Plot Summary

Fantaghirò, wild and fearless in contrast to her sisters Caterina and Carolina, is one big headache for her father, the King. The White Witch teaches Fantaghirò how to fight like a man. When the King's arch enemy dies, the latter's peace loving son decides once and for all to put an end to the war between the two kingdoms, which has been raging for centuries, by fighting a duel against the strongest knight in the realm. The White Witch tells the King that only his family can save him. Then Fantaghirò declares that she is prepared to fight. Disguised as a man, she sets out to do battle with the Prince. The Prince discovers that she is a woman; and promptly falls in love with her. Battle commences, and Fantaghirò succeeds in defeating him, but she cannot bring herself to kill him because she has fallen in love with him, too. Fantaghirò has thus lost the battle, and also dishonoured the Prince at the same time.—Anonymous