the adventures of pinocchio(木偶奇遇记)-第23章
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performing before the kings and queens and emperors of
all the great courts of Europe。
〃We thank you for your attention！〃
This speech was greeted by much laughter and
applause。 And the applause grew to a roar when Pinocchio；
the famous Donkey； appeared in the circus ring。 He was
handsomely arrayed。 A new bridle of shining leather with
buckles of polished brass was on his back； two white
camellias were tied to his ears； ribbons and tassels of red
silk adorned his mane； which was divided into many
curls。 A great sash of gold and silver was fastened around
his waist and his tail was decorated with ribbons of many
brilliant 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 time
tonight to tell you of the great difficulties which I have
encountered while trying to tame this animal； since I
found him in the wilds of Africa。 Observe； I beg of you；
the savage look of his eye。 All the means used by
centuries of civilization in subduing wild beasts failed in this
case。 I had finally to resort to the gentle language of the
whip in order to bring him to my will。 With all my
kindness； however； I never succeeded in gaining my Donkey's
love。 He is still today as savage as the day I found
him。 He still fears and hates me。 But I have found in
him one great redeeming feature。 Do you see this little
bump on his forehead？ It is this bump which gives him
his great talent of dancing and using his feet as nimbly
as a human being。 Admire him； O signori； and enjoy
yourselves。 I let you； now； be the judges of my success as a
teacher of animals。 Before I leave you； I wish to state
that there will be another performance tomorrow night。
If the weather threatens rain； the great spectacle will take
place 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 ground
and remained kneeling until the Manager； with the crack
of the whip； cried sharply： 〃Walk！〃
The Donkey lifted himself on his four feet and walked
around the ring。 A few minutes passed and again the
voice 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 rang
in the air。
At the shot； the little Donkey fell to the ground as if
he 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 raised
his eyes。 There； in front of him； in a box sat a beautiful
woman。 Around her neck she wore a long gold chain；
from which hung a large medallion。 On the medallion
was 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 happy
that 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 spectatorsmen； women；
and children； but especially the childrenburst out laughing。
Then； in order to teach the Donkey that it was not
good manners to bray before the public； the Manager
hit him on the nose with the handle of the whip。
The poor little Donkey stuck out a long tongue and licked
his 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 can
jump through the rings。〃
Pinocchio tried two or three times； but each time he
came near the ring； he found it more to his taste to go
under it。 The fourth time； at a look from his master he
leaped through it； but as he did so his hind legs caught
in the ring and he fell to the floor in a heap。
When he got up； he was lame and could hardly limp as
far 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 veterinarythat 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 Manager
to 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 him
for work。 I want only his skin。 It looks very tough and
I can use it to make myself a drumhead。 I belong to a
musical band in my village and I need a drum。〃
I leave it to you； my dear children； to picture to
yourself the great pleasure with which Pinocchio heard that
he was to become a drumhead！
As soon as the buyer had paid the four cents； the
Donkey changed hands。 His new owner took him to a high
cliff overlooking the sea； put a stone around his neck；
tied a rope to one of his hind feet； gave him a push； and
threw him into the water。
Pinocchio sank immediately。 And his new master sat
on the cliff waiting for him to drown； so as to skin him
and make himself a drumhead。
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 Shark
Down into the sea； deeper and deeper； sank Pinocchio； and
finally； after fifty minutes of waiting； the man on the cliff
said to himself：
〃By this time my poor little lame Donkey must be
drowned。 Up with him and then I can get to work on my
beautiful drum。〃
He pulled the rope which he had tied to Pinocchio's
legpulled and pulled and pulled and； at last； he saw
appear on the surface of the waterCan you guess what？
Instead of a dead donkey； he saw a very much alive
Marionette； wriggling and squirming like an eel。
Seeing that wooden Marionette； the poor man thought
he was dreaming and sat there with his mouth wide open
and his eyes popping out of his head。
Gathering his wits together； he said：
〃And the Donkey I threw into the sea？〃
〃I am that Donkey；〃 answered the Marionette laughing。
〃You？〃
〃I。〃
〃Ah； you little cheat！ Are you poking fun at me？〃
〃Poking fun at you？ Not at all； dear Master。
I am talking seriously。〃
〃But； then； how is it that you； who a few minutes ago
were a donkey； are now standing before me a wooden Marionette？〃
〃It may be the effect of salt water。 The sea is fond of
playing these tricks。〃
〃Be careful； Marionette； be careful！ Don't laugh at me！
Woe be to you； if I lose my patience！〃
〃Well； then； my Master； do you want to know my whole story？
Untie my leg and I can tell it to you better。〃
The old fellow； curious to know the true story of the
Marionette's life； immediately untied the rope which held his foot。
Pinocchio； feeling free as a bird of the air； began his tale：
〃Know； then； that； once upon a time； I was a wooden
Marionette； just as I am today。 One day I was about to
become a boy； a real boy； but on account of my laziness
and my hatred of books； and because I listened to bad
companions； I ran away from home。 One beautiful morning；
I awoke to find myself changed into a donkeylong
ears； gray coat； even a tail！ What a shameful day for me！
I hope you will never experience one like it； dear Master。
I was taken to the fair and sold to a Circus Owner； who
tried to make me dance and jump through the rings。 One
night； during a performance； I had a bad fall and became
lame。 Not knowing what to do with a lame donkey； the Circus
Owner sent me to the market place and you bought me。〃
〃Indeed I did！ And I paid four cents for you。
Now who will return my money to me？〃
