Dicevano che alla Tre Fontane, prima di arrivare a Tiolo, sopra il bosco, viveva un serpente che aveva una cresta sul capo, due zampe davanti come quelle di un anatroccolo e sulla schiena una pelle increspata come quella di un topo; era grosso come un porcellino; era insomma un mostro, che mai s’era visto sopra la madre terra. Era capace di bruciare erbe e piante col suo alito e in sua presenza gli uomini, donne e ragazzi restavano incantati: e mentre erano incantati, il serpente succhiava loro sangue e vita. Due ragazzi che erano andati nel bosco a far legna di buon mattino, vedono sopra una balza di erba secca in alto, una cosa che si muove e credono che si tratti di una lepre. […] L’erba intorno era tutta bruciata e anche la cotica del prato per causa dell’alito del serpente. I ragazzi e il vecchio a poco a poco rinvennero, ma si sentirono male come se fossero stati avvelenati; fu dato loro del latte da bere per scacciare il veleno e poi li fecero correre e correre e camminare affinché non si addormentassero. Infine il malessere passò, ma restò loro indosso un grande spavento.
ENG | It is said that at Tre Fontane, before reaching Tiolo, overlooking the woods, lived a snake which had a crest on its head, with two front legs like those of a duckling and with rippled skin on its back like that of a mouse. It was as big as a piglet, and looked like a monster that no one had ever seen before on earth. It could burn grass and plants with its breath, and in its presence men, women and children were enchanted; and while they were enchanted, the snake sucked blood and life out of their bodies. Two boys who had gone into the woods early in the morning to get wood, saw something moving on a patch of dry grass, and thought it was a hare. […] The grass around them was all burnt by the snake's breath. The boys and the old man gradually came to their senses, but they felt sick as if they had been poisoned. They were given milk as an antidote and they were forced to run and walk so that they would not fall asleep. At last, the sickness was gone but they were left in shock.
ENG | It is said that at Tre Fontane, before reaching Tiolo, overlooking the woods, lived a snake which had a crest on its head, with two front legs like those of a duckling and with rippled skin on its back like that of a mouse. It was as big as a piglet, and looked like a monster that no one had ever seen before on earth. It could burn grass and plants with its breath, and in its presence men, women and children were enchanted; and while they were enchanted, the snake sucked blood and life out of their bodies. Two boys who had gone into the woods early in the morning to get wood, saw something moving on a patch of dry grass, and thought it was a hare. […] The grass around them was all burnt by the snake's breath. The boys and the old man gradually came to their senses, but they felt sick as if they had been poisoned. They were given milk as an antidote and they were forced to run and walk so that they would not fall asleep. At last, the sickness was gone but they were left in shock.
