CrackandCrook克利克和克罗克CrackandCrookInadistanttowntherewasafamousthiefknownasCrack,whomnobodyhadeverbeenabletocatchThemainambitionofthisCrackwastomeetCrook,anothernotoriousthief,andformapartnershipwithhimOnedayasCrackwaseatinglunchatthetavernacrossthetablefromastranger,hewenttolookathiswatchandfounditmissingTheonlypersoninthisworldwhocouldhavetakenitwithoutmyknowledge,hethought,isCrookSowhatdidCrackdobutturnrightaroundandstealCrookspurseWhenthestrangergotreadytopayforhislunch,hefoundhispursegoneandsaidtohistablecompanion,Well,well,youmustbeCrackAndyoumustbeCrookRightFine,wellworktogetherTheywenttothecityandmadeforthekingstreasury,whichwascompletelysurroundedbyguardsThethievesthereforeduganundergroundtunnelintothetreasuryandstoleeverythingSurveyinghisloss,thekinghadnoideahowhemightcatchtherobbersHewenttoamannamedSnare,whohadbeenputinprisonforstealing,andsaid,Ifyoucantellmewhocommittedthisrobbery,IllsetyoufreeandmakeyouamarquisSnarereplied,ItcanbenoneotherthanCrackorCrook,orbothofthemtogether,sincetheyarethemostnotoriousthievesaliveButIlltellyouhowyoucancatchthemHavethepriceofmeatraisedtoonehundreddollarsapoundThepersonwhopaysthatmuchforitwillbeyourthiefThekinghadthepriceofmeatraisedtoonehundreddollarsapound,andeverybodystoppedbuyingmeatFinallyitwasreportedthatafriarhadgonetoacertainbutcherandboughtmeatSnaresaid,ThathadtobeCrackorCrookindisguiseIllnowdisguisemyselfandgoaroundtothehousesbeggingIfanybodygivesmemeat,Illmakearedmarkonthefrontdoor,andyourguardscangoandarrestthethievesButwhenhemadearedmarkonCrackshouse,thethiefsawitandwentandmarkedalltheotherdoorsinthecitywithred,sotherewasnotellingintheendwhereCrackandCrooklivedSnaresaidtotheking,DidntItellyoutheywerefoxy?ButtheressomeoneelsefoxierthantheyareHeresthenextthingtodo:putatubofboilingpitchatthebottomofthetreasurystepsWhoevergoesdowntostealwillfallrightintoit,andhisdeadbodywillgivehimawayCrackandCrookhadrunoutofmoneyinthemeantimeanddecidedtogobacktothetreasuryformoreCrookwentinfirst,butitwasdark,andhefellintothetubCrackcamealongandtriedtopullhisfriendsbodyoutofthepitch,butitstuckfastinthetubHethencutofftheheadandcarrieditawayThenextdaythekingwenttoseeifhehadcaughtthethiefThistimewegothim!Wegothim!Butthecorpsehadnohead,sotheywerenonethewiseraboutthethieforanyaccompliceshemighthavehadSnaresaid,Theresonemorethingwecando:havethedeadmandraggedthroughthecitybytwohorsesThehousewhereyouhearsomeoneweepinghastobethethiefshouseIneffect,whenCrookswifelookedoutthewindowandsawherhusbandsbodybeingdraggedthroughthestreet,shebeganscreamingandcryingButCrackwasthereandknewrightawaythatwouldbetheirundoingHethereforestartedsmashingdishesrightandleftandthrashingthepoorwomanatthesametimeAttractedbyallthatscreaming,theguardscameinandfoundamanbeatinghiswifeforbreakingupallthedishesinthehouseThekingthenhadadecreepostedoneverystreetcornerthathewouldpardonthethiefwhohadrobbedhim,ifthethiefnowmanagedtostealthesheetsoutfromunderhimatnightCrackcameforwardandsaidhecoulddoitThatnightthekingundressedandwenttobedwithhisguntowaitforthethiefCrackgotadeadbodyfromagravedigger,dresseditinhisownclothes,andcarriedittotheroofoftheroyalpalaceAtmidnightthecadaver,heldbyarope,wasdanglingbeforethekingswindowsThinkingitwasCrack,thekingfiredoneshotandwatchedhimfall,cordandallHerandownstairstoseeifhewasdeadWhilethekingwasgone,CrackslippedintohisroomandstolethesheetsHewasthereforepardoned,andsothathewouldnthavetostealanylonger,thekingmarriedhisdaughtertohim(Monferrato)NOTES:CrackandCrook(CriceCroc)fromComparetti,13,Monferrato,PiedmontThisisoneoftheoldestandmostfamoustales,whichhasoccupiedtheattentionofscholarsforgenerationsThePiedmonteseversionIfollowedisfaithfultotheoldesttraditionandincludesthecuriouscharacter-namesandabriskdoseofrusticcunningHerodotus(Histories)tellsindetailaboutEgyptianKingRhampsinitusstreasure,chiefsourceofthevastnarrativetraditionconcerningwilyrobbersputtothetestbyarulerThebeheadingofacadaversoitwillnotberecognizedisalsoencounteredinPausanias,whopresentsthemythofTrophoniusandAgamede