IX
九

Johannes had sat waiting for a long time．The air was chill， and heavy clouds swept over the scene in endless succession．They spread a dark grey mantle in wide folds，and lifted their proud heads to the bright light which shone above them．Sunshine and shadow chased each other with wonderful swiftness across the trees，like a fitfully blazing fire．Johannes was uneasy in his mind；he was thinking of the Book，not really believing that he should ever find it．Between the clouds very，very high up，he saw the clear，deep blue strewn with fleecy white clouds，soft and feathery，floating in calm and motionless rest．
约翰坐得很长久，而且等候着。空气是冷冷的，大的云接近了地面，不断的无穷的连续着飘浮。它们展开了暗灰色的、波纹无际的氅衣，还在清朗的光中卷起它们的傲慢的峰头，即在那光中发亮。树上的日光和阴影变换得出奇地迅疾，如永有烈焰飞腾的火。约翰于是觉得恐惧了。他思索着那书儿，难于相信，而还希望着，他今天将要觅得。云的中间，很高，奇怪的高，他看见清朗的凝固的蔚蓝，那上面是和平地扩张在不动的宁静中的、柔嫩的、洁白的小云，精妙地蒙茸着。

“It must be like that！”thought he．“So high，so bright，so still！”
“这得是这样，”他想，“这样高，这样明，这样静。”

Then came Robinetta．Her bird was not with her．“It is all right， Johannes！”she cried out．“You may come and see the Book．”
于是荣儿来到了。然而红膆鸟却不同来。“正好，约翰，”她大声叫，“你可以来，并且看那书去。”

“Where is Robin Redbreast？”said Johannes doubtfully．
“红膆鸟在那里呢？”约翰迟疑着问。

“He did not come；as we are not going for a walk．”
“没有带来，我们并不是散步呵。”

So he went with her，still thinking to himself：“It cannot be．—It will not be like this，—it must be quite different．”
他一同走，不住地暗想着：那是不能——那不能是这样的——一切都应该是另外的样子。

However，he followed the shining golden hair which lighted up the way．
然而他跟随着在他前面放光的灿烂的金发。

Alas！Sad things now befell little Johannes．I wish that his history ended here．Did you ever have a beautiful dream of an enchanted garden，with flowers and beasts who loved you and talked to you？ And have you in your dream had the consciousness that you would presently awake，and all the glory of it vanish？ Then you try with all your might to hold it fast，and not to see the cold light of morning．
唉！从此以后，小约翰就悲哀了。我希望他的故事在这里就完结。你可曾讨厌地梦见过一个魔幻的园，其中有着爱你而且和你谈天的花卉们和动物们的没有？于是你在梦里就有了那知觉，知道你就要醒来，并且将一切的华美都失掉了？于是你徒然费力于坚留它，而且你也不愿看那冰冷的晓色。

Johannes had just such a feeling as he followed Robinetta．
当他一同进去的时候，约翰就潜藏着这样的感觉。

She led him into the big house，into a passage where his steps echoed．He could smell the scent of clothes and food；he thought of the long days when he had been kept indoors—of his school-days—and of everything in his life which had been cold and gloomy．
他走到一所住房，那边一条进路，反响着他的脚步。他齅到衣服和食物的气味，他想到他该在家里时的悠长的日子——想到学校的功课，想到一切，凡是在他生活上幽暗而且冰冷的。

They went into a room full of men and women；how many，he could not see．They were talking，but as he went in they were silent．He noticed that the carpet had a pattern of huge，impossible flowers in gaudy colours．They were as strange and monstrous as those on the curtains in his bedroom at home．
他到了一间有人的房间。人有几多，他没有看。他们在闲谈，但他一进去，便寂静了。他注视地毯，有着很大的不能有的花纹带些刺目的色彩。色彩都很特别和异样，正如家乡的在他小屋子里的一般。

“So that is the gardener's little boy？”said a voice opposite him．“Come here，my little friend；there is nothing to be afraid of．”
“这是园丁孩子么？”一个正对着他的声音说，“进来就是，小朋友，你用不着害怕的。”

And another voice close to him said—“Well，Robbie，you have found a nice little companion．”
一个别的声音在他近旁突然发响：“唔，小荣，你有一个好宝贝儿哩。”

What did it all mean？ The deep lines gathered again above Johannes's dark childlike eyes，and he looked about him in bewilderment and alarm．
这都是什么意义呢？在约翰的乌黑的孩子眼上，又叠起深深的皱来，他并且惑乱地惊骇地四顾。

A man dressed in black sat near him，looking at him with cold，grey eyes．
那边坐着一个穿黑衣的男人，用了冷冷的严厉的眼睛看着他。

“So you want to see the Book of Books？ I am surprised that your father，whom I know for a pious man，should not have put it into your hands before now．”
“你要学习书中之书么？我很诧异，你的父亲，那园丁，那我以为是一个虔诚人的，竟还没有将这给了你。”

“You do not know my father；he is far，far away．”
“他不是我的父亲——他远得很。”

“Indeed！Well，it is the same thing．Look here，my little friend！ Read this diligently；it shall show you the way of life—”
“唔，那也一样。看罢，我的孩子！常常读着这一本，那就要到你的生活道上了……”

But Johannes had already recognised the Book．This was not what he wanted．No，something very different．He shook his head．
约翰却已认得了这书。他也不能这样地得到那一本，那应该是全然各别的。他摇摇头。

“No，no！that is not what I mean．I know this Book．This is not it．”
“不对，不对！这不是我所想的那一本。我知道，这不是那一本！”

He heard exclamations of surprise，and felt the looks which were fixed on him from all sides．
他听到了惊讶的声音，他也觉得了从四面刺他的眼光。

“What？ What do you mean，little man？”
“什么？你想着什么呢，小男人？”

“I know this book．It is the book men believe in．But there is not enough in it—if there were，there would be peace and goodwill among men．And there is none．I mean something different—something which no one can doubt who sees it；in which it is written，precisely and clearly，why everything is as it is．”
“我知道那本书儿，那是人类的书。这本却是还不够，否则人类就安宁和太平了。这并不是。我想着的是一些各别的，人一看，谁也不能怀疑。那里面记着为什么一切是这样的，像现状的这样，又清楚，又分明。”

“How is that possible？ Where can the boy have picked up such a notion？”
“这能么？这孩子的话是那里来的？”

“Who taught you that，my little friend？”
“谁教你的，小朋友？”

“I am afraid that you have read some wicked books，child，and are talking like them．”
“我相信，你看了邪书了，孩子，照它胡说出来罢。”

Thus spoke the various voices．Johannes felt his cheeks burning—his eyes were dim and dazzled—the room turned round，and the huge flowers on the carpet swayed up and down．Where was the little mouse who had so faithfully helped him that day in the school-room？ He wanted her badly．
几个声音这样地发响，约翰觉得他面庞炽热起来——他快要晕眩了——房屋旋转着，地毯上的大花朵一上一下地飘浮。前些日子在学校里这样忠诚地劝戒他的小鼠在那里呢？他现在用得着它了。

“I am not talking like any book，and he who taught me what I know is worth more than all of you together．I know the language of flowers and animals，and am friends with them all．And I know too what men are，and how they live．I know all the fairies' secrets and the wood-sprites'；for they all love me—more than men do．”
“我没有照书胡说，那教给我的，也比你们全班的价值要高些。我知道花卉们和动物们的话，我是它们的亲信。我明白人类是什么，以及他们怎样地生活着。我知道妖精们和小鬼头们的一切秘密，因为它们比人类更爱我。”

Johannes heard sounds of disapprobation and laughter behind him，and all sides．There was a singing and roaring in his ears．
约翰听得自己的周围和后面，有窃笑和喧笑。在他的耳朵里，吟唱并且骚鸣起来了。

“He seems to have read Hans Andersen's tales．”
“他像是读过安兑生了。”

“He is not quite right in his head．”
“他是不很了了的。”

The man opposite to him said：
正对着他的男人说：

“If you know Andersen，my little man，you ought to have more of his reverence for God and His Word．”
“如果你知道安兑生，孩子，你就得多有些他对于上帝的敬畏和他的话。”

“For God！”He knew that word，and he remembered Windekind's teaching．
“上帝！”这个字他识得的，而且他想到旋儿的所说。

“I have no reverence for God．God is a great Petroleum-lamp which leads thousands to misery and misfortune．”
“我对于上帝没有敬畏。上帝是一盏大煤油灯，由此成千的迷误了，毁灭了。”

There was no laughter now，but a terrible silence，in which horror and amazement might be felt on all sides．Johannes was conscious of piercing looks，even at his back．It was like his dream of the night before．
没有喧笑，却是可怕的沉静，其中混杂着嫌恶和惊怖。约翰在背上觉得钻刺的眼光。那是，就如在昨夜的他的梦里。

The man in black stood up and took him by the arm．This hurt him and almost crushed his courage．
那黑衣男人立起身来，抓住了他的臂膊。他痛楚，而且几乎挫折了勇气。

“Listen to me，youngster：I do not know whether you are utterly ignorant or utterly depraved，but I suffer no ungodly talk here．Go away，and never come in my sight again，I advise you．I will keep an eye on what becomes of you，but you never more set foot in this house．Do you understand？”
“听着罢，我的孩子，我不知道，你是否不甚了了，还是全毁了——这样的毁谤上帝在我这里却不能容忍——滚出去，也不要再到我的眼前来，我说。懂么？”

Every face was cold and hostile as he had seen them in his dream．
一切的眼光是寒冷和仇视，就如在那一夜。

Johannes looked about him in anguish．
约翰恐怖地四顾。

“Robinetta—where is Robinetta？”
“荣儿！——荣儿在那里？”

“Ay indeed！You would contaminate my child！Beware if you ever dare to come here again！”
“是了，我的孩子要毁了！——你当心着，你永不准和她说话！”

“不，让我到她那里！我不愿意离开她。荣儿，荣儿！”约翰哭着。

她却恐怖地坐在屋角里，并不抬起眼来。

“滚开，你这坏种！你不听！你不配再来！”

And the cruel grip led him down the echoing passage—the glass door slammed—and Johannes found himself outside，under the black driving clouds．He did not turn round，but stared straight before him as he slowly walked away．The sad furrows above his eyes were deeper，and did not smooth out again．
而且那痛楚的紧握，带着他走过反响的路，玻璃门砰然阖上了——约翰站在外面的黑暗的低垂的云物下。他不再哭了，当他徐徐地前行的时候，沉静地凝视着前面。在他眼睛上面的阴郁的皱纹也更其深，而且永不失却了。

The Redbreast sat in a lime hedge looking after him．He stopped and gazed back，but did not speak；but there was no longer any confidence in the bird's timid sharp little eyes，and when Johannes took a step nearer，the quick little creature shot away in hasty flight．
红膆鸟坐在一座菩提树林中，并且向他窥看。他静静地站住，沉默地报答以眼光。但在它胆怯的侦察的小眼睛里，已不再见信任，当他更近一步的时候，那敏捷的小动物便鼓翼而去了。

“Away，away！Here is a man！”piped the sparrows who were sitting in a row on the garden path，and they fluttered away in all directions．
“走罢！走罢！一个人！”同坐在园路上的麻雀们啾唧着，并且四散地飞开。

Even the open blossoms laughed no more，but looked grave and indifferent，as they do to all strangers．
盛开的花们也不再微笑，它们却严正而淡漠地凝视，就如对于一切的生人。

Still Johannes did not heed these signs，but only thought how cruelly he had been hurt by those men；it was as though a cold hard hand had been laid on his inmost secret soul．“They shall believe me yet！”thought he．“I will fetch my little key and show it to them．”
但约翰并不注意这些事，他只想着那人们给他的侮辱。在他是，仿佛有冰冷的坚硬的手，污了他的最深处了。“他们得相信我，”他想，“我要取我的匙儿，并且指示给他们。”

“Johannes，Johannes！”called a tiny voice．There was a bird's nest in a holly bush and Wistik's big eyes peeped out over the edge of it．“Where are you off to？”
“约翰！约翰！”一个脆的小声音叫道。那地方有一个小窠在一株冬青树里，将知的大眼睛正从窠边上望出来，“你往那里去？”

“It is all your fault！”said Johannes．“Leave me in peace．”
“一切都是你的罪，将知！”约翰说，“让我安静着罢。”

“What took you to talk with men？ Men can never understand you．Why do you tell men such things？ It is most foolish．”
“你怎么也同人类去说呢，人类是不懂你的呵。你为什么将这样的事情去讲给人类的？这真是呆气！”

“They laughed at me，and hurt me．They are detestable creatures！ I hate them．”
“他们笑骂我，又给我痛楚。那都是下贱东西！我憎恶他们。”

“No，Johannes；you love them．”
“不然，约翰，你爱他们。”

“No，no！”
“不然！不然！”

“If you did not，it would not vex you so much to find yourself different from them；it could not matter to you what they say．You must learn to care less．”
“他们不像你这样，于你就少一些痛苦了——他们的话，于你也就算不得什么了。对于人类，你须少介意一点。”

“I want my key．I want to show it to them．”
“我要我的匙儿。我要将这示给他们。”

“You must not do that；and they would not even then believe you．Of what use would it be？”
“这你不必做，他们还是不信你的。这有什么用呢？”

“I want my little key from under the rose-bush．Do you know where to find it？”
“我要蔷薇丛下的我的匙儿。你知道怎么寻觅它么？”

“Yes，certainly；by the pool you mean？ Yes，I know it．”
“是呀！——在池边，是么？是的，我知道它。”

“Then take me there，Wistik．”
“那就带领我去罢，将知！”

Wistik clambered up on Johannes's shoulder and showed him the way．They went on and on，all the day；the wind blew，and heavy rain fell from time to time，but towards evening the clouds ceased driving，and packed into long grey and gold bars．
将知腾上了约翰的眉头，告诉他道路。他们奔走了一整天——发风，有时下狂雨，但到晚上，云却平静了，并且伸成金色和灰色的长条。

When they reached the sand-hills which Johannes knew so well， his heart was sad within him，and he whispered again and again，“Windekind，Windekind！”
他们来到约翰所认识的沙冈时，他的心情柔软了，他每次细语着：“旋儿，旋儿。”

There was the rabbit-hole，and the sand-hill where he had fallen asleep．The grey reindeer-moss was soft and damp，and did not crack under his feet．The roses were all over，and the yellow evening-primroses with their faint oppressive scent opened their cups by hundreds．Higher yet grew the tall mulleins with their thick woolly leaves．
这里是兔窟——以及沙冈，在这上面他曾经睡过一回的。灰色的鹿苔软而且湿，并不在他的脚下挫折作响。蔷薇开完了，黄色的月下香带着它们的迷醉的微香，成百地伸出花萼来。那长的傲兀的王烛花伸得更高，和它们的厚实的毛叶。

Johannes looked carefully to espy the small russet leaves of the wild rose．
约翰细看那冈蔷薇的精细的淡褐色的枝柯。

“Where is it，Wistik？ I do not see it．”
“它在那里呢，将知？我看不见它。”

“I know nothing of it，”said Wistik．“You buried the key，not I．”
“那我不知道，”将知说，“是你藏了匙儿的，不是我。”

Where the rose-tree had stood there was a plot covered with yellow Oenotheras staring heedlessly at the sky．Johannes questioned them，and the mullein too；but they were much too proud， for their tall stems rose far above his head；so he asked the little three-coloured pansies on the sandy ground．However，no one knew anything of the wild rose．They were all new-comers this summer， even the mullein，arrogant and tall as it was．
蔷薇曾经开过的地方，已是满是淡漠地向上望着的黄色的月下香的田野了。约翰询问它们，也问王烛。然而它们太傲慢，因为它们的长花是高过他——约翰还去问沙地上的三色地丁花。却没有一个知道一点蔷薇的事。它们一切都是这一夏天的。不但那这么高的自负的王烛。

“Oh！where is it？ where is it？”
“唉，它在那里呢？它在那里呢？”

“Have you too deceived me？”cried Wistik．“I expected it；it is always so with men．”
“那么，你也骗了我了？”将知说，“这我早想到，人类总是这样的。”

And he let himself slip down from Johannes's shoulder，and ran away among the broom．
他从约翰的肩头溜下，在冈草间跑掉了。

Johannes looked about him in despair—there stood a tiny wild rose-bush．
约翰在绝望中四顾——那里站着一窠小小的冈蔷薇丛。

“Where is the big rose-bush？”asked Johannes；“the big one which used to stand here？”
“那大蔷薇在那里呢？”约翰问，“那大的，那先前站在这里的？”

“We never talk with human creatures，”said the shrub．That was the last thing he heard；everything remained silent．Only the broom-shrubs sighed in the light evening breeze．
“我们不和人类说话。”那小丛说。这是他所听到的末一回——四围的一切生物都沉静地缄默了，只有芦叶在轻微的晚风中瑟瑟地作响。

“Am I then a man？”thought Johannes．“No！it cannot be，it cannot be！I will not be a man！I hate men！”
“我是一个人么？”约翰想，“不，这不能是，不能是。我不愿意是人。我憎恶人类。”

He was tired and sick at heart．He lay down at the edge of the meadow，on the soft grey moss which gave out a strong，damp scent．
他疲乏，他的精神也迟钝了。他坐在小草地边的、散布着湿而强烈的气息的、柔软的苍苔上。

“Now I cannot find my way back，and shall never see Robinetta again．Shall I not die if I have not Robinetta？ Shall I live and grow to be a man—a man like those others who laughed at me？”
“我不能回去了，我也不能再见荣儿了。我的匙儿在那里呢？旋儿在那里呢？为什么我也须离开荣儿呢？我不能缺掉她。如果少了她，我不会死么？我总须生活着，且是一个人——像其他的，那笑骂我的一个人么？”

On a sudden he saw once more the two white butterflies which came flying towards him from the side where the sun was setting．He watched them anxiously；would they show him the way？ They fluttered over his head，sometimes close together and sometimes far apart，flitting about as if in whimsical play．By degrees they went farther and farther from the sun，and vanished at last over the ridge of the sand-hills towards the wood，where only the topmost boughs were now red in the evening glow which blazed out brightly from beneath the long dark levels of cloud．
于是他忽又看见那两个白胡蝶，那是从阳光方面向他飞来的。他紧张着跟在它们的飞舞之后，看它们是否指给他道路。它们在他的头上飞，彼此接近了，于是又分开了，在愉快的游戏中盘旋着。它们慢慢地离开阳光，终于飘过冈沿，到了树林里。那树林是只还有最高的尖，在从长的云列下面通红而鲜艳地闪射出来的夕照中发亮。

Johannes rose and went after them，but as they flew up over the first trees he saw that a black shadow followed them and overtook them with noiseless flight．The next instant they were gone．The black shade pounced swiftly down on them，and Johannes in terror covered his face with his hands．
约翰跟定它们。但当它们飞过最前排的树木的时候，他便觉察出，怎样地有一个黑影追蹑着有声的鼓翼，并且将它们擒拿。一转瞬间，它们便消失了。那黑影却迅速地向他射过来，他恐怖地用手掩了脸。

“Well，my little friend，what have you to cry about？”said a sharp mocking voice close at hand．Johannes had seen a big bat coming towards him，but when he now looked up a little black dwarf not much taller than himself was standing on the sand-hill．He had a large head with big ears which stuck out dark against the bright evening sky；a lean shape and thin legs．Johannes could see nothing of his face but the small twinkling eyes．
“唉，小孩子！你为什么坐在这里哭？”帖近他响着一个锋利的嘲笑的声音。约翰先曾看见，像是一只大的黑蝙蝠奔向他，待到他抬头去看的时候，却站着一个黑的小男人，比他自己大得很有限。他有一个大头带着大耳朵，黑暗地翘在明朗的暮天中，瘦的身躯和细细的腿。从他脸上，约翰只看见细小的闪烁的眼睛。

“Have you lost anything，my little fellow？ Can I help you seek it？”said he．
“你失掉了一点什么么，小孩子？那我愿意帮你寻。”他说。

But Johannes shook his head in silence．
但约翰沉默着摇摇头。

“Look here．Would you like to have these？”he began again， opening his hand．In it Johannes saw something white which still moved a little．This was the two white butterflies，their crushed and broken wings quivering in their death-struggle．Johannes shuddered as though some one had blown against the nape of his neck，and he looked up in alarm at the strange being．“Who are you？”he asked．
“看罢，你要我的这个么？”他又开始了，并且摊开手。约翰在那上面看见一点白东西，时时动弹着。那便是白色的胡蝶儿，快要死了，颤动着撕破的和拗断的小翅子。约翰觉到一个寒栗，似乎有人从后面在吹他，并且恐惧地仰看那奇特的家伙。“你是谁？”他问。

“You would like to know my name？ Well，call me Pluizer—simply Pluizer．I have other prettier names，but you would not understand them yet．”
“你要知道我的名字么，小孩子？那么，你就只称我穿凿，简直穿凿。我虽然还有较美的名字，然而你是不懂的。”

“Are you a man？”
“你是一个人么？”

“Better and better！Well，I have arms and legs and a head—see what a head—and the boy asks me whether lama man！Why， Johannes，Johannes！”And the mannikin laughed with a shrill piercing note．
“听罢！我有着臂膊和腿和一个头——看看是怎样的一个头罢！——那孩子却问我，我是否一个人哩！但是，约翰，约翰！”那小男人还用咿咿哑哑的声音笑起来。

“How do you know who I am？”asked Johannes．
“你怎么知道我是谁呢？”约翰问。

“Oh，that，to me，is a mere trifle．I know a great deal more than that．I know whence you have come and what you came to do．I know a wonderful deal—almost everything．”
“唉，这在我是容易的。我知道的还多得很。我也知道你从那里来以及你在这里做什么。我知道得怪气的多，几乎一切。”

“Ah，Master Pluizer—”
“唉，穿凿先生……”

“Pluizer，Pluizer—without any fine words．”
“穿凿，穿凿，不要客气。”

“Then do you know anything—”but Johannes was suddenly silent．“He is a man，”thought he．
“你可也知道……？”但约翰骤然沉默了，“他是一个人。”他想。

“Of the little key，do you mean？ Why，to be sure！”
“你想你的匙儿罢？一定是！”

“But I did not think that any man could know about that．”
“我却自己想着，人类是不能知道那个的。”

“Foolish boy！Besides，Wistik has told me all about it．”
“胡涂孩子！将知已经泄漏了很多了。”

“Then do you know Wistik too？”
“那么你也和将知认识的？”

“Oh yes！One of my best friends—and I have many friends．But I know it without Wistik．I know a great deal more than Wistik．Wistik is a very good fellow—but stupid，uncommonly stupid．Now， I am not！Far from it！”And Pluizer tapped his big head with his lean little hand．
“呵，是的！他是我的最好的朋友之一——这样的我还很多。但这却不用将知我早知道了。我所知道的比将知还要广。一个好小子，然而胡涂，出格地胡涂。我不然！全不然。”穿凿并且用了瘦小的手，自慰地敲他的大头。

“Do you know，Johannes，”he went on，“what Wistik's great defect is？—but you must never tell him，for he would be very angry．”
“你知道么，约翰，”他说下去，“什么是将知的大缺点？但你千万永不可告诉他，否则他要大大地恼怒的。”

“Well，what is it？”said Johannes．
“那么，是什么呢？”约翰问。

“He does not exist．That is a great defect，but he does not admit it．And he says the same of me，that I do not exist．But that is a lie．I not exist，indeed！What next，I wonder？”
“他完全不存在。这是一个大缺点，他却不肯赞成，而且他还说过我，我是不存在的。然而那是他说诳。我是否在这里！还有一千回！”

And Pluizer put the butterflies into his satchel，and suddenly turning a somersault stood before Johannes on his head．Then，with a hideous grin，he stuck out a vile long tongue．Johannes，who did not feel at all at his ease alone with this strange being in the growing dusk on the deserted sand-hills，now fairly quaked with fear．
穿凿将胡蝶塞在衣袋里，并且突然在约翰面前倒立起来。于是他可厌地装着怪相笑，还吐出一条长长的舌头。约翰是，时当傍晚，和这样的一个奇特东西在沙冈上，心情本已愁惨了的，现在却因恐怖而发抖了。

“This is a delightful manner of surveying the world，”said Pluizer，still upside down．“If you like I will teach you to do it．You see everything much clearer，and more life-like．”
“观察世界，这是一个很适宜的方法，”穿凿说，还总是倒立着。“如果你愿意，我也肯教给你。看一切都更清楚，更自然。”

And he flourished his little legs in the air and waltzed round on his hands．As the red light fell on his inverted face Johannes thought it perfectly horrible；those little eyes twinkled in the glow and showed the whites at the lower edge where it is not generally visible．
他还将那细腿在空中开合着，并且用手向四面旋转。当红色的夕光落在颠倒的脸上时，约翰觉得这很可厌——小眼睛在光中瞟着，还露出寻常看不见的眼白来。

“You see，in this position the clouds seem to be the ground and the earth the top of the world．It is just as easy to maintain that as the converse．There is really no above or below．A very pretty place to walk on those clouds must be！”
“你看，这样是云彩如地面，而这地有如世界的屋顶。相反也一样地很可以站得住的。既没有上，也没有下。云那里许是一片更美的游步场。”

Johannes looked up at the long stretches of cloud．They looked to him like a ploughed land，with red furrows，as though blood welled up from it．Just over the pool yawned the gate of the cloud-grotto．
约翰仰视那连绵的云。他想，这颇像有着涌血的红畦的生翼的田野。在海上，灿烂着云的洞府的高门。

“Can any one go there and enter in？”he asked．
“人能够到那里去，并且进去么？”他问。

“What nonsense！”said Pluizer，suddenly standing on his feet again，to Johannes's great relief，“Nonsense！If you were there you would find it just the same as here，and it would look as beautiful as that further on again．But in those lovely clouds it is all foggy and grey and cold．”
“无意识！”穿凿说，而使约翰很安心的，是忽然又用两脚来站立了。“无意识！倘你在那里，那完全同这里一模一样——那就许是仿佛那华美再远一点儿。在那美丽的云里，是冥蒙的，灰色而且寒冷的。”

“I do not believe you，”cried Johannes．“Now I see you really are a man．”
“我不信你，”约翰说，“我这才看清楚，你是一个人。”

“Come，come！You do not believe me，my little friend，because I am a man？ And what sort of creature are you then，I should like to know？”
“去罢！你不信我，可爱的孩子，因为我是一个人么？而你——你或者是别的什么么？”

“O Pluizer！Am I，too，really a man？”
“唉，穿凿，我也是一个人么？”

“What do you suppose？ An elf？ Elves are never in love．”And Pluizer unexpectedly sat down on the ground at Johannes's feet with his leg crossed under him，staring at him with a villainous grin．Johannes was unutterably embarrassed and uncomfortable under his gaze，and wished he could escape or become invisible．But he could not even take his eyes off him．“Only men fall in love，Johannes，d'ye hear！And so much the better，or there would be none left by this time．And you are in love like the best of them，although you are but a little fellow．Of whom are you thinking at this moment？”
“你怎么想，一个妖精么？妖精们是不被爱的。”穿凿便交叉着腿坐在约翰的面前，而且含着怪笑目不转睛地对他看。约翰在这眼光之下，觉得不可名言地失措和不安，想要潜藏或隐去。然而他不复能够转眼了。“只有人类被爱，约翰，你听着！而且这是完全正当的，否则他们也许早已不存在了。你虽然还太年青，却一直被爱到耳朵之上。你正想着谁呢？”

“Of Robinetta，”whispered Johannes，hardly above his breath．
“想荣儿。”约翰小声说，几乎听不见地。

“Whom do you most long for？”
“你对谁最仰慕呢？”

“Robinetta．”
“对荣儿。”

“Without whom do you think you could not live？”
“你以为没有谁便不能生活呢？”

Johannes's lips moved silently：“Robinetta．”
约翰的嘴唇轻轻地说，“荣儿。”

“Well then，youngster，”grinned Pluizer，“what made you fancy that you could be an elf？ Elves do not love the daughters of men．”
“唉，哪，小子，”穿凿忍着笑，“你怎么自己想象，是一个妖精呢？妖们是并不痴爱人类的孩子的。”

“But it was Windekind，”Johannes stammered out in his bewilderment．
“然而她是旋儿……”约翰在慌张中含胡地说。

But Pluizer flew into a terrible rage and his bony fingers gripped Johannes by the ears．“What folly is this？ Would you try to frighten me with that whippersnapper thing？ He is a greater simpleton than Wistik—much greater．He knows nothing at all．And what is worse， he does not exist in any sense，and never has existed．I only exist， do you understand？ And if you do not believe me，I will let you feel what I am．”
于是穿凿便嫌忌地做作地注视，并且用他骨立的手捏住了约翰的耳朵。“这是怎样的无意识呢？你要用那蠢物来吓我么？他比将知还胡涂得远——胡涂得远。他一点不懂。那最坏的是，他其实就没有存在着，而且也没有存在过。只有我存在着，你懂么？——如果你不信我，我就要使你觉得，我就在这里。”

And he shook the hapless Johannes by the ears．Johannes cried out—“But I have known him such a long time，and have travelled such a long way with him！”
他还用力摇撼那可怜的约翰的耳朵。约翰叫道：“我却认识他很长久，还和他巡游得很远的！”

“You dreamed it，I tell you．Where are the rose bush and the little key，hey？ But you are not dreaming now．Do you feel that？”
“你做了梦，我说。你的蔷薇丛和你的匙儿在那里呢，说？——但你现在不要做梦了，你明白么？”

“Oh！”cried Johannes，for Pluizer nipped him．
“噢！”约翰叫喊，因为穿凿在掐他。

It was by this time dark，and the bats flew close over their heads and piped shrilly．The air was black and heavy，not a leaf was stirring in the wood．
天已经昏黑了，蝙蝠在他们的头边纷飞，还叫得刺耳。天空是黑而且重——没有一片叶在树林里作声。

“May I go home？”asked Johannes，—“home to my father？”
“我可以回家去么？”约翰恳求着。“向我的父亲？”

“To your father！What to do there？”said Pluizer．“A warm reception you will get from him after staying away so long．”
“你的父亲？你要在那里做什么？”穿凿问。“在你这样久远地出外之后，人将亲爱地对你叫欢迎。”

“I want to get home，”said Johannes，and he thought of the snug room with the bright lamp light where he would sit so often by his father's side，listening to the scratching of his pen．It was quiet there， and not lonely．
“我念家。”约翰说，他一面想着那明亮地照耀着的住室，他在那里常常挨近他父亲坐，并且倾听着他的笔锋声的。那里平和而且舒畅。

“Well then，you would have done better not to come away，and stayed so long for the sake of that senseless jackanapes who has not even any existence．Now it is too late，but it does not matter in the least；I will take care of you．And whether I do it or your father， comes to precisely the same in the end．Such a father—it is a mere matter of education．Did you choose your own father？ Do you suppose that there is no one so good or so clever as he？ I am just as good，and cleverer—much cleverer．”
“是呵，因为爱那并不存在的蠢才，你就无须走开和出外了。现在已经太迟。而这也不算什么，我早就要照管你了。我来做呢，或是你的父亲来做呢，本来总归是一件事。这样的一个父亲却不过是想象。你大概是为自己选定了他的罢？你以为再没有一个别的，会一样好，一样明白的么？我就一样好，而且明白得多，明白得多。”

Johannes had no heart to answer；he shut his eyes and nodded feebly．
约翰没有勇气回答了。他合了眼，疲乏地点头。

“And it would be of no use to look for anything from Robinetta，”the little man went on．He laid his hands on Johannes's shoulders and spoke close into his ear．That child thought you just as much a fool as the others did．Did you not observe that she sat in the corner and never spoke a word when they all laughed at you？ She is no better than the rest．She thought you a nice little boy，and was ready to play with you—as she would have played with a cockchafer．She will not care that you are gone away．And she knows nothing of that Book．But I do；I know where it is，and I will help you to find it．I know almost everything．”
“而且对于这荣儿，你也不必寻觅了。”穿凿接下去。他将手放在约翰的肩头，紧接着他的耳朵说：“那孩子也如别个一样，领你去上痴子索。当人们笑骂你的时候，你没有见她怎样地坐在屋角里，而且一句话也不说么？她并不比别人好。她看得你好，同你游嬉，就正如她和一个金虫玩耍。你的走开与否，她不在意，她也毫不知道那书儿。然而我却是——我知道那书在那里，还要带你去寻觅。我几乎知道一切。”

And Johannes was beginning to believe him．
约翰相信他起来了。

“Now will you come with me？ Will you seek it with me？”
“你同我去么？你愿意同我寻觅么？”

“I am so tired，”said Johannes，“let me sleep first．”
“我很困倦，”约翰说，“给我在无论什么地方睡觉罢。”

“I have no opinion of sleep，”replied Pluizer，“I am too active for that．A man must always be wide awake and thinking．But I will grant you a little time for rest．Till to-morrow morning！”
“我向来不喜欢这睡觉，”穿凿说，“这一层我是太活泼了。一个人应该永远醒着，并且思想着。但我要给你安静一会儿——明晨见！”

And he put on the friendliest expression of which he was capable．Johannes looked hard into his little twinkling eyes till he could see nothing else．His head was heavy and he lay down on the mossy knoll．The little eyes seemed to go further and further from him till they were starry specks in the dark sky；he fancied he heard the sound of distant voices，as though the earth beneath him were going away and away—and then he ceased to think at all．
于是他做出友爱的姿态，这是他刚才懂得做法的。约翰凝视着闪烁的小眼睛，直至他此外一无所见。他的头沉重了，他倚在生苔的冈坡上。似乎那小眼睛越闪越远，后来就像星星在黑暗的天空。他仿佛听到远处的声音发响，地面也从他底下远远地离开……于是他的思想停止了。