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！”
一個穿著體面的小夥子從這裡路過，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：“七個什麼？”
媽媽因為自己有這麼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，看她是不是真的這麼能幹，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，裡面堆滿了要紡的麻，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。”
房間裡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，讓家裡的僕人為她做吃的。而麻還在那裡沒有紡。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，她只用了一刻鐘，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，我怎麼才能報答您呢？”
“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。”
“那我怎麼邀請你呢？”
“你只要念：‘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。這裡的麻有上次的兩倍，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裡來了。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，她只用了半小時就把所有的麻紡完了。老婦人同樣不要回報，只要求姑娘邀請她參加婚宴。“你只要念：‘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，當只剩最後一天的時候，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裡面走了出來。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乾二淨，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，思考什麼。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。小茅屋裡一片漆黑，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，今天我在樹林裡，為了避雨我進了一間茅屋，你猜我看見了什麼？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，您怎麼會有這麼長的眉毛呢？”
“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，您的嘴唇怎麼會這麼長呢？”
“是因為捻線的時候要不停地在嘴唇上沾溼手指。”哥隆巴拉說。
“那您呢，您怎麼會有這麼長的牙齒呢？”
“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裡，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-dressedyoungmanwaspassingbyjustthenandsawthemotherthroughthewindowhittingthegirlandcrying,"Andseven!"
Asthebigfatyoungladycapturedhisfancyimmediately,hewentinandasked,"Sevenofwhat?"
Ashamedofherdaughtersgluttony,themotherreplied,"Sevenspindlesofhemp!Ihaveadaughtersocrazyaboutworkthatshedevenspinthewoolonthesheepsback!Canyouimaginethatshesalreadyspunsevenspindlesofhempthismorningandstillwantstospin?Tomakeherstop,Ihavetobeather."
"Ifshesthathard-working,givehertome,"saidtheyoungman."IlltryherouttoseeifyouretellingthetruthandthenIllmarryher."
Hetookhertohishouseandshutherupinaroomfullofhempwaitingtobespun."Imaseacaptain,andImleavingonavoyage,"hesaid."IfyouvespunallthishempbythetimeIreturn,Illmarryyou."
Theroomalsocontainedexquisiteclothesandjewels,forthecaptainhappenedtobeveryrich."Whenyoubecomemywife,"heexplained,"thesethingswillallbeyours."Thenhelefther.
Thegirlspentherdaystryingondressesandjewelsandadmiringherselfinthemirror.Shealsodevotedmuchtimetoplanningmeals,whichthehouseholdservantspreparedforher.Noneofthehempwasspunyet,andinonemoredaythecaptainwouldbeback.Thegirlgaveupallhopeofevermarryinghimandburstintotears.Shewasstillcryingwhenthroughthewindowflewabundleofragsandcametorestonitsfeet:itwasanoldwomanwithlongeyelashes."Dontbeafraid,"shetoldthegirl."Ivecometohelpyou.Illspinwhileyoumaketheskein."
Youneversawanyonespinwiththespeedofthatoldwoman.Injustaquarterofanhourshehadspuneverybitofhemp.Andthemoreshespun,thelongerherlashesbecame;longerthanhernose,longerthanherchin,theycamedownmorethanafoot;andhereyelidsalsogrewmuchlonger.
Whentheworkwasfinished,thegirlsaid,"HowcanIrepayyou,mygoodlady?"
"Idontwanttoberepaid.Justinvitemetoyourweddingbanquetwhenyoumarrythecaptain."
"HowdoIgoaboutinvitingyou?"
"JustcallColumbinaandIllcome.Butheavenhelpyouifyouforgetmyname.ItwouldbeasthoughIdneverhelpedyou,andyoudbeundone."
Thenextdaythecaptainarrivedandfoundthehempallspun."Excellent!"hesaid."IbelieveyourejustthebrideIwasseeking.HerearetheclothesandjewelsIboughtforyou.ButnowIhavetogoonanothervoyage.Letshaveasecondtest.HerestwicetheamountofhempIgaveyoubefore.IfyouspinitallbythetimeIreturn,Illmarryyou."
Asshehaddonebefore,thegirlspenthertimetryingongownsandjewels,eatingsoupandlasagna,andgottothelastdaywithallthehempstillwaitingtobespun.Shewasweepingoveritwhen,loandbehold,somethingdroppeddownthechimney,andintotheroomrolledabundleofrags.Itcametorestonitsfeet,andtherestoodanoldwomanwithsagginglips.Thisonetoopromisedtohelp,beganspinning,andworkedevenfasterthantheotheroldwoman.Themoreshespun,themoreherlipssagged.Whenthehempwasallspuninahalf-hour,theoldwomanaskedonlytobeinvitedtotheweddingbanquet."JustcallColumbara.Butdontforgetmyname,ormyhelpwillhavebeeninvainandyouwillsuffer."
Thecaptainreturnedandaskedbeforeheevengotintothehouse,"Didyouspinitall?"
"Ijustnowfinished!"
"Taketheseclothesandjewels.Now,ifIcomebackfrommythirdvoyageandfindyouvespunthisthirdloadofhemp,whichismuchbiggerthantheothertwo,Ipromisewellgetmarriedatonce."
Asusual,thegirlwaiteduntilthelastdaywithouttouchingthehemp.Downfromtheroofsgutterfellabundleofrags,andoutcameanoldwomanwithbuckteeth.Shebeganspinning,spinningevenfaster,andthemoreshespun,thelongergrewherteeth.
"Toinvitemetoyourweddingbanquet,"saidtheoldwoman,"youmustcallColumbun.Butifyouforgetmyname,itwouldbebetterifyoudneverseenme."
Whenthecaptaincamehomeandfoundthehempallspun,hewascompletelysatisfied."Fine,"hesaid,"nowyouwillbemywife."Heorderedpreparationsmadeforthewedding,towhichheinvitedallthenobilityintown.
Caughtupinthepreparations,thebridethoughtnomoreoftheoldwomen.Onthemorningoftheweddingsherememberedthatshewassupposedtoinvitethem,butwhenshewenttopronouncetheirnames,shefoundtheyhadslippedhermind.Shecudgeledherbrainsbut,forthelifeofher,couldntrecallasinglename.
Fromthecheerfulgirlshewas,shesankintoastateofbottomlessgloom.Thecaptainnoticeditandaskedherwhatthematterwas,butshewouldsaynothing.Unabletoaccountforhersadness,thebridegroomthought,Thisisperhapsnottherightday.Hethereforepostponedtheweddinguntilthedayafter.Butthenextdaywasstillworse,andthedayfollowingwewontevenmention.Witheverydaythatpassed,thebridebecamegloomierandquieter,withherbrowsknitinconcentration.Hetoldherjokesandstoriesinanefforttomakeherlaugh,butnothinghesaidordidaffectedher.
Sincehecouldntcheerherup,hedecidedtogohuntingandcheerhimselfup.Rightintheheartofthewoodshewascaughtinastormandtookrefugeinahovel.Hewasinthereinthedark,whenheheardvoices:
"OColumbina!"
"OColumbara!"
"OColumbun!"
"Putonthepottomakepolenta!Thatconfoundedbridewontbeinvitingustoherbanquetafterall!"
Thecaptainwheeledaroundandsawthreecrones.Onehadeyelashesthatdraggedontheground,anotherlipsthathungdowntoherfeet,andthethirdteeththatgrazedherknees.
Well,well,hethoughttohimself.NowIcantellhersomethingthatwillmakeherlaugh.IfshedoesntlaughoverwhatIvejustseen,shellneverlaughatanything!
Hewenthomeandsaidtohisbride,"Justlistentothis.TodayIwasinthewoodsandwentintoahoveltogetoutoftherain.IgoinandwhatshouldIseebutthreecrones:onewitheyelashesthatdraggedontheground,anotherwithlipsthathungdowntoherfeet,andthethirdwithteeththatgrazedherknees.Andtheycalledeachother:OColumbina,OColumbara,OColumbun!"
Thebridesfacebrightenedinstantly,andsheburstoutlaughing,andlaughedandlaughed."Ordertheweddingbanquetrightaway.ButImaskingonefavorofyou:sincethosethreecronesmademelaughsohard,letmeinvitethemtothebanquet."
Invitethemshedid.Forthethreeoldwomenaseparateroundtablewassetup,butsosmallthatwhatwiththeeyelashesofone,thelipsoftheother,andtheteethofthethird,younolongerknewwhatwaswhat.
Whendinnerwasover,thebridegroomaskedColumbina,"Tellme,goodlady,whyareyourlashessolong?"
"Thatsfromstrainingmyeyestospinfinethread!"saidColumbina.
"Andyou,whyareyourlipssothick?"
"Thatcomesfromalwaysrubbingmyfingeronthemtowetthethread!"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,accordingtoscholars),subjectedtoliterarytreatmentintheseventeenthcenturyinNaples(Basile,IV,4)andwellknownthroughoutItaly.
Copyright:ItalianFolktalesSelectedandRetoldbyItaloCalvino,
translatedbyGeorgeMartin,
PantheonBooks,NewYork1980