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.
耽美书斋推荐浏览： 伊塔罗·卡尔维诺