Charles Dickens  查尔斯·狄更斯  译/孙宝成

Onceupon a time, a good many years ago, there was a traveller, and he set out upona journey. It was a magic journey, and was to seem very long when he began it,and very short when he got half way through.

    从前，在好多年以前，有一位旅行者，出发去旅行。这是一次神奇的旅行，当他开始动身时，旅途似乎非常遥远；当他走到一半时，旅途却好像非常近了。

He travelled along a rather dark path for some little time,without meeting anything, until at last he came to a beautiful child. So hesaid to the child, "What do you do here?" And the child said, "Iam always at play. Come and play with me!"

    他沿着一条十分阴暗的小路走了一段时间，开始没有遇到什么，最后遇到一个漂亮的孩子。于是，他对孩子说：“你在这里干什么？”孩子说：“我总是在玩，过来和我一起玩吧。”

So, he played with that child, the whole day long, and theywere very merry. The sky was so blue, the sun was so bright, the water was sosparkling, the leaves were so green, the flowers were so lovely, and they heardsuch singing-birds and saw so many butterflies, that everything was beautiful.This was in fine weather. When it rained, they loved to watch the fallingdrops, and to smell the fresh scents. When it blew, it was delightful to listento the wind, and fancy what it said, as it came rushing from its home-- wherewas that, they wondered!--whistling and howling, driving the clouds before it,bending the trees, rumbling in the chimneys, shaking the house, and making thesea roar in fury. But, when it snowed, that was best of all; for, they likednothing so well as to look up at the white flakes falling fast and thick, likedown from the breasts of millions of white birds; and to see how smooth anddeep the drift was; and to listen to the hush upon the paths and roads.

    所以，他一整天都和那个孩子一起玩，他们玩得非常高兴。天空是如此碧蓝，阳光是如此辉煌，水面是如此闪亮，树叶是如此嫩绿，花朵是如此可爱，他们还听到了婉转鸣唱的鸟儿，看到了许多蝴蝶，一切都无比美丽。此时天气晴朗。下雨时，他们喜欢看纷纷落下的雨滴，喜欢闻清新的气息。刮风时，听听风声令人愉快，可以想象风在说些什么，好像风从家里急匆匆地出来——风的家在何方，他们想知道！——呼啸而来，驱走前面的云彩，刮弯了树梢，吹响了烟囱，摇动了房屋，让大海狂暴地怒吼。可是，在飘雪的时候，那才最为奇妙哪，因为他们最爱仰望着白色的雪花纷纷扬扬地落下，就像从无数白色的鸟儿胸前落下来的羽毛；他们最爱看堆积起来的雪有多光滑、有多深；他们最爱倾听落雪时小路和大路上的那种寂然无声。

They had plenty of the finest toys in the world, and themost astonishing picture-books: all about scimitars and slippers and turbans,and dwarfs and giants and genii and fairies, and blue- beards and bean-stalksand riches and caverns and forests and Valentines and Orsons: and all new andall true.

    他们拥有许多世界上最精美的玩具，拥有最让人惊奇的画册：全都是有关弯刀、拖鞋、穆斯林头巾，有关侏儒、巨人、神魔、精灵，有关蓝胡子、豆茎、财富、洞窟、森林、情人节礼物、奥森一家：全都那样新颖，全都那样真实。

But, one day, of a sudden, the traveller lost the child. Hecalled to him over and over again, but got no answer. So, he went upon hisroad, and went on for a little while without meeting anything, until at last hecame to a handsome boy. So, he said to the boy, "What do you do here?"And the boy said, "I am always learning. Come and learn with me."

    但是，有一天旅行者忽然失去了孩子。他一遍又一遍地召唤他，可就是没有人回答。于是，他上了路，走了一段时间，什么都没有遇到，直到最后碰到一个英俊的少年。因此，他对少年说：“你在这里干什么？”少年说：“我总是在学习。来和我一起学习吧。”

So he learned with that boy about Jupiter and Juno, and theGreeks and the Romans, and I don't know what, and learned more than I couldtell--or he either, for he soon forgot a great deal of it. But, they were notalways learning; they had the merriest games that ever were played. They rowedupon the river in summer, and skated on the ice in winter; they were activeafoot, and active on horseback; at cricket, and all games at ball; atprisoner's base, hare and hounds, follow my leader, and more sports than I canthink of; nobody could beat them. They had holidays too, and Twelfth cakes, andparties where they danced till midnight, and real Theatres where they sawpalaces of real gold and silver rise out of the real earth, and saw all thewonders of the world at once. As to friends, they had such dear friends and somany of them, that I want the time to reckon them up. They were all young, likethe handsome boy, and were never to be strange to one another all their livesthrough.

    于是，他与那个少年学习了朱庇特和朱诺的传说，学习了希腊和罗马的故事，学习的东西很多，我不知道都是什么，我说不出到底有多少——他也说不出，因为他不久便忘记了许多。但是，他们并不总是学习，他们玩世上最为开心的游戏。夏天时，他们在河上划船；冬天时，他们在冰上溜冰；他们热爱走路，热爱骑马；喜爱打板球，喜爱所有的球类运动；爱玩抓俘虏、猎犬追兔、跟我学动作等游戏，还有许多我想不起来的运动；没人能胜过他们。他们也有假期，也吃主显节的糕饼，也在晚会上跳舞到天亮，也在真正的剧场看到真正金碧辉煌的宫殿从真正的地下升上来，同时看到世界上所有的奇迹。至于交朋友嘛，他们有关系密切的朋友，而且非常多，需要花费时间才能计算出来。和英俊的少年一样，他们全都青春年少，在他们的整个生活中相互从未陌生过。

Still, one day, in the midst of all these pleasures, thetraveller lost the boy as he had lost the child, and, after calling to him invain, went on upon his journey. So he went on for a little while without seeinganything, until at last he came to a young man. So, he said to the young man,"What do you do here?" And the young man said, "I am always inlove. Come and love with me."

    尽管如此，有一天在尽情欢乐的时候，旅行者就像当初失去孩子那样失去了少年，在徒劳无功地呼唤过少年之后，旅行者继续他的旅程。他同样走了一段时间，什么都没看到，直到最后遇到一位年轻人。所以，他对年轻人说：“你在这里干什么？”而这位年轻人说：“我总是在恋爱，来和我一起恋爱吧。”

So, he went away with that young man, and presently theycame to one of the prettiest girls that ever was seen--just like Fanny in thecorner there--and she had eyes like Fanny, and hair like Fanny, and dimpleslike Fanny's, and she laughed and coloured just as Fanny does while I amtalking about her. So, the young man fell in love directly--just as Somebody Iwon't mention, the first time he came here, did with Fanny. Well! he was teasedsometimes--just as Somebody used to be by Fanny; and they quarrelledsometimes--just as Somebody and Fanny used to quarrel; and they made it up, andsat in the dark, and wrote letters every day, and never were happy asunder, andwere always looking out for one another and pretending not to, and were engagedat Christmas-time, and sat close to one another by the fire, and were going tobe married very soon--all exactly like Somebody I won't mention, and Fanny!

    于是，他跟着那位年轻人走，不久他们遇到一位平生见过的最漂亮的姑娘——就像角落里的芬尼——她的眼睛像芬尼，头发像芬尼，酒窝像芬尼，她发笑和脸红的情形就像我说到芬尼时一样。所以，年轻人立即爱上了她——就像我不会说出的那个人，他第一次来这里时就爱上了芬尼。啊！他有时被人取笑——就像那个人被芬尼取笑一样；他们有时争吵——就像那个人常和芬尼争吵一样；他们会和解，坐在黑暗中，每天都写信，总是难舍难离，总是相互期待并假装不在乎，在圣诞节的时候订婚，相互依偎在火炉旁，很快就要结婚——完全就像我不会说出来的那个人和芬尼那样！

But, the traveller lost them one day, as he had lost therest of his friends, and, after calling to them to come back, which they neverdid, went on upon his journey. So, he went on for a little while without seeinganything, until at last he came to a middle-aged gentleman. So, he said to thegentleman, "What are you doing here?" And his answer was, "I amalways busy. Come and be busy with me!"

    但是，有一天旅行者失去了他们，就像他失去别的朋友那样，在召唤他们回来，却再也不见他们的身影之后，旅行者踏上了他的旅程。就这样，他走了一段时间什么都没有看到，直到最后遇到一位中年绅士。于是，他对这位绅士说：“你在这里干什么？”他的回答是：“我总是在忙。来和我一起忙吧！”

So, he began to be very busy with that gentleman, and theywent on through the wood together. The whole journey was through a wood, onlyit had been open and green at first, like a wood in spring; and now began to bethick and dark, like a wood in summer; some of the little trees that had comeout earliest, were even turning brown. The gentleman was not alone, but had alady of about the same age with him, who was his Wife; and they had children,who were with them too. So, they all went on together through the wood, cuttingdown the trees, and making a path through the branches and the fallen leaves,and carrying burdens, and working hard.

    他开始和那位绅士忙碌起来，他们一起穿过树林。整个旅途中他们都在树林中穿行，树林只是在开始的时候开阔而葱绿，就像春天的树林；后来开始茂密而阴暗，就像夏天的树林；有些最早长出的小树甚至变成了棕色。绅士不是孤身一人，而是有一位与他年龄相仿的女士相随，那是他的妻子；他们还有孩子，也跟在他们身边。所以，他们全都一起穿越树林，砍倒树木，在灌木丛和落叶中开出一条路来，挑着担子，艰难地前行。

Sometimes, they came to a long green avenue that opened intodeeper woods. Then they would hear a very little, distant voice crying,"Father, father, I am another child! Stop for me!" And presently theywould see a very little figure, growing larger as it came along, running tojoin them. When it came up, they all crowded round it, and kissed and welcomedit; and then they all went on together.

    有时候，他们遇到一条长长的绿色林荫道，通向树林深处。此时他们会听到非常微弱、遥远的声音喊着：“父亲，父亲，我是另一个孩子！等等我呀！”他们会马上看到一个非常小的身影，过来的时候逐渐变大，跑来加入他们。孩子过来后，他们全都围上去，亲吻和欢迎他；然后他们一起朝前走。

Sometimes, they came to several avenues at once, and thenthey all stood still, and one of the children said, "Father, I am going tosea," and another said, "Father, I am going to India," andanother, "Father, I am going to seek my fortune where I can," andanother, "Father, I am going to Heaven!" So, with many tears atparting, they went, solitary, down those avenues, each child upon its way; andthe child who went to Heaven, rose into the golden air and vanished.

    有时候，他们同时遇到几条林荫路，然后他们全都站住，其中一个孩子说：“父亲，我要去海上。”一个孩子说：“父亲，我要去印度。”另一个说：“父亲，我要去寻找我能找到运气的地方。”另一个说：“父亲，我要去天堂！”于是，分手时他们洒泪告别，每个孩子独自踏上那些林荫路，奔向各自的征程；去天堂的那个孩子升到金色的空中，消失了。

Whenever these partings happened, the traveller looked atthe gentleman, and saw him glance up at the sky above the trees, where the daywas beginning to decline, and the sunset to come on. He saw, too, that his hairwas turning grey. But, they never could rest long, for they had their journeyto perform, and it was necessary for them to be always busy.

    每逢分别的时候，旅行者都看着绅士，只见他望着树林上方的天空，那里白昼开始隐去，现出了夕阳。他也看到，他的头发正在变成灰色。但是，他们未能休息太久，还有征途要走，必须永远抓紧时间。

At last, there had been so many partings that there were nochildren left, and only the traveller, the gentleman, and the lady, went upontheir way in company. And now the wood was yellow; and now brown; and theleaves, even of the forest trees, began to fall.

    最后，经过多次分手，再没有孩子留下了，只有旅行者、绅士和女士结伴同行。此刻的树林是黄色的；不久变成棕色；甚至连森林树木的叶子，也开始飘落。

So, they came to an avenue that was darker than the rest,and were pressing forward on their journey without looking down it when thelady stopped.

    就这样，他们踏上了一条比别处更黑暗的林荫路，却仍然奋力向前，没有回头，正在这时，女士停了下来。

"My husband," said the lady. "I amcalled."

    “我的丈夫，”女士说，“有人召唤我。”

They listened, and they heard a voice a long way down theavenue, say, "Mother, mother!"

    他们倾听着，林荫路远处传来一个声音：“妈妈，妈妈！”

It was the voice of the first child who had said, "Iam going to Heaven!" and the father said, "I pray not yet. The sunsetis very near. I pray not yet!"

这是第一个说“我要去天堂！”的孩子的声音， 父亲说：“我还没有祈祷呢。夕阳即将落下。我还没有祈祷呢！”

But, the voice cried, "Mother, mother!" withoutminding him, though his hair was now quite white, and tears were on his face.

       但是，这个声音喊着：“妈妈，妈妈！”尽管他的头发此时已经花白了，满脸都是泪痕，却没有理会他。

Then, the mother, who was already drawn into the shade ofthe dark avenue and moving away with her arms still round his neck, kissed him,and said, "My dearest, I am summoned, and I go!" And she was gone.And the traveller and he were left alone together.

    这时，妈妈已经向着林荫路的黑暗处走去，她伸出手臂，温柔地搂住他的脖子，亲吻他，说道：“我最亲爱的，既然我受到召唤，那我就去吧！” 她说完便消失了。只剩下旅行者和他两个人。

And they went on and on together, until they came to verynear the end of the wood: so near, that they could see the sunset shining redbefore them through the trees.

    他们一同走啊、走啊，直至靠近树林的尽头：太近了，透过树梢他们能看到面前夕阳闪耀的红色。

Yet, once more, while he broke his way among the branches,the traveller lost his friend. He called and called, but there was no reply,and when he passed out of the wood, and saw the peaceful sun going down upon awide purple prospect, he came to an old man sitting on a fallen tree. So, hesaid to the old man, "What do you do here?" And the old man said witha calm smile, "I am always remembering. Come and remember with me!"

    然而，旅行者拨开树枝走出来时，再一次失去了他的朋友。他喊啊、喊啊，但是没有回答，当走出树林，看到宁静的太阳在辽阔、深红的景色中冉冉落下时，他遇到一个老人坐在一棵伐倒的树杆上。所以，他对老人说：“你在这里干什么？”老人镇定地笑着说：“我总是在回忆。来和我一起回忆吧！”

So the traveller sat down by the side of that old man, faceto face with the serene sunset; and all his friends came softly back and stoodaround him. The beautiful child, the handsome boy, the young man in love, thefather, mother, and children: every one of them was there, and he had lostnothing. So, he loved them all, and was kind and forbearing with them all, andwas always pleased to watch them all, and they all honoured and loved him. AndI think the traveller must be yourself, dear Grandfather, because this what youdo to us, and what we do to you.

       于是，旅行者坐在老人的旁边，面对着平静的夕阳；他所有的朋友们都悄悄地回来了，站在他周围。漂亮的孩子，英俊的少年，恋爱中的年轻人，父亲，母亲，还有孩子们：他们每个人都在这里，他什么都没有失去。所以，他热爱他们每一个人，体贴和宽容每一个人，总是高兴地看着每一个人，他们全都尊敬和爱他。
       亲爱的爷爷，我认为旅行者一定是你自己，因为你就是这样待我们的，而我们也是这样待你的。