The Angel

◎刘欣然/译

The Angel

◎刘欣然/译

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.

译文

他为它浇水，照料它，尽量使它得到射进这扇低矮的窗子里来的每一线阳光。这棵花儿常常来到他的梦里，因为它为他开出了花，为他散发出香气，使他的眼睛得到快感。当上帝召他去的时候，他在死神面前最后要看的东西就是这棵花。现在他住在天上已经有一年了。在这一年中，这棵花在窗子上完全被人忘掉了。它已经枯萎，因此搬家的时候，就被人扔在街上的垃圾堆里。我们现在把这棵可怜的、萎谢了的花收进我们的花束中来，因为它给人的快乐，大大地超过了皇家花园里面那些最艳丽的花。

“你怎么知道这件事的呢？”这个被安琪儿带上天去的孩子问。

“我当然知道，”安琪儿说，“因为我就是那个拄着拐杖走路的病孩子呀！我当然认识我的花！”

孩子睁着一双大眼睛，凝望着安琪儿的美丽幸福的脸。正在这时候，他们来到了天上，来到了和平幸福的天堂。上帝把孩子紧紧地搂在胸前，于是他获得了安琪儿那样的翅膀，与他手拉手一起飞翔。上帝还把花儿放到胸前，特地吻了吻那棵可怜的、萎谢了的野花。因此那棵野花就有了声音。现在它能跟在周围飞翔的所有安琪儿一齐歌唱了——他们有的飞得很近，有的绕着大圈子，飞得很远，飞到无垠的远方，但他们全都是幸福的。他们都唱着歌——大大小小的、善良快乐的孩子们，还有搬家那天被扔在小巷里垃圾堆上的那棵枯萎了的可怜的野花，大家都唱着歌。

注释

cherish珍爱

sunbeam阳光；日光；快乐的人

cellar地窖；酒窖；地下室

ray射线；光线

entwined缠住；盘绕

bloom花；青春；旺盛

spread传播；伸展

perfume香水；香味

gladdened使喜悦；使高兴

Lord主；上帝

wither干枯；减弱；羞愧

cast投掷；抛

lodger房客；寄宿人；投宿者

removal免职；移动；排除

nosegay花束

crutches拐杖；支撑物

glorious光荣的；辉煌的；极好的

heavenly天上的；神圣的；天国似的

Almighty全能的神

surround围绕物

throne君主；王权

distant遥远的；冷漠的

chorus合唱队；齐声；歌舞队