按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
nd into such a fire indeed that he had not an hour's rest the whole day long。 And when the black old hag of the Night came forth to have a country…dance with the Stars； he never closed an eye； but lay ruminating in his memory over the beauties of Marziella； discoursing in thought of the marvels of her hair； the miracles of her mouth； and the wonders of her feet； and applying the gold of her graces to the touchstone of judgment； he found that it was four…and…twenty carats fine。 But he upbraided the Night for not leaving off her embroidery of the Stars； and chided the Sun for not arriving with the chariot of light to enrich his house with the treasure he longed fora mine of gold which produced pearls； a pearl…shell from which sprang flowers。
But whilst he was thus at sea； thinking of her who was all the while in the sea； behold the pioneers of the Sun appeared； who smooth the road along which he has to pass with the army of his rays。 Then the King dressed himself； and went with Ciommo to the seashore； where he found Marziella； and the King with his own hand cut the chain from the foot of the beloved object with the file which they had brought； but all the while he forged a still stronger one for his heart； and setting her on the saddle behind him； she who was already fixed on the saddle of his heart； he set out for the royal palace； where by his command all the handsome ladies of the land were assembled； who received Marziella as their mistress with all due honour。 Then the King married her； and there were great festivities； and among all the casks which were burnt for the illuminations； the King ordered that Troccola should be shut up in a tub； and made to suffer for the treachery she had shown to Marziella。 Then sending for Luceta； he gave her and Ciommo enough to live upon like princes； whilst Puccia； driven out of the kingdom； wandered about as a beggar； and； as the reward of her not having sown a little bit of cake； she had now to suffer a constant want of bread； for it is the will of Heaven that
〃He who shows no pity finds none。〃
XXIV
THE SEVEN DOVES
He who gives pleasure meets with it： kindness is the bond of friendship and the hook of love： he who sows not reaps not； of which truth Ciulla has given you the foretaste of example； and I will give you the dessert； if you will bear in mind what Cato says； 〃Speak little at table。〃 Therefore have the kindness to lend me your ears awhile； and may Heaven cause them to stretch continually； to listen to pleasant and amusing things。
There was once in the county of Arzano a good woman who every year gave birth to a son； until at length there were seven of them； who looked like the pipes of the god Pan； with seven reeds； one larger than another。 And when they had changed their first teeth； they said to Jannetella their mother； 〃Hark ye； mother； if； after so many sons； you do not this time have a daughter； we are resolved to leave home； and go wandering through the world like the sons of the blackbirds。〃
When their mother heard this sad announcement； she prayed Heaven to remove such an intention from her sons； and prevent her losing seven such jewels as they were。 And when the hour of the birth was at hand； the sons said to Jannetella； 〃We will retire to the top of yonder hill or rock opposite； if you give birth to a son； put an inkstand and a pen up at the window； but if you have a little girl； put up a spoon and a distaff。 For if we see the signal of a daughter； we shall return home and spend the rest of our lives under your wings； but if we see the signal of a son； then forget us； for you may know that we have taken ourselves off。〃
Soon after the sons had departed it pleased Heaven that Jannetella should bring forth a pretty little daughter； then she told the nurse to make the signal to the brothers； but the woman was so stupid and confused that she put up the inkstand and the pen。 As soon as the seven brothers saw this signal； they set off； and walked on and on； until at the end of three years they came to a wood； where the trees were performing the sword…dance to the sound of a river which made music upon the stones。 In this wood was the house of an ogre whose eyes having been blinded whilst asleep by a woman； he was such an enemy to the sex that he devoured all whom he could catch。
When the youths arrived at the ogre's house； tired out with walking and exhausted with hunger； they begged him for pity's sake to give them a morsel of bread。 And the ogre replied that if they would serve him he would give them food； and they would have nothing else to do but to watch over him like a dog； each in turn for a day。 The youths； upon hearing this； thought they had found father and mother； so they consented； and remained in the service of the ogre； who； having gotten their names by heart； called once for Giangrazio； at another time for Cecchitiello； now for Pascale； now Nuccio； now Pone； now Pezzillo； and now Carcavecchia； for so the brothers were named； and giving them a room in the lower part of the house； he allowed them enough to live upon。
Meanwhile their sister had grown up； and hearing that her seven brothers； owing to the stupidity of the nurse； had set out to walk through the world； and that no tidings of them had ever been received； she took it into her head to go in search of them。 And she begged and prayed her mother so long； that at last； overcome by her entreaties； she gave her leave to go； and dressed her like a pilgrim。 Then the maiden walked and walked； asking at every place she came to whether any one had seen seven brothers。 And thus she journeyed on； until at length she got news of them at an inn； where having enquired the way to the wood； one morning； at the hour when the Sun with the penknife of his rays scratches out the inkspots made by Night upon the sheet of Heaven； she arrived at the ogre's house； where she was recognised by her brothers with great joy； who cursed the inkstand and the pen for writing falsely such misfortune for them。 Then giving her a thousand caresses； they told her to remain quiet in their chamber； that the ogre might not see her； bidding her at the same time give a portion of whatever she had to eat to a cat which was in the room； or otherwise she would do her some harm。 Cianna （for so the sister was named） wrote down this advice in the pocket…book of her heart； and shared everything with the cat； like a good companion； always cutting justly； and saying； 〃This for methis for thee； this for the daughter of the king；〃 giving the cat a share to the last morsel。
Now it happened one day that the brothers； going to hunt for the ogre； left Cianna a little basket of chick…peas to cook； and as she was picking them； by ill…luck she found among them a hazel…nut； which was the stone of disturbance to her quiet； for having swallowed it without giving half to the cat； the latter out of spite jumped on the table and blew out the candle。 Cianna seeing this； and not knowing what to do； left the room； contrary to the command of her brothers； and going into the ogre's chamber begged him for a little light。 Then the ogre； hearing a woman's voice； said； 〃Welcome； madam！ wait awhile；you have found what you are seeking。〃 And so saying he took a Genoa stone； and daubing it with oil he fell to whetting his tusks。 But Cianna； who saw the cart on a wrong track； seizing a lighted stick ran to her chamber； and bolting the door inside； she placed against it bars； stools； bedsteads； tables； stones； and everything there was in the room。
As soon as the ogre had put an edge on his teeth he ran to the chamber of the brothers； and finding the door fastened； he fell to kicking it to break it open。 At this noise and disturbance the seven brothers at once came home； and hearing themselves accused by the ogre of treachery for making their chamber a refuge for one of his women enemies； Giangrazio； who was the eldest and had more sense than the others； and saw matters going badly； said to the ogre； 〃We know nothing of this affair； and it may be that this wicked woman has perchance come into the room whilst we were at the chase； but as she has fortified herself inside； come with me and I will take you to a place where we can seize her without her being able to defend herself。〃
Then they took the ogre by the hand； and led him to a deep； deep pit； where； giving him a push； they sent him headlong to the bottom； and taking a shovel； which they found on the ground； they covered him with earth。 Then they bade their sister unfasten the door； and they rated her soundly for the fault she had committed； and the danger in which she had placed herself； telling her to be more careful in future； and to beware of plucking grass upon the spot where the ogre was buried； or they would be turned into seven doves。
〃Heaven keep me from bringing such a misfortune upon you！〃 replied Cianna。 So taking possession of all the ogre's goods and chattels； and making themselves masters of the whole house； they lived there merrily enough； waiting until winter should pass away； and the Sun； on taking possession of the house of the Bull； give a present to the Earth of a green gown embroidered with flowers； when they might set out on their journey home。
Now it happened one day；