意大利童话 作者:卡尔维诺-第29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！
国王听到女儿所有的不幸遭遇，对女儿他感到万分内疚，对狠心的妻子感到愤怒。他等不及回家就把王后抓了起来。婚礼在喜庆的气氛中举行，所有的人都感到欢乐、满足，只有那个恶妇在等待着悲惨的结局。
（都灵地区）
The Canary Prince
There was a king who had a daughter。 Her mother was dead； and the stepmother was jealous of the girl and always spoke badly of her to the king。 The maiden defended herself as best as she could； but the stepmother was so contrary and insistent that the king； though he loved his daughter； finally gave in。 He told the queen to send the girl away； but to some place where she would be fortable； for he would never allow her to be mistreated。 〃Have no fear of that；〃 said the stepmother； who then had the girl shut up in a castle in the heart of the forest。 To keep her pany； the queen selected a group of ladies…in…waiting； ordering them never to let the girl go out of the house or even to look out the windows。 Naturally they received a salary worthy of a royal household。 The girl was given a beautiful room and all she wanted to eat and drink。 The only thing she couldn't do was go outdoors。 But the ladies； enjoying so much leisure time and money； thought only of themselves and paid no attention to her。
Every now and then the king would ask his wife； 〃And how is our daughter？ What is she doing with herself these days？〃 To prove that she did take an interest in the girl； the queen called on her。 The minute she stepped from her carriage； the ladies…in…waiting all rushed out and told her not to worry； the girl was well and happy。 The queen went up to the girl's room for a moment。 〃So you're fortable； are you？ You need nothing； do you？ You're looking well； I see； the country air is doing you good。 Stay happy； now。 Bye…bye； dear！〃 And off she went。 She informed the king she had never seen his daughter so content。
On the contrary； alwasy alone in the room； with ladies…in…waiting who didn't so much as look at her； the princess spent her days wistfully at the window。 She sat there leaning on the windowsill； and had she not thought to put a pillow under them； she would have got calluses on her elbows。 The window looked out on the forest； and all day long the princess saw nothing but treetops； clouds and； down below； the hunters' trail。 Over that trail one day came the son of a king in pursuit of a wild boar。 Nearing the castle known to have been unoccupied for no telling how many years； he was amazed to see washing spread out on the battlements； smoke rising from the chimneys； and open casements。 As he looked about him； he noticed a beautiful maiden at one of the upper windows and smiled at her。 The maiden saw the prince too； dressed in yellow； with hunter's leggings and gun； and smiling at her； so she smiled back at him。 For a whole hour； they smiled； bowed； and curtsied； being too far apart to municate in any other way。
The next day； under the pretext of going hunting； the king's son returned； dressed in yellow； and they stared at each other this time for two hours； in addition to smiles； bows； and curtsies； they put a hand over their hearts and waved handkerchiefs at great length。 The third day the prince stopped for three hours； and they blew each other kisses。 The fourth day he was there as usual； when from behind a tree a witch peeped and began to guffaw： 〃Ho； ho； ho； ho！〃
〃Who are you？ What's so funny？〃 snapped the prince。
〃What's so funny？ Two lovers silly enought to stay so far apart！〃
〃Would you know how to get any closer to her； ninny？〃 asked the prince。
〃I like you both；〃 said the witch； 〃and I'll help you。〃
She knocked at the door and handed the ladies…in…waiting a big old book with yellow； smudgy pages； saying it was a gift to the princess so the young lady could pass the time reading。 The ladies took it to the girl； who opened it at once and read： 〃This is a magic book。 Turn the pages forward； and the man bees a bird； turn them back； and the bird bees a man once more。〃
The girl ran to the window； placed the book on the sill； and turned the pages in great haste while watching the youth in yellow standing in the path。 Moving his arms； he was soon flapping wings and changed into a canary； dressed in yellow as he was。 Up he soared above the treetops and headed straight for the window； ing to rest on the cushioned sill。 The princess couldn't resist picking up the beautiful canary and kissing him； then remembering he was a young man； she blushed。 But on second thought she wasn't ashamed at all and made haste to turn him back into a youth。 She picked up the book and thumbed backward through it； the canary ruffled his yellow feathers； flapped his wings； then moved arms and was once more the youth dressed in yellow with the hunter's leggings； who knelt before her； declaring； 〃I love you！〃
By the time they finished confessing all their love for one another； it was evening。 Slowly； the princess leafed through the book。 Looking into her eyes the youth turned back into a canary； perched on the windowsill； then on the eaves； then trusting to the wind； flew down in wide arcs； lighting on the lower limb of a tree。 At that； she turned the pages back in the book and the canary was a prince once more who jumped down； whistled for his dogs； threw a kiss toward the window； and continued along the trail out of sight。
So every day the pages were turned forward to bring the prince flying up to the window at the top of the tower； then turned backward to restore his human form； then forward again to enable him to fly away； and finally backward for him to get home。 Never in their whole life had the two young people known such happiness。
One day the queen called on her stepdaughter。 She walked about the room； saying； 〃You're all right； aren't you？ I see you're a trifle slimmer； but that's certainly no cause for concern； is it？ It's true； isn't it； you've never felt better？〃 As she talked； she checked to see that everything was in place。 She opened the window and peered out。 Here came the prince in yellow along the trail with his dogs。 〃If this silly girl thinks she is going to flirt at the window；〃 said the stepmother to herself； 〃she has another thought ing to her。〃 She sent the girl for a glass of water and some sugar； then hurriedly removed five or six hairpins from her own hair and concealed them in the pillow with the sharp points sticking straight up。 〃That will teach her to lean on the windowsill！〃 The girl returned with the water and sugar； but the queen said； 〃Oh； I'm no longer thirsty； you drink it； my dear！ I must be getting back to your father。 You don't need anything； do you？ Well； goodbye。〃 And she was off。
As soon as the queen's carriage was out of sight； the girl hurriedly flipped over the pages of the book； the prince turned into a canary； flew to the window； and struck the pillow like an arrow。 He instantly let out a shrill cry of pain。 The yellow feathers were stained with blood； the canary had driven the pins into his breast。 He rose with a convulsive flapping； trusted himself to the wind； descended in irregular arcs； and lit on the ground with outstretched wings。 The frightened princess； not yet fully aware of what had happened； quickly turned the pages back in the hope there would be no wounds when he regained his human form。 Alas； the prince reappeared dripping blood from the deep stabs that had rent the yellow garment on his chest； and lay back surrounded by his dogs。
At the howling of the dogs； the other hunters came to his aid and carried him off on a stretcher of branches； but he didn't so much as glance up at the window of his beloved； who was still overwhelmed with grief and fright。
Back at his palace； the prince showed no promise of recovery； nor did the doctors know what to do for him。 The wounds refused to heal over； and constantly hurt。 His father the king posted proclamations on every street corner promising a fortune to anyone who could cure him； but not a soul turned up to try。
The princess meanwhile was consumed with longing for her lover。 She cut her sheets into thin strips which she tied one to the other in a long； long rope。 Then one night she let herself down from the high tower and set out on the hunters' trail。 But because of the thick darkness and the howls of the wolves； she decided to wait for daylight。 Finding an old oak with a hollow trunk； she nestled inside and； in her exhaustion； fell asleep at once。 She woke up while it was still pitch…dark； under the impression she had heard a whistle。 Listening closely； she heard another whistle； then a third and a fourth； after which she saw four candle flames advancing。 They were four witches ing from the four corners of the earth to their appointed meeting under that tree。 Through a crack in the trunk the princess； unseen by them； spied on the four crones carrying candles and sneering a wele to one another： 〃Ah； ah； ah！〃
They lit a bonfire under the tree and sat down to warm themselves and roast a couple of bats for dinner。 When they had eaten their fill； they began asking one another what they had seen of interest out in the world。
〃I saw the sultan of Turkey； who bought himself twenty new wives。〃
〃I saw the emperor of China； who has let h
