幸运的汉斯

幸运的汉斯

Hans in Luck

有些人天生就很幸运：他们做的或是想做的每一件事都很顺利——落到他们手里的全都是好处——他们的鹅都成了天鹅——他们的牌全是王牌——不管你怎么扔他们，他们总能像可怜的猫儿一样稳稳地四脚着地，而且跑得更快了。

Some men are born to good luck: all they do or try to do comes right—all that falls to them is so much gain—all their geese are swans—all their cards are trumps—toss them which way you will, they will always, like poor puss, alight upon their legs, and only move on so much the faster.

世人看他们的眼光很可能不同于他们对自己的看法，但他们哪里会在乎世人呢？世人又能懂得什么呢？

The world may very likely not always think of them as they think of themselves, but what care they for the world? what can it know about the matter?

邻居汉斯就是这样一个幸运儿。他辛辛苦苦为主人干了整整七年。最后他对主人说：“主人，我的期限到了；我得回家再去看看我那可怜的母亲，请您把工钱付给我，让我走吧。”

One of these lucky beings was neighbour Hans. Seven long years he had worked hard for his master. At last he said, ‘Master, my time is up; I must go home and see my poor mother once more: so pray pay me my wages and let me go.’

主人说：“汉斯，你一直是个忠诚老实的好仆人，所以你的报酬会很优厚。”于是，主人给了他一块像他的头那么大的银子。

And the master said, ‘You have been a faithful and good servant, Hans, so your pay shall be handsome.’ Then he gave him a lump of silver as big as his head.

汉斯拿出他的手帕，把那块银子包在里面，扛到肩膀上，迈着轻松的步子踏上了回家的路。

Hans took out his pocket-handkerchief, put the piece of silver into it, threw it over his shoulder, and jogged off on his road homewards.

当他慢吞吞地走着，步子迈得有些吃力时，眼前出现了一个人，正欢快地骑着一匹骏马小跑过来。汉斯大声说：“啊！骑马可真是一件美事啊！

As he went lazily on, dragging one foot after another, a man came in sight, trotting gaily along on a capital horse. ‘Ah!’ said Hans aloud, ‘what a fine thing it is to ride on horseback!

坐在上面既舒服又快活，就像坐在家里的炉火旁边的椅子上一样；既不会被石头绊倒，又省了鞋底，不知不觉就走远了。”

There he sits as easy and happy as if he was at home, in the chair by his fireside; he trips against no stones, saves shoe-leather, and gets on he hardly knows how.’

汉斯说话的声音并不轻，那个骑马的人全听见了，便对他说：“喂，朋友，那你为什么还要步行呢？”汉斯说：“啊！

Hans did not speak so softly but the horseman heard it all, and said, ‘Well, friend, why do you go on foot then?’ ‘Ah!’

我得扛着这包东西呢。虽然这确实是银子，可它实在太沉了，压得我都抬不起头来，而且实话告诉您，我的肩膀疼得厉害。”骑马的人说：“我们换一换怎么样？”

said he, ‘I have this load to carry: to be sure it is silver, but it is so heavy that I can’t hold up my head, and you must know it hurts my shoulder sadly.’ ‘What do you say of making an exchange?’ said the horseman.

“我把我的马给你，你把银子给我；这样你就用不着到处扛着这么重的东西，能省去不少麻烦。”

‘I will give you my horse, and you shall give me the silver; which will save you a great deal of trouble in carrying such a heavy load about with you.’

汉斯说：“我真心愿意！不过您对我这么好，我必须告诉您一件事——随身带着这块银子可是一件很累人的差事。”

‘With all my heart,’ said Hans: ‘but as you are so kind to me, I must tell you one thing—you will have a weary task to draw that silver about with you.’

不过，骑马的人还是下了马，接过了银子，把汉斯扶上马背，一手把缰绳递给他，另一手把鞭子交给他，并说道：“要是你想跑得飞快，就大声咂咂嘴，喊一声‘驾！’”

However, the horseman got off, took the silver, helped Hans up, gave him the bridle into one hand and the whip into the other, and said, ‘When you want to go very fast, smack your lips loudly together, and cry “Jip!”’

汉斯坐在马背上高兴极了，他挺直了身子，架起手肘，脚尖朝外，甩响了鞭子，快快活活地骑着马走了。他一会儿吹起欢快的曲子，一会儿唱起歌来：

Hans was delighted as he sat on the horse, drew himself up, squared his elbows, turned out his toes, cracked his whip, and rode merrily off, one minute whistling a merry tune, and another singing,