The princess saw what was passing in his mind , and how she could make use of it to satisfy her curiosity as to the golden stairs ; so she praised him and flattered him , and put cunning questions , till at length Ciccu 's head was quite turned , and he told her the whole story of the fairies and their gifts . Then she begged him to lend her the purse for a few days , so that she could have one made like it , and so great was the love he had for her that he gave it to her at once . The princess returned to the palace , taking with her the purse , which she had not the smallest intention of ever restoring to Ciccu . Very soon Ciccu had spent all the money he had by him , and could get no more without the help of his purse . Of course , he went at once to the king 's daughter , and asked her if she had done with it , but she put him off with some excuse , and told him to come back next day . The next day it was the same thing , and the next , till a great rage filled Ciccu 's heart instead of the love that had been there . And when night came he took in his hand a thick stick , wrapped himself in the coverlet , and wished himself in the chamber of the princess . The princess was asleep , but Ciccu seized her arm and pulled her out of bed , and beat her till she gave back the purse . Then he took up the coverlet , and wished he was safe in his own house . No sooner had he gone than the princess hastened to her father and complained of her sufferings . Then the king rose up in a fury , and commanded Ciccu to be brought before him . ` You richly deserve death , ' said he , ` but I will allow you to live if you will instantly hand over to me the coverlet , the purse , and the horn . ' What could Ciccu do ? Life was sweet , and he was in the power of the king ; so he gave up silently his ill-gotten goods , and was as poor as when he was a boy . While he was wondering how he was to live it suddenly came into his mind that this was the season for the figs to ripen , and he said to himself , ' I will go and see if the tree has borne well . ' So he set off home , where his brothers still lived , and found them living very uncomfortably , for they had spent all their money , and did not know how to make any more . However , he was pleased to see that the fig-tree looked in splendid condition , and was full of fruit . He ran and fetched a basket , and was just feeling the figs , to make sure which of them were ripe , when his brother Peppe called to him , ` Stop ! The figs of course are yours , but the branches they grow on are mine , and I forbid you to touch them . ' Ciccu did not answer , but set a ladder against the tree , so that he could reach the topmost branches , and had his foot already on the first rung when he heard the voice of his brother Alfin : ` Stop !
the trunk belongs XXXXX me , and I forbid you to touch it ! '
against for like on than that till to with without