双语《小约翰》 四
IV
四
“Children！children！A summer like this is a terrible infliction！”sighed one of three large stoves which stood side by side to bewail their fate in a garret of the old house．“For weeks I have not seen one living soul or heard one rational remark．And always that hollow within！It is fearful！”
“煞派门！夏天是多么讨厌的无聊呵！”在老屋子的仓库里，很懊恼地一同站着的三个火炉中的一个叹息说，“许多星期以来，我见不到活的东西，也听不到合理的话。而且这久远的内部的空虚！实在可怕！”
“I am full of spiders' webs，”said the second．“And that would never happen in the winter．”
“我这里满是蜘蛛网，”第二个说，“这在冬天也不会有的。”
“And I am so dry and dusty that I shall be quite ashamed when， as winter comes on，the Black Man appears again，as the poet says．”
“我并且到处是灰尘，如果那黑的人再来的时候，一定要使我羞死。”
A few shovels and tongs which lay on the floor，wrapped in paper to preserve them from rust，also expressed their opinion of this frivolous mode of speech．
几个灯和火钩，那些，是因为预防生锈，用纸包着，散躺在地上各处的，对于这样轻率的语气，都毫无疑义地宣布抗争。
But suddenly they were all silent，for the shutter in the roof was raised；a beam of light shone in on the gloomy place，and the whole party lapsed into silence under their dust and confusion．
但谈论突然沉默了，因为吊窗已被拉起，冲进一条光线来，直到最暗的角上，而且将全社会都显出在它们的尘封的混乱里面了。
It was Johannes who had come to disturb their conversation．This loft was at all times a delightful spot to him，and now，after the strange adventures of the last few days，he often came here．Here he found peace and solitude．There was a window，too，closed by a shutter，which looked out towards the sand-hills．It was a great delight to open the shutter suddenly，and，after the mysterious twilight of the garret，to see all at once the sunlit landscape shut in by the fair，rolling dimes．
那是约翰，他来了，而且搅扰了它们的谈话。这仓库常给约翰以强烈的刺激。现在，自从出了最近的奇事以来，他屡屡逃到那里去。他于此发见安静和寂寞。那地方也有一个窗，是用抽替关起来的，也望见冈阜的一面。忽然拉开窗抽替，并且在满是秘密的仓库之后，蓦地看见眼前有遥远的，明亮的景色，直到那白色的，软软地起伏着的连冈，是一种很大的享用。
It was three weeks since that Friday evening，and Johannes had seen nothing of his friend since．The key was gone，and there was nothing now to assure him that he had not dreamed it all．Often， indeed，he could not conquer a fear that it was all nothing but fancy．He grew very silent，and his father was alarmed，for he observed that since that night out of doors Johannes had certainly had something the matter with him．But Johannes was only pining for Windekind．
从那天金曜日的晚上起，早过了三星期了，约翰全没有见到他的朋友。小锁匙也去了，他更缺少了并非做梦的证据。他常怕一切不过是幻想。他就沉静起来。他的父亲忧闷地想，约翰从在冈上的那晚以来，一定是得了病。然而约翰是神往于旋儿。
“Can he be less fond of me than I of him？”he murmured，as he stood at the garret window and looked out over the green and flowery garden．“Why is it that he never comes near me now？ If I could—but perhaps he has other friends，and perhaps he loves them more than me．I have no other friend，not one．I love no one but him！ I love him so much—oh so much！”
“他的爱我，不及我的爱他么？”当他站在屋顶窗的旁边，眺望着绿叶繁花的园中时，他琐屑地猜想着，“他为什么不常到我这里来，而且已经很久了呢？倘使我能够……但他也许有许多朋友罢。比起我来，他该是更爱那些罢？……我没有别的朋友，一个也没有。我只爱他。爱得很，唉，爱得很！”
Then，against the deep blue sky he saw a flight of six white doves，who wheeled，flapping their wings，above the roof over his head．It seemed as though they were moved by one single impulse， so quickly did they veer and turn all together，as if to enjoy to the utmost the sea of sunshine and summer air in which they were flying．
他看见，一群雪白的鸽子的飞翔，怎样地由蔚蓝的天空中降下，这原是以可闻的鼓翼声，在房屋上面盘旋的。那仿佛有一种思想驱遣着它们，每一瞬息便变换方向，宛如要在它们所浮游着的夏光和夏气的大海里，成了排豪饮似的。
Suddenly they swept down towards Johannes's window in the roof，and settled with much flapping and fussing on the water-pipe，where they pattered to and fro with endless cooings．One of them had a red feather in his wing．He plucked and pulled at it till he had pulled it out，and then he flew to Johannes and gave it to him．
它们忽然飞向约翰的屋顶窗前来了，用了各种的鼓翼和抖翅，停在房檐上，在那里它们便忙碌地格磔着，细步往来。其中一匹的翅上有一枝红色的小翎。它拔而又拔，拔得很长久，待到它拔到嘴里的时候，它便飞向约翰，将这交给他。
Hardly had Johannes taken it in his hand when he felt that he was as light and swift as one of the doves．He stretched out his arms， the doves flew up，and Johannes found himself in their midst，in the spacious free air and glorious sunshine．There was nothing around him but the pure blue，and the bright shimmer of fluttering white wings．
约翰一接取，便觉得他这样地轻而且快了，正如一个鸽子。他伸开四肢，鸽子飞式的飞起来，约翰并且漂浮在它们的中央，在自由的空气中和清朗的日光里。环绕着他的更无别物，除了纯净的蓝碧和洁白的鸽翅的闪闪的光辉。
They flew across the great garden，towards the wood，where the thick tree-tops waved in the distance like the swell of a green sea．Johannes looked down and saw his father through the open window， sitting in the house-place，—Simon was lying in the window seat with his crossed forepaws，basking in the sun．
他们飞过了林中的大花园，那茂密的树梢在远处波动，像是碧海里的波涛。约翰向下看，看见他父亲坐在住房的畅开的窗边；西蒙是拳着前爪坐在窗台上，而且晒太阳取暖。
“I wonder if they see me！”thought he；but he dared not call out to them．
“他们看见我没有？”他想，然而叫呢他却不敢。
Presto was trotting about the garden walks，sniffing at every shrub and behind every wall，and scratching against the door of every shed or greenhouse to find his master．
普烈斯多在园子里奔波，遍齅着各处的草丛，各坐的墙后，还抓着各个温室的门户，想寻出小主人来。
“Presto，Presto！”cried Johannes．The dog looked up and began to wag his tail and yelp most dolefully．
“普烈斯多！普烈斯多！”约翰叫着。小狗仰视，便摇尾，而且诉苦地呻吟。
“I am coming back，Presto！only wait，”cried Johannes，but he was too far away．
“我回来，普烈斯多！等着就是！”约翰大声说，然而他已经离得太远了。
They soared over the wood，and the rooks flew cawing out of the top branches where they had built their nests．It was high summer，and the scent of the blossoming limes came up in steamy gusts from the green wood．In an empty nest，at the top of a tall lime-tree，sat Windekind，with his wreath of bindweed．He nodded to Johannes．
他们飘过树林去，乌鸦在有着它们的窠的高的枝梢上，哑哑地叫着飞翔。这正是盛夏，满开的菩提树花的香气云一般从碧林中升腾起来。在一枝高的菩提树梢的一个空巢里，坐着旋儿，额上的他的冠是旋花的花托，向约翰点点头。
“There you are！that is good，”said he．“I sent for you；now we can remain together for a long time—if you like．”
“你到这里了？这很好，”他说，“我教迎取你去了。我们就可以长在一处——如果你愿意。”
“I like it very much，”said Johannes．
“我早愿意。”约翰说。
Then he thanked the friendly doves who had brought him hither，and went down with Windekind into the woods．There it was cool and shady．The oriole piped his tune，almost always the same， but still a little different．
他于是谢了给他引导的友爱的鸽子，和旋儿一同降到树林中。那地方是凉爽而且多荫。鹪鹩几乎永是唿哨着这一套，但也微有一些分别。
“Poor bird！”said Windekind．“He was once a bird of Paradise．That you still may see by his strange yellow feathers；but he was transformed and turned out of Paradise．There is a word which can restore him to his former splendid plumage，and open Paradise to him once more；but he has forgotten the word；and now，day after day，he tries to find his way back there．He says something like the word，but it is not quite right．”
“可怜的鸟儿，”旋儿说，“先前它是天堂鸟。这你还可以从它那特别的黄色的翅子上认出来——但它改变了，而且被逐出天堂了。有一句话，这句话能够还给它原先的华美的衣衫，并且使它再回天堂去。然而它忘却了这句话。现在它天天在试验，想再觅得它。虽然有一两句的类似，但都不是正对的。”
Numberless insects glittered like dancing crystals in the sun's rays where they pierced between the thick leaves．When they listened sharply they could hear a humming，like a great concert on one string，filling the whole wood．This was the song of the sunbeams．
无数飞蝇在穿过浓阴的日光中，飞扬的晶粒似的营营着。人如果留神倾听，便可以听出，它们的营营，宛如一场大的、单调的合奏，充满了全树林，仿佛是日光的歌唱。
The ground was covered with deep dark-green moss，and Johannes had again grown so tiny that it appeared to him like another wood on the ground，beneath the greater wood．What elegant little stems！and how closely they grew！It was difficult to make a way between them，and the moss forest seemed terribly large．
繁密的深绿的莓苔盖着地面，而约翰又变得这么小了，他见得这像是大森林区域里的一座新林。干子是多么精美，丛生是多么茂密。要走通是不容易的，而且苔林也显得非常之大。
Presently they crossed an ants' track．Hundreds of ants were hurrying up and down，some dragging chips of wood or little blades of grass in their jaws．There was such a bustle that Johannes was almost bewildered．
于是他们到了一座蚂蚁的桥梁。成百的蚂蚁忙忙碌碌地在四处走——有几个在颚间衔着小树枝、小叶片或小草梗。这是有如此杂沓，至使约翰几乎头晕了。
It was a long time before one of the ants would spare them a word．They were all too busy．At last they found an old ant who was set to watch the plant-lice from which the ants get honeydew．As his herd was a very quiet one he could very well give a little time to the strangers，and let them see the great nest．It was situated at the foot of an old tree-trunk，and was very large，with hundreds of passages and cells．The plant-louse herd led the way，and conducted the visitors into every part of it，even into the nurseries where the young larv? were creeping out of their cocoons．Johannes was amazed and delighted．
许多工夫之后，他们才遇到一个蚂蚁，愿意和他们来谈天。它们全体都忙于工作。他们终于遇见一个年老的蚂蚁，那差使是，为着看守细小的蚜虫的，蚂蚁们由此得到它们的甘露。因为它的畜群很安静，它已经可以顾及外人了，还将那大的窠指示给他们。窠是在一株大树的根上盖造起来的，很宽广，而且包含着百数的道路和房间。蚜虫牧者加以说明，还引了访问者往各处，直到那有着稚弱的幼虫从白色的襁褓中匍匐而出的儿童室。约翰是惊讶而且狂喜了。
The old ant told them that every one was very busy by reason of the campaign which was immediately at hand．Another colony of ants，dwelling not far off，was to be attacked by a strong force， their nest destroyed and the larv? carried off or killed；and as all the strength at their command must be employed，all the most necessary tasks must be got through beforehand．
年老的蚂蚁讲起，为了就要发生的军事，大家正在强大的激动里。对于离此不远的别一蚁群，要用大的强力去袭击，扫荡窠巢，劫夺幼虫或者杀戮；这是要尽全力的，大家就必须预先准备那最为切要的工作。
“What is the campaign about？”said Johannes．“I do not like fighting．”
“为什么要有军事呢？”约翰说，“这我觉得不美。”
“Nay，nay！”replied the herdsman．“It is a very grand and praiseworthy war．You must remember that it is the soldier-ants we are going to attack；we shall exterminate the race，and that is a very good work．”
“不然，不然！”看守者说，“这是很美的可以赞颂的军事。想罢，我们要去攻取的，是战斗蚂蚁呵；我们去，只为歼灭它们这一族，这是很好的事业。”
“Then you are not soldier-ants？”
“你们不是战斗蚂蚁么？”
“Certainly not．What are you thinking about？ We are the peace-loving ants．”
“自然不是！你在怎样想呢？我们是平和蚂蚁。”
“What do you mean by that？”
“这是什么意思呢？”
“Do not you know？ Well，I will explain．Once upon a time all ants were continually fighting，not a day passed without some great battle．Then there came a good，wise ant，who thought that he should save much sorrow if he could persuade them all to agree among themselves to fight no more．But when he said so every one thought him very odd，and for that reason they proceeded to bite him in pieces．Still，after this，other ants came who said the same thing，and they too were bitten to pieces．But at last so many were of this opinion that biting them to pieces was too hard work for the others．So then they called themselves the Peaceful Ants，and they did everything which their first teacher had done，and those who opposed them they，in their turn，bit in pieces．In this way almost all the ants at the present time have become Peaceful Ants，and the fragments of the first Peaceful Ant are carefully and reverently preserved．We have his head—the genuine head．We have devastated and annihilated twelve other colonies who pretended to have the True Head．Now there are but four who dare to do so．They call themselves Peaceful Ants，but in fact they are Fighting Ants by nature—but we have the True Head，and the Peaceful Ant had but one head．Now we are going to-morrow to destroy the thirteenth colony．So you see it is a good work．”
“你不知道这事么？我要告诉你。有那么一个时候，因为一切蚂蚁常常战争，免于大战的日子是没有的。于是出了一位好的有智慧的蚂蚁，它发见，如果蚂蚁们彼此约定，从此不再战争，便将省去许多的劳力。待到它一说，大家觉得这特别，并且就因为这原因，大家开始将它咬成小块了。后来又有别的蚂蚁们，也像它一样的意思。这些也都被咬成了小块。然而终于，这样的是这么多，至使这咬断的事，在别个也成了太忙的工作。从此它们便自称平和蚂蚁，而且都主张那第一个平和蚂蚁是不错的。有谁来争辩，它们这边便将它撕成小块子。这模样，所有蚂蚁就几乎都成了平和蚂蚁了，那第一个平和蚂蚁的残体，还被慎重而敬畏地保存起来。我们有着头颅，是真正的。我们已经将别的十二个自以为有真头的部落毁坏，并且屠戮了。它们自称平和蚁，然而自然倒是战斗蚁，因为真的头为我们所有，而平和蚂蚁是只有一个头的。现在我们就要动手，去歼除那第十三个。这确是一件好事业。”
“Yes，yes，”said Johannes．“It is very strange！”
“是呵，是呵，”约翰说，“这很值得注意！”
He was in fact a little uneasy，and felt happier when，after thanking the herd-keeper，they had taken their leave，and were sitting far from the Ant colony，rocked on the top of a tall grass-stem，under the shade of a graceful fern．
他本有些怕起来了，但当他们谢了恳切的牧者并且作过别，远离了蚂蚁民族，在羊齿草丛的阴凉之下，休息在一枝美丽的弯曲的草梗上的时候，他便觉得安静得许多了。
“Hooh！”sighed Johannes，“that was a bloodthirsty and stupid tribe！”
“阿！”约翰叹息，“那是一个渴血的胡涂的社会！”
Windekind laughed，and swung up and down on the grass haulm．
旋儿笑着，一上一下地低昂着他所坐的草梗。
“Oh！”said he，“you must not call them stupid．Men go to the ants to get wisdom．”
“阿！”他说，“你不必责备它们胡涂。人们若要聪明起来，还须到蚂蚁那里去。”
Then Windekind showed Johannes all the wonders of the wood；they flew up to visit the birds in the tree-tops and in the thick shrubs， went down into the moles' clever dwellings，and saw the bees' nest in the old hollow tree．
于是旋儿指示约翰以树林的所有的神奇——他们俩飞向树梢的禽鸟们，又进茂密的丛莽，下到土拨鼠的美术的住所，还看老树腔里的蜂房。
At last they came out on an open place surrounded by brush-wood．Honeysuckle grew there in great abundance．Its luxuriant trails climbed over everything，and the scented flowers peeped from among the greenery．A swarm of tomtits hopped and fluttered among the leaves with a great deal of twittering and chirping．
末后，他们到了一个围着树丛的处所。成堆成阜地生着忍冬藤。繁茂的枝条到处蔓延在灌木之上，群绿里盛装着馥郁的花冠。一只吵闹的白颊鸟，高声地唧唧足足着，在嫩枝间跳跃而且鼓翼。
“Let us stay here a little while，”said Johannes；“this is splendid．”
“给我们在这里过一会罢，”约翰请托，“这里是美观的。”
“Very well，”said Windekind．“And you shall see something very droll．”
“好，”旋儿说，“你也就要看见一点可笑的。”
There were blue-bells in the grass．Johannes sat down by one of them and began to talk with the bees and the butterflies．They were friends of the blue-bells'，so the conversation went on at a great rate．
地上的草里，站着蓝色的铃兰。约翰坐在其中一株的近旁，并且开始议论那蜜蜂和胡蝶。这些是铃兰的好朋友，因此这谈天就像河流一般。
What was that？ A huge shadow came across the grass，and something like a white cloud fell down on the blue-bell—Johannes had scarcely time to get away，—he flew to Windekind who was sitting high up in a honeysuckle flower．Then he saw that the white cloud was a pocket-handkerchief，and bump！A sturdy damsel sat down on the handkerchief and on the poor blue-bell which was under it．
但是，那是什么呢？一个大影子来到草上，还有仿佛白云似的东西在铃兰上面飘下来。约翰几乎来不及免于粉身碎骨——他飞向那坐在盛开的忍冬花里的旋儿。他这才看出，那白云是一块手巾——并且，蓬！——在手巾上，也在底下的可怜的铃兰上，坐下了一个肥胖的太太。
He had not time to bewail it before the sound of voices and the cracking of branches filled the glade in the forest．A crowd of men and women appeared．
他无暇怜惜它，因为声音的喧哗和树枝的骚扰充满了林中的隙地，而且，来了一大堆人们。
“Now we shall have something to laugh at，”said Windekind．
“那就，我们要笑了。”旋儿说。
The party came on，the ladies with umbrellas in their hands，the men with tall chimney-pot hats，and almost all in black，completely black．In the green sunny wood they looked like great，ugly ink-spots on a beautiful picture．
于是他们来了，那人类——女人们手里拿着篮子和伞，男人们头上戴着高而硬的黑帽子。他们几乎统是黑的，漆黑的。他们在晴明的碧绿的树林里，很显得特殊，正如一个大而且丑的墨污，在一幅华美的图画上。
The brushwood was broken down，flowers trodden underfoot；many white handkerchiefs were spread，and the yielding grass and patient moss sighed as they were crushed under the weight they had to bear，fearing much that they might never recover from the blow．
灌木被四散冲开，花朵踏坏了。又摊开了许多白手巾，柔顺的草茎和忍耐的莓苔是叹息着在底下担负，还恐怕遭了这样的打击，从此不能复元。
The smoke of cigars curled among the honeysuckle wreaths，and enviously supplanted the delicate odour of their blossoms．Sharp voices scared the gleeful tomtits，who，with terrified and indignant piping，took refuge in the nearest trees．
雪茄的烟气在忍冬丛上蜿蜒着，凶恶地赶走它们的花的柔香。粗大的声音吓退了欢乐的白颊鸟的鸣噪，这在恐怖和忿怒中唧唧地叫着，逃向近旁的树上去了。
One man rose and went to stand on a little mound．He had long light hair，and a pale face．He said something，and then all the men and women opened their mouths very wide and began to sing so loud，that the rooks flew cawing out of their high nests，and the inquisitive little rabbits，who had come from the sand-hills to see what was going on，ran off in alarm，and were still running fully a quarter of an hour after they were safe at home again in the dunes．
一个男人从那堆中站起来，并且安在冈尖上。他有着长的、金色的头发和苍白的脸。他说了几句，大家便都大张着嘴，唱起歌来，有这么高声，致使乌鸦们都嘎嘎地从它们的窠巢飞到高处，还有好奇的野兔，本是从冈边上过来看一看的，也吃惊地跑走，并且直跑至整一刻钟之久，才又安全地到了沙冈。
Windekind laughed and fanned away the cigar-smoke with a fern leaf；but there were tears in Johannes's eyes，though not from the tobacco．
旋儿笑了，用一片羊齿叶抵御着雪茄的烟气；约翰的眼里含了泪，却并不是因为烟。
“Windekind，”said he，“I want to go．This is all so ugly and so rude．”
“旋儿，”他说，“我要走开，有这么讨厌和喧闹。”
“No，no，we must stay．You will laugh；it will be more amusing．”
“不，我们还该停留。你就要笑，还有许多好玩的呢。”
The singing ceased and the pale man began to speak．He shouted hard，that every one might hear him；but what he said sounded very kind．He called them all his brothers and sisters， spoke of the glories of nature and the wonders of creation，of God's sunshine and the dear little birds and flowers．
唱歌停止了，那苍白男人便起来说话。他大声嚷，要使大家都懂得，但他所说的，却过于亲爱。他称人们为兄弟和姊妹，并且议论那华美的天然，还议论造化的奇迹，论上帝的日光，论花和禽鸟。
“What is this？”asked Johannes．“How can he talk of these things？ Does he know you？ Is he a friend of yours？”
“这叫什么？”约翰问，“他怎么说起这个来呢？他认识你么？他是你的朋友么？”
Windekind shook his flower-crowned head disdainfully．
旋儿轻蔑地摇那戴冠的头。
“He does not know me，and the sun and the birds and the flowers even less．What he says is all lies．”
“他不认识我，太阳、禽鸟、花，也一样地很少。凡他所说的，都是谎。”
The people listened very attentively．The stout lady who sat on the blue-bell began to cry several times，and wiped her eyes on her skirt，as she could not get at her handkerchief．
人们十分虔敬地听着。那坐在蓝的铃兰上面的胖太太，还哭出来了好几回，用她的衣角来拭泪，因为她没有可使的手巾。
The pale man said that God had made the sun shine so brightly for the sake of their meeting here，and Windekind laughed and threw an acorn down from the thick leaves，which hit the tip of his nose．
苍白的男人说，上帝为了他们的聚会，使太阳这样快活地照临。旋儿便讪笑他，并且从密叶中将一颗槲树子掷在他的鼻子上。
“He shall learn to know better，”said he；“my father shines for him，indeed！a fine idea！”
“他要换一个别的意见，”他说，“我的父亲须为他们照临——他究竟妄想着什么！”
But the pale man was too much excited to pay any heed to the acorn，which seemed to have dropped from the sky；he talked a long time，and the longer the louder．At last he was red and purple in the face，doubled his fists，and shouted so loud that the leaves quivered and the grass stems were dismayed，and waved to and fro．When at last he came to an end they all began to sing again．
但那苍白的男人，却因为要防这仿佛从空中落下来似的槲树子，正在冒火了。他说得很长久，越久声音就越高。末后，他脸上是青一阵红一阵，他捏起拳头，而且嚷得这样响，至于树叶都发抖，野草也吓得往来动摇。待到他终于再平静下去的时候，大家却又歌唱起来了。
“Well，fie！”said a blackbird，who was listening from the top of a high tree，“that is a shocking noise to make！I had rather the cows should come into our wood．Only listen．Well，for shame！”
“呸，”一只白头鸟，是从高树上下来看看热闹的，说，“这是可惊的胡闹！倘是一群牛们来到树林里，我倒还要喜欢些。听一下子罢，呸！”
Now the blackbird knows what he is talking about，and has a fine taste in music．
唔，那白头鸟是懂事的，也有精微的鉴别。
After singing，the folks brought all sorts of eatables out of baskets，boxes and bags．Sheets of paper were spread out；cakes and oranges were handed round．And bottles and glasses also made their appearance．
歌唱之后，大家便从篮子、盒子和纸兜里拉出各种食物来。许多纸张摊开了，小面包和香橙分散了。也看见瓶子。
Then Windekind called his allies together，and they began to attack the feasters．
于是旋儿便召集他的同志们，并且开手，进攻这宴乐的团体。
A smart frog leaped up into an old maid's lap，flopped on to the bread she was just about to put into her mouth，and sat there as if amazed at his own audacity．The lady gave a fearful yell，and stared at the intruder without daring to stir．This bold beginning soon found imitators．Green caterpillars crept fearlessly over hats，handkerchiefs and rolls，inspiring terror and disgust；fat field-spiders let themselves down on glittering threads into beer glasses，and on to heads or necks，and a loud shriek always followed their appearance；endless winged creatures fairly attacked the human beings in the face， sacrificing their lives for the good cause by throwing themselves on the food and in the liquor，making them useless by their corpses．Finally the ants came in innumerable troops and stung the enemy in the most unexpected places，by hundreds at once．This gave rise to the greatest consternation and confusion．Men and women alike fled from the long crushed moss and grass．The poor blue-bell，too，was released in consequence of a well-directed attack by two ear-wigs on the stout maiden's legs．The men and women grew desperate；by dancing and leaping with the most extraordinary gestures，they tried to escape their persecutors．The pale man stood still for a long time，hitting about him with a small black stick；but a few audacious tomtits，who were not above any form of attack，and a wasp，who stung him in the calf through his black trousers，placed him hors de combat．
一匹大胆的虾蟆跳到一个年老的小姐的大腿上，紧靠着她正要咀嚼的小面包，并且停在那里，似乎在惊异它自己的冒险。这小姐发一声大叫，惊愕地凝视着攻击者，自己却不敢去触它。这勇敢的例子得了仿效。碧绿的青虫们大无畏地爬上了帽子、手巾和小面包，到处散布着愁闷和惊疑，大而胖的十字蜘蛛将灿烂的丝放在麦酒杯上、头上以及颈子上，而且在它们的袭击之后，总接着一声尖锐的叫喊。无数的蝇直冲到人们的脸上来，还为着好东西牺牲了它们的性命，它们倒栽在食品和饮料里，因为它们的身体连东西也弄得不能享用了。临末，是来了看不分明的成堆的蚂蚁，随处成百地攻击那敌人，不放一个人在这里做梦。这却惹起了混乱和惊惶！男人们和女人们都慌忙从压得那么久了的莓苔和小草上跳起来。那可怜的小蓝铃儿也被解放了，靠着两匹蚂蚁在胖太太的大腿上的成功的袭击。绝望更加厉害了。人们旋转着、跳跃着，想在很奇特的态度中来避开他们的追击者。苍白的男人抵抗了许多时，还用一枝黑色的小棍，愤愤地向各处打。然而两匹勇敢的蚂蚁，那是什么兵器都会用的，还有一个胡蜂钻进他的黑裤子，在腿肚上一刺，使他失了战斗的能力。
Then the sun could no longer keep his countenance，and hid his face behind a cloud．Large drops of rain fell on the antagonistic parties．It looked as though the shower had suddenly made a forest of great black toadstools spring out of the ground．These were the umbrellas，which were hastily opened．The women turned their skirts over their heads，thus displaying their white petticoats， white-stockinged legs，and shoes without heels．Oh，what fun for Windekind！He had to hold on to a flower-stem to laugh．
这快活的太阳也就不能久驻，将他的脸藏在一片云后面了。大雨淋着这战斗的两党。仿佛是因为雨，地面上突然生出大的黑的地菌的森林来似的。这是张开的雨伞。几个女人将衣裳盖在头上，于是分明看见白的小衫，白袜的腿和不带高跟的鞋子。不，旋儿觉得多么好玩呵！他笑得必须紧抓着花梗了。
The rain fell more and more heavily；the forest was shrouded in a grey sparkling veil．Streams of water ran off the umbrellas，tall hats and black overcoats，which shone like the shell of a water-snail；their shoes slopped and smacked in the soaking ground．Then the people gave it up，and dropped off doubtfully in twos and threes， leaving behind them a litter of papers，empty bottles and orange peel，the hideous relics of their visit．The open glade in the forest was soon deserted once more，and ere long nothing was to be heard but the monotonous rush of the rain．
雨越下越密了，它开始将树林罩在一个灰色的发光的网里。纷纷的水溜，从伞上，从高帽子上，以及水甲虫的甲壳一般发着闪的黑衣服上直流下来，鞋在湿透的地上劈劈拍拍地响。人们于是交卸了，并且成了小群默默地退走。只留下一堆纸、空瓶子和橙子皮，当作他们访问的无味的遗踪。树林中的空旷的小草地上，便又寂寂与安静起来，即刻只听得独有雨的单调的淅沥。
“Well，Johannes！now we have seen what men are like．Why do you not laugh at them？”
“唔，约翰，我们也见过人类了，你为什么不也讥笑他们呢？”
“Oh，Windekind！Are all men like these？”
“唉，旋儿，所有人们都这样的么？”
“Indeed，there are worse and uglier．Sometimes they shout and rave，and destroy everything that is pretty or good．They cut down trees and stick their horrible square houses in their place；they wilfully crush the flowers，and kill every creature that comes within their reach，merely for pleasure．In their dwellings，where they crowd one upon another，it is all dirty and black，and the air is tainted and poisoned by the smell of smoke．They are complete strangers to nature and their fellow-creatures．That is why they cut such a foolish，miserable figure when they come forth to see them．”
“阿！有些个还要恶得多，坏得多呢。他们常常狂躁和胡闹，凡有美丽和华贵的，便毁灭它。他们砍倒树木，在他们的地方造起笨重的四角的房子来。他们任性踏坏花朵们，还为了他们的高兴，杀戮那凡有在他们的范围之内的各动物。他们一同盘据着的城市里，全都是污秽和乌黑，空气是浑浊的，且被尘埃和烟气毒掉了。他们是太疏远了天然和他们的同类，所以一回到天然这里，他们便做出这样的疯颠和凄惨的模样来。”
“Oh dear！Windekind，Windekind．”
“唉，旋儿，旋儿！”
“Why do you cry，Johannes？ You must not cry because you were born to be a man．I love you all the same and choose you out of them all．I have taught you to understand the language of the butterflies and birds，and the faces of the flowers．The moon knows you，and the good kind earth regards you as her dearest child．Why should you not be glad since I am your friend？”
“你为什么哭呢，约翰？你不必因为你是生在人类中的便哭。我爱你，我是从一切别的里面将你选出来的。我已经教你懂得禽鸟和胡蝶和花的观察了。月亮认识你，而这好的柔和的大地，也爱你如它的最爱的孩子一般。我是你的朋友，你为什么不高兴的呢？”
“You are，Windekind，you are！—still I cannot help crying over men．”
“阿，旋儿！我高兴，我高兴的！但我仍要哭，为着一切的这人类！”
“Why？ You need not remain among them if it vexes you．You can live here with me，and always keep me company．We will make our home in the thickest of the wood，in the solitary，sunny downs， or among the reeds by the pool．I will take you everywhere，down under the water among the water-plants，in the palaces of the elves and in the earth-spirits' homes．I will waft you over fields and forests，over strange lands and seas．I will make the spiders spin fine raiment for you，and give you wings such as I have．We will live on the scent of flowers，and dance with the elves in the moonlight．When autumn comes we will follow the summer，to where the tall palm-trees stand，where gorgeous bunches of flowers hang from the cliffs，and the dark blue ocean sparkles in the sun．And I will always tell you fairy tales．Will you like that，Johannes？”
“为什么呢？如果这使你忧愁，你用不着和他们在一处。你可以住在这里，并且永久追随着我。我们要在最密的树林里盘桓，在寂寞的、明朗的沙冈上，或者在池边的芦苇里。我要带你到各处去，到水底里，在水草之间，到妖精的宫阙里，到小鬼头的住所里。我要同你飘泛，在旷野和森林上，在远方的陆地和海面上。我要使蜘蛛给你织一件衣裳，并且给你翅子，像我所生着的似的。我们要靠花香为生，还在月光中和妖精们跳舞。秋天一近，我们便和夏天一同迁徙，到那繁生着高大的椰树的地方，彩色的花伞挂在峰头，还有深蓝的海面在日光中灿烂，而且我要永久讲给你童话。你愿意么，约翰？”
“And I shall never live among men any more？”
“那我就可以永不住在人类里面了么？”
“Among men，endless vexations await you，weariness，troubles and sorrow．Day after day you will toil and sigh under the burden of life．Your tender soul will be wounded and tortured by their rough ways．You will be worn and grieved to death．Do you love men more than you love me？”
“在人类里忍受着你的无穷的悲哀、烦恼、艰窘和忧愁。每天每天，你将使你苦辛，而且在生活的重担底下叹息。他们会用他们的粗犷来损伤或窘迫你柔弱的灵魂。他们将使你无聊和苦恼到死。你爱人类过于爱我么？”
“No，no！Windekind，I will stay with you．”
“不，不！旋儿，我要留在你这里！”
Now he could prove how much he cared for Windekind．Yes，he would forsake and forget everybody and everything for his sake：his little room，and Presto，and his father．He repeated his wish，full of joy and determination．
他对旋儿表示，他怎样地很爱他。他愿意将一切和所有自己这一面的抛弃和遗忘。他的小房子，他的父亲和普烈斯多。高兴而坚决地他重述他的愿望。
The rain had ceased．A bright smile of sunshine gleamed through the grey clouds on the wet sparkling leaves，on the drops which hung twinkling from every twig and blade of grass，and gemmed the spiders' webs spread among the oak leaves．A filmy mist rose slowly from the moist earth and hung over the underwood， bringing up a thousand warm，sleepy odours．The blackbird flew to the topmost bough and sang a short，passionate melody to the sinking sun—as though he would show what kind of singing befitted the spot—in the solemn evening stillness，to the soft accompaniment of falling drops．
雨停止了，在灰色的云底下，闪出一片欢喜的微笑的太阳光，经过树林，照着湿而发光的树叶，还照着在所有枝梗上闪烁，并且装饰着张在槲树枝间的蛛网的水珠。从丛草中的湿地上，腾起一道淡淡的雾气来，夹带着千数甘美的梦幻的香味。白头鸟这时飞上了最高的枝梢，用着简短的、亲密的音节，为落日歌唱——仿佛它要试一试，怎样的歌，才适宜于这严肃的晚静，和为下堕的水珠作温柔的同伴。
“Is that not more lovely than the noises of men，Johannes？ Ah，the blackbird knows exactly the right thing to sing！Here all is harmony；you will find none so perfect among men．”
“这不比人声还美么，约翰？是的，白头鸟早知道敲出恰当的音韵了。这里一切都是谐和，一个如此完全的，你在人类中永远得不到。”
“What is harmony，Windekind？”
“什么是谐和，旋儿？”
“It is the same thing as happiness．It is that which all agree in striving after．Men too，but they do so like children trying to catch a butterfly．Their stupid efforts are just what scare it away．”
“这和幸福是一件事。一切都向着它努力。人类也这样。但他们总是弄得像那想捉胡蝶的儿童。正因为他们的拙笨的努力，却将它惊走了。”
“And shall I find it with you？”
“我会在你这里得到谐和么？”
“Yes，Johannes．But you must forget men and women．It is a bad beginning to have been born to be a man；but you are still young．You must put away from you all remembrance of your human life；among them you would go astray，and fall into mischief and strife and wretchedness—it would be with you as it was with the young cockchafer of whom I told you．”
“是的，约翰！那你就应该将人类忘却。生在人类里，是一个恶劣的开端，然而你还幼小——你必须将在你记忆上的先前的人间生活一一除去。这些都会使你迷惑和错乱、纷争、零落。那你就要像我所讲的幼小的金虫一样了。”
“What happened to him afterwards？”
“它后来怎样了呢？”
“He saw the beautiful light of which the old chafer spoke；he thought he could do no better than fly towards it at once．He flew straight into a room，and into a human hand．For three days he lived in torture；he was shut up in a cardboard box；they tied a thread to his feet and let him fly at the end of it；then they untied him，with one wing and one leg torn off；and at last，helplessly creeping round and round on a carpet，trying to feel his way back to the garden，a heavy foot crushed him to death．All the creatures，Johannes，which come out and about at night are just as much children of the Sun as we are．And although they have never seen their glorious father， still an obscure remembrance always tempts them wherever a light is beaming．And thousands of poor creatures of the darkness find a miserable end through their love for the Sun，from which they were so long since parted，and to which they have become strangers．And in the same way a vague and irresistible attraction brings men to ruin in the false image of that Great Light whence they proceeded，but which they no longer know．”
“它看见明亮的光，那老甲虫说起过的。它想，除了即刻飞往那里之外，它不能做什么较好的事了。它直线地飞到一间屋，并且落在人手里。它在那里受苦至三日之久！它坐在纸匣里，人用一条线系在它腿上，还使它这样地飞！于是它挣脱了，并且失去了一个翅子和一条腿，而且终于——其间它无助地在地毯上四处爬，也徒劳地试着往那园里去——被一只沉重的脚踏碎了。一切动物，约翰，凡是在夜里到处彷徨的，正如我们一样，是太阳的孩子。它们虽然从来没有见过它们的晃耀的父亲，却仍然永是引起一种不知不觉的记忆，向往着发光的一切。千数可怜的幽暗的生物，就从这对于久已迁移和疏远了的太阳的爱，得到极悲惨的死亡。一个不可解的、不能抗的冲动，就引着人类向那毁坏，向那警起他们而他们所不识的大光的幻象那里去。”
Johannes looked inquiringly into Windekind's eyes，but they were as deep and mysterious as the dark sky between the stars．
约翰想要发问似的仰视旋儿的眼。但那眼却幽深而神秘，一如众星之间的黑暗的天。
“Do you mean God？”he timidly asked．
“你想上帝么？”他终于战战兢兢地问。
“God？”There was a soft smile in the deep eyes．“I know， Johannes，what you are thinking of when you speak that word，—of the chair by your bed-side where you knelt to say your long prayers last evening—of the green serge curtains in front of the church window，which you gaze at by the hour on Sunday mornings—of the capital letters in your little Bible—of the church-bag with its long pole—of the stupid singing and the stuffy atmosphere．All that you mean by the word，Johannes，is a monstrous，false image．In place of the sun a huge petroleum lamp，to which thousands and thousands of flies are helplessly and hopelessly stuck fast！”
“上帝？”这幽深的眼睛温和地微笑，“只要你说出话来，约翰，我便知道你所想的是什么。你想那床前的椅子，你每晚上在它前面说那长的祷告的——想那教堂窗上的绿绒的帏幔，你每日曜日的早晨看得它这么长久的——想那你的赞美歌书的花纹字母——想那带着长柄的铃包——想那坏的歌唱和熏蒸的人气。你用了那一个名称所表示的，约翰，是一个可笑的幻象——不是太阳而是一盏大的煤油灯，成千成百的飞虫儿在那上面无助地紧粘着。”
“But what then is the name of that Great Light，Windekind？ And to whom must I pray？”
“但这大光是怎么称呼呢，旋儿？我应该向谁祷告呢？”
“Johannes，it is as though a patch of mould should ask me what was the name of the earth which bears it round in space．Even if there were any answer to your question you would no more understand it than an earthworm can hear the music of the stars．Still，I will teach you to pray．”
“约翰，这就像一个霉菌问我，这带着它旋转着的大地，应当怎样称呼。如果对于你的询问有回答，那你就将懂得它，有如蚯蚓之于群星的音乐了。祷告呢，我倒是愿意教给你的。”
And while Johannes was still silently wondering over Windekind's reply，the elf flew out of the wood with him，high up，so high that beyond the edge of the down a long narrow line was visible，gleaming like gold．They flew on and on，the undulating sand-hills beneath them gliding away，and the streak of light growing broader and broader．The green hue faded，the wild broom was grey and thin，and strange bluish-green plants grew among the bushes．Then another range of hills—a long narrow strip of sand—and beyond，the wide unresting sea．The vast expanse was blue to the very horizon；but out there，under the sun，a small streak shone in blinding red fire．
旋儿和那在沉静的惊愕中、深思着他的话的小约翰，飞出树林，这样高，至于沿着冈边，分明见得是长的金闪闪的一线。他们再飞远去，变幻的成影的丘冈景色都在他们的眼下飞逝，而光的线是逐渐宽广起来。沙冈的绿色消失了，岸边的芦苇见得黯淡，也如特别的浅蓝的植物，生长其间。又是一排连冈，一条伸长的、狭窄的沙线，于是就是那广远的雄伟的海。蓝的是宽大的水面，直到远处的地平线，在太阳下，却有一条狭的线发着光，闪出通红的晃耀。
An endless fringe of downy-looking white foam edged the waters，as ermine borders blue velvet．
一条长的、白的飞沫的边镶着海面，宛如黄鼬皮上镶了蓝色的天鹅绒。
On the horizon a wonderful，fine line divided the air from the ocean．It was indeed a marvel；straight yet curved；sharply defined yet non-existent；visible yet intangible．It was like the vibration of a harp-string，which thrills dreamily for a long time，seeming to die away and yet still be there．
地平线上分出一条柔和的、天和水的奇异的界线。这像是一个奇迹：直的，且是弯的；截然的，且是游移的；分明的，且是不可捉摸的。这有如曼长而梦幻地响着的琴声，似乎绕缭着，然而且是消歇的。
Then little Johannes sat down on the sand-hill and gazed—gazed long—motionless and silent；till he felt as though he were about to die，—as though the great golden gates of the Infinite had opened majestically before him，and his little soul were soaring forth towards the first light of eternity．
于是小约翰坐在沙阜边上眺望——长久地不动地沉默着眺望——一直到他仿佛应该死，仿佛这宇宙的大的黄金的门庄严地开开了，而且仿佛他的小小的灵魂，径飘向无穷的最初的光线去。
Until the tears，which welled up to his wide-open eyes，had dimmed the radiance of the sun，and the splendour of sky and earth floated off into soft tremulous light．
一直到从他那圆睁的眼里涌出的人世的泪，幕住了美丽的太阳，并且使那天和地的豪华回向那暗淡的、颤动的黄昏里……
“That is the way to pray！”said Windekind．
“你须这样地祷告！”其时旋儿说。
