rincegazedintohereyes,dumbfounded.Neverhadshelookedsobeautiful.Hefellatherfeetaskingherforgivenessanddeclaringhisdeepgratitudeandlove.
Thatveryeveningheinformedhisfatherhewasgoingtomarrythemaideninthecastleintheforest.
"Youmaymarryonlythedaughterofakingoranemperor,"repliedhisfather.
"Ishallmarrythewomanwhosavedmylife."
Sotheymadepreparationsforthewedding,invitingallthekingsandqueensinthevicinity.Alsopresentwastheprincesssroyalfather,whohadbeeninformedofnothing.Whenthebridecameout,helookedatherandexclaimed,"Mydaughter!"
"What!"saidtheroyalhost."Mysonsbrideisyourdaughter?Whydidshenottellus?"
"Because,"explainedthebride,"Inolongerconsidermyselfthedaughterofamanwholetmystepmotherimprisonme."Andshepointedatthequeen.
Learningofallhisdaughtersmisfortune,thefatherwasfilledwithpityforthegirlandwithloathingforhiswickedwife.Nordidhewaituntilhewasbackhometohavethewomanseized.Thusthemarriagewascelebratedtothesatisfactionandjoyofall,withtheexceptionofthatwretch.
(Turin)
NOTES:
"TheCanaryPrince"IlPrincipecanarino)fromRua(inArchivioperlostudiodelletradizionipopolari,Palermo-Turin,VI[1887],401),Turin.
ThisfolktalefromTurin,withitsballadlikepathos,developsamedievalmotif,whichisalsoliterary.(ButMariedeFranceslai,Yonec,isquitedifferent,beingthestoryofanadultery.)Mypersonaltoucheshereincludetheprincesyellowsuitandleggings,thedescriptionofthetransformationinaflutterofwings,thegossipofthewitcheswhotraveledtheworldover,andabitofstylisticcunning.
Copyright:ItalianFolktalesSelectedandRetoldbyItaloCalvino,
translatedbyGeorgeMartin,
PantheonBooks,NewYork1980