《伊布和小克里斯蒂娜》，1855 年
Ib and Little christina, 1855
在北日德兰半岛古德瑙河岸延伸出去、深入内陆且离清澈溪流不远的那片森林里，有一道高大的土岗拔地而起，它像一堵墙似的贯穿树林。
In the forest that extends from the banks of the Gudenau, in North Jutland, a long way into the country, and not far from the clear stream, rises a great ridge of land, which stretches through the wood like a wall.
在这道土岗的西边，离河不远的地方，有一座农舍，它四周的土地十分贫瘠，稀疏的黑麦和小麦穗间都能看见沙地。
westward of this ridge, and not far from the river, stands a farmhouse, surrounded by such poor land that the sandy soil shows itself between the scanty ears of rye and wheat which grow in it.
住在这里的人耕种这些田地已经是好些年前的事了；他们养了三只羊、一头猪和两头牛；实际上，他们过得很不错，生活所需应有尽有，就像那些知足常乐的人们通常那样。
Some years have passed since the people who lived here cultivated these fields; they kept three sheep, a pig, and two oxen; in fact they maintained themselves very well, they had quite enough to live upon, as people generally have who are content with their lot.
他们甚至本来养得起两匹马的，但在当地的农民中间有这么一种说法：“马会把自己吃光的。” 也就是说，马吃的和它挣的一样多。
they even could have afforded to keep two horses, but it was a saying among the farmers in those parts, “the horse eats himself up;” that is to say, he eats as much as he earns.
耶普?扬斯夏天耕种田地，冬天就做木鞋。
Jeppe Jans cultivated his fields in summer, and in the winter he made wooden shoes.
他还有个帮手，是个小伙子，和他一样懂得怎样把木鞋做得既结实又轻便，而且款式新颖。
he also had an assistant, a lad who understood as well as he himself did how to make wooden shoes strong, but light, and in the fashion.
他们雕刻鞋子和勺子，收入很不错；所以，谁也不能理直气壮地说耶普?扬斯和他的家人是穷人。
they carved shoes and spoons, which paid well; therefore no one could justly call Jeppe Jans and his family poor people.
小伊布，一个七岁的男孩，也是家里唯一的孩子，会坐在一旁，看着工匠们干活，或者削一根木棍，有时候削到的却是自己的手指而不是木棍。
Little Ib, a boy of seven years old and the only child, would sit by, watching the workmen, or cutting a stick, and sometimes his finger instead of the stick.
但有一天，伊布雕刻得特别成功，他把两块木头雕得真的很像两只小木鞋，于是他决定把它们当作礼物送给小克里斯蒂娜。
but one day Ib succeeded so well in his carving that he made two pieces of wood look really like two little wooden shoes, and he determined to give them as a present to Little christina.
“那么小克里斯蒂娜是谁呢？”
她是船夫的女儿，举止优雅、娇弱纤细，就像一位绅士家的孩子；要是她穿得不一样，没人会相信她和父亲住在邻近荒野的一间小屋里。
“And who was Little christina?”
She was the boatman’s daughter, graceful and delicate as the child of a gentleman; had she been dressed differently, no one would have believed that she lived in a hut on the neighboring heath with her father.
他是个鳏夫，靠用他的大船从森林里把柴火运到锡尔克堡庄园的鳗鱼池和鳗鱼堰，有时甚至运到遥远的兰讷斯镇来维持生计。
he was a widower, and earned his living by carrying firewood in his large boat from the forest to the eel-pond and eel-weir, on the estate of Silkborg, and sometimes even to the distant town of Randers.
没有人能让他放心把小克里斯蒂娜托付过去；所以她几乎总是和他在船上，或者在石南花丛盛开的树林里玩耍，或者采摘成熟的野浆果。
there was no one under whose care he could leave Little christina; so she was almost always with him in his boat, or playing in the wood among the blossoming heath, or picking the ripe wild berries.
有时，当她父亲要到镇上去的时候，他会带着比伊布小一岁的小克里斯蒂娜穿过荒野，来到耶普?扬斯的小屋，把她留在那儿。
Sometimes, when her father had to go as far as the town, he would take Little christina, who was a year younger than Ib, across the heath to the cottage of Jeppe Jans, and leave her there.
伊布和克里斯蒂娜在所有事情上都意见一致；他们饿了就会平分面包和浆果；他们一起挖小花园；他们到处跑、到处爬、到处玩耍。
Ib and christina agreed together in everything; they divided their bread and berries when they were by hungry; they were partners in digging their little gardens; they ran, and crept, and played about everywhere.
有一次，他们在森林里走了很远，甚至一起冒险爬上了那道高高的土岗。
once they wandered a long way into the forest, and even ventured together to climb the high ridge.
还有一次，他们在树林里发现了几枚鹬鸟蛋，这可真是件大事。
Another time they found a few snipes’ eggs in the wood, which was a great event.
伊布从来没去过克里斯蒂娜父亲住的荒野，也没到过那条河；但终于有了一个机会。
Ib had never been on the heath where christina’s father lived, nor on the river; but at last came an opportunity.
克里斯蒂娜的父亲邀请他乘船出游；前一天晚上，他就跟着船夫穿过荒野来到了他家。
christina’s father invited him to go for a sail in his boat; and the evening before, he acpanied the boatman across the heath to his house.
第二天一大早，两个孩子被放在船里高高一堆柴火的顶上，坐着吃面包和野草莓，而克里斯蒂娜的父亲和他的帮手则用篙撑着船往前走。
the next morning early, the two children were placed on the top of a high pile of firewood in the boat, and sat eating bread and wild strawberries, while christina’s father and his man drove the boat forward with poles.
他们顺流而下，速度很快，因为潮水对他们有利，他们经过了溪流形成的湖泊；有时候，他们似乎完全被芦苇和水生植物包围了，但总是有足够的空间让他们通过，尽管老树垂在水面上，老橡树伸出它们光秃秃的树枝，好像它们挽起了袖子，想要露出它们多节、赤裸的枝干似的。
they floated on swiftly, for the tide was in their favor, passing over lakes, formed by the stream in its course; sometimes they seemed quite enclosed by reeds and water-plants, yet there was always room for them to pass out, although the old trees overhung the water and the old oaks stretched out their bare branches, as if they had turned up their sleeves and wished to show their knotty, naked arms.
老赤杨树，它们的根从河岸上松动了，用它们的纤维紧紧抓住河床底部，水面上的树枝顶部看起来就像小小的树木繁茂的岛屿。
old alder-trees, whose roots were released from the banks, clung with their fibres to the bottom of the stream, and the tops of the branches above the water looked like little woody islands.
睡莲在河上随风摇曳，一切都让这次出游变得很美，最后他们来到了大鳗鱼堰，那里的水从水闸中奔涌而过；孩子们觉得这景色美极了。
the water-lilies waved themselves to and fro on the river, everything made the excursion beautiful, and at last they came to the great eel-weir, where the water rushed through the flood-gates; and the children thought this a beautiful sight.
在那个时候，那里既没有工厂，也没有城镇房屋，只有那座大农场，田里收成稀少，能看到几群牛，还有一两个农场雇工。
In those days there was no factory nor any town house, nothing but the great farm, with its scanty-bearing fields, in which could be seen a few herd of cattle, and one or two farm laborers.
水从闸门奔涌而过的声音，以及野鸭的尖叫声，几乎是锡尔克堡仅有的生机迹象。
the rushing of the water through the sluices, and the scream of the wild ducks, were almost the only signs of active life at Silkborg.
柴火卸完后，克里斯蒂娜的父亲买了整整一捆鳗鱼和一头小猪崽，它们都被放在船尾的一个篮子里。
After the firewood had been unloaded, christina’s father bought a whole bundle of eels and a sucking-pig, which were all placed in a basket in the stern of the boat.
然后他们又逆流而上；因为风向有利，就升起了两面帆，船就像套上了两匹马一样快速前行。
then they returned again up the stream; and as the wind was favorable, two sails were hoisted, which carried the boat on as well as if two horses had been harnessed to it.
他们航行途中，偶然来到了船夫助手住的地方，离河岸有一小段距离。
As they sailed on, they came by chance to the place where the boatman’s assistant lived, at a little distance from the bank of the river.
船被系泊好；那两个男人嘱咐孩子们坐着别动后，就都上岸了。
the boat was moored; and the two men, after desiring the children to sit still, both went on shore.
他们只遵守了这个命令很短的时间，然后就完全把它抛到脑后了。
they obeyed this order for a very short time, and then forgot it altogether.
首先，他们往装着鳗鱼和小猪崽的篮子里偷看；接着，他们非得把小猪崽拉出来拿在手里，摸摸它，碰碰它；由于他们俩都想同时拿着它，结果就是他们让小猪崽掉进了水里，小猪崽就顺着水流漂走了。
First they peeped into the basket containing the eels and the sucking-pig; then they must needs pull out the pig and take it in their hands, and feel it, and touch it; and as they both wanted to take it at the same time, the consequence was that they let it fall into the water, and the pig sailed away with the stream.
这可真是一场可怕的灾难。
here was a terrible disaster.
伊布跳到岸上，从船边跑开了一小段距离。
Ib jumped ashore, and ran a little distance from the boat.
“哦，带上我一起。” 克里斯蒂娜喊道；她也跟着他跳了上去。
“oh, take me with you,” cried christina; and she sprang after him.
没几分钟，他们就发现自己身处一片茂密的灌木丛深处，已经看不见船和河岸了。
In a few minutes they found themselves deep in a thicket, and could no longer see the boat or the shore.
他们又跑了一小段路，然后克里斯蒂娜摔倒了，开始哭起来。
they ran on a little farther, and then christina fell down, and began to cry.
伊布把她扶起来，说：“没关系，跟着我。那边就是房子。”
Ib helped her up, and said, “Never mind; follow me.
Yonder is the house.”
但房子并不在那边；他们继续在去年干枯作响的落叶上走得更远，脚下踩着掉落的树枝，发出嘎吱嘎吱的声音；接着，他们听到一声响亮而刺耳的叫声，便停下来听。
but the house was not yonder; and they wandered still farther, over the dry rustling leaves of the last year, and toding on fallen branches that crackled under their little feet; then they heard a loud, piercing cry, and they stood still to listen.
不一会儿，一只老鹰的尖叫声在树林中响起；这叫声很难听，把孩子们吓坏了；但在他们前面，在森林最茂密的地方，长着数量惊人的最漂亮的黑莓。
presently the scream of an eagle sounded through the wood; it was an ugly cry, and it frightened the children; but before them, in the thickest part of the forest, grew the most beautiful blackberries, in wonderful quantities.
它们看起来太诱人了，孩子们忍不住停下来；他们在那儿吃了好久，嘴巴和脸颊都被果汁染得黑乎乎的。
they looked so inviting that the children could not help stopping; and they remained there so long eating, that their mouths and cheeks became quite black with the juice.
不一会儿，他们又听到了那可怕的叫声，克里斯蒂娜说：“我们会因为那头小猪惹上麻烦的。”
presently they heard the frightful scream again, and christina said, “we shall get into trouble about that pig.”
“哦，没关系，” 伊布说，“我们回我爸爸家去。它就在这片树林里。”
“oh, never mind,” said Ib; “we will go home to my father’s house.
It is here in the wood.”
于是他们继续走，但路却把他们带偏了；看不到房子，天渐渐黑了，孩子们害怕起来。
So they went on, but the road led them out of the way; no house could be seen, it grew dark, and the children were afraid.
他们周围庄严的寂静不时被大角鸮和其他他们一无所知的鸟儿尖锐的叫声打破。
the solemn stillness that reigned around them was now and then broken by the shrill cries of the great horned owl and other birds that they knew nothing of.
最后，他们俩在灌木丛中迷了路；克里斯蒂娜开始哭起来，接着伊布也哭了；哭了一会儿后，他们便在干枯的树叶上躺下来睡着了。
At last they both lost themselves in the thicket; christina began to cry, and then Ib cried too; and, after weeping and lamenting for some time, they stretched themselves down on the dry leaves and fell asleep.
当两个孩子醒来时，太阳已经高高地挂在天上了。
the sun was high in the heavens when the two children woke.
他们觉得冷；但在离他们休息的地方不远的一座小山上，阳光正透过树林洒下来。
they felt cold; but not far from their resting-place, on a hill, the sun was shining through the trees.
他们想，如果去那儿就会暖和些，而且伊布觉得从那么高的地方应该能看到他父亲的房子。
they thought if they went there they should be warm, and Ib fancied he should be able to see his father’s house from such a high spot.
但他们现在离家已经很远了，在森林的另一个完全不同的地方。
but they were far away from home now, in quite another part of the forest.
他们爬到那座小山的山顶，发现自己站在一个斜坡的边缘，斜坡向下延伸到一个清澈透明的湖边。
they clambered to the top of the rising ground, and found themselves on the edge of a declivity, which sloped down to a clear transparent lake.
透过清澈的湖水可以看到大量的鱼，在阳光的照耀下闪闪发光；他们突然看到这样意想不到的景象，都惊讶不已。
Great quantities of fish could be seen through the clear water, sparkling in the sun’s rays; they were quite surprised when they came so suddenly upon such an unexpected sight.
紧挨着他们站的地方长着一丛榛树，上面挂满了漂亮的榛子。
close to where they stood grew a hazel-bush, covered with beautiful nuts.
他们很快就摘了一些，砸开后吃里面鲜嫩的果仁，这些果仁刚刚成熟。
they soon gathered some, cracked them, and ate the fine young kernels, which were only just ripe.
但还有另一个让他们惊讶和害怕的事情在等着他们。
but there was another surprise and fright in store for them.
从灌木丛中走出一个又高又老的女人，她的脸很黑，头发又黑又亮；她的眼白像摩尔人（注：非洲西北部的一个民族）的一样闪闪发光；她背上背着一个包裹，手里拿着一根有节的棍子。
out of the thicket stepped a tall old woman, her face quite brown, and her hair of a deep shining black; the whites of her eyes glittered like a moor’s; on her back she carried a bundle, and in her hand a knotted stick.
她是个吉普赛人。
She was a gypsy.
孩子们一开始不明白她在说什么。
the children did not at first understand what she said.
她从口袋里掏出三颗大坚果，告诉他们说，这世界上最美丽、最可爱的东西就藏在里面，因为它们是许愿坚果。
She drew out of her pocket three large nuts, in which she told them were hidden the most beautiful and lovely things in the world, for they were wishing nuts.
伊布看着她，见她说话那么和蔼，便鼓起了勇气，问她能不能把坚果给他；那女人就把坚果给了他，然后又从灌木丛里为自己摘了好些，装了满满一口袋。
Ib looked at her, and as she spoke so kindly, he took courage, and asked her if she would give him the nuts; and the woman gave them to him, and then gathered some more from the bushes for herself, quite a pocket full.
伊布和克里斯蒂娜睁大眼睛看着这些许愿坚果。
Ib and christina looked at the wishing nuts with wide open eyes.
“这颗坚果里有一辆马车，配着一对马吗？”
伊布问道。
“Is there in this nut a carriage, with a pair of horses?”
asked Ib.
“有的，有一辆金色的马车，配着两匹金马。” 那女人回答道。
“Yes, there is a golden carriage, with two golden horses,” replied the woman.
“那把那颗坚果给我吧。” 克里斯蒂娜说；于是伊布就把它给了她，那个陌生女人用手帕把坚果给她包了起来。
“then give me that nut,” said christina; so Ib gave it to her, and the strange woman tied up the nut for her in her handkerchief.
伊布举起另一颗坚果。
“这颗坚果里有一条像克里斯蒂娜脖子上戴的那样漂亮的小围巾吗？”
伊布问道。
Ib held up another nut.
“Is there, in this nut, a pretty little neckerchief like the one christina has on her neck?”
asked Ib.
“里面有十条围巾呢，” 她回答说，“还有漂亮的裙子、长筒袜、一顶帽子和面纱。”
“there are ten neckerchiefs in it,” she replied, “as well as beautiful dresses, stockings, and a hat and veil.”
“那我也要那颗。” 克里斯蒂娜说；“它也很漂亮呢。” 然后伊布就把第二颗坚果给了她。
“then I will have that one also,” said christina; “and it is a pretty one too.”
And then Ib gave her the second nut.
第三颗是个小小的黑色东西。
“你可以留着那颗。” 克里斯蒂娜说；“它也一样漂亮。”
the third was a little black thing.
“You may keep that one,” said christina; “it is quite as pretty.”
“里面有什么呀？”
伊布问道。
“what is in it?”
asked Ib.
“对你来说是最好的东西。” 吉普赛人回答道。于是伊布紧紧地握住了那颗坚果。
“the best of all things for you,” replied the gypsy.
So Ib held the nut very tight.
然后那个女人答应带孩子们走上正确的路，这样他们就能找到回家的路了：他们确实朝着和原本打算走的完全不同的方向走去；所以谁也不应该说那女人的坏话，说她想偷走孩子们。
then the woman promised to lead the children to the right path, that they might find their way home: and they went forward certainly in quite another direction to the one they meant to take; therefore no one ought to speak against the woman, and say that she wanted to steal the children.
在那荒僻的林间小路上，他们遇到了一个认识伊布的护林人，在他的帮助下，伊布和克里斯蒂娜回到了家，到家后发现每个人都为他们非常担心。
In the wild wood-path they met a forester who knew Ib, and, by his help, Ib and christina reached home, where they found every one had been very anxious about them.
他们得到了原谅，虽然他们俩确实都做错了事，是该受罚的；首先，因为他们让小猪崽掉进了水里；其次，因为他们跑掉了。
they were pardoned and forgiven, although they really had both done wrong, and deserved to get into trouble; first, because they had let the sucking-pig fall into the water; and, second, because they had been running away.
克里斯蒂娜被送回了她父亲在荒野上的家，而伊布则留在了树林边、靠近那道高大土岗的农舍里。
christina was taken back to her father’s house on the heath, and Ib remained in the farm-house on the borders of the wood, near the great land ridge.
那天晚上伊布做的第一件事就是从口袋里拿出那颗小黑坚果，据说里面藏着最好的东西。
the first thing Ib did that evening was to take out of his pocket the little black nut, in which the best thing of all was said to be enclosed.
他小心翼翼地把它放在门和门柱之间，然后关上门，这样坚果就立刻被压碎了。
he laid it carefully between the door and the door-post, and then shut the door so that the nut cracked directly.
但是里面没多少果仁可看；就是我们所说的空心的或者被虫蛀过的样子，看上去好像里面装满了烟草或者肥沃的黑土。
but there was not much kernel to be seen; it was what we should call hollow or worm-eaten, and looked as if it had been filled with tobacco or rich black earth.
“我就料到会是这样！” 伊布叫道。“这么一颗小坚果里怎么会装得下最好的东西呢？
克里斯蒂娜会发现她的两颗坚果也是一样的；里面既不会有漂亮衣服也不会有金色马车。”
“It is just what I expected!” exclaimed Ib.
“how should there be room in a little nut like this for the best thing of all?
christina will find her two nuts just the same; there will be neither fine clothes or a golden carriage in them.”
冬天来了；新的一年到了，实际上许多年过去了；直到伊布到了可以受坚信礼的年龄，于是，他整个冬天都去最近的村子里找牧师做准备。
winter came; and the new year, and indeed many years passed away; until Ib was old enough to be confirmed, and, therefore, he went during a whole winter to the clergyman of the nearest village to be prepared.
大约在这个时候，有一天，船夫去拜访了伊布的父母，告诉他们克里斯蒂娜要去当佣人了，而且她非常幸运，在一户很体面的人家找到了一份好差事。
one day, about this time, the boatman paid a visit to Ib’s parents, and told them that christina was going to service, and that she had been remarkably fortunate in obtaining a good place, with most respectable people.
“想想看，” 他说，“她要去赫宁市的一家旅馆，给富有的旅店老板家帮忙，那儿离这儿往西好多英里呢。
她要帮老板娘料理家务；而且，如果她以后表现好，一直待到受坚信礼，那家人会把她当作亲生女儿一样对待的。”
“only think,” he said, “She is going to the rich innkeeper’s, at the hotel in herning, many miles west from here.
She is to assist the landlady in the housekeeping; and, if afterwards she behaves well and remains to be confirmed, the people will treat her as their own daughter.”
于是伊布和克里斯蒂娜就此分别了。
人们已经称他们为 “未婚夫妻” 了，分别时，女孩把那两颗坚果拿给伊布看，自从他们在树林里迷路那次之后，她就一直小心保管着；她还告诉他，他小时候为她雕刻并当作礼物送给她的那双小木鞋，从那以后也一直被仔细地收在一个抽屉里。
So Ib and christina took leave of each other.
people already called them “the betrothed,” and at parting the girl showed Ib the two nuts, which she had taken care of ever since the time that they lost themselves in the wood; and she told him also that the little wooden shoes he once carved for her when he was a boy, and gave her as a present, had been carefully kept in a drawer ever since.
然后他们就分开了。
And so they parted.
伊布受完坚信礼后，就和母亲一起待在家里，因为他已经成了一个能干的鞋匠，夏天的时候还能独自打理农场。
After Ib’s confirmation, he remained at the home with his mother, for he had bee a clever shoemaker, and in summer managed the farm for her quite alone.
他父亲已经去世有些时候了，他母亲也没雇农场工人。
his father had been dead some time, and his mother kept no farm servants.
有时候，但很少见，他会从路过的邮差或卖鳗鱼的人那里听到一些关于克里斯蒂娜的消息。
Sometimes, but very seldom, he heard of christina, through a postillion or eel-seller who was passing.
不过她在富有的旅店老板家过得很不错；受完坚信礼后，她给父亲写了一封信，信里还亲切地问候了伊布和他的母亲。
but she was well off with the rich innkeeper; and after being confirmed she wrote a letter to her father, in which was a kind message to Ib and his mother.
在这封信里，她提到主人和女主人送了她一件漂亮的新裙子，还有一些不错的内衣。
In this letter, she mentioned that her master and mistress had made her a present of a beautiful new dress, and some nice under-clothes.
这当然是个令人高兴的消息。
this was, of course, pleasant news.
第二年春天的一天，伊布老母亲住的房子门口传来一阵敲门声；他们打开门，瞧啊，船夫和克里斯蒂娜走了进来。
one day, in the following spring, there came a knock at the door of the house where Ib’s old mother lived; and when they opened it, lo and behold, in stepped the boatman and christina.
她是来拜访他们，顺便在这里过一天的。
She had e to pay them a visit, and to spend the day.
有一辆马车要从赫宁旅馆到隔壁村子去，她就趁机再来看看朋友们。
A carriage had to e from the herning hotel to the next village, and she had taken the opportunity to see her friends once more.
她看上去像一位真正的淑女般优雅，穿着一件漂亮的裙子，是特意为她精心制作的。
She looked as elegant as a real lady, and wore a pretty dress, beautifully made on purpose for her.
她盛装站在那儿，而伊布却只穿着工作服。
there she stood, in full dress, while Ib wore only his working clothes.
他一句话也说不出来；只能紧紧握住她的手，但他高兴得嘴巴都张不开了。
he could not utter a word; he could only seize her hand and hold it fast in his own, but he felt too happy and glad to open his lips.
然而，克里斯蒂娜却十分自在；她不停地说着话，还极其友好地亲吻了他。
christina, however, was quite at her ease; she talked and talked, and kissed him in the most friendly manner.
甚至后来，当他们单独在一起时，她问道：“伊布，你还认得我吗？”
Even afterwards, when they were left alone, and she asked, “did you know me again, Ib?”
他仍然握着她的手，最后说道：“克里斯蒂娜，你已经变成一位高贵的淑女了，而我只是个粗笨的工人；但我常常想起你，想起过去的时光。”
he still stood holding her hand, and said at last, “You are bee quite a grand lady, christina, and I am only a rough working man; but I have often thought of you and of old times.”
然后他们漫步走上那道高大的土岗，眺望溪流对岸的荒野，那里的小山上开满了金雀花。
then they wandered up the great ridge, and looked across the stream to the heath, where the little hills were covered with the flowering broom.
伊布什么也没说；但在他们即将分别之前，他心里已经十分清楚，克里斯蒂娜必须成为他的妻子：他们小时候不就已经被称作未婚夫妻了吗？
Ib said nothing; but before the time came for them to part, it became quite clear to him that christina must be his wife: had they not even in childhood been called the betrothed?
在他看来，他们好像真的已经订了婚，尽管关于这件事一个字都还没说过。
to him it seemed as if they were really engaged to each other, although not a word had been spoken on the subject.
他们能在一起的时间只剩下几个小时了，因为克里斯蒂娜当晚必须回到邻村，准备好第二天一早乘马车前往赫宁。
they had only a few more hours to remain together, for christina was obliged to return that evening to the neighboring village, to be ready for the carriage which was to start the next morning early for herning.
伊布和她的父亲陪她一起到了村子。
Ib and her father acpanied her to the village.
那是一个月光皎洁的美好夜晚；当他们到达村子时，伊布站在那儿，紧紧握着克里斯蒂娜的手，好像舍不得放开她似的。
It was a fine moonlight evening; and when they arrived, Ib stood holding christina’s hand in the, as if he could not let her go.
他的眼睛发亮，说出的话从嘴唇间犹豫地吐出，但却是发自内心深处的：“克里斯蒂娜，如果你还没有变得太过高贵，如果你愿意满足于住在我母亲家里做我的妻子，我们总有一天会结婚的。
但我们可以再等一等。”
his eyes brightened, and the words he uttered came with hesitation from his lips, but from the deepest recesses of his heart: “christina, if you have not bee too grand, and if you can be contented to live in my mother’s house as my wife, we will be married some day.
but we can wait for a while.”
“哦，好的，” 她回答说，“让我们再等一会儿吧，伊布。
我相信你，因为我觉得我是爱你的。
但让我再考虑考虑。”
然后他吻了她的嘴唇；就这样他们分别了。
“oh yes,” she replied; “Let us wait a little longer, Ib.
I can trust you, for I believe that I do love you.
but let me think it over.”
then he kissed her lips; and so they parted.
在回家的路上，伊布告诉船夫，他和克里斯蒂娜差不多已经算是订婚了；船夫发觉自己一直就料到会是这样，当晚便和伊布一起回了家，还在农舍里过了夜；但关于订婚的事，就再没多说什么了。
on the way home, Ib told the boatman that he and christina were as good as engaged to each other; and the boatman found out that he had always expected it would be so, and went home with Ib that evening, and remained the night in the farmhouse; but nothing further was said of the engagement.
在接下来的一年里，伊布和克里斯蒂娜互通了两封信。
during the next year, two letters passed between Ib and christina.
信的落款都是 “至死不渝”；但到了那一年年底，有一天，船夫过来看伊布，还带来了克里斯蒂娜亲切的问候。
they were signed, “Faithful till death;” but at the end of that time, one day the boatman came over to see Ib, with a kind greeting from christina.
他还有别的事要说，这让他说话的样子显得很奇怪，吞吞吐吐的。
he had something else to say, which made him hesitate in a strange manner.
最后他还是说了出来，原来已经出落得非常漂亮的克里斯蒂娜比以往更加幸运了。
At last it came out that christina, who had grown a very pretty girl, was more lucky than ever.
每个人都对她献殷勤、爱慕她；而她主人的儿子回家探亲时，对克里斯蒂娜非常满意，还想娶她为妻。
She was courted and admired by every one; but her master’s son, who had been home on a visit, was so much pleased with christina that he wished to marry her.
他在哥本哈根的一个办公室里有一份很不错的工作，而且由于她也对他有了好感，他的父母也不反对这门亲事。
he had a very good situation in an office at copenhagen, and as she has also taken a liking for him, his parents were not unwilling to consent.
但克里斯蒂娜心里常常想着伊布，也知道伊布有多惦记她；所以船夫又说，她有点想拒绝这份好运。
but christina, in her heart, often thought of Ib, and knew how much he thought of her; so she felt inclined to refuse this good fortune, added the boatman.
起初，伊布一句话也没说，脸变得像墙壁一样苍白，轻轻地摇了摇头，然后才开口说道：“克里斯蒂娜不应该拒绝这份好运。”
At first Ib said not a word, but he became as white as the wall, and shook his head gently, and then he spoke,— “christina must not refuse this good fortune.”
“那你要不要给她写几句话呢？” 船夫说。
“then will you write a few words to her?”
said the boatman.
伊布坐下来写信，但根本写不下去。
Ib sat down to write, but he could not get on at all.
写出来的话不是他想说的，于是他把那张纸撕了。
the words were not what he wished to say, so he tore up the page.
然而，第二天早晨，有一封信已经写好准备寄给克里斯蒂娜，以下就是他所写的内容：——
the following morning, however, a letter lay ready to be sent to christina, and the following is what he wrote: —
“我已经读过你写给你父亲的信，从中能看出你诸事顺遂，而且还有更好的运气在等着你。
“the letter written by you to your father I have read, and see from it that you are prosperous in everything, and that still better fortune is in store for you.
克里斯蒂娜，问问你自己的内心，仔细想想要是你选我做丈夫，等待你的会是什么，因为我在这世上拥有的东西实在太少了。
Ask your own heart, christina, and think over carefully what awaits you if you take me for your husband, for I possess very little in the world.
别考虑我或者我的处境，只考虑你自己的幸福就好。
do not think of me or of my position; think only of your own welfare.
你并没有对我许下任何承诺，就算你心里曾给过我一个，我现在也解除你这个承诺。
You are bound to me by no promises; and if in your heart you have given your one, I release you from it.
愿所有的祝福和幸福都降临到你身上，克里斯蒂娜。
may every blessing and happiness be poured out upon you, christina.
上天会给我心灵的慰藉。”
heaven will give me the heart’s consolation.”
“你永远真诚的朋友，伊布。”
“Ever your sincere friend, Ib.”
这封信寄出去了，克里斯蒂娜也按时收到了。
this letter was sent, and christina received it in due time.
在接下来的十一月份，她的结婚预告在荒野上的教堂以及新郎所居住的哥本哈根都公布了。
In the course of the following November, her banns were published in the church on the heath, and also in copenhagen, where the bridegroom lived.
她在未来婆婆的保护下被带到了哥本哈根，因为新郎由于诸多事务繁忙，抽不出时间到日德兰半岛这么远的地方来一趟。
She was taken to copenhagen under the protection of her future mother-in-law, because the bridegorm could not spare time from his numerous occupations for a journey so far into Jutland.
在旅途中，克里斯蒂娜在他们经过的一个村子里见到了她的父亲，在这里她和父亲告别了。
on the journey, christina met her father at one of the villages through which they passed, and here he took leave of her.
关于这件事，几乎没人跟伊布说起，他自己也没提及；不过，他母亲注意到他变得非常沉默寡言、心事重重。
Very little was said about the matter to Ib, and he did not refer to it; his mother, however, noticed that he had grown very silent and pensive.
他一想起过去的时光，就难怪会想起小时候吉普赛女人给他的三颗坚果，以及他送给克里斯蒂娜的那两颗。
thinking as he did of old times, no wonder the three nuts came into his mind which the gypsy woman had given him when a child, and of the two which he had given to christina.
毕竟，这些许愿坚果到头来还真是灵验的预言家呢。
these wishing nuts, after all, had proved true fortune-tellers.
一颗里面有一辆镀金的马车和高贵的马匹，另一颗里有漂亮的衣服；现在克里斯蒂娜在哥本哈根的新家里将会拥有这一切。
one had contained a gilded carriage and noble horses, and the other beautiful clothes; all of these christina would now have in her new home at copenhagen.
她的那份已经应验了。
her part had e true.
而对他来说，那颗坚果里只有黑土。
And for him the nut had contained only black earth.
吉普赛女人说过这对他来说是最好的。
the gypsy woman had said it was the best for him.
也许是吧，而且这也会应验的。
perhaps it was, and this also would be fulfilled.
他现在明白吉普赛女人的意思了。
he understood the gypsy woman’s meaning now.
这黑土 —— 黑暗的坟墓 —— 现在对他来说是最好的东西了。
the black earth — the dark grave — was the best thing for him now.
又过去了几年；年头不算多，但对伊布来说却好像很漫长。
Again years passed away; not many, but they seemed long years to Ib.
老旅店老板和他的妻子相继去世；他们价值数千美元的全部财产都由他们的儿子继承了。
the old innkeeper and his wife died one after the other; and the whole of their property, many thousand dollars, was inherited by their son.
克里斯蒂娜现在可以拥有那辆镀金马车了，还有很多漂亮衣服。
christina could have the golden carriage now, and plenty of fine clothes.
在接下来漫长的两年里，克里斯蒂娜没有给她父亲写过一封信；而当她父亲终于收到她的一封信时，信里也没有提及顺遂或幸福。
during the two long years which followed, no letter came from christina to her father; and when at last her father received one from her, it did not speak of prosperity or happiness.
可怜的克里斯蒂娜！她和她丈夫都不懂得如何节俭或储蓄，这些财富并没有给他们带来福气，因为他们没有祈求过。
poor christina! Neither she nor her husband understood how to economize or save, and the riches brought no blessing with them, because they had not asked for it.
岁月流逝；许多个夏天，荒野上都开满了鲜花；冬天，白雪覆盖其上，狂风呼啸着掠过那道土岗，伊布那遮风挡雨的家就坐落在土岗下。
Years passed; and for many summers the heath was covered with bloom; in winter the snow rested upon it, and the rough winds blew across the ridge under which stood Ib’s sheltered home.
一个春日，阳光明媚，他正在田里扶犁耕地。
one spring day the sun shone brightly, and he was guiding the plough across his field.
犁头碰到了个他觉得像是燧石的东西，接着他看到土里有一块闪闪发光的金属碎片，是犁从犁沟里一个亮闪闪的东西上割下来的。
the ploughshare struck against something which he fancied was a firestone, and then he saw glittering in the earth a splinter of shining metal which the plough had cut from something which gleamed brightly in the furrow.
他仔细搜寻，发现了一只制作精良的大金臂环，很明显，犁头惊扰了一个匈奴人的坟墓。
he searched, and found a large golden armlet of superior workmanship, and it was evident that the plough had disturbed a hun’s grave.
他又继续搜寻，找到了更多贵重的财宝，伊布把这些财宝拿给牧师看，牧师向他说明了它们的价值。
he searched further, and found more valuable treasures, which Ib showed to the clergyman, who explained their value to him.
然后他去找地方法官，法官把这一发现告知了博物馆馆长，并建议伊布自己把财宝送到馆长那儿去。
then he went to the magistrate, who informed the president of the museum of the discovery, and advised Ib to take the treasures himself to the president.
“你在土里找到了能找到的最好的东西。” 地方法官说。
“You have found in the earth the best thing you could find,” said the magistrate.
“最好的东西，” 伊布想，“对我来说是最好的东西 —— 而且是在土里找到的！好吧，如果真是这样，那么那个吉普赛女人的预言就说对了。”
“the best thing,” thought Ib; “the very best thing for me, — and found in the earth! well, if it really is so, then the gypsy woman was right in her prophecy.”
于是伊布乘渡船从奥胡斯去了哥本哈根。
So Ib went in the ferry-boat from Aarhus to copenhagen.
对于只在自家附近的河里航行过一两次的他来说，这感觉就像是在海上航行；最后他终于到达了哥本哈根。
to him who had only sailed once or twice on the river near his own home, this seemed like a voyage on the ocean; and at length he arrived at copenhagen.
他找到的金子的价值付给了他；是一大笔钱 —— 六百美元。
the value of the gold he had found was paid to him; it was a large sum — six hundred dollars.
然后荒野上的伊布走了出去，在这座大城市里四处游荡。
then Ib of the heath went out, and wandered about in the great city.
在他打算和渡船船长一起返回的前一天晚上，伊布在街头迷了路，拐进了一条与他想去的方向完全不同的岔路。
on the evening before the day he had settled to return with the captain of the passage-boat, Ib lost himself in the streets, and took quite a different turning to the one he wished to follow.
他一直游荡，直到发现自己来到了一个叫克里斯蒂安港的郊区的一条贫穷的街道上。
he wandered on till he found himself in a poor street of the suburb called christian’s haven.
一个人影也看不到。
Not a creature could be seen.
最后，一个小女孩从一所看起来破旧不堪的房子里走了出来，伊布请她告诉他去他想去的那条街的路；她胆怯地抬头看着他，然后开始痛哭起来。
At last a very little girl came out of one of the wretched-looking houses, and Ib asked her to tell him the way to the street he wanted; she looked up timidly at him, and began to cry bitterly.
他问她怎么了；但他听不懂她的话。
he asked her what was the matter; but what she said he could not understand.
于是他和她一起沿着街道走；当他们从一盏路灯下走过时，灯光照在小女孩的脸上。
So he went along the street with her; and as they passed under a lamp, the light fell on the little girl’s face.
伊布一看到她，一种奇怪的感觉涌上心头。
A strange sensation came over Ib, as he caught sight of it.
小克里斯蒂娜活生生地站在他面前，就像他记忆中童年时的她一样。
the living, breathing embodiment of Little christina stood before him, just as he remembered her in the days of her childhood.
他跟着小女孩来到那所破旧的房子前，走上狭窄、摇摇欲坠的楼梯，来到屋顶的一个小阁楼。
he followed the child to the wretched house, and ascended the narrow, crazy staircase which led to a little garret in the roof.
房间里空气沉闷、令人窒息，没有点灯，从一个角落里传来呻吟和叹息声。
the air in the room was heavy and stifling, no light was burning, and from one corner came sounds of moaning and sighing.
是小女孩的母亲躺在那里的一张破床上。
It was the mother of the child who lay there on a miserable bed.
伊布划了一根火柴，点着了灯，走近她。
with the help of a match, Ib struck a light, and approached her.
“我能帮你什么忙吗？” 他问道。“这个小女孩把我带到这儿来的；但我在这座城市里是个陌生人。”
“can I be of any service to you?”
he asked.
“this little girl brought me up here; but I am a stranger in this city.
“没有邻居或者我能叫的人吗？”
Are there no neighbors or any one whom I can call?”
然后他抬起生病女人的头，把她的枕头抚平。
then he raised the head of the sick woman, and smoothed her pillow.
他这么做的时候吓了一跳。
he started as he did so.
这是荒野上的克里斯蒂娜呀！好些年都没人在伊布面前提起过她的名字了；要是提起，准会扰乱他的心绪，尤其是因为有关她的传闻都不太好。
It was christina of the heath! No one had mentioned her name to Ib for years; it would have disturbed his peace of mind, especially as the reports respecting her were not good.
她丈夫从父母那儿继承的财富让他变得骄傲又傲慢。
the wealth which her husband had inherited from his parents had made him proud and arrogant.
他放弃了自己那份稳定的工作，到国外游历了六个月，回来后生活极尽奢华，还欠下了巨额债务。
he had given up his certain appointment, and travelled for six months in foreign lands, and, on his return, had lived in great style, and got into terrible debt.
有一阵子，他在自己搭建的高高在上的位置上摇摇欲坠，最后终于失足跌落，落得个身败名裂的下场。
For a time he had trembled on the high pedestal on which he had placed himself, till at last he toppled over, and ruin came.
他那些众多的酒肉朋友以及在他家宴饮的宾客们都说他活该，因为他持家就像个疯子。
his numerous merry panions, and the visitors at his table, said it served him right, for he had kept house like a madman.
一天早晨，人们在运河里发现了他的尸体。
one morning his corpse was found in the canal.
死神的冰冷之手已经触碰到了克里斯蒂娜的心。
the cold hand of death had already touched the heart of christina.
她在富贵时盼来的最小的孩子，才几周大就夭折了；最后克里斯蒂娜自己也病入膏肓，被人遗弃，奄奄一息地躺在一间破败的屋子里，这种贫困在她年轻时或许还能忍受，但由于她近来习惯了奢华的生活，现在就更觉得痛苦了。
her youngest child, looked for in the midst of prosperity, had sunk into the grave when only a few weeks old; and at last christina herself became sick unto death, and lay, forsaken and dying, in a miserable room, amid poverty she might have borne in her younger days, but which is now more painful to her from the luxuries to which she had lately been accustomed.
正是她的大女儿，也叫小克里斯蒂娜，伊布跟着她来到了家，她和母亲在这里忍受着饥饿与贫穷。
It was her eldest child, also a Little christina, whom Ib had followed to her home, where she suffered hunger and poverty with her mother.
“一想到我就要死了，要留下这个可怜的孩子，我就难受。” 她叹息着说。
“It makes me unhappy to think that I shall die, and leave this poor child,” sighed she.
“哦，她可怎么办呀？”
“oh, what will bee of her?”
她再也说不出话来了。
She could say no more.
于是伊布又划了一根火柴，点亮了他在屋里找到的一截蜡烛，微弱的烛光洒在这破败的住所里。
then Ib brought out another match, and lighted a piece of candle which he found in the room, and it threw a glimmering light over the wretched dwelling.
伊布看着小女孩，想起了年轻时候的克里斯蒂娜。
Ib looked at the little girl, and thought of christina in her young days.
看在她的份上，他难道就不能爱这个与他素不相识的孩子吗？
For her sake, could he not love this child, who was a stranger to him?
就在他这样寻思的时候，奄奄一息的女人睁开了眼睛，凝视着他。
As he thus reflected, the dying woman opened her eyes, and gazed at him.
她认出他来了吗？
did she recognize him?
他永远也不会知道了；因为她再也没说一个字。
he never knew; for not another word escaped her lips.
在古德瑙河边的森林里，离荒野不远，在那道土岗下面，有一座小农舍，刚刚粉刷过，白得发亮。
In the forest by the river Gudenau, not far from the heath, and beneath the ridge of land, stood the little farm, newly painted and whitewashed.
空气沉闷而昏暗；荒野上没有花朵开放；秋风把黄叶卷向船夫住过的小屋，如今里面住着陌生人；但小农舍在高大的树木和高耸的土岗庇护下，安然无恙。
the air was heavy and dark; there were no blossoms on the heath; the autumn winds whirled the yellow leaves towards the boatman’s hut, in which strangers dwelt; but the little farm stood safely sheltered beneath the tall trees and the high ridge.
炉边的泥炭烧得旺旺的，屋里亮堂堂的，那是一个孩子阳光般明亮的眼睛里闪烁出的光芒；从她那玫瑰色的嘴唇里发出如鸟鸣般的声音，宛如春天云雀的歌声。
the turf blazed brightly on the hearth, and within was sunlight, the sparkling light from the sunny eyes of a child; the birdlike tones from the rosy lips ringing like the song of a lark in spring.
一切都是生机与欢乐。
All was life and joy.
小克里斯蒂娜坐在伊布的膝盖上。
Little christina sat on Ib’s knee.
伊布对她来说既是父亲又是母亲；她自己的亲生父母已经从她的记忆中消失了，就像童年和老年时都会消逝的梦境画面一样。
Ib was to her both father and mother; her own parents had vanished from her memory, as a dream-picture vanishes alike from childhood and age.
伊布的房子布置得很好看；因为他现在是个富裕的人了，而小女孩的母亲则长眠在哥本哈根的墓地里，她是在贫困中离世的。
Ib’s house was well and prettily furnished; for he was a prosperous man now, while the mother of the little girl rested in the churchyard at copenhagen, where she had died in poverty.
伊布现在有钱了 —— 是从黑土里得来的钱；而最终，克里斯蒂娜也属于他了。
Ib had money now — money which had e to him out of the black earth; and he had christina for his own, after all.