雙語《小約翰》 二

II
二

It was a warm evening，and the pool lay perfectly still．The sun， red and tired with its day's work，seemed to pause for a moment on the edge of the world，before going down．Its glowing face was reflected，almost perfect，in the glassy water．The leaves of the beech-tree which overhung the lake took advantage of the stillness to gaze at themselves meditatively in the mirror．The solitary heron， standing on one leg among the broad leaves of the water-lilies， forgot that he had come out to catch frogs，and looked down his long nose，lost in thought．
池邊是悶熱和死靜。太陽因為白天的工作，顯得通紅而疲倦了，當未落以前，暫時在遠處的岡頭休息。光滑的水面，幾乎全映出它熾烈的面貌來。垂在池上的山毛櫸樹的葉子，趁著平靜，在鏡中留神地端相著自己。孤寂的蒼鷺，那用一足站在睡蓮的闊葉之間的，也忘卻了它曾經(jīng)出去捉過蝦蟆，只沉在遐想中凝視著前面。

Then Johannes came to the meadow to look into the cloud-cavern．Splash，dash！the frogs went plump off the bank．The mirror was rippled，the reflection of the sun was broken up into broad bands，and the beech-leaves rustled indignantly，for they were not yet tired of looking at themselves．
這時約翰來到草地上了，為的是看看云彩的洞府。撲通，撲通！蝦蟆從岸上跳下去了。水鏡起了波紋，太陽的象裂成寬闊的絳帶，山毛櫸樹的葉子也不高興地顫動，因為他的觀察還沒有完。

A little old boat lay tied up to the bare roots of the beech-tree．Johannes was strictly forbidden ever to get into it．Oh！how strong was the temptation this evening！The clouds were parting into a grand gateway，through which the sun would sink to rest．Shining ranks of small clouds gathered on each side like life-guards in golden armour．The pool glowed back at them，and red rays flashed like arrows between the water-reeds．
山毛櫸樹的露出的根上系著一只舊的、小小的船。約翰自己上去坐，是被嚴厲地禁止的。唉！今晚的誘惑是多么強呵！云彩已經(jīng)造成一個很大的門，太陽一定是要到那后面去安息。輝煌的小云排列成行，像一隊全甲的衛(wèi)士。水面也發(fā)出光閃，紅的火星在蘆葦間飛射，箭也似的。

Johannes very slowly untied the rope that moored the boat to the beech-root．Oh，to float out there in the midst of that glory！ Presto had already jumped into the boat；and before his master knew what he was doing，the reeds had pushed it out，and they were drifting away together towards the setting sun．
約翰慢慢地從山毛櫸樹的根上解開船纜來。浮到那里去，那光怪陸離的中間！普烈斯多當它的主人還未準備之先，已經(jīng)跳上船去了，蘆葦?shù)母勺颖惴诸^彎曲，將他們倆徐徐趕出，到那用了它最末的光照射著他們的夕陽那里去。

Johannes lay in the bows staring into the heart of the cavern of light．“Wings！”thought he．“Oh，for wings now，and I should be there！”The sun was gone．The clouds were of fire．The sky in the east was deep blue．A row of willows grew on the bank．Their tiny silvery leaves stood motionless in the still air，looking like pale green lace against the dark background．
約翰倚在前艙，觀覽那光的洞府的深處——“翅子！”他想，“現(xiàn)在，翅子，往那邊去！”——太陽消失了。云彩還在發(fā)光。東方的天作深藍色。柳樹沿著岸站立成行。它們不動地將那狹的、白色的葉子伸在空氣里。這垂著，由暗色的后面的襯托，如同華美的淺綠的花邊。

Hark！What was that？ A breath flew over the surface of the pool—like a faint gust of wind making a little groove in the water．It came from the sand-hills，from the cloud-cavern．
靜著！這是什么呢？水面上像是起了一個吹動——像是將水劈成一道深溝的微風的一觸。這是來自沙岡，來自云的洞府的。

When Johannes looked round he saw a large blue dragon-fly sitting on the edge of the boat．He had never seen one so large．It settled there，but its wings quivered in a large circle；it seemed to Johannes that the tips of them made a ring of light．
當約翰四顧的時候，船沿上坐著一個大的藍色的水蜻蜓。這么大的一個是他向來沒有見過的。它安靜地坐著，但它的翅子抖成一個大的圈。這在約翰，似乎它的翅子的尖端形成了一枚發(fā)光的戒指。

“It must be a glow-worm dragon-fly，”thought he，“and they are very seldom seen．”
“這是一個蛾兒罷，”他想，“這是很少見的。”

But the circle grew wider and wider，and the wings fluttered so fast that Johannes saw them only as a mist．And by degrees he saw out of the mist two dark eyes gleaming，and a slender，shining figure in a pale blue dress sat in the place where the dragon-fly had been．Its fair hair was crowned with a garland of white convolvulus， and on its shoulders were gauzy insect-wings glittering like a soap-bubble，with a thousand colours．A shiver of delight tingled through Johannes．Here was a miracle！
指環(huán)只是增大起來，它的翅子又抖得這樣快，至使約翰只能看見一片霧。而且慢慢地覺得它，仿佛從霧中亮出兩個漆黑的眼睛來，并且一個嬌小的、苗條的身軀，穿著淺藍的衣裳，坐在大蜻蜓的處所。白的旋花的冠戴在金黃的頭發(fā)上，肩旁還垂著透明的翅子，肥皂泡似的千色地發(fā)光。約翰戰(zhàn)栗了。這是一個奇跡！

“Will you be my friend？”he whispered．
“你要做我的朋友么？”他低聲說。

It was an odd way of addressing a stranger，but this was not a common case．And he had a feeling as though he had always known this strange sky-blue creature．
對生客講話，這雖是一種異樣的儀節(jié)，但此地一切是全不尋常的。他又覺得，似乎這陌生的藍東西在他是早就熟識的了。

“Yes，Johannes！”he heard，and the voice sounded like the rustling of the sedges in the evening breeze，or the whisper of rain on the leaves in the wood．
“是的，約翰！”他這樣地聽到，那聲音如蘆葦在晚風中作響，或是淅瀝地灑在樹林的葉上的雨聲。

“What is your name？”asked Johannes．
“我怎樣稱呼你呢？”約翰問道。

“I was born in the bell of a bindweed flower．Call me Winde-kind．”
“我生在一朵旋花的花托里，叫我旋兒罷！”

And Windekind laughed and looked so kindly into Johannes' eyes that he felt strangely happy．
旋兒微笑著，并且很相信地看著約翰的眼睛，致使他心情覺得異樣地安樂。

“To-day is my birthday，”Windekind went on，“I was born close to this spot．The last rays of the sun and the first beams of the moon are my father and mother．People in Holland call the sun she，but that is not right．The sun is my father．”
“今天是我的生日，”旋兒說，“我就生在這處所，從月亮的最初的光線和太陽的最末的。人說，太陽是女性的，但他并不是，他是我的父親！”

Johannes made up his mind to call the sun he in school tomorrow．
約翰便慨諾，明天在學校里去說太陽是男性的。

“And look！There comes my mother's round shining face．Good-day，mother！Oh，oh！But she looks very sad！”
“看哪！母親的圓圓的白的臉已經(jīng)出來了。——謝天，母親！唉！不，她怎么又晦暗了呢！”

He pointed to the eastern horizon．The moon was rising，broad and bright in the grey heavens，behind the lace-work of willow-twigs which stood out black against the silver disc．It really had a melancholy face．
旋兒指著東方。在灰色的天際，在柳樹的暗黑地垂在晴明的空中的尖葉之后，月亮大而燦爛地上升，并且裝著一副很不高興的臉。

“Come，come，mother．There is nothing wrong．I can trust him．”
“唉，唉，母親！——這不要緊。我能夠相信他！”

The fair being fluttered his gauzy wings gleefully，and tapped Johannes on the cheek with an iris flower he had in his hand．
那美麗的東西高興地顫動著翅子，還用他捏在手里的燕子花來打約翰，輕輕地在面龐上。

“She does not like my having come to talk to you．You are the first，you see；but I trust you，Johannes．You must never，never mention my name to any human being，nor speak of me at all．Will you promise me this？”
“我到你這里來，在她是不以為然的。你是第一個。但我相信你，約翰。你永不可在誰的面前提起我的名字，或者講說我。你允許么？”

“Yes，Windekind，”said Johannes．It was still very strange to him．He felt happy beyond words，but feared lest his happiness should vanish．Was he dreaming？ By his side，on the seat，lay Presto， sleeping quietly．His dog's warm breath reassured him．The gnats crept over the surface of the water and danced in the sultry air，just as usual．Everything about him was quite clear and real．It must be true．And he felt all the time that Windekind's trustful look was on him．Then again he heard the sweet low voice：—
“可以，旋兒。”約翰說。這一切于他還很生疏。他感到莫可名言的幸福，然而怕，他的幸福是笑話。他做夢么？靠近他在船沿上躺著普烈斯多，安靜地睡著。他的小狗的溫暖的呼吸使他寧帖。蚊虻們盤旋水面上，并且在菩提樹空氣中跳舞，也如平日一般。周圍的一切都這樣清楚而且分明。這應(yīng)該是真實的。他又總覺得旋兒的深信的眼光，怎樣地停留在他這里。于是那腴潤的聲音又發(fā)響了：

“I have often seen you here，Johannes．Do you know where I was？ Sometimes I sat on the sand at the bottom of the pool among the thicket of water-plants，and looked up at you when you bent over to drink，or to catch the water-beetles or the efts．But you did not see me．Then again I would hide near you among the reeds．There I was very comfortable；I sleep there most times when it is warm，in an empty reed-warbler's nest．And that is deliciously soft！”
“我時常在這里看見你，約翰。你知道我在什么地方么？——我大抵坐在池的沙地上，繁密的水草之間，而且仰視你，當你為了喝水或者來看水甲蟲和鯢魚，在水上彎腰的時候。然而你永是看不見我。我也往往從茂密的蘆葦中窺見你。我是常在那里的。天一熱，我總在那里睡覺，在一個空的鳥巢中。是呵，這是很柔軟的?！?/span>

Windekind rocked himself contentedly on the edge of the boat， hitting at the gnats with his flower．
旋兒高興地在船沿上搖晃，還用他的花去撲飛蚊。

“Now I have come to keep you company．Your life is too dull．We shall be good friends，and I will tell you a great many things—much better things than the schoolmaster teaches you．He knows nothing about them．And if you do not believe me I will let you see and hear for yourself．I will take you with me．”
“現(xiàn)在我要和你作一個小聚會。你平常的生活是這么簡單。我們要做好朋友，我還要講給你許多事，比學校教師給你捆上去的好得多。他們什么都不知道。我有好得遠遠的來源，比書本子好得遠。你倘若不信我，我就教你自己去看，去聽去。我要攜帶你?！?/span>

“Oh，Windekind！Dear Windekind！Can you take me with you out there？”cried Johannes，pointing to the spot where the purple rays of the vanished sun had streamed out of the golden gate of clouds．The glorious structure was already fading into grey mist，but the rosy light still could be seen in the farthest depths．
“阿，旋兒，愛的旋兒！你能帶我往那里去么？”約翰嚷著，一面指著那邊，是落日的紫光正在黃金的云門里放光的處所?！@華美的巨象已經(jīng)怕要散作蒼黃的煙霧了。但從最深處，總還是沖出淡紅的光來。

Windekind looked at the glow，which tinged his delicate face and fair hair，and he gently shook his head．
旋兒凝視著那光，那將他美麗的臉和他的金黃的頭發(fā)鍍上金色的，并且慢慢地搖頭。

“Not now，not now．You must not ask too much at once， Johannes．I myself have never been to my father's home．”
“現(xiàn)在不！現(xiàn)在不，約翰。你不可立刻要求得太多。我自己就從來沒有到過父親那里哩?！?/span>

“I am always at my father's，”said Johannes．
“我是總在我的父親那里的?！奔s翰說。

“No；he is not your father．We are brothers．My father is your father too．But the earth is your mother and so we are very different．And you were born in a house among men，and I in a bindweed flower；and that is much better．But we shall get on very well together nevertheless．”
“不！那不是你的父親。我們是弟兄，我的父親也是你的。但你的母親是地，我們因此就很各別了。你又生在一個家庭里，在人類中，而我是在一朵旋花的花托上。這自然是好得多。然而我們?nèi)匀荒軌蚝苷徑??！?/span>

Then Windekind sprang lightly into the boat，which did not rock under his weight，and kissed Johannes on the forehead．
于是旋兒輕輕一跳，到了在輕裝之下毫不搖動的船的那邊，一吻約翰的額。

What a strange change then came over Johannes！Everything about him seemed different．He saw everything better and more clearly，as he fancied．He saw the moon look down with a kinder glance，and he saw that the water-lilies had faces，and gazed at him in pensive amazement．He now suddenly understood why the gnats danced so merrily up and down，and round and round each other， touching the water with the tips of their long legs．He had often wondered and thought about it，but now he understood it at once．
但這于約翰是一種奇特的感覺。這時，似乎周圍一切完全改變了。他覺得，這時他看得一切都更好、更分明。他看見，月亮現(xiàn)在怎樣更加友愛地向他看；他又看見，睡蓮怎樣地有著面目，這都在詫異地沉思地觀察他。現(xiàn)在他頓然懂得，蚊虻們?yōu)槭裁催@樣歡樂地上下跳舞，總是互相環(huán)繞，高高低低，直到它們用它們的長腿觸著水面。他于此早就仔細地思量過，但這時卻自然懂得了。

He heard too what the reeds whispered to the trees on the bank， softly complaining that the sun had gone down．
他又聽得，蘆葦絮語些什么，岸邊的樹木如何低聲嘆息，說是太陽下去了。

“Oh！Windekind，thank you，this is glorious．Yes；we shall be very happy together！”
“阿，旋兒！我感謝你，這確是可觀。是的，我們將要很了解了?！?/span>

“Give me your hand，”said Windekind，spreading his many-coloured wings．Then he drew Johannes in the boat over the pool through the splashing leaves which glistened in the moonlight．
“將你的手交給我。”旋兒說，一面展開彩色的翅子來。他于是拉著船里的約翰，經(jīng)過了在月光下發(fā)亮的水薔薇的葉子，走到水上去。

Here and there a frog was sitting on a leaf；but he did not now leap into the water when Johannes came by．He only made a little bow and said，“Quaak．”Johannes politely bowed in return；above all，he would not seem ill-bred．
處處有一匹蝦蟆坐在葉子上。但這時它已不像約翰來的時候似的跳下水去了。它只向他略略鞠躬，并且說：“閣閣！”約翰也用了同等的鞠躬，回報這敬禮。他毫不愿意顯出一點傲慢來。

Then they came to the reeds；they grew so far out into the water that the whole boat was swallowed up in them without touching the shore．But Johannes held fast to his leader and they scrambled to land between the tall stems．
于是他們到了蘆葦旁——這很廣闊，他們還未到岸的時候，全船就隱沒在那里面了。但約翰卻緊牽著他的同伴，他們就從高大的干子之間爬到陸地上。

It seemed to Johannes that he had grown quite small and light， but perhaps that was fancy．Still，he could not remember that he had ever before been able to climb up a sedge．
約翰很明白，他變?yōu)楹苄《p了，然而這大概不過是想象。他能夠在一枝蘆干上爬上去，他卻是未曾想到的。

“Now，keep your eyes open，”said Windekind，“and you shall see something pretty．”
“留神罷，”旋兒說，“你就要看見好看的事了?！?/span>

They walked on among the tall grass and under dark brushwood which here and there let through a bright narrow streak of moonlight．
他們在偶然透過幾條明亮的月光的、昏暗的叢莽之下，穿著豐草前行。

“Did you ever hear the crickets of an evening out on the sand-hills，Johannes？ It is as if they were giving a concert，isn't it？ And you can never find out exactly where the sound comes from．Now they do not sing for pleasure：the voices come from the crickets' school，where hundreds of little crickets are learning their lessons．Be quite still，for we are near them now．”
“你晚上曾在岡子上聽到過蟋蟀么，約翰？是不是呢，它們像是在合奏，而你總不能聽出，那聲音是從什么地方來的。唔，它們唱，并非為了快樂，你所聽到的那聲音，是來自蟋蟀學校的，成百的蟋蟀們就在那里練習它們的功課。靜靜的罷，我們就要到了?！?/span>

Shurr！Shurr！
嘶爾爾！嘶爾爾！

The bushes were thinner here，and when Windekind pushed the grass stems aside with his flower，Johannes saw a beautiful open glade where，among the fine spiky grass of the down，the crickets were busy reading their lessons．
叢莽露出光來了，當旋兒用花推開草莖的時候，約翰看見一片明亮的、開闊的地面，小蟋蟀們就在那里做著那些事，在薄的、狹的岡草上練習它們的功課。

Shurr！Shurr！
嘶爾爾！嘶爾爾！

A great stout cricket was master and teacher．One after another the pupils skipped up to him with one leap forward and one leap back again．The cricket who missed his leap had to stand on a toadstool．
一個大的，肥胖的蟋蟀是教員，監(jiān)視著學課。學生們一個跟著一個的，向它跳過去，總是一跳就到，又一跳回到原地方。有誰跳錯了，便該站在地菌上受罰。

“Now listen，Johannes，”said Windekind；“you too may perhaps learn something．”
“好好地聽著罷，約翰！你也許能在這里學一點。”旋兒說。

Johannes could understand what the little crickets said．But it was not at all the same as the master at his school taught him．First came geography：they knew nothing of the quarters of the world．They only knew twenty-six sand-hills at most，and two ponds．No one could know of anything beyond，said the master，and what was told of it was mere idle fancy．
蟋蟀怎樣地回答，約翰很懂得。但那和教員在學校里的講說，是全不相同的。最先是地理。它們不知道世界的各部分。它們只要熟悉二十六個沙岡和兩個池。凡有較遠的，就沒有人能夠知道一點點。那教師說，凡講起這些的，不過是一種幻想罷了。

Then came the botany lesson．They were all very sharp at this， and many prizes were given，consisting of the youngest and sweetest blades of grass of various length．But the zoology was what most puzzled Johannes．The animals were classified as leaping，flying， and creeping．The crickets could leap and fly，and thus stood at the head of all；next to them the frogs．Birds were mentioned with every sign of horror，as most malignant and dangerous creatures．Finally man was spoken of．He was a huge useless and mischievous being， very low in the scale，as he could neither leap nor fly；but happily he was very rarely met with．A very tiny cricket，who had never yet seen a man，had three blows with a reed for including man among the harmless beasts．
這回輪到植物學了。它們于此都學得不錯，并且分給了許多獎賞：各樣長的、特別嫩的、脆的草干子。但約翰最為驚奇的是動物學。動物被區(qū)分為跳的、飛的和爬的。蟋蟀能夠跳和飛，就站在最高位，其次是蝦蟆。鳥類被它們用了種種憤激的表示，說成最大的禍害和危險。最末也講到人類。那是一種大的、無用而有害的動物，是站在進化的很低的階級上的，因為這既不能跳，也不能飛，但幸而還少見。一個小蟋蟀，還沒有見過一個人，誤將人類數(shù)在無害的動物里面了，就得了草干子的三下責打。

Johannes had never heard anything like this before．
約翰從來沒有聽到過這等事！

Then the master called out：“Silence！Leaping exercise！”
教師忽然高呼道：“靜著！練跳！”

And the little crickets immediately ceased conning their lessons， and began to play leap-frog，in the cleverest and nimblest way，the big teacher at their head．
一切蟋蟀們便立刻停了學習，很敏捷很勤快地翻起筋斗來。胖教員帶領(lǐng)著。

It was such a merry sight that Johannes clapped his hands with glee；but at that sound，the whole school vanished in an instant into the sand-hills，and the grass plot was as still as death．
這是很滑稽的美觀，致使約翰愉快得拍手。它們一聽到，全校便驟然在岡上迸散，草地上也即成了死靜了。

“There，that is your doing，Johannes！You must not behave so roughly．It is easy enough to see that you were born among men．”
“唉，這是你呀，約翰！你舉動不要這么粗蠻！大家會看出，你是生在人類中的?！?/span>

“I am so sorry！I will do my best．But it was so funny！”
“我很難過，下回我要好好地留心，但那也實在太滑稽了?！?/span>

“It will be still funnier，”said Windekind．
“滑稽的還多哩。”旋兒說。

They crossed the grass plot and went up the down on the other side．Oof！it was hard walking in the heavy sand；but as soon as Johannes held on to the pale-blue robe he flew upwards，lightly and swiftly．Half-way up there was a rabbit-burrow．The rabbit who lived there was lying with his head and forepaws over the edge．The wild roses were still in bloom，and their sweet，delicate fragrance mingled with that of the thyme which grew on the sand-hill．
他們經(jīng)過草地，就從那一邊走到岡上。呸！這是厚的沙土里面的工作！——但待到約翰抓住旋兒的透明的藍衣，他便輕易地、迅速地飛上去了。岡頭的中途是一匹野兔的窠。在那里住家的兔子，用頭和爪躺在洞口，以享受這佳美的夜氣。岡薔薇還在蓓蕾，而它那細膩的、嬌柔的香氣，是混和著生在岡上的麝香草的花香。

Johannes had often seen rabbits pop into their holes，and had wondered what the burrows looked like inside，and how they sat there together，and would they not be stifled？
約翰?？匆娨巴枚氵M它的洞里去，一面就自己問：“那里面是什么情形呢？能有多少聚在那里呢？它們不擔心么？”

So he was very glad when he heard his companion ask the rabbit whether they might step in．
待到他聽見他的同伴在問野兔，是否可以參觀一回洞穴，他就非常高興了。

“So far as I am concerned，and welcome，”said the rabbit．“But it most unfortunately happens that I have this very evening lent my burrow for a charitable entertainment，and so am not properly master in my own house．”
“在我是可以的，”那兔說，“但適值不湊巧，我今晚正把我的洞穴交出，去開一個慈善事業(yè)的典禮了，因此在自己的家里便并不是主人?！?/span>

“Dear，dear！Has some disaster occurred？”
“哦，哦，是出了不幸的事么？”

“Oh，yes！”said the rabbit sadly—“a terrible misfortune！It will take us years to get over it．About a dozen jumps from here，a man's house has been built，so big，so big！And its men are come to live there with dogs．Seven members of my family have already perished，and three times as many holes have been robbed．The mouse family and the mole tribe have fared no better．Even the toads have suffered．So now we are giving an entertainment for the benefit of the survivors．Every one does what he can；I have lent my burrow．One must find something to spare for one's fellow-creatures．”
“唉，是呵！”野兔傷感地說，“一個大大的打擊，我們要幾年痛不完。從這里一千跳之外，造起一所人類的住所來了。這么大，這么大！——人們便搬到那里去了，帶著狗。我家的七個分子，就在那里被禍，而無家可歸的還有三倍之多。于老鼠這一伙和土撥鼠的家屬尤為不利。癩蝦蟆也大受侵害了。于是我們便為著遺族們開一個會，各人能什么，他就做什么。我是交出我的洞來。大家總該給它們的同類留下一點什么的?！?/span>

The polite rabbit sighed and passed his long ear over his face with his right forepaw，as though to wipe a tear from his eye．It was his pocket-handkerchief．
富于同情的野兔嘆息著，并且用它的右前爪將長耳朵從頭上拉過來，來拭干一滴淚。這樣的是它的手巾。

There was a rustling sound in the grass and a fat，heavy body came shuffling up to the hole．
岡草里索索地響起來，一個肥胖的、笨重的身軀來到洞穴。

“Look，”said Windekind，“here comes daddy toad too，all humped up．Well，how are you getting on，old fellow？”
“看哪！”旋兒大聲說，“碩鼠伯伯來了?！?/span>

The toad made no reply．He carefully laid an ear of corn neatly wrapped in a dry leaf close to the entrance，and nimbly climbed over the rabbit's back into the hole．
那碩鼠并不留心旋兒的話，將一枝用干葉包好的整谷穗，安詳?shù)胤旁诙纯冢挽`敏地跳過野兔的脊梁，進洞去了。

“May we go in？”said Johannes，who was excessively inquisitive．“I will give something．”
“我們可以進去么？”實在好奇的約翰問，“我也愿意捐一點東西?！?/span>

He remembered that he still had a biscuit in his pocket—a little round biscuit，from Huntley and Palmer's．When he took it out he at once observed how much smaller he had grown．He could scarcely grasp it with both hands，and could not understand how his breeches pocket had still held it．
他記得衣袋里還有一個餅干。當他拿了出來時，這才確實覺到，他變得怎樣地小了。他用了兩只手才能將這捧起來，還詫異在他的衣袋里怎么會容得下。

“That is most rare and precious！”cried the rabbit．“That is a princely donation！”
“這是很少見，很寶貴的！”野兔嚷著，“好闊綽的禮物！”

And he respectfully made way for them to pass．It was dark in the burrow，and Johannes let Windekind lead the way．Soon they saw a pale-green light approaching them．It was a glow-worm，who obligingly offered to light them．
它十分恭敬地允許兩個進門。洞里很黑暗，約翰愿意使旋兒在前面走。但即刻他們看見一點淡綠的小光，向他們近來了。這是一個火螢，為要使他們滿意，來照他們的。

“It promises to be a delightful evening，”said the glow-worm as they went forward．“There are a great number of guests．You are elves as it seems to me—are you not？”And the glow-worm glanced doubtfully at Johannes as he spoke．
“今天晚上看來是要極其漂亮的，”火螢前導著說，“這里早有許多來客了。我覺得你們是妖精，對不對？”那火螢一面看定了約翰，有些懷疑。

“You may announce us as elves，”replied Windekind．
“你將我們當作妖精去稟報就是了?！毙齼夯卮鹫f。

“Do you know that your king is of the party？”the glow-worm went on．
“你們可知道，你們的王也在赴會么？”火螢接著道。

“Is Oberon here？ Well，I am pleased indeed，”cried Windekind．“He is a personal friend of mine．”
“上首在這里么？這使我非常喜歡！”旋兒大聲說，“我本身和他認識的?！?/span>

“Oh！”said the glow-worm．“I did not know that I had the honour—”and his light almost went out with alarm．“Yes，his Majesty prefers the outer air as a rule，but he is always to be seen at a beneficent meeting．It will be really a most brilliant affair．”
“阿呀！”火螢說，“我不知道我有光榮。”因為驚訝，它的小光幾乎消滅了?！笆呛?，陛下平時最愛的是自由空氣，但為了慈善的目的，他倒是什么都可以的。這要成為一個很有光彩的會罷。”

And so indeed it was．The chief apartment in the rabbit-burrow was beautifully decorated；the floor was patted flat and strewn with scented thyme，and over the entrance a bat hung head downwards．He called out the names of the guests，and at the same time his wings served as curtains—a most economical arrangement．The walls were tastefully lined with dry leaves，cobwebs，and tiny hanging bats．Glowworms innumerable crept between them and over the ceiling， forming a very pretty and twinkling illumination．At the end of this hall stood a throne made of fragments of decayed wood which gave a light of themselves．That was a very pretty sight．
那也的確。鬼子建筑里的大堂，是輝煌地裝飾了。地面踏得很堅實，還撒上含香的麝香草；進口的前面用后腳斜掛著一只蝙蝠；它稟報來客，同時又當著簾幕的差。這是一種節(jié)省的辦法。大堂的墻上都用了枯葉、蛛網(wǎng)以及小小的、掛著的小蝙蝠極有趣致地裝璜著。無數(shù)的火螢往來其間，還在頂上盤旋，造成一個動心的活動的照耀。大堂上面是朽爛的樹干所做的寶座，放著光，弄出金剛石一般的結(jié)果來。這是一個輝煌的情景！

There were a great many guests．Johannes felt very shy in this crowd of strangers，and clung closely to Windekind．He saw wonderful things there．A mole was talking to a field-mouse of the charming effect of the lighting and decorations．Two fat toads sat together in a corner，shaking their heads and lamenting over the persistent drought．A frog tried to walk round the room arm in arm with a lizard；but this was a failure，for he was embarrassed and excited，and now and then made too long a leap，whereby he somewhat damaged the wall decorations．
早有了許多來客了。約翰在這生疏的環(huán)境中，覺得只像在家里的一半，惟有緊緊地靠著旋兒。他看見稀奇的東西。一匹土撥鼠極有興會地和野鼠議論著美觀的燈和裝飾。一個角落里坐著兩個肥胖的癩蝦蟆，還搖著頭訴說長久的旱天。一個蝦蟆想挽著手引一個蝎虎穿過大堂去，這于它很為難，因為它是略有些神經(jīng)興奮和躁急的，所以它每一回總將墻上的裝飾弄得非常凌亂了。

On the throne sat Oberon，the Elfin King，surrounded by his little train of elves who looked down on the rest of the company with some contempt．The King himself was full of royal condescension， and conversed in the most friendly way with several of the company．He had just arrived from a journey in the East，and wore a strange garment of brightly coloured flower-petals．“Such flowers do not grow here，”thought Johannes．On his head he had a dark blue flower-cup which still shed a fresh perfume as though it had but just been plucked．In his hand he carried the stamen of a lotus-flower as a sceptre．
寶座上坐著上首，妖的王，圍繞著一小群妖精的侍從，有幾個輕蔑地俯視著周圍。王本身是照著王模樣，出格地和藹，并且和各種來客親睦地交談。他是從東方旅行來的，穿一件奇特的衣服，用美觀的、各色的花葉制成。這里并不生長這樣的花，約翰想。他頭上戴一個深藍的花托，散出新鮮的香氣，像新折一般。在手里他拿著蓮花的一條花須，當作御杖。

All the company were struck with silent admiration of his condescension．He had praised the moonlight over the downs，and had said that the glow-worms here were as beautiful as the fire-flies in the East．He had also glanced with approval at the decorations， and a mole had observed that he had nodded his head very graciously．
一切與會的都受著他的恩澤。他稱贊這里的月光，還說，本地的火螢也美麗，幾乎和東方的飛螢相同。他又很合意地看了墻上的裝飾，一個土撥鼠還看出陛下曾經(jīng)休憩，愜意地點著頭。

“Come along，”said Windekind to Johannes．“I will present you．”And they made their way to the King's throne．
“同我走，”旋兒對約翰說，“我要引見你?！庇谑撬麄冎睕_到王的座前。

Oberon opened his arms with joy when he saw Windekind， and embraced him．There was a murmur among the guests，and unfriendly glances from the Elfin court．The two fat toads in the corner muttered something about“flattery”and“servility”and“it would not last”—and nodded significantly to each other．Windekind talked to Oberon for a long time in an unknown language，and then beckoned to Johannes to come forward．
上首一認出旋兒，便高興地伸開兩臂，并且和他接吻。這在賓客之間攪起了私語，妖精的侍從中是嫉妒的眼光。那在角落里的兩個肥胖的癩蝦蟆，絮說些“諂媚者”、“乞憐者”和“不會長久的”，而且別有用意地點頭。旋兒和上首談得很久，用了異樣的話，于是就將約翰招過去。

“Shake hands，Johannes，”said the King．“Windekind's friends are my friends．So far as I can，I will gladly serve you．I will give you a token of our alliance．”
“給我手，約翰！”那王說，“旋兒的朋友就是我的朋友。凡我能夠的，我都愿意幫助你。我要給你我們這一黨的表記。”

Oberon took a tiny gold key from the chain he wore about his neck and gave it to Johannes，who received it with great respect and clasped it tightly in his hand．
上首從他的項鏈上解下一個小小的金的鎖匙來，遞給約翰。他十分恭敬地接受了，緊緊地捏在手里。

“That key may bring you luck，”the King went on．“It opens a golden casket which contains a priceless treasure．But where that is I cannot tell you；you must search for it diligently．If you remain good friends with me，and with Windekind，and are steadfast and true，you may very likely succeed．”
“這匙兒能是你的幸福，”王接著說，“這能開一個金的小箱，藏些高貴的至寶的。然而誰有這箱，我卻不能告訴你。你只要熱心地尋求。倘使你和我和旋兒長做好朋友而且忠實，那于你就要成功了。”

The Elfin King nodded his handsome head with hearty kindness， and Johannes thanked him，greatly delighted．
妖王于是和藹地點著他美麗的頭，約翰喜出望外地向他致謝。

Hereupon three frogs，who sat perched on a little cushion of moist moss，began to sing the prelude to a slow waltz，and the couples stood up．Those who did not dance were requested by a green lizard—who acted as master of the ceremonies and who rushed hither and thither very busily—to move into the corners；to the great indignation of the two toads，who complained that they could not see；and then the dancing began．
坐在濕的莓苔的略高處的三個蝦蟆，聯(lián)成慢圓舞的領(lǐng)導，對偶也配搭起來了。有誰不跳舞，便被一個綠色的蜥蜴，這是充當司儀，并且奔忙于職務(wù)的，推到旁邊去，那兩個癩蝦蟆就大煩惱，一齊訴苦，說它們不能看見了。這時跳舞已經(jīng)開頭。

It was very droll at first．Each one danced after his own fashion and naturally imagined that he did it better than any one else．The mice and frogs leaped as high as they could on their hind legs；an old rat spun round so roughly that all the rest had to keep out of his way；and even a fat slug ventured to take a turn with a mole，but soon gave it up，excusing herself by saying that she had a stitch in her side—the real reason was that she could not do it well．
但這確是可笑！各個都用了它的本相跳舞，并且自然地擺出那一種態(tài)度，以為它所做的比別個好得多。老鼠和蝦蟆站起后腳高高地跳著，一個年老的碩鼠旋得如此粗野，使所有跳舞者都從它的前面躲向旁邊，還有一匹惟一的肥胖的樹蝸牛，敢于和土撥鼠來轉(zhuǎn)一圈，但不久便被拋棄了，在前墻之下，以致她（譯者按：蝸牛）因此得了腰脅痛，那實在的原因，倒是因為她不很懂得那些事。

However，the dance went on very gravely and ceremoniously．Every one regarded it as a matter of conscience，and glanced anxiously at the King to see some token of approval on his countenance．But the King was afraid of causing jealousies，and looked quite unmoved．His suite thought it beneath them to dance with the rest．
然而一切都做得很誠實而莊嚴。大家很有幾分將這些看作榮耀，并且惴惴地窺伺王，想在他的臉上看出一點贊賞的表示。王卻怕惹起不滿，只是凝視著前方。他的侍從人等，那看重它們的技藝的品格，來參與跳舞的，是高傲地旁觀著。

Johannes had stood among them quite quietly for a long time；but he saw a little toad waltzing with a tall lizard who sometimes lifted the hapless toad so-high above the ground that she described a semicircle in the air，and his amusement burst out in a hearty laugh．
約翰熬得很久了。待到他看見，一匹大的蜥蜴怎樣地掄著一個小小的癩蝦蟆，時常將這可憐的癩蝦蟆從地面高高舉起，并且在空中掄一個半圓，便在響亮的哄笑里，發(fā)泄出他的興致來了。

What an excitement it caused！The music ceased．The King looked angrily about him．The master of the ceremonies flew in all haste to implore Johannes to behave less frivolously．
這惹起了一個激動。音樂喑啞了。王嚴厲地四顧。司儀員向笑者飛奔過去，并且嚴重地申斥他，舉動須要合禮。

“Dancing is a very serious thing，”said he，“and certainly no subject for laughter．This is a very distinguished party，where people do not dance for amusement．Every one is doing his best and no one expects to be laughed at．It is extremely rude．Besides，this is a mourning feast，on a very melancholy occasion．You must behave suitably，and not as if you were among men and women．”
“跳舞是一件最莊重的事，”它說，“毫沒有什么可笑的。這里是一個高尚的集會，大家在這里跳舞并非單為了游戲。各顯各的特長，沒有一個會希望被笑的。這是大不敬。除此之外，大家在這里是一個悲哀的儀節(jié)，為了重大的原因。在這里舉動務(wù)須合禮，也不要做在人類里面似的事！”

Johannes was quite alarmed．On every side he met disapproving looks；his intimacy with the King had already made him some enemies．Windekind led him aside．
這使約翰害怕起來了。他到處看見仇視的眼光。他和王的親密給他招了許多的仇敵。旋兒將他拉在旁邊：

“We shall do better to go，Johannes，”he whispered．“You have spoilt it all．Yes，yes；that comes of having been brought up among men．”
“我們還是走的好罷，約翰！”他低聲說，“你將這又鬧壞了。是呵，是呵，如果從人類中教育出來的，就那樣！”

They hastily slipped out under the wings of the porter bat，into the dark passage．The glow-worm in waiting attended them to the door．“Have you been amused？”he asked．“Did King Oberon speak to you？”
他們慌忙從蝙蝠門房的翅子下潛行，走到黑暗的路上。恭敬的火螢等著他們?！澳銈兒煤玫匦袠妨嗣?？”它問，“你們和上首大王扳談了么？”

“Oh，yes；it was a beautiful party，”replied Johannes．“Must you stay here in the dark passage all the time？”
“唉，是的！那是一個有趣的會，”約翰說，“你必須永站在這暗路上么？”

“It is my own free choice，”said the glow-worm in a tone of bitter melancholy．“I have given up all such vanities．”
“這是本身的自由的選擇，”火螢用了悲苦的聲音說，“我再不能參與這樣無聊的集會了?！?/span>

“Come，”said Windekind；“you do not mean that．”
“去罷！”旋兒說，“你并不這樣想?！?/span>

“Indeed I do．Formerly—formerly—there was a time when I too went to banquets，and danced and cared for such frivolities．But now I am crushed by suffering—now—”And he was so much overcome that his light went out．
“然而這是實情。早先——早先有一時，我也曾參與過各種的會，跳舞，徘徊。但現(xiàn)在我是被憂愁掃蕩了，現(xiàn)在……”它還這樣的激動，至于消失了它的光。

Fortunately they were close to the opening，and the rabbit，who heard them coming，stood a little on one side so that the moonlight shone in．
幸而他們已近洞口，野兔聽得他們臨近，略向旁邊一躲，放進月光來。

As soon as they were outside with the rabbit，Johannes said—“Tell us your history，Glow-worm．”
他們一到外面野兔的旁邊，約翰說：“那么，就給我講你的故事罷，火螢！”

“Alas！”sighed the glow-worm，“it is simple and sad．It will not amuse you．”
“唉！”火螢嘆息，“這事是簡單而且悲傷。這不使你們高興?！?/span>

“Tell it，tell it all the same，”they all cried．
“講罷，講它就是！”大家都嚷起來。

“Well—you all know of course，that we glow-worms are very remarkable creatures．Yes，I believe that no one will venture to dispute that we are the most gifted creatures in existence．”
“那么，你們都知道，我們火螢是極其異乎尋常的東西。是呵，我覺得，誰也不能否認，我們火螢是一切生物中最有天稟的?！?/span>

“Pray why？ I do not see that！”said the rabbit．
“何以呢？這我卻愿意知道?！币巴谜f。

“Can you give light？”asked the glow-worm contemptuously．
火螢渺視地回答道：“你們能發(fā)光么？”

“No，certainly not，”the rabbit was forced to admit．
“不，這正不然?！币巴弥坏觅澇?。

“Well，we give light！all of us．And we can let it shine or extinguish it at will．Light is the best of nature's gifts，and to give light is the highest function to which a living creature can attain．Can any one now doubt our pre-eminence？ Besides，we，the males， have wings and can fly for miles．”
“那么，我們發(fā)光，我們大家！我們還能夠隨意發(fā)光或者熄滅。光是最高的天賦，而一個生物能發(fā)最高的光。還有誰要和我們競爭前列么？我們男的此外還有翅子，并且能夠飛到幾里遠。”

“That I cannot do，”the rabbit humbly owned．
“這我也不能?！币巴弥t遜地自白。

“For the divine gift of light which we possess，all other creatures look up to us；no bird may attack us．One animal alone，the lowest of them all，seeks us out and carries us off．That is man—the vilest monster in creation！”
“就因為我們有發(fā)光的天賦，”火螢接著說，“別的動物也哀矜我們，沒有鳥來攻擊我們。只有一種動物，是一切中最低級的那個，搜尋我們，還捉了我們?nèi)ァＤ蔷褪侨?，是造物的最蠻橫的出產(chǎn)?！?/span>

At this Johannes looked round at Windekind as though he did not understand the meaning of it．But Windekind smiled and nodded to him to say nothing．
說到這里，約翰注視著旋兒，似乎不懂它。旋兒只微笑，并且示意他，教他不開口。

“Once I flew gaily about the world like a bright will-o'-the-wisp among the dark bushes．And in a lonely damp meadow，on the bank of a stream，dwelt she whose existence was inseparably bound up with my happiness．She glittered in exquisite emerald green light as she crept among the grass stems，and she entirely possessed my youthful heart．I fluttered round her and did my utmost to attract her attention by changing my light．I gladly perceived that she noticed my salutation and eclipsed her own light．Tremulous with devotion， I was about to fold my wings and drop in ecstasy at the side of my radiant and adored one，when a tremendous noise filled the air．Dark figures were approaching：they were men．I fled in terror．They rushed after me and struck at me with great black tilings，but my wings were swifter than their clumsy legs．—When I returned—”
“有一回，我也往來飛翔，一個明亮的迷光，高興地在黑暗的叢莽里，在寂寞的潮濕的草上，在溝的岸邊。這里生活著她，她的存在，和我的幸福是分不開的。她華美地在藍的碧玉光中燦爛著，當她順著草爬行的時候，很強烈地蠱惑了我的少年的心。我繞著她飛翔，還竭力用了顏色的變換來牽引她的注意。幸而我看出，她已經(jīng)怎樣地收受了我的敬禮，靦腆地將她的光兒韜晦了。因為感動而發(fā)著抖，我知道收斂起我的翅子，降到我的愛者那里去，其時正有一種強大的聲響彌滿著空中。暗黑的形體近來了。那是人類。我駭怕得奔逃。他們追趕我，還用一種沉重的、烏黑的東西照著我打。但我的翅子擔著我是比他們的笨重的腿要快一點的。待到我回來的時候……”

Here the narrator's voice failed him．It was only after a pause of silent meditation，while his three hearers reverently kept silence，that he went on：
講故事的至此停止說話了。先是寂靜的刺激一剎那——這時三個聽的都惴惴地沉默著——它才接著說：

“You have guessed the rest．My gentle bride，the brightest and most sparkling of her kind，had disappeared，carried away by cruel men．The peaceful，moist grass plot was trodden down，and her favourite place by the stream was dark and desolate．I was alone in the world．”
“你們早經(jīng)料到了。我的嬌嫩的未婚妻——一切中最燦爛和最光明的——她是消失了，給惡意的人們捉去了。閑靜的、潮濕的小草地是踏壞了，而她那在溝沿的心愛的住所是慘淡和荒涼。我在世界上是孤獨了。”

Here the tender-hearted rabbit again used his ear to wipe a tear from his eyes．
多感的野兔仍舊拉過耳朵來，從眼里拭去一滴淚。

“From that night I am an altered creature．I have a horror of all vain amusements．I think only of her whom I have lost，and of the time when I may see her again．”
“從此以后我就改變了。一切輕浮的娛樂我都反對。我只記得我所失掉的她，還想著我和她再會的時候?！?/span>

“What，have you still a hope？”asked the rabbit in surprise．
“這樣么？你還有這樣的希望么？”野兔高興地問。

“I have more than hope；I have assurance．Up there I shall see my beloved once more．”
“比希望還要切實，我有把握的。在那上面我將再會我的愛者。”

“But—”the rabbit put in．
“然而……”野兔想反駁。

“Rab，”said the glow-worm solemnly，“I can understand the doubts of those who must feel their way in the dark．But to those who can see with their own eyes！—then all doubt is to me incomprehensible．There！”cried the glow-worm，looking reverently up at the twinkling，starry sky，“I see them there！All my ancestors， all my friends，—and she among them—they shine up there in still greater radiance than here on earth．Ah！when shall I be released from this lower life and fly to her who twinkles at me so tenderly．When，ah！when？”
“兔兒，”火螢嚴肅地說，“我知道，只有應(yīng)該在昏暗里彷徨的，才會懷疑。然而如果是看得見的，如果是用自己的眼來看的，那就凡有不確的事于我是一個疑案。那邊！”光蟲說，并且敬畏地仰看著種滿星星的天空，“我在那邊看見她！一切我的祖先，一切我的朋友，以及她，我看見較之在這地上，更其分明地發(fā)著威嚴的光輝。唉唉，什么時候我才能驀地離于這空虛的生活，飛到那誘引著招致我的她那里去呢？唉唉！什么時候，什么時候……？”

The glow-worm turned away with a sigh，and crept back into the dark again．
光蟲嘆息著，離開它的聽者，又爬進黑暗的洞里去了。

“Poor fellow！”said the rabbit，“I hope he may be right．”
“可憐的東西！”野兔說，“我盼望，它不錯?！?/span>

“I hope so too，”added Johannes．
“我也盼望?！奔s翰贊同著。

“I have my fears，”said Windekind．“But it was very interesting．”
“我以為未必，”旋兒說，“然而那倒很動人?！?/span>

“Dear Windekind，”Johannes began，“I am very tired and sleepy．”
“愛的旋兒，”約翰說，“我很疲倦，也要睡了。”

“Come close to me，then，and I will cover you with my cloak．”
“那么來罷，你躺在這里我的旁邊，我要用我的氅衣蓋著你?！?/span>

Windekind took off his blue mantle and spread it over Johannes and himself．So they lay down together in the sweet moss on the down，their arms round each other's necks．
旋兒取了他的藍色的小氅衣，蓋了約翰和自己。他們就這樣躺在岡坡的發(fā)香的草上，彼此緊緊地擁抱著。

“Your heads lie rather low，”cried the rabbit．“Will you rest them against me？”And so they did．
“你們將頭放得這么平，”野兔大聲說，“你們愿意枕著我么？”這一個貢獻他們不能拒絕。

“Good-night，mother！”said Windekind to the Moon．
“好晚上，母親?！毙齼簩υ铝琳f。

And Johannes shut his hand tight on the little golden key，laid his head on the downy fur of the good-natured rabbit，and slept soundly．
于是約翰將金的小鎖匙緊握在手中，將頭靠在好心的野兔的蒙茸的毛上，靜靜地酣睡了。