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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！ thats 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 well 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 again。
it came to an island of rocky cliffs that dropped straight down to port。 〃what cargo do you bring？〃 cried voices from above。
〃stinking carrion！〃
〃excellent！ thats just what we need；〃 and huge shadows swooped down on the ship。
it was the island of vultures； inhabited entirely by those greedy birds。 they flew off with every ounce of carrion； promising in return to help the men whenever they called； 〃vultures； fine vultures； help us！〃
after several more months of sailing； they landed on the island where the king of englands daughter was a prisoner。 they disembarked； walked through a long cave； and emerged before a palace in a garden。 a dwarf walked out to meet them。 〃is the king of englands daughter here？〃 asked the youth。
〃e in and ask fairy sibiana；〃 replied the dwarf； showing them into the palace； which had gold floors and crystal walls。 fairy sibiana sat on a throne of crystal and gold。
〃kings and princes have brought entire armies to free the princess；〃 said the fairy； 〃and every last one of them died。〃
〃all i have are my will and my courage；〃 said the youth。
〃well； then； you must undergo three trials。 if you fail； youll not get away from here alive。 do you see that mountain shutting out the sun from my view？ you must level it by tomorrow morning。 when i wake up i want the sunlight streaming into my room。〃
the dwarf came out with a pickax and led the youth to the foot of the mountain。 the young man brought the pickax down once； and the blade snapped in two。 〃now how am i going to dig？〃 he wondered； then remembered the rats on the other island。 〃rats； fine rats； help me！〃
hed not got the words out of his mouth before the mountain was swarming with rats from top to bottom。 they dug and gnawed and clawed； while the mountain dwindled and dwindled and dwindled。。。
next morning fairy sibiana was awakened by the first rays of sun streaming into her room。 〃congratulations！〃 she said to the youth； 〃but youre not done yet。〃 she led him to the palaces underground vaults； in the center of which was a room with a ceiling as high as a churchs and containing one big heap of peas and lentils that reached the ceiling。 〃you have this whole night to separate the peas from the lentils into two distinct piles。 heaven help you if you leave one single lentil in the pea pile； or one single pea in the lentil pile。〃
the dwarf left him a candle wick and went off with the fairy。 as the wick burned down to nothing； the youth continued to stare at the huge pile； wondering how any human could ever acplish so intricate a task。 then he remembered the ants on the other island。 〃ants； fine ants；〃 he called； 〃help me！〃
no sooner had he said those words than the entire cellar teemed with those tiny insects。 they converged on the heap and； with order and patience； made two separate piles； one team of ants carrying peas and the other lentils。
〃im still not defeated；〃 said the fairy when she saw the task pleted。 〃a far more difficult trial now awaits you。 you have from now till dawn to fetch me a barrel of the water of long life。〃
the spring of long life was at the top of a steep mountain infested with savage beasts。 scaling the mountain was out of the question； much less while carrying a barrel。 but the youth called； 〃vultures； fine vultures； help me！〃 and the sky darkened with vultures circling down to earth。 the youth attached a phial to the neck of each； and the vultures soared in a grand formation straight to the spring on the mountaintop； filled their phials； and flew back with them to the youth； who poured the water into the barrel he had waiting。
when the barrel was full； hoofbeats were heard retreating。 fairy sibiana was fleeing for dear life； followed by her dwarfs； while out of the palace ran the king of englands daughter； cheering： 〃im safe at last！ you set me free！〃
with the kings daughter and the water of long life； the youth returned to his ship； where the old sailor was all ready to weigh anchor。
the king of england scanned the sea every day through his telescope。 seeing a ship approach that was flying the english flag； he ran to port overjoyed。 when the mangy one beheld the youth safe and sound and escorting the kings daughter； he was fit to be tied and resolved to have him killed。
while the king was celebrating his daughters return with a grand banquet； two grim…looking fellows came to get the youth； saying it was a matter of life and death。 puzzled； he followed them。 when they got to the woods； the two fellows； who were assassins hired by the mangy one； drew their knives and cut the youths throat。
meanwhile at the banquet； the kings daughter was more and more worried； since the youth had gone off with that sinister pair and not returned。 she went out looking for him and； reaching the woods； found his body covered with wounds。 but the old sailor had brought along the barrel containing the water of long life； in which he immersed the youths body； only to see him jump right back out as sound as ever and so handsome that the kings daughter threw her arms around his neck。
the mangy one was livid with rage。 〃whats in that barrel？〃 he asked。
〃boiling oil；〃 replied the sailor。
so the mangy one had a barrel of oil heated to boiling and announced to the princess： 〃if you dont love me ill kill myself。〃 he stabbed himself with his dagger and leaped into the boiling oil。 he was instantly scalded to death。 also his black wig had flown off when he leaped； revealing his mangy head。
〃ah； the mangy one！〃 exclaimed the king of england。 〃the cruelest of all my enemies。 he finally got what was ing to him。 so you； valiant youth； are my godson！ you shall marry my daughter and inherit my kingdom！〃 and so it was。
（riviera ligure di ponente）
notes：
〃the ship with three decks〃 （il bastimento a tre piani） from andrews； 2 and 27； menton； told by giuanina piombo dite la mova； and by angelina moretti。
prosperous sea trading； with unusual cargos ing into ports where the merchandise is highly prized； is a metaphor of luck in the popular mind。 it recurs in diverse folktales and is woven into various plots （cf。 my no。173； from sicily）。 in this tale from the italian riviera border； the curious motifs of the ship with three decks and of the isles inhabited by animals are incorporated into the widespread type featuring the enchanted filly （in one of andrewss versions； advice is given by the horse） and grateful animals （cf。 my nos。 24 and 79）。 i have freely rendered the two versions summarized in french by andrews。
copyright： italian folktales selected and retold by italo calvino；
translated by george martin；
pantheon books； new york 1980
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夜游人
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夜游人&意大利童话
很久以前，有一个渔夫，他很穷，三个女儿都已长大了。有个年轻人向三姊妹求婚。但是这里的人们都很讨厌他，因为他在夜晚才出来转悠。大姑娘和二姑娘都拒绝了他，但三姑娘却答应了。婚礼是在夜间举行的。闹新房的人走后，新郎诚恳地对新娘说：“我把这个秘密告诉你吧：我被一个邪恶的符咒镇住了，白天变成乌龟，只能在夜里恢复成人。要破除这个符咒，只有一个办法：结婚后我马上离开自己的妻子，到外面去闯荡，夜间作人，白天作乌龟。等我回来的时候，如果妻子一直对我忠实，而且为我还忍受了种种艰难困苦，我就能永远恢复成人了。”
“我心甘情愿！”新娘说。
新郎便摘下一只鉆石戒指，给她戴在手指上，说：“如果用它来做好事的话，不论你碰到什么困难，它都会帮助你你的。”
天亮时，新郎变成乌龟爬出去，开始了他到外面闯荡的旅程。
新娘进城去寻找工作。路上，她还到一个哇哇大哭的孩子，便对他的母亲说：“让我来抱抱他吧，好教他不闹。”
“你是头一个这样做的好人！”孩子的�