The Myrtle
Encyclopedia
The Myrtle is an Italian literary fairy tale
written by Giambattista Basile
in his 1634 work, the Pentamerone
.
It is Aarne-Thompson type 652A.
ed for a child, even a sprig of myrtle
, and gave birth to such a sprig. She and her husband put it in a pot and tended it. A prince saw it, took a fancy to it, and finally persuaded her to sell it to him. He kept it in his room and took great care of it.
One night, a woman came to his bed, and came every night thereafter but vanished in the morning. After seven nights, he tied her hair to his arm. In the morning, she confessed to being the myrtle and they pledged their love. After some time, he had to hunt a wild boar, and he asked her to become
a myrtle again while he was gone. She told him to attach a bell to her and ring it when he wanted her back. While he was gone, seven wicked women found their way in and rang the bell. Seeing the woman, all but the youngest tore her to pieces. The chamberlain, in despair, put the pieces back into the pot. The myrtle sprouted again. When the prince returned and rang the bell, she did not reappear. He saw the ruin and despaired. Seeing it, the woman reappeared from the sprouts.
The prince, with his father's leave, married her. At the wedding, he asked what was the suitable punishment for anyone who would tear his bride to pieces. Many punishments were proposed; the seven wicked women said the criminal should be buried alive. The prince agreed and had the six of them buried in a dungeon. He married the youngest sister to the chamberlain.
Fairy tale
A fairy tale is a type of short story that typically features such folkloric characters, such as fairies, goblins, elves, trolls, dwarves, giants or gnomes, and usually magic or enchantments. However, only a small number of the stories refer to fairies...
written by Giambattista Basile
Giambattista Basile
Giambattista Basile was an Italian poet, courtier, and fairy tale collector.- Biography :Born to a Neapolitan middle-class family, Basile was, during his career, a courtier and soldier to various Italian princes, including the doge of Venice. According to Benedetto Croce he was born in 1575, while...
in his 1634 work, the Pentamerone
Pentamerone
The Pentamerone is a seventeenth-century fairy tale collection by Italian poet and courtier Giambattista Basile.-Background:...
.
It is Aarne-Thompson type 652A.
Synopsis
A woman wishWish
A wish is a hope or desire for something. Fictionally, wishes can be used as plot devices. In folklore, opportunities for "making a wish" or for wishes to "come true" or "be granted" are themes that are sometimes used.-In literature:...
ed for a child, even a sprig of myrtle
Myrtle
Myrtus is a genus of one or two species of flowering plants in the family Myrtaceae, native to southern Europe and north Africa. The plant is an evergreen shrub or small tree, growing to 5 m tall. The leaf is entire, 3–5 cm long, with a fragrant essential oil. The star-like flower has five...
, and gave birth to such a sprig. She and her husband put it in a pot and tended it. A prince saw it, took a fancy to it, and finally persuaded her to sell it to him. He kept it in his room and took great care of it.
One night, a woman came to his bed, and came every night thereafter but vanished in the morning. After seven nights, he tied her hair to his arm. In the morning, she confessed to being the myrtle and they pledged their love. After some time, he had to hunt a wild boar, and he asked her to become
Shapeshifting
Shapeshifting is a common theme in mythology, folklore, and fairy tales. It is also found in epic poems, science fiction literature, fantasy literature, children's literature, Shakespearean comedy, ballet, film, television, comics, and video games...
a myrtle again while he was gone. She told him to attach a bell to her and ring it when he wanted her back. While he was gone, seven wicked women found their way in and rang the bell. Seeing the woman, all but the youngest tore her to pieces. The chamberlain, in despair, put the pieces back into the pot. The myrtle sprouted again. When the prince returned and rang the bell, she did not reappear. He saw the ruin and despaired. Seeing it, the woman reappeared from the sprouts.
The prince, with his father's leave, married her. At the wedding, he asked what was the suitable punishment for anyone who would tear his bride to pieces. Many punishments were proposed; the seven wicked women said the criminal should be buried alive. The prince agreed and had the six of them buried in a dungeon. He married the youngest sister to the chamberlain.
See also
- Hans My HedgehogHans My HedgehogHans My Hedgehog, or Hans the Hedgehog, is a Brothers Grimm fairy tale collected by the Brothers Grimm. Since the second edition published in 1819, it has been recorded as Tale no...
- The Hazel-nut ChildThe Hazel-nut ChildThe Hazel-nut Child is a Bukowinaer fairy tale collected by Dr Heinrich von Wlislocki in Märchen Und Sagen Der Bukowinaer Und Siebenbûrger Armenier. Andrew Lang included it in The Yellow Fairy Book....
- The Love for Three OrangesThe Love for Three Oranges (fairy tale)The Love for Three Oranges or The Three Citrons is an Italian literary fairy tale written by Giambattista Basile in the Pentamerone. It is the concluding tale, and the one the heroine of the frame story uses to reveal that an imposter has taken her place.It is Aarne-Thompson type 408, and the...