August 29, 2024 • 26 mins
In this gripping episode of Tales of Bedlam, hosts Micah and Andrea dive into Sun, Moon, and Talia, a haunting 17th-century Italian version of Sleeping Beauty by Giambattista Basile. With dark themes including non-consensual acts, cannibalism, and revenge, this early fairy tale is far removed from the Disney classic. Listen as Micah and Andrea react in real-time to the shocking twists, unsettling humor, and complex morality embedded in this rarely told story.
As part of our Sleeping Beauty Origins series, this episode highlights how fairy tales were once cautionary and brutal—offering fascinating insights into historical storytelling. Trigger warnings are in place, but if you're intrigued by the darker roots of childhood stories, this episode is a must-hear.
For more Fairy Tale fun, follow, like, and share at...
If you have a question for us, email us at talesofbedlam@gmail.com
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Micah (00:02):
Welcome to Tales of Bedlam.
I'm your host, micah, and withme today my lovely wife, who
will be taking over for Dustinthis season two of Tales of
Bedlam.
Andrea (00:13):
Hi, I'm Andrea.
Micah (00:17):
Today's story, if you listened to the previous episode
on a history of Sleeping Beauty, our first story for the A5.
A five minute history ofSleeping Beauty.
This is the first story of thethree that we were going to do
from the history, or differentversions of Sleeping Beauty
(00:39):
through the last six centuries,centuries.
Our tale today comes from 1636in Italy, by the author
Giambattista Basil, and it'scalled Sun, moon and Talia.
We do have to give a triggerwarning here, because some of
(01:00):
these stories involveunconsensual sex and cannibalism
.
Did I say, I'm sorry, involvednon-consensual sex and
cannibalism.
Let me correct that.
What did I say?
Andrea (01:14):
I don't even know.
Micah (01:16):
Non-consensual sex.
We have flung far afield here,okay.
Andrea (01:24):
Alright, so Okay, all right.
Micah (01:26):
So Andrea, who hasn't spoken much yet, gets to start
us off with Sun Moon and Talia.
Andrea (01:35):
There once lived a great lord who was blessed with the
birth of a daughter whom henamed Talia.
Of a daughter whom he namedTalia.
Eager to learn of her destiny,he summoned the wisest men and
astrologers in his realm.
After much deliberation and thecasting of her horoscope, they
determined that Talia would oneday face grave peril from a
(01:59):
splinter of flax.
To protect her, the Lorddecreed that no flax, hemp or
similar materials would beallowed in his household, hoping
to shield her from his foretolddanger.
Micah (02:14):
Very similar to the Sleeping Beauty that we know
today with the spindle.
That's right With the flax yeah, same, but different Right.
One day, as Talia had blossomedinto a young and beautiful
woman, she was gazing out of awindow when she noticed an old
woman passing by spinning thread.
Andrea (02:36):
That's talent.
Micah (02:38):
With spinning and walking .
Yeah, it's kind of like rubbingyour belly and patting your
head, exactly.
It's kind of like rubbing yourbelly and patting your head
Exactly.
Having never seen a spindlebefore, talia was intrigued by
the spinning spindle and, drivenby curiosity, called the old
woman over.
Hello, can I touch your sharpthing?
Andrea (02:58):
Meow, Eager to understand this new object.
Talia took the spindle andbegan to stretch the flax.
Tragically, a splinter of flaxlodged itself under her nail,
causing her to collapse lifelessto the ground.
Micah (03:18):
It's like the splinters under the nails in the movies.
Andrea (03:21):
Isn't that painful the torture.
Micah (03:23):
Yeah, they kidnap some spy who's the good guy trying to
save the world?
And they try to put slivers ofwood underneath their
fingernails.
Andrea (03:32):
I can't ever watch that.
So the old woman, terrified bywhat had happened, fled in panic
and hasn't stopped runningsince.
Micah (03:46):
She may still be running Like forced.
That's right.
Maybe they'll meet up.
Andrea (03:51):
Well, it would be pretty scary Thinking.
A woman just died, you know,from something you gave her.
Micah (03:57):
Yeah, but I wouldn't just run in any particular direction
forever because of it.
Andrea (04:03):
Yeah, that would be a stretch and run.
You stretch before you run.
No hold on, I'm in full panichere, but give me a second to
stretch.
No, you know, instead of a hitand run, she stretched the flax.
(04:24):
I was like a stretch.
Sorry, dumb humor she'sstretching the flax.
Micah (04:27):
Yes, it was a stretch and run.
Andrea (04:29):
So she ran because the woman died.
Oh my God, go ahead.
Micah (04:33):
It's a stretch by yeah, I gotcha.
When the grief stricken fatherlearned of the tragic event, his
heart broke and he wept enoughtears to fill a cask.
After paying this sorrowfulprice, he had Talia's lifeless
body taken to one of his countryestates where she was placed on
(04:57):
a velvet throne beneath acanopy so that's different Not
on a bed.
Overcome with grief anddesperate to escape the memory
of his immense loss, he lockedthe doors and abandoned the
mansion, never to return to thepalace that had brought him such
(05:17):
unbearable sorrow.
Andrea (05:20):
Sometime later, it so happened that a king was out
hunting and passed by the estate, one of his falcons slipped
from his grasp and flew throughan open window into the house.
When the bird didn't return hiscall, the king sent a servant
to knock at the door, assumingthe palace was inhabited.
(05:41):
So, despite knocking for aconsiderable time, no one
answered.
Determined to retrieve hisfalcon, the king ordered a
ladder and climbed up to explorethe house.
Micah (05:55):
So one of his entourage just happened to have a ladder.
Andrea (05:59):
Well, you know he ordered it, so I guess he could
have had it made.
Go get it, or yeah.
Micah (06:06):
Or maybe they made themselves into a ladder, like a
human ladder.
Andrea (06:10):
Yeah, yeah, that's possible?
Micah (06:13):
Yeah, he searched every room, nook and corner,
astonished to find no signs oflife.
Finally, he reached thereception hall where Talia
appeared, enchanted, Mistakingher unconscious state for sleep.
The king called out to her, butshe did not wake.
Captivated by her beauty, hisdesire overwhelmed him and he
(06:37):
lifted her in his arms, carryingher to a bed where he took
advantage of her.
Oh my god.
Andrea (06:46):
This is where he gets bad Dirtbag.
Micah (06:47):
Yeah.
Andrea (07:01):
Well, after nine months, talia gave birth to two
beautiful children, a boy and agirl, each as precious as rare
jewels.
Two fairies who visited thepalace, cared for them and
placed the infants at theirmother's breast.
On one occasion, however, thebabies couldn't find the nipple
(07:23):
and began to suck on talia'sfingers instead.
They sucked so persistentlythat the splinter of flax was
dislodged.
Talia woke, as if from a deepslumber, and, upon seeing the
two priceless gems beside her,she embraced, offering them her
breasts.
Micah (07:44):
Well, there's a lot of anatomy in that paragraph.
Wow, yeah, but that's prettygood.
Andrea (07:53):
It just took getting that out of her finger and she
awoke.
Micah (07:56):
Too bad, somebody hadn't thought of that sooner.
Andrea (08:00):
I know when did these fairies come from.
Micah (08:03):
I don't know.
It doesn't say, they justappeared.
I mean, two fairies visited thepalace, cared for her.
What, what, what, what, goahead, oh.
The children became dearer toher than life itself.
Alone.
In the palace with her twochildren, talia was bewildered,
(08:24):
unsure of what had transpired.
Andrea (08:27):
Yeah, that would be pretty scary.
Micah (08:29):
Wake up who knows how long later and have two children
.
Yet she noticed that the tablewas always set with food and
drink brought to her, though shesaw no attendance, which has to
be the fairies still right, I'dassume.
Meanwhile, the king began tothink of Talia again, Pretending
(08:50):
he was going hunting.
He returned to the palace andfound her awake with two
beautiful children by her side.
Uh-oh, Overjoyed, he revealedto Talia who he was recounting,
how he had discovered her andall that had transpired.
Upon hearing this, their bondgrew even more robust and the
(09:12):
king stayed with her for severaldays.
Andrea (09:16):
Before leaving, he promised to return soon.
Micah (09:19):
We're not going to talk about that.
Andrea (09:21):
No, you did a good job.
Micah (09:24):
What I did a good job.
No, I mean, she just is goingto accept that.
I mean Okay, I don't know whatyou say.
I guess she needed a baby daddyand hey, hey, he's a king,
there's some security there.
But never mind what he did.
Andrea (09:46):
I know, I felt like we had talked about this.
But, yeah, I guess you know sheis alone, she has two kids, and
back then do anything for yourking and or your kids.
I mean, it was more to be likekings ruled they, you know
whatever they told you that went.
(10:07):
I don't know.
Micah (10:11):
Not that it's right, I don't think she was so much
thinking about what he thought.
I think she was maybe justthinking of how she was going to
take care of those kids.
Andrea (10:21):
Yeah, exactly.
Micah (10:23):
It would be frightening.
Yeah, and at least she doesn'tremember that happening.
Mm-hmm Right, mm-hmm Shoot Okayshoot.
Andrea (10:39):
Okay.
So before leaving he promisedto return soon and return her
and the children to his kingdom.
However, once he returned tohis realm, he found no peace,
constantly uttering the names oftalia and the children whom he
called sun and Moon.
Even in his sleep he foundhimself calling out to them.
Micah (10:57):
The king's wife grew suspicious.
This dirtbag just gets worse.
Anyway, she grew suspicious dueto the increasing length of his
hunting trips and how heconstantly spoke of Talia, sun
and Moon.
Consumed by a fiery jealousy,he summoned the royal secretary
(11:20):
and said Listen closely, my son.
You are caught between a rockand a hard place, between danger
and destruction.
If you tell me who my husband,the king, is in love with, I
will reward you with untoldriches, but if you withhold the
(11:40):
truth, you will vanish without atrace, dead or alive.
Terrified.
The man felt his fear and greedoverpowered any sense of honor
or justice.
He confessed everything to thequeen, speaking plainly and
leaving nothing out.
I don't think he's losingreally any honor in telling the
(12:05):
queen what her evil husband'sbeen doing behind her back been
doing behind her back.
Andrea (12:19):
So, upon learning the truth, the queen sent the
secretary to talia, pretendingto speak on behalf of the king,
and requested that she send thechildren, as the king wished to
see them.
Overjoyed, talia compliedwithout hesitation.
However, the queen, whose heartis cruel, ordered the cook to
kill the children and preparethem into a series of delicious
(12:41):
dishes for her unsuspectinghusband.
Micah (12:45):
The cook, moved by the sight of the innocent children,
couldn't carry out the queen'swicked plan.
Instead, he took the childrenhome to his wife and hid them.
He prepared two lambs in theirplace, transforming them into a
hundred different dishes.
When the king arrived, thequeen took great pleasure in
(13:07):
having the meal served to himhundred dishes, that's a lot.
And not only is he a great chef, he's saved the children.
Andrea (13:18):
Yeah.
Micah (13:19):
So he's like the hero.
Andrea (13:21):
He's not a bad guy.
Micah (13:23):
I didn't say he was.
Andrea (13:25):
Right, I'm agreeing.
Well, the king savored the meal, exclaiming by the soul of my
ancestors.
This is excellent.
Micah (13:39):
Each time, the queen responded with Eat, oh eat, for
you are eating of your own.
Ha, ha, ha ha.
Andrea (13:52):
At first the king paid little attention to her repeated
phrase, but after hearing itseveral times he finally snapped
.
Of course I'm eating my own,since you've brought nothing
into this house.
Angered.
He stood up and left.
(14:13):
Angered, he stood up and left,heading to a villa some distance
away To calm his temper andfind peace.
Micah (14:20):
He does need to find some peace.
Andrea (14:22):
Well, she's screaming at him and telling him he's what?
Eating his own.
Isn't that what he said?
If it were true, yeah, if itwere true, it would be a
terrible thing.
But he doesn't know that atthis point, what the?
Heck, stop yelling at me.
Micah (14:41):
I mean, he doesn't know that they're dead, either Right
or anything, because he justthinks that she's being pushy
today, meanwhile, the queen, notyet satisfied with the harm she
had caused, summoned thesecretary and instructed him to
go to the palace and bring Taliaback, claiming that the king
(15:04):
awaited her presence, believingshe was obeying the lord's
wishes and eager to see himagain.
Talia left immediately, unawareof the danger awaiting her.
She was met by the queen, whoseface was burning with fierce
anger.
Whoa, first of all, why Ididn't know that palaces had
(15:24):
secretaries.
Maybe somebody's gotta, youknow, make appointments.
Andrea (15:29):
Well, I mean, there's a lot of people in the palace, so
it makes sense you gotta keepthem all in order somehow.
Micah (15:35):
Yeah, maybe it's just like a manager.
Yeah, she greeted her withscorn.
So this is the queen greetingthe princess with scorn, saying
Welcome, welcome madam busybody,you're quite the piece of work,
you wretched creature, enjoyingmy husband.
Oh, quite the piece of work youwretched creature enjoying my
husband, whoa.
So you are the lump of filth,the cruel bitch who has driven
(15:59):
me to madness.
Change your ways, for you'llsoon find yourself in purgatory,
where I will make sure you payfor all the harm you've caused
me.
Andrea (16:10):
Wow that's.
That was quite caused me.
Wow that's.
Micah (16:14):
That was quite a rant.
Andrea (16:16):
Yeah.
Micah (16:17):
I'd give that a.
I'd give it a seven and a halfout of ten, as rants go.
Andrea (16:24):
So If I met a queen?
Micah (16:27):
Would you?
Andrea (16:27):
come ranting at me Saying all those horrible things
, I'm pretty sure I'd turnaround.
Micah (16:35):
I've heard.
I've heard worse in PG-13movies today.
Andrea (16:39):
Yeah, but that was in a movie, if that was at me.
Micah (16:43):
That's true.
I've heard worse on the streets.
Andrea (16:49):
At you?
People are saying these to you.
I guess not at me.
That's what I'm saying.
Micah (16:53):
Well, I guess there's been a few times.
It's been at me.
Andrea (16:56):
Wow, that's scary.
Micah (16:58):
Undeserved, of course.
Andrea (16:59):
Okay, yeah Well, let's see what she says.
Let's see.
Upon hearing these words, Taliatried to defend herself,
explaining that she was not toblame because her husband, the
king, had taken her by surprisewhile she was in a deep sleep.
However, the queen refused tolisten to her pleas.
(17:21):
She ordered a large fire to beset up in the palace courtyard
and commanded that Talia bethrown into it.
Micah (17:31):
Uh-oh, I think the king needs to get home.
Thrown into it.
Uh-oh, I think the king needsto get home.
Seeing the dire situation,Talia knelt before the queen and
pleaded to at least be allowedto remove her garments.
The queen, not driven bysympathy but by the desire to
claim the richly embroideredrobes adorned with gold and
(17:51):
pearls, agreed saying you maytake off your clothes.
As Talia removed each piece no,no garment.
When she let out a piercingscream, the guards then dragged
(18:15):
her to the fire where she was tobe burned to ash.
It's getting tense, yeah.
Andrea (18:23):
Very scary.
Yeah, oh, boy.
Upon witnessing the horrifyingscene, the king suddenly
appeared and demanded anexplanation.
When he asked about hischildren, his wife, accusing him
of betrayal, revealed that shehad had them slaughtered and
(18:46):
served as meat.
Overwhelmed with despair, theking lamented.
Overwhelmed with despair, theking lamented Alas, I have
become the wolf devouring my ownsweet lambs.
Why did my veins not recognizethe blood of my own flesh?
(19:09):
You dog, what evil deed is thiswitch you have done?
Be gone, you will receive thepunishment you deserve, but I
won't send someone with such acruel heart to the Colosseum for
pannis.
Micah (19:27):
With these words, the king ordered that the queen be
thrown into the fire she hadprepared for Talia and the
secretary who had orchestratedthis cruel scheme.
He also intended to punish thecook, whom he suspected of
slaughtering his children.
However, the cook threw himselfat the king's feet and pleaded.
(19:50):
My lord, my lord.
For such a crime, nothing lessthan a blazing inferno and a
spear from behind would be just.
I would willingly accept beingburned alive and have my ashes
mixed with the queen's, but Ihope for a different reward for
saving the children, despite thequeen's malevolence who sought
(20:12):
to kill them and return to youwhat was yours by blood.
Andrea (20:18):
Upon hearing these words , the king was stunned and
disbelieving, unable to fathomwhat he had just heard.
Turning to the cook, he said Ifit is true that you saved my
children, know that I willremove you from this task and
place you in a position of honorwhen you can fulfill all my
(20:43):
desires.
I will reward you generously sothat you may consider yourself
fortunate in this world.
Micah (20:57):
Ah.
As the king spoke, the cook'swife, recognizing her husband's
plight, brought out the twochildren, Sun and Moon, for
their father to see, the king,delighted in playing with his
family, showering them withkisses and affection.
He rewarded the cook handsomely, appointing him as a
chamberlain.
(21:18):
He married Talia and they liveda long and happy life together
with their children, genuinelyembodying the truth of the
proverb.
Andrea (21:30):
Those whom fortune favors find good luck even in
their sleep.
This was not a great story, youmean?
Micah (21:42):
well, the bad guy wins.
Yeah, this is not a great story.
This is sleeping beauty beforeit became what we know today.
It makes it sound like it endshappily, because they lived long
and happy life together andmaybe that is good.
Maybe he will be better to herthan he was to his previous wife
(22:05):
.
Andrea (22:05):
He wasn't happy at the castle with the queen and he
fell for Talia and had childrenthat he loved well when you say
he fell for.
Micah (22:15):
He may have fell for her afterwards, but the first time
it was obviously just no, that'swhat I mean.
Fell like he didn't at first,but then he fell for her
afterwards, like when he cameback because it said that he
went when he came back to dothat awful thing again, and then
he's like oh, I have two kids,yeah, so no, he was an awful
(22:38):
person and nothing that he didwas right, but it seems like
they're going to be happy, sohopefully he will take good care
of those children and Talia.
Andrea (22:47):
Maybe it's a story about second chances.
I guess you could look at that.
Micah (22:51):
Gosh.
So then we have to go intomoral conundrum about does he
deserve a second chance?
Because the thing that he didwas pretty gross.
Andrea (23:04):
Then see, there goes my brain All these you know which
ways, because look how awful thequeen was.
Micah (23:12):
Well, that was her reaction.
Yes, it was a poor reaction.
That's not a normal person'sreaction.
Andrea (23:19):
There was this Bobbit lady.
Not that it would ever be okay,but why would a husband usually
like go that drastic?
I mean like you could just getall crazy thinking and be like
maybe he hated his life and hisqueen wife.
Micah (23:31):
So you're saying it's the queen's fault, you never.
Andrea (23:34):
Wow, babe, I'm just saying.
Micah (23:37):
That's okay.
Maybe she wasn't the best wifebut, you don't.
Andrea (23:42):
He should never have done what he did.
Micah (23:44):
No, no, he should not have.
It was awful.
Maybe the queen and he wasgoing to do it again.
That's what really gets me, areyou sure?
Andrea (23:54):
Do we know that?
Micah (23:55):
Yeah, he was.
I mean, did he have any idea tothink that she might be awake
when he comes back?
He was going to poke thelifeless body, and that's what
gets me that he went back asecond time maybe he was going
to just check on her that makesit hard to give the guy a second
(24:17):
chance.
Andrea (24:18):
I'm an optimistic.
I like to give people.
I just I feel that that yeahmaybe he was just going to
apologize and see if she's okay.
I don't think so.
He said he explained whathappened and be like I'm so
sorry.
Micah (24:35):
I do not think that's what was on his mind.
Andrea (24:37):
Maybe we can just think that we could.
Micah (24:39):
I mean, if you think that See the good in the world If
you think that he was likecarrying a bouquet of roses and
a box of chocolates with thislong rehearsed apology for the
horrible thing he did, then itdoes make the story a little bit
better.
So we could just think that.
But actually our next episodewill be Sleeping Beauty in the
(25:03):
Wood and it will be a little bitbetter, a clean it up a little
bit.
Andrea (25:10):
More optimistic, yes.
Micah (25:13):
There we go.
Better Clean it up a little bitMore optimistic.
Yes, it's not as cleaned up orsterilized as what we know today
.
Like the Disney.
Andrea (25:19):
Sleeping Beauty.
Micah (25:21):
But it is better than this one.
Andrea (25:24):
Okay, can't wait.
Micah (25:26):
So if you enjoyed today's show, please like and subscribe
I agree.
Well, thank you for joining me,andrea.
It has been a pleasure and I'mlooking forward to the next
story and the one after that andthe one after that.
Let's get to 100, and thenwe'll see where we'll go from
(25:46):
there.
Andrea (25:46):
Sounds good.
Micah (25:48):
Thank you again for listening.
Check out our website attalesofbedlamcom for more fairy
tale fun and have a good night.
Andrea (25:56):
Good night.
Welcome to Tales of Bedlam.
I'm your host, micah, and withme today my lovely wife, who
will be taking over for Dustinthis season two of Tales of
Bedlam.
Andrea (00:13):
Hi, I'm Andrea.
Micah (00:17):
Today's story, if you listened to the previous episode
on a history of Sleeping Beauty, our first story for the A5.
A five minute history ofSleeping Beauty.
This is the first story of thethree that we were going to do
from the history, or differentversions of Sleeping Beauty
(00:39):
through the last six centuries,centuries.
Our tale today comes from 1636in Italy, by the author
Giambattista Basil, and it'scalled Sun, moon and Talia.
We do have to give a triggerwarning here, because some of
(01:00):
these stories involveunconsensual sex and cannibalism
.
Did I say, I'm sorry, involvednon-consensual sex and
cannibalism.
Let me correct that.
What did I say?
Andrea (01:14):
I don't even know.
Micah (01:16):
Non-consensual sex.
We have flung far afield here,okay.
Andrea (01:24):
Alright, so Okay, all right.
Micah (01:26):
So Andrea, who hasn't spoken much yet, gets to start
us off with Sun Moon and Talia.
Andrea (01:35):
There once lived a great lord who was blessed with the
birth of a daughter whom henamed Talia.
Of a daughter whom he namedTalia.
Eager to learn of her destiny,he summoned the wisest men and
astrologers in his realm.
After much deliberation and thecasting of her horoscope, they
determined that Talia would oneday face grave peril from a
(01:59):
splinter of flax.
To protect her, the Lorddecreed that no flax, hemp or
similar materials would beallowed in his household, hoping
to shield her from his foretolddanger.
Micah (02:14):
Very similar to the Sleeping Beauty that we know
today with the spindle.
That's right With the flax yeah, same, but different Right.
One day, as Talia had blossomedinto a young and beautiful
woman, she was gazing out of awindow when she noticed an old
woman passing by spinning thread.
Andrea (02:36):
That's talent.
Micah (02:38):
With spinning and walking .
Yeah, it's kind of like rubbingyour belly and patting your
head, exactly.
It's kind of like rubbing yourbelly and patting your head
Exactly.
Having never seen a spindlebefore, talia was intrigued by
the spinning spindle and, drivenby curiosity, called the old
woman over.
Hello, can I touch your sharpthing?
Andrea (02:58):
Meow, Eager to understand this new object.
Talia took the spindle andbegan to stretch the flax.
Tragically, a splinter of flaxlodged itself under her nail,
causing her to collapse lifelessto the ground.
Micah (03:18):
It's like the splinters under the nails in the movies.
Andrea (03:21):
Isn't that painful the torture.
Micah (03:23):
Yeah, they kidnap some spy who's the good guy trying to
save the world?
And they try to put slivers ofwood underneath their
fingernails.
Andrea (03:32):
I can't ever watch that.
So the old woman, terrified bywhat had happened, fled in panic
and hasn't stopped runningsince.
Micah (03:46):
She may still be running Like forced.
That's right.
Maybe they'll meet up.
Andrea (03:51):
Well, it would be pretty scary Thinking.
A woman just died, you know,from something you gave her.
Micah (03:57):
Yeah, but I wouldn't just run in any particular direction
forever because of it.
Andrea (04:03):
Yeah, that would be a stretch and run.
You stretch before you run.
No hold on, I'm in full panichere, but give me a second to
stretch.
No, you know, instead of a hitand run, she stretched the flax.
(04:24):
I was like a stretch.
Sorry, dumb humor she'sstretching the flax.
Micah (04:27):
Yes, it was a stretch and run.
Andrea (04:29):
So she ran because the woman died.
Oh my God, go ahead.
Micah (04:33):
It's a stretch by yeah, I gotcha.
When the grief stricken fatherlearned of the tragic event, his
heart broke and he wept enoughtears to fill a cask.
After paying this sorrowfulprice, he had Talia's lifeless
body taken to one of his countryestates where she was placed on
(04:57):
a velvet throne beneath acanopy so that's different Not
on a bed.
Overcome with grief anddesperate to escape the memory
of his immense loss, he lockedthe doors and abandoned the
mansion, never to return to thepalace that had brought him such
(05:17):
unbearable sorrow.
Andrea (05:20):
Sometime later, it so happened that a king was out
hunting and passed by the estate, one of his falcons slipped
from his grasp and flew throughan open window into the house.
When the bird didn't return hiscall, the king sent a servant
to knock at the door, assumingthe palace was inhabited.
(05:41):
So, despite knocking for aconsiderable time, no one
answered.
Determined to retrieve hisfalcon, the king ordered a
ladder and climbed up to explorethe house.
Micah (05:55):
So one of his entourage just happened to have a ladder.
Andrea (05:59):
Well, you know he ordered it, so I guess he could
have had it made.
Go get it, or yeah.
Micah (06:06):
Or maybe they made themselves into a ladder, like a
human ladder.
Andrea (06:10):
Yeah, yeah, that's possible?
Micah (06:13):
Yeah, he searched every room, nook and corner,
astonished to find no signs oflife.
Finally, he reached thereception hall where Talia
appeared, enchanted, Mistakingher unconscious state for sleep.
The king called out to her, butshe did not wake.
Captivated by her beauty, hisdesire overwhelmed him and he
(06:37):
lifted her in his arms, carryingher to a bed where he took
advantage of her.
Oh my god.
Andrea (06:46):
This is where he gets bad Dirtbag.
Micah (06:47):
Yeah.
Andrea (07:01):
Well, after nine months, talia gave birth to two
beautiful children, a boy and agirl, each as precious as rare
jewels.
Two fairies who visited thepalace, cared for them and
placed the infants at theirmother's breast.
On one occasion, however, thebabies couldn't find the nipple
(07:23):
and began to suck on talia'sfingers instead.
They sucked so persistentlythat the splinter of flax was
dislodged.
Talia woke, as if from a deepslumber, and, upon seeing the
two priceless gems beside her,she embraced, offering them her
breasts.
Micah (07:44):
Well, there's a lot of anatomy in that paragraph.
Wow, yeah, but that's prettygood.
Andrea (07:53):
It just took getting that out of her finger and she
awoke.
Micah (07:56):
Too bad, somebody hadn't thought of that sooner.
Andrea (08:00):
I know when did these fairies come from.
Micah (08:03):
I don't know.
It doesn't say, they justappeared.
I mean, two fairies visited thepalace, cared for her.
What, what, what, what, goahead, oh.
The children became dearer toher than life itself.
Alone.
In the palace with her twochildren, talia was bewildered,
(08:24):
unsure of what had transpired.
Andrea (08:27):
Yeah, that would be pretty scary.
Micah (08:29):
Wake up who knows how long later and have two children
.
Yet she noticed that the tablewas always set with food and
drink brought to her, though shesaw no attendance, which has to
be the fairies still right, I'dassume.
Meanwhile, the king began tothink of Talia again, Pretending
(08:50):
he was going hunting.
He returned to the palace andfound her awake with two
beautiful children by her side.
Uh-oh, Overjoyed, he revealedto Talia who he was recounting,
how he had discovered her andall that had transpired.
Upon hearing this, their bondgrew even more robust and the
(09:12):
king stayed with her for severaldays.
Andrea (09:16):
Before leaving, he promised to return soon.
Micah (09:19):
We're not going to talk about that.
Andrea (09:21):
No, you did a good job.
Micah (09:24):
What I did a good job.
No, I mean, she just is goingto accept that.
I mean Okay, I don't know whatyou say.
I guess she needed a baby daddyand hey, hey, he's a king,
there's some security there.
But never mind what he did.
Andrea (09:46):
I know, I felt like we had talked about this.
But, yeah, I guess you know sheis alone, she has two kids, and
back then do anything for yourking and or your kids.
I mean, it was more to be likekings ruled they, you know
whatever they told you that went.
(10:07):
I don't know.
Micah (10:11):
Not that it's right, I don't think she was so much
thinking about what he thought.
I think she was maybe justthinking of how she was going to
take care of those kids.
Andrea (10:21):
Yeah, exactly.
Micah (10:23):
It would be frightening.
Yeah, and at least she doesn'tremember that happening.
Mm-hmm Right, mm-hmm Shoot Okayshoot.
Andrea (10:39):
Okay.
So before leaving he promisedto return soon and return her
and the children to his kingdom.
However, once he returned tohis realm, he found no peace,
constantly uttering the names oftalia and the children whom he
called sun and Moon.
Even in his sleep he foundhimself calling out to them.
Micah (10:57):
The king's wife grew suspicious.
This dirtbag just gets worse.
Anyway, she grew suspicious dueto the increasing length of his
hunting trips and how heconstantly spoke of Talia, sun
and Moon.
Consumed by a fiery jealousy,he summoned the royal secretary
(11:20):
and said Listen closely, my son.
You are caught between a rockand a hard place, between danger
and destruction.
If you tell me who my husband,the king, is in love with, I
will reward you with untoldriches, but if you withhold the
(11:40):
truth, you will vanish without atrace, dead or alive.
Terrified.
The man felt his fear and greedoverpowered any sense of honor
or justice.
He confessed everything to thequeen, speaking plainly and
leaving nothing out.
I don't think he's losingreally any honor in telling the
(12:05):
queen what her evil husband'sbeen doing behind her back been
doing behind her back.
Andrea (12:19):
So, upon learning the truth, the queen sent the
secretary to talia, pretendingto speak on behalf of the king,
and requested that she send thechildren, as the king wished to
see them.
Overjoyed, talia compliedwithout hesitation.
However, the queen, whose heartis cruel, ordered the cook to
kill the children and preparethem into a series of delicious
(12:41):
dishes for her unsuspectinghusband.
Micah (12:45):
The cook, moved by the sight of the innocent children,
couldn't carry out the queen'swicked plan.
Instead, he took the childrenhome to his wife and hid them.
He prepared two lambs in theirplace, transforming them into a
hundred different dishes.
When the king arrived, thequeen took great pleasure in
(13:07):
having the meal served to himhundred dishes, that's a lot.
And not only is he a great chef, he's saved the children.
Andrea (13:18):
Yeah.
Micah (13:19):
So he's like the hero.
Andrea (13:21):
He's not a bad guy.
Micah (13:23):
I didn't say he was.
Andrea (13:25):
Right, I'm agreeing.
Well, the king savored the meal, exclaiming by the soul of my
ancestors.
This is excellent.
Micah (13:39):
Each time, the queen responded with Eat, oh eat, for
you are eating of your own.
Ha, ha, ha ha.
Andrea (13:52):
At first the king paid little attention to her repeated
phrase, but after hearing itseveral times he finally snapped
.
Of course I'm eating my own,since you've brought nothing
into this house.
Angered.
He stood up and left.
(14:13):
Angered, he stood up and left,heading to a villa some distance
away To calm his temper andfind peace.
Micah (14:20):
He does need to find some peace.
Andrea (14:22):
Well, she's screaming at him and telling him he's what?
Eating his own.
Isn't that what he said?
If it were true, yeah, if itwere true, it would be a
terrible thing.
But he doesn't know that atthis point, what the?
Heck, stop yelling at me.
Micah (14:41):
I mean, he doesn't know that they're dead, either Right
or anything, because he justthinks that she's being pushy
today, meanwhile, the queen, notyet satisfied with the harm she
had caused, summoned thesecretary and instructed him to
go to the palace and bring Taliaback, claiming that the king
(15:04):
awaited her presence, believingshe was obeying the lord's
wishes and eager to see himagain.
Talia left immediately, unawareof the danger awaiting her.
She was met by the queen, whoseface was burning with fierce
anger.
Whoa, first of all, why Ididn't know that palaces had
(15:24):
secretaries.
Maybe somebody's gotta, youknow, make appointments.
Andrea (15:29):
Well, I mean, there's a lot of people in the palace, so
it makes sense you gotta keepthem all in order somehow.
Micah (15:35):
Yeah, maybe it's just like a manager.
Yeah, she greeted her withscorn.
So this is the queen greetingthe princess with scorn, saying
Welcome, welcome madam busybody,you're quite the piece of work,
you wretched creature, enjoyingmy husband.
Oh, quite the piece of work youwretched creature enjoying my
husband, whoa.
So you are the lump of filth,the cruel bitch who has driven
(15:59):
me to madness.
Change your ways, for you'llsoon find yourself in purgatory,
where I will make sure you payfor all the harm you've caused
me.
Andrea (16:10):
Wow that's.
That was quite caused me.
Wow that's.
Micah (16:14):
That was quite a rant.
Andrea (16:16):
Yeah.
Micah (16:17):
I'd give that a.
I'd give it a seven and a halfout of ten, as rants go.
Andrea (16:24):
So If I met a queen?
Micah (16:27):
Would you?
Andrea (16:27):
come ranting at me Saying all those horrible things
, I'm pretty sure I'd turnaround.
Micah (16:35):
I've heard.
I've heard worse in PG-13movies today.
Andrea (16:39):
Yeah, but that was in a movie, if that was at me.
Micah (16:43):
That's true.
I've heard worse on the streets.
Andrea (16:49):
At you?
People are saying these to you.
I guess not at me.
That's what I'm saying.
Micah (16:53):
Well, I guess there's been a few times.
It's been at me.
Andrea (16:56):
Wow, that's scary.
Micah (16:58):
Undeserved, of course.
Andrea (16:59):
Okay, yeah Well, let's see what she says.
Let's see.
Upon hearing these words, Taliatried to defend herself,
explaining that she was not toblame because her husband, the
king, had taken her by surprisewhile she was in a deep sleep.
However, the queen refused tolisten to her pleas.
(17:21):
She ordered a large fire to beset up in the palace courtyard
and commanded that Talia bethrown into it.
Micah (17:31):
Uh-oh, I think the king needs to get home.
Thrown into it.
Uh-oh, I think the king needsto get home.
Seeing the dire situation,Talia knelt before the queen and
pleaded to at least be allowedto remove her garments.
The queen, not driven bysympathy but by the desire to
claim the richly embroideredrobes adorned with gold and
(17:51):
pearls, agreed saying you maytake off your clothes.
As Talia removed each piece no,no garment.
When she let out a piercingscream, the guards then dragged
(18:15):
her to the fire where she was tobe burned to ash.
It's getting tense, yeah.
Andrea (18:23):
Very scary.
Yeah, oh, boy.
Upon witnessing the horrifyingscene, the king suddenly
appeared and demanded anexplanation.
When he asked about hischildren, his wife, accusing him
of betrayal, revealed that shehad had them slaughtered and
(18:46):
served as meat.
Overwhelmed with despair, theking lamented.
Overwhelmed with despair, theking lamented Alas, I have
become the wolf devouring my ownsweet lambs.
Why did my veins not recognizethe blood of my own flesh?
(19:09):
You dog, what evil deed is thiswitch you have done?
Be gone, you will receive thepunishment you deserve, but I
won't send someone with such acruel heart to the Colosseum for
pannis.
Micah (19:27):
With these words, the king ordered that the queen be
thrown into the fire she hadprepared for Talia and the
secretary who had orchestratedthis cruel scheme.
He also intended to punish thecook, whom he suspected of
slaughtering his children.
However, the cook threw himselfat the king's feet and pleaded.
(19:50):
My lord, my lord.
For such a crime, nothing lessthan a blazing inferno and a
spear from behind would be just.
I would willingly accept beingburned alive and have my ashes
mixed with the queen's, but Ihope for a different reward for
saving the children, despite thequeen's malevolence who sought
(20:12):
to kill them and return to youwhat was yours by blood.
Andrea (20:18):
Upon hearing these words , the king was stunned and
disbelieving, unable to fathomwhat he had just heard.
Turning to the cook, he said Ifit is true that you saved my
children, know that I willremove you from this task and
place you in a position of honorwhen you can fulfill all my
(20:43):
desires.
I will reward you generously sothat you may consider yourself
fortunate in this world.
Micah (20:57):
Ah.
As the king spoke, the cook'swife, recognizing her husband's
plight, brought out the twochildren, Sun and Moon, for
their father to see, the king,delighted in playing with his
family, showering them withkisses and affection.
He rewarded the cook handsomely, appointing him as a
chamberlain.
(21:18):
He married Talia and they liveda long and happy life together
with their children, genuinelyembodying the truth of the
proverb.
Andrea (21:30):
Those whom fortune favors find good luck even in
their sleep.
This was not a great story, youmean?
Micah (21:42):
well, the bad guy wins.
Yeah, this is not a great story.
This is sleeping beauty beforeit became what we know today.
It makes it sound like it endshappily, because they lived long
and happy life together andmaybe that is good.
Maybe he will be better to herthan he was to his previous wife
(22:05):
.
Andrea (22:05):
He wasn't happy at the castle with the queen and he
fell for Talia and had childrenthat he loved well when you say
he fell for.
Micah (22:15):
He may have fell for her afterwards, but the first time
it was obviously just no, that'swhat I mean.
Fell like he didn't at first,but then he fell for her
afterwards, like when he cameback because it said that he
went when he came back to dothat awful thing again, and then
he's like oh, I have two kids,yeah, so no, he was an awful
(22:38):
person and nothing that he didwas right, but it seems like
they're going to be happy, sohopefully he will take good care
of those children and Talia.
Andrea (22:47):
Maybe it's a story about second chances.
I guess you could look at that.
Micah (22:51):
Gosh.
So then we have to go intomoral conundrum about does he
deserve a second chance?
Because the thing that he didwas pretty gross.
Andrea (23:04):
Then see, there goes my brain All these you know which
ways, because look how awful thequeen was.
Micah (23:12):
Well, that was her reaction.
Yes, it was a poor reaction.
That's not a normal person'sreaction.
Andrea (23:19):
There was this Bobbit lady.
Not that it would ever be okay,but why would a husband usually
like go that drastic?
I mean like you could just getall crazy thinking and be like
maybe he hated his life and hisqueen wife.
Micah (23:31):
So you're saying it's the queen's fault, you never.
Andrea (23:34):
Wow, babe, I'm just saying.
Micah (23:37):
That's okay.
Maybe she wasn't the best wifebut, you don't.
Andrea (23:42):
He should never have done what he did.
Micah (23:44):
No, no, he should not have.
It was awful.
Maybe the queen and he wasgoing to do it again.
That's what really gets me, areyou sure?
Andrea (23:54):
Do we know that?
Micah (23:55):
Yeah, he was.
I mean, did he have any idea tothink that she might be awake
when he comes back?
He was going to poke thelifeless body, and that's what
gets me that he went back asecond time maybe he was going
to just check on her that makesit hard to give the guy a second
(24:17):
chance.
Andrea (24:18):
I'm an optimistic.
I like to give people.
I just I feel that that yeahmaybe he was just going to
apologize and see if she's okay.
I don't think so.
He said he explained whathappened and be like I'm so
sorry.
Micah (24:35):
I do not think that's what was on his mind.
Andrea (24:37):
Maybe we can just think that we could.
Micah (24:39):
I mean, if you think that See the good in the world If
you think that he was likecarrying a bouquet of roses and
a box of chocolates with thislong rehearsed apology for the
horrible thing he did, then itdoes make the story a little bit
better.
So we could just think that.
But actually our next episodewill be Sleeping Beauty in the
(25:03):
Wood and it will be a little bitbetter, a clean it up a little
bit.
Andrea (25:10):
More optimistic, yes.
Micah (25:13):
There we go.
Better Clean it up a little bitMore optimistic.
Yes, it's not as cleaned up orsterilized as what we know today
.
Like the Disney.
Andrea (25:19):
Sleeping Beauty.
Micah (25:21):
But it is better than this one.
Andrea (25:24):
Okay, can't wait.
Micah (25:26):
So if you enjoyed today's show, please like and subscribe
I agree.
Well, thank you for joining me,andrea.
It has been a pleasure and I'mlooking forward to the next
story and the one after that andthe one after that.
Let's get to 100, and thenwe'll see where we'll go from
(25:46):
there.
Andrea (25:46):
Sounds good.
Micah (25:48):
Thank you again for listening.
Check out our website attalesofbedlamcom for more fairy
tale fun and have a good night.
Andrea (25:56):
Good night.
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