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双语·青鸟 第七章 墓园

所属教程:译林版·青鸟

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2022年05月23日

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Chapter 7 THE GRAVEYARD

WHEN the Children were not going on an expedition, they played about in the Realms of Light; and this was a great treat for them, for the gardens and the country around the temple were as wonderful as the halls and galleries of silver and gold.

The leaves of some of the plants were so broad and strong that they were able to lie down on them; and, when a breath of wind stirred the leaves, the Children swung as in a hammock. It was always summer there and never a moment was darkened by the night; but the hours were known by their different colours; there were pink, white, blue, lilac, green and yellow hours; and, according to their hues, the flowers, the fruits, the birds, the butterflies and the scents changed, causing Tyltyl and Mytyl a constant surprise. They had all the toys that they could wish for. When they were tired of playing, they stretched themselves out on the backs of the lizards, which were as long and wide as little boats, and quickly, quickly raced round the garden-paths, over the sand which was as white and as good to eat as sugar. When they were thirsty, Water shook her tresses into the cup of the enormous flowers; and the Children drank straight out of the lilies, tulips and morning-glories. If they were hungry, they picked radiant fruits which revealed the taste of Light to them and which had juice that shone like the rays of the sun.

There was also, in a clump of bushes, a white marble pond which possessed a magic power: its clear waters reflected not the faces, but the souls of those who looked into it.

“It’s a ridiculous invention,” said the Cat, who steadily refused to go near the pond.

You, my dear little readers, who know her thoughts as well as I do, will not be surprised at her refusal. And you will also understand why our faithful Tyllo was not afraid to go and quench his thirst there: he need not fear to reveal his thoughts, for he was the only creature whose soul never altered. The dear Dog had no feelings but those of love and kindness and devotion.

When Tyltyl bent over the magic mirror, he almost always saw the picture of a splendid Blue Bird, for the constant wish to find him filled his mind entirely. Then he would run to Light and entreat her:

“Tell me where he is!... You know everything: tell me where to find him!”

But she replied, in a tone of mystery:

“I cannot tell you anything. You must find him for yourself.” And, kissing him, she added, “Cheer up; you are getting nearer to him at each trial.”

Now there came a day on which she said to him:

“I have received a message from the Fairy Berylune telling me that the Blue Bird is probably hidden in the graveyard.... It appears that one of the Dead in the graveyard is keeping him in his tomb....”

“What shall we do?” asked Tyltyl.

“It is very simple: at midnight you will turn the diamond and you shall see the Dead come out of the ground.”

At these words, Milk, Water, Bread and Sugar began to yell and scream and chatter their teeth.

“Don’t mind them,” said Light to Tyltyl, in a whisper. “They are afraid of the Dead.”

“I’m not afraid of them!” said Fire, frisking about. “Time was when I used to burn them; that was much more amusing than nowadays.”

“Oh, I feel I am going to turn,” wailed Milk.

“I’m not afraid,” said the Dog, trembling in every limb, ”but if you run away.... I shall run away too ... and with the greatest pleasure....”

The Cat sat pulling at her whiskers:

“I know what’s what,” she said, in her usual mysterious way.

“Be quiet,” said Light. “The Fairy gave strict orders. You are all to stay with me, at the gate of the graveyard; the Children are to go in alone.”

Tyltyl felt anything but pleased. He asked:

“Aren’t you coming with us?”

“No,” said Light. “The time for that has not arrived. Light cannot yet enter among the Dead. Besides, there is nothing to fear. I shall not be far away; and those who love me and whom I love always find me again....”

She had not finished speaking, when everything around the Children changed. The wonderful temple, the dazzling flowers, the splendid gardens vanished to make way for a poor little country cemetery, which lay in the soft moonlight. Near the Children were a number of graves, grassy mounds, wooden crosses and tombstones. Tyltyl and Mytyl were seized with terror and hugged each other:

“I am frightened!” said Mytyl.

“I am never frightened,” stammered Tyltyl, who was shaking with fear, but did not like to say so.

“I say,” asked Mytyl, “are the Dead wicked?”

“Why, no,” said Tyltyl, “they’re not alive!...”

“Have you ever seen one?”

“Yes, once, long ago, when I was very young....”

“What was it like?”

“Quite white, very still and very cold; and it didn’t talk....”

“Are we going to see them?”

Tyltyl shuddered at this question and made an unsuccessful effort to steady his voice as he answered:

“Why, of course, Light said so!”

“Where are the Dead?” asked Mytyl.

Tyltyl cast a frightened look around him, for the Children had not dared to stir since they were alone:

“The Dead are here,” he said, “under the grass or under those big stones.”

“Are those the doors of their houses?” asked Mytyl, pointing to the tombstones.

“Yes.”

“Do they go out when it’s fine?”

“They can only go out at night.”

“Why?”

“Because they are in their nightshirts.”

“Do they go out also when it rains?”

“When it rains, they stay at home.”

“Is it nice in their homes?”

“They say it’s very cramped.”

“Have they any little children?”

“Why, yes, they have all those who die.”

“And what do they live on?”

Tyltyl stopped to think, before answering. As Mytyl’s big brother, he felt it his duty to know everything; but her questions often puzzled him. Then he reflected that, as the Dead live under ground, they can hardly eat anything that is above it; and so he answered very positively:

“They eat roots!”

Mytyl was quite satisfied and returned to the great question that was occupying her little mind:

“Shall we see them?” she asked.

“Of course,” said Tyltyl, “we see everything when I turn the diamond.”

“And what will they say?”

Tyltyl began to grow impatient:

“They will say nothing, as they don’t talk.”

“Why don’t they talk?” asked Mytyl.

“Because they have nothing to say,” said Tyltyl, more cross and perplexed than ever.

“Why have they nothing to say?”

This time, the little big brother lost all patience. He shrugged his shoulders, gave Mytyl a push and shouted angrily:

“You’re a nuisance!...”

Mytyl was greatly upset and confused. She sucked her thumb and resolved to hold her tongue for ever after, as she had been so badly treated! But a breath of wind made the leaves of the trees whisper and suddenly recalled the Children to their fears and their sense of loneliness. They hugged each other tight and began to talk again, so as not to hear the horrible silence:

“When will you turn the diamond?” asked Mytyl.

“You heard Light say that I was to wait until midnight, because that disturbs them less; it is when they come out to take the air....”

“Isn’t it midnight yet?” Tyltyl turned round, saw the church clock and hardly had the strength to answer, for the hands were just upon the hour:

“Listen,” he stammered, “listen.... It is just going to strike.... There!... Do you hear?...”

And the clock struck twelve.

Then Mytyl, frightened out of her life, began to stamp her feet and utter piercing screams:

“I want to go away!... I want to go away!...”

Tyltyl, though stiff with fright, was able to say:

“Not now.... I am going to turn the diamond....”

“No, no, no!” cried Mytyl. “I am so frightened, little brother!... Don’t do it!... I want to go away!...”

Tyltyl vainly tried to lift his hand: he could not reach the diamond with Mytyl clinging to him, hanging with all her weight on her brother’s arm and screaming at the top of her voice:

“I don’t want to see the Dead!... They will be awful!... I can’t possibly!... I am much too frightened!...”

Poor Tyltyl was quite as much terrified as Mytyl, but at each trial, his will and courage were becoming greater; he was learning to master himself; and nothing could induce him to fail in his mission. The eleventh stroke rang out.

“The hour is passing!” he exclaimed. “It is time!”

And releasing himself resolutely from Mytyl’s arms, he turned the diamond....

A moment of terrible silence followed for the poor little children. Then they saw the crosses totter, the mounds open, the slabs rise up....

Mytyl hid her face against Tyltyl’s chest:

“They’re coming out!” she cried. “They’re there!... They’re there!...”

The agony was more than the plucky little fellow could endure. He shut his eyes and only kept himself from fainting by leaning against a tree beside him. He remained like that for a minute that seemed to him like a century, not daring to move, not daring to breathe. Then he heard birds singing; a warm and scented breeze fanned his face; and, on his hands, on his neck, he felt the soft heat of the balmy summer sun. Now quite reassured, but unable to believe in so great a miracle, he opened his eyes and at once began to shout with happiness and admiration.

From all the open tombs came thousands of splendid flowers. They spread everywhere, on the paths, on the trees, on the grass; and they went up and up until it seemed that they would touch the sky. They were great full-blown roses, showing their hearts, wonderful golden hearts from which came the hot, bright rays which had wrapped Tyltyl in that summer warmth. Round the roses, birds sang and bees buzzed gaily.

“I can’t believe it! It’s not possible!” said Tyltyl. “What has become of the tombs and the stone crosses?”

Dazzled and bewildered, the two children walked hand in hand through the graveyard, of which not a trace remained, for there was nothing but a wonderful garden on every side. They were as glad and happy as could be, after their terrible fright. They had thought that ugly skeletons would rise from the earth and run after them, pulling horrid faces; they had imagined all sorts of awful things. And now, in the presence of the truth, they saw that all that they had been told was a great big story and that Death does not exist. They saw that there are no Dead and that Life goes on always, always, but under fresh forms. The fading rose sheds its pollen, which gives birth to other roses, and its scattered petals scent the air. The fruits come when the blossoms fall from the trees; and the dingy, hairy caterpillar turns into a brilliant butterfly. Nothing perishes ... there are only changes....

Beautiful birds circled all round Tyltyl and Mytyl. There were no blue ones among them, but the two Children were so glad of their discovery that they asked for nothing more. Astonished and delighted, they kept on repeating:

“There are no Dead!... There are no Dead!...”

第七章 墓园

孩子们没去探险的时候,便在光的辖界内玩耍,这对他们来说是最好的享受,因为庙宇周围的花园和乡野像金银建造的大厅和走廊一样奇妙。

有些植物的叶子宽大而结实,孩子们可以躺在上面,一阵微风吹过,叶片摇晃起来,他们就像是躺在吊床中一般。这里始终都是夏天,也没有一刻会被黑夜笼罩。但是随着时间变化,光线的色彩都是不同的,这里分为粉色时刻、白色时刻、蓝色时刻、紫色时刻、绿色时刻和黄色时刻。花儿、水果、小鸟、蝴蝶和各种气息会随着时间颜色的变化而变化,引得泰泰尔和麦泰尔连连惊奇。他们想要什么玩具,就能心想事成。玩累了之后,他们便伸展四肢躺在蜥蜴的背上,这里的蜥蜴的身体都又长又宽,仿佛小船一样,它们绕着花园小径飞奔,踩在如同糖一样又白又好吃的沙子上。孩子们渴了,水就会把她的头发甩入巨大的花朵当中,孩子们便从百合花、郁金香、牵牛花中喝水。如果饿了,他们就会摘下有光的味道的闪闪发亮的水果,那些水果甜美多汁,像阳光一样闪耀。

在灌木丛中,还有一个白色的大理石池塘,那个池塘拥有一种魔力,当人们望向它时,清澈的池水反映出来的,不是人的面孔,而是人的灵魂。

“这真是荒唐的发明。”猫说,她拒绝靠近那片池塘。

亲爱的小读者们,你们就像我一样了解她的想法,因此对她的这种抗拒丝毫都不会惊讶。同样,你们也非常理解为什么我们忠实的泰罗并不害怕去池塘喝水解渴,他无须害怕展示自己的思想,因为他是唯一一个灵魂从未发生变化的生灵。亲爱的小狗心里想的只有爱、善良和奉献。

泰泰尔弯身看向那面魔镜的时候,几乎总能看到一只美丽的青鸟,因为找到青鸟就是他的全部愿望。然后,他跑去找光,恳求道:

“请告诉我青鸟在哪里!……你什么都知道,请告诉我到哪里去找它。”

但是,光以一种非常神秘的语调回答:

“我什么也不能告诉你,你必须自己去寻找。”她吻了吻泰泰尔,又说道,“振作起来,每经历一次考验,你都离青鸟又近了一些。”

终于有一天,光对泰泰尔说:

“我收到了一条仙女贝丽露娜传来的消息,她说青鸟可能藏在墓园中……看起来,墓园中的一个死者将青鸟关在了自己的墓穴里……”

“我们该怎么办?”泰泰尔问。

“很简单,午夜时,你转动钻石,然后你就会看到那些死去的人从地下出来。”

听到这些话,牛奶、水、面包和糖都害怕地尖叫起来,他们都被吓得牙齿咯咯作响。

“别理会他们,”光悄声对泰泰尔说,“他们都害怕死人。”

“我不害怕!”火跳着说,“我曾经经常烧毁那些死人,那可比现在的日子有意思多了。”

“哦,我觉得我要晕倒了。”牛奶哀号着。

“我不害怕。”狗的四肢都在打颤,“但如果你要逃跑……我也会逃跑的……而且非常乐意……”

猫捋着她的胡须坐在一边。

“我知道那是怎么回事。”她用她惯常的神秘口吻说。

“安静,”光说,“仙女给了明确的指令。你们和我都要留在墓园大门那里,两个孩子自己进去。”

泰泰尔满心不快。他问道:

“你不和我们一起去吗?”

“是的,我不去,”光说,“我和你们同行的时间还未到。光不能够进入死者的地界。另外,那里也没有什么好怕的,我就在不远处,那些爱我的人和我爱的人总是能够再次找到我……”

她的话还没有说完,孩子们身边的一切都发生了变化。壮丽的庙宇、迷人的花朵、绚烂的花园全都消失不见了,化作了一个沐浴着柔和月光的凄凉的乡村墓地。在孩子们身边,有许多坟墓,长着青草的土包,木头十字架和墓碑。泰泰尔和麦泰尔的心一下子就被恐惧占领了,他们紧紧地拥抱住彼此。

“我害怕!”麦泰尔说。

“我从来都不害怕!”泰泰尔结结巴巴地说,他因为恐惧而颤抖,却不想承认。

“你说,”麦泰尔问,“死者邪恶吗?”

“不邪恶,”泰泰尔说,“他们不是活的……”

“你见过吗?”

“见过,见过一次,那是很久之前了,当时我还很小……”

“他是什么样的?”

“非常白,非常安静,非常冷漠,不说话……”

“我们要去见他们吗?”

听到这个问题,泰泰尔抖了一下,努力让自己的声音不发颤,但是并不成功,他答道:

“当然啦,光是这么说的啊!”

“死去的人在哪里?”麦泰尔问。

泰泰尔恐惧地打量了一下四周,两个孩子自从被独自留下之后就一步都没敢动过。

“那些死人就在这里,”他说,“在那些草下面,或是在那些大石头下面。”

“那些是他们房子的大门吗?”麦泰尔指着墓碑问道。

“是的。”

“天气好的时候他们会出来吗?”

“他们只在晚上出来。”

“为什么呀?”

“因为他们只穿着睡衣。”

“下雨的时候他们会出来吗?”

“下雨的时候他们会留在家里。”

“他们家里舒服吗?”

“据说非常狭窄。”

“他们中有小孩子吗?”

“啊,有,所有死去的人都在那里。”

“他们吃什么?”

泰泰尔没有立刻回答,而是停下来思考了一会儿。他觉得自己是麦泰尔的哥哥,便有责任什么都懂,但是麦泰尔的问题经常会难住他。这时,他意识到,由于死者是生活在地下的,那么他们就几乎吃不到任何地面上的东西,于是他十分肯定地回答:

“他们吃植物的根!”

麦泰尔得到了问题的答案,十分满意,然后又问出了那个占据她的小脑袋瓜的重大问题。

“我们会见到他们吗?”她问。

“当然啦,”泰泰尔说,“我转动这颗钻石后,我们就能看到一切。”

“那他们会说些什么呢?”

泰泰尔开始不耐烦了,答道:

“他们什么都不会说,因为他们不说话。”

“他们为什么不说话?”麦泰尔问。

“因为他们没什么要说的。”泰泰尔越来越烦躁,脑袋越来越乱。

“为什么他们没有什么要说的?”

这一次,哥哥失去了所有的耐心。他耸了耸肩,推了麦泰尔一下,生气地喊道:

“你真是个烦人精!”

麦泰尔十分难过,而且困惑不解。她吮了吮大拇指,决定再也不说一句话了,因为哥哥对她的态度实在太糟糕了。但是一阵风吹过,树叶沙沙作响,突然唤醒了孩子们的恐惧和孤寂。他们又紧紧地抱住彼此,开始说话,以打破那可怕的沉寂。

“你什么时候会转动钻石?”麦泰尔问。

“你也听到啦,光说我要等到午夜时分,因为那对死者造成的打扰最少,那个时候正是他们出来透风的时间……”

“还没到午夜吗?”

泰泰尔扭头看了看,看到了教堂的钟楼,他几乎没有力气回答,因为时钟的指针正指向午夜。

“听!”他结结巴巴地说,“听,就要鸣钟了……响了!你听到了吗?”

钟声响了。

这时,麦泰尔已经怕得难以自控了,开始跺着脚不停地叫喊:

“我想离开这里!……我想离开这里!……”

泰泰尔尽管也害怕得僵住了,但是还能说出这样的话:

“现在不行……我要转动钻石了……”

“不,不,不!”麦泰尔叫道,“我太害怕了,哥哥!……你别那么做!……我要离开这里!”

泰泰尔想要抬起手,但却根本没有办法触碰到钻石。麦泰尔紧紧地抓着他,把全部的重量都压在了哥哥的胳膊上,高声尖叫着:

“我不想见死人!……他们会很可怕的!……我不可能做到!……我太害怕了!”

可怜的泰泰尔其实和麦泰尔一样害怕,但是,每经历一次考验,他的意志力和勇气就会更强大一些,他在渐渐学会控制自己,什么都不能令他放弃自己的使命。第十一声钟声已经响起了。

“时间快过去了!”他叫道,“就是现在!”

他坚决地挣脱了麦泰尔的胳膊,转动了钻石……

接下来是一阵恐怖的静寂,然后两个孩子看到十字架晃动,坟丘张开了口,石板墓盖缓缓上升。

麦泰尔吓得把脸藏在泰泰尔的胸口。

“他们出来了!”她哭着说,“他们就在那里!……他们就在那里!”

恐惧已经超出了我们小勇士的承受能力。他闭上了眼睛,身子靠在旁边的一棵树上,这样才能坚持住不晕倒。他维持着那个姿势有一分钟,苦苦撑着,感觉那一分钟就像一个世纪那么漫长,他不敢动,不敢呼吸。然后他听到了鸟儿的叫声,一阵带着馨香的暖风吹拂着他的脸,他感到他的手上、脖子上都有着温煦的夏季艳阳带来的融融暖意。现在,他安下心来,但依然不敢相信这样的奇迹。他睁开眼睛,便立刻带着喜悦和赞美欢叫出声。

那些打开的坟墓中长出了千千万万绚丽的花朵,花儿四处蔓延,小径上,树上,草地上,都铺满了花;它们不停地向上长,向上长,似乎都触到了天空。那是完全绽放的玫瑰,展示着美丽的花心,神奇的金色的花心,散发出热烈、明亮的光线,把泰泰尔包裹在夏季的温暖之中。在玫瑰花周围,鸟儿欢唱,蜜蜂嗡鸣。

“我真不能相信!这不可能!”泰泰尔说,“那些坟墓和石头十字架呢?”

两个孩子惊叹不已,非常迷惑,他们手牵着手穿过墓园,其实这里已经看不到半点墓园的痕迹了,彻底变成了一个美丽的花园。经历过极度的恐惧之后看到这一切,他们真的非常高兴。他们曾经以为,会有丑陋的骷髅从土中出来追逐他们,露出狰狞的面孔,他们曾经想象了各种各样可怕的事情。而现在,真相就在眼前,他们发现,曾经听说的一切,都不过是彻头彻尾完全虚构的故事,死人并不存在这世上。他们也明白了一切并没有死亡,生命总是在继续,只是转换成了新的形式。凋谢的玫瑰洒落了花粉,促成了其他玫瑰的新生,零落的花瓣令空气也变得芬芳起来。当繁花落尽时,果实随之结出。丑陋的毛毛虫最终化作美丽的蝴蝶。一切都没有死亡,只是改变了模样……

美丽的鸟儿在泰泰尔和麦泰尔身边盘旋,其中并没有青鸟,不过两个孩子因为他们的新发现已经十分开心了,再无所求。他们怀着惊喜,不断地重复着:

“没有死亡!……没有死亡!”

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