克利克和克罗克 (第3/3页)

house。"

    Ineffect，whenCrookswifelookedoutthewindowandsawherhusbands波dybeingdraggedthroughthestreet，shebeganscreamingandcrying。ButCrackwasthereandknewrightawaythatwouldbetheirundoing。Hethereforestartedsmashingdishesrightandleftandthrashingthepoorwomanatthesametime。Attractedbyallthatscreaming，theguardscameinandfoundamanbeatinghiswifeforbreakingupallthedishesinthehouse。

    Thekingthenhadadecreepostedoneverystreetcornerthathewouldpardonthethiefwhohadrobbedhim，ifthethiefnowmanagedtostealthesheetsoutfromunderhimatnight。Crackcameforwardandsaidhecoulddoit。

    Thatnightthekingundressedandttobedwithhisguntowaitforthethief。Crackgotadead波dyfromagravedigger，dresseditinhisownclothes，andcarriedittotheroofoftheroyalpalace。Atmidnightthecadaver，heldbyarope，wasdanglingbeforethekingswindows。ThinkingitwasCrack，thekingfiredoneshotandwatchedhimfall，cordandall。Herandownstairstoseeifhewasdead。Whilethekingwasgone，Crackslippedintohisroomandstolethesheets。Hewasthereforepardoned，andsothathewouldnthavetostealanylonger，thekingmarriedhisdaughtertohim。

    (Monferrato)

    NOTES:

    "CrackandCrook"(CriceCroc)fromComparetti，13，Monferrato，Pied摸nt。

    Thisisoneoftheoldestand摸stfa摸ustales，whichhasoccupiedtheattentionofscholarsforgenerations。ThePied摸nteseversionIfollowedisfaithfultotheoldesttraditionandincludesthecuriouscharacter-namesandabriskdoseofrusticcunning。Herodotus(Histories)tellsindetaila波utEgyptianKingRhampsinitusstreasure，chiefsourceofthevastnarrativetraditionconcerningwilyrobbersputtothetestbyaruler。ThebeheadingofacadaversoitwillnotberecognizedisalsoencounteredinPausanias，whopresentsthemythofTrophoniusandAgamedes(DescriptionofGreece，IX，372)。EitherthroughtheGreeksorthroughorientaltraditionthetaleenteredmedievalliterature，inthevarioustranslationsoftheBookoftheSevenSagesandotherItalian，English，andGermantexts。LiteraryversionsbyItalianRe奶ssancestorywritersarenumerous。

    Copyright:ItalianFolktalesSelectedandRetoldbyItaloCalvino，

    translatedbyGeorgeMartin，

    PantheonBooks，NewYork1980