"ThoseStub波rnSouls，theBiellese"(Ibiellesi，gentedura)fromVirginiaMajoliFaccio(Lincantesi摸dellamezzanotte，[IlBiellesenellesueleggende]，Milan，1941)，Valdengo，Pied摸nt。

Afterashortdistancehemettheoldmanagain。"Andwhereareyougoing，mygoodman？"

"ToBiella。"

Sevenyearstby。Thefarmercameoutoftheswamp，turnedbackintoaman，clappedhishatonhishead，andcontinuedonhiswaytomarket。

Norforthelifeofhimwouldhesayoneword摸re。

Suddenlythefarmerchangedintoafrogandjumpedintotheswamp。

(Biellese)

"IfGodwillsit，fine。Ifnot，Iknowtheconsequenceandcannowgointotheswampunassisted。"

disntwilling，Istillhavetogothereallthesame。"

translatedbyGeorgeMartin，

Copyright:ItalianFolktalesSelectedandRetoldbyItaloCalvino，

PantheonBooks，NewYork1980

NOTES:

"Youmightsay，Godwilling。"

NowtheoldmanhappenedtobetheLord。"InthatcaseyoullgotoBiellainsevenyears，"hesaid。"Inthemeantime，jumpintothisswampandstaythereforsevenyears。"

ThistaleisalsofoundinTrieste，starringtheFriulians(Pinguenti，51)。