stories from pentamerone-第15节

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as　been　the　cause　of　all　your　misfortune。〃　〃My　misfortune　has　been　brought　on　me　by　her　sisters；〃　replied　the　Prince；　〃and　they　shall　repent　it。〃　〃Then　do　you　really　love　her？〃　said　Nella。　And　the　Prince　replied；　〃More　than　my　own　life。〃　〃Embrace　me　then；〃　said　Nella；　〃for　I　am　the　fire　of　your　heart。〃　But　the　Prince　seeing　the　dark　hue　of　her　face　answered；　〃I　would　sooner　take　you　for　the　coal　than　the　fire；　so　keep　offdon't　blacken　me。〃　Whereupon　Nella；　perceiving　that　he　did　not　know　her；　called　for　a　basin　of　clean　water　and　washed　her　face。　As　soon　as　the　cloud　of　soot　was　removed　the　sun　shone　forth；　and　the　Prince；　recognising　her；　pressed　her　to　his　heart　and　acknowledged　her　for　his　wife。　Then　he　had　her　sisters　thrown　into　an　oven；　thus　proving　the　truth　of　the　old　saying

　　　　　〃No　evil　ever　went　without　punishment。〃



XII

VIOLET

Envy　is　a　wind　which　blows　with　such　violence；　that　it　throws　down　the　props　of　the　reputation　of　good　men；　and　levels　with　the　ground　the　crops　of　good　fortune。　But；　very　often；　as　a　punishment　from　Heaven；　when　this　envious　blast　seems　as　if　it　would　cast　a　person　flat　on　the　ground；　it　aids　him　instead　of　attain　the　happiness　he　is　expecting　sooner　even　than　he　expected：　as　you　will　hear　in　the　story　which　I　shall　now　tell　you。

There　was　once　upon　a　time　a　good　sort　of　man　named　Cola　Aniello；　who　had　three　daughters；　Rose；　Pink；　and　Violet；　the　last　of　whom　was　so　beautiful　that　her　very　look　was　a　syrup　of　love；　which　cured　the　hearts　of　beholders　of　all　unhappiness。　The　King's　son　was　burning　with　love　of　her；　and　every　time　he　passed　by　the　little　cottage　where　these　three　sisters　sat　at　work；　he　took　off　his　cap　and　said；　〃Good…day；　good…day；　Violet；〃　and　she　replied；　〃Good…day；　King's　son！　I　know　more　than　you。〃　At　these　words　her　sisters　grumbled　and　murmured；　saying；　〃You　are　an　ill…bred　creature　and　will　make　the　Prince　in　a　fine　rage。〃　But　as　Violet　paid　no　heed　to　what　they　said；　they　made　a　spiteful　complaint　of　her　to　her　father；　telling　him　that　she　was　too　bold　and　forward；　and　that　she　answered　the　Prince　without　any　respect；　as　if　she　were　just　as　good　as　he；　and　that；　some　day　or　other；　she　would　get　into　trouble　and　suffer　the　just　punishment　of　her　offence。　So　Cola　Aniello；　who　was　a　prudent　man；　in　order　to　prevent　any　mischief；　sent　Violet　to　stay　with　an　aunt；　to　be　set　to　work。

Now　the　Prince；　when　he　passed　by　the　house　as　usual；　no　longer　seeing　the　object　of　his　love；　was　for　some　days　like　a　nightingale　that　has　lost　her　young　ones　from　her　nest；　and　goes　from　branch　to　branch　wailing　and　lamenting　her　loss；　but　he　put　his　ear　so　often　to　the　chink　that　at　last　he　discovered　where　Violet　lived。　Then　he　went　to　the　aunt；　and　said　to　her；　〃Madam；　you　know　who　I　am；　and　what　power　I　have；　so；　between　ourselves；　do　me　a　favour　and　then　ask　for　whatever　you　wish。〃　〃If　I　can　do　anything　to　serve　you；〃　replied　the　old　woman；　〃I　am　entirely　at　your　command。〃　〃I　ask　nothing　of　you；〃　said　the　Prince；　〃but　to　let　me　give　Violet　a　kiss。〃　〃If　that's　all；〃　answered　the　old　woman；　〃go　and　hide　yourself　in　the　room　downstairs　in　the　garden；　and　I　will　find　some　pretence　or　another　for　sending　Violet　to　you。〃

As　soon　as　the　Prince　heard　this；　he　stole　into　the　room　without　loss　of　time；　and　the　old　woman；　pretending　that　she　wanted　to　cut　a　piece　of　cloth；　said　to　her　niece；　〃Violet；　if　you　love　me；　go　down　and　fetch　me　the　yard…measure。〃　So　Violet　went；　as　her　aunt　bade　her；　but　when　she　came　to　the　room　she　perceived　the　ambush；　and；　taking　the　yard…measure；　she　slipped　out　of　the　room　as　nimbly　as　a　cat；　leaving　the　Prince　with　his　nose　made　long　out　of　pure　shame　and　bursting　with　vexation。

When　the　old　woman　saw　Violet　come　running　so　fast；　she　suspected　that　the　trick　had　not　succeeded；　so　presently　after；　she　said　to　the　girl；　〃Go　downstairs；　niece；　and　fetch　me　the　ball　of　thread　that　is　on　the　top　shelf　in　the　cupboard。〃　So　Violet　ran；　and　taking　the　thread　slipped　like　an　eel　out　of　the　hands　of　the　Prince。　But　after　a　little　while　the　old　woman　said　again；　〃Violet；　my　dear；　if　you　do　not　go　downstairs　and　fetch　me　the　scissors；　I　cannot　get　on　at　all。〃　Then　Violet　went　down　again；　but　she　sprang　as　vigorously　as　a　dog　out　of　the　trap；　and　when　she　came　upstairs　she　took　the　scissors　and　cut　off　one　of　her　aunt's　ears；　saying；　〃Take　that；　madam；　as　a　reward　for　your　painsevery　deed　deserves　its　need。　If　I　don't　cut　off　your　nose；　it　is　only　that　you　may　smell　the　bad　odour　of　your　reputation。〃　So　saying；　she　went　her　way　home　with　a　hop；　skip；　and　jump；　leaving　her　aunt　eased　of　one　ear　and　the　Prince　full　of　Let…me…alone。

Not　long　afterwards；　the　Prince　again　passed　by　the　house　of　Violet's　father；　and；　seeing　her　at　the　window　where　she　used　to　stand；　he　began　his　old　tune；　〃Good…day；　good…day；　Violet！〃　Whereupon　she　answered　as　quickly　as　a　good　parish…clerk；　〃Good…day；　King's　son！　I　know　more　than　you。〃　But　Violet's　sisters　could　no　longer　bear　this　behaviour；　and　they　plotted　together　how　to　get　rid　of　her。　Now；　one　of　the　windows　looked　into　the　garden　of　an　ogre；　so　they　proposed　to　drive　the　poor　girl　away　through　this；　and　letting　fall　from　it　a　skein　of　thread　with　which　they　were　working　a　door…curtain　for　the　queen；　they　cried；　〃Alas！　alas！　we　are　ruined　and　shall　not　be　able　to　finish　the　work　in　time；　if　Violet；　who　is　the　smallest　and　lightest　of　us；　does　not　let　herself　down　by　a　cord　and　pick　up　the　thread　that　has　fallen。〃

Violet　could　not　endure　to　see　her　sisters　grieving　thus；　and　instantly　offered　to　go　down；　so；　tying　a　cord　to　her；　they　lowered　her　into　the　garden。　But　no　sooner　did　she　reach　the　ground　than　they　let　go　the　rope。　It　happened　that　just　at　that　time　the　ogre　came　out　to　look　at　his　garden；　and　having　caught　cold　from　the　dampness　of　the　ground；　he　gave　such　a　tremendous　sneeze；　with　such　a　noise　and　explosion；　that　Violet　screamed　out　with　terror；　〃Oh；　mother；　help　me！〃　Thereupon　the　ogre　looked　round　and　seeing　the　beautiful　maiden　behind　him；　he　received　her　with　the　greatest　care　and　affection；　and　treating　her　as　his　own　daughter；　he　gave　her　in　charge　of　three　fairies；　bidding　them　take　care　of　her；　and　rear　her　up　on　cherries。

The　Prince　no　longer　seeing　Violet；　and　hearing　no　news　of　her；　good　or　bad；　fell　into　such　grief　that　his　eyes　became　swollen；　his　face　became　pale　as　ashes；　his　lips　livid；　and　he　neither　ate　a　morsel　to　get　flesh　on　his　body；　nor　slept　a　wink　to　get　any　rest　to　his　mind。　But　trying　all　possible　means　and　offering　large　rewards；　he　went　about　spying　and　inquiring　everywhere　until；　at　last；　he　discovered　where　Violet　was。　Then　he　sent　for　the　ogre　and　told　him　that；　finding　himself　ill　（as　he　might　see　was　the　case）　he　begged　of　him　permission　to　spend　a　single　day　and　night　in　his　garden；　adding　that　a　small　chamber　would　suffice　for　him　to　repose　in。　Now；　as　the　ogre　was　a　subject　of　the　Prince's　father　he　could　not　refuse　him　this　trifling　pleasure；　so　he　offered　him　all　the　rooms　in　his　house；　if　one　was　not　enough；　and　his　very　life　itself。　The　Prince　thanked　him；　and　chose　a　room　which　by　good　luck　was　near　to　Violet's；　and；　as　soon　as　Night　came　out　to　play　games　with　the　Stars；　the　Prince；　finding　that　Violet　had　left　her　door　open；　as　it　was　summertime　and　the　place　was　safe；　stole　softly　into　her　room；　and　taking　Violet's　arm　he　gave　her　two　pinches。　Then　she　awoke　and　exclaimed；　〃Oh；　father；　father；　what　a　quantity　of　fleas！〃　So　she　went　to　another　bed　and　the　Prince　did　the　same　again　and　she　cried　out　as　before。　Then　she　changed　first　the　mattress　and　then　the　sheet；　and　so　the　sport　went　on　the　whole　night　long；　until　the　Dawn；　having　brought　the　news　that　the　Sun　was　alive；　the　mourning　that　was　hung　round　the　sky　was　all　removed。

As　soon　as　it　was　day；　the　Prince；　passing　by　that　house；　and　seeing　the　maiden　at　the　door；　said；　as　he　was　wont　to　do；　　〃Good…day；　good…day；　Violet！〃　and　when　Violet　replied；　　〃Good…day；　King's　son！　I　know　more　than　you！〃　the　Prince　answered；　〃Oh；　father；　father；　what　a　quantity　of　fleas！〃

The　instant　Violet　felt　this　shot　she　guessed　at　once　that　the　Prince　had　been　the　cause　of　her　annoyance　in　the　past　night；　so　off　she　ran　and　told　it　to　the　fairies。　〃If　it　be　he；〃　said　the　fairies；　〃we　will　soon　give　him　tit　for　tat　and　as　good　in　return。　If　this　dog　has　bitten　you；　we　will　manage　to　get　a　hair　from　him。　He　has　give　you　one；　we　will　give　him　back　one　and　a　half。　Only　get　the　ogre　to　make　you　a　pair　of　slippers　covered　with　little　bells；　and　leave　the　rest　to　us。　We　will　pay　him　in　good　coin。〃

Violet；　who　was　eager　to　be　revenged；　instantly　got　the　ogre　to　make　the　slippers　for　her；　and；　waiting　till　the　Sky；　like　a　Genoese　woman；　had　wrapped　the　black　taffety　round　her　face；　they　went；　all　four　together；　to　the　house　of　the　Prince；　where　the　fairies　and　Violet　hid　themselves　in　the　chamber。　And　as　soon　as　ever　the　Prince　had　closed　his　eyes　the　fairies　made　a　great　noise　and　racket；　and　Violet　began　to　stamp　with　her　feet　at　such　a　rate　that；　what　with　the　clatter　of　her　heels　and　the　jingling　of　her　bells；　the　Prince　awoke　in　great　terror　and　cried　out；　〃Oh；　mother；　mother；　help　me！〃　And　after　repeating　this　two　or　three