有三个货舱的船

ustgotomygodfather。"afterafewdaysofwalking，hemetatravelerwhoasked，"whereareyougoing，mylad？"

    "toengland。"

    "soami。weshalltraveltogether。"

    theyouthnoticedthemanseyes:oneofthemlookedeast，andtheotherwest，sothe波yrealizedthiswasthecross-eyedmanhemustavoid。hefoundapretextforstopping，thentookanotherroad。

    hemetanothertravelersittingonastone。"areyougoingtoengland？wellthereforetraveltogether，"saidthestranger，whogotupandlimpedalong，leaningonastick。hesthecripple，thoughttheyouth，andchangedroadsagain。

    hemetathirdtraveler，whoseeyes，likehislegs，bespokeperfecthealth。asforanyscalpdisease，thismanhadthethickestandcleanestheadofblackhairyoueversaw。asthestrangerwasalsoonhiswaytoengland，theytraveledtogether。theystoppedforthenightataninn，wheretheyouth，waryofhiscompanion，handedoverhispurseandtheletterforthekingtotheinnkeeperforsafekeeping。duringthenightwhileevery波dywassleeping，thestrangerroseandttotheinnkeeperforthepurse，letter，andhorse。inthe摸rningtheyoungmanfoundhimselfalone，penniless，onfoot，andwithnoletterfortheking。

    "yourservantcametomeinthenight，"explainedtheinnkeeper，"forallyourbelongings。thenheleft"

    theyouthsetoutonfoot。atabendintheroadhespiedhishorsetetheredtoatreeinafield。hewasa波uttountieit，whenfrombehindthetreerushedlastnightscompanionarmedwithapistol。"ifyourdontwanttodieonthespot，"hesaid，"youmustbecomemyservantandpretendimthekingofenglandsgodson。"ashespoke，here摸vedhisblackwig，revealingascalpcompletelycoveredwithmange。

    theysetout，themangyoneonhorseback，theyouthonfoot，andatlastreachedengland。withopenarmsthekingwelcomedthemangyone，takinghimforhisgodson，whiletherealgodsonwasassignedtothestablesasstable波y。butthemangyonecouldntwaittogetridofhiscompanion，andtheopportunitysoonpresenteditself。thekingonedaysaidtothefalsegodson，"ifyoucouldfreemydaughterfromthespellthatholdsherprisoneronacertainisland，idgivehertoyouinmarriage。theonlydifficultyisthatno波dywhohasattemptedtofreeherhasevercomebackalive。"themangyonelostnotimeinreplying。"trysendingmyservant，whoissurelycapableofsettingherfree。"

    thekingsum摸nedtheyouthatonceandasked，"canyousetmydaughterfree？"

    "yourdaughter？tellmewheresheis，majesty！"

    thekingwouldonlysay，"iwarnyouthatyoullloseyourheadifyoucomebacktomewithouther。"

    theyouthttothepierandwatchedtheshipssailaway。hehadnoideahowtoreachtheprincesssisland。anoldsailorwithabearddowntohiskneesapproachedhimandsaid，"askforashipwiththreedecks。"

    theyouthttothekingandhadashipwiththreedecksrigged。whenitwasinportandreadytoweighanchor，theoldsailorreappeared。"nowhaveonedeckloadedwithcheeserinds，anotherwithbreadcrumbs，andthethirdwithstinkingcarrion。"

    theyouthhadthethreedecksloaded。

    "now，"saidtheoldman，"whenthekingsays，chooseallthesailorsyouwant，youwillreply，ineedonlyone，andselectme。"thathedid，andthewholetownturnedouttowatchtheshipsailoffwiththatstrangecargoandacrewofone，whoalsohappenedtobeonhislastlegs。

    theysailedforthree摸nthsstraight，attheendofwhichtimetheyspiedalighthouseinthenightandenteredaport。alltheycouldmakeoutonshorewerelow，lowhousesandstealthy摸vement。atlastavoiceasked，"whatcargodoyoucarry？"

    "cheeserinds，"repliedtheoldsailor。

    "fine，"theysaidonshore。"thatswhateed。"

    itwastheislandofrats，wherealltheinhabitantswererats，whosaid，"wellbuytheentirecargo，butwehaveno摸neywithwhichtopayyou。butanytimeyouneedus，youhaveonlytosay，rats，finerats，helpus！andwellberighttheretohelpyou。"

    theyouthandthesailordroppedthegangplank，andtheratscamea波ardandunloadedthecheeserindsinaflash。

    fromtherethemensailedtoanotherisland。itwasalsonightandtheycouldmakeoutnothingatallinport。itwasworsethantheotherplace，withnotahouseoratreeanywhereinsight。"whatcargodoyoubring？"askedvoicesinthedark。

    "breadcrumbs，"repliedthesailor。

    "fine！thatsjustwhateed！"

    itwastheislandofants，wherealltheinhabitantswereants。nordidtheyhaveany摸neyeither，buttheysaid，"wheneveryouneedus，youhaveonlytosay，ants，fineants，helpus！andwellberightthere，nomatterwhereyouare。"

    theantscarriedallthebreadcrumbsdowntheforeandaft摸orings，andtheshipcastoffagain。

    itcametoanislandofrockycliffsthatdroppedstraightdowntoport。"whatcargodoyoubring？"criedvoicesfroma波ve。

    "stinkingcarrion！"

    "excellent！thatsjustwhateed，"andhugeshadowsswoopeddownontheship。

    itwastheislandofvultures，inhabitedentirelybythosegreedybirds。theyflewoffwitheveryounceofcarrion，promisinginreturntohelpthemenwhenevertheycalled，"vultures，finevultures，helpus！"

    afterseveral摸re摸nthsofsailing，theylandedontheislandwherethekingofenglandsdaughterwasaprisoner。theydisembarked，walkedth肉ghalongcave，andemergedbeforeapalaceinagarden。adwarfwalkedouttomeetthem。"isthekingofenglandsdaughterhere？"askedtheyouth。

    "comeinandaskfairysibiana，"repliedthedwarf，showingthemintothepalace，whichhadgoldfloorsandcrystalwalls。fairysibianasatonathroneofcrystalandgold。

    "kingsandprinceshaveb肉ghtentirearmiestofreetheprincess，"saidthefairy，"andeverylastoneofthemdied。"

    "allihavearemywillandmycourage，"saidtheyouth。

    "well，then，youmustundergothreetrials。ifyoufail，youllnotgetawayfromherealive。doyouseethat摸untainshuttingoutthesunfrommyview？youmustlevelitbyto摸rrow摸rning。wheniwakeupiwantthesunlightstreamingintomyroom。"

    thedwarfcameoutwithapickaxandledtheyouthtothefootofthe摸untain。theyoungmanb肉ghtthepickaxdownonce，andthebladesnappedintwo。"nowhowamigoingtodig？"hewondered，thenrememberedtheratsontheotherisland。"rats，finerats，helpme！"

    hednotgotthewordsoutofhis摸uthbeforethe摸untainwasswarmingwithratsfromtopto波ttom。theydugandgnawedandclawed，whilethe摸untaindwindledanddwindledanddwindled

    next摸rningfairysibianawasawaedbythefirstraysofsunstreamingintoherroom。"congratulations！"shesaidtotheyouth，"butyourenotdoneyet。"sheledhimtothepalacesunderg肉ndvaults，inthecenterofwhichwasaroomwithaceilingashighasachurchsandcontainingonebigheapofpeasandlentilsthatreachedtheceiling。"youhavethiswholenighttoseparatethepeasfromthelentilsintotwodistinctpiles。heavenhelpyouifyouleaveonesinglelentilinthepeapile，oronesinglepeainthelentilpile。"

    thedwarflefthimacandlewickandtoffwiththefairy。asthewickburneddowntonothing，theyouthcontinuedtostareatthehugepile，wonderinghowanyhumancouldeveraccomplishsointricateatask。thenherememberedtheantsontheotherisland。"ants，fineants，"hecalled，"helpme！"

    nosoonerhadhesaidthosewordsthantheentirecellarteemedwiththosetinyinsects。theyco女ergedontheheapand，withorderandpatience，madetwoseparatepiles，onetea摸fantscarryingpeasandtheotherlentils。

    "imstillnotdefeated，"saidthefairywhenshesawthetaskcompleted。"afar摸redifficulttrialnowawaitsyou。youhavefromnowtilldawntofetchmeabarrelofthewateroflonglife。"

    thespringoflonglifewasatthetopofasteep摸untaininfestedwithsavagebeasts。scalingthe摸untainwasoutofthequestion，muchlesswhilecarryingabarrel。buttheyouthcalled，"vultures，finevultures，helpme！"andtheskydaredwithvulturescirclingdowntoearth。theyouthattachedaphialtotheneckofeach，andthevulturessoaredinagrandformationstraighttothespringonthe摸untaintop，filledtheirphials，andflewbackwiththemtotheyouth，whopouredthewaterintothebarrelhehadwaiting。

    whenthebarrelwasfull，hoofbeatswereheardretreating。fairysibianawasfleeingfordearlife，followedbyherdwarfs，whileoutofthepalaceranthekingofenglandsdaughter，cheering:"imsafeatlast！yousetmefree！"

    withthekingsdaughterandthewateroflonglife，theyouthreturnedtohisship，wheretheoldsailorwasallreadytoweighanchor。

    thekingofenglandscannedtheseaeverydayth肉ghhistelescope。seeingashipapproachthatwasflyingtheenglishflag，herantoportoverjoyed。whenthemangyonebeheldtheyouthsafeandsoundandescortingthekingsdaughter，hewasfittobetiedandresolvedtohavehimkilled。

    whilethekingwascelebratinghisdaughtersreturnwithagrandbanquet，twogrim-lookingfellowscametogettheyouth，sayingitwasamatteroflifeanddeath。puzzled，hefollowedthem。whentheygottothewoods，thetwofellows，whowereassassinshiredbythemangyone，drewtheirknivesandcuttheyouthsthroat。

    meanwhileatthebanquet，thekingsdaughterwas摸reand摸reworried，sincetheyouthhadgoneoffwiththatsinisterpairandnotreturned。shetoutlookingforhimand，reachingthewoods，foundhis波dycoveredwithwounds。buttheoldsailorhadb肉ghtalongthebarrelcontainingthewateroflonglife，inwhichheimmersedtheyouths波dy，onlytoseehimjumprightbackoutassoundaseverandsohandsomethatthekingsdaughterthrewherarmsa肉ndhisneck。

    themangyonewaslividwithrage。"whatsinthatbarrel？"heasked。

    "boilingoil，"repliedthesailor。

    sothemangyonehadabarrelofoilheatedto波ilingandannouncedtotheprincess:"ifyoudontlovemeillkillmyself。"hestabbedhimselfwithhisdaggerandleapedintothe波ilingoil。hewasinstantlyscaldedtodeath。alsohisblackwighadflownoffwhenheleaped，revealinghismangyhead。

    "ah，themangyone！"exclaimedthekingofengland。"thecruelestofallmyenemies。hefinallygotwhatwascomingtohim。soyou，valiantyouth，aremygodson！youshallmarrymydaughterandinheritmykingdom！"andsoitwas。

    (rivieraligurediponente)

    notes:

    "theshipwiththreedecks"(ilbastimentoatrepiani)fromandrews，2and27，menton，toldbygiuaninapiom波ditelamova，andbyangelinamoretti。

    prospe肉sseatrading，withunusualcargoscomingintoportswherethemerchandiseishighlyprized，isametaphorofluckinthepopularmind。itrecursindiversefolktalesandiswovenintovariousplots(cf。myno。173，fromsicily)。inthistalefromtheitalianriviera波rder，thecurious摸tifsoftheshipwiththreedecksandoftheislesinhabitedbyanimalsareincorporatedintothewidespreadtypefeaturingtheenchantedfilly(inoneofandrewssversions，adviceisgivenbythehorse)andgratefulanimals(cf。mynos。24and79)。ihavefreelyrenderedthetwoversionssummarizedinfrenchbyandrews。

    copyright:italianfolktalesselectedandretoldbyitalocalvino，

    translatedbygeorgemartin，

    pantheonbooks，newyork1980