老舍英語散文：濟南的冬天

濟南的冬天

作者：老舍

對於一個在北平住慣的人，像我，冬天要是不颳風，便覺得是奇蹟；濟南的冬天是沒有風聲的。對於一個剛由倫敦回來的人，像我，冬天要能看得見日光，便覺得是怪事；濟南的冬天是響晴的。自然，在熱帶的地方，日光是永遠那麼毒，響亮的天氣，反有點叫人害怕。可是，在北中國的冬天，而能有溫晴的天氣，濟南真得算個寶地。

For someone like me who is used to living in Beiping, a winter without any wind is a bit of a miracle. Well, one never hears any whistling winter winds in Ji’nan. For someone like me who has just returned from London, sunshine in the winter seems quite unusual. Well, Ji’nan has bright sunny winter weather. I know that in tropical regions, the blazing sun and the perpetual harsh glare can be intimidating, but here in north China, a mild sunny winter season is a boon that makes Ji’nan a very special place indeed.

設若單單是有陽光，那也算不了出奇。請閉上眼睛想：一個老城，有山有水，全在天底下曬着陽光，暖和安適地睡着，只等春風來把它們喚醒，這是不是個理想的境界？小山整把濟南圍了個圈兒，只有北邊缺着點口兒。這一圈小山在冬天特別可愛，好像是把濟南放在一個小搖籃裏，它們安靜不動地低聲地說：“你們放心吧，這兒準保暖和。”

But there is more than just sunshine. Close your eyes and picture to yourself: an ancient town, with mountains and lakes, dozing in the sunlight, warm and comfortable, waiting for the spring breezes toblow it awake. Doesn’t that sound idyllic? Low hills practically encircle Ji’nan, leaving just one small dip on the north side. In the winter, they are especially endearing, as if cradling the town and murmuring to it. “Don’t worry, it’s warm and safe here.”

真的，濟南的人們在冬天是面上含笑的。他們一看那些小山，心中便覺得有了着落，有了依靠。他們由天上看到山上，便不知不覺地想起：“明天也許就是春天了吧？這樣的溫暖，今天夜裏山草也許就綠起來了吧？”就是這點幻想不能一時實現，他們也並不着急，因爲這樣慈善的冬天，幹啥還希望別的呢！

And it’s a fact that the people of Ji’nan seem to smile throughout the cold season. All they have to do is to see those hills to feel secure and protected. Looking up and around, they say to themselves. “Maybe spring will come tomorrow. It’s so mild, maybe tonight the grass on the hills will sprout.” And even if this is just daydreaming, they don’t really mind, because with this kindly winter why wish for more?”

最妙的是下點小雪呀。看吧，山上的矮鬆越發的青黑，樹尖上頂着一髻兒白花，好像日本看護婦。

A light snow makes the scene even prettier. Look at the short dark pine tress crowned with white nurse caps.

山尖全白了，給藍天鑲上一道銀邊。山坡上，有的地方雪厚點，有的地方草色還露着，這樣，一道兒白，一道兒暗黃，給山們穿上一件帶水紋的花衣；看着看着，這件花衣好像被風兒吹動，叫你希望看見一點更美的山的肌膚。

Or the line of white etching the hilltops like a silver hemline on the azure sky. Or the hillsides, patchily dusted so that in some places the grass shows through, clothing the slopes in a wavy pattern of tan and pale stripes. As one gazes, these seem to shift in the breeze as if baring the hill for a better look at its lovely shape.

等到快日落的時候，微黃的陽光斜射在山腰上，那點薄雪好像忽然害了羞，微微露出點粉色。就是下小雪吧，濟南是受不住大雪的，那些小山太秀氣！

As the sun sets, the golden rays slant on to the light snow that suddenly blushes a shy pink. Just a light snowfall, nothing heavier, turns those low hills into real beauties.

古老的濟南，城裏那麼狹窄，城外又那麼寬敞，山坡上臥着些小村莊，小村莊的房頂上臥着點雪，對，這是張小水墨畫，也許是唐代的名手畫的吧。

Ji’nan is an ancient town with cramped and narrow streets, but surrounded by wide open spaces. Villages dot the slopes, their cottage roofs dusted with snow. Oh yes, this is a traditional ink and wash painting and probably one by a Tang Dynasty master too.

那水呢，不但不結冰，倒反在綠萍上冒着點熱氣，水藻真綠，把終年貯蓄的綠色全拿出來了。天兒越晴，水藻越綠，就憑這些綠的精神，水也不忍得凍上，況且那些長枝的垂柳還要在水裏照個影兒呢！

As for the lakes and ponds, they don’t freeze over, but even give off wisps of warm vapour. The water weeds remain bright green as if showing off colour stored up over the year, and the clearer the weather the greener they glow. Anyway, how can the water freeze over when all those weeping willows want to see their reflections?

看吧，由澄清的河水慢慢往上看吧，空中，半空中，天上，自上而下全是那麼清亮，那麼藍汪汪的，整個的是塊空靈的藍水晶。這塊水晶裏，包着紅屋頂，黃草山，像地毯上的小團花的灰色樹影。

As you raise your eyes slowly from the transparent depths and look up gradually to the sky, everything is so clear and bright and blue, like a giant hollow block of crystal, in which are encased red roofs, tan hills and little copses, like the design on a carpet.

這就是冬天的濟南。

This is Ji’nan in the winter.