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m off with fine linen handkerchiefs； murmuring； 〃My handsome Crin； my darling Crin； I love you so。〃 King Crin was overjoyed。
Next morning at the court everybody expected to hear that the third bride had been found dead； but out she came in higher spirits than ever。 That was a grand occasion for celebration in the royal house； and the king gave a reception。
The next night the bride became curious to see King Crin as he slept； because she had her suspicions。 She lit a taper and beheld a youth handsome beyond all stretches of the imagination。 But as she stood there rapt with admiration； she accidentally dropped the taper on his arm。 He woke up and jumped out of bed； furious。 〃You broke the spell and will never see me again； or only when you have wept seven bottles of tears and worn out seven pairs of iron shoes； seven iron mantles； and seven iron hats looking for me。〃 At that； he vanished。
So deep was her distress that the bride had no choice but to go in search of her husband。 She had a blacksmith forge seven pairs of iron shoes； seven iron mantles； and seven iron hats for her； then departed。
She walked all day long until night overtook her on a mountain； where she saw a cottage and knocked on the door。 〃My poor girl；〃 said an old woman； 〃I can't give you shelter； since my son is the Wind who es home and turns everything upside down； and woe to anyone in his way！〃
But she begged and pleaded until the old woman brought her in and hid her。 The Wind soon arrived and sniffed all around； saying：
〃Human； human； I smell a human。〃
But his mother quieted him down with food。 In the morning she rose at daybreak and softly awakened the young lady； advising； 〃Flee before my son gets up and take along this chestnut as a souvenir of me； but crack it open only in a serious emergency。〃
She walked all day long and was overtaken by night on top of another mountain。 She spied a cottage； and an old lady on the doorstep said； 〃I would gladly lodge you； but I'm Lightning's mother； and poor you if my son came home and caught you here！〃 But then she took pity on her and hid her。 Lightning arrived soon afterward：
〃Human； human； I smell a human。〃
But he didn't find her and； after supper； went to bed。
〃Flee before my son wakes up；〃 said Lightning's mother in the morning； 〃and take along this walnut； which might e in very handy。〃
She walked all day long and was overtaken by night on top of another mountain。 There stood the house of Thunder's mother； who ended up hiding her。 Thunder too came in saying：
〃Human； human； I smell a human。〃
But neither did he find her； and in the morning she went off with a hazelnut as a present from Thunder's mother。
After walking for miles and miles she reached a city whose princess； she learned； would soon marry a handsome young man staying at her castle。 The young lady was sure that was her own husband。 What could she do to prevent the marriage？ How could she get into the castle？
She cracked open the chestnut and out poured diamonds and other jewels； which she went off to sell under the princess's windows。 The princess looked out and invited her inside。 The young lady said； 〃I'll let you have all these gems for nothing； if you allow me to spend one night in the bedchamber of the young man staying at your palace。〃
The princess was afraid the young lady would talk to him and maybe persuade him to flee with her； but her maid said； 〃Leave everything to me。 We'll give him a sleeping potion and he won't wake up。〃 They did just that； and as soon as the handsome youth went to sleep； the maid took the young lady into his bedchamber and left her。 With her own eyes； the young lady saw that his（sic） was none other than her husband。
〃Wake up； my love； wake up！ I've walked all over for you； wearing out seven pairs of iron shoes； seven iron mantles； and seven iron hats： and I've wept seven bottles of tears。 Now that I've finally found you； you sleep and don't hear me！〃
And that went on till morning； when； at her wit's end； she cracked the walnut。 Out rolled exquisite gowns and silks； each lovelier than the other。 At the sight of all these wonderful things； the maid called the princess； who simply had to have them all and therefore granted the young lady another night with the youth。 But the young lady was taken into the bedchamber later than the last time and brought out earlier in the morning。
Nor was this second night any more fruitful than the first。 The poor girl cracked the hazelnut and out came horses and carriages。 To acquire them； the princess again let her spend the night with the young man。
But by this time he had grown tired of drinking what they brought him every night； so he only pretended to swallow it while actually emptying the glass over his shoulder。 When the young lady began talking to him； he made out as if he were sleeping； but the moment he was sure it was his wife； he jumped to his feet and embraced her。 With all those horses and carriages they had no problem getting away and back home； where there was a grand celebration。
They put on the dog and high did they soar；
They saw me not； I stood behind the door。
（Colline del Po）
NOTES：
〃King Crin〃 （Re Crin） from Pitrè （in Archivio per lo studio delle tradizioni popolari； I ＇1882＇； 424）； Monteu da Po； Piedmont。
Of illustrious origin （since it is certainly relatedat least in the motif of the bridegroom who cannot be seen in his true formto the myth of Amor and Psyche）； the folktale about the swine king is one of the most widespread in Italy。 This Piedmontese version has a beginning full of brio。 The development repeatswith the walnuts to be cracked； spying on the sleeper； etc。a motif also mon to other types and of which my no。 140 presents a richer version。
Copyright： Italian Folktales Selected and Retold by Italo Calvino；
translated by George Martin；
Pantheon Books； New York 1980
倔强的彼埃拉人
一个农夫要去彼埃拉。正赶上刮风下雨的恶劣天气，路都几乎无法走了。但这个农夫有要紧的事，他低着头顶着风雨雷电继续往前走。
他遇上一个老人，对他说：“你好啊！你这样急急忙忙的要去哪里啊？好人。”
“去彼埃拉。”农夫答道，继续往前走。
“你至少应该说一声‘愿上帝保佑’吧。”
农夫停了下来，望着面前的老人高声说：“如果上帝保佑，我去彼埃拉；如果上帝不保佑，我照样得去。”
其实，那个老人就是上帝。他对农夫说：“那好吧，你七年以后才能到彼埃拉去，现在，你跳进池塘，在里面待上七年吧。”
农夫立即变成了一只青蛙，跳进了池塘。
七年过去了。农夫从池塘中出来，又变回人，他戴紧帽子，又上路了。
没走几步，上次那个老人又出现了。“好人，你这是去哪里啊？”
“去彼埃拉。”
“你应该祈祷一声‘愿上帝保佑’。”
“要是上帝保佑，那很好；要是不保佑，那个惩罚我知道，我会自己跳进池塘里去。”
说完，他再也不开口说话了。
（比埃拉地区）
Those Stubborn Souls； the Biellese
A farmer was on his way down to Biella one day。 The weather was so stormy that it was next to impossible to get over the roads。 But the farmer had important business and pushed onward in the face of the driving rain。
He met an old man； who said to him； 〃A good day to you！ Where are