The Collected Sicilian Folk and Fairy Tales of Giuseppe Pitrè Volume 1 & 2 Figure 1. Photo of Giuseppe Pitrè as an older man. Figure 11. Drawing of Giuseppe Pitrè. The Collected Sicilian Folk and Fairy Tales of Giuseppe Pitrè Volume 1 & 2 Translated and Edited by Jack Zipes and Joseph Russo Illustrated by Carmelo Lettere First published 2009 by Routledge 270 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10016 Simultaneously published in the UK by Routledge 2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business This edition published in the Taylor & Francis e-Library, 2008. “To purchase your own copy of this or any of Taylor & Francis or Routledge’s collection of thousands of eBooks please go to www.eBookstore.tandf.co.uk.” © 2009 Taylor & Francis All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilized in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers. Trademark Notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation without intent to infringe. Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Pitrè, Giuseppe, 1841–1916. [Selections. English 2008] The collected Sicilian folk and fairy tales of Giuseppe Pitrè / translated and edited by Jack Zipes and Joseph Russo ; illustrated by Carmelo Lettere. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978–0–415–98032–6 (the set. : alk. paper) – ISBN 978–0–415–98030–2 (volume 1 : alk. paper) – ISBN 978–0–415–98031–9 (volume 2 : alk. paper) 1. Tales – Italy – Sicily. 2. Folklore – Italy – Sicily. I. Zipes, Jack David. II. Russo, Joseph. III. Title. GR177.S5P425 2008 398.209458 – dc22 2007051729 ISBN 0-203-92790-7 Master e-book ISBN ISBN10: 0–415–98030–5 (hbk volume 1) ISBN10: 0–415–98031–3 (hbk volume 2) ISBN10: 0–415–98032–1 (hbk 2-volume set) ISBN10: 0–203–92790–7 (ebk 2-volume set) ISBN13: 978–0–415–98030–2 (hbk volume 1) ISBN13: 978–0–415–98031–9 (hbk volume 2) ISBN13: 978–0–415–98032–6 (hbk 2-volume set) ISBN13: 978–0–203–92790–8 (ebk 2-volume set) To the memory of my grandfather, Vittorio Pollina, who first told me some of these tales, and to my grandchildren, Maisie Wise Guzi and Phineas Butterworth O’Brien, to whom I pass them on. Joseph Russo To Pier Carlo Bontempelli, friend and bodyguard, and to my sisters, Phyllis Lakow and Iris Egan, great storytellers in their own right. Jack Zipes Contents Preface xiv Acknowledgments xvi The Indomitable Giuseppe Pitrè 1 Jack Zipes The Sicilian Folk Tales of Giuseppe Pitrè 21 Joseph Russo I. Popular Fairy Tales 33 1. The Tale Told Time and Again—Lu cuntu di “Si raccunta” 35 2. The Parrot with Three Tales to Tell—Lu pappagaddu chi cunta tri cunti 37 3. The King of Spain’s Daughters—Li figghi di lu Re di Spagna 48 4. Pretty Poor-Girl—Povira-bedda 50 5. The Pot of Basil—La grasta di lu basilicò 52 6. Catarina the Wise—Catarina la sapienti 59 7. The Count’s Sister—La soru di lu conti 65 8. The Talking Belly—La panza chi parra 68 9. The Three Cottages—Li tri casini 74 10. Water and Salt—L’acqua e lu sali 75 11. My Three Beautiful Crowns—Li tri belli curuni mei 78 12. King Dead Horse—Lu Re Cavaddu-mortu 81 13. Snow White, Flaming Red—Bianca-comu-nivi-russa-comu-focu 86 14. Mandruni and Mandruna—Mandruni e Mandruna 90 15. The King of Spain—Lu Re di Spagna 96 16. The Three Obedient Children—Li tri figghi obbidienti 101 17. Marvizia—Marvizia 104 18. The King of Love—Lu Re d’amuri 112 19. The Slave—Lu scavu 120 20. The Old Woman of the Garden—La vecchia di l’ortu 123 21. The Marriage of a Queen with a Robber—Lu spunsaliziu di ’na riggina c’un latru 127 22. The Seven Robbers—Li setti latri 131 23. The Thirteen Bandits—Li tridici sbannuti 135 vii viii Contents 24. White Onion—Bianca cipudda 138 25. The Silversmith—L’arginteri 140 26. Pietro the Farm Steward—Petru lu massariotu 144 27. Peppi, Who Wandered Out into the World—Peppi, spersu pri lu munnu 150 28. The Magic Purse, Cloak, and Horn—La vurza, lu firriolu e lu cornu ’nfatatu 158 29. The Poor Shoemaker Dying of Hunger—Lu scarpareddu mortu di fami 163 30. The Little Nun—La munachedda 166 31. The Empress Trebisonna—La ’Mperatrici Trebisonna 168 32. King Animmulu—Lu Re d’Anìmmulu 171 33. Tridicinu—Tridicinu 176 34. The Enchanted Horse—Lu cavaddu ’nfatatu 180 35. The Story of a Queen—Lu cuntu di ’na riggina 183 36. The Herb-Gatherer’s Daughters—Li figghi di lu cavuliciddaru 189 37. Rosemary—Rosamarina 198 38. The Magic Balls—Li palli magichi 201 39. The Empress Rosina—Rusina ’Mperatrici 205 40. The Little Mouse with the Stinky Tail—Lu surciteddu cu la cuda fitusa 209 41. The Little Lamb—La picuredda 213 42. Date, Oh Beautiful Date—Gràttula-Beddàtula 214 43. Pilusedda—Pilusedda 223 44. The Little Magpie—La ciaulidda 227 45. The Doe—La cerva 228 46. The Humpback—La jimmuruta 229 47. The Tailor and the Dung-Maiden—Lu custrïeri 232 48. Angelica’s Ring—L’aneddu d’Ancelica 234 49. The Barber’s Clock—Lu roggiu di lu varveri 235 50. Give Me the Veil!—Dammi lu velu! 238 51. The Little Monk—Lu munacheddu 242 52. The Tuft of Wild Beet—La troffa di la razza 243 53. Virgil the Sorcerer—Lu magu Virgillu 248 54. The Devil—Lu diavulu Zuppiddu 251 55. The Fairy Princess’s Midwife—La mammana di la Principissa-fata 253 56. The Serpent—Lu sirpenti 255 57. Child Margarita—La ’nfanti Margarita 260 58. Sun, Pearl, and Moon—Suli, Perna e Anna 263 Contents ix 59. Biancuciuri’s Daughter—La figghia di Biancuciuri 268 60. Ciciruni—Ciciruni 273 61. Baldellone—Burdilluni 279 62. The Two Sisters—Li dui soru 287 63. Mamma-draga the Ogress—La Mamma-dràa 289 64. The Devils and the Shoemaker—Lu scarparu e li diavuli 292 65. The Two Good Friends—Li dui cumpari 294 66. The Blood Sausage—Lu sangunazzu 296 67. The Fairy Who Wouldn’t Speak—La fata muta 299 68. The Ragamuffin—Lu tignusu 302 69. The Fisherman—Lu piscaturi 304 70. Filippeddu—Filippeddu 309 71. The Cyclops—Lu ciclòpu 313 72. The Daughter of the Merchant of Palermo—La figghia di lu mircanti di Palermu 318 73. White Flower—Ervabianca 320 74. The King of Spain and the English Lord—Lu Re di Spagna e lu milordu ’nglisi 325 75. The Jewel-Studded Boot—La stivala 333 76. The Left Hand Squire—Lu braccieri di manu manca 339 77. The Great Narbuni—Lu gran Narbuni 342 78. Old Man Truth—Lu zu Viritati 346 79. The King of Naples—Lu Re di Napuli 348 80. The Cistern—La jisterna 351 81. The Magic Lantern—La lanterna magica 356 82. The Emperor Scursuni—Lu ’Mperaturi Scursuni 358 83. The Rogue—Lu malacunnutta 362 84. The Beauty of the Seven Mountains of Gold—La bedda di li setti muntagni d’oru 372 85. The Merchant—Lu mircanti 378 86. The Unfortunate Princess—Sfurtuna 382 87. Don Giovanni Misiranti—Don Giuvanni Misiranti 387 88. Count Joseph Pear—Don Giuseppi Piru 391 89. The Enchanted Dog—Lu cani ’nfatatu 396 90. The Prince and the Charcoal Burner—Lu principi e lu carbunaru 398 91. The Old Miser—Lu vecchiu avaru 402 92. The Prince of Messina—Lu Principi di Missina 404 93. The Gluttonous Wife—La ghiuttuna 407 94. The Seven Little Heads—Li setti tistuzzi 409 95. The Symphonic Eagle—L’acula chi sona 411