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克林王

    克林王&意大利童话
    从前,有一个国王认了一头猪做自己的儿子,人们称它为“克林王”。克林王在王宫里进进出出,平常显得很有教养,还真像一个王室人物,但它也时常故意捣捣乱,发发脾气。父亲拍着它的屁股对他说:“怎么了,你这么捣乱,有什么事吗?”
    克林王叽里咕噜地说:“呃,呃,我想娶老婆,呃,呃,娶那个面包师的女儿!”
    于是,国王派人把面包师叫了来。面包师有三个女儿,国王问面包师他的大女儿是否愿意嫁给他的猪儿子。面包师的大女儿很想嫁给国王的儿子,但又不愿意嫁给一头猪,左右为难,最后还是答应了。
    婚礼的当天晚上,克林王满心欢喜地跑到街上转了一圈,浑身弄得脏兮兮的回来了。新娘正在房间里等着它,它示意新娘爱抚它,自己也直往新娘裙子上拱。新娘觉得很厌烦,不但没有爱抚它,还踹了它一脚,“滚开,脏猪!”
    克林王嘟囔着:“呃!早晚和你算这笔帐!”就离开了。
    当天晚上,新娘就被发现死在床上了。
    老国王对这件事非常头疼。过了几个月,克林王又开始发脾气,又提出娶老婆的事,嘟嘟囔囔地说:“呃!呃!呃!我想要面包师的女儿为妻!”于是国王让人去喊面包师的二女儿,她也同意了。
    婚礼的晚上,克林王又在街上弄得浑身脏兮兮的回来了,一回来就在新娘的身上蹭来蹭去,新娘说:“滚开,脏猪!”把它赶走了。第二天早上,她也被人发现死在床上。一连在新婚之夜死了两个新娘,这件事给宫廷带来了很坏的影响。
    过了一段时间,克林王又在王宫里捣乱生事。国王说:“怎么,你还想娶面包师的三女儿吗?”
    克林王说:“呃!呃!我是想娶她!呃!呃!我是想娶她!”
    国王试着派人把那第三个女儿叫来了,问她是否愿意嫁给克林王。没想到她听了非常高兴。婚礼的当晚,克林王像以前一样,到街上转得浑身脏兮兮的跑回房间,让它的新娘抚摸它。新娘就一边抚摸着它,一边用柔细的亚麻布手帕擦着克林王身上的泥水,说:“我的好克林王,我心爱的克林王,我早就喜欢上你了。”克林王感到很高兴。
    早上,宫廷中所有的人都在等着这第三个新娘死去的消息,没想到她看上去比来的时候更大方,更快乐。那一天成了王室大庆的日子,国王举行了盛大的宴会。
    到了晚上,因为好奇,新娘很想看看克林王睡觉的样子。她点着一根长蜡烛,看到了一个英俊的小伙子,他长得太英俊了,简直令人无法想象。当她正盯着小伙子看的时候,蜡烛从她手中落下,落在了小伙子的手臂上。小伙子惊醒过来,满腔怒火地跳下床,大声喊道:“你破了魔咒,你不会再看到我了!噢,如果你想再见到我,就必须在七个瓶里灌满你的眼泪,踏破七双铁鞋,穿破七件铁衣,戴破七顶铁帽。”说完就消失了。
    新娘悲痛万分,她不能只待在家里等着,决定出去寻找他。她找到一个铁匠,让他打好了七双铁鞋、七件铁衣和七顶铁帽,出发了。
    走啊,走啊,当她走到一座山上,天黑下来了。她看到有一座茅屋,就去敲门。一位老婆婆说:“可怜的姑娘,我不能留你过夜,因为我的儿子是风,每次一来到家里就会把所有的东西扔得乱七八糟,要是让他找到你,你就麻烦了!”
    可是姑娘再三请求,老婆婆只好把她藏在屋内,风回来了,他到处嗅了嗅,说:
    “哼,哼
    我闻到人的气味。”
    老婆婆给了他一些东西吃,他才平静下来。到了早上,风的母亲早早地起来轻轻叫醒年轻的姑娘,说:“快逃吧,趁我儿子还没起床你赶快上路,拿着这个栗子作纪念,如果不是急需就别打开它。”
    姑娘走呀,走呀,来到另一座山上,天又黑了。她看到一座茅屋,一位老婆婆站在门口对她说:“咳,我真想留你过夜,但我的儿子是闪电,如果他回来发现你,你就麻烦了。”但老婆婆觉得姑娘实在可怜,就把她藏在屋里。闪电回来了:
    “哼,哼,
    我闻到人的气味。”
    但他没发现她,吃了些东西就睡觉去了。
    到了早晨,闪电的母亲对姑娘说:“趁我儿子还没醒过来,你快逃走吧,拿着这个核桃,它对你会很有用。”
    姑娘走呀,走呀,走到另一座山上时天又黑了。这里是雷的妈妈家,她终于也留姑娘过夜并把她藏了起来,雷一回到家就说:
    “哼,哼,
    我闻到人的气味”
    但他没发现她。到了早上,姑娘从雷的妈妈那里得到了一颗榛子做礼物,就又出发了。
    经过长途跋涉之后,她来到一座城邦。听人说这里的公主将要跟一个英俊无比的小伙子结婚,他们现在正一起待在城堡中。姑娘猜想这个小伙子一定就是她自己的新郎。但怎么才能阻止他们的婚事呢?怎么才能进到城堡里去呢?
    她打开那个栗子,从里面出来一大堆珠宝、钻石。于是她带着这些东西来到公主住的宫殿下叫卖。公主从窗口看见后就让她上来了。姑娘对公主说:“我可以把这些东西都白送给你,只要求你让我在那个小伙子的房间里睡上一夜就行,听说他就在这座宫殿里。”
    公主不放心让姑娘跟小伙子单独谈话,甚至担心姑娘会带着小伙子逃走,但她的女仆对她说:“这事交给我了,我们给他吃催眠药,他就不会醒过来了。”她们就这么做了,当女仆陪着姑娘来到房间的时候,小伙子已经睡着了,女仆留下姑娘就出去了。姑娘仔细一看,这果然就是她的新郎,就对他说:“快醒醒,我的夫君,快醒醒。我长途跋涉到了这里,已经踏破了七双铁鞋,穿破了七件铁衣,戴破了七顶铁帽,我还装满了七瓶眼泪。现在我总算找到你了,你却睡着听不到我说的话!”
    姑娘就这样哭诉着一直到天亮。早晨,她绝望地砸着核桃。从里面掉出一大堆漂亮的衣服和各式各样的绫罗绸缎,一件比一件漂亮。女仆看到这些奇丽的东西,就跑去告诉公主,而公主自然又留下了所有这些东西,就答应她再跟小伙子待一晚,但她让姑娘进去的晚,出来的早,这样就缩短了时间。
    这一晚同样一无所获,小伙子一直没醒过来。可怜的姑娘又砸开那颗榛子,从里面跳出来一些马车和数匹骏马。为了得到这些东西,公主又一次答应她跟小伙子过夜。
    但这一次,小伙子不想再喝她们每天晚上带来的那杯东西,只是假装喝下去,实际上把它们倒在了地上。姑娘说话的时候,他先假装睡了一会,当他确定她就是自己的妻子时,他马上跳起来,抱住了姑娘。他们坐着变出来的那些马车出发了,回到家后,举行了盛大的宴会。
    他们的生活奢侈又冷酷
    却将我留在门背后。
    (波河地区)
    KingCrin
    Oncetherewasakingwho,forason,hadapignamedKingCrin.KingCrinwouldsaunterthroughtheroyalchambersandusuallybehavebeautifully,asbefitsanybodyofroyalbirth.Sometimes,though,hewascross.Ononesuchoccasion,hisfatherasked,whilestrokinghisback,"Whatisthematter?Whyareyousocross?"
    "Oink,oink,"gruntedKingCrin."Iwantawife.Oink,oink,Iwantthebakersdaughter!"
    Thekingsentforthebaker,whohadthreedaughters,andaskedifhisoldestdaughterwaswillingtomarryhispig-son.Tornbetweenthethrillofweddingthekingssonandthehorrorofmarryingapig,thedaughtermadeuphermindtoaccepttheproposal.
    Tickledpink,KingCrinwentwallowinginthetownthoroughfaresonhisweddingnightandgotallmuddy.Hereturnedtothebridalchamber,wherehisbridewaswaitingforhim.Intendingtocaressher,herubbedagainstherskirt.Thebridewasdisgustedand,insteadofcaressinghim,gavehimakick."Getawayfromhere,younastypig!"
    KingCrinmovedaway,grunting."Oink!Youllpayforthat!"
    Thatnightthebridewasdiscovereddeadinherbed.
    Theoldkingwasquitedistressed,butafewmonthslaterwhenhissonwasagainascrossascouldbeandclamoringforawife,hesentforthebakersseconddaughter,whoaccepted.
    TheeveningoftheweddingKingCrinwentbackoutandwallowedinthemuddyroads,onlytoreturnandrubagainsthisbride,whodrovehimoutoftheroom."Scram,younastypig!"Inthemorningshewasfounddead.Thisincidentgavethecourtabadname,beingthesecondofitskind.
    Moretimewentby,andKingCrinbeganactingupagain."Wouldyouhavethenerve,"saidhisfather,"toaskforthebakersthirddaughter?"
    "Oink,oink,Icertainlywould.Oink,oink,Imusthaveher!"
    SotheysentforthethirdgirltoseeifshewouldmarryKingCrin.Shewasobviouslyquitehappytodoso.Onhisweddingnight,asusual,KingCrinwentouttowallow,thenranbackinsideallmuddytocaresshiswife.Sherespondedwithcaressesofherownanddriedhimoffwithfinelinenhandkerchiefs,murmuring,"MyhandsomeCrin,mydarlingCrin,Iloveyouso."KingCrinwasoverjoyed.
    Nextmorningatthecourteverybodyexpectedtohearthatthethirdbridehadbeenfounddead,butoutshecameinhigherspiritsthanever.Thatwasagrandoccasionforcelebrationintheroyalhouse,andthekinggaveareception.
    ThenextnightthebridebecamecurioustoseeKingCrinasheslept,becauseshehadhersuspicions.Shelitataperandbeheldayouthhandsomebeyondallstretchesoftheimagination.Butasshestoodthereraptwithadmiration,sheaccidentallydroppedthetaperonhisarm.Hewokeupandjumpedoutofbed,furious."Youbrokethespellandwillneverseemeagain,oronlywhenyouhaveweptsevenbottlesoftearsandwornoutsevenpairsofironshoes,sevenironmantles,andsevenironhatslookingforme."Atthat,hevanished.
    Sodeepwasherdistressthatthebridehadnochoicebuttogoinsearchofherhusband.Shehadablacksmithforgesevenpairsofironshoes,sevenironmantles,andsevenironhatsforher,thendeparted.
    Shewalkedalldaylonguntilnightovertookheronamountain,whereshesawacottageandknockedonthedoor."Mypoorgirl,"saidanoldwoman,"Icantgiveyoushelter,sincemysonistheWindwhocomeshomeandturnseverythingupsidedown,andwoetoanyoneinhisway!"
    Butshebeggedandpleadeduntiltheoldwomanbroughtherinandhidher.TheWindsoonarrivedandsniffedallaround,saying:
    "Human,human,Ismellahuman."
    Buthismotherquietedhimdownwithfood.Inthemorningsheroseatdaybreakandsoftlyawakenedtheyounglady,advising,"Fleebeforemysongetsupandtakealongthischestnutasasouvenirofme,butcrackitopenonlyinaseriousemergency."
    Shewalkedalldaylongandwasovertakenbynightontopofanothermountain.Shespiedacottage,andanoldladyonthedoorstepsaid,"Iwouldgladlylodgeyou,butImLightningsmother,andpooryouifmysoncamehomeandcaughtyouhere!"Butthenshetookpityonherandhidher.Lightningarrivedsoonafterward:
    "Human,human,Ismellahuman."
    Buthedidntfindherand,aftersupper,wenttobed.
    "Fleebeforemysonwakesup,"saidLightningsmotherinthemorning,"andtakealongthiswalnut,whichmightcomeinveryhandy."
    Shewalkedalldaylongandwasovertakenbynightontopofanothermountain.TherestoodthehouseofThundersmother,whoendeduphidingher.Thundertoocameinsaying:
    "Human,human,Ismellahuman."
    Butneitherdidhefindher,andinthemorningshewentoffwithahazelnutasapresentfromThundersmother.
    Afterwalkingformilesandmilesshereachedacitywhoseprincess,shelearned,wouldsoonmarryahandsomeyoungmanstayingathercastle.Theyoungladywassurethatwasherownhusband.Whatcouldshedotopreventthemarriage?Howcouldshegetintothecastle?
    Shecrackedopenthechestnutandoutpoureddiamondsandotherjewels,whichshewentofftosellundertheprincessswindows.Theprincesslookedoutandinvitedherinside.Theyoungladysaid,"Illletyouhaveallthesegemsfornothing,ifyouallowmetospendonenightinthebedchamberoftheyoungmanstayingatyourpalace."
    Theprincesswasafraidtheyoungladywouldtalktohimandmaybepersuadehimtofleewithher,buthermaidsaid,"Leaveeverythingtome.Wellgivehimasleepingpotionandhewontwakeup."Theydidjustthat,andassoonasthehandsomeyouthwenttosleep,themaidtooktheyoungladyintohisbedchamberandlefther.Withherowneyes,theyoungladysawthathis(sic)wasnoneotherthanherhusband.
    "Wakeup,mylove,wakeup!Ivewalkedalloverforyou,wearingoutsevenpairsofironshoes,sevenironmantles,andsevenironhats:andIveweptsevenbottlesoftears.NowthatIvefinallyfoundyou,yousleepanddonthearme!"
    Andthatwentontillmorning,when,atherwitsend,shecrackedthewalnut.Outrolledexquisitegownsandsilks,eachlovelierthantheother.Atthesightofallthesewonderfulthings,themaidcalledtheprincess,whosimplyhadtohavethemallandthereforegrantedtheyoungladyanothernightwiththeyouth.Buttheyoungladywastakenintothebedchamberlaterthanthelasttimeandbroughtoutearlierinthemorning.
    Norwasthissecondnightanymorefruitfulthanthefirst.Thepoorgirlcrackedthehazelnutandoutcamehorsesandcarriages.Toacquirethem,theprincessagainletherspendthenightwiththeyoungman.
    Butbythistimehehadgrowntiredofdrinkingwhattheybroughthimeverynight,soheonlypretendedtoswallowitwhileactuallyemptyingtheglassoverhisshoulder.Whentheyoungladybegantalkingtohim,hemadeoutasifheweresleeping,butthemomenthewassureitwashiswife,hejumpedtohisfeetandembracedher.Withallthosehorsesandcarriagestheyhadnoproblemgettingawayandbackhome,wheretherewasagrandcelebration.
    Theyputonthedogandhighdidtheysoar,
    Theysawmenot,Istoodbehindthedoor.
    (CollinedelPo)
    NOTES:
    "KingCrin"(ReCrin)fromPitrè(inArchivioperlostudiodelletradizionipopolari,I[1882],424),MonteudaPo,Piedmont.
    Ofillustriousorigin(sinceitiscertainlyrelated——atleastinthemotifofthebridegroomwhocannotbeseeninhistrueform——tothemythofAmorandPsyche),thefolktaleabouttheswinekingisoneofthemostwidespreadinItaly.ThisPiedmonteseversionhasabeginningfullofbrio.Thedevelopmentrepeats——withthewalnutstobecracked,spyingonthesleeper,etc——amotifalsocommontoothertypesandofwhichmyno.140presentsaricherversion.
    Copyright:ItalianFolktalesSelectedandRetoldbyItaloCalvino,
    translatedbyGeorgeMartin,
    PantheonBooks,NewYork1980