Chapter 54

　　What was the matter? An immense Serpent lay stretchedacross theroad--a Serpent with a bright green skin,fiery eyes which glowed and burned,and a pointed tailthat smoked like a chimney.

　　How frightened was poor Pinocchio! He ran backwildly for half amile, and at last settled himself atop aheap of stones to wait for the Serpentto go on his wayand leave the road clear for him.

　　He waited an hour; two hours; three hours; but theSerpent was alwaysthere, and even from afar one could see the flash of his red eyes and thecolumn of smokewhich rose from his long, pointed tail.

　　Pinocchio, trying to feel very brave, walked straight upto him andsaid in a sweet, soothing voice:

　　"I beg your pardon, Mr. Serpent, would you be sokind as to stepaside to let me pass?"He might as well have talked to a wall. TheSerpentnever moved.

　　Once more, in the same sweet voice, he spoke:

　　"You must know, Mr. Serpent, that I am going homewhere myfather is waiting for me. It is so long since Ihave seen him! Would you mindvery much if I passed?"He waited for some sign of an answer to hisquestions,but the answer did not come. On the contrary, the greenSerpent, whohad seemed, until then, wide awake and fullof life, became suddenly very quietand still. His eyesclosed and his tail stopped smoking.

他看见了一条大蛇，直挺挺地横躺在路上。这条蛇绿皮火眼，尾巴很尖，像是烟囱在冒烟。
　　木偶害怕得无法形容。他离开它，跑了有半公里多，坐在一堆石头上，只等这条蛇爬开，把路让出来。
　　他等了一个钟头，两个钟头，三个钟头，可蛇还在那儿。虽然离得老远，还能看见它那双火眼红红的，尾巴尖冒出一股一股烟柱。
　　最后皮诺乔鼓足了勇气，走近那蛇，离开它几步，用很甜很细的声音讨好地对它说：
　　“对不起，蛇先生，请帮个忙，挪出点地方让我过去，好吗？”
　　可他这番话完全是白说。蛇一动也不动。
　　木偶又用那很甜很细的声音说：
　　“您得知道，蛇先生，我要回到那房子去，我爸爸在那儿等着我，我已经很久很久没见到他了！……您肯让我继续走我的路吗？”
　　他等着蛇作出个表示来回答他这个请求，可蛇没有动静。相反，它一直好像很生猛，这时倒变得僵直不动了。它的眼睛闭上，尾巴停止冒烟。