"The Enchanted Doe" is an Italian literary fairy tale written by Giambattista Basile in his 1634 work, the Pentamerone.
Following the instructions of a pilgrim, he has a young maiden prepare the heart of a sea dragon for his wife.
Both women fall pregnant and birth identical boys.
He leaves a fountain and myrtle plant that show whether he is well, in trouble, or dead.
He was charitable towards beggars, hoping his generosity would win the favour of the gods and grant his wish.
He told the king that if the queen ate the heart of a sea-dragon, prepared by a young maiden, she would have a child.
However, the young maiden, a servant, gave birth at exactly the same moment.
Canneloro, hiding his wound from Fonzo, asked to be released from his service and go out into the world.
He then stuck his sword into the ground, growing a plant of myrtle.
It was a cold evening, so Canneloro sheltered inside and started a fire.
The doe reappeared at the mouth of the cave, and asked Canneloro to let it warm itself by the fire.
Worried about Canneloro, he quickly left home with his two enchanted dogs.
However, seeing Canneloro's dogs and horses tied up, Fonzo did not fall for the trick.
Canneloro sent a message to his mother with Fonzo, asking her to come live with him and Fenecia.
The story ends with Canneloro recalling the saying: "Unhappy is he who corrects himself at his own cost"[2]