stories from pentamerone-第9节

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ious；　told　her　of　all　the　fine　things　they　had　seen。　But　the　King　was　very　angry　with　the　servant；　and　warned　him　not　to　miss　finding　out　next　time　who　this　beautiful　maiden　was；　and　where　she　dwelt。

Soon　there　was　another　feast；　and　again　the　sisters　all　went　to　it；　leaving　poor　Zezolla　at　home　on　the　kitchen　hearth。　Then　she　ran　quickly　to　the　date…tree；　and　repeated　the　spell；　and　instantly　there　appeared　a　number　of　damsels；　one　with　a　looking…glass；　another　with　a　bottle　of　rose…water；　another　with　the　curling…irons；　another　with　combs；　another　with　pins；　another　with　dresses；　and　another　with　capes　and　collars。　And　they　decked　her　out　as　glorious　as　the　sun；　and　put　her　in　a　coach　drawn　by　six　white　horses；　and　attended　by　footmen　and　pages　in　livery。　And　no　sooner　did　she　appear　in　the　ball…room　than　the　hearts　of　the　sisters　were　filled　with　amazement；　and　the　King　was　overcome　with　love。

When　Zezolla　went　home　the　servant　followed　her　again；　but　so　that　she　should　not　be　caught　she　threw　down　a　handful　of　pearls　and　jewels；　and　the　good　fellow；　seeing　that　they　were　not　things　to　lose；　stayed　to　pick　them　up。　So　she　had　time　to　slip　away　and　take　off　her　fine　dress　as　before。

Meanwhile　the　servant　had　returned　slowly　to　the　King；　who　cried　out　when　he　saw　him；　〃By　the　souls　of　my　ancestors；　if　you　do　not　find　out　who　she　is　you　shall　have　such　a　thrashing　as　was　never　before　heard　of；　and　as　many　kicks　as　you　have　hairs　in　your　beard！〃

When　the　next　feast　was　held；　and　the　sisters　were　safely　out　of　the　house；　Zezolla　went　to　the　date…tree；　and　once　again　repeated　the　spell。　In　an　instant　she　found　herself　splendidly　arrayed　and　seated　in　a　coach　of　gold；　with　ever　so　many　servants　around　her；　so　that　she　looked　just　like　a　queen。　Again　the　sisters　were　beside　themselves　with　envy；　but　this　time；　when　she　left　the　ball…room；　the　King's　servant　kept　close　to　the　coach。　Zezolla；　seeing　that　the　man　was　ever　running　by　her　side；　cried；　〃Coachman；　drive　on　quickly；〃　and　in　a　trice　the　coach　set　off　at　such　a　rattling　pace　that　she　lost　one　of　her　slippers；　the　prettiest　thing　that　ever　was　seen。　The　servant　being　unable　to　catch　the　coach；　which　flew　like　a　bird；　picked　up　the　slipper；　and　carrying　it　to　the　King　told　him　all　that　happened。　Whereupon　the　King；　taking　it　in　his　hand；　said；　〃If　the　basement；　indeed；　is　so　beautiful；　what　must　the　building　be。　You　who　until　now　were　the　prison　of　a　white　foot　are　now　the　fetter　of　an　unhappy　heart！〃

Then　he　made　a　proclamation　that　all　the　women　in　the　country　should　come　to　a　banquet；　for　which　the　most　splendid　provision　was　made　of　pies　and　pastries；　and　stews　and　ragouts；　macaroni　and　sweetmeatsenough　to　feed　a　whole　army。　And　when　all　the　women　were　assembled；　noble　and　ignoble；　rich　and　poor；　beautiful　and　ugly；　the　King　tried　the　slipper　on　each　one　of　the　guests　to　see　whom　it　should　fit　to　a　hair；　and　thus　be　able　to　discover　by　the　help　of　the　slipper　the　maiden　of　whom　he　was　in　search；　but　not　one　foot　could　he　find　to　fit　it。　So　he　examined　them　closely　whether　indeed　every　one　was　there；　and　the　Prince　confessed　that　he　had　left　one　daughter　behind；　〃but；〃　said　he；　〃she　is　always　on　the　hearth；　and　is　such　a　graceless　simpleton　that　she　is　unworthy　to　sit　and　eat　at　your　table。〃　But　the　King　said；　〃Let　her　be　the　very　first　on　the　list；　for　so　I　will。〃

So　all　the　guests　departedthe　very　next　day　they　assembled　again；　and　with　the　wicked　sisters　came　Zezolla。　When　the　King　saw　her　he　had　his　suspicions；　but　said　nothing。　And　after　the　feast　came　the　trial　of　the　slipper；　which；　as　soon　as　ever　it　approached　Zezolla's　foot；　it　darted　on　to　it　of　its　own　accord　like　iron　flies　to　the　magnet。　Seeing　this；　the　King　ran　to　her　and　took　her　in　his　arms；　and　seating　her　under　the　royal　canopy；　he　set　the　crown　upon　her　head；　whereupon　all　made　their　obeisance　and　homage　to　her　as　their　queen。

When　the　wicked　sisters　saw　this　they　were　full　of　venom　and　rage；　and；　not　having　patience　to　look　upon　the　object　of　their　hatred；　they　slipped　quietly　away　on　tip…toe　and　went　home　to　their　mother；　confessing；　in　spite　of　themselves；　that

　　　　　〃He　is　a　madman　who　resists　the　Stars。〃



VII

THE　MERCHANT

Troubles　are　usually　the　brooms　and　shovels　that　smooth　the　road　to　a　man's　good　fortune；　of　which　he　little　dreams。　Many　a　man　curses　the　rain　that　falls　upon　his　head；　and　knows　not　that　it　brings　abundance　to　drive　away　hunger；　as　is　seen　in　the　person　of　a　young　man　of　whom　I　will　tell　you。

It　is　said　that　there　was　once　a　very　rich　merchant　named　Antoniello；　who　had　a　son　called　Cienzo。　It　happened　that　Cienzo　was　one　day　throwing　stones　on　the　sea…shore　with　the　son　of　the　King　of　Naples；　and　by　chance　broke　his　companion's　head。　When　he　told　his　father；　Antoniello　flew　into　a　rage　with　fear　of　the　consequences　and　abused　his　son；　but　Cienzo　answered；　〃Sir；　I　have　always　heard　say　that　better　is　the　law　court　than　the　doctor　in　one's　house。　Would　it　not　have　been　worse　if　he　had　broken　my　head？　It　was　he　who　began　and　provoked　me。　We　are　but　boys；　and　there　are　two　sides　to　the　quarrel。　After　all　　tis　a　first　fault；　and　the　King　is　a　man　of　reason；　but　let　the　worst　come　to　the　worst；　what　great　harm　can　he　do　me？　The　wide　world　is　one's　home；　and　let　him　who　is　afraid　turn　constable。〃

But　Antoniello　would　not　listen　to　reason。　He　made　sure　the　King　would　kill　Cienzo　for　his　fault　and　said；　〃Don't　stand　here　at　risk　of　your　life；　but　march　off　this　very　instant；　so　that　nobody　may　hear　a　word；　new　or　old；　of　what　you　have　done。　A　bird　in　the　bush　is　better　than　a　bird　in　the　cage。　Here　is　money。　Take　one　of　the　two　enchanted　horses　I　have　in　the　stable；　and　the　dog　which　is　also　enchanted；　and　tarry　no　longer　here。　It　is　better　to　scamper　off　and　use　your　own　heels　than　to　be　touched　by　another's；　better　to　throw　your　legs　over　your　back　than　to　carry　your　head　between　two　legs。　If　you　don't　take　your　knapsack　and　be　off；　none　of　the　Saints　can　help　you！〃

Then　begging　his　father's　blessing；　Cienzo　mounted　his　horse；　and　tucking　the　enchanted　dog　under　his　arm；　he　went　his　way　out　of　the　city。　Making　a　winter　of　tears　with　a　summer　of　sighs　he　went　his　way　until　the　evening；　when　he　came　to　a　wood　that　kept　the　Mule　of　the　Sun　outside　its　limits；　while　it　was　amusing　itself　with　Silence　and　the　Shades。　An　old　house　stood　there；　at　the　foot　of　a　tower。　Cienzo　knocked　at　the　door　of　the　tower；　but　the　master；　being　in　fear　of　robbers；　would　not　open　to　him；　so　the　poor　youth　was　obliged　to　remain　in　the　ruined　old　house。　He　turned　his　horse　out　to　graze　in　a　meadow；　and　threw　himself　on　some　straw　he　found；　with　the　dog　by　his　side。　But　scarcely　had　he　closed　his　eyes　when　he　was　awakened　by　the　barking　of　the　dog；　and　heard　footsteps　stirring　in　the　house。　Cienzo；　who　was　bold　and　venturesome；　seized　his　sword　and　began　to　lay　about　him　in　the　dark；　but　perceiving　that　he　was　only　striking　the　wind　and　hit　no　one；　he　turned　round　again　to　sleep。　After　a　few　minutes　he　felt　himself　pulled　gently　by　the　foot。　He　turned　to　lay　hold　again　of　his　cutlass；　and　jumping　up；　exclaimed；　〃Hollo　there！　you　are　getting　too　troublesome；　but　leave　off　this　sport　and　let's　have　a　bout　of　it　if　you　have　any　pluck；　for　you　have　found　the　last　to　your　shoe！〃

At　these　words　he　heard　a　shout　of　laughter　and　then　a　hollow　voice　saying；　〃Come　down　here　and　I　will　tell　you　who　I　am。〃　Then　Cienzo；　without　losing　courage；　answered；　〃Wait　awhile；　I'll　come。〃　So　he　groped　about　until　at　last　he　found　a　ladder　which　led　to　a　cellar；　and；　going　down；　he　saw　a　lighted　lamp；　and　three　ghost…looking　figures　who　were　making　a　piteous　clamour；　crying；　〃Alas；　my　beauteous　treasure；　I　must　lose　thee！〃

When　Cienzo　saw　this　he　began　himself　to　cry　and　lament；　for　company's　sake；　and　after　he　had　wept　for　some　time；　the　Moon　having　now；　with　the　axe　of　her　rays　broken　the　bar　of　the　Sky；　the　three　figures　who　were　making　the　outcry　said　to　Cienzo；　〃Take　this　treasure；　which　is　destined　for　thee　alone；　but　mind　and　take　care　of　it。〃　Then　they　vanished。　And　Cienzo；　espying　the　sunlight　through　a　hole　in　the　wall；　wished　to　climb　up　again；　but　could　not　find　the　ladder；　whereat　he　set　up　such　a　cry　that　the　master　of　the　tower　heard　him　and　fetched　a　ladder；　when　they　discovered　a　great　treasure。　He　wished　to　give　part　of　it　to　Cienzo；　but　the　latter　refused；　and　taking　his　dog　and　mounting　once　more　on　his　horse　set　out　again　on　his　travels。

After　a　while　he　arrived　at　a　wild　and　dreary　forest；　so　dark　that　it　made　you　shudder。　There；　upon　the　bank　of　a　river；　he　found　a　fairy　surrounded　by　a　band　of　robbers。　Cienzo；　seeing　the　wicked　intention　of　the　robbers；　seized　his　sword　and　soon　made　a　slaughter　of　them。　The　fairy　showered　thanks　upon　him　for　this　brave　deed　done　for　her　sake；　and　invited　him　to　her　palace　that　she　might　reward　him。　But　Cienzo　replied；　〃It　is　nothing　at　all；　thank　you　kindly。　Another　time　I　will　accept　the　favour；　but　now　I　am　in　haste；　on　business　of　importance！〃

So　saying　he　took　his　leave；　and　travelling　on　a　long　way　he　came　at　last　to　the　palace　of　a　King；　which　was　all　hung　with　mourning；　so　that　it　made　one's　heart　black　to　look　at　it。　When　Cie