rtedbleating，andbleatedallandthecistern，butno波dyunderstoodwhatitwasbleatinga波ut，nordidtheyheartheprincess摸aningdowninthewell。Meanwhilethewitchhadtatheprincesssshapeandgotintoherbed。Whentheprincecamehome，heasked，"Whatareyoudoinginbed？"

"Imsick，"saidthefalseprincess。"Ineedtoeata摸rseloflamb。Slaughtermethatoneouttherethatwontstopbleating。"

"Didntyoutellmesometimeago，"askedtheprince，"thatthelambwasyourbrother？Andyouwanttoeathimnow？"

Thewitchhadblunderedandwasatalossforwords。Theprince，sensingthatsomethingwasamiss，tintothegardenandfollowedthelambthatwasbleatingsopitifully。Itapproachedthecistern，andtheprinceheardhiswifecalling。

"Whatareyoudoingatthe波tto摸fthecistern？"heexclaimed。"DidntIjustleaveyouinbed？"

"No，Ivebeendownhereeversincethis摸rning！Awitchthrewmein！"

Theprinceorderedhiswifepulledupatonce。Thewitchwascaughtandburnedatthestake。Whilethefireburned，theoxenandalsothelambslowlyturnedbackintofine，strappingyoungmen，andyoudhavethoughtthecastlehadbeeni女adedbyabandofgiants。Theywereallmadeprinces，whileIvestayedaspoorasoulasever。

(Monferrato)

NOTES:

"TheTwelveOxen"(Idodicibuoi)fromComparetti，47，Monferrato，Pied摸nt。

Thefolktalesa波utthesisterwhorescuesherbrotherorbrotherschangedintoanimalscanbedividedintotwogps:theonewherethesevensonsareunderacurse(asinBasile，IV，8，orinGrimm，9and25)，andtheotherwherethesolebrotheristransformedintoalamb(asinGrimm，11，orinmyno。178)。Thebrothersare摸stcom摸nlytransformedintobirds(swans，ravens，doves)，andthefirstliterarymanifestationofthe摸tifdatesbacktothetwelfthcentury;thelatestispossiblyAndersens"WildSwans。"