《丑小鸭》，1844 年
the Ugly duckling, 1844
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在过去的一个半世纪里，丑小鸭一直备受青睐，它在布拉姆?斯托克（bram Stoker）的《德古拉》（dracula）中被提及，在谢尔盖?普罗科菲耶夫（Sergei prokofiev）的音乐中被颂扬，而且不出所料地，在华特?迪士尼（walt disney）的电影中被采用。
the ugly duckling has led a charmed existence over the past century and a half, alluded to in bram Stoker’s dracula, celebrated in Sergei prokofiev’s music, and, less surprisingly, taken up in walt disney’s films.
这只可怜、被人鄙视的鸟儿的故事在许多文化中广为流传，成为我们最喜爱 —— 也是最令人安心的 —— 童年故事之一。
the story of the abject, despised bird has taken hold in many cultures, being one of our most beloved—and most reassuring—childhood tales.
它向我们所有人，无论是孩子还是成年人，承诺我们有能力让自己变得更好。
It promises all of us, children and adults, that we have the capacity to transform ourselves for the better.
像许多童话角色一样，丑小鸭温顺又矮小，是一窝幼崽中最小的。
Like many a fairy - tale character, the ugly duckling is meek and small, the youngest in the brood.
它在谷仓场院、荒野和家庭环境中都格格不入，无法与其他生物建立联系。
A misfit out of place in the barnyard, in the wilderness, and in the domestic arena, he is unable to find a bond with other creatures.
但是，就像安徒生自己年轻时一样，它富有冒险精神且意志坚定，决心走向 “广阔世界”。
but, like Andersen himself as a youth, he is adventurous and determined, resolving to go out into “the wide world.”
它变成一只美丽的天鹅，世世代代以来一直被唤起，成为那些遭受社会孤立和个人不足感的人的一种慰藉。
his metamorphosis into a beautiful swan has been evoked for generations as a source of fort to those suffering from feelings of social isolation and personal inadequacy.
孩子弱小无力，常常被轻视对待，他们可能会认同安徒生笔下的这个 “丑陋” 的生物，它可能没有什么前途，但最终却超越了那些看似有前途的。
Small, powerless, and often treated dismissively, children are likely to identify with Andersen’s “hideous” creature, who may be unpromising but who also, in time, surpasses the promising.
正如布鲁诺?贝特尔海姆（bruno bettelheim）在《魔法的用途》（the Uses of Enchantment）中指出的那样，安徒生笔下的主角不必接受通常强加给童话英雄的考验、任务和磨难。
As bruno bettelheim points out in the Uses of Enchantment, Andersen’s protagonist does not have to submit to the tests, tasks, and trials usually imposed on the heroes of fairy tales.
“《丑小鸭》中没有表达出需要完成任何事情。事情只是命中注定并相应地发展，不管主角是否采取行动”。
“No need to acplish anything is expressed in ‘the Ugly duckling.’ things are simply fated and unfold accordingly, whether or not the hero takes some action”.
安徒生暗示丑小鸭的先天优势在于它是不同的品种。
Andersen suggests that the ugly duckling’s innate superiority resides in the fact that he is of a different breed.
与其他鸭子不同，它是从天鹅蛋里孵出来的。
Unlike the other ducks, he has been hatched from a swan’s egg.
这种自然界中隐含的等级制度 —— 高贵的天鹅与谷仓里的乌合之众相对 —— 似乎表明尊严和价值，以及审美和道德上的优越性，是由天性而非成就决定的。
this implied hierarchy in nature—majestic swans versus the barnyard rabble—seems to suggest that dignity and worth, along with aesthetic and moral superiority, are determined by nature rather than by acplishment.
不管一个颂扬弱者胜利的故事有多少乐趣，在这个如今被全世界儿童阅读的故事中，由那种胜利所引发的一系列伦理和美学问题都值得深思。
whatever the pleasures of a story that celebrates the triumph of the underdog, it is worth pondering the full range of ethical and aesthetic issues raised by that victory in a story that is read today by children the world over.
《丑小鸭》与其他三个故事一起发表在名为《新童话集》（New Fairy tales）的合集中。
“the Ugly duckling” was published with three other tales in a collection called New Fairy tales.
它几乎立刻就售罄了，安徒生在 1843 年 12 月 18 日的一封信中自豪地写到了它的成功：
It sold out almost immediately, and Andersen wrote with pride about its success in a letter of december 18, 1843:
“这本书卖得非常快！所有的报纸都在赞扬它，每个人都在读它！我的书没有哪本像这些童话一样受到赞赏！”
“the book is selling like hot cakes! All the papers are praising it, everyone is reading it! No books of mine are appreciated in the way that these fairy tales are!”
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乡下正值可爱的夏季天气，金色的玉米、绿色的燕麦，还有堆放在草地上的干草堆看起来都很美。
It was lovely summer weather in the country, and the golden corn, the green oats, and the haystacks piled up in the meadows looked beautiful.
那只迈着它红色长腿四处走动的鹳用它从母亲那里学来的埃及语叽叽喳喳地叫着。
the stork walking about on his long red legs chattered in the Egyptian language, which he had learnt from his mother.
玉米地和草地被大片森林环绕着，森林中间有深水池。
the corn - fields and meadows were surrounded by large forests, in the midst of which were deep pools.
在乡下散步确实很惬意。
It was, indeed, delightful to walk about in the country.
在一个阳光充足的地方，有一座宜人的老农舍靠近一条深河，从房子到河边长着巨大的牛蒡叶，长得非常高，在最高的叶子下面一个小孩可以站直身子。
In a sunny spot stood a pleasant old farm - house close by a deep river, and from the house down to the water side grew great burdock leaves, so high, that under the tallest of them a little child could stand upright.
这个地方像茂密树林的中心一样荒凉。
the spot was as wild as the centre of a thick wood.
在这个舒适的隐蔽处，一只母鸭坐在它的窝里，等待着它的幼雏孵出；
In this snug retreat sat a duck on her nest, watching for her young brood to hatch;
她开始对自己的任务感到厌烦了，因为小鸭子们从蛋壳里出来花费的时间太长了，而且她很少有访客。
she was beginning to get tired of her task, for the little ones were a long time ing out of their shells, and she seldom had any visitors.
其他鸭子更喜欢在河里游来游去，而不是爬上滑溜溜的河岸，坐在牛蒡叶下和她闲聊。
the other ducks liked much better to swim about in the river than to climb the slippery banks, and sit under a burdock leaf, to have a gossip with her.
最后，一个蛋壳裂开了，接着又一个，从每个蛋里都钻出一个小生命，它抬起头叫道：“叽叽，叽叽。”
At length one shell cracked, and then another, and from each egg came a living creature that lifted its head and cried, “peep, peep.”
“嘎嘎，嘎嘎。” 母鸭说道，然后它们都尽可能地嘎嘎叫着，并且四处张望着那些大绿叶。
“quack, quack,” said the mother, and then they all quacked as well as they could, and looked about them on every side at the large green leaves.
它们的妈妈让它们尽情地看，因为绿色对眼睛有好处。
their mother allowed them to look as much as they liked, because green is good for the eyes.
“世界多大呀，” 小鸭子们说道，当它们发现现在拥有的空间比在蛋壳里的时候大多了的时候。
“how large the world is,” said the young ducks, when they found how much more room they now had than while they were inside the egg - shell.
“你们以为这就是整个世界了吗？”
“do you imagine this is the whole world?”
妈妈问道；
asked the mother;
“等你们看到花园就知道了；花园一直延伸到牧师的田地那边，但我从来没敢去过那么远的地方。
“wait till you have seen the garden; it stretches far beyond that to the parson’s field, but I have never ventured to such a distance.
你们都出来了吗？”
Are you all out?”
她边说边站了起来；
she continued, rising;
“不，我敢说，最大的那个蛋还在那儿呢。我想知道这还要持续多久，我都厌烦透了；”
“No, I declare, the largest egg lies there still. I wonder how long this is to last, I am quite tired of it;”
然后她又在窝里坐了下来。
and she seated herself again on the nest.
“嗯，你们过得怎么样？”
“well, how are you getting on?”
一只来拜访她的老鸭问道。
asked an old duck, who paid her a visit.
“还有一个蛋没孵出来呢，” 母鸭说，“它就是不破。
“one egg is not hatched yet,” said the duck, “it will not break.
不过看看其他的小鸭子，它们难道不是你见过的最可爱的小鸭子吗？
but just look at all the others, are they not the prettiest little ducklings you ever saw?
它们长得和它们那狠心的爸爸一模一样，他从来都不来看一眼。”
they are the image of their father, who is so unkind, he never es to see.”
“让我看看这个孵不破的蛋，” 老鸭说；
“Let me see the egg that will not break,” said the duck;
“我肯定这是个火鸡蛋。
“I have no doubt it is a turkey’s egg.
我曾经被说服去孵过一些火鸡蛋，我费尽心思照顾那些小火鸡，可它们怕水。
I was persuaded to hatch some once, and after all my care and trouble with the young ones, they were afraid of the water.
我嘎嘎叫，咯咯唤，但都无济于事。
I quacked and clucked, but all to no purpose.
我没法让它们下水。让我看看这个蛋。
I could not get them to venture in. Let me look at the egg.
是的，这是个火鸡蛋；听我的，别管它了，教其他小鸭子游泳吧。”
Yes, that is a turkey’s egg; take my advice, leave it where it is and teach the other children to swim.”
“我想我还是再在上面坐一会儿吧，” 母鸭说；
“I think I will sit on it a little while longer,” said the duck;
“既然我已经坐了这么久了，再坐几天也没什么。”
“as I have sat so long already, a few days will be nothing.”
“随你的便吧，” 老鸭说，然后就走了。
“please yourself,” said the old duck, and she went away.
最后，那个大蛋破了，一只小鸭子爬了出来，叫道：“叽叽，叽叽。”
At last the large egg broke, and a young one crept forth crying, “peep, peep.”
它又大又丑。
It was very large and ugly.
母鸭盯着它惊叫道：“它好大呀，而且一点也不像其他的小鸭子。
the duck stared at it and exclaimed, “It is very large and not at all like the others.
我怀疑它是不是真的是只火鸡。不过等我们到水里去就知道了。
I wonder if it really is a turkey. we shall soon find it out, however when we go to the water.
如果必要的话，我得亲自把它推下去。”
It must go in, if I have to push it myself.”
第二天天气很好，阳光灿烂地照在绿色的牛蒡叶上，于是鸭妈妈带着她的小鸭子们下到水里，扑通一声跳了进去。
on the next day the weather was delightful, and the sun shone brightly on the green burdock leaves, so the mother duck took her young brood down to the water, and jumped in with a splash.
“嘎嘎，嘎嘎。” 她叫着，小鸭子们一只接一只地跳进水里。
“quack, quack,” cried she, and one after another the little ducklings jumped in.
水没过了它们的头顶，但它们立刻又浮了上来，用腿在水下尽可能轻松地划动着，游得非常漂亮，丑小鸭也在水里和它们一起游着。
the water closed over their heads, but they came up again in an instant, and swam about quite prettily with their legs paddling under them as easily as possible, and the ugly duckling was also in the water swimming with them.
“哦，” 鸭妈妈说，“那不是火鸡；
“oh,” said the mother, “that is not a turkey;
他的腿用得多好啊，站得多直啊！他是我的亲生孩子，要是你好好看看他，他其实也不是那么丑。
how well he uses his legs, and how upright he holds himself! he is my own child, and he is not so very ugly after all if you look at him properly.
嘎嘎，嘎嘎！现在跟我来，我要带你们进入上流社会，把你们介绍到农家院子里，但你们必须紧跟着我，不然可能会被踩到；
quack, quack! e with me now, I will take you into grand society, and introduce you to the farmyard, but you must keep close to me or you may be trodden upon;
而且，最重要的是，要小心猫。”
and, above all, beware of the cat.”
当它们到达农家院子时，一阵大乱，两家人正在为一个鳗鱼头争斗，最后鳗鱼头被猫抢走了。
when they reached the farmyard, there was a great disturbance, two families were fighting for an eel’s head, which, after all, was carried off by the cat.
“看，孩子们，这就是世道。” 鸭妈妈磨着嘴说道，因为她自己也很想要那个鳗鱼头。
“See, children, that is the way of the world,” said the mother duck, whetting her beak, for she would have liked the eel’s head herself.
“来吧，现在，动一动你们的腿，让我看看你们表现得有多好。
“e, now, use your legs, and let me see how well you can behave.
你们必须很有礼貌地向那边的老鸭鞠躬；
You must bow your heads prettily to that old duck yonder;
她是这里出身最高贵的，有西班牙血统，所以她很富有。
she is the highest born of them all, and has Spanish blood, therefore, she is well off.
你们没看到她腿上系着一面红旗吗，这是非常了不起的东西，对一只鸭子来说是极大的荣耀；
don’t you see she has a red flag tied to her leg, which is something very grand, and a great honor for a duck;
这表明每个人都很担心失去她，因为人和动物都能认出她来。
it shows that every one is anxious not to lose her, as she can be recognized both by man and beast.
来吧，现在，不要把脚趾向内弯，一只有教养的小鸭子要像他的爸爸妈妈那样把脚张得大大的；
e, now, don’t turn your toes, a well - bred duckling spreads his feet wide apart, just like his father and mother, in this way;
现在弯下你们的脖子，说‘嘎嘎’。”
now bend your neck, and say ‘quack.’”
小鸭子们照吩咐做了，但另一只鸭子盯着它们说：“看，又来了一窝，好像我们已经够多的了！而且其中一个长得多奇怪啊；
the ducklings did as they were bid, but the other duck stared, and said, “Look, here es another brood, as if there were not enough of us already! and what a queer looking object one of them is;
我们不想让他待在这里，” 然后一只鸭子飞出来咬他的脖子。
we don’t want him here,” and then one flew out and bit him in the neck.
“别管他，” 鸭妈妈说；
“Let him alone,” said the mother;
“他又没做什么坏事。”
“he is not doing any harm.”
“是的，但是他又大又丑，” 那只恶毒的鸭子说，“所以必须把他赶走。”
“Yes, but he is so big and ugly,” said the spiteful duck “and therefore he must be turned out.”
“其他的都是非常可爱的孩子，” 腿上系着破布的老鸭说，“除了那一个；
“the others are very pretty children,” said the old duck, with the rag on her leg, “all but that one;
我希望他妈妈能把他改造得好一点。”
I wish his mother could improve him a little.”
“那是不可能的，夫人，” 鸭妈妈回答说；
“that is impossible, your grace,” replied the mother;
“他是不漂亮；但他脾气很好，游泳和其他小鸭子一样好，甚至更好。
“he is not pretty; but he has a very good disposition, and swims as well or even better than the others.
我想他长大后会变漂亮的，也许还会变小；
I think he will grow up pretty, and perhaps be smaller;
他在蛋里待的时间太长了，所以他的体型没有发育好；”
he has remained too long in the egg, and therefore his figure is not properly formed;”
然后她抚摸着他的脖子，理顺羽毛，说道：“他是只公鸭，所以没那么重要。
and then she stroked his neck and smoothed the feathers, saying, “It is a drake, and therefore not of so much consequence.
我想他会茁壮成长，并且能够照顾自己。”
I think he will grow up strong, and able to take care of himself.”
“其他小鸭子够优雅的了，” 老鸭说。
“the other ducklings are graceful enough,” said the old duck.
“现在就像在自己家一样，如果你们能找到鳗鱼头，可以带给我。”
“Now make yourself at home, and if you can find an eel’s head, you can bring it to me.”
于是他们就自在起来；但那只最后从蛋壳里爬出来、长得很丑的可怜小鸭子，不仅被鸭子们咬、推搡、取笑，而且还被所有的家禽欺负。
And so they made themselves fortable; but the poor duckling, who had crept out of his shell last of all, and looked so ugly, was bitten and pushed and made fun of, not only by the ducks, but by all the poultry.
“他太大了，” 他们都说，那只生来就长着距的雄火鸡，自认为自己真的是个皇帝，像满帆的船一样鼓起身子，向小鸭子扑来，气得脑袋通红，可怜的小家伙不知道该去哪里，因为自己长得丑又被整个农家院子嘲笑，非常痛苦。
“he is too big,” they all said, and the turkey cock, who had been born into the world with spurs, and fancied himself really an emperor, puffed himself out like a vessel in full sail, and flew at the duckling, and became quite red in the head with passion, so that the poor little thing did not know where to go, and was quite miserable because he was so ugly and laughed at by the whole farmyard.
就这样一天天地过去，情况越来越糟。
So it went on from day to day till it got worse and worse.
这只可怜的小鸭子被所有人赶来赶去；甚至他的兄弟姐妹也对他不好，还会说：“啊，你这个丑东西，我希望猫把你抓走，” 他的妈妈也说她希望他从来没有出生过。
the poor duckling was driven about by every one; even his brothers and sisters were unkind to him, and would say, “Ah, you ugly creature, I wish the cat would get you,” and his mother said she wished he had never been born.
鸭子们啄他，小鸡们打他，那个喂养家禽的女孩还用脚踢他。
the ducks pecked him, the chickens beat him, and the girl who fed the poultry kicked him with her feet.
所以最后他跑掉了，当他飞过栅栏时，把树篱里的小鸟都吓飞了。
So at last he ran away, frightening the little birds in the hedge as he flew over the palings.
“它们害怕我是因为我长得丑，” 他说。
“they are afraid of me because I am ugly,” he said.
于是他闭上眼睛，飞得更远了，一直飞到一片广阔的荒野，那里住着野鸭。
So he closed his eyes, and flew still farther, until he came out on a large moor, inhabited by wild ducks.
他在这里待了一整晚，感到非常疲惫和悲伤。
here he remained the whole night, feeling very tired and sorrowful.
早晨，当野鸭们飞到空中时，它们盯着这位新伙伴。
In the morning, when the wild ducks rose in the air, they stared at their new rade.
“你是哪种鸭子呀？”
“what sort of a duck are you?”
它们都围过来问他。
they all said, ing round him.
他向它们鞠躬，尽可能地有礼貌，但他没有回答它们的问题。
he bowed to them, and was as polite as he could be, but he did not reply to their question.
“你丑得要命，” 野鸭们说，“但如果你不想娶我们家族的一员，那也没关系。”
“You are exceedingly ugly,” said the wild ducks, “but that will not matter if you do not want to marry one of our family.”
可怜的家伙！他根本没想过结婚；他只想要被允许躺在灯芯草丛中，喝点荒野里的水。
poor thing! he had no thoughts of marriage; all he wanted was permission to lie among the rushes, and drink some of the water on the moor.
他在荒野上待了两天后，来了两只野鹅，或者说是小鹅，因为它们刚出壳不久，非常调皮。
After he had been on the moor two days, there came two wild geese, or rather goslings, for they had not been out of the egg long, and were very saucy.
“听着，朋友，” 其中一只对小鸭子说，“你这么丑，我们很喜欢你。
“Listen, friend,” said one of them to the duckling, “you are so ugly, that we like you very well.
你愿意跟我们走，成为一只候鸟吗？
will you go with us, and bee a bird of passage?
离这儿不远还有一片荒野，那里有一些漂亮的野鹅，都还没结婚呢。
Not far from here is another moor, in which there are some pretty wild geese, all unmarried.
这是你讨个老婆的机会；虽然你长得丑，但也许你会很幸运。”
It is a chance for you to get a wife; you may be lucky, ugly as you are.”
“砰，砰。” 空中传来两声枪响，两只野鹅倒在灯芯草丛中死了，水被血染红了。
“pop, pop,” sounded in the air, and the two wild geese fell dead among the rushes, and the water was tinged with blood.
“砰，砰。” 枪声在远处四处回荡，成群的野鹅从灯芯草丛中飞了起来。
“pop, pop,” echoed far and wide in the distance, and whole flocks of wild geese rose up from the rushes.
枪声从四面八方传来，因为猎人们包围了这片荒野，有些猎人甚至坐在树枝上，俯瞰着灯芯草丛。
the sound continued from every direction, for the sportsmen surrounded the moor, and some were even seated on branches of trees, overlooking the rushes.
枪里冒出的蓝烟像云一样在黑黝黝的树上空升起，当烟雾飘过水面时，许多猎犬跳进灯芯草丛里，所到之处灯芯草都被压弯了。
the blue smoke from the guns rose like clouds over the dark trees, and as it floated away across the water, a number of sporting dogs bounded in among the rushes, which bent beneath them wherever they went.
它们把可怜的小鸭子吓成什么样了啊！他转过头把脑袋藏在翅膀下面，就在这时，一只又大又可怕的狗从他身边很近的地方经过。
how they terrified the poor duckling! he turned away his head to hide it under his wing, and at the same moment a large terrible dog passed quite near him.
狗张着嘴，舌头耷拉在嘴外，眼睛可怕地瞪着。
his jaws were open, his tongue hung from his mouth, and his eyes glared fearfully.
他把鼻子凑近小鸭子，露出锋利的牙齿，然后，“扑通，扑通”，他跳进水里，却没有碰到小鸭子，“哦，” 小鸭子叹气道，“我长得这么丑可真幸运；连狗都不会咬我。”
he thrust his nose close to the duckling, showing his sharp teeth, and then, “splash, splash,” he went into the water without touching him, “oh,” sighed the duckling, “how thankful I am for being so ugly; even a dog will not bite me.”
于是他静静地躺着，子弹在灯芯草丛中呼啸而过，一支接一支的枪在他头顶上射击。
And so he lay quite still, while the shot rattled through the rushes, and gun after gun was fired over him.
直到天黑，一切才安静下来，但即便到那时，这个可怜的小家伙也不敢动。
It was late in the day before all became quiet, but even then the poor young thing did not dare to move.
他静静地等了几个小时，然后，小心翼翼地环顾四周后，尽快地逃离了荒野。
he waited quietly for several hours, and then, after looking carefully around him, hastened away from the moor as fast as he could.
他跑过田野和草地，直到一场暴风雨来临，他几乎无法与之抗争。
he ran over field and meadow till a storm arose, and he could hardly struggle against it.
傍晚时分，他来到一间破旧的小茅屋前，那茅屋似乎快要倒塌了，之所以还立在那儿，是因为它还没决定先往哪边倒。
towards evening, he reached a poor little cottage that seemed ready to fall, and only remained standing because it could not decide on which side to fall first.
暴风雨依旧猛烈，小鸭子再也走不动了；他在茅屋旁坐下，这时他注意到由于一个铰链坏了，门没有完全关上。
the storm continued so violent, that the duckling could go no farther; he sat down by the cottage, and then he noticed that the door was not quite closed in consequence of one of the hinges having given way.
因此，底部附近有一个窄窄的缝隙，足够他钻进去，他悄悄地钻了进去，在里面过夜。
there was therefore a narrow opening near the bottom large enough for him to slip through, which he did very quietly, and got a shelter for the night.
这间茅屋里住着一个女人、一只雄猫和一只母鸡。
A woman, a tom cat, and a hen lived in this cottage.
女主人称那只雄猫为 “我的小儿子”，它非常受宠；
the tom cat, whom the mistress called, “my little son,” was a great favorite;
它能弓起背，咕噜咕噜叫，如果逆着毛抚摸它，它甚至能从毛里迸出火星来。
he could raise his back, and purr, and could even throw out sparks from his fur if it were stroked the wrong way.
那只母鸡腿很短，所以被叫做 “短腿鸡”。
the hen had very short legs, so she was called “chickie short legs.”
她下的蛋很好，女主人很爱她，就像她是自己的孩子一样。
She laid good eggs, and her mistress loved her as if she had been her own child.
早晨，这个陌生的访客被发现了，雄猫开始咕噜咕噜叫，母鸡开始咯咯叫。
In the morning, the strange visitor was discovered, and the tom cat began to purr, and the hen to cluck.
“这吵闹声是怎么回事？”
“what is that noise about?”
老妇人边说边环视房间，但是她的视力不太好；因此，当她看到小鸭子时，她以为那一定是一只迷路的肥鸭。
said the old woman, looking round the room, but her sight was not very good; therefore, when she saw the duckling she thought it must be a fat duck, that had strayed from home.
“哦，多好的收获啊！” 她叫道，“我希望它不是一只公鸭，那样我就能得到一些鸭蛋了。我得等等看。”
“oh what a prize!” she exclaimed, “I hope it is not a drake, for then I shall have some duck’s eggs. I must wait and see.”
于是小鸭子被允许留下来试用三个星期，但是没有下蛋。
So the duckling was allowed to remain on trial for three weeks, but there were no eggs.
现在雄猫是房子的主人，母鸡是女主人，他们总是说：“我们和这个世界”，因为他们认为自己就是半个世界，而且是更好的那一半。
Now the tom cat was the master of the house, and the hen was mistress, and they always said, “we and the world,” for they believed themselves to be half the world, and the better half too.
小鸭子认为其他人可能对这件事有不同的看法，但是母鸡不愿听这种怀疑的话。
the duckling thought that others might hold a different opinion on the subject, but the hen would not listen to such doubts.
“你会下蛋吗？”
“can you lay eggs?”
她问道。
she asked.
“不会。”
“No.”
“那就请你闭上嘴。”
“then have the goodness to hold your tongue.”
“你能弓起背，咕噜咕噜叫，或者迸出火星吗？”
“can you raise your back, or purr, or throw out sparks?”
雄猫说道。
said the tom cat.
“不会。”
“No.”
“那么当明智的人在说话的时候，你没有权利发表意见。”
“then you have no right to express an opinion when sensible people are speaking.”
于是小鸭子坐在角落里，情绪非常低落，直到阳光和新鲜空气从敞开的门进入房间，然后他开始非常渴望到水里去游泳，忍不住告诉了母鸡。
So the duckling sat in a corner, feeling very low spirited, till the sunshine and the fresh air came into the room through the open door, and then he began to feel such a great longing for a swim on the water, that he could not help telling the hen.
“多么荒谬的想法。” 母鸡说。
“what an absurd idea,” said the hen.
“你无事可做，所以才有这些愚蠢的幻想。
You have nothing else to do, therefore you have foolish fancies.
如果你能咕噜咕噜叫或者下蛋，这些幻想就会消失。”
If you could purr or lay eggs, they would pass away.”
“但是在水里游来游去是多么令人愉快啊，” 小鸭子说，“当你潜到水底时，感觉水没过头顶是多么清爽啊。”
“but it is so delightful to swim about on the water,” said the duckling, “and so refreshing to feel it close over your head, while you dive down to the bottom.”
“确实令人愉快！” 母鸡说，“你一定是疯了！问问猫吧，他是我所知道的最聪明的动物，问问他他想不想在水里游来游去，或者潜到水下，因为我不想说出我自己的看法；
“delightful, indeed!” said the hen, “why you must be crazy! Ask the cat, he is the cleverest animal I know, ask him how he would like to swim about on the water, or to dive under it, for I will not speak of my own opinion;
问问我们的女主人，那个老妇人 —— 世界上没有人比她更聪明了。
ask our mistress, the old woman — there is no one in the world more clever than she is.
你觉得她会想游泳，或者让水没过她的头顶吗？”
do you think she would like to swim, or to let the water close over her head?”
“你不理解我。” 小鸭子说。
“You don’t understand me,” said the duckling.
“我们不理解你？我想知道，谁能理解你呢？
“we don’t understand you? who can understand you, I wonder?
你认为自己比猫或者老妇人更聪明吗？
do you consider yourself more clever than the cat, or the old woman?
我就不说我自己了。别胡思乱想了，孩子，感谢你的好运，你被收留在这里。
I will say nothing of myself. don’t imagine such nonsense, child, and thank your good fortune that you have been received here.
你不是待在一个温暖的房间里，处在一个能让你学到东西的环境里吗？
Are you not in a warm room, and in society from which you may learn something.
但是你是个话痨，和你在一起不太愉快。
but you are a chatterer, and your pany is not very agreeable.
相信我，我这么说是为你好。
believe me, I speak only for your own good.
我可能会告诉你一些不好听的实话，但这是我对你友好的证明。
I may tell you unpleasant truths, but that is a proof of my friendship.
因此，我建议你，下蛋，并且尽快学会咕噜咕噜叫。”
I advise you, therefore, to lay eggs, and learn to purr as quickly as possible.”
“我想我必须再次到外面的世界去了。” 小鸭子说。
“I believe I must go out into the world again,” said the duckling.
“是的，去吧。” 母鸡说。
“Yes, do,” said the hen.
于是小鸭子离开了茅屋，很快就找到了可以游泳和潜水的水域，但因为它丑陋的外表，所有其他动物都避开它。
So the duckling left the cottage, and soon found water on which it could swim and dive, but was avoided by all other animals, because of its ugly appearance.
秋天来了，森林里的树叶变成了橙色和金色。
Autumn came, and the leaves in the forest turned to orange and gold.
然后，随着冬天临近，树叶飘落时被风卷起，在寒冷的空气中打转。
then, as winter approached, the wind caught them as they fell and whirled them in the cold air.
乌云密布，饱含冰雹和雪花，低低地悬在天空，乌鸦站在蕨类植物上叫着：“呱呱，呱呱。”
the clouds, heavy with hail and snow - flakes, hung low in the sky, and the raven stood on the ferns crying, “croak, croak.”
看到它让人冷得发抖。
It made one shiver with cold to look at him.
这一切对可怜的小鸭子来说非常悲伤。
All this was very sad for the poor little duckling.
一天傍晚，就在太阳在绚丽的云彩中落下的时候，从灌木丛中飞来了一大群美丽的鸟儿。
one evening, just as the sun set amid radiant clouds, there came a large flock of beautiful birds out of the bushes.
小鸭子以前从未见过像它们这样的鸟儿。
the duckling had never seen any like them before.
它们是天鹅，它们优雅地弯曲着脖子，柔软的羽毛闪耀着耀眼的白色。
they were swans, and they curved their graceful necks, while their soft plumage shown with dazzling whiteness.
它们展开华丽的翅膀，发出一种奇特的叫声，然后飞离这些寒冷的地区，前往海外更温暖的国家。
they uttered a singular cry, as they spread their glorious wings and flew away from those cold regions to warmer countries across the sea.
当它们在空中越飞越高时，丑陋的小鸭子看着它们，有一种非常奇特的感觉。
As they mounted higher and higher in the air, the ugly little duckling felt quite a strange sensation as he watched them.
他在水里像轮子一样打转，向它们伸长脖子，发出一种非常奇怪的叫声，连他自己都被吓到了。
he whirled himself in the water like a wheel, stretched out his neck towards them, and uttered a cry so strange that it frightened himself.
他能忘记那些美丽、快乐的鸟儿吗？当它们终于消失在他的视线之外时，他潜入水中，然后又兴奋得几乎发狂地浮出水面。
could he ever forget those beautiful, happy birds; and when at last they were out of his sight, he dived under the water, and rose again almost beside himself with excitement.
他不知道这些鸟的名字，也不知道它们飞到哪里去了，但他对它们的感觉是他对世界上任何其他鸟从未有过的。
he knew not the names of these birds, nor where they had flown, but he felt towards them as he had never felt for any other bird in the world.
他并不嫉妒这些美丽的生物，而是希望自己能和它们一样可爱。
he was not envious of these beautiful creatures, but wished to be as lovely as they.
可怜的丑家伙啊，只要鸭子们给他一点鼓励，他是多么乐意和它们生活在一起啊。
poor ugly creature, how gladly he would have lived even with the ducks had they only given him encouragement.
冬天变得越来越冷；他不得不一直在水上游动，以免水结冰，但他每晚游动的水面变得越来越小。
the winter grew colder and colder; he was obliged to swim about on the water to keep it from freezing, but every night the space on which he swam became smaller and smaller.
最后，冰结得非常坚硬，他游动时水里的冰嘎嘎作响，小鸭子不得不尽力用腿划水，以免水面完全冻结。
At length it froze so hard that the ice in the water crackled as he moved, and the duckling had to paddle with his legs as well as he could, to keep the space from closing up.
他最后筋疲力尽了，静静地躺着，无助地被冻在冰里。
he became exhausted at last, and lay still and helpless, frozen fast in the ice.
清晨，一个路过的农民看到了发生的事情。
Early in the morning, a peasant, who was passing by, saw what had happened.
他用木鞋把冰敲碎，把小鸭子带回家交给他的妻子。
he broke the ice in pieces with his wooden shoe, and carried the duckling home to his wife.
温暖使这个可怜的小生命苏醒过来；但当孩子们想和他玩耍时，小鸭子以为他们会伤害他；
the warmth revived the poor little creature; but when the children wanted to play with him, the duckling thought they would do him some harm;
于是他惊恐地跳起来，扑进牛奶罐里，把牛奶溅得满屋子都是。
so he started up in terror, fluttered into the milk - pan, and splashed the milk about the room.
然后那个女人拍手，这让他更害怕了。
then the woman clapped her hands, which frightened him still more.
他先飞进黄油桶，然后飞进面粉桶，又飞了出来。
he flew first into the butter - cask, then into the meal - tub, and out again.
他的处境多么糟糕啊！女人尖叫起来，用钳子打他；
what a condition he was in! the woman screamed, and struck at him with the tongs;
孩子们笑着、叫着，你推我搡地，都想抓住他；但幸运的是他逃脱了。
the children laughed and screamed, and tumbled over each other, in their efforts to catch him; but luckily he escaped.
门开着；这个可怜的家伙勉强能溜到灌木丛中，在新下的雪地里筋疲力尽地躺了下来。
the door stood open; the poor creature could just manage to slip out among the bushes, and lie down quite exhausted in the newly fallen snow.
如果我要讲述这只可怜的小鸭子在寒冬中所忍受的所有痛苦和贫困，那会非常悲惨；但当冬天过去后，一天早晨，他发现自己躺在一片荒野的灯芯草丛中。
It would be very sad, were I to relate all the misery and privations which the poor little duckling endured during the hard winter; but when it had passed, he found himself lying one morning in a moor, amongst the rushes.
他感受到温暖的阳光照耀着，听到云雀在歌唱，看到周围是美丽的春天景象。
he felt the warm sun shining, and heard the lark singing, and saw that all around was beautiful spring.
然后这只小鸟觉得自己的翅膀很有力，当他把翅膀在身体两侧拍打时，就高高地飞到了空中。
then the young bird felt that his wings were strong, as he flapped them against his sides, and rose high into the air.
它们带着他向前飞，直到他发现自己来到一个大花园里，他都还没太搞清楚这是怎么回事。
they bore him onwards, until he found himself in a large garden, before he well knew how it had happened.
苹果树开满了花，芬芳的接骨木树把它们长长的绿色树枝垂到环绕着平坦草坪的溪流上。
the apple - trees were in full blossom, and the fragrant elders bent their long green branches down to the stream which wound round a smooth lawn.
在早春的清新气息中，一切看起来都很美丽。
Everything looked beautiful, in the freshness of early spring.
从附近的灌木丛里游出三只美丽的白天鹅，它们抖动着羽毛，轻盈地在平静的水面上游着。
From a thicket close by came three beautiful white swans, rustling their feathers, and swimming lightly over the smooth water.
小鸭子想起了那些可爱的鸟儿，感到比以往更加莫名的难过。
the duckling remembered the lovely birds, and felt more strangely unhappy than ever.
“我要飞向那些高贵的鸟儿，” 他叫道，“它们会杀了我，因为我太丑了，还竟敢靠近它们；但没关系：
“I will fly to those royal birds,” he exclaimed, “and they will kill me, because I am so ugly, and dare to approach them; but it does not matter:
被它们杀死总比被鸭子啄、被母鸡打、被那个喂养家禽的女仆推来推去，或者在冬天饿死要好。
better be killed by them than pecked by the ducks, beaten by the hens, pushed about by the maiden who feeds the poultry, or starved with hunger in the winter.”
然后他飞到水上，朝着美丽的天鹅游去。
then he flew to the water, and swam towards the beautiful swans.
它们一看到这个陌生人，就张开翅膀冲过去迎接他。
the moment they espied the stranger, they rushed to meet him with outstretched wings.
“杀了我吧，” 这只可怜的鸟说；他把头低向水面，等待死亡。
“Kill me,” said the poor bird; and he bent his head down to the surface of the water, and awaited death.
但是他在下面清澈的溪水中看到了什么呢？他自己的倒影；不再是一只又黑又灰、丑陋难看的鸟，而是一只优雅美丽的天鹅。
but what did he see in the clear stream below? his own image; no longer a dark, gray bird, ugly and disagreeable to look at, but a graceful and beautiful swan.
对一只鸟来说，如果是从天鹅蛋里孵出来的，出生在农家院子里的鸭窝里也没什么关系。
to be born in a duck’s nest, in a farmyard, is of no consequence to a bird, if it is hatched from a swan’s egg.
他现在为自己曾经遭受的悲伤和苦难感到高兴，因为这让他能更好地享受周围所有的快乐和幸福；因为大天鹅们围着这个新来的游着，用它们的嘴轻触他的脖子表示欢迎。
he now felt glad at having suffered sorrow and trouble, because it enabled him to enjoy so much better all the pleasure and happiness around him; for the great swans swam round the new - er, and stroked his neck with their beaks, as a wele.
不久，一些小孩子走进花园，把面包和蛋糕扔到水里。
Into the garden presently came some little children, and threw bread and cake into the water.
“看，” 最小的孩子叫道，“有一只新的天鹅；” 其他孩子都很高兴，跑向他们的父亲和母亲，一边跳舞一边拍手，欢快地喊道：“又有一只天鹅来了；来了一只新的。”
“See,” cried the youngest, “there is a new one;” and the rest were delighted, and ran to their father and mother, dancing and clapping their hands, and shouting joyously, “there is another swan e; a new one has arrived.”
然后他们把更多的面包和蛋糕扔到水里，说：“这只新的是所有天鹅中最美丽的；他是那么年轻漂亮。” 老天鹅们在他面前低下头。
then they threw more bread and cake into the water, and said, “the new one is the most beautiful of all; he is so young and pretty.” And the old swans bowed their heads before him.
然后他感到非常羞愧，把头藏在翅膀下面；因为他不知道该做什么，他是如此的幸福，但一点也不骄傲。
then he felt quite ashamed, and hid his head under his wing; for he did not know what to do, he was so happy, and yet not at all proud.
他曾因为丑陋而被迫害和鄙视，现在却听到他们说他是所有鸟儿中最美丽的。
he had been persecuted and despised for his ugliness, and now he heard them say he was the most beautiful of all the birds.
连接骨木树都在他面前把树枝垂到水里，阳光温暖而明亮地照耀着。
Even the elder - tree bent down its bows into the water before him, and the sun shone warm and bright.
然后他抖动羽毛，弯曲细长的脖子，从心底欢快地叫着：“当我还是一只丑小鸭的时候，我从未梦想过会有这样的幸福。”
then he rustled his feathers, curved his slender neck, and cried joyfully, from the depths of his heart, “I never dreamed of such happiness as this, while I was an ugly duckling.”