ughthim,andtheyrolledtogetherinaball,bitingeachotheruntiltheblackdoglaydead.(Backatthecastle,thesorcererhadtotaketohisbed.)Thedogsbellywasslitopenandoutflewablackeagle,butJackbecamethemostpowerfuleagleunderthesunandtheysoaredthroughtheskypeckingandclawingeachotheruntiltheblackeaglefoldeditswingsandfelltoearth.(Atthecastle,thesorcererranahighfeverandcurledupunderthebedclothes.)
Jackchangedbackintoaman,openedtheeaglescraw,andremovedtheblackegg.Hereturnedtothecastleandgaveittothekingsdaughter,whowasoverjoyed.
"Howonearthdidyoudoit?"sheasked.
"Nothingtoit,"repliedJack."Therestisnowuptoyou."
Thekingsdaughterenteredthesorcerersbedchamber,asking,"Howdoyoufeel?"
"Woesme!Ivebeenbetrayed"
"Ibroughtyouacupofbroth.Drinksome."
Thesorcerersatupinhisbedandbentovertodrinkthebroth.
"Here,letmebreakaneggintoitandgiveitmorebody."Atthat,thekingsdaughterbroketheblackeggoverhisbrowandBody-without-Souldiedonthespot.
Jacktookthekingsdaughterhometoherfather.Everyonewasoverjoyed,andtheyoungcouplewasmarriedforthwith.
(Rivieraligurediponente)
NOTES:
"Body-without-Soul"(Corpo-senza-lanima)fromAndrews,46,Rivieraligure.
ThisLigurianJackdiffersfromfellowheroesandliberatorsofprincessesbyhissystematiccautiousnessborderingondistrust(heisoneofthefewwho,theminutehereceivesamagicgift,musttestitbeforeheisabletobelieveinit).Inthatrespecthetakesafterhismother,whowillnotlethimgooutintotheworlduntilhehasgivenproofofperseverancebyfellingthetreewithhiskicks.Ihavebeenfaithfultotheoriginalversionwhileaimingtoendowitwithaparticularrhythm.
Copyright:ItalianFolktalesSelectedandRetoldbyItaloCalvino,
translatedbyGeorgeMartin,
PantheonBooks,NewYork1980