空虛 Emptiness

“我近來的心理狀態，正不曉得怎麼才寫得出來。My state of mind these days—I really don't know how to put it into words.有野心的人，他的眼前，常有著種種偉大的幻象，一步一步跟了這些幻象走去，就是他的生活。A man with ambition always has before his eyes all sorts of grand visions, and to follow these visions step by step is his life.對將來抱希望的人，他的頭上有一顆明星，在那裡引路，他雖在黑暗的沙漠中行走，但是他的心裡終有一個猶太人的主存在，所以他的生活，終於是有意義的。A man who holds hope for the future has a bright star above his head, guiding his way; though he walks through a dark desert, in his heart there is always a Lord like that of the Israelites, and so his life, in the end, has meaning.在過去的追憶中活著的人，過去的可驚可喜的情景，都環繞在他的左右，所以他雖覺得這現在的人生是寂寞得很，但是他的生活，卻也安閒自在。A man who lives in memories of the past has all the astonishing and joyful scenes of bygone days surrounding him, so that although he feels this present life to be very lonely, his life is nonetheless peaceful and at ease.天天在那裡做夢的人，他的對美的饑渴，就可以用夢裡的濃情來填塞，他是在天使的翼上過日子的人，還不至感得這人生的空虛。A man who dreams day after day can fill his hunger for beauty with the rich feeling found in dreams; he is one who passes his days upon the wings of angels, and has not yet come to feel the emptiness of this life.我是從小沒有野心的，如今到了人生的中道，對將來的希望，不消說是沒有了。I have had no ambition since childhood, and now, having reached the midpoint of life, it goes without saying that I have no hope left for the future.我的過去的半生是一篇敗殘的歷史，回想起來，只有眼淚與悲歎，幾年前頭，我還有一片享受這悲痛的餘情，還有些自欺自慰的夢想，到今朝非但享受這種苦中樂sweet bitterness的心思沒有了，便是愚人的最後的一件武器——開了眼睛做夢，——也被殘虐的運命奪去了。The past half of my life is a chronicle of defeat and ruin; looking back on it, there is only weeping and lament. A few years ago I still had some lingering capacity to savor this grief, still had a few self-deceiving, self-consoling dreams; but now, not only have I lost the disposition to enjoy this kind of joy-within-bitterness—sweet bitterness—but even the fool's last weapon, dreaming with eyes wide open, has been snatched away from me by a cruel fate.啊啊，年輕的維特呀，我佩服你的勇敢，我佩服你的有果斷的柔心！”Ah, young Werther! I admire your courage, I admire your tender heart so capable of resolve!"

“我近来的心理状态，正不晓得怎么才写得出来。有野心的人，他的眼前，常有著种种伟大的幻象，一步一步跟了这些幻象走去，就是他的生活。对将来抱希望的人，他的头上有一颗明星，在那里引路，他虽在黑暗的沙漠中行走，但是他的心里终有一个犹太人的主存在，所以他的生活，终于是有意义的。在过去的追忆中活著的人，过去的可惊可喜的情景，都环绕在他的左右，所以他虽觉得这现在的人生是寂寞得很，但是他的生活，却也安闲自在。天天在那里做梦的人，他的对美的饥渴，就可以用梦里的浓情来填塞，他是在天使的翼上过日子的人，还不至感得这人生的空虚。我是从小没有野心的，如今到了人生的中道，对将来的希望，不消说是没有了。我的过去的半生是一篇败残的历史，回想起来，只有眼泪与悲叹，几年前头，我还有一片享受这悲痛的余情，还有些自欺自慰的梦想，到今朝非但享受这种苦中乐sweet bitterness的心思没有了，便是愚人的最后的一件武器——开了眼睛做梦，——也被残虐的运命夺去了。啊啊，年轻的维特呀，我佩服你的勇敢，我佩服你的有果断的柔心！”

質夫提起筆來，對著了他那紅木邊的小玻璃窗，寫了這幾行字，就不再寫下去了。Zhifu picked up his pen, and facing the small glass window with its rosewood frame, wrote these few lines, then wrote no further.窗外是一個小小的花園，園裡栽著幾株梧桐樹和桂花樹，樹下的花壇上，正開著些西洋草花。Outside the window was a small garden, planted with a few phoenix trees and osmanthus trees; on the flower beds beneath them, some Western garden flowers were in bloom.梅雨晴時的太陽光線，灑在這嫩綠的叢葉上，反射出一層鮮豔的光彩來，大約蟬鳴的節季，來也不遠了。The sunlight, breaking through after the plum rains, scattered over the tender green foliage and reflected back a layer of brilliant color; the season of cicada song, it seemed, was not far off.

质夫提起笔来，对著了他那红木边的小玻璃窗，写了这几行字，就不再写下去了。窗外是一个小小的花园，园里栽著几株梧桐树和桂花树，树下的花坛上，正开著些西洋草花。梅雨晴时的太阳光线，洒在这嫩绿的丛叶上，反射出一层鲜艳的光彩来，大约蝉鸣的节季，来也不远了。

園裡樹蔭下有幾隻半大的公雞母雞，咯咯的在被雨沖松的園地裡覓食，若沒有這幾隻雞的悠閒的喉音，這一座午後的庭園，怕將靜寂得與格離姆童話裡的被魔術封禁的城池無異了。In the garden, in the shade of the trees, a few half-grown cocks and hens clucked as they foraged in the soil the rain had loosened; had it not been for the leisurely cackling of these few chickens, this afternoon garden would likely have been as silent and still as some castle sealed by magic in a Grimm's fairy tale.

园里树荫下有几只半大的公鸡母鸡，咯咯的在被雨冲松的园地里觅食，若没有这几只鸡的悠闲的喉音，这一座午后的庭园，怕将静寂得与格离姆童话里的被魔术封禁的城池无异了。

質夫擱下了筆，呆呆的對窗外看了好久，便同夢遊病者似的立了起來。Zhifu set down his pen, gazed blankly out the window for a long while, then rose to his feet like a sleepwalker.在房裡走了幾圈，他忽覺得同時存在在這世界上的人類，與他親熱起來了。Having paced a few circles about the room, he suddenly felt that mankind, existing together with him in this world, had grown intimate to him.

质夫搁下了笔，呆呆的对窗外看了好久，便同梦游病者似的立了起来。在房里走了几圈，他忽觉得同时存在在这世界上的人类，与他亲热起来了。

他在一個月前頭，染了不眠症，食欲不進，身體一天一天的消瘦下去。A month earlier he had come down with insomnia; he had no appetite, and his body grew thinner day by day.無論上什麼地方去，他總覺得有一個人跟在他的後面，在那裡催促他的樣子。Wherever he went, he always felt as if someone were following close behind him, urging him on.他以為東京市內的空氣不好，所以使他變成神經衰弱的，因此他就到這東中野的曠野裡，租了一間小屋子搬了過去。He supposed it was the bad air within the city of Tokyo that had brought on his nervous exhaustion, and so he had come out to this open country of Higashi-Nakano, rented a small house, and moved in.這小屋子的四面，就是荒田蔓草。On every side of this small house lay only fallow fields overgrown with weeds.他那小屋子只有兩間平屋。His little house consisted of only two single-story rooms.一間是朝南的長方的讀書室。One was a rectangular study facing south.南面有一口小窗，窗外便是那小小的花園。On its southern wall was a small window, beyond which lay that small garden.一間是朝門的二丈寬的客室。The other was a parlor facing the gate, some two zhang wide.客室的西面，便附著一個三尺長二尺寬的煮飯的地方。On the west side of the parlor was attached a cooking area three feet long and two feet wide.出了門，沿了一條溝水，朝北的走不上五十步路，便是一條鄉間的大道。Going out the door and following a drainage ditch northward for less than fifty paces, one came to a country highway.這大道的東西，靠著一條綠草叢生的矮小山嶺，在這小山上有幾家紅頂的小別莊，藏在忍冬蔦蘿的綠葉堆中。Running east and west, this road skirted a low ridge thick with green grass; on this little hill stood a few red-roofed villas, hidden among the green foliage of honeysuckle and ivy.他無聊的時候，每拿了一枝粗大的櫻杖，回繞了這座小山，在縱橫錯落的野道上試他的閒步。When bored, he would often take up a stout cherry-wood walking stick and circle this little hill, taking his leisurely walks along the tangle of wild paths crisscrossing it.

他在一个月前头，染了不眠症，食欲不进，身体一天一天的消瘦下去。无论上什么地方去，他总觉得有一个人跟在他的后面，在那里催促他的样子。他以为东京市内的空气不好，所以使他变成神经衰弱的，因此他就到这东中野的旷野里，租了一间小屋子搬了过去。这小屋子的四面，就是荒田蔓草。他那小屋子只有两间平屋。一间是朝南的长方的读书室。南面有一口小窗，窗外便是那小小的花园。一间是朝门的二丈宽的客室。客室的西面，便附著一个三尺长二尺宽的煮饭的地方。出了门，沿了一条沟水，朝北的走不上五十步路，便是一条乡间的大道。这大道的东西，靠著一条绿草丛生的矮小山岭，在这小山上有几家红顶的小别庄，藏在忍冬茑萝的绿叶堆中。他无聊的时候，每拿了一枝粗大的樱杖，回绕了这座小山，在纵横错落的野道上试他的闲步。

當初搬來的時候，他覺得這同修道院似的生活，正合他的心境。When he first moved here, he had felt that this monastery-like life suited his state of mind perfectly.過了幾天，他覺得流散在他周圍的同墳墓中一樣的沉默有些難耐起來了，所以他就去請了一位六十余歲的老婆婆來和他同住。After a few days, though, he found the silence pervading his surroundings—a silence like that of the grave—growing hard to bear, and so he went and asked an old woman past sixty to come and live with him.這老婆婆也沒有男人，也沒有親戚，本來是在質夫的朋友家裡幫忙的，他的朋友于一禮拜前頭回中國去了，所以質夫反做了一個人情，把她邀了過來。This old woman had no husband and no kin; she had originally been helping out at the house of a friend of Zhifu's, and when that friend returned to China a week before, Zhifu had, in effect, done her a good turn by inviting her to come stay with him.這老婆婆另外沒有嗜好，只喜歡養些家畜在她的左右，自從她和質夫同住之後，質夫的那間小屋子裡便多出了一隻小白花貓和幾隻雌雄雞來；This old woman had no other habits besides a fondness for keeping small livestock about her; ever since she had come to live with him, Zhifu's little house had gained a small white-and-tabby cat and several hens and roosters besides;質夫因為孤獨得難堪，所以對這老婆婆的這一點少年心，也並不反對。and because his loneliness was hard to endure, Zhifu did not object to this touch of childlike fondness in the old woman.有時質夫從他那書室的小玻璃窗裡探頭出去，看看那在花蔭貪午睡的小家畜，倒反覺得他那小屋的周圍，增加了一段和平的景象。Sometimes Zhifu would poke his head out of the little glass window of his study to look at these small creatures dozing away their afternoon nap in the shade of the flowers, and would feel instead that a touch of peaceful scenery had been added to the surroundings of his little house.

当初搬来的时候，他觉得这同修道院似的生活，正合他的心境。过了几天，他觉得流散在他周围的同坟墓中一样的沉默有些难耐起来了，所以他就去请了一位六十余岁的老婆婆来和他同住。这老婆婆也没有男人，也没有亲戚，本来是在质夫的朋友家里帮忙的，他的朋友于一礼拜前头回中国去了，所以质夫反做了一个人情，把她邀了过来。这老婆婆另外没有嗜好，只喜欢养些家畜在她的左右，自从她和质夫同住之后，质夫的那间小屋子里便多出了一只小白花猫和几只雌雄鸡来；质夫因为孤独得难堪，所以对这老婆婆的这一点少年心，也并不反对。有时质夫从他那书室的小玻璃窗里探头出去，看看那在花荫贪午睡的小家畜，倒反觉得他那小屋的周围，增加了一段和平的景象。

質夫同夢遊病者似的在書室裡走了幾圈，忽然覺得世間的人類與他親熱起來了。Zhifu paced a few circles about the study like a sleepwalker, and suddenly felt that mankind in this world had grown intimate to him.換了一套洋服，他就出了門緩緩的走上東中野郊外電車的車站上去。Changing into a Western suit, he went out the door and walked slowly toward the Higashi-Nakano suburban tram station.

质夫同梦游病者似的在书室里走了几圈，忽然觉得世间的人类与他亲热起来了。换了一套洋服，他就出了门缓缓的走上东中野郊外电车的车站上去。

他坐了郊外電車，一直到離最熱鬧的市街不遠的有樂町才下車。He rode the suburban tram all the way to Yurakucho, not far from the busiest streets of the city, before getting off.在太陽光底下，灰土很深的雜鬧的街上走來走去走了一會，他覺得熱起來了。Walking back and forth for a while under the sun along the noisy, dust-thick streets, he began to feel the heat.進了一家冰麒麟兼水果店的一層樓上坐下的時候，他呆呆的朝窗外的熱鬧的市街看了一忽。He went into a shop selling shaved ice and fruit, and after sitting down on its upper floor, he gazed blankly out the window at the bustling street for a while.他覺得這亂雜的熱鬧，人和人的糾葛、繁華、墮落、男女、物品、和其它的一切東西，都與他完全沒有關係的樣子。He felt that all this chaotic bustle—the entanglements between people, the prosperity, the depravity, the men and women, the goods, and everything else—seemed to have absolutely nothing to do with him.吃了一杯冰麒麟，一杯紅茶，他便叫侍女過來付錢。Having eaten a cup of shaved ice and drunk a cup of black tea, he called the waitress over to pay.他把鈔票交給那侍女的時候，看見了那侍女的五個紅嫩的手指。As he handed the bill to the waitress, he caught sight of her five delicate, rosy fingers.一時的聯想，就把他帶到五年前頭的一場悲喜劇中間去。A sudden association of thought carried him back into the midst of a tragicomedy from five years before.

他坐了郊外电车，一直到离最热闹的市街不远的有乐町才下车。在太阳光底下，灰土很深的杂闹的街上走来走去走了一会，他觉得热起来了。进了一家冰麒麟兼水果店的一层楼上坐下的时候，他呆呆的朝窗外的热闹的市街看了一忽。他觉得这乱杂的热闹，人和人的纠葛、繁华、堕落、男女、物品、和其它的一切东西，都与他完全没有关系的样子。吃了一杯冰麒麟，一杯红茶，他便叫侍女过来付钱。他把钞票交给那侍女的时候，看见了那侍女的五个红嫩的手指。一时的联想，就把他带到五年前头的一场悲喜剧中间去。

也是六月間黃梅雨後的時節，他那時候還在N市高等學校裡念書。It had also been in June, in the season after the yellow plum rains, and he had still been a student at the higher school in N City at the time.放暑假後，他的同學都回中國去了。After summer vacation began, his classmates had all gone back to China.他因為神經衰弱，不能耐長途的跋涉，所以便一個人到離N市不遠的湯山溫泉去過暑假。Because of his nervous exhaustion, he could not bear a long journey, and so he went alone to spend the summer at the Tangshan hot springs, not far from N City.在深山裡的這溫泉場，暑中只有幾個N市附近的富家的病弱兒女去避暑的。At this hot-spring resort deep in the mountains, only a handful of sickly sons and daughters of wealthy families from around N City came to escape the summer heat.他那一天在梅雨晴後的烈日底下，沿了亂石巉岩的一條清溪，從矽石和泥沙結成的那條清潔的上山路，走到那溫泉場的一家旅館紅葉館的時候，已經是午後五點多鐘了，洗了澡，吃了晚飯，喝了幾杯啤酒，他日裡的疲倦就使他睡著了。That day, under the fierce sun after the plum rains had cleared, he walked along a clear stream strewn with jagged rocks, up the clean mountain path formed of quartz gravel and sand, until he reached the Kōyōkan, an inn at the hot-spring resort—by then it was already past five in the afternoon. After bathing, eating dinner, and drinking several cups of beer, the day's fatigue soon put him to sleep.不知道睡了幾個鐘頭，他那同沉在海底裡似的酣睡，忽被一陣開紙壁門的聲響所驚覺。He did not know how many hours he had slept, but his deep slumber, as though he were sunk to the bottom of the sea, was suddenly startled awake by the sound of a paper sliding door being opened.他睜開了兩隻黑盈盈的眼睛，朝著紙壁門開響的地方一看，只見一個十六七歲的少女，消瘦長方的臉上，裝著一臉驚恐的形容，披散了漆黑的頭髮，長長的立在半開的紙壁門檻上。He opened his dark, glistening eyes and looked toward where the sliding door had sounded, and saw a girl of sixteen or seventeen, her thin, oval face wearing an expression of fright, her jet-black hair hanging loose, standing tall in the half-open doorway of the paper partition.浮滿在室內的蒼黃的電燈光和她那披散的黑髮，更映出了她的面色的蒼白。The pale yellow electric light suffusing the room, together with her loosened black hair, threw her pallid complexion into even sharper relief.她的一雙瞳神黑得很，大得很的眼睛，張著了在那裡注視質夫。Her eyes, very black and very large in their pupils, were opened wide, staring fixedly at Zhifu.她的灰白的嘴唇，全無血色，微微的顫動著，好像急得有話說不出來的樣子，窗外的雷雨聲，山間老樹的咆哮聲，門窗樓屋的震動聲，充滿了室中，質夫覺得好像在大海中遇著了暴風，船被打破了的樣子。Her ashen lips, utterly bloodless, trembled slightly, as though in her distress she could not get the words out; outside the window the sound of thunder and rain, the roaring of old trees in the mountains, and the shaking of the doors, windows, and house filled the room, so that Zhifu felt as though he had met a storm on the open sea and his ship had been wrecked.

也是六月间黄梅雨后的时节，他那时候还在N市高等学校里念书。放暑假后，他的同学都回中国去了。他因为神经衰弱，不能耐长途的跋涉，所以便一个人到离N市不远的汤山温泉去过暑假。在深山里的这温泉场，暑中只有几个N市附近的富家的病弱儿女去避暑的。他那一天在梅雨晴后的烈日底下，沿了乱石巉岩的一条清溪，从矽石和泥沙结成的那条清洁的上山路，走到那温泉场的一家旅馆红叶馆的时候，已经是午后五点多钟了，洗了澡，吃了晚饭，喝了几杯啤酒，他日里的疲倦就使他睡著了。不知道睡了几个钟头，他那同沉在海底里似的酣睡，忽被一阵开纸壁门的声响所惊觉。他睁开了两只黑盈盈的眼睛，朝著纸壁门开响的地方一看，只见一个十六七岁的少女，消瘦长方的脸上，装著一脸惊恐的形容，披散了漆黑的头发，长长的立在半开的纸壁门槛上。浮满在室内的苍黄的电灯光和她那披散的黑发，更映出了她的面色的苍白。她的一双瞳神黑得很，大得很的眼睛，张著了在那里注视质夫。她的灰白的嘴唇，全无血色，微微的颤动著，好像急得有话说不出来的样子，窗外的雷雨声，山间老树的咆哮声，门窗楼屋的震动声，充满了室中，质夫觉得好像在大海中遇著了暴风，船被打破了的样子。

深山的夜半，一個人在客裡，猛然醒來，遇見了這一場情景，質夫當然大吃了一驚。Waking suddenly in the middle of the night deep in the mountains, alone as a traveler, and confronted with such a scene, Zhifu was naturally taken aback.質夫與那少女呆呆的注視了一忽，那少女便走近質夫的床來，發了顫聲，對質夫說：Zhifu and the girl stared blankly at each other for a moment, and then the girl came close to Zhifu's bed and, in a trembling voice, said to him:

深山的夜半，一个人在客里，猛然醒来，遇见了这一场情景，质夫当然大吃了一惊。质夫与那少女呆呆的注视了一忽，那少女便走近质夫的床来，发了颤声，对质夫说：

“……"......對對不起……I—I'm sorry......對不……I'm s......起得很，……—so sorry,......在這……at this......這半夜裡來驚醒你。……in the middle of the night, to wake you like this......可……B—......可是今天我我的運氣不好，偏偏母親回去了的今晚，就發起這樣大的風雨來。……but today my—my luck is bad; of all nights, on the very night my mother went home, a storm like this had to come up......我怕得很呀，我怕得很呀，是對不起得很……I'm so frightened, I'm so frightened, I really am terribly sorry......但是我請你今夜放我在這裡過一夜，這樣大的雷雨，我無論如何也不敢一個人住在間壁那樣大的房裡的。”but I beg you to let me spend tonight here—with a thunderstorm as fierce as this, there's no way I dare stay alone in that big room next door."

“……对对不起……对不……起得很，……在这……这半夜里来惊醒你。……可……可是今天我我的运气不好，偏偏母亲回去了的今晚，就发起这样大的风雨来。……我怕得很呀，我怕得很呀，是对不起得很……但是我请你今夜放我在这里过一夜，这样大的雷雨，我无论如何也不敢一个人住在间壁那样大的房里的。”

她講完了這幾句話，好像精神已經鎮靜起來了。By the time she had finished saying these few words, she seemed to have already calmed herself somewhat.臉上的驚恐的形容，去了一半，嫩白的頰上，忽然起了兩個紅暈。Half the fright had left her face, and on her fair, tender cheeks two patches of red suddenly rose.大約因為質夫呆呆的太看得出神了，所以她的眼角上，露了一點害羞的樣子，把她那同米粉做成似的纖嫩的頸項，稍微動了一動，頭也低下去了。Perhaps because Zhifu was staring at her too fixedly, a touch of shyness showed at the corners of her eyes; she moved her slender neck—delicate as though molded of rice flour—slightly, and lowered her head.當時只有二十一歲的質夫，同這樣妙齡的少女還沒有接觸過，急得他額上脹出了一條青筋，格格的講不出一句回話來。Zhifu, only twenty-one at the time, had never before had any contact with a girl of such tender youth, and grew so flustered that a vein swelled on his forehead, and he stammered without being able to get out a single word in reply.聽她講完了話，質夫才硬的開了口請她不要客氣，請她不要在席上跪著，請她快到藍綢的被上坐下。Only after she had finished speaking did Zhifu manage, with an effort, to open his mouth and ask her not to stand on ceremony, not to kneel there on the mat, and to come quickly and sit down on the blue silk quilt.半吞半吐的說這些話的時候，質夫因為怕羞不過，想做出一番動作來，把他那怕羞的不自然的樣子混過去，所以他一邊說，一邊就從被裡站了起來，跑上屋子的角上去拿了幾個坐墊來擺在他的床邊上。Stammering out these words half-swallowed, Zhifu, overcome with embarrassment, wanted to make some gesture to cover up his awkward, bashful manner, and so even as he spoke he rose up from under the quilt and hurried to the corner of the room to fetch some cushions, which he arranged beside his bed.質夫俯了首，在坐墊上坐下的時候，那少女卻早在質夫的被上坐好了。By the time Zhifu bowed his head and sat down on a cushion, the girl had already seated herself on Zhifu's quilt.她看質夫坐定後，又連接著對質夫說：Once she saw that Zhifu had settled himself, she went on to say to him:

她讲完了这几句话，好像精神已经镇静起来了。脸上的惊恐的形容，去了一半，嫩白的颊上，忽然起了两个红晕。大约因为质夫呆呆的太看得出神了，所以她的眼角上，露了一点害羞的样子，把她那同米粉做成似的纤嫩的颈项，稍微动了一动，头也低下去了。当时只有二十一岁的质夫，同这样妙龄的少女还没有接触过，急得他额上胀出了一条青筋，格格的讲不出一句回话来。听她讲完了话，质夫才硬的开了口请她不要客气，请她不要在席上跪著，请她快到蓝绸的被上坐下。半吞半吐的说这些话的时候，质夫因为怕羞不过，想做出一番动作来，把他那怕羞的不自然的样子混过去，所以他一边说，一边就从被里站了起来，跑上屋子的角上去拿了几个坐垫来摆在他的床边上。质夫俯了首，在坐垫上坐下的时候，那少女却早在质夫的被上坐好了。她看质夫坐定后，又连接著对质夫说：

“我們家住在N市內。"My family lives in N City.我因為染了神經衰弱症，所以學校裡的暑假考也沒有考，到此地來養病已經有一個多月了。Because I came down with nervous exhaustion, I didn't even take my school's summer examinations, and I've been here for over a month now, recuperating.我的母親本來陪我在這裡的，今天因為她想回家去看看家裡的情形，才於午後下山去的。My mother had been staying here with me, but today, wanting to go home and see how things were there, she went down the mountain this afternoon.你在路上有沒有遇著？”Did you happen to meet her on the way?"

“我们家住在N市内。我因为染了神经衰弱症，所以学校里的暑假考也没有考，到此地来养病已经有一个多月了。我的母亲本来陪我在这里的，今天因为她想回家去看看家里的情形，才于午后下山去的。你在路上有没有遇著？”

質夫聽了她的話，才想起了他白天火車站上遇著的那一個很優美的中年婦人。Hearing her words, Zhifu suddenly recalled the very refined, middle-aged woman he had encountered at the train station that day.

质夫听了她的话，才想起了他白天火车站上遇著的那一个很优美的中年妇人。

“是不是一位三十五六歲的婦人？"Was it a woman of about thirty-five or thirty-six?身上穿著紫色縐綢的衣服，外面罩著玄色的紗外套的？”Wearing a purple crepe-silk dress, with a black gauze coat over it?"

“是不是一位三十五六岁的妇人？身上穿著紫色绉绸的衣服，外面罩著玄色的纱外套的？”

“是的是的，那一定是母親了。"Yes, yes, that must have been my mother.你在什麼地方看見她的？”Where did you see her?"

“是的是的，那一定是母亲了。你在什么地方看见她的？”

“我在車站上遇著的。"I met her at the station.我下車的時候，她剛到車站上。”Just as I was getting off the train, she had just arrived at the station."

“我在车站上遇著的。我下车的时候，她刚到车站上。”

“那麼你是坐一點二十分的車來的麼？”"Then did you come on the one-twenty train?"

“那么你是坐一点二十分的车来的么？”

“是的！”"Yes!"

“你是N市麼？”"Are you from N City?"

“你是N市么？”

“不是。”"No."

“東京麼？”"Tokyo?"

“东京么？”

“不是。”"No."

“學堂呢？”"Then which school?"

“学堂呢？”

質夫聽她問他故鄉的時候，臉上忽然紅了一陣，因為中國人在日本是同猶太人在歐洲一樣，到處都被日本人所輕視的；When she asked him about his hometown, Zhifu's face suddenly flushed red, for the Chinese in Japan were, like the Jews in Europe, despised everywhere by the Japanese;及聽到她問他學校的時候，心裡卻感得了幾分驕氣，便帶了笑容指著衣架上掛著的有兩條白線的帽子說：but when he heard her ask about his school, he felt instead a certain pride rise in him, and with a smile he pointed to the cap hanging on the clothes rack, with its two white lines, and said:

质夫听她问他故乡的时候，脸上忽然红了一阵，因为中国人在日本是同犹太人在欧洲一样，到处都被日本人所轻视的；及听到她问他学校的时候，心里却感得了几分骄气，便带了笑容指著衣架上挂著的有两条白线的帽子说：

“你看那就是我的制帽。”"Look, that's my school cap."

“哦，你原來也是在第X高等的麼？"Oh, so you're at the No. X Higher School too?我有一位元表哥你認識不認識？I have a cousin there—do you know him?他姓N，是去年在英法科畢業的。His surname is N; he graduated last year from the English-French course.今年進了東京的帝國大學，怕不久就要回來呢！”This year he entered the Imperial University in Tokyo—I imagine he'll be coming back before long!"

“哦，你原来也是在第X高等的么？我有一位元表哥你认识不认识？他姓N，是去年在英法科毕业的。今年进了东京的帝国大学，怕不久就要回来呢！”

“我不認識他，因為我是德法科。”"I don't know him, because I'm in the German-French course."

“我不认识他，因为我是德法科。”

窗外疾風雷雨的狂吼聲，竟被他們兩人的幽幽的話聲壓了下去。The furious howling of the wind and thunder and rain outside the window was, remarkably, drowned out by the soft murmur of their two voices.可是他們的話聲一斷，窗外的雨打風吹的響聲也馬上會傳到他們的耳膜上來。But the moment their conversation paused, the sound of rain and wind lashing outside would immediately reach their ears again.但是奇怪得很，他們兩人那樣依依對坐在那裡的中間，就覺得樓屋的震動，和老樹的搖撼全沒有一點可怕的地方。Yet strangely enough, in the midst of the two of them sitting there so close and companionably, the shaking of the house and the swaying of the old trees no longer seemed frightening at all.質夫聽聽她那柔和的話聲，看看她那可愛的相貌，心裡只怕雷雨就晴了。Listening to her gentle voice and gazing at her lovely face, Zhifu found himself fearing only that the thunderstorm would clear too soon.和她講了四五十分鐘的話，質夫竟好像同她自幼相識的樣子。After talking with her for forty or fifty minutes, Zhifu felt as though he had known her since childhood.兩人講到天將亮的時候。The two of them talked on until the sky was about to grow light.雷雨晴了，閒話也講完了。The thunderstorm had cleared, and their idle talk had likewise come to an end.那少女好像已經感到了疲倦，竟把身子伏倒在質夫的被上，嘶嘶的睡著了。The girl, seeming to have grown tired, let her body sink down onto Zhifu's quilt and fell asleep with a soft, even breathing.她睡著之後，質夫的精神愈加亢奮起來，他只怕驚醒了她的好夢，所以身體不敢動一動，但是他心裡真想伸出手來到她那柔軟的腰部前後去摸她一摸。After she fell asleep, Zhifu's spirit grew ever more excited; fearing only to wake her from her sweet dream, he dared not move his body in the slightest, and yet in his heart he truly longed to reach out his hand and touch her soft waist, before and behind.她那伏倒的頸項後面的曲線，質夫在心裡完全的把它描寫了出來。The curve of the back of her neck as she lay bowed there, Zhifu traced out completely in his mind.

窗外疾风雷雨的狂吼声，竟被他们两人的幽幽的话声压了下去。可是他们的话声一断，窗外的雨打风吹的响声也马上会传到他们的耳膜上来。但是奇怪得很，他们两人那样依依对坐在那里的中间，就觉得楼屋的震动，和老树的摇撼全没有一点可怕的地方。质夫听听她那柔和的话声，看看她那可爱的相貌，心里只怕雷雨就晴了。和她讲了四五十分钟的话，质夫竟好像同她自幼相识的样子。两人讲到天将亮的时候。雷雨晴了，闲话也讲完了。那少女好像已经感到了疲倦，竟把身子伏倒在质夫的被上，嘶嘶的睡著了。她睡著之后，质夫的精神愈加亢奋起来，他只怕惊醒了她的好梦，所以身体不敢动一动，但是他心里真想伸出手来到她那柔软的腰部前后去摸她一摸。她那伏倒的颈项后面的曲线，质夫在心里完全的把它描写了出来。

“從這面下去是肩峰，除去了手的曲線，向前便是胸部，唉唉，這胸部的曲線，這胸部的曲線，下去便是腹部腰部，……”"From here downward is the crest of the shoulder; setting aside the curve of the arm, forward from there is the breast—ah, ah, the curve of the breast, the curve of the breast—and below that comes the belly, the waist......"

“从这面下去是肩峰，除去了手的曲线，向前便是胸部，唉唉，这胸部的曲线，这胸部的曲线，下去便是腹部腰部，……”

眼看著了那少女的粉嫩潔白的頸項，耳聽著了她的微微的鼾聲，他腦裡卻在那裡替她解開衣服來。His eyes fixed on the girl's powder-soft, pure white neck, his ears filled with the faint sound of her breathing, in his mind he was busy undressing her.他想到了她的腹部腰部的時候，他的氣息也屏住吐不出來了。When his thoughts reached her belly and her waist, his breath caught in his chest and would not come out.一個有血液流著帶些微溫的香味的大理石的處女裸像，現在伏在他的面前。A marble statue of a nude maiden—yet one through which blood flowed, warm and faintly fragrant—now lay bowed before him.質夫心裡想哭又哭不出來，想啊啊的叫又叫不出來，他的臉色漲得同夾竹桃一樣的紅。In his heart Zhifu wanted to weep, yet could not weep; wanted to cry out, yet could not cry out; his face flushed as red as an oleander blossom.他實在按捺不住了，便把右手輕輕的到她頭髮上去摸了一摸。Unable to restrain himself any longer, he gently reached out his right hand and touched her hair.她的鼾聲忽然停止了，質夫驟覺得眼睛轉了一轉黑，好像從高山頂上，一腳被跌在深坑裡去的樣子。Her breathing suddenly stopped, and Zhifu's vision abruptly went dark, as though he had fallen with one misstep from a mountain peak into a deep pit.她果然舉起頭來，開了半隻朦朧的睡眼，微微的笑著對質夫說：Sure enough, she raised her head, opened one drowsy, half-closed eye, and said to Zhifu with a faint smile:

眼看著了那少女的粉嫩洁白的颈项，耳听著了她的微微的鼾声，他脑里却在那里替她解开衣服来。他想到了她的腹部腰部的时候，他的气息也屏住吐不出来了。一个有血液流著带些微温的香味的大理石的处女裸像，现在伏在他的面前。质夫心里想哭又哭不出来，想啊啊的叫又叫不出来，他的脸色涨得同夹竹桃一样的红。他实在按捺不住了，便把右手轻轻的到她头发上去摸了一摸。她的鼾声忽然停止了，质夫骤觉得眼睛转了一转黑，好像从高山顶上，一脚被跌在深坑里去的样子。她果然举起头来，开了半只朦胧的睡眼，微微的笑著对质夫说：

“你還醒著麼？"Are you still awake?怎麼不睡一下呢，我正好睡呀！Why don't you get some sleep too? I was sleeping so well!對不起我要放肆了。”Forgive me, I'm going to make myself quite at home."

“你还醒著么？怎么不睡一下呢，我正好睡呀！对不起我要放肆了。”

含含糊糊的說了幾句話，她索性把身體橫倒，睡著在質夫被上。Murmuring these few indistinct words, she simply stretched herself out and lay sideways, falling asleep on Zhifu's quilt.質夫看看她腰部和臀部的曲線，愈覺得眼睛裡要噴出火來的樣子，沒有辦法，他也只能在她的背後睡下。Zhifu, gazing at the curve of her waist and hips, felt more than ever as though fire were about to burst from his eyes; but there was nothing to be done, and he too could only lie down behind her back.原來她是背朝了質夫打側睡的，質夫睡下的時候，本想兩頭分睡，後來因為怕自家的腳要踢上她的頭去，所以只能和她並頭睡倒。It turned out she was lying on her side with her back to Zhifu; when Zhifu had lain down, he had first meant for them to sleep with their heads at opposite ends, but then, afraid his own feet might kick against her head, he had ended up lying down head-to-head with her instead.他先是背朝背的，但是質夫的心裡，因為不能看見她的身體，正同火裡的毛蟲一樣，苦悶得難堪。At first they lay back to back, but because he could not see her body, Zhifu's heart was as tormented as a caterpillar caught in fire, unbearably stifled.他在心裡思惱得好久，終究輕輕的把身子翻了過來，將他的面朝著了她的背。He fretted in his heart for a long while, and at last quietly turned himself over, so that his face was turned toward her back.翻轉了身子，他又覺得苦悶得難堪。Having turned over, he again felt an unbearable stifling.不知不覺輕輕地一點一點的他又把身子挨了過去。Unconsciously, little by little, he edged his body closer to her again.到了他自家的腹部離她的突出的後部只有二寸餘的時候，他覺得怎麼也不能再挨近前去了，不得已他只得把眼睛閉攏。When his own belly was no more than two inches from the swell of her backside, he felt he could not possibly move any closer, and so, with no other choice, he shut his eyes tight.但是一陣陣從她的肉體裡發散出來的香氣，正同刀劍一般，直割到他的心裡去。But wave after wave of fragrance rising from her flesh cut straight into his heart like a blade.他眼睛閉了之後，倒反覺得她精赤裸裸的睡在他的面前。After he closed his eyes, he felt all the more as though she lay stark naked before him.他的苦悶到了極點了，唉的長歎了一聲，放大了膽他就把身子翻了轉來，與她又成了個背朝背的局面。His anguish reached its peak; he heaved a long sigh, and, screwing up his courage, turned his body over again, so that they were once more back to back.他因為樣子不好看，就把腰曲了一曲，把兩隻腳縮攏了。Feeling this posture looked unseemly, he bent his waist a little and drew both feet in close.

含含糊糊的说了几句话，她索性把身体横倒，睡著在质夫被上。质夫看看她腰部和臀部的曲线，愈觉得眼睛里要喷出火来的样子，没有办法，他也只能在她的背后睡下。原来她是背朝了质夫打侧睡的，质夫睡下的时候，本想两头分睡，后来因为怕自家的脚要踢上她的头去，所以只能和她并头睡倒。他先是背朝背的，但是质夫的心里，因为不能看见她的身体，正同火里的毛虫一样，苦闷得难堪。他在心里思恼得好久，终究轻轻的把身子翻了过来，将他的面朝著了她的背。翻转了身子，他又觉得苦闷得难堪。不知不觉轻轻地一点一点的他又把身子挨了过去。到了他自家的腹部离她的突出的后部只有二寸余的时候，他觉得怎么也不能再挨近前去了，不得已他只得把眼睛闭拢。但是一阵阵从她的肉体里发散出来的香气，正同刀剑一般，直割到他的心里去。他眼睛闭了之后，倒反觉得她精赤裸裸的睡在他的面前。他的苦闷到了极点了，唉的长叹了一声，放大了胆他就把身子翻了转来，与她又成了个背朝背的局面。他因为样子不好看，就把腰曲了一曲，把两只脚缩拢了。

同上刑具被拷問似的苦了好久，到天亮之後，質夫才朦朧的睡著。After suffering thus for a long while, as though under torture by the instruments of punishment, Zhifu finally drifted into a hazy sleep only after daybreak.他正要睡去的時候，那少女醒了。Just as he was about to fall asleep, the young woman woke.她翻過身來，坐起了半身，對質夫說：She turned over, sat halfway up, and said to Zhifu:

同上刑具被拷问似的苦了好久，到天亮之后，质夫才朦胧的睡著。他正要睡去的时候，那少女醒了。她翻过身来，坐起了半身，对质夫说：

“對不起得很，吵鬧了你一夜。"I'm terribly sorry, I've disturbed you all night.天也明瞭，雷雨也晴了，我不怕什麼了，我要回到間壁自家的房裡去睡去。”It's already light now, and the thunderstorm has cleared too — I'm not afraid of anything now, so I'll go back to sleep in my own room next door."

“对不起得很，吵闹了你一夜。天也明瞭，雷雨也晴了，我不怕什么了，我要回到间壁自家的房里去睡去。”

質夫被她驚醒，昏昏沉沉的聽了這幾句話，便連接著說：Startled awake by her, Zhifu, still half in a daze, heard these words and immediately replied:

质夫被她惊醒，昏昏沉沉的听了这几句话，便连接著说：

“你說什麼話，有什麼對不起呢？”"What are you talking about? What is there to be sorry for?"

“你说什么话，有什么对不起呢？”

等她走得隔壁自家房裡之後，質夫完全醒了。Only after she had gone off to her own room next door did Zhifu wake up completely.朝了她的紙壁看了一眼，質夫就馬上將身體橫伏在剛才她睡過的地方。Glancing toward her paper wall, Zhifu at once lay himself down sideways in the very spot where she had just been lying.質夫把兩手放到身底下去作了一個緊抱的形狀，他的四體卻感著一種被上留著的她的余溫。Zhifu slipped both hands beneath his body as if holding something tightly embraced, and his whole body felt the lingering warmth she had left on the quilt.閉了口用鼻子深深的在被上把她的香氣聞吸了一回，他覺得他的肢體都酥軟起來了。Closing his mouth, he drew deep breaths through his nose, taking in her fragrance from the quilt again and again, until he felt his limbs go weak and languid.

等她走得隔壁自家房里之后，质夫完全醒了。朝了她的纸壁看了一眼，质夫就马上将身体横伏在刚才她睡过的地方。质夫把两手放到身底下去作了一个紧抱的形状，他的四体却感著一种被上留著的她的余温。闭了口用鼻子深深的在被上把她的香气闻吸了一回，他觉得他的肢体都酥软起来了。

…………………………

質夫醒來，已經是午前十點鐘的光景，昨宵的暴風雨，不留半點痕跡，映在格子窗上的日光，好像在那裡對他說：When Zhifu woke, it was already around ten in the morning; last night's storm had left not a trace behind, and the sunlight falling on the lattice window seemed to be telling him:

质夫醒来，已经是午前十点钟的光景，昨宵的暴风雨，不留半点痕迹，映在格子窗上的日光，好像在那里对他说：

“今天天氣好得很，你該起來了。”"The weather is very fine today, you ought to get up."

“今天天气好得很，你该起来了。”

質夫起床開了格子窗一望，覺得四山的綠葉，清新得非常。Zhifu rose, opened the lattice window and looked out, feeling the green leaves on the surrounding hills unusually fresh and clear.從綠葉叢中透露出來的青天，也同秋天的蒼空一樣，使人對之能得著一種強健的感覺。The blue sky glimpsed through the clusters of green leaves was just like an autumn sky, giving one a sense of vigorous health.含了牙刷，質夫就上溫泉池去洗浴去。With his toothbrush in his mouth, Zhifu went off to bathe in the hot spring pool.出了格子窗門，在回廊上走過隔壁的格子門的時候，質夫的末梢神經，感覺得她還睡在那裡。Stepping out through the lattice door, as he passed her lattice door next door along the corridor, Zhifu's very nerve-endings sensed that she was still asleep in there.刷了牙，洗了面，浸在溫泉水裡，他從玻璃窗口看看戶外的青天，覺得身心爽快得非常，昨晚上的苦悶，正同惡夢一樣，想起來倒引起了自家的微笑。Having brushed his teeth and washed his face, soaking in the hot spring water, he looked out at the blue sky through the glass window and felt extraordinarily refreshed in body and mind; last night's anguish now seemed just like a bad dream, and recalling it even brought a faint smile to his own face.他正在那裡追想的時候，忽然聽見一種嬌脆的喉音說：Just as he was lost in this reminiscing, he suddenly heard a bright, delicate voice say:

质夫起床开了格子窗一望，觉得四山的绿叶，清新得非常。从绿叶丛中透露出来的青天，也同秋天的苍空一样，使人对之能得著一种强健的感觉。含了牙刷，质夫就上温泉池去洗浴去。出了格子窗门，在回廊上走过隔壁的格子门的时候，质夫的末梢神经，感觉得她还睡在那里。刷了牙，洗了面，浸在温泉水里，他从玻璃窗口看看户外的青天，觉得身心爽快得非常，昨晚上的苦闷，正同恶梦一样，想起来倒引起了自家的微笑。他正在那里追想的时候，忽然听见一种娇脆的喉音说：

“你今天好麼！"How are you today!昨天可對你不起了，鬧了你一夜。”I'm sorry about yesterday — I disturbed you all night."

“你今天好么！昨天可对你不起了，闹了你一夜。”

質夫仰轉頭來一看，只見她那纖細的肉體，絲縷不掛，只兩手捏了一塊毛巾，蓋在那裡；Zhifu tilted his head back to look, and saw only her slender body, not a thread on it, her two hands merely holding a towel pressed there to cover herself;她那形體，同昨天他腦裡描寫過的竟無半點的出入。Her form did not differ in the least from the one his mind had pictured the day before.他看了一眼，漲紅了臉，好像犯了什麼罪似的，就馬上朝轉了頭，一面對她說：He glanced at her once, his face flushing red as though he had committed some crime, and at once turned his head away, saying to her:

质夫仰转头来一看，只见她那纤细的肉体，丝缕不挂，只两手捏了一块毛巾，盖在那里；她那形体，同昨天他脑里描写过的竟无半点的出入。他看了一眼，涨红了脸，好像犯了什么罪似的，就马上朝转了头，一面对她说：

“你也醒了麼？"You're awake too?你今天覺得疲倦不疲倦？”Do you feel tired today, or not?"

“你也醒了么？你今天觉得疲倦不疲倦？”

她一步一步的浸入了溫泉水裡，走近他的身邊來，他想不看她，但是怎麼也不能不看。She stepped, one step at a time, into the hot spring water, drawing nearer to his side; he wanted not to look at her, but somehow could not help looking.他同餓狼見了肥羊一樣，飽看了一陣她的腰部以上的曲線，漸漸的他覺得他的下部起起作用來了。Like a starving wolf that has spotted a fat sheep, he feasted his eyes for a good while on the curves of her upper body, and gradually he felt something stirring below.在溫泉裡浸了許久，她總不走出水來，質夫等得急起來，就想平心靜氣的想想另外的事情，好教他的身體得複平時的狀態，但是在這禁果的前頭他的政策終不見效。She soaked in the hot spring for a long time and simply would not come out of the water; Zhifu, growing impatient with waiting, tried to calm himself and think of other matters, so as to let his body return to its normal state, but before this forbidden fruit his strategy proved useless in the end.不得已他直等得她回房間去之後，才走出水來。With no other recourse, he waited until she had gone back to her room before he finally climbed out of the water.

她一步一步的浸入了温泉水里，走近他的身边来，他想不看她，但是怎么也不能不看。他同饿狼见了肥羊一样，饱看了一阵她的腰部以上的曲线，渐渐的他觉得他的下部起起作用来了。在温泉里浸了许久，她总不走出水来，质夫等得急起来，就想平心静气的想想另外的事情，好教他的身体得复平时的状态，但是在这禁果的前头他的政策终不见效。不得已他直等得她回房间去之后，才走出水来。

吃完了朝中兼帶的飯，質夫走上隔壁的她的房裡去，他們講講閒話，不知不覺的天就黑了，平時他每嫌太陽的遲遲不落，今天卻只覺得落得太早。After finishing a meal that combined breakfast and lunch, Zhifu went up to her room next door; they chatted idly, and before he knew it the sky had grown dark — ordinarily he always resented the sun for setting too slowly, but today he felt only that it had set too soon.

吃完了朝中兼带的饭，质夫走上隔壁的她的房里去，他们讲讲闲话，不知不觉的天就黑了，平时他每嫌太阳的迟迟不落，今天却只觉得落得太早。

第二天質夫又同她玩了一天，同在夢裡一樣，他只覺得時間過去得太快。The next day Zhifu again spent the whole day with her, and just as in a dream, he felt that time had passed by much too quickly.

第二天质夫又同她玩了一天，同在梦里一样，他只觉得时间过去得太快。

第三天的早晨，質夫醒來的時候，忽聽見隔壁她房裡，有男人的聲音在那裡問她說：On the morning of the third day, as Zhifu woke, he suddenly heard a man's voice in her room next door asking her:

第三天的早晨，质夫醒来的时候，忽听见隔壁她房里，有男人的声音在那里问她说：

“你近來看不看小說？”（男音）"Have you been reading novels lately?" (a man's voice)

“你近来看不看小说？”（男音）

“我近來懶得很，什麼也不看。”（她）"I've been quite lazy lately, I haven't read anything." (her)

“我近来懒得很，什么也不看。”（她）

“姨母說你太喜歡看小說，這一次來是她托我來勸止你的？”"Aunt says you're too fond of reading novels — this time I've come because she asked me to talk you out of it."

“姨母说你太喜欢看小说，这一次来是她托我来劝止你的？”

“啊啦，什麼話，我本來是不十分看小說的。”"Oh, what are you saying, I never was all that fond of reading novels."

“啊啦，什么话，我本来是不十分看小说的。”

質夫尖著了兩耳聽了一忽，心裡想這男人定是她的表哥。Zhifu pricked up both ears and listened for a moment, thinking to himself that this man must surely be her cousin.他一想到了自家的孤獨的身世，和她的表哥對比對比，不覺滴了兩顆傷感的眼淚。The moment he thought of his own solitary lot in life, and set it beside her cousin's, he could not help but shed two tears of sorrow.不曉什麼原因，他心裡覺得這一回的戀愛事情已經終結了。For some reason he could not say, he felt in his heart that this love affair of his had already come to an end.

质夫尖著了两耳听了一忽，心里想这男人定是她的表哥。他一想到了自家的孤独的身世，和她的表哥对比对比，不觉滴了两颗伤感的眼泪。不晓什么原因，他心里觉得这一回的恋爱事情已经终结了。

一個人在被裡想了許多悲憤的情節，哭了一陣。Alone under the quilt, he brooded over many bitter and mournful scenes, and wept for a while.自嘲自罵的笑了一陣，質夫又睡著了。After mocking and cursing himself and laughing it off for a while, Zhifu fell asleep again.

一个人在被里想了许多悲愤的情节，哭了一阵。自嘲自骂的笑了一阵，质夫又睡著了。

這一天又忽而下起雨來了，質夫在被裡看看外面，覺得天氣同他的心境一樣，也帶著了灰色。That day it suddenly began to rain again; lying under the quilt, Zhifu looked out and felt that the weather, like his own state of mind, had also taken on a gray cast.他一直睡到十二點鐘才起來，洗了面，刷了牙，回到房裡的時候，那少女同一個二十七八歲的很時髦的大學生也走進了他的房裡。He slept straight through until twelve o'clock before getting up; having washed his face and brushed his teeth, when he returned to his room, the young woman came into his room together with a very fashionable university student of twenty-seven or twenty-eight.質夫本來是不善交際的，又加心裡懷著鬼胎，並且那大學生的品貌學校年齡，都在他之上，他又不得不感著一種劣敗的悲哀，所以見她和那大學生進來的時候，質夫急得幾乎要出眼淚，分外恭恭敬敬的遜讓了一番，講了許多和心裡的思想成兩極端的客氣話，質夫才覺得胸前稍微安閒了些。Zhifu had never been good at social dealings, and on top of that he was harboring a guilty secret in his heart, and since that university student surpassed him in looks, learning, and age alike, he could not help feeling a certain inferiority and sorrow; so when he saw her come in with the university student, Zhifu was so flustered he nearly burst into tears, and made an exaggerated show of deferential courtesy, saying many polite things that were the exact opposite of what he was thinking inside, and only then did he feel his chest ease a little.那少女替他們介紹之後，質夫方知道這真是她的表兄N。After the young woman had introduced them, Zhifu only then learned that this was indeed her cousin, N.質夫偷眼看看那少女的面色，覺得今天她的容貌格外的好像覺得快樂。Zhifu stole a glance at the young woman's face and felt that today her countenance seemed unusually joyful.三人講了些閒話，那少女和那大學生就同時的立了起來，告辭出去了。The three of them chatted idly for a while, and then the young woman and the university student rose at the same moment and took their leave.質夫心裡恨得很，但是你若問他恨誰，他又說不出來。Zhifu felt bitter resentment in his heart, but if you asked him whom he resented, he could not have said.他只想把他周圍的門窗桌椅完全敲得粉碎，才能泄他這氣憤。He wanted only to smash to bits every door, window, table, and chair around him, so as to vent this pent-up anger.旅館的侍女拿飯來的時候，他命她拿了許多酒來飲了。When the inn's maid brought his meal, he ordered her to bring a great deal of wine, which he drank.中飯畢後，在房裡坐了一忽，他覺得想睡的樣子，在席上睡下之後，他聽見那少女又把紙壁門一開，進他的房來。After the midday meal was over, he sat in his room for a while, and feeling drowsy, lay down on the mat; once lying there he heard the young woman again slide open the paper door and come into his room.質夫因為恨不過，所以不朝轉身來向她說話。Because his resentment had not subsided, Zhifu did not turn to face her or speak to her.她一步一步的走近了他的身邊，在席上坐下，用了一隻柔軟的手搭上他的腰，含了媚意，問他說：She walked step by step to his side, sat down on the mat, laid one soft hand upon his waist, and, with a coquettish air, asked him:

这一天又忽而下起雨来了，质夫在被里看看外面，觉得天气同他的心境一样，也带著了灰色。他一直睡到十二点钟才起来，洗了面，刷了牙，回到房里的时候，那少女同一个二十七八岁的很时髦的大学生也走进了他的房里。质夫本来是不善交际的，又加心里怀著鬼胎，并且那大学生的品貌学校年龄，都在他之上，他又不得不感著一种劣败的悲哀，所以见她和那大学生进来的时候，质夫急得几乎要出眼泪，分外恭恭敬敬的逊让了一番，讲了许多和心里的思想成两极端的客气话，质夫才觉得胸前稍微安闲了些。那少女替他们介绍之后，质夫方知道这真是她的表兄N。质夫偷眼看看那少女的面色，觉得今天她的容貌格外的好像觉得快乐。三人讲了些闲话，那少女和那大学生就同时的立了起来，告辞出去了。质夫心里恨得很，但是你若问他恨谁，他又说不出来。他只想把他周围的门窗桌椅完全敲得粉碎，才能泄他这气愤。旅馆的侍女拿饭来的时候，他命她拿了许多酒来饮了。中饭毕后，在房里坐了一忽，他觉得想睡的样子，在席上睡下之后，他听见那少女又把纸壁门一开，进他的房来。质夫因为恨不过，所以不朝转身来向她说话。她一步一步的走近了他的身边，在席上坐下，用了一只柔软的手搭上他的腰，含了媚意，问他说：

“你在這裡恨我麼？”"Are you angry with me, lying here?"

“你在这里恨我么？”

質夫聽了她這話，才把身子朝過來，對她一看，只見她的表哥同她並坐在那裡。Hearing these words, Zhifu at last turned his body around and looked at her, only to see her cousin sitting there right beside her.質夫氣憤極了，就拿了席上放著的一把刀砍過去。Zhifu, filled with fury, snatched up a knife lying on the mat and slashed out at them.一刀砍去，正碰著她的手臂，刹的一聲，她的一隻纖手竟被他砍落，鮮血淋漓的躺在席上。The knife struck true, catching her arm; with a swish it severed her slender hand clean off, and it lay on the mat dripping with fresh blood.他拚命的叫了一聲，隔壁的那紙壁門開了，在五寸寬的狹縫裡，露出了一張紅白的那少女的面龐來，她笑微微的問說：He let out a desperate cry, and the paper door next door slid open; through the five-inch-wide crack appeared the young woman's face, flushed and pale, and, smiling faintly, she asked:

质夫听了她这话，才把身子朝过来，对她一看，只见她的表哥同她并坐在那里。质夫气愤极了，就拿了席上放著的一把刀砍过去。一刀砍去，正碰著她的手臂，刹的一声，她的一只纤手竟被他砍落，鲜血淋漓的躺在席上。他拼命的叫了一声，隔壁的那纸壁门开了，在五寸宽的狭缝里，露出了一张红白的那少女的面庞来，她笑微微的问说：

“你見了惡夢了麼？”"Did you have a nightmare?"

“你见了恶梦了么？”

質夫擦擦眼睛，看看她那帶著笑容的紅白的臉色，怎麼也不信剛才見的是一場惡夢。Zhifu rubbed his eyes and looked at her smiling, flushed-and-pale face, and could not for the life of him believe that what he had just seen was only a nightmare.質夫再注意看了她一眼，覺得她的臉色分外的鮮豔，頰上的兩顆血色，是平時所沒有的，所以就問說：Looking at her once more with close attention, he felt her complexion was unusually radiant, with two spots of color on her cheeks that were not there ordinarily, and so he asked:

质夫擦擦眼睛，看看她那带著笑容的红白的脸色，怎么也不信刚才见的是一场恶梦。质夫再注意看了她一眼，觉得她的脸色分外的鲜艳，颊上的两颗血色，是平时所没有的，所以就问说：

“你喝了酒了麼？”"Have you been drinking wine?"

“你喝了酒了么？”

“啊啦，什麼話，我是從來不喝酒的。”"Oh, what are you saying, I never drink wine at all."

“啊啦，什么话，我是从来不喝酒的。”

“你表哥呢？”"Where's your cousin?"

“他還在浴池裡，我比他先出來一步，剛回到房裡，就聽見你大聲的叫了一聲。”"He's still in the bath; I came out just a step ahead of him, and just as I got back to my room, I heard you cry out loudly."

“他还在浴池里，我比他先出来一步，刚回到房里，就听见你大声的叫了一声。”

質夫又擦了一擦眼睛，注意到她那垂下的一雙纖手上去。Zhifu rubbed his eyes once more and turned his attention to her two hands hanging at her sides.左右看了一忽，覺得她的兩隻手都還在那裡，他才相信剛才見的是一場惡夢。Looking left and right for a moment, he saw that both her hands were still there just as before, and only then did he believe that what he had seen a moment ago was indeed only a nightmare.

质夫又擦了一擦眼睛，注意到她那垂下的一双纤手上去。左右看了一忽，觉得她的两只手都还在那里，他才相信刚才见的是一场恶梦。

這一天下午三點鐘的時候，質夫冒了微雨，拿了一個小小的藤篋，走下山來趕末班火車回N市去，那少女和她的表哥還送了他一裡多路。At three o'clock that afternoon, braving a light rain, Zhifu picked up a small wicker case and walked down the mountain to catch the last train back to N City; the young woman and her cousin saw him off for more than a mile of the way.質夫一個人在湯山溫泉口外的火車站上火車的時候，還是呆呆的對著了湯山的高峰在那裡出神；As Zhifu boarded the train alone at the station outside the entrance to Tangshan hot springs, he still stood there in a daze, gazing blankly at the high peaks of Tangshan;那火車站的月臺板，若用分析化學的方法來分析起來，怕還有幾滴他的眼淚中的鹽分含在那裡呢。that station platform, if analyzed by the methods of analytical chemistry, might perhaps still be found to contain a few drops of the salt from his tears.

这一天下午三点钟的时候，质夫冒了微雨，拿了一个小小的藤箧，走下山来赶末班火车回N市去，那少女和她的表哥还送了他一里多路。质夫一个人在汤山温泉口外的火车站上火车的时候，还是呆呆的对著了汤山的高峰在那里出神；那火车站的月台板，若用分析化学的方法来分析起来，怕还有几滴他的眼泪中的盐分含在那里呢。

質夫拿鈔票付給冰店裡那侍女的時候，見了她的五個嫩紅的手指，一霎時他就把五年前在溫泉場遇見的那少女的纖手聯想了出來。When Zhifu handed the banknote to the waitress at the ice-cream shop, the sight of her five tender, rosy fingers instantly brought to mind the slender hand of that young woman he had met five years before at the hot springs.當他進這店的時候，質夫並沒注意到這店裡有什麼人。When he had entered this shop, Zhifu had not paid any attention to who else was in it.他只曉得命店裡的人拿了一杯冰麒麟來；He knew only that he had told the shop attendant to bring him a cup of ice-cream kirin;吃完了冰麒麟，就又命拿一杯冰浸的紅茶來，既不知道他的冰麒麟和紅茶是誰拿來的，也不知道這店裡有幾個侍女。having finished the ice-cream kirin, he then ordered a glass of iced tea to be brought as well, without ever knowing who it was that had brought his ice-cream and tea, nor how many waitresses there were in this shop.及到看見了那侍女的手指之後，他才曉得剛才的物事是她拿來的。It was only when he caught sight of that waitress's fingers that he realized it was she who had brought those things just now.仰起頭來向那侍女的面貌一看，質夫覺得面熟得很，她也嫣然對質夫笑了一臉問說：Raising his head to look at the waitress's face, Zhifu found it strangely familiar, and she too smiled brightly at him and asked:

质夫拿钞票付给冰店里那侍女的时候，见了她的五个嫩红的手指，一霎时他就把五年前在温泉场遇见的那少女的纤手联想了出来。当他进这店的时候，质夫并没注意到这店里有什么人。他只晓得命店里的人拿了一杯冰麒麟来；吃完了冰麒麟，就又命拿一杯冰浸的红茶来，既不知道他的冰麒麟和红茶是谁拿来的，也不知道这店里有几个侍女。及到看见了那侍女的手指之后，他才晓得刚才的物事是她拿来的。仰起头来向那侍女的面貌一看，质夫觉得面熟得很，她也嫣然对质夫笑了一脸问说：

“你不認識我了麼？”"Don't you recognize me anymore?"

“你不认识我了么？”

她的容貌雖不甚美，但在平常的婦女中間卻系罕有的。Though her looks were not especially beautiful, among ordinary women hers were nonetheless rare.一雙眼睛常帶著媚人的微笑，鵝蛋形的面龐，細白的皮膚。A pair of eyes that always carried a captivating smile, an oval face, fine white skin.血色也好得很，質夫只覺得面熟，一時卻想不出在什麼地方見過的。Her color, too, was very good; Zhifu only felt her face was familiar, but for the moment could not think where he had seen her before.她見質夫盡在那裡疑惑，便對他說：Seeing Zhifu still lost in doubt there, she said to him:

她的容貌虽不甚美，但在平常的妇女中间却系罕有的。一双眼睛常带著媚人的微笑，鹅蛋形的面庞，细白的皮肤。血色也好得很，质夫只觉得面熟，一时却想不出在什么地方见过的。她见质夫尽在那里疑惑，便对他说：

“你難道忘了麼？Café sans souci裡的事情，你難道還會忘記不成？”"Have you really forgotten? The goings-on at the Café sans souci — surely you haven't forgotten that too?"

“你难道忘了么？Café sans souci里的事情，你难道还会忘记不成？”

被她這樣的一說，質夫才想了起來。Café sans souci是開在大學附近的一家咖啡店，他那時候，正在放浪的時候，所以時常去進出的。Put this way, Zhifu suddenly remembered. The Café sans souci was a coffee shop near the university, and back in those days, when he was living a rather dissolute life, he had often gone in and out of it.這侍女便是一二年前那咖啡店的當壚少婦。This waitress was none other than the young woman who had presided over the counter at that coffee shop a year or two before.質夫點了一點頭，微微的笑了一臉，把五元的一張鈔票交給了她。Zhifu nodded, gave a faint smile, and handed her a five-yuan note.她拿找頭來的時候，質夫正拿出一枝紙煙來吸，她就馬上把桌上的洋火點了給他上火。As she was bringing his change, Zhifu happened to be taking out a cigarette to smoke, and she at once struck a match from the table and held it up to light it for him.質夫道了一聲謝，便把找頭塞在她手裡，慢慢的下樓走了。Zhifu murmured his thanks, then stuffed the change into her hand and slowly went downstairs and walked off.又在街上走了一忽，拿出表來一看，還不甚遲，他便走到丸善書店去看新到的書去；After walking about the streets a little longer, he took out his watch and looked — it was still not too late — so he went to the Maruzen bookstore to look at the newly arrived books;許多新到的英德法國的書籍，在往時他定要傾囊購買的，但是他看了許多時候，終究沒有一本書能引起他的興味。Many newly arrived English, German, and French books, which in earlier times he would surely have emptied his purse to buy, he now looked over for a long while, yet in the end not a single one could stir his interest.他看看Harold Nicolson著的Verlaine，看看Gourmont的論文集《頹廢派論》，也覺得都無趣味。He looked at Harold Nicolson's Verlaine, looked at Gourmont's essay collection Le Livre des masques on decadence, and found no interest in either of them.正想回出來的時候，他在右手的書架角上，卻見了一本黃色紙面的Dreams Book, Fortune Teller，他想回家的時候，電車上沒有書看，所以就買定了這本書。Just as he was thinking of turning back out, in the corner of the bookshelf to his right he caught sight of a yellow paper-covered Dreams Book, Fortune Teller; thinking he would have nothing to read on the tram going home, he decided to buy this book.在街上走了一忽，他想去看看久不見面的一位同學，等市內電車到他跟前的時候，他又不願去了。After walking about the streets a little longer, he thought of going to see a classmate he had not met in a long while, but by the time the city tram came up before him, he no longer felt like going.所以就走向新橋的郊外電車的車站上來。So instead he walked toward the suburban tram station at Shimbashi.買了一張東中野的乘車券回到了家裡，太陽已將下山去了。He bought a ticket for Higashi-Nakano and returned home, by which time the sun had already sunk toward the horizon.

被她这样的一说，质夫才想了起来。Café sans souci是开在大学附近的一家咖啡店，他那时候，正在放浪的时候，所以时常去进出的。这侍女便是一二年前那咖啡店的当垆少妇。质夫点了一点头，微微的笑了一脸，把五元的一张钞票交给了她。她拿找头来的时候，质夫正拿出一枝纸烟来吸，她就马上把桌上的洋火点了给他上火。质夫道了一声谢，便把找头塞在她手里，慢慢的下楼走了。又在街上走了一忽，拿出表来一看，还不甚迟，他便走到丸善书店去看新到的书去；许多新到的英德法国的书籍，在往时他定要倾囊购买的，但是他看了许多时候，终究没有一本书能引起他的兴味。他看看Harold Nicolson著的Verlaine，看看Gourmont的论文集《颓废派论》，也觉得都无趣味。正想回出来的时候，他在右手的书架角上，却见了一本黄色纸面的Dreams Book, Fortune Teller，他想回家的时候，电车上没有书看，所以就买定了这本书。在街上走了一忽，他想去看看久不见面的一位同学，等市内电车到他跟前的时候，他又不愿去了。所以就走向新桥的郊外电车的车站上来。买了一张东中野的乘车券回到了家里，太阳已将下山去了。

又是幾天無聊的日子過去了。Then several more tedious, uneventful days went by.質夫這次從家裡拿來的三百余元錢，將快完了。The more than three hundred yuan Zhifu had brought from home this time was nearly gone.

又是几天无聊的日子过去了。质夫这次从家里拿来的三百余元钱，将快完了。

他今年三月在東京帝國大學的經濟學部，得了比較還好的成績卒了業，馬上就回國了一次。This past March he had graduated with rather good marks from the Faculty of Economics at Tokyo Imperial University, and had at once gone home for a visit.那時候他的意氣還沒有同現在一樣的消沉。At that time his spirits had not yet sunk to the state they were in now.他以為有了學問，總能糊口，所以他到上海的時候，還並不覺得前途有什麼悲觀的地方。He had believed that with learning behind him, he could always earn his keep, and so when he reached Shanghai, he still did not feel there was anything to be pessimistic about regarding his future.

他今年三月在东京帝国大学的经济学部，得了比较还好的成绩卒了业，马上就回国了一次。那时候他的意气还没有同现在一样的消沉。他以为有了学问，总能糊口，所以他到上海的时候，还并不觉得前途有什么悲观的地方。

陽曆四月初的時候，正是陽春日暖的節季，他在上海的同大海似的複雜的社會裡游泳了幾日，覺得上海的男男女女，穿的戴的都要比他高強數倍。In early April by the solar calendar, just at the season of warm spring sunshine, he swam for a few days through Shanghai's society, complex as the vast sea, and found that the men and women of Shanghai, in dress and adornment, all surpassed him many times over.當他回國的時候，他想中國人在帝國大學卒業的人並不多，所以他這一次回來，社會上占的位置定是不小的。When he had gone home, he had thought that not many Chinese graduated from Imperial University, and so, coming back this time, he was bound to occupy no small place in society.及到上海住了幾天之後，他才覺得自家是同一粒泥沙，混在金剛石庫裡的樣子。But after living in Shanghai for a few days, he came to feel that he himself was like a single grain of sand mixed in among a warehouse of diamonds.中國的社會不但不知道學問是什麼，簡直把學校裡出身的人看得同野馬塵埃一般的小。Chinese society not only had no idea what learning was, but regarded people who came out of schools as being as insignificant as wild dust in the wind.他看看這些情形又好氣又好笑，想馬上仍舊回到日本來，但回想了一下。Seeing this state of affairs, he felt both angry and amused, and thought of going straight back to Japan, but on second thought:

阳历四月初的时候，正是阳春日暖的节季，他在上海的同大海似的复杂的社会里游泳了几日，觉得上海的男男女女，穿的戴的都要比他高强数倍。当他回国的时候，他想中国人在帝国大学卒业的人并不多，所以他这一次回来，社会上占的位置定是不小的。及到上海住了几天之后，他才觉得自家是同一粒泥沙，混在金刚石库里的样子。中国的社会不但不知道学问是什么，简直把学校里出身的人看得同野马尘埃一般的小。他看看这些情形又好气又好笑，想马上仍旧回到日本来，但回想了一下。

“我終究是中國人，在日本總不能過一生的，既回來了，我且暫時尋一點事情幹吧。”"I am, after all, a Chinese; I could never spend my whole life in Japan. Since I've come back, let me at least look for something to do for the time being."

“我终究是中国人，在日本总不能过一生的，既回来了，我且暂时寻一点事情干吧。”

他在上海有四五個朋友，都是在東京的時候或同過學或共過旅館的至友。He had four or five friends in Shanghai, all close friends from his Tokyo days, either former schoolmates or people with whom he had shared lodgings.一位姓M的是質夫初進高等學校時候的同住者，當質夫在那裡看幾何化學，預備高等學校功課的時候，M卻早進了某大學的三年級。M因為不要自家去考的，所以日本話也不學，每天盡是去看電影，吃大菜。One of them, a Mr. M, had been his roommate back when Zhifu first entered higher school; while Zhifu was there studying geometry and chemistry in preparation for the higher-school curriculum, M had already advanced to the third year of a certain university. Since M did not need to sit for the entrance exams himself, he did not even bother to learn Japanese, and spent every day going to the movies and eating at Western restaurants instead.有一天晚上M吃得酒醉醺醺回來，質夫還在那裡念tangent, cotangent,sine, cosine，M嘴裡含了一枝雪茄煙，對質夫說：One evening M came home thoroughly drunk, while Zhifu was still there reciting tangent, cotangent, sine, cosine; M, a cigar clenched between his lips, said to Zhifu:

他在上海有四五个朋友，都是在东京的时候或同过学或共过旅馆的至友。一位姓M的是质夫初进高等学校时候的同住者，当质夫在那里看几何化学，预备高等学校功课的时候，M却早进了某大学的三年级。M因为不要自家去考的，所以日本话也不学，每天尽是去看电影，吃大菜。有一天晚上M吃得酒醉醺醺回来，质夫还在那里念tangent, cotangent,sine, cosine，M嘴里含了一枝雪茄烟，对质夫说：

“質夫，你何苦，我今天快活極了。“Zhifu, why torment yourself? I have been happier today than ever before.我在岳陽樓（東京的中國菜館）裡吃晚飯的時候，遇著了一位中國公使館員。While I was eating dinner at Yueyanglou (a Chinese restaurant in Tokyo), I met an official from the Chinese legation.我替他付了萊飯錢，他就邀我到日本橋妓女家去逛了一次。I paid for his meal, and he invited me along on a visit to a prostitute’s house in Nihonbashi.唉，痛快痛快，我平生從沒有這樣歡樂的日子過。”Ah, what a splendid time! Never in my life have I known such a joyful day.”

“质夫，你何苦，我今天快活极了。我在岳阳楼（东京的中国菜馆）里吃晚饭的时候，遇著了一位中国公使馆员。我替他付了莱饭钱，他就邀我到日本桥妓女家去逛了一次。唉，痛快痛快，我平生从没有这样欢乐的日子过。”

M話沒有說完，就歪倒在席上睡了；Before M had finished speaking, he slumped sideways onto the mat and fell asleep;從此之後，M便每天跑上公使館去，有的時候到晚上十二點鐘前後，他竟有坐汽車回來的日子。M說公使待他怎麼好怎麼好，他請公使和他的姨太太上什麼地方去看戲吃飯。From then on, M went to the legation every day; sometimes, at around midnight, he even came home by motorcar. M would tell how wonderfully the minister treated him, and how he had invited the minister and his concubine out to the theater and dinner.像這樣的話，M日日來說的。M came every day with stories of this kind.

M话没有说完，就歪倒在席上睡了；从此之后，M便每天跑上公使馆去，有的时候到晚上十二点钟前后，他竟有坐汽车回来的日子。M说公使待他怎么好怎么好，他请公使和他的姨太太上什么地方去看戏吃饭。像这样的话，M日日来说的。

一年之後質夫轉進了N市的高等學校，M卻早回了國。A year later, Zhifu transferred to an institution of higher learning in N City, while M had already returned to China.有一天質夫在上海報上看見M的名氏，說他做了某洋行的經理。M在上海是大出風頭的一個闊人了。One day Zhifu saw M’s name in a Shanghai newspaper, which reported that he had become the manager of a certain foreign firm. M was now a rich man who cut quite a figure in Shanghai.質夫因為M是他的舊友，所以到上海住了兩三天之後，去訪問了一次。Since M was an old friend of his, Zhifu went to call on him after he had been in Shanghai for two or three days.第一次去的時候，是午前十一點鐘前後，門房回復他說：The first time he went, at around eleven in the morning, the doorman replied:

一年之后质夫转进了N市的高等学校，M却早回了国。有一天质夫在上海报上看见M的名氏，说他做了某洋行的经理。M在上海是大出风头的一个阔人了。质夫因为M是他的旧友，所以到上海住了两三天之后，去访问了一次。第一次去的时候，是午前十一点钟前后，门房回复他说：

“還沒有起來。”“He has not risen yet.”

“还没有起来。”

第二天午後質夫又去訪問了一次，門房拿名片進去，質夫等了許多時候，那門房出來說：Zhifu called again the following afternoon; the doorman took in his card, and after Zhifu had waited a long while, came back out and said:

第二天午后质夫又去访问了一次，门房拿名片进去，质夫等了许多时候，那门房出来说：

“老爺出去了，請你有話就對我說。”“The master has gone out. If you have any message, you may give it to me.”

“老爷出去了，请你有话就对我说。”

質夫把眼睛張了一張，把嘴唇咬了一口，吞了幾口氣，就對門房說：Zhifu opened his eyes wide, bit his lip, and swallowed several breaths before saying to the doorman:

质夫把眼睛张了一张，把嘴唇咬了一口，吞了几口气，就对门房说：

“我另外沒有別的事情。”“There is nothing else.”

“我另外没有别的事情。”

質夫更有兩個朋友是在C.P.Zhifu also had two friends who were editors at the C.P.書館裡當編輯的，本來是他的老同學。Publishing House; they had originally been his old schoolmates.到上海之後，質夫也照例去訪問了一次。After arriving in Shanghai, Zhifu paid them the customary visit as well.這兩位同學，因為多念了幾年書，好像在社會上也沒有十分大勢力，還各自穿著一件藤青的嗶嘰洋服，臉上帶著了一道絕望的微笑，溫溫和和的在C.P.These two schoolmates, perhaps because they had spent several more years studying, did not seem to wield much influence in society either; each still wore a dark blue serge Western suit and, with a despairing smile on his face, received him mildly and courteously in the C.P.書館編輯所的會客室裡接待他。Publishing House’s editorial reception room.質夫講了幾句無關緊要的話，就告辭了。After exchanging a few inconsequential remarks, Zhifu took his leave.到了晚上五點鐘的時候，他的兩位同學到旅館裡來看質夫，就同質夫到旅館附近的一家北京菜館去吃晚飯。At five that evening, his two schoolmates came to see him at his hotel, then went with him to a Peking-style restaurant nearby for dinner.他們兩個讓質夫點菜，質夫因為不曉得什麼菜好，所以執意不點。The two of them asked Zhifu to order, but since he did not know which dishes were good, he firmly refused.他們兩個就定了一個和菜，半斤黃酒。So they ordered a set combination meal and half a jin of yellow wine.質夫問他們什麼叫做和菜。Zhifu asked them what a combination meal was.他們笑著說：They laughed and said:

质夫更有两个朋友是在C.P.书馆里当编辑的，本来是他的老同学。到上海之后，质夫也照例去访问了一次。这两位同学，因为多念了几年书，好像在社会上也没有十分大势力，还各自穿著一件藤青的哔叽洋服，脸上带著了一道绝望的微笑，温温和和的在C.P.书馆编辑所的会客室里接待他。质夫讲了几句无关紧要的话，就告辞了。到了晚上五点钟的时候，他的两位同学到旅馆里来看质夫，就同质夫到旅馆附近的一家北京菜馆去吃晚饭。他们两个让质夫点菜，质夫因为不晓得什么菜好，所以执意不点。他们两个就定了一个和菜，半斤黄酒。质夫问他们什么叫做和菜。他们笑著说：

“和菜你都不曉得麼？”“You do not even know what a combination meal is?”

“和菜你都不晓得么？”

質夫還有一位朋友，是他在N高等學校時代同住過的N市醫專的選科生。Zhifu had another friend, an elective-course student at N City Medical College with whom he had shared lodgings during his years at N Higher School.這一位朋友在N市的時候，是以吸紙煙貪睡出名的，他的房裡都是黑而又短的吸殘的紙煙頭，每日睡在被窩裡吸吸紙煙，唱幾句不合板的“小東人”便是他的日課。In N City, this friend had been notorious for smoking cigarettes and sleeping late; his room was littered with short, black cigarette butts, and his daily routine consisted of lying in bed smoking and singing a few off-key lines of “Little Eastern Man.”他在四五年前回國之後，質夫看見報上天天只登他的廣告。After he returned to China four or five years earlier, Zhifu saw nothing in the newspapers day after day but his advertisements.這一次質夫回到上海，問問旅館裡的茶房，茶房都爭著說：This time, when Zhifu returned to Shanghai and asked the hotel attendants about him, they all eagerly exclaimed:

质夫还有一位朋友，是他在N高等学校时代同住过的N市医专的选科生。这一位朋友在N市的时候，是以吸纸烟贪睡出名的，他的房里都是黑而又短的吸残的纸烟头，每日睡在被窝里吸吸纸烟，唱几句不合板的“小东人”便是他的日课。他在四五年前回国之后，质夫看见报上天天只登他的广告。这一次质夫回到上海，问问旅馆里的茶房，茶房都争著说：

“這一位先生，上海有什麼人不曉得呢！“Who in Shanghai has not heard of this gentleman!他是某人的女婿，現在他的生意好得很呀！”He is so-and-so’s son-in-law, and his business is flourishing now!”

“这一位先生，上海有什么人不晓得呢！他是某人的女婿，现在他的生意好得很呀！”

質夫因為已經訪問過M，同M的門房見過二次面，所以就不再去訪問他這位朋友了。Since Zhifu had already called on M and had met M’s doorman twice, he did not go to call on this friend as well.

质夫因为已经访问过M，同M的门房见过二次面，所以就不再去访问他这位朋友了。

質夫在上海旅館裡住了一個多月，吃了幾次和菜，看了幾回新世界大世界裡的戲，花錢倒也花得不少。Zhifu stayed in a Shanghai hotel for over a month, ate several combination meals, saw a few shows at the New World and Great World, and spent no small amount of money.他看看在中國終究是沒有什麼事情可幹了，所以就跑回家去托他母親向各處去借了三百元錢，仍複回到日本來作閑住的寓公。Seeing that there was, after all, nothing for him to do in China, he went home and had his mother borrow three hundred yuan from various people, then returned once more to Japan to live as an idle expatriate.

质夫在上海旅馆里住了一个多月，吃了几次和菜，看了几回新世界大世界里的戏，花钱倒也花得不少。他看看在中国终究是没有什么事情可干了，所以就跑回家去托他母亲向各处去借了三百元钱，仍复回到日本来作闲住的寓公。

質夫回到日本的時候，正是夾衣換單衣的五月初旬。When Zhifu returned to Japan, it was early May, just when lined clothes were being exchanged for unlined ones.在雜鬧不潔的神田的旅館裡住了半個月，他的每年夏天要發的神經衰弱症又萌芽起來了。After spending half a month in a noisy, filthy hotel in Kanda, the neurasthenia that afflicted him every summer began to sprout again.不眠，食欲不進，白日裡覺得昏昏欲睡，疏懶，易怒，這些病狀一時的都發作了。Insomnia, loss of appetite, drowsiness by day, listlessness, and irritability—all these symptoms flared up at once.他以為神田的空氣不好，所以就搬上了東中野的曠野裡去住。He thought the air in Kanda was bad, so he moved out to the open country of Higashi-Nakano.他搬上東中野之後，只覺得一天一天的消沉了下去。After moving to Higashi-Nakano, he felt himself sinking lower with every passing day.平時他對於田園清景，是非常愛惜的，每當日出日沒的時候，他也著實對了大自然流過幾次清淚，但是現在這自然的佳景，亦不能打動他的心了。Ordinarily he cherished the serene beauty of the countryside, and at every sunrise and sunset he had indeed shed more than a few pure tears before nature; but now even nature’s loveliness could no longer move his heart.

质夫回到日本的时候，正是夹衣换单衣的五月初旬。在杂闹不洁的神田的旅馆里住了半个月，他的每年夏天要发的神经衰弱症又萌芽起来了。不眠，食欲不进，白日里觉得昏昏欲睡，疏懒，易怒，这些病状一时的都发作了。他以为神田的空气不好，所以就搬上了东中野的旷野里去住。他搬上东中野之后，只觉得一天一天的消沉了下去。平时他对于田园清景，是非常爱惜的，每当日出日没的时候，他也著实对了大自然流过几次清泪，但是现在这自然的佳景，亦不能打动他的心了。

有一天六月下旬的午後，朝晨下了一陣微雨，所以午後太陽出來的時候，覺得清快得很。One afternoon in late June, after a brief shower that morning, the sun came out and the air felt wonderfully fresh and pleasant.他呆呆的在書齋裡坐了一忽，因七月七快到了，所以就拿了一本《天河傳說》（The Romance of the Milky Way）出來看，翻了幾頁，他又覺得懶看下去；He sat vacantly in his study for a while; since the seventh day of the seventh month was approaching, he took out a copy of The Romance of the Milky Way to read, but after turning a few pages he again felt too listless to continue;正坐得不耐煩的時候，門口忽然來了一位來訪的客人。Just as he was growing tired of sitting there, a visitor unexpectedly arrived at his door.他出去一看，卻是他久不見的一位同學。When he went out to look, it proved to be a schoolmate he had not seen for a long time.這位同學本來做過一任陸軍次長，他的出來留學，也是有文章在裡面的。This schoolmate had once served a term as vice-minister of the army, and there was more behind his coming abroad to study than met the eye.質夫請他上來坐下之後，他便對質夫說：After Zhifu invited him upstairs and seated him, he said to Zhifu:

有一天六月下旬的午后，朝晨下了一阵微雨，所以午后太阳出来的时候，觉得清快得很。他呆呆的在书斋里坐了一忽，因七月七快到了，所以就拿了一本《天河传说》（The Romance of the Milky Way）出来看，翻了几页，他又觉得懒看下去；正坐得不耐烦的时候，门口忽然来了一位来访的客人。他出去一看，却是他久不见的一位同学。这位同学本来做过一任陆军次长，他的出来留学，也是有文章在里面的。质夫请他上来坐下之后，他便对质夫说：

“我想於後天動身回國，現在L氏新任總統，統一問題也有些希望，正是局面展開的時候，我接了許多北京的同事的信，促我回去，所以我想回國去走一次。”“I plan to leave for China the day after tomorrow. Now that Mr. L has newly assumed the presidency, there is some hope for national unification, and the situation is just beginning to open up. I have received many letters from colleagues in Beijing urging me to return, so I think I shall make a trip home.”

“我想于后天动身回国，现在L氏新任总统，统一问题也有些希望，正是局面展开的时候，我接了许多北京的同事的信，促我回去，所以我想回国去走一次。”

質夫聽了他同學的話，心裡想說：On hearing his schoolmate’s words, Zhifu thought:

质夫听了他同学的话，心里想说：

“南北統一，廢督裁兵，正是很有希望的時候；“Unification of North and South, abolition of the military governorships, reduction of the army—it certainly sounds like a hopeful moment;但是這些名目，難道是真的為中國的將來計算的人作出來的麼？But were these slogans truly devised by men concerned for China’s future?不是的，不是的，他們不過想利用了這些名目，來借幾億外債，大家分分而已。No, no; they merely want to exploit these slogans to borrow several hundred million in foreign loans and divide the money among themselves.統一，裁兵，廢督，名目是好得很呀！Unification, army reduction, abolition of the military governorships—splendid slogans indeed!但外債借到，大家分好之後，你試看還有什麼人來提起這些事情。But once the foreign loans have been obtained and the money divided, just see whether anyone mentions these matters again.再過幾年，必又有一班人出來再提倡幾個更好的名目，來設法借一次外債的。In another few years, another group will surely emerge to champion several still finer slogans and contrive to secure another foreign loan.革命，共和，過去了；Revolution and republicanism have had their day;制憲，地方自治也被用舊了。constitution-making and local self-government have been worn out through use as well.現在只能用統一，裁兵，廢督，來欺騙國民，借幾個外債。Now they can only use unification, army reduction, and abolition of the military governorships to deceive the people and raise a few foreign loans.你看將來必又有人出來用了無政府主義的名目來立名謀利呢。Just wait: in the future someone will surely come forward and use the banner of anarchism to win fame and seek profit.聰明的中國人呀，你們想的那些好名目，大約總有一國人來實行的。Ah, clever Chinese! Those fine slogans you devise will probably always be put into practice by some other nation.我勸你們還不如老老實實的說‘要名！I advise you that it would be better to say honestly, ‘We want fame!要利！We want profit!預備做奴隸’的好呀！”We are preparing to become slaves!’”

“南北统一，废督裁兵，正是很有希望的时候；但是这些名目，难道是真的为中国的将来计算的人作出来的么？不是的，不是的，他们不过想利用了这些名目，来借几亿外债，大家分分而已。统一，裁兵，废督，名目是好得很呀！但外债借到，大家分好之后，你试看还有什么人来提起这些事情。再过几年，必又有一班人出来再提倡几个更好的名目，来设法借一次外债的。革命，共和，过去了；制宪，地方自治也被用旧了。现在只能用统一，裁兵，废督，来欺骗国民，借几个外债。你看将来必又有人出来用了无政府主义的名目来立名谋利呢。聪明的中国人呀，你们想的那些好名目，大约总有一国人来实行的。我劝你们还不如老老实实的说‘要名！要利！预备做奴隶’的好呀！”

質夫心裡雖是這樣的想，口裡卻不說一句話；Though these were Zhifu’s thoughts, he did not utter a word;想了一陣之後，他又覺得自家的這無聊的愛國心沒有什麼意思，便含了微笑，輕輕的問他的同學說：After thinking for a while, he felt that this futile patriotism of his was itself meaningless, so with a faint smile he gently asked his schoolmate:

质夫心里虽是这样的想，口里却不说一句话；想了一阵之后，他又觉得自家的这无聊的爱国心没有什么意思，便含了微笑，轻轻的问他的同学说：

“那麼你坐幾點鐘的車上神戶去？”“Then what time is the train you are taking to Kobe?”

“那么你坐几点钟的车上神户去？”

“大約是坐後天午後三點五十分的車。”“Probably the 3:50 train the afternoon after tomorrow.”

“大约是坐后天午后三点五十分的车。”

講了許多閒話，他的朋友去了。After they had chatted at length about this and that, his friend left.質夫便拿了櫻杖，又上各處野道上去走了一回。Zhifu took his cherrywood cane and went for another walk along the country paths.吃了晚飯，汲了一桶井水，把身體洗了一洗，質夫就服了兩服催眠粉藥入睡了。After dinner, he drew a bucket of well water and washed himself, then took two doses of sleeping powder and went to sleep.

讲了许多闲话，他的朋友去了。质夫便拿了樱杖，又上各处野道上去走了一回。吃了晚饭，汲了一桶井水，把身体洗了一洗，质夫就服了两服催眠粉药入睡了。

六月二十八日的午後，倒也是一天晴天。The afternoon of June 28 was, as it happened, another fine day.質夫吃了午飯，從他的東中野的小屋裡出來上東京中央驛去送他的同學回國。After lunch, Zhifu left his little house in Higashi-Nakano and went to Tokyo Central Station to see his schoolmate off to China.他到東京驛的時候已經是二點五十分了。By the time he reached Tokyo Station, it was already 2:50.他的同學臉上出了一層油汗，盡是匆匆的在那裡料理行李並和來送的人行禮。His schoolmate’s face was filmed with oily sweat as he hurriedly attended to his luggage and exchanged courtesies with those who had come to see him off.來送的人中間質夫認識的人很多。Zhifu knew many of the people who had come to see him off.也有幾位穿白衣服戴草帽的女學生立在月臺上和他的同學講話。Several female students in white dresses and straw hats were also standing on the platform talking with his schoolmate.質夫因為怕他的應接不暇，所以同他點了一點頭之後，就一個人清踽踽的站開了。Afraid that his schoolmate already had more people to attend to than he could manage, Zhifu merely nodded to him and went to stand apart, solitary and alone.來送的人中，有一位姓W的大學生，也是質夫最要好的朋友。W看見質夫遠遠的站在那裡，小嘴上帶了一痕微笑，他便慢慢的走近了質夫的身邊來。W把眼睛閉了幾次，輕輕的問質夫說：Among those seeing him off was a university student surnamed W, who was also one of Zhifu’s closest friends. When W saw Zhifu standing at a distance with the trace of a smile on his small mouth, he slowly walked over to him. Blinking several times, W softly asked Zhifu:

六月二十八日的午后，倒也是一天晴天。质夫吃了午饭，从他的东中野的小屋里出来上东京中央驿去送他的同学回国。他到东京驿的时候已经是二点五十分了。他的同学脸上出了一层油汗，尽是匆匆的在那里料理行李并和来送的人行礼。来送的人中间质夫认识的人很多。也有几位穿白衣服戴草帽的女学生立在月台上和他的同学讲话。质夫因为怕他的应接不暇，所以同他点了一点头之后，就一个人清踽踽的站开了。来送的人中，有一位姓W的大学生，也是质夫最要好的朋友。W看见质夫远远的站在那里，小嘴上带了一痕微笑，他便慢慢的走近了质夫的身边来。W把眼睛闭了几次，轻轻的问质夫说：

“質夫，二年前你拚死的崇拜過的那位女英雄，聽說今天也在這裡送行，是哪一個？”“Zhifu, I hear that the heroine you worshiped so desperately two years ago is also here to see him off today—which one is she?”

“质夫，二年前你拼死的崇拜过的那位女英雄，听说今天也在这里送行，是哪一个？”

質夫聽了只露了一臉微笑，便慢慢的回答說：Zhifu merely smiled when he heard this, then slowly replied:

质夫听了只露了一脸微笑，便慢慢的回答说：

“在這裡麼？“She is here?我看見的時候指給你看就對了。”If I see her, I shall point her out to you.”

“在这里么？我看见的时候指给你看就对了。”

二年前頭，質夫的殉情熱意正漲到最高度的時候，在愛情上蹉跌了幾次。Two years earlier, when Zhifu’s passion for dying for love had reached its height, he had suffered several reverses in romance.有一天正是懊惱傷心，苦得不能生存的時候，偶然在同鄉會席上遇見了一位他的同鄉K女士。One day, when he was so distressed and heartbroken that life had become unbearable, he happened to meet a fellow provincial of his, Miss K, at a gathering of their native-place association.當時K女士正是十六歲。At the time, Miss K was just sixteen.臉上帶有一種純潔的處女的嬌美。Her face possessed the delicate beauty of a pure maiden.並且因為她穿的是女子醫學專門學校的黑色制服，所以質夫一見，便聯想到文藝復興時代的聖畫上去。Moreover, because she wore the black uniform of a women’s medical college, the moment Zhifu saw her his thoughts turned to the sacred paintings of the Renaissance.質夫自從那一天見她之後，便同中了催眠術的人一般，到夜半風雪凜冽的時候，每一個人喝醉了酒，走上她的學校的附近去探望。From the day he saw her, Zhifu was like a man under hypnosis: even at midnight, in bitter wind and driving snow, he would go out alone after drinking himself drunk and make his way to the vicinity of her school to look for her.後來他知道她不住在那學校的寄宿舍裡，便天天跑上她住的地方附近去守候。Later, when he learned that she did not live in the school dormitory, he went every day to keep watch near the place where she lived.那時候質夫寄住在上野不忍池邊的他的朋友家裡。At that time, Zhifu was staying at a friend’s house beside Shinobazu Pond in Ueno.從質夫寓處走上她住的地方，坐郊外電車，足足要三十幾分鐘。From Zhifu’s lodgings to where she lived took a full thirty-odd minutes by suburban tram.質夫不怨辛苦，不怕風霜雨雪，只管天天的跑上她住的地方去徘徊顧望。Zhifu begrudged neither the trouble nor the wind, frost, rain, and snow, but simply went every day to wander near her home, watching and waiting.事不湊巧，質夫守候了兩個多月，終沒有遇著她一次；But luck was against him: though Zhifu kept watch for more than two months, he never once encountered her;並且又因為惡性感冒流行的緣故，有一天晚上他從那地方回來，路上冒了些風寒，竟病了一個多月。And because a virulent influenza was spreading, one night on his way back from there he caught a chill and fell ill for more than a month.後來因為學校的考試和種種另外的關係，質夫就把她忘記了。Later, because of school examinations and various other circumstances, Zhifu forgot her.質夫病倒在病院裡的時候，他的這一段癩蝦蟆想吃天鵝肉的故事，竟傳遍了東京的留學生界。While Zhifu lay ill in the hospital, the story of this toad yearning to eat swan’s flesh spread throughout the entire community of Chinese students in Tokyo.從那時候起直到現在，質夫從沒有見過她一面。From that time until now, Zhifu had never once seen her.前二月質夫在中國的時候，聽說她在故鄉湖畔遇見了一個歹人，淘了許多氣。Two months earlier, while Zhifu was in China, he had heard that she had encountered a scoundrel by the lakeside in their native place and suffered much vexation.到如今有二個多月了，質夫並不知道她在中國呢或在東京。More than two months had now passed, and Zhifu did not even know whether she was in China or Tokyo.

二年前头，质夫的殉情热意正涨到最高度的时候，在爱情上蹉跌了几次。有一天正是懊恼伤心，苦得不能生存的时候，偶然在同乡会席上遇见了一位他的同乡K女士。当时K女士正是十六岁。脸上带有一种纯洁的处女的娇美。并且因为她穿的是女子医学专门学校的黑色制服，所以质夫一见，便联想到文艺复兴时代的圣画上去。质夫自从那一天见她之后，便同中了催眠术的人一般，到夜半风雪凛冽的时候，每一个人喝醉了酒，走上她的学校的附近去探望。后来他知道她不住在那学校的寄宿舍里，便天天跑上她住的地方附近去守候。那时候质夫寄住在上野不忍池边的他的朋友家里。从质夫寓处走上她住的地方，坐郊外电车，足足要三十几分钟。质夫不怨辛苦，不怕风霜雨雪，只管天天的跑上她住的地方去徘徊顾望。事不凑巧，质夫守候了两个多月，终没有遇著她一次；并且又因为恶性感冒流行的缘故，有一天晚上他从那地方回来，路上冒了些风寒，竟病了一个多月。后来因为学校的考试和种种另外的关系，质夫就把她忘记了。质夫病倒在病院里的时候，他的这一段癞虾蟆想吃天鹅肉的故事，竟传遍了东京的留学生界。从那时候起直到现在，质夫从没有见过她一面。前二月质夫在中国的时候，听说她在故乡湖畔遇见了一个歹人，淘了许多气。到如今有二个多月了，质夫并不知道她在中国呢或在东京。

質夫遠遠的站著，用了批評的態度在那裡看那些將離和送別的人。Zhifu stood at a distance, observing with a critical eye those who were departing and those who had come to bid them farewell.聽見發車的鈴響了，質夫就慢慢的走上他同學的車窗邊上去。When he heard the departure bell ring, Zhifu slowly walked over to his schoolmate’s carriage window.在送行的人叢裡，他不意中竟看見了一位帶金絲平光眼鏡的中國女子。Among the crowd seeing him off, he unexpectedly caught sight of a Chinese woman wearing gold-rimmed, non-prescription spectacles.質夫看了一眼，便想起剛才他同學W對他說的話來。One glance at her reminded Zhifu of what his schoolmate W had just said to him.

质夫远远的站著，用了批评的态度在那里看那些将离和送别的人。听见发车的铃响了，质夫就慢慢的走上他同学的车窗边上去。在送行的人丛里，他不意中竟看见了一位带金丝平光眼镜的中国女子。质夫看了一眼，便想起刚才他同学W对他说的话来。

“原來就是她麼？“So that is she?長得多了。She has grown much taller.大得多了。Much more mature, too.面色也好像黑了些。Her complexion also seems a little darker.穿在那裡的白色中國服也還漂亮，但是那文藝復興式的處女美卻不見了。”The white Chinese dress she is wearing is still pretty enough, but that Renaissance maidenly beauty is gone.”

“原来就是她么？长得多了。大得多了。面色也好像黑了些。穿在那里的白色中国服也还漂亮，但是那文艺复兴式的处女美却不见了。”

這樣的靜靜兒的想了一遍，質夫聽見他的朋友從車窗裡伸出頭來向他話別：After silently thinking all this through, Zhifu heard his friend lean his head out of the carriage window to bid him farewell:

这样的静静儿的想了一遍，质夫听见他的朋友从车窗里伸出头来向他话别：

“質夫，你也早一點回中國去吧，我一到北京就寫信來給你，……”“Zhifu, you should return to China soon too. As soon as I reach Beijing, I shall write to you…”

“质夫，你也早一点回中国去吧，我一到北京就写信来给你，……”

火車開後，質夫認識的那些送行的人，男男女女，還在那裡對了車上的他的同學揮帽子手帕，質夫一個人卻早慢慢的走了。After the train departed, the men and women Zhifu knew among those seeing it off remained there waving hats and handkerchiefs at his schoolmate aboard, but Zhifu had already walked slowly away alone.

火车开后，质夫认识的那些送行的人，男男女女，还在那里对了车上的他的同学挥帽子手帕，质夫一个人却早慢慢的走了。

東中野質夫的小屋裡又是幾天無聊的夏日過去了。A few more dreary summer days passed in Zhifu’s little house in Higashi-Nakano.那天午後他接到了一封北京來的他同學的信，說：That afternoon he received a letter from his schoolmate in Beijing, saying:

东中野质夫的小屋里又是几天无聊的夏日过去了。那天午后他接到了一封北京来的他同学的信，说：

“你的位置已經為你說定了，此信一到，馬上就請你回到北京來。”“I have already arranged a position for you. As soon as this letter reaches you, please return to Beijing at once.”

“你的位置已经为你说定了，此信一到，马上就请你回到北京来。”

質夫看了一遍，心裡只是淡淡的。Zhifu read it through, but felt only a faint indifference.想寫回信，卻是難以措辭。He wanted to write a reply, yet found it difficult to choose his words.以目下的心境而論，他卻不想回中國去，但又不能孤負他同學的好意。In his present state of mind, he did not wish to return to China, but neither could he disappoint his schoolmate’s kindness.質夫拿了一枝紙煙吸了幾口，對了桌上的鏡子看了一忽，就想去洗澡去。Zhifu took a cigarette, drew on it several times, and gazed for a while into the mirror on his desk; then he thought he would go and take a bath.洗了澡回來，喝了一杯啤酒，他就在書齋的席上睡著了。After coming back from his bath, he drank a glass of beer and fell asleep on the mat in his study.

质夫看了一遍，心里只是淡淡的。想写回信，却是难以措辞。以目下的心境而论，他却不想回中国去，但又不能孤负他同学的好意。质夫拿了一枝纸烟吸了几口，对了桌上的镜子看了一忽，就想去洗澡去。洗了澡回来，喝了一杯啤酒，他就在书斋的席上睡著了。

又過了幾天，質夫呆呆的在書齋裡睡了一日。A few more days passed, and Zhifu spent a whole day dozing blankly in his study.吃完了晚飯出去散步回來，已經九點鐘了。By the time he finished dinner, went out for a walk, and came back, it was already nine o'clock.他把抽斗抽開來想拿催眠藥服了就寢，卻又看見了幾日前到的他同學的信。He pulled open the drawer, meaning to take some sleeping medicine and go to bed, but instead caught sight of the letter from his schoolmate that had arrived a few days before.他直到今朝，還沒有寫回信給他同學。Up until this very morning, he still hadn't written a reply to his schoolmate.擱下了催眠藥，他就把信箋拿出來想作回信。Setting aside the sleeping medicine, he took out some letter paper, meaning to write a reply.把信箋包一打開來，半個月前頭他寫的一張小說不像小說，信不像信的東西還在那裡。When he opened the packet of letter paper, there was still that thing he had written half a month earlier — something that was neither quite a story nor quite a letter.他從第一句“我近來的心理狀態，正不曉得怎麼才寫得出來。……”看起，靜靜的看了一遍，看到了末句的“……He began reading from the first line — "My state of mind lately, I really don't know how to put into words. ……" — and quietly read it through, until he came to the last line: "……啊啊年輕的維特呀，我佩服你的勇敢，我佩服你的有果斷的柔心。”他的嘴角上卻露了一痕冷笑。Ah, ah, young Werther, I admire your courage, I admire your tender heart so full of resolve." At the corners of his mouth, though, there flickered a trace of a cold smile.靜靜的想了一想，他又不願意寫信了。He thought quietly for a moment, and once again lost the wish to write the letter.把催眠藥服下，滅去了電燈，他就躺上他的褥上去就睡，不多一忽，微微的鼾聲，便從這灰黑的書室裡傳了出來。He took the sleeping medicine, switched off the electric light, and lay down on his bedding to sleep; before long, a faint sound of snoring began drifting out from the gray-dark study.書齋的外面，便是東中野的曠野，一幅夏夜的野景橫在星光微明的天蓋下，大約秋風也快吹到這島國裡來了。Outside the study lay the open fields of Higashi-Nakano, a scene of the summer night's countryside stretched out beneath a sky faintly lit with stars — it seemed the autumn wind would soon be blowing into this island nation too.

又过了几天，质夫呆呆的在书斋里睡了一日。吃完了晚饭出去散步回来，已经九点钟了。他把抽斗抽开来想拿催眠药服了就寝，却又看见了几日前到的他同学的信。他直到今朝，还没有写回信给他同学。搁下了催眠药，他就把信笺拿出来想作回信。把信笺包一打开来，半个月前头他写的一张小说不像小说，信不像信的东西还在那里。他从第一句“我近来的心理状态，正不晓得怎么才写得出来。……”看起，静静的看了一遍，看到了末句的“……啊啊年轻的维特呀，我佩服你的勇敢，我佩服你的有果断的柔心。”他的嘴角上却露了一痕冷笑。静静的想了一想，他又不愿意写信了。把催眠药服下，灭去了电灯，他就躺上他的褥上去就睡，不多一忽，微微的鼾声，便从这灰黑的书室里传了出来。书斋的外面，便是东中野的旷野，一幅夏夜的野景横在星光微明的天盖下，大约秋风也快吹到这岛国里来了。

一九二二年七月改作Revised in July, 1922.