Lived in a village not far from San Marino, a peasant named Giuseppe Franciosi, or simply Peppe. He had a piece of land and two hard-working hands. Hands are good helpers in the household, but Peppa always wanted to have a donkey. Soldo and soldo - two soldi, two soldi and soldi - three soldi. So Peppe saved until he had saved so much that he could go to the market to buy a donkey.
On the very first Sunday, Peppe, dressed up as if for a holiday, with a flower behind his ear, went to the market. He goes and sings at the top of his lungs:
- I am Peppe, Giuseppe, I step forward, and everything around me sings along with me.
I work until I sweat, but life is sweet to me.
To work better, I’ll buy myself a donkey.
The priest heard this song and ran out the gate:
- My son Giuseppe, according to your song, are you going to buy a donkey?
- You guessed it right!
- Oh, my son, there are many deceivers in the market. They will sell some half-dead cattle that will trip over every stone. I feel sorry for you. So be it, I’ll give you my best friend, a wonderful donkey.
Peppe was delighted. He didn’t know what a prete donkey was.
They quickly made a deal. The priest led the donkey out of the gate, and then hurriedly entered his house and locked himself with a bolt.
The donkey immediately showed what an invaluable assistant Peppe had acquired. He got the hang of it and in an instant kicked his new owner on the leg and bit him on the ear. Then he suddenly rushed forward like a good steed.
- Stop, stop! - Peppe shouted and ran after him.
But as soon as Peppe caught up with the donkey, he stopped dead in his tracks. Peppe persuaded him, and urged him, and began to beat him. The donkey doesn't move. Then the donkey, apparently, got tired of standing and he galloped forward again. That's how they got home. They run for twenty steps and stand for half an hour.
How did Giuseppe Franciosi allow himself to be deceived? Well, as the proverb says, it takes one and a half scammers to catch a scammer. But Peppe was never a cheater. However, he also did not want to be left in the cold.
The following Sunday Peppe went to the market again. Just don’t buy, but sell. He led a small horse behind him. It was very black and shone like a polished boot.
Passing by the priest's house, Peppe sang the song again:
- Gray donkey, black horse. Here's a tricky riddle for you. If you guess, well, that’s my problem, but if you don’t, I’ll laugh then.
The priest looked out of the window and saw a very pretty horse.
-Where are you taking her, my son?
- To the market, to sell.
“Black ponies are the fastest,” the priest remarked.
“It’s known,” Peppe responded, “they recognize cattle by their fur, but on this one you won’t find a single bright spot.”
“I wouldn’t mind buying your pony,” said the priest.
- As you wish, go ahead. Just be careful not to be offended later. A hundred eyes are not enough for someone who buys, but one is enough for someone who sells. I know it well.
“I have already seen everything that needs to be seen,” answered the priest, “and now I want to hear what you are asking for the horse.”
Peppe asked for a price that could buy four donkeys. The priest offered a price that could buy a quarter of a donkey. They began to bargain. The seller conceded, the buyer increased. Less than three hours had passed before they got together. The priest paid twice as much for the black horse as Peppe paid for the donkey.
The satisfied priest decided that the horse would become even more beautiful if he was bought.
He ordered the servant to lead the pony to the river, and he walked alongside, admiring his purchase.
Suddenly the pony kicked its hind hooves and tried to bite the priest.
“Eh,” said the servant, “if this pony weren’t so black, I would think it was our gray donkey.”
“What are you talking about,” the priest shouted at the servant, “the horse just wanted to frolic!”
Then they came to the river. The pony entered the water up to his knees and stopped. He didn't want to go any further. While the servant was pulling him by the reins and the priest was pushing him from behind, all the water around him became black as ink.
“It seems to me,” said the servant, “that this is our donkey after all.” Look, hey, the water is black, and his legs are gray.
“How can this be,” the priest argued, “after all, I paid for it as much as two donkeys cost.” You know what, we'd better not give him a bath.
But as soon as he uttered these words, the pony rushed forward, and all three plunged headlong into the water.
Then they emerged - the priest, his servant and the gray donkey.
- Just think! - the prete screamed. “That rascal Peppe sold me my own donkey!”
But there was nothing to do. The wet priest had to drag his stubborn donkey to his home.
Since then, there has been a saying in San Marino: deception returns to the house of the deceiver!
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru