意大利童话(36)

2025-10-09 评论

    [2]希诺尼谟·博西(1460-1516),荷兰画家。
    TheLittleShepherd
    Therewasonceashepherdboynobiggerthanamiteandasmeanascouldbe.Onhiswayouttopastureoneday,hepassedapoultrydealercarryingabasketofeggsonherhead.Sowhatdidhedobutthrowastoneintothebasketandbreakeverysingleegg.Enraged,thepoorwomanscreamedacurse:"YoushallgetnobiggeruntilyouvefoundlovelyBargaglinaofthethreesingingapples!"
    Fromthattimeon,theshepherdboygrewthinandpuny,andthemorehismotherattendedtohim,thepunierhebecame.Finallysheasked,"Whatonearthhashappenedtoyou?Haveyoudoneabadturnforwhichsomeoneplacedacurseonyou?"Hethentoldherabouthismeannesstothepoultrydealer,repeatingthewomanswordstohim,"YoushallgetnobiggeruntilyouvefoundlovelyBargaglinaofthethreesingingapples!"
    "Inthatcase,"saidhismother,"youvenochoicebuttogoinsearchofthislovelyBargaglina."
    Theshepherdsetout.Hecametoabridge,onwhichalittleladywasrockingtoandfroinawalnutshell.
    "Whogoesthere?"
    "Afriend."
    "Liftmyeyelidsalittle,soIcanseeyou."
    "ImseekinglovelyBargaglinaofthethreesingingapples.Doyouknowanythingabouther?"
    "No,buttakethisstone;itwillcomeinhandy."
    Theshepherdcametoanotherbridge,whereanotherlittleladywasbathinginaneggshell.
    "Whogoesthere?"
    "Afriend."
    "Liftmyeyelidsalittle,soIcanseeyou."
    "ImseekinglovelyBargaglinaofthethreesingingapples.Haveyouanynewsofher?"
    "No,buttakethisivorycomb,whichwillcomeinhandy."
    Theshepherdputitinhispocketandwalkedonuntilhecametoastreamwhereamanwasfillingabagwithfog.WhenaskedaboutlovelyBargaglina,themanclaimedtoknownothingabouther,buthegavetheshepherdapocketfuloffog,whichwouldcomeinhandy.
    Nexthecametoamillwhosemiller,atalkingfox,said,"Yes,IknowwholovelyBargaglinais,butyoullhavedifficultyfindingher.Walkstraightaheaduntilyoucometoahousewiththedooropen.Goinsideandyoullseeacrystalcagehungwithmanylittlebells.Inthecagearethesingingapples.Youmusttakethecage,butwatchoutforacertainoldwoman.Ifhereyesareopen,thatmeansshesasleep.Iftheyreclosed,shessurelyawake."
    Theshepherdmovedon.Hefoundtheoldwomanwithhereyesclosedandrealizedshewasawake."Mylad,"saidtheoldwoman,"glancedowninmyhairandseeifIveanylice."
    Helooked,andashewasdelousingher,sheopenedhereyesandheknewshehadfallenasleep.Sohequicklypickedupthecrystalcageandfled.Butthelittlebellsonthecagetinkled,andtheoldwomanawakenedandsentahundredhorsemenafterhim.Hearingthemalmostuponhim,theshepherddroppedthestonehehadinhispocket.Itchangedinstantlyintoasteep,rockymountain,andthehorsesallfellandbroketheirlegs.
    Nowhorseless,thecavalrymenreturnedtotheoldwoman,whothensentouttwohundredmountedsoldiers.Seeinghimselfinnewperil,theshepherdthrewdowntheivorycomb.Itturnedintoamountainasslickasglass,downwhichhorsesandridersallslidtotheirdeath.
    Theoldwomanthensentthreehundredhorsemenafterhim,buthepulledoutthepocketfuloffog,hurleditoverhisshoulder,andthearmygotlostinit.Meanwhile,theshepherdhadgrownthirstyand,havingnothingwithhimtodrink,removedoneofthethreeapplesfromthecageandcutintoit.Atinyvoicesaid,"Gently,please,oryoullhurtme."Gently,hefinishedcuttingtheapple,ateonehalf,andputtheotherinhispocket.Atlengthhecametoawellnearhishouse,wherehereachedintohispocketfortherestoftheapple.Initsplacewasatiny,tinylady.
    "ImlovelyBargaglina,"shesaid,"andIlikecake.Gogetmeacake,Imfamished."
    Thewellwasoneofthoseclosedwells,withaholeinthecenter,sotheshepherdseatedtheladyontherim,tellinghertowaitthereuntilhecamebackwiththecake.
    Meanwhile,aservantknownasUglySlavecametothewellforwater.Shespiedthelovelylittleladyandsaid,"HowcomeyouresolittleandbeautifulwhileImsobigandugly?"Andshegrewsofuriousthatshethrewthetinycreatureintothewell.
    TheshepherdreturnedandwasheartbrokentofindlovelyBargaglinagone.
    Nowhismotheralsowenttothatwellforwater,andwhatshouldshefindinherbucketonedaybutafish.Shetookithomeandfriedit.Theyateitandthrewthebonesoutthewindow.Therewheretheyfell,atreegrewupandgotsobigthatitshutoutallthelightfromthehouse.Theshepherdthereforecutitdownandchoppeditupforfirewood,whichhebroughtinside.Bythattimehismotherhaddied,andhelivedthereallbyhimself,nowpunierthenever,sincenomatterwhathetried,hecouldntgrowanybigger.Everydayhewentouttothepastureandcamebackhomeatnight.Howgreatwashisamazementuponfindingthedishesandpanshedusedinthemorningallwashedforhimwhenhecamehome!Hecouldntimaginewhowasdoingthis.Atlasthedecidedtohidebehindthedoorandfindout.Whomshouldhethenseebutaverydaintymaidenemergefromthewoodpile,washthedishes,sweepthehouse,andmakehisbed,afterwhichsheopenedthecupboardandhelpedherselftoacake.

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