On the morning of July 8th I received the following telegram: “Fine day.
7月8日早晨，我收到了以下电报：“天气晴朗。 —

Always my predictions. Belgian frontier.
我的预测总是准确的。比利时边境。 —

Baggage and servants left at noon at the social session.
行李和仆人中午离开，参加社交活动。 —

Beginning of manoeuvres at three.
下午三点开始行动。 —

So I will wait for you at the works from five o’clock on. Jovis.”
所以我将在五点钟在工地等你。祝你好运。”

At five o’clock sharp I entered the gas works of La Villette. It might have been mistaken for the colossal ruins of an old town inhabited by Cyclops.
五点整，我进入了拉维莱特的煤气厂。它可能被误认为是一个由独眼巨人居住的巨大废墟。 —

There were immense dark avenues separating heavy gasometers standing one behind another, like monstrous columns, unequally high and, undoubtedly, in the past the supports of some tremendous, some fearful iron edifice.
有着巨大的黑暗通道，分隔开彼此站立的巨大煤气柜，犹如庞大的柱子，高矮不一，并且无疑过去曾经支撑过一座巨大、可怕的铁质建筑。

The balloon was lying in the courtyard and had the appearance of a cake made of yellow cloth, flattened on the ground under a rope.
气球躺在庭院里，看起来像是一块用黄色布料做成的蛋糕，在一根绳子下被压扁在地上。 —

That is called placing a balloon in a sweep-net, and, in fact, it appeared like an enormous fish.
这被称为用网兜抓气球，事实上，它看起来像一条巨大的鱼。

Two or three hundred people were looking at it, sitting or standing, and some were examining the basket, a nice little square basket for a human cargo, bearing on its side in gold letters on a mahogany plate the words: Le Horla.
大约两三百人围观着，有的坐着，有的站着，有些人正在仔细检查这个方形的篮子，一个装载人类的漂亮小篮子，篮子的一侧用金色字母镶嵌在红木制的牌匾上，写着：“勒奥尔拉”。

Suddenly the people began to stand back, for the gas was beginning to enter into the balloon through a long tube of yellow cloth, which lay on the soil, swelling and undulating like an enormous worm.
突然，人们开始往后退，因为气体正通过一根长长的黄色布管进入气球中，这根布管在土地上像一条巨大的蠕虫一样肿胀和蠕动。 —

But another thought, another picture occurs to every mind.
但是每个人脑海中都会浮现出另一个念头，另一张画面。 —

It is thus that nature itself nourishes beings until their birth.
这就是大自然将生命滋养至孕育时的方式。 —

The creature that will rise soon begins to move, and the attendants of Captain Jovis, as Le Horla grew larger, spread and put in place the net which covers it, so that the pressure will be regular and equally distributed at every point.
即将升起的生物开始活动起来，作为“勒奥尔拉”的随从，船长乔维斯的随从们在“勒奥尔拉”变得更大时，展开并装配着覆盖其上的网，以保持在每个点上的压力均匀分布。

The operation is very delicate and very important, for the resistance of the cotton cloth of which the balloon is made is figured not in proportion to the contact surface of this cloth with the net, but in proportion to the links of the basket.
这个操作非常精细和重要，因为这个气球的棉布抵御比例不是根据与球网接触面积，而是根据篮子的链接数计算的。

Le Horla, moreover, has been designed by M. Mallet, constructed under his own eyes and made by himself.
再者，Le Horla被M. Mallet设计，他亲自监督建造，并由他自己制作。 —

Everything had been made in the shops of M. Jovis by his own working staff and nothing was made outside.
在M. Jovis的店里，所有东西都是他自己的员工制作，没有外包。

We must add that everything was new in this balloon, from the varnish to the valve, those two essential parts of a balloon.
我们必须补充说，这个气球里的所有东西都是全新的，从清漆到阀门，这两个气球的关键部分。 —

Both must render the cloth gas-proof, as the sides of a ship are waterproof.
两者都必须使布料防气，就像船的两侧是防水的一样。 —

The old varnishes, made with a base of linseed oil, sometimes fermented and thus burned the cloth, which in a short time would tear like a piece of paper.
以前的清漆是以亚麻籽油为基础制成的，有时会发酵，导致烧伤布料，使其很快会像纸一样撕裂。

The valves were apt to close imperfectly after being opened and when the covering called “cataplasme” was injured.
阀门在打开后容易不完全关闭，并且当被称为“cataplasme”的覆盖物受损时。 —

The fall of M. L’Hoste in the open sea during the night proved the imperfection of the old system.
M. L’Hoste在夜间在开放的海上坠落，证明了旧系统的缺陷。

The two discoveries of Captain Jovis, the varnish principally, are of inestimable value in the art of ballooning.
乔维斯船长的两项发现，尤其是清漆，对于热气球艺术来说是无价之宝。

The crowd has begun to talk, and some men, who appear to be specialists, affirm with authority that we shall come down before reaching the fortifications.
人群已经开始议论纷纷，一些貌似专家的人断言我们将在到达防御工事之前降落。 —

Several other things have been criticized in this novel type of balloon with which we are about to experiment with so much pleasure and success.
关于这种我们即将反复实验并取得巨大成功的新型热气球，还有一些其他方面遭到了批评。

It is growing slowly but surely.
它正在缓慢但稳定地增长。 —

Some small holes and scratches made in transit have been discovered, and we cover them and plug them with a little piece of paper applied on the cloth while wet.
在运输过程中发现了一些小洞和划痕，我们用湿布贴上一小片纸来覆盖和堵住它们。 —

This method of repairing alarms and mystifies the public.
这种修理方法令公众感到惊恐和神秘。

While Captain Jovis and his assistants are busy with the last details, the travellers go to dine in the canteen of the gas-works, according to the established custom.
当乔维斯船长和他的助手们忙于最后的细节时，旅客们按照既定的惯例去煤气厂的食堂吃饭。

When we come out again the balloon is swaying, enormous and transparent, a prodigious golden fruit, a fantastic pear which is still ripening, covered by the last rays of the setting sun.
当我们再次出现时，气球正在摇晃，它巨大而透明，就像一个巨大的金色水果，一个正在成熟的梨，被夕阳的最后余晖覆盖着。 —

Now the basket is attached, the barometers are brought, the siren, which we will blow to our hearts’ content, is also brought, also the two trumpets, the eatables, the overcoats and raincoats, all the small articles that can go with the men in that flying basket.
现在篮子已经固定好了，气压计也带来了，我们也带来了喇叭，我们将尽情地吹响它，还带来了两把小号、食物、大衣和雨衣，所有的小物件都随同男人们一起进入了飞行的篮子。

As the wind pushes the balloon against the gasometers, it is necessary to steady it now and then, to avoid an accident at the start.
由于风使气球靠近气柱，现在需要时不时地稳住它，以防意外发生。

Captain Jovis is now ready and calls all the passengers.
乔维斯船长现在准备好了，他呼唤所有的乘客。

Lieutenant Mallet jumps aboard, climbing first on the aerial net between the basket and the balloon, from which he will watch during the night the movements of Le Horla across the skies, as the officer on watch, standing on starboard, watches the course of a ship.
马列中尉跳上了飞船，先爬上篮子和气球之间的网，在晚上他将观察勒霍拉在天空中的动向，就像站在右舷的值班军官观察船只的航线一样。

M. Etierine Beer gets in after him, then comes M. Paul Bessand, then M. Patrice Eyries and I get in last.
梅尔丁.比尔先上去，随后是保尔. 贝桑德先生，接着是帕特里斯. 埃里斯先生，我最后上去。

But the basket is too heavy for the balloon, considering the long trip to be taken, and M. Eyries has to get out, not without great regret.
但考虑到即将进行的长途飞行，篮子对于气球来说太重了，因此埃里斯先生不得不下去，心生遗憾。

M. Joliet, standing erect on the edge of the basket, begs the ladies, in very gallant terms, to stand aside a little, for he is afraid he might throw sand on their hats in rising.
若利耶先生挺立在篮子的边缘，非常殷勤地请求女士们让开一点，因为他担心在升空时会把沙子弄到女士们的帽子上。 —

Then he commands:
然后他下达命令：

“Let it loose,” and, cutting with one stroke of his knife the ropes that hold the balloon to the ground, he gives Le Horla its liberty.
“放开它！”他用刀一刀剪断绑住气球与地面的绳子，给了勒奥拉自由。

In one second we fly skyward. Nothing can be heard;
我们在一秒钟内迅速升上天空。一片寂静， —

we float, we rise, we fly, we glide.
我们漂浮，上升，飞翔，滑翔。 —

Our friends shout with glee and applaud, but we hardly hear them, we hardly see them.
我们的朋友们欢呼喝彩，但我们几乎听不见他们，几乎看不见他们。 —

We are already so far, so high! What?
我们已经飞得如此远，如此高！什么？ —

Are we really leaving these people down there?
我们真的要离开下面的这些人吗？ —

Is it possible?
这可能吗？ —

Paris spreads out beneath us, a dark bluish patch, cut by its streets, from which rise, here and there, domes, towers, steeples, then around it the plain, the country, traversed by long roads, thin and white, amidst green fields of a tender or dark green, and woods almost black.
巴黎展现在我们眼前，一片深蓝色的斑块，被它的街道分隔开来，街道上处处都是圆顶、塔楼、尖顶，然后围绕着它的是平原、乡村，穿过一片片绿色的嫩绿或深绿的田野，以及几乎黑得看不见边际的树林。

The Seine appears like a coiled snake, asleep, of which we see neither head nor tail;
塞纳河就像一条蜷曲睡着的蛇，我们既看不到头也看不到尾； —

it crosses Paris, and the entire field resembles an immense basin of prairies and forests dotted here and there by mountains, hardly visible in the horizon.
它穿过巴黎，整个领域看起来就像一个被草原和森林点缀着的巨大水池，远处隐约可见的山脉。

The sun, which we could no longer see down below, now reappears as though it were about to rise again, and our balloon seems to be lighted;
太阳，我们在下面已经看不到了，现在又重新升起来了，我们的气球似乎被照亮了； —

it must appear like a star to the people who are looking up.
对于仰望的人们来说，它一定像一颗星星。 —

M. Mallet every few seconds throws a cigarette paper intospace and says quietly:
马莱小姐每隔几秒钟往空中扔一张烟纸，轻声说道： —

“We are rising, always rising,” while Captain Jovis, radiant with joy, rubs his hands together and repeats:
“我们在升高，一直在升高。”而喬維斯船长兴高采烈地揉着双手重复着： —

“Eh? this varnish? Isn’t it good?”
“嗯？这个油漆？好不好？”

In fact, we can see whether we are rising or sinking only by throwing a cigarette paper out of the basket now and then.
实际上，我们只能通过不时地将香烟纸张扔出篮子来判断我们是上升还是下降。 —

If this paper appears to fall down like a stone, it means that the balloon is rising;
如果这张纸像块石头一样掉下来，说明气球正在上升； —

if it appears to shoot skyward the balloon is descending.
如果它看起来向天空射起，那么气球正在下降。

The two barometers mark about five hundred meters, and we gaze with enthusiastic admiration at the earth we are leaving and to which we are not attached in any way;
这两个气压计标志着大约五百米的高度，我们兴奋地凝视着离开我们并且没有任何方式与之相连的地球； —

it looks like a colored map, an immense plan of the country.
它看起来像一张色彩斑斓的地图，一个巨大的国家规划。 —

All its noises, however, rise to our ears very distinctly, easily recognizable.
然而，它的所有声音都能非常清晰地传入我们的耳朵，容易辨认。 —

We hear the sound of the wheels rolling in the streets, the snap of a whip, the cries of drivers, the rolling and whistling of trains and the laughter of small boys running after one another.
我们听到街道上车轮滚动的声音、鞭子的啪响、车夫的喊叫、火车的轧轧声和哄笑声。 —

Every time we pass over a village the noise of children’s voices is heard above the rest and with the greatest distinctness.
每次我们经过一个村庄时，儿童的声音会超过其他声音，并且非常清晰。 —

Some men are calling us;
有些人在呼喊我们。 —

the locomotives whistle; we answer with the siren, which emits plaintive, fearfully shrill wails like the voice of a weird being wandering through the world.
火车鸣笛；我们用警报器回应，发出尖锐而可怕的哀鸣，像一个在世界上徘徊的奇怪生物的声音。

We perceive lights here and there, some isolated fire in the farms, and lines of gas in the towns.
我们看到零零散散的光芒，农场里孤立的火焰，城镇中的煤气灯。 —

We are going toward the northwest, after roaming for some time over the little lake of Enghien.
我们正往西北方向前进，经过了恩赫安的小湖漫游一段时间。现在我们看到了一条河流； —

Now we see a river;
—

it is the Oise, and we begin to argue about the exact spot we are passing.
那是瓦兹河，我们开始争论我们经过的确切地点。 —

Is that town Creil or Pontoise—the one with so many lights?
那个城镇是克雷依还是蓬图瓦兹 —— 那个有很多灯光的？ —

But if we were over Pontoise we could see the junction of the Seine and the Oise;
但如果我们在蓬图瓦兹上方，我们就能看到塞纳河和瓦兹河的汇合处； —

and that enormous fire to the left, isn’t it the blast furnaces of Montataire?
那个左边的巨大火焰，难道不是蒙泰尔的高炉吗？ —

So then we are above Creil. The view is superb;
那么我们现在就在克雷依上方。景色壮丽； —

it is dark on the earth, but we are still in the light, and it is now past ten o’clock.
大地上一片黑暗，而我们仍然在光明中，此刻已经过去了十点钟。 —

Now we begin to hear slight country noises, the double cry of the quail in particular, then the mewing of cats and the barking of dogs.
现在我们开始听到轻微的乡间声音，特别是鹌鹑的双声响，然后是猫的喵喵叫和狗的吠叫。 —

Surely the dogs have scented the balloon;
毫无疑问，狗已经闻到了气球的气味； —

they have seen it and have given the alarm.
它们已经看到了它，并发出了警报。 —

We can hear them barking all over the plain and making the identical noise they make when baying at the moon.
我们可以听到它们在整个平原上狂吠，发出与对月叫一样的声音。 —

The cows also seem to wake up in the barns, for we can hear them lowing;
牛也似乎在牲口棚里醒了过来，因为我们可以听到它们的低鸣声； —

all the beasts are scared and moved before the aerial monster that is passing.
所有的动物都受到了这个飞行怪物的惊吓和影响，它正在经过。

The delicious odors of the soil rise toward us, the smell of hay, of flowers, of the moist, verdant earth, perfuming the air-a light air, in fact, so light, so sweet, so delightful that I realize I never was so fortunate as to breathe before.
大地的芬芳气味扑面而来，干草、花朵、潮湿而翠绿的土地的气息弥漫在空气中-一种轻盈的空气，实际上是如此轻盈、如此甜美、如此令人愉悦，以至于我意识到我以前从未有过这样幸运的呼吸。 —

A profound sense of well-being, unknown to me heretofore, pervades me, a well-being of body and spirit, composed of supineness, of infinite rest, of forgetfulness, of indifference to everything and of this novel sensation of traversing space without any of the sensations that make motion unbearable, without noise, without shocks and without fear.
一种我此前所未经历过的深刻的幸福感弥漫在我身上，一种由身体和精神的舒适感组成，由无尽的休息、无限的安宁、遗忘、对一切事物的漠不关心以及这种穿越空间而没有任何使运动难以忍受的感觉的新奇感觉组成，没有噪音，没有震动，也没有恐惧。

At times we rise and then descend.
有时我们上升，然后下降。 —

Every few minutes Lieutenant Mallet, suspended in his cobweb of netting, says to Captain Jovis:
每隔几分钟，被悬挂在网上的蚊帐上的莫莱中尉对乔维斯船长说: —

“We are descending; throw down half a handful.
“我们正在下降，扔下半把.” —

” And the captain, who is talking and laughing with us, with a bag of ballast between his legs, takes a handful of sand out of the bag and throws it overboard.
而船长则与我们聊天和笑声不断，双腿夹着一个装满球ast的袋子，他从袋子里拿起一把沙子，扔到船外。

Nothing is more amusing, more delicate, more interesting than the manoeuvring of a balloon.
没有什么比热气球的操纵更有趣，更精细，更有趣。 —

It is an enormous toy, free and docile, which obeys with surprising sensitiveness, but it is also, and before all, the slave of the wind, which we cannot control.
它是一种巨大的玩具，自由而温顺，以令人惊讶的敏感度服从命令，但它也是风的奴隶，我们无法控制它。 —

A pinch of sand, half a sheet of paper, one or two drops of water, the bones of a chicken which we had just eaten, thrown overboard, makes it go up quickly.
撒一点沙子，半张纸，一两滴水，我们刚吃完的鸡骨头扔下去，它就会迅速上升。

A breath of cool, damp air rising from the river or the wood we are traversing makes the balloon descend two hundred metres.
从河流或我们穿越的树林里升起的一股凉爽的潮湿的空气使气球下降两百米。 —

It does not vary when passing over fields of ripe grain, and it rises when it passes over towns.
它在经过成熟的庄稼地上不变，当经过城镇时则上升。

The earth sleeps now, or, rather, men sleep on the earth, for the beasts awakened by the sight of our balloon announce our approach everywhere.
现在，地球在沉睡，或者更准确地说，是人们躺在地球上，因为被我们的气球惊动的野兽们都在向各处宣告我们的接近。 —

Now and then the rolling of a train or the whistling of a locomotive is plainly distinguishable.
时而火车的轰鸣声或火车笛声可以清晰地听到。 —

We sound our siren as we pass over inhabited places;
我们在经过有人居住的地方时会鸣响汽笛； —

and the peasants, terrified in their beds, must surely tremble and ask themselves if the Angel Gabriel is not passing by.
农民们在床上惊恐万分，一定会颤抖不已并纷纷想：难道是天使加百列在经过？

A strong and continuous odor of gas can be plainly observed.
强而持续的煤气味道可清晰地闻到。 —

We must have encountered a current of warm air, and the balloon expands, losing its invisible blood by the escape-valve, which is called the appendix, and which closes of itself as soon as the expansion ceases.
我们一定是遇到了暖气流，气球膨胀，通过自动关闭的排气阀（也叫附属装置）流失了无形的气体。

We are rising. The earth no longer gives back the echo of our trumpets;
我们在上升。地球不再回应我们的喇叭声了； —

we have risen almost two thousand feet.
我们已经上升了近两千英尺。 —

It is not light enough for us to consult the instruments;
天还没有亮到可以查看仪器的程度； —

we only know that the rice paper falls from us like dead butterflies, that we are rising, always rising.
我们只知道大米纸从我们身上像死蝴蝶般飘落，我们在上升，一直在上升。 —

We can no longer see the earth;
我们再也看不见地球了； —

a light mist separates us from it;
一层淡薄的薄雾将我们与地球分开； —

and above our head twinkles a world of stars.
而在我们头顶，一片星光闪烁的世界。

A silvery light appears before us and makes the sky turn pale, and suddenly, as if it were rising from unknown depths behind the horizon below us rises the moon on the edge of a cloud.
一道银光出现在我们面前，使天空变得苍白，突然，仿佛它从我们下方地平线的未知深处升起，月亮在云的边缘上升起来。 —

It seems to be coming from below, while we are looking down upon it from a great height, leaning on the edge of our basket like an audience on a balcony.
它似乎是从下方来的，而我们却从高空俯瞰着它，像一个倚靠在篮子边缘的观众在阳台上。 —

Clear and round, it emerges from the clouds and slowly rises in the sky.
圆润而明亮，它从云层中出现，慢慢升起在天空中。

The earth no longer seems to exist, it is buried in milky vapors that resemble a sea.
地球似乎不再存在，它被牛奶般的雾气掩埋，仿佛一片海洋。 —

We are now alone in space with the moon, which looks like another balloon travelling opposite us;
我们现在与月亮独处于太空中，它看起来像另一个向相反方向飞行的气球； —

and our balloon, which shines in the air, appears like another, larger moon, a world wandering in the sky amid the stars, through infinity.
而我们的气球，在空中闪耀着，看起来像另一个更大的月亮，在星空中漂浮，穿越无限。 —

We no longer speak, think nor live;
我们不再说话，思考也停止， —

we float along through space in delicious inertia.
生活在美妙的惯性中漂浮着。 —

The air which is bearing us up has made of us all beings which resemble itself, silent, joyous, irresponsible beings, intoxicated by this stupendous flight, peculiarly alert, although motionless.
托举我们的空气形成了与其相似的所有生物，沉默、快乐、无责任感的生物，陶醉于这惊人的飞行，特别警觉，虽然不动。 —

One is no longer conscious of one’s flesh or one’s bones;
我们已经不再意识到我们的肉体或骨骼； —

one’s heart seems to have ceased beating;
我们的心似乎停止跳动。 —

we have become something indescribable, birds who do not even have to flap their wings.
我们成为了一种无法描述的生物，不需要挥动翅膀的鸟。

All memory has disappeared from our minds, all trouble from our thoughts;
我们的记忆从思想中消失，烦恼从思绪中消除； —

we have no more regrets, plans nor hopes.
我们再没有遗憾、计划或希望。 —

We look, we feel, we wildly enjoy this fantastic journey;
我们观看，感受，狂欢于这奇幻的旅程； —

nothing in the sky but the moon and ourselves!
天空中只有月亮和我们自己！ —

We are a wandering, travelling world, like our sisters, the planets;
我们是一个流浪、旅行的世界，就像我们的姐妹们——行星； —

and this little world carries five men who have left the earth and who have almost forgotten it.
这个小世界承载着五个已经离开地球并几乎忘记地球的人。我们现在可以清晰地看到， —

We can now see as plainly as in daylight;
就像在白昼一样； —

we look at each other, surprised at this brightness, for we have nothing to look at but ourselves and a few silvery clouds floating below us.
我们相互打量，对于这种光明感到惊讶，因为我们除了彼此和几朵银白的浮云之外，没有什么可以看的。 —

The barometers mark twelve hundred metres, then thirteen, fourteen, fifteen hundred;
气压计显示了一千两百米，然后是一千三百，一千四百，一千五百； —

and the little rice papers still fall about us.
而小米纸还在我们周围飘落。

Captain Jovis claims that the moon has often made balloons act thus, and that the upward journey will continue.
乔维斯船长声称月亮经常使气球产生这种反应，而上升旅程还将继续。

We are now at two thousand metres;
现在我们已经到达两千米了； —

we go up to two thousand three hundred and fifty;
我们继续上升到两千三百五十米； —

then the balloon stops:
然后气球停了下来。 —

We blow the siren and are surprised that no one answers us from the stars.
我们鸣响汽笛，惊讶地发现没有人从星星中回应我们。

We are now going down rapidly. M. Mallet keeps crying:
我们现在正在迅速下降。马莱特先生一直叫喊着： —

“Throw out more ballast!
“扔出更多的固定重物！ —

throw out more ballast!
扔出更多的固定重物！” —

” And the sand and stones that we throw over come back into our faces, as if they were going up, thrown from below toward the stars, so rapid is our descent.
我们扔出的沙土和石块回到我们的脸上，好像它们是从下面向星星方向抛出的，我们的下降速度太快了。

Here is the earth! Where are we? It is now past midnight, and we are crossing a broad, dry, well-cultivated country, with many roads and well populated.
这里是地球！我们在哪里？现在已经过了午夜，我们正在穿越一片干燥、良好耕种的广阔土地，有许多道路和人口众多的地方。

To the right is a large city and farther away to the left is another.
在右边是一个大城市，左边还有一个距离更远的城市。 —

But suddenly from the earth appears a bright fairy light;
但突然间从地面上冒出了一束明亮的仙女之光。 —

it disappears, reappears and once more disappears.
它消失了，又重新出现，然后再次消失。Jovis， —

Jovis, intoxicated by space, exclaims:
被太空的美景迷住了，喊道： —

“Look, look at this phenomenon of the moon in the water.
“看，看那水中的月亮奇观。在夜晚， —

One can see nothing more beautiful at night!”
再没有比这更美的景象了！”

Nothing indeed can give one an idea of the wonderful brightness of these spots of light which are not fire, which do not look like reflections, which appear quickly here or there and immediately go out again.
的确，没有什么能让一个人体会到这些光斑的奇妙亮度，它们不是火焰，也不像是倒影，它们迅速地在这里或那里出现，然后立即消失。 —

These shining lights appear on the winding rivers at every turn, but one hardly has time to see them as the balloon passes as quickly as the wind.
这些闪烁的光亮出现在弯曲的河流上的每一个拐角，但我们几乎没有时间看到它们，因为气球像风一样快速地通过。

We are now quite near the earth, and Beer exclaims:
我们现在离地面很近了，Beer喊道： —

—“Look at that! What is that running over there in the fields?
“看那边有什么在田野里奔跑？那不是一只狗吗？ —

Isn’t it a dog?
—

” Indeed, something is running along the ground with great speed, and this something seems to jump over ditches, roads, trees with such ease that we could not understand what it might be.
”确实，有什么东西在地上快速奔跑着，这个东西似乎以如此轻松的方式跃过沟渠、道路、树木，以至于我们无法理解那到底是什么。 —

The captain laughed: “It is the shadow of our balloon.
船长笑了：“那是我们气球的影子。随着我们下降， —

It will grow as we descend.”
它会变得更大。”

I distinctly hear a great noise of foundries in the distance.
我能清晰地听到远处铸造厂的巨大噪音。 —

And, according to the polar star, which we have been observing all night, ‘and which I have so often watched and consulted from the bridge of my little yacht on the Mediterranean, we are heading straight for Belgium.
而且，根据我们整夜观察的北极星，以及我在地中海小帆船上几次观察和查看的经验，我们直奔比利时而去。

Our siren and our two horns are continually calling.
我们的警报器和两个喇叭不断地响起。 —

A few cries from some truck driver or belated reveler answer us.
一些卡车司机或者喝得晚归的人回应我们的呼唤。我们喊着： —

We bellow: “Where are we?
“我们在哪里？” —

” But the balloon is going so rapidly that the bewildered man has not even time to answer us.
但是气球飞行得太快了，那位迷惑的人甚至来不及回答我们。 —

The growing shadow of Le Horla, as large as a child’s ball, is fleeing before us over the fields, roads and woods.
随着我们飞行，巨大如孩子的球形Le Horla的阴影在田野、道路和树林上飞逝。 —

It goes along steadily, preceding us by about a quarter of a mile;
它稳定地前行，距离我们大约有四分之一英里； —

and now I am leaning out of the basket, listening to the roaring of the wind in the trees and across the harvest fields.
现在我靠在篮子外，倾听风声在树林和丰收的田野上的咆哮。 —

I say to Captain Jovis: “How the wind blows!”
我对Jovis船长说：“风真大！”

He answers: “No, those are probably waterfalls.
他回答：“不，那可能是瀑布。 —

” I insist, sure of my ear that knows the sound of the wind, from hearing it so often whistle through the rigging.
”我坚持说，我对风声很熟悉，因为经常听到它穿过绳索呼啸而过。 —

Then Jovis nudges me; he fears to frighten his happy, quiet passengers, for he knows full well that a storm is pursuing us.
接着乔维斯踢了我一下；他害怕吓到快乐而宁静的乘客们，因为他非常清楚一场暴风雨正在追逐着我们。

At last a man manages to understand us; he answers:
最后一个人设法听明白了我们的话；他回答：“向北！ —

“Nord!” We get the same reply from another.
”我们从另一个人那里得到了同样的回答。

Suddenly the lights of a town, which seems to be of considerable size, appear before us.
突然，一个看起来相当大的城镇的灯光出现在我们面前。 —

Perhaps it is Lille. As we approach it, such a wonderful flow of fire appears below us that I think myself transported into some fairyland where precious stones are manufactured for giants.
也许这就是里尔。当我们靠近时，下方出现了一片绚丽的火光，我仿佛被带入了一个为巨人制造珍贵宝石的童话世界。

It seems that it is a brick factory.
似乎这是一家砖厂。这里还有其他的， —

Here are others, two, three.
两个，三个。 —

The fusing material bubbles, sparkles, throws out blue, red, yellow, green sparks, reflections from giant diamonds, rubies, emeralds, turquoises, sapphires, topazes.
熔炼的材料冒出气泡，闪烁着蓝色、红色、黄色、绿色的火花，反射出巨大的钻石、红宝石、祖母绿、绿松石、蓝宝石、黄宝石。 —

And near by are great foundries roaring like apocalyptic lions;
附近还有像末日狮子一样咆哮的大型铸造厂； —

high chimneys belch forth their clouds of smoke and flame, and we can hear the noise of metal striking against metal.
高烟囱喷出滚滚黑烟和火焰，我们可以听到金属相击的声音。

“Where are we?”
“我们在哪里？”

The voice of some joker or of a crazy person answers:
一个滑稽的人或疯子的声音回答： —

“In a balloon!”
“在一个气球里！”

“Where are we?”
“我们在哪里？”

“At Lille!”
“在里尔！”

We were not mistaken. We are already out of sight of the town, and we see Roubaix to the right, then some well-cultivated, rectangular fields, of different colors according to the crops, some yellow, some gray or brown.
我们没有错。我们已经离开了城镇的视线，我们看到右边是鲁贝，然后是一些根据庄稼不同颜色的良好耕种的长方形田地，有些是黄色的，有些是灰色或棕色的。 —

But the clouds are gathering behind us, hiding the moon, whereas toward the east the sky is growing lighter, becoming a clear blue tinged with red.
但云层正在我们身后聚集，遮住了月亮，而向东的天空越来越明亮，变成了一片晴朗的蓝色夹杂着红色。 —

It is dawn. It grows rapidly, now showing us all the little details of the earth, the trains, the brooks, the cows, the goats.
这是黎明。它迅速来临，现在向我们展示了地球的一切细节，火车、小溪、奶牛、山羊。 —

And all this passes beneath us with surprising speed.
所有这一切以令人惊讶的速度在我们下方经过。 —

One hardly has time to notice that other fields, other meadows, other houses have already disappeared.
人们几乎没有时间注意到其他的田地、草地和房屋已经消失了。 —

Cocks are crowing, but the voice of ducks drowns everything.
公鸡在啼叫，但鸭子的声音淹没了一切。 —

One might think the world to be peopled, covered with them, they make so much noise.
人们可能会认为这个世界是人们的栖息地，人们的喧嚣声震耳欲聋。

The early rising peasants are waving their arms and crying to us:
早起的农民挥舞着手臂向我们大喊： —

“Let yourselves drop!
“让自己掉下去吧！” —

” But we go along steadily, neither rising nor falling, leaning over the edge of the basket and watching the world fleeing under our feet.
但我们平稳地前行，既不上升也不下降，倾身于篮子边缘，注视着世界在脚下迅速消逝。

Jovis sights another city far off in the distance.
约维斯发现远处又一座城市。它逐渐接近， —

It approaches; everywhere are old church spires.
老教堂的尖塔无处不在。 —

They are delightful, seen thus from above.
从这个角度来看，它们是迷人的。 —

Where are we? Is this Courtrai?
我们在哪儿？这是库尔特雷吗？ —

Is it Ghent?
是根特吗？

We are already very near it, and we see that it is surrounded by water and crossed in every direction by canals.
我们已经很近了，我们看到它被水域环绕，并且被各个方向的运河穿越。 —

One might think it a Venice of the north.
人们可能会认为它是北方的威尼斯。 —

Just as we are passing so near to a church tower that our long guy-rope almost touches it, the chimes begin to ring three o’clock.
就在我们路过一个教堂塔楼时，我们的长索几乎触及它，钟声开始敲响三点。 —

The sweet, clear sounds rise to us from this frail roof which we have almost touched in our wandering course.
甜美而清澈的钟声从这个我们在漫游中几乎触及的脆弱屋顶上升起来。 —

It is a charming greeting, a friendly welcome from Holland.
这是一种迷人的问候，来自荷兰的友好欢迎。 —

We answer with our siren, whose raucous voice echoes throughout the streets.
我们用警笛回答，它的刺耳声在街上回荡。

It was Bruges. But we have hardly lost sight of it when my neighbor, Paul Bessand, asks me:
那是布鲁日。但我们还没来及离开，我的邻居保罗·贝桑德问我： —

“Don’t you see something over there, to the right, in front of us? It looks like a river.”
“难道你没看到那边，就在我们前面的右边吗？看起来像是一条河。”

And, indeed, far ahead of us stretches a bright highway, in the light of the dawning day.
确实，我们前方远处延伸着一条明亮的公路，在黎明的光芒中。 —

Yes, it looks like a river, an immense river full of islands.
是的，看起来像一条河，一条充满岛屿的巨大河流。

“Get ready for the descent,” cried the captain.
“准备好下降！”船长喊道。 —

He makes M. Mallet leave his net and return to the basket;
他让马莱先生放下网，回到篮子里； —

then we pack the barometers and everything that could be injured by possible shocks.
然后我们收拾好气压计和一切可能受到可能的冲击而受损的东西。 —

M. Bessand exclaims: “Look at the masts over there to the left!
贝桑德先生惊呼：“看左边那儿的桅杆！ —

We are at the sea!”
我们到海了！”

Fogs had hidden it from us until then.
直到那时，雾把它从我们眼前掩盖了。 —

The sea was everywhere, to the left and opposite us, while to our right the Scheldt, which had joined the Moselle, extended as far as the sea, its mouths vaster than a lake.
海到处都是，左边和对面，而我们右边的斯海尔德河与莫泽尔河汇合，一直延伸到海洋，它的河口比湖泊还要宽广。

It was necessary to descend within a minute or two.
必须在一两分钟内下降。 —

The rope to the escape-valve, which had been religiously enclosed in a little white bag and placed in sight of all so that no one would touch it, is unrolled, and M. Mallet holds it in his hand while Captain Jovis looks for a favorable landing.
逃逸阀的绳索被虔诚地装在一个小白袋里，并明显摆放，以免有人触摸，现在被展开了，M. Mallet拿着绳索，在寻找一个有利的着陆地点时。

Behind us the thunder was rumbling and not a single bird followed our mad flight.
我们身后雷声隆隆，却没有一只鸟跟随我们的疯狂飞行。

“Pull!” cried Jovis.
“拉！”乔维斯大喊。

We were passing over a canal.
我们经过了一条运河。 —

The basket trembled and tipped over slightly.
篮子颤动了一下，稍微倾斜了一下。 —

The guy-rope touched the tall trees on both banks.
绳索触碰到两岸的高大树木。 —

But our speed is so great that the long rope now trailing does not seem to slow down, and we pass with frightful rapidity over a large farm, from which the bewildered chickens, pigeons and ducks fly away, while the cows, cats and dogs run, terrified, toward the house.
但我们的速度如此之快，后面拖着的长绳似乎没有减缓，我们以可怕的速度飞过一个大农场，被迷茫的鸡、鸽子和鸭子吓得飞走，而奶牛、猫和狗则惊恐地向房子跑去。

Just one-half bag of ballast is left.
只剩下半袋气囊剂了。 —

Jovis throws it overboard, and Le Horla flies lightly across the roof.
乔维斯把它扔了出去，勒奥尔拉轻盈地越过屋顶。

The captain once more cries: “The escape-valve!”
船长再次喊道：“打开逃逸阀！”

M. Mallet reaches for the rope and hangs to it, and we drop like an arrow.
M. Mallet伸手拿起绳子，死死拉住它，我们像一支箭一样下降。 —

With a slash of a knife the cord which retains the anchor is cut, and we drag this grapple behind us, through a field of beets.
用刀砍断了锚绳，我们拖着这个抓钩穿过一片甜菜地。 —

Here are the trees.
这里有树。

“Take care! Hold fast! Look out for your heads!”
“小心！紧握！注意保护头部！”

We pass over them. Then a strong shock shakes us.
我们越过它们。然后一阵强烈的冲击使我们震动起来。 —

The anchor has taken hold.
锚已经卡住了。

“Look out! Take a good hold!
“小心！牢牢抓住！ —

Raise yourselves by your wrists.
用手腕撑身子。 —

We are going to touch ground.”
我们即将着陆。”

The basket does indeed strike the earth.
篮子确实撞到了地面。 —

Then it flies up again.
然后它又飞了起来。 —

Once more it falls and bounds upward again, and at last it settles on the ground, while the balloon struggles madly, like a wounded beast.
它再次下降，然后再次弹起，最终它在地面上停稳，而气球疯狂地挣扎着，像一只受伤的野兽。

Peasants run toward us, but they do not dare approach.
农民们朝我们跑来，但他们不敢靠近。 —

They were a long time before they decided to come and deliver us, for one cannot set foot on the ground until the bag is almost completely deflated.
他们很久才决定过来救我们，因为在气囊几乎完全放气之前，无法踏上地面。

Then, almost at the same time as the bewildered men, some of whom showed their astonishment by jumping, with the wild gestures of savages, all the cows that were grazing along the coast came toward us, surrounding our balloon with a strange and comical circle of horns, big eyes and blowing nostrils.
然后，几乎在失魂落魄的男子们几乎同时的时候，其中一些人表现出惊讶的跳跃动作，像野蛮人一样奇异地用野性的姿态，所有沿海觅食的牛朝着我们走来，用奇怪而滑稽的角、大眼睛和喷鼻孔围绕着我们的气球。

With the help of the accommodating and hospitable Belgian peasants, we were able in a short time to pack up all our material and carry it to the station at Heyst, where at twenty minutes past eight we took the train for Paris.
借助乐于助人和好客的比利时农民，我们很快就能够收拾好所有的物品，将其搬到海斯特的车站，在早上八点二十分乘坐火车前往巴黎。

The descent occurred at three-fifteen in the morning, preceding by only a few seconds the torrent of rain and the blinding lightning of the storm which had been chasing us before it.
降落发生在凌晨三点十五分，仅仅比我们前面追赶的风暴的倾盆大雨和刺眼的闪电晚了几秒钟。

Thanks to Captain Jovis, of whom I had heard much from my colleague, Paul Ginisty—for both of them had fallen together and voluntarily into the sea opposite Mentone—thanks to this brave man, we were able to see, in a single night, from far up in the sky, the setting of the sun, the rising of the moon and the dawn of day and to go from Paris to the mouth of the Scheldt through the skies.
感谢我的同事保罗•革尼斯提，他曾经向我讲述过Captain Jovis的事迹 – 他们俩都曾一起跳入门托纳相对的海域。多亏了这位勇敢的人，我们得以在一夜之间，从高空中看到了太阳的落山，月亮的升起，以及黎明的到来，还能够从巴黎飞往斯海尔德河口。

[This story appeared in “Figaro” on July 16, 1887, under the title:
【这个故事于1887年7月16日在《费加罗报》上发表，题为：“从巴黎到赫伊斯特。”】

“From Paris to Heyst.”]
再见了！

FAREWELL!
两位朋友的晚餐已接近尾声。透过咖啡厅的窗户，他们可以看到人群拥挤的大道。

The two friends were getting near the end of their dinner.
他们能够感受到巴黎温暖夏夜中轻柔的微风，让你想要到某处去， —

Through the cafe windows they could see the Boulevard, crowded with people.
不论是哪里，只要在树下，让你梦想着月光下的河流，萤火虫和云雀。 —

They could feel the gentle breezes which are wafted over Paris on warm summer evenings and make you feel like going out somewhere, you care not where, under the trees, and make you dream of moonlit rivers, of fireflies and of larks.
其中一位名叫亨利•西蒙的人深深地叹了口气，说道：

One of the two, Henri Simon, heaved a deep sigh and said:
“我多希望我们能飞上天空，像鸟儿一样自由自在地飞翔！”

“Ah! I am growing old. It’s sad. Formerly, on evenings like this, I felt full of life. Now, I only feel regrets. Life is short!”
“啊！我变老了。这太可悲了。以前像今晚这样的夜晚，我觉得充满活力。现在，我只觉得后悔。生命短暂！”

He was perhaps forty-five years old, very bald and already growing stout.
他可能已经四十五岁了，非常秃顶，体态渐渐变胖。

The other, Pierre Carnier, a trifle older, but thin and lively, answered:
另一个人，皮埃尔·卡尼尔，稍微年长一些，但瘦削而活泼，回答道：

“Well, my boy, I have grown old without noticing it in the least.
“哦，我的孩子，我变老了而毫不知觉。 —

I have always been merry, healthy, vigorous and all the rest.
我一直快乐、健康、精力充沛等等。 —

As one sees oneself in the mirror every day, one does not realize the work of age, for it is slow, regular, and it modifies the countenance so gently that the changes are unnoticeable.
就像我们每天在镜子里看到自己的样子一样，我们没有意识到时间的作用，因为它是缓慢、规律的，并且它轻轻地改变着容颜，变化是不可察觉的。 —

It is for this reason alone that we do not die of sorrow after two or three years of excitement.
正因为如此，我们在两三年的兴奋之后也不会因悲伤而死去。 —

For we cannot understand the alterations which time produces.
因为我们无法理解时间带来的变化。 —

In order to appreciate them one would have to remain six months without seeing one’s own face —then, oh, what a shock!
为了真正理解它们，我们需要六个月不见自己的脸 - 然后，哦，会有多么大的冲击啊！”

“And the women, my friend, how I pity the poor beings!
“而女人们，朋友， —

All their joy, all their power, all their life, lies in their beauty, which lasts ten years.
我对这些可怜的人们深感同情！她们所有的喜悦、力量和生命都在她们持续十年的美丽中。

“As I said, I aged without noticing it;
“就像我刚才说的，我在毫不察觉中变老了； —

I thought myself practically a youth, when I was almost fifty years old.
当我快五十岁的时候，还觉得自己几乎还是个年轻人。 —

Not feeling the slightest infirmity, I went about, happy and peaceful.
毫无任何虚弱感，我愉快而平和地度过每一天。

“The revelation of my decline came to me in a simple and terrible manner, which overwhelmed me for almost six months—then I became resigned.
“我对自己衰老的领悟以一种简单而可怕的方式降临，令我沮丧了近六个月，然后我变得接受了。

“Like all men, I have often been in love, but most especially once.
“像所有的男人一样，我曾多次恋爱，但有一次尤为特别。

“I met her at the seashore, at Etretat, about twelve years ago, shortly after the war.
“我在大约十二年前的埃特尔塔特（Etretat）海滨与她相遇，那是战后不久的事。 —

There is nothing prettier than this beach during the morning bathing hour.
早晨海滩游泳的时间最美了。 —

It is small, shaped like a horseshoe, framed by high white cliffs, which are pierced by strange holes called the ‘Portes,’ one stretching out into the ocean like the leg of a giant, the other short and dumpy.
“它小巧玲珑，呈马蹄形，被高高的白色峭壁环绕着，这些峭壁上有着奇特的洞穴，被称为‘洞门’，一个像巨人的腿一样伸向大海，而另一个短小而粗壮。 —

The women gather on the narrow strip of sand in this frame of high rocks, which they make into a gorgeous garden of beautiful gowns.
这些女人聚集在狭窄的沙滩上，将高耸的岩石变成了一座美丽的花园，穿着华丽的礼服。 —

The sun beats down on the shores, on the multicolored parasols, on the blue-green sea;
阳光照耀着海岸，多彩的遮阳伞上，蓝绿色的海洋上； —

and all is gay, delightful, smiling.
一切都很快乐、惬意、笑容满面。 —

You sit down at the edge of the water and you watch the bathers.
你坐在水边，看着游泳者们。 —

The women come down, wrapped in long bath robes, which they throw off daintily when they reach the foamy edge of the rippling waves;
女人们打着长长的浴袍下来，当她们来到波涛汹涌的浪边时，轻轻地脱掉。 —

and they run into the water with a rapid little step, stopping from time to time for a delightful little thrill from the cold water, a short gasp.
她们迅速地跑进水里，不时停下来感受冰冷的水带来的愉悦，短暂的喘息。

“Very few stand the test of the bath.
“很少有人能通过洗浴这个测试。 —

It is there that they can be judged, from the ankle to the throat.
从脚踝到脖子，可以看出她们的优缺点。 —

Especially on leaving the water are the defects revealed, although water is a powerful aid to flabby skin.
尤其是离开水后，缺陷会暴露出来，尽管水可以有效地改善松弛的皮肤。

“The first time that I saw this young woman in the water, I was delighted, entranced.
“我第一次看到这个年轻女人在水中时，我感到高兴、陶醉。 —

She stood the test well.
她很好地通过了测试。 —

There are faces whose charms appeal to you at first glance and delight you instantly.
有些脸庞一见钟情的魅力瞬间吸引着你，让你立刻感到愉悦。 —

You seem to have found the woman whom you were born to love.
你似乎找到了一个你一生所爱的女人。 —

I had that feeling and that shock.
我有那种感觉和那种震撼。

“I was introduced, and was soon smitten worse than I had ever been before.
“我被介绍认识她后，很快就陷得更深了。 —

My heart longed for her.
我的心渴望着她。 —

It is a terrible yet delightful thing thus to be dominated by a young woman.
被一个年轻女人如此支配，这是可怕而又令人愉悦的事情。 —

It is almost torture, and yet infinite delight.
几乎是折磨，但却无限快乐。 —

Her look, her smile, her hair fluttering in the wind, the little lines of her face, the slightest movement of her features, delighted me, upset me, entranced me.
她的眼神，她的微笑，她飘动在风中的头发，她脸上的细微皱纹，她的面部最轻微的动作，都使我感到愉悦、困扰和陶醉。 —

She had captured me, body and soul, by her gestures, her manners, even by her clothes, which seemed to take on a peculiar charm as soon as she wore them.
她以她的举止、她的方式，甚至是她的衣服，完全俘获了我，身心皆沦陷其中。她一穿上那些衣服，它们仿佛瞬间变得有种特殊的魅力。 —

I grew tender at the sight of her veil on some piece of furniture, her gloves thrown on a chair.
我看到她的面纱放在某个家具上，她的手套扔在一把椅子上，我的内心充满了柔情。 —

Her gowns seemed to me inimitable.
她的礼服在我看来是无与伦比的。 —

Nobody had hats like hers.
没有人有她那样的帽子。

“She was married, but her husband came only on Saturday, and left on Monday. I didn’t cencern myself about him, anyhow.
“她结了婚，但她丈夫只在周六来，周一就离开。我对他一点也不关心，不管怎样。 —

I wasn’t jealous of him, I don’t know why;
我并不嫉妒他，我不知道为什么； —

never did a creature seem to me to be of less importance in life, to attract my attention less than this man.
在我看来，从来没有一个人在生活中显得比他更不重要，更不会引起我的注意。

“But she! how I loved her! How beautiful, graceful and young she was! She was youth, elegance, freshness itself!
“但是她！我是多么地爱她啊！她是多么美丽、优雅、年轻！她简直就是青春、优雅和新鲜本身！ —

Never before had I felt so strongly what a pretty, distinguished, delicate, charming, graceful being woman is.
我从未如此强烈地感到女人是如此漂亮、出众、娇媚、优雅。 —

Never before had I appreciated the seductive beauty to be found in the curve of a cheek, the movement of a lip, the pinkness of an ear, the shape of that foolish organ called the nose.
我从未如此欣赏过颧骨的曲线、嘴唇的动作、耳朵的粉红和被称为鼻子的愚蠢器官的形状中所蕴含的诱人美。

“This lasted three months; then I left for America, overwhelmed with sadness.
“这持续了三个月；然后我去了美国，心里满是伤感。 —

But her memory remained in me, persistent, triumphant.
但她的记忆在我心中一直持续，坚定不移。 —

From far away I was as much hers as I had been when she was near me.
即使我远在他乡，我仍然是她的人，就像当她在我身边时一样。 —

Years passed by, and I did not forget her.
岁月流转，我并没有忘记她。 —

The charming image of her person was ever before my eyes and in my heart.
她迷人的形象永远在我的眼前，也在我心中。 —

And my love remained true to her, a quiet tenderness now, something like the beloved memory of the most beautiful and the most enchanting thing I had ever met in my life.
我对她的爱始终如一，如今是一种安静的温柔，像是对我一生中最美丽、最迷人的事物的珍爱记忆。

“Twelve years are not much in a lifetime!
“十二年在一生中并不长！ —

One does not feel them slip by.
人们并不觉得它们溜走了。 —

The years follow each other gently and quickly, slowly yet rapidly, each one is long and yet so soon over!
年复一年，悄然而去，虽然缓慢但迅疾，每一年都很长，却又过得那么快！ —

They add up so rapidly, they leave so few traces behind them, they disappear so completely, that, when one turns round to look back over bygone years, one sees nothing and yet one does not understand how one happens to be so old.
它们如此迅速地叠加在一起，留下的痕迹如此之少，彻底地消失了，以至于当人回头回顾过去的岁月时，什么也看不见，但又不明白自己怎么就这么老了。 —

It seemed to me, really, that hardly a few months separated me from that charming season on the sands of Etretat.
真的，对我来说，好像只有几个月的时间与我在埃特尔塔的沙滩上度过。

“Last spring I went to dine with some friends at Maisons-Laffitte.
“去年春天，我去梅松拉菲特和一些朋友共进晚餐。

“Just as the train was leaving, a big, fat lady, escorted by four little girls, got into my car.
“就在火车开动的时候，一位胖胖的大妇人，带着四个小女孩，进了我的车厢。 —

I hardly looked at this mother hen, very big, very round, with a face as full as the moon framed in an enormous, beribboned hat.
我几乎没正眼看这只母鸡。它很大，很圆，脸上满满的月亮般，戴着一个巨大的、用丝带装饰的帽子。

“She was puffing, out of breath from having been forced to walk quickly.
“她喘着气，因为被迫快速走了段路而有些上气不接下气。 —

The children began to chatter.
孩子们开始嘁嘁喳喳地说个不停。 —

I unfolded my paper and began to read.
我展开报纸开始阅读。

“We had just passed Asnieres, when my neighbor suddenly turned to me and said:
“我们刚经过阿尼耶尔，我的邻居突然转过头对我说：

“’Excuse me, sir, but are you not Monsieur Garnier?’
“请原谅，先生，您不是加尼耶先生吗？

“’Yes, madame.’
“是的，夫人。

“Then she began to laugh, the pleased laugh of a good woman; and yet it was sad.
“然后她开始笑了起来，一种好女人才会有的开心笑声；然而，那笑声是沉重的。

“’You do not seem to recognize me.’
“您似乎不认识我。

“I hesitated. It seemed to me that I had seen that face somewhere;
“我犹豫了一下。我觉得我在某个地方见过那张脸，但是在哪里？ —

but where? when? I answered:
是什么时候？我回答道：

“’Yes—and no. I certainly know you, and yet I cannot recall your name.’
“是的，也不是。我确实认识你，但是我想不起你的名字。

“She blushed a little:
“她微微脸红：

“’Madame Julie Lefevre.’
“朱莉·勒费夫人。

“Never had I received such a shock.
我从未受到过如此震惊。 —

In a second it seemed to me as though it were all over with me!
一瞬间，我感觉好像一切都结束了！ —

I felt that a veil had been torn from my eyes and that I was going to make a horrible and heartrending discovery.
我感觉眼前的帷幕被撕开了，我即将做出一个可怕而令人心碎的发现。

“So that was she! That big, fat, common woman, she!
“这就是她！那个又胖又没品味的女人，就是她！ —

She had become the mother of these four girls since I had last her.
自从上次见到她以来，她已经成了四个女孩的母亲。” —

And these little beings surprised me as much as their mother. They were part of her;
“这些小东西让我惊讶得不亦乐乎，她们是母亲的一部分；她们已经长大成人， —

they were big girls, and already had a place in life.
已经在生活中有了自己的位置。” —

Whereas she no longer counted, she, that marvel of dainty and charming gracefulness.
“而她已经不重要了，她，那个曾经迷人而优雅的奇迹。” —

It seemed to me that I had seen her but yesterday, and this is how I found her again! Was it possible?
“我觉得我好像昨天才见过她，现在又以这种方式再次见到她！这真的可能吗？ —

A poignant grief seized my heart;
一股刺痛的哀伤占据了我的心灵； —

and also a revolt against nature herself, an unreasoning indignation against this brutal, infarious act of destruction.
“也充满对自然的反抗，对这种野蛮、邪恶的毁灭行为的愤慨。”

“I looked at her, bewildered.
“我目瞪口呆地看着她。 —

Then I took her hand in mine, and tears came to my eyes.
然后握住她的手，泪水涌上了我的眼眶。 —

I wept for her lost youth.
我为她失去的青春而流泪。 —

For I did not know this fat lady.
因为我不认识这位胖妇人。”

“She was also excited, and stammered:
“她也很激动，结结巴巴地说道：

“’I am greatly changed, am I not?
“‘我变化很大吧？ —

What can you expect—everything has its time! You see, I have become a mother, nothing but a good mother.
你能指望什么——每个人都有自己的时光！你看，我成了一个母亲，只是一个好母亲。” —

Farewell to the rest, that is over. Oh!
与其余的人告别，一切都结束了。 —

I never expected you to recognize me if we met.
哦！如果我们见面，我从未期望过你会认出我。 —

You, too, have changed.
你也变了。 —

It took me quite a while to be sure that I was not mistaken.
我花了很长时间才确定我没有错。 —

Your hair is all white. Just think!
你的头发全变白了。想一想！ —

Twelve years ago! Twelve years!
已经十二年了！十二年！ —

My oldest girl is already ten.’
我的大女儿已经十岁了。

“I looked at the child.
“我看着孩子。 —

And I recognized in her something of her mother’s old charm, but something as yet unformed, something which promised for the future.
我在她身上认出了母亲曾经的魅力，但那些还没形成，给未来带来了希望。 —

And life seemed to me as swift as a passing train.
生活对于我来说像一辆快速驶过的火车。

“We had reached. Maisons-Laffitte.
“我们到了。麦松拉菲特。 —

I kissed my old friend’s hand.
我吻了我老朋友的手。 —

I had found nothing but the most commonplace remarks.
我找不到除了最平凡的话题之外的任何话题。 —

I was too much upset to talk.
我太过心烦意乱而无法说话。

“At night, alone, at home, I stood in front of the mirror for a long time, a very long time.
“夜晚，独自在家，我站在镜子前面很久，很久。 —

And I finally remembered what I had been, finally saw in my mind’s eye my brown mustache, my black hair and the youthful expression of my face.
最后我记起了过去的模样，想起了我的棕色胡子，黑色头发，还有年轻的表情。现在我老了。 —

Now I was old. Farewell!”
再见！