意大利童话 作者:卡尔维诺-第14部分
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细腿,你可以用它变成一只蚂蚁,但是很小很小,即使用放大镜也看不到它。”
朱瓦宁收下了这些礼物,向四只动物表示了谢意,又出发了。对这四个礼物的效力他还不知道是否该信,因为它们可能是在跟他开玩笑。不过他刚一走出动物们的视线,就停了下来,试起了这些礼物的效力。他变成了狮子、狗、鹰和蚂蚁,然后变成了蚂蚁、鹰、狗和狮子,然后变成鹰、蚂蚁、狮子和狗,然后变成了狗、蚂蚁、狮子和鹰,他确信了这些礼物都很灵,满心喜欢地又启程了。
森林的尽头出现了一个湖,湖中有一座城堡,那就是无灵之体巫师的城堡。朱瓦宁变成一只鹰飞到城堡上一个关着的窗户的窗台上,然后变成一只蚂蚁从窗户缝中钻进了房间。依旧还是只蚂蚁的朱瓦宁的腿,变回人形,一个英俊的小伙子瞬间出现在国王的女儿面前。
“你别怕!”朱瓦宁做着别出声的手势,对她说,“我是来救你的!你必须骗巫师说出怎么才能杀死他。”
巫师回来了,朱瓦宁又变成蚂蚁。国王的女儿使出千娇百媚,迎接巫师,她让他坐在她的脚下,让他把头靠在她的膝盖上。然后便对他说:“我亲爱的巫师,我知道你是一个无灵魂的躯体,所以是不会死的。但是我总担心让别人发现你放灵魂的地方,把你杀死,这样我会感到很痛苦。”
于是巫师回答她说:“对你我不保密,反正你被关在这里不可能出卖我。要想杀我首先需要有一只非常凶猛的狮子去杀死森林中的一只黑狮子;杀死这只黑狮子之后,会从它的肚子里钻出一只黑色的狗,它跑得非常快,只有世界上最快的狗才能追上它。杀死这只黑狗以后,会从狗的肚子里飞出一只黑鹰,我不知道天空中还有什么别的鹰能跟上它。不过即使这只黑鹰被杀了,还需要从它肚子里取出一只黑蛋,在我的额头上打破这只黑蛋,我的灵魂就会飞走,我就会死去。你觉得容易吗?你觉得会有机会让你痛苦吗?”
朱瓦宁用他那对小小的蚂蚁耳朵,听到了一切,他又小步跑着从窗户缝中爬了出去,回到窗台上。在那里,他重新变回一只鹰,飞到森林中。到森林后,他又变成一只狮子,在树林中四处巡游,终于碰到了那只黑狮子。黑狮子向他猛扑过来,可朱瓦宁是世界上最凶猛的狮子,很快就撕碎了它。(巫师在城堡里觉得一阵头晕。)朱瓦宁打开黑狮子的肚子,从里面冲出一只跑得极快的黑狗,但朱瓦宁变成了世界上最快的狗,追上去,与黑狗滚咬在一起,不一会,黑狗就倒在地上死了。(巫师在城堡里疼得不得不倒在床上。)朱瓦宁又打开黑狗的肚子,从里面飞出一只黑鹰,朱瓦宁立即变成世界上最大的鹰,跟随着黑鹰在天空中盘旋,不停地冲向黑鹰,用嘴啄他、用爪攻击它,黑鹰很快就收起了翅膀,摔到地上。(巫师在城堡里发起了高烧,在棉被里缩成一团,瑟瑟发抖。)
朱瓦宁变回人形,打开黑鹰的肚子,从里面掏出一只黑蛋,然后来到城堡,把它交给了满心欢喜的国王的女儿。
国王的女儿问他:“你怎么做到的?”
朱瓦宁说:“这不算什么,现在该你了。”
国王的女儿走进巫师的房间,问:“你好点了吗?”
“啊,我真倒楣,有人背叛了我……”
“我给你做了一碗汤,快喝了吧。”
巫师直起身,坐在床上,低下头正要喝汤。
“等一下,让我往汤里打一个鸡蛋,这样,更有营养。”国王的女儿边说边在他的额头上打碎了那只黑蛋。无灵之体巫师当即就死了。
朱瓦宁把公主带回到国王身边,父女重聚,高兴极了,国王马上就把女儿嫁给了朱瓦宁。
(利古里亚西海岸)
Body…without…Soul
There was a widow with a son named Jack; who at thirteen wanted to leave home to seek his fortune。 His mother said to him; 〃What do you expect to do out in the world? Don't you know you're still a little boy? When you're able to fell that pine tree behind our house with one kick; then you can go。〃
Every day after that; as soon as he rose in the morning; Jack would get a running start and jump against the trunk of the tree with both feet; but the pine never budged an inch and he fell flat on his back。 He would get up again; shake the dirt off; and go back inside。
At last one fine morning he jumped with all his might; and the tree gave way and toppled to the ground; his roots in the air。 Jack ran and got his mother who; surveying the felled tree; said; 〃You may now go wherever you wish; my son。〃 Jack bid her farewell and set out。
After walking for days and days he came to a city whose king had a horse named Rondello that no one had ever been able to ride。 People constantly tried; but were thrown just when it appeared they would succeed。 Looking on; Jack soon realized that the horse was afraid of its own shadow; so he volunteered to break Rondello himself。 He began by going up to the horse in the stable; talking to it and patting it; then he suddenly jumped into the saddle and rode the animal outside straight into the sun。 That way it couldn't see any shadow to frighten it。 Jack took a steady hold of the reins; pressed his knees to the horse; and galloped off。 A quarter of an hour later Rondello was as docile as a lamb; but let no one ride him after that but Jack。
From then on; Jack served the king; who was so fond of him that the other servants grew jealous and plotted to get rid of him。
Now the king had a daughter who had been kidnapped in her infancy by the sorcerer Body…without…Soul; and no one had heard of her since。 The servants went to the king claiming Jack had boasted to everybody he would free her。 The king sent for him。 Jack was amazed and said this was the first he had even heard of the king's daughter。 But the fact that anyone had dared make light of the episode concerning his daughter so infuriated the king that he said; 〃Either you free her; or I'll have you beheaded。〃
Since there was no calming the king now; Jack asked for a rusty sword they kept hanging on the wall; saddled Rondello; and rode off。 Crossing a forest; he saw a lion motioning him to stop。 Although a bit uneasy; Jack disliked the idea of running away; so he dismounted and asked what the lion wanted。
〃Jack;〃 said the lion; 〃as you can see; there are four of us here: myself; a dog; an eagle; and an ant。 We have a dead donkey to parcel among us。 Since you have a sword; carve the animal and give us each a portion。〃 Jack cut off the donkey's head and gave it to the ant。 〃Here you are。 This will make you a nice home and supply you with all the food you'll ever want。〃 Next he cut off the hoofs and gave them to the dog。 〃Here's something to gnaw on as long as you like。〃 He cut out the entrails and gave them to the eagle。 〃This is your food; which you can carry to the treetops where you perch。〃 All the rest he gave to the lion; which as the biggest of the four deserved the largest portion。 He got back on his horse and started off; only to hear his name called。 〃Dear me;〃 he thought; 〃I must have made some mistake in dividing the parts。〃 But the lion said to him; 〃You did us a big favor and you were very fair。 As one good deed deserves another; I'm giving you one of my claws which will turn you into the fiercest lion in the world when you wear it。〃 The dog said; 〃Here is one of my whiskers; which will turn you into the fastest dog on earth; whenever you place it under your nose。〃 The eagle said; 〃Here is a feather from my wings which can change you into the biggest and strongest eagle in the sky。〃 The ant said; 〃I'm giving you one of my tiny legs。 Put it on and you will bee an ant so small that no one can see you; even with a magnifying glass。〃
Jack took his presents; thanked the four animals; and departed。 As he was uncertain whether the gifts were magic or not; thinking the animals might have played a joke on him; he stopped as soon as he was out of sight to test them。 He became lion; dog; eagle; and ant; next ant; eagle; dog; and lion; then eagle; ant; lion; and dog; finally dog; lion; ant; and eagle。 Yes; everything worked like a charm! All smiles; he moved onward。
Beyond the forest was a lake; on whose shore stood the castle of Body…without…Soul。 Jack changed into an eagle and flew straight to the edge of a closed window。 Then he changed into an ant and crawled into the room。 It was a beautiful bedchamber where; beneath a canopy; lay the king's daughter asleep。 Still an ant; Jack went crawling over her cheek until she awakened。 Then he removed the tiny ant leg; and the king's daughter suddently beheld a handsome youth at her side。
〃Don't be afraid;〃 he said; signaling silence。 〃I've e to free you。 You must get the sorcerer to tell you what could kill him。〃
When the sorcerer returned; Jacked changed back into an ant。 The king's daughter made a big to…do over Body…without…Soul; seating him at her feet and drawning his head onto her lap。 Then she began: 〃My darling sorcerer; I know you're a body without a soul and therefore incapable of dying。 But I live in constant fear of someone finding your soul and putting you to death。〃
〃I can tell you the secret;〃 replied the sorcerer; 〃since you're impris