Returning to the good graces of his master

That night, the one-legged bird was presented to Currado and his guests at the banquet. He demanded that Chichibio explain why the bird was missing a leg. Without a moment of hesitation the mendacious Venetian cook answered that cranes have only one thigh and one leg. This answer made the nobleman furious. But Chichibio persisted that it was the truth and if it would please his master, he would show it to him with a living bird. Not wanting to make a scene in front of his guests, Currado accepted the offer.

Early the next morning Currado settled his steed and set Chichibio on an old hackney beside him. They went to a riverbank where Currado knew there were cranes to be found. As they approached the river, they saw a dozen cranes, all standing on one foot, as cranes are known to do when they are sleeping. But Currado shouted “Ho Ho!” which caused the cranes to hop on to two feet, and fly away.

Currado thought this proved him to be right, but Chichibio came with a very quick and smart answer: his master didn’t shout “Ho Ho” at the crane that was served the previous night. Had he done so, it would have stuck out its other leg. Currado was very pleased with this reply, and his anger turned to laughter. And so, with a quick and amusing reply, Chichibio saved himself from misfortune, and returned to the good graces of his master.See Giovanni Boccaccio, Decameron, A cura di Vittore Branca, Volume secondo (Einaudi, 1980)

Want to have a look at some pre-modern editions of this novella? Then click below. If you can’t wait to learn about the role of the crane, then go to the next step.