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〃Congratulations；〃 the king said。 〃Your palace is a true wonder。 My house looks like a hut pared with it。 Congratulations！ But was it your idea to put up the words： Money can do everything？〃
The prince realized that maybe he had gone too far。
〃Yes it was；〃 he answered； 〃but if Your Majesty doesn't like it； I can easily have the letters stripped off。〃
〃Oh； no； I wouldn't think of having you do that。 I merely wanted to hear from your own lips what you meant by such a statement。 For instance； do you think that； with your money； you could have me assassinated？〃
The prince realized he had got himself into a tight spot。
〃Oh； Majesty； forgive me。 I'll have the words removed at once。 And if you don't like the palace； just say so； and I'll have it torn down too。〃
〃No； no； leave it the way it is。 But since you claim a person with money can do anything； prove it to me。 I'll give you three days to try to talk to my daughter。 If you manage to speak to her； well and good； you will marry her。 If not； I'll have you beheaded。 Is that clear？〃
The prince was too distressed to eat； drink； or sleep。 Day and night； all he thought of was how he might save his neck。 By the second day he was certain of failure and decided to make his will。 His plight was hopeless； for the king's daughter had been closed up in a castle surrounded by one hundred guards。 Pale and limp as a rag； the prince lay on his bed waiting to die； when in walked his old nurse； a decrepit old soul now who had nursed him as a baby and who still worked for him。 Finding him so haggard； the old woman asked what was wrong。 Hemming and hawing； he told her the whole story。
〃So？〃 said the nurse。 〃And you're giving up； like that？ You make me laugh！ I'll see what I can do about all this！〃
Off she wobbled to the finest silversmith in town and ordered him to make a solid silver goose that would open and close its bill。 The goose was to be as big as a man and hollow inside。 〃It must be ready tomorrow；〃 she added。
〃Tomorrow？ You're crazy！〃 exclaimed the silversmith。
〃Tomorrow I said！〃 The old woman pulled out a purse of gold coins and continued； 〃Think it over。 This is the down payment。 I'll give you the rest tomorrow when you deliver the goose。〃
The silversmith was dumbfounded。 〃That makes all the difference in the world；〃 he said。 〃I'll do my best to have the goose tomorrow。〃
The next day the goose was ready； and it was a beauty。
The old woman said to the prince； 〃Take your violin and get inside the goose。 Play as soon as we reach the road。〃
They wound their way through the city； with the old woman pulling the silver goose along by a ribbon and the prince inside playing his violin。 The people lined the streets to watch： there wasn't a soul in town that didn't e running to see the beautiful goose。 Word of it reached the castle where the king's daughter was shut up； and she asked her father to let her go and see the unusual sight。
The king said； 〃Time's up for that boastful prince tomorrow。 You can go out then and see the goose。〃
But the girl had heard that the old woman with the goose would be gone by tomorrow。 Therefore the king had the goose brought inside the castle so his daughter could see it。 That's just what the old woman was counting on。 As soon as the princess was alone with the silver goose and delighting in the music pouring from its bill； the goose suddenly opened and out stepped a man。
〃Don't be afraid；〃 said the man。 〃I am the prince who must either speak to you or be decapitated by your father tomorrow morning。 You can say you spoke to me and save my life。〃
The next day the king sent for the prince。 〃Well； did your money make it possible for you to speak to my daughter？〃
〃Yes； Majesty；〃 answered the prince。
〃What！ Do you mean you spoke to her？〃
〃Ask her。〃
The girl came in and told how the prince was hidden in the silver goose which the king himself had ordered brought inside the castle。
The king； at that； removed his crown and placed it on the prince's head。 〃That means you have not only money but also a fine head！ Live happily； for I am giving you my daughter in marriage。〃
（Genoa）
NOTES：
〃Money Can Do Everything〃 （Il danaro fa tutto） from Andrews； 64； Genoa； told by Caterina Grande。
This story； of oriental origin （found in the Panchatantra）； stresses in its Genoese version a utilitarian and mercial moral all its own。 （The final remark of the king was even too harsh along that line； so I decided to give credit also； as it meet； to cleverness。。。）
Copyright： Italian Folktales Selected and Retold by Italo Calvino；
translated by George Martin；
Pantheon Books； New York 1980
小羊倌
从前有个小羊倌，他的个儿长得很小，很是调皮捣蛋。一天，他赶著羊去草地时，看到一个小贩头顶一篮子鸡蛋从也他身旁经过，他将一块石头扔进人家的篮子里，把鸡蛋全砸碎了。可怜的卖蛋女人气坏了，尖著嗓子诅咒说：“你呀这辈子莫想再长大了，除非你找到可爱的巴格琳娜，她有三只会唱歌的苹果。”
从此，小羊倌变得又瘦又小。他妈妈越是疼爱他，他越变得瘦小。最后，他妈妈问道：“你到底出了什么事？你是不是做了坏事，人家诅咒你啦？”于是，他把对卖蛋小贩恶作剧的事讲了出来，把那个女人诅咒他的话又讲了一遍：“你呀这辈子莫想再长大了，除非你找到可爱的巴格琳娜，她有三只会唱歌的苹果。”
“这样的话，”妈妈说，“你别无办法，只好去寻找可爱的巴格琳娜了。”
小羊倌离开了家。他来到一座桥上，看见一个小女人坐在榛子壳里来回地摇晃著。
“那边是谁呀？”小女人问。
“一位朋友。”
“向上拨一下我的眼皮，好让我看一看你。”
“我正在寻找有三只会唱歌的苹果的、可爱的巴格琳娜，你知道她的一点情况吗？”
“不知道，不过你可以带著这块石头，它迟早会有用的。”
羊倌又走到另一座桥边，看见一个小女人正在一个鸡蛋壳里洗澡。
“那边是谁呀？”小女人问。
“一位朋友。”
“向上拨一下我的眼皮，好让我看一看你。”
“我正在寻找有三只会唱歌的苹果的、可爱的巴格琳娜，你听说过有关她的消息吗？”
“没有。不过你可以把这把象梳子拿去，它早晚会有用的。”
羊倌把梳子装入口袋，接著继续赶路，后来走到一条小溪边，看见一个人正在将雾装入袋子。当小羊倌问这个人是否知道可爱的巴格琳娜时，他回答说一无所知，但给了小羊倌一口袋雾，说它总会有用的。
接著，他走到一座磨坊，磨坊主是一只会说话的狐狸。它说：“我知道可爱的巴格琳娜是谁，但你要找到她却十分困难。你一直朝前走，走到一所敞开著大门的房子。走进去，你就会看到一只挂著许多小铃铛的水晶鸟笼。笼子里就放著会唱歌的苹果。你要拿走这只鸟笼，可要留神看管它的老婆婆。如果她的两眼睁著，那说明她睡著了；如果她的两眼闭著，她肯定醒著。”
羊倌继续赶路。到了那里他发现老婆婆的眼睛闭著，知道她并没有睡觉。“小伙子，”老婆婆说，“低下头看看我的头发，找找里面有没有虱子。”
当羊倌低著头给她捉虱子的时候，老婆婆睁开了双眼，他知道她睡著了。他连忙拿起水晶鸟笼逃走了。可是，笼子上的小铃铛叮叮噹噹地响起来，老婆婆惊醒了。她派了一百名骑兵去追他。听到尾随而来的骑兵马上要追上了，小羊倌掏出口袋里的那块石头丢了出去，石头马上变成了一座陡壁悬崖的大山，追来的马全倒在地上，跌断了腿。
这些骑兵失去了马，便步行回到老婆婆那儿。接著，老婆婆又派了二百名骑兵去追赶。小羊倌眼看自己又处在危险之中，便将那一把象牙梳子扔了出去，它变成了一座象玻璃山一样光滑的高山，那些马和骑兵全都滑下来摔死了。
接著�