stories from pentamerone-第7节

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t　of　madness　putting　in　jeopardy　both　his　daughter　and　his　honour。

Once　upon　a　time　the　King　of　High…Hill　being　bitten　by　a　flea　caught　him　by　a　wonderful　feat　of　dexterity；　and　seeing　how　handsome　and　stately　he　was　he　had　not　the　conscience　to　sentence　him　to　death。　So　he　put　him　into　a　bottle；　and　feeding　him　every　day　himself　the　little　animal　grew　at　such　a　rate　that　at　the　end　of　seven　months　it　was　necessary　to　shift　his　quarters；　for　he　was　grown　bigger　than　a　sheep。　The　King　then　had　him　flayed　and　his　skin　dressed。　Then　he　issued　a　proclamation　that　whoever　could　tell　what　this　skin　was　should　marry　the　Princess。

As　soon　as　this　decree　was　made　known　the　people　flocked　in　crowds　from　all　the　ends　of　the　world　to　try　their　luck。　One　said　that　it　belonged　to　an　ape；　another　to　a　lynx；　a　third　to　a　crocodile；　and　in　short　some　gave　it　to　one　animal　and　some　to　another；　but　they　were　all　a　hundred　miles　from　the　truth；　and　not　one　hit　the　nail　on　the　head。　At　last　there　came　to　this　trial　an　ogre　who　was　the　most　ugly　being　in　the　world；　the　very　sight　of　whom　would　make　the　boldest　man　tremble　and　quake　with　fear。　But　no　sooner　had　he　come　and　turned　the　skin　round　and　smelt　it　than　he　instantly　guessed　the　truth；　saying；　〃This　skin　belongs　to　the　king　of　fleas。〃

Now　the　King　saw　that　the　ogre　had　hit　the　mark；　and　not　to　break　his　word　he　ordered　his　daughter　Porziella　to　be　called。　Porziella　had　a　face　like　milk　and　roses；　and　was　such　a　miracle　of　beauty　that　you　would　never　be　tired　of　looking　at　her。　And　the　King　said　to　her；　〃My　daughter；　you　know　who　I　am。　I　cannot　go　back　from　my　promise　whether　a　king　or　a　beggar。　My　word　is　given；　I　must　keep　it　though　my　heart　should　break。　Who　would　ever　have　imagined　that　this　prize　would　have　fallen　to　an　ogre！　But　it　never　does　to　judge　hastily。　Have　patience　then　and　do　not　oppose　your　father；　for　my　heart　tells　me　that　you　will　be　happy；　for　rich　treasures　are　often　found　inside　a　rough　earthen　jar。〃


When　Porziella　heard　this　sad　saying　her　eyes　grew　dim；　her　face　turned　pale；　her　lips　fell；　her　knees　shook；　and　at　last；　bursting　into　tears；　she　said　to　her　father；　〃What　crime　have　I　committed　that　I　should　be　punished　thus！　How　have　I　ever　behaved　badly　toward　you　that　I　should　be　given　up　to　this　monster。　Is　this；　O　Father；　the　affection　you　bear　to　your　own　child？　Is　this　the　love　you　show　to　her　whom　you　used　to　call　the　joy　of　your　soul？　Do　you　drive　from　your　sight　her　who　is　the　apple　of　your　eye？　O　Father；　O　cruel　Father！　Better　had　it　been　if　my　cradle　had　been　my　death…bed　since　I　have　lived　to　see　this　evil　day。〃

Porziella　was　going　on　to　say　more　when　the　King　in　a　furious　rage　exclaimed；　〃Stay　your　anger！　Fair　and　softly；　for　appearances　deceive。　Is　it　for　a　girl　to　teach　her　father；　forsooth？　Have　done；　I　say；　for　if　I　lay　these　hands　upon　you　I'll　not　leave　a　whole　bone　in　your　skin。　Prithee；　how　long　has　a　child　hardly　out　of　the　nursery　dared　to　oppose　my　will？　Quick　then；　I　say；　take　his　hand　and　set　off　with　him　home　this　very　instant；　for　I　will　not　have　that　saucy　face　a　minute　longer　in　my　sight。〃

Poor　Porziella；　seeing　herself　thus　caught　in　the　net；　with　the　face　of　a　person　condemned　to　death；　with　the　heart　of　one　whose　head　is　lying　between　the　axe　and　the　block；　took　the　hand　of　the　ogre；　who　dragged　her　off　without　any　attendants　to　the　wood　where　the　trees　made　a　palace　for　the　meadow　to　prevent　its　being　discovered　by　the　sun；　and　the　brooks　murmured；　having　knocked　against　the　stones　in　the　dark；　while　the　wild　beasts　wandered　where　they　liked　without　paying　toll；　and　went　safely　through　the　thicket　whither　no　man　ever　came　unless　he　had　lost　his　way。　Upon　this　spot；　which　was　as　black　as　an　unswept　chimney；　stood　the　ogre's　house　ornamented　all　round　with　the　bones　of　the　men　whom　he　had　devoured。　Think　but　for　a　moment　of　the　horror　of　it　to　the　poor　girl。

But　this　was　nothing　at　all　in　comparison　with　what　was　to　come。　Before　dinner　she　had　peas　and　after　dinner　parched　beans。　Then　the　ogre　went　out　to　hunt　and　returned　home　laden　with　the　quarters　of　the　men　whom　he　had　killed；　saying；　〃Now；　wife；　you　cannot　complain　that　I　don't　take　good　care　of　you；　here　is　a　fine　store　of　eatables；　take　and　make　merry　and　love　me　well；　for　the　sky　will　fall　before　I　will　let　you　want　for　food。〃

Poor　Porziella　could　not　endure　this　horrible　sight　and　turned　her　face　away。　But　when　the　ogre　saw　this　he　cried；　〃Ha！　this　is　throwing　sweetmeats　before　swine；　never　mind；　however；　only　have　patience　till　to…morrow　morning；　for　I　have　been　invited　to　a　wild　boar　hunt　and　will　bring　you　home　a　couple　of　boars；　and　we'll　make　a　grand　feast　with　our　kinsfolk　and　celebrate　the　wedding。〃　So　saying　he　went　into　the　forest。

Now　as　Porziella　stood　weeping　at　the　window　it　chanced　that　an　old　woman　passed　by　who；　being　famished　with　hunger；　begged　some　food。　〃Ah；　my　good　woman；〃　said　Porziella；　〃Heaven　knows　I　am　in　the　power　of　the　ogre　who　brings　me　home　nothing　but　pieces　of　the　men　he　has　killed。　I　pass　the　most　miserable　life　possible；　and　yet　I　am　the　daughter　of　a　king　and　have　been　brought　up　in　luxury。〃　And　so　saying　she　began　to　cry　like　a　little　girl　who　sees　her　bread　and　butter　taken　away　from　her。

The　old　woman's　heart　was　softened　at　this　sight　and　she　said　to　Porziella；　〃Be　of　good　heart；　my　pretty　girl；　do　not　spoil　your　beauty　with　crying；　for　you　have　met　with　luck；　I　can　help　you　to　both　saddle　and　trappings。　Listen；　now。　I　have　seven　sons　who；　you　see；　are　seven　giants；　Mase；　Nardo；　Cola；　Micco；　Petrullo；　Ascaddeo；　and　Ceccone；　who　have　more　virtues　that　rosemary；　especially　Mase；　for　every　time　he　lays　his　ear　to　the　ground　he　hears　all　that　is　passing　within　thirty　miles　round。　Nardo；　every　time　he　washes　his　hands；　makes　a　great　sea　of　soapsuds。　Every　time　that　Cola　throws　a　bit　of　iron　on　the　ground　he　makes　a　field　of　sharp　razors。　Whenever　Micco　flings　down　a　little　stick　a　tangled　wood　springs　up。　If　Petrullo　lets　fall　a　drop　of　water　it　makes　a　terrible　river。　When　Ascaddeo　wishes　a　strong　tower　to　spring　up　he　has　only　to　throw　a　stone；　and　Ceccone　shoots　so　straight　with　the　cross…bow　that　he　can　hit　a　hen's　eye　a　mile　off。　Now　with　the　help　of　my　sons；　who　are　all　courteous　and　friendly；　and　who　will　all　take　compassion　on　your　condition；　I　will　contrive　to　free　you　from　the　claws　of　the　ogre。〃

〃No　time　better　than　now；〃　replied　Porziella；　〃for　that　evil　shadow　of　a　husband　of　mine　has　gone　out　and　will　not　return　this　evening；　and　we　shall　have　time　to　slip　off　and　run　away。〃

〃It　cannot　be　this　evening；〃　replied　the　old　woman；　〃for　I　live　a　long　way　off；　but　I　promise　you　that　to…morrow　morning　I　and　my　sons　will　all　come　together　and　help　you　out　of　your　trouble。〃

So　saying；　the　old　woman　departed；　and　Porziella　went　to　rest　with　a　light　heart　and　slept　soundly　all　night。　But　as　soon　as　the　birds　began　to　cry；　〃Long　live　the　Sun；〃　lo　and　behold；　there　was　the　old　woman　with　her　seven　children；　and　placing　Porziella　in　the　midst　of　them　they　proceeded　towards　the　city。　But　they　had　not　gone　above　half　a　mile　when　Mase　put　his　ear　to　the　ground　and　cried：　〃Hallo；　have　a　care；　here's　the　fox。　The　ogre　is　come　home。　He　has　missed　his　wife　and　he　is　hastening　after　us　with　his　cap　under　his　arm。〃

No　sooner　did　Nardo　hear　this　than　he　washed　his　hands　and　made　a　sea　of　soap…suds；　and　when　the　ogre　came　and　saw　all　the　suds　he　ran　home　and　fetching　a　sack　of　bran　he　strewed　it　about　and　worked　away　treading　it　down　with　his　feet　until　at　last　he　got　over　this　obstacle；　though　with　great　difficulty。

But　Mase　put　his　ear　once　more　to　the　ground　and　exclaimed；　〃Look　sharp；　comrade；　here　he　comes！〃　Thereupon　Cola　flung　a　piece　of　iron　on　the　ground　and　instantly　a　field　of　razors　sprang　up。　When　the　ogre　saw　the　path　stopped　he　ran　home　again　and　clad　himself　in　iron　from　head　to　foot　and　then　returned　and　got　over　this　peril。

Then　Mase；　again　putting　his　ear　to　the　ground；　cried；　〃Up！　up！　to　arms！　to　arms！　For　see　here　is　the　ogre　coming　at　such　a　rate　that　he　is　actually　flying。〃　But　Micco　was　ready　with　his　little　stick；　and　in　an　instant　he　caused　a　terrible　wood　to　rise　up；　so　thick　that　it　was　quite　impenetrable。　When　the　ogre　came　to　this　difficult　pass　he　laid　hold　of　a　Carrara　knife　which　he　wore　at　his　side；　and　began　to　cut　down　the　poplars　and　oaks　and　pine　trees　and　chestnut　trees；　right　and　left；　so　that　with　four　or　five　strokes　he　had　the　whole　forest　on　the　ground　and　got　clear　of　it。　Presently；　Mase　who　kept　his　ears　on　the　alert　like　a　hare；　again　raised　his　voice　and　cried；　〃Now　we　must　be　off；　for　the　ogre　is　coming　like　the　wind　and　here　he　is　at　our　heels。〃　As　soon　as　Petrullo　heard　this　he　took　water　from　a　little　fountain；　sprinkled　it　on　the　ground；　and　in　an　twinkling　of　an　eye　a　large　river　rose　up　on　the　spot。　When　the　ogre　saw　this　new　obstacle；　and　that　he　could　not　make　holes　so　fast　as　they　found　bungs　to　stop　them；　he　stripped　himself　stark　naked　and　swam　across　to　the　other　side　of　the　river　with　his　clothes　upon　his　head。

Mase；　who　put　his　ear　to　every　chink；　heard　the　ogre　coming　and　exclaimed；　〃Alas！　matters　go　ill　with　us　now。　I　already　hear　the　clatter　of　the　og