stories from pentamerone-第13部分

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Dutchman's　breeches。　Then　he　sent　for　all　the　doctors　in　the　town；　but　as　the　crystal　was　enchanted　the　wounds　were　mortal；　and　no　human　remedy　availed。　When　the　King　saw　this；　despairing　of　his　son's　condition；　he　sent　out　a　proclamation　that　whoever　would　cure　the　wounds　of　the　Princeif　a　woman　she　should　have　him　for　a　husbandif　a　man　he　should　have　half　his　kingdom。

Now　when　Nella；　who　was　pining　away　from　the　loss　of　the　Prince；　heard　this　she　dyed　her　face；　disguised　herself；　and　unknown　to　her　sisters　she　left　home　to　go　to　see　him　before　his　death。　But　as　by　this　time　the　Sun's　gilded　ball　with　which　he　plays　in　the　Fields　of　Heaven；　was　running　towards　the　west；　night　overtook　her　in　a　wood　close　to　the　house　of　an　ogre；　where；　in　order　to　get　out　of　the　way　of　danger；　she　climbed　up　into　a　tree。　Meanwhile　the　ogre　and　his　wife　were　sitting　at　table　with　the　windows　open　in　order　to　enjoy　the　fresh　air　while　they　ate；　as　soon　as　they　had　emptied　their　cups　and　put　out　the　lamps　they　began　to　chat　of　one　thing　and　another；　so　that　Nella；　who　was　as　near　to　them　as　the　mouth　to　the　nose；　heard　every　word　they　spoke。

Among　other　things　the　ogress　said　to　her　husband；　〃My　pretty　Hairy…Hide；　tell　me　what　news；　what　do　they　say　abroad　in　the　world？〃　And　he　answered；　〃Trust　me；　there　is　no　hand's　breadth　clean；　everything's　going　topsy…turvy　and　awry。〃　〃But　what　is　it？〃　replied　his　wife。　〃Why　I　could　tell　pretty　stories　of　all　the　confusion　that　is　going　on；〃　replied　the　ogre；　〃for　one　hears　things　that　are　enough　to　drive　one　mad；　such　as　buffoons　rewarded　with　gifts；　rogues　esteemed；　cowards　honoured；　robbers　protected；　and　honest　men　little　thought　of。　But；　as　these　things　only　vex　one；　I　will　merely　tell　you　what　has　befallen　the　King's　son。　He　had　made　a　crystal　path　along　which　he　used　to　go　to　visit　a　pretty　lass；　but　by　some　means　or　other；　I　know　not　how；　all　the　road　has　been　broken；　and　as　he　was　going　along　the　passage　as　usual；　he　has　wounded　himself　in　such　a　manner　that　before　he　can　stop　the　leak　the　whole　conduit　of　his　life　will　run　out。　The　King　has　indeed　issued　a　proclamation　with　great　promises　to　whoever　cures　his　son；　but　it　is　all　labour　lost；　and　the　best　he　can　do　is　quickly　to　get　ready　mourning　and　prepare　the　funeral。〃

When　Nella　heard　the　cause　of　the　Prince's　illness　she　sobbed　and　wept　bitterly　and　said　to　herself；　〃Who　is　the　wicked　soul　who　has　broken　the　passage　and　caused　so　much　sorrow？〃　But　as　the　ogress　now　went　on　speaking　Nella　was　as　silent　as　a　mouse　and　listened。

〃And　is　it　possible；〃　said　the　ogress；　〃that　the　world　is　lost　to　this　poor　Prince；　and　that　no　remedy　can　be　found　for　his　malady？〃

〃Hark…ye；　Granny；〃　replied　the　ogre；　〃the　doctors　are　not　called　upon　to　find　remedies　that　may　pass　the　bounds　of　nature。　This　is　not　a　fever　that　will　yield　to　medicine　and　diet；　much　less　are　these　ordinary　wounds　which　require　lint　and　oil；　for　the　charm　that　was　on　the　broken　glass　produces　the　same　effect　as　onion　juice　does　on　the　iron　heads　of　arrows；　which　makes　the　wound　incurable。　There　is　one　thing　only　that　could　save　his　life；　but　don't　ask　me　to　tell　it　to　you；　for　it　is　a　thing　of　importance。〃

〃Do　tell　me；　dear　old　Long…tusk；〃　cried　the　ogress；　〃tell　me；　if　you　would　not　see　me　die。〃

〃Well　then；〃　said　the　ogre；　〃I　will　tell　you　provided　you　promise　me　not　to　confide　it　to　any　living　soul；　for　it　would　be　the　ruin　of　our　house　and　the　destruction　of　our　lives。〃

〃Fear　nothing；　my　dear；　sweet　little　husband；〃　replied　the　ogress；　〃for　you　shall　sooner　see　pigs　with　horns；　apes　with　tails；　moles　with　eyes；　than　a　single　word　shall　pass　my　lips。〃　And　so　saying；　she　put　one　hand　upon　the　other　and　swore　to　it。

〃You　must　know　then；〃　said　the　ogre；　〃that　there　is　nothing　under　the　sky　nor　above　the　ground　that　can　save　the　Prince　from　the　snares　of　death；　but　our　fat。　If　his　wounds　are　anointed　with　this　his　soul　will　be　arrested　which　is　just　at　the　point　of　leaving　the　dwelling　of　his　body。〃

Nella；　who　overheard　all　that　passed；　gave　time　to　Time　to　let　them　finish　their　chat；　and　then；　getting　down　from　the　tree　and　taking　heart；　she　knocked　at　the　ogre's　door　crying；　〃Ah！　my　good　masters；　I　pray　you　for　charity；　alms；　some　sign　of　compassion。　Have　a　little　pity　on　a　poor；　miserable；　wretched　creature　who　is　banished　by　fate　far　from　her　own　country　and　deprived　of　all　human　aid；　who　has　been　overtaken　by　night　in　this　wood　and　is　dying　of　cold　and　hunger。〃　And　crying　thus；　she　went　on　knocking　and　knocking　at　the　door。

Upon　hearing　this　deafening　noise；　the　ogress　was　going　to　throw　her　half　a　loaf　and　send　her　away。　But　the　ogre；　who　was　more　greedy　of　flesh　than　the　squirrel　is　of　nuts；　the　bear　of　honey；　the　cat　of　fish；　the　sheep　of　salt；　or　the　ass　of　bran；　said　to　his　wife；　〃Let　the　poor　creature　come　in；　for　if　she　sleeps　in　the　fields；　who　knows　but　she　may　be　eaten　up　by　some　wolf。〃　In　short；　he　talked　so　much　that　his　wife　at　length　opened　the　door　for　Nella；　whilst　with　all　his　pretended　charity　he　was　all　the　time　reckoning　on　making　four　mouthfuls　of　her。　But　the　glutton　counts　one　way　and　the　host　another；　for　the　ogre　and　his　wife　drank　till　they　were　fairly　tipsy。　When　they　lay　down　to　sleep　Nella　took　a　knife　from　a　cupboard　and　made　a　hash　of　them　in　a　trice。　Then　she　put　all　the　fat　into　a　phial；　went　straight　to　the　court；　where；　presenting　herself　before　the　King；　she　offered　to　cure　the　Prince。　At　this　the　King　was　overjoyed　and　led　her　to　the　chamber　of　his　son；　and　no　sooner　had　she　anoited　him　well　with　the　fat　than　the　wound　closed　in　a　moment　just　as　if　she　had　thrown　water　on　the　fire；　and　he　became　sound　as　a　fish。

When　the　King　saw　this；　he　said　to　his　son；　〃This　good　woman　deserves　the　reward　promised　by　the　proclamation　and　that　you　should　marry　her。〃　But　the　Prince　replied；　〃It　is　hopeless；　for　I　have　no　store…room　full　of　hearts　in　my　body　to　share　among　so　many；　my　heart　is　already　disposed　of；　and　another　woman　is　already　the　mistress　of　it。〃　Nella；　hearing　this；　replied；　〃You　should　no　longer　think　of　her　who　has　been　the　cause　of　all　your　misfortune。〃　〃My　misfortune　has　been　brought　on　me　by　her　sisters；〃　replied　the　Prince；　〃and　they　shall　repent　it。〃　〃Then　do　you　really　love　her？〃　said　Nella。　And　the　Prince　replied；　〃More　than　my　own　life。〃　〃Embrace　me　then；〃　said　Nella；　〃for　I　am　the　fire　of　your　heart。〃　But　the　Prince　seeing　the　dark　hue　of　her　face　answered；　〃I　would　sooner　take　you　for　the　coal　than　the　fire；　so　keep　offdon't　blacken　me。〃　Whereupon　Nella；　perceiving　that　he　did　not　know　her；　called　for　a　basin　of　clean　water　and　washed　her　face。　As　soon　as　the　cloud　of　soot　was　removed　the　sun　shone　forth；　and　the　Prince；　recognising　her；　pressed　her　to　his　heart　and　acknowledged　her　for　his　wife。　Then　he　had　her　sisters　thrown　into　an　oven；　thus　proving　the　truth　of　the　old　saying

　　　　　〃No　evil　ever　went　without　punishment。〃



XII

VIOLET

Envy　is　a　wind　which　blows　with　such　violence；　that　it　throws　down　the　props　of　the　reputation　of　good　men；　and　levels　with　the　ground　the　crops　of　good　fortune。　But；　very　often；　as　a　punishment　from　Heaven；　when　this　envious　blast　seems　as　if　it　would　cast　a　person　flat　on　the　ground；　it　aids　him　instead　of　attain　the　happiness　he　is　expecting　sooner　even　than　he　expected：　as　you　will　hear　in　the　story　which　I　shall　now　tell　you。

There　was　once　upon　a　time　a　good　sort　of　man　named　Cola　Aniello；　who　had　three　daughters；　Rose；　Pink；　and　Violet；　the　last　of　whom　was　so　beautiful　that　her　very　look　was　a　syrup　of　love；　which　cured　the　hearts　of　beholders　of　all　unhappiness。　The　King's　son　was　burning　with　love　of　her；　and　every　time　he　passed　by　the　little　cottage　where　these　three　sisters　sat　at　work；　he　took　off　his　cap　and　said；　〃Good…day；　good…day；　Violet；〃　and　she　replied；　〃Good…day；　King's　son！　I　know　more　than　you。〃　At　these　words　her　sisters　grumbled　and　murmured；　saying；　〃You　are　an　ill…bred　creature　and　will　make　the　Prince　in　a　fine　rage。〃　But　as　Violet　paid　no　heed　to　what　they　said；　they　made　a　spiteful　complaint　of　her　to　her　father；　telling　him　that　she　was　too　bold　and　forward；　and　that　she　answered　the　Prince　without　any　respect；　as　if　she　were　just　as　good　as　he；　and　that；　some　day　or　other；　she　would　get　into　trouble　and　suffer　the　just　punishment　of　her　offence。　So　Cola　Aniello；　who　was　a　prudent　man；　in　order　to　prevent　any　mischief；　sent　Violet　to　stay　with　an　aunt；　to　be　set　to　work。

Now　the　Prince；　when　he　passed　by　the　house　as　usual；　no　longer　seeing　the　object　of　his　love；　was　for　some　days　like　a　nightingale　that　has　lost　her　young　ones　from　her　nest；　and　goes　from　branch　to　branch　wailing　and　lamenting　her　loss；　but　he　put　his　ear　so　often　to　the　chink　that　at　last　he　discovered　where　Violet　lived。　Then　he　went　to　the　aunt；　and　said　to　her；　〃Madam；　you　know　who　I　am；　and　what　power　I　have；　so；　between　ourselves；　do　me　a　favour　and　then　ask　for　whatever　you　wish。〃　〃If　I　can　do　anything　to　serve　you；〃　replied　the　old　woman；　〃I　am　entirely　at　your　command。〃　〃I　ask　nothing　of　you；〃　said　the　Prince；　〃but　to　let　me　give　Violet　a　kiss。〃　〃If　that's　all；〃　answered　the　old　woman；　〃go　and　hide　yourself　in　the　room　downstairs　in　the　garden；　and　I　will　find　some　pretence　or　another　for　sending　Violet　to　you。〃

As　soon　as　the　Prince　heard　this；　he　stole　into　the　room　without　loss　of　time；　and　the　old　woman；　pretending　that　she　wanted　to　cut　a　piece　of　cloth；　said　to　her　niece；　〃Violet；　if　you　love　me；　go　down　and　fetch　me　the　yard…measure。〃　So　Violet　went；　as　her　aunt　bade　her；　but　when　she　came　to　the　room　she　perceived　the　ambush；　and；　taking　the　yard…measure；　she　slipped　out　of　the　room　as　nimbly　as　a　cat；　leaving　the　Prince　with　his　nose　made　long　out　of　pure　shame　and　bursting　with　vexation。

When　the　old　woman　saw　Violet　come　running　so　fast；　she　suspected　that　the　trick　had　not　succeeded；　so　presently　after；　she　said　to　the　girl；　〃Go　downstairs；　niece；　and　fetch　me　the　ball　of　thread　that　is　on　the　top　shelf　in　the　cupboard。〃　So　Violet　ran；　and　taking　the　thread　slipped　like　an　eel　out　of　the　hands　of　the　Prince。　But　after　a　little　while　the　old　woman　said　again；　〃Violet；　my　dear；　if　you　do　not　go　downstairs　and　fetch　me　the　scissors；　I　cann