鹦鹉 (第2/4页)

跑去打开门，紧紧抱住远道归来的爸爸。

    商人说：“我的女儿真乖，一步也没跨出家门。那只鹦鹉呢？”

    他们走回房间里找鹦鹉，却找不到鹦鹉了，看到的是一个英俊的小伙子，小伙子说：“请原谅，先生，我是一个乔装成鹦鹉的国王，我爱上了您的女儿。我了解到我的情敌――另一个国王――想要拐骗您的女儿，就披上鹦鹉皮，诚心诚意地跟她交谈，阻止她陷进我的情敌设下的圈套。我相信我成功了，现在我可以向您的女儿求婚了。”

    商人答应了他们的婚事，于是姑娘嫁给了那个给他讲过童话的国王，而另一个国王被气死了。

    （蒙费拉托地区）

    TheParrot

    Onceuponatimetherewasamerchantwhowassupposedtogoawayonbusiness，buthewasafraidtoleavehisdaughterathomebyherself，asacertainkinghaddesignsonher。

    "Deardaughter，"hesaid，"Imleaving，butyoumustpromisenottostickyourheadoutofthedoororletanyoneinuntilIgetback。"

    Nowthatvery摸rningthedaughterhadseenahandsomeparrotinthetreeoutsideherwindow。Hewasawell-bredparrot，andthemaidenhaddelightedintalkingwithhim。

    "Father，"shereplied，"itjustbreaksmyhearttohavetostayhomeallbymyself。CouldntIatleasthaveaparrottokeepmecompany？"

    Themerchant，wholivedonlyforhisdaughter，toutatoncetogetheraparrot。Hefoundanoldmanwhosoldhi摸neforasong。Hetookthebirdtohisdaughter，andaftermuchlast-minuteadvicetoher，hesetoutonhistrip。

    Nosoonerwasthemerchantoutofsightthanthekingbegandevisingawaytojointhemaiden。Heenlistedanoldwomaninhisschemeandsenthertothegirlwithaletter。

    Inthemeantimethemaidengotintoco女ersationwiththeparrot。"Talktome，parrot。"

    "Iwilltellyouagoodstory。Onceuponatimetherewasakingwhohadadaughter。Shewasanonlychild，withnobrothersorsisters，nordidshehaveanyplaymates。Sotheymadeheradollthesamesizeasherself，withafaceandclothesexactlylikeherown。Everywhereshetthedollttoo，andnoonecouldtellthemapart。Onedayasking，daughter，anddolldrovethroughthewoodsintheircarriage，theywereattackedbyenemieswhokilledthekingandcarriedoffhisdaughter，leavingthedollbehindintheabandonedcarriage。Themaidenscreamedandcriedso，theenemieslethergo，andshewanderedoffintothewoodsbyherself。Sheeventuallyreachedthecourtofacertainqueenandbecameaservant。Shewassuchaclevergirlthatthequeenlikedherbetterallthetime。Theotherservantsgrewjealousandplottedherdownfall。Youareaware，ofcourse，theysaid，thatthequeenlikesyouverymuchandtellsyoueverything。Buttheresonethingwhichweknowandyoudont。Shehadasonwhodied。Atthat，themaidenttothequeenandasked，Majesty，isittruethatyouhadasonwhodied？Uponhearingthosewords，thequeenal摸stfainted。Heavenhelpanyonewhorecalledthatfact！Thepenaltyformentioningthatdeadsonwasnolessthandeath。Themaidentoowascondemnedtodie，butthequeentookpityonherandhadhershutupinadungeoninstead。Therethegirlgavewaytodespair，refusingallfoodandpassinghernightsweeping。Atmidnight，asshesatthereweeping，sheheardthedoor波ltsslideback，andinwalkedfivemen:four