wasawealthyyouthindeedwithallthosegoldpieces,andhelivedhappilyinhispalace.Thenonedaywhatshouldhedobutlookbehindhimandseehisshadow:hewassofrightenedhedied.
NOTES:
"DauntlessLittleJohn"(Giovanninsenzapaura)
IbeginwithafolktaleforwhichIdonotindicate,incontrasttomyprocedureinalltheothertales,theparticularversionIfollowed.AstheversionsofitfromthevariousregionsofItalyareallquitesimilar,Iletmyselfbefreelyguidedbycommontradition.NotonlyforthatreasonhaveIputthistalefirst,butalsobecauseitisoneofthesimplestand,inmyview,oneofthemostbeautifulfolktales.
ItaliantraditionsharplydivergesfromtheGrimms"TaleofaBoyWhoSetOuttoLearnFear"(Grimmno.4)whichisnodoubtclosertomyno.80.ThetypeoftaleisofEuropeanoriginandnotfoundinAsia.
Thedisappearanceofthemanlimbbylimbisnottraditional,butapersonaltouchofmyown,tobalancehisarrivalpiecebypiece.ItookthefinishingstrokeoftheshadowfromaSieneseversion(DeGubernatis,22),anditismerelyasimplificationofthemorecommonending,whereLittleJohnisgivenasalveforfasteningheadsbackon.Hecutshisheadoffandputsitonagain——backward;thesightofhisrearendsohorrifieshimthathedropsdead.
Copyright:ItalianFolktalesSelectedandRetoldbyItaloCalvino,
translatedbyGeorgeMartin,
PantheonBooks,NewYork1980