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蛇&意大利童话
  有一个农夫每天都到田里去除草,到了中午,他的三个女儿轮流给他送饭。一天大女儿来送饭,穿过树林的时候,她因为走累了,就坐在一块石头上休息。刚一坐下,就听到地下发出一声巨大的敲击声,一条蛇从石头下边钻了出来。姑娘吓得扔下盛饭的篮子,大喊救命,逃走了。结果,那天爸爸一整天都饿着肚子,晚上回到家里,狠狠地训斥了三个女儿。
  第二天,轮到二女儿去送饭。她也坐在那块石头上休息,也看见了那条蛇,也吓得逃走了。于是三女儿说:“我去,我去!我不怕。”她带去了两篮子食物,当她听见声响看到蛇钻出来的时候,就递给它一篮子食物。蛇对她说:“把我带回你家,我会给你带来好运。”女孩就把它藏在围裙里,给田里的爸爸送去另一份午餐后,回到了家,把蛇放在自己的床下。蛇一天天长大,不能再待在床下了。它要离开了,走之前,它送给姑娘三个法宝作为报答:当姑娘哭的时候,掉下来的眼泪会变成一串串珍珠和银子;笑的时候,会从头上掉下来一粒粒的金石榴籽;洗手的时候,会从她的手指间掉出各种各样的鱼。
  一天,家里什么吃的也没有了,父亲和姐姐们饿得无精打采的。三女儿突然试着洗洗手,果然,脸盆里立即游满了鱼。两个姐姐心生嫉妒,硬说这里面一定有什么邪术,让父亲最好把她关在阁楼上。
  姑娘从阁楼的窗户,可以看见王宫的花园,国王的儿子正在花园里踢球。踢着踢着,一不小心,王子滑倒了,摔了个屁股蹲。姑娘禁不住大笑起来。她一笑,一粒粒的金石榴籽像雨点般落了下去。王子弄不清这些金石榴籽是从哪里掉下来的,因为姑娘很快关上了窗户。
  第二天,王子又来到花园踢球,他发现花园中长出一棵石榴树,石榴树长得很高,还结出了果实。王子让人去摘石榴果,但石榴树眼看着就长高了,正好就高出一个手掌;怎么够也够不到。看到人们连一片树叶也摘不到,国王就召集身边的几位智者,让他们搞清楚这棵树到底有什么魔力。其中一位年纪最大的老智者说,只有一个姑娘才能把这些石榴果摘下来,而这个姑娘将会成为王子的新娘。
  国王立即派人贴出布告,让每个待嫁的姑娘都到王宫花园来试着摘石榴,违令者斩首。结果,各家各户的姑娘都来了,可是不论她们用多高的梯子,都够不到果子。农夫的两个大女儿也来了,但很快就从梯子上摔了下来。国王又派人继续到各家去搜寻,看有没有遗漏的姑娘,这样,被关在阁楼上的姑娘就被找到了。她刚被送到树旁,树枝就垂下来,把石榴果送到她的手上。所有人都惊奇地大叫:“她就是新娘!她就是新娘!”其中,王子叫得最欢。
  婚礼已经准备就绪,一直就怀着妒意的两个姐姐也被邀请去参加婚礼。姐妹三人坐同一辆马车进宫。马车穿过一处森林时,停了下来。两个姐姐让小妹下车,砍下她的双手,挖出她的双眼,把她当作死人扔在了树丛中。而大姐则穿上新娘的衣服,去见王子。王子看见新娘一时变得如此丑陋,疑惑不解,但是因为大姐与小妹妹长得有些相像,王子觉得是自己先前看走眼了。
  失去了双眼、双手的姑娘在树林中哭着。这时一个马夫正好路过,他很同情她,扶她上了自己的驴背,好把她带回家。姑娘让马夫看看地上,只见满地是姑娘眼泪变成的珍珠和银子,马夫把这些东西拿出去卖了,得了一千多里拉。这样,虽然姑娘没有双手、双眼,不能干活,也不能照顾家,但生活得还算满意。
  有一天,姑娘感觉到有一条蛇缠在她的一条腿上,这正是她的老朋友,那条她曾照顾过的蛇。蛇告诉她:“你知道吗?你的姐姐嫁给了王子,老国王死后,她就成了王后,现在她怀孕了,非常想吃无花果。”
  姑娘就对马夫说:“你驮上一袋无花果,到王宫给王后送去吧。”
  马夫说:“这个季节,怎么可能找到无花果呢?”当时正是冬天。
  可是,到了早上,马夫来到园子里一看,发现无花果树真的结出了果子,而且只有果实,一片叶子也没有。他装满了两篮子,驮在驴背上。
  马夫问:“这些冬天里长出的无花果我该怎么要价呢?”
  姑娘说:“你就说要换一对眼珠。”
  马夫按照姑娘的话提出了要求,但是不论是王后、国王,还是王后的妹妹,都不愿意挖出自己的眼珠。姐妹二人商量了一下,说:“那就把小妹的那对眼珠给他吧,我们留着它们有什么用?”就这样,她们用妹妹的这对眼珠换了两篮无花果。
  马夫把这对眼珠带了回来交给姑娘,姑娘把它们重新装好后,又像以前一样可以看东西了。
  后来,王后又想吃桃子,国王便派人来找马夫,问他能不能像找到无花果那样,找到桃子。第二天早上,马夫家院子中的桃树果然长出桃子,他又用驴子立即驮到王宫里去了。国王、王后问他要多少钱,马夫说:“要换一双手。”
  但是没人愿意砍下自己的双手,即使是那些想讨好国王的人也不愿意。王后姐妹又私下商量:“把小妹的那双手给他吧。”
  姑娘得到了自己的一双手,重新接到胳膊上,活动如初。
  不久,王后分娩了,生下了一只蝎子。尽管如此,国王还是同样为她举行了庆祝宴会,邀请了所有的人来参加。小妹妹穿得像王后般高贵,成为晚会上最漂亮的姑娘。国王爱上了她,而且在爱上她的同时发觉她就是自己先前看中的那个新娘。姑娘向国王讲述了自己的经历,边讲边笑,边讲边哭,笑的时候,金石榴籽就从她的头上扑扑地掉下来,哭的时候,眼泪就会变成串串珍珠,洗手时,满盆都是活鱼。
  两个狠毒的姐姐和刚生出来的蝎子,被拉到高高的木柴垛上烧死了。同一天,国王和小妹举行了盛大的结婚典礼。
  他们过着奢侈、冷酷的生活
  我却躲在门后挨饿,
  我回到客栈去吃饭
  我的故事到此说完。
  (蒙费拉托地区)
  TheSnake
  Afarmerwentoutmowingeveryday,andatnoononeortheotherofhisthreedaughterswouldbringhimhislunch.Onacertaindayitfelltotheoldestgirltogo.Bythetimeshereachedthewoods,though,shewastiredandsatdownonastonetorestaminutebeforeproceedingtothemeadow.Nosoonerhadshetakenaseatthanshefeltastrongthudunderneath,andoutcrawledasnake.Thegirldroppedthebasketandranhomeasfastasherlegswouldcarryher.Thatdaythefatherwenthungryandwhenhecameinfromthefieldhescoldedhisdaughtersangrily.
  Thenextdaythemiddlegirlstartedout.Shetoosatdownonthestone,andthesamethingoccurredasthedaybefore.Thenthethirdgirlsaid,"Itsmyturnnow,butImnotafraid."Insteadofonelunchbasket,shepreparedtwo.Whenshefeltthethudandsawthesnake,shegaveitoneofthebasketsoffood,andthesnakespoke."Takemehomewithyou,andIwillbringyouluck."Thegirlputthesnakeinherapronandthenwentontoherfatherwithhislunch.Whenshegotbackhome,sheplacedthesnakeunderherbed.Itgrewsorapidlythatsoonitwastoobigtofitunderthebed,soitwentaway.Beforeleaving,however,itbestowedthreecharmsonthegirl:weeping,shewouldshedtearsofpearlandsilver;laughing,shewouldseegoldenpomegranateseedsfallfromherhead;andwashingherhands,shewouldproducefishofeverykind.
  Thatdaytherewasnothinginthehousetoeat,andherfatherandsisterswereweakfromthehunger,sowhatdidshedobutwashherhandsandseethebasinfillupwithfish!Hersistersbecameenviousandconvincedtheirfatherthattherewassomethingstrangebehindallthisandthathewouldbewisetolockthegirlupintheattic.
  Fromtheatticwindowthegirllookedintothekingsgarden,wherethekingssonwasplayingball.Runningaftertheball,heslippedandfell,sendingthegirlintopealsoflaughter.Asshelaughed,goldpomegranateseedsrainedfromherheadonthegarden.Thekingssonhadnoideawheretheycamefrom,forthegirlhadslammedthewindow.
  Returningtothegardennextdaytoplayball,thekingssonnoticedthatapomegranatetreehadsprungup.Itwasalreadyquitetallandladenwithfruit.Hewenttopickthepomegranates,butthetreegrewtallerrightbeforehiseyes,andallhehadtodowasreachforapomegranateandthebrancheswouldriseafootbeyondhisgrasp.Sincenobodymanagedtoplucksomuchasoneleafofthetree,thekingassembledthewisementoexplainthemagicspell.Theoldestofthemallsaidthatonlyonemaidenwouldbeabletopickthefruitandthatshewouldbecomethebrideofthekingsson.
  Sothekingissuedaproclamationforallmarriageablegirlstocometothegarden,underpainofdeath,totrytopickthepomegranates.Girlsofeveryraceandstationshowedup,butnoladderswereeverlongenoughforthemtoreachthefruit.Amongthecontestantswerethefarmerstwoolderdaughters,buttheyfellofftheladderandlandedflatontheirbacks.Thekinghadthehousessearchedandfoundothergirls,includingtheonelockedupintheattic.Assoonastheytookhertothetree,thebranchesbentdownandplacedthepomegranatesrightinherhands.Everyonecheered,"Thatsthebride,thatsthebride!"withthekingssonshoutingloudestofall.
  Preparationsweremadeforthewedding,towhichthesisters,asenviousasever,wereinvited.Theyallthreerodeinthesamecarriage,whichdrewtoahaltinthemiddleofaforest.Theoldergirlsorderedtheyoungeroneoutofthecarriage,curoffherhands,gougedouthereyes,andleftherlyingunconsciousinthebushes.Thentheoldestgirldressedintheweddinggownandwenttothekingsson.Hecouldntunderstandwhyshedbecomesougly,butsinceshefaintlyresembledtheothergirl,hedecidedhedbeenmistakenallalongaboutheroriginalbeauty.
  Eyelessandhandless,themaidenremainedintheforestweeping.Acartercamebyandhadpityonher.Heseatedheronhismuleandtookhertohishouse.Shetoldhimtolookdown:thegroundwasstrewnwithsilverandpearls,whichwerenoneotherthanthegirlstears.Thecartertookthemandsoldthemformorethanathousandcrowns.Howgladhewastohavetakenthepoorgirlin,evenifshewasunabletoworkandhelpthefamily.
  Onedaythegirlfeltasnakewraparoundherleg:itwasthesnakeshehadoncebefriended."Didyouknowyoursistermarriedthekingssonandbecamequeen,sincetheoldkingdied?Nowshesexpectingababyandwantsfigs."
  Thegirlsaidtothecarter,"Loadamulewithfigsandtakethemtothequeen."
  "WhereamIgoingtogetfigsthistimeofyear?"askedthecarter.Ithappenedtobewinter.
  Butthenextmorninghewentintothegardenandfoundthefigtreeladenwithfruit,eventhoughtherewasntaleafonthetree.Hefilleduptwobasketsandloadedthemontohisdonkey.
  "HowhighapricecanIaskforfigsinwinter?"saidthecarter.
  "Askforapairofeyes,"repliedthemaiden.
  Thathedid,butneitherthekingnorthequeennorherothersisterwouldhaveevergougedouttheireyes.Sothesisterstalkedthematterover."Letsgivehimoursisterseyes,whichareofnousetous."Withthoseeyestheypurchasedthefigs.
  Thecarterreturnedtothemaidenwiththeeyes.Sheputthembackinplaceandsawagainaswellasever.
  Thenthequeenhadadesireforpeaches,andthekingsenttothecarteraskingifhecouldntfindsomepeachesthewayhedfoundfigs.Thenextmorningthepeachtreeinthecartersgardenwasladenwithpeaches,andhetookaloadtocourtatonceonhisdonkey.Whentheyaskedhimwhathewantedforthem,hereplied,"Apairofhands."
  Butnobodywouldcutofftheirhands,noteventopleasetheking.Thenthesisterstalkedthematterover."Letsgivehimoursisters."
  Whenthegirlgotherhandsback,shereattachedthemtoherarmsandwasassoundasever.
  Notlongafterward,thequeenwentintolaborandbroughtforthascorpion.Thekingnonethelessgaveaball,towhicheverybodywasinvited.Thegirlwentdressedasaqueenandwasthebelleoftheball.Thekingfellinlovewithherandrealizedshewashistruebride.Shelaughedgoldenseeds,weptpearls,andwashedfishintothebasin,asshetoldherstoryfromstarttofinish.
  Thetwowickedsistersandthescorpionwereburnedonapyreskyhigh.Onthesamedaythegrandweddingbanquettookplace.
  Theyputonthedogandhighdidtheysoar;
  Isaw,Iheard,Ihidbehindthedoor.
  ThentodinerepairedItotheinn,
  Andtheremystorydrawstoanend.
  (Monferrato)
  NOTES:
  "TheSnake"(LaBiscia)fromComparetti,25,Monferrato,Piedmont.
  TheluxuriantstoryfromTheFacetiousNights(III,3)aboutBiancabellaandtheserpent,oneofStraparolasfinest,isheretold,onthecontrary,inbarerusticsimplicity,inthemidstofmeadowsreadyforamowing,fruits,andseasons.TheepisodeofthepomegranatetreewithitsfruitthatcannotbepluckedwasaddedbymetofilloutasomewhatsketchypassageinthePiedmonteseversion.ItookitfromaTuscanvariant(Gradi),basedonmotifsfromthistaleandothers,wheresupernaturalhelpcomesfromaredandgoldfish.
  Copyright:ItalianFolktalesSelectedandRetoldbyItaloCalvino,
  translatedbyGeorgeMartin,
  PantheonBooks,NewYork1980

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