Chapter 51

　　Another burst of laughter, even more impertinent thanthe first, washeard in the quiet field.

　　"Well," cried the Marionette, angrily this time,"mayI know, Mr. Parrot, what amuses you so?""I am laughing at thosesimpletons who believeeverything they hear and who allow themselves to becaught soeasily in the traps set for them.""Do you, perhaps, meanme?""I certainly do mean you, poor Pinocchio--you whoare such alittle silly as to believe that gold can be sownin a field just like beans orsquash. I, too, believed thatonce and today I am very sorry for it. Today (buttoo late!)I have reached the conclusion that, in order to comeby moneyhonestly, one must work and know how to earnit with hand or brain.""Idon't know what you are talking about," said theMarionette, who wasbeginning to tremble with fear.

　　"Too bad! I'll explain myself better," said the Parrot.

　　"While you were away in the city the Fox and the Catreturnedhere in a great hurry. They took the four goldpieces which you have buried andran away as fast as the wind.

　　If you can catch them, you're a brave one!"Pinocchio's mouthopened wide. He would not believethe Parrot's words and began to dig awayfuriously at theearth. He dug and he dug till the hole was as big ashimself,but no money was there. Every penny was gone.

　　In desperation, he ran to the city and went straight to thecourthouse to report the robbery to the magistrate.

　　这时候田野上静悄悄的，他又听见了笑声，这一次笑得比上次更放肆。

　　“不管怎么说，”皮诺乔发疯似在大叫，“你告诉我，没教养的鹦鹉，你笑什么？”

　　“我笑傻瓜，他们竟会什么胡涂话都相信，上最犹猾的人的当。”

　　“你说我吗？”

　　“对，我说你，可怜的皮诺乔，我说你是个大胡涂虫，竟相信金币可以像豆子南瓜那样在田野上播种收获。我曾经也相信过一次，到如今都觉得后悔。如今（可惜太晚了！）我确信，要正直地挣到一点钱，必须懂得用自己的手劳动，或者用自己的头脑思索。”

　　“我不懂你说些什么，”木偶说，这时他已经吓得发起抖来了。

　　“没法子！我只好说得更明白些，”鹦鹉往下说。“你要知道，当你在城里的时候，狐狸和猫回到这块地里来，挖走了金币，像阵风似地溜掉了。如今要追上它们，已经办不到啦！”

　　皮诺乔就那么张大了嘴闭不拢来。他不愿意相信鹦鹉的话，开始用手指甲挖浇过水的土。他挖啊，挖啊，挖了很深很深的一个大坑，连一个稻草堆都可以放进去了，可就是找不到金币。

　　木偶于是绝望了，回到城里，马上到法庭去向法官告状，说两个贼偷走了他的钱。