without wings, to descend into the abyss of the earth without dying,
and walk at the bottom of the sea without being drowned; nor doors, nor
windows, though fast shut and locked, could hinder you from entering
anywhere; and whenever you had a mind, you might resume your natural
form."

"Oh, madam!" cried Leander, "then let me be a spirit; I am going to
travel, and should prefer it above all those other advantages you have
so generously offered me."

Gentilla thereupon stroking his face three times, "Be a spirit," said
she; and then, embracing him, she gave him a little red cap with a plume
of feathers. "When you put on this cap you shall be invisible; but when
you take it off you shall again become visible."

Leander, overjoyed, put his little red cap upon his head and wished
himself in the forest, that he might gather some wild roses which he had
observed there: his body immediately became as light as thought; he flew
through the window like a bird; though, in flying over the river, he was
not without fear lest he should fall into it, and the power of the fairy
not be able to save him. But he arrived in safety at the rose-bushes,
plucked the three roses, and returned immediately to his chamber;
presented his roses to the fairy, overjoyed that his first experiments
had succeeded so well. She bade him keep the roses, for that one of them
would supply him with money whenever he wanted it; that if he put the
other into his mistress' bosom, he would know whether she was faithful
or not; and that the third would keep him always in good health. Then,
without staying to receive his thanks, she wished him success in his
travels and disappeared.