〃Good…by till tomorrow。 When we return in the morning；
we hope you'll be polite enough to let us find you
dead and gone and with your mouth wide open。〃
With these words they went。
A few minutes went by and then a wild wind started
to blow。 As it shrieked and moaned； the poor little
sufferer was blown to and fro like the hammer of a bell。
The rocking made him seasick and the noose； becoming
tighter and tighter； choked him。 Little by little a film
covered his eyes。
Death was creeping nearer and nearer； and the Marionette
still hoped for some good soul to come to his rescue；
but no one appeared。 As he was about to die； he thought
of his poor old father； and hardly conscious of what he
was saying； murmured to himself：
〃Oh； Father； dear Father！ If you were only here！〃
These were his last words。 He closed his eyes； opened
his mouth； stretched out his legs； and hung there； as if
he were dead。
CHAPTER 16
The Lovely Maiden with Azure Hair sends for the poor Marionette；
puts him to bed； and calls three Doctors to tell her if Pinocchio
is dead or alive
If the poor Marionette had dangled there much longer；
all hope would have been lost。 Luckily for him； the
Lovely Maiden with Azure Hair once again looked out of
her window。 Filled with pity at the sight of the poor little
fellow being knocked helplessly about by the wind； she
clapped her hands sharply together three times。
At the signal； a loud whirr of wings in quick flight was
heard and a large Falcon came and settled itself on the
window ledge。
〃What do you command； my charming Fairy？〃 asked the Falcon；
bending his beak in deep reverence （for it must
be known that； after all； the Lovely Maiden with Azure
Hair was none other than a very kind Fairy who had lived；
for more than a thousand years； in the vicinity of the forest）。
〃Do you see that Marionette hanging from the limb
of that giant oak tree？〃
〃I see him。〃
〃Very well。 Fly immediately to him。 With your
strong beak； break the knot which holds him tied；
take him down； and lay him softly on the grass
at the foot of the oak。〃
The Falcon flew away and after two minutes returned；
saying； 〃I have done what you have commanded。〃
〃How did you find him？ Alive or dead？〃
〃At first glance； I thought he was dead。 But I found
I was wrong； for as soon as I loosened the knot around
his neck； he gave a long sigh and mumbled with a faint
voice； ‘Now I feel better！'〃
The Fairy clapped her hands twice。 A magnificent
Poodle appeared； walking on his hind legs just like a
man。 He was dressed in court livery。 A tricorn trimmed
with gold lace was set at a rakish angle over a wig of white
curls that dropped down to his waist。 He wore a jaunty
coat of chocolate…colored velvet； with diamond buttons；
and with two huge pockets which were always filled with
bones； dropped there at dinner by his loving mistress。
Breeches of crimson velvet； silk stockings； and low；
silver…buckled slippers completed his costume。 His tail
was encased in a blue silk covering； which was to protect
it from the rain。
〃Come； Medoro；〃 said the Fairy to him。 〃Get my
best coach ready and set out toward the forest。 On
reaching the oak tree； you will find a poor； half…dead
Marionette stretched out on the grass。 Lift him up
tenderly； place him on the silken cushions of the coach；
and bring him here to me。〃
The Poodle； to show that he understood； wagged his silk…covered tail
two or three times and set off at a quick pace。
In a few minutes； a lovely little coach； made of glass；
with lining as soft as whipped cream and chocolate pudding；
and stuffed with canary feathers； pulled out of the
stable。 It was drawn by one hundred pairs of white mice；
and the Poodle sat on the coachman's seat and snapped
his whip gayly in the air； as if he were a real coachman
in a hurry to get to his destination。
In a quarter of an hour the coach was back。 The
Fairy； who was waiting at the door of the house； lifted
the poor little Marionette in her arms； took him to a
dainty room with mother…of…pearl walls； put him to bed；
and sent immediately for the most famous doctors of the
neighborhood to come to her。
One after another the doctors came； a Crow； and Owl；
and a Talking Cricket。
〃I should like to know； signori；〃 said the Fairy； turning
to the three doctors gathered about Pinocchio's bed；
〃I should like to know if this poor Marionette is dead or alive。〃
At this invitation； the Crow stepped out and felt
Pinocchio's pulse； his nose； his little toe。
Then he solemnly pronounced the following words：
〃To my mind this Marionette is dead and gone； but if；
by any evil chance； he were not； then that would be a
sure sign that he is still alive！〃
〃I am sorry；〃 said the Owl； 〃to have to contradict
the Crow； my famous friend and colleague。 To my mind
this Marionette is alive； but if； by any evil chance； he
were not； then that would be a sure sign that he is wholly dead！〃
〃And do you hold any opinion？〃 the Fairy asked the Talking Cricket。
〃I say that a wise doctor； when he does not know what he
is talking about； should know enough to keep his mouth shut。
However； that Marionette is not a stranger to me。
I have known him a long time！〃
Pinocchio； who until then had been very quiet；
shuddered so hard that the bed shook。
〃That Marionette；〃 continued the Talking Cricket；
〃is a rascal of the worst kind。〃
Pinocchio opened his eyes and closed them again。
〃He is rude； lazy； a runaway。〃
Pinocchio hid his face under the sheets。
〃That Marionette is a disobedient son who is breaking
his father's heart！〃
Long shuddering sobs were heard； cries； and deep sighs。
Think how surprised everyone was when； on raising the sheets；
they discovered Pinocchio half melted in tears！
〃When the dead weep； they are beginning to recover；〃
said the Crow solemnly。
〃I am sorry to contradict my famous friend and colleague；〃
said the Owl； 〃but as far as I'm concerned； I think that
when the dead weep； it means they do not want to die。〃
CHAPTER 17
Pinocchio eats sugar； but refuses to take medicine。
When the undertakers come for him； he drinks the medicine and feels better。
Afterwards he tells a lie and； in punishment； his nose grows longer and longer
As soon as the three doctors had left the room； the Fairy
went to Pinocchio's bed and； touching him on the forehead；
noticed that he was burning with fever。
She took a glass of water； put a white powder into
it； and； handing it to the Marionette； said lovingly to him：
〃Drink this； and in a few days you'll be up and well。〃
Pinocchio looked at the glass； made a wry face； and
asked in a whining voice： 〃Is it sweet or bitter？〃
〃It is bitter； but it is good for you。〃
〃If it is bitter； I don't want it。〃
〃Drink it！〃
〃I don't like anything bitter。〃
〃Drink it and I'll give you a lump of sugar to take the
bitter taste from your mouth。〃
〃Where's the sugar？〃
〃Here it is；〃 said the Fairy； taking a lump from a golden
sugar bowl。
〃I want the sugar first； then I'll drink the bitter water。〃
〃Do you promise？〃
〃Yes。〃
The Fairy gave him the sugar and Pinocchio； after chewing
and swallowing it in a twinkling； said； smacking his lips：
〃If only sugar were medicine！ I should take it every day。〃
〃Now keep your promise and drink these few drops
of water。 They'll be good for you。〃
Pinocchio took the glass in both hands and stuck his
nose into it。 He lifted it to his mouth and once more
stuck his nose into it。
〃It is too bitter； much too bitter！ I can't drink it。〃
〃How do you know； when you haven't even tasted it？〃
〃I can imagine it。 I smell it。 I want another lump of
sugar； then I'll drink it。〃
The Fairy； with all the patience of a good mother； gave
him more sugar and again handed him the glass。
〃I can't drink it like that；〃 the Marionette said； making
more wry faces。
〃Why？〃
〃Because that feather pillow on my feet bothers me。〃
The Fairy took away the pillow。
〃It's no use。 I can't drink it even now。〃
〃What's the matter now？〃
〃I don't like the way that door looks。 It's half open。〃
The Fairy closed the door。
〃I won't drink it；〃 cried Pinocchio； bursting out crying。
〃I won't drink this awful water。 I won't。 I won't！
No； no； no； no！〃
〃My boy； you'll be sorry。〃
〃I don't care。〃
〃You are very sick。〃
〃I don't care。〃
〃In a few hours the fever will take you far away to another world。〃
〃I don't care。〃
〃Aren't you afraid of death？〃
〃Not a bit。 I'd rather die than drink that awful medicine。〃
At that moment； the door of the room flew open and in
came four Rabbits as black as ink； carrying a small black
coffin on their shoulders。
〃What do you want from me？〃 asked Pinocchio。
〃We have come for you；〃 said the largest Rabbit。
〃For me？ But I'm not dead yet！〃
〃No； not dead yet； but you will be in a few moments
since you have refused to take the medicine which would
have made you well。〃
〃Oh； Fairy； my Fairy；〃 the Marionette cried out； 〃give me
that glass！ Quick； please！ I don't want to die！
No； no； not yetnot yet！〃
And holding the glass with his two hands； he swallowed
the medicine at one gulp。
〃Well；〃 said the four Rabbits； 〃this time we have made
the trip for nothing。〃
And turning on their heels； they marched solemnly out
of the room； carrying their little black coffin and muttering
and grumbling between their teeth。
In a twinkling； Pinocchio felt fine。 With one leap he
was out of bed and into his clothes。
The Fairy； seeing him run and jump around the room
gay as a bird on wing； said to him：
〃My medicine was good for you； after all； wasn't it？〃
〃Good indeed！ It has given me new life。〃
〃Why； then； did I have to beg you so hard to make
you drink it？〃
〃I'm a boy； you see； and all boys hate medicine more
than they do sickness。〃
〃What a shame！ Boys ought to know； after all； that
medicine； taken in time； can save them from much pain
and even from death。〃
〃Next time I won't have to be begged so hard。 I'll
remember those black Rabbits with the black coffin on
their shoulders and I'll take the glass and pouf！down it
will go！〃
〃Come here now and te