《最后的珍珠》，1854 年

the Last pearl, 1854

我们身处一座富有且幸福的宅邸，宅邸里的主人、仆人们以及这家人的朋友们都满心欢喜。

we are in a rich, happy house, where the master, the servants, the friends of the family are full of joy and felicity.

因为就在这一天，一个儿子、家族的继承人诞生了，母亲和孩子都状况良好。

For on this day a son and heir has been born, and mother and child are doing well.

卧室里的灯被部分遮挡住了，窗户上挂着用某种昂贵丝绸材质制成的厚重窗帘。

the lamp in the bed-chamber had been partly shaded, and the windows were covered with heavy curtains of some costly silken material.

地毯又厚又软，就像一层苔藓铺就的。

the carpet was thick and soft, like a covering of moss.

一切都引人入眠，一切都呈现出迷人的静谧模样；保姆也发现了这点，因为她睡着了；她确实可以安然入睡，毕竟她周围的一切都彰显着幸福与福泽。

Everything invited to slumber, everything had a charming look of repose; and so the nurse had discovered, for she slept; and well she might sleep, while everything around her told of happiness and blessing.

宅邸的守护天使倚靠在床头；而在孩子上方，仿佛展开了一张由闪亮星星交织而成的网，每颗星星都是一颗幸福的珍珠。

the guardian angel of the house leaned against the head of the bed; while over the child was spread, as it were, a net of shining stars, and each star was a pearl of happiness.

生命中所有美好的星辰都已为这个新生儿带来了它们的礼物；这里闪耀着健康、财富、好运和爱情；简而言之，似乎人间人们所能期盼的一切都应有尽有了。

All the good stars of life had brought their gifts to the newly born; here sparkled health, wealth, fortune, and love; in short, there seemed to be everything for which man could wish on earth.

“这里应有尽有了。” 守护天使说道。

“Everything has been bestowed here,” said the guardian angel.

“不，并非一切。” 他身旁一个声音说道 —— 那是孩子的守护天使的声音；“有一位仙女还没有送来她的礼物，但她会的，即便要过好些年，她也会送来她的礼物；缺的就是最后这颗珍珠。”

“No, not everything,” said a voice near him — the voice of the good angel of the child; “one fairy has not yet brought her gift, but she will, even if years should elapse, she will bring her gift; it is the last pearl that is wanting.”

“缺了！” 守护天使叫道；“这里可不能缺任何东西；要是真缺了，那我们去取来；我们去找那位强大的仙女；我们去找她吧。”

“wanting!” cried the guardian angel; “nothing must be wanting here; and if it is such, let us fetch it; let us seek the powerful fairy; let us go to her.”

“她会来的，总有一天她会不请自来！”

“She will e, she will e some day unsought!”

“她的珍珠可不能缺失；它必须在那儿，这样皇冠戴起来的时候才会完整无缺。她在哪儿能被找到呢？她住在哪儿？” 守护天使说道。

“her pearl must not be missing; it must be there, that the crown, when worn, may be plete. where is she to be found? where does she dwell?” said the guardian angel.

“告诉我，我会去取来这颗珍珠。”

“tell me, and I will procure the pearl.”

“你愿意这么做吗？” 孩子的守护天使回应道。

“will you do that?” replied the good angel of the child.

“那我这就直接带你去找她，不管她在哪儿。她没有固定的居所；她在皇宫里施威，有时也会走进贫苦农民的简陋小屋；她所到之处都会留下踪迹。她随身带着礼物，不管是一个世界还是一件小玩意儿。她必须到这个孩子这儿来。你觉得等待她到来的时间会很漫长且毫无意义。好吧，那我们就去取这颗珍珠 —— 在这所有的财富当中唯一缺失的那颗。”

“then I will lead you to her directly, wherever she may be. She has no abiding place; she rules in the palace of the emperor, sometimes she enters the peasant’s humble cot; she passes no one without leaving a trace of her presence. She brings her gift with her, whether it is a world or a bauble. to this child she must e. You think that to wait for this time would be long and useless. well, then, let us go for this pearl — the only one lacking amidst all this wealth.”

然后他们手牵手飘向了仙女此刻正在逗留的地方。

then hand-in-hand they floated away to the spot where the fairy was now lingering.

那是在一座有着昏暗窗户和空房间的大房子里，里面弥漫着一种奇特的寂静。

It was in a large house with dark windows and empty rooms, in which a peculiar stillness reigned.

一整排窗户都敞开着，这样凛冽的风可以随意吹入，长长的白色窗帘在气流中来回飘动。

A whole row of windows stood open, so that the rude wind could enter at its pleasure, and the long white curtains waved to and fro in the current of air.

在其中一个房间的中央摆放着一口敞开的棺材，里面躺着一个女人的尸体，她正值青春年华，非常美丽。

In the centre of one of the rooms stood an open coffin, in which lay the body of a woman, still in the bloom of youth and very beautiful.

新鲜的玫瑰花瓣撒在她身上。