the matches now lay between a tinder-box and an old iron saucepan, and were talking about their youthful days.
‘啊！那时我们长在绿色的树枝上，和树枝一样绿；每天早晚我们都被钻石般的露珠滋养着。每当太阳照耀时，我们感受到它温暖的光芒，小鸟们唱歌的时候会给我们讲故事。我们知道我们很富有，因为其他的树只有在夏天才穿上绿色的衣服，而我们家族在夏天和冬天都能披上绿色。但是伐木工人来了，就像一场大革命，我们家族倒在了斧头之下。家族的首领在一艘非常漂亮的船上谋得了主桅杆的职位，只要他愿意，就可以环游世界。家族的其他分支被带到了不同的地方，而我们现在的职责是为普通人点燃一盏灯。我们这些出身高贵的人就是这样来到了一个厨房里。’
‘Ah! then we grew on the green boughs, and were as green as they; every morning and evening we were fed with diamond drops of dew. whenever the sun shone, we felt his warm rays, and the little birds would relate stories to us as they sung. we knew that we were rich, for the other trees only wore their green dress in summer, but our family were able to array themselves in green, summer and winter. but the wood-cutter came, like a great revolution, and our family fell under the axe. the head of the house obtained a situation as mainmast in a very fine ship, and can sail round the world when he will. the other branches of the family were taken to different places, and our office now is to kindle a light for mon people. this is how such high-born people as we came to be in a kitchen.’
“‘我的命运则完全不同，’站在火柴旁边的铁锅说，‘从我第一次来到这个世界，我就一直被用来做饭和擦洗。当需要任何坚固或有用的东西时，我在这个家里总是第一个被想到的。
“‘mine has been a very different fate,’ said the iron pot, which stood by the matches; ‘from my first entrance into the world I have been used to cooking and scouring. I am the first in this house, when anything solid or useful is required.
“我唯一的乐趣就是在晚饭后被擦得干干净净、闪闪发光，然后坐在我的位置上和我的邻居们进行一些明智的交谈。
my only pleasure is to be made clean and shining after dinner, and to sit in my place and have a little sensible conversation with my neighbors.
我们所有人，除了有时被拿到院子里的水桶，都一起生活在这四面墙内。
All of us, excepting the water-bucket, which is sometimes taken into the courtyard, live here together within these four walls.
我们从菜篮子那里得到消息，但他有时会告诉我们一些关于人和政府的非常不愉快的事情。
we get our news from the market-basket, but he sometimes tells us very unpleasant things about the people and the government.
是的，有一天，一个旧罐子非常惊慌，以至于他掉下来摔成了碎片。他是一个自由主义者，我可以告诉你。
Yes, and one day an old pot was so alarmed, that he fell down and was broken to pieces. he was a liberal, I can tell you.’
“‘你说得太多了，’火绒盒说，钢片撞击着燧石，直到一些火花飞溅出来，喊道，‘我们想要一个愉快的夜晚，不是吗？’
“‘You are talking too much,’ said the tinder-box, and the steel struck against the flint till some sparks flew out, crying, ‘we want a merry evening, don’t we?’
“‘是的，当然，’火柴说，‘让我们谈论那些出身最高贵的人。’
“‘Yes, of course,’ said the matches, ‘let us talk about those who are the highest born.’
“‘不，我不喜欢总是谈论我们自己是什么，’平底锅说，‘让我们想一些其他的娱乐方式；我先来。我们来讲一些发生在我们自己身上的事情；那会很容易，也会很有趣。在波罗的海，靠近丹麦海岸 ——’
“‘No, I don’t like to be always talking of what we are,’ remarked the saucepan; ‘let us think of some other amusement; I will begin. we will tell something that has happened to ourselves; that will be very easy, and interesting as well. on the baltic Sea, near the danish shore’ —
“‘多么漂亮的开头！’盘子们说，‘我确定我们都会喜欢那个故事。’
“‘what a pretty mencement!’ said the plates; ‘we shall all like that story, I am sure.’
“‘是的；嗯，在我年轻的时候，我生活在一个安静的家庭里，那里的家具被擦得光亮，地板被擦洗干净，每两周就会挂上干净的窗帘。’
“‘Yes; well in my youth, I lived in a quiet family, where the furniture was polished, the floors scoured, and clean curtains put up every fortnight.’
“‘你讲故事的方式真有趣，’扫帚说，‘很容易看出你经常在女人的圈子里，你说的话里有一种如此纯洁的东西。’
“‘what an interesting way you have of relating a story,’ said the carpet-broom; ‘it is easy to perceive that you have been a great deal in women’s society, there is something so pure runs through what you say.’
“‘这是千真万确的，’水桶说；他高兴地跳了一下，把一些水溅到了地板上。
“‘that is quite true,’ said the water-bucket; and he made a spring with joy, and splashed some water on the floor.
“然后平底锅继续讲他的故事，结尾和开头一样精彩。
“then the saucepan went on with his story, and the end was as good as the beginning.
“盘子们高兴得嘎嘎作响，扫帚从灰尘洞里拿出一些绿欧芹，给平底锅戴上了花环，因为他知道这会惹恼其他人；他想，‘如果我今天给他戴上花环，他明天就会给我戴上。’
“the plates rattled with pleasure, and the carpet-broom brought some green parsley out of the dust-hole and crowned the saucepan, for he knew it would vex the others; and he thought, ‘If I crown him to-day he will crown me to-morrow.’
“‘现在，让我们跳舞吧，’火钳说；然后他们跳了起来，把一条腿高高地举在空中。角落里的椅垫看到这一幕时哈哈大笑起来。
“‘Now, let us have a dance,’ said the fire-tongs; and then how they danced and stuck up one leg in the air. the chair-cushion in the corner burst with laughter when she saw it.
“‘现在我该被加冕了吧？’火钳问道；于是扫帚又给火钳找了一个花环。
“‘Shall I be crowned now?’ asked the fire-tongs; so the broom found another wreath for the tongs.
“‘他们终究只是普通人，’火柴想。
“‘they were only mon people after all,’ thought the matches.
“现在他们请茶壶唱歌，但她说她感冒了，没有滚烫的热度就唱不了。他们都认为这是装腔作势，因为她只愿意在客厅里，当和大人物们一起在桌子上时才唱歌。
“the tea-urn was now asked to sing, but she said she had a cold, and could not sing without boiling heat. they all thought this was affectation, and because she did not wish to sing excepting in the parlor, when on the table with the grand people.
“在窗户上坐着一支旧羽毛笔，女仆通常用它来写字。这支笔没有什么特别之处，只是蘸墨水蘸得太深了，但它却为此感到骄傲。
“In the window sat an old quill-pen, with which the maid generally wrote. there was nothing remarkable about the pen, excepting that it had been dipped too deeply in the ink, but it was proud of that.
“‘如果茶壶不唱歌，’羽毛笔说，‘那她就别唱了；笼子里有一只夜莺会唱歌；当然，她没学多少东西，但今晚我们不必对此说什么。’
“‘If the tea-urn won’t sing,’ said the pen, ‘she can leave it alone; there is a nightingale in a cage who can sing; she has not been taught much, certainly, but we need not say anything this evening about that.’
“‘我认为在这里听一只富有的外国鸟唱歌是非常不合适的。这是爱国的表现吗？让菜篮子来决定什么是对的。’茶壶说，他是厨房歌手，也是茶壶的同父异母兄弟。
“‘I think it highly improper,’ said the tea-kettle, who was kitchen singer, and half-brother to the tea-urn, ‘that a rich foreign bird should be listened to here. Is it patriotic? Let the market-basket decide what is right.’
“‘我当然很生气，’篮子说，‘内心的愤怒比任何人能想象的都要强烈。我们这样度过晚上合适吗？把房子整理好不是更明智吗？如果每个人都在自己的位置上，我会带头玩个游戏；那就完全是另一回事了。’
“‘I certainly am vexed,’ said the basket; ‘inwardly vexed, more than any one can imagine. Are we spending the evening properly? would it not be more sensible to put the house in order? If each were in his own place I would lead a game; this would be quite another thing.’
“‘我们演一出戏吧，’他们都说。就在这时，门开了，女仆走了进来。然后没有一个人动；他们都一动不动；然而，与此同时，他们中间没有一个罐子不对自己评价很高，并且认为如果自己愿意，就能做很多事情。
“‘Let us act a play,’ said they all. At the same moment the door opened, and the maid came in. then not one stirred; they all remained quite still; yet, at the same time, there was not a single pot amongst them who had not a high opinion of himself, and of what he could do if he chose.
“‘是的，如果我们选择了，’他们每个人都想，‘我们本可以度过一个非常愉快的晚上。’
“‘Yes, if we had chosen,’ they each thought, ‘we might have spent a very pleasant evening.’
女仆拿起火柴点燃了它们；哎呀，它们噼里啪啦地燃烧起来！
the maid took the matches and lighted them; dear me, how they sputtered and blazed up!
“‘现在，’他们想，‘每个人都会看到我们是最重要的。我们多么闪亮；我们发出多么明亮的光！’就在他们这么想的时候，他们的光熄灭了。
“‘Now then,’ they thought, ‘every one will see that we are the first. how we shine; what a light we give!’ Even while they spoke their light went out.
“多么精彩的故事啊，” 王后说，“我感觉自己真的在厨房里，能看到那些火柴；是的，你可以娶我们的女儿。”
“what a capital story,” said the queen, “I feel as if I were really in the kitchen, and could see the matches; yes, you shall marry our daughter.”
“当然，” 国王说，“你可以娶我们的女儿。”
“certainly,” said the king, “thou shalt have our daughter.”
国王对他用 “你” 相称，因为他即将成为王室的一员。
the king said thou to him because he was going to be one of the family.
婚礼的日子定了下来，在前一天晚上，整个城市灯火辉煌。
the wedding-day was fixed, and, on the evening before, the whole city was illuminated.
蛋糕和糖果被扔向人群。
cakes and sweetmeats were thrown among the people.
街头的男孩们踮起脚尖欢呼 “万岁”，并用手指吹口哨；总之，这是一件非常壮观的事情。
the street boys stood on tiptoe and shouted “hurrah,” and whistled between their fingers; altogether it was a very splendid affair.
“我要再给他们一个惊喜。” 商人的儿子说。
“I will give them another treat,” said the merchant’s son.
于是他去买了火箭、鞭炮和各种能想到的烟花，把它们装在箱子里，然后坐着箱子飞到空中。
So he went and bought rockets and crackers, and all sorts of fire-works that could be thought of, packed them in his trunk, and flew up with it into the air.
烟花燃放时发出多么嗖嗖和噼里啪啦的声音啊！土耳其人看到空中的这番景象，跳得那么高，以至于他们的拖鞋都飞到了耳朵边。
what a whizzing and popping they made as they went off! the turks, when they saw such a sight in the air, jumped so high that their slippers flew about their ears.
在这之后，很容易让人相信公主真的要嫁给一个土耳其天使了。
It was easy to believe after this that the princess was really going to marry a turkish angel.
烟花放完后，商人的儿子坐着会飞的箱子回到树林里，他想：“我现在要回城里去，听听他们对这场娱乐活动有什么看法。”
As soon as the merchant’s son had e down in his flying trunk to the wood after the fireworks, he thought, “I will go back into the town now, and hear what they think of the entertainment.”
他想知道这是很自然的事情。
It was very natural that he should wish to know.
人们确实说了很多奇怪的事情！他询问的每一个人都有不同的说法，尽管他们都觉得非常美丽。
And what strange things people did say, to be sure! every one whom he questioned had a different tale to tell, though they all thought it very beautiful.
“‘我自己看到了那个土耳其天使，’一个人说，‘他的眼睛像闪烁的星星，头像翻腾的水。’
“‘I saw the turkish angel myself,” said one; “he had eyes like glittering stars, and a head like foaming water.”
“‘他披着一件火焰披风飞来，’另一个人喊道，‘可爱的小天使从褶皱中探出头来。’
“he flew in a mantle of fire,” cried another, “and lovely little cherubs peeped out from the folds.”
他听到了更多关于自己的赞美之词，并且得知第二天他就要结婚了。
he heard many more fine things about himself, and that the next day he was to be married.
在此之后，他回到森林，在他的箱子里休息。
After this he went back to the forest to rest himself in his trunk.
箱子不见了！残留的烟花火花把它点着了；它被烧成了灰烬！所以商人的儿子再也不能飞了，也不能去见他的新娘。
It had disappeared! A spark from the fireworks which remained had set it on fire; it was burnt to ashes! So the merchant’s son could not fly any more, nor go to meet his bride.
她整天站在屋顶上等着他，很可能她现在还在那里等着；而他则在世界上游荡，讲着童话故事，但没有一个像他讲的关于火柴的那个故事那么有趣。
She stood all day on the roof waiting for him, and most likely she is waiting there still; while he wanders through the world telling fairy tales, but none of them so amusing as the one he related about the matches.