七！

    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