七！
七！ (第3/3页)
preparationsmadeforthewedding,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
如果觉得《意大利童话》好看，请把本站网址推荐给您的朋友吧！88106 http://www.88106.com/