The Pink Fairy Book, part 37 · page 21 2101Then they began to quarrel violently, and there seemed no chance that they would ever cease, till one of them said, ‘Let us go before a judge.’102The others agreed, and when they had found a man whom they could trust Ciccu told him the whole story.103‘This is my verdict,’ said the judge.104‘The figs in truth belong to you, but you cannot pluck them without touching both the trunk and the branches.105Therefore you must give your first basketful to your brother Peppe, as the price of his leave to put your ladder against the tree; and the second basketful to your brother Alfin, for leave to shake his boughs.106The rest you can keep for yourself.’107And the brothers were contented, and returned home, saying one to the other, ‘We will each of us send a basket of figs to the king.108Perhaps he will give us something in return, and if he does we will divide it faithfully between us.’109So the best figs were carefully packed in a basket, and Peppe set out with it to the castle.110On the road he met a little old man who stopped and said to him, ‘What have you got there, my fine fellow?’111‘What is that to you?’ was the answer; ‘mind your own business.’112But the old man only repeated his question, and Peppe, to get rid of him, exclaimed in anger, ‘Dirt.’113‘Good,’ replied the old man; ‘dirt you have said, and dirt let it be.’114Peppe only tossed his head and went on his way till he got to the castle, where he knocked at the door.115‘I have a basket of lovely figs for the king,’ he said to the servant who opened it, ‘if his majesty will be graciously pleased to accept them with my humble duty.’116The king loved figs, and ordered Peppe to be admitted to his presence, and a silver dish to be brought on which to put the figs.117When Peppe uncovered his basket sure enough a layer of beautiful purple figs met the king’s eyes, but underneath there was nothing but dirt.118‘How dare you play me such a trick?’ shrieked the king in a rage.119‘Take him away, and give him fifty lashes.’120This was done, and Peppe returned home, sore and angry, but determined to say nothing about his adventure.121And when his brothers asked him what had happened he only answered, ‘When we have all three been I will tell you.’122A few days after this more figs were ready for plucking, and Alfin in his turn set out for the palace.123He had not gone far down the road before he met the old man, who asked him what he had in his basket.124‘Horns,’ answered Alfin, shortly.125‘Good,’ replied the old man; ‘horns you have said, and horns let it be.’126When Alfin reached the castle he knocked at the door and said to the servant: ‘Here is a basket of lovely figs, if his majesty will be good enough to accept them with my humble duty.’127The king commanded that Alfin should be admitted to his presence, and a silver dish to be brought on which to lay the figs.128When the basket was uncovered some beautiful purple figs lay on the top, but underneath there was nothing but horns.129Then the king was beside himself with passion, and screamed out, ‘Is this a plot to mock me?130Take him away, and give him a hundred and fifty lashes!’131So Alfin went sadly home, but would not tell anything about his adventures, only saying grimly, ‘Now it is Ciccu’s turn.’132Ciccu had to wait a little before he gathered the last figs on the tree, and these were not nearly so good as the first set.133However, he plucked them, as they had agreed, and set out for the king’s palace.134The old man was still on the road, and he came up and said to Ciccu, ‘What have you got in that basket?’1 2← previousThe Pink Fairy Book, part 36next →The Pink Fairy Book, part 38↑ back to The Pink Fairy BookThis page in Markdown → https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg5615/37/page/2/