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！
lly 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 his pigtail grow three yards long。〃
〃I saw the king of the cannibals； who ate his chamberlain by mistake。〃
〃I saw the king of this region； who has the sick son nobody can cure； since I alone know the remedy。〃
〃And what is it？〃 asked the other witches。
〃In the floor of his room is a loose tile。 All one need to do is lift the tile； and there underneath is a phial containing an ointment that would heal everyone of his wounds。〃
It was all the princess inside the tree could do not to scream for joy。 By this time the witches had told one another all they had to say； so each went her own way。 The princess jumped from the tree and set out in the dawn for the city。 At the first secondhand dealer's she came to； she bought an old doctor's gown and a pair of spectacles； and knocked at the royal palace。 Seeing the little doctor with such scant paraphernalia； the servants weren't going to let him in； but the king said； 〃What harm could he do my son who can't be any worse off than he is now？ Let him see what he can do。〃 The sham doctor asked to be left alone with the sick man； and the request was granted。
Finding her lover groaning and unconscious in his sickbed； the princess felt like weeping and smothering him with kisses。 But she restrained herself because of the urgency of carrying out the witch's directions。 She paced up and down the room until she stepped on a loose tile； which she raised and discovered a phial of ointment。 With it she rubbed the prince's wounds； and no sooner had she touched each one with ointment than the wound disappeared pletely。 Overjoyed she called the king； who came in and saw his son sleeping peacefully； with the color back in his cheeks； and no trace of any of the wounds。
〃Ask for whatever you like； doctor；〃 said the king。 〃All the wealth in the kingdom is yours。〃
〃I wish no money；〃 replied the doctor。 〃Just give me the prince's shield bearing the family coat…of…arms； his standard； and his yellow vest that was rent and bloodied。〃 Upon receiving the three items； she took her leave。
Three days later； the king's son was again out hunting。 He passed the castle in the heart of the forest； but didn't deign to look up at the princess's window。 She immediately picked up the book； leafed through it； and the prince had no choice but change into a canary。 He flew into the room； and the princess turned him back into a man。 〃Let me go；〃 he said。 〃Isn't it enough to have pierced me with those pins of yours and caused me so much agony？〃 The prince； in truth； no longer loved the girl； blaming her for his misfortune。
On the verge of fainting； she exclaimed； 〃But I saved your life！ I am the one who cured you！〃
〃That's not so；〃 said the prince。 〃My life was saved by a foreign doctor who asked for no repense except my coat…of…arms； my standard； and my bloodied vest！〃
〃Here are your coat…of…arms； your standard； and your vest！ The doctor was none other than myself！ The pins were the cruel doing of my stepmother！〃
The prince gazed into her eyes； dumbfounded。 Never had she looked so beautiful。 He fell at her feet asking her forgiveness and declaring his deep gratitude and love。
That very evening he informed his father he was going to marry the maiden in the castle in the forest。
〃You may marry only the daughter of a king or an emperor；〃 replied his father。
〃I shall marry the woman who saved my life。〃
So they made preparations for the wedding； inviting all the kings and queens in the vicinity。 Also present was the princess's royal father； who had been informed of nothing。 When the bride came out； he looked at her and exclaimed； 〃My daughter！〃
〃What！〃 said the royal host。 〃My son's bride is your daughter？ Why did she not tell us？〃
〃Because；〃 explained the bride； 〃I no longer consider myself the daughter of a man who let my stepmother imprison me。〃 And she pointed at the queen。
Learning of all his daughter's misfortune； the father was filled with pity for the girl and with loathing for his wicked wife。 Nor did he wait until he was back home to have the woman seized。 Thus the marriage was celebrated to the satisfaction and joy of all； with the exception of that wretch。
（Turin）
NOTES：
〃The Canary Prince〃 Il Principe canarino） from Rua （in Archivio per lo studio delle tradizioni popolari； Palermo…Turin； VI ＇1887＇； 401）； Turin。
This folktale from Turin； with its balladlike pathos； develops a medieval motif； which is also literary。 （But Marie de France's lai； Yonec； is quite different； being the story of an adultery。） My personal touches here include the prince's yellow suit and leggings； the description of the transformation in a flutter of wings； the gossip of the witches who traveled the world over； and a bit of stylistic cunning。
Copyright： Italian Folktales Selected and Retold by Italo Calvino；
translated by George Martin；
Pantheon Books； New York 1980
克林王
从前，有一个国王认了一头猪做自己的儿子，人们称它为“克林王”。克林王在王宫里进进出出，平常显得很有教养，还真像一个王室人物，但它也时常故意捣捣乱，发发脾气