第七个故事
SEVENth StoRY
白雪皇后的宫殿以及最终在那里发生的事
oF thE pALAcE oF thE SNow qUEEN ANd whAt hAppENEd thERE At LASt
宫殿的墙壁是由堆积的雪筑成的，门窗是凛冽的寒风。
the walls of the palace were formed of drifted snow, and the windows and doors of the cutting winds.
宫殿里有一百多个房间，全都像是由吹聚在一起的雪建成的。
there were more than a hundred rooms in it, all as if they had been formed with snow blown together.
其中最大的房间绵延数英里；
the largest of them extended for several miles;
它们都被北极光强烈的光照亮，房间又大又空，冰冷刺骨且闪闪发光！这里没有娱乐活动，甚至没有小熊舞会，本来风暴可以当音乐，小熊们可以用后腿跳舞，展示它们的优雅举止。
they were all lighted up by the vivid light of the aurora, and they were so large and empty, so icy cold and glittering! there were no amusements here, not even a little bear’s ball, when the storm might have been the music, and the bears could have danced on their hind legs, and shown their good manners.
这里没有好玩的咬苹果游戏、摸人游戏，甚至年轻的母狐狸们也没有茶余饭后的闲聊。
there were no pleasant games of snap - dragon, or touch, or even a gossip over the tea - table, for the young - lady foxes.
白雪皇后的大厅空旷、巨大又寒冷。
Empty, vast, and cold were the halls of the Snow queen.
不管北极光在天空中升得高还是低，在城堡的每个角落都能清楚地看到它闪烁的火焰。
the flickering flame of the northern lights could be plainly seen, whether they rose high or low in the heavens, from every part of the castle.
在它那空旷无垠的雪之大厅中央有一个结冰的湖，湖面破碎成千万种形状；
In the midst of its empty, endless hall of snow was a frozen lake, broken on its surface into a thousand forms;
每一块都和其他块相似，因为每一块本身就像一件完美的艺术品，当白雪皇后在家时，她就坐在湖中央。
each piece resembled another, from being in itself perfect as a work of art, and in the centre of this lake sat the Snow queen, when she was at home.
她称这个湖为 “理智之镜”，并且说这是世界上最好的，实际上也是唯一的镜子。
She called the lake “the mirror of Reason,” and said that it was the best, and indeed the only one in the world.
小凯冻得浑身青紫，几乎变成黑色了，但他感觉不到；
Little Kay was quite blue with cold, indeed almost black, but he did not feel it;
因为白雪皇后已经吻走了他冰冷的寒颤，他的心已经变成了一块冰。
for the Snow queen had kissed away the icy shiverings, and his heart was already a lump of ice.
他来回拖着一些锋利、扁平的冰块，把它们摆成各种各样的姿势，好像他想用它们做出些什么东西；
he dragged some sharp, flat pieces of ice to and fro, and placed them together in all kinds of positions, as if he wished to make something out of them;
就像我们试图用被我们称为 “中国谜题” 的小木板拼出各种图形一样。
just as we try to form various figures with little tablets of wood which we call “a chinese puzzle.”
凯的手指非常灵巧；
Kay’s fingers were very artistic;
他玩的是冰冷的理智游戏，在他眼里，这些图形非常了不起，而且极其重要；
it was the icy game of reason at which he played, and in his eyes the figures were very remarkable, and of the highest importance;
这种看法是因为那块玻璃还卡在他的眼睛里。
this opinion was owing to the piece of glass still sticking in his eye.
他拼出了许多完整的图形，组成了不同的单词，但有一个单词他怎么也拼不出来，尽管他非常想拼出来。
he posed many plete figures, forming different words, but there was one word he never could manage to form, although he wished it very much.
这个单词就是 “永恒”。
It was the word “Eternity.”
白雪皇后对他说：“当你能找出这个的时候，你就可以做自己的主人了，我会把整个世界和一双新溜冰鞋都给你。”
the Snow queen had said to him, “when you can find out this, you shall be your own master, and I will give you the whole world and a new pair of skates.”
但他做不到。
but he could not acplish it.
“现在我必须赶快到更暖和的国家去，” 白雪皇后说。
“Now I must hasten away to warmer countries,” said the Snow queen.
“我要去看看那些燃烧着的山山顶上的黑色火山口，就是人们所说的埃特纳火山和维苏威火山 —— 我要让它们变白，这对它们有好处，对柠檬和葡萄也有好处。”
“I will go and look into the black craters of the tops of the burning mountains, Etna and Vesuvius, as they are called, — I shall make them look white, which will be good for them, and for the lemons and the grapes.”
然后白雪皇后飞走了，留下小凯独自一人在这个长达数英里的大厅里；
And away flew the Snow queen, leaving little Kay quite alone in the great hall which was so many miles in length;
于是他坐在那里看着他的冰块，陷入了深深的思考，一动不动地坐着，任何人可能都会以为他被冻僵了。
so he sat and looked at his pieces of ice, and was thinking so deeply, and sat so still, that any one might have supposed he was frozen.
就在这个时候，小格尔达穿过城堡的大门进来了。
Just at this moment it happened that little Gerda came through the great door of the castle.
凛冽的寒风在她周围呼啸，但她祈祷了一下，风就平息下来，好像要入睡了；
cutting winds were raging around her, but she offered up a prayer and the winds sank down as if they were going to sleep;
她继续往前走，直到来到这个又大又空的大厅，看到了凯；
and she went on till she came to the large empty hall, and caught sight of Kay;
她立刻就认出了他；
she knew him directly;
她飞奔到他身边，搂住他的脖子，紧紧地抱住他，同时大声喊道：“凯，亲爱的小凯，我终于找到你了。”
she flew to him and threw her arms round his neck, and held him fast, while she exclaimed, “Kay, dear little Kay, I have found you at last.”
但他静静地坐着，僵硬又冰冷。
but he sat quite still, stiff and cold.
然后小格尔达流下了热泪，泪水落在他的胸膛上，渗进他的心里，融化了那块冰，也冲走了卡在那里的小玻璃片。
then little Gerda wept hot tears, which fell on his breast, and penetrated into his heart, and thawed the lump of ice, and washed away the little piece of glass which had stuck there.
然后他看着她，她唱道 ——
then he looked at her, and she sang —
“玫瑰盛开又凋谢，
“Roses bloom and cease to be,
但我们会见到圣婴。”
but we shall the christ - child see.”
然后凯放声大哭，他哭得太厉害了，眼睛里的玻璃碎片都流了出来。
then Kay burst into tears, and he wept so that the splinter of glass swam out of his eye.
然后他认出了格尔达，高兴地说：“格尔达，亲爱的小格尔达，你这段时间都去哪儿了，我又去哪儿了呢？”
then he recognized Gerda, and said, joyfully, “Gerda, dear little Gerda, where have you been all this time, and where have I been?”
他向四周看了看，说：“好冷啊，这里看起来又大又空。” 他紧紧地抱住格尔达，她高兴得又笑又哭。
And he looked all around him, and said, “how cold it is, and how large and empty it all looks,” and he clung to Gerda, and she laughed and wept for joy.
看到他们这样真让人高兴，冰块甚至都欢快地跳动起来；
It was so pleasing to see them that the pieces of ice even danced about;
当他们累了躺下来的时候，冰块们组成了白雪皇后说过的那个单词的字母，在他成为自己的主人、拥有整个世界和一双新溜冰鞋之前他必须找出这个单词。
and when they were tired and went to lie down, they formed themselves into the letters of the word which the Snow queen had said he must find out before he could be his own master, and have the whole world and a pair of new skates.
然后格尔达亲吻他的脸颊，他的脸颊变得红润起来；
then Gerda kissed his cheeks, and they became blooming;
她亲吻他的眼睛，他的眼睛变得像她自己的眼睛一样明亮；
and she kissed his eyes, and they shone like her own;
她亲吻他的手和脚，然后他变得非常健康和快活。
she kissed his hands and his feet, and then he became quite healthy and cheerful.
白雪皇后现在可以随时回家了，因为代表他获得自由的那个单词，用闪闪发光的冰字母写在那里。
the Snow queen might e home now when she pleased, for there stood his certainty of freedom, in the word she wanted, written in shining letters of ice.
然后他们手牵手，走出了巨大的冰宫。
then they took each other by the hand, and went forth from the great palace of ice.
他们说起了奶奶，说起了屋顶上的玫瑰，他们走着走着，风停了，太阳出来了。
they spoke of the grandmother, and of the roses on the roof, and as they went on the winds were at rest, and the sun burst forth.
当他们到达长着红浆果的灌木那里时，驯鹿站在那里等着他们，他还带来了另一头小驯鹿，小驯鹿的乳房胀满了奶，孩子们喝了她温暖的奶，还亲了亲她的嘴。
when they arrived at the bush with red berries, there stood the reindeer waiting for them, and he had brought another young reindeer with him, whose udders were full, and the children drank her warm milk and kissed her on the mouth.
然后他们先带着凯和格尔达到芬兰女人那里，在她那温暖的房间里他们彻底暖和过来了，她还告诉他们回家的路线。
then they carried Kay and Gerda first to the Finland woman, where they warmed themselves thoroughly in the hot room, and she gave them directions about their journey home.
接着他们去了拉普兰女人那里，她给他们做了新衣服，还把他们的雪橇修好了。
Next they went to the Lapland woman, who had made some new clothes for them, and put their sleighs in order.
两头驯鹿都在他们身边奔跑，一直把他们送到这个国家的边界，那里已经长出了第一批嫩绿的叶子。
both the reindeer ran by their side, and followed them as far as the boundaries of the country, where the first green leaves were budding.
在这里他们向两头驯鹿和拉普兰女人告别，大家都说 —— 再见。
And here they took leave of the two reindeer and the Lapland woman, and all said — Farewell.
然后鸟儿开始叽叽喳喳地叫，森林里也长满了嫩绿的新叶；
then the birds began to twitter, and the forest too was full of green young leaves;
从森林里走出一匹漂亮的马，格尔达记得这匹马，因为它就是拉过那辆金色马车的马。
and out of it came a beautiful horse, which Gerda remembered, for it was one which had drawn the golden coach.
一个年轻的女孩骑在马上，头上戴着一顶闪亮的红帽子，腰带上别着手枪。
A young girl was riding upon it, with a shining red cap on her head, and pistols in her belt.
她就是小强盗女孩，她已经厌倦了待在家里；
It was the little robber - maiden, who had got tired of staying at home;
她打算先到北方去，如果不喜欢那里，她就打算到世界的其他地方去试试。
she was going first to the north, and if that did not suit her, she meant to try some other part of the world.
她马上就认出了格尔达，格尔达也记得她：
She knew Gerda directly, and Gerda remembered her:
这是一次欢乐的重逢。
it was a joyful meeting.
“你这样到处闲逛可真是个不错的家伙，” 她对小凯说，“我倒想知道你是否值得有人到世界尽头去找你。”
“You are a fine fellow to go gadding about in this way,” said she to little Kay, “I should like to know whether you deserve that any one should go to the end of the world to find you.”
但是格尔达轻轻拍了拍她的脸颊，问起王子和公主的情况。
but Gerda patted her cheeks, and asked after the prince and princess.
“他们到国外去了，” 强盗女孩说。
“they are gone to foreign countries,” said the robber - girl.
“那只乌鸦呢？”
“And the crow?”
格尔达问。
asked Gerda.
“哦，乌鸦死了，” 她回答说；
“oh, the crow is dead,” she replied;
“他温顺的爱人现在成了寡妇，腿上缠着一小段黑色的毛线。
“his tame sweetheart is now a widow, and wears a bit of black worsted round her leg.
她非常可怜地哀悼着，但这都是些没用的事。
She mourns very pitifully, but it is all stuff.
但是现在告诉我你是怎么把他找回来的。”
but now tell me how you managed to get him back.”
然后格尔达和凯把一切都告诉了她。
then Gerda and Kay told her all about it.
“咔嚓，咔嚓，陷阱！最终一切都很好，” 强盗女孩说。
“Snip, snap, snare! it’s all right at last,” said the robber - girl.
然后她握住他们俩的手，承诺如果她经过这个城镇，一定会来拜访他们。
then she took both their hands, and promised that if ever she should pass through the town, she would call and pay them a visit.
然后她骑马走向广阔的世界。
And then she rode away into the wide world.
但是格尔达和凯手牵手朝家走去；
but Gerda and Kay went hand - in - hand towards home;
他们往前走的时候，春天因为翠绿的草木和美丽的花朵而显得更加可爱。
and as they advanced, spring appeared more lovely with its green verdure and its beautiful flowers.
很快他们就认出了他们居住的大城镇，还有教堂高高的尖顶，当他们进入城镇时，教堂里悦耳的钟声欢快地响着，他们找到了去奶奶家的路。
Very soon they recognized the large town where they lived, and the tall steeples of the churches, in which the sweet bells were ringing a merry peal as they entered it, and found their way to their grandmother’s door.
他们上楼走进那个小房间，房间里的一切看起来都和以前一样。
they went upstairs into the little room, where all looked just as it used to do.
老钟滴答滴答地走着，指针指向当时的时刻，但是当他们穿过房门进入房间时，他们发觉自己都已经长大成人了。
the old clock was going “tick, tick,” and the hands pointed to the time of day, but as they passed through the door into the room they perceived that they were both grown up, and bee a man and woman.
屋顶上的玫瑰盛开着，从窗户往里窥探；
the roses out on the roof were in full bloom, and peeped in at the window;
那儿放着小椅子，他们小时候就坐在这些椅子上；
and there stood the little chairs, on which they had sat when children;
凯和格尔达各自坐在自己的椅子上，手牵着手，白雪皇后宫殿那寒冷空旷的壮丽景象就像一场痛苦的梦一样从他们的记忆中消失了。
and Kay and Gerda seated themselves each on their own chair, and held each other by the hand, while the cold empty grandeur of the Snow queen’s palace vanished from their memories like a painful dream.
奶奶坐在上帝明亮的阳光下，她大声朗读着《圣经》：“你们若不回转，变成小孩子的样式，断不得进天国。”
the grandmother sat in God’s bright sunshine, and she read aloud from the bible, “Except ye bee as little children, ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of God.”
凯和格尔达凝视着彼此的眼睛，突然理解了那首古老歌曲的歌词：
And Kay and Gerda looked into each other’s eyes, and all at once understood the words of the old song,
“玫瑰盛开又凋谢，
“Roses bloom and cease to be,
但我们会见到圣婴。”
but we shall the christ - child see.”
他们俩都坐在那里，已经长大成人，但内心仍是孩子；
And they both sat there, grown up, yet children at heart;
此时是夏天 —— 温暖、美丽的夏天。
and it was summer, — warm, beautiful summer.