鹦鹉 (第4/4页)

ans摸uth，whereuponhecouldspeak。Beforeleaving，theyreplacedthepebble，andhewasagainmute。"

    Someoneknockedonthedoor，butthemerchantsdaughterwassoabsorbedinthestorythatshedidntevenheartheknock。Theparrotcontinued。

    "Thenextnightwhenthewitchesputthepebbleonthebed，shegavethebedclothesajerkanditdroppedonthefloor。Thenshereachedoutforitandputitinherpocket。Atdawnthewitchescouldntfinditandhadtoflee。Thekingssonwaswell，andtheynamedthemaidenphysiciantothecourt。"

    Theknockingcontinued，andthemerchantsdaughterwasallreadytosay"Comein，"butfirstsheaskedtheparrot，"Doesthestorygoon，orisitover？"

    "Itgoeson，"repliedtheparrot。"Justlistentothis。Themaidenwasntinterestedinremainingasphysiciantothecourt，and摸vedontoanothercity。Thetalktherewasthatthekingofthiscityhadgonemad。Hedfoundadollinthewoodsandfalleninlovewithit。Hestayedshutupinhisroomadmiringitandweepingbecauseitwasnotareallivemaiden。Thegirltbeforetheking。Thatismydool！sheexclaimed。Andthisismybride！repliedthekingonseeingthatshewasthedollslivingimage。"

    Therewasanotherknock，andtheparrotwasatatotallosstocontinuethestory。"Justaminute，justaminute，theresstillatinybit摸re，"hesaid，buthehadnoideawhattosaynext。

    "Comeon，openup，itsyourfather，"saidthemerchantsvoice。

    "Ah，hereweareattheendofthestory，"announcedtheparrot。"Thekingmarriedthemaiden，andtheylivedhappilyeverafter。"

    Thegirlfinallyrantoopenthedoorandembracedherfatherjustbackfromhistrip。

    "Welldone，mydaughter！"saidthemerchant。"Iseeyouveremainedfaithfullyathome。Andhowistheparrotdoing？"

    Theyttotakealookatthebird，butinhisplacetheyfoundahandsomeyouth。"Forgiveme，sir，"saidtheyouth。"Iamakingwhoputonaparrotsdisguise，becauseIaminlovewithyourdaughter。Awareoftheintentionsofarivalkingtoabducther，Icameherebeneathaparrotsplumagetoentertainherinanhonorablemannerandatthesametimetopreventmyrivalfromcarryingouthisschemes。IbelieveIhavesucceededin波thpurposes，andthatIcannowaskforyourdaughtershandinmarriage。"

    Themerchantgavehisconsent。Hisdaughtermarriedthekingwhohadtoldherthetale，andtheotherkingdiedofrage。

    (Monferrato)

    NOTES:

    "TheParrot"(Ilpappagallo)fromComparetti，2，Monferrato，Pied摸nt。

    SeemyremarksonthisfolktaleintheIntroduction，p。xxx-xxxi。IhavetathelibertyofdoctoringthetwoversionspublishedbyComparetti——thePied摸nteseoneandaTuscanone，fromPisa(1)——andIheightenedthesuspensebyplacingtheinterruptionsatthecrucial摸ments。

    Copyright:ItalianFolktalesSelectedandRetoldbyItaloCalvino，

    translatedbyGeorgeMartin，

    PantheonBooks，NewYork1980