Prince Prigio

Plot summary

A queen who does not believe in fairies and her king finally have a son, Prigio, after many childless years. When the queen refuses to invite the fairies to the christening, no nobles attend, and the king and queen are alone when the fairies arrive and bestow gifts: a never-empty purse (Fortunatus' purse), seven-league boots, a cap of darkness for invisibility, a wishing cap, a magic carpet, beauty, courage, and luck. The last fairy decrees, 'My child, you shall be too clever!' The queen, still disbelieving, has all the items swept into a lumber room. Prigio grows up too clever, arguing with everyone and knowing better than all. He has two younger brothers, neither clever, both liked, who fall in love with their cousins. The king dislikes Prigio, fearing he will claim the throne, and wants to be rid of him. A firedrake appears; the king regrets it will kill his second son as well as his first before the youngest kills it, but he would sacrifice him to be rid of Prigio. Prigio, like his mother, refuses to believe in the firedrake and reminds the king that the youngest son triumphs, so they should send him at once. Alphonse, the youngest, goes and is eaten; Prigio thinks he has gone traveling. The king sends Enrico, the second, who also dies. The king tries to send Prigio, who refuses because he still disbelieves in the firedrake and is the last surviving heir. The king takes the rest of the court and abandons Prigio alone in the castle, stealing every piece of clothing except what he wears. Prigio searches the castle and finds the lumber room with the fairies' gifts. The seven-league boots carry him to an inn to eat, and he thinks he dreamed it. No one pays attention because he is wearing the invisibility cap unknowingly. He steals food, and when his cap is knocked off, pays from the purse, which he later finds still full. Whenever his cap comes on or off, he appears or vanishes, but does not realize it.