stories from pentamerone-第42节

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calling　on　them；　first　one　and　then　the　other。

Now　the　King's　stepmother　had　grown　suspicious　at　his　long　absence　at　the　chase；　and　when　she　heard　him　calling　thus　on　Talia；　Sun；　and　Moon；　she　waxed　wroth；　and　said　to　the　King's　secretary；　〃Hark　ye；　friend；　you　stand　in　great　danger；　between　the　axe　and　the　block；　tell　me　who　it　is　that　my　stepson　is　enamoured　of；　and　I　will　make　you　rich；　but　if　you　conceal　the　truth　from　me；　I'll　make　you　rue　it。〃

The　man；　moved　on　the　one　side　by　fear；　and　on　the　other　pricked　by　interest；　which　is　a　bandage　to　the　eyes　of　honour；　the　blind　of　justice；　and　an　old　horse…shoe　to　trip　up　good　faith；　told　the　Queen　the　whole　truth。　Whereupon　she　sent　the　secretary　in　the　King's　name　to　Talia；　saying　that　he　wished　to　see　the　children。　Then　Talia　sent　them　with　great　joy；　but　the　Queen　commanded　the　cook　to　kill　them；　and　serve　them　up　in　various　ways　for　her　wretched　stepson　to　eat。

Now　the　cook；　who　had　a　tender　heart；　seeing　the　two　pretty　little　golden　pippins；　took　compassion　on　them；　and　gave　them　to　his　wife；　bidding　her　keep　them　concealed；　then　he　killed　and　dressed　two　little　kids　in　a　hundred　different　ways。　When　the　King　came；　the　Queen　quickly　ordered　the　dishes　served　up；　and　the　King　fell　to　eating　with　great　delight；　exclaiming；　〃How　good　this　is！　Oh；　how　excellent；　by　the　soul　of　my　grandfather！〃　And　the　old　Queen　all　the　while　kept　saying；　〃Eat　away；　for　you　know　what　you　eat。〃　At　first　the　King　paid　no　attention　to　what　she　said；　but　at　last；　hearing　the　music　continue；　he　replied；　〃Ay；　I　know　well　enough　what　I　eat；　for　YOU　brought　nothing　to　the　house。〃　And　at　last；　getting　up　in　a　rage；　he　went　off　to　a　villa　at　a　little　distance　to　cool　his　anger。

Meanwhile　the　Queen；　not　satisfied　with　what　she　had　done；　called　the　secretary　again；　and　sent　him　to　fetch　Talia；　pretending　that　the　King　wished　to　see　her。　At　this　summons　Talia　went　that　very　instant；　longing　to　see　the　light　of　her　eyes；　and　not　knowing　that　only　the　smoke　awaited　her。　But　when　she　came　before　the　Queen；　the　latter　said　to　her；　with　the　face　of　a　Nero；　and　full　of　poison　as　a　viper；　〃Welcome；　Madam　Sly…cheat！　Are　you　indeed　the　pretty　mischief…maker？　Are　you　the　weed　that　has　caught　my　son's　eye　and　given　me　all　this　trouble。〃

When　Talia　heard　this　she　began　to　excuse　herself；　but　the　Queen　would　not　listen　to　a　word；　and　having　a　large　fire　lighted　in　the　courtyard；　she　commanded　that　Talia　should　be　thrown　into　the　flames。　Poor　Talia；　seeing　matters　come　to　a　bad　pass；　fell　on　her　knees　before　the　Queen；　and　besought　her　at　least　to　grant　her　time　to　take　the　clothes　from　off　her　back。　Whereupon　the　Queen；　not　so　much　out　of　pity　for　the　unhappy　girl；　as　to　get　possession　of　her　dress；　which　was　embroidered　all　over　with　gold　and　pearls；　said　to　her；　〃Undress　yourselfI　allow　you。〃　Then　Talia　began　to　undress；　and　as　she　took　off　each　garment　she　uttered　an　exclamation　of　grief；　and　when　she　had　stripped　off　her　cloak；　her　gown；　and　her　jacket；　and　was　proceeding　to　take　off　her　petticoat；　they　seized　her　and　were　dragging　her　away。　At　that　moment　the　King　came　up；　and　seeing　the　spectacle　he　demanded　to　know　the　whole　truth；　and　when　he　asked　also　for　the　children；　and　heard　that　his　stepmother　had　ordered　them　to　be　killed；　the　unhappy　King　gave　himself　up　to　despair。

He　then　ordered　her　to　be　thrown　into　the　same　fire　which　had　been　lighted　for　Talia；　and　the　secretary　with　her；　who　was　the　handle　of　this　cruel　game　and　the　weaver　of　this　wicked　web。　Then　he　was　going　to　do　the　same　with　the　cook；　thinking　that　he　had　killed　the　children；　but　the　cook　threw　himself　at　the　King's　feet　and　said；　〃Truly；　sir　King；　I　would　desire　no　other　sinecure　in　return　for　the　service　I　have　done　you　than　to　be　thrown　into　a　furnace　full　of　live　coals；　I　would　ask　no　other　gratuity　than　the　thrust　of　a　spike；　I　would　wish　for　no　other　amusement　than　to　be　roasted　in　the　fire；　I　would　desire　no　other　privilege　than　to　have　the　ashes　of　the　cook　mingled　with　those　of　a　Queen。　But　I　look　for　no　such　great　reward　for　having　saved　the　children；　and　brought　them　back　to　you　in　spite　of　that　wicked　creature　who　wished　to　kill　them〃

When　the　King　heard　these　words　he　was　quite　beside　himself；　he　appeared　to　dream；　and　could　not　believe　what　his　ears　had　heard。　Then　he　said　to　the　cook；　〃If　it　is　true　that　you　have　saved　the　children；　be　assured　I　will　take　you　from　turning　the　spit；　and　reward　you　so　that　you　shall　call　yourself　the　happiest　man　in　the　world。〃

As　the　King　was　speaking　these　words；　the　wife　of　the　cook；　seeing　the　dilemma　her　husband　was　in；　brought　Sun　and　Moon　before　the　King；　who；　playing　at　the　game　of　three　with　Talia　and　the　other　children；　went　round　and　round　kissing　first　one　and　then　another。　Then　giving　the　cook　a　large　reward；　he　made　him　his　chamberlain；　and　he　took　Talia　to　wife；　who　enjoyed　a　long　life　with　her　husband　and　the　children；　acknowledging　　that

　　　　　〃He　who　has　luck　may　go　to　bed；　　　　　　And　bliss　will　rain　upon　his　head。〃



XXX

NENNILLO　AND　NENNELLA

Woe　to　him　who　thinks　to　find　a　governess　for　his　children　by　giving　them　a　stepmother！　He　only　brings　into　his　house　the　cause　of　their　ruin。　There　never　yet　was　a　stepmother　who　looked　kindly　on　the　children　of　another；　or　if　by　chance　such　a　one　were　ever　found；　she　would　be　regarded　as　a　miracle；　and　be　called　a　white　crow。　But　beside　all　those　of　whom　you　may　have　heard；　I　will　now　tell　you　of　another；　to　be　added　to　the　list　of　heartless　stepmothers；　whom　you　will　consider　well　deserving　the　punishment　she　purchased　for　herself　with　ready　money。

There　was　once　a　good　man　named　Jannuccio；　who　had　two　children；　Nennillo　and　Nennella；　whom　he　loved　as　much　as　his　own　life。　But　Death　having；　with　the　smooth　file　of　Time；　severed　the　prison…bars　of　his　wife's　soul；　he　took　to　himself　a　cruel　woman；　who　had　no　sooner　set　foot　in　his　house　than　she　began　to　ride　the　high　horse；　saying；　〃Am　I　come　here　indeed　to　look　after　other　folk's　children？　A　pretty　job　I　have　undertaken；　to　have　all　this　trouble　and　be　for　ever　teased　by　a　couple　of　squalling　brats！　Would　that　I　had　broken　my　neck　ere　I　ever　came　to　this　place；　to　have　bad　food；　worse　drink；　and　get　no　sleep　at　night！　Here's　a　life　to　lead！　Forsooth　I　came　as　a　wife；　and　not　as　a　servant；　but　I　must　find　some　means　of　getting　rid　of　these　creatures；　or　it　will　cost　me　my　life：　better　to　blush　once　than　to　grow　pale　a　hundred　times；　so　I've　done　with　them；　for　I　am　resolved　to　send　them　away；　or　to　leave　the　house　myself　for　ever。〃

The　poor　husband；　who　had　some　affection　for　this　woman；　said　to　her；　〃Softly；　wife！　Don't　be　angry；　for　sugar　is　dear；　and　　to…morrow　morning；　before　the　cock　crows；　I　will　remove　this　annoyance　in　order　to　please　you。〃　So　the　next　morning；　ere　the　Dawn　had　hung　out　the　red　counterpane　at　the　window　of　the　East　to　air　it；　Jannuccio　took　the　children；　one　by　each　hand；　and　with　a　good　basketful　of　things　to　eat　upon　his　arm；　he　led　them　to　a　wood；　where　an　army　of　poplars　and　beech…trees　were　holding　the　shades　besieged。　Then　Jannuccio　said；　〃My　little　children；　stay　here　in　this　wood；　and　eat　and　drink　merrily；　but　if　you　want　anything；　follow　this　line　of　ashes　which　I　have　been　strewing　as　we　came　along；　this　will　be　a　clue　to　lead　you　out　of　the　labyrinth　and　bring　you　straight　home。〃　Then　giving　them　both　a　kiss；　he　returned　weeping　to　his　house。

But　at　the　hour　when　all　creatures；　summoned　by　the　constables　of　Night；　pay　to　Nature　the　tax　of　needful　repose；　the　two　children　began　to　feel　afraid　at　remaining　in　that　lonesome　place；　where　the　waters　of　a　river；　which　was　thrashing　the　impertinent　stones　for　obstructing　its　course；　would　have　frightened　even　a　hero。　So　they　went　slowly　along　the　path　of　ashes；　and　it　was　already　midnight　ere　they　reached　their　home。　When　Pascozza；　their　stepmother；　saw　the　children；　she　acted　not　like　a　woman；　but　a　perfect　fury；　crying　aloud；　wringing　her　hands；　stamping　with　her　feet；　snorting　like　a　frightened　horse；　and　exclaiming；　〃What　fine　piece　of　work　is　this？　Is　there　no　way　of　ridding　the　house　of　these　creatures？　Is　it　possible；　husband；　that　you　are　determined　to　keep　them　here　to　plague　my　very　life　out？　Go；　take　them　out　of　my　sight！　I'll　not　wait　for　the　crowing　of　cocks　and　the　cackling　of　hens；　or　else　be　assured　that　to…morrow　morning　I'll　go　off　to　my　parents'　house；　for　you　do　not　deserve　me。　I　have　not　brought　you　so　many　fine　things；　only　to　be　made　the　slave　of　children　who　are　not　my　own。〃

Poor　Jannuccio；　who　saw　that　matters　were　growing　rather　too　warm；　immediately　took　the　little　ones　and　returned　to　the　wood；　where　giving　the　children　another　basketful　of　food；　he　said　to　them；　〃You　see；　my　dears；　how　this　wife　of　minewho　is　come　to　my　house　to　be　your　ruin　and　a　nail　in　my　hearthates　you；　therefore　remain　in　this　wood；　where　the　trees；　more　compassionate；　will　give　you　shelter　from　the　sun；　where　the　river；　more　charitable；　will　give　you　drink　without　poison；　and　the　earth；　more　kind；　will　give　you　a　pillow　of　grass　without　danger。　And　when　you　want　food；　follow　this　little　path　of　bran　which　I　have　made　for　you　in　a　straight　line；　and　you　can　come　and　seek