《荞麦》，1842 年

the buckwheat, 1842

常常在一场猛烈的雷暴雨过后，一片荞麦地会显得黑乎乎的，像是被烧焦了一样，仿佛有一股火焰从上面掠过。

Very often, after a violent thunder-storm, a field of buckwheat appears blackened and singed, as if a flame of fire had passed over it.

乡下人说这种情形是闪电造成的；但我要给你们讲讲麻雀是怎么说的，而麻雀是从一棵长在荞麦地附近的老柳树那儿听来的，那棵柳树现在还在那儿呢。

the country people say that this appearance is caused by lightning; but I will tell you what the sparrow says, and the sparrow heard it from an old willow-tree which grew near a field of buckwheat, and is there still.

它是一棵高大可敬的树，尽管因为年久有些残缺了。

It is a large venerable tree, though a little crippled by age.

树干已经裂开了，裂缝里长出了草和荆棘。

the trunk has been split, and out of the crevice grass and brambles grow.

树稍微向前弯着，树枝垂下来一直碰到地面，就像绿色的头发一样。

the tree bends for-ward slightly, and the branches hang quite down to the ground just like green hair.

周围的田里种着谷物，不仅有黑麦和大麦，还有燕麦 —— 漂亮的燕麦，成熟的时候，看起来就像许多小金丝雀栖息在树枝上。

corn grows in the surrounding fields, not only rye and barley, but oats,-pretty oats that, when ripe, look like a number of little golden canary-birds sitting on a bough.

谷物们都面带微笑的样子，颗粒最饱满、最丰硕的麦穗都低垂着头，仿佛怀着虔诚的谦卑。

the corn has a smiling look and the heaviest and richest ears bend their heads low as if in pious humility.

从前也有一片荞麦地，这片地正好在那棵老柳树的对面。

once there was also a field of buckwheat, and this field was exactly opposite to old willow-tree.

荞麦不像其他谷物那样低头，而是骄傲而僵硬地把脑袋挺在茎秆上。

the buckwheat did not bend like the other grain, but erected its head proudly and stiffly on the stem.

“我和其他谷物一样有价值，” 它说，“而且我比它们好看多了；我的花就像苹果花的盛开一样美丽，看着我们是一种享受。

“I am as valuable as any other corn,” said he, “and I am much handsomer; my flowers are as beautiful as the bloom of the apple blossom, and it is a pleasure to look at us.

你知道有什么比我们更漂亮的吗，你这棵老柳树？”

do you know of anything prettier than we are, you old willow-tree?”

柳树点了点头，好像在说：“我当然知道。”

And the willow-tree nodded his head, as if he would say, “Indeed I do.”

但是荞麦骄傲地舒展着自己，说道：“这棵笨树；它太老了，身上都长出草来了。”

but the buckwheat spread itself out with pride, and said, “Stupid tree; he is so old that grass grows out of his body.”

一场非常可怕的暴风雨来临了。

there arose a very terrible storm.

所有的野花都把花瓣合拢起来，或者低下它们小小的脑袋，当暴风雨掠过它们时，但是荞麦却骄傲地挺立着。

All the field-flowers folded their leaves together, or bowed their little heads, while the storm passed over them, but the buckwheat stood erect in its pride.

“像我们这样低下头吧。” 花儿们说。

“bend your head as we do,” said the flowers.

“我没必要这样做。” 荞麦回答道。

“I have no occasion to do so,” replied the buckwheat.