Chapter 1
    How it happened that Mastro Cherry, carpenter,found a piece of wood that wept and laughed like a childCenturies ago there lived--"A king!" my little readers will say immediately.
　　No, children, you are mistaken. Once upon a timethere was a piece of wood. It was not an expensive pieceof wood. Far from it. Just a common block of firewood,one of those thick, solid logs that are put on the fire inwinter to make cold rooms cozy and warm.
　　I do not know how this really happened, yet the factremains that one fine day this piece of wood found itselfin the shop of an old carpenter. His real name wasMastro Antonio, but everyone called him Mastro Cherry,for the tip of his nose was so round and red and shinythat it looked like a ripe cherry.
　　As soon as he saw that piece of wood, Mastro Cherrywas filled with joy. Rubbing his hands together happily,he mumbled half to himself:
　　"This has come in the nick of time. I shall use it tomake the leg of a table."He grasped the hatchet quickly to peel off the bark andshape the wood. But as he was about to give it the firstblow, he stood still with arm uplifted, for he had heard awee, little voice say in a beseeching tone: "Please be careful!
　　Do not hit me so hard!"What a look of surprise shone on Mastro Cherry'sface! His funny face became still funnier.
　　He turned frightened eyes about the room to find outwhere that wee, little voice had come from and he sawno one! He looked under the bench--no one! He peepedinside the closet--no one! He searched among the shavings--no one! He opened the door to look up and downthe street--and still no one!
　　"Oh, I see!" he then said, laughing and scratching his Wig.
　　"It can easily be seen that I only thought I heard the tinyvoice say the words! Well, well--to work once more."He struck a most solemn blow upon the piece of wood.
　　"Oh, oh! You hurt!" cried the same far-away little voice.
　　Mastro Cherry grew dumb, his eyes popped out of hishead, his mouth opened wide, and his tongue hung downon his chin.
　　As soon as he regained the use of his senses, he said,trembling and stuttering from fright:
　　"Where did that voice come from, when there is noone around? Might it be that this piece of wood haslearned to weep and cry like a child? I can hardlybelieve it. Here it is--a piece of common firewood, goodonly to burn in the stove, the same as any other. Yet--might someone be hidden in it? If so, the worse for him.
　　I'll fix him!"With these words, he grabbed the log with both handsand started to knock it about unmercifully. He threw itto the floor, against the walls of the room, and even upto the ceiling.
　　He listened for the tiny voice to moan and cry.
　　He waited two minutes--nothing; five minutes--nothing;ten minutes--nothing.
　　"Oh, I see," he said, trying bravely to laugh andruffling up his wig with his hand. "It can easily be seenI only imagined I heard the tiny voice! Well, well--towork once more!"The poor fellow was scared half to death, so he triedto sing a gay song in order to gain courage.
　　He set aside the hatchet and picked up the plane tomake the wood smooth and even, but as he drew it toand fro, he heard the same tiny voice. This time it giggledas it spoke:
　　"Stop it! Oh, stop it! Ha, ha, ha! You tickle my stomach."This time poor Mastro Cherry fell as if shot. Whenhe opened his eyes, he found himself sitting on the floor.
　　His face had changed; fright had turned even the tip ofhis nose from red to deepest purple.
　　从前有……
　　“有一个国王！”我的小读者马上要说。
　　不对，小朋友，你们错了，从前有一段木头。
　　这段木头并不是什么贵重木头，就是柴堆里那种普通木头，扔进炉子和壁炉生火和取暖用的。
　　我也不知道是怎么回事，总之有一天，这段木头碰巧到了一位老木匠的铺子里，这位老木匠名叫安东尼奥，大伙儿却管他叫樱桃师傅，叫他樱桃师傅，因为他的鼻尖红得发紫，再加上亮光光的，活像一个熟透了的樱桃。
　　樱桃师傅看见这段木头，高兴极了，他满意得一个劲儿搓着手，低声嘟嚷说：
　　“这段木头来得正好，我要拿它做条桌子腿。”
　　说干就干，他马上拿起一把锋利的斧子，动手就要削掉树皮，先大致砍出条桌子腿的样子。可他第一斧正要砍下去，手举在头顶上却一下子停住不动了，因为他听见一个很细很细的声音央求他说：
　　“可别把我砍得太重了！”
　　诸位想象一下吧，樱桃师傅这位善良的老头儿该是多么惊讶啊！
　　他一双眼睛吓傻了，满屋子骨碌碌转了一圈，要看看这个声音是打哪儿来的，可他一个人也没有看见！他往工作台底下看看，没有人，他打开一直关着的柜子看看，没有人；他往一篓刨花和碎木片里面看看，也没有人；他甚至打开铺子门往街上看看，还是没有人！那么……？
　　“我明白了，”他于是抓抓头上的假发，笑着说，“这声音一准是我听错了。我还是干我的活吧，”
　　他重新拿起斧子，在那段木头上狠狠地一斧砍下去。
　　“唉哟！你把我砍痛了！”还是那很细的声音埋怨着叫起来。
　　这一回樱桃师傅当真愣住了，眼睛吓得鼓了出来，嘴巴张得老大，舌头拖到下巴，活像喷水池里一个妖怪的石头像。
　　等到他重新能够说话，他吓得哆哆嗦嗦、结结巴巴地说了起来：
　　“这个细声细气叫‘唉哟’的声音，它到底是打哪儿来的呢？……屋子里可是一个人也没有。难道是这段木头，是它学会了像小娃娃那样又哭又叫吗？这我可怎么也不相信。瞧，就是这么一段木头。它跟别的木头一模一样，拿来生炉子的。扔到火里，倒可以烧开一锅豆子……那么，不是木头又是什么呢，难道是木头里躲着个人吗，要真躲着人，那他就活该倒霉，我这就来跟他算账！”
　　他这么说着，双手抓住这段可怜的木头，一点不客气，就把它往墙上撞。
　　撞了一会儿，他停下来竖起耳朵细细地听，看有什么哭声没有，他听了两分钟，没有，听了五分钟，没有，听了十分钟，也没有！
　　“我明白了，”他一面苦笑着说，一面抓头上的假发，“那细声细气地叫‘唉哟’的声音，一准是我自己听错了！我还是干我的活吧，”
　　可他心里仍然挺害怕，于是试着伊伊唔唔地哼支小调壮壮胆。
　　这一回他放下斧子，拿起刨子，要把木头刨刨平，可他一来一去地刚那么一刨，又听见那个很小很小的声音嘻嘻地笑着对他说了：
　　“快住手！你弄得我浑身怪痒痒的！”
　　可怜的樱桃师傅这一回活像着了雷打，扑通一声倒了下来。等他重新张开眼睛，只见自己坐在地上。
　　他脸都变了色，一向红得发紫的鼻尖，这会儿都吓得发青了。
Chapter 2
    Mastro Cherry gives the piece of wood to his friend Geppetto,who takes it to make himself a Marionette that will dance,fence, and turn somersaultsIn that very instant, a loud knock sounded on the door.
　　"Come in," said the carpenter, not having an atom ofstrength left with which to stand up.
　　At the words, the door opened and a dapper little oldman came in. His name was Geppetto, but to the boys ofthe neighborhood he was Polendina,[1] on account of thewig he always wore which was just the color of yellow corn.
　　[1] Cornmeal mush Geppetto had a very bad temper. Woe to the one whocalled him Polendina! He became as wild as a beast andno one could soothe him.
　　"Good day, Mastro Antonio," said Geppetto. "Whatare you doing on the floor?""I am teaching the ants their A B C's.""Good luck to you!""What brought you here, friend Geppetto?""My legs. And it may flatter you to know, MastroAntonio, that I have come to you to beg for a favor.""Here I am, at your service," answered the carpenter,raising himself on to his knees.
　　"This morning a fine idea came to me.""Let's hear it.""I thought of making myself a beautiful woodenMarionette. It must be wonderful, one that will be able todance, fence, and turn somersaults. With it I intend to goaround the world, to earn my crust of bread and cup ofwine. What do you think of it?""Bravo, Polendina!" cried the same tiny voice whichcame from no one knew where.
　　On hearing himself called Polendina, Mastro Geppettoturned the color of a red pepper and, facing the carpenter,said to him angrily:
　　"Why do you insult me?""Who is insulting you?""You called me Polendina.""I did not.""I suppose you think _I_ did! Yet I KNOW it was you.""No!""Yes!""No!""Yes!"And growing angrier each moment, they went fromwords to blows, and finally began to scratch and bite andslap each other.
　　When the fight was over, Mastro Antonio had Geppetto'syellow wig in his hands and Geppetto found the carpenter'scurly wig in his mouth.
　　"Give me back my wig!" shouted Mastro Antonio in a surly voice.
　　"You return mine and we'll be friends."The two little old men, each with his own wig back onhis own head, shook hands and swore to be good friendsfor the rest of their lives.
　　"Well then, Mastro Geppetto," said the carpenter, toshow he bore him no ill will, "what is it you want?""I want a piece of wood to make a Marionette. Will you give it to me?"Mastro Antonio, very glad indeed, went immediatelyto his bench to get the piece of wood which had frightenedhim so much. But as he was about to give it to his friend,with a violent jerk it slipped out of his hands and hitagainst poor Geppetto's thin legs.
　　"Ah! Is this the gentle way, Mastro Antonio, in whichyou make your gifts? You have made me almost lame!""I swear to you I did not do it!""It was _I_, of course!""It's the fault of this piece of wood.""You're right; but remember you were the one to throw it at my legs.""I did not throw it!""Liar!""Geppetto, do not insult me or I shall call you Polendina.""Idiot.""Polendina!""Donkey!""Polendina!""Ugly monkey!""Polendina!"On hearing himself called Polendina for the third time,Geppetto lost his head with rage and threw himself uponthe carpenter. Then and there they gave each other asound thrashing.
　　After this fight, Mastro Antonio had two more scratcheson his nose, and Geppetto had two buttons missing fromhis coat. Thus having settled their accounts, they shookhands and swore to be good friends for the rest of their lives.
　　Then Geppetto took the fine piece of wood,thanked Mastro Antonio, and limped away toward home.
　　正在这节骨眼，有人笃笃笃敲门。
　　“进来”，老木匠说，他连重新站起来的力气也没有了，
　　于是木匠铺里进来了一个小老头，他老是老，可老得精神，他的名字叫做杰佩托，可街坊邻居的孩子要想逗他发顿脾气，就叫他的外号“老玉米糊”，他有这么个外号，因为他那头黄色假发活像玉米糊。
　　杰佩托脾气挺坏，谁叫他“老玉米糊”就得倒大霉！他一下子凶得像只野兽，谁也没法对付他。
　　“您好，安东尼奥师傅。”杰佩托说，“您坐在地上干吗呀？”
　　“我吗，我在教蚂蚁做算术哪。”
　　“祝您成功！”
　　“倒是什么把您给带到我这儿来啦，杰佩托老朋友。”
　　“是我的腿把我带来了呗，您知道，安东尼奥师傅，我是来求您给我帮个忙的。”
　　“随时乐意为您效劳。”老木匠回答说，跪了起来。
　　“今天早晨，我脑子里忽然想出了一个主意。”
　　“咱们倒来听听看。”
　　“我想亲手给自己做个漂亮的木偶，不是个普通木偶，是个呱呱叫的木偶，会跳舞，会耍剑，还会翻跟头。我要带着这么个木偶周游世界，挣块面包吃吃，混杯酒喝喝。您看怎么样。”
　　“好极了，老玉米糊！”还是那个很细很细的声音不却从哪儿叫起来。
　　杰佩托这位老朋友一听人家叫他老玉米糊，脸登时气红了，红得像个红辣椒。他向老木匠一下子转过脸来，气呼呼地说：
　　“您干吗得罪我，”
　　“谁得罪您了，”
　　“您叫我老玉米糊！……”
　　“我没叫过您老玉米糊。”
　　“难道是我叫了吗？我说是您叫了。”
　　“我没叫！”
　　“您叫了！”
　　“我没叫！”
　　“您叫了！”
　　他们越来越激动，结果从动口到动手，两个打了起来，又抓又咬，像两只猴子似的。
　　等到一架打完，杰佩托那头黄色假发到了安东尼奥师傅的手上，老木匠那头花白假发却在杰佩托的嘴里。
　　“你把我的假发还我，”安东尼奥师傅说。
　　“你也把我的假发还我。咱俩讲和吧，”
　　两位小老头各自收回了自己的假发以后，互相紧紧拉手，赌咒发誓说以后要一辈子做好朋友。
　　“那么，杰佩托老朋友”，老木匠表示和解说，“您要我给您效什么劳呢？”
　　“我想要段木头做我的那个木偶，您肯给吗？”
　　安东尼奥师傅听了这话真是喜出望外，马上过去拿起工作台上那段把他吓了个半死的木头，可他正要把木头交给朋友，木头猛地一扭，打他手里使劲滑了出来，在可怜的杰佩托那很细的小腿骨上，狠狠地就是一下。
　　“唉哟！安东尼奥师傅，您送东西给人家是这么客气的吗？我的脚几乎都给你打瘸了，”
　　“我发誓我没打您的脚。”
　　“难道是我打我自己的脚不成！……”
　　“全怪这木头，是它打你的……”
　　“我知道是木头，可把木头扔在我脚上的是您，”
　　“我没扔您！”
　　“您说谎！”
　　“杰佩托，您别得罪我，要不我就叫您老玉米糊！……”
　　“蠢驴！”
　　“老玉米糊！”
　　“蠢猴！”
　　“老玉米糊！”
　　“蠢猪！”
　　“老玉米糊！”
　　杰佩托听到这第三声老玉米糊，眼睛都气黑了，向老木匠猛扑过去。于是他们又打了一场大架。
　　等到这一架打完，安东尼奥师傅的鼻子多了两道抓伤，另一位的背心却少了两颗钮子，两个人这样算清账以后，又紧紧拉手，赌咒发誓说发后要一辈子做好朋友。
　　接着杰佩托拿起他那段呱呱叫的木头，谢过安东尼奥师傅，一瘸一拐地回家去了。
Chapter 3
    As soon as he gets home, Geppetto fashions the Marionetteand calls it Pinocchio. The first pranks of the MarionetteLittle as Geppetto's house was, it was neat andcomfortable. It was a small room on the ground floor, with a tiny window under the stairway. The furniture could nothave been much simpler: a very old chair, a rickety oldbed, and a tumble-down table. A fireplace full of burninglogs was painted on the wall opposite the door. Over thefire, there was painted a pot full of something which keptboiling happily away and sending up clouds of what lookedlike real steam.
　　As soon as he reached home, Geppetto took his toolsand began to cut and shape the wood into a Marionette.
　　"What shall I call him?" he said to himself. "I thinkI'll call him PINOCCHIO. This name will make his fortune.
　　I knew a whole family of Pinocchi once--Pinocchio thefather, Pinocchia the mother, and Pinocchi the children--and they were all lucky. The richest of them begged forhis living."After choosing the name for his Marionette, Geppettoset seriously to work to make the hair, the forehead, theeyes. Fancy his surprise when he noticed that these eyesmoved and then stared fixedly at him. Geppetto, seeingthis, felt insulted and said in a grieved tone:
　　"Ugly wooden eyes, why do you stare so?"There was no answer.
　　After the eyes, Geppetto made the nose, which beganto stretch as soon as finished. It stretched and stretchedand stretched till it became so long, it seemed endless.
　　Poor Geppetto kept cutting it and cutting it, but the more he cut, the longer grew that impertinent nose. Indespair he let it alone.
　　Next he made the mouth.
　　No sooner was it finished than it began to laugh andpoke fun at him.
　　"Stop laughing!" said Geppetto angrily; but he mightas well have spoken to the wall.
　　"Stop laughing, I say!" he roared in a voice of thunder.
　　The mouth stopped laughing, but it stuck out a long tongue.
　　Not wishing to start an argument, Geppetto madebelieve he saw nothing and went on with his work.
　　After the mouth, he made the chin, then the neck, theshoulders, the stomach, the arms, and the hands.
　　As he was about to put the last touches on the fingertips, Geppetto felt his wig being pulled off. He glancedup and what did he see? His yellow wig was in the Marionette'shand. "Pinocchio, give me my wig!"But instead of giving it back, Pinocchio put it on hisown head, which was half swallowed up in it.
　　At that unexpected trick, Geppetto became very sadand downcast, more so than he had ever been before.
　　"Pinocchio, you wicked boy!" he cried out. "You arenot yet finished, and you start out by being impudent toyour poor old father. Very bad, my son, very bad!"And he wiped away a tear.
　　The legs and feet still had to be made. As soon as theywere done, Geppetto felt a sharp kick on the tip of his nose.
　　"I deserve it!" he said to himself. "I should have thoughtof this before I made him. Now it's too late!"He took hold of the Marionette under the arms and puthim on the floor to teach him to walk.
　　Pinocchio's legs were so stiff that he could not movethem, and Geppetto held his hand and showed him how toput out one foot after the other.
　　When his legs were limbered up, Pinocchio startedwalking by himself and ran all around the room. He cameto the open door, and with one leap he was out into thestreet. Away he flew!
　　Poor Geppetto ran after him but was unable to catchhim, for Pinocchio ran in leaps and bounds, his twowooden feet, as they beat on the stones of the street,making as much noise as twenty peasants in wooden shoes.
　　"Catch him! Catch him!" Geppetto kept shouting.
　　But the people in the street, seeing a wooden Marionetterunning like the wind, stood still to stare and to laughuntil they cried.
　　At last, by sheer luck, a Carabineer[2] happenedalong, who, hearing all that noise, thought that it mightbe a runaway colt, and stood bravely in the middle of the street, with legs wide apart, firmly resolved to stop it andprevent any trouble.
　　[2] A military policemanPinocchio saw the Carabineer from afar and tried hisbest to escape between the legs of the big fellow, butwithout success.
　　The Carabineer grabbed him by the nose (it was anextremely long one and seemed made on purpose for thatvery thing) and returned him to Mastro Geppetto.
　　The little old man wanted to pull Pinocchio's ears.
　　Think how he felt when, upon searching for them, hediscovered that he had forgotten to make them!
　　All he could do was to seize Pinocchio by the back ofthe neck and take him home. As he was doing so, he shookhim two or three times and said to him angrily:
　　"We're going home now. When we get home,then we'll settle this matter!"Pinocchio, on hearing this, threw himself on the groundand refused to take another step. One person after anothergathered around the two.
　　Some said one thing, some another.
　　"Poor Marionette," called out a man. "I am notsurprised he doesn't want to go home. Geppetto, no doubt,will beat him unmercifully, he is so mean and cruel!""Geppetto looks like a good man," added another, "butwith boys he's a real tyrant. If we leave that poorMarionette in his hands he may tear him to pieces!"They said so much that, finally, the Carabineer endedmatters by setting Pinocchio at liberty and draggingGeppetto to prison. The poor old fellow did not know how todefend himself, but wept and wailed like a child and saidbetween his sobs:
　　"Ungrateful boy! To think I tried so hard to make youa well-behaved Marionette! I deserve it, however! I shouldhave given the matter more thought."What happened after this is an almost unbelievablestory, but you may read it, dear children, in the chaptersthat follow.
　　杰佩托住在一间很小的地下室，只有楼梯底行道进来一点儿光。用具简单得不能再简单，只有破破烂烂的一把椅子、一张床、一张小桌子。里面墙上有个小壁炉，生着火，可火是画出来的，火上面有个锅子，锅子也是画出来的，锅子在滚得热气腾腾，热气同样是画出来的，可画得跟真的一模一样。
　　杰佩托一回家，马上拿起工具，动手就刻他的木偶。
　　“给他取个什么名字呢？”杰佩托自言自语说，“我就叫他皮诺乔吧。这个名字会给他带来幸福。我认识一家人，都叫皮诺乔：皮诺乔爸爸，皮诺乔妈妈，皮诺乔老大、老二、老三……他们一家都过得很好，其中最富的一个讨饭吃。”
　　杰佩托给木偶取好了名字，就埋头干起活来，一下子就给他刻出了头发，刻出了脑门，刻出了眼睛。
　　眼睛刚刻好，请诸位想象一下杰佩托有多么惊奇吧，他发觉这两只眼睛自己骨碌碌动起来，接着一眨也不眨地瞪着他看。杰佩托给这双木头眼睛瞪得受不住了，生气地说：
　　“木头傻眼睛，干吗瞪着我？”
　　没有回答。
　　做完眼睛，又做鼻子。鼻子刚做好，它就开始长起来，长啊，长啊，长啊，才几分钟，已经变成一个很长很长的长鼻子，还没完没了地长下去。
　　可怜的杰佩托拼命要把鼻子截短，可他越是截，这个鼻子就毫不客气地变得越是长。
　　做完了鼻子做嘴巴。
　　嘴巴还没做完，就马上张开来笑了，
　　“别笑！”杰佩托生气地说。可他这句话像是对着墙说的，说了也是白搭。
　　“我再说一遍，别笑！”他用吓唬他的口气大叫。
　　嘴巴于是停了笑，可整条舌头都伸出来了，
　　杰佩托为了不耽误工作，假装没看见，继续干他的活。
　　做完嘴巴做下巴，接着做脖子，做肩膀，做肚子，做胳膊，做手。
　　手刚做好，杰佩托就觉得头上的假发套给拉掉了。他抬头一看，可是看见什么啦？只见他那头黄色假发拿在木偶的手里。
　　“皮诺乔！……马上把头发还我！”
　　可皮诺乔不但不把假发还他，反把它戴到自己头上。假发把他整个头套住，几乎把他闷了个半死。
　　木偶这么没规没矩，杰佩托觉得有生以来还没有这样悲伤难受过。他转脸向皮诺乔说：
　　“你这个小坏蛋！还没把你做完，你已经这样不尊敬父亲了！真坏，我的孩子，你真坏！”
　　他擦掉眼泪。
　　接下来只剩下做腿，做脚了。
　　杰佩托把脚一做好，就感到鼻尖上给踢了一脚。
　　“我这是自作自受！”杰佩托自言自语，“一开头就该想到这一点！现在已经来不及了！”
　　他抱住木偶的肢窝，把他放在地板上，要教他走路。
　　皮诺乔的腿僵硬着，不会动。杰佩托搀着他的手，教他一步一步地走。
　　等到腿一会动，皮诺乔就开始自己走了，接着他满屋子乱跳，最后跑出大门，蹦到街上，溜走了。
　　可怜的杰佩托在他后面追，可是追不上，因为皮诺乔这小坏蛋蹦蹦跳跳，像只野兔。他那双木脚却在路面上劈劈啪啪，活像二十双农民的木头鞋在响。
　　“抓住他！抓住他！”杰佩托大叫。可街上的人看见木偶跑得像匹小马驹，只是停下来望着他出神，哈哈地笑啊笑啊，笑得无法形容。
　　幸亏最后碰到一个警察，他听到人们吵吵闹闹，以为是一匹马驹从主人手里逃走了，于是大胆地站在路当中，跨开一双粗腿，决心要把马拦住，免得闯大祸。
　　皮诺乔远远看见警察把整条街拦住，就想在他两腿之间一下子冲过去，可是没成功，
　　警察动也不用动，一把就抓住了他的鼻子（这个鼻子真长、像是特地做出来给警察抓的），把他交还到杰佩托手里，杰佩托为了教训他，马上想狠狠拉他的耳朵，可诸位想象一下他是多么惊讶吧：他找来找去竟找不到耳朵，诸位知道为什么吗？因为他一个劲儿地刻啊刻啊，竟忘了给他做一对耳朵。
　　杰佩托没有耳朵可抓，就抓住木偶的颈背，他要把他带回家，同时摇着头吓唬他说：
　　“咱们现在回家，到了家，一定要算清咱们这笔账！”
　　皮诺乔听了这句吓唬的话，马上就倒在地上，赖在那里不肯再走了。爱看热闹和无所事事的人一下子就过来，围成了一大堆，
　　大家七嘴八舌舌的。
　　“可怜的木偶！”有人说，“他不肯回家是有道理的！谁知道杰佩托这坏蛋会怎么揍他呢！……”
　　又有人不怀好意地接上去说：
　　“杰佩托这家伙，看着挺老实，对孩子可真凶！让这个可怜木偶落到他手里，他准把木偶剁成碎木片！……”
　　一句话，他们这么东一锤西一棒的，那位警察竟把皮诺乔放开，反倒把可怜的杰佩托送到监狱里去了。”他一路上监狱，一路结结巴巴地哭着说：
　　“该死的小鬼！我辛辛苦苦本想做出个好木偶！可结果是自讨苦吃！我本该先想到这一点！……，
　　接下来发生的事情简直叫人没法相信，我在以下各章里，将一一讲给诸位听，
Chapter 4
    The story of Pinocchio and the Talking Cricket,in which one sees that bad children do not liketo be corrected by those who know more than they doVery little time did it take to get poor old Geppetto toprison. In the meantime that rascal, Pinocchio, free nowfrom the clutches of the Carabineer, was running wildlyacross fields and meadows, taking one short cut afteranother toward home. In his wild flight, he leaped over brambles and bushes, and across brooks and ponds, as ifhe were a goat or a hare chased by hounds.
　　On reaching home, he found the house door half open.
　　He slipped into the room, locked the door, and threwhimself on the floor, happy at his escape.
　　But his happiness lasted only a short time, for just thenhe heard someone saying:
　　"Cri-cri-cri!""Who is calling me?" asked Pinocchio, greatly frightened.
　　"I am!"Pinocchio turned and saw a large cricket crawlingslowly up the wall.
　　"Tell me, Cricket, who are you?""I am the Talking Cricket and I have been living in thisroom for more than one hundred years.""Today, however, this room is mine," said the Marionette,"and if you wish to do me a favor, get out now, and don'tturn around even once.""I refuse to leave this spot," answered the Cricket,"until I have told you a great truth.""Tell it, then, and hurry.""Woe to boys who refuse to obey their parents and run away from home! They will never be happy in this world,and when they are older they will be very sorry for it.""Sing on, Cricket mine, as you please. What I know is,that tomorrow, at dawn, I leave this place forever. If Istay here the same thing will happen to me which happensto all other boys and girls. They are sent to school, andwhether they want to or not, they must study. As for me,let me tell you, I hate to study! It's much more fun, I think,to chase after butterflies, climb trees, and steal birds' nests.""Poor little silly! Don't you know that if you go on likethat, you will grow into a perfect donkey and that you'llbe the laughingstock of everyone?""Keep still, you ugly Cricket!" cried Pinocchio.
　　But the Cricket, who was a wise old philosopher,instead of being offended at Pinocchio's impudence,continued in the same tone:
　　"If you do not like going to school, why don't you atleast learn a trade, so that you can earn an honest living?""Shall I tell you something?" asked Pinocchio, who wasbeginning to lose patience. "Of all the trades in the world,there is only one that really suits me.""And what can that be?""That of eating, drinking, sleeping, playing, andwandering around from morning till night.""Let me tell you, for your own good, Pinocchio," said the Talking Cricket in his calm voice, "that those whofollow that trade always end up in the hospital or in prison.""Careful, ugly Cricket! If you make me angry, you'll be sorry!""Poor Pinocchio, I am sorry for you.""Why?""Because you are a Marionette and, what is much worse,you have a wooden head."At these last words, Pinocchio jumped up in a fury, tooka hammer from the bench, and threw it with all hisstrength at the Talking Cricket.
　　Perhaps he did not think he would strike it. But, sadto relate, my dear children, he did hit the Cricket, straighton its head.
　　With a last weak "cri-cri-cri" the poor Cricket fell fromthe wall, dead!
　好，小朋友们，现在我来告诉大家，当可怜的杰佩托平白无辜地给送进监狱的时候，皮诺乔这小坏蛋看见自己逃脱了警察的手，马上撒腿就跑，穿过田野，抄近路回家。他拼命地跑啊跑啊，跳过一个个很高很高的土墩和荆棘丛，跳过一条条水沟，像只被猎人追赶的小山羊或者小野兔。
　　他跑到房子前面，看见朝街的门半掩着，就推门进去，他放下门臼，卜通坐到地上，得意洋洋地吐了一口长气。
　　可他得意了也只有一眨眼的工夫，因为他听见屋子里有声音叫：
　　“唧唧，唧唧！”
　　“谁在叫我啊？”皮诺乔吓坏了说。
　　“是我！”
　　皮诺乔转过脸，看见一只大蟋蟀在墙上，正慢腾腾地往上爬。
　　“告诉我，蟋蟀，你是谁。”
　　“我是会说话的蟋蟀，在这屋子里已经住了百把年啦。”
　　“这屋子今天是我的了，”木偶说，“如果您真肯行行好，让我高兴高兴，就请头也别回，马上走吧。”
　　“要让我走，”蟋蟀回答说，“可得让我在走以前先告诉你一个大道理。”
　　“那就说吧，快点，”
　　“孩子不听父母的话，任意离开家，到头来决不会有好结果！他们在这个世界上要倒霉，迟早会后悔的，”
　　“您高兴唱就下去吧，我的蟋蟀，可我明天天不亮，一准就离开这里，我要是呆在这里，就逃不出所有孩子都会遇到的事情：把我送去上学，不是软骗就是硬来，逼着我读书。跟您说句心里话，我一点不想读书，我更爱追蝴蝶，爬树掏鸟窝。”
　　“可怜的小傻瓜！可你不知道吗，这样你会变成一头大蠢驴，所有的人都要拿你开玩笑的？”
　　“闭口吧你，你这不吉利的坏蟋蟀！”皮诺乔叫道。
　　可蟋蟀又耐心又有智慧，木偶这样粗暴无礼，它一点不生气、还是用它原来的声调说：
　　“你要是不爱上学，那为什么不学个什么行当，好正正直直地给自己挣块面包呢？”
　　“你要我告诉你吗？”皮诺乔开始不耐烦了，回答说，“世界上所有的行当当中，只有—个行当真正合我的心意。”
　　“什么行当？”
　　“就是吃、喝、睡觉，玩儿，从早逛到晚。”
　　“告诉你，”会说话的蟋蟀还是那么心平行和地说，“凡是干这种行当的，最后几乎不是进医院就是进监牢。”
　　“当心点，不吉利的坏蟋蟀！……你惹我生气了可要倒霉！”
　　“可怜的皮诺乔！你真叫我可怜！……”
　　“我为什么叫你可怜？”
　　“因为你是—个木偶，更糟的是，因为你有一个木头脑袋。”
　　听了最后这句话，皮诺乔火冒三丈，猛地跳起来，打工作台上抓一个木头槌子，就向会说话的蟋蟀扔过去。
　　他也许根本不想打中它，可是真不巧，正好打中了它的头，可怜的蟋蟀只来得及叫一声唧唧，就给打死了，贴在墙上。
Chapter 5
    Pinocchio is hungry and looks for an egg to cook himself an omelet;but, to his surprise, the omelet flies out of the windowIf the Cricket's death scared Pinocchio at all, it was onlyfor a very few moments. For, as night came on, a queer,empty feeling at the pit of his stomach reminded the Marionette that he had eaten nothing as yet.
　　A boy's appetite grows very fast, and in a few momentsthe queer, empty feeling had become hunger, and thehunger grew bigger and bigger, until soon he was asravenous as a bear.
　　Poor Pinocchio ran to the fireplace where the pot wasboiling and stretched out his hand to take the cover off,but to his amazement the pot was only painted! Think howhe felt! His long nose became at least two inches longer.
　　He ran about the room, dug in all the boxes and drawers,and even looked under the bed in search of a piece of bread,hard though it might be, or a cookie, or perhaps a bit of fish.
　　A bone left by a dog would have tasted good to him!
　　But he found nothing.
　　And meanwhile his hunger grew and grew. The onlyrelief poor Pinocchio had was to yawn; and he certainlydid yawn, such a big yawn that his mouth stretchedout to the tips of his ears. Soon he became dizzy and faint.
　　He wept and wailed to himself: "The Talking Cricketwas right. It was wrong of me to disobey Father and torun away from home. If he were here now, I wouldn't beso hungry! Oh, how horrible it is to be hungry!"Suddenly, he saw, among the sweepings in a corner,something round and white that looked very much like ahen's egg. In a jiffy he pounced upon it. It was an egg.
　　The Marionette's joy knew no bounds. It is impossibleto describe it, you must picture it to yourself. Certain that he was dreaming, he turned the egg over and over in hishands, fondled it, kissed it, and talked to it:
　　"And now, how shall I cook you? Shall I make anomelet? No, it is better to fry you in a pan!
　　Or shall I drink you? No, the best way is tofry you in the pan. You will taste better."No sooner said than done. He placed a little pan over afoot warmer full of hot coals. In the pan, instead of oil orbutter, he poured a little water. As soon as the waterstarted to boil--tac!--he broke the eggshell. But in placeof the white and the yolk of the egg, a little yellow Chick,fluffy and gay and smiling, escaped from it. Bowingpolitely to Pinocchio, he said to him:
　　"Many, many thanks, indeed, Mr. Pinocchio, for havingsaved me the trouble of breaking my shell! Good-byand good luck to you and remember me to the family!"With these words he spread out his wings and, dartingto the open window, he flew away into space till he wasout of sight.
　　The poor Marionette stood as if turned to stone, withwide eyes, open mouth, and the empty halves of the egg-shell in his hands. When he came to himself, he began tocry and shriek at the top of his lungs, stamping his feet onthe ground and wailing all the while:
　　"The Talking Cricket was right! If I had not run awayfrom home and if Father were here now, I should not bedying of hunger. Oh, how horrible it is to be hungry!"And as his stomach kept grumbling more than ever andhe had nothing to quiet it with, he thought of going outfor a walk to the near-by village, in the hope of findingsome charitable person who might give him a bit of bread.
　　这时候天开始黑了，皮诺乔猛想起他还没吃过点东西，就觉得肚子在咕噜咕噜叫，真想吃。
　　孩子是这样，一想到吃就越来越想吃，说真个的，几分钟工夫，想吃就变成了肚子饿，肚子越来越饿，饿得他像只饿狼，饿得他肚子像刀绞。
　　可怜的皮诺乔马上向壁炉扑过去，那儿有个锅子在冒热气，他打算揭开锅盖，看看里面在煮什么，谁知那锅子是画在墙上的，诸位想象一下吧，他是多么失望啊，他那个本来已经很长的鼻子，马上又至少长了四指。
　　于是他满屋子乱跑，搜遍了所有的抽屉、所有的角落，只想找到点面包，哪怕是一丁点儿干面包，只想找到点硬面包皮、狗啃过的骨头、发霉的玉米糊、鱼骨头、樱桃核，总而言之，随便找到什么可以进口的东西都好，可他什么也没找到，一丁点儿东西也没找到。
　　这时他肚子越来越饿，越来越饿，可怜的皮诺乔，他除了打哈欠，就毫无办法可以让肚子好过一点儿。他的哈欠打得那么长，每一回嘴巴都一直咧到耳朵边。打完一个哈欠他就吐口水，只觉得胃也要吐出来了。
　　最后他绝望了，哭着说：
　　“会说话的蟋蟀说得对，我错就错在不听爸爸的话，逃出了屋子……我爸爸要是在这儿，这会儿我就不会一个劲儿打哈欠，人都要打死了！唉哟！肚子饿多难受啊！”
　　正在这时候，他看到一堆垃圾里好像有一样东西，圆滚滚的、白花花的，完全像个鸡蛋。他一蹦就跳了过去，扑到它上面，的的确确是个鸡蛋。
　　木偶这份高兴是只可意会，无法形容的，他简直像在做梦，一个劲儿把鸡蛋捧在手上，转过来转过去，又摸又吻，一面吻还一面说：
　　“这会儿我该怎么吃这个蛋呢，煎来吃不好吗？……不，放在盘子里煮更好！……噢，用煎锅煎最好，还有比煎鸡蛋更好吃的吗？噢，不弄熟怎么样，就生着吃？不，还是放在盘子里煮，或者用煎锅煎好，我想吃得要命啦！”
　　说干就干，他把煎锅放在一个烧炭的火盆上，在煎锅里他放的不是素油不是牛油，而是水。等到水一冒气，卡嗒！……他敲破鸡蛋壳，就要把蛋倒进去。
　　可蛋壳里倒出来的不是蛋白和蛋黄，而是一只小鸡。小鸡又快活又有礼貌，姿势优美地鞠个躬说：
　　“多谢您，皮诺乔先生，您让我省了力气，不用去弄破蛋壳啦！再见，祝您好，请代我问候您一家人！”
　　它说着拍拍翅膀，从打开的窗子飞出去，不见了。
　　可怜的木偶站在那里发呆，眼睛瞪大，嘴巴张开，手里拿着两瓣鸡蛋壳。他这么愣了一阵，等到最后清醒过来，就哇哇地又哭又叫，绝望得跺脚，一面哭一面说：
　　“还是会说话的蟋蟀说得对！如果我不从家里进出去，如果我爸爸在这儿，这会儿我就不会饿得要命了！噢，肚子饿多难受啊！”
　　肚子继续咕噜咕噜响，越响越厉害，他又不知道该怎么办才叫它不响，他觉得还是离开屋子，到隔壁村子去看看，巴望能碰到个好心人，会施舍点面包给他吃吃。
Chapter 6
    Pinocchio falls asleep with his feet on a foot warmer,and awakens the next day with his feet all burned offPinocchio hated the dark street, but he was so hungrythat, in spite of it, he ran out of the house. The night waspitch black. It thundered, and bright flashes of lightningnow and again shot across the sky, turning it into a sea offire. An angry wind blew cold and raised dense clouds ofdust, while the trees shook and moaned in a weird way.
　　Pinocchio was greatly afraid of thunder and lightning,but the hunger he felt was far greater than his fear. In adozen leaps and bounds, he came to the village, tired out,puffing like a whale, and with tongue hanging.
　　The whole village was dark and deserted. The storeswere closed, the doors, the windows. In the streets, noteven a dog could be seen. It seemed the Village of theDead.
　　Pinocchio, in desperation, ran up to a doorway, threwhimself upon the bell, and pulled it wildly, saying to himself:
　　"Someone will surely answer that!"He was right. An old man in a nightcap opened thewindow and looked out. He called down angrily:
　　"What do you want at this hour of night?""Will you be good enough to give me a bit of bread?
　　I am hungry.""Wait a minute and I'll come right back," answered theold fellow, thinking he had to deal with one of those boyswho love to roam around at night ringing people's bellswhile they are peacefully asleep.
　　After a minute or two, the same voice cried:
　　"Get under the window and hold out your hat!"Pinocchio had no hat, but he managed to get under thewindow just in time to feel a shower of ice-cold waterpour down on his poor wooden head, his shoulders, andover his whole body.
　　He returned home as wet as a rag, and tired out fromweariness and hunger.
　　As he no longer had any strength left with which tostand, he sat down on a little stool and put his two feet onthe stove to dry them.
　　There he fell asleep, and while he slept, his woodenfeet began to burn. Slowly, very slowly, they blackenedand turned to ashes.
　　Pinocchio snored away happily as if his feet were nothis own. At dawn he opened his eyes just as a loud knockingsounded at the door.
　　"Who is it?" he called, yawning and rubbing his eyes.
　　"It is I," answered a voice.
　　It was the voice of Geppetto.
　这真是个可怕的冬夜，雷声隆隆，电光闪闪，整个天空好像着了火，寒冷彻骨的狂风卷起滚滚的灰尘，吹得田野上所有的树木刷拉刷拉直响。
　　皮诺乔最怕打雷闪电，可肚子饿比打雷闪电更可怕。因此他掩上门，撒腿就跑，蹦上那么百来蹦，来到一个村子，他舌头也吐了出来，上气不接下气，活像一只猎犬。
　　可村子里一片漆黑，人影也没有一个，铺子都关上了门。一家家也关上了门，关上了窗子，街上连一只狗也没有，整个村子像死了似的。
　　皮诺乔又是绝望又是肚子饿，于是去拉一户人家的门铃，他丁零丁零拉个不停．心里说：
　　“总会有人朝外看看的。”
　　果然，有人打开了窗子朝下看，这是个老头儿，戴一顶睡帽，气乎乎地大叫：
　　“这么深更半夜的，要干什么？”
　　“请做做好事，给我点面包行吗？”
　　“你等着吧，我就下来。”老头儿回答着，心想准碰上了小坏蛋，深更半夜来开玩笑。人家好好地睡觉，他却来拉门铃捉弄老实人，
　　过了半分钟，窗子又打开了，还是那个老头儿的声音对皮诺乔叫道：
　　“你在下面站着，把帽子拿好。”
　　皮诺乔还没有帽子，他马上走到窗子底下，只觉得一大盆水直泼下来，把他从头淋到脚，好像他是一盆枯萎的天竺葵似的。
　　皮诺乔像只落汤鸡似地回家里，他又累又饿，一点力气也没有了。他再没力气站着，于是坐下来，把两只又湿又脏、满是烂泥的脚搁到烧炭的火盆上，
　　他就这样睡着了，他睡着的时候，一双木头脚给火烧着，一点一点烧成了炭，烧成了灰。
　　皮诺乔只管睡他的大觉，咕啊咕啊地打呼，好像这双脚不是他的，是别人的，他直到天亮才一下醒来，因为听见有人敲门，
　　“谁呀？”他打着哈欠，擦着眼睛问，
　　“是我，”一个声音回答。
　　这是杰佩托的声音。
Chapter 7
    Geppetto returns home and giveshis own breakfast to the MarionetteThe poor Marionette, who was still half asleep, had notyet found out that his two feet were burned and gone. Assoon as he heard his Father's voice, he jumped up from hisseat to open the door, but, as he did so, he staggered andfell headlong to the floor.
　　In falling, he made as much noise as a sack of woodfalling from the fifth story of a house.
　　"Open the door for me!" Geppetto shouted from the street.
　　"Father, dear Father, I can't," answered the Marionettein despair, crying and rolling on the floor.
　　"Why can't you?""Because someone has eaten my feet.""And who has eaten them?""The cat," answered Pinocchio, seeing that little animalbusily playing with some shavings in the corner of the room.
　　"Open! I say," repeated Geppetto, "or I'll give you asound whipping when I get in.""Father, believe me, I can't stand up. Oh, dear!
　　Oh, dear! I shall have to walk on my knees all my life."Geppetto, thinking that all these tears and cries wereonly other pranks of the Marionette, climbed up the sideof the house and went in through the window.
　　At first he was very angry, but on seeing Pinocchiostretched out on the floor and really without feet, he feltvery sad and sorrowful. Picking him up from the floor, hefondled and caressed him, talking to him while the tearsran down his cheeks:
　　"My little Pinocchio, my dear little Pinocchio!
　　How did you burn your feet?""I don't know, Father, but believe me, the night hasbeen a terrible one and I shall remember it as long as I live.
　　The thunder was so noisy and the lightning so bright--and I was hungry. And then the Talking Cricket said tome, `You deserve it; you were bad;' and I said to him,`Careful, Cricket;' and he said to me, `You are a Marionetteand you have a wooden head;' and I threw the hammer at him and killed him. It was his own fault, for I didn't wantto kill him. And I put the pan on the coals, but the Chickflew away and said, `I'll see you again! Remember me tothe family.' And my hunger grew, and I went out, and theold man with a nightcap looked out of the window andthrew water on me, and I came home and put my feet onthe stove to dry them because I was still hungry, and I fellasleep and now my feet are gone but my hunger isn't!
　　Oh!--Oh!--Oh!" And poor Pinocchio began to screamand cry so loudly that he could be heard for miles around.
　　Geppetto, who had understood nothing of all thatjumbled talk, except that the Marionette was hungry, felt sorryfor him, and pulling three pears out of his pocket, offeredthem to him, saying:
　　"These three pears were for my breakfast, but I givethem to you gladly. Eat them and stop weeping.""If you want me to eat them, please peel them for me.""Peel them?" asked Geppetto, very much surprised. "Ishould never have thought, dear boy of mine, that youwere so dainty and fussy about your food. Bad, very bad!
　　In this world, even as children, we must accustom ourselvesto eat of everything, for we never know what life mayhold in store for us!""You may be right," answered Pinocchio, "but I will noteat the pears if they are not peeled. I don't like them."And good old Geppetto took out a knife, peeled thethree pears, and put the skins in a row on the table.
　　Pinocchio ate one pear in a twinkling and started tothrow the core away, but Geppetto held his arm.
　　"Oh, no, don't throw it away! Everything in this worldmay be of some use!""But the core I will not eat!" cried Pinocchio in an angry tone.
　　"Who knows?" repeated Geppetto calmly.
　　And later the three cores were placed on the table nextto the skins.
　　Pinocchio had eaten the three pears, or rather devoured them.
　　Then he yawned deeply, and wailed:
　　"I'm still hungry.""But I have no more to give you.""Really, nothing--nothing?""I have only these three cores and these skins.""Very well, then," said Pinocchio, "if there is nothingelse I'll eat them."At first he made a wry face, but, one after another, theskins and the cores disappeared.
　　"Ah! Now I feel fine!" he said after eating the last one.
　　"You see," observed Geppetto, "that I was right when I told you that one must not be too fussy and too daintyabout food. My dear, we never know what life may havein store for us!"
　　可怜的皮诺乔睡眼惺忪，还没看到他的两只脚已经完全烧没了，因此他一听到父亲的声音，马上跳下凳子要跑去开门，可他身子摇了那么两三摇，一下子就直挺挺倒在地板上了。
　　他倒在地板上这啪哒一声，听着就似是一口袋木勺子从五层楼上落下来似的。
　　“给我开开门！”这时杰佩扦在外面衔上叫。
　　“我的爸爸，我开不了门”，木偶回答说，又是哇哇哭，又是在地上打滚。
　　“为什么开不了？”
　　“因为我的两只脚给吃掉了。”
　　“给什么吃吃掉了？”
　　“给猫”，皮诺乔说。因为这时候他正好看见一只猫，用前脚在玩一些刨花。
　　“我说，给我开开门！”杰佩托又说一遍，“要不，我进屋子给你只‘猫’！”
　　“可我站不起来，相信我吧。噢，我真可怜，我真可怜！我一辈子得用膝头跪着走路啦！……”
　　杰佩托听见木偶又哭又叫，以为又是他在捣鬼，想好好收拾他，于是打窗口爬进屋子。
　　杰佩托先还想骂他打他，可等到看到他躺在地上，当真没有脚，心马上软了下来，他赶紧搂住皮诺乔的脖子，把他抱在怀里，抚摸了他成千遍，哄了他成千回，大滴大滴的眼泪流下腮帮，哭着说：
　　“我的好皮诺乔！你的脚怎么烧掉啦？”
　　“不知道，爸爸，可请您相信，这是个可怕的冬夜，我一辈子也忘不了，又打雷，又闪电，我肚子饿得要命，当时会说话的蟋蟀对我说：‘你是活该，你不好，自作自受，’我对它说：‘你小心点，蟋蟀！……’它对我说：‘你是个木偶，有个木头脑袋，’于是我抓起个木头槌子，扔过去，它就死了，可这都怪它自己，因为我并不想打死它，我把煎锅放在火盆的炭火上，可是小鸡跑出来说：‘再见……给我向您一家人问好’，可肚子越来越饿，因此那个老头儿，戴睡帽的，把头探出窗口，对我说：你在下面站着，把帽子拿好。’我头上挨了那么一盆水，讨点面包吃并不可耻，对吗？我马上回家，因为饿坏了，我把脚搁在火盆上烤干。您回来了，我的脚烧没了。可我这会儿肚子还是那么饿。脚再也没有了！噫……！噫！……噫！……噫！……”。
　　可怜的皮诺乔说着哭起来，哭得那么响，五公里外都能听见，
　　杰佩托听他说了半天，只听懂一点，就是木偶饿得要死了。于是他打口袋里掏出三个梨，递给他，说：
　　“这三个梨是我准备当早饭吃的，可我很高兴给你吃。吃吧，吃了梨就好了。”
　　“你要是给我吃，请把皮削掉吧。”
　　“削皮？”杰佩托听了很惊奇，反问说，“我的孩子，我简直不能相信，你的嘴那么刁，你那么难侍候，这可不好！在这个世界上，得从小习惯什么都吃，懂得给什么吃什么，因为你永远不知道会遇到什么事情，什么事情都会有！……”
　　“您的话是不错，”皮诺乔接下去说，“可我永远不吃不削皮的水果，水果皮我受不了。”
　　杰佩托是个大好人，就拿出一把小刀，用天使般的耐心，削好了三个梨，把梨皮放在桌子角上。
　　皮诺乔两口就吃掉了第一个梨。他正要把梨心扔掉，杰佩托拦住他的手，对他说：
　　“别扔掉。在这个世界上，样样东西都会有用的。”
　　“可说真的，我不要吃梨心！……”木偶像蛇那么扭来扭去叫道。
　　“谁知道呢！什么事情都会有！……”杰佩托并不生气，又说了一遍。
　　就这样，三个梨心没扔出窗口，跟梨皮一起，都放在桌子角上。
　　皮诺乔吃了三个梨，或者说得准确点，吞下三个梨，打了个很长很长的哈欠，接着又哭也似地说：
　　“我肚子又饿了！”
　　“可我的孩子，我再没什么可以给你了。”
　　“没有了，真的没有了？”
　　“就剩下这儿一点梨皮和梨心了。”
　　“没法子，”皮诺乔说，“要是没别的，我就吃块梨皮吧。”
　　他于是嚼起梨皮来，他先还歪着点嘴，可后来一块接一块，一转眼就把所有的梨皮都吃光了，吃完梨皮，又吃梨心。等到全给吃完，他心满意足地拍拍肚子，兴高采烈地说：
　　“这会儿我觉得好受了！”
　　“现在你看，”杰佩托给他指出说，“我刚才对你说没错吧，得学会不要太挑肥拣瘦，不要太嘴刁。我的小宝贝，在这个世界上，咱们永远不知道会遇到什么事情。什么事情都会有！……”
Chapter 8
    Geppetto makes Pinocchio a new pair of feet,and sells his coat to buy him an A-B-C bookThe Marionette, as soon as his hunger was appeased,started to grumble and cry that he wanted a new pair of feet.
　　But Mastro Geppetto, in order to punish him for hismischief, let him alone the whole morning. After dinnerhe said to him:
　　"Why should I make your feet over again? To see yourun away from home once more?""I promise you," answered the Marionette, sobbing,"that from now on I'll be good--""Boys always promise that when they want something,"said Geppetto.
　　"I promise to go to school every day, to study, and to succeed--""Boys always sing that song when they want their own will.""But I am not like other boys! I am better than all of them and I always tell the truth. I promise you, Father,that I'll learn a trade, and I'll be the comfort and staff ofyour old age."Geppetto, though trying to look very stern, felt his eyesfill with tears and his heart soften when he saw Pinocchioso unhappy. He said no more, but taking his tools and twopieces of wood, he set to work diligently.
　　In less than an hour the feet were finished, two slender,nimble little feet, strong and quick, modeled as if by anartist's hands.
　　"Close your eyes and sleep!" Geppetto then said to the Marionette.
　　Pinocchio closed his eyes and pretended to be asleep,while Geppetto stuck on the two feet with a bit of gluemelted in an eggshell, doing his work so well that the jointcould hardly be seen.
　　As soon as the Marionette felt his new feet, he gave oneleap from the table and started to skip and jump around,as if he had lost his head from very joy.
　　"To show you how grateful I am to you, Father, I'll goto school now. But to go to school I need a suit of clothes."Geppetto did not have a penny in his pocket, so hemade his son a little suit of flowered paper, a pair of shoesfrom the bark of a tree, and a tiny cap from a bit of dough.
　　Pinocchio ran to look at himself in a bowl of water, andhe felt so happy that he said proudly:
　　"Now I look like a gentleman.""Truly," answered Geppetto. "But remember that fineclothes do not make the man unless they be neat and clean.""Very true," answered Pinocchio, "but, in order to goto school, I still need something very important.""What is it?""An A-B-C book.""To be sure! But how shall we get it?""That's easy. We'll go to a bookstore and buy it.""And the money?""I have none.""Neither have I," said the old man sadly.
　　Pinocchio, although a happy boy always, became sadand downcast at these words. When poverty shows itself,even mischievous boys understand what it means.
　　"What does it matter, after all?" cried Geppetto all atonce, as he jumped up from his chair. Putting on his oldcoat, full of darns and patches, he ran out of the housewithout another word.
　　After a while he returned. In his hands he had theA-B-C book for his son, but the old coat was gone. Thepoor fellow was in his shirt sleeves and the day was cold.
　　"Where's your coat, Father?""I have sold it.""Why did you sell your coat?""It was too warm."Pinocchio understood the answer in a twinkling, and,unable to restrain his tears, he jumped on his father's neckand kissed him over and over.
　木偶肚子一不饿，马上就叽哩咕噜，哇哇大哭，吵着要一双新的脚。
　　可杰佩托为了他的恶作剧，想要罚罚他，就让他去哇哇哭，让他绝望了整整半天，最后才说：
　　“凭什么我要给你再做一双脚呢？是为了眼巴巴看着你再打家里溜出去吗？”
　　“我向您保证，”木偶哭着说，“从今以后我一定做个好孩子……”
　　“所有孩子碰到想讨点什么的时候，”杰佩托回答，“他们都是这样说的。”
　　“我向您保证，我要去上学读书，叫人看得起……”
　　“所有孩子碰到想讨点什么的时候，都来这一套。”
　　“可我跟别的孩子不同！我比所有的孩子好，我一直说真话，爸爸，我向您保证，我要学会一种本领，等您老了，我安慰您，养您。”
　　杰佩托虽然装出一副凶相，可看着他那可怜的皮诺乔这么受罪，眼里噙着眼泪，心里充满了爱，他不再回答什么话，只是拿起工具和两块干木头，一个劲地干起活来了。
　　一个钟头不到，两只脚已经做好。这两只小脚轻巧，干燥，灵活，真像一位天才雕刻家做出来的，
　　杰佩托于是对木偶说：
　　“闭上眼睛睡一觉吧！”
　　木偶闭上眼睛假装睡觉。在木偶假装睡觉的时埃，杰佩托用鸡蛋壳装点溶化了的胶，把两只脚给他黏上，黏得那么天衣无缝，一点看不出黏过的样子。
　　木偶一看见自己有了脚，就打直挺挺躺着的桌子上翻下来，乱蹦乱跳的跳了上千次，翻了上千个跟头，简直乐疯了。
　　“为了报答您给我做的一切”，皮诺乔对他爸爸说，“我要马上去上学。”
　　“好样儿的孩子！”
　　“可是去上学得有点儿东西穿。”
　　杰佩托很穷，口袋里连一个子儿也没有，于是用花纸给他做了一套衣服，用树皮给他做了一双鞋，用面包心给他做了一顶小帽子。
　　皮诺乔马上跑到一脸盆水那里去照，对自己的模样满意极了，神气活现地说：
　　“我真像一位体面的先生！”
　　“不错，”杰佩托回答说，“可是你要记住，使人成为体面先生的不是好衣服，而主要是干净的衣服。”
　　“不过”，木偶又说了，“我上学还少一样东西，一样最要紧的东西。”
　　“什么东西？”
　　“我还少一本识字课本。”
　　“你说得对，可怎么弄到它呢。”
　　“那还不方便，到书店里买就是了。”
　　“钱呢？……”
　　“我没钱。”
　　“我也没钱，”好老头说，心里很难过。
　　皮诺乔尽管是个快活透顶的孩子，可也难过起来了。因为一件真正伤心的事，那是人人都会懂得的，连孩子也不例外。
　　“没法子，只好这么办！”杰佩托叫了一声，忽然站起来，穿上打满补丁的粗布旧上衣，跑出门去了。
　　一会儿工夫他就回来。回来的时候，他手里拿着给他孩子买的识字课本，可短上衣没有了。这个可怜人只穿着衬衫，外面可是在下雪。
　　“上衣呢，爸爸？”
　　“我给卖了。”
　　“为什么卖了？”
　　“因为我热。”
　　他回答的这句话是什么意思，皮诺乔一下子就明白了，他那颗良心不由得一阵冲动，就扑上去抱住杰佩托的脖子，在他的整个脸上到处亲吻。
Chapter 9
    Pinocchio sells his A-B-C book topay his way into the Marionette TheaterSee Pinocchio hurrying off to school with his new A-B-Cbook under his arm! As he walked along, his brain was busyplanning hundreds of wonderful things, building hundredsof castles in the air. Talking to himself, he said:
　　"In school today, I'll learn to read, tomorrow to write,and the day after tomorrow I'll do arithmetic. Then, cleveras I am, I can earn a lot of money. With the very firstpennies I make, I'll buy Father a new cloth coat. Cloth,did I say? No, it shall be of gold and silver with diamondbuttons. That poor man certainly deserves it; for, after all,isn't he in his shirt sleeves because he was good enough to buy a book for me? On this cold day, too! Fathers areindeed good to their children!"As he talked to himself, he thought he heard sounds ofpipes and drums coming from a distance: pi-pi-pi,pi-pi-pi. . .zum, zum, zum, zum.
　　He stopped to listen. Those sounds came from a littlestreet that led to a small village along the shore.
　　"What can that noise be? What a nuisance that I haveto go to school! Otherwise. . ."There he stopped, very much puzzled. He felt he hadto make up his mind for either one thing or another.
　　Should he go to school, or should he follow the pipes?
　　"Today I'll follow the pipes, and tomorrow I'll go toschool. There's always plenty of time to go to school,"decided the little rascal at last, shrugging his shoulders.
　　No sooner said than done. He started down the street,going like the wind. On he ran, and louder grew thesounds of pipe and drum: pi-pi-pi, pi-pi-pi, pi-pi-pi. . .zum, zum, zum, zum.
　　Suddenly, he found himself in a large square, full ofpeople standing in front of a little wooden building paintedin brilliant colors.
　　"What is that house?" Pinocchio asked a little boy near him.
　　"Read the sign and you'll know.""I'd like to read, but somehow I can't today.""Oh, really? Then I'll read it to you. Know, then,that written in letters of fire I see the words:
　　GREAT MARIONETTE THEATER.
　　"When did the show start?""It is starting now.""And how much does one pay to get in?""Four pennies."Pinocchio, who was wild with curiosity to know whatwas going on inside, lost all his pride and said to the boyshamelessly:
　　"Will you give me four pennies until tomorrow?""I'd give them to you gladly," answered the other,poking fun at him, "but just now I can't give them to you.""For the price of four pennies, I'll sell you my coat.""If it rains, what shall I do with a coat of floweredpaper? I could not take it off again.""Do you want to buy my shoes?""They are only good enough to light a fire with.""What about my hat?""Fine bargain, indeed! A cap of dough! The mice mightcome and eat it from my head!"Pinocchio was almost in tears. He was just about tomake one last offer, but he lacked the courage to do so.
　　He hesitated, he wondered, he could not make up his mind.
　　At last he said:
　　"Will you give me four pennies for the book?""I am a boy and I buy nothing from boys," said thelittle fellow with far more common sense than the Marionette.
　　"I'll give you four pennies for your A-B-C book," saida ragpicker who stood by.
　　Then and there, the book changed hands. And to thinkthat poor old Geppetto sat at home in his shirt sleeves,shivering with cold, having sold his coat to buy that littlebook for his son!
　　雪一停，皮诺乔就夹着他那本呱呱叫的新识字课本去上学，他一路走，他的小脑袋瓜里浮现出成千个幻想，成千座空中楼阁，越来越美。
　　他自言自语说：
　　“我在学校里，今天就要学会读书，明天就要学会写字，后天就要学会计算，以后凭着我的本领，我要挣许许多多钱。我第一次拿到钱就马上给爸爸买一件漂亮的布上衣，可我干吗买布的呢？我要买件金丝银线织的，钮扣是宝石做的，这位可怜人实在该穿这样的衣服，为什么，一句话，他为了给我买书，为了让我能够读书，竟把上衣也给卖了，光穿件衬衫……可天又这么冷！只有做爸爸的才肯作出这种牺牲！……”
　　他正在这样激动地说着这番话，忽然听见远处有音乐声，又是吹笛子，又是敲鼓：的的的，的的的……咚，咚，咚，咚。
　　他停下来竖起耳朵听，这声音是打岔道那边尽头传过来的，这条岔道很长很长，一直通到海边一个小村子。
　　“这音乐声是怎么回事？可惜我得去上学，要不……”
　　他站在那里拿不定主意，可无论如何得作出决定：或者去上学，或者去听吹笛子。
　　“今天就去听吹笛子，明天再去上学吧，去上学，反正日子长着呐，”这个小淘气最后耸耸肩膀说，
　　说干就干，他走到那条岔道上，撒腿就跑，他越往前跑，吹笛子和敲鼓的声音就越清楚：的的的，的的的，的的的……咚，咚，咚，咚。
　　转眼他就来到了一个广场中央，那里人山人海，都围着一个大棚。这大棚是用木头和五颜六色的布搭起来的。
　　“这大棚是什么玩竟儿？”皮诺乔转身问村里一个孩子。
　　“你就念一下海报吧，上面都写明白了，你一念就知道。”
　　“我很想念，可今天我正好还不会念。”
　　“好一头蠢牛！那我来念给你听，你看见海报上那几个火红的大字没有，这几个字写的是：木偶大戏院……”
　　“戏开场很久了吗？”
　　“这会儿才开场，”
　　“门票多少钱，”
　　“四个子几，”
　　皮诺乔想看得要命，什么也不管了，不害臊地跟刚才对话的孩子说：
　　“借给我四个子儿行吗，明天还你？”
　　“我很想借给你，”那孩子开玩笑地回答说，“可今天我正好不能借。”
　　“四个子儿，我把我这件外套卖给你，”木偶于是对他说。
　　“花纸做的外套，我要来干吗？雨落到上面，我脱也脱不下来了。”
　　“想买我的鞋子吗？”
　　“拿来生火最好。”
　　“这顶帽子你给多少钱，”
　　“买来倒真有用！一顶面包心做的帽子！耗子可要到我头上来吃帽子了！”
　　皮诺乔不知怎么是好，他还有最后一样东西想说出来，可又不敢说。他犹豫不决，拿不定主意，十分苦恼，最后他还是说了：
　　“你肯给我四个子儿，买了我这本新识字课本吗？”
　　“我是个孩子，不向孩子买东西，”对方那个小家伙回答他说，这个家伙比他有头脑多了。
　　“这本识字课本四个子儿我买，”一个卖旧衣服的叫起来。他们讲话时，他正好在旁边，
　　书当场卖掉了。想想那位可怜的杰佩托吧，他如今在家，光穿着衬衫，冷得索索发抖，就为的给儿子买这么本识字课本！
Chapter 10
    The Marionettes recognize their brother Pinocchio,and greet him with loud cheers; but the Director, Fire Eater,happens along and poor Pinocchio almost loses his lifeQuick as a flash, Pinocchio disappeared into theMarionette Theater. And then something happened whichalmost caused a riot.
　　The curtain was up and the performance had started.
　　Harlequin and Pulcinella were reciting on the stage and,as usual, they were threatening each other with sticks and blows.
　　The theater was full of people, enjoying the spectacleand laughing till they cried at the antics of the two Marionettes.
　　The play continued for a few minutes, and then suddenly,without any warning, Harlequin stopped talking.
　　Turning toward the audience, he pointed to the rear ofthe orchestra, yelling wildly at the same time:
　　"Look, look! Am I asleep or awake? Or do I really seePinocchio there?""Yes, yes! It is Pinocchio!" screamed Pulcinella.
　　"It is! It is!" shrieked Signora Rosaura, peeking in fromthe side of the stage.
　　"It is Pinocchio! It is Pinocchio!" yelled all the Marionettes,pouring out of the wings. "It is Pinocchio. It is our brotherPinocchio! Hurrah for Pinocchio!""Pinocchio, come up to me!" shouted Harlequin. "Cometo the arms of your wooden brothers!"At such a loving invitation, Pinocchio, with one leapfrom the back of the orchestra, found himself in the frontrows. With another leap, he was on the orchestra leader'shead. With a third, he landed on the stage.
　　It is impossible to describe the shrieks of joy, the warmembraces, the knocks, and the friendly greetings withwhich that strange company of dramatic actors andactresses received Pinocchio.
　　It was a heart-rending spectacle, but the audience,seeing that the play had stopped, became angry and beganto yell:
　　"The play, the play, we want the play!"The yelling was of no use, for the Marionettes, insteadof going on with their act, made twice as much racket asbefore, and, lifting up Pinocchio on their shoulders, carriedhim around the stage in triumph.
　　At that very moment, the Director came out of hisroom. He had such a fearful appearance that one lookat him would fill you with horror. His beard was asblack as pitch, and so long that it reached from his chindown to his feet. His mouth was as wide as an oven, histeeth like yellow fangs, and his eyes, two glowing redcoals. In his huge, hairy hands, a long whip, made ofgreen snakes and black cats' tails twisted together, swishedthrough the air in a dangerous way.
　　At the unexpected apparition, no one dared even tobreathe. One could almost hear a fly go by. Those poorMarionettes, one and all, trembled like leaves in a storm.
　　"Why have you brought such excitement into mytheater;" the huge fellow asked Pinocchio with the voiceof an ogre suffering with a cold.
　　"Believe me, your Honor, the fault was not mine.""Enough! Be quiet! I'll take care of you later."As soon as the play was over, the Director went tothe kitchen, where a fine big lamb was slowly turningon the spit. More wood was needed to finish cooking it.
　　He called Harlequin and Pulcinella and said to them:
　　"Bring that Marionette to me! He looks as if he weremade of well-seasoned wood. He'll make a fine fire forthis spit."Harlequin and Pulcinella hesitated a bit. Then,frightened by a look from their master, they left thekitchen to obey him. A few minutes later they returned,carrying poor Pinocchio, who was wriggling and squirminglike an eel and crying pitifully:
　　"Father, save me! I don't want to die! I don't want to die!"
　　皮诺乔一进木偶戏院，就出了件事，这件事几乎闹了个大乱子。
　　要知道，这时戏幕已经升起，滑稽戏已经开场了。
　　台上站着花衣小丑和驼背小丑，正吵得不可开交，接着就是那老一套，他们不断地你威吓我我威吓你，说要请对方吃耳光和吃棍子。
　　台下的观众聚精会神，听着这两个木偶吵架，哈哈大笑，两个木偶做着手势，互相辱骂，活灵活现，就像两个有理性的动物，咱们这世界的两个人。
　　忽然之间，花衣小丑停止了表演，向观众转过身来，用手指着观众席后排，用演戏的腔调大叫起来：
　　“天上的诸神啊！我是做梦还是醒着呢？那下边的人不是皮诺乔吗？……”
　　“正是皮诺乔！”驼背小丑叫道，
　　“一点不错就是他！”罗萨乌拉太太打台后伸出头来尖声叫道。
　　“是皮诺乔！是皮诺乔！”所有的木偶同声大叫，跳到外面台上来，“皮诺乔！是咱们的兄弟皮诺乔！皮诺乔万岁！”
　　“皮诺乔，上来，到我这儿来，”花衣小丑叫道，“上来，投到你的木头弟兄们的怀抱里来吧！”
　　他们这么热请地邀请，皮诺乔一跳就从观众席后座跳到前座，再一跳就从前座跳上乐队指挥的头顶，又从乐队指挥的头顶蹦上戏台。
　　皮诺乔受到木偶戏班男女演员的狂热欢迎，他们拥抱、搂他的脖子，友好地撮弄他，跟他像真诚兄弟那样头碰头，这个场面是无法想象的。
　　不用说，这个场面十分动人，不过观众看见戏老不演下去，不耐烦，开始大叫：
　　“我们要看戏，我们要看戏！”
　　可他们是白费力气，因为木偶们不是把戏演下去，而是加倍大叫大喊。他们把皮诺乔放在肩膀上，狂欢着抬到脚灯前面。
　　这时木偶戏班班主出来了，他个子大，样子凶，叫人看一眼就要害怕，他有把黑色大胡子，就像一大摊墨水迹，老长老长的，从下巴一直拖到地上，只说一点就够了，他走起路来脚都要踩着这把大胡子，他那张嘴大得像驴口，—双眼睛好似两盏点着火的红玻璃灯，他手里劈啪劈啪抽着根大鞭子，是用蛇和狼尾巴编起来的。
　　没想到忽然出来了班主，大伙儿一下子吓得连气都不敢透，连苍蝇飞过都听得见，这些可怜的木偶，男男女女个个哆嗦得像树叶子。
　　“你干吗到我的戏院里来捣乱？”班主问皮诺乔说，那大嗓门听着就像阎王爷害了重伤风的声音。
　　“请您相信，先生，这都不怪我！……”
　　“够了够了！晚上咱们再算账。”
　　事实就是如此，戏演完以后，木偶戏班班主走进厨房，厨房里正在烤一只肥羊做晚饭，叉子叉着，在火上慢慢地转动，他为了弄来木柴最后把羊烤熟烤焦，就把花衣小丑和驼背小丑叫来、对他们说：
　　“钉子上挂着的那个木偶，你们去给我带来，我看这木偶的木头很干，把他扔到火里，准能把火烧旺，烤熟这一只羊，”
　　花衣小丑和驼背小丑先还犹豫着不走，可班主生气地瞪了他们一眼，他们吓得只好服从。一转眼工夫他们就回到厨房，架来了可怜的皮诺乔，皮诺乔扭来扭去，像条出水鳗鱼，拼命大叫：
　　“我的爸爸，快救救我！我不要死，我不要死！……”
Chapter 11
    Fire Eater sneezes and forgives Pinocchio,who saves his friend, Harlequin, from deathIn the theater, great excitement reigned.
　　Fire Eater (this was really his name) was very ugly, but he was far from being as bad as he looked. Proof ofthis is that, when he saw the poor Marionette beingbrought in to him, struggling with fear and crying, "Idon't want to die! I don't want to die!" he felt sorry forhim and began first to waver and then to weaken. Finally,he could control himself no longer and gave a loud sneeze.
　　At that sneeze, Harlequin, who until then had beenas sad as a weeping willow, smiled happily and leaningtoward the Marionette, whispered to him:
　　"Good news, brother mine! Fire Eater has sneezedand this is a sign that he feels sorry for you.
　　You are saved!"For be it known, that, while other people, when sadand sorrowful, weep and wipe their eyes, Fire Eater, onthe other hand, had the strange habit of sneezing eachtime he felt unhappy. The way was just as good as anyother to show the kindness of his heart.
　　After sneezing, Fire Eater, ugly as ever, cried to Pinocchio:
　　"Stop crying! Your wails give me a funny feelingdown here in my stomach and--E--tchee!--E--tchee!"Two loud sneezes finished his speech.
　　"God bless you!" said Pinocchio.
　　"Thanks! Are your father and mother still living?"demanded Fire Eater.
　　"My father, yes. My mother I have never known.""Your poor father would suffer terribly if I were touse you as firewood. Poor old man! I feel sorry forhim! E--tchee! E--tchee! E--tchee!" Three more sneezessounded, louder than ever.
　　"God bless you!" said Pinocchio.
　　"Thanks! However, I ought to be sorry for myself,too, just now. My good dinner is spoiled. I have nomore wood for the fire, and the lamb is only half cooked.
　　Never mind! In your place I'll burn some other Marionette.
　　Hey there! Officers!"At the call, two wooden officers appeared, long andthin as a yard of rope, with queer hats on their headsand swords in their hands.
　　Fire Eater yelled at them in a hoarse voice:
　　"Take Harlequin, tie him, and throw him on the fire.
　　I want my lamb well done!"Think how poor Harlequin felt! He was so scaredthat his legs doubled up under him and he fell to the floor.
　　Pinocchio, at that heartbreaking sight, threw himselfat the feet of Fire Eater and, weeping bitterly, askedin a pitiful voice which could scarcely be heard:
　　"Have pity, I beg of you, signore!""There are no signori here!""Have pity, kind sir!""There are no sirs here!""Have pity, your Excellency!"On hearing himself addressed as your Excellency, theDirector of the Marionette Theater sat up very straightin his chair, stroked his long beard, and becoming suddenlykind and compassionate, smiled proudly as he said to Pinocchio:
　　"Well, what do you want from me now, Marionette?""I beg for mercy for my poor friend, Harlequin, whohas never done the least harm in his life.""There is no mercy here, Pinocchio. I have sparedyou. Harlequin must burn in your place. I am hungryand my dinner must be cooked.""In that case," said Pinocchio proudly, as he stoodup and flung away his cap of dough, "in that case, myduty is clear. Come, officers! Tie me up and throw meon those flames. No, it is not fair for poor Harlequin,the best friend that I have in the world, to die in my place!"These brave words, said in a piercing voice, made allthe other Marionettes cry. Even the officers, who weremade of wood also, cried like two babies.
　　Fire Eater at first remained hard and cold as a pieceof ice; but then, little by little, he softened and began tosneeze. And after four or five sneezes, he opened widehis arms and said to Pinocchio:
　　"You are a brave boy! Come to my arms and kiss me!"Pinocchio ran to him and scurrying like a squirrel up thelong black beard, he gave Fire Eater a loving kiss on thetip of his nose.
　　"Has pardon been granted to me?" asked poorHarlequin with a voice that was hardly a breath.
　　"Pardon is yours!" answered Fire Eater; and sighingand wagging his head, he added: "Well, tonight I shallhave to eat my lamb only half cooked, but beware thenext time, Marionettes."At the news that pardon had been given, theMarionettes ran to the stage and, turning on all the lights,they danced and sang till dawn.
　　木偶戏班班主吃火人（他就叫这么个名字）看样子是个可怕的人，那是没话说的，特别是他那把黑色大胡子，像围裙似地盖住他整个胸口和整整两条腿，可他到底不是个坏人，事实上，他一看见可怜的皮诺乔给带到他面前，拼命挣扎，哇哇大叫：“我不要死，我不要死！”心马上就软，可怜起他来了，他鼻子忽然发热，忍了好大一会儿，可终于忍不住，就大声打了一个喷嚏。
　　花衣小丑一直在伤心，像垂柳那样弯下身子，可一听见打喷嚏，马上喜容满面，向皮诺乔弯过身来，轻轻跟他咬耳朵说：
　　“好消息，兄弟，班主打喷嚏了，这表示他已经感动，在可怜你，如今你有救了。”
　　因为要知道，有许多人一同情什么人，或者是哭，或者至少是假装擦眼睛，可吃火人不同，他真的感动了，就要打喷嚏，这也是一种表示他心软的的方式，
　　打过喷嚏以后，木偶戏班班主还是装出很凶的样于，对皮诺乔叫道：
　　“别哭了！你哇哇哭，叫我肚子里难受极了……叫我觉得绞痛，几乎，几乎……啊嚏，啊嚏……”又打了两个喷嚏。
　　“长命百岁！”皮诺乔说，
　　“谢谢！你爸爸妈妈都活着吗？”吃火人问他，
　　“爸爸活着，可我从来不知道妈妈，”
　　“我这会儿要是把你扔到炭火里，谁知道你的老父亲要多么伤心啊！可怜的老头！我很同情他！……啊嚏，啊嚏，啊嚏！”他又打了三个喷嚏，
　　“长命千岁！”皮诺乔说，
　　“谢谢！不过也得同情同请我，因为你看，我要把这头羊烤熟，木柴没有了，说老实话，你在这种情况下对我非常有用！可如今我很感动，我想忍耐看不烧你，既然不烧你，我就得在我的戏班里另找一个木偶来代替你，把他扔到叉子底下去烧……喂，守卫的！”
　　一声命今，马上来了两个木头守卫，他们挺高挺高，挺瘦挺瘦，头戴两角帽，手握出鞘的剑，
　　木偶戏班班主气咻咻地对他们说：
　　“给我把这个花衣小丑抓住，捆得牢牢的，扔到火里去，我要让我这只羊烤得香香的！”
　　诸位想象一下这个可怜的花衣小丑吧！他吓得两条腿一弯，跪在地上了，
　　皮诺乔看见这种凄惨场面，就扑倒在班主脚下，嚎啕大哭，泪水把他那把大胡子也给弄湿了，开始哀求他说：
　　“可怜可怜吧，吃火人先生！……”
　　“这里没有先生！……”木偶戏班班主冷冰冰地回答说。
　　“可怜可怜吧，骑士先生！……”
　　“这里没有骑士！……”
　　“可怜可怜吧，爵士先生！……”
　　“这里没有爵士！”
　　“可怜可怜吧，大老爷！……”
　　木偶戏班班主—听见叫他大老爷，马上噘起了嘴，变得慈祥多了，温和多了，问皮诺乔说：
　　“你到底求我什么事？”
　　“我求您开开恩，放了可怜的花衣小丑！”
　　“这可开不得恩。我不烧你就得烧他，因为我要把我这只羊烤得香香的。”
　　“那么，”皮诺乔大叫一声，站了起来，扔掉头上的面包心帽子，“那么，我知道我该怎么做了。来吧，守卫先生们！把我捆起来扔到火里去，不行，让可怜的花衣小丑，我的真正朋友，替我去死是不公道的！……”
　　这番话说得丁当响亮，声调豪迈激昂，在场的木偶听了没有不哭的，连两个守卫，虽然是木头做的，也哭得像吃奶的羊羔。
　　吃火人起先一点不动心，冷得像块冰，可后来慢慢地、慢慢地也开始感动了，又打喷嚏了。他一口气打了四五个喷嚏，于是疼爱地张开怀抱，对皮诺乔说：
　　“你是个好小子！过来，给我一个吻。”
　　皮诺乔马上跑过去，像只松鼠似地顺着木偶戏班班主的大胡子往上爬，爬到上面，在他鼻尖上给了他一个最甜最甜的吻。
　　“那么，您开恩啦？”可怜的花衣小丑问道，声音细得好不容易才听见。
　　“开恩了！”吃火人回答说。接着他叹口气，摇摇头，“没法子！今儿晚上我只能吃半生不熟的羊肉了。可下一回，谁要是打动我的心，他就活该倒霉！……”
　　一听说开了恩，所有的木偶都跑到戏台上，像开盛大晚会那样，点亮了所有的灯和烛台，开始又跳又舞。他们就这样一直跳啊舞的直到大天亮。
Chapter 12
    Fire Eater gives Pinocchio five gold pieces for his father, Geppetto;but the Marionette meets a Fox and a Cat and follows themThe next day Fire Eater called Pinocchio aside and asked him:
　　"What is your father's name?""Geppetto.""And what is his trade?""He's a wood carver.""Does he earn much?""He earns so much that he never has a penny in hispockets. Just think that, in order to buy me an A-B-Cbook for school, he had to sell the only coat he owned, acoat so full of darns and patches that it was a pity.""Poor fellow! I feel sorry for him. Here, take thesefive gold pieces. Go, give them to him with my kindest regards."Pinocchio, as may easily be imagined, thanked hima thousand times. He kissed each Marionette in turn,even the officers, and, beside himself with joy, set out onhis homeward journey.
　　He had gone barely half a mile when he met a lameFox and a blind Cat, walking together like two goodfriends. The lame Fox leaned on the Cat, and the blindCat let the Fox lead him along.
　　"Good morning, Pinocchio," said the Fox, greeting himcourteously.
　　"How do you know my name?" asked the Marionette.
　　"I know your father well.""Where have you seen him?""I saw him yesterday standing at the door of his house.""And what was he doing?""He was in his shirt sleeves trembling with cold.""Poor Father! But, after today, God willing, he willsuffer no longer.""Why?""Because I have become a rich man.""You, a rich man?" said the Fox, and he began to laughout loud. The Cat was laughing also, but tried to hide itby stroking his long whiskers.
　　"There is nothing to laugh at," cried Pinocchio angrily.
　　"I am very sorry to make your mouth water, but these,as you know, are five new gold pieces."And he pulled out the gold pieces which Fire Eaterhad given him.
　　At the cheerful tinkle of the gold, the Fox unconsciouslyheld out his paw that was supposed to be lame, and theCat opened wide his two eyes till they looked like livecoals, but he closed them again so quickly that Pinocchiodid not notice.
　　"And may I ask," inquired the Fox, "what you aregoing to do with all that money?""First of all," answered the Marionette, "I want tobuy a fine new coat for my father, a coat of gold andsilver with diamond buttons; after that, I'll buy an A-B-C book for myself.""For yourself?""For myself. I want to go to school and study hard.""Look at me," said the Fox. "For the silly reason ofwanting to study, I have lost a paw.""Look at me," said the Cat. "For the same foolish reason,I have lost the sight of both eyes."At that moment, a Blackbird, perched on the fencealong the road, called out sharp and clear:
　　"Pinocchio, do not listen to bad advice. If you do,you'll be sorry!"Poor little Blackbird! If he had only kept his wordsto himself! In the twinkling of an eyelid, the Cat leapedon him, and ate him, feathers and all.
　　After eating the bird, he cleaned his whiskers, closedhis eyes, and became blind once more.
　　"Poor Blackbird!" said Pinocchio to the Cat.
　　"Why did you kill him?""I killed him to teach him a lesson. He talks too much.
　　Next time he will keep his words to himself."By this time the three companions had walked a longdistance. Suddenly, the Fox stopped in his tracks and,turning to the Marionette, said to him:
　　"Do you want to double your gold pieces?""What do you mean?""Do you want one hundred, a thousand, two thousandgold pieces for your miserable five?""Yes, but how?""The way is very easy. Instead of returning home,come with us.""And where will you take me?""To the City of Simple Simons."Pinocchio thought a while and then said firmly:
　　"No, I don't want to go. Home is near, and I'm goingwhere Father is waiting for me. How unhappy he mustbe that I have not yet returned! I have been a bad son,and the Talking Cricket was right when he said that adisobedient boy cannot be happy in this world. I havelearned this at my own expense. Even last night inthe theater, when Fire Eater. . . Brrrr!!!!! . . .
　　The shivers run up and down my back at the mere thought of it.""Well, then," said the Fox, "if you really want to go home,go ahead, but you'll be sorry.""You'll be sorry," repeated the Cat.
　　"Think well, Pinocchio, you are turning your back on Dame Fortune.""On Dame Fortune," repeated the Cat.
　　"Tomorrow your five gold pieces will be two thousand!""Two thousand!" repeated the Cat.
　　"But how can they possibly become so many?" askedPinocchio wonderingly.
　　"I'll explain," said the Fox. "You must know that,just outside the City of Simple Simons, there is a blessedfield called the Field of Wonders. In this field you diga hole and in the hole you bury a gold piece. After coveringup the hole with earth you water it well, sprinklea bit of salt on it, and go to bed. During the night, thegold piece sprouts, grows, blossoms, and next morningyou find a beautiful tree, that is loaded with gold pieces.""So that if I were to bury my five gold pieces," criedPinocchio with growing wonder, "next morning I shouldfind--how many?""It is very simple to figure out," answered the Fox.
　　"Why, you can figure it on your fingers! Granted thateach piece gives you five hundred, multiply five hundredby five. Next morning you will find twenty-five hundrednew, sparkling gold pieces.""Fine! Fine!" cried Pinocchio, dancing about with joy.
　　"And as soon as I have them, I shall keep two thousandfor myself and the other five hundred I'll give to you two.""A gift for us?" cried the Fox, pretending to be insulted.
　　"Why, of course not!""Of course not!" repeated the Cat.
　　"We do not work for gain," answered the Fox.
　　"We work only to enrich others.""To enrich others!" repeated the Cat.
　　"What good people," thought Pinocchio to himself.
　　And forgetting his father, the new coat, the A-B-C book,and all his good resolutions, he said to the Fox and to the Cat:
　　"Let us go. I am with you."
　第二天早晨，吃火人把皮诺乔叫到一旁，问他说：
　　“你父亲叫什么名字？”
　　“叫杰佩托。”
　　“他是干什么的，”
　　“他很穷。”
　　“他赚的钱多吗？”
　　“要问他赚的钱，从不见他口袋里有一个子儿。请想象一下吧，为了买一本识字课本给我上学，他得卖掉身上仅有的一件短上衣。这件短上衣完全是补丁，没一处好的。”
　　“可怜的人！我很同情他。这里是五个金币。马上带回去给他，并且替我问他好。”
　　不用说，皮诺乔向木偶戏班班主千谢万谢，他把戏班里所有的木偶一个个拥抱过，包括两个守卫，然后欢天喜地回家去了。
　　可还没有走上半公里路，他就在路上碰到一只瘸腿狐狸和一只瞎眼猫。它俩一路上相互搀扶，似是两个患难朋友。瘸腿狐狸靠在猫身上，瞎眼猫由狐狸领着路。
　　“早上好，皮诺乔，”狐狸向他恭恭敬敬问好说。
　　“你怎么知道我的名字？”木偶问它。
　　“我跟你爸爸挺熟。”
　　“你在哪儿见过他？”
　　“昨天在他家门口见过。”
　　“他在干什么？”
　　“他穿着一件衬衫，冷得直打哆嗦。”
　　“可怜的爸爸！可是谢谢老天爷，从今往后，他就不用再打哆嗦了！……”
　　“为什么？”
　　“因为我变成个体面先生啦。”
　　“你是个体面先生？”狐狸说着，放肆地大笑，猫也跟着笑，可为了不让皮诺乔看见，用两个前爪子假装在理着胡子。
　　“没什么可笑的，”皮诺乔生气地叫道，“我真不想叫你们流口水，可这儿，要是你们想知道的话，这儿有五个呱呱叫的金币。”
　　他说着掏出吃火人送他的钱。
　　一听到金币丁丁当当响，狐狸不由自主地伸出了它那只好像瘸了的爪子，猫也张大了它那两只眼睛。这两只眼睛绿幽幽的像两盏灯，不过它们马上又闭上了，皮诺乔当然一点没看见。
　　“现在，”狐狸问他，“你拿这些钱想干什么呢？”
　　“第一，”皮诺乔回答说，“我要给我爸爸买一件漂亮的新上衣，金丝银线织的，钮扣是宝石做的，第二、我要给自己买一本识字课本。”
　　“给你自己？”
　　“还用说，我要去上学好好读书嘛。”
　　“你瞧瞧我吧，”狐狸说，“我就为了愚蠢得竟想去读书，结果把一条腿都弄瘸了。”
　　“你瞧瞧我吧，”猫说了，“我就为了愚蠢得竟想去读书，把两只眼睛都搞瞎了。”
　　正在这时候，一只白椋鸟蹲在路边树丛上唱起它的老调，说：
　　“皮诺乔，别听坏朋友的话，要不，你要后悔的！”
　　可怜的椋鸟没来得及把话说完！猫猛地一跳，跳得半天高，一把抓住椋鸟，椋鸟连叫一声“唉哟”的工夫也没有，就已经连毛一起进入了猫的大嘴巴，
　　猫吃掉椋鸟，擦过嘴巴，重新闭上两只眼睛，又照旧装瞎子。
　　“可怜的椋鸟！”皮诺乔对猫说，“你为什么对它这么狠呢？”
　　“我这样做是为了教训教训它，这样一来，下次它可就学乖，别人说话不会插嘴了。”
　　他们走到半路，狐狸忽然停下，对木偶说：
　　“你想让你的金币加个倍吗？”
　　“你这话什么意思？”
　　“你只有那么五个金币，你想让它们变成一百个，一千个，两千个吗？”
　　“那还用说！可怎么变呢？”
　　“简单极了。你先别回家，跟我们走。”
　　“你们带我上哪儿去？”
　　“到傻瓜城去。”
　　皮诺乔想了想，接着拿定主意说：
　　“不要，我不去，这会儿就到家了，我要回家，我爸爸在等着，可怜的老人家昨儿没见我回去，谁知道他有多么焦急呀！真倒霉，我是这么个坏孩子，还是会说话的蟋蟀说得对：‘不听话的孩子在这个世界上没有好结果。’我从自己的教训懂得了这一点，因为我遭了许多殃，昨儿晚上在吃火人那里，我差点儿连命都送掉了……啊！我一想起都要发抖！”
　　“这么说，”狐狸说道，“你真想回家？那你就回家吧、反正是你自己吃亏！”
　　“是你自已吃亏！”猫跟着又说了一遍。
　　“你好好想想，皮诺乔，因为你有福不享。”
　　“有福不享！”猫跟着又说了一遍。
　　“你的五个金币到明天要变成两千个了。”
　　“两千个了！”猫跟着又说一遍。
　　“可怎么会变那么多呢？”皮诺乔问道，惊奇得嘴都合不拢了。
　　“我这就告诉你，”狐狸说，“你要知道，傻瓜城有块福地，大家叫它‘奇迹宝地’。你在这块地上挖一个小窟窿，然后放进去，比方说吧，放进去一个金币。然后你在窟窿上撒点土，重新盖起来，浇上两锅泉水，再撒上一撮盐，晚上你安安稳稳上床睡大觉好了，一夜工夫，这个金币生长开花。第二天早晨你起床回到地里一看，你想你会看到什么呢，你会看到一棵漂亮的树，长满了金币，多得就像六月里一串丰满的麦穗上的麦粒。”
　　“这么说，”皮诺乔完全入迷了，说道：“要是我把我那五个金币种在那块地上，第二天早晨我可以有多少个金币呢？”
　　“容易算极了，”狐狸回答说，“用指头尖一算就算得出来，比方说，每个金币长出五百个，五百乘五，第二天早晨你口袋里就可以有两千五百个闪闪发光、丁丁当当响的金币。”
　　“噢，那多美呀！”皮诺乔大叫，高兴得跳起来，“等我把这些金币都采下来，我拿两千，还有五百个我送给你们俩。”
　　“送给我们？”狐狸像给得罪了，生气地叫道，“上帝免了你这份礼吧！”
　　“免了你这份礼！”猫跟着又说了一遍。
　　“我们这么起劲，可不是为了卑鄙的利益，”狐狸回答说，“我们起劲只是为了让别人发财致富。”
　　“让别人发财致富。”猫跟着又说了一遍，
　　“多好的人啊！”皮诺乔心里说，他一下子忘掉了他的爸爸，忘掉了新上衣，忘掉了识字课本，忘掉了一切好的打算，却对狐狸和猫说：
　　“那咱们走吧。我跟你们去。”
Chapter 13
    The Inn of the Red LobsterCat and Fox and Marionette walked and walked and walked.
　　At last, toward evening, dead tired, they came to theInn of the Red Lobster.
　　"Let us stop here a while," said the Fox, "to eat a biteand rest for a few hours. At midnight we'll start out again,for at dawn tomorrow we must be at the Field of Wonders."They went into the Inn and all three sat down at thesame table. However, not one of them was very hungry.
　　The poor Cat felt very weak, and he was able toeat only thirty-five mullets with tomato sauce and fourportions of tripe with cheese. Moreover, as he was soin need of strength, he had to have four more helpings ofbutter and cheese.
　　The Fox, after a great deal of coaxing, tried his bestto eat a little. The doctor had put him on a diet, and hehad to be satisfied with a small hare dressed with a dozenyoung and tender spring chickens. After the hare, heordered some partridges, a few pheasants, a couple ofrabbits, and a dozen frogs and lizards. That was all.
　　He felt ill, he said, and could not eat another bite.
　　Pinocchio ate least of all. He asked for a bite of breadand a few nuts and then hardly touched them. The poorfellow, with his mind on the Field of Wonders, wassuffering from a gold-piece indigestion.
　　Supper over, the Fox said to the Innkeeper:
　　"Give us two good rooms, one for Mr. Pinocchio andthe other for me and my friend. Before starting out,we'll take a little nap. Remember to call us at midnightsharp, for we must continue on our journey.""Yes, sir," answered the Innkeeper, winking in a knowing wayat the Fox and the Cat, as if to say, "I understand."As soon as Pinocchio was in bed, he fell fast asleepand began to dream. He dreamed he was in the middleof a field. The field was full of vines heavy with grapes.
　　The grapes were no other than gold coins which tinkled merrily as they swayed in the wind. They seemed tosay, "Let him who wants us take us!"Just as Pinocchio stretched out his hand to take ahandful of them, he was awakened by three loud knocks atthe door. It was the Innkeeper who had come to tell himthat midnight had struck.
　　"Are my friends ready?" the Marionette asked him.
　　"Indeed, yes! They went two hours ago.""Why in such a hurry?""Unfortunately the Cat received a telegram whichsaid that his first-born was suffering from chilblainsand was on the point of death. He could not even waitto say good-by to you.""Did they pay for the supper?""How could they do such a thing? Being people ofgreat refinement, they did not want to offend you sodeeply as not to allow you the honor of paying the bill.""Too bad! That offense would have been more thanpleasing to me," said Pinocchio, scratching his head.
　　"Where did my good friends say they would wait for me?" he added.
　　"At the Field of Wonders, at sunrise tomorrow morning."Pinocchio paid a gold piece for the three suppers andstarted on his way toward the field that was to make him a rich man.
　　He walked on, not knowing where he was going, forit was dark, so dark that not a thing was visible. Roundabout him, not a leaf stirred. A few bats skimmed hisnose now and again and scared him half to death. Onceor twice he shouted, "Who goes there?" and the far-awayhills echoed back to him, "Who goes there? Who goesthere? Who goes. . . ?"As he walked, Pinocchio noticed a tiny insectglimmering on the trunk of a tree, a small being that glowedwith a pale, soft light.
　　"Who are you?" he asked.
　　"I am the ghost of the Talking Cricket," answered thelittle being in a faint voice that sounded as if it came froma far-away world.
　　"What do you want?" asked the Marionette.
　　"I want to give you a few words of good advice.
　　Return home and give the four gold pieces you haveleft to your poor old father who is weeping because hehas not seen you for many a day.""Tomorrow my father will be a rich man, for thesefour gold pieces will become two thousand.""Don't listen to those who promise you wealth overnight,my boy. As a rule they are either fools or swindlers!
　　Listen to me and go home.""But I want to go on!""The hour is late!""I want to go on.""The night is very dark.""I want to go on.""The road is dangerous.""I want to go on.""Remember that boys who insist on having their own way,sooner or later come to grief.""The same nonsense. Good-by, Cricket.""Good night, Pinocchio, and may Heaven preserve youfrom the Assassins."There was silence for a minute and the light of theTalking Cricket disappeared suddenly, just as if someonehad snuffed it out. Once again the road was plungedin darkness.
　　他们走啊，走啊，走啊，最后天黑了，他们累得够呛，来到了一家旅馆，叫做“红虾旅馆”。
　　“咱们在这儿停一会儿”狐狸说，“吃点东西，歇上个把钟头，半夜动身，明儿天不亮，‘奇迹宝地’就到了。”
　　他们走进旅馆，，二个人占了一张桌子，可谁都说不要吃什么。
　　可怜的猫说它肚子很不舒服，只要吃三十五条香茄酱火兔、四份奶酪杂碎，因为觉得杂碎味道不够好，又添了三次牛油和奶酪粉！
　　狐狸虽然想吃，可大夫规定它要严格节制饮食，因此它只好吃得简单点，就吃了一只肥美的野兔，周围摆满一圈肥嫩的童子鸡，吃完野兔，它又要了一大批饭后点心：鸡杂炒蛋，鹧鸪，家兔，田鸡、晰蜴，甜葡萄。接下来就不要什么了。它说食物已经叫它作呕，它一口也吃不下去了。
　　吃得最少的是皮诺乔。他只要了点核桃，还要了块面包，可结果都留在盘子里没吃，这可怜孩子光顾着想‘奇迹宝地’，好像金币己经把他撑饱了。
　　吃完晚饭，狐狸对老极说：
　　“给我们两间上房，一间住皮诺乔先生，一间住我和我的朋友，我们走前会打铃，可得记住，半夜我们要起来继续赶路。”
　　“是，先生们，”老板回答着，对狐狸和猫眨眨眼，像是说：“有数有数，算说定了！……”
　　皮诺乔一上床就睡着了，睡着了就做梦，他梦见自己在一块地当中。这块地满是矮矮的树，树上挂满一串一串的东西，这一串一串的东西都是金币，让风吹着，发出丁、丁、丁的声音，听着像说：“谁高兴就来采我们吧，”可正当皮诺乔兴高采烈，伸手要去采这些漂亮的金币，把它们全给放进口袋的时候，忽然给房门上很响的三下敲门声惊醒了。
　　原来是旅馆老板来告诉他，钟已经敲半夜十二点了。
　　“我那两位同伴准备好了吗？”木偶问他，
　　“岂止准备好了！两个钟头以前都走啦。”
　　“为什么这祥急？”
　　“因为猫得到音信，说它的大孩子脚上生冻疮，有生命危险。”
　　“晚饭钱它们付了吗？”
　　“您说到哪儿去啦，它们太有教养了，哪能对您这样的先生如此无礼呢！”
　　“太可惜了！我倒高兴它们无礼些！”皮诺乔说着抓抓头，接着他又问：“我这两位好朋友说过，它们在哪儿等我吗？”
　　“说是在‘奇迹宝地’等你，明天早晨，天一亮的时候。”
　　皮诺乔给自已和两个朋友的那顿晚饭付了一个金币，这才走了，
　　他可以说是摸索着走的，因为旅馆外面一片漆黑，黑得伸手不见五指。四周田野上连一点叶子沙沙声也听不见。只有一些夜鸟不时打一丛树上飞到另一丛树上，在路上穿过，用翅膀碰到了他的鼻子，他吓得向后直跳，大叫起来：“什么人？”周围的小土岗发出回声，拉长声音反复说着：“什么人？什么人？什么人？”
　　他正走间，看见一棵树干上有一样小生物发出一点光，苍白昏暗，像夜里从透明瓷灯罩里发出来的灯光。
　　“你是谁？”皮诺乔问它，
　　“我是会说话的蟋蟀的影子，”那小生物回答，声音很微弱很微弱，像是从另一个世界来的。
　　“你找我干吗，”
　　“我想给你一个忠告，你往回走吧，把剩下的四个金币带回去给你可怜的爸爸，他正在哭呢，以为再见不到你了。”
　　“我爸爸明天就要变成一位体面的先生，因为这四个金币要变成两千个。”
　　“人家说什么一夜之间就可以发财财富，我的孩子，你可别相信。他们那种人通常不是疯子就是骗子，听我的话，往回走吧。”
　　“可我不往回走，我偏要向前走。”
　　“时间很晚了！……”
　　“我偏要向前走。”
　　“夜那么黑……”
　　“我偏要向前走。”
　　“路上有危险……”
　　“我偏要向前走。”
　　“你要记住，任性的孩子早晚要后悔的。”
　　“又是老一套。明天见，蟋蟀。”
　　“明天见，皮诺乔，愿天老爷保佑你不沾露水，不遇杀人的强盗！”
　　会说话的蟋蟀一说完这句话，光忽然熄灭了，就像一些灯给一阵风吹灭了似的。路上比先前更黑了。
Chapter 14
Pinocchio, not having listened to the good adviceof the Talking Cricket, falls into the hands of the Assassins "Dear, oh, dear! When I come to think of it," said theMarionette to himself, as he once more set out on hisjourney, "we boys are really very unlucky. Everybodyscolds us, everybody gives us advice, everybody warns us.
　　If we were to allow it, everyone would try to be fatherand mother to us; everyone, even the Talking Cricket.
　　Take me, for example. Just because I would not listen tothat bothersome Cricket, who knows how many misfortunesmay be awaiting me! Assassins indeed! At leastI have never believed in them, nor ever will. To speaksensibly, I think assassins have been invented by fathersand mothers to frighten children who want to run awayat night. And then, even if I were to meet them onthe road, what matter? I'll just run up to them, and say,`Well, signori, what do you want? Remember that youcan't fool with me! Run along and mind your business.'
　　At such a speech, I can almost see those poor fellowsrunning like the wind. But in case they don't run away,I can always run myself. . ."Pinocchio was not given time to argue any longer, for he thoughthe heard a slight rustle among the leaves behind him.
　　He turned to look and behold, there in the darknessstood two big black shadows, wrapped from head to footin black sacks. The two figures leaped toward him assoftly as if they were ghosts.
　　"Here they come!" Pinocchio said to himself, and,not knowing where to hide the gold pieces, he stuck allfour of them under his tongue.
　　He tried to run away, but hardly had he taken a step,when he felt his arms grasped and heard two horrible,deep voices say to him: "Your money or your life!"On account of the gold pieces in his mouth, Pinocchiocould not say a word, so he tried with head and handsand body to show, as best he could, that he was only apoor Marionette without a penny in his pocket.
　　"Come, come, less nonsense, and out with your money!"cried the two thieves in threatening voices.
　　Once more, Pinocchio's head and hands said, "I haven'ta penny.""Out with that money or you're a dead man," said thetaller of the two Assassins.
　　"Dead man," repeated the other.
　　"And after having killed you, we will kill your father also.""Your father also!""No, no, no, not my Father!" cried Pinocchio, wild with terror;but as he screamed, the gold pieces tinkled together in his mouth.
　　"Ah, you rascal! So that's the game! You have themoney hidden under your tongue. Out with it!"But Pinocchio was as stubborn as ever.
　　"Are you deaf? Wait, young man, we'll get it fromyou in a twinkling!"One of them grabbed the Marionette by the nose andthe other by the chin, and they pulled him unmercifullyfrom side to side in order to make him open his mouth.
　　All was of no use. The Marionette's lips might havebeen nailed together. They would not open.
　　In desperation the smaller of the two Assassins pulledout a long knife from his pocket, and tried to pry Pinocchio'smouth open with it.
　　Quick as a flash, the Marionette sank his teeth deepinto the Assassin's hand, bit it off and spat it out. Fancyhis surprise when he saw that it was not a hand, but acat's paw.
　　Encouraged by this first victory, he freed himself fromthe claws of his assailers and, leaping over the bushesalong the road, ran swiftly across the fields. His pursuerswere after him at once, like two dogs chasing a hare.
　　After running seven miles or so, Pinocchio was well-nigh exhausted. Seeing himself lost, he climbed up agiant pine tree and sat there to see what he could see.
　　The Assassins tried to climb also, but they slipped and fell.
　　Far from giving up the chase, this only spurred them on.
　　They gathered a bundle of wood, piled it up at thefoot of the pine, and set fire to it. In a twinkling thetree began to sputter and burn like a candle blown bythe wind. Pinocchio saw the flames climb higher andhigher. Not wishing to end his days as a roasted Marionette, he jumped quickly to the ground and off he went,the Assassins close to him, as before.
　　Dawn was breaking when, without any warning whatsoever,Pinocchio found his path barred by a deep pool fullof water the color of muddy coffee.
　　What was there to do? With a "One, two, three!"he jumped clear across it. The Assassins jumped also,but not having measured their distance well--splash!!!--they fell right into the middle of the pool. Pinocchiowho heard the splash and felt it, too, cried out, laughing,but never stopping in his race:
　　"A pleasant bath to you, signori!"He thought they must surely be drowned and turnedhis head to see. But there were the two somber figuresstill following him, though their black sacks were drenchedand dripping with water.
　　“说真个的，”木偶一面重新上路，一面自言自语说，“我们这种可怜孩子多倒霉！人人都骂我们，人人都教训我们，人人都要我们这样做那样做。人人都一开口就自以为是我们的爸爸，自以为是我们的老师。人人都这样，连那样会说话的蟋蟀也这样。看这会儿，就因为我没听这只讨厌蟋蟀的啰哩啰嗦，它就说我不知道要遇到多少灾难！我还要遇到杀人的强盗呢！还好我不相信有什么杀人强盗，从来就不相信。依我看，杀人强盗全是那些做爸爸的想出来，吓唬吓唬夜里想出去的孩子的，就算我真在路上碰到他们，难道我会害怕他们吗，我根本不怕，我要走到他们面前，对他们叫着说：‘杀人强盗先生，你们要把我怎么样？记住吧，可别跟我开玩笑！去你们的吧，别开口了！’我这番话说得那么绝，那些倒霉的杀人强盗啊，我好像已经看见他们了，他们像阵风似地逃走啦。万一他们凶神恶煞，偏不逃走呢？那有什么，我逃走就是了，事情不就结了吗……”
　　可皮诺乔没能把他那套大道理说完，因为就在这时候，他好像听见后面树叶子沙沙响，很轻很轻的，
　　他回头一看，就看见黑地里有两个难看的黑影，这是两个人，全身用装炭的口袋套着，踮起脚尖一跳一跳地紧紧追来，活像两个鬼怪。
　　“他们真在这里！”皮诺乔心里说了一声。他不知把四个金币藏到哪儿好，一下子把它们藏到了嘴里，正好塞在舌头底下。
　　接着他想逃走。可是刚迈腿，就觉得胳膊给抓住，听到两个瓮声瓮气的可怕声音对他说：
　　“要钱还是要命！”
　　皮诺乔没法回答，因为嘴里塞着金币。他做了成千个怪脸、成千个手势，要让对方——他们从口袋上眼睛的地方那两个小窟窿里望出来——明白，他是个穷木偶，口袋里连一个铜子儿也没有。
　　“拿出来拿出来！别装傻了，把钱拿出来！”两个强盗且威吓的口气大叫。
　　木偶用头和手表示：“没钱。”
　　“不把钱拿出来就要你的命，”高的那个杀人强盗说。
　　“要你的命！”另一个跟着又说了一遍。
　　“要了你的命，还要你父亲的命！”
　　“还要你父亲的命！”
　　“别别别，别要我可怜爸爸的命！”皮诺乔发急地大叫，可他这么一叫，嘴里的金币就丁丁当当响起来了。
　　“哈哈，骗子！原来你把钱藏在舌头底下？马上吐出来！”
　　皮诺乔硬挺住！
　　“哈哈，你装聋子？你等着吧，我们这就想办法让你吐出来！”
　　真的，他们一个抓住他的鼻子尖，一个揿他的下巴，动手粗暴地又扳又弄，一个扳这里，一个弄那里，要逼他把嘴张开。可是没用。木偶的嘴像黏在一块，钉在一起。
　　于是矮的那个拔出一把很大的刀子，想用它做杠杆或者凿子，插到他的上下嘴唇之间，可皮诺乔快得像闪电，一口把它的手咬断了，接着把咬下来的手吐出来。诸位想象一下他有多么惊奇吧，因为他吐在地上的不是人的手，而是一只猫的爪子。
　　皮诺乔旗开得胜，胆子大了。他挣脱杀人强盗的爪子，跳过路旁的树丛，开始在田野上逃走。那两名杀人强盗紧紧追来，像两条猫追一只野兔。其中一名杀人强盗因为失去了一只爪子，就用独脚追，天知道他是怎么跑的。
　　跑了十五公里左右，皮诺乔跑不动了。这时他眼看自己没救了，就顺着最高的一棵松树的树干爬上去，坐在一个枝头上。两个杀人强盗也打算跟着爬上树，可是爬到一半，叭哒就掉在地上，手脚的皮都擦破了。
　　可它们还不死心，捡来一小捆干柴，堆在松树脚下，点着了。说时迟那时快，松树开始熊熊烧起来，像风吹着的蜡烛。皮诺乔看见火焰越烧越高，不想最后变成一只烤鸽子，于是猛地一跳，打枝头上跳下来，重新又跑，穿过田野和葡萄园。两个杀入强盗在后面紧追，一步也不拉下。
　　这时天已经开始亮，他们还是追个不停。皮诺乔一下子给一条沟挡住了去路。这条沟又宽又深，满是脏水，颜色像牛奶咖啡。怎么办？“一，二，三！”木偶叫着，猛跑两步，一跳就跳到了沟那一边。两个杀人强盗跟着也跳，可是没算准距离，卜龙通！……落到沟里去了。皮诺乔听到他们落水和水溅起来的声音，哈哈大笑，一面跑一面叫：
　　“祝你们痛痛快快洗个澡，杀人的先生们！”
　　他料想他们一准淹死了，可回头一看，只见他们两个依然在他后面追，身上还是套着他们的麻袋，哗哗地淌着水，活像两个漏了底的筐子。
Chapter 15
The Assassins chase Pinocchio, catch him,and hang him to the branch of a giant oak treeAs he ran, the Marionette felt more and more certain thathe would have to give himself up into the hands of hispursuers. Suddenly he saw a little cottage gleaming whiteas the snow among the trees of the forest.
　　"If I have enough breath left with which to reach thatlittle house, I may be saved," he said to himself.
　　Not waiting another moment, he darted swiftly throughthe woods, the Assassins still after him.
　　After a hard race of almost an hour, tired and out ofbreath, Pinocchio finally reached the door of the cottageand knocked. No one answered.
　　He knocked again, harder than before, for behind himhe heard the steps and the labored breathing of hispersecutors. The same silence followed.
　　As knocking was of no use, Pinocchio, in despair,began to kick and bang against the door, as if he wantedto break it. At the noise, a window opened and a lovelymaiden looked out. She had azure hair and a face whiteas wax. Her eyes were closed and her hands crossed onher breast. With a voice so weak that it hardly could beheard, she whispered:
　　"No one lives in this house. Everyone is dead.""Won't you, at least, open the door for me?"cried Pinocchio in a beseeching voice.
　　"I also am dead.""Dead? What are you doing at the window, then?""I am waiting for the coffin to take me away."After these words, the little girl disappeared and thewindow closed without a sound.
　　"Oh, Lovely Maiden with Azure Hair," criedPinocchio, "open, I beg of you. Take pity on a poor boy whois being chased by two Assass--"He did not finish, for two powerful hands grasped himby the neck and the same two horrible voices growledthreateningly: "Now we have you!"The Marionette, seeing death dancing before him,trembled so hard that the joints of his legs rattled andthe coins tinkled under his tongue.
　　"Well," the Assassins asked, "will you open yourmouth now or not? Ah! You do not answer? Very well,this time you shall open it."Taking out two long, sharp knives, they struck twoheavy blows on the Marionette's back.
　　Happily for him, Pinocchio was made of very hardwood and the knives broke into a thousand pieces. TheAssassins looked at each other in dismay, holding thehandles of the knives in their hands.
　　"I understand," said one of them to the other, "thereis nothing left to do now but to hang him.""To hang him," repeated the other.
　　They tied Pinocchio's hands behind his shoulders andslipped the noose around his neck. Throwing the rope the poor Marionette hung far up in space.
　　Satisfied with their work, they sat on the grass waitingfor Pinocchio to give his last gasp. But after three hoursthe Marionette's eyes were still open, his mouth still shutand his legs kicked harder than ever.
　　Tired of waiting, the Assassins called to him mockingly:
　　"Good-by till tomorrow. When we return in the morning,we hope you'll be polite enough to let us find youdead and gone and with your mouth wide open."With these words they went.
　　A few minutes went by and then a wild wind startedto blow. As it shrieked and moaned, the poor littlesufferer was blown to and fro like the hammer of a bell.
　　The rocking made him seasick and the noose, becomingtighter and tighter, choked him. Little by little a filmcovered his eyes.
　　Death was creeping nearer and nearer, and the Marionettestill hoped for some good soul to come to his rescue,but no one appeared. As he was about to die, he thoughtof his poor old father, and hardly conscious of what hewas saying, murmured to himself:
　　"Oh, Father, dear Father! If you were only here!"These were his last words. He closed his eyes, openedhis mouth, stretched out his legs, and hung there, as ifhe were dead.
　　这时木偶已经完全泄气，到了要扑倒在地向两个强盗告饶的地步，可一下子看见深绿的树林子里，远远有一座雪白的小房子在耀眼。
　　“我要是有口气跑到那房子，就有救了，”他心里说。
　　他一分钟也不耽搁，重新一个劲跑起来，穿过林子。两个杀入强盗依然在后面追。
　　他拼命跑了近两个钟头，终于上气不接下气地跑到那座小房子门口，连忙嘭嘭嘭敲门。
　　可没人答应。
　　他使劲把门敲得震天价响，因为他听见追来的脚步声、又响又急的呼吸声越来越近了。
　　可还是静悄悄的。
　　他看见敲门毫无用处，就开始在门上用脚拼命地踢，用头拼命地撞。这时窗口探出个头来，这是个美丽的小女孩，天蓝色的头发，脸白得跟蜡像似的，眼睛闭着，双手交叉在胸前。她说话时嘴唇也不动，声音很轻很轻，像是从另一个改界来的：
　　“这座房子里没人，所有的人都死了。”
　　“至少你给我开开门！”皮诺乔哭叫着求她，
　　“我也死了。”
　　“死了，那你现在在窗口干吗？”
　　“我在等棺材，它要来把我给装走。”
　　小女孩子一说完这句话，就不见了。窗子也悄没声儿地重新关上了。
　　“噢，天蓝色头发的美丽小姑娘，”皮诺乔大叫，“帮帮忙，给我开开门吧！请你同情一个可怜的孩子，他后面追着杀人的……”
　　他这句话没能说完，因为他觉得脖子给掐住了，还听到那两个声音在咆哮着威胁说：
　　“现在你再逃不掉啦！”。
　　木偶看到死在眼前，不由得一阵哆嗦，哆嗦得两条木头腿的关节卡嗒卡嗒响，藏在舌头底下的四个金币也丁丁当当响起来了。
　　“怎么样，”两个杀人强盗问他说。“你开口吗，开还是不开，怎么！不回答？……那我们就动手了，这一回定要把你的嘴弄开！……”
　　他们说着，拔出两把很长很长的刀子，锋利得像剃刀，嚓嚓！……给他背上来了两下。
　　幸亏木偶是用很硬很硬的木头做的，因此他没受伤，刀倒断成了好多片。两个杀人强盗手里光剩下刀柄，你看着我，我看着你。
　　“我明白了，”其中一个说，“咱们得吊死他！吊死他吧！”
　　“吊死他吧！”另一个跟着又说了一退。
　　说干就干，他们把他双手反绑，用活结套住他的喉咙，把他吊在一棵大橡树的树枝上。
　　然后他们坐在树下，就等着木偶蹬最后一次腿。可木偶过了三个钟头依然张开两只眼睛，闭着嘴巴，两腿越蹬越有劲。
　　他们最后等得不耐烦了，就向木偶转过脸，冷笑着对他说：“明儿见，等我们明天回到这儿，希望你帮个大忙，已经死掉了，把嘴张得大大的。”
　　他们说着，走了。
　　这时候猛乱起一阵北风，呼呼地怒号，把吊在那里的可怜木偶吹过来吹过去，狠狠地摇得他像过节时丁当丁当摇着的大钟，这样摇啊摇啊，摇得他痛苦万分。喉咙上的活结越收越紧，叫他气也透不出来。
　　他的两眼一点一点发黑。可他虽然感到死期已近，依然希望随时会有人经过，把他救下来，可他等啊等啊，看见还是没人来，一个人也没有，于是就想到他的可怜的爸爸……他半死不活地结结巴巴说：
　　“噢，我的爸爸，要是你在这儿就好了！……”
　　他再也说不出话来。他闭上眼睛，张开嘴巴，伸长两腿，一阵猛烈颤动，吊在那里像是僵硬了。
Chapter 16
The Lovely Maiden with Azure Hair sends for the poor Marionette,puts him to bed, and calls three Doctors to tell her if Pinocchiois dead or aliveIf the poor Marionette had dangled there much longer,all hope would have been lost. Luckily for him, theLovely Maiden with Azure Hair once again looked out ofher window. Filled with pity at the sight of the poor littlefellow being knocked helplessly about by the wind, sheclapped her hands sharply together three times.
　　At the signal, a loud whirr of wings in quick flight washeard and a large Falcon came and settled itself on thewindow ledge.
　　"What do you command, my charming Fairy?" asked the Falcon,bending his beak in deep reverence (for it mustbe known that, after all, the Lovely Maiden with AzureHair was none other than a very kind Fairy who had lived,for more than a thousand years, in the vicinity of the forest).
　　"Do you see that Marionette hanging from the limbof that giant oak tree?""I see him.""Very well. Fly immediately to him. With yourstrong beak, break the knot which holds him tied, take him down, and lay him softly on the grassat the foot of the oak."The Falcon flew away and after two minutes returned,saying, "I have done what you have commanded.""How did you find him? Alive or dead?""At first glance, I thought he was dead. But I foundI was wrong, for as soon as I loosened the knot aroundhis neck, he gave a long sigh and mumbled with a faintvoice, `Now I feel better!'"The Fairy clapped her hands twice. A magnificentPoodle appeared, walking on his hind legs just like aman. He was dressed in court livery. A tricorn trimmedwith gold lace was set at a rakish angle over a wig of whitecurls that dropped down to his waist. He wore a jauntycoat of chocolate-colored velvet, with diamond buttons,and with two huge pockets which were always filled withbones, dropped there at dinner by his loving mistress.
　　Breeches of crimson velvet, silk stockings, and low,silver-buckled slippers completed his costume. His tailwas encased in a blue silk covering, which was to protectit from the rain.
　　"Come, Medoro," said the Fairy to him. "Get mybest coach ready and set out toward the forest. Onreaching the oak tree, you will find a poor, half-deadMarionette stretched out on the grass. Lift him uptenderly, place him on the silken cushions of the coach,and bring him here to me."The Poodle, to show that he understood, wagged his silk-covered tail two or three times and set off at a quick pace.
　　In a few minutes, a lovely little coach, made of glass,with lining as soft as whipped cream and chocolate pudding,and stuffed with canary feathers, pulled out of thestable. It was drawn by one hundred pairs of white mice,and the Poodle sat on the coachman's seat and snappedhis whip gayly in the air, as if he were a real coachmanin a hurry to get to his destination.
　　In a quarter of an hour the coach was back. TheFairy, who was waiting at the door of the house, liftedthe poor little Marionette in her arms, took him to adainty room with mother-of-pearl walls, put him to bed,and sent immediately for the most famous doctors of theneighborhood to come to her.
　　One after another the doctors came, a Crow, and Owl,and a Talking Cricket.
　　"I should like to know, signori," said the Fairy, turningto the three doctors gathered about Pinocchio's bed,"I should like to know if this poor Marionette is dead or alive."At this invitation, the Crow stepped out and feltPinocchio's pulse, his nose, his little toe.
　　Then he solemnly pronounced the following words:
　　"To my mind this Marionette is dead and gone; but if,by any evil chance, he were not, then that would be asure sign that he is still alive!""I am sorry," said the Owl, "to have to contradict the Crow, my famous friend and colleague. To my mindthis Marionette is alive; but if, by any evil chance, hewere not, then that would be a sure sign that he is wholly dead!""And do you hold any opinion?" the Fairy asked the Talking Cricket.
　　"I say that a wise doctor, when he does not know what heis talking about, should know enough to keep his mouth shut.
　　However, that Marionette is not a stranger to me.
　　I have known him a long time!"Pinocchio, who until then had been very quiet,shuddered so hard that the bed shook.
　　"That Marionette," continued the Talking Cricket,"is a rascal of the worst kind."Pinocchio opened his eyes and closed them again.
　　"He is rude, lazy, a runaway."Pinocchio hid his face under the sheets.
　　"That Marionette is a disobedient son who is breakinghis father's heart!"Long shuddering sobs were heard, cries, and deep sighs.
　　Think how surprised everyone was when, on raising the sheets,they discovered Pinocchio half melted in tears!
　　"When the dead weep, they are beginning to recover,"said the Crow solemnly.
　　"I am sorry to contradict my famous friend and colleague," said the Owl, "but as far as I'm concerned, I think thatwhen the dead weep, it means they do not want to die."
　　正当可怜的皮诺乔给两个杀人强盗吊在大橡树枝头上，觉得这会儿死多活少的时候，天蓝色头发的美丽小女孩重新在窗口出现了，她看见木偶给套着脖子吊着，让北风吹得摇来摇去，太不幸了，不由得很可怜他，于是轻轻拍了三下手掌。
　　这三下手掌一拍，就听到很响的拍翅膀声，一只大老鹰风驰电掣地飞来，停在窗台上，
　　“有什么吩咐啊，我仁慈的仙女？”老鹰说着，垂下鸟嘴致敬（因为要知道，这天蓝色头发的小女孩不是别人，正是最善良的仙女，她在这树林附近已住了一千多年了）。
　　“你看见那木偶吗，给吊在大橡树树枝上的？”
　　“看见了。”
　　“那好。马上飞到那里，用你那有力的尖嘴解开那个吊着他的绳套，把他轻轻放在橡树下的草地。”
　　老鹰飞走了，两分钟就回来了，说：
　　“吩咐我做的都给做好了。”
　　“你觉得他怎么样？活着还是死了？”
　　“我看他好像死了，可还没全死，因为我一松开套在他喉咙的绳套，他叹了一口气，嘟囔了一声：‘这会儿我觉得好多了！’”
　　仙女于是又轻轻拍了两下手掌，来了一只很漂亮的卷毛狗。它像人那样用后腿直立走道。
　　这只卷毛狗身穿车夫的礼服，头戴金边小三角帽，白色假卷发垂到脖子上。巧克力色的上衣上钉着宝石钮扣，两边有两个大口袋，放主人吃饭时赏它的肉骨头。下身穿一条大红天鹅绒裤子、一双丝袜、一双开口软鞋。后面还有一样东西，很像雨伞稍，蓝绸子做的。下雨的时候用来藏它的尾巴。
　　“做件好事，梅多罗！”仙女对卷毛狗说，“马上到我的厩房里，赶一辆最好的车子上树林子去。你到了大橡树底下，就会找到已经半死的可怜木偶直挺挺地躺在草地上。你把他抱起来，很小心很小心地放在车子坐垫上，把他送到这儿来。明白了吗，”
　　卷毛狗把后面那个蓝绸子尾巴套摇了三四次，表示它明白了，然后像闪电似地跑掉了。
　　一转眼工夫，只见厩房里出来了一辆天蓝色的漂亮小轿车，外面装饰着金丝雀羽毛，里面裱糊得象掼奶油和奶油蛋糕那样。车子用一百对白老鼠来拉，卷毛狗坐在驾车台上，左右地抽着鞭子，车夫赶路的时候都是这样的。
　　一刻钟不到，这辆小轿车就回来了。等在门口的仙女抱起可怜的木偶，把他抱进一间墙上镶嵌着珍珠的小卧室，马上请来附近最有名的大夫。
　　三位大夫马上接连来了，一位是乌鸦，一位是猫头鹰，一位是会说话的蟋蟀。
　　“我想请诸位先生看看，”仙女对围在皮诺乔床边的三位大夫说，“我想请诸位先生看看，这不幸的木偶是死了还是活着……”
　　听了仙女的请求，乌鸦第一位给皮诺乔摸脉，接着摸鼻子，接着摸小脚趾。等到都摸过了，它极其严肃地说了这一番话：
　　“我认为木偶完全死了，但万一他没有死，那就有可靠的迹像表明，他完全活着！”
　　“我很抱歉，”猫头鹰说，“我必须表示，我的看法跟我这位有名的朋友和同行乌鸦大夫正好相反。我认为，木偶完全活着，但万一他不幸没有活着，那就有可靠的迹像表明，他的确死了！”
　　“您说哩，”仙女问会说话的蟋蟀。
　　“我要说的是，一位小心谨慎的大夫在不知道他所要说的事情时，最好是不开口。再说，这位木偶对我来说不是陌生面孔，我认识他有好些日子了！……”
　　皮诺乔本来一直躺着不动，像段真正的木头，可这会儿一下子猛烈颤抖，弄得整张床都摇动起来。
　　“这个木偶，”会说话的蟋蟀往下说，“是个大坏蛋……”
　　皮诺乔张开眼睛看看，马上又闭上。
　　“是个无赖，是个二流子，是个流氓……”
　　皮诺乔把脸缩到被单底下。
　　“这木偶是个不听话的坏孩子，他要把他可怜的爸爸气死！……”
　　它说到这里，只听见屋子里有压抑着的哭声和哽咽声。诸位想象一下大伙儿有多么惊奇吧，因为他们把被单掀起一点，就看到是皮诺乔在哭，在哽咽。
　　“死人会哭，就表明他正在好起来，”乌鸦严肃地说。
　　“我只好表示我的看法跟我这位有名的朋友和同行正好相反，”猫头鹰跟着说，“依我看，死人会哭，就表明他不想死。”
Chapter 17
Pinocchio eats sugar, but refuses to take medicine.
　　When the undertakers come for him, he drinks the medicine and feels better.
　　Afterwards he tells a lie and, in punishment, his nose grows longer and longerAs soon as the three doctors had left the room, the Fairywent to Pinocchio's bed and, touching him on the forehead,noticed that he was burning with fever.
　　She took a glass of water, put a white powder intoit, and, handing it to the Marionette, said lovingly to him:
　　"Drink this, and in a few days you'll be up and well."Pinocchio looked at the glass, made a wry face, andasked in a whining voice: "Is it sweet or bitter?""It is bitter, but it is good for you.""If it is bitter, I don't want it.""Drink it!""I don't like anything bitter.""Drink it and I'll give you a lump of sugar to take thebitter taste from your mouth.""Where's the sugar?""Here it is," said the Fairy, taking a lump from a goldensugar bowl.
　　"I want the sugar first, then I'll drink the bitter water.""Do you promise?""Yes."The Fairy gave him the sugar and Pinocchio, after chewingand swallowing it in a twinkling, said, smacking his lips:
　　"If only sugar were medicine! I should take it every day.""Now keep your promise and drink these few dropsof water. They'll be good for you."Pinocchio took the glass in both hands and stuck hisnose into it. He lifted it to his mouth and once morestuck his nose into it.
　　"It is too bitter, much too bitter! I can't drink it.""How do you know, when you haven't even tasted it?""I can imagine it. I smell it. I want another lump ofsugar, then I'll drink it."The Fairy, with all the patience of a good mother, gavehim more sugar and again handed him the glass.
　　"I can't drink it like that," the Marionette said, makingmore wry faces.
　　"Why?""Because that feather pillow on my feet bothers me."The Fairy took away the pillow.
　　"It's no use. I can't drink it even now.""What's the matter now?""I don't like the way that door looks. It's half open."The Fairy closed the door.
　　"I won't drink it," cried Pinocchio, bursting out crying.
　　"I won't drink this awful water. I won't. I won't!
　　No, no, no, no!""My boy, you'll be sorry.""I don't care.""You are very sick.""I don't care.""In a few hours the fever will take you far away to another world.""I don't care.""Aren't you afraid of death?""Not a bit. I'd rather die than drink that awful medicine."At that moment, the door of the room flew open and incame four Rabbits as black as ink, carrying a small blackcoffin on their shoulders.
　　"What do you want from me?" asked Pinocchio.
　　"We have come for you," said the largest Rabbit.
　　"For me? But I'm not dead yet!""No, not dead yet; but you will be in a few momentssince you have refused to take the medicine which wouldhave made you well.""Oh, Fairy, my Fairy," the Marionette cried out, "give methat glass! Quick, please! I don't want to die!
　　No, no, not yet--not yet!"And holding the glass with his two hands, he swallowedthe medicine at one gulp.
　　"Well," said the four Rabbits, "this time we have madethe trip for nothing."And turning on their heels, they marched solemnly outof the room, carrying their little black coffin and mutteringand grumbling between their teeth.
　　In a twinkling, Pinocchio felt fine. With one leap hewas out of bed and into his clothes.
　　The Fairy, seeing him run and jump around the roomgay as a bird on wing, said to him:
　　"My medicine was good for you, after all, wasn't it?""Good indeed! It has given me new life.""Why, then, did I have to beg you so hard to makeyou drink it?""I'm a boy, you see, and all boys hate medicine morethan they do sickness.""What a shame! Boys ought to know, after all, thatmedicine, taken in time, can save them from much painand even from death.""Next time I won't have to be begged so hard. I'llremember those black Rabbits with the black coffin ontheir shoulders and I'll take the glass and pouf!--down itwill go!""Come here now and tell me how it came about thatyou found yourself in the hands of the Assassins.""It happened that Fire Eater gave me five gold piecesto give to my Father, but on the way, I met a Fox and aCat, who asked me, `Do you want the five pieces to becometwo thousand?' And I said, `Yes.' And they said,`Come with us to the Field of Wonders.' And I said,`Let's go.' Then they said, `Let us stop at the Inn of theRed Lobster for dinner and after midnight we'll set outagain.' We ate and went to sleep. When I awoke theywere gone and I started out in the darkness all alone. On the road I met two Assassins dressed in black coal sacks,who said to me, `Your money or your life!' and I said,`I haven't any money'; for, you see, I had put the moneyunder my tongue. One of them tried to put his hand inmy mouth and I bit it off and spat it out; but it wasn't ahand, it was a cat's paw. And they ran after me and Iran and ran, till at last they caught me and tied my neckwith a rope and hanged me to a tree, saying, `Tomorrowwe'll come back for you and you'll be dead and yourmouth will be open, and then we'll take the gold piecesthat you have hidden under your tongue.'""Where are the gold pieces now?" the Fairy asked.
　　"I lost them," answered Pinocchio, but he told a lie,for he had them in his pocket.
　　As he spoke, his nose, long though it was, became atleast two inches longer.
　　"And where did you lose them?""In the wood near by."At this second lie, his nose grew a few more inches.
　　"If you lost them in the near-by wood," said the Fairy,"we'll look for them and find them, for everything that islost there is always found.""Ah, now I remember," replied the Marionette,becoming more and more confused. "I did not lose the goldpieces, but I swallowed them when I drank the medicine."At this third lie, his nose became longer than ever,so long that he could not even turn around. If he turnedto the right, he knocked it against the bed or into thewindowpanes; if he turned to the left, he struck the wallsor the door; if he raised it a bit, he almost put the Fairy'seyes out.
　　The Fairy sat looking at him and laughing.
　　"Why do you laugh?" the Marionette asked her,worried now at the sight of his growing nose.
　　"I am laughing at your lies.""How do you know I am lying?""Lies, my boy, are known in a moment. There are twokinds of lies, lies with short legs and lies with long noses.
　　Yours, just now, happen to have long noses."Pinocchio, not knowing where to hide his shame, triedto escape from the room, but his nose had become so longthat he could not get it out of the door.
　三位大夫一走出屋子，仙女就到皮诺乔身边，摸摸他的脑门，发现一点不假，他在发高烧。
　　于是她把一点白色粉末溶在半杯水里，拿来给木偶，温柔地对他说：
　　“喝了它，过几天就好了。”
　　皮诺乔看着杯子，歪歪嘴，哭也似地问道：
　　“甜的还是苦的？”
　　“苦的，可它能医好你的病。”
　　“苦的我不喝。”
　　“听我的话，喝了它。”
　　“苦的我不要喝。”
　　“喝了它，喝了就给你一颗弹子糖，让你甜甜嘴。”
　　“弹子糖呢？”
　　“在这儿，”仙女说着，从放糖的金盒子里拿出一颗来。
　　“我要先吃弹子糖，再喝这种该死的苦水……”
　　“讲定啦？”
　　“讲定了……”
　　仙女给他弹子糖，皮诺乔一转眼就喀嚓喀嚓地咬碎吃掉了，舔着嘴唇说：
　　“糖是药就好了！……我就天天吃药。”
　　“现在你照讲定的办，喝了这点药水，它会医好你的病。”
　　皮诺乔不情愿地拿过杯子，把鼻子插进去，然后凑到嘴边，然后又把鼻子插进去，最后说：
　　“太苦了！太苦了！我不能喝。”
　　“你尝都没尝，怎么说太苦呢？”
　　“我想得出来！我闻到了气味。我要先再吃一颗弹子糖……然后喝药水！……”
　　仙女像一个好妈妈那样耐心，又给他放了一题糖在嘴里，然后重新给他杯子。
　　“这样我不能喝药水！”木偶说着，做了成千个鬼脸，
　　“为什么？”
　　“因为脚上的枕头碍着我。”
　　仙女给他把枕头拿开了。
　　“不行！这样我还是不能喝……”
　　“又是什么东西碍着你啦？”
　　“房门半开着，把我碍着了。”
　　仙女去把房门关上。
　　“不管怎么说，”皮诺乔大哭大叫，“这该死的药水是苦的，我不要喝，不喝，不喝，不喝……”
　　“我的孩子，你要后悔的……”
　　“我才不在乎呐……”
　　“你的病很重……”
　　“我才不地乎呐……”
　　“你发高烧，几个钟头就会死的……”
　　“我才不在乎呐……”
　　“你不怕死？”
　　“怕死？……我宁愿死也不喝这种倒霉药水。”
　　正在这时候，房门开了，进来了四只兔子，黑得像墨汁，肩膀上抬着一个小棺材。
　　“你们到我这儿来干吗？”皮诺乔叫道，害怕得在床上坐了起来。
　　“我们来抬你，”最大的一只兔子说。
　　“抬我？……可我还没死！……”
　　“现在还没死，可你不肯喝退烧药水，就只有几分钟好活了！……”
　　“噢，我的仙女！噢，噢，我的仙女！”木偶于是大声叫起来“快把杯子给我……做做好事，快点快点，因为我不想死，不不不……不想死……”
　　他两只手捧着杯子，一口就把药水喝了。
　　“没法子！”兔子们说，“我们这回白跑一趟。”
　　它们重新抬起小棺材，打牙缝里叽哗咕噜地说着走出了屋子。
　　真的，过了几分钟，皮诺乔已经跳下床，好了。因为要知道，木偶福气好，难得生病，好起来也特别快。
　　仙女看见他满屋子又跑又跳，又利落又高兴，活像一只刚会啼的小公鸡，就对他说：
　　“瞧，我的药水可不是真把你治好了？”
　　“还有说的！它让我活下来了！……”
　　“可为什么刚才让你喝药水，要那么左求右求呢，”
　　“我们孩子都这样！我们比怕生病更怕喝药水。”
　　“真不害臊！……孩子们应该知道，及时吃进良药可以治好大病，甚至可以不死……”
　　“噢！下回我就不要那么左求右求了！我要记住那些抬棺材的黑兔……那我就马上抓过杯子喝下去！……”
　　“现在你过来，告诉我你是怎么落到那些杀人强盗手里的。”
　　“是这么回事。木偶戏班班主吃火人给了我几个金币，对我说：‘来，把它们带回去给你爸爸！’可我在路上碰到一只狐狸和一只猫，它们两个很好，对我说：‘你想让这几个金币变成一两千个吗，跟我们来，我们带你上“奇迹宝地”去’。我说：‘咱们走吧。’他们说：‘咱们在红虾旅馆歇会儿，过了半夜再走。’等我醒来，他们已经不在了，他们走了。于是我一个人走。夜黑得要命。路上我碰到两个杀人强盗，身上套着装炭的口袋。他们对我说：‘把钱拿出来。’我说：‘我没钱。’因为我把那四个金币藏在嘴里。一个杀人强盗想把手伸进我的嘴巴。我一口咬下他的手，把它吐出来。可吐出来的不是手，是一只猫爪子。两个杀人强盗就追我。我拼命地逃。最后它们把我捉住，套着脖子给吊在这林子里的一棵树上，说：‘我们明天再来，到那时你就死了，嘴巴张开了，我们就把你藏在舌头底下的金币拿出来。’”
　　“你这四个金币，现在搁哪儿啦？”仙女问他。
　　“我丢了！”皮诺乔回答说，他这是说谎，因为钱在他口袋里。
　　他一说谎，本来已经够长的鼻子又长了两指。
　　“你在哪儿丢了？”
　　“就在这儿附近的树林子里。”
　　这第二句谎话一说，鼻子更长了。
　　“你要是在附近那树林子里丢了，”仙女说，“咱们去把它们找回来。因为东西丢在附近那树林子里，完全可以找回来。”
　　“啊，现在我记清楚了，”木偶心里慌了，回答说，“这四个金币我没丢掉，是刚才喝您那杯药水的时候不小心，吞下肚子里去了。”
　　这第三句谎话一说，鼻子呼地一下长成这副样子，可怜的皮诺乔连头都没法转了。头往这边转，鼻子就碰到床，碰到窗玻璃；头往那边转，鼻子就碰到墙，碰到房门；头一抬，鼻子就有插到仙女一只眼睛里去的危险。
　　仙女看着他笑起来。
　　“您干吗笑？”木偶问她。眼看鼻子变得那么长，他完全呆住了，急得要命。
　　“我笑你说谎。”
　　“您怎么知道我说谎了？”
　　“我的孩子，谎话一下子就可以看出来，因为说了谎话有两种变化，一种是腿变短，一种是鼻子变长，你的一种正是鼻子变长。”
　　皮诺乔羞得无地自容，想溜出房间。可是办不到，他那个鼻子已经长得连门都出不去了。
Chapter 18
Pinocchio finds the Fox and the Cat again, and goes with themto sow the gold pieces in the Field of Wonders Crying as if his heart would break, the Marionettemourned for hours over the length of his nose. No matterhow he tried, it would not go through the door. TheFairy showed no pity toward him, as she was trying toteach him a good lesson, so that he would stop telling lies,the worst habit any boy may acquire. But when she sawhim, pale with fright and with his eyes half out of hishead from terror, she began to feel sorry for him andclapped her hands together. A thousand woodpeckersflew in through the window and settled themselves onPinocchio's nose. They pecked and pecked so hard atthat enormous nose that in a few moments, it was thesame size as before.
　　"How good you are, my Fairy," said Pinocchio, dryinghis eyes, "and how much I love you!""I love you, too," answered the Fairy, "and if you wishto stay with me, you may be my little brother and I'll beyour good little sister.""I should like to stay--but what about my poor father?""I have thought of everything. Your father has beensent for and before night he will be here.""Really?" cried Pinocchio joyfully. "Then, my goodFairy, if you are willing, I should like to go to meet him.
　　I cannot wait to kiss that dear old man, who has sufferedso much for my sake.""Surely; go ahead, but be careful not to lose your way.
　　Take the wood path and you'll surely meet him."Pinocchio set out, and as soon as he found himself in thewood, he ran like a hare. When he reached the giant oaktree he stopped, for he thought he heard a rustle in thebrush. He was right. There stood the Fox and the Cat,the two traveling companions with whom he had eaten atthe Inn of the Red Lobster.
　　"Here comes our dear Pinocchio!" cried the Fox,hugging and kissing him. "How did you happen here?""How did you happen here?" repeated the Cat.
　　"It is a long story," said the Marionette. "Let me tellit to you. The other night, when you left me alone at theInn, I met the Assassins on the road--""The Assassins? Oh, my poor friend! And what did they want?""They wanted my gold pieces.""Rascals!" said the Fox.
　　"The worst sort of rascals!" added the Cat.
　　"But I began to run," continued the Marionette, "andthey after me, until they overtook me and hanged me tothe limb of that oak."Pinocchio pointed to the giant oak near by.
　　"Could anything be worse?" said the Fox.
　　"What an awful world to live in! Where shall wefind a safe place for gentlemen like ourselves?"As the Fox talked thus, Pinocchio noticed that the Catcarried his right paw in a sling.
　　"What happened to your paw?" he asked.
　　The Cat tried to answer, but he became so terriblytwisted in his speech that the Fox had to help him out.
　　"My friend is too modest to answer. I'll answer forhim. About an hour ago, we met an old wolf on the road.
　　He was half starved and begged for help. Having nothingto give him, what do you think my friend did out of thekindness of his heart? With his teeth, he bit off the pawof his front foot and threw it at that poor beast, so thathe might have something to eat."As he spoke, the Fox wiped off a tear.
　　Pinocchio, almost in tears himself, whispered in the Cat's ear:
　　"If all the cats were like you, how lucky the mice would be!""And what are you doing here?" the Fox asked the Marionette.
　　"I am waiting for my father, who will be here at any moment now.""And your gold pieces?""I still have them in my pocket, except one which Ispent at the Inn of the Red Lobster.""To think that those four gold pieces might becometwo thousand tomorrow. Why don't you listen to me?
　　Why don't you sow them in the Field of Wonders?""Today it is impossible. I'll go with you some other time.""Another day will be too late," said the Fox.
　　"Why?""Because that field has been bought by a very rich man,and today is the last day that it will be open to the public.""How far is this Field of Wonders?""Only two miles away. Will you come with us? We'llbe there in half an hour. You can sow the money, and,after a few minutes, you will gather your two thousandcoins and return home rich. Are you coming?"Pinocchio hesitated a moment before answering, for heremembered the good Fairy, old Geppetto, and the adviceof the Talking Cricket. Then he ended by doing whatall boys do, when they have no heart and little brain.
　　He shrugged his shoulders and said to the Fox and the Cat:
　　"Let us go! I am with you."And they went.
　　They walked and walked for a half a day at least andat last they came to the town called the City of SimpleSimons. As soon as they entered the town, Pinocchionoticed that all the streets were filled with hairless dogs,yawning from hunger; with sheared sheep, trembling withcold; with combless chickens, begging for a grain of wheat; with large butterflies, unable to use their wingsbecause they had sold all their lovely colors; with taillesspeacocks, ashamed to show themselves; and with bedraggledpheasants, scuttling away hurriedly, grieving for theirbright feathers of gold and silver, lost to them forever.
　　Through this crowd of paupers and beggars, a beautifulcoach passed now and again. Within it sat either a Fox,a Hawk, or a Vulture.
　　"Where is the Field of Wonders?" asked Pinocchio,growing tired of waiting.
　　"Be patient. It is only a few more steps away."They passed through the city and, just outside the walls,they stepped into a lonely field, which looked moreor less like any other field.
　　"Here we are," said the Fox to the Marionette.
　　"Dig a hole here and put the gold pieces into it."The Marionette obeyed. He dug the hole, put thefour gold pieces into it, and covered them up very carefully.
　　"Now," said the Fox, "go to that near-by brook, bringback a pail full of water, and sprinkle it over the spot."Pinocchio followed the directions closely, but, as hehad no pail, he pulled off his shoe, filled it with water,and sprinkled the earth which covered the gold. Thenhe asked:
　　"Anything else?""Nothing else," answered the Fox. "Now we can go.
　　Return here within twenty minutes and you will find thevine grown and the branches filled with gold pieces."Pinocchio, beside himself with joy, thanked the Foxand the Cat many times and promised them each a beautiful gift.
　　"We don't want any of your gifts," answered the tworogues. "It is enough for us that we have helped you tobecome rich with little or no trouble. For this we areas happy as kings."They said good-by to Pinocchio and, wishing him goodluck, went on their way.
　　正像诸位可以想像到的，仙女让木偶由于鼻子长得出不了门，哭叫了整整半个钟头，不去理他。这是为了好好给他一个教训，让他改正撒谎这种极坏的毛病。这种毛病小孩子最容易有。可等她看到木偶脸也变了，绝望得眼睛都要突出来时，很可怜他，拍了拍手掌。一听到拍手掌，成千只叫啄木鸟的大鸟打窗子飞到屋里来。它们都聚在皮诺乔的鼻子上，开始笃笃笃笃，狠狠地啄他的鼻子，几分钟工夫，这个长过了头的鼻子就恢复了原状。
　　“您多好啊，我的仙女，”木偶擦干眼泪说，“我多么爱您啊！”
　　“我也爱你，”仙女回答说，“你如果想留在我这儿，你就做我的弟弟，我做你的姐姐……”
　　“我很想留在这儿……可我那可怜的爸爸呢？”
　　“我都想到了。已经派人去通知你爸爸，天黑前他就要来到这儿。”
　　“真的？”皮诺乔高兴得跳起来，叫着说，“那么，我的好仙女，如果您答应的话，我想去接他！我急着要拥抱这位可怜的老人家，他为我吃了那么多苦！”
　　“那你就去吧，可小心别走失了。你走林子里的那条路吧，我断定你会碰到他的。”
　　皮诺乔走了。他一走进树林子，马上就像小鹿一样跑起来。可他到了大橡树那儿，就停下了，因为好像听到树枝树叶之间有人声。他果真看见路上有人。诸位猜得出是谁吗？……就是狐狸和猫这两个伙伴。皮诺乔曾经同它们一起在红虾旅馆吃过一顿晚饭。
　　“是我们的好朋友皮诺乔！”狐狸叫着，把他又抱又亲，“你怎么在这儿？”
　　“你怎么在这儿？”猫跟着又说了一遍。
　　“说来话长了，”木偶说，“我趁便跟你们讲讲。可记得那个夜里，你们丢下我一个人在旅馆里吗？我走出来，在路上遇见了两个杀人强盗……”
　　“两个杀人强盗？……噢，可怜的朋友！他们想要什么。”
　　“他们想抢我的金币。”
　　“真该死！……”狐狸说。
　　“该死极了！……”猫跟着又说了一遍。
　　“可我撒腿就逃，”木偶往下说，“他们跟着就追。最后他们追上了我，把我吊在这棵橡树的树枝上面……”
　　皮诺乔说道，指指离开两步远的大橡树。
　　“还有比这更悲惨的事吗？”狐狸说，“我们是活在怎么一个世界上啊，我们这些正派人，在什么地方可以找到安全可靠的地方呢？”
　　皮诺乔正这么说着，忽然发现猫的右前腿受了伤，连爪子带指甲都没有了，就问它说：
　　“你的爪子怎么啦？”
　　猫想回答，可窘住了。狐狸马上说：
　　“我的朋友太谦虚了，因此不愿回答，我来替他回答吧。要知道，一个钟头以前，我们在路上碰到一只老狼，都快饿死了，它求我们施舍点什么给它。可我们没有什么好给它的，连一根鱼骨头也没有。我这朋友真正慷慨大方，它做出什么事情来啦？……它竟从自己前腿上咬下一只爪子，扔给这只可怜的野兽吃。”
　　狐狸一面说着一面擦眼泪。
　　皮诺乔也感动得走到猫身边，在它耳边轻轻地说：
　　“如果所有的猫都像你，耗子可多幸运啊！”
　　“可你这会儿在这里干吗呢，”狐狸问木偶说。
　　“我在等我爸爸，他早晚要到这儿来的。”
　　“那你的金币呢？”
　　“都在口袋里，就少一个，付给红灯旅馆的老板了。”
　　“想想吧，四个金币到明天就能变一两千个，你为什么不听我的话？你为什么不到‘奇迹宝地’，把它们种下去呢。”
　　“今天不行，我改天去。”
　　“改一天就晚了。”狐狸说。
　　“为什么？”
　　“因为这块地给一位大好佬买去了，从明天起，再不准任何人在那儿种金币。”
　　“‘奇迹宝地’离这儿远吗？’”
　　“不到两公里。你要跟我们去吗，半个钟头就到，你马上种下四个金币，过几分钟就可以收到两千个，今晚回来，口袋里就装满金币啦，要跟我们去吗？”
　　皮诺乔没马上回答，因为他想到了善良的仙女，想到了年老的杰佩托，还想到了会说话的蟋蟀给他的劝告。可是最后，他就像一个全没脑筋、全没心肝的孩子所做的那样，也就是说，他点点头，对狐狸和猫说：
　　“那咱们走吧，我跟你们去。”
　　于是他们上路了。
　　他们走了半天，来到一个城市，叫做“捉傻瓜城”。皮诺乔一进城就看见，满街都是饿得张嘴打哈欠的癞皮狗，给剪了毛、冷得直打哆嗦的绵羊，乞讨一颗玉米、也没鸡冠也没垂肉的公鸡，卖掉了漂亮的五彩翅膀、再也飞不起来的大蝴蝶，没有了尾巴、不好意思再见人的孔雀，悄悄地走来走去、痛惜永远失去了闪闪发光的金色银色羽毛的山鸡。
　　在这许多畏畏缩缩的叫化子和穷人中间，不时走过一些高贵马车，里面或者坐着，狐狸，或者坐着偷东西的喜鹊，或者坐着捕食小生物的猛禽。
　　“‘奇迹宝地’在哪儿，”皮诺乔问道。
　　“再走两步就到了。”
　　说到就到，他们穿过城，出了城门就来到一块僻静的田地。这块田地跟其他田地完全没什么两样。
　　“咱们总算到了，”狐狸对木偶说，“现在你弯下腰，在泥地上挖一个小窟窿，把金币放进去吧。”
　　皮诺乔照狐狸说的办。他挖了一个窟窿，把剩下的四个金币放进去，然后用点土把窟窿重新盖起米。
　　“现在，”狐狸说，“你到附近水沟那里打桶水来，浇在你种下金币的地方。”．
　　皮诺乔走到水沟那儿，因为没有桶，就从脚上脱下一只鞋子，装来了水，浇在盖住窟窿的土上，然后他问：“还有什么事要做吗？”
　　“没有了，”狐狸回答说。“现在咱们可以走开了，你过二十分钟回到这儿，就可以看到一棵矮矮的树从地里长出来，所有的树上都挂满了金币。”
　　可怜的木偶高兴得忘乎所以，对狐狸和猫千谢万谢，答应送给它们最好的礼物。
　　“我们不要礼物，”两个坏蛋回答说，“我们只要能教会你不劳而获，发财致富，就像过节一样高兴！”
　　他们这么说着，向皮诺乔鞠了个躬，祝他得到好收成，就干它们的事去了。
Chapter 19
Pinocchio is robbed of his gold pieces and,in punishment, is sentenced to four months in prisonIf the Marionette had been told to wait a day instead oftwenty minutes, the time could not have seemed longerto him. He walked impatiently to and fro and finallyturned his nose toward the Field of Wonders.
　　And as he walked with hurried steps, his heart beatwith an excited tic, tac, tic, tac, just as if it were a wallclock, and his busy brain kept thinking:
　　"What if, instead of a thousand, I should find twothousand? Or if, instead of two thousand, I should find fivethousand--or one hundred thousand? I'll build myself abeautiful palace, with a thousand stables filled with athousand wooden horses to play with, a cellar overflowingwith lemonade and ice cream soda, and a library of candiesand fruits, cakes and cookies."Thus amusing himself with fancies, he came to the field.
　　There he stopped to see if, by any chance, a vine filledwith gold coins was in sight. But he saw nothing! Hetook a few steps forward, and still nothing! He steppedinto the field. He went up to the place where he haddug the hole and buried the gold pieces. Again nothing!
　　Pinocchio became very thoughtful and, forgetting his goodmanners altogether, he pulled a hand out of his pocket andgave his head a thorough scratching.
　　As he did so, he heard a hearty burst of laughter closeto his head. He turned sharply, and there, just above himon the branch of a tree, sat a large Parrot, busily preeninghis feathers.
　　"What are you laughing at?" Pinocchio asked peevishly.
　　"I am laughing because, in preening my feathers, Itickled myself under the wings."The Marionette did not answer. He walked to thebrook, filled his shoe with water, and once more sprinkledthe ground which covered the gold pieces.
　　Another burst of laughter, even more impertinent thanthe first, was heard in the quiet field.
　　"Well," cried the Marionette, angrily this time,"may I know, Mr. Parrot, what amuses you so?""I am laughing at those simpletons who believeeverything they hear and who allow themselves to be caught soeasily in the traps set for them.""Do you, perhaps, mean me?""I certainly do mean you, poor Pinocchio--you whoare such a little silly as to believe that gold can be sownin a field just like beans or squash. I, too, believed thatonce and today I am very sorry for it. Today (but too late!)I have reached the conclusion that, in order to comeby money honestly, one must work and know how to earnit with hand or brain.""I don't know what you are talking about," said theMarionette, who was beginning to tremble with fear.
　　"Too bad! I'll explain myself better," said the Parrot.
　　"While you were away in the city the Fox and the Catreturned here in a great hurry. They took the four goldpieces which you have buried and ran away as fast as the wind.
　　If you can catch them, you're a brave one!"Pinocchio's mouth opened wide. He would not believethe Parrot's words and began to dig away furiously at theearth. He dug and he dug till the hole was as big as himself,but no money was there. Every penny was gone.
　　In desperation, he ran to the city and went straight to the courthouse to report the robbery to the magistrate.
　　The Judge was a Monkey, a large Gorilla venerablewith age. A flowing white beard covered his chest and hewore gold-rimmed spectacles from which the glasses haddropped out. The reason for wearing these, he said, wasthat his eyes had been weakened by the work of many years.
　　Pinocchio, standing before him, told his pitiful tale,word by word. He gave the names and the descriptionsof the robbers and begged for justice.
　　The Judge listened to him with great patience. A kindlook shone in his eyes. He became very much interestedin the story; he felt moved; he almost wept. When theMarionette had no more to say, the Judge put out hishand and rang a bell.
　　At the sound, two large Mastiffs appeared, dressed inCarabineers' uniforms.
　　Then the magistrate, pointing to Pinocchio, said in avery solemn voice:
　　"This poor simpleton has been robbed of four gold pieces.
　　Take him, therefore, and throw him into prison."The Marionette, on hearing this sentence passed uponhim, was thoroughly stunned. He tried to protest, butthe two officers clapped their paws on his mouth andhustled him away to jail.
　　There he had to remain for four long, weary months.
　　And if it had not been for a very lucky chance, he probablywould have had to stay there longer. For, my dearchildren, you must know that it happened just then that the young emperor who ruled over the City of SimpleSimons had gained a great victory over his enemy, and incelebration thereof, he had ordered illuminations, fireworks,shows of all kinds, and, best of all, the opening of all prison doors.
　　"If the others go, I go, too," said Pinocchio to the Jailer.
　　"Not you," answered the Jailer. "You are one of those--""I beg your pardon," interrupted Pinocchio, "I, too, am a thief.""In that case you also are free," said the Jailer. Takingoff his cap, he bowed low and opened the door of the prison,and Pinocchio ran out and away, with never a look backward.
　　木偶回到城里，开始一分钟一分钟地数着时间，等他觉得时候到了，马上走原路回“奇迹宝地”去。
　　他走得很急，一路只听见他那题心很响地的嗒的嗒跳，就像一个走着的挂钟。他一想：
　　“树上如果不是一千，而是两千呢？树上如果不是两千，而是五千呢，树上如果不是五千，而是一万呢，噢，到那时，我将变成一个多体面的先生啊！……我要有一个美丽的宫殿，我要有一千只小木马和一千个马厩，这是为了玩玩。我还要有一个酒窖，里面放满甘露酒和健胃酒。我还要有一个图书室，摆满了糖果、蛋糕、葡萄干小面包、杏仁饼、奶酪夹心饼干。”
　　他这么幻想着，走近了那块地。他停下来就张望，看能不能见到那么一棵树，枝头挂满金币的。可他什么也没看见。他往前又走了一百步，还是没看见。他一直走到那块地上……一直走到种下金币的那个小窟窿那里，可还是没看见。于是他就拼命动脑筋，也顾不得行什么礼貌规矩，打口袋里伸出——只手来，把头搔了半天。
　　正在这时候，他耳朵里好像听到了大笑声。他抬头一看，只见一棵树上有只大鹦鹉，正在理它身上稀稀拉拉的羽毛。
　　“你笑什么？”皮诺乔生气地问它。
　　“我笑，因为我理羽毛，把羽毛底下的胳肢窝弄痒了。”
　　木偶没答话。他走到水沟那里，还是用那只鞋子打来一鞋子水，重新浇在盖着金币的那片土上。
　　这时候田野上静悄悄的，他又听见了笑声，这一次笑得比上次更放肆。
　　“不管怎么说，”皮诺乔发疯似在大叫，“你告诉我，没教养的鹦鹉，你笑什么？”
　　“我笑傻瓜，他们竟会什么胡涂话都相信，上最犹猾的人的当。”
　　“你说我吗？”
　　“对，我说你，可怜的皮诺乔，我说你是个大胡涂虫，竟相信金币可以像豆子南瓜那样在田野上播种收获。我曾经也相信过一次，到如今都觉得后悔。如今（可惜太晚了！）我确信，要正直地挣到一点钱，必须懂得用自己的手劳动，或者用自己的头脑思索。”
　　“我不懂你说些什么，”木偶说，这时他已经吓得发起抖来了。
　　“没法子！我只好说得更明白些，”鹦鹉往下说。“你要知道，当你在城里的时候，狐狸和猫回到这块地里来，挖走了金币，像阵风似地溜掉了。如今要追上它们，已经办不到啦！”
　　皮诺乔就那么张大了嘴闭不拢来。他不愿意相信鹦鹉的话，开始用手指甲挖浇过水的土。他挖啊，挖啊，挖了很深很深的一个大坑，连一个稻草堆都可以放进去了，可就是找不到金币。
　　木偶于是绝望了，回到城里，马上到法庭去向法官告状，说两个贼偷走了他的钱。
　　法官是只大猩猩。这老猩猩受到大家尊敬，因为它年纪大，胡子白，特别是因为它戴一副金丝边眼镜。他这副金丝边眼镜连玻璃片也没有，可它不得不一直戴着。它戴上这副眼镜，是因为多年以前有一次眼睛充了血。
　　皮诺乔在法官面前，一五一十地诉说了使他上当的恶意欺诈经过，说出了两个贼的姓名和特征，最后请求主持公道。
　　法官极其和气地听着，对他讲的话十分关心，听得又感动，又同情。等到木偶讲得没话要讲了，他伸出一只手，拿起一个铃来摇了一下。
　　听到铃声，马上来了两条猛狗，穿的是警察制服。
　　法官指着皮诺乔对两个狗警察说：
　　“这个可怜小鬼给人偷了四个金币，把他抓起来，马上送到监牢里去。”
　　木偶听到竟不幸对他这么宣判，呆住了，想要提了抗议，可是两个狗警察为了不白白浪费时间，堵住他的嘴，把他送到监牢里去了。
　　木偶整整坐了四个月牢。好长的四个月哪：他本来还要坐下去，幸亏出了一件极其运气的事。原来统治这个“捉傻瓜城”的年轻皇帝打了个大胜仗，下令普天同庆，张灯结彩，大放焰火，赛自行车。为了表示欢庆，还打开监狱，放掉所有的盗贼。
　　“别人出狱，我也要出狱。”皮诺乔对狱卒说。
　　“您不行，”狱卒回答说，“因为您不属于这一类。”
　　“对不起，”皮诺乔回答说，“我也是个贼。”
　　“既然这样，您就完全有理由出狱，”狱卒说着，恭恭敬敬地脱帽行礼，打开牢门，放他跑了。
Chapter 20
Freed from prison, Pinocchio sets out to return to the Fairy;but on the way he meets a Serpent and later is caught in a trapFancy the happiness of Pinocchio on finding himself free!
　　Without saying yes or no, he fled from the city and setout on the road that was to take him back to the house ofthe lovely Fairy.
　　It had rained for many days, and the road was so muddythat, at times, Pinocchio sank down almost to his knees.
　　But he kept on bravely.
　　Tormented by the wish to see his father and his fairy sister with azure hair, he raced like a greyhound. As heran, he was splashed with mud even up to his cap.
　　"How unhappy I have been," he said to himself. "Andyet I deserve everything, for I am certainly very stubbornand stupid! I will always have my own way. I won'tlisten to those who love me and who have more brainsthan I. But from now on, I'll be different and I'll try tobecome a most obedient boy. I have found out, beyondany doubt whatever, that disobedient boys are certainlyfar from happy, and that, in the long run, they alwayslose out. I wonder if Father is waiting for me. Will Ifind him at the Fairy's house? It is so long, poor man,since I have seen him, and I do so want his love and hiskisses. And will the Fairy ever forgive me for all I havedone? She who has been so good to me and to whom Iowe my life! Can there be a worse or more heartlessboy than I am anywhere?"As he spoke, he stopped suddenly, frozen with terror.
　　What was the matter? An immense Serpent lay stretchedacross the road--a Serpent with a bright green skin,fiery eyes which glowed and burned, and a pointed tailthat smoked like a chimney.
　　How frightened was poor Pinocchio! He ran backwildly for half a mile, and at last settled himself atop aheap of stones to wait for the Serpent to go on his wayand leave the road clear for him.
　　He waited an hour; two hours; three hours; but theSerpent was always there, and even from afar one could see the flash of his red eyes and the column of smokewhich rose from his long, pointed tail.
　　Pinocchio, trying to feel very brave, walked straight upto him and said in a sweet, soothing voice:
　　"I beg your pardon, Mr. Serpent, would you be sokind as to step aside to let me pass?"He might as well have talked to a wall. The Serpentnever moved.
　　Once more, in the same sweet voice, he spoke:
　　"You must know, Mr. Serpent, that I am going homewhere my father is waiting for me. It is so long since Ihave seen him! Would you mind very much if I passed?"He waited for some sign of an answer to his questions,but the answer did not come. On the contrary, the greenSerpent, who had seemed, until then, wide awake and fullof life, became suddenly very quiet and still. His eyesclosed and his tail stopped smoking.
　　"Is he dead, I wonder?" said Pinocchio, rubbing hishands together happily. Without a moment's hesitation,he started to step over him, but he had just raised one legwhen the Serpent shot up like a spring and the Marionettefell head over heels backward. He fell so awkwardlythat his head stuck in the mud, and there he stood withhis legs straight up in the air.
　　At the sight of the Marionette kicking and squirminglike a young whirlwind, the Serpent laughed so heartily and so long that at last he burst an artery and died on the spot.
　　Pinocchio freed himself from his awkward position andonce more began to run in order to reach the Fairy'shouse before dark. As he went, the pangs of hunger grewso strong that, unable to withstand them, he jumped intoa field to pick a few grapes that tempted him. Woe to him!
　　No sooner had he reached the grapevine than--crack!
　　went his legs.
　　The poor Marionette was caught in a trap set there bya Farmer for some Weasels which came every night tosteal his chickens.
　　皮诺乔听说释放，他那份高兴劲儿就可想而知了。他二话没说，马上出城，取道上仙女那座小房子去。
　　这是下雨天，整条路像个泥潭，走起来半条腿都没到烂泥里。可木偶一点不在乎。他急着要重新看到他的爸爸，看到他天蓝色头发的姐姐。他蹦啊跳地跑得像条猎犬，泥浆溅到帽子上，他一面跑一面自言自语说：
　　“我遭多少殃啊……这是活该，因为我是个犟头倔脑的木头人……我任意妄为，对于爱我和比我聪明千倍的人说的话，我一点都不听！……可从今往后，我决心改邪归正，做一个老实听话的孩子……如今我看清楚了，不听话的孩子要倒大霉，一事无成。我的爸爸在等我吗？……我在仙女家会看到他吗，可怜的爸爸，我多久没见到他了，我现在只想没完没了地抚摸他，拼命地亲吻他！仙女会原谅我的不好行为吗？……只要想一想，我得到她的百般关心和亲切治疗……只要想一想，我今天还能活着，全亏的是她！……还有孩子比我更忘恩负义，更没心肝的吗？……”
　　他正这么自言自语，一下子大吃一惊，停了下来，还倒退了四步。
　　他看见什么啦？……
　　他看见了一条大蛇，直挺挺地横躺在路上。这条蛇绿皮火眼，尾巴很尖，像是烟囱在冒烟。
　　木偶害怕得无法形容。他离开它，跑了有半公里多，坐在一堆石头上，只等这条蛇爬开，把路让出来。
　　他等了一个钟头，两个钟头，三个钟头，可蛇还在那儿。虽然离得老远，还能看见它那双火眼红红的，尾巴尖冒出一股一股烟柱。
　　最后皮诺乔鼓足了勇气，走近那蛇，离开它几步，用很甜很细的声音讨好地对它说：
　　“对不起，蛇先生，请帮个忙，挪出点地方让我过去，好吗？”
　　可他这番话完全是白说。蛇一动也不动。
　　木偶又用那很甜很细的声音说：
　　“您得知道，蛇先生，我要回到那房子去，我爸爸在那儿等着我，我已经很久很久没见到他了！……您肯让我继续走我的路吗？”
　　他等着蛇作出个表示来回答他这个请求，可蛇没有动静。相反，它一直好像很生猛，这时倒变得僵直不动了。它的眼睛闭上，尾巴停止冒烟。
　　“它真的死了吗？……”皮诺乔说着，高兴得搓了搓手。他一点不耽搁，就要打它身上跳过去，跳到路的那一边。可他脚还没举起，蛇忽然像迸起来的弹簧似地跳了起来。木偶大吃一惊，赶紧往后退，绊了一下，跌倒在地上。
　　跌得也真不巧，他的脑袋插在路上的泥浆里，只剩两条腿倒竖着。
　　蛇看见木偶头朝下，两脚用难以想象的速度踢来踢去，就扭啊扭地狂笑起来，笑啊，笑啊，笑啊，最后笑得太厉害，肚子上一根静脉竟断掉了：这回它真的死啦。
　　于是皮诺乔重新跑起来，要在天黑之前赶到仙女的家。可路很长，肚子饿得慌。他再也忍耐不住，就跳进一块葡萄地，想采两串麝香葡萄吃。唉，真不该跳进去的！
　　他一到葡萄藤底下，卡嗒……只觉得两脚给两块很锋利的铁片一下夹住，痛得他眼冒金星。
　　可怜的木偶是给一个捕兽夹夹住了。这种捕兽夹是农民装在那里捕捉大鸡貂的。要知道，鸡貂是附近所有鸡埘的大灾星。
Chapter 21
Pinocchio is caught by a Farmer,who uses him as a watchdog for his chicken coopPinocchio, as you may well imagine, began to screamand weep and beg; but all was of no use, for no houseswere to be seen and not a soul passed by on the road.
　　Night came on.
　　A little because of the sharp pain in his legs, a littlebecause of fright at finding himself alone in the darknessof the field, the Marionette was about to faint, when hesaw a tiny Glowworm flickering by. He called to her and said:
　　"Dear little Glowworm, will you set me free?""Poor little fellow!" replied the Glowworm, stoppingto look at him with pity. "How came you to be caughtin this trap?""I stepped into this lonely field to take a few grapes and--""Are the grapes yours?""No.""Who has taught you to take things that do not belong to you?""I was hungry.""Hunger, my boy, is no reason for taking somethingwhich belongs to another.""It's true, it's true!" cried Pinocchio in tears. "I won'tdo it again."Just then, the conversation was interrupted byapproaching footsteps. It was the owner of the field,who was coming on tiptoes to see if, by chance, he had caughtthe Weasels which had been eating his chickens.
　　Great was his surprise when, on holding up his lantern,he saw that, instead of a Weasel, he had caught a boy!
　　"Ah, you little thief!" said the Farmer in an angryvoice. "So you are the one who steals my chickens!""Not I! No, no!" cried Pinocchio, sobbing bitterly.
　　"I came here only to take a very few grapes.""He who steals grapes may very easily steal chickens also.
　　Take my word for it, I'll give you a lesson that you'll rememberfor a long while."He opened the trap, grabbed the Marionette by thecollar, and carried him to the house as if he were a puppy.
　　When he reached the yard in front of the house, heflung him to the ground, put a foot on his neck, and saidto him roughly: "It is late now and it's time for bed.
　　Tomorrow we'll settle matters. In the meantime, since mywatchdog died today, you may take his place and guardmy henhouse."No sooner said than done. He slipped a dog collararound Pinocchio's neck and tightened it so that it wouldnot come off. A long iron chain was tied to the collar.
　　The other end of the chain was nailed to the wall.
　　"If tonight it should happen to rain," said the Farmer,"you can sleep in that little doghouse near-by, where youwill find plenty of straw for a soft bed. It has beenMelampo's bed for three years, and it will be good enoughfor you. And if, by any chance, any thieves should come,be sure to bark!"After this last warning, the Farmer went into the houseand closed the door and barred it.
　　Poor Pinocchio huddled close to the doghouse more dead than alive from cold, hunger, and fright. Now andagain he pulled and tugged at the collar which nearlychoked him and cried out in a weak voice:
　　"I deserve it! Yes, I deserve it! I have been nothingbut a truant and a vagabond. I have never obeyed anyoneand I have always done as I pleased. If I were only likeso many others and had studied and worked and stayedwith my poor old father, I should not find myself here now,in this field and in the darkness, taking the place of afarmer's watchdog. Oh, if I could start all over again!
　　But what is done can't be undone, and I must be patient!"After this little sermon to himself, which came from the verydepths of his heart, Pinocchio went into the doghouse and fell asleep.
　　诸位可以想象，皮诺乔当然大哭大叫，大叫饶命。可是哭也好叫也好，全都没用，因为这儿周围看不见房子，路上一个走过的人也没有。
　　这时候天黑了。
　　半是由于捕兽夹夹得他小腿骨太痛，半是由于周围漆黑一片，他一个人在这葡萄地里怕得要死，木偶眼看就要昏过去了。正在这时候，他忽然看见一只萤火虫在头上飞过。他马上叫住萤火虫，对它说：
　　“噢，萤火虫，做做好事，把我从这刑具里放出来好吗？……”
　　“可怜的孩子！”萤火虫停下来，同情地看着他，
　　回答说。“你的脚怎么会夹在这些锋利的铁片里的？”
　　“我走进这块葡萄地，想采两串麝香葡萄吃吃，结果就……”
　　“葡萄是你的吗？”
　　“不是……”
　　“那么，是谁教你拿别人东西的？……”
　　“我饿了……”
　　“我的孩子，饿不能作为占有别人东西的充分理由……”
　　“这是真的，这是真的！”皮诺乔大哭大叫，“下回我再不干了。”
　　他们话正说到这里，给走近的一阵很轻很轻的脚步声打断了。来的是这块地的主人。他踮起脚尖走来看看，有没有鸡貂夜里来吃鸡，给捕兽夹夹住了。
　　等他打外套底下掏出灯来，看见捉到的不是鸡貂，而是个孩子，他惊奇极了。
　　“哈哈，小偷！”农民生气地说，“这么说，我的鸡都是你偷的？”
　　“我没偷，我没偷！”皮诺乔抽抽嗒嗒地说，“我本来只想采两串葡萄！……”
　　“会偷葡萄就会偷鸡。让我来给你个教训，叫你一辈子忘不了。”
　　他打开捕兽夹，抓住木偶的领子，像拎一只吃奶羊羔似地把他拎回家。
　　到了家门口，他把木偶扔在空场上，用一只脚踏住他的脖子，对他说：
　　“现在太晚了，我要去睡觉。明天再跟你算账。我那只守夜的狗正好今天死了，你这就来代替它。你给我当守夜的狗。”
　　说到做到，他在木偶脖子上套上一狗颈圈，上面全是铜钉。他把颈圈收紧，叫木偶的头钻不出来。颈圈上系着一根很长的铁链，铁链一头拴在墙上。
　　“要是今夜下雨，”农民说，“你可以到这木板狗屋里去，那里头有很多干草，可以当床睡。我那可怜的狗在那里都睡了四年啦。如果不幸有小偷来，你记住了，要竖起耳朵听着，汪汪地叫。”
　　农民吩咐完，就进屋把门关上，还用粗链子拴好，于是空场上就剩可怜的皮诺乔一个人趴着，又冷，又饿，又怕，半死不活的。他不断生气地把手插到勒住他喉咙的颈圈里，哭着说：
　　“我这是活该！……真倒霉，我这是活该！我任性，只想闲逛……我只想听坏朋友的话，因此总是失去幸福。如果我是个好孩子，像别的孩子一样，如果我想读书想劳动，如果我同我的可怜爸爸一起在家，那我这会儿就不会在这儿田野当中，做一只狗给一个农民看门了。噢，我能重新做人就好了！……可现在迟了，没法子，我只好忍耐！”
　　他发泄了真正出自内心的一口怨气以后，走进狗屋，躺下就睡着了。
Chapter 22
Pinocchio discovers the thieves and,as a reward for faithfulness, he regains his libertyEven though a boy may be very unhappy, he very seldomloses sleep over his worries. The Marionette, being noexception to this rule, slept on peacefully for a few hourstill well along toward midnight, when he was awakenedby strange whisperings and stealthy sounds coming fromthe yard. He stuck his nose out of the doghouse and sawfour slender, hairy animals. They were Weasels, smallanimals very fond of both eggs and chickens. One ofthem left her companions and, going to the door of the doghouse, said in a sweet voice:
　　"Good evening, Melampo.""My name is not Melampo," answered Pinocchio.
　　"Who are you, then?""I am Pinocchio.""What are you doing here?""I'm the watchdog.""But where is Melampo? Where is the old dogwho used to live in this house?""He died this morning.""Died? Poor beast! He was so good! Still, judgingby your face, I think you, too, are a good-natured dog.""I beg your pardon, I am not a dog!""What are you, then?""I am a Marionette.""Are you taking the place of the watchdog?""I'm sorry to say that I am. I'm being punished.""Well, I shall make the same terms with you that we had withthe dead Melampo. I am sure you will be glad to hear them.""And what are the terms?""This is our plan: We'll come once in a while, as inthe past, to pay a visit to this henhouse, and we'll takeaway eight chickens. Of these, seven are for us, and onefor you, provided, of course, that you will make believeyou are sleeping and will not bark for the Farmer.""Did Melampo really do that?" asked Pinocchio.
　　"Indeed he did, and because of that we were the best offriends. Sleep away peacefully, and remember that beforewe go we shall leave you a nice fat chicken all readyfor your breakfast in the morning. Is that understood?""Even too well," answered Pinocchio. And shakinghis head in a threatening manner, he seemed to say, "We'lltalk this over in a few minutes, my friends."As soon as the four Weasels had talked things over,they went straight to the chicken coop which stood closeto the doghouse. Digging busily with teeth and claws,they opened the little door and slipped in. But they wereno sooner in than they heard the door close with a sharp bang.
　　The one who had done the trick was Pinocchio, who,not satisfied with that, dragged a heavy stone in frontof it. That done, he started to bark. And he barked asif he were a real watchdog: "Bow, wow, wow! Bow, wow!"The Farmer heard the loud barks and jumped out of bed.
　　Taking his gun, he leaped to the window and shouted:
　　"What's the matter?""The thieves are here," answered Pinocchio.
　　"Where are they?""In the chicken coop.""I'll come down in a second."And, in fact, he was down in the yard in a twinklingand running toward the chicken coop.
　　He opened the door, pulled out the Weasels one by one, and,after tying them in a bag, said to them in a happy voice:
　　"You're in my hands at last! I could punish you now,but I'll wait! In the morning you may come with meto the inn and there you'll make a fine dinner for somehungry mortal. It is really too great an honor for you,one you do not deserve; but, as you see, I am really avery kind and generous man and I am going to do thisfor you!"Then he went up to Pinocchio and began to pet and caress him.
　　"How did you ever find them out so quickly? And to thinkthat Melampo, my faithful Melampo, never saw themin all these years!"The Marionette could have told, then and there, all heknew about the shameful contract between the dog andthe Weasels, but thinking of the dead dog, he said tohimself: "Melampo is dead. What is the use of accusing him?
　　The dead are gone and they cannot defend themselves.
　　The best thing to do is to leave them in peace!""Were you awake or asleep when they came?" continued the Farmer.
　　"I was asleep," answered Pinocchio, "but theyawakened me with their whisperings. One of them even cameto the door of the doghouse and said to me, `If you promisenot to bark, we will make you a present of one of thechickens for your breakfast.' Did you hear that? Theyhad the audacity to make such a proposition as that to me!
　　For you must know that, though I am a very wicked Marionettefull of faults, still I never have been, nor ever shall be, bribed.""Fine boy!" cried the Farmer, slapping him on theshoulder in a friendly way. "You ought to be proud ofyourself. And to show you what I think of you, youare free from this instant!"And he slipped the dog collar from his neck.
　　皮诺乔呼呼睡了两个多钟头，到了半夜，突然给一阵嘁嘁喳喳的古怪声音惊醒了。听起来，这声音像是打门口空场上传来的。他把鼻尖伸出木板狗屋的门洞，看见四只小野兽聚在一起商量什么。它们毛色黑乎乎的，样子像猫。可它们不是猫，是鸡貂，鸡貂是贪吃的肉食野兽，特别爱吃鸡和小鸡。—只鸡貂离开同伴，走到木板狗屋的旁边来，低声说：
　　“晚上好，梅拉姆波。”
　　“我不叫梅拉姆波。”木偶回答说。
　　“噢，那你叫什么？”
　　“我叫皮诺乔。”
　　“你在这儿干吗？”
　　“我在这儿当看夜狗。”
　　“那么，梅拉姆波呢？这老狗一直住在这狗屋里，它上哪儿啦？”
　　“他今天早晨死了。”
　　“死了，可怜的狗！它那么好！……可看你的脸，我觉得你也是一只客气的狗。”
　　“对不起，我不是狗！……”
　　“噢，那你是什么，”
　　“我是一个木偶。”
　　“你当看夜狗，”
　　“真倒霉，为了处罚我！……”
　　“好，那我自我提出个协议，同我早先跟已故的梅拉姆波订立的完全一样，你会满意的。”
　　“什么协议？”
　　“我们照旧一星期一次，夜里来拜访这个鸡埘，拉出来八只鸡。八只鸡当中，我们吃七只，—只给你。条件是，你听明白了，你假装睡着，千万别出来叫醒农民。”
　　“梅拉姆波就这么干的吗？”皮诺乔问。
　　“就这么干的。我们和它合作得很好。你安静地睡你的觉吧，我们走以前，保证在狗屋上留下一只拔掉毛的肥鸡，给你明天当早饭吃。咱们讲明白啦？”
　　“简直太明白了！……”皮诺乔答道。同时他恫吓似地摇摇头，好像想说：“咱们走着瞧吧！”
　　四只鸡貂觉得它们的事情稳当了，就很快地溜到就在狗屋旁边的鸡埘那里。它们用牙用爪子使劲弄开关住的小木门，一只接一只地溜了进去。它们刚进去，就听见小门啪嗒一下，又猛地关上了。
　　把门又给关上的正是皮诺乔。他关上门不算，为了保险起见，还在门前放了块大石头顶住它。
　　接着他叫起来，叫得就象一只看门狗：“汪，汪，汪，汪。”
　　农民一听见汪汪叫，马上跳下床，拿起枪，把头探出窗子问道：
　　“什么事？”
　　“来小偷了！”皮诺乔回答。
　　“在哪儿？”
　　“在鸡埘里。”
　　“我马上下来。”
　　真的，就说一声“阿门”那么点工夫，农民已经下来了。他赶紧走进鸡埘，把四只鸡貂全给捉住，塞进布口袋，心花怒放地对它们说：
　　“你们终于落到我手里了！我本可以处罚你们，可我还不高兴动手呐！我宁可明天把你们带到附近一家酒店，那里会剥掉你们的皮，把你们像烤野兔那样烤得又香又焦的。你们原不配有这份光荣，可这点小意思，像我这样大方的人却不在乎！……”
　　接着他走到皮诺乔身边，拼命抚摸着他，并且问：
　　“这四个该死的小偷勾当，你是怎么发现的，梅拉姆波，我忠实的梅拉姆波，它却一直什么也没发现！……”
　　木偶本来可以把他知道的事情都说出来，本来可以讲出狗和鸡貂之间的可耻协议。可他想起狗已经死了，心里马上说：“何必告发死者呢？……死者已经死了，还是让它安宁为好！……”
　　“鸡貂来到空场上的时候，你醒着还是睡了，”农民继续问他。
　　“我睡着，”皮诺乔回答说，“可给它们的嘁嘁喳喳声吵醒了。其中一只走到狗屋旁边来对我说：‘只要你答应不叫醒主人，我们给你一只拔掉毛的肥鸡！……’明白吗，啊，它竟无耻到对我提出这种建议！因为要知道，我虽然是一个木偶，有这个世界的一切缺点，可我从来不是那种贪污受贿、靠不诚实的人来装肥自己腰包的家伙！”
　　“好样儿的孩子！”农民拍着他的肩膀，叫了一声，“这种想法使你受人敬重。为了证明我极其满意，我这就放你回家。”
　　农民说着，给他脱掉了狗颈圈。
Chapter 23
Pinocchio weeps upon learning that the Lovely Maidenwith Azure Hair is dead. He meets a Pigeon,who carries him to the seashore. He throws himselfinto the sea to go to the aid of his fatherAs soon as Pinocchio no longer felt the shameful weightof the dog collar around his neck, he started to run acrossthe fields and meadows, and never stopped till he came tothe main road that was to take him to the Fairy's house.
　　When he reached it, he looked into the valley far belowhim and there he saw the wood where unluckily he hadmet the Fox and the Cat, and the tall oak tree where hehad been hanged; but though he searched far and near, hecould not see the house where the Fairy with the AzureHair lived.
　　He became terribly frightened and, running as fast as hecould, he finally came to the spot where it had once stood.
　　The little house was no longer there. In its place lay asmall marble slab, which bore this sad inscription:
　　HERE LIESTHE LOVELY FAIRY WITH AZURE HAIRWHO DIED OF GRIEFWHEN ABANDONED BYHER LITTLE BROTHER PINOCCHIOThe poor Marionette was heartbroken at reading thesewords. He fell to the ground and, covering the cold marblewith kisses, burst into bitter tears. He cried all night, anddawn found him still there, though his tears had driedand only hard, dry sobs shook his wooden frame. Butthese were so loud that they could be heard by thefaraway hills.
　　As he sobbed he said to himself:
　　"Oh, my Fairy, my dear, dear Fairy, why did you die?
　　Why did I not die, who am so bad, instead of you, whoare so good? And my father--where can he be? Please dear Fairy, tell me where he is and I shall never, neverleave him again! You are not really dead, are you? If youlove me, you will come back, alive as before. Don't youfeel sorry for me? I'm so lonely. If the two Assassins come,they'll hang me again from the giant oak tree and I willreally die, this time. What shall I do alone in the world?
　　Now that you are dead and my father is lost, where shallI eat? Where shall I sleep? Who will make my newclothes? Oh, I want to die! Yes, I want to die! Oh, oh, oh!"Poor Pinocchio! He even tried to tear his hair, but as itwas only painted on his wooden head, he could not even pull it.
　　Just then a large Pigeon flew far above him. Seeing theMarionette, he cried to him:
　　"Tell me, little boy, what are you doing there?""Can't you see? I'm crying," cried Pinocchio, lifting hishead toward the voice and rubbing his eyes with his sleeve.
　　"Tell me," asked the Pigeon, "do you by chance knowof a Marionette, Pinocchio by name?""Pinocchio! Did you say Pinocchio?" replied theMarionette, jumping to his feet. "Why, I am Pinocchio!"At this answer, the Pigeon flew swiftly down to the earth.
　　He was much larger than a turkey.
　　"Then you know Geppetto also?""Do I know him? He's my father, my poor, dear father!
　　Has he, perhaps, spoken to you of me? Will you take me to him? Is he still alive? Answer me, please! Is he still alive?""I left him three days ago on the shore of a large sea.""What was he doing?""He was building a little boat with which to cross the ocean.
　　For the last four months, that poor man has been wanderingaround Europe, looking for you. Not having found you yet,he has made up his mind to look for you in the New World,far across the ocean.""How far is it from here to the shore?" asked Pinocchio anxiously.
　　"More than fifty miles.""Fifty miles? Oh, dear Pigeon, how I wish I had your wings!""If you want to come, I'll take you with me.""How?""Astride my back. Are you very heavy?""Heavy? Not at all. I'm only a feather.""Very well."Saying nothing more, Pinocchio jumped on the Pigeon'sback and, as he settled himself, he cried out gayly:
　　"Gallop on, gallop on, my pretty steed! I'm in a great hurry."The Pigeon flew away, and in a few minutes he had reached the clouds. The Marionette looked to see whatwas below them. His head swam and he was so frightenedthat he clutched wildly at the Pigeon's neck to keephimself from falling.
　　They flew all day. Toward evening the Pigeon said:
　　"I'm very thirsty!""And I'm very hungry!" said Pinocchio.
　　"Let us stop a few minutes at that pigeon coop down there.
　　Then we can go on and be at the seashore in the morning."They went into the empty coop and there they found nothing buta bowl of water and a small basket filled with chick-peas.
　　The Marionette had always hated chick-peas. Accordingto him, they had always made him sick; but that nighthe ate them with a relish. As he finished them, he turnedto the Pigeon and said:
　　"I never should have thought that chick-peas could be so good!""You must remember, my boy," answered the Pigeon,"that hunger is the best sauce!"After resting a few minutes longer, they set out again.
　　The next morning they were at the seashore.
　　Pinocchio jumped off the Pigeon's back, and the Pigeon,not wanting any thanks for a kind deed, flew away swiftlyand disappeared.
　　The shore was full of people, shrieking and tearing theirhair as they looked toward the sea.
　　"What has happened?" asked Pinocchio of a little old woman.
　　"A poor old father lost his only son some time ago andtoday he built a tiny boat for himself in order to go insearch of him across the ocean. The water is very roughand we're afraid he will be drowned.""Where is the little boat?""There. Straight down there," answered the little old woman,pointing to a tiny shadow, no bigger than a nutshell,floating on the sea.
　　Pinocchio looked closely for a few minutes and then gave a sharp cry:
　　"It's my father! It's my father!"Meanwhile, the little boat, tossed about by the angrywaters, appeared and disappeared in the waves. And Pinocchio,standing on a high rock, tired out with searching,waved to him with hand and cap and even with his nose.
　　It looked as if Geppetto, though far away from theshore, recognized his son, for he took off his cap andwaved also. He seemed to be trying to make everyoneunderstand that he would come back if he were able, butthe sea was so heavy that he could do nothing with his oars.
　　Suddenly a huge wave came and the boat disappeared.
　　They waited and waited for it, but it was gone.
　　"Poor man!" said the fisher folk on the shore, whisperinga prayer as they turned to go home.
　　Just then a desperate cry was heard. Turning around,the fisher folk saw Pinocchio dive into the sea and heardhim cry out:
　　"I'll save him! I'll save my father!"The Marionette, being made of wood, floated easilyalong and swam like a fish in the rough water. Now andagain he disappeared only to reappear once more. In atwinkling, he was far away from land. At last he wascompletely lost to view.
　　"Poor boy!" cried the fisher folk on the shore, and againthey mumbled a few prayers, as they returned home.
　　皮诺乔一觉得脖子上那个丢脸的、硬绷绷的颈圈没有了，就撒腿穿过田野，一分钟也不停，一直来到通往仙女家的那条大道。
　　到了大道上，他低下头来看下面的草原。他极目远望，清楚地看到那座树林子，他当初就不幸在那里遇见了狐狸和猫；他清楚在看到兀立在许多树木之间的大橡树树梢，他当初就给套着脖子吊在那里摇来晃去。可他这里看，那里看，就是看不到天蓝色头发的美丽仙女的那座小房子。
　　这时候他感到不妙，马上使出最后的脚劲拼命跑起来，几分钟工夫就来到曾经有一座白房子的草地上，现在白房子没有了，原来是白房子的地方只有一小块大理石碑，石碑上用印刷体刻着如下几行字：
　　这里安眠着
　　天蓝色头发的仙女
　　由于她的弟弟皮诺乔
　　将她遗弃，
　　她因悲伤而溘然长逝。
　　木偶伤心地读完这几行字以后，该是怎么一种心情，就请诸位自己去想象了。他趴倒在地上，把那块大理石碑吻了成千遍，嚎啕大哭起来。他哭了整整一夜，到第二天早晨，到大白天还在哭，虽然眼泪早已哭干了。他哭得这样伤心这样响，周围所有的土岗子都接连发出了回声。
　　他哭着说：
　　“噢，我的好仙女，你怎么死了，……为什么是你死而不是我死，我是这么坏，你是那么好！……我的爸爸，你在哪儿啊！我的好仙女，请你告诉我，我到哪儿能够找到他呢？我要永远跟他在一起，不再，不再，不再离开他！……噢，我的好仙女，请你对我说一声，你不是真的死了！……如果你真的爱我……如果你真的爱你的弟弟，那你就复活吧……活过来跟当初一样吧！……你看见我孤零零一个，被所有的人遗弃了，你不觉得难过吗？……要是那两个杀人强盗又到这儿来，重新把我吊在树枝上……那么这一回我就真要永远死了。我孤零零地在这个世界上，叫我怎么办呢，现在你也没有了，我爸爸也没有了，谁给我东西吃呢？夜里叫我到哪儿去睡呢？谁给我做新衣服呢，噢！我还不如死掉好，要好上成千倍！真的，我要死！……哟！哟！哟！……”
　　他这时候绝望得要把头发拉掉，可他的头发是木头的，连手指也插不进。
　　这时候一只大鸽子在空中飞过。它张开翅膀停下来，在高空对木偶叫道：
　　“告诉我，孩子，你在下面干吗呀？”
　　“你没看见吗？我在哭！”皮诺乔向传来声音的地方抬起头，用上衣袖子擦着眼睛。
　　“告诉我，”鸽子又说，“你的朋友中间，你知道有一个木偶叫皮诺乔的吗？”
　　“皮诺乔？……你说皮诺乔？”木偶再说一遍，马上站起来。“皮诺乔就是我！”
　　鸽子听了这回答，很快地飞下来，到了地上。它比一只火鸡还大。
　　“那你认识杰佩托？”它问木偶。
　　“认识杰佩托！他是我可怜的爸爸！他跟你说起我了，你带我上他那儿去好吗？可他还活着不？谢谢你告诉我，他还活着不？”
　　“三天以前我在海边跟他分手的。”
　　“他在那里干什么，”
　　“他在造一只小船要飘洋过海。这可怜人到处找你，整整找了四个多月。可他哪儿也找不到你，现在想到新大陆那些遥远的国家去找。”
　　“从这里到海边有多远？”皮诺乔焦急不安地问道，
　　“一千多公里。”
　　“一千多公里？噢，我的鸽子，你有翅膀真是太美了！……”
　　“你要去，我带你去，”
　　“怎么带法呢？”
　　“你坐在我背上。你重吗？”
　　“重，没的事！我轻得像张树叶子。”
　　皮诺乔二话不说，就跳上鸽子的背，一只脚放在这边，一只脚放在那边，就像骑马似的，然后兴高采烈地大叫：
　　“快跑，快跑，小马，让我快点到！……”
　　鸽子飞起来，几分钟就飞得高入云霄。木偶到了这么高的地方，十分好奇，就低头朝下看。可他一看，登时吓得要命，头都晕了。为了别摔下去，他紧紧抱住他那匹长羽毛的飞马的脖子。
　　他们飞了一整天。天黑了，鸽子说：
　　“我很渴！”
　　“我很饿！”皮诺乔跟着说。
　　“咱们下去，到那鸽子窠呆上几分钟。然后咱们再飞，赶明儿天亮前到海边。”
　　他们落到一个空了的鸽子窠里。那儿只有一盆水和一篮野豌豆。
　　木偶有生以来最讨厌野豌豆，一听到野豌豆就作呕，就反胃。可这晚上他大吃特吃，都快吃光了，他才转脸对鸽子说：
　　“我从没想到，野豌豆这么好吃！”
　　“你得记住，我的孩子，”鸽子回答说，“一个人到真的饿了，又没别的东西吃的时候，就连野豌豆都好吃了！饥不择食嘛！”
　　他们在旅途中很快地吃了点东西，歇了一会儿，就动身了！第二天早晨他们来到海边。
　　鸽子让皮诺乔下来。它做了好事不要听人家说谢谢，马上飞走了。
　　海边都是人。他们看着大海，又叫又做手势。
　　“出什么事了？”皮诺乔问旁边一位老大娘。
　　“是这么回事。一位可怜的爸爸丢了他的儿子，想坐小船到海那边去找。可今天海上风浪大，小船要沉了……”
　　“小船呢？”
　　“在那边，我指头指着的地方，”老大娘指着一只小船说。这只小船离得老远，像半个核桃壳，里面有个很小很小的人。
　　皮诺乔尖起眼睛朝那边仔细一看，登时大吃一惊，尖声高叫：
　　“那是我爸爸！那是我爸爸！”
　　这时小船被急浪拍打着，一会儿在汹涌的波浪中消失不见，一会儿又浮了上来。皮诺乔站到一块很高的礁石顶上，不断叫唤他爸爸的名字，一个劲儿挥手，挥手帕，直到摘下头上的帽子来挥，拼命打招呼。
　　杰佩托虽然离岸很远，好像也认出了孩子，因为他也举起帽子向孩子打招呼，竭力要让孩子知道，他就要回来了，可是海上风浪太大，船桨不顶用，他没法划回岸边来。
　　忽然一个可怕的大浪打来，船不见了，
　　大家等着船重新浮出水面，可船再也不见上来。
　　“可怜的人！”聚集在岸边的渔民们说。然后他们低声祈祷着，准备各自回家了。
　　正在这时候，只听见一声绝望的哀叫。他们回过头来，看见一个孩子从礁石顶上跳进大海，嘴里叫着：
　　“我要救我的爸爸！”
　　皮诺乔不过是一块木头，因此很容易就浮到水面上，像条鱼似地游起来。只见他一会儿被波浪一冲，落到水下面不见了，一会儿又在离岸很远的地万重新出现，伸出一条腿或者一条胳膊。最后再也看不见他了。
　　“可怜的孩子！”聚集在岸边的渔民们说。他们又低声祈祷着，各自回家去了。
Chapter 24
Pinocchio reaches the Island of the Busy Beesand finds the Fairy once morePinocchio, spurred on by the hope of finding his fatherand of being in time to save him, swam all night long.
　　And what a horrible night it was! It poured rain, ithailed, it thundered, and the lightning was so bright that itturned the night into day.
　　At dawn, he saw, not far away from him, a long stretchof sand. It was an island in the middle of the sea.
　　Pinocchio tried his best to get there, but he couldn't.
　　The waves played with him and tossed him about as if hewere a twig or a bit of straw. At last, and luckily for him,a tremendous wave tossed him to the very spot where hewanted to be. The blow from the wave was so strong that,as he fell to the ground, his joints cracked and almost broke.
　　But, nothing daunted, he jumped to his feet and cried:
　　"Once more I have escaped with my life!"Little by little the sky cleared. The sun came out in fullsplendor and the sea became as calm as a lake.
　　Then the Marionette took off his clothes and laid themon the sand to dry. He looked over the waters to seewhether he might catch sight of a boat with a little man init. He searched and he searched, but he saw nothing exceptsea and sky and far away a few sails, so small that theymight have been birds.
　　"If only I knew the name of this island!" he said to himself.
　　"If I even knew what kind of people I would find here!
　　But whom shall I ask? There is no one here."The idea of finding himself in so lonesome a spot made himso sad that he was about to cry, but just then he saw a bigFish swimming near-by, with his head far out of the water.
　　Not knowing what to call him, the Marionette said to him:
　　"Hey there, Mr. Fish, may I have a word with you?""Even two, if you want," answered the fish,who happened to be a very polite Dolphin.
　　"Will you please tell me if, on this island, there areplaces where one may eat without necessarily being eaten?""Surely, there are," answered the Dolphin. "In factyou'll find one not far from this spot.""And how shall I get there?""Take that path on your left and follow your nose. Youcan't go wrong.""Tell me another thing. You who travel day and nightthrough the sea, did you not perhaps meet a little boat withmy father in it?""And who is you father?""He is the best father in the world, even as I am theworst son that can be found.""In the storm of last night," answered the Dolphin, "thelittle boat must have been swamped.""And my father?""By this time, he must have been swallowed by theTerrible Shark, which, for the last few days, has beenbringing terror to these waters.""Is this Shark very big?" asked Pinocchio, who wasbeginning to tremble with fright.
　　"Is he big?" replied the Dolphin. "Just to give you an ideaof his size, let me tell you that he is larger than a fivestory building and that he has a mouth so big and so deep,that a whole train and engine could easily get into it.""Mother mine!" cried the Marionette, scared to death;and dressing himself as fast as he could, he turned to theDolphin and said:
　　"Farewell, Mr. Fish. Pardon the bother, and many thanksfor your kindness."This said, he took the path at so swift a gait that heseemed to fly, and at every small sound he heard,he turned in fear to see whether the Terrible Shark,five stories high and with a train in his mouth,was following him.
　　After walking a half hour, he came to a small countrycalled the Land of the Busy Bees. The streets were filledwith people running to and fro about their tasks. Everyoneworked, everyone had something to do. Even if one wereto search with a lantern, not one idle man or one trampcould have been found.
　　"I understand," said Pinocchio at once wearily,"this is no place for me! I was not born for work."But in the meantime, he began to feel hungry, for itwas twenty-four hours since he had eaten.
　　What was to be done?
　　There were only two means left to him in order to get abite to eat. He had either to work or to beg.
　　He was ashamed to beg, because his father had alwayspreached to him that begging should be done only by thesick or the old. He had said that the real poor in this world,deserving of our pity and help, were only those who, eitherthrough age or sickness, had lost the means of earning theirbread with their own hands. All others should work, andif they didn't, and went hungry, so much the worse for them.
　　Just then a man passed by, worn out and wet with perspiration,pulling, with difficulty, two heavy carts filled with coal.
　　Pinocchio looked at him and, judging him by his looksto be a kind man, said to him with eyes downcast in shame:
　　"Will you be so good as to give me a penny,for I am faint with hunger?""Not only one penny," answered the Coal Man. "I'll giveyou four if you will help me pull these two wagons.""I am surprised!" answered the Marionette, very much offended.
　　"I wish you to know that I never have been a donkey,nor have I ever pulled a wagon.""So much the better for you!" answered the Coal Man.
　　"Then, my boy, if you are really faint with hunger,eat two slices of your pride; and I hope they don'tgive you indigestion."A few minutes after, a Bricklayer passed by, carryinga pail full of plaster on his shoulder.
　　"Good man, will you be kind enough to give a penny toa poor boy who is yawning from hunger?""Gladly," answered the Bricklayer. "Come with me and carrysome plaster, and instead of one penny, I'll give you five.""But the plaster is heavy," answered Pinocchio, "and thework too hard for me.""If the work is too hard for you, my boy, enjoy your yawnsand may they bring you luck!"In less than a half hour, at least twenty people passedand Pinocchio begged of each one, but they all answered:
　　"Aren't you ashamed? Instead of being a beggar in the streets,why don't you look for work and earn your own bread?"Finally a little woman went by carrying two water jugs.
　　"Good woman, will you allow me to have a drink fromone of your jugs?" asked Pinocchio, who was burning upwith thirst.
　　"With pleasure, my boy!" she answered, setting thetwo jugs on the ground before him.
　　When Pinocchio had had his fill, he grumbled,as he wiped his mouth:
　　"My thirst is gone. If I could only as easily get rid of my hunger!"On hearing these words, the good little woman immediately said:
　　"If you help me to carry these jugs home, I'll give you aslice of bread."Pinocchio looked at the jug and said neither yes nor no.
　　"And with the bread, I'll give you a nice dish ofcauliflower with white sauce on it."Pinocchio gave the jug another look and said neither yes nor no.
　　"And after the cauliflower, some cake and jam."At this last bribery, Pinocchio could no longer resist and said firmly:
　　"Very well. I'll take the jug home for you."The jug was very heavy, and the Marionette, not beingstrong enough to carry it with his hands, had to put iton his head.
　　When they arrived home, the little woman made Pinocchiosit down at a small table and placed before him thebread, the cauliflower, and the cake. Pinocchio did not eat;he devoured. His stomach seemed a bottomless pit.
　　His hunger finally appeased, he raised his head to thankhis kind benefactress. But he had not looked at her longwhen he gave a cry of surprise and sat there with his eyeswide open, his fork in the air, and his mouth filled withbread and cauliflower.
　　"Why all this surprise?" asked the good woman, laughing.
　　"Because--" answered Pinocchio, stammering and stuttering,"because--you look like--you remind me of--yes, yes,the same voice, the same eyes, the same hair--yes, yes,yes, you also have the same azure hair she had--Oh, mylittle Fairy, my little Fairy! Tell me that it is you!
　　Don't make me cry any longer! If you only knew! I havecried so much, I have suffered so!"And Pinocchio threw himself on the floor and claspedthe knees of the mysterious little woman.
　　皮诺乔一心想要及时赶到，把他可怜的爸爸救出来，于是游了整整一夜。
　　这一夜真是恐怖极了！天上下着瓢泼大雨，下着冰雹，打着可怕的响雷，电光闪闪如同白昼。
　　天亮时候，他终于看见不远的地方有一条长长的地平线。这是海当中的一个孤岛，
　　他于是拼了命要游到岸上，可是没成功。波浪翻腾追逐，把他像根小树枝或者稻草似地抛来抛去，最后也亏他运气好，一个凶猛的巨浪滚来，把他给扔到沙滩上。
　　这一下可真重，他给摔到地上，肋骨和全身的关节都咔拉咔拉地响。可他马上庆幸说：
　　“这一回我总算又侥幸得了救！”
　　这时天一点一点大亮，太阳出来，光芒四射。海面平静无浪。
　　木偶脱下衣服，把它铺在地上晒干。接着他望来望去，想在茫茫的水面上看到小船，看到船上那个小小的人。可他看了又看，看见的只有天空、大海和几张船帆。船帆很远很远，像苍蝇似的，
　　“至少得知道这个岛叫什么名字！”他一面说一面走。“至少得知道这岛上是不是住着什么好人！我想找个好人谈谈，他不会把孩子吊在树枝上的。可我能跟谁打听呢？这儿一个人也没有，我能跟谁打听呢？……”
　　一想到这空无一人的广阔土地上只有他一个，孤零零，孤零零，孤零零的，他就发愁得要哭了。正在这时候，他忽然看见离岸不远游过一条大鱼。这条鱼自管静静地游，整个头露在水面上。
　　木偶不知道这条鱼叫什么名字。他高声大叫，让它听见：
　　“喂——，大鱼先生，我跟您讲一句话行吗？”
　　“讲两句也行。”那条鱼回答说。它是世界上所有大海中很客气很少有的海豚。
　　“请问，在这岛上有没有地方可以吃点东西，却不会被吃掉呢？”
　　“当然有，”海豚回答说，“而且离这儿不远就有。”
　　“该走哪条道上那儿走？”
　　“走左边那条小道，对着鼻子笔直走。准错不了。”
　　“再请问一下。您白天黑夜都在海上游，没见过一只小船，里面坐着我的爸爸吗？”
　　“你爸爸是谁？”
　　“他是天底下最好的爸爸，就像我是天底下最坏的儿子一样。”
　　“昨夜刮暴风”，海豚回答说，“那小船准沉了。”
　　“那我爸爸呢？”
　　“当时一定给可怕的鲨鱼吃下去了。好几天来，这条鲨鱼净在我们这个海里破坏和横扫一切。”
　　“这条鲨鱼很大很大吗？”皮诺乔问道。这时他吓得打起哆嗦来了。
　　“大极啦！……”海豚回答说，“为了让你得到一个概念，我给你打个比方吧。它比一座五层大楼还高，嘴巴又大又深，一下子可以开进去整整一列火车，再加上冒烟的火车头。”
　　“我的妈呀！”木偶惊叫起来。他赶紧穿上衣服，转脸对海豚说：“再见，大鱼先生。请原谅我打扰了您。万分感谢您的好意。”
　　说时迟那时快，他马上踏上小道，加快步子走了起来，快得就像跑。每次一听到有点声音，他就回头去看，生怕那条五层大楼高、嘴巴容得下一列火车的鲨鱼在他后面追。
　　走了半小时，他来到一个小国，名字叫做“勤劳蜜蜂国”。街上都是有事情跑来跑去的人。他们全都干活，全都有事做。打起灯笼也找不到一个懒汉和二流子。
　　“我明白了，”这个不想干活的皮诺乔马上说，“这不是我呆的地方！我生下来可不是干活的！”
　　这时候他饿得要命，因为他已经二十四小时没吃东西了，连一碟野豌豆也没吃过。
　　怎么办？
　　他只有两个办法可以吃到东西：或者是找点活儿干干，或者是讨个子儿或者讨块面包。
　　乞讨是羞耻的事，因为他爸爸总是对他说，只有年老和残废的人才可以乞讨。在这个世界上，值得我们帮助和同情的真正穷人，只有由于年老和生病，没有办法再用自己的手劳动去挣得面包的人。其他的人都应当劳动，不劳动而挨饿，就是自讨苦吃。
　　正在这时候，街上来了一个人。他满头大汗，气也喘不过来，一个人费劲地拉着两车煤。
　　皮诺乔看看他的脸，断定他是个好人，就走过去，很不好意思地垂下眼睛，低声对他说：
　　“行行好，给我一个子儿吧，我饿得要死了！”
　　“不是给你一个，”拉煤的回答说，“而是给你四个，只要你帮我拉这两车煤回家。”
　　“叫我听了奇怪！”木偶几乎生气了说，“告诉您，我从来不当驴子，我从来不拉车！”
　　“那你最好这么办！”拉煤的人说，“我的孩子，如果你真觉得太饿了，你就切两大片你的骄傲来吃吧，可留神别吃撑了肚子。”
　　过了几分钟，街上又走过一个砌墙的，肩上扛着一桶灰泥。
　　“好心的人，行行好，给我这可怜孩子一个子儿吧，我饿得打哈欠了！”
　　“很高兴。来跟我一起搬这桶灰泥吧，”砌砖的回答说，“我不是给你一个子儿，而是给你五个。”
　　“可灰泥太重了，”皮诺乔回答说，“我不想花这力气，弄得筋疲力尽。”
　　“要是你不想花力气，那么，我的孩子，你就舒舒服服打你的哈欠吧，会给你带来好处的。”
　　不到半小时，至少走过了二十个人。皮诺乔向他们一个个讨钱，可他们都回答说：
　　“你不害臊吗？你不要当街乞讨了，还是找点活儿干干，学着自己挣面包吃吧！”
　　最后走过一位和善的小妇人，她提着两瓦罐水。
　　“好太太，让我在您的瓦罐里喝一口水好吗？”皮诺乔说，他渴得喉咙发烧，
　　“你就喝吧，我的孩子！”小妇人说着，把两瓦罐水放在地上，
　　皮诺乔像块海绵似地吸饱了水，然后擦着嘴，低声咕噜说：
　　“嘴是不渴了！肚子也不饿就好了！……”
　　好心的小妇人听了这两句话，马上接下去说：
　　“这里是两瓦罐水，你帮我拿一瓦罐，送到我家里，我就给一大块面包。”
　　皮诺乔看着瓦罐，不说好也不说不好。
　　“除了面包，还给你一大盆花椰莱，上面浇上油和辣酱油，”好心的小妇人又说。
　　皮诺乔又看了瓦罐一眼，还是不说好也不说不好。
　　“吃完花椰菜，我给你一块好吃的酒心糖。”
　　皮诺乔给最后一样好吃的东西吸引住，再也没法抗拒，下定决心说：
　　“没办法！就给您把这瓦罐水送到家去吧！”
　　瓦罐很重，木偶用两只手拿不动，就用头来顶。
　　到了家里，好心的小妇人让皮诺乔坐在一张铺好台布的小桌子旁边，在他面前放上面包、调好味的花椰菜和酒心糖。
　　皮诺乔不是吃而是吞。他的肚子像一间五个月没住人的空屋。
　　肚子本来饿得像咬一样痛，这时一点一点不痛了，他就抬起头来，想要谢谢给他吃饭的小妇人。可是才看第一眼，他就惊奇得拖长声音大叫：“噢——！”他坐在那里呆呆的一动不动，眼睛瞪圆，叉子高高举着，嘴巴里塞满了面包和花椰菜。
　　你为什么这样惊奇呀？”好心的小妇人笑着说。
　　“您是……”皮诺乔结结巴巴地回答，“您是……您是……您好像是……您让我想起了……对，对，对，同样的声音……同样的眼睛……同样的头发……对，对，对……您也有天蓝色的头发……像她一样！……唤，我的好仙女！……唤，我的好仙女！……跟我说一声就是您吧，的的确确就是您吧！……别叫我再哭了！你要是知道就好了！……我已经哭够了，我已经受够苦了！……”
　　皮诺乔这么说着，哭得泪如泉涌，跪倒在地，抱住这神秘小妇人的膝盖。
Chapter 25
Pinocchio promises the Fairy to be good and to study,as he is growing tired of being a Marionette,and wishes to become a real boyIf Pinocchio cried much longer, the little woman thoughthe would melt away, so she finally admitted that she wasthe little Fairy with Azure Hair.
　　"You rascal of a Marionette! How did you know it was I?"she asked, laughing.
　　"My love for you told me who you were.""Do you remember? You left me when I was a little girl and now you find me a grown woman. I am so old, I couldalmost be your mother!""I am very glad of that, for then I can call you motherinstead of sister. For a long time I have wanted a mother,just like other boys. But how did you grow so quickly?""That's a secret!""Tell it to me. I also want to grow a little. Look at me!
　　I have never grown higher than a penny's worth of cheese.""But you can't grow," answered the Fairy.
　　"Why not?""Because Marionettes never grow. They are born Marionettes,they live Marionettes, and they die Marionettes.""Oh, I'm tired of always being a Marionette!" cried Pinocchio disgustedly.
　　"It's about time for me to grow into a man as everyone else does.""And you will if you deserve it--""Really? What can I do to deserve it?""It's a very simple matter. Try to act like a well-behaved child.""Don't you think I do?""Far from it! Good boys are obedient, and you, on the contrary--""And I never obey.""Good boys love study and work, but you--""And I, on the contrary, am a lazy fellow and a tramp all year round.""Good boys always tell the truth.""And I always tell lies.""Good boys go gladly to school.""And I get sick if I go to school. From now on I'll be different.""Do you promise?""I promise. I want to become a good boy and be a comfort to my father.
　　Where is my poor father now?""I do not know.""Will I ever be lucky enough to find him and embrace him once more?""I think so. Indeed, I am sure of it."At this answer, Pinocchio's happiness was very great.
　　He grasped the Fairy's hands and kissed them so hard thatit looked as if he had lost his head. Then lifting his face,he looked at her lovingly and asked: "Tell me, little Mother,it isn't true that you are dead, is it?""It doesn't seem so," answered the Fairy, smiling.
　　"If you only knew how I suffered and how I wept when I read `Here lies--'""I know it, and for that I have forgiven you. The depth of your sorrow made me see that you have a kind heart.
　　There is always hope for boys with hearts such as yours,though they may often be very mischievous. This is thereason why I have come so far to look for you. From nowon, I'll be your own little mother.""Oh! How lovely!" cried Pinocchio, jumping with joy.
　　"You will obey me always and do as I wish?""Gladly, very gladly, more than gladly!""Beginning tomorrow," said the Fairy, "you'll go to school every day."Pinocchio's face fell a little.
　　"Then you will choose the trade you like best."Pinocchio became more serious.
　　"What are you mumbling to yourself?" asked the Fairy.
　　"I was just saying," whined the Marionette in a whisper,"that it seems too late for me to go to school now.""No, indeed. Remember it is never too late to learn.""But I don't want either trade or profession.""Why?""Because work wearies me!""My dear boy," said the Fairy, "people who speak as you do usually end their days either in a prison or in ahospital. A man, remember, whether rich or poor, shoulddo something in this world. No one can find happinesswithout work. Woe betide the lazy fellow! Laziness is aserious illness and one must cure it immediately; yes, evenfrom early childhood. If not, it will kill you in the end."These words touched Pinocchio's heart. He liftedhis eyes to his Fairy and said seriously:
　　"I'll work; I'll study; I'll do all you tell me.
　　After all, the life of a Marionette has grown very tiresometo me and I want to become a boy, no matter how hard it is.
　　You promise that, do you not?""Yes, I promise, and now it is up to you."
　　好心的小妇人起先说她不是那位天蓝色头发的小仙女。可后来看到识破了，也不想再把这场喜剧继续演下去，终于承认她就是小仙女，她对皮诺乔说：
　　“你这木头小鬼！你怎么认出是我的？”
　　“我热爱您，就认出是您了。”
　　“你记得吗？你扔下我的时候，我还是个小姑娘，可你现在碰到我，我已经是个妇人了。我简直可以做你的妈妈了，”
　　“那我太高兴了，这样我就不是叫您姐姐，而要叫您妈妈了。多少日子以来，我一直想跟所有的孩子那样有个妈妈！……可您怎么会长得这样快的？”
　　“这是一个秘密。”
　　“告诉我吧。我也想长大一点。您没看到吗？我还是跟一个子儿的干酪那么高。”
　　“可你不会长大。”仙女回答说。
　　“为什么？”
　　“因为木偶是从来不长大的。他们生下来是木偶，活着是木偶，死了也是木偶。”
　　“噢！我老做木偶都做腻了！”皮诺乔拍着后脑勺大叫着说，“我现在要变人，跟所有人一样的人。”
　　“你会变人的，如果你配得上变人的话……”
　　“真的吗？怎么办才配得上呢？”
　　“容易极了，只要你一直做个好孩子。”
　　“噢，我不是个好孩子吗？”
　　“根本不是！好孩子听话，可你正好相反……”
　　“我从来不听话。”
　　“好孩子爱读书爱干活，可你……”
　　“正好相反，我一年到头偷懒，吊儿郎当。”
　　“好孩子向来说真话……”
　　“可我向来说假话。”
　　“好孩子高高兴兴去上学……”
　　“可学校叫我肚子疼。不过从今以后，我要改变我的生活。”
　　“你答应我这样做吗？”
　　“我答应你这样做。我要变成一个好孩子，我还要成为我爸爸的安慰……这会儿我可怜的爸爸在哪儿呢？”
　　“我不知道。”
　　“我还能看见他和拥抱他吗，我有这份福气吗？”
　　“我相信你有，而且我保证。”
　　皮诺乔听了这个回答，高兴得抓住仙女的手发疯似地吻起来。接着他抬起头，亲热地看着仙女问道：
　　“告诉我，好妈妈，你不是真死了吧？”
　　“好像不是，”仙女微笑着回答。
　　“你知道我当时多么伤心，觉得喉咙都堵住了，一个字一个字地读：‘这里安眠着……’”
　　“我知道，因此我就原谅你了。你的伤心是真诚的，这使我知道，你有一顾善良的心。一个孩子有颗善良的心，即使有点顽皮，有些不好的习惯，总还是有希望，就是说，总是可以希望他重新走上正路的，因此我跟到这儿来找你。我要做你的妈妈……”
　　“噢！多美啊！”皮诺乔大叫，高兴得跳起来。
　　“你要听我的话，永远照我对你说的话去做。”
　　“我愿意，我愿意，我愿意！”
　　“从明天开始，”仙女往下说，“你就去上学。”
　　皮诺乔马上不那么高兴了。
　　“然后选择一种你喜欢的手艺或者工作……”
　　皮诺乔脸都板起来了。
　　“你牙齿缝里咕噜些什么，”仙女用不高兴的口气问他。
　　“我说的是……”木偶低声叽叽叫着说，“现在才去上学，好像晚了点……”
　　“一点也不晚，我的宝贝。你记住了，读书学习是永远不会晚的。”
　　“可我不想干手艺或工作什么的……”
　　“为什么？”
　　“因为我觉得干活太累。”
　　“我的孩子，”仙女说，“说这种话的人，最后差不多不是进监狱就是进医院。告诉我，一个人不管生下来是穷是富，在这个世界上都得做点事，干上一行，都要劳动。懒惰没有好结果！懒惰是一种最坏的毛病，必须马上从小治好。要不，大了就再也治不好了！”
　　这番话打动了皮诺乔的心。他高兴地又抬起头来，对仙女说：
　　“我要学习，我要干活，你对我怎么说我就怎么做，一句话，木偶的生活我过腻了，我无论如可要变成一个孩子。你答应我了，不是吗？”
Chapter 26
Pinocchio goes to the seashore with his friendsto see the Terrible SharkIn the morning, bright and early, Pinocchio started for school.
　　Imagine what the boys said when they saw a Marionetteenter the classroom! They laughed until they cried. Everyoneplayed tricks on him. One pulled his hat off, anothertugged at his coat, a third tried to paint a mustache underhis nose. One even attempted to tie strings to his feet andhis hands to make him dance.
　　For a while Pinocchio was very calm and quiet. Finally,however, he lost all patience and turning to his tormentors,he said to them threateningly:
　　"Careful, boys, I haven't come here to be made fun of.
　　I'll respect you and I want you to respect me.""Hurrah for Dr. Know-all! You have spoken like aprinted book!" howled the boys, bursting with laughter.
　　One of them, more impudent than the rest, put out hishand to pull the Marionette's nose.
　　But he was not quick enough, for Pinocchio stretchedhis leg under the table and kicked him hard on the shin.
　　"Oh, what hard feet!" cried the boy, rubbing the spotwhere the Marionette had kicked him.
　　"And what elbows! They are even harder than the feet!"shouted another one, who, because of some other trick,had received a blow in the stomach.
　　With that kick and that blow Pinocchio gained everybody's favor.
　　Everyone admired him, danced attendance upon him, petted and caressed him.
　　As the days passed into weeks, even the teacher praised him,for he saw him attentive, hard working, and wide awake,always the first to come in the morning, and the lastto leave when school was over.
　　Pinocchio's only fault was that he had too many friends.
　　Among these were many well-known rascals, who carednot a jot for study or for success.
　　The teacher warned him each day, and even the goodFairy repeated to him many times:
　　"Take care, Pinocchio! Those bad companions willsooner or later make you lose your love for study.
　　Some day they will lead you astray.""There's no such danger," answered the Marionette,shrugging his shoulders and pointing to his forehead as ifto say, "I'm too wise."So it happened that one day, as he was walking to school,he met some boys who ran up to him and said:
　　"Have you heard the news?""No!""A Shark as big as a mountain has been seen near the shore.""Really? I wonder if it could be the same one I heardof when my father was drowned?""We are going to see it. Are you coming?""No, not I. I must go to school.""What do you care about school? You can go there tomorrow.
　　With a lesson more or less, we are always the same donkeys.""And what will the teacher say?""Let him talk. He is paid to grumble all day long.""And my mother?""Mothers don't know anything," answered those scamps.
　　"Do you know what I'll do?" said Pinocchio.
　　"For certain reasons of mine, I, too, want to see that Shark;but I'll go after school. I can see him then as well as now.""Poor simpleton!" cried one of the boys. "Do you thinkthat a fish of that size will stand there waiting for you?
　　He turns and off he goes, and no one will ever be the wiser.""How long does it take from here to the shore?" asked the Marionette.
　　"One hour there and back.""Very well, then. Let's see who gets there first!" cried Pinocchio.
　　At the signal, the little troop, with books under their arms,dashed across the fields. Pinocchio led the way, runningas if on wings, the others following as fast as they could.
　　Now and again, he looked back and, seeing his followershot and tired, and with tongues hanging out, he laughedout heartily. Unhappy boy! If he had only known thenthe dreadful things that were to happen to him on accountof his disobedience!
　　第二天皮诺乔就上了公立学校。
　　诸位想象一下，孩子们看见一个木偶进他们的学校，会怎么样捉弄他！他们哈哈大笑，笑个没完没了。有人开这种玩笑，有人开那种玩笑。有人摘他的帽子，有人打后面拉他的小背心。有人想用墨水在他鼻子下面画两撇大胡子，有人想用线绑在他的脚上和手上，好牵着线让他跳舞。
　　起初皮诺乔很镇静，不去理睬他们。可后来忍不住了，他向把他缠得最厉害、捉弄得最凶的人转过身去，板起脸说：
　　“小心点，孩子们。我上这儿来可不是给你们当小丑的。我尊重大家，希望大家也尊重我。”
　　“好一个小鬼！你说出话来像一本印出来的书！”那些顽皮孩子大叫，哈哈笑得跳起来。一个最大胆妄为的孩子伸手要抓木偶的鼻尖。
　　可他没来得及抓住，因为皮诺乔在桌子下面伸出脚来，在他小腿骨上狠狠踢了一下。
　　“唉哟！多硬的脚啊！”那孩子大叫，拼命搓给木偶踢出来的乌青。
　　“还有胳膊肘！……它比脚还硬！”另外一个说。他因为开无礼的玩笑，肚子给木偶的胳膊顶了一下。
　　经过脚这么一踢，胳膊这么一顶，皮诺乔马上得到全校学生的尊重和同情。他们都很喜欢他。
　　老师看见他上课专心，读书用功，肯动脑筋，总是第一个进学校，放学最后一个走，也很称赞他。
　　他唯一的缺点就是结交的同学太多。其中有不少是鼎鼎大名的小坏蛋，一点不想读书，一点不想有出息。
　　老师天天要他小心，善良的仙女也不断翻来覆去对他说：
　　“小心啊，皮诺乔！迟早有一天，你这种同学会使你不爱学习的，说不定有一天还会使你闯大祸。”
　　“不要紧！”木偶耸耸肩膀回答说，还用食指敲敲脑门，表示：“这里面有脑筋的！”
　　于是有一天，他在上学的时候，忽然遇到那一帮同学迎面走来，对他说：
　　“有一个重要的新闻你知道吗？”
　　“不知道。”
　　“这儿海边来了一条鲨鱼，大得像座山？”
　　“真的？……是那条鲨鱼吗，当时吃掉我可怜的爸爸的？”
　　“我们到海边去看。你也去吗？”
　　“我吗？不去。我要上学校去。”
　　“学校有什么要紧？咱们明天再上学吧。多上一课少上一课都一祥，反正不懂，还是驴子。”
　　“老师会怎么说呢？”
　　“让老师去说吧。他天天咕噜，也该给他点报应了。”
　　“那我妈妈呢？……”
　　“咱们的妈妈什么都不会知道的。”这些顽皮孩子说。
　　“你们知道我怎么办吗？”皮诺乔说，“我因为某种理由，也要去看看这条鲨鱼……可我下了课去。”
　　“可怜的糊涂虫！”有一个孩子大叫，“这么大一条鱼，你以为它会呆在那儿等着，随便你什么时候去看吗？它给人一搞烦，转过身子就上别处去了，要看也看不到啦。”
　　“打这儿到海边要走多久，”木偶问道。
　　“来回一个钟头。”
　　“那就去吧！谁跑得最快谁就最有种！”皮诺乔叫道，
　　这声起步信号一响，一帮顽皮孩子就把他们的书刊、练习本啊夹在胳肢窝里，抢着向田野奔去了。皮诺乔跑在最前面，只觉得脚上长了翅膀。
　　他不时回过脸去，笑话那些落在他后面有好一段路的同学。他看见他们气喘咻咻，上气不接下气，浑身是尘土，吐出了舌头，不由得衷心大笑起来。这时候，这可怜的家伙还不知道他正在走向什么样的可怕事情，走向什么样的可怕灾难呢！……
Chapter 27
The great battle between Pinocchio and his playmates.
　　One is wounded. Pinocchio is arrestedGoing like the wind, Pinocchio took but a very short timeto reach the shore. He glanced all about him, but there wasno sign of a Shark. The sea was as smooth as glass.
　　"Hey there, boys! Where's that Shark?" he asked,turning to his playmates.
　　"He may have gone for his breakfast," said one of them, laughing.
　　"Or, perhaps, he went to bed for a little nap,"said another, laughing also.
　　From the answers and the laughter which followed them,Pinocchio understood that the boys had played a trick on him.
　　"What now?" he said angrily to them. "What's the joke?""Oh, the joke's on you!" cried his tormentors, laughingmore heartily than ever, and dancing gayly around the Marionette.
　　"And that is--?""That we have made you stay out of school to comewith us. Aren't you ashamed of being such a goody-goody,and of studying so hard? You never have a bit of enjoyment.""And what is it to you, if I do study?""What does the teacher think of us, you mean?""Why?""Don't you see? If you study and we don't, we pay forit. After all, it's only fair to look out for ourselves.""What do you want me to do?""Hate school and books and teachers, as we all do. Theyare your worst enemies, you know, and they like to makeyou as unhappy as they can.""And if I go on studying, what will you do to me?""You'll pay for it!""Really, you amuse me," answered the Marionette, nodding his head.
　　"Hey, Pinocchio," cried the tallest of them all, "that will do.
　　We are tired of hearing you bragging about yourself,you little turkey cock! You may not be afraid of us,but remember we are not afraid of you, either!
　　You are alone, you know, and we are seven.""Like the seven sins," said Pinocchio, still laughing.
　　"Did you hear that? He has insulted us all. He has called us sins.""Pinocchio, apologize for that, or look out!""Cuck--oo!" said the Marionette, mocking them with his thumb to his nose.
　　"You'll be sorry!""Cuck--oo!""We'll whip you soundly!""Cuck--oo!""You'll go home with a broken nose!""Cuck--oo!""Very well, then! Take that, and keep it for your supper,"called out the boldest of his tormentors.
　　And with the words, he gave Pinocchio a terrible blow on the head.
　　Pinocchio answered with another blow, and that wasthe signal for the beginning of the fray. In a few moments,the fight raged hot and heavy on both sides.
　　Pinocchio, although alone, defended himself bravely.
　　With those two wooden feet of his, he worked so fastthat his opponents kept at a respectful distance.
　　Wherever they landed, they left their painful markand the boys could only run away and howl.
　　Enraged at not being able to fight the Marionette at closequarters, they started to throw all kinds of books at him.
　　Readers, geographies, histories, grammars flew in all directions.
　　But Pinocchio was keen of eye and swift of movement, and the booksonly passed over his head, landed in the sea, and disappeared.
　　The fish, thinking they might be good to eat, came tothe top of the water in great numbers. Some took a nibble,some took a bite, but no sooner had they tasted a page or two,than they spat them out with a wry face, as if to say:
　　"What a horrid taste! Our own food is so much better!"Meanwhile, the battle waxed more and more furious.
　　At the noise, a large Crab crawled slowly out of the waterand, with a voice that sounded like a trombone sufferingfrom a cold, he cried out:
　　"Stop fighting, you rascals! These battles between boysrarely end well. Trouble is sure to come to you!"Poor Crab! He might as well have spoken to the wind.
　　Instead of listening to his good advice, Pinocchio turnedto him and said as roughly as he knew how:
　　"Keep quiet, ugly Gab! It would be better for you tochew a few cough drops to get rid of that cold you have.
　　Go to bed and sleep! You will feel better in the morning."In the meantime, the boys, having used all their books,looked around for new ammunition. Seeing Pinocchio'sbundle lying idle near-by, they somehow managed to gethold of it.
　　One of the books was a very large volume, an arithmetic text,heavily bound in leather. It was Pinocchio's pride.
　　Among all his books, he liked that one the best.
　　Thinking it would make a fine missile, one of the boys tookhold of it and threw it with all his strength at Pinocchio's head.
　　But instead of hitting the Marionette, the book struck one of theother boys, who, as pale as a ghost, cried out faintly:
　　"Oh, Mother, help! I'm dying!" and fell senseless to the ground.
　　At the sight of that pale little corpse, the boys were sofrightened that they turned tail and ran. In a few moments,all had disappeared.
　　All except Pinocchio. Although scared to death by thehorror of what had been done, he ran to the sea and soakedhis handkerchief in the cool water and with it bathed thehead of his poor little schoolmate. Sobbing bitterly, hecalled to him, saying:
　　"Eugene! My poor Eugene! Open your eyes and look at me!
　　Why don't you answer? I was not the one who hit you,you know. Believe me, I didn't do it. Open your eyes,Eugene? If you keep them shut, I'll die, too. Oh, dear me,how shall I ever go home now? How shall I ever look atmy little mother again? What will happen to me? Whereshall I go? Where shall I hide? Oh, how much better itwould have been, a thousand times better, if only I hadgone to school! Why did I listen to those boys? Theyalways were a bad influence! And to think that the teacherhad told me--and my mother, too!--`Beware of badcompany!' That's what she said. But I'm stubborn andproud. I listen, but always I do as I wish. And then I pay.
　　I've never had a moment's peace since I've been born! Oh,dear! What will become of me? What will become of me?"Pinocchio went on crying and moaning and beating hishead. Again and again he called to his little friend, whensuddenly he heard heavy steps approaching.
　　He looked up and saw two tall Carabineers near him.
　　"What are you doing stretched out on the ground?"they asked Pinocchio.
　　"I'm helping this schoolfellow of mine.""Has he fainted?""I should say so," said one of the Carabineers, bendingto look at Eugene. "This boy has been wounded on thetemple. Who has hurt him?""Not I," stammered the Marionette, who had hardlya breath left in his whole body.
　　"If it wasn't you, who was it, then?""Not I," repeated Pinocchio.
　　"And with what was he wounded?""With this book," and the Marionette picked up thearithmetic text to show it to the officer.
　　"And whose book is this?""Mine.""Enough.""Not another word! Get up as quickly as you can and come along with us.""But I--""Come with us!""But I am innocent.""Come with us!"Before starting out, the officers called out to severalfishermen passing by in a boat and said to them:
　　"Take care of this little fellow who has been hurt.
　　Take him home and bind his wounds. Tomorrow we'll come after him."They then took hold of Pinocchio and, putting himbetween them, said to him in a rough voice: "March!
　　And go quickly, or it will be the worse for you!"They did not have to repeat their words. The Marionettewalked swiftly along the road to the village. But thepoor fellow hardly knew what he was about. He thoughthe had a nightmare. He felt ill. His eyes saw everythingdouble, his legs trembled, his tongue was dry, and, try ashe might, he could not utter a single word. Yet, in spiteof this numbness of feeling, he suffered keenly at thethought of passing under the windows of his good littleFairy's house. What would she say on seeing him betweentwo Carabineers?
　　They had just reached the village, when a sudden gustof wind blew off Pinocchio's cap and made it go sailing fardown the street.
　　"Would you allow me," the Marionette asked theCarabineers, "to run after my cap?""Very well, go; but hurry."The Marionette went, picked up his cap--but insteadof putting it on his head, he stuck it between his teethand then raced toward the sea.
　　He went like a bullet out of a gun.
　　The Carabineers, judging that it would be very difficultto catch him, sent a large Mastiff after him, one that hadwon first prize in all the dog races. Pinocchio ran fast andthe Dog ran faster. At so much noise, the people hung outof the windows or gathered in the street, anxious to seethe end of the contest. But they were disappointed,for the Dog and Pinocchio raised so much dust on the road that,after a few moments, it was impossible to see them.
　　皮诺乔一到海边，马上放眼向海上眺望，可是什么鲨鱼也没看见。大海平静得像一面水晶的镜子。
　　“喂，鲨鱼在哪儿？”他转脸问同学，
　　“吃早饭去了，”一个同学笑着回答说。
　　“要不就是上床去睡一会儿了，”另一个同学接上一句，笑得前仰后合。
　　皮诺乔听了这些乱七八糟的回答和莫名其妙的狂笑，知道是他那些同学跟他开了个大玩笑，骗他上了当。他十分恼火，气乎乎地说：
　　“怎么？拿鲨鱼的鬼话来骗我，这是什么道理？”
　　“当然有道理！……”那些小坏蛋异口同声说，
　　“什么道理？……”
　　“让你不去上学，让你跟我们走。你天天上课那么认真，那么用功，你不害臊吗？像你那么学习，你不害臊吗？”
　　“我学我的，跟你们有什么关系？”
　　“跟我们关系大极了。这一来，老师就觉得我们不好……”
　　“为什么？”
　　“有人爱读书，就使我们这种不愿意读书的人丢脸，可我们不想丢脸！我们也有我们的自尊心！”
　　“那我该怎么办，你们才高兴呢？”
　　“你也应该讨厌学校，讨厌功课，讨厌老师。这是我们的三大敌人。”
　　“如果我想要继续学习呢？”
　　“那我们就对你不客气了，一有机会就要跟你算账！……”
　　“你们简直叫我好笑。”木偶摇摇头说。
　　“哼，皮诺乔！”孩子当中最大的一个走到他面前叫道，“别到这儿来夸口，别到这儿来斗嘴！……你要是不怕我们，我们也不怕你！记好了，你只有一个，我们有七个。”
　　“七个什么，七个大罪①，”皮诺乔大笑着说。
　　“你们听见了吗，他侮辱我们大伙儿，他管我们叫七个大罪！……”
　　“皮诺乔！你侮辱了我们，要你向我们道歉……要不你就倒霉！……”
　　“咕咕！”木偶叫着，用食指刮刮鼻尖，表示讥笑他们。
　　“皮诺乔，你没有好结果！……”
　　“咕咕！”
　　“我们要像揍驴子那么揍你！……”
　　“咕咕！”
　　“你要带着个打扁的鼻子回家！……”
　　“咕咕！”
　　“我们这就来揍你一个咕咕！”这帮小坏蛋当中最凶的一个叫道。“受用受用这个吧，今天晚上就不用吃晚饭了。”
　　他说着就给了木偶脑袋上一拳头。
　　老话说，一报还一报，因此可以想象到，木偶马上就回敬他一拳头。这么你一拳来我一拳去，这场架就越打越大，越打越厉害了。
　　皮诺乔虽然只有一个，可自卫得像个英雄似的。他用两只硬绷绷的木头脚踢得那么利索，叫他那些敌人离得远远的不敢走近。凡是他的脚所碰到之处，马上就留下纪念品——一大块乌青。
　　孩子们眼看不能同木偶肉搏，气得要命，心想最好还是扔东西，就打开书包，开始向他扔语文课本、文法书、小戒尺、小零碎、图瓦尔的故事书、巴契尼的《小鸡》以及其他教科书。可是木偶眼疾手快，全都及时躲开，因此书一本本地打他头上飞过去，全落到海里去了。
　　诸位想象一下那些鱼吧！鱼以为扔到水里来的这些书是好吃的东西，赶紧成群游到水面上来。它们咬咬纸张，咬咬封面，马上就吐出来，撇撇嘴，像是要说：“不配我们的口味。我们吃惯了更好吃的东西！”
　　这时候，架越打越厉害了。一只大螃蟹打水里出来，慢慢地、慢慢地爬到岸上，用漏风大喇叭似的难听声音叫道：
　　“停手吧，你们真是些小淘气！孩子们这样打架难得有好结果。总归要闯祸的！……”
　　可怜的螃蟹！它等于是对风在叫。皮诺乔这小鬼反而回过头，狠狠地看着它，蛮横地叫：
　　“讨厌的螃蟹，闭上你的嘴！你最好还是去吃两片地衣药片，把你的伤风给治治。趁早上床，想办法出身大汗吧！”
　　这时候，那帮孩子已经把自己的书扔完，猛看见木偶的书包就在不远的地方。说时迟那时快，他们一下子把它抢了过来。
　　在木偶的书当中，有一本书用厚板纸装帧，书脊书角都包着漆皮纸。这是一本算术书，请诸位想想，这本书该有多沉！
　　一个小坏蛋抓住这本书，瞄准皮诺乔的脑袋，用足力气扔过来。可是他没扔中木偶，却扔在一个同学的头上了。这个同学的脸登时白得像切开的面包，只叫出了两声：
　　“噢，我的妈，救救我……我要死了！”
　　接着他就直挺挺倒在沙滩上。
　　孩子们看见闹出了人命，这一惊非同小可，马上撒腿就逃，一转眼就没影了。
　　这时候只剩下皮诺乔一个人。他虽然又难过又害怕，吓了个半死，可还是跑到海边，把手帕浸透了海水，回来敷在他这位可怜同学的太阳穴上。他一面绝望地大哭，一面叫他这位同学的名字说：
　　“埃乌杰尼奥！……我可怜的埃乌杰尼奥！……张开你的眼睛看看我！……你为什么不回答我呀？你知道，不是我弄得你这样的！相信我，不是我干的！……张开你的眼睛吧，埃乌杰尼奥……你要是老闭着眼睛，我也要死了……噢，我的老天爷！这会儿我怎么回家呢？……我怎么有勇气去见我的好妈妈呀，我将会怎么样呢？……我该逃到什么地方去啊，我上什么地方才躲得开呢？……噢！要是我去上学，那就好多了，那就要好上千倍了！……这些同学是我的冤家对头，我为什么听他们的话呢？……老师曾经跟我说过！……我妈妈也翻来覆去对我说：‘小心坏同学！’可我总是不听……我固执极了……他们讲他们的，我干我的！如今报应来了……打我出世起，就因为我该死的脾气，我压根儿连一刻钟的好日子都没过过，我的天！我将会怎么样呢？我将会怎么样呢？我将会怎么样呢？……”
　　皮诺乔一个劲地哭着，喊着，敲着脑袋，叫着可怜的埃乌杰尼奥的名字，直到猛听见沉重的脚步声走过来。
　　他转脸一看，是两个警察，
　　“你干吗这么趴在地上？”他们问皮诺乔。
　　“我在救护我这同学。”
　　“他病了？”
　　“好像是的！……”
　　“只是生病吗？”一个警察靠近埃乌杰尼奥，低下头来把他好好看了看，“这孩子一边太阳穴受伤了，谁打伤他的？”
　　“不是我。”木偶结结巴巴地说，他气都透不过来了。
　　“不是你又是谁？”
　　“不是我。”皮诺乔再说一遍。
　　“他是给什么东西打伤的？”
　　“给这本书。”他拿起自己的算术书，给警察看。
　　“这本书是谁的？”
　　“是我的。”
　　“这就够了，再不用别的什么了。马上起来，跟我们走。”
　　“可我……”
　　“跟我们走！”
　　“可我是无辜的……”
　　“跟我们走！”
　　在走以前，两个警察叫来几个渔民。这几个渔民这时候正好坐船从岸边经过。警察对他们说：
　　“这孩子头部受了伤，现在交给你们。你们把他带回去救护。明天我们再来看。”
　　然后他们回到皮诺乔身边，把他夹在中间，用军人口气命令说：
　　“开步走！走快点！不然要你够受的！”
　　不等他们说第二遍，木偶就走起来了。他们走的这条小道是进村的，这可怜小鬼简直不知道自己是不是还活着。他只觉得像在做梦，而做的是多可怕的恶梦啊！他完全吓得魂不附体。他的眼睛发花，两腿发抖，舌头贴着上腭，连一个字也说不出来。不过他尽管这样昏昏迷迷，还是感到心里像针扎似地痛，因为他想到，他要夹在两个警察中间经过他那好仙女的窗下。他真情愿死了拉倒。
　　他们已经来到村边，正在进村，忽然刮来一阵狂风，把皮诺乔头上的帽子吹起来，吹了有十步远。
　　“答应我好吗？”木偶对两个警察说，“让我去把我的帽子捡起来。”
　　“去吧，可得快点。”
　　木偶走过去捡起帽子……可没戴到头上，却放在嘴里，用牙咬着，撒腿就向海边飞跑。他快得像一颗出膛的子弹。
　　两个警察眼看很难追上，就放出一条凶猛的大狗去追他。这条狗在赛狗中还得过冠军。皮诺乔拼命跑，可狗跑得比他快。所有的人或者把头探出窗子，或者挤在路当中，急于要看这场激烈赛跑的结果如何。可是他们这个希望落了空，因为那条猛犬和皮诺乔一路上搞得灰尘滚滚，几分钟以后就什么也看不见了。
　　①根据天主教的戒律，七大罪是傲慢、淫欲、嫉妒、激怒、吝啬，贪吃、怠惰。
Chapter 28
Pinocchio runs the danger of being fried in a pan like a fishDuring that wild chase, Pinocchio lived through aterrible moment when he almost gave himself up as lost.
　　This was when Alidoro (that was the Mastiff's name),in a frenzy of running, came so near that he was on thevery point of reaching him.
　　The Marionette heard, close behind him, the laboredbreathing of the beast who was fast on his trail, and nowand again even felt his hot breath blow over him.
　　Luckily, by this time, he was very near the shore, andthe sea was in sight; in fact, only a few short steps away.
　　As soon as he set foot on the beach, Pinocchio gave aleap and fell into the water. Alidoro tried to stop, butas he was running very fast, he couldn't, and he, too,landed far out in the sea. Strange though it may seem,the Dog could not swim. He beat the water with his paws tohold himself up, but the harder he tried, the deeper he sank.
　　As he stuck his head out once more, the poor fellow's eyeswere bulging and he barked out wildly, "I drown! I drown!""Drown!" answered Pinocchio from afar, happy at his escape.
　　"Help, Pinocchio, dear little Pinocchio! Save me from death!"At those cries of suffering, the Marionette, who afterall had a very kind heart, was moved to compassion.
　　He turned toward the poor animal and said to him:
　　"But if I help you, will you promise not to bother meagain by running after me?""I promise! I promise! Only hurry, for if you waitanother second, I'll be dead and gone!"Pinocchio hesitated still another minute. Then, rememberinghow his father had often told him that a kind deed is never lost,he swam to Alidoro and, catching hold of his tail, dragged him to the shore.
　　The poor Dog was so weak he could not stand. He hadswallowed so much salt water that he was swollen like aballoon. However, Pinocchio, not wishing to trust himtoo much, threw himself once again into the sea. As heswam away, he called out:
　　"Good-by, Alidoro, good luck and remember me to the family!""Good-by, little Pinocchio," answered the Dog.
　　"A thousand thanks for having saved me from death.
　　You did me a good turn, and, in this world, what is givenis always returned. If the chance comes, I shall be there."Pinocchio went on swimming close to shore. At lasthe thought he had reached a safe place. Glancing up anddown the beach, he saw the opening of a cave out of whichrose a spiral of smoke.
　　"In that cave," he said to himself, "there must be a fire.
　　So much the better. I'll dry my clothes and warm myself,and then--well--"His mind made up, Pinocchio swam to the rocks, butas he started to climb, he felt something under him liftinghim up higher and higher. He tried to escape, but he wastoo late. To his great surprise, he found himself in a hugenet, amid a crowd of fish of all kinds and sizes, who werefighting and struggling desperately to free themselves.
　　At the same time, he saw a Fisherman come out of thecave, a Fisherman so ugly that Pinocchio thought he was asea monster. In place of hair, his head was covered by athick bush of green grass. Green was the skin of his body,green were his eyes, green was the long, long beard thatreached down to his feet. He looked like a giant lizardwith legs and arms.
　　When the Fisherman pulled the net out of the sea,he cried out joyfully:
　　"Blessed Providence! Once more I'll have a fine meal of fish!""Thank Heaven, I'm not a fish!" said Pinocchio to himself,trying with these words to find a little courage.
　　The Fisherman took the net and the fish to the cave,a dark, gloomy, smoky place. In the middle of it, a panfull of oil sizzled over a smoky fire, sending out a repellingodor of tallow that took away one's breath.
　　"Now, let's see what kind of fish we have caughttoday," said the Green Fisherman. He put a hand as bigas a spade into the net and pulled out a handful of mullets.
　　"Fine mullets, these!" he said, after looking at them andsmelling them with pleasure. After that, he threw theminto a large, empty tub.
　　Many times he repeated this performance. As he pulledeach fish out of the net, his mouth watered with thethought of the good dinner coming, and he said:
　　"Fine fish, these bass!""Very tasty, these whitefish!""Delicious flounders, these!""What splendid crabs!""And these dear little anchovies, with their heads still on!"As you can well imagine, the bass, the flounders, thewhitefish, and even the little anchovies all went togetherinto the tub to keep the mullets company. The last to comeout of the net was Pinocchio.
　　As soon as the Fisherman pulled him out, his green eyesopened wide with surprise, and he cried out in fear:
　　"What kind of fish is this? I don't remember evereating anything like it."He looked at him closely and after turning him over andover, he said at last:
　　"I understand. He must be a crab!"Pinocchio, mortified at being taken for a crab, said resentfully:
　　"What nonsense! A crab indeed! I am no such thing.
　　Beware how you deal with me! I am a Marionette,I want you to know.""A Marionette?" asked the Fisherman. "I must admit thata Marionette fish is, for me, an entirely new kind of fish.
　　So much the better. I'll eat you with greater relish.""Eat me? But can't you understand that I'm not a fish?
　　Can't you hear that I speak and think as you do?""It's true," answered the Fisherman; "but since I seethat you are a fish, well able to talk and think as I do,I'll treat you with all due respect.""And that is--""That, as a sign of my particular esteem, I'll leave toyou the choice of the manner in which you are to becooked. Do you wish to be fried in a pan, or do you preferto be cooked with tomato sauce?""To tell you the truth," answered Pinocchio, "if I must choose,I should much rather go free so I may return home!""Are you fooling? Do you think that I want to losethe opportunity to taste such a rare fish? A Marionettefish does not come very often to these seas. Leave it to me.
　　I'll fry you in the pan with the others. I know you'll like it.
　　It's always a comfort to find oneself in good company."The unlucky Marionette, hearing this, began to cry andwail and beg. With tears streaming down his cheeks, he said:
　　"How much better it would have been for me to go to school!
　　I did listen to my playmates and now I am paying for it!
　　Oh! Oh! Oh!"And as he struggled and squirmed like an eel to escape from him,the Green Fisherman took a stout cord and tied him hand and foot,and threw him into the bottom of the tub with the others.
　　Then he pulled a wooden bowl full of flour out of acupboard and started to roll the fish into it, one by one.
　　When they were white with it, he threw them into the pan.
　　The first to dance in the hot oil were the mullets,the bass followed, then the whitefish, the flounders, andthe anchovies. Pinocchio's turn came last. Seeing himselfso near to death (and such a horrible death!) he beganto tremble so with fright that he had no voice left withwhich to beg for his life.
　　The poor boy beseeched only with his eyes. But theGreen Fisherman, not even noticing that it was he, turnedhim over and over in the flour until he looked like aMarionette made of chalk.
　　Then he took him by the head and--
　　这场你死我活的赛跑，已经到了千钧一发的时刻，皮诺乔心想，这回准定要输了，因为要知道，阿利多罗（就是那条猛犬的名字）使劲地跑啊，跑啊，差不多就要追上他。
　　只说一点就够了：木偶已经听到这条恶犬在他身后一巴掌远的地方很急促的喘气声，甚至感觉到了它呼吸的热气。
　　幸亏这时已经到了海边，眼看大海只有那么几步远了。
　　木偶一到海边，就像小青蛙似的，很利落地扑通一声，跳到了水里。阿利多罗正好相反，想马上停住脚步，可跑得太快了，脚步收不住，跟着也扑通一声落到了水里。这只倒霉的狗不会游泳，因此两条脚马上乱划，想要浮在水面。可它越划越往下沉，连头都沉到水底下去了。
　　等到这条可怜的狗把头伸出来，它吓得两眼瞪大，汪汪叫着说：
　　“我要淹死了！我要淹死了！”
　　“那就死吧！”皮诺乔在远处回答。现在他看到，他再也没有什么危险，已经万无一失了。
　　“救救我，我的小皮诺乔！……快救救我的命吧！……”
　　这几声汪汪叫十分悲惨，木偶本心很好，禁不住心软下来，转脸对狗说：
　　“可我救了你，你保证不再找我麻烦，不再追我对吗？”
　　“我保证，我保证！快帮忙吧，再过半分钟，我就完蛋了。”
　　皮诺乔先还犹豫了一下，可终于记起他爸爸一再说过的话，做好事永远不吃亏，就游到阿利多罗身边，伸出两手，一把抓住了它的尾巴，把它活生生拉上干燥的沙滩。
　　这条可怜的狗站都站不住了。它不得已喝了那么多咸水，肚子胀得像个大皮球。可是木偶不太相信它，觉得还是小心点好，于是重新跳到海里。他离岸远远的，对他救起来的朋友叫道：
　　“再见，阿利多罗，一路平安，给我向你一家问好。”
　　“再见，小皮诺乔，”狗回答说，“万分感谢您救了我的命。您帮了我一个天大的忙。在这个世界上善有善报，一有机会，我要报答您的。”
　　皮诺乔继续紧靠着岸边游。最后他觉得已经到了安全的地方，朝岸上看看，看见礁石上有个山洞，山洞里冒出烟来，飘得高高的。
　　“这山洞里一定有火，”他自言自语说。“那多好啊！让我上去把身子烤烤干，烤烤暖和。然后呢？……然后该怎么办就怎么办吧。”
　　他拿定了主意，就向礁石游过去。可他到了那里正要上岸，忽然觉得水底下有样东西升起来，升啊，升啊，把他一直托到空中，他马上打算逃走，可已经来不及了，因为使他惊奇万分的是，他竟在一个大鱼网里，夹在一大堆鱼中间。这些鱼形形色色，有大有小，正拼了命啪哒啪哒摇着尾巴挣扎。
　　正在这时候，他看见山洞里走出一个渔夫，样子太难看了，难看得简直像个海怪。他的头发不是头发，是一大蓬绿草。他身上的皮肤是绿的，眼睛是绿的，胡子老长老长，一直垂到脚上，也是绿的。他活像一条用后脚直立的绿色大晰蜴。
　　渔夫把鱼网打海里拉出来，兴高采烈地叫道：
　　“老天爷保佑！今天我又可以大吃一顿鲜鱼了！”
　　“幸亏我不是鱼！”皮诺乔心里说。他又有了点勇气。
　　一网鱼都拿到山洞里。山洞里很黑，满是烟。山洞当中有一只大油锅在沸腾，发出一股叫人没法呼吸的烧灯芯气味。
　　“我来看看捉到了什么鱼！”绿莹莹的渔夫说着，把烘炉铲子似的一只大手伸进鱼网，抓出一把火鱼。
　　“这些火鱼不错！”他看了看，很满意地闻了闻，说。他闻过以后，就把它们扔进一个没水的缸里。
　　接看他又照样来一次。就这样，他一次又一次把鱼捞出来，觉得要流口水，欢天喜地说：
　　“这些鳕鱼好极了！……”
　　“这些鰡鱼妙极了！……’’
　　“这些板鱼味道不错！……”
　　“这些狼鱼味道很鲜！……”
　　“这些鳀鱼八成很好吃！……”
　　诸位可以想象，这些鳕鱼、鰡鱼、板鱼、狼鱼、鳀鱼全都劈哩啪啦落到缸里，跟最先扔进去的火鱼在一起。
　　最后—个留在网里的是皮诺乔。
　　渔夫把他一抓出来，两只绿色大眼睛登时都吓得瞪圆了。他几乎是害怕地叫起来：
　　“这是什么鱼？我想不起我曾经吃过这种鱼！”
　　他把木偶再仔仔细细地看了一遍，等到看仔细了，最后说：
　　“我明白了。这准是海里的螃蟹。”
　　皮诺乔听说把他当作螃蟹，觉得是个耻辱，生气地说：
　　“什么螃蟹不螃蟹？瞧你把我当什么啦！告诉你，我是木偶。”
　　“木偶？”渔夫反问。“说真个的，木偶鱼对我来说是一种新的鱼！那更妙了，我更想吃你了。”
　　“吃我？可您不懂吗，我不是鱼？您不觉得我跟您一样，会说话会思想吗？”
　　“那倒是一点不错，”渔夫往下说，“我看你鱼还是鱼，可是很幸运，跟我一样会说话，会思想，因此我很愿意给你应有的照顾。”
　　“什么照顾？……”
　　“为了表示友好和对你的特殊敬意，我让你自由选择怎么烧法。你要在油锅里炸呢？还是要在平底锅里加上番茄酱煎呢？”
　　“说老实话，”皮诺乔回答说，“如果要我选择的话，我宁可请您放了我，让我回家去。”
　　“你在开玩笑！这么一条少有的鱼，你以为我会放过机会不尝它一尝吗？在这里海上还从来不知道有木偶鱼！依我的办吧，我把你跟所有的鱼一块儿放在油锅里炸，你会满意的。有那么多鱼作伴一起挨炸，总归是一种安慰。”
　　不幸的皮诺乔一听明白这意思，就开始哇哇大哭，怨天怨地说：
　　“我当初去上学该多好！……可我听了同学的话，现在报应来了！……咿！……！咿……！咿……”
　　由于他扭得像条鳗鱼，使出叫人难以相信的力气要挣脱绿莹莹的渔夫的手，这双手就拿起一束结实的蒲草，把皮诺乔的双手双脚捆起来，捆得像根香肠，扔到缸底跟其他的鱼在一起。
　　接着他拉出一大木盘面粉来拌所有的鱼，一条一条都拌好了，就扔到油锅里炸。
　　最先在沸腾的油里跳舞的是可怜的鳕鱼，接着挨到狼鱼，接着挨到鰡鱼，接着挨到板鱼和鳀鱼，最后挨到了皮诺乔。皮诺乔看到死期已至（死得多惨啊！），不由得浑身发抖，害怕得既发不出声音，也透不过气来，根本没法子哀求饶命。
　　这可怜的孩子只好用眼睛来哀求！可是那绿莹莹的渔夫根本没注意到。他把木偶在面粉里拌了五六遍，从头到脚拌了个透。皮诺乔浑身都是面粉，就像个小石膏像。
Chapter 29
Pinocchio returns to the Fairy's houseand she promises him that, on the morrow,he will cease to be a Marionette and become a boy.
　　A wonderful party of coffee-and-milk to celebratethe great eventMindful of what the Fisherman had said, Pinocchio knewthat all hope of being saved had gone. He closed his eyesand waited for the final moment.
　　Suddenly, a large Dog, attracted by the odor of theboiling oil, came running into the cave.
　　"Get out!" cried the Fisherman threateningly and stillholding onto the Marionette, who was all covered with flour.
　　But the poor Dog was very hungry, and whining andwagging his tail, he tried to say:
　　"Give me a bite of the fish and I'll go in peace.""Get out, I say!" repeated the Fisherman.
　　And he drew back his foot to give the Dog a kick.
　　Then the Dog, who, being really hungry, would takeno refusal, turned in a rage toward the Fisherman andbared his terrible fangs. And at that moment, a pitifullittle voice was heard saying: "Save me, Alidoro; if youdon't, I fry!"The Dog immediately recognized Pinocchio's voice.
　　Great was his surprise to find that the voice came fromthe little flour-covered bundle that the Fisherman heldin his hand.
　　Then what did he do? With one great leap, he graspedthat bundle in his mouth and, holding it lightly betweenhis teeth, ran through the door and disappeared like a flash!
　　The Fisherman, angry at seeing his meal snatched fromunder his nose, ran after the Dog, but a bad fit of coughingmade him stop and turn back.
　　Meanwhile, Alidoro, as soon as he had found the roadwhich led to the village, stopped and dropped Pinocchiosoftly to the ground.
　　"How much I do thank you!" said the Marionette.
　　"It is not necessary," answered the Dog. "You saved me once,and what is given is always returned. We are in this worldto help one another.""But how did you get in that cave?""I was lying here on the sand more dead than alive,when an appetizing odor of fried fish came to me. Thatodor tickled my hunger and I followed it. Oh, if I hadcome a moment later!""Don't speak about it," wailed Pinocchio, stilltrembling with fright. "Don't say a word. If you had comea moment later, I would be fried, eaten, and digested bythis time. Brrrrrr! I shiver at the mere thought of it."Alidoro laughingly held out his paw to the Marionette,who shook it heartily, feeling that now he and the Dogwere good friends. Then they bid each other good-byand the Dog went home.
　　Pinocchio, left alone, walked toward a little hut nearby, where an old man sat at the door sunning himself,and asked:
　　"Tell me, good man, have you heard anything of apoor boy with a wounded head, whose name was Eugene?""The boy was brought to this hut and now--""Now he is dead?" Pinocchio interrupted sorrowfully.
　　"No, he is now alive and he has already returned home.""Really? Really?" cried the Marionette, jumpingaround with joy. "Then the wound was not serious?""But it might have been--and even mortal," answeredthe old man, "for a heavy book was thrown at his head.""And who threw it?""A schoolmate of his, a certain Pinocchio.""And who is this Pinocchio?" asked the Marionette,feigning ignorance.
　　"They say he is a mischief-maker, a tramp, a street urchin--""Calumnies! All calumnies!""Do you know this Pinocchio?""By sight!" answered the Marionette.
　　"And what do you think of him?" asked the old man.
　　"I think he's a very good boy, fond of study, obedient,kind to his Father, and to his whole family--"As he was telling all these enormous lies about himself,Pinocchio touched his nose and found it twice as longas it should be. Scared out of his wits, he cried out:
　　"Don't listen to me, good man! All the wonderfulthings I have said are not true at all. I know Pinocchiowell and he is indeed a very wicked fellow, lazy anddisobedient, who instead of going to school, runs away withhis playmates to have a good time."At this speech, his nose returned to its natural size.
　　"Why are you so pale?" the old man asked suddenly.
　　"Let me tell you. Without knowing it, I rubbed myselfagainst a newly painted wall," he lied, ashamed tosay that he had been made ready for the frying pan.
　　"What have you done with your coat and your hatand your breeches?""I met thieves and they robbed me. Tell me, my goodman, have you not, perhaps, a little suit to give me, sothat I may go home?""My boy, as for clothes, I have only a bag in which Ikeep hops. If you want it, take it. There it is."Pinocchio did not wait for him to repeat his words.
　　He took the bag, which happened to be empty, and aftercutting a big hole at the top and two at the sides, heslipped into it as if it were a shirt. Lightly clad as he was,he started out toward the village.
　　Along the way he felt very uneasy. In fact he was sounhappy that he went along taking two steps forwardand one back, and as he went he said to himself:
　　"How shall I ever face my good little Fairy? Whatwill she say when she sees me? Will she forgive this lasttrick of mine? I am sure she won't. Oh, no, she won't.
　　And I deserve it, as usual! For I am a rascal, fine onpromises which I never keep!"He came to the village late at night. It was so dark hecould see nothing and it was raining pitchforks.
　　Pinocchio went straight to the Fairy's house, firmlyresolved to knock at the door.
　　When he found himself there, he lost courage and ranback a few steps. A second time he came to the door andagain he ran back. A third time he repeated hisperformance. The fourth time, before he had time to losehis courage, he grasped the knocker and made a faint soundwith it.
　　He waited and waited and waited. Finally, after a fullhalf hour, a top-floor window (the house had four stories)opened and Pinocchio saw a large Snail look out. A tinylight glowed on top of her head. "Who knocks at thislate hour?" she called.
　　"Is the Fairy home?" asked the Marionette.
　　"The Fairy is asleep and does not wish to be disturbed.
　　Who are you?""It is I.""Who's I?""Pinocchio.""Who is Pinocchio?""The Marionette; the one who lives in the Fairy's house.""Oh, I understand," said the Snail. "Wait for me there.
　　I'll come down to open the door for you.""Hurry, I beg of you, for I am dying of cold.""My boy, I am a snail and snails are never in a hurry."An hour passed, two hours; and the door was still closed.
　　Pinocchio, who was trembling with fear and shiveringfrom the cold rain on his back, knocked a second time,this time louder than before.
　　At that second knock, a window on the third flooropened and the same Snail looked out.
　　"Dear little Snail," cried Pinocchio from the street.
　　"I have been waiting two hours for you! And two hourson a dreadful night like this are as long as two years.
　　Hurry, please!""My boy," answered the Snail in a calm, peacefulvoice, "my dear boy, I am a snail and snails are never ina hurry." And the window closed.
　　A few minutes later midnight struck; then one o'clock--two o'clock. And the door still remained closed!
　　Then Pinocchio, losing all patience, grabbed theknocker with both hands, fully determined to awaken thewhole house and street with it. As soon as he touched theknocker, however, it became an eel and wiggled away intothe darkness.
　　"Really?" cried Pinocchio, blind with rage. "If theknocker is gone, I can still use my feet."He stepped back and gave the door a most solemn kick.
　　He kicked so hard that his foot went straight through thedoor and his leg followed almost to the knee. No matterhow he pulled and tugged, he could not pull it out. Therehe stayed as if nailed to the door.
　　Poor Pinocchio! The rest of the night he had to spendwith one foot through the door and the other one in the air.
　　As dawn was breaking, the door finally opened. That bravelittle animal, the Snail, had taken exactly nine hours to gofrom the fourth floor to the street. How she must have raced!
　　"What are you doing with your foot through the door?"she asked the Marionette, laughing.
　　"It was a misfortune. Won't you try, pretty little Snail,to free me from this terrible torture?""My boy, we need a carpenter here and I have never been one.""Ask the Fairy to help me!""The Fairy is asleep and does not want to be disturbed.""But what do you want me to do, nailed to the door like this?""Enjoy yourself counting the ants which are passing by.""Bring me something to eat, at least, for I am faint with hunger.""Immediately!"In fact, after three hours and a half, Pinocchio saw herreturn with a silver tray on her head. On the tray therewas bread, roast chicken, fruit.
　　"Here is the breakfast the Fairy sends to you," said the Snail.
　　At the sight of all these good things, the Marionette felt much better.
　　What was his disgust, however, when on tasting the food,he found the bread to be made of chalk, the chickenof cardboard, and the brilliant fruit of colored alabaster!
　　He wanted to cry, he wanted to give himself up todespair, he wanted to throw away the tray and all thatwas on it. Instead, either from pain or weakness, he fellto the floor in a dead faint.
　　When he regained his senses, he found himself stretchedout on a sofa and the Fairy was seated near him.
　　"This time also I forgive you," said the Fairy to him.
　　"But be careful not to get into mischief again."Pinocchio promised to study and to behave himself.
　　And he kept his word for the remainder of the year. Atthe end of it, he passed first in all his examinations, andhis report was so good that the Fairy said to him happily:
　　"Tomorrow your wish will come true.""And what is it?""Tomorrow you will cease to be a Marionette and will become a real boy."Pinocchio was beside himself with joy. All his friendsand schoolmates must be invited to celebrate the greatevent! The Fairy promised to prepare two hundred cupsof coffee-and-milk and four hundred slices of toastbuttered on both sides.
　　The day promised to be a very gay and happy one, but--Unluckily, in a Marionette's life there's always a BUTwhich is apt to spoil everything.
　渔夫一举手就要把皮诺乔扔进油锅，可正在这节骨眼上，一条大狗跑进山洞来。它是给炸鱼的浓烈香味招引来的。
　　“出去！”渔夫吓唬着对狗吆喝，手里仍旧拎着满身是面粉的木偶。
　　可怜的狗实在太饿了，它摇晃着尾巴汪汪地叫，像是说：
　　“给我点油炸鱼，我就不打扰你了。”
　　“我对你说，出去！”渔夫再说一遍，伸出腿来就给它一脚。
　　狗到当真饿了的时候，是不习惯于让人这样对待它的。它向渔夫转过脸来，呲起两排可怕的牙齿。
　　正在这时候，它听见山洞里发出一个很微弱很微弱的声音，说：
　　“救救我，阿利多罗！你不救我，我就要给油炸了！……”
　　狗马上听出了皮诺乔的声音。它觉得最奇怪的是，这微弱声音是渔夫手里那团沾满面粉的东西发出来的。
　　这时候它做了件什么事呢？这狗从地上猛地跳得半尺高，咬住那团沾满面粉的东西，用牙轻轻地叼着，就冲出山洞，像闪电似地溜掉了。
　　渔夫一心想吃这条鱼，眼看它打手里给抢走了，气得发疯，就想去追那条狗。可走了几步，忽然咳嗽得没办法，只好回来，
　　这时候阿利多罗又来到通村子的小道，停下脚步，把它的朋友皮诺乔小心翼翼地放在地上。
　　“我该怎么谢你呀！”木偶说。
　　“不用谢，”狗回答说，“你救过我的命，善有善报。要知道，在这个世界上大家应该互相帮助。”
　　“可你怎么会到这山洞来的？”
　　“我一直在海边直挺挺地躺着，半死不活的，忽然一阵风打远处吹来了炸鱼的香味。这股香味引起了我的食欲，我就跟着它走。要是来晚一分钟就糟了！……”
　　“别说了，别说了！”皮诺乔又吓得浑身发抖，叫着说，“你别说了！你要是晚来一分钟，这会儿我已经给炸熟，被吃掉，消化了。啊！……一想到这个我就发抖啦！……”
　　阿利多罗笑着向木偶伸出右爪子，木偶使劲紧紧地握住它，表示极其友好的感情。接着他们就分手了。
　　狗重新取道回家。皮诺乔一个人留下来，向不远的一间小茅屋走去。小茅屋门口坐着一位老人，正在晒太阳。木偶问他说：
　　“请您告诉我，好心的老人家，您知道一个可怜孩子，叫埃乌杰尼奥的，脑袋给打伤了吗？……”
　　“一些打鱼人把他送到这茅屋里来了。现在他……”
　　“现在他死了！……”皮诺乔极其伤心地打断他的话。
　　“没有，他现在活着，已经回家去了。”
　　“真的吗，真的吗？”木偶高兴得跳起来，叫道，“这么说，伤不重，……”
　　“它有可能造成严重后果，甚至死人，”老年人回答，“因为他是给一本厚板纸封面的大书打中了脑袋。”
　　“谁打伤他了，”
　　“一个同学，叫皮诺乔的……”
　　“这皮诺乔是谁，”木偶假装不知道，问道。
　　“他们说是个小坏蛋，是个小流氓，是个真正的小无赖……”
　　“造谣！完全是造谣！”
　　“你认识这皮诺乔？”
　　“见过！”木偶回答说。
　　“你看他怎么样，”老年人问他。
　　“依我说，他是个好极了的孩子，一心想读书，又听话，又爱他的爸爸，又爱他的一家人……”
　　木偶正这样一口气地撒着谎，摸摸鼻子，发觉鼻子已经长了一个多手掌。他害怕得叫起来：
　　“好心的老人家，我扯了一通关于他的好话，您可全都别信。因为我熟悉皮诺乔，可以保证他真正是个小坏蛋，不听话，不学好，不去上学，却跟着一帮子同学去东游西荡！”
　　这番话一说完，他的鼻子就缩小，恢复了原来的样子。
　　“为什么你整个人白成这样？”老年人忽然问他。
　　“我告诉你……我没留神，在一堵新刷白的墙上擦了一下，”木偶回答说。他不好意思承认他被当作鱼拌上面粉，预备扔进油锅里去炸。
　　“噢，你的上衣，你的短裤，还有你的帽子，你都怎么啦？”
　　“我遇到了强盗，把我给剥了。您说吧，好心的老人家，您没有一点什么可以给我穿穿，让我好回家去吗？”
　　“我的孩子，说到可以穿的东西，我只有那么个小口袋，装扁豆的。你要就拿去吧。就在那儿。”
　　皮诺乔不等他说第二遍，马上拿起这个装扁豆的空口袋，用剪刀在袋底开了一个洞，在两边开了两个小洞，就当衬衫穿。他一下子把脑袋和双手钻过那些洞，穿好了，就动身上村里去。
　　可他一路上感到心里不踏实。老实说，他是进一步又退一步。他一边走一边自言自语说：
　　“我有什么脸去见我那好心的仙女呢？我见了她说什么好呢？……我又做出这桩坏事，她会原谅我一次吗？……可以打赌，她不会原谅了！……唉！她准不会原谅我……这是我活该，因为我是个小坏蛋，答应好了改过，结果又违背了诺言！……”
　　他来到村里，天已经黑了。天气很坏，下着瓢泼大雨。他径直上仙女家，决定敲敲门，自己就开门进去。
　　可是一到那里，他觉得勇气没有了，不是去敲门，却是往回跑了二十来步。他第二次走到门口，还是不敢敲门。他第三次走到门口，依然不敢敲门。第四次他才算发着抖，拿起铁门锤，轻轻地把门敲了敲。
　　他等啊，等啊，最后过了半个钟头，最高一层（这是座四层楼房）才打开窗子，皮诺乔看见一只大蜗牛探出头来，头上有盏点亮的小灯。这蜗牛说：
　　“这么晚了，是谁呀？”
　　“仙女在家吗？”木偶问它。
　　“仙女睡了，不要人叫醒她。你倒是谁？”
　　“是我！”
　　“这个我是谁？”
　　“皮诺乔。”
　　“皮诺乔是谁？”
　　“是木偶，原先跟仙女住在一起的。”
　　“啊，我明白了，”蜗牛说，“你等等我，我这就下来给你开门。”
　　“谢谢你快一点，我都要冷死了。”
　　“我的孩子，我是一只蜗牛，蜗牛永远快不了的。”
　　过了一个钟头，过了两个钟头，可门还没有开。皮诺乔又是冷，又是害怕，又是浑身水淋淋，因此直打哆嗦。于是他拿定主意再敲一次门，这回敲得比上一回响。
　　听见这第二次敲门声，第四层下面一层的窗子打开了，还是那只蜗牛探出头来。
　　“我的好蜗牛，”皮诺乔打下面街上叫，“我已经等了两个钟头了！这么可怕的夜，两个钟头比这两年还长。帮帮忙，请您快一点。”
　　“我的孩子，”这小生物不急不忙，十分平静，在窗口回答说：“我的孩子，我是一只蜗牛，蜗牛都是快不起来的。”
　　窗子又关上了。
　　不多一会儿就敲半夜十二点，接着半夜一点，接着是半夜两点，门还是关着。
　　皮诺乔可忍不住了。他气得抓住门锤，就要用力撞门，让整座房子给撞得摇晃起来。可铁门锤一下子变了活鳗鱼，打他手里滑出来，钻到路当中的水坑里不见了。
　　“啊！是这样？”皮诺乔越发气昏了，叫道，“门锤没有了，我就用脚狠狠地踢。”
　　他退后两步，然后冲过去在门上狠狠一脚。这一脚踢得可厉害，半条脚都插到门里去了。木偶想拔出腿，可用尽了力气也拔不出来。这半条腿像敲弯的钉子似的，牢牢钉在那里了。
　　请诸位想象一下这可怜的皮诺乔吧！整个下半夜他就这么一条腿站在地上，一条腿翘着。
　　等到天亮，门终于开了。蜗牛这要命的小生物整整花了九个钟头，才下完四层楼，来到临街的大门口。得说句老实话，它已经走得满身大汗了！
　　“你干吗把一条腿插在门里？”它笑着问木偶。
　　“真倒霉。您倒瞧瞧，好蜗牛，看有什么办法让我不受这份罪。”
　　“我的孩子，这件事得找木匠，我可从来没当过木匠。”
　　“替我求求仙女吧！……”
　　“仙女睡了，不要人叫醒她，”
　　“我整天钉在这门上，您叫我干什么呢？”
　　“您就自得其乐，数数路上走过的蚂蚁吗。”
　　“您至少给我点什么吃吃，我都要饿死了。”
　　“马上拿来！”蜗牛说。
　　实际上又整整过了三个半钟头，皮诺乔才看见它顶着个银托盘回来。托盘上有一个面包、一只炸鸡和四个长熟了的杏子。
　　“这是仙女给您送来的早饭，”蜗牛说。
　　木偶看到这顿大餐，感到浑身来劲了。可等到他一吃，马上就倒胃口，原来面包是白垩做的，炸鸡是厚板纸做的，四个杏子是石膏做好，涂上颜色的！
　　他失望得想哭，想把托盘连同上面的东西一起甩掉，可不知是由于太伤心呢还是太饿，一下子昏倒了。
　　等到他醒来，他已经直挺挺躺在一张沙发床上，仙女就在他身边。
　　“这一回我也原谅了你，”仙女对他说，“可你再给我来这么一次，就没你好的！……”
　　皮诺乔赌咒发誓，说他要用功读书，做个很好很好的孩子。这一年下来，他都守住他的诺言。的确，他大考光荣地得了全校第一名，品行总的说来也得到好评，令人满意。因此仙女十分高兴，对他说：
　　“你的愿望明天终于要实现了！”
　　“你说什么？”
　　“到明天你就不再是一个木偶，而要变成一个真的孩子了。”
　　诸位没看到皮诺乔那份乐劲！他一直盼望着这个消息，如今听了，他那份高兴简直是无法想象的。为了庆祝这件大喜事，明天仙女家要举行盛大的早宴，把他所有的朋友和同学都请来参加。仙女答应准备两百杯牛奶咖啡和四百片面包，每片面包都两面涂上黄油。没问题，这准是个极其快活，极其美好的日子，可是……
　　真不幸，木偶一生中老这么可是，可是的，这一来，就把什么事情都给毁了。
Chapter 30
Pinocchio, instead of becoming a boy, runs awayto the Land of Toys with his friend, Lamp-WickComing at last out of the surprise into which the Fairy'swords had thrown him, Pinocchio asked for permission togive out the invitations.
　　"Indeed, you may invite your friends to tomorrow's party.
　　Only remember to return home before dark. Do you understand?""I'll be back in one hour without fail," answered the Marionette.
　　"Take care, Pinocchio! Boys give promises very easily,but they as easily forget them.""But I am not like those others. When I give my word I keep it.""We shall see. In case you do disobey, you will be the oneto suffer, not anyone else.""Why?""Because boys who do not listen to their elders always come to grief.""I certainly have," said Pinocchio, "but from now on, I obey.""We shall see if you are telling the truth."Without adding another word, the Marionette bade the goodFairy good-by, and singing and dancing, he left the house.
　　In a little more than an hour, all his friends wereinvited. Some accepted quickly and gladly. Others had tobe coaxed, but when they heard that the toast was to bebuttered on both sides, they all ended by acceptingthe invitation with the words, "We'll come to please you."Now it must be known that, among all his friends,Pinocchio had one whom he loved most of all.
　　The boy's real name was Romeo, but everyone called himLamp-Wick, for he was long and thin and had a woebegonelook about him.
　　Lamp-Wick was the laziest boy in the school and thebiggest mischief-maker, but Pinocchio loved him dearly.
　　That day, he went straight to his friend's house to invite himto the party, but Lamp-Wick was not at home. He went a second time,and again a third, but still without success.
　　Where could he be? Pinocchio searched here and there and everywhere,and finally discovered him hiding near a farmer's wagon.
　　"What are you doing there?" asked Pinocchio, running up to him.
　　"I am waiting for midnight to strike to go--""Where?""Far, far away!""And I have gone to your house three times to look for you!""What did you want from me?""Haven't you heard the news? Don't you know what good luck is mine?""What is it?""Tomorrow I end my days as a Marionette and become a boy,like you and all my other friends.""May it bring you luck!""Shall I see you at my party tomorrow?""But I'm telling you that I go tonight.""At what time?""At midnight.""And where are you going?""To a real country--the best in the world--a wonderful place!""What is it called?""It is called the Land of Toys. Why don't you come, too?""I? Oh, no!""You are making a big mistake, Pinocchio. Believe me,if you don't come, you'll be sorry. Where can you finda place that will agree better with you and me? No schools,no teachers, no books! In that blessed place there is nosuch thing as study. Here, it is only on Saturdays thatwe have no school. In the Land of Toys, every day, exceptSunday, is a Saturday. Vacation begins on the firstof January and ends on the last day of December. Thatis the place for me! All countries should be like it!
　　How happy we should all be!""But how does one spend the day in the Land of Toys?""Days are spent in play and enjoyment from morn tillnight. At night one goes to bed, and next morning, thegood times begin all over again. What do you think of it?""H'm--!" said Pinocchio, nodding his wooden head, as if to say,"It's the kind of life which would agree with me perfectly.""Do you want to go with me, then? Yes or no? Youmust make up your mind.""No, no, and again no! I have promised my kind Fairyto become a good boy, and I want to keep my word. Justsee: The sun is setting and I must leave you and run.
　　Good-by and good luck to you!""Where are you going in such a hurry?""Home. My good Fairy wants me to return home before night.""Wait two minutes more.""It's too late!""Only two minutes.""And if the Fairy scolds me?""Let her scold. After she gets tired, she will stop," said Lamp-Wick.
　　"Are you going alone or with others?""Alone? There will be more than a hundred of us!""Will you walk?""At midnight the wagon passes here that is to take uswithin the boundaries of that marvelous country.""How I wish midnight would strike!""Why?""To see you all set out together.""Stay here a while longer and you will see us!""No, no. I want to return home.""Wait two more minutes.""I have waited too long as it is. The Fairy will be worried.""Poor Fairy! Is she afraid the bats will eat you up?""Listen, Lamp-Wick," said the Marionette, "are youreally sure that there are no schools in the Land of Toys?""Not even the shadow of one.""Not even one teacher?""Not one.""And one does not have to study?""Never, never, never!""What a great land!" said Pinocchio, feeling his mouth water.
　　"What a beautiful land! I have never been there,but I can well imagine it.""Why don't you come, too?""It is useless for you to tempt me! I told you I promisedmy good Fairy to behave myself, and I am going tokeep my word.""Good-by, then, and remember me to the grammarschools, to the high schools, and even to the colleges ifyou meet them on the way.""Good-by, Lamp-Wick. Have a pleasant trip, enjoyyourself, and remember your friends once in a while."With these words, the Marionette started on his wayhome. Turning once more to his friend, he asked him:
　　"But are you sure that, in that country, each week iscomposed of six Saturdays and one Sunday?""Very sure!""And that vacation begins on the first of January andends on the thirty-first of December?""Very, very sure!""What a great country!" repeated Pinocchio, puzzledas to what to do.
　　Then, in sudden determination, he said hurriedly:
　　"Good-by for the last time, and good luck.""Good-by.""How soon will you go?""Within two hours.""What a pity! If it were only one hour, I might wait for you.""And the Fairy?""By this time I'm late, and one hour more or less makesvery little difference.""Poor Pinocchio! And if the Fairy scolds you?""Oh, I'll let her scold. After she gets tired, she will stop."In the meantime, the night became darker and darker.
　　All at once in the distance a small light flickered. Aqueer sound could be heard, soft as a little bell, and faintand muffled like the buzz of a far-away mosquito.
　　"There it is!" cried Lamp-Wick, jumping to his feet.
　　"What?" whispered Pinocchio.
　　"The wagon which is coming to get me. For the lasttime, are you coming or not?""But is it really true that in that country boys neverhave to study?""Never, never, never!""What a wonderful, beautiful, marvelous country! Oh--h--h!!"
　　当然，皮诺乔马上就得到仙女同意，进城去把要请的人都给请来。临走时仙女对他说：
　　“那你就去请你的同学们明天来参加早宴吧。可你记住了，天黑前就得回家。明白了吗？”
　　我保证一个钟头就回来，木偶回答说。
　　“留神点，皮诺乔：孩子们总是答应起来很爽快，可做起来却慢腾腾的。”
　　“我跟别人可不一样，我说到做到。”
　　“咱们看吧。万一你不听话，你就要吃更大的苦头。”
　　“为什么？”
　　“因为孩子不听比他们懂得多的人劝，总是要倒霉的。”
　　“我已经尝到过滋味！”皮诺乔说，“现在我不会再犯老毛病了！”
　　“我说的话是真是假，咱们看吧。”
　　木偶二话不说，就跟做他妈妈的好心仙女告了别，又唱又跳地出门去了。
　　一个钟头多一点，所有的朋友他都请到了。有人一听就高兴地接受邀请。有人还得先求一求，可一听说有牛奶咖啡喝，还有两面涂黄油的面包吃，就都说：“我们为了让你高兴，要来的。”
　　现在诸位要知道，皮诺乔在他的朋友和同学中间，有一个最知己最要好的，名字叫罗梅奥，可大家给他取了个绰号叫“小灯芯”，因为他又干又瘦，活像晚上小油灯点的一根新灯芯。
　　小灯芯在全校学生当中最懒情最捣蛋，可皮诺乔却很喜欢他。事实就是这样，他一开头就上他家去找他，要请他赴早宴，可没碰到。他第二次去，小灯芯不在家。他第三次去，还是白跑。
　　哪儿能找到他呢？这里找，那里找，最后总算看见他躲在一间农舍的门廊里。
　　“你在这儿干吗？”皮诺乔走过去问他。
　　“等半夜好离开这里……”
　　“上哪儿去？”
　　“上很远很远的地方去！”
　　“我可是上你家找你三次了！……”
　　“你找我干吗？”
　　“你不知道这个重要消息吗？你不知道我交的好运吗？”
　　“什么好运？”
　　“赶明儿我就不再是木偶，要变成一个真孩子，像你，像大家一样了。”
　　“恭喜恭喜。”
　　“就为了这件事，希望你明天上我家赴早宴。”
　　“可我跟你说了，我今天夜里就得离开这里！”
　　“几点钟？”
　　“半夜十二点。”
　　“上哪儿？”
　　“上一个国家……这是全世界最美的国家，一个真正的快乐的国家！……”
　　“这国家叫什么名字？”
　　“叫‘玩儿国’。你干吗不跟我一起去呢？”
　　“我，我可不去！”
　　“那你就大错特错了，皮诺乔！你相信我的话，不去你要后悔的。对我们孩子来说，哪儿还能找到一个更好的国家呢？那儿没有学校，那儿没有老师，那儿没有书本。在这幸福国家里永远不要学习。星期四不用上学，一个星期有六个星期四和一个星期日。你想象一下吧，秋假从一月一号放到十二月最后一天。这个国家真配我胃口！一切文明国家都该像它这样才好！……”
　　“在‘玩儿国’里日子是怎么过的？”
　　“就玩着过，从早玩到晚。晚上睡一觉，第二天早晨又重新开始玩。你觉得怎么样？”
　　“嗯！……”皮诺乔嗯了一声，轻轻点点头，像是说：“这种日子我也真想过。”
　　“那么，我想跟我一起去吗？去还是不去？你拿主意吧。”
　　“不去，不去，不去，我不去。如今我已经答应过我的好心仙女，说我要做个好孩子，说了就要算数。再说，我看太阳正在落下去，我得马上离开你，赶紧走了。好，再见，祝我一路平安。”
　　“你这么急急忙忙的上哪儿啊？”
　　“回家。我的好仙女要我天黑前回家。”
　　“再等两分钟吧。”
　　“那太晚了。”
　　“就那么两分钟嘛，”
　　“万一仙女骂我呢？”
　　“让她去骂好了。她骂够了会不骂的，”小灯芯这小坏蛋说。
　　“你怎么？一个人去还是跟大伙儿一起去，”
　　“一个人去？有百来个孩子呢？”
　　“走着去吗？”
　　“半夜有一辆车子经过这里，要把我们一直送到这个无比幸福的国家去。”
　　“现在是半夜就好了，那我什么都愿意给！……”
　　“为什么？”
　　“为了看看你们大伙儿动身。”
　　“在这儿再等一会儿，你就看见了。”
　　“不行不行，我得回家了，”
　　“就等那么两分钟吧。”
　　“我已经呆得太久了。仙女要想我啦。”
　　“可怜的仙女！她是怕蝙蝠吃了你吗？”
　　“不过，”皮诺乔又说，“你断定这国家没学校吗？……”
　　“连学校的影子也没有，”
　　“也没有老师吗？……”
　　“一个也没有。”
　　“也不要学习吗？……”
　　“不要，不要，不要！”
　　“多美的国家呀！”皮诺乔说，觉得口水都要流下来了。“多美的国家呀！我没到过那里，可我完全能想象出来！……”
　　“那你干吗不也上那儿去吗？”
　　“你引不动我！如今我已经答应我的好仙女，要做个有头脑的孩子，我不想说话不算数。”
　　“那就再见吧，代我向初级中学致敬！……要是你在路上碰到一些高级中学，也代我向它们致敬。”
　　“再见，小灯芯，一路平安，祝你快活，常常想到朋友们。”
　　木偶说着就要走，走了两步又停下来，向他这位朋友回过身子，问道：
　　“你真的断定，这国家个个星期都是六个星期四和一个星期日吗？”
　　“完全断定。”
　　“你真的知道，年年的假期都是从一月一号放到十二月最末了一天吗？”
　　“一点不假！”
　　“多美的国家呀！”皮诺乔又说一遍，太高兴了，吐了口口水。
　　接着他又拿定主意，狠了狠心，很快地又说了一句：
　　“好，真的再见了，一路平安。”
　　“再见。”
　　“你们多咱动身？”
　　“就在两个钟头之内！”
　　“真可惜！要是只有一个钟头，我还可以等等。”
　　“那仙女呢？”
　　“不过现在反正晚了……回家早一个钟头晚一个钟头没什么两样。”
　　“可怜的皮诺乔！万一仙女骂你呢？”
　　“没法子！让她骂吧。骂够了会不骂的。”
　　这时天已经全黑，黑得伸手不见五指了。忽然只见远远有一点灯光在移动……还听到铃铛声和喇叭声，声音很轻很闷，似是蚊子嗡嗡叫！
　　“来了！”小灯芯叫着跳起来。
　　“谁来了？”皮诺乔低声问。
　　“来接我的车子。好，你要去吗？去还是不去？”
　　“可你说的是真话吗？”木偶问道，“在那个国家里孩子都不要学习？”
　　“不要，不要，不要！”
　　“多美的国家呀！……多美的国家！……多美的国家呀！……”
Chapter 31
After five months of play, Pinocchio wakes up one fine morningand finds a great surprise awaiting himFinally the wagon arrived. It made no noise, for itswheels were bound with straw and rags.
　　It was drawn by twelve pair of donkeys, all of the samesize, but all of different color. Some were gray, otherswhite, and still others a mixture of brown and black.
　　Here and there were a few with large yellow and blue stripes.
　　The strangest thing of all was that those twenty-fourdonkeys, instead of being iron-shod like any other beastof burden, had on their feet laced shoes made of leather,just like the ones boys wear.
　　And the driver of the wagon?
　　Imagine to yourselves a little, fat man, much widerthan he was long, round and shiny as a ball of butter, witha face beaming like an apple, a little mouth that alwayssmiled, and a voice small and wheedling like that of a catbegging for food.
　　No sooner did any boy see him than he fell in love withhim, and nothing satisfied him but to be allowed to ridein his wagon to that lovely place called the Land of Toys.
　　In fact the wagon was so closely packed with boys ofall ages that it looked like a box of sardines. They wereuncomfortable, they were piled one on top of the other,they could hardly breathe; yet not one word of complaintwas heard. The thought that in a few hours they wouldreach a country where there were no schools, no books,no teachers, made these boys so happy that they feltneither hunger, nor thirst, nor sleep, nor discomfort.
　　No sooner had the wagon stopped than the little fatman turned to Lamp-Wick. With bows and smiles, heasked in a wheedling tone:
　　"Tell me, my fine boy, do you also want to come tomy wonderful country?""Indeed I do.""But I warn you, my little dear, there's no more roomin the wagon. It is full.""Never mind," answered Lamp-Wick. "If there's noroom inside, I can sit on the top of the coach."And with one leap, he perched himself there.
　　"What about you, my love?" asked the Little Man,turning politely to Pinocchio. "What are you going to do?
　　Will you come with us, or do you stay here?""I stay here," answered Pinocchio. "I want to returnhome, as I prefer to study and to succeed in life.""May that bring you luck!""Pinocchio!" Lamp-Wick called out. "Listen to me.
　　Come with us and we'll always be happy.""No, no, no!""Come with us and we'll always be happy," cried fourother voices from the wagon.
　　"Come with us and we'll always be happy," shouted theone hundred and more boys in the wagon, all together.
　　"And if I go with you, what will my good Fairy say?"asked the Marionette, who was beginning to waver andweaken in his good resolutions.
　　"Don't worry so much. Only think that we are goingto a land where we shall be allowed to make all the racketwe like from morning till night."Pinocchio did not answer, but sighed deeply once--twice--a third time. Finally, he said:
　　"Make room for me. I want to go, too!""The seats are all filled," answered the Little Man,"but to show you how much I think of you, take my placeas coachman.""And you?""I'll walk.""No, indeed. I could not permit such a thing. I muchprefer riding one of these donkeys," cried Pinocchio.
　　No sooner said than done. He approached the firstdonkey and tried to mount it. But the little animal turnedsuddenly and gave him such a terrible kick in the stomachthat Pinocchio was thrown to the ground and fell withhis legs in the air.
　　At this unlooked-for entertainment, the whole companyof runaways laughed uproariously.
　　The little fat man did not laugh. He went up to therebellious animal, and, still smiling, bent over him lovinglyand bit off half of his right ear.
　　In the meantime, Pinocchio lifted himself up from theground, and with one leap landed on the donkey's back.
　　The leap was so well taken that all the boys shouted,"Hurrah for Pinocchio!" and clapped their hands in hearty applause.
　　Suddenly the little donkey gave a kick with his twohind feet and, at this unexpected move, the poor Marionettefound himself once again sprawling right in themiddle of the road.
　　Again the boys shouted with laughter. But the LittleMan, instead of laughing, became so loving toward thelittle animal that, with another kiss, he bit off half ofhis left ear.
　　"You can mount now, my boy," he then said to Pinocchio.
　　"Have no fear. That donkey was worried about something,but I have spoken to him and now he seems quiet and reasonable."Pinocchio mounted and the wagon started on its way.
　　While the donkeys galloped along the stony road, theMarionette fancied he heard a very quiet voice whispering to him:
　　"Poor silly! You have done as you wished. But youare going to be a sorry boy before very long."Pinocchio, greatly frightened, looked about him to seewhence the words had come, but he saw no one. Thedonkeys galloped, the wagon rolled on smoothly, theboys slept (Lamp-Wick snored like a dormouse) and thelittle, fat driver sang sleepily between his teeth.
　　After a mile or so, Pinocchio again heard the samefaint voice whispering: "Remember, little simpleton!
　　Boys who stop studying and turn their backs upon booksand schools and teachers in order to give all their timeto nonsense and pleasure, sooner or later come to grief.
　　Oh, how well I know this! How well I can prove it to you!
　　A day will come when you will weep bitterly, even as Iam weeping now--but it will be too late!"At these whispered words, the Marionette grew moreand more frightened. He jumped to the ground, ran upto the donkey on whose back he had been riding, andtaking his nose in his hands, looked at him. Think howgreat was his surprise when he saw that the donkey wasweeping--weeping just like a boy!
　　"Hey, Mr. Driver!" cried the Marionette. "Do you know whatstrange thing is happening here! This donkey weeps.""Let him weep. When he gets married, he will have time to laugh.""Have you perhaps taught him to speak?""No, he learned to mumble a few words when he livedfor three years with a band of trained dogs.""Poor beast!""Come, come," said the Little Man, "do not lose time overa donkey that can weep. Mount quickly and let us go.
　　The night is cool and the road is long."Pinocchio obeyed without another word. The wagonstarted again. Toward dawn the next morning they finallyreached that much-longed-for country, the Land of Toys.
　　This great land was entirely different from any otherplace in the world. Its population, large though it was,was composed wholly of boys. The oldest were aboutfourteen years of age, the youngest, eight. In the street,there was such a racket, such shouting, such blowing oftrumpets, that it was deafening. Everywhere groups ofboys were gathered together. Some played at marbles, athopscotch, at ball. Others rode on bicycles or on woodenhorses. Some played at blindman's buff, others at tag.
　　Here a group played circus, there another sang and recited.
　　A few turned somersaults, others walked on their handswith their feet in the air. Generals in full uniform leadingregiments of cardboard soldiers passed by. Laughter,shrieks, howls, catcalls, hand-clapping followed thisparade. One boy made a noise like a hen, another likea rooster, and a third imitated a lion in his den. Alltogether they created such a pandemonium that it wouldhave been necessary for you to put cotton in your ears.
　　The squares were filled with small wooden theaters,overflowing with boys from morning till night, and on thewalls of the houses, written with charcoal, were wordslike these: HURRAH FOR THE LAND OF TOYS! DOWN WITHARITHMETIC! NO MORE SCHOOL!
　　As soon as they had set foot in that land, Pinocchio,Lamp-Wick, and all the other boys who had traveled withthem started out on a tour of investigation. Theywandered everywhere, they looked into every nook andcorner, house and theater. They became everybody's friend.
　　Who could be happier than they?
　　What with entertainments and parties, the hours, the days,the weeks passed like lightning.
　　"Oh, what a beautiful life this is!" said Pinocchio eachtime that, by chance, he met his friend Lamp-Wick.
　　"Was I right or wrong?" answered Lamp-Wick. "Andto think you did not want to come! To think that evenyesterday the idea came into your head to return hometo see your Fairy and to start studying again! If todayyou are free from pencils and books and school, you oweit to me, to my advice, to my care. Do you admit it? Onlytrue friends count, after all.""It's true, Lamp-Wick, it's true. If today I am a reallyhappy boy, it is all because of you. And to think that theteacher, when speaking of you, used to say, `Do not gowith that Lamp-Wick! He is a bad companion and someday he will lead you astray.'""Poor teacher!" answered the other, nodding his head.
　　"Indeed I know how much he disliked me and how heenjoyed speaking ill of me. But I am of a generous nature,and I gladly forgive him.""Great soul!" said Pinocchio, fondly embracing his friend.
　　Five months passed and the boys continued playing andenjoying themselves from morn till night, without everseeing a book, or a desk, or a school. But, my children,there came a morning when Pinocchio awoke and founda great surprise awaiting him, a surprise which made himfeel very unhappy, as you shall see.
　　最后车子到了，车子一路过来、一点声音也没有，因为轮子上裹着干草和破布。
　　拉车的是十二对小驴子，它们都同样大小，只是毛色两样，
　　有些驴子是灰的；有些驴子是白的；有些驴子是斑白的，像撒上了胡椒和盐；有些驴子是一道一道很宽的黄条子和蓝条子。
　　可有一点最奇怪，这十二对驴子，也就是二十四头驴子，不像其他拉车驮货的牲口那样打上铁掌，却像人那样穿着白皮靴。
　　那赶车的呢？……
　　请诸位想象那么个小个子，横里宽，直里短，软扑扑，油腻腻，像一球黄油，苹果脸，嘴巴很小，老是笑嘻嘻的，声音又尖又嗲，似猫向主人讨吃时的叫声。
　　所有的孩子一看见他就不由得喜欢他，抢着要上他的车，给带到这个真正的快乐国家去。这国家在地图上有一个国的名字，叫“玩儿国”。
　　说实在的，车上八岁到十二岁的孩子都已经挤满了，一个叠一个，活像一堆腌鳀鱼。他们给挤得够呛，连气都几乎透不过来，可是没人叫一声“唉呀！”没人说一句埋怨话。他们感到安慰，因为他们知道，过几个钟头他们就要到一个国家，那儿没有书本，没有学校，没有老师。他们高兴得什么都能忍耐，他们不觉得苦，不觉得累，不觉得饿，不觉得渴，甚至不觉得瞌睡。
　　车子一停，赶车的就向小灯芯转过脸来，做出几千个怪相，打上几千个手势，笑着问他说：
　　“告诉我，我的好孩子，你也要到那幸福的国家去吗？”
　　“不用说，当然要去。”
　　“可我要告诉你，我的小宝贝，车上已经没有地方了，瞧，全挤满了！……”
　　“没关系！小灯芯回答说，“车上没地方，我将就点，就坐在车辕上。”
　　他说着一跳就跳上去，骑在车辕上。
　　“那你呢？我的小宝贝？……”赶车的十分客气地向皮诺乔转过来问。“你打算怎样，跟我们去还是留下？……”
　　“我留下，”皮诺乔回答，“我要回家。我要和所有好孩子那样学习，在学样里做个好学生。”
　　“祝你成功！”
　　“皮诺乔！”小灯芯说了，“听我的话，跟我们去吧，咱们会过得快活的。”
　　“不去，不去，不去！”
　　“跟我们去吧，咱们会过得快活的，”车上又有四个人叫道。
　　“跟我们去吧，咱们会过得快活的，”车上有成百个人同声嚷嚷起来。
　　“我跟你们去，我的好仙女会怎么说呢？”木偶话是这么说，可心动了，开始动摇了。“别去想这种伤脑筋事。你就想一想，咱们要到一个国家去，到了那儿，咱们可以无拘无束，从早玩到晚！”
　　皮诺乔没有回答，只是叹了一口气，叹了两口气，叹了三口气，最后说：
　　“给我挪点地方，我也要去！……”
　　“都挤满了，”赶车的回答说，“不过为了表示欢迎你，我可以让你坐到赶车座儿上来……”
　　“那您呢？……”
　　“我在地上走。”
　　“不行，说真个的，我不答应。我宁愿骑到随便那一头驴子的屁股上面！”皮诺乔叫道。
　　说干就干。他走近第一对驴子里右面的一头，要骑到它身上去。可是这小牲口粗暴地转过身来，在他肚子上狠狠地就是一脚，踢了他一个两脚朝天。
　　诸位可以想象，所有孩子看到这个场面，全都毫不客气地乱笑一通！
　　可赶车的不笑。他十分疼爱似的走到发脾气的驴子身边，装出要亲亲它的样子，却一口咬掉了它半只右耳朵。
　　这时候皮诺乔赶紧从地上爬起来，一跳就跳上了这头可怜牲口的屁股。他跳得那么利索，孩子们一下子停下笑，欢呼了起来：“好啊，皮诺乔！”还不住地拍手。
　　可驴子一下子又蹦起两只腿，用尽力气一踢，把可怜的木偶甩到路当中一堆石子上面。
　　孩子们又大笑起来。可赶车的不笑，还是装出十分疼爱那不听话的驴子的样子，要去亲亲它，一口又咬掉它半只左耳朵。然后他对木偶说：
　　“再骑上去，不用怕。这驴子有点任性，我跟它咬了两下耳朵，我想它变得温顺懂得道理了。”
　　皮诺乔骑上驴子，车子出发了。可是当驴子这么跑着，车子在圆石子大道上滚动着的时候，木偶觉得听到一个很轻很轻、仅仅听得出来的声音对他说：
　　“可怜的傻瓜！你要由着自己性子做的话，你会后悔的！”
　　皮诺乔有点儿害怕，东张西望，想弄明白这声音到底是打哪来的。可他什么人也没见：驴子在跑，车子在滚动，车上的孩子在打盹，小灯芯在呼呼大睡，赶车的坐在赶车座儿上打牙缝里轻轻唱着歌：
　　“大家夜里都睡觉，
　　可我从来就不睡……”
　　车子走了半公里光景，皮诺乔又听见那很轻的声音对他说：
　　“小傻瓜，你要记住！孩子不肯学习，一看见书，看见学校，看见老师就背过身子，只想玩儿，结果都只会倒大霉！……这个我有教训，我知道！……可能跟你这么说！总有一天你也会像我今天一样地哭……可到那时候，你就来不及啦！……”
　　木偶听到这番很轻很轻，轻得像耳语似的话，有生以来还没那么害怕过，连忙打驴子屁股上跳下来，跑过去抓住驴子的嘴。
　　请诸位想象一下，木偶这时候有多么惊奇吧，因为他看到这头驴子在哭……哭得完完全全像个孩子！
　　“喂，赶车的先生，”皮诺乔对车主叫道，“您知道这儿出了什么新鲜玩意儿吗？这头驴子在哭。
　　“让它去哭吧，到它娶媳妇的时候就会笑的。”
　　“也许您教会它说话了吧？”
　　“没有。它在一群受过训练的狗那里待过三年，自己学会了咕噜两句话。”
　　“可怜的小驴子！……”
　　“快，快，”赶车的说，“别浪费咱们的时间去看驴子哭了。骑上去吧，咱们要走了。夜很冷，路很长。”
　　皮诺乔没说什么，马上照办。车子重新上路。天亮的时候，他们兴高采烈地来到了“玩儿国”。
　　这个国家跟世界上任何国家不同。它全国都是小孩子，最大的十四岁，最小的才八岁。满街都是嘻嘻哈哈声，吵闹声，叫喊声，叫人头都搞昏了！到处是一群群的小捣蛋：有的打弹子，有的扔石片，有的打球，有的蹬自行车，有的骑木马，有的捉迷藏，有的玩追人，有的扮小丑吃火，有的朗诵，有的唱歌，有的翻跟头，有的竖蜻蜓，有的滚铁环，有的身穿将军装，戴纸头盔，骑一只硬纸板做的马，有的笑，有的叫，有的喊，有的拍手，有的吹口哨，有的学母鸡生蛋咯咯叫。总而言之是一片乱七八糟，大吵大闹，叫人得用棉花塞住耳朵，别让耳朵给震聋了。所有的广场都只见小戏棚，从早到晚挤满了孩子。所有的墙上都可以读到用炭写的最好玩的东西，像：“完具万水：”（应该是“玩具万岁！”）“我们不在要学小！”（应该是我们不再要学校！”）“打到算树！”（应该是“打倒算术！”）等等，等等。
　　皮诺乔、小灯芯，以及赶车的带来的一大车孩子，进了城一下车就马上投入这种大混乱之中。才几分钟，诸位很容易想象到，他们已经和所有的孩子交上了朋友。天底下还有谁能比他们更幸福，更快活呢？
　　在没完没了的种种玩乐当中，一个钟头又一个钟头，一天又一天，一个星期又一个星期，飞也似地过去了。
　　“噢！多美的生活啊！”皮诺乔每次碰到小灯芯就说。
　　“看，我的话不错吧？”小灯芯回答说，“还说你不想来呢！还想回你那个仙女的家去，把时间浪费在学习上呢！……你今天用不着再为什么书本和学校伤脑筋了，你都得谢谢我，谢谢我的好主意，谢谢我的关心，对不对？只有真正的朋友才会帮你这么大的忙。”
　　“你说得对，小灯芯！今天我成为真正快活的孩子，全都亏了你。可你知道老师跟我是怎么讲你的？他总是跟我说：‘别跟小灯芯这小流氓在一起，因为小灯芯是个坏同学，只会怂恿你做坏事！’……”
　　“可怜的老师！”小灯芯摇摇头回答说。“我知道得太清楚了，他讨厌我，老说我坏话，可我宽宏大量，我原谅他！”
　　“你真是宽宏大量！”皮诺乔说着，热情地拥抱他的朋友，在他脑门上亲了亲。
　　他们书也不读，学校也不上，一天天就这样无忧无虑地玩啊，乐啊，一下子五个月过去了。可是有一天皮诺乔清早醒来，就像老话说的，遇到了一个晴天霹雳，一下子什么劲都没有了。
Chapter 32
Pinocchio's ears become like those of a Donkey.
　　In a little while he changes into a real Donkey and begins to brayEveryone, at one time or another, has found some surpriseawaiting him. Of the kind which Pinocchio had on thateventful morning of his life, there are but few.
　　What was it? I will tell you, my dear little readers.
　　On awakening, Pinocchio put his hand up to his head andthere he found--Guess!
　　He found that, during the night, his ears had grownat least ten full inches!
　　You must know that the Marionette, even from hisbirth, had very small ears, so small indeed that to thenaked eye they could hardly be seen. Fancy how he feltwhen he noticed that overnight those two dainty organshad become as long as shoe brushes!
　　He went in search of a mirror, but not finding any,he just filled a basin with water and looked at himself.
　　There he saw what he never could have wished to see.
　　His manly figure was adorned and enriched by a beautifulpair of donkey's ears.
　　I leave you to think of the terrible grief, the shame,the despair of the poor Marionette.
　　He began to cry, to scream, to knock his head againstthe wall, but the more he shrieked, the longer and themore hairy grew his ears.
　　At those piercing shrieks, a Dormouse came into theroom, a fat little Dormouse, who lived upstairs. SeeingPinocchio so grief-stricken, she asked him anxiously:
　　"What is the matter, dear little neighbor?""I am sick, my little Dormouse, very, very sick--andfrom an illness which frightens me! Do you understandhow to feel the pulse?""A little.""Feel mine then and tell me if I have a fever."The Dormouse took Pinocchio's wrist between her paws and,after a few minutes, looked up at him sorrowfully and said:
　　"My friend, I am sorry, but I must give you some very sad news.""What is it?""You have a very bad fever.""But what fever is it?""The donkey fever.""I don't know anything about that fever," answered the Marionette,beginning to understand even too well what was happening to him.
　　"Then I will tell you all about it," said the Dormouse.
　　"Know then that, within two or three hours, you will nolonger be a Marionette, nor a boy.""What shall I be?""Within two or three hours you will become a real donkey,just like the ones that pull the fruit carts to market.""Oh, what have I done? What have I done?" cried Pinocchio,grasping his two long ears in his hands and pulling and tuggingat them angrily, just as if they belonged to another.
　　"My dear boy," answered the Dormouse to cheer him up a bit,"why worry now? What is done cannot be undone, you know.
　　Fate has decreed that all lazy boys who come to hate booksand schools and teachers and spend all their days with toysand games must sooner or later turn into donkeys.""But is it really so?" asked the Marionette, sobbing bitterly.
　　"I am sorry to say it is. And tears now are useless.
　　You should have thought of all this before.""But the fault is not mine. Believe me, little Dormouse,the fault is all Lamp-Wick's.""And who is this Lamp-Wick?""A classmate of mine. I wanted to return home. I wantedto be obedient. I wanted to study and to succeedin school, but Lamp-Wick said to me, `Why do you wantto waste your time studying? Why do you want to goto school? Come with me to the Land of Toys.
　　There we'll never study again. There we can enjoyourselves and be happy from morn till night.'""And why did you follow the advice of that false friend?""Why? Because, my dear little Dormouse, I am a heedlessMarionette--heedless and heartless. Oh! If I had onlyhad a bit of heart, I should never have abandonedthat good Fairy, who loved me so well and who has beenso kind to me! And by this time, I should no longer be aMarionette. I should have become a real boy, like all thesefriends of mine! Oh, if I meet Lamp-Wick I am goingto tell him what I think of him--and more, too!"After this long speech, Pinocchio walked to the doorof the room. But when he reached it, remembering hisdonkey ears, he felt ashamed to show them to the publicand turned back. He took a large cotton bag from a shelf,put it on his head, and pulled it far down to his very nose.
　　Thus adorned, he went out. He looked for Lamp-Wick everywhere,along the streets, in the squares, inside the theatres,everywhere; but he was not to be found. He asked everyonewhom he met about him, but no one had seen him. In desperation,he returned home and knocked at the door.
　　"Who is it?" asked Lamp-Wick from within.
　　"It is I!" answered the Marionette.
　　"Wait a minute."After a full half hour the door opened. Another surpriseawaited Pinocchio! There in the room stood his friend,with a large cotton bag on his head, pulled far down to his very nose.
　　At the sight of that bag, Pinocchio felt slightly happierand thought to himself:
　　"My friend must be suffering from the same sicknessthat I am! I wonder if he, too, has donkey fever?"But pretending he had seen nothing, he asked with a smile:
　　"How are you, my dear Lamp-Wick?""Very well. Like a mouse in a Parmesan cheese.""Is that really true?""Why should I lie to you?""I beg your pardon, my friend, but why then are youwearing that cotton bag over your ears?""The doctor has ordered it because one of my knees hurts.
　　And you, dear Marionette, why are you wearing that cotton bagdown to your nose?""The doctor has ordered it because I have bruised my foot.""Oh, my poor Pinocchio!""Oh, my poor Lamp-Wick!"An embarrassingly long silence followed these words,during which time the two friends looked at each otherin a mocking way.
　　Finally the Marionette, in a voice sweet as honey andsoft as a flute, said to his companion:
　　"Tell me, Lamp-Wick, dear friend, have you eversuffered from an earache?""Never! And you?""Never! Still, since this morning my ear has been torturing me.""So has mine.""Yours, too? And which ear is it?""Both of them. And yours?""Both of them, too. I wonder if it could be the same sickness.""I'm afraid it is.""Will you do me a favor, Lamp-Wick?""Gladly! With my whole heart.""Will you let me see your ears?""Why not? But before I show you mine, I want to see yours,dear Pinocchio.""No. You must show yours first.""No, my dear! Yours first, then mine.""Well, then," said the Marionette, "let us make a contract.""Let's hear the contract!""Let us take off our caps together. All right?""All right.""Ready then!"Pinocchio began to count, "One! Two! Three!"At the word "Three!" the two boys pulled off theircaps and threw them high in air.
　　And then a scene took place which is hard to believe,but it is all too true. The Marionette and his friend,Lamp-Wick, when they saw each other both stricken by thesame misfortune, instead of feeling sorrowful and ashamed,began to poke fun at each other, and after much nonsense,they ended by bursting out into hearty laughter.
　　They laughed and laughed, and laughed again--laughedtill they ached--laughed till they cried.
　　But all of a sudden Lamp-Wick stopped laughing. He totteredand almost fell. Pale as a ghost, he turned to Pinocchio and said:
　　"Help, help, Pinocchio!""What is the matter?""Oh, help me! I can no longer stand up.""I can't either," cried Pinocchio; and his laughterturned to tears as he stumbled about helplessly.
　　They had hardly finished speaking, when both of them fellon all fours and began running and jumping around the room.
　　As they ran, their arms turned into legs, their faces lengthenedinto snouts and their backs became covered with long gray hairs.
　　This was humiliation enough, but the most horriblemoment was the one in which the two poor creatures felttheir tails appear. Overcome with shame and grief,they tried to cry and bemoan their fate.
　　But what is done can't be undone! Instead of moansand cries, they burst forth into loud donkey brays, whichsounded very much like, "Haw! Haw! Haw!"At that moment, a loud knocking was heard at the doorand a voice called to them:
　　"Open! I am the Little Man, the driver of the wagonwhich brought you here. Open, I say, or beware!"
　　这是一个什么晴天霹雳呢？
　　我亲爱的小读者，我这就来告诉大家，这个晴天霹雳就是：皮诺乔早晨醒来，自然而然地伸手去抓头，他一抓头就发现……
　　诸位猜他发现了什么？
　　他大吃一惊，竟发现他的两只耳朵变得比手掌还大。
　　诸位知道，木偶有生以来，两只耳朵是很小很小的，小得连看也看不见！诸位想象一下，当他发现两只耳朵一夜工夫变得那么长，长得像两把地板刷子的时候，他是多么吃惊啊。
　　他马上去找镜子照，可是镜子没找到，就在洗脸架上的洗脸盆里倒上水，往水里一看，就看见了他永远不想看见的事情，也就是说，他看见他的影子在头上添了一对妙不可言的驴耳朵。
　　请诸位想想，可怜的皮诺乔这一来是多么苦恼、害臊和绝望啊！
　　他开始又哭又叫，用脑袋去撞墙。可他越是绝望，耳朵长得越长，直到耳朵尖都长出毛来。
　　听到这哇哇叫声，住楼上的一只漂亮土拨鼠走进木偶的屋子，看见他像发了疯似的，就关心地问他：
　　“你怎么啦，我的好邻居？”
　　“我病了，我的小土拨鼠，病得很厉害……害的这种病可真叫我害怕！你会把脉吗？”
　　“会一点。”
　　“那就看看我有没有发烧吧。”
　　土拨鼠举起右前爪，把过皮诺乔的脉以后，叹着气说：
　　“我的朋友，我真抱歉，可也只好告诉你一个不好的消息！……”
　　“什么消息？”
　　“你在发高烧！……”
　　“发什么样的高烧，”
　　“发驴子的高烧。”
　　“什么驴子的高烧，我不明白！”木偶嘴里这么回答，其实他心里太明白了。
　　“那我来给你解释。”土拨鼠说下去，“你要知道，在两三个钟头之内，你就不再是一个木偶，也不是一个孩子……”
　　“那是什么呢？”
　　“在两三个钟头之内，你就要变成一头真正的驴子，跟拉车和驮白菜生菜到菜市去的驴子一模一样。”
　　“噢！我真苦命啊！我真苦命啊！”皮诺乔哭叫着，用手抓住两只耳朵，拼命地又拉又拔，好像这是别人的耳朵，
　　“我亲爱的，”土拨鼠为了安慰他，对他说，“你想怎么办呢？这是注定了的。圣人早就在书上写着，懒孩子不爱书本，不爱学校，不爱老师，整天玩乐，早晚都要变成这种小驴子。”
　　“这是真的吗？”木偶哭着问。
　　“不幸得很，这是真的！如今哭也没用。早就该想到！”
　　“可错的不是我。小土拨鼠，请你相信我，错的全是小灯芯！……”
　　“这个小灯芯是谁？”
　　“是我的一个同学。我想回家，我想听话，我想继续学习，我想有出息……可小灯芯对我说：‘你干吗要学习，自讨苦吃呢？你干吗想上学呢？还是跟我走吧，上“玩儿国”去。到了那里，咱们就再不用学习了，可以从早玩到晚，老是快快活活的。’”
　　“那你为什么听这个假朋友的话，听这个坏同学的话呢？”
　　“为什么……我的小土拨鼠，因为我是个木偶，没头脑……没心肝。噢，我有一点儿心肝就好了，我就不会抛弃好仙女了。她像妈妈一样爱我，为我做了那么多的事！……而且我这会儿也不再是个木偶了……我已经是个真正的孩子，跟所有的孩子一样！噢……我要是碰到小灯芯，我要叫他倒霉！我要骂他一通，骂他个狗血喷头！……”
　　他说着就要出去。可他一到门口，就想起那对驴耳朵，真不好意思让人看到。他发明了一个什么办法呢？他拿起一顶棉的大尖帽戴在头上，一直拉到鼻尖那儿。
　　他这才出去，到处找小灯芯。他在街上找，在广场上找，在小戏棚里找。到处都找遍了，就是找不到小灯芯。他在街上见人就问，可谁也不知道。
　　于是他上小灯芯家去找，到了他家就敲门。
　　“谁呀，”小灯芯在里面问。
　　“是我！”木偶回答说。
　　“等一等，我这就给你开门。”
　　过了半个钟头门才打开。诸位想象一下皮诺乔有多么奇怪，因为他走进屋子，看见他的朋友小灯芯也戴着一顶棉的大尖帽，也一直拉到鼻子底下。
　　皮诺乔一看见帽子，就觉得心宽一些，马上想：
　　“我这位朋友说不定也是跟我害一样的病吧？他也在发驴子的高烧？……”
　　他装作什么也没看见，微笑着问他说：
　　“你好吗？我亲爱的小灯芯？”
　　“很好，就像一只耗子住在一块干酪里。”
　　“你这是真话吗？”
　　“我干吗要说谎？”
　　“对不起，朋友，你头上干吗戴那么一顶棉的大尖帽，把你的耳朵都盖住了？”
　　大夫吩咐我这么办，因为我这个膝盖不舒服。亲爱的木偶，那你呢？干吗也戴这么一顶棉的大尖帽，一直拉到鼻子底下呀？”
　　“也是大夫吩咐的，因为我一只脚擦伤了。”
　　“噢，可怜的皮诺乔！……”
　　“噢，可怜的小灯芯！……”
　　讲完这番话以后，两个朋友老半天不说话，只是用讥笑的眼光你看着我，我看着你。
　　最后木偶用很甜很细的声音对他的同学说：
　　“我很想知道，请你告诉我，我亲爱的小灯芯，你从来没害过耳病吗？”
　　“没有！……你呢？”
　　“没有！不过从今天早上起，有一只耳朵叫我很不痛快。”
　　“我也是的。”
　　“你也是？……你哪只耳朵不舒服？”
　　“两只都不舒服。你呢？”
　　“也是两只。害同样的病吗？”
　　“我怕是的。”
　　“你肯答应我一件事吗？小灯芯？”
　　“很乐意！打心底里高兴。”
　　“你让我看看你的耳朵好吗？”
　　“有什么不好？可我想先看看你的，亲爱的皮诺乔。”
　　“不行、先看你的。”
　　“不，不，亲爱的！先看你的，再看我的！”
　　“那么，”木偶说，“咱俩订个君子协定。”
　　“先听听协定的内容。”
　　“咱俩同时摘帽子，同意吗？”
　　“同意。”
　　“好，准备！”
　　皮诺乔开始大声数：
　　“一！二！三！”
　　“一说到三，两个孩子同时摘下帽子，扔到半空。
　　这时候出现的场面要不是千真万确的，就会叫人觉得不可相信，这个场面就是：皮诺乔和小灯芯—看见两个人遭到的都是同样的不幸，就不但不觉得害臊和伤心，反而拼命盯着对方长得老长的耳朵看，大开玩笑，最后哈哈大笑起来。
　　他们笑啊，笑啊，笑啊，只要还能站住，就一个劲儿地笑个不停。可小灯芯正笑得起劲，忽然住了笑，摇摇摆摆，脸色大变，对他的朋友说：
　　“救命啊，救命啊，皮诺乔！”
　　“你怎么啦？”
　　“唉哟！我再也站不住了。”
　　“我也站不住了，”皮诺乔也哭着摇摇晃晃地叫起来。
　　他们正叫嚷间，两个都在地上趴了下来，用两手两脚爬着走，开始在屋子里团团转地跑了起来。他们跑着跑着，胳膊变成了腿，脸也拉长，变成了驴子脸，背上长满了亮灰色的毛，还夹着黑斑点。
　　诸位知道，这两个倒霉家伙最糟糕的是哪一个时刻吗？最糟糕最丢脸的时刻就是觉得屁股后面长出了尾巴。他们又害臊又伤心，开始哇哇大哭，抱怨命苦。
　　可是到头来连抱怨叫苦也办不到了！他们发出来的不是叫苦抱怨的话，而是驴子的叫声。他们同声大叫：伊—呀，伊—呀，伊—呀。
　　这时候外面有人敲门，说：
　　“开门！是我，带你们上这儿来的赶车人。马上开门，要不你们就倒霉了！”
Chapter 33
Pinocchio, having become a Donkey,is bought by the owner of a Circus,who wants to teach him to do tricks.
　　The Donkey becomes lame and is soldto a man who wants to use his skinfor a drumheadVery sad and downcast were the two poor little fellowsas they stood and looked at each other. Outside the room,the Little Man grew more and more impatient, and finallygave the door such a violent kick that it flew open. Withhis usual sweet smile on his lips, he looked at Pinocchioand Lamp-Wick and said to them:
　　"Fine work, boys! You have brayed well, so well thatI recognized your voices immediately, and here I am."On hearing this, the two Donkeys bowed their heads in shame,dropped their ears, and put their tails between their legs.
　　At first, the Little Man petted and caressed them andsmoothed down their hairy coats. Then he took out acurrycomb and worked over them till they shone like glass.
　　Satisfied with the looks of the two little animals,he bridled them and took them to a market place far awayfrom the Land of Toys, in the hope of selling them at agood price.
　　In fact, he did not have to wait very long for an offer.
　　Lamp-Wick was bought by a farmer whose donkey had diedthe day before. Pinocchio went to the owner of a circus,who wanted to teach him to do tricks for his audiences.
　　And now do you understand what the Little Man'sprofession was? This horrid little being, whose face shonewith kindness, went about the world looking for boys.
　　Lazy boys, boys who hated books, boys who wanted torun away from home, boys who were tired of school--allthese were his joy and his fortune. He took them withhim to the Land of Toys and let them enjoy themselvesto their heart's content. When, after months of all playand no work, they became little donkeys, he sold them onthe market place. In a few years, he had become a millionaire.
　　What happened to Lamp-Wick? My dear children, I do not know.
　　Pinocchio, I can tell you, met with great hardshipseven from the first day.
　　After putting him in a stable, his new master filled hismanger with straw, but Pinocchio, after tasting a mouthful,spat it out.
　　Then the man filled the manger with hay.
　　But Pinocchio did not like that any better.
　　"Ah, you don't like hay either?" he cried angrily.
　　"Wait, my pretty Donkey, I'll teach you not to be so particular."Without more ado, he took a whip and gave the Donkeya hearty blow across the legs.
　　Pinocchio screamed with pain and as he screamed he brayed:
　　"Haw! Haw! Haw! I can't digest straw!""Then eat the hay!" answered his master, who understoodthe Donkey perfectly.
　　"Haw! Haw! Haw! Hay gives me a headache!""Do you pretend, by any chance, that I should feed you duckor chicken?" asked the man again, and, angrier than ever,he gave poor Pinocchio another lashing.
　　At that second beating, Pinocchio became very quiet and said no more.
　　After that, the door of the stable was closed and hewas left alone. It was many hours since he had eatenanything and he started to yawn from hunger. As heyawned, he opened a mouth as big as an oven.
　　Finally, not finding anything else in the manger,he tasted the hay. After tasting it, he chewed it well,closed his eyes, and swallowed it.
　　"This hay is not bad," he said to himself. "But howmuch happier I should be if I had studied! Just now,instead of hay, I should be eating some good breadand butter. Patience!"Next morning, when he awoke, Pinocchio looked inthe manger for more hay, but it was all gone. He hadeaten it all during the night.
　　He tried the straw, but, as he chewed away at it, henoticed to his great disappointment that it tasted neitherlike rice nor like macaroni.
　　"Patience!" he repeated as he chewed. "If only mymisfortune might serve as a lesson to disobedient boyswho refuse to study! Patience! Have patience!""Patience indeed!" shouted his master just then, as hecame into the stable. "Do you think, perhaps, my littleDonkey, that I have brought you here only to give youfood and drink? Oh, no! You are to help me earn somefine gold pieces, do you hear? Come along, now. I amgoing to teach you to jump and bow, to dance a waltz anda polka, and even to stand on your head."Poor Pinocchio, whether he liked it or not, had to learnall these wonderful things; but it took him three longmonths and cost him many, many lashings before he waspronounced perfect.
　　The day came at last when Pinocchio's master wasable to announce an extraordinary performance. Theannouncements, posted all around the town, and writtenin large letters, read thus:
　　GREAT SPECTACLE TONIGHTLEAPS AND EXERCISES BY THE GREAT ARTISTSAND THE FAMOUS HORSESof theCOMPANYFirst Public Appearanceof theFAMOUS DONKEYcalledPINOCCHIOTHE STAR OF THE DANCEThe Theater will be as Light as DayThat night, as you can well imagine, the theater was filledto overflowing one hour before the show was scheduled to start.
　　Not an orchestra chair could be had, not a balcony seat,nor a gallery seat; not even for their weight in gold.
　　The place swarmed with boys and girls of all ages andsizes, wriggling and dancing about in a fever of impatienceto see the famous Donkey dance.
　　When the first part of the performance was over, theOwner and Manager of the circus, in a black coat, whiteknee breeches, and patent leather boots, presented himselfto the public and in a loud, pompous voice made thefollowing announcement:
　　"Most honored friends, Gentlemen and Ladies!
　　"Your humble servant, the Manager of this theater,presents himself before you tonight in order to introduceto you the greatest, the most famous Donkey in the world,a Donkey that has had the great honor in his short life ofperforming before the kings and queens and emperors ofall the great courts of Europe.
　　"We thank you for your attention!"This speech was greeted by much laughter andapplause. And the applause grew to a roar when Pinocchio,the famous Donkey, appeared in the circus ring. He washandsomely arrayed. A new bridle of shining leather withbuckles of polished brass was on his back; two whitecamellias were tied to his ears; ribbons and tassels of redsilk adorned his mane, which was divided into manycurls. A great sash of gold and silver was fastened aroundhis waist and his tail was decorated with ribbons of manybrilliant colors. He was a handsome Donkey indeed!
　　The Manager, when introducing him to the public,added these words:
　　"Most honored audience! I shall not take your timetonight to tell you of the great difficulties which I haveencountered while trying to tame this animal, since Ifound him in the wilds of Africa. Observe, I beg of you,the savage look of his eye. All the means used bycenturies of civilization in subduing wild beasts failed in thiscase. I had finally to resort to the gentle language of thewhip in order to bring him to my will. With all mykindness, however, I never succeeded in gaining my Donkey'slove. He is still today as savage as the day I foundhim. He still fears and hates me. But I have found inhim one great redeeming feature. Do you see this littlebump on his forehead? It is this bump which gives himhis great talent of dancing and using his feet as nimblyas a human being. Admire him, O signori, and enjoyyourselves. I let you, now, be the judges of my success as ateacher of animals. Before I leave you, I wish to statethat there will be another performance tomorrow night.
　　If the weather threatens rain, the great spectacle will takeplace at eleven o'clock in the morning."The Manager bowed and then turned to Pinocchio and said:
　　"Ready, Pinocchio! Before starting your performance,salute your audience!"Pinocchio obediently bent his two knees to the groundand remained kneeling until the Manager, with the crackof the whip, cried sharply: "Walk!"The Donkey lifted himself on his four feet and walkedaround the ring. A few minutes passed and again thevoice of the Manager called:
　　"Quickstep!" and Pinocchio obediently changed his step.
　　"Gallop!" and Pinocchio galloped.
　　"Full speed!" and Pinocchio ran as fast as he could.
　　As he ran the master raised his arm and a pistol shot rangin the air.
　　At the shot, the little Donkey fell to the ground as ifhe were really dead.
　　A shower of applause greeted the Donkey as he arose to his feet.
　　Cries and shouts and handclappings were heard on all sides.
　　At all that noise, Pinocchio lifted his head and raisedhis eyes. There, in front of him, in a box sat a beautifulwoman. Around her neck she wore a long gold chain,from which hung a large medallion. On the medallionwas painted the picture of a Marionette.
　　"That picture is of me! That beautiful lady is my Fairy!"said Pinocchio to himself, recognizing her. He felt so happythat he tried his best to cry out:
　　"Oh, my Fairy! My own Fairy!"But instead of words, a loud braying was heard in the theater,so loud and so long that all the spectators--men, women,and children, but especially the children--burst out laughing.
　　Then, in order to teach the Donkey that it was notgood manners to bray before the public, the Managerhit him on the nose with the handle of the whip.
　　The poor little Donkey stuck out a long tongue and lickedhis nose for a long time in an effort to take away the pain.
　　And what was his grief when on looking up toward the boxes,he saw that the Fairy had disappeared!
　　He felt himself fainting, his eyes filled with tears,and he wept bitterly. No one knew it, however,least of all the Manager, who, cracking his whip, cried out:
　　"Bravo, Pinocchio! Now show us how gracefully you canjump through the rings."Pinocchio tried two or three times, but each time hecame near the ring, he found it more to his taste to gounder it. The fourth time, at a look from his master heleaped through it, but as he did so his hind legs caughtin the ring and he fell to the floor in a heap.
　　When he got up, he was lame and could hardly limp asfar as the stable.
　　"Pinocchio! We want Pinocchio! We want the little Donkey!"cried the boys from the orchestra, saddened by the accident.
　　No one saw Pinocchio again that evening.
　　The next morning the veterinary--that is, the animal doctor--declared that he would be lame for the rest of his life.
　　"What do I want with a lame donkey?" said the Managerto the stableboy. "Take him to the market and sell him."When they reached the square, a buyer was soon found.
　　"How much do you ask for that little lame Donkey?" he asked.
　　"Four dollars.""I'll give you four cents. Don't think I'm buying himfor work. I want only his skin. It looks very tough andI can use it to make myself a drumhead. I belong to amusical band in my village and I need a drum."I leave it to you, my dear children, to picture toyourself the great pleasure with which Pinocchio heard thathe was to become a drumhead!
　　As soon as the buyer had paid the four cents, theDonkey changed hands. His new owner took him to a highcliff overlooking the sea, put a stone around his neck,tied a rope to one of his hind feet, gave him a push, andthrew him into the water.
　　Pinocchio sank immediately. And his new master saton the cliff waiting for him to drown, so as to skin himand make himself a drumhead.
　　那人看见门不开，就狠狠地一脚把门踢开了，走进屋子，他还是那么笑嘻嘻地对皮诺乔和小灯芯说：
　　“能干的孩子！你们学驴子叫学得不坏，我马上认出了你们的声音，因此我就上这儿来了。”
　　听了他的话，两头驴子十分泄气，耷拉着头，垂下耳朵，夹紧尾巴，
　　那人先是抚摸他们，拍拍他们，捋他们的毛，接着拿出一把刷子，动手把他们的毛刷亮。
　　他使劲地刷呀刷呀，等到把他们刷得毛光光的象两面镜子，就给他们套上辔头缰绳，牵到市场上去，想卖掉他们捞进一笔大钱。
　　的确，买主马上就来了。
　　小灯芯让一个农民给买去，这农民的驴子昨天正好死了。买皮诺乔的是个马戏班班主。他买皮诺乔是为了训练他，让他同马戏班的其他动物一起又跳又舞。
　　我的小读者们，诸位现在想必知道，用车带他们来的人是干什么的了？这个坏家伙脸上涂牛奶和蜜蜂一样甜，老赶着一辆车到处去转，一路上答应这样答应那样，说尽甜言蜜语，把讨厌书本和学校的懒孩子全都收罗到车上，带到这个“玩儿国”来，让他们快快活活地玩上一段日子。等到这些受骗上当的可怜孩子老这么不读书，一个劲地光是玩，最后变成驴子以后，他就又高兴又满意地成了他们的主人，把他们牵到集市和市场上去卖。这样不到几年，他捞到了许多钱，成了一个百万富翁。
　　小灯芯的遭遇我不知道。我只知道皮诺乔一开头就过的是受尽虐待、苦不堪言的日子。
　　他一给牵进畜栏，新主人就在槽里撒上麦秸。可皮诺乔咬了一口尝了尝，把它吐出来了。
　　主人嘟哝两声，又在槽里撒上干草。可干草皮诺乔也不爱吃。
　　“啊，干草你也不爱吃？”主人生气地叫起来，“好吧，我的宝贝驴子，就算你还有点耍脾气，瞧我来制服你！……”
　　他为了教训教训皮诺乔，马上在他腿上抽了一鞭。
　　皮诺乔痛得大哭大叫，嚷嚷着说：
　　“伊—呀，伊一呀，麦秸我消化不了！……”
　　“那你吃干草！”主人很懂很驴子话，回答说。
　　“伊—呀，伊—呀，干草会叫我肚子痛！……”
　　“依你说，像你这样一头驴子，我该孝敬你鸡胗肝和去骨冻鸡了？”主人说着，更加生气，又给了他一鞭。
　　皮诺乔挨了这第二鞭，学乖了，马上住口，一句话也不再说了。
　　栏门于是关上，皮诺乔独自呆在里面。因为好多个钟头没吃东西了，他想吃得要命，就打起哈欠来。他一打哈欠，就张大他像炉口似的嘴巴。
　　他在槽里什么别的东西也找不到，最后只好看点干草，把干草嚼烂以后，闭上眼睛硬给咽了下去。
　　“这干草还不坏。”他心里说，“可我要是继续读书，我就好得多了！……这时候我就不是吃干草，可以吃新鲜的面包头，吃一大片香肠了！……没法子，只好忍耐着！……”
　　第二天早晨他醒来，马上在槽里找干草，可是找不到，因为昨天夜里都吃光了。
　　于是他吃一小口切碎的麦秸。他嚼着嚼着，觉得切碎麦秸的味道既完全不像米兰式炒饭，又根本不像那不勒斯式通心粉。
　　“没法子，只好忍耐着！”他又说了一遍，继续嚼，“我的不幸要是能给所有不听话和不想读书的孩子作为教训，那就好了。没法子，只好忍耐着！……真没法子，只好忍耐着！……”
　　“忍耐一点吧！”主人这时候正好进畜栏，叫着说，“我的宝贝小驴子，你以为我把你买来，只是为了给你吃给你喝吗？我把你买来是为了让你干活，是为了让你给我挣一大笔钱。好好干吧！你跟我到马戏场去，我来教你跳圈，用头撞破纸桶，跳圆舞和波尔卡舞，用后腿直立起来，”
　　可怜的皮诺乔不管高兴还是被迫，只好学各种了不起的玩意儿，可为了学会这种玩意儿，他得学上三个月，身上挨了无数下皮鞭。
　　终于到了这一天，他的主人可以宣布演出—场真正惊人的节目了，五颜六色的海报贴满大街小巷各个角落，海报上写着：
　　盛大演出
　　今夜
　　本团全体演员
　　还有双双的骏马
　　演出素负有盛誉的跳跃等等
　　各种精彩节目
　　著名演员
　　舞蹈明星
　　驴子皮诺乔
　　首次登台
　　演出
　　戏院通亮如同白昼
　　诸位可以想象到，这天晚上开场前一小时，戏院就满座了。
　　就算你出一个金币，前座也好，后座也好，包厢也好，都别想找到一个位子。
　　马戏场的台磴上，像蚂蚁似地挤满了小娃娃，小姐儿，以及各种不同年龄的孩子。他渴望着要看大名鼎鼎的驴子演员皮诺乔跳舞。
　　第一部分节目结束后，马戏班班主穿着黑上衣，白马裤，高到膝盖的皮靴，出场向挤满一戏院的观众作介绍。他深深一鞠躬，然后用极其庄严的声音说出下面一大堆胡话：
　　“尊敬的观众，骑士们和女士们！”
　　“在下路过贵市，能向聪明尊贵的诸位观众介绍一位鼎鼎大名的驴子，感到万分荣幸。他曾有幸向欧州各主要宫廷的皇帝陛下表演过舞蹈。”
　　“衷心感谢诸位光临赏脸，并请包涵。”
　　这番话引起许多笑声和鼓掌声。这鼓掌声越来越厉害，等驴子皮诺乔来到场子中央，就变成了雷鸣。驴子打扮得似过节那样。他套着闪闪发亮的新的皮缰绳，皮缰绳上镶着铜扣；两只耳朵上各插一朵白茶花；鬃毛编成许多辫子，用红绸带扎着；很大一束金丝银丝缠着他的身子；整条尾巴编了起来，装饰着紫红色和天蓝色的天鹅绒带子。—句话，这头驴子真叫人喜欢！
　　班主向观众介绍他时又说了这么一番话：
　　“我尊敬的观众们！我在这里将不对诸位吹嘘，这头哺乳动物当初在热带原野的山间曾多么自由自在地奔驰，我曾经克服了多大困难才了解他的脾气和驯服了他。我只请求诸位注意他两眼发射出来的野性之光。为了驯服他，使他成为—只文明的四脚动物，一切手段均告无效以后，我只好一再借助于鞭子、用鞭子的温柔语言来同他说话，可是我的种种仁慈并未能使他爱我，相反，他对我越来越坏了。但是我根据威尔士学理，发现他的脑袋上有个小块，连巴黎医学校也认为，它是头发和战舞之球，因为这个缘故，我就训练它跳舞，并且连带跳圈和钻纸桶。请诸位先欣赏，然后再评论吧！不过在孝敬各位之前，噢，先生们，请允许我邀请诸位来看明晚的演出，可万一有下雨的危险，那就不是明晚，而是改为明天上午，午前十一点。”
　　班主说到这里，再一次深深鞠躬，然后转身对皮诺乔说：
　　“卖点劲！皮诺乔！在表演以前，先对在座诸位尊贵的观众，骑士们，女士们，小朋友们行个礼吧！”
　　皮诺乔听话地马上把两个前膝跪在地上，一直跪到班主把鞭子一抽，对他叫道：
　　“开步走！”
　　于是驴子站起来，开始绕马戏场走。
　　走了一会儿，班主又叫：
　　“小步跑！”
　　皮诺乔听从命令，从走改为小步跑。
　　“大步跑！”
　　皮诺乔改为大步跑。
　　“飞跑！”
　　皮诺乔于是飞也似地跑。他正像快马一样跑的时候，班主举起一只胳膊，朝天开了一枪。
　　驴子一听枪响，马上装作受伤，直挺挺倒在地上，好像真的死了。
　　他在越来越响的掌声和叫好声中站起来，很自然就抬起头向上望望……他一望就看见一个包厢里有一位美丽的太太，脖子上挂着一串很大的金项链，项链上吊着一个画像。这是一个木偶的像。
　　“这是我的像啊！……这位太太是仙女！”皮诺乔心里说，马上认出她来了，他感到万分高兴，就想大叫：
　　“噢，我的好仙女！噢，我的好仙女！”
　　可是发出来的不是人话的而是驴叫声，叫得又响又长，戏院里所的观众，特别是小孩子，都哈哈大笑起来。
　　班主为了教训他，为了让他懂得，当着观众的面这样伊—呀，伊一呀大叫是没有规矩的，就用鞭子柄在他鼻子上狠狠打了一下。
　　可怜的驴子伸出一巴掌长的舌头，把鼻子舔了起码五分钟，以为这样可以减轻一点他感到的痛楚。
　　他再转过脸去一看，可是包厢空了，仙女已经不见了，他是多么的伤心和失望啊！……
　　他觉得好像要死了，热泪盈眶，开始痛哭，可是没有人明白他的意思，班主可不明白，反而抽着鞭子叫道：
　　“勇敢点，皮诺乔，现在让这些先生们看看，你能够多么优美地跳圈。”
　　皮诺乔试了两三次，可是每次到了圈圈前面，他不是跳过去，而是想从圈圈下面溜过去。最后他一跳是跳过去了，可是真倒霉，后腿勾住了圈圈，于是他在圈圈那一边扑通跌倒在地，缩成一团。
　　等到他站起来，脚已经瘸了，好容易才回到他的栏里，
　　“皮诺乔出来！我们要看驴子！驴子出来！”池座里的小朋友们大叫，对这件不幸事，隐感到怜悯和同情。
　　可是驴子这一夜再也没露脸。
　　第二天早晨，外科大夫，就是一位兽医，来看过他以后说，他要一辈子瘸腿了。
　　班主于是对管畜栏的小厮说：
　　“一头瘸腿驴子，叫我要它干什么呢？他只会白吃。带他到市场上去卖了吧。”
　　到了市场上，马上找到了买主。他问管畜栏的小厮说：
　　“这头瘸腿驴子，你要多少钱？”
　　“二十块钱。”
　　“我给你二十个子儿。你可别以为我买它来干什么活。我买它只不过要他的皮。我看它的皮挺厚，想拿这张皮给我家乡的乐队蒙个大鼓。”
　　小朋友们，当可怜的皮诺乔听说他注定要变一个大鼓时，他那份高兴劲儿就请诸位去想象了！
　　总之，这买主付了二十个子儿，把驴子带到海边一个悬崖上。他在驴子脖子上吊一块大石头，用一根绳子绑住他一条腿，绳子另一头抓在手里，猛地一推，把他推到水里去了。
　　由于脖子上吊着那么块大石头，皮诺乔马上就沉到海底，买主一直抓紧绳子，坐在悬崖上，只等驴子到时候淹死，好剥他的皮。
Chapter 34
Pinocchio is thrown into the sea, eaten by fishes,and becomes a Marionette once more. As he swims to land,he is swallowed by the Terrible SharkDown into the sea, deeper and deeper, sank Pinocchio, andfinally, after fifty minutes of waiting, the man on the cliffsaid to himself:
　　"By this time my poor little lame Donkey must bedrowned. Up with him and then I can get to work on mybeautiful drum."He pulled the rope which he had tied to Pinocchio'sleg--pulled and pulled and pulled and, at last, he sawappear on the surface of the water--Can you guess what?
　　Instead of a dead donkey, he saw a very much aliveMarionette, wriggling and squirming like an eel.
　　Seeing that wooden Marionette, the poor man thoughthe was dreaming and sat there with his mouth wide openand 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 agowere a donkey, are now standing before me a wooden Marionette?""It may be the effect of salt water. The sea is fond ofplaying 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 theMarionette'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 woodenMarionette, just as I am today. One day I was about tobecome a boy, a real boy, but on account of my lazinessand my hatred of books, and because I listened to badcompanions, I ran away from home. One beautiful morning,I awoke to find myself changed into a donkey--longears, 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, whotried to make me dance and jump through the rings. Onenight, during a performance, I had a bad fall and becamelame. Not knowing what to do with a lame donkey, the CircusOwner 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 meharm--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 donkeysin 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 feelingsorry for me, you tied a stone to my neck and threw meto the bottom of the sea. That was very good and kindof you to want me to suffer as little as possibleand I shall remember you always. And now my Fairywill take care of me, even if you--""Your Fairy? Who is she?""She is my mother, and, like all other mothers wholove their children, she never loses sight of me, eventhough I do not deserve it. And today this good Fairyof mine, as soon as she saw me in danger of drowning,sent a thousand fishes to the spot where I lay. Theythought I was really a dead donkey and began to eat me.
　　What great bites they took! One ate my ears, another mynose, a third my neck and my mane. Some went at mylegs and some at my back, and among the others, therewas one tiny fish so gentle and polite that he did methe great favor of eating even my tail.""From now on," said the man, horrified, "I swear I shallnever again taste fish. How I should enjoy opening a mulletor 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 finishedeating my donkey coat, which covered me from head tofoot, they naturally came to the bones--or rather, in mycase, to the wood, for as you know, I am made of veryhard wood. After the first few bites, those greedy fishfound out that the wood was not good for their teeth, and,afraid of indigestion, they turned and ran here and therewithout saying good-by or even as much as thank you tome. Here, dear Master, you have my story. You knownow why you found a Marionette and not a dead donkeywhen you pulled me out of the water.""I laugh at your story!" cried the man angrily. "I knowthat 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 marketonce 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 thesea. 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 againand 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 movingswiftly on the blue surface of the water, a little black dotwhich now and then lifted a leg or an arm in the air.
　　One would have thought that Pinocchio had turned intoa porpoise playing in the sun.
　　After swimming for a long time, Pinocchio saw a largerock in the middle of the sea, a rock as white as marble.
　　High on the rock stood a little Goat bleating and callingand beckoning to the Marionette to come to her.
　　There was something very strange about that littleGoat. Her coat was not white or black or brown as thatof any other goat, but azure, a deep brilliant color thatreminded 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 couldtoward the white rock. He was almost halfway over,when suddenly a horrible sea monster stuck its head outof the water, an enormous head with a huge mouth, wideopen, showing three rows of gleaming teeth, the meresight 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 frightenedhim almost to death! He tried to swim away from him,to change his path, to escape, but that immense mouthkept 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 oneof her hoofs to help him up out of the water.
　　Alas! It was too late. The monster overtook him andthe Marionette found himself in between the rows ofgleaming 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 havesucked 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 notremember where he was. Around him all was darkness,a darkness so deep and so black that for a moment hethought he had put his head into an inkwell. He listenedfor a few moments and heard nothing. Once in a while acold wind blew on his face. At first he could not understandwhere that wind was coming from, but after a whilehe 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 hebecame convinced that he was really and truly in theShark's stomach, he burst into sobs and tears. "Help!
　　Help!" he cried. "Oh, poor me! Won't someone cometo save me?""Who is there to help you, unhappy boy?" said a roughvoice, 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 thesame 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 mewithout even a `by your leave'! And now what are weto 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 enoughto think that if one is born a fish, it is more dignified to dieunder the water than in the frying pan.""What nonsense!" cried Pinocchio.
　　"Mine is an opinion," replied the Tunny, "and opinionsshould 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?" askedthe Marionette.
　　"His body, not counting the tail, is almost a mile long."While talking in the darkness, Pinocchio thought hesaw a faint light in the distance.
　　"What can that be?" he said to the Tunny.
　　"Some other poor fish, waiting as patiently as we tobe digested by the Shark.""I want to see him. He may be an old fish and mayknow 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."
　　驴子落到水里以后过了五十分钟，买主自言自语说：
　　“这会儿我那可怜的瘸腿驴子准已经淹死了。我用他重新拉上来，好拿他的皮做个出色大鼓。”
　　于是他动手拉绑住驴子一条腿的绳子，他拉啊，拉啊，拉啊，最后看见从水里出来了……请诸位猜猜看，拉出来的是什么？他看见从水里拉上来的不是一头死驴，而是一个活木偶，以为是在做梦，呆住了，嘴张得老大，眼睛都突了出来。
　　等到他从原先的惊讶中清醒一点，结结巴巴地哭看说：
　　“我推到海里的驴子上哪儿去啦？……”
　　“这头驴子就是我！”木偶笑着回答说，
　　“是你？”
　　“是我。”
　　“啊！你这个骗子！你想开我的玩笑吗？”
　　“开您的玩笑，一点不是，亲爱的主人，我跟您说的是真话。”
　　“可你怎么不久前还是头驴子，到水里去了一会，现在变成了一个木偶呢？”
　　“这大概是海水的作用，是大海开的一个玩笑。”
　　“你当心点，木偶，你当心点！……可别暗地里取笑我。要是我忍不住发起火来，你可就倒霉啦！”
　　“我说，我的主人，您想知道全部真相吗？，您解开我这只脚上的绳子，我就都告诉您。”
　　买主是个好事的人，很想知道事情的真相，马上就解开了拴住皮诺乔的绳结。皮诺乔登时自由得像天空中的小鸟，于是对他说：
　　“您知道，我本来就是个木偶，跟现在一模一样，我几乎就要变成一个孩子，跟世界上所有的孩子一样的孩子，要不是我不大想读书，并且听信坏同学的话，离开了家……于是有—天我醒过来，发现我变了一头驴子，有那么—对耳朵……还有那么—条尾巴！……这叫我多么害臊啊！……亲爱的主人，但愿仁慈的圣安东尼奥永远不会使您这么害臊！我被牵到驴子市场去卖。一个马戏班班主把我买了。他竟想让我成为一个伟大的舞蹈家，一个出色的跳圈演员。一天晚上，我在马戏场里演出，狠狠地摔了一跤，两条腿都瘸了。班主不知道拿一头瘸腿驴子怎么好，吩咐把我再卖掉。您就把我给买来了！”
　　“太糟糕啦！我为你花了二十个子儿。现在问谁去要回这倒霉的二十个子儿呢？”
　　“您买我干什么，您买我是为了用我的皮去做一个大鼓！……一个大鼓！……”
　　“太糟糕了！现在上哪儿再找一张皮呢？……”
　　“别泄气，主人。在这个世界上驴子多的是！”
　　“告诉我，没规矩的小鬼，你的故事讲完了没有？”
　　“没有，”木偶回答说，“还有两句话才完。您买了我，把我带到这儿来要杀死我。可后来您出于人道主义的同情心，改为用一块大石头系在我的脖子上，把我推下海底。这种美好的感情给您极大荣誉，我将永远记住您。真的，亲爱的主人，这一回您的计划要成功了，要不是仙女……”
　　“什么仙女？”
　　“仙女是我的妈妈，她跟所有的好妈妈一样。妈妈都是极其爱护自己子女的，始终看住他们，一有什么不幸，就疼爱地帮助他们，即使由于他们冒失、品行不好，应该把他们抛弃，任从他们去。比方说，好仙女一看见我快淹死，就马上派了一大群不计其数的鱼到我那儿。它们以为我真是一头死驴子，就动口吃我！它们是怎样大口大口的咬我啊！我从来没想到鱼比孩子还馋！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……甚至有一条小鱼是那么客气，它照顾我的尾巴，把它吃了个精光。”
　　“从今以后，”买主嫌恶地说，“我发誓不再吃鱼了。剖开一条火鱼或者一条炸鳕鱼，结果在肚子里发现了条驴子尾巴，那太恶心了！”
　　“我的想法跟您一样，”木偶笑着回答，“我再给您说，等到这些鱼吃光我身上从头到脚的皮和肉，自然就吃到我的骨头……或者说是正确点，吃到我的木头，因为您知道，我是很硬很硬的木头做的。可是咬了几口，这些馋嘴鱼马上发觉木头咬不动，对这种不消化的东西感到恶心，它们连一句谢谢也没跟我说，就各走各的了……您抓住绳子拉上来的为什么是个活木偶而不是一头死驴子，我算是都给您讲了。”
　　“我才不要听你的故事呢？”买主气得狂叫。“我只知道我买你花了二十个子儿，现在要把钱弄回来。你知道我怎么办吗？我要重新把你牵到市场，当—块生炉子的干木头卖掉。”
　　“您就卖吧，我很高兴，”皮诺乔说，
　　可他说着猛地一跳，跳到水里去了。他飞快地游离海岸，对可怜的买主叫道：
　　“再见了，主人！如果您要张皮做大鼓，您记住我吧。”
　　接着他一面笑一面游，游了一阵又回过身来，叫得更响：
　　“再见了，主人！如果您要点干木头生炉子，您记住我吧。”
　　一转眼工夫他已经游得老远，几乎看不见了，也就是说，只看见海面上有一个黑点子，这个黑点子不时把脚从水里伸出来，翻个跟头，像条欢蹦乱跳的海豚似的。
　　皮诺乔正拼命地游，看见大海当中有一块礁石，很像一块雪白的大理石。礁石顶上站着一只漂亮的小山羊，亲热地叫着，招呼他过去。
　　更奇怪的是，小山羊的毛不是白的，也不是黑的，也不是带黑白斑点的，像其他的山羊那样，而是天蓝色的，这种闪闪发亮的天蓝色使他一下子想起了那美丽仙女的头发。
　　可怜的皮诺乔，他的心开始跳动得更厉害了，这一点请诸位去想象吧！他加了把劲向那块雪白的礁石游去。已经游完一半路，忽然水里钻出一个海怪的可怕脑袋，冲着他游过来。它的嘴张得老大，活像一个深渊，还露出三排长牙齿，叫人一见就心惊胆战。
　　诸位知道这海怪是什么东西吗？
　　这海怪不是别的，正是一条大鲨鱼，这鲨鱼在咱们这故事里已经一再提到过。由于它老是为害，贪吃无厌，外号叫“鱼和渔人的魔王。”
　　诸位想象一下，可怜的皮诺乔看见这怪物时有多么害怕！他千方百计要躲开它，换条路游，他千方百计要逃走。可是这条鱼张开的大嘴巴像箭一样直冲着他过来。
　　“皮诺乔，千万快一点！”那漂亮的小山羊咩咩叫着说。
　　皮诺乔于是用手、用胸口、用腿、用脚拼命地游。
　　“快点，皮诺乔，怪物已经靠近了！……”
　　皮诺乔使出浑身的力气加紧游，
　　“小心，皮诺乔！……怪物要追上你了！……看吧！……它到了！……千万快一点，要不就完了！
　　皮诺乔尽力游得更快，更快，更快，更快，像一颗出膛子弹。
　　他已经游到礁石那儿，小山羊已经向大海俯下身子，伸出前腿要帮他离开水面！……
　　可是太迟了！怪物已经追上他，怪物深深地一吸，就像吸鸡蛋似的，把可怜的木偶吸到嘴里。它狼吞虎咽地把皮诺乔吞下去，皮诺乔一下子到了鲨鱼肚子里，狠狠撞了一下，整整有一刻钟昏昏迷迷的不省人事。
　　等到他从这种昏迷状态中醒来，连自己也弄不清是在哪一个世界。他周围漆黑一片，黑得像把头钻到一瓶墨水里。他侧着耳朵听，什么声音也没听到。他只是不时觉得有一阵大风吹在脸上。起先他闹不清风是哪儿来的，可后来明白了，风是从怪物的肺里来的。原来，鲨鱼的气喘病很厉害，它一呼吸就像刮北风似的。
　　皮诺乔起先一个劲儿要鼓起勇气，可后来反复证实他是禁闭在海怪的肚子里，就开始大哭大叫，流着泪说：
　　“救命啊！救命啊！噢，我真苦命啊！这儿没人能救我吗？”
　　“谁能来救你呢？不幸的孩子……”在黑暗中有一个很轻的嘶哑声音说，这声音像是不协调的六弦琴发出来的。
　　“说这话的是谁？”皮诺乔问，他只觉得人都吓惊了。
　　“是我！是一条可怜的金枪鱼，跟你一起被鲨鱼吞进来的。你是什么鱼？”
　　“我跟鱼毫无关系。我是一个木偶。”
　　“你不是鱼，怎么让这怪物吞了？”
　　“不是我让它吞，是我被它吞了！咱们这会儿黑咕隆咚的怎么办？……”
　　“咱们只好静静地等鲨鱼把咱俩给消化掉！……”
　　“我可不情愿让它给消化掉！”皮诺乔叫起来，又开始哭了。
　　“我也不情愿它给消化掉，”金枪鱼接下去说，“可我地地道道是个哲学家，我想到我既然生下来是金枪鱼，那么死在水里总比死在油里更体面些，这么一想，我心里就感到舒坦些了……”
　　“蠢话！”皮诺乔叫道。
　　“我这是一种意见，”金抢鱼回答说，“既然是意见，正如金枪鱼政治家说的, 就应当受到尊重！”
　　“不管怎么说……我要离开这儿……我要逃走……”
　　“只要办得到，你就逃走吧！……”
　　“吞下咱们的这条鲨鱼很大很大吗？”木偶问道。
　　“你想象一下吧，他的身体有一公里长，尾巴还不算在内。”
　　他们在黑暗中正这么说着，皮诺乔觉得远远好像看见一点微弱的亮光。
　　“远远那点光是怎么回事?”皮诺乔问，
　　“是咱们的一位患难伙伴，也像咱俩一样，在等着被消化！……”
　　“我想去找找他，他会不会是一条老鱼，能指点我怎么逃出去呢？”
　　“我衷心祝你成功，亲爱的木偶。”
　　“再见，金枪鱼。”
　　“再见，木偶，祝你幸运，”
　　“咱们在哪儿再见？……”
　　“谁知道？……最好还是别想这个吧！”
Chapter 35
In the Shark's body Pinocchio finds whom?
　　Read this chapter, my children, and you will knowPinocchio, as soon as he had said good-by to his goodfriend, the Tunny, tottered away in the darkness andbegan to walk as well as he could toward the faint lightwhich glowed in the distance.
　　As he walked his feet splashed in a pool of greasy andslippery water, which had such a heavy smell of fish friedin oil that Pinocchio thought it was Lent.
　　The farther on he went, the brighter and clearer grewthe tiny light. On and on he walked till finally he found--I give you a thousand guesses, my dear children! Hefound a little table set for dinner and lighted by a candlestuck in a glass bottle; and near the table sat a little oldman, white as the snow, eating live fish. They wriggledso that, now and again, one of them slipped out of the oldman's mouth and escaped into the darkness under the table.
　　At this sight, the poor Marionette was filled with suchgreat and sudden happiness that he almost dropped in afaint. He wanted to laugh, he wanted to cry, he wantedto say a thousand and one things, but all he could do wasto stand still, stuttering and stammering brokenly. Atlast, with a great effort, he was able to let out a scream ofjoy and, opening wide his arms he threw them around theold man's neck.
　　"Oh, Father, dear Father! Have I found you at last?
　　Now I shall never, never leave you again!""Are my eyes really telling me the truth?" answeredthe old man, rubbing his eyes. "Are you really my owndear Pinocchio?""Yes, yes, yes! It is I! Look at me! And you haveforgiven me, haven't you? Oh, my dear Father, howgood you are! And to think that I--Oh, but if youonly knew how many misfortunes have fallen on my headand how many troubles I have had! Just think that onthe day you sold your old coat to buy me my A-B-Cbook so that I could go to school, I ran away to theMarionette Theater and the proprietor caught me andwanted to burn me to cook his roast lamb! He was theone who gave me the five gold pieces for you, but I metthe Fox and the Cat, who took me to the Inn of the RedLobster. There they ate like wolves and I left the Innalone and I met the Assassins in the wood. I ran and theyran after me, always after me, till they hanged me to thebranch of a giant oak tree. Then the Fairy of the AzureHair sent the coach to rescue me and the doctors, afterlooking at me, said, `If he is not dead, then he is surelyalive,' and then I told a lie and my nose began to grow.
　　It grew and it grew, till I couldn't get it through thedoor of the room. And then I went with the Fox and theCat to the Field of Wonders to bury the gold pieces. TheParrot laughed at me and, instead of two thousand goldpieces, I found none. When the Judge heard I had beenrobbed, he sent me to jail to make the thieves happy; andwhen I came away I saw a fine bunch of grapes hanging ona vine. The trap caught me and the Farmer put a collar onme and made me a watchdog. He found out I was innocentwhen I caught the Weasels and he let me go. The Serpentwith the tail that smoked started to laugh and a vein in hischest broke and so I went back to the Fairy's house. Shewas dead, and the Pigeon, seeing me crying, said to me, `Ihave seen your father building a boat to look for you inAmerica,' and I said to him, `Oh, if I only had wings!' andhe said to me, `Do you want to go to your father?' and Isaid, `Perhaps, but how?' and he said, `Get on my back. I'lltake you there.' We flew all night long, and next morningthe fishermen were looking toward the sea, crying, `Thereis a poor little man drowning,' and I knew it was you,because my heart told me so and I waved to you from the shore--""I knew you also," put in Geppetto, "and I wanted togo to you; but how could I? The sea was rough and thewhitecaps overturned the boat. Then a Terrible Sharkcame up out of the sea and, as soon as he saw me in thewater, swam quickly toward me, put out his tongue, andswallowed me as easily as if I had been a chocolate peppermint.""And how long have you been shut away in here?""From that day to this, two long weary years--twoyears, my Pinocchio, which have been like two centuries.""And how have you lived? Where did you find thecandle? And the matches with which to light it--wheredid you get them?""You must know that, in the storm which swamped myboat, a large ship also suffered the same fate. The sailorswere all saved, but the ship went right to the bottom ofthe sea, and the same Terrible Shark that swallowed me,swallowed most of it.""What! Swallowed a ship?" asked Pinocchio in astonishment.
　　"At one gulp. The only thing he spat out was the main-mast, for it stuck in his teeth. To my own good luck, thatship was loaded with meat, preserved foods, crackers,bread, bottles of wine, raisins, cheese, coffee, sugar, waxcandles, and boxes of matches. With all these blessings, Ihave been able to live happily on for two whole years, butnow I am at the very last crumbs. Today there is nothingleft in the cupboard, and this candle you see here is thelast one I have.""And then?""And then, my dear, we'll find ourselves in darkness.""Then, my dear Father," said Pinocchio, "there is notime to lose. We must try to escape.""Escape! How?""We can run out of the Shark's mouth and dive into the sea.""You speak well, but I cannot swim, my dear Pinocchio.""Why should that matter? You can climb on my shouldersand I, who am a fine swimmer, will carry you safelyto the shore.""Dreams, my boy!" answered Geppetto, shaking hishead and smiling sadly. "Do you think it possible for aMarionette, a yard high, to have the strength to carry meon his shoulders and swim?""Try it and see! And in any case, if it is written that wemust die, we shall at least die together."Not adding another word, Pinocchio took the candle in his handand going ahead to light the way, he said to his father:
　　"Follow me and have no fear."They walked a long distance through the stomach andthe whole body of the Shark. When they reached thethroat of the monster, they stopped for a while to wait forthe right moment in which to make their escape.
　　I want you to know that the Shark, being very old andsuffering from asthma and heart trouble, was obliged tosleep with his mouth open. Because of this, Pinocchio wasable to catch a glimpse of the sky filled with stars, as helooked up through the open jaws of his new home.
　　"The time has come for us to escape," he whispered,turning to his father. "The Shark is fast asleep. The seais calm and the night is as bright as day. Follow me closely,dear Father, and we shall soon be saved."No sooner said than done. They climbed up the throatof the monster till they came to that immense open mouth.
　　There they had to walk on tiptoes, for if they tickled theShark's long tongue he might awaken--and where wouldthey be then? The tongue was so wide and so long thatit looked like a country road. The two fugitives were justabout to dive into the sea when the Shark sneezed verysuddenly and, as he sneezed, he gave Pinocchio andGeppetto such a jolt that they found themselves thrown ontheir backs and dashed once more and very unceremoniouslyinto the stomach of the monster.
　　To make matters worse, the candle went out and fatherand son were left in the dark.
　　"And now?" asked Pinocchio with a serious face.
　　"Now we are lost.""Why lost? Give me your hand, dear Father, and becareful not to slip!""Where will you take me?""We must try again. Come with me and don't be afraid."With these words Pinocchio took his father by the handand, always walking on tiptoes, they climbed up the monster'sthroat for a second time. They then crossed thewhole tongue and jumped over three rows of teeth. Butbefore they took the last great leap, the Marionette saidto his father:
　　"Climb on my back and hold on tightly to my neck.
　　I'll take care of everything else."As soon as Geppetto was comfortably seated on hisshoulders, Pinocchio, very sure of what he was doing,dived into the water and started to swim. The sea was likeoil, the moon shone in all splendor, and the Shark continuedto sleep so soundly that not even a cannon shot wouldhave awakened him.
　　皮诺乔对他的好朋友金枪鱼说过再见，就在鲨鱼的肚子里摸着黑，向在老远老远一闪一闪的微弱亮光一步一步走去。
　　他走着走着，只觉得脚踏在滑溜溜的油腻水坑里。油腻的水发出炸鱼一样的气味，使他觉得像是在大斋期。
　　他越是往前走，火光就越是亮，越是清楚。他走啊走啊，最后走到了。等他走到跟前……他可是看到什么啦？就让诸位猜上一千次，诸位也别想猜出来。他看到了一张小桌子，上面摆着吃的，还有一支点着的蜡烛，插在一个绿色的玻璃瓶上。桌子旁边坐着一个小老头，头发胡子白得像雪，或者说白得像切开的面包。这小老头正在那里嚼着一些生猛的小鱼。这些小鱼太生猛了，有时他吃着吃着就打他嘴里跳了出来。
　　可怜的皮诺乔一看见这个人，马上感到大喜过望，差点儿都要昏倒了，他想笑，他想哭，他想说许多许多话，可结果只能乱叫一通，结结巴巴地说些无头无尾、前言不打后语的话。最后他好容易迸发出一阵欢呼，张开胳膊，扑过去搂住小老头的脖子，叫了起来：
　　“噢！我的爸爸！我终于又找到您了！从今往后，我永远、永远、永远不再离开您！”
　　“我眼睛看见的是真的吗？”小老头擦着眼睛回答说，“你当真是我亲爱的皮诺乔吗？”
　　“是的，是的，是的，真是我！您已经饶恕我了，这不是真的吗？噢！我的爸爸，您多么好啊！……想一想吧，我却是那么……噢！只要您知道多少不幸劈里啪啦地落到我头上，我碰到了多少倒霉事情啊！你想象一下吧，我的可怜的爸爸，您那一天卖掉了您的上衣，给我买了一本识字课本让我上学，我却溜去看木偶戏，木偶戏班班主想把我扔到火里去烤他那只小羊。后来也是他给了我五个金币，叫我带回家给您。可我碰到了一只狐狸和一只猫，它们带我到‘红虾旅馆’，它们在那里狼吞虎咽，后来我一个人夜里离开旅馆，路上遇到两个杀人的强盗。他们追我。我跑，他们追，我使劲跑，他们使劲追。我跑啊跑，他们追啊追。最后他们还是捉住了我，把我吊在一棵大橡树的树枝上。后来一位天蓝色头发的美丽仙女派车把我救走。大夫看过我以后，马上说：‘如果他没有死，那就是还活着。’这时候我忽然说了个谎，我的鼻子就长起来，长得连房门也出不去了。后来我同狐狸和猫去种四个金币。一个金币已经在旅馆里花掉。一只鹦鹉笑起我来。我不是弄到两千个金币，而是弄得一无所有了。法官听说我给偷了，马上把我关到牢里，让小偷们高兴。出了监牢，我看地里有一串很好的葡萄。结果给捕兽夹夹住。农夫有百分之百的道理给我套上狗颈圈，让我看守鸡埘。等到他知道我是无辜的，就把我放走。一条尾巴喷烟的蛇哈哈大笑，笑得肚子上一根静脉都爆了。于是我回到美丽仙女的家，可她已经死了。鸽子看见我哭，对我说：‘我看见你爸爸做了一只小船要去找你。’我对它说：‘噢！我有翅膀就好了！’它对我说：‘你想到你爸爸那儿去吗？’我说：‘想极了！可谁送我去呢？’他对我说：‘我送你去。’我对它说：‘怎么去法呢？’他对我说：‘爬到我的背上来。’我们就这样飞了一夜。后来天亮了，所有的渔民看着大海，他们对我说：‘有一个可怜人坐在一只小船上，船要沉了，’我打老远马上认出是您，因为我的心这么对我说，于是我做手势叫您回到岸上来……”
　　“我也认出是你，”杰佩托说，“我也想回到岸上，可怎么办呢？大海波涛汹涌，一个大浪把小船打翻了。就在这时候，旁边正好有一条可怕的大鲨鱼，它一看见我在水里，马上向我游过来，伸出舌头，赶上了我，一口把我吞下去，就像吞一只波伦亚饺子似的，”
　　“您在这里面关了多久啦？”皮诺乔问。
　　“打那一天到现在，都有两个年头了。我的皮诺乔，这两个年头我觉得就像两个世纪！”
　　“您是怎么过的？您打哪儿弄来这蜡烛？点蜡烛的火柴又是谁给您的？”
　　“我这就原原本本告诉你。你要知道，打翻我那小船的同一个风暴，把一艘商船也打沉了。海员全都得救，可是船沉到海底。这条鲨鱼这一天胃口太好，吞下我以后，把船也吞进来了……”
　　“怎么？一口就吞了整条船？……”皮诺乔惊奇地问。
　　“对，一口就吞了整条船。它只吐掉了一根主桅，因为主桅像根鱼刺似地嵌在它的牙缝里。我真运气，这条船装的是罐头肉、饼干、面包干、一瓶瓶的酒、葡萄干、干酪、咖啡、砂糖、蜡烛和一箱箱火柴，多谢老天爷开恩，我又能活上两年，可现在我都吃光用光，再没什么了，你看见这支点着的蜡烛吗？它已经是我最后一支……”
　　“那以后怎么办？……”
　　“以后吗？我亲爱的，咱俩就得生活在黑暗当中了。”
　　“那么，我的爸爸，”皮诺乔说，“咱们没有时间可以错过了。必须马上想办法逃走……”
　　“逃走？……怎么逃？”
　　“咱们溜出鲨鱼的嘴，跳到海里去游走。”
　　“你话是说得不错。可亲爱的皮诺乔，我不会游泳。”
　　“那有什么关系？……您就骑在我的肩膀上。我是个游泳好手，可以安安稳稳把您带到岸上。”
　　“你这是幻想，我的孩子！”杰佩托回答说，摇着头微微苦笑，“像你这样一个木偶，只有一米高，你以为你有力气背着我游泳吗？”
　　“您试一下就知道了！万一咱们命定该死，咱们就拥抱着死在一起，这至少是个很大的安慰。”
　　皮诺乔二话不说，拿起蜡烛，走在前面照路，回头对他爸爸说：
　　“跟着我走，别怕。”
　　他们就这样走了很大一段路，穿过鲨鱼的整个肚子。可等他们来到怪物的喉咙口，他们想还是停下来等一等，先看准一个有利时机再逃出去。
　　现在必须知道，这条鲨鱼太老了，又加上害气喘病和心脏病，睡觉只好张开嘴巴，因此皮诺乔从喉咙口往上看，能够看到张开的人嘴巴外面一大片星空和极其美丽的月光。
　　“现在逃走正是时候，”他转过脸向他爸爸低声说。“鲨鱼睡熟了。大海平静，亮得如同白昼，爸爸，您跟着我，咱们马上就得救了。”
　　说干就干，他们顺着海怪的喉咙往上爬，来到其大无比的嘴巴那儿，开始踮起脚尖在舌头上走。这舌头又大又长，像花园里的大道。他们已经站在那里，正准备狠狠一跳，跳到大海里去游起来，可正在这时候，鲨鱼打了个喷嚏。它打喷嚏先要狠狠地吸口气。它一吸气，皮诺乔和杰佩托就给吸了回去，重新落到怪物的肚子里头。
　　他们摔了个大跟头。蜡烛灭了，父子两人就呆在漆黑一片当中。
　　“现在怎么办了……”皮诺乔认真地问，
　　“我的孩子，现在咱们全完了。”
　　“为什么完了？把手给我，爸爸，当心别滑倒！”
　　“你带我上哪儿啊？”
　　“咱们试试看再逃一次，您跟我来，别怕。”
　　皮诺乔说着，拉住他爸爸的手，他们一直踮着脚尖走，一起重新顺着怪物的喉咙向上爬，接着他们走过整条舌头，爬过三排牙齿，在狠狠地一跳之前，木偶对他爸爸说：
　　“骑到我肩膀上，抱得紧紧的，其余的我来想办法对付。”
　　杰佩托在儿子肩膀上一坐好，皮诺乔就满有把握地跳到水里，游起来了。大海平静无波。月亮发出全部光华。鲨鱼继续安心大睡，睡得那么熟，甚至开大炮也轰不醒它。
Chapter 36
Pinocchio finally ceases to bea Marionette and becomes a boy"My dear Father, we are saved!" cried the Marionette.
　　"All we have to do now is to get to the shore, and that is easy."Without another word, he swam swiftly away in aneffort to reach land as soon as possible. All at once henoticed that Geppetto was shivering and shaking as if witha high fever.
　　Was he shivering from fear or from cold? Who knows?
　　Perhaps a little of both. But Pinocchio, thinking his fatherwas frightened, tried to comfort him by saying:
　　"Courage, Father! In a few moments we shall be safe on land.""But where is that blessed shore?" asked the little old man,more and more worried as he tried to pierce the faraway shadows.
　　"Here I am searching on all sides and I see nothing but sea and sky.""I see the shore," said the Marionette. "Remember, Father,that I am like a cat. I see better at night than by day."Poor Pinocchio pretended to be peaceful and contented,but he was far from that. He was beginning to feeldiscouraged, his strength was leaving him, and his breathingwas becoming more and more labored. He felt he couldnot go on much longer, and the shore was still far away.
　　He swam a few more strokes. Then he turned to Geppettoand cried out weakly:
　　"Help me, Father! Help, for I am dying!"Father and son were really about to drown when theyheard a voice like a guitar out of tune call from the sea:
　　"What is the trouble?""It is I and my poor father.""I know the voice. You are Pinocchio.""Exactly. And you?""I am the Tunny, your companion in the Shark's stomach.""And how did you escape?""I imitated your example. You are the one who showedme the way and after you went, I followed.""Tunny, you arrived at the right moment! I implore you,for the love you bear your children, the little Tunnies,to help us, or we are lost!""With great pleasure indeed. Hang onto my tail, bothof you, and let me lead you. In a twinkling you will besafe on land."Geppetto and Pinocchio, as you can easily imagine, did notrefuse the invitation; indeed, instead of hanging ontothe tail, they thought it better to climb on the Tunny's back.
　　"Are we too heavy?" asked Pinocchio.
　　"Heavy? Not in the least. You are as light as sea-shells,"answered the Tunny, who was as large as a two-year-old horse.
　　As soon as they reached the shore, Pinocchio was thefirst to jump to the ground to help his old father.
　　Then he turned to the fish and said to him:
　　"Dear friend, you have saved my father, and I have notenough words with which to thank you! Allow me toembrace you as a sign of my eternal gratitude."The Tunny stuck his nose out of the water and Pinocchioknelt on the sand and kissed him most affectionatelyon his cheek. At this warm greeting, the poor Tunny,who was not used to such tenderness, wept like a child.
　　He felt so embarrassed and ashamed that he turned quickly,plunged into the sea, and disappeared.
　　In the meantime day had dawned.
　　Pinocchio offered his arm to Geppetto, who was soweak he could hardly stand, and said to him:
　　"Lean on my arm, dear Father, and let us go. We willwalk very, very slowly, and if we feel tired we can restby the wayside.""And where are we going?" asked Geppetto.
　　"To look for a house or a hut, where they will be kind enoughto give us a bite of bread and a bit of straw to sleep on."They had not taken a hundred steps when they saw tworough-looking individuals sitting on a stone begging for alms.
　　It was the Fox and the Cat, but one could hardly recognizethem, they looked so miserable. The Cat, after pretendingto be blind for so many years had really lost the sightof both eyes. And the Fox, old, thin, and almost hairless,had even lost his tail. That sly thief had fallen intodeepest poverty, and one day he had been forced to sell hisbeautiful tail for a bite to eat.
　　"Oh, Pinocchio," he cried in a tearful voice. "Give ussome alms, we beg of you! We are old, tired, and sick.""Sick!" repeated the Cat.
　　"Addio, false friends!" answered the Marionette.
　　"You cheated me once, but you will never catch me again.""Believe us! Today we are truly poor and starving.""Starving!" repeated the Cat.
　　"If you are poor; you deserve it! Remember the oldproverb which says: `Stolen money never bears fruit.'
　　Addio, false friends.""Have mercy on us!""On us.""Addio, false friends. Remember the old proverb which says:
　　`Bad wheat always makes poor bread!'""Do not abandon us.""Abandon us," repeated the Cat.
　　"Addio, false friends. Remember the old proverb:
　　`Whoever steals his neighbor's shirt, usually dies withouthis own.'"Waving good-by to them, Pinocchio and Geppettocalmly went on their way. After a few more steps,they saw, at the end of a long road near a clump of trees,a tiny cottage built of straw.
　　"Someone must live in that little hut," said Pinocchio.
　　"Let us see for ourselves."They went and knocked at the door.
　　"Who is it?" said a little voice from within.
　　"A poor father and a poorer son, without food and withno roof to cover them," answered the Marionette.
　　"Turn the key and the door will open," said the samelittle voice.
　　Pinocchio turned the key and the door opened. As soonas they went in, they looked here and there and everywherebut saw no one.
　　"Oh--ho, where is the owner of the hut?" cried Pinocchio,very much surprised.
　　"Here I am, up here!"Father and son looked up to the ceiling, and there on abeam sat the Talking Cricket.
　　"Oh, my dear Cricket," said Pinocchio, bowing politely.
　　"Oh, now you call me your dear Cricket, but do youremember when you threw your hammer at me to kill me?""You are right, dear Cricket. Throw a hammer at me now.
　　I deserve it! But spare my poor old father.""I am going to spare both the father and the son. I haveonly wanted to remind you of the trick you long agoplayed upon me, to teach you that in this world of ourswe must be kind and courteous to others, if we want tofind kindness and courtesy in our own days of trouble.""You are right, little Cricket, you are more than right,and I shall remember the lesson you have taught me. Butwill you tell how you succeeded in buying this prettylittle cottage?""This cottage was given to me yesterday by a little Goatwith blue hair.""And where did the Goat go?" asked Pinocchio.
　　"I don't know.""And when will she come back?""She will never come back. Yesterday she went awaybleating sadly, and it seemed to me she said: `Poor Pinocchio,I shall never see him again. . .the Shark must haveeaten him by this time.'""Were those her real words? Then it was she--it was--my dear little Fairy," cried out Pinocchio, sobbing bitterly.
　　After he had cried a long time, he wiped his eyes andthen he made a bed of straw for old Geppetto. He laid himon it and said to the Talking Cricket:
　　"Tell me, little Cricket, where shall I find a glass of milkfor my poor Father?""Three fields away from here lives Farmer John. He hassome cows. Go there and he will give you what you want."Pinocchio ran all the way to Farmer John's house. TheFarmer said to him:
　　"How much milk do you want?""I want a full glass.""A full glass costs a penny. First give me the penny.""I have no penny," answered Pinocchio, sad and ashamed.
　　"Very bad, my Marionette," answered the Farmer,"very bad. If you have no penny, I have no milk.""Too bad," said Pinocchio and started to go.
　　"Wait a moment," said Farmer John. "Perhaps we can come to terms.
　　Do you know how to draw water from a well?""I can try.""Then go to that well you see yonder and draw onehundred bucketfuls of water.""Very well.""After you have finished, I shall give you a glass ofwarm sweet milk.""I am satisfied."Farmer John took the Marionette to the well and showedhim how to draw the water. Pinocchio set to work as wellas he knew how, but long before he had pulled up the onehundred buckets, he was tired out and dripping withperspiration. He had never worked so hard in his life.
　　"Until today," said the Farmer, "my donkey has drawnthe water for me, but now that poor animal is dying.""Will you take me to see him?" said Pinocchio.
　　"Gladly."As soon as Pinocchio went into the stable, he spied alittle Donkey lying on a bed of straw in the corner of thestable. He was worn out from hunger and too much work.
　　After looking at him a long time, he said to himself:
　　"I know that Donkey! I have seen him before."And bending low over him, he asked: "Who are you?"At this question, the Donkey opened weary, dying eyesand answered in the same tongue: "I am Lamp-Wick."Then he closed his eyes and died.
　　"Oh, my poor Lamp-Wick," said Pinocchio in a faint voice,as he wiped his eyes with some straw he had picked up from the ground.
　　"Do you feel so sorry for a little donkey that has cost you nothing?"said the Farmer. "What should I do--I, who have paid my good money for him?""But, you see, he was my friend.""Your friend?""A classmate of mine.""What," shouted Farmer John, bursting out laughing.
　　"What! You had donkeys in your school? How you musthave studied!"The Marionette, ashamed and hurt by those words, did not answer,but taking his glass of milk returned to his father.
　　From that day on, for more than five months, Pinocchiogot up every morning just as dawn was breaking and wentto the farm to draw water. And every day he was givena glass of warm milk for his poor old father, who grewstronger and better day by day. But he was not satisfiedwith this. He learned to make baskets of reeds and soldthem. With the money he received, he and his father wereable to keep from starving.
　　Among other things, he built a rolling chair, strong andcomfortable, to take his old father out for an airing onbright, sunny days.
　　In the evening the Marionette studied by lamplight.
　　With some of the money he had earned, he bought himselfa secondhand volume that had a few pages missing, andwith that he learned to read in a very short time. As far aswriting was concerned, he used a long stick at one end ofwhich he had whittled a long, fine point. Ink he had none,so he used the juice of blackberries or cherries.
　　Little by little his diligence was rewarded. Hesucceeded, not only in his studies, but also in his work, and aday came when he put enough money together to keep hisold father comfortable and happy. Besides this, he wasable to save the great amount of fifty pennies. With it hewanted to buy himself a new suit.
　　One day he said to his father:
　　"I am going to the market place to buy myself a coat, acap, and a pair of shoes. When I come back I'll be sodressed up, you will think I am a rich man."He ran out of the house and up the road to the village,laughing and singing. Suddenly he heard his name called,and looking around to see whence the voice came, henoticed a large snail crawling out of some bushes.
　　"Don't you recognize me?" said the Snail.
　　"Yes and no.""Do you remember the Snail that lived with the Fairywith Azure Hair? Do you not remember how she openedthe door for you one night and gave you something to eat?""I remember everything," cried Pinocchio. "Answerme quickly, pretty Snail, where have you left my Fairy?
　　What is she doing? Has she forgiven me? Does sheremember me? Does she still love me? Is she very far awayfrom here? May I see her?"At all these questions, tumbling out one after another,the Snail answered, calm as ever:
　　"My dear Pinocchio, the Fairy is lying ill in a hospital.""In a hospital?""Yes, indeed. She has been stricken with trouble and illness,and she hasn't a penny left with which to buy a bite of bread.""Really? Oh, how sorry I am! My poor, dear little Fairy!
　　If I had a million I should run to her with it! But Ihave only fifty pennies. Here they are. I was just going tobuy some clothes. Here, take them, little Snail, and givethem to my good Fairy.""What about the new clothes?""What does that matter? I should like to sell these ragsI have on to help her more. Go, and hurry. Come backhere within a couple of days and I hope to have moremoney for you! Until today I have worked for my father.
　　Now I shall have to work for my mother also. Good-by,and I hope to see you soon."The Snail, much against her usual habit, began to runlike a lizard under a summer sun.
　　When Pinocchio returned home, his father asked him:
　　"And where is the new suit?""I couldn't find one to fit me. I shall have to look againsome other day."That night, Pinocchio, instead of going to bed at teno'clock waited until midnight, and instead of makingeight baskets, he made sixteen.
　　After that he went to bed and fell asleep. As he slept,he dreamed of his Fairy, beautiful, smiling, and happy,who kissed him and said to him, "Bravo, Pinocchio! Inreward for your kind heart, I forgive you for all yourold mischief. Boys who love and take good care of theirparents when they are old and sick, deserve praise eventhough they may not be held up as models of obedienceand good behavior. Keep on doing so well, and you will be happy."At that very moment, Pinocchio awoke and opened wide his eyes.
　　What was his surprise and his joy when, on lookinghimself over, he saw that he was no longer a Marionette,but that he had become a real live boy! He looked allabout him and instead of the usual walls of straw,he found himself in a beautifully furnished little room,the prettiest he had ever seen. In a twinkling, he jumpeddown from his bed to look on the chair standing near.
　　There, he found a new suit, a new hat, and a pair of shoes.
　　As soon as he was dressed, he put his hands in hispockets and pulled out a little leather purse on which werewritten the following words:
　　The Fairy with Azure Hair returnsfifty pennies to her dear Pinocchiowith many thanks for his kind heart.
　　The Marionette opened the purse to find the money,and behold--there were fifty gold coins!
　　Pinocchio ran to the mirror. He hardly recognized himself.
　　The bright face of a tall boy looked at him with wide-awake blue eyes,dark brown hair and happy, smiling lips.
　　Surrounded by so much splendor, the Marionette hardlyknew what he was doing. He rubbed his eyes two or three times,wondering if he were still asleep or awake and decided he must be awake.
　　"And where is Father?" he cried suddenly. He raninto the next room, and there stood Geppetto, grown yearsyounger overnight, spick and span in his new clothes andgay as a lark in the morning. He was once more MastroGeppetto, the wood carver, hard at work on a lovelypicture frame, decorating it with flowers and leaves, andheads of animals.
　　"Father, Father, what has happened? Tell me if you can,"cried Pinocchio, as he ran and jumped on his Father's neck.
　　"This sudden change in our house is all your doing,my dear Pinocchio," answered Geppetto.
　　"What have I to do with it?""Just this. When bad boys become good and kind,they have the power of making their homes gay and newwith happiness.""I wonder where the old Pinocchio of wood has hidden himself?""There he is," answered Geppetto. And he pointedto a large Marionette leaning against a chair, head turnedto one side, arms hanging limp, and legs twisted under him.
　　After a long, long look, Pinocchio said to himself withgreat content:
　　"How ridiculous I was as a Marionette! And howhappy I am, now that I have become a real boy!"
　　皮诺乔正要游向海岸的时候，突然觉得爸爸骑在他肩头上，半只脚浸在水里，一个劲地在哆嗦。这可怜的人像发疟疾似的。
　　他是冷得发抖，还是吓得发抖呢？谁知道啊，……也许两者都有一点。可皮诺乔认为他是吓得发抖，安慰他说：
　　“勇敢点，爸爸！过几分钟就到陆地，咱们就得救了。”
　　“可这老天降福的海岸在哪儿啊！”小老头问道。他越来越担心，尖起了眼睛，就像裁缝穿针时的样子。“瞧，我四面八方都看了，就只看见天连水，水连天。”
　　“可我还看见岸，”木偶说，“跟您说，我像猫，晚上看得比白天还清楚。”
　　可怜的皮诺乔只不过装出一副喜气洋洋的样子，可事实上呢……事实上他已经开始泄气了。他的力气不够，呼吸越来越困难，越来越急促……一句话，他再也不行了，可海岸还远着呢。
　　他只要有一口气就拼命地游。可最后他向杰佩托转过脸来，断断续续地说：
　　“我的爸爸，救救我……我快死了！”
　　他们爷儿俩眼看就要给淹死了，可这时候他们听见一个像走了调的六弦琴似的声音说：
　　“谁快死啦？”
　　“是我和我可怜的爸爸！”
　　“这嗓子我很熟！你是皮诺乔吧！……”
　　“一点不错。你是谁，”
　　“我是金枪鱼，鲨鱼肚子里的患难朋友。”
　　“你怎么逃出来的？”
　　“我学你的样子逃出来了。是你给我开了窍，我也跟着逃出来了。”
　　“我的金枪鱼，你来得正好！我求求你，你像爱你那些小金枪鱼那样救救我们吧，要不我们就完蛋了。”
　　“我很愿意，衷心愿意。你们俩快抓住我的尾巴，让我带你们走。只要四分钟我就可以把你们送到岸上。”
　　诸位可以想象得到，杰佩托和皮诺乔马上接受邀请，而不是抓住金枪鱼的尾巴，而是骑在它背上，觉得这样更舒服些。
　　“我们太重吗？”皮诺乔问。
　　“重！一点不重。我只觉得身上不过有两个贝壳，”金枪鱼回答说。它身强力壮，像匹两岁的马似的。
　　到了岸边，皮诺乔第一个跳上岸，帮他爸爸也上了岸。然后他向金枪鱼转过身来，用感激的声音对它说：
　　“我的朋友，你救了我的爸爸！我都不知该说什么话来好好谢你！至少得让我亲亲你，表示我对你永世不忘的谢意！……”
　　金枪鱼全把嘴露出水面，皮诺乔跪在地上，无比亲热地亲了一下它的嘴。可怜的金枪鱼，它有生以来还没有人这样真心真意地热爱过它，它激动极了，又不好意思让人看见它像小娃娃似地哇哇哭，就把头重新钻到水底下，不见了。
　　这时天已经亮起来。
　　杰佩托都快站不住了，皮诺乔向他伸出手来对他说：
　　“靠在我的胳膊上吧，亲爱的爸爸，咱们走。咱们慢慢地，慢慢地走，慢得像蚂蚁似的。走累了就在路边歇一会。”
　　“咱们上哪儿去呢？”
　　“咱们去找一间房子或者一间茅屋，到了那里，人们会做好事，给咱们口面包吃，给咱们点干草睡一觉的。”
　　还没走上一百步，他们就看见两个丑八怪，正在路边乞讨。
　　这就是那只猫和那只狐狸，不过这一回，它们样子变得认不出来了。诸位只要想象一下，那只猫以前拼命装瞎眼，这会儿真瞎了。狐狸很老很老，毛几乎都脱掉，变成了瘫皮，连尾巴也没有了，说起来是这么回事：这个恶贼到了穷途僚倒的地步，有一天不得不把它漂亮的尾巴卖给了流动商贩，流动商贩把它买去做拂尘。
　　“噢，皮诺乔，”狐狸哭也似地叫道，“做做好事，施舍点给咱们两个可怜的残废者吧。”
　　“残废者吧！”猫跟着又说了一遍。
　　“再见吧，假善人！”木偶回答说，“我上过一次当，如今再不上当了。”
　　“相信我们吧，皮诺乔，我们如今又穷又倒霉，都是真的！”
　　“都是真的！”猫跟着又说了一遍。
　　“穷也是活该，你们记住这句老话吧：‘抢来的钱财不会致富’。再见了，假善人！”
　　“可怜可怜我们吧！……”
　　“可怜我们吧！……”
　　“再见，假好人！记住这句老话吧：‘不义之财带不来幸福。’”
　　“不要抛弃我们！……”
　　“……弃我们！”猫跟着又说了一遍。
　　“再见，假善人！记住这句老话吧：‘偷邻居上衣的人，死时连自己的衬衫也没有。’”
　　皮诺乔这么说着，就同杰佩托安静地继续赶他们的路。他们又走了百来步，看见田野当中的小道尽头有座漂亮的小屋，用干草搭的，顶上盖着瓦。
　　“这小屋准住着人，”皮诺乔说，“咱们上那儿去敲门。”
　　他们就走过去敲敲门。
　　“谁呀？”里面有人说。
　　“是一个可怜的爸爸和一个可怜的儿子，没吃没住的，”木偶回答说。
　　“把钥匙转—转，门就开了，”还是那声音说。
　　皮诺乔转了转钥匙，门开了。他们进屋，这里看看，那里瞧瞧，一个人也没见。
　　“噢，房子的主人在哪儿啊？”皮诺乔惊奇地说。
　　“我在这上面！”
　　爷儿俩马上抬头看天花板，看见会说话的蟋蟀在一根梁上。
　　“噢！我的亲爱的小蟋蟀！”皮诺乔很有礼貌地向它行礼说。
　　“你这会儿叫我你的‘亲爱的小蟋蟀’了，对不对，可你记得那时候，为了把我赶出你家，你用一个木槌扔我吗……”
　　“你说的对，小蟋蟀！你也赶我吧……也用木槌扔我吧！不过可怜可怜我这可怜的爸爸……”
　　“我可怜爸爸，也可怜儿子。我向你提醒我受到过的虐待，为的是告诉你，在这个世界上，只要可能，就要待人有礼貌，那么在必要的时候，人家也会回报我们，待我们有礼貌。”
　　“你说的对，小蟋蟀，你回报得对。我要记住你给我的教训，可你告诉我，你怎么买来这座漂亮的小房子？”
　　“这小房子是一只可爱的山羊昨天送给我的。这山羊长着一身漂亮极了的天蓝色羊毛。”
　　“这山羊上哪儿去了，”皮诺乔急着想知道，赶紧问道，
　　“我不知道它上哪儿去了。”
　　“它多咱回来……”
　　“永远不回来了，昨天它伤心地离开，咩咩地叫，像是说：
　　“可怜的皮诺乔……我再也看不到他了……鲨鱼这会儿准把他给吃掉了！……”
　　“它真这么说，……那就是她！……就是她！……就是我亲爱的小仙女！……”皮诺乔嚎啕大哭着叫道。
　　等到他哭够，就擦干眼泪，用干草铺好了床，让老杰佩托躺到上面。接着他问会说话的蟋蟀：
　　“告诉我，小蟋蟀，哪儿我能给我可怜的爸爸弄到一杯牛奶呢？”
　　“离开这儿三块田的地方，有个种菜的叫姜焦。他有好几头奶牛。你上他那儿，就能讨到你要的牛奶了。”
　　皮诺乔听了，就上种菜的姜焦那儿去。种菜的问他：
　　“你要多少牛奶？”
　　“我要满满一杯。”
　　“一杯牛奶一个子儿。先给我钱。”
　　“可我一个子儿也没有，”皮诺乔回答说，觉得又难为情又难过。
　　“不行啊，我的木偶，”种菜的回答说，“你一个子儿没有，我就一滴牛奶也不给。”
　　“没办法！”皮诺乔说着就要走。
　　“等一等，”姜焦说，“咱们还可以商量商量。你愿意摇辘轳吗？”
　　“什么叫辘轳？”
　　“这是一个木头装置，它把水从井里提上来浇菜。”
　　“我来试试看……”
　　“那么，你抽上来一百桶水，我就给你一杯牛奶。”
　　“好。”
　　姜焦把木偶领到莱园，教他怎么摇辘轳，皮诺乔马上动手干活。可他还没把一百桶水提上来，已经从头到脚都是汗了。他有生以来还没这么劳累过。
　　“摇辘轳这个重活，”种菜的说，“一向是我的驴子做的。可今天这头可怜牲口要死了。”
　　“您带我去看看它行吗？”
　　“行。”
　　皮诺乔一走进驴棚，就看见一头驴子直挺挺躺在干草上，又饿又累，已经一点力气也没有了。皮诺乔仔仔细细地看着它，心慌意乱地想道：
　　“可我认识这头驴子！它的脸我很熟悉！”
　　他向驴子弯下腰去，用驴子话问它说：
　　“你是谁？”
　　驴子听了这声问话，睁开垂死的眼睛，用同样的驴子话低声回答：
　　“我是小……灯……芯……”
　　它说着重新闭上眼睛，死了。
　　“噢，可怜的小灯芯！”皮诺乔低声说。接着他拿起一把干草，擦掉它脸上流下来的一滴眼泪。
　　“这头驴子你分文不花，却这么可惜它？”种菜的说，“我买它花了不少钱，那又该怎么祥呢？”
　　“我告诉您……他是我的一个朋友！……”
　　“你的朋友？”
　　“他是我的一个同学！……”
　　“怎么？！”姜焦哈哈大笑说，“怎么？！你有驴子做同学！书读得有多好，那就可想而知了！……”
　　木偶听这话，很不好意思，没有回答。他接过一杯还有点热的牛奶，回小房子那儿去了。
　　从这天起，整整五个月工夫，他每天天没亮就起来，跑去摇辘轳，换来一杯牛奶。牛奶使他爸爸虚弱的身体好起来了。可他对这还不满意，因此他又学会了编草篮编草筐，把挣来的钱花得很俭省。除此以外，他还亲自做了一辆漂亮的坐椅车，天气好就推他爸爸出去散步，让他爸爸吸吸新鲜空气。
　　晚上他读书写字。他花了几个子儿，在邻村买了一本大书，封面和目录都没有了，他就读这一本书，他写字用临时削的干树枝代替笔。因为没有墨水，就用干树枝蘸一小瓶桑子汁和樱桃汁。
　　他这样有志于学习、干活和上进，不但使他体弱的父亲十分高兴，而且给自己攒起了四十个子儿买新上衣。
　　一天早晨，他对他父亲说：
　　“我要上附近市场，给自己买一件小外衣，一顶小帽子和一双鞋。等我回家，”他笑着往下说，“我要穿得那么漂亮，您准得把我当作一位体面的先生呢。”
　　他出门就兴高采烈地跑起来。忽然他听见有人叫他的名字。他回身一看，是只漂亮的蜗牛打矮树丛里爬出来。
　　“你不认识我了吗？”蜗牛说。
　　“又像认识又像不认识……”
　　“住在天蓝色头发仙女家的那只蜗牛，你不记得了吗？那一回我下来给你照亮，你把一只脚插在门上了，你不记得了吗？”
　　“我都记得我都记得，”皮诺乔叫道，“你快回答我，美丽的蜗牛，你把我的那好心的仙女留在哪儿了？她在做什么？她原谅我了吗？她还记得我吗？她还爱我吗？她离这儿远吗？我可以去看她吗？”
　　皮诺乔像开连珠炮似的，一口气说出了这一连串问话。可蜗牛还是老样子，慢吞吞地回答说：
　　“我的皮诺乔！可怜的仙女躺在医院里了！……”
　　“躺在医院里？！……”
　　“太不幸了！她遭了那么多扫击，生了重病，而且穷得连一口面包也买不起。”
　　“真的，……噢！我听了你的消息，多么难受啊！噢！可怜的好仙女！可怜的好仙女！……如果我有一百万块钱，我就跑去给她了……可我只有四十个子儿……都在这儿了。我们正好要去给自己买一件新衣服。把它们拿去吧，蜗牛，马上把它们拿去给我好心的仙女。”
　　“那你的新衣服呢？……”
　　“新衣服有什么要紧？为了能够帮助她，我还要卖掉我身上的破衣服呢！……去吧，蜗牛，快一点。过两天你再到这儿来，我希望能够再给你几个子儿。到现在为止，我干活为了养活我的爸爸。从今以后，我每天要多干五个钟头活，为了也能养活我的好妈妈，再见，蜗牛，过两天我在这儿等你。”
　　蜗牛一反它的老脾气，跑得飞快，像八月大太阳底下的一条大蜥蜴。
　　皮诺乔回到家，他爸爸问道：
　　“你的新衣服呢？”
　　“我找不到一件合身的。没法子！……下回再买吧。”
　　这天晚上皮诺乔不是十点上床，而是半夜敲了十二点才上床。他不是编八个篮子，而是编了十六个篮子。
　　他一上床就睡着，他睡着了好像梦见仙女。她是那么漂亮，微微笑着，吻了吻他，对他说：
　　“好样儿，皮诺乔！为了报答你的好心，我原谅了你到今天为止所做的一切淘气事。孩子充满爱心帮助遭到不幸的生病父母，都应当受到称赞，得到疼爱，哪怕他们不能成为听话和品行优良的模范孩子，以后一直这样小心谨慎地做人吧，你会幸福的。”
　　梦做到这里完了，皮诺乔醒来，睁大了眼睛。
　　现在各位想象一下，他这时候是多么地惊奇，因为他醒来一看，他已经不是一个木偶，却变成一个孩子，跟所有的孩子一模一样！他向四周一看，看到的已经不是原来那座小房子的干草墙壁，而是一个漂亮的小房间，装饰摆设得十分优雅。他连忙跳下床，看见已经放着一套漂亮的新衣服、一顶新帽子和一双皮靴子，对他再合适也没有了。
　　他一穿上衣服，手自然而然地插进口袋，却掏出了一个小小的象牙钱包。钱包上写着这么一句话：“天蓝色头发的仙女还给她亲爱的皮诺乔四十个铜币，并多谢他的好心。”他打开钱包一看，里面可不是四十个铜币，而是四十个金币，崭新的四十个金币，一闪一闪地发着亮光。
　　皮诺乔去照镜子，他觉得这是另外一个人。他再看不见原来的木偶，却看见一个聪明伶俐的漂亮孩子，栗色头发，蓝色眼睛，脸快活得像过降灵节。
　　奇怪的事接二连三，皮诺乔已经给搞胡涂了，它们到底真的呢？还是他睁着眼睛在做梦。
　　“我的爸爸呢？”他忽然叫起来。他走进旁边一间房间，看见老杰佩托身体健康，精神抖擞，兴高采烈，跟早先一样，他又干起了他的雕刻老行当，正在精细地设计一个极其漂亮的画框，上面都是叶子、花朵和各种动物的头，
　　“太奇怪了，爸爸，告诉我吧！我一切突然变化，您说是怎么回事呢？”皮诺乔扑过去抱住他的脖子，亲着他问，
　　“咱家这种突然变化，全都亏了你，”杰佩托说。
　　“为什么亏了我？……”
　　“因为孩子从坏变好，还有一种力量可以使他们的家换一个样子，变得快快活活的。”
　　“原来的木偶皮诺乔他藏在哪儿呢？”
　　“在那儿，”杰佩托回答说，给他指指一个大木偶。这木偶存在一把椅子上，头歪到一边，两条胳膊搭拉下来，两条腿屈着，交叉在一起，叫人看了，觉得它能站起来倒是个奇迹。
　　皮诺乔转过脸去看它，看了好半天，极其心满意足地从心里说：
　　“当我是个木偶的时候，我是多么滑稽可笑啊！如今我变成了个真正的孩子，我又是多么高兴啊！……”