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