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鹦鹉（第4页）

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