stories from pentamerone-第35节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


him　to　a　thicket；　which　had　formed　a　solid　square　of　earth　and　trees　to　prevent　the　horses　of　the　Sun　from　breaking　through。　There；　upon　a　most　beautiful　marble　stone；　he　found　a　raven；　which　had　just　been　killed。

The　King；　seeing　the　bright　red　blood　sprinkled　upon　the　white；　white　marble；　heaved　a　deep　sigh　and　exclaimed；　〃O　heavens！　and　cannot　I　have　a　wife　as　white　and　red　as　this　stone；　and　with　hair　and　eyebrows　as　black　as　the　feathers　of　this　raven？〃　And　he　stood　for　a　while　so　buried　in　this　thought　that　he　became　a　counterpart　to　the　stone；　and　looked　like　a　marble　image　making　love　to　the　other　marble。　And　this　unhappy　fancy　fixing　itself　in　his　head；　as　he　searched　for　it　everywhere　with　the　lanthorn　of　desire；　it　grew　in　four　seconds　from　a　picktooth　to　a　pole；　from　a　crab…apple　to　an　Indian　pumpkin；　from　barber's　embers　to　a　glass　furnace；　and　from　a　dwarf　to　a　giant；　insomuch　that　he　thought　of　nothing　else　than　the　image　of　that　object　encrusted　in　his　heart　as　stone　to　stone。　Wherever　he　turned　his　eyes　that　form　was　always　presented　to　him　which　he　carried　in　his　breast；　and　forgetting　all　besides；　he　had　nothing　but　that　marble　in　his　head；　in　short；　he　became　in　a　manner　so　worn　away　upon　the　stone　that　he　was　at　last　as　thin　as　the　edge　of　a　penknife；　and　this　marble　was　a　millstone　which　crushed　his　life；　a　slab　of　porphyry　upon　which　the　colours　of　his　days　were　ground　and　mixed；　a　tinder…box　which　set　fire　to　the　brimstone　match　of　his　soul；　a　loadstone　which　attracted　him；　and　lastly；　a　rolling…stone　which　could　never　rest。

At　length　his　brother　Jennariello；　seeing　him　so　pale　and　half…dead；　said　to　him；　〃My　brother；　what　has　happened　to　you；　that　you　carry　grief　lodged　in　your　eyes；　and　despair　sitting　under　the　pale　banner　of　your　face？　What　has　befallen　you？　Speakopen　your　heart　to　your　brother：　the　smell　of　charcoal　shut　up　in　a　chamber　poisons　peoplepowder　pent　up　in　a　mountain　blows　it　into　the　air；　open　your　lips；　therefore；　and　tell　me　what　is　the　matter　with　you；　at　all　events　be　assured　that　I　would　lay　down　a　thousand　lives　if　I　could　to　help　you。〃

Then　Milluccio；　mingling　words　and　sighs；　thanked　him　for　his　love；　saying　that　he　had　no　doubt　of　his　affection；　but　that　there　was　no　remedy　for　his　ill；　since　it　sprang　from　a　stone；　where　he　had　sown　desires　without　hope　of　fruita　stone　from　which　he　did　not　expect　a　mushroom　of　contenta　stone　of　Sisyphus；　which　he　bore　to　the　mountain　of　designs；　and　when　it　reached　the　top　rolled　over　and　over　to　the　bottom。　At　length；　however；　after　a　thousand　entreaties；　Milluccio　told　his　brother　all　about　his　love；　whereupon　Jennariello　comforted　him　as　much　as　he　could；　and　bade　him　be　of　good　cheer；　and　not　give　way　to　an　unhappy　passion；　for　that　he　was　resolved；　in　order　to　satisfy　him；　to　go　all　the　world　over　until　he　found　a　woman　the　counterpart　of　the　stone。

Then　instantly　fitting　out　a　large　ship；　filled　with　merchandise；　and　dressing　himself　like　a　merchant；　he　sailed　for　Venice；　the　wonder　of　Italy；　the　receptacle　of　virtuous　men；　the　great　book　of　the　marvels　of　art　and　nature；　and　having　procured　there　a　　safe…conduct　to　pass　to　the　Levant；　he　set　sail　for　Cairo。　When　he　arrived　there　and　entered　the　city；　he　saw　a　man　who　was　carrying　a　most　beautiful　falcon；　and　Jennariello　at　once　purchased　it　to　take　to　his　brother；　who　was　a　sportsman。　Soon　afterwards　he　met　another　man　with　a　splendid　horse；　which　he　also　bought；　whereupon　he　went　to　an　inn　to　refresh　himself　after　the　fatigues　he　had　suffered　at　sea。

The　following　morning；　when　the　army　of　the　Star；　at　the　command　of　the　general　of　the　Light；　strikes　the　tents　in　the　camp　of　the　sky　and　abandons　the　post；　Jennariello　set　out　to　wander　through　the　city；　having　his　eyes　about　him　like　a　lynx；　looking　at　this　woman　and　that；　to　see　whether　by　chance　he　could　find　the　likeness　to　a　stone　upon　a　face　of　flesh。　And　as　he　was　wandering　about　at　random；　turning　continually　to　this　side　and　that；　like　a　thief　in　fear　of　the　constables；　he　met　a　beggar　carrying　an　hospital　of　plasters　and　a　mountain　of　rags　upon　his　back；　who　said　to　him；　〃My　gallant　sir；　what　makes　you　so　frightened？〃

〃Have　I；　forsooth；　to　tell　you　my　affairs？〃　answered　Jennariello。　〃　Faith　I　should　do　well　to　tell　my　reason　to　the　constable。〃

〃Softly；　my　fair　youth！〃　replied　the　beggar；　〃for　the　flesh　of　man　is　not　sold　by　weight。　If　Darius　had　not　told　his　troubles　to　a　groom　he　would　not　have　become　king　of　Persia。　It　will　be　no　great　matter；　therefore；　for　you　to　tell　your　affairs　to　a　poor　beggar；　for　there　is　not　a　twig　so　slender　but　it　may　serve　for　a　toothpick。〃

When　Jennariello　heard　the　poor　man　talking　sensibly　and　with　reason；　he　told　him　the　cause　that　had　brought　him　to　that　country；　whereupon　the　beggar　replied；　〃See　now；　my　son；　how　necessary　it　is　to　make　account　of　every　one；　for　though　I　am　only　a　heap　of　rubbish；　yet　I　shall　be　able　to　enrich　the　garden　of　your　hopes。　Now　listenunder　the　pretext　of　begging　alms；　I　will　knock　at　the　door　of　the　young　and　beautiful　daughter　of　a　magician；　then　open　your　eyes　wide；　look　at　her；　contemplate　her；　regard　her；　measure　her　from　head　to　foot；　for　you　will　find　the　image　of　her　whom　your　brother　desires。〃　So　saying；　he　knocked　at　the　door　of　a　house　close　by；　and　Liviella　opening　it　threw　him　a　piece　of　bread。

As　soon　as　Jennariello　saw　her；　she　seemed　to　him　built　after　the　model　which　Milluccio　had　given　him；　then　he　gave　a　good　alms　to　the　beggar　and　sent　him　away；　and　going　to　the　inn　he　dressed　himself　like　a　pedlar；　carrying　in　two　caskets　all　the　wealth　of　the　world。　And　thus　he　walked　up　and　down　before　Liviella's　house　crying　his　wares；　until　at　length　she　called　him；　and　took　a　view　of　the　beautiful　net…caps；　hoods；　ribands；　gauze；　edgings；　lace；　handkerchiefs；　collars；　needles；　cups　of　rouge；　and　head…gear　fit　for　a　queen；　which　he　carried。　And　when　she　had　examined　all　the　things　again　and　again；　she　told　him　to　show　her　something　else；　and　Jennariello　answered；　〃My　lady；　in　these　caskets　I　have　only　cheap　and　paltry　wares；　but　if　you　will　deign　to　come　to　my　ship；　I　will　show　you　things　of　the　other　world；　for　I　have　there　a　host　of　beautiful　goods　worthy　of　any　great　lord。〃

Liviella；　who　was　full　of　curiosity；　not　to　belie　the　nature　of　her　sex；　replied；　〃If　my　father　indeed　were　not　out　he　would　have　given　me　some　money。〃

〃Nay；　you　can　come　all　the　better　if　he　is　out；〃　replied　Jennariello；　〃for　perhaps　he　might　not　allow　you　the　pleasure；　and　I'll　promise　to　show　you　such　splendid　things　as　will　make　you　rave　such　necklaces　and　earrings；　such　bracelets　and　sashes；　such　workmanship　in　paperin　short　I　will　perfectly　astound　you。〃

When　Liviella　heard　all　this　display　of　finery　she　called　a　gossip　of　hers　to　accompany　her；　and　went　to　the　ship。　But　no　sooner　had　she　embarked　than　Jennariello；　whilst　keeping　her　enchanted　with　the　sight　of　all　the　beautiful　things　he　had　brought；　craftily　ordered　the　anchor　to　be　weighed　and　the　sails　to　be　set；　so　that　before　Liviella　raised　her　eyes　from　the　wares　and　saw　that　she　had　left　the　land；　they　had　already　gone　many　miles。　When　at　length　she　perceived　the　trick；　she　began　to　act　Olympia　the　reverse　way；　for　whereas　Olympia　bewailed　being　left　upon　a　rock；　Liviella　lamented　leaving　the　rocks。　But　when　Jennariello　told　her　who　he　was；　whither　he　was　carrying　her；　and　the　good　fortune　that　awaited　her；　and　pictured　to　her；　moreover；　Milluccio's　beauty；　his　valour；　his　virtues；　and　lastly　the　love　with　which　he　would　receive　her；　he　succeeded　in　pacifying　her；　and　she　even　prayed　the　wind　to　bear　her　quickly　to　see　the　colouring　of　the　design　which　Jennariello　had　drawn。

As　they　were　sailing　merrily　along　they　heard　the　waves　grumbling　beneath　the　ship；　and　although　they　spoke　in　an　undertone；　the　captain　of　the　ship；　who　understood　in　an　instant　what　it　meant；　cried　out；　〃All　hands　aboard！　for　here　comes　a　storm；　and　Heaven　save　us！〃　No　sooner　had　he　spoken　these　words　than　there　came　the　testimony　of　a　whistling　of　the　wind；　and　behold　the　sky　was　overcast　with　clouds；　and　the　sea　was　covered　with　white…crested　waves。　And　whilst　the　waves　on　either　side　of　the　ship；　curious　to　know　what　the　others　were　about；　leaped　uninvited　to　the　nuptials　upon　the　deck；　one　man　baled　them　with　a　bowl　into　a　tub；　another　drove　them　off　with　a　pump；　and　whilst　every　sailor　was　hard　at　workas　it　concerned　his　own　safetyone　minding　the　rudder；　another　hauling　the　foresail；　another　the　mainsheet；　Jennariello　ran　up　to　the　topmast；　to　see　with　a　telescope　if　he　could　discover　any　land　where　they　might　cast　anchor。　And　lo！　whilst　he　was　measuring　a　hundred　miles　of　distance　with　two　feet　of　telescope；　he　saw　a　dove　and　its　mate　come　flying　up　and　alight　upon　the　　sail…yard。　Then　the　male　bird　said；　〃Rucche；　rucche！〃　And　his　mate　answered；　〃What's　the　matter；　husband；　that　you　are　lamenting　so？〃　〃This　poor　Prince；〃　replied　the　other；　〃has　bought　a　falcon；　which　as　soon　as　it　shall　be　in　his　brother's　hands　will　pick　out　his　eyes；　but　if　he　does　not　take　it　to　him；　or　if　he　warns　him　of　the　danger；　he　will　turn　to　marble。〃　And　thereupon　he　began　again　to　cry；　〃Rucche；　rucche！〃　And　his　mate　said　to　him；　〃Wha