Scattered
throughout the Radena Valley, were a cluster of orchards and
farms where almond and cherry trees grew, and wheat and barley
fields rippled like waves upon a sea. Amongst these farms, one
family had worked the land for generations and no one had ever
thought there was any reason for this to change.
Except one young man, Orsino,
who was known more for his dreaming and sloth than for his labour,
and cared little for farming and even less for what others thought
of him. His older brothers, Basso and Mezzo, cared a great deal
about farming and what others thought of them and at any opportunity
attempted to convert their carefree brother into a life of usefulness.
For despite Orsino’s foolish ways, they could not help
themselves from caring deeply for him. They could, on occasion,
bribe their little brother with fishing expeditions if he were
to help at harvest. For these were two things Orsino did care
something about, fishing and expeditions. He felt a great desire
to explore and if there was a little time to fish and nap by
some restful pool, then this too, would be a worthy pursuit. |
As
the days grew shorter Basso and Mezzo noticed that not even
the most enticing promises could interest their younger brother.
Orsino grew ever more distant and spent countless hours in complete
idleness. He was changing. His clear ruddy cheeks were now beginning
to show a downy hair and sometimes his voice croaked as though
parched. He let his hair grow longer, perhaps to hide the berry-stain
birthmark on his neck, or perhaps, out of youthful vanity.
There came a day when the boys’
father told them that winter preparations should be started
and the first thing to be done was to cut firewood for their
grandmother, who lived not far away. Despite her age, their
grandmother kept the house that she had shared for so many years
with their grandfather. Basso and Mezzo still had so many chores
to do that they knew they would need Orsino’s help. Orsino,
as was his nature, declined. Basso assured Orsino that if he
didn’t help his brothers, rather than sitting on his behind,
he would find himself wearing it as an old woman would her shawl.
This made little impression on Orsino, saying that at least
he would be warm when winter came. >> |
