stories from pentamerone-第40节

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When　night　was　come；　and　the　Sundesiring　to　sleep　on　the　banks　of　the　river　of　India　untroubled　by　gnatshad　put　out　the　light；　the　Slave　said　to　Parmetella；　〃My　dear；　now　go　to　rest　in　this　bed；　but　remember　first　to　put　out　the　candle；　and　mind　what　I　say；　or　ill　will　betide　you。〃　Then　Parmetella　did　as　he　told　her；　but　no　sooner　had　she　closed　her　eyes　than　the　blackamoor；　changing　to　a　handsome　youth；　lay　down　to　sleep。　But　the　next　morning；　ere　the　Dawn　went　forth　to　seek　fresh　eggs　in　the　fields　of　the　sky　the　youth　arose　and　took　his　other　form　again；　leaving　Parmetella　full　of　wonder　and　curiosity。

And　again　the　following　night；　when　Parmetella　went　to　rest；　she　put　out　the　candle　as　she　had　done　the　night　before；　and　the　youth　came　as　usual　and　lay　down　to　sleep。　But　no　sooner　had　he　shut　his　eyes　than　Parmetella　arose；　took　a　steel　which　she　had　provided；　and　lighting　the　tinder　applied　a　match；　then　taking　the　candle；　she　raised　the　coverlet；　and　beheld　the　ebony　turned　to　ivory；　and　the　coal　to　chalk。　And　whilst　she　stood　gazing　with　open　mouth；　and　contemplating　the　most　beautiful　pencilling　that　Nature　had　ever　given　upon　the　canvas　of　Wonder；　the　youth　awoke；　and　began　to　reproach　Parmetella；　saying；　〃Ah；　woe　is　me！　for　your　prying　curiosity　I　have　to　suffer　another　seven　years　this　accursed　punishment。　But　begone！　Run；　scamper　off！　Take　yourself　out　of　my　sight！　You　know　not　what　good　fortune　you　lose。〃　So　saying；　he　vanished　like　quicksilver。

The　poor　girl　left　the　palace；　cold　and　stiff　with　affright；　and　with　her　head　bowed　to　the　ground。　And　when　she　had　come　out　of　the　cavern　she　met　a　fairy；　who　said　to　her；　〃My　child；　how　my　heart　grieves　at　your　misfortune！　Unhappy　girl；　you　are　going　to　the　slaughter…house；　where　you　will　pass　over　the　bridge　no　wider　than　a　hair。　Therefore；　to　provide　against　your　peril；　take　these　seven　spindles　with　these　seven　figs；　and　a　little　jar　of　honey；　and　these　seven　pairs　of　iron　shoes；　and　walk　on　and　on　without　stopping；　until　they　are　worn　out；　then　you　will　see　seven　women　standing　upon　a　balcony　of　a　house；　and　spinning　from　above　down　to　the　ground；　with　the　thread　wound　upon　the　bone　of　a　dead　person。　Remain　quite　still　and　hidden；　and　when　the　thread　comes　down；　take　out　the　bone　and　put　in　its　place　a　spindle　besmeared　with　honey；　with　a　fig　in　the　place　of　the　little　button。　Then　as　soon　as　the　women　draw　up　the　spindles　and　taste　the　honey；　they　　will　say

　　　　　　He　who　has　made　my　spindle　sweet；　　　　　　Shall　in　return　with　good　fortune　meet！'

And　after　repeating　these　words；　they　will　say；　one　after　another；　　O　you　who　brought　us　these　sweet　things　appear！'　Then　you　must　answer；　　Nay；　for　you　will　eat　me。'　And　they　will　say；　　We　swear　by　our　spoon　that　we　will　not　eat　you！'　But　do　not　stir；　and　they　will　continue；　　We　swear　by　our　spit　that　we　will　not　eat　you！'　But　stand　firm；　as　if　rooted　to　the　spot；　and　they　will　say；　　We　swear　by　our　broom　that　we　will　not　eat　you！'　Still　do　not　believe　them；　and　when　they　say；　　We　swear　by　our　pail　that　we　will　not　eat　you！'　shut　your　mouth；　and　say　not　a　word；　or　it　will　cost　you　your　life。　At　last　they　will　say；　　We　swear　by　Thunder…and…Lightning　that　we　will　not　eat　you！'　Then　take　courage　and　mount　up；　for　they　will　do　you　no　harm。〃

When　Parmetella　heard　this；　she　set　off　and　walked　over　hill　and　dale；　until　at　the　end　of　seven　years　the　iron　shoes　were　worn　out；　and　coming　to　a　large　house；　with　a　projecting　balcony；　she　saw　the　seven　women　spinning。　So　she　did　as　the　fairy　had　advised　her；　and　after　a　thousand　wiles　and　allurements；　they　swore　by　Thunder…and…Lightning；　whereupon　she　showed　herself　and　mounted　up。　Then　they　all　seven　said　to　her；　〃Traitress；　you　are　the　cause　that　our　brother　has　lived　twice　seven　long　years　in　the　cavern；　far　away　from　us；　in　the　form　of　a　blackamoor！　But　never　mind；　although　you　have　been　clever　enough　to　stop　our　throat　with　the　oath；　you　shall　on　the　first　opportunity　pay　off　both　the　old　and　the　new　reckoning。　But　now　hear　what　you　must　do。　Hide　yourself　behind　this　trough；　and　when　our　mother　comes；　who　would　swallow　you　down　at　once；　rise　up　and　seize　her　behind　her　back；　hold　her　fast；　and　do　not　let　her　go　until　she　swears　by　Thunder…and…Lightning　not　to　harm　you。〃

Parmetella　did　as　she　was　bid；　and　after　the　ogress　had　sworn　by　the　fire…shovel；　by　the　spinning…wheel；　by　the　reel；　by　the　sideboard；　and　by　the　peg；　at　last　she　swore　by　　Thunder…and…Lightning；　whereupon　Parmetella　let　go　her　hold；　and　showed　herself　to　the　ogress；　who　said；　〃You　have　caught　me　this　time；　but　take　care；　Traitress！　for；　at　the　first　shower；　I'll　send　you　to　the　Lava。〃

One　day　the　ogress；　who　was　on　the　look…out　for　an　opportunity　to　devour　Parmetella；　took　twelve　sacks　of　various　seeds　peas；　chick…peas；　lentils；　vetches；　kidney…beans；　beans；　and　lupinsand　mixed　them　all　together；　then　she　said　to　her；　〃Traitress；　take　these　seeds　and　sort　them　all；　so　that　each　kind　may　be　separated　from　the　rest；　and　if　they　are　not　all　sorted　by　this　evening；　I'll　swallow　you　like　a　penny　tart。〃

Poor　Parmetella　sat　down　beside　the　sacks；　weeping；　and　said；　〃O　mother；　mother；　how　will　this　golden　root　prove　a　root　of　woes　to　me！　Now　is　my　misery　completed；　by　seeing　a　black　face　turned　white；　all　has　become　black　before　my　eyes。　Alas！　I　am　ruined　and　undonethere　is　no　help　for　it。　I　already　seem　as　if　I　were　in　the　throat　of　that　horrid　ogress；　there　is　no　one　to　help　me；　there　is　no　one　to　advise　me；　there　is　no　one　to　comfort　me！〃

As　she　was　lamenting　thus；　lo！　Thunder…and…Lightning　appeared　like　a　flash；　for　the　banishment　laid　upon　him　by　the　spell　had　just　ended。　Although　he　was　angry　with　Parmetella；　yet　his　blood　could　not　turn　to　water；　and　seeing　her　grieving　thus　he　said　to　her；　〃Traitress；　what　makes　you　weep　so？〃　Then　she　told　him　of　his　mother's　ill…treatment　of　her；　and　her　wish　to　make　an　end　of　her；　and　eat　her　up。　But　Thunder…and…Lightning　replied；　〃Calm　yourself　and　take　heart；　for　it　shall　not　be　as　she　said。〃　And　instantly　scattering　all　the　seeds　on　the　ground　he　made　a　deluge　of　ants　spring　up；　who　forthwith　set　to　work　to　heap　up　all　the　seeds　separately；　each　kind　by　itself；　and　Parmetella　filled　the　sacks　with　them。

When　the　ogress　came　home　and　found　the　task　done；　she　was　almost　in　despair；　and　cried；　〃That　dog　Thunder…and…Lightning　　has　played　me　this　trick；　but　you　shall　not　escape　thus！　So　take　these　pieces　of　bed…tick；　which　are　enough　for　twelve　mattresses；　and　mind　that　by　this　evening　they　are　filled　with　feathers；　or　else　I　will　make　mincemeat　of　you。〃

The　poor　girl　took　the　bed…ticks；　and　sitting　down　upon　the　ground　began　to　weep　and　lament　bitterly；　making　two　fountains　of　her　eyes。　But　presently　Thunder…and…Lightning　appeared；　and　said　to　her；　〃Do　not　weep；　Traitress；leave　it　to　me；　and　I　will　bring　you　to　port；　so　let　down　your　hair；　spread　the　bed…ticks　upon　the　ground；　and　fall　to　weeping　and　wailing；　and　crying　out　that　the　king　of　the　birds　is　dead；　then　you'll　see　what　will　happen。〃

Parmetella　did　as　she　was　told；　and　behold　a　cloud　of　birds　suddenly　appeared　that　darkened　the　air；　and　flapping　their　wings　they　let　fall　their　feathers　by　basketfuls；　so　that　in　less　than　an　hour　the　mattresses　were　all　filled。　When　the　ogress　came　home　and　saw　the　task　done；　she　swelled　up　with　rage　till　she　almost　burst；　saying；　〃Thunder…and…Lightning　is　determined　to　plague　me；　but　may　I　be　dragged　at　an　ape's　tail　if　I　let　her　escape！〃　Then　she　said　to　Parmetella；　〃Run　quickly　to　my　sister's　house；　and　tell　her　to　send　me　the　musical　instruments；　for　I　have　resolved　that　　Thunder…and…Lightning　shall　marry；　and　we　will　make　a　feast　fit　for　a　king。〃　At　the　same　time　she　sent　to　bid　her　sister；　when　the　poor　girl　came　to　ask　for　the　instruments；　instantly　to　kill　and　cook　her；　and　she　would　come　and　partake　of　the　feast。

Parmetella；　hearing　herself　ordered　to　perform　an　easier　task；　was　in　great　joy；　thinking　that　the　weather　had　begun　to　grow　milder。　Alas；　how　crooked　is　human　judgment！　On　the　way　she　met　Thunder…and…Lightning；　who；　seeing　her　walking　at　a　quick　pace；　said　to　her；　〃Whither　are　you　going；　wretched　girl？　See　you　not　that　you　are　on　the　way　to　the　slaughter；　that　you　are　forging　your　own　fetters；　and　sharpening　the　knife　and　mixing　the　poison　for　yourself；　that　you　are　sent　to　the　ogress　for　her　to　swallow　you？　But　listen　to　me　and　fear　not。　Take　this　little　loaf；　this　bundle　of　hay；　and　this　stone；　and　when　you　come　to　the　house　of　my　aunt；　you　will　find　a　bulldog；　which　will　fly　barking　at　you　to　bite　you；　but　give　him　this　little　loaf；　and　it　will　stop　his　throat。　And　when　you　have　passed　the　dog；　you　will　meet　a　horse　running　loose；　which　will　run　up　to　kick　and　trample　on　you；　but　give　him　the　hay；　and　you　will　clog　his　feet。　At　last　you　will　come　to　a　door；　banging　to　and　fro　continually；　put　this　stone　before　it；　and　you　will　stop　its　fury。　Then　mount　upstairs　and　you　find　the　ogress；　with　a　little　child　in　her　arms；　and　the　oven　ready　heated　to　bake　you。　Whereupon　she　will　say　to　you；　　Hold　this　little　creature；　and　wait　here　till　I　go　and　fetch　the　instruments。'　But　mind　she　will　only　go　to　whet　her　tusks；　in　order　to　tear　you　in　pieces。