鴨的喜劇 A Comedy of Ducks

俄國的盲詩人愛羅先珂君帶了他那六弦琴到北京之後不久，便向我訴苦說：Not long after the blind Russian poet Mr. Eroshenko brought his six-stringed guitar to Beijing, he complained to me, saying:

俄国的盲诗人爱罗先珂君带了他那六弦琴到北京之后不久，便向我诉苦说：

「寂寞呀，寂寞呀，在沙漠上似的寂寞呀！」"Lonely, so lonely, lonely as if upon a desert!"

這應該是真實的，但在我卻未曾感得；This must have been true, yet I myself had never felt it so;我住得久了，「入芝蘭之室，久而不聞其香」，只以為很是嚷嚷罷了。having lived there so long, "entering a room of iris and orchid, one ceases after a time to notice its fragrance," I only thought it was quite noisy.然而我之所謂嚷嚷，或者也就是他之所謂寂寞罷。Yet what I call noise is perhaps what he called loneliness.

这应该是真实的，但在我却未曾感得；我住得久了，「入芝兰之室，久而不闻其香」，只以为很是嚷嚷罢了。然而我之所谓嚷嚷，或者也就是他之所谓寂寞罢。

我可是覺得在北京彷彿沒有春和秋。I, for my part, feel as though Beijing has no spring and no autumn.老於北京的人說，地氣北轉了，這裡在先是沒有這麼和暖。Old residents of Beijing say that the earth's climate has shifted northward, and that in earlier times it was not so mild here.只是我總以為沒有春和秋；But I have always thought there is simply no spring and no autumn;冬末和夏初銜接起來，夏才去，冬又開始了。the end of winter joins directly onto the start of summer, and no sooner has summer departed than winter begins again.

我可是觉得在北京彷佛没有春和秋。老于北京的人说，地气北转了，这里在先是没有这么和暖。只是我总以为没有春和秋；冬末和夏初衔接起来，夏才去，冬又开始了。

一日就是這冬末夏初的時候，而且是夜間，我偶而得了閒暇，去訪問愛羅先珂君。One day, at just such a time between the end of winter and the beginning of summer, and at night besides, I chanced to have some leisure, and went to call on Mr. Eroshenko.他一向寓在仲密君的家裡；He had all along been lodging at Mr. Zhongmi's house;這時一家的人都睡了覺了，天下很安靜。at that hour the household had all gone to bed, and all under heaven was very quiet.他獨自靠在自己的臥榻上，很高的眉棱在金黃色的長髮之間微蹙了，是在想他舊遊之地的緬甸，緬甸的夏夜。He sat alone leaning on his own couch, his high brows faintly knitted amid his long golden hair, thinking of Burma, the land of his former travels, and of Burmese summer nights.

一日就是这冬末夏初的时候，而且是夜间，我偶而得了闲暇，去访问爱罗先珂君。他一向寓在仲密君的家里；这时一家的人都睡了觉了，天下很安静。他独自靠在自己的卧榻上，很高的眉棱在金黄色的长发之间微蹙了，是在想他旧游之地的缅甸，缅甸的夏夜。

「這樣的夜間，」他說，「在緬甸是遍地是音樂。"On a night like this," he said, "in Burma the whole earth is full of music.房裡，草間，樹上，都有昆蟲吟叫，各種聲音，成為合奏，很神奇。In the rooms, in the grass, in the trees, insects chirp and cry, all manner of sounds joining into an ensemble, most wondrous.其間時時夾著蛇鳴：'嘶嘶！'可是也與蟲聲相和協……」他沉思了，似乎想要追想起那時的情景來。Amid them, again and again, comes the hiss of a snake: 'sss-sss!' yet it too harmonizes with the insects' voices..." He fell into thought, as though trying to recall the scene of that time.

「这样的夜间，」他说，「在缅甸是遍地是音乐。房里，草间，树上，都有昆虫吟叫，各种声音，成为合奏，很神奇。其间时时夹著蛇鸣：'嘶嘶！'可是也与虫声相和协……」他沉思了，似乎想要追想起那时的情景来。

我開不得口。I could not bring myself to speak.這樣奇妙的音樂，我在北京確乎未曾聽到過，所以即使如何愛國，也辯護不得，因為他雖然目無所見，耳朵是沒有聾的。Such marvelous music I had certainly never heard in Beijing, so however patriotic I might be, I could find no defense, for although his eyes could see nothing, his ears were not deaf.

我开不得口。这样奇妙的音乐，我在北京确乎未曾听到过，所以即使如何爱国，也辩护不得，因为他虽然目无所见，耳朵是没有聋的。

「北京卻連蛙鳴也沒有……」他又嘆息說。"But in Beijing there is not even the croaking of frogs..." he sighed again.

「北京却连蛙鸣也没有……」他又叹息说。

「蛙鳴是有的！」這嘆息，卻使我勇猛起來了，於是抗議說，「到夏天，大雨之後，你便能聽到許多蝦蟆叫，那是都在溝裡面的，因為北京到處都有溝。」"There are frogs croaking!" This sigh of his, though, roused my courage, and so I protested, "Come summer, after a heavy rain, you'll hear plenty of toads croaking — they're all down in the ditches, because Beijing has ditches everywhere."

「蛙鸣是有的！」这叹息，却使我勇猛起来了，于是抗议说，「到夏天，大雨之后，你便能听到许多虾蟆叫，那是都在沟里面的，因为北京到处都有沟。」

「哦……」"Oh..."

過了幾天，我的話居然證實了，因為愛羅先珂君已經買到了十幾個蝌蚪子。A few days later, my words were in fact confirmed, for Mr. Eroshenko had already bought a dozen or so tadpoles.他買來便放在他窗外的院子中央的小池裡。Having bought them, he put them straight into the small pond in the middle of the courtyard outside his window.那池的長有三尺，寬有二尺，是仲密所掘，以種荷花的荷池。That pond was three feet long and two feet wide, dug by Zhongmi as a lotus pond for growing lotus flowers.從這荷池裡，雖然從來沒有見過養出半朵荷花來，然而養蝦蟆卻實在是一個極合式的處所。Although this lotus pond had never in fact produced so much as half a lotus blossom, it turned out to be a perfectly suitable place for raising toads.

过了几天，我的话居然证实了，因为爱罗先珂君已经买到了十几个蝌蚪子。他买来便放在他窗外的院子中央的小池里。那池的长有三尺，宽有二尺，是仲密所掘，以种荷花的荷池。从这荷池里，虽然从来没有见过养出半朵荷花来，然而养虾蟆却实在是一个极合式的处所。

蝌蚪成群結隊的在水裡面游泳；The tadpoles swam about in the water in great swarms;愛羅先珂君也常常踱來訪他們。and Mr. Eroshenko too would often stroll over to visit them.有時候，孩子告訴他說，「愛羅先珂先生，他們生了腳了。」他便高興的微笑道，「哦！」Sometimes the children would tell him, "Mr. Eroshenko, they've grown legs." and he would smile with delight and say, "Oh!"

蝌蚪成群结队的在水里面游泳；爱罗先珂君也常常踱来访他们。有时候，孩子告诉他说，「爱罗先珂先生，他们生了脚了。」他便高兴的微笑道，「哦！」

然而養成池沼的音樂家卻只是愛羅先珂君的一件事。Yet raising this pond of musicians was but one of Mr. Eroshenko's undertakings.他是向來主張自食其力的，常說女人可以畜牧，男人就應該種田。He had always advocated self-sufficiency through one's own labor, often saying that women could raise livestock while men ought to till the fields.所以遇到很熟的友人，他便要勸誘他就在院子裡種白菜；So whenever he met a close friend, he would urge that friend to grow cabbages right there in the courtyard;也屢次對仲密夫人勸告，勸伊養蜂，養雞，養豬，養牛，養駱駝。and he also repeatedly urged Mrs. Zhongmi to keep bees, keep chickens, keep pigs, keep cattle, keep camels.後來仲密家果然有了許多小雞，滿院飛跑，啄完了鋪地錦的嫩葉，大約也許就是這勸告的結果了。Later on, the Zhongmi household did indeed come to have a great many chicks, running all over the courtyard and pecking clean the tender leaves of the creeping fig, and this was perhaps the result of that urging.

然而养成池沼的音乐家却只是爱罗先珂君的一件事。他是向来主张自食其力的，常说女人可以畜牧，男人就应该种田。所以遇到很熟的友人，他便要劝诱他就在院子里种白菜；也屡次对仲密夫人劝告，劝伊养蜂，养鸡，养猪，养牛，养骆驼。后来仲密家果然有了许多小鸡，满院飞跑，啄完了铺地锦的嫩叶，大约也许就是这劝告的结果了。

從此賣小雞的鄉下人也時常來，來一回便買幾隻，因為小雞是容易積食，發痧，很難得長壽的；From then on the country folk who sold chicks also came by often, and each time they came a few more were bought, for chicks easily fall ill with indigestion or heat rash, and rarely live long;而且有一匹還成了愛羅先珂君在北京所作唯一的小說《小雞的悲劇》裡的主人公。and one of them even became the protagonist of the one and only story Mr. Eroshenko wrote in Beijing, "The Tragedy of the Chick."有一天的上午，那鄉下人竟意外的帶了小鴨來了，咻咻的叫著；One morning, that country fellow unexpectedly brought along some ducklings too, peeping away;但是仲密夫人說不要。but Mrs. Zhongmi said they didn't want any.愛羅先珂君也跑出來，他們就放一個在他兩手裡，而小鴨便在他兩手裡咻咻的叫。Mr. Eroshenko also ran out, and they put one into his two hands, and the duckling peeped away there in his hands.他以為這也很可愛，於是又不能不買了，一共買了四個，每個八十文。He thought this was very lovable too, and so could not help but buy them, in the end buying four in all, at eighty cash apiece.

从此卖小鸡的乡下人也时常来，来一回便买几只，因为小鸡是容易积食，发痧，很难得长寿的；而且有一匹还成了爱罗先珂君在北京所作唯一的小说《小鸡的悲剧》里的主人公。有一天的上午，那乡下人竟意外的带了小鸭来了，咻咻的叫著；但是仲密夫人说不要。爱罗先珂君也跑出来，他们就放一个在他两手里，而小鸭便在他两手里咻咻的叫。他以为这也很可爱，于是又不能不买了，一共买了四个，每个八十文。

小鴨也誠然是可愛，遍身松花黃，放在地上，便蹣跚的走，互相招呼，總是在一處。The ducklings truly were lovable, their down a pale pine-blossom yellow all over; set down on the ground, they toddled along unsteadily, calling to one another, always keeping together.大家都說好，明天去買泥鰍來餵他們罷。Everyone agreed it was good, and said tomorrow they would go buy loach to feed them.愛羅先珂君說，「這錢也可以歸我出的。」Mr. Eroshenko said, "This money I can provide too."

小鸭也诚然是可爱，遍身松花黄，放在地上，便蹒跚的走，互相招呼，总是在一处。大家都说好，明天去买泥鳅来喂他们罢。爱罗先珂君说，「这钱也可以归我出的。」

他於是教書去了；He then went off to teach his classes;大家也走散。and everyone else scattered as well.不一會，仲密夫人拿冷飯來餵他們時，在遠處已聽得潑水的聲音，跑到一看，原來那四個小鴨都在荷池裡洗澡了，而且還翻觔鬥，吃東西呢。Before long, when Mrs. Zhongmi brought cold rice to feed them, from a distance she could already hear the sound of splashing water; running over to look, it turned out all four ducklings were bathing in the lotus pond, and were even turning somersaults and eating things.等到攔他們上了岸，全池已經是渾水，過了半天，澄清了，只見泥裡露出幾條細藕來；By the time they were shooed up onto the bank, the whole pond was muddy water; only after quite a while did it clear, and then one saw only a few slender lotus roots showing through the mud;而且再也尋不出一個已經生了腳的蝌蚪了。and never again could a single tadpole that had already grown legs be found.

他于是教书去了；大家也走散。不一会，仲密夫人拿冷饭来喂他们时，在远处已听得泼水的声音，跑到一看，原来那四个小鸭都在荷池里洗澡了，而且还翻觔斗，吃东西呢。等到拦他们上了岸，全池已经是浑水，过了半天，澄清了，只见泥里露出几条细藕来；而且再也寻不出一个已经生了脚的蝌蚪了。

「伊和希珂先，沒有了，蝦蟆的兒子。」傍晚時候，孩子們一見他回來，最小的一個便趕緊說。"Elohsienko, they're gone, the toads' children." Toward evening, as soon as the children saw him come home, the youngest one hurried to say.

「伊和希珂先，没有了，虾蟆的儿子。」傍晚时候，孩子们一见他回来，最小的一个便赶紧说。

「唔，蝦蟆？」"Hm, the toads?"

「唔，虾蟆？」

仲密夫人也出來了，報告了小鴨吃完蝌蚪的故事。Mrs. Zhongmi too came out, and reported the whole story of how the ducklings had eaten up all the tadpoles.

仲密夫人也出来了，报告了小鸭吃完蝌蚪的故事。

「唉，唉！……」他說。"Ai, ai!..." was all he said.

「唉，唉！……」他说。

待到小鴨褪了黃毛，愛羅先珂君卻忽而渴唸著他的「俄羅斯母親」了，便匆匆的向赤塔去。By the time the ducklings had shed their yellow down, Mr. Eroshenko suddenly began longing for his "Mother Russia," and hurriedly set off for Chita.

待到小鸭褪了黄毛，爱罗先珂君却忽而渴念著他的「俄罗斯母亲」了，便匆匆的向赤塔去。

待到四處蛙鳴的時候，小鴨也已經長成，兩個白的，兩個花的，而且不復咻咻的叫，都是「鴨鴨」的叫了。By the time frogs were croaking on every side, the ducklings too had already grown to full size, two white and two speckled, and no longer peeped, but all cried "quack, quack" instead.荷花池也早已容不下他們盤桓了，幸而仲密的住家的地勢是很低的，夏雨一降，院子裡滿積了水，他們便欣欣然，游水，鑽水，拍翅子，「鴨鴨」的叫。The lotus pond, too, had long since become too small to hold their wanderings; fortunately the Zhongmi residence stood on rather low ground, so that once the summer rains came the courtyard filled with standing water, and there they would happily swim, dive, flap their wings, and cry "quack, quack."

待到四处蛙鸣的时候，小鸭也已经长成，两个白的，两个花的，而且不复咻咻的叫，都是「鸭鸭」的叫了。荷花池也早已容不下他们盘桓了，幸而仲密的住家的地势是很低的，夏雨一降，院子里满积了水，他们便欣欣然，游水，钻水，拍翅子，「鸭鸭」的叫。

現在又從夏末交了冬初，而愛羅先珂君還是絕無消息，不知道究竟在那裡了。Now it has turned again from late summer into early winter, and Mr. Eroshenko still sends no word at all — one does not know where he really is now.

现在又从夏末交了冬初，而爱罗先珂君还是绝无消息，不知道究竟在那里了。

只有四個鴨，卻還在沙漠上「鴨鴨」的叫。Only the four ducks are left, still crying "quack, quack" upon the desert.

只有四个鸭，却还在沙漠上「鸭鸭」的叫。

一九二二年十月October, 1922