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《意大利童话》七!

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    七!&意大利童话
    从前有一对母女,女儿又高又胖,吃得又多。妈妈端上的肉汁菜汤,她吃了一盘、两盘、三盘,还不停地要。而妈妈边为她盛,边说:“三!……四!……五!……”当女儿要第七盘汤的时候,妈妈没有盛,而是用棍子敲了一下女儿的头,大喊:“七!”
    一个穿着体面的小伙子从这里路过,从窗外看见妈妈打着女儿喊:“七!”
    看见这个高大丰满的姑娘挺漂亮,小伙子一下子就喜欢上了,他走进姑娘的家,问道:“七个什么?”
    妈妈因为自己有这么个贪吃的女儿而羞愧,就说:“七个线槌啊!我的女儿是个工作狂,她甚至能到羊身上去纺毛线!这不,今天早上她已经纺了七槌线了,可是还没完没了地干!为了让她停手,我才打了她一下!”
    小伙子说:“要是这样,您把她交给我吧,我试试她,看她是不是真的这么能干,如果是真的,我就娶她为妻。”
    小伙子把她领回家,关进一间屋子,里面堆满了要纺的麻,他说:“我是一个船长,马上要出海。如果我出海回来你已经纺好这些线,我就娶你。”
    房间里还有很多漂亮的衣服和珠宝,因为船长非常有钱。“如果你成为我的妻子,这些东西就是你的了。”说完,他就走了。
    姑娘每天对着镜子试那些衣服和珠宝,让家里的仆人为她做吃的。而麻还在那里没有纺。剩下最后一天了,明天船长就回来了,姑娘想到永远不会成为船长的新娘了,就失望地哭了起来。正当她失望哭泣的时候,一个破布口袋从窗口飞落进房间。破布口袋站立起来,原来是一个长着长眉毛的老妇人。老妇人说:“你别怕,我是来帮你的。你把线分成缕,我来替你纺。”
    从没见过比这老妇人更快的纺织女了,她只用了一刻钟,所有的麻都被纺好了。但是,越纺,她的眉毛长得越长,长过了鼻子,长过了下巴,最后长得超过了一掌长,而且她的眼皮也跟着变长了。
    当活干完了,姑娘说:“好心的夫人,我怎么才能报答您呢?”
    “我不想要报答,你跟船长结婚的时候,能邀请我参加结婚宴会,我就很满足了。”
    “那我怎么邀请你呢?”
    “你只要念:‘哥隆比娜!’我就会来。不过,我可提醒你,千万别忘记我的名字。如果忘了,我就不会再帮助你了。你也就完了。”
    第二天船长回来了,看到所有的麻都纺好了,就说:“你真能干,我相信你就是我想娶的新娘。这是我为你买回来的珠宝和衣服。但我还必须再出去一次。我们来试第二次。这里的麻有上次的两倍,当我回来的时候,你能把它纺完,我就会跟你结婚。”
    像上次一样,姑娘每天试着不同的珠宝和衣服,吃着汤和面包,这样打发着时间。又到了最后一天,一根线也没纺。她又哭了起来,这时她听到从烟囱上掉下来一个东西,一看是一个破布包滚到屋子里来了。破布包站了起来,原来是一个耷拉着嘴唇的老妇人。这个老妇人也愿意帮助她,开始帮她纺线,纺得比上次那个老妇人还快,但是越纺,她的嘴唇长得越长,她只用了半小时就把所有的麻纺完了。老妇人同样不要回报,只要求姑娘邀请她参加婚宴。“你只要念:‘哥隆巴拉’我就会出现。你千万别忘记我的名字。不然我给你的帮助就会失效,你小心记着!”
    船长回来了,还没进门就问:“你全都纺完了吗?”
    姑娘说:“咳,早就完了!”
    “这是给你带回来的珠宝和衣服。这一次,如果我第三次出海回来的时候,你能纺完比上两次都多的麻,我向你保证马上举行婚礼。”
    这一次也跟以前一样,姑娘一根线也没纺,当只剩最后一天的时候,从屋檐下掉下来一个破布包,一个露着牙齿的老妇人从破布包里面走了出来。她开始替姑娘纺线,她纺得很快,而且越纺越快,并且她的牙齿就长得越长。
    老妇人说:“你想邀请我参加你的婚宴,就必须喊:‘哥隆布恩!’不过你要是忘了我的名字,你会后悔今天遇见了我。”
    船长回来的时候,看到所有的麻又都纺好了,非常满意。他说:“好了,现在你就是我的妻子了。”他马上让人开始准备婚礼,并邀请当地所有的大人物。
    新娘正在全身心地筹备婚礼,一直就没有想到那三个老妇人。婚礼那天的早晨,她想起应该邀请她们。但当她试图写出她们的名字的时候,才发现她把三人的名字忘得一干二净,她绞尽脑汁地回忆,但连一个名字也想不起来。
    新娘从喜悦中一下子掉进了无底的悲哀中,船长也发现了新娘的情绪低落,就去问她,而她沉默不语。新郎找不到新娘情绪忧伤的起因,就想:也许今天不宜结婚。他吩咐把婚礼推迟到第二天。到了第二天,情况更糟。第三天的情况就更别提了。总之,日子一天天过去,新娘越来越忧伤、越来越沉默,她紧皱眉头,好像要集中注意力,思考什么。新郎想方设法让她高兴,用笑话逗她开心,给她讲故事,但是一点用也没有。
    新郎看到自己无法宽慰新娘,便试图宽慰自己,一天早上,他出去打猎。在树林中,突然遇上了暴风雨,他急忙躲进了一间小茅屋。小茅屋里一片漆黑,他听到有人在说话:
    “噢,哥隆比娜!”
    “噢,哥隆巴拉!”
    “噢,哥隆布恩!”
    “把锅架上,熬玉米粥吧!这个该死的新娘不会邀请我们赴宴了。”
    船长转过身,看见三个老妇人:一个眉毛拖到地上,另一个嘴唇耷拉到脚背,第三个牙齿可以蹭到膝盖。
    新郎想:“看吧,我可找到逗新娘高兴的事了,如果我这次看到的事还不能逗她笑,那就不会再有别的事能逗她笑了!”
    他回到家,对新娘说:“我告诉你,今天我在树林里,为了避雨我进了一间茅屋,你猜我看见了什么?三个老妇人!一个眉毛拖到地上,另一个嘴唇耷拉到脚背,第三个牙齿可以蹭到膝盖。她们互相叫着名字:‘噢,哥隆比娜!’‘噢,哥隆巴拉!’‘噢,哥隆布恩!’”
    新娘脸上的愁容顿时消失了,笑个不停,说:“马上举行婚礼吧,不过我有个请求。既然是你看见的那三个老妇人让我开心,那就让她们也被请来参加婚宴吧。”
    船长派人去了。他们为这三个老妇人专门安排了一张圆桌子,但在三个妇人长长的眉毛、嘴唇和牙齿之间,这张桌子就显得太小了,人们不理解她们是如何吃饭的。
    婚宴结束以后,新郎问哥隆比娜:“好心的夫人,请告诉我,您怎么会有这么长的眉毛呢?”
    “是因为纺线的时候要盯着细细的线看才会这样。”哥隆比娜说。
    “那您呢,您的嘴唇怎么会这么长呢?”
    “是因为捻线的时候要不停地在嘴唇上沾湿手指。”哥隆巴拉说。
    “那您呢,您怎么会有这么长的牙齿呢?”
    “因为老是要用牙齿咬线结。”哥隆布恩说。
    “我懂了,”新郎说道,他转向妻子,“你去把那些线槌拿来。”新娘把线槌拿了出来交给新郎,新郎把它们扔进壁炉的火里,说:“你这一生中再也不要纺线了!”
    从那以后,这位又高又胖的姑娘就这样幸福美满地生活着。
    AndSeven!
    Awomanhadadaughterwhowasbigandfatandsogluttonousthatwhenhermotherbroughtthesouptothetableshewouldeatonebowl,thenasecond,thenathird,andkeeponcallingformore.Hermotherfilledherbowl,saying,"Thatmakesthree!Andfour!Andfive!"Whenthedaughteraskedforaseventhbowlofsoup,hermother,insteadoffillingthebowl,whackedheroverthehead,shouting,"Andseven!"
    Awell-dressedyoungmanwaspassingbyjustthenandsawthemotherthroughthewindowhittingthegirlandcrying,"Andseven!"
    Asthebigfatyoungladycapturedhisfancyimmediately,hewentinandasked,"Sevenofwhat?"
    Ashamedofherdaughtersgluttony,themotherreplied,"Sevenspindlesofhemp!Ihaveadaughtersocrazyaboutworkthatshedevenspinthewoolonthesheepsback!Canyouimaginethatshesalreadyspunsevenspindlesofhempthismorningandstillwantstospin?Tomakeherstop,Ihavetobeather."
    "Ifshesthathard-working,givehertome,"saidtheyoungman."IlltryherouttoseeifyouretellingthetruthandthenIllmarryher."
    Hetookhertohishouseandshutherupinaroomfullofhempwaitingtobespun."Imaseacaptain,andImleavingonavoyage,"hesaid."IfyouvespunallthishempbythetimeIreturn,Illmarryyou."
    Theroomalsocontainedexquisiteclothesandjewels,forthecaptainhappenedtobeveryrich."Whenyoubecomemywife,"heexplained,"thesethingswillallbeyours."Thenhelefther.
    Thegirlspentherdaystryingondressesandjewelsandadmiringherselfinthemirror.Shealsodevotedmuchtimetoplanningmeals,whichthehouseholdservantspreparedforher.Noneofthehempwasspunyet,andinonemoredaythecaptainwouldbeback.Thegirlgaveupallhopeofevermarryinghimandburstintotears.Shewasstillcryingwhenthroughthewindowflewabundleofragsandcametorestonitsfeet:itwasanoldwomanwithlongeyelashes."Dontbeafraid,"shetoldthegirl."Ivecometohelpyou.Illspinwhileyoumaketheskein."
    Youneversawanyonespinwiththespeedofthatoldwoman.Injustaquarterofanhourshehadspuneverybitofhemp.Andthemoreshespun,thelongerherlashesbecame;longerthanhernose,longerthanherchin,theycamedownmorethanafoot;andhereyelidsalsogrewmuchlonger.
    Whentheworkwasfinished,thegirlsaid,"HowcanIrepayyou,mygoodlady?"
    "Idontwanttoberepaid.Justinvitemetoyourweddingbanquetwhenyoumarrythecaptain."
    "HowdoIgoaboutinvitingyou?"
    "JustcallColumbinaandIllcome.Butheavenhelpyouifyouforgetmyname.ItwouldbeasthoughIdneverhelpedyou,andyoudbeundone."
    Thenextdaythecaptainarrivedandfoundthehempallspun."Excellent!"hesaid."IbelieveyourejustthebrideIwasseeking.HerearetheclothesandjewelsIboughtforyou.ButnowIhavetogoonanothervoyage.Letshaveasecondtest.HerestwicetheamountofhempIgaveyoubefore.IfyouspinitallbythetimeIreturn,Illmarryyou."
    Asshehaddonebefore,thegirlspenthertimetryingongownsandjewels,eatingsoupandlasagna,andgottothelastdaywithallthehempstillwaitingtobespun.Shewasweepingoveritwhen,loandbehold,somethingdroppeddownthechimney,andintotheroomrolledabundleofrags.Itcametorestonitsfeet,andtherestoodanoldwomanwithsagginglips.Thisonetoopromisedtohelp,beganspinning,andworkedevenfasterthantheotheroldwoman.Themoreshespun,themoreherlipssagged.Whenthehempwasallspuninahalf-hour,theoldwomanaskedonlytobeinvitedtotheweddingbanquet."JustcallColumbara.Butdontforgetmyname,ormyhelpwillhavebeeninvainandyouwillsuffer."
    Thecaptainreturnedandaskedbeforeheevengotintothehouse,"Didyouspinitall?"
    "Ijustnowfinished!"
    "Taketheseclothesandjewels.Now,ifIcomebackfrommythirdvoyageandfindyouvespunthisthirdloadofhemp,whichismuchbiggerthantheothertwo,Ipromisewellgetmarriedatonce."
    Asusual,thegirlwaiteduntilthelastdaywithouttouchingthehemp.Downfromtheroofsgutterfellabundleofrags,andoutcameanoldwomanwithbuckteeth.Shebeganspinning,spinningevenfaster,andthemoreshespun,thelongergrewherteeth.
    "Toinvitemetoyourweddingbanquet,"saidtheoldwoman,"youmustcallColumbun.Butifyouforgetmyname,itwouldbebetterifyoudneverseenme."
    Whenthecaptaincamehomeandfoundthehempallspun,hewascompletelysatisfied."Fine,"hesaid,"nowyouwillbemywife."Heorderedpreparationsmadeforthewedding,towhichheinvitedallthenobilityintown.
    Caughtupinthepreparations,thebridethoughtnomoreoftheoldwomen.Onthemorningoftheweddingsherememberedthatshewassupposedtoinvitethem,butwhenshewenttopronouncetheirnames,shefoundtheyhadslippedhermind.Shecudgeledherbrainsbut,forthelifeofher,couldntrecallasinglename.
    Fromthecheerfulgirlshewas,shesankintoastateofbottomlessgloom.Thecaptainnoticeditandaskedherwhatthematterwas,butshewouldsaynothing.Unabletoaccountforhersadness,thebridegroomthought,Thisisperhapsnottherightday.Hethereforepostponedtheweddinguntilthedayafter.Butthenextdaywasstillworse,andthedayfollowingwewontevenmention.Witheverydaythatpassed,thebridebecamegloomierandquieter,withherbrowsknitinconcentration.Hetoldherjokesandstoriesinanefforttomakeherlaugh,butnothinghesaidordidaffectedher.
    Sincehecouldntcheerherup,hedecidedtogohuntingandcheerhimselfup.Rightintheheartofthewoodshewascaughtinastormandtookrefugeinahovel.Hewasinthereinthedark,whenheheardvoices:
    "OColumbina!"
    "OColumbara!"
    "OColumbun!"
    "Putonthepottomakepolenta!Thatconfoundedbridewontbeinvitingustoherbanquetafterall!"
    Thecaptainwheeledaroundandsawthreecrones.Onehadeyelashesthatdraggedontheground,anotherlipsthathungdowntoherfeet,andthethirdteeththatgrazedherknees.
    Well,well,hethoughttohimself.NowIcantellhersomethingthatwillmakeherlaugh.IfshedoesntlaughoverwhatIvejustseen,shellneverlaughatanything!
    Hewenthomeandsaidtohisbride,"Justlistentothis.TodayIwasinthewoodsandwentintoahoveltogetoutoftherain.IgoinandwhatshouldIseebutthreecrones:onewitheyelashesthatdraggedontheground,anotherwithlipsthathungdowntoherfeet,andthethirdwithteeththatgrazedherknees.Andtheycalledeachother:OColumbina,OColumbara,OColumbun!"
    Thebridesfacebrightenedinstantly,andsheburstoutlaughing,andlaughedandlaughed."Ordertheweddingbanquetrightaway.ButImaskingonefavorofyou:sincethosethreecronesmademelaughsohard,letmeinvitethemtothebanquet."
    Invitethemshedid.Forthethreeoldwomenaseparateroundtablewassetup,butsosmallthatwhatwiththeeyelashesofone,thelipsoftheother,andtheteethofthethird,younolongerknewwhatwaswhat.
    Whendinnerwasover,thebridegroomaskedColumbina,"Tellme,goodlady,whyareyourlashessolong?"
    "Thatsfromstrainingmyeyestospinfinethread!"saidColumbina.
    "Andyou,whyareyourlipssothick?"
    "Thatcomesfromalwaysrubbingmyfingeronthemtowetthethread!"saidColumbara.
    "Andyou,howonearthdidyourteethgetsolong?"
    "Thatsfrombitingtheknotofthethread!"saidColumbun.
    "Isee,"saidthebridegroom,andheturnedtohiswife."Gogetthespindle."Whenshebroughtittohim,hethrewitintothefire."Youllspinnomorefortherestofyourlife!"
    Sothebig,fatbridelivedhappilyeverafter.
    (Rivieraligurediponente)
    NOTES:
    "AndSeven!"(Esette!)fromAndrews,4,23,47.(ThefirsttwowerecollectedinMenton,thethirdnearVentimiglia.)
    Marriageanecdotesandfairy-taleinitiationmotifs(thesecretnametoremember)areblendedinthisoldstorywidespreadinEurope(ofEnglish,Swedish,orGermanorigin,accordingtoscholars),subjectedtoliterarytreatmentintheseventeenthcenturyinNaples(Basile,IV,4)andwellknownthroughoutItaly.
    Copyright:ItalianFolktalesSelectedandRetoldbyItaloCalvino,
    translatedbyGeorgeMartin,
    PantheonBooks,NewYork1980