I LIVED three years as overseer in that dead town, amid empty buildings,watching the workmen pull down clumsy stone shops in the autumn, andrebuild them in the same way in the spring.
我在那个死城中做总监已经三年了，周围都是空旷的建筑物，看着工人们在秋天拆掉笨拙的石头商店，然后在春天以同样的方式重建。

The master took great care that I should earn his five rubles. —
主人非常注重我能挣他那五卢布。 —

If the floorof a shop had to be laid again, I had to remove earth from the whole area tothe depth of one arshin. —
如果商店的地板需要重新铺设，我就必须将整个区域的土地挖掉一尺深。 —

The dock laborers were paid a ruble for this work,but I received nothing; —
码头工人为这项工作拿到了一卢布，但我却毫无所得； —

and while I was thus occupied, I had no time to lookafter the carpenters, who unscrewed the locks and handles from the doorsand committed petty thefts of all kinds.
在我忙于这项工作时，没有时间看管木匠们，他们拧下门上的锁和把手，干起各种小偷小摸的勾当。

Both the workmen and the contractors tried in every way to cheat me, tosteal something, and they did it almost openly, as if they were performing anunpleasant duty; —
工人们和承包商都想方设法欺骗我，偷窃一些东西，他们几乎是公开进行的，就像在履行一种不愉快的义务； —

were not in the least indignant when I accused them, butwere merely amazed.
当我指责他们时，他们并没有丝毫愤慨，只是惊讶不已。

　　“You make as much fuss over five rubles as you would over twenty. It isfunny to hear you!”
“你对五卢布就像对二十卢布一样大惊小怪。真好笑！”

　　I pointed out to my riiaster that, while he saved one ruble by my labor,he lost ten times more in this way, but he merely blinked at me and said :
我向我的雇主指出，尽管他通过我的劳动省去了一卢布，但却在这个过程中损失了十倍以上，但他只是对我眨眼，说道：

　　“That will do! You are making that up!”
“行了！你在瞎说！”

I understood that he suspected me of conniving at the thefts, whicharoused in me a feeling of repulsion towards him, but I was not offended. —
我明白他怀疑我默许这些偷窃行为，这让我对他产生了一种厌恶的感觉，但我并不感到愤怒。 —

Inthat class of life they all steal, and even the master liked to take what did notbelong to him.
在这个阶层的生活中，他们都偷东西，甚至主人也喜欢拿不属于他的东西。

　　When, after the fair, he looked into one of the shops which he was torebuild, and saw a forgotten samovar, a piece of crockery, a carpet, or a pairof scissors which had been forgotten, even sometimes a case, or somemerchandise, my master would say, smiling:
在赶集结束后，当他瞧进他准备重建的商店，看到一个被遗忘的热水壶，一件陶器，一块地毯，或者一把剪刀，有时甚至是一个箱子，或者一些商品时，我的主人会微笑着说：

　　“Make a list of the things and take them all to the store-room.”
“把这些东西列个清单，全部带到储藏室去。”

　　And he would take them home with him from the store-room, telling mesometimes to cross them off the list.
然后他会把它们从储藏室带回家，有时告诉我划掉清单上的东西。

I did not love “things”; I had no desire to possess them; —
我并不喜欢“物质”; 我并不渴望拥有它们; —

even books werean embarrassment to me. I had none of my own, save the little volumes ofBeranger and the songs of Heine. I should have liked to obtain Pushkin, butthe book-dealer in the town was an evil old man, who asked a great deal toomuch for Pushkin’s works. —
甚至书籍对我来说也是一个尴尬。我没有自己的书，只有一些小册子，如贝朗热的作品和海涅的歌曲。我本想获取普希金的作品，但镇上的书商是一个邪恶的老人，要价太高了。 —

The furniture, carpets, and mirrors, which bulkedso largely in my master’s house, gave me no pleasure, irritated me by theirmelancholy clumsiness and smell of paint and lacquer. —
我主人家里那些家具、地毯和镜子让我感到不快，它们因笨拙和油漆香气而激怒我。 —

Most of all I dislikedthe mistress’s room, which reminded me of a trunk packed with all kinds ofuseless, superfluous objects. —
最讨厌女主人的房间，让我联想到一个装满各种无用、多余物品的箱子。 —

And I was disgusted with my master forbringing home other people’s things from the store-house. —
我为了主人从仓库带回别人的东西感到恶心。 —

Queen Margot’srooms had been cramped too, but they were beautiful in spite of it.
玛格丽特皇后的房间也很狭小，但尽管如此，却很美丽。

Life, on the whole, seemed to me to be a disconnected, absurd affair; —
总的来说，生活在我看来是一件毫无关联的，荒谬的事情; —

there was too much of the ob — viously stupid about it. —
明显愚蠢的事情太多了。 —

Here we werebuilding shops which the floods inundated in the spring, soaking through thefloors, making the outer doors hang crooked. —
我们在这里建设商铺，春天却被洪水淹没，漫过地板，使外门歪斜。 —

When the waters subsided thejoists had begun to rot. —
水位下降后，横梁已开始腐烂。 —

Annually the water had overflowed the market-placefor the last ten years, spoiling the buildings and the bridges. —
过去十年里，每年春天洪水都淹没市场，破坏建筑和桥梁。 —

These yearlyfloods did enor — mous damage, and yet they all knew that the waters wouldnot be diverted of themselves.
这些年度洪水造成了巨大的破坏，然而他们都知道水流不会自己改道。

Each spring the breaking of the ice cut up the barges, and dozens ofsmall vessels. —
每年春天，水冰打破了驳船和数十艘小船。 —

The people groaned and built new ones, which the ice againbroke. —
人们唉声叹气并建造新船，但冰又会摧毁它们。 —

It was like a ridiculous treadmill whereon one remains always in thesame place. —
这就像一个荒谬的踏车，一直停留在原地。 —

I asked Osip about it. He looked amazed, and then laughed.
我问奥西普这件事。他看起来很惊讶，然后笑了。

“Oh, you heron! What a young heron he is! What is it to do with you atall? —
“哦，你这只苍鹭！他是一只年轻的苍鹭！这与你有什么关系？ —

What is it to you,But then he spoke more gravely, although he could not extinguish thelight of merriment in his pale blue eyes, which had a clearness not belongingto old age.
对于你来说有什么关系呢，但是他说得更加庄重，尽管无法熄灭他那双苍白蓝眼睛中那种与老年无关的明亮欢愉的光芒。

“That’s a very intelligent observation! —
“这是一个非常聪明的观察！” —

Let us suppose that the affair doesnot concern you; —
假设这件事与你无关； —

all the same it may be worth something to you tounderstand it. —
尽管如此，理解它可能对你有所帮助。 —

Take this case, for example — ”
例如，来看这个案例——”

　　And he related in a dry speech, interspersed lavishly with quaint sayings,unusual comparisons, and all kinds of drollery:
他讲述了一个干巴巴的故事，其中穿插着古怪的谚语、不寻常的比喻和各种滑稽：

“Here is a case where people are to be pitied; —
“这是一个令人可怜的情况； —

they have only a little land,and in the springtime the Volga overflows its banks, carries away the earth,and lays it upon its own sand-banks. —
他们只有一小片土地，在春天，伏尔加河决堤，把泥土冲到自己的沙滩上。 —

Then others complain that the bed ofthe Volga is choked up. —
然后其他人抱怨伏尔加河的床被淤积了。 —

The spring-time streams and summer rains tear upthe gulleys, and again earth is carried away to the river.”
春季的小溪和夏季的雨水冲坏了沟渠，再次将土地冲到了河里。”

　　He spoke without either pity or malice, but as if he enjoyed hisknowledge of the miseries of life, and although his words were in agreementwith my own ideas, yet it was unpleasant to listen to them.
他说话时既不带怜悯也不带恶意，但似乎享受着自己对生活苦难的了解，尽管他的话与我的想法相符，但听起来令人不悦。

　　“Take another instance; fires.”
“再举一个例子；火灾。”

I don’t think I can remember a summer when the forests beyond theVolga did not catch fire. —
我想我没有办法记得有森林在伏尔加河那边没有起火的夏天。 —

Every July the sky was clouded by a muddy yellowsmoke; —
每年七月，天空被浑浊的黄烟笼罩着； —

the leaden sun, all its brightness gone, looked down on the earth likea bad eye.
铅灰色的太阳失去了所有光辉，像一只坏眼睛注视着大地。

“As for forests, who cares about them? —
“至于森林，谁在乎呢？ —

” said Osip. “They all belong to thenobles, or the crown; the peasants don’t own them. —
”奥西普说，“它们都属于贵族或皇室；农民们不拥有它们。 —

And if towns catch fire,that is not a very serious business either. Rich people live in towns ; —
如果城镇失火，那也不是什么严重的事情。富人住在城里； —

they arenot to be pitied. But take the villages. —
他们不值得同情。但是看看村庄。 —

How many villages are burned downevery summer? —
每个夏天至少有多少村庄被烧毁？ —

Not less than a hundred, I should think; —
我想不会少于一百个； —

that’s a seriousloss!”
那是一个严重的损失！”

　　He laughed softly.
他轻声笑了起来。

　　“Some people have property and don’t know how to manage it, andbetween ourselves, a man has to work not so much on his own behalf, or onthe land, as against fire and water.”
“有些人拥有财产却不知如何管理，说句实话，一个人不必全为自己打拼，也不必只是为了土地，而是在与火灾和洪水作斗争。”

　　“Why do you laugh ?”
“你为什么笑？”

　　“Why not? You won’t put a fire out with your tears, nor will they makethe floods more mighty.”
“为什么不能笑呢？你不能用眼泪扑灭火，也不能让洪水变得更猛烈。”

I knew that this handsome old man was more clever than any one I hadmet; —
我知道这位英俊的老人比我见过的人都聪明； —

but what were his real sympathies and antipathies? —
但是他真正的同情与厌恶又是什么呢？ —

I was thinkingabout this all the time he was adding his little dry sayings to my store.
我一直在想，他一边在我的店里加上干巴巴的话语。

“Look round you, and see how little people preserve their own, or otherpeople’s strength. —
“看看四周，看看人们多么少保留自己或他人的力量。 —

How your master squanders yours! And how much doeswater cost in a village? Reflect a little; —
你的主人是如何浪费你的力量的！一个村子里水要多少钱？好好想想吧； —

it is better than any cleverness whichcomes from learning. —
这比从学问中获得的任何聪明更好。 —

If a peasant’s hut is burned, another one can be put upin its place, but when a worthy peasant loses his sight, you can’t set thatright! —
如果一个农民的小屋被烧毁，可以再建一个，但一个值得尊敬的农民失去了视力，是无法弥补的！ —

Look at Ardalon, for example, or Grisha ; see how a man can breakout! —
比如看看阿达龙，或者格里沙；看看一个人是如何摆脱束缚的！ —

A foolish fellow, the first, but Grisha is a man of understanding. —
第一个是个愚蠢的家伙，但格里沙是个有理解力的人。 —

Hesmokes like a hayrick. Women attacked him, as worms attack a murderedman in a wood.”
他像草垛一样地抽烟。妇女们袭击他，就像蠕虫袭击一名在树林中被谋杀的人。”

　　I asked him without anger, merely out of curiosity:
我平静地问他：

　　“Why did you go and tell the master about my ideas?’
“你为什么要去告诉主人我有这些想法呢？”

　　He answered calmly, even kindly:
他平静地，甚至友善地回答道：

“So that he might know what harmful ideas you have. —
“为了让他知道你有什么有害的想法。 —

It was necessary,in order that he may teach you better ones. —
这是必要的，为了让他能教给你更好的想法。 —

Who should teach you, if not he?
如果不是他，谁会教给你呢？

I did not speak to him out of malice, but out of pity for you. —
我说这些不是出于恶意，而是出于对你的怜悯。 —

You are not astupid lad, but the devil is racking your brain. —
你不是个愚蠢的小伙子，但魔鬼正在干扰你的思绪。 —

If I had caught you stealing, orrun — ning after the girls, or drinking, I should have held my tongue. —
如果我抓住你偷窃，或者追逐女孩，或者喝酒，我就会闭嘴。 —

But Ishall always repeat all your wild talk to the master; —
但我将总是把你的疯言疯语告诉主人； —

so now you know.”
所以现在你知道了。”

　　“I won’t talk to you, then!”
“那我就不和你说话了！”

He was silent, scratching the resin off his hands with his nails. —
他沉默了，用指甲刮掉手上的树脂。 —

Then helooked at me with an expression of affection and said:
然后他带着一种慈爱的表情看着我说：

　　“That you will! To whom else will you talk? There is no one else.”
“你肯定会的！你还和谁说话？没有别人。”

Clean and neat, Osip at times reminded me of the stoker, Yaakov,absolutely indifferent to every one. —
干净整洁，奥西普有时让我想起了司炉，雅各布，对每个人绝对冷漠。 —

Sometimes he reminded me of the valuer,Petr Vassiliev, sometimes of the drayman, Petr; —
有时他让我想起了估价师，彼得·瓦西里耶维奇，有时又像送货人，彼得； —

occasionally he revealed atrait which was like grandfather. —
偶尔他展现出一种像祖父的特质。 —

In one way or another he was like all the oldmen I had known. —
以某种方式他像我所认识的所有老人。 —

They were all amazingly interesting old men, but I feltthat it was impossible to live with them ; —
他们都是非常有趣的老人，但我觉得跟他们生活是不可能的； —

it would be oppressive andrepulsive. They had corroded their own hearts, as it were ; —
这将是压抑和令人反感的。他们像是侵蚀了自己的心灵； —

their cleverspeeches hid hearts red with rust. —
他们聪明的言辞掩盖了生锈的心脏。 —

Was Osip good-hearted? No. Malevolent?
奥西普是善良的吗？不是。恶毒的吗？

Also no. That he was clever was all that was clear to me. —
也不是。我唯一清楚的是他很聪明。 —

But while itastounded me by its pliability, that intelligence of his deadened me, and theend of it was that I felt he was inimical to me in all kinds of ways.
虽然他的智慧让我惊讶，但我却感到麻木，最后我觉得他在各种方面对我有敌意。

　　In my heart seethed the black thoughts :
在我的内心涌动着黑暗的思想：

“All human creatures are strangers to one another despite their sweetwords and smiles. —
“尽管他们甜言蜜语，微笑，所有人类都彼此陌生。 —

And more; we are all strangers on the earth, too; —
而更甚者；我们在地球上也都是陌生人； —

no oneseems to be bound to it by a powerful feeling of love. —
似乎没有人被强烈的爱所束缚。 —

Grandmother aloneloved to be alive, and loved all crea — tures — grandmother and graciousQueen Margot.
唯独祖母喜欢活着，并喜欢所有的生灵 —— 祖母和仁慈的玛戈特女王。

Sometimes these and similar thoughts increased the density of the darkfog around me. —
有时这些及类似的思想增加了我周围黑雾的密度。 —

Life had become suffocating and oppressive; but how could Ilive a different life? —
生活变得令人窒息和压抑；但我怎么可能过上不同的生活？ —

Whither could I go? I had no one to talk to, even, exceptOsip, and I talked to him more and more often. —
我能去哪里？我甚至没有人可以交谈，除了奥西普，我越来越频繁地与他交谈。 —

He listened to my heatedbabbling with evident interest, asked me questions, drove home a point, andsaid calmly :
他听着我激动不安的胡言乱语，显然很有兴趣，问我问题，深入问题，然后平静地说：

“The persistent woodpecker is not terrible; no one is afraid of him. —
“顽強的啄木鳥并不可怕；没有人害怕他。 —

Butwith all my heart I advise you to go into a monastery and live there till youare grown up. —
但我真诚建议你进修道院，直到你长大。 —

You will have edifying conversations with holy men to consoleyou, you will be at peace, and you will be a source of revenue to the monks.
你将有与圣人进行有益交谈来安慰你，你将得到平静，你将成为修道士们的收入来源。

　　That’s my sincere advice to you. It is evident that you are not fit for worldlybusiness.”
这是我对你真诚的建议。显而易见，你不适合从事世俗生意。

I had no desire to enter a monastery, but I felt that I was being entangledand bewildered in the enchanted circle of the incomprehensible. —
我并不想进入修道院，但我感到自己被迷惑和困扰在无法理解的迷宫中。 —

I wasmiserable. Life for me was like a forest in autumn. —
我很痛苦。对我来说，生活就像秋天的森林。 —

The mushrooms had comeand gone, there was nothing to do in the empty forest, and I seemed to knowall there was to know in it.
蘑菇来了又走了，空荡荡的森林里无事可做，我仿佛已经了解了其中所有的事情。

I did not drink vodka, and I had nothing to do with girls; —
我不喝伏特加，也与女孩无关； —

books took theplace of these two forms of intoxication for me. —
书替代了这两种醉人的方式。 —

But the more I read, theharder it was for me to go on living the empty, unnecessary life that mostpeople lived.
但我读得越多，越难以继续过着大多数人那种空洞、不必要的生活。

I had only just turned fifteen years of age, but sometimes I felt like anelderly man. —
我才刚刚十五岁，但有时候我感觉自己像个年迈的男人。 —

I was, as it were, inwardly swollen and heavy with all I had livedthrough and read, or restlessly pondered. —
我，内心里好像塞满了我走过和读过的一切，或者烦躁地思考过的一切。 —

Looking into myself, I discoveredthat my receptacle for impressions was like a dark lumber-room closelypacked with all kinds of things, of which I had neither the strength nor thewit to rid myself.
从内心深处看自己，我发现我的感受器像一个堆满各种事物的黑暗杂物间，我既没有力量也没有智慧清理干净。

　　And although they were so numerous, all these cumbersome articleswere not solidly packed, but floated about, and made me waver as watermakes a piece of crockery waver which does not stand firm.
虽然这些繁杂的东西很多，但它们并没有紧密地堆积，而是漂浮着，使我像水让一个不站稳的陶器晃动。

I had a fastidious dislike of unhappiness, illness, and grievances. —
我对不幸、疾病和委屈有一种挑剔的厌恶。 —

When Isaw cruelty, blood, fights even verbal baiting of a person, it aroused aphysical repulsion in me which was swiftly transformed into a cold fury. —
当我看到残酷、血腥、打斗甚至人身攻击时，会引发我一种对身体的排斥，很快转变成冷漠的愤怒。 —

Thismade me fight myself, like a wild beast, after which I would be painfullyashamed of myself.
这让我像野兽一样与自己搏斗，之后我会对自己痛苦地感到羞愧。

　　Sometimes I was so passionately desirous of beating a bully that I threwmyself blindly into a fight, and even now I remember those attacks ofdespair, born of m/ impotence, with shame and grief.
有时我如此激烈地渴望打败一个恶霸，以至于盲目地投入其中，即使现在我仍然记得那些绝望的袭击，源于无能，感到羞愧和悲伤。

Within me dwelt two persons. One was cognizant of only too manyabominations and obscenities, somewhat timid for that reason, was crushedby the knov/ledge of everyday horrors, and had begun to view life and peopledistrustfully, contemptuously, with a feeble pity for every one, includinghimself. —
在我内心，住着两个人。一个只是太过了解种种可憎和猥亵，因此有些胆怯，被日常的恐怖压垮，开始犹豫和怀疑生活和人类，对每个人，包括自己，都带着一种脆弱的怜悯。 —

This person dreamed of a quiet, solitary life with books, withoutpeople, of monasteries, of a forest-keeper’s lodge, a railway signal box, ofPersia, and the office of the night watchman somewhere on the outskirts ofthe town. —
这个人梦想着一个安静、独处的生活，有书籍，没有人类，有修道院，有森林管理员的小屋，有铁路信号站，有波斯，还有城市边缘某处的夜间值班人员办公室。 —

Only to see fewer people, to be remote from human creatures!
只是为了看到更少的人，远离人类！

The other person, baptized by the holy spirit of noble and wise books,observing the overwhelming strength of the daily horrors of life, felt howeasily that strength might sap one’s brain-power, trample the heart withdirty footprints, and, fighting against it with all his force, with clenched teethand fists, was always ready for a quarrel or a fight. —
受到高贵和智慧书籍的神圣精神洗礼的另一个人，感受到生活日常恐怖的强大力量，意识到这种力量是如何轻易地毁灭一个人的智慧，践踏心灵，并且总是准备好为此与其作斗争，用紧咬的牙齿和拳头。 —

He loved and pitiedactively, and, like the brave hero in French novels, drew his sword from hisscabbard on the slightest provocation, and stood in a warlike position.
他积极地爱和怜悯，像法国小说中的勇敢英雄一样，只要稍有挑衅，他就会拔出剑，摆出战斗的姿势。

At that time I had a bitter enemy in the door-keeper of one of thebrothels in Little Pokrovski Street. —
那时，我在小波科罗夫斯基街的一个妓院的看门人身上有一个苦恼的敌人。 —

I made his acquaintance one morning as Iwas going to the market-place; —
在某个早晨我去市场的路上认识了他； —

he was dragging from a hackney-carriage,standing at the gate in front of the house, a girl who was dead drunk. —
他正在从放在房屋门口的马车上拽出一个灌醉了的女孩。 —

Heseized her by the legs in their wrinkled stockings, and thus held her shamelessly,bare to the waist, exclaiming and laughing. —
他用手抓着她穿着起皱的袜子的腿，当众羞辱地将她从腰部脱光，大声叫喊着笑。 —

He spat upon her body,and she came down with a jolt out of the carriage, dishevelled, blind, withopen mouth, with her soft arms hanging behind her as if they had no joints.
他朝她身上吐口水，而她像个尸体一样从马车上摔下来，无措，瞎了，张着嘴，柔软的手臂像没有关节一样悬在身后。

　　Her spine, the back of her neck, and her livid face struck the seat of thecarriage and the step, and at length she fell on the pavement, striking herhead on the stones.
她的脊椎、颈部后面和苍白的脸撞上了马车的座位和门槛，最终摔到了地面上，头撞在石头上。

The driver whipped up his horse and drove off, and the porter, takingone foot in each hand and stepping backward, dragged her along as if shehad been a corpse. —
车夫鞭打马儿走开了，守门人用一只手拽着她，一只脚踩在地上，后退迈着步子，像拖着一具尸体一样。 —

I lost control of myself and made a rush at him, but asluck would have it, I hurled myself against, or accidentally ran into arainwater-barrel, which saved both the porter and me a great deal ofunpleasantness. —
我控制不住自己，向他冲过去，但碰巧我撞在了一个雨水桶上，这让守门人和我都避免了一场很不愉快的斗争。 —

Striking him on the rebound, I knocked him over, darted upthe steps, and desperately pulled the bell-handle. —
我反弹时击中了他，将他打倒，跑上台阶，绝望地拉响了门铃。 —

Some infuriated peoplerushed on the scene, and as I could not explain anything, I went away,picking up the barrel.
一些愤怒的人冲上来，由于我解释不清楚，我离开了，捡起了雨水桶。

　　On the way I overtook the cab. The driver looked down at me from thecoach-box and said:
在路上我超过了出租车。马车箱上的司机俯视着我，说：

　　“You knocked him over smartly.”
“你把他弄倒得很猛烈。”

　　I asked him angrily how he could allow the portel to make sport of thegirl, and he replied calmly, with a fastidious air:
我生气地问他，他怎么能让行李搬运工拿女孩开玩笑，他平静地回答，带有一种挑剔的气质：

“As for me, let them go to the dogs! —
“至于我，让他们去死吧！” —

A gentleman paid me when he puther in my cab. —
“一个绅士把她让我，我得以开车。” —

What is it to me if one person beats another?”
如果一个人打死另一个人，那跟我有什么关系呢？

　　“And if he had killed her?’
“如果他杀了她呢？”

“Oh, well ; you soon kill that sort! —
“哦，那么，你很快就可以杀死那种人！” —

” said the driver, as if he had repeatedlytried to kill drunken girls.
”司机说，仿佛他反复试图杀死喝醉酒的女孩。

After that I saw the porter nearly every day. —
之后，我几乎每天都见到那个搬运工。 —

When I passed up the streethe would be sweeping the pavement, or sitting on the steps as if he werewaiting for me. —
当我经过那条街时，他会在扫地，或者坐在台阶上，仿佛在等我。 —

As I approached him he would stand up, tuck up his sleeves,and announce kindly:
当我走近他时，他会站起来，卷起袖子，友好地宣布：

　　“I am going to smash you to atoms now!”
“我现在要把你打得粉碎！”

He was over forty, small, bow-legged, with a pendulous paunch. —
他已经过了四十岁，个子矮小，弯曲的腿，鼓起的肚子。 —

Whenhe laughed he looked at me with beaming eyes, and it was terribly strange tome to see that they were kind and merry. —
当他笑的时候，他用喜悦的眼睛看着我，对我来说，看到他那种善良而快乐的眼神真是太奇怪了。 —

He could not fight, because hisarms were shorter than mine, and after two or three turns he let me go,leaned his back against the gate, and said, apparently in great surprise :
他无法与我斗，因为他的胳膊比我的短，经过两三个回合后，他放开我，靠在栅栏上，显然很惊讶地说：

　　“All right; you wait, clever!”
“好吧，你等着，聪明人！”

　　These fights bored me, and one day I said to him :
这些打斗让我感到厌烦，有一天我对他说：

　　“Listen, fool! Why don’t you let me alone?”
“听着，傻瓜！你为什么不放过我？”

　　“Why do you fight, then?” he asked reproachfully.
“那你为什么要打架？”他责备地问道。

　　I asked him in turn why he had maltreated the girl.
我反问他为什么要虐待那个女孩。

　　“What did it matter to you? Are you sorry for her?’
“那对你有什么关系？你为她感到难过吗？”

　　“Of course I am!”
“当然难过！”

　　He was silent, rubbing his lips, and then asked:
他沉默着，摩擦着嘴唇，然后问道：

　　“And would you be sorry for a cat?”
“那你会为一只猫感到难过吗？”

　　“Yes, I should.”
“会，我会。”

　　Then he said:
然后他说：

　　“You are a fool, rascal! Wait; I’ll show you something.”
“你是个傻瓜，流氓！等着，我会让你看到点什么。”

I never could avoid passing up that street — it was the shortest way —but I began to get up earlier, in order not to meet the man. —
我总是无法避免经过那条街 — 这是最短的路 — 但我开始更早起床，以免遇见那个人。 —

However, in a fewdays I saw him again, sitting on the steps and stroking a smoke-colored catwhich lay on his knees. —
然而，几天后，我又看到他，坐在台阶上，抚摸一只躺在他膝上的烟色猫。 —

When I was about three paces from him he jumpedup, seized the cat by the legs, and dashed its head against the stonebalustrade, so that I was splashed with the warm blood. —
当我离他大约三步远时，他跳起来，抓住猫的腿，将其头撞向石栏杆，我被温暖的血溅到。 —

He then hurled thecat under my feet and stood at the gate, crying:
然后他将猫扔在我的脚下，站在门口大喊：

　　“What now?”
“现在呢？”

What could I do? Wc rolled about the yard like two curs, and afterward,as I sat on a grassy slope, nearly crazy with inexpressible grief, I bit my lipsto keep myself from howling. —
我能做什么呢？我们在院子里像两只狗一样打了起来，后来，当我坐在草坡上时，因难以言喻的悲伤几乎要发疯，我咬住嘴唇以免自己呼啸。 —

When I remember it I shiver with a feeling ofsickening repulsion, amazed that I did not go out of my mind and kill someone.
每当我回想起这件事，我都会颤栗，感到惊人的憎恶，惊讶于我竟没有发狂而杀人。

Why do I relate these abominations? —
为什么要我讲述这些可怕的事情呢？ —

So that you may know, kind sirs,that is not all past and done with! —
这样你们可以知道，亲爱的先生们，这并不是所有的过去和结束！ —

You have a liking for grim fantasies; youare delighted with horrible stories well told; —
你们喜欢阴森的幻想；你们为讲得淋漓尽致的可怕故事而欢欣鼓舞； —

the grotesquely terrible excitesyou pleasantly. —
怪诞的可怕让你们愉快地兴奋。 —

But I know of genuine horrors, everyday terrors, and I havean undeniable right to excite you unpleasantly by telling you about them, inorder that you may remember how we live, and under what circumstances. —
但我知道真正的恐怖，日常的恐怖，并且我有权向你们激发不愉快的情绪，告诉你们这些，以便让你们记住我们生活的方式和情况。 —

Alow and unclean life it is, ours, and that is the truth!
我们的生活是肮脏而不正的，这是事实！

I am a lover of humanity and I have no desire to make any onemiserable, but one must not be sentimental, nor hide the grim truth with themotley words of beautiful lies. —
我是一个热爱人类的人，我不想让任何人苦恼，但不能感情用事，也不能用美丽谎言的五颜六色的字眼掩盖严峻的事实。 —

Let us face life as it is! All that is good andhuman in our hearts and brains needs renewing. —
让我们面对现实生活吧！我们心灵和大脑中所有美好和人性的东西都需要更新。 —

What went to my head mostof all was the attitude of the average man toward women. —
最让我困扰的是普通人对待女性的态度。 —

From my readingof novels I had learned to look upon woman as the best and most significantthing in life. —
通过阅读小说，我学到将女人视为生活中最好、最重要的事物。 —

Grandmother had strengthened me in this belief by her storiesabout Our Lady and Vassilissia the Wise. What I knew of the unhappylaundress, Natalia, and those hundred and thousands of glances and smileswhich I observed, with which women, the mothers of life, adorn this life ofsordid joys, sordid loves, also helped me.
祖母通过她讲述的关于我们的夫人和智慧的瓦西里萨的故事加深了我对这种信念的坚定。我所知道的不幸洗衣女纳塔莉娅，以及我观察到的这一生活的母亲用来装饰这种卑贱的快乐、卑贱的爱的生活的千百次眼神和微笑，也帮助了我。

The books of Turgenieff sang the praises of woman, and with all the goodI knew about women I had adorned the image of Queen Margot in mymemory. —
屠尔根耶夫的书歌颂了女性，与我所知道的关于女性的所有美好之处匹敌，我已在记忆中装饰了玛格丽特女王的形象。 —

Heine and Turgenieff especially gave me much that was preciousfor this purpose.
海涅和屠尔根耶夫特别给我带来了许多宝贵的东西。

In the evenings as I was returning from the market-place I used to halton the hill by the walls of the Kreml and look at the sun setting beyond theVolga. Fiery streams flowed over the heavens; —
傍晚我从市场回来的时候，常常会在克里姆林的墙边的山坡上停下来，看着伏尔加河远处的落日。火热的光芒流淌在天空； —

the terrestrial, beloved riverhad turned purple and blue. —
地面上我爱的河流变成了紫色和蓝色。 —

Sometimes in such moments the land lookedlike an enor — mous convict barge ; —
有时在这种时刻，陆地看起来像一艘巨大的囚犯驳船； —

it had the appearance of a pig be — inglazily towed along by an invisible steamer.
它看起来像一头懒洋洋被一艘无形的轮船拖着行驶的大猪。

But I thought more often of the great world, of towns which I had readabout, of foreign countries where people lived in a different manner. —
但我更经常想到那众多我读到过的城市、那些人们以不同方式生活的外国国家。 —

Writersof other countries depicted life as cleaner, more attractive, less burdensomethan that life which seethed slug — gishly and monotonously around me.
其他国家的作家描绘出比我周围那种汹涌慢慢、单调枯燥的生活更干净、更吸引人、更轻松的生活。

　　This thought calmed my disturbed spirit, aroused visions of the possibility ofa different life for me.
这个想法平复了我骚动不安的灵魂，唤起了我对我可能过上不同生活的幻想。

　　And I felt that I should meet some simple-minded, wise man who wouldlead me on that broad, bright road.
我感到我会遇到一个朴实、智慧的人，他会引领我走上那条宽广、明亮的道路。

One day as I sat on a bench by the walls of the Kreml my Uncle Yaakovappeared at my side. —
一天，当我坐在克里姆林墙边的长椅上时，我叔叔雅科夫出现在我的身边。 —

I had not noticed his approach, and I did not recognizehim at once. —
我没有注意到他的靠近，一开始我也没有认出他。 —

Although we had lived in the same town during several years,we had met seldom, and then only accidentally and for a mere glimpse ofeach other.
虽然我们在同一个城镇生活了几年，但我们很少见面，而且只是偶然间瞥见对方。

“Ekh! how you have stretched out! —
“唉!你怎么拉得这么长啊！ —

” he said jestingly, and we fell totalking like two people long ac — quainted but not intimate.
“他开玩笑地说，我们开始像两个长期相识但不亲密的人一样交谈起来。

From what grandmother had told me I knew that Uncle Yaakov hadspent those years in quarrelling and idleness; —
根据奶奶告诉我的，我知道雅各叔叔那些年在吵架和懒惰中度过； —

he had had a situation asassistant warder at the local goal, but his term of service ended badly. —
他曾在当地监狱担任助理看守，但他的任职期间以失败告终。 —

Thechief warder being ill, Uncle Yaakov arranged festivities in his own quartersfor the convicts. —
看守长生病时，雅各叔叔在自己的住处为囚犯举办了庆祝活动。 —

This was discovered, and he was dismissed and handed overto the police on the charge of having let the prisoners out to “take a walk” inthe town at night. —
这件事被发现了，他被解雇并被警方指控让囚犯在夜晚“出去散步”。 —

None of them had escaped, but one was caught in the actof trying to throttle a certain deacon. —
他们都没有逃跑，但有一个妄图勒死某个牧师的人被抓住。 —

The business draggged on for a longtime, but the matter never came into court; —
这件事拖了很长时间，但案件从未进入法庭； —

the convicts and the warderswere able to exculpate my good uncle. —
囚犯和看守们能为我那善良的叔叔申辩。 —

But now he lived without working onthe earnings of his son who sang in the church choir at Rukavishnikov, whichwas famous at that time. —
现在他过着从他的儿子那里靠领取饭碗唱诗班的钱过活的生活，该儿子在鲁卡维什尼科夫的教堂唱诗班，当时非常有名。 —

He spoke oddly of this son:
他奇怪地谈到这个儿子：

“He has become very solemn and important! He is a soloist. —
“他变得很严肃和重要！他是独唱者。 —

He getsangry if the samovar is not ready to time, or if his clothes are not brushed. —
如果壶水不按时烧开，或者他的衣服没刷好，他会生气。 —

Avery dapper fellow he is, and clean.”
他是一个非常整洁的家伙，很干净。”

　　Uncle himself had aged considerably; he looked grubby and fallen away.
叔叔本人已经显著老去；他看起来肮脏而消瘦。

His gay, curly locks had grown very scanty, and his ears stuck out ; —
他那些快乐的卷发已经变得非常稀疏，他的耳朵也凸出来了；” —

in thewhites of his eyes and on the leathery skin of his shaven cheeks thereappeared thick, red veins. —
在他眼白和剃得干净的脸颊上，出现了厚厚的红色血管。 —

He spoke jestingly, but it seemed as if there weresomething in his mouth which impeded his utterance, although his teethwere sound.
他说话带着玩笑的口吻，但好像口中有什么东西阻碍着他的发言，尽管他的牙齿很好。

I was glad to have the chance of talking to a man who knew how to livewell, had seen much, and must therefore know much. —
我很高兴有机会和一个懂得如何享受生活、见识广泛的人交谈，因此一定知晓很多。 —

I well remembered hislively, comical songs and grandfather’s words about him:
我清楚地记得他活泼、滑稽的歌曲，还有爷爷对他的评价：

　　“In songs he is King David, but in business he plots evil, like Absalom!”
“在歌曲中他是大卫王，但在生意上却像亚撒龙一样策划邪恶！”

　　On the promenade a well-dressed crowd passed and repassed :
在长廊上来来往往的是服装光鲜的人群：穿着奢华的绅士、官员、军官；

luxuriously attired gentlemen, chinovniks, officers ; —
而叔叔穿着陈旧的秋季大衣、破旧的帽子和棕色靴子，明显地因为自己的穿着而感到刺痛。 —

uncle was dressed in ashabby, autumn overcoat, a battered cap, and brown boots, and was visiblypricked by annoyance at the thought of his own costume. —
我们走进了波钦斯基街上的一家酒吧，坐在靠近能看到市场的窗户旁边的桌子上。 —

We went into oneof the public-houses on the Pochainski Causeway, taking a table near thewindow which opened on the market-place.
“你还记得你唱过的：

　　“Do you remember how you sang:
”一个乞丐把他的护腿晾干，另一个乞丐来了把它偷走了？“

　　“A beggar hung his leggings to dry,And another beggar came and stole them away?”
当我说出这首歌的词句时，我第一次感受到了它们的嘲讽意味，似乎我活泼的叔叔既机智又恶毒。

When I had uttered the words of the song, I felt for the first time theirmocking meaning, and it seemed to me that my gay uncle was both witty andmalicious. —
但他一边将伏特加倒入杯中，一边沉思地说： —

But he, pouring vodka into a glass, said thoughtfully :
“嗯，我年纪渐长，我对生活的利用很少。

　　“Well, I am getting on in years, and I have made very little of my life.
那首歌不是我写的；它是一个神学院的老师创作的。他现在叫什么名字来着？

That song is not mine; it was composed by a teacher in the seminary. Whatwas his name now? —
导师德语“F. Dorner！” —

He is dead; I have forgotten. We were great friends. Hewas a bachelor. —
他已经去世了，我都忘了。我们曾是好朋友。他是单身汉。 —

He died in his sleep, in a fit. How many people have gone tosleep that I can remember! —
他在睡梦中去世，死于一场痉挛。我还记得有多少人是在睡梦中离开的！ —

It would be hard to count them. You don’t drink?
这些人数起来会很难。你不喝酒吗？

That is right; don’t! Do you see your grandfather often? —
是的，不喝！你经常见你的祖父吗？ —

He is not a happy oldman. I believe he is going out of his mind.”
他老人家并不快乐。我觉得他快要发疯了。”

After a few drinks he became more lively, held him-self up, lookedyounger, and began to speak with more animation. —
喝了几杯酒后，他变得更活跃起来，挺着身子，看起来年轻了，开始更有激情地说话起来。 —

I asked him for the storyof the convicts.
我问他有关逃犯的故事。

　　“You heard about it?” he inquired, and with a glance around, andlowering his voice, he said :
“你听说过吗？”他问道，一边环顾四周，一边声音低沉地说：

“What about the convicts? I was not their judge, you know ; —
“逃犯的事情怎么样？你知道，我不是他们的法官； —

I saw themmerely as human creatures, and I said : —
我只是把他们看作普通的人类，然后说道： —

‘Brothers, let us live together inharmony, let us live happily! —
‘兄弟们，让我们和睦相处，让我们快乐生活起来！ —

There is a song,’ I said, ‘which runs like this :
还有一首歌，”我说，“它唱道：

　　“Imprisonment to happiness is no bar. Let them do with us as they will!
‘幸福就是毁约不过来，他们对待我们如何都无所谓！

　　Still we shall live for sake of laughter, He is a fool who lives otherwise.”
仍然我们为了欢笑而生，过其他生活的人是傻瓜。”

　　He laughed, glanced out of the window on the darkening causeway, andcontinued, smoothing his whis — kers :
他笑了起来，眺望着窗外渐暗的街道，然后接着说着，边拨弄着自己的胡须：

“Of course they were dull in that prison, and as soon as the roll-call wasover, they came to me. —
“当然他们在监狱里很无聊，一结束点名就过来找我了。 —

We had vodka and dainties, sometimes provided byme, sometimes by themselves. —
我们有伏特加和点心，有时是我提供，有时是他们自己。 —

I love songs and dancing, and among themwere some excellent singers and dancers. —
我喜欢歌舞，他们中有些人唱歌跳舞得非常棒。 —

It was astonishing! Some of themwere in fetters, and it was no calumny to say that I undid their chains ; —
真是令人惊讶！他们有些人被铐着，但说我解开他们的铐链是毫不夸张的； —

it istrue. But bless you, they knew how to take them off by themselves without ablacksmith; —
这是真的。但是不用铁匠他们也知道怎么解开铐链； —

they are a handy lot of people; it is astonishing! —
他们是一群非常灵巧的人；真是令人惊讶！ —

But to say that Ilet them wander about the town to rob people is rubbish, and it was neverproved!”
但说我让他们在镇上乱窜抢劫是胡说，从未有过证明！”

He was silent, gazing out of the window on the causeway where themerchants were shutting up their chests of goods ; —
他静静地凝视着窗外商人们正把货物箱锁好的铁栏杆； —

iron bars rattled, rustyhinges creaked, some boards fell with a resounding crash. —
铁条叮当作响，生锈的铰链吱呀作响，有些板子发出震耳欲聋的响声。 —

Then winking atme gaily, he continued in a low voice :
然后向我眨眼开玩笑地，他继续低声说道：

“To speak the truth, one of them did really go out at night, only he wasnot one of the fettered ones, but simply a local thief from the lower end of thetown; —
“实话告诉你，他们中的一个确实晚上出去过，只不过他不是被铐着的其中一个，而只是镇上底层的一个贼； —

his sweetheart lived not far away on the Pechorka. —
他的情人住在不远处的佩赫奇尔卡。 —

And the affair withthe deacon happened through a mistake; —
和德肯发生的那件事是个误会； —

he took the deacon for a merchant.
他把德肯当成了商人。

It was a winter night, in a snowstorm; everybody was wearing a fur coat ; —
那是一个雪夜，在暴风雪中；每个人都穿着皮大衣； —

how could he tell the difference in his haste between a deacon and amerchant?”
在他匆匆忙忙的时候，他怎么能区分一个執事和一个商人呢？

　　This struck me as being funny, and he laughed himself as he said:
这使我觉得很滑稽，他自己笑着说：

　　“Yes, by gad! It was the very devil — ”
“是的，天啊！这简直就是魔鬼——”

Here my uncle became unexpectedly and strangely angry. —
在这里，我叔叔突然并且奇怪地生气了。 —

He pushedaway his plate of savories, frowned with an expression of loathing, and,smoking a cigarette, muttered:
他把盘子里的小食推开，皱着眉头，表情中带着厌恶，抽着烟，嘟囔道：

“They rob one another; then they catch one another and put one anotheraway in prisons in Siberia, in the galleys; —
“他们互相抢劫；然后他们抓住彼此，把彼此送进西伯利亚的监狱，进入船上劳工队； —

but what is it to do with me? I spitupon them all! —
但这关我什么事？我对他们都不屑一顾！ —

I have my own soul!”
我有自己的灵魂！”

　　The shaggy stoker stood before me ; he also had been wont to “spit upon”
头发蓬乱的炉工站在我面前；他也曾经习惯“对着”人吐痰，他也被称为Yaakov。

　　people, and he also was called Yaakov.
“你在想什么？”我叔叔轻声问道。

　　“What are you thinking about ?” asked my uncle softly.
“你为囚犯感到难过吗？”

　　“Were you sorry for the convicts?”
“怜悯他们很容易，他们都是孩子们；令人惊讶！

“It is easy to pity them, they are such children; it is amazing! —
有时我看着他们中的某个人，想：我甚至没资格为他擦鞋； —

SometimesI would look at one of them and think: I am not worthy to black his boots; —
尽管我负责他们！聪明的恶魔，手巧。” —

although I am set over him! Clever devils, skilful with their hands.”
有时我看着他们中的某个人，想：我甚至没资格为他擦鞋；虽然我负责他们！聪明的混蛋，手艺高超。

　　The wine and his reminiscences had again pleasantly animated him.
酒和他的回忆再次让他愉快起来。

　　With his elbows resting on the window-sill, waving his yellow hand with thecigarette between its fingers, he spoke with energy:
手肘搁在窗台上，手指间夹着香烟，他兴奋地说道：

“One of them, a crooked fellow, an engraver and watchmaker, wasconvicted of coining. —
“其中一个，一个弯曲的家伙，一名雕刻家和钟表匠，被判伪造罪。 —

You ought to have heard how he talked! It was like asong, a flame! —
你应该听过他是如何说话的！就像是一首歌，一团火焰！ —

‘Explain to me,’ he would say; ‘why may the exchequer coinmoney while I may not? —
‘告诉我，’他会说；‘为什么国库可以铸币，而我不可以？告诉我这个！’而没有人能够告诉他为什么，一点都没有，即使是我，当时还是他的上司。 —

Tell me that!’ And no one could tell him why, noone, not even I, and I was chief over him. —
还有另一个，一个著名的莫斯科小偷，举止文雅，装束讲究，整洁如针，他总是彬彬有礼地说： —

There was another, a well-knownMoscow thief, quiet mannered, foppish, neat as a pin, who used to saycourteously: —
‘人们工作直到感觉迟钝，我可没有这个愿望。我尝试过了。 —

‘People work till their senses are blunted, and I have no desireto do the same. I have tried it. —
你工作了又工作，直到疲倦让你成为一个傻瓜，花两戈比克喝得醉醺醺，拿七戈比克在牌局中输掉，用五戈比克来找个女人对你好，然后，再次冷冷清清。 —

You work and work till weariness has made afool of you, get drunk on two copecks, lose seven copecks at cards, get awoman to be kind to you for five copecks, and then, all over again, cold andhungry. —
他说，‘不，我不玩这个游戏。’” —

No,’ he says, ‘I am not playing that game.’ ”
雅各伯叔叔俯身趴在桌子上，脸颊泛红直至耳尖。

Uncle Yaakov bent over the table and continued, reddening to the tips ofhis ears. —
他激动得连小耳朵都在颤抖。 —

He was so excited that even his small ears quivered.
“他们可不是傻瓜。兄弟；他们知道什么才是正确的！管这狗屁红线！

“They were no fools. Brother; they knew what was right! To the devilwith red tape! —
拿我自己举例，看看我这一生是怎么过的？我回顾，感到羞耻，一切都是匆匆忙忙、偷偷摸摸地进行； —

Take myself, for instance; what has my life been? I look backon ! —
对照着标点符号、零碎的，无法回溯！ —

t with shame, everything by snatches, stealthily; —
感受羞耻！” —

my sorrows were myown, but all my joys were stolen. —
我的悲伤是我的，但所有的快乐都被偷走了。 —

Either my father shouted, ‘Don’t you dare!’
要么是我父亲大喊：“你敢试试！”

or my wife screamed, ‘You cannot!’ I was afraid to throw down a ruble. —
要么是我的妻子尖叫：“你不能！”我害怕丢下一卢布。 —

Andso all my life has passed away, and here I am acting the lackey to my ownson. —
所以我的一生都过去了，我现在竟成了我儿子的跟班。 —

Why should I hide it? I serve him, Brother, meekly, and he scolds melike a gentleman. —
我为什么要隐藏这个事实呢？我像个仆人似地侍奉着他，他还像绅士一样责骂我。 —

He says, ‘Father!’ and I obey like a footman. —
他说：“父亲！”我像个仆从般服从。 —

Is that what Iwas born for, and what I struggled on in poverty for — that I should beservant to my own son? —
我活着，我为了什么而生？我贫困中奋斗，只是为了成为自己儿子的仆人吗？ —

But, even without that, why was I born? Whatpleasure have I had in life?”
但是，即使没有这个，我为什么而生？我在生活中有过什么快乐？

　　I listened to him inattentively. However, I said reluctantly, and notexpecting an answer:
我漫不经心地听着。然而，我无奈地说：

　　“I don’t know what sort of a life mine will be.”
“我不知道我的生活将是什么样的。”

　　He burst out laughing.
他大笑起来。

“Well, and who does know? I have never met any one yet who knew! —
“嗯，谁知道呢？我从未遇到过任何一个知道的人！” —

Sopeople live; he who can get accustomed to anything — ”
所以人们生活着；谁能适应任何事情的 — ”

　　And again he began to speak in an offended, angry tone:
他又开始以一种受伤、愤怒的口吻说：

“One of the men I had was there for assault, a man from Orla, agentleman, who danced beautifully. —
“有一个人我本来就为打人而在那里，一个来自Orla的绅士，舞得很漂亮。” —

He made us all laugh by a song aboutVanka :
他用一首关于范卡的歌让我们都笑了：

　　“Vanka passes by the churchyard,That is a very simple matter!
“范卡路过教堂，那是一件很简单的事情！

　　Ach! Vanka, draw your horns inFor you won’t get beyond the graveyard!
啊！范卡，把你的角收起来，因为你过不了墓地！

“I don’t think that is at all funny, but it is true! —
“我觉得这一点都不好笑，但却是真的！ —

As you can’t come back, youcan’t see beyond the graveyard. —
由于你不能回来，所以你过不了墓地。 —

In that case it is the same to me whether Iam a convict, or a warder over convicts.”
这样的话，对我来说无论我是囚犯还是囚犯的监视人员都一样。”

He grew tired of talking, drank his vodka, and looked into the emptydecanter with one eye, like a bird. —
他讲累了，喝了一口伏特加，用一只眼睛看着空瓶子，像一只鸟。 —

He silently lighted another cigarette,blowing the smoke through his mustache.
他默默地又点上一支香烟，将烟从胡子里吹出来。

“Don’t struggle, don’t hope for anything, for the grave and thechurchyard let no man pass them,” the mason, Petr, used to say sometimes,yet he was absolutely dissimilar to Uncle Yaakov. —
“别挣扎，别指望什么，因为坟墓和墓地不容许人经过他们，”石匠佩特有时候会说，然而他和雅科夫叔叔完全不同。 —

How many such sayings Iknew already!
我已经知道多少这样的谚语了！

I had nothing more to ask my uncle about. —
我没有关于叔叔的更多问题要问了。 —

It was melancholy to be withhim, and I was sorry for him. —
和他在一起让人感到忧郁，我为他感到难过。 —

I kept recalling his lively songs and the soundof the guitar which produced joy out of a gentle melancholy.
我不断回忆着他活泼的歌声和吉他的声音，那带来了从温和的忧郁中产生的快乐。

　　I had not forgotten merry Tzigan. I had not forgotten, and as I looked atthe battered countenance of Uncle Yaakov, I thought involuntarily:
我没有忘记欢快的吉普赛人。我没有忘记，当我看着雅科夫叔叔那张受伤的面庞时，我不禁想：

　　“Does he remember how he crushed Tzigan to death with the cross?”
“他是否记得他是怎么用十字架将吉普赛人压死的？”

But I had no desire to ask him about it. —
但我并没有想要问他有关此事。 —

I looked into the causeway, whichwas flooded with a gray August fog. —
我望着堤道，被一层灰色的八月雾气弥漫。 —

The smell of apples and melons floatedup to me. —
苹果和甜瓜的味道飘到我面前。 —

Along the narrow streets of the town the lamps gleamed; I knew itall by heart. —
在镇上狭窄的街道上，灯光闪烁着；我对这一切了如指掌。 —

At that moment I heard the siren of the Ribinsk steamer, andthen of that other which was bound for Perm.
就在那时，我听到了里宾斯克轮船的汽笛声，接着又听到了前往彼尔姆的另一艘轮船的声音。

　　“Well, we ‘d better go,” said my uncle.
“嗯，我们最好走了，”我叔叔说道。

　　At the door of the tavern as he shook my hand he said jokingly:
当他在客栈门口握着我的手时，开玩笑地说道：

“Don’t be a hypochondriac. You are rather inclined that way, eh? Spit onit! You are young. —
“不要神经过敏。你有点倾向于这种方式，是吗？随口吐痰！你还年轻。 —

The chief thing you have to remember is that Tate is nohindrance to happiness. —
你必须记住的首要事情是，泰特不是幸福的障碍。 —

’ Well, good-by; I am going to Uspen!”
“好了，再见；我要去乌斯彭！”

　　My cheerful uncle left me more bewildered than ever by hisconversation.
我快乐的叔叔通过他的谈话让我更加困惑。

I walked up to the town and came out in the fields. It was midnight; —
我走向镇子，然后来到了田野。那时已是午夜； —

heavy clouds floated in the sky, obliterating my shadow on the earth by theirown black shadows. —
厚重的云彩飘荡在天空，自身的黑影掩盖了地面上我的影子。 —

Leaving the town for the fields, I reached the Volga, andthere I lay in the dusty grass and looked for a long time at the river, themeadow, on that motionless earth. —
离开镇子来到田野，我到达了伏尔加河，我躺在满是灰尘的草地上，长时间凝视着河流、草地和那片静止的大地。 —

Across the Volga the shadows of theclouds floated slowly; —
伏尔加河的对岸，云朵的阴影慢慢飘过。 —

by the time they had reached the meadows they lookedbrighter, as if they had been washed in the water of the river. —
当他们来到草地时，他们看起来更加明亮，䅁如他们已经在河水中清洗过一样。 —

Everythingaround seemed half asleep, stupefied as it were, moving unwillingly, andonly because it was compelled to do so, and not from a flaming love ofmovement and life.
周围的一切仿佛半睡半醒，仿佛麻木不仁，移动仅仅是出于被迫，而不是激情的热爱运动和生命。

　　And I desired so ardently to cast a beneficent spell over the whole earthand myself, which would cause every one, myself included, to be swept by ajoyful whirlwind, a festival dance of people, loving one another in this life,spending their lives for the sake of others, beautiful, brave, honorable.
我如此热切地渴望用一种仁慈的咒语笼罩整个地球和我自己，让每个人，包括我自己，在这个生活中都被欢乐的旋风卷起，人们共同举行着节日舞会，彼此相爱，为他人而活，美丽、勇敢、高尚。

　　I thought:
我想：

　　“I must do something for myself, or I shall be ruined.”
“我必须为自己做点什么，否则我就要毁灭了。”

On frowning autumn days, when one not only did not see the sun, butdid not feel it, either — forgot all about it, in fact — on autumn days, morethan once — I happened to be wandering in the forest. —
在愁云密布的秋天，不仅看不见太阳，甚至感受不到它，事实上甚至把它忘记了，在秋天的某些日子里，我偶然漫步在森林中。 —

Having left the highroad and lost all trace of the pathways, I at length grew tired of looking forthem. —
离开了大路，失去了所有路径的踪迹，最终厌倦了寻找。 —

Setting my teeth, I went straight forward, over fallen trees which wererotting, over the unsteady mounds which rose from the marshes, and in theend I always came out on the right road.
我咬紧牙关，径直前行，穿过腐烂的倒下的树木，跨过从沼泽地上升起的不稳定的土丘，在最后我总是走对了路。

　　It was in this way that I made up my mind.
就是这样，我做出了决定。

　　In the autumn of that year I went to Kazan, in the secret hope of findingsome means of studying there.
那年秋天，我去了喀山，秘密地希望能找到一些学习的机会。

The End
结束。