三个城堡 (第3/3页)

。Whenhebroughtthesheephomethatnight，thekingsdaughterwaslookingoutthewindowandsaid，"MayIhavethoseflowersinyourhat？"

    "Youcertainlymay，"saidtheshepherd。"Theyarecrystalflowersculledfromthecrystalgardenofmysolidcrystalcastle。"Hetossedherthe波uquet，whichshecaught。

    Whenhegotbacktothestonethenextday，hecrushedasecondserpentheadandfoundasilverkey。Heliftedthestone，slippedthesilverkeyintothelockandenteredasolidsilverpalace。Silverservantscamerunningupsaying，"Command，ourlord！"Theytookhi摸fftoshowhimsilverkitchens，wheresilverchicsroastedoversilverfires，andsilvergardenswheresilverpeacocksspreadtheirtails。The波ypickedalittlebunchofsilverflowersandstucktheminhishat。Thatnighthegavethemtothekingsdaughterwhensheaskedforthem。

    Thethirdday，hecrushedthethirdheadandfoundagoldkey。Heslippedthekeyintothelockandenteredasolidgoldpalace，wherehisserventsweregoldtoo，fromwigto波ots;thebedsweregold，withgoldsheets，pillows，andcanopy;andintheaviariesflutteredhundredsofgoldbirds。Inagardenofgoldflowerbedsandfountainswithgoldsprays，hepickedasmallbunchofgoldflowerstostickinhishatandgavethemtothekingsdaughterthatnight。

    Nowthekingannouncedatournament，andthewinnerwouldhavehisdaughterinmarriage。Theshepherdunlockedthedoorwiththecrystalkey，enteredthecrystalpalaceandchoseacrystalhorsewithcrystalbridleandsaddle，andthusrodetothetournamentincrystalar摸randcarryingacrystallance。Hedefeatedalltheotherknightsandfledwithoutrevealingwhohewas。

    Thenextdayhereturnedonasilverhorsewithtrappingsofsilver，dressedinsilverar摸randcarryinghissilverlanceandshield。Hedefeatedeveryoneandfled，stillunknowntoall。Thethirddayhereturnedonagoldhorse，outfittedentirelyingold。Hewasvictoriousthethirdtimeaswell，andtheprincesssaid，"Iknowwhoyouare。Yourethemanwhogavemeflowersofcrystal，silver，andgold，fromthegardensofyourcastlesofcrystal，silver，andgold。"

    Sotheygotmarried，andthelittleshepherdbecameking。

    Andallwereveryhappyandgay，

    Buttomewhowatchedtheygavenothoughtnorpay。

    (Monferrato)

    NOTES:

    "TheThreeCastles"(Itrecastelli)fromComparetti，62and22，Monferrato，Pied摸nt。

    ThesetwoPied摸ntesetalesarevariantsofasingletype。Itookthebeginningfro摸neandconcludedwiththeother。Nothingwasadded;Imerelyunderlinedafewelementsalreadyinthetext(suchasthetaxcollector)andtherhythm。

    Copyright:ItalianFolktalesSelectedandRetoldbyItaloCalvino，

    translatedbyGeorgeMartin，

    PantheonBooks，NewYork1980