ewrightawaythatwouldbetheirundoing.Hethereforestartedsmashingdishesrightandleftandthrashingthepoorwomanatthesametime.Attractedbyallthatscreaming,theguardscameinandfoundamanbeatinghiswifeforbreakingupallthedishesinthehouse.
Thekingthenhadadecreepostedoneverystreetcornerthathewouldpardonthethiefwhohadrobbedhim,ifthethiefnowmanagedtostealthesheetsoutfromunderhimatnight.Crackcameforwardandsaidhecoulddoit.
Thatnightthekingundressedandwenttobedwithhisguntowaitforthethief.Crackgotadeadbodyfromagravedigger,dresseditinhisownclothes,andcarriedittotheroofoftheroyalpalace.Atmidnightthecadaver,heldbyarope,wasdanglingbeforethekingswindows.ThinkingitwasCrack,thekingfiredoneshotandwatchedhimfall,cordandall.Herandownstairstoseeifhewasdead.Whilethekingwasgone,Crackslippedintohisroomandstolethesheets.Hewasthereforepardoned,andsothathewouldnthavetostealanylonger,thekingmarriedhisdaughtertohim.
(Monferrato)
NOTES:
"CrackandCrook"(CriceCroc)fromComparetti,13,Monferrato,Piedmont.
Thisisoneoftheoldestandmostfamoustales,whichhasoccupiedtheattentionofscholarsforgenerations.ThePiedmonteseversionIfollowedisfaithfultotheoldesttraditionandincludesthecuriouscharacter-namesandabriskdoseofrusticcunning.Herodotus(Histories)tellsindetailaboutEgyptianKingRhampsinitusstreasure,chiefsourceofthevastnarrativetraditionconcerningwilyrobbersputtothetestbyaruler.ThebeheadingofacadaversoitwillnotberecognizedisalsoencounteredinPausanias,whopresentsthemythofTrophoniusandAgamedes(DescriptionofGreece,IX,372).EitherthroughtheGreeksorthroughorientaltraditionthetaleenteredmedievalliterature,inthevarioustranslationsoftheBookoftheSevenSagesandotherItalian,English,andGermantexts.LiteraryversionsbyItalianRenaissancestorywritersarenumerous.
Copyright:ItalianFolktalesSelectedandRetoldbyItaloCalvino,
translatedbyGeorgeMartin,
PantheonBooks,NewYork1980