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