ANTONIO CANOVA (3)

ANTONIO CANOVA (3)

Then little Antonio Canova left his pans and kettles, and went up to the man who had caused the trouble.

" If you had another statue, could you arrange the table ? " he asked.

" Certainly, " said the man.
" that is, if the statue were of the right length and height.

" Will you let me try to make one ? " asked Antonio.
" perhaps I can make something that will do. "

The man laughed.
"Nonsense ! " he cried.
" Who are you, that you talk of making statue on an hour's notice ? "

" I am Antonio Canova, " said the lad.
 
" Let the boy try what he can do, " said the servants, who knew him.

And so, since nothing else could be done the man allowed him to try.

On the kitchen table there was a large square lum of yellow butter.
Two hundred pounds the lum weighed, and it had just came in, fresh and clean, from the dairy on the mountain.
※
dairy：搾乳所 

With a kitchen knife in his hand, Antonio began to cut and carve this butter.

In a few minutes he had molded it into the shape of a crouching lion.
And all the servants crowded around to see it.

How beautiful ! " they cried.
It is a great deal prettier than the statue that was broken. "

When it was finished, the man carried it to its place.
" The table will be handsomer by half than I　ever hoped to make it," he said.

by half：はるかに（by far）と同じ意。
He is too clever by half.彼はあまりに才能がありすぎる 

(つづく　3/4)