Like many others in the world, there was a man and woman who had a
son. He was very wicked, and did nothing but mischief, and was of a
thoroughly depraved disposition. The parents decided that they must
send him away, and the lad was quite willing to set off.
He set out then, and goes far, far, far away. He comes to a city,
and asks if they want a servant. They wanted one in a (certain)
house. He goes there. They settle their terms at so much a month,
and that the one who is not satisfied should strip the skin off the
other's back. [13]
The master sends his servant to the forest to get the most crooked
pieces of wood that he can find. Near the forest there was a
vineyard. What does the servant do but cut it all up, and carries it
to the house. The master asks him where the wood is. He shows him
the vine-wood cut up. The master said nothing to him, but he was
not pleased.
Next day the master says to him, "Take the cows to such a field,
and don't break any hole in the fence."
What does the lad do? He cuts all the cows into little pieces, and
throws them bit by bit into the field. The master was still more
angry; but he could not say anything, for fear of having his skin
stripped off. So what does he do? He buys a herd of pigs, and sends
his servant to the mountain with the herd.
The master knew quite well that there was a Tartaro in this mountain,
but he sends him there all the same.
Our madman goes walking on, on, on. He arrives at a little hut. The
Tartaro's house was quite close to his. The pigs of the Tartaro and
those of the madman used to go out together. The Tartaro said one
day to him--
"Will you make a wager as to who will throw a stone farthest?"
He accepted the wager. That evening our madman was very sad. While
he was at his prayers, an old woman appeared to him, and asks him--
"What is the matter with you? Why are you so sad?"
He tells her the wager that he has made with the Tartaro. The old
woman says to him--
"If it is only that, it is nothing."