The Devoted Friend by Oscar Wilde (浮世文心译)
One morning the old Water-rat put his head out of his hole. He had bright beady eyes and stiff grey whiskers and his tail was like a long bit of black india-rubber. The little ducks were swimming about in the pond, looking just like a lot of yellow canaries, and their mother, who was pure white with real red legs, was trying to teach them how to stand on their heads in the water.
一天清早，水老鼠把头探出洞口。他的眼睛亮晶晶的像两颗黑珠子，灰色的胡须硬邦邦的，细长的尾巴活像一截黑色的橡皮筋。池塘里，小鸭子们正四处游来游去，看上去就像一群黄丝雀。它们的妈妈则一身洁白，长着一双红彤彤的腿脚，正试着教它们怎么在水里作倒立。
“You will never be in the best society unless you can stand on your heads,” she kept saying to them; and every now and then she showed them how it was done. But the little ducks paid no attention to her. They were so young that they did not know what an advantage it is to be in society at all.
“要是不会倒立，你们永远也进不了上流社会。”她一遍又一遍地对小鸭子们说。说着说着，她还不时亲自做个示范给它们看。可小鸭子们压根儿没把她的话放在心上。它们还太小，根本不知道能进入上流社会有什么好处。
“What disobedient children!” cried the old Water-rat; “they really deserve to be drowned.”
“多么不听话的孩子！”水老鼠叫道，“他们真该淹死才对。”
“Nothing of the kind,” answered the Duck, “every one must make a beginning, and parents cannot be too patient.”
“哪有这种话，”鸭子回答道，“凡事总得有个开始，当父母的可不能不耐心。”
“Ah! I know nothing about the feelings of parents,” said the Water-rat; “I am not a family man. In fact, I have never been married, and I never intend to be. Love is all very well in its way, but friendship is much higher. Indeed, I know of nothing in the world that is either nobler or rarer than a devoted friendship.”
“啊，我对做父母的心情可是一无所知，”水老鼠说道，“我不是个顾家的家伙。说实话，我从来没结过婚，也压根没打算结婚。爱情嘛，有它自己的用途，可友谊才更高尚。说真的，我觉得这世上没有什么东西比忠诚的友谊更高贵、更稀有了。”
“And what, pray, is your idea of the duties of a devoted friend?” asked a Green Linnet, who was sitting in a willow-tree hard by, and had overheard the conversation.
“请问，那你觉得，一个忠诚的朋友该尽哪些义务呢？”一只绿林莺开口问道。它正栖在附近一棵柳树上，刚巧把这番对话听了个一清二楚。
“Yes, that is just what I want to know,” said the Duck; and she swam away to the end of the pond, and stood upon her head, in order to give her children a good example.
“对啊，我也正想知道呢。”鸭子说道。说完，她游到池塘的另一头，在水中倒立起来，好给小鸭子们做个好榜样。
“What a silly question!” cried the Water-rat. “I should expect my devoted friend to be devoted to me, of course.”
“多傻的问题啊！”水老鼠叫道，“所谓忠诚的朋友，当然就是要对我忠诚啦！”
“And what would you do in return?” said the little bird, swinging upon a silver spray, and flapping his tiny wings.
“那你会做些什么来回报呢？”小鸟问道，一边在一枝银白色的柳枝上轻轻荡着身子，一边拍动着他那对小小的翅膀。
“I don’t understand you,” answered the Water-rat.
“我不明白你在说什么。”水老鼠回答道。
“Let me tell you a story on the subject,” said the Linnet.
“那我就给你讲个相关的故事吧。”绿林莺说道。
“Is the story about me?” asked the Water-rat. “If so, I will listen to it, for I am extremely fond of fiction.”
“是个关于我的故事吗？”水老鼠问道，“如果是的话，我就听听。我特别喜欢听故事。”
“It is applicable to you,” answered the Linnet; and he flew down, and alighting upon the bank, he told the story of The Devoted Friend.
“挺适合你的。”绿林莺回答道。说完，他飞落到河岸上，开始讲起了《忠诚的朋友》的故事。
“Once upon a time,” said the Linnet, “there was an honest little fellow named Hans.”
“从前，”绿林莺说道，“有个诚实的小伙子，名叫汉斯。”
“Was he very distinguished?” asked the Water-rat.
“他很有身份吗？”水老鼠问道。
“No,” answered the Linnet, “I don’t think he was distinguished at all, except for his kind heart, and his funny round good-humoured face. He lived in a tiny cottage all by himself, and every day he worked in his garden. In all the country-side there was no garden so lovely as his. Sweet-william grew there, and Gilly-flowers, and Shepherds’-purses, and Fair-maids of France. There were damask Roses, and yellow Roses, lilac Crocuses, and gold, purple Violets and white. Columbine and Ladysmock, Marjoram and Wild Basil, the Cowslip and the Flower-de-luce, the Daffodil and the Clove-Pink bloomed or blossomed in their proper order as the months went by, one flower taking another flower’s place, so that there were always beautiful things to look at, and pleasant odours to smell.
“没有，”绿林莺回答道，“我不觉得他有什么身份可言——除了他有一颗善良的心，还有那张又圆又可爱的笑脸。他一个人住在一间小小的茅屋里，每天都在园子里干活。整个乡下，没有哪一座花园比他的更美了。园子里种着甜威廉、十字花、牧羊人的钱包，还有法国姑娘花。大马士革玫瑰和黄色玫瑰、淡紫色番红花、金黄与紫色的紫罗兰、还有洁白的紫罗兰也都开得正艳。耧斗菜、淑女草、牛至和野罗勒、黄花九轮草、鸢尾、黄水仙和丁香石竹……一年四季，花开花谢，次第更替，永远都有美丽的景色可看，和清香的气息可闻。”
“Little Hans had a great many friends, but the most devoted friend of all was big Hugh the Miller.
小汉斯有许多朋友，但其中最“忠诚”的朋友，要数身材高大的磨坊主休。
Indeed, so devoted was the rich Miller to little Hans, that be would never go by his garden without leaning over the wall and plucking a large nosegay, or a handful of sweet herbs, or filling his pockets with plums and cherries if it was the fruit season.
说起来，这位富有的磨坊主对小汉斯可真是“忠诚”至极——他每次路过汉斯的花园，总要探过墙头，摘一大束花，或者抓一把香草；要是碰上果子季节，还得把兜儿塞满李子和樱桃才肯离去。
“‘Real friends should have everything in common,’ the Miller used to say, and little Hans nodded and smiled, and felt very proud of having a friend with such noble ideas.
“真正的朋友就该不分彼此，”磨坊主常常这么说。小汉斯便微笑点头，心里为有这样一位高尚的朋友而感到十分自豪。
“Sometimes, indeed, the neighbours thought it strange that the rich Miller never gave little Hans anything in return, though he had a hundred sacks of flour stored away in his mill, and six milch cows, and a large flock of woolly sheep; but Hans never troubled his head about these things, and nothing gave him greater pleasure than to listen to all the wonderful things the Miller used to say about the unselfishness of true friendship.
邻居们有时候也觉得奇怪：这位富有的磨坊主明明磨坊里囤着一百袋面粉，还有六头奶牛和一大群毛茸茸的绵羊，却从没回赠过小汉斯一点东西。但汉斯从来不为这些事操心。他最大的快乐，就是听磨坊主高谈阔论“真正的友谊都是无私的”。
“So little Hans worked away in his garden. During the spring, the summer, and the autumn he was very happy, but when the winter came, and he had no fruit or flowers to bring to the market, he suffered a good deal from cold and hunger, and often had to go to bed without any supper but a few dried pears or some hard nuts. In the winter, also, he was extremely lonely, as the Miller never came to see him then.
于是小汉斯继续在他的花园里辛勤劳作。春天、夏天和秋天，他过得很快乐；可一到冬天，既没果子也没花可以拿去集市换钱，他就常常受冻挨饿，晚上只能靠几片干梨或几颗硬果子裹腹，饿着肚子上床。冬天里他也特别孤单，因为磨坊主在这个时候从来不会来看他。
“‘There is no good in my going to see little Hans as long as the snow lasts,’ the Miller used to say to his wife, ‘for when people are in trouble they should be left alone, and not be bothered by visitors. That at least is my idea about friendship, and I am sure I am right. So I shall wait till the spring comes, and then I shall pay him a visit, and he will be able to give me a large basket of primroses and that will make him so happy.’
“下雪天我就不去看小汉斯了，”磨坊主常常对妻子说，“因为人有麻烦的时候，最好还是别去打扰他。这是我对友谊的看法，而且我敢肯定我是对的。所以我打算等春天再去看他——那时候他就能送我一大篮报春花，那样他一定会感到非常高兴的。”
“‘You are certainly very thoughtful about others,’ answered the Wife, as she sat in her comfortable armchair by the big pinewood fire; ‘very thoughtful indeed. It is quite a treat to hear you talk about friendship. I am sure the clergyman himself could not say such beautiful things as you do, though he does live in a three-storied house, and wear a gold ring on his little finger.’
“你真是太会为别人着想了，”妻子回答道，她正坐在松木大火炉旁那张舒适的扶手椅里，“实在是太会为人着想了。听你谈论友谊，真是一种享受。我敢说，就连牧师自己也说不出你这样动听的话来——尽管他住着三层楼的房子，小指头上还戴着金戒指。”
“‘But could we not ask little Hans up here?’ said the Miller’s youngest son. ‘If poor Hans is in trouble I will give him half my porridge, and show him my white rabbits.’
“可不可以请小汉斯来我们家？”磨坊主最小的儿子问道，“要是他过得很苦，我可以把我的粥分一半给他，还可以给他看我的白兔。”
“‘What a silly boy you are’! cried the Miller; ‘I really don’t know what is the use of sending you to school. You seem not to learn anything. Why, if little Hans came up here, and saw our warm fire, and our good supper, and our great cask of red wine, he might get envious, and envy is a most terrible thing, and would spoil anybody’s nature. I certainly will not allow Hans’ nature to be spoiled. I am his best friend, and I will always watch over him, and see that he is not led into any temptations. Besides, if Hans came here, he might ask me to let him have some flour on credit, and that I could not do. Flour is one thing, and friendship is another, and they should not be confused. Why, the words are spelt differently, and mean quite different things. Everybody can see that.’
“这孩子可真傻！”磨坊主叫道，“我真不知道送你去上学有什么用处，你好像什么都没学到。你想啊，要是小汉斯来了，看到我们家暖烘烘的火炉、丰盛的晚饭，还有那一大桶红葡萄酒，他可能会心生嫉妒。而嫉妒是一件可怕的事，会败坏一个人的性格。我当然不能让汉斯的性格被败坏。我是他最好的朋友，我一定会好好守护他，不让他受到任何诱惑。而且，要是他来了，没准还会想让我赊给他点面粉，那我可做不到。友谊归友谊，面粉归面粉，这两码事不能混为一谈。你看，那两个词拼写都不一样，意思也完全不同，这谁都看得出来。”
“‘How well you talk’! said the Miller’s Wife, pouring herself out a large glass of warm ale; ‘really I feel quite drowsy. It is just like being in church.’
“你说得真好！”磨坊主的妻子一边给自己倒了一大杯热乎乎的麦酒，一边说道，“我都觉得昏昏欲睡了，简直就跟在教堂里一样。”
“‘Lots of people act well,’ answered the Miller; ‘but very few people talk well, which shows that talking is much the more difficult thing of the two, and much the finer thing also’; and he looked sternly across the table at his little son, who felt so ashamed of himself that he hung his head down, and grew quite scarlet, and began to cry into his tea. However, he was so young that you must excuse him.
“会做事的人多的是，”磨坊主回答道，“可会说话的人却没几个，这就说明，说话比做事难多了，也高明多了。”
他说着，还严厉地瞪了桌子对面的小儿子一眼，小男孩羞愧得低下了头，满脸通红，眼泪都掉进了茶杯里。
However, he was so young that you must excuse him.”
不过，他年纪还小，我们得原谅他。
“Is that the end of the story?” asked the Water-rat.
“故事讲完了吗？”水老鼠问道。
“Certainly not,” answered the Linnet, “that is the beginning.”
“当然还没完，”绿林莺回答道，“这才刚开始。”
“Then you are quite behind the age,” said the Water-rat. “Every good story-teller nowadays starts with the end, and then goes on to the beginning, and concludes with the middle. That is the new method. I heard all about it the other day from a critic who was walking round the pond with a young man. He spoke of the matter at great length, and I am sure he must have been right, for he had blue spectacles and a bald head, and whenever the young man made any remark, he always answered ‘Pooh!’ But pray go on with your story. I like the Miller immensely. I have all kinds of beautiful sentiments myself, so there is a great sympathy between us.”
“那你可就太落伍了，”水老鼠说道，“现在讲故事的高手都是先讲结尾，再讲开头，最后讲中间。这才是新派讲法。我前几天听一个评论家跟一个年轻人在池塘边散步的时候讲了半天，他说得头头是道，我敢肯定他是对的——他戴着蓝色眼镜，脑袋也秃了，而且每当那年轻人开口说话，他就回答一句：‘呸！’不过你接着讲吧，我挺喜欢那个磨坊主的。我自己也有各种各样美好的情操，所以我跟他非常有共鸣。”
“Well,” said the Linnet, hopping now on one leg and now on the other, “as soon as the winter was over, and the primroses began to open their pale yellow stars, the Miller said to his wife that he would go down and see little Hans.
“好的，”绿林莺说道，一边单脚跳着，一会又换了另一只脚，“冬天一过，淡黄的报春花像星星一样绽开时，磨坊主就对妻子说，他要下去看看小汉斯。”
“‘Why, what a good heart you have’! cried his Wife; ‘you are always thinking of others. And mind you take the big basket with you for the flowers.’
“哎呀，你这人真是有爱心！”他妻子叫道，“你总是想着别人。别忘了带上那个大篮子去装花啊。”
“So the Miller tied the sails of the windmill together with a strong iron chain, and went down the hill with the basket on his arm.
于是，磨坊主用一根结实的铁链把风车的风帆绑了起来，然后挎着篮子下了山。
“‘Good morning, little Hans,’ said the Miller.
“早上好，小汉斯。”磨坊主说道。
“‘Good morning,’ said Hans, leaning on his spade, and smiling from ear to ear.
“早上好。”汉斯靠着铁锹笑得合不拢嘴。
“‘And how have you been all the winter?’ said the Miller.
“整个冬天过得怎么样啊？”磨坊主问道。
“‘Well, really,’ cried Hans, ‘it is very good of you to ask, very good indeed. I am afraid I had rather a hard time of it, but now the spring has come, and I am quite happy, and all my flowers are doing well.’
“哎呀，您还惦记着，真是太好了，真的。”汉斯一口气说道，“说实话，日子挺难熬的。不过现在春天来了，我挺开心的，花儿们也都长得不错。”
“‘We often talked of you during the winter, Hans,’ said the Miller, ‘and wondered how you were getting on.’
“我们整个冬天都在谈论你呢，汉斯，”磨坊主说道，“一直在想你过得怎么样。”
“‘That was kind of you,’ said Hans; ‘I was half afraid you had forgotten me.’
“你们能这样真是太好了。”汉斯说道，“我还真有点怕你们把我忘了。”
“‘Hans, I am surprised at you,’ said the Miller; ‘friendship never forgets. That is the wonderful thing about it, but I am afraid you don’t understand the poetry of life. How lovely your primroses are looking, by-the-bye”!
“汉斯，你这话让我很惊讶。”磨坊主说道，“真正的友谊就是永不忘怀——这正是它美妙之处。不过我怕你还不太懂得生活的诗意。对了，你的报春花开得可真漂亮！”
“‘They are certainly very lovely,’ said Hans, ‘and it is a most lucky thing for me that I have so many. I am going to bring them into the market and sell them to the Burgomaster’s daughter, and buy back my wheelbarrow with the money.’
“它们确实很漂亮，”汉斯说道，“我能有这么多花，真是太幸运了。我打算把它们拿到集市上去卖给市长的女儿，然后用赚的钱把我那辆独轮车买回来。”
“‘Buy back your wheelbarrow? You don’t mean to say you have sold it? What a very stupid thing to do’!
“把独轮车买回来？你该不会是把它卖了吧？哎呀，这可真是太蠢了！”
“‘Well, the fact is,’ said Hans, ‘that I was obliged to. You see the winter was a very bad time for me, and I really had no money at all to buy bread with. So I first sold the silver buttons off my Sunday coat, and then I sold my silver chain, and then I sold my big pipe, and at last I sold my wheelbarrow. But I am going to buy them all back again now.’
“其实，”汉斯说道，“我也是没办法。你知道，冬天对我来说太难熬了，实在是身无分文，连面包都买不起。我先把礼拜天穿的外套上的银扣子卖了，又卖了银表链，再后来把那支大烟斗也卖了，最后才把独轮车也卖了。不过我现在准备把它们都买回来。”
“‘Hans,’ said the Miller, ‘I will give you my wheelbarrow. It is not in very good repair; indeed, one side is gone, and there is something wrong with the wheel-spokes; but in spite of that I will give it to you. I know it is very generous of me, and a great many people would think me extremely foolish for parting with it, but I am not like the rest of the world. I think that generosity is the essence of friendship, and, besides, I have got a new wheelbarrow for myself. Yes, you may set your mind at ease, I will give you my wheelbarrow.
“汉斯，”磨坊主说道，“我把我的独轮车送给你。它的确很需要修修补补，有一边没了，轮子上的辐条也有点问题；不过尽管如此，我还是愿意送你。我知道我太慷慨了，很多人会觉得我傻到家了，居然舍得把它送出去，但我可不是一般人。我认为慷慨正是友谊的真谛。而且嘛，我自己已经有了一辆新的独轮车。你就放心吧，我一定会把这辆车送给你。”
“‘Well, really, that is generous of you,’ said little Hans, and his funny round face glowed all over with pleasure. ‘I can easily put it in repair, as I have a plank of wood in the house.’
“哎呀，你真是太慷慨了！”小汉斯说道，他那张可爱的圆脸发出了喜悦的光芒。“我自己很容易就能把它修好，我家里就有一块木板呢。”
“‘A plank of wood’! said the Miller; ‘why, that is just what I want for the roof of my barn. There is a very large hole in it, and the corn will all get damp if I don’t stop it up. How lucky you mentioned it! It is quite remarkable how one good action always breeds another. I have given you my wheelbarrow, and now you are going to give me your plank. Of course, the wheelbarrow is worth far more than the plank, but true, friendship never notices things like that. Pray get it at once, and I will set to work at my barn this very day.’
“一块木板？”磨坊主说，“哎呀，那正是我需要的！我的谷仓屋顶破了个大洞，要是不补上，谷物全得受潮。你居然提起这事，太巧了！真是了不起——一个人行善总会导致另一个人行善。我把独轮车送给你，你呢，就把木板送给我。当然了，独轮车的价值远远高过木板，但真正的友谊是不会计较这些的。你快把木板拿来吧，我今天就动手修谷仓。”
“‘Certainly,’ cried little Hans, and he ran into the shed and dragged the plank out.
“当然可以！”小汉斯喊道，然后跑进棚子，把那块木板拖了出来。
“‘It is not a very big plank,’ said the Miller, looking at it, ‘and I am afraid that after I have mended my barn-roof there won’t be any left for you to mend the wheelbarrow with; but, of course, that is not my fault. And now, as I have given you my wheelbarrow, I am sure you would like to give me some flowers in return. Here is the basket, and mind you fill it quite full.’
“这块板不算太大啊，”磨坊主看着说，“我看等我把谷仓屋顶补好，恐怕就没剩下的给你修独轮车了。不过，这可不能怪我。既然我已经把独轮车送给你，我想你也一定愿意送我些花作为回礼吧。这是篮子，记得一定要装得满满的。”
“‘Quite full?’ said little Hans, rather sorrowfully, for it was really a very big basket, and he knew that if he filled it he would have no flowers left for the market and he was very anxious to get his silver buttons back.
“装得满满的？”小汉斯有点难过地问道。因为那篮子实在太大了，他心里明白，如果真的装满，就一点花也剩不下可以拿去市场卖了，而他现在正着急想把银扣子赎回来。
“‘Well, really,’ answered the Miller, ‘as I have given you my wheelbarrow, I don’t think that it is much to ask you for a few flowers. I may be wrong, but I should have thought that friendship, true friendship, was quite free from selfishness of any kind.’
“哎呀，说真的，”磨坊主回答道，“我既然已经把独轮车送给你了，向你要点花也不算过分吧？我也许想错了，不过我一直以为，友谊——真正的友谊——应该是完全无私的。”
“‘My dear friend, my best friend,’ cried little Hans, ‘you are welcome to all the flowers in my garden. I would much sooner have your good opinion than my silver buttons, any day’; and he ran and plucked all his pretty primroses, and filled the Miller’s basket.
“亲爱的朋友，我最好的朋友！”小汉斯叫道，“我园子里的花你全拿去就是了。我宁可不要什么银扣子，只想得到你的好评。”说完，他跑去把那些漂亮的报春花都采了，装满了磨坊主的大篮子。
“‘Good-bye, little Hans,’ said the Miller, as he went up the hill with the plank on his shoulder, and the big basket in his hand.
“再见啦，小汉斯。”磨坊主一边扛着木板，一边提着大篮子上山去了。
“‘Good-bye,’ said little Hans, and he began to dig away quite merrily, he was so pleased about the wheelbarrow.
“再见！”小汉斯说道，然后又欢欢喜喜地开始翻地，因为他想到那辆独轮车，心里别提多高兴了。
“The next day he was nailing up some honeysuckle against the porch, when he heard the Miller’s voice calling to him from the road. So he jumped off the ladder, and ran down the garden, and looked over the wall.
第二天，小汉斯正爬在梯子上，把忍冬藤钉在门廊边，这时他听见磨坊主在路上喊他。他赶紧从梯子上跳下来，跑过花园，探头越过围墙望去。
“There was the Miller with a large sack of flour on his back.
只见磨坊主正背着一大袋面粉。
“‘Dear little Hans,’ said the Miller, ‘would you mind carrying this sack of flour for me to market?’
“亲爱的小汉斯，”磨坊主说道，“你介意帮我把这袋面粉扛去集市吗？”
“‘Oh, I am so sorry,’ said Hans, ‘but I am really very busy to-day. I have got all my creepers to nail up, and all my flowers to water, and all my grass to roll.’
“哎呀，真对不起，”汉斯说，“可我今天实在太忙了。我还得把藤蔓都钉好，给花儿浇水，草地也得翻一遍呢。”
“‘Well, really,’ said the Miller, ‘I think that, considering that I am going to give you my wheelbarrow, it is rather unfriendly of you to refuse.’
“哎呀，说真的，”磨坊主说，“考虑到我正打算把我的独轮车送给你，而你却拒绝我的请求，未免有点不够朋友吧。”
“‘Oh, don’t say that,’ cried little Hans, ‘I wouldn’t be unfriendly for the whole world’; and he ran in for his cap, and trudged off with the big sack on his shoulders.
“‘哎呀，你别这么说，’小汉斯叫道，‘就算给我全世界换你这个朋友，我也不肯换哪！我怎么会不够朋友呢？’”
说着，他赶紧跑回屋拿了顶帽子，又把那一大袋面粉扛上肩，吃力地上了路。
“It was a very hot day, and the road was terribly dusty, and before Hans had reached the sixth milestone he was so tired that he had to sit down and rest. However, he went on bravely, and as last he reached the market.
那天天气很热，路上尘土飞扬，小汉斯还没走到第六块路碑，就累得不得不坐下来歇一会儿。不过他还是咬牙坚持，最后总算到了集市。
After he had waited there some time, he sold the sack of flour for a very good price, and then he returned home at once, for he was afraid that if he stopped too late he might meet some robbers on the way.
他在那儿等了一会儿，终于把那袋面粉卖了个好价钱。然后他立刻赶路回家，因为他担心如果回得太晚，半路上可能会遇到强盗。
“‘It has certainly been a hard day,’ said little Hans to himself as he was going to bed, ‘but I am glad I did not refuse the Miller, for he is my best friend, and, besides, he is going to give me his wheelbarrow.’
“这一天可真够累的。”小汉斯上床时自言自语道，“不过我很高兴没有拒绝磨坊主的请求——毕竟他是我最好的朋友，而且他还打算把他的独轮车送给我呢。”
“Early the next morning the Miller came down to get the money for his sack of flour, but little Hans was so tired that he was still in bed.第二天一大早，磨坊主就下山来取他那袋面粉的钱，可小汉斯实在太累了，还在床上睡着。
“‘Upon my word,’ said the Miller, ‘you are very lazy. Really, considering that I am going to give you my wheelbarrow, I think you might work harder. Idleness is a great sin, and I certainly don’t like any of my friends to be idle or sluggish. You must not mind my speaking quite plainly to you. Of course I should not dream of doing so if I were not your friend. But what is the good of friendship if one cannot say exactly what one means? Anybody can say charming things and try to please and to flatter, but a true friend always says unpleasant things, and does not mind giving pain. Indeed, if he is a really true friend he prefers it, for he knows that then he is doing good.’
“我得说，”磨坊主说道，“你可真够懒的。说真的，考虑到我还打算把独轮车送给你，你就该更加勤快一点。懒惰可是大罪，我一点也不喜欢自己的朋友无所事事、懒洋洋的。你别介意我跟你说话太直接。当然，如果我不是你朋友，我才懒得说这些呢。但要是连真话都不能说，那还算什么友谊？随便谁都会说些动听话来讨好人、拍马屁，可是真正的朋友总会说些不中听的话，也不怕让人难受。的确，如果他是个真正的朋友，他就会宁可这样说，因为他知道这样才是真正为你好。”
“‘I am very sorry,’ said little Hans, rubbing his eyes and pulling off his night-cap, ‘but I was so tired that I thought I would lie in bed for a little time, and listen to the birds singing. Do you know that I always work better after hearing the birds sing?’
“真对不起，”小汉斯一边揉着眼睛一边摘下睡帽说，“我实是在太累了，就想多躺一会儿，听听鸟儿唱歌。你知道吗？听完鸟儿唱歌之后我干活儿总是更带劲。”
“‘Well, I am glad of that,’ said the Miller, clapping little Hans on the back, ‘for I want you to come up to the mill as soon as you are dressed, and mend my barn-roof for me.’
“那我就放心了，”磨坊主一边说着，一边拍了拍小汉斯的背，“因为我正好要你穿好衣服后赶紧到磨坊来，帮我修修谷仓的屋顶。”
“Poor little Hans was very anxious to go and work in his garden, for his flowers had not been watered for two days, but he did not like to refuse the Miller, as he was such a good friend to him.
可怜的小汉斯其实很想去干自家园子的活，因为他的花已经两天没浇水了。但他又不好意思拒绝磨坊主，毕竟人家可是他“这么好的朋友”。
“‘Do you think it would be unfriendly of me if I said I was busy?’ he inquired in a shy and timid voice.
“你说……我要是说我今天有点忙，会不会显得不够朋友啊？”他小声而胆怯地问道。
“‘Well, really,’ answered the Miller, ‘I do not think it is much to ask of you, considering that I am going to give you my wheelbarrow; but of course if you refuse I will go and do it myself.’
“哎呀，说真的，”磨坊主回答道，“我这个要求也不算过分吧，毕竟我可是打算把独轮车送给你的呀；不过当然啦，要是你不愿意，那我只好自己去修了。”
“‘Oh! on no account,’ cried little Hans and he jumped out of bed, and dressed himself, and went up to the barn.
“哦！那怎么行！”小汉斯叫道，随即跳下床，穿好衣服，赶去了谷仓。
“He worked there all day long, till sunset, and at sunset the Miller came to see how he was getting on.
他在那里干了一整天，直到日落。太阳快落山的时候，磨坊主来看他干得怎么样了。
“‘Have you mended the hole in the roof yet, little Hans?’ cried the Miller in a cheery voice.
“小汉斯，屋顶的洞补好了吗？”磨坊主用一副快活的口气喊道。
“‘It is quite mended,’ answered little Hans, coming down the ladder.
“补好了，”小汉斯一边回答，一边从梯子上爬下来。
“‘Ah’! said the Miller, ‘there is no work so delightful as the work one does for others.’
“啊！”磨坊主说道，“没有什么比替别人做事更让人开心的了。”
“‘It is certainly a great privilege to hear you talk,’ answered little Hans, sitting down, and wiping his forehead, ‘a very great privilege. But I am afraid I shall never have such beautiful ideas as you have.’
“听您讲话真是一种莫大的荣幸，”小汉斯一边坐下来擦着额头的汗一边说道，“实在是莫大的荣幸。可惜我恐怕永远也不会像您那样有那么高尚的想法。”
“‘Oh! they will come to you,’ said the Miller, ‘but you must take more pains. At present you have only the practice of friendship; some day you will have the theory also.’
“哦，你以后也会那样想的，”磨坊主说道，“不过你得多下点功夫。眼下你只是懂得朋友该做的事，将来你也会懂得友谊的真谛的。”
“‘Do you really think I shall?’ asked little Hans.
“你真的觉得我会懂得吗？”小汉斯问道。
“‘I have no doubt of it,’ answered the Miller, ‘but now that you have mended the roof, you had better go home and rest, for I want you to drive my sheep to the mountain to-morrow.’
“我一点也不怀疑，”磨坊主回答道，“不过你既然已经把屋顶修好了，现在还是回家休息一下吧，因为明天我想让你帮我把羊赶到山上去。”
“Poor little Hans was afraid to say anything to this, and early the next morning the Miller brought his sheep round to the cottage, and Hans started off with them to the mountain.
可怜的小汉斯不敢说什么。第二天一早，磨坊主就把羊赶到汉斯的小屋前，小汉斯便领着羊群上山去了。
It took him the whole day to get there and back; and when he returned he was so tired that he went off to sleep in his chair, and did not wake up till it was broad daylight.
他花了整整一天时间才把羊赶上山又带回来。回到家时他已经累得不行，瘫坐在椅子上就睡着了，一直到天大亮才醒来。
“‘What a delightful time I shall have in my garden,’ he said, and he went to work at once.
“今天终于能好好在花园里干活啦。”他说着，立刻动起手来。
“But somehow he was never able to look after his flowers at all, for his friend the Miller was always coming round and sending him off on long errands, or getting him to help at the mill. Little Hans was very much distressed at times, as he was afraid his flowers would think he had forgotten them, but he consoled himself by the reflection that the Miller was his best friend. ‘Besides,’ he used to say, ‘he is going to give me his wheelbarrow, and that is an act of pure generosity.’
但不知怎么的，他总是腾不出时间照料他的花草，因为那位磨坊主朋友总是过来，不是打发他跑远路办事，就是叫他去磨坊帮忙。小汉斯有时感到很苦恼，因为他担心那些花儿会以为他已经把它们忘了，但他还是自我安慰道，磨坊主毕竟是他最好的朋友。“再说了，”他常常这样说，“他可是要把独轮车送给我的，那完全是出于他的慷慨大方。”
“So little Hans worked away for the Miller, and the Miller said all kinds of beautiful things about friendship, which Hans took down in a note-book, and used to read over at night, for he was a very good scholar.
于是小汉斯一直在为磨坊主干活，而磨坊主则天天说些关于友谊的漂亮话。小汉斯把这些话一条条记在了自己的笔记本上，晚上还会翻出来读一读——他可是个用功的读书人。
“Now it happened that one evening little Hans was sitting by his fireside when a loud rap came at the door. It was a very wild night, and the wind was blowing and roaring round the house so terribly that at first he thought it was merely the storm. But a second rap came, and then a third, louder than any of the others.
有一天晚上，小汉斯正坐在炉火边，忽然听见门上传来一声急促的敲击声。那天晚上风雨交加，狂风在屋子四周呼啸怒吼，他起初还以为只是暴风雨的动静。但随即又响起第二声敲门声，紧接着是第三声，比前两下都还要响。
“‘It is some poor traveller,’ said little Hans to himself, and he ran to the door.
“肯定是哪位可怜的旅人吧，”小汉斯心想，便赶紧跑去开门。
“There stood the Miller with a lantern in one hand and a big stick in the other.
只见门外站着磨坊主，一手提着马灯，一手拿着一根大棍子。
“‘Dear little Hans,’ cried the Miller, ‘I am in great trouble. My little boy has fallen off a ladder and hurt himself, and I am going for the Doctor. But he lives so far away, and it is such a bad night, that it has just occurred to me that it would be much better if you went instead of me. You know I am going to give you my wheelbarrow, and so, it is only fair that you should do something for me in return.’
“亲爱的小汉斯，”磨坊主叫道，“我现在可有大麻烦了！我家小儿子从梯子上摔了下来受了伤，我得赶紧去请医生。可医生住得太远，又是这么恶劣的天气，所以我刚才一想，觉得还是你去一趟比较合适。你知道我打算把我的独轮车送给你，所以你帮我做点事也是应该的。”
“‘Certainly,’ cried little Hans, ‘I take it quite as a compliment your coming to me, and I will start off at once. But you must lend me your lantern, as the night is so dark that I am afraid I might fall into the ditch.’
“当然，当然！”小汉斯一口答应，“你能想到我，我真是太荣幸了。我这就出发。不过夜里太黑了，你得把你的马灯借给我，不然我怕会掉到沟里去。”
“‘I am very sorry,’ answered the Miller, ‘but it is my new lantern, and it would be a great loss to me if anything happened to it.’
“真是抱歉，”磨坊主回答说，“这是我新买的马灯，要是坏了我会心疼得受不了。”
“‘Well, never mind, I will do without it,’ cried little Hans, and he took down his great fur coat, and his warm scarlet cap, and tied a muffler round his throat, and started off.
“好吧，那我就不用了，”小汉斯说道。他取下大皮袄，戴上红呢帽，又围上一条围巾，就这样出发了。
“What a dreadful storm it was! The night was so black that little Hans could hardly see, and the wind was so strong that he could scarcely stand. However, he was very courageous, and after he had been walking about three hours, he arrived at the Doctor’s house, and knocked at the door.
天哪，那夜晚的暴风雨真是吓人极了！天黑得伸手不见五指，小汉斯几乎看不清路，风又大得他连站都站不稳。然而，他非常勇敢，走了大约三个小时后，终于抵达医生的住处，敲响了门。
“‘Who is there?’ cried the Doctor, putting his head out of his bedroom window.
“是谁？”医生把头伸出卧室的窗户喊道。
“‘Little Hans, Doctor.’
“是我，小汉斯，医生。”
“’What do you want, little Hans?’
“你找我有什么事，小汉斯？”
“‘The Miller’s son has fallen from a ladder, and has hurt himself, and the Miller wants you to come at once.’
“磨坊主的儿子从梯子上摔了下来，伤得很重，磨坊主让您马上去一趟。”
“‘All right!’ said the Doctor; and he ordered his horse, and his big boots, and his lantern, and came downstairs, and rode off in the direction of the Miller’s house, little Hans trudging behind him.
“好吧！”医生说道。他吩咐人牵来马，取来高筒靴和灯笼，随后下楼，骑马朝磨坊主家赶去，而小汉斯则一步步在后面艰难地跟着。
“But the storm grew worse and worse, and the rain fell in torrents, and little Hans could not see where he was going, or keep up with the horse.
可是，风暴越发猛烈，雨像泼的一样下个不停，小汉斯几乎看不清路，也根本跟不上马的步子。
At last he lost his way, and wandered off on the moor, which was a very dangerous place, as it was full of deep holes, and there poor little Hans was drowned. His body was found the next day by some goatherds, floating in a great pool of water, and was brought back by them to the cottage.
最后，他迷了路，误闯进了荒原。那地方险象环生，满是深坑。可怜的小汉斯就在那儿被淹死了。第二天，一些牧羊童在一个大水塘里发现了他的尸体，把他运回了他的小屋。
“Everybody went to little Hans’ funeral, as he was so popular, and the Miller was the chief mourner.
小汉斯的葬礼上来了许多人，因为大家都很喜欢他，而磨坊主则是“首席致哀人”。
“‘As I was his best friend,’ said the Miller, ‘it is only fair that I should have the best place’; so he walked at the head of the procession in a long black cloak, and every now and then he wiped his eyes with a big pocket-handkerchief.
“我是他最好的朋友，”磨坊主说，“我当然该走在最前头。”于是他披着一件长长的黑斗篷，走在送葬队伍的最前面，还不时拿出一块大手帕擦眼泪。
“‘Little Hans is certainly a great loss to every one,’ said the Blacksmith, when the funeral was over, and they were all seated comfortably in the inn, drinking spiced wine and eating sweet cakes.
“大家确实都很惋惜小汉斯的去世，”葬礼结束后，铁匠一边喝着香料酒、吃着甜饼，一边感叹道。
“‘A great loss to me at any rate,’ answered the Miller; ‘why, I had as good as given him my wheelbarrow, and now I really don’t know what to do with it. It is very much in my way at home, and it is in such bad repair that I could not get anything for it if I sold it. I will certainly take care not to give away anything again. One always suffers for being generous.’”
“对我来说，那可真是莫大损失，”磨坊主答道，“你想啊，我那小推车差不多已经算是送给他了。现在他倒没了，我这推车也不知道该拿它怎么办。在家里老是碍事，又破得厉害，拿去卖也没人买。我以后可得留神，绝不能随便再送什么东西出去。一个人要是太慷慨，最后总是要吃亏。”
“Well?” said the Water-rat, after a long pause.
“嗯？”沉默了许久之后，水老鼠开口说道。
“Well, that is the end,” said the Linnet.
“嗯，故事讲完了。”绿林莺说。
“But what became of the Miller?” asked the Water-rat.
“那磨坊主后来怎么样了？”水老鼠问。
“Oh! I really don’t know,” replied the Linnet; “and I am sure that I don’t care.”
“哦，这我可真不知道，”绿林莺回答，“而且我也一点儿不在乎。”
“It is quite evident then that you have no sympathy in your nature,” said the Water-rat.
“那你肯定是个一点同情心都没有的家伙。”水老鼠说。
“I am afraid you don’t quite see the moral of the story,” remarked the Linnet.
“恐怕你没理解这个故事的寓意。”绿林莺说道。
“The what?” screamed the Water-rat.
“故事的什么？”水老鼠尖叫起来。
“The moral.”
“故事的寓意。”
“Do you mean to say that the story has a moral?”
“你是说这个故事还有寓意？”
“Certainly,” said the Linnet.
“肯定有。”绿林莺说。
“Well, really,” said the Water-rat, in a very angry manner, “I think you should have told me that before you began. If you had done so, I certainly would not have listened to you; in fact, I should have said ‘Pooh,’ like the critic. However, I can say it now”; so he shouted out “Pooh” at the top of his voice, gave a whisk with his tail, and went back into his hole.
“哼，真是，”水老鼠气呼呼地说，“你早该在讲故事之前说清楚。要是你一开始就说了，我肯定不会听你讲下去。实际上，我当时就该像那位评论家一样，说一声‘呸’。不过现在说也不晚。”
于是他大声喊了声“呸”，甩了甩尾巴，转身钻回洞里去了。
“And how do you like the Water-rat?” asked the Duck, who came paddling up some minutes afterwards. “He has a great many good points, but for my own part I have a mother’s feelings, and I can never look at a confirmed bachelor without the tears coming into my eyes.”
“你怎么看那只水老鼠？”几分钟后，一只鸭子划水过来，问道。“他说的也有很多道理，不过就我这个充满母爱的人而言，每次看到一个坚定的独身主义者，我都忍不住想掉眼泪。”
“I am rather afraid that I have annoyed him,” answered the Linnet. “The fact is, that I told him a story with a moral.”
“我担心我惹他生气了，”绿林莺回答道，“说实话，我刚才给他讲了一个带有寓意的故事。”
“Ah! that is always a very dangerous thing to do,” said the Duck.
“唉，那可真是件危险的事啊，”鸭子说道。
And I quite agree with her.
我完全同意她的话。
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