小羊倌&意大利童话

    从前有个小羊倌,他的个儿长得很小,很是调皮捣蛋。一天,他赶著羊去草地时,看到一个小贩头顶一篮子鸡蛋从也他身旁经过,他将一块石头扔进人家的篮子里,把鸡蛋全砸碎了。可怜的卖蛋女人气坏了,尖著嗓子诅咒说:“你呀这辈子莫想再长大了,除非你找到可爱的巴格琳娜,她有三只会唱歌的苹果。”

    从此,小羊倌变得又瘦又小。他妈妈越是疼爱他,他越变得瘦小。最后,他妈妈问道:“你到底出了什么事?你是不是做了坏事,人家诅咒你啦?”于是,他把对卖蛋小贩恶作剧的事讲了出来,把那个女人诅咒他的话又讲了一遍:“你呀这辈子莫想再长大了,除非你找到可爱的巴格琳娜,她有三只会唱歌的苹果。”

    “这样的话,”妈妈说,“你别无办法,只好去寻找可爱的巴格琳娜了。”

    小羊倌离开了家。他来到一座桥上,看见一个小女人坐在榛子壳里来回地摇晃著。

    “那边是谁呀?”小女人问。

    “一位朋友。”

    “向上拨一下我的眼皮,好让我看一看你。”

    “我正在寻找有三只会唱歌的苹果的、可爱的巴格琳娜,你知道她的一点情况吗?”

    “不知道,不过你可以带著这块石头,它迟早会有用的。”

    羊倌又走到另一座桥边,看见一个小女人正在一个鸡蛋壳里洗澡。

    “那边是谁呀?”小女人问。

    “一位朋友。”

    “向上拨一下我的眼皮,好让我看一看你。”

    “我正在寻找有三只会唱歌的苹果的、可爱的巴格琳娜,你听说过有关她的消息吗?”

    “没有。不过你可以把这把象梳子拿去,它早晚会有用的。”

    羊倌把梳子装入口袋,接著继续赶路,后来走到一条小溪边,看见一个人正在将雾装入袋子。当小羊倌问这个人是否知道可爱的巴格琳娜时,他回答说一无所知,但给了小羊倌一口袋雾,说它总会有用的。

    接著,他走到一座磨坊,磨坊主是一只会说话的狐狸。它说:“我知道可爱的巴格琳娜是谁,但你要找到她却十分困难。你一直朝前走,走到一所敞开著大门的房子。走进去,你就会看到一只挂著许多小铃铛的水晶鸟笼。笼子里就放著会唱歌的苹果。你要拿走这只鸟笼,可要留神看管它的老婆婆。如果她的两眼睁著,那说明她睡著了;如果她的两眼闭著,她肯定醒著。”

    羊倌继续赶路。到了那里他发现老婆婆的眼睛闭著,知道她并没有睡觉。“小伙子,”老婆婆说,“低下头看看我的头发,找找里面有没有虱子。”

    当羊倌低著头给她捉虱子的时候,老婆婆睁开了双眼,他知道她睡著了。他连忙拿起水晶鸟笼逃走了。可是,笼子上的小铃铛叮叮噹噹地响起来,老婆婆惊醒了。她派了一百名骑兵去追他。听到尾随而来的骑兵马上要追上了,小羊倌掏出口袋里的那块石头丢了出去,石头马上变成了一座陡壁悬崖的大山,追来的马全倒在地上,跌断了腿。

    这些骑兵失去了马,便步行回到老婆婆那儿。接著,老婆婆又派了二百名骑兵去追赶。小羊倌眼看自己又处在危险之中,便将那一把象牙梳子扔了出去,它变成了一座象玻璃山一样光滑的高山,那些马和骑兵全都滑下来摔死了。

    接著,老婆婆又派了三百名骑兵去追赶。小羊倌又掏出那一口袋雾来,向身后猛掷出去,这支三百人的骑兵队全都被大雾迷住了,失去了方向。跑了这么一阵子,羊倌感到口渴,但身边没有什么可解渴的东西,便将鸟笼中的三只苹果拿出一只来,准备切开。这时他听到一个细微的声音说道:“请轻轻切,否则你要刺伤我啦。”他轻轻切开苹果,吃了一半,将另一半装到口袋里。最后,他来到自己家附近的一口井旁,伸手去摸口袋里的一半苹果,却掏出来一个很小、很小的小姑娘。

    “我就是可爱的巴格琳娜,”她说,“我喜欢吃饼,去给我拿只饼来,我饿极啦。”

    这口井的井口加了盖,中间有一个圆洞可以汲水。羊倌让小姑娘坐在井边上,叫她等著,自己便去拿饼了。

    这时,一个大家叫做“丑奴隶”的仆人前来打水。她发现这个小姑娘,便说:“你怎么会长得这么小巧、这么漂亮,而我却生得这么粗、这么丑呢?”她越说越生气,竟把这个小东西扔进了井里。

    羊倌回来后发现可爱的巴格琳娜不见了,他的心都碎啦。

    小羊倌的母亲也是在这口井里打水用的。有一天,她发现自己的桶里有一条鱼。她把鱼拿回家,用油煎好。他们母子吃了鱼,把骨头丢在窗外。后来,丢鱼骨头的地方长出一棵树来,它长得很高大,把整所房子的光线都挡住了。于是,羊倌把树砍倒,劈成木柴后搬到家里。那时,他的母亲已经去世,羊倌独自一人住在这儿。如今,他比以往更瘦小了,不管怎么想方设法,他总是长不大。他每天外出放羊,晚上回家。可是他每天回到家里时,发现早晨用过的锅碗瓢勺都已洗好了,这是多么令人惊奇的事啊!他想不出是谁帮他做的这些。最后,他决定藏在门后观察一下。这时,他看到的却是一位秀丽的姑娘从柴堆里鉆出来,洗锅碗,打扫房间,叠被子,然后她打开食橱,拿出一只饼来吃。

    小羊倌从门后猛地跳出来,问道:“你是谁?怎么进到房间里来的?”

    “我就是可爱的巴格琳娜,”姑娘回答,“就是你掏那半只苹果时看到的那个姑娘。‘丑奴隶’把我扔进井里,我变成了鱼,接著又变成鱼骨头被丢在窗外。我又从鱼骨头变成树种,破土而出变成树,一个劲儿地往上长,最后又变成了你所劈的木柴。如今,你每天外出的时候,我就变成了可爱的巴格琳娜。”

    由于重新找到了可爱的巴格琳娜,羊倌的身个儿飞快地向上长,可爱的巴格琳娜也跟他一起长大了。不久,羊倌就成了一位漂亮的年轻人,跟可爱的巴格琳娜结了婚。他们举行了盛大的庆祝宴会。当时我也在场,是在桌子底下。他们丢给我一块骨头,正巧打在我的鼻子上,从此它就粘在那儿永远掉不下来了。

    (热那亚内陆地区)

    注释:

    材料来源:皮·埃·格纳瑞奥搜集的《热那亚方言故事两篇》(热那亚,1892年版);搜集地区:热那亚附近的托里格利亚;讲述者:乡村妇女玛丽亚·班奇露。

    “三只桔子”的故事流传很广[1];这篇热那亚民间故事的特点在于出现了象希诺尼谟·博西[2]油画里的那些小东西——在果子壳里或蛋壳里摇晃著的小仙女。我们在热那亚的另一篇民间故事(见安德鲁斯所编《利古里亚故事集》第五十一篇)中也遇到同样的小东西。

    ——————

    [1]参看序言及第八十七篇《美丽的绿岛》和一○七篇《三只石榴的故事》的注释部分。

    [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.

    Outsprangtheshepherd,asking,"Whoareyou?Howdidyougetin?"

    "ImlovelyBargaglina,"repliedthemaiden,"thegirlyoufoundinyourpocketinplaceoftheapplehalf.UglySlavethrewmeintothewell,andIturnedintoafish,thenintofishbonesthrownoutthewindow.FromfishbonesIchangedintoatreeseed,nextintoatreethatgrewandgrew,andfinallyintofirewoodyoucut.Now,everydaywhileyoureaway,IbecomelovelyBargaglina."

    ThankstotherediscoveryoflovelyBargaglina,theshepherdgrewbyleapsandbounds,andlovelyBargaglinaalongwithhim.SoonhewasahandsomeyouthandmarriedlovelyBargaglina.Theyhadabigfeast.Iwasthere,underthetable.Theythrewmeabone,whichhitmeonthenoseandstuckforgood.

    (InlandvicinityofGenoa)

    NOTES:

    "TheLittleShepherd"(Ilpastorechenoncrescevamai)fromGuarnerio(DuefoleneldialettodelcontadogenovesecollectedbyP.E.Guarnerio,Genoa,1892),Torriglia,nearGenoa,toldbythecountrywomanMariaBanchero.

    AfeatureofthisGenoesevariantofthewidespreadtaleofthe"threeoranges"includesencounterswithcreatureslikethoseinthepaintingsofHieronymusBosch——tinyfairiesrockinginnutshellsoreggshells.WemeetthesamebeingsinanotherGenoeseversion(Andrews,51).

    Copyright:ItalianFolktalesSelectedandRetoldbyItaloCalvino,

    translatedbyGeorgeMartin,

    PantheonBooks,NewYork1980