The king , who felt himself growing old and feeble , and longed to see an heir to the throne before he died , was very unhappy at her words , and begged her earnestly not to disappoint him . When Cannetella saw that the king had set his heart on her marriage , she said : ` Very well , dear father , I will marry to please you , for I do not wish to appear ungrateful for all your love and kindness ; but you must find me a husband handsomer , cleverer , and more charming than anyone else in the world . ' The king was overjoyed by her words , and from early in the morning till late at night he sat at the window and looked carefully at all the passers-by , in the hopes of finding a son-in-law among them . One day , seeing a very good-looking man crossing the street , the king called his daughter and said : ` Come quickly , dear Cannetella , and look at this man , for I think he might suit you as a husband . ' They called the young man into the palace , and set a sumptuous feast before him , with every sort of delicacy you can imagine . In the middle of the meal the youth let an almond fall out of his mouth , which , however , he picked up again very quickly and hid under the table-cloth . When the feast was over the stranger went away ' , and the king asked Cannetella : ` Well , what did you think of the youth ? ' ' I think he was a clumsy wretch , ' replied Cannetella . ` Fancy a-man of his age letting an almond fall out of his mouth ! ' When the king heard her answer he returned to his watch at the window , and shortly afterwards a very handsome young man passed by . The king instantly called his daughter to come and see what she thought of the new comer . ` Call him in , ' said Cannetella , ` that we may see him close . ' Another splendid feast was prepared , and when the stranger had eaten and drunk as much as he was able , and had taken his departure , the king asked Cannetella how she liked him . ` Not at all , ' replied his daughter ; ` what could you do with a man who requires at least two servants to help him on with his cloak , because he is too awkward to put it on properly himself ? ' ` If that 's all you have against him , ' said the king , ' I see how the land lies . You are determined not to have a husband at all ; but marry someone you shall , for I do not mean my name and house to die out . ' ` Well , then , my dear parent , ' said Cannetella , ' I must tell you at once that you had better not count upon me , for I never mean to marry unless I can find a man with a gold head and gold teeth . ' The king was very angry at finding his daughter so obstinate ; but as he always gave the girl her own way in everything , he issued a proclamation to the effect that any man with a gold head and gold teeth might come forward and claim the princess as his bride , and the kingdom of Bello Puojo as a wedding gift . Now the king had a deadly enemy called Scioravante , who was a very powerful magician . No sooner had this man heard of the proclamation than he summoned his attendant spirits and commanded them to gild his head and teeth .
The spirits said , XXXXX first , that the task was beyond their powers , and suggested that a pair of golden horns attached to his forehead would both be easier to make and more comfortable to wear ; but Scioravante would allow no compromise , and insisted on having a head and teeth made of the finest gold .
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