Those Stubborn Souls, the Biellese

A farmer was on his way down to Biella one day The weather was so stormy that it was next to impossible to get over the roads But the farmer had important business and pushed onward¹ in the face of the driving rain

He met an old man, who said to him, "A good day to you! Where are you going, my good man, in such haste?"

"To Biella," answered the farmer, without slowing down.

"You might at least say, 'God willing'"

The farmer stopped, looked the old man in the eye, and snapped, "God willing, I'm on my way to Biella But even if God isn't willing, I still have to go there all the same"

Now the old man happened to be the Lord "In that case you'll go to Biella in seven years," he said "In the meantime, jump into this swamp and stay there for seven years"

Suddenly the farmer changed into a frog and jumped into the swamp.

Seven years went by The farmer came out of the swamp, turned back into a man, clapped his hat on his head, and continued on his way to market.

After a short distance he met the old man again "And where are you going, my good man?"

"To Biella"

"You might say, 'God willing'".

"If God wills it, fine If not, I know the consequence and can now go into the swamp unassisted"

Nor for the life of him would he say one word more.

(Biellese)

NOTES:

"Those Stubborn Souls, the Biellese" (I biellesi, gente dura) from Virginia Majoli Faccio (L'incantesimo della mezzanotte, [Il Biellese nelle sue leggende], Milan, 1941), Valdengo, Piedmont

This tale is also found in Trieste, starring the Friulians (Pinguenti, 51)

Copyright: Italian Folktales Selected and Retold by Italo Calvino,

translated by George Martin,

Pantheon Books, New York 1980

倔强的彼埃拉人

一个农夫要去彼埃拉。正赶上刮风下雨的恶劣天气，路都几乎无法走了。但这个农夫有要紧的事，他低着头顶着风雨雷电继续往前走。 他遇上一个老人，对他说：“你好啊！你这样急急忙忙的要去哪里啊？好人。” “去彼埃拉。”农夫答道，继续往前走。 “你至少应该说一声‘愿上帝保佑’吧。” 农夫停了下来，望着面前的老人高声说：“如果上帝保佑，我去彼埃拉；如果上帝不保佑，我照样得去。” 其实，那个老人就是上帝。他对农夫说：“那好吧，你七年以后才能到彼埃拉去，现在，你跳进池塘，在里面待上七年吧。” 农夫立即变成了一只青蛙，跳进了池塘。 七年过去了。农夫从池塘中出来，又变回人，他戴紧帽子，又上路了。 没走几步，上次那个老人又出现了。“好人，你这是去哪里啊？” “去彼埃拉。” “你应该祈祷一声‘愿上帝保佑’。” “要是上帝保佑，那很好；要是不保佑，那个惩罚我知道，我会自己跳进池塘里去。” 说完，他再也不开口说话了。 （比埃拉地区）