stories from pentamerone-第24节

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nd　clever　at　escaping　out　of　the　fire。　The　King；　who　knew　not　that　under　the　flowers　of　these　words　a　serpent　was　concealed；　instantly　called　Corvetto；　and　said　to　him；　〃If　you　love　me；　see　that　in　some　way　or　another　you　obtain　for　me　the　horse　of　my　enemy　the　ogre；　and　you　shall　have　no　cause　to　regret　having　done　me　this　service。〃

Corvetto　knew　well　that　this　drum　was　sounded　by　those　who　wished　him　ill；　nevertheless；　to　obey　the　King；　he　set　out　and　took　the　road　to　the　mountain。　Then　going　very　quietly　to　the　ogre's　stable；　he　saddled　and　mounted　the　horse；　and　fixing　his　feet　firmly　in　the　stirrup；　took　his　way　back。　But　as　soon　as　the　horse　saw　himself　spurred　out　of　the　palace；　he　cried　aloud；　〃Hollo！　be　on　your　guard！　Corvetto　is　riding　off　with　me。〃　At　this　alarm　the　ogre　instantly　set　out；　with　all　the　animals　that　served　him；　to　cut　Corvetto　in　pieces。　From　this　side　jumped　an　ape；　from　that　was　seen　a　large　bear；　here　sprang　forth　a　lion；　there　came　running　a　wolf。　But　the　youth；　by　the　aid　of　bridle　and　spur；　distanced　the　mountain；　and　galloping　without　stop　to　the　city；　arrived　at　the　Court；　where　he　presented　the　horse　to　the　King。

Then　the　King　embraced　him　more　than　a　son；　and　pulling　out　his　purse；　filled　his　hands　with　crown…pieces。　At　this　the　rage　of　the　courtiers　knew　no　bounds；　and　whereas　at　first　they　were　puffed　up　with　a　little　pipe；　they　were　now　bursting　with　the　blasts　of　a　smith's　bellows；　seeing　that　the　crowbars　with　which　they　thought　to　lay　Corvetto's　good　fortune　in　ruins　only　served　to　smooth　the　road　to　his　prosperity。　Knowing；　however；　that　walls　are　not　levelled　by　the　first　attack　of　the　battering…ram；　they　resolved　to　try　their　luck　a　second　time；　and　said　to　the　King；　〃We　wish　you　joy　of　the　beautiful　horse！　It　will　indeed　be　an　ornament　to　the　royal　stable。　But　what　a　pity　you　have　not　the　ogre's　tapestry；　which　is　a　thing　more　beautiful　than　words　can　tell；　and　would　spread　your　fame　far　and　wide！　There　is　no　one；　however；　able　to　procure　this　treasure　but　Corvetto；　who　is　just　the　lad　to　do　such　a　kind　of　service。〃

Then　the　King；　who　danced　to　every　tune；　and　ate　only　the　peel　of　this　bitter　but　sugared　fruit；　called　Corvetto；　and　begged　him　to　procure　for　him　the　ogre's　tapestry。　Off　went　Corvetto　and　in　four　seconds　was　on　the　top　of　the　mountain　where　the　ogre　lived；　then　passing　unseen　into　the　chamber　in　which　he　slept；　he　hid　himself　under　the　bed；　and　waited　as　still　as　a　mouse；　until　Night；　to　make　the　Stars　laugh；　puts　a　carnival…mask　on　the　face　of　the　Sky。　And　as　soon　as　the　ogre　and　his　wife　were　gone　to　bed；　Corvetto　stripped　the　walls　of　the　chamber　very　quietly；　and　wishing　to　steal　the　counterpane　of　the　bed　likewise；　he　began　to　pull　it　gently。　Thereupon　the　ogre；　suddenly　starting　up；　told　his　wife　not　to　pull　so；　for　she　was　dragging　all　the　clothes　off　him；　and　would　give　him　his　death　of　cold。

〃Why　you　are　uncovering　me！〃　answered　the　ogress。

〃Where　is　the　counterpane？〃　replied　the　ogre；　and　stretching　out　his　hand　to　the　floor　he　touched　Corvetto's　face；　whereupon　he　set　up　a　loud　cry；〃The　imp！　the　imp！　Hollo；　here；　lights！　Run　quickly！〃till　the　whole　house　was　turned　topsy…turvy　with　the　noise。　But　Corvetto；　after　throwing　the　clothes　out　of　the　window；　let　himself　drop　down　upon　them。　Then　making　up　a　good　bundle；　he　set　out　on　the　road　to　the　city；　where　the　reception　he　met　with　from　the　King；　and　the　vexation　of　the　courtiers；　who　were　bursting　with　spite；　are　not　to　be　told。　Nevertheless　they　laid　a　plan　to　fall　upon　Corvetto　with　the　rear…guard　of　their　roguery；　and　went　again　to　the　King；　who　was　almost　beside　himself　with　delight　at　the　tapestrywhich　was　not　only　of　silk　embroidered　with　gold；　but　had　besides　more　than　a　thousand　devices　and　thoughts　worked　on　it。　And　amongst　the　rest；　if　I　remember　right；　there　was　a　cock　in　the　act　of　crowing　at　daybreak；　and　out　of　its　mouth　was　seen　coming　a　motto　in　Tuscan：　IF　I　ONLY　SEE　YOU。　And　in　another　part　a　drooping　heliotrope　with　a　Tuscan　motto：　AT　　SUNSETwith　so　many　other　pretty　things　that　it　would　require　a　better　memory　and　more　time　than　I　have　to　relate　them。

When　the　courtiers　came　to　the　King；　who　was　thus　transported　with　joy；　they　said　to　him；　〃As　Corvetto　has　done　so　much　to　serve　you；　it　would　be　no　great　matter　for　him；　in　order　to　give　you　a　signal　pleasure；　to　get　the　ogre's　palace；　which　is　fit　for　an　emperor　to　live　in；　for　it　has　so　many　rooms　and　chambers；　inside　and　out；　that　it　can　hold　an　army。　And　you　would　never　believe　all　the　courtyards；　porticoes；　colonnades；　balconies；　and　spiral　chimneys　which　there　arebuilt　with　such　marvellous　architecture　that　Art　prides　herself　upon　them；　Nature　is　abashed；　and　Stupor　is　in　delight。〃

The　King；　who　had　a　fruitful　brain　which　conceived　quickly；　called　Corvetto　again；　and　telling　him　the　great　longing　that　had　seized　him　for　the　ogre's　palace；　begged　him　to　add　this　service　to　all　the　others　he　had　done　him；　promising　to　score　it　up　with　the　chalk　of　gratitude　at　the　tavern　of　memory。　So　Corvetto　instantly　set　out　heels　over　head；　and　arriving　at　the　ogre's　palace；　he　found　that　the　ogress；　whilst　her　husband　was　gone　to　invite　the　kinsfolk；　was　busying　herself　with　preparing　the　feast。　Then　Corvetto　entering；　with　a　look　of　compassion；　said；　〃Good…day；　my　good　woman！　Truly；　you　are　a　brave　housewife！　But　why　do　you　torment　the　very　life　out　of　you　in　this　way？　Only　yesterday　you　were　ill　in　bed；　and　now　you　are　slaving　thus；　and　have　no　pity　on　your　own　flesh。〃

〃What　would　you　have　me　do？〃　replied　the　ogress。　〃I　have　no　one　to　help　me。〃

〃I　am　here；〃　answered　Corvetto；　〃ready　to　help　you　tooth　and　nail。〃

〃Welcome；　then！〃　said　the　ogress；　〃and　as　you　proffer　me　so　much　kindness；　just　help　me　to　split　four　logs　of　wood。〃

〃With　all　my　heart；〃　answered　Corvetto；　〃but　if　four　logs　are　not　enow；　let　me　split　five。〃　And　taking　up　a　newly…ground　axe；　instead　of　striking　the　wood；　he　struck　the　ogress　on　the　neck；　and　made　her　fall　to　the　ground　like　a　pear。　Then　running　quickly　to　the　gate；　he　dug　a　deep　hole　before　the　entrance；　and　covering　it　over　with　bushes　and　earth；　he　hid　himself　behind　the　gate。

As　soon　as　Corvetto　saw　the　ogre　coming　with　his　kinsfolk；　he　set　up　a　loud　cry　in　the　courtyard；　〃Stop；　stop！　I've　caught　him！〃　and　〃Long　live　the　King　of　Wide…River。〃　When　the　ogre　heard　this　challenge；　he　ran　like　mad　at　Corvetto；　to　make　a　hash　of　him。　But　rushing　furiously　towards　the　gate；　down　he　tumbled　with　all　his　companions；　head　over　heels　to　the　bottom　of　the　pit；　where　Corvetto　speedily　stoned　them　to　death。　Then　he　shut　the　door；　and　took　the　keys　to　the　King；　who；　seeing　the　valour　and　cleverness　of　the　lad；　in　spite　of　ill…fortune　and　the　envy　and　annoyance　of　the　courtiers；　gave　him　his　daughter　to　wife；　so　that　the　crosses　of　envy　had　proved　rollers　to　launch　Corvetto's　bark　of　life　on　the　sea　of　greatness；　whilst　his　enemies　remained　confounded　and　bursting　with　rage；　and　went　to　bed　without　a　candle；　for

　　　　　〃The　punishment　of　ill　deeds　past；　　　　　　Though　long　delay'd；　yet　comes　at　last。〃



XIX

THE　BOOBY

An　ignorant　man　who　associates　with　clever　people　has　always　been　more　praised　than　a　wise　man　who　keeps　the　company　of　fools；　for　as　much　profit　and　fame　as　one　may　gain　from　the　former；　so　much　wealth　and　honour　one　may　lose　by　the　fault　of　the　latter；　and　as　the　proof　of　the　pudding　is　in　the　eating；　you　will　know　from　the　story　which　I　am　going　to　tell　you　whether　my　proposition　be　true。

There　was　once　a　man　who　was　as　rich　as　the　sea；　but　as　there　can　never　be　any　perfect　happiness　in　this　world；　he　had　a　son　so　idle　and　good…for…nothing　that　he　could　not　tell　a　bean　from　a　cucumber。　So　being　unable　any　longer　to　put　up　with　his　folly；　he　gave　him　a　good　handful　of　crowns；　and　sent　him　to　trade　in　the　Levant；　for　he　well　knew　that　seeing　various　countries　and　mixing　with　divers　people　awaken　the　genius　and　sharpen　the　judgment；　and　make　men　expert。　

Moscione　（for　that　was　the　name　of　the　son）　got　on　horseback；　and　began　his　journey　towards　Venice；　the　arsenal　of　the　wonders　of　the　world；　to　embark　on　board　some　vessel　bound　for　Cairo；　and　when　he　had　travelled　a　good　day's　journey；　he　met　with　a　person　who　was　standing　fixed　at　the　foot　of　a　poplar；　to　whom　he　said；　〃What　is　your　name；　my　lad？　Whence　are　you；　and　what　is　your　trade？〃　And　the　lad　replied；　〃My　name　is　Lightning；　I　am　from　Arrowland；　and　I　can　run　like　the　wind。〃　〃I　should　like　to　see　a　proof　of　it；〃　said　Moscione；　and　Lightning　answered；　〃Wait　a　moment；　and　you　will　see　whether　it　is　dust　or　flour。〃

When　they　had　stood　waiting　a　little　while；　a　doe　came　bounding　over　the　plain；　and　Lightning；　letting　her　pass　on　some　way；　to　give　her　the　more　law；　darted　after　her　so　rapidly　and　light　of　foot；　that　he　would　have　gone　over　a　place　covered　with　flour　without　leaving　the　mark　of　his　shoe；　and　in　four　bounds　he　came　up　with　her。　Moscione；　amazed　at　this　exploit；　asked　if　he　would　come　and　live　with　him；　and　promised　to　pay　him　royally。

So　Lightning　consented；　and　they　went　on　their　way　together；　but　they　had　not　journeyed　many　miles　when　they　met　another　youth；　to　whom　Moscione　said；　〃What　is　your　name；　comrade