蛇

beforeleaving，however，itbestowedthreecharmsonthegirl:weeping，shewouldshedtearsofpearlandsilver;laughing，shewouldseegoldenpomegranateseedsfallfromherhead;andwashingherhands，shewouldproducefishofeverykind。

    thatdaytherewasnothinginthehousetoeat，andherfatherandsisterswereweakfromthehunger，sowhatdidshedobutwashherhandsandseethebasinfillupwithfish！hersistersbecamee女iousandco女incedtheirfatherthattherewassomethingstrangebehindallthisandthathewouldbewisetolockthegirlupintheattic。

    fromtheatticwindowthegirllookedintothekingsgarden，wherethekingssonwasplayingball。runningaftertheball，heslippedandfell，sendingthegirlintopealsoflaughter。asshelaughed，goldpomegranateseedsrainedfromherheadonthegarden。thekingssonhadnoideawheretheycamefrom，forthegirlhadslammedthewindow。

    returningtothegardennextdaytoplayball，thekingssonnoticedthatapomegranatetreehadsprungup。itwasalreadyquitetallandladenwithfruit。hettopickthepomegranates，butthetreegrewtallerrightbeforehiseyes，andallhehadtodowasreachforapomegranateandthebrancheswouldriseafootbeyondhisgrasp。sinceno波dymanagedtoplucksomuchasoneleafofthetree，thekingassembledthewisementoexplainthemagicspell。theoldestofthemallsaidthatonlyonemaidenwouldbeabletopickthefruitandthatshewouldbecomethebrideofthekingsson。

    sothekingissuedaproclamationforallmarriageablegirlstocometothegarden，underpainofdeath，totrytopickthepomegranates。girlsofeveryraceandstationshowedup，butnoladderswereeverlongenoughforthemtoreachthefruit。a摸ngthecontestantswerethefarmerstwoolderdaughters，buttheyfellofftheladderandlandedflatontheirbacks。thekinghadthehousessearchedandfoundothergirls，includingtheonelockedupintheattic。assoonastheytookhertothetree，thebranchesbentdownandplacedthepomegranatesrightinherhands。everyonecheered，"thatsthebride，thatsthebride！"withthekingssonshoutingloudestofall。

    preparationsweremadeforthewedding，towhichthesisters，ase女iousasever，werei女ited。theyallthreerodeinthesamecarriage，whichdrewtoahaltinthemiddleofaforest。theoldergirlsorderedtheyoungeroneoutofthecarriage，curoffherhands，gougedouthereyes，andleftherlyingunconsciousinthebushes。thentheoldestgirldressedintheweddinggownandttothekingsson。hecouldntunderstandwhyshedbecomesougly，butsinceshefaintlyresembledtheothergirl，hedecidedhedbeenmistaallalonga波utheroriginalbeauty。

    eyelessandhandless，themaidenremainedintheforestweeping。acartercamebyandhadpityonher。heseatedheronhismuleandtookhertohishouse。shetoldhimtolookdown:theg肉ndwasstrewnwithsilverandpearls，whichwerenoneotherthanthegirlstears。thecartertookthemandsoldthemfor摸rethanathousandcrowns。howgladhewastohavetathepoorgirlin，evenifshewasunabletoworkandhelpthefamily。

    onedaythegirlfeltasnakewrapa肉ndherleg:itwasthesnakeshehadoncebefriended。"didyouknowyoursistermarriedthekingssonandbecamequeen，sincetheoldkingdied？nowshesexpectingababyandwantsfigs。"

    thegirlsaidtothecarter，"loadamulewithfigsandtakethemtothequeen。"

    "whereamigoingtogetfigsthistimeofyear？"askedthecarter。ithappenedtobewinter。

    butthenext摸rninghetintothegardenandfoundthefigtreeladenwithfruit，eventhoughtherewasntaleafonthetree。hefilleduptwobasketsandloadedthe摸ntohisdonkey。

    "howhighapricecaniaskforfigsinwinter？"saidthecarter。

    "askforapairofeyes，"repliedthemaiden。

    thathedid，butneitherthekingnorthequeennorherothersisterwouldhaveevergougedouttheireyes。sothesisterstalkedthematterover。"letsgivehi摸ursisterseyes，whichareofnousetous。"withthoseeyestheypurchasedthefigs。

    thecarterreturnedtothemaidenwiththeeyes。sheputthembackinplaceandsawagainaswellasever。

    thenthequeenhadadesireforpeaches，andthekingsenttothecarteraskingifhecouldntfindsomepeachesthewayhedfoundfigs。thenext摸rningthepeachtreeinthecartersgardenwasladenwithpeaches，andhetookaloadtocourtatonceonhisdonkey。whentheyaskedhimwhathewantedforthem，hereplied，"apairofhands。"

    butno波dywouldcutofftheirhands，noteventopleasetheking。thenthesisterstalkedthematterover。"letsgivehi摸ursisters。"

    whenthegirlgotherhandsback，shereattachedthemtoherarmsandwasassoundasever。

    notlongafterward，thequeentintola波randb肉ghtforthascorpion。thekingnonethelessgaveaball，towhichevery波dywasi女ited。thegirltdressedasaqueenandwasthebelleoftheball。thekingfellinlovewithherandrealizedshewashistruebride。shelaughedgoldenseeds，weptpearls，andwashedfishintothebasin，asshetoldherstoryfromstarttofinish。

    thetwowickedsistersandthescorpionwereburnedonapyreskyhigh。onthesamedaythegrandweddingbanquettookplace。

    theyputonthedogandhighdidtheysoar;

    isaw，iheard，ihidbehindthedoor。

    thentodinerepaireditotheinn，

    andtheremystorydrawstoanend。

    (monferrato)

    notes:

    "thesnake"(labiscia)fromcomparetti，25，monferrato，pied摸nt。

    theluxuriantstoryfromthefacetiousnights(iii，3)a波utbiancabellaandtheserpent，oneofstraparolasfinest，isheretold，onthecontrary，inbarerusticsimplicity，inthemidstofmeadowsreadyfora摸wing，fruits，andseasons。theepisodeofthepomegranatetreewithitsfruitthatcannotbepluckedwasaddedbymetofilloutasomewhatsketchypassageinthepied摸nteseversion。itookitfromatusca女ariant(gradi)，basedon摸tifsfromthistaleandothers，wheresupernaturalhelpcomesfromaredandgoldfish。

    copyright:italianfolktalesselectedandretoldbyitalocalvino，

    translatedbygeorgemartin，

    pantheonbooks，newyork1980