阿Ｑ正傳 The True Story of Ah Q

第一章序Chapter One: Preface

我要給阿Q做正傳，已經不止一兩年了。It is now more than a year or two that I have wanted to write a true biography for Ah Q.但一面要做，一面又往回想，這足見我不是一個『立言』的人，因爲從來不朽之筆，須傳不朽之人，于是人以文傳，文以人傳——究竟誰靠誰傳，漸漸的不甚了然起來，而終於歸結到傳阿Q，彷彿思想裏有鬼似的。But wanting to write it on the one hand, and hesitating on the other, shows well enough that I am not a man given to "establishing words that endure," for from ancient times an immortal pen has always been needed to record an immortal man, so that the man is handed down through the writing, and the writing through the man—and just which depends on which for its transmission grew gradually unclear to me, until in the end it all came down to writing about Ah Q, as if some devil had got into my thinking.

然而要做這一篇速朽的文章，纔下筆，便感到萬分的困難了。Yet no sooner had I set brush to paper to write this piece, doomed from the start to swift oblivion, than I felt the most extreme difficulty.第一是文章的名目。The first difficulty was the title of the piece.孔子曰：『名不正則言不順。』這原是應該極注意的。Confucius said, "If names are not correct, words will not accord with the truth of things." This is certainly a matter deserving the closest attention.傳的名目很繁多：列傳、自傳、內傳、外傳、別傳、家傳、小傳，……There are a great many kinds of titles for biographies: the Arrayed Biography, the Autobiography, the Inner Biography, the Outer Biography, the Separate Biography, the Family Biography, the Short Biography...而可惜都不合。『列傳』麽，這一篇並非和許多闊人排在『正史』裏；『自傳』麽，我又並非就是阿Q。And unfortunately none of them fit. An "Arrayed Biography"? This piece is not being placed alongside a host of eminent men in some "Official History." An "Autobiography"? But I am certainly not Ah Q myself.說是『外傳』，『內傳』在那里呢？Suppose we call it an "Outer Biography"—then where is the "Inner Biography" it complements?倘用『內傳』，阿Q又決不是神仙。『別傳』呢，阿Q實在未曾有大總統上諭宣付國史館立『本傳』——雖說英國正史上並無『博徒列傳』，而文豪迭更司也做過博徒別傳這一部書，但文豪則可，在我輩卻不可的。If we were to use "Inner Biography," Ah Q was certainly no immortal or transcendent being. A "Separate Biography," then? But Ah Q never actually had a presidential decree handing his case down to the Bureau of National History to have a "Standard Biography" established for him—although it is true that while England's official histories contain no "Arrayed Biographies of Gamblers," the great man of letters Dickens once wrote a separate biography of a gambler; but what is permissible for a great man of letters is not permissible for the likes of us.其次是『家傳』，則我旣不知與阿Q是否同宗，也未曾受他子孫的拜託；Next there is the "Family Biography"—but I do not even know whether I share a clan with Ah Q, nor have I ever been entrusted with the task by any of his descendants;或『小傳』，則阿Q又更無別的『大傳』了。Or a "Short Biography"—but then Ah Q would need some other, longer "Full Biography" to go with it, and there is none.總而言之，這一篇也便是『本傳』，但從我的文章着想，因爲文體卑下，是『引車賣漿者流』所用的話，所以不敢僭稱，便從不入三教九流的小說家所謂『閒話休題言歸正傳』這一句套話裏，取出『正傳』兩個字來，作爲名目，卽使與古人所撰書法正傳的『正傳』字面上很相混，也顧不得了。In short, this piece is really a "Standard Biography," but considering the style of my writing, since it is a lowly, common style, the sort of language used by "cart-pullers and pedlars of gruel," I dare not presume to claim so lofty a title, and so, from the stock phrase used by novelists—who are ranked outside the Three Doctrines and Nine Schools—"enough of such idle talk, let us return to the true story," I have taken the two words "true story" to serve as my title, even though on the printed page they happen to coincide with the very same characters used by men of old in works entitled "Faithful Biography" done in the proper style of biographical writing—well, that cannot be helped.

第二，立傳的通例，開首大抵該是『某，字某，某地人也』，而我並不知道阿Q姓什麼。Second, the general convention for writing a biography is that it should open with something like "So-and-so, styled So-and-so, was a native of such-and-such a place," but I do not even know what Ah Q's surname was.有一回，他似乎是姓趙，但第二日便模糊了。Once, it seemed he had the surname Zhao, but by the next day the matter had already grown hazy again.那是趙太爺的兒子進了秀才的時候，鑼聲鐺鐺的報到村裏來，阿Q正喝了兩碗黃酒，便手舞足蹈的說，這于他也很光采，因爲他和趙太爺原來是本家，細細的排起來他還比秀才長三輩呢。That was the time when old Mr. Zhao's son had passed the county examination and become a xiucai, and the gongs clanged out the news into the village; Ah Q, having just drunk two bowls of yellow wine, began waving his arms and stamping his feet, declaring that this reflected great glory upon himself as well, since he and old Mr. Zhao were, properly speaking, of the same clan, and if one worked it out carefully by generation, he actually stood three generations senior to the new xiucai.其時幾個旁聽人倒也肅然的有些起敬了。At the time, several bystanders who overheard this actually grew rather respectful toward him.那知道第二天，地保便叫阿Q到趙太爺家裏去；Who would have thought that the very next day the bailiff summoned Ah Q to old Mr. Zhao's house;太爺一見，滿臉濺朱，喝道：The moment the old gentleman saw him, his whole face flushed crimson, and he roared:

『阿Q，你這渾小子！"Ah Q, you wretched fool!你說我是你的本家麽？』You say I'm one of your own clan?"

阿Q不開口。Ah Q said nothing.

趙太爺愈看愈生氣了，搶進幾步說：『你敢胡說！The angrier old Mr. Zhao grew the more he looked at him, and he strode forward several steps, saying, "How dare you talk such nonsense!我怎麽會有你這樣的本家？How could I possibly have a clansman like you?你姓趙麽？』Is your surname really Zhao?"

阿Q不開口，想往後退了；Ah Q said nothing, and thought of backing away;趙太爺跳過去，給了他一個嘴巴。Old Mr. Zhao sprang forward and gave him a slap across the face.

『你怎麽會姓趙！——你那裏配姓趙！』"How could you possibly be surnamed Zhao!—How could the likes of you be worthy of the name Zhao!"

阿Q並沒有抗辯他確鑿姓趙，只用手摸着左頰，和地保退出去了；Ah Q made no attempt to argue that he was truly surnamed Zhao; he simply put his hand to his left cheek and withdrew together with the bailiff;外面又被地保訓斥了一番，謝了地保二百文酒錢。Outside, he was given another scolding by the bailiff, and had to pay him two hundred coppers as thanks for his trouble.知道的人都說阿Q太荒唐，自己去招打；Those who heard of it all said Ah Q was too absurd, bringing a beating upon himself;他大約未必姓趙，卽使眞姓趙，有趙太爺在這裏，也不該如此胡說的。He probably was not really surnamed Zhao, and even if he truly were, with old Mr. Zhao living right there, he certainly ought not to have talked such nonsense.此後便再沒有人提起他的氏族來，所以我終於不知道阿Q究竟什麽姓。After that no one ever again brought up the matter of his clan, and so in the end I have no way of knowing just what Ah Q's surname really was.

第三，我又不知道阿Q的名字是怎麽寫的。Third, I also do not know how Ah Q's given name ought to be written.他活着的時候，人都叫他阿Quei，死了以後，便沒有一個人再叫阿Quei了，那里還會有『著之竹帛』的事。While he was alive, everyone called him Ah Quei; once he was dead, no one ever called him Ah Quei again, so there was certainly never any occasion for his name to be "set down in bamboo and silk."若論『著之竹帛』，這篇文章要算第一次，所以先遇着了這第一個難關。If it comes to being "set down in bamboo and silk," this piece of writing must count as the very first instance, and so I ran into this very first difficulty right away.我曾經仔細想：阿Quei，阿桂還是阿貴呢？I once thought it over very carefully: was it Ah Quei, written as Ah Gui (桂, "cassia") or Ah Gui (貴, "precious")?倘使他號叫月亭，或者在八月間做過生日，那一定是阿桂了；Had he gone by the courtesy name Yueting ("Moon Pavilion"), or had he once celebrated a birthday sometime in the eighth month, then it would certainly have been Ah Gui (桂, "cassia," associated with the moon);而他旣沒有號——也許有號，只是沒有人知道他，——又未嘗散過生日徵文的帖子：寫作阿桂，是武斷的。But since he had no courtesy name at all—or perhaps he did have one, only no one knew of it—and had certainly never sent out invitations soliciting birthday tributes, writing it as Ah Gui (桂) would be arbitrary.又倘若他有一位老兄或令弟叫阿富，那一定是阿貴了；Again, had he had an elder or younger brother named Ah Fu ("wealth"), then it would certainly have been Ah Gui (貴, "precious," paired with "wealth");而他又只是一個人：寫作阿貴，也沒有佐證的。But he was entirely alone in the world: so writing it as Ah Gui (貴) also has no evidence to support it.其餘音Quei的偏僻字樣，更加湊不上了。As for the remaining obscure characters pronounced "Quei," none of them fit any better.先前，我也曾問過趙太爺的兒子茂才先生，誰料博雅如此公，竟也茫然，但據結論說，是因爲陳獨秀辦了新青年提倡洋字，所以國粹淪亡，無可查考了。Earlier, I had once put the question to old Mr. Zhao's son, the accomplished Mr. Maocai; who would have thought that even so learned and erudite a gentleman as he would be at a total loss—though his final conclusion was that it was all because Chen Duxiu had started New Youth and promoted Western letters, so that the national essence had been lost, and there was simply no way left to look such things up.我的最後的手段，只有托一個同鄉去查阿Q犯事的案卷，八個月之後纔有回信，說案卷裏並無與阿Quei的聲音相近的人。My very last resort was to ask a fellow townsman to search through the court records of Ah Q's case; eight months later I finally got a reply, saying that in the records there was no one whose name sounded anything like "Ah Quei."我雖不知道是眞沒有，還是沒有查，然而也再沒有別的方法了。Whether there truly was no such name, or whether the search simply had not been made, I could not tell, but in any case there was no other method left to try.生怕注音字母還未通行，只好用了『洋字』，照英國流行的拼法寫他爲阿Quei，略作阿Q。Fearing that the phonetic alphabet was still not in general use, I had no choice but to use "Western letters," writing his name, according to the spelling conventions current in England, as Ah Quei, abbreviated as Ah Q.這近于盲從新青年，自己也很抱歉，但茂才公尚且不知，我還有什麽好辦法呢。This comes rather close to blindly following New Youth, and I am rather ashamed of it myself, but if even the accomplished Mr. Maocai did not know, what better method could I possibly have?

第四，是阿Q的籍貫了。Fourth, there is the matter of Ah Q's native place.倘他姓趙，則據現在好稱郡望的老例，可以照郡名百家姓上的注解，說是『隴西天水人也』，但可惜這姓是不甚可靠的，因此籍貫也就有些決不定。Had his surname been Zhao, then, following the old custom nowadays of citing one's ancestral commandery for prestige, I might have said, according to the commentary under the commandery name in the Hundred Family Surnames, that he was "a native of Tianshui in Longxi"; but unfortunately this surname is not at all reliable, and so his native place, too, cannot be settled with any certainty.他雖然多住未莊，然而也常常宿在別處，不能說是未莊人，卽使說是『未莊人也』，也仍然有乖史法的。Although he lived for the most part in Weizhuang, he also frequently lodged elsewhere, so he cannot properly be called a native of Weizhuang; and even if I did say he was "a native of Weizhuang," that too would still run contrary to proper historiographical method.

我所聊以自慰的，是還有一個『阿』字非常正確，絕無附會假借的缺點，頗可以就正於通人。The one thing that gives me some small comfort is that at least the character "Ah" is entirely correct, with no flaw of forced analogy or false borrowing whatsoever, and it may well stand up to the scrutiny of learned men.至於其餘，卻都非淺學所能穿鑿，只希望有『歷史癖與考據癖』的胡適之先生的門人們，將來或者能够尋出許多新端緒來，但是我這阿Q正傳到那時卻又怕早經消滅了。As for all the rest, it is simply beyond what my shallow learning can dig out and explain; I can only hope that the disciples of Mr. Hu Shizhi, a man with a passion for history and textual research, may in future be able to ferret out a great many fresh leads, though by that time I am afraid this True Story of Ah Q of mine will already have long since vanished.

以上可以算是序。The above may be taken as the preface.

第二章優勝記略Chapter Two: A Brief Account of Victories

阿Q不獨是姓名籍貫有些渺茫，連他先前的『行狀』也渺茫。Not only were Ah Q's surname and native place left in considerable obscurity, but even his earlier "record of conduct" was obscure as well.因爲未莊的人們之於阿Q，只要他幫忙，只拿他玩笑，從來沒有留心他的『行狀』的。For the people of Weizhuang, in dealing with Ah Q, wanted only his help with labor, or else made him the butt of their jokes, and never once troubled to take note of his "record of conduct."而阿Q自己也不說，獨有和別人口角的時候，間或瞪着眼睛道：And Ah Q himself never spoke of it either, except that whenever he quarreled with someone, he would sometimes glare and say:

『我們先前——比你闊的多啦！"We—in former days—were far better off than you!你算是什麽東西！』Who do you think you are, anyway!"

阿Q沒有家，住在未莊的土穀祠裏；Ah Q had no home of his own, and lived in the Tutelary Temple of Weizhuang;也沒有固定的職業，只給人家做短工，割麥便割麥，舂米便舂米，撐船便撐船。Nor did he have any settled occupation, only doing odd jobs for others—when there was wheat to be cut, he cut wheat; when there was rice to be hulled, he hulled rice; when there was a boat to be poled, he poled a boat.工作略長久時，他也或住在臨時主人的家裏，但一完就走了。When a job happened to run somewhat longer, he might even lodge for a time at the home of his temporary employer, but once the job was finished, off he went.所以，人們忙碌的時候，也還記起阿Q來，然而記起的是做工，並不是『行狀』；So when people were busy, they still remembered Ah Q, but what they remembered was his labor, not his "record of conduct";一閒空，連阿Q都早忘卻，更不必說『行狀』了。And once there was nothing to do, even Ah Q himself was soon forgotten, let alone his "record of conduct."只是有一回，有一個老頭子頌揚說：『阿Q眞能做！』這時阿Q赤着膊，懶洋洋的瘦伶仃的正在他面前，別人也摸不着這話是眞心還是譏笑，然而阿Q很喜歡。Only once did an old man praise him, saying, "Ah Q really can work!" At the time Ah Q, bare to the waist, lean and scrawny, stood before him looking rather listless, and no one else could quite tell whether the remark was sincere or mocking, but Ah Q himself was highly pleased.

阿Q又很自尊，所有未莊的居民，全不在他眼睛裏，甚而至于對于兩位『文童』也有以爲不值一笑的神情。Ah Q was also extremely proud; all the residents of Weizhuang counted for nothing at all in his eyes, and he even wore an expression suggesting that the village's two "budding scholars" were scarcely worth a laugh.夫文童者，將來恐怕要變秀才者也；Now, a "budding scholar" is one who may, in time, become a xiucai;趙太爺、錢太爺大受居民的尊敬，除有錢之外，就因爲都是文童的爹爹，而阿Q在情神上獨不表格外的崇奉，他想：我的兒子會闊得多啦！Old Mr. Zhao and old Mr. Qian received the utmost respect from the villagers, not only for their wealth but also because both were fathers of "budding scholars," and yet Ah Q alone showed no special reverence for them in spirit; he thought to himself: my own son will be far, far grander than that!加以進了幾回城，阿Q自然更自負，然而他又很鄙薄城裏人，譬如用三尺長三寸寬的木板做成的凳子，未莊叫『長凳』，他也叫『長凳』，城裏人卻叫『條凳』，他想：這是錯的，可笑！On top of this, having been into the city a few times, Ah Q naturally grew even more self-important, and yet at the same time he thought rather little of the people in the city—for instance, take the bench made of a board three feet long and three inches wide: in Weizhuang they called it a "long bench," and he too called it a "long bench," but the people in the city called it a "strip bench," and he thought: that's wrong, how ridiculous!油煎大頭魚，未莊都加上半寸長的葱葉，城裏卻加上切細的葱絲，他想：這也是錯的，可笑！When frying a large-headed fish, in Weizhuang they always added scallion greens half an inch long, but in the city they added finely shredded scallion instead, and he thought: that too is wrong, how ridiculous!然而未莊人眞是不見世面的可笑的鄉下人呵，他們沒有見過城裏的煎魚！And yet the people of Weizhuang really were ridiculous country bumpkins who had never seen the world—they had never once seen how fish is fried in the city!

阿Q『先前闊』，見識高，而且『眞能做』，本來幾乎是一個『完人』了，但可惜他體質上還有一些缺點，最惱人的是在他頭皮上，頗有幾處不知于何時的癩瘡疤。Having been "grand in former days," being a man of discernment, and moreover "really able to work," Ah Q might almost have counted as a "perfect man"; unfortunately, however, he had certain physical shortcomings as well, and the most vexing of these was found on his scalp, where there were, dating from who knows when, quite a few patches of ringworm scars.這雖然也在他身上，而看阿Q的意思，倒也似乎以爲不足貴的，因爲他諱說『癩』以及一切近於『賴』的音，後來推而廣之，『光』也諱，『亮』也諱，再後來，連『燈』『燭』都諱了。Although these too were part of his own body, judging from Ah Q's attitude toward them, he seemed to consider them nothing to be proud of, for he avoided the word "ringworm" (癩, lài), and indeed any sound close to "lài," and later on, by extension, he came to avoid "guang" (bright/bald) as well, and "liang" (shining), and later still even "deng" (lamp) and "zhu" (candle) were forbidden words to him.一犯諱，不問有心與無心，阿Q便全疤通紅的發起怒來，估量了對手，口訥的他便罵，氣力小的他便打；Whenever this taboo was violated, whether on purpose or not, Ah Q's whole scarred scalp would flush crimson with rage; sizing up his opponent, if the man was slow of tongue he would curse him, and if the man was weak in strength he would beat him;然而不知怎麽一回事，總還是阿Q喫虧的時候多，於是他漸漸的變換了方針，大抵改爲怒目而視了。Yet somehow, for some reason or other, it was Ah Q who generally came out the loser in these encounters, so that gradually he changed his tactics, and took to glaring fiercely at people instead, more often than not.

誰知道阿Q採用怒目主義之後，未莊的閒人們便愈喜歡玩笑他，一見面，他們便假作喫驚的說：Little did he know that once Ah Q adopted this policy of the fierce glare, the idlers of Weizhuang only grew fonder of teasing him for it; the moment they saw him, they would pretend to be startled and say:

『噲，亮起來了。』"Well now, it's lit up!"

阿Q照例的發了怒，他怒目而視了。Ah Q, as always, flew into a rage, and glared fiercely at them.

『原來有保險燈在這裏！』他們並不怕。"So there's a safety lamp here after all!" they would say, quite unafraid.

阿Q沒有法，只得另外想出報復的話來：Ah Q, having no other recourse, could only rack his brains for some retort by way of revenge:

『你還不配……』這時候，又彷彿在他頭上的是一種高尙的光榮的癩頭瘡，並非平常的癩頭瘡了；"You're not even worthy..." At such moments, it was as though the thing on his head had become some sort of noble and glorious ringworm scar, no longer an ordinary case of ringworm at all;但上文說過，阿Q是有見識的，他立刻知道和『犯忌』有點抵觸，便不再往底下說。But as noted above, Ah Q was a man of discernment, and he realized at once that this line of thought bordered on violating the taboo himself, and so he would say no more.

閒人還不完，只撩他，於是終而至于打。Yet the idlers were still not satisfied, and kept provoking him, until at last it came to blows.阿Q在形式上打敗了，被人揪住黃辮子，在壁下碰了四五個響頭，閒人這纔心滿意足的得勝的走了，阿Q站了一刻，心裏想，『我總算被兒子打了，現在的世界眞不像樣……』于是也心滿意足的得勝的走了。Ah Q would be defeated in outward form, seized by his queue and made to knock his head against the wall four or five times with a resounding thud, and only then would the idlers walk off satisfied, feeling they had won; Ah Q would stand there a moment, thinking to himself, "It's as if I've been beaten by my own son—what is the world coming to these days..." and then he too would walk off satisfied, feeling that he had won.

阿Q想在心裏的，後來每每說出口來，所以凡有和阿Q玩笑的人們，幾乎全知道他有這一種精神上的勝利法，此後每逢揪住他黃辮子的時候，人就先一着對他說：What Ah Q thought to himself in this way, he later took to saying aloud as well, so that nearly everyone who teased Ah Q came to know of this spiritual method of his for winning victories, and after that, whenever they seized him by his queue, people would get in first and say to him:

『阿Q，這不是兒子打老子，是人打畜生。"Ah Q, this isn't a son beating his father, it's a man beating a beast.自己說，人打畜生！』Say it yourself—a man beating a beast!"

阿Q兩隻手都揑住了自己的辮根，歪着頭，說道：Ah Q, gripping the base of his own queue with both hands, would tilt his head and say:

『打蟲豸，好不好？"Beating an insect—how's that?我是蟲豸——還不放麽？』I'm an insect—will you let go now?"

但雖然是蟲豸，閒人也並不放，仍舊在就近什麽地方給他碰了五六個響頭，這纔心滿意足的得勝的走了，他以爲阿Q這回可遭了瘟。But insect or not, the idlers would still not let him go, and would go on knocking his head against whatever was nearby five or six more times, and only then would they walk off satisfied, feeling they had won, believing that this time Ah Q had really come to grief.然而不到十秒鐘，阿Q也心滿意足的得勝的走了，他覺得他是第一個能够自輕自賤的人，除了『自輕自賤』不算外，餘下的就是『第一個』。Yet in less than ten seconds, Ah Q too would walk off satisfied, feeling that he had won; he considered himself the foremost man in the world at belittling and demeaning himself, and once you set aside the phrase "belittling and demeaning himself," what remained was simply "foremost" itself.狀元不也是『第一個』麽？『你算是什麽東西』呢！？Was not the top graduate of the examinations also "the foremost"? "Who do you think you are, anyway!"

阿Q以如是等等妙法尅服怨敵之後，便愉快的跑到酒店裏喝幾碗酒，又和別人調笑一通，口角一通，又得了勝，愉快的回到土穀祠，放倒頭睡着了。Having subdued his enemies with such marvelous methods as these, Ah Q would go happily off to the tavern to drink a few bowls of wine, exchange more banter and more quarrels with others, win yet another victory, and return happily to the Tutelary Temple, where he would lie down and fall straight asleep.假使有錢，他便去押牌寶，一堆人蹲在地面上，阿Q卽汗流滿面的夾在這中間，聲音他最響：If he happened to have money, he would go and play at "guessing the covered coin"; a cluster of people would squat on the ground, and Ah Q, sweat streaming down his face, would squeeze in among them, his voice the loudest of all:

『青龍四百！』"Four hundred on the Green Dragon!"

『咳～～開～～啦！』樁家揭開盒子蓋，也是汗流滿面的唱。『天門啦～～角回啦！"Aiya~~~ it's open~~~!" The banker, opening the lid of the box, would sing out, his own face streaming with sweat too. "Heaven's Gate, ah~~~ the corner's out!人和穿堂空在那裏啦～～！Both the 'harmony' and the 'through-hall' bets stand empty here~~~!阿Q的銅錢拿過來～～！』Hand over Ah Q's coppers~~~!"

『穿堂一百——一百五十！』"The through-hall—one hundred—one hundred fifty!"

阿Q的錢便在這樣的歌吟之下，漸漸的輸入別個汗流滿面的人物的腰間。And so, to the accompaniment of such chanting, Ah Q's coppers would gradually pass into the waistbands of other sweat-streaked figures.他終于只好擠出堆外，站在後面看，替別人着急，一直到散場，然後戀戀的回到土穀祠，第二天，腫着眼睛去工作。In the end he would have no choice but to squeeze his way out of the crowd and stand behind, watching, feeling anxious on other people's behalf, until the game broke up, and only then would he return, reluctant and lingering, to the Tutelary Temple; the next day he would go to work with swollen eyes.

但眞所謂『塞翁失馬安知非福』罷，阿Q不幸而贏了一回，他倒幾乎失敗了。But truly, as the saying goes, "when the old man on the frontier lost his horse, who could say it was not a blessing in disguise"—for the one time Ah Q had the misfortune to win, he very nearly came to real grief over it.

這是未莊賽神的晚上。This was on the night of the Weizhuang festival to honor the gods.這晚上照例有一臺戲，戲臺左近，也照例有許多的賭攤。On this night there was, as always, a stage performance, and near the stage there were, as always, a great many gambling stalls.做戲的鑼鼓，在阿Q耳朶裏彷彿在十里之外；The gongs and drums of the performance sounded in Ah Q's ears as though they came from ten miles away;他只聽得樁家的歌唱了。All he could hear was the banker's chant.他贏而又贏。He won, and won again.銅錢變成角洋，角洋變成大洋，大洋又成了疊。Coppers turned into small silver coins, small silver coins turned into silver dollars, and the silver dollars piled up into stacks.他興高采烈得非常：He was in extraordinarily high spirits:

『天門兩塊！』"Two dollars on Heaven's Gate!"

他不知道誰和誰爲什麽打起架來了。He never found out who it was that started fighting with whom, or why.罵聲、打聲、脚步聲，昏頭昏腦的一大陣，他纔爬起來，賭攤不見了，人們也不見了，身上有幾處很似乎有些痛，似乎也挨了幾拳幾腳似的，幾個人詫異的對他看。Amid a great confused din of cursing, blows, and stamping feet, his head reeling, he finally crawled to his feet; the gambling stall was gone, the people were gone, and in several places on his body there seemed to be some pain, as though he had also taken a few punches and kicks; several onlookers were staring at him in astonishment.他如有所失的走進土穀祠，定一定神，知道他的一堆洋錢不見了。He walked into the Tutelary Temple as though he had lost something, and once he had steadied himself, he realized that his pile of silver dollars was gone.趕賽會的賭攤多不是本村人，還到那裏去尋根柢呢？Most of the people who ran gambling stalls at these festival gatherings were not from this village—where, then, could he go looking for them?

很白很亮的一堆洋錢！Such a fine, gleaming white pile of silver dollars!而且是他的——現在不見了！And it had been his—and now it was gone!說是算被兒子拿去了罷，總還是忽忽不樂；To tell himself that it was as if his son had taken it—he still felt gloomy and out of sorts;說自己是蟲豸罷，也還是忽忽不樂：他這回纔有些感到失敗的苦痛了。To tell himself that he was but an insect—he still felt gloomy and out of sorts: this time, at last, he felt something of the bitterness of defeat.

但他立刻轉敗爲勝了。But he very quickly turned defeat into victory.他擎起右手，用力的在自己臉上連打了兩個嘴巴，熱刺刺的有些痛；He raised his right hand and slapped himself twice across the face with all his strength; it stung hotly and hurt a little;打完之後，便心平氣和起來，似乎打的是自己，被打的是別一個自己，不久也就彷彿是自己打了別個一般，——雖然還有些熱刺刺，——心滿意足的得勝的躺下了。once the slapping was done, his heart grew calm and level again, as though the one who had struck the blow was himself, and the one who had been struck was another self, and presently it seemed almost as though he had struck someone else — though there was still some hot stinging — and, satisfied at heart, victorious, he lay himself down.

他睡着了。He fell asleep.

第三章續優勝記略Chapter Three: A Further Account of the Records of Victory

然而阿Q雖然常優勝，卻直待蒙趙太爺打他嘴巴之後，這纔出了名。And yet, though Ah Q was constantly victorious, it was only after he had had the honor of being slapped by Mr. Zhao that he first became famous.

他付過地保二百文酒錢，忿忿的躺下了，後來想：『現在的世界太不成話，兒子打老子……』于是忽而想到趙太爺的威風，而現在是他的兒子了，便自己也漸漸的得意起來，爬起身，唱着小孤孀上墳到酒店去。He paid the bailiff two hundred coppers for wine and lay down in indignation; afterward he thought: "The world nowadays is too outrageous — sons beating fathers..." and then he suddenly thought of the might of Mr. Zhao, who was now his son, and he himself gradually grew pleased, got up, and went off to the wine shop singing "The Young Widow at the Grave."這時候，他又覺得趙太爺高人一等了。At this moment, he felt once more that Mr. Zhao was a cut above ordinary men.

說也奇怪，從此之後，果然大家也彷彿格外尊敬他。Strange to say, from then on it did indeed seem that everyone treated him with rather more respect.這在阿Q，或者以爲因爲他是趙太爺的父親，而其實也不然。Ah Q, for his part, may have supposed this was because he was Mr. Zhao's father, but in fact it was not so.未莊通例，倘如阿七打阿八，或者李四打張三，向來本不算一件事，必須與一位名人如趙太爺者相關，這纔載上他們的口碑。By the usual custom of Weizhuang, if A Seven beat A Eight, or Li Si beat Zhang San, it had never counted as anything worth mentioning, unless it was somehow connected with a person of note such as Mr. Zhao, in which case only then would it get recorded in the town's talk.一上口碑，則打的旣有名，被打的也就託庇有了名。Once it entered the town's talk, the one who did the beating gained fame from it, and the one who was beaten also came to share, under his protection, in that fame.至于錯在阿Q，那自然是不必說。As for the fault lying with Ah Q, that of course need not be said.所以者何？Why is this so?就因爲趙太爺是不會錯的。Simply because Mr. Zhao could not possibly be in the wrong.但他旣然錯，爲什麽大家又彷彿格外尊敬他呢？But if the fault was indeed his, then why did everyone seem to respect him all the more?這可難解，穿鑿起來說，或者因爲阿Q說是趙太爺的本家，雖然挨了打，大家也還怕有些眞，總不如尊敬一些穩當。This is hard to explain; if one digs into it, perhaps it was because Ah Q claimed to be a relation of the Zhao family, and although he had taken a beating, people were still a little afraid it might be true, and it was always safer to show him some respect.否則，也如孔廟裏的太牢一般，雖然與豬羊一樣，同是畜生，但旣經聖人下箸，先儒們便不敢妄動了。If not that, then it was like the sacrificial ox in the Confucian temple — though it is the same kind of beast as a pig or a sheep, once the sage himself has laid his chopsticks upon it, the lesser scholars of later times dare not touch it carelessly.

阿Q此後倒得意了許多年。After this Ah Q went about pleased with himself for a good many years.

有一年的春天，他醉醺醺的在街上走，在牆根的日光下，看見王鬍在那裏赤着膊捉蝨子，他忽然覺得身上也癢起來了。One spring, he was walking along the street somewhat drunk, and in the sunlight by the foot of a wall he saw Whiskers Wang sitting there bare-chested catching lice, and all at once he felt an itch come over his own body too.這王鬍，又癩又鬍，別人都叫他王癩鬍，阿Q卻删去了一個癩字，然而非常渺視他。This Whiskers Wang was both scabby and bearded, so that others called him Scabby-Whiskers Wang, but Ah Q dropped the word "scabby" — and yet he still despised him thoroughly.阿Q的意思，以爲癩是不足爲奇的，只有這一部絡腮鬍子，實在太新奇，令人看不上眼。In Ah Q's opinion, being scabby was nothing remarkable; it was only that full growth of whiskers along his jaw that was truly outlandish and unpleasant to look at.他於是並排坐下去了，倘是別的閒人們，阿Q本不敢大意坐下去。So he sat himself down right beside him; had it been any of the other idlers, Ah Q would never have dared to sit down so carelessly.但這王鬍旁邊，他有什麽怕呢？But beside this Whiskers Wang, what did he have to fear?老實說：他肯坐下去，簡直還是擡舉他。To tell the truth, his willingness to sit down there was, if anything, doing the man an honor.

阿Q也脫下破夾襖來，翻檢了一回，不知道因爲新洗呢還是因爲粗心，許多工夫，只捉到三四個。Ah Q too took off his ragged jacket and turned it over to search, but whether because it had recently been washed or because he was careless, after a long while he caught only three or four.他看那王鬍，卻是一個又一個，兩個又三個，只放在嘴裏畢畢剝剝的響。He looked at Whiskers Wang, and there it was one after another, two, then three, popping crisply between his teeth.

阿Q最初是失望，後來卻不平了：看不上眼的王鬍尚且那麽多，自己倒反這樣少，這是怎樣的大失體統的事呵！At first Ah Q was disappointed, but then he grew indignant: that Whiskers Wang, so unpleasant to look at, had so many, while he himself had so few — what a shocking loss of proper standing this was!他很想尋一兩個大的，然而竟沒有，好容易纔捉到一個中的，恨恨的塞在厚嘴唇裏，狠命一咬，劈的一聲，又不及王鬍響。He very much wanted to find one or two big ones, but there simply were none; only after great effort did he manage to catch one middling one, which he thrust resentfully between his thick lips and bit down on with all his might, but though it gave a crack, it still was not as loud as Whiskers Wang's.

他癩瘡疤塊塊通紅了，將衣服摔在地上，吐一口唾沫，說：His scabby patches all flushed crimson red; he flung his jacket to the ground, spat, and said:

『這毛蟲！』"You hairy worm!"

『癩皮狗，你罵誰？』王鬍輕蔑的擡起眼來說。"Scabby cur, who are you cursing?" said Whiskers Wang, lifting his eyes contemptuously.

阿Q近來雖然比較的受人尊敬，自己也更高傲些，但和那些打慣的閒人們見面還膽怯，獨有這回卻非常武勇了。Although Ah Q had lately received rather more respect from people and had himself grown somewhat more arrogant, when he came face to face with those idlers accustomed to beating him he still felt timid — yet this once he was extraordinarily bold and warlike.這樣滿臉鬍子的東西，他敢出言無狀麽？Was a creature with a face so full of whiskers as this one to be allowed to speak out of turn?

『誰認便罵誰！』他站起來，兩手叉在腰間說："Whoever answers to it, I'm cursing!" he said, standing up and putting both hands on his hips.

『你的骨頭癢了麽？』王鬍也站起來，披上衣服說："Are your bones itching for it?" said Whiskers Wang, also standing up and throwing his jacket over his shoulders.

阿Q以爲他要逃了，搶進去就是一拳。Ah Q, thinking he meant to run away, rushed forward and threw a punch.這拳頭還未達到身上，已經被他抓住了，只一拉，阿Q蹌蹌踉踉的跌進去，立刻又被王鬍扭住了辮子，要撞到牆上照例去碰頭。Before this fist could reach its target, it had already been seized; with one tug, Ah Q went staggering and stumbling forward, and at once Whiskers Wang had him twisted by the queue, dragging him toward the wall to knock his head against it in the customary fashion.

『「君子動口不動手！」』阿Q歪着頭說："'A gentleman uses his tongue, not his fists!'" said Ah Q, his head twisted to one side.

王鬍似乎不是君子，並不理會，一連給他碰了五下，又用力的一推，至于阿Q跌出六尺多遠，這纔滿足的去了。Whiskers Wang, it seemed, was no gentleman, and paid this no heed, knocking his head five times running, then giving him a hard shove so that Ah Q went flying more than six feet off, and only then, satisfied, walked away.

在阿Q的記憶上，這大約要算是生平第一件的屈辱，因爲王鬍以絡腮鬍子的缺點，向來只被他奚落，從沒有奚落他，更不必說動手了。So far as Ah Q could remember, this was probably the first humiliation of his whole life, for Whiskers Wang, on account of the fault of his whiskers, had always been the one mocked by him, never once the one to mock him, let alone raise a hand against him.而他現在竟動手，很意外，難道眞如市上所說，皇帝已經停了考，不要秀才和舉人了，因此趙家減了威風。And now he had actually raised his hand — most unexpected. Could it really be, as the talk in town had it, that the Emperor had abolished the examinations, no longer wanting men of the licentiate or provincial-graduate degree, so that the Zhao family's prestige had thereby diminished?因此他們也便小覷了他麽？Was that the reason they now looked down on him too?

阿Q無可適從的站着。Ah Q stood there at a loss what to do.

遠遠的走來了一個人，他的對頭又到了。From far off a man came walking — his old enemy had arrived again.這也是阿Q最厭惡的一個人，就是錢太爺的大兒子。This too was a man Ah Q loathed above all others: the eldest son of Mr. Qian.他先前跑上城裏去進洋學堂，不知怎麽又跑到東洋去了，半年之後他回到家裏來，腿也直了，辮子也不見了，他的母親大哭了十幾場，他的老婆跳了三回井。He had earlier gone off to the city to attend the foreign-style school, and somehow after that had gone off to Japan besides; half a year later he came home again with his legs grown straight and his queue gone, at which his mother wept a good many times over and his wife jumped down the well three times.後來，他的母親到處說，『這辮子是被壞人灌醉了酒翦去的。Afterward, his mother went about everywhere saying, "This queue of his was cut off by bad men who got him drunk on wine.本來可以做大官，現在只好等留長再說了。』然而阿Q不肯信，偏稱他『假洋鬼子』，也叫作『裏通外國的人』，一見他，一定在肚子裏暗暗的呪罵。He might well have become a great official, but now there is nothing for it but to wait until it grows long again." Ah Q, however, refused to believe this, and insisted instead on calling him "the Fake Foreign Devil," or else "the man in league with foreigners," and whenever he saw him he would be sure to curse him secretly in his belly.

阿Q尤其『深惡而痛絕之』的，是他的一條假辮子。What Ah Q "utterly detested and abhorred" above all in him was his false queue.辮子而至于假，就是沒有了做人的資格；That a queue should come to be false meant one no longer had the qualifications to count as a proper human being;他的老婆不跳第四回井，也不是好女人。and that his wife had not jumped down the well a fourth time only proved that she too was no good woman.

這『假洋鬼子』近來了。This "Fake Foreign Devil" now drew near.

『禿兒。"Baldhead.驢……』阿Q歷來本只在肚子裏罵，沒有出過聲，這回因爲正氣忿，因爲要報讎，便不由的輕輕的說出來了。Ass..." Up to now Ah Q had only ever cursed him in his belly, never aloud, but this time, being in a fit of anger and wanting revenge, the words slipped out under his breath before he knew it.

不料這禿兒卻拿着一枝黃漆的棍子——就是阿Q所謂哭喪棒——大踏步走了過來。Unexpectedly, this baldhead was carrying a yellow-lacquered stick — what Ah Q called a mourning staff — and now came striding straight over.阿Q在這剎那，便知道大約要打了，趕緊抽緊筋骨，聳了肩膀等候着，果然，拍的一聲，似乎確鑿打在自己頭上了。In that instant Ah Q knew he was probably about to be struck, and hurriedly tensed his sinews and hunched his shoulders to wait for it; and sure enough, with a crack, it seemed the blow had landed squarely on his head.

『我說他！』阿Q指着近旁的一個孩子，分辯說。"I meant him!" Ah Q protested, pointing to a child standing nearby.

拍！Crack!拍拍！Crack, crack!

在阿Q的記憶上，這大約要算是生平第二件的屈辱。So far as Ah Q could remember, this was probably to be counted the second humiliation of his life.幸而拍拍的響了之後。Fortunately, once the cracking sound was over,于他倒似乎完結了一件事，反而覺得輕鬆些，而且『忘卻』這一件祖傳的寶貝也發生了效力，他慢慢的走，將到酒店門口，早已有些高興了。it seemed to him that the matter had reached its conclusion, and he even felt somewhat lighter for it; moreover his hereditary treasure of "forgetting" began to take effect, so that as he walked slowly on, by the time he neared the wine shop door he was already in rather good spirits.

但對面走來了靜修菴裏的小尼姑。But coming toward him was the little nun from the Convent of Quiet Cultivation.阿Q便在平時，看見伊也一定要唾罵，而況在屈辱之後呢？At ordinary times, the mere sight of her was always enough to make Ah Q spit and curse — how much more so now, after a humiliation?他于是發生了回憶，又發生了敵愾了。And so the memory rose up in him again, and with it the fighting spirit rose too.

『我不知道我今天爲什麽這樣晦氣，原來就因爲見了你！』他想。"I couldn't think why I've had such rotten luck today — so it was because I ran into you!" he thought.

他迎上去，大聲的吐一口唾沫：He went straight up to her and spat loudly:

『咳，開！』"Feh, out of my way!"

小尼姑全不睬，低了頭只是走。The little nun paid him no attention at all, and only walked on with her head lowered.阿Q走近伊身旁，突然伸出手去摩着伊新剃的頭皮，獃笑着，說：Ah Q came up close beside her, suddenly reached out his hand and rubbed her freshly shaven scalp, grinning foolishly, and said:

『禿兒！"Baldy!快回去，和尙等着你……』Hurry home, the monk is waiting for you..."

『你怎麽動手動腳……』尼姑滿臉通紅的說，一面趕快走。"How dare you lay your hands on me..." said the nun, her whole face flushing crimson, hurrying on her way as she spoke.

酒店裏的人大笑了。The people in the wine shop roared with laughter.阿Q看見自己的勳業得了賞識，便愈加興高采烈起來：Seeing his heroic feat win such appreciation, Ah Q grew all the more elated:

『和尙動得，我動不得？』他扭住伊的面頰。"If the monk can touch you, why can't I?" And he gave her cheek a twist.

酒店裏的人大笑了。The people in the wine shop roared with laughter.阿Q更得意，而且爲滿足那些賞鑒家起見，再用力的一擰，纔放手。Ah Q, more pleased with himself than ever, and moreover to satisfy those connoisseurs, gave one more hard pinch before he let go.

他這一戰，早忘卻了王鬍，也忘卻了假洋鬼子，似乎對于今天的一切『晦氣』都報了讎；By this one battle he had already quite forgotten Whiskers Wang, and quite forgotten the Fake Foreign Devil too, as though he had taken revenge for every stroke of "rotten luck" that day;而且奇怪，又彷彿全身比拍拍的響了之後更輕鬆，飄飄然的似乎要飛去了。and strangely enough, his whole body felt even lighter than it had after the cracking blows, so light and buoyant he seemed almost about to fly off.

『這斷子絕孫的阿Q！』遠遠地聽得小尼姑的帶哭的聲音。"Ah Q, may your line die out!" came the little nun's voice from far off, choked with tears.

『哈哈哈！』阿Q十分得意的笑。"Ha ha ha!" Ah Q laughed, thoroughly pleased with himself.

『哈哈哈！』酒店裏的人也九分得意的笑。"Ha ha ha!" the people in the wine shop laughed too, nine-tenths as pleased.

第四章戀愛的悲劇Chapter Four: The Tragedy of Love

有人說：有些勝利者，願意敵手如虎，如鷹，他纔感得勝利的歡喜；Some say: there are certain victors who wish their foe to be like a tiger or an eagle, for only then do they feel the joy of victory;假使如羊，如小雞，他便反覺得勝利的無聊。whereas if the foe is like a sheep or a chick, they feel instead that the victory is dull and empty.又有些勝利者，當克服一切之後，看見死的死了，降的降了，『臣誠惶誠恐死罪死罪』，他于是沒有了敵人，沒有了對手，沒有了朋友，只有自己在上，一個，孤另另，淒涼，寂寞，便反而感到了勝利的悲哀。And there are other victors who, once they have overcome everything, and seen the dead lie dead and the surrendered submit, crying "Your servant is truly fearful, truly trembling, guilty of a capital crime, a capital crime," find that they then have no enemy left, no rival left, no friend left, only themselves remaining on high, alone, utterly solitary, desolate, forlorn — and feel instead the sorrow of victory.然而我們的阿Q卻沒有這樣乏，他是永遠得意的：這或者也是中國精神文明冠于全球的一個證據了。Our Ah Q, however, suffered from no such weakness; he was forever pleased with himself — and this, perhaps, is one proof that China's spiritual civilization leads the entire world.

看哪，他飄飄然的似乎要飛去了！Behold, he seemed so light and buoyant he was almost about to fly off!

然而這一次的勝利，卻又使他有些異樣。And yet this particular victory left him feeling somewhat strange all the same.他飄飄然的飛了大半天，飄進土穀祠，照例應該躺下便打鼾。He floated along on air for the better part of the day, floated his way into the Tutelary God's temple, and by rights should have lain down at once and begun to snore.誰知道這一晚，他很不容易合眼，他覺得自己的大拇指和第二指有點古怪：彷彿比平常滑膩些。Who would have thought that this night he found it very hard to close his eyes; he felt there was something odd about his thumb and forefinger — as though they were somewhat smoother and more slippery than usual.不知道是小尼姑的臉上有一點滑膩的東西黏在他指上，還是他的指頭在小尼姑臉上磨得滑膩了？……He could not tell whether something smooth had been on the little nun's face and had stuck to his fingers, or whether his fingers, from the rubbing, had worn her face smooth...

『斷子絕孫的阿Q！』"Ah Q, may your line die out!"

阿Q的耳朵裏又聽到這句話。The words sounded once more in Ah Q's ears.他想：不錯，應該有一個女人，斷子絕孫便沒有人供一碗飯，……He thought: quite right, one ought to have a woman; if one's line dies out there will be no one to offer a bowl of rice at the ancestral rites...應該有一個女人。One ought to have a woman.夫『不孝有三無後爲大』，而『若敖之鬼餒而』，也是一件人生的大哀，所以他那思想，其實是樣樣合於聖經賢傳的，只可惜後來有些『不能收其放心』了。Now, "of the three forms of unfilial conduct, having no heir is the greatest," and "the ghosts of the Ruo'ao clan go hungry" — this too is one of the great sorrows of human life, so that his thoughts, in fact, accorded in every particular with the teachings of the sages and worthies; it was only a pity that afterward he found it somewhat hard to "gather back his wandering heart."

『女人，女人！……』他想："A woman, a woman!..." he thought:

『……"...和尙動得……If the monk can touch her...女人，女人！……A woman, a woman!...女人！』他又想：A woman!" he thought again:

我們不能知道這晚上阿Q在什麽時候纔打鼾。We cannot know at what hour Ah Q finally began to snore that night.但大約他從此總覺得指頭有些滑膩，所以他從此總有些飄飄然；『女……』他想：But from then on he seems generally to have felt something smooth about his fingers, and so from then on he generally felt somewhat light and buoyant; "A wo—" he thought:

卽此一端，我們便可以知道女人是害人的東西。From this one point alone, we may know that woman is a thing that does people harm.

中國的男人，本來大半都可以做聖賢，可惜全被女人毀掉了。The men of China could, for the most part, have become sages and worthies, but it is a pity they have all been ruined by women.商是妲己鬧亡的；The Shang dynasty was brought to ruin by Daji;周是褒姒弄壞的；the Zhou dynasty was thrown into disorder by Bao Si;秦……as for the Qin...雖然史無明文，我們也假定他因爲女人，大約未必十分錯；though there is no explicit record in history, if we suppose that it too was brought down on account of a woman, we are probably not far wrong;而董卓可是的確給貂蟬害死了。and as for Dong Zhuo, he was most certainly done to death by Diaochan.

阿Q本來也是正人，我們雖然不知道他曾蒙什麽明師指授過，但他對於『男女之大防』卻歷來非常嚴；Ah Q, for his part, had originally been a man of upright principle too; although we do not know under what enlightened teacher he might have received instruction, he had always been extremely strict where "the great barrier between men and women" was concerned;也很有排斥異端——如小尼姑及假洋鬼子之類——的正氣。he also possessed a good deal of righteous zeal for driving out heterodoxy — such as little nuns and Fake Foreign Devils and the like.他的學說是：凡尼姑，一定與和尙私通，一個女人在外面走，一定想引誘野男人；His theory ran as follows: any nun must certainly be carrying on in secret with some monk; a woman walking about outside must certainly mean to lure some wild man on;一男一女在那裏講話，一定要有勾當了。when a man and a woman are there talking together, there must certainly be some scheme afoot between them.爲懲治他們起見，所以他往往怒目而視，或者大聲說幾句『誅心』話，或者在冷僻處，便從後面擲一塊小石頭。To punish such people, he would often glare fiercely at them, or call out a few loud remarks meant to "expose the heart's intent," or, in some deserted spot, hurl a small stone at them from behind.

誰知道他將到『而立』之年，竟被小尼姑害得飄飄然了。Who could have known that, on the very verge of turning thirty — the age of "standing firm" — he would in the end be made light-headed and giddy by a little nun.這飄飄然的精神，在禮教上是不應該有的，——所以女人眞可惡，假使小尼姑的臉上不滑膩，阿Q便不至于被蠱，又假使小尼姑的臉上蓋一層布，阿Q便也不至于被蠱了，——他五六年前，曾在戲臺下的人叢中擰過一個女人的大腿，但因爲隔一層褲，所以此後並不飄飄然，——而小尼姑並不然，這也足見異端之可惡。Such a light, floating spirit ought never, by the rules of propriety, to have arisen in him — and so woman is truly a hateful thing; had the little nun's face not been smooth, Ah Q would never have been thus bewitched, and had the little nun's face been covered with a layer of cloth, Ah Q likewise would never have been bewitched — five or six years earlier, amid a crowd beneath an outdoor stage, he had once pinched a woman's thigh, but because there had been a layer of trousers between, he had felt no such lightness or buoyancy afterward — whereas with the little nun it was not so, which is proof enough of how hateful heterodoxy is.

『女……』阿Q想。"A wo—" thought Ah Q.

他對於以爲『一定想引誘野男人』的女人，時常留心着，然而伊並不對他笑。He kept a watchful eye on women he suspected of "surely wanting to seduce a wild man," yet none of them ever smiled at him.他對于和他講話的女人，也時常留心聽，然而伊又並不提起關于什麽勾當的話來。He also often listened carefully to women who spoke to him, yet they never brought up anything about such doings.哦，這也是女人可惡之一節：伊們全都要裝『假正經』的。Ah, this was another of women's detestable traits: they all insisted on putting on airs of "false propriety."

這一天，阿Q在趙太爺家裏舂了一天米，喫過晚飯，便坐在廚房裏吸旱煙。That day, Ah Q had been hulling rice all day at Mr. Zhao's house, and after supper he sat in the kitchen smoking his pipe.倘在別家，喫過晚飯本可以回去的了，但趙府上晚飯早，雖說定例不准掌燈，一喫完便睡覺，然而偶然也有一些例外：其一、是趙太爺未進秀才的時候，准其點燈讀文章；In any other household, once supper was over he could have gone home, but the Zhao family ate supper early, and although the rule was that no lamps were to be lit — once supper was finished, everyone went to bed — there were occasionally a few exceptions: one was that before Mr. Zhao passed the county examination, he was allowed to light a lamp to study his essays;其二、便是阿Q來做短工的時候，准其點燈舂米。the other was that when Ah Q came to do casual labor, he was allowed to light a lamp to hull rice.因爲這一條例外，所以阿Q在動手舂米之前，還坐在廚房裏吸旱煙。Because of this exception, Ah Q, before setting to work hulling rice, was still sitting in the kitchen smoking his pipe.

吳媽，是趙太爺家裏唯一的女僕，洗完了碗碟，也就在長凳上坐下了，而且和阿Q談閒天：Wu Ma, the only maidservant in Mr. Zhao's household, having finished washing the bowls and dishes, sat down on the bench as well, and fell to chatting idly with Ah Q:

『太太兩天沒有喫飯哩，因爲老爺要買一個小的……』"The mistress hasn't eaten in two days, all because the master wants to buy a little concubine..."

『女人……"A woman...吳媽……Wu Ma...這小孤孀……』阿Q想。this little widow..." Ah Q thought.

『我們的少奶奶是八月裏要生孩子了……』"Our young mistress is going to have her baby in the eighth month..."

『女人……』阿Q想。"A woman..." Ah Q thought.

阿Q放下煙管，站了起來。Ah Q set down his pipe and stood up.

『我們的少奶奶……』吳媽還嘮叨說。"Our young mistress..." Wu Ma went on rambling.

『我和你睏覺，我和你睏覺！』阿Q忽然搶上去，對伊跪下了。"Sleep with me, sleep with me!" Ah Q suddenly rushed forward and dropped to his knees before her.

一剎時中很寂然。For an instant everything was utterly silent.

『阿呀！』吳媽楞了一息，突然發抖，大叫着往外跑，且跑且嚷，似乎後來帶哭了。"Ai-ya!" Wu Ma stood stunned for a moment, then suddenly began to shake, and ran outside shrieking, wailing as she ran, until at last she seemed to be crying.

阿Q對了牆壁跪着也發楞，於是兩手扶着空板凳，慢慢的站起來，彷彿覺得有些糟。Ah Q, kneeling toward the wall, was also dazed for a moment; then, bracing both hands on the empty bench, he slowly rose to his feet, feeling somehow that things had gone badly.他這時確也有些忐忑了，慌張的將煙管插在褲帶上，就想去舂米。By now he really did feel somewhat uneasy, and in his fluster he stuck his pipe into his waistband, meaning to go and hull rice.蓬的一聲，頭上着了很粗的一下，他急忙回轉身去，那秀才便拿了一枝大竹槓站在他面前。With a thud, something thick struck him on the head; he spun around hastily, and there was the Xiucai standing before him with a great bamboo pole in his hands.

『你反了，……"You've turned rebel, ...你這……』you...you..."

大竹槓又向他劈下來了。The great bamboo pole came slashing down at him again.阿Q兩手去抱頭，拍的正打在指節上，這可很有一些痛。Ah Q threw up both hands to shield his head, and the blow landed square on his knuckles, which hurt a good deal.他衝出廚房門，彷彿背上又着了一下似的。He rushed out through the kitchen door, feeling as though another blow had landed on his back.

『忘八蛋！』秀才在後面用了官話這樣罵。"Turtle's egg!" the Xiucai cursed after him in Mandarin.

阿Q奔入舂米場，一個人站着，還覺得指頭痛，還記得『忘八蛋』，因爲這話是未莊的鄉下人從來不用，專是見過官府的闊人用的，所以格外怕，而印象也格外深。Ah Q dashed into the rice-hulling yard and stood there alone, his fingers still smarting, still remembering the words "turtle's egg" — for this was an expression the country folk of Weizhuang never used, one used only by grand people who had dealings with officialdom, and so it frightened him all the more, and left an all the deeper impression.但這時，他那『女……』的思想卻也沒有了。But by now, his thoughts of "a woman..." had vanished entirely.而且打罵之後，似乎一件事也已經收束，倒反覺得一無掛礙似的，便動手去舂米。Moreover, after the beating and the scolding, it seemed as though the whole matter had already been settled, and he felt, if anything, unburdened, so he set to work hulling rice.舂了一會，他熱起來了，又歇了手脫衣服。After hulling for a while he grew hot, and stopped to take off his jacket.

脫下衣服的時候，他聽得外面很熱鬧，阿Q生平本來最愛看熱鬧，便卽尋聲走出去了。As he was taking off his jacket, he heard a great commotion outside; Ah Q, who all his life had loved nothing better than watching a lively scene, went straight out to find the source of the noise.尋聲漸漸的尋到趙太爺的內院裏，雖然在昏黃中，卻辨得出許多人，趙府一家連兩日不喫飯的太太也在內，還有間壁的鄒七嫂，眞正本家的趙白眼，趙司晨。Following the sound, he made his way gradually into the inner courtyard of the Zhao household, and though it was dim with dusk, he could make out a good many people — the whole Zhao family, including the mistress who had not eaten in two days, was there, along with next-door neighbor Zou Qisao, and Zhao Baiyan and Zhao Sichen, both true members of the Zhao clan.

少奶奶正拖着吳媽走出下房來，一面說：The young mistress was just then dragging Wu Ma out of the servants' quarters, saying as she went:

『你到外面來，……"Come outside, ...不要躲在自己房裏想……』don't hide in your room brooding..."

『誰不知道你正經，……"Everyone knows you're a decent, respectable woman, ...短見是萬萬尋不得的。』鄒七嫂也從旁說：you mustn't on any account think of doing away with yourself." Zou Qisao also put in from the side:

吳媽只是哭，夾些話，卻不甚聽得分明。Wu Ma did nothing but weep, mixing in a few words that were not very clear.

阿Q想：『哼，有趣，這小孤孀不知道鬧着什麽玩意兒了？』他想打聽，走近趙司晨的身邊。Ah Q thought: "Heh, this is interesting — I wonder what game this little widow has been up to?" Wanting to find out, he moved closer to Zhao Sichen's side.這時他猛然間看見趙太爺向他奔來，而且手裏揑着一枝大竹槓。Just then he suddenly saw Mr. Zhao rushing toward him, a great bamboo pole gripped in his hand.他看見這一枝大竹槓，便猛然間悟到自己曾經被打，和這一場熱鬧似乎有點相關。At the sight of that great bamboo pole, it suddenly dawned on him that he himself had once been beaten with one, and that this seemed to have some connection with the present commotion.他翻身便走，想逃回舂米場，不圖這枝竹槓阻了他的去路，于是他又翻身便走，自然而然的走出後門，不多工夫，已在土穀祠內了。He turned and fled, meaning to run back to the rice-hulling yard, but the bamboo pole happened to block his path, so he turned again and fled the other way, and quite naturally found himself going out the back gate, and before long he was inside the Tugu Temple.

阿Q坐了一會，皮膚有些起栗，他覺得冷了，因爲雖在春季，而夜間頗有餘寒，尙不宜於赤膊。Ah Q sat there for a while, his skin beginning to prickle into gooseflesh; he felt cold, for though it was spring, there was still a good deal of chill left in the night air, not yet fit for going bare-chested.他也記得布衫留在趙家，但倘若去取，又深怕秀才的竹槓。He remembered too that his cloth jacket had been left behind at the Zhao house, but if he went to fetch it, he was afraid of the Xiucai's bamboo pole.然而地保進來了。But then the local bailiff came in.

『阿Q，你的媽媽的！"Ah Q, damn your mother!你連趙家的用人都調戲起來，簡直是造反。Even the Zhao family's servant you dare to molest — this is nothing short of rebellion.害得我晚上沒有覺睡，你的媽媽的！……』You've made me lose a night's sleep, damn your mother!..."

如是云云的教訓了一通，阿Q自然沒有話。After being lectured on in this vein for some time, Ah Q of course had nothing to say.臨末，因爲在晚上，應該送地保加倍酒錢四百文，阿Q正沒有現錢，便用一頂氈帽做抵押，並且訂定了五條件：In the end, since it was nighttime, he was obliged to pay the bailiff double the usual wine money — four hundred cash — and having no ready cash, Ah Q pawned his felted hat as security, and moreover agreed to five conditions:

一、明天用紅燭——要一斤重的——一對，香一封，到趙府上去賠罪。First, tomorrow he must take a pair of red candles — weighing a full catty each — and a packet of incense, and go to the Zhao house to apologize.

二、趙府上請道士祓除縊鬼，費用由阿Q負擔。Second, the Zhao household would engage a Daoist priest to exorcise the hanged ghost, the expense to be borne by Ah Q.

三、阿Q從此不准踏進趙府的門檻。Third, Ah Q was henceforth forbidden to set foot across the Zhao family's threshold.

四、吳媽此後倘有不測，惟阿Q是問。Fourth, should anything untoward befall Wu Ma hereafter, Ah Q alone would be held responsible.

五、阿Q不准再去索取工錢和布衫。Fifth, Ah Q was not to go and demand his wages or his cloth jacket back.

阿Q自然都答應了，可惜沒有錢。Ah Q of course agreed to all of this, but unfortunately he had no money.幸而已經春天，棉被可以無用，便質了二千大錢，履行條約。Luckily it was already spring, so his padded quilt was no longer needed; he pawned it for two thousand cash and carried out the agreement.赤膊磕頭之後，居然還剩幾文，他也不再贖氈帽，統統喝了酒了。After baring his chest and kowtowing, he found to his surprise that a little money still remained, and rather than redeem his felted hat, he spent it all on wine.但趙家也並不燒香點燭，因爲太太拜佛的時候可以用，留着了。But the Zhao family never did burn the incense or light the candles, because they were kept back for the mistress to use when she worshipped Buddha.那破布衫是大半做了少奶奶八月間生下來的孩子的襯尿布，那小半破爛的便都做了吳媽的鞋底。As for the tattered cloth jacket, most of it was made into diapers for the baby the young mistress bore in the eighth month, and the smaller, more ragged remainder was made into shoe soles for Wu Ma.

第五章生計問題Chapter Five: The Problem of Livelihood

阿Q禮畢之後，仍舊回到土穀祠，太陽下去了，漸漸覺得世上有些古怪。After completing his apology, Ah Q went back to the Tugu Temple as before; the sun had gone down, and he gradually began to feel that something in the world was amiss.他仔細一想，終於省悟過來：其原因蓋在自己的赤膊。Thinking it over carefully, he finally realized the reason: it lay in his having gone bare-chested.他記得破夾襖還在，便披在身上，躺倒了，待張開眼睛，原來太陽又已經照在西牆上頭了。He remembered that his tattered lined jacket was still there, so he threw it over himself and lay down, and by the time he opened his eyes again, the sun was already shining once more on the western wall.他坐起身，一面說道：『媽媽的……』He sat up, saying as he did so, "Damn it all..."

他起來之後，也仍舊在街上逛，雖然不比赤膊之有切膚之痛，卻又漸漸的覺得世上有些古怪了。After getting up, he went strolling about the streets as usual, and though it was not as sharp and personal a feeling as going bare-chested had been, he gradually began to feel again that something in the world was amiss.彷彿從這一天起，未莊的女人們忽然都怕了羞，伊們一見阿Q走來，便個個躲進門裏去。It seemed that from that day on, the women of Weizhuang were suddenly all overcome with shyness — the moment they saw Ah Q coming, every one of them would dart indoors.甚而至於將近五十歲的鄒七嫂，也跟着別人亂鑽，而且將十一歲的女兒都叫進去了。Even Zou Qisao, who was nearly fifty, went scurrying after the others, and even called her eleven-year-old daughter inside.阿Q很以爲奇，而且想：『這些東西忽然都學起小姐模樣來了。Ah Q found this most strange, and thought to himself: "These creatures have all suddenly taken to putting on the airs of young ladies.這娼婦們……』These sluts..."

但他更覺得世上有些古怪，卻是許多日以後的事。But what made him feel that something in the world was even more amiss did not happen until many days later.其一、酒店不肯賒欠了；First, the wine shop refused to extend him any more credit;其二、管土穀祠的老頭子說些廢話，似乎叫他走；second, the old man in charge of the Tugu Temple started muttering all sorts of nonsense, seeming to want him to leave;其三、他雖然記不清多少日，但確乎有許多日，沒有一個人來叫他做短工。third, though he could not say exactly how many days it had been, it was certainly quite a number of days during which not a single person came to hire him for casual work.酒店不賒，熬着也罷了；That the wine shop would not extend credit he could bear by gritting his teeth;老頭子催他走，嚕囌一通也就算了；that the old man urged him to leave, with a good deal of tiresome nagging, he could also let pass;只是沒有人來叫他做短工，卻使阿Q肚子餓：這委實是一件非常『媽媽的』的事情。it was only that no one came to hire him for work that made Ah Q's stomach go hungry — this truly was a most "damnable" state of affairs.

阿Q忍不下去了，他只好到老主顧的家裏去探問，——但獨不許踏進趙府的門檻，——然而情形也異樣：一定走出一個男人來，現了十分煩厭的相貌，像回覆乞丐一般的搖手道：——Ah Q could not endure it any longer, and had no choice but to go around asking at the homes of his old employers — though he was forbidden alone to set foot across the Zhao family's threshold — yet things there too were strange: invariably a man would come out, wearing an expression of the utmost annoyance, and wave him off with his hand as though answering a beggar, saying:

『沒有沒有！"There's none, there's none!你出去！』Get out!"

阿Q愈覺得希奇了。Ah Q found this stranger still.他想，這些人家向來少不了要幫忙，不至于現在忽然都無事，這總該有些蹊蹺在裏面了。He thought, these households had always needed extra hands from time to time, it was not likely that all of them should suddenly have no work at all — there must be something odd behind it.他留心打聽，纔知道他們有事都去叫小Don，這小D，是一個窮小子，又瘦又乏，在阿Q的眼睛裏，位置是在王鬍之下的，誰料這小子竟謀了他的飯盌去。He made careful inquiries, and only then learned that whenever they had work, they now went and called on Little D instead. This Little D was a poor, scrawny, feeble young fellow who, in Ah Q's eyes, ranked below even Wang Hu — who would have guessed that this fellow would go and steal his rice bowl from under him.所以阿Q這一氣，更與平常不同，當氣憤憤的走着的時候，忽然將手一揚，唱道：So this time Ah Q's anger was quite unlike his usual anger, and as he walked along fuming, he suddenly flung up his hand and sang out:

『我手執鋼鞭將你打！……』"I wield my steel whip and strike you down!..."

幾天之後，他竟在錢府的照壁前遇見了小D。『讎人相見分外眼明』，阿Q便迎上去，小D也站住了。A few days later, he actually ran into Little D in front of the screen wall of the Qian household. "When enemies meet, their eyes see all the more sharply" — Ah Q went straight up to him, and Little D also stopped in his tracks.

『畜生！』阿Q怒目而視的說，嘴角上飛出唾沫來。"You beast!" said Ah Q, glaring at him, spittle flying from the corners of his mouth.

『我是蟲豸，好麽？……』小D說。"I'm a worm, all right? ..." said Little D.

這謙遜反使阿Q更加憤怒起來，但他手裏沒有鋼鞭，于是只得撲上去，伸手去拔小D的辮子。This meekness only made Ah Q angrier still, but since he had no steel whip in hand, he had no choice but to lunge forward and reach out to grab Little D's queue.小D一手護住了自己的辮根，一手也來拔阿Q的辮子，阿Q便也將空着的一隻手護住了自己的辮根。Little D shielded the base of his own queue with one hand, while reaching out with the other to grab at Ah Q's queue; Ah Q, in turn, used his free hand to shield the base of his own queue.從先前的阿Q看來，小D本來是不足齒數的，但他近來挨了餓，又瘦又乏已經不下于小D，所以便成了勢均力敵的現象，四隻手拔着兩顆頭，都彎了腰，在錢家粉牆上映出一個藍色的虹形，至于半點鐘之久了。In Ah Q's earlier estimation, Little D had never been worth taking seriously, but of late Ah Q had gone hungry, and had grown just as thin and worn out as Little D, so that the two of them now found themselves evenly matched — four hands gripping two heads, both men bent double, casting a blue rainbow-shaped shadow against the Qian family's whitewashed wall, and this went on for fully half an hour.

『好了，好了！』看的人們說，大約是解勸的。"All right, all right!" said the onlookers — presumably trying to make peace.

『好，好！』看的人們說，不知道是解勸，是頌揚，還是煽動。"Good, good!" said the onlookers — though whether this was meant to make peace, to praise, or to egg them on, no one could say.

然而他們都不聽。But neither of the two paid them any heed.阿Q進三步，小D便退三步，都站着；Ah Q would advance three steps, and Little D would retreat three steps, and then both would stand still;小D進三步，阿Q便退三步，又都站着。Little D would advance three steps, and Ah Q would retreat three steps, and again both would stand still.大約半點鐘，——未莊少有自鳴鐘，所以很難說，或者二十分，——他們的頭髮裏便都冒煙，額上便都流汗，阿Q的手放鬆了，在同一瞬間，小D的手也正放鬆了，同時直起，同時退開，都擠出人叢去。For about half an hour — Weizhuang had few self-striking clocks, so it is hard to say precisely; it may have been only twenty minutes — smoke seemed to rise from both their heads, and sweat streamed down both their foreheads; then Ah Q's hands loosened their grip, and at the very same instant Little D's hands loosened too, and at the same moment both straightened up, both stepped back, and both squeezed their way out of the crowd.

『記着罷，媽媽的……』阿Q回過頭去說。"Just you remember this, damn it..." said Ah Q, turning his head back.

『媽媽的，記着罷……』小D也回過頭來說。"Damn it, just you remember this..." said Little D, likewise turning his head back.

這一場『龍虎鬭』似乎並無勝敗，也不知道看的人可滿足，都沒有發什麽議論，而阿Q卻仍然沒有人來叫他做短工。This "battle of the dragon and the tiger" seemed to end with neither victor nor vanquished, and whether the onlookers were satisfied or not, none of them offered any comment; and as for Ah Q, still no one came to hire him for casual work.

有一日很溫和，微風拂拂的頗有些夏意了，阿Q卻覺得寒冷起來，但這還可擔當，第一倒是肚子餓。One day it was very mild, with a gentle breeze that already carried something of summer's feel, yet Ah Q found himself growing cold — though that he could put up with; what mattered far more was that his stomach was empty.棉被、氈帽、布衫早已沒有了，其次就賣了棉襖；His padded quilt, his felted hat, and his cloth jacket were all long since gone, and after them he had sold his padded jacket as well;現在有褲子，卻萬不可脫的；as for his trousers, those he had, but they were absolutely not to be taken off;有破夾襖，又除了送人做鞋底之外，決定賣不出錢。he still had his tattered lined jacket, but apart from giving it away to be made into shoe soles, it was certain to fetch no money at all.他早想在路上拾得一注錢，但至今還沒有見；He had long hoped to pick up a sum of money on the road, but to this day he had never come across any;他想在自己的破屋裏忽然尋到一注錢，慌張的四顧，但屋內是空虛而且了然。he had also imagined suddenly discovering a sum of money hidden somewhere in his own broken-down room, and in his agitation he looked wildly all about, but the room was empty, and plainly so, with nothing to be found.於是他決計出門求食去了。So he resolved to go out in search of something to eat.

他在路上走着要『求食』，看見熟識的酒店，看見熟識的饅頭，但他都走過了，不但沒有暫停，而且並不想要。As he walked along the road in search of "something to eat," he passed the wine shop he knew so well, and the steamed buns he knew so well, but he walked past them all, not only without pausing but without even wanting them.他所求的不是這類東西了；What he sought was no longer that sort of thing;他求的是什麽東西，他自己不知道。what exactly it was that he sought, he himself did not know.

未莊本不是大村鎮，不多時便走盡了。Weizhuang was, after all, no great town, and before long he had walked clear through it.村外都是水田，滿眼是新秧的嫩綠，夾着幾個圓形的活動的黑點，便是耕田的農夫。Beyond the village lay nothing but paddy fields, filled as far as the eye could see with the tender green of new rice shoots, dotted here and there with a few round, moving black specks — these were the farmers working the fields.阿Q並不賞鑑這田家樂，卻只是走，因爲他直覺的知道這與他的『求食』之道是很遼遠的。Ah Q had no appreciation at all for this pastoral scene, but simply walked on, for he sensed instinctively that it had very little to do with his quest for "something to eat."但他終于走到靜修菴的牆外了。But at last he came to the wall outside the Jingxiu Nunnery.

菴周圍也是水田，粉牆突出在新綠裏，後面的低土牆裏是菜園。Around the nunnery too lay paddy fields, its whitewashed wall rising up amid the fresh green, and behind it, within a low earthen wall, lay a vegetable garden.阿Q遲疑了一會，四面一看，並沒有人。Ah Q hesitated a moment, looked all around, and saw no one about.他便爬上這矮牆去，扯着何首烏藤，但泥土仍然簌簌的掉，阿Q的脚也索索的抖；So he climbed up onto the low wall, clutching at the fleeceflower vines, but the loose earth kept crumbling away with a rustling sound, and Ah Q's legs trembled and shook as well;終于攀着桑樹枝，跳到裏面了。at last, catching hold of a mulberry branch, he leapt down inside.裏面眞是鬱鬱葱葱，但似乎並沒有黃酒饅頭，以及此外可喫的之類。Inside it was indeed lush and green, but there seemed to be no yellow wine or steamed buns, or anything else edible.靠西牆是竹叢，下面許多筍，只可惜都是並未煮熟的，還有油菜早經結子，芥菜已將開花，小白菜也很老了。Along the west wall was a clump of bamboo, with many shoots beneath it, but unfortunately they were all uncooked; besides, the rape had already gone to seed, the mustard greens were about to flower, and the little cabbages were already quite old.

阿Q彷彿文童落第似的覺得很寃屈，他慢慢走近園門去，忽而非常驚喜了，這分明是一畦老蘿蔔。Ah Q felt as wronged as a young scholar who had failed the examination; he walked slowly toward the garden gate, when suddenly he was overjoyed — there, unmistakably, was a bed of old radishes.他于是蹲下便拔，而門口突然伸出一個很圓的頭來，又卽縮回去了，這分明是小尼姑。So he squatted down and began pulling them up, when suddenly a very round head poked out from the doorway and then withdrew again at once — unmistakably the little nun.小尼姑之流是阿Q本來視若草芥的，但世事須『退一步想』，所以他便趕緊拔起四個蘿蔔，擰下靑葉，兜在大襟裏。People like the little nun were, to Ah Q's mind, no more than weeds, but in worldly matters one must always "take a step back and think it over," so he quickly pulled up four radishes, twisted off the green leaves, and stuffed them into the front of his jacket.然而老尼姑已經出來了！But the old nun had already come out!

『阿彌陀佛，阿Q，你怎麽跳進園裏來偸蘿蔔！……"Amitabha Buddha, Ah Q, how could you jump into the garden to steal radishes! ..."阿呀，罪過呵，阿唷，阿彌陀佛！……』"Oh dear, what a sin, oh my, Amitabha Buddha! ..."

『我什麽時候跳進你的園裏來偸蘿蔔？』阿Q且看且走的說。"When did I ever jump into your garden to steal radishes?" said Ah Q, looking back even as he walked away.

『現在……"Just now ...這不是？』老尼姑指着他的衣兜。isn't this it?" The old nun pointed at the front of his jacket.

『這是你的？"Is this yours?你能叫得他答應你麽？Can you make it answer when you call it?你……』You ..."

阿Q沒有說完話，拔步便跑；Ah Q did not finish speaking, but took to his heels and ran;追來的是一匹很肥大的黑狗。what came chasing after him was a very fat black dog.這本來在前門的，不知怎的到後園來了。It had originally been at the front gate, but somehow had come round to the back garden.黑狗哼而且追，已經要咬着阿Q的腿，幸而從衣兜裏落下一個蘿蔔來，那狗給一嚇，略略一停，阿Q已經爬上桑樹，跨到土牆，連人和蘿蔔都滾出牆外面了。The black dog snarled as it gave chase, and was just about to bite Ah Q's leg when, luckily, a radish fell out of the front of his jacket; the dog, startled by this, paused for a moment, and by then Ah Q had already climbed up the mulberry tree, scrambled onto the earthen wall, and tumbled, man and radishes together, out over the wall.只剩着黑狗還在對着桑樹嘷，老尼姑念着佛。Only the black dog was left howling at the mulberry tree, while the old nun recited the name of the Buddha.

阿Q怕尼姑又放出黑狗來，拾起蘿蔔便走。Ah Q, afraid the nun might set the black dog loose again, picked up the radishes and made off.沿路又檢了幾塊小石頭，但黑狗卻並不再出現。Along the way he picked up a few small stones as well, but the black dog never appeared again.阿Q于是拋了石頭，一面走一面喫，而且想道，這裏也沒有什麽東西尋，不如進城去。……So Ah Q threw away the stones, and walked along eating as he went, thinking to himself that there was nothing more worth looking for here, and that he might as well go into the city ....

待三個蘿蔔喫完時，他已經打定了進城的主意了。By the time he had finished eating three of the radishes, he had already made up his mind to go into the city.

第六章從中興到末路Chapter Six: From Revival to Decline

在未莊再看見阿Q出現的時候，是剛過了這年的中秋。The next time Ah Q was seen again in Weizhuang, it was just after the Mid-Autumn Festival of that year.人們都驚異，說是阿Q回來了，于是又回上去想道，他先前那裏去了呢？Everyone was astonished, saying Ah Q had come back, and then, thinking back on it, wondered where he had been all this while.阿Q前幾回的上城，大抵早就興高采烈的對人說，但這一次卻並不，所以也沒有一個人留心到。On his previous trips to the city, Ah Q had generally announced it to everyone beforehand in high spirits, but this time he had not, so no one had taken any notice.他或者也曾告訴過管土穀祠的老頭子，然而未莊老例，只有趙太爺、錢太爺和秀才太爺上城纔算一件事。Perhaps he had told the old man who looked after the Tutelary God's shrine, but by Weizhuang's old custom, only when Old Master Zhao, Old Master Qian, or the Budding Talent went to the city did it count as a real event.假洋鬼子尙且不足數，何況是阿Q：因此老頭子也就不替他宣傳，而未莊的社會上也就無從知道了。Even the Fake Foreign Devil did not count for enough to be worth mentioning, let alone Ah Q; so the old man did not spread the news for him, and Weizhuang society had no way of knowing.

但阿Q這回的回來，卻與先前大不同，確乎很值得驚異。But this time Ah Q's return was very different from before, and truly worth being astonished at.天色將黑，他睡眼矇矓的在酒店門前出現了，他走近櫃臺，從腰間伸出手來，滿把是銀的和銅的，在櫃上一扔說：『現錢！As dusk was falling, he appeared before the wine shop, his eyes heavy with sleep; he went up to the counter, reached into his waistband, and pulled out a fistful of silver and copper coins, which he flung onto the counter, saying, "Cash!打酒來！』穿的是新夾襖，看去腰間還掛着一個大搭連，沈鈿鈿的將褲帶墜成了很彎很彎的弧線。Bring me some wine!" He was wearing a new lined jacket, and at his waist hung what looked like a large cloth pouch, so heavy that it pulled his belt down into a deep, curving sag.未莊老例，看見略有些醒目的人物，是與其慢也寧敬的，現在雖然明知道是阿Q，但因爲和破夾襖的阿Q有些兩樣了，古人云：『士別三日便當刮目相待』，所以堂倌、掌櫃、酒客、路人，便自然顯出一種疑而且敬的形態來。By Weizhuang's old custom, whenever anyone somewhat out of the ordinary appeared, people preferred to err on the side of respect rather than neglect; now, although they knew perfectly well this was Ah Q, since he was somewhat different from the Ah Q of the ragged jacket, and as the ancients said, "When a man has been parted from you three days, you must look at him with new eyes," the waiter, the shopkeeper, the other drinkers, and the passers-by all naturally took on an air of doubt mixed with respect.掌櫃旣先之以點頭，又繼之以談話：The shopkeeper first nodded to him, and then followed this with conversation:

『嚄，阿Q，你回來了！』"Well now, Ah Q, so you're back!"

『回來了。』"Back."

『發財發財，你是——在……』"Struck it rich, struck it rich — you were — off in ..."

『上城去了！』"I went to the city!"

這一件新聞，第二天便傳遍了全未莊。By the next day this piece of news had spread through the whole of Weizhuang.人人都願意知道現錢和新夾襖的阿Q的中興史，所以在酒店裏，茶館裏，廟簷下，便漸漸的探聽出來了。Everyone wanted to know the history of Ah Q's revival — the ready cash and the new lined jacket — so bit by bit, in the wine shop, in the teahouse, and under the temple eaves, the story was pieced together.這結果，是阿Q得了新敬畏。The result was that Ah Q gained a new measure of awe and respect.

據阿Q說，他是在舉人老爺家裏幫忙，這一節，聽的人都肅然了。According to Ah Q, he had been helping out at the house of the Successful Provincial Candidate; at this, all who heard him grew solemn.這老爺本姓白，但因爲合城裏只有他一個舉人，所以不必再冠姓，說起舉人來就是他。This gentleman's surname was actually Bai, but since he was the only Successful Provincial Candidate in the whole city, there was no need to add the surname — whenever people spoke of "the Successful Candidate," it meant him.這也不獨在未莊是如此，便是一百里方圓之內也都如此，人們幾乎多以爲他的姓名就叫舉人老爺的了。This was true not only in Weizhuang, but within a hundred li round about as well, so that people almost took it that his very name was "the Successful Candidate."在這人的府上幫忙，那當然是可敬的。To have been helping out at such a man's mansion was, of course, a thing to be respected.但據阿Q又說，他卻不高興再幫忙了，因爲這舉人老爺實在太『媽媽的』了。But Ah Q also said that he was no longer willing to go on helping out, because this Successful Candidate was really too "goddamned" mean.這一節，聽的人都歎息而且快意，因爲阿Q本不配在舉人老爺家裏幫忙，而不幫忙是可惜的。At this, those who heard him sighed and yet felt a certain satisfaction, for Ah Q was really not fit to be helping out at the Successful Candidate's house, and yet it seemed a pity that he should give it up.

據阿Q說，他的回來，似乎也由於不滿意城裏人，這就在他們將長凳稱爲條凳，而且煎魚用葱絲，加以最近觀察所得的缺點，是女人的走路也扭得不很好。According to Ah Q, his coming back seemed also to be because he was dissatisfied with the city people — for one thing, they called a long bench a "strip bench," and fried fish with shredded scallions, and besides this, his most recent observation was that even the way the women walked, with all their swaying, was not done very well.然而也偶有大可佩服的地方，卽如未莊的鄉下人不過打三十二張的竹牌，只有假洋鬼子能够叉『麻醬』，城裏卻連小烏龜子都叉得精熟的。Yet there were occasionally things that commanded great admiration — for instance, the country folk of Weizhuang only ever played the thirty-two bamboo tiles, and only the Fake Foreign Devil knew how to play mahjong, whereas in the city even little urchins played it with consummate skill.什麽假洋鬼子，只要放在城裏的十幾歲的小烏龜子的手裏，也就立刻是『小鬼見閻王』。As for the Fake Foreign Devil, put him up against some city urchin of a mere dozen-odd years, and it would at once be a case of "the little devil meeting the King of Hell."這一節，聽的人都赧然了。At this, those who heard him all blushed with embarrassment.

『你們可看見過殺頭麽？』阿Q說，『咳，好看。"Have you ever seen a beheading?" said Ah Q. "Ah, what a fine sight it was.殺革命黨。They were executing revolutionaries.唉，好看好看，……』他搖搖頭，將唾沫飛在正對面的趙司晨的臉上。Ah, what a fine sight, what a fine sight ..." He shook his head, spraying spittle straight into the face of Zhao Sichen, who sat directly opposite him.這一節，聽的人都凜然了。At this, those who heard him all felt a chill of awe.但阿Q又四面一看，忽然揚起右手，照着伸長��子聽得出神的王鬍的後項窩上直劈下去道：But Ah Q glanced around at everyone once more, and suddenly raised his right hand, bringing it down in a chop straight onto the back of the neck of Whiskers Wang, who had craned his neck forward, listening as if in a trance, saying:

『嚓！』"Chak!"

王鬍驚得一跳，同時電光石火似的趕快縮了頭，而聽的人又都悚然而且欣然了。Whiskers Wang jumped in fright, and at the same instant, quick as a flash, snatched his head back, while those listening were all at once both startled and delighted.從此王鬍瘟頭瘟腦的許多日，並且再不敢走近阿Q的身邊；After that, Whiskers Wang went about in a daze for many days, and never again dared come near Ah Q;別的人也一樣。and everyone else was just the same.

阿Q這時在未莊人眼睛裏的地位，雖不敢說超過趙太爺，但謂之差不多，大約也就沒有什麽語病的了。By this time, Ah Q's standing in the eyes of Weizhuang, though one might not dare say it surpassed Old Master Zhao's, could fairly be called about equal to it, and there would be little fault to find in saying so.

然而不多久，這阿Q的大名忽又傳遍了未莊的閨中。Yet before long, Ah Q's great name suddenly spread as well into the women's quarters of Weizhuang.雖然未莊只有錢、趙兩姓是大屋，此外十之九都是淺閨，但閨中究竟是閨中，所以也算得一件神異。Although in Weizhuang only the Qian and Zhao families had grand houses, and nine out of ten of the rest were but humble homes with shallow inner chambers, still, an inner chamber was an inner chamber, so this counted as something quite extraordinary.女人們見面時一定說，鄒七嫂在阿Q那裏買了一條藍綢裙，舊固然是舊的，但只化了九角錢。Whenever the women met, they were sure to say that Mrs. Zou the Seventh had bought a blue silk skirt from Ah Q — old, to be sure, but it had cost only ninety cents.還有趙白眼的母親——一說是趙司晨的母親，待考，——也買了一件孩子穿的大紅洋紗衫，七成新，只用三百大錢九二串。There was also Zhao Baiyan's mother — or, some say, Zhao Sichen's mother, this is uncertain — who had also bought a bright red foreign-gauze jacket for a child, seventy percent new, for only three hundred cash at the ninety-two rate.於是伊們都眼巴巴的想見阿Q，缺綢裙的想問他買綢裙，要洋紗衫的想問他買洋紗衫，不但見了不逃避，有時阿Q已經走過了，也還要追上去叫住他，問道：So they all longed eagerly to see Ah Q; those who lacked a silk skirt wanted to ask him to sell them one, and those who wanted a foreign-gauze jacket wanted to ask him for that; far from avoiding him when they saw him, sometimes even after Ah Q had already walked past, they would chase after him and call him to stop, asking:

『阿Q，你還有綢裙麽？"Ah Q, do you still have any silk skirts?沒有？None left?紗衫也要的，有罷？』A gauze jacket would do too — you must have one, surely?"

後來這終於從淺閨傳進深閨裏去了，因爲鄒七嫂得意之餘，將伊的綢裙請趙太太去賞鑑，趙太太又告訴了趙太爺而且着實恭維了一番。In time this news at last spread from the shallow inner chambers into the deep ones, for Mrs. Zou the Seventh, in her pride, took her silk skirt to show Mrs. Zhao for her appreciation, and Mrs. Zhao in turn told Old Master Zhao, praising it heartily besides.趙太爺便在晚飯桌上，和秀才大爺討論，以爲阿Q實在有些古怪，我們門窗應該小心些；So Old Master Zhao, at the dinner table that evening, discussed the matter with the Budding Talent, saying that Ah Q really was rather suspicious, and that they ought to be more careful about their doors and windows;但他的東西，不知道可還有什麽可買，也許有點好東西罷。but as for his goods, who knew whether there might still be something worth buying — perhaps he had some good things among them.加以趙太太也正想買一件價廉物美的皮背心。Besides, Mrs. Zhao happened just then to be wanting to buy a fur waistcoat that was cheap and fine.於是家族決議，便託鄒七嫂卽刻去尋阿Q，而且爲此新闢了第三種的例外：這晚上也姑且特准點油燈。So the family resolved to send Mrs. Zou the Seventh at once to find Ah Q, and for this purpose opened up a third kind of exception: for this one evening, they would specially permit the lighting of the oil lamp.

油燈乾了不少了，阿Q還不到。The oil in the lamp had burned down a good deal, and still Ah Q had not come.趙府的全眷都很焦急，打着呵欠，或恨阿Q太飄忽，或怨鄒七嫂不上緊。The whole Zhao household grew anxious, yawning as they waited, some resenting Ah Q for being so elusive, others blaming Mrs. Zou the Seventh for not hurrying enough.趙太太還怕他因爲春天的條件不敢來，而趙太爺以爲不足慮：因爲這是『我』去叫他的。Mrs. Zhao was even afraid that, because of that business back in the spring, he might not dare come, but Old Master Zhao thought there was no need to worry, since it was "he himself" who had gone to summon him.果然，到底趙太爺有見識，阿Q終於跟着鄒七嫂進來了。Sure enough, Old Master Zhao's judgment proved sound in the end, for Ah Q at last came in, following behind Mrs. Zou the Seventh.

『他只說沒有沒有，我說你自己當面說去，他還要說，我說……』鄒七嫂氣喘吁吁的走着說。"He kept saying he had none, none at all, and I told him, go and say that to their faces yourself, and he still wanted to argue, and I said ..." said Mrs. Zou the Seventh, walking along and speaking breathlessly.

『太爺！』阿Q似笑非笑的叫了一聲，在簷下站住了。"Old Master!" called out Ah Q, with something between a smile and no smile, stopping under the eaves.

『阿Q，聽說你在外面發財。』趙太爺踱開去，眼睛打量着他的全身，一面說。『那很好，那很好的。"Ah Q, I hear you've been making your fortune out there." Old Master Zhao paced a little way off, his eyes sizing him up from head to foot as he spoke. "That's very good, very good indeed.這個，……Now then ...聽說你有些舊東西，……I hear you have some secondhand goods ...可以都拿來看一看，……you might bring them all round for us to have a look at ...這也並不是別的，因爲我倒要……』it's nothing else, only that I happen to want ..."

『我對鄒七嫂說過了。"I already told Mrs. Zou the Seventh.都完了。』They're all gone."

『完了？』趙太爺不覺失聲的說，『那裏會完得這樣快呢？』"All gone?" Old Master Zhao exclaimed involuntarily. "How could they be gone so quickly?"

『那是朋友的，本來不多。"They belonged to a friend, there weren't many to begin with.他們買了些。……』People bought some of them ..."

『總該還有一點罷。』"Surely there must still be a little left."

『現在，只剩了一張門幕了。』"Right now, there's only one door curtain left."

『就拿門幕來看看罷。』趙太太慌忙說。"Then bring the door curtain for us to see," said Mrs. Zhao hastily.

『那麽，明天拿來就是』，趙太爺卻不甚熱心了。『阿Q，你以後有什麽東西的時候，你儘先送來給我們看，……』"Well then, I'll bring it tomorrow" — but Old Master Zhao had by now grown rather less enthusiastic. "Ah Q, from now on, whenever you have anything, be sure to bring it to us first to look at ..."

『價錢決不會比別家出得少！』秀才說。"We'll certainly never offer a lower price than anyone else!" said the Budding Talent.秀才娘子忙一瞥阿Q的臉，看他感動了沒有。The Budding Talent's wife glanced quickly at Ah Q's face, to see whether he had been moved.

『我要一件皮背心。』趙太太說。"I want a fur waistcoat," said Mrs. Zhao.

阿Q雖然答應着，卻懶洋洋的出去了，也不知道他是否放在心上。Ah Q gave his assent, but went out again in a listless, indifferent manner, so that no one could tell whether he had really taken it to heart.這使趙太爺很失望，氣忿而且擔心，至于停止了打呵欠。This left Old Master Zhao much disappointed, both angry and anxious, so much so that he even stopped yawning.秀才對于阿Q的態度也很不平，于是說，這忘八蛋要提防，或者竟不如吩咐地保，不許他住在未莊。The Budding Talent, too, was much displeased with Ah Q's attitude, and said that this son of a turtle needed watching, and that it might even be better to instruct the bailiff not to let him go on living in Weizhuang.但趙太爺以爲不然，說這也怕要結怨，況且做這路生意的大概是『老鷹不喫窩下食』，本村倒不必擔心的；But Old Master Zhao thought otherwise, saying that this might risk making an enemy of him, and besides, men in that line of business generally followed the rule that "a hawk does not prey near its own nest," so their own village need not worry;只要自己夜裏警醒的就是了。all they need do was keep a watchful eye at night.秀才聽了這『庭訓』，非常之以爲然，便卽刻撤消了驅逐阿Q的提議，而且叮囑鄒七嫂，請伊萬不要向人提起這一段話。On hearing this "paternal instruction," the Budding Talent thought it entirely sound, and at once withdrew his proposal to drive Ah Q out, and moreover urged Mrs. Zou the Seventh most earnestly never to breathe a word of this conversation to anyone.

但第二日，鄒七嫂便將那藍裙去染了皂，又將阿Q可疑之點傳揚出去了，可是確沒有提起秀才要驅逐他這一節。But the very next day, Mrs. Zou the Seventh had that blue skirt dyed black, and also spread abroad the suspicious points about Ah Q — though she certainly did not mention the part about the Budding Talent wanting to drive him out.然而這已經于阿Q很不利。Yet this alone was already very much to Ah Q's disadvantage.最先，地保尋上門了，取了他的門幕去，阿Q說是趙太太要看的，而地保也不還，並且要議定每月的孝敬錢。First of all, the bailiff came looking for him and took away his door curtain; Ah Q protested that Mrs. Zhao wanted to look at it, but the bailiff would not give it back either, and moreover insisted on settling a monthly "tribute fee."其次，是村人對于他的敬畏忽而變相了，雖然還不敢來放肆，卻很有遠避的神情，而這神情和先前的防他來『嚓』的時候又不同，頗混着『敬而遠之』的分子了。Next, the villagers' awe of him suddenly changed in character; though they still did not dare to take liberties with him, they now showed a marked air of keeping their distance, and this air was different from before, when they had been on guard against his "chak" — it was now mixed with a good deal of "respecting him while keeping well away."

只有一班閒人們卻還要尋根究底的去探阿Q的細底。Only a certain group of idlers still insisted on getting to the bottom of things and probing into the details of Ah Q's affairs.阿Q也並不諱飾，傲然的說出他的經驗來。Ah Q, for his part, made no attempt to conceal anything, and proudly related his experiences.從此他們纔知道，他不過是一個小脚色，不但不能上牆，並且不能進洞，只站在門外接東西。It was only then that they learned he had merely been a small-time hand, unable even to climb a wall, let alone get through a hole, and had only ever stood outside the gate to receive the goods passed out to him.有一夜，他剛纔接到一個包，正手再進去，不一會，只聽得裏面大嚷起來，他便趕緊跑，連夜爬出城，逃回未莊來了，從此不敢再去做。One night, just as he had received a bundle and was reaching his hand back in for more, before long he heard a great uproar break out inside; he immediately took to his heels, climbed out over the city wall that very night, and fled back to Weizhuang, and from then on never dared do that kind of work again.然而這故事卻于阿Q更不利，村人對于阿Q的『敬而遠之』者，本因爲怕結怨，誰料他不過是一個不敢再偸的偸兒呢？Yet this story was even more damaging to Ah Q, for the villagers' "respecting him while keeping their distance" had originally been out of fear of making an enemy of him — who would have guessed he was merely a thief who no longer even dared to steal?這實在是『斯亦不足畏也矣』。This was truly a case of "such a one is not worth fearing after all."

第七章革命Chapter Seven: Revolution

宣統三年九月十四日——卽阿Q將搭連賣給趙白眼的這一天——三更四點，有一隻大烏篷船到了趙府上的河埠頭。On the fourteenth day of the ninth month of the third year of Xuantong — that is, the very day Ah Q sold his cloth pouch to Zhao Baiyan — at the fourth point of the third night watch, a large black-awninged boat arrived at the river landing by the Zhao mansion.這船從黑魆魆中蕩來，鄉下人睡得熟，都沒有知道；The boat came gliding out of the pitch-black darkness, and the country folk, sound asleep, knew nothing of it;出去時將近黎明，卻很有幾個看見的了。but when it left, near dawn, quite a few people saw it.據探頭探腦的調查來的結果，知道那竟是舉人老爺的船！According to the results gathered by furtive peering and inquiry, it turned out that the boat belonged to none other than the Successful Provincial Candidate!

那船便將大不安載給了未莊，不到正午，全村的人心就很搖動。That boat brought great unease to Weizhuang, and before noon the hearts of the whole village were greatly shaken.船的使命，趙家本來是很祕密的，但茶坊酒肆裏卻都說，革命黨要進城，舉人老爺到我們鄉下來逃難了。The purpose of the boat's visit the Zhao family had originally kept quite secret, but in the teahouses and wine shops everyone was saying that the Revolutionary Party was about to enter the city, and that the Successful Candidate had come out to their village to take refuge.惟有鄒七嫂不以爲然，說那不過是幾口破衣箱，舉人老爺想來寄存的，卻已被趙太爺回覆轉去。Only Aunt Zou Qi disagreed, saying that they were nothing but a few broken clothes-trunks, which the Provincial Graduate had probably meant to leave in safekeeping, but which had already been sent back by Elder Zhao.其實舉人老爺和趙秀才素不相能，在理本不能有『共患難』的情誼，況且鄒七嫂又和趙家是鄰居，見聞較爲切近，所以大概該是伊對的。In fact the Provincial Graduate and Bachelor Zhao had never gotten on well, and by rights there could be no bond of "sharing hardship together" between them; moreover, Aunt Zou Qi was a neighbor of the Zhao family and her information was more direct, so it was probably she who was right.

然而謠言很旺盛，說舉人老爺雖然似乎沒有親到，卻有一封長信，和趙家排了『轉折親』。Yet the rumors ran high, saying that although the Provincial Graduate himself did not seem to have come in person, he had sent a long letter, and had arranged a "marriage-connection by twists and turns" with the Zhao family.趙太爺肚裏一輪，覺得于他總不會有壞處，便將箱子留下了，現就塞在太太的牀底下。Turning it over in his mind, Elder Zhao felt that in any case it could do him no harm, so he let the trunks stay, and they were now stuffed under his wife's bed.至于革命黨，有的說是便在這一夜進了城，個個白盔白甲：穿着崇正皇帝的素。As for the Revolutionary Party, some said they had actually entered the city that very night, every one of them in white helmets and white armor, wearing mourning for the Emperor Chongzhen.

阿Q的耳朶裏，本來早聽到過革命黨這一句話，今年又親眼見過殺掉革命黨。Ah Q's ears had long since caught the phrase "Revolutionary Party," and this very year he had seen with his own eyes revolutionaries being executed.但他有一種不知從那裏來的意見，以爲革命黨便是造反，造反便是與他爲難，所以一嚮是『深惡而痛絕之』的。But he held an opinion, come from he knew not where, that the Revolutionary Party meant rebellion, and rebellion meant making trouble for him, so he had always "hated and detested it to the bone."殊不料這卻使百里聞名的舉人老爺有這樣怕，于是他未免也有些『神往』了，況且未莊的一羣鳥男女的慌張的神情，也使阿Q更快意。Who could have guessed that it would frighten even the Provincial Graduate, famous for a hundred miles around, to such a degree; and so he too could not help feeling somewhat "drawn to it in spirit," and moreover the panicked looks of that flock of wretched men and women of Weizhuang gave Ah Q all the more satisfaction.

『革命也好罷』，阿Q想，『革這夥媽媽的命，太可惡！"Revolution's not a bad idea either," thought Ah Q. "Revolt against this pack of damned wretches — how hateful!太可恨！……How detestable!......便是我，也要投降革命黨了。』As for me, I might as well go over to the Revolutionary Party."

阿Q近來用度窘，大約略略有些不平；Ah Q had lately been pressed for money, and was probably somewhat aggrieved besides;加以午間喫了兩盌空肚酒，愈加醉得快，一面想一面走，便又飄飄然起來。and having on top of that drunk two bowls of wine at noon on an empty stomach, he grew drunk all the faster, and as he walked along thinking, he began to feel light-headed again.不知怎樣一來，忽而似乎革命黨便是自己，未莊人卻都是他的俘虜了，他得意之餘，禁不住大聲的嚷道：Somehow or other, it suddenly seemed to him that he himself was the Revolutionary Party, and that all the people of Weizhuang were his captives, and in his elation he could not stop himself shouting aloud:

『造反了！"Rebellion!造反了！』Rebellion!"

未莊人都用了驚懼的眼光對他看。The people of Weizhuang all looked at him with frightened eyes.這一種可憐的眼光，是阿Q從來沒有見過的，一見之下，又使他舒服得如六月裏喝了雪水。This kind of pitiful look was something Ah Q had never seen before, and the sight of it made him as comfortable as if he had drunk iced water in the sixth month.他更加高興的走而且喊道：He walked on all the more delightedly, shouting as he went:

『好，……"Good, ......我要什麽就要什麽，我歡喜誰就是誰。Whatever I want, I shall have; whoever I fancy, that one shall be mine.

得得，鏘鏘！Deng deng, qiang qiang!

悔不該，酒醉了錯斬了鄭賢弟，I regret it, I regret it, drunk with wine I wrongly beheaded my worthy brother Zheng,

悔不該，呀呀呀……I regret it, ya ya ya......

得得，鏘鏘，得，鏘令鏘！Deng deng, qiang qiang, deng, qiang ling qiang!

我手執鋼鞭將你打……』With my own hand I wield the steel whip and strike you down......"

趙府上的兩位男人和兩個眞本家，也正站在大門口論革命。The two men of the Zhao household, together with two genuine kinsmen, were standing just then at the gate discussing the revolution.阿Q沒有見，昂了頭直唱過去。Ah Q did not see them, and went singing past with his head held high.

『得得，……』"Deng deng, ......"

『老Q』，趙太爺怯怯的迎着低聲的叫。"Old Q," Elder Zhao called out timidly in a low voice as he came forward to meet him.

『鏘鏘』，阿Q料不到他的名字會和『老』字聯結起來，以爲是一句別的話，與己無干，只是唱。『得，鏘，鏘令鏘，鏘！』"Qiang qiang," Ah Q, never dreaming that his name could ever be joined to the word "Old," supposed it was some other remark that had nothing to do with him, and simply went on singing. "Deng, qiang, qiang ling qiang, qiang!"

『老Q。』"Old Q."

『悔不該……』"I regret it......"

『阿Q！』秀才只得直呼其名了。"Ah Q!" the Bachelor had no choice but to call him by his bare name.

阿Q這纔站住，歪着頭問道：『什麽？』Only then did Ah Q come to a stop, and tilting his head, asked, "What?"

『老Q，……"Old Q, ......現在……』趙太爺卻又沒有話，『現在……Just now......" but Elder Zhao again found nothing to say. "Just now......發財麽？』are you getting rich?"

『發財？"Rich?自然。Naturally.要什麽就是什麽……』Whatever I want is mine......"

『阿……Q哥，像我們這樣窮朋友是不要緊的……』趙白眼惴惴的說，似乎想探革命黨的口風。"Ah...... Brother Q, poor friends like us need not worry......" said Zhao Baiyan uneasily, as if trying to sound out the Revolutionary Party's intentions.

『窮朋友？"Poor friends?你總比我有錢。』阿Q說着自去了。You're richer than I am, any day." Ah Q said, and went off on his own.

大家都憮然，沒有話，趙太爺父子回家，晚上商量到點燈。Everyone was left disconcerted, with nothing to say; father and son of the Zhao household went home, and that evening discussed matters until the lamps were lit.趙白眼回家，便從腰間扯下搭連來，交給他女人藏在箱底裏。When Zhao Baiyan got home, he at once untied the money-belt from around his waist and gave it to his wife to hide at the bottom of a trunk.

阿Q飄飄然的飛了一通，回到土穀祠，酒已經醒透了。Ah Q, after his spell of floating elation, flew back to the Tutelary Temple, and by then the wine had worn off completely.這晚上，管祠的老頭子也意外的和氣，請他喝茶；That evening, even the old man who kept the temple was unexpectedly friendly, and asked him in for tea;阿Q便向他要了兩個餅，喫完之後，又要了一枝點過的四兩燭和一個樹燭臺，點起來，獨自躺在自己的小屋裏。Ah Q asked him for two cakes, and having eaten them, further asked for a four-ounce candle, already partly burned, and a wooden candlestick, and lighting it, lay down alone in his little room.他說不出的新鮮而且高興，燭火像元夜似的閃閃的跳，他的思想也迸跳起來了：——He felt an indescribable freshness and elation; the candle-flame flickered as if it were the Lantern Festival, and his thoughts too began to leap and dance:——

『造反？"Rebellion?有趣，……How interesting, ......來了一陣白盔白甲的革命黨，都拿着板刀、鋼鞭、炸彈、洋礮、三尖兩刃刀、鉤鐮鎗，走過土穀祠，叫道：「阿Q！A troop of Revolutionary Party men in white helmets and white armor would come, each carrying a broadsword, a steel whip, a bomb, a foreign cannon, a two-edged three-pointed blade, a hook-sickle spear, and they would pass by the Tutelary Temple and call out, "Ah Q!同去同去！」於是一同去。……Come with us, come with us!" And so together they would go.......

『這時未莊的一夥鳥男女纔好笑哩，跪下叫道：「阿Q，饒命！」誰聽他！At that time that flock of wretched men and women of Weizhuang would truly be laughable, kneeling down and crying, "Ah Q, spare my life!" But who would listen to them!第一個該死的是小D和趙太爺，還有秀才，還有假洋鬼子，……The first ones who deserved to die would be Whiskers Wang and Elder Zhao, and then the Bachelor, and then the Fake Foreign Devil, ......留幾條麽？Should any be spared?王鬍本來還可留，但也不要了。……Whiskers Wang might originally have been spared, but no, he would not be wanted either.......

『東西，……"As for things, ......直走進去打開箱子來：元寶、洋錢、洋紗衫，……I would go straight in and throw open the trunks: gold ingots, foreign silver dollars, foreign cotton jackets, ......秀才娘子的一張寧式牀先搬到土穀祠，此外便擺了錢家的桌椅，——或者也就用趙家的罷。The Bachelor's wife's Ningbo-style bed would be moved first to the Tutelary Temple, and besides that the tables and chairs of the Qian household would be set out — or perhaps the Zhao household's would do just as well.自己是不動手的了，叫小D來搬，要搬得快，搬得不快打嘴巴。……I myself would not lift a hand, but would call Young D to do the moving, and he had better move fast, or he'd get his face slapped.......

『趙司晨的妹子眞醜。"Zhao Sichen's sister is really ugly.鄒七嫂的女兒過幾年再說。Aunt Zou Qi's daughter — that can wait a few years.假洋鬼子的老婆會和沒有辮子的男人睡覺，嚇，不是好東西！The Fake Foreign Devil's wife sleeps with a man who has no queue — hah, no good thing, she!秀才的老婆是眼胞上有疤的。……The Bachelor's wife has a scar above her eyelid.......吳媽長久不見了，不知道在那里，——可惜脚太大。』I haven't seen Wu Ma in a long while; I wonder where she is — pity her feet are so big."

阿Q沒有想得十分停當，已經發了鼾聲，四兩燭還只點去了小半寸，紅燄燄的光照着他張開的嘴。Before Ah Q had quite settled all this in his mind, he had already begun to snore; the four-ounce candle had burned down only a bare half inch, and its red, flaring light shone upon his open mouth.

『荷荷！』阿Q忽而大叫起來，擡了頭倉皇的四顧。"He-he!" Ah Q suddenly gave a great shout, and raising his head, looked wildly about him in alarm.待到看見四兩燭，卻又倒頭睡去了。But when he saw the four-ounce candle, he lay his head down again and went back to sleep.

第二天他起得很遲，走出街上看時，樣樣都照舊。The next day he rose very late, and going out into the street to look, found everything just as before.他也仍然肚餓，他想着，想不起什麽來；He was still hungry as ever, and though he thought and thought, he could not think what to do;但他忽而似乎有了主意了，慢慢的跨開步，有意無意的走到靜修菴。but suddenly he seemed to hit upon an idea, and slowly setting out, walked, half by intention and half without it, toward the Convent of Quiet Cultivation.

菴和春天時節一樣靜，白的牆壁和漆黑的門。The convent was as quiet as it had been in spring, with its white walls and its lacquer-black gate.他想了一想，前去打門，一隻狗在裏面叫。He thought a moment, then went up and knocked at the gate; inside, a dog began to bark.他急急拾下幾塊斷磚，再上去較爲用力的打，打到黑門上生出許多麻點的時候，纔聽得有人來開門。He hastily gathered up a few pieces of broken brick, and went up again and knocked harder, and by the time the black gate was pocked with many marks, at last he heard someone coming to open it.

阿Q連忙揑好磚頭，擺開馬步，準備和黑狗來開戰。Ah Q hastily gripped his brick ready, and took a horse-stance, prepared to do battle with the black dog.但菴門只開了一條縫，並無黑狗從中衝出，望進去只有一個老尼姑。But the convent gate opened only a crack, and no black dog rushed out from within; peering in, he saw only an old nun.

『你又來什麽事？』伊大喫一驚的說。"What have you come for this time?" she said, greatly startled.

『革命了……"It's the revolution......你知道？……』阿Q說得很含糊。did you know?......" Ah Q said, rather vaguely.

『革命革命，革過一革的，……"Revolution, revolution — there's already been one revolution here, ......你們要革得我們怎麽樣呢？』老尼姑兩眼通紅的說。how do you people mean to revolutionize us any further?" said the old nun, her eyes red all over.

『什麽？……』阿Q詫異了。"What?......" Ah Q was astonished.

『你不知道，他們已經來革過了！』"Don't you know? They've already been here and made their revolution!"

『誰？……』阿Q更其詫異了。"Who?......" Ah Q was more astonished still.

『那秀才和洋鬼子！』"That Bachelor, and the Foreign Devil!"

阿Q很出意外，不由的一錯愕，老尼姑見他失了銳氣，便飛速的關了門，阿Q再推時，牢不可開，再打時，沒有回答了。This was quite beyond what Ah Q had expected, and he could not help being taken aback; the old nun, seeing his spirit had failed him, swiftly shut the gate, and when Ah Q pushed against it again, it was fastened fast, and when he knocked again, there was no answer at all.

那還是上午的事。That, however, had all happened that same morning.趙秀才消息靈，一知道革命黨已在夜間進城，便將辮子盤在頂上，一早去拜訪那歷來也不相能的錢洋鬼子。Bachelor Zhao's information was quick; as soon as he learned that the Revolutionary Party had entered the city in the night, he coiled his queue up on top of his head, and went early to call upon Qian, the Foreign Devil, with whom he had never gotten on in all the years before.這是『咸與維新』的時候了，所以他們便談得很投機，立刻成了情投意合的同志，也相約去革命。This was the season of "joining together in the great renewal," so the two of them found they had much in common, and at once became bosom comrades in sentiment, and agreed together to go and make revolution.他們想而又想：纔想出靜修菴裏有一塊『皇帝萬歲萬萬歲』的龍牌，是應該趕緊革掉的，於是又立刻同到菴裏去革命。They thought and thought, until they thought of the wooden tablet in the Convent of Quiet Cultivation reading "Long Live, Long Long Live the Emperor," which surely ought to be done away with at once, and so together they went straight off to the convent to make their revolution.因爲老尼姑來阻擋，說了三句話，他們便將伊當作滿政府，在頭上很給了不少的棍子和栗鑿。Because the old nun came out to stop them and spoke three sentences, they took her for the Manchu government, and gave her head no small number of blows with their sticks and knuckle-raps.尼姑待他們走後，定了神來檢點，龍牌固然已經碎在地上了，而且又不見了觀音娘娘座前的一個宣德鑪。After they had gone, the nun collected herself enough to look things over, and found that the tablet was indeed smashed to pieces on the ground, and, moreover, that the Xuande-era incense burner before the seat of the Bodhisattva Guanyin was missing as well.

這事阿Q後來纔知道。Ah Q only learned of this matter afterward.他頗悔自己睡着，但也深怪他們不來招呼他。He was rather sorry he had been asleep, but he blamed them all the more deeply for not having come to call him.他又退一步想道：Then he thought again, retreating a step:

『難道他們還沒有知道我已經投降了革命黨麽？』"Can it be that they still don't know I've already gone over to the Revolutionary Party?"

第八章不准革命Chapter Eight: Revolution Forbidden

未莊的人心日見其安靜了。Day by day the hearts of the people of Weizhuang grew calmer.據傳來的消息，知道革命黨雖然進了城，倒還沒有什麽大異樣。According to the news that came in, they learned that although the Revolutionary Party had entered the city, there had been nothing very much out of the ordinary.知縣大老爺還是原官，不過改稱了什麽，而且舉人老爺也做了什麽——這些名目，未莊人都說不明白——官，帶兵的也還是先前的老把總。The Magistrate was still the same official, only his title had been changed to something or other; and the Provincial Graduate too had become some kind of — these titles the people of Weizhuang all said they could not make out clearly — official; and the officer in command of the troops was still the same old Battalion Commander as before.只有一件可怕的事是另有幾個不好的革命黨夾在裏面搗亂，第二天便動手翦辮子，聽說那鄰村的航船七斤便着了道兒，弄得不像人樣子了。The only frightening thing was that a few bad sorts of revolutionaries had gotten mixed in among the rest and were making trouble, and the very next day had set about cutting off queues; it was said that Seven-Pounder, the boatman from the neighboring village, had fallen afoul of them and been made to look no longer human.但這卻還不算大恐怖，因爲未莊人本來少上城，卽使偶有想進城的，也就立刻變了計，碰不着這危險。But this was not counted as so very terrible after all, since the people of Weizhuang had never gone into the city much to begin with, and even those who had once thought of going now at once changed their plans, so as not to run into that danger.阿Q本也想進城去尋他的老朋友，一得這消息，也只得作罷了。Ah Q too had originally meant to go into the city to look up his old friend, but once he had this news, he had no choice but to give up the idea.

但未莊也不能說是無改革。Yet it could not be said that Weizhuang was entirely without reform.幾天之後。A few days later.將辮子盤在頂上的逐漸增加起來了，早經說過，最先自然是茂才公，其次便是趙司晨和趙白眼，後來是阿Q。The number of those who coiled their queues up on top of their heads gradually increased; as has already been told, the first, naturally, was the Talented Scholar, and next came Zhao Sichen and Zhao Baiyan, and afterward Ah Q.倘在夏天，大家將辮子盤在頭頂上或者打一個結，本不算什麽稀奇事，但現在是暮秋，所以這『秋行夏令』的情形，在盤辮家不能不說是萬分的英斷，而在未莊也不能說無關于改革了。Had it been summer, everyone coiling their queues on top of their heads or tying them in a knot would have been nothing strange at all; but now it was late autumn, and so this state of "practicing summer ways in autumn" could not but be called, among the queue-coiling gentlemen, an act of the utmost boldness and resolve, and for Weizhuang too it could not be said to have nothing to do with the reform.

趙司晨腦後空蕩蕩的走來，看見的人大嚷說：Zhao Sichen came walking along with the back of his head all bare and empty, and those who saw him cried out loudly:

『嚄，革命黨來了！』"Hah, here comes a Revolutionary!"

阿Q聽到了很羨慕。Hearing this, Ah Q was filled with envy.他雖然早知道秀才盤辮的大新聞，但總沒有想到自己可以照樣做，現在看見趙司晨也如此，纔有了學樣的意思，定下實行的決心。Although he had long since heard the great news of the Bachelor coiling his queue, he had never thought that he himself might do the same; only now, seeing Zhao Sichen doing likewise, did the idea of imitating him arise, and he settled on the resolve to carry it out.他用一支竹筷將辮子盤在頭頂上，遲疑多時，這纔放膽的走去。He took a bamboo chopstick and coiled his queue up on top of his head, and after hesitating a long while, at last walked out boldly.

他在街上走，人也看他，然而不說什麽話，阿Q當初很不快，後來便很不平。He walked along the street, and people looked at him, but said nothing; at first this made Ah Q quite unhappy, but afterward it made him quite indignant.他近來很容易鬧脾氣了；Of late he had grown very quick to lose his temper;其實他的生活，倒也並不比造反之前反艱難，人見他也客氣，店舖也不說要現錢。in fact his life was, if anything, no harder than it had been before the rebellion — people treated him politely enough when they saw him, and the shops no longer insisted on cash payment.而阿Q總覺得自己太失意；And yet Ah Q always felt that he himself had somehow come off far too poorly;旣然革了命，不應該只是這樣的。having gone so far as to make revolution, things surely ought not to be merely like this.況且有一回看見小D，愈使他氣破肚皮了。And moreover, there was one time when the sight of Young D made him all the angrier, fit to burst his belly.

小D也將辮子盤在頭頂上了，而且也居然用一支竹筷。Xiao D too had coiled his queue up on top of his head, and, remarkably enough, he too now used a bamboo chopstick for it.阿Q萬料不到他也敢這樣做，自己也決不准他這樣做！Ah Q had never imagined that he would dare do such a thing, and he himself would absolutely not permit him to do it!小D是甚麽東西呢？Who did Xiao D think he was, anyway?他很想卽刻揪住他，拗斷他的竹筷，放下他的辮子，並且批他幾個嘴巴，聊且懲罰他忘了生辰八字，他敢來做革命黨的罪。He very much wanted to seize him at once, snap his bamboo chopstick in two, let down his queue, and box his ears a few times besides, just to punish him a little for the crime of forgetting his own birth-hour and stars and daring to turn revolutionary before Ah Q did.但他終于饒放了，單是怒目而視的吐一口唾沫道：『呸！』But in the end he let him go, merely glaring at him and spitting once, saying, "Bah!"

這幾日裏，進城去的只有一個假洋鬼子。In these past few days, the only person who had gone into the city was the Fake Foreign Devil.趙秀才本也想靠着寄存箱子的淵源，親身去拜訪舉人老爺的，但因爲有翦辮的危險，所以也就中止了。Scholar Zhao, relying on the old connection of the deposited trunk, had also thought of paying a personal visit to His Honor the Provincial Graduate, but since there was the danger of having his queue cut off, he gave up the idea.他寫了一封『黃傘格』的信，託假洋鬼子帶上城，而且托他給自己紹介紹介，去進自由黨。He wrote a letter in the "yellow umbrella" style and entrusted it to the Fake Foreign Devil to take into the city, asking him also to put in a good word and get him introduced into the Liberty Party.假洋鬼子回來時，向秀才討還了四塊洋錢；When the Fake Foreign Devil came back, he asked the Scholar to repay him four silver dollars;秀才便有一塊銀桃子掛在大襟上了；and thereupon the Scholar had a silver peach hanging from the front of his jacket.未莊人都驚服，說這是柿油黨的頂子，抵得一個翰林，趙太爺因此也驟然大闊，遠過于他兒子初進秀才的時候，所以目空一切，見了阿Q，也就很有些不放在眼裏了。The people of Weizhuang were all struck with awe, saying that this was the badge of the Persimmon Oil Party, equal in worth to a Hanlin academician, and because of it Old Master Zhao at once became grand again, far grander even than at the time his son had first become a Scholar, so that he grew utterly disdainful of everyone, and on seeing Ah Q now thought rather little of him.

阿Q正在不平，又時時刻刻感着冷落，一聽得這銀桃子的傳說，他立卽悟出自己之所以冷落的原因了：要革命，單說投降，是不行的；Ah Q was already feeling wronged, and moreover was constantly conscious of being left out in the cold; the moment he heard this talk of the silver peach, he at once understood the reason for his own coldshouldering: to be revolutionary, merely saying one had "surrendered" would not do;盤上辮子，也不行的；nor would merely coiling up one's queue do;第一着仍然要和革命黨去結識。the first and foremost step was still to go and make the acquaintance of the revolutionaries.他生平所知道的革命黨只有兩個，城裏的一個早已『嚓』的殺掉了，現在只剩了一個假洋鬼子。Of revolutionaries he had known of only two in his whole life; the one in the city had already been "chop!"—executed; and now there remained only the Fake Foreign Devil.他除卻趕緊去和假洋鬼子商量之外，再沒有別的道路了。There was nothing else for him to do but hurry off at once to consult with the Fake Foreign Devil.

錢府的大門正開着，阿Q便怯怯的躄進去。The great gate of the Qian household stood open, and Ah Q timidly sidled in.他一到裏面，很喫了驚，只見假洋鬼子正站在院子的中央，一身烏黑的大約是洋衣，身上也掛着一塊銀桃子，手裏是阿Q曾經領教過的棍子，已經留到一尺多長的辮子都拆開了披在肩背上，蓬頭散髮的像一個劉海仙。As soon as he got inside he was quite startled: there stood the Fake Foreign Devil right in the middle of the courtyard, dressed all in black—foreign clothes, apparently—with a silver peach likewise hanging from his person, and in his hand the very cudgel Ah Q had once had the honor of tasting; his queue, now grown out to over a foot long, had been undone entirely and hung loose over his shoulders and back, so that with his hair all disheveled he looked just like a Liu Hai immortal.對面挺直的站着趙白眼和三個閒人，正在必恭必敬的聽說話。Facing him, standing bolt upright, were Zhao Baiyan and three idlers, listening with the utmost reverence and respect to what he was saying.

阿Q輕輕的走進了，站在趙白眼的背後，心裏想招呼，卻不知道怎麽說纔好：叫他假洋鬼子固然是不行的了，洋人也不妥，革命黨也不妥，或者就應該叫洋先生了罷。Ah Q crept quietly in and stood behind Zhao Baiyan, wanting in his heart to greet him, yet not knowing quite how to address him: to call him Fake Foreign Devil certainly would not do, "foreigner" was not right either, nor "revolutionary"; perhaps he ought to call him Mr. Foreign after all.

洋先生卻沒有見他，因爲白着眼睛講得正起勁：Mr. Foreign, however, did not notice him, for he was in the midst of holding forth heatedly with his eyes rolled white:

『我是性急的，所以我們見面，我總是說：洪哥！"I'm a quick-tempered man, so whenever we meet, I always say: Brother Hong!我們動手罷！Let's get moving!他卻總說道No！——這是洋話，你們不懂的。But he always says, 'No!'—that's a foreign word, you people wouldn't understand it.否則早已成功了，然而這正是他做事小心的地方。If not for that, it would all have succeeded long ago—but that is exactly where his care in doing things shows.他再三再四的請我上湖北，我還沒有肯。Over and over, again and again, he's invited me to go to Hubei, and I still haven't consented.誰願意在這小縣城裏做事情。……』Who'd want to work in a piddling little county town like this?..."

『唔，……"Um,...這個……』阿Q候他略停，終于用十二分的勇氣開口了，但不知道因爲什麽，又並不叫他洋先生。this..." Ah Q, waiting for him to pause a moment, finally summoned up his utmost courage and opened his mouth—but for some reason, he still did not call him Mr. Foreign after all.

聽着說話的四個人都喫驚的回顧他。The four men listening to him talk all turned round in astonishment to look at him.洋先生也纔看見：Mr. Foreign, too, now caught sight of him for the first time:

『什麽？』"What?"

『我……』"I..."

『出去！』"Get out!"

『我要投……』"I want to surren—"

『滾出去！』洋先生揚起哭喪棒來了。"Get the hell out!" Mr. Foreign raised his mourning staff.

趙白眼和閒人便都吆喝道：『先生叫你滾出去，你還不聽麽！』Zhao Baiyan and the idlers all shouted along with him: "The gentleman tells you to get out—do you still not hear him!"

阿Q將手向頭上一遮，不自覺的逃出門外；Ah Q threw up a hand to shield his head and, before he knew it, had fled out the gate;洋先生倒也沒有追。Mr. Foreign, for his part, did not even give chase.他快跑了六十多步，這纔慢慢的走，于是心裏便湧起了憂愁：洋先生不准他革命，他再沒有別的路；He ran hard for more than sixty paces before he slowed to a walk, and then a wave of gloom rose up in his heart: Mr. Foreign would not let him join the revolution, and now he had no other road left to him;從此決不能望有白盔白甲的人來叫他，他所有的抱負、志向、希望、前程；from now on he could never again hope for the men in white helmets and white armor to come and call him; all his ambitions, aspirations, hopes, and prospects—全被一筆勾銷了。had all been struck out at a single stroke.至于閒人們傳揚開去，給小D、王鬍等輩笑話，倒是還在其次的事。As for the idlers spreading the tale about so that Xiao D, Whiskers Wang, and the rest could laugh at him—that, at least, was a matter of secondary importance.

他似乎從來沒有經驗過這樣的無聊。He felt he had never before experienced such utter desolation.他對于自己的盤辮子。Toward his own coiled-up queue,彷彿也覺得無意味，要侮蔑；he now seemed to feel it was meaningless too, something to be scorned;爲報讎起見，很想立刻放下辮子來，但也沒有竟放。for revenge's sake he badly wanted to let it down at once, but in the end he did not go so far as to let it down.他遊到夜間，賒了兩碗酒，喝下肚去，漸漸的高興起來了，思想裏纔又出現白盔白甲的碎片。He wandered about until nightfall, when he got two bowls of wine on credit, and after drinking them down he gradually grew cheerful again, and in his thoughts the fragments of white helmets and white armor once more appeared.

有一天，他照例的混到夜深，待酒店要關門，纔踱回土穀祠去。One day, as usual, he loitered about until deep night, and only when the wine shop was about to close did he saunter back to the Tutelary Shrine.

拍，吧～～！Crack—bang!

他忽而聽得一種異樣的聲音，又不是爆竹。Suddenly he heard a strange sort of sound, which was not firecrackers.阿Q本來是愛看熱鬧，愛管閒事的，便在暗中直尋過去。Ah Q had always loved watching excitement and meddling in other people's business, so in the darkness he went straight toward it to find out.似乎前面有些脚步聲；It seemed there were footsteps up ahead;他正聽，猛然間一個人從對面逃來了。just as he was listening, all at once a person came fleeing toward him from the opposite direction.阿Q一看見，便趕緊翻身跟着逃。The moment Ah Q saw him, he quickly turned about and fled along after him.那人轉彎，阿Q也轉彎，旣轉彎，那人站住了，阿Q也站住。The man turned a corner, and Ah Q turned too; once the man had turned, he stopped, and Ah Q stopped too.他看後面並無什麽，看那人便是小D。He looked behind and saw nothing at all there; he looked at the man, and it was Xiao D.

『什麽？』阿Q不平起來了。"What is it?" Ah Q demanded, feeling wronged again.

『趙……"Zhao—趙家遭搶了！』小D氣喘吁吁的說。the Zhao family's been robbed!" said Xiao D, gasping for breath.

阿Q的心怦怦的跳了。Ah Q's heart went thump-thump.小D說了便走；Having said this, Xiao D went off at once;阿Q卻跳而又停的兩三回，但他究竟是做過『這路生意』的人，格外膽大，于是躄出路角，仔細的聽，似乎有些嚷嚷，又仔細的看，似乎許多白盔白甲的人，絡繹的將箱子擡出了，器具擡出了，秀才娘子的寧式牀也擡出了，但是不分明，他還想上前，兩隻脚卻沒有動。Ah Q, though, stopped and started two or three times as he went, but after all he was a man who had once been in "that line of business," and so was unusually bold; he crept out to the corner of the lane and listened carefully—there seemed to be some shouting; he looked carefully too—there seemed to be a good many men in white helmets and white armor, coming out one after another carrying trunks, carrying furniture, and even carrying out the Scholar's wife's Ningbo-style bed; but it was not very clear, and though he wanted to go forward, his two feet would not move.

這一夜沒有月，未莊在黑暗裏很寂靜，寂靜到像羲皇時候一般太平。There was no moon that night, and Weizhuang lay very still in the darkness, still as though it were as peaceful as the age of Emperor Xihuang himself.阿Q站着看到自己發煩，也似乎還是先前一樣，在那裏來來往往的搬，箱子擡出了，器具擡出了，秀才娘子的寧式牀也擡出了，……Ah Q stood watching until he grew weary of it, and it still seemed just as before—people coming and going over there, carrying things: trunks carried out, furniture carried out, the Scholar's wife's Ningbo-style bed carried out too...擡得他自己有些不信他的眼睛了。so much was carried out that he himself began to doubt his own eyes.但他決計不再上前，卻回到自己的祠裏去了。But he made up his mind not to go forward any further, and turned back instead to his own shrine.

土穀祠裏更漆黑；Inside the Tutelary Shrine it was darker still;他關好大門，摸進自己的屋子裏。he shut the great gate carefully, then groped his way into his own room.他躺了好一會，這纔定了神，而且發出關于自己的思想來：白盔白甲的人明明到了，並不來打招呼，搬了許多好東西，又沒有自己的份，——這全是假洋鬼子可惡，不准我造反，否則，這次何至于沒有我的份呢？He lay there for a good while before his wits settled, and then thoughts about himself began to rise up: the men in white helmets and white armor had plainly come, yet they had not come to call on him; they had carried off many fine things, and he had had no share in it at all—this was all the fault of that hateful Fake Foreign Devil, who would not let him rebel; otherwise, how could it be that this time there was no share for him?阿Q越想越氣，終于禁不住滿心痛恨起來，毒毒的點一點頭：『不准我造反，只准你造反？The more Ah Q thought about it the angrier he grew, until at last he could not help but be filled with bitter hatred, and he nodded his head viciously: "Not let me rebel, and only let you rebel?媽媽的假洋鬼子，——好，你造反！Damn his mother, the Fake Foreign Devil—all right then, you go and rebel!造反是殺頭的罪名呵，我總要告一狀，看你抓進縣裏去殺頭，——滿門抄斬，——嚓！Rebellion is a crime punishable by having your head cut off—I'll go and lodge an accusation, and see you dragged into the county town to have your head cut off—your whole family exterminated to the last member—chop!嚓！』Chop!"

第九章大團圓Chapter Nine: The Grand Finale

趙家遭搶之後，未莊人大抵很快意而且恐慌，阿Q也很快意而且恐慌。After the Zhao family was robbed, the people of Weizhuang were mostly both gleeful and terrified, and Ah Q too was both gleeful and terrified.但四天之後，阿Q在半夜裏忽被抓進縣城裏去了。But four days later, Ah Q was suddenly seized in the middle of the night and carried off into the county town.那時恰是暗夜，一隊兵，一隊團丁，一隊警察，五個偵探，悄悄地到了未莊，乘昏暗圍住土穀祠，正對門架好機關鎗。It happened to be a dark night; a company of soldiers, a company of militiamen, a company of police, and five detectives crept quietly into Weizhuang, and under cover of the darkness surrounded the Tutelary Shrine, setting up a machine gun directly opposite the gate.然而阿Q不衝出。Yet Ah Q did not come charging out.許多時沒有動靜，把總焦急起來了，懸了二十千的賞，纔有兩個團丁冒了險，踰垣進去，裏應外合，一擁而入，將阿Q抓出來；For a long while there was no movement at all, and the militia captain grew anxious, and offered a reward of twenty thousand cash, whereupon two militiamen finally took the risk, scaled the wall and got in, and, working from inside and outside together, all rushed in at once and dragged Ah Q out;直待擒出祠外面的機關鎗左近，他纔有些清醒了。and it was not until he had been hauled out to the vicinity of the machine gun in front of the shrine that he came somewhat to his senses.

到進城，已經是正午，阿Q見自己被攙進一所破衙門，轉了五六個彎，便推在一間小屋裏。By the time he was brought into the city it was already noon, and Ah Q found himself hauled into some dilapidated government office, taken round five or six turns, and then shoved into a small room.他剛剛一蹌踉，那用整株的木料做成的柵欄門便跟着他的脚跟闔上了，其餘的三面都是牆壁，仔細看時，屋角上還有兩個人。He had barely stumbled when the barred door, made of whole logs of timber, closed behind right on his heels; the other three sides were all walls, and looking carefully, he saw there were two other men in the corner of the room besides himself.

阿Q雖然有些忐忑，卻並不很苦悶，因爲他那土穀祠裏的臥室，也並沒有比這間屋子更高明。Ah Q, though somewhat uneasy in his heart, was not in fact very distressed, for his bedroom back at the Tutelary Shrine had certainly been no better than this room.那兩個也彷彿是鄉下人，漸漸和他兜搭起來了，一個說是舉人老爺要追他祖父欠下來的陳租，一個不知道爲了什麽事。The other two also seemed to be countryfolk, and gradually struck up conversation with him; one said the Provincial Graduate was after him to collect back rent owed by his grandfather, the other did not know quite what he had been brought in for.他們問阿Q，阿Q爽利的答道，『因爲我想造反。』They asked Ah Q, and Ah Q answered frankly and readily, "Because I wanted to rebel."

他下半天便又被抓出柵欄門去了，到得大堂，上面坐着一個滿面剃得精光的老頭子。That afternoon he was again dragged out through the barred door, and on reaching the great hall, he found seated up above an old man with his whole face shaved clean.阿Q疑心他是和尙，但看見下面站着一排兵，案旁又站着十幾個長衫人物，也有滿頭剃得精光像這老頭子的，也有將一尺來長的頭髮披在背後像那假洋鬼子的，都是一臉橫肉，怒目而視的看他；Ah Q suspected he must be a monk, but seeing below him a row of soldiers standing, and beside the desk a dozen or so men in long gowns, some with their whole heads shaved clean like this old man, and some with hair grown out to about a foot long hanging loose down their backs like the Fake Foreign Devil, all with fierce, knotted faces, glaring at him with angry eyes—他便知道這人一定有些來歷，膝關節立刻自然而然的寬鬆，便跪了下去了。he at once understood that this man must have some considerable background, and his knee joints of themselves at once grew loose and pliant, and he knelt down.

『站着說！"Stand up and speak!不要跪！』長衫人物都吆喝說。Don't kneel!" the men in long gowns all shouted.

阿Q雖然似乎懂得，但總覺得站不住，身不由己的蹲了下去，而且終于趁勢改爲跪下了。Ah Q seemed to understand this well enough, yet somehow he simply felt he could not remain standing, and, quite beyond his own control, sank down into a crouch, and in the end took advantage of the movement to turn it into kneeling after all.

『奴隸性！……』長衫人物又鄙夷似的說，但也沒有叫他起來。"Slavish nature!..." said the men in long gowns again, with a kind of contempt, but still they did not tell him to get up.

『你從實招來罷，免得喫苦。"You had better confess honestly, to spare yourself suffering.我早都知道了。I already know everything.招了可以放你』，那光頭的老頭子看定了阿Q的臉，沈靜的淸楚的說。Confess, and you may be let go," said the bald old man, fixing his eyes steadily on Ah Q's face, speaking calmly and clearly.

『招罷！』長衫人物也大聲說。"Confess!" the men in long gowns also shouted loudly.

『我本來要……"I originally wanted to...來投……』阿Q胡裏胡塗的想了一通，這纔斷斷續續的說。come and surren—" Ah Q, after muddling through a confusion of thoughts, finally brought this out haltingly, bit by bit.

『那麽，爲什麽不來的呢？』老頭子和氣的問。"Then why didn't you come?" the old man asked amiably.

『假洋鬼子不准我！』"The Fake Foreign Devil wouldn't let me!"

『胡說！"Nonsense!此刻說，也遲了。It's too late to say that now.現在你的同黨在那里？』Where are your accomplices at this moment?"

『什麽？……』"What?..."

『那一晚打劫趙家的一夥人。』"That gang who robbed the Zhao household that night."

『他們沒有來叫我。"They didn't come to call me.他們自己搬走了。』阿Q提起來便憤憤。They carried the things off themselves." Ah Q grew indignant the moment he brought it up.

『走到那里去了呢？"Where did they go to?說出來便放你了。』老頭子更和氣了。Tell us, and you'll be let go," the old man said, more amiably still.

『我不知道，……"I don't know...他們沒有來叫我……』they didn't come to call me..."

然而老頭子使了一個眼色，阿Q便又被抓進柵欄門裏了。But the old man gave a signal with his eyes, and Ah Q was again dragged back in through the barred door.他第二次抓出柵欄門，是第二天的上午。The second time he was dragged out through the barred door was the following morning.

大堂的情形都照舊。The scene in the great hall was exactly as before.上面仍然坐着光頭的老頭子，阿Q也仍然下了跪。Up above still sat the bald-headed old man, and Ah Q again knelt down as before.

老頭子和氣的問道，『你還有什麽話說麽？』The old man asked amiably, "Have you anything more to say?"

阿Q一想，沒有話，便回答說，『沒有。』Ah Q thought it over; there was nothing, so he answered, "No."

於是一個長衫人物拿了一張紙，幷一支筆送到阿Q的面前，要將筆塞在他手裏。Thereupon one of the men in long gowns brought a sheet of paper and a brush and set it before Ah Q, meaning to press the brush into his hand.阿Q這時很喫驚，幾乎『魂飛魄散』了：因爲他的手和筆相關，這回是初次。At this Ah Q was quite startled, and very nearly "lost his wits in terror": for this was the first time in his life that his hand had ever had any connection with a brush.他正不知怎樣拿；He had no idea how to hold it;那人卻又指着一處地方教他畫花押。but the man pointed to a spot and told him to make his mark there.

『我……'I...'我……'I...'不認得字。』阿Q一把抓住了筆，惶恐而且慚愧的說。'I can't read.' Ah Q said, grabbing the brush, flustered and ashamed.

『那麽，便宜你，畫一個圓圈！』'Well then, lucky for you — just draw a circle!'

阿Q要畫圓圈了，那手揑着筆卻只是抖。Ah Q was about to draw the circle, but the hand holding the brush would only tremble.于是那人替他將紙鋪在地上。So the man spread the paper on the ground for him.阿Q伏下去，使盡了平生的力畫圓圈。Ah Q bent down and, summoning all the strength of his whole life, drew the circle.他生怕被人笑話，立志要畫得圓，但這可惡的筆不但很沈重，並且不聽話，剛剛一抖一抖的幾乎要合縫，卻又向外一聳，畫成瓜子模樣了。He was terribly afraid of being laughed at, and was determined to make it round, but this hateful brush was not only very heavy, it also would not obey him — trembling along, it was just about to close the circle when it suddenly jerked outward, and the shape came out looking like a melon seed.

阿Q正羞愧自己畫得不圓，那人卻不計較，早已掣了紙筆去，許多人又將他第二次抓進柵欄門。Ah Q was still ashamed that he had not drawn it round, but the man did not mind at all, and had already snatched away the paper and brush; then a number of people seized him and dragged him back through the gate into the cell for the second time.

他第二次進了柵欄，倒也並不十分懊惱。Being put back behind bars a second time did not upset him very much, actually.他以爲人生天地之間，大約本來有時要抓進抓出，有時要在紙上畫圓圈的，惟有圈而不圓！He supposed that a person, living between heaven and earth, was probably fated now and then to be dragged in and out like this, and now and then to draw circles on paper — the only trouble was that his circle was not round!卻是他『行狀』上的一個汚點。That was a blot on his 'record.'但不多時也就釋然了，他想：孫子纔畫得很圓的圓圈呢。But before long he had put it out of his mind again, thinking: only my grandson would draw a perfectly round circle.于是他睡着了。And so he fell asleep.

然而這一夜，舉人老爺反而不能睡：他和把總嘔了氣了。That night, however, it was Mr. Juren who could not sleep: he had quarreled with the Captain.舉人老爺主張第一要追贓，把總主張第一要示衆。Mr. Juren insisted that recovering the stolen goods came first; the Captain insisted that making an example of the man came first.把總近來很不將舉人老爺放在眼裏了，拍案打凳的說道：『懲一儆百！Lately the Captain had stopped paying Mr. Juren much regard at all, and pounding the table and bench, he said, 'Punish one to warn a hundred!'你看，我做革命黨還不上二十天，搶案就是十幾件，全不破案，我的面子在那里？'Look here, I've been a revolutionary not even twenty days, and there have already been more than a dozen robbery cases, none of them solved — where does that leave my face?'破了案，你又來迂。'Now that one's solved, you come along being pedantic about it.'不成！'It won't do!'這是我管的！』舉人老爺窘急了，然而還堅持，說是倘若不追贓，他便立刻辭了幫辦民政的職務。'This is my business!' Mr. Juren, flustered and anxious, still held his ground, saying that if the stolen goods were not recovered, he would resign at once from his post as assistant in civil affairs.而把總卻道：『請便罷！』于是舉人老爺在這一夜竟沒有睡，但幸而第二天倒也沒有辭。But the Captain only said, 'Please yourself!' So that night Mr. Juren did not sleep a wink after all, but fortunately, the next day, he did not resign after all.

阿Q第三次抓出柵欄門的時候，便是舉人老爺睡不着的那一夜的明天的上午了。The third time Ah Q was dragged out through the gate was the morning after the night Mr. Juren could not sleep.他到了大堂，上面還坐着照例的光頭老頭子；When he reached the main hall, the same bald old man as always was sitting up there as usual;阿Q也照例的下了跪。and Ah Q, as usual, knelt down.

老頭子很和氣的問道，『你還有什麽話麽？』The old man asked, quite amiably, 'Do you have anything more to say?'

阿Q一想，沒有話，便回答說，『沒有。』Ah Q thought it over, found he had nothing to say, and answered, 'No.'

許多長衫和短衫人物，忽然給他穿上一件洋布的白背心，上面有些黑字。A number of men in long gowns and short jackets suddenly put a white foreign-cloth vest on him, with some black characters written on it.阿Q很氣苦：因爲這很像是帶孝，而帶孝是晦氣的。Ah Q was quite distressed by this, for it looked very much like mourning clothes, and wearing mourning was unlucky.然而同時他的兩手反縛了，同時又被一直抓出衙門外去了。But at the same time his two hands were bound behind his back, and at the same time he was dragged straight out of the yamen gate.

阿Q被擡上了一輛沒有篷的車，幾個短衣人物也和他同坐在一處。Ah Q was hoisted onto an uncovered cart, and several men in short jackets sat there together with him.這車立刻走動了，前面是一班背着洋礮的兵們和團丁，兩旁是許多張着嘴的看客，後面怎樣，阿Q沒有見。The cart started off at once; in front marched a squad of soldiers and militia carrying foreign rifles on their backs, and on either side were many open-mouthed onlookers; what was happening behind, Ah Q did not see.但他突然覺到了；But suddenly he realized something;這豈不是去殺頭麽？wasn't this a trip to have his head cut off?他一急，兩眼發黑，耳朵裏喤的一聲，似乎發昏了。In his alarm, everything went black before his eyes, there was a booming in his ears, and he seemed to grow dizzy.然而他又沒有全發昏，有時雖然着急，有時卻也泰然；Yet he did not lose his senses entirely; at times, though anxious, at other times he was quite calm;他意思之間，似乎覺得人生天地間，大約本來有時也未免要殺頭的。it seemed to occur to him that a person, living between heaven and earth, was probably bound, now and then, to have his head cut off.

他還認得路，于是有些詫異了：怎麽不向着法場走呢？He still recognized the road, and so grew somewhat puzzled: why weren't they heading toward the execution ground?他不知道這是在游街，在示衆。He did not know that this was a parade through the streets, a public display.但卽使知道也一樣，他不過以爲人生天地間，大約本來有時也未免要游街要示衆罷了。But even if he had known, it would have made no difference — he would only have supposed that a person, living between heaven and earth, was probably bound, now and then, to be paraded through the streets and put on public display.

他省悟了，這是繞到法場去的路，這一定是『嚓』的去殺頭。Then he understood: this was the roundabout road to the execution ground; this must mean the 'chop' — going to have his head cut off.他惘惘的向左右看，全跟着螞蟻似的人，而在無意中，卻在路旁的人叢中發見了一個吳媽。He looked dazedly to left and right, at the crowd swarming after him like ants, and then, without meaning to, he spotted Wu Ma among the people by the roadside.很久違，伊原來在城裏做工了。He had not seen her in a long time — so she had been working in the city all along.阿Q忽然很羞愧自己沒志氣：竟沒有唱幾句戲。Ah Q suddenly felt deeply ashamed of his own lack of spirit — that he had not even sung a few lines from an opera.他的思想彷彿旋風似的在腦裏一迴旋：小孤孀上墳欠堂皇，龍虎鬭裏的『悔不該……』也太乏，還是『手執鋼鞭將你打』罷。His thoughts spun round in his head like a whirlwind: 'The Young Widow at the Grave' lacked grandeur, and the line 'I regret that I should not have...' from Dragon and Tiger in Battle was too tame — better to sing 'Steel whip in hand, I'll strike you down.'他同時將手一揚，纔記得這兩手原來都綑着，于是『手執鋼鞭』也不唱了。At the same time he tried to raise his hand, and only then remembered that both his hands were bound; so he did not sing 'Steel whip in hand' after all.

『過了二十年又是一個……』阿Q在百忙中，『無師自通』的說出半句從來不說的話。'Twenty years from now I'll be another...' In the midst of all this urgency, Ah Q, quite without any teacher, blurted out half of a line he had never said before.

『好！』從人叢裏，便發出豺狼的嘷叫一般的聲音來。'Bravo!' From the crowd came a sound like the howling of wolves and jackals.

車子不住的前行，阿Q在喝采聲中，輪轉眼睛去看吳媽，似乎伊一向並沒有見他，卻只是出神的看着兵們背上的洋礮。The cart went steadily forward, and amid the shouts of approval Ah Q rolled his eyes toward Wu Ma; it seemed she had not noticed him at all, but was simply gazing, entranced, at the foreign rifles on the soldiers' backs.

阿Q于是再看那些喝采的人們。So Ah Q looked instead at the people who were cheering.

這剎那中，他的思想又彷彿旋風似的在腦裏一迴旋了。In that instant, his thoughts again spun round in his head like a whirlwind.四年之前，他曾在山腳下遇見一隻餓狼，永是不近不遠的跟定他，要喫他的肉。Four years before, he had once met a hungry wolf at the foot of a mountain, which had followed him steadily, neither too near nor too far, wanting to eat his flesh.他那時嚇得幾乎要死，幸而手裏有一柄斫柴刀，纔得仗這壯了膽，支持到未莊；He had been frightened nearly to death that time, but luckily he had a wood-cutting knife in his hand, and relying on it for courage, he had managed to hold out until he reached Weizhuang;可是永遠記得那狼眼睛，又凶又怯，閃閃的像兩顆鬼火，似乎遠遠的來穿透了他的皮肉。but he had never forgotten that wolf's eyes, fierce yet timid, glinting like two will-o'-the-wisps, as though piercing through his flesh from far away.而這回他又看見從來沒有見過的更可怕的眼睛了，又鈍又鋒利，不但已經咀嚼了他的話，並且還要咀嚼他皮肉以外的東西，永是不遠不近的跟他走。And now he saw eyes even more terrifying than any he had ever seen before, both dull and razor-sharp, eyes that had not only already chewed over his words, but wanted to chew on something beyond his flesh as well, following him steadily, neither too near nor too far.

這些眼睛們似乎連成一氣，已經在那里咬他的靈魂。These eyes seemed to have fused into one, and were already there gnawing at his soul.

『救命，……』'Help—'

然而阿Q沒有說。But Ah Q did not say it.他早就兩眼發黑，耳朵裏嗡的一聲，覺得全身彷彿微塵似的迸散了。Already everything had gone black before his eyes, there was a buzzing in his ears, and he felt his whole body scatter to pieces like fine dust.

至于當時的影響，最大的倒反在舉人老爺，因爲終是沒有追贓，他全家都號咷了。As for the effects felt at the time, the greatest fell, oddly enough, on Mr. Juren, for in the end the stolen goods were never recovered, and his whole family wailed aloud.其次是趙府，非特秀才因爲上城去報官，被不好的革命黨翦了辮子，而且又破費了二十千的賞錢，所以全家也號咷了。Next came the Zhao household: not only had the young scholar, on going into the city to report to the authorities, had his queue cut off by some unruly revolutionaries, but they had also spent twenty thousand cash on the reward, so his whole family wailed aloud as well.從這一天以來，他們便漸漸的都發生了遺老的氣味。From that day on, both households gradually took on the air of loyalist relics of a bygone dynasty.

至于輿論，在未莊是無異議，自然都說阿Q壞，被鎗斃便是他的壞的證據；As for public opinion, in Weizhuang there was no dissent — everyone naturally said Ah Q had been bad, and his being shot was proof of his badness;不壞又何至于被鎗斃呢？for if he had not been bad, how could he have come to be shot?而城裏的輿論卻不佳，他們多半不滿足，以爲鎗斃並無殺頭這般好看；But opinion in the city was not favorable; most people were dissatisfied, feeling that a shooting was nowhere near as good a show as a beheading;而且那是怎樣的一個可笑的死囚呵，游了那麽久的街，竟沒有唱一句戲：他們白跟一趟了。and besides, what a laughable condemned man he had been — paraded through the streets for so long, and never sang a single line of opera: they had followed along for nothing.

（一九二一年十二月。）(December 1921.)

据《中华人民共和国著作权法释义》，法人作品应满足三点要求：（1）由法人（或其他组织，以下简称“法人”）主持创作，而非工作人员自发进行；（2）创作思想及表达方式体现法人意志；（3）由法人负责，而非执笔者。（详情）According to the Interpretation of the Copyright Law of the People's Republic of China, a work made by a legal person must satisfy three requirements: (1) it is created under the direction of the legal person (or other organization, hereinafter "legal person"), rather than initiated spontaneously by staff members; (2) the creative concept and mode of expression embody the will of the legal person; (3) the legal person, rather than the actual writer, bears responsibility for it. (Details)

鲁迅《阿Q正傳》最初于1921年12月4日至1922年2月12日分章连载于《晨报副刊》“开心话”或“新文艺”栏目（创作过程与发表细节可参考鲁迅自述《阿Q正傳》的成因）。《鲁迅全集》由鲁迅先生纪念委员会编印于1938年。Lu Xun's 'The True Story of Ah Q' was first serialized in installments from December 4, 1921 to February 12, 1922, in the 'Kaixinhua' (Light Chat) or 'Xin Wenyi' (New Literature) columns of the Chenbao Fukan [Morning Post Supplement] (for details of the creative process and the circumstances of its publication, see Lu Xun's own account, 'How "The True Story of Ah Q" Came to Be Written'). The Complete Works of Lu Xun was compiled and printed by the Lu Xun Memorial Committee in 1938.

Loading the interactive reader…

What it’s about

Ah Q has no surname that anyone will grant him, no home but the village temple, and no work but whatever 未莊 needs doing that day. What he has instead is a method: whatever happens to him, he wins. Beaten in a fight, he decides he has been beaten by his own son; unable to answer a joke about the ringworm scars on his scalp, he slaps his own face and feels like the man who did the slapping. The narrator lays all this out with the deadpan apparatus of a formal biography, opening with a whole chapter on what such a book should be called.

The story then follows him through a proposition to the Zhao family's maidservant that costs him his living, a spell in the city that comes home as stolen goods and unearned prestige, and finally the 1911 revolution, which he decides to join — largely because the idea frightens the people who despise him — only to be told by the fake foreign devil that he is not permitted to. He is arrested for a robbery he had no part in, cannot manage to draw a round enough circle on his confession, and is paraded through the town and shot. The crowd's complaint afterwards is that a shooting makes a poorer show than a beheading, and that he did not even sing.

When it was written 背景

Serialised in the 晨報副刊 in nine instalments between December 1921 and February 1922, under a pen name Lu Xun did not otherwise use, and beginning in the paper's comic column. 精神勝利法 — the spiritual victory method — went into the language as the name for a national habit Lu Xun believed he was diagnosing. Save it for last, or read one numbered chapter a day: it is a short novel rather than a story, several times the length of anything else in 吶喊, and the register keeps shifting between mock-classical biography and plain village speech, which is where most of the comedy lives.

Words in this chapter 生词

趙zhào趙zhào — to surpass (old)
着zhāoHSK 1着zhāo — a move in chess (Taiwan pr. (zhuó)) · trick; tactic · (dialect) okay; all right · (dialect) to put in; to add (HSK 1)
爲wéiHSK 2爲wéi — variant of 為 (wéi) (HSK 2)
鄒Zōu鄒Zōu — surname Zou · vassal state during the Zhou Dynasty (1046–256 BC) in the southeast of Shandong
麽mó麽mó — tiny · insignificant
阿ā阿ā — prefix used before monosyllabic names, kinship terms etc to indicate familiarity · used in transliteration · (bound form) Afghanistan (abbr. for 阿富汗 (Ā fù hàn)) · (bound form) Albania (abbr. for 阿爾巴尼亞 (Ā ěr bā ní yà)) · (bound form) Algeria (abbr. for 阿爾及利亞 (Ā ěr jí lì yà)) · (bound form) Argentina (abbr. for 阿根廷 (Ā gēn tíng)) · also pr. (à)
革gé革gé — animal hide · leather · to reform · to remove · to expel (from office)
于yúHSK 6于yú — to go · to take · sentence-final interrogative particle · variant of 於 (yú) (HSK 6)
鏘qiāng鏘qiāng — tinkling of small bells
祠cí祠cí — shrine · to offer a sacrifice
舂chōng舂chōng — to pound (grain etc) with a mortar and pestle
辮biàn辮biàn — a braid or queue · to plait