一一中文网

手机浏览器扫描二维码访问

无灵之体（第4页）

Hereisoneofmywhiskers，whichwillturnyouintothefastestdogonearth，wheneveryouplaceitunderyournose."

Theeaglesaid，"

Hereisafeatherfrommywingswhichcanchangeyouintothebiggestandstrongesteagleinthesky."

Theantsaid，"

Imgivingyouoneofmytinylegs.Putitonandyouwillbecomeanantsosmallthatnoonecanseeyou，evenwithamagnifyingglass."

Jacktookhispresents，thankedthefouranimals，anddeparted.Ashewasuncertainwhetherthegiftsweremagicornot，thinkingtheanimalsmighthaveplayedajokeonhim，hestoppedassoonashewasoutofsighttotestthem.Hebecamelion，dog，eagle，andant;nextant，eagle，dog，andlion;theneagle，ant，lion，anddog;finallydog，lion，ant，andeagle.Yes，everythingworkedlikeacharm!Allsmiles，hemovedonward.Beyondtheforestwasalake，onwhoseshorestoodthecastleofBody-without-Soul.Jackchangedintoaneagleandflewstraighttotheedgeofaclosedwindow.Thenhechangedintoanantandcrawledintotheroom.Itwasabeautifulbedchamberwhere，beneathacanopy，laythekingsdaughterasleep.Stillanant，Jackwentcrawlingoverhercheekuntilsheawakened.Thenheremovedthetinyantleg，andthekingsdaughtersuddentlybeheldahandsomeyouthatherside."

Dontbeafraid，"

hesaid，signalingsilence."

Ivecometofreeyou.Youmustgetthesorcerertotellyouwhatcouldkillhim."

Whenthesorcererreturned，Jackedchangedbackintoanant.Thekingsdaughtermadeabigto-dooverBody-without-Soul，seatinghimatherfeetanddrawninghisheadontoherlap.Thenshebegan:"

Mydarlingsorcerer，Iknowyoureabodywithoutasoulandthereforeincapableofdying.ButIliveinconstantfearofsomeonefindingyoursoulandputtingyoutodeath."

"

Icantellyouthesecret，"

repliedthesorcerer，"

sinceyoureimprisonedhereandcantpossiblybetrayme.Toslaymewouldrequirealionmightyenoughtokilltheblacklionintheforest.Outofthebellyofthedeadlionwouldleapablackdogsoswiftthatonlythefastestdogonearthcouldcatchit.Outofthebellyofthedeadblackdogwouldflyablackeaglethatcouldwithstandeveryeagleunderthesun.Butifbychancethateaglewereslain，ablackeggwouldhavetobetakenoutofitscrawandcrackedovermybrowformysoultoflyawayandleavemedead.Doesallthatseemeasy?Doyouhaveanyrealgroundsforworry?"

Withhistinyantears，Jacktookineveryword，thencrawledbackunderthewindowtotheledge，whereheagainturnedintoaneagleandsoaredintotheforest.Therehechangedintoalionandstalkedtheunderbrushuntilhecamefacetofacewiththeblacklion.Theblacklionjumpedhim，butJack，beingthestrongestlionintheworld，toreittobits.（Backatthecastle，thesorcererfelthisheadspin.）Thelionsbellywasslitopen，andoutboltedaswift-footedblackdog，butJackturnedintothefastestdogonearth，caughthim，andtheyrolledtogetherinaball，bitingeachotheruntiltheblackdoglaydead.（Backatthecastle，thesorcererhadtotaketohisbed.）Thedogsbellywasslitopenandoutflewablackeagle，butJackbecamethemostpowerfuleagleunderthesunandtheysoaredthroughtheskypeckingandclawingeachotheruntiltheblackeaglefoldeditswingsandfelltoearth.（Atthecastle，thesorcererranahighfeverandcurledupunderthebedclothes.）Jackchangedbackintoaman，openedtheeaglescraw，andremovedtheblackegg.Hereturnedtothecastleandgaveittothekingsdaughter，whowasoverjoyed."

Howonearthdidyoudoit?"

sheasked."

Nothingtoit，"

repliedJack."

Therestisnowuptoyou."

Thekingsdaughterenteredthesorcerersbedchamber，asking，"

Howdoyoufeel?"

"

Woesme!Ivebeenbetrayed"

"

Ibroughtyouacupofbroth.Drinksome."

Thesorcerersatupinhisbedandbentovertodrinkthebroth."

Here，letmebreakaneggintoitandgiveitmorebody."

Atthat，thekingsdaughterbroketheblackeggoverhisbrowandBody-without-Souldiedonthespot.Jacktookthekingsdaughterhometoherfather.Everyonewasoverjoyed，andtheyoungcouplewasmarriedforthwith.（Rivieraligurediponente）NOTES:"

Body-without-Soul"

（Corpo-senza-lanima）fromAndrews，46，Rivieraligure.ThisLigurianJackdiffersfromfellowheroesandliberatorsofprincessesbyhissystematiccautiousnessborderingondistrust（heisoneofthefewwho，theminutehereceivesamagicgift，musttestitbeforeheisabletobelieveinit）.Inthatrespecthetakesafterhismother，whowillnotlethimgooutintotheworlduntilhehasgivenproofofperseverancebyfellingthetreewithhiskicks.Ihavebeenfaithfultotheoriginalversionwhileaimingtoendowitwithaparticularrhythm.Copyright:ItalianFolktalesSelectedandRetoldbyItaloCalvino，translatedbyGeorgeMartin，PantheonBooks，NewYork1980