please tell me where he is?”

“With great pleasure. Go to the right and you’ll come to a beautiful palace. Say to the guards, ‘Royal secret! ‘ and they will let you in.”

“Thank you!”

“Don’t mention it! “

These trees are very courteous, thought the youth, but sorcery is surely afoot here. He walked on, coming to a palace adorned with blue, white, and violet peacock feathers that gleamed in the sun like gold. The front door was flanked by guards dressed as peacocks, and you really couldn’t tell whether they were men or birds. “Royal secret!” said the youth, and they let him in. In the middle of a hall stood a throne of precious stones, with an aureole of peacock feathers whose eyes sparkled like stars. On the throne sat the king dressed from head to foot in feathers and indistinguishable from a bird. The youth bowed and, at a signal from the king, all the courtiers left the room. “Speak, I am listening,” said the king.

“Lord, I am the king of Portugal,” began the youth, “and I have come to ask if you will accept my little sister in marriage. Pardon my boldness, but my sister has resolved to wed no one but the king of the peacocks.”

“Do you have her portrait with you?”

“Here it is, Majesty.”

“She is lovely! I like her! I agree to this marriage! “

“Majesty, thank you! My sister will be delighted, as we all are.” He bowed, and proceeded to leave.

“Stop! ” ordered the king. “Where are you going?”

“To fetch her, Majesty.”

“No, whoever enters the kingdom of the peacocks can no longer leave

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