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把三人的名字忘得一干二净，她绞尽脑汁地回忆，但连一个名字也想不起来。
新娘从喜悦中一下子掉进了无底的悲哀中，船长也发现了新娘的情绪低落，就去问她，而她沉默不语。新郎找不到新娘情绪忧伤的起因，就想：也许今天不宜结婚。他吩咐把婚礼推迟到第二天。到了第二天，情况更糟。第三天的情况就更别提了。总之，日子一天天过去，新娘越来越忧伤、越来越沉默，她紧皱眉头，好像要集中注意力，思考什么。新郎想方设法让她高兴，用笑话逗她开心，给她讲故事，但是一点用也没有。
新郎看到自己无法宽慰新娘，便试图宽慰自己，一天早上，他出去打猎。在树林中，突然遇上了暴风雨，他急忙躲进了一间小茅屋。小茅屋里一片漆黑，他听到有人在说话：
“噢，哥隆比娜！”
“噢，哥隆巴拉！”
“噢，哥隆布恩！”
“把锅架上，熬玉米粥吧！这个该死的新娘不会邀请我们赴宴了。”
船长转过身，看见三个老妇人：一个眉毛拖到地上，另一个嘴唇耷拉到脚背，第三个牙齿可以蹭到膝盖。
新郎想：“看吧，我可找到逗新娘高兴的事了，如果我这次看到的事还不能逗她笑，那就不会再有别的事能逗她笑了！”
他回到家，对新娘说：“我告诉你，今天我在树林里，为了避雨我进了一间茅屋，你猜我看见了什么？三个老妇人！一个眉毛拖到地上，另一个嘴唇耷拉到脚背，第三个牙齿可以蹭到膝盖。她们互相叫着名字：‘噢，哥隆比娜！’‘噢，哥隆巴拉！’‘噢，哥隆布恩！’”
新娘脸上的愁容顿时消失了，笑个不停，说：“马上举行婚礼吧，不过我有个请求。既然是你看见的那三个老妇人让我开心，那就让她们也被请来参加婚宴吧。”
船长派人去了。他们为这三个老妇人专门安排了一张圆桌子，但在三个妇人长长的眉毛、嘴唇和牙齿之间，这张桌子就显得太小了，人们不理解她们是如何吃饭的。
婚宴结束以后，新郎问哥隆比娜：“好心的夫人，请告诉我，您怎么会有这么长的眉毛呢？”
“是因为纺线的时候要盯着细细的线看才会这样。”哥隆比娜说。
“那您呢，您的嘴唇怎么会这么长呢？”
“是因为捻线的时候要不停地在嘴唇上沾湿手指。”哥隆巴拉说。
“那您呢，您怎么会有这么长的牙齿呢？”
“因为老是要用牙齿咬线结。”哥隆布恩说。
“我懂了，”新郎说道，他转向妻子，“你去把那些线槌拿来。”新娘把线槌拿了出来交给新郎，新郎把它们扔进壁炉的火里，说：“你这一生中再也不要纺线了！”
从那以后，这位又高又胖的姑娘就这样幸福美满地生活着。
And Seven！
A woman had a daughter who was big and fat and so gluttonous that when her mother brought the soup to the table she would eat one bowl； then a second； then a third； and keep on calling for more。 Her mother filled her bowl； saying； 〃That makes three！ And four！ And five！〃 When the daughter asked for a seventh bowl of soup； her mother； instead of filling the bowl； whacked her over the head； shouting； 〃And seven！〃
A well…dressed young man was passing by just then and saw the mother through the window hitting the girl and crying； 〃And seven！〃
As the big fat young lady captured his fancy immediately； he went in and asked； 〃Seven of what？〃
Ashamed of her daughter's gluttony； the mother replied； 〃Seven spindles of hemp！ I have a daughter so crazy about work that she'd even spin the wool on the sheep's back！ Can you imagine that she's already spun seven spindles of hemp this morning and still wants to spin？ To make her stop； I have to beat her。〃
〃If she's that hard…working； give her to me；〃 said the young man。 〃I'll try her out to see if you're telling the truth and then I'll marry her。〃
He took her to his house and shut her up in a room full of hemp waiting to be spun。 〃I'm a sea captain； and I'm leaving on a voyage；〃 he said。 〃If you've spun all this hemp by the time I return； I'll marry you。〃
The room also contained exquisite clothes and jewels； for the captain happened to be very rich。 〃When you bee my wife；〃 he explained； 〃these things will all be yours。〃 Then he left her。
The girl spent her days trying on dresses and jewels and admiring herself in the mirror。 She also devoted much time to planning meals； which the household servants prepared for her。 None of the hemp was spun yet； and in one more day the captain would be back。 The girl gave up all hope of ever marrying him and burst into tears。 She was still crying when through the window flew a bundle of rags and came to rest on its feet： it was an old woman with long eyelashes。 〃Don't be afraid；〃 she told the girl。 〃I've e to help you。 I'll spin while you make the skein。〃
You never saw anyone spin with the speed of that old woman。 In just a quarter of an hour she had spun every bit of hemp。 And the more she spun； the longer her lashes became； longer than her nose； longer than her chin； they came down more than a foot； and her eyelids also grew much longer。
When the work was finished； the girl said； 〃How can I repay you； my good lady？〃
〃I don't want to be repaid。 Just invite me to your wedding banquet when you marry the captain。〃
〃How do I go about inviting you？〃
〃Just call 'Columbina' and I'll e。 But heaven help you if you forget my name。 It would be as though I'd never helped you； and you'd be undone。〃
The next day the captain arrived and found the hemp all spun。 〃Excellent！〃 he said。 〃I believe you're just the bride I was seeking。 Here are the clothes and jewels I bought for you。 But now I have to go on another voyage。 Let's have a second test。 Here's twice the amount of hemp I gave you before。 If you spin it all by the time I return； I'll marry you。〃
As she had done before； the girl spent her time trying on gowns and jewels； eating soup and lasagna； and got to the last day with all the hemp still waiting to be spun。 She was weeping over it when； lo and behold； something dropped down the chimney； and into the room rolled a bundle of rags。 It came to rest on its feet； and there stood an old woman with sagging lips。 This one too promised to help； began spinning； and worked even faster than the other old woman。 The more she spun； the more her lips sagged。 When the hemp was all spun in a half…hour； the old woman asked only to be invited to the wedding banquet。 〃Just call 'Columbara。' But don't forget my name； or my help will have been in vain and you will suffer。〃
The captain returned and asked before he even got into the house； 〃Did you spin it all？〃
〃I just now finished！〃
〃Take these clothes and jewels。 Now； if I e back from my third voyage and find you've spun this third load of hemp； which is much bigger than the other two； I promise we'll get married at once。〃
As usual； the girl waited until the last day without touching the hemp。 Down from the roof's gutter fell a bundle of rags； and out came an old woman with buckteeth。 She began spinning； spinning even faster； and the more she spun； the longer grew her teeth。
〃To invite me to your wedding banquet；〃 said the old woman； 〃you must call 'Columbun。' But if you forget my name； it would be better if you'd never seen me。〃
When the captain came home and found the hemp all spun； he was pletely satisfied。 〃Fine；〃 he said； 〃now you will be my wife。〃 He ordered preparations made for the wedding； to which he invited all the nobility in town。
Caught up in the preparations； the bride thought no more of the old women。 On the morning of the wedding she remembered that she was supposed to invite them； but when she went to pronounce their names； she found they had slipped her mind。 She cudgeled her brains but； for the life of her； couldn't recall a single name。
From the cheerful girl she was； she sank into a state of bottomless gloom。 The captain notic