狗·猫·鼠 Dogs, Cats and Mice

狗·猫·鼠Dog, Cat, Mouse

從去年起，仿佛聽得有人說我是仇貓的。Since last year, I seem to have heard people saying that I hate cats.那根據自然是在我的那一篇《兔和貓》；The basis for this, naturally, is that essay of mine, "The Rabbit and the Cat";這是自畫招供，當然無話可說，——但倒也毫不介意。this is a confession drawn by my own hand, so of course there is nothing to say against it — but I do not mind in the least.一到今年，我可很有點擔心了。Now that this year has come, though, I have grown rather worried.我是常不免於弄弄筆墨的，寫了下來，印了出去，對於有些人似乎總是搔著癢處的時候少，碰著痛處的時候多。I can seldom help dabbling with pen and ink, and once written down and printed, my words seem, for some people, to scratch an itch only rarely and to touch a sore spot most of the time.萬一不謹，甚而至於得罪了名人或名教授，或者更甚而至於得罪了“負有指導青年責任的前輩”之流，可就危險已極。Should I be careless for even a moment, and go so far as to offend some celebrity or eminent professor, or worse still, offend one of those "elders charged with the responsibility of guiding youth," then the danger becomes extreme indeed.為什麽呢？Why is that?因為這些大腳色是“不好惹”的。Because these great personages are "not to be trifled with."怎地“不好惹”呢？How so, "not to be trifled with"?就是怕要渾身發熱之後，做一封信登在報紙上，廣告道：“看哪！Simply that, after working themselves into a fever, they are apt to write a letter and have it published in the newspaper, proclaiming: "Look here!狗不是仇貓的麽？Isn't the dog supposed to hate the cat?魯迅先生卻自己承認是仇貓的，而他還說要打‘落水狗’！”這“邏輯”的奧義，即在用我的話，來證明我倒是狗，於是而凡有言說，全都根本推翻，即使我說二二得四，三三見九，也沒有一字不錯。Yet Mr. Lu Xun himself admits to hating cats, and he even says one should beat 'dogs that have fallen into the water'!" The hidden mystery of this "logic" lies precisely in using my own words to prove that I am in fact a dog, whereupon everything I say is utterly overturned — even if I said two times two is four, three times three is nine, there would not be a single word not wrong.這些既然都錯，則紳士口頭的二二得七，三三見千等等，自然就不錯了。Since all this is wrong, then the gentlemen's own pronouncements that two times two is seven, three times three is a thousand, and so on, are naturally not wrong at all.

从去年起，仿佛听得有人说我是仇猫的。那根据自然是在我的那一篇《兔和猫》；这是自画招供，当然无话可说，——但倒也毫不介意。一到今年，我可很有点担心了。我是常不免于弄弄笔墨的，写了下来，印了出去，对于有些人似乎总是搔著痒处的时候少，碰著痛处的时候多。万一不谨，甚而至于得罪了名人或名教授，或者更甚而至于得罪了“负有指导青年责任的前辈”之流，可就危险已极。为什么呢？因为这些大脚色是“不好惹”的。怎地“不好惹”呢？就是怕要浑身发热之后，做一封信登在报纸上，广告道：“看哪！狗不是仇猫的么？鲁迅先生却自己承认是仇猫的，而他还说要打‘落水狗’！”这“逻辑”的奥义，即在用我的话，来证明我倒是狗，于是而凡有言说，全都根本推翻，即使我说二二得四，三三见九，也没有一字不错。这些既然都错，则绅士口头的二二得七，三三见千等等，自然就不错了。

我於是就間或留心著查考它們成仇的“動機”。So from time to time I took care to look into the "motive" behind their becoming enemies.這也並非敢妄學現下的學者以動機來褒貶作品的那些時髦，不過想給自己預先洗刷洗刷。This is not that I would presume to ape the fashion of present-day scholars who judge a work by its motive; I merely wished to clear myself in advance.據我想，這在動物心理學家，是用不著費什麽力氣的，可惜我沒有這學問。As I see it, this would cost an animal psychologist no effort at all — it is a pity I have no such learning.後來，在覃哈特博士（Dr.O.Dähmhardt）的《自然史底國民童話》裏，總算發見了那原因了。Later, in Dr. O. Dähmhardt's Natural History of National Folk Tales, I finally discovered the reason.據說，是這麽一回事：動物們因為要商議要事，開了一個會議，鳥、魚、獸都齊集了，單是缺了象。According to the story, it happened like this: the animals, needing to discuss some important matter, held a meeting; the birds, fishes, and beasts all gathered together, only the elephant was missing.大家議定，派夥計去迎接它，拈到了當這差使的鬮的就是狗。“我怎麽找到那象呢？It was decided that someone should be sent to fetch him, and the one who drew the lot for this errand was the dog. "How am I to find this elephant?我沒有見過它，也和它不認識。”它問。“那容易，”大眾說，“它是駝背的。”狗去了，遇見一匹貓，立刻弓起脊梁來，它便招待，同行，將弓著脊梁的貓介紹給大家道：“象在這裏！”但是大家都嗤笑它了。I have never seen him, nor am I acquainted with him," it asked. "That's easy," the crowd said, "he has a hump on his back." The dog set off, and met a cat, who at once arched her spine; whereupon the dog welcomed her, walked along together with her, and introduced the arch-backed cat to everyone, saying: "Here is the elephant!" But everyone jeered at it.從此以後，狗和貓便成了仇家。From that time on, the dog and the cat became enemies.

我于是就间或留心著查考它们成仇的“动机”。这也并非敢妄学现下的学者以动机来褒贬作品的那些时髦，不过想给自己预先洗刷洗刷。据我想，这在动物心理学家，是用不著费什么力气的，可惜我没有这学问。后来，在覃哈特博士（Dr.O.Dähmhardt）的《自然史底国民童话》里，总算发见了那原因了。据说，是这么一回事：动物们因为要商议要事，开了一个会议，鸟、鱼、兽都齐集了，单是缺了象。大家议定，派伙计去迎接它，拈到了当这差使的阄的就是狗。“我怎么找到那象呢？我没有见过它，也和它不认识。”它问。“那容易，”大众说，“它是驼背的。”狗去了，遇见一匹猫，立刻弓起脊梁来，它便招待，同行，将弓著脊梁的猫介绍给大家道：“象在这里！”但是大家都嗤笑它了。从此以后，狗和猫便成了仇家。

日爾曼人走出森林雖然還不很久，學術文藝卻已經很可觀，便是書籍的裝潢，玩具的工致，也無不令人心愛。Although it has not been very long since the Germanic peoples emerged from the forests, their scholarship and arts are already quite considerable — even the binding of their books and the fine workmanship of their toys are without exception delightful.獨有這一篇童話卻實在不漂亮；This one folk tale alone, however, is truly not a fine piece of work;結怨也結得沒有意思。and the grudge formed in it is a rather pointless one.貓的弓起脊梁，並不是希圖冒充，故意擺架子的，其咎卻在狗的自己沒眼力。The cat's arching of her spine was not done in hopes of passing herself off as the elephant, nor to put on airs deliberately — the fault lay in the dog's own lack of discernment.然而原因也總可以算作一個原因。Still, a reason may after all count as a reason.我的仇貓，是和這大大兩樣的。My own hatred of cats is quite different from this.

日尔曼人走出森林虽然还不很久，学术文艺却已经很可观，便是书籍的装潢，玩具的工致，也无不令人心爱。独有这一篇童话却实在不漂亮；结怨也结得没有意思。猫的弓起脊梁，并不是希图冒充，故意摆架子的，其咎却在狗的自己没眼力。然而原因也总可以算作一个原因。我的仇猫，是和这大大两样的。

其實人禽之辨，本不必這樣嚴。In truth, the distinction between man and beast need not be drawn so strictly.在動物界，雖然並不如古人所幻想的那樣舒適自由，可是嚕囌做作的事總比人間少。In the animal kingdom, though it is not as comfortable and free as the ancients imagined, there is at any rate far less tedious pretense than in the human world.它們適性任情，對就對，錯就錯，不說一句分辯話。Animals follow their nature and give free rein to their feelings; right is right, wrong is wrong, and they never utter a word in self-justification.蟲蛆也許是不乾淨的，但它們並沒有自鳴清高；Maggots may be unclean, but they never proclaim themselves noble and pure;鷙禽猛獸以較弱的動物為餌，不妨說是兇殘的罷，但它們從來就沒有豎過“公理”“正義”的旗子，使犧牲者直到被吃的時候為止，還是一味佩服贊嘆它們。birds of prey and fierce beasts feed on weaker animals — one might well call this cruel — yet they have never once raised the banner of "justice" or "righteousness," so that their victims, right up to the moment of being devoured, go on admiring and praising them all the same.人呢，能直立了，自然是一大進步；As for man — that he learned to stand upright was, of course, a great advance;能說話了，自然又是一大進步；that he learned to speak was, of course, another great advance;能寫字作文了，自然又是一大進步。that he learned to write and compose was, of course, yet another great advance.然而也就墮落，因為那時也開始了說空話。But this was also a fall, for it was then that empty talk began as well.說空話尚無不可，甚至於連自己也不知道說著違心之論，則對於只能嗥叫的動物，實在免不得“顏厚有忸怩”。Empty talk in itself might still be forgivable, but when one no longer even knows that one is speaking against one's own convictions, then compared with the animals that can only howl, one cannot help but feel, despite one's thick skin, a certain shame.假使真有一位一視同仁的造物主，高高在上，那麽，對於人類的這些小聰明，也許倒以為多事，正如我們在萬生園裏，看見猴子翻筋鬥，母象請安，雖然往往破顏一笑，但同時也覺得不舒服，甚至於感到悲哀，以為這些多余的聰明，倒不如沒有的好罷。Supposing there really is a Creator up on high who regards all creatures with equal impartiality, then he would probably consider these little cleverness of mankind's a needless bother — just as we, at the zoo, watching a monkey turn somersaults or a mother elephant kneel in salutation, often break into a smile, yet at the same time feel a certain unease, even a certain sadness, thinking that such superfluous cleverness were better not there at all.然而，既經為人，便也只好“黨同伐異”，學著人們的說話，隨俗來談一談，——辯一辯了。And yet, having already become a man, one has no choice but to "side with one's own kind and attack the other," to learn the way people talk, and to fall in with custom by discussing the matter — and even arguing it out.

其实人禽之辨，本不必这样严。在动物界，虽然并不如古人所幻想的那样舒适自由，可是噜苏做作的事总比人间少。它们适性任情，对就对，错就错，不说一句分辩话。虫蛆也许是不干净的，但它们并没有自鸣清高；鸷禽猛兽以较弱的动物为饵，不妨说是凶残的罢，但它们从来就没有竖过“公理”“正义”的旗子，使牺牲者直到被吃的时候为止，还是一味佩服赞叹它们。人呢，能直立了，自然是一大进步；能说话了，自然又是一大进步；能写字作文了，自然又是一大进步。然而也就堕落，因为那时也开始了说空话。说空话尚无不可，甚至于连自己也不知道说著违心之论，则对于只能嗥叫的动物，实在免不得“颜厚有忸怩”。假使真有一位一视同仁的造物主，高高在上，那么，对于人类的这些小聪明，也许倒以为多事，正如我们在万生园里，看见猴子翻筋斗，母象请安，虽然往往破颜一笑，但同时也觉得不舒服，甚至于感到悲哀，以为这些多余的聪明，倒不如没有的好罢。然而，既经为人，便也只好“党同伐异”，学著人们的说话，随俗来谈一谈，——辩一辩了。

現在說起我仇貓的原因來，自己覺得是理由充足，而且光明正大的。Now, speaking of the reasons for my hatred of cats, I myself feel they are ample and perfectly aboveboard.一、它的性情就和別的猛獸不同，凡捕食雀、鼠，總不肯一口咬死，定要盡情玩弄，放走，又捉住，捉住，又放走，直待自己玩厭了，這才吃下去，頗與人們的幸災樂禍，慢慢地折磨弱者的壞脾氣相同。First, its temperament differs from that of other beasts of prey: whenever it catches a sparrow or a mouse, it will never bite it dead outright, but must toy with it to its heart's content — letting it go, then catching it again, catching it, then letting it go again — and only once it has tired of the sport does it finally eat its prey; this is very much like that bad habit in people of gloating over others' misfortune, of slowly tormenting the weak.二、它不是和獅虎同族的麽？Second, is it not of the same family as the lion and the tiger?可是有這麽一副媚態！And yet it wears such a fawning, ingratiating air!但這也許是限於天分之故罷，假使它的身材比現在大十倍，那就真不知道它所取的是怎麽一種態度。But perhaps this is merely a limitation of its natural endowment; were its body ten times its present size, one truly cannot say what manner of attitude it would then assume.然而，這些口實，仿佛又是現在提起筆來的時候添出來的，雖然也像是當時湧上心來的理由。And yet these pretexts seem, after all, to be ones I have added now, at the moment of taking up my pen, although they do also seem like reasons that welled up in my mind at the time.要說得可靠一點，或者倒不如說不過因為它們配合時候的嗥叫，手續竟有這麽繁重，鬧得別人心煩，尤其是夜間要看書，睡覺的時候。To put it more reliably, it might be better to say it was simply because their yowling when mating involves so elaborate and drawn-out a procedure, vexing everyone around them, especially at night, when one wants to read or to sleep.當這些時候，我便要用長竹竿去攻擊它們。At such times, I would take up a long bamboo pole and attack them.狗們在大道上配合時，常有閑漢拿了木棍痛打；When dogs mate on the highway, idlers often take up wooden clubs and give them a sound beating;我曾見大勃呂該爾（P.Bruegel d.Ä）的一張銅版畫Allegorie der Wollust上，也畫著這回事，可見這樣的舉動，是中外古今一致的。I have also seen this very scene depicted in an engraving by the elder Pieter Bruegel (P. Bruegel d.Ä.), Allegorie der Wollust, which shows that such conduct is the same in every land and age, past and present.自從那執拗的奧國學者弗羅特（S.Freud）提倡了精神分析說——Psychoanalysis，聽說章士釗先生是譯作“心解”的，雖然簡古，可是實在難解得很——以來，我們的名人名教授也頗有隱隱約約，檢來應用的了，這些事便不免又要歸宿到性欲上去。Ever since that obstinate Austrian scholar S. Freud advocated the theory of psychoanalysis — which I hear Mr. Zhang Shizhao translated as "xinjie" (心解), a rendering simple and archaic, yet truly rather hard to fathom — our own celebrities and eminent professors have taken to picking it up, vaguely and half-formed, and applying it here and there, so that such matters as these are now inevitably traced back once more to sexual desire.打狗的事我不管，至於我的打貓，卻只因為它們嚷嚷，此外並無惡意，我自信我的嫉妒心還沒有這麽博大，當現下“動輒獲咎”之秋，這是不可不預先聲明的。The beating of dogs is none of my concern; as for my own beating of cats, it is simply because of their caterwauling, and nothing more — I have no other ill will. I am confident that my capacity for jealousy is not yet so vast and all-embracing, and in these days when "the slightest move brings blame," this is a point I cannot fail to state in advance.例如人們當配合之前，也很有些手續，新的是寫情書，少則一束，多則一捆；For instance, before people themselves pair off, they too go through a good many procedures: the modern way is to write love letters, at the least a bundle of them, at the most a whole armful;舊的是什麽“問名”“納采”，磕頭作揖，去年海昌蔣氏在北京舉行婚禮，拜來拜去，就十足拜了三天，還印有一本紅面子的《婚禮節文》，《序論》裏大發議論道：“平心論之，既名為禮，當必繁重。the old way involves such things as "inquiring the name" and "presenting betrothal gifts," kowtowing and bowing with folded hands — last year, when the Jiang family of Haichang held a wedding in Beijing, the bowing back and forth went on for a full three days, and they even had printed a red-covered pamphlet, Wedding Ceremony Rites, in whose preface it held forth at length, saying: "Speaking dispassionately, since it is called a rite, it must of necessity be elaborate.專圖簡易，何用禮為？……To aim only at simplicity — what need would there then be for rites at all? . . .然則世之有志於禮者，可以興矣！Thus let those in the world who are minded toward ritual propriety take heart and rise to the occasion!不可退居於禮所不下之庶人矣！”然而我毫不生氣，這是因為無須我到場；They must not retreat into the ranks of the common people, to whom ritual does not condescend!" And yet I felt not the slightest anger at this, and that is because I was not required to attend in person;因此也可見我的仇貓，理由實在簡簡單單，只為了它們在我的耳朵邊盡嚷的緣故。and from this too one can see that my hatred of cats has, in truth, the simplest of reasons — merely that they will not stop caterwauling in my ears.人們的各種禮式，局外人可以不見不聞，我就滿不管，但如果當我正要看書或睡覺的時候，有人來勒令朗誦情書，奉陪作揖，那是為自衛起見，還要用長竹竿來抵禦的。The various rites of human beings, an outsider may neither see nor hear, and so I pay them no mind at all; but if, just as I am about to read or to sleep, someone should force me to recite love letters aloud or to keep them company in bowing and scraping, then, for the sake of self-defense, I would still have to fend them off with a long bamboo pole.還有，平素不大交往的人，忽而寄給我一個紅帖子，上面印著“為舍妹出閣”，“小兒完姻”，“敬請觀禮”或“闔第光臨”這些含有“陰險的暗示”的句子，使我不化錢便總覺得有些過意不去的，我也不十分高興。Then too, when someone with whom I have little ordinary contact suddenly sends me a red invitation card printed with such phrases as "On the marrying-out of my younger sister," "On the marriage of my young son," "Respectfully requesting your presence at the ceremony," or "The whole household's honored attendance is requested" — phrases containing a certain "sinister hint" — so that unless I spend some money I always feel somewhat uneasy about it, I am not terribly pleased either.

现在说起我仇猫的原因来，自己觉得是理由充足，而且光明正大的。一、它的性情就和别的猛兽不同，凡捕食雀、鼠，总不肯一口咬死，定要尽情玩弄，放走，又捉住，捉住，又放走，直待自己玩厌了，这才吃下去，颇与人们的幸灾乐祸，慢慢地折磨弱者的坏脾气相同。二、它不是和狮虎同族的么？可是有这么一副媚态！但这也许是限于天分之故罢，假使它的身材比现在大十倍，那就真不知道它所取的是怎么一种态度。然而，这些口实，仿佛又是现在提起笔来的时候添出来的，虽然也像是当时涌上心来的理由。要说得可靠一点，或者倒不如说不过因为它们配合时候的嗥叫，手续竟有这么繁重，闹得别人心烦，尤其是夜间要看书，睡觉的时候。当这些时候，我便要用长竹竿去攻击它们。狗们在大道上配合时，常有闲汉拿了木棍痛打；我曾见大勃吕该尔（P.Bruegel d.Ä）的一张铜版画Allegorie der Wollust上，也画著这回事，可见这样的举动，是中外古今一致的。自从那执拗的奥国学者弗罗特（S.Freud）提倡了精神分析说——Psychoanalysis，听说章士钊先生是译作“心解”的，虽然简古，可是实在难解得很——以来，我们的名人名教授也颇有隐隐约约，检来应用的了，这些事便不免又要归宿到性欲上去。打狗的事我不管，至于我的打猫，却只因为它们嚷嚷，此外并无恶意，我自信我的嫉妒心还没有这么博大，当现下“动辄获咎”之秋，这是不可不预先声明的。例如人们当配合之前，也很有些手续，新的是写情书，少则一束，多则一捆；旧的是什么“问名”“纳采”，磕头作揖，去年海昌蒋氏在北京举行婚礼，拜来拜去，就十足拜了三天，还印有一本红面子的《婚礼节文》，《序论》里大发议论道：“平心论之，既名为礼，当必繁重。专图简易，何用礼为？……然则世之有志于礼者，可以兴矣！不可退居于礼所不下之庶人矣！”然而我毫不生气，这是因为无须我到场；因此也可见我的仇猫，理由实在简简单单，只为了它们在我的耳朵边尽嚷的缘故。人们的各种礼式，局外人可以不见不闻，我就满不管，但如果当我正要看书或睡觉的时候，有人来勒令朗诵情书，奉陪作揖，那是为自卫起见，还要用长竹竿来抵御的。还有，平素不大交往的人，忽而寄给我一个红帖子，上面印著“为舍妹出阁”，“小儿完姻”，“敬请观礼”或“阖第光临”这些含有“阴险的暗示”的句子，使我不化钱便总觉得有些过意不去的，我也不十分高兴。

但是，這都是近時的話。But all this concerns only recent times.再一回憶，我的仇貓卻遠在能夠說出這些理由之前，也許是還在十歲上下的時候了。Looking back further still, my hatred of cats in fact goes back to long before I could put any of these reasons into words — perhaps to when I was around ten years old.至今還分明記得，那原因是極其簡單的：只因為它吃老鼠，——吃了我飼養著的可愛的小小的隱鼠。To this day I still remember clearly that the reason then was extremely simple: only because it ate mice — it ate the dear little pet mouse I had been raising.

但是，这都是近时的话。再一回忆，我的仇猫却远在能够说出这些理由之前，也许是还在十岁上下的时候了。至今还分明记得，那原因是极其简单的：只因为它吃老鼠，——吃了我饲养著的可爱的小小的隐鼠。

聽說西洋是不很喜歡黑貓的，不知道可確；I have heard that in the West people do not much care for black cats, though I do not know if this is true;但Edgar Allan Poe的小說裏的黑貓，卻實在有點駭人。but the black cat in Edgar Allan Poe's story is indeed rather frightening.日本的貓善於成精，傳說中的“貓婆”，那食人的慘酷確是更可怕。Japanese cats are said to be adept at turning into spirits; the "cat-crone" of legend, with the cruelty of her man-eating, is indeed still more terrifying.中國古時候雖然曾有“貓鬼”，近來卻很少聽到貓的興妖作怪，似乎古法已經失傳，老實起來了。In ancient China, too, there were once tales of "cat-demons," but of late one seldom hears of cats stirring up devilry — it seems the old arts have been lost, and they have grown honest.只是我在童年，總覺得它有點妖氣，沒有什麽好感。Only, in my childhood, I always felt there was something uncanny about it, and had no great fondness for it.那是一個我的幼時的夏夜，我躺在一株大桂樹下的小板桌上乘涼，祖母搖著芭蕉扇坐在桌旁，給我猜謎，講故事。It was on a summer night of my early childhood: I lay on a small wooden table beneath a great cassia tree, cooling myself, while my grandmother sat beside the table fanning herself with a plantain-leaf fan, giving me riddles to guess and telling me stories.忽然，桂樹上沙沙地有趾爪的爬搔聲，一對閃閃的眼睛在暗中隨聲而下，使我吃驚，也將祖母講著的話打斷，另講貓的故事了——Suddenly, from the cassia tree came the rustling scratch of claws climbing, and a pair of gleaming eyes descended in the dark along with the sound, startling me and breaking off the story my grandmother was telling, so that she began another one, about a cat instead—

听说西洋是不很喜欢黑猫的，不知道可确；但Edgar Allan Poe的小说里的黑猫，却实在有点骇人。日本的猫善于成精，传说中的“猫婆”，那食人的惨酷确是更可怕。中国古时候虽然曾有“猫鬼”，近来却很少听到猫的兴妖作怪，似乎古法已经失传，老实起来了。只是我在童年，总觉得它有点妖气，没有什么好感。那是一个我的幼时的夏夜，我躺在一株大桂树下的小板桌上乘凉，祖母摇著芭蕉扇坐在桌旁，给我猜谜，讲故事。忽然，桂树上沙沙地有趾爪的爬搔声，一对闪闪的眼睛在暗中随声而下，使我吃惊，也将祖母讲著的话打断，另讲猫的故事了——

“你知道麽？"Do you know?貓是老虎的先生。”她說。“小孩子怎麽會知道呢，貓是老虎的師父。The cat is the tiger's teacher," she said. "How would a child know this — the cat is the tiger's master.老虎本來是什麽也不會的，就投到貓的門下來。The tiger originally knew nothing at all, and so came to the cat's door to become his pupil.貓就教給它撲的方法，捉的方法，吃的方法，像自己的捉老鼠一樣。The cat taught him the method of pouncing, the method of catching, the method of eating, just as she herself catches mice.這些教完了；Once all this had been taught,老虎想，本領都學到了，誰也比不過它了，只有老師的貓還比自己強，要是殺掉貓，自己便是最強的腳色了。the tiger thought to himself: now that I have learned all these skills, no one can match me — only my teacher the cat is still stronger than I am; if I kill the cat, then I alone will be the strongest of all.它打定主意，就上前去撲貓。Having made up his mind, he went forward to pounce on the cat.貓是早知道它的來意的，一跳，便上了樹，老虎卻只能眼睜睜地在樹下蹲著。But the cat had long known his intentions, and with one leap sprang up into a tree, while the tiger could only crouch beneath it, watching helplessly.它還沒有將一切本領傳授完，還沒有教給它上樹。”She had not yet finished passing on all her skills to him — she had not yet taught him to climb trees."

“你知道么？猫是老虎的先生。”她说。“小孩子怎么会知道呢，猫是老虎的师父。老虎本来是什么也不会的，就投到猫的门下来。猫就教给它扑的方法，捉的方法，吃的方法，像自己的捉老鼠一样。这些教完了；老虎想，本领都学到了，谁也比不过它了，只有老师的猫还比自己强，要是杀掉猫，自己便是最强的脚色了。它打定主意，就上前去扑猫。猫是早知道它的来意的，一跳，便上了树，老虎却只能眼睁睁地在树下蹲著。它还没有将一切本领传授完，还没有教给它上树。”

這是僥幸的，我想，幸而老虎很性急，否則從桂樹上就會爬下一匹老虎來。This was a stroke of luck, I thought — luckily the tiger was so impatient, or else a tiger might have come climbing down out of the cassia tree.然而究竟很怕人，我要進屋子裏睡覺去了。Still, it was frightening enough after all, and I wanted to go indoors to sleep.夜色更加黯然；The night grew darker still;桂葉瑟瑟地作響，微風也吹動了，想來草席定已微涼，躺著也不至於煩得翻來覆去了。the cassia leaves rustled softly, and a faint breeze stirred as well — I imagined the sleeping-mat must already have turned pleasantly cool, so that lying on it I would not be tossing and turning in discomfort.

这是侥幸的，我想，幸而老虎很性急，否则从桂树上就会爬下一匹老虎来。然而究竟很怕人，我要进屋子里睡觉去了。夜色更加黯然；桂叶瑟瑟地作响，微风也吹动了，想来草席定已微凉，躺著也不至于烦得翻来覆去了。

幾百年的老屋中的豆油燈的微光下，是老鼠跳梁的世界，飄忽地走著，吱吱地叫著，那態度往往比“名人名教授”還軒昂。In the faint light of the bean-oil lamp inside that house several hundred years old, it was a world in which the mice ran riot, scurrying about elusively, squeaking away, their manner often more high-and-mighty than that of any "celebrity or eminent professor."貓是飼養著的，然而吃飯不管事。A cat was kept in the house, but when it came to eating, she took no notice of them.祖母她們雖然常恨鼠子們嚙破了箱櫃，偷吃了東西，我卻以為這也算不得什麽大罪，也和我不相干，況且這類壞事大概是大個子的老鼠做的，決不能誣陷到我所愛的小鼠身上去。Though my grandmother and the others often resented the mice for gnawing through chests and cupboards and stealing food, I did not think this so very great a crime, nor did it concern me in any case; besides, such misdeeds were surely the work of the big rats, and could certainly not be pinned unjustly on the little mice that I loved.這類小鼠大抵在地上走動，只有拇指那麽大，也不很畏懼人，我們那裏叫它“隱鼠”，與專住在屋上的偉大者是兩種。These little mice generally moved about on the ground, no bigger than a thumb, and were not very afraid of people; where I come from they are called "hidden mice," a different kind altogether from those great creatures that dwell exclusively up in the rafters.我的床前就帖著兩張花紙，一是“八戒招贅”，滿紙長嘴大耳，我以為不甚雅觀；Pasted up before my bed were two colored prints: one showed "Bajie Taking a Bride," the whole sheet covered with his long snout and big ears, which I thought none too elegant a sight;別的一張“老鼠成親”卻可愛，自新郎、新婦以至儐相、賓客、執事，沒有一個不是尖腮細腿，像煞讀書人的，但穿的都是紅衫綠褲。the other, "The Mice's Wedding," was charming — from the bridegroom and bride down to the groomsmen, guests, and attendants, every single one had a pointed jaw and slender legs, looking exactly like scholars, though all of them were dressed in red jackets and green trousers.我想，能舉辦這樣大儀式的，一定只有我所喜歡的那些隱鼠。I thought that only those hidden mice I was so fond of could possibly hold so grand a ceremony as this.現在是粗俗了，在路上遇見人類的迎娶儀仗，也不過當作性交的廣告看，不甚留心；Now I have grown coarse: when I meet a human wedding procession on the road, I regard it as no more than an advertisement for sexual intercourse, and pay it little heed;但那時的想看“老鼠成親”的儀式，卻極其神往，即使像海昌蔣氏似的連拜三夜，怕也未必會看得心煩。but in those days, my longing to watch the ceremony of "The Mice's Wedding" was utterly rapt — even had it gone on, like the Jiang family of Haichang, with bowing for three whole nights running, I doubt I would ever have grown weary of watching.正月十四的夜，是我不肯輕易便睡，等候它們的儀仗從床下出來的夜。On the night of the fourteenth of the first month, I refused to go to sleep readily, but waited for their wedding procession to come out from beneath the bed.然而仍然只看見幾個光著身子的隱鼠在地面遊行，不像正在辦著喜事。Yet all I ever saw was a few bare little hidden mice roaming about on the floor, looking nothing at all like they were in the midst of a wedding celebration.直到我熬不住了，怏怏睡去，一睜眼卻已經天明，到了燈節了。Not until I could hold out no longer did I drift off to sleep, disappointed, and when I opened my eyes again it was already dawn — the Lantern Festival had arrived.也許鼠族的婚儀，不但不分請帖，來收羅賀禮，雖是真的“觀禮”，也絕對不歡迎的罷，我想，這是它們向來的習慣，無法抗議的。Perhaps, I thought, the wedding rites of the mouse clan not only do not send out invitations to gather wedding gifts, but would absolutely not welcome even a genuine spectator at the ceremony — this, I supposed, was simply their custom of long standing, against which there was no use protesting.

几百年的老屋中的豆油灯的微光下，是老鼠跳梁的世界，飘忽地走著，吱吱地叫著，那态度往往比“名人名教授”还轩昂。猫是饲养著的，然而吃饭不管事。祖母她们虽然常恨鼠子们啮破了箱柜，偷吃了东西，我却以为这也算不得什么大罪，也和我不相干，况且这类坏事大概是大个子的老鼠做的，决不能诬陷到我所爱的小鼠身上去。这类小鼠大抵在地上走动，只有拇指那么大，也不很畏惧人，我们那里叫它“隐鼠”，与专住在屋上的伟大者是两种。我的床前就帖著两张花纸，一是“八戒招赘”，满纸长嘴大耳，我以为不甚雅观；别的一张“老鼠成亲”却可爱，自新郎、新妇以至傧相、宾客、执事，没有一个不是尖腮细腿，像煞读书人的，但穿的都是红衫绿裤。我想，能举办这样大仪式的，一定只有我所喜欢的那些隐鼠。现在是粗俗了，在路上遇见人类的迎娶仪仗，也不过当作性交的广告看，不甚留心；但那时的想看“老鼠成亲”的仪式，却极其神往，即使像海昌蒋氏似的连拜三夜，怕也未必会看得心烦。正月十四的夜，是我不肯轻易便睡，等候它们的仪仗从床下出来的夜。然而仍然只看见几个光著身子的隐鼠在地面游行，不像正在办著喜事。直到我熬不住了，怏怏睡去，一睁眼却已经天明，到了灯节了。也许鼠族的婚仪，不但不分请帖，来收罗贺礼，虽是真的“观礼”，也绝对不欢迎的罢，我想，这是它们向来的习惯，无法抗议的。

老鼠的大敵其實並不是貓。The mouse's great enemy is, in fact, not the cat at all.春後，你聽到它“咋！After spring comes, when you hear it go "zha!咋咋咋咋！”地叫著，大家稱為“老鼠數銅錢”的，便知道它的可怕的屠伯已經光降了。Zha-zha-zha-zha!" — the sound everyone calls "the mouse counting its coppers" — you know then that its dread executioner has already arrived.這聲音是表現絕望的驚恐的，雖然遇見貓，還不至於這樣叫。This sound expresses a terror utterly without hope; even when a mouse meets a cat, it does not cry out quite like this.貓自然也可怕，但老鼠只要竄進一個小洞去，它也就奈何不得，逃命的機會還很多。The cat is of course fearsome too, but so long as the mouse darts into some small hole, there is nothing she can do about it, and the chances of escaping with its life remain fairly good.獨有那可怕的屠伯——蛇，身體是細長的，圓徑和鼠子差不多，凡鼠子能到的地方，它也能到，追逐的時間也格外長，而且萬難幸免，當“數錢”的時候，大概是已經沒有第二步辦法的了。Only that dreadful executioner — the snake — is different: its body is long and slender, about the same diameter as a mouse's, so that wherever a mouse can go, it too can follow; the chase, moreover, lasts far longer, and escape is all but impossible — by the time the mouse is "counting its coppers," there is in all likelihood no second recourse left to it.

老鼠的大敌其实并不是猫。春后，你听到它“咋！咋咋咋咋！”地叫著，大家称为“老鼠数铜钱”的，便知道它的可怕的屠伯已经光降了。这声音是表现绝望的惊恐的，虽然遇见猫，还不至于这样叫。猫自然也可怕，但老鼠只要窜进一个小洞去，它也就奈何不得，逃命的机会还很多。独有那可怕的屠伯——蛇，身体是细长的，圆径和鼠子差不多，凡鼠子能到的地方，它也能到，追逐的时间也格外长，而且万难幸免，当“数钱”的时候，大概是已经没有第二步办法的了。

有一回，我就聽得一間空屋裏有著這種“數錢”的聲音，推門進去，一條蛇伏在橫梁上，看地上，躺著一匹隱鼠，口角流血，但兩脅還是一起一落的。Once, I heard this very sound of "counting coppers" coming from an empty room; pushing the door open and going in, I found a snake coiled on the crossbeam, and on the floor lay a hidden mouse, blood at the corners of its mouth, though its two flanks were still rising and falling.取來給躺在一個紙盒子裏，大半天，竟醒過來了，漸漸地能夠飲食，行走，到第二日，似乎就復了原，但是不逃走。I picked it up and laid it in a paper box, and after the better part of a day it actually revived, gradually able to eat and drink and to walk about, and by the next day it seemed quite recovered — yet it made no attempt to run away.放在地上，也時時跑到人面前來，而且緣腿而上，一直爬到膝髁。Set down on the ground, it would often run right up to a person, and would even climb up one's leg, all the way to the knee.給放在飯桌上，便檢吃些菜渣，舐舐碗沿；Placed on the dinner table, it would pick out bits of vegetable scraps to eat, and lick around the rims of the bowls;放在我的書桌上，則從容地遊行，看見硯臺便舐吃了研著的墨汁。placed on my desk, it would roam about at its leisure, and upon spotting the inkstone, would lick up the ink that had been ground there.這使我非常驚喜了。This delighted and astonished me greatly.我聽父親說過的，中國有一種墨猴，只有拇指一般大，全身的毛是漆黑而且發亮的。I had heard my father say that in China there is a kind of "ink monkey," no bigger than a thumb, its whole body covered in fur as black and glossy as lacquer.它睡在筆筒裏，一聽到磨墨，便跳出來，等著，等到人寫完字，套上筆，就舔盡了硯上的余墨，仍舊跳進筆筒裏去了。It sleeps inside the brush-holder, and the moment it hears ink being ground, it leaps out and waits; once the person has finished writing and capped the brush, it licks up every last drop of ink remaining on the inkstone, then leaps back into the brush-holder once more.我就極願意有這樣的一個墨猴，可是得不到；I longed greatly to have just such an ink monkey of my own, but could never get one;問那裏有，那裏買的呢，誰也不知道。“慰情聊勝無”，這隱鼠總可以算是我的墨猴了罷，雖然它舐吃墨汁，並不一定肯等到我寫完字。and when I asked where one might be found, where one might be bought, no one knew. "A poor comfort is better than none" — this hidden mouse of mine, then, could surely be counted as my ink monkey, even though, when it licked up the ink, it was by no means always willing to wait until I had finished writing.

有一回，我就听得一间空屋里有著这种“数钱”的声音，推门进去，一条蛇伏在横梁上，看地上，躺著一匹隐鼠，口角流血，但两胁还是一起一落的。取来给躺在一个纸盒子里，大半天，竟醒过来了，渐渐地能够饮食，行走，到第二日，似乎就复了原，但是不逃走。放在地上，也时时跑到人面前来，而且缘腿而上，一直爬到膝髁。给放在饭桌上，便检吃些菜渣，舐舐碗沿；放在我的书桌上，则从容地游行，看见砚台便舐吃了研著的墨汁。这使我非常惊喜了。我听父亲说过的，中国有一种墨猴，只有拇指一般大，全身的毛是漆黑而且发亮的。它睡在笔筒里，一听到磨墨，便跳出来，等著，等到人写完字，套上笔，就舔尽了砚上的余墨，仍旧跳进笔筒里去了。我就极愿意有这样的一个墨猴，可是得不到；问那里有，那里买的呢，谁也不知道。“慰情聊胜无”，这隐鼠总可以算是我的墨猴了罢，虽然它舐吃墨汁，并不一定肯等到我写完字。

現在已經記不分明，這樣地大約有一兩月；I can no longer remember clearly, but this went on, I think, for about a month or two;有一天，我忽然感到寂寞了，真所謂“若有所失”。then one day I suddenly felt a sense of loneliness, truly what one might call "as though something were missing."我的隱鼠，是常在眼前遊行的，或桌上，或地上。My hidden mouse had always been roaming about before my eyes, now on the desk, now on the floor.而這一日卻大半天沒有見，大家吃午飯了，也不見它走出來，平時，是一定出現的。But that day, for the better part of it, I had not seen it at all; even when everyone sat down to eat lunch, it did not come out, though ordinarily it was certain to appear.我再等著，再等它一半天，然而仍然沒有見。I waited on, waited for it another half day, but still there was no sign of it.

现在已经记不分明，这样地大约有一两月；有一天，我忽然感到寂寞了，真所谓“若有所失”。我的隐鼠，是常在眼前游行的，或桌上，或地上。而这一日却大半天没有见，大家吃午饭了，也不见它走出来，平时，是一定出现的。我再等著，再等它一半天，然而仍然没有见。

長媽媽，一個一向帶領著我的女工，也許是以為我等得太苦了罷，輕輕地來告訴我一句話。Chang Ma, the woman servant who had always looked after me, perhaps thinking I had waited long enough in such distress, came quietly and told me something.這即刻使我憤怒而且悲哀，決心和貓們為敵。This at once filled me with anger and grief, and I resolved to become the enemy of cats.她說：隱鼠是昨天晚上被貓吃去了！She said: the hidden mouse had been eaten by the cat the night before!

长妈妈，一个一向带领著我的女工，也许是以为我等得太苦了罢，轻轻地来告诉我一句话。这即刻使我愤怒而且悲哀，决心和猫们为敌。她说：隐鼠是昨天晚上被猫吃去了！

當我失掉了所愛的，心中有著空虛時，我要充填以報仇的惡念！When I had lost what I loved, and my heart felt empty, I wanted to fill it with the malicious thought of revenge!

当我失掉了所爱的，心中有著空虚时，我要充填以报仇的恶念！

我的報仇，就從家裏飼養著的一匹花貓起手，逐漸推廣，至於凡所遇見的諸貓。My revenge began with a calico cat kept at home, and gradually spread until it took in every cat I met.最先不過是追趕，襲擊；At first it was no more than chasing and pouncing on them;後來卻愈加巧妙了，能飛石擊中它們的頭，或誘入空屋裏面，打得它垂頭喪氣。but later I grew ever more crafty, able to hit their heads with a flung stone, or lure them into an empty room and beat them until they hung their heads in utter dejection.這作戰繼續得頗長久，此後似乎貓都不來近我了。This campaign went on for quite a long time, and after it the cats seemed no longer to come near me.但對於它們縱使怎樣戰勝，大約也算不得一個英雄；But however completely I triumphed over them, I could hardly count that as heroism;況且中國畢生和貓打仗的人也未必多，所以一切韜略、戰績，還是全部省略了罷。besides, there probably aren't many people in China who spend their whole lives at war with cats, so I had better leave out all the strategy and the record of battles.

我的报仇，就从家里饲养著的一匹花猫起手，逐渐推广，至于凡所遇见的诸猫。最先不过是追赶，袭击；后来却愈加巧妙了，能飞石击中它们的头，或诱入空屋里面，打得它垂头丧气。这作战继续得颇长久，此后似乎猫都不来近我了。但对于它们纵使怎样战胜，大约也算不得一个英雄；况且中国毕生和猫打仗的人也未必多，所以一切韬略、战绩，还是全部省略了罢。

但許多天之後，也許是已經經過了大半年，我竟偶然得到一個意外的消息：那隱鼠其實並非被貓所害，倒是它緣著長媽媽的腿要爬上去，被她一腳踏死了。But many days later—perhaps as much as half a year had already gone by—I happened by chance to receive an unexpected piece of news: the hidden mouse had actually not been harmed by the cat at all; rather, as it was climbing up Chang Mama's leg, she had trodden it to death with one stamp of her foot.

但许多天之后，也许是已经经过了大半年，我竟偶然得到一个意外的消息：那隐鼠其实并非被猫所害，倒是它缘著长妈妈的腿要爬上去，被她一脚踏死了。

這確是先前所沒有料想到的。This was indeed something I had never imagined before.現在我已經記不清當時是怎樣一個感想，但和貓的感情卻終於沒有融和；Now I can no longer clearly recall what I felt at the time, but my feelings toward cats were never reconciled after that;到了北京，還因為它傷害了兔的兒女們，便舊隙夾新嫌，使出更辣的辣手。“仇貓”的話柄，也從此傳揚開來。and once I came to Beijing, because a cat injured the young of my pet rabbits, old grudges joined with new resentment, and I resorted to even crueler measures. The talk of my 'hating cats' spread abroad from that time on.然而在現在，這些早已是過去的事了，我已經改變態度，對貓頗為客氣，倘其萬不得已，則趕走而已，決不打傷它們，更何況殺害。By now, however, all this is long past; I have changed my attitude and am fairly civil to cats—if it is absolutely unavoidable, I merely drive them off, and never beat or injure them, still less kill them.這是我近幾年的進步。This is the progress I have made in recent years.經驗既多，一旦大悟，知道貓的偷魚肉，拖小雞，深夜大叫，人們自然十之九是憎惡的，而這憎惡是在貓身上。With so much experience behind me, I came to a great realization: when a cat steals fish or meat, drags off chicks, or yowls loudly deep in the night, nine people out of ten naturally detest it, and that hatred lands on the cat itself.假如我出而為人們驅除這憎惡，打傷或殺害了它，它便立刻變為可憐，那憎惡倒移在我身上了。But if I step forward to rid people of this object of hatred, and beat or kill it, it at once becomes pitiable, and the hatred shifts instead onto me.所以，目下的辦法，是凡遇貓們搗亂，至於有人討厭時，我便站出去，在門口大聲叱曰：“噓！So my present method is this: whenever the cats are making a racket, and someone is bothered by it, I step outside and shout loudly at the gate, 'Shoo!滾！”小小平靜，即回書房，這樣，就長保著禦侮保家的資格。Get out!' Once a little quiet is restored, I go straight back to my study. In this way I go on permanently holding the credentials of one who repels insult and guards the home.其實這方法，中國的官兵就常在實做的，他們總不肯掃清土匪或撲滅敵人，因為這麽一來，就要不被重視，甚至於因失其用處而被裁汰。Actually, this method is one that China's officers and soldiers often practice too: they are never willing to wipe out the bandits or crush the enemy for good, because doing so would mean no longer being valued, and might even get them disbanded for having lost their usefulness.我想，如果能將這方法推廣應用，我大概也總可望成為所謂“指導青年”的“前輩”的罷，但現下也還未決心實踐，正在研究而且推敲。I think that if I could spread and apply this method more widely, I might well hope to become one of those 'elders' who 'guide the youth'; but for now I have not yet resolved to put it into practice—I am still studying and mulling it over.

这确是先前所没有料想到的。现在我已经记不清当时是怎样一个感想，但和猫的感情却终于没有融和；到了北京，还因为它伤害了兔的儿女们，便旧隙夹新嫌，使出更辣的辣手。“仇猫”的话柄，也从此传扬开来。然而在现在，这些早已是过去的事了，我已经改变态度，对猫颇为客气，倘其万不得已，则赶走而已，决不打伤它们，更何况杀害。这是我近几年的进步。经验既多，一旦大悟，知道猫的偷鱼肉，拖小鸡，深夜大叫，人们自然十之九是憎恶的，而这憎恶是在猫身上。假如我出而为人们驱除这憎恶，打伤或杀害了它，它便立刻变为可怜，那憎恶倒移在我身上了。所以，目下的办法，是凡遇猫们捣乱，至于有人讨厌时，我便站出去，在门口大声叱曰：“嘘！滚！”小小平静，即回书房，这样，就长保著御侮保家的资格。其实这方法，中国的官兵就常在实做的，他们总不肯扫清土匪或扑灭敌人，因为这么一来，就要不被重视，甚至于因失其用处而被裁汰。我想，如果能将这方法推广应用，我大概也总可望成为所谓“指导青年”的“前辈”的罢，但现下也还未决心实践，正在研究而且推敲。

一九二六年二月二十一日。February 21, 1926.