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250

Ortoli, J. B. Frederic, Les Contes populaires de l'Ile de Corse. Paris, 1883. No. XIV. Pp. 88-108. (Narrated in 1881 by Marie Ortoli of Olmiccia-di-Tallano.)

"DITU MIGNIULELLU"
(Little Finger).

ABSTRACT

Heroine is the size of mother's little finger. Fairies begift her at birth with beauty and lovely voice. When sixteen years old, mother puts her under flower-pot. Prince hears lovely singing; takes heroine home in his pocket, promising to marry her. Strikes her with (1) bridle, (2) spur, (3) whip, for asking to go to hall--Fairy aid--Heroine transformed to ordinary stature-- Meeting-place (ball)--Token objects named--Threefold flight. Heroine escapes unseen in diminutive form--Lovesick prince-- Recognition food, made by D. M., contains ring given at ball-- Happy marriage.

TABULATION

(1) Woman longs for a child, if only the size of her little finger. A voice from the roof promises she shall have her wish. Child is called Ditu Migniulellu; at her birth fairies begift her with beauty; an exquisite voice; and a third says, since she must speak before singing, she shall speak from that moment. D. M. thanks fairies. Another fairy promises to aid her whenever she shall call for her. Mother is pleased with talking-baby; only regrets that she did not ask fairies to make her grow.-- (2) When she is sixteen years old, and still so tiny, mother begins to hate the sight of her, and one day when in garden puts her under a flower-pot. After a time D. M. begins to sing, and king's son, passing by, says, whoever it is singing he will marry her.

"I am the maiden
A.singing, a-singing,
I am the maiden
Who sings all the day.
My mother, so cruel,
Has thrown me in here." (Repeat last three lines.)

Whence comes the voice?

"She is not distant,
The beautiful maiden." (Repeat.)

Where can she be?

"She is here at thy feet,
The beautiful maiden." (Repeat.)

"There is nothing but this horrid flower-pot," says the prince, breaking it with a kick. D. M. comes out, and sings again to convince prince:

"Yes, I am
The lovely maiden, (Repeat.)
Who was singing
In the flower-pot." (Repeat.)

D. M. tells her name, and king's son puts her in his pocket, promising to marry her. On the way she calls out that she is being suffocated. He places her on his hand. She is presented to his mother as his future wife. Mother calls her a doll. Prince does not care much for her, but will keep her, as she does not take up much room. He grows worried at her small size; gives three days' ball to divert his mind.-- (3) He prepares to attend ball, and D. M. seeks him, asking to be taken. He refuses, and at length hits her with the bridle. D. M. returns weeping. Fairy appears, and with magic wand transforms her to tall, graceful girl clad in silk and gold. She is taken to ball in carriage drawn by butterflies. If she wants fairy sire is to clap her hands three times, and she can become small again in a moment by expressing the wish. Prince falls in love with her, and asks whence she comes. "From the Kingdom of bridle." She accepts dance with him, and in the middle of it thinks she would like to become D. M. again, and disappears amongst the crowd of dancers. Astonished prince searches in vain. Heroine goes to h room and undresses. When prince returns he is worried by her questions, and bids her rather hunt up all books at hand to find Kingdom of Bridle. She fetches prince's mother, who comes laden with hooks, which prince searches in vain.-- (4) Next day D. M. asks to be taken to ball, and prince pushes her With his spur and knocks her down from the stirrup. She summons fairy, who equips her for the ball. Tells prince she comes from "Kingdom of Spur". He would ask her in marriage, and gives her ring as souvenir. She says she thought him already married. He confesses his engagement to D. M., whom he does not wish to forsake because of her lovely singing; but she will be his favourite wife, and D. M. can amuse them occasionally. Heroine transforms herself and leaves him. King's son again searches for kingdom.-- (5) At third ball soldiers are stationed to guard doors. D. M. is struck with whip. Fairy dresses her in blue with collar of diamonds and waistband of gold. She disappears from prince as before. Soldiers are questioned, but no one has seen her leave.-- (6) Prince falls ill, and will neither eat nor drink. D. M. begs to be allowed to make him a cake, and then she will help him find his lost lady-love. Prince drives her away, wondering how she has learnt what only fairies can know.-- (7) He need only promise to eat cake. D. M. puts ring inside; prince recognises it, calls mother, and rejoices, saying the lady must be in the palace. Meanwhile D. M., transformed and beautiful, presents herself before prince, who begs her to leave him no more, declaring his love for her. But she says he has often repulsed her, even struck her, and tells the occasions. "Then you are D. M.! . . . And you sing as well as ever?"-- (8) They are married.

Cox, Marian Roalfe. Cinderella: Three Hundred and Forty-five Variants of Cinderella, Catskin, and Cap O' Rushes, abstracted and tabulated. London: David Nutt for the Folklore Society, 1893.

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