金丝雀王子
金丝雀王子 (第3/3页)
turneduptotry.
Theprincessmeanwhilewasconsumedwithlongingforherlover.Shecuthersheetsintothinstripswhichshetiedonetotheotherinalong,longrope.Thenonenightsheletherselfdownfromthehightowerandsetoutonthehunterstrail.Butbecauseofthethickdarknessandthehowlsofthewolves,shedecidedtowaitfordaylight.Findinganoldoakwithahollowtrunk,shenestledinsideand,inherexhaustion,fellasleepatonce.Shewokeupwhileitwasstillpitch-dark,undertheimpressionshehadheardawhistle.Listeningclosely,sheheardanotherwhistle,thenathirdandafourth,afterwhichshesawfourcandleflamesadvancing.Theywerefourwitchescomingfromthefourcornersoftheearthtotheirappointedmeetingunderthattree.Throughacrackinthetrunktheprincess,unseenbythem,spiedonthefourcronescarryingcandlesandsneeringawelcometooneanother:"Ah,ah,ah!"
Theylitabonfireunderthetreeandsatdowntowarmthemselvesandroastacoupleofbatsfordinner.Whentheyhadeatentheirfill,theybeganaskingoneanotherwhattheyhadseenofinterestoutintheworld.
"IsawthesultanofTurkey,whoboughthimselftwentynewwives."
"IsawtheemperorofChina,whohaslethispigtailgrowthreeyardslong."
"Isawthekingofthecannibals,whoatehischamberlainbymistake."
"Isawthekingofthisregion,whohasthesicksonnobodycancure,sinceIaloneknowtheremedy."
"Andwhatisit?"askedtheotherwitches.
"Inthefloorofhisroomisaloosetile.Alloneneedtodoisliftthetile,andthereunderneathisaphialcontaininganointmentthatwouldhealeveryoneofhiswounds."
Itwasalltheprincessinsidethetreecoulddonottoscreamforjoy.Bythistimethewitcheshadtoldoneanotheralltheyhadtosay,soeachwentherownway.Theprincessjumpedfromthetreeandsetoutinthedawnforthecity.Atthefirstsecondhanddealersshecameto,sheboughtanolddoctorsgownandapairofspectacles,andknockedattheroyalpalace.Seeingthelittledoctorwithsuchscantparaphernalia,theservantswerentgoingtolethimin,butthekingsaid,"Whatharmcouldhedomysonwhocantbeanyworseoffthanheisnow?Lethimseewhathecando."Theshamdoctoraskedtobeleftalonewiththesickman,andtherequestwasgranted.
Findingherlovergroaningandunconsciousinhissickbed,theprincessfeltlikeweepingandsmotheringhimwithkisses.Butsherestrainedherselfbecauseoftheurgencyofcarryingoutthewitchsdirections.Shepacedupanddowntheroomuntilshesteppedonaloosetile,whichsheraisedanddiscoveredaphialofointment.Withitsherubbedtheprinceswounds,andnosoonerhadshetouchedeachonewithointmentthanthewounddisappearedcompletely.Overjoyedshecalledtheking,whocameinandsawhissonsleepingpeacefully,withthecolorbackinhischeeks,andnotraceofanyofthewounds.
"Askforwhateveryoulike,doctor,"saidtheking."Allthewealthinthekingdomisyours."
"Iwishnomoney,"repliedthedoctor."Justgivemetheprincesshieldbearingthefamilycoat-of-arms,hisstandard,andhisyellowvestthatwasrentandbloodied."Uponreceivingthethreeitems,shetookherleave.
Threedayslater,thekingssonwasagainouthunting.Hepassedthecastleintheheartoftheforest,butdidntdeigntolookupattheprincessswindow.Sheimmediatelypickedupthebook,leafedthroughit,andtheprincehadnochoicebutchangeintoacanary.Heflewintotheroom,andtheprincessturnedhimbackintoaman."Letmego,"hesaid."Isntitenoughtohavepiercedmewiththosepinsofyoursandcausedmesomuchagony?"Theprince,intruth,nolongerlovedthegirl,blamingherforhismisfortune.
Onthevergeoffainting,sheexclaimed,"ButIsavedyourlife!Iamtheonewhocuredyou!"
"Thatsnotso,"saidtheprince."Mylifewassavedbyaforeigndoctorwhoaskedfornorecompenseexceptmycoat-of-arms,mystandard,andmybloodiedvest!"
"Hereareyourcoat-of-arms,yourstandard,andyourvest!Thedoctorwasnoneotherthanmyself!Thepinswerethecrueldoingofmystepmother!"
Theprincegazedintohereyes,dumbfounded.Neverhadshelookedsobeautiful.Hefellatherfeetaskingherforgivenessanddeclaringhisdeepgratitudeandlove.
Thatveryeveningheinformedhisfatherhewasgoingtomarrythemaideninthecastleintheforest.
"Youmaymarryonlythedaughterofakingoranemperor,"repliedhisfather.
"Ishallmarrythewomanwhosavedmylife."
Sotheymadepreparationsforthewedding,invitingallthekingsandqueensinthevicinity.Alsopresentwastheprincesssroyalfather,whohadbeeninformedofnothing.Whenthebridecameout,helookedatherandexclaimed,"Mydaughter!"
"What!"saidtheroyalhost."Mysonsbrideisyourdaughter?Whydidshenottellus?"
"Because,"explainedthebride,"Inolongerconsidermyselfthedaughterofamanwholetmystepmotherimprisonme."Andshepointedatthequeen.
Learningofallhisdaughtersmisfortune,thefatherwasfilledwithpityforthegirlandwithloathingforhiswickedwife.Nordidhewaituntilhewasbackhometohavethewomanseized.Thusthemarriagewascelebratedtothesatisfactionandjoyofall,withtheexceptionofthatwretch.
(Turin)
NOTES:
"TheCanaryPrince"IlPrincipecanarino)fromRua(inArchivioperlostudiodelletradizionipopolari,Palermo-Turin,VI[1887],401),Turin.
ThisfolktalefromTurin,withitsballadlikepathos,developsamedievalmotif,whichisalsoliterary.(ButMariedeFranceslai,Yonec,isquitedifferent,beingthestoryofanadultery.)Mypersonaltoucheshereincludetheprincesyellowsuitandleggings,thedescriptionofthetransformationinaflutterofwings,thegossipofthewitcheswhotraveledtheworldover,andabitofstylisticcunning.
Copyright:ItalianFolktalesSelectedandRetoldbyItaloCalvino,
translatedbyGeorgeMartin,
PantheonBooks,NewYork1980
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