stories from pentamerone-第15部分

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　a　single　shirt　to　his　back。〃　When　the　King　heard　this；　he　instantly　commanded　his　retainers　to　take　out　of　his　own　wardrobe　a　quantity　of　clothes　and　linen；　and　sent　them　to　Pippo；　and；　before　two　hours　had　passed；　Pippo　went　to　the　palace；　conducted　by　the　cat；　where　he　received　a　thousand　compliments　from　the　King；　who　made　him　sit　beside　himself；　and　gave　him　a　banquet　that　would　amaze　you。

While　they　were　eating；　Pippo　from　time　to　time　turned　to　the　cat　and　said　to　her；　〃My　pretty　puss；　pray　take　care　that　those　rags　don't　slip　through　our　fingers。〃　Then　the　cat　answered；　〃Be　quiet；　be　quiet；　don't　be　talking　of　these　beggarly　things。〃　The　King；　wishing　to　know　the　subject　of　their　talk；　the　cat　made　answer　that　Pippo　had　taken　a　fancy　to　a　small　lemon；　whereupon　the　King　instantly　sent　out　to　the　garden　for　a　basketful。　But　Pippo　returned　to　the　same　tune　about　the　old　coats　and　shirts；　and　the　cat　again　told　him　to　hold　his　tongue。　Then　the　King　once　more　asked　what　was　the　matter；　and　the　cat　had　another　excuse　to　make　amends　for　Pippo's　rudeness。

At　last；　when　they　had　eaten　and　conversed　for　some　time　about　one　thing　and　another；　Pippo　took　his　leave；　and　the　cat　stayed　with　the　King；　describing　the　worth；　the　wisdom；　and　the　judgment　of　Pippo；　and；　above　all；　the　great　wealth　he　had　in　the　plains　of　Rome　and　Lombardy；　which　well　entitled　him　to　marry　even　into　the　family　of　a　crowned　King。　Then　the　King　asked　what　might　be　his　fortune；　and　the　cat　replied　that　no　one　could　ever　count　the　moveables；　the　fixtures；　and　the　household　furniture　of　this　rich　man；　who　did　not　even　know　what　he　possessed。　If　the　King　wished　to　be　informed　of　it；　he　had　only　to　send　messengers　with　the　cat；　and　she　would　prove　to　him　that　there　was　no　wealth　in　the　world　equal　to　his。

Then　the　King　called　some　trusty　persons；　and　commanded　them　to　inform　themselves　minutely　of　the　truth；　so　they　followed　in　the　footsteps　of　the　cat；　who；　as　soon　as　they　had　passed　the　frontier　of　the　kingdom；　from　time　to　time　ran　on　before；　under　the　pretext　of　providing　refreshments　for　them　on　the　road。　Whenever　she　met　a　flock　of　sheep；　a　herd　of　cows；　a　troop　of　horses；　or　a　drove　of　pigs；　she　would　say　to　the　herdsmen　and　keepers；　〃Ho！　have　a　care！　A　troop　of　robbers　is　coming　to　carry　off　everything　in　the　country。　So　if　you　wish　to　escape　their　fury；　and　to　have　your　things　respected；　say　that　they　all　belong　to　the　Lord　Pippo；　and　not　a　hair　will　be　touched。〃

She　said　the　same　at　all　the　farmhouses；　so　that　wherever　the　King's　people　came　they　found　the　pipe　tuned；　for　everything　they　met　with；　they　were　told；　belonged　to　the　Lord　Pippo。　At　last　they　were　tired　of　asking；　and　returned　to　the　King；　telling　seas　and　mountains　of　the　riches　of　Lord　Pippo。　The　King；　hearing　this　report；　promised　the　cat　a　good　drink　if　she　should　manage　to　bring　about　the　match；　and　the　cat；　playing　the　shuttle　between　them；　at　last　concluded　the　marriage。　So　Pippo　came；　and　the　King　gave　him　his　daughter　and　a　large　portion。

At　the　end　of　a　month　of　festivities；　Pippo　wished　to　take　his　bride　to　his　estates；　so　the　King　accompanied　them　as　far　as　the　frontiers；　and　he　went　on　to　Lombardy；　where；　by　the　cat's　advice；　he　purchased　a　large　estate　and　became　a　baron。

Pippo；　seeing　himself　now　so　rich；　thanked　the　cat　more　than　words　can　express；　saying　that　he　owed　his　life　and　his　greatness　to　her　good　offices；　and　that　the　ingenuity　of　a　cat　had　done　more　for　him　that　the　wit　of　his　father。　Therefore；　said　he；　she　might　dispose　of　his　life　and　his　property　as　she　pleased；　and　he　gave　her　his　word　that　when　she　died；　which　he　prayed　might　not　be　for　a　hundred　years；　he　would　have　her　embalmed　and　put　into　a　golden　coffin；　and　set　in　his　own　chamber；　that　he　might　keep　her　memory　always　before　his　eyes。

The　cat　listened　to　these　lavish　professions；　and　before　three　days　she　pretended　to　be　dead；　and　stretched　herself　at　full　length　in　the　garden。　When　Pippo's　wife　saw　her；　she　cried　out；　〃Oh；　husband；　what　a　sad　misfortune！　The　cat　is　dead！〃　〃Devil　die　with　her！〃　said　Pippo。　〃Better　her　than　we！〃　〃What　shall　we　do　with　her？〃　replied　the　wife。　〃Take　her　by　the　leg；〃　said　he；　〃and　fling　her　out　of　the　window！〃

Then　the　cat；　who　heard　this　fine　reward　when　she　least　expected　it；　began　to　say；　〃Is　this　the　return　you　make　for　my　taking　you　from　beggary？　Are　these　the　thanks　I　get　for　freeing　you　from　rags　that　you　might　have　hung　distaffs　with？　Is　this　my　reward　for　having　put　good　clothes　on　your　back　when　you　were　a　poor；　starved；　miserable；　tatter…shod　ragamuffin？　But　such　is　the　fate　of　him　who　washes　an　ass's　head！　Go！　A　curse　upon　all　I　have　done　for　you！　A　fine　gold　coffin　you　had　prepared　for　me！　A　fine　funeral　you　were　going　to　give　me！　Go；　now！　serve；　labour；　toil；　sweat　to　get　this　fine　reward！　Unhappy　is　he　who　does　a　good　deed　in　hope　of　a　return。　Well　was　it　said　by　the　philosopher；　　He　who　lies　down　an　ass；　an　ass　he　finds　himself。'　But　let　him　who　does　most；　expect　least；　smooth　words　and　ill　deeds　deceive　alike　both　fools　and　wise！〃

So　saying；　she　drew　her　cloak　about　her　and　went　her　way。　All　that　Pippo；　with　the　utmost　humility；　could　do　to　soothe　her　was　of　no　avail。　She　would　not　return；　but　ran　on　and　on　without　ever　turning　her　head　about；　saying

　　　　　〃Heaven　keep　me　from　the　rich　grown　poor；　　　　　　And　from　the　beggar　who　of　wealth　gains　store。〃



XIV

THE　SERPENT

It　always　happens　that　he　who　is　over…curious　in　prying　into　the　affairs　of　other　people；　strikes　his　own　foot　with　the　axe；　and　the　King　of　Long…Furrow　is　a　proof　of　this；　who；　by　poking　his　nose　into　secrets；　brought　his　daughter　into　trouble　and　ruined　his　unhappy　son…in…lawwho；　in　attempting　to　make　a　thrust　with　his　head　was　left　with　it　broken。

There　was　once　on　a　time　a　gardener's　wife；　who　longed　to　have　a　son　more　than　a　man　in　a　fever　for　cold　water；　or　the　innkeeper　for　the　arrival　of　the　mail…coach。

It　chanced　one　day　that　the　poor　man　went　to　the　mountain　to　get　a　faggot；　and　when　he　came　home　and　opened　it　he　found　a　pretty　little　serpent　among　the　twigs。　At　the　sight　of　this；　Sapatella　（for　that　was　the　name　of　the　gardener's　wife）　heaved　a　deep　sigh；　and　said；　〃Alas！　even　the　serpents　have　their　little　serpents；　but　I　brought　ill…luck　with　me　into　this　world。〃　At　these　words；　the　little　serpent　spoke；　and　said；　〃Well；　then；　since　you　cannot　have　children；　take　me　for　a　child；　and　you　will　make　a　good　bargain；　for　I　shall　love　you　better　than　my　mother。〃　Sapatella；　hearing　a　serpent　speak　thus；　nearly　fainted；　but；　plucking　up　courage；　she　said；　〃If　it　were　for　nothing　else　than　the　affection　which　you　offer；　I　am　content　to　take　you；　and　treat　you　as　if　you　were　really　my　own　child。〃　So　saying；　she　assigned　him　a　hole　in　a　corner　of　the　house　for　a　cradle；　and　gave　him　for　food　a　share　of　what　she　had　with　the　greatest　goodwill　in　the　world。

The　serpent　increased　in　size　from　day　to　day；　and　when　he　had　grown　pretty　big；　he　said　to　Cola　Matteo；　the　gardener；　whom　he　looked　on　as　his　father；　〃Daddy；　I　want　to　get　married。〃　〃With　all　my　heart；〃　said　Cola　Matteo。　〃We　must　look　out　for　another　serpent　like　yourself；　and　try　to　make　up　a　match　between　you。〃　〃What　serpent　are　you　talking　of？〃　said　the　little　serpent。　〃I　suppose；　forsooth；　we　are　all　the　same　with　vipers　and　adders！　It　is　easy　to　see　you　are　nothing　but　a　country　bumpkin；　and　make　a　nosegay　of　every　plant。　I　want　the　King's　daughter；　so　go　this　very　instant　and　ask　the　King　for　her；　and　tell　him　it　is　a　serpent　who　demands　her。〃　Cola　Matteo；　who　was　a　plain；　straightforward　kind　of　man；　and　knew　nothing　about　matters　of　this　sort；　went　innocently　to　the　King　and　delivered　his　message；　　saying

　　　　　〃The　messenger　should　not　be　beaten　more　　　　　　Than　are　the　sands　upon　the　shore！〃

〃Know　then　that　a　serpent　wants　your　daughter　for　his　wife；　and　I　am　come　to　try　if　we　can　make　a　match　between　a　serpent　and　a　dove！〃　The　King；　who　saw　at　a　glance　that　he　was　a　blockhead；　to　get　rid　of　him；　said；　〃Go　and　tell　the　serpent　that　I　will　give　him　my　daughter　if　he　turns　all　the　fruit　of　this　orchard　into　gold。〃　And　so　saying；　he　burst　out　a…laughing；　and　dismissed　him。

When　Cola　Matteo　went　home　and　delivered　the　answer　to　the　serpent；　he　said；　〃Go　to…morrow　morning　and　gather　up　all　the　fruit…stones　you　can　find　in　the　city；　and　sow　them　in　the　orchard；　and　you　will　see　pearls　strung　on　rushes！〃　Cola　Mateo；　who　was　no　conjurer；　neither　knew　how　to　comply　nor　refuse；　so　next　morning；　as　soon　as　the　Sun　with　his　golden　broom　had　swept　away　the　dirt　of　the　Night　from　the　fields　watered　by　the　dawn；　he　took　a　basket　on　his　arm　and　went　from　street　to　street；　picking　up　all　the　stones　of　peaches；　plums；　nectarines；　apricots；　and　cherries　that　he　could　find。　He　then　went　to　the　orchard　of　the　palace　and　sowed　them；　as　the　serpent　had　desired。　In　an　instant　the　trees　shot　up；　and　stems　and　branches；　leaves；　flowers；　and　fruit　were　all　of　glittering　　goldat　the　sight　of　which　the　King　was　in　an　ecstasy　of　amazement；　and　cried　aloud　with　joy。

But　when　Cola　Matteo　was　sent　by　the　serpent　to　the　King；　to　demand　the　performance　of　his　promise；　the　King　said；　〃Fair　and　easy；　I　must　first　have　something　else　if　he　would　have　my　daughter；　and　it　is　that　he　make　all　the　walls　and　the　ground　of　the　orchard　to　be　of　precious　stones。〃

When　the　gardener　told　this　to　the　serpent；　he　made　answer；　〃Go　to…morrow　morning　and　gather　up　all　the　bits　of　broken　　crockery…ware　you　can　find；　and　throw　them　on　the　walks　and　on　the　walls　of　the　orchard；　for　we　will　not　let　this　small　difficulty　stand　in　our　way。〃　As　soon；　therefore；　as　the　Night；　having　aided　the　robbers；　is　banished　from　the　sky；　and　goes　about　collecting　the　faggots　of　twilight；　Cola　Matteo　took　a　basket　under　his　arm；　and　went　about　collecting　bits　of　tiles；　lids　and　bottoms　of　pipkins；　pieces　of　plate　and　dishes；　handles　of　jugs；　spouts　of　pitchers。　He　picked　up　all　the　spoiled；　broken；　cracked　lamps　and　all　the　fragments　of　pottery　he　could　find　in　his　way。　And　when　he　had　done　all　that　the　serpent　had　told　him；　you　could　see　the　whole　orchard　mantled　with　emeralds　and　chalcedonies；　and　coated　with　rubies　and　carbuncles；　so　that　the　lustre　dazz