泰戈尔《新月集》第27期:小大人 THE LITTLE BIG MAN

《新月集》 (The Crescent Moon，1903)是印度诗人、作家泰戈尔创作的诗集，主要译自1903年出版的孟加拉文诗集《儿童集》，也有的是用英文直接创作的。 诗集里着力描绘的是一个个天真可爱的儿童。诗人塑造了一批神形兼备、熠熠闪光的天使般的儿童艺术形象。

 

 

 

27 小大人 THE LITTLE BIG MAN

I AM small because I am a little child. I shall be big when I am as old as my father is.

我人很小，因为我是一个小孩子，到了我像爸爸一样年纪时，便要变大了。

My teacher will come and say, "It is late, bring your slate and your books."

我的先生要是走来说道：“时候晚了，把你的石板，你的书拿来。”

I shall tell him, "Do you not know I am as big as father? And I must not have lessons any more."

我便要告诉他道：“你不知道我已经同爸爸一样大了么?我决不再学什么功课了。”

My master will wonder and say, "He can leave his books if he likes, for he is grown up."

我的老师便将惊异地说道：“他读书不读书可以随便，因为他是大人了。”

I shall dress myself and walk to the fair where the crowd is thick.

我将自己穿了衣裳，走到人群拥挤的市场里去。

My uncle will come rushing up to me and say, "You will get lost, my boy; let me carry you."

我的叔叔要是跑过来说道：“你要迷路了，我的孩子，让我领着你罢。”

I shall answer, "Can't you see, uncle, I am as big as father. I must go to the fair alone."

我便要回答道：“你没有看见么，叔叔，我已经同爸爸一样大了?我决定要独自一个人到市场里去。”

Uncle will say, "Yes, he can go wherever he likes, for he is grown up."

叔叔便将说道：“是的，他随便到哪里去都可以，因为他是大人了。”

Mother will come from her bath when I am giving money to my nurse, for I shall know how to open the box with my key.

当我正拿钱给我保姆时，妈妈便要从浴室中出来，因为我是知道怎样用我的钥匙去开银箱的。

Mother will say, "What are you about, naughty child?"

妈妈要是说道：“你在做什么呀，顽皮的孩子?”

I shall tell her, "Mother, don't you know, I am as big as father, and I must give silver to my nurse."

我便要告诉她道：“妈妈，你不知道我已经同爸爸一样大了么?我必须拿钱给保姆。”

Mother will say to herself, "He can give money to whom he likes, for he is grown up."

妈妈便将自言自语道：“他可以随便把钱给他所喜欢的人，因为他是大人了。”

In the holiday time in October father will come home and, thinking that I am still a baby, will bring for me from the town little shoes and small silken frocks.

当十月里放假的时候，爸爸将要回家，他会以为我还是一个小孩子，为我从城里带了小鞋子和小绸衫来。

I shall say, "Father, give them to my d?d? [elder brother], for I am as big as you are."

我便要说道：“爸爸，把这些东西给哥哥罢，因为我已经同你一样大了。”

Father will think and say, "He can buy his own clothes if he likes, for he is grown up."

爸爸便将想了一想，说道;“他可以随便去买他自己穿的衣裳，因为他是大人了。”