鹦鹉&意大利童话

    从前有一个商人要外出经商,但他不敢把女儿一个人留在家里,因为有个国王早就在打她的坏主意了。

    他叮嘱女儿:“孩子啊,我要动身了,你一定要答应我,在我回来之前,你不要踏出家门一步,也不要为任何人开门。”

    那天早晨,姑娘发现窗外的树上落着一只漂亮的鹦鹉,彬彬有礼,很讨人喜爱,她跟这只鹦鹉聊了一会,觉得很有意思。

    姑娘说:“亲爱的爸爸,我一个人留在家里会很孤单的,能不能买一只鹦鹉陪伴我呢?”

    商人视女儿为掌上明珠,马上就出去给她找鹦鹉。他遇到了一位卖鹦鹉的老者,而且卖得很便宜,就买下了这只鹦鹉送给了女儿。他对女儿千叮万嘱后,才离家上路。

    商人刚一离家,国王就开始琢磨用什么方法能接近姑娘。他与一个老妇串通好了,派她给姑娘送去一封信。

    但那时,姑娘正在跟鹦鹉说着话:“鹦鹉,你给我说些什么有趣的事呢?”

    “我给你讲一个动人的故事。从前有一个国王,他只有一个女儿,因为是独生女,没有兄弟姐妹陪她玩。人们给她做了一个玩具娃娃,跟她真人一样大,脸也像她,穿的也像她。她不管到哪里总把娃娃带在身边,大家常常错把她当做娃娃,错把娃娃当成她。有一次,国王带着她和娃娃坐着马车来到一片森林,敌人袭击他们,杀死了国王,掳走了公主,把娃娃丢在了车里。公主伤心地嚎啕大哭,敌人只好放了她,她就独自一人在森林中走着。走到一个女王的王宫里,女王把她收为女仆。姑娘聪明贤惠,深得女王宠爱。别的奴仆开始嫉妒她了,为了让她失宠,她们对她说:‘你知道吗。女主人对你真的很好,有什么话都对你说,不过,有一件事情我们都知道,她却不曾对你说,就是她曾有过一个儿子但后来死了。’于是姑娘便去问女王:‘陛下,你真的有一个儿子,后来死了吗?’听到这句话,女王差点气晕过去。这件事没人敢提,谁提到她死去的儿子,就是死罪。姑娘照例要判死刑的,可是女王对她有点怜惜,只把她关进了地牢。姑娘被关进来后,觉得很失落;她吃不下饭,整夜哭泣。半夜,她正在哭着,突然听到开门的声音,只见有五个人,其中四个是魔法师,另一个正是女王的儿子,他被他们囚禁着,他们带他出来散散步。”

    故事讲到这里,一个仆人打断了鹦鹉,他给姑娘送来一封信。信是那个国王写的,他想方设法让人把这封信递到了这里。但是当时姑娘正在兴头上,她想知道故事的下文,就说:“我爸爸回来之前,我不收任何信。请不要打扰我。鹦鹉,继续讲下去吧。”

    仆人拿着那封信出去了,鹦鹉继续讲故事:“到了早上,看管姑娘的狱卒发现犯人什么也没吃,就禀报了女王。女王传她上殿,姑娘就把在地牢里看见王子还活着、被四个魔法师关押着、每晚半夜押他出来放风的情况告诉了女王。女王马上派了十二名军士,手持长矛来到地牢,杀死了四个魔法师,把女王的儿子就了回来。女王因为姑娘救了王子,决定让王子娶姑娘为妻。”

    正讲到这里,敲门声又响了,家仆来请求小主人读一读那个国王写来的信。商人的女儿说:“好了,故事讲完了,我现在可以看信了。”

    “还没完,还有一段呢。”鹦鹉急忙劝阻她,“你听着:那个姑娘并不愿意嫁给女王的儿子,她只要了些钱和一套男人服装就离开了,到了另一个城邦。这里国王的儿子得了一种病,没有一个医师能医好他:他从半夜到早晨,瞪着眼睛,胡言乱语,就像一个恶魔。姑娘穿着一身男装来了,自称是从外国来的医师,请求让自己和病人单独待上一夜。她先察看了一下床,发现床下有一个暗道口,从暗道口下去,是一条走廊,尽头放着一盏油灯。”

    这时,又传来了敲门声,家仆进来说一位老妇,自称是姑娘的姑妈,想要见见姑娘。(其实她根本不是什么姑娘的姑妈,而是为国王办事的那个老妇。)商人的女儿急不可待地想要知道故事的结局,就告诉家仆不接待任何人。“鹦鹉,继续讲下去。”

    鹦鹉继续讲:“姑娘走近油灯一看,只见一个老妇正在用一口大锅煮王子的心,因为那个国王曾经处死了她自己的孩子。姑娘从锅里把那颗心拿走了,并让国王的儿子吞下它,病立即就好了。国王说:‘我许诺过,哪位医师治好了我儿子,我就把城邦的一半送给他,你是一个女人,你就嫁给我儿子,当他的王后吧。’”

    “真是神奇啊!”商人的女儿说,“故事讲完了,我现在可以接待那个自称是我姑妈的老妇人了。”

    鹦鹉说:“故事还没完呢,后边还有一段。你仔细听着。装扮成医生的姑娘也不愿意嫁给国王的儿子,又离开了,她来到另一个城邦,这里国王的儿子中了魔法,不会说话。晚上姑娘躲在床下,到了半夜她看见两个女巫从窗户钻进来,她们从王子嘴里取出一块宝石,王子就能说话了,走的时候,她们又把那块宝石放进王子嘴里,他又变哑了。”

    又响起了敲门声,不过商人的女儿正在聚精会神地听着故事,根本没听见。鹦鹉接着讲:

    “第二天晚上,当那两个女巫把小宝石放在床上的时候,姑娘拽起床单,将宝石抖落在地,并顺手捡起来装进口袋。到了早上,女巫找不到宝石,只好逃走了。国王的儿子能开口说话了,姑娘被任命为宫廷御医。”

    敲门声还在响个不停,商人的女儿想让屋外的人进来,就先问了鹦鹉一句:“你的故事讲玩了还是没讲完?”

    “还没讲完,”鹦鹉说,“你听着:姑娘不想在王宫里做御医,又来到另一个城邦。她听说这里的国王疯了。他在森林中捡回一个玩具娃娃就爱上了它,把自己关在房间里一边凝视着娃娃,一边哭,因为它不是一个真的女人。姑娘听了这个消息后,来到国王的房间一看,惊奇地说:‘这是我的那个娃娃!’而国王看见姑娘长得跟娃娃一模一样,就说:‘这就是我要娶的新娘!’”

    敲门声还在响着,鹦鹉实在不知道如何再把故事讲下去了。只是说:“等一下,等一下,还有一段呢。”但它不会往下讲了。

    门外传来商人的说话声:“开门,开门啊,我是你爸爸。”

    鹦鹉一听,说:“故事讲完了,国王娶了这个姑娘,两个人幸福地生活在一起了。”

    姑娘这才跑去打开门,紧紧抱住远道归来的爸爸。

    商人说:“我的女儿真乖,一步也没跨出家门。那只鹦鹉呢?”

    他们走回房间里找鹦鹉,却找不到鹦鹉了,看到的是一个英俊的小伙子,小伙子说:“请原谅,先生,我是一个乔装成鹦鹉的国王,我爱上了您的女儿。我了解到我的情敌――另一个国王――想要拐骗您的女儿,就披上鹦鹉皮,诚心诚意地跟她交谈,阻止她陷进我的情敌设下的圈套。我相信我成功了,现在我可以向您的女儿求婚了。”

    商人答应了他们的婚事,于是姑娘嫁给了那个给他讲过童话的国王,而另一个国王被气死了。

    (蒙费拉托地区)

    TheParrot

    Onceuponatimetherewasamerchantwhowassupposedtogoawayonbusiness,buthewasafraidtoleavehisdaughterathomebyherself,asacertainkinghaddesignsonher.

    "Deardaughter,"hesaid,"Imleaving,butyoumustpromisenottostickyourheadoutofthedoororletanyoneinuntilIgetback."

    Nowthatverymorningthedaughterhadseenahandsomeparrotinthetreeoutsideherwindow.Hewasawell-bredparrot,andthemaidenhaddelightedintalkingwithhim.

    "Father,"shereplied,"itjustbreaksmyhearttohavetostayhomeallbymyself.CouldntIatleasthaveaparrottokeepmecompany?"

    Themerchant,wholivedonlyforhisdaughter,wentoutatoncetogetheraparrot.Hefoundanoldmanwhosoldhimoneforasong.Hetookthebirdtohisdaughter,andaftermuchlast-minuteadvicetoher,hesetoutonhistrip.

    Nosoonerwasthemerchantoutofsightthanthekingbegandevisingawaytojointhemaiden.Heenlistedanoldwomaninhisschemeandsenthertothegirlwithaletter.

    Inthemeantimethemaidengotintoconversationwiththeparrot."Talktome,parrot."

    "Iwilltellyouagoodstory.Onceuponatimetherewasakingwhohadadaughter.Shewasanonlychild,withnobrothersorsisters,nordidshehaveanyplaymates.Sotheymadeheradollthesamesizeasherself,withafaceandclothesexactlylikeherown.Everywhereshewentthedollwenttoo,andnoonecouldtellthemapart.Onedayasking,daughter,anddolldrovethroughthewoodsintheircarriage,theywereattackedbyenemieswhokilledthekingandcarriedoffhisdaughter,leavingthedollbehindintheabandonedcarriage.Themaidenscreamedandcriedso,theenemieslethergo,andshewanderedoffintothewoodsbyherself.Sheeventuallyreachedthecourtofacertainqueenandbecameaservant.Shewassuchaclevergirlthatthequeenlikedherbetterallthetime.Theotherservantsgrewjealousandplottedherdownfall.Youareaware,ofcourse,theysaid,thatthequeenlikesyouverymuchandtellsyoueverything.Buttheresonethingwhichweknowandyoudont.Shehadasonwhodied.Atthat,themaidenwenttothequeenandasked,Majesty,isittruethatyouhadasonwhodied?Uponhearingthosewords,thequeenalmostfainted.Heavenhelpanyonewhorecalledthatfact!Thepenaltyformentioningthatdeadsonwasnolessthandeath.Themaidentoowascondemnedtodie,butthequeentookpityonherandhadhershutupinadungeoninstead.Therethegirlgavewaytodespair,refusingallfoodandpassinghernightsweeping.Atmidnight,asshesatthereweeping,sheheardthedoorboltsslideback,andinwalkedfivemen:fourofthemweresorcerersandthefifthwasthequeensson,theirprisoner,whomtheyweretakingoutforexercise."

    Atthatmoment,theparrotwasinterruptedbyaservantbearingaletterforthemerchantsdaughter.Itwasfromtheking,whohadfinallymanagedtogetittoher.Butthegirlwaseagertohearwhathappenednextinthetale,whichhadreachedthemostexcitingpart,soshesaid,"Iwillreceivenolettersuntilmyfatherreturns.Parrot,goonwithyourstory."

    Theservanttooktheletteraway,andtheparrotcontinued."Inthemorningthejailersnoticedtheprisonerhadnoteatenathingandtheytoldthequeen.Thequeensentforher,andthemaidentoldherthathersonwasaliveandinthedungeonaprisoneroffoursorcerers,whotookhimouteverynightatmidnightforexercise.Thequeendispatchedtwelvesoldiersarmedwithcrowbars,whokilledthesorcerersandfreedherson.Thenshegavehimasahusbandtothemaidenwhohadsavedhim."

    Theserantknockedagain,insistingthattheyoungladyreadthekingsletter."Verywell.Nowthatthestoryisover,Icanreadtheletter,"saidthemerchantsdaughter.

    "Butitsnotfinishedyet,theresstillsomemoretocome,"theparrothastenedtosay."Justlistentothis:themaidenwasnotinterestedinmarryingthequeensson.Shesettledforapurseofmoneyandamansoutfitandmovedontoanothercity.Thesonofthiscityskingwasill,andnodoctorknewhowtocurehim.Frommidnighttodawnheravedlikeonepossessed.Themaidenshowedupinmansattire,claimingtobeaforeigndoctorandaskingtobeleftwiththeyouthforonenight.Thefirstthingshedidwaslookunderthebedandfindatrapdoor.Sheopeneditandwentdownintoalongcorridor,attheendofwhichalampwasburning."

    Atthatmomenttheservantknockedandannouncedtherewasanoldwomantoseetheyounglady,whoseauntsheclaimedtobe.(Itwasnotanaunt,buttheoldwomansentbytheking.)Butthemerchantsdaughterwasdyingtoknowtheoutcomeofthetale,soshesaidshewasreceivingnoone."Goon,parrot,goonwithyourstory."

    Thustheparrotcontinued."Themaidenwalkeddowntothatlightandfoundanoldwomanboilingtheheartofthekingssoninakettle,inrevengeforthekingsexecutionofherson.Themaidenremovedtheheartfromthekettle,carrieditbacktothekingssontoeat,andhegotwell.Thekingsaid,Ipromisedhalfofmykingdomtothedoctorwhocuredmyson.Sinceyouareawoman,youwillmarrymysonandbecomequeen."

    "Itsafinestory,"saidthemerchantsdaughter."Nowthatitsover,Icanreceivethatwomanwhoclaimstobemyaunt."

    "Butitsnotquiteover,"saidtheparrot."Theresstillsomemoretocome.Justlistentothis.Themaidenindoctorsdisguisealsorefusedtomarrythatkingssonandwasofftoanothercitywhosekingssonwasunderaspellandspeechless.Shehidunderthebed;atmidnight,shesawtwowitchescomingthroughthewindowandremoveapebblefromtheyoungmansmouth,whereuponhecouldspeak.Beforeleaving,theyreplacedthepebble,andhewasagainmute."

    Someoneknockedonthedoor,butthemerchantsdaughterwassoabsorbedinthestorythatshedidntevenheartheknock.Theparrotcontinued.

    "Thenextnightwhenthewitchesputthepebbleonthebed,shegavethebedclothesajerkanditdroppedonthefloor.Thenshereachedoutforitandputitinherpocket.Atdawnthewitchescouldntfinditandhadtoflee.Thekingssonwaswell,andtheynamedthemaidenphysiciantothecourt."

    Theknockingcontinued,andthemerchantsdaughterwasallreadytosay"Comein,"butfirstsheaskedtheparrot,"Doesthestorygoon,orisitover?"

    "Itgoeson,"repliedtheparrot."Justlistentothis.Themaidenwasntinterestedinremainingasphysiciantothecourt,andmovedontoanothercity.Thetalktherewasthatthekingofthiscityhadgonemad.Hedfoundadollinthewoodsandfalleninlovewithit.Hestayedshutupinhisroomadmiringitandweepingbecauseitwasnotareallivemaiden.Thegirlwentbeforetheking.Thatismydool!sheexclaimed.Andthisismybride!repliedthekingonseeingthatshewasthedollslivingimage."

    Therewasanotherknock,andtheparrotwasatatotallosstocontinuethestory."Justaminute,justaminute,theresstillatinybitmore,"hesaid,buthehadnoideawhattosaynext.

    "Comeon,openup,itsyourfather,"saidthemerchantsvoice.

    "Ah,hereweareattheendofthestory,"announcedtheparrot."Thekingmarriedthemaiden,andtheylivedhappilyeverafter."

    Thegirlfinallyrantoopenthedoorandembracedherfatherjustbackfromhistrip.

    "Welldone,mydaughter!"saidthemerchant."Iseeyouveremainedfaithfullyathome.Andhowistheparrotdoing?"

    Theywenttotakealookatthebird,butinhisplacetheyfoundahandsomeyouth."Forgiveme,sir,"saidtheyouth."Iamakingwhoputonaparrotsdisguise,becauseIaminlovewithyourdaughter.Awareoftheintentionsofarivalkingtoabducther,Icameherebeneathaparrotsplumagetoentertainherinanhonorablemannerandatthesametimetopreventmyrivalfromcarryingouthisschemes.IbelieveIhavesucceededinbothpurposes,andthatIcannowaskforyourdaughtershandinmarriage."

    Themerchantgavehisconsent.Hisdaughtermarriedthekingwhohadtoldherthetale,andtheotherkingdiedofrage.

    (Monferrato)

    NOTES:

    "TheParrot"(Ilpappagallo)fromComparetti,2,Monferrato,Piedmont.

    SeemyremarksonthisfolktaleintheIntroduction,p.xxx-xxxi.IhavetakenthelibertyofdoctoringthetwoversionspublishedbyComparetti——thePiedmonteseoneandaTuscanone,fromPisa(1)——andIheightenedthesuspensebyplacingtheinterruptionsatthecrucialmoments.

    Copyright:ItalianFolktalesSelectedandRetoldbyItaloCalvino,

    translatedbyGeorgeMartin,

    PantheonBooks,NewYork1980