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