ueen."
"WhereamIgoingtogetfigsthistimeofyear?"askedthecarter.Ithappenedtobewinter.
Butthenextmorninghewentintothegardenandfoundthefigtreeladenwithfruit,eventhoughtherewasntaleafonthetree.Hefilleduptwobasketsandloadedthemontohisdonkey.
"HowhighapricecanIaskforfigsinwinter?"saidthecarter.
"Askforapairofeyes,"repliedthemaiden.
Thathedid,butneitherthekingnorthequeennorherothersisterwouldhaveevergougedouttheireyes.Sothesisterstalkedthematterover."Letsgivehimoursisterseyes,whichareofnousetous."Withthoseeyestheypurchasedthefigs.
Thecarterreturnedtothemaidenwiththeeyes.Sheputthembackinplaceandsawagainaswellasever.
Thenthequeenhadadesireforpeaches,andthekingsenttothecarteraskingifhecouldntfindsomepeachesthewayhedfoundfigs.Thenextmorningthepeachtreeinthecartersgardenwasladenwithpeaches,andhetookaloadtocourtatonceonhisdonkey.Whentheyaskedhimwhathewantedforthem,hereplied,"Apairofhands."
Butnobodywouldcutofftheirhands,noteventopleasetheking.Thenthesisterstalkedthematterover."Letsgivehimoursisters."
Whenthegirlgotherhandsback,shereattachedthemtoherarmsandwasassoundasever.
Notlongafterward,thequeenwentintolaborandbroughtforthascorpion.Thekingnonethelessgaveaball,towhicheverybodywasinvited.Thegirlwentdressedasaqueenandwasthebelleoftheball.Thekingfellinlovewithherandrealizedshewashistruebride.Shelaughedgoldenseeds,weptpearls,andwashedfishintothebasin,asshetoldherstoryfromstarttofinish.
Thetwowickedsistersandthescorpionwereburnedonapyreskyhigh.Onthesamedaythegrandweddingbanquettookplace.
Theyputonthedogandhighdidtheysoar;
Isaw,Iheard,Ihidbehindthedoor.
ThentodinerepairedItotheinn,
Andtheremystorydrawstoanend.
(Monferrato)
NOTES:
"TheSnake"(LaBiscia)fromComparetti,25,Monferrato,Piedmont.
TheluxuriantstoryfromTheFacetiousNights(III,3)aboutBiancabellaandtheserpent,oneofStraparolasfinest,isheretold,onthecontrary,inbarerusticsimplicity,inthemidstofmeadowsreadyforamowing,fruits,andseasons.Theepisodeofthepomegranatetreewithitsfruitthatcannotbepluckedwasaddedbymetofilloutasomewhatsketchypass
本章未完，点击下一页继续阅读。