锦衣华服？
LITTLE MASTER MISERY
小可怜先生
ONCE upon a time there were two brothers, peasants, and one was kind and the other was cunning. And the cunning one made money and became rich—very rich—so rich that he thought himself far too good for the village. He went off to the town, and dressed in fine furs, and clothed his wife in rich brocades, and made friends among the merchants, and began to live as merchants live, eating all day long, no longer like a simple peasant who eats kasha one day, kasha the next day, and for a change kasha on the third day also. And always he grew richer and richer.
很久很久以前，乡下有一对兄弟，一个和气善良，另一个诡计多端。恶兄弟赚了很多钱，发了大财，就不愿意再委屈自己在村里当个农夫。他搬到镇上去，开始穿华贵的裘皮大衣，让妻子披金戴银，浑身裹着绫罗绸缎，还跟镇上的商人打成一片，学着他们过日子，整天吃吃喝喝，再也不像穷乡巴佬那样今天喝荞麦粥，明天喝荞麦粥，后天还是得捏着鼻子喝荞麦粥。就这样，狡猾的恶兄弟越来越富，越来越有钱。
It was very different with the kind one. He lent money to a neighbour, and the neighbour never paid it back. He sowed before the last frost, and lost all his crops. His horse went lame. His cow gave no milk. If his hens laid eggs, they were stolen; and if he set a night-line in the river, some one else always pulled it out and stole the fish and the hooks. Everything went wrong with him, and each day saw him poorer than the day before. At last there came a time when he had not a crumb of bread in the house. He and his wife were thin as sticks because they had nothing to eat, and the children were crying all day long because of their little empty stomachs. From morning till night he dug and worked, struggling against poverty like a fish against the ice; but it was no good. Things went from bad to worse.
可是，在善兄弟那儿，境况可就不妙了。他把钱借给邻居，邻居却再也不提还钱的事儿；他下种之后又来了最后一场霜降，长出的庄稼全都冻死；他养马，马腿折了；他养奶牛，牛一滴奶都挤不出来；母鸡就算生了蛋，蛋也会被偷走；他要是头天晚上在河里下了鱼饵，第二天去准会发现不光鱼被偷了，就连鱼钩都没了影儿。简直是干啥啥不顺，第二天的他总是比昨天还要更穷一点。就这么着，终于有一天，他那栋破房子里连片面包屑都瞅不着了，夫妻两个饿到瘦得跟麻秆一样，孩子们更是整天捧着个瘪瘪的肚子哇哇大哭。善兄弟没日没夜地在地里挖呀刨呀，急得跟困在冰下的鱼儿一样，可是依然毫无所获，日子还是一天比一天难过。
At last his wife said to him You must go to the town and see that rich brother of yours. He will surely not refuse to give you a little help.
没了办法，善兄弟的妻子对他说：“去镇上你兄弟那儿吧。他有钱，肯定会帮帮你的。”
And he said Truly, wife, there is nothing else to be done. I will go to the town, and perhaps my rich brother will help me. I am sure he would not let my children starve. After all, he is their uncle.
这个穷汉子回答道：“是呀，孩子他妈，没别的法儿了，我就去镇上好了。我兄弟有钱，他总不能眼睁睁地看着孩子饿死。他可是他们的叔叔呀。”
So he took his stick and tramped off to the town.
于是，善兄弟拄着拐杖往镇上去了。
He came to the house of his rich brother. A fine house it was, with painted eaves and a doorway carved by a master. Many servants were there and food in plenty, and people coming and going. He went in and found his brother, and said,—
到了镇上，善兄弟找到他那个富兄弟家里——啊，多美的大宅子，屋檐上油漆锃亮，门廊由大师一手雕刻，许多仆人在那儿伺候，吃的喝的，让人看都看不过来，客人来来往往。善兄弟进了大门，找到他的兄弟，对他说：
Dear brother of mine, I beg you help me, even if only a little. My wife and children are without bread. All day long they sit hungry and waiting, and I have no food to give them.
“啊，亲爱的兄弟，求求您，给我点儿钱，哪怕是一丁点儿也行。我的老婆，还有我的孩子，他们没吃没喝，整天只能坐在那儿饿着肚子空等，可我却什么吃的也给不了他们。”
The rich brother looks at him, and hums and strokes his beard. Then says he I will help you. But, of course, you must do something in return. Stay here and work for me, and at the end of a week you shall have the help you have earned.
富兄弟上下打量着他，一边哼着小调，一边摸着胡子，半天才开了口：“好呀，我会帮你。不过，你总要报答我点什么。你给我干一个星期的活吧，干多少活，给你多少钱。”
The poor brother thanked him, and bowed and kissed his hand, and praised God for the kindness of his brother's heart, and set instantly to work. For a whole week he slaved, and scarcely slept. He cleaned out the stables and cut the wood, swept the yard, drew water from the well, and ran errands for the cook. And at the end of the week his brother called him, and gave him a single loaf of bread.
穷兄弟向他道谢，还弯下腰，捧着他的手，吻了又吻，并赞美上帝让兄弟有这么一副好心肠。他立马开始干活，整整一周下来，连觉都没睡多少，只是不停地干了这活干那活，把马厩打扫得干干净净，劈柴火，扫院子，打井水，还给厨子跑腿，什么都干。做完一周的活，富兄弟把他叫去，给了他一条面包。
You must not forget, says the rich brother, that I have fed you all the week you have been here, and all that food counts in the payment.
“你可别忘了，”富兄弟说，“你在我这儿住了一个星期，我给你吃了一个星期的饭，这些饭都从报酬里扣掉了。”
The poor brother thanked him, and was setting off to carry the loaf to his wife and children when the rich brother called him back.
穷兄弟对他道了谢，准备动身回家，把面包带给妻子和孩子。这时，富兄弟把他给叫了回来。
Stop a minute, said he; I would like you to know that I am well disposed towards you. To-morrow is my name-day. Come to the feast, and bring your wife with you.
富兄弟说：“等会儿。你要知道，我对你可是好得没话说呀。明天是我的命名日，要开个大宴席，你和你老婆也来吧。”
How can I do that, brother Your friends are rich merchants, with fine clothes, and boots on their feet. And I have nothing but my old coat, and my legs are bound in rags and my feet shuffle along in straw slippers. I do not want to shame you before your guests.
“这怎么行呢，好兄弟。你的朋友都是大商人，衣服穿得漂漂亮亮的，脚上都蹬着靴子，我可只有这么件旧外套，裤子都破得不像样，脚上也只有草鞋可穿。我会给你丢脸的呀。”
Never mind about that, says the rich brother; we will find a place for you.
“你不用操心，”富兄弟回答说，“我会给你找个能待的地儿。”
Very good, brother, and thank you kindly. God be praised for having given you a tender heart.
“那好吧，好兄弟。真是太谢谢你了。感谢上帝，让你生了这么一副好心肠。”
And the poor brother, though he was tired out after all the work he had done, set off home as fast as he could to take the bread to his wife and children.
穷兄弟上路回家了。他干了那么多的活儿，整个人筋疲力尽，可是他得把面包带回去给妻子和孩子，所以还得尽快迈着腿儿赶路。
He might have given you more than that, said his wife.
到了家，妻子看着面包说：“他不能多给你点儿么？”
But listen, said he; what do you think of this To-morrow we are invited, you and I, as guests, to go to a great feast.
“啊，你先听我说。”穷兄弟回答道，“他明天要开个大宴席，请我们都去参加哪。”
What do you mean A feast Who has invited us
“什么？宴席？谁请我们？”
My brother has invited us. To-morrow is his name-day. I always told you he had a kind heart. We shall be well fed, and I dare say we shall be able to bring back something for the children.
“我兄弟呀。明天是他的命名日。我早就告诉过你，他心肠可好啦。咱们明天能好好吃上一顿，而且肯定还能给孩子们带回来点。”
A pleasure like that does not often come our way, said his wife.
“这么好的好事，可真难遇上呀。”妻子开心地说。
So early in the morning they got up, and walked all the way to the town, so as not to shame the rich brother by putting up their old cart in the yard beside the merchants' fine carriages. They came to the rich brother's house, and found the guests all assembled and making merry; rich merchants and their plump wives, all eating and laughing and drinking and talking.第二天，善兄弟和妻子起了个大早，也没赶马车，就那么一路走到了镇上——他们的旧马车实在是太寒酸，要是停在那些商人的豪华马车旁边，肯定会让富兄弟脸上无光。到了富兄弟家里以后，他们发现客人已经到齐，都是些富有的商人，带着胖乎乎的妻子，全在吃喝笑闹，尽情玩乐。
They wished a long life to the rich brother, and the poor brother wanted to make a speech, congratulating him on his name-day. But the rich brother scarcely thanked him, because he was so busy entertaining the rich merchants and their plump, laughing wives. He was pressing food on his guests, now this, now that, and calling to the servants to keep their glasses filled and their plates full of all the tastiest kinds of food. As for the poor brother and his wife, the rich one forgot all about them, and they got nothing to eat and never a drop to drink. They just sat there with empty plates and empty glasses, watching how the others ate and drank. The poor brother laughed with the rest, because he did not wish to show that he had been forgotten.他们向富兄弟说了长命百岁的吉祥话，穷兄弟还想发表一通祝寿词来着，但富兄弟只是潦潦草草地说了声谢谢，一转身就忙着去招待那些富有的商人和他们胖乎乎、笑哈哈的妻子，一个劲儿地劝他们吃这个吃那个，高声招呼仆人给他们上酒，把盘子装满，堆上最美味的食物。对于穷兄弟夫妻俩，他可是忘得一干二净，把他们撂在那儿，连一口吃食、一滴酒水都没沾，就那么对着空荡荡的盘子和酒杯，眼巴巴地看着别人吃吃喝喝。每当别的客人哄堂大笑，穷兄弟也跟着笑，只希望别被人看出来他被自己的兄弟给忘到后脑勺了。
The dinner came to an end. One by one the guests went up to the giver of the feast to thank him for his good cheer. And the poor brother too got up from the bench, and bowed low before his brother and thanked him.宴会终于要结束了，客人一个个来到主人面前，感谢他用如此的美味佳肴招待他们。穷兄弟也从板凳上站起来，在兄弟面前鞠了个深深的躬，谢谢他的邀请。
The guests went home, drunken and joyful. A fine noise they made, as people do on these occasions, shouting jokes to each other and singing songs at the top of their voices.
客人们回了家，酒足饭饱，心满意足。像这种场合常见的那样，他们闹出的动静可真够瞧的，又是互相吼着笑话，又是扯着嗓门唱歌。
The poor brother and his wife went home empty and sad. All that long way they had walked, and now they had to walk it again, and the feast was over, and never a bite had they had in their mouths, nor a drop in their gullets.
穷兄弟和他的妻子也在往家赶，肚皮空空，满怀悲伤。他们去的时候走了那么远的路，回去还要再走一遭，可是宴会结束了，他们却一口吃的都没沾嘴，一滴喝的都没沾唇。
Come, wife, says the poor brother as he trudged along, let us sing a song like the others.
“来，孩子他妈，”穷兄弟拖着脚走在路上，对妻子说，“我们也跟其他人一样唱首歌吧。”
What a fool you are! says his wife. Hungry and cross she was, as even Maroosia would be after a day like that watching other people stuff themselves. What a fool you are! says she. People may very well sing when they have eaten tasty dishes and drunk good wine. But what reason have you got for making a merry noise in the night
“你怎么这么傻！”妻子终于忍不住了。饿了一天，只能看着别人胡吃海喝，就算是你玛鲁莎，也没法不发脾气啦。“你怎么这么傻！”她说，“他们吃了那么些好吃的，喝了那么些好喝的，那就唱好了。可‘你’凭什么大半夜地也那么闹闹嚷嚷？”
Why, my dear says he, we have been at my brother's name-day feast. I am ashamed to go home without a song. I'll sing. I'll sing so that everyone shall think he loaded us with good things like the rest.“嗳，亲爱的，”他回答道，“我们可是去参加兄弟的命名日宴会了呀，可我却连首歌都没唱，这该得多丢人哪。我要唱。我得让每个人都知道，我兄弟把我们招待得好好的，跟其他人没啥两样。”
Well, sing if you like; but you'll sing by yourself.
“你想唱就唱好了；自个儿唱去。”
So the peasant, the poor brother, started singing a song with his dry throat. He lifted his voice and sang like the rest, while his wife trudged silently beside him.
于是，这个乡巴佬，这个穷兄弟，用渴得冒烟的喉咙唱起了歌。他把嗓子放得高高的，像其他客人那么唱了起来。妻子一直沉默，在旁边高一脚低一脚地走着，听着。
But as he sang it seemed to the peasant that he heard two voices singing—his own and another's. He stopped, and asked his wife,—唱着唱着，穷兄弟觉得好像听到还有一个人也在唱。他停下脚步，问妻子：
Is that you joining in my song with a little thin voice
“那个细细的声音是你的吗？是你在跟着我唱吗？”
What's the matter with you I never thought of singing with you. I never opened my mouth.“你在想什么呀？我可没想跟着你唱。我都没张过嘴。”
Who is it then“那是谁在唱呢？”
No one except yourself. Any one would say you had had a drink of wine after all.
“就你自己在唱。现在别人肯定能信你是真的喝了那么一滴两滴的酒了。”
But I heard some one ... a little weak voice ... a little sad voice ... joining with mine.“可我真的听到了……很小的声音，很弱……听上去很悲伤……在跟我一起唱。”
I heard nothing, said his wife; but sing again, and I'll listen.“我什么都没听到。”妻子反驳道，“你还是唱吧，我听着哪。”
The poor man sang again. He sang alone. His wife listened, and it was clear that there were two voices singing—the dry voice of the poor man, and a little miserable voice that came from the shadows under the trees. The poor man stopped, and asked out loud,—
可怜的善兄弟又唱了起来。他一个人唱，妻子在旁边听着。这次他听得真真儿的，是有两个声音在唱——除了他自己那干瘪的喉咙，还从树阴下传来一个细小悲惨的声音。他停住脚步，大声问道：
Who are you who are singing with me“你是谁？是谁在跟着我唱？”
And a little thin voice answered out of the shadows by the roadside, under the trees,—一个细小的声音从路边的树阴下传了过来：
I am Misery.
“我是小可怜。”
So it was you, Misery, who were helping me“那是您在帮我唱歌吗，小可怜？”
Yes, master, I was helping you.“是的，先生，是我在帮你唱。”
Well, little Master Misery, come along with us and keep us company.“啊，小可怜先生，跟我们一起赶路，做个伴吧。”
I'll do that willingly, says little Master Misery, and I'll never, never leave you at all—no, not if you have no other friend in the world.“不胜荣幸。”小可怜先生回答道，“我绝对、绝对不会离开你——只要你在这个世界上再没有其他的朋友。”
And a wretched little man, with a miserable face and little thin legs and arms, came out of the shadows and went home with the peasant and his wife.从树阴下爬出一个可怜巴巴的小矮个，满面凄苦，四肢瘦弱不堪。这个小可怜先生就这么跟着善兄弟夫妻俩到了他们家。
It was late when they got home, but little Master Misery asked the peasant to take him to the tavern. After such a day as this has been, says he, there's nothing else to be done.
到家已经很晚了，小可怜先生却要善兄弟带他去小酒馆。他说：“过完这么一天，也只有这件事可干了。”
But I have no money, says the peasant.
“可我没钱呀。”善兄弟说。
What of that says little Master Misery. Spring has begun, and you have a winter jacket on. It will soon be summer, and whether you have it or not you won't wear it. Bring it along to the tavern, and change it for a drink.“什么呀。”小可怜先生说，“春天已经来啦，你还穿这件冬装夹克干嘛。马上就是夏天了，你有没有这件夹克都不会穿，就把它带到酒馆去，换口酒喝好了。”
The poor man went to the tavern with little Master Misery, and they sat there and drank the vodka that the tavern-keeper gave them in exchange for the coat.善兄弟跟着小可怜先生去了酒馆，和酒馆主把夹克换成伏特加，坐在那儿喝了起来。
Next day, early in the morning, little Master Misery began complaining. His head ached and he could not open his eyes, and he did not like the weather, and the children were crying, and there was no food in the house. He asked the peasant to come with him to the tavern again and forget all this wretchedness in a drink.
第二天一大早，小可怜先生就开始抱怨个不停——他头痛得厉害，眼睛都睁不开，天气也不合他的意，孩子们哭个不停真是讨厌，家里还连点吃的都没有。他又让善兄弟跟他去酒馆，把这些不痛快都喝到肚里去。
But I've got no money, says the peasant.“可我没钱呀。”善兄弟说。
Rubbish! says little Master Misery; you have a sledge and a cart.“废话！”小可怜先生说，“你不是有一副雪橇和一辆马车吗？”
They took the cart and the sledge to the tavern, and stayed there drinking until the tavern-keeper said they had had all that the cart and the sledge were worth. Then the tavern-keeper took them and threw them out of doors into the night, and they picked themselves up and crawled home.
他们把马车和雪橇拖到酒馆去，一直在那儿喝呀喝呀，直到酒馆主过来说他们已经把雪橇和马车的钱喝光了，然后拎着衣领，把他们扔出了门外。两人从地上爬起来，歪歪倒倒地回了家。
Next day Misery complained worse than before, and begged the peasant to come with him to the tavern. There was no getting rid of him, no keeping him quiet. The peasant sold his barrow and plough, so that he could no longer work his land. He went to the tavern with little Master Misery.第二天，小可怜抱怨得更厉害了，他缠着善兄弟，非要去酒馆不可，怎么也甩不掉他，也没法让他闭嘴。这次，善兄弟把手推车和犁具给卖了。他再也不能下地干活，却又跟着小可怜先生去了酒馆。
A month went by like that, and at the end of it the peasant had nothing left at all. He had even pledged the hut he lived in to a neighbour, and taken the money to the tavern.一个月过去，善兄弟变得一无所有，他甚至把房子都抵押给了邻居，得了钱就直接奔酒馆喝掉了。
And every day little Master Misery begged him to come. There I am not wretched any longer, says Misery. There I sing, and even dance, hitting the floor with my heels and making a merry noise.小可怜先生每天都央求他去酒馆。“我在那儿就不觉得难过啦，”他说，“我在那儿唱呀跳呀，用脚跟打着地板，咚咚咚，咚咚咚，这才乐呵哪。”
But now I have no money at all, and nothing left to sell, says the poor peasant. I'd be willing enough to go with you, but I can't, and here is an end of it.“可我真的是一个卢布都没了，也再没什么东西可卖。”穷兄弟说，“我很乐意跟您去酒馆，可我没办法呀。就这样吧。”
Rubbish! says Misery; your wife has two dresses. Leave her one; she can't wear both at once. Leave her one, and buy a drink with the other. They are both ragged, but take the better of the two. The tavern-keeper is a just man, and will give us more drink for the better one.“废话！”小可怜劈头骂道，“你老婆有两条长裙哪。给她留一条就得了；她总不能一次穿两条。给她留一条，把另一条拿去换酒喝。两条裙子都破得很，不过还是有一条好上那么一点；把那条拿去，酒馆主做事公道得很，拿那条好一点的裙子去，他会多卖点酒给你。”
The peasant took the dress and sold it; and Misery laughed and danced, while the peasant thought to himself, Well, this is the end. I've nothing left to sell, and my wife has nothing either. We've the clothes on our backs, and nothing else in the world.
善兄弟把裙子拿到酒馆，换了酒喝。小可怜大笑大叫，开心地跳个不停，善兄弟在一边儿默默地想着：“好了，一切到此为止。我什么都没得卖了，我老婆也一样。我们只有身上这一套衣裳，除此之外，真的一无所有了。”
In the morning little Master Misery woke with a headache as usual, and a mouthful of groans and complaints. But he saw that the peasant had nothing left to sell, and he called out,—
一夜过去，小可怜先生醒来的时候又一次头痛欲裂，嘴里也不停地呻吟、抱怨，不过他也瞧明白了，这个农夫家里真的什么都没得卖了，于是，他向善兄弟喊道：
Listen to me, master of the house.“听我说，主人家。”
What is it, Misery says the peasant, who was master of nothing in the world.“您要说什么，小可怜？”善兄弟回道；其实他现在早就不是任何东西的主人了。
Go you to a neighbour and beg the loan of a cart and a pair of good oxen.
“去找你的邻居，借一驾大车和两头好牛。”
The poor peasant had no will of his own left. He did exactly as he was told. He went to his neighbour and begged the loan of the oxen and cart.这个善良的穷光蛋现在全没自己的主意，小可怜怎么说，他就怎么做。他找到邻居，求他借给自己大车和牛。
But how will you repay me says the neighbour.“那你要怎么报答我呢？”邻居问。
I will do a week's work for you for nothing.“我给你干一个星期的活儿，什么报酬都不要。”
Very well, says the neighbour; take the oxen and cart, but be careful not to give them too heavy a load.“那不错，”邻居说，“把车和牛拿去，不过你要当心，不许装太重的东西。”
Indeed I won't, says the peasant, thinking to himself that he had nothing to load them with. And thank you very much, says he; and he goes back to Misery, taking with him the oxen and cart.
“我不会的。”善兄弟回答说——我也没什么好往上装的，他思忖着。“真是太谢谢你了。”他对邻居说，然后带着借来的牛和车去见小可怜。
Misery looked at him and grumbled in his wretched little voice, They are hardly strong enough,小可怜看着他，用他那凄凄惨惨的小嗓音嘟哝着说：“可够不结实的。”
They are the best I could borrow, says the peasant; and you and I have starved too long to be heavy.“我借不到更好的啦。”善兄弟回答，“再说，咱俩饿了这么长时间，也重不到哪儿去。”
And the peasant and little Master Misery sat together in the cart and drove off together, Misery holding his head in both hands and groaning at the jolt of the cart.善兄弟和小可怜先生坐上大车，开始赶路。小可怜先生也不管赶车的事，就坐在那儿，双手捧头，大车颠一下，他就叹一声。
As soon as they had left the village, Misery sat up and asked the peasant,—一离开村庄，小可怜就坐直身体，向善兄弟问道：
Do you know the big stone that stands alone in the middle of a field not far from here?
“你知道离这儿不远有块地，地中间有块大石头么？”
Of course I know it, says the peasant.“当然知道了。”善兄弟回答道。
Drive straight to it, says Misery, and went on rocking himself to and fro, and groaning and complaining in his wretched little voice.“把车直接赶到那儿。”小可怜吩咐道，然后继续一前一后地点着身子，用他那凄凄惨惨的小嗓子呻吟抱怨个不休。
They came to the stone, and got down from the cart and looked at the stone. It was very big and heavy, and was fixed in the ground.
最后，他们到了大石头那儿，下了大车，看着它。这块石头真的很大，分量也不轻，牢牢地陷在地里。
Heave it up, says Misery.“把石头抬起来。”小可怜吩咐道。
The poor peasant set to work to heave it up, and Misery helped him, groaning, and complaining that the peasant was nothing of a fellow because he could not do his work by himself. Well, they heaved it up, and there below it was a deep hole, and the hole was filled with gold pieces to the very top; more gold pieces than ever you will see copper ones if you live to be a hundred and ten.善兄弟开始使劲抬石头，小可怜也在一边帮他，但嘴里同时不停地呻吟，抱怨善兄弟根本不是个好伙计，自己的活计都要别人帮忙。不管怎么着吧，石头总算是给抬了起来，下面现出一个大洞，洞里塞得满满的，全是金币！就算你能活到110岁，一辈子看到的铜币也不会比这些金币多。
Well, what are you staring at says Misery. Stir yourself, and be quick about it, and load all this gold into the cart.“喂，你在瞎瞪个什么劲儿？”小可怜说，“胳膊腿儿动起来，赶紧的，把这些金子都装上车。”
The peasant set to work, and piled all the gold into the cart down to the very last gold piece; while Misery sat on the stone and watched, groaning and chuckling in his weak, wretched little voice.
善兄弟立马动手，把所有的金币都装上大车，一枚都没剩。小可怜坐在一边的大石头上，看着叹着咯咯笑着，小嗓音依然虚弱凄惨。
Be quick, says Misery; and then we can get back to the tavern.“快点儿，”小可怜催着善兄弟，“得赶紧回酒馆去。”
The peasant looked into the pit to see that there was nothing left there, and then says he,—善兄弟使劲往洞里瞅着，不想落下任何一枚金币，然后，他说：
Just take a look, little Master Misery, and see that we have left nothing behind. You are smaller than I, and can get right down into the pit....“看看，小可怜先生，您看看有没有落下什么。您个子比我小，可以钻到洞里去瞅瞅……”
Misery slipped down from the stone, grumbling at the peasant, and bent over the pit.小可怜从石头上滑下来，嘟嘟囔囔地弯下腰，向洞里看着。
You've taken the lot, says he; there's nothing to be seen.“你都取出来啦，”他说，“洞里一点金子都没有啦。”
But what is that, says the peasant—there, shining in the corner“可那是什么呀？”善兄弟说，“那儿，那个旮旯里有什么东西在发光。”
I don't see it.
“我没看见呀。”
Jump down into the pit and you'll see it. It would be a pity to waste a gold piece.
“你跳下去就能瞅见啦。要是落下一块金子，得多可惜呀。”
Misery jumped down into the pit, and instantly the peasant rolled the stone over the hole and shut him in.小可怜果然照做了。他一跳进洞，善兄弟就把大石头滚过去，把洞口堵得严严实实的。
Things will be better so, says the peasant. If I were to let you out of that, sooner or later you would drink up all this money, just as you drank up everything I had.“就这样才好。”善兄弟说，“我要是把你放出来，迟早得让你把这些钱给喝个精光，就像过去一样，把我所有的东西都喝掉。”
Then the peasant drove home and hid the gold in the cellar; took the oxen and cart back to his neighbour, thanked him kindly, and began to think what he would do, now that Misery was his master no longer, and he with plenty of money.
说完这话，善兄弟就把车赶回家，把金币都藏在地窖里，然后把牛和车还给邻居，还对他说了好些感激的话。回到家，善兄弟就开始琢磨现在该怎么办；小可怜再也不能做他的主，而他又得了这么多的钱财。
But he had to work for a week to pay for the loan of the oxen and cart, said Vanya.“可他得先给邻居做一个星期的活儿，报答他借给他牛和大车。”小万亚插嘴道。
Well, during the week, while he was working, he was thinking all the time, in his head, said old Peter, a little grumpily. Then he went on with his tale.没错，整整一个星期，善兄弟一边干活，一边想着该怎么办。啊，就是一个劲儿动脑子，老彼得有点暴躁地补充道，然后又继续讲故事。
As soon as the week was over, he bought a forest and built himself a fine house, and began to live twice as richly as his brother in the town. And his wife had two new dresses, perhaps more; with a lot of gold and silver braid, and necklaces of big yellow stones, and bracelets and sparkling rings. His children were well fed every day — rivers of milk between banks of kisel jelly, and mushrooms with sauce, and soup, and cakes with little balls of egg and meat hidden in the middle. And they had toys that squeaked, a little boy feeding a goose that poked its head into a dish, and a painted hen with a lot of chickens that all squeaked together.
七天一过，善兄弟立马买了一座森林，造了一幢豪华的大房子，过起比镇上的兄弟还要好得多的日子。他的妻子有了两条新裙子，没准儿还有更多，全都用金线银线镶着宽宽的滚边，脖子上戴着大大的黄宝石项链，手上戴着镯子和亮闪闪的戒指。他的孩子现在每天都有吃不完的东西——果酱冻中间流淌着洁白的牛乳，烤蘑菇上抹着厚厚的调味汁，还有美味的浓汤和顶着一团团小蛋黄的蛋糕，蛋糕里面还藏着鲜嫩的肉哪。孩子们有好多玩具可玩，有的玩具会尖叫，有一个是小男孩喂小鹅，小鹅的头埋在食碟里一点一点，还有一个是母鸡带着许多鸡宝宝，身上涂着亮亮的油漆，全都在一个劲儿地叫唤。
Time went on, and when his name-day drew near he thought of his brother, the merchant, and drove off to the town to invite him to take part in the feast.时间一天天流逝，善兄弟的命名日要到了，这时，他想起在城里做生意的兄弟，于是驾着马车到镇上去请他来参加宴会。
I have not forgotten, brother, that you invited me to yours.“好兄弟，我一直记着你以前在命名日请我参加你的宴会哪。”
What a fellow you are! says his brother; you have nothing to eat yourself, and here you are inviting other people for your name-day.
“啊，你这家伙！”恶兄弟惊叫起来，“你自己什么都没的吃，命名日还要请客办宴会！”
Yes, said the peasant, once upon a time, it is true, I had nothing to eat; but now, praise be to God, I am no poorer than yourself. Come to my name-day feast and you will see.“没错，”善兄弟说，“过去有阵儿我是没吃没喝，不过，感谢上帝，现在我不比你穷多少。来参加宴会吧，亲眼看看我现在的日子。”
Very well, says his brother, I'll come; but don't think you can play any jokes on me.“好吧，”恶兄弟说，“我会去的，不过你可别想能开我的玩笑。”
On the morning of the peasant's name-day his brother, the merchant in the town, put on his best clothes, and his plump wife dressed in all her richest, and they got into their cart—a fine cart it was too, painted in the brightest colours—and off they drove together to the house of the brother who had once been poor. They took a basket of food with them, in case he had only been joking when he invited them to his name-day feast.善兄弟的命名日到了，恶兄弟穿上最华贵的衣服，他的妻子也戴上最贵重的珠宝，两人一起上了马车——这辆马车好不漂亮，车身锃亮，各种颜色鲜艳夺目——前往原来的穷兄弟家里。他们还带了一篮子吃的，以备善兄弟请他们去只是拿他们开玩笑。
They drove to the village, and asked for him at the hut where he used to be.
An old man hobbling along the road answered them,—
一路车轮滚滚，恶兄弟夫妻俩到了村里善兄弟原来住的小屋，正在叫门的时候，路边一步一晃地来了个老头子，告诉他们说：
Oh, you mean our Ivan Ilyitch. Well, he does not live here any longer. Where have you been that you have not heard His is the big new house on the hill. You can see it through the trees over there, where all these people are walking. He has a kind heart, he has, and riches have not spoiled it. He has invited the whole village to feast with him, because to-day is his name-day.“啊，你们在找伊万·伊利伊奇呀，他现在可不住这儿啦。你们是从哪儿来的，连这个都不知道？他现在住在山上那座大大的新房子里，从那边那些树缝里能瞅见。看见没，那么些人都在朝那儿走。这人生了一副好心肠；真的，就算发了大财也没变。今天是他的命名日，他把整个村里的人都邀去参加宴会啦。”
Riches! thought the merchant; a new house! He was very much surprised, but as he drove along the road he was more surprised still. For he passed all the villagers on their way to the feast; and every one was talking of his brother, and how kind he was and how generous, and what a feast there was going to be, and how many barrels of mead and, wine had been taken up to the house. All the folk were hurrying along the road licking their lips, each one going faster than the other so as to be sure not to miss any of the good things.
发大财！新房子！富兄弟可真是给大大地吓了一跳。等到他和妻子重新上路之后，他就更吃惊了，因为他一路碰上所有的村民，都是奔着宴会去，每个人都在谈论他的兄弟，说他是如何的好心，如何的慷慨大方，会有怎样一场盛宴在等着他们，以及已经有多少桶蜂蜜酒和葡萄酒运到大宅里。这些农夫甩开大步往前赶，一路上不断地舔嘴唇、吞口水，一个比一个走得快，生怕落下点什么好吃好喝。
The rich brother from the town drove with his wife into the courtyard of the fine new house. And there on the steps was the peasant brother, Ivan Ilyitch, and his wife, receiving their guests. And if the rich brother was well dressed, the peasant was better dressed; and if the rich brother's wife was in her fine clothes, the peasant's wife fairly glittered—what with the gold braid on her bosom and the shining silver in her hair.从镇上来的富兄弟和妻子终于到了那座崭新的大豪宅。他们在院子里下了车，抬眼一看，站在台阶上迎客的可不就是那个农民兄弟伊万·伊利伊奇和他的妻子。如果说恶兄弟是衣冠楚楚，那善兄弟就是锦衣华服；如果说恶兄弟的妻子是衣着华贵，那善兄弟的妻子简直是耀人眼目——胸口金丝镶边，头上银饰闪闪发亮。
And the peasant brother kissed his brother from the town on both cheeks, and gave him and his wife the best places at the table. He fed them—ah, how he fed them!—with little red slips of smoked salmon, and beetroot soup with cream, and slabs of sturgeon, and meats of three or four kinds, and game and sweetmeats of the best. There never was such a feast—no, not even at the wedding of a Tzar. And as for drink, there were red wine and white wine, and beer and mead in great barrels, and everywhere the peasant went about among his guests, filling glasses and seeing that their plates were kept piled with the foods each one liked best.
这个曾经的穷农夫抱住兄弟，在他两边脸颊上亲了亲，然后把他和妻子安排在最尊贵的位子上。人们都在可着劲儿地大吃大喝——此时不吃，更待何时！——红色的熏鲑鱼一小片一小片，浓郁的甜菜汤上飘浮着奶油，鲟鱼切得厚厚的，家畜家禽的肉有好几种，还有最好的野味和蜜饯。世上哪里有过这么好的盛宴哟，就算是沙皇结婚也没这待遇呀。啊，还有大桶大桶的美酒，红葡萄酒白葡萄酒啤酒蜂蜜酒……我们的主人公在客人当中四处穿梭，一会儿劝这个的酒，一会儿招呼那个尽管放开肚皮吃最喜欢的食物。
And the rich brother wondered and wondered, and at last he could wait no longer, and he took his brother aside and said,—I am delighted to see you so rich. But tell me, I beg you, how it was that all this good fortune came to you.恶兄弟坐在那儿，想啊想，想啊想，最后实在是忍不住，一把把善兄弟拉到一边，问道：“好兄弟，你变得这么有钱，我真是打心眼里为你高兴。不过，你能不能告诉你，这些好运道是从哪里来的？”
The poor brother, never thinking, told him all—the whole truth about little Master Misery and the pit full of gold, and how Misery was shut in there under the big stone.善兄弟想都没想，就把自己的经历源源本本地告诉了他，小可怜先生呀，满是金子的大洞呀，还有小可怜是怎么被大石头压在洞里出不来。
The merchant brother listened, and did not forget a word. He could hardly bear himself for envy, and as for his wife, she was worse. She looked at the peasant's wife with her beautiful head-dress, and she bit her lips till they bled.恶兄弟竖着耳朵听，一个字眼儿都没放过，心几乎要因为嫉妒而爆炸。他的妻子更是不用说，看着妯娌头上戴的华丽饰品，她把嘴唇都咬出血了。
As soon as they could, they said good-bye and drove off home.
一逮到机会，这对夫妻立马告辞，坐上马车急奔回家。
The merchant brother could not bear the thought that his brother was richer than he. He said to himself, I will go to the field, and move the stone, and let Master Misery out. Then he will go and tear my brother to pieces for shutting him in; and his riches will not be of much use to him then, even if Misery does not give them to me as a token of gratitude. Think of my brother daring to show off his riches to me!恶兄弟现在是一时半刻也坐不安稳，一想到善兄弟比自己还富，就恨得牙直痒痒。他自言自语道：“我要到那块地里去，把石头搬开，把小可怜先生放出来。他肯定会去找我兄弟报仇，把他撕成碎片，这样钱再多他也享受不到。就算小可怜不报答我，不把这些钱给我也行，看他还怎么向我炫耀！”
So he drove off to the field, and came at last to the big stone. He moved the stone on one side, and then bent over the pit to see what was in it.
恶兄弟赶着马车到了那片地里，找到那块大石头，把石头搬到一边，然后弯下腰往洞里瞅。
He had scarcely put his head over the edge before Misery sprang up out of the pit, seated himself firmly on his shoulders, squeezed his neck between his little wiry legs, and pulled out handfuls of his hair.可是，还没等恶兄弟把头探过去，小可怜就一跃而出，一下子跳到他的肩膀上，用两条结实的小瘦腿牢牢地夹住他的脖子，一把薅掉满满一手头发。
Misery seated himself firmly on his shoulders and pulled out handfuls of his hair.小可怜就这么牢牢地坐在恶兄弟的肩膀上，左一把右一把地薅他的头发，
Scream away! cried little Master Misery. You tried to kill me, shutting me up in there, while you went off and bought fine clothes. You tried to kill me, and came to feast your eyes on my corpse. Now, whatever happens, I'll never leave you again.“叫呀！”小可怜先生喊着，“你把我关在洞里，想杀了我，你自己呢，一溜烟跑走，去买好衣服穿！你想杀了我，还专门跑来欣赏我的尸体！好呀，不管怎样，我再也不会放过你！”
Listen, Misery! screamed the merchant. Ai, ai! stop pulling my hair. You are choking me. Ai! Listen. It was not I who shut you in under the stone....
“听我说，小可怜！”恶兄弟尖叫道，“哎呀，哎呀，别扯我头发啦！你要闷死我了！哎呀，听我说！不是我把你压在石头下面……”
Who was it, if it was not you asked Misery, tugging out his hair, and digging his knees into the merchant's throat.“不是你能是谁？”小可怜质问道，一边继续狠扯他的头发，膝盖死命地顶着他的喉咙。
It was my brother. I came here on purpose to let you out. I came out of pity.“是我兄弟。我是专门来这儿放你出来的。我是好人哪！”
Misery tugged the merchant's hair, and twisted the merchant's ears till they nearly came off.小可怜撕扯恶兄弟的头发，还拼命扭他的耳朵，差一点就把它们给拧下来。
Liar, liar! he shouted in his little, wretched, angry voice. You tricked me once. Do you think you'll get the better of me again by a clumsy lie of that kind Now then. Gee up! Home we go.“撒谎，你在撒谎！”小可怜尖叫着，他细细的凄惨的嗓音里充满了怒火，“你骗了我，还指望再骗我一次吗？这么蹩脚的谎话，你以为我能信？站起来！驮我回去。”
And so the rich brother went trotting home, crying with pain; while little Master Misery sat firmly on his shoulders, pulling at his hair.
恶兄弟一路小跑着回了家，一路疼得哭个不停，肩膀上坐着小可怜，使劲扯他的头发。
Instantly Misery was at his old tricks.到了恶兄弟家里，小可怜立马回复本性。
You seem to have bought a good deal with the gold, he said, looking at the merchant's house. We'll see how far it will go. And every day he rode the rich merchant to the tavern, and made him drink up all his money, and his house, his clothes, his horses and carts and sledges—everything he had—until he was as poor as his brother had been in the beginning.
“你可花了不少金子买这些玩意儿呀。”他看着恶兄弟的房子说，“让我们看看，这次能维持多长时间。”他每天骑在恶兄弟的脖子上，把他赶到酒馆去，他的钱，他的房子，他的衣服，他的马，他的马车，他的雪橇——所有的一切——全都买了酒喝，直到变得跟他兄弟以前一样穷。
The merchant thought and thought, and puzzled his brain to find a way to get rid of him. And at last one night, when Misery had groaned himself to sleep, the merchant went out into the yard and took a big cart wheel and made two stout wedges of wood, just big enough to fit into the hub of the wheel. He drove one wedge firmly in at one end of the hub, and left the wheel in the yard with the other wedge, and a big hammer lying handy close to it.
究竟该如何摆脱这个小可怜？恶兄弟想呀想，简直想破了脑袋。终于，有一天晚上，小可怜哀叹着睡着了，恶兄弟走到院子里，拆下一个大大的车轱辘，然后劈出两块结实的木楔，正好可以盖住车轱辘中央的殻[1]。他在轮殻的一边敲进一个楔子，然后把另一个楔子跟轮子留在院子里，紧旁边放着一把大锤子。
In the morning Misery wakes as usual, and cries out to be taken to the tavern.
第二天一早，小可怜像往常一样醒了，开始大喊大叫，让恶兄弟带他去酒馆。
We've sold everything I've got, says the merchant.“我们已经把东西全卖光了。”恶兄弟说。
Well, what are you going to do to amuse me says Misery.“那你拿什么逗我开心？”小可怜问他。
Let's play hide-and-seek in the yard, says the merchant.“我们在院子里玩捉迷藏吧。”恶兄弟说。
Right, says Misery; but you'll never find me, for I can make myself so small I can hide in a mouse-hole in the floor.“好吧。”小可怜说，“不过你是找不到我的，我能变得非常非常小，连地板里的老鼠洞都藏得下我。”
We'll see, says the merchant.“行呀，让咱瞧瞧您的本事。”恶兄弟回答道。
The merchant hid first, and Misery found him at once.恶兄弟先藏，小可怜一下子就找到他了。
Now it's my turn, says Misery; but what's the good You'll never find me. Why, I could get inside the hub of that wheel if I had a mind to.
“轮到我了。”小可怜说，“不过这有什么意思呢，你永远也找不到我。嗯，要是我愿意，我甚至能钻到那个轮殻里。”
What a liar you are! says the merchant; you never could get into that little hole.“您可真能吹牛！”恶兄弟喊道，“您绝对钻不到那么小的洞里。”
Look, says Misery, and he made himself little, little, little, and sat on the hub of the wheel.“你就瞧吧。”小可怜说。他越变越小，越变越小，然后坐到轮殻上。
Look, says he, making himself smaller again; and then, pouf! in he pops into the hole of the hub.“看。”他一边得意洋洋地说着，一边继续缩小身子，然后，噗！跳到了毂孔里。
Instantly the merchant took the other wedge and the hammer, and drove the wedge into the hole. The first wedge had closed up the other end, and so there was Misery shut up inside the hub of the cart wheel.恶兄弟立马拿起那把大锤子，把另一块木楔也钉了进去，小可怜被关到了马车轮毂里，两块木楔把他看得死死的。
The merchant set the wheel on his shoulders, and took it to the river and threw it out as far as he could, and it went floating away down to the sea.
恶兄弟扛起车轱辘，走到河边，用尽全力把车轱辘扔到河里，让它随着海水漂向了大海。
Then he went home and set to work to make money again, and earn his daily bread; for Misery had made him so poor that he had nothing left, and had to hire himself out to make a living, just as his peasant brother used to do.回到家，恶兄弟又开始琢磨赚钱养家的事，小可怜把他喝成了穷得叮当响的穷光蛋，他只有像兄弟以前一样，给人家帮工才能挣口饭吃。
But what happened to Misery when he went floating away
我们的小可怜呢？他漂走之后怎么样了？
He floated away down the river, shut up in the hub of the wheel. He ought to have starved there. But I am afraid some silly, greedy fellow thought to get a new wheel for nothing, and pulled the wedges out and let him go; for, by all I hear, Misery is still wandering about the world and making people wretched—bad luck to him!他呀，他给关在轮毂里，一直顺着河水往前漂，本来应该就那么饿死在里面，不过，有些人又笨又贪心，他们可能眼馋那只新车轮，又喜欢不劳而获，就把木楔拔掉，放出了小可怜。我可不是瞎讲，因为我一直听说小可怜还在满世界晃荡，坑害完这个坑害那个——该死的小可怜！
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[1] gu三声，车轮中心的圆木，周围与车辐的一端相接，中有圆孔，可以插轴
形容人衣饰华贵的词我死活想不出来，脑袋卡壳了，谁帮想一个，把“富丽堂皇”换掉吧……想了个“华冠丽服”，但并不切合语境