Maestro Lattantio and His Apprentice Dionigi facts for kids

Maestro Lattantio and His Apprentice Dionigi is an exciting Italian fairy tale. It was written by Giovanni Francesco Straparola. You can find it in his famous book, The Facetious Nights of Straparola. This story is about a big conflict. It shows what happens between a young apprentice and his master. It's a bit like other old folktales. These tales often feature a master teaching magic or even how to be a thief. One similar story is The Thief and His Master.

About the Story

This tale takes place in Sicily, in a town called Messina. There lived a man named Maestro Lattantio. He was a skilled magician and also a tailor. He decided to take on a young apprentice named Dionigi. Lattantio wanted to teach Dionigi how to be a tailor.

The Magical Apprentice

Dionigi, however, had other plans. He secretly watched Maestro Lattantio. Dionigi quickly lost all interest in tailoring. He only wanted to learn magic! Lattantio found out and sent him away. But Dionigi's father sent him right back. Lattantio often punished Dionigi for being lazy. Yet, Dionigi put up with it. He knew he could keep watching Lattantio in secret. This way, he learned more and more magic.

One day, Dionigi's father visited. He found his son doing housework. Dionigi was not learning to be a tailor at all. His father was very sad. He had spent money, but his son had not learned a trade.

A Shape-Shifting Chase

Dionigi then used his magic. He turned himself into a beautiful horse. He told his father to sell him. Maestro Lattantio saw the horse. He immediately knew it was Dionigi! Lattantio quickly changed himself into a merchant. He bought the horse from Dionigi's father. The father did not want to sell the horse's bridle. But Lattantio offered more money. Finally, the father agreed to sell the bridle too.

Lattantio took the horse home. He treated it very badly. Lattantio's two daughters felt sorry for the horse. They were kind to it. One day, they took the horse to a stream for water. The horse suddenly jumped into the water. It changed into a small fish!

Lattantio soon found the horse was gone. He asked his daughters what happened. When they told him, he quickly changed himself into a large tunny fish. He chased Dionigi, who was now a fish. Dionigi swam close to the shore. He then jumped into a basket. The basket was being carried by a handmaiden. She worked for the king's daughter. Dionigi changed again, becoming a ruby ring.

The king's daughter, Violante, found the ring. She loved it and put it on her finger. At night, when she went to bed, Dionigi changed back into his human form. He quickly calmed her down. He explained his difficult situation. Violante promised to help him. She asked him to always be respectful. By day, she kept him as a ring. At night, they would talk when he was human.

The Final Showdown

Later, the king became very ill. Maestro Lattantio came and cured him. As a reward, Lattantio asked for the princess's ruby ring. The king called Violante. He told her to bring all her jewels. But Violante left the special ring behind. Lattantio knew the ring was missing. He said she could go find it.

Violante returned to her room. She cried over the ring. Dionigi told her that Lattantio was his enemy. He told her what to do. She should bring the ring. When she gave it to Lattantio, she should throw it against the wall. She should act as if she was very angry.

Finally, Violante had to bring the ring. She did exactly as Dionigi asked. She threw the ring against the wall. The ring became a pomegranate! When it hit the floor, its seeds scattered everywhere. Lattantio quickly changed into a rooster. He started eating the seeds. He wanted to destroy Dionigi for good. But one seed hid. It was out of his reach. When it had a chance, it changed into a fox. The fox bit off the rooster's head.

Happily Ever After?

Dionigi then told the king the whole story. The king was very impressed. With the king's permission, Dionigi married Violante. They lived happily ever after.

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