stories from pentamerone-第25部分

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As　soon　as　the　Falcon　came　home；　Fabiella　began　to　tell　him　that　a　great　longing　had　come　over　her　to　see　her　parents。　And　the　Falcon　answered；　〃Let　the　wish　pass；　wife；　for　that　cannot　be　unless　the　humour　takes　me。〃

〃Let　us　at　least；〃　said　Fabiella；　〃send　to　fetch　one　of　my　kinsfolk　to　keep　my　company。〃

〃And；　pray；　who　will　come　so　far　to　see　you？〃　replied　the　Falcon。

〃Nay；　but　if　any　one　should　come；〃　added　Fabiella；　〃would　you　be　displeased？〃

〃Why　should　I　be　displeased？〃　said　the　Falcon；　〃it　would　be　enough　that　he　were　one　of　your　kinsfolk　to　make　me　take　him　to　my　heart。〃

When　Fabiella　heard　this　she　took　courage；　and　calling　to　her　brother　to　come　forth；　she　presented　him　to　the　Falcon；　who　exclaimed；　〃Five　and　five　are　ten；　love　passes　through　the　glove；　and　water　through　the　boot。　A　hearty　welcome　to　you！　you　are　master　in　this　house；　command；　and　do　just　as　you　like。〃　Then　he　gave　orders　that　Tittone　should　be　served　and　treated　with　the　same　honour　as　himself。

Now　when　Tittone　had　stayed　a　fortnight　on　the　mountain；　it　came　into　his　head　to　go　forth　and　seek　his　other　sisters。　So　taking　leave　of　Fabiella　and　his　brother…in…law；　the　Falcon　gave　him　one　of　his　feathers；　saying；　〃Take　this　and　prize　it；　my　dear　Tittone；　for　you　may　one　day　be　in　trouble；　and　you　will　then　esteem　it　a　treasure。　Enoughtake　good　care　of　it；　and　if　ever　you　meet　with　any　mishap；　throw　it　on　the　ground；　and　say；　　Come　hither；　come　hither！'　and　you　shall　have　cause　to　thank　me。〃

Tittone　wrapped　the　feather　up　in　a　sheet　of　paper；　and；　putting　it　in　his　pocket；　after　a　thousand　ceremonies　departed。　And　travelling　on　and　on　a　very　long　way；　he　arrived　at　last　at　the　wood　where　the　Stag　lived　with　Vasta；　and　going；　half…dead　with　hunger；　into　the　garden　to　pluck　some　fruit；　his　sister　saw　him；　and　recognised　him　in　the　same　manner　as　Fabiella　had　done。　Then　she　presented　Tittone　to　her　husband；　who　received　him　with　the　greatest　friendship；　and　treated　him　truly　like　a　Prince。

At　the　end　of　a　fortnight；　when　Tittone　wished　to　depart；　and　go　in　search　of　his　other　sister；　the　Stag　gave　him　one　of　his　hairs；　repeating　the　same　words　as　the　Falcon　had　spoken　about　the　feather。　And　setting　out　on　his　way；　with　a　bagful　of　　crown…pieces　which　the　Falcon　had　given　him；　and　as　many　more　which　the　Stag　gave　him；　he　walked　on　and　on；　until　he　came　to　the　end　of　the　earth；　where；　being　stopped　by　the　sea　and　unable　to　walk　any　further；　he　took　ship；　intending　to　seek　through　all　the　islands　for　tidings　of　his　sister。　So　setting　sail；　he　went　about　and　about；　until　at　length　he　was　carried　to　an　island；　where　lived　the　Dolphin　with　Rita。　And　no　sooner　had　he　landed；　than　his　sister　saw　and　recognised　him　in　the　same　manner　as　the　others　had　done；　and　he　was　received　by　her　husband　with　all　possible　affection。

Now　after　a　while　Tittone　wished　to　set　out　again　to　go　and　visit　his　father　and　mother；　whom　he　had　not　seen　for　so　long　a　time。　So　the　Dolphin　gave　him　one　of　his　scales；　telling　him　the　same　as　the　others　had；　and　Tittone；　mounting　a　horse；　set　out　on　his　travels。　But　he　had　hardly　proceeded　half　a　mile　from　the　seashore；　when　entering　a　woodthe　abode　of　Fear　and　the　Shades；　where　a　continual　fair　of　darkness　and　terror　was　kept　uphe　found　a　great　tower　in　the　middle　of　a　lake；　whose　waters　were　kissing　the　feet　of　the　trees；　and　entreating　them　not　to　let　the　Sun　witness　their　pranks。　At　a　window　in　the　tower　Tittone　saw　a　most　beautiful　maiden　sitting　at　the　feet　of　a　hideous　dragon；　who　was　asleep。　When　the　damsel　saw　Tittone；　she　said　in　a　low　and　piteous　voice；　〃O　noble　youth；　sent　perchance　by　heaven　to　comfort　me　in　my　miseries　in　this　place；　where　the　face　of　a　Christian　is　never　seen；　release　me　from　the　power　of　this　tyrannical　serpent；　who　has　carried　me　off　from　my　father；　the　King　of　Bright…Valley；　and　shut　me　up　in　this　frightful　tower；　where　I　must　die　a　miserable　death。〃

〃Alas；　my　beauteous　lady！〃　replied　Tittone；　〃what　can　I　do　to　serve　thee？　Who　can　pass　this　lake？　Who　can　climb　this　tower？　Who　can　approach　yon　horrid　dragon；　that　carries　terror　in　his　look；　sows　fear；　and　causes　dismay　to　spring　up？　But　softly；　wait　a　minute；　and　we'll　find　a　way　with　another's　help　to　drive　this　serpent　away。　Step　by　stepthe　more　haste；　the　worse　speed：　we　shall　soon　see　whether　　tis　egg　or　wind。〃　And　so　saying　he　threw　the　feather；　the　hair；　and　the　scale；　which　his　brothers…in…law　had　given　him；　on　the　ground；　exclaiming；　〃Come　hither；　come　hither！〃　And　falling　on　the　earth　like　drops　of　summer　rain；　which　makes　the　frogs　spring　up；　suddenly　there　appeared　the　Falcon；　the　Stag；　and　the　Dolphin；　who　cried　out　all　together；　〃Behold　us　here！　what　are　your　commands？〃

When　Tittone　saw　this；　he　said　with　great　joy；　〃I　wish　for　nothing　but　to　release　this　poor　damsel　from　the　claws　of　yon　dragon；　to　take　her　away　from　this　tower；　to　lay　it　all　in　ruins；　and　to　carry　this　beautiful　lady　home　with　me　as　my　wife。〃

〃Hush！〃　answered　the　Falcon；　〃for　the　bean　springs　up　where　you　least　expect　it。　We'll　soon　make　him　dance　upon　a　sixpence；　and　take　good　care　that　he　shall　have　little　ground　enough。〃

〃Let　us　lose　no　time；〃　said　the　Stag；　〃troubles　and　macaroni　are　swallowed　hot。〃

So　the　Falcon　summoned　a　large　flock　of　griffins；　who；　flying　to　the　window　of　the　tower；　carried　off　the　damsel；　bearing　her　over　the　lake　to　where　Tittone　was　standing　with　his　three　　brothers…in…law；　and　if　from　afar　she　appeared　a　moon；　believe　me；　when　near　she　looked　truly　like　a　sun；　she　was　so　beautiful。

Whilst　Tittone　was　embracing　her　and　telling　her　how　he　loved　her；　the　dragon　awoke；　and；　rushing　out　of　the　window；　he　came　swimming　across　the　lake　to　devour　Tittone。　But　the　Stag　instantly　called　up　a　squadron　of　lions；　tigers；　panthers；　bears；　and　　wild…cats；　who；　falling　upon　the　dragon；　tore　him　in　pieces　with　their　claws。　Then　Tittone　wishing　to　depart；　the　Dolphin　said；　〃I　likewise　desire　to　do　something　to　serve　you。〃　And　in　order　that　no　trace　should　remain　of　the　frightful　and　accursed　place；　he　made　the　sea　rise　so　high　that；　overflowing　its　bounds；　it　attacked　the　tower　furiously；　and　overthrew　it　to　its　foundations。

When　Tittone　saw　these　things；　he　thanked　the　animals　in　the　best　manner　he　could；　telling　the　damsel　at　the　same　time　that　she　ought　to　do　so　too；　as　it　was　by　their　aid　she　had　escaped　from　peril。　But　the　animals　answered；　〃Nay；　we　ought　rather　to　thank　this　beauteous　lady；　since　she　is　the　means　of　restoring　us　to　our　proper　shapes；　for　a　spell　was　laid　upon　us　at　our　birth；　caused　by　our　mother's　having　offended　a　fairy；　and　we　were　compelled　to　remain　in　the　form　of　animals　until　we　should　have　freed　the　daughter　of　a　King　from　some　great　trouble。　And　now　behold　the　time　is　arrived　which　we　have　longed　for；　the　fruit　is　ripe；　and　we　already　feel　new　spirit　in　our　breasts；　new　blood　in　our　veins。〃　So　saying；　they　were　changed　into　three　handsome　youths；　and　one　after　another　they　embraced　their　brother…in…law；　and　shook　hands　with　the　lady；　who　was　in　an　ecstasy　of　joy。

When　Tittone　saw　this；　he　was　on　the　point　of　fainting　away；　and　heaving　a　deep　sigh；　he　said；　〃O　Heavens！　why　have　not　my　mother　and　father　a　share　in　this　happiness？　They　would　be　out　of　their　wits　with　joy　were　they　to　see　such　graceful　and　handsome　sons…in…law　before　their　eyes。〃

〃Nay；〃　answered　the　Princes；　〃　tis　not　yet　night；　the　shame　at　seeing　ourselves　so　transformed　obliged　us　to　flee　from　the　sight　of　men；　but　now　that；　thank　Heaven！　we　can　appear　in　the　world　again；　we　will　all　go　and　live　with　our　wives　under　one　roof；　and　spend　our　lives　merrily。　Let　us；　therefore；　set　out　instantly；　and　before　the　Sun　to…morrow　morning　unpacks　the　bales　of　his　rays　at　the　custom…house　of　the　East；　our　wives　shall　be　with　you。〃

So　saying；　in　order　that　they　might　not　have　to　go　on　footfor　there　was　only　an　old　broken…down　mare　which　Tittone　had　　broughtthe　brothers　caused　a　most　beautiful　coach　to　appear；　drawn　by　six　lions；　in　which　they　all　five　seated　themselves；　and　having　travelled　the　whole　day；　they　came　in　the　evening　to　a　tavern；　where；　whilst　the　supper　was　being　prepared；　they　passed　the　time　in　reading　all　the　proofs　of　men's　ignorance　which　were　scribbled　upon　the　walls。　At　length；　when　all　had　eaten　their　fill　and　retired　to　rest；　the　three　youths；　feigning　to　go　to　bed；　went　out　and　walked　about　the　whole　night　long；　till　in　the　morning；　when　the　Stars；　like　bashful　maidens；　retire　from　the　gaze　of　the　Sun；　they　found　themselves　in　the　same　inn　with　their　wives；　whereupon　there　was　a　great　embracing；　and　a　joy　beyond　the　beyonds。　Then　they　all　eight　seated　themselves　in　the　same　coach；　and　after　a　long　journey　arrived　at　Green…Bank；　where　they　were　received　with　incredible　affection　by　the　King　and　Queen；　who　had　not　only　regained　the　capital　of　four　children；　whom　they　had　considered　lost；　but　likewise　the　interest　of　three　sons…in…law　and　a　daughter…in…law；　who　were　verily　four　columns　of　the　Temple　of　Beauty。　And　when　the　news　of　the　adventures　of　their　children　was　brought　to　the　Kings　of　Fair…Meadow　and　Bright…Valley；　they　both　came　to　the　feasts　which　were　made；　adding　the　rich　ingredient　of　joy　to　the　porridge　of　their　satisfaction；　and　receiving　a　full　recompense　for　all　their　past　misfortunes；　for

　　　　　〃One　hour　of　joy　dispels　the　cares　　　　　　And　sufferings　of　a　thousand　years。〃



XXII

THE　DRAGON

He　who　seeks　the　injury　of　another　finds　his　own　hurt；　and　he　who　spreads　the　snares　of　treachery　and　deceit　often　falls　into　them　himself；　as　you　shall　hear　in　the　story　of　a　queen；　who　with　her　own　hands　constructed　the　trap　in　which　she　was　caught　by　the　foot。

There　was　one　time　a　King　of　High…Shore；　who　practised　such　tyranny　and　cruelty　that；　whilst　he　was　once　gone　on　a　visit　of　pleasure　to　a　castle　at　a　distance　from　the　city；　his　royal　seat　was　usurped　by　a　certain　sorceress。　Whereupon；　having　consulted　a　wooden　statue　which　used　to　give　oracular　responses；　it　answered　that　he　would　recover　his　dominions　when　the　sorceress　should　lose　her　sight。　But　seeing　that　the　sorceress；　besides　being　well　guarded；　knew　at　a　glance　the　people　whom　he　sent　to　annoy　her；　and　did　dog's　justice　upon　them；　he　becam