The Tale of Tales

by Giambattista Basile

  9. “Leeches are put in the ashes after they have performed their job, so that they expel the sucked blood” (Croce 157).

  *. AT 879: The Basil Maiden. Croce notes similarities with Italian tales from Pitrè (Fiabe, nov. e racc. sic. 58 [“The Pot of Basil”] and Fiabe e legg. tosc. 13 [“The Teacher”]), Imbriani (“The Star of Diana”), and others (Lo cunti de li cunti 288). See also Gonzenbach 35, “The Daughter of Prince Cirimimminu.”

  1. Rose, Carnation, and Violet.

  2. See tale 1.10 n2.

  3. “All of these epithets refer to match-makers” (Guarini and Burani 199).

  4. The story of horses impregnated by the wind can be found in Pliny (Natural History 8.67) and Virgil (Georgics 3.271–79), among others.

  5. A children’s game; see introduction to day 2 n19.

  6. “Genoese women, like Venetian women, would cover their faces with a half-mask when they went out” (Croce 165).

  7. “A seed given to children as a cure for worms” (Croce 165).

  8. A vulgar allusion?

  *. AT 545B: Puss in Boots. This is, of course, the tale that will become better known in Charles Perrault’s version, “The Master Cat, or Puss in Boots.” Basile had a predecessor in Straparola (Le piacevoli notti 11.1, “Costantino Fortunato”), and popular variants can be found in Pitrè (Fiabe, nov. e racc. sic. 88, “Don Giuseppi Birnbaum” and Nov. tosc. 12, “The Fox”) and Imbriani 10 (“King Messemèmi-gli-bocca-’l-fumo”). A version of this tale (largely derived from Perrault) also appeared in the 1812 edition of the Grimms’ tales, though was later removed. Penzer comments that “Perrault was troubled about the ending to the tale and affixes a moral that is quite inapplicable. It has been repeatedly pointed out that the cat is an unscrupulous adventurer who indulges in a series of mean frauds to benefit a worthless youth who usually plays a very passive part in the tale [. . .] we are still ignorant whence Straparola and Basile derived their tale—a curious tale that never seemed to have a satisfactory end. [. . .] Thus in some cases the cat turns into a human being, in others he becomes prime minister” (1:158). The end of Basile’s tale differs notably from Straparola’s, since in the latter the cat merely disappears from the tale once its important work as a helper is done. Another notable difference between Straparola and Basile’s and later versions is that the cat in the first two is female.

  1. See tale 1.10 n14.

  2. As poor as Saint Chiara (Claire), the founder of the order of the Clarisse, with its ideal of absolute poverty; “alternately, the reference might be to the church of Santa Chiara, one of the biggest in Naples, built by Robert of Anjou” (Rak 334).

  3. “In Melito, on the road from Naples to Aversa, there is an area called ‘the five roads,’ where, in a spot called ‘Fascenaro,’ there are always great numbers of beggars” (Croce 564).

  4. na maglia (Neap.): “ancient name for a coin of very low value” (Croce 168).

  5. “I.e., in miserable conditions; the origin of the expression is unknown” (Croce 168).

  6. “Made on the mouth to prevent evil spirits from taking advantage of that moment [the yawn] to enter into the body” (Croce 564).

  7. At this point in the text Pippo’s name changes to Cagliuso.

  8. “Place where fish was distributed to fishmongers by the wholesale buyers, on via della Marina. There were ‘fish stones’ at Santa Lucia and Chiaia as well” (Croce 564).

  9. “Hunting grounds, the Paduli (Ital. ‘marshes’) are in the eastern part of Naples; the Astroni are near the Agnano lake.” The latter were a royal hunting reserve (Croce 564).

  10. “Reference to the popular custom of spitting in a newborn’s mouth as a first sign of recognition and affection” (Guarini and Burani 209).

  11. “Cat food that a street vendor, called a polmonaro [lung seller] would bring to the houses of Naples in the morning; all the cats in the neighborhood would become agitated and meow as they heard their benefactor getting closer” (Croce 172).

  *. AT 425A: The Monster (Animal) as Bridegroom, AT 432: The Prince as Bird, and AT 433: The Prince as Serpent. Croce mentions similar tales from Pitrè. The tale also bears a resemblance to Grimm 108, “Hans My Hedgehog,” and to other variants of the “beast as bridegroom” type. The principal motifs include “tasks,” “Cupid and Psyche,” “helpful animals,” and “overhearing” (Penzer 1:168). See also Straparola 2.1, “The Pig King,” Pitrè, Fiabe, nov. e racc. sic. 56 (“The Serpents”), Imbriani 12 (“King Pig”), Gonzenbach 43 (“The Story of Prince Scursuni”), and tales 1.2 and 2.2 of this collection.

  1. Syphilis. “Venereal disease was widespread in Europe from the 16th century on” (Rak 354).

  2. lo crastone (Neap.): “an epidemic catarrhal fever that had assumed vast proportions in 1580. Basile himself probably died of it during the epidemic of 1632” (Croce 173).

  3. percaccio (Neap.): “These were guards who guided and protected travelers’ caravans with the help of soldiers stationed along the main routes of communication. This made possible a reduction of the danger of bandits after the mid-16th century” (Rak 354). A passing caravan thus meant a significant increase in business for an innkeeper.

  4. See tale 1.3 n4.

  5. I.e., someone stupid (like the protagonist of tale 1.1, who has this name).

  6. See introduction to day 2 n23.

  7. “From a popular saying, deriving probably from an anecdote in which a certain Renzo was in serious danger” (Guarini and Burani 216); possibly the Roman patriot Cola di Rienzo, who was murdered by a mob in 1354 and whose fame was widespread (Penzer 1:169).

  8. “Funeral catafalques were magnificent in this century of magnificence” (Croce 178).

  9. “At Carnival time, people would squirt each other with fragrant waters (usually contained in eggs)” (Croce 568).

  10. “A technique commonly used for gathering wax or preventing the oil that dripped from torches to spread; permission to collect wax and oil during public ceremonies was often given to the poor or reserved for certain people” (Rak 355).

  *. AT 510B: The Dress of Gold, of Silver, and of Stars (Cap o’ Rushes). The two best-known later versions of this tale are Perrault’s “Donkey-Skin” and Grimm 65, “All-Fur.” Croce mentions Sicilian (Pitrè, Fiabe, nov. e racc. sic. 43, “Little Furry,” and Gonzenbach 38, “Betta the Furry”) and Sardinian variants. The first part of the tale resembles somewhat Straparola 1.4, “Tebaldo.”

  1. “The combs and hair pins with which Neapolitan ladies adorned their hair were covered with little pieces of garnet” (Guarini and Burani 222).

  2. “In public auctions a candle was kept lit” (Croce 184).

  3. “According to an ancient popular belief, squeezing one’s breast with the nipples pointed toward the person being cursed gave greater power to the accompanying words of ill omen” (Guarini and Burani 223).

  4. “During a famine in 1585 the Elected of the People [Eletto del Popolo] Giovan Vincenzo Starace, although he alone opposed proposals to lower the weight of bread and increase its price, was instead accused of being the author of this plan, odious to the common people; and on May 9 he was taken by popular force from the convent of Santa Maria la Nuova and tortured, then killed and torn into pieces, some of which were even eaten by the raging crowd” (Croce 565).

  5. “In November the mouth of the Patria lake near Naples was opened, and hunting and fishing allowed; in the other months it was a hunting reserve” (Rak 370).

  6. See Ariosto, Orlando furioso 10.84: “Natura il fece e poi roppe la stampa” (cit. Croce 185).

  7. “A ‘false’ rhyme with the opening formula of bans, banno e commannamiento, also used in many works in which official proclamations were satirized” (Rak 370).

  8. “The images reflected by the mirrors of the time were distorted, due to the imperfect surfa
ce of the glass and its metallic face” (Guarini and Burani 226).

  9. “One of the frequent references to the closest region of the Middle East, with which Italy was engaged in wars and commerce” (Rak 370).

  10. The Genoese whetstone was “a blackish stone rich in quartz, used to sharpen bladed weapons.” The famous Damascus knives were inlaid with gold and silver; here it is used as a phallic metaphor (Rak 370–71).

  11. stanfelle (Neap.): the platform shoes popular in Neapolitan fashion at the time (see Cennerentola’s chianiello in tale 1.6 n7). The traits attributed to the women of various countries represent common stereotypes.

  12. “Proverbial expression used to signify a fruitless and superfluous search for something” (Croce 186).

  13. catubba (Neap.): “The Sfessania and Lucia dances, in which the words ‘tubba catubba’ appear” (Croce 187). See introduction to day 1 n6. De Simone maintains that the “catubba” had a particular relation to childbirth and was thus performed at weddings and as an augury for a newborn baby (7).

  14. I.e., as a widow would do. “The custom of a woman shaving her hair off on her husband’s death and burying it with the corpse, tied to its hands, and then not marrying again until the hair had grown back, was still in use in some parts of the Kingdom of Naples” (Croce 190).

  15. “A name given to trained bears” (Croce 190).

  16. I.e., to give a urine sample.

  *. AT 313C: The Girl as Helper in the Hero’s Flight, followed by the episode of the Forgotten Fiancée. Croce mentions similarities with tales from Pitrè (Fiabe, nov. e racc. sic. 13) and Imbriani. See also Grimm 56, “Sweetheart Roland” and 113, “The Two Kings’ Children,” and Gonzenbach 13 and 15.

  1. rumme e busse (Neap.): “At the end of old primers the four abbreviations et, cum, rum, and bus would be listed; schoolchildren of long ago had a playful saying that went: ‘Et con rum e busso, / Quando cade, te rumpe ’u musso’ [Et, con, rum, and bus, / When you fall down you’ll break your puss]” (Croce 193).

  2. li cruosche (Neap.): “Intestinal worms that make horses excitable and sometimes uncontrollable” (Croce 193).

  3. uno de ciento vinte a carrino (Neap.): see introduction to day 1 n22.

  4. “An ancient proverb, referred to below (and based on the similar shape of beans and horns) went: ‘He who sows beans, sprouts horns’” (Guarini and Burani 235). For Foggia, See tale 1.8 n7.

  5. “A solemn oath” (Guarini and Burani 235).

  6. I.e., “unwillingly and rudely” (Guarini and Burani 238).

  7. “A children’s song used to try to get a snail to stick out its horns. It is also found in other countries of Europe” (Croce 566).

  8. See tale 1.1 n18.

  9. “The art of fireworks and night illumination is one of the most sophisticated semiotic traditions of the Baroque” (Rak 394).

  10. “A formula used in signing letters” (Croce 567).

  11. marchesa (Neap.): marquise vs. menstruation (Croce 197).

  12. See tale 1.2 n12.

  13. One of the children’s games mentioned in the opening to day 2.

  14. “Another formula used to invoke the testimony of bystanders present at the scene of an insult or injury” (Croce 198).

  15. See tale 1.7 n37.

  16. muoio (Neap.): “The moggio was an ancient land measure equal to approximately one third of a hectare” (Guarini and Burani 239).

  17. The Ganges.

  18. piccatiglio (Neap.): “From the Spanish picadillo, meat cut into small pieces and seasoned with spices and beaten egg” (Croce 200).

  19. “A marinade (vinegar, basil, garlic, mint) for seasoning fish and vegetables that have already been cooked” (Croce 201).

  20. m’arrequaquiglio (Neap.): “Literally, ‘I’m going back into my shell’; also used at the end of letters” (Croce 201).

  21. “The tunnel in the Posillipo hill, constructed at the time of Augustus by the architect Cocceius, for the new road that ran from Pozzuoli to Naples. In the Middle Ages it was attributed to the magical arts of Virgil” (Croce 567).

  22. “Like charlatans and tooth-extractors, who exhibited the ‘privileges’ [licenses] they had obtained, as well as various other certificates” (Croce 203).

  23. ’mpanata ’ngrese (Neap.): “A meat pudding also called ‘English pie’” (Rak 395).

  24. “According to popular belief, eating cat’s brain led to loss of memory” (Croce 567).

  25. “Aelius Donatus’ Latin grammar [fourth century AD] was used for centuries; this is perhaps an allusion to a student’s joke” (Croce 203).

  26. “Shouts during mass riots” (Croce 204).

  27. trucco mucco (Neap.): “A shot in the game of trucco in which the opponent’s ball is knocked out of its position, which one’s own comes to occupy” (Croce 204). For the game of trucco, similar to bocce, See tale 1.10 n20.

  28. “Large wine mugs that were used in Flanders and Germany” (Croce 568). I.e., “the models for the glasses used in Naples, an allusion to the crystal-makers of these countries but also to the capacity of the glasses, quite different from those used in Naples” (Rak 396).

  29. Vs. drinking a few carafes. See tale 2.2 n3.

  30. “Basile himself organized the masquerade held in the Royal Palace of Naples in October 1630 for the arrival of Queen Maria of Hungary, who was to marry Archduke Ferdinand of Austria” (Croce 568).

  31. “Magic formula; perhaps matola comes from the Calabrese matula, in vain” (Guarini and Burani 248).

  32. Vs. testicles. E.g., Plautus, Curculio 1.1 31 (Rak 396).

  *. AT 410: Sleeping Beauty, and AT 894: The Ghoulish Schoolmaster and the Stone of Pity. Penzer mentions a Turkish tale similar to this one. The tale also shares motifs with Grimm 89, “The Goose Girl” (where the heroine recounts her sorrows to an iron stove), and 54, “Snow White” (the comb and the glass coffin), as well as with Gonzenbach 11 and tale 5.5 of this collection.

  1. scazzellacane (Neap.): “literally, someone who separates mating dogs” (Croce 207).

  2. scolatura (Neap.): See tale 1.2 n26.

  3. Possibly an error on Basile’s part, since Lisa, who died when she was seven, couldn’t have grown to be a woman in one year.

  4. I.e., “even with the house key in one’s pocket it’s possible to be betrayed” (Rak 408). “In the south of Italy cuckolded husbands are called ‘martini’ . . . and Saint Martino was considered the protector of cuckolded husbands, who, it was imagined, on the feast day of this saint walked in processions.” See, e.g., Basile’s own Muse napolitane 6.149.

  5. “Mohammed’s body, according to a legend common in Europe, was preserved in Medina in a coffin that was suspended in the air by the force of a magnet” (Croce 209).

  6. This part of the tale recalls the similar events of “The Cinderella Cat” (1.6).

  *. AT 425: The Search for the Lost Husband, and AT 425E: Enchanted Husband Sings Lullaby. This is one of a number of stories in The Tale of Tales that share their motifs with the Cupid and Psyche story. Croce makes reference to Italian variants, as well as Grimm 88 (“The Singing, Springing Lark”) (Lo cunto de li cunti clxv–vi). Penzer discusses a very similar Greek tale and hypothesizes that Basile may have derived his from it. There are also variants from Turkey and Crete, and Basile could have heard one of these while in Venice or Crete (where he was stationed during 1604–07), though it does not seem that he knew either Turkish or modern Greek (1:200–01). See also Gonzenbach 15 and 43, Pitrè, Fiabe, nov. e racc. sic. 32.