阿特里的钟

阿特里的钟

The Bell of Atri

阿特里是意大利一座小镇的名字。这是一座非常古老的城镇，建在一座陡峭山丘的半山腰上。

Atri is the name of a little town in Italy. It is a very old town, and is built half-way up the side of a steep hill.

很久以前，阿特里国王买了一口漂亮的大钟，让人把它挂在集市广场的一座塔楼里。钟上系着一根长绳，几乎垂到了地面。哪怕是最小的孩子，拉动这根绳子也能把钟敲响。

A long time ago, the King of Atri bought a fine large bell, and had it hung up in a tower in the market place. A long rope that reached almost to the ground was fastened to the bell. The smallest child could ring the bell by pulling upon this rope.

“这是正义之钟，”国王说。

“It is the bell of justice,” said the king.

终于一切都准备好了，阿特里的人民迎来了一个盛大的节日。所有男人、女人和孩子都来到集市广场，来看这口正义之钟。

When at last everything was ready, the people of Atri had a great holiday. All the men and women and children came down to the market place to look at the bell of justice.

这是一口非常漂亮的钟，被擦拭得金黄发亮，几乎像太阳一样光彩夺目。

It was a very pretty bell, and was, polished until it looked almost as bright and yellow as the sun.

“我们真想听听它的声音啊！”他们说。

“How we should like to hear it ring!” they said.

这时，国王沿着街道走来了。

Then the king came down the street.

“也许他会敲响它，”人们说；大家都静静地站着，等待看他会做什么。

“Perhaps he will ring it,” said the people; and everybody stood very still, and waited to see what he would do.

但他没有敲钟。他甚至没有用手去碰那根绳子。走到塔楼脚下时，他停下脚步，举起了手。

But he did not ring the bell. He did not even take the rope in his hands. When he came to the foot of the tower, he stopped, and raised his hand.

“我的子民，”他说，“你们看到这口美丽的钟了吗？这是你们的钟；但除非万不得已，绝不能敲响它。

“My people,” he said, “do you see this beautiful bell? It is your bell; but it must never be rung except in case of need.

如果你们中有人在任何时候受了冤屈，都可以来敲钟；法官们会立刻聚在一起，审理他的案子，为他主持公道。

If any one of you is wronged at any time, he may come and ring the bell; and then the judges shall come together at once, and hear his case, and give him justice.

富人和穷人，老人和年轻人，都可以来；但除非自知受了冤屈，谁也不准碰这根绳子。”

Rich and poor, old and young, all alike may come; but no one must touch the rope unless he knows that he has been wronged.”

这件事过去很多年了。集市广场上的钟声多次响起，召集法官。许多冤屈得到了伸张，许多恶人受到了惩罚。最后，那根麻绳几乎全磨破了。

Many years passed by after this. Many times did the bell in the market place ring out to call the judges together. Many wrongs were righted, many ill-doers were punished. At last the hempen rope was almost worn out.