鸚鵡&意大利童話
從前有一個商人要外出經商，但他不敢把女兒一個人留在家裏，因為有個國王早就在打她的壞主意了。
他叮囑女兒：“孩子啊，我要動身了，你一定要答應我，在我回來之前，你不要踏出家門一步，也不要為任何人開門。”
那天早晨，姑娘發現窗外的樹上落着一隻漂亮的鸚鵡，彬彬有禮，很討人喜愛，她跟這隻鸚鵡聊了一會，覺得很有意思。
姑娘説：“親愛的爸爸，我一個人留在家裏會很孤單的，能不能買一隻鸚鵡陪伴我呢？”
商人視女兒為掌上明珠，馬上就出去給她找鸚鵡。他遇到了一位賣鸚鵡的老者，而且賣得很便宜，就買下了這隻鸚鵡送給了女兒。他對女兒千叮萬囑後，才離家上路。
商人剛一離家，國王就開始琢磨用什麼方法能接近姑娘。他與一個老婦串通好了，派她給姑娘送去一封信。
但那時，姑娘正在跟鸚鵡説着話：“鸚鵡，你給我説些什麼有趣的事呢？”
“我給你講一個動人的故事。從前有一個國王，他只有一個女兒，因為是獨生女，沒有兄弟姐妹陪她玩。人們給她做了一個玩具娃娃，跟她真人一樣大，臉也像她，穿的也像她。她不管到哪裏總把娃娃帶在身邊，大家常常錯把她當做娃娃，錯把娃娃當成她。有一次，國王帶着她和娃娃坐着馬車來到一片森林，敵人襲擊他們，殺死了國王，擄走了公主，把娃娃丟在了車裏。公主傷心地嚎啕大哭，敵人只好放了她，她就獨自一人在森林中走着。走到一個女王的王宮裏，女王把她收為女僕。姑娘聰明賢惠，深得女王寵愛。別的奴僕開始嫉妒她了，為了讓她失寵，她們對她説：‘你知道嗎。女主人對你真的很好，有什麼話都對你説，不過，有一件事情我們都知道，她卻不曾對你説，就是她曾有過一個兒子但後來死了。’於是姑娘便去問女王：‘陛下，你真的有一個兒子，後來死了嗎？’聽到這句話，女王差點氣暈過去。這件事沒人敢提，誰提到她死去的兒子，就是死罪。姑娘照例要判死刑的，可是女王對她有點憐惜，只把她關進了地牢。姑娘被關進來後，覺得很失落；她吃不下飯，整夜哭泣。半夜，她正在哭着，突然聽到開門的聲音，只見有五個人，其中四個是魔法師，另一個正是女王的兒子，他被他們囚禁着，他們帶他出來散散步。”
故事講到這裏，一個僕人打斷了鸚鵡，他給姑娘送來一封信。信是那個國王寫的，他想方設法讓人把這封信遞到了這裏。但是當時姑娘正在興頭上，她想知道故事的下文，就説：“我爸爸回來之前，我不收任何信。請不要打擾我。鸚鵡，繼續講下去吧。”
僕人拿着那封信出去了，鸚鵡繼續講故事：“到了早上，看管姑娘的獄卒發現犯人什麼也沒吃，就稟報了女王。女王傳她上殿，姑娘就把在地牢裏看見王子還活着、被四個魔法師關押着、每晚半夜押他出來放風的情況告訴了女王。女王馬上派了十二名軍士，手持長矛來到地牢，殺死了四個魔法師，把女王的兒子就了回來。女王因為姑娘救了王子，決定讓王子娶姑娘為妻。”
正講到這裏，敲門聲又響了，家僕來請求小主人讀一讀那個國王寫來的信。商人的女兒説：“好了，故事講完了，我現在可以看信了。”
“還沒完，還有一段呢。”鸚鵡急忙勸阻她，“你聽着：那個姑娘並不願意嫁給女王的兒子，她只要了些錢和一套男人服裝就離開了，到了另一個城邦。這裏國王的兒子得了一種病，沒有一個醫師能醫好他：他從半夜到早晨，瞪着眼睛，胡言亂語，就像一個惡魔。姑娘穿着一身男裝來了，自稱是從外國來的醫師，請求讓自己和病人單獨待上一夜。她先察看了一下牀，發現牀下有一個暗道口，從暗道口下去，是一條走廊，盡頭放着一盞油燈。”
這時，又傳來了敲門聲，家僕進來説一位老婦，自稱是姑娘的姑媽，想要見見姑娘。（其實她根本不是什麼姑娘的姑媽，而是為國王辦事的那個老婦。）商人的女兒急不可待地想要知道故事的結局，就告訴家僕不接待任何人。“鸚鵡，繼續講下去。”
鸚鵡繼續講：“姑娘走近油燈一看，只見一個老婦正在用一口大鍋煮王子的心，因為那個國王曾經處死了她自己的孩子。姑娘從鍋裏把那顆心拿走了，並讓國王的兒子吞下它，病立即就好了。國王説：‘我許諾過，哪位醫師治好了我兒子，我就把城邦的一半送給他，你是一個女人，你就嫁給我兒子，當他的王后吧。’”
“真是神奇啊！”商人的女兒説，“故事講完了，我現在可以接待那個自稱是我姑媽的老婦人了。”
鸚鵡説：“故事還沒完呢，後邊還有一段。你仔細聽着。裝扮成醫生的姑娘也不願意嫁給國王的兒子，又離開了，她來到另一個城邦，這裏國王的兒子中了魔法，不會説話。晚上姑娘躲在牀下，到了半夜她看見兩個女巫從窗户鑽進來，她們從王子嘴裏取出一塊寶石，王子就能説話了，走的時候，她們又把那塊寶石放進王子嘴裏，他又變啞了。”
又響起了敲門聲，不過商人的女兒正在聚精會神地聽着故事，根本沒聽見。鸚鵡接着講：
“第二天晚上，當那兩個女巫把小寶石放在牀上的時候，姑娘拽起牀單，將寶石抖落在地，並順手撿起來裝進口袋。到了早上，女巫找不到寶石，只好逃走了。國王的兒子能開口説話了，姑娘被任命為宮廷御醫。”
敲門聲還在響個不停，商人的女兒想讓屋外的人進來，就先問了鸚鵡一句：“你的故事講玩了還是沒講完？”
“還沒講完，”鸚鵡説，“你聽着：姑娘不想在王宮裏做御醫，又來到另一個城邦。她聽説這裏的國王瘋了。他在森林中撿回一個玩具娃娃就愛上了它，把自己關在房間裏一邊凝視着娃娃，一邊哭，因為它不是一個真的女人。姑娘聽了這個消息後，來到國王的房間一看，驚奇地説：‘這是我的那個娃娃！’而國王看見姑娘長得跟娃娃一模一樣，就説：‘這就是我要娶的新娘！’”
敲門聲還在響着，鸚鵡實在不知道如何再把故事講下去了。只是説：“等一下，等一下，還有一段呢。”但它不會往下講了。
門外傳來商人的説話聲：“開門，開門啊，我是你爸爸。”
鸚鵡一聽，説：“故事講完了，國王娶了這個姑娘，兩個人幸福地生活在一起了。”
姑娘這才跑去打開門，緊緊抱住遠道歸來的爸爸。
商人説：“我的女兒真乖，一步也沒跨出家門。那隻鸚鵡呢？”
他們走回房間裏找鸚鵡，卻找不到鸚鵡了，看到的是一個英俊的小夥子，小夥子説：“請原諒，先生，我是一個喬裝成鸚鵡的國王，我愛上了您的女兒。我瞭解到我的情敵――另一個國王――想要拐騙您的女兒，就披上鸚鵡皮，誠心誠意地跟她交談，阻止她陷進我的情敵設下的圈套。我相信我成功了，現在我可以向您的女兒求婚了。”
商人答應了他們的婚事，於是姑娘嫁給了那個給他講過童話的國王，而另一個國王被氣死了。
（蒙費拉托地區）
TheParrot
Onceuponatimetherewasamerchantwhowassupposedtogoawayonbusiness,buthewasafraidtoleavehisdaughterathomebyherself,asacertainkinghaddesignsonher.
"Deardaughter,"hesaid,"Imleaving,butyoumustpromisenottostickyourheadoutofthedoororletanyoneinuntilIgetback."
Nowthatverymorningthedaughterhadseenahandsomeparrotinthetreeoutsideherwindow.Hewasawell-bredparrot,andthemaidenhaddelightedintalkingwithhim.
"Father,"shereplied,"itjustbreaksmyhearttohavetostayhomeallbymyself.CouldntIatleasthaveaparrottokeepmecompany?"
Themerchant,wholivedonlyforhisdaughter,wentoutatoncetogetheraparrot.Hefoundanoldmanwhosoldhimoneforasong.Hetookthebirdtohisdaughter,andaftermuchlast-minuteadvicetoher,hesetoutonhistrip.
Nosoonerwasthemerchantoutofsightthanthekingbegandevisingawaytojointhemaiden.Heenlistedanoldwomaninhisschemeandsenthertothegirlwithaletter.
Inthemeantimethemaidengotintoconversationwiththeparrot."Talktome,parrot."
"Iwilltellyouagoodstory.Onceuponatimetherewasakingwhohadadaughter.Shewasanonlychild,withnobrothersorsisters,nordidshehaveanyplaymates.Sotheymadeheradollthesamesizeasherself,withafaceandclothesexactlylikeherown.Everywhereshewentthedollwenttoo,andnoonecouldtellthemapart.Onedayasking,daughter,anddolldrovethroughthewoodsintheircarriage,theywereattackedbyenemieswhokilledthekingandcarriedoffhisdaughter,leavingthedollbehindintheabandonedcarriage.Themaidenscreamedandcriedso,theenemieslethergo,andshewanderedoffintothewoodsbyherself.Sheeventuallyreachedthecourtofacertainqueenandbecameaservant.Shewassuchaclevergirlthatthequeenlikedherbetterallthetime.Theotherservantsgrewjealousandplottedherdownfall.Youareaware,ofcourse,theysaid,thatthequeenlikesyouverymuchandtellsyoueverything.Buttheresonethingwhichweknowandyoudont.Shehadasonwhodied.Atthat,themaidenwenttothequeenandasked,Majesty,isittruethatyouhadasonwhodied?Uponhearingthosewords,thequeenalmostfainted.Heavenhelpanyonewhorecalledthatfact!Thepenaltyformentioningthatdeadsonwasnolessthandeath.Themaidentoowascondemnedtodie,butthequeentookpityonherandhadhershutupinadungeoninstead.Therethegirlgavewaytodespair,refusingallfoodandpassinghernightsweeping.Atmidnight,asshesatthereweeping,sheheardthedoorboltsslideback,andinwalkedfivemen:fourofthemweresorcerersandthefifthwasthequeensson,theirprisoner,whomtheyweretakingoutforexercise."
Atthatmoment,theparrotwasinterruptedbyaservantbearingaletterforthemerchantsdaughter.Itwasfromtheking,whohadfinallymanagedtogetittoher.Butthegirlwaseagertohearwhathappenednextinthetale,whichhadreachedthemostexcitingpart,soshesaid,"Iwillreceivenolettersuntilmyfatherreturns.Parrot,goonwithyourstory."
Theservanttooktheletteraway,andtheparrotcontinued."Inthemorningthejailersnoticedtheprisonerhadnoteatenathingandtheytoldthequeen.Thequeensentforher,andthemaidentoldherthathersonwasaliveandinthedungeonaprisoneroffoursorcerers,whotookhimouteverynightatmidnightforexercise.Thequeendispatchedtwelvesoldiersarmedwithcrowbars,whokilledthesorcerersandfreedherson.Thenshegavehimasahusbandtothemaidenwhohadsavedhim."
Theserantknockedagain,insistingthattheyoungladyreadthekingsletter."Verywell.Nowthatthestoryisover,Icanreadtheletter,"saidthemerchantsdaughter.
"Butitsnotfinishedyet,theresstillsomemoretocome,"theparrothastenedtosay."Justlistentothis:themaidenwasnotinterestedinmarryingthequeensson.Shesettledforapurseofmoneyandamansoutfitandmovedontoanothercity.Thesonofthiscityskingwasill,andnodoctorknewhowtocurehim.Frommidnighttodawnheravedlikeonepossessed.Themaidenshowedupinmansattire,claimingtobeaforeigndoctorandaskingtobeleftwiththeyouthforonenight.Thefirstthingshedidwaslookunderthebedandfindatrapdoor.Sheopeneditandwentdownintoalongcorridor,attheendofwhichalampwasburning."
Atthatmomenttheservantknockedandannouncedtherewasanoldwomantoseetheyounglady,whoseauntsheclaimedtobe.(Itwasnotanaunt,buttheoldwomansentbytheking.)Butthemerchantsdaughterwasdyingtoknowtheoutcomeofthetale,soshesaidshewasreceivingnoone."Goon,parrot,goonwithyourstory."
Thustheparrotcontinued."Themaidenwalkeddowntothatlightandfoundanoldwomanboilingtheheartofthekingssoninakettle,inrevengeforthekingsexecutionofherson.Themaidenremovedtheheartfromthekettle,carrieditbacktothekingssontoeat,andhegotwell.Thekingsaid,Ipromisedhalfofmykingdomtothedoctorwhocuredmyson.Sinceyouareawoman,youwillmarrymysonandbecomequeen."
"Itsafinestory,"saidthemerchantsdaughter."Nowthatitsover,Icanreceivethatwomanwhoclaimstobemyaunt."
"Butitsnotquiteover,"saidtheparrot."Theresstillsomemoretocome.Justlistentothis.Themaidenindoctorsdisguisealsorefusedtomarrythatkingssonandwasofftoanothercitywhosekingssonwasunderaspellandspeechless.Shehidunderthebed;atmidnight,shesawtwowitchescomingthroughthewindowandremoveapebblefromtheyoungmansmouth,whereuponhecouldspeak.Beforeleaving,theyreplacedthepebble,andhewasagainmute."
Someoneknockedonthedoor,butthemerchantsdaughterwassoabsorbedinthestorythatshedidntevenheartheknock.Theparrotcontinued.
"Thenextnightwhenthewitchesputthepebbleonthebed,shegavethebedclothesajerkanditdroppedonthefloor.Thenshereachedoutforitandputitinherpocket.Atdawnthewitchescouldntfinditandhadtoflee.Thekingssonwaswell,andtheynamedthemaidenphysiciantothecourt."
Theknockingcontinued,andthemerchantsdaughterwasallreadytosay"Comein,"butfirstsheaskedtheparrot,"Doesthestorygoon,orisitover?"
"Itgoeson,"repliedtheparrot."Justlistentothis.Themaidenwasntinterestedinremainingasphysiciantothecourt,andmovedontoanothercity.Thetalktherewasthatthekingofthiscityhadgonemad.Hedfoundadollinthewoodsandfalleninlovewithit.Hestayedshutupinhisroomadmiringitandweepingbecauseitwasnotareallivemaiden.Thegirlwentbeforetheking.Thatismydool!sheexclaimed.Andthisismybride!repliedthekingonseeingthatshewasthedollslivingimage."
Therewasanotherknock,andtheparrotwasatatotallosstocontinuethestory."Justaminute,justaminute,theresstillatinybitmore,"hesaid,buthehadnoideawhattosaynext.
"Comeon,openup,itsyourfather,"saidthemerchantsvoice.
"Ah,hereweareattheendofthestory,"announcedtheparrot."Thekingmarriedthemaiden,andtheylivedhappilyeverafter."
Thegirlfinallyrantoopenthedoorandembracedherfatherjustbackfromhistrip.
"Welldone,mydaughter!"saidthemerchant."Iseeyouveremainedfaithfullyathome.Andhowistheparrotdoing?"
Theywenttotakealookatthebird,butinhisplacetheyfoundahandsomeyouth."Forgiveme,sir,"saidtheyouth."Iamakingwhoputonaparrotsdisguise,becauseIaminlovewithyourdaughter.Awareoftheintentionsofarivalkingtoabducther,Icameherebeneathaparrotsplumagetoentertainherinanhonorablemannerandatthesametimetopreventmyrivalfromcarryingouthisschemes.IbelieveIhavesucceededinbothpurposes,andthatIcannowaskforyourdaughtershandinmarriage."
Themerchantgavehisconsent.Hisdaughtermarriedthekingwhohadtoldherthetale,andtheotherkingdiedofrage.
(Monferrato)
NOTES:
"TheParrot"(Ilpappagallo)fromComparetti,2,Monferrato,Piedmont.
SeemyremarksonthisfolktaleintheIntroduction,p.xxx-xxxi.IhavetakenthelibertyofdoctoringthetwoversionspublishedbyComparetti——thePiedmonteseoneandaTuscanone,fromPisa(1)——andIheightenedthesuspensebyplacingtheinterruptionsatthecrucialmoments.
Copyright:ItalianFolktalesSelectedandRetoldbyItaloCalvino,
translatedbyGeorgeMartin,
PantheonBooks,NewYork1980