五　羊群 The Flock of Sheep

平兒被雇做了牧羊童。Ping’er was hired as a shepherd boy.他追打群羊跑遍山坡。He chased and struck at the flock, running all over the hillside.山頂像是開著小花一般，綠了！The hilltop seemed to burst into tiny flowers—it turned green!而變紅了！And then it turned red!山頂拾野菜的孩子，平兒不斷的戲弄她們，他單獨的趕著一隻羊去吃她們筐子裡拾得的野菜。Ping’er was forever teasing the girls gathering wild greens on the hilltop; he would drive one sheep off by itself to eat the greens they had gathered in their baskets.有時他選一條大身體的羊，像騎馬一樣的騎著來了！Sometimes he would pick out a large sheep and come riding it as though it were a horse!小的女孩們嚇得哭著，她們看他像個猴子坐在羊背上。The little girls cried in fright; to them he looked like a monkey sitting on a sheep’s back.平兒從牧羊時起，他的本領漸漸得已發展。From the time Ping’er began tending sheep, his talents gradually developed.他把羊趕到荒涼的地方去，招集村中所有的孩子練習騎羊。He drove the sheep to a desolate place and gathered all the village children there to practise riding them.每天那些羊和不喜歡行動的豬一樣散遍在曠野。Every day the sheep, like pigs reluctant to move, lay scattered all over the open country.

平儿被雇做了牧羊童。他追打群羊跑遍山坡。山顶像是开著小花一般，绿了！而变红了！山顶拾野菜的孩子，平儿不断的戏弄她们，他单独的赶著一只羊去吃她们筐子里拾得的野菜。有时他选一条大身体的羊，像骑马一样的骑著来了！小的女孩们吓得哭著，她们看他像个猴子坐在羊背上。平儿从牧羊时起，他的本领渐渐得已发展。他把羊赶到荒凉的地方去，招集村中所有的孩子练习骑羊。每天那些羊和不喜欢行动的猪一样散遍在旷野。

行在歸途上，前面白茫茫的一片，他在最後的一個羊背上，彷彿是大將統帥著兵卒一般。On the way home, the flock stretched in a white expanse ahead of him, while he rode on the back of the last sheep, like a great general commanding his troops.他手耍著鞭子，覺得十分得意。He flourished his whip and felt immensely proud.

行在归途上，前面白茫茫的一片，他在最后的一个羊背上，彷佛是大将统帅著兵卒一般。他手耍著鞭子，觉得十分得意。

「你吃飽了嗎？“Have you eaten your fill?午飯。」Your midday meal.”

「你吃饱了吗？午饭。」

趙三對兒子溫和了許多。Zhao San had grown much gentler with his son.從遇事以後他好像是溫順了。Since the incident, he seemed to have become meek.

赵三对儿子温和了许多。从遇事以后他好像是温顺了。

那天平兒正戲耍在羊背上，在進大門的時候，羊瘋狂的跑著，使他不能從羊背跳下，那樣他像耍著的羊背上張狂的猴子。That day Ping’er was romping on a sheep’s back; as they entered the main gate, the sheep ran wildly, leaving him unable to jump off, so that he looked like a crazed monkey capering on its back.一個下雨的天氣，在羊背上進大門的時候，他把小孩撞倒，主人用拾柴的耙子把他打下羊背來，仍是不停，像打著一塊死肉一般。One rainy day, as he rode through the main gate on a sheep’s back, he knocked over a child; his master beat him off the sheep with a firewood rake, then went on beating him as though he were a lump of dead flesh.

那天平儿正戏耍在羊背上，在进大门的时候，羊疯狂的跑著，使他不能从羊背跳下，那样他像耍著的羊背上张狂的猴子。一个下雨的天气，在羊背上进大门的时候，他把小孩撞倒，主人用拾柴的耙子把他打下羊背来，仍是不停，像打著一块死肉一般。

夜裡，平兒不能睡，輾轉著不能睡。That night Ping’er could not sleep; he tossed and turned, unable to sleep.爹爹動著他龐大的手掌拍撫他：His father moved his huge palm over him, patting and soothing him:

夜里，平儿不能睡，辗转著不能睡。爹爹动著他庞大的手掌拍抚他：

「跑了一天！“You’ve been running all day!還不睏倦，快快睡吧！Aren’t you tired yet? Hurry up and sleep!早早起來好上工！」You must get up early for work!”

「跑了一天！还不困倦，快快睡吧！早早起来好上工！」

平兒在爹爹溫順的手下，感到委屈了！Under his father’s gentle hand, Ping’er felt the injustice of it all!

平儿在爹爹温顺的手下，感到委屈了！

「我挨打了！“I was beaten!屁股疼。」My bottom hurts.”

爹爹起來，在一個紙包裡取出一點紅色的藥粉給他塗擦破口的地方。His father got up, took a little red medicinal powder from a paper packet, and rubbed it onto the broken skin.

爹爹起来，在一个纸包里取出一点红色的药粉给他涂擦破口的地方。

爹爹是老了！His father had grown old!孩子還那樣小，趙三感到人活著沒有什麼意趣了。The child was still so young; Zhao San felt there was little pleasure in being alive.第二天平兒去上工被辭退回來，趙三坐在廚房用穀草正織雞籠，他說：The next day Ping’er went to work only to be dismissed and sent home; Zhao San was sitting in the kitchen weaving a chicken coop from rice straw, and he said:

爹爹是老了！孩子还那样小，赵三感到人活著没有什么意趣了。第二天平儿去上工被辞退回来，赵三坐在厨房用谷草正织鸡笼，他说：

「好啊！“Good!明天跟爹爹去賣雞籠吧！」Tomorrow you can come sell chicken coops with your father!”

「好啊！明天跟爹爹去卖鸡笼吧！」

天將明他叫著孩子：As dawn was about to break, he called to the child:

天将明他叫著孩子：

「起來吧，跟爹爹去賣雞籠。」“Get up. Come sell chicken coops with your father.”

「起来吧，跟爹爹去卖鸡笼。」

王婆把米飯用手打成堅實的糰子，進城的父子裝進衣袋去，算做午餐。Granny Wang pressed cooked rice into firm balls with her hands, and the father and son, bound for town, tucked them into their pockets for lunch.

王婆把米饭用手打成坚实的团子，进城的父子装进衣袋去，算做午餐。

第一天賣出去的雞籠很少，晚間又都背著回來。On the first day very few chicken coops were sold, and in the evening they carried the rest home again.王婆弄著米缸響：Granny Wang rattled about in the rice jar:

第一天卖出去的鸡笼很少，晚间又都背著回来。王婆弄著米缸响：

「我說多留些米吃，你偏要賣出去……“I told you to keep more rice for us to eat, but you insisted on selling it...又吃什麼呢？……What are we to eat now?...又吃什麼呢？」What are we to eat?”

「我说多留些米吃，你偏要卖出去……又吃什么呢？……又吃什么呢？」

老頭子把懷中的銅板給她，她說：The old man gave her the copper coins from inside his coat, and she said:

老头子把怀中的铜板给她，她说：

「不是今天沒有吃的，是明天呀？」“It isn’t today we have nothing to eat—it’s tomorrow, isn’t it?”

「不是今天没有吃的，是明天呀？」

趙三說：「明天，那好說，明天多賣出幾個籠子就有了！」Zhao San said, “Tomorrow? That is easily settled. Tomorrow we’ll sell a few more coops, and then we’ll have something!”

赵三说：「明天，那好说，明天多卖出几个笼子就有了！」

一個上午，十個雞籠賣出去了！In a single morning, ten chicken coops were sold!只剩下三個大些的，堆在那裡。Only three larger ones remained, piled there.爹爹手心上數著票子，平兒在吃飯糰。His father counted the notes in his palm while Ping’er ate a rice ball.

一个上午，十个鸡笼卖出去了！只剩下三个大些的，堆在那里。爹爹手心上数著票子，平儿在吃饭团。

「一百枚還多著，我們該去喝碗豆腐腦來！」“There’s more than a hundred coppers here. We ought to go and have a bowl of doufunao!”

「一百枚还多著，我们该去喝碗豆腐脑来！」

他們就到不遠的那個布棚下，蹲在擔子旁吃著冒氣的食品。So they went beneath a nearby cloth awning and squatted beside the vendor’s carrying-pole stall, eating the steaming food.是平兒先吃，爹爹的那碗才正在上面倒醋。Ping’er’s was served first; vinegar was only just being poured into his father’s bowl.平兒對於這食品是怎麼新鮮呀！How novel this food was to Ping’er!一碗豆腐腦是怎樣舒暢著平兒的小腸子呀！How delightfully a bowl of doufunao comforted Ping’er’s little belly!他的眼睛圓圓地把一碗豆腐腦吞食完了！His eyes round, he gulped down the whole bowl of doufunao!

他们就到不远的那个布棚下，蹲在担子旁吃著冒气的食品。是平儿先吃，爹爹的那碗才正在上面倒醋。平儿对于这食品是怎么新鲜呀！一碗豆腐脑是怎样舒畅著平儿的小肠子呀！他的眼睛圆圆地把一碗豆腐脑吞食完了！

那個叫賣人說：「孩子再來一碗吧！」The vendor said, “Another bowl for the boy!”

那个叫卖人说：「孩子再来一碗吧！」

爹爹驚奇著：「吃完了？」His father exclaimed in surprise, “Finished already?”

爹爹惊奇著：「吃完了？」

那個叫賣人把勺子放下鍋去說：「再來一碗算半碗的錢吧！」Lowering his ladle into the pot, the vendor said, “Let him have another bowl—I’ll charge you only half price!”

那个叫卖人把勺子放下锅去说：「再来一碗算半碗的钱吧！」

平兒的眼睛溜著爹爹把碗給過去。Ping’er’s eyes slid toward his father as he held out his bowl.他喝豆腐腦作出大大的抽響來。He slurped the doufunao with great loud sucking sounds.趙三卻不那樣，他把眼光放在雞籠的地方，慢慢吃，慢慢吃終於也吃完了！Zhao San did not eat that way; keeping his eyes on the chicken coops, he ate slowly and slowly, until at last he too had finished!他說：He said:

平儿的眼睛溜著爹爹把碗给过去。他喝豆腐脑作出大大的抽响来。赵三却不那样，他把眼光放在鸡笼的地方，慢慢吃，慢慢吃终于也吃完了！他说：

「平兒，你吃不下吧？“Ping’er, you can’t finish yours, can you?倒給我碗點。」Pour a little into my bowl.”

「平儿，你吃不下吧？倒给我碗点。」

平兒倒給爹爹很少很少。Ping’er poured a very, very little into his father’s bowl.給過錢爹爹去看守雞籠。After paying, his father went back to watch over the chicken coops.平兒仍在那裡，孩子貪戀著一點點最末的湯水，頭仰向天，把碗扣在臉上一般。Ping’er stayed where he was; loath to part with the very last drops of broth, the child tilted his head toward the sky, as though clapping the bowl over his face.

平儿倒给爹爹很少很少。给过钱爹爹去看守鸡笼。平儿仍在那里，孩子贪恋著一点点最末的汤水，头仰向天，把碗扣在脸上一般。

菜市上買菜的人經過，若注意一下雞籠，趙三就說：Whenever anyone passing through the vegetable market showed the least interest in the chicken coops, Zhao San would say:

菜市上买菜的人经过，若注意一下鸡笼，赵三就说：

「買吧！“Buy one!僅是十個銅板。」Only ten copper coins.”

「买吧！仅是十个铜板。」

終於三個雞籠沒有人買，兩個分給爹爹，留下一個在平兒的背上突起著。In the end no one bought the three coops; two were given to his father to carry, while the last bulged on Ping’er’s back.經過牛馬市，平兒指嚷著：As they passed the cattle and horse market, Ping’er pointed and cried:

终于三个鸡笼没有人买，两个分给爹爹，留下一个在平儿的背上突起著。经过牛马市，平儿指嚷著：

「爹爹，咱們的青牛在那兒。」“Father, there’s our brown ox.”

「爹爹，咱们的青牛在那儿。」

大雞籠在背上蕩動著，孩子去看青牛。The large chicken coop swayed on his back as the child went to look at the ox.趙三笑了，向那個賣牛人說：Zhao San smiled and said to the man selling it:

大鸡笼在背上荡动著，孩子去看青牛。赵三笑了，向那个卖牛人说：

「又出賣嗎？」“Selling it again?”

「又出卖吗？」

說著這話，趙三無緣的感到酸心。As he spoke, Zhao San felt an unaccountable pang of sorrow.到家他向王婆說：When he reached home, he told Granny Wang:

说著这话，赵三无缘的感到酸心。到家他向王婆说：

「方才看見那條青牛在市上。」“Just now I saw that brown ox at the market.”

「方才看见那条青牛在市上。」

「人家的了，就別提了。」王婆整天地不耐煩。“It belongs to someone else now, so don’t speak of it.” Granny Wang was irritable all day long.

「人家的了，就别提了。」王婆整天地不耐烦。

賣雞籠漸漸的趙三會說價了；As Zhao San went on selling chicken coops, he gradually learned how to haggle;慢慢的坐在牆根他會招呼了，也常常給平兒買一兩塊紅綠的糖球吃。little by little, sitting at the foot of a wall, he learned to call out to customers, and he often bought Ping’er one or two red-and-green sugar balls.後來連飯糰也不用帶。Later they no longer even needed to bring rice balls.

卖鸡笼渐渐的赵三会说价了；慢慢的坐在墙根他会招呼了，也常常给平儿买一两块红绿的糖球吃。后来连饭团也不用带。

他弄些銅板每天交給王婆，可是她總不喜歡，就像無意之中把錢放起來。Every day he brought home some copper coins and handed them to Granny Wang, but she was never pleased, putting the money away as though without taking any notice of it.

他弄些铜板每天交给王婆，可是她总不喜欢，就像无意之中把钱放起来。

※※※※※※

二里半又給說妥一家，叫平兒去做小夥計。Erli Ban arranged another position for Ping’er, this time as a shop boy.孩子聽了這話，就生氣。The child grew angry when he heard.

二里半又给说妥一家，叫平儿去做小伙计。孩子听了这话，就生气。

「我不去，我不能，他們好打我呀！」平兒為了賣雞籠所迷戀：「我還是跟爹爹進城。」“I won’t go. I can’t—they’re always beating me!” Enamoured of selling chicken coops, Ping’er said, “I’d rather go into town with Father.”

「我不去，我不能，他们好打我呀！」平儿为了卖鸡笼所迷恋：「我还是跟爹爹进城。」

王婆絕對主張孩子去做小夥計。Granny Wang insisted absolutely that the child become a shop boy.她說：She said:

王婆绝对主张孩子去做小伙计。她说：

「你爹爹賣雞籠你跟著做什麼？」“What use are you tagging along when your father sells chicken coops?”

「你爹爹卖鸡笼你跟著做什么？」

趙三說：「算了吧，不去就不去吧。」Zhao San said, “Let it be. If he won’t go, then he needn’t.”

赵三说：「算了吧，不去就不去吧。」

銅板興奮著趙三，半夜他也是織雞籠，他向王婆說：The copper coins filled Zhao San with enthusiasm; he wove chicken coops even at midnight, and he said to Granny Wang:

铜板兴奋著赵三，半夜他也是织鸡笼，他向王婆说：

「你就不好也來學學，一種營生呢！“Why don’t you learn to do it too? It’s a livelihood!還好多織幾個。」Then we could weave several more.”

「你就不好也来学学，一种营生呢！还好多织几个。」

但是王婆仍是去睡，就像對於他織雞籠，懷著不滿似的，就像反對他織雞籠似的。But Granny Wang went off to sleep all the same, as though she resented his weaving chicken coops, as though she opposed it.

但是王婆仍是去睡，就像对于他织鸡笼，怀著不满似的，就像反对他织鸡笼似的。

平兒同情著父親，他願意背雞籠，多背一個。Ping’er sympathized with his father; he was willing to carry the coops, and to carry one more.爹爹說：His father said:

平儿同情著父亲，他愿意背鸡笼，多背一个。爹爹说：

「不要背了！“Don’t carry any more!夠了！」That’s enough!”

「不要背了！够了！」

他又背一個，臨出門時他又找個小一點的提在手裡。He shouldered another anyway, and just as they were leaving he found a smaller one and carried it in his hand.爹爹問：His father asked:

他又背一个，临出门时他又找个小一点的提在手里。爹爹问：

「你能拿動嗎？“Can you manage that?送回兩個去吧，賣不完啊！」Take two of them back—we won’t sell them all!”

「你能拿动吗？送回两个去吧，卖不完啊！」

有一次從城裡割一斤肉回來，吃了一頓像樣的晚餐。Once they brought a catty of meat back from town and ate a proper evening meal.

有一次从城里割一斤肉回来，吃了一顿像样的晚餐。

村中婦人羨慕王婆：The women of the village envied Granny Wang:

村中妇人羡慕王婆：

「三哥真能幹哩！“Third Brother is truly capable!把一條牛賣掉，不能再種糧食，可是這比種糧食更好，更能得錢。」Once you’ve sold your ox, you can’t grow grain anymore, but this is better than growing grain—it brings in more money.”

「三哥真能干哩！把一条牛卖掉，不能再种粮食，可是这比种粮食更好，更能得钱。」

經過二里半門前，平兒把羅圈腿也領進城去。As they passed Erli Ban’s door, Ping’er took Bowlegs along into town.平兒向爹爹要了銅板給小朋友買兩片油煎饅頭。Ping’er asked his father for some copper coins and bought his little friend two slices of fried mantou.又走到敲鑼搭著小棚的地方去擠撞，每人花一個銅板看一看「西洋景」（街頭影戲）。Then they went to jostle in the crowd around a little shed where a gong was being beaten; for one copper coin each, they saw a “Western peepshow” street performance.那是從一個嵌著小玻璃鏡，只容一個眼睛的地方看進去，裡面有一張放大的畫片活動著。You looked into it through a tiny glass lens that admitted only one eye, and inside an enlarged picture moved.打仗的，拿著槍的，很快又換上一張別樣的。There were men fighting, men carrying guns; very soon it changed to another picture.耍畫片的人一面唱；The man working the pictures sang as he went;一面講：and explained as he sang:

经过二里半门前，平儿把罗圈腿也领进城去。平儿向爹爹要了铜板给小朋友买两片油煎馒头。又走到敲锣搭著小棚的地方去挤撞，每人花一个铜板看一看「西洋景」（街头影戏）。那是从一个嵌著小玻璃镜，只容一个眼睛的地方看进去，里面有一张放大的画片活动著。打仗的，拿著枪的，很快又换上一张别样的。耍画片的人一面唱；一面讲：

「這又是一片洋人打仗。“Here is another scene of foreigners at war.你看『老毛子』奪城，那真是嘩啦啦！Look at the ‘Old Hairies’ taking the city—what a terrific crashing and clattering!打死的不知多少……」No one knows how many were killed...”

「这又是一片洋人打仗。你看『老毛子』夺城，那真是哗啦啦！打死的不知多少……」

羅圈腿嚷著看不清，平兒告訴他：「你把眼睛閉起一個來！」Bowlegs cried that he could not see clearly, and Ping’er told him, “Close one eye!”

罗圈腿嚷著看不清，平儿告诉他：「你把眼睛闭起一个来！」

可是不久這就完了！But before long it was over!從熱鬧的，孩子熱愛的城裡把他們又趕出來。They were driven out again from the bustling town the children loved.平兒又被裝進這睡著一般的鄉村。Ping’er was packed once more into this village that seemed sunk in sleep.原因，小雞初生卵的時節已經過去。The reason was that the season when chicks first hatched from their eggs had already passed.家家把雞籠全預備好了。Every household had gotten their chicken coops ready.

可是不久这就完了！从热闹的，孩子热爱的城里把他们又赶出来。平儿又被装进这睡著一般的乡村。原因，小鸡初生卵的时节已经过去。家家把鸡笼全预备好了。

平兒不願意跟著，趙三自己進城，減價出賣。Ping'er was unwilling to go along, so Zhao San went into town alone and sold them at a reduced price.後來折本賣。Later he sold them at a loss.最後他也不去了。In the end he stopped going altogether.廚房裡雞籠靠牆高擺起來。In the kitchen the chicken coops were stacked up high against the wall.這些東西從前會使趙三歡喜，現在會使他生氣。These things used to make Zhao San happy; now they made him angry.

平儿不愿意跟著，赵三自己进城，减价出卖。后来折本卖。最后他也不去了。厨房里鸡笼靠墙高摆起来。这些东西从前会使赵三欢喜，现在会使他生气。

平兒又騎在羊背上去牧羊。Ping'er again rode on the sheep's back to herd the flock.但是趙三是受了挫傷！But Zhao San had suffered a blow!

平儿又骑在羊背上去牧羊。但是赵三是受了挫伤！