從百草園到三味書屋 From Hundred-Plant Garden to Three-Flavor Study

我家的後面有一個很大的園，相傳叫作百草園。Behind our house there was a large garden, traditionally called Hundred-Plant Garden.現在是早已並屋子一起賣給朱文公的子孫了，連那最末次的相見也已經隔了七八年，其中似乎確鑿只有一些野草；Now it has long since been sold, along with the house, to the descendants of Zhu Wengong, and even that last meeting of ours is already seven or eight years past; in it, it seems, there are indeed nothing but some wild grasses—但那時卻是我的樂園。but at that time it was my paradise.

我家的后面有一个很大的园，相传叫作百草园。现在是早已并屋子一起卖给朱文公的子孙了，连那最末次的相见也已经隔了七八年，其中似乎确凿只有一些野草；但那时却是我的乐园。

不必說碧綠的菜畦，光滑的石井欄，高大的皂莢樹，紫紅的桑椹；Not to mention the emerald-green vegetable beds, the smooth stone well-curb, the tall soap-pod tree, the purple-red mulberries;也不必說鳴蟬在樹葉裏長吟，肥胖的黃蜂伏在菜花上，輕捷的叫天子（雲雀）忽然從草間直竄向雲霄裏去了。nor to mention the cicadas singing long songs among the leaves, the fat wasps crouching on the rape flowers, or the nimble sky-larks that would suddenly dart straight up from the grass into the clouds.單是周圍的短短的泥墻根一帶，就有無限趣味。Just the strip along the foot of the low mud wall around it held endless delights.油蛉在這裏低唱，蟋蟀們在這裏彈琴。Here the oil-crickets sang low, and the crickets played their fiddles.翻開斷磚來，有時會遇見蜈蚣；Turning over a broken brick, one might sometimes come upon a centipede;還有斑蝥，倘若用手指按住它的脊梁，便會拍的一聲，從後竅噴出一陣煙霧。there were also blister beetles, which, if you pressed a finger down on their backs, would go "pop" and spurt a puff of smoke from their hind ends.何首烏藤和木蓮藤纏絡著，木蓮有蓮房一般的果實，何首烏有擁腫的根。Fleeceflower vines and creeping-fig vines twined together; the creeping fig had fruit like a lotus seed-pod, and the fleeceflower had a swollen, lumpy root.有人說，何首烏根是有像人形的，吃了便可以成仙，我於是常常拔它起來，牽連不斷地拔起來，也曾因此弄壞了泥墻，卻從來沒有見過有一塊根像人樣。Some said that fleeceflower roots could be shaped like a human figure, and that eating one would let you become an immortal, so I often pulled them up, pulling and pulling without stopping, and in doing so even damaged the mud wall, but I never once saw a root shaped like a person.如果不怕刺，還可以摘到覆盆子，像小珊瑚珠攢成的小球，又酸又甜，色味都比桑椹要好得遠。If you weren't afraid of the thorns, you could also pick raspberries, little balls clustered like tiny coral beads, sour and sweet at once, far better in both color and flavor than mulberries.

不必说碧绿的菜畦，光滑的石井栏，高大的皂荚树，紫红的桑椹；也不必说鸣蝉在树叶里长吟，肥胖的黄蜂伏在菜花上，轻捷的叫天子（云雀）忽然从草间直窜向云霄里去了。单是周围的短短的泥墙根一带，就有无限趣味。油蛉在这里低唱，蟋蟀们在这里弹琴。翻开断砖来，有时会遇见蜈蚣；还有斑蝥，倘若用手指按住它的脊梁，便会拍的一声，从后窍喷出一阵烟雾。何首乌藤和木莲藤缠络著，木莲有莲房一般的果实，何首乌有拥肿的根。有人说，何首乌根是有像人形的，吃了便可以成仙，我于是常常拔它起来，牵连不断地拔起来，也曾因此弄坏了泥墙，却从来没有见过有一块根像人样。如果不怕刺，还可以摘到覆盆子，像小珊瑚珠攒成的小球，又酸又甜，色味都比桑椹要好得远。

長的草裏是不去的，因為相傳這園裏有一條很大的赤練蛇。I never went into the tall grass, because it was said that a huge red-banded snake lived in the garden.

长的草里是不去的，因为相传这园里有一条很大的赤练蛇。

長媽媽曾經講給我一個故事聽：先前，有一個讀書人住在古廟裏用功，晚間，在院子裏納涼的時候，突然聽到有人在叫他。Nurse Chang once told me a story: long ago, a scholar lodged in an old temple to study, and one evening, while cooling himself in the courtyard, he suddenly heard someone calling his name.答應著，四面看時，卻見一個美女的臉露在墻頭上，向他一笑，隱去了。He answered, and looking all around, he saw a beautiful woman's face appear above the wall; she smiled at him and then vanished.他很高興；He was overjoyed;但竟給那走來夜談的老和尚識破了機關。but it happened that an old monk who came by for a night's chat saw through the trick.說他臉上有些妖氣，一定遇見“美女蛇”了；The monk said there was a trace of evil aura on his face—he must have encountered a "Beauty Snake";這是人首蛇身的怪物，能喚人名，倘一答應，夜間便要來吃這人的肉的。this was a monster with a human head and a snake's body, able to call out a person's name; if one answered, it would come in the night to eat that person's flesh.他自然嚇得要死，而那老和尚卻道無妨，給他一個小盒子，說只要放在枕邊，便可高枕而臥。He was of course frightened half to death, but the old monk said there was no cause for worry, and gave him a small box, saying that if he simply kept it by his pillow, he could sleep soundly and without a care.他雖然照樣辦，卻總是睡不著，——當然睡不著的。He did as he was told, but still could not fall asleep—of course he couldn't.到半夜，果然來了，沙沙沙！At midnight, sure enough, it came—a rustling, sha-sha-sha!門外像是風雨聲。Outside the door it sounded like wind and rain.他正抖作一團時，卻聽得豁的一聲，一道金光從枕邊飛出，外面便什麽聲音也沒有了，那金光也就飛回來，斂在盒子裏。Just as he was shaking all over with fear, he heard a sudden whoosh, and a beam of golden light shot out from beside his pillow; outside, all sound ceased at once, and the golden light then flew back and gathered itself into the box.後來呢？And then?後來，老和尚說，這是飛蜈蚣，它能吸蛇的腦髓，美女蛇就被它治死了。Afterward, the old monk explained that this was a flying centipede, able to suck out a snake's brain, and so the Beauty Snake had been done to death by it.

长妈妈曾经讲给我一个故事听：先前，有一个读书人住在古庙里用功，晚间，在院子里纳凉的时候，突然听到有人在叫他。答应著，四面看时，却见一个美女的脸露在墙头上，向他一笑，隐去了。他很高兴；但竟给那走来夜谈的老和尚识破了机关。说他脸上有些妖气，一定遇见“美女蛇”了；这是人首蛇身的怪物，能唤人名，倘一答应，夜间便要来吃这人的肉的。他自然吓得要死，而那老和尚却道无妨，给他一个小盒子，说只要放在枕边，便可高枕而卧。他虽然照样办，却总是睡不著，——当然睡不著的。到半夜，果然来了，沙沙沙！门外像是风雨声。他正抖作一团时，却听得豁的一声，一道金光从枕边飞出，外面便什么声音也没有了，那金光也就飞回来，敛在盒子里。后来呢？后来，老和尚说，这是飞蜈蚣，它能吸蛇的脑髓，美女蛇就被它治死了。

結末的教訓是：所以倘有陌生的聲音叫你的名字，你萬不可答應他。The moral at the end was this: so if a strange voice ever calls your name, you must on no account answer it.

结末的教训是：所以倘有陌生的声音叫你的名字，你万不可答应他。

這故事很使我覺得做人之險，夏夜乘涼，往往有些擔心，不敢去看墻上，而且極想得到一盒老和尚那樣的飛蜈蚣。This story made me keenly feel the dangers of being human; cooling off on summer nights, I often grew a little uneasy, not daring to look up at the top of the wall, and longed very much to obtain a box of flying centipedes like the old monk's.走到百草園的草叢旁邊時，也常常這樣想。When I walked past the clumps of grass in Hundred-Plant Garden, I often thought the same thing.但直到現在，總還沒有得到，但也沒有遇見過赤練蛇和美女蛇。But even to this day, I have still never obtained one—though neither have I ever encountered a red-banded snake or a Beauty Snake.叫我名字的陌生聲音自然是常有的，然而都不是美女蛇。Strange voices calling my name were, of course, common enough, but none of them ever turned out to be the Beauty Snake.

这故事很使我觉得做人之险，夏夜乘凉，往往有些担心，不敢去看墙上，而且极想得到一盒老和尚那样的飞蜈蚣。走到百草园的草丛旁边时，也常常这样想。但直到现在，总还没有得到，但也没有遇见过赤练蛇和美女蛇。叫我名字的陌生声音自然是常有的，然而都不是美女蛇。

冬天的百草園比較的無味；In winter, Hundred-Plant Garden was rather dull;雪一下，可就兩樣了。but once the snow fell, it was an entirely different matter.拍雪人（將自己的全形印在雪上）和塑雪羅漢需要人們鑒賞，這是荒園，人跡罕至，所以不相宜，只好來捕鳥。Making snow-prints of oneself (pressing one's whole shape into the snow) and building snow arhats both call for an audience to admire them, and since this was a deserted garden that people seldom visited, neither was suitable, so instead I came here to catch birds.薄薄的雪，是不行的；A thin dusting of snow would not do;總須積雪蓋了地面一兩天，鳥雀們久已無處覓食的時候才好。one had to wait until the snow had covered the ground for a day or two, until the birds had long since had nowhere to find food.掃開一塊雪，露出地面，用一支短棒支起一面大的竹篩來，下面撒些秕穀，棒上繋一條長繩，人遠遠地牽著，看鳥雀下來啄食，走到竹篩底下的時候，將繩子一拉，便罩住了。Sweep away a patch of snow to bare the ground, prop up a big bamboo sieve with a short stick, scatter some chaff-grain underneath, tie a long string to the stick, and hold the far end of the string while standing well away; watch the birds come down to peck at the grain, and when they walk in under the sieve, give the string a tug, and it comes down to trap them.但所得的是麻雀居多，也有白頰的“張飛鳥”，性子很躁，養不過夜的。But what one caught was mostly sparrows; there were also white-cheeked "Zhang Fei birds," which had such a fierce temper that they could not be kept alive past a single night.

冬天的百草园比较的无味；雪一下，可就两样了。拍雪人（将自己的全形印在雪上）和塑雪罗汉需要人们鉴赏，这是荒园，人迹罕至，所以不相宜，只好来捕鸟。薄薄的雪，是不行的；总须积雪盖了地面一两天，鸟雀们久已无处觅食的时候才好。扫开一块雪，露出地面，用一支短棒支起一面大的竹筛来，下面撒些秕谷，棒上繋一条长绳，人远远地牵著，看鸟雀下来啄食，走到竹筛底下的时候，将绳子一拉，便罩住了。但所得的是麻雀居多，也有白颊的“张飞鸟”，性子很躁，养不过夜的。

這是閏土的父親所傳授的方法，我卻不大能用。This method was taught to me by Runtu's father, though I was never very good at using it.明明見它們進去了，拉了繩，跑去一看，卻什麽都沒有，費了半天力，捉住的不過三四只。I would clearly see the birds go in, pull the string, run over to look—and find nothing there at all; after wasting a great deal of effort, I would catch no more than three or four.閏土的父親是小半天便能捕獲幾十只，裝在叉袋裏叫著撞著的。Runtu's father, in less than half a morning, could catch several dozen, stuffed into a sack and chirping and bumping about inside.我曾經問他得失的緣由，他只靜靜地笑道：你太性急，來不及等它走到中間去。I once asked him the reason for my failures, and he only smiled quietly and said: you're too impatient, you don't wait for the bird to walk to the middle.

这是闰土的父亲所传授的方法，我却不大能用。明明见它们进去了，拉了绳，跑去一看，却什么都没有，费了半天力，捉住的不过三四只。闰土的父亲是小半天便能捕获几十只，装在叉袋里叫著撞著的。我曾经问他得失的缘由，他只静静地笑道：你太性急，来不及等它走到中间去。

我不知道為什麽家裏的人要將我送進書塾裏去了，而且還是全城中稱為最嚴厲的書塾。I do not know why the family at home decided to send me off to a private school, and moreover to the one said to be the strictest in the whole town.也許是因為拔何首烏毀了泥墻罷，也許是因為將磚頭拋到間壁的梁家去了罷，也許是因為站在石井欄上跳了下來罷，……Perhaps it was because I had damaged the mud wall pulling up fleeceflower roots; perhaps it was because I had thrown bricks over into the Liang family's yard next door; perhaps it was because I had jumped down off the stone well-curb...都無從知道。There is no way of knowing.總而言之：我將不能常到百草園了。Ade，我的蟋蟀們！Ade，我的覆盆子們和木蓮們！……In any case, I would no longer be able to visit Hundred-Plant Garden often. Adieu, my crickets! Adieu, my raspberries and my creeping figs!...

我不知道为什么家里的人要将我送进书塾里去了，而且还是全城中称为最严厉的书塾。也许是因为拔何首乌毁了泥墙罢，也许是因为将砖头抛到间壁的梁家去了罢，也许是因为站在石井栏上跳了下来罢，……都无从知道。总而言之：我将不能常到百草园了。Ade，我的蟋蟀们！Ade，我的覆盆子们和木莲们！……

出門向東，不上半里，走過一道石橋，便是我的先生的家了。Out the gate and heading east, in less than half a li, after crossing a stone bridge, one reached my teacher's house.從一扇黑油的竹門進去，第三間是書房。Going in through a black-lacquered bamboo gate, the third room was the study.中間掛著一塊扁道：三味書屋；In the middle hung a horizontal tablet reading: Three-Flavor Study;扁下面是一幅畫，畫著一只很肥大的梅花鹿伏在古樹下。below the tablet was a painting of a very fat plum-blossom deer lying beneath an old tree.沒有孔子牌位，我們便對著那扁和鹿行禮。Since there was no tablet of Confucius, we bowed instead to the plaque and the deer.第一次算是拜孔子，第二次算是拜先生。The first bow counted as paying respects to Confucius, the second as paying respects to our teacher.

出门向东，不上半里，走过一道石桥，便是我的先生的家了。从一扇黑油的竹门进去，第三间是书房。中间挂著一块扁道：三味书屋；扁下面是一幅画，画著一只很肥大的梅花鹿伏在古树下。没有孔子牌位，我们便对著那扁和鹿行礼。第一次算是拜孔子，第二次算是拜先生。

第二次行禮時，先生便和藹地在一旁答禮。At the second bow, the teacher would return the courtesy amiably from where he stood.他是一個高而瘦的老人，鬚髮都花白了，還戴著大眼鏡。He was a tall, thin old man, his beard and hair already streaked with gray, and he wore a large pair of spectacles.我對他很恭敬，因為我早聽到，他是本城中極方正，質樸，博學的人。I held him in great respect, for I had long heard that he was a man of exceptional uprightness, simplicity, and learning in our town.

第二次行礼时，先生便和蔼地在一旁答礼。他是一个高而瘦的老人，须发都花白了，还戴著大眼镜。我对他很恭敬，因为我早听到，他是本城中极方正，质朴，博学的人。

不知從那裏聽來的，東方朔也很淵博，他認識一種蟲，名曰“怪哉”，冤氣所化，用酒一澆，就消釋了。I had heard from somewhere or other that Dongfang Shuo, too, was a man of vast learning, and that he knew of an insect called "Guaizai," born of a wronged spirit's resentful vapors, which would dissolve away the moment wine was poured on it.我很想詳細地知道這故事，但阿長是不知道的，因為她畢竟不淵博。I very much wanted to know the details of this story, but Ah Chang did not know it, because after all she was not a learned woman.現在得到機會了，可以問先生。Now I had my chance—I could ask the teacher.

不知从那里听来的，东方朔也很渊博，他认识一种虫，名曰“怪哉”，冤气所化，用酒一浇，就消释了。我很想详细地知道这故事，但阿长是不知道的，因为她毕竟不渊博。现在得到机会了，可以问先生。

“先生，‘怪哉’這蟲，是怎麽一回事？……”我上了生書，將要退下來的時候，趕忙問。"Sir, that insect called 'Guaizai'—what exactly is the story behind it?..." I asked hurriedly, just as I had finished reciting my new lesson and was about to step back to my seat.

“先生，‘怪哉’这虫，是怎么一回事？……”我上了生书，将要退下来的时候，赶忙问。

“不知道！”他似乎很不高興，臉上還有怒色了。"I don't know!" he said, seeming quite displeased, his face even showing a trace of anger.

“不知道！”他似乎很不高兴，脸上还有怒色了。

我才知道做學生是不應該問這些事的，只要讀書，因為他是淵博的宿儒，決不至於不知道，所謂不知道者，乃是不願意說。Only then did I realize that a student was not supposed to ask about such things—one was simply to study; because he was a learned old scholar, there was no way he could not know, and this "not knowing" was really just not wanting to say.年紀比我大的人，往往如此，我遇見過好幾回了。People older than I often behaved this way—I had encountered it several times already.

我才知道做学生是不应该问这些事的，只要读书，因为他是渊博的宿儒，决不至于不知道，所谓不知道者，乃是不愿意说。年纪比我大的人，往往如此，我遇见过好几回了。

我就只讀書，正午習字，晚上對課。So I did nothing but study: at noon I practiced calligraphy, and in the evening I composed couplets.先生最初這幾天對我很嚴厲，後來卻好起來了，不過給我讀的書漸漸加多，對課也漸漸地加上字去，從三言到五言，終於到七言。In the first few days the teacher was very strict with me, but afterward things improved, except that the books he gave me to read gradually increased in number, and the couplets I composed likewise grew gradually longer, from three characters to five, and finally to seven.

我就只读书，正午习字，晚上对课。先生最初这几天对我很严厉，后来却好起来了，不过给我读的书渐渐加多，对课也渐渐地加上字去，从三言到五言，终于到七言。

三味書屋後面也有一個園，雖然小，但在那裏也可以爬上花壇去折蠟梅花，在地上或桂花樹上尋蟬蛻。Behind Three-Flavor Study there was also a garden; though small, one could still climb up onto the flower bed there to break off wintersweet blossoms, or search the ground and the osmanthus tree for cicada shells.最好的工作是捉了蒼蠅餵螞蟻，靜悄悄地沒有聲音。The best pastime was catching flies to feed to ants, done quietly, without a sound.然而同窗們到園裏的太多，太久，可就不行了，先生在書房裏便大叫起來：But if too many of my schoolmates went into the garden, or stayed too long, that would not do, and the teacher would call out loudly from the study:

三味书屋后面也有一个园，虽然小，但在那里也可以爬上花坛去折蜡梅花，在地上或桂花树上寻蝉蜕。最好的工作是捉了苍蝇喂蚂蚁，静悄悄地没有声音。然而同窗们到园里的太多，太久，可就不行了，先生在书房里便大叫起来：

“人都到那裏去了？！”"Where has everyone gone?!"

“人都到那里去了？！”

人們便一個一個陸續走回去；Then one by one, people would trail back inside;一同回去，也不行的。though going back all together at once wouldn't do either.他有一條戒尺，但是不常用，也有罰跪的規則，但也不常用，普通總不過瞪幾眼，大聲道：He owned a ruler for striking hands, but rarely used it; there was also a rule about kneeling as punishment, but that too was rarely applied; ordinarily he would do no more than glare a few times and say loudly:

人们便一个一个陆续走回去；一同回去，也不行的。他有一条戒尺，但是不常用，也有罚跪的规则，但也不常用，普通总不过瞪几眼，大声道：

“讀書！”"Read your books!"

“读书！”

於是大家放開喉嚨讀一陣書，真是人聲鼎沸。Then everyone would open their throats and read aloud for a while, a truly boisterous din of voices.有念“仁遠乎哉我欲仁斯仁至矣”的，有念“笑人齒缺曰狗竇大開”的，有念“上九潛龍勿用”的，有念“厥土下上上錯厥貢苞茅橘柚”的……。Some recited "Is benevolence far off? I desire benevolence, and benevolence arrives"; some recited "to mock another's missing teeth, one says 'the dog's den lies wide open'"; some recited "at the topmost nine, the submerged dragon should not be employed"; some recited "its soil is of the lower-upper grade, its tribute bundled reeds and mandarins and pomelos"....先生自己也念書。The teacher himself read aloud too.後來，我們的聲音便低下去，靜下去了，只有他還大聲朗讀著：After a while, our voices would grow low and quiet, while only his still rang out loudly:

于是大家放开喉咙读一阵书，真是人声鼎沸。有念“仁远乎哉我欲仁斯仁至矣”的，有念“笑人齿缺曰狗窦大开”的，有念“上九潜龙勿用”的，有念“厥土下上上错厥贡苞茅橘柚”的……。先生自己也念书。后来，我们的声音便低下去，静下去了，只有他还大声朗读著：

“鐵如意，指揮倜儻，一座皆驚呢～～；"With an iron scepter, commanding with dashing grace, the whole company was amazed~~;金叵羅，顛倒淋漓噫，千杯未醉嗬～～……。”with a golden wine-cup, tipped and spilling freely, ah, a thousand cups and still not drunk~~...."

“铁如意，指挥倜傥，一座皆惊呢～～；金叵罗，颠倒淋漓噫，千杯未醉嗬～～……。”

我疑心這是極好的文章，因為讀到這裏，他總是微笑起來，而且將頭仰起，搖著，向後面拗過去，拗過去。I suspected this must be a marvelous piece of writing, for whenever he reached this part he would always break into a smile, tilt his head back, sway it, and lean it further and further backward.

我疑心这是极好的文章，因为读到这里，他总是微笑起来，而且将头仰起，摇著，向后面拗过去，拗过去。

先生讀書入神的時候，於我們是很相宜的。When the teacher became absorbed in his reading like this, it suited us very well.有幾個便用紙糊的盔甲套在指甲上做戲。Some of us would fit paper-pasted armor over our fingernails and put on little plays.我是畫畫兒，用一種叫作“荊川紙”的，蒙在小說的繡像上一個個描下來，像習字時候的影寫一樣。I busied myself drawing pictures, using a kind of paper called "Jingchuan paper," laying it over the illustrated portraits in novels and tracing them one by one, just as one traces characters when practicing calligraphy.讀的書多起來，畫的畫也多起來；As the books I read increased in number, so too did the pictures I drew;書沒有讀成，畫的成績卻不少了，最成片斷的是《蕩寇志》和《西遊記》的繡像，都有一大本。I never made much progress in my reading, but my drawings amounted to quite a collection—the most complete sets being the illustrated portraits from Dangkou Zhi (Quelling the Bandits) and Journey to the West, each a thick volume.後來，因為要錢用，賣給一個有錢的同窗了。Later, needing money, I sold them to a well-off schoolmate.他的父親是開錫箔店的；His father ran a shop selling tinfoil paper offerings;聽說現在自己已經做了店主，而且快要升到紳士的地位了。I heard that he himself has now become the shop's owner, and is soon to rise to the rank of a gentleman.這東西早已沒有了罷。That thing of mine, I suppose, has long since ceased to exist.

先生读书入神的时候，于我们是很相宜的。有几个便用纸糊的盔甲套在指甲上做戏。我是画画儿，用一种叫作“荆川纸”的，蒙在小说的绣像上一个个描下来，像习字时候的影写一样。读的书多起来，画的画也多起来；书没有读成，画的成绩却不少了，最成片断的是《荡寇志》和《西游记》的绣像，都有一大本。后来，因为要钱用，卖给一个有钱的同窗了。他的父亲是开锡箔店的；听说现在自己已经做了店主，而且快要升到绅士的地位了。这东西早已没有了罢。

九月十八日。September 18th.