星孩 The Star-Child

Once upon a time two poor Woodcutters were making their way home through a great pine-forest. It was winter, and a night of bitter cold. The snow lay thick upon the ground, and upon the branches of the trees: the frost kept snapping the little twigs on either side of them, as they passed: and when they came to the Mountain-Torrent she was hanging motionless in air, for the Ice-King had kissed her.

從前有兩個窮苦的樵夫正穿越一個大松林往家趕路。那是冬天的一個寒風刺骨的夜晚。地上鋪著厚厚的雪，樹枝上積壓著雪，在他們走過的時候，兩旁的小樹枝接連不斷地被霜折斷，他們來到山澗的瀑布前時，霜也一動不動地停在空中，因為冰雪之王已經(jīng)吻過她了。

So cold was it that even the animals and the birds did not know what to make of it.

這一夜實在是太冷了，就連鳥獸也不知道該怎么辦才好。

'Ugh!' snarled the Wolf as he limped through the brushwood with his tail between his legs, 'this is perfectly monstrous weather. Why doesn't the Government look to it?'

“噢!”狼一邊叫著，一邊夾著尾巴從灌木林叢一拐一敲地走出來，“這真是倒霉的天氣，政府為什么不想想辦法呢?”

'Weet! weet! weet! twittered the green Linnets, 'the old Earth is dead, and they have laid her out in her white shroud.'

“喔!喔!喔!”綠色梅花雀喳喳地叫道，“年邁的地球已經(jīng)死了，他們已經(jīng)用白壽衣把她給收殮了。”

'The Earth is going to be married, and this is her bridal dress,' whispered the Turtle-doves to each other. Their little pink feet were quite frost-bitten, but they felt that it was their duty to take a romantic view of the situation.

“地球要出嫁了，這是她的結婚禮服，”斑鳩們在一起彼此悄悄地說。他們的小紅腳都被凍壞了，不過他們覺得自己有責任用樂觀浪漫的看法看待這一切。

'Nonsense!' growled the Wolf. 'I tell you that it is all the fault of the Government, and if you don't believe me I shall eat you.' The Wolf had a thoroughly practical mind, and was never at a loss for a good argument.

“胡說!”狼咆哮著說。“我告訴你們這都是政府的過錯，如果你們不相信我的話，我會吃掉你們的。”狼有著完全務實的思想，他永遠都不會找不到好的論點的。

'Well, for my own part, said the Woodpecker, who was a born philosopher, 'I don't care an atomic theory for explanations. If a thing is so, it is so, and at present it is terribly cold.'

“唔，就我個人而言，”啄木鳥說，他是一個天生的哲學家，“我關心的不是用作解釋的原子理論。如果一件事是什么樣子，那么就本該如此，只是眼下實在是太冷了。”天氣的確是冷透了。住在高高杉樹上的小松鼠們互相摩擦著鼻子來取暖，野兔們在自己的洞中龜縮著身子，甚至不敢朝外而看上一眼。唯一好像歡喜這種天氣的只有大角鷗了。他們的羽毛讓白霜凍得硬邦邦的，不過他們并不在意，他們不停地轉(zhuǎn)動著他們那又大又黃的眼睛，隔著林子彼此呼喚著，“吐威特!吐威特!吐威特!吐威特!今天的氣候多么好呀!”

Terribly cold it certainly was. The little Squirrels, who lived inside the tall fir-tree, kept rubbing each other's noses to keep themselves warm, and the Rabbits curled themselves up in their holes, and did not venture even to look out of doors. The only people who seemed to enjoy it were the great horned Owls. Their feathers were quite stiff with rime, but they did not mind, and they rolled their large yellow eyes, and called out to each other across the forest, 'Tu-whit! Tu-whoo! Tu-whit! Tu-whoo! what delightful weather we are having!'

兩個樵夫繼續(xù)不停地往前趕著路，并起勁地朝自己的手指手上吹熱氣，腳上笨大的帶鐵釘?shù)难プ釉谘K上踏行著。有一次他們陷進了一個深深的雪坑里去，等他們出來的時候渾身上下白得就跟磨房的磨面師一樣，這時石頭也是很滑的;有一次他們在堅硬光滑的冰上跌倒了，這冰是沼地上的水結成的，他們身上的柴捆跌落了，他們只好拾起來，重新捆綁好;還有一次他們以為自己迷了路，心中害怕的不得了，因為他們深知雪對那些睡在她懷中的人是很殘酷的。不過他們信任那位好心的圣馬丁(司旅行之神)，他會照顧所有出門的人，于是他們又照來路退回，小心翼翼地邁著腳步，最后他們終于來到了森林的出口處，并看見下面山谷的遠處亮著他們所在村莊的燈光。

On and on went the two Woodcutters, blowing lustily upon their fingers, and stamping with their huge iron-shod boots upon the caked snow. Once they sank into a deep drift, and came out as white as millers are, when the stones are grinding; and once they slipped on the hard smooth ice where the marsh-water was frozen, and their faggots tell out of their bundles, and they had to pick them up and bind them together again; and once they thought that they had lost their way, and a great terror seized on them, for they knew that the Snow is cruel to those who sleep in her arms. But they put their trust in the good Saint Martin, who watches over all travellers, and retraced their steps, and went warily, and at last they reached the outskirts of the forest, and saw, far down in the valley beneath them, the lights of the village in which they dwelt.

發(fā)現(xiàn)自己已脫離了危境，他倆真是欣喜若狂，高興得大笑起來，大地在他們眼中就好像是一朵銀白色的鮮花，月亮如同一朵金花。

So overjoyed were they at their deliverance that they laughed aloud, and the Earth seemed to them like a flower of silver, and the Moon like a flower of gold.

然而笑過之后，他們又陷入了憂愁，因為他們想起了自己的窮困家境，一位樵夫?qū)α硪粋€人說，“我們?yōu)槭裁匆吲d呢，要知道生活是為有錢人準備的，不是為我們這樣的窮人?我們還不如凍死在森林中呢，或者讓什么野獸抓住我們把我咬死。”

Yet, after that they had laughed they became sad, for they remembered their poverty, and one of them said to the other, 'Why did we make merry, seeing that life is for the rich, and not for such as we are? Better that we had died of cold in the forest, or that some wild beast had fallen upon us and slain us.'

“真是如此，”他的伙伴回答說，“有些人享有的太多了，而另一些人卻得到的太少了。不公平已經(jīng)把世界給瓜分了，除了憂愁之外，沒有一件東西是公平分配的。”

'Truly,' answered his companion, much is given to some, and little is given to others. Injustice has parcelled out the world, nor is there equal division of aught save of sorrow.'

可是就在他們相互悲嘆各自的不幸生活時，一件奇怪的事情發(fā)生了。從天上掉下來一顆非常明亮，非常美麗的星。它經(jīng)過其它星星的身旁，從天邊滑落了下來，他們驚訝地望著它，在他們看來它似乎就落在小羊圈旁邊不到一箭之遙的一叢柳樹的后面。

But as they were bewailing their misery to each other this strange thing happened. There fell from heaven a very bright and beautiful star. It slipped down the side of the sky, passing by the other stars in its course, and, as they watched it wondering, it seemed to them to sink behind a clump of willow-trees that stood hard by a little sheep-fold no more than a stone's throw away.

“啊!誰要是找到它就可以得到一壇子黃金!”他們驚叫著，跑了出去，他們太想得到黃金了。

'Why! there is a crock of gold for whoever finds it,' they cried, and they set to and ran, so eager were they for the gold.

其中一人跑得快一些，他超過了同伴，奮力穿過柳樹叢，來到了樹的另一邊，呀!在雪地上的確躺著一個黃金樣的東西。他急忙趕過去，彎下身去用手去摸它，它是一件用金線織的斗篷，上面精心地繡著好多星星，并疊成了許多折子。他大聲地對自己的同伴說他已經(jīng)找到了從天上掉下來的財寶，等他的同伴走近時，他倆就在雪地上坐下來，把斗篷上的折子解開，準備把金子拿出來平分。但是，啊呀!里面沒有黃金，也沒有白銀，任何寶物都沒有，只有一個熟睡的孩子。

And one of them ran taster than his mate, and outstripped him, and forced his way through the willows, and came out on the other side, and lo! there was indeed a thing of gold lying on the white snow. So he hastened towards it, and stooping down placed his hands upon it, and it was a cloak of golden tissue, curiously wrought with stars, and wrapped in many folds. And he cried out to his comrade that he had found the treasure that had fallen from the sky, and when his comrade had come up, they sat them down in the snow, and loosened the folds of the cloak that they might divide the pieces of gold. But, alas! no gold was in it, nor silver, nor, indeed, treasure of any kind, but only a little child who was asleep.

其中一人對另外一人說，“我們的希望竟是這樣一個痛苦的結局，我們的運氣不會好了，一個孩子對一個人會有什么好處呢?讓我們離開這兒，走我們的路吧，要知道我們都是窮人，都有自己的孩子，我們不能把自己孩子的面包分給別人的。”

And one of them said to the other: 'This is a bitter ending to our hope, nor have we any good fortune, for what doth a child profit to a man? Let us leave it here, and go our way, seeing that we are poor men, and have children of our own whose bread we may not give to another.'

不過他的同伴卻回答他，“不，把孩子丟在這兒凍死在雪中是一件不好的事情，盡管我跟你一樣的窮，還要養(yǎng)活好幾口人，鍋里又沒有什么吃的東西，但是我還是要帶他回家，我的妻子會照顧他的。”

But his companion answered him: 'Nay, but it were an evil thing to leave the child to perish here in the snow, and though I am as poor as thou art, and have many mouths to feed, and but little in the pot, yet will I bring it home with me, and my wife shall have care of it.'

他非常慈愛地抱起小孩，用斗篷包住孩子以抵御嚴寒，然后就下山回村子里去了，他的同伴對他的傻氣和仁慈非常驚訝。

So very tenderly he took up the child, and wrapped the cloak around it to shield it from the harsh cold, and made his way down the hill to the village, his comrade marvelling much at his foolishness and softness of heart.

他們回到村里，他的同伴對他說，“你有了這個孩子，那么把斗篷給我吧，因為我們都知道這應該平分的。”

And when they came to the village, his comrade said to him, 'Thou hast the child, therefore give me the cloak, for it is meet that we should share.'

然而他回答說，“不，因為這個斗篷既不是你的，也不是我的，它是孩子一人的。”他與同伴道了別，來到自家的門前，敲了起來。

But he answered him: 'Nay, for the cloak is neither mine nor thine, but the child's only,' and he bade him Godspeed, and went to his own house and knocked.

他的妻子打開門，看見自己的丈夫平安回到她的身邊，她伸出雙臂摟住他的脖子，吻著他，并從他背后取下柴捆，刷去他靴子上的雪，吩咐他快進屋去。

And when his wife opened the door and saw that her husband had returned safe to her, she put her arms round his neck and kissed him, and took front his back the bundle of faggots, and brushed the snow off his boots, and bade him come in.

不過他對她說，“我在森林中找到一樣東西，我把他帶回來好讓你照顧他。”他站在門口并不進來。

But he said to her, 'I have found something in the forest, and I have brought it to thee to have care of it,' and he stirred not from the threshold.

“它是什么呀?”她大聲問道，“快給我看看，家里是空蕩蕩的，我們也需要好多東西。”他把斗篷向后拉開，把熟睡的孩子抱給她看。

'What is it?' she cried. 'Show it to me, for the house is bare, and we have need of many things.' And he drew the cloak back, and showed her the sleeping child.

“唉喲，我的天!”她喃喃地說，“難道我們自己的孩子還不夠多嗎?干嘛非要帶一個換來的孩子回家?誰知道他會不會給我們帶來厄運?我們又拿什么來喂他呢?”她對他生氣了。

'Alack, goodman!' she murmured, 'have we not children enough of our own, that thou must needs bring a changeling to sit by the hearth? And who knows if it will not bring us bad fortune? And how shall we tend it?' And she was wroth against him.

“不對呀，他可是一個星孩呀，”他回答說，他便把發(fā)現(xiàn)孩子的奇異經(jīng)歷講給她聽了。

'Nay, but it is a Star-Child,' he answered; and he told her the strange manner of the finding of it.

不過她一點也沒有消氣，而是挖苦他，氣憤地說道：“我們孩子都沒有面包吃，難道還要養(yǎng)別人的孩子嗎?誰又來照顧我們呢?誰又給我們食物吃呢?”

But she would not be appeased, but mocked at him, and spoke angrily, and cried: 'Our children lack bread, and shall we feed the child of another? Who is there who careth for us? And who giveth us food?'

“不要這樣，上帝連麻雀都要照顧的，上帝還養(yǎng)它們呢，”他回答說。

'Nay, but God careth for the sparrows even, and feedeth them,' he answered.

“麻雀在冬天不是常會餓死嗎?”她問道，“現(xiàn)在不就是冬天了嗎?”她丈夫無言以對，只是站在門口不進屋來。

'Do not the sparrows die of hunger in the winter?' she asked. And is it not winter now?' And the man answered nothing, but stirred not from the threshold.

一陣寒風從樹林刮來吹進了敞開的房門，她打了一個寒瀕，抖動起來，并對他說，“你不想把門關上嗎?屋里吹進一股寒風了，我覺得好冷。”

And a bitter wind from the forest came in through the open door, and made her tremble, and she shivered, and said to him: 'Wilt thou not close the door? There cometh a bitter wind into the house, and I am cold.'

“吹進鐵石心腸人家的風不會總是寒冷的吧?”他反問道。女人沒有回答他，只是朝爐火靠得更近了。

'Into a house where a heart is hard cometh there not always a bitter wind?' he asked. And the woman answered him nothing, but crept closer to the fire.

過了一會兒她轉(zhuǎn)過身來，望著他，她的眼里充滿了淚水。他一下子沖了進來，把孩子放在她懷中，她吻了吻孩子，又把他放在一張小床上面，那兒是他們家最小的孩子睡覺的地方。

And after a time she turned round and looked at him, and her eyes were full of tears. And he came in swiftly, and placed the child in her arms, and she kissed it, and laid it in a little bed where the youngest of their own children was lying. And on the morrow the Woodcutter took the curious cloak of gold and placed it in a great chest, and a chain of amber that was round the child's neck his wife took and set it in the chest also.

第二天樵夫取下那件珍奇的金斗篷，把它放在一個大柜子中，他妻子也從孩子脖子上取下戴著的琥珀項鏈，也放進了大柜中。

So the Star-Child was brought up with the children of the Woodcutter, and sat at the same board with them, and was their playmate. And every year he became more beautiful to look at, so that all those who dwelt in the village were filled with wonder, for, while they were swarthy and black-haired, he was white and delicate as sawn ivory, and his curls were like the rings of the daffodil. His lips, also, were like the petals of a red flower, and his eyes were like violets by a river of pure water, and his body like the narcissus of a field where the mower comes not.

就這樣，星孩跟樵夫的孩子一塊兒長大了，他們坐在一起吃飯，又一起玩耍。他長得一年比一年更英俊，住在村子里的人都為此而感到吃驚，因為別人都是黑皮膚，黑頭發(fā)，唯獨他一個人長得又白又嬌嫩，就像精細的象牙一樣，他的卷發(fā)如同水仙花的花環(huán)。他的嘴唇也像紅色的花瓣，他的雙眼猶如清水河旁的紫羅蘭，他的身材恰似田野中還沒有人來割過的水仙草。

Yet did his beauty work him evil. For he grew proud, and cruel, and selfish. The children of the Woodcutter, and the other children of the village, he despised, saying that they were of mean parentage, while he was noble, being sprung from a Star, and he made himself master over them, and called them his servants. No pity had he for the poor, or for those who were blind or maimed or in any way afflicted, but would cast stones at them and drive them forth on to the highway, and bid them beg their bread elsewhere, so that none save the outlaws came twice to that village to ask for aims. Indeed, he was as one enamoured of beauty, and would mock at the weakly and ill-favoured, and make jest of them; and himself he loved, and in summer, when the winds were still, he would lie by the well in the priest's orchard and look down at the marvel of his own face, and laugh for the pleasure he had in his fairness.

不過他的美貌卻給他帶來了壞運。因為他變得驕傲、殘酷和自私了。對于樵夫的兒女以及村子里的其他孩子們，他都一概瞧不起，并說他們出身低微，而他自己卻是高貴的，是從星星上蹦出來的，他自認是他們的主人，把他們都喚著是自己的奴隸。他一點也不同情窮人，也不憐憫那些瞎子、殘疾人以及任何有病苦的人，對待他們他反而扔石頭，或趕他們到公路上去，命令他們到別處去乞討，因此只有那些二流子才會第二次到那個村子去要求救濟。他也的確是迷戀美的，嘲弄那些孱弱和丑陋的人，不把他們當回事。對他自己卻是愛得要命，在夏季無風的時候，他會躺在神父果園中的水井旁，朝井中望著自己臉蛋的動人之處，并為自己的美麗而高興得笑起來。

Often did the Woodcutter and his wife chide him, and say: 'We did not deal with thee as thou dealest with those who are left desolate, and have none to succour them. Wherefore art thou so cruel to all who need pity?'

樵夫和他的妻子常常責備他，說：“我們并未像你對待那些孤苦的人那樣對待過你，你為什么會如此殘酷地對待那些需要同情的可憐人呢?”

Often did the old priest send for him, and seek to teach him the love of living things, saying to him: 'The fly is thy brother. Do it no harm. The wild birds that roam through the forest have their freedom. Snare them not for thy pleasure. God made the blind-worm and the mole, and each has its place. Who art thou to bring pain into God's world? Even the cattle of the field praise Him.'

老神父也經(jīng)常去找他，試圖教他學會一些對事物的愛心，便對他說：“飛蠅也是你的弟兄。不要去傷害它。那些在林中飛行的野鳥有它們自身的自由。不要以抓住它們來取樂。上帝創(chuàng)造了蛇蜥和鼴鼠，它們各自都有存在的價值。你是什么人，可以給上帝的世界帶來痛苦?就連在農(nóng)田中的生畜都知道贊美上帝。”

But the Star-Child heeded not their words, but would frown and flout, and go back to his companions, and lead them. And his companions followed him, for he was fair, and fleet of foot, and could dance, and pipe, and make music. And wherever the Star-Child led them they followed, and whatever the Star-Child bade them do, that did they. And when he pierced with a sharp reed the dim eyes of the mole, they laughed, and when he cast stones at the leper they laughed also. And in all things he ruled them, and they became hard of heart, even as he was.

可是星孩并不理睬他的話，他皺緊眉頭，一副很不高興的樣子，走回去找他的伙伴了，去領著他們玩。他的伙伴們也都跟隨著他，因為他長得美，且腳步輕快，能夠跳舞，還會吹笛和彈奏音樂，不論星孩領他們?nèi)ナ裁吹胤剑麄兌紩?，不論星孩吩咐他們做什么，他們都會去做。他把一根尖蘆葦刺進鼴鼠朦朧的眼睛里的時候，他們都開心地大笑，他用石頭扔麻瘋病人時，他們也跟著大笑。無論他支配他們?nèi)ジ墒裁?，他們都會變得跟他一樣的鐵石心腸。

Now there passed one day through the village a poor beggar-woman. Her garments were torn and ragged, and her feet were bleeding from the rough road on which she had travelled, and she was in very evil plight. And being weary she sat her down under a chestnut-tree to rest.

有一天，一個窮要飯的女人走過村子。她的衣服破破爛爛的，漫長的行程崎嶇的道路把她的雙腳弄得血淋淋的，她的模樣也十分狼狽。因為太疲倦了，她就坐在栗子樹下休息了。

But when the Star-Child saw her, he said to his companions, 'See! There sitteth a foul beggar-woman under that fair and green-leaved tree. Come, let us drive her hence, for she is ugly and ill-favoured.'

星孩看見她后，便對他的同伴們說，“快看!這么一個骯臟的討飯女人竟然坐在那棵美麗的綠葉子樹下面。來吧，我們把她趕走，她真是又丑又煩人。”

So he came near and threw stones at her, and mocked her, and she looked at him with terror in her eyes, nor did she move her gaze from him. And when the Woodcutter, who was cleaving logs in a haggard hard by, saw what the Star-Child was doing, he ran up and rebuked him, and said to him: 'Surely thou art hard of heart and knowest not mercy, for what evil has this poor woman done to thee that thou should'st treat her in this wise?'

于是他走了過去朝她扔石頭，嘲弄她，她用驚恐的眼光望著熔，一個勁地直直地望著他。樵夫正在附近的草料場里砍木頭，看見了星孩的所做所為，他便跑上前來責備他，并對他說：“你的心真是太狠了，沒有一點憐憫之心，這個可憐的女人對你做了什么壞事，你要如此地對待她呢?”

And the Star-Child grew red with anger, and stamped his foot upon the ground, and said, 'Who art thou to question me what I do? I am no son of thine to do thy bidding.'

星孩氣得一臉通紅，用腳猛跺著地面，并說道，“你是什么人敢來問我做什么?我不是你的兒子，不會聽你的話的。”

'Thou speakest truly,' answered the Woodcutter, 'yet did I show thee pity when I found thee in the forest.'

“你說的一點不假，”樵夫回答說，“但是當我在林中發(fā)現(xiàn)你時，我對你不也是動了憐憫之心的嗎?”

And when the woman heard these words she gave a loud cry, and fell into a swoon. And the Woodcutter carried her to his own house, and his wife had care of her, and when she rose up from the swoon into which she had fallen, they set meat and drink before her, and bade her have comfort.

女人聽到這些話后大叫了一聲就昏倒在地上了。樵夫把她抱進了自己的家中，他的妻子來照看她，等她從昏迷中醒過來之后，他們?yōu)樗脕砹顺缘暮秃鹊模⒎愿浪艑捫摹?/p>

But she would neither eat nor drink, but said to the Woodcutter, 'Didst thou not say that the child was found in the forest? And was it not ten years from this day?'

可是她既不肯吃，也不肯喝，只是對樵夫說，“你不是說那個孩子是從林中找到的嗎?是不是十年前今天的事了?”

And the Woodcutter answered, 'Yea, it was in the forest that I found him, and it is ten years from this day.'

樵夫回答說，“是呀，我是在林中發(fā)現(xiàn)他的，就是十年前的今天。”

'And what signs didst thou find with him?' she cried. 'Bare he not upon his neck a chain of amber? Was not round him a cloak of gold tissue broidered with stars?'

“發(fā)現(xiàn)他時有什么記號嗎?”她大聲問道，“他的脖子上是不是帶了一串琥珀項鏈?他的身上不是包了一件繡著星星的金線斗篷嗎?”

'Truly,' answered the Woodcutter, 'it was even as thou sayest.' And he took the cloak and the amber chain from the chest where they lay, and showed them to her.

“就是這樣，”樵夫回答說，“就跟你說的一模一樣。”他從柜子中拿出放在那兒的斗篷和琥珀項鏈，給她看。

And when she saw them she wept for joy, and said, 'He is my little son whom I lost in the forest. I pray thee send for him quickly, for in search of him have I wandered over the whole world.'

她一看見這些東西，高興地哭了起來，說道，“他就是我丟失在林中的小兒子。我求你快叫他來，為了尋找他，我已經(jīng)走遍了整個世界。”

So the Woodcutter and his wife went out and called to the Star-Child, and said to him, 'Go into the house, and there shalt thou find thy mother, who is waiting for thee.'

樵夫和他的妻子趕緊走出去，叫著星孩，并對他說，“快進屋里來，你會在那兒看見你的母親，她正等著你。”

So he ran in, filled with wonder and great gladness. But when he saw her who was waiting there, he laughed scornfully and said, 'Why, where is my mother? For I see none here but this vile beggar-woman.'

星孩充滿了驚奇和狂喜地跑進屋里。然而等他看見等他的人是她時，他便輕蔑地笑起來，說，“喂，我母親在什么地方?我怎么只看見這么個下賤的討飯女人。”

And the woman answered him, 'I am thy mother.'

女人回答說：“我是你的母親。”

'Thou art mad to say so,' cried the Star-Child angrily. 'I am no son of thine, for thou art a beggar, and ugly, and in rags. Therefore get thee hence, and let me see thy foul face no more.'

“你是瘋了才這么說的，”星孩憤憤地大聲暖道。“我不是你的兒子，因為你是一個乞丐，而且又丑又穿得破爛。所以你還是快滾吧，不要讓我再看見你這張討厭的臉。”

'Nay, but thou art indeed my little son, whom I bare in the forest,' she cried, and she fell on her knees, and held out her arms to him. 'The robbers stole thee from me, and left thee to die,' she murmured, 'but I recognized thee when I saw thee, and the signs also have I recognized, the cloak of golden tissue and the amber-chain. Therefore I pray thee come with me, for over the whole world have I wandered in search of thee. Come with me, my son, for I have need of thy love.'

“不，你可的確是我的小兒子呀，你是我在森林中生的。”她大聲喊道，說著一下子跪在地上，朝他伸出兩只胳膊。“強盜們把你從我身邊抱走，又把你扔在林里想讓你死，”她喃喃地說，“可是我一看見你，就認出了你，我還認得那些信物：全線織的斗篷和琥珀項鏈。因此我求你跟我走吧，我已經(jīng)走遍了整個世界，處處去尋找你。跟我走吧，我的兒，因為我需要你的愛。”

But the Star-Child stirred not from his place, but shut the doors of his heart against her, nor was there any sound heard save the sound of the woman weeping for pain.

不過星孩一動也不動一下，一點兒也不為她的話而動心，這時除了女人痛苦的哭聲外，別的什么也聽不到。

And at last he spoke to her, and his voice was hard and bitter. 'If in very truth thou art my mother,' he said, 'it had been better hadst thou stayed away, and not come here to bring me to shame, seeing that I thought I was the child of some Star and not a beggar's child, as thou tellest me that I am. Therefore get thee hence, and let me see thee no more.'

最后他終于對她說道，那聲調(diào)是非常生硬而殘酷的。“假若你真是我的母親，”他說，“那么你最后還是走得遠遠的，不要再到這兒來給我丟臉了，因為你知道我以為我是某個星球的孩子，而不是一個乞丐的孩子，就像你剛才對我講的那樣。所以你還是離開這兒吧，不要再讓我看見你。”

'Alas! my son,' she cried, 'wilt thou not kiss me before I go? For I have suffered much to find thee.'

“唉喲!我的兒子，”她大聲吼道，“在我離開之前你都不愿意吻我一下嗎?因為我經(jīng)歷了多少苦難才找到了你呀。”

'Nay,' said the Star-Child, 'but thou art too foul to look at and rather would I kiss the adder or the toad than thee.'

“不，”星孩說，“你可是太丑陋了呀，我寧愿去吻毒蛇，去吻蟾蜍，也不要吻你。”

So the woman rose up, and went away into the forest weeping bitterly, and when the Star-Child saw that she had gone, he was glad, and ran back to his playmates that he might play with them.

于是那女人便站起身來，傷心地哭泣著走回到森林中去了，星孩看見她走了，他很高興，便跑回到他的同伴那兒，準備去跟他們一塊兒玩。

But when they beheld him coming, they mocked him and said, 'Why, thou art as foul as the toad, and as loathsome as the adder. Get thee hence, for we will not suffer thee to play with us,' and they drave him out of the garden.

可是當他們看見他跑過來時，都紛紛嘲笑他說，“你怎么跟蟾蜍一樣丑陋，同毒蛇一樣可惡呢。你快滾開吧，因為我們不能忍受和你在一起玩，”于是他們把他趕出了花園。

And the Star-Child frowned and said to himself, 'What is this that they say to me? I will go to the well of water and look into it, and it shall tell me of my beauty.'

星行皺了皺眉頭，自言自語地說道，“他們對我講的究竟是什么呀?我要到水井邊去，去那兒看看自己，水井會告訴我我是多么地漂亮。”

So he went to the well of water and looked into it, and lo! his face was as the face of a toad, and his body was scaled like an adder. And he flung himself down on the grass and wept, and said to himself, 'Surely this has come upon me by reason of my sin. For I have denied my mother, and driven her away, and been proud, and cruel to her. Wherefore I will go and seek her through the whole world, nor will I rest till I have found her.'

他便來到了水井邊，朝井中望去，啊!他的臉就跟蟾蜍一模一樣，他的身子也像毒蛇一樣地長了解。他一下子撲倒在草地上，痛哭起來，并自言自語地說，“這一定是我的罪惡給我?guī)淼膱髴Ｒ驗槲也徽J我自己的母親，并趕走了她，對她又傲慢又殘酷。所以我要去，要走遍全世界去尋找她，不找到她我就不休息。”

And there came to him the little daughter of the Woodcutter, and she put her hand upon his shoulder and said, 'What doth it matter if thou hast lost thy comeliness? Stay with us, and I will not mock at thee.'

這時樵夫的小女兒朝他走了過來，她把手放在他的肩膀上，對他說，“你失去了美貌有什么關系?你還是跟我們呆在一起吧，我不會挖苦你的。”

And he said to her, 'Nay, but I have been cruel to my mother, and as a punishment has this evil been sent to me. Wherefore I must go hence, and wander through the world till I find her, and she give me her forgiveness.'

他對她說，“不，我對待我的母親太殘忍了，這種懲罰就是對我的惡行的報應。所以我得馬上就走，走遍全世界去尋找我的母親，直到找到她，得到她對我的寬恕。”

So he ran away into the forest and called out to his mother to come to him, but there was no answer. All day long he called to her, and when the sun set he lay down to sleep on a bed of leaves, and the birds and the animals fled from him, as they remembered his cruelty, and he was alone save for the toad that watched him, and the slow adder that crawled past.

所以他便朝森林跑去，呼喚著他的母親，叫她回到自己的身邊來，但是卻沒有一點回應。一整天他都在喚她，太陽下山時，他躺下來在樹葉鋪成的床上睡覺，鳥兒和野獸見到他也都紛紛逃開了，因為它們?nèi)匀挥浀盟臍埲蹋铝懔愕匾粋€呆著，只有蟾蜍會望望他，還有遲鈍的毒蛇在他面前爬過。

And in the morning he rose up, and plucked some bitter berries from the trees and ate them, and took his way through the great wood, weeping sorely. And of everything that he met he made enquiry if perchance they had seen his mother.

早晨他爬起身來，從樹上摘下幾個苦草梅吃，然后穿過大森林朝前走去，傷心地哭著。不論他遇到什么，他都要上前詢問，是否看見過他的母親。

He said to the Mole, 'Thou canst go beneath the earth. Tell me, is my mother there?'

他對鼴鼠說，“你能夠到地底下去，告訴我，我的母親在那兒嗎?”

And the Mole answered, 'Thou hast blinded mine eyes. How should I know?'

鼴卻回答說，“你已經(jīng)把我的眼睛弄瞎了。我又怎么會知道呢?”

He said to the Linnet, 'Thou canst fly over the tops of the tall trees, and canst see the whole world. Tell me, canst thou see my mother?'

他又對梅花雀說，“你可以飛越好高好高的樹頂，可以看見整個世界。告訴我，你能看見我的母親嗎?”

And the Linnet answered, 'Thou hast clipt my wings for thy pleasure. How should I fly?'

梅花雀卻回答說，“你為了取樂已經(jīng)剪掉了我的翅膀，我又怎么能飛起來呢?”

And to the little Squirrel who lived in the fir-tree, and was lonely, he said, 'Where is my mother?'

對那只孤零零只身住在杉樹上的小松鼠，他開口說道，“我的母親在什么地方?”

And the Squirrel answered, 'Thou hast slain mine. Dost thou seek to slay thine also?'

小松鼠回答說，“你已經(jīng)殺死了我的母親。難道你也想殺死你的母親嗎?”

And the Star-Child wept and bowed his head, and prayed forgiveness of God's things, and went on through the forest, seeking for the beggar-woman. And on the third day he came to the other side of the forest and went down into the plain.

星孩哭著，低下了頭，懇求上帝創(chuàng)造的這些生物們能夠?qū)捤∷⒗^續(xù)穿過森林前進了，尋找那位討飯的女人。到了第三天他走到了森林的盡頭，又來到了平原上。

And when he passed through the villages the children mocked him, and threw stones at him, and the carlots would not suffer him even to sleep in the byres lest he might bring mildew on the stored corn, so foul was he to look at, and their hired men drave him away, and there was none who had pity on him. Nor could he hear anywhere of the beggar-woman who was his mother, though for the space of three years he wandered over the world, and often seemed to see her on the road in front of him, and would call to her, and run after her till the sharp flints made his feet to bleed. But overtake her he could not, and those who dwelt by the way did ever deny that they had seen her, or any like to her, and they made sport of his sorrow.

他走過村子的時候，孩子們都嘲笑他，并朝他扔石頭，鄉(xiāng)下人甚至連谷倉都不愿讓他睡，因為他看上去是那么的臟，生怕他會把貯存的谷物給弄霉了，鄉(xiāng)下人雇用的看護人把他給趕走了，這里沒有一個人同情他。他也聽不到一點關于那個是他母親的討飯女人的消息，雖然三年來他走遍了世界各地去尋找他，可他卻似乎感到她就在他前面的路上走著，他常常呼喚著她，追趕著她，直到他的雙腳被尖硬的石塊磨出了血來。但是他始終也追不上她，而那些住在路邊的人都說他們沒有看見過她，或像她那樣的女人，他們都拿他的悲痛尋開心。

For the space of three years he wandered over the world, and in the world there was neither love nor loving-kindness nor charity for him, but it was even such a world as he had made for himself in the days of his great pride.

三年來他走遍了全世界，在這個世界上他既得不到愛，也得不到關心，更得不到仁愛，然而這種世界正是他從前得意的時候為自已制造的呀。

And one evening he came to the gate of a strong-walled city that stood by a river, and, weary and footsore though he was, he made to enter in. But the soldiers who stood on guard dropped their halberts across the entrance, and said roughly to him, 'What is thy business in the city?'

一天晚上他來到了一座圍墻堅固的城市的城門口，該城位于一條河邊，他又疲憊又忍著腳痛，但他還是進了城。然而守衛(wèi)在那兒的士兵們卻飲下載來攔住他，語氣粗暴地對他說：“你到城市里來干什么?”

'I am seeking for my mother,' he answered, 'and I pray ye to suffer me to pass, for it may be that she is in this city.'

“我在尋找我的母親，”他回答說，“我懇求你準許我進城去，也許她就在這個城里。”

But they mocked at him, and one of them wagged a black beard, and set down his shield and cried, 'Of a truth, thy mother will not be merry when she sees thee, for thou art more ill-favoured than the toad of the marsh, or the adder that crawls in the fen. Get thee gone. Get thee gone. Thy mother dwells not in this city.'

然而他們卻挖苦他，他們中的一人擺弄著自己的黑胡須，放下手中的盾牌，大聲吼道，“說實話，你母親看見你這個樣子，她一定不會高興的，因為你比沼澤地里的蟾蜍和那兒爬行的毒蛇還要令人惡心。快滾開，快滾開，你的母親沒有住在這座城里。”

And another, who held a yellow banner in his hand, said to him, 'Who is thy mother, and wherefore art thou seeking for her?'

另一個手中拿著一面黃旗的士兵，對他說，“誰是你的母親，你為什么要找她呢?”

And he answered, 'My mother is a beggar even as I am, and I have treated her evilly, and I pray ye to suffer me to pass that she may give me her forgiveness, if it be that she tarrieth in this city.' But they would not, and pricked him with their spears.

他回答說，“我母親跟我一樣也是個乞丐，我對待她很不好，我懇求你允許我進去吧，好讓她給予我寬恕，如果她真的住在這個城中的話。”不過他們?nèi)圆蛔屗M城，還用他們的長矛去刺他。

And, as he turned away weeping, one whose armour was inlaid with gilt flowers, and on whose helmet couched a lion that had wings, came up and made enquiry of the soldiers who it was who had sought entrance. And they said to him, 'It is a beggar and the child of a beggar, and we have driven him away.'

這樣，星孩只好哭著轉(zhuǎn)身走了，這時有一個人走了過來，這人穿著嵌有金花飾的鎧甲，頭盔上蹲著一頭有翅膀的雄獅，他詢問士兵是誰要求要進城來。士兵們回答說，“是個要飯的，他的母親也是個要飯的，我們已經(jīng)把他給趕走了。”

'Nay,' he cried, laughing, 'but we will sell the foul thing for a slave, and his price shall be the price of a bowl of sweet wine.'

“不要，”那人笑著大聲地說，“我們可以把這個丑家伙當奴隸賣掉的，他的身價可以值得上一碗甜酒的價錢。”

And an old and evil-visaged man who was passing by called out, and said, 'I will buy him for that price,' and, when he had paid the price, he took the Star-Child by the hand and led him into the city.

這時一個年長的相貌丑陋的人從旁經(jīng)過，他大聲說道，“我會出個價錢買下他，”等他付了錢后，就拉著星孩的手，帶著他進城去

And after that they had gone through many streets they came to a little door that was set in a wall that was covered with a pomegranate tree. And the old man touched the door with a ring of graved jasper and it opened, and they went down five steps of brass into a garden filled with black poppies and green jars of burnt clay. And the old man took then from his turban a scarf of figured silk, and bound with it the eyes of the Star-Child, and drave him in front of him. And when the scarf was taken off his eyes, the Star-Child found himself in a dungeon, that was lit by a lantern of horn.

他們走過好幾條街道，來到一扇小門口，這扇小門就開在行榴樹蔭下一堵墻的上面。老人用一只刻紋的碧玉戒指在小門上挨了一下，門就打開了，他們走下五級銅階，來到了一個長滿了黑色轄粟花的花園，那里有很多綠色的瓷瓦罐。老人從他的纏頭布上取下一條綢紋手帕，用它縛著星孩的眼睛，并趕著星孩在他前面走。等到把綢紋手帕從星孩雙眼上拿開時，星孩發(fā)現(xiàn)自己在一座地牢中，那兒點著一盞牛角燈。

And the old man set before him some mouldy bread on a trencher and said, 'Eat,' and some brackish water in a cup and said, 'Drink,' and when he had eaten and drunk, the old man went out, locking the door behind him and fastening it with an iron chain.

老人在星孩面前放上一個木盤裝著的發(fā)了霉的面包，并對他說，“吃吧，”還用一個杯子盛著有鹽味的水，又對他說，“喝吧，”等星孩吃喝完畢，老人便走出去，把門鎖上，還用一根鐵鏈把門加牢固。

And on the morrow the old man, who was indeed the subtlest of the magicians of Libya and had learned his art from one who dwelt in the tombs of the Nile, came in to him and frowned at him, and said, 'In a wood that is nigh to the gate of this city of Giaours there are three pieces of gold. One is of white gold, and another is of yellow gold, and the gold of the third one is red. To-day thou shalt bring me the piece of white gold, and if thou bringest it not back, I will beat thee with a hundred stripes. Get thee away quickly, and at sunset I will be waiting for thee at the door of the garden. See that thou bringest the white gold, or it shall go in with thee, for thou art my slave, and I have bought thee for the price of a bowl of sweet wine.' And he bound the eyes of the Star-Child with the scarf of figured silk, and led him through the house, and through the garden of poppies, and up the five steps of brass. And having opened the little door with his ring he set him in the street.

第二天老人又來見他，這位老人的確是利比亞魔術師中最能干的一人，他的本領是從住在尼羅河墳墓中的一位大師那兒學來的，老人皺著眉頭對他說，“在這座邪教徒的城市城門附近的一個森林中，有三塊金幣。一塊是白金的，另—塊是黃色的，第三塊金幣是紅色的。今天你要把白金的那塊給我拿回來，如果你拿不回來的話，我就要抽打你一百下。你快快去吧，在太陽落山的時候，我會在花園的門日等你。記住是把白金的拿回來，否則你會倒霉的，因為你是我的奴隸，我花了一碗甜酒的價錢把你買下來的。”他又用那塊綢紋手帕綁住星孩的雙眼，領著他走出了房子，穿過這座罌粟花的花園，走上五級銅階。他用戒指打開了那扇小門以后，便把星孩放在街上去了。

And the Star-Child went out of the gate of the city, and came to the wood of which the Magician had spoken to him.

于是星孩就走出了城門，來到魔術師告訴他的那個森林中。

Now this wood was very fair to look at from without, and seemed full of singing birds and of sweet-scented flowers, and the Star-Child entered it gladly. Yet did its beauty profit him little, for wherever he went harsh briars and thorns shot up from the ground and encompassed him, and evil nettles stung him, and the thistle pierced him with her daggers, so that he was in sore distress. Nor could he anywhere find the piece of white gold of which the Magician had spoken, though he sought for it from morn to noon, and from noon to sunset. And at sunset he set his face towards home, weeping bitterly, for he knew what fate was in store for him.

從外面看去，這個森林真是美麗無比，似乎處處都是鳥語花香的景象，星孩興奮地走了進去。然而森林的美并沒有給他帶來什么好處，因為不論他要去什么地方，地上都會冒出又粗又尖的荊刺，阻擋住他的去路，兇惡的蕁麻會刺他，薊也用尖刺來扎他，把他搞得疼痛難忍。而且到處也找不到魔術師說的那塊白金，盡管他從早上找到中午，又從中午尋找到日落。日落以后他只好轉(zhuǎn)身，一路哭著回去了，因為他明白有什么樣的命運在等待著他。

But when he had reached the outskirts of the wood, he heard front a thicket a cry as of someone in pain. And forgetting his own sorrow he ran back to the place, and saw there a little Hare caught in a trap that some hunter had set for it.

可是就在他來到森林邊緣時，他聽見了林中某個人的一聲痛苦的叫聲。他一下子忘記了自己的煩惱，朝那個地方跑去，他看見一只小兔子掉進了獵人設下的陷井里了，

And the Star-Child had pity on it, and released it, and said to it, 'I am myself but a slave, yet may I give thee thy freedom.'

星孩對它很同情，就把它給放了，并對它說，“我自己也才是個奴隸，不過，我可以把你自己還給你。”

And the Hare answered him, and said: 'Surely thou hast given me freedom, and what shall I give thee in return?'

兔子回答他說，“你的確給了我自己，我拿什么來回報你呢?”

And the Star-Child said to it, 'I am seeking for a piece of white gold, nor can I anywhere find it, and if I bring it not to my master he will beat me.'

星孩對它說，“我正在尋找一塊白金，可我哪兒也找不到它，如果我不能把它找回來給我的主人，他便會打我的。”

'Come thou with me,' said the Hare, 'and I will lead thee to it, for I know where it is hidden, and for what purpose.'

“你就跟我來吧，”兔子說，“我會帶你去的，因為我知道它藏在什么地方，而且為什么要藏在那兒。”

So the Star-Child went with the Hare, and lo! in the cleft of a great oak-tree he saw the piece of white gold that he was seeking. And he was filled with joy, and seized it, and said to the Hare, 'The service that I did to thee thou hast rendered back again many times over and the kindness that I showed thee thou hast repaid a hundredfold.'

于是星孩和兔子一起走了，啊!就在一棵老橡樹的裂縫中他看見自己要尋找的那塊白金。他興奮得不得了，并抓住了它，對兔子說，“你已經(jīng)加倍地回報了我為你做的那么一點點事情，我為你表示的小小的恩惠，你已經(jīng)一百倍地報答了我了。”

'Nay,' answered the Hare, 'but as thou dealt with me, so I did deal with thee,' and it ran away swiftly, and the Star-Child went towards the city.

“不是的，”兔子回答說，“只不過是我用你對待我的方式，回報了你罷了，”說完兔子就跑開了，星孩也朝城市走去了。

Now at the gate of the city there was seated one who was a leper. Over his face hung a cowl of grey linen, and through the eyelets his eyes gleamed like red coals. And when he saw the Star-Child coming, he struck upon a wooden bowl, and clattered his bell, and called out to him, and said, 'Give me a piece of money, or I must die of hunger. For they have thrust me out of the city, and there is no one who has pity on rite.'

在城市門口坐著一個麻瘋病人，他的臉上蓋著一塊綠麻布的頭巾，他那雙眼睛像燒紅的炭似地從麻布上的小眼洞里閃著光芒。等他看見星孩走了過來，便敲擊著一個木碗，并搖著他的鈴，呼喚著星孩，說道，“給我一個錢幣吧，否則我會餓死的。因為人們已經(jīng)把我趕出了城市，也沒有一個同情我。”

'Alas! cried the Star-Child, 'I have but one piece of money in my wallet, and if I bring it not to my master he will beat me for I am his slave.'

“唉呀!”星孩大聲嘆道，“我的錢包里只有一個錢幣呀，要是我不把它帶給我的主人，他就會打我，因為我是他的奴隸。”

But the leper entreated him, and prayed of him, till the Star-Child had pity, and gave him the piece of white gold.

不過麻瘋病人仍舊纏著他，懇求著他，后來星孩終于動了憐憫之心，把白金錢幣給了他。

And when he came to the Magician's house, the Magician opened to him, and brought him in, and said to him, 'Hast thou the piece of white gold?' And the Star-Child answered, 'I have it not.' So the Magician fell upon him, and beat him, and set before him an empty trencher, and said 'Eat,' and an empty cup, and said, 'Drink,' and flung him again into the dungeon.

等星孩回到魔術師的房間，魔術師為他打開門，讓他進了屋，對他說道，“你取到那塊白金錢幣嗎?”星孩卻回答說，“我沒有拿到。”于是魔術師一下子朝他撲來，擊打著他，并在他面前放了一個空木盤，對他說，“吃吧，”又給了他一個空杯子，說道，“喝吧，”然后又把他推到地牢中去了。

And on the morrow the Magician came to him, and said, 'If to-day thou bringest me not the piece of yellow gold, I will surely keep thee as my slave, and give thee three hundred stripes.'

第二天魔術師又來到他身邊，對他說，“如果你今天不能給我拿回那塊黃金錢幣，我一定要你繼續(xù)做我的奴隸，并抽打你三百下。”

So the Star-Child went to the wood, and all day long he searched for the piece of yellow gold, but nowhere could he find it. And at sunset he sat him down and began to weep, and as he was weeping there came to him the little Hare that he had rescued from the trap.

于是星孩又到森林中去了，一整天他都在森林中尋找那塊黃金錢幣，可是哪兒也找不到。日落時他便坐下來，開始哭了起來，就在哭的時候，小兔子又跑了來，就是他從陷井中救出來的那只小兔子。

And the Hare said to him, 'Why art thou weeping? And what dost thou seek in the wood?'

兔子對他說，“你為什么哭了?你又在林中尋找什么呢?”

And the Star-Child answered, 'I am seeking for a piece of yellow gold that is hidden here, and if I find it not my master will beat me, and keep me as a slave.'

星孩回答說，“我在尋找一塊黃金錢幣，它就藏在這兒，如果我不能把它帶回去的話，我的主人就會打我，并把我當作奴隸對待。”

'Follow me,' cried the Hare, and it ran through the wood till it came to a pool of water. And at the bottom of the pool the piece of yellow gold was lying.

“跟我來吧，”兔子大聲喊著，它穿過林子跑去，直到跑到一個水池旁。那塊金幣就躺在水池的底部。

'How shall I thank thee?' said the Star-Child, 'for lo! this is the second time that you have succoured me.'

“我不知如何感謝你?”星孩說，“對了，這已經(jīng)是你第二次救我了。”

'Nay, but thou hadst pity on me first,' said the Hare, and it ran away swiftly.

“不是的，因為是你首先對我表示了同情，”兔子說完，就飛快地跑走了。

And the Star-Child took the piece of yellow gold, and put it in his wallet, and hurried to the city. But the leper saw him coming, and ran to meet him and knelt down and cried, 'Give me a piece of money or I shall die of hunger.'

星孩拿到了那塊黃金錢幣，把它放在錢包中，匆匆地朝城市趕去?？墒悄莻€麻瘋病人看見他走了過來，就跑上來迎住他，跪倒在他的面前，哭著說，“給我一塊錢幣吧，否則我會給餓死的。”

And the Star-Child said to him, 'I have in my wallet but one piece of yellow gold, and if I bring it not to my master he will beat me and keep me as his slave.'

星孩對他說，“在我的錢包里，我只有一塊黃金錢幣，如果我不把它交給我的主人，他會打我，并讓我繼續(xù)當奴隸的。”

But the leper entreated him sore, so that the Star-Child had pity on him, and gave him the piece of yellow gold.

然而麻瘋病人卻仍舊苦苦地哀求，于是星孩又動了同情之心，把這一塊黃金錢幣又給了他。

And when he came to the Magician's house, the Magician opened to him, and brought him in, and said to him, 'Hast thou the piece of yellow gold?' And the Star-Child said to him, 'I have it not.' So the Magician fell upon him, and beat him, and loaded him with chains, and cast him again into the dungeon.

等他回到魔術師的屋中，魔術師為他開了門，讓他進來，對他說，“你拿到那塊黃金錢幣了嗎?”星孩便對他說，“我沒有拿到它，”魔術師一下子又朝他撲去，抽打著他，并用鏈條把他鎖上，然后把他扔進了地牢中去。

And on the morrow the Magician came to him, and said, 'If to-day thou bringest me the piece of red gold I will set thee free, but if thou bringest it not I will surely slay thee.'

第三天魔術師來到他身邊，對他說，“如果你今天把那塊紅色的金幣給我?guī)Щ貋淼脑?，我會放了你的，但是你若是帶不回來的話，我肯定會把你殺了的?rdquo;

So the Star-Child went to the wood, and all day long he searched for the piece of red gold, but nowhere could he find it. And at evening he sat him down, and wept, and as he was weeping there came to him the little Hare.

于是星孩又回到了森林中，一整天他都在尋覓那塊紅色的金塊，但是哪兒也找不到。到了晚上，他坐下身來，哭泣起來，就在他哭的時候，小兔子來到了他的面前。

And the Hare said to him, 'The piece of red gold that thou seekest is in the cavern that is behind thee. Therefore weep no more but be glad.'

兔子對他說，“你要找的那塊紅色的金幣就在你身后的那個山洞里。所以你不用再哭了，你應該高興才對。”

'How shall I reward thee,' cried the Star-Child, 'for lo! this is the third time thou hast succoured me.'

“我如何才能報答你呀，”星孩大聲說，“啊，這已是你第三次救我了。”

'Nay, but thou hadst pity on me first,' said the Hare, and it ran away swiftly.

“不是的，可你才是第一個同情我的人，”兔子說完，就匆匆地跑開了。

And the Star-Child entered the cavern, and in its farthest corner he found the piece of red gold. So he put it in his wallet, and hurried to the city. And the leper seeing him coming, stood in the centre of the road, and cried out, and said to him, 'Give me the piece of red money, or I must die,' and the Star-Child had pity on him again, and gave him the piece of red gold, saying, 'Thy need is greater than mine.' Yet was his heart heavy, for he knew what evil fate awaited him.

星孩進入了山洞中，在最里端的角落他發(fā)現(xiàn)了那塊紅色的金幣。于是他把它放進了錢包，急忙返回到城市。那個麻瘋病人看見他來了，就站在公路的中央，高聲痛哭起來，并對他說，“快給我那塊紅色的錢幣，否則我一定會死的，”星孩又一次同情了他，把那塊紅色的金幣給了他，說道，“你的需要比我大。”然而這時他的心情是沉重的，因為他清楚是什么樣的惡運在等待著他。

But lo! as he passed through the gate of the city, the guards bowed down and made obeisance to him, saying, 'How beautiful is our lord!' and a crowd of citizens followed him, and cried out, 'Surely there is none so beautiful in the whole world!' so that the Star-Child wept, and said to himself, 'They are mocking me, and making light of my misery.' And so large was the concourse of the people, that he lost the threads of his way, and found himself at last in a great square, in which there was a palace of a King.

可是啊!在他經(jīng)過城門口的時候，衛(wèi)兵們都向他鞠躬行禮，口中說道，“我們的皇上多么漂亮啊!”一群市民跟著他，高聲歡呼道，“整個世界的確沒有比他更漂亮的人了!”星孩卻哭了起來，同時對自己說，“他們又嘲笑我了，拿我的不幸尋開心。”人越聚越多，他在人群中迷了路，最后發(fā)現(xiàn)自己來到了一個巨大的廣場上，這兒正是國王的宮殿。

And the gate of the palace opened, and the priests and the high officers of the city ran forth to meet him, and they abased themselves before him, and said, 'Thou art our lord for whom we have been waiting, and the sort of our King.'

王宮的大門打開了，僧侶和大臣們都出來迎接他，他們對他鞠躬行禮，并說，“您就是我們正在恭候的皇上，您就是我國國王的兒子。”

And the Star-Child answered them and said, 'I am no king's son, but the child of a poor beggar-woman. And how say ye that I am beautiful, for I know that I am evil to look at?'

星孩回答他們說，“我不是國王的兒子，而是一個窮要飯的女人的兒子。你們?yōu)楹握f我漂亮?我知道我的長相有多丑。”

Then he, whose armour was inlaid with gilt flowers, and on whose helmet couched a lion that had wings, held up a shield, and cried, 'How saith my lord that he is not beautiful?'

這時，那位鎧甲上嵌著金花飾，頭盔上蹲著一頭有翅膀的雄獅的先生，手中舉著一面盾牌，大聲說道，“我的皇上怎么能說他自己不漂亮呢?”

And the Star-Child looked, and lo! his face was even as it had been, and his comeliness had come back to him, and he saw that in his eyes which he had not seen there before.

星孩舉頭望去，啊!他自己的險又跟從前一樣了，他的美貌又恢復如前了，而且他還看到自己的眼中有一種以前從未見過的東西。

And the priests and the high officers knelt down and said to him, 'It was prophesied of old that on this day should come he who was to rule over us. Therefore, let our lord take this crown and this sceptre, and be in his justice and mercy our King over us.'

僧侶和大臣們跪在他面前，對他說，“一個古老的預言曾經(jīng)說過，就在今天有—個人要來統(tǒng)治我們。所以，請我們的皇上接受這頂王冠和這根王杖，用他的公正和仁慈來統(tǒng)治我們吧。”

But he said to them, 'I am not worthy, for I have denied the mother who bare me, nor may I rest till I have found her, and known her forgiveness. Therefore, let me go, for I must wander again over the world, and may not tarry here, though ye bring me the crown and the sceptre.' And as he spake he turned his face from them towards the street that led to the gate of the city, and lo! amongst the crowd that pressed round the soldiers, he saw the beggar-woman who wqs his mother, and at her side stood the leper, who had sat by the road.

不過他卻對他們說，“我是不配的，因為我連自己的生母都不認，而且在沒有找到她之前，在沒有得到她寬恕之前，我是不會休息的。所以還是讓我走吧，因為我要再次走遍世界各地，我是不會留在這兒的，盡管你們要把王冠和王杖給我，也沒有用。”說完這番話后，他就轉(zhuǎn)過身去，朝著通向城門的街上走去，看啊，在士兵們周圍擠著的一群人中間，他看見了自己那位討飯的母親，在她的身旁站著那個麻瘋病人，他就站在大路中間。

And a cry of joy broke from his lips, and he ran over, and kneeling down he kissed the wounds on his mother's feet, and wet them with his tears. He bowed his head in the dust, and sobbing, as one whose heart might break, he said to her: 'Mother, I denied thee in the hour of my pride. Accept me in the hour of my humility. Mother, I gave thee hatred. Do thou give me love. Mother, I rejected thee. Receive thy child now.' But the beggar-woman answered him not a word.

他突然興奮地叫了起來，便跑過去，跪下身子，去吻他母親腳上的傷口，用自己的淚水去洗它們。他把頭垂在塵埃中，哭泣著，像一個心碎的人兒，他對她說，“母親，我在自己得意的時候沒有認你。而現(xiàn)在我卑微的時候你就收下我吧。母親，我曾恩將仇報，請把你的愛給我吧。母親，我拒絕過你，現(xiàn)在就請你收下你的孩子吧。”可是討飯的女人沒有回答他一個字。

And he reached out his hands, and clasped the white feet of the leper, and said to him: 'Thrice did I give thee of my mercy. Bid my mother speak to me once.' But the leper answered him not a word.

他又伸出雙手，抓住那個麻瘋病人的一雙蒼白的腳，對他說，“我曾三次同情過你。請叫我的母親對我說一句話。”可是麻瘋病人也不回答他一個字。

And he sobbed again, and said: 'Mother, my suffering is greater than I can bear. Give me thy forgiveness, and let me go back to the forest.' And the beggar-woman put her hand on his head, and said to him, 'Rise,' and the leper put his hand on his head, and said to him 'Rise,' also.

他又哭了起來，說，“母親，我的痛苦已經(jīng)大得讓我忍受不了啦。你就饒恕我吧，讓我回到森林中去。”討飯的女人把手放在他的頭上，并對他說，“起來吧，”麻瘋病人也把手放在他的頭上，說，“起來吧。”

And he rose up from his feet, and looked at them, and lo! they were a King and a Queen.

他站起身來，望著他們，啊!原來他們正是國王和王后。

And the Queen said to him, 'This is thy father whom thou hast succoured.'

王后對他說，“這是你的父親，你曾救過他。”

And the King said, 'This is thy mother, whose feet thou hast washed with thy tears.'

國王說，“這是你的母親，你用淚水洗過她的雙腳。”

And they fell on his neck and kissed him, and brought him into the palace, and clothed him in fair raiment, and set the crown upon his head, and the sceptre in his hand, and over the city that stood by the river he ruled, and was its lord. 'Much justice and mercy did he show to all, and the evil Magician he banished, and to the Woodcutter and his wife he sent many rich gifts, and to their children he gave high honour. Nor would he suffer any to be cruel to bird or beast, but taught love and loving-kindness and charity, and to the poor he gave bread, and to the naked he gave raiment, and there was peace and plenty in the land.

他們俯身摟住他的脖子，吻他，并帶他進王宮去了，給他穿上漂亮的衣服，并把王冠給他戴在頭上，把權杖放在他的手中，從此他統(tǒng)治著座落于河邊的這個城市，成為了它的主人。他對所有的人都表現(xiàn)出了極大的公正和仁慈，他趕走了那個邪惡的魔術師，并送了好多財寶給那個樵夫和他的妻子，并把無比的榮譽給了他們的兒女們。他不能容忍任何人虐待鳥獸，且用愛、仁慈和寬恕去教育入民，他把面包送給窮人，把衣服送給赤身露體的人，在這個王國里充滿了和平和繁榮。

Yet ruled he not long, so great had been his suffering, and so bitter the fire of his testing, for after the space of three years he died. And he who came after him ruled evilly.

然而他的統(tǒng)治時間并不長，因為他受的磨難太深了，遭遇的考驗太重了，三年過后，他就去世了。他的后繼者卻是一個非常壞的統(tǒng)治者。