七!

    七!&意大利童話
    從前有一對母女,女兒又高又胖,吃得又多。媽媽端上的肉汁菜湯,她吃了一盤、兩盤、三盤,還不停地要。而媽媽邊為她盛,邊說:「三!……四!……五!……」當女兒要第七盤湯的時候,媽媽沒有盛,而是用棍子敲了一下女兒的頭,大喊:「七!」
    一個穿著體面的小伙子從這裡路過,從窗外看見媽媽打著女兒喊:「七!」
    看見這個高大豐滿的姑娘挺漂亮,小伙子一下子就喜歡上了,他走進姑娘的家,問道:「七個什麼?」
    媽媽因為自己有這麼個貪吃的女兒而羞愧,就說:「七個線槌啊!我的女兒是個工作狂,她甚至能到羊身上去紡毛線!這不,今天早上她已經紡了七槌線了,可是還沒完沒了地幹!為了讓她停手,我才打了她一下!」
    小伙子說:「要是這樣,您把她交給我吧,我試試她,看她是不是真的這麼能幹,如果是真的,我就娶她為妻。」
    小伙子把她領回家,關進一間屋子,裡面堆滿了要紡的麻,他說:「我是一個船長,馬上要出海。如果我出海回來你已經紡好這些線,我就娶你。」
    房間裡還有很多漂亮的衣服和珠寶,因為船長非常有錢。「如果你成為我的妻子,這些東西就是你的了。」說完,他就走了。
    姑娘每天對著鏡子試那些衣服和珠寶,讓家裡的僕人為她做吃的。而麻還在那裡沒有紡。剩下最後一天了,明天船長就回來了,姑娘想到永遠不會成為船長的新娘了,就失望地哭了起來。正當她失望哭泣的時候,一個破布口袋從窗口飛落進房間。破布口袋站立起來,原來是一個長著長眉毛的老婦人。老婦人說:「你別怕,我是來幫你的。你把線分成縷,我來替你紡。」
    從沒見過比這老婦人更快的紡織女了,她只用了一刻鐘,所有的麻都被紡好了。但是,越紡,她的眉毛長得越長,長過了鼻子,長過了下巴,最後長得超過了一掌長,而且她的眼皮也跟著變長了。
    當活幹完了,姑娘說:「好心的夫人,我怎麼才能報答您呢?」
    「我不想要報答,你跟船長結婚的時候,能邀請我參加結婚宴會,我就很滿足了。」
    「那我怎麼邀請你呢?」
    「你只要念:『哥隆比娜!』我就會來。不過,我可提醒你,千萬別忘記我的名字。如果忘了,我就不會再幫助你了。你也就完了。」
    第二天船長回來了,看到所有的麻都紡好了,就說:「你真能幹,我相信你就是我想娶的新娘。這是我為你買回來的珠寶和衣服。但我還必須再出去一次。我們來試第二次。這裡的麻有上次的兩倍,當我回來的時候,你能把它紡完,我就會跟你結婚。」
    像上次一樣,姑娘每天試著不同的珠寶和衣服,吃著湯和麵包,這樣打發著時間。又到了最後一天,一根線也沒紡。她又哭了起來,這時她聽到從煙囪上掉下來一個東西,一看是一個破布包滾到屋子裡來了。破布包站了起來,原來是一個耷拉著嘴唇的老婦人。這個老婦人也願意幫助她,開始幫她紡線,紡得比上次那個老婦人還快,但是越紡,她的嘴唇長得越長,她只用了半小時就把所有的麻紡完了。老婦人同樣不要回報,只要求姑娘邀請她參加婚宴。「你只要念:『哥隆巴拉』我就會出現。你千萬別忘記我的名字。不然我給你的幫助就會失效,你小心記著!」
    船長回來了,還沒進門就問:「你全都紡完了嗎?」
    姑娘說:「咳,早就完了!」
    「這是給你帶回來的珠寶和衣服。這一次,如果我第三次出海回來的時候,你能紡完比上兩次都多的麻,我向你保證馬上舉行婚禮。」
    這一次也跟以前一樣,姑娘一根線也沒紡,當只剩最後一天的時候,從屋簷下掉下來一個破布包,一個露著牙齒的老婦人從破布包裡面走了出來。她開始替姑娘紡線,她紡得很快,而且越紡越快,並且她的牙齒就長得越長。
    老婦人說:「你想邀請我參加你的婚宴,就必須喊:『哥隆布恩!』不過你要是忘了我的名字,你會後悔今天遇見了我。」
    船長回來的時候,看到所有的麻又都紡好了,非常滿意。他說:「好了,現在你就是我的妻子了。」他馬上讓人開始準備婚禮,並邀請當地所有的大人物。
    新娘正在全身心地籌備婚禮,一直就沒有想到那三個老婦人。婚禮那天的早晨,她想起應該邀請她們。但當她試圖寫出她們的名字的時候,才發現她把三人的名字忘得一乾二淨,她絞盡腦汁地回憶,但連一個名字也想不起來。
    新娘從喜悅中一下子掉進了無底的悲哀中,船長也發現了新娘的情緒低落,就去問她,而她沉默不語。新郎找不到新娘情緒憂傷的起因,就想:也許今天不宜結婚。他吩咐把婚禮推遲到第二天。到了第二天,情況更糟。第三天的情況就更別提了。總之,日子一天天過去,新娘越來越憂傷、越來越沉默,她緊皺眉頭,好像要集中注意力,思考什麼。新郎想方設法讓她高興,用笑話逗她開心,給她講故事,但是一點用也沒有。
    新郎看到自己無法寬慰新娘,便試圖寬慰自己,一天早上,他出去打獵。在樹林中,突然遇上了暴風雨,他急忙躲進了一間小茅屋。小茅屋裡一片漆黑,他聽到有人在說話:
    「噢,哥隆比娜!」
    「噢,哥隆巴拉!」
    「噢,哥隆布恩!」
    「把鍋架上,熬玉米粥吧!這個該死的新娘不會邀請我們赴宴了。」
    船長轉過身,看見三個老婦人:一個眉毛拖到地上,另一個嘴唇耷拉到腳背,第三個牙齒可以蹭到膝蓋。
    新郎想:「看吧,我可找到逗新娘高興的事了,如果我這次看到的事還不能逗她笑,那就不會再有別的事能逗她笑了!」
    他回到家,對新娘說:「我告訴你,今天我在樹林裡,為了避雨我進了一間茅屋,你猜我看見了什麼?三個老婦人!一個眉毛拖到地上,另一個嘴唇耷拉到腳背,第三個牙齒可以蹭到膝蓋。她們互相叫著名字:『噢,哥隆比娜!』『噢,哥隆巴拉!』『噢,哥隆布恩!』」
    新娘臉上的愁容頓時消失了,笑個不停,說:「馬上舉行婚禮吧,不過我有個請求。既然是你看見的那三個老婦人讓我開心,那就讓她們也被請來參加婚宴吧。」
    船長派人去了。他們為這三個老婦人專門安排了一張圓桌子,但在三個婦人長長的眉毛、嘴唇和牙齒之間,這張桌子就顯得太小了,人們不理解她們是如何吃飯的。
    婚宴結束以後,新郎問哥隆比娜:「好心的夫人,請告訴我,您怎麼會有這麼長的眉毛呢?」
    「是因為紡線的時候要盯著細細的線看才會這樣。」哥隆比娜說。
    「那您呢,您的嘴唇怎麼會這麼長呢?」
    「是因為捻線的時候要不停地在嘴唇上沾濕手指。」哥隆巴拉說。
    「那您呢,您怎麼會有這麼長的牙齒呢?」
    「因為老是要用牙齒咬線結。」哥隆布恩說。
    「我懂了,」新郎說道,他轉向妻子,「你去把那些線槌拿來。」新娘把線槌拿了出來交給新郎,新郎把它們扔進壁爐的火裡,說:「你這一生中再也不要紡線了!」
    從那以後,這位又高又胖的姑娘就這樣幸福美滿地生活著。
    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

《意大利童話》