The Flax

The flax was in full bloom; it had pretty little blue flowers as delicate as the wings of a moth, or even more so. The sun shone, and the showers watered it; and this was just as good for the flax as it is for little children to be washed and then kissed by their mother. They look much prettier for it, and so did the flax.

亚麻花开得正盛，开着可爱的小蓝花，娇嫩得就像蛾子的翅膀，甚至比那还要柔美。阳光照耀着它，雨水滋润着它；这对亚麻来说，就跟小孩子被母亲洗净了身子、再亲吻一下一样受用。这样一来他们都会显得更加漂亮，亚麻也是如此。

"People say that I look exceedingly well," said the flax, "and that I am so fine and long that I shall make a beautiful piece of linen. How fortunate I am; it makes me so happy, it is such a pleasant thing to know that something can be made of me. How the sunshine cheers me, and how sweet and refreshing is the rain; my happiness overpowers me, no one in the world can feel happier than I am."

“大家都说我长得格外好看，”亚麻说道，“说我长得又细又长，将来能织出一匹漂亮的亚麻布来。我真是何等幸运啊；这让我感到十分快乐，知道自己将来能派上用场，实在是一件令人愉快的事。阳光多么让我振奋，雨水又是多么甜美、多么清爽啊；我心中的喜悦几乎要将我淹没，这世上没有谁能比我更快乐了。”

"Ah, yes, no doubt," said the fern, "but you do not know the world yet as well as I do, for my sticks are knotty;" and then it sung quite mournfully—

“哦，是啊，这话不假，”蕨草说道，“可你还不像我这样了解这个世界，我的枝干上满是疙瘩呢。”说完便哀哀地唱起歌来——

"Snip, snap, snurre, Basse lurre: The song is ended."

“咔嚓，咔嗒，咔嚓咔嗒， 巴瑟噜咧： 这首歌唱完了。”

"No, it is not ended," said the flax. "To-morrow the sun will shine, or the rain descend. I feel that I am growing. I feel that I am in full blossom. I am the happiest of all creatures."

“不，还没完呢，”亚麻说道。“明天太阳会照耀，或者雨水会降落。我感觉自己正在生长。我感觉自己正在盛开。我是所有生灵中最幸福的一个。”

Well, one day some people came, who took hold of the flax, and pulled it up by the roots; this was painful; then it was laid in water as if they intended to drown it; and, after that, placed near a fire as if it were to be roasted; all this was very shocking. "We cannot expect to be happy always," said the flax; "by experiencing evil as well as good, we become wise." And certainly there was plenty of evil in store for the flax.

有一天，来了几个人，他们抓住亚麻，把它连根拔了起来；这可真疼；随后又把它浸到水里，仿佛要把它淹死似的；再之后，又把它放到火边，仿佛要把它烤熟一般；这一切实在可怕极了。“我们不能指望永远都过得快活，”亚麻说道，“正是因为经历了苦难，也经历了美好，我们才会变得智慧。”而亚麻的苦难，确实还有得受呢。

It was steeped, and roasted, and broken, and combed; indeed, it scarcely knew what was done to it. At last it was put on the spinning wheel. "Whirr, whirr," went the wheel so quickly that the flax could not collect its thoughts. "Well, I have been very happy," he thought in the midst of his pain, "and must be contented with the past;" and contented he remained till he was put on the loom, and became a beautiful piece of white linen. All the flax, even to the last stalk, was used in making this one piece.

它被浸泡、被烘烤、被打断、被梳理；说实话，它几乎都不明白自己究竟经历了些什么。最后它被放到了纺车上。“嗡嗡，嗡嗡，”纺车转得那么快，亚麻都来不及理清自己的思绪了。“唉，我这一路走来也算幸福过了，”它在痛苦之中这样想道，“我该对过去心满意足才是。”于是它便这样心满意足地待着，直到被放上织布机，织成了一匹美丽的白色亚麻布。就连最后一根麻秆，也都用上了，织成了这一整匹布。

"Well, this is quite wonderful; I could not have believed that I should be so favored by fortune. The fern was not wrong with its song of

“哎呀，这可真是奇妙极了；我从没想过自己竟会受到命运如此的眷顾。蕨草唱的那首歌倒也没说错——

'Snip, snap, snurre, Basse lurre.'

‘咔嚓，咔嗒，咔嚓咔嗒， 巴瑟噜咧。’

But the song is not ended yet, I am sure; it is only just beginning. How wonderful it is, that after all I have suffered, I am made something of at last; I am the luckiest person in the world—so strong and fine; and how white, and what a length! This is something different to being a mere plant and bearing flowers.

可我敢肯定，这首歌还没有唱完呢；一切才刚刚开始。真是不可思议啊，我受了这么多苦，到头来竟成了这么有用的东西；我是世上最幸运的人了——又结实又精细；瞧这白净的颜色，还有这长度！这可跟原先只做一株开花的植物大不相同了。

Then I had no attention, nor any water unless it rained; now, I am watched and taken care of. Every morning the maid turns me over, and I have a shower-bath from the watering-pot every evening. Yes, and the clergyman's wife noticed me, and said I was the best piece of linen in the whole parish. I cannot be happier than I am now."

先前没人搭理我，除非下雨，也没有一滴水浇灌；如今我却受人照料看护。每天早晨女佣都会给我翻个身，每天傍晚我都能用洒水壶洗上一场淋浴般的澡。是啊，就连牧师的太太也注意到了我，说我是全教区里最上等的亚麻布。我如今再没有比这更快活的了。”

After some time, the linen was taken into the house, placed under the scissors, and cut and torn into pieces, and then pricked with needles. This certainly was not pleasant; but at last it was made into twelve garments of that kind which people do not like to name, and yet everybody should wear one.

过了些时候，这匹亚麻布被拿进了屋里，放到剪刀底下，剪开又撕成一片一片的，然后又被针扎得到处都是。这实在算不上什么愉快的事；可最终它被做成了十二件那种人们不好意思直呼其名的衣物，可人人却都得穿一件。

"See, now, then," said the flax; "I have become something of importance. This was my destiny; it is quite a blessing. Now I shall be of some use in the world, as everyone ought to be; it is the only way to be happy. I am now divided into twelve pieces, and yet we are all one and the same in the whole dozen. It is most extraordinary good fortune."

“瞧瞧，如今，”亚麻说道，“我总算成了个有用的东西了。这本就是我的宿命；实在是件天大的福气。如今我总算能在这世上派上些用场了，人人本都该如此；这是通往幸福的唯一途径。如今我被分成了十二片，可我们十二片却又同出一源，本是一体。这运气实在是好得出奇。”

Years passed away, and at last the linen was so worn it could scarcely hold together. "It must end very soon," said the pieces to each other; "we would gladly have held together a little longer, but it is useless to expect impossibilities." And at length they fell into rags and tatters, and thought it was all over with them, for they were torn to shreds, and steeped in water, and made into a pulp, and dried, and they knew not what besides, till all at once they found themselves beautiful white paper.

许多年过去了，最后这亚麻布已经破旧得快要散架了。“这日子很快就要到头了，”这些碎布彼此说道，“我们倒是很愿意再多撑一段时间，可指望不可能的事终究是没用的。”最终它们碎成了一片片破布烂衫，还以为自己就此完了，因为它们又被撕成了碎片，泡在水里，捣成了浆糊，晒干了，还经历了不知多少道工序，直到忽然间，它们发觉自己变成了一张美丽的白纸。

"Well, now, this is a surprise; a glorious surprise too," said the paper. "I am now finer than ever, and I shall be written upon, and who can tell what fine things I may have written upon me. This is wonderful luck!"

“哎呀，这可真是个惊喜；而且还是个了不起的惊喜呢，”这纸说道。“如今我比以前更精美了，往后还会有人在我身上写字呢，谁知道将来会有什么美妙的东西写在我身上呢。这运气真是妙不可言！”

And sure enough the most beautiful stories and poetry were written upon it, and only once was there a blot, which was very fortunate. Then people heard the stories and poetry read, and it made them wiser and better; for all that was written had a good and sensible meaning, and a great blessing was contained in the words on this paper.

果不其然，最美丽的故事和诗篇都写在了它身上，其中只有一处墨渍，那已经是很幸运的了。后来人们听着这些故事和诗篇被朗读出来，变得更聪明、更善良了；因为写在上面的一切都蕴含着美好而明智的道理，这张纸上的文字里满含着莫大的福泽。

"I never imagined anything like this," said the paper, "when I was only a little blue flower, growing in the fields. How could I fancy that I should ever be the means of bringing knowledge and joy to man? I cannot understand it myself, and yet it is really so. Heaven knows that I have done nothing myself, but what I was obliged to do with my weak powers for my own preservation; and yet I have been promoted from one joy and honor to another.

“我从来没有想象过会有这样的事，”这纸说道，“想当年我不过是田野里生长着的一朵小小的蓝花。我怎么会料到自己竟会成为给人们带来知识与喜悦的媒介呢？我自己也想不明白，可事实的确如此。天知道我自己什么也没做，不过是尽了自己微薄的力量、做了些自我保全该做的事罢了；可我却一次又一次地从一种喜悦与荣耀，晋升到另一种更高的喜悦与荣耀。

Each time I think that the song is ended; and then something higher and better begins for me. I suppose now I shall be sent on my travels about the world, so that people may read me. It cannot be otherwise; indeed, it is more than probable; for I have more splendid thoughts written upon me, than I had pretty flowers in olden times. I am happier than ever."

每次我都以为这首歌已经唱完了；可接着总会有更崇高、更美好的事情为我拉开序幕。我猜想如今我该要被送去周游世界了，好让人们都能读到我。这是必然的事；说实话，这是极有可能的事，因为如今写在我身上的，都是比当年那些美丽花朵还要辉煌的思想。我如今比以往任何时候都要快乐。”

But the paper did not go on its travels; it was sent to the printer, and all the words written upon it were set up in type, to make a book, or rather, many hundreds of books; for so many more persons could derive pleasure and profit from a printed book, than from the written paper; and if the paper had been sent around the world, it would have been worn out before it had got half through its journey.

可这纸并没有去周游世界；它被送到了印刷所，上面写着的每一个字都被排成了铅字，印成了一本书，或者说，是好几百本书；因为一本印刷出来的书，能让远比这一张手写的纸多得多的人从中获得快乐与益处；而且要是这张纸真被送去周游世界，恐怕还没走到半路，就已经磨损殆尽了。

"This is certainly the wisest plan," said the written paper; "I really did not think of that. I shall remain at home, and be held in honor, like some old grandfather, as I really am to all these new books. They will do some good. I could not have wandered about as they do. Yet he who wrote all this has looked at me, as every word flowed from his pen upon my surface. I am the most honored of all."

“这确实是最聪明的办法，”这张写满字的纸说道，“我实在没有想到这一层。我就留在家里，受人尊崇，就像某位老祖父一样，我如今对这些新出的书而言，也的确算得上是老祖父了。这些书会做些有益的事情。我自己是没法像它们那样四处游历的。不过写下这一切的人，早已在他笔下每个字流淌到我身上时都看过我了。我是所有纸张中最受尊崇的一个了。”

Then the paper was tied in a bundle with other papers, and thrown into a tub that stood in the washhouse.

随后这张纸被和别的纸捆在一起，扔进了洗衣房里的一只木桶。

"After work, it is well to rest," said the paper, "and a very good opportunity to collect one's thoughts. Now I am able, for the first time, to think of my real condition; and to know one's self is true progress. What will be done with me now, I wonder? No doubt I shall still go forward. I have always progressed hitherto, as I know quite well."

“辛苦劳作之后，好好歇息一下也是应该的，”这纸说道，“正好也趁这个机会理一理自己的思绪。如今我才第一次能静下心来想想自己眼下的处境；能认识自己，才是真正的进步。真不知道接下来会拿我怎么办呢？我想我肯定还会继续向前的。到目前为止，我一直都在进步，这一点我心里很清楚。”

Now it happened one day that all the paper in the tub was taken out, and laid on the hearth to be burnt. People said it could not be sold at the shop, to wrap up butter and sugar, because it had been written upon. The children in the house stood round the stove; for they wanted to see the paper burn, because it flamed up so prettily, and afterwards, among the ashes, so many red sparks could be seen running one after the other, here and there, as quick as the wind.

后来有一天，木桶里所有的纸都被取了出来，放到了炉膛上准备烧掉。人们说这些纸没法拿去店里卖，包黄油和糖了，因为上面都写过字了。屋子里的孩子们都围在炉子旁边站着；因为他们想看纸烧起来的样子，那火苗蹿得那么好看，随后在灰烬当中，还能看见一个接一个的红色火星飞快地窜来窜去，忽东忽西，快得像风一样。

They called it seeing the children come out of school, and the last spark was the schoolmaster. They often thought the last spark had come; and one would cry, "There goes the schoolmaster;" but the next moment another spark would appear, shining so beautifully. How they would like to know where the sparks all went to! Perhaps we shall find out some day, but we don't know now.

他们把这叫作看孩子们放学回家，最后那一颗火星就是那位校长。他们常常以为最后一颗火星已经出现了；有个孩子会喊道：“瞧，校长出来了。”可下一刻又会有一颗火星冒出来，闪耀得那么美丽。他们多想知道这些火星最终都飞到哪里去了呢！也许有朝一日我们会弄明白，可如今我们还不知道。

The whole bundle of paper had been placed on the fire, and was soon alight. "Ugh," cried the paper, as it burst into a bright flame; "ugh." It was certainly not very pleasant to be burning; but when the whole was wrapped in flames, the flames mounted up into the air, higher than the flax had ever been able to raise its little blue flower, and they glistened as the white linen never could have glistened. All the written letters became quite red in a moment, and all the words and thoughts turned to fire.

整捆的纸都已经放到了火上，很快便燃烧了起来。“唉哟，”这纸喊道，猛地窜起一团明亮的火焰；“唉哟。”燃烧起来确实算不上什么愉快的事；可等到整捆纸都被裹在火焰之中时，那火苗腾空而起，比亚麻当年开出那朵小小的蓝花时所能达到的高度还要高得多，闪耀得也是那匹白色的亚麻布怎么也比不上的。所有写在纸上的字，转眼间都变得通红，所有的文字与思想都化作了火焰。

"Now I am mounting straight up to the sun," said a voice in the flames; and it was as if a thousand voices echoed the words; and the flames darted up through the chimney, and went out at the top. Then a number of tiny beings, as many in number as the flowers on the flax had been, and invisible to mortal eyes, floated above them. They were even lighter and more delicate than the flowers from which they were born; and as the flames were extinguished, and nothing remained of the paper but black ashes, these little beings danced upon it; and whenever they touched it, bright red sparks appeared.

“如今我要笔直地飞升到太阳那里去了，”火焰中传出一个声音；仿佛有成千上万个声音在附和着这句话；火苗蹿上了烟囱，从顶端喷涌而出。随后有许多小小的精灵，数目和亚麻当年开出的花朵一样多，凡人的肉眼是看不见它们的，它们在火焰之上飘荡着。它们比孕育出它们的那些花朵还要更轻盈、更娇嫩；等到火焰熄灭，纸张化为一堆黑色的灰烬之后，这些小小的精灵便在灰烬上翩翩起舞；它们每碰触一下，便会有明亮的红色火星迸现出来。

"The children are all out of school, and the schoolmaster was the last of all," said the children. It was good fun, and they sang over the dead ashes,—

“孩子们都放学出来了，校长是最后一个出来的，”孩子们说道。这真是好玩极了，他们对着这堆死灰唱起歌来——

"Snip, snap, snurre, Basse lure: The song is ended."

“咔嚓，咔嗒，咔嚓咔嗒， 巴瑟噜咧： 这首歌唱完了。”

But the little invisible beings said, "The song is never ended; the most beautiful is yet to come."

可那些看不见的小精灵却说：“这首歌永远不会唱完；最美好的还在后头呢。”

But the children could neither hear nor understand this, nor should they; for children must not know everything.

可孩子们既听不见，也无法理解这句话，他们本来也不该听懂；因为孩子们不该什么都知道。