春風沉醉的晚上 Intoxicated Spring Nights

在滬上閒居了半年，因為失業的結果，我的寓所遷移了三處。After idling away half a year in Shanghai, I moved lodgings three times as a result of being unemployed.最初我住在靜安寺路南的一間同鳥籠似的永也沒有太陽曬著的自由的監房裏。At first I lived south of Jing’ansi Road, in a free prison cell like a birdcage, where the sun never shone.這些自由的監房的住民，除了幾個同強盜小竊一樣的兇惡裁縫之外，都是些可憐的無名文士，我當時所以送了那地方一個Yellow Grub Street的稱號。The inmates of these free prison cells, apart from a few vicious tailors who looked like robbers and petty thieves, were all pitiful, unknown men of letters; that was why I dubbed the place “Yellow Grub Street.”在這Grub Street裏住了一個月，房租忽漲了價，我就不得不拖了幾本破書，搬上跑馬廳附近一家相識的棧房裏去。After a month in this Grub Street, the rent suddenly went up, and I had no choice but to drag along my few tattered books and move into a lodging house run by an acquaintance near the racecourse.後來在這棧房裏又受了種種逼迫，不得不搬了，我便在外白渡橋北岸的鄧脫路中間，日新里對面的貧民窟裏，尋了一間小小的房間，遷移了過去。Later, after suffering all manner of harassment at this lodging house, I was forced to move again; I found a tiny room in a slum opposite Rixinli, midway along Duntuo Road on the north bank of Waibaidu Bridge, and moved there.

在沪上闲居了半年，因为失业的结果，我的寓所迁移了三处。最初我住在静安寺路南的一间同鸟笼似的永也没有太阳晒著的自由的监房里。这些自由的监房的住民，除了几个同强盗小窃一样的凶恶裁缝之外，都是些可怜的无名文士，我当时所以送了那地方一个Yellow Grub Street的称号。在这Grub Street里住了一个月，房租忽涨了价，我就不得不拖了几本破书，搬上跑马厅附近一家相识的栈房里去。后来在这栈房里又受了种种逼迫，不得不搬了，我便在外白渡桥北岸的邓脱路中间，日新里对面的贫民窟里，寻了一间小小的房间，迁移了过去。

鄧脫路的這幾排房子，從地上量到屋頂，只有一丈幾尺高。The rows of houses on Duntuo Road measured little more than one zhang from the ground to the roof.我住的樓上的那間房間，更是矮小得不堪。The upstairs room where I lived was more unbearably cramped still.若站在樓板上升一升懶腰，兩隻手就要把灰黑的屋頂穿通的。If I stood on the floorboards and stretched, my two hands seemed ready to pierce the soot-blackened roof.從前面的衖裏踱進了那房子的門，便是房主的住房。Entering the door of the house from the alley in front, one found oneself in the landlord’s living quarters.在破布洋鐵罐玻璃瓶舊鐵器堆滿的中間，側著身子走進兩步，就有一張中間有幾根橫檔跌落的梯子靠牆擺在那裏。After turning sideways and taking two steps through piles of rags, tin cans, glass bottles, and old ironware, one came to a ladder propped against the wall, several of its rungs missing from the middle.用了這張梯子往上面的黑黝黝的一個二尺寬的洞裏一接，即能走上樓去。By setting this ladder against a pitch-black opening above, two chi wide, one could climb upstairs.黑沉沉的這層樓上，本來只有貓額那樣大，房主人卻把它隔成了兩間小房，外面一間是一個Ｎ煙公司的女工住在那裏，我所租的是梯子口頭的那間小房，因為外間的住者要從我的房裏出入，所以我的每月的房租要比外間的便宜幾角小洋。The whole dark upper floor was originally no bigger than a cat’s brow, yet the landlord had divided it into two tiny rooms: the outer one was occupied by a woman worker from the N Cigarette Company, while the one I rented was the little room by the top of the ladder; because the tenant of the outer room had to pass through mine to come and go, my monthly rent was a few jiao cheaper than hers.

邓脱路的这几排房子，从地上量到屋顶，只有一丈几尺高。我住的楼上的那间房间，更是矮小得不堪。若站在楼板上升一升懒腰，两只手就要把灰黑的屋顶穿通的。从前面的衖里踱进了那房子的门，便是房主的住房。在破布洋铁罐玻璃瓶旧铁器堆满的中间，侧著身子走进两步，就有一张中间有几根横档跌落的梯子靠墙摆在那里。用了这张梯子往上面的黑黝黝的一个二尺宽的洞里一接，即能走上楼去。黑沉沉的这层楼上，本来只有猫额那样大，房主人却把它隔成了两间小房，外面一间是一个Ｎ烟公司的女工住在那里，我所租的是梯子口头的那间小房，因为外间的住者要从我的房里出入，所以我的每月的房租要比外间的便宜几角小洋。

我的房主，是一個五十來歲的彎腰老人。My landlord was a stooped old man of about fifty.他的臉上的青黃色裏，映射著一層暗黑的油光。Beneath the greenish yellow of his face gleamed a dark, oily sheen.兩隻眼睛是一隻大一隻小，顴骨很高，額上頰上的幾條皺紋裏滿砌著煤灰，好像每天早晨洗也洗不掉的樣子。One of his eyes was large and the other small; his cheekbones were high, and the wrinkles on his forehead and cheeks were packed with coal dust, as though it could not be washed away even when he washed every morning.他每日於八九點鐘的時候起來，咳嗽一陣，便挑了一雙竹籃出去，到午後的三四點鐘總仍舊是挑了一雙空籃回來的，有時挑了滿擔回來的時候，他的竹籃里便是那些破布破鐵器玻璃瓶之類。Every day he rose at eight or nine, coughed for a while, then went out carrying a pair of bamboo baskets on a shoulder pole; by three or four in the afternoon he almost always returned with both baskets still empty, though on those occasions when he came back with a full load, his baskets contained rags, scraps of iron, glass bottles, and the like.像這樣的晚上，他必要去買些酒來喝喝，一個人坐在床沿上瞎罵出許多不可捉摸的話來。On evenings like those, he was sure to buy himself some wine, and would sit alone on the edge of his bed, blindly cursing and muttering all sorts of incomprehensible things.

我的房主，是一个五十来岁的弯腰老人。他的脸上的青黄色里，映射著一层暗黑的油光。两只眼睛是一只大一只小，颧骨很高，额上颊上的几条皱纹里满砌著煤灰，好像每天早晨洗也洗不掉的样子。他每日于八九点钟的时候起来，咳嗽一阵，便挑了一双竹篮出去，到午后的三四点钟总仍旧是挑了一双空篮回来的，有时挑了满担回来的时候，他的竹篮里便是那些破布破铁器玻璃瓶之类。像这样的晚上，他必要去买些酒来喝喝，一个人坐在床沿上瞎骂出许多不可捉摸的话来。

我與間壁的同寓者的第一次相遇，是在搬來的那天午後。I first met the tenant next door on the afternoon of the day I moved in.春天的急景已經快晚了的五點鐘的時候，我點了一枝蠟燭，在那里安放幾本剛從棧房裏搬過來的破書。At five o’clock, as the swift spring day was already drawing toward evening, I lit a candle and began arranging the few tattered books I had just brought over from the lodging house.先把它們疊成了兩方堆，一堆小些，一堆大些，然後把兩個二尺長的裝畫的畫架覆在大一點的那堆書上。First I stacked them into two square piles, one smaller and one larger, then laid two picture-mounting boards, each two chi long, across the larger pile.因為我的器具都賣完了，這一堆書和畫架白天要當寫字台，晚上可當床睡的。Since I had sold all my furniture, this pile of books and the boards had to serve as a writing desk by day and a bed by night.擺好了畫架的板，我就朝著了這張由書疊成的桌子，坐在小一點的那堆書上吸煙，我的背系朝著梯子的接口的。Once I had laid the boards in place, I sat on the smaller pile of books, facing this desk made of books, and smoked; my back was turned toward the opening at the top of the ladder.我一邊吸煙，一邊在那里呆看放在桌上的蠟燭火，忽而聽見梯子口上起了響動。As I smoked, staring blankly at the candle flame on the desk, I suddenly heard a noise at the top of the ladder.回頭一看，我只見了一個自家的擴大的投射影子，此外什麼也辨不出來，但我的聽覺分明告訴我說：「有人上來了。」我向暗中凝視了幾秒鐘，一個圓形灰白的面貌，半截纖細的女人的身體，方才映到我的眼簾上來。I turned and saw only an enlarged shadow of myself cast upon the wall; I could make out nothing else, but my hearing told me plainly, “Someone is coming up.” After I had peered into the darkness for several seconds, a round, gray-white face and the upper half of a slender woman’s body finally came into view.一見了她的容貌我就知道她是我的間壁的同居者了。The moment I saw her face, I knew she was the tenant in the room next to mine.因為我來找房子的時候，那房主的老人便告訴我說，這屋裏除了他一個人外，樓上只住著一個女工。For when I had come looking for a room, the old landlord had told me that, besides himself, only one woman factory worker lived upstairs.我一則喜歡房價的便宜，二則喜歡這屋裏沒有別的女人小孩，所以立刻就租定了的。I had liked, first, the cheap rent and, second, the absence of any other women or children in the house, and so had taken the room at once.等她走上了梯子，我才站起來對她點了點頭說：Only after she had climbed to the top of the ladder did I stand up, nod to her, and say:

我与间壁的同寓者的第一次相遇，是在搬来的那天午后。春天的急景已经快晚了的五点钟的时候，我点了一枝蜡烛，在那里安放几本刚从栈房里搬过来的破书。先把它们叠成了两方堆，一堆小些，一堆大些，然后把两个二尺长的装画的画架覆在大一点的那堆书上。因为我的器具都卖完了，这一堆书和画架白天要当写字台，晚上可当床睡的。摆好了画架的板，我就朝著了这张由书叠成的桌子，坐在小一点的那堆书上吸烟，我的背系朝著梯子的接口的。我一边吸烟，一边在那里呆看放在桌上的蜡烛火，忽而听见梯子口上起了响动。回头一看，我只见了一个自家的扩大的投射影子，此外什么也辨不出来，但我的听觉分明告诉我说：「有人上来了。」我向暗中凝视了几秒钟，一个圆形灰白的面貌，半截纤细的女人的身体，方才映到我的眼帘上来。一见了她的容貌我就知道她是我的间壁的同居者了。因为我来找房子的时候，那房主的老人便告诉我说，这屋里除了他一个人外，楼上只住著一个女工。我一则喜欢房价的便宜，二则喜欢这屋里没有别的女人小孩，所以立刻就租定了的。等她走上了梯子，我才站起来对她点了点头说：

「對不起，我是今朝才搬來的，以後要請你照應。」“Excuse me. I only moved in this morning; I hope you will look out for me from now on.”

「对不起，我是今朝才搬来的，以后要请你照应。」

她聽了我這話，也並不回答，放了一雙漆黑的大眼，對我深深的看了一眼，就走上她的門口去開了鎖，進房去了。Hearing this, she made no reply, but fixed her large, jet-black eyes upon me and gave me a long, searching look; then she went to her door, unlocked it, and entered her room.我與她不過這樣的見了一面，不曉是什麼原因，我只覺得她是一個可憐的女子。Though I had seen her only this once, for some reason I felt that she was a pitiable young woman.她的高高的鼻樑，灰白長圓的面貌，清瘦不高的身體，好像都是表明她是可憐的特徵，但是當時正為了生活問題在那裏操心的我，也無暇去憐惜這還未曾失業的女工，過了幾分鐘我又動也不動的坐在那一小堆書上看蠟燭光了。Her high bridge of nose, her long, oval, gray-white face, and her slight, slender body all seemed marks of one deserving pity; but I myself was then preoccupied with the problem of making a living, and had no leisure to pity a factory girl who had not yet lost her job, so after a few minutes I was once more sitting motionless on that little pile of books, watching the candlelight.

她听了我这话，也并不回答，放了一双漆黑的大眼，对我深深的看了一眼，就走上她的门口去开了锁，进房去了。我与她不过这样的见了一面，不晓是什么原因，我只觉得她是一个可怜的女子。她的高高的鼻梁，灰白长圆的面貌，清瘦不高的身体，好像都是表明她是可怜的特征，但是当时正为了生活问题在那里操心的我，也无暇去怜惜这还未曾失业的女工，过了几分钟我又动也不动的坐在那一小堆书上看蜡烛光了。

在這貧民窟裏過了一個多禮拜，她每天早晨七點鐘去上工和午後六點多鐘下工回來，總只見我呆呆的對著了蠟燭或油燈坐在那堆書上。For more than a week in this slum, whenever she left for work at seven each morning or returned after six in the evening, she always saw me sitting blankly on the pile of books, facing a candle or oil lamp.大約她的好奇心被我那癡不癡呆不呆的態度挑動了罷。I suppose her curiosity was aroused by my manner, at once witless and not quite witless, dazed and not quite dazed.有一天她下了工走上樓來的時候，我依舊和第一天一樣的站起來讓她過去。One day, when she came upstairs after work, I rose as I had on the first day to let her pass.她走到了我的身邊忽而停住了腳。When she reached my side, she suddenly stopped.看了我一眼，吞吞吐吐好像怕什麼似的問我說：She looked at me and asked hesitantly, as if afraid of something:

在这贫民窟里过了一个多礼拜，她每天早晨七点钟去上工和午后六点多钟下工回来，总只见我呆呆的对著了蜡烛或油灯坐在那堆书上。大约她的好奇心被我那痴不痴呆不呆的态度挑动了罢。有一天她下了工走上楼来的时候，我依旧和第一天一样的站起来让她过去。她走到了我的身边忽而停住了脚。看了我一眼，吞吞吐吐好像怕什么似的问我说：

「你天天在這裏看的是什麼書？」“What books are you reading here every day?”

「你天天在这里看的是什么书？」

（她操的是柔和的蘇州音，聽了這一種聲音以後的感覺，是怎麼也寫不出來的，所以我只能把她的言語譯成普通的白話。）(She spoke in the gentle Suzhou accent; the feeling produced by hearing such a voice is impossible to put into writing, so I can only translate her words into ordinary vernacular.)

（她操的是柔和的苏州音，听了这一种声音以后的感觉，是怎么也写不出来的，所以我只能把她的言语译成普通的白话。）

我聽了她的話，反而臉上漲紅了。On hearing her, I instead flushed red.因為我天天呆坐在那裏，面前雖則有幾本外國書攤著，其實我的腦筋昏亂得很，就是一行一句也看不進去。For although I sat there blankly every day with several foreign books spread open before me, my mind was in fact so confused that I could not take in a single line or sentence.有時候我只用了想像在書的上一行與下一行中間的空白裏，填些奇異的模型進去。Sometimes I merely used my imagination to fill the blank spaces between one line and the next with strange shapes.有時候我只把書裏邊的插畫翻開來看看，就了那些插畫演繹些不近人情的幻想出來。Sometimes I merely opened the book to look at its illustrations, and from them spun out fantasies that defied all human reason.我那時候的身體因為失眠與營養不良的結果，實際上已經成了病的狀態了。At that time, as a result of insomnia and malnutrition, my body had in fact already fallen into a diseased condition.況且又因為我的唯一的財產的一件棉袍子已經破得不堪，白天不能走出外面去散步和房裏全沒有光線進來，不論白天晚上，都要點著油燈或蠟燭的緣故，非但我的全部健康不如常人，就是我的眼睛和腳力，也局部的非常萎縮了。Moreover, my sole possession, a cotton-padded gown, was so badly torn that I could not go outside for walks during the day, while no light at all entered the room, so that I had to keep an oil lamp or candle burning day and night; consequently, not only was my general health worse than that of ordinary people, but my eyesight and the strength of my legs had also deteriorated severely.在這樣狀態下的我，聽了她這一問，如何能夠不紅起臉來呢？How could I, in such a state, hear her question without blushing?所以我只是含含糊糊的回答說：And so I merely answered vaguely:

我听了她的话，反而脸上涨红了。因为我天天呆坐在那里，面前虽则有几本外国书摊著，其实我的脑筋昏乱得很，就是一行一句也看不进去。有时候我只用了想像在书的上一行与下一行中间的空白里，填些奇异的模型进去。有时候我只把书里边的插画翻开来看看，就了那些插画演绎些不近人情的幻想出来。我那时候的身体因为失眠与营养不良的结果，实际上已经成了病的状态了。况且又因为我的唯一的财产的一件棉袍子已经破得不堪，白天不能走出外面去散步和房里全没有光线进来，不论白天晚上，都要点著油灯或蜡烛的缘故，非但我的全部健康不如常人，就是我的眼睛和脚力，也局部的非常萎缩了。在这样状态下的我，听了她这一问，如何能够不红起脸来呢？所以我只是含含糊糊的回答说：

「我並不在看書，不過什麼也不做呆坐在這裏，樣子一定不好看，所以把這幾本書攤放著的。」“I’m not really reading. I’m only sitting here blankly with nothing to do, and that must look rather unsightly, so I spread these books out in front of me.”

「我并不在看书，不过什么也不做呆坐在这里，样子一定不好看，所以把这几本书摊放著的。」

她聽了這話，又深深的看了我一眼，作了一種不解的形容，依舊的走到她的房裏去了。On hearing this, she gave me another long, searching look, assumed a puzzled expression, and went on into her room as before.

她听了这话，又深深的看了我一眼，作了一种不解的形容，依旧的走到她的房里去了。

那幾天裏，若說我完全什麼事情也不去找什麼事情也不曾幹。To say that during those days I made no effort at all to find anything to do, and did nothing whatsoever,卻是假的。would be untrue.有時候，我的腦筋稍微清新一點，也曾譯過幾首英法的小詩，和幾篇不滿四千字的德國的短篇小說，於晚上大家睡熟的時候，不聲不響的出去投郵，在寄投給各新開的書局。Sometimes, when my mind was a little clearer, I translated a few short English and French poems, as well as several German short stories of fewer than four thousand characters; when everyone was asleep at night, I would slip out silently to mail them off to various newly opened publishing houses.因為當時我的各方面就職的希望，早已經完全斷絕了，只有這一方面，還能靠了​​我的枯燥的腦筋，想想法子看。By then all my hopes of finding employment in any quarter had long since been completely extinguished; only in this direction could I still rely on my barren mind and try to think of some expedient.萬一中了他們編輯先生的意，把我譯的東西登了出來，也不難得著幾塊錢的酬報。If by any chance my work pleased their esteemed editors and they published my translations, it would not be hard to earn a few dollars in payment.所以我自遷移到鄧脫路以後，當她第一次同我講話的時候，這樣的譯稿已經發出了三四次了。Thus, by the time she first spoke to me after I moved to Duntuo Road, I had already sent out such manuscripts three or four times.

那几天里，若说我完全什么事情也不去找什么事情也不曾干。却是假的。有时候，我的脑筋稍微清新一点，也曾译过几首英法的小诗，和几篇不满四千字的德国的短篇小说，于晚上大家睡熟的时候，不声不响的出去投邮，在寄投给各新开的书局。因为当时我的各方面就职的希望，早已经完全断绝了，只有这一方面，还能靠了​​我的枯燥的脑筋，想想法子看。万一中了他们编辑先生的意，把我译的东西登了出来，也不难得著几块钱的酬报。所以我自迁移到邓脱路以后，当她第一次同我讲话的时候，这样的译稿已经发出了三四次了。

在亂昏昏的上海租界裏住著，四季的變遷和日子的過去是不容易覺得的。Living in the chaotic haze of Shanghai’s foreign concessions, it was not easy to notice the changing seasons or the passing days.我搬到了鄧脫路的貧民窟之後，只覺得身上穿在那裏的那件破棉袍子一天一天的重了起來，熱了起來，所以我心裏想：After moving into the slum on Duntuo Road, I merely felt the tattered cotton-padded gown I wore growing heavier and hotter by the day, and so I thought:

在乱昏昏的上海租界里住著，四季的变迁和日子的过去是不容易觉得的。我搬到了邓脱路的贫民窟之后，只觉得身上穿在那里的那件破棉袍子一天一天的重了起来，热了起来，所以我心里想：

「大約春光也已經老透了罷！」“Spring must already be thoroughly spent!”

「大约春光也已经老透了罢！」

但是囊中很羞澀的我，也不能上什麼地方去旅行一次，日夜只是在那暗室的燈光下呆坐。But with my purse so painfully empty, I could not afford to travel anywhere, and sat blankly day and night beneath the lamplight in that dark room.在一天大約是午後了，我也是這樣的坐在那裏，間壁的同住者忽而手裏拿了兩包用紙包好的物件走了上來，我站起來讓她走的時候，她把手裏的紙包放了一包在我的書桌上說：One day, at about midafternoon, I was sitting there as usual when the tenant next door suddenly came upstairs carrying two paper-wrapped parcels; as I stood to let her pass, she put one of them on my book-desk and said:

但是囊中很羞涩的我，也不能上什么地方去旅行一次，日夜只是在那暗室的灯光下呆坐。在一天大约是午后了，我也是这样的坐在那里，间壁的同住者忽而手里拿了两包用纸包好的物件走了上来，我站起来让她走的时候，她把手里的纸包放了一包在我的书桌上说：

「這一包是葡萄漿的麵包，請你收藏著，明天好吃的。“This parcel is raisin bread; please keep it, and you can eat it tomorrow.另外我還有一包香蕉買在這裏，請你到我房裏來一道吃罷！」I have another parcel of bananas here; please come into my room and eat them with me!”

「这一包是葡萄浆的面包，请你收藏著，明天好吃的。另外我还有一包香蕉买在这里，请你到我房里来一道吃罢！」

我替她拿住了紙包，她就開了門邀我進她的房裏去，共住了這十幾天，她好像已經信用我是一個忠厚的人的樣子。I held the parcel for her while she opened her door and invited me inside; after living alongside me for more than ten days, she seemed to have come to trust that I was an honest, decent man.我見她初見我的時候臉上流露出來的那一種疑懼的形容完全沒有了。I saw that the suspicion and fear visible on her face when she first met me had completely vanished.我進了她的房裏，才知道天還未暗，因為她的房裏有一扇朝南的窗，太陽返射的光線從這窗裏投射進來，照見了小小的一間房，由二條板鋪成的一張床，一張黑漆的半桌，一隻板箱，和一條圓凳。Only when I entered her room did I realize it was not yet dark, for she had a south-facing window through which reflected sunlight streamed, illuminating the tiny room, a bed made of two planks, a black-lacquered half-table, a wooden chest, and a round stool.床上雖則沒有帳子，但堆著有二條潔淨的青布被褥。Though the bed had no mosquito net, two clean sets of blue-cloth bedding were piled upon it.半桌上有一隻小洋鐵箱擺在那裏，大約是她的梳頭器具，洋鐵箱上已經有許多油污的點子了。A small tin box stood on the half-table, probably containing her hairdressing things; the box was already speckled with many greasy stains.她一邊把堆在圓凳上的幾件半舊的洋布棉襖，粗布褲等收在床上，一邊就讓我坐下。As she gathered the few partly worn foreign-cloth padded jackets, coarse-cloth trousers, and other garments piled on the round stool and put them on the bed, she asked me to sit down.我看了她那殷勤待我的樣子，心裏倒不好意思起來，所以就對她說：Seeing how warmly attentive she was toward me, I began to feel embarrassed, and so I said:

我替她拿住了纸包，她就开了门邀我进她的房里去，共住了这十几天，她好像已经信用我是一个忠厚的人的样子。我见她初见我的时候脸上流露出来的那一种疑惧的形容完全没有了。我进了她的房里，才知道天还未暗，因为她的房里有一扇朝南的窗，太阳返射的光线从这窗里投射进来，照见了小小的一间房，由二条板铺成的一张床，一张黑漆的半桌，一只板箱，和一条圆凳。床上虽则没有帐子，但堆著有二条洁净的青布被褥。半桌上有一只小洋铁箱摆在那里，大约是她的梳头器具，洋铁箱上已经有许多油污的点子了。她一边把堆在圆凳上的几件半旧的洋布棉袄，粗布裤等收在床上，一边就让我坐下。我看了她那殷勤待我的样子，心里倒不好意思起来，所以就对她说：

「我們本來住在一處，何必這樣的客氣。」“We live under the same roof; there is no need for such ceremony.”

「我们本来住在一处，何必这样的客气。」

「我並不客氣，但是你每天當我回來的時候，總站起來讓我，我卻覺得對不起得很。」“I am not being ceremonious, but whenever I come home you always stand up to let me pass, and that makes me feel terribly apologetic.”

「我并不客气，但是你每天当我回来的时候，总站起来让我，我却觉得对不起得很。」

這樣的說著，她就把一包香蕉打開來讓我吃。As she spoke, she opened the parcel of bananas and offered me one.她自家也拿了一隻，在床上坐下，一邊吃一邊問我說：She took one herself and sat down on the bed, asking as she ate:

这样的说著，她就把一包香蕉打开来让我吃。她自家也拿了一只，在床上坐下，一边吃一边问我说：

「你何以只住在家裏，不出去找點事情做做？」“Why do you stay home all the time instead of going out to find some work?”

「你何以只住在家里，不出去找点事情做做？」

「我原是這樣的想，但是找來找去總找不著事情。」“That was what I intended to do, but however much I search, I can never find anything.”

「我原是这样的想，但是找来找去总找不著事情。」

「你有朋友麼？」“Do you have any friends?”

「你有朋友么？」

「朋友是有的，但是到了這樣的時候，他們都不和我來往了。」“I do, but now that I have come to this pass, none of them associate with me anymore.”

「朋友是有的，但是到了这样的时候，他们都不和我来往了。」

「你進過學堂麼？」“Have you ever attended school?”

「你进过学堂么？」

「我在外國的學堂裏曾經念過幾年書。」“I studied for several years at a school abroad.”

「我在外国的学堂里曾经念过几年书。」

「你家在什麼地方？“Where is your home?何以不回家去？」Why don’t you go back?”

「你家在什么地方？何以不回家去？」

她問到了這裏，我忽而感覺到我自己的現狀了。When her questions reached this point, I suddenly became conscious of my present condition.因為自去年以來，我只是一日一日的萎靡下去，差不多把「我是什麼人？」「我現在所處的是怎麼一種境遇？」「我的心裏還是悲還是喜？」這些觀念都忘掉了。For since the previous year, I had merely languished more with each passing day, until I had almost forgotten such notions as “Who am I?” “What sort of circumstances am I now in?” and “Is my heart sorrowful or glad?”經她這一問，我重新把半年來困苦的情形一層一層的想了出來。Prompted by her question, I recalled, layer by layer, all the hardships of the past six months.所以聽她的問話以後，我只是呆呆的看她，半晌說不出話來。And so, after hearing her question, I could only stare at her blankly, unable to speak for a long while.她看了我這個樣子，以為我也是一個無家可歸的流浪人。Seeing me like this, she took me for a homeless wanderer like herself.臉上就立時起了一種孤寂的表情，微微的嘆著說：An expression of loneliness at once appeared on her face, and she sighed softly:

她问到了这里，我忽而感觉到我自己的现状了。因为自去年以来，我只是一日一日的萎靡下去，差不多把「我是什么人？」「我现在所处的是怎么一种境遇？」「我的心里还是悲还是喜？」这些观念都忘掉了。经她这一问，我重新把半年来困苦的情形一层一层的想了出来。所以听她的问话以后，我只是呆呆的看她，半晌说不出话来。她看了我这个样子，以为我也是一个无家可归的流浪人。脸上就立时起了一种孤寂的表情，微微的叹著说：

「唉！“Ah!你也是同我一樣的麼？」Are you the same as me?”

「唉！你也是同我一样的么？」

微微的嘆了一聲之後，她就不說話了。After that soft sigh, she fell silent.我看她的眼圈上有些潮紅起來，所以就想了一個另外的問題問她說：Seeing her eyes grow moist and red around the rims, I thought of another question and asked her:

微微的叹了一声之后，她就不说话了。我看她的眼圈上有些潮红起来，所以就想了一个另外的问题问她说：

「你在工廠裏做的是什麼工作？」“What sort of work do you do at the factory?”

「你在工厂里做的是什么工作？」

「是包紙菸的。」“I wrap cigarettes.”

「是包纸烟的。」

「一天作幾個鐘頭工？」“How many hours a day do you work?”

「一天作几个钟头工？」

「早晨七點鐘起，晚上六點鐘止，中午休息一個鐘頭，每天一共要作十個鐘頭的工。“From seven in the morning until six at night, with one hour’s rest at noon—ten hours of work altogether each day.少作一點鐘就要扣錢的。」If we work even one hour less, they dock our pay.”

「早晨七点钟起，晚上六点钟止，中午休息一个钟头，每天一共要作十个钟头的工。少作一点钟就要扣钱的。」

「扣多少錢？」“How much do they dock?”

「扣多少钱？」

「每月九塊錢，所以是三塊錢十天，三分大洋一個鐘頭。」“I earn nine dollars a month, which comes to three dollars every ten days, or three cents for each hour.”

「每月九块钱，所以是三块钱十天，三分大洋一个钟头。」

「飯錢多少？」“How much does food cost?”

「饭钱多少？」

「四塊錢一月。」“Four dollars a month.”

「四块钱一月。」

「這樣算起來，每月一個鐘點也不休息，除了飯錢，可省下五塊錢來。“By that reckoning, if you do not miss a single hour all month, you can save five dollars after paying for food.夠你付房錢買衣服的麼？」Is that enough for your rent and clothes?”

「这样算起来，每月一个钟点也不休息，除了饭钱，可省下五块钱来。够你付房钱买衣服的么？」

「哪裏夠呢！“How could it possibly be enough!並且那管理人要……And besides, the supervisor wants to…啊啊！Ah!我……I…我所以非常恨工廠的。That is why I hate the factory so much.你吃煙的麼？」Do you smoke?”

「哪里够呢！并且那管理人要……啊啊！我……我所以非常恨工厂的。你吃烟的么？」

「吃的。」“Yes.”

「我勸你頂好還是不吃。“I advise you not to; that would be best.就吃也不要去吃我們工廠的煙。And even if you do smoke, don’t smoke the cigarettes from our factory.我真恨死它在這裏。」I hate them to death.”

「我劝你顶好还是不吃。就吃也不要去吃我们工厂的烟。我真恨死它在这里。」

我看看她那一種切齒怨恨的樣子，就不願意再說下去。Seeing the way she ground her teeth in hatred, I did not wish to continue the conversation.把手裏捏著的半個吃剩的香蕉咬了幾口，向四邊一看，覺得她的房裏也有些灰黑了，我站起來道了謝，就走回到了我自己的房裏。I took a few bites from the half-eaten banana in my hand and looked around; feeling that her room, too, had grown somewhat gray and dim, I stood, thanked her, and returned to my own room.她大約作工倦了的緣故，每天回來大概是馬上就入睡的，只有這一晚上，她在房裏好像是直到半夜還沒有就寢。Probably because her work exhausted her, she generally went to sleep as soon as she returned each day; only that evening did she seem to remain awake in her room until midnight.從這一回之後，她每天回來，總和我說幾句話。After this occasion, she always exchanged a few words with me when she came home each day.我從她自家的口裏聽得，知道她姓陳，名叫二妹，是蘇州東鄉人，從小系在上海鄉下長大的，她父親也是紙菸工廠的工人，但是去年秋天死了。From her own lips I learned that her surname was Chen and her given name Ermei; she came from the eastern countryside near Suzhou, had grown up from childhood in the rural outskirts of Shanghai, and her father, too, had been a worker in a cigarette factory, but had died the previous autumn.她本來和她父親同住在那間房裏，每天同上工廠去的，現在卻只剩了她一個人了。She had originally lived in that room with her father, and they had gone to the factory together each day, but now she alone remained.她父親死後的一個多月，她早晨上工廠去也一路哭了去，晚上回來也一路哭了回來的。For more than a month after her father’s death, she cried all the way to the factory each morning and all the way home each evening.她今年十七歲，也無兄弟姊妹，也無近親的親戚。She was seventeen that year and had neither brothers nor sisters, nor any close relations.她父親死後的葬殮等事，是他於未死之前把十五塊錢交給樓下的老人，托這老人包辦的。1. After her father died, the matters of the funeral and burial were handled by an old man downstairs, to whom he had entrusted fifteen dollars before he died, asking this old man to take care of everything.她說：2. She said:

我看看她那一种切齿怨恨的样子，就不愿意再说下去。把手里捏著的半个吃剩的香蕉咬了几口，向四边一看，觉得她的房里也有些灰黑了，我站起来道了谢，就走回到了我自己的房里。她大约作工倦了的缘故，每天回来大概是马上就入睡的，只有这一晚上，她在房里好像是直到半夜还没有就寝。从这一回之后，她每天回来，总和我说几句话。我从她自家的口里听得，知道她姓陈，名叫二妹，是苏州东乡人，从小系在上海乡下长大的，她父亲也是纸烟工厂的工人，但是去年秋天死了。她本来和她父亲同住在那间房里，每天同上工厂去的，现在却只剩了她一个人了。她父亲死后的一个多月，她早晨上工厂去也一路哭了去，晚上回来也一路哭了回来的。她今年十七岁，也无兄弟姊妹，也无近亲的亲戚。她父亲死后的葬殓等事，是他于未死之前把十五块钱交给楼下的老人，托这老人包办的。她说：

「樓下的老人倒是一個好人，對我從來沒有起過壞心，所以我得同父親在日一樣的去作工，不過工廠的一個姓李的管理人卻壞得很，知道我父親死了，就天天的想戲弄我。」3. "The old man downstairs is actually a good man—he's never once had bad intentions toward me, so I've been able to go on working just as I did when my father was alive. But the factory has a supervisor named Li who is very bad; ever since he found out my father had died, he's been thinking up ways to torment me every day."

「楼下的老人倒是一个好人，对我从来没有起过坏心，所以我得同父亲在日一样的去作工，不过工厂的一个姓李的管理人却坏得很，知道我父亲死了，就天天的想戏弄我。」

她自家和她父親的身世，我差不多全知道了，但她母親是如何的一個人？4. I had come to know almost everything about her own life and her father's, but what sort of person was her mother?死了呢還是活在哪裏？5. Was she dead, or still living somewhere?假使還活著，住在什麼地方？6. If she were still alive, where might she be living?等等，她卻從來還沒有說及過。7. Such things as these she had never once spoken of.

她自家和她父亲的身世，我差不多全知道了，但她母亲是如何的一个人？死了呢还是活在哪里？假使还活著，住在什么地方？等等，她却从来还没有说及过。

天氣好像變了。8. The weather seemed to be changing.幾日來我那獨有的世界，黑暗的小房裏的腐濁的空氣，同蒸籠裏的蒸氣一樣，蒸得人頭昏欲暈，我每年在春夏之交要發的神經衰弱的重症，遇了這樣的氣候，就要使我變成半狂。9. For the past few days the world that was mine alone—the foul, stagnant air of that dark little room, steaming like vapor from a rice-steamer—had been steaming my head until it swam with dizziness; and the severe nervous exhaustion I suffer every year at the turn of spring and summer, meeting with weather like this, was enough to drive me half mad.所以我這幾天來到了晚上，等馬路上人靜之後，也常常想出去散步去。10. So these past few days, once night fell and the street grew quiet, I too had often felt the urge to go out for a walk.一個人在馬路上從狹隘的深藍天空裏看看群星，慢慢的向前行走，一邊作些漫無涯涘的空想，倒是於我的身體很有利益。11. To walk alone along the street, gazing up at the clusters of stars in the narrow strip of deep-blue sky, strolling slowly forward while indulging in boundless, aimless reveries—this was in fact very good for my health.當這樣的無可奈何，春風沉醉的晚上，我每要在各處亂走，走到天將明的時候才回家裏。12. On such helpless evenings, evenings drunk with the spring breeze, I would go wandering all about, not returning home until the sky was about to grow light.我這樣的走倦了回去就睡，一睡直可睡到第二天的日中，有幾次竟要睡到二妹下工回來的前後方才起來，睡眠一足，我的健康狀態也漸漸的回复起來了。13. Having walked myself weary like this, I would go back and sleep, and could sleep straight through until noon of the next day—several times I did not even wake until around the time Second Sister came home from work. With sleep now sufficient, my state of health, too, gradually began to recover.平時只能消化半磅麵包的我的胃部，自從我的深夜遊行的練習開始之後，進步得幾乎能容納麵包一磅了。14. My stomach, which ordinarily could digest no more than half a pound of bread, had, ever since I began this practice of roaming late at night, improved to the point where it could almost hold a full pound.這事在經濟上雖則是一大打擊，但我的腦筋，受了這些滋養，似乎比從前稍能統一。15. This was, financially speaking, a great blow, but my brain, nourished by all this, seemed somewhat more coherent than before.我於遊行回來之後，就睡之前，卻做成了幾篇Allan Poe式的短篇小說，自家看看，也不很壞。16. After coming back from my wanderings, before going to sleep, I managed to write a few short stories in the manner of Allan Poe; looking them over myself, they did not seem too bad.我改了幾次，抄了幾次，一一投郵寄出之後，心裏雖然起了些微細的希望，但是想想前幾回的譯稿的絕無消息，過了幾天，也便把它們忘了。17. After revising them several times and copying them out several times, I mailed them off one by one; though a faint hope stirred in my heart, when I thought of how my earlier translated manuscripts had brought absolutely no word back, after a few days I simply forgot about them.

天气好像变了。几日来我那独有的世界，黑暗的小房里的腐浊的空气，同蒸笼里的蒸气一样，蒸得人头昏欲晕，我每年在春夏之交要发的神经衰弱的重症，遇了这样的气候，就要使我变成半狂。所以我这几天来到了晚上，等马路上人静之后，也常常想出去散步去。一个人在马路上从狭隘的深蓝天空里看看群星，慢慢的向前行走，一边作些漫无涯涘的空想，倒是于我的身体很有利益。当这样的无可奈何，春风沉醉的晚上，我每要在各处乱走，走到天将明的时候才回家里。我这样的走倦了回去就睡，一睡直可睡到第二天的日中，有几次竟要睡到二妹下工回来的前后方才起来，睡眠一足，我的健康状态也渐渐的回复起来了。平时只能消化半磅面包的我的胃部，自从我的深夜游行的练习开始之后，进步得几乎能容纳面包一磅了。这事在经济上虽则是一大打击，但我的脑筋，受了这些滋养，似乎比从前稍能统一。我于游行回来之后，就睡之前，却做成了几篇Allan Poe式的短篇小说，自家看看，也不很坏。我改了几次，抄了几次，一一投邮寄出之后，心里虽然起了些微细的希望，但是想想前几回的译稿的绝无消息，过了几天，也便把它们忘了。

鄰住者的二妹，這幾天來，當她早晨出去上工的時候，我總在那裏酣睡，只有午後下工回來的時候，有幾次有見面的機會，但是不曉是什麼原因，我覺得她對我的態度，又回到從前初見面的時候的疑懼狀態去了。18. As for Second Sister next door, these past few days, whenever she went out to work in the morning I was always still sound asleep, and only in the afternoon when she came back from work was there occasionally a chance to meet—but for some reason I could not tell, I felt her manner toward me had reverted to the wary, suspicious state of when we had first met.有時候她深深的看我一眼，她的黑晶晶，水汪汪的眼睛裏，似乎是滿含著責備我規勸我的意思。19. Sometimes she would look deep into me with a single glance, and in her eyes, glossy black and brimming with moisture, there seemed to be something reproachful, something urging me to mend my ways.

邻住者的二妹，这几天来，当她早晨出去上工的时候，我总在那里酣睡，只有午后下工回来的时候，有几次有见面的机会，但是不晓是什么原因，我觉得她对我的态度，又回到从前初见面的时候的疑惧状态去了。有时候她深深的看我一眼，她的黑晶晶，水汪汪的眼睛里，似乎是满含著责备我规劝我的意思。

我搬到這貧民窟裏住後，約莫已經有二十多天的樣子，一天午後我正點上蠟燭，在那裏看一本從舊書舖裏買來的小說的時候，二妹卻急急忙忙的走上樓來對我說：20. It had been about twenty-odd days since I moved into this slum, when one afternoon, just as I had lit a candle and was reading a novel bought from a secondhand bookstall, Second Sister came hurrying upstairs and said to me:

我搬到这贫民窟里住后，约莫已经有二十多天的样子，一天午后我正点上蜡烛，在那里看一本从旧书铺里买来的小说的时候，二妹却急急忙忙的走上楼来对我说：

「樓下有一個送信的在那裏，要你拿了印子去拿信。」她對我講這話的時候，她的疑懼我的態度更表示得明顯，她好像在那裏說：「呵呵！21. "There's a delivery man downstairs—he wants you to bring your seal and collect a letter." As she said this to me, her wariness and suspicion toward me showed even more plainly; it was as though she were saying, "Aha!你的事件是發覺了啊！」我對她這種態度，心裏非常痛恨，所以就氣急了一點，回答她說：22. So your business has come to light!" I was thoroughly resentful at heart over this attitude of hers, and so, somewhat flustered and irritated, I answered her:

「楼下有一个送信的在那里，要你拿了印子去拿信。」她对我讲这话的时候，她的疑惧我的态度更表示得明显，她好像在那里说：「呵呵！你的事件是发觉了啊！」我对她这种态度，心里非常痛恨，所以就气急了一点，回答她说：

「我有什麼信？23. "What letter would I have?不是我的！」24. It's not mine!"

「我有什么信？不是我的！」

她聽了我這氣憤憤的回答，更好像是得了勝利似的，臉上忽湧出了一種冷笑說：25. Hearing my indignant reply, she seemed all the more as though she had won some victory, and a cold smile suddenly spread across her face as she said:

她听了我这气愤愤的回答，更好像是得了胜利似的，脸上忽涌出了一种冷笑说：

「你自家去看罷！26. "Go and see for yourself!你的事情，只有你自家知道的！」27. Your own affairs—only you yourself know them!"

「你自家去看罢！你的事情，只有你自家知道的！」

同時我聽見樓低下門口果真有一個郵差似的人在催著說：28. At the same moment I heard, at the doorway downstairs, what did indeed sound like a postman pressing someone, saying:

同时我听见楼低下门口果真有一个邮差似的人在催著说：

「掛號信！」29. "Registered letter!"

「挂号信！」

我把信取來一看，心裏就突突的跳了幾跳，原來我前回寄去的一篇德文短篇的譯稿，已經在某雜誌上發表了，信中寄來的是五圓錢的一張匯票。30. I took the letter and looked at it, and my heart gave a few sudden thumps—it turned out that a short story I had translated from German and sent off earlier had already been published in some magazine, and what the letter had brought was a money order for five dollars.我囊裏正是將空的時候，有了這五圓錢，非但月底要預付的來月的房金可以無憂，並且付過房金以後，還可以維持幾天食料，當時這五圓錢對我的效用的擴大，是誰也能推想得出來的。31. Just at the moment when my purse was nearly empty, to have these five dollars meant that not only could next month's rent, due in advance at month's end, be free of worry, but after paying the rent there would still be enough left to keep me in food for several days—anyone could well imagine how greatly the usefulness of this five dollars was magnified for me at the time.

我把信取来一看，心里就突突的跳了几跳，原来我前回寄去的一篇德文短篇的译稿，已经在某杂志上发表了，信中寄来的是五圆钱的一张汇票。我囊里正是将空的时候，有了这五圆钱，非但月底要预付的来月的房金可以无忧，并且付过房金以后，还可以维持几天食料，当时这五圆钱对我的效用的扩大，是谁也能推想得出来的。

第二天午後，我上郵局去取了錢，在太陽曬著的大街上走了一會，忽而覺得身上就淋出了許多汗來。32. The next afternoon I went to the post office to collect the money, and after walking a while along the sun-baked main street, I suddenly felt sweat pouring out all over my body.我向我前後左右的行人一看，復向我自家的身上一看，就不知不覺的把頭低俯了下去。33. I glanced at the passersby around me, in front and behind, to left and right, and then glanced down at my own body, and unconsciously I lowered my head.我頸上頭上的汗珠，更同盛雨似的，一顆一顆的鑽出來了。34. The beads of sweat on my neck and forehead came bursting out one after another, just like a heavy rain.因為當我在深夜遊行的時候，天上並沒有太陽，並且料峭的春寒，於東方微白的殘夜，老在靜寂的街巷中留著，所以我穿的那件破棉袍子，還覺得不十分與節季違異。35. Because when I went wandering late at night, there was of course no sun in the sky, and moreover the biting chill of early spring lingered on in the quiet streets and lanes clear into the faintly whitening dawn, so the tattered cotton-padded robe I wore had not felt terribly out of season.如今到了陽和的春日曬著的這日中，我還不能自覺，依舊穿了這件夜遊的敝袍，在大街上闊步，與前後左右的和節季同時進行的我的同類一比，我哪得不自慚形穢呢？36. But now, in the warm sunshine of this spring noon, I still had not realized it, and was still striding down the main street in that same worn robe meant for night wandering; compared with my fellow men all around me, in front and behind, to left and right, keeping pace with the season, how could I not feel ashamed of my own wretched appearance?我一時竟忘了幾日後不得不付的房金，忘了囊中本來將盡的些微的積聚，便慢慢的走上了閘路的估衣鋪去。37. For a moment I quite forgot the rent I would be forced to pay in a few days, forgot the meager little hoard nearly exhausted in my pocket, and slowly made my way to a secondhand clothing shop on Zha Road.好久不在天日之下行走的我，看看街上來往的汽車人力車，車中坐著的華美的少年男女，和馬路兩邊的綢緞鋪金銀鋪窗裏的豐麗的陳設，聽聽四面的同蜂衙似的嘈雜的人聲，腳步聲，車鈴聲，一時倒也覺得是身到了大羅天上的樣子。38. Having gone so long without walking beneath the open sky, as I watched the cars and rickshaws coming and going on the street, the handsome young men and women seated within them, and the sumptuous displays in the windows of the silk shops and gold-and-silver shops lining the road, and listened to the buzzing, beehive-like clamor of voices, footsteps, and rickshaw bells all around, I felt for a moment as though I had ascended to some heavenly paradise.我忘記了我自家的存在，也想和我的同胞一樣的歡歌欣舞起來，我的嘴里便不知不覺的唱起幾句久忘了的京調來了。39. I forgot my own existence, and wanted, like my fellow men, to sing and dance for joy; unconsciously my mouth began humming a few bars of some long-forgotten Peking opera tune.這一時的涅槃幻境，當我想橫越過馬路，轉入閘路去的時候，忽而被一陣鈴聲驚破了。40. This momentary illusion of nirvana was suddenly shattered by a burst of ringing, just as I was thinking of crossing the street to turn into Zha Road.我抬起頭來一看，我的面前正衝來了一乘無軌電車，車頭上站著的那肥胖的機器手，伏出了半身，怒目的大聲罵我說：41. I raised my head and looked, and right in front of me a trackless trolleybus came bearing down; the stout driver standing at the front leaned his upper body out and, glaring furiously, shouted curses at me:

第二天午后，我上邮局去取了钱，在太阳晒著的大街上走了一会，忽而觉得身上就淋出了许多汗来。我向我前后左右的行人一看，复向我自家的身上一看，就不知不觉的把头低俯了下去。我颈上头上的汗珠，更同盛雨似的，一颗一颗的钻出来了。因为当我在深夜游行的时候，天上并没有太阳，并且料峭的春寒，于东方微白的残夜，老在静寂的街巷中留著，所以我穿的那件破棉袍子，还觉得不十分与节季违异。如今到了阳和的春日晒著的这日中，我还不能自觉，依旧穿了这件夜游的敝袍，在大街上阔步，与前后左右的和节季同时进行的我的同类一比，我哪得不自惭形秽呢？我一时竟忘了几日后不得不付的房金，忘了囊中本来将尽的些微的积聚，便慢慢的走上了闸路的估衣铺去。好久不在天日之下行走的我，看看街上来往的汽车人力车，车中坐著的华美的少年男女，和马路两边的绸缎铺金银铺窗里的丰丽的陈设，听听四面的同蜂衙似的嘈杂的人声，脚步声，车铃声，一时倒也觉得是身到了大罗天上的样子。我忘记了我自家的存在，也想和我的同胞一样的欢歌欣舞起来，我的嘴里便不知不觉的唱起几句久忘了的京调来了。这一时的涅槃幻境，当我想横越过马路，转入闸路去的时候，忽而被一阵铃声惊破了。我抬起头来一看，我的面前正冲来了一乘无轨电车，车头上站著的那肥胖的机器手，伏出了半身，怒目的大声骂我说：

「豬頭三！42. "You pig-headed fool!儂（你）艾（眼）睛勿散（生）咯！43. Are your eyes no good, eh?跌殺時，叫旺（黃）夠（狗）來抵儂（你）命噢！」44. If you get yourself killed, I'll have to fetch a yellow dog to pay for your life!"

「猪头三！侬（你）艾（眼）睛勿散（生）咯！跌杀时，叫旺（黄）够（狗）来抵侬（你）命噢！」

我呆呆的站住了腳，目送那無軌電車尾後捲起了一道灰塵，向北過去之後，不知是從何處發出來的感情，忽而竟禁不住哈哈哈哈的笑了幾聲。45. I stood rooted to the spot in a daze, watching the trackless trolleybus raise a trail of dust behind it as it went off northward, and then, out of some feeling that came from I know not where, I suddenly could not help bursting into a few peals of laughter.等得四面的人注視我的時候，我才紅了臉慢慢的走向了閘路里去。46. Only when I noticed people on all sides staring at me did I, blushing, slowly walk on into Zha Road.

我呆呆的站住了脚，目送那无轨电车尾后卷起了一道灰尘，向北过去之后，不知是从何处发出来的感情，忽而竟禁不住哈哈哈哈的笑了几声。等得四面的人注视我的时候，我才红了脸慢慢的走向了闸路里去。

我在幾家估衣舖裏，問了些夾衫的價線，還了他們一個我所能出的數目，幾個估衣舖的店員，好像是一個師父教出的樣子，都擺下了臉面，嘲弄著說：47. At several secondhand clothing shops I asked the price of a lined jacket, and offered them the sum I could afford; the shop clerks, several of them, as though all trained by the same master, all put on sour faces and mocked me, saying:

我在几家估衣铺里，问了些夹衫的价线，还了他们一个我所能出的数目，几个估衣铺的店员，好像是一个师父教出的样子，都摆下了脸面，嘲弄著说：

「儂（你）尋薩咯（什麼）凱（開心）！48. "What are you looking for, some fun?馬（買）勿起好勿要馬（買）咯！」49. If you can't afford to buy it, don't buy it!"

「侬（你）寻萨咯（什么）凯（开心）！马（买）勿起好勿要马（买）咯！」

一直問到五馬路邊上的一家小舖子裏，我看看夾衫是怎麼也買不成了，才買定了一件竹佈單衫，馬上就把它換上。50. I kept asking all the way to a small shop by Fifth Road, and seeing that there was simply no way I could buy a lined jacket, I finally settled on buying a single bamboo-cloth gown instead, and put it on right away.手裏拿了一包換下的棉袍子，默默的走回家來。51. Carrying in my hand a bundle with the cotton-padded robe I had taken off, I walked home in silence.一邊我心裏卻在打算：52. All the while my mind was busy calculating:

一直问到五马路边上的一家小铺子里，我看看夹衫是怎么也买不成了，才买定了一件竹布单衫，马上就把它换上。手里拿了一包换下的棉袍子，默默的走回家来。一边我心里却在打算：

「橫豎是不夠用了，我索性來痛快的用它一下罷。」同時我又想起了那天二妹送我的麵包香蕉等物。53. "Since it isn't enough to last anyway, I might as well spend it freely and enjoy it for once." At the same time I remembered the bread and bananas and such that Second Sister had given me that day.不等第二次的回想我就尋著了一家賣糖食的店，進去買了一塊錢巧格力香蕉糖雞蛋糕等雜食。54. Without a second thought I sought out a shop selling sweets, went in, and bought a dollar's worth of assorted things—chocolate, banana candy, egg cake, and the like.站在那店裏，等店員在那裏替我包好來的時候，我忽而想起我有一月多不洗澡了，今天不如順便也去洗一個澡罷。55. Standing there in the shop, waiting for the clerk to finish wrapping my purchase, I suddenly remembered that I had not bathed in over a month, and thought I might as well go and take a bath while I was at it.

「横竖是不够用了，我索性来痛快的用它一下罢。」同时我又想起了那天二妹送我的面包香蕉等物。不等第二次的回想我就寻著了一家卖糖食的店，进去买了一块钱巧格力香蕉糖鸡蛋糕等杂食。站在那店里，等店员在那里替我包好来的时候，我忽而想起我有一月多不洗澡了，今天不如顺便也去洗一个澡罢。

洗好了澡，拿了一包棉袍子和一包糖食，回到鄧脫路的時候，馬路兩旁的店家，已經上電燈了。56. By the time I had bathed, and, carrying my bundle of the cotton robe and my bundle of sweets, made my way back to Deng Tuo Road, the shops on both sides of the street had already turned on their electric lamps.街上來往的行人也很稀少，一陣從黃浦江上吹來的日暮的涼風，吹得我打了幾個冷噤。57. There were very few people coming and going on the street, and a gust of the evening's cool wind, blowing in from the Huangpu River, made me shiver several times.我回到了我的房裏，把蠟燭點上。58. I returned to my room and lit the candle.向二妹的房門一照，知道她還沒有回來。59. I shone the light toward Second Sister's door and knew from this that she had not yet come home.那時候我腹中雖則飢餓得很，但我剛買來的那包糖食怎麼也不願意打開來。60. At that time, though my stomach was very hungry indeed, I somehow could not bring myself to open the bag of sweets I had just bought.因為我想等二妹回來同她一道吃。61. Because I meant to wait for Second Sister to come back so we could eat them together.我一邊拿出書來看，一邊口裏盡在咽唾液下去。62. I took out a book to read, all the while swallowing down my own saliva.等了許多時候，二妹終不回來，我的疲倦不知什麼時候出來戰勝了我，就靠在書堆上睡著了。63. After waiting a long while, Second Sister still had not come back; at some point, without my noticing, my weariness got the better of me, and I fell asleep leaning against my pile of books.

洗好了澡，拿了一包棉袍子和一包糖食，回到邓脱路的时候，马路两旁的店家，已经上电灯了。街上来往的行人也很稀少，一阵从黄浦江上吹来的日暮的凉风，吹得我打了几个冷噤。我回到了我的房里，把蜡烛点上。向二妹的房门一照，知道她还没有回来。那时候我腹中虽则饥饿得很，但我刚买来的那包糖食怎么也不愿意打开来。因为我想等二妹回来同她一道吃。我一边拿出书来看，一边口里尽在咽唾液下去。等了许多时候，二妹终不回来，我的疲倦不知什么时候出来战胜了我，就靠在书堆上睡著了。

二妹回來的響動把我驚醒的時候，我見我面前的一枝十二盎司一包的洋蠟燭已經點去了二寸的樣子，我問她是什麼時候了？64. When the sound of Second Sister's return startled me awake, I saw that the twelve-ounce foreign candle in front of me had already burned down about two inches, and I asked her what time it was.她說：65. She said:

二妹回来的响动把我惊醒的时候，我见我面前的一枝十二盎司一包的洋蜡烛已经点去了二寸的样子，我问她是什么时候了？她说：

「十點的汽管剛剛放過。」66. "The ten o'clock steam-whistle just sounded."

「十点的汽管刚刚放过。」

「你何以今天回來得這樣遲？」67. "Why did you come home so late today?"

「你何以今天回来得这样迟？」

「廠裏因為銷路大了，要我們作夜工。68. "At the factory, because business has picked up, they're having us work night shifts.工錢是增加的，不過人太累了。」69. The pay is higher, but it's too tiring."

「厂里因为销路大了，要我们作夜工。工钱是增加的，不过人太累了。」

「那你可以不去做的。」70. "Then you could just not go."

「但是工人不夠，不做是不行的。」71. "But there aren't enough workers—if I don't do it, it won't do."

「但是工人不够，不做是不行的。」

她講到這裏，忽而滾了兩粒眼淚出來，我以為她是作工作得倦了，故而動了傷感，一邊心裏雖在可憐她，但一邊看她這同小孩似的脾氣，卻也感著了些兒快樂。72. Speaking of this, she suddenly let two teardrops roll out; I supposed it was simply that working had made her weary and so stirred up some sad feeling in her—on one hand my heart went out to her in pity, but on the other, seeing this childlike temper of hers, I also felt a certain small pleasure.把糖食包打開，請她吃了幾顆之後，我就勸她說：73. I opened the bag of sweets and, after having her eat a few pieces, I urged her, saying:

她讲到这里，忽而滚了两粒眼泪出来，我以为她是作工作得倦了，故而动了伤感，一边心里虽在可怜她，但一边看她这同小孩似的脾气，却也感著了些儿快乐。把糖食包打开，请她吃了几颗之后，我就劝她说：

「初作夜工的時候不慣，所以覺得困倦，作慣了以後，也沒有什麼的。」74. "When you first start working nights it feels strange, so you feel worn out; once you're used to it, it won't be anything at all."

「初作夜工的时候不惯，所以觉得困倦，作惯了以后，也没有什么的。」

她默默的坐在我的半高的由書疊成的桌上，吃了幾顆巧格力，對我看了幾眼，好像是有話說不出來的樣子。75. She sat silently on my makeshift table of stacked books, ate a few pieces of chocolate, glanced at me a few times, and seemed as though she had something to say but could not get it out.我就催她說：76. So I pressed her, saying:

她默默的坐在我的半高的由书叠成的桌上，吃了几颗巧格力，对我看了几眼，好像是有话说不出来的样子。我就催她说：

「你有什麼話說？」77. "What is it you want to say?"

「你有什么话说？」

她又沉默了一會，便斷斷續續的問我說：78. She fell silent again for a moment, then asked me haltingly:

她又沉默了一会，便断断续续的问我说：

「我……79. "I...我……80. I...早想問你了，這幾天晚上，你每晚在外邊，可在與壞人作夥友麼？」81. I've wanted to ask you for a while now—these past few nights, when you're out every evening, are you keeping company with bad people?"

「我……我……早想问你了，这几天晚上，你每晚在外边，可在与坏人作伙友么？」

我聽了她這話，倒吃了一驚，她好像在疑我天天晚上在外面與小竊惡棍混在一塊。82. Hearing this from her, I was quite taken aback—it seemed she suspected that every night I was out mixing with petty thieves and rogues.她看我呆了不答，便以為我的行為真的被她看破了，所以就柔柔和和的連續著說：83. Seeing me sit stunned and give no answer, she took it that her guess about my conduct had truly hit the mark, and so she went on, gently and softly:

我听了她这话，倒吃了一惊，她好像在疑我天天晚上在外面与小窃恶棍混在一块。她看我呆了不答，便以为我的行为真的被她看破了，所以就柔柔和和的连续著说：

「你何苦要吃這樣好的東西，要穿這樣好的衣服。84. "Why must you insist on eating such fine things, on wearing such fine clothes?你可知道這事情是靠不住的。85. You must know that this sort of business cannot be relied on.萬一被人家捉了去，你還有什麼面目做人。86. If you were ever caught by the authorities, what face would you have left to be a person?過去的事情不必去說它，以後我請你改過了罷。……」87. What's past need not be spoken of—from now on, I beg you to mend your ways..."

「你何苦要吃这样好的东西，要穿这样好的衣服。你可知道这事情是靠不住的。万一被人家捉了去，你还有什么面目做人。过去的事情不必去说它，以后我请你改过了罢。……」

我盡是張大了眼睛張大了嘴呆呆的在看她，因為她的思想太奇怪了，使我無從辯解起。88. I could only stare at her wide-eyed, my mouth hanging open, dumbstruck, for her line of thinking was so bizarre that I had no idea where to even begin explaining myself.她沉默了數秒鐘，又接著說：89. She fell silent for a few seconds, then went on:

我尽是张大了眼睛张大了嘴呆呆的在看她，因为她的思想太奇怪了，使我无从辩解起。她沉默了数秒钟，又接著说：

「就以你吸的煙而論，每天若戒絕了不吸，豈不可省幾個銅子。90. "Take the cigarettes you smoke, for instance—if you quit them entirely, wouldn't you save a good few coppers every day?我早就勸你不要吸煙，尤其是不要吸那我所痛恨的Ｎ工廠的煙，你總是不聽。」91. I've urged you before not to smoke, especially not to smoke those cigarettes from N Factory that I so despise, but you never listen."

「就以你吸的烟而论，每天若戒绝了不吸，岂不可省几个铜子。我早就劝你不要吸烟，尤其是不要吸那我所痛恨的Ｎ工厂的烟，你总是不听。」

她講到了這裏，又忽而落了幾滴眼淚。92. Having said this much, she suddenly let a few more tears fall.我知道這是她為怨恨Ｎ工廠而滴的眼淚，但我的心裏，怎麼也不許我這樣的想，我總要把它們當作因規勸我而灑的。93. I knew perfectly well these were tears shed out of resentment toward N Factory, but my heart, no matter what, would not allow me to think of it that way—I insisted on taking them instead as tears shed for my sake, out of concern to reform me.我靜靜兒的想了一回，等她的神經鎮靜下去之後，就把昨天的那封掛號信的來由說給她聽，又把今天的取錢買物的事情說了一遍。94. I sat quietly thinking it over for a while, and once her feelings had settled down, I told her the whole story of yesterday's registered letter, and then related the business of collecting the money and buying things today.最後更將我的神經衰弱症和每晚何以必要出去散步的原因說了。95. Finally I told her, too, about my nervous exhaustion and the reason I had to go out walking every night.她聽了我這一番辯解，就信用了我，等我說完之後，她頰上忽而起了兩點紅暈，把眼睛低下去看看桌上，好像是怕羞似的說：96. Having heard this whole explanation of mine, she believed me; when I had finished speaking, two spots of red suddenly rose on her cheeks, and lowering her eyes to look down at the table, she said, as though embarrassed:

她讲到了这里，又忽而落了几滴眼泪。我知道这是她为怨恨Ｎ工厂而滴的眼泪，但我的心里，怎么也不许我这样的想，我总要把它们当作因规劝我而洒的。我静静儿的想了一回，等她的神经镇静下去之后，就把昨天的那封挂号信的来由说给她听，又把今天的取钱买物的事情说了一遍。最后更将我的神经衰弱症和每晚何以必要出去散步的原因说了。她听了我这一番辩解，就信用了我，等我说完之后，她颊上忽而起了两点红晕，把眼睛低下去看看桌上，好像是怕羞似的说：

「噢，我錯怪你了，我錯怪你了。97. "Oh, I wrongly blamed you, I wrongly blamed you.請你不要多心，我本來是沒有歹意的。98. Please don't take it to heart—I truly meant no harm.因為你的行為太奇怪了，所以我想到了邪路里去。99. It's only that your behavior seemed so strange that my thoughts wandered onto the wrong path.你若能好好兒的用功，豈不是很好麼？100. If only you could apply yourself properly to your work, wouldn't that be wonderful?你剛才說的那——叫什麼的——東西，能夠賣五塊錢，要是每天能做一個，多麼好呢？」101. That thing you mentioned just now—whatever it's called—that can be sold for five dollars—if you could write one every day, how splendid that would be!"

「噢，我错怪你了，我错怪你了。请你不要多心，我本来是没有歹意的。因为你的行为太奇怪了，所以我想到了邪路里去。你若能好好儿的用功，岂不是很好么？你刚才说的那——叫什么的——东西，能够卖五块钱，要是每天能做一个，多么好呢？」

我看了她這種單純的態度，心裏忽而起了一種不可思議的感情，我想把兩隻手伸出去擁抱她一回，但是我的理性卻命令我說：102. Seeing this simple, guileless manner of hers, a strange, indescribable emotion suddenly welled up in my heart; I wanted to reach out both hands and take her in my arms just once, but my reason commanded me, saying:

我看了她这种单纯的态度，心里忽而起了一种不可思议的感情，我想把两只手伸出去拥抱她一回，但是我的理性却命令我说：

「你莫再作孽了！103. "Don't go committing any more sins!你可知道你現在處的是什麼境遇，你想把這純潔的處女毒殺了麼？104. Do you not know what circumstances you are in right now? Would you poison this pure, innocent girl?惡魔，惡魔，你現在是沒有愛人的資格的呀！」105. Demon, demon—you have no right to love anyone now!"

「你莫再作孽了！你可知道你现在处的是什么境遇，你想把这纯洁的处女毒杀了么？恶魔，恶魔，你现在是没有爱人的资格的呀！」

我當那種感情起來的時候，曾把眼睛閉上了幾秒鐘，等聽了理性的命令以後，我的眼睛又開了開來，我覺得我的周圍，忽而比前幾秒鐘更光明了。106. While that feeling was rising in me, I had closed my eyes for a few seconds; once I had heeded reason's command and opened them again, I felt that my surroundings had, in those few seconds, suddenly grown brighter than before.對她微微的笑了一笑，我就催她說：107. Smiling faintly at her, I urged her on, saying:

我当那种感情起来的时候，曾把眼睛闭上了几秒钟，等听了理性的命令以后，我的眼睛又开了开来，我觉得我的周围，忽而比前几秒钟更光明了。对她微微的笑了一笑，我就催她说：

「夜也深了，你該去睡了吧！108. "It's late now—you'd best go to sleep!明天你還要上工去的呢！109. You still have to go to work tomorrow!我從今天起，就答應你把紙菸戒下來吧。」110. Starting today, I promise you I'll give up cigarettes."

「夜也深了，你该去睡了吧！明天你还要上工去的呢！我从今天起，就答应你把纸烟戒下来吧。」

她聽了我這話，就站了起來，很喜歡的回到她的房裏去睡了。111. Hearing this from me, she stood up, and, quite pleased, went back to her own room to sleep.

她听了我这话，就站了起来，很喜欢的回到她的房里去睡了。

她去之後，我又換上一枝洋蠟燭，靜靜兒的想了許多事情：112. After she had gone, I lit a fresh foreign candle and sat quietly thinking over many things:

她去之后，我又换上一枝洋蜡烛，静静儿的想了许多事情：

「我的勞動的結果，第一次得來的這五塊錢已經用去了三塊了。113. "Of these five dollars, the first fruit of my labor, three have already been spent.連我原有的一塊多錢合起來，付房錢之後，只能省下二三角小洋來，如何是好呢！114. Added to the little over a dollar I already had, after paying the rent I'll only be able to save two or three dimes—whatever shall I do!

「我的劳动的结果，第一次得来的这五块钱已经用去了三块了。连我原有的一块多钱合起来，付房钱之后，只能省下二三角小洋来，如何是好呢！

「就把這破棉袍子去當吧！115. "I'll just pawn this worn cotton robe!但是當舖裏恐怕不要。116. But I'm afraid the pawnshop won't even want it.

「就把这破棉袍子去当吧！但是当铺里恐怕不要。

「這女孩子真是可憐，但我現在的境遇，可是還趕她不上，她是不想做工、而工作要強迫她做，我是想找一點工作，終於找不到。117. "This girl truly is pitiable, but as for my own circumstances now, I'm even worse off than she is—she has no wish to work, yet is forced to work; I wish to find some work, yet in the end can find none at all.就去作筋肉的勞動吧！118. I'll go and do manual labor, then!啊啊，但是我這一雙弱腕，怕吃不下一部黃包車的重力。119. Ah, but I'm afraid these two weak arms of mine couldn't bear the weight of pulling a rickshaw.

「这女孩子真是可怜，但我现在的境遇，可是还赶她不上，她是不想做工、而工作要强迫她做，我是想找一点工作，终于找不到。就去作筋肉的劳动吧！啊啊，但是我这一双弱腕，怕吃不下一部黄包车的重力。

「自殺！120. "Suicide!我有勇氣，早就乾了。If I'd had the courage, I would have drained it long ago.現在還能想到這兩個字，足證我的志氣還沒有完全消磨盡哩！That I can still call these two words to mind now is proof enough that my spirit isn't entirely worn away!

「自杀！我有勇气，早就干了。现在还能想到这两个字，足证我的志气还没有完全消磨尽哩！

「哈哈哈哈！"Hahahaha!今天的那天軌電車的機器手！That tram motorman from today!他罵我什麼來？What was it he cursed me as?

「哈哈哈哈！今天的那天轨电车的机器手！他骂我什么来？

「黃狗，黃狗倒是一個好名詞。"'Yellow dog' — 'yellow dog' is actually a fine word.

「黄狗，黄狗倒是一个好名词。

「………」"………"

我想了許多零亂斷續的思想，終究沒有一個好法子，可以救我出目下的窮狀來。I turned over any number of scattered, disjointed thoughts, but in the end could find no good way to rescue myself from my present poverty.聽見工廠的汽笛，好像在報十二點鐘了，我就站了起來，換上了白天那件破棉袍子，仍復吹熄了蠟燭，走出外面去散步去。Hearing the factory whistle, as if it were sounding twelve o'clock, I got up, put back on the same ragged cotton robe I had worn during the day, blew out the candle once more, and went outside to take a walk.

我想了许多零乱断续的思想，终究没有一个好法子，可以救我出目下的穷状来。听见工厂的汽笛，好像在报十二点钟了，我就站了起来，换上了白天那件破棉袍子，仍复吹熄了蜡烛，走出外面去散步去。

貧民窟裏的人已經睡眠靜了。The people of the slum had already settled into quiet sleep.對面日新里的一排臨鄧脫路的洋樓裏，還有幾家點著了紅綠的電燈，在那裏彈罷拉拉衣加。In the row of Western-style houses across the way, facing Dengtuo Road in Rixin Li, a few households still had red and green electric lamps lit, where someone was strumming a balalaika.一聲二聲清脆的歌音，帶著哀調，從靜寂的深夜的冷空氣里傳到我的耳膜上來，這大約是俄國的飄泊的少女，在那裏賣錢的歌唱。A note or two of clear song, tinged with sorrow, drifted through the cold air of the silent deep night to my eardrums — this, most likely, was some wandering Russian girl singing there for money.天上罩滿了灰白的薄雲，同腐爛的屍體似的沉沉的蓋在那裏。The sky was shrouded in thin, ash-grey clouds, hanging heavily there like a decaying corpse.雲層破處也能看得出一點兩點星來，但星的近處，黝黝看得出來的天色，好像有無限的哀愁蘊藏著的樣子。Where the clouds broke apart, one or two stars could be made out, but near those stars the dark, dusky patch of sky seemed to hold within it a boundless, unspoken sorrow.

贫民窟里的人已经睡眠静了。对面日新里的一排临邓脱路的洋楼里，还有几家点著了红绿的电灯，在那里弹罢拉拉衣加。一声二声清脆的歌音，带著哀调，从静寂的深夜的冷空气里传到我的耳膜上来，这大约是俄国的飘泊的少女，在那里卖钱的歌唱。天上罩满了灰白的薄云，同腐烂的尸体似的沉沉的盖在那里。云层破处也能看得出一点两点星来，但星的近处，黝黝看得出来的天色，好像有无限的哀愁蕴藏著的样子。

1923年7月15日July 15, 1923