亚当日记’

亚当日记　Adam’s Diary

▲这个长着长发的新造物真是麻烦

星期一

这个长着长发的新造物真是麻烦。它总是跟着我，不停地在我的身边晃荡。我真的不喜欢，我不习惯这样。我希望它能同其他动物呆在一起。

……

今天，天阴沉沉的，东风不停地吹动着。看来，我们又要挨雨淋了……

我们？

我这是从哪儿学会的，怎么会说这个词儿？

想起来了，那个新造物总爱这么说。

Monday

This new creature with the long hair is a good deal in the way.It is always hanging around and following me about.I don’t like this；I am not used to company.I wish it would stay with the other animals.Cloudy today，wind in the east；think we shall have rain.We？Where did I get that word？I remember now—the new creature uses it.

▲渡渡鸟就是渡渡鸟！它绝不会像我

星期二

我现在开始研究大瀑布了。这可是世上最奇妙的东西。那个新造物称它为尼亚加拉大瀑布——为什么，我不知道。也许它看起来像尼亚加拉大瀑布！不过这个理由太牵强了，甚至有点笨。

我根本没有机会为任何事物命名。没等我开口，那个新造物就说出了事物的名称。而且总是一种腔调——这看起来真像是什么什么。例如说渡渡鸟。刚一见它，就说：“它看起来像渡渡鸟。”从此，这个东西就只能被称之谓渡渡鸟了。当然，如果真的非要和她争论，会使我精疲力竭，对我一点儿好处也没有。

渡渡鸟就是渡渡鸟！它绝不会像我，正如我绝不会像它一样。

Tuesday

Been examining the great waterfall.It is the finest thing on the estate，I think.The new creature calls it Niagara Falls why，I am sure I do not know.Says it looks like Niagara Falls.That is not a reason；it is mere waywardness and imbecility.

I get no chance to name anything myself.The new creature names everything that comes along，before I can get in a protest.And always that same pretext is offered it looks like the thing.There is the dodo，for instance.Says the moment one looks at it one sees at a glance that it“looks like a dodo.”It will have to keep that name，no doubt.

It wearies me to fret about it，and it does no good，anyway.Dodo！It looks no more like a dodo than I do.

▲我建造了一个避雨的栖息地

星期三

我建造了一个避雨的栖息地，但却无法独自享有它。因为，那个新造物竟然闯了进来。我想把它赶出去，它头上那两个用来观看的小孔居然流出水来。它用手背把水拭去，接着发出了同其他动物一样的悲哀声。

我真希望它闭上嘴，不要说话，因为它总是说个不停。这听起来很像是我在诽谤这个可怜的新造物，在蔑视它，其实，我一点儿也没有这个意思。我从没有听到过人的声音，任何新奇陌生的声音传到这梦幻般荒芜的寂静之地，听起来都显得刺耳、不真实。

而这个新的声音却离我这么近，简直就在我的头上、我的耳边，一会儿在这儿，一会儿又在那儿，而我只习惯离我远一点的声音。

Wednesday

Built me a shelter against the rain，but could not have it to myself in peace.The new creature intruded.When I tried to put it out it shed water out of the holes it looks with，and wiped it away with the back of its paws，and made a noise such as some of the other animals make when they are in distress.

I wish it would not talk；it is always talking.That sounds like a cheap fling at the poor creature，a slur；but I do not mean it so.I have never heard the human voice before，and any new and strange sound intruding itself here upon the solemn hush of these dreaming solitudes offends my ear and seems a false note.And this new sound is so close to me；it is right at my shoulder，right at my ear，first on one side and then on the other，and I am used only to sounds that are more or less distant from me.

▲请不要践踏草坪

星期五

虽然我尽力阻止，但命名仍在不知不觉中不断进行，我一点办法也没有。本来，我的这片领地有一个非常好的名字，它听起来既好听、又可爱——伊甸园。我现在却不能这样称呼它了，只能私下里说说。因为，那个新造物说，这里不过有一些乱石林木，一点也不像是花园，顶多像个公园。

于是，它没有征得我的同意，就把我的这块领地，称之为——尼亚加拉瀑布公园。还立了一块牌子：

请不要践踏草坪

这太过分了，我的生活从此失去了往日的样子。

Friday

The naming goes recklessly on，in spite of anything I can do.I had a very good name for the estate，and it was musical and pretty—Garden－of－Eden.Privately，I continue to call it that，but not any longer publicly.The new creature says it is all woods and rocks and scenery，and therefore has no resemblance to a garden.Says it looks like a park，and does not look like anything but a park.Consequently，without consulting me，it has been new－named —Niagara Falls Park.This is sufficiently high－handed，it seems to me.And already there is a sign up：

KEEP OFF

THE GRASS

My life is not as happy as it was.

▲这个新造物吃了太多的果子

星期六

这个新造物吃了太多的果子。这样下去，我们的果子就要被吃完了。“我们”——我又用了这个词——这应该是它惯用的词。现在我却也用上了，因为听得太多了。

今天早晨雾很浓。我从来不在雾天出门，那个新造物却相反。无论什么天气，它总爱出去，双脚沾满泥，唠叨个不停，总是高高兴兴、心平气和的样子。

Saturday

The new creature eats too much fruit.We are going to run short，most likely.“We”again—that is its word；mine too，now，from hearing it so much.Good deal of fog this morning.I do not go out in the fog myself.The new creature does.It goes out in all weathers，and stumps right in with its muddy feet.And talks.It used to be so pleasant and quiet here.

▲试图打下树上的苹果

星期日

这个星期总算熬过去了。

今天却越来越令人无法忍受。本来，今天是我休息的日子。这一天是从去年十一月就计划好了的。为此我已经苦熬了很多天。

上午，我发现那个新造物正在向禁树投击石块，试图打下树上的苹果。

Sunday

Pulled through.

This day is getting to be more and more trying.It was selected and set apart last November as a day of rest.I already had six of them per week，before.

This morning found the new creature trying to clod apples out of that forbidden tree.

▲那个新造物说，它的名字叫夏娃

星期一

那个新造物说，它的名字叫夏娃。对此，我毫无异议，反正叫什么都一样。它说我若需要，就叫它这个名字。我说，无所谓。不过这个名字确实引起我的兴趣，它实在是一个美妙的字眼，值得回味。

它还说，它不是它，而是她。我倒无所谓，反正都一样。管它还是她，只要她能到一边去，别总在我的身边叽叽喳喳唠叨个不停。

Monday

The new creature says its name is Eve.That is all fight，I have no objections.Says it is to call it by when I want it to come.I said it was superfluous，then.The word evidently raised me in its respect；and indeed it is a large，good word，and will bear repetition.

It says it is not an It，it is a She.This is probably doubtful；yet it is all one to me；what she is were nothing to me if she would but go by herself and not talk.

▲不过最好还是别问她

星期二

她又用讨厌的名称和刺目的标语把整个领地弄得乱七八糟：

由此至漩流

由此至半岛

由此至风洞

她说，如果能吸引游客，这个公园将会成为一个洁净的避暑胜地——她的又一创造——仅仅几个字眼，毫无意义。什么叫避暑胜地？不过最好还是别问她，她对这一切总是十分热心。

Tuesday

She has littered the whole estate with execrable names and offensive signs：

THIS WAY TO THE WHIRLPOOL.　

THIS WAY TO GOAT ISLAND.　　

CAVE OF THE WINDS THIS WAY.

She says this park would make a tidy summer resort，if there was any custom for it.Summer resort—an other invention of hers—just words，without any meaning.What is a summer resort？But it is best not to ask her，she has such a rage for explaining.

▲我认为瀑布存在的意义就是让人漂流的

星期五

她恳求我别在瀑布上方漂流。这会有什么害处？她说那样使她胆战心惊。对此我甚为不解。我向来喜欢在那儿漂流——喜欢那种颠簸、激动，那种凉爽。我认为瀑布存在的意义就是让人漂游的。此外，我看不出它还有什么别的意义，而它们既然被创造出来，必定有它们的用处。她说，瀑布被创造出来是为了装点风景，就像犀牛和乳齿是被创造出来的一样。

我坐在木桶里从瀑布上方开始漂流了——她非常不满。我用木盆——她依然不高兴。我乘无花果树，结果受了伤。她对此喋喋不休，总是抱怨个不停。我在这儿太不自由了。我需要换一个地方。

Friday

She has taken to beseeching me to stop going over the Falls.What harm does it do？Says it makes her shudder.I wonder why.I have always done it—always liked the plunge，and the excitement，and the coolness.I supposed it was what the Falls were for.They have no other use that I can see，and they must have been made for something.She says they were only made for scenery—like the rhinoceros and the mastodon.

I went over the Falls in a barrel—not satisfactory to her.Went over in a tub—still not satisfactory.Swam the Whirlpool and the Rapids in a fig－leaf suit.It got much damaged.Hence，tedious complaints about my extravagance.I am too much hampered here.What I need is change of scene.

▲我只好跟她回去

星期六

上周星期二晚上，我悄悄地逃离了她。整整走了两天，才在一个偏僻的地方又建造了一个新的栖息地。虽然我小心翼翼地把出逃的痕迹一一抹去，她还是凭借一头驯兽领路找到了我。这是一只她早已训练好的野兽，她称它为狼。她又在我的面前发出那种可怜的声音，那两个用以观看的小孔又流出水来。我只好跟她回去，但只要时机成熟，我还是要逃出来的。

她总是不停地干着蠢事。比如：她竟然想弄明白被她称之为狮子和老虎的动物为什么要以花果草木为食。她竟然认为，它们的牙齿理应互相蚕食。这个念头真蠢。如果这样，就会发生死亡。据我所知，死亡从未降临过这个花园。如果发生，这实在太可悲了。

Saturday

I escaped last Tuesday night，and travelled two days，and built me another shelter，in a secluded place，and obliterated my tracks as well as I could，but she hunted me out by means of a beast which she has tamed and calls a wolf，and came making that pitiful noise again，and shedding that water out of the places she looks with.I was obliged to return with her，but will presently emigrate again，when occasion offers.

She engages herself in many foolish things：among others，trying to study out why the animals called lions and tigers live on grass and flowers，when，as she says，the sort of teeth they wear would indicate that they were intended to cat each other.This is foolish，because to do that would be to kill each other，and that would introduce what，as I understand it，is called“death”；and death，as I have been told，has not yet entered the Park.Which is a pity，on some accounts.

▲唉，又度过了无聊的一天

星期日

唉，又度过了无聊的这一天。

Sunday

Pulled through.

星期一

我终于明白了一个星期的用处：那是为了让人休息，以便消除星期日带来的劳累。这看起来是个好主意……

她又爬上了那棵树。我用土块儿把她打了下来。她说反正没有人能看见，似乎这就是她冒险的理由。我把我刚才明白的事情告诉她。她赞叹不已。这真是一个很好的解释。

Monday

I believe I see what the week is for：it is to give time to rest up from the weariness of Sunday.It seems a good idea ……

She has been climbing that tree again.Clodded her out of it.She said nobody was looking.Seems to consider that a sufficient justification for chancing any dangerous thing.Told her that.The word justification moved her admiration—and envy too，I thought.It is a good word.

▲她告诉我，她是用我身上的一根肋骨做成的

星期四

她告诉我，她是用我身上的一根肋骨做成的。这个说法真是荒唐，简直是信口开河。我从来没有缺少过肋骨……

她现在正为秃鹰而烦恼不已。她说秃鹰只吃草，担心养不活。她认为秃鹰生来就应该吃腐肉。

秃鹰必须吃指定的食物才能生存。我们难道为一只秃鹰而打乱现有的秩序？

Thursday

She told me she was made out of a rib taken from my body.This is at least doubtful，if not more than that.I have not missed any rib……

She is in much trouble about the buzzard；says grass does not agree with it；is afraid she can’t raise it；thinks it was intended to live on decayed flesh.

The buzzard must get along the best it can with what is provided.We cannot overturn the whole scheme to accommodate the buzzard.

▲昨天她掉进池塘里了

星期六

昨天她掉进池塘里了，因为昨天她比平时注视水中的倒影更出神。她差点儿被淹死，之后她说在水中的滋味真不好受。这使她很替水中的生物难过，也就是被她称之为鱼的生物。她依然不断地为各种东西命名，其实那些东西并不需要什么名字，而且叫它们，它们也不可能回答。

这真是一件出力不讨好的事。她正是这样一个傻瓜。

昨晚，她从水里捞起很多鱼，还把它们拿进屋子，放在床上取暖，可是我今天一整天都在注视它们，发现它们并不比在水中快乐，只是安静了许多。今天晚上我一定要把它们扔出去。

我再也不愿跟它们睡在一起。因为我感到，赤身裸体地与它们躺在一起，黏糊糊的，很难受。

Saturday

She fell in the pond yesterday，when she was looking at herself in it，which she is always doing.She nearly strangled，and said it was most uncomfortable.This made her sorry for the creatures which live in there，which she calls fish，for she continues to fasten names on to things that don’t need them and don’t come when they are called by them，which is a matter of no consequence to her.

As she is such a numskull anyway；so she got a lot of them out and brought them in last night and put them in my bed to keep warm，but I have noticed them now and then all day，and I don’t see that they are any happier there than they were before，only quieter.When night comes I shall throw them out －doors.I will not sleep with them again，for I find them clammy and unpleasant to lie among when a person hasn’t anything on.

▲她近来常跟蛇呆在一起

星期日

整整一天就这样过去了。

Sunday

Pulled through.

星期二

她近来常跟蛇呆在一起。其他动物都松了一口气，因为她总把它们拿来作实验，搅扰它们。

我也很高兴，因为那蛇会说话，他们可以说个不停，我的耳根子则可以清静一会儿了。

Tuesday

She has taken up with a snake now.The other animals are glad，for she was always experimenting with them and bothering them；and I am glad，because the snake talks，and this enables me to get a rest.

▲我劝她别靠近那棵树

星期五

她说，那条蛇劝她尝尝那棵树上的果子。还说，吃了，她将获得一种奇异、美妙、高尚的教益，从此变得聪明。

我告诉她，还有另外一种结果——把死亡带入这个世界。我真不该说——我应该把这些话藏在心里。

我的话只能产生一个结果，就是使她产生拯救生病的秃鹰、为无精打采的狮子老虎提供鲜肉吃的想法。

我劝她别靠近那棵树。她说这不可能。我知道，灾难即将来临，我必须另觅新居。

Friday

She says the snake advises her to try the fruit of that tree，and says the result will be a great and fine and noble education.I told her there would be another result，too—it would introduce death into the world.That was a mistake—it had been better to keep the remark to myself；it only gave her an idea—she could save the sick buzzard，and furnish fresh meat to the despondent lions and tigers.

I advised her to keep away from the tree.She said she wouldn’t.I foresee trouble.Will emigrate.

▲我在伊甸园的外面，发现了这个地方

星期三

这真是不幸的一天。昨晚我骑马出逃，奔波了整整一夜，希望能尽快逃离伊甸园，在灾难来临以前找个安全的地方躲起来，但我却未能如偿所愿。

日头刚升起来，我刚策马驰过一片鲜花盛开的草原，我看见成千上万正在吃草的动物，在一阵可怕的声音后，陷入可怕的骚乱之中。

所有的动物都开始相互厮杀，草原一片混乱。

我知道，这一定是夏娃吃了那棵树上的苹果，死亡已经开始降临这个世界了……

老虎吃掉了我的马，我命令它们停止，但没有任何反应，已经完全失控了。

如果我不赶紧逃离，它们也会把我吃掉——我不敢久留，很快逃离那儿……

我在伊甸园的外面，发现了这个地方，并在这里过起了舒服的日子。可她依然又找到了我。她找到了我，并把这儿命名为托纳瓦达——她说这地方看起来就像是托纳瓦达。

▲她说，我们以劳动为生，她将帮我，我将主宰她

Wednesday

I have had a variegated time.I escaped that night，and rode a horse all night as fast as he could go，hoping to get clear out of the Park and hide in some other country before the trouble should begin；but it was not to be.About an hour after sunup，as I was riding through a flowery plain where thousands of animals were grazing，slumbering，or playing with each other，according to their wont，all of a Sudden they broke into a tempest of frightful noises，and in one moment the plain was in a frantic commotion and every beast was destroying its neighbor.I knew what it meant—Eve had eaten that fruit，and death was come into the world ……

The tigers ate my horse，paying no attention when I ordered them to desist，and they would even have eaten me if I had stayed—which I didn’t，but went away in much haste.

事实上，她找到我并没有引起我的不快，因为这个地方只有动物采摘之后剩下来的又小又涩的果子，而她却带来了那棵树上的苹果。

我饿极了，不得不吃她带来的这些果子。

这违背了我的原则，但我发现，当食不果腹时，原则是无效力的……

她出现在我面前的时候，身体用枝叶遮掩着。

我问她把这些无用的东西围在腰里是什么意思。

当我扯下那些枝叶的时候，她突然脸红起来，含着羞涩的笑。

我从来没有看见过她脸这样红，笑这样神秘，我觉得这很不体面，傻里傻气的，很怪。她说我很快就会明白这是什么原因。

的确如此。

尽管我还没有吃饱，还很饿，我仍然放下只啃了一半的苹果——这是我在这个季节见过的最大的苹果——捡起刚被我扔掉的枝叶把自己遮起来，然后，命令她多采一些枝叶，别让身体裸露着。

▲从此，我们拥有了一个温暖的家

I found this place，outside the Park，and was fairly comfortable for a few days，but she has found me out.Found me out，and has named the place Tonawanda—says it looks like that.In fact，I was not sorry she came，for there are but meagre pickings here，and she brought some of those apples.I was obliged to eat them，I was so hungry.It was against my principles，but I find that principles have no real force except when one is well fed……

She came curtained in boughs and bunches of leaves，and when I asked her what she meant by such nonsense，and snatched them away and threw them down，she tittered and blushed.

I had never seen a person titter and blush before，and to me it seemed unbecoming and idiotic.She said I would soon know how it was myself.This was correct.Hungry as I was，I laid down the apple half eaten—certainly the best one I ever saw，considering the lateness of the season—and arrayed myself in the discarded boughs and branches，and then spoke to her with some severity and ordered her to go and get some more and not make such a spectacle of herself.She did it，and after this we crept down to where the wild－ beast battle had been，and collected some skins，and I made her patch together a couple of suits proper for public occasions.They are uncomfortable，it is true，but stylish，and that is the main point about clothes ……

她立刻照我的话去做了。

随后，我们悄悄地来到野兽们厮杀过的地方，剥下一些兽皮，她把兽皮做成了两件适合在公共场所穿着的衣服。

确实，尽管这衣服穿起来很不怎么样，但却很好看。这是做衣服必须首先考虑的……

我发现她是一位很好的伴侣。我知道，我现在一无所有，没有她，我会感到孤独、感到沮丧。

她说，从此以后，我们必须靠劳动为生。她将帮我，我将主宰她。

I find she is a good deal of a companion.I see I should be lonesome and depressed without her，now that I have lost my property.Another thing，she says it is ordered that we work for our living hereafter.She will be useful.I will superintend.

▲这倾泻而下的水流，真是美妙了

十天以后

她说这场灾难的原因应该归咎于我！她的神情显然非常严肃认真。

她说那条蛇告诉她，那颗禁果并不是苹果，而是栗子。

我说那不能怪我，因为我从来也没有吃过栗子。

她说那条蛇告诉她，“栗子”是一个比喻，指无聊陈腐的笑话。

我顿时感到脸色变得苍白，因为无聊，我曾讲过很多笑话，尽管我认为我说的那些笑话都很新鲜，但很可能里面夹杂着一些陈腐的。

她问我，那场灾难发生时我是否在讲笑话。我只好承认我当时的确讲了笑话，不过，我只是在自言自语，声音很小。

事情是这样的：当时我正想到瀑布，不禁自言自语道：“这倾泻而下的水流，真是美妙极了！”同时，一个奇妙的念头闪过我的脑海。

我不禁又自语道：“如果这巨流飞向天空，那将更为美妙！”——正当我为这个想法乐不可禁时，世界瞬间陷入战争和死亡之中，我只好赶紧逃命。

▲唉，我真该死

Ten Days Later

She accuses me of being the cause of our disaster！She says，with apparent sincerity and truth，that the Serpent assured her that the forbidden fruit was not apples，it was chestnuts.I said I was innocent，then，for I had not eaten any chestnuts.She said the Serpent informed her that“chestnut”was a figurative term meaning an aged and mouldy joke.I turned pale at that，for I have made many jokes to pass the weary time，and some of them could have been of that sort，though I had honestly supposed that they were new when I made them.She asked me if I had made one just at the time of the catastrophe.I was obliged to admit that I had made one to myself，though not aloud.

“对了，”她得意地说，“就是这样的，那条蛇指的就是这个笑话，堪称世上排行第一的大笑话，无聊之极，与创世纪之说并存。”

唉，我真该死，真不该故作幽默！唉，要是我没有产生那些念头该多好！

It was this.I was thinking about the Falls，and I said to myself，“How wonderful it is to see that vast body of water tumble down there！”Then in an instant a bright thought flashed into my head，and I let it fly，saying，“It would be a deal more wonderful to see it tumble up there ！”—and I was just about to kill myself with laughing at it when all nature broke loose in war and death，and I had to flee for my life.“There，”she said，with triumph，“that is just it；the Serpent mentioned that very jest，and called it the First Chestnut，and said it was coeval with the creation.”Alas，I am indeed to blame.Would that I were not witty；oh，would that I had never had that radiant thought！

▲她是在森林里逮住它的

第二年

我们给这个小东西取名为该隐。她逮住这个小东西时，我正在伊利湖北岸边的野地里设置捕捉野兽的陷阱。她是在森林里逮住它的，离我们的住地大约两英里——也可能有四英里，她不能确定。

这个小东西有点像我们，她认为它是我们的亲戚。但我不这么认为。只要看看体形，它那么小就足以证明它与我们不是同类，而是一种新的动物——也许是另一种鱼。

尽管我把它放进水里，它马上下沉，她冲过来把它从水里捞起，让我失去了一次实验的机会，但我依然感到它是一种鱼。但是她却对它到底是什么东西一点都不在乎，并且绝对禁止我再作任何验明它身份的实验。

我不明白，这是为什么。这个小东西似乎改变了她的天性，使得她对实验丝毫不感兴趣。

现在她的眼里只有这个小东西，她自己也说不清，这是什么原因。

▲这个小东西似乎改变了她的天性

Next Year

We have named it Cain.She caught it while I was up country trapping on the North Shore of the Erie；caught it in the timber a couple of miles from our dug－out—or it might have been four，she isn’t certain which.It resembles us in some ways，and may be a relation.That is what she thinks，but this is an error，in my judgment.The difference in size warrants the conclusion that it is a different and new kind of animal—a fish，perhaps，though when I put it in the water to see，it sank，and she plunged in and snatched it out before there was opportunity for the experiment to determine the matter.I still think it is a fish，but she is indifferent about what it is，and will not let me have it to try.

I do not understand this.The coming of the creature seems to have changed her whole nature and made her unreasonable about experiments.She thinks more of it than she dose of any of the other animals，but is not able to explain why.Her mind is disordered—everything shows it.Sometimes she carries the fish in her arms half the night when it complains and wants to get to the water.At such times the water comes out of the places in her face that she looks out of，and she pats the fish on the back and makes soft sounds with her mouth to soothe it，and betrays sorrow and solicitude in a hundred ways.

我想她有点失去理智——她所有的行为都证明了这一点。有时，当这个小东西不停地哭，想到水里去，而她却把它搂在怀里，一抱就是大半夜。

此时，她那用于观看的两个小孔禁不住地又流下水来，她用手轻轻拍那条鱼的背，嘴里发出温柔的声音安慰它，情不自禁地流露出无限的哀伤和关切。

我从没有见过她如此对待一条鱼，这使我很不安。我也曾见她把幼虎抱在怀里，但那是在我们还没有失去伊甸园时，而且仅仅是同它玩耍；甚至那些幼虎不吃东西的时候，她也没有表现出如此的关切。

I have never seen her do like this with any other fish，and it troubles me greatly.She used to carry the young tigers around so，and play with them，before we lost our property；but it was only play；she never took on about them like this when their dinner disagreed with them.

▲我从没有见过她如此对待一条鱼

星期日

星期天她不再干活了，懒洋洋地躺着，但她却喜欢让那条鱼在她身上打滚，并且发出各种傻乎乎的声音逗它，假装咬它的脚，把那条鱼逗得哈哈地笑。在这以前，我从没有见过鱼还会笑。这使我感到非常地疑惑……

我也逐渐开始喜欢星期天了。一个星期的劳累真使人疲惫。应该多一些星期天。以前我感到星期天难熬，现在我却衷心地期待。

Sunday

She doesn’t work Sundays，but lies around all tired out，and likes to have the fish wallow over her；and she makes fool noises to amuse it，and pretends to chew its paws，and that makes it laugh.I have not seen a fish before that could laugh.This makes me doubt …… I have come to like Sunday myself.Superintending all the week tires a body so.There ought to be more Sundays.In the old days they were tough，but now they come handy.

▲在这以前，我从没有见过鱼还会笑

星期三

那个小东西原来不是鱼。我实在不知道它究竟是什么东西。当它感到不满意的时候，它会发出一种奇怪的尖叫声；当它高兴时，它又会“咕——咕”地叫。但我知道它不是我们的同类，因为它不会走；它也不会是鸟，因为它不会飞；它也不是青蛙，因为它不会跳；它更不是蛇，因为它不会爬；我敢肯定它不会是鱼，尽管我没有机会证明它是否会游泳。它总是仰面躺在那儿，四脚朝天。过去我从没有见过动物这样躺着。我想它应是一个谜；而她只是赞赏我用的这个词，并不理解“谜”是什么意思。我想，如果它不是一个谜，它也不可能是虫子。如果它死了，我将仔细地解剖它，看看它到底是什么。我从没有遇到像它这么棘手的事。

Wednesday

It isn’t a fish.I cannot quite make out what it is.It makes curious，devilish noises when not satisfied，and says“goo－goo”when it is.It is not one of us，for it doesn’t walk；it is not a bird，for it doesn’t fly；it is not a frog，for it doesn’t hop；it is not a snake，for it doesn’t crawl；I feel sure it is not a fish，though I cannot get a chance to find out whether it can swim or not.It merely lies around，and mostly on its back，with its feet up.I have not seen any other animal do that before.I said I believed it was an enigma，but she only admired the word without understanding it.In my judgment it is either an enigma or some kind of a bug.If it dies，I will take it apart and see what its arrangements are.I never had a thing perplex me so.

▲她们只是好奇，想看看我放在陷阱里的奶

三个月之后

我的疑惑不仅没有消除，反而与日俱增。

我几乎失眠。

那个小东西不再整天躺在那里，而是开始尝试着用四肢爬行。但它却不同于其他动物。它的两条前腿特别短，爬的时候身体翘翘的，很不好看。

它长得开始像我们了，但它行走的姿势却同我们不一样，它那短短的前腿和长长的后腿显得它更像袋鼠，很可能是变异的袋鼠，因为真正的袋鼠会跳，这个小东西却没有蹦跳过。

但它依然是一种奇妙、有趣的，从没有被记载过的变异类袋鼠。

由于我的发现，我觉得应该在它的名字后附加上我的名字，以确保这个发现应获得的荣誉属于我。

于是我把它称之为：袋鼠·亚当……

它刚来的时候很小，现在却不停地在长。它现在比原来长大了五倍。它发脾气的声音，可连续发出数十倍的噪音；强行制止它发脾气，反而更增加了它的力度。

▲这个小东西到底是什么

Three Months Later

The perplexity augments instead of diminishing.I sleep but little.It has ceased from lying around，and goes about on its four legs now.Yet it differs from the other four－legged animals in that its front legs are unusually short，consequently this causes the main part of its person to stick up uncomfortably high in the air，and this is not attractive.It is built much as we are，but its method of travelling shows that it is not of our breed.The short front legs and long hind ones indicate that it is of the kangaroo family，but it is a marked variation of the species，since the true kangaroo hops，whereas this one never does.

Still，it is a curious and interesting variety，and has not been catalogued before.As I discovered it，I have felt justified in securing the credit of the discovery by attaching my name to it，and hence have called it Kangaroorum Adamiensis.

It must have been a young one when it came，for it has grown exceedingly since.It must be five times as big，now，as it was then，and when discontented is able to make from twenty－two to thirty－eight times the noise it made at first.Coercion does not modify this，but has the contrary effect.For this reason I discontinued the system.She reconciles it by persuasion，and by giving it things which she had previously told it she wouldn’t give it.As already observed，I was not at home when it first came，and she told me she found it in the woods.It seems odd that it should be the only one，yet it must be SO.

我只好放弃了这种方法。而她总是轻声细语地安慰它，甚至拿来很多玩具哄它。

我已经说过，它来的时候我不在家，她告诉我她是在森林里发现它的。

这有点奇怪，她只找到这一个，它应该有同伴。我找了好几个星期，想找它的同伴，以使它有玩耍的伙伴，使它安静下来，更容易驯养。

然而我却一无所获。我什么也没有发现，甚至连一个脚印也没有。它应该只能生活在地上，这是必定无疑的，那为什么没留下任何痕迹呢？我设置了十二个捕获它们的陷阱，但都没有用。

除过这个小东西，我逮住的都是其他的小动物；我想它们只是好奇，想看看我放在陷阱里的奶究竟是怎么一回事。它们从没有吃过奶。

For I have worn myself out these many weeks trying to find another one to add to my collection，and for this one to play with；for surely then it would be quieter，and we could tame it more easily.But I find none，nor any vestige of any；and strangest of all，no tracks.It has to live on the ground，it cannot help itself；therefore，how does it get about without leaving a track？I have set a dozen traps，but they do no good.I catch all small animals except that one；animals that merely go into the trap out of curiosity，I think，to see what the milk is there for.They never drink it.

▲如果这个小家伙离开我们会更加孤单

又过了三个月

这只袋鼠继续生长，这真令人惊奇。

我从没有见过动物这样长个不停。它的头开始长毛，不是袋鼠毛，却像我们的头发，只不过更细更软，颜色不是黑的，而是红色。

一想到这个小东西无法在动物学中归类，而且变幻不定，令人困惑地成长，我就感到自己要发疯。

我真想再逮一个——这真是妄想。它是一个新品种，而且是唯一的一个，这已经确定无疑。我逮了一只真正的袋鼠，把它带回家。

我想，这个小家伙一定很孤独，我让袋鼠给它作伴，它一定感到亲切，毕竟谁都不愿意孤单，谁都希望有个伴儿。

可是，我又错了——它一看见袋鼠就紧张得不得了，使我相信它从没有见过袋鼠。

这个小东西哇哇地大哭，真可怜！我的怜悯之心顿起，但我没有任何办法让它快乐起来。

▲这个小东西哇哇地大哭，真可怜

Three Months Later

The kangaroo still continues to grow，which is very strange and perplexing.I never knew one to be so long getting its growth.It has fur on its head now；not like kangaroo fur，but exactly like our hair，except that it is much finer and softer，and instead of being black in red.I am like to lose my mind over the capricious and harassing developments of this unclassifiable zoological freak.If I could catch another one ——but that is hopeless；it is a new variety，and the only sample；this is plain.But I caught a true kangaroo and brought it in，thinking that this one，being lonesome，would rather have that for company than have no kin at all，or any animal it could feel a nearness to or get sympathy from in its fofiom condition here among strangers who do not know its ways or habits，or what to do to make it feel that it is among friends.

我多么希望它能安静下来——但却事与愿违；我愈想使它快乐起来，它愈是哭闹。眼睁睁地看着它难过、悲伤，我从心底感到难过。

我想放它走，她却不同意。这似乎有点残酷，不像是她的所为；也许她是对的。

如果这个小家伙离开我们会更加孤单；我们都无法为它找到同伴，它又怎能找得到呢？

But it was a mistake－it went into such fits at the sight of the kangaroo that I was convinced it had never seen one before.I pity the poor noisy little animal，but there is nothing I can do to make it happy.If I could tame it—but that is out of the question；the more I try，the worse I seem to make it.It grieves me to the heart to see it in its little storms of sorrow and passion.I wanted to let it go，but she wouldn’t hear of it.That seemed cruel and not like her；and yet she may be right.It might be lonelier than ever；for since I cannot find another one，how could it？

▲她以前可不是这样的

五个月之后

它不是袋鼠。不是，因为它抓住她的手能站起来了，尽管用后腿走了几步，就摔倒了。

它可能是一种熊，但它却没有尾巴——至少现在还没有——除过头上，它身上没有毛。它还在不停地长——这很奇怪。

如果是熊，它现在应该停止生长了。熊是危险的动物——自从发生了那场灾难之后就成了这个样子——我们不得不给它戴上笼罩以防不测。

我告诉她，如果她肯放掉这只熊，我一定给她捉一只袋鼠。可她不愿意——我看她是疯了，非要把我们置于危险之中。

她以前可不是这样的。

Five Months Later

It is not a kangaroo.No，for it supports itself by holding to her finger，and thus goes a few steps on its hind legs，and then falls down.It is probably some kind of a bear；and yet it has no tail—as yet—and no fur，except on its head.It still keeps on growing—that is a curious circumstance，for bears get their growth earlier than this.Bears are dangerous —since our catastrophe—and I shall not be satisfied to have this one prowling about the place much longer without a muzzle on.I have offered to get her a kangaroo if she would let this one go，but it did no good—she is determined to run us into all sorts of foolish risks，I think.She was not like this before she lost her mind.

▲她以前可不是这样的

两个星期之后

我检查了它的口腔。眼下看来还没有什么危险，它还只长了一颗牙齿，还没有尾巴。

现在它发出的声音更多了——在夜深人静时更为明显。

我晚上只好在外面睡觉，但在早餐时，我一定要检查一下它的牙齿。

我不管它长没长出尾巴，我都要把它赶走，因为熊之危险并不在于它是否长尾巴。

A Fortnight Later

I examined its mouth.There is no danger yet；it has only one tooth.It has no tail yet.It makes more noise now than it ever did before—and mainly at night.I have moved out.But I shall go over，mornings，to breakfast，and to see if it has more teeth.If it gets a mouthful of teeth，it will be time for it to go，tail or no tail，for a bear does not need a tail in order to be dangerous.

▲我一定要检查一下它的牙齿

四个月以后

我出去打猎捕鱼，在被她称之为水牛的地方过了一个月。我不明白她为什么把这个地方取名叫水牛，难道这个地方有水牛？

就在这一个月里，这熊竟会用它的后腿摇摇晃晃地走了。而且会说“爸爸”、“妈妈”了。这肯定是只特种熊。它发出的人声，可能是一种偶然，绝对没有任何意义。

尽管如此，它依然不同寻常，其他的熊是不具备这种本领的。它模仿说话，以及无毛无尾的身体，足以证明它是一种新品种的熊。观察研究它，真是一件有趣的事。

此时，我决定到北方的森林作一次彻底的搜寻。我肯定会找到它的同类。如果它有同伴的话，也许会更安全些。

我需要马上动身，但走之前，我得给它戴上笼罩。

Four Months Later

I have been off hunting and fishing a month，up in the region that she calls Buffalo；I don’t know why，unless it is because there are not any buffaloes there.Meantime the bear has learned to paddle around all by itself on its hind legs，and says“poppa”and“momma.”It is certainly a new species.This resemblance to words may be purely accidental，of course，and may have no purpose or meaning；but even in that case it is still extraordinary，and is a thing which no other bear can do.

This imitation of speech，taken together with general absence of fur and entire absence of tail，sufficiently indicates that this is a new kind of bear.The further study of it will be exceedingly interesting.Meantime I will go off on a far expedition among the forests of the North and make an exhaustive search.There must certainly be another one somewhere，and this one will be less dangerous when it has company of its own species.I will go straightway；but I will muzzle this one first.

▲这次搜寻……一无所获

三个月以后

这次搜寻，一路狂奔，令我精疲力竭，却一无所获。而她在家却一声不响地又逮到了一个它的同类！

我却没有如此好运。

即使我在森林里狩猎百年，也难以抓到它。

Three Months Later

It has been a weary，weary hunt，yet I have had no success.In the mean time，without stirring from the home estate，she has caught another one！

I never saw such luck.

I might have hunted these woods a hundred years，I never should have come across that thing.

▲先来的那一个比现在这个好养多了

第二天

我把新逮的这个小东西与原来的进行比较，它们属于同类，这是毫无疑问的。我准备把其中一个制成标本，以便收藏，而她却找出种种理由加以反对。我只好放弃，尽管我心里很不舒服。如果它们出逃了，那样对科学研究将造成不可估量的损失。先来的那一个比现在这个好养多了，它会笑，而且还会像鹦鹉一样学人说话。无疑，它会学人说话肯定是同鹦鹉生活在一起，才能具备如此强的模仿才能。如果它们是一种新品种的鹦鹉，将会使我大吃一惊，不过我也不必大惊小怪，因为从开始我把它误认作鱼，就已经把它当成我能想到的各种动物了。

新逮住的这一个同先来的那一个刚到时的样子一样丑，肤色蜡黄，头顶无毛，她给它取名叫作亚伯。

Next Day

I have been comparing the new one with the old one，and it is perfectly plain that they are the same breed.I was going to stuff one of them for my collection，but she is prejudiced against it for some reason or other；so I have relinquished the idea，though I think it is a mistake.It would be an irreparable loss to science if they should get away.The old one is tamer than it was，and can laugh and talk like the parrot，having learned this，no doubt，from being with the parrot so much，and having the imitative faculty in a highly developed degree.I shall be astonished if it turns out to be a new kind of parrot，and yet I ought not to be astonished，for it has already been everything else it could think of，since those first days when it was a fish.

The new one is as ugly now as the old one was at first；has the same sulphur－and－raw －meat complexion and the same singular head without any fur on it.She calls it Abel.

▲我情愿与她共同生活在任何地方，而不愿独自返回伊甸园

十年之后

他们是男孩儿，我们很早就明白了。回想他们刚来时，那小小的身子骨，令我们万分谜惑；我们那时从没有见过他们。现在我们还有了几个女孩儿。亚伯是个好孩子，如果该隐能控制住自己暴躁的情绪，那将更好一些。

许多年过去了，我才发现我从一开始就误会了夏娃。如今，我情愿与她一道生活在伊甸园之外，也不愿独自重返伊甸园。

我以前总嫌她太唠叨，如今，如果我的生活里没有了这种声音，我会感到无比悲哀。

感谢那个无聊的笑话，正是它，才使我们生活在一起，使我懂得了她心地的善良和灵魂的高尚。

Ten Years Later

They are boys；we found it out long ago.It was their coming in that small，immature shape that puzzled us；we were not used to it.There are some girls now.Abel is a good boy，but if Cain had stayed a bear it would have improved him.After all these years，I see that I was mistaken about Eve in the beginning；it is better to live outside the Garden with her than inside it without her.At first I thought she talked too much；but now I should be sorry to have that voice fall silent and pass out of my life.Blessed be the chestnut that brought us near together and taught me to know the goodness of her heart and the sweetness of her spirit！

▲如果该隐能控制住自己暴躁的情绪，那将更好一些