Little Freddy with his Fiddle

"Once on a time there was a cottager who had an only son, and this lad was weakly, and hadn't much health to speak of; so he couldn't go out to work in the field.

“从前有个农舍主人，膝下只有一个儿子，这孩子体弱多病，说不上有多少力气，因此没法下地干活。

"His name was Freddy, and undersized he was, too; and so they called him Little Freddy. At home there was little either to bite or sup, and so his father went about the country trying to bind him over as a cowherd or an errand-boy; but there was no one who would take his son till he came to the sheriff, and he was ready to take him, for he had just packed off his errand-boy, and there was no one who would fill his place, for the story went that he was a skinflint.

“他名叫弗雷迪，个头也矮小，于是大家都叫他小弗雷迪。家里没什么吃的也没什么喝的，于是他父亲便四处奔走，想把他送去当牧童或跑腿的小厮；可谁也不肯收留他儿子，直到找到了那位执法官，执法官正好愿意收下他，因为他刚打发走了自己的跑腿小厮，一直没人肯来顶替，因为外面都传说他是个吝啬鬼。

"But the cottager thought it was better there than nowhere: he would get his food, for all the pay he was to get was his board—there was nothing said about wages or clothes. So when the lad had served three years he wanted to leave, and then the sheriff gave him all his wages at one time. He was to have a penny a year. 'It couldn't well be less,' said the sheriff. And so he got threepence in all.

“可那农舍主人想，跟着执法官总比无处可去强：他至少能混口饭吃，因为讲好的报酬就是包吃住——工钱和衣服的事一句也没提。于是这孩子服侍了三年之后想要离开，执法官便一次付清了他所有的工钱。讲好一年一便士。‘再少可说不过去了，’执法官说。于是他总共得了三便士。

"As for little Freddy, he thought it was a great sum, for he had never owned so much; but for all that he asked if he wasn't to have something more.

“至于小弗雷迪，他觉得这已经是一大笔钱了，因为他从没拥有过这么多钱；可尽管如此，他还是问是不是该再多给他一点。

"'You have already had more than you ought to have,' said the sheriff.

“‘你拿到的已经比该得的还多了，’执法官说。

"'Sha'n't I have anything, then, for clothes?' asked little Freddy; 'for those I had on when I came here are worn to rags, and I have had no new ones.'

“‘那衣服总该给我点什么吧？’小弗雷迪问道；‘我来的时候穿的那身衣服都已经磨成了破布，可我一直没得到新衣服。’

"And, to tell the truth, he was so ragged that the tatters hung and flapped about him.

“说实话，他确实衣衫褴褛，破布条挂在身上，随风飘荡。

"'When you have got what we agreed on,' said the sheriff, 'and three whole pennies beside, I have nothing more to do with you. Be off!'

“‘等你拿到咱们讲好的工钱，再加上这满满三便士，’执法官说，‘我跟你就再没什么瓜葛了。走吧！’

"But for all that he got leave just to go into the kitchen and get a little food to put in his scrip; and after that he set off on the road to buy himself more clothes. He was both merry and glad, for he had never seen a penny before; and every now and then he felt in his pockets as he went along to see if he had them all three.

“可尽管如此，他还是获准进厨房拿了点吃的装进他的干粮袋；然后他便上路，打算去买些衣服穿。他又高兴又欢喜，因为他从没见过一便士，一路上他不时把手伸进口袋，看看那三枚硬币是不是都还在。

"So when he had gone far, and farther than far, he got into a narrow dale, with high fells on all sides, so that he couldn't tell if there were any way to pass out; and he began to wonder what there could be on the other side of those fells, and how he ever should get over them.

“就这样他走啊走，走了很远很远的路，来到一处狭窄的山谷，四周都是高耸的山峦，他简直看不出还有没有路可以走出去；他开始琢磨，这些山峦的另一边会是什么样子，自己又该怎么翻过去。

"But up and up he had to go, and on he strode; he was not strong on his legs, and had to rest every now and then—and then he counted and counted how many pennies he had got. So when he had got quite up to the very top, there was nothing but a great plain overgrown with moss. There he sat him down, and began to see if his money were all right; and before he was aware of him a beggarman came up to him—and he was so tall and big that the lad began to scream and screech when he got a good look of him, and saw his height and length.

“可他只能一直往上爬，一路跋涉；他的腿脚本就不结实，得时不时地歇一歇——歇着的时候，他便一遍又一遍地数自己那几枚便士。就这样，他终于爬到了山顶，那里除了长满苔藓的一片大平地之外什么也没有。他便在那儿坐下，开始查看自己的钱是否都还在；他还没留意到，一个乞丐已经走到了他跟前——那乞丐个子极高极大，孩子一看清他的身高和体形，便吓得尖叫起来。

"'Don't you be afraid,' said the beggarman, 'I'll do you no harm; I only beg for a penny, in God's name.'

“‘别害怕，’那乞丐说道，‘我不会伤害你的；我只是奉上帝之名，求你施舍一便士。’

"'Heaven help me!' said the lad. 'I have only three pennies, and with them I was going to the town to buy clothes.'

“‘老天保佑我！’孩子说道。‘我只有三便士，我正打算拿它们进城去买衣服呢。’

"'It is worse for me than for you,' said the beggarman. 'I have got no penny, and I am still more ragged than you.'

“‘我的处境比你还糟，’乞丐说道。‘我一便士也没有，衣服还比你更破烂。’

"'Well! then you shall have it,' said the lad.

“‘好吧！那你就拿去吧，’孩子说道。

"So when he had walked on awhile he got weary, and sat down to rest again. But when he looked up there he saw another beggarman, and he was still taller and uglier than the first; and so when the lad saw how very tall and ugly and long he was he fell a-screeching.

“于是他又走了一会儿，觉得累了，便坐下来歇息。可他一抬头，又看见了另一个乞丐，此人比先前那个还要高大，还要丑陋；孩子一见他如此高大丑陋、身形修长，又尖叫起来。

"'Now, don't you be afraid of me,' said the beggar; 'I'll not do you any harm. I only beg for a penny, in God's name.'

“‘别怕我，’那乞丐说道；‘我不会伤害你的。我只是奉上帝之名，求你施舍一便士。’

"'Now, may heaven help me!' said the lad. 'I've only got two pence, and with them I was going to the town to buy clothes. If I had only met you sooner, then——'

“‘愿老天保佑我！’孩子说道。‘我只剩两便士了，我正打算拿它们进城去买衣服呢。要是早点遇见你，那——’

"'It's worse for me than for you,' said the beggarman. 'I have no penny, and a bigger body and less clothing.'

“‘我的处境比你还糟，’乞丐说道。‘我一便士也没有，身量更大，衣服更少。’

"'Well, you may have it,' said the lad.

“‘好吧，那你就拿去吧，’孩子说道。

"So he went awhile farther, till he got weary, and then he sat down to rest; but he had scarce sat down than a third beggarman came to him. He was so tall and ugly and long, that the lad had to look up and up, right up to the sky. And when he took him all in with his eyes, and saw how very, very tall and ugly and ragged he was he fell a-screeching and screaming again.

“于是他又往前走了一段，走累了，便坐下来歇息；可他刚坐下没多久，第三个乞丐便走到了他跟前。此人极高极丑，身形极长，孩子不得不一直仰起头，直望到天上去。等他把这人从头到脚看了个遍，见他如此高大、丑陋、破烂不堪，又尖叫喊叫起来。

"'Now, don't you be afraid of me, my lad,' said the beggarman. 'I'll do you no harm; for I am only a beggarman, who begs for a penny in God's name.'

“‘别怕我，孩子，’乞丐说道。‘我不会伤害你；我只是个乞丐，奉上帝之名讨一便士罢了。’

"'May heaven help me!' said the lad. 'I have only one penny left, and with it I was going to the town to buy clothes. If I had only met you sooner, then——'

“‘愿老天保佑我！’孩子说道。‘我只剩最后一便士了，我正打算拿它进城去买衣服呢。要是早点遇见你，那——’

"'As for that,' said the beggarman, 'I have no penny at all—that I haven't, and a bigger body and less clothes, so it is worse for me than for you.'

“‘说到这个，’乞丐说道，‘我可是一便士也没有——真的一个子儿都没有，身量更大，衣服更少，所以我的处境比你还要糟。’

"'Yes!' said little Freddy, he must have the penny then—there was no help for it; for so each would have what belonged to him, and he would have nothing.

“‘好吧！’小弗雷迪说道，看来这便士也得给他——没别的法子了；这样一来，各人都能得到属于自己的东西，而他自己便什么也不剩了。

"'Well!' said the beggarman, 'since you have such a good heart that you gave away all that you had in the world, I will give you a wish for each penny.' For you must know it was the same beggarman who had got them all three; he had only changed his shape each time, that the lad might not know him again.

“‘好啊！’乞丐说道，‘既然你心肠这么好，把身上所有的钱都给了别人，那我就为每一便士许你一个愿望吧。’要知道，这三个乞丐其实是同一个人，只不过每次都变了模样，好让孩子认不出他来。

"'I have always had such a longing to hear a fiddle go, and see folk so glad and merry that they couldn't help dancing,' said the lad; and so, if I may wish what I choose, I will wish myself such a fiddle, that everything that has life must dance to its tune.'

“‘我一直渴望听见提琴响起，看见人们高兴快活得情不自禁地跳起舞来，’孩子说道；‘所以，若能随我所愿，我愿要一把这样的提琴，只要它一响，凡是有生命的东西都得随着它的曲子跳舞。’

"'That he might have,' said the beggarman; but it was a sorry wish. 'You must wish something better for the other two pennies.'

“‘这个愿望他可以实现，’乞丐说道；不过这可是个不怎么样的愿望。‘剩下两便士，你可得许个更好的愿望。’

"'I have always had such a love for hunting and shooting,' said little Freddy; 'so if I may wish what I choose, I will wish myself such a gun that I shall hit everything I aim at, were it ever so far off.'

“‘我一直很爱打猎射击，’小弗雷迪说道；‘所以，若能随我所愿，我愿要一支这样的枪，不管我瞄准什么，哪怕再远，都能一击即中。’

"'That he might have,' said the beggarman; 'but it was a sorry wish. You must wish better for the last penny.'

“‘这个愿望他也可以实现，’乞丐说道；‘不过这也是个不怎么样的愿望。最后这一便士，你可得许个更好的愿望。’

"'I have always had a longing to be in company with folk who were kind and good,' said little Freddy; and so, if I could get what I wish, I would wish it to be so that no one can say 'Nay' to the first thing I ask.'

“‘我一直渴望能和善良友好的人们相处，’小弗雷迪说道；‘所以，若能如我所愿，我愿从此再没有人能对我提出的第一件事说“不”。’

"'That wish was not so sorry,' said the beggarman; and off he strode between the hills, and he saw him no more. And so the lad laid down to sleep, and the next day he came down from the fell with his fiddle and his gun.

“‘这个愿望倒不算差，’乞丐说道；说完便迈步走进了群山之间，从此再也不见踪影。于是孩子便躺下睡了，第二天他就带着他的提琴和他的枪，从山上下来了。

"First he went to the storekeeper and asked for clothes, and at one farm he asked for a horse, and at another for a sledge; and at this place he asked for a fur-coat, and no one said him 'Nay,'—even the stingiest folk, they were all forced to give him what he asked for. At last he went through the country as a fine gentleman, and had his horse and his sledge; and so when he had gone a bit he met the sheriff with whom he had served.

“他先去杂货店主那儿要衣服，又到一处农庄要了一匹马，再到另一处要了一辆雪橇；到了这一处又要了一件皮大衣，谁也不敢对他说个‘不’字——就连最吝啬的人，也都不得不把他要的东西给他。最后他俨然成了一位气派十足的绅士，走遍了整个乡间，坐拥自己的马匹和雪橇；就这样，他走了一段路，遇见了那位他曾经服侍过的执法官。

"'Good-day, master,' said Little Freddy, as he pulled up and took off his hat.

“‘您好啊，老爷，’小弗雷迪一边说，一边勒住马，摘下帽子。

"'Good-day,' said the sheriff. And then he went on, 'When was I ever your master?'

“‘你好，’执法官说道。接着他又说道，‘我什么时候做过你的主人？’

"'Oh, yes!' said little Freddy. 'Don't you remember how I served you three years for three pence?'

“‘哦，是的！’小弗雷迪说道。‘您不记得了吗，我曾为您服务了三年，才拿到三便士？’

"'Heaven help us!' said the sheriff. 'How you have got on all of a hurry! And pray how was it that you got to be such a fine gentleman?'

“‘老天保佑我们！’执法官说道。‘你怎么这么快就发迹了！你倒是说说，你是怎么成了这么派头十足的绅士的？’

"'Oh, that's telling!' said little Freddy.

“‘哦，那可说来话长！’小弗雷迪说道。

"'And are you full of fun, that you carry a fiddle about with you?' asked the sheriff.

“‘你随身带着提琴，看来兴致很高啊？’执法官问道。

"'Yes! yes!' said Freddy. 'I have always had such a longing to get folk to dance; but the funniest thing of all is this gun, for it brings down almost anything that I aim at, however far it may be off. Do you see that magpie yonder, sitting in the spruce fir? What'll you bet I don't bag it, as we stand here?'

“‘是啊！是啊！’弗雷迪说道。‘我一直渴望让人们跳起舞来；不过最有趣的还是这支枪，不管我瞄准什么，无论多远，几乎都能一击而中。您看那边云杉树上停着的那只喜鹊没有？我们就站在这儿，您敢打赌我打不下它来吗？’

"On that the sheriff was ready to stake horse and groom, and a hundred dollars beside, that he couldn't do it; but, as it was, he would bet all the money he had about him; and he would go to fetch it when it fell—for he never thought it possible for any gun to carry so far.

“听了这话，执法官情愿拿他的马、马夫，再加上一百块钱来打赌，说他打不中；不管怎样，他愿意押上身上所有的钱；等鸟儿落地了，他还打算亲自去捡回来——因为他压根不相信有哪支枪能打这么远。

"But as the gun went off down fell the magpie, and into a great bramble thicket; and away went the sheriff up into the brambles after it, and he picked it up and showed it to the lad. But in a trice Little Freddy began to scrape his fiddle, and the sheriff began to dance, and the thorns to tear him; but still the lad played on, and the sheriff danced, and cried, and begged till his clothes flew to tatters, and he scarce had a thread to his back.

“可枪一响，那喜鹊便应声跌落，掉进了一大丛荆棘里；执法官便钻进荆棘丛中去找，捡了起来，拿给孩子看。可眨眼工夫，小弗雷迪便拉起了他的提琴，执法官便跳起舞来，荆棘把他撕扯得遍体是伤；可孩子仍旧不停地拉着，执法官也不停地跳着，又哭又求，直跳到衣服撕成了碎片，背上几乎连一根线都不剩。

"'Yes!' said Little Freddy; 'now I think you're about as ragged as I was when I left your service. So now you may get off with what you have got.'

“‘好了！’小弗雷迪说道；‘我看您现在也差不多跟我当初离开您那会儿一样破烂了。这下您可以拿着您手里剩下的东西走了。’

"But, first of all, the sheriff had to pay him what he had wagered that he could not hit the magpie.

“可执法官得先把他打赌输掉的钱付给他——他曾赌他打不中那只喜鹊。

"So when the lad came to the town he turned aside into an inn, and he began to play, and all who came danced, and he lived merrily and well. He had no care, for no one could say him 'Nay' to anything he asked.

“于是孩子来到城里，转进了一家客栈，拉起了提琴，凡是进来的人都跳起了舞，他便这样快活舒心地过着日子。他没什么可担心的，因为不管他要求什么，谁也不能对他说个‘不’字。

"But just as they were all in the midst of their fun up came the watchmen to drag the lad off to the town-hall: for the sheriff had laid a charge against him, and said he had waylaid him and robbed him, and nearly taken his life. And now he was to be hanged—they would not hear of anything else. But Little Freddy had a cure for all trouble, and that was his fiddle. He began to play on it, and the watchmen fell a-dancing, till they lay down and gasped for breath.

“可就在大家玩得正欢的时候，几个巡夜人冲了进来，要把这孩子拖去市政厅：因为执法官对他提起了控告，说他曾拦路抢劫，几乎要了他的命。如今他要被处以绞刑——他们不肯听别的说法。可小弗雷迪有一样能治百病的东西，那就是他的提琴。他拉起了琴，那些巡夜人便跳起舞来，一直跳到躺倒在地，气喘吁吁。

"So they sent soldiers and the guard on their way; but it was no better with them than with the watchmen. As soon as ever Little Freddy scraped his fiddle, they were all bound to dance, so long as he could lift a finger to play a tune; but they were half dead long before he was tired. At last they stole a march on him, and took him while he lay asleep by night; and when they had caught him he was doomed to be hanged on the spot, and away they hurried him to the gallows-tree.

“于是他们又派出了士兵和卫兵，可结果并不比巡夜人好到哪去。小弗雷迪一拉响提琴，他们便统统得跳起舞来，只要他还能动一根手指拉着曲子，他们就得一直跳下去；可他还没跳累，他们早已半死不活了。最后，他们趁他夜里熟睡时偷袭了他，把他抓住了；抓到他之后，他当场就被判了绞刑，急急忙忙地被押往绞架去了。

"There a great crowd of people flocked together to see this wonder, and the sheriff, he, too, was there; and he was so glad at last at getting amends for the money and the skin he had lost, and that he might see him hanged with his own eyes.

“那儿聚集了一大群人，都赶来看这场稀奇事，执法官也在场；他终于要为自己损失的钱财和皮肉讨回公道了，还能亲眼看着他被绞死，心里十分得意。

"But they did not get him to the gallows very fast, for little Freddy was always weak on his legs, and now he made himself weaker still. His fiddle and his gun he had with him also—it was hard to part him from them; and so, when he came to the gallows, and had to mount the steps, he halted on each step; and when he got to the top he sat down, and asked if they could deny him a wish, and if he might have leave to do one thing? He had such a longing, he said to scrape a tune and play a bar on his fiddle before they hanged him.

“可他们却没能很快把他押到绞架那儿去，因为小弗雷迪一向腿脚无力，如今他更是故意把自己弄得虚弱不堪。他的提琴和他的枪也一并带在身边——实在难以让他与这两样东西分开；于是他走到绞架前，要一级一级地登上台阶时，每一级都停了下来；等他登上顶端，便坐了下来，问他们能不能答应他一个心愿，容他做一件事？他说，他一直渴望能在被绞死之前，拉一拉琴，弹一段曲子。

"'No! no!' they said. 'It were sin and shame to deny him that.' For, you know, no one could gainsay what he asked.

“‘不行！不行！’他们说道。‘要是拒绝他这点心愿，那可真是罪过，真是丢脸。’要知道，谁也没法拒绝他所要求的事。

"But the sheriff he begged them, for God's sake, not to let him have leave to touch a string, else it was all over with them altogether; and if the lad got leave, he begged them to bind him to the birch that stood there.

“可执法官却恳求他们，看在上帝的份上，千万别让他有机会碰一碰琴弦，不然大家都得完蛋；即便真要准许这孩子的请求，他也恳求先把他绑在那儿立着的那棵桦树上。

"So little Freddy was not slow in getting his fiddle to speak, and all that were there fell a-dancing at once—those who went on two legs, and those who went on four; both the dean and the parson, and the lawyer, and the bailiff, and the sheriff; masters and men, dogs and swine, they all danced and laughed and screeched at one another.

“于是小弗雷迪毫不迟疑地便让他的提琴响了起来，在场所有的人立刻都跳起舞来——不论是用两条腿走路的，还是用四条腿走路的；院长、牧师、律师、执行官、还有执法官；主人和仆人，狗和猪，全都跳着、笑着、彼此尖叫喊叫。

"Some danced till they lay for dead; some danced till they fell into a swoon. It went badly with all of them, but worst of all with the sheriff, for there he stood bound to the birch, and he danced and scraped great bits off his back against the trunk. There was not one of them who thought of doing anything to little Freddy, and away he went with his fiddle and his gun, just as he chose; and he lived merrily and happily all his days, for there was no one who could say him 'Nay' to the first thing he asked for."

“有些人跳到倒地不起，像是死了一般；有些人跳到昏厥过去。大家都跳得凄惨，可最惨的要数执法官，他被绑在桦树上，一边跳一边把后背在树干上磨掉了大片大片的皮肉。谁也顾不上再去对小弗雷迪做些什么，他便带着他的提琴和他的枪，随心所欲地离去了；从此他一生过得快乐幸福，因为再也没有人能对他提出的第一件事说个‘不’字。”