5. 职员的变形
thE cLERK’S tRANSFoRmAtIoN
我们当然没有忘记那个守夜人。过了一会儿，他想起了自己找到并送到医院的那双套鞋，于是他去把它们取了回来。
the watchman, whom we of course have not forgotten, thought, after a while, of the goloshes which he had found and taken to the hospital; so he went and fetched them.
但是中尉和街上的任何人都认不出这是他们的套鞋，所以他把它们交给了警察。
but neither the lieutenant nor any one in the street could recognize them as their own, so he gave them up to the police.
“它们看起来和我的套鞋一模一样。”一个职员说道，他检查着放在自己那双套鞋旁边的这双不知名的鞋子。“即使是鞋匠的眼睛也很难分辨出这两双鞋。”
“they look exactly like my own goloshes,” said one of the clerks, examining the unknown articles, as they stood by the side of his own. “It would require even more than the eye of a shoemaker to know one pair from the other.”
“职员先生。”一个拿着一些文件走进来的仆人说道。
“master clerk,” said a servant who entered with some papers.
职员转过身跟那个人说话；但跟那人说完后，他又转回去看那双套鞋，现在他比以往任何时候都更疑惑右边的那双还是左边的那双是他的。
the clerk turned and spoke to the man; but when he had done with him, he turned to look at the goloshes again, and now he was in greater doubt than ever as to whether the pair on the right or on the left belonged to him.
“那双湿的一定是我的。” 他想；但他想错了，恰恰相反。
“those that are wet must be mine,” thought he; but he thought wrong, it was just the reverse.
幸运女神的套鞋是那双湿的；而且，再说，警察局的一个职员为什么就不能有时犯错呢？
the goloshes of Fortune were the wet pair; and, besides, why should not a clerk in a police office be wrong sometimes?
于是他穿上那双套鞋，把文件塞进口袋，腋下夹着几份手稿，那是他要带回家去做摘要的。
So he drew them on, thrust his papers into his pocket, placed a few manuscripts under his arm, which he had to take with him, and to make abstracts from at home.
因为那是星期天的早晨，天气非常好，他自言自语道：“去腓特烈斯堡散散步对我有好处。” 于是他就出发了。
there could not be a quieter or more steady young man than this clerk.
不可能有比这个职员更安静、更稳重的年轻人了。
我们不会舍不得让他去散这一小会儿步，在坐了那么久之后，这正是对他有好处的事情。
we will not grudge him this little walk, it was just the thing to do him good after sitting so much.
一开始他走得像个纯粹的机器人，没有思想也没有愿望；因此套鞋没有机会展示它们的魔力。
he went on at first like a mere automaton, without thought or wish; therefore the goloshes had no opportunity to display their magic power.
在林阴道上他遇到了一个熟人，我们的一位年轻诗人，诗人告诉他自己打算第二天开始一次夏日远足。
In the avenue he met with an acquaintance, one of our young poets, who told him that he intended to start on the following day on a summer excursion.
“你真的这么快就要走吗？” 职员问道。
“Are you really going away so soon?” asked the clerk.
“你是一个多么自由、快乐的人啊。你可以随意漫游，而我们这样的人却被束缚住了脚。”
“what a free, happy man you are. You can roam about where you will, while such as we are tied by the foot.”
“但它是系在面包树上的。” 诗人回答道。“你不必为明天担忧；等你老了还有养老金呢。”
“but it is fastened to the bread-tree,” replied the poet.“You need have no anxiety for the morrow; and when you are old there is a pension for you.”
“啊，是的；但你过得最好。” 职员说，“坐着写诗歌一定很令人愉快。整个世界都对你和颜悦色，而且你是自己的主人。你应该试试在法庭上听所有那些琐碎的事情是什么感觉。”
“Ah, yes; but you have the best of it,” said the clerk; “it must be so delightful to sit and write poetry. the whole world makes itself agreeable to you, and then you are your own master. You should try how you would like to listen to all the trivial things in a court of justice.”
诗人摇了摇头，职员也摇了摇头；两人各持己见，然后就分手了。
the poet shook his head, so also did the clerk; each retained his own opinion, and so they parted.
“这些诗人真是奇怪的人。” 职员想。“我倒想试试有诗歌品味是什么感觉，自己也成为一名诗人。我肯定不会像他们那样写些悲伤的诗句。对诗人来说，这是一个美妙的春日，空气如此清新，云彩如此美丽，绿草散发着如此甜美的气息。多年来我从未有过此刻这样的感觉。”
“they are strange people, these poets,” thought the clerk. “I should like to try what it is to have a poetic taste, and to bee a poet myself. I am sure I should not write such mournful verses as they do. this is a splendid spring day for a poet, the air is so remarkably clear, the clouds are so beautiful, and the green grass has such a sweet smell. For many years I have not felt as I do at this moment.”
从这些话中我们可以看出，他已经变成了一名诗人。在大多数诗人看来，他说的话会被认为平淡无奇，或者用德语说就是 “乏味”。认为诗人与其他人不同是一种愚蠢的想法。有很多人比那些自称为诗人的人更具有自然诗人的气质。不同之处在于，诗人的智力记忆更好；他抓住一个想法或一种情感，直到能够用清晰明了的语言表达出来，而其他人做不到这一点。
we perceive, by these remarks, that he had already bee a poet. by most poets what he had said would be considered mon-place, or as the Germans call it, “insipid.” It is a foolish fancy to look upon poets as different to other men. there are many who are more the poets of nature than those who are professed poets. the difference is this, the poet’s intellectual memory is better; he seizes upon an idea or a sentiment, until he can embody it, clearly and plainly in words, which the others cannot do.
但是从一个平凡人的性格转变为一个更有天赋的人的性格是一个巨大的转变；过了一段时间，职员也意识到了这种变化。
but the transition from a character of every-day life to one of a more gifted nature is a great transition; and so the clerk became aware of the change after a time.
“多么宜人的香气啊。” 他说，“这让我想起了洛拉阿姨家的紫罗兰。啊，那是我小时候的事了。天哪，我已经好久没有想起那些日子了！她是一位善良的老处女。她住在那边，证券交易所后面。即使在冬天最寒冷的时候，她也总是在水里插一枝花或者几朵花。我甚至在把温热的便士硬币贴在结冰的窗玻璃上弄出窥视孔的时候，都能闻到紫罗兰的香味，透过窥视孔看到的景色也很美。河面上停着的船被冰封住了，船员们都弃船而去；一只呱呱叫的乌鸦是船上唯一的活物。但是当春天的微风拂来，一切都复苏了。在欢呼声中，船只被涂上柏油，装上索具，然后驶向遥远的国度。
“what a delightful perfume,” said he; “it reminds me of the violets at Aunt Lora’s. Ah, that was when I was a little boy. dear me, how long it seems since I thought of those days! She was a good old maiden lady! she lived yonder, behind the Exchange. She always had a sprig or a few blossoms in water, let the winter be ever so severe. I could smell the violets, even while I was placing warm penny pieces against the frozen panes to make peep-holes, and a pretty view it was on which I peeped. out in the river lay the ships, icebound, and forsaken by their crews; a screaming crow represented the only living creature on board. but when the breezes of spring came, everything started into life. Amidst shouting and cheers the ships were tarred and rigged, and then they sailed to foreign lands.
“我留在这里，而且永远都会留在这里，坐在警察局的岗位上，让别人拿着护照去遥远的地方。是的，这就是我的命运。” 他深深地叹了口气。
“I remain here, and always shall remain, sitting at my post at the police office, and letting others take passports to distant lands. Yes, this is my fate,” and he sighed deeply.
突然他停了下来。
Suddenly he paused.
“天哪，我这是怎么了？我以前从未有过现在这种感觉；一定是春天的气息。它让人难以抵挡，但又很美妙。”
“Good gracious, what has e over me? I never felt before as I do now; it must be the air of spring. It is overpowering, and yet it is delightful.”
他在口袋里摸索着找一些文件。
he felt in his pockets for some of his papers.
“这些会让我想点别的事情。” 他说。
“these will give me something else to think of,” said he.
他的目光落在其中一张纸的第一页上，读到：“《西格布丽夫人；一部五幕原创悲剧》。这是什么？—— 还是我自己的笔迹！我写了这部悲剧吗？”
casting his eyes on the first page of one, he read, “‘mistress Sigbirth; an original tragedy, in Five Acts.’ what is this? — in my own handwriting, too! have I written this tragedy?”
他又读道：“《散步道上的阴谋；或者，斋戒日。一部轻歌舞剧。》我怎么会有这些？一定是有人把它们放进了我的口袋。还有一封信！” 这是剧院经理写来的；这些作品被拒绝了，措辞一点也不客气。
he read again, “‘the Intrigue on the promenade; or, the Fast-day. A Vaudeville.’ however did I get all this? Some one must have put them into my pocket. And here is a letter!” It was from the manager of a theatre; the pieces were rejected, not at all in polite terms.
“嗯，嗯！” 他说着在一条长凳上坐下；他的思绪非常活跃，他的心奇怪地变软了。
“hem, hem!” said he, sitting down on a bench; his thoughts were very elastic, and his heart softened strangely.
他不由自主地摘下一朵离他最近的花；那是一朵小小的、朴素的雏菊。
Involuntarily he seized one of the nearest flowers; it was a little, simple daisy.
这朵小花瞬间就解释了植物学家们在许多讲座中所说的一切。
All that botanists can say in many lectures was explained in a moment by this little flower.
它讲述了自己诞生的荣耀；它谈到了阳光的力量，是阳光让它娇嫩的叶子展开，并赋予了它如此甜美的芬芳。
It spoke of the glory of its birth; it told of the strength of the sunlight, which had caused its delicate leaves to expand, and given to it such sweet perfume.
在人的内心唤起情感的生命挣扎在这些小花中有其象征。
the struggles of life which arouse sensations in the bosom have their type in the tiny flowers.
空气和阳光是花朵的恋人，但阳光是更受宠爱的那个；花朵朝着阳光转动，只有当阳光消失时，它才会合上叶子，在空气的怀抱中沉睡。
Air and light are the lovers of the flowers, but light is the favored one; towards light it turns, and only when light vanishes does it fold its leaves together, and sleep in the embraces of the air.”
“是阳光装点了我。” 花朵说。
“It is light that adorns me,” said the flower.
“但空气给了你生命的气息。” 诗人低声说。
“but the air gives you the breath of life,” whispered the poet.
就在他旁边站着一个男孩，正用棍子在一条泥泞的沟渠里拨弄着。
Just by him stood a boy, splashing with his stick in a marshy ditch.
水滴在绿色的细枝间飞溅起来，职员想到每一滴水中都有几百万个微生物被抛向空中，对它们来说，这个高度就如同我们被抛到云层之上的高度一样。
the water-drops spurted up among the green twigs, and the clerk thought of the millions of animalculae which were thrown into the air with every drop of water, at a height which must be the same to them as it would be to us if we were hurled beyond the clouds.
当职员想到所有这些事情，并意识到自己内心的巨大变化时，他微笑着对自己说：“我一定是在睡觉做梦；然而，如果是这样，一个梦能如此自然真实，同时又知道这只是一个梦，这是多么奇妙啊。我希望明天醒来的时候我能记得这一切。我的感觉太不可思议了。我对一切都有清晰的感知，就好像我完全清醒着一样。我很确定如果我明天还记得这一切，它会显得极其荒谬可笑。我以前也有过这种情况。我们在梦中说的或听到的聪明或奇妙的事情，就如同来自地下的黄金，我们拥有它的时候它是丰富而美丽的，但在真实的光线下看，它不过是石头和枯叶而已。”
As the clerk thought of all these things, and became conscious of the great change in his own feelings, he smiled, and said to himself, “I must be asleep and dreaming; and yet, if so, how wonderful for a dream to be so natural and real, and to know at the same time too that it is but a dream. I hope I shall be able to remember it all when I wake tomorrow. my sensations seem most unaccountable. I have a clear perception of everything as if I were wide awake. I am quite sure if I recollect all this tomorrow, it will appear utterly ridiculous and absurd. I have had this happen to me before. It is with the clever or wonderful things we say or hear in dreams, as with the gold which es from under the earth, it is rich and beautiful when we possess it, but when seen in a true light it is but as stones and withered leaves.”
“啊！” 他悲伤地叹了口气，望着欢快歌唱或从一根树枝跳到另一根树枝的鸟儿，“它们比我幸福多了。飞翔是一种光荣的能力。生来就有翅膀的人是幸福的。是的，如果我能把自己变成任何东西，我愿意变成一只小云雀。”
“Ah!” he sighed mournfully, as he gazed at the birds singing merrily, or hopping from branch to branch, “they are much better off than I. Flying is a glorious power. happy is he who is born with wings. Yes, if I could change myself into anything I would be a little lark.”
就在这时，他的上衣后摆和袖子连在了一起，变成了翅膀，他的衣服变成了羽毛，他的套鞋变成了爪子。
At the same moment his coat-tails and sleeves grew together and formed wings, his clothes changed to feathers, and his goloshes to claws.
他感觉到发生的事情，暗自笑了起来。
he felt what was taking place, and laughed to himself.
“嗯，现在很明显我一定是在做梦；但我从没做过这么疯狂的梦。”
“well, now it is evident I must be dreaming; but I never had such a wild dream as this.”
然后他飞到绿色的树枝上唱歌，但歌声中没有诗意，因为他的诗性已经离他而去。
And then he flew up into the green boughs and sang, but there was no poetry in the song, for his poetic nature had left him.
就像所有想把事情做得彻底的人一样，这双套鞋一次只能专注于一件事情。
the goloshes, like all persons who wish to do a thing thoroughly, could only attend to one thing at a time.
他希望成为一名诗人，他就变成了诗人。
he wished to be a poet, and he became one.
然后他想变成一只小鸟，在这个变化中他失去了前一个身份的特征。
then he wanted to be a little bird, and in this change he lost the characteristics of the former one.
“嗯，” 他想，“这真迷人；白天我坐在警察局里，周围是最枯燥的法律文件，晚上我可以梦见自己是一只云雀，在腓特烈堡的花园里飞来飞去。真的可以就此写一部完整的喜剧。”
“well,” thought he, “this is charming; by day I sit in a police-office, amongst the dryest law papers, and at night I can dream that I am a lark, flying about in the gardens of Fredericksburg. Really a plete edy could be written about it.”
然后他飞落到草丛里，脑袋四处转动，用嘴轻啄着弯弯的草叶，以他现在的大小来看，这些草叶对他来说就像北非的棕榈叶那么长。
then he flew down into the grass, turned his head about in every direction, and tapped his beak on the bending blades of grass, which, in proportion to his size, seemed to him as long as the palm-leaves in northern Africa.
不一会儿，他周围一片漆黑。
In another moment all was darkness around him.
似乎有个巨大的东西罩在了他身上。
It seemed as if something immense had been thrown over him.
一个水手男孩把他的大帽子扔向这只鸟，一只手从下面伸过来，粗鲁地抓住职员的背部和翅膀，以至于他尖叫起来，然后惊慌地叫道：“你这个无礼的无赖，我是警察局的职员！” 但在男孩听来这只像 “叽叽，叽叽” 的叫声；于是他敲了敲鸟的嘴，带着他走开了。
A sailor boy had flung his large cap over the bird, and a hand came underneath and caught the clerk by the back and wings so roughly, that he squeaked, and then cried out in his alarm, “You impudent rascal, I am a clerk in the police-office!” but it only sounded to the boy like “tweet, tweet;” so he tapped the bird on the beak, and walked away with him.
在林阴道上，他遇到了两个男学生，他们似乎来自较高阶层的社会，但由于能力较差，在学校里一直处于最低年级。
In the avenue he met two school-boys, who appeared to belong to a better class of society, but whose inferior abilities kept them in the lowest class at school.
这两个男孩用八便士买下了这只鸟，于是职员回到了哥本哈根。
these boys bought the bird for eightpence, and so the clerk returned to copenhagen.
“我在做梦，这对我来说是好事，” 他想，“否则我真的会生气。一开始我是个诗人，现在我是只云雀。一定是诗性把我变成了这个小生物。这确实是个悲惨的故事，尤其是现在我落入了男孩们的手中。我想知道这会有什么结局。”
“It is well for me that I am dreaming,” he thought; “otherwise I should bee really angry. First I was a poet, and now I am a lark. It must have been the poetic nature that changed me into this little creature. It is a miserable story indeed, especially now I have fallen into the hands of boys. I wonder what will be the end of it.”
男孩们把他带到一个非常雅致的房间，一个胖乎乎、和蔼可亲的女士在那里接待了他们，但当她发现他们带来了一只云雀 —— 她称之为一只普通的田鸟时，一点也不高兴。
the boys carried him into a very elegant room, where a stout, pleasant-looking lady received them, but she was not at all gratified to find that they had brought a lark — a mon field-bird as she called it.
然而，她允许他们把这只鸟在一天之内放在一个靠近窗户的空笼子里。
however, she allowed them for one day to place the bird in an empty cage that hung near the window.
“也许波莉会喜欢它，” 她说着，笑着看向一只灰色的大鹦鹉，它正骄傲地在一个漂亮的黄铜笼子里的一个环上荡来荡去。
“It will please polly perhaps,” she said, laughing at a large gray parrot, who was swinging himself proudly on a ring in a handsome brass cage.
“今天是波莉的生日，” 她用一种嗲声嗲气的语气补充道，“这只小田鸟是来祝贺的。”
“It is polly’s birthday,” she added in a simpering tone, “and the little field-bird has e to offer his congratulations.”
波莉一个字也没回答，他继续骄傲地来回晃荡；但是一只美丽的金丝雀，前一个夏天从它自己温暖芬芳的故乡被带来，开始尽可能大声地唱歌。
polly did not answer a single word, he continued to swing proudly to and fro; but a beautiful canary, who had been brought from his own warm, fragrant fatherland, the summer previous, began to sing as loud as he could.
“你这个尖叫者！” 女士说着，把一块白手帕扔到笼子上。
“You screamer!” said the lady, throwing a white handkerchief over the cage.
“叽叽，叽叽，” 他叹息道，“多么可怕的暴风雪啊！” 然后他就沉默了。
“tweet, tweet,” sighed he, “what a dreadful snowstorm!” and then he became silent.
职员，或者像女士称呼他的那样，田鸟，被放在一个靠近金丝雀的小笼子里，离鹦鹉也不远。
the clerk, or as the lady called him the field-bird, was placed in a little cage close to the canary, and not far from the parrot.
波莉唯一能说出的人类语言，而且有时她会非常滑稽地喋喋不休地说出来的，就是 “现在让我们做男人吧。” 除此之外的一切都是尖叫，和金丝雀的啁啾声一样难以理解，除了对职员来说，他现在是一只鸟，能很好地理解他的同伴们。
the only human speech which polly could utter, and which she sometimes chattered forth most ically, was “Now let us be men.” All besides was a scream, quite as unintelligible as the warbling of the canary-bird, excepting to the clerk, who being now a bird, could understand his rades very well.
“我在绿色的棕榈树下飞翔，在盛开的杏树间飞翔，” 金丝雀唱道。
“I flew beneath green palm-trees, and amidst the blooming almond-trees,” sang the canary.
“我和我的兄弟姐妹们一起飞过美丽的花朵，飞过清澈明亮的大海，大海在它闪闪发光的深处倒映着摇曳的树叶；我见过很多快乐的鹦鹉，他们能讲述又长又有趣的故事。
“I flew with my brothers and sisters over beautiful flowers, and across the clear, bright sea, which reflected the waving foliage in its glittering depths; and I have seen many gay parrots, who could relate long and delightful stories.
“他们是野鸟，” 鹦鹉回答道，“而且完全没受过教育。现在让我们做男人吧。你为什么不笑呢？如果女士和她的访客们能为此发笑，你肯定也能。”
“they were wild birds,” answered the parrot, “and totally uneducated. Now let us be men. why do you not laugh? If the lady and her visitors can laugh at this, surely you can.
不会欣赏有趣的事物是一个很大的缺点。现在让我们做男人吧。
It is a great failing not to be able to appreciate what is amusing. Now let us be men.
“你还记得吗，” 金丝雀说，“那些漂亮的少女们曾经在甜美的花朵下支起的帐篷里跳舞？你还记得那美味的水果和野生草药里清凉的汁液吗？”
“do you remember,” said the canary, “the pretty maidens who used to dance in the tents that were spread out beneath the sweet blossoms? do you remember the delicious fruit and the cooling juice from the wild herbs?”
“哦，记得，” 鹦鹉说，“但是在这里我过得好多了。我吃得饱，还被礼貌地对待。我知道我有一个聪明的脑袋；我还想要什么呢？现在让我们做男人吧。你有诗歌的灵魂。我有深刻的知识和才智。你有天赋，但没有判断力。你把你天生的高音提得太高了，结果你被盖住了。他们从不会这样对我。哦，不；我比你让他们付出的更多。我用我的嘴让他们守规矩，还到处散播我的机智。现在让我们做男人吧。”
“oh, yes,” said the parrot; “but here I am much better off. I am well fed, and treated politely. I know that I have a clever head; and what more do I want? Now let us be men. You have a soul for poetry. I have deep knowledge and wit. You have genius, but no discretion. You raise your naturally high notes so much, that you get covered over. they never serve me so. oh, no; I cost them something more than you. I keep them in order with my beak, and fling my wit about me. Now let us be men.”
“哦，我温暖、繁花盛开的故乡，” 金丝雀唱道，“我要歌唱你深绿色的树木和你宁静的溪流，在那里，低垂的树枝轻吻着清澈、平静的水面。我要歌唱我的兄弟姐妹们的快乐，当他们闪亮的羽毛在泉水边野生植物的深色叶子间飞舞的时候。”
“o my warm, blooming fatherland,” sang the canary bird, “I will sing of thy dark-green trees and thy quiet streams, where the bending branches kiss the clear, smooth water. I will sing of the joy of my brothers and sisters, as their shining plumage flits among the dark leaves of the plants which grow wild by the springs.”
“别再唱那些忧伤的曲调了，” 鹦鹉说，“唱点能让我们笑的；笑是最高智力的标志。狗或者马会笑吗？不，它们只会叫；只有人类被赋予了笑的能力。哈！哈！哈！” 波莉笑着，又重复了他那句机智的话，“现在让我们做男人吧。”
“do leave off those dismal strains,” said the parrot; “sing something to make us laugh; laughter is the sign of the highest order of intellect. can a dog or a horse laugh? No, they can cry; but to man alone is the power of laughter given. ha! ha! ha!” laughed polly, and repeated his witty saying, “Now let us be men.”
“你这只小灰丹麦鸟，” 金丝雀说，“你也成了囚犯。你的森林里肯定很冷，但那里仍有自由。飞出去！他们忘了关笼子，上面的窗户也开着。飞吧，飞吧！”
“You little gray danish bird,” said the canary, “you also have bee a prisoner. It is certainly cold in your forests, but still there is liberty there. Fly out! they have forgotten to close the cage, and the window is open at the top. Fly, fly!”
职员本能地服从了，离开了笼子；就在这时，通向隔壁房间的半掩着的门在铰链上嘎吱作响，那只猫悄无声息地溜了进来，眼睛闪着绿色的凶光，在房间里追着云雀跑。
Instinctively, the clerk obeyed, and left the cage; at the same moment the half-opened door leading into the next room creaked on its hinges, and, stealthily, with green fiery eyes, the cat crept in and chased the lark round the room.
金丝雀在笼子里扑腾着，鹦鹉拍打着翅膀叫道：“让我们做男人吧。” 可怜的职员惊恐万分，飞出窗户，飞过房屋，穿过街道，最后不得不找个地方歇一下。
the canary-bird fluttered in his cage, and the parrot flapped his wings and cried, “Let us be men;” the poor clerk, in the most deadly terror, flew through the window, over the houses, and through the streets, till at length he was obliged to seek a resting-place.
对面的一所房子让他有回家的感觉。一扇窗户开着。他飞了进去，落在桌子上。这是他自己的房间。
A house opposite to him had a look of home. A window stood open; he flew in, and perched upon the table. It was his own room.
“现在让我们做男人吧。” 他不由自主地模仿着鹦鹉说道；与此同时，他又变回了职员，只是他正坐在桌子上。
“Let us be men now,” said he, involuntarily imitating the parrot; and at the same moment he became a clerk again, only that he was sitting on the table.
“天哪！” 他说，“我怎么会到这儿来，还这样睡着了？我做了个不安的梦。这整件事看起来太荒谬了。”
“heaven preserve us!” said he; “how did I get up here and fall asleep in this way? It was an uneasy dream too that I had. the whole affair appears most absurd.”
6. 套鞋所做的最好的事
thE bESt thING thE GoLoShES dId
第二天一大早，职员还躺在床上的时候，他的邻居，一个年轻的神学学生，也住在同一层，敲了敲他的门，然后走了进来。
Early on the following morning, while the clerk was still in bed, his neighbor, a young divinity student, who lodged on the same storey, knocked at his door, and then walked in.
“把你的套鞋借给我，” 他说，“花园里很潮湿，但阳光灿烂。我想去那儿抽我的烟斗。”
“Lend me your goloshes,” said he; “it is so wet in the garden, but the sun is shining brightly. I should like to go out there and smoke my pipe.”
他穿上套鞋，很快就来到了花园里，花园里只有一棵李树和一棵苹果树；然而，在城里，即使是这样一个小花园也是一笔不小的财富。
he put on the goloshes, and was soon in the garden, which contained only one plum-tree and one apple-tree; yet, in a town, even a small garden like this is a great advantage.
学生在小路上来回走着；现在是六点钟，他能听到街上邮车的号角声。
the student wandered up and down the path; it was just six o’clock, and he could hear the sound of the post-horn in the street.
“哦，去旅行，去旅行！” 他喊道，“世界上没有比这更大的幸福了：这是我的最大愿望。如果我能去远离这个国家的地方旅行，这种不安的感觉就会平息。我想去看看美丽的瑞士，去意大利旅行，还有……”—— 幸好套鞋立刻起了作用，否则他可能会被带到对他自己和对我们来说都太远的地方。
“oh, to travel, to travel!” cried he; “there is no greater happiness in the world: it is the height of my ambition. this restless feeling would be stilled, if I could take a journey far away from this country. I should like to see beautiful Switzerland, to travel through Italy, and,” — It was well for him that the goloshes acted immediately, otherwise he might have been carried too far for himself as well as for us.
不一会儿，他发现自己在瑞士，和另外八个人一起挤在驿递马车里。
In a moment he found himself in Switzerland, closely packed with eight others in the diligence.
他头疼，背僵硬，血液也不流通了，以至于他的脚都被靴子挤肿了。
his head ached, his back was stiff, and the blood had ceased to circulate, so that his feet were swelled and pinched by his boots.
他处于半睡半醒的恍惚状态。
he wavered in a condition between sleeping and waking.
在他的右手口袋里有一张信用证；在他的左手口袋里有他的护照；还有几个路易金币缝在一个小皮袋里，他把皮袋放在胸前的口袋里。
In his right-hand pocket he had a letter of credit; in his left-hand pocket was his passport; and a few louis d’ors were sewn into a little leather bag which he carried in his breast-pocket.
每当他打盹时，就会梦见自己丢了这个或那个宝贝；然后他就会猛地惊醒，手的第一反应就是从右口袋摸到胸口，再从胸口摸到左口袋，以确认它们是否都安然无恙。
whenever he dozed, he dreamed that he had lost one or another of these possessions; then he would awake with a start, and the first movements of his hand formed a triangle from his right-hand pocket to his breast, and from his breast to his left-hand pocket, to feel whether they were all safe.
雨伞、手杖和帽子在他面前的网里晃来晃去，几乎挡住了景色，而这景色确实非常壮观；当他瞥向这景色时，他的记忆中至少浮现出一位诗人的诗句，这位诗人曾歌颂过瑞士，而他的诗还没有出版呢：——
Umbrellas, sticks, and hats swung in the net before him, and almost obstructed the prospect, which was really very imposing; and as he glanced at it, his memory recalled the words of one poet at least, who has sung of Switzerland, and whose poems have not yet been printed: —
“在我惊奇的眼前，
勃朗峰美丽的山峰轻轻升起；
呼吸山间的空气多么甜美，——
如果你有足够的金子可花。”
“how lovely to my wondering eyes
mont blanc’s fair summits gently rise;
’tis sweet to breathe the mountain air, —
If you have gold enough to spare.”
他周围的景色显得宏大、阴暗而又阴沉。
Grand, dark, and gloomy appeared the landscape around him.
松树林看起来就像高岩上的一小簇青苔，其山峰消失在云雾之中。
the pine-forests looked like little groups of moss on high rocks, whose summits were lost in clouds of mist.
不一会儿，开始下雪了，风又冷又刺骨。
presently it began to snow, and the wind blew keen and cold.
“啊，” 他叹了口气，“要是我现在在阿尔卑斯山的另一边就好了，那里会是夏天，我就可以凭我的信用证取钱了。我对这件事的焦虑使我无法在瑞士享受快乐。哦，我希望我在阿尔卑斯山的另一边。”
“Ah,” he sighed, “if I were only on the other side of the Alps now, it would be summer, and I should be able to get money on my letter of credit. the anxiety I feel on this matter prevents me from enjoying myself in Switzerland. oh, I wish I was on the other side of the Alps.”
就在这时，他发现自己一下子来到了意大利的中部，在佛罗伦萨和罗马之间，特拉西梅诺湖在傍晚的阳光下像一片熔化的金子在深蓝色的群山之间闪闪发光。
And there, in a moment, he found himself, far away in the midst of Italy, between Florence and Rome, where the lake thrasymene glittered in the evening sunlight like a sheet of molten gold between the dark blue mountains.
在那里，汉尼拔击败了弗拉米尼乌斯，葡萄藤用它们绿色的卷须手指友好地缠绕在一起；而在路边，可爱的半裸着身子的孩子们在芬芳的月桂树花丛下看着一群乌黑的猪。
there, where hannibal defeated Flaminius, the grape vines clung to each other with the friendly grasp of their green tendril fingers; while, by the wayside, lovely half-naked children were watching a herd of coal-black swine under the blossoms of fragrant laurel.
如果我们能恰当地描述这如画的场景，我们的读者会惊呼：“令人愉快的意大利！”
could we rightly describe this picturesque scene, our readers would exclaim, “delightful Italy!”
但是无论是这个学生还是他的任何一个旅伴都一点也不想以这种方式去想它。
but neither the student nor either of his travelling panions felt the least inclination to think of it in this way.
有毒的苍蝇和蚊子成千上万地飞进马车。
poisonous flies and gnats flew into the coach by thousands.
他们徒劳地用一根桃金娘树枝把它们赶走，苍蝇还是照样叮咬他们。
In vain they drove them away with a myrtle branch, the flies stung them notwithstanding.
马车里没有一个人的脸不是被叮咬得肿胀变形的。
there was not a man in the coach whose face was not swollen and disfigured with the stings.
可怜的马看起来很悲惨；苍蝇成群地落在它们背上，只有当马车夫下来把这些虫子赶走时它们才得到解脱。
the poor horses looked wretched; the flies settled on their backs in swarms, and they were only relieved when the coachmen got down and drove the creatures off.
当太阳落山时，一种冰冷的感觉弥漫了整个大自然，但这种感觉并没有持续很久。
As the sun set, an icy coldness filled all nature, not however of long duration.
它产生了一种我们在夏天进入葬礼上的墓穴时所体验到的感觉；而山峦和云朵呈现出那种奇特的绿色调，我们在旧画中经常看到这种色调，在我们自己看到南方大自然的这种色彩之前，我们会觉得它不自然。
It produced the feeling which we experience when we enter a vault at a funeral, on a summer’s day; while the hills and the clouds put on that singular green hue which we often notice in old paintings, and look upon as unnatural until we have ourselves seen nature’s coloring in the south.
这是一个壮观的景象；但是旅行者们的肚子是空的，他们的身体因疲劳而疲惫不堪，他们心中所有的渴望都转向了一个晚上的歇脚处；但是他们不知道在哪里能找到一个。
It was a glorious spectacle; but the stomachs of the travellers were empty, their bodies exhausted with fatigue, and all the longings of their heart turned towards a resting-place for the night; but where to find one they knew not.
所有的眼睛都太急切地寻找这个歇脚处了，以至于没有注意到大自然的美丽。
All the eyes were too eagerly seeking for this resting-place, to notice the beauties of nature.
这条路穿过一片橄榄树林；这让学生想起了家乡的柳树。
the road passed through a grove of olive-trees; it reminded the student of the willow-trees at home.
这里有一座孤零零的客栈，紧挨着它的是一群残疾乞丐，他们各自找了个地方安顿下来；其中最显眼的一个，用马里亚特的话来说，“就像是刚满成年的饥荒之长子”。
here stood a lonely inn, and close by it a number of crippled beggars had placed themselves; the brightest among them looked, to quote the words of marryat, “like the eldest son of Famine who had just e of age.”
其他人要么是盲人，要么是萎缩的腿，这迫使他们只能用手和膝盖爬行，要么是萎缩的胳膊和没有手指的手。
the others were either blind, or had withered legs, which obliged them to creep about on their hands and knees, or they had shrivelled arms and hands without fingers.
这确实是衣衫褴褛的贫困。
It was indeed poverty arrayed in rags.
“阁下，可怜可怜我们吧！” 他们叫嚷着，伸出他们患病的肢体。
“Eccellenza, miserabili!” they exclaimed, stretching forth their diseased limbs.
女店主光着脚、头发蓬乱、穿着一件脏罩衫来迎接旅客。
the hostess received the travellers with bare feet, untidy hair, and a dirty blouse.
门是用绳子绑在一起的；房间的地板是砖头铺的，有很多地方都破了；蝙蝠在屋顶下飞来飞去；至于里面的气味 ——
the doors were fastened together with string; the floors of the rooms were of brick, broken in many places; bats flew about under the roof; and as to the odor within —
“我们把晚餐摆在马厩里吧，” 其中一个旅客说，“那样我们就会知道我们呼吸的是什么了。”
“Let us have supper laid in the stable,” said one of the travellers; “then we shall know what we are breathing.”
窗户被打开让一点新鲜空气进来，但是比空气更快进来的是那些萎缩的胳膊和不停的哀鸣声，“可怜可怜我们吧，阁下。”
the windows were opened to let in a little fresh air, but quicker than air came in the withered arms and the continual whining sounds, “miserabili, eccellenza.”
墙上有题词，其中一半是针对 “美丽的意大利” 的。
on the walls were inscriptions, half of them against “la bella Italia.”
晚餐终于出现了。
the supper made its appearance at last.
它包括有胡椒和变质油调味的稀汤。
It consisted of watery soup, seasoned with pepper and rancid oil.
最后这种美味在沙拉中起了主要作用。
this last delicacy played a principal part in the salad.
发了霉的鸡蛋和烤鸡冠是桌上最好的菜；甚至酒也有一种奇怪的味道，肯定是一种混合物。
musty eggs and roasted cocks’-bs were the best dishes on the table; even the wine had a strange taste, it was certainly a mixture.
夜里，所有的箱子都被推到门后，一个旅客守夜，其他人睡觉。
At night, all the boxes were placed against the doors, and one of the travellers watched while the others slept.
轮到神学学生守夜了。
the student’s turn came to watch.
那个房间里的空气多么沉闷啊；炎热使他难以忍受。
how close the air felt in that room; the heat overpowered him.
蚊子嗡嗡叫着叮咬着，而外面那些 “可怜人” 在睡梦中呻吟着。
the gnats were buzzing about and stinging, while the miserabili, outside, moaned in their dreams.
“旅行本来会很不错，” 神学学生自言自语道，“如果我们没有身体，或者如果灵魂在飞翔时身体可以休息。无论我走到哪里，我都感到一种压抑我心灵的渴望，因为此刻更好的东西出现了；是的，更好的东西，那将是最好的东西；但是在哪里能找到它呢？事实上，我心里很清楚我想要什么。我希望获得最大的幸福。”
“travelling would be all very well,” said the student of divinity to himself, “if we had no bodies, or if the body could rest while the soul if flying. wherever I go I feel a want which oppresses my heart, for something better presents itself at the moment; yes, something better, which shall be the best of all; but where is that to be found? In fact, I know in my heart very well what I want. I wish to attain the greatest of all happiness.”
话刚说完，他就回到了家。
No sooner were the words spoken than he was at home.
长长的白色窗帘遮住了他房间的窗户，屋子中央放着一口黑色的棺材，他现在就躺在里面，处于死亡的宁静沉睡中；他的愿望实现了，他的身体得到了休息，而他的灵魂在旅行。
Long white curtains shaded the windows of his room, and in the middle of the floor stood a black coffin, in which he now lay in the still sleep of death; his wish was fulfilled, his body was at rest, and his spirit travelling.
“不到入坟墓，莫赞人幸福。” 这是梭伦的话。这里有一个有力而新鲜的证据证明了这句话的真实性。每具尸体都是不朽的斯芬克斯。这个石棺里的斯芬克斯也许可以用这个活人两天前自己写下的话来揭开它自己的神秘面纱 ——
“Esteem no man happy until he is in his grave,” were the words of Solon. here was a strong fresh proof of their truth. Every corpse is a sphinx of immortality. the sphinx in this sarcophagus might unveil its own mystery in the words which the living had himself written two days before —
“严酷的死亡，你冰冷的寂静唤起恐惧；
然而在你最黑暗的时刻也可能有光。
尘世的园丁！从坟墓冰冷的床榻
灵魂在雅各的梯子上飞升。
人类最大的悲哀常常是一部分
隐藏的悲痛，不为人类所见，
它们给孤独的心带来的压力
远甚于此刻压在他棺材上的泥土。”
“Stern death, thy chilling silence waketh dread;
Yet in thy darkest hour there may be light.
Earth’s garden reaper! from the grave’s cold bed
the soul on Jacob’s ladder takes her flight.
man’s greatest sorrows often are a part
of hidden griefs, concealed from human eyes,
which press far heavier on the lonely heart
than now the earth that on his coffin lies.”
两个身影在房间里走来走去；我们都认识他们。一个是名叫忧虑的仙女，另一个是幸运女神的使者。他们俯身在死者身上。
two figures were moving about the room; we know them both. one was the fairy named care, the other the messenger of Fortune. they bent over the dead.
“看！” 忧虑说，“你的套鞋给人类带来了什么幸福？”
“Look!” said care; “what happiness have your goloshes brought to mankind?”
“它们至少给躺在这里沉睡的人带来了持久的幸福。” 她说。
“they have at least brought lasting happiness to him who slumbers here,” she said.
“并非如此，” 忧虑说，“他是自己离开的，他不是被召唤走的。他的精神力量不够强大，无法辨别出他命中注定要发现的宝藏。我现在要帮他一个忙。” 她从他的脚上脱下了套鞋。
“Not so,” said care, “he went away of himself, he was not summoned. his mental powers were not strong enough to discern the treasures which he had been destined to discover. I will do him a favor now.” And she drew the goloshes from his feet.
死亡的沉睡结束了，康复的人坐了起来。忧虑消失了，套鞋也随着她一起消失了；毫无疑问，她把套鞋看作是她自己的东西。
the sleep of death was ended, and the recovered man raised himself. care vanished, and with her the goloshes; doubtless she looked upon them as her own property.