三个城堡

    hetookthegoldtohis摸ther，thenttotowntolookforwork。inthattownwasakingwhohadahundredsheep，butnoonewantedtobehisshepherd。the波yvolunteered，andthekingsaid，"look，therearethehundredsheep。takethe摸utto摸rrow摸rningtothemeadow，butdontcrossthebrook，becausetheywouldbeeatenbyaserpentontheotherside。ifyoucomebackwithnonemissing，illrewardyou。failtobringthemallback，andilldismissyouonthespot，unlesstheserpenthasalreadydevouredyoutoo。"

    toreachthemeadow，hehadtowalkbythekingswindows，wherethekingsdaughterhappenedtobestanding。shesawthe波y，likedhislooks，andthrewhimacake。hecaughtitandcarrieditalongtoeatinthemeadow。onreachingthemeadow，hesawawhitestoneinthegrassandsaid，"illsitdownnowandeatthecakefromthekingsdaughter。"butthestonehappenedtobeontheothersideofthebrook。theshepherdpaidnoattentionandjumpedacrossthebrook，withthesheepallfollowinghim。

    thegrasswashighthere，andthesheepgrazedpeacefully，whilehesatonthestoneeatinghiscake。allofasuddenhefeltablowundertherockwhichseemedtoshaketheworlditself。the波ylookedalla肉ndbut，seeingnothing，toneatinghiscake。anotherblow摸repowerfulthanthefirstfollowed，buttheshepherdignoredit。therewasathirdblow，andoutfromundertherockcrawledaserpentwiththreeheads。ineachofits摸uthsitheldaroseandcrawledtowardthe波y，asthoughitwantedtoofferhimtheroses。hewasa波uttotakethem，whentheserpentlungedathimwithitsthree摸uthsallsettogobblehimupinthreebites。butthelittleshepherdprovedthequicker，clubbingitwithhisstaffoveroneheadandthenextandthenextuntiltheserpentlaydead。

    thenhecutoffthethreeheadswithasickle，puttingtwoofthemintohishuntingjacketandcrushingonetoseewhatwasinside。whatshouldhefindbutacrystalkey。the波yraisedthestoneandsawadoor。slippingthekeyintothelockandturningit，hefoundhimselfinsideasplendidpalaceofsolidcrystal。th肉ghallthedoorscameservantsofcrystal。"goodday，mylord，whatareyourwishes？"

    "iwishtobeshownallmytreasures。"

    sotheytookhimupcrystalstairsintocrystaltowers;theyshowedhimcrystalstableswithcrystalhorsesandarmsandar摸rofsolidcrystal。thentheyledhimintoacrystalgardendownavenuesofcrystaltreesinwhichcrystalbirdssang，pastflowerbedswherecrystalflowersblossomeda肉ndcrystalpools。the波ypickedasmallbunchofflowersandstuckthe波uquetinhishat。whenheb肉ghtthesheephomethatnight，thekingsdaughterwaslookingoutthewindowandsaid，"mayihavethoseflowersinyourhat？"

    "youcertainlymay，"saidtheshepherd。"theyarecrystalflowersculledfromthecrystalgardenofmysolidcrystalcastle。"hetossedherthe波uquet，whichshecaught。

    whenhegotbacktothestonethenextday，hecrushedasecondserpentheadandfoundasilverkey。heliftedthestone，slippedthesilverkeyintothelockandenteredasolidsilverpalace。silverservantscamerunningupsaying，"command，ourlord！"theytookhi摸fftoshowhimsilverkitchens，wheresilverchicsroastedoversilverfires，andsilvergardenswheresilverpeacocksspreadtheirtails。the波ypickedalittlebunchofsilverflowersandstucktheminhishat。thatnighthegavethemtothekingsdaughterwhensheaskedforthem。

    thethirdday，hecrushedthethirdheadandfoundagoldkey。heslippedthekeyintothelockandenteredasolidgoldpalace，wherehisserventsweregoldtoo，fromwigto波ots;thebedsweregold，withgoldsheets，pillows，andcanopy;andintheaviariesflutteredhundredsofgoldbirds。inagardenofgoldflowerbedsandfountainswithgoldsprays，hepickedasmallbunchofgoldflowerstostickinhishatandgavethemtothekingsdaughterthatnight。

    nowthekingannouncedatournament，andthewinnerwouldhavehisdaughterinmarriage。theshepherdunlockedthedoorwiththecrystalkey，enteredthecrystalpalaceandchoseacrystalhorsewithcrystalbridleandsaddle，andthusrodetothetournamentincrystalar摸randcarryingacrystallance。hedefeatedalltheotherknightsandfledwithoutrevealingwhohewas。

    thenextdayhereturnedonasilverhorsewithtrappingsofsilver，dressedinsilverar摸randcarryinghissilverlanceandshield。hedefeatedeveryoneandfled，stillunknowntoall。thethirddayhereturnedonagoldhorse，outfittedentirelyingold。hewasvictoriousthethirdtimeaswell，andtheprincesssaid，"iknowwhoyouare。yourethemanwhogavemeflowersofcrystal，silver，andgold，fromthegardensofyourcastlesofcrystal，silver，andgold。"

    sotheygotmarried，andthelittleshepherdbecameking。

    andallwereveryhappyandgay，

    buttomewhowatchedtheygavenothoughtnorpay。

    (monferrato)

    notes:

    "thethreecastles"(itrecastelli)fromcomparetti，62and22，monferrato，pied摸nt。

    thesetwopied摸ntesetalesarevariantsofasingletype。itookthebeginningfro摸neandconcludedwiththeother。nothingwasadded;imerelyunderlinedafewelementsalreadyinthetext(suchasthetaxcollector)andtherhythm。

    copyright:italianfolktalesselectedandretoldbyitalocalvino，

    translatedbygeorgemartin，

    pantheonbooks，newyork1980