“让鉆石戒指指的魔力使这四个女人相互打耳光吧,”新娘说,“一直打到明天早晨。”
这四个女警察便相互打起耳光来。她们打得很重,一个个头肿得象大南瓜,可是还拚命地互打著。
四个女警察没有带回犯人来,四个男警察就去寻找她们。新娘见他们来了,便说:“让鉆石戒指的魔力使这些人玩跳蛙游戏吧!”于是,一个警察马上四肢著地,匍匐下来。另一个警察向前俯身,将手搭在头一个警察背上,跳了过去。第三、第四个警察也跟著照做。这样,他们连续做起跳蛙游戏来了。
就在这个节骨眼儿上,一只乌龟爬了过来。这正是新娘的丈夫,从外面归来了。他一见自己的妻子,瞧,他又变成了漂亮的年轻人!从此,他不再变化,跟妻子生活在一起,白头偕老。
(利古里亚海岸)
注释:
材料来源:詹姆士·安德鲁斯编《利古里亚故事集》(巴黎,1892年版)第十四和第二十一篇;搜集地区:曼敦;讲述者:艾琳·吉纳和艾琳·潘杜鲁。
这是一篇充满稀奇古怪的故事。它最引人注目的是关于女警察的描写。女警察是作为特殊警察制度这样一种历史事实来叙述的。在安德鲁斯的第一种异文里,新郎变成了癞蛤蟆。
TheManWhoCameOutOnlyatNight
Longagotherelivedapoorfishermanwiththreemarriageabledaughters.Acertainyoungmanaskedforthehandofoneofthem,butpeoplewerewaryofhimsincehecameoutonlyatnight.Theoldestdaughterandthenthemiddledaughterbothsaidnotohim,butthethirdgirlsaidyes.Theweddingwascelebratedatnight,andassoonasthecouplewasalone,thebridegroomannouncedtohisbride:"Imusttellyouasecret:Iamunderanevilspellanddoomedtobeatortoisebydayandamanatnight.Theresonlyonewaytobreakthespell:Imustleavemywiferightaftertheweddingandtravelaroundtheworld,atnightasamanandbydayasatortoise.IfIcomebackandfindthatmywifehasremainedloyaltomeallalongandenduredeveryhardshipformysake,Illbecomeamanagainforgood."
"Iamwilling,"saidthebride.
Thebridegroomslippedadiamondringonherfinger."Ifyouuseittoagoodend,thisringwillhelpyouinwhateversituationyoufindyourself."
Dayhaddawned,andthebridegroomturnedintoatortoiseandcrawledofftobeginhisjourneyaroundtheworld.
Thebridewentaboutthecityinsearchofwork.Alongtheway,shecameacrossachildcryingandsaidtohismother,"Letmeholdhiminmyarmsandcalmhim."
"Youdbethefirstpersontodothat,"answeredthemother."Hesbeencryingalldaylong."
"Bythepowerofthediamond,"whisperedthebride,"maythechildlaughanddanceandfrolic!"Atthat,thechildstartedlaughing,dancing,andfrolicking.
Next,thebrideenteredabakeryandsaidtothewomanwhoownedit,"Youllhavenoregretsifyouhiremetoworkforyou."Theownerhiredher,andshebeganmakingbread,sayingunderherbreath,"Bythepowerofthediamond,letthewholetownbuybreadatthisbakeryaslongasIworkhere!"Fromthenon,peoplepouredinandoutwithnosignofaletup.Amongthecustomerswerethreeyoungmenwhosawthebrideandfellinlovewithher.
"Ifyouletmespendanightwithyou,"oneofthemsaidtoher,"Illgiveyouathousandfrancs."
"Illgiveyoutwothousand,"saidanother.
"AndIllmakeitthreethousand,"saidthethird.
Shecollectedthethreethousandfrancsfromthethirdmanandsmuggledhimintothebakerythatverynight.
"Illbewithyouinaminute,"shetoldhim,"afterIveputtheyeastintotheflour.Whileyourewaiting,wouldyoupleasekneadthedoughalittlebitforme?"
Themanbegankneading,andkneadedandkneadedandkneaded.Bythepowerofthediamond,hecouldntforthelifeofhimtakehishandsoutofthedough,andthereforewentonkneadingtilldaylight.
"Soyoufinallyfinished!"shesaidtohim."Youreallytookyourtime!"
Andshesenthimpacking.
Thenshesaidyestothemanwiththetwothousandfrancs,broughthiminassoonasitgrewdark,andtoldhimtoblowonthefireamomentsothatitwouldntgoout.Heblewandblewandblew.Bythepowerofthediamond,hehadtokeeprightonblowinguptothenextmorning,withhisfacebulginglikeawineskin.
"Whatawaytobehave!"shesaidtohiminthemorning."Youcometoseeme,butspendthenightblowingonthefire!"
Andshesenthimpacking.
Thenextnightshebroughtinthemanwiththethousandfrancs."Ihavetoaddtheyeast,"shetoldhim."WhileImdoingthat,goshutthedoor."
耽美书斋推荐浏览: 伊塔罗·卡尔维诺