金丝雀王子
金丝雀王子
金丝雀王子&意大利童话
从前有一个国王,他有一个女儿。这女孩的母亲去世后,继母容不下她,总对国王说她的坏话。姑娘一再为自己辩白,可继母说尽了坏话,用尽了手段,尽管国王很疼爱自己的女儿,最终也不得不顺从王后之意,让她把姑娘送走。不过一定要给公主安排一个好去处,不能亏待了她。继母说:“这件事,您就放心吧,不必操劳了。”可一转脸,她就命人把公主关进森林中的一个城堡里了。还挑选了一批宫中贵妇,让她们到城堡陪伴公主,并下令不许公主出去,连窗户也不能靠近,当然,她也照着王宫里的标准支付这些侍女的报酬。她给公主安排了一间不错的房间,吃的喝的都可以满足她,只是不许她跨出大门一步。但是,那些拿着优厚报酬的侍女,整天无所事事,只顾自己寻乐,根本不管公主。
国王时不时问妻子:“我们的女儿现在怎么样了?过得好吗?”而王后为了让国王相信自己关心公主,就去看望她。到了城堡,刚下马车,侍女们就都跑上前来,告诉她公主一切都好,每天高高兴兴的,让她放心。王后到公主的房间转了一下,说:“你在这里过得不错,是吗?这里什么也不缺吧?你看上去脸色很好,这里的空气很新鲜,你舒舒服服地住着吧。再见!”说完就走了。回到王宫,她告诉国王她从没见过他的女儿这样高兴过。
而实际上公主总是孤独地待在房间里,那些陪伴她的侍女连管都不管她,她整天站在窗前伤心地度过一天又一天,如果不是想起在窗台上垫了一个坐垫,她那支在窗台上的双肘早就磨出茧子来了。窗户朝着森林,公主整天整天地望着窗外的树梢、远处的白云和猎人们行走的小路。有一天,她看见一个王子从小路上经过,他是追赶一只野猪才来到这座城堡附近的。他知道这是一座荒废了多年的城堡,当他望见上面有人居住的样子,觉得很惊奇。只见城墙垛间晾晒着衣物,窗户打开着,烟囱冒着烟。他正惊奇地看着,突然发现城堡上面的一扇窗户里,站着一个美丽的姑娘,就冲着她微微一笑。因为相距太远无法交谈,王子和公主又是微笑又是点头,又是鞠躬,就这样含情脉脉地对视了一个小时。
第二天,那个王子身着黄色猎装,假装打猎,又来到了城堡下,他们对望了两个小时。这一次除了微笑、点头、鞠躬,他们两人还都用手捂住自己的心口,然后向对方挥动着手帕。第三天,王子站了三个小时,他们还互相用手传递着飞吻。第四天,王子像前几次一样又来了,这时一个女巫从一棵树后探出身,大声笑起来:“哈哈,哈哈,哈哈!”
“你是谁?有什么好笑的?”王子厉声喝道。
“我从没见过像你们两个这样隔得这么远又这么痴情的恋人。”
“你知道我怎么才能上去见她呢?老婆婆。”王子问。
女巫说:“看你挺可爱的,我就帮你一把。”然后,就去敲城堡的门。她递给侍女们一本老旧的厚书,皱巴巴、脏兮兮的,说是她送给公主的一份礼物,好让公主读着它打发时间。侍女们把书送给了公主,公主急忙打开来一看,上面写着:这是一本魔书。如果你从前往后翻,你的心上人就会变成一只鸟,而如果你从后往前翻,你的心上人就会由鸟变成人。
公主立即跑到窗前,把书放在窗台上,急不可耐地翻起来,同时紧盯着那个身着黄色猎装、站在小路上的小伙子。只见小伙子的两臂动了起来,上下拍动变成了翅膀,而小伙子变成了一只金丝雀。金丝雀从地上飞起来,飞得比树梢还高,然后直奔窗口飞来,停在窗台上的垫子上。公主情不自禁地把这只美丽的金丝雀小心翼翼地捧在手里,亲吻着它,这时,她想起这是一个小伙子,感到很难为情,可转念一想,又觉得很自然了,恨不能马上让它变回先前的那个小伙子。她拿起那本书,向前快速地翻着,只见金丝雀竖起黄色的羽毛,拍动着翅膀,慢慢变成了双臂,又重新变回到那个身着黄色猎装、打着绑腿的小伙子。小伙子跪在她脚下,对她说:“我爱你!”
两个人互相倾诉着爱慕之情,不知不觉中夜幕已经降临。公主缓缓地开始翻着书页。小伙子双眼紧盯着公主,变成了一只金丝雀,它跳上阳台,又跳上屋檐,随后,迎风飞起来,盘旋着向下,落在一根低矮的树枝上。这时,公主又把书向前翻,金丝雀又变成了王子,王子跳到地上,吹了声口哨唤来了猎狗,朝着公主的窗口抛了一个飞吻,便沿着小路远去了。
就这样,那本魔书每天都为了让王子飞到城堡尖塔上的窗口翻一遍,又为把他变回人身翻一遍,然后又为了让他飞去翻一遍,为了让他回家又翻一遍。两个年轻人从没感受过如此的幸福。
一天,王后来看继女,她到公主的房间转了一圈后,还是假惺惺地说:“你过得不错,是吗?你看上去瘦了一点,但这也没什么,对吗?你过得从没有这样舒服过,是吗?”她一边说着,一边环顾四周查看一下有什么不妥。她打开窗户往外看,发现了那个身着黄色猎装的王子带着猎狗走进城堡。王后想:“要是这个小骚货胆敢在窗口卖弄风情,我就好好教训她一下。”于是,她让公主去端来一杯水和糖,而她急忙从头发上摘下自己戴的五六根别针,插在垫子里,针尖朝上,但又使别人很难发现。“这样,她就会尝到趴在窗台上的滋味了。”公主把她要的水和糖端过来,她却说:“噢,我又不渴了,你喝了吧,小可怜!我得回到你父亲那里。你什么也不需要,是吧?那我走了。”说完就走了。
王后的马车刚一走远,公主就急切地翻起书来,王子变成了金丝雀,飞向窗台,箭一般落在垫子上。金丝雀当即疼得大叫起来,鲜血染红了黄色的羽毛,是垫子里的那几根针刺进了金丝雀的胸脯。它挣扎着抬起那对摇晃不稳的翅膀,借着风力,摇摆着飞下去,张着翅膀摔在地上。公主吓懵了,弄不清到底发生了什么事,急急忙忙向前翻着书页,希望金丝雀变回人身后,王子的伤痛能够消失。唉,变回人身后,只见他黄色猎装的胸前被刺破了几处很深的伤口,鲜血滴个不停,他只好仰卧在地上,他的那几只猎狗围在他的身旁。
猎狗的狂叫声引来了另外一些猎人,大家赶来救他,用一副树枝做的担架把他抬走了,王子甚至没有睁眼看一下他的恋人的窗口,而她正为王子的伤担惊受怕呢。
王子被带回王宫后,没向任何人透露受伤的经过,御医们也无法给他更多的帮助。他的伤口不仅没愈合,反而越发厉害。国王让人在所有的大街小巷都贴上布告,重金招募能治好王子伤病的人,结果无人敢应募。
这时,公主因为见不到心上人而焦虑万分。她把床单剪成细条,搓紧,然后系在一起,结成一根很长很长的绳子,趁着黑夜顺着绳子从高高的城堡塔尖上滑了下来。她顺着那条打猎的小路向前走着,但是到处是漆黑一片和狼的嗥叫声。公主想还是等早上天亮再走吧,就摸黑来到一株空心的老槐树下,钻进树洞里,曲着腿坐下,她累极了,很快就睡着了。她醒来的时候,天还黑着,可她隐约听到有口哨声,侧耳倾听,又听到一声,接着听到了第三声,第四声。而且她还远远看见有四支烛火在向她靠近。这是四个女巫,她们从世界的四个地方来,要聚在这棵树下碰面。公主躲在树里,没让她们发现,她从树干的缝隙中,看见四个老妇人每人手里都拿着根蜡烛,大呼小叫地笑着,问候着:“哈哈!哈哈!哈哈!”
她们在树下点起了一堆篝火,坐在旁边取暖,一边烤着几只蝙蝠当晚餐。当她们都饱了,就开始互相聊起各自遇上的新鲜事。
“我看见土耳其的苏丹了,他又买了二十个妻子了。”
“我看见中国的皇帝了,他的辫子已经长到三米长了。”
“我看见食人国的国王了,他一不留神,把自己的宠臣吃了。”
“我看见这附近的那个国王了,他的儿子病了,没有人能治好他,因为只有我知道那方法。”
“什么方法?”另外三个女巫问。
“在他的房间里,有一块活动的地砖,打开这块砖,就能找到一个细颈瓶,瓶里有一种药膏,可以愈合他所有的伤口。”
公主在树洞里惊喜得差点叫出声来,她赶快用手捂住自己的嘴,保持沉默。女巫们最后把自己要说的话都讲出来了,就各自上路回去了。公主从树洞里跳出来,趁着黎明的微光,朝城里走去。路过第一家旧货铺时,她买了一件医生穿的长袍和一副眼镜,然后来到王宫前敲开了门。仆人看到这个医生带的器具简陋,不想放她进去,国王却说:“反正,我儿子的病已经到了无可救药的地步了,再差的医术也不会伤害到我那可怜的儿子了,也让他试试吧。”假医生请求让她跟病人单独待一会,国王也同意了。
王子神志不清地躺在床上呻吟着,公主望着自己的心上人,很想大哭一场,也很想吻遍他全身,但是,她强忍住自己的感情,要赶快按照那个巫婆的秘诀救王子。她在宽大的房间里来来回回地走着,终于找到了一块活动的地砖,打开一看,里边有一个小瓶,装着药膏。公主把瓶里的药膏抹在王子的伤口上,她刚把涂着药膏的手指放到伤口上,伤口马上就愈合了。公主又惊又喜,去请国王进来。国王看见儿子的伤口全消失了,脸上也渐渐出现了血色,正躺在床上安静地睡着。
国王说:“医生,告诉我你想要什么,我领地上所有的财宝都可以给你。”
医生说:“我不想要钱,只要王子用的那块刻着族徽的盾牌,王子的战旗和他的那件被血染红的破了的黄色猎装。”她得到这三件东西后就离开了。
三天过后,王子又去打猎。他从那个森林中的城堡下经过的时候,连看都没往公主的窗口那边看。公主马上取来那本书,翻着书页,王子尽管全力抵抗,但也只能变成一只金丝雀。他飞到房间里,公主又让他变回人身。他说:“让我走,你用发针刺伤了我还不够吗?还想给我更多的痛苦?”确实,王子对公主已经没有任何爱慕之情了,他以为是公主造成了他的不幸。
公主差点昏过去,说:“是我救了你!是我给你治好了伤!”
王子却说:“假话,给我治伤的是一个外国医生,他不要任何酬谢,只带走了我的族徽、战旗和我的那件被血染红的猎装!”
“这是你的族徽,这是你的战旗,这是你的猎装!我就是那个医生!那些发针是我的那位残忍的继母放的!”
王子惊愕地望着公主的眼睛,觉得她从没像现在这样美丽过。他扑倒在公主的脚下,请求她的原谅,并表明了自己全部的感激之情和爱慕之意。
当天晚上,王子就禀告父王要娶森林中城堡上住的那位姑娘为妻。国王却说:“你只能娶国王或皇帝的女儿为妻。”
“我要娶曾经救过我命的姑娘。”
于是,王宫上下忙着准备婚礼,他们邀请了附近所有的国王和王后。公主的父亲也来参加了,他对女儿的事一无所知。当他看到新娘出现在自己面前时,惊呼道:“我的女儿!”
“怎么?我儿子的新娘是您的女儿?为什么您以前从没提过她?”新郎的父亲问。
新娘说:“因为他们根本没把我当人看待,我的继母把我关押起来。”她边说边用手指着那个王后。
国王听到女儿所有的不幸遭遇,对女儿他感到万分内疚,对狠心的妻子感到愤怒。他等不及回家就把王后抓了起来。婚礼在喜庆的气氛中举行,所有的人都感到欢乐、满足,只有那个恶妇在等待着悲惨的结局。
(都灵地区)
TheCanaryPrince
Therewasakingwhohadadaughter.Hermotherwasdead,andthestepmotherwasjealousofthegirlandalwaysspokebadlyofhertotheking.Themaidendefendedherselfasbestasshecould,butthestepmotherwassocontraryandinsistentthattheking,thoughhelovedhisdaughter,finallygavein.Hetoldthequeentosendthegirlaway,buttosomeplacewhereshewouldbecomfortable,forhewouldneverallowhertobemistreated."Havenofearofthat,"saidthestepmother,whothenhadthegirlshutupinacastleintheheartoftheforest.Tokeephercompany,thequeenselectedagroupofladies-in-waiting,orderingthemnevertoletthegirlgooutofthehouseoreventolookoutthewindows.Naturallytheyreceivedasalaryworthyofaroyalhousehold.Thegirlwasgivenabeautifulroomandallshewantedtoeatanddrink.Theonlythingshecouldntdowasgooutdoors.Buttheladies,enjoyingsomuchleisuretimeandmoney,thoughtonlyofthemselvesandpaidnoattentiontoher.
Everynowandthenthekingwouldaskhiswife,"Andhowisourdaughter?Whatisshedoingwithherselfthesedays?"Toprovethatshedidtakeaninterestinthegirl,thequeencalledonher.Theminuteshesteppedfromhercarriage,theladies-in-waitingallrushedoutandtoldhernottoworry,thegirlwaswellandhappy.Thequeenwentuptothegirlsroomforamoment."Soyourecomfortable,areyou?Youneednothing,doyou?Yourelookingwell,Isee;thecountryairisdoingyougood.Stayhappy,now.Bye-bye,dear!"Andoffshewent.Sheinformedthekingshehadneverseenhisdaughtersocontent.
Onthecontrary,alwasyaloneintheroom,withladies-in-waitingwhodidntsomuchaslookather,theprincessspentherdayswistfullyatthewindow.Shesatthereleaningonthewindowsill,andhadshenotthoughttoputapillowunderthem,shewouldhavegotcallusesonherelbows.Thewindowlookedoutontheforest,andalldaylongtheprincesssawnothingbuttreetops,cloudsand,downbelow,thehunterstrail.Overthattrailonedaycamethesonofakinginpursuitofawildboar.Nearingthecastleknowntohavebeenunoccupiedfornotellinghowmanyyears,hewasamazedtoseewashingspreadoutonthebattlements,smokerisingfromthechimneys,andopencasements.Ashelookedabouthim,henoticedabeautifulmaidenatoneoftheupperwindowsandsmiledather.Themaidensawtheprincetoo,dressedinyellow,withhuntersleggingsandgun,andsmilingather,soshesmiledbackathim.Forawholehour,theysmiled,bowed,andcurtsied,beingtoofaraparttocommunicateinanyotherway.
Thenextday,underthepretextofgoinghunting,thekingssonreturned,dressedinyellow,andtheystaredateachotherthistimefortwohours;inadditiontosmiles,bows,andcurtsies,theyputahandovertheirheartsandwavedhandkerchiefsatgreatlength.Thethirddaytheprincestoppedforthreehours,andtheybleweachotherkisses.Thefourthdayhewasthereasusual,whenfrombehindatreeawitchpeepedandbegantoguffaw:"Ho,ho,ho,ho!"
"Whoareyou?Whatssofunny?"snappedtheprince.
"Whatssofunny?Twoloverssillyenoughttostaysofarapart!"
"Wouldyouknowhowtogetanyclosertoher,ninny?"askedtheprince.
"Ilikeyouboth,"saidthewitch,"andIllhelpyou."
Sheknockedatthedoorandhandedtheladies-in-waitingabigoldbookwithyellow,smudgypages,sayingitwasagifttotheprincesssotheyoungladycouldpassthetimereading.Theladiestookittothegirl,whoopeneditatonceandread:"Thisisamagicbook.Turnthepagesforward,andthemanbecomesabird;turnthemback,andthebirdbecomesamanoncemore."
Thegirlrantothewindow,placedthebookonthesill,andturnedthepagesingreathastewhilewatchingtheyouthinyellowstandinginthepath.Movinghisarms,hewassoonflappingwingsandchangedintoacanary,dressedinyellowashewas.Uphesoaredabovethetreetopsandheadedstraightforthewindow,comingtorestonthecushionedsill.Theprincesscouldntresistpickingupthebeautifulcanaryandkissinghim;thenrememberinghewasayoungman,sheblushed.Butonsecondthoughtshewasntashamedatallandmadehastetoturnhimbackintoayouth.Shepickedupthebookandthumbedbackwardthroughit;thecanaryruffledhisyellowfeathers,flappedhiswings,thenmovedarmsandwasoncemoretheyouthdressedinyellowwiththehuntersleggings,whokneltbeforeher,declaring,"Iloveyou!"
Bythetimetheyfinishedconfessingalltheirloveforoneanother,itwasevening.Slowly,theprincessleafedthroughthebook.Lookingintohereyestheyouthturnedbackintoacanary,perchedonthewindowsill,thenontheeaves,thentrustingtothewind,flewdowninwidearcs,lightingonthelowerlimbofatree.Atthat,sheturnedthepagesbackinthebookandthecanarywasaprinceoncemorewhojumpeddown,whistledforhisdogs,threwakisstowardthewindow,andcontinuedalongthetrailoutofsight.
Soeverydaythepageswereturnedforwardtobringtheprinceflyinguptothewindowatthetopofthetower,thenturnedbackwardtorestorehishumanform,thenforwardagaintoenablehimtoflyaway,andfinallybackwardforhimtogethome.Neverintheirwholelifehadthetwoyoungpeopleknownsuchhappiness.
Onedaythequeencalledonherstepdaughter.Shewalkedabouttheroom,saying,"Youreallright,arentyou?Iseeyoureatrifleslimmer,butthatscertainlynocauseforconcern,isit?Itstrue,isntit,youveneverfeltbetter?"Asshetalked,shecheckedtoseethateverythingwasinplace.Sheopenedthewindowandpeeredout.Herecametheprinceinyellowalongthetrailwithhisdogs."Ifthissillygirlthinkssheisgoingtoflirtatthewindow,"saidthestepmothertoherself,"shehasanotherthoughtcomingtoher."Shesentthegirlforaglassofwaterandsomesugar,thenhurriedlyremovedfiveorsixhairpinsfromherownhairandconcealedtheminthepillowwiththesharppointsstickingstraightup."Thatwillteachhertoleanonthewindowsill!"Thegirlreturnedwiththewaterandsugar,butthequeensaid,"Oh,Imnolongerthirsty;youdrinkit,mydear!Imustbegettingbacktoyourfather.Youdontneedanything,doyou?Well,goodbye."Andshewasoff.
Assoonasthequeenscarriagewasoutofsight,thegirlhurriedlyflippedoverthepagesofthebook,theprinceturnedintoacanary,flewtothewindow,andstruckthepillowlikeanarrow.Heinstantlyletoutashrillcryofpain.Theyellowfeatherswerestainedwithblood;thecanaryhaddriventhepinsintohisbreast.Herosewithaconvulsiveflapping,trustedhimselftothewind,descendedinirregulararcs,andlitonthegroundwithoutstretchedwings.Thefrightenedprincess,notyetfullyawareofwhathadhappened,quicklyturnedthepagesbackinthehopetherewouldbenowoundswhenheregainedhishumanform.Alas,theprincereappeareddrippingbloodfromthedeepstabsthathadrenttheyellowgarmentonhischest,andlaybacksurroundedbyhisdogs.
Atthehowlingofthedogs,theotherhunterscametohisaidandcarriedhimoffonastretcherofbranches,buthedidntsomuchasglanceupatthewindowofhisbeloved,whowasstilloverwhelmedwithgriefandfright.
Backathispalace,theprinceshowednopromiseofrecovery,nordidthedoctorsknowwhattodoforhim.Thewoundsrefusedtohealover,andconstantlyhurt.Hisfatherthekingpostedproclamationsoneverystreetcornerpromisingafortunetoanyonewhocouldcurehim,butnotasoulturneduptotry.
Theprincessmeanwhilewasconsumedwithlongingforherlover.Shecuthersheetsintothinstripswhichshetiedonetotheotherinalong,longrope.Thenonenightsheletherselfdownfromthehightowerandsetoutonthehunterstrail.Butbecauseofthethickdarknessandthehowlsofthewolves,shedecidedtowaitfordaylight.Findinganoldoakwithahollowtrunk,shenestledinsideand,inherexhaustion,fellasleepatonce.Shewokeupwhileitwasstillpitch-dark,undertheimpressionshehadheardawhistle.Listeningclosely,sheheardanotherwhistle,thenathirdandafourth,afterwhichshesawfourcandleflamesadvancing.Theywerefourwitchescomingfromthefourcornersoftheearthtotheirappointedmeetingunderthattree.Throughacrackinthetrunktheprincess,unseenbythem,spiedonthefourcronescarryingcandlesandsneeringawelcometooneanother:"Ah,ah,ah!"
Theylitabonfireunderthetreeandsatdowntowarmthemselvesandroastacoupleofbatsfordinner.Whentheyhadeatentheirfill,theybeganaskingoneanotherwhattheyhadseenofinterestoutintheworld.
"IsawthesultanofTurkey,whoboughthimselftwentynewwives."
"IsawtheemperorofChina,whohaslethispigtailgrowthreeyardslong."
"Isawthekingofthecannibals,whoatehischamberlainbymistake."
"Isawthekingofthisregion,whohasthesicksonnobodycancure,sinceIaloneknowtheremedy."
"Andwhatisit?"askedtheotherwitches.
"Inthefloorofhisroomisaloosetile.Alloneneedtodoisliftthetile,andthereunderneathisaphialcontaininganointmentthatwouldhealeveryoneofhiswounds."
Itwasalltheprincessinsidethetreecoulddonottoscreamforjoy.Bythistimethewitcheshadtoldoneanotheralltheyhadtosay,soeachwentherownway.Theprincessjumpedfromthetreeandsetoutinthedawnforthecity.Atthefirstsecondhanddealersshecameto,sheboughtanolddoctorsgownandapairofspectacles,andknockedattheroyalpalace.Seeingthelittledoctorwithsuchscantparaphernalia,theservantswerentgoingtolethimin,butthekingsaid,"Whatharmcouldhedomysonwhocantbeanyworseoffthanheisnow?Lethimseewhathecando."Theshamdoctoraskedtobeleftalonewiththesickman,andtherequestwasgranted.
Findingherlovergroaningandunconsciousinhissickbed,theprincessfeltlikeweepingandsmotheringhimwithkisses.Butsherestrainedherselfbecauseoftheurgencyofcarryingoutthewitchsdirections.Shepacedupanddowntheroomuntilshesteppedonaloosetile,whichsheraisedanddiscoveredaphialofointment.Withitsherubbedtheprinceswounds,andnosoonerhadshetouchedeachonewithointmentthanthewounddisappearedcompletely.Overjoyedshecalledtheking,whocameinandsawhissonsleepingpeacefully,withthecolorbackinhischeeks,andnotraceofanyofthewounds.
"Askforwhateveryoulike,doctor,"saidtheking."Allthewealthinthekingdomisyours."
"Iwishnomoney,"repliedthedoctor."Justgivemetheprincesshieldbearingthefamilycoat-of-arms,hisstandard,andhisyellowvestthatwasrentandbloodied."Uponreceivingthethreeitems,shetookherleave.
Threedayslater,thekingssonwasagainouthunting.Hepassedthecastleintheheartoftheforest,butdidntdeigntolookupattheprincessswindow.Sheimmediatelypickedupthebook,leafedthroughit,andtheprincehadnochoicebutchangeintoacanary.Heflewintotheroom,andtheprincessturnedhimbackintoaman."Letmego,"hesaid."Isntitenoughtohavepiercedmewiththosepinsofyoursandcausedmesomuchagony?"Theprince,intruth,nolongerlovedthegirl,blamingherforhismisfortune.
Onthevergeoffainting,sheexclaimed,"ButIsavedyourlife!Iamtheonewhocuredyou!"
"Thatsnotso,"saidtheprince."Mylifewassavedbyaforeigndoctorwhoaskedfornorecompenseexceptmycoat-of-arms,mystandard,andmybloodiedvest!"
"Hereareyourcoat-of-arms,yourstandard,andyourvest!Thedoctorwasnoneotherthanmyself!Thepinswerethecrueldoingofmystepmother!"
Theprincegazedintohereyes,dumbfounded.Neverhadshelookedsobeautiful.Hefellatherfeetaskingherforgivenessanddeclaringhisdeepgratitudeandlove.
Thatveryeveningheinformedhisfatherhewasgoingtomarrythemaideninthecastleintheforest.
"Youmaymarryonlythedaughterofakingoranemperor,"repliedhisfather.
"Ishallmarrythewomanwhosavedmylife."
Sotheymadepreparationsforthewedding,invitingallthekingsandqueensinthevicinity.Alsopresentwastheprincesssroyalfather,whohadbeeninformedofnothing.Whenthebridecameout,helookedatherandexclaimed,"Mydaughter!"
"What!"saidtheroyalhost."Mysonsbrideisyourdaughter?Whydidshenottellus?"
"Because,"explainedthebride,"Inolongerconsidermyselfthedaughterofamanwholetmystepmotherimprisonme."Andshepointedatthequeen.
Learningofallhisdaughtersmisfortune,thefatherwasfilledwithpityforthegirlandwithloathingforhiswickedwife.Nordidhewaituntilhewasbackhometohavethewomanseized.Thusthemarriagewascelebratedtothesatisfactionandjoyofall,withtheexceptionofthatwretch.
(Turin)
NOTES:
"TheCanaryPrince"IlPrincipecanarino)fromRua(inArchivioperlostudiodelletradizionipopolari,Palermo-Turin,VI[1887],401),Turin.
ThisfolktalefromTurin,withitsballadlikepathos,developsamedievalmotif,whichisalsoliterary.(ButMariedeFranceslai,Yonec,isquitedifferent,beingthestoryofanadultery.)Mypersonaltoucheshereincludetheprincesyellowsuitandleggings,thedescriptionofthetransformationinaflutterofwings,thegossipofthewitcheswhotraveledtheworldover,andabitofstylisticcunning.
Copyright:ItalianFolktalesSelectedandRetoldbyItaloCalvino,
translatedbyGeorgeMartin,
PantheonBooks,NewYork1980