the adventures of pinocchio(木偶奇遇记)-第8章

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coins　and　return　home　rich。　　Are　you　coming？〃

Pinocchio　hesitated　a　moment　before　answering；　for　he
remembered　the　good　Fairy；　old　Geppetto；　and　the　advice
of　the　Talking　Cricket。　　Then　he　ended　by　doing　what
all　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　and
at　last　they　came　to　the　town　called　the　City　of　Simple
Simons。　　As　soon　as　they　entered　the　town；　Pinocchio
noticed　that　all　the　streets　were　filled　with　hairless　dogs；
yawning　from　hunger；　with　sheared　sheep；　trembling　with
cold；　with　combless　chickens；　begging　for　a　grain　of
wheat；　with　large　butterflies；　unable　to　use　their　wings
because　they　had　sold　all　their　lovely　colors；　with　tailless
peacocks；　ashamed　to　show　themselves；　and　with　bedraggled
pheasants；　scuttling　away　hurriedly；　grieving　for　their
bright　feathers　of　gold　and　silver；　lost　to　them　forever。

Through　this　crowd　of　paupers　and　beggars；　a　beautiful
coach　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　more
or　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　the
four　gold　pieces　into　it；　and　covered　them　up　very　carefully。
〃Now；〃　said　the　Fox；　〃go　to　that　near…by　brook；　bring
back　a　pail　full　of　water；　and　sprinkle　it　over　the　spot。〃

Pinocchio　followed　the　directions　closely；　but；　as　he
had　no　pail；　he　pulled　off　his　shoe；　filled　it　with　water；
and　sprinkled　the　earth　which　covered　the　gold。　　Then
he　asked：

〃Anything　else？〃

〃Nothing　else；〃　answered　the　Fox。　　〃Now　we　can　go。
Return　here　within　twenty　minutes　and　you　will　find　the
vine　grown　and　the　branches　filled　with　gold　pieces。〃

Pinocchio；　beside　himself　with　joy；　thanked　the　Fox
and　the　Cat　many　times　and　promised　them　each　a　beautiful　gift。

〃We　don't　want　any　of　your　gifts；〃　answered　the　two
rogues。　　〃It　is　enough　for　us　that　we　have　helped　you　to
become　rich　with　little　or　no　trouble。　　For　this　we　are
as　happy　as　kings。〃

They　said　good…by　to　Pinocchio　and；　wishing　him　good
luck；　went　on　their　way。



CHAPTER　19

Pinocchio　is　robbed　of　his　gold　pieces　and；
in　punishment；　is　sentenced　to　four　months　in　prison



If　the　Marionette　had　been　told　to　wait　a　day　instead　of
twenty　minutes；　the　time　could　not　have　seemed　longer
to　him。　　He　walked　impatiently　to　and　fro　and　finally
turned　his　nose　toward　the　Field　of　Wonders。

And　as　he　walked　with　hurried　steps；　his　heart　beat
with　an　excited　tic；　tac；　tic；　tac；　just　as　if　it　were　a　wall
clock；　and　his　busy　brain　kept　thinking：

〃What　if；　instead　of　a　thousand；　I　should　find　two
thousand？　　Or　if；　instead　of　two　thousand；　I　should　find　five
thousandor　one　hundred　thousand？　　I'll　build　myself　a
beautiful　palace；　with　a　thousand　stables　filled　with　a
thousand　wooden　horses　to　play　with；　a　cellar　overflowing
with　lemonade　and　ice　cream　soda；　and　a　library　of　candies
and　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　filled
with　gold　coins　was　in　sight。　　But　he　saw　nothing！　　He
took　a　few　steps　forward；　and　still　nothing！　　He　stepped
into　the　field。　　He　went　up　to　the　place　where　he　had
dug　the　hole　and　buried　the　gold　pieces。　　Again　nothing！
Pinocchio　became　very　thoughtful　and；　forgetting　his　good
manners　altogether；　he　pulled　a　hand　out　of　his　pocket　and
gave　his　head　a　thorough　scratching。

As　he　did　so；　he　heard　a　hearty　burst　of　laughter　close
to　his　head。　　He　turned　sharply；　and　there；　just　above　him
on　the　branch　of　a　tree；　sat　a　large　Parrot；　busily　preening
his　feathers。

〃What　are　you　laughing　at？〃　Pinocchio　asked　peevishly。

〃I　am　laughing　because；　in　preening　my　feathers；　I
tickled　myself　under　the　wings。〃

The　Marionette　did　not　answer。　　He　walked　to　the
brook；　filled　his　shoe　with　water；　and　once　more　sprinkled
the　ground　which　covered　the　gold　pieces。

Another　burst　of　laughter；　even　more　impertinent　than
the　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　believe
everything　they　hear　and　who　allow　themselves　to　be　caught　so
easily　in　the　traps　set　for　them。〃

〃Do　you；　perhaps；　mean　me？〃

〃I　certainly　do　mean　you；　poor　Pinocchioyou　who
are　such　a　little　silly　as　to　believe　that　gold　can　be　sown
in　a　field　just　like　beans　or　squash。　　I；　too；　believed　that
once　and　today　I　am　very　sorry　for　it。　　Today　（but　too　late！）
I　have　reached　the　conclusion　that；　in　order　to　come
by　money　honestly；　one　must　work　and　know　how　to　earn
it　with　hand　or　brain。〃

〃I　don't　know　what　you　are　talking　about；〃　said　the
Marionette；　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　Cat
returned　here　in　a　great　hurry。　　They　took　the　four　gold
pieces　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　believe
the　Parrot's　words　and　began　to　dig　away　furiously　at　the
earth。　　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　venerable
with　age。　　A　flowing　white　beard　covered　his　chest　and　he
wore　gold…rimmed　spectacles　from　which　the　glasses　had
dropped　out。　　The　reason　for　wearing　these；　he　said；　was
that　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　descriptions
of　the　robbers　and　begged　for　justice。

The　Judge　listened　to　him　with　great　patience。　　A　kind
look　shone　in　his　eyes。　　He　became　very　much　interested
in　the　story；　he　felt　moved；　he　almost　wept。　　When　the
Marionette　had　no　more　to　say；　the　Judge　put　out　his
hand　and　rang　a　bell。

At　the　sound；　two　large　Mastiffs　appeared；　dressed　in
Carabineers'　uniforms。

Then　the　magistrate；　pointing　to　Pinocchio；　said　in　a
very　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　upon
him；　was　thoroughly　stunned。　　He　tried　to　protest；　but
the　two　officers　clapped　their　paws　on　his　mouth　and
hustled　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　probably
would　have　had　to　stay　there　longer。　　For；　my　dear
children；　you　must　know　that　it　happened　just　then　that
the　young　emperor　who　ruled　over　the　City　of　Simple
Simons　had　gained　a　great　victory　over　his　enemy；　and　in
celebration　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。　　Taking
off　his　cap；　he　bowed　low　and　opened　the　door　of　the　prison；
and　Pinocchio　ran　out　and　away；　with　never　a　look　backward。


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　trap



Fancy　the　happiness　of　Pinocchio　on　finding　himself　free！
Without　saying　yes　or　no；　he　fled　from　the　city　and　set
out　on　the　road　that　was　to　take　him　back　to　the　house　of
the　lovely　Fairy。

It　had　rained　for　many　days；　and　the　road　was　so　muddy
that；　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　he
ran；　he　was　splashed　with　mud　even　up　to　his　cap。

〃How　unhappy　I　have　been；〃　he　said　to　himself。　　〃And
yet　I　deserve　everything；　for　I　am　certainly　very　stubborn
and　stupid！　　I　will　always　have　my　own　way。　　I　won't
listen　to　those　who　love　me　and　who　have　more　brains
than　I。　　But　from　now　on；　I'll　be　different　and　I'll　try　to
become　a　most　obedient　boy。　　I　have　found　out；　beyond
any　doubt　whatever；　that　disobedient　boys　are　certainly
far　from　happy；　and　that；　in　the　long　run；　they　always
lose　out。　　I　wonder　if　Father　is　waiting　for　me。　　Will　I
find　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　his
kisses。　　And　will　the　Fairy　ever　forgive　me　for　all　I　have
done？　　She　who　has　been　so　good　to　me　and　to　whom　I
owe　my　life！　　Can　there　be　a　worse　or　more　heartless
boy　than　I　am　anywhere？〃

As　he　spoke；　he　stopped　suddenly；　frozen　with　terror。

What　was　the　matter？　　An　immense　Serpent　lay　stretched
across　the　roada　Serpent　with　a　bright　green　skin；
fiery　eyes　which　glowed　and　burned；　and　a　pointed　tail
that　smoked　like　a　chimney。

How　frightened　was　poor　Pinocchio！　　He　ran　back
wildly　for　half　a　mile；　and　at　last　settled　himself　atop　a
heap　of　stones　to　wait　for　the　Serpent　to　go　on　his　way
and　leave　the　road　clear　for　him。

He　waited　an　hour；　two　hours；　three　hours；　but　the
Serpent　was　always　there；　and　even　from　afar　one　could
see　the　flash　of　his　red　eyes　and　the　column　of　smoke
which　rose　from　his　long；　pointed　tail。

Pinocchio；　trying　to　feel　very　brave；　walked　straight　up
to　him　and　said　in　a　sweet；　soothing　voice：

〃I　beg　your　pardon；　Mr。　Serpent；　would　you　be　so
kind　as　to　step　aside　to　let　me　pass？〃

He　might　as　well　have　talked　to　a　wall。　　The　Serpent
never　moved。

Once　more；　in　the　same　sweet　voice；　he　spoke：

〃You　must　know；　Mr。　Serpent；　that　I　am　going　home
where　my　father　is　waiting　for　me。　　It　is　so　long　since　I
have　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　green
Serpent；　who　had　seemed；　until　then；　wide　awake　and　full
of　life；　became　suddenly　very　quiet　and　still。　　His　eyes
closed　and　his　tail　stopped　smoking。

〃Is　he　dead；　I　wonder？〃　said　Pinocchio；　rubbing　his
hands　together　happily。　　Without　a　moment's　hesitation；
he　started　to　step　over　him；　but　he　had　just　raised　one　leg
when　the　Serpent　shot　up　like　a　spring　and　the　Marionette
fell　head　over　heels　backward。　　He　fell　so　awkwardly
that　his　head　stuck　in　the　mud；　and　there　he　stood　with
his　legs　straight　up　in　the　air。

At　the　sight　of　the　Marionette　kicking　and　squirming
like　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　aw