Cannetella

Synopsis

A king who longed for a child had a daughter named Cannetella. When she grew up, he wished to marry her off. She initially refused, but agreed on condition that her husband have no like in the world. The king presented candidates, but she found fault with each, leading him to believe she did not want to marry at all.

Cannetella then declared she would marry a man with golden hair and golden teeth. Fioravante, a mortal enemy of the king and a magician, transformed himself into such a man. The king consented to the marriage, but Fioravante insisted on taking the princess away with no attendants or baggage. He left her in a stable with orders not to leave or be seen, and to eat only what the horses left.

One day, looking through a hole, she saw a garden and stole a bunch of grapes. The horses told Fioravante, who prepared to stab her, but she pleaded for her life. He set the same conditions and left again. A royal locksmith came by; Cannetella persuaded him to smuggle her back to her father.

Fioravante pursued her and bribed an old woman to let him see the princess. Cannetella saw him and had her father build a chamber with seven iron doors. Fioravante sent the old woman to sell rouge and slip a piece of paper into the princess's bed, charming everyone to sleep. He burst through all seven doors, picked up the princess and her bedding, but knocked the paper free. Everyone woke, seized him, and cut him to pieces.