第62章 老路灯 The Old Street Lamp（1/2）

《老路灯》，1847 年

the old Street Lap, 1847

你听说过那盏老路灯的故事吗？

did you ever hear the story of the old street p?

它并不是特别有趣，但偶尔你不妨也听听看。

It is not rearkably ig, but for on a way you ay as well listen to it.

它是一盏非常可敬的老路灯，已经服役了很多很多年，现在就要领退休金退休了。

It was a ost respectable old p, which had seen any, any years of service, and now was to retire with a pension.

就在今晚，它最后一次坚守岗位，为街道照明。

It was this eveng at its post for the st ti, givg light to the street.

它的心情有点像剧院里一位老舞蹈演员的心情，这位演员正在跳最后一支舞，并且知道明天自己就会待在阁楼里，孤独又被人遗忘。

his feelgs were sothg like those of an old da the theatre, who is dang for the st ti, and knows that on the orrow she will beher garret, alone and fotten.

这盏路灯对第二天非常担忧，因为它知道自己得第一次到市政厅去，接受市长和市议会的检查，他们要决定它是否还适合继续服役；—— 也就是这盏路灯是否好到足以用来为郊区居民照明，或者在乡下某个工厂照明；如果不行，它就会立刻被送到一家铸铁厂去熔化掉。

the p had very great ay about theday, for he khat he had to appear for the first ti at the town hall, to be ied by the ayor and the cil, who were to decide if he were fit for further service or not; — whether the p was good enough to be ed to light the habitants of one of the suburbs, orthe try, at so factory; and if not, it would be taken at oo an iron foundry, to be lted down.

要是后一种情况发生，它可能会被变成任何东西，它非常想知道到时候自己是否还能记得曾经是一盏路灯，这让它极为苦恼。

In this tter case it ight be turo anythg, and he wondered very uch whether he would then be able to reber that he had once been a street p, and it troubled hi exceedgly.

不管会发生什么，有一件事似乎是确定的，那就是它会和那个守夜人以及他的妻子分开，它把他们一家当作自己的亲人。

whatever ight happen, ohg seed certa, that he would be separated fro the wat and his wife, whose faily he looked upon as his own.

这盏路灯最初被挂起来的那个晚上，那个守夜人当时还是一个身强力壮的年轻人，刚刚开始履行他的职责。

the p had first been hung up on that very eveng that the wat, then a robt young an, had entered upoies of his office.

啊，是啊，从一个人变成守夜人，另一个变成路灯，那已经是很久以前的事了。

Ah, well, it was a very long ti se beca a p and the other a wat.

那时他妻子有点傲气；除了晚上路过时，她很少屈尊看一眼路灯，白天就更不会了。

his wife had a little pridethose days; she seldo desded to g the p, exceptg when she passed bythe eveng, he dayti.

但在后来的岁月里，当守夜人、他妻子和路灯都变老了的时候，她就会照料路灯，擦拭它，给它添油。

butter years, when all these, — the wat, the wife, and the p — had grown old, she had atteo it, ed it, and supplied it with oil.

这对老夫妻非常诚实，他们从未克扣过给路灯的哪怕一滴油。

the old people were thhly ho, they had been never cheated the p of a sgle drop of the oil provided for it.

这是路灯在街上的最后一晚，明天它就得去市政厅了 —— 这两件事想想都够让人郁闷的。

this was the p’s st night ireet, and to-orrow he t go to the town-hall, — o very dark thgs to thk of.

难怪它的灯光不那么明亮了。

No wonder he did not burn brightly.

许多其他的念头也在它脑海中闪过。

any other thoughts also passed through his d.

它曾照亮过多少人赶路，又目睹过多少事情啊；很可能和市长以及市政当局的人所知道的一样多呢！然而，这些念头它都没有说出口；因为它是一盏善良、正直的老路灯，它不愿故意伤害任何人，尤其是那些当权者。

hoersons he had lighted on their way, and how uch he had seen; as uch, very likely, as the ayor and rporation theselves! None of these thoughts were uttered aloud, however; for he was a good, honorable old p, who would not willgly do har to any one, especially to thoseauthority.

当许多往事在它脑海中浮现时，灯光会突然亮得耀眼；在这样的时刻，它坚信自己会被人记住。

As any thgs were recalled to his d, the light would fsh up with sudden brightness; he had, at suents, a vi that he would be rebered.

“曾经有个英俊的年轻人，” 它想，“那肯定是很久以前的事了，但我记得他拿着一张便条，是用带金边的粉色纸写的；字迹很优雅，显然是位女士的笔迹：他把纸条通读了两遍，还吻了它，然后抬头看着我，眼神分明在说，‘我是最幸福的男人！’只有他和我知道他这位恋人写给他的第一封信上都写了些什么。

“there was a handso young an ohought he; “it is certaly a long while ago, but I reber he had a little note, written on pk paper with a gold edge; the writg was elegant, evidently a dy’s hand: ice he read it through, and kissed it, and then looked up at , with eyes that said quite ply, ‘I a the happiest of n!’ only he and I know what was written on this his first letter fro his dy-love.

啊，对了，我还记得另外一双眼睛 —— 人的思绪从一件事跳到另一件事，真是奇妙啊！一场葬礼从街上经过；一位年轻美丽的女子躺在灵柩上，身上装饰着花环，还有火把相伴，火把的光亮完全盖过了我的灯光。

Ah, yes, and there was another pair of eyes that I reber, — it is really wonderful how the thoughts jup fro one 事物 to another! A funeral passed through the street; a young aiful woan y on a bier, decked with garnds of flowers, and attended by torches, which quite overpowered y light.

沿街房屋里的人们都站在路边，成群结队，准备加入送葬的队伍。

All along the street stood the people fro the hoes,crowds, ready to jo the procession.

但当火把从我面前经过，我能环顾四周时，我看到有一个人独自站在那里，靠着我的灯杆，在哭泣。

but wheorches had passed fro before , and I uld look round, I saw one person aloandg, leang agast y post, and weepg.

我永远也忘不了抬头望着我时那悲伤的眼神。”

Never shall I fet the sorrowful eyes that looked up at .”

在这灯光最后一次亮起的时候，这些以及类似的回忆占据了这盏老路灯的思绪。

these and siir refles oupied the old street p, on this the st ti that his light would she.

哨兵换岗的时候，至少知道谁会来接替他，还能和接班人小声说上几句，可这路灯不知道谁会是它的继任者，不然它就能给继任者一些关于下雨、起雾之类的提示，还能告诉他月光会在路面上照多远，一般风是从哪边吹来的等等。

the sentry, when he is relieved fro his post, knows at least who will sueed hi, and ay whisper a few words to hi, but the p did not know his suessor, or he uld have given hi a few hts respeg ra, or ist, and uld have rd hi how far the oon’s rays would rest on the pavent, and fro which side the d generally blew, and so on.

在运河上的桥边站着三个人 —— 哦不，是三个东西，它们都想毛遂自荐来接替路灯的工作，因为它们觉得路灯可以把这个职位随意交给它选中的任何一个。

on the bridge over the al stood three persons, who wished to rend theselves to the p, for they thought he uld give the office to whosoever he chose.

第一个是个鲱鱼头，它在黑暗中能发光。

the first was a herrg’s head, which uld eit lightthe darkness.

它说如果把它安在灯杆上，能省下不少油呢。

he rearked that it would be a great savg of oil if they pced hi on the p-post.

第二个是一块朽木，它在黑暗中也能发光。

wo iece of rotten wood, which also shesthe dark.

它觉得自己出身于一棵古老的树干，那树干曾经可是森林的骄傲呢。

he sidered hiself desded fro an old ste, ohe pride of the forest.

第三个是一只萤火虫，路灯都想象不出它是怎么到那儿的，可它就在那儿了，而且确实和其他两个一样能发光。

the third was a glow-wor, and how he found his way there the p uld not iage, yet there he was, and uld really give light as well as the others.

但是朽木和鲱鱼头极其郑重地以它们所尊崇的一切起誓，说萤火虫只是在特定的时候才发光，绝不能让它和自己竞争。

but the rotten wood and the herrg’s head decred ost solenly, by all they held sacred, that the glow-wor only gave light at certa tis, and t not be allowed to pete with theselves.

老路灯向它们保证，它们当中没有一个能发出足够亮的光来胜任路灯的岗位；可它们根本不相信它说的话。

the old p assured the that not one of the uld give suffit light to fill the position of a street p; but they would believe nothg he said.

当它们发现路灯没有权力指定它的继任者时，它们说很高兴听到这个消息，因为路灯太老旧破旧了，没法做出恰当的选择。

And when they disvered that he had not the power of nag his suessor, they said they were very gd to hear it, for the p was too old and worn-out to ake a proper choice.

就在这时，风从街角呼啸着刮过来，穿过老路灯的通风孔。

At this ont the d ca rhg round the er of the street, and through the air-holes of the old p.

“我听到什么了？” 风说，“说你明天就要走了？今晚是我们最后一次见面吗？那我得送你一份告别礼物。我要吹进你的脑海里，这样以后你不仅能记住过去所见所闻的一切，而且你内心的光芒会如此明亮，以至于你能理解在你面前所说所做的一切。”

“what is this I hear?” said he; “that yog away to-orrow? Is this eveng the st ti we shall et? then I t present you with a farewell gift. I will blow to your bra, so thatfuture you shall not only be able to reber all that you have seen or heardthe past, but yht with shall be sht, that you shall be able to uand all that is said or doneyour presence.”

“哦，这真是一份非常、非常棒的礼物，” 老路灯说，“我衷心地感谢你。我只希望我不会被熔化掉。”

“oh, that is really a very, very great gift,” said the old p; “I thank you ost heartily. I only hope I shall not be lted down.”

“那暂时不太可能发生，” 风说，“而且我还会给你吹进一段记忆，这样要是你收到其他类似的礼物，你的晚年将会过得非常愉快。”

“that is not likely to happe,” said the d; “and I will also blow a ory to you, so that should you receive other siir presents your old age will pass very pleasantly.”

“前提是我不会被熔化掉，” 路灯说，“但要是那样的话，我还能保留我的记忆吗？”

“that is if I is not lted down,” said the p. “but should Ithat case still reta y ory?”

“理智点吧，老路灯，” 风呼呼地吹着说。

“do be reasonable, old p,” said the d, puffg a> 就在这时，月亮从云层中钻了出来。

At this ont the oon burst forth fro the clouds.

“你要给老路灯什么礼物呢？” 风问。

“what will you give the old p?” asked the d.

“我什么也给不了，” 她回答说，“我正在亏缺，而且从来没有路灯给过我光亮，而我却常常照耀着它们。”

“Igive nothg,” she replied; “I a on thewane, and no ps have ever givenlight while I have frequently shone upon the.”

说完这些话，月亮又躲到了云层后面，这样她就可以免受更多的纠缠了。

And with these words the oon hid herself aga behd the clouds, that she ight be saved fro further iportunities.

就在这时，一滴水珠从房顶落到了路灯上，不过这滴水珠解释说它是那些灰色云朵送来的礼物，而且也许是所有礼物中最好的呢。

Jt then a drop fell upon the p, fro the roof of the hoe, but the drop expihat he was a gift fro those gray clouds, and perhaps the best of all gifts.

“我会把你彻底渗透的，” 它说，“这样你就有了生锈的能力，而且如果你愿意的话，还能在一夜之间化为尘土。”

“I shall pee you so thhly,” he said, “that you will have the heart of beg rty, and, if you wish it, to cruble to dtone night.”

但在路灯看来，这似乎是一份非常寒酸的礼物，风也这么认为。

but this seed to the p a very shabby present, and the d thought so too.

“就没人再送别的了吗？就没人再送别的了吗？” 风尽可能大声地呼喊着。

“does no one give any ore? will no one give any ore?” shouted the breath of the d, as loud as it uld.

这时，一颗明亮的流星划过，身后留下一道宽阔的发光轨迹。

then a bright fallg star ca down, leavg a broad, o streak behd it.

“那是什么？” 鲱鱼头叫道，“是不是有颗星星掉下来了？我真的觉得它落进路灯里了。当然了，当这样出身高贵的人物来竞争这个职位时，我们不妨说声‘晚安’，然后回家吧。”

“what was that?” cried the herrg’s head. “did not a star fall? I really believe it went to the p. certaly, when such high-born persory for the office, we ay as well say ‘Good-night,’ and go ho.”

于是它们三个就都这么做了，而老路灯则向四周投射出异常强烈的光芒。

And so they did, all three, while the old p threw a wonderfully strong light all around hi.

本章未完，点击下一页继续阅读。