<p>伯爵的胡子&amp;<a href="/Book?Bookes=%e6%84%8f%e5%a4%a7%e5%88%a9%e7%ab%a5%e8%af%9d">意大利童话</a></p> <p>博卡帕利亚是建在陡峭山坡上的一个小镇，镇上人家的鸡只要一下蛋就会滚落到山下的树林里。为了防止鸡蛋滚落丢失，居民们在每只母鸡的尾巴上挂了一个小袋子。</p> <p>这说明博卡帕利亚人并非像别人挖苦的那样软弱无能，附近曾经流传着这样一句话：</p> <p>谁都知道在博卡帕利亚，</p> <p>驴子吹口哨，主人嚎叫。</p> <p>这纯粹是附近村镇的人对他们的污蔑，这些人这样对待博卡帕利亚人就是因为他们生性平静，不愿意和任何人争吵。</p> <p>“让你们诬蔑吧，挖苦吧，”博卡帕利亚人都这样说，“等马西诺回来，看我们当中谁还会嚎叫。”</p> <p>马西诺是博卡帕利亚人中最聪明的人，深受全镇的人爱戴。他并不比别人粗壮，甚至比一般人还瘦弱很多，但他天生聪明。他刚出世时，看上去瘦弱娇小，妈妈为了让他能活下来，而且还能长得强壮一点，就用热葡萄酒给他洗澡。爸爸还把烧红的铁放到酒里给酒加热。这样马西诺既通过浸泡皮肤而获得了酒的柔力，又吸收了铁的刚强。洗完澡后，妈妈又把她放在铺满生栗子壳的摇篮里，让他的身体变凉爽，使他在刺痛中变得更加睿智。</p> <p>长大后，马西诺出发去服兵役，以后再也没有回到自己的村镇。现在好像到了非洲的某个地方。这期间博卡帕利亚开始出了一系列的怪事。每天晚上人们都会发现，他们的牛从平原上的草地放牧回来时，总要被<a href="/Book?Bookes=%e5%a5%b3%e5%b7%ab">女巫</a>米奇利娜抢走好几头。</p> <p><a href="/Book?Bookes=%e5%a5%b3%e5%b7%ab">女巫</a>米奇利娜总是藏在村子下方的树林中，伺机而出，她只须吹一口气就可以把一头牛劫走。天黑后，每当村民们听到林中灌木丛的沙沙响动，就会吓的牙齿打架，甚至昏倒在地，所以大家都说：</p> <p><a href="/Book?Bookes=%e5%a5%b3%e5%b7%ab">女巫</a>米奇利娜，</p> <p>从牛栏把牛偷走，</p> <p>只要用眼斜一下，</p> <p>你就吓得倒下。</p> <p>村民们只好在夜里点起一堆堆大篝火，使<a href="/Book?Bookes=%e5%a5%b3%e5%b7%ab">女巫</a>米奇利娜不敢从树丛中现身。但当只有一个人在篝火边上看守牲畜时，<a href="/Book?Bookes=%e5%a5%b3%e5%b7%ab">女巫</a>就会悄悄地靠上去，用气把这个人吹昏，等到早上他醒过来的时候，奶牛、耕牛早已不见了，于是大家便听到他痛哭、绝望，击自己的头。然后，所有的人都会一齐到树林中寻找牲畜，结果，除了一绺头发、女人的的发钗和<a href="/Book?Bookes=%e5%a5%b3%e5%b7%ab">女巫</a>米奇利娜四处留下的足印，什么也找不到。</p> <p>就这样过去了好几个月，奶牛被一直关在牛圈里变得越来越瘦。刷毛的时候已经不需要刷子了，用耙子在牛肋骨上耙几下就行了。没有人再敢将牲畜带到草地上去了，也没有人敢再进树林里，林子里边的蘑菇因为长久无人采摘，长得像雨伞一般大。</p> <p><a href="/Book?Bookes=%e5%a5%b3%e5%b7%ab">女巫</a>米奇利娜从不去别的村镇抢牛，因为她知道再没有哪个村的村民像博卡帕利亚人这样与世无争、平静忍耐了。每天晚上，这些贫苦的村民就在场院中间点上一堆篝火，女人和孩子留在家中，男人则围着篝火挠头抱怨着。怨了今天，怨明天，最后，他们决定得去找这里的伯爵帮忙。</p> <p>伯爵住在村镇山顶上的一座圆形庄园里，四周围着围墙，墙上还插满了玻璃片。一个星期天的早上，村民们聚在一块，帽子拿在手上，前来敲响了伯爵家的门。门打开后，村民们来到伯爵圆形房屋前的庭院，只见屋子的窗户都用铁栅栏封着，庭院四周坐着伯爵的卫兵，他们的胡子上都涂着油，好让胡子看上去光彩油亮。这些人一个个对村民们怒目而视。庭院的最里端，伯爵坐在丝绒面的椅子上，黑胡子很长很长，四个卫兵正用四把梳子在给他从上往下地梳理它。</p> <p>年纪最长的村民定了定神，说：“伯爵老爷，我们斗胆来您这里，是为了向您禀告我们的不幸遭遇，森林中有一个<a href="/Book?Bookes=%e5%a5%b3%e5%b7%ab">女巫</a>米奇利娜，把我们的牲畜都抢了去。”随后，老人叹着气，诉着苦，在别的村民的点头证实下，向伯爵讲述了他们这段时间的可怕经历。</p> <p>伯爵一声不吭。</p> <p>老人又说：“我们来这里想冒昧向老爷您求讨一个解决办法。”</p> <p>伯爵还是一声不吭。</p> <p>老人又补充说：“我们来这里想斗胆请老爷您行行好帮我们一把，要是您肯派出一队卫士，我们就可以回到草场上放牲畜了。”</p> <p>伯爵把脑袋在脖子上转了一圈，说：“要是派卫兵，我就还得派一个队长……”</p> <p>村民们都竖着耳朵听着，似乎感受到一线希望。</p> <p>“但要是我派队长去，”伯爵说，“那么，晚上，我还跟谁玩掷彩游戏呢？”</p> <p>村民们跪在地上说：“帮帮我们吧，伯爵老爷，可怜可怜我们吧！”周围的卫士们开始厌烦地打着哈欠，给胡子涂着黑油。</p> <p>伯爵又转了一下头，说：</p> <p>“我是伯爵，我说话能顶三个人说话，</p> <p>既然我没见过<a href="/Book?Bookes=%e5%a5%b3%e5%b7%ab">女巫</a>，</p> <p>说明根本就没有<a href="/Book?Bookes=%e5%a5%b3%e5%b7%ab">女巫</a>。”</p> <p>听到伯爵的话，那些正打着哈欠的卫士立即端起步枪，用刺刀慢慢地逼着村民们退出了庭院。</p> <p>村民们垂头丧气地回到场院，不知下一步该怎么办，那个跟伯爵说过话的年纪最长的老人说：“现在我们得派人去把马西诺请回来！”</p> <p>说完，他们便立即给马西诺写了封信，然后将信寄到非洲。一天晚上，当村民们像往常一样聚集在场院的篝火旁边时，马西诺回来了。人们激动的情景就别提了，大家冲上去拥抱他，煮上加香料的热葡萄酒。有人问：“你去了什么地方？”有人说：“你见到了些什么东西？”还有人说：“你知道我们有多惨吗？”</p> <p>马西诺先让大家说了个够，然后他开始叙述起来：“在非洲我遇到过不吃人只吃蝉的野蛮人；在沙漠我碰到过一个为了挖地下水而留了十二米长的指甲的疯子；在海上我见过一条鱼穿着一只皮鞋和一只拖鞋，它想成为众鱼之王，因为别的鱼既没有穿皮鞋的，也没有穿拖鞋的；在西西里，我认识一位妇女生了七十个儿子，但全家只有一口锅；在那不勒斯，我看见人们停住脚也能往前走，因为别人的闲言碎语太厉害了，变成了一股很大的推力；我还看见过圣人，看见过罪犯，看见过一百公斤重的胖子，也看见过骨瘦如柴的矮子，我见过很多胆小的人，但从没见过像博卡帕利亚人这么胆小的人。”</p> <p>村民们都羞愧地低下了头，马西诺说他们胆小，实在是一针见血。但马西诺并没有责怪乡亲们的意思。他让大家把<a href="/Book?Bookes=%e5%a5%b3%e5%b7%ab">女巫</a>的事详细地说了一遍，然后说：“我现在问你们三个问题，然后，等半夜一到，我就去抓住这个<a href="/Book?Bookes=%e5%a5%b3%e5%b7%ab">女巫</a>，把她带到这里来。”</p> <p>“问吧，问吧！”大家齐说。</p> <p>“第一个问题要先问理发师。这个月有多少人到你那里理发？”</p> <p>理发师回答：</p> <p>“有长胡子的，有短胡子的，</p> <p>有胡子软软的，有胡子弯曲的，</p> <p>有鬈发的，有蓬发的，</p> <p>我的剪刀给他们都剪过。”</p> <p>“现在我问你，鞋匠，这个月有多少人到你那里修鞋呢？”</p> <p>“唉，”鞋匠说：</p> <p>“我修过木拖鞋，修过皮拖鞋，</p> <p>钉了一堆鞋钉，上了一堆掌铁；</p> <p>我修过布鞋，修过蛇皮鞋，</p> <p>但现在人们都没了钱，无人再来了。”</p> <p>“第三个问题要问你了，制绳匠，这个月你卖出去多少根绳子？”</p> <p>制绳匠说：</p> <p>“柳绳，线绳，</p> <p>搓的和编的草绳，</p> <p>细细的柳条井绳，</p> <p>粗如胳膊，细如针，</p> <p>硬的如铁，软的如猪油，</p> <p>这个月我卖了很多根。”</p> <p>“好了，都明白了。”马西诺说，在篝火旁躺下，“我现在先睡上两个小时，我实在太累了。到半夜，你们把我叫醒，我去抓那个<a href="/Book?Bookes=%e5%a5%b3%e5%b7%ab">女巫</a>。”说完，他用帽子遮住脸，睡着了。</p> <p>村民们静静地守候在一边，连大气都不敢出，怕吵醒他。到半夜，马西诺自己醒了过来，他打了个哈欠，喝下一小杯热酒，又朝篝火吐了三口唾沫，然后，旁若无人地站起来直奔树林。</p> <p>村民们都留在原地等他，只见篝火烧成了火炭，火炭又烧成了柴灰，柴灰也变黑了，这时，马西诺回来了。身后还带着一个人，好像被拉着胡子，是谁呀？是伯爵，伯爵一边哭着，挣扎着，一边求饶。</p> <p>“这就是<a href="/Book?Bookes=%e5%a5%b3%e5%b7%ab">女巫</a>！”马西诺喊道。随后又问：“热酒放在哪里了”？</p> <p>伯爵在众人的怒目逼视下，蜷缩在地上，好像一只冻坏的苍蝇。</p> <p>马西诺解释说：“不可能是你们当中的人干的，因为你们都理过发，剪过胡须，不可能在树丛中留下须毛；树林里有又大又重的鞋印，而你们都是赤脚进树林的。也不可能是什么精灵干的，因为精灵没必要去买那么多绳子绑了牲畜，再拉走。哎，我要的热酒呢？”</p> <p>伯爵浑身哆嗦着，竭力要躲到他的胡子里面，马西诺把他从树丛后拉出来的时候，他的胡子被拉得乱七八糟。</p> <p>“那他用什么方法看我们一眼，就会让我们昏倒呢？”一位村民问。</p> <p>“他用包了布的木棍子在你们的头上猛击一棍，这样你们觉得像吹气一样，头上无痕迹，醒来时头昏脑沉。”</p> <p>“那他丢在森林中的那些头钗呢？”另一个人问。</p> <p>“这些头钗是他用来把胡子扎到头上的，就像女人扎头发那样。”</p> <p>村民们都安静地听着，当马西诺说“现在，大家想怎么处置他？”时，人群中爆发出一阵激动的喊声：“烧死他！剥他的皮！把他绑在杆子上当稻草人！把他关在桶里让他不停地转！把他跟六只猫，六只狗一起捆进一个袋子里！”</p> <p>“饶命！”伯爵用颤抖的声音哀求着。</p> <p>“我看这样吧，”马西诺说，“让他把牲畜都还给大家，再让他把所有的牛棚打扫干净。既然他喜欢夜里到森林中去，就罚他每天晚上都去给你们捡柴火。告诉孩子们以后看到地上有发钗的话再也不要捡了，它们都是<a href="/Book?Bookes=%e5%a5%b3%e5%b7%ab">女巫</a>米奇利娜的，她再也不能梳理好头发和胡子了。”</p> <p>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：</p> <p>啊，战争中的<a href="/Book?Bookes=%e5%a3%ab%e5%85%b5">士兵</a>，</p> <p>你吃的差，睡在地上，</p> <p>将火药装进炮膛，</p> <p>嘣！嘣!</p> <p>TheCountsBeard</p> <p>ThetownofPocapagliawasperchedonthepinnacleofahillsosteepthatitsinhabitantstiedlittlebagsonthetailfeathersoftheirhenstocatcheachfreshlylaideggthatotherwisewouldhavegonerollingdowntheslopesintothewoodsbelow.</p> <p>AllofwhichgoestoshowthatthepeopleofPocapagliawerenottheduncestheyweresaidtobe,andthattheproverb,</p> <p>InPocapagliaways</p> <p>Thedonkeywhistles,themasterbrays,</p> <p>merelyreflectedthemaliciousgrudgetheneighboringtownspeopleborethePocapagliansfortheirpeacefulwaysandtheirreluctancetoquarrelwithanyone.</p> <p>&quot;Yes,yes,&quot;wasallthePocapaglianswouldreply,&quot;butjustwaituntilMasinoreturns,andyouwillseewhobraysmore,weoryou.&quot;</p> <p>EverybodyinPocapaglialovedMasino,thesmartestboyintown.Hewasnostrongerphysicallythananybodyelse;infact,heevenlookedratherpuny.Buthehadalwaysbeenveryclever.Concernedoverhowlittlehewasatbirth,hismotherhadbathedhiminwarmwinetokeephimaliveandmakehimalittlestronger.Hisfatherhadheatedthewinewithared-hothorseshoe.ThatwayMasinoabsorbedthesubtletyofwineandtheenduranceofiron.Tocoolhimoffafterhisbath,hismothercradledhimintheshellofanunripenedchestnut;itwasbitterandgavehimunderstanding.</p> <p>AtthetimethePocapaglianswereawaitingthereturnofMasino,whomnoonehadseensincethedayhewentofftobeasoldier(andwhowasnowmostlikelysomewhereinAfrica),strangethingsstartedhappeninginPocapaglia.Everyeveningasthecattlecamebackfrompastureintheplainbelow,ananimalwaswhiskedawaybyMicillinatheWitch.</p> <p>Thewitchwouldhideinthewoodsatthefootofthehill,andallsheneededtodowasgiveoneheavypuff,andshehadherselfanox.Whenthefarmersheardherstealthroughthethicketafterdark,theirteethwouldchatter,andeveryonewouldfalldowninaswoon.Thatbecamesocommonthatpeopletooktosaying:</p> <p>BewareofMicillina,thatoldwitch,</p> <p>Forallyouroxenshewillfilch,</p> <p>Thentrainonyouhercrossed-eye,</p> <p>Andwaitforyoutofallanddie.</p> <p>AtnighttheybeganlightinghugebonfirestokeepMicillinatheWitchfromventuringoutofthewoods.Butshewouldsneakuponthesolitaryfarmerwatchingovercattlebesidethebonfireandknockhimoutinonebreath.Inthemorninguponawaking,hedfindcowsandoxengone,andhisfriendswouldhearhimweepingandmoaningandhittinghimselfonthehead.Theneverybodycombedthewoodsfortracesofthestolencattle,butfoundonlytuftsofhair,hairpins,andfootprintslefthereandtherebyMicillinatheWitch.</p> <p>Thingswentfrombadtoworse.Shutupallthetimeinthebarn,thecowsgrewasthinasrails.Arakeinsteadofabrushwasallthatwasneededtogroomthem,fromribtorib.Nobodydaredleadthecattletopastureanymore.Everyonestayedclearofthewoodsnow,andthemushroomsthatgrewtherewentunpickedandgotasbigasumbrellas.</p> <p>MicillinatheWitchwasnottemptedtoplunderothertowns,knowingfullwellthatcalmandpeace-lovingpeopleweretobefoundonlyinPocapaglia.Therethepoorfarmerslitabigbonfireeverynightinthetownsquare,whilethewomenandchildrenlockedthemselvesindoors.Themensataroundthefirescratchingtheirheadsandgroaning.Dayafterdaytheyscratchedandgroaneduntiladecisionwasfinallyreachedtogotothecountforhelp.</p> <p>Thecountlivedhighabovethetownonalargecircularestatesurroundedbyamassivewall.Thetopofthewallwasencrustedwithsharpbitsofglass.OneSundaymorningallthetownsmenarrived,withhatsinhand.Theyknocked,thedoorswungopen,andtheyfiledintothecourtyardbeforethecourtsrounddwelling,whichhadbarsatallthewindows.Aroundthecourtyardsatthecourtssoldierssmoothingtheirmustacheswithoiltomakethemshineandscowlingatthefarmers.Attheendofthecourtyard,inavelvetchair,satthecounthimselfwithhislongblackbeard,whichfoursoldierswerecombingfromheadtofoot.</p> <p>Theoldestfarmertookheartandsaid,&quot;YourHonor,wehavedaredcometoyouaboutourmisfortune.Asourcattlegointothewoods,MicillinatheWitchappearsandmakesoffwiththem.&quot;So,amidsighsandgroans,withtheotherfarmersnoddinginassent,hetoldthecountallabouttheirnightmare.</p> <p>Thecountremainedsilent.</p> <p>&quot;Wehavecomehere,&quot;saidtheoldman,&quot;tobesoboldastoaskYourHonorsadvice.&quot;</p> <p>Thecountremainedsilent.</p> <p>&quot;Wehavecomehere,&quot;headded,&quot;tobesoboldastoaskYourHonortohelpus.Ifyouassignedusanescortofsoldiers,wecouldagaintakeourcattledowntopasture.&quot;</p> <p>Thecountshookhishead.&quot;IfIletyouhavethesoldiers,&quot;hesaid,&quot;Imustalsoletyouhavethecaptain&quot;</p> <p>Thefarmerslistened,hardlydaringtohope.</p> <p>&quot;Butifthecaptainisawayintheevening,&quot;saidthecount,&quot;whocanIplaylottowith?&quot;</p> <p>Thefarmersfelltotheirknees.&quot;Helpus,noblecount,forpityssake!&quot;Thesoldiersaroundthecourtyardyawnedandstrokedtheirmustaches.</p> <p>Againthecountshookhisheadandsaid:</p> <p>IamthecountandIcountforthree;</p> <p>NowitchhaveIseen,</p> <p>So,nowitchhastherebeen.</p> <p>Atthosewordsandstillyawning,thesoldierspickeduptheirgunsand,withbayonetsextended,movedslowlytowardthefarmers,whoturnedandfiledsilentlyoutofthecourtyard.</p> <p>Backinthetownsquareandcompletelydiscouraged,thefarmershadnoideawhattodonext.Buttheseniorofthemall,theonewhohadspokentothecount,said,&quot;TheresnothinglefttodobutsendforMasino!&quot;</p> <p>SotheywroteMasinoaletterandsentittoAfrica.Thenoneevening,whiletheywereallgatheredaroundthebonfireasusual,Masinoreturned.Imaginethewelcometheygavehim,theembraces,thepotsofhot,spicedwine!&quot;Whereonearthhaveyoubeen?Whatdidyousee?Ifyouonlyknewwhatwehavebeengoingthrough!&quot;</p> <p>Masinoletthemhavetheirsay,thenhehadhis.&quot;InAfricaIsawcannibalswhoatenotmenbutlocusts;inthedesertIsawamadmanwhohadlethisfingernailsgrowtwelvemeterslongtodigforwater;intheseaIsawafishwithashoeandaslipperwhowantedtobekingoftheotherfish,sincenootherfishpossessedshoeorslipper;inSicilyIsawawomanwithseventysonsandonlyonekettle;inNaplesIsawpeoplewhowalkedwhilestandingstill,sincethechatterofotherpeoplekeptthemgoing;IsawsinnersandIsawsaints;Isawfatpeopleandpeoplenobiggerthanmites;many,manyfrightenedsoulsdidIsee,butneversomanyashereinPocapaglia.&quot;</p> <p>Thefarmershungtheirheadsinshame,forMasinohadhitasensitivespotinsuggestingtheywerecowards.ButMasinowasnotcrosswithhisfellowtownsmen.Heaskedforadetailedaccountofthewitchsdoings,thensaid,&quot;Letmeaskyouthreequestions,andatthestrokeofmidnightIllgooutandcatchthewitchandbringherbacktoyou.&quot;</p> <p>&quot;Letshearyourquestions!Outwiththem!&quot;theyallsaid.</p> <p>&quot;Thefirstquestionisforthebarber.Howmanypeoplecametoyouthismonth?&quot;</p> <p>Thebarberreplied:</p> <p>&quot;Longbeards,shortbeards,</p> <p>Finebeards,coarsebeards,</p> <p>Locksstraight,lockscurly,</p> <p>AllItrimmèd(sic)inahurry.&quot;</p> <p>&quot;Yourturnnow,cobbler.Howmanypeoplebroughtyoutheiroldshoestomendthismonth?&quot;</p> <p>&quot;Alas!&quot;beganthecobbler:</p> <p>&quot;Shoesofwood,shoesofleather,</p> <p>NailbynailIhammeredbacktogether,</p> <p>Mendedshoesofsatinandshoesofserpent.</p> <p>Buttheresnothinglefttodo,</p> <p>Alltheirmoneyisspent.&quot;</p> <p>&quot;Thethirdquestiongoestoyou,ropemaker.Howmuchropedidyousellthismonth?&quot;</p> <p>Theropemakerreplied:</p> <p>&quot;RopegaloreofeverysortIsold:</p> <p>Hemprope,braided,wicker,cord,</p> <p>Needle-thintoarm-thick,</p> <p>Lard-softtoiron-strong</p> <p>ThismonthIcouldntgowrong.&quot;</p> <p>&quot;Verywell,&quot;saidMasino,stretchingoutbythefire.&quot;Imnowgoingtosleepforafewhours,Imverytired.WakemeupatmidnightandIllgoafterthewitch.&quot;Heputhishatoverhisfaceandfellasleep.</p> <p>Thefarmerskeptperfectlyquietuntilmidnight,notevendaringtobreathe,forfearofawakinghim.AtmidnightMasinoshookhimself,yawned,drankacupofmulledwine,spatthreetimesintothefire,gotupwithoutlookingatasoul,andheadedforthewoods.</p> <p>Thefarmersstayedbehindwatchingthefireburndownandthelastembersturntoashes.Then,whomshouldMasinodraginbythebeardbutthecount!Acountthatwept,kicked,andpleadedformercy.</p> <p>&quot;Heresthewitch!&quot;criedMasino,andasked,&quot;Wheredidyouputthemulledwine?&quot;</p> <p>Beneaththefarmersamazedstares,thecounttriedtomakehimselfassmallaspossible,sittingonthegroundandshrinkinguplikeacold-bittenfly.</p> <p>&quot;Thethiefcouldhavebeennoneofyou,&quot;explainedMasino,&quot;sinceyouhadallgonetothebarberandhadnohairtoloseinthebushes.Thentherewerethosetracksmadebybigheavyshoes,butallofyougobarefoot.Norcouldthethiefhavebeenaghost,sincehewouldnthaveneededtobuyallthatcordtotieuptheanimalsandcarrythemaway.Butwhereismymulledwine?&quot;</p> <p>Shakingallover,thecounttriedtohideinthatbeardofhiswhichMasinohadtousledandtorninpullinghimoutofthebushes.</p> <p>&quot;Howdidheevermakeusfaintbyjustlookingatus?&quot;askedonefarmer.</p> <p>&quot;Hewouldsmiteyouontheheadwithapaddedclub.Thatwayyouwouldhearonlyawhir.Hedleavenomarkonyou,youdsimplywakeupwithaheadache.&quot;</p> <p>&quot;Andthosehairpinshelost?&quot;askedanother.</p> <p>&quot;Theywereusedtoholdhisbearduponhisheadandmakeitlooklikeawomanshair.&quot;</p> <p>Untilthenthefarmershadlistenedinsilence,butwhenMasinosaid,&quot;Andnow,whatshallwedowithhim?&quot;astormofshoutsarose:&quot;Burnhim!Skinhimalive!Stringhimupforascarecrow!Sealhiminacaskandrollhimdownthecliff!Sewhimupinasackwithsixcatsandsixdogs!&quot;</p> <p>&quot;Havemercy!&quot;saidthecountinavoicejustaboveawhisper.</p> <p>&quot;Sparehim,&quot;saidMasino,&quot;andhewillbringbackyourcattleandcleanyourbarns.Andsinceheenjoyedgoingintothewoodsatnight,makehimgothereeverynightandgatherbundlesoffirewoodforeachofyou.Tellthechildrennevertopickupthehairpinstheyfindontheground,fortheybelongtoMicillinatheWitch,whosehairandbeardwillbedisheveledfromnowon.&quot;</p> <p>Thefarmersfollowedthesuggestion,andsoonMasinoleftPocapagliatotravelabouttheworld.Inthecourseofhistravels,hefoundhimselffightinginfirstonewarandanother,andtheyalllastedsolongthathissayingsprangup:</p> <p>Soldierfighter,whatahardlot!</p> <p>Wretchedfood,thegroundforacot.</p> <p>Youfeedthecannonpowder:</p> <p>Boom-BOOM!Boom-BOOM!Boomlouder!</p> <p>(Bra)</p> <p>NOTES:</p> <p>&quot;TheCountsBeard&quot;(LabarbadelConte).Publishedhereforthefirsttime,collectedbyGiovanniArpinoinJuly1956,incertainvillagesofsouthernPiedmont:Bra(toldbyCaterinaAsteggiano,inmateofahomeforoldpeople,andLuigiBerzia),inGuarene(toldbyDoroPalladino,farmer),inNarzole(toldbyAnnettaTaricco,servantwoman),andinPocapaglia.</p> <p>Thislongnarrative,whichwriterGiovanniArpinohastranscribedandunifiedfromdifferentversionswithvariantsandadditionsfromBraandsurroundings,cannotinmyviewbeclassifiedasafolktale.Itisalocallegendofrecentorigininpart(Iamthinking,forinstance,ofthegeographicalparticularsgiven),thatis,notpriortothenineteenthcentury,andcontainingdisparateelements:explanationofalocalsuperstition(thehairpinsofWitchMicillina),antifeudalcountrylegendsuchasonefindsinmanynortherncountries,curiousdetective-storystructureàlaSherlockHolmes,manydigressionsnonessentialtothestory(suchasthetripfromAfricabacktotown——whichArpinotellsmealsoexistsasaseparatestory——andalltheallusionstoMasinospastandfutureadventureswhichleadtotheconclusionglobetrotterfromacountrywhoseinhabitantsarereputedtobecontrastinglyslowandbackward),verse(ofwhichArpinoandIhavepresentedonlyasmuchaswecouldeffectivetranslate),andgrotesqueimageswhichseemrootedintradition,suchasthesacksunderthehenstails,theoxensothinthattheywerecurriedwiththerake,thecountwhosebeardwascombedbyfoursoldiers,etc</p> <p>Copyright:ItalianFolktalesSelectedandRetoldbyItaloCalvino,</p> <p>translatedbyGeorgeMartin,</p> <p>PantheonBooks,NewYork1980</p>