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！
突嵩庋甑摹！薄�
那个侏儒留给他一支蜡烛，便跟仙女一起走了。蜡烛燃完时，年轻人还望著那一大堆豆在发呆，心想谁也干不了这样繁难的活呀！这时，他想起了另一个岛上的蚂蚁。“蚂蚁啊，可爱的蚂蚁！快来帮助我！”
他的话音刚落，整个地窖里密密麻麻地爬满了蚂蚁。它们聚集在豆子堆上，有条不紊地、仔细地将豆子分成两堆；一队蚂蚁专门运豌豆，另一队蚂蚁专门运小扁豆。
“我还不认输呢，”仙女看到这事也办成了，就对年轻人说，“在你面前还有一次更大的考验。天亮以前，你必须给我送一桶长命水来。”
长命泉在陡峭的高山顶上，山上到处是凶猛的野兽。连爬都爬不上去，更不用说还要带著一只桶了。但年轻人喊道：“秃鹫啊，可爱的秃鹫！快来帮助我！”这时许许多秃鹫遮天蔽日地盘旋著飞到地上。年轻人在每只鸟的脖子上拴一个小瓶子，于是，这些秃鹫排成浩浩荡荡的队伍径直向山顶飞去。小瓶子里灌满泉水，以后它们又回到年轻人身边；他在地上等著，将长命水倒进他随身带来的桶里。
当桶里灌满水时，远处传来哒哒的马蹄声。原来，仙女赛比安娜仓惶逃命去了，后面跟著那个侏儒。这时候，英格兰国王的女儿从宫殿里跑出来，高兴地喊著：“我解脱符咒啦！你把我救出来啦！”
年轻人带著国王的女儿和长命水回到自己的船上，老水手己做好了启航的准备。
英格兰国王每天用望远镜细心地眺望大海。当他看到一艘飘扬著英国国旗的船驶来，便兴高采烈地奔向港口。瘌痢头看到年轻人带著国王的女儿胜利返航，简直气坏了。他下狠心要把年轻人弄死。
国王举行盛大宴会，欢庆女儿得救。席间，有两个面露凶相的家伙把年轻人叫了出去，说有件生死攸关的大事要同他商量。年轻人不知是怎么回事，便跟著他们走了。他们走到树林里时，这两个家伙拔出刀来，刺死了年轻人。原来，他们是瘌痢头雇用的凶手。
这时，宴会上国王的女儿心里十分焦急，年轻人跟那两个凶狠的家伙出去了，怎么一直不见他回来。她便到外面去找他，找到树林时，发现年轻人躺在那儿，身上有许多刀伤。好在老水手随身带来了装著长命水的水桶，他便将年轻人的身体浸到水桶里去。一会儿工夫，她便看到年轻人腾地站了起来，又健康又英俊，国王的女儿伸开双臂搂住了他的脖子。
瘌痢头气得脸色铁青，问道：“桶里装的是什么玩意儿？”
“滚烫的油，”老水手回答。
于是，瘌痢头弄来一桶滚沸的油，对公主说：“如果你不爱我，我就跳进去。”说罢，他用匕首对自己刺去，然后跳进沸滚的油里，立刻被烫死了。他往油里跳时，黑色假发脱落下来，露出了光秃秃的脑袋瓜儿。
“呃，原来是那个瘌痢头！”国王惊叫起来，“他是我最凶恶的敌人。他自杀了，真是罪有应得。勇敢的年轻人，你才是我的教子！你将跟我的女儿结婚，继承我的王位！”后来，年轻人就跟公主结婚，当了国王。
（利古里亚海岸）
注释：
材料来源：詹姆士·安德鲁斯编《利古里亚故事集》（巴黎，1892年版）第二和第二十七篇；搜集地区：曼敦；讲述者：乔安尼娜·皮奥姆勃和安格利娜·莫瑞蒂。
源源不断地将稀有货物运往能卖高价的港口去出售——多数人都把这种繁荣的海上贸易比作财运亨通。描写海上贸易在各地的民间故事中都有，而且被编排在不同的情节之中（比较本书第一七三篇《货船》）。这篇故事来自意大利的边境地区里维埃拉。它将有三个货舱的船以及居住著动物的岛这两个奇特的题材融为一体。这类故事广为流传，它的特点是描写著魔的雌马（在安德鲁斯所选的一篇故事中，小马给人出主意）和感恩图报的动物（比较本书第二十四篇《三间小屋》和第七十九篇《菲奥雷凡特和美女艾索琳娜》）。在编写这篇故事时，我将安德鲁斯用法语写的两篇故事梗概结合在一起了。
The Ship with Three Decks
Once there was a poor couple who lived way out in the country。 A baby boy was born to them； but there was no one anywhere around to be his godfather。 They went into town； but they didn't know a soul there and couldn't have the child baptized without a godfather。 They saw a man wrapped in a black cloak on the church doorstep and asked； 〃Kind sir； would you please be this boy's godfather？〃 The man agreed； and the child was baptized。
When they came out of the church； the stranger said； 〃I now must give my godson his present。 Take this purse； which is to be used to raise and educate him。 And give him this letter when he has learned to read。〃 The father and mother were thunderstruck； but before they could find words of thanks and ask the man his name； he had disappeared。
The purse was full of gold crowns； which paid for the boy's education。 Once he could read； his parents gave him the letter； which said：
Dear Godson；
I am going back to repossess my throne after a long exile； and I need an heir。 As soon as you read this letter； set out on a journey to your dear godfather； the king of England。
P。S。 Along the way； beware of a cross…eyed man； a cripple； and a mangy character。
The youth said； 〃Father； Mother； farewell。 I must go to my godfather。〃 After a few days of walking； he met a traveler who asked； 〃Where are you going； my lad？〃
〃To England。〃
〃So am I。 We shall travel together。〃
The youth noticed the man's eyes： one of them looked east； and the other west； so the boy realized this was the cross…eyed man he must avoid。 He found a pretext for stopping； then took another road。
He met another traveler sitting on a stone。 〃Are you going to England？ We'll therefore travel together；〃 said the stranger； who got up and limped along； leaning on a stick。 He's the cripple； thought the youth； and changed roads again。
He met a third traveler； whose eyes； like his legs； bespoke perfect health。 As for any scalp disease； this man had the thickest and cleanest head of black hair you ever saw。 As the stranger was also on his way to England； they traveled together。 They stopped for the night at an inn； where the youth； wary of his panion； handed over his purse and the letter for the king to the innkeeper for safekeeping。 During the night while everybody was sleeping； the stranger rose and went to the innkeeper for the purse； letter； and horse。 In the morning the young man found himself alone； penniless； on foot； and with no letter for the king。
〃Your servant came to me in the night；〃 explained the innkeeper； 〃for all your belongings。 Then he left。。。〃
The youth set out on foot。 At a bend in the road he spied his horse tethered to a tree in a field。 He was about to untie it； when from behind the tree rushed last night's panion armed with a pistol。 〃If your don't want to die on the spot；〃 he said； 〃you must bee my servant and pretend I'm the king of England's godson。〃 As he spoke； he removed his black wig； revealing a scalp pletely covered with mange。
They set out； the mangy one on horseback； the youth on foot； and at last reached England。 With open arms the king weled the mangy one； taking him for his godson； while the real godson was assigned to the stables as stable boy。 But the mangy one couldn't wait to get rid of his panion； and the opportunity soon presented itself。 The king one day said to the false godson； 〃If you could free my daughter from the spell that holds her prisoner on a certain island； I'd give her to you in marriage。 The only difficulty is that nobody who has attempted to free her has ever e back alive。〃 The mangy one lost no time in replying。 〃Try sending my servant； who is surely capable of setting her free。〃
The king summoned the youth at once and asked； 〃Can you set my daughter free？〃
〃Your daughter？ Tell me where she is； Majesty！〃
The king would only say； 〃I warn you that you'll lose your head if you e back to me without her。〃
The youth went to the pier and watched the ships sail away。 He had no idea how to reach the princess's island。 An old sailor with a beard down to his knees approached him and said； 〃Ask for a ship with three decks。〃
The youth went to the king and had a ship with three decks rigged。 When it was in port and ready to weigh anchor； the old sailor reappeared。 〃Now have one deck loaded with cheese rinds； another with bread crumbs； and the third with stinking carrion。〃
The youth had the three decks loaded。
〃Now；〃 said the old man； 〃when the king says； 'Choose all the sailors you want；' you will reply； 'I need only one；' and select me。〃 That he did； and the whole town turned out to watch the ship sail off with that strange cargo and a crew of one； who also happened to be on his last legs。
They sailed for three months straight； at the end of which time they spied a lighthouse in the night and entered a port。 All they could make out on shore were low； low houses and stealthy movement。 At last a voice asked； 〃What cargo do you carry？〃
〃Cheese rinds；〃 replied the old sailor。
〃Fine；〃 they said on shore。 〃That's what we need。〃
It was the Island of Rats； where all the inhabitants were rats； who said； 〃We'll buy the entire cargo； but we have no money with which to pay you。 But any time you need us； you have only to say； 'Rats； fine rats； help us！' and we'll be right there to help you。〃
The youth and the sailor dropped the gangplank； and the rats came aboard and unloaded the cheese rinds in a flash。
From there the men sailed to another island。 It was also night and they could make out nothing at all in port。 It was worse than the other place； with not a house or a tree anywhere in sight。 〃What cargo do you bring？〃 asked voices in the dark。
〃Bread crumbs；〃 replied the sailor。
〃Fine！ That's just what we need！〃
It was the Island of Ants； where all the inhabitants were ants。 Nor did they have any money either； but they said； 〃Whenever you need us； you have only to say； 'Ants； fine ants； help us！' and we'll be right there； no matter where you are。〃
The ants carried all the bread crumbs down the fore and aft moorings； and the ship cast off ag