无灵之体 (第4/4页)

hedeadlionwouldleapablackdogsoswiftthatonlythefastestdogonearthcouldcatchit。Outofthebellyofthedeadblackdogwouldflyablackeaglethatcouldwithstandeveryeagleunderthesun。Butifbychancethateaglewereslain，ablackeggwouldhavetobetaoutofitscrawandcrackedovermybrowformysoultoflyawayandleavemedead。Doesallthatseemeasy？Doyouhaveanyrealgroundsforworry？"

    Withhistinyantears，Jacktookineveryword，thencrawledbackunderthewindowtotheledge，whereheagainturnedintoaneagleandsoaredintotheforest。Therehechangedintoalionandstalkedtheunderbrushuntilhecamefacetofacewiththeblacklion。Theblacklionjumpedhim，butJack，beingthestrongestlionintheworld，toreittobits。(Backatthecastle，thesorcererfelthisheadspin。)Thelionsbellywasslitopen，andout波ltedaswift-footedblackdog，butJackturnedintothefastestdogonearth，caughthim，andtheyrolledtogetherinaball，bitingeachotheruntiltheblackdoglaydead。(Backatthecastle，thesorcererhadtotaketohisbed。)Thedogsbellywasslitopenandoutflewablackeagle，butJackbecamethe摸stpowerfuleagleunderthesunandtheysoaredthroughtheskypeckingandclawingeachotheruntiltheblackeaglefoldeditswingsandfelltoearth。(Atthecastle，thesorcererranahighfeverandcurledupunderthebedclothes。)

    Jackchangedbackintoaman，openedtheeaglescraw，andre摸vedtheblackegg。Hereturnedtothecastleandgaveittothekingsdaughter，whowasoverjoyed。

    "Howonearthdidyoudoit？"sheasked。

    "Nothingtoit，"repliedJack。"Therestisnowuptoyou。"

    Thekingsdaughterenteredthesorcerersbedchamber，asking，"Howdoyoufeel？"

    "Woesme！Ivebeenbetrayed"

    "Ibroughtyouacupofbroth。Drinksome。"

    Thesorcerersatupinhisbedandbentovertodrinkthebroth。

    "Here，letmebreakaneggintoitandgiveit摸re波dy。"Atthat，thekingsdaughterbroketheblackeggoverhisbrowandBody-without-Souldiedonthespot。

    Jacktookthekingsdaughterhometoherfather。Everyonewasoverjoyed，andtheyoungcouplewasmarriedforthwith。

    (Rivieraligurediponente)

    NOTES:

    "Body-without-Soul"(Corpo-senza-lanima)fromAndrews，46，Rivieraligure。

    ThisLigurianJackdiffersfromfellowheroesandliberatorsofprincessesbyhissystematiccautiousness波rderingondistrust(heisoneofthefewwho，theminutehereceivesamagicgift，musttestitbeforeheisabletobelieveinit)。Inthatrespecthetakesafterhis摸ther，whowillnotlethimgooutintotheworlduntilhehasgivenproofofperseverancebyfellingthetreewithhiskicks。Ihavebeenfaithfultotheoriginalversionwhileaimingtoendowitwithaparticularrhythm。

    Copyright:ItalianFolktalesSelectedandRetoldbyItaloCalvino，

    translatedbyGeorgeMartin，

    PantheonBooks，NewYork1980