08 AUGUST 2024 - THE TALE OF THE DAY -

Puss in Boots

While Puss was busy defeating the powerful wizard, the king, the princess, and Michael, the miller's son, went on their way. They came to a vast meadow. The king brought the carriage to a halt and asked: "Good people, to whom does this meadow belong?" "To the marquis of Carabas," replied the peasants, as the cat had commanded them. Not long after, they came to a large expanse of wheat. "Say, good woman, to whom does the field belong?" "To the Marquis of Carabas," replied the woman, following the cat's instructions. The king nodded in satisfaction. They finally reached the forest. "Tell me, to whom does this forest belong?" the king asked the woodcutter. "To the Marquis of Carabas," they answered, and the king turned to Michael with a smirk and said, "You must be a very rich man! Such beautiful forests I do not even own!" Michael kept silent, not knowing what to say in reply, and looked at the princess, with whom he had already fallen in love. Finally the carriage stopped in front of the castle that had once belonged to the great wizard. The king opened his mouth wide, but at that moment the cat came up and with a very deferential bow and a very forceful prose said: "Please allow me to welcome you, my lord and master. I also ask you, most illustrious Mr. Marquis, to grant me your gracious permission so that I may show His Majesty and his daughter the Princess your most humble mansion!" Everyone seemed enchanted, the King was even embarrassed. Under the guidance of the cat he visited the castle and the rest of the possessions that had been the magician's, and was pleased, in the end, to grant the young man the hand of his daughter. The wedding took place with great pomp. When the king died, Michael took the throne and ruled the country with goodness and wisdom, following the advice of the precious cat.