意大利童话鹦鹉

sawell-bredparrot,andthemaidenhaddelightedintalkingwithhim.

"father,"shereplied,"uldntiatleasthaveaparrottokeepmecompany?"

themerchant,wholivedonlyforhisdaughter,birdtohisdaughter,andaftermuchlast-minuteadvicetoher,hesetoutonhistrip.

stedanoldwomaninhisschemeandsenthertothegirlwithaletter.

inthemeantimethemaidengotintoconversationwiththeparrot."talktome,parrot."

"uponatimetherewasakingwhohadadaughter.shewasanonlychild,withnobrothersorsisters,nordidshehaveanyplaymates.sotheymadeheradollthesamesizeasherself,verywhereshewentthedollwenttoo,dayasking,daughter,anddolldrovethroughthewoodsintheircarriage,theywereattackedbyenemieswhokilledthekingandcarriedoffhisdaughter,denscreamedandcriedso,theenemieslethergo,andshewanderedoffintothewoodsbyherself.sheeventuallyreachedthecourtofacertainqueenandbecameaservanrservantsgrewjealousandplottedherdownfall.youareaware,ofcourse,theysaid,thatthequeenlikesyouverymuchandtellsyoueverything.buttheresonethingwhichweknowandyoudon,themaidenwenttothequeenandasked,majesty,isittruethatyouhadasonwhodied?uponhearingthosewords,venhelpanyonewhorecalledthatfact!dentoowascondemnedtodie,rethegirlgavewaytodespair,dnight,asshesatthereweeping,sheheardthedoorboltsslideback,andinwalkedfivemen:fourofthemweresorcerersandthefifthwasthequeensson,theirprisoner,whomtheyweretakingoutforexercise."

atthatmoment,sfromtheking,whohadfinallymanagedtogetittoher.butthegirlwaseagertohearwhathappenednextinthetale,whichhadreachedthemostexcitingpart,soshesaid,"iwillreceivenolettersuntilmyfatherreturns.parrot,goonwithyourstory."

theservanttooktheletteraway,andtheparrotcontinued."queensentforher,andthemaidentoldherthathersonwasaliveandinthedungeonaprisoneroffoursorcerers,queendispatchedtwelvesoldiersarmedwithcrowbars,shegavehimasahusbandtothemaidenwhohadsavedhim."

theserantknockedagain,insistingthattheyoungladyreadthekingsletter."storyisover,icanreadtheletter,"saidthemerchantsdaughter.

"butitsnotfinishedyet,theresstillsomemoretocome,"theparrothastenedtosay."justlistentothis:themaidenwasnotinterestedinmarryingthequeenssonsonofthiscityskingwasill,denshowedupinmansattire,rstthingshedidwaslookunderthebedandfindatrapdoor.sheopeneditandwentdownintoalongcorridor,attheendofwhichalampwasburning."

atthatmomenttheservantknockedandannouncedtherewasanoldwomantoseetheyounglady,whoseauntsheclaimedtobe.(itwasnotanaunt,buttheoldwomansentbytheking.)butthemerchantsdaughterwasdyingtoknowtheoutcomeofthetale,soshesaidshewasreceivingnoone."goon,parrot,goonwithyourstory."

thustheparrotcontinued."themaidenwalkeddowntothatlightandfoundanoldwomanboilingtheheartofthekingssoninakettle,denremovedtheheartfromthekettle,carrieditbacktothekingssontoeat,said,ipromisedhalfofmykingdomtothedoctorwhocuredmyson.sinceyouareawoman,youwillmarrymysonandbecomequeen."

"itsafinestory,"saidthemerchantsdaughter."nowthatitsover,icanreceivethatwomanwhoclaimstobemyaunt."

"butitsnotquiteover,"saidtheparrot."theresstillsomemoretocomedenindoctorsdisguisealsorefusedtomarrythatkingssonandwasofftoanothercitywhosekingssonwasunderaspellandspeechless.shehidunderthebed;atmidnight,shesawtwowitchescomingthroughthewindowandremoveapebblefromtheyoungmansmouth,whereuponhecouldspeak.beforeleaving,theyreplacedthepebble,andhewasagainmute."

someoneknockedonthedoor,parrotcontinued.

"thenextnightwhenthewitchesputthepebbleonthebed,ssonwaswell,andtheynamedthemaidenphysiciantothecourt."

theknockingcontinued,andthemerchantsdaughterwasallreadytosay"comein,"butfirstsheaskedtheparrot,"doesthestorygoon,orisitover?"

"itgoeson,"repliedtheparrot."denwasntinterestedinremainingasphysiciantothecourt,smydool!dthisismybride!repliedthekingonseeingthatshewasthedollslivingimage."

therewasanotherknock,andtheparrotwasatatotallosstocontinuethestory."justaminute,justaminute,theresstillatinybitmore,"hesaid,buthehadnoideawhattosaynext.

"comeon,openup,itsyourfather,"saidthemerchantsvoice.

"ah,hereweareattheendofthestory,"announcedtheparrot."thekingmarriedthemaiden,andtheylivedhappilyeverafter."

thegirlfinallyrantoopenthedoorandembracedherfatherjustbackfromhistrip.

"welldone,mydaughter!"saidthemerchant."dhowistheparrotdoing?"

theywenttotakealookatthebird,butinhisplacetheyfoundahandsomeyouth."forgiveme,sir,"saidtheyouth."iamakingwhoputonaparrotsdisguise,reoftheintentionsofarivalkingtoabducther,believeihavesucceededinbothpurposes,andthaticannowaskforyourdaughtershandinmarriage."

sdaughtermarriedthekingwhohadtoldherthetale,andtheotherkingdiedofrage.

(monferrato)

notes:

"theparrot"(ilpappagallo)fromcomparetti,2,monferrato,piedmont.

seemyremarksonthisfolktaleintheintroduction,p.xxx-vetakenthelibertyofdoctoringthetwoversionspublishedbycomparetti——thepiedmonteseoneandatuscanone,frompisa(1)——andiheightenedthesuspensebyplacingtheinterruptionsatthecrucialmoments.

translatedbygeorgemartin,

pantheonbooks,newyork1980