蛇&意大利童话

    有一个农夫每天都到田里去除草，到了中午，他的三个女儿轮流给他送饭。一天大女儿来送饭，穿过树林的时候，她因为走累了，就坐在一块石头上休息。刚一坐下，就听到地下发出一声巨大的敲击声，一条蛇从石头下边钻了出来。姑娘吓得扔下盛饭的篮子，大喊救命，逃走了。结果，那天爸爸一整天都饿着肚子，晚上回到家里，狠狠地训斥了三个女儿。

    第二天，轮到二女儿去送饭。她也坐在那块石头上休息，也看见了那条蛇，也吓得逃走了。于是三女儿说：“我去，我去！我不怕。”她带去了两篮子食物，当她听见声响看到蛇钻出来的时候，就递给它一篮子食物。蛇对她说：“把我带回你家，我会给你带来好运。”女孩就把它藏在围裙里，给田里的爸爸送去另一份午餐后，回到了家，把蛇放在自己的床下。蛇一天天长大，不能再待在床下了。它要离开了，走之前，它送给姑娘三个法宝作为报答：当姑娘哭的时候，掉下来的眼泪会变成一串串珍珠和银子；笑的时候，会从头上掉下来一粒粒的金石榴籽；洗手的时候，会从她的手指间掉出各种各样的鱼。

    一天，家里什么吃的也没有了，父亲和姐姐们饿得无精打采的。三女儿突然试着洗洗手，果然，脸盆里立即游满了鱼。两个姐姐心生嫉妒，硬说这里面一定有什么邪术，让父亲最好把她关在阁楼上。

    姑娘从阁楼的窗户，可以看见王宫的花园，国王的儿子正在花园里踢球。踢着踢着，一不小心，王子滑倒了，摔了个屁股蹲。姑娘禁不住大笑起来。她一笑，一粒粒的金石榴籽像雨点般落了下去。王子弄不清这些金石榴籽是从哪里掉下来的，因为姑娘很快关上了窗户。

    第二天，王子又来到花园踢球，他发现花园中长出一棵石榴树，石榴树长得很高，还结出了果实。王子让人去摘石榴果，但石榴树眼看着就长高了，正好就高出一个手掌；怎么够也够不到。看到人们连一片树叶也摘不到，国王就召集身边的几位智者，让他们搞清楚这棵树到底有什么魔力。其中一位年纪最大的老智者说，只有一个姑娘才能把这些石榴果摘下来，而这个姑娘将会成为王子的新娘。

    国王立即派人贴出布告，让每个待嫁的姑娘都到王宫花园来试着摘石榴，违令者斩首。结果，各家各户的姑娘都来了，可是不论她们用多高的梯子，都够不到果子。农夫的两个大女儿也来了，但很快就从梯子上摔了下来。国王又派人继续到各家去搜寻，看有没有遗漏的姑娘，这样，被关在阁楼上的姑娘就被找到了。她刚被送到树旁，树枝就垂下来，把石榴果送到她的手上。所有人都惊奇地大叫：“她就是新娘！她就是新娘！”其中，王子叫得最欢。

    婚礼已经准备就绪，一直就怀着妒意的两个姐姐也被邀请去参加婚礼。姐妹三人坐同一辆马车进宫。马车穿过一处森林时，停了下来。两个姐姐让小妹下车，砍下她的双手，挖出她的双眼，把她当作死人扔在了树丛中。而大姐则穿上新娘的衣服，去见王子。王子看见新娘一时变得如此丑陋，疑惑不解，但是因为大姐与小妹妹长得有些相像，王子觉得是自己先前看走眼了。

    失去了双眼、双手的姑娘在树林中哭着。这时一个马夫正好路过，他很同情她，扶她上了自己的驴背，好把她带回家。姑娘让马夫看看地上，只见满地是姑娘眼泪变成的珍珠和银子，马夫把这些东西拿出去卖了，得了一千多里拉。这样，虽然姑娘没有双手、双眼，不能干活，也不能照顾家，但生活得还算满意。

    有一天，姑娘感觉到有一条蛇缠在她的一条腿上，这正是她的老朋友，那条她曾照顾过的蛇。蛇告诉她：“你知道吗？你的姐姐嫁给了王子，老国王死后，她就成了王后，现在她怀孕了，非常想吃无花果。”

    姑娘就对马夫说：“你驮上一袋无花果，到王宫给王后送去吧。”

    马夫说：“这个季节，怎么可能找到无花果呢？”当时正是冬天。

    可是，到了早上，马夫来到园子里一看，发现无花果树真的结出了果子，而且只有果实，一片叶子也没有。他装满了两篮子，驮在驴背上。

    马夫问：“这些冬天里长出的无花果我该怎么要价呢？”

    姑娘说：“你就说要换一对眼珠。”

    马夫按照姑娘的话提出了要求，但是不论是王后、国王，还是王后的妹妹，都不愿意挖出自己的眼珠。姐妹二人商量了一下，说：“那就把小妹的那对眼珠给他吧，我们留着它们有什么用？”就这样，她们用妹妹的这对眼珠换了两篮无花果。

    马夫把这对眼珠带了回来交给姑娘，姑娘把它们重新装好后，又像以前一样可以看东西了。

    后来，王后又想吃桃子，国王便派人来找马夫，问他能不能像找到无花果那样，找到桃子。第二天早上，马夫家院子中的桃树果然长出桃子，他又用驴子立即驮到王宫里去了。国王、王后问他要多少钱，马夫说：“要换一双手。”

    但是没人愿意砍下自己的双手，即使是那些想讨好国王的人也不愿意。王后姐妹又私下商量：“把小妹的那双手给他吧。”

    姑娘得到了自己的一双手，重新接到胳膊上，活动如初。

    不久，王后分娩了，生下了一只蝎子。尽管如此，国王还是同样为她举行了庆祝宴会，邀请了所有的人来参加。小妹妹穿得像王后般高贵，成为晚会上最漂亮的姑娘。国王爱上了她，而且在爱上她的同时发觉她就是自己先前看中的那个新娘。姑娘向国王讲述了自己的经历，边讲边笑，边讲边哭，笑的时候，金石榴籽就从她的头上扑扑地掉下来，哭的时候，眼泪就会变成串串珍珠，洗手时，满盆都是活鱼。

    两个狠毒的姐姐和刚生出来的蝎子，被拉到高高的木柴垛上烧死了。同一天，国王和小妹举行了盛大的结婚典礼。

    他们过着奢侈、冷酷的生活

    我却躲在门后挨饿，

    我回到客栈去吃饭

    我的故事到此说完。

    （蒙费拉托地区）

    TheSnake

    Afarmerwentoutmowingeveryday,andatnoononeortheotherofhisthreedaughterswouldbringhimhislunch.Onacertaindayitfelltotheoldestgirltogo.Bythetimeshereachedthewoods,though,shewastiredandsatdownonastonetorestaminutebeforeproceedingtothemeadow.Nosoonerhadshetakenaseatthanshefeltastrongthudunderneath,andoutcrawledasnake.Thegirldroppedthebasketandranhomeasfastasherlegswouldcarryher.Thatdaythefatherwenthungryandwhenhecameinfromthefieldhescoldedhisdaughtersangrily.

    Thenextdaythemiddlegirlstartedout.Shetoosatdownonthestone,andthesamethingoccurredasthedaybefore.Thenthethirdgirlsaid,"Itsmyturnnow,butImnotafraid."Insteadofonelunchbasket,shepreparedtwo.Whenshefeltthethudandsawthesnake,shegaveitoneofthebasketsoffood,andthesnakespoke."Takemehomewithyou,andIwillbringyouluck."Thegirlputthesnakeinherapronandthenwentontoherfatherwithhislunch.Whenshegotbackhome,sheplacedthesnakeunderherbed.Itgrewsorapidlythatsoonitwastoobigtofitunderthebed,soitwentaway.Beforeleaving,however,itbestowedthreecharmsonthegirl:weeping,shewouldshedtearsofpearlandsilver;laughing,shewouldseegoldenpomegranateseedsfallfromherhead;andwashingherhands,shewouldproducefishofeverykind.

    Thatdaytherewasnothinginthehousetoeat,andherfatherandsisterswereweakfromthehunger,sowhatdidshedobutwashherhandsandseethebasinfillupwithfish!Hersistersbecameenviousandconvincedtheirfatherthattherewassomethingstrangebehindallthisandthathewouldbewisetolockthegirlupintheattic.

    Fromtheatticwindowthegirllookedintothekingsgarden,wherethekingssonwasplayingball.Runningaftertheball,heslippedandfell,sendingthegirlintopealsoflaughter.Asshelaughed,goldpomegranateseedsrainedfromherheadonthegarden.Thekingssonhadnoideawheretheycamefrom,forthegirlhadslammedthewindow.

    Returningtothegardennextdaytoplayball,thekingssonnoticedthatapomegranatetreehadsprungup.Itwasalreadyquitetallandladenwithfruit.Hewenttopickthepomegranates,butthetreegrewtallerrightbeforehiseyes,andallhehadtodowasreachforapomegranateandthebrancheswouldriseafootbeyondhisgrasp.Sincenobodymanagedtoplucksomuchasoneleafofthetree,thekingassembledthewisementoexplainthemagicspell.Theoldestofthemallsaidthatonlyonemaidenwouldbeabletopickthefruitandthatshewouldbecomethebrideofthekingsson.

    Sothekingissuedaproclamationforallmarriageablegirlstocometothegarden,underpainofdeath,totrytopickthepomegranates.Girlsofeveryraceandstationshowedup,butnoladderswereeverlongenoughforthemtoreachthefruit.Amongthecontestantswerethefarmerstwoolderdaughters,buttheyfellofftheladderandlandedflatontheirbacks.Thekinghadthehousessearchedandfoundothergirls,includingtheonelockedupintheattic.Assoonastheytookhertothetree,thebranchesbentdownandplacedthepomegranatesrightinherhands.Everyonecheered,"Thatsthebride,thatsthebride!"withthekingssonshoutingloudestofall.

    Preparationsweremadeforthewedding,towhichthesisters,asenviousasever,wereinvited.Theyallthreerodeinthesamecarriage,whichdrewtoahaltinthemiddleofaforest.Theoldergirlsorderedtheyoungeroneoutofthecarriage,curoffherhands,gougedouthereyes,andleftherlyingunconsciousinthebushes.Thentheoldestgirldressedintheweddinggownandwenttothekingsson.Hecouldntunderstandwhyshedbecomesougly,butsinceshefaintlyresembledtheothergirl,hedecidedhedbeenmistakenallalongaboutheroriginalbeauty.

    Eyelessandhandless,themaidenremainedintheforestweeping.Acartercamebyandhadpityonher.Heseatedheronhismuleandtookhertohishouse.Shetoldhimtolookdown:thegroundwasstrewnwithsilverandpearls,whichwerenoneotherthanthegirlstears.Thecartertookthemandsoldthemformorethanathousandcrowns.Howgladhewastohavetakenthepoorgirlin,evenifshewasunabletoworkandhelpthefamily.

    Onedaythegirlfeltasnakewraparoundherleg:itwasthesnakeshehadoncebefriended."Didyouknowyoursistermarriedthekingssonandbecamequeen,sincetheoldkingdied?Nowshesexpectingababyandwantsfigs."

    Thegirlsaidtothecarter,"Loadamulewithfigsandtakethemtothequeen."

    "WhereamIgoingtogetfigsthistimeofyear?"askedthecarter.Ithappenedtobewinter.

    Butthenextmorninghewentintothegardenandfoundthefigtreeladenwithfruit,eventhoughtherewasntaleafonthetree.Hefilleduptwobasketsandloadedthemontohisdonkey.

    "HowhighapricecanIaskforfigsinwinter?"saidthecarter.

    "Askforapairofeyes,"repliedthemaiden.

    Thathedid,butneitherthekingnorthequeennorherothersisterwouldhaveevergougedouttheireyes.Sothesisterstalkedthematterover."Letsgivehimoursisterseyes,whichareofnousetous."Withthoseeyestheypurchasedthefigs.

    Thecarterreturnedtothemaidenwiththeeyes.Sheputthembackinplaceandsawagainaswellasever.

    Thenthequeenhadadesireforpeaches,andthekingsenttothecarteraskingifhecouldntfindsomepeachesthewayhedfoundfigs.Thenextmorningthepeachtreeinthecartersgardenwasladenwithpeaches,andhetookaloadtocourtatonceonhisdonkey.Whentheyaskedhimwhathewantedforthem,hereplied,"Apairofhands."

    Butnobodywouldcutofftheirhands,noteventopleasetheking.Thenthesisterstalkedthematterover."Letsgivehimoursisters."

    Whenthegirlgotherhandsback,shereattachedthemtoherarmsandwasassoundasever.

    Notlongafterward,thequeenwentintolaborandbroughtforthascorpion.Thekingnonethelessgaveaball,towhicheverybodywasinvited.Thegirlwentdressedasaqueenandwasthebelleoftheball.Thekingfellinlovewithherandrealizedshewashistruebride.Shelaughedgoldenseeds,weptpearls,andwashedfishintothebasin,asshetoldherstoryfromstarttofinish.

    Thetwowickedsistersandthescorpionwereburnedonapyreskyhigh.Onthesamedaythegrandweddingbanquettookplace.

    Theyputonthedogandhighdidtheysoar;

    Isaw,Iheard,Ihidbehindthedoor.

    ThentodinerepairedItotheinn,

    Andtheremystorydrawstoanend.

    (Monferrato)

    NOTES:

    "TheSnake"(LaBiscia)fromComparetti,25,Monferrato,Piedmont.

    TheluxuriantstoryfromTheFacetiousNights(III,3)aboutBiancabellaandtheserpent,oneofStraparolasfinest,isheretold,onthecontrary,inbarerusticsimplicity,inthemidstofmeadowsreadyforamowing,fruits,andseasons.TheepisodeofthepomegranatetreewithitsfruitthatcannotbepluckedwasaddedbymetofilloutasomewhatsketchypassageinthePiedmonteseversion.ItookitfromaTuscanvariant(Gradi),basedonmotifsfromthistaleandothers,wheresupernaturalhelpcomesfromaredandgoldfish.

    Copyright:ItalianFolktalesSelectedandRetoldbyItaloCalvino,

    translatedbyGeorgeMartin,

    PantheonBooks,NewYork1980