银鼻子

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    银鼻子&意大利童话
    从前,有一个寡妇,带着三个女儿以替人洗衣为生。一家四口每日竭尽全力洗着衣服,但还是过着忍饥挨饿的生活。一天,大女儿对妈妈说:
    “这样还不如去给魔鬼干活,我想离家出外谋生。”
    “千万别这样说,我的孩子,”妈妈说,“这样你会惹祸上身的。”
    没过几天,她们家里来了一位绅士,身着黑衣裤,衣冠楚楚的,长着一只银鼻子。
    “我听说您有三个女儿,让我带走一个做我的仆人吧。”他对妈妈说。
    妈妈对这人的银鼻子看不惯,要不然,她会立即让女儿跟他走。她把大女儿叫到一旁,对她说:“人世间长着银鼻子的人是没有的,你得留点神,要是跟他走,将来你一定会后悔。”
    但女儿急不可待地要离开家,还是跟他走了。他们走了很远的路,穿过森林,越过高山,到了一个地方,远远地看见前边有一处亮光,好像在着火。“那是什么?”姑娘问,这时她开始有点担忧了。
    “是我家,我们就去那里。”银鼻子说。
    姑娘跟着他继续往前走,全身上下忍不住地哆嗦。他们来到一座巨大的宫殿,银鼻子带着她,参观了所有的房间,一间比一间漂亮,每看一个房间,他都把钥匙交给她。走到最后一个房间门口,银鼻子把钥匙递给她后说:“这个门你无论如何不能打开,否则,你就麻烦了!这里的一切,你都可以做主,只有这个房间除外。”
    姑娘心想:这里一定有什么名堂!她决定等银鼻子一离开这里,就打开看看。晚上,姑娘正睡在自己的房间里,银鼻子蹑手蹑脚地走了进来,他走近姑娘的床边,在她的头发上插了一朵玫瑰花,就又蹑手蹑脚地出去了。
    第二天早上,银鼻子出去办事了。只剩姑娘一个人拿着一大串钥匙留在家里,她立即跑去开那扇被禁止打开的房门。刚打开一条缝隙,就从里面冲出了好多火苗和烟雾,火苗和烟雾尽是被火烧炼的罪恶的灵魂。姑娘这时才明白银鼻子就是魔鬼,而这个房间就是地狱。她大叫一声,立即关上房门,想尽量跑远一点,离开这个地狱之屋,但火舌还是烧到了她头上的插着的那朵玫瑰花。
    银鼻子回到家,看到那朵烫焦了的玫瑰花,就说:“怎么,你就是这样听我的话的吗!”他一把抓住姑娘,打开地狱的门,把她扔进了火中。
    第二天,他又来到寡妇家,说:“您的女儿在我那里住得很好,但活儿太多,她需要个帮手。您能让二女儿也跟我去吗?”就这样,银鼻子带着另一个姑娘回到了宫殿。他也给姑娘看了每个房间,把房间的钥匙也都给她,也对她说所有的房间都可以打开,只有最后那间除外。姑娘说:“您不必担心,我为什么要开它呢?我不想了解您的私事。”晚上,姑娘上床休息以后,银鼻子悄悄地来到她的床前,把一朵康乃馨插在她的头发上。
    第二天早上,银鼻子一出门,姑娘做的第一件事就是去打开那扇禁门。只见里面满是烟雾、火苗,还有罪恶灵魂的嚎叫,在火中她还发现了自己的姐姐。“妹妹,快救救我!把我从这个地狱里救出去!”姐姐冲她大叫。但姑娘吓得早已魂飞魄散了,她连忙关上门,拔腿就逃,但不知该躲到哪里去,因为她确信银鼻子就是魔鬼,而她早被他捏在手心里,无处可逃。银鼻子一回来,首先看姑娘的头发,看到康乃馨被烤焦了,便一句话不说,抓起她,把她也扔进了地狱。
    次日,银鼻子照旧穿得像大人物一样,又来到寡妇家。“我家的活太多,两个姑娘还干不完,您把三女儿也让我带去,好吗?”就这样,他又把三女儿带了回来。三女儿名叫露琪亚,在三姐妹中,她最有头脑。银鼻子也带她看了每个房间,然后照旧叮嘱了她,而且当她睡了之后,也在她的头发上插了一朵花,是一朵茉莉花。早上,露琪亚起床后,就去梳头,照着镜子,她发现了头上的茉莉花。她自语道:“看哪,银鼻子给我插了一朵茉莉花。多优雅的想法!可是,我要让它保持新鲜。”她把花插在一个水杯里。梳完头,看看家里只剩她一个人,她就想:我现在去看看那扇神秘的门里有什么。
    刚把门打开,烈火扑面而来,只见里边炼着很多人,而且人群中,她发现了她的大姐,然后又看见了二姐。她们大声叫着:“露琪亚!露琪亚!快拉我们出去!救救我们!”
    露琪亚先是关好了门,然后思考如何才能救出两位姐姐。
    魔鬼回来的时候,露琪亚早已把那朵茉莉花又插到了头上,装作没事的样子。银鼻子看了一眼茉莉花,说:“噢,还鲜着呢。”
    “当然,它怎么会不新鲜呢?谁会把枯败的花戴在头上?”
    “不是,我只是这么说说罢了,”银鼻子说,“我觉得你是个不错的姑娘,你要是一直这样,我们就能一直相处得很愉快。你在这里还满意吗?”
    “满意,我在这里住得很好,但要不是有放心不下的事,就更好了。”
    “放心不下什么?”
    “我离家来这里的时候,我妈妈身体不舒服。现在我一点她的消息也没有。”
    “要是就这点事,”魔鬼说,“我到你家去一趟,这样可以给你带回点那边的消息。”
    “谢谢,您真是个大好人。要是您明天能去,我现在就把这里的脏东西准备成一个袋子,带给妈妈,等妈妈身体好的时候好让她帮忙洗洗。你不会觉得太重吧?”
    “哪里的话,”魔鬼说,“再重的东西我也拿得动。”
    等魔鬼一出去,露琪亚马上去打开了地狱之门,把大姐拉了出来,然后把她装进一只口袋。“待在里边,别说话,卡尔洛塔。等一会,魔鬼要亲自带你回家。不过,路上你要是觉得他把口袋放在地上,你就要喊:我看见你了!我看见你了!”
    银鼻子来了,露琪亚对他说:“这是一袋要洗的东西。但你真的能一气不停地把它带到我妈妈家吗?”
    “你不信任我吗?”魔鬼问。
    “我当然相信你,因为我有这本领:我能看得很远,反正你把口袋搁在随便什么地方停下,我都看得见。”
    魔鬼说:“是吗,等着看吧!”但他对姑娘具有千里眼的法力不以为然。他背起口袋,说:“这包脏东西怎么这么重啊!”
    姑娘说:“那当然,你有多少年没洗过一样东西了?”
    银鼻子上路了。但走到半路,他想:姑娘的话没错!不过我还是得看一下,也许她是以送该洗的脏东西为借口,想偷我的东西。于是,他把口袋放在地上,要打开看看。
    “我看见你了!我看见你了!”姐姐从口袋里立即喊起来。
    “啊,是真的!她真是千里眼!”银鼻子说着又背起口袋,一直走到露琪亚妈妈的家。“您的女儿让我把这袋东西带回来洗,她还想问问您身体怎么样……”
    银鼻子一走,洗衣妇就打开了口袋,当她看到自己的大女儿时,高兴的样子就可想而知了。
    一个星期后,露琪亚又假装忧心忡忡,她对银鼻子说还想知道妈妈的消息。
    她又让他带上另一袋的脏东西去她家。于是,银鼻子又背起她二姐上路了,这一次他又没看成袋子里的东西,因为他听到有人叫着:“我看见你了!我看见你了!”
    此时,洗衣妇已知道这个银鼻子就是魔鬼了,看到他又背着一袋东西来了,紧张得不得了,生怕银鼻子向她要上次洗好的东西,但银鼻子把肩上的口袋往地上一放,说:“洗好的东西,我下一次再来取,这包东西太重,压得我骨头都快断了,我要空手回去。”
    等银鼻子一走远,洗衣妇万分焦急地打开了口袋,紧紧抱住了自己的二女儿。但随后就开始替露琪亚担心,她现在一个人只身留在魔鬼的手里。
    露琪亚怎么办呢?过了不久,她又假装想了解母亲的情况。魔鬼此时已经厌倦了替她带脏衣服回家,不过想到她这么听话,也就不忍拒绝。临行前的晚上,露琪亚说她头疼得厉害,要先去睡了。“我把准备好的口袋给你留下,这样,明天即使我不舒服,起不了床,你也可以自己把口袋带去。”
    现在,要知道露琪亚早就缝制了一个玩具布娃娃,跟她自己一样大。她把布娃娃放在床上,盖上被子,然后剪掉自己的辫子安在布娃娃的头上,看上去就像她自己睡在床上一样。随后,她又把自己藏在了口袋里。
    早上,魔鬼看到姑娘躺在被窝里,就背起口袋上路了,边走边想:今天她病了,不可能再注意我。这是偷看口袋里边到底是不是脏东西的好机会。他放下口袋,刚想打开来看。“我看见你了!我看见你了!”露琪亚喊道。
    “啊!她的声音真真切切的,好像就在耳旁!最好别再跟这姑娘开这种玩笑了。”他背起口袋,一直把它送给了洗衣妇。“我以后来把洗好的东西取走,”他急急忙忙地说,“现在我得赶快回去,因为露琪亚病了。”
    就这样,一家人又团聚了,而且因为露琪亚还从魔鬼那里带回很多金币,足够全家人幸福、满足地生活着。她们在家门口立起了一个十字架,魔鬼再也不敢靠近了。
    SilverNose
    Therewasonceawidowedwasherwomanwiththreedaughters.Allfourofthemworkedtheirfingerstothebonewashing,buttheystillwenthungry.Onedaytheoldestdaughtersaidtohermother,"Iintendtoleavehome,evenifIhavetogoandworkfortheDevil."
    "Donttalklikethat,daughter,"repliedthemother."Goodnessknowswhatmighthappentoyou."
    Notmanydaysafterward,theyreceivedavisitfromagentlemanattiredinblack.Hewastheheightofcourtesyandhadasilvernose.
    "Iamawareofthefactthatyouhavethreedaughters,"hesaidtothemother."Wouldyouletonecomeandworkforme?"
    Themotherwouldhaveconsentedatonce,haditnotbeenforthatsilvernosewhichshedidntlikethelooksof.Shecalledheroldestgirlasideandsaid,"Nomanonearthhasasilvernose.Ifyougooffwithhimyoumightwelllivetoregretit,sowatchout."
    Thedaughter,whowasdyingtoleavehome,paidnoattentiontohermotherandleftwiththeman.Theywalkedformilesandmiles,crossingwoodsandmountains,andfinallycameinsightofanintenseglowinthedistancelikethatofafire."WhatisthatIseewaydownthereinthevalley?"askedthegirl,growinguneasy.
    "Myhouse.Thatsjustwherewearegoing,"repliedSilverNose.
    Thegirlfollowedalong,butcouldntkeepfromtrembling.Theycametoalargepalace,andSilverNosetookherthroughitandshowedhereveryroom,eachonemorebeautifulthantheother,andhegaveherthekeytoeachone.Whentheyreachedthedoorofthelastroom,SilverNosegaveherthekeyandsaid,"Youmustneveropenthisdoorforanyreasonwhatever,oryoullwishyouhadnt!Youreinchargeofalltheroomsbutthisone."
    Heshidingsomethingfromme,thoughtthegirl,andresolvedtoopenthatdoortheminuteSilverNoseleftthehouse.Thatnight,whileshewassleepinginherlittleroom,intiptoedSilverNoseandplacedaroseinherhair.Thenheleftjustasquietlyashehadentered.
    ThenextmorningSilverNosewentoutonbusiness.Findingherselfalonewithallherkeys,thegirlranandunlockedtheforbiddendoor.Nosoonerhadshecrackeditthansmokeandflamesshotout,whileshecaughtsightofacrowdofdamnedsoulsinagonyinsidethefieryroom.ShethenrealizedthatSilverNosewastheDevilandthattheroomwasHell.Shescreamed,slammedthedoor,andtooktoherheels.Butatongueoffirehadscorchedtherosesheworeinherhair.
    SilverNosecamehomeandsawthesingedrose."Sothatshowyouobeyme!"hesaid.Hesnatchedherup,openedthedoortoHell,andflungherintotheflames.
    Thenextdayhewentbacktothewidow."Yourdaughterisgettingalongverywellatmyhouse,buttheworkissoheavysheneedshelp.Couldyousendusyourseconddaughtertoo?"SoSilverNosereturnedhomewithoneofthegirlssisters.Heshowedheraroundthehouse,gaveherallthekeys,andtoldhershecouldopenalltheroomsexceptthelast."Doyouthink,"saidthegirl,"Iwouldhaveanyreasontoopenit?Iamnotinterestedinyourpersonalbusiness."Thatnightafterthegirlwenttosleep,SilverNosetiptoedinandputacarnationinherhair.
    WhenSilverNosewentoutthenextmorning,thefirstthingthegirldidwasgoandopentheforbiddendoor.Shewasinstantlyassailedbysmoke,flames,andhowlsofthedamnedsouls,inwhosemidstshespottedhersister."Sister,freemefromthisHell!"screamedthefirstgirl.Butthemiddlegirlgrewweakintheknees,slammedthedoor,andran.ShewasnowsurethatSilverNosewastheDevil,fromwhomshecouldnthideorescape.SilverNosereturnedandnoticedherhairrightaway.Thecarnationwaswithered,sowithoutawordhesnatchedherupandthrewherintoHelltoo.
    Thenextday,inhiscustomaryaristocraticattire,hereappearedatthewasherwomanshouse."Thereissomuchworktobedoneatmyhousethatnoteventwogirlsareenough.CouldIhaveyourthirddaughteraswell?"Hethusreturnedhomewiththethirdsister,Lucia,whowasthemostcunningofthemall.Shetoowasshownaroundthehouseandgiventhesameinstructionsashersisters.Shetoohadaflowerputinherhairwhileshewassleeping:ajasmineblossom.ThefirstthingLuciadidwhenshegotupnextmorningwasarrangeherhair.Lookinginthemirror,shenoticedthejasmine."Well,well!"shesaid."SilverNosepinnedajasmineonme.Howthoughtfulofhim!Whoknowswhyhedidit?InanycaseIllkeepitfresh."Sheputitintoaglassofwater,combedherhair,thensaid,"Nowletstakealookatthatmysteriousdoor."
    Shejustbarelyopenedit,andoutrushedaflame.Sheglimpsedcountlesspeopleburning,andthereinthemiddleofthecrowdwereherbigsisters."Lucia!Lucia!"theyscreamed."Getusoutofhere!Saveus!"
    AtonceLuciashutthedoortightlyandbeganthinkinghowshemightrescuehersisters.
    BythetimetheDevilgothome,Luciahadputherjasminebackinherhair,andactedasthoughnothinghadhappenedthatday.SilverNoselookedatthejasmine."Oh,itsstillfresh,"hesaid.
    "Ofcourse,whyshouldntitbe?Whywouldanyonewearwitheredflowersinherhair?"
    "Oh,Iwasjusttalkingtobetalking,"answeredSilverNose."Youseemlikeaclevergirl.Keepitup,andwellneverquarrel.Areyouhappy?"
    "Yes,butIdbehappierifIdidnthavesomethingbotheringme."
    "Whatsbotheringyou?"
    "WhenIleftmymother,shewasntfeelingtoowell.NowIhavenonewsatallofher."
    "Ifthatsallyoureworriedabout,"saidtheDevil,"Illdropbyherhouseandseehowshesdoing."
    "Thankyou,thatisverykindofyou.Ifyoucangotomorrow,Illgetupabagoflaundryatoncewhichmymothercanwashifsheiswellenough.Thebagwontbetooheavyforyou,willit?"
    "Ofcoursenot.Icancarryanythingunderthesun,nomatterhowheavyitis."
    WhentheDevilwentoutagainthatday,LuciaopenedthedoortoHell,pulledoutheroldestsister,andtiedherupinabag."Keepstillinthere,Carlotta,"shetoldher."TheDevilhimselfwillcarryyoubackhome.Butanytimehesomuchasthinksofputtingthebagdown,youmustsay,Iseeyou,Iseeyou!"
    TheDevilreturned,andLuciasaid,"Hereisthebagofthingstobewashed.Doyoupromiseyoulltakeitstraighttomymother?"
    "Youdonttrustme?"askedtheDevil.
    "CertainlyItrustyou,allthemoresowithmyspecialabilitytoseefromagreatdistanceaway.Ifyoudareputthebagdownsomewhere,Illseeyou."
    "Yes,ofcourse,"saidtheDevil,buthehadlittlefaithinherclaimofbeingabletoseethingsagreatdistanceaway.Heflungthebagoverhisshoulder."Mygoodness,thisdirtystuffisheavy!"heexclaimed.
    "Naturally!"repliedthegirl."Howmanyyearshasitbeensinceyouhadanythingwashed?"
    SilverNosesetoutforthewasherwomans,butwhenhewasonlyhalfwaythere,hesaidtohimself,"MaybebutIshallseeifthisgirlisntemptyingmyhouseofeverythingIown,underthepretextofsendingoutlaundry."Hewenttoputthebagdownandopenit.
    "Iseeyou,Iseeyou!"suddenlyscreamedthesisterinsidethebag.
    "ByJove,itstrue!Shecanseefromafar!"exclaimedSilverNose.HethrewthebagbackoverhisshoulderandmarchedstraighttoLuciasmothershouse."Yourdaughtersendsyouthisstufftowashandwantstoknowhowyouare"
    Assoonasheleft,thewasherwomanopenedthesack,andyoucanimagineherjoyuponfindingheroldestdaughterinside.
    Aweeklater,slyLuciapretendedtobesadoncemoreandtoldSilverNoseshewantednewsofhermother.
    Shesenthimtoherhousewithanotherbagoflaundry.SoSilverNosecarriedoffthesecondsister,withoutmanagingtopeepinsidebecauseofthe"Iseeyou,Iseeyou!"whichcamefromthebagtheinstanthestartedtoopenit.Thewasherwoman,whonowknewSilverNosewastheDevil,wasquitefrightenedwhenhereturned,forshewassurehewouldaskforthecleanwashfromlasttime.ButSilverNoseputdownthenewbagandsaid,"Illgetthecleanwashsomeothertime.Thisheavybaghasbrokenmyback,andIwanttogohomewithnothingtocarry."
    Whenhehadgone,thewasherwomananxiouslyopenedthebagandembracedherseconddaughter.ButshewasmoreworriedthaneveraboutLucia,whowasnowaloneintheDevilshands.
    WhatdidLuciado?Notlongafterwardshestartedupagainaboutnewsofhermother.BynowtheDevilwassickandtiredofcarryinglaundry,buthehadgrowntoofondofthisobedientgirltosaynotoher.Assoonasitgrewdark,Luciaannouncedshehadabadheadacheandwouldgotobedearly."Illpreparethelaundryandleavethebagoutforyou,soifIdontfeellikegettingupinthemorning,youcanbeonyourway."
    NowLuciahadmadearagdollthesamesizeasherself.Sheputitinbedunderthecovers,cutoffherownbraids,adnsewedthemonthedollshead.thedollthenlookedlikeLuciaasleep,andLuciaclosedherselfupinthebag.
    InthemorningtheDevilsawthegirlsnuggleddownunderthecoversandsetoutwiththebagoverhisshoulder."Shessickthismorning,"hesaidtohimself,"andwontbelooking.Itstheperfecttimetoseeifthisreallyisnothingbutlaundry."Atthat,heputthebagdownandwasabouttoopenit."Iseeyou,Iseeyou!"criedLucia.
    "ByJove,itshervoicetoatee,asthoughshewererighthere!Betternotjokewithsuchagirl."Hetookupthebagagainandcarriedittothewasherwoman."Illcomebacklaterforeverything,"hesaidrapidly."IhavetogethomerightawaybecauseLuciaissick."
    Sothefamilywasfinallyreunited.SinceLuciahadalsocarriedoffgreatsumsoftheDevilsmoney,theywerenowabletoliveincomfortandhappiness.Theyplantedacrossbeforethedoor,andfromthenon,theDevilkepthisdistance.
    (Langhe)
    NOTES:
    "SilverNose"(Ilnasodargento)fromCarraroli,3,fromLanghe,Piedmont.
    BluebeardinPiedmontisSilverNose.Hisvictimsarenotwivesbutservantgirls,andthestoryisnottakenfromchroniclesaboutcruelfeudalmastersasinPerrault,butfrommedievaltheologicallegends:BluebeardistheDevil,andtheroomcontainingthemurderedwomenisHell.IfoundthesilvernoseonlyinthisversiontranslatedfromdialectandsummarizedbyCarraroli;buttheDevil-Bluebeard,theflowersinthehair,andtherusestogetbackhomewereencounteredalloverNorthernItaly.IintegratedtherathermeagerPiedmontversionwithonefromBologna(CoronediS.27)andaVenetianone(Bernoni,3).
    Copyright:ItalianFolktalesSelectedandRetoldbyItaloCalvino,
    translatedbyGeorgeMartin,
    PantheonBooks,NewYork1980