The Angel

◎劉欣然/譯

The Angel

◎劉欣然/譯

He watered it，and cherished it，and took care it should have the benefit of every sunbeam that found its way into the cellar，from the earliest morning ray to the evening sunset.The flower entwined itself even in his dreams—for him it bloomed，for him spread its perfume. And it gladdened his eyes，and to the flower he turned，even in death，when the Lord called him.He has been one year with God.During that time the flower has stood in the window，withered and forgotten，till at length cast out among the sweepings into the street，on the day of the lodgers’removal.And this poor flower，withered and faded as it is，we have added to our nosegay，because it gave more real joy than the most beautiful flower in the garden of a queen.

“But how do you know all this？”asked the child whom the angel was carrying to heaven.

“I know it，”said the angel，“because I myself was the poor sick boy who walked upon crutches，and I know my own flower well.”

Then the child opened his eyes and looked into the glorious happy face of the angel，and at the same moment they found themselves in that heavenly home where all is happiness and joy.And God pressed the dead child to His heart，and wings were given him so that he could fly with the angel，hand in hand.Then the Almighty pressed all the flowers to His heart；but He kissed the withered fieldflower，and it received a voice.Then it joined in the song of the angels，who surrounded the throne，some near，and others in a distant circle，but all equally happy.They all joined in the chorus of praise，both great and small，the good，happy child，and the poor field-flower，that once lay withered and cast away on a heap of rubbish in a narrow，dark street.

譯文

他為它澆水，照料它，盡量使它得到射進這扇低矮的窗子里來的每一線陽光。這棵花兒常常來到他的夢里，因為它為他開出了花，為他散發(fā)出香氣，使他的眼睛得到快感。當(dāng)上帝召他去的時候，他在死神面前最后要看的東西就是這棵花?，F(xiàn)在他住在天上已經(jīng)有一年了。在這一年中，這棵花在窗子上完全被人忘掉了。它已經(jīng)枯萎，因此搬家的時候，就被人扔在街上的垃圾堆里。我們現(xiàn)在把這棵可憐的、萎謝了的花收進我們的花束中來，因為它給人的快樂，大大地超過了皇家花園里面那些最艷麗的花。

“你怎么知道這件事的呢？”這個被安琪兒帶上天去的孩子問。

“我當(dāng)然知道，”安琪兒說，“因為我就是那個拄著拐杖走路的病孩子呀！我當(dāng)然認識我的花！”

孩子睜著一雙大眼睛，凝望著安琪兒的美麗幸福的臉。正在這時候，他們來到了天上，來到了和平幸福的天堂。上帝把孩子緊緊地摟在胸前，于是他獲得了安琪兒那樣的翅膀，與他手拉手一起飛翔。上帝還把花兒放到胸前，特地吻了吻那棵可憐的、萎謝了的野花。因此那棵野花就有了聲音?，F(xiàn)在它能跟在周圍飛翔的所有安琪兒一齊歌唱了——他們有的飛得很近，有的繞著大圈子，飛得很遠，飛到無垠的遠方，但他們?nèi)际切腋５?。他們都唱著歌——大大小小的、善良快樂的孩子們，還有搬家那天被扔在小巷里垃圾堆上的那棵枯萎了的可憐的野花，大家都唱著歌。

注釋

cherish珍愛

sunbeam陽光；日光；快樂的人

cellar地窖；酒窖；地下室

ray射線；光線

entwined纏??；盤繞

bloom花；青春；旺盛

spread傳播；伸展

perfume香水；香味

gladdened使喜悅；使高興

Lord主；上帝

wither干枯；減弱；羞愧

cast投擲；拋

lodger房客；寄宿人；投宿者

removal免職；移動；排除

nosegay花束

crutches拐杖；支撐物

glorious光榮的；輝煌的；極好的

heavenly天上的；神圣的；天國似的

Almighty全能的神

surround圍繞物

throne君主；王權(quán)

distant遙遠的；冷漠的

chorus合唱隊；齊聲；歌舞隊