stories from pentamerone-第22部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



〃Where　is　the　counterpane？〃　replied　the　ogre；　and　stretching　out　his　hand　to　the　floor　he　touched　Corvetto's　face；　whereupon　he　set　up　a　loud　cry；〃The　imp！　the　imp！　Hollo；　here；　lights！　Run　quickly！〃till　the　whole　house　was　turned　topsy…turvy　with　the　noise。　But　Corvetto；　after　throwing　the　clothes　out　of　the　window；　let　himself　drop　down　upon　them。　Then　making　up　a　good　bundle；　he　set　out　on　the　road　to　the　city；　where　the　reception　he　met　with　from　the　King；　and　the　vexation　of　the　courtiers；　who　were　bursting　with　spite；　are　not　to　be　told。　Nevertheless　they　laid　a　plan　to　fall　upon　Corvetto　with　the　rear…guard　of　their　roguery；　and　went　again　to　the　King；　who　was　almost　beside　himself　with　delight　at　the　tapestrywhich　was　not　only　of　silk　embroidered　with　gold；　but　had　besides　more　than　a　thousand　devices　and　thoughts　worked　on　it。　And　amongst　the　rest；　if　I　remember　right；　there　was　a　cock　in　the　act　of　crowing　at　daybreak；　and　out　of　its　mouth　was　seen　coming　a　motto　in　Tuscan：　IF　I　ONLY　SEE　YOU。　And　in　another　part　a　drooping　heliotrope　with　a　Tuscan　motto：　AT　　SUNSETwith　so　many　other　pretty　things　that　it　would　require　a　better　memory　and　more　time　than　I　have　to　relate　them。

When　the　courtiers　came　to　the　King；　who　was　thus　transported　with　joy；　they　said　to　him；　〃As　Corvetto　has　done　so　much　to　serve　you；　it　would　be　no　great　matter　for　him；　in　order　to　give　you　a　signal　pleasure；　to　get　the　ogre's　palace；　which　is　fit　for　an　emperor　to　live　in；　for　it　has　so　many　rooms　and　chambers；　inside　and　out；　that　it　can　hold　an　army。　And　you　would　never　believe　all　the　courtyards；　porticoes；　colonnades；　balconies；　and　spiral　chimneys　which　there　arebuilt　with　such　marvellous　architecture　that　Art　prides　herself　upon　them；　Nature　is　abashed；　and　Stupor　is　in　delight。〃

The　King；　who　had　a　fruitful　brain　which　conceived　quickly；　called　Corvetto　again；　and　telling　him　the　great　longing　that　had　seized　him　for　the　ogre's　palace；　begged　him　to　add　this　service　to　all　the　others　he　had　done　him；　promising　to　score　it　up　with　the　chalk　of　gratitude　at　the　tavern　of　memory。　So　Corvetto　instantly　set　out　heels　over　head；　and　arriving　at　the　ogre's　palace；　he　found　that　the　ogress；　whilst　her　husband　was　gone　to　invite　the　kinsfolk；　was　busying　herself　with　preparing　the　feast。　Then　Corvetto　entering；　with　a　look　of　compassion；　said；　〃Good…day；　my　good　woman！　Truly；　you　are　a　brave　housewife！　But　why　do　you　torment　the　very　life　out　of　you　in　this　way？　Only　yesterday　you　were　ill　in　bed；　and　now　you　are　slaving　thus；　and　have　no　pity　on　your　own　flesh。〃

〃What　would　you　have　me　do？〃　replied　the　ogress。　〃I　have　no　one　to　help　me。〃

〃I　am　here；〃　answered　Corvetto；　〃ready　to　help　you　tooth　and　nail。〃

〃Welcome；　then！〃　said　the　ogress；　〃and　as　you　proffer　me　so　much　kindness；　just　help　me　to　split　four　logs　of　wood。〃

〃With　all　my　heart；〃　answered　Corvetto；　〃but　if　four　logs　are　not　enow；　let　me　split　five。〃　And　taking　up　a　newly…ground　axe；　instead　of　striking　the　wood；　he　struck　the　ogress　on　the　neck；　and　made　her　fall　to　the　ground　like　a　pear。　Then　running　quickly　to　the　gate；　he　dug　a　deep　hole　before　the　entrance；　and　covering　it　over　with　bushes　and　earth；　he　hid　himself　behind　the　gate。

As　soon　as　Corvetto　saw　the　ogre　coming　with　his　kinsfolk；　he　set　up　a　loud　cry　in　the　courtyard；　〃Stop；　stop！　I've　caught　him！〃　and　〃Long　live　the　King　of　Wide…River。〃　When　the　ogre　heard　this　challenge；　he　ran　like　mad　at　Corvetto；　to　make　a　hash　of　him。　But　rushing　furiously　towards　the　gate；　down　he　tumbled　with　all　his　companions；　head　over　heels　to　the　bottom　of　the　pit；　where　Corvetto　speedily　stoned　them　to　death。　Then　he　shut　the　door；　and　took　the　keys　to　the　King；　who；　seeing　the　valour　and　cleverness　of　the　lad；　in　spite　of　ill…fortune　and　the　envy　and　annoyance　of　the　courtiers；　gave　him　his　daughter　to　wife；　so　that　the　crosses　of　envy　had　proved　rollers　to　launch　Corvetto's　bark　of　life　on　the　sea　of　greatness；　whilst　his　enemies　remained　confounded　and　bursting　with　rage；　and　went　to　bed　without　a　candle；　for

　　　　　〃The　punishment　of　ill　deeds　past；　　　　　　Though　long　delay'd；　yet　comes　at　last。〃



XIX

THE　BOOBY

An　ignorant　man　who　associates　with　clever　people　has　always　been　more　praised　than　a　wise　man　who　keeps　the　company　of　fools；　for　as　much　profit　and　fame　as　one　may　gain　from　the　former；　so　much　wealth　and　honour　one　may　lose　by　the　fault　of　the　latter；　and　as　the　proof　of　the　pudding　is　in　the　eating；　you　will　know　from　the　story　which　I　am　going　to　tell　you　whether　my　proposition　be　true。

There　was　once　a　man　who　was　as　rich　as　the　sea；　but　as　there　can　never　be　any　perfect　happiness　in　this　world；　he　had　a　son　so　idle　and　good…for…nothing　that　he　could　not　tell　a　bean　from　a　cucumber。　So　being　unable　any　longer　to　put　up　with　his　folly；　he　gave　him　a　good　handful　of　crowns；　and　sent　him　to　trade　in　the　Levant；　for　he　well　knew　that　seeing　various　countries　and　mixing　with　divers　people　awaken　the　genius　and　sharpen　the　judgment；　and　make　men　expert。　

Moscione　（for　that　was　the　name　of　the　son）　got　on　horseback；　and　began　his　journey　towards　Venice；　the　arsenal　of　the　wonders　of　the　world；　to　embark　on　board　some　vessel　bound　for　Cairo；　and　when　he　had　travelled　a　good　day's　journey；　he　met　with　a　person　who　was　standing　fixed　at　the　foot　of　a　poplar；　to　whom　he　said；　〃What　is　your　name；　my　lad？　Whence　are　you；　and　what　is　your　trade？〃　And　the　lad　replied；　〃My　name　is　Lightning；　I　am　from　Arrowland；　and　I　can　run　like　the　wind。〃　〃I　should　like　to　see　a　proof　of　it；〃　said　Moscione；　and　Lightning　answered；　〃Wait　a　moment；　and　you　will　see　whether　it　is　dust　or　flour。〃

When　they　had　stood　waiting　a　little　while；　a　doe　came　bounding　over　the　plain；　and　Lightning；　letting　her　pass　on　some　way；　to　give　her　the　more　law；　darted　after　her　so　rapidly　and　light　of　foot；　that　he　would　have　gone　over　a　place　covered　with　flour　without　leaving　the　mark　of　his　shoe；　and　in　four　bounds　he　came　up　with　her。　Moscione；　amazed　at　this　exploit；　asked　if　he　would　come　and　live　with　him；　and　promised　to　pay　him　royally。

So　Lightning　consented；　and　they　went　on　their　way　together；　but　they　had　not　journeyed　many　miles　when　they　met　another　youth；　to　whom　Moscione　said；　〃What　is　your　name；　comrade？　What　country　are　you　from？　And　what　is　your　trade？〃　〃My　name；〃　replied　the　lad；　〃is　Quick…ear；　I　am　from　Vale…Curious；　and　when　I　put　my　ear　the　ground　I　hear　all　that　is　passing　in　the　world　without　stirring　from　the　spot。　I　perceive　the　monopolies　and　agreements　of　tradespeople　to　raise　the　prices　of　things；　the　ill…offices　of　courtiers；　the　appointments　of　lovers；　the　plots　of　robbers；　the　reports　of　spies；　the　complaints　of　servants；　the　gossiping　of　old　women；　and　the　oaths　of　sailors；　so　that　no　one　has　ever　been　able　to　discover　so　much　as　my　ears　can。〃

〃If　that　be　true；〃　said　Moscione；　〃tell　me　what　they　are　now　saying　at　my　home。〃

So　the　lad　put　his　ear　to　the　ground；　and　replied；　〃An　old　man　is　talking　to　his　wife；　and　saying；　　Praised　be　Sol　in　Leo！　I　have　got　rid　from　my　sight　of　that　fellow　Moscione；　that　face　of　　old…fashioned　crockery；　that　nail　in　my　heart。　By　travelling　through　the　world　he　will　at　least　become　a　man；　and　no　longer　be　such　a　stupid　ass；　such　a　simpleton；　such　a　lose…the…day　fellow；　　such　a　…'〃

〃Stop；　stop！〃　cried　Moscione；　〃you　tell　the　truth　and　I　believe　you。　So　come　along　with　me；　for　you　have　found　the　road　to　　good…luck。〃

〃Well　and　good！〃　said　the　youth。　So　they　all　went　on　together　and　travelled　ten　miles　farther；　when　they　met　another　man；　to　whom　Moscione　said；　〃What　is　your　name；　my　brave　fellow？　Where　were　you　born？　And　what　can　you　do　in　the　world？〃　And　the　man　answered；　〃My　name　is　Shoot…straight；　I　am　from　Castle　Aimwell；　and　I　can　shoot　with　a　crossbow　so　point…blank　as　to　hit　a　　crab…apple　in　the　middle。〃

〃I　should　like　to　see　the　proof；〃　said　Moscione。　So　the　lad　charged　his　crossbow；　took　aim；　and　made　a　pea　leap　from　the　top　of　a　stone；　whereupon　Moscione　took　him　also　like　the　others　into　his　company。　And　they　travelled　on　another　day's　journey；　till　they　came　to　some　people　who　were　building　a　large　pier　in　the　scorching　heat　of　the　sun；　and　who　might　well　say；　〃Boy；　put　water　to　the　wine；　for　my　heart　is　burning。〃　So　Moscione　had　compassion　on　them；　and　said；　〃My　masters；　how　is　it　you　have　the　head　to　stand　in　this　furnace；　which　is　fit　to　roast　a　buffalo？〃　And　one　of　them　answered；　〃Oh；　we　are　as　cool　as　a　rose；　for　we　have　a　young　man　here　who　blows　upon　us　from　behind　in　such　a　manner　that　it　seems　just　as　if　the　west　wind　were　blowing。〃　〃Let　me　see　him；　I　pray；〃　cried　Moscione。　So　the　mason　called　the　lad；　and　Moscione　said　to　him；　〃Tell　me；　by　the　life　of　your　father；　what　is　your　name？　what　country　are　you　from？　and　what　is　your　profession！〃　And　the　lad　replied；　〃My　name　is　Blow…blast；　I　am　from　Windy…land；　and　I　can　make　all　the　winds　with　my　mouth。　If　you　wish　for　a　zephyr；　I　will　breathe　one　that　will　send　you　in　transports；　if　you　wish　for　a　squall；　I　will　throw　down　houses。〃

〃Seeing　is　believing；〃　said　Moscione。　Whereupon　　Blow…blast　breathed　at　first　quite　gently；　so　that　it　seemed　to　be　the　wind　that　blows　at　Posilippo　towards　evening；　then　turning　suddenly　to　some　trees；　he　sent　forth　such　a　furious　blast　that　it　uprooted　a　row　of　oaks。

When　Moscione　saw　this　he　took　him　for　a　companion；　and　travelling　on　as　far　again；　he　met　another　lad；　to　whom　he　said；　〃What　is　your　name；　if　I　may　make　so　bold？　Whence　are　you；　if　one　may　ask？　And　what　is　your　trade；　if　it　is　a　fair　question？〃　And　the　lad　answered；　〃My　name　is　Strong…back；　I　am　from　Valentino；　and　I　have　such　strength　that　I　can　take　a　mountain　on　my　back；　and　it　seems　to　me　only　a　feather。〃

〃If　that　be　the　case；〃　said　Moscione；　〃you　deserve　to　be　the　king　of　the　custom…house；　and　you　should　be　chosen　for　standard…bearer　on　the　first　of　May。　　But　I　should　like　to　see　a　proof　of　what　you　say。〃

Then　Strong…back　began　to　load　himself　with　masses　of　rock；　trunks　of　trees；　and　so　many　other　weights　that　a　thousand　large　waggons　could　not　have　carried　them；　which；　when　Moscione　saw；　he　agreed　with　the　lad　to　join　him。

So　they　travelled　on　till　they　came　to　Fair…Flower；　the　King　of