双语《小约翰》 三

III
三

“Well，where is he，Presto？ Where is your little master then？”How alarming to wake in the boat among the reeds—quite alone—the master vanished entirely！this is something indeed to be frightened at．And now run about，hunting on all sides with timid little whinings，poor Presto！How could you sleep so soundly as not to notice when your master left the boat？ Generally you are wont to wake if only he moves a little．Here—you can see here where your master landed；but now you are on land the track is very much confused．All your busy snuffing is in vain！What a misfortune！The little master gone，quite lost！Seek，Presto，seek him then！“Look！ There，against that low mound just before you—Is there not a little dark figure lying？ Look at it closely！”
他在那里呢，普烈斯多？——你的小主人在那里呢？——在船上，在芦苇间醒来的时候，怎样地吃惊呵——只剩了自己——主人是无踪无影地消失了。这可教人担心和害怕——你现在已经奔波得很久，并且不住地奋亢的呜呜着寻觅他罢？——可怜的普烈斯多。你怎么也能睡得这样熟，且不留心你的主人离了船呢？平常是只要他一动，你就醒了的。你平常这样灵敏的鼻子，今天不为你所用了。你几乎辨不出主人从那里上岸，在这沙冈上也完全失掉了踪迹。你的热心的齅也不帮助你。唉，这绝望！主人去了！无踪无影地去了！——那么，寻罢，普烈斯多，寻他罢！且住，正在你前面，在冈坡上——那边不是躺着一点小小的、暗黑的东西么？你好好地看一看罢！

For a moment the dog stood motionless，looking eagerly into the distance．Then he suddenly stretched out his head and flew as fast as his four slender legs could carry him to the dark object on the mound．
那小狗屹立着倾听了一些时，并且凝视着远处。于是它忽然抬起头来，用了它四条细腿的全力，跑向冈坡上的暗黑的小点那里去了。

And when he found that it really was the little master he had so sorely missed，all his powers were too feeble to express his joy and thankfulness．He wagged his tail，his whole body wriggled with glee，he leaped，barked，yelped，and laid his cold nose against his re-found friend，licking and sniffing all over his face．
一寻到，却确是那苦痛的失踪的小主人，于是它尽力设法，表出它的一切高兴和感谢来，似乎还不够。它摇尾，跳跃，呜呜吠叫，并且向多时寻觅的人齅着，舐着，将冷鼻子搁在脸面上。

“Down，Presto！Go to your basket！”cried Johannes，but half awake．
“静静的罢，普烈斯多，到你的窠里去！”约翰在半睡中大声说。

How stupid of master！There was no basket to be seen，look where he might．
主人有多么胡涂呵！凡是望得见的地方，没有一个窠在近处。

Slowly，slowly，light began to dawn on the little sleeper's mind．Presto's sniffing！—he was used to that，every morning．Faint images still floated before his soul，dream-pictures of elves and moonlight， like morning mists over a landscape of sand-hills．He feared that the cold breath of day would waft them away．“Keep your eyes shut，”said he to himself，“or you will see the clock against the wall where it always hangs！”
小小的睡眠者的精神逐渐清楚起来了。普烈斯多的齅——这是他每天早晨习惯了的。但在他的灵魂之前，还挂着妖精和月光的轻微的梦影，正如丘冈景色上的晓雾一般。他生怕清晨的凉快的呼吸会将这些驱走。“合上眼睛，”他想，“要不然，我又将看见时钟和地毯，像平日似的。”

But there was something strange about his bed．He felt that he had no bed-clothes over him．Gently and warily he opened his eyes， just a little way．
但他也躺得很异样。他觉得他没有被。慢慢地他小心着将眼睛睁开了一线。

Bright daylight．Blue sky．Clouds．
明亮的光！蓝的天！云！

Then Johannes opened his eyes very wide and said：“Then it was true？”Yes．He was lying among the sand-hills．The cheerful sunshine warmed him；he breathed the fresh morning air；a filmy mist hung over the woods beyond．He saw the tall beech-tree by the pool，and the roof of his own home rising above the shrubbery．Bees and beetles were buzzing around him，overhead a lark was singing；in the distance he could hear dogs barking and the hum of the neighbouring town．It was all real，beyond a doubt．
于是约翰睁大了眼睛，并且说：“那是真的么？”是呀！他躺在冈的中间。清朗的日光温暖他；他吸进新鲜的朝气去，在他的眼前还有一层薄雾环绕着远处的山林。他只看见池边的高的山毛榉树和自家的屋顶伸出在丛碧的上面。蜜蜂和甲虫绕着他飞鸣；头上唱着高飞的云雀，远处传来犬吠和远隔的城市的喧嚣。这些都是纯粹的事实。

What then had he dreamed，and what was true？ Where was Windekind？ And the rabbit？
然而他曾经梦见了什么还是没有什么呢？旋儿在那里呢？还有那野兔？

He saw nothing of either．Only Presto，who sat as close to him as possible and looked at him expectantly．
两个他都不见。只有普烈斯多坐在他身边，久候了似的摇着尾巴向他看。

“Can I have been walking in my sleep？”Johannes murmured softly to himself．
“我真成了梦游者了么？”约翰自己问。

By his side there was a rabbit's burrow；but there were so many in the down．He sat up to see more plainly．What was this in his tightly clasped fingers？
他的近旁是一个兔窟。这在冈上倒是常有的。他站起来，要去看它个仔细。在他紧握的手里他觉得什么呢？

A glow flashed through him from head to foot as he opened his hand．In it lay a bright little gold key．For a few moments he sat silent．
他摊开手，他从脊骨到脚跟都震悚了。是灿烂着一个小小的、黄金的锁匙。他默默地坐了许多时。

“Presto，”said he then，and the tears almost came into his eyes，“Presto．Then it was true！”
“普烈斯多！”他于是说，几乎要哭出来，“普烈斯多，这也还是实在的！”

Presto sprang up，and tried by barking to make his master understand that he was hungry and wanted to go home．
普烈斯多一跃而起，试用吠叫来指示它的主人，它饥饿了，它要回家去。

Home？ To be sure．Johannes had not thought of that，and he did not particularly care to go．However，he presently heard his name called by loud voices．Then he began to understand that his proceedings would certainly not be regarded as right and satisfactory， and that far from kindly words awaited him on his return．
回家么？是的，约翰没有想到这一层，他于此也很少挂念。但他即刻听到几种声音叫着他的名字了。他便明白，他的举动，大家是全不能当作驯良和规矩的，他还须等候那很不和气的话。

For a moment he could hardly be sure whether his tears of joy had not，in vexation，turned to tears of fear and contrition；but then he remembered Windekind，who was now his friend，his friend and ally；and the Elfin King's gift；and the splendid，indisputable reality of all that had happened；—and so he made his way homeward calmly，and prepared for whatever might betide．
只一刹时，高兴的眼泪化为恐怖和后悔的眼泪了。但他就想着现是他的朋友和心腹的旋儿，想着妖王的赠品，还想着过去一切的华美的不能否认的真实，他静静地，被诸事羁绊着，向回家的路上走。

It fell out as he had anticipated．But he had not imagined that the distress and alarm of the house-hold could be so serious a matter．He must solemnly promise never again to be so naughty and heedless．This quite restored his presence of mind．“That I cannot promise，”he said very resolutely．They looked at him in amazement．He was questioned，coaxed，threatened．But he thought of Windekind and was firm．What did he care for punishment so long as he had Windekind for his friend—and what would he not endure for Windekind's sake？ He clutched the little key tightly to his breast and shut his mouth firmly，answering every question with a shrug of his shoulders．“I cannot promise，”was all he replied．
那遭际是比他所豫料的还不利。他想不到他的家属有这样地恐怖和不安。他应该郑重地认可，永不再是这么顽皮和大意了。这又给他一个羁绊。“这我不能！”他坚决地说。人们很诧异。他被讯问、恳求、恫吓。但他却只想着旋儿，坚持着。只要能保住旋儿的友情，他怕什么责罚呢——为了旋儿，他有什么不能忍受呢？他将小锁匙紧紧地按在胸前，并且紧闭了嘴唇，每一问，都只用耸肩来作回答。“我不能一定。”他永是说。

But his father said：“Leave him in peace；he is quite in earnest about it．Something strange must have happened to him．He will tell us all about it some day．”
但他的父亲却道：“那就不管他罢，这于他太严紧了。他必是遇到了什么出奇的事情。将来总会有讲给我们的时候的。”

Johannes smiled，ate his breakfast in silence，and crept up to his little room．There he nipped off a bit of the blind-cord，slipped it through his precious little key and hung it round his neck next to his breast．Then he very contentedly went to school．
约翰微笑，沉默着吃了他的奶油面包，就潜进自己的小屋去。他剪下一段窗幔的绳子，系了那宝贵的锁匙，帖身挂在胸前。于是他放心去上学校了。

Things went ill with him at school that day．He knew none of his lessons and paid no attention at all．His thoughts were constantly wandering to the pool，and the wonderful things which had happened last evening．He could scarcely believe that a friend of the fairy king's could be expected and required to do sums and conjugate verbs．But it had all been true，and no one there knew anything about it，or would believe it or understand it；not even the master，however cross he might be，calling Johannes an idle little boy in a tone of great contempt．He took the bad marks he had earned with a light heart，and did the task set him as a punishment for his inattention．
这一天他在学校里确是很不行。他做不出他的学课，而且也全不经意。他的思想总是飞向池边和昨夜的奇异的事件去。他几乎想不明白，怎么一个妖王的朋友现在须负做算术和变化动词的义务了。然而这一切都是真实，周围的人们于此谁也不知道，谁也不能够相信或相疑，连那教员都不，虽然他也深刻地瞥着眼，并且也轻蔑地将约翰叫作懒东西。他欣然承受了这不好的品评，还做着惩罚的工作，这是他的疏忽拉给他的。

“You，none of you understand anything about it．You may scold me as much as you please．I am Windekind's friend，and Windekind is worth more to me than all of you put together．Ay，with the master into the bargain！”
“他们谁都猜不到。他们要怎样呵斥我，都随意吧。旋儿总是我的朋友，而且旋儿于我，胜过所有他们的全群，连先生都算上。”

This was not respectful of Johannes．But his estimation of his fellow-creatures had not been raised by all the evil he had heard said of them the evening before．But，as is often the case，he was not yet wise enough to use his wisdom wisely，or，better still，to keep it to himself．
约翰这是不大恭敬的。对于他的同胞的敬意，自从他前晚听到议论他们的一切劣点之后，却是没有加增。

When the master went on to say that man alone of all creatures was endowed by God with speech，and appointed lord over all other animals，Johannes began to laugh．This cost him a bad mark and serious reproof．And when his next neighbour read the following sentence out of an exercise-book：“The age of my wilful aunt is great，but not so great as that of the Sun”—parsing“the Sun”correctly as feminine，Johannes shouted out loudly，correcting him：“Masculine，masculine！”
当教员讲述着，怎样只有人类是由上帝给与了理性，并且置于一切动物之上，作为主人的时候，他笑起来了。这又给他博得一个不好的品评和严厉的指摘。待到他的邻座者在课本上读着下面的话：“我的任性的叔母的年龄是大的，然而较之太阳，没有伊的那么大。”——约翰便赶快大声地叫道：“他的！”

Every one laughed excepting the master，who was amazed at such utter stupidity as he thought it，and he desired Johannes to remain in school and write out a hundred times：“The age of my wilful aunt is great，but not so great as that of the Sun（feminine）， and greater still is my arrogant stupidity．”
大家都笑他，连那教员，对于他所说那样的自负的胡涂觉得诧异，教约翰留下，并且写一百回：“我的任性的叔母的年龄是大的，然而较之太阳，没有伊的那么大——较之两个更大的，然而是我的胡涂。”

His school-fellows had departed，and Johannes sat alone writing，in the great empty school-room．The sun shone in brightly， making the dust-motes glitter in its beams，and painting the wall with patches of light which crept round as time went on．The master， too，was gone，slamming the door behind him．Johannes had just got to the fifty-second“wilful aunt”when a tiny，brisk mouse，with black，beady little eyes and erect ears，came out of the farthest corner of the room and ran noiselessly along by the wall．Johannes kept as still as death，not to scare the pretty little thing；but it was not shy and came close to where he was sitting．It looked sharply about for a minute or two，with its small，bright eyes；then with one spring leaped on to the bench，and with a second on to the desk on which Johannes was writing．
学生们都去了，约翰孤独地坐在广大的校区里面写。太阳光愉快地映射进来，在它的经过的路上使无数白色的尘埃发闪，还在白涂的墙上形成明亮的点，和时间的代谢慢慢地迁移。教员走了，高声地关了门。当约翰写到第二十五任性的叔母的时候，一匹小小的、敏捷的小鼠，有着乌黑的珠子眼和绸缎似的小耳朵，无声地从班级的最远的角上沿着壁偷偷走来了。约翰一声不响，怕赶走了那有趣的小动物。但这小鼠并不胆怯，径到约翰的座前。它用细小的明亮的眼睛暂时锋利地四顾，便敏捷地一跳，到了椅子上，再一跳就上了约翰在写着字的书桌。

“Well done！”said he half to himself，“you are a very bold little mouse．”
“阿，阿，”他半是自言自语地说，“你倒是一匹勇敢的鼠子。”

“I ought to know whom I should be afraid of，”said a wee-wee voice，and the mouse showed his little white teeth as if he were laughing．
“我却也不知道，我须怕谁。”一种微细的声音说，那小鼠还微笑似的露出雪白的小牙。

Johannes was by this time quite used to marvels；still，this made him open his eyes very wide．Here，in school，in the middle of the day—it was incredible．
约翰曾经阅历过许多奇异的事——但这时却还是圆睁了眼睛。这样地在白天而且在学校里——这是不可信的。

“You need not be afraid of me，”said he，very gently for fear of frightening the mouse．“Did Windekind send you？”
“在我这里你无须恐怖，”他低声说，仍然是怕惊吓了那小鼠——“你是从旋儿那里来的么？”

“I am sent to tell you that the master was quite right，and that you thoroughly deserved your extra task．”
“我正从那里来，来告诉你，那教员完全有理，你的惩罚是恰恰相当的。”

“But it was Windekind who told me that the sun was masculine．He said he was his father．”
“但是旋儿说的呵，太阳盖是男性，太阳是我们的父亲。”

“Yes；but no one else need know it．What have men to do with that？ You must never discuss such delicate matters with men；they are too gross to understand them．Man is an astonishingly perverse and stupid creature that only cares to catch or kill whatever comes within his reach．Of that we mice have ample experience．”
“是的，然而此外用不着谁知道。这和人类有什么相干呢。你永不必将这么精微的事去对人类讲。他们太粗。人是一种可骇的恶劣和蛮野的东西，只要什么到了他的范围之内，他最喜欢将一切擒拿和蹂躏。这是我们鼠族从经验上识得的。”

“But why then，little mouse，do you live among men？ Why do you not run away to the woods？”
“但是，小鼠，你为什么停在他们的四近呢，你为什么不远远地躲到山林里去呢？”

“Oh，that we cannot do now．We are too much accustomed to town living．And so long as we are prudent，and always take care to avoid their traps and their heavy feet，we get on very well among men．Fortunately we are very nimble．The worst of it is，that man ekes out his own slowness by an alliance with the cat；that is a great grievance．But in the woods there are owls and hawks，and we should all be starved．Now，Johannes，mind my advice—here comes the master．”
“唉，我们现在不再能够了。我们太惯于都市风味了。如果小心着，并且时时注意，避开他们的捕机和他们的沉重的脚，在人类里也就可以支撑。幸而我们也还算敏捷的。最坏的是人类和猫结了一个联盟，借此来补救他们自己的蠢笨——这是大不幸。但山林里却有枭和鹰，我们会一切都死完。好，约翰，记着我的忠告罢，教员来了！”

“Mouse，mouse；do not go away．Ask Windekind what I am to do with my little key．I have tied it round my neck，next my skin．But on Saturday I am tubbed，and I am so afraid that it will be found．Tell me，where can I hide it？”
“小鼠，小鼠，不要走。问问旋儿，我将我的匙儿怎么办呢？我将这帖胸挂在颈子上。土曜日我要换干净的小衫，我很怕有谁会看见。告诉我罢，我藏在那里最是稳当呢，爱的小鼠。”

“Underground，always underground，that is always safest．Shall I keep it for you？”
“在地里，永久在地里，这是最为稳当的。要我给你收藏起来么？”

“No，not here in school．”
“不，不要在这里学校里！”

“Then bury it out in the sand-hills．I will tell my cousin the field-mouse that he must take care of it．”
“那就埋在那边冈子上。我要通知我的表姊，那野鼠去，教她必须留神些。”

“Thank you，little mouse．”
“多谢，小鼠。”

Tramp，tramp！In came the master．While Johannes was dipping his pen the mouse had vanished．The master，who wanted to go home，let Johannes off the other forty-eight lines．
蓬，蓬！教员到来了。这时候，约翰正将他的笔尖浸在墨水里，那小鼠是消失了。自己想要回家的教员，就赦免了约翰四十八行字。

For two days Johannes lived in constant dread．He was kept strictly within sight，and had no opportunity of slipping off to the sand-hills．It was already Friday，and still the precious key was about his neck．The following evening he would inevitably be stripped；the key would be discovered and taken from him—his blood turned cold at the thought．He dared not hide it in the house or garden—no place seemed to him safe enough．
两日之久，约翰在不断的忧惧中过活。他受了严重的监视，凡有溜到冈上去的机会，都被剥夺了。已经是金曜日，他还在带着那宝贵的匙儿往来。明天晚上他便须换穿干净的小衫，人会发见这匙儿，而且拿了去——他为了这思想而战栗。家里或园里他都不敢藏：他觉得没有一处是够安稳的。

Friday afternoon，and dusk was creeping down！Johannes sat at his bedroom window，gazing with longing at the distance，over the green shrubs in the garden to the downs beyond．
金曜日的晚上了，黄昏已经闯进来。约翰坐在他卧室的窗前，出神地从园子的碧绿的丛草中眺望着远处的冈阜。

“Windekind，Windekind，help me！”he whispered anxiously．
“旋儿！旋儿！帮助我。”他忧闷地絮叨着。

He heard a soft rustling of wings close at hand，he smelt the scent of lilies of the valley，and suddenly heard the sweet，well-known voice．
近旁响着一种轻轻的拍翅声，他闻到铃兰的香味，还忽然听得熟识的、甜美的声音。

Windekind sat by him on the window-sill，waving the bells of a lily of the valley on their slender stems．
旋儿靠近他坐在窗沿上，摇动着一枝长梗的铃兰。

“Here you are at last！”cried Johannes；“I have longed for you so much！”
“你到底来了！——我是这么渴想你！”约翰说。

“Come with me，Johannes，we will bury your little key．”
“同我走，约翰，我们要埋起你的匙儿。”

“I cannot，”said Johannes sadly．
“我不能。”约翰惨淡地叹息说。

But Windekind took him by the hand and he felt himself wafted through the still evening air，as light as the wind-blown down of a dandelion．
然而旋儿握了他的手，他便觉得他轻得正如一粒蒲公英的带着羽毛的种子，在静穆的晚天里飘浮而去了。

“Windekind，”said Johannes，as they floated on，“I love you so dearly．I believe I would give all the people in the world for you，and Presto into the bargain．”
“旋儿，”约翰飘浮着说，“我这样地爱你。我相信，我能为你放下一切的人们，连普烈斯多！”

“And Simon？”
旋儿吻他，问道：“连西蒙？”

“Oh，Simon does not care whether I love him or not．I believe he thinks it too childish．Simon loves no one but the fish-woman， and that only when he is hungry．Do you think that Simon is a common cat，Windekind？”
“阿，我喜欢西蒙与否，这于它不算什么。我想，它以为这是孩子气的。西蒙就只喜欢那卖鱼的女人，而且这也只在它肚饿的时候。从你看来，西蒙是一匹平常的猫么，旋儿？”

“No，formerly he was a man．”
“不，它先前是一个人。”

Whrrr—bang！There went a fat cockchafer buzzing against Johannes．
呼——蓬！——一个金虫向约翰撞来了。

“Can you not look where you are going？”grumbled the cockchafer，“those Elves fly abroad as though the whole air were theirs by right．That is always the way with idlers who go flitting about for pleasure；those who，like me，are about their business， seeking their food and eating as hard as they can，are pushed out of their road．”
“你们不能看清楚一点么，”金虫不平地说，“妖精族纷飞着，好像他们将全部的空气都租去了！会无用到这样，总是单为了自己的快乐飘来飘去——而我辈，尽着自己的义务，永是追求着食物，只要能吃多少，便尽量吃多少的，却被他们赶到路旁去了。”

And he flew off，scolding loudly．
它呶呶着飞了开去。

“Does he think the worse of us because we do not eat？”asked Johannes．
“我们不吃，它以为不好么？”约翰问。

“Yes，that is the way of cockchafers．According to them，the highest duty is to eat a great deal．Shall I tell you the history of a young cockchafer？”
“是呵，金虫类是这样的。金虫以为这是它们的最高的义务，大嚼得多。要我给你讲一个幼小的金虫的故事么？”

“Ay，do，”said Johannes．
“好，讲罢，旋儿！”

“There was a pretty young cockchafer who had just crept out of the earth．That was a great surprise．For a whole year he had sat waiting in the dark earth，watching for the first warm summer evening．And when he put his head out of the clod，all the greenery， and the waving grass，and the singing-birds quite bewildered him．He had no idea what to be about．He touched the blades of grass with his feelers，spreading them out in a fan．Then he observed that he was a male cockchafer，very handsome in his way，with shining black legs，a large，fat body，and a breastplate that shone like a mirror．As luck would have it，he at once saw，not far off，another cockchafer，not indeed so handsome as himself，but who had come out the day before and who was quite old．Very modestly，being still so young，he crept towards the other．
“曾经有一个好看的幼小的金虫，是刚从地里钻出来的。唔，这是大奇事。它坐在黑暗的地下一整年，等候着第一个温暖的夜晚。待到它从地皮里伸出头来的时候，所有的绿叶和鸣禽都使它非常慌张了。它不知道它究竟应该怎样开手。它用了它的触角，去摸近地的小草茎，并且扇子似的将这伸开去。于是它觉得，它是雄的。它是它种族中的一个美丽的模范，有着灿烂的乌黑的前足，厚积尘埃的后腹，和一个胸甲，镜子似的放光。幸而不久它在近处看见了一个别的金虫，那虽然没有这样美，然而前一天已经飞出，因此确是有了年纪的。因为它这样地年青，它便极其谦恭地去叫那一个。

“‘What do you want，my friend？’said the second cockchafer rather haughtily，seeing that the other was a youngster，‘do you wish to ask me the way？’
“‘什么事，朋友？’那一个从上面问，因为它看出这一个是新家伙了，‘你要问我道路么？’

“‘No，I am obliged to you，’said the younger one civilly，‘but I do not know what I ought to be doing．What is there for cockchafers to do？’
“‘不，请你原谅，’幼小的金虫谦恭地说，‘我先不知道，这里我必须怎样开头。做金虫是应该怎么办的？’

“‘Dear me，’said the other，‘do not you know that much？ Well， I cannot blame you，for I was young myself once．Listen，then，and I will tell you．The principal thing in a cockchafer's life is to eat．Not far from this is a delicious lime-walk which was placed there for us， and it is our duty to eat there as diligently as we can．’
“‘哦，原来，’那一个说，‘那你不知道么？我明白你，我也曾经这样的。好好地听罢，我就要告诉你了。金虫生活的最要义是大嚼。离此不远有一片贵重的菩提树林，那是为我们而种的，将它竭力地勤勉地大嚼，是我们所有的义务。’

“‘Who put the lime-walk there？’asked the younger beetle．
“‘谁将这菩提树林安置在那里的呢？’年幼的甲虫问。

“‘Well，a great being who means very kindly to us．He comes down the Avenue every morning，and those who have eaten most he takes away to a splendid house where a beautiful light shines，and where chafers are all happy together．Those，on the other hand，who， instead of eating，spend the night in flying about are caught by the Bat．’
“‘阿，一个大东西，是给我们办得很好的。每早晨这就走过树林，有谁大嚼得最多的，这就带它去，到一所华美的屋子里。那屋子是放着清朗的光，一切金虫都在那里幸福地团聚着的。但要是谁不大嚼，反而整夜向各处纷飞的，它就要被蝙蝠捉住了。’

“‘What is that？’asked the young one．
“‘那是谁呢？’新家伙问。

“‘A fearful monster with sharp teeth who comes flying down on us all on a sudden and eats us up with a horrible crunch．’
“‘这是一种可怕的怪物，有着锋利的牙，它从我们的后面突然飞来，用残酷的一嘎咭便吃尽了。’

“As the chafer spoke they heard a shrill squeak overhead which chilled them to the very marrow．‘Hark！There he is！’cried the elder，‘beware of him，my young friend，and be thankful that I have given you timely warning．You have the whole night before you．Make good use of your time．The less you eat，the greater the risk of the bat's seizing you．And none but those who choose a serious vocation in life ever go to the house where the beautiful light is．Mark that；a serious vocation．’
“甲虫正在这么说，它们听得上面有清亮的霍的一声，透了它们的心髓。‘呵，那就是！’长辈大声说，‘你要小心它，青年朋友。感谢罢，恰巧我通知你了。你的前面有一个整夜，不要耽误罢。你吃得越少，祸事就越多，会被蝙蝠吞掉的。只有能够挑选那正经的生活的本分的，才到有着清朗的光的屋子去。记着罢！正经的生活的本分！’

“Then the chafer，who was by a whole day the elder，disappeared among the blades of grass，leaving the other greatly impressed．“Do you know what a vocation is，Johannes？ No？ Well，the young chafer did not know．It had something to do with eating—he understood that．But how was he to find the lime-walk？
“年纪大了一整天的那甲虫，于是在草梗之间爬开去了，并且将这一个惘然地留下。——你知道么，什么是生活的本分，约翰？不罢？那幼小的甲虫也正不知道。这事和大嚼相连，它是懂得的。然而它须怎样，才可以到那菩提树林呢？

“Close at hand stood a slender but stalwart grass-stem，waving softly in the evening air．This he firmly clutched with his six crooked legs．It seemed a long journey up to the top，and very steep．But the cockchafer was determined to reach it．‘This is a vocation！’he thought to himself，and began to climb with much toil．He went but slowly and often slipped back；but he got on，and when at last he found himself on the slender tip，and rocked with its swaying，he felt triumphant and happy．What a view he had from thence！It seemed to him that he could see the whole world．How blissful it was to be surrounded by air on all sides！He eagerly breathed his fill．What a wonderful feeling had come over him！Now he craved to go higher！ In his rapture he raised his wing-cases and quivered his gauzy wings．Higher！and yet higher I His wings fluttered，his legs released the grass-stem，and then—oh joy！Whoo-oo I He was flying—freely and gladly，in the still，warm evening air！”
“它近旁竖着一枝瘦长的，有力的草梗，轻轻地在晚风中摇摆。它就用它六条弯曲的腿，很坚牢地抓住它。从下面望去，它觉得仿佛一个高大的巨灵而且很险峻。但那金虫还要往上走。这是生活的本分，它想，并且怯怯地开始了升进。这是缓慢的，它屡次滑回去，然而它向前。当它终于爬到最高的梢头，在那上面动荡和摇摆的时候，它觉得满足和幸福。它在那里望见什么呢？这在它，似乎看见了全世界。各方面都由空气环绕着，这是多么极乐呵！它尽量鼓起后腹来。它兴致很稀奇！它总想要升上去！它在大欢喜中掀起了翅鞘，暂时抖动着网翅——它要升上去，永是升上去——又抖动着它的翅子，爪子放掉了草梗，而且——阿，高兴呀！……呼——呼——它飞起来了——自由而且快乐——到那静穆的，温暖的晚空中。”

“And then？”said Johannes．
“以后呢？”约翰问。

“The end is not happy．I will tell it you some day later．”
“后文并不有趣，我下回再给你讲罢。”

They were hovering over the pool．A pair of white butterflies fluttered to meet them．
他们飞过池子了，两只迁延的白胡蝶和他们一同翩跹着。

“Whither are you travelling，elves？”they asked．
“这一程往那里去呀，妖精们？”它们问。

“To the large wild rose-tree which blooms by yonder mound．”
“往大的冈蔷薇那里去，那在那边坡上开着花的。”

“We will go with you；we will go too！”
“我们和你们一路去！”

The rose-bush was already in sight in the distance，with its abundance of pale-yellow sheeny blossoms．The buds were red and the open flowers were dashed with red，as if they remembered the time when they were still buds．The wild down-rose bloomed in peaceful solitude，and filled the air with its wonderfully sweet odours．They are so fine that the down-elves live on nothing else．The butterflies fluttered about and kissed flower after flower．
从远处早就分明看见，她有着她的许多嫩黄的、绵软的花。小蓓蕾已经染得通红，开了的花还显着红色的条纹，作为那一时的记号，那时她们还是蓓蕾的。在寂寞的宁静中开着野生的冈蔷薇，并且将四近满注了她们的奇甜的香味。这是有如此华美，至使冈妖们的食养，就只靠着她们。胡蝶在她们上面盘旋，还一朵一朵地去接吻。

“We have come to place a treasure in your charge，”cried Windekind．“Will you keep it safe for us？”
“我们这来，是有一件宝贝要托付你们，”旋儿大声说，“你们肯给我们看管这个么？”

“Why not—why not？”whispered the rose．“It is no pain to me to keep awake—and I have no thought of going away unless I am dragged away．And I have sharp thorns．”
“为什么不呢？为什么不呢？”冈蔷薇细声说，“我是不以守候为苦的——如果人不将我移去，我并不要走动。我又有锋利的刺。”

Then came the field-mouse—the cousin of the school-mouse—and burrowed quite under the roots of the rose-tree．And there he buried the little key．
于是野鼠到了，学校里的小鼠的表姊，在蔷薇的根下掘了一条路。它就运进锁匙去。

“When you want it again you must call me；for you must on no account hurt the rose．”
“如果你要取回去，就应该再叫我。那么，你就用不着使蔷薇为难。”

The rose twined its thorny arms thickly over the entrance and took a solemn oath to guard it faithfully．The butterflies were witnesses．
蔷薇将她的带刺的枝条交织在进口上，并且郑重允许，忠实地看管着。胡蝶是见证。

Next morning Johannes awoke in his own little bed，with Presto，and the clock against the wall．The cord with the key was gone from round his neck．
第二天的早晨，约翰在自己的床上醒来了，在普烈斯多的旁边，在钟和地毯的旁边。那系着锁匙的挂在他颈上的绳子消失了。