七！&意大利童話
從前有一對母女，女兒又高又胖，吃得又多。媽媽端上的肉汁菜湯，她吃了一盤、兩盤、三盤，還不停地要。而媽媽邊為她盛，邊說：“三！……四！……五！……”當女兒要第七盤湯的時候，媽媽沒有盛，而是用棍子敲了一下女兒的頭，大喊：“七！”
一個穿著體麵的小夥子從這裏路過，從窗外看見媽媽打著女兒喊：“七！”
看見這個高大豐滿的姑娘挺漂亮，小夥子一下子就喜歡上了，他走進姑娘的家，問道：“七個什麽？”
媽媽因為自己有這麽個貪吃的女兒而羞愧，就說：“七個線槌啊！我的女兒是個工作狂，她甚至能到羊身上去紡毛線！這不，今天早上她已經紡了七槌線了，可是還沒完沒了地幹！為了讓她停手，我才打了她一下！”
小夥子說：“要是這樣，您把她交給我吧，我試試她，看她是不是真的這麽能幹，如果是真的，我就娶她為妻。”
小夥子把她領回家，關進一間屋子，裏麵堆滿了要紡的麻，他說：“我是一個船長，馬上要出海。如果我出海回來你已經紡好這些線，我就娶你。”
房間裏還有很多漂亮的衣服和珠寶，因為船長非常有錢。“如果你成為我的妻子，這些東西就是你的了。”說完，他就走了。
姑娘每天對著鏡子試那些衣服和珠寶，讓家裏的仆人為她做吃的。而麻還在那裏沒有紡。剩下最後一天了，明天船長就回來了，姑娘想到永遠不會成為船長的新娘了，就失望地哭了起來。正當她失望哭泣的時候，一個破布口袋從窗口飛落進房間。破布口袋站立起來，原來是一個長著長眉毛的老婦人。老婦人說：“你別怕，我是來幫你的。你把線分成縷，我來替你紡。”
從沒見過比這老婦人更快的紡織女了，她隻用了一刻鍾，所有的麻都被紡好了。但是，越紡，她的眉毛長得越長，長過了鼻子，長過了下巴，最後長得超過了一掌長，而且她的眼皮也跟著變長了。
當活幹完了，姑娘說：“好心的夫人，我怎麽才能報答您呢？”
“我不想要報答，你跟船長結婚的時候，能邀請我參加結婚宴會，我就很滿足了。”
“那我怎麽邀請你呢？”
“你隻要念：‘哥隆比娜！’我就會來。不過，我可提醒你，千萬別忘記我的名字。如果忘了，我就不會再幫助你了。你也就完了。”
第二天船長回來了，看到所有的麻都紡好了，就說：“你真能幹，我相信你就是我想娶的新娘。這是我為你買回來的珠寶和衣服。但我還必須再出去一次。我們來試第二次。這裏的麻有上次的兩倍，當我回來的時候，你能把它紡完，我就會跟你結婚。”
像上次一樣，姑娘每天試著不同的珠寶和衣服，吃著湯和麵包，這樣打發著時間。又到了最後一天，一根線也沒紡。她又哭了起來，這時她聽到從煙囪上掉下來一個東西，一看是一個破布包滾到屋子裏來了。破布包站了起來，原來是一個耷拉著嘴唇的老婦人。這個老婦人也願意幫助她，開始幫她紡線，紡得比上次那個老婦人還快，但是越紡，她的嘴唇長得越長，她隻用了半小時就把所有的麻紡完了。老婦人同樣不要回報，隻要求姑娘邀請她參加婚宴。“你隻要念：‘哥隆巴拉’我就會出現。你千萬別忘記我的名字。不然我給你的幫助就會失效，你小心記著！”
船長回來了，還沒進門就問：“你全都紡完了嗎？”
姑娘說：“咳，早就完了！”
“這是給你帶回來的珠寶和衣服。這一次，如果我第三次出海回來的時候，你能紡完比上兩次都多的麻，我向你保證馬上舉行婚禮。”
這一次也跟以前一樣，姑娘一根線也沒紡，當隻剩最後一天的時候，從屋簷下掉下來一個破布包，一個露著牙齒的老婦人從破布包裏麵走了出來。她開始替姑娘紡線，她紡得很快，而且越紡越快，並且她的牙齒就長得越長。
老婦人說：“你想邀請我參加你的婚宴，就必須喊：‘哥隆布恩！’不過你要是忘了我的名字，你會後悔今天遇見了我。”
船長回來的時候，看到所有的麻又都紡好了，非常滿意。他說：“好了，現在你就是我的妻子了。”他馬上讓人開始準備婚禮，並邀請當地所有的大人物。
新娘正在全身心地籌備婚禮，一直就沒有想到那三個老婦人。婚禮那天的早晨，她想起應該邀請她們。但當她試圖寫出她們的名字的時候，才發現她把三人的名字忘得一幹二淨，她絞盡腦汁地回憶，但連一個名字也想不起來。
新娘從喜悅中一下子掉進了無底的悲哀中，船長也發現了新娘的情緒低落，就去問她，而她沉默不語。新郎找不到新娘情緒憂傷的起因，就想：也許今天不宜結婚。他吩咐把婚禮推遲到第二天。到了第二天，情況更糟。第三天的情況就更別提了。總之，日子一天天過去，新娘越來越憂傷、越來越沉默，她緊皺眉頭，好像要集中注意力，思考什麽。新郎想方設法讓她高興，用笑話逗她開心，給她講故事，但是一點用也沒有。
新郎看到自己無法寬慰新娘，便試圖寬慰自己，一天早上，他出去打獵。在樹林中，突然遇上了暴風雨，他急忙躲進了一間小茅屋。小茅屋裏一片漆黑，他聽到有人在說話：
“噢，哥隆比娜！”
“噢，哥隆巴拉！”
“噢，哥隆布恩！”
“把鍋架上，熬玉米粥吧！這個該死的新娘不會邀請我們赴宴了。”
船長轉過身，看見三個老婦人：一個眉毛拖到地上，另一個嘴唇耷拉到腳背，第三個牙齒可以蹭到膝蓋。
新郎想：“看吧，我可找到逗新娘高興的事了，如果我這次看到的事還不能逗她笑，那就不會再有別的事能逗她笑了！”
他回到家，對新娘說：“我告訴你，今天我在樹林裏，為了避雨我進了一間茅屋，你猜我看見了什麽？三個老婦人！一個眉毛拖到地上，另一個嘴唇耷拉到腳背，第三個牙齒可以蹭到膝蓋。她們互相叫著名字：‘噢，哥隆比娜！’‘噢，哥隆巴拉！’‘噢，哥隆布恩！’”
新娘臉上的愁容頓時消失了，笑個不停，說：“馬上舉行婚禮吧，不過我有個請求。既然是你看見的那三個老婦人讓我開心，那就讓她們也被請來參加婚宴吧。”
船長派人去了。他們為這三個老婦人專門安排了一張圓桌子，但在三個婦人長長的眉毛、嘴唇和牙齒之間，這張桌子就顯得太小了，人們不理解她們是如何吃飯的。
婚宴結束以後，新郎問哥隆比娜：“好心的夫人，請告訴我，您怎麽會有這麽長的眉毛呢？”
“是因為紡線的時候要盯著細細的線看才會這樣。”哥隆比娜說。
“那您呢，您的嘴唇怎麽會這麽長呢？”
“是因為撚線的時候要不停地在嘴唇上沾濕手指。”哥隆巴拉說。
“那您呢，您怎麽會有這麽長的牙齒呢？”
“因為老是要用牙齒咬線結。”哥隆布恩說。
“我懂了，”新郎說道，他轉向妻子，“你去把那些線槌拿來。”新娘把線槌拿了出來交給新郎，新郎把它們扔進壁爐的火裏，說：“你這一生中再也不要紡線了！”
從那以後，這位又高又胖的姑娘就這樣幸福美滿地生活著。
andseven!
awomanhadadaughterwhowasbigandfatandsogluttonousthatwhenhermotherbroughtthesouptothetableshewouldeatonebowl,thenasecond,thenathird,andkeeponcallingformore.hermotherfilledherbowl,saying,"thatmakesthree!andfour!andfive!"whenthedaughteraskedforaseventhbowlofsoup,hermother,insteadoffillingthebowl,whackedheroverthehead,shouting,"andseven!"
awell-dressedyoungmanwaspassingbyjustthenandsawthemotherthroughthewindowhittingthegindcrying,"andseven!"
asthebigfatyoundycapturedhisfancyimmediately,hewentinandasked,"sevenofwhat?"
ashamedofherdaughtersgluttony,themotherreplied,"sevenspindlesofhemp!ihaveadaughtersocrazyaboutworkthatshedevenspinthewoolonthesheepsback!canyouimaghatshesalreadyspunsevenspindlesofhempthismorningandstillwantstospin?tomakeherstop,ihavetobeather."
"ifshesthathard-working,givehertome,"saidtheyoungman."illtryherouttoseeifyouretellingthetruthandthenillmarryher."
hetookhertohishouseandshutherupinaroomfullofhempwaitingtobespun."imaseacaptain,andimleavingonavoyage,"hesaid."ifyouvespunallthishempbythetimeireturn,illmarryyou."
theroomalsocontainedexquisiteclothesandjewels,forthecaptainhappenedtobeveryrich."whenyoubemywife,"heexined,"thesethingswillbeyours."thenhelefther.
thegirlspentherdaystryingondressesandjewelsandadmiringherselfinthemirror.shealsodevotedmuchtimetonningmeals,whichthehouseholdservantspreparedforher.noneofthehempwasspunyet,andinonemoredaythecaptainwouldbeback.thegirlgaveupallhopeofevermarryinghimandburstintotears.shewasstillcryingwhenthroughthewindowflewabundleofragsandcametorestonitsfeet:itwasanoldwomanwithlongeyshes."dontbeafraid,"shetoldthegirl."ivetohelpyou.illspinwhileyoumaketheskein."
youneversawanyonespinwiththespeedofthatoldwoman.injustaquarterofanhourshehadspuneverybitofhemp.andthemoreshespun,thelongerheshesbecame;longerthanhernose,longerthanherchin,theycamedownmorethanafoot;andhereyelidsalsogrewmuchlonger.
whentheworkwasfinished,thegirlsaid,"howcanirepayyou,mygoody?"
"idontwanttoberepaid.justinvitemetoyourweddingbanquetwhenyoumarrythecaptain."
"howdoigoaboutinvitingyou?"
"justcallcolumbinaandile.butheavenhelpyouifyouforgetmyname.itwouldbeasthoughidneverhelpedyou,andyoudbeundone."
thenextdaythecaptainarrivedandfoundthehempallspun."excellent!"hesaid."ibelieveyourejustthebrideiwasseeking.herearetheclothesandjewelsiboughtforyou.butnowihavetogoonanothervoyage.letshaveasecondtest.herestwicetheamountofhempigaveyoubefore.ifyouspinitallbythetimeireturn,illmarryyou."
asshehaddonebefore,thegirlspenthertimetryingongownsandjewels,eatingsoupansagna,andgottothstdaywithallthehempstillwaitingtobespun.shewasweepingoveritwhen,loandbehold,somethingdroppeddownthechimney,andintotheroomrolledabundleofrags.itcametorestonitsfeet,andtherestoodanoldwomanwithsagginglips.thisoopromisedtohelp,beganspinning,andworkedevenfasterthantheotheroldwoman.themoreshespun,themoreherlipssagged.whenthehempwasallspuninahalf-hour,theoldwomanaskedonlytobeinvitedtotheweddingbanquet."justcallcolumbara.butdontforgetmyname,ormyhelpwillhavebeeninvainandyouwillsuffer."
thecaptainreturnedandaskedbeforeheevengotintothehouse,"didyouspinitall?"
"ijustnowfinished!"
"taketheseclothesandjewels.now,ifebackfrommythirdvoyageandfindyouvespunthisthirdloadofhemp,whichismuchbiggerthantheothertwo,ipromisewellgetmarriedatonce."
asusual,thegirlwaiteduntilthstdaywithouttouchingthehemp.downfromtheroofsgutterfebundleofrags,andoutcameanoldwomanwithbuckteeth.shebeganspinning,spinningevenfaster,andthemoreshespun,thelongergrewherteeth.
"toinvitemetoyourweddingbanquet,"saidtheoldwoman,"youmustcallcolumbun.butifyouforgetmyname,itwouldbebetterifyoudneverseenme."
whenthecaptaincamehomeandfoundthehempallspun,hewapletelysatisfied."fine,"hesaid,"nowyouwillbemywife."heorderedpreparationsmadeforthewedding,towhichheinvitedallthenobilityintown.
caughtupinthepreparations,thebridethoughtnomoreoftheoldwomen.onthemorningoftheweddingsherememberedthatshewassupposedtoinvitethem,butwhenshewenttopronouncetheirnames,shefoundtheyhadslippedhermind.shecudgeledherbrainsbut,forthelifeofher,couldntrecasinglename.
fromthecheerfulgirlshewas,shesankintoastateofbottomlessgloom.thecaptainnoticeditandaskedherwhatthematterwas,butshewouldsaynothing.unabletoountforhersadness,thebridegroomthought,thisisperhapsnottherightday.hethereforepostponedtheweddinguntilthedayafter.butthenextdaywasstillworse,andthedayfollowingwewontevenmention.witheverydaythatpassed,thebridebecamegloomierandquieter,withherbrowsknitinconcentration.hetoldherjokesandstoriesinanefforttomakeheugh,butnothinghesaidordidaffectedher.
sincehecouldntcheerherup,hedecidedtogohuntingandcheerhimselfup.rightintheheartofthewoodshewascaughtinastormandtookrefugeinahovel.hewasinthereinthedark,whenheheardvoices:
"ocolumbina!"
"ocolumbara!"
"ocolumbun!"
"putonthepottomakepolenta!thatconfoundedbridewontbeinvitingustoherbanquetafterall!"
thecaptainwheeledaroundandsawthreecrones.onehadeyshesthatdraggedontheground,anotherlipsthathungdowntoherfeet,andthethirdteeththatgrazedherknees.
well,well,hethoughttohimself.nowicantellhersomethingthatwillmakeheugh.ifshedoesnughoverwhativejustseen,shellneveughatanything!
hewenthomeandsaidtohisbride,"justlistentothis.todayiwasinthewoodsandwentintoahoveltogetoutoftherain.igoinandwhatshouldiseebutthreecrones:onewitheyshesthatdraggedontheground,anotherwithlipsthathungdowntoherfeet,andthethirdwithteeththatgrazedherknees.andtheycalledeachother:ocolumbina,ocolumbara,ocolumbun!"
thebridesfacebrightenedinstantly,andsheburstouughing,anughedanughed."ordertheweddingbanquetrightaway.butimaskingonefavorofyou:sincethosethreecronesmademughsohard,letmeinvitethemtothebanquet."
invitethemshedid.forthethreeoldwomenaseparateroundtablewassetup,butsosmallthatwhatwiththeeyshesofone,thelipsoftheother,andtheteethofthethird,younolongerknewwhatwaswhat.
whendinnerwasover,thebridegroomaskedcolumbina,"tellme,goody,whyareyoushessolong?"
"thatsfromstrainingmyeyestospinfhread!"saidcolumbina.
"andyou,whyareyourlipssothick?"
"thaesfromalwaysrubbingmyfingeronthemtowetthethread!"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,ordingtoschrs),subjectedtoliterarytreatmentintheseventeenthcenturyinnaples(basile,iv,4)andwellknownthroughoutitaly.
copyright:italianfolktalesselectedandretoldbyitalocalvino,
trantedbygeorgemartin,
pantheonbooks,newyork1980
從前有一對母女，女兒又高又胖，吃得又多。媽媽端上的肉汁菜湯，她吃了一盤、兩盤、三盤，還不停地要。而媽媽邊為她盛，邊說：“三！……四！……五！……”當女兒要第七盤湯的時候，媽媽沒有盛，而是用棍子敲了一下女兒的頭，大喊：“七！”
一個穿著體麵的小夥子從這裏路過，從窗外看見媽媽打著女兒喊：“七！”
看見這個高大豐滿的姑娘挺漂亮，小夥子一下子就喜歡上了，他走進姑娘的家，問道：“七個什麽？”
媽媽因為自己有這麽個貪吃的女兒而羞愧，就說：“七個線槌啊！我的女兒是個工作狂，她甚至能到羊身上去紡毛線！這不，今天早上她已經紡了七槌線了，可是還沒完沒了地幹！為了讓她停手，我才打了她一下！”
小夥子說：“要是這樣，您把她交給我吧，我試試她，看她是不是真的這麽能幹，如果是真的，我就娶她為妻。”
小夥子把她領回家，關進一間屋子，裏麵堆滿了要紡的麻，他說：“我是一個船長，馬上要出海。如果我出海回來你已經紡好這些線，我就娶你。”
房間裏還有很多漂亮的衣服和珠寶，因為船長非常有錢。“如果你成為我的妻子，這些東西就是你的了。”說完，他就走了。
姑娘每天對著鏡子試那些衣服和珠寶，讓家裏的仆人為她做吃的。而麻還在那裏沒有紡。剩下最後一天了，明天船長就回來了，姑娘想到永遠不會成為船長的新娘了，就失望地哭了起來。正當她失望哭泣的時候，一個破布口袋從窗口飛落進房間。破布口袋站立起來，原來是一個長著長眉毛的老婦人。老婦人說：“你別怕，我是來幫你的。你把線分成縷，我來替你紡。”
從沒見過比這老婦人更快的紡織女了，她隻用了一刻鍾，所有的麻都被紡好了。但是，越紡，她的眉毛長得越長，長過了鼻子，長過了下巴，最後長得超過了一掌長，而且她的眼皮也跟著變長了。
當活幹完了，姑娘說：“好心的夫人，我怎麽才能報答您呢？”
“我不想要報答，你跟船長結婚的時候，能邀請我參加結婚宴會，我就很滿足了。”
“那我怎麽邀請你呢？”
“你隻要念：‘哥隆比娜！’我就會來。不過，我可提醒你，千萬別忘記我的名字。如果忘了，我就不會再幫助你了。你也就完了。”
第二天船長回來了，看到所有的麻都紡好了，就說：“你真能幹，我相信你就是我想娶的新娘。這是我為你買回來的珠寶和衣服。但我還必須再出去一次。我們來試第二次。這裏的麻有上次的兩倍，當我回來的時候，你能把它紡完，我就會跟你結婚。”
像上次一樣，姑娘每天試著不同的珠寶和衣服，吃著湯和麵包，這樣打發著時間。又到了最後一天，一根線也沒紡。她又哭了起來，這時她聽到從煙囪上掉下來一個東西，一看是一個破布包滾到屋子裏來了。破布包站了起來，原來是一個耷拉著嘴唇的老婦人。這個老婦人也願意幫助她，開始幫她紡線，紡得比上次那個老婦人還快，但是越紡，她的嘴唇長得越長，她隻用了半小時就把所有的麻紡完了。老婦人同樣不要回報，隻要求姑娘邀請她參加婚宴。“你隻要念：‘哥隆巴拉’我就會出現。你千萬別忘記我的名字。不然我給你的幫助就會失效，你小心記著！”
船長回來了，還沒進門就問：“你全都紡完了嗎？”
姑娘說：“咳，早就完了！”
“這是給你帶回來的珠寶和衣服。這一次，如果我第三次出海回來的時候，你能紡完比上兩次都多的麻，我向你保證馬上舉行婚禮。”
這一次也跟以前一樣，姑娘一根線也沒紡，當隻剩最後一天的時候，從屋簷下掉下來一個破布包，一個露著牙齒的老婦人從破布包裏麵走了出來。她開始替姑娘紡線，她紡得很快，而且越紡越快，並且她的牙齒就長得越長。
老婦人說：“你想邀請我參加你的婚宴，就必須喊：‘哥隆布恩！’不過你要是忘了我的名字，你會後悔今天遇見了我。”
船長回來的時候，看到所有的麻又都紡好了，非常滿意。他說：“好了，現在你就是我的妻子了。”他馬上讓人開始準備婚禮，並邀請當地所有的大人物。
新娘正在全身心地籌備婚禮，一直就沒有想到那三個老婦人。婚禮那天的早晨，她想起應該邀請她們。但當她試圖寫出她們的名字的時候，才發現她把三人的名字忘得一幹二淨，她絞盡腦汁地回憶，但連一個名字也想不起來。
新娘從喜悅中一下子掉進了無底的悲哀中，船長也發現了新娘的情緒低落，就去問她，而她沉默不語。新郎找不到新娘情緒憂傷的起因，就想：也許今天不宜結婚。他吩咐把婚禮推遲到第二天。到了第二天，情況更糟。第三天的情況就更別提了。總之，日子一天天過去，新娘越來越憂傷、越來越沉默，她緊皺眉頭，好像要集中注意力，思考什麽。新郎想方設法讓她高興，用笑話逗她開心，給她講故事，但是一點用也沒有。
新郎看到自己無法寬慰新娘，便試圖寬慰自己，一天早上，他出去打獵。在樹林中，突然遇上了暴風雨，他急忙躲進了一間小茅屋。小茅屋裏一片漆黑，他聽到有人在說話：
“噢，哥隆比娜！”
“噢，哥隆巴拉！”
“噢，哥隆布恩！”
“把鍋架上，熬玉米粥吧！這個該死的新娘不會邀請我們赴宴了。”
船長轉過身，看見三個老婦人：一個眉毛拖到地上，另一個嘴唇耷拉到腳背，第三個牙齒可以蹭到膝蓋。
新郎想：“看吧，我可找到逗新娘高興的事了，如果我這次看到的事還不能逗她笑，那就不會再有別的事能逗她笑了！”
他回到家，對新娘說：“我告訴你，今天我在樹林裏，為了避雨我進了一間茅屋，你猜我看見了什麽？三個老婦人！一個眉毛拖到地上，另一個嘴唇耷拉到腳背，第三個牙齒可以蹭到膝蓋。她們互相叫著名字：‘噢，哥隆比娜！’‘噢，哥隆巴拉！’‘噢，哥隆布恩！’”
新娘臉上的愁容頓時消失了，笑個不停，說：“馬上舉行婚禮吧，不過我有個請求。既然是你看見的那三個老婦人讓我開心，那就讓她們也被請來參加婚宴吧。”
船長派人去了。他們為這三個老婦人專門安排了一張圓桌子，但在三個婦人長長的眉毛、嘴唇和牙齒之間，這張桌子就顯得太小了，人們不理解她們是如何吃飯的。
婚宴結束以後，新郎問哥隆比娜：“好心的夫人，請告訴我，您怎麽會有這麽長的眉毛呢？”
“是因為紡線的時候要盯著細細的線看才會這樣。”哥隆比娜說。
“那您呢，您的嘴唇怎麽會這麽長呢？”
“是因為撚線的時候要不停地在嘴唇上沾濕手指。”哥隆巴拉說。
“那您呢，您怎麽會有這麽長的牙齒呢？”
“因為老是要用牙齒咬線結。”哥隆布恩說。
“我懂了，”新郎說道，他轉向妻子，“你去把那些線槌拿來。”新娘把線槌拿了出來交給新郎，新郎把它們扔進壁爐的火裏，說：“你這一生中再也不要紡線了！”
從那以後，這位又高又胖的姑娘就這樣幸福美滿地生活著。
andseven!
awomanhadadaughterwhowasbigandfatandsogluttonousthatwhenhermotherbroughtthesouptothetableshewouldeatonebowl,thenasecond,thenathird,andkeeponcallingformore.hermotherfilledherbowl,saying,"thatmakesthree!andfour!andfive!"whenthedaughteraskedforaseventhbowlofsoup,hermother,insteadoffillingthebowl,whackedheroverthehead,shouting,"andseven!"
awell-dressedyoungmanwaspassingbyjustthenandsawthemotherthroughthewindowhittingthegindcrying,"andseven!"
asthebigfatyoundycapturedhisfancyimmediately,hewentinandasked,"sevenofwhat?"
ashamedofherdaughtersgluttony,themotherreplied,"sevenspindlesofhemp!ihaveadaughtersocrazyaboutworkthatshedevenspinthewoolonthesheepsback!canyouimaghatshesalreadyspunsevenspindlesofhempthismorningandstillwantstospin?tomakeherstop,ihavetobeather."
"ifshesthathard-working,givehertome,"saidtheyoungman."illtryherouttoseeifyouretellingthetruthandthenillmarryher."
hetookhertohishouseandshutherupinaroomfullofhempwaitingtobespun."imaseacaptain,andimleavingonavoyage,"hesaid."ifyouvespunallthishempbythetimeireturn,illmarryyou."
theroomalsocontainedexquisiteclothesandjewels,forthecaptainhappenedtobeveryrich."whenyoubemywife,"heexined,"thesethingswillbeyours."thenhelefther.
thegirlspentherdaystryingondressesandjewelsandadmiringherselfinthemirror.shealsodevotedmuchtimetonningmeals,whichthehouseholdservantspreparedforher.noneofthehempwasspunyet,andinonemoredaythecaptainwouldbeback.thegirlgaveupallhopeofevermarryinghimandburstintotears.shewasstillcryingwhenthroughthewindowflewabundleofragsandcametorestonitsfeet:itwasanoldwomanwithlongeyshes."dontbeafraid,"shetoldthegirl."ivetohelpyou.illspinwhileyoumaketheskein."
youneversawanyonespinwiththespeedofthatoldwoman.injustaquarterofanhourshehadspuneverybitofhemp.andthemoreshespun,thelongerheshesbecame;longerthanhernose,longerthanherchin,theycamedownmorethanafoot;andhereyelidsalsogrewmuchlonger.
whentheworkwasfinished,thegirlsaid,"howcanirepayyou,mygoody?"
"idontwanttoberepaid.justinvitemetoyourweddingbanquetwhenyoumarrythecaptain."
"howdoigoaboutinvitingyou?"
"justcallcolumbinaandile.butheavenhelpyouifyouforgetmyname.itwouldbeasthoughidneverhelpedyou,andyoudbeundone."
thenextdaythecaptainarrivedandfoundthehempallspun."excellent!"hesaid."ibelieveyourejustthebrideiwasseeking.herearetheclothesandjewelsiboughtforyou.butnowihavetogoonanothervoyage.letshaveasecondtest.herestwicetheamountofhempigaveyoubefore.ifyouspinitallbythetimeireturn,illmarryyou."
asshehaddonebefore,thegirlspenthertimetryingongownsandjewels,eatingsoupansagna,andgottothstdaywithallthehempstillwaitingtobespun.shewasweepingoveritwhen,loandbehold,somethingdroppeddownthechimney,andintotheroomrolledabundleofrags.itcametorestonitsfeet,andtherestoodanoldwomanwithsagginglips.thisoopromisedtohelp,beganspinning,andworkedevenfasterthantheotheroldwoman.themoreshespun,themoreherlipssagged.whenthehempwasallspuninahalf-hour,theoldwomanaskedonlytobeinvitedtotheweddingbanquet."justcallcolumbara.butdontforgetmyname,ormyhelpwillhavebeeninvainandyouwillsuffer."
thecaptainreturnedandaskedbeforeheevengotintothehouse,"didyouspinitall?"
"ijustnowfinished!"
"taketheseclothesandjewels.now,ifebackfrommythirdvoyageandfindyouvespunthisthirdloadofhemp,whichismuchbiggerthantheothertwo,ipromisewellgetmarriedatonce."
asusual,thegirlwaiteduntilthstdaywithouttouchingthehemp.downfromtheroofsgutterfebundleofrags,andoutcameanoldwomanwithbuckteeth.shebeganspinning,spinningevenfaster,andthemoreshespun,thelongergrewherteeth.
"toinvitemetoyourweddingbanquet,"saidtheoldwoman,"youmustcallcolumbun.butifyouforgetmyname,itwouldbebetterifyoudneverseenme."
whenthecaptaincamehomeandfoundthehempallspun,hewapletelysatisfied."fine,"hesaid,"nowyouwillbemywife."heorderedpreparationsmadeforthewedding,towhichheinvitedallthenobilityintown.
caughtupinthepreparations,thebridethoughtnomoreoftheoldwomen.onthemorningoftheweddingsherememberedthatshewassupposedtoinvitethem,butwhenshewenttopronouncetheirnames,shefoundtheyhadslippedhermind.shecudgeledherbrainsbut,forthelifeofher,couldntrecasinglename.
fromthecheerfulgirlshewas,shesankintoastateofbottomlessgloom.thecaptainnoticeditandaskedherwhatthematterwas,butshewouldsaynothing.unabletoountforhersadness,thebridegroomthought,thisisperhapsnottherightday.hethereforepostponedtheweddinguntilthedayafter.butthenextdaywasstillworse,andthedayfollowingwewontevenmention.witheverydaythatpassed,thebridebecamegloomierandquieter,withherbrowsknitinconcentration.hetoldherjokesandstoriesinanefforttomakeheugh,butnothinghesaidordidaffectedher.
sincehecouldntcheerherup,hedecidedtogohuntingandcheerhimselfup.rightintheheartofthewoodshewascaughtinastormandtookrefugeinahovel.hewasinthereinthedark,whenheheardvoices:
"ocolumbina!"
"ocolumbara!"
"ocolumbun!"
"putonthepottomakepolenta!thatconfoundedbridewontbeinvitingustoherbanquetafterall!"
thecaptainwheeledaroundandsawthreecrones.onehadeyshesthatdraggedontheground,anotherlipsthathungdowntoherfeet,andthethirdteeththatgrazedherknees.
well,well,hethoughttohimself.nowicantellhersomethingthatwillmakeheugh.ifshedoesnughoverwhativejustseen,shellneveughatanything!
hewenthomeandsaidtohisbride,"justlistentothis.todayiwasinthewoodsandwentintoahoveltogetoutoftherain.igoinandwhatshouldiseebutthreecrones:onewitheyshesthatdraggedontheground,anotherwithlipsthathungdowntoherfeet,andthethirdwithteeththatgrazedherknees.andtheycalledeachother:ocolumbina,ocolumbara,ocolumbun!"
thebridesfacebrightenedinstantly,andsheburstouughing,anughedanughed."ordertheweddingbanquetrightaway.butimaskingonefavorofyou:sincethosethreecronesmademughsohard,letmeinvitethemtothebanquet."
invitethemshedid.forthethreeoldwomenaseparateroundtablewassetup,butsosmallthatwhatwiththeeyshesofone,thelipsoftheother,andtheteethofthethird,younolongerknewwhatwaswhat.
whendinnerwasover,thebridegroomaskedcolumbina,"tellme,goody,whyareyoushessolong?"
"thatsfromstrainingmyeyestospinfhread!"saidcolumbina.
"andyou,whyareyourlipssothick?"
"thaesfromalwaysrubbingmyfingeronthemtowetthethread!"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,ordingtoschrs),subjectedtoliterarytreatmentintheseventeenthcenturyinnaples(basile,iv,4)andwellknownthroughoutitaly.
copyright:italianfolktalesselectedandretoldbyitalocalvino,
trantedbygeorgemartin,
pantheonbooks,newyork1980