Down into the sea, deeper and deeper, sank Pinocchio, and finally, after fifty minutes of waiting, the man on the cliff said to himself:
驢子落到水里以后過(guò)了五十分鐘,買主自言自語(yǔ)說(shuō):
"By this time my poor little lame Donkey must be drowned. Up with him and then I can get to work on my beautiful drum."
“這會(huì)兒我那可憐的瘸腿驢子準(zhǔn)已經(jīng)淹死了。我用他重新拉上來(lái),好拿他的皮做個(gè)出色大鼓。”
He pulled the rope which he had tied to Pinocchio's leg -- pulled and pulled and pulled and, at last, he saw appear on the surface of the water -- Can you guess what? Instead of a dead donkey, he saw a very much alive Marionette, wriggling and squirming like an eel. Seeing that wooden Marionette, the poor man thought he was dreaming and sat there with his mouth wide open and his eyes popping out of his head.
于是他動(dòng)手拉綁住驢子一條腿的繩子,他拉啊,拉啊,拉啊,最后看見(jiàn)從水里出來(lái)了……請(qǐng)諸位猜猜看,拉出來(lái)的是什么?他看見(jiàn)從水里拉上來(lái)的不是一頭死驢,而是一個(gè)活木偶,以為是在做夢(mèng),呆住了,嘴張得老大,眼睛都突了出來(lái)。
Gathering his wits together, he said:
等到他從原先的驚訝中清醒一點(diǎn),結(jié)結(jié)巴巴地哭看說(shuō):
"And the Donkey I threw into the sea?"
“我推到海里的驢子上哪兒去啦?……”
"I am that Donkey," answered the Marionette laughing.
“這頭驢子就是我!”木偶笑著回蔣說(shuō),
"You?"
“是你?”
"I."
“是我。”
"Ah, you little cheat! Are you poking fun at me?"
“啊!你這個(gè)騙子!你想開(kāi)我的玩笑嗎?”
"Poking fun at you? Not at all, dear Master. I am talking seriously."
“開(kāi)您的玩笑,一點(diǎn)不是,親愛(ài)的主人,我跟您說(shuō)的是真話。”
"But, then, how is it that you, who a few minutes ago were a donkey, are now standing before me a wooden Marionette?"
“可你怎么不久前還是頭驢子,到水里去了一會(huì),現(xiàn)在變成了一個(gè)木偶呢?”
"It may be the effect of salt water. The sea is fond of playing these tricks."
“這大概是海水的作用,是大海開(kāi)的一個(gè)玩笑。”
"Be careful, Marionette, be careful! Don't laugh at me! Woe be to you, if I lose my patience!"
“你當(dāng)心點(diǎn),木偶,你當(dāng)心點(diǎn)!……可別暗地里取笑我。要是我忍不住發(fā)起火來(lái),你可就倒霉啦!”
"Well, then, my Master, do you want to know my whole story? Untie my leg and I can tell it to you better."
“我說(shuō),我的主人,您想知道全部真相嗎?,您解開(kāi)我這只腳上的繩子,我就都告訴您。”
The old fellow, curious to know the true story of the Marionette's life, immediately untied the rope which held his foot. Pinocchio, feeling free as a bird of the air, began his tale:
買主是個(gè)好事的人,很想知道事情的真相,馬上就解開(kāi)了拴住皮諾喬的繩結(jié)。皮諾喬登時(shí)自由得像天空中的小鳥(niǎo),于是對(duì)他說(shuō):
"Know, then, that, once upon a time, I was a wooden Marionette, just as I am today. One day I was about to become a boy, a real boy, but on account of my laziness and my hatred of books, and because I listened to bad companions, I ran away from home. One beautiful morning, I awoke to find myself changed into a donkey -- long ears, gray coat, even a tail! What a shameful day for me! I hope you will never experience one like it, dear Master. I was taken to the fair and sold to a Circus Owner, who tried to make me dance and jump through the rings. One night, during a performance, I had a bad fall and became lame. Not knowing what to do with a lame donkey, the Circus Owner sent me to the market place and you bought me."
“您知道,我本來(lái)就是個(gè)木偶,跟現(xiàn)在一模一樣,我兒乎就要變成一個(gè)孩子,距世界上所有的孩子一樣的孩子,要不是我不大想讀書(shū),并且聽(tīng)信壞同學(xué)的話,離開(kāi)了家……于是有—天我醒過(guò)來(lái),發(fā)現(xiàn)我變了一頭驢子,有那么—對(duì)耳朵……還有那么—條尾巴!……這叫我多么害臊啊!……親愛(ài)的主人,但愿仁慈的圣安東尼奧永遠(yuǎn)不會(huì)使您這么害臊!我被牽到驢子市場(chǎng)去賣。一個(gè)馬戲班班主把我買了。他竟想讓我成為一個(gè)偉大的舞蹈家,一個(gè)出色的跳圈演員。一天晚上,我在馬戲場(chǎng)里演出,狠狠地摔了一交,兩條腿都瘸了。班主不知道拿一頭瘸腿驢子怎么好,吩咐把我再賣掉。您就把我給買來(lái)了!”
"Indeed I did! And I paid four cents for you. Now who will return my money to me?"
“太糟糕啦!我為你花了二十個(gè)子兒?,F(xiàn)在問(wèn)誰(shuí)去要回這倒霉的二十個(gè)子兒呢?”
"But why did you buy me? You bought me to do me harm -- to kill me -- to make a drumhead out of me!"
“您買我干什么,您買我是為了用我的皮去做一個(gè)大鼓!……一個(gè)大鼓!……”
"Indeed I did! And now where shall I find another skin?"
“太糟糕了!現(xiàn)在上哪兒再找一張皮呢?……”
"Never mind, dear Master. There are so many donkeys in this world."
“別泄氣,主人。在這個(gè)世界上驢子多的是!”
"Tell me, impudent little rogue, does your story end here?"
“告訴我,沒(méi)規(guī)矩的小鬼,你的故事講完了沒(méi)有?”
"One more word," answered the Marionette, "and I am through. After buying me, you brought me here to kill me. But feeling sorry for me, you tied a stone to my neck and threw me to the bottom of the sea. That was very good and kind of you to want me to suffer as little as possible and I shall remember you always. And now my Fairy will take care of me, even if you -- "
“沒(méi)有,”木偶回答說(shuō),“還有兩句話才完。您買了我,把我?guī)У竭@兒來(lái)要?dú)⑺牢???珊髞?lái)您出于人道主義的同情心,改為用一塊大石頭系在我的脖子上,把我推下海底。這種美好的感情給您極大榮譽(yù),我將永遠(yuǎn)記住您。真的,親愛(ài)的主人,這一回您的計(jì)劃要成功了,要不是仙女……”
"Your Fairy? Who is she?"
“什么仙女?”
"She is my mother, and, like all other mothers who love their children, she never loses sight of me, even though I do not deserve it. And today this good Fairy of mine, as soon as she saw me in danger of drowning, sent a thousand fishes to the spot where I lay. They thought I was really a dead donkey and began to eat me. What great bites they took! One ate my ears, another my nose, a third my neck and my mane. Some went at my legs and some at my back, and among the others, there was one tiny fish so gentle and polite that he did me the great favor of eating even my tail."
“仙女是我的媽媽,她跟所有的好媽媽一樣。媽媽都是極其愛(ài)護(hù)自己子女的,始終看住他們,一有什么不幸,就疼愛(ài)地幫助他們,即使由于他們冒失、品行不好,應(yīng)該把他們拋棄,任從他們?nèi)?。比方說(shuō),好仙女一看見(jiàn)我快淹死,就馬上派了一大群不計(jì)其數(shù)的魚(yú)到我那兒。它們以為我真是一頭死驢子,就動(dòng)口吃我!它們是怎樣大口大口的咬我啊!我從來(lái)沒(méi)想到魚(yú)比孩子還饞!有的吃我的耳朵,有的吃我的嘴,有的吃我的脖子,有的吃我的鬃毛,有的吃我腿上的皮,有的吃我背上的皮……甚至有一條小魚(yú)是那么客氣,它照顧我的尾巴,把它吃了個(gè)精光。”
"From now on," said the man, horrified, "I swear I shall never again taste fish. How I should enjoy opening a mullet or a whitefish just to find there the tail of a dead donkey!"
“從今以后,”買主嫌惡地說(shuō),“我發(fā)誓不再吃魚(yú)了。剖開(kāi)一條火魚(yú)或者一條炸鱈魚(yú),結(jié)果在肚子里發(fā)現(xiàn)了條驢子尾巴,那太惡心了!”
"I think as you do," answered the Marionette, laughing. "Still, you must know that when the fish finished eating my donkey coat, which covered me from head to foot, they naturally came to the bones -- or rather, in my case, to the wood, for as you know, I am made of very hard wood. After the first few bites, those greedy fish found out that the wood was not good for their teeth, and, afraid of indigestion, they turned and ran here and there without saying good-by or even as much as thank you to me. Here, dear Master, you have my story. You know now why you found a Marionette and not a dead donkey when you pulled me out of the water."
“我的想法跟您一樣,”木偶笑著回答,“我再給您說(shuō),等到這些魚(yú)吃光我身上從頭到腳的皮和肉,自然就吃到我的骨頭……或者說(shuō)是正確點(diǎn),吃到我的木頭,因?yàn)槟溃沂呛苡埠苡驳哪绢^做的??墒且Я藥卓冢@些饞嘴魚(yú)馬上發(fā)覺(jué)木頭咬不動(dòng),對(duì)這種不消化的東西感到惡心,它們連一句謝謝也沒(méi)跟我說(shuō),就各走各的了……您抓住繩子拉上來(lái)的為什么是個(gè)活木偶而不是一頭死驢子,我算是都給您講了。”
"I laugh at your story!" cried the man angrily. "I know that I spent four cents to get you and I want my money back. Do you know what I can do; I am going to take you to the market once more and sell you as dry firewood."
“我才不要聽(tīng)你的故事呢?”買主氣得狂叫。“我只知道我買你花了二十個(gè)子兒,現(xiàn)在要把錢弄回來(lái)。你知道我怎么辦嗎?我要重新把你牽到市場(chǎng),當(dāng)—塊生爐子的干木頭賣掉。”
"Very well, sell me. I am satisfied," said Pinocchio.
“您就賣吧,我很高興,”皮諾喬說(shuō),
But as he spoke, he gave a quick leap and dived into the sea. Swimming away as fast as he could, he cried out, laughing:
可他說(shuō)著猛地一跳,跳到水里去了。他飛快地游離海岸,對(duì)可憐的買主叫道:
"Good-by, Master. If you ever need a skin for your drum, remember me."
“再見(jiàn)了,主人!如果您要張皮做大鼓,您記住我吧。”
He swam on and on. After a while, he turned around again and called louder than before:
接著他一面笑一面游,游了一陣又回過(guò)身來(lái),叫得更響:
"Good-by, Master. If you ever need a piece of good dry firewood, remember me."
“再見(jiàn)了,主人!如果您要點(diǎn)干木頭生爐子,您記住我吧。”
In a few seconds he had gone so far he could hardly be seen. All that could be seen of him was a very small black dot moving swiftly on the blue surface of the water, a little black dot which now and then lifted a leg or an arm in the air. One would have thought that Pinocchio had turned into a porpoise playing in the sun.
一轉(zhuǎn)眼工夫他已經(jīng)游得老遠(yuǎn),幾乎看不見(jiàn)了,也就是說(shuō),只看見(jiàn)海面上有一個(gè)黑點(diǎn)子,這個(gè)黑點(diǎn)子不時(shí)把腳從水里伸出來(lái),翻個(gè)跟頭,像條歡蹦亂跳的海豚似的。
After swimming for a long time, Pinocchio saw a large rock in the middle of the sea, a rock as white as marble. High on the rock stood a little Goat bleating and calling and beckoning to the Marionette to come to her.
皮諾喬正拼命地游,看見(jiàn)大海當(dāng)中有一塊礁石,很像一塊雪白的大理石。礁石頂上站著一只漂亮的小山羊,親熱地叫著,招呼他過(guò)去。
There was something very strange about that little Goat. Her coat was not white or black or brown as that of any other goat, but azure, a deep brilliant color that reminded one of the hair of the lovely maiden.
更奇怪的是,小山羊的毛不是白的,也不是黑的,也不是帶黑白斑點(diǎn)的,像其他的山羊那樣,而是天藍(lán)色的,這種閃閃發(fā)亮的天藍(lán)色使他一下子想起了那美麗仙女的頭發(fā)。
Pinocchio's heart beat fast, and then faster and faster. He redoubled his efforts and swam as hard as he could toward the white rock. He was almost halfway over, when suddenly a horrible sea monster stuck its head out of the water, an enormous head with a huge mouth, wide open, showing three rows of gleaming teeth, the mere sight of which would have filled you with fear.
可憐的皮諾喬,他的心開(kāi)始跳動(dòng)得更厲害了,這一點(diǎn)請(qǐng)諸位去想象吧!他加了把勁向那塊雪白的礁石游去。已經(jīng)游完一半路,忽然水里鉆出一個(gè)海怪的可怕腦袋,沖著他游過(guò)來(lái)。它的嘴張得老大,活像一個(gè)深淵,還露出三排長(zhǎng)牙齒,叫人一見(jiàn)就心驚膽戰(zhàn)。
Do you know what it was?
諸位知道這海怪是什么東西嗎?
That sea monster was no other than the enormous Shark, which has often been mentioned in this story and which, on account of its cruelty, had been nicknamed "The Attila of the Sea" by both fish and fishermen.
這海怪不是別的,正是.一條大鯊魚(yú),這鯊魚(yú)在咱們這故事里已經(jīng)一再提到過(guò)。由于它老是為害,貪吃無(wú)厭,外號(hào)叫“魚(yú)和漁人的魔王。”
Poor Pinocchio! The sight of that monster frightened him almost to death! He tried to swim away from him, to change his path, to escape, but that immense mouth kept coming nearer and nearer.
諸位想象一下,可憐的皮諾喬看見(jiàn)這怪物時(shí)有多么害怕!他千方百計(jì)要躲開(kāi)它,換條路游,他千方百汁要逃走??墒沁@條魚(yú)張開(kāi)的大嘴巴像箭一樣直沖著他過(guò)來(lái)。
"Hasten, Pinocchio, I beg you!" bleated the little Goat on the high rock.
“皮諾喬,千萬(wàn)快一點(diǎn)!”那漂亮的小山羊咩咩叫著說(shuō)。
And Pinocchio swam desperately with his arms, his body, his legs, his feet.
皮諾喬于是用手、用胸口、用腿、用腳拼命地游。
"Quick, Pinocchio, the monster is coming nearer!"
“快點(diǎn),皮諾喬,怪物已經(jīng)靠近了!……”
Pinocchio swam faster and faster, and harder and harder.
皮諾喬使出渾身的力氣加緊游,
"Faster, Pinocchio! The monster will get you! There he is! There he is! Quick, quick, or you are lost!"
“小心,皮諾喬!……怪物要追上你了!……看吧!……它到了!……千萬(wàn)快一點(diǎn),要不就完了!
Pinocchio went through the water like a shot -- swifter and swifter. He came close to the rock. The Goat leaned over and gave him one of her hoofs to help him up out of the water.
皮諾喬盡力游得更快,更快,更快,更快,像一顆出膛子彈。他已經(jīng)游到礁石那兒,小山羊已經(jīng)向大海俯下身子,伸出前腿要幫他離開(kāi)水面!……
Alas! It was too late. The monster overtook him and the Marionette found himself in between the rows of gleaming white teeth. Only for a moment, however, for the Shark took a deep breath and, as he breathed, he drank in the Marionette as easily as he would have sucked an egg. Then he swallowed him so fast that Pinocchio, falling down into the body of the fish, lay stunned for a half hour.
可是太遲了!怪物已經(jīng)追上他,怪物深深地一吸,就像吸雞蛋似的,把可憐的木偶吸到嘴里。它狼吞虎咽地把皮諾喬吞下去,皮諾喬一下子到了鯊魚(yú)肚子里,狠狠撞了一下,整整有一刻鐘昏昏迷迷,的不省人事。
When he recovered his senses the Marionette could not remember where he was. Around him all was darkness, a darkness so deep and so black that for a moment he thought he had put his head into an inkwell. He listened for a few moments and heard nothing. Once in a while a cold wind blew on his face. At first he could not understand where that wind was coming from, but after a while he understood that it came from the lungs of the monster. I forgot to tell you that the Shark was suffering from asthma, so that whenever he breathed a storm seemed to blow.
等到他從這種昏迷狀態(tài)中醒來(lái),連自己也弄不清是在哪一個(gè)世界。他周圍漆黑一片,黑得像把頭鉆到一瓶墨水里。他側(cè)著耳朵聽(tīng),什么聲音也沒(méi)聽(tīng)到。他只是不時(shí)覺(jué)得有一陣大風(fēng)吹在臉上。起先他鬧不清風(fēng)是哪兒來(lái)的,可后來(lái)明白了,風(fēng)是從怪物的肺里來(lái)的。原來(lái),鯊魚(yú)的氣喘病很厲害,它一呼吸就像刮北風(fēng)似的。
Pinocchio at first tried to be brave, but as soon as he became convinced that he was really and truly in the Shark's stomach, he burst into sobs and tears.
皮諾喬起先一個(gè)勁兒要鼓起勇氣,可后來(lái)反復(fù)證實(shí)他是禁閉在海怪的肚子里,就開(kāi)始大哭大叫,流著淚說(shuō):
"Help! Help!" he cried. "Oh, poor me! Won't someone come to save me?"
“救命啊!救命啊!噢,我真苦命啊!這兒沒(méi)人能救我嗎?”
"Who is there to help you, unhappy boy?" said a rough voice, like a guitar out of tune.
“誰(shuí)能來(lái)救你呢?不幸的孩子……”在黑暗中有一個(gè)很輕的嘶啞聲音說(shuō),這聲音像是不協(xié)調(diào)的六弦琴發(fā)出來(lái)的。
"Who is talking?" asked Pinocchio, frozen with terror.
“說(shuō)這話的是誰(shuí)?”皮諾喬問(wèn),他只覺(jué)得人都嚇驚了。
"It is I, a poor Tunny swallowed by the Shark at the same time as you. And what kind of a fish are you?"
“是我!是一條可憐的金槍魚(yú),跟你一起被鯊魚(yú)吞進(jìn)來(lái)的。你是什么魚(yú)?”
"I have nothing to do with fishes. I am a Marionette."
“我跟魚(yú)毫無(wú)關(guān)系。我是一個(gè)木偶。”
"If you are not a fish, why did you let this monster swallow you?"
“你不是魚(yú),怎么讓這怪物吞了?”
"I didn't let him. He chased me and swallowed me without even a 'by your leave'! And now what are we to do here in the dark?"
“不是我讓它吞,是我被它吞了!咱們這會(huì)兒黑咕隆咚的怎么辦?……”
"Wait until the Shark has digested us both, I suppose."
“咱們只好靜靜地等鯊魚(yú)把咱倆給消化掉!……”
"But I don't want to be digested," shouted Pinocchio, starting to sob.
“我可不情愿讓它給消化掉!”皮諾喬叫起來(lái),又開(kāi)始哭了。
"Neither do I," said the Tunny, "but I am wise enough to think that if one is born a fish, it is more dignified to die under the water than in the frying pan."
“我也不情愿它給消化掉,”金槍魚(yú)接下去說(shuō),“可我地地道道是個(gè)哲學(xué)家,我想到我既然生下來(lái)是金槍魚(yú),那么死在水里總比死在油里更體面些,這么一想,我心里就感到舒坦些了……”
"What nonsense!" cried Pinocchio.
“蠢話!”皮諾喬叫道。
"Mine is an opinion," replied the Tunny, "and opinions should be respected."
“我這是一種意見(jiàn),”金搶魚(yú)回答說(shuō),“既然是意見(jiàn),正如金槍魚(yú)政治家說(shuō)的、就應(yīng)當(dāng)受到尊重!”
"But I want to get out of this place. I want to escape."
“不管怎么說(shuō)……我要離開(kāi)這兒……我要逃走……”
"Go, if you can!"
“只要辦得到,你就逃走吧!……”
"Is this Shark that has swallowed us very long?" asked the Marionette.
“吞下咱們的這條鯊魚(yú)很大很大嗎?”木偶回道。
"His body, not counting the tail, is almost a mile long."
“你想象一下吧,他的身體有一公里長(zhǎng),尾巴還不算在內(nèi)。”
While talking in the darkness, Pinocchio thought he saw a faint light in the distance.
他們?cè)诤诎抵姓@么說(shuō)著,皮諾喬覺(jué)得遠(yuǎn)遠(yuǎn)好像看見(jiàn)一點(diǎn)微弱的亮光。
"What can that be?" he said to the Tunny.
“遠(yuǎn)遠(yuǎn)那點(diǎn)我是怎么回事,”皮諾喬說(shuō),
"Some other poor fish, waiting as patiently as we to be digested by the Shark."
“是咱們的一位患難伙伴,也像咱倆一樣,在等著被消化!……”
"I want to see him. He may be an old fish and may know some way of escape."
“我想去找找他,他會(huì)不會(huì)是一條老魚(yú),能指點(diǎn)我怎么逃出去呢?”
"I wish you all good luck, dear Marionette."
“我衷心祝你成功,親愛(ài)的木偶。”
"Good-by, Tunny."
“再見(jiàn),金槍魚(yú)。”
"Good-by, Marionette, and good luck."
“再見(jiàn),木偶,祝你幸運(yùn),”
"When shall I see you again?"
“咱們?cè)谀膬涸僖?jiàn)?……”
"Who knows? It is better not to think about it."
“誰(shuí)知道?……最好還是別想這個(gè)吧!”
Down into the sea, deeper and deeper, sank Pinocchio, and finally, after fifty minutes of waiting, the man on the cliff said to himself:
"By this time my poor little lame Donkey must be drowned. Up with him and then I can get to work on my beautiful drum."
He pulled the rope which he had tied to Pinocchio's leg -- pulled and pulled and pulled and, at last, he saw appear on the surface of the water -- Can you guess what? Instead of a dead donkey, he saw a very much alive Marionette, wriggling and squirming like an eel. Seeing that wooden Marionette, the poor man thought he was dreaming and sat there with his mouth wide open and his eyes popping out of his head.
Gathering his wits together, he said:
"And the Donkey I threw into the sea?"
"I am that Donkey," answered the Marionette laughing.
"You?"
"I."
"Ah, you little cheat! Are you poking fun at me?"
"Poking fun at you? Not at all, dear Master. I am talking seriously."
"But, then, how is it that you, who a few minutes ago were a donkey, are now standing before me a wooden Marionette?"
"It may be the effect of salt water. The sea is fond of playing these tricks."
"Be careful, Marionette, be careful! Don't laugh at me! Woe be to you, if I lose my patience!"
"Well, then, my Master, do you want to know my whole story? Untie my leg and I can tell it to you better."
The old fellow, curious to know the true story of the Marionette's life, immediately untied the rope which held his foot. Pinocchio, feeling free as a bird of the air, began his tale:
"Know, then, that, once upon a time, I was a wooden Marionette, just as I am today. One day I was about to become a boy, a real boy, but on account of my laziness and my hatred of books, and because I listened to bad companions, I ran away from home. One beautiful morning, I awoke to find myself changed into a donkey -- long ears, gray coat, even a tail! What a shameful day for me! I hope you will never experience one like it, dear Master. I was taken to the fair and sold to a Circus Owner, who tried to make me dance and jump through the rings. One night, during a performance, I had a bad fall and became lame. Not knowing what to do with a lame donkey, the Circus Owner sent me to the market place and you bought me."
"Indeed I did! And I paid four cents for you. Now who will return my money to me?"
"But why did you buy me? You bought me to do me harm -- to kill me -- to make a drumhead out of me!"
"Indeed I did! And now where shall I find another skin?"
"Never mind, dear Master. There are so many donkeys in this world."
"Tell me, impudent little rogue, does your story end here?"
"One more word," answered the Marionette, "and I am through. After buying me, you brought me here to kill me. But feeling sorry for me, you tied a stone to my neck and threw me to the bottom of the sea. That was very good and kind of you to want me to suffer as little as possible and I shall remember you always. And now my Fairy will take care of me, even if you -- "
"Your Fairy? Who is she?"
"She is my mother, and, like all other mothers who love their children, she never loses sight of me, even though I do not deserve it. And today this good Fairy of mine, as soon as she saw me in danger of drowning, sent a thousand fishes to the spot where I lay. They thought I was really a dead donkey and began to eat me. What great bites they took! One ate my ears, another my nose, a third my neck and my mane. Some went at my legs and some at my back, and among the others, there was one tiny fish so gentle and polite that he did me the great favor of eating even my tail."
"From now on," said the man, horrified, "I swear I shall never again taste fish. How I should enjoy opening a mullet or a whitefish just to find there the tail of a dead donkey!"
"I think as you do," answered the Marionette, laughing. "Still, you must know that when the fish finished eating my donkey coat, which covered me from head to foot, they naturally came to the bones -- or rather, in my case, to the wood, for as you know, I am made of very hard wood. After the first few bites, those greedy fish found out that the wood was not good for their teeth, and, afraid of indigestion, they turned and ran here and there without saying good-by or even as much as thank you to me. Here, dear Master, you have my story. You know now why you found a Marionette and not a dead donkey when you pulled me out of the water."
"I laugh at your story!" cried the man angrily. "I know that I spent four cents to get you and I want my money back. Do you know what I can do; I am going to take you to the market once more and sell you as dry firewood."
"Very well, sell me. I am satisfied," said Pinocchio.
But as he spoke, he gave a quick leap and dived into the sea. Swimming away as fast as he could, he cried out, laughing:
"Good-by, Master. If you ever need a skin for your drum, remember me."
He swam on and on. After a while, he turned around again and called louder than before:
"Good-by, Master. If you ever need a piece of good dry firewood, remember me."
In a few seconds he had gone so far he could hardly be seen. All that could be seen of him was a very small black dot moving swiftly on the blue surface of the water, a little black dot which now and then lifted a leg or an arm in the air. One would have thought that Pinocchio had turned into a porpoise playing in the sun.
After swimming for a long time, Pinocchio saw a large rock in the middle of the sea, a rock as white as marble. High on the rock stood a little Goat bleating and calling and beckoning to the Marionette to come to her.
There was something very strange about that little Goat. Her coat was not white or black or brown as that of any other goat, but azure, a deep brilliant color that reminded one of the hair of the lovely maiden.
Pinocchio's heart beat fast, and then faster and faster. He redoubled his efforts and swam as hard as he could toward the white rock. He was almost halfway over, when suddenly a horrible sea monster stuck its head out of the water, an enormous head with a huge mouth, wide open, showing three rows of gleaming teeth, the mere sight of which would have filled you with fear.
Do you know what it was?
That sea monster was no other than the enormous Shark, which has often been mentioned in this story and which, on account of its cruelty, had been nicknamed "The Attila of the Sea" by both fish and fishermen.
Poor Pinocchio! The sight of that monster frightened him almost to death! He tried to swim away from him, to change his path, to escape, but that immense mouth kept coming nearer and nearer.
"Hasten, Pinocchio, I beg you!" bleated the little Goat on the high rock.
And Pinocchio swam desperately with his arms, his body, his legs, his feet.
"Quick, Pinocchio, the monster is coming nearer!"
Pinocchio swam faster and faster, and harder and harder.
"Faster, Pinocchio! The monster will get you! There he is! There he is! Quick, quick, or you are lost!"
Pinocchio went through the water like a shot -- swifter and swifter. He came close to the rock. The Goat leaned over and gave him one of her hoofs to help him up out of the water.
Alas! It was too late. The monster overtook him and the Marionette found himself in between the rows of gleaming white teeth. Only for a moment, however, for the Shark took a deep breath and, as he breathed, he drank in the Marionette as easily as he would have sucked an egg. Then he swallowed him so fast that Pinocchio, falling down into the body of the fish, lay stunned for a half hour.
When he recovered his senses the Marionette could not remember where he was. Around him all was darkness, a darkness so deep and so black that for a moment he thought he had put his head into an inkwell. He listened for a few moments and heard nothing. Once in a while a cold wind blew on his face. At first he could not understand where that wind was coming from, but after a while he understood that it came from the lungs of the monster. I forgot to tell you that the Shark was suffering from asthma, so that whenever he breathed a storm seemed to blow.
Pinocchio at first tried to be brave, but as soon as he became convinced that he was really and truly in the Shark's stomach, he burst into sobs and tears.
"Help! Help!" he cried. "Oh, poor me! Won't someone come to save me?"
"Who is there to help you, unhappy boy?" said a rough voice, like a guitar out of tune.
"Who is talking?" asked Pinocchio, frozen with terror.
"It is I, a poor Tunny swallowed by the Shark at the same time as you. And what kind of a fish are you?"
"I have nothing to do with fishes. I am a Marionette."
"If you are not a fish, why did you let this monster swallow you?"
"I didn't let him. He chased me and swallowed me without even a 'by your leave'! And now what are we to do here in the dark?"
"Wait until the Shark has digested us both, I suppose."
"But I don't want to be digested," shouted Pinocchio, starting to sob.
"Neither do I," said the Tunny, "but I am wise enough to think that if one is born a fish, it is more dignified to die under the water than in the frying pan."
"What nonsense!" cried Pinocchio.
"Mine is an opinion," replied the Tunny, "and opinions should be respected."
"But I want to get out of this place. I want to escape."
"Go, if you can!"
"Is this Shark that has swallowed us very long?" asked the Marionette.
"His body, not counting the tail, is almost a mile long."
While talking in the darkness, Pinocchio thought he saw a faint light in the distance.
"What can that be?" he said to the Tunny.
"Some other poor fish, waiting as patiently as we to be digested by the Shark."
"I want to see him. He may be an old fish and may know some way of escape."
"I wish you all good luck, dear Marionette."
"Good-by, Tunny."
"Good-by, Marionette, and good luck."
"When shall I see you again?"
"Who knows? It is better not to think about it."
?驢子落到水里以后過(guò)了五十分鐘,買主自言自語(yǔ)說(shuō):
“這會(huì)兒我那可憐的瘸腿驢子準(zhǔn)已經(jīng)淹死了。我用他重新拉上來(lái),好拿他的皮做個(gè)出色大鼓。”
于是他動(dòng)手拉綁住驢子一條腿的繩子,他拉啊,拉啊,拉啊,最后看見(jiàn)從水里出來(lái)了……請(qǐng)諸位猜猜看,拉出來(lái)的是什么?他看見(jiàn)從水里拉上來(lái)的不是一頭死驢,而是一個(gè)活木偶,以為是在做夢(mèng),呆住了,嘴張得老大,眼睛都突了出來(lái)。
等到他從原先的驚訝中清醒一點(diǎn),結(jié)結(jié)巴巴地哭看說(shuō):
“我推到海里的驢子上哪兒去啦?……”
“這頭驢子就是我!”木偶笑著回蔣說(shuō),
“是你?”
“是我。”
“啊!你這個(gè)騙子!你想開(kāi)我的玩笑嗎?”
“開(kāi)您的玩笑,一點(diǎn)不是,親愛(ài)的主人,我跟您說(shuō)的是真話。”
“可你怎么不久前還是頭驢子,到水里去了一會(huì),現(xiàn)在變成了一個(gè)木偶呢?”
“這大概是海水的作用,是大海開(kāi)的一個(gè)玩笑。”
“你當(dāng)心點(diǎn),木偶,你當(dāng)心點(diǎn)!……可別暗地里取笑我。要是我忍不住發(fā)起火來(lái),你可就倒霉啦!”
“我說(shuō),我的主人,您想知道全部真相嗎?,您解開(kāi)我這只腳上的繩子,我就都告訴您。”
買主是個(gè)好事的人,很想知道事情的真相,馬上就解開(kāi)了拴住皮諾喬的繩結(jié)。皮諾喬登時(shí)自由得像天空中的小鳥(niǎo),于是對(duì)他說(shuō):
“您知道,我本來(lái)就是個(gè)木偶,跟現(xiàn)在一模一樣,我兒乎就要變成一個(gè)孩子,距世界上所有的孩子一樣的孩子,要不是我不大想讀書(shū),并且聽(tīng)信壞同學(xué)的話,離開(kāi)了家……于是有—天我醒過(guò)來(lái),發(fā)現(xiàn)我變了一頭驢子,有那么—對(duì)耳朵……還有那么—條尾巴!……這叫我多么害臊啊!……親愛(ài)的主人,但愿仁慈的圣安東尼奧永遠(yuǎn)不會(huì)使您這么害臊!我被牽到驢子市場(chǎng)去賣。一個(gè)馬戲班班主把我買了。他竟想讓我成為一個(gè)偉大的舞蹈家,一個(gè)出色的跳圈演員。一天晚上,我在馬戲場(chǎng)里演出,狠狠地摔了一交,兩條腿都瘸了。班主不知道拿一頭瘸腿驢子怎么好,吩咐把我再賣掉。您就把我給買來(lái)了!”
“太糟糕啦!我為你花了二十個(gè)子兒?,F(xiàn)在問(wèn)誰(shuí)去要回這倒霉的二十個(gè)子兒呢?”
“您買我干什么,您買我是為了用我的皮去做一個(gè)大鼓!……一個(gè)大鼓!……”
“太糟糕了!現(xiàn)在上哪兒再找一張皮呢?……”
“別泄氣,主人。在這個(gè)世界上驢子多的是!”
“告訴我,沒(méi)規(guī)矩的小鬼,你的故事講完了沒(méi)有?”
“沒(méi)有,”木偶回答說(shuō),“還有兩句話才完。您買了我,把我?guī)У竭@兒來(lái)要?dú)⑺牢???珊髞?lái)您出于人道主義的同情心,改為用一塊大石頭系在我的脖子上,把我推下海底。這種美好的感情給您極大榮譽(yù),我將永遠(yuǎn)記住您。真的,親愛(ài)的主人,這一回您的計(jì)劃要成功了,要不是仙女……”
“什么仙女?”
“仙女是我的媽媽,她跟所有的好媽媽一樣。媽媽都是極其愛(ài)護(hù)自己子女的,始終看住他們,一有什么不幸,就疼愛(ài)地幫助他們,即使由于他們冒失、品行不好,應(yīng)該把他們拋棄,任從他們?nèi)?。比方說(shuō),好仙女一看見(jiàn)我快淹死,就馬上派了一大群不計(jì)其數(shù)的魚(yú)到我那兒。它們以為我真是一頭死驢子,就動(dòng)口吃我!它們是怎樣大口大口的咬我啊!我從來(lái)沒(méi)想到魚(yú)比孩子還饞!有的吃我的耳朵,有的吃我的嘴,有的吃我的脖子,有的吃我的鬃毛,有的吃我腿上的皮,有的吃我背上的皮……甚至有一條小魚(yú)是那么客氣,它照顧我的尾巴,把它吃了個(gè)精光。”
“從今以后,”買主嫌惡地說(shuō),“我發(fā)誓不再吃魚(yú)了。剖開(kāi)一條火魚(yú)或者一條炸鱈魚(yú),結(jié)果在肚子里發(fā)現(xiàn)了條驢子尾巴,那太惡心了!”
“我的想法跟您一樣,”木偶笑著回答,“我再給您說(shuō),等到這些魚(yú)吃光我身上從頭到腳的皮和肉,自然就吃到我的骨頭……或者說(shuō)是正確點(diǎn),吃到我的木頭,因?yàn)槟?,我是很硬很硬的木頭做的??墒且Я藥卓冢@些饞嘴魚(yú)馬上發(fā)覺(jué)木頭咬不動(dòng),對(duì)這種不消化的東西感到惡心,它們連一句謝謝也沒(méi)跟我說(shuō),就各走各的了……您抓住繩子拉上來(lái)的為什么是個(gè)活木偶而不是一頭死驢子,我算是都給您講了。”
“我才不要聽(tīng)你的故事呢?”買主氣得狂叫。“我只知道我買你花了二十個(gè)子兒,現(xiàn)在要把錢弄回來(lái)。你知道我怎么辦嗎?我要重新把你牽到市場(chǎng),當(dāng)—塊生爐子的干木頭賣掉。”
“您就賣吧,我很高興,”皮諾喬說(shuō),
可他說(shuō)著猛地一跳,跳到水里去了。他飛快地游離海岸,對(duì)可憐的買主叫道:
“再見(jiàn)了,主人!如果您要張皮做大鼓,您記住我吧。”
接著他一面笑一面游,游了一陣又回過(guò)身來(lái),叫得更響:
“再見(jiàn)了,主人!如果您要點(diǎn)干木頭生爐子,您記住我吧。”
一轉(zhuǎn)眼工夫他已經(jīng)游得老遠(yuǎn),幾乎看不見(jiàn)了,也就是說(shuō),只看見(jiàn)海面上有一個(gè)黑點(diǎn)子,這個(gè)黑點(diǎn)子不時(shí)把腳從水里伸出來(lái),翻個(gè)跟頭,像條歡蹦亂跳的海豚似的。
皮諾喬正拼命地游,看見(jiàn)大海當(dāng)中有一塊礁石,很像一塊雪白的大理石。礁石頂上站著一只漂亮的小山羊,親熱地叫著,招呼他過(guò)去。
更奇怪的是,小山羊的毛不是白的,也不是黑的,也不是帶黑白斑點(diǎn)的,像其他的山羊那樣,而是天藍(lán)色的,這種閃閃發(fā)亮的天藍(lán)色使他一下子想起了那美麗仙女的頭發(fā)。
可憐的皮諾喬,他的心開(kāi)始跳動(dòng)得更厲害了,這一點(diǎn)請(qǐng)諸位去想象吧!他加了把勁向那塊雪白的礁石游去。已經(jīng)游完一半路,忽然水里鉆出一個(gè)海怪的可怕腦袋,沖著他游過(guò)來(lái)。它的嘴張得老大,活像一個(gè)深淵,還露出三排長(zhǎng)牙齒,叫人一見(jiàn)就心驚膽戰(zhàn)。
諸位知道這海怪是什么東西嗎?
這海怪不是別的,正是.一條大鯊魚(yú),這鯊魚(yú)在咱們這故事里已經(jīng)一再提到過(guò)。由于它老是為害,貪吃無(wú)厭,外號(hào)叫“魚(yú)和漁人的魔王。”
諸位想象一下,可憐的皮諾喬看見(jiàn)這怪物時(shí)有多么害怕!他千方百計(jì)要躲開(kāi)它,換條路游,他千方百汁要逃走。可是這條魚(yú)張開(kāi)的大嘴巴像箭一樣直沖著他過(guò)來(lái)。
“皮諾喬,千萬(wàn)快一點(diǎn)!”那漂亮的小山羊咩咩叫著說(shuō)。
皮諾喬于是用手、用胸口、用腿、用腳拼命地游。
“快點(diǎn),皮諾喬,怪物已經(jīng)靠近了!……”
皮諾喬使出渾身的力氣加緊游,
“小心,皮諾喬!……怪物要追上你了!……看吧!……它到了!……千萬(wàn)快一點(diǎn),要不就完了!
皮諾喬盡力游得更快,更快,更快,更快,像一顆出膛子彈。他已經(jīng)游到礁石那兒,小山羊已經(jīng)向大海俯下身子,伸出前腿要幫他離開(kāi)水面!……
可是太遲了!怪物已經(jīng)追上他,怪物深深地一吸,就像吸雞蛋似的,把可憐的木偶吸到嘴里。它狼吞虎咽地把皮諾喬吞下去,皮諾喬一下子到了鯊魚(yú)肚子里,狠狠撞了一下,整整有一刻鐘昏昏迷迷,的不省人事。
等到他從這種昏迷狀態(tài)中醒來(lái),連自己也弄不清是在哪一個(gè)世界。他周圍漆黑一片,黑得像把頭鉆到一瓶墨水里。他側(cè)著耳朵聽(tīng),什么聲音也沒(méi)聽(tīng)到。他只是不時(shí)覺(jué)得有一陣大風(fēng)吹在臉上。起先他鬧不清風(fēng)是哪兒來(lái)的,可后來(lái)明白了,風(fēng)是從怪物的肺里來(lái)的。原來(lái),鯊魚(yú)的氣喘病很厲害,它一呼吸就像刮北風(fēng)似的。
皮諾喬起先一個(gè)勁兒要鼓起勇氣,可后來(lái)反復(fù)證實(shí)他是禁閉在海怪的肚子里,就開(kāi)始大哭大叫,流著淚說(shuō):
“救命啊!救命啊!噢,我真苦命啊!這兒沒(méi)人能救我嗎?”
“誰(shuí)能來(lái)救你呢?不幸的孩子……”在黑暗中有一個(gè)很輕的嘶啞聲音說(shuō),這聲音像是不協(xié)調(diào)的六弦琴發(fā)出來(lái)的。
“說(shuō)這話的是誰(shuí)?”皮諾喬問(wèn),他只覺(jué)得人都嚇驚了。
“是我!是一條可憐的金槍魚(yú),跟你一起被鯊魚(yú)吞進(jìn)來(lái)的。你是什么魚(yú)?”
“我跟魚(yú)毫無(wú)關(guān)系。我是一個(gè)木偶。”
“你不是魚(yú),怎么讓這怪物吞了?”
“不是我讓它吞,是我被它吞了!咱們這會(huì)兒黑咕隆咚的怎么辦?……”
“咱們只好靜靜地等鯊魚(yú)把咱倆給消化掉!……”
“我可不情愿讓它給消化掉!”皮諾喬叫起來(lái),又開(kāi)始哭了。
“我也不情愿它給消化掉,”金槍魚(yú)接下去說(shuō),“可我地地道道是個(gè)哲學(xué)家,我想到我既然生下來(lái)是金槍魚(yú),那么死在水里總比死在油里更體面些,這么一想,我心里就感到舒坦些了……”
“蠢話!”皮諾喬叫道。
“我這是一種意見(jiàn),”金搶魚(yú)回答說(shuō),“既然是意見(jiàn),正如金槍魚(yú)政治家說(shuō)的、就應(yīng)當(dāng)受到尊重!”
“不管怎么說(shuō)……我要離開(kāi)這兒……我要逃走……”
“只要辦得到,你就逃走吧!……”
“吞下咱們的這條鯊魚(yú)很大很大嗎?”木偶回道。
“你想象一下吧,他的身體有一公里長(zhǎng),尾巴還不算在內(nèi)。”
他們?cè)诤诎抵姓@么說(shuō)著,皮諾喬覺(jué)得遠(yuǎn)遠(yuǎn)好像看見(jiàn)一點(diǎn)微弱的亮光。
“遠(yuǎn)遠(yuǎn)那點(diǎn)我是怎么回事,”皮諾喬說(shuō),
“是咱們的一位患難伙伴,也像咱倆一樣,在等著被消化!……”
“我想去找找他,他會(huì)不會(huì)是一條老魚(yú),能指點(diǎn)我怎么逃出去呢?”
“我衷心祝你成功,親愛(ài)的木偶。”
“再見(jiàn),金槍魚(yú)。”
“再見(jiàn),木偶,祝你幸運(yùn),”
“咱們?cè)谀膬涸僖?jiàn)?……”
“誰(shuí)知道?……最好還是別想這個(gè)吧!”