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k home； she placed the snake under her bed。 it grew so rapidly that soon it was too big to fit under the bed； so it went away。 before leaving； however； it bestowed three charms on the girl： weeping； she would shed tears of pearl and silver； laughing； she would see golden pomegranate seeds fall from her head； and washing her hands； she would produce fish of every kind。
that day there was nothing in the house to eat； and her father and sisters were weak from the hunger； so what did she do but wash her hands and see the basin fill up with fish！ her sisters became envious and convinced their father that there was something strange behind all this and that he would be wise to lock the girl up in the attic。
from the attic window the girl looked into the kings garden； where the kings son was playing ball。 running after the ball； he slipped and fell； sending the girl into peals of laughter。 as she laughed； gold pomegranate seeds rained from her head on the garden。 the kings son had no idea where they came from； for the girl had slammed the window。
returning to the garden next day to play ball； the kings son noticed that a pomegranate tree had sprung up。 it was already quite tall and laden with fruit。 he went to pick the pomegranates； but the tree grew taller right before his eyes； and all he had to do was reach for a pomegranate and the branches would rise a foot beyond his grasp。 since nobody managed to pluck so much as one leaf of the tree； the king assembled the wise men to explain the magic spell。 the oldest of them all said that only one maiden would be able to pick the fruit and that she would bee the bride of the kings son。
so the king issued a proclamation for all marriageable girls to e to the garden； under pain of death； to try to pick the pomegranates。 girls of every race and station showed up； but no ladders were ever long enough for them to reach the fruit。 among the contestants were the farmers two older daughters； but they fell off the ladder and landed flat on their backs。 the king had the houses searched and found other girls； including the one locked up in the attic。 as soon as they took her to the tree； the branches bent down and placed the pomegranates right in her hands。 everyone cheered； 〃thats the bride； thats the bride！〃 with the kings son shouting loudest of all。
preparations were made for the wedding； to which the sisters； as envious as ever； were invited。 they all three rode in the same carriage； which drew to a halt in the middle of a forest。 the older girls ordered the younger one out of the carriage； cur off her hands； gouged out her eyes； and left her lying unconscious in the bushes。 then the oldest girl dressed in the wedding gown and went to the kings son。 he couldnt understand why shed bee so ugly； but since she faintly resembled the other girl； he decided hed been mistaken all along about her original beauty。
eyeless and handless； the maiden remained in the forest weeping。 a carter came by and had pity on her。 he seated her on his mule and took her to his house。 she told him to look down： the ground was strewn with silver and pearls； which were none other than the girls tears。 the carter took them and sold them for more than a thousand crowns。 how glad he was to have taken the poor girl in； even if she was unable to work and help the family。
one day the girl felt a snake wrap around her leg： it was the snake she had once befriended。 〃did you know your sister married the kings son and became queen； since the old king died？ now shes expecting a baby and wants figs。〃
the girl said to the carter； 〃load a mule with figs and take them to the queen。〃
〃where am i going to get figs this time of year？〃 asked the carter。 it happened to be winter。
but the next morning he went into the garden and found the fig tree laden with fruit； even though there wasnt a leaf on the tree。 he filled up two baskets and loaded them onto his donkey。
〃how high a price can i ask for figs in winter？〃 said the carter。
〃ask for a pair of eyes；〃 replied the maiden。
that he did； but neither the king nor the queen nor her other sister would have ever gouged out their eyes。 so the sisters talked the matter over。 〃lets give him our sisters eyes； which are of no use to us。〃 with those eyes they purchased the figs。
the carter returned to the maiden with the eyes。 she put them back in place and saw again as well as ever。
then the queen had a desire for peaches； and the king sent to the carter asking if he couldnt find some peaches the way hed found figs。 the next morning the peach tree in the carters garden was laden with peaches； and he took a load to court at once on his donkey。 when they asked him what he wanted for them； he replied； 〃a pair of hands。〃
but nobody would cut off their hands； not even to please the king。 then the sisters talked the matter over。 〃lets give him our sisters。〃
when the girl got her hands back； she reattached them to her arms and was as sound as ever。
not long afterward； the queen went into labor and brought forth a scorpion。 the king nonetheless gave a ball； to which everybody was invited。 the girl went dressed as a queen and was the belle of the ball。 the king fell in love with her and realized she was his true bride。 she laughed golden seeds； wept pearls； and washed fish into the basin； as she told her story from start to finish。
the two wicked sisters and the scorpion were burned on a pyre skyhigh。 on the same day the grand wedding banquet took place。
they put on the dog and high did they soar；
i saw； i heard； i hid behind the door。
then to dine repaired i to the inn；
and there my story draws to an end。
（monferrato）
notes：
〃the snake〃 （la biscia） from paretti； 25； monferrato； piedmont。
the luxuriant story from the facetious nights （iii； 3） about biancabella and the serpent； one of straparolas finest； is here told； on the contrary； in bare rustic simplicity； in the midst of meadows ready for a mowing； fruits； and seasons。 the episode of the pomegranate tree with its fruit that cannot be plucked was added by me to fill out a somewhat sketchy passage in the piedmontese version。 i took it from a tuscan variant （gradi）； based on motifs from this tale and others； where supernatural help es from a red and gold fish。
copyright： italian folktales selected and retold by italo calvino；
translated by george martin；
pantheon books； new york 1980
。。
三个城堡
大＿
三个城堡&意大利童话
有个小伙子突然想要去偷东西，他把这个念头跟妈妈一说，妈妈就说：“你不觉得羞耻吗？你马上去忏悔，听听神父给你的劝告。”
小伙子去忏悔，神父说：“偷窃是罪过，但假如你偷窃的对象是贼，罪孽还不算深。”
于是，小伙子来到森林里，找到了一处贼窝，他敲开门，请贼人收下他做仆从。
贼人说：“我们偷东西，但我们并没有罪，因为我们偷的都是些收苛捐杂税的人。”
一天晚上，贼人们出去偷一个收税官的家，小伙子从马厩里挑了最好的骡子，驮了一袋金币溜走了。
他把金币送给妈妈，然后进城去找活干。城里住着一个国王，养了一百只羊。但是没人愿意给他放羊。小伙子去了。国王对他说：“你听着，这里是一百只羊，明天早上你带它们到那边的草场上去放牧，但不要靠近那条小溪，那里有一条大蛇，会把羊吃掉。如果你把羊全给我带回来，我就给你赏钱；但如�