stories from pentamerone-第40部分

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When　the　Prince　heard　this；　frightened；　terrified；　and　aghast；　he　set　off　running　at　full　speed；　and　ran　till　he　came　to　another　country；　where　he　again　met　an　old　woman；　more　ugly　even　than　the　first；　to　whom　he　told　all　his　story。　Then　the　old　woman　said　to　him　in　like　manner；　〃Away　with　you！　unless　you　wish　to　serve　as　a　breakfast　to　the　little　ogresses　my　daughters；　but　go　straight　on；　and　you　will　soon　find　what　you　want。〃

The　Prince；　hearing　this；　set　off　running　as　fast　as　a　dog　with　a　kettle　at　its　tail；　and　he　went　on　and　on；　until　he　met　another　old　woman；　who　was　sitting　upon　a　wheel；　with　a　basket　full　of　little　pies　and　sweetmeats　on　her　arm；　and　feeding　a　number　of　jackasses；　which　thereupon　began　leaping　about　on　the　bank　of　a　river　and　kicking　at　some　poor　swans。　When　the　Prince　came　up　to　the　old　woman；　after　making　a　hundred　salaams；　he　related　to　her　the　story　of　his　wanderings；　whereupon　the　old　woman；　comforting　him　with　kind　words；　gave　him　such　a　good　breakfast　that　he　licked　his　fingers　after　it。　And　when　he　had　done　eating　she　gave　him　three　citrons；　which　seemed　to　be　just　fresh　gathered　from　the　tree；　and　she　gave　him　also　a　beautiful　knife；　saying；　〃You　are　now　free　to　return　to　Italy；　for　your　labour　is　ended；　and　you　have　what　you　were　seeking。　Go　your　way；　therefore；　and　when　you　are　near　your　own　kingdom　stop　at　the　first　fountain　you　come　to　and　cut　a　citron。　Then　a　fairy　will　come　forth　from　it；　and　will　say　to　you；　　Give　me　to　drink。'　Mind　and　be　ready　with　the　water　or　she　will　vanish　like　quicksilver。　But　if　you　are　not　quick　enough　with　the　second　fairy；　have　your　eyes　open　and　be　watchful　that　the　third　does　not　escape　you；　giving　her　quickly　to　drink；　and　you　shall　have　a　wife　after　your　own　heart。〃

The　Prince；　overjoyed；　kissed　the　old　woman's　hairy　hand　a　hundred　times；　which　seemed　just　like　a　hedgehog's　back。　Then　taking　his　leave　he　left　that　country；　and　coming　to　the　seashore　sailed　for　the　Pillars　of　Hercules；　and　arrived　at　our　Sea；　and　after　a　thousand　storms　and　perils；　he　entered　port　a　day's　distance　from　his　own　kingdom。　There　he　came　to　a　most　beautiful　grove；　where　the　Shades　formed　a　palace　for　the　Meadows；　to　prevent　their　being　seen　by　the　sun；　and　dismounting　at　a　fountain；　which；　with　a　crystal　tongue；　was　inviting　the　people　to　refresh　their　lips；　he　seated　himself　on　a　Syrian　carpet　formed　by　the　plants　and　flowers。　Then　he　drew　his　knife　from　the　sheath　and　began　to　cut　the　first　citron；　when　lo！　there　appeared　like　a　flash　of　lightning　a　most　beautiful　maiden；　white　as　milk　and　red　as　a　strawberry；　who　said；　〃Give　me　to　drink！〃　The　Prince　was　so　amazed；　bewildered；　and　captivated　with　the　beauty　of　the　fairy　that　he　did　not　give　her　the　water　quick　enough；　so　she　appeared　and　vanished　at　one　and　the　same　moment。　Whether　this　was　a　rap　on　the　Prince's　head；　let　any　one　judge　who；　after　longing　for　a　thing；　gets　it　into　his　hands　and　instantly　loses　it　again。

Then　the　Prince　cut　the　second　citron；　and　the　same　thing　happened　again；　and　this　was　a　second　blow　he　got　on　his　pate；　so　making　two　little　fountains　of　his　eyes；　he　wept；　face　to　face；　tear　for　tear；　drop　for　drop；　with　the　fountain；　and　sighing　he　exclaimed；　〃Good　heavens；　how　is　it　that　I　am　so　unfortunate？　Twice　I　have　let　her　escape；　as　if　my　hands　were　tied；　and　here　I　sit　like　a　rock；　when　I　ought　to　run　like　a　greyhound。　Faith　indeed　I　have　made　a　fine　hand　of　it！　But　courage；　man！　there　is　still　another；　and　three　is　the　lucky　number；　either　this　knife　shall　give　me　the　fay；　or　it　shall　take　my　life　away。〃　So　saying　he　cut　the　third　citron；　and　forth　came　the　third　fairy；　who　said　like　the　others；　〃Give　me　to　drink。〃　Then　the　Prince　instantly　handed　her　the　water；　and　behold　there　stood　before　him　a　delicate　maiden；　white　as　a　junket　with　red　streaks；a　thing　never　before　seen　in　the　world；　with　a　beauty　beyond　compare；　a　fairness　beyond　the　beyonds；　a　grace　more　than　the　most。　On　that　hair　Jove　had　showered　down　gold；　of　which　Love　made　his　shafts　to　pierce　all　hearts；　that　face　the　god　of　Love　had　tinged　with　red；　that　some　innocent　soul　should　be　hung　on　the　gallows　of　desire；　at　those　eyes　the　sun　had　lighted　two　fireworks；　to　set　fire　to　the　rockets　of　sighs　in　the　breast　of　the　beholder；　to　the　roses　on　those　lips　Venus　had　given　their　colour；　to　wound　a　thousand　enamoured　hearts　with　their　thorns。　In　a　word；　she　was　so　beautiful　from　head　to　foot；　that　a　more　exquisite　creature　was　never　seen。　The　Prince　knew　not　what　had　happened　to　him；　and　stood　lost　in　amazement；　gazing　on　such　a　beautiful　offspring　of　a　citron；　and　he　said　to　himself；　〃Are　you　asleep　or　awake；　Ciommetiello？　Are　your　eyes　bewitched；　or　are　you　blind？　What　fair　white　creature　is　this　come　forth　from　a　yellow　rind？　What　sweet　fruit；　from　the　sour　juice　of　a　citron？　What　lovely　maiden　sprung　from　a　citron…pip？〃

At　length；　seeing　that　it　was　all　true　and　no　dream；　he　embraced　the　fairy；　giving　her　a　hundred　and　a　hundred　kisses；　and　after　a　thousand　tender　words　had　passed　between　themwords　which；　as　a　setting；　had　an　accompaniment　of　sugared　kissesthe　Prince　said；　〃My　soul；　I　cannot　take　you　to　my　father's　kingdom　without　handsome　raiment　worthy　of　so　beautiful　a　person；　and　an　attendance　befitting　a　Queen；　therefore　climb　up　into　this　　oak…tree；　where　Nature　seems　purposely　to　have　made　for　us　a　hiding…place　in　the　form　of　a　little　room；　and　here　await　my　return；　for　I　will　come　back　on　wings；　before　a　tear　can　be　dry；　with　dresses　and　servants；　and　carry　you　off　to　my　kingdom。〃　So　saying；　after　the　usual　ceremonies；　he　departed。

Now　a　black　slave；　who　was　sent　by　her　mistress　with　a　pitcher　to　fetch　water；　came　to　the　well；　and　seeing　by　chance　the　reflection　of　the　fairy　in　the　water；　she　thought　it　was　herself；　and　exclaimed　in　amazement；　〃Poor　Lucia；　what　do　I　see？　Me　so　pretty　and　fair；　and　mistress　send　me　here。　No；　me　will　no　longer　bear。〃　So　saying　she　broke　the　pitcher　and　returned　home；　and　when　her　mistress　asked　her；　〃Why　have　you　done　this　mischief？〃　she　replied；　〃Me　go　to　the　well　alone；　pitcher　break　upon　a　stone。〃　Her　mistress　swallowed　this　idle　story；　and　the　next　day　she　gave　her　a　pretty　little　cask；　telling　her　to　go　and　fill　it　with　water。　So　the　slave　returned　to　the　fountain；　and　seeing　again　the　beautiful　image　reflected　in　the　water；　she　said　with　a　deep　sigh；　〃Me　no　ugly　slave；　me　no　broad…foot　goose；　but　pretty　and　fine　as　mistress　mine；　and　me　not　go　to　the　fountain！〃　So　saying；　smash　again！　she　broke　the　cask　into　seventy　pieces；　and　returned　grumbling　home；　and　said　to　her　mistress；　〃Ass　come　past；　tub　fell　down　at　the　well；　and　all　was　broken　in　pieces。〃　The　poor　mistress；　on　hearing　this；　could　contain　herself　no　longer；　and　seizing　a　broomstick　she　beat　the　slave　so　soundly　that　she　felt　it　for　many　days；　then　giving　her　a　leather　bag；　she　said；　〃Run；　break　your　neck；　you　wretched　slave；　you　grasshopper…legs；　you　black　beetle！　Run　and　fetch　me　this　bag　full　of　water；　or　else　I'll　hang　you　like　a　dog；　and　give　you　a　good　thrashing。〃

Away　ran　the　slave　heels　over　head；　for　she　had　seen　the　flash　and　dreaded　the　thunder；　and　while　she　was　filling　the　leather　bag；　she　turned　to　look　again　at　the　beautiful　image；　and　said；　〃Me　fool　to　fetch　water！　better　live　by　one's　wits；　such　a　pretty　girl　indeed　to　serve　a　bad　mistress！〃　So　saying；　she　took　a　large　pin　which　she　wore　in　her　hair；　and　began　to　pick　holes　in　the　leather　bag；　which　looked　like　an　open　place　in　a　garden　with　the　rose　of　a　　watering…pot　making　a　hundred　little　fountains。　When　the　fairy　saw　this　she　laughed　outright；　and　the　slave　hearing　her；　turned　and　espied　her　hiding…place　up　in　the　tree；　whereat　she　said　to　herself；　〃O　ho！　you　make　me　be　beaten？　but　never　mind！〃　Then　she　said　to　her；　〃What　you　doing　up　there；　pretty　lass？〃　And　the　fairy；　who　was　the　very　mother　of　courtesy；　told　her　all　she　knew；　and　all　that　had　passed　with　the　Prince；　whom　she　was　expecting　from　hour　to　hour　and　from　moment　to　moment；　with　fine　dresses　and　servants；　to　take　her　with　him　to　his　father's　kingdom　where　they　would　live　happy　together。

When　the　slave；　who　was　full　of　spite；　heard　this；　she　thought　to　herself　that　she　would　get　this　prize　into　her　own　hands；　so　she　answered　the　fairy；　〃You　expect　your　husband；me　come　up　and　comb　your　locks；　and　make　you　more　smart。〃　And　the　fairy　said；　〃Ay；　welcome　as　the　first　of　May！〃　So　the　slave　climbed　up　the　tree；　and　the　fairy　held　out　her　white　hand　to　her；　which　looked　in　the　black　paws　of　the　slave　like　a　crystal　mirror　in　a　frame　of　ebony。　But　no　sooner　did　the　slave　begin　to　comb　the　fairy's　locks；　than　she　suddenly　stuck　a　hairpin　into　her　head。　Then　the　fairy；　feeling　herself　pricked；　cried　out；　〃Dove；　dove！〃　and　instantly　she　became　a　dove　and　flew　away；　whereupon　the　slave　stripped　herself；　and　making　a　bundle　of　all　the　rags　that　she　had　worn；　she　threw　them　a　mile　away；　and　there　she　sat；　up　in　the　tree；　looking　like　a　statue　of　jet　in　a　house　of　emerald。

In　a　short　time　the　Prince　returned　with　a　great　cavalcade；　and　finding　a　cask　of　caviar　where　he　had　left　a　pan　of　milk；　he　stood　for　awhile　beside　himself　with　amazement。　At　length　he　said；　〃Who　has　made　this　great　blot　of　ink　on　the　fine　paper　upon　which　I　thought　to　write　the　brightest　days　of　my　life？　Who　has　hung　with　mourning　this　newly　white…washed　house；　where　I　thought　to　spend　a　happy　life？　How　comes　it　that　I　find　this　touchstone；　where　I　left　a　mine　of　silver；　that　was　to　make　me　rich　and　happy？〃　But　the　crafty　slave；　observing　the　Prince's　amazement；　said；　〃Do　not　wonder；　my　Prince；　for　me　turned　by　a　wicked　spell　from　a　white　lily　to　a　black　coal。〃

The　poor　Prince；　seeing　that　there　was　no　help　for　the　mischief；　drooped　his　head　and　swallowed　this　pill；　and　bidding　the　slave　come　down　from　the　tree；　he　ordered　her　to　be　clothed　from　head　to　foot　in　new　dresses。　Then　sad　and　sorrowful；　cast…down　and　woe…begone；　he　took　his　way　back　with　the　slave　to　his　own　country；　where　the　King　and　Queen；　who　had　gone　out　six　miles　to　meet　them；　received　them　with　the　same　pleasure　as　a　prisoner　feels　at　the　announcement　of　a　sentence　of　hanging；　seeing　the　fine　choice　their　foolish　son　had　made；　who　after　travelling　about　so　long