he still stood holding her hand, and said at last, “You are bee quite a grand lady, christina, and I am only a rough working man; but I have often thought of you and of old times.”

然后他们漫步走上那道高大的土岗，眺望溪流对岸的荒野，那里的小山上开满了金雀花。

then they wandered up the great ridge, and looked across the stream to the heath, where the little hills were covered with the flowering broom.

伊布什么也没说；但在他们即将分别之前，他心里已经十分清楚，克里斯蒂娜必须成为他的妻子：他们小时候不就已经被称作未婚夫妻了吗？

Ib said nothing; but before the time came for them to part, it became quite clear to him that christina must be his wife: had they not even in childhood been called the betrothed?

在他看来，他们好像真的已经订了婚，尽管关于这件事一个字都还没说过。

to him it seemed as if they were really engaged to each other, although not a word had been spoken on the subject.

他们能在一起的时间只剩下几个小时了，因为克里斯蒂娜当晚必须回到邻村，准备好第二天一早乘马车前往赫宁。

they had only a few more hours to remain together, for christina was obliged to return that evening to the neighboring village, to be ready for the carriage which was to start the next morning early for herning.

伊布和她的父亲陪她一起到了村子。

Ib and her father acpanied her to the village.

那是一个月光皎洁的美好夜晚；当他们到达村子时，伊布站在那儿，紧紧握着克里斯蒂娜的手，好像舍不得放开她似的。

It was a fine moonlight evening; and when they arrived, Ib stood holding christina’s hand in the, as if he could not let her go.

他的眼睛发亮，说出的话从嘴唇间犹豫地吐出，但却是发自内心深处的：“克里斯蒂娜，如果你还没有变得太过高贵，如果你愿意满足于住在我母亲家里做我的妻子，我们总有一天会结婚的。

但我们可以再等一等。”

his eyes brightened, and the words he uttered came with hesitation from his lips, but from the deepest recesses of his heart: “christina, if you have not bee too grand, and if you can be contented to live in my mother’s house as my wife, we will be married some day.

but we can wait for a while.”

“哦，好的，” 她回答说，“让我们再等一会儿吧，伊布。

我相信你，因为我觉得我是爱你的。

但让我再考虑考虑。”

然后他吻了她的嘴唇；就这样他们分别了。

“oh yes,” she replied; “Let us wait a little longer, Ib.

I can trust you, for I believe that I do love you.

but let me think it over.”

then he kissed her lips; and so they parted.

在回家的路上，伊布告诉船夫，他和克里斯蒂娜差不多已经算是订婚了；船夫发觉自己一直就料到会是这样，当晚便和伊布一起回了家，还在农舍里过了夜；但关于订婚的事，就再没多说什么了。

on the way home, Ib told the boatman that he and christina were as good as engaged to each other; and the boatman found out that he had always expected it would be so, and went home with Ib that evening, and remained the night in the farmhouse; but nothing further was said of the engagement.

在接下来的一年里，伊布和克里斯蒂娜互通了两封信。

during the next year, two letters passed between Ib and christina.

信的落款都是 “至死不渝”；但到了那一年年底，有一天，船夫过来看伊布，还带来了克里斯蒂娜亲切的问候。

they were signed, “Faithful till death;” but at the end of that time, one day the boatman came over to see Ib, with a kind greeting from christina.

他还有别的事要说，这让他说话的样子显得很奇怪，吞吞吐吐的。

he had something else to say, which made him hesitate in a strange manner.

最后他还是说了出来，原来已经出落得非常漂亮的克里斯蒂娜比以往更加幸运了。

At last it came out that christina, who had grown a very pretty girl, was more lucky than ever.

每个人都对她献殷勤、爱慕她；而她主人的儿子回家探亲时，对克里斯蒂娜非常满意，还想娶她为妻。

She was courted and admired by every one; but her master’s son, who had been home on a visit, was so much pleased with christina that he wished to marry her.

他在哥本哈根的一个办公室里有一份很不错的工作，而且由于她也对他有了好感，他的父母也不反对这门亲事。

he had a very good situation in an office at copenhagen, and as she has also taken a liking for him, his parents were not unwilling to consent.

但克里斯蒂娜心里常常想着伊布，也知道伊布有多惦记她；所以船夫又说，她有点想拒绝这份好运。

but christina, in her heart, often thought of Ib, and knew how much he thought of her; so she felt inclined to refuse this good fortune, added the boatman.

起初，伊布一句话也没说，脸变得像墙壁一样苍白，轻轻地摇了摇头，然后才开口说道：“克里斯蒂娜不应该拒绝这份好运。”

At first Ib said not a word, but he became as white as the wall, and shook his head gently, and then he spoke,— “christina must not refuse this good fortune.”

“那你要不要给她写几句话呢？” 船夫说。

“then will you write a few words to her?”

said the boatman.

伊布坐下来写信，但根本写不下去。

Ib sat down to write, but he could not get on at all.

写出来的话不是他想说的，于是他把那张纸撕了。

the words were not what he wished to say, so he tore up the page.

然而，第二天早晨，有一封信已经写好准备寄给克里斯蒂娜，以下就是他所写的内容：——

the following morning, however, a letter lay ready to be sent to christina, and the following is what he wrote: —

“我已经读过你写给你父亲的信，从中能看出你诸事顺遂，而且还有更好的运气在等着你。

“the letter written by you to your father I have read, and see from it that you are prosperous in everything, and that still better fortune is in store for you.

克里斯蒂娜，问问你自己的内心，仔细想想要是你选我做丈夫，等待你的会是什么，因为我在这世上拥有的东西实在太少了。

Ask your own heart, christina, and think over carefully what awaits you if you take me for your husband, for I possess very little in the world.

别考虑我或者我的处境，只考虑你自己的幸福就好。

do not think of me or of my position; think only of your own welfare.

你并没有对我许下任何承诺，就算你心里曾给过我一个，我现在也解除你这个承诺。

You are bound to me by no promises; and if in your heart you have given your one, I release you from it.

愿所有的祝福和幸福都降临到你身上，克里斯蒂娜。

may every blessing and happiness be poured out upon you, christina.

上天会给我心灵的慰藉。”

heaven will give me the heart’s consolation.”

“你永远真诚的朋友，伊布。”

“Ever your sincere friend, Ib.”

这封信寄出去了，克里斯蒂娜也按时收到了。

this letter was sent, and christina received it in due time.

在接下来的十一月份，她的结婚预告在荒野上的教堂以及新郎所居住的哥本哈根都公布了。

In the course of the following November, her banns were published in the church on the heath, and also in copenhagen, where the bridegroom lived.

她在未来婆婆的保护下被带到了哥本哈根，因为新郎由于诸多事务繁忙，抽不出时间到日德兰半岛这么远的地方来一趟。

She was taken to copenhagen under the protection of her future mother-in-law, because the bridegorm could not spare time from his numerous occupations for a journey so far into Jutland.

在旅途中，克里斯蒂娜在他们经过的一个村子里见到了她的父亲，在这里她和父亲告别了。

on the journey, christina met her father at one of the villages through which they passed, and here he took leave of her.

关于这件事，几乎没人跟伊布说起，他自己也没提及；不过，他母亲注意到他变得非常沉默寡言、心事重重。

Very little was said about the matter to Ib, and he did not refer to it; his mother, however, noticed that he had grown very silent and pensive.

他一想起过去的时光，就难怪会想起小时候吉普赛女人给他的三颗坚果，以及他送给克里斯蒂娜的那两颗。

thinking as he did of old times, no wonder the three nuts came into his mind which the gypsy woman had given him when a child, and of the two which he had given to christina.

毕竟，这些许愿坚果到头来还真是灵验的预言家呢。

these wishing nuts, after all, had proved true fortune-tellers.

一颗里面有一辆镀金的马车和高贵的马匹，另一颗里有漂亮的衣服；现在克里斯蒂娜在哥本哈根的新家里将会拥有这一切。

one had contained a gilded carriage and noble horses, and the other beautiful clothes; all of these christina would now have in her new home at copenhagen.

她的那份已经应验了。

her part had e true.

而对他来说，那颗坚果里只有黑土。

And for him the nut had contained only black earth.

吉普赛女人说过这对他来说是最好的。

the gypsy woman had said it was the best for him.

也许是吧，而且这也会应验的。

perhaps it was, and this also would be fulfilled.

他现在明白吉普赛女人的意思了。

he understood the gypsy woman’s meaning now.

这黑土 —— 黑暗的坟墓 —— 现在对他来说是最好的东西了。

the black earth — the dark grave — was the best thing for him now.

又过去了几年；年头不算多，但对伊布来说却好像很漫长。

Again years passed away; not many, but they seemed long years to Ib.

老旅店老板和他的妻子相继去世；他们价值数千美元的全部财产都由他们的儿子继承了。

the old innkeeper and his wife died one after the other; and the whole of their property, many thousand dollars, was inherited by their son.

克里斯蒂娜现在可以拥有那辆镀金马车了，还有很多漂亮衣服。

christina could have the golden carriage now, and plenty of fine clothes.

在接下来漫长的两年里，克里斯蒂娜没有给她父亲写过一封信；而当她父亲终于收到她的一封信时，信里也没有提及顺遂或幸福。

during the two long years which followed, no letter came from christina to her father; and when at last her father received one from her, it did not speak of prosperity or happiness.

可怜的克里斯蒂娜！她和她丈夫都不懂得如何节俭或储蓄，这些财富并没有给他们带来福气，因为他们没有祈求过。

poor christina! Neither she nor her husband understood how to economize or save, and the riches brought no blessing with them, because they had not asked for it.

岁月流逝；许多个夏天，荒野上都开满了鲜花；冬天，白雪覆盖其上，狂风呼啸着掠过那道土岗，伊布那遮风挡雨的家就坐落在土岗下。

Years passed; and for many summers the heath was covered with bloom; in winter the snow rested upon it, and the rough winds blew across the ridge under which stood Ib’s sheltered home.

一个春日，阳光明媚，他正在田里扶犁耕地。

one spring day the sun shone brightly, and he was guiding the plough across his field.

犁头碰到了个他觉得像是燧石的东西，接着他看到土里有一块闪闪发光的金属碎片，是犁从犁沟里一个亮闪闪的东西上割下来的。

the ploughshare struck against something which he fancied was a firestone, and then he saw glittering in the earth a splinter of shining metal which the plough had cut from something which gleamed brightly in the furrow.

他仔细搜寻，发现了一只制作精良的大金臂环，很明显，犁头惊扰了一个匈奴人的坟墓。

he searched, and found a large golden armlet of superior workmanship, and it was evident that the plough had disturbed a hun’s grave.

他又继续搜寻，找到了更多贵重的财宝，伊布把这些财宝拿给牧师看，牧师向他说明了它们的价值。

he searched further, and found more valuable treasures, which Ib showed to the clergyman, who explained their value to him.

然后他去找地方法官，法官把这一发现告知了博物馆馆长，并建议伊布自己把财宝送到馆长那儿去。

then he went to the magistrate, who informed the president of the museum of the discovery, and advised Ib to take the treasures himself to the president.

“你在土里找到了能找到的最好的东西。” 地方法官说。

“You have found in the earth the best thing you could find,” said the magistrate.

“最好的东西，” 伊布想，“对我来说是最好的东西 —— 而且是在土里找到的！好吧，如果真是这样，那么那个吉普赛女人的预言就说对了。”

“the best thing,” thought Ib; “the very best thing for me, — and found in the earth! well, if it really is so, then the gypsy woman was right in her prophecy.”

于是伊布乘渡船从奥胡斯去了哥本哈根。

So Ib went in the ferry-boat from Aarhus to copenhagen.

对于只在自家附近的河里航行过一两次的他来说，这感觉就像是在海上航行；最后他终于到达了哥本哈根。

to him who had only sailed once or twice on the river near his own home, this seemed like a voyage on the ocean; and at length he arrived at copenhagen.

他找到的金子的价值付给了他；是一大笔钱 —— 六百美元。

the value of the gold he had found was paid to him; it was a large sum — six hundred dollars.

然后荒野上的伊布走了出去，在这座大城市里四处游荡。

then Ib of the heath went out, and wandered about in the great city.

在他打算和渡船船长一起返回的前一天晚上，伊布在街头迷了路，拐进了一条与他想去的方向完全不同的岔路。

on the evening before the day he had settled to return with the captain of the passage-boat, Ib lost himself in the streets, and took quite a different turning to the one he wished to follow.

他一直游荡，直到发现自己来到了一个叫克里斯蒂安港的郊区的一条贫穷的街道上。

he wandered on till he found himself in a poor street of the suburb called christian’s haven.

一个人影也看不到。

Not a creature could be seen.

最后，一个小女孩从一所看起来破旧不堪的房子里走了出来，伊布请她告诉他去他想去的那条街的路；她胆怯地抬头看着他，然后开始痛哭起来。

At last a very little girl came out of one of the wretched-looking houses, and Ib asked her to tell him the way to the street he wanted; she looked up timidly at him, and began to cry bitterly.

他问她怎么了；但他听不懂她的话。

he asked her what was the matter; but what she said he could not understand.

于是他和她一起沿着街道走；当他们从一盏路灯下走过时，灯光照在小女孩的脸上。

So he went along the street with her; and as they passed under a lamp, the light fell on the little girl’s face.

伊布一看到她，一种奇怪的感觉涌上心头。

A strange sensation came over Ib, as he caught sight of it.

小克里斯蒂娜活生生地站在他面前，就像他记忆中童年时的她一样。

the living, breathing embodiment of Little christina stood before him, just as he remembered her in the days of her childhood.

他跟着小女孩来到那所破旧的房子前，走上狭窄、摇摇欲坠的楼梯，来到屋顶的一个小阁楼。

he followed the child to the wretched house, and ascended the narrow, crazy staircase which led to a little garret in the roof.

房间里空气沉闷、令人窒息，没有点灯，从一个角落里传来呻吟和叹息声。

the air in the room was heavy and stifling, no light was burning, and from one corner came sounds of moaning and sighing.

是小女孩的母亲躺在那里的一张破床上。

It was the mother of the child who lay there on a miserable bed.

伊布划了一根火柴，点着了灯，走近她。

with the help of a match, Ib struck a light, and approached her.

“我能帮你什么忙吗？” 他问道。“这个小女孩把我带到这儿来的；但我在这座城市里是个陌生人。”

“can I be of any service to you?”

he asked.

“this little girl brought me up here; but I am a stranger in this city.

“没有邻居或者我能叫的人吗？”

Are there no neighbors or any one whom I can call?”

然后他抬起生病女人的头，把她的枕头抚平。

then he raised the head of the sick woman, and smoothed her pillow.

他这么做的时候吓了一跳。

he started as he did so.

这是荒野上的克里斯蒂娜呀！好些年都没人在伊布面前提起过她的名字了；要是提起，准会扰乱他的心绪，尤其是因为有关她的传闻都不太好。

It was christina of the heath! No one had mentioned her name to Ib for years; it would have disturbed his peace of mind, especially as the reports respecting her were not good.

她丈夫从父母那儿继承的财富让他变得骄傲又傲慢。

the wealth which her husband had inherited from his parents had made him proud and arrogant.

他放弃了自己那份稳定的工作，到国外游历了六个月，回来后生活极尽奢华，还欠下了巨额债务。

he had given up his certain appointment, and travelled for six months in foreign lands, and, on his return, had lived in great style, and got into terrible debt.

有一阵子，他在自己搭建的高高在上的位置上摇摇欲坠，最后终于失足跌落，落得个身败名裂的下场。

For a time he had trembled on the high pedestal on which he had placed himself, till at last he toppled over, and ruin came.

他那些众多的酒肉朋友以及在他家宴饮的宾客们都说他活该，因为他持家就像个疯子。

his numerous merry panions, and the visitors at his table, said it served him right, for he had kept house like a madman.

一天早晨，人们在运河里发现了他的尸体。

one morning his corpse was found in the canal.

死神的冰冷之手已经触碰到了克里斯蒂娜的心。

the cold hand of death had already touched the heart of christina.

她在富贵时盼来的最小的孩子，才几周大就夭折了；最后克里斯蒂娜自己也病入膏肓，被人遗弃，奄奄一息地躺在一间破败的屋子里，这种贫困在她年轻时或许还能忍受，但由于她近来习惯了奢华的生活，现在就更觉得痛苦了。

her youngest child, looked for in the midst of prosperity, had sunk into the grave when only a few weeks old; and at last christina herself became sick unto death, and lay, forsaken and dying, in a miserable room, amid poverty she might have borne in her younger days, but which is now more painful to her from the luxuries to which she had lately been accustomed.

正是她的大女儿，也叫小克里斯蒂娜，伊布跟着她来到了家，她和母亲在这里忍受着饥饿与贫穷。

It was her eldest child, also a Little christina, whom Ib had followed to her home, where she suffered hunger and poverty with her mother.

“一想到我就要死了，要留下这个可怜的孩子，我就难受。” 她叹息着说。

“It makes me unhappy to think that I shall die, and leave this poor child,” sighed she.

“哦，她可怎么办呀？”

“oh, what will bee of her?”

她再也说不出话来了。

She could say no more.

于是伊布又划了一根火柴，点亮了他在屋里找到的一截蜡烛，微弱的烛光洒在这破败的住所里。

then Ib brought out another match, and lighted a piece of candle which he found in the room, and it threw a glimmering light over the wretched dwelling.

伊布看着小女孩，想起了年轻时候的克里斯蒂娜。

Ib looked at the little girl, and thought of christina in her young days.

看在她的份上，他难道就不能爱这个与他素不相识的孩子吗？

For her sake, could he not love this child, who was a stranger to him?

就在他这样寻思的时候，奄奄一息的女人睁开了眼睛，凝视着他。

As he thus reflected, the dying woman opened her eyes, and gazed at him.

她认出他来了吗？

did she recognize him?

他永远也不会知道了；因为她再也没说一个字。

he never knew; for not another word escaped her lips.

在古德瑙河边的森林里，离荒野不远，在那道土岗下面，有一座小农舍，刚刚粉刷过，白得发亮。

In the forest by the river Gudenau, not far from the heath, and beneath the ridge of land, stood the little farm, newly painted and whitewashed.

空气沉闷而昏暗；荒野上没有花朵开放；秋风把黄叶卷向船夫住过的小屋，如今里面住着陌生人；但小农舍在高大的树木和高耸的土岗庇护下，安然无恙。

the air was heavy and dark; there were no blossoms on the heath; the autumn winds whirled the yellow leaves towards the boatman’s hut, in which strangers dwelt; but the little farm stood safely sheltered beneath the tall trees and the high ridge.

炉边的泥炭烧得旺旺的，屋里亮堂堂的，那是一个孩子阳光般明亮的眼睛里闪烁出的光芒；从她那玫瑰色的嘴唇里发出如鸟鸣般的声音，宛如春天云雀的歌声。

the turf blazed brightly on the hearth, and within was sunlight, the sparkling light from the sunny eyes of a child; the birdlike tones from the rosy lips ringing like the song of a lark in spring.

一切都是生机与欢乐。

All was life and joy.

小克里斯蒂娜坐在伊布的膝盖上。

Little christina sat on Ib’s knee.

伊布对她来说既是父亲又是母亲；她自己的亲生父母已经从她的记忆中消失了，就像童年和老年时都会消逝的梦境画面一样。

Ib was to her both father and mother; her own parents had vanished from her memory, as a dream-picture vanishes alike from childhood and age.

伊布的房子布置得很好看；因为他现在是个富裕的人了，而小女孩的母亲则长眠在哥本哈根的墓地里，她是在贫困中离世的。

Ib’s house was well and prettily furnished; for he was a prosperous man now, while the mother of the little girl rested in the churchyard at copenhagen, where she had died in poverty.

伊布现在有钱了 —— 是从黑土里得来的钱；而最终，克里斯蒂娜也属于他了。

Ib had money now — money which had e to him out of the black earth; and he had christina for his own, after all.