fromunderhimatnight。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)。Eitherth肉ghtheGreeksorth肉ghorientaltraditionthetaleenteredmedievalliterature，inthevarioustranslationsoftheBookoftheSevenSagesandotherItalian，English，andGermantexts。LiteraryversionsbyItalianRe奶ssancestorywritersarenume肉s。

Copyright:ItalianFolktalesSelectedandRetoldbyItaloCalvino，