stories from pentamerone-第5节

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Now；　when　Ceccarella　heard　this　proclamation；　she　began　to　urge　Peruonto　to　go　there　too；　until　at　last　she　got　him　to　set　out　for　the　feast。　And　scarcely　had　he　arrived　there　when　Vastolla　cried　out　without　thinking；　〃That　is　my　Knight　of　the　Faggot。〃　When　the　King　heard　this　he　tore　his　beard；　seeing　that　the　bean　of　the　cake；　the　prize　in　the　lottery；　had　fallen　to　an　ugly　lout；　the　very　sight　of　whom　he　could　not　endure；　with　a　shaggy　head；　owl's　eyes；　a　parrot's　nose；　a　deer's　mouth；　and　legs　bare　and　bandy。　Then；　heaving　a　deep　sigh；　he　said；　〃What　can　that　jade　of　a　daughter　of　mine　have　seen　to　make　her　take　a　fancy　to　this　ogre；　or　strike　up　a　dance　with　this　hairy…foot？　Ah；　vile；　false　creature；　who　has　cast　so　base　a　spell　on　her？　But　why　do　we　wait？　Let　her　suffer　the　punishment　she　deserves；　let　her　undergo　the　penalty　that　shall　be　decreed　by　you；　and　take　her　from　my　presence；　for　I　cannot　bear　to　look　longer　upon　her。〃

Then　the　Councillors　consulted　together　and　they　resolved　that　she；　as　well　as　the　evil…doer；　should　be　shut　up　in　a　cask　and　thrown　into　the　sea；　so　that　without　staining　the　King's　hands　with　the　blood　of　one　of　his　family；　they　should　carry　out　the　sentence。　No　sooner　was　the　judgment　pronounced；　than　the　cask　was　brought　and　both　were　put　into　it；　but　before　they　coopered　it　up；　some　of　Vastolla's　ladies；　crying　and　sobbing　as　if　their　hearts　would　break；　put　into　it　a　basket　of　raisins　and　dried　figs　that　she　might　have　wherewithal　to　live　on　for　a　little　while。　And　when　the　cask　was　closed　up；　it　was　flung　into　the　sea；　on　which　it　went　floating　as　the　wind　drove　it。

Meanwhile　Vastolla；　weeping　till　her　eyes　ran　like　two　rivers；　said　to　Peruonto；　〃What　a　sad　misfortune　is　this　of　ours！　Oh；　if　I　but　knew　who　has　played　me　this　trick；　to　have　me　caged　in　this　dungeon！　Alas；　alas；　to　find　myself　in　this　plight　without　knowing　how。　Tell　me；　tell　me；　O　cruel　man；　what　incantation　was　it　you　made；　and　what　spell　did　you　employ；　to　bring　me　within　the　circle　of　this　cask？〃　Peruonto；　who　had　been　for　some　time　paying　little　attention　to　her；　at　last　said；　〃If　you　want　me　to　tell　you；　you　must　give　me　some　figs　and　raisins。〃　So　Vastolla；　to　draw　the　secret　out　of　him；　gave　him　a　handful　of　both；　and　as　soon　as　he　had　eaten　them　he　told　her　truly　all　that　had　befallen　him；　with　the　three　youths；　and　with　the　faggot；　and　with　herself　at　the　window：　which；　when　the　poor　lady　heard；　she　took　heart　and　said　to　Peruonto；　〃My　friend；　shall　we　then　let　our　lives　run　out　in　a　cask？　Why　don't　you　cause　this　tub　to　be　changed　into　a　fine　ship　and　run　into　some　good　harbour　to　escape　this　danger？〃　And　Peruonto　replied

　　　　　〃If　you　would　have　me　say　the　spell；　　　　　　With　figs　and　raisins　feed　me　well！〃

So　Vastolla；　to　make　him　open　his　mouth；　filled　it　with　fruit；　and　so　she　fished　the　words　out　of　him。　And　lo！　as　soon　as　Peruonto　had　said　what　she　desired；　the　cask　was　turned　into　a　beautiful　ship；　with　sails　and　sailors　and　everything　that　could　be　wished　for；　and　guns　and　trumpets　and　a　splendid　cabin　in　which　Vastolla　sat　filled　with　delight。

It　being　now　the　hour　when　the　Moon　begins　to　play　at　see…saw　with　the　Sun；　Vastolla　said　to　Peruonto；　〃My　fine　lad；　now　make　this　ship　to　be　changed　into　a　palace；　for　then　we　shall　be　more　secure；　you　know　the　saying；　〃Praise　the　Sea；　but　keep　to　the　Land。〃　And　Peruonto　replied

　　　　　〃If　you　would　have　me　say　the　spell；　　　　　　With　figs　and　raisins　feed　me　well！〃

So　Vastolla；　at　once；　fed　him　again；　and　Peruonto；　swallowing　down　the　raisins　and　figs；　did　her　pleasure；　and　immediately　the　ship　came　to　land　and　was　changed　into　a　beautiful　palace；　fitted　up　in　a　most　sumptuous　manner；　and　so　full　of　furniture　and　curtains　and　hangings　that　there　was　nothing　more　to　ask　for。　So　that　Vastolla；　who　a　little　before　would　not　have　set　the　price　of　a　farthing　on　her　life；　did　not　now　wish　to　change　places　with　the　greatest　lady　in　the　world；　seeing　herself　served　and　treated　like　a　queen。　Then　to　put　the　seal　on　all　her　good　fortune；　she　besought　Peruonto　to　obtain　grace　to　become　handsome　and　polished　in　his　manner；　that　they　might　live　happy　together；　for　though　the　proverb　says；　〃Better　to　have　a　pig　for　a　husband；　than　a　smile　from　an　emperor；〃　still；　if　his　appearance　were　changed；　she　should　think　herself　the　happiest　woman　in　the　universe。　And　Peruonto　replied　as　before

　　　　　〃If　you　would　have　me　say　the　spell；　　　　　　With　figs　and　raisins　feed　me　well！〃

Then　Vastolla　quickly　opened　his　lips；　and　scarcely　had　he　spoken　the　words　when　he　was　changed；　as　it　were　from　an　owl　to　a　nightingale；　from　an　ogre　to　a　beautiful　youth；　from　a　scarecrow　to　a　fine　gentleman。　Vastolla；　seeing　such　a　transformation　clasped　him　in　her　arms　and　was　almost　beside　herself　with　joy。　Then　they　were　married　and　lived　happily　for　years。

Meanwhile　the　King　grew　old　and　very　sad；　so　that；　one　day；　the　courtiers　persuaded　him　to　go　a…hunting　to　cheer　him　up。　Night　overtook　him；　and；　seeing　a　light　in　a　palace；　he　sent　a　servant　to　know　if　he　could　be　entertained　there；　and　he　was　answered　that　everything　was　at　his　disposal。　So　the　King　went　to　the　palace　and　passing　into　a　great　guest…chamber　he　saw　no　living　soul；　but　two　little　boys；　who　skipped　around　him　crying；　〃Welcome；　welcome！〃　The　King；　surprised　and　astonished；　stood　like　one　that　was　enchanted；　and　sitting　down　to　rest　himself　at　a　table；　to　his　amazement　he　saw　invisibly　spread　on　it　a　Flanders　tablecloth；　with　dishes　full　of　roast　meats　and　all　sorts　of　viands；　so　that；　in　truth；　he　feasted　like　a　King；　waited　on　by　those　beautiful　children；　and　all　the　while　he　sat　at　table　a　concert　of　lutes　and　tambourines　never　ceasedsuch　delicious　music　that　it　went　to　the　tips　of　his　fingers　and　toes。　When　he　had　done　eating；　a　bed　suddenly　appeared　all　made　of　gold；　and　having　his　boots　taken　off；　he　went　to　rest　and　all　his　courtiers　did　the　same；　after　having　fed　heartily　at　a　hundred　tables；　which　were　laid　out　in　the　other　rooms。

When　morning　came；　the　King　wished　to　thank　the　two　little　children；　but　with　them　appeared　Vastolla　and　her　husband；　and　casting　herself　at　his　feet　she　asked　his　pardon　and　related　the　whole　story。　The　King；　seeing　that　he　had　found　two　grandsons　who　were　two　jewels　and　a　son…in…law　who　was　a　fairy；　embraced　first　one　and　then　the　other；　and　taking　up　the　children　in　his　arms；　they　all　returned　to　the　city　where　there　was　a　great　festival　that　lasted　many　days。



IV

VARDIELLO

If　Nature　had　given　to　animals　the　necessity　of　clothing　themselves；　and　of　buying　their　food；　the　race　of　quadrupeds　would　inevitably　be　destroyed。　Therefore　it　is　that　they　find　their　food　without　trouble；without　gardener　to　gather　it；　purchaser　to　buy　it；　cook　to　prepare　it；　or　carver　to　cut　it　up；　whilst　their　skin　defends　them　from　the　rain　and　snow；　without　the　merchant　giving　them　cloth；　the　tailor　making　the　dress；　or　the　errand…boy　begging　for　a　drink…penny。　To　man　however；　who　has　intelligence；　Nature　did　not　care　to　grant　these　indulgences；　since　he　is　able　to　procure　for　himself　what　he　wants。　This　is　the　reason　that　we　commonly　see　clever　men　poor；　and　blockheads　rich；　as　you　may　gather　from　the　story　which　I　am　going　to　tell　you。

Grannonia　of　Aprano　was　a　woman　of　a　great　sense　and　judgment；　but　she　had　a　son　named　Vardiello；　who　was　the　greatest　booby　and　simpleton　in　the　whole　country　round　about。　Nevertheless；　as　a　mother's　eyes　are　bewitched　and　see　what　does　not　exist；　she　doted　upon　him　so　much；　that　she　was　for　ever　caressing　and　fondling　him　as　if　he　were　the　handsomest　creature　in　the　world。

Now　Grannonia　kept　a　brood…hen；　that　was　sitting　upon　a　nest　of　eggs；　in　which　she　placed　all　her　hope；　expecting　to　have　a　fine　brood　of　chickens；　and　to　make　a　good　profit　of　them。　And　having　one　day　to　go　out　on　some　business；　she　called　her　son；　and　said　to　him；　〃My　pretty　son　of　your　own　mother；　listen　to　what　I　say：　keep　your　eye　upon　the　hen；　and　if　she　should　get　up　to　scratch　and　pick；　look　sharp　and　drive　her　back　to　the　nest；　for　otherwise　the　eggs　will　grow　cold；　and　then　we　shall　have　neither　eggs　nor　chickens。〃

〃Leave　it　to　me；〃　replied　Vardiello；　〃you　are　not　speaking　to　deaf　ears。〃

〃One　thing　more；〃　said　the　mother；　〃look…ye；　my　blessed　son；　in　yon　cupboard　is　a　pot　full　of　certain　poisonous　things；　take　care　that　ugly　Sin　does　not　tempt　you　to　touch　them；　for　they　would　make　you　stretch　your　legs　in　a　trice。〃

〃Heaven　forbid！〃　replied　Vardiello；　〃poison　indeed　will　not　tempt　me；　but　you　have　done　wisely　to　give　me　the　warning；　for　if　I　had　got　at　it；　I　should　certainly　have　eaten　it　all　up。〃

Thereupon　the　mother　went　out；　but　Vardiello　stayed　behind；　and；　in　order　to　lose　no　time；　he　went　into　the　garden　to　dig　holes；　which　he　covered　with　boughs　and　earth；　to　catch　the　little　thieves　who　come　to　steal　the　fruit。　And　as　he　was　in　the　midst　of　his　work；　he　saw　the　hen　come　running　out　of　the　room；　whereupon　he　began　to　cry；　〃Hish；　hish！　this　way；　that　way！〃　But　the　hen　did　not　stir　a　foot；　and　Vardiello；　seeing　that　she　had　something　of　the　donkey　in　her；　after　crying　〃Hish；　hish；〃　began　to　stamp　with　his　feet；　and　after　stamping　with　his　feet　to　throw　his　cap　at　her；