意大利童话 作者:卡尔维诺-第17部分

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　　村民们就照马西诺说的做了。随后，马西诺又动身游历世界去了，一路上，他加入了一次又一次的战争，每一次战争都持续了很长时间，有诗为证：　
　　啊，战争中的士兵，　
　　你吃的差，睡在地上，　
　　将火药装进炮膛，　
　　嘣！嘣！　
The　Count's　Beard　
　　The　town　of　Pocapaglia　was　perched　on　the　pinnacle　of　a　hill　so　steep　that　its　inhabitants　tied　little　bags　on　the　tail　feathers　of　their　hens　to　catch　each　freshly　laid　egg　that　otherwise　would　have　gone　rolling　down　the　slopes　into　the　woods　below。　
　　All　of　which　goes　to　show　that　the　people　of　Pocapaglia　were　not　the　dunces　they　were　said　to　be；　and　that　the　proverb；　
　　In　Pocapaglia　ways
The　donkey　whistles；　the　master　brays；　
　　merely　reflected　the　malicious　grudge　the　neighboring　townspeople　bore　the　Pocapaglians　for　their　peaceful　ways　and　their　reluctance　to　quarrel　with　anyone。　
　　〃Yes；　yes；〃　was　all　the　Pocapaglians　would　reply；　〃but　just　wait　until　Masino　returns；　and　you　will　see　who　brays　more；　we　or　you。〃　
　　Everybody　in　Pocapaglia　loved　Masino；　the　smartest　boy　in　town。　He　was　no　stronger　physically　than　anybody　else；　in　fact；　he　even　looked　rather　puny。　But　he　had　always　been　very　clever。　Concerned　over　how　little　he　was　at　birth；　his　mother　had　bathed　him　in　warm　wine　to　keep　him　alive　and　make　him　a　little　stronger。　His　father　had　heated　the　wine　with　a　red…hot　horseshoe。　That　way　Masino　absorbed　the　subtlety　of　wine　and　the　endurance　of　iron。　To　cool　him　off　after　his　bath；　his　mother　cradled　him　in　the　shell　of　an　unripened　chestnut；　it　was　bitter　and　gave　him　understanding。　
　　At　the　time　the　Pocapaglians　were　awaiting　the　return　of　Masino；　whom　no　one　had　seen　since　the　day　he　went　off　to　be　a　soldier　（and　who　was　now　most　likely　somewhere　in　Africa）；　strange　things　started　happening　in　Pocapaglia。　Every　evening　as　the　cattle　came　back　from　pasture　in　the　plain　below；　an　animal　was　whisked　away　by　Micillina　the　Witch。　
　　The　witch　would　hide　in　the　woods　at　the　foot　of　the　hill；　and　all　she　needed　to　do　was　give　one　heavy　puff；　and　she　had　herself　an　ox。　When　the　farmers　heard　her　steal　through　the　thicket　after　dark；　their　teeth　would　chatter；　and　everyone　would　fall　down　in　a　swoon。　That　became　so　mon　that　people　took　to　saying：　
　　Beware　of　Micillina；　that　old　witch；　
For　all　your　oxen　she　will　filch；　
Then　train　on　you　her　crossed…eye；　
And　wait　for　you　to　fall　and　die。　
　　At　night　they　began　lighting　huge　bonfires　to　keep　Micillina　the　Witch　from　venturing　out　of　the　woods。　But　she　would　sneak　up　on　the　solitary　farmer　watching　over　cattle　beside　the　bonfire　and　knock　him　out　in　one　breath。　In　the　morning　upon　awaking；　he'd　find　cows　and　oxen　gone；　and　his　friends　would　hear　him　weeping　and　moaning　and　hitting　himself　on　the　head。　Then　everybody　bed　the　woods　for　traces　of　the　stolen　cattle；　but　found　only　tufts　of　hair；　hairpins；　and　footprints　left　here　and　there　by　Micillina　the　Witch。　
　　Things　went　from　bad　to　worse。　Shut　up　all　the　time　in　the　barn；　the　cows　grew　as　thin　as　rails。　A　rake　instead　of　a　brush　was　all　that　was　needed　to　groom　them；　from　rib　to　rib。　Nobody　dared　lead　the　cattle　to　pasture　any　more。　Everyone　stayed　clear　of　the　woods　now；　and　the　mushrooms　that　grew　there　went　unpicked　and　got　as　big　as　umbrellas。　
　　Micillina　the　Witch　was　not　tempted　to　plunder　other　towns；　knowing　full　well　that　calm　and　peace…loving　people　were　to　be　found　only　in　Pocapaglia。　There　the　poor　farmers　lit　a　big　bonfire　every　night　in　the　town　square；　while　the　women　and　children　locked　themselves　indoors。　The　men　sat　around　the　fire　scratching　their　heads　and　groaning。　Day　after　day　they　scratched　and　groaned　until　a　decision　was　finally　reached　to　go　to　the　count　for　help。　
　　The　count　lived　high　above　the　town　on　a　large　circular　estate　surrounded　by　a　massive　wall。　The　top　of　the　wall　was　encrusted　with　sharp　bits　of　glass。　One　Sunday　morning　all　the　townsmen　arrived；　with　hats　in　hand。　They　knocked；　the　door　swung　open；　and　they　filed　into　the　courtyard　before　the　court's　round　dwelling；　which　had　bars　at　all　the　windows。　Around　the　courtyard　sat　the　court's　soldiers　smoothing　their　mustaches　with　oil　to　make　them　shine　and　scowling　at　the　farmers。　At　the　end　of　the　courtyard；　in　a　velvet　chair；　sat　the　count　himself　with　his　long　black　beard；　which　four　soldiers　were　bing　from　head　to　foot。　
　　The　oldest　farmer　took　heart　and　said；　〃Your　Honor；　we　have　dared　e　to　you　about　our　misfortune。　As　our　cattle　go　into　the　woods；　Micillina　the　Witch　appears　and　makes　off　with　them。〃　So；　amid　sighs　and　groans；　with　the　other　farmers　nodding　in　assent；　he　told　the　count　all　about　their　nightmare。　
　　The　count　remained　silent。　
　　〃We　have　e　here；〃　said　the　old　man；　〃to　be　so　bold　as　to　ask　Your　Honor's　advice。〃　
　　The　count　remained　silent。　
　　〃We　have　e　here；〃　he　added；　〃to　be　so　bold　as　to　ask　Your　Honor　to　help　us。　If　you　assigned　us　an　escort　of　soldiers；　we　could　again　take　our　cattle　down　to　pasture。〃　
　　The　count　shook　his　head。　〃If　I　let　you　have　the　soldiers；〃　he　said；　〃I　must　also　let　you　have　the　captain。。。〃　
　　The　farmers　listened；　hardly　daring　to　hope。　
　　〃But　if　the　captain　is　away　in　the　evening；〃　said　the　count；　〃who　can　I　play　lotto　with？〃　
　　The　farmers　fell　to　their　knees。　〃Help　us；　noble　count；　for　pity's　sake！〃　The　soldiers　around　the　courtyard　yawned　and　stroked　their　mustaches。　
　　Again　the　count　shook　his　head　and　said：　
　　I　am　the　count　and　I　count　for　three；　
No　witch　have　I　seen；　
So；　no　witch　has　there　been。　
　　At　those　words　and　still　yawning；　the　soldiers　picked　up　their　guns　and；　with　bayonets　extended；　moved　slowly　toward　the　farmers；　who　turned　and　filed　silently　out　of　the　courtyard。　
　　Back　in　the　town　square　and　pletely　discouraged；　the　farmers　had　no　idea　what　to　do　next。　But　the　senior　of　them　all；　the　one　who　had　spoken　to　the　count；　said；　〃There's　nothing　left　to　do　but　send　for　Masino！〃　
　　So　they　wrote　Masino　a　letter　and　sent　it　to　Africa。　Then　one　evening；　while　they　were　all　gathered　around　the　bonfire　as　usual；　Masino　returned。　Imagine　the　wele　they　gave　him；　the　embraces；　the　pots　of　hot；　spiced　wine！　〃Where　on　earth　have　you　been？　What　did　you　see？　If　you　only　knew　what　we　have　been　going　through！〃　
　　Masino　let　them　have　their　say；　then　he　had　his。　〃In　Africa　I　saw　cannibals　who　ate　not　men　but　locusts；　in　the　desert　I　saw　a　madman　who　had　let　his　fingernails　grow　twelve　meters　long　to　dig　for　water；　in　the　sea　I　saw　a　fish　with　a　shoe　and　a　slipper　who　wanted　to　be　king　of　the　other　fish；　since　no　other　fish　possessed　shoe　or　slipper；　in　Sicily　I　saw　a　woman　with　seventy　sons　and　only　one　kettle；　in　Naples　I　saw　people　who　walked　while　standing　still；　since　the　chatter　of　other　people　kept　them　going；　I　saw　sinners　and　I　saw　saints；　I　saw　fat　people　and　people　no　bigger　than　mites；　many；　many　frightened　souls　did　I　see；　but　never　so　many　as　here　in　Pocapaglia。〃　
　　The　farmers　hung　their　heads　in　shame；　for　Masino　had　hit　a　sensitive　spot　in　suggesting　they　were　cowards。　But　Masino　was　not　cross　with　his　fellow　townsmen。　He　asked　for　a　detailed　account　of　the　witch's　doings；　then　said；　〃Let　me　ask　you　three　questions；　and　at　the　stroke　of　midnight　I'll　go　out　and　catch　the　witch　and　bring　her　back　to　you。〃　
　　〃Let's　hear　your　questions！　Out　with　them！〃　they　all　said。　
　　〃The　first　question　is　for　the　barber。　How　many　people　came　to　you　this　month？〃　
　　The　barber　replied：　
　　〃Long　beards；　short　beards；　
Fine　beards；　coarse　beards；　
Locks　straight；　locks　curly；　
All　I　trimmèd（sic）　in　a　hurry。〃　
　　〃Your　turn　now；　cobbler。　How　many　people　brought　you　their　old　shoes　to　mend　this　month？〃　
　　〃Alas！〃　began　the　cobbler：　
　　〃Shoes　of　wood；　shoes　of　leather；　
Nail　by　nail　I　hammered　back　together；　
Mended　shoes　of　satin　and　shoes　of　serpent。　
But　there's　nothing　left　to　do；　
All　their　money　is　spent。〃　
　　〃The　third　question　goes　to　you；　rope　maker。　How　much　rope　did　you　sell　this　month？〃　
　　The　rope　maker　replied：　
　　〃Rope　galore　of　every　sort　I　sold：　
Hemp　rope；　braided；　wicker；　cord；　
Needle…thin　to　arm…thick；　
Lard…soft　to　iron…strong。。。
This　month　I　couldn't　go　wrong。〃　
　　〃Very　well；〃　said　Masino；　stretching　out　by　the　fire。　〃I'm　now　going　to　sleep　for　a　few　hours；　I'm　very　tired。　Wake　me　up　at　midnight　and　I'll　go　after　the　witch。〃　He　put　his　hat　over　his　face　and　fell　asleep。　
　　The　farmers　kept　perfectly　quiet　until　midnight；　not　even　daring　to　breathe；　for　fear　of　awaking　him。　At　midnight　Masino　shook　himself；　yawned；　drank　a　cup　of　mulled　wine；　spat　three　times　into　the　fire；　got　up　without　looking　at　a　soul；　and　headed　for　the　woods。　
　　The　farmers　stayed　behind　watching　the　fire　burn　down　and　the　last　embers　turn　to　ashes。　Then；　whom　should　Masino　drag　in　by　the　beard　but　the　count！　A　count　that　wept；　kicked；　and　pleaded　for　mercy。　
　　〃Here's　the　witch！〃　cried　Masino；　and　asked；　〃Where　did　you　put　the　mulled　wine？〃　
　　Beneath　the　farmers'　amazed　stares；　the　count　tried　to　make　himself　as　small　as　possible；　sitting　on　the　ground　and　shrinking　up　like　a　cold…bitten　fly。　
　　〃The　thief　could　have　been　none　of　you；〃　explained　Masino；　〃since　you　had　all　gone　to　the　barber　and　had　no　hair　to　lose　in　the　bushes。　Then　there　were　those　tracks　made　by　big　heavy　shoes；　but　all　of　you　go　barefoot。　Nor　could　the　thief　have　been　a　ghost；　since　he　wouldn't　have　needed　to　buy　all　that　cord　to　tie　up　the　animals　and　carry　them　away。　But　where　is　my　mulled　wine？〃　
　　Shaking　all　over；　the　count　tried　to　hide　in　that　beard　of　his　which　Masino　had　tousled　and　torn　in　pulling　him　out　of　the　bushes。　
　　〃How　did　he　ever　make　us　faint　by　just　looking　at　us？〃　asked　one　farmer。　
　　〃He　would　smite　you　on　the　head　with　a　padded　club。　That　way　you　would　hear　only　a　whir。　He'd　leave　no　mark　on　you；　you'd　simply　wake　up　with　a　headache。〃　
　　〃And　those　hairpins　he　lost？〃　asked　another。　
　　〃They　were　used　to　hold　his　beard　up　on　his　head　and　make　it　look　like　a　woman's　hair。〃　
　　Until　then　the　farmers　had　listened　in　silence；　but　when　Masino　said；　〃And　now；　what　shall　we　do　with　him？〃　a　storm　of　shouts　arose：　〃Burn　him！　Skin　him　alive！　String　him　up　for　a　scarecrow！　Seal　him　in　a　cask　and　roll　h