《最不可思议的事》，1870 年
the most Incredible thing, 1870
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首先发表于美国的《河滨青少年杂志》，《最惊人的事》被安徒生认为是他最好的故事之一。
First published in the United States in the Riverside magazine for Young people, “the most Astonishing thing” was considered by Andersen to be one of his best stories.
这是他晚年所写的一个故事，对于一本儿童杂志来说它不太合适，因为在这个故事里安徒生总结了艺术的精髓。
A tale written near the end of his life, it is an unlikely candidate for a children’s magazine, for in it Andersen summed up the essence of art.
作为 “最惊人的事” 的时钟代表了暂时性和超越性。
the clock that serves as “the most astonishing thing” represents both temporality and transcendence.
它计时，但它也是一件艺术品，不惧毁坏，即使被砸成碎片也能复活。
It keeps time, but it is also an objet d’art that resists destruction, ing back to life even after it has been smashed to bits.
它包含了圣经元素和神话元素、季节和感官、视觉和听觉、肉体和精神。
It houses the biblical and the mythical, the seasons and the senses, the visual and the acoustical, the carnal and the spiritual.
安徒生在艺术中所期望的一切都包含在那个令所有人惊叹的非凡时钟里。
Everything that Andersen wanted in art is housed in that extraordinary clock that astonishes everyone.
对安徒生来说，令人惊叹的艺术可不是小事。
the art of astonishment was no small matter to Andersen.
值得一提的是，这个故事中举办的比赛的获胜者是一个创造出一个物体的人，这个物体之所以令人震惊正是因为它呈现出生命的表象。
It is telling that the winner of the contest staged in this story is a man who creates an object that shocks precisely because it provides the semblance of life.
这个谦逊的工匠制作的时钟不仅仅是一个机械物件 —— 它充满生命活力并且抓住了所有看到它的人的想象力。
the modest craftsman makes a clock that is more than a mechanical thing—it pulses with life and captures the imagination of all who see it.
他制作的作品将世俗与神圣、异教与基督教融合在一起：它把先知和智者、僧侣和缪斯聚集在一起。
the work he produces mingles the secular with the sacred and the pagan with the christian: it brings together prophets and wise men, monks and muses.
最重要的是，它成为了第二次创造，一个有自己生命甚至某种程度上不朽的作品。
Above all, it bees a second creation, a work with a life of its own and even a degree of immortality.
时钟以及里面的人物，就像安徒生同名故事中的普绪克雕像一样，不惧毁灭，以人类无法做到的方式长存。在这里，如同在其他故事中一样，美超越了腐朽与毁灭。
the clock and the figures in it, like the statue of psyche in Andersen’s story of that name, defy destruction and live on in a way that humans cannot. here, as in other tales, beauty transcends decay and destruction.
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任何人只要能做出最不可思议的事，就能娶到公主并得到半个王国。
whosoever could do the most incredible thing was to have the King’s daughter and half of his kingdom.
年轻人，是的，还有老年人，都绞尽脑汁、竭尽全力想要获胜。
the young men, yes, and the old ones too, bent their heads, their muscles, and their hearts upon winning.
为了做出他们认为最不可思议的事，两个人把自己撑死了，还有一个人酗酒而死。
to do what they thought was the most incredible thing, two ate themselves to death, and one died of overdrinking.
甚至街上的男孩们都练习往自己背上吐痰，他们认为这是任何人能做的最不可思议的事。
Even the boys in the street practiced spitting on their own backs, which they supposed was the most incredible thing anyone could do.
在某一天，要举办一场最不可思议事物的展览，每个人都展示自己最棒的作品。评委被选定了，从三岁的孩子到九十岁的老人都有。
on a certain day there was to be an exhibition of things most incredible and everyone showed his best work. Judges were appointed, ranging from children of three to old men of ninety.
这是一场非凡事物的盛大展览，但每个人都立刻一致认为最不可思议的是一个大厅时钟 —— 一个从内到外都不同寻常的奇妙装置。
It was a grand exposition of things out of the ordinary, but everybody promptly agreed that most incredible of all was a great hall clock - an extraordinary contraption, outside and in.
当时钟敲响时，栩栩如生的人物就会出来报时。
when the clock struck, out came lifelike figures to tell the hour.
这些活动人偶有十二场不同的表演，有说有唱。人们说以前从未见过如此不可思议的东西。
there were twelve separate performances of these moving figures, with speaking and singing. people said that nothing so incredible had ever before been seen.
时钟敲响一下，摩西站在山上，正在石板上书写第一条伟大的戒律：“只有一位真神。” 时钟敲响两下，亚当和夏娃出现了，就像他们最初在伊甸园相遇时一样。
the clock struck one, and there stood moses on the mountain, writing in the tablets of the law the first great mandment: “there is only one true God.” the clock struck two, and there were Adam and Eve, just as they first met in the Garden of Eden.
哪有两个人如此幸运呢！他们连个衣柜都没有，而且也不需要。时钟敲响三下时，三位圣君出现了。
were ever two people so lucky! they didn’t own so much as a clothes - closet, and they didn’t need one. At the stroke of three the three holy Kings appeared.
其中一位黑得像煤炭，但他也没办法。是太阳把他晒黑的。
one was as black as a coal, but he couldn’t help that. the sun had blackened him.
这些君王带来了香料和珍贵的礼物。当钟声敲响四下时，四季依次出现。
these kings brought incense and precious gifts. when the stroke of four sounded, the seasons advanced in their order.
春天拿着一根发芽的山毛榉树枝，树枝上有一只布谷鸟在歌唱。
Spring carried a budding bough of beech, on which a cuckoo sang.
夏天的标志是一只站在成熟麦穗上的蚱蜢。秋天只有一个空的鹳巢，因为鸟儿都飞走了。
Summer had for her sign a grasshopper on a ripening ear of wheat. Autumn had only an empty stork’s nest, for the birds had flown away.
冬天温顺的乌鸦栖息在火炉的角落，讲述着往昔的古老故事。
winter’s tame crow perched on the corner of the stove, and told old tales of bygone days.
五点钟的时候，五官列队走过。视觉由一个制作眼镜的人代表。听觉是一个喧闹的铜匠。
At five o’clock there was a procession of the five senses. Sight was represented by a man who made spectacles. hearing was a noisy coppersmith.
嗅觉是一个卖紫罗兰的卖花女。味觉打扮成厨师的模样。触觉是一个哀悼者，黑纱一直垂到脚跟。
Smell was a flower girl with violets for sale. taste came dressed as a cook. Feeling was a mourner, with crape down to his heels.
时钟敲响六下时，有一个赌徒坐在那里，掷出最大的点数，结果骰子朝上的面都是六点。
As the clock struck six, there sat a gambler, throwing dice for the highest cast of all, and they fell with the sixes up.
然后是一周的七天出现了，或者也可能是七宗罪。
then came the seven days of the week, or they might be the seven deadly sins.
人们无法确定它们到底是什么，因为它们不容易区分。接着来了一群僧侣唱诗班，来唱八点钟的晚祷歌。
people could not be sure which they were, for they were not easy to distinguish. Next came a choir of monks, to sing the eight o’clock evensong.
时钟敲响九下时，九位缪斯女神出现了。一位是天文学家，一位记录历史典籍，其他的与戏剧有关。
At the stroke of nine, the nine muses appeared. one was an astronomer, one kept the books of history, and the others were connected with the theater.
十点钟敲响了，摩西再次出现，这次他带着刻有上帝全部十条戒律的石板。
ten o’clock struck, and moses came forth again, this time with the tables in which were written all ten of God’s mandments.
当钟声再次敲响时，男孩和女孩们跳舞出来了。他们玩耍并唱着这首歌：
when the clock struck again, boys and girls danced out. they played and sang this song:
“一路通往天堂，时钟敲响了十一下。”
“All the way to heaven, the clock struck eleven.”
然后时钟就敲响了十一下。接着是十二点的钟声敲响。
And eleven it struck. then came the stroke of twelve.
值夜人走了出来，戴着帽子，拿着启明星 —— 那是一根顶端带刺的警棍。
out marched the night watchman, wearing his cap and carrying his morning star - which is a truncheon tipped with spikes.
他唱起了古老的守夜歌：
he sang the old watch song:
“就在午夜时分，我们的救世主诞生了 ——”
“’twas at the midnight hour, our Savior he was born - ”
当他唱歌时，他周围的玫瑰展开变成了天使的头颅，有着彩虹色的翅膀。
and as he sang the roses about him unfolded into the heads of angels, with rainbow - tinted wings.
听起来很美妙。看起来很迷人。
It was good to hear. It was charming to see.
这整件东西都是一件工艺非凡的作品，每个人都认为这是最不可思议的东西。
the whole thing was a work of extraordinary craftsmanship, and everyone agreed that it was the most incredible thing.
制作它的艺术家年轻、慷慨、真诚，是一个真正的朋友，对他贫穷的父母帮助很大。
the artist who had made it was young, generous, and sincere, a true friend, and a great help to his poor father and mother.
他完全配得上公主和半个王国。
he was altogether worthy of the princess and of half the kingdom.
在他们要宣布谁获胜的那天，整个城镇都装饰一新。公主坐在她的宝座上。
on the day that they were to proclaim who had won, the whole town was bedecked and be - draped. the princess sat on her throne.
为了这个场合它刚刚被塞满马毛，但坐起来仍然远谈不上舒适或惬意。评委们会意地朝他们选中的那个人使眼色，那个人站在那里是那么高兴和自豪。
It had been newly stuffed with horsehair for the occasion, but it was still far from fortable or pleasant. the judges winked knowingly at the man they had chosen, who stood there so happy and proud.
他的好运来了，因为他不是已经做出了最不可思议的事吗！
his fortune was made, for had he not done the most incredible thing!
“不！” 一个高大、瘦削、强壮的家伙大声嚷道。“让我来，我才是能做出最不可思议之事的人。” 然后他朝着工匠的时钟抡起了斧头。噼啪，哗啦，粉碎！
“No!” a tall, bony, powerful fellow bawled out. “Leave it to me, I am the man to do the most incredible thing,” and then he swung his ax at the craftsman’s clock. crack, crash, smash!
整个时钟就躺在那儿了。这儿滚着轮子，那儿飞着游丝。
there lay the whole thing. here rolled the wheels, and there flew the hairsprings.
它被毁坏了。“是我干的，” 这个粗人说。“我的作品胜过了他的，一下子就把你们都镇住了。我做出了最不可思议的事。”
It was wrecked and ruined. “I did that,” said the lout. “my work beat his, and bowled you over, all in one stroke. I have done the most incredible thing.”
“毁掉这样一件艺术品！” 评委们说。“哎呀，这是我们见过的最不可思议的事。” 人们也这么说。于是他被授予公主和半个王国，因为法律就是法律，即使它碰巧是一条最不可思议的法律。
“to destroy such a work of art!” said the judges. “why it’s the most incredible thing we’ve ever seen.” And the people said so too. So he was awarded the princess and half the kingdom, because a law is a law, even if it happens to be a most incredible one.
他们在城墙上和城楼里吹响喇叭，宣布：“婚礼现在举行。” 公主对此并不是特别高兴，但她看起来很漂亮，穿着她最昂贵的衣服。
they blew trumpets from the ramparts and the city towers, and they announced, “the wedding will now take place.” the princess was not especially happy about it, but she looked pretty and she wore her most expensive clothes.
傍晚时分，教堂在烛光下呈现出最美的样子。宫廷贵妇们列队歌唱，护送新娘。贵族们唱歌，陪伴新郎。
the church was at its best by candle - light, late in the evening. the ladies of the court sang in processions, and escorted the bride. the lords sung, and acpanied the groom.
从他趾高气扬、大摇大摆的样子来看，你会觉得没有什么能让他折服。
From the way he strutted and swaggered along, you’d think that nothing could ever bowl him over.
然后歌声停止了。静得在街上掉根针都能听见。
then the singing stopped. It was so still that you could have heard a pin fall in the street.
但安静的时间并不长。哐当！哐当！大教堂的大门猛地打开，轰！轰！时钟的所有部件沿着教堂的过道行进过来，在新娘和新郎之间停住了。
but it was not quiet for long. crash! crash! the great church doors flew open, and boom! boom! all the works of the clock came marching down the church aisle and halted between the bride and the groom.
死人不能在世间行走。这是真的，但一件艺术品不会消亡。它的外形可能被打碎，但艺术的精神不会被摧毁。艺术的精神开了个玩笑，但这可不是闹着玩的。
dead men cannot walk the earth. that’s true, but a work of art does not die. Its shape may be shattered, but the spirit of art cannot be broken. the spirit of art jested, and that was no joke.
从外表看，它就站在那里，仿佛完好无损，从未被毁坏过。时钟一下接一下地敲响，从一点敲到十二点，所有的人物都涌了出来。
. to all appearances it stood there as if it were whole, and had never been wrecked. the clock struck one hour right after another, from one to twelve, and all the figures poured forth.
首先是摩西出现了，他光芒四射，仿佛明亮的火焰从他的额头喷出。他把沉重的律法石板扔在新郎的脚下，并把它们绑在教堂的地板上。
First moses came, shining as if bright flames issued from his forehead. he cast the heavy stone tablets of the law at the bridegroom’s feet, and tied them to the church floor.
“我再也举不起来了，” 摩西说，“因为你弄断了我的手臂。站在原地别动！”
“I cannot lift them again,” said moses, “for you have broken my arms. Stand where you are!”
然后亚当和夏娃、东方的三位智者和四季都来了。每个人都对他说出了不愉快的真相。“你真可耻！” 但他并不感到羞耻。
then came Adam and Eve, the three wise men of the East, and the four Seasons. Each told him the disagreeable truth. “Shame on you!” but he was not ashamed.
所有整点的人物都从时钟里走了出来，他们变得无比巨大。活人几乎都没地方站了。
All the figures of all the hours marched out of the clock, and they grew wondrous big. there was scarcely room for the living people.
当十二点的钟声敲响时，守夜人大步走了出来，戴着他的帽子，拿着他那带许多尖刺的启明星。
And at the stroke of twelve out strode the watchman, with his cap and his many - spiked morning star.
发生了一阵奇怪的骚动。守夜人径直走向新郎，用他的启明星击打新郎的额头。
there was a strange motion. the watchman went straight to the bridegroom, and smote him on the forehead with his morning star.
“躺在那儿吧，” 守夜人说。“以牙还牙。我们已经为自己和主人报了仇，所以现在我们要消失了。”
“Lie where you are,” said the watchman. “A blow for a blow. we have taken out vengeance and the master’s too, so now we will vanish.”
然后他们就消失了，每一个齿轮和人物。但是教堂里的蜡烛像火焰之花一样熊熊燃烧，屋顶下的镀金星星投下长长的明亮光线，风琴奏响了，尽管没有人触碰它。人们都说他们活着看到了最不可思议的事。
And vanish they did, every cogwheel and figure. but the candles of the church flared up like flowers of fire, and the gilded stars under the roof cast down long clear shafts of light, and the organ sounded though no man had touched it. the people all said that they had lived to see the most incredible thing.
“现在，” 公主命令道，“把那个合适的人，制作那件艺术品的工匠召来。他将成为我的丈夫和我的主人。”
“Now,” the princess manded, “summon the right man, the craftsman who made the work of art. he shall be my husband and my lord.”
他站在教堂里她的身旁。所有人都跟随着他。每个人都为他感到高兴，每个人都祝福他，没有人嫉妒他。而这就是最不可思议的事。
he stood beside her in the church. All the people were in his train. Everyone was happy for him, everyone blessed him, and there was no one who was envious. And that was the most incredible thing.