Fortunio’s life changes when a quarrel with his brother reveals a secret about his birth. Although he has grown up in a loving household, discovering that he was adopted makes him question his place in the family. Hurt by the revelation and the treatment he receives afterwards, he leaves home to seek his fortune.
His journey brings him into a forest, where three animals are fighting over the remains of a stag. Fortunio settles their dispute fairly, and each animal gives him a remarkable gift. These gifts later help him win a princess, escape a dangerous creature and return to his family with a life very different from the one he left behind.
Fortunio Discovers the Truth About His Birth
In Lombardy lived a gentleman named Bernio and his wife, Alchia. For a long time, they had no children. One day, they found an abandoned infant and decided to raise him as their own. They named the child Fortunio and cared for him as though he were their natural son.
Some time later, Alchia gave birth to a boy named Valentino. The two boys grew up together, sharing the same household and enjoying many of the privileges of childhood. Fortunio believed that Bernio and Alchia were his parents, and he regarded Valentino as his brother.
As the boys grew older, however, their relationship was not always peaceful. During a quarrel while they were playing, Valentino insulted Fortunio by calling him a bastard. The word deeply wounded Fortunio, who could not understand why his brother had used such an accusation.
Determined to discover the truth, he questioned Alchia about his birth. At first, she avoided giving him a clear answer. Eventually, she admitted that he had not been born to her but had been found as an abandoned infant and adopted by her and Bernio.
The revelation overwhelmed Fortunio. He had always believed himself to be their natural son, and the discovery made him feel that he no longer belonged in the household. He decided to leave and make his own way in the world.
Alchia reacted angrily to his decision. Instead of comforting him, she cursed him, declaring that if he ever travelled by sea, he should be swallowed by the Sirens. Fortunio departed, carrying the pain of the insult and the knowledge of his adoption.
The Three Animals in the Forest
After travelling for some time, Fortunio reached a forest. There he came upon three animals gathered around the remains of a stag. They were a wolf, an eagle and an ant, and they were quarrelling over how the carcass should be divided.
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When they noticed Fortunio, they asked him to settle their disagreement. He agreed and examined what remained of the stag before making his decision.
He gave the bones and lean flesh to the wolf, the entrails and fat to the eagle, and the soft brains to the ant. Each animal accepted its portion and was satisfied with his judgement.
Grateful for his fairness, the three animals decided to reward him. Each gave him the power to take its own form whenever he wished. With the wolf’s gift, Fortunio could become a wolf. With the eagle’s gift, he could take to the sky as an eagle. The ant also gave him the ability to become an ant.
He could return to his human form whenever he desired. These extraordinary gifts gave him abilities that would prove valuable during the adventures ahead.
Fortunio Arrives in Polonia
Fortunio continued his journey until he reached Polonia, where King Odescalco ruled. The king had a beautiful daughter named Doralice, and he announced a three-day tournament to determine who would win her hand in marriage.
Princes and knights gathered from different places to compete. On the first day, a hideous Saracen emerged victorious. Doralice was distressed by the result, as she had no desire to marry the victor.
Fortunio saw the princess at a window and became determined to win her. Using his gift, he transformed himself into an eagle and flew into her chamber. His sudden appearance frightened Doralice, but when the king approached, Fortunio escaped by taking to the air.
He later returned in the form of a tiny ant and concealed himself in the princess’s hair. From there, he was able to speak to her without attracting attention. He explained his intentions and told her that he wished to compete in the tournament and win her hand.
Doralice gradually became reassured. She agreed that if he succeeded in defeating the other competitors, she would reward him by becoming his wife. She also gave him valuable jewels and gold to help him prepare for the contest.
Three Days of Victory
Fortunio entered the tournament as an unknown knight. On the first day, he appeared dressed in white satin and defeated the Saracen who had won the previous contest, along with the other competitors.
The following day, he returned wearing green satin. Once again, he fought successfully and overcame those who challenged him.
On the third day, Fortunio appeared in crimson satin, decorated with gold and pearls. Although he arrived late, he entered the contest and defeated his opponents once more. His victories made him the champion of the tournament.
King Odescalco was pleased with the unknown knight’s performance. When he saw Fortunio’s handsome face and learned of his achievements, he agreed that the young man should marry Doralice.
The marriage was celebrated with great joy. The king opened his court to guests and maintained a generous celebration for an entire month. Fortunio and Doralice began their married life surrounded by the wealth and comfort of the royal household.
The Siren Takes Fortunio
After living in Polonia for some time, Fortunio began to feel restless. He believed that remaining at court had made him idle, and he wanted to seek further adventures.
He obtained a galley and treasure from his father-in-law and set out to sea. His voyage eventually brought him into the Atlantic, where he encountered a beautiful Siren.
The creature sang so sweetly that Fortunio became absorbed in her music. As he listened, he grew sleepy and eventually fell asleep. The Siren seized the opportunity, pulled him into the water and held him beneath the surface.
His companions could do nothing to rescue him. Believing that Fortunio had been lost, they returned to Polonia with the sad news. King Odescalco and Doralice were overwhelmed with grief.
Doralice had been pregnant when her husband departed. She later gave birth to a son, but her sorrow remained. When the child reached the age of two, she decided that she could no longer remain at home without trying to find Fortunio.
Doralice’s Three Apples
Doralice prepared an armed galley and set out to search for her husband. Before leaving, she took three valuable apples with her. One was made of golden bronze, another of silver, and the last of fine gold.
After reaching the place where the Siren lived, Doralice waited with her child. The boy began to cry, so she gave him the bronze apple to amuse him.
The Siren noticed the beautiful object and wanted to possess it. She offered to show Doralice her husband, but only as far as his breast if she received the apple. Doralice accepted the exchange and was able to see Fortunio emerging from the water up to his chest.
The Siren then noticed the silver apple. She desired it just as much and offered to reveal more of Fortunio’s body in return. Doralice gave her the second apple and saw her husband up to his knees.
Finally, the Siren saw the fine-gold apple and became eager to obtain it. She offered to bring Fortunio fully above the water if Doralice surrendered the last apple. Doralice agreed.
As soon as Fortunio was completely above the water and on the Siren’s back, he remembered the gifts of the animals. He immediately transformed himself into an eagle and flew away from the creature, reaching Doralice’s ship. Once safely aboard, he returned to his human form.
Doralice was overjoyed to have her husband back. With their son beside them, the family sailed home to Polonia, where their return was celebrated.
Fortunio Returns to His Former Home
Fortunio eventually decided to visit the household he had left behind. He had not forgotten the insult that had driven him away or the curse Alchia had placed upon him.
When he arrived, he transformed himself into a wolf. In this form, he attacked and devoured Alchia and her son Valentino, taking revenge for the humiliation and suffering he believed they had caused him.
Afterwards, Fortunio returned to Doralice. They continued their lives together and remained prosperous for many years.
The tale ends with Fortunio reunited with his wife and child, but his revenge against Alchia and Valentino leaves a disturbing final mark on his story. The gifts that once helped him survive and find happiness also enabled him to carry out a cruel act against the family that had raised him.
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Moral Lessons
Fairness and good judgement can earn gratitude from others. Fortunio does not take sides when the three animals quarrel over the stag. Instead, he gives each creature a share it accepts as fair. Their gratitude becomes important when he later faces challenges that would have been difficult to overcome without their gifts.
The story also presents a troubling picture of revenge. Fortunio experiences rejection and humiliation, but his final actions against Alchia and Valentino go far beyond resolving the injury he suffered. His success does not make that violence admirable. The ending encourages readers to consider the difference between seeking justice and allowing resentment to become cruelty.
Knowledge Check
- What discovery caused Fortunio to leave his home?
Answer: He discovered that Bernio and Alchia had adopted him rather than giving birth to him. - Which three animals did Fortunio help in the forest?
Answer: A wolf, an eagle and an ant. - What special gifts did the animals give him?
Answer: They gave him the ability to transform into a wolf, an eagle and an ant, and to return to human form. - Who was Princess Doralice’s father?
Answer: King Odescalco of Polonia. - How did Doralice secure Fortunio’s release from the Siren?
Answer: She exchanged three valuable apples for the opportunity to see him gradually emerge from the water. When he was fully above the surface, Fortunio transformed into an eagle and escaped. - What did Fortunio do when he returned to his former home?
Answer: He transformed into a wolf and devoured Alchia and Valentino before returning to Doralice.
Source
This retelling is based on “The Fourth Fable” (Fortunio), told within the framed collection The Nights of Straparola by Giovanni Francesco Straparola and translated by W. G. Waters in 1894. It appears in Volume I, Night the Third, Fourth Fable, beginning on printed page 140.
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