兔和貓 The Rabbits and the Cat

住在我們後進院子裏的三太太，在夏間買了一對白兔，是給伊的孩子們看的。The Third Mistress, who lived in the back courtyard of our house, bought a pair of white rabbits in summer, for her children to look at.

住在我们后进院子里的三太太，在夏间买了一对白兔，是给伊的孩子们看的。

這一對白兔，似乎離娘並不久，雖然是異類，也可以看出他們的天真爛熳來。This pair of white rabbits seemed to have left their mother not long before; though they were a different kind of creature, one could still see their innocent, artless nature.但也豎直了小小的通紅的長耳朵，動著鼻子，眼睛裏頗現些驚疑的神色，大約究竟覺得人地生疏，沒有在老家時候的安心了。But they also pricked up their small, bright-red long ears, twitched their noses, and their eyes showed a good deal of startled suspicion — probably because, after all, the place and the people were strange to them, and they no longer felt as at ease as they had back home.這種東西，倘到廟會日期自己出去買，每個至多不過兩弔錢，而三太太卻花了一元，因為是叫小使上店買來的。Such creatures, if one went out and bought them oneself on a temple-fair day, cost at most two strings of cash apiece, but the Third Mistress had spent a whole yuan on them, because she had sent a servant boy to buy them from a shop.

这一对白兔，似乎离娘并不久，虽然是异类，也可以看出他们的天真烂熳来。但也竖直了小小的通红的长耳朵，动著鼻子，眼睛里颇现些惊疑的神色，大约究竟觉得人地生疏，没有在老家时候的安心了。这种东西，倘到庙会日期自己出去买，每个至多不过两吊钱，而三太太却花了一元，因为是叫小使上店买来的。

孩子們自然大得意了，嚷著圍住了看；The children were naturally delighted, and crowded round shouting to look at them;大人也都圍著看；the grown-ups too all gathered round to look;還有一匹小狗名叫S的也跑來，闖過去一嗅，打了一個噴嚏，退了幾步。and a little dog named S also came running up, dashed over to sniff at them, sneezed, and backed off a few steps.三太太吆喝道，「S，聽著，不准你咬他！」於是在他頭上打了一拳，S便退開了，從此並不咬。The Third Mistress shouted, "S, listen here, you're not allowed to bite them!" and gave him a knock on the head, whereupon S retreated, and never bit them thereafter.

孩子们自然大得意了，嚷著围住了看；大人也都围著看；还有一匹小狗名叫S的也跑来，闯过去一嗅，打了一个喷嚏，退了几步。三太太吆喝道，「S，听著，不准你咬他！」于是在他头上打了一拳，S便退开了，从此并不咬。

這一對兔總是關在後窗後面的小院子裏的時候多，聽說是因為太喜歡撕壁紙，也常常啃木器腳。This pair of rabbits was, for the most part, kept shut in the little courtyard behind the back window; I heard it was because they were too fond of tearing up wallpaper, and also often gnawed at the legs of the furniture.這小院子裏有一株野桑樹，桑子落地，他們最愛吃，便連喂他們的菠菜也不吃了。In this little courtyard there was a wild mulberry tree, and when the mulberries fell to the ground, the rabbits loved them best of all, so much that they would not even eat the spinach put out for them.烏鴉喜鵲想要下來時，他們便躬著身子用後腳在地上使勁的一彈，砉的一聲直跳上來，像飛起了一團雪，鴉鵲嚇得趕緊走，這樣的幾回，再也不敢近來了。When crows or magpies tried to swoop down, the rabbits would arch their bodies, kick hard against the ground with their hind legs, and spring straight up with a swish, like a puff of snow taking flight; the crows and magpies would take fright and hurry off. After a few times of this, they no longer dared to come near.三太太說，鴉鵲到不打緊，至多也不過搶吃一點食料，可惡的是一匹大黑貓，常在矮牆上惡狠狠的看，這卻要防的，幸而S和貓是對頭，或者還不至於有什麼罷。The Third Mistress said that the crows and magpies did not matter much — at most they would only snatch a bit of food — but what was truly hateful was a big black cat that often glared down fiercely from the low wall; that one had to be guarded against. Fortunately S and the cat were enemies, so perhaps nothing too bad would happen.

这一对兔总是关在后窗后面的小院子里的时候多，听说是因为太喜欢撕壁纸，也常常啃木器脚。这小院子里有一株野桑树，桑子落地，他们最爱吃，便连喂他们的菠菜也不吃了。乌鸦喜鹊想要下来时，他们便躬著身子用后脚在地上使劲的一弹，砉的一声直跳上来，像飞起了一团雪，鸦鹊吓得赶紧走，这样的几回，再也不敢近来了。三太太说，鸦鹊到不打紧，至多也不过抢吃一点食料，可恶的是一匹大黑猫，常在矮墙上恶狠狠的看，这却要防的，幸而S和猫是对头，或者还不至于有什么罢。

孩子們時時捉他們來玩耍；The children often caught the rabbits to play with them;他們很和氣，豎起耳朵，動著鼻子，馴良的站在小手的圈子裏，但一有空，卻也就溜開去了。the rabbits were very good-natured about it, pricking up their ears, twitching their noses, standing docilely within the circle of small hands, but the moment there was an opening, they would slip away.他們夜裏的臥榻是一個小木箱，裏面鋪些稻草，就在後窗的房檐下。Their bed at night was a small wooden box lined with straw, placed right under the eaves below the back window.

孩子们时时捉他们来玩耍；他们很和气，竖起耳朵，动著鼻子，驯良的站在小手的圈子里，但一有空，却也就溜开去了。他们夜里的卧榻是一个小木箱，里面铺些稻草，就在后窗的房檐下。

這樣的幾個月之後，他們忽而自己掘土了，掘得非常快，前腳一抓，後腳一踢，不到半天，已經掘成一個深洞。After some months of this, they suddenly took to digging in the earth themselves, and dug very fast — a scratch with the forepaws, a kick with the hind — in less than half a day they had already dug out a deep hole.大家都奇怪，後來仔細看時，原來一個的肚子比別一個的大得多了。Everyone found this strange; but on looking closely afterward, it turned out that one of them had a belly far bigger than the other's.他們第二天便將乾草和樹葉銜進洞裏去，忙了大半天。The next day they carried dry grass and leaves into the hole in their mouths, busy at it for the better part of a day.

这样的几个月之后，他们忽而自己掘土了，掘得非常快，前脚一抓，后脚一踢，不到半天，已经掘成一个深洞。大家都奇怪，后来仔细看时，原来一个的肚子比别一个的大得多了。他们第二天便将干草和树叶衔进洞里去，忙了大半天。

大家都高興，說又有小兔可看了；Everyone was pleased, saying there would soon be baby rabbits to look at;三太太便對孩子們下了戒嚴令，從此不許再去捉。and the Third Mistress issued a strict order to the children, forbidding them from then on to catch the rabbits any more.我的母親也很喜歡他們家族的繁榮，還說待生下來的離了乳，也要去討兩匹來養在自己的窗外面。My mother too was pleased at the flourishing of their family, and said that once the newborns were weaned, she would ask for a pair to raise outside her own window.

大家都高兴，说又有小兔可看了；三太太便对孩子们下了戒严令，从此不许再去捉。我的母亲也很喜欢他们家族的繁荣，还说待生下来的离了乳，也要去讨两匹来养在自己的窗外面。

他們從此便住在自造的洞府裏，有時也出來吃些食，後來不見了，可不知道他們是預先運糧存在裏面呢還是竟不吃。From then on the two rabbits lived in the burrow they had made themselves; sometimes they still came out to eat a little, but later they were no longer seen — whether they had stored up food inside beforehand, or simply were not eating at all, no one knew.過了十多天，三太太對我說，那兩匹又出來了，大約小兔是生下來又都死掉了，因為雌的一匹的奶非常多，卻並不見有進去哺養孩子的形跡。More than ten days later, the Third Mistress told me that the two rabbits had come out again — the baby rabbits, it seemed, must all have died after being born, for the female's milk was very abundant, yet there was no sign at all of her going in to suckle any young.伊言語之間頗氣憤，然而也沒有法。There was a good deal of indignation in her words, but there was nothing to be done about it.

他们从此便住在自造的洞府里，有时也出来吃些食，后来不见了，可不知道他们是预先运粮存在里面呢还是竟不吃。过了十多天，三太太对我说，那两匹又出来了，大约小兔是生下来又都死掉了，因为雌的一匹的奶非常多，却并不见有进去哺养孩子的形迹。伊言语之间颇气愤，然而也没有法。

有一天，太陽很溫暖，也沒有風，樹葉都不動，我忽聽得許多人在那裏笑，尋聲看時，卻見許多人都靠著三太太的後窗看：原來有一個小兔，在院子裏跳躍了。One day, the sun was very warm, there was no wind, and the leaves on the trees did not stir; I suddenly heard a number of people laughing there, and going to look toward the sound, I saw many people leaning at the Third Mistress's back window to watch: it turned out that a baby rabbit was hopping about in the courtyard.這比他的父母買來的時候還小得遠，但也已經能用後腳一彈地，迸跳起來了。It was far smaller even than its parents had been when they were bought, but it was already able to kick against the ground with its hind legs and spring up in a leap.孩子們爭著告訴我說，還看見一個小兔到洞口來探一探頭，但是即刻便縮回去了，那該是他的弟弟罷。The children vied with one another to tell me that they had also seen another baby rabbit come to the mouth of the burrow and poke its head out to have a look, but it drew back at once — that must have been its younger sibling.

有一天，太阳很温暖，也没有风，树叶都不动，我忽听得许多人在那里笑，寻声看时，却见许多人都靠著三太太的后窗看：原来有一个小兔，在院子里跳跃了。这比他的父母买来的时候还小得远，但也已经能用后脚一弹地，迸跳起来了。孩子们争著告诉我说，还看见一个小兔到洞口来探一探头，但是即刻便缩回去了，那该是他的弟弟罢。

那小的也撿些草葉吃，然而大的似乎不許他，往往夾口的搶去了，而自己並不吃。The little one also picked up bits of grass and leaves to eat, but the older one seemed not to allow it, and would often snatch the food right out of its mouth, yet not eat it itself.孩子們笑得響，那小的終於吃驚了，便跳著鑽進洞裏去；The children laughed loudly, and the little one at last took fright, and went hopping back down into the burrow;大的也跟到洞門口，用前腳推著他的孩子的脊樑，推進之後，又爬開泥土來封了洞。the older one followed as far as the mouth of the burrow, pushing at its young one's back with its forepaws, and after pushing it in, scraped the earth over to seal up the hole.

那小的也捡些草叶吃，然而大的似乎不许他，往往夹口的抢去了，而自己并不吃。孩子们笑得响，那小的终于吃惊了，便跳著钻进洞里去；大的也跟到洞门口，用前脚推著他的孩子的脊梁，推进之后，又爬开泥土来封了洞。

從此小院子裏更熱鬧，窗口也時時有人窺探了。From then on the little courtyard grew livelier still, and there was constantly someone peering out at the window.

从此小院子里更热闹，窗口也时时有人窥探了。

然而竟又全不見了那小的和大的。And yet, both the little one and the big ones vanished again entirely.這時是連日的陰天，三太太又慮到遭了那大黑貓的毒手的事去。It happened to be overcast for several days running at this time, and the Third Mistress again began to worry that they had fallen victim to the big black cat.我說不然，那是天氣冷，當然都躲著，太陽一齣，一定出來的。I said it was not so — it was only that the weather was cold, so of course they were all hiding away, and once the sun came out, they would surely come out too.

然而竟又全不见了那小的和大的。这时是连日的阴天，三太太又虑到遭了那大黑猫的毒手的事去。我说不然，那是天气冷，当然都躲著，太阳一出，一定出来的。

太陽出來了，他們卻都不見。The sun came out, but none of them appeared.於是大家就忘卻了。And so everyone gradually forgot about it.

太阳出来了，他们却都不见。于是大家就忘却了。

惟有三太太是常在那裏喂他們菠菜的，所以常想到。Only the Third Mistress, who was always there feeding them spinach, still thought of them often.伊有一回走進窗後的小院子去，忽然在牆角發見了一個別的洞，再看舊洞口，卻依稀的還見有許多爪痕。Once she went into the little courtyard behind the window, and suddenly discovered another hole in the corner of the wall; looking again at the old burrow's mouth, she could still faintly make out a good many claw marks.這爪痕倘說是大兔的，爪該不會有這樣大，伊又疑心到那常在牆上的大黑貓去了，伊於是也就不能不定下發掘的決心了。If these claw marks were said to be the big rabbits', the claws surely could not have been so large; she began once more to suspect the big black cat that so often sat on the wall, and so she could not help but resolve to dig the place open.伊終於出來取了鋤子，一路掘下去，雖然疑心，卻也希望著意外的見了小白兔的，但是待到底，卻只見一堆爛草夾些兔毛，怕還是臨蓐時候所鋪的罷，此外是冷清清的，全沒有什麼雪白的小兔的蹤跡，以及他那隻一探頭未出洞外的弟弟了。In the end she went out and fetched a hoe, and dug straight down; though suspicious, she still hoped she might unexpectedly find the little white rabbits alive, but when she reached the bottom, she found only a heap of rotted grass mixed with some rabbit fur — probably what had been laid down at the time of the birth — and beyond that, everything was cold and empty, with not a trace of the snow-white little rabbit, nor of its little brother who had never once come out beyond poking its head from the hole.

惟有三太太是常在那里喂他们菠菜的，所以常想到。伊有一回走进窗后的小院子去，忽然在墙角发见了一个别的洞，再看旧洞口，却依稀的还见有许多爪痕。这爪痕倘说是大兔的，爪该不会有这样大，伊又疑心到那常在墙上的大黑猫去了，伊于是也就不能不定下发掘的决心了。伊终于出来取了锄子，一路掘下去，虽然疑心，却也希望著意外的见了小白兔的，但是待到底，却只见一堆烂草夹些兔毛，怕还是临蓐时候所铺的罢，此外是冷清清的，全没有什么雪白的小兔的踪迹，以及他那只一探头未出洞外的弟弟了。

氣憤和失望和淒涼，使伊不能不再掘那牆角上的新洞了。Indignation, disappointment, and desolation made it impossible for her not to go on and dig open the new hole in the corner of the wall as well.一動手，那大的兩匹便先竄出洞外面。The moment she set to work, the two big rabbits bolted out of the hole first.伊以為他們搬了家了，很高興，然而仍然掘，待見底，那裏面也鋪著草葉和兔毛，而上面卻睡著七個很小的兔，遍身肉紅色，細看時，眼睛全都沒有開。She thought they had simply moved house, and was very pleased, but she went on digging all the same; when she reached the bottom, she found that inside too was lined with grass and leaves and rabbit fur, and lying on top were seven very tiny rabbits, their whole bodies a fleshy pink; looking closely, none of their eyes had yet opened.

气愤和失望和凄凉，使伊不能不再掘那墙角上的新洞了。一动手，那大的两匹便先窜出洞外面。伊以为他们搬了家了，很高兴，然而仍然掘，待见底，那里面也铺著草叶和兔毛，而上面却睡著七个很小的兔，遍身肉红色，细看时，眼睛全都没有开。

一切都明白了，三太太先前的預料果不錯。Everything was now clear — the Third Mistress's earlier suspicion had indeed been correct.伊為預防危險起見，便將七個小的都裝在木箱中，搬進自己的房裏，又將大的也捺進箱裏面，勒令伊去哺乳。To guard against further danger, she put all seven little ones into a wooden box and carried it into her own room, and also forced the mother in beside them, compelling her to suckle them.

一切都明白了，三太太先前的预料果不错。伊为预防危险起见，便将七个小的都装在木箱中，搬进自己的房里，又将大的也捺进箱里面，勒令伊去哺乳。

三太太從此不但深恨黑貓，而且頗不以大兔為然了。From then on the Third Mistress not only deeply hated the black cat, but also came to disapprove rather strongly of the big rabbit.據說當初那兩個被害之先，死掉的該還有，因為他們生一回，決不至於只兩個，但為了哺乳不勻，不能爭食的就先死了。It was said that even before those first two had met with harm, there must already have been others that died, since a single litter could certainly not have numbered only two; but because the suckling was uneven, those unable to compete for milk had died first.這大概也不錯的，現在七個之中，就有兩個很瘦弱。This was probably true enough — for even now, among the seven, there were two that were very thin and weak.所以三太太一有閑空，便捉住母兔，將小兔一個一個輪流的擺在肚子上來喝奶，不准有多少。So whenever the Third Mistress had a spare moment, she would catch hold of the mother rabbit and set the little ones on her belly one by one in turn to drink milk, allowing none to have more than its share.

三太太从此不但深恨黑猫，而且颇不以大兔为然了。据说当初那两个被害之先，死掉的该还有，因为他们生一回，决不至于只两个，但为了哺乳不匀，不能争食的就先死了。这大概也不错的，现在七个之中，就有两个很瘦弱。所以三太太一有闲空，便捉住母兔，将小兔一个一个轮流的摆在肚子上来喝奶，不准有多少。

母親對我說，那樣麻煩的養兔法，伊歷來連聽也未曾聽到過，恐怕是可以收入《無雙譜》的。My mother told me that such a troublesome way of raising rabbits she had never even heard of in all her life, and that it was probably fit to be recorded in the Wushuang Pu [The Register of the Peerless].

母亲对我说，那样麻烦的养兔法，伊历来连听也未曾听到过，恐怕是可以收入《无双谱》的。

白兔的家族更繁榮；The white rabbits' family grew more flourishing than ever;大家也又都高興了。and everyone was pleased once again.

白兔的家族更繁荣；大家也又都高兴了。

但自此之後，我總覺得淒涼。But from that time on, I always felt a certain desolation.夜半在燈下坐著想，那兩條小性命，竟是人不知鬼不覺的早在不知什麼時候喪失了，生物史上不著一些痕跡，並S也不叫一聲。Sitting under the lamp at midnight and thinking it over — those two small lives had, without anyone knowing, without even a ghost knowing, been lost long before at some unknown time, leaving not a single trace in the history of living things; and even S never so much as barked once.我於是記起舊事來，先前我住在會館裏，清早起身，只見大槐樹下一片散亂的鴿子毛，這明明是膏於鷹吻的了，上午長班來一打掃，便什麼都不見，誰知道曾有一個生命斷送在這裏呢？I then recalled an old matter: once, when I was living in the guild hall, I rose early one morning and saw beneath the big pagoda tree a scattered litter of pigeon feathers — plainly the bird had gone to feed a hawk's beak; when the caretaker came to sweep in the morning, everything vanished, and who was to know that a life had once been cut short there?我又曾路過西四牌樓，看見一匹小狗被馬車軋得快死，待回來時，什麼也不見了，搬掉了罷，過往行人憧憧的走著，誰知道曾有一個生命斷送在這裏呢？I also once passed by the Xisi archway and saw a little dog crushed nearly to death under a cart; by the time I came back that way, there was nothing to be seen — carried off, no doubt — and passersby went hurrying to and fro, and who was to know that a life had once been cut short there?夏夜，窗外面，常聽到蒼蠅的悠長的吱吱的叫聲，這一定是給蠅虎咬住了，然而我向來無所容心於其間，而別人並且不聽到……On summer nights, outside the window, one often hears the long, thin chirring cry of a fly — it must be caught in the jaws of a jumping spider — and yet I have never once taken this to heart, and others do not even hear it at all…

但自此之后，我总觉得凄凉。夜半在灯下坐著想，那两条小性命，竟是人不知鬼不觉的早在不知什么时候丧失了，生物史上不著一些痕迹，并S也不叫一声。我于是记起旧事来，先前我住在会馆里，清早起身，只见大槐树下一片散乱的鸽子毛，这明明是膏于鹰吻的了，上午长班来一打扫，便什么都不见，谁知道曾有一个生命断送在这里呢？我又曾路过西四牌楼，看见一匹小狗被马车轧得快死，待回来时，什么也不见了，搬掉了罢，过往行人憧憧的走著，谁知道曾有一个生命断送在这里呢？夏夜，窗外面，常听到苍蝇的悠长的吱吱的叫声，这一定是给蝇虎咬住了，然而我向来无所容心于其间，而别人并且不听到……

假使造物也可以責備，那麼，我以為他實在將生命造得太濫了，毀得太濫了。If the Creator too may be held to blame, then I think he has indeed made life far too cheaply, and destroyed it far too cheaply.

假使造物也可以责备，那么，我以为他实在将生命造得太滥了，毁得太滥了。

嗥的一聲，又是兩條貓在窗外打起架來。With a yowl, once again two cats were fighting outside the window.

嗥的一声，又是两条猫在窗外打起架来。

「迅兒！"Xun'er!你又在那裏打貓了？」Are you out there beating the cats again?"

「迅儿！你又在那里打猫了？」

「不，他們自己咬。"No, they're biting each other of their own accord.他那裏會給我打呢。」There's no way they'd let me hit them."

「不，他们自己咬。他那里会给我打呢。」

我的母親是素來很不以我的虐待貓為然的，現在大約疑心我要替小兔抱不平，下什麼辣手，便起來探問了。My mother had always strongly disapproved of my mistreating cats, and now, suspecting perhaps that I meant to take up the rabbits' cause and do something ruthless, she got up to come and ask about it.而我在全家的口碑上，卻的確算一個貓敵。And indeed, by the whole family's common account, I did count as an enemy of cats.我曾經害過貓，平時也常打貓，尤其是在他們配合的時候。I had once done a cat harm, and at ordinary times too I often struck at cats, especially when they were mating.但我之所以打的原因並非因為他們配合，是因為他們嚷，嚷到使我睡不著，我以為配合是不必這樣大嚷而特嚷的。But my reason for striking them was not because they were mating — it was because of their yowling, yowling until I could not sleep; I felt that mating need not call for such loud and deliberate caterwauling.

我的母亲是素来很不以我的虐待猫为然的，现在大约疑心我要替小兔抱不平，下什么辣手，便起来探问了。而我在全家的口碑上，却的确算一个猫敌。我曾经害过猫，平时也常打猫，尤其是在他们配合的时候。但我之所以打的原因并非因为他们配合，是因为他们嚷，嚷到使我睡不著，我以为配合是不必这样大嚷而特嚷的。

況且黑貓害了小兔，我更是「師出有名」的了。And besides, now that the black cat had done the little rabbits harm, I had all the more "just cause for my campaign."我覺得母親實在太修善，於是不由的就說出模棱的近乎不以為然的答話來。I felt that my mother was really too given to cultivating kindness, and so I could not help giving an evasive answer that verged on disagreement.

况且黑猫害了小兔，我更是「师出有名」的了。我觉得母亲实在太修善，于是不由的就说出模棱的近乎不以为然的答话来。

造物太胡鬧，我不能不反抗他了，雖然也許是倒是幫他的忙……The Creator carries on much too recklessly; I cannot help but rebel against him — though perhaps, after all, I am only doing him a favor…

造物太胡闹，我不能不反抗他了，虽然也许是倒是帮他的忙……

那黑貓是不能久在矮牆上高視闊步的了，我決定的想，於是又不由的一瞥那藏在書箱裏的一瓶青酸鉀。That black cat will not be strutting about on the low wall much longer, I thought, resolved; and then, unable to help myself, I glanced once more at the bottle of potassium cyanide hidden away in my bookcase.

那黑猫是不能久在矮墙上高视阔步的了，我决定的想，于是又不由的一瞥那藏在书箱里的一瓶青酸钾。

一九二二年十月October, 1922