雙語《小約翰》 九

IX
九

Johannes had sat waiting for a long time．The air was chill， and heavy clouds swept over the scene in endless succession．They spread a dark grey mantle in wide folds，and lifted their proud heads to the bright light which shone above them．Sunshine and shadow chased each other with wonderful swiftness across the trees，like a fitfully blazing fire．Johannes was uneasy in his mind；he was thinking of the Book，not really believing that he should ever find it．Between the clouds very，very high up，he saw the clear，deep blue strewn with fleecy white clouds，soft and feathery，floating in calm and motionless rest．
約翰坐得很長久，而且等候著?？諝馐抢淅涞?，大的云接近了地面，不斷的無窮的連續(xù)著飄浮。它們展開了暗灰色的、波紋無際的氅衣，還在清朗的光中卷起它們的傲慢的峰頭，即在那光中發(fā)亮。樹上的日光和陰影變換得出奇地迅疾，如永有烈焰飛騰的火。約翰于是覺得恐懼了。他思索著那書兒，難于相信，而還希望著，他今天將要覓得。云的中間，很高，奇怪的高，他看見清朗的凝固的蔚藍，那上面是和平地擴張在不動的寧靜中的、柔嫩的、潔白的小云，精妙地蒙茸著。

“It must be like that！”thought he．“So high，so bright，so still！”
“這得是這樣，”他想，“這樣高，這樣明，這樣靜?！?/span>

Then came Robinetta．Her bird was not with her．“It is all right， Johannes！”she cried out．“You may come and see the Book．”
于是榮兒來到了。然而紅膆鳥卻不同來?！罢?，約翰，”她大聲叫，“你可以來，并且看那書去?！?/span>

“Where is Robin Redbreast？”said Johannes doubtfully．
“紅膆鳥在那里呢？”約翰遲疑著問。

“He did not come；as we are not going for a walk．”
“沒有帶來，我們并不是散步呵?！?/span>

So he went with her，still thinking to himself：“It cannot be．—It will not be like this，—it must be quite different．”
他一同走，不住地暗想著：那是不能——那不能是這樣的——一切都應該是另外的樣子。

However，he followed the shining golden hair which lighted up the way．
然而他跟隨著在他前面放光的燦爛的金發(fā)。

Alas！Sad things now befell little Johannes．I wish that his history ended here．Did you ever have a beautiful dream of an enchanted garden，with flowers and beasts who loved you and talked to you？ And have you in your dream had the consciousness that you would presently awake，and all the glory of it vanish？ Then you try with all your might to hold it fast，and not to see the cold light of morning．
唉！從此以后，小約翰就悲哀了。我希望他的故事在這里就完結(jié)。你可曾討厭地夢見過一個魔幻的園，其中有著愛你而且和你談天的花卉們和動物們的沒有？于是你在夢里就有了那知覺，知道你就要醒來，并且將一切的華美都失掉了？于是你徒然費力于堅留它，而且你也不愿看那冰冷的曉色。

Johannes had just such a feeling as he followed Robinetta．
當他一同進去的時候，約翰就潛藏著這樣的感覺。

She led him into the big house，into a passage where his steps echoed．He could smell the scent of clothes and food；he thought of the long days when he had been kept indoors—of his school-days—and of everything in his life which had been cold and gloomy．
他走到一所住房，那邊一條進路，反響著他的腳步。他齅到衣服和食物的氣味，他想到他該在家里時的悠長的日子——想到學校的功課，想到一切，凡是在他生活上幽暗而且冰冷的。

They went into a room full of men and women；how many，he could not see．They were talking，but as he went in they were silent．He noticed that the carpet had a pattern of huge，impossible flowers in gaudy colours．They were as strange and monstrous as those on the curtains in his bedroom at home．
他到了一間有人的房間。人有幾多，他沒有看。他們在閑談，但他一進去，便寂靜了。他注視地毯，有著很大的不能有的花紋帶些刺目的色彩。色彩都很特別和異樣，正如家鄉(xiāng)的在他小屋子里的一般。

“So that is the gardener's little boy？”said a voice opposite him．“Come here，my little friend；there is nothing to be afraid of．”
“這是園丁孩子么？”一個正對著他的聲音說，“進來就是，小朋友，你用不著害怕的?！?/span>

And another voice close to him said—“Well，Robbie，you have found a nice little companion．”
一個別的聲音在他近旁突然發(fā)響：“唔，小榮，你有一個好寶貝兒哩?！?/span>

What did it all mean？ The deep lines gathered again above Johannes's dark childlike eyes，and he looked about him in bewilderment and alarm．
這都是什么意義呢？在約翰的烏黑的孩子眼上，又疊起深深的皺來，他并且惑亂地驚駭?shù)厮念櫋?/span>

A man dressed in black sat near him，looking at him with cold，grey eyes．
那邊坐著一個穿黑衣的男人，用了冷冷的嚴厲的眼睛看著他。

“So you want to see the Book of Books？ I am surprised that your father，whom I know for a pious man，should not have put it into your hands before now．”
“你要學習書中之書么？我很詫異，你的父親，那園丁，那我以為是一個虔誠人的，竟還沒有將這給了你?！?/span>

“You do not know my father；he is far，far away．”
“他不是我的父親——他遠得很?！?/span>

“Indeed！Well，it is the same thing．Look here，my little friend！ Read this diligently；it shall show you the way of life—”
“唔，那也一樣?？戳T，我的孩子！常常讀著這一本，那就要到你的生活道上了……”

But Johannes had already recognised the Book．This was not what he wanted．No，something very different．He shook his head．
約翰卻已認得了這書。他也不能這樣地得到那一本，那應該是全然各別的。他搖搖頭。

“No，no！that is not what I mean．I know this Book．This is not it．”
“不對，不對！這不是我所想的那一本。我知道，這不是那一本！”

He heard exclamations of surprise，and felt the looks which were fixed on him from all sides．
他聽到了驚訝的聲音，他也覺得了從四面刺他的眼光。

“What？ What do you mean，little man？”
“什么？你想著什么呢，小男人？”

“I know this book．It is the book men believe in．But there is not enough in it—if there were，there would be peace and goodwill among men．And there is none．I mean something different—something which no one can doubt who sees it；in which it is written，precisely and clearly，why everything is as it is．”
“我知道那本書兒，那是人類的書。這本卻是還不夠，否則人類就安寧和太平了。這并不是。我想著的是一些各別的，人一看，誰也不能懷疑。那里面記著為什么一切是這樣的，像現(xiàn)狀的這樣，又清楚，又分明?！?/span>

“How is that possible？ Where can the boy have picked up such a notion？”
“這能么？這孩子的話是那里來的？”

“Who taught you that，my little friend？”
“誰教你的，小朋友？”

“I am afraid that you have read some wicked books，child，and are talking like them．”
“我相信，你看了邪書了，孩子，照它胡說出來罷?！?/span>

Thus spoke the various voices．Johannes felt his cheeks burning—his eyes were dim and dazzled—the room turned round，and the huge flowers on the carpet swayed up and down．Where was the little mouse who had so faithfully helped him that day in the school-room？ He wanted her badly．
幾個聲音這樣地發(fā)響，約翰覺得他面龐熾熱起來——他快要暈眩了——房屋旋轉(zhuǎn)著，地毯上的大花朵一上一下地飄浮。前些日子在學校里這樣忠誠地勸戒他的小鼠在那里呢？他現(xiàn)在用得著它了。

“I am not talking like any book，and he who taught me what I know is worth more than all of you together．I know the language of flowers and animals，and am friends with them all．And I know too what men are，and how they live．I know all the fairies' secrets and the wood-sprites'；for they all love me—more than men do．”
“我沒有照書胡說，那教給我的，也比你們?nèi)嗟膬r值要高些。我知道花卉們和動物們的話，我是它們的親信。我明白人類是什么，以及他們怎樣地生活著。我知道妖精們和小鬼頭們的一切秘密，因為它們比人類更愛我?！?/span>

Johannes heard sounds of disapprobation and laughter behind him，and all sides．There was a singing and roaring in his ears．
約翰聽得自己的周圍和后面，有竊笑和喧笑。在他的耳朵里，吟唱并且騷鳴起來了。

“He seems to have read Hans Andersen's tales．”
“他像是讀過安兌生了?！?/span>

“He is not quite right in his head．”
“他是不很了了的?！?/span>

The man opposite to him said：
正對著他的男人說：

“If you know Andersen，my little man，you ought to have more of his reverence for God and His Word．”
“如果你知道安兌生，孩子，你就得多有些他對于上帝的敬畏和他的話?！?/span>

“For God！”He knew that word，and he remembered Windekind's teaching．
“上帝！”這個字他識得的，而且他想到旋兒的所說。

“I have no reverence for God．God is a great Petroleum-lamp which leads thousands to misery and misfortune．”
“我對于上帝沒有敬畏。上帝是一盞大煤油燈，由此成千的迷誤了，毀滅了?！?/span>

There was no laughter now，but a terrible silence，in which horror and amazement might be felt on all sides．Johannes was conscious of piercing looks，even at his back．It was like his dream of the night before．
沒有喧笑，卻是可怕的沉靜，其中混雜著嫌惡和驚怖。約翰在背上覺得鉆刺的眼光。那是，就如在昨夜的他的夢里。

The man in black stood up and took him by the arm．This hurt him and almost crushed his courage．
那黑衣男人立起身來，抓住了他的臂膊。他痛楚，而且?guī)缀醮煺哿擞職狻?/span>

“Listen to me，youngster：I do not know whether you are utterly ignorant or utterly depraved，but I suffer no ungodly talk here．Go away，and never come in my sight again，I advise you．I will keep an eye on what becomes of you，but you never more set foot in this house．Do you understand？”
“聽著罷，我的孩子，我不知道，你是否不甚了了，還是全毀了——這樣的毀謗上帝在我這里卻不能容忍——滾出去，也不要再到我的眼前來，我說。懂么？”

Every face was cold and hostile as he had seen them in his dream．
一切的眼光是寒冷和仇視，就如在那一夜。

Johannes looked about him in anguish．
約翰恐怖地四顧。

“Robinetta—where is Robinetta？”
“榮兒！——榮兒在那里？”

“Ay indeed！You would contaminate my child！Beware if you ever dare to come here again！”
“是了，我的孩子要毀了！——你當心著，你永不準和她說話！”

“不，讓我到她那里！我不愿意離開她。榮兒，榮兒！”約翰哭著。

她卻恐怖地坐在屋角里，并不抬起眼來。

“滾開，你這壞種！你不聽！你不配再來！”

And the cruel grip led him down the echoing passage—the glass door slammed—and Johannes found himself outside，under the black driving clouds．He did not turn round，but stared straight before him as he slowly walked away．The sad furrows above his eyes were deeper，and did not smooth out again．
而且那痛楚的緊握，帶著他走過反響的路，玻璃門砰然闔上了——約翰站在外面的黑暗的低垂的云物下。他不再哭了，當他徐徐地前行的時候，沉靜地凝視著前面。在他眼睛上面的陰郁的皺紋也更其深，而且永不失卻了。

The Redbreast sat in a lime hedge looking after him．He stopped and gazed back，but did not speak；but there was no longer any confidence in the bird's timid sharp little eyes，and when Johannes took a step nearer，the quick little creature shot away in hasty flight．
紅膆鳥坐在一座菩提樹林中，并且向他窺看。他靜靜地站住，沉默地報答以眼光。但在它膽怯的偵察的小眼睛里，已不再見信任，當他更近一步的時候，那敏捷的小動物便鼓翼而去了。

“Away，away！Here is a man！”piped the sparrows who were sitting in a row on the garden path，and they fluttered away in all directions．
“走罷！走罷！一個人！”同坐在園路上的麻雀們啾唧著，并且四散地飛開。

Even the open blossoms laughed no more，but looked grave and indifferent，as they do to all strangers．
盛開的花們也不再微笑，它們卻嚴正而淡漠地凝視，就如對于一切的生人。

Still Johannes did not heed these signs，but only thought how cruelly he had been hurt by those men；it was as though a cold hard hand had been laid on his inmost secret soul．“They shall believe me yet！”thought he．“I will fetch my little key and show it to them．”
但約翰并不注意這些事，他只想著那人們給他的侮辱。在他是，仿佛有冰冷的堅硬的手，污了他的最深處了?！八麄兊孟嘈盼?，”他想，“我要取我的匙兒，并且指示給他們?！?/span>

“Johannes，Johannes！”called a tiny voice．There was a bird's nest in a holly bush and Wistik's big eyes peeped out over the edge of it．“Where are you off to？”
“約翰！約翰！”一個脆的小聲音叫道。那地方有一個小窠在一株冬青樹里，將知的大眼睛正從窠邊上望出來，“你往那里去？”

“It is all your fault！”said Johannes．“Leave me in peace．”
“一切都是你的罪，將知！”約翰說，“讓我安靜著罷?！?/span>

“What took you to talk with men？ Men can never understand you．Why do you tell men such things？ It is most foolish．”
“你怎么也同人類去說呢，人類是不懂你的呵。你為什么將這樣的事情去講給人類的？這真是呆氣！”

“They laughed at me，and hurt me．They are detestable creatures！ I hate them．”
“他們笑罵我，又給我痛楚。那都是下賤東西！我憎惡他們?！?/span>

“No，Johannes；you love them．”
“不然，約翰，你愛他們?！?/span>

“No，no！”
“不然！不然！”

“If you did not，it would not vex you so much to find yourself different from them；it could not matter to you what they say．You must learn to care less．”
“他們不像你這樣，于你就少一些痛苦了——他們的話，于你也就算不得什么了。對于人類，你須少介意一點?！?/span>

“I want my key．I want to show it to them．”
“我要我的匙兒。我要將這示給他們?！?/span>

“You must not do that；and they would not even then believe you．Of what use would it be？”
“這你不必做，他們還是不信你的。這有什么用呢？”

“I want my little key from under the rose-bush．Do you know where to find it？”
“我要薔薇叢下的我的匙兒。你知道怎么尋覓它么？”

“Yes，certainly；by the pool you mean？ Yes，I know it．”
“是呀！——在池邊，是么？是的，我知道它?！?/span>

“Then take me there，Wistik．”
“那就帶領我去罷，將知！”

Wistik clambered up on Johannes's shoulder and showed him the way．They went on and on，all the day；the wind blew，and heavy rain fell from time to time，but towards evening the clouds ceased driving，and packed into long grey and gold bars．
將知騰上了約翰的眉頭，告訴他道路。他們奔走了一整天——發(fā)風，有時下狂雨，但到晚上，云卻平靜了，并且伸成金色和灰色的長條。

When they reached the sand-hills which Johannes knew so well， his heart was sad within him，and he whispered again and again，“Windekind，Windekind！”
他們來到約翰所認識的沙岡時，他的心情柔軟了，他每次細語著：“旋兒，旋兒?！?/span>

There was the rabbit-hole，and the sand-hill where he had fallen asleep．The grey reindeer-moss was soft and damp，and did not crack under his feet．The roses were all over，and the yellow evening-primroses with their faint oppressive scent opened their cups by hundreds．Higher yet grew the tall mulleins with their thick woolly leaves．
這里是兔窟——以及沙岡，在這上面他曾經(jīng)睡過一回的?；疑穆固浂覞?，并不在他的腳下挫折作響。薔薇開完了，黃色的月下香帶著它們的迷醉的微香，成百地伸出花萼來。那長的傲兀的王燭花伸得更高，和它們的厚實的毛葉。

Johannes looked carefully to espy the small russet leaves of the wild rose．
約翰細看那岡薔薇的精細的淡褐色的枝柯。

“Where is it，Wistik？ I do not see it．”
“它在那里呢，將知？我看不見它?！?/span>

“I know nothing of it，”said Wistik．“You buried the key，not I．”
“那我不知道，”將知說，“是你藏了匙兒的，不是我?！?/span>

Where the rose-tree had stood there was a plot covered with yellow Oenotheras staring heedlessly at the sky．Johannes questioned them，and the mullein too；but they were much too proud， for their tall stems rose far above his head；so he asked the little three-coloured pansies on the sandy ground．However，no one knew anything of the wild rose．They were all new-comers this summer， even the mullein，arrogant and tall as it was．
薔薇曾經(jīng)開過的地方，已是滿是淡漠地向上望著的黃色的月下香的田野了。約翰詢問它們，也問王燭。然而它們太傲慢，因為它們的長花是高過他——約翰還去問沙地上的三色地丁花。卻沒有一個知道一點薔薇的事。它們一切都是這一夏天的。不但那這么高的自負的王燭。

“Oh！where is it？ where is it？”
“唉，它在那里呢？它在那里呢？”

“Have you too deceived me？”cried Wistik．“I expected it；it is always so with men．”
“那么，你也騙了我了？”將知說，“這我早想到，人類總是這樣的?！?/span>

And he let himself slip down from Johannes's shoulder，and ran away among the broom．
他從約翰的肩頭溜下，在岡草間跑掉了。

Johannes looked about him in despair—there stood a tiny wild rose-bush．
約翰在絕望中四顧——那里站著一窠小小的岡薔薇叢。

“Where is the big rose-bush？”asked Johannes；“the big one which used to stand here？”
“那大薔薇在那里呢？”約翰問，“那大的，那先前站在這里的？”

“We never talk with human creatures，”said the shrub．That was the last thing he heard；everything remained silent．Only the broom-shrubs sighed in the light evening breeze．
“我們不和人類說話?！蹦切舱f。這是他所聽到的末一回——四圍的一切生物都沉靜地緘默了，只有蘆葉在輕微的晚風中瑟瑟地作響。

“Am I then a man？”thought Johannes．“No！it cannot be，it cannot be！I will not be a man！I hate men！”
“我是一個人么？”約翰想，“不，這不能是，不能是。我不愿意是人。我憎惡人類?！?/span>

He was tired and sick at heart．He lay down at the edge of the meadow，on the soft grey moss which gave out a strong，damp scent．
他疲乏，他的精神也遲鈍了。他坐在小草地邊的、散布著濕而強烈的氣息的、柔軟的蒼苔上。

“Now I cannot find my way back，and shall never see Robinetta again．Shall I not die if I have not Robinetta？ Shall I live and grow to be a man—a man like those others who laughed at me？”
“我不能回去了，我也不能再見榮兒了。我的匙兒在那里呢？旋兒在那里呢？為什么我也須離開榮兒呢？我不能缺掉她。如果少了她，我不會死么？我總須生活著，且是一個人——像其他的，那笑罵我的一個人么？”

On a sudden he saw once more the two white butterflies which came flying towards him from the side where the sun was setting．He watched them anxiously；would they show him the way？ They fluttered over his head，sometimes close together and sometimes far apart，flitting about as if in whimsical play．By degrees they went farther and farther from the sun，and vanished at last over the ridge of the sand-hills towards the wood，where only the topmost boughs were now red in the evening glow which blazed out brightly from beneath the long dark levels of cloud．
于是他忽又看見那兩個白胡蝶，那是從陽光方面向他飛來的。他緊張著跟在它們的飛舞之后，看它們是否指給他道路。它們在他的頭上飛，彼此接近了，于是又分開了，在愉快的游戲中盤旋著。它們慢慢地離開陽光，終于飄過岡沿，到了樹林里。那樹林是只還有最高的尖，在從長的云列下面通紅而鮮艷地閃射出來的夕照中發(fā)亮。

Johannes rose and went after them，but as they flew up over the first trees he saw that a black shadow followed them and overtook them with noiseless flight．The next instant they were gone．The black shade pounced swiftly down on them，and Johannes in terror covered his face with his hands．
約翰跟定它們。但當它們飛過最前排的樹木的時候，他便覺察出，怎樣地有一個黑影追躡著有聲的鼓翼，并且將它們擒拿。一轉(zhuǎn)瞬間，它們便消失了。那黑影卻迅速地向他射過來，他恐怖地用手掩了臉。

“Well，my little friend，what have you to cry about？”said a sharp mocking voice close at hand．Johannes had seen a big bat coming towards him，but when he now looked up a little black dwarf not much taller than himself was standing on the sand-hill．He had a large head with big ears which stuck out dark against the bright evening sky；a lean shape and thin legs．Johannes could see nothing of his face but the small twinkling eyes．
“唉，小孩子！你為什么坐在這里哭？”帖近他響著一個鋒利的嘲笑的聲音。約翰先曾看見，像是一只大的黑蝙蝠奔向他，待到他抬頭去看的時候，卻站著一個黑的小男人，比他自己大得很有限。他有一個大頭帶著大耳朵，黑暗地翹在明朗的暮天中，瘦的身軀和細細的腿。從他臉上，約翰只看見細小的閃爍的眼睛。

“Have you lost anything，my little fellow？ Can I help you seek it？”said he．
“你失掉了一點什么么，小孩子？那我愿意幫你尋?！彼f。

But Johannes shook his head in silence．
但約翰沉默著搖搖頭。

“Look here．Would you like to have these？”he began again， opening his hand．In it Johannes saw something white which still moved a little．This was the two white butterflies，their crushed and broken wings quivering in their death-struggle．Johannes shuddered as though some one had blown against the nape of his neck，and he looked up in alarm at the strange being．“Who are you？”he asked．
“看罷，你要我的這個么？”他又開始了，并且攤開手。約翰在那上面看見一點白東西，時時動彈著。那便是白色的胡蝶兒，快要死了，顫動著撕破的和拗斷的小翅子。約翰覺到一個寒栗，似乎有人從后面在吹他，并且恐懼地仰看那奇特的家伙。“你是誰？”他問。

“You would like to know my name？ Well，call me Pluizer—simply Pluizer．I have other prettier names，but you would not understand them yet．”
“你要知道我的名字么，小孩子？那么，你就只稱我穿鑿，簡直穿鑿。我雖然還有較美的名字，然而你是不懂的?！?/span>

“Are you a man？”
“你是一個人么？”

“Better and better！Well，I have arms and legs and a head—see what a head—and the boy asks me whether lama man！Why， Johannes，Johannes！”And the mannikin laughed with a shrill piercing note．
“聽罷！我有著臂膊和腿和一個頭——看看是怎樣的一個頭罷！——那孩子卻問我，我是否一個人哩！但是，約翰，約翰！”那小男人還用咿咿啞啞的聲音笑起來。

“How do you know who I am？”asked Johannes．
“你怎么知道我是誰呢？”約翰問。

“Oh，that，to me，is a mere trifle．I know a great deal more than that．I know whence you have come and what you came to do．I know a wonderful deal—almost everything．”
“唉，這在我是容易的。我知道的還多得很。我也知道你從那里來以及你在這里做什么。我知道得怪氣的多，幾乎一切?！?/span>

“Ah，Master Pluizer—”
“唉，穿鑿先生……”

“Pluizer，Pluizer—without any fine words．”
“穿鑿，穿鑿，不要客氣?！?/span>

“Then do you know anything—”but Johannes was suddenly silent．“He is a man，”thought he．
“你可也知道……？”但約翰驟然沉默了，“他是一個人。”他想。

“Of the little key，do you mean？ Why，to be sure！”
“你想你的匙兒罷？一定是！”

“But I did not think that any man could know about that．”
“我卻自己想著，人類是不能知道那個的?！?/span>

“Foolish boy！Besides，Wistik has told me all about it．”
“胡涂孩子！將知已經(jīng)泄漏了很多了?！?/span>

“Then do you know Wistik too？”
“那么你也和將知認識的？”

“Oh yes！One of my best friends—and I have many friends．But I know it without Wistik．I know a great deal more than Wistik．Wistik is a very good fellow—but stupid，uncommonly stupid．Now， I am not！Far from it！”And Pluizer tapped his big head with his lean little hand．
“呵，是的！他是我的最好的朋友之一——這樣的我還很多。但這卻不用將知我早知道了。我所知道的比將知還要廣。一個好小子，然而胡涂，出格地胡涂。我不然！全不然?！贝╄彶⑶矣昧耸菪〉氖?，自慰地敲他的大頭。

“Do you know，Johannes，”he went on，“what Wistik's great defect is？—but you must never tell him，for he would be very angry．”
“你知道么，約翰，”他說下去，“什么是將知的大缺點？但你千萬永不可告訴他，否則他要大大地惱怒的?！?/span>

“Well，what is it？”said Johannes．
“那么，是什么呢？”約翰問。

“He does not exist．That is a great defect，but he does not admit it．And he says the same of me，that I do not exist．But that is a lie．I not exist，indeed！What next，I wonder？”
“他完全不存在。這是一個大缺點，他卻不肯贊成，而且他還說過我，我是不存在的。然而那是他說誑。我是否在這里！還有一千回！”

And Pluizer put the butterflies into his satchel，and suddenly turning a somersault stood before Johannes on his head．Then，with a hideous grin，he stuck out a vile long tongue．Johannes，who did not feel at all at his ease alone with this strange being in the growing dusk on the deserted sand-hills，now fairly quaked with fear．
穿鑿將胡蝶塞在衣袋里，并且突然在約翰面前倒立起來。于是他可厭地裝著怪相笑，還吐出一條長長的舌頭。約翰是，時當傍晚，和這樣的一個奇特東西在沙岡上，心情本已愁慘了的，現(xiàn)在卻因恐怖而發(fā)抖了。

“This is a delightful manner of surveying the world，”said Pluizer，still upside down．“If you like I will teach you to do it．You see everything much clearer，and more life-like．”
“觀察世界，這是一個很適宜的方法，”穿鑿說，還總是倒立著?！叭绻阍敢?，我也肯教給你?？匆磺卸几宄?，更自然。”

And he flourished his little legs in the air and waltzed round on his hands．As the red light fell on his inverted face Johannes thought it perfectly horrible；those little eyes twinkled in the glow and showed the whites at the lower edge where it is not generally visible．
他還將那細腿在空中開合著，并且用手向四面旋轉(zhuǎn)。當紅色的夕光落在顛倒的臉上時，約翰覺得這很可厭——小眼睛在光中瞟著，還露出尋?？床灰姷难郯讈?。

“You see，in this position the clouds seem to be the ground and the earth the top of the world．It is just as easy to maintain that as the converse．There is really no above or below．A very pretty place to walk on those clouds must be！”
“你看，這樣是云彩如地面，而這地有如世界的屋頂。相反也一樣地很可以站得住的。既沒有上，也沒有下。云那里許是一片更美的游步場?！?/span>

Johannes looked up at the long stretches of cloud．They looked to him like a ploughed land，with red furrows，as though blood welled up from it．Just over the pool yawned the gate of the cloud-grotto．
約翰仰視那連綿的云。他想，這頗像有著涌血的紅畦的生翼的田野。在海上，燦爛著云的洞府的高門。

“Can any one go there and enter in？”he asked．
“人能夠到那里去，并且進去么？”他問。

“What nonsense！”said Pluizer，suddenly standing on his feet again，to Johannes's great relief，“Nonsense！If you were there you would find it just the same as here，and it would look as beautiful as that further on again．But in those lovely clouds it is all foggy and grey and cold．”
“無意識！”穿鑿說，而使約翰很安心的，是忽然又用兩腳來站立了?！盁o意識！倘你在那里，那完全同這里一模一樣——那就許是仿佛那華美再遠一點兒。在那美麗的云里，是冥蒙的，灰色而且寒冷的?！?/span>

“I do not believe you，”cried Johannes．“Now I see you really are a man．”
“我不信你，”約翰說，“我這才看清楚，你是一個人?！?/span>

“Come，come！You do not believe me，my little friend，because I am a man？ And what sort of creature are you then，I should like to know？”
“去罷！你不信我，可愛的孩子，因為我是一個人么？而你——你或者是別的什么么？”

“O Pluizer！Am I，too，really a man？”
“唉，穿鑿，我也是一個人么？”

“What do you suppose？ An elf？ Elves are never in love．”And Pluizer unexpectedly sat down on the ground at Johannes's feet with his leg crossed under him，staring at him with a villainous grin．Johannes was unutterably embarrassed and uncomfortable under his gaze，and wished he could escape or become invisible．But he could not even take his eyes off him．“Only men fall in love，Johannes，d'ye hear！And so much the better，or there would be none left by this time．And you are in love like the best of them，although you are but a little fellow．Of whom are you thinking at this moment？”
“你怎么想，一個妖精么？妖精們是不被愛的?！贝╄彵憬徊嬷茸诩s翰的面前，而且含著怪笑目不轉(zhuǎn)睛地對他看。約翰在這眼光之下，覺得不可名言地失措和不安，想要潛藏或隱去。然而他不復能夠轉(zhuǎn)眼了?！爸挥腥祟惐粣?，約翰，你聽著！而且這是完全正當?shù)?，否則他們也許早已不存在了。你雖然還太年青，卻一直被愛到耳朵之上。你正想著誰呢？”

“Of Robinetta，”whispered Johannes，hardly above his breath．
“想榮兒?！奔s翰小聲說，幾乎聽不見地。

“Whom do you most long for？”
“你對誰最仰慕呢？”

“Robinetta．”
“對榮兒?！?/span>

“Without whom do you think you could not live？”
“你以為沒有誰便不能生活呢？”

Johannes's lips moved silently：“Robinetta．”
約翰的嘴唇輕輕地說，“榮兒?！?/span>

“Well then，youngster，”grinned Pluizer，“what made you fancy that you could be an elf？ Elves do not love the daughters of men．”
“唉，哪，小子，”穿鑿忍著笑，“你怎么自己想象，是一個妖精呢？妖們是并不癡愛人類的孩子的?！?/span>

“But it was Windekind，”Johannes stammered out in his bewilderment．
“然而她是旋兒……”約翰在慌張中含胡地說。

But Pluizer flew into a terrible rage and his bony fingers gripped Johannes by the ears．“What folly is this？ Would you try to frighten me with that whippersnapper thing？ He is a greater simpleton than Wistik—much greater．He knows nothing at all．And what is worse， he does not exist in any sense，and never has existed．I only exist， do you understand？ And if you do not believe me，I will let you feel what I am．”
于是穿鑿便嫌忌地做作地注視，并且用他骨立的手捏住了約翰的耳朵?！斑@是怎樣的無意識呢？你要用那蠢物來嚇我么？他比將知還胡涂得遠——胡涂得遠。他一點不懂。那最壞的是，他其實就沒有存在著，而且也沒有存在過。只有我存在著，你懂么？——如果你不信我，我就要使你覺得，我就在這里?！?/span>

And he shook the hapless Johannes by the ears．Johannes cried out—“But I have known him such a long time，and have travelled such a long way with him！”
他還用力搖撼那可憐的約翰的耳朵。約翰叫道：“我卻認識他很長久，還和他巡游得很遠的！”

“You dreamed it，I tell you．Where are the rose bush and the little key，hey？ But you are not dreaming now．Do you feel that？”
“你做了夢，我說。你的薔薇叢和你的匙兒在那里呢，說？——但你現(xiàn)在不要做夢了，你明白么？”

“Oh！”cried Johannes，for Pluizer nipped him．
“噢！”約翰叫喊，因為穿鑿在掐他。

It was by this time dark，and the bats flew close over their heads and piped shrilly．The air was black and heavy，not a leaf was stirring in the wood．
天已經(jīng)昏黑了，蝙蝠在他們的頭邊紛飛，還叫得刺耳。天空是黑而且重——沒有一片葉在樹林里作聲。

“May I go home？”asked Johannes，—“home to my father？”
“我可以回家去么？”約翰懇求著?！跋蛭业母赣H？”

“To your father！What to do there？”said Pluizer．“A warm reception you will get from him after staying away so long．”
“你的父親？你要在那里做什么？”穿鑿問?！霸谀氵@樣久遠地出外之后，人將親愛地對你叫歡迎?！?/span>

“I want to get home，”said Johannes，and he thought of the snug room with the bright lamp light where he would sit so often by his father's side，listening to the scratching of his pen．It was quiet there， and not lonely．
“我念家?！奔s翰說，他一面想著那明亮地照耀著的住室，他在那里常常挨近他父親坐，并且傾聽著他的筆鋒聲的。那里平和而且舒暢。

“Well then，you would have done better not to come away，and stayed so long for the sake of that senseless jackanapes who has not even any existence．Now it is too late，but it does not matter in the least；I will take care of you．And whether I do it or your father， comes to precisely the same in the end．Such a father—it is a mere matter of education．Did you choose your own father？ Do you suppose that there is no one so good or so clever as he？ I am just as good，and cleverer—much cleverer．”
“是呵，因為愛那并不存在的蠢才，你就無須走開和出外了?，F(xiàn)在已經(jīng)太遲。而這也不算什么，我早就要照管你了。我來做呢，或是你的父親來做呢，本來總歸是一件事。這樣的一個父親卻不過是想象。你大概是為自己選定了他的罷？你以為再沒有一個別的，會一樣好，一樣明白的么？我就一樣好，而且明白得多，明白得多?！?/span>

Johannes had no heart to answer；he shut his eyes and nodded feebly．
約翰沒有勇氣回答了。他合了眼，疲乏地點頭。

“And it would be of no use to look for anything from Robinetta，”the little man went on．He laid his hands on Johannes's shoulders and spoke close into his ear．That child thought you just as much a fool as the others did．Did you not observe that she sat in the corner and never spoke a word when they all laughed at you？ She is no better than the rest．She thought you a nice little boy，and was ready to play with you—as she would have played with a cockchafer．She will not care that you are gone away．And she knows nothing of that Book．But I do；I know where it is，and I will help you to find it．I know almost everything．”
“而且對于這榮兒，你也不必尋覓了?！贝╄徑酉氯?。他將手放在約翰的肩頭，緊接著他的耳朵說：“那孩子也如別個一樣，領你去上癡子索。當人們笑罵你的時候，你沒有見她怎樣地坐在屋角里，而且一句話也不說么？她并不比別人好。她看得你好，同你游嬉，就正如她和一個金蟲玩耍。你的走開與否，她不在意，她也毫不知道那書兒。然而我卻是——我知道那書在那里，還要帶你去尋覓。我?guī)缀踔酪磺??！?/span>

And Johannes was beginning to believe him．
約翰相信他起來了。

“Now will you come with me？ Will you seek it with me？”
“你同我去么？你愿意同我尋覓么？”

“I am so tired，”said Johannes，“l(fā)et me sleep first．”
“我很困倦，”約翰說，“給我在無論什么地方睡覺罷?！?/span>

“I have no opinion of sleep，”replied Pluizer，“I am too active for that．A man must always be wide awake and thinking．But I will grant you a little time for rest．Till to-morrow morning！”
“我向來不喜歡這睡覺，”穿鑿說，“這一層我是太活潑了。一個人應該永遠醒著，并且思想著。但我要給你安靜一會兒——明晨見！”

And he put on the friendliest expression of which he was capable．Johannes looked hard into his little twinkling eyes till he could see nothing else．His head was heavy and he lay down on the mossy knoll．The little eyes seemed to go further and further from him till they were starry specks in the dark sky；he fancied he heard the sound of distant voices，as though the earth beneath him were going away and away—and then he ceased to think at all．
于是他做出友愛的姿態(tài)，這是他剛才懂得做法的。約翰凝視著閃爍的小眼睛，直至他此外一無所見。他的頭沉重了，他倚在生苔的岡坡上。似乎那小眼睛越閃越遠，后來就像星星在黑暗的天空。他仿佛聽到遠處的聲音發(fā)響，地面也從他底下遠遠地離開……于是他的思想停止了。