XIII Here it is told how Antigonus reproved Alexander for having a cythera played for his delight XIV How a king had a son of his brought up in a dark place, and then showed him everything, and how women pleased him most
Edward Storer translation
To a king a son was born.
The wise astrologers counselled that he should be kept for ten years without ever seeing the sun. So he was brought up and taken care of in a darksome cavern.
After the time had gone by, they brought him forth, and they set before him many fine jewels and many lovely girls, calling each thing by its name, and saying of the maidens that they were demons. Then they asked him which thing pleased him the most of all. And he answered: the demons.
Notes in this chapter
Note 1 · The story appears in slightly different form in several authors. See the Decameron; Cavalca’s Lives of the Fathers of the Desert. ↑Note 2 · At this the king marvelled mightily, saying: what a terrible thing is the tyranny and beauty of women!1Note 3 · Valerius Maximus in his sixth book narrates that Calognus1 being steward of some land, ordered that whoever should commit a certain crime, s