stories from pentamerone-第6部分

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　statue　gave　no　answer；　he　thought　this　surely　was　a　man　of　few　words。　So　he　said；　〃Friend；　will　you　buy　my　cloth？　I'll　sell　it　you　cheap。〃　And　seeing　that　the　statue　still　remained　dumb；　he　exclaimed；　〃Faith；　then；　I've　found　my　man　at　last！　There；　take　the　cloth；　examine　it；　and　give　me　what　you　will；　to…morrow　I'll　return　for　the　money。〃

So　saying　Vardiello　left　the　cloth　on　the　spot　where　he　had　been　sitting；　and　the　first　mother's　son　who　passed　that　way　found　the　prize　and　carried　it　off。

When　Vardiello　returned　home　without　the　cloth；　and　told　his　mother　all　that　had　happened；　she　wellnigh　swooned　away；　and　said　to　him；　〃When　will　you　put　that　headpiece　of　yours　in　order？　See　now　what　tricks　you　have　played　meonly　think！　But　I　am　myself　to　blame；　for　being　too　tender…hearted；　instead　of　having　given　you　a　good　beating　at　first；　and　now　I　perceive　that　a　pitiful　doctor　only　makes　the　wound　incurable。　But　you'll　go　on　with　your　pranks　until　at　last　we　come　to　a　serious　falling…out；　and　then　there　will　be　a　long　reckoning；　my　lad！〃

〃Softly；　mother；〃　replied　Vardiello；　〃matters　are　not　so　bad　as　they　seem；　do　you　want　more　than　crown…pieces　brand　new　from　the　mint？　Do　you　think　me　a　fool；　and　that　I　don't　know　what　I　am　about？　To…morrow　is　not　yet　here。　Wait　awhile；　and　you　shall　see　whether　I　know　how　to　fit　a　handle　to　a　shovel。〃

The　next　morning；　as　soon　as　the　shades　of　Night；　pursued　by　the　constables　of　the　Sun；　had　fled　the　country；　Vardiello　repaired　to　the　courtyard　where　the　statue　stood；　and　said；　〃Good…day；　friend！　Can　you　give　me　those　few　pence　you　owe　me？　Come；　quick；　pay　me　for　the　cloth！〃　But　when　he　saw　that　the　statue　remained　speechless；　he　took　up　a　stone　and　hurled　it　at　its　breast　with　such　force　that　it　burst　a　vein；　which　proved；　indeed；　the　cure　to　his　own　malady；　for　some　pieces　of　the　statue　falling　off；　he　discovered　a　pot　full　of　golden　crown…pieces。　Then　taking　it　in　both　his　hands；　off　he　ran　home；　head　over　heels；　as　far　as　he　could　scamper；　crying　out；　〃Mother；　mother！　see　here！　what　a　lot　of　red　lupins　I've　got。　How　many！　how　many！〃

His　mother；　seeing　the　crown…pieces；　and　knowing　very　well　that　Vardiello　would　soon　make　the　matter　public；　told　him　to　stand　at　the　door　until　the　man　with　milk　and　new…made　cheese　came　past；　as　she　wanted　to　buy　a　pennyworth　of　milk。　So　Vardiello；　who　was　a　great　glutton；　went　quickly　and　seated　himself　at　the　door；　and　his　mother　showered　down　from　the　window　above　raisins　and　dried　figs　for　more　than　half　an　hour。　Whereupon　Vardiello；　picking　them　up　as　fast　as　he　could；　cried　aloud；　〃Mother；　mother！　bring　out　some　baskets；　give　me　some　bowls！　Here；　quick　with　the　tubs　and　buckets！　for　if　it　goes　on　to　rain　thus　we　shall　be　rich　in　a　trice。〃　And　when　he　had　eaten　his　fill　Vardiello　went　up　to　sleep。

It　happened　one　day　that　two　countrymenthe　food　and　life…blood　of　the　law…courtsfell　out；　and　went　to　law　about　a　gold　　crown…piece　which　they　had　found　on　the　ground。　And　Vardiello　passing　by　said；　〃What　jackasses　you　are　to　quarrel　about　a　red　lupin　like　this！　For　my　part　I　don't　value　it　at　a　pin's　head；　for　I've　found　a　whole　potful　of　them。〃

When　the　judge　heard　this　he　opened　wide　his　eyes　and　ears；　and　examined　Vardiello　closely；　asking　him　how；　when；　and　where　he　had　found　the　crowns。　And　Vardiello　replied；　〃I　found　them　in　a　palace；　inside　a　dumb　man；　when　it　rained　raisins　and　dried　figs。〃　At　this　the　judge　stared　with　amazement；　but　instantly　seeing　how　the　matter　stood；　he　decreed　that　Vardiello　should　be　sent　to　a　madhouse；　as　the　most　competent　tribunal　for　him。　Thus　the　stupidity　of　the　son　made　the　mother　rich；　and　the　mother's　wit　found　a　remedy　for　the　foolishness　of　the　son：　whereby　it　is　clearly　seen　that

　　　　　〃A　ship　when　steered　by　a　skilful　hand　　　　　　Will　seldom　strike　upon　rock　or　sand。〃



V

THE　FLEA

Resolutions　taken　without　thought　bring　disasters　without　remedy。　He　who　behaves　like　a　fool　repents　like　a　wise　man；　as　happened　to　the　King　of　High…Hill；　who　through　unexampled　folly　committed　an　act　of　madness　putting　in　jeopardy　both　his　daughter　and　his　honour。

Once　upon　a　time　the　King　of　High…Hill　being　bitten　by　a　flea　caught　him　by　a　wonderful　feat　of　dexterity；　and　seeing　how　handsome　and　stately　he　was　he　had　not　the　conscience　to　sentence　him　to　death。　So　he　put　him　into　a　bottle；　and　feeding　him　every　day　himself　the　little　animal　grew　at　such　a　rate　that　at　the　end　of　seven　months　it　was　necessary　to　shift　his　quarters；　for　he　was　grown　bigger　than　a　sheep。　The　King　then　had　him　flayed　and　his　skin　dressed。　Then　he　issued　a　proclamation　that　whoever　could　tell　what　this　skin　was　should　marry　the　Princess。

As　soon　as　this　decree　was　made　known　the　people　flocked　in　crowds　from　all　the　ends　of　the　world　to　try　their　luck。　One　said　that　it　belonged　to　an　ape；　another　to　a　lynx；　a　third　to　a　crocodile；　and　in　short　some　gave　it　to　one　animal　and　some　to　another；　but　they　were　all　a　hundred　miles　from　the　truth；　and　not　one　hit　the　nail　on　the　head。　At　last　there　came　to　this　trial　an　ogre　who　was　the　most　ugly　being　in　the　world；　the　very　sight　of　whom　would　make　the　boldest　man　tremble　and　quake　with　fear。　But　no　sooner　had　he　come　and　turned　the　skin　round　and　smelt　it　than　he　instantly　guessed　the　truth；　saying；　〃This　skin　belongs　to　the　king　of　fleas。〃

Now　the　King　saw　that　the　ogre　had　hit　the　mark；　and　not　to　break　his　word　he　ordered　his　daughter　Porziella　to　be　called。　Porziella　had　a　face　like　milk　and　roses；　and　was　such　a　miracle　of　beauty　that　you　would　never　be　tired　of　looking　at　her。　And　the　King　said　to　her；　〃My　daughter；　you　know　who　I　am。　I　cannot　go　back　from　my　promise　whether　a　king　or　a　beggar。　My　word　is　given；　I　must　keep　it　though　my　heart　should　break。　Who　would　ever　have　imagined　that　this　prize　would　have　fallen　to　an　ogre！　But　it　never　does　to　judge　hastily。　Have　patience　then　and　do　not　oppose　your　father；　for　my　heart　tells　me　that　you　will　be　happy；　for　rich　treasures　are　often　found　inside　a　rough　earthen　jar。〃


When　Porziella　heard　this　sad　saying　her　eyes　grew　dim；　her　face　turned　pale；　her　lips　fell；　her　knees　shook；　and　at　last；　bursting　into　tears；　she　said　to　her　father；　〃What　crime　have　I　committed　that　I　should　be　punished　thus！　How　have　I　ever　behaved　badly　toward　you　that　I　should　be　given　up　to　this　monster。　Is　this；　O　Father；　the　affection　you　bear　to　your　own　child？　Is　this　the　love　you　show　to　her　whom　you　used　to　call　the　joy　of　your　soul？　Do　you　drive　from　your　sight　her　who　is　the　apple　of　your　eye？　O　Father；　O　cruel　Father！　Better　had　it　been　if　my　cradle　had　been　my　death…bed　since　I　have　lived　to　see　this　evil　day。〃

Porziella　was　going　on　to　say　more　when　the　King　in　a　furious　rage　exclaimed；　〃Stay　your　anger！　Fair　and　softly；　for　appearances　deceive。　Is　it　for　a　girl　to　teach　her　father；　forsooth？　Have　done；　I　say；　for　if　I　lay　these　hands　upon　you　I'll　not　leave　a　whole　bone　in　your　skin。　Prithee；　how　long　has　a　child　hardly　out　of　the　nursery　dared　to　oppose　my　will？　Quick　then；　I　say；　take　his　hand　and　set　off　with　him　home　this　very　instant；　for　I　will　not　have　that　saucy　face　a　minute　longer　in　my　sight。〃

Poor　Porziella；　seeing　herself　thus　caught　in　the　net；　with　the　face　of　a　person　condemned　to　death；　with　the　heart　of　one　whose　head　is　lying　between　the　axe　and　the　block；　took　the　hand　of　the　ogre；　who　dragged　her　off　without　any　attendants　to　the　wood　where　the　trees　made　a　palace　for　the　meadow　to　prevent　its　being　discovered　by　the　sun；　and　the　brooks　murmured；　having　knocked　against　the　stones　in　the　dark；　while　the　wild　beasts　wandered　where　they　liked　without　paying　toll；　and　went　safely　through　the　thicket　whither　no　man　ever　came　unless　he　had　lost　his　way。　Upon　this　spot；　which　was　as　black　as　an　unswept　chimney；　stood　the　ogre's　house　ornamented　all　round　with　the　bones　of　the　men　whom　he　had　devoured。　Think　but　for　a　moment　of　the　horror　of　it　to　the　poor　girl。

But　this　was　nothing　at　all　in　comparison　with　what　was　to　come。　Before　dinner　she　had　peas　and　after　dinner　parched　beans。　Then　the　ogre　went　out　to　hunt　and　returned　home　laden　with　the　quarters　of　the　men　whom　he　had　killed；　saying；　〃Now；　wife；　you　cannot　complain　that　I　don't　take　good　care　of　you；　here　is　a　fine　store　of　eatables；　take　and　make　merry　and　love　me　well；　for　the　sky　will　fall　before　I　will　let　you　want　for　food。〃

Poor　Porziella　could　not　endure　this　horrible　sight　and　turned　her　face　away。　But　when　the　ogre　saw　this　he　cried；　〃Ha！　this　is　throwing　sweetmeats　before　swine；　never　mind；　however；　only　have　patience　till　to…morrow　morning；　for　I　have　been　invited　to　a　wild　boar　hunt　and　will　bring　you　home　a　couple　of　boars；　and　we'll　make　a　grand　feast　with　our　kinsfolk　and　celebrate　the　wedding。〃　So　saying　he　went　into　the　forest。

Now　as　Porziella　stood　weeping　at　the　window　it　chanced　that　an　old　woman　passed　by　who；　being　famished　with　hunger；　begged　some　food。　〃Ah；　my　good　woman；〃　said　Porziella；　〃Heaven　knows　I　am　in　the　power　of　the　ogre　who　brings　me　home　nothing　but　pieces　of　the　men　he　has　killed。　I　pass　the　most　miserable　life　possible；　and　yet　I　am　the　daughter　of　a　king　and　have　been　brought　up　in　luxury。〃　And　so　saying　she　began　to　cry　like　a　little　girl　who　sees　her　bread　and　butter　taken　away　from　her。

The　old　woman's　heart　was　softened　at　this　sight　and　she　said　to　Porziella；　〃Be　of　good　heart；　my　pretty　girl；　do　not　spoil　your　beauty　with　crying；　for　you　have　met　with　luck；　I　can　help　you　to　both　saddle　and　trappings。　Listen；　now。　I　have　seven　sons　who；　you　see；　are　seven　giants；　Mase；　Nardo；　Cola；　Micco；　Petrullo；　Ascaddeo；　and　Ceccone；　who　have　more　virtues　that　rosemary；　especially　Mase；　for　every　time　he　lays　his　ear　to　the　ground　he　hears　all　that　is　passing　within　thirty　miles　round。　Nardo；　every　time　he　washes　his　hands；　makes　a　great　sea　of　soapsuds。　Every　time　that　Cola　throws　a　bit　of　iron　on　the　ground　he　makes　a　field　of　sharp　razors。　Whenever　Micco　flings　down　a　little　stick　a　tangled　wood　springs　up。　If　Petrullo　lets　fall　a　drop　of　water　it　makes　a　terrible　river。　When　Ascaddeo　wishes　a　strong　tower　to　spring　up　he　has　only　to　throw　a　stone；　and　Ceccone　shoots　so　straight　with　the　cross…bow　that　he　can　hit　a