现代大学英语精读1课文翻译

Half a Day

半日

Naguib Mahfouz

纳吉布·马哈福兹

I walked alongside my father, clutching his righthand. All my clothes were ne w: the black shoes, thegreen school uniform, and the red cap. They did not make me happy, however, as this was the day I wasto be thrown into school f or the first time.

我走在父亲的一侧，牢牢地抓着他的右手。我穿着一新:黑鞋子、绿校服、红帽子。然而我一点儿都高兴不起来，因为今天是我第一次被送去上学。

My mother stood at the window watching our progress, and I turned towards her from time totime, hoping she would help. We walked along a street lined with gardens and fields plantedwith crops, pears, and date palms.

母亲站在窗前，望着我们缓缓前行，我不时地回头看她，希望她会救我。我们沿着街道走着，街道两旁是花园和田野，田野里种了庄稼、梨树和椰枣树。

"Why school?" I asked my father. "What have I done?"

“我为什么要去上学？”我问父亲，“是我做错了什么吗? ”

"I'm not punishing you," he said, laughing.

"School's not a punishment. It's a place that makesuseful men out of boys. D on't you want to be useful like your brothers?"

“我不是在惩罚你，”父亲笑着说道，“上学不是一种惩罚。学校能把男孩子培养成有用的男人。难道你不想像你的哥哥们那样，成为一个有用的人吗？”

I was not convinced. I did not believe there was really any good to be had in tearing me awayfrom my home and throwing me into the huge, high-walled building.

我不以为然。我才不相信把我从家里拽出来，扔进那个巨大的、高墙围绕的建筑里会对我有什么真正的好处呢。

When we arrived at the gate we could see the courtyard, vast and full of bo ys and girls.

到了学校门口，我们看到宽阔的院子里站满了男女生。“自己进去吧，”我父亲说，

"Go in by yourself," said my father,

"and join them. Put a smile on your face and be a goodexample to others." “到他们当中去吧。笑一笑。给其他的孩子做个好榜样。”

I hesitated and clung to his hand, but he gently pushed me from him.

"Be a man," he said.

"Today you truly begin life. You'll find me waiting for you when it's time to lea ve."

我紧抓着父亲的手，犹豫不决。但是父亲却轻轻地把我推开了。“拿出点儿男子气概来。”他说，"从今天起你就要真正开始自己的生活了。放学时我会在这儿等你。”

I took a few steps. Then the faces of the boys andgirls came into view. I did n ot know a single one ofthem, and none of them knew me. I felt I was astrang er who had lost his way. But then some boysbegan to glance at me in curios ity, and one ofthem came over and asked, "Who brought you?"

我走了几步，便看见了一些孩子的面孔。他们我一个都不认识。他们也没有一个认识我。我感觉自己像是一个迷了路的陌生人。然而，这时有些男孩开始好奇地打量我，其中一个走过来问道：“谁带你来的？”

"My father," I whispered.

“我爸爸。”我小声说道。

"My father's dead," he said simply.

“我爸爸死了。”他简短地说。

I did not know what to say. The gate was now closed. Some of the children b urst into tears. The bell rang. A lady came along, followed by a group of men . The men began sorting us intoranks. We were formed into an intricate patt ern in the great courtyard surrounded by highbuildings; from each floor we were overlooked by a long balcony roofed in wood.

我不知道该说些什么。这时学校的大门已经关上了，有些孩子哭了起来。铃响了，一位女士走了过来，后面跟着一群男人。那些人把我们排成几行，使我们形成一个错综复杂的队形，站在那四周高楼耸立的院子里。每层楼都有长长的阳台，阳台上带有木制顶棚，从阳台上可以俯视到我们。

"This is your new home," said the woman.

"There are mothers and fathers here too. Everythingthat is enjoyable and be neficial is here. So dry your tears and face life joyfully."

“这是你们的新家，”那位女士说道，“这儿也有你们的父母。一切能带给你们快乐、对你们有益的事物，这儿都有。擦干你们的眼泪，快快乐乐地生活吧。”

Well, it seemed that my misgivings had had no basis. From the first moments I made manyfriends and fell in love with many girls. I had never imagined sc hool would have this rich variety of experiences.

这样看来我（之前）的顾虑都是毫无根据的了。从一开始我就结交了许多朋友，并且喜欢了许多女孩。我从未想过学校的生活会是如此的丰富多彩。

We played all sorts of games. In the music room wesang our first songs. We a lso had our firstintroduction to language. We saw a globe of theEarth, which r evolved and showed the variouscontinents and countries. We started learning numbers, and we were told the story of the Creatorof the universe. We ate d elicious food, took a littlenap, and woke up to go on with friendship and love, playing and learning.

我们玩了各种各样的游戏，在音乐室里我们唱了第一次学会的歌。我们第一次接触到了语言的学习。我们看见了一个地球仪，旋转它，便能看见世界上的各个大洲和国家的名称。我们开始学习数字，听老师讲上帝创世的故事。我们吃了美味的食物，小睡了一会儿，醒来后又继续在友谊和爱中嬉戏、学习。

Our path, however, was not totally sweet and unclouded. We had to be obser vant and patient. It was not all a matter of playing and fooling around. Rivalri es could bring about pain and hatred or give rise to fighting. And while the la dy would sometimes smile, she would often yell and scold. Even more frequen tly she would resort to physical punishment.

然而，校园生活并非全是甜蜜和阳光普照的。我们还必须遵守纪律，耐心听讲。学校生活也不光是嬉戏和闲荡。同学间的竞争还可能会带来痛苦、仇恨，甚至打斗。那位女士虽然有时面带微笑，但也经常会大声吼叫并责骂我们，更多的时候甚至会体罚我们。

In addition, the time for changing one's mind was over and gone and there was no question ofever returning to the paradise of home. Nothing lay ahead of us but exertion, struggle, and perseverance. Those who were able took a dvantage of the opportunities for success andhappiness that presented them selves.

另外，我们再也不能改变主意，再也不可能回到天堂一般的家里了。摆在我们面前的只有努力奋斗和坚持不懈。一旦机会来了，那些有能力的同学就会抓住它们去获取成功和幸福。The bell rang, announcing the passing of the day and the end of work. The chi ldren rushedtowards the gate, which was opened again. I said goodbye to frie nds and sweethearts andpassed through the gate. I looked around but found no trace of my father, who had promisedto be there.

铃响了，宣告着一天的学校生活结束了。孩子们冲向重新打开的大门。我向我的朋友和“小甜心”告了别，走出了校门。我四处张望却没发现父亲的踪影。他可是答应我会在这儿等我的。

I stepped aside to wait. When I had waited for a longtime in vain，

I decided to return home on my own. Iwalked a few steps, then came to a sta rtled halt. Good Lord! Where was the street lined with gardens? Where had it disappeared to? When did all these cars invade it? And when did all these peo ple come torest on the surface? How did these hills of rubbish find their way t o cover the sides? And where werethe fields that bordered it? High buildings h ad takenover, the street was full of children, and disturbing noises shook the air. Here and there stood conjurersshowing off their tricks or making snakes a ppear and disappear from baskets. Then there was a band announcing the op ening of a circus, with clowns and weight lifters walking in front.

于是我走到一边去等他。当我等了好久，他也没来的时候，我决定自己回家。我走了几步，却吃惊地站住了。我的天哪！那条两边都是花园的街道怎么不见了？消失到哪里去了？这些车辆是什么时候闯进来的？这些人又是什么时候来到街道上的？像小山似的垃圾又是怎样堆到街道两旁的？街道旁的田野又到哪儿去了？高楼林立，街道上挤满了孩子，闹声喧天。街头巷尾站着杂耍艺人,他们或玩着戏法，或是让蛇从篮子里出现或消失。接着，一个乐队奏起了音乐，宣布马戏表演的开始，小丑和举重大力士走在前面。

Good Lord! I was in a daze. My head spun. I almost went crazy. How could all this havehappened in half a day, between morning and sunset? I would find t he answer at home with myfather. But where was my home? I hurried toward s the crossroads, because I remembered thatI had to cross the street to reac h our house, but the stream of cars would not let up. Extremely irritated, I w ondered when I would be able to cross.

我的天！我一片茫然，头晕目眩，几乎快要疯了。从清晨到日落的这半天时间里，这一切是怎么发生的呢？或许回到家，父亲会告诉我答案的。但是，我的家又在哪里？我赶紧奔向十字路□，因为我记得要穿过那条街道才能到家，可是车流不息。我极为恼怒，不知何时才能穿过马路。

I stood there a long time, until the young boy employed at the ironing shop o n the corner cameup to me.

我久久地站在那里，直到在街角熨衣店里工作的小男孩向我走来。

He stretched out his arm and said, "Grandpa, let me take you across."

他伸出手臂说道：“爷爷，我扶您过马路吧。”

Making the Grade

取得好成绩

Varda One

瓦尔达·翁

In 1951, I was eighteen and traveling with all the money I had in the world-fif ty dollars. I wason a bus heading from Los Angeles to Berkeley. My dream of attending the university wascoming true. I'd already paid tuition for the sem ester and for one month at the co-op residence. After that, I had to furnish t he rest-my impoverished parents couldn't rescue me.

1951年，我18岁，带着我所有的钱--50美元去旅行。我坐在从洛杉矶开往伯克利的车上。我上大学的梦想即将实现。我已付了一学期的学费以及在合租公寓一个月的住宿费。除此之外，其余的费用都靠我承担，我贫困的父母帮不了我。

I'd been on my own as a live-in mother's helper since I was fifteen, leaving hi gh school at noonto care for children till midnight. All through high school and my first year of college, I'd longedto participate in extracurricular activitie s, but my job made that impossible. Now that I wastransferring to Berkeley, I hoped to earn a scholarship.

自从16岁起我就自食其力，以帮助住在雇主家的母亲，中午我离开我所念的高中，回家照顾孩子到半夜。整个高中以及大一期间，我就一直渴望参加课外活动，但是我的工作不允许。既然我转到伯克利来，我希望能获得奖学金。

That first week I found a waitress job, baby-sat and washed dishes at the coo p as part of myrent. At the end of the semester, I had the B average I neede d for a scholarship. All I had to dowas achieve the B average next term.

第一周我找了份服务生的工作,在合租公寓做临时保姆并洗碗碟以支付我的部分租金。学期结束的时候，我的平均成绩是B,这是申请奖学金所需要的成绩。我需要做的就是下学期也能拿到平均成绩B。

It didn't occur to me to take a snap course: I'd come to the university to learn something. Ibelieved I could excel academically and take tough subjects.

我从没想过选修容易（通过考试）的课程：我来这所学校是要学习东西的。我相信我在学业上出类拔萃，能够选修有难度的课程。

One such course was a survey of world literature. Itwas taught by Professor Sears Jayne, who roamedthe stage of a huge auditorium, wearing a micropho ne while lecturing to packed rows. Therewas no text. Instead, we used paper backs. Budgetwise，this made it easier since I could buythem as needed.

这门课程就是由教授希尔斯·杰恩所教的《世界文学概论》。他在诺大的会堂舞台上漫步，戴着麦克风给满座的学生演讲。没有课本。我们用平装本。在预算方面,这对我较为合适，因为我能买到需要的这些书。

I was fascinated with the concepts he presented. To many students, it was ju st a degreerequirement, but to me, it was a feast of exciting ideas. My co-op f riends who were also takingthe course asked for my help. We formed a study group, which I led.

我对他提出的概念入迷。对许多学生来说，这只是学历要求的，但对于我，这是扣人心弦的思想盛宴。一些同样选修这门课的同室朋友找我帮忙。我们就组成了一个学习小组，由我带头。

When I took the first exam-all essay questions-I was sure I'd done well. On th e ground floor, amid tables heaped with test booklets, I picked out mine. Ther e in red was my grade, a 77, C-plus. I was shocked. English was my best subj ect! To add insult to injury, I found that mystudymates had received Bs. The y thanked me for my coaching.

当我参加第一次考试（都是论述题）时，我确信自己考得很好。我从一楼堆满试卷册子的桌子上挑出我的试卷。那儿红笔写着我的分数，77,C+。我大吃一惊。英语可是我最擅长的科目啊。雪上加霜的是，我发现我的同学得了B。他们都因我对他们的辅导而感谢我。

I confronted the teaching assistant, who referred me to Professor Jayne, who listened to my impassioned arguments but remained unmoved.

我当面质问助教,他将我带到杰恩教授面前。杰恩教授听了我慷慨激昂的争辩后，仍不为所动。

I'd never questioned a teacher about a grade before-never had to. It didn't oc cur to me to plead my need for a scholarship; I wanted justice, not pity. I wa s convinced that my answersmerited a higher grade.

我以前从未质疑过一个老师所打的分数--也不需要这样做。我从未想过拿我对奖学金的需要作理由；我想要公平，而不是同情。我相信我的答案应获得更高的分数。

I resolved to try harder, although I didn't know whatthat meant because scho ol had always been easy forme. I'd used persistence in finding jobs orscrubb ing floors, but not in pushing myself intellectually. Although I chose challen ging courses, I was used to coasting toward As.

我决心更加努力，尽管我不知道那意味着什么，因为对我来说学习一直很容易。我在找工作或在擦地板时坚持不懈，但在督促自身学习进步方面没有做到这一点。尽管我选修了具有挑战性的课程，我习惯了不费力地拿到A。

I read the paperbacks more carefully, but my effortsyielded another 77. Again , C-plus for me and Bs and As for my pals, who thanked me profusely. Again, I returned to Dr.Jayne and questioned his judgment irreverently. Again, he li stenedpatiently, discussed the material with me, but wouldn't budge-the C-pl us stood. He seemedfascinated by my ardor in discussing the course ideas, b ut my dreams of a scholarship and extracurricular activities were fading fas t.

我更加认真地读了平装本书籍，但我的努力换来了另一个77。我再次得了C+,而我的朋友得了B或A。他们对我千恩万谢。我再次回到杰恩博士身边，毫不客气地质问他的评判标

准。他再次耐心地听，并与我讨论起资料，但却毫无回旋余地--C+岿然不动。他看起来对我有关课程思想的讨论有兴趣，但是我要获得奖学金和参加课外活动的梦想迅速消逝了。One more test before the final. One more chance to redeem myself. Yet anot her hurdle loomed. The last book we studied, T.S.Eliot's The Wasteland, was available only in hardback. Too expensive for my budget.

期末考试前的最后一次考试。这是提高成绩的又一个机会。然而另一个障碍隐约出现。我们最后学的一本书-T·S·艾略特的《荒原》--只有精装本。这对我来说太贵了。

I borrowed it from the library. However, I knew I needed my own book to an notate. I couldn'tafford a big library fine either.

我从图书馆里借了一本。然而，我知道我需要自己的书籍好做注解。我也付不起图书馆较多的罚金。

In 1951, there were no copying machines, so itseemed logical to haul out my trusty old Royal manual typewriter and start copying all 420 pages. In betw een waitressing, washing dishes, attendingclasses, baby-sitting, and tutoring the study group, Imanaged to pound them out.

1951年的时候还没有复印机，因此拉出我信赖的皇家老式打字机将420页全部复制下来的做法也是合情合理的。在做服务生、洗盘子、上课、照看婴儿以及辅导学习小组的间隙,我设法将这些文字敲打了出来。

I redoubled my efforts for this third exam. For thefirst time, I learned the me aning of the word "thorough". I'd never realized how hard otherstudents stru ggled for what came easily to me.

对于第三次考试我加倍地努力。第一次，我知道了"彻底"的含义。我以前从未意识到其他学生要付出多少努力才能达到我轻松获得的成绩。

My efforts did absolutely no good. Everything, down to the dreaded 77, went as before. Back Imarched into Dr.Jayne's office. I dragged out my dog-eared, note-blackened texts, arguing mypoints as I had done before. When I came t o the sheaf of papers that were my typed copy ofThe Wasteland, he asked, "What's this?""I had no money left to buy it, so I copied it." I didn'tthink this unusual. Improvising was routine for me.

我的努力完全付之东流。一切，乃至可怕的77,一如既往。我径直冲进杰恩博士的办公室。我拿出我那卷了角的、记着黑乎乎笔记的课本，像以前一样陈述起我的观点。当我拿出一捆纸张，即我打出的《荒原》的副本时，他问："这是什么？""我没有剩余的钱买这本书，因此我复制了一下。"我不认为这有什么特别的。我习惯了随机应变。

Something changed in Dr.Jayne's usually jovial face. He was quiet for a long time. Then wereturned to our regular lively debate on what these writers tru ly meant.

杰恩博士通常快乐的脸色有了一些改变。他沉默了许久。然后我们又回到我们通常进行的对这些作家真正意义的激烈辩论上。

When I left, I still had my third 77-definitely not a lucky number for me-and t he humiliation ofbeing a seminar leader, trailing far behind my ever-gratefu l students.The last hurdle was thefinal. No matter what grade I got, it would n't cancel three C-pluses. I might as well kiss thescholarship good-bye. Besid es, what was the use? I could cram till my eyes teared, and theresult would b e a crushing 77.

当我离开时，我仍然拿着我的第三个77分--这对我来说绝不是一个好数字--并且作为一个学习组的组长我蒙受着羞辱，（这成绩）远远落在那些对我感激涕零的学生后面。最后一道关是期末考试。不管我得多少分，都不会抵消3个C+。我也许只能与奖学金失之交臂了。并且，这又有何用？我可以为考试苦读，直至双眼流泪，但结果还会是凉彻心骨的77。

I skipped studying. I felt I knew the material as well as I ever would. Hadn't I reread the booksmany times and explained them to my buddies? Wasn't The Wasteland resounding in my brain? The night before the final, I treated mysel f to a movie.

我没有再学习。我觉得我对资料的理解像以往任何时候一样透彻。我不是已经重读过课本多次并向我的朋友解释过它们了吗？《荒原》不正在我的脑海里回响吗？期末考试的前一天晚上，我看了一场电影以慰劳一下自己。

I sauntered into the auditorium and decided that for once I'd have fun with a test. I maroonedall the writers we'd studied on an island and wrote a debate in which they argued theirpositions. It was silly, befitting my nothing-to-lose mood. The words flowed-all that sparring with Dr.Jayne made it effortless.

我从容地走进了会堂，决定仅此一次，享受一场考试。我把我们学过的所有作者都放逐到一个孤岛上，并记下了他们各抒己见的一场辩论会。这简直愚蠢至极，只能迎合我的输无可输的心情罢了。我文如泉涌--与杰恩博士的所有争论使这一切不费吹灰之力。

A week later, I strolled down to the ground floor (ground zero for me) and un earthed my testfrom the heaps of exams. There, in red ink on the blue cover, was an A. I couldn't believe myeyes.

一周后，我闲逛到了一楼（对我来说是零楼),从试卷堆里挖出了我的那一份。那儿,蓝色封皮上用红色墨水写着A。我简直不敢相信。

I hurried to Dr.Jayne's office. He seemed to be expecting me, although I didn' t have anappointment. I launched into righteous indignation. How come I r eceived a C-plus every timeI slaved and now, when I'd written a spoof, I earn ed an A?

我急忙跑向杰恩博士的办公室。他看起来正在期盼我的到来，尽管我没有预约过。我变得义愤填膺。为什么每次我埋头苦读只得到C+，而这次我写了一篇讽剌性文章却得到了A？"I knew that if I gave you the As you deserved, youwouldn't continue to wor k as hard." I stared at him, realizing that his analysis and strategy werecorr ect. I had worked my head off, as I had neverdone before. He rose and pulled a book from hiscrowded shelves.

"This is for you." It was a hardbackcopy of The Wasteland. On the flyleaf was aninscription to me. For once in my talkative life, Iwas speechless.

"我知道如果我给了你应得的A，你就不会这么努力了。"我注视着他，意识到他的分析和策略是对的。我一直在苦读，读得从来没有这样苦。他站起身从他塞满书的书架上取出一本书，"这是给你的。"那是一本精装版的《荒原》。扉页上的题字是送给我的。我有生以来头一次哑口无言了。

I was speechless again when my course grade arrived: A-plus. I believe it wa s the only A-plusgiven.

当我的课程成绩到我手上的时候我再一次哑口无言了，是A+。我想这是我得的唯一的A+。

Next year, when I received my scholarship, I co-wrote, acted, sang and dance d in an original musical comedy produced by the Associated Students. It pla yed in the largest auditorium tostanding-room-only houses.

第二年我拿到了奖学金，我在学生会制作的一个原创的音乐喜剧中与人合作创作、扮演角色、唱歌跳舞。该音乐剧在最大的会堂上演，会堂里座无虚席。

I reviewed theater for the Daily Cal, the student campus newspaper.

我为校园刊物《每曰加州》写戏剧评论。

I wrote a one-act play, among the first to debut at the new campus theater. 我写了一部独幕剧，它是第一批在学校的新剧院里上映的作品。

I acted in plays produced by the drama department.

我在戏剧学院制作的戏剧中扮演角色。

The creative spark that had been buried under dishes, diapers and drudgery now flamed intolife. I don't recall much of what I learned in those courses of long ago, but I'll never forget thefun I had writing and acting.

一直埋没于杯盘碟子、尿布和杂务之间的创作火花现在迸发出生命之光。虽然很久以前在那些课程里学到的许多东西我都想不起来，但我永远不会忘记我在写作和表演中获得的乐趣。And I've always remembered Dr.Jayne's lesson. Know that you have untappe d powers withinyou. That you must use them, even if you can get by without trying. That you alone must setyour own standard of excellence.

杰恩博士给我上的那一课，我一直铭记在心。知道你内心有未开发的力量。你必须利用它们，即使你不尝试它们也可以得到想要的东西。你自己必须设定一个优秀的标准。

The Boy and the Bank Officer

男孩和银行职员

Philip Ross

菲利普·罗斯

I have a friend who hates banks with a special passion.

"A bank is just a store—like a candy storeor a grocery store," he says.

"The only difference isthat a bank's goods happen to be money, which isyours in the first place. If banks were required to sellwallets and money belts, they might act less likechurches."

我有一位朋友特别讨厌银行。他说：“银行就是个商店，和糖果店或杂货店一样。唯一的区别就是银行的商品恰巧是钱。而这些钱本来就是你的。如果让银行卖钱包和钱夹。它们可能就不会像教堂那样神圣了。”

I began thinking about my friend the other day as I walked into a small, overl it branch officeon the West Side. I had come to open a checking account.

几天前，我走进位于纽约曼哈顿西区的一家支行时，想到了我的那位朋友。这家支行面积不大，灯火辉煌。我来是要开一个活期账户的。

It was lunchtime and the only officer on duty was a fortyish black man with s hort, pressed hair, a pencil mustache, and a neatly pressed brown suit. Ever ything about him suggested acarefully dressed authority.

当时正是午餐时间，银行只有一个职员值班。他是个40来岁的黑人，梳着短短的平头，留着一字胡，穿着一身整洁的熨烫过的棕色西装。他浑身上下都显示出他是个衣着讲究、有身份地位的人。

This officer was standing across a small counter from a young white boy who was wearing a V-neck sweater, khakis, and loafers. He had sandy hair, and I think I was especially aware of himbecause he looked more like a kid from a prep school than a customer in a West Side bank.

这位职员站在一个小柜台的前面，对面是一个白人小男孩，小男孩穿着一件V字领的毛衣，一条卡其布裤子和一双平底便鞋。他有一头浅棕色头发。我想我之所以特别注意他，是因为他看起来更像是一个来自预科学校的孩子，而不像是一家西区银行的客户。

The boy continued to hold my attention because of what happened next.

接下来发生的事让我继续关注那个男孩。

He was holding an open savings-account book and wearing an expression of o pen dismay. "ButI don't understand," he was saying to the officer.

"I opened the account myself, so why can't I withdraw any money?"

他拿着一张翻开的储蓄存折，神情沮丧失望。“但是我不明白，”他对那位职员说道，“我自己开的户，可为什么我不能取钱呢？”

"I've already explained to you," the officer told him,

"that a fourteen-year-old is not allowed to withdraw money without a letter f rom his parents."

“我已经向你解释过了，”那位职员对他说，"没有父母写的信函，一个14岁的孩子是不允许取钱的。”

"But that doesn't seem fair," the boy said, his voice breaking.

"It's my money. I put it in. It'smy account."

“但那听起来不公平，”那个男孩都语不成声了，“那是我的钱，是我存的，是我的账户。”"I know it is," the officer said,

"but those are the rules. Now if you'll excuse me."

“我知道，"那个职员说，"但那是银行的规定，请原谅。”

He turned to me with a smile. "May I help you, sir?"

他转向我，面带微笑地说：“先生,我能为您做点什么？"

I didn't think twice. "I was going to open a new account," I said,

"but after seeing what's goingon here, I think I've changed my mind."

我没多想。“我原来准备开个新账户，”我说，"但是看到了刚才发生的事,我想我已经改变主意了。”

"Excuse me?" he said.

“我不明白，请原谅。"他说。

"Look," I said.

"If I understand what's going on here correctly, what you're saying is that th isboy is old enough to deposit his money in your bank but he's not old enough to withdraw it. And since there doesn't seem to be any question as to whet

her it's his money or his account, the bank's so-called policy is clearly ridicul ous."

“哦，”我说，“如果我对刚刚发生的事理解正确的话，那么你是在说，按照这个男孩的年龄,他可以在你们银行存钱但不能取钱。既然是他的钱而且账户好像也没有任何问题，那么你们银行的所谓规定显然是荒唐可笑的。”

"It may seem ridiculous to you," he replied in a voice rising slightly in irrit ation,

"but that isthe bank's policy and I have no other alternative but to follow the rules."

“这在你看来也许荒谬,"他回答说，愤怒中他的嗓门稍微抬高了些，“但这是银行的规定，我别无选择,只能照章办事。”

The boy had stood hopefully next to me during this exchange, but now I was just as helpless. Suddenly I noticed that the open savings book he continue d to grasp showed a balance of about$100. It also showed that there had bee n a series of small deposits and withdrawals.

在我们的口舌交锋中，那个男孩满怀希望地站在我的旁边,但现在我也和他一样没招儿了。突然我发现，他始终抓在手中的那张翻开的存折上显示出大约有100美元的余额，同时还显示出一些小额账目的存取记录。

I had my opening.

我有机会了。

"Have you withdrawn money before by yourself?" I asked the boy.

“以前你自己取过钱吗？”我问那个男孩。

"Yes," he said.

“取过。”他说。

I moved in for the kill.

我抛出了杀手锏。

"How do you explain that?" I zeroed in on the officer.

"Why did you let him withdraw moneybefore, but not now?"

“你对此怎么解释？”我把矛头直接对准了那个职员，“为什么以前你让他取钱,而现在不行了呢？”

He looked annoyed.

"Because the tellers were not aware of his age before and now they are. It's r eally very simple."

他看起来被惹恼了。"因为以前出纳员没有意识到他的年龄，现在他们意识到了，就这么简单。”

I turned to the boy with a shrug. "You're really getting cheated," I said. "You ought to get yourparents to come in here and protest."

我耸了耸肩转向那个男孩。“你真的上当了，”我说，“你一定要让你父母到这儿来抗议。”The boy looked destroyed. Silently, he put his savings book in a rear-pocket a nd walked out ofthe bank.

那个男孩看来是被击垮了。一言不发地将存折放入后裤兜里，走出了银行。

The officer turned to me. "You know," he said,

"you really shouldn't have interfered."

那位职员转过来对我说:“你看，你真的不该干涉。”

"Shouldn't have interfered?" I shouted.

"Well, it damn well seemed to me that he neededsomeone to represent his int erests."

“不该干涉？"我喊道，“在我看来他真的需要有人来替他说话。”

"Someone was representing his interests," he said softly.

“有人为他着想。”他轻声地说。

"And who might that be?"

“那个人会是谁呢？”

"The bank."

“银行。”

I couldn't believe what this idiot was saying. "Look," I concluded,

"we're just wasting eachother's time. But maybe you'd like to explain exactly how the bank was representing that boy'sinterests?"

我真的不敢相信这个白痴会这么说。”听着，”我最后说道，“我们只是在浪费彼此的时间。但是也许你愿意详细地解释一下银行是如何为那个男孩着想的？”

"Certainly," he said.

"We were informed this morning that some neighborhood bully has beensha king this boy down for more than a month. The other guy was forcing him to t ake moneyout every week and hand it over. The poor kid was apparently too scared to tell anyone. That'sthe real reason he was so upset. He was afraid o f what the other guy would do to him. Anyway, the police are on the case and they'll probably make an arrest today."

“当然可以，”他说，“今天早上我们得到通知，说附近有个恶棍一个月以来一直在勒索这个小男孩。那家伙一直逼着他每周从银行取钱交给他。这个可怜的孩子显然吓得不敢跟任何人说。那才是他如此不安的真正原因。他害怕那个家伙会对他做出什么。不管怎样，警察正在着手办理这个案子，他们可能会在今天逮捕那个家伙。”

"You mean there is no rule about being too young to withdraw money from a savingsaccount?"

“你是说没有关于年龄太小而不能从储蓄账户上取钱的规定？”

"Not that I ever heard of. Now, sir, what can we do for you?"

“我从未听说过。先生，现在我们能为您做点什么？”

My Bank Account

我的银行账户

Stephen Leacock

史蒂芬·里考克

When I go into a bank I get frightened. The clerks frighten me; the desks f righten me; thesight of the money frightens me; everything frightens me.

我走进银行的时候，我感到恐惧。银行职员让我感到恐惧，银行的柜台桌子让我感到恐惧，看到钞票让我感到恐惧，所有的一切都让我感到恐惧。

The moment I pass through the doors of a bank and attempt to do business t here, I become an irresponsible fool.

我穿过银行那一道道大门准备去办理业务时，我就成了一个颠三倒四的傻瓜。

I knew this before, but my salary had been raised to fifty dollars a month and I felt that thebank was the only place for it.

这点我以前就知道，但是我的月薪已经涨到了50美元，我认为银行是唯一能存放这些钱的地方。

So I walked unsteadily in and looked round at the clerks with fear. I had an id ea that a personwho was about to open an account must necessarily consult the manager.

于是我摇摇晃晃地走了进去，提心吊胆地看着周围的职员们。我想到一个人要想开账户，就有必要咨询一下经理。

I went up to a place marked "Accountant". The accountant was a tall, cool d evil. The verysight of him frightened me. My voice sounded as if it came fro m the grave.

我向一个标有“会计”字样的地方走去，会计师是一个高大、冷酷的家伙。一看到他我就心惊胆颤，我的声音像是从坟墓里传出来一样。

"Can I see the manager?" I said, and added solemnly,

"alone." I don't know why I said "alone".

“我能见经理吗?”我问他，然后很严肃地加了一句“单独”。我不明白我为什么要说“单独”。"Certainly," said the accountant, and brought him.

“当然可以”会计师说完便找来了经理。

The manager was a calm, serious man. I held my fifty-six dollars, pressed I t ogether in a ball, in my pocket.

经理是一个镇定、严肃的人。我的手插在兜里，把56美元攥成一个纸团儿。

"Are you the manager?" I said. God knows I didn't doubt it.

“你是经理吗？”我说。其实我对此毫不怀疑。

"Yes," he said.

“是的。”他说。

"Can I see you," I asked,

"alone?" I didn't want tosay "alone" again, but without this word the question seemed useless.

“我能见你吗？”我问道，"单独？”我不想再说一遍“单独”了，但是没有这个词，这个问题似乎毫无意义。

The manager looked at me with some anxiety. Hefelt that I had a terrible sec ret to tell.

经理有些焦虑地看着我，他感觉我要告诉他一个可怕的秘密。

"Come in here," he said, and led the way to a privateroom. He turned the key in the lock.

“到这儿来。”他说。然后领我进了一个私人房间。他转动钥匙，锁上门。

"We are safe from interruption here," he said. "Sit down."

“在这儿没人会打扰我们，”他说，“请坐。”

We both sat down and looked at each other. I found no voice to speak.

我们两个都坐了下来，相互注视着对方，我紧张得说不出话来。

"You are one of Pinkerton's detectives, I suppose," he said.

“我猜，你是平克顿侦探事务所的私人侦探。”他说。

My mysterious manner had made him think that I was a detective. I knew what he wasthinking, and it made me worse.

我神秘的举止使他认为我是一个侦探。我知道他在想什么，这使我感觉更紧张。

"No，

not from Pinkerton's," I said, seeming to mean that I was from a rival agency .

“不，我不是平克顿侦探事务所的。”我说。这似乎暗示着我来自与之竞争的另一家机构。"To tell the truth," I went on, as if someone had urged me to tell lies about it, "I am not a detective at all. I have come to open an account. I intend to kee p all my money in this bank."

“说实话，”我继续讲，好像有人逼着我说假话似的，“我根本就不是一个侦探，我来是要开个账户。我打算把我所有的钱都存进这家银行。”

The manager looked relieved but still serious; he felt sure now that I was a v ery rich man, perhaps a son of Baron Rothschild.

经理看起来松了一口气，但仍然很严肃；他现在确定我是一个很有钱的人，或许是巴伦?罗特席尔德的后代。

"A large account, I suppose," he said.

“我猜是一个大户头。”他说。

"Fairly large," I whispered.

"I intend to place in thisbank the sum of fifty-six dollars now and fifty dollars a month regularly."

“相当大，”我低声说，“我打算现在在这家银行存56美元，然后每月定期存50美元。”The manager got up and opened the door. He calledto the accountant.

经理站起身打开门，他把会计师喊来了。

"Mr. Montgomery," he said, unkindly loud,

"thisgentleman is opening an account. He will place fifty-six dollars in it. Good morning."

“蒙哥马利先生，”他极不友善地大声说道，“这位先生打算开个户头，他要存入56美元。再见。”

I stood up.

我站了起来。

A big iron door stood open at the side of the room.

房间一侧的一扇大铁门敞开着。

"Good morning," I said, and walked into the safe.

“再见。”我说。然后走进了保险库。

"Come out," said the manager coldly, and showed me the other way.

“出来。”经理冷冷地说道，然后指给我另一个方向。

I went up to the accountant's position and pushed the ball of money at him wi th a quick, sudden movement as if I were doing a sort of trick.

我走到会计师窗口，迅速而又突然地把已揉成团的钞票推给他，好像在耍什么花样。

My face was terribly pale.

我的脸煞白。

"Here," I said, "put it in my account." The sound of my voice seemed to mean, "Let us do thispainful thing while we feel that we want to do it."

“这儿，”我说，“把它存入我的户头。”我的声音似乎在说“让我们赶紧结束这件让人痛苦的事情吧。”

He took the money and gave it to another clerk.

他拿起钱，递给了另一个职员。

He made me write the sum on a bit of paper and sign my name in a book. I n o longer knewwhat I was doing. The bank seemed to swim before my eyes.

他让我在一张小纸片上写下金额并在一个账簿上签名。我已经不知道自己在做什么，银行似乎在我眼前旋转起来。

"Is it in the account?" I asked in a hollow, shaking voice.

“存入账户了？”我用空洞发颤的声音问道。

"It is," said the accountant.

“是的。”会计师说。

"Then I want to draw a check."

“我要提取一张支票。”

My idea was to draw out six dollars of it for presentuse. Someone gave me a checkbook and someoneelse seemed to think that I was a man who ownedm illions of dollars, but was not feeling very well. Iwrote something on the chec k and pushed ittowards the clerk. He looked at it.

我是想取出6美元来应付目前的花销。有人给我一本支票簿，另外有人似乎认为我是一个百万富翁，但现在心情不好。我在支票上写了东西，把它推给了银行职员。他看了看。"What! Are you drawing it all out again?" he asked in surprise. Then I realized that I had writtenfifty-six dollars instead of six. I was too upset to reason no w. I had a feeling that it was impossible to explain the thing. All the clerks ha d stopped writing to look at me.

“什么！你又要全部取出？”他惊讶地问。然后我意识到我写的是56美元而不是6美元。我现在心烦意乱，无法思考了。我感觉我没办法解释清楚这件事。所有职员都停下笔来看我。Bold and careless in my misery, I made a decision.

痛苦中我鲁莽地做了一个决定。

"Yes, the whole thing."

“是的，所有的。”

"You wish to draw your money out of the bank?"

“你希望取出所有的钱？”

"Every cent of it."

“一分也不剩”

"Are you not going to put any more in the account?" said the clerk, astonish ed.

“你不打算再往账户里存钱了？”职员惊讶地问。

"Never."

“再也不了”

A foolish hope came to me that they might think something had insulted me while I was writingthe check and that I had changed my mind.

我愚蠢地希望他们也许认为我在填写支票时觉得受了侮辱而改变主意。

I made a miserable attempt to look like a man witha fearfully quick temper.

我痛苦地试着让自己看起来是个脾气非常急躁的人。

The clerk prepared to pay the money.

职员准备取钱给我。

"How will you have it?" he said.

“你想怎么取？”他问。

"What?"

“什么？”

"How will you have it?"

“你打算怎么取？”

"Oh" 一I understood his meaning and answered without even trying to think 一"in fifty-dollarnotes."

“哦”——我明白了他的意思，不假思索地脱口而出——“50美元的纸币。”

He gave me a fifty-dollar note.

他给了我50美元。

"And the six?" he asked coldly.

“那6美元呢？”他冷冷地问。

"In six dollar notes," I said.

“6美元的纸币。”我说。

He gave me six dollars and I rushed out.

他给了我6美元，我冲了出去。

As the big door swung behind me I heard the sound of a roar of laughter that went up to theroof of the bank. Since then I use a bank no more. I keep my money in my pocket and mysavings in silver dollars in a sock.

大门在身后摇摆着，我听到一阵哄堂大笑，直冲屋顶。从那时起，我再也没去过银行。我把钱放在衣兜里，攒的银币放在袜子里。

Message of the Land

土地的讯息

Pira Sudham

皮拉·萨德汉姆

Yes, these are our rice fields. They belonged to myparents and forefathers. Th e land is more than threecenturies old. I'm the only daughter in our familyand it was I who stayed with my parents till theydied. My three brothers moved o ut to their wives'houses when they got married. My husband movedinto our h ouse as is the way with us in Esarn. I wasthen eighteen and he was nineteen.

He gave me six children. Two died in infancy from sickness. The rest, two bo ys and two girls, went away as soon as we could afford to buy jeans for them. Our oldest son got a job as a gardener in a rich man's home in Bangkok but l ater anemployment agency sent him to a foreign land to work. My other son a lso went far away.

是的，这些都是我们的稻田。它们曾属于我的父母和祖辈。这片土地有三百多年的历史了。我是家里唯一的女孩。所以，我一直陪在父母身边直到他们去世。我的三个兄弟结婚后就都搬到他们妻子的家里了。按照我们伊萨恩的风俗，我丈夫住进了我们家。那时我18岁，他19岁。我们生了6个孩子，有两个孩子在襁褓中就病死了，剩下的两个男孩和两个女孩在我们能为他们买得起牛仔裤的时候,就离开了家。我的大儿子在曼谷的一个有钱人家里做园丁，后来一家劳务介绍所送他到国外干活去了。我的小儿子离家也很远。

One of our daughters is working in a textile factory in Bangkok, and the othe r has a job in astore. They come home to see us now and then, stay a few da ys, and then they are off again. Often they send some money to us and tell u s that they are doing well. I know this is notalways true. Sometimes, they get bullied and insulted, and it is like a knife piercing my heart. It's easier for my husband. He has ears which don't hear, a mouth which doesn't speak, andey es that don't see. He has always been patient and silent, minding his own life. 我们的一个女儿现在在曼谷的一家纺织厂上班，另一个女儿在一家商店里工作。她们偶尔回家来看看我们，待上几天就又走了。她们经常寄钱给我们并告诉我们她们过得很好。我知道这并不全是真的。有时，(当我知道)她们受欺负受侮辱时，我就心如刀割。而这一切对于我的丈夫来说就好过些，他有一对听不见的耳朵、一张不说话的嘴和一双看不见的眼睛。他总是不紧不慢，沉默寡言，过自个儿的日子。

All of them remain my children in spite of their long absence. Maybe it's fate that sent themaway from us. Our piece of land is small, and it is no longer fer tile, bleeding year after yearand, like us, getting old and exhausted. Still my husband and I work on this land. The soil is notdifficult to till when there is a lot of rain, but in a bad year, it's not only the ploughs that breakbut our heart s, too.

虽然孩子们长时间不在家，但他们始终是我的孩子，也许是命运让他们离开了我们。我们的这片土地很小，也不再肥沃，就像我们一样，一年年地被榨干了血，慢慢上了年纪，渐渐筋疲力竭了。而我和我的丈夫还是在这片土地上耕作。在雨水充足的年份，土地还不难耕种,可要是赶上干旱，干硬的土地不仅使我们的犁耙碎了，还让我们的心也碎了。

No, we two haven't changed much, but the village has. In what way? Only ten years ago, youcould barter for things, but now it's all cash. Years ago, you c ould ask your neighbors to helpbuild your house, reap the rice or dig a well. Now they'll do it only if you have money to paythem. Plastic things replace vi llage crafts. Men used to make things with bamboo pieces, butno longer. Plast ic bags litter the village. Shops have sprung up, filled with colorful plastic thin gs and goods we have no use for. The young go away to towns and cities leav ing us oldpeople to work on the land. They think differently, I know, saying th at the old are old-fashioned. All my life, I have never had to go to a hairdress er, or to paint my lips or nails. These rough fingers and toes are for working i n the mud of our rice fields, not for lookingpretty.

是的，我们两口子一直没怎么变，可是我们的村子却变了很多。怎么变了？就在十年前你还能以物易物，可现在就得用现金买东西了。几年前你还能喊你的邻居们帮着盖房子、割稻子或挖口井。但现在只有付钱给他们，他们才干。塑料制品代替了村里手工做的东西。过去男人们常常用好的竹蔑做东西，但现在已经不再做了。塑料袋扔得村里哪儿都是。村里还突然冒出了一些商店，里面摆满了五颜六色的塑料制品和对我们没什么用的东西。年轻人离开家去了城镇，留下我们这些上了年纪的人种田。我知道他们的想法和我们的不同，他们说我们岁数大的人跟不上时代。我活了这么大岁数，从没进过理发店，没涂过嘴唇，没涂过指甲。我这粗手粗脚是用来在稻田的泥地里干活的，而不是摆样子好看的。

Now young girls put on jeans, and look like boys andthey think it is fashiona ble. Why, they are willing to sell their pig or water buffalo just to be able tob uy a pair of jeans. In my day, if I were to put on apair of trousers like they d o now, lightning would strike me.

现在的年轻姑娘们穿上了牛仔裤，看着像小伙子，她们认为这是时髦。为什么，只为了能买条牛仔裤，她们宁愿卖掉猪或水牛。我年轻的时候要是穿上她们那样的裤子，准得遭雷劈。

I know, times have changed, but certain thingsshould not change. We should offer food to themonks every day, go to the temple regularly. Young people t end to leave these things to oldpeople now, and that's a shame.

我知道时代已经变了，但是有些东西是不该变的，我们还应该每天为僧人提供吃的，定期去寺庙上香。现在的年轻人往往把这些事留给上了岁数的人去做，这真是太不像话了。Why, only the other day I heard a boy shout and scream at his mother. If th at kind of thinghad happened when I was young, the whole village would hav e condemned such an ungratefulson, and his father would surely have given him a good beating.

对了，就在前些天，我听见一个小男孩朝着他的母亲大声喊叫。如果这件事发生在我小的时候，全村人都会责骂这个没良心的儿子，他的父亲准会狠狠地抽他一顿。

As for me, I wouldn't change, couldn't change even if I wanted to. Am I happ y or unhappy? This question has never occurred to me. Life simply goes on. Yes, this bag of bones dressed inrags can still plant and reap rice frpm morni ng till dusk. Disease, wounds, hardship and scarcity have always been part of my life. I don't complain.

至于我，是不会变了，就是我想变也是不可能了。我幸不幸福？我从来没想过这个问题。生活简简单单地过着。是的，我这把裹着破烂衣衫枯瘦如柴的老骨头还要从早到晚地在地里耕作。疾病、伤痛、艰难还有穷困始终伴随我的一生。我没有怨言。

The farmer: My wife is wrong. My eyes do see-they see more than they shoul d. My ears dohear-they hear more than is good for me. I don't talk about wha t I know because I know toomuch. I know for example, greed, anger, and lus t are the root of all evils.

农夫：我老伴错了。我的眼睛看得见--看到了许多它们所不应该看到的。我的耳朵也听得到--听到了许多它们不应该听到的。我没有将我所知道的说出来，因为我知道的太多了。我知道诸如贪婪、愤怒和欲望是一切邪恶的根源。

I am at peace with the land and the conditions of my life. But I feel a great pi ty for my wife. Ihave been forcing silence upon her all these years, yet she h as not once complained ofanything.

对于这片土地，对于我的生活境况我感到满足。但对于老伴，我觉得对不住她，这些年来我对她一直沉默寡言,而她从未抱怨过什么。

I wanted to have a lot of children and grandchildren around me but now cities and foreign landshave attracted my children away and it seems that none of them will ever come back to livehere again. To whom shall I give these rice fi elds when I die? For hundreds of years this strip ofland has belonged to our f amily. I know every inch of it. My children grew up on it, catchingfrogs and m ud crabs and gathering flowers. Still the land could not tie them down or call t hemback. When each of them has a pair of jeans, they are off like birds on th e wing.

我希望自己身边儿孙成群，但如今城里和国外的生活吸引着我的孩子们，让他们离开了我们，而且看来他们没有一个是会再回到这儿生活了。那我死后这些稻田留给谁呢？几百年来我们家一直拥有这片土地。我熟悉我的每一寸土地。我的孩子就是在这儿长大的，他们捉青蛙、逮泥螃蟹、采花朵。但这片土地还是没能拴住他们或是召回他们。当他们每人有了一条牛仔裤后，就像鸟儿一样飞走了。

Fortunately, my wife is still with me, and both of us are still strong. Wounds h eal over time. Sickness comes and goes, and we get back on our feet again. I never want to leave this land. It's nice to feel the wet earth as my fingers dig into the soil, planting rice, to hear my wifesighing,

"Old man, if I die first, I shall become a cloud to protect you from the sun." I t's goodto smell the scent of ripening rice in November. The soft cool breeze moves the sheaves, which ripple and shimmer like waves of gold. Yes, I love this land and I hope one of my childrencomes back one day to live, and gives me grandchildren so that I can pass on the land's secretmessages to them.

幸运的是，我老伴还在我身边，我们俩身体还很硬朗。伤口会随着时间愈合的。疾病来了又去，接着我们又能站起来。我从未想过要离开这片土地。我喜欢将我的手插进潮湿的泥地里栽稻子。我喜欢听我的老伴叹息地说"老头子，如果我先死了，我要变成一片云来为你遮太阳"。我喜欢闻11月份成熟的稻米散发的香味。凉爽的微风吹拂着水稻，水稻像金色的海浪一样起伏着。是的，我爱这片土地，我希望有一天有个孩子会回来生活，给我生几个孙子孙女，这样我就可以把这片土地的讯息传递给他们了。

The Son from America

子由美归来

Isaac Bashevis Singer

艾萨克·巴什维斯·辛格

The village of Lentshin was tiny. It was surrounded by fields and little huts wit h thatched roofs. In the fields, the owners planted vegetables or pastured thei r goats.

伦特欣是个很小的村庄。周围都是一些盖有茅草屋顶的小屋及田地。在田地里，主人们种菜或放羊。

In the smallest of these huts lived old Berl, a man in his eighties, and his wife Berlcha. Old Berlwas one of the Jews driven out of Russia who had settled in Poland. He was short, broad-shouldered, and had a small white beard, and in summer and winter he wore a sheepskin hat, apadded cotton jacket, and sto ut boots. He had a half acre of field, a cow, a goat, and chickens.

最小的那个棚屋里住着80多岁的老伯尔和他的老伴儿伯尔莎。老伯尔是那些被驱离俄国而后定居在波兰的犹太人中的一个。他个小肩宽，留着一小撮白胡子。不论冬夏，他都戴着一顶羊皮帽子，穿着一件棉夹克和一双厚实的靴子。他有半英亩土地、一头奶牛、一只山羊和一些鸡。

The couple had a son, Samuel, who had gone to America forty years ago. It w as said inLentshin that he became a millionaire there. Every month, the Lents hin letter carrier broughtold Berl a money order and a letter that no one could read because many of the words wereEnglish. How much money Samuel sen t his parents remained a secret. They never seemed touse the money. What f or? The garden, the cow, and the goat provided most of their needs.

这对夫妇有一个儿子叫塞缪尔，40年前去了美国。伦特欣的人都说他在那儿成了一个百万富翁。每个月伦特欣的邮差都会给老伯尔带来一张汇票和一封没人能读懂的信，因为里面有很多英语单词。塞缪尔给他父母寄了多少钱一直是个谜。他们似乎从不花这些钱。花它干什么？菜园、奶牛和山羊为他们提供了大部分的生活所需。

No one cared to know where Berl kept the money that his son sent him. The hut consisted ofone room, which contained all their belongings: the table, th e shelf for meat, the shelf formilk foods, the two beds, and the clay oven. S ometimes the chickens roosted in the woodshedand sometimes, when it was c old, in a coop near the oven. The goat, too, found shelter insidewhen the we ather was bad. The more prosperous villagers had kerosene lamps, but Berl a ndhis wife did not believe in new gadgets. Only for the Sabbath would Berlch a buy candles at thestore. In summer, the couple got up at sunrise and retire d with the chickens. In the long winterevenings, Berlcha spun flax and Berl s at beside her in the silence of those who enjoy theirrest.

没有人关心伯尔把他儿子寄给他的钱放在了哪儿。小屋只有一个房间，里面包含了他们所有的家当：桌子、肉架、放奶制品的架子、两张床和一个泥炉子。鸡有时把柴房当它们的窝，天冷时就进了火炉旁的鸡笼里。天不好时，山羊也躲进了屋里。条件好点的村民们已经有了煤油灯，但是伯尔和他的妻子不相信新玩意儿。只有在安息日，伯尔莎才去商店买些蜡烛。夏天时，天一亮老两口就起来了；到了晚上，鸡进笼了，他们也歇息了。在漫长的冬夜，伯尔莎纺麻，伯尔就坐在旁边，周围一片寂静，一切都安睡了。

Once in a while when Berl came home from the synagogue, he brought news to his wife. InWarsaw there were strikers who demanded that the czar abdic ate. Somebody by the name ofDr. Herzl had come up with the idea that Jews should settle again in Palestine. Berlcha listenedand shook her head. Her fac e was yellowish and wrinkled like a cabbage leaf. She was halfdeaf. Berl had t o repeat each word he said to her.

伯尔从教堂回来时，偶尔会给妻子带回些新消息。在华沙，有一些罢工工人要求沙皇退位。有一个叫赫茨尔的博士提出了犹太人应重新定居在巴勒斯坦的想法。伯尔莎一边听一边摇

头。她的脸色有点发黄，脸皱得像甘蓝叶。因为她的听觉不太好了，所以伯尔不得不向她重复说过的每一句话。

Here in Lentshin nothing happened except usualevents: a cow gave birth to a calf; a young couplegot married. Actually, Lentshin had become a villagewit h few young people. The young men left forZakroczym, for Warsaw, and som etimes for theUnited States. Like Samuel, they sent letters andphotographs in which the men wore top hats and thewomen fancy dresses.

在伦特欣这儿，除了日常琐事没有什么大事发生：一头母牛生了一头小牛，一对年轻人结婚了。实际上，在伦特欣这个村子里已经没有多少年轻人了。他们有去扎克罗钦姆的，有去华沙的，还有去美国的。他们像塞缪尔一样，往家里寄回了信和照片，照片上男人戴着高高的礼帽，女士穿着花哨的衣裙。

Berl and Berlcha also received such photographs. But their eyes were failing a nd neither he norshe had glasses. They could barely make out the pictures. S amuel had sons and daughters-andgrandchildren. Their names were so strang e that Berl and Berlcha could never remember them. But what difference do n ames make? America was on the other side of the ocean, at the edgeof the w orld. A Talmud teacher who came to Lentshin had said that Americans walked with theirheads down and their feet up. Berl and Berlcha could not grasp this . How was it possible? Butsince the teacher said so, it must be true.

伯尔和伯尔莎也收到过这样的照片。但是他们的眼神也慢慢不好了，都没眼镜，因此很难看清楚那些照片。塞缪尔已经有了儿女及孙子孙女。他们的名字非常奇怪，伯尔和伯尔莎一直记不住。但是名字有什么关系呢？美国在大洋的另一边,位于世界的边缘。一位到伦特欣来讲《塔木德经》的教师曾经说过美国人倒立着走路。伯尔和伯尔莎无法理解。这怎么可能呢？但是既然老师这么说，那一定是真的。

One Friday morning, when Berlcha was kneading the dough for the Sabbath l oaves, the dooropened and a nobleman entered. He was so tall that he had to bend down to get through thedoor.

一个星期五的早晨，伯尔莎正在揉面，准备做安息日要吃的面包，门开了，一个绅士走了进来。他个子很高，弯着腰才能进来。

He was followed by the coachman who carried two leather suitcases. In asto nishment, Berlcha raisedher eyes.

他身后跟着一个车夫，手提着两个皮箱。伯尔莎惊讶地抬起了双眼。

The nobleman looked around and said to thecoachman in Yiddish,"Here it is." He took out a silverruble and paid him. Then he said,"You can go now."

绅士四面看看，然后用意第绪语对车夫说道：“就是这儿。”他掏出一枚银卢布付给了车夫，说了句：“你可以走了。”

When the coachman closed the door, the noblemansaid, "Mother，

it's me, your son Samuel-Sam."

车夫关上门后，绅士说：“妈妈，是我，你的儿子塞缪尔--萨姆。”

Berlcha heard the words and her legs grew numb. The nobleman hugged her, kissed herforehead, both her cheeks, and Berlcha began to cackle like a hen, "My son!" At that momentBerl came in from the woodshed, his arms piled wit