幸福的家庭 A Happy Family

「……"……做不做全由自己的便；Whether or not one does it is entirely up to oneself;那作品，像太陽的光一樣，從無量的光源中涌出來，不像石火，用鐵和石敲出來，這才是真藝術。that work, like the light of the sun, gushes forth from an inexhaustible source of light, not like sparks struck from flint with iron and stone—only this is true art.那作者，也才是真的藝術家。——而我，……And that author is then a true artist.——As for me, ……這算是什麼？……」他想到這裡，忽然從床上跳起來了。What sort of thing is this?……" Having thought this far, he suddenly leapt up from the bed.以先他早已想過，須得撈幾文稿費維持生活了；Earlier he had already thought that he must scrape together a few coppers in manuscript fees to keep himself alive;投稿的地方，先定為幸福月報社，因為潤筆似乎比較的豐。as for where to submit, he first settled on the Happiness Monthly, because the payment seemed comparatively generous.但作品就須有範圍，否則，恐怕要不收的。But the work would have to stay within certain bounds, otherwise it might well be rejected.範圍就範圍，……Bounds, well, bounds then, ……現在的青年的腦里的大問題是？……What is the great question in the minds of young people nowadays?……大概很不少，或者有許多是戀愛，婚姻，家庭之類罷。……There are probably no few of them; perhaps many concern love, marriage, family, and the like. ……是的，他們確有許多人煩悶著，正在討論這些事。Yes, indeed many of them are troubled, and are just now discussing these matters.那麼，就來做家庭。Well then, let it be about family.然而怎麼做做呢？……But how is one to write it?……否則，恐怕要不收的，何必說些背時的話，然而……。Otherwise it might well be rejected—why say things out of step with the times? And yet……他跳下卧床之後，四五步就走到書桌面前，坐下去，抽出一張綠格紙，毫不遲疑，但又自暴自棄似的寫下一行題目道：《幸福的家庭》。After jumping down from the bed, in four or five steps he reached his desk, sat down, drew out a sheet of green-ruled paper, and without the slightest hesitation, yet as if giving himself up in despair, wrote down a title: "The Happy Family."

「……做不做全由自己的便；那作品，像太阳的光一样，从无量的光源中涌出来，不像石火，用铁和石敲出来，这才是真艺术。那作者，也才是真的艺术家。——而我，……这算是什么？……」他想到这里，忽然从床上跳起来了。以先他早已想过，须得捞几文稿费维持生活了；投稿的地方，先定为幸福月报社，因为润笔似乎比较的丰。但作品就须有范围，否则，恐怕要不收的。范围就范围，……现在的青年的脑里的大问题是？……大概很不少，或者有许多是恋爱，婚姻，家庭之类罢。……是的，他们确有许多人烦闷著，正在讨论这些事。那么，就来做家庭。然而怎么做做呢？……否则，恐怕要不收的，何必说些背时的话，然而……。他跳下卧床之后，四五步就走到书桌面前，坐下去，抽出一张绿格纸，毫不迟疑，但又自暴自弃似的写下一行题目道：《幸福的家庭》。

他的筆立刻停滯了；His pen at once came to a halt;他仰了頭，兩眼瞪著房頂，正在安排那安置這「幸福的家庭」的地方。he tilted his head back, his eyes staring fixedly at the ceiling, busy deciding where to place this "happy family."他想：「北京？He thought: "Beijing?不行，死氣沉沉，連空氣也是死的。No good—lifeless and stagnant, even the air is dead.假如在這家庭的周圍築一道高牆，難道空氣也就隔斷了麽？Suppose one built a high wall around this family—would that really cut off the air too?簡直不行！Simply won't do!江蘇浙江天天防要開仗；Jiangsu and Zhejiang are on guard every day against the outbreak of war;福建更無須說。as for Fujian, there's no need even to mention it.四川，廣東？Sichuan, Guangdong?都正在打。Both are fighting right now.山東河南之類？——阿阿，要綁票的，倘使綁去一個，那就成為不幸的家庭了。Shandong, Henan, and the like?——Ah, ah, there's kidnapping for ransom there; if one of them got carried off, it would turn into an unhappy family.上海天津的租界上房租貴；……In the foreign concessions of Shanghai and Tianjin, house rents are high; ……假如在外國，笑話。As for setting it abroad—what a joke.雲南貴州不知道怎樣，但交通也太不便……。」他想來想去，想不出好地方，便要假定為Ａ了，但又想，「現有不少的人是反對用西洋字母來代人地名的，說是要減少讀者的興味。He didn't know how things stood in Yunnan or Guizhou, but the transport there was far too inconvenient too……" He thought and thought, but could not come up with a good place, and was about to just posit it as "A," but then thought again, "There are quite a few people nowadays who object to using Western letters in place of names of people and places, saying it lessens the reader's interest.我這回的投稿，似乎也不如不用，安全些。For this submission of mine, it seems it would be safer not to use them after all.那麼，在那裡好呢？——湖南也打仗；Well then, where would be good?——Hunan is also at war;大連仍然房租貴；in Dalian rents are likewise high;察哈爾，吉林，黑龍江罷，——聽說有馬賊，也不行！……」他又想來想去，又想不出好地方，於是終於決心，假定這「幸福的家庭」所在的地方叫作Ａ。what about Chahar, Jilin, Heilongjiang—no, they say there are horse-bandits there, that won't do either!……" He thought and thought again, and again could not come up with a good place, so in the end he made up his mind and simply posited that the place where this "happy family" was located be called "A."

他的笔立刻停滞了；他仰了头，两眼瞪著房顶，正在安排那安置这「幸福的家庭」的地方。他想：「北京？不行，死气沉沉，连空气也是死的。假如在这家庭的周围筑一道高墙，难道空气也就隔断了么？简直不行！江苏浙江天天防要开仗；福建更无须说。四川，广东？都正在打。山东河南之类？——阿阿，要绑票的，倘使绑去一个，那就成为不幸的家庭了。上海天津的租界上房租贵；……假如在外国，笑话。云南贵州不知道怎样，但交通也太不便……。」他想来想去，想不出好地方，便要假定为Ａ了，但又想，「现有不少的人是反对用西洋字母来代人地名的，说是要减少读者的兴味。我这回的投稿，似乎也不如不用，安全些。那么，在那里好呢？——湖南也打仗；大连仍然房租贵；察哈尔，吉林，黑龙江罢，——听说有马贼，也不行！……」他又想来想去，又想不出好地方，于是终于决心，假定这「幸福的家庭」所在的地方叫作Ａ。

「總之，這幸福的家庭一定須在Ａ，無可磋商。"In short, this happy family must absolutely be located in A—there is no room for discussion.家庭中自然是兩夫婦，就是主人和主婦，自由結婚的。The family, of course, consists of a married couple—that is, the master and the mistress—who married of their own free choice.他們訂有四十多條條約，非常詳細，所以非常平等，十分自由。They have drawn up more than forty articles of agreement, extremely detailed, and so it is extremely equal, thoroughly free.而且受過高等教育，優美高尚……。Moreover, both have received a higher education, refined and noble……東洋留學生已經不通行，——那麼，假定為西洋留學生罷。Students who studied in Japan are no longer fashionable,——so, let it be assumed they studied in the West.主人始終穿洋服，硬領始終雪白；The master always wears Western clothes, his stiff collar always snow-white;主婦是前頭的頭髮始終燙得蓬蓬鬆松像一個麻雀窠，牙齒是始終雪白的露著，但衣服卻是中國裝，……」the mistress has her front hair always permed fluffy and puffed up like a sparrow's nest, her teeth always showing snow-white, but her clothes are Chinese-style,……"

「总之，这幸福的家庭一定须在Ａ，无可磋商。家庭中自然是两夫妇，就是主人和主妇，自由结婚的。他们订有四十多条条约，非常详细，所以非常平等，十分自由。而且受过高等教育，优美高尚……。东洋留学生已经不通行，——那么，假定为西洋留学生罢。主人始终穿洋服，硬领始终雪白；主妇是前头的头发始终烫得蓬蓬松松像一个麻雀窠，牙齿是始终雪白的露著，但衣服却是中国装，……」

「不行不行，那不行！"No, no, that won't do!二十五斤！」Twenty-five catties!"

他聽得窗外一個男人的聲音，不由的回過頭去看，窗幔垂著，日光照著，明得眩目，他的眼睛昏花了；He heard a man's voice outside the window and could not help turning his head to look; the window curtain hung down, the sunlight shone upon it, dazzlingly bright, and his eyes swam;接著是小木片撒在地上的聲響。「不相干，」他又回過頭來想，「什麼『二十五斤』？——他們是優美高尚，很愛文藝的。then came the sound of small pieces of wood scattering onto the ground. "Never mind," he turned back and thought again, "what 'twenty-five catties'?——They are refined and noble, and are very fond of literature and art.但因為都從小生長在幸福里，所以不愛俄國的小說……。But because both grew up from childhood amid happiness, they do not care for Russian novels……俄國小說多描寫下等人，實在和這樣的家庭也不合。『二十五斤』？Russian novels mostly depict lowly people, which really does not suit a family like this. 'Twenty-five catties'?不管他。Never mind that.那麼，他們看看什麼書呢？——裴倫的詩？Well then, what books do they read?——Byron's poems?吉支的？Keats's?不行，都不穩當。——哦，有了，他們都愛看《理想之良人》。No, none of those are safe.——Ah, I have it, they both love reading "The Ideal Husband."我雖然沒有見過這部書，但既然連大學教授也那麼稱贊他，想來他們也一定都愛看，你也看，我也看，——他們一人一本，這家庭里一共有兩本，……」他覺得胃裡有點空虛了，放下筆，用兩隻手支著頭，教自己的頭像地球儀似的在兩個柱子間掛著。Though I myself have never seen this book, since even university professors praise it so highly, I should think they too are sure to love it—you read it, I read it too——each of them has a copy, so there are two copies in this household altogether, ……" He felt a certain emptiness in his stomach, put down his pen, propped his head up with both hands, and let his head hang between the two pillars like a globe on its stand.

他听得窗外一个男人的声音，不由的回过头去看，窗幔垂著，日光照著，明得眩目，他的眼睛昏花了；接著是小木片撒在地上的声响。「不相干，」他又回过头来想，「什么『二十五斤』？——他们是优美高尚，很爱文艺的。但因为都从小生长在幸福里，所以不爱俄国的小说……。俄国小说多描写下等人，实在和这样的家庭也不合。『二十五斤』？不管他。那么，他们看看什么书呢？——裴伦的诗？吉支的？不行，都不稳当。——哦，有了，他们都爱看《理想之良人》。我虽然没有见过这部书，但既然连大学教授也那么称赞他，想来他们也一定都爱看，你也看，我也看，——他们一人一本，这家庭里一共有两本，……」他觉得胃里有点空虚了，放下笔，用两只手支著头，教自己的头像地球仪似的在两个柱子间挂著。

「……"……他們兩人正在用午餐，」他想，「桌上鋪了雪白的布；The two of them are just now having lunch," he thought, "the table spread with a snow-white cloth;廚子送上菜來，——中國菜。the cook brings in the dishes,——Chinese food.什麼『二十五斤』？What 'twenty-five catties'?不管他。Never mind that.為什麼倒是中國菜？Why should it be Chinese food, though?西洋人說，中國菜最進步，最好吃，最合於衛生：所以他們採用中國菜。Westerners say that Chinese food is the most advanced, the most delicious, and the most hygienic: and so they have adopted Chinese food.送來的是第一碗，但這第一碗是什麼呢？……」What is brought in is the first dish—but what is this first dish?……"

「……他们两人正在用午餐，」他想，「桌上铺了雪白的布；厨子送上菜来，——中国菜。什么『二十五斤』？不管他。为什么倒是中国菜？西洋人说，中国菜最进步，最好吃，最合于卫生：所以他们采用中国菜。送来的是第一碗，但这第一碗是什么呢？……」

「劈柴，……」"Firewood, ……"

他吃驚的回過頭去看，靠左肩，便立著他自己家裡的主婦，兩隻陰凄凄的眼睛恰恰釘住他的臉。Startled, he turned to look, and there beside his left shoulder stood the mistress of his own household, her two gloomy, sorrowful eyes fixed squarely on his face.

他吃惊的回过头去看，靠左肩，便立著他自己家里的主妇，两只阴凄凄的眼睛恰恰钉住他的脸。

「什麼？」他以為她來攪擾了他的創作，頗有些憤怒了。"What is it?" he thought she had come to disturb his creative work, and grew rather angry.

「什么？」他以为她来搅扰了他的创作，颇有些愤怒了。

「劈架，都用完了，今天買了些。"The firewood's all used up; I bought some today.前一回還是十斤兩弔四，今天就要兩弔六。Last time it was still two strings four for ten catties, but today they want two strings six.我想給他兩弔五，好不好？」I was thinking of giving him two strings five—is that all right?"

「劈架，都用完了，今天买了些。前一回还是十斤两吊四，今天就要两吊六。我想给他两吊五，好不好？」

「好好，就是兩弔五。」"Fine, fine, two strings five it is."

「好好，就是两吊五。」

「稱得太吃虧了。"The weighing was too much to our disadvantage.他一定只肯算二十四斤半；He will only be willing to reckon it as twenty-four and a half catties;我想就算他二十三斤半，好不好？」I was thinking we should count it as twenty-three and a half catties—is that all right?"

「称得太吃亏了。他一定只肯算二十四斤半；我想就算他二十三斤半，好不好？」

「好好，就算他二十三斤半。」"Fine, fine, count it as twenty-three and a half catties."

「那麼，五五二十五，三五一十五，……」"Well then, five fives are twenty-five, three fives are fifteen, ……"

「那么，五五二十五，三五一十五，……」

「唔唔，五五二十五，三五一十五，……」他也說不下去了，停了一會，忽而奮然的抓起筆來，就在寫著一行「幸福的家庭」的綠格紙上起算草，起了好久，這才仰起頭來說道："Mm, mm, five fives are twenty-five, three fives are fifteen, ……" He too found he could not go on, paused a while, then suddenly seized his pen with resolve, and worked out a rough calculation right there on the green-ruled paper with the line "The Happy Family" written on it; it took him a good while, and only then did he raise his head and say:

「唔唔，五五二十五，三五一十五，……」他也说不下去了，停了一会，忽而奋然的抓起笔来，就在写著一行「幸福的家庭」的绿格纸上起算草，起了好久，这才仰起头来说道：

「五弔八！」"Five strings eight!"

「五吊八！」

「那是，我這裡不夠了，還差八九個……。」"That's it—I'm short here, I still need eight or nine coppers more……"

「那是，我这里不够了，还差八九个……。」

他抽開書桌的抽屜，一把抓起所有的銅元，不下二三十，放在她攤開的手掌上，看她出了房，才又回過頭來向書桌。He pulled open the desk drawer, grabbed up all the copper coins in one handful—no fewer than twenty or thirty—and placed them in her outstretched palm; only after watching her leave the room did he turn back again to the desk.他覺得頭裡面很脹滿，似乎椏椏叉叉的全被木柴填滿了，五五二十五，腦皮質上還印著許多散亂的亞剌伯數目字。He felt his head very swollen and full inside, as if all its forked branches were stuffed with firewood, five fives are twenty-five, and on the surface of his brain there were still printed many scattered Arabic numerals.他很深的吸一口氣，又用力的呼出，仿佛要藉此趕出腦里的劈柴，五五二十五和亞刺伯數字來。He drew a very deep breath, then forcefully breathed it out, as if trying by this means to drive out the firewood, the "five fives are twenty-five," and the Arabic numerals from his mind.果然，吁氣之後，心地也就輕鬆不少了，於是仍復恍恍忽忽的想——Sure enough, after this exhalation his mind felt considerably lighter, and so he again fell to musing in a dazed, dreamy way——

他抽开书桌的抽屉，一把抓起所有的铜元，不下二三十，放在她摊开的手掌上，看她出了房，才又回过头来向书桌。他觉得头里面很胀满，似乎桠桠叉叉的全被木柴填满了，五五二十五，脑皮质上还印著许多散乱的亚剌伯数目字。他很深的吸一口气，又用力的呼出，仿佛要藉此赶出脑里的劈柴，五五二十五和亚刺伯数字来。果然，吁气之后，心地也就轻松不少了，于是仍复恍恍忽忽的想——

「什麼菜？"What dish?菜倒不妨奇特點。There's no harm in the dish being a bit out of the ordinary.滑溜裡脊，蝦子海參，實在太凡庸。Slippery pork fillet, or shrimp roe with sea cucumber—those are really too commonplace.我偏要說他們吃的是『龍虎鬥』。I'll insist instead that what they're eating is 'Dragon and Tiger Battle.'但『龍虎鬥』又是什麼呢？But what exactly is 'Dragon and Tiger Battle'?有人說是蛇和貓，是廣東的貴重菜，非大宴會不吃的。Some say it is snake and cat, a costly Cantonese dish not eaten except at grand banquets.但我在江蘇飯館的菜單上就見過這名目，江蘇人似乎不吃蛇和貓，恐怕就如誰所說，是蛙和鱔魚了。But I myself have seen this very name on the menu of a Jiangsu restaurant, and Jiangsu people don't seem to eat snake and cat, so it's probably, as someone once said, frog and eel instead.現在假定這主人和主婦為那裡人呢？——不管他。Now, where shall we suppose this master and mistress to be from?——Never mind that.總而言之，無論那裡人吃一碗蛇和貓或者蛙和鱔魚，於幸福的家庭是決不會有損傷的。In short, no matter which region's people eat a bowl of snake and cat, or of frog and eel, it will certainly do no harm at all to a happy family.總之這第一碗一定是『龍虎鬥』，無可磋商。In short, this first dish must absolutely be 'Dragon and Tiger Battle'—there is no room for discussion.

「什么菜？菜倒不妨奇特点。滑溜里脊，虾子海参，实在太凡庸。我偏要说他们吃的是『龙虎斗』。但『龙虎斗』又是什么呢？有人说是蛇和猫，是广东的贵重菜，非大宴会不吃的。但我在江苏饭馆的菜单上就见过这名目，江苏人似乎不吃蛇和猫，恐怕就如谁所说，是蛙和鳝鱼了。现在假定这主人和主妇为那里人呢？——不管他。总而言之，无论那里人吃一碗蛇和猫或者蛙和鳝鱼，于幸福的家庭是决不会有损伤的。总之这第一碗一定是『龙虎斗』，无可磋商。

於是一碗『龍虎鬥』擺在桌子中央了，他們兩人同時捏起筷子，指著碗沿，笑迷迷的你看我，我看你……。And so a bowl of 'Dragon and Tiger Battle' is set in the center of the table; the two of them simultaneously pick up their chopsticks, point them at the rim of the bowl, and, smiling sweetly, look at each other, I at you, you at me……

于是一碗『龙虎斗』摆在桌子中央了，他们两人同时捏起筷子，指著碗沿，笑迷迷的你看我，我看你……。

『My Dear, Please.』'My Dear, Please.'

『Please you eat first, my dear.』'Please you eat first, my dear.'

『Oh no, Please You!』'Oh no, Please You!'

於是他們同時伸下筷子去，同時夾出一塊蛇肉來，——不不，蛇肉究竟太奇怪，還不如說是鱔魚罷。And so the two of them reach their chopsticks down at the same moment, and at the same moment pick out a piece of snake meat,——no, no, snake meat is really too strange after all, better to say it is eel instead.那麼，這碗『龍虎鬥』是蛙和鱔魚所做的了。Well then, this bowl of 'Dragon and Tiger Battle' is made of frog and eel.他們同時夾出一塊鱔魚來，一樣大小，五五二十五，三五……They simultaneously pick out a piece of eel, exactly the same size, five fives are twenty-five, three fives……不管他，同時放進嘴裡去，……」Never mind that, and put it into their mouths at the same moment, ……"

于是他们同时伸下筷子去，同时夹出一块蛇肉来，——不不，蛇肉究竟太奇怪，还不如说是鳝鱼罢。那么，这碗『龙虎斗』是蛙和鳝鱼所做的了。他们同时夹出一块鳝鱼来，一样大小，五五二十五，三五……不管他，同时放进嘴里去，……」

他不能自制的只想回過頭去看，因為他覺得背後很熱鬧，有人來來往往的走了兩三回。He could not help himself and kept wanting to turn his head to look, because he sensed a great bustle behind him, with someone going back and forth two or three times.但他還熬著，亂嘈嘈的接著想，「這似乎有點肉麻，那有這樣的家庭？But he still held out, and amid the confused clamor went on thinking, "This seems a bit nauseating—is there really such a family?唉唉，我的思路怎麼會這樣亂，這好題目怕是做不完篇的了。——或者不必定用留學生，就在國內受了高等教育的也可以。Ah, ah, how did my train of thought get so muddled? I'm afraid this fine subject won't get finished after all.——Or perhaps it need not necessarily be returned students; those who received their higher education right here at home would do just as well.他們都是大學畢業的，高尚優美，高尚……。Both are university graduates, noble and refined, noble……男的是文學家；The man is a man of letters;女的也是文學家，或者文學崇拜家。the woman too is a woman of letters, or perhaps a worshipper of literature.或者女的是詩人；Or perhaps the woman is a poet;男的是詩人崇拜者，女性尊重者。the man a worshipper of poets, a respecter of women.或者……」他終於忍耐不住，回過頭去了。Or……" In the end he could not bear it any longer, and turned his head around.就在他背後的書架的旁邊，已經出現了一座白菜堆，下層三株，中層兩株，頂上一株，向他疊成一個很大的Ａ字。Right there beside the bookshelf behind him, a pile of Chinese cabbages had already appeared—three heads on the bottom layer, two in the middle layer, one on top—stacked up before him into one great letter "A."

他不能自制的只想回过头去看，因为他觉得背后很热闹，有人来来往往的走了两三回。但他还熬著，乱嘈嘈的接著想，「这似乎有点肉麻，那有这样的家庭？唉唉，我的思路怎么会这样乱，这好题目怕是做不完篇的了。——或者不必定用留学生，就在国内受了高等教育的也可以。他们都是大学毕业的，高尚优美，高尚……。男的是文学家；女的也是文学家，或者文学崇拜家。或者女的是诗人；男的是诗人崇拜者，女性尊重者。或者……」他终于忍耐不住，回过头去了。就在他背后的书架的旁边，已经出现了一座白菜堆，下层三株，中层两株，顶上一株，向他叠成一个很大的Ａ字。

「唉唉！」他吃驚的嘆息，同時覺得臉上驟然發熱了，脊梁上還有許多針輕輕的刺著。「吁……。」他很長的噓一口氣，先斥退了脊梁上的針，仍然想，「幸福的家庭的房子要寬綽。"Ah, ah!" he sighed in astonishment, and at the same moment felt his face suddenly grow hot, while along his spine many needles seemed to be lightly pricking him. "Whew……" He let out one long breath, first driving off the needles along his spine, and went on thinking all the same, "The house of the happy family must be spacious.有一間堆積房，白菜之類都到那邊去。There should be one storeroom, where things like cabbages will all go.主人的書房另一間，靠壁滿排著書架，那旁邊自然決沒有什麼白菜堆；The master's study is another room, its walls lined all along with bookshelves, and beside them there will naturally never be any pile of cabbages;架上滿是中國書，外國書，《理想之良人》自然也在內，——一共有兩部。the shelves are full of Chinese books and foreign books, "The Ideal Husband" naturally among them,——two copies in all.卧室又一間；The bedroom is yet another room;黃銅床，或者質朴點，第一監獄工場做的榆木床也就夠，床底下很乾凈，……」他當即一瞥自己的床下，劈柴已經用完了，只有一條稻草繩，卻還死蛇似的懶懶的躺著。a brass bed, or, more simply, an elm-wood bed made in the workshop of the Number One Prison would do well enough; and underneath the bed it is very clean, ……" He glanced at once beneath his own bed; the firewood was already all used up, only a single straw rope remained, lying there lazily like a dead snake.

「唉唉！」他吃惊的叹息，同时觉得脸上骤然发热了，脊梁上还有许多针轻轻的刺著。「吁……。」他很长的嘘一口气，先斥退了脊梁上的针，仍然想，「幸福的家庭的房子要宽绰。有一间堆积房，白菜之类都到那边去。主人的书房另一间，靠壁满排著书架，那旁边自然决没有什么白菜堆；架上满是中国书，外国书，《理想之良人》自然也在内，——一共有两部。卧室又一间；黄铜床，或者质朴点，第一监狱工场做的榆木床也就够，床底下很干净，……」他当即一瞥自己的床下，劈柴已经用完了，只有一条稻草绳，却还死蛇似的懒懒的躺著。

「二十三斤半，……」他覺得劈柴就要向床下「川流不息」的進來，頭裡面又有些椏椏叉叉了，便急忙起立，走向門口去想關門。"Twenty-three and a half catties, ……" He felt as though firewood were about to come streaming "in an endless flow" under his bed, and his head began again to feel forked and branching inside, so he hurriedly stood up and went toward the door meaning to shut it.但兩手剛觸著門，卻又覺得未免太暴躁了，就歇了手，只放下那積著許多灰塵的門幕。But just as his two hands touched the door, he felt that this would be a bit too hot-tempered after all, so he stayed his hands, and merely let down the dust-laden door curtain instead.他一面想，這既無閉關自守之操切，也沒有開放門戶之不安：是很合於「中庸之道」的。As he did so he thought, this way there was neither the harshness of shutting oneself off completely, nor the unease of throwing the door wide open: it accorded very well with the "doctrine of the mean."

「二十三斤半，……」他觉得劈柴就要向床下「川流不息」的进来，头里面又有些桠桠叉叉了，便急忙起立，走向门口去想关门。但两手刚触著门，却又觉得未免太暴躁了，就歇了手，只放下那积著许多灰尘的门幕。他一面想，这既无闭关自守之操切，也没有开放门户之不安：是很合于「中庸之道」的。

「……"……所以主人的書房門永遠是關起來的。」他走回來，坐下，想，「有事要商量先敲門，得了許可才能進來，這辦法實在對。So the door of the master's study is always kept shut." He walked back, sat down, and thought, "If there is something to discuss, one knocks first, and may only enter once permission is given—this arrangement is truly the right one.現在假如主人坐在自己的書房裡，主婦來談文藝了，也就先敲門。——這可以放心，她必不至於捧著白菜的。Now suppose the master is sitting in his own study, and the mistress comes to talk of literature and art—she too knocks first.——On this point one may set one's mind at ease; she would certainly never come cradling cabbages in her arms.

「……所以主人的书房门永远是关起来的。」他走回来，坐下，想，「有事要商量先敲门，得了许可才能进来，这办法实在对。现在假如主人坐在自己的书房里，主妇来谈文艺了，也就先敲门。——这可以放心，她必不至于捧著白菜的。

『Come in, please, my dear.』'Come in, please, my dear.'

「然而主人沒有工夫談文藝的時候怎麼辦呢？"But what if the master has no time to talk about literature and art?那麼，不理她，聽她站在外面老是剝剝的敲？Well then, should one simply ignore her, and let her stand outside forever knocking, tap-tap?這大約不行罷。That probably won't do.或者《理想之良人》裡面都寫著，——那恐怕確是一部好小說，我如果有了稿費，也得去買他一部來看看……。」Or perhaps it's all written in 'The Ideal Husband'—that must indeed be a fine novel; if I ever get my manuscript fee, I really ought to buy a copy and take a look …"

「然而主人没有工夫谈文艺的时候怎么办呢？那么，不理她，听她站在外面老是剥剥的敲？这大约不行罢。或者《理想之良人》里面都写著，——那恐怕确是一部好小说，我如果有了稿费，也得去买他一部来看看……。」

拍！Smack!

他腰骨筆直了，因為他根據經驗，知道這一聲「拍」是主婦的手掌打在他們的三歲的女兒的頭上的聲音。His spine went straight, for he knew from experience that this "smack" was the sound of the mistress's palm landing on the head of their three-year-old daughter.

他腰骨笔直了，因为他根据经验，知道这一声「拍」是主妇的手掌打在他们的三岁的女儿的头上的声音。

「幸福的家庭，……」他聽到孩子的嗚咽了，但還是腰骨筆直的想，「孩子是生得遲的，生得遲。"A happy family, …" he heard the child's sobbing, but, spine still straight, he went on thinking, "a child ought to be born late, born late.或者不如沒有，兩個人乾乾凈凈。——或者不如住在客店裡，什麼都包給他們，一個人乾乾……」他聽得嗚咽聲高了起來，也就站了起來，鑽過門幕，想著，「馬克思在兒女的啼哭聲中還會做《資本論》，所以他是偉人，……」走出外間，開了風門，聞得一陣煤油氣。Or perhaps better not to have one at all, so the two of them stay clean and unencumbered.—Or perhaps better to live in an inn, where everything is taken care of for you, and one stays clean and un…" He heard the sobbing grow louder, and so he stood up, ducked through the door curtain, thinking, "Marx could still write Das Kapital amid the crying of his children, and that's why he was a great man, …" He walked out into the outer room, opened the storm door, and caught a whiff of kerosene.孩子就躺倒在門的右邊，臉向著地，一見他，便「哇」的哭出來了。The child lay sprawled to the right of the doorway, face to the ground, and the moment she saw him, she burst out crying, "Waah—"

「幸福的家庭，……」他听到孩子的呜咽了，但还是腰骨笔直的想，「孩子是生得迟的，生得迟。或者不如没有，两个人干干净净。——或者不如住在客店里，什么都包给他们，一个人干干……」他听得呜咽声高了起来，也就站了起来，钻过门幕，想著，「马克思在儿女的啼哭声中还会做《资本论》，所以他是伟人，……」走出外间，开了风门，闻得一阵煤油气。孩子就躺倒在门的右边，脸向著地，一见他，便「哇」的哭出来了。

「阿阿，好好，莫哭莫哭，我的好孩子。」他彎下腰去抱她。"There, there, good girl, don't cry, don't cry, my good child." He bent down to pick her up.

「阿阿，好好，莫哭莫哭，我的好孩子。」他弯下腰去抱她。

他抱了她迴轉身，看見門左邊還站著主婦，也是腰骨筆直，然而兩手插腰，怒氣衝衝的似乎豫備開始練體操。Holding her, he turned back and saw the mistress still standing to the left of the doorway, her spine likewise straight, but with both hands on her hips, seething with anger as though about to launch into calisthenics.

他抱了她回转身，看见门左边还站著主妇，也是腰骨笔直，然而两手插腰，怒气冲冲的似乎豫备开始练体操。

「連你也來欺侮我！"Even you come to bully me!不會幫忙，只會搗亂，——連油燈也要翻了他。Can't help with anything, only makes trouble—even the oil lamp has to be knocked over.晚上點什麼？……」What are we going to light in the evening? …"

「连你也来欺侮我！不会帮忙，只会捣乱，——连油灯也要翻了他。晚上点什么？……」

「阿阿，好好，莫哭莫哭，」他把那些發抖的聲音放在腦後，抱她進房，摩著她的頭，說，「我的好孩子。」於是放下她，拖開椅子，坐下去，使她站在兩膝的中間，擎起手來道，「莫哭了呵，好孩子。"There, there, good girl, don't cry, don't cry," he put those trembling tones out of his mind, carried her into the room, stroked her head, and said, "my good child." Then he set her down, pulled out a chair, sat down, made her stand between his knees, raised his hand and said, "Don't cry now, good child.爹爹做『貓洗臉』給你看。」他同時伸長頸子，伸出舌頭，遠遠的對著手掌舔了兩舔，就用這手掌向了自己的臉上畫圓圈。Papa will do the 'cat washing its face' for you to see." At the same time he stretched out his neck, stuck out his tongue, and from a distance licked his palm twice, then used that palm to draw circles on his own face.

「阿阿，好好，莫哭莫哭，」他把那些发抖的声音放在脑后，抱她进房，摩著她的头，说，「我的好孩子。」于是放下她，拖开椅子，坐下去，使她站在两膝的中间，擎起手来道，「莫哭了呵，好孩子。爹爹做『猫洗脸』给你看。」他同时伸长颈子，伸出舌头，远远的对著手掌舔了两舔，就用这手掌向了自己的脸上画圆圈。

「呵呵呵，花兒。」她就笑起來了。"Ha ha ha, a flower." She laughed at that.

「呵呵呵，花儿。」她就笑起来了。

「是的是的，花兒。」他又連畫上幾個圓圈，這才歇了手，只見她還是笑迷迷的掛著眼淚對他看。"Yes, yes, a flower." He drew several more circles, and only then did he stop, and saw that she was still gazing at him, smiling, tears still hanging on her face.他忽而覺得，她那可愛的天真的臉，正像五年前的她的母親，通紅的嘴唇尤其像，不過縮小了輪廓。He suddenly felt that her dear, innocent little face looked just like her mother's had five years ago, the bright red lips especially alike, only smaller in outline.那時也是晴朗的冬天，她聽得他說決計反抗一切阻礙，為她犧牲的時候，也就這樣笑迷迷的掛著眼淚對他看。That too had been a clear winter day, when she heard him say he was resolved to defy every obstacle and sacrifice everything for her sake, and she too had gazed at him just like this, smiling with tears hanging on her face.他惘然的坐著，仿佛有些醉了。「阿阿，可愛的嘴唇……」他想。He sat there in a daze, as if somewhat drunk. "Ah, those lovable lips …" he thought.

「是的是的，花儿。」他又连画上几个圆圈，这才歇了手，只见她还是笑迷迷的挂著眼泪对他看。他忽而觉得，她那可爱的天真的脸，正像五年前的她的母亲，通红的嘴唇尤其像，不过缩小了轮廓。那时也是晴朗的冬天，她听得他说决计反抗一切阻碍，为她牺牲的时候，也就这样笑迷迷的挂著眼泪对他看。他惘然的坐著，仿佛有些醉了。「阿阿，可爱的嘴唇……」他想。

門幕忽然掛起。The door curtain was suddenly hooked up.劈柴運進來了。Firewood was being carried in.

门幕忽然挂起。劈柴运进来了。

他也忽然驚醒，一定睛，只見孩子還是掛著眼淚，而且張開了通紅的嘴唇對他看。「嘴唇……」他向旁邊一瞥，劈柴正在進來，「……He too suddenly woke with a start, and fixing his eyes, saw the child still had tears hanging on her face, and moreover had parted her bright red lips, gazing at him. "Lips …" he glanced to one side, the firewood was just then being carried in, "……恐怕將來也就是五五二十五，九九八十一！……no doubt in the future it will likewise be five fives twenty-five, nine nines eighty-one! ……而且兩隻眼睛陰凄凄的……。」他想著，隨即粗暴的抓起那寫著一行題目和一堆算草的綠格紙來，揉了幾揉，又展開來給她拭去了眼淚和鼻涕。「好孩子，自己玩去罷。」他一面推開她，說；and moreover both eyes gloomy and mournful …" he thought, and thereupon roughly snatched up the green-ruled paper on which was written a line of a title and a heap of scratch calculations, crumpled it up several times, then spread it open again and wiped away her tears and snot with it. "Good child, go off and play by yourself," he said, pushing her away;一面就將紙團用力的擲在紙簍里。and with the same motion flung the crumpled ball of paper hard into the wastepaper basket.

他也忽然惊醒，一定睛，只见孩子还是挂著眼泪，而且张开了通红的嘴唇对他看。「嘴唇……」他向旁边一瞥，劈柴正在进来，「……恐怕将来也就是五五二十五，九九八十一！……而且两只眼睛阴凄凄的……。」他想著，随即粗暴的抓起那写著一行题目和一堆算草的绿格纸来，揉了几揉，又展开来给她拭去了眼泪和鼻涕。「好孩子，自己玩去罢。」他一面推开她，说；一面就将纸团用力的掷在纸篓里。

但他又立刻覺得對於孩子有些抱歉了，重覆回頭，目送著她獨自煢煢的出去；But at once he felt somewhat sorry toward the child, and turned his head back again, watching her go out alone, forlorn and small;耳朵里聽得木片聲。his ears caught the sound of chopped wood.他想要定一定神，便又迴轉頭，閉了眼睛，息了雜念，平心靜氣的坐著。He wanted to steady his mind, so he turned his head back again, closed his eyes, put away his stray thoughts, and sat calm and composed.他看見眼前浮出一朵扁圓的烏花，橙黃心，從左眼的左角漂到右，消失了；He saw before his eyes a flattened round black flower float up, with an orange-yellow center, drifting from the left corner of his left eye to the right, and vanish;接著一朵明綠花，墨綠色的心；then followed a bright green flower, with a dark green center;接著一座六株的白菜堆，屹然的向他疊成一個很大的Ａ字。then followed a pile of six heads of cabbage, standing firm, stacking themselves before him into one very large letter A.

但他又立刻觉得对于孩子有些抱歉了，重覆回头，目送著她独自茕茕的出去；耳朵里听得木片声。他想要定一定神，便又回转头，闭了眼睛，息了杂念，平心静气的坐著。他看见眼前浮出一朵扁圆的乌花，橙黄心，从左眼的左角漂到右，消失了；接著一朵明绿花，墨绿色的心；接著一座六株的白菜堆，屹然的向他叠成一个很大的Ａ字。

一九二四年三月十八日March 18, 1924