stories from pentamerone-第16部分

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ntled　with　emeralds　and　chalcedonies；　and　coated　with　rubies　and　carbuncles；　so　that　the　lustre　dazzled　your　eyes。　The　King　was　struck　all　of　a　heap　by　the　sight；　and　knew　not　what　had　befallen　him。　But　when　the　serpent　sent　again　to　let　him　know　that　he　was　expecting　the　performance　of　his　promise；　the　King　answered；　〃Oh；　all　that　has　been　done　is　nothing；　if　he　does　not　turn　this　palace　into　gold。〃

When　Cola　Matteo　told　the　serpent　this　new　fancy　of　the　King's；　the　serpent　said；　〃Go　and　get　a　bundle　of　herbs　and　rub　the　bottom　of　the　palace　walls　with　them。　We　shall　see　if　we　cannot　satisfy　this　whim！〃　Away　went　Cola　that　very　moment；　and　made　a　great　broom　of　cabbages；　radishes；　leeks；　parsley；　turnips；　and　carrots；　and　when　he　had　rubbed　the　lower　part　of　the　palace　with　it；　instantly　you　might　see　it　shining　like　a　golden　ball　on　a　　weather…vane。　And　when　the　gardener　came　again　to　demand　the　hand　of　the　Princess；　the　King；　seeing　all　his　retreat　cut　off；　called　his　daughter；　and　said　to　her；　〃My　dear　Grannonia；　I　have　tried　to　get　rid　of　a　suitor　who　asked　to　marry　you；　by　making　such　conditions　as　seemed　to　me　impossible。　But　as　I　am　beaten；　and　obliged　to　consent；　I　pray　you；　as　you　are　a　dutiful　daughter；　to　enable　me　to　keep　my　word；　and　to　be　content　with　what　Fate　wills　and　I　am　obliged　to　do。〃

〃Do　as　you　please；　father；〃　said　Grannonia；　〃I　shall　not　oppose　a　single　jot　of　your　will！〃　The　King；　hearing　this；　bade　Cola　Matteo　tell　the　serpent　to　come。

The　serpent　then　set　out　for　the　palace；　mounted　on　a　car　all　of　gold　and　drawn　by　four　golden　elephants。　But　wherever　he　came　the　people　fled　away　in　terror；　seeing　such　a　large　and　frightful　serpent　making　his　progress　through　the　city；　and　when　he　arrived　at　the　palace；　the　courtiers　all　trembled　like　rushes　and　ran　away；　and　even　the　very　scullions　did　not　dare　to　stay　in　the　place。　The　King　and　Queen；　also；　shivering　with　fear；　crept　into　a　chamber。　Only　Grannonia　stood　her　ground；　for　though　her　father　and　her　mother　cried　continually；　〃Fly；　fly；　Grannonia；　save　yourself；〃　she　would　not　stir　from　the　spot；　saying；　〃Why　should　I　fly　from　the　husband　you　have　given　me？〃　And　when　the　serpent　came　into　the　room；　he　took　Grannonia　by　the　waist；　in　his　tail；　and　gave　her　such　a　shower　of　kisses　that　the　King　writhed　like　a　worm；　and　went　as　pale　as　Death。　Then　the　serpent　carried　her　into　another　room　and　fastened　the　door；　and　shaking　off　his　skin　on　the　floor；　he　became　a　most　beautiful　youth；　with　a　head　all　covered　with　ringlets　of　gold；　and　with　eyes　that　would　enchant　you！

When　the　King　saw　the　serpent　go　into　the　room　with　his　daughter　and　shut　the　door　after　him；　he　said　to　his　wife；　〃Heaven　have　mercy　on　that　good　soul；　my　daughter！　for　she　is　dead　to　a　certainty；　and　that　accursed　serpent　has　doubtless　swallowed　her　down　like　the　yolk　of　an　egg。〃　Then　he　put　his　eye　to　the　　key…hole　to　see　what　had　become　of　her；　but　when　he　saw　the　exceeding　beauty　of　the　youth；　and　the　skin　of　the　serpent　that　he　had　left　lying　on　the　ground；　he　gave　the　door　a　kick；　then　in　they　rushed；　and；　taking　the　skin；　flung　it　into　the　fire　and　burned　it。

When　the　youth　saw　this；　he　cried；　〃Ah；　fools；　what　have　you　done！〃　and　instantly　he　was　turned　into　a　dove　and　flew　at　the　window；　where；　as　he　struck　his　head　through　the　panes；　he　cut　himself　sorely。

Grannonia；　who　thus　saw　herself　at　the　same　moment　happy　and　unhappy；　joyful　and　miserable；　rich　and　poor；　tore　her　hair　and　bewailed　her　fate；　reproaching　her　father　and　mother；　but　they　excused　themselves；　declaring　that　they　had　not　meant　to　do　harm。　But　she　went　on　weeping　and　wailing　until　Night　came　forth　to　drape　the　canopy　of　the　sky　for　the　funeral　of　the　Sun；　and　when　they　were　all　in　bed；　she　took　her　jewels；　which　were　in　a　　writing…desk；　and　went　out　by　the　back…door；　to　search　everywhere　for　the　treasure　she　had　lost。

She　went　out　of　the　city；　guided　by　the　light　of　the　moon；　and　on　her　way　she　met　a　fox；　who　asked　her　if　she　wished　for　company。　〃Of　all　things；　my　friend；〃　replied　Grannonia。　〃I　should　be　delighted；　for　I　am　not　over　well　acquainted　with　the　country。〃　So　they　travelled　along　together　till　they　came　to　a　wood；　where　the　trees；　at　play　like　children；　were　making　baby…houses　for　the　shadows　to　lie　in。　And　as　they　were　now　tired　and　wished　to　rest；　they　sheltered　under　the　leaves　where　a　fountain　was　playing　tricks　with　the　grass；　throwing　water　on　it　by　the　dishful。　There　they　stretched　themselves　on　a　mattress　of　tender　soft　grass；　and　paid　the　duty　of　repose　which　they　owed　to　Nature　for　the　merchandise　of　life。

They　did　not　awake　till　the　Sun；　with　his　usual　fire；　gave　the　signal　to　sailors　and　travellers　to　set　out　on　their　road；　and；　after　they　awoke；　they　still　stayed　for　some　time　listening　to　the　songs　of　the　birds；　in　which　Grannonia　took　great　delight。　The　fox；　seeing　this；　said　to　her；　〃You　would　feel　twice　as　much　pleasure　if；　like　me；　you　understood　what　they　are　saying。〃　At　these　words　　Grannoniafor　women　are　by　nature　as　curious　as　they　are　talkativebegged　the　fox　to　tell　her　what　he　had　heard　the　birds　saying。　So；　after　having　let　her　entreat　him　for　a　long　time；　to　raise　her　curiosity　about　what　he　was　going　to　relate；　he　told　her　that　the　birds　were　talking　to　each　other　about　what　had　lately　befallen　the　King's　son；　who　was　as　beautiful　as　a　jay。　Because　he　had　offended　a　wicked　ogress；　she　had　laid　him　under　a　spell　to　pass　seven　years　in　the　form　of　a　serpent；　and　when　he　had　nearly　ended　the　seven　years；　he　fell　in　love　with　the　daughter　of　a　King；　and　being　one　day　in　a　room　with　the　maiden；　he　had　cast　his　skin　on　the　ground；　when　her　father　and　mother　rushed　in　and　burned　it。　Then；　when　the　Prince　was　flying　away　in　the　shape　of　a　dove；　he　broke　a　pane　in　the　window　to　escape；　and　hurt　his　head　so　severely　that　he　was　given　over　by　the　doctors。

Grannonia；　who　thus　heard　her　own　onions　spoken　of；　asked　if　there　was　any　cure　for　this　injury。　The　fox　replied　that　there　was　none　other　than　by　anointing　his　wounds　with　the　blood　of　those　very　birds　that　had　been　telling　the　story。　When　Grannonia　heard　this；　she　fell　down　on　her　knees　to　the　fox；　entreating　him　to　catch　those　birds　for　her；　that　she　might　get　their　blood；　adding　that；　like　honest　comrades；　they　would　share　the　gain。　〃Fair　and　softly；〃　said　the　fox；　〃let　us　wait　till　night；　and　when　the　birds　are　gone　to　bed；　trust　me　to　climb　the　tree　and　capture　them；　one　after　the　other。〃

So　they　waited　till　Day　was　gone；　and　Earth　had　spread　out　her　great　black　board　to　catch　the　wax　that　might　drop　from　the　tapers　of　Night。　Then　the　fox；　as　soon　as　he　saw　all　the　birds　fast　asleep　on　the　branches；　stole　up　quite　softly；　and　one　after　another；　throttled　all　the　linnets；　larks；　tomtits；　blackbirds；　woodpeckers；　thrushes；　jays；　fly…catchers；　little　owls；　goldfinches；　bullfinches；　chaffinches；　and　redbreasts　that　were　on　the　trees。　And　when　he　had　killed　them　all　they　put　the　blood　in　a　little　bottle；　which　the　fox　carried　with　him；　to　refresh　himself　on　the　road。

Grannonia　was　so　overjoyed　that　she　hardly　touched　the　ground；　but　the　fox　said　to　her；　〃What　fine　joy　in　a　dream　is　this；　my　daughter！　You　have　done　nothing；　unless　you　mix　my　blood　also　with　that　of　the　birds〃；　and　so　saying　he　set　off　to　run　away。　Grannonia；　who　saw　all　her　hopes　likely　to　be　destroyed；　had　recourse　to　woman's　artflattery；　and　she　said　to　him；　〃Gossip　fox；　there　would　be　some　reason　for　your　saving　your　hide　if　I　were　not　under　so　many　obligations　to　you；　and　if　there　were　no　other　foxes　in　the　world。　But　you　know　how　much　I　owe　you；　and　that　there　is　no　scarcity　of　the　likes　of　you　on　these　plains。　Rely　on　my　good　faith。　Don't　act　like　the　cow　that　kicks　over　the　pail　which　she　has　just　filled　with　milk。　You　have　done　the　chief　part；　and　now　you　fail　at　the　last。　Do　stop！　Believe　me；　and　come　with　me　to　the　city　of　this　King；　where　you　may　sell　me　for　a　slave　if　you　will！〃

The　fox　never　dreamed　that　he　could　be　out…forced　by　a　woman；　so　he　agreed　to　travel　on　with　her。　But　they　had　hardly　gone　fifty　paces；　when　she　lifted　up　the　stick　she　carried　and　gave　him　such　a　neat　rap　that　he　forthwith　stretched　his　legs。　Then　she　put　his　blood　into　the　little　bottle；　and　setting　off　again　she　stayed　not　till　she　came　to　Big　Valley；　where　she　went　straightway　to　the　royal　palace；　and　sent　word　that　she　was　come　to　cure　the　Prince。

Then　the　King　ordered　her　to　be　brought　before　him；　and　he　was　astonished　at　seeing　a　girl　undertake　a　thing　which　the　best　doctors　in　his　kingdom　had　failed　to　do。　However；　a　trial　could　do　no　harm；　and　so　he　said　he　wished　greatly　to　see　the　experiment　made。　But　Grannonia　answered；　〃If　I　succeed；　you　must　promise　to　give　him　to　me　for　a　husband。〃　The　King；　who　looked　on　his　son　to　be　even　as　already　dead；　answered　her；　〃If　you　give　him　to　me　safe　and　sound；　I　will　give　him　to　you　sound　and　safe；　for　it　is　no　great　matter　to　give　a　husband　to　her　that　gives　me　a　son。〃

So　they　went　to　the　chamber　of　the　Prince；　and　hardly　had　she　anointed　him　with　the　blood；　when　he　found　himself　just　as　if　nothing　had　ever　ailed　him。　Grannonia；　when　she　saw　the　Prince　stout　and　hearty；　bade　the　King　keep　his　word；　whereupon　he；　turning　to　his　son；　said；　〃My　son；　a　moment　ago　you　were　all　but　dead；　and　now　I　see　you　alive；　and　can　hardly　believe　it。　Therefore；　as　I　have　promised　this　maiden　that　if　she　cured　you　she　should　have　you　for　a　husband；　now　enable　me　to　perform　my　promise；　by　all　the　love　you　bear　me；　since　gratitude　obliges　me　to　pay　this　debt。〃

When　the　Prince　heard　these　words；　he　said；　〃Sir；　I　would　that　I　was　free　to　prove　to　you　the　love　I　bear　you。　But　as　I　have　already　pledged　my　faith　to　another　woman；　you　would　not　consent　that　I　should　break　my　word；　nor　would　this　maiden　wish　that　I　should　do　such　a　wrong　to　her　whom　I　love；　nor　can　I；　indeed；　alter　my　mind！〃

Grannonia；　hearing　this；　felt　a　secret　pleasure　not　to　be　described　at　finding　herself　still　alive　in　the　memory　of　the　Prince。　Her　whole　face　became　crimson　as　she　said；　〃If　I　could　induce　this　maiden　to　resign　her　claims；　would　you　then　consent　to　my　wish？〃　〃Never；〃　replied　the　Prince；　〃will　I　banish　from　this　breast　the　fair　image　of　her　whom　I　l