銀鼻子&意大利童話
從前，有一個寡婦，帶着三個女兒以替人洗衣為生。一家四口每日竭盡全力洗着衣服，但還是過着忍飢挨餓的生活。一天，大女兒對媽媽説：
“這樣還不如去給魔鬼幹活，我想離家出外謀生。”
“千萬別這樣説，我的孩子，”媽媽説，“這樣你會惹禍上身的。”
沒過幾天，她們家裏來了一位紳士，身着黑衣褲，衣冠楚楚的，長着一隻銀鼻子。
“我聽説您有三個女兒，讓我帶走一個做我的僕人吧。”他對媽媽説。
媽媽對這人的銀鼻子看不慣，要不然，她會立即讓女兒跟他走。她把大女兒叫到一旁，對她説：“人世間長着銀鼻子的人是沒有的，你得留點神，要是跟他走，將來你一定會後悔。”
但女兒急不可待地要離開家，還是跟他走了。他們走了很遠的路，穿過森林，越過高山，到了一個地方，遠遠地看見前邊有一處亮光，好像在着火。“那是什麼？”姑娘問，這時她開始有點擔憂了。
“是我家，我們就去那裏。”銀鼻子説。
姑娘跟着他繼續往前走，全身上下忍不住地哆嗦。他們來到一座巨大的宮殿，銀鼻子帶着她，參觀了所有的房間，一間比一間漂亮，每看一個房間，他都把鑰匙交給她。走到最後一個房間門口，銀鼻子把鑰匙遞給她後説：“這個門你無論如何不能打開，否則，你就麻煩了！這裏的一切，你都可以做主，只有這個房間除外。”
姑娘心想：這裏一定有什麼名堂！她決定等銀鼻子一離開這裏，就打開看看。晚上，姑娘正睡在自己的房間裏，銀鼻子躡手躡腳地走了進來，他走近姑娘的牀邊，在她的頭髮上插了一朵玫瑰花，就又躡手躡腳地出去了。
第二天早上，銀鼻子出去辦事了。只剩姑娘一個人拿着一大串鑰匙留在家裏，她立即跑去開那扇被禁止打開的房門。剛打開一條縫隙，就從裏面衝出了好多火苗和煙霧，火苗和煙霧盡是被火燒煉的罪惡的靈魂。姑娘這時才明白銀鼻子就是魔鬼，而這個房間就是地獄。她大叫一聲，立即關上房門，想盡量跑遠一點，離開這個地獄之屋，但火舌還是燒到了她頭上的插着的那朵玫瑰花。
銀鼻子回到家，看到那朵燙焦了的玫瑰花，就説：“怎麼，你就是這樣聽我的話的嗎！”他一把抓住姑娘，打開地獄的門，把她扔進了火中。
第二天，他又來到寡婦家，説：“您的女兒在我那裏住得很好，但活兒太多，她需要個幫手。您能讓二女兒也跟我去嗎？”就這樣，銀鼻子帶着另一個姑娘回到了宮殿。他也給姑娘看了每個房間，把房間的鑰匙也都給她，也對她説所有的房間都可以打開，只有最後那間除外。姑娘説：“您不必擔心，我為什麼要開它呢？我不想了解您的私事。”晚上，姑娘上牀休息以後，銀鼻子悄悄地來到她的牀前，把一朵康乃馨插在她的頭髮上。
第二天早上，銀鼻子一出門，姑娘做的第一件事就是去打開那扇禁門。只見裏面滿是煙霧、火苗，還有罪惡靈魂的嚎叫，在火中她還發現了自己的姐姐。“妹妹，快救救我！把我從這個地獄裏救出去！”姐姐衝她大叫。但姑娘嚇得早已魂飛魄散了，她連忙關上門，拔腿就逃，但不知該躲到哪裏去，因為她確信銀鼻子就是魔鬼，而她早被他捏在手心裏，無處可逃。銀鼻子一回來，首先看姑娘的頭髮，看到康乃馨被烤焦了，便一句話不説，抓起她，把她也扔進了地獄。
次日，銀鼻子照舊穿得像大人物一樣，又來到寡婦家。“我家的活太多，兩個姑娘還幹不完，您把三女兒也讓我帶去，好嗎？”就這樣，他又把三女兒帶了回來。三女兒名叫露琪亞，在三姐妹中，她最有頭腦。銀鼻子也帶她看了每個房間，然後照舊叮囑了她，而且當她睡了之後，也在她的頭髮上插了一朵花，是一朵茉莉花。早上，露琪亞起牀後，就去梳頭，照着鏡子，她發現了頭上的茉莉花。她自語道：“看哪，銀鼻子給我插了一朵茉莉花。多優雅的想法！可是，我要讓它保持新鮮。”她把花插在一個水杯裏。梳完頭，看看家裏只剩她一個人，她就想：我現在去看看那扇神秘的門裏有什麼。
剛把門打開，烈火撲面而來，只見裏邊煉着很多人，而且人羣中，她發現了她的大姐，然後又看見了二姐。她們大聲叫着：“露琪亞！露琪亞！快拉我們出去！救救我們！”
露琪亞先是關好了門，然後思考如何才能救出兩位姐姐。
魔鬼回來的時候，露琪亞早已把那朵茉莉花又插到了頭上，裝作沒事的樣子。銀鼻子看了一眼茉莉花，説：“噢，還鮮着呢。”
“當然，它怎麼會不新鮮呢？誰會把枯敗的花戴在頭上？”
“不是，我只是這麼説説罷了，”銀鼻子説，“我覺得你是個不錯的姑娘，你要是一直這樣，我們就能一直相處得很愉快。你在這裏還滿意嗎？”
“滿意，我在這裏住得很好，但要不是有放心不下的事，就更好了。”
“放心不下什麼？”
“我離家來這裏的時候，我媽媽身體不舒服。現在我一點她的消息也沒有。”
“要是就這點事，”魔鬼説，“我到你家去一趟，這樣可以給你帶回點那邊的消息。”
“謝謝，您真是個大好人。要是您明天能去，我現在就把這裏的髒東西準備成一個袋子，帶給媽媽，等媽媽身體好的時候好讓她幫忙洗洗。你不會覺得太重吧？”
“哪裏的話，”魔鬼説，“再重的東西我也拿得動。”
等魔鬼一出去，露琪亞馬上去打開了地獄之門，把大姐拉了出來，然後把她裝進一隻口袋。“待在裏邊，別説話，卡爾洛塔。等一會，魔鬼要親自帶你回家。不過，路上你要是覺得他把口袋放在地上，你就要喊：我看見你了！我看見你了！”
銀鼻子來了，露琪亞對他説：“這是一袋要洗的東西。但你真的能一氣不停地把它帶到我媽媽家嗎？”
“你不信任我嗎？”魔鬼問。
“我當然相信你，因為我有這本領：我能看得很遠，反正你把口袋擱在隨便什麼地方停下，我都看得見。”
魔鬼説：“是嗎，等着看吧！”但他對姑娘具有千里眼的法力不以為然。他背起口袋，説：“這包髒東西怎麼這麼重啊！”
姑娘説：“那當然，你有多少年沒洗過一樣東西了？”
銀鼻子上路了。但走到半路，他想：姑娘的話沒錯！不過我還是得看一下，也許她是以送該洗的髒東西為藉口，想偷我的東西。於是，他把口袋放在地上，要打開看看。
“我看見你了！我看見你了！”姐姐從口袋裏立即喊起來。
“啊，是真的！她真是千里眼！”銀鼻子説着又背起口袋，一直走到露琪亞媽媽的家。“您的女兒讓我把這袋東西帶回來洗，她還想問問您身體怎麼樣……”
銀鼻子一走，洗衣婦就打開了口袋，當她看到自己的大女兒時，高興的樣子就可想而知了。
一個星期後，露琪亞又假裝憂心忡忡，她對銀鼻子説還想知道媽媽的消息。
她又讓他帶上另一袋的髒東西去她家。於是，銀鼻子又背起她二姐上路了，這一次他又沒看成袋子裏的東西，因為他聽到有人叫着：“我看見你了！我看見你了！”
此時，洗衣婦已知道這個銀鼻子就是魔鬼了，看到他又揹着一袋東西來了，緊張得不得了，生怕銀鼻子向她要上次洗好的東西，但銀鼻子把肩上的口袋往地上一放，説：“洗好的東西，我下一次再來取，這包東西太重，壓得我骨頭都快斷了，我要空手回去。”
等銀鼻子一走遠，洗衣婦萬分焦急地打開了口袋，緊緊抱住了自己的二女兒。但隨後就開始替露琪亞擔心，她現在一個人隻身留在魔鬼的手裏。
露琪亞怎麼辦呢？過了不久，她又假裝想了解母親的情況。魔鬼此時已經厭倦了替她帶髒衣服回家，不過想到她這麼聽話，也就不忍拒絕。臨行前的晚上，露琪亞説她頭疼得厲害，要先去睡了。“我把準備好的口袋給你留下，這樣，明天即使我不舒服，起不了牀，你也可以自己把口袋帶去。”
現在，要知道露琪亞早就縫製了一個玩具布娃娃，跟她自己一樣大。她把布娃娃放在牀上，蓋上被子，然後剪掉自己的辮子安在布娃娃的頭上，看上去就像她自己睡在牀上一樣。隨後，她又把自己藏在了口袋裏。
早上，魔鬼看到姑娘躺在被窩裏，就背起口袋上路了，邊走邊想：今天她病了，不可能再注意我。這是偷看口袋裏邊到底是不是髒東西的好機會。他放下口袋，剛想打開來看。“我看見你了！我看見你了！”露琪亞喊道。
“啊！她的聲音真真切切的，好像就在耳旁！最好別再跟這姑娘開這種玩笑了。”他背起口袋，一直把它送給了洗衣婦。“我以後來把洗好的東西取走，”他急急忙忙地説，“現在我得趕快回去，因為露琪亞病了。”
就這樣，一家人又團聚了，而且因為露琪亞還從魔鬼那裏帶回很多金幣，足夠全家人幸福、滿足地生活着。她們在家門口立起了一個十字架，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