书城文学欧洲的传说
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第25章 LITTLE BROTHER BIT(2)

When the carpenter heard this he became furious, and after exchanging a few more angry words he turned the bricklayer out of the house, and threatened him if he dared show his face again with such a disgraceful proposal。

The bricklayer, full of shame and anger, returned home。When Little Brother Bit asked him what had happened, although he knew exactly what had passed between his father and the carpenter, the father told him how he had been abused by the carpenter and had been turned out of the house。Little Brother Bit said:“Do not mind him, but what has been agreed upon will have to be carried out。We must have justice。You go to the King and lay your complaint before him。”

The next day the bricklayer went to the King, who was sitting in the Judgment Hall dispensing justice to the people。

When he saw the bricklayer he asked him what was his request。The bricklayer laid the case before the King, who sent immediately for the carpenter to appear before him at the judgment seat。

The carpenter came in, and the King asked him:“Have you signed this agreement?”

“Yes, your Majesty,”he replied。

“Is that your signature?”

“Yes, your Majesty。”

“Why do you not honour your signature and keep your agreement?”

The carpenter then began telling the whole story, but the King had no patience with him, and turning furiously on him he said:“Enough! You have made an agreement, now you must carry it out, and if you dare disobey me, where your feet stand your head will be。”

When the carpenter heard what the King said, he promised to carry out his agreement, and with much vexation and great annoyance and sorrow arranged for the wedding。

It took place at the appointed time, and Little Brother Bit took his lovely bride to the house which he had built for her at the extreme end of the village。It looked like a tumbled-down hovel, and the poor girl was broken-hearted and cried her eyes out over the miserable life that had been arranged for her by her father’s foolishness, but to which, as a good child, she had submitted。So they entered that house。No sooner had she crossed the threshold than she thought that she had been bewitched。She found herself in a wonderful palace, beautifully adorned with gold and jewels and fine carpets and grand tables and all the comforts of the world; for, mark you, Little Brother Bit was an enchanted being, and the time was drawing nigh when the charm would be broken。

Who can describe the joy of the girl when, in addition to this, Little Brother Bit, turning a somersault three times, stood before her the most handsome and comely youth she had ever set eyes upon。

He told her:“Now that you have come and have been willing to marry Little Brother Bit the spell which has been laid upon me from my birth will soon be broken, but I have still to live in that misshapen form for another thirty days。Beware therefore lest you talk to anyone or tell anyone about me and the spell that is upon me, for, if you do so, you will lose me。”

The girl promised faithfully to keep the secret, for she did not want to lose him for anything in the world。

But women are women, it is no good imagining anything else-long skirt and short mind。

When her mother saw how happy she was, she could not understand what had come over her daughter。She felt that there must be something behind, and she pressed her daughter to tell her the secret。She used threats, she used caresses, and all in vain, but she redoubled her efforts from day to day in the hope of squeezing it out of her daughter。

This went on for twenty-nine days, the girl stoutly resisting the blandishments of her mother。

When the twenty-ninth day was coming to an end, she thought,“There is only one day more, and the spell is practically broken。It would therefore not matter if I tell my mother now my husband’s secret,”and she told it to her。

No sooner had she done it than Little Brother Bit stood before her with a purse in his hand, and he said to her:

“Unfortunate young woman, you have ruined me and yourself。You have lost me and I have lost you。I must go where you will never find me, or perchance you will not be able to find me, and I must leave you, but I leave you now this purse of money。It will always be full。You will never be wanting for anything, for whatever you wish you will be able to purchase。”With these words he disappeared。

In vain the young wife cried and lamented and bewailed her weakness。It was too late; Little Brother Bit had gone, and she knew not where she could find him。

Now let us leave her to her lamentation。

After some years had passed, two beggars, one lame and one blind, were on a day walking together upon the shores of the sea。They had been walking a long way and were very hungry, and all the blind man had to eat was a hard crust of bread which he pulled out of his pocket and started nibbling。But by chance the other knocked his elbow, and the crust of bread dropped into the sea。

When he heard the splash he said to the lame one,“Let us go and catch the crust of bread that is floating upon the waves;”but by their movement they drove it further and further into the sea, the blind one holding fast by the lame, and the other limping along。Meanwhile the bread being in the water got soaked, and becoming heavy it sank to the bottom。

When the lame one saw it disappear, he shouted to the blind man that the bread had gone。The blind man at once turned on the lame and accused him of having lost his bread。So they went on arguing and quarrelling。One word led to another, and it ended in blows。They were fighting one another in the water。