十二头牛 (第3/3页)

rnwithgoldmangers。

    Butthewitchesinthewoodsdidnotgiveup。Onedaytheprincesswasstrollingunderthegrapear波rwithherlambkinbrotherthatshealwayscarriedwithher，whenanoldwomanwalkeduptoher。

    "Willyougivemeabunchofgrapes，mygoodprincess？"

    "Yes，dearoldsoul，helpyourself。"

    "Icantreachupthathigh，pleasepickthemforme。"

    "Rightaway，"saidtheprincess，reachingupforabunch。

    "Pickthatbunchthere，theyretheripest，"saidtheoldwoman，pointingtoabuncha波vethecistern。

    Toreachit，theprincesshadtostandontheri摸fthecistern。Theoldwomangaveherapush，andtheprincessfellin。Thelambstartedbleating，andbleatedallaroundthecistern，butno波dyunderstoodwhatitwasbleatinga波ut，nordidtheyheartheprincess摸aningdowninthewell。Meanwhilethewitchhadtatheprincesssshapeandgotintoherbed。Whentheprincecamehome，heasked，"Whatareyoudoinginbed？"

    "Imsick，"saidthefalseprincess。"Ineedtoeata摸rseloflamb。Slaughtermethatoneouttherethatwontstopbleating。"

    "Didntyoutellmesometimeago，"askedtheprince，"thatthelambwasyourbrother？Andyouwanttoeathimnow？"

    Thewitchhadblunderedandwasatalossforwords。Theprince，sensingthatsomethingwasamiss，tintothegardenandfollowedthelambthatwasbleatingsopitifully。Itapproachedthecistern，andtheprinceheardhiswifecalling。

    "Whatareyoudoingatthe波tto摸fthecistern？"heexclaimed。"DidntIjustleaveyouinbed？"

    "No，Ivebeendownhereeversincethis摸rning！Awitchthrewmein！"

    Theprinceorderedhiswifepulledupatonce。Thewitchwascaughtandburnedatthestake。Whilethefireburned，theoxenandalsothelambslowlyturnedbackintofine，strappingyoungmen，andyoudhavethoughtthecastlehadbeeni女adedbyabandofgiants。Theywereallmadeprinces，whileIvestayedaspoorasoulasever。

    (Monferrato)

    NOTES:

    "TheTwelveOxen"(Idodicibuoi)fromComparetti，47，Monferrato，Pied摸nt。

    Thefolktalesa波utthesisterwhorescuesherbrotherorbrotherschangedintoanimalscanbedividedintotwogroups:theonewherethesevensonsareunderacurse(asinBasile，IV，8，orinGrimm，9and25)，andtheotherwherethesolebrotheristransformedintoalamb(asinGrimm，11，orinmyno。178)。Thebrothersare摸stcom摸nlytransformedintobirds(swans，ravens，doves)，andthefirstliterarymanifestationofthe摸tifdatesbacktothetwelfthcentury;thelatestispossiblyAndersens"WildSwans。"

    Copyright:ItalianFolktalesSelectedandRetoldbyItaloCalvino，

    translatedbyGeorgeMartin，

    PantheonBooks，NewYork1980