阿長與《山海經》 Ah Chang and the Book of Hills and Seas

長媽媽，已經說過，是一個一向帶領著我的女工，說得闊氣一點，就是我的保姆。Nurse Chang, as already mentioned, was a maidservant who had always looked after me — to put it grandly, she was my nanny.我的母親和許多別的人都這樣稱呼她，似乎略帶些客氣的意思。My mother and many other people called her this, seeming to carry a slight air of politeness.只有祖母叫她阿長。Only my grandmother called her Ah Chang.我平時叫她“阿媽”，連“長”字也不帶；Ordinarily I called her "Amah," without even the word "Chang" attached;但到憎惡她的時候，——例如知道了謀死我那隱鼠的卻是她的時候，就叫她阿長。but when I was disgusted with her — for instance, upon learning that it was she who had schemed to kill my hidden mouse — I called her Ah Chang.

长妈妈，已经说过，是一个一向带领著我的女工，说得阔气一点，就是我的保姆。我的母亲和许多别的人都这样称呼她，似乎略带些客气的意思。只有祖母叫她阿长。我平时叫她“阿妈”，连“长”字也不带；但到憎恶她的时候，——例如知道了谋死我那隐鼠的却是她的时候，就叫她阿长。

我們那裡沒有姓長的；There was no one surnamed Chang where we lived;她生得黃胖而矮，“長”也不是形容詞。she was born sallow, plump, and short, so "Chang" [Long/Tall] was not a description either.又不是她的名字，記得她自己說過，她的名字是叫作什麼姑娘的。Nor was it her name — I remember she once said herself that her name was something-or-other Girl.什麼姑娘，我現在已經忘卻了，總之不是長姑娘；What sort of Girl, I have now forgotten, but at any rate it was not Chang Girl;也終於不知道她姓什麼。and in the end I never learned what her surname was either.記得她也曾告訴過我這個名稱的來歷：先前的先前，我家有一個女工，身材生得很高大，這就是真阿長。I remember she once told me the origin of this name: long before, before that even, my family had a maidservant of very tall, large build, and she was the true Ah Chang.後來她回去了，我那什麼姑娘才來補她的缺，然而大家因為叫慣了，沒有再改口，於是她從此也就成為長媽媽了。Later that woman went back home, and my what's-her-name Girl came to fill her vacancy, but since everyone was used to the name, no one bothered to change it, and so from then on she too became Nurse Chang.

我们那里没有姓长的；她生得黄胖而矮，“长”也不是形容词。又不是她的名字，记得她自己说过，她的名字是叫作什么姑娘的。什么姑娘，我现在已经忘却了，总之不是长姑娘；也终于不知道她姓什么。记得她也曾告诉过我这个名称的来历：先前的先前，我家有一个女工，身材生得很高大，这就是真阿长。后来她回去了，我那什么姑娘才来补她的缺，然而大家因为叫惯了，没有再改口，于是她从此也就成为长妈妈了。

雖然背地裡說人長短不是好事情，但倘使要我說句真心話，我可只得說：我實在不大佩服她。Although speaking of others' faults behind their backs is not a good thing, still, if I am to speak my true feelings, I can only say: I did not in fact think very highly of her.最討厭的是常喜歡切切察察，向人們低聲絮說些什麼事，還豎起第二個手指，在空中上下搖動，或者點著對手或自己的鼻尖。Most annoying was that she often loved to whisper and gossip, murmuring to people about this or that in a low voice, and would even raise her second finger, waving it up and down in the air, or pointing it at the tip of her opponent's nose or her own.我的家裡一有些小風波，不知怎的我總疑心和這“切切察察”有些關係。Whenever there was some small disturbance in our household, somehow I always suspected it had something to do with this "whispering and gossiping."又不許我走動，拔一株草，翻一塊石頭，就說我頑皮，要告訴我的母親去了。Nor would she let me move about freely — if I pulled up a blade of grass or turned over a stone, she would say I was being naughty and threaten to tell my mother.一到夏天，睡覺時她又伸開兩腳兩手，在床中間擺成一個“大”字，擠得我沒有餘地翻身，久睡在一角的席子上，又已經烤得那麼熱。Come summer, when she slept she would fling out her arms and legs, sprawled in the middle of the bed in the shape of the character "big" (大), leaving me no room to turn over, while I, having long lain on my one corner of the mat, found it already baked hot.推她呢，不動；Push her — she would not budge;叫她呢，也不聞。call her — she would not hear.

虽然背地里说人长短不是好事情，但倘使要我说句真心话，我可只得说：我实在不大佩服她。最讨厌的是常喜欢切切察察，向人们低声絮说些什么事，还竖起第二个手指，在空中上下摇动，或者点著对手或自己的鼻尖。我的家里一有些小风波，不知怎的我总疑心和这“切切察察”有些关系。又不许我走动，拔一株草，翻一块石头，就说我顽皮，要告诉我的母亲去了。一到夏天，睡觉时她又伸开两脚两手，在床中间摆成一个“大”字，挤得我没有余地翻身，久睡在一角的席子上，又已经烤得那么热。推她呢，不动；叫她呢，也不闻。

“長媽媽生得那麼胖，一定很怕熱罷？"Nurse Chang is built so plump, she must feel the heat terribly, mustn't she?晚上的睡相，怕不見得很好罷？……”Her sleeping posture at night — I don't suppose it's very good, is it?..."

“长妈妈生得那么胖，一定很怕热罢？晚上的睡相，怕不见得很好罢？……”

母親聽到我多回訴苦之後，曾經這樣地問過她。My mother asked her this once, after I had complained many times.我也知道這意思是要她多給我一些空席。I too understood the point of this was to get her to leave me more room on the mat.她不開口。She said nothing.但到夜裡，我熱得醒來的時候，卻仍然看見滿床擺著一個“大”字，一條臂膊還擱在我的頸子上。But at night, when I woke up hot, I still saw the character "big" sprawled across the whole bed, with one arm still resting on my neck.我想，這實在是無法可想了。I concluded there was really nothing to be done about it.

母亲听到我多回诉苦之后，曾经这样地问过她。我也知道这意思是要她多给我一些空席。她不开口。但到夜里，我热得醒来的时候，却仍然看见满床摆著一个“大”字，一条臂膊还搁在我的颈子上。我想，这实在是无法可想了。

但是她懂得許多規矩；But she did know a great many rules of propriety;這些規矩，也大概是我所不耐煩的。and these rules were, for the most part, ones I found tiresome.一年中最高興的時節，自然要數除夕了。The happiest time of the year was, of course, New Year's Eve.辭歲之後，從長輩得到壓歲錢，紅紙包著，放在枕邊，只要過一宵，便可以隨意使用。After bidding farewell to the old year, one received New Year's money from one's elders, wrapped in red paper and placed by one's pillow; once a single night had passed, one could spend it however one liked.睡在枕上，看著紅包，想到明天買來的小鼓、刀槍、泥人、糖菩薩……。Lying on my pillow, looking at the red packet, I would think of the little drum, the swords and spears, the clay figures, the sugar Buddhas I would buy the next day....然而她進來，又將一個福橘放在床頭了。But then she would come in and place a lucky orange by the head of the bed as well.

但是她懂得许多规矩；这些规矩，也大概是我所不耐烦的。一年中最高兴的时节，自然要数除夕了。辞岁之后，从长辈得到压岁钱，红纸包著，放在枕边，只要过一宵，便可以随意使用。睡在枕上，看著红包，想到明天买来的小鼓、刀枪、泥人、糖菩萨……。然而她进来，又将一个福橘放在床头了。

“哥兒，你牢牢記住！”她極其鄭重地說。“明天是正月初一，清早一睜開眼睛，第一句話就得對我說：‘阿媽，恭喜恭喜！’記得麼？"Young master, remember this well!" she said with the utmost solemnity. "Tomorrow is the first day of the first month. As soon as you open your eyes early in the morning, the very first thing you must say to me is: 'Amah, congratulations, congratulations!' Do you remember?你要記著，這是一年的運氣的事情。You must remember, this concerns the whole year's fortune.不許說別的話！You mustn't say anything else!說過之後，還得吃一點福橘。”她又拿起那橘子來在我的眼前搖了兩搖，“那麼，一年到頭，順順流流……。”After you've said it, you must also eat a bit of the lucky orange." She then picked up the orange again and shook it before my eyes twice, "then, all year round, everything will go smoothly and well...."

“哥儿，你牢牢记住！”她极其郑重地说。“明天是正月初一，清早一睁开眼睛，第一句话就得对我说：‘阿妈，恭喜恭喜！’记得么？你要记著，这是一年的运气的事情。不许说别的话！说过之后，还得吃一点福橘。”她又拿起那橘子来在我的眼前摇了两摇，“那么，一年到头，顺顺流流……。”

夢裡也記得元旦的，第二天醒得特別早，一醒，就要坐起來。Even in my dreams I remembered New Year's Day; the next day I woke unusually early, and the moment I woke, I wanted to sit straight up.她卻立刻伸出臂膊，一把將我按住。But she at once thrust out her arm and pressed me firmly down.我驚異地看她時，只見她惶急地看著我。When I looked at her in surprise, I saw only that she was watching me with an anxious, urgent look.

梦里也记得元旦的，第二天醒得特别早，一醒，就要坐起来。她却立刻伸出臂膊，一把将我按住。我惊异地看她时，只见她惶急地看著我。

她又有所要求似的，搖著我的肩。She shook my shoulder again, as if expecting something of me.我忽而記得了——Suddenly I remembered—

她又有所要求似的，摇著我的肩。我忽而记得了——

“阿媽，恭喜……。”"Amah, congratulations..."

“阿妈，恭喜……。”

“恭喜恭喜！"Congratulations, congratulations!大家恭喜！Congratulations to everyone!真聰明！How clever you are!恭喜恭喜！”她於是十分歡喜似的，笑將起來，同時將一點冰冷的東西，塞在我的嘴裡。Congratulations, congratulations!" she said, seeming thoroughly delighted, and burst out laughing, and at the same time stuffed something ice-cold into my mouth.我大吃一驚之後，也就忽而記得，這就是所謂福橘，元旦辟頭的磨難，總算已經受完，可以下床玩耍去了。After my great start of surprise, I suddenly remembered too — this was the so-called lucky orange, and the ordeal that opened New Year's Day was now, at last, over, and I could get out of bed and go play.

“恭喜恭喜！大家恭喜！真聪明！恭喜恭喜！”她于是十分欢喜似的，笑将起来，同时将一点冰冷的东西，塞在我的嘴里。我大吃一惊之后，也就忽而记得，这就是所谓福橘，元旦辟头的磨难，总算已经受完，可以下床玩耍去了。

她教給我的道理還很多，例如說人死了，不該說死掉，必須說“老掉了”；There were many more principles she taught me — for instance, she said that when someone dies, one must not say "died," but must say "grown old and gone";死了人，生了孩子的屋子裡，不應該走進去；in a house where someone had died, or where a child had just been born, one ought not to enter;飯粒落在地上，必須揀起來，最好是吃下去；if a grain of rice fell on the ground, one must pick it up, and best of all, eat it;曬褲子用的竹竿底下，是萬不可鑽過去的……。and under the bamboo pole used for drying trousers, one must on no account pass through....此外，現在大抵忘卻了，只有元旦的古怪儀式記得最清楚。Besides these, I have now mostly forgotten the rest; only the strange New Year's Day ritual do I remember most clearly.總之：都是些煩瑣之至，至今想起來還覺得非常麻煩的事情。In short: they were all matters of the utmost tedious fussiness, things which even now, thinking back, still strike me as terribly bothersome.

她教给我的道理还很多，例如说人死了，不该说死掉，必须说“老掉了”；死了人，生了孩子的屋子里，不应该走进去；饭粒落在地上，必须拣起来，最好是吃下去；晒裤子用的竹竿底下，是万不可钻过去的……。此外，现在大抵忘却了，只有元旦的古怪仪式记得最清楚。总之：都是些烦琐之至，至今想起来还觉得非常麻烦的事情。

然而我有一時也對她發生過空前的敬意。And yet there was one time when I came to feel an unprecedented respect for her.她常常對我講“長毛”。She often used to tell me about the "Long-Hairs."她之所謂“長毛”者，不但洪秀全軍，似乎連後來一切土匪強盜都在內，但除卻革命黨，因為那時還沒有。By "Long-Hairs" she meant not only the Taiping army of Hong Xiuquan, but seemingly all the bandits and brigands of later times as well — excepting only the revolutionaries, since at that time there were none yet.她說得長毛非常可怕，他們的話就聽不懂。She spoke of the Long-Hairs as utterly terrifying — one couldn't even understand their speech.她說先前長毛進城的時候，我家全都逃到海邊去了，只留一個門房和年老的煮飯老媽子看家。She said that before, when the Long-Hairs entered the city, our whole family fled to the seaside, leaving behind only a gatekeeper and an old woman who cooked, to look after the house.後來長毛果然進門來了，那老媽子便叫他們“大王”，——據說對長毛就應該這樣叫，——訴說自己的飢餓。Later the Long-Hairs did indeed come in through the gate, and that old cook called them "Great Kings" — apparently that was how one was supposed to address Long-Hairs — and pleaded her hunger to them.長毛笑道：“那麼，這東西就給你吃了罷！”將一個圓圓的東西擲了過來，還帶著一條小辮子，正是那門房的頭。The Long-Hair laughed and said, "Well then, have this to eat!" and flung over a round object, with a little queue still attached to it — it was none other than the gatekeeper's head.煮飯老媽子從此就駭破了膽，後來一提起，還是立刻面如土色，自己輕輕地拍著胸脯道：“阿呀，駭死我了，駭死我了……。”The old cook's courage was shattered from that day on, and afterward, whenever it was mentioned, her face would instantly turn the color of ash, and she would pat her own chest gently and say, "Ah, it frightened me to death, frightened me to death...."

然而我有一时也对她发生过空前的敬意。她常常对我讲“长毛”。她之所谓“长毛”者，不但洪秀全军，似乎连后来一切土匪强盗都在内，但除却革命党，因为那时还没有。她说得长毛非常可怕，他们的话就听不懂。她说先前长毛进城的时候，我家全都逃到海边去了，只留一个门房和年老的煮饭老妈子看家。后来长毛果然进门来了，那老妈子便叫他们“大王”，——据说对长毛就应该这样叫，——诉说自己的饥饿。长毛笑道：“那么，这东西就给你吃了罢！”将一个圆圆的东西掷了过来，还带著一条小辫子，正是那门房的头。煮饭老妈子从此就骇破了胆，后来一提起，还是立刻面如土色，自己轻轻地拍著胸脯道：“阿呀，骇死我了，骇死我了……。”

我那時似乎倒並不怕，因為我覺得這些事和我毫不相干的，我不是一個門房。At the time I did not seem to be afraid myself, because I felt these matters had nothing whatsoever to do with me — I was not a gatekeeper.但她大概也即覺到了，說道：“像你似的小孩子，長毛也要擄的，擄去做小長毛。But she must have sensed this, for she said: "A little child like you, the Long-Hairs would carry off too, to make you into a little Long-Hair.還有好看的姑娘，也要擄。”And pretty girls too, they would carry off."

我那时似乎倒并不怕，因为我觉得这些事和我毫不相干的，我不是一个门房。但她大概也即觉到了，说道：“像你似的小孩子，长毛也要掳的，掳去做小长毛。还有好看的姑娘，也要掳。”

“那麼，你是不要緊的。”我以為她一定最安全了，既不做門房，又不是小孩子，也生得不好看，況且頸子上還有許多炙瘡疤。"Well then, you're perfectly safe," I thought — I supposed she must surely be the safest of all, being neither a gatekeeper nor a child, nor pretty either, and besides, she had all those moxa-cautery scars on her neck.

“那么，你是不要紧的。”我以为她一定最安全了，既不做门房，又不是小孩子，也生得不好看，况且颈子上还有许多炙疮疤。

“那裡的話？！”她嚴肅地說。“我們就沒有用麼？"What are you talking about?!" she said gravely. "Do you think we're of no use at all?我們也要被擄去。We too would be carried off.城外有兵來攻的時候，長毛就叫我們脫下褲子，一排一排地站在城牆上，外面的大炮就放不出來；When troops came from outside the city to attack, the Long-Hairs would make us take off our trousers and stand in a row upon the city wall, so that the enemy's cannon outside could not go off;再要放，就炸了！”if they tried to fire again, they would burst!"

“那里的话？！”她严肃地说。“我们就没有用么？我们也要被掳去。城外有兵来攻的时候，长毛就叫我们脱下裤子，一排一排地站在城墙上，外面的大炮就放不出来；再要放，就炸了！”

這實在是出於我意想之外的，不能不驚異。This was truly beyond anything I had imagined, and I could not help being astonished.我一向只以為她滿肚子是麻煩的禮節罷了，卻不料她還有這樣偉大的神力。I had always thought she was simply full to bursting with tedious rules of etiquette, never expecting that she also possessed such tremendous supernatural power.從此對於她就有了特別的敬意，似乎實在深不可測；From then on I felt a special respect for her, as though she were truly unfathomably deep;夜間的伸開手腳，佔領全床，那當然是情有可原的了，倒應該我退讓。her sprawling out at night, taking over the whole bed, was of course quite understandable then, and it was I who ought to have yielded the space.

这实在是出于我意想之外的，不能不惊异。我一向只以为她满肚子是麻烦的礼节罢了，却不料她还有这样伟大的神力。从此对于她就有了特别的敬意，似乎实在深不可测；夜间的伸开手脚，占领全床，那当然是情有可原的了，倒应该我退让。

這種敬意，雖然也逐漸淡薄起來，但完全消失，大概是在知道她謀害了我的隱鼠之後。This respect, although it gradually faded over time, only vanished completely, I think, after I learned that she had schemed to kill my hidden mouse.那時就極嚴重地詰問，而且當面叫她阿長。At that time I questioned her most severely, and even called her Ah Chang to her face.我想我又不真做小長毛，不去攻城，也不放炮，更不怕炮炸，我懼憚她什麼呢！I thought: I'm not really going to become a little Long-Hair, I won't be attacking any city, nor firing any cannon, still less am I afraid of a cannon bursting — so what should I be afraid of her for!

这种敬意，虽然也逐渐淡薄起来，但完全消失，大概是在知道她谋害了我的隐鼠之后。那时就极严重地诘问，而且当面叫她阿长。我想我又不真做小长毛，不去攻城，也不放炮，更不怕炮炸，我惧惮她什么呢！

但當我哀悼隱鼠，給它復仇的時候，一面又在渴慕著繪圖的《山海經》了。But even as I mourned my hidden mouse and vowed to avenge it, at the same time I was also yearning for the illustrated Classic of Mountains and Seas.這渴慕是從一個遠房的叔祖惹起來的。This yearning had been stirred up by a distant granduncle.他是一個胖胖的，和藹的老人，愛種一點花木，如珠蘭、茉莉之類，還有極其少見的，據說從北邊帶回去的馬纓花。He was a fat, kindly old man, fond of growing a few flowering plants — things like chulan orchid and jasmine — and also an extremely rare mimosa tree, said to have been brought back from the north.他的太太卻正相反，什麼也莫名其妙，曾將曬衣服的竹竿擱在珠蘭的枝條上，枝折了，還要憤憤地咒罵道：“死屍！”這老人是個寂寞者，因為無人可談，就很愛和孩子們往來，有時簡直稱我們為“小友”。His wife, however, was quite the opposite, understanding nothing at all — she once rested a bamboo pole used for drying clothes across the branches of the chulan, and when a branch snapped, she still cursed furiously, "You dead corpse!" This old man was a lonely person, and having no one to talk to, he was very fond of associating with children, sometimes even calling us his "little friends."在我們聚族而居的宅子裡，只有他書多，而且特別。In our household, where the whole clan lived together, he alone had many books, and unusual ones at that.制藝和試帖詩，自然也是有的；Examination essays and regulated verse for the exams were, naturally, there too;但我卻只在他的書齋裡，看見過陸璣的《毛詩草木鳥獸蟲魚疏》，還有許多名目很生的書籍。but it was only in his study that I ever saw Lu Ji's Commentary on the Plants, Trees, Birds, Beasts, and Insects and Fishes of the Book of Songs, along with many other books with very unfamiliar titles.我那時最愛看的是《花鏡》，上面有許多圖。What I loved most to look at then was the Mirror of Flowers, which had many illustrations in it.他說給我聽，曾經有過一部繪圖的《山海經》，畫著人面的獸，九頭的蛇，三腳的鳥，生著翅膀的人，沒有頭而以兩乳當作眼睛的怪物，……He told me that there had once been an illustrated edition of the Classic of Mountains and Seas, with pictures of beasts with human faces, snakes with nine heads, birds with three feet, winged people, monsters with no head at all who used their two nipples as eyes, ....可惜現在不知道放在那裏了。It was a pity that now no one knew where it had been put.

但当我哀悼隐鼠，给它复仇的时候，一面又在渴慕著绘图的《山海经》了。这渴慕是从一个远房的叔祖惹起来的。他是一个胖胖的，和蔼的老人，爱种一点花木，如珠兰、茉莉之类，还有极其少见的，据说从北边带回去的马缨花。他的太太却正相反，什么也莫名其妙，曾将晒衣服的竹竿搁在珠兰的枝条上，枝折了，还要愤愤地咒骂道：“死尸！”这老人是个寂寞者，因为无人可谈，就很爱和孩子们往来，有时简直称我们为“小友”。在我们聚族而居的宅子里，只有他书多，而且特别。制艺和试帖诗，自然也是有的；但我却只在他的书斋里，看见过陆玑的《毛诗草木鸟兽虫鱼疏》，还有许多名目很生的书籍。我那时最爱看的是《花镜》，上面有许多图。他说给我听，曾经有过一部绘图的《山海经》，画著人面的兽，九头的蛇，三脚的鸟，生著翅膀的人，没有头而以两乳当作眼睛的怪物，……可惜现在不知道放在那里了。

我很願意看看這樣的圖畫，但不好意思力逼他去尋找，他是很疏懶的。I very much wanted to see pictures like these, but I felt too embarrassed to press him hard to go looking for it — he was a very idle, easygoing man.問別人呢，誰也不肯真實地回答我。As for asking other people, no one was willing to give me a real answer.壓歲錢還有幾百文，買罷，又沒有好機會。I still had a few hundred cash left of my New Year's money — I could buy it, but there was no good opportunity.有書買的大街離我家遠得很，我一年中只能在正月間去玩一趟，那時候，兩家書店都緊緊地關著門。The main street where books were sold was very far from my home, and in the whole year I could only go out to play there once, during the first month, and at that time both bookshops were tightly shut.

我很愿意看看这样的图画，但不好意思力逼他去寻找，他是很疏懒的。问别人呢，谁也不肯真实地回答我。压岁钱还有几百文，买罢，又没有好机会。有书买的大街离我家远得很，我一年中只能在正月间去玩一趟，那时候，两家书店都紧紧地关著门。

玩的時候倒是沒有什麼的，但一坐下，我就記得繪圖的《山海經》。While I was out playing, it was fine, I thought of nothing much; but the moment I sat down, I would remember the illustrated Classic of Mountains and Seas.

玩的时候倒是没有什么的，但一坐下，我就记得绘图的《山海经》。

大概是太過於念念不忘了，連阿長也來問《山海經》是怎麼一回事。Probably because I brooded over it so constantly, even Ah Chang came to ask me what this Classic of Mountains and Seas was all about.這是我向來沒有和她說過的，我知道她並非學者，說了也無益；This was something I had never spoken to her about before — I knew she was no scholar, and telling her would do no good;但既然來問，也就都對她說了。but since she had asked, I told her all about it anyway.

大概是太过于念念不忘了，连阿长也来问《山海经》是怎么一回事。这是我向来没有和她说过的，我知道她并非学者，说了也无益；但既然来问，也就都对她说了。

過了十多天，或者一個月罷，我還記得，是她告假回家以後的四五天，她穿著新的藍布衫回來了，一見面，就將一包書遞給我，高興地說道：More than ten days later, or perhaps a month, I still remember, it was some four or five days after she had gone home on leave — she came back wearing a new blue cotton jacket, and the moment she saw me, she handed me a package of books, saying happily:

过了十多天，或者一个月罢，我还记得，是她告假回家以后的四五天，她穿著新的蓝布衫回来了，一见面，就将一包书递给我，高兴地说道：

“哥兒，有畫兒的‘三哼經’，我給你買來了！”"Young master, the illustrated 'Sanheng Jing' — I've bought it for you!"

“哥儿，有画儿的‘三哼经’，我给你买来了！”

我似乎遇著了一個霹靂，全體都震悚起來；It was as though I had been struck by a thunderclap, and my whole body shook with the shock;趕緊去接過來，打開紙包，是四本小小的書，略略一翻，人面的獸，九頭的蛇，……I hurried to take it from her, unwrapped the paper, and found four small volumes; giving them a quick flip-through, there were the beasts with human faces, the snakes with nine heads, ...果然都在內。sure enough, they were all there.

我似乎遇著了一个霹雳，全体都震悚起来；赶紧去接过来，打开纸包，是四本小小的书，略略一翻，人面的兽，九头的蛇，……果然都在内。

這又使我發生新的敬意了，別人不肯做，或不能做的事，她卻能夠做成功。This gave rise in me to a new respect for her — things that other people were unwilling to do, or unable to do, she was able to accomplish.她確有偉大的神力。She truly possessed tremendous supernatural power.謀害隱鼠的怨恨，從此完全消滅了。My resentment over the killing of my hidden mouse vanished completely from that moment on.

这又使我发生新的敬意了，别人不肯做，或不能做的事，她却能够做成功。她确有伟大的神力。谋害隐鼠的怨恨，从此完全消灭了。

這四本書，乃是我最初得到，最為心愛的寶書。These four books were the first treasured books I ever obtained, and the ones I loved most dearly.

这四本书，乃是我最初得到，最为心爱的宝书。

書的模樣，到現在還在眼前。The appearance of these books is still before my eyes even now.可是從還在眼前的模樣來說，卻是一部刻印都十分粗拙的本子。And yet, going by that appearance still before my eyes, it was in fact a volume both crudely printed and crudely carved.紙張很黃；The paper was very yellow;圖像也很壞，甚至於幾乎全用直線湊合，連動物的眼睛也都是長方形的。the illustrations, too, were very poor, put together almost entirely out of straight lines, so much so that even the animals' eyes were rectangular.但那是我最為心愛的寶書，看起來，確是人面的獸；But it was the book I loved most dearly of all — looking at it, there indeed was the beast with a human face;九頭的蛇；the snake with nine heads;一腳的牛；the ox with one foot;袋子似的帝江；Dijiang, like a sack;沒有頭而“以乳為目，以臍為口”，還要“執干戚而舞”的刑天。and Xingtian, headless, "using his nipples as eyes and his navel as a mouth," who still "held shield and axe and danced."

书的模样，到现在还在眼前。可是从还在眼前的模样来说，却是一部刻印都十分粗拙的本子。纸张很黄；图像也很坏，甚至于几乎全用直线凑合，连动物的眼睛也都是长方形的。但那是我最为心爱的宝书，看起来，确是人面的兽；九头的蛇；一脚的牛；袋子似的帝江；没有头而“以乳为目，以脐为口”，还要“执干戚而舞”的刑天。

此後我就更其蒐集繪圖的書，於是有了石印的《爾雅音圖》和《毛詩品物圖考》，又有了《點石齋叢畫》和《詩畫舫》。《山海經》也另買了一部石印的，每卷都有圖贊，綠色的畫，字是紅的，比那木刻的精緻得多了。After this I collected illustrated books all the more, and so came to own the lithograph editions of Illustrated Erya with Sounds and Illustrated Study of the Plants and Creatures of the Book of Songs, and also Collected Paintings from Dianshizhai and Poetry-and-Painting Boat. I also bought a separate lithograph edition of the Classic of Mountains and Seas — every chapter had illustrations and eulogies, the pictures in green, the characters in red, far more refined than that woodblock edition.這一部直到前年還在，是縮印的郝懿行疏。This edition survived down until the year before last; it is the reduced-print edition with Hao Yixing's commentary.木刻的卻已經記不清是什麼時候失掉了。As for the woodblock edition, I can no longer remember just when it was lost.

此后我就更其搜集绘图的书，于是有了石印的《尔雅音图》和《毛诗品物图考》，又有了《点石斋丛画》和《诗画舫》。《山海经》也另买了一部石印的，每卷都有图赞，绿色的画，字是红的，比那木刻的精致得多了。这一部直到前年还在，是缩印的郝懿行疏。木刻的却已经记不清是什么时候失掉了。

我的保姆，長媽媽即阿長，辭了這人世，大概也有了三十年了罷。My nanny, Nurse Chang, that is, Ah Chang, departed this world, I suppose, some thirty years ago now.我終於不知道她的姓名，她的經歷；In the end I never learned her name, nor her life story;僅知道有一個過繼的兒子，她大約是青年守寡的孤孀。I know only that she had an adopted son, and that she had, it seems, been widowed young.

我的保姆，长妈妈即阿长，辞了这人世，大概也有了三十年了罢。我终于不知道她的姓名，她的经历；仅知道有一个过继的儿子，她大约是青年守寡的孤孀。

仁厚黑暗的地母呵，願在你懷裏永安她的魂靈！Oh benevolent, generous, dark Earth Mother — may you keep her soul forever at peace in your bosom!

仁厚黑暗的地母呵，愿在你怀里永安她的魂灵！

三月十日。March tenth.