★ 第5章 ★
When Scrooge woke up, he realized immediately that the church clock was just going to strike one.
当斯克罗吉醒来的时候，他立刻发现教堂的钟就要敲响1点钟了。
He felt sure that the second spirit would Soon visit him.
他肯定第二个幽灵不久就要来看望他了。
This time he wanted to be ready, so he pulled back all the curtains around his bed himself, and lay there, waiting.
这次他想做好准备，所以他自己把他床周围的帘子都拉开了，躺在那儿等着。
At one o'clock, instead of a spirit, a strong light shone down on Scrooge's bed.
1点钟时，幽灵没有来，但一束强光从上面照在了斯克罗吉的床上。
He felt very frightened.
他害怕极了。
After a few minutes he thought that perhaps the light was coming from the next room, so he got up and went to the door.
几分钟之后，他以为光是从隔壁的房间照过来的，所以他起身下床来到了门口。
When he touched it, a strange voice called his name and asked him to enter. He obeyed.
当他的手摸到门时，一个奇怪的声音叫他的名字并让他进去，他听从了。
Although he recognized it as his own room, it looked very different now.
尽管他认出这是他自己的房间，但它现在看上去已完全不同。
The walls were covered with bright green leaves, and there was a good fire burning in the fireplace.
墙壁被鲜亮的绿叶所覆盖，壁炉里燃烧着熊熊的火焰。
On the floor were big plies of the best Christmas food—wonderful rich dark cakes, warm soft bread,
地板上摆着大堆的上好的圣诞食品——味道浓郁的巧克力蛋糕、热乎乎松软的面包、
colorful apples and oranges, plates of yellow butter, cooked chickens, boxes of chocolates and sugared sweets.
五颜六色的苹果和桔子、一盘盘的黄油、炖好的鸡、一盒盒的巧克力和糖果。
Sitting beside all this was a large, smiling spirit, who called out cheerfully to Scrooge,
坐在这些东西旁边的是一个身材高大、面带笑容的幽灵，它高兴地对斯克罗吉高声喊，
'Come in! Come in, man! I am the ghost of Christmas Present! Look at me!'
“请进!请进，伙计!我是今日圣诞鬼魂!看着我!”
Since the first ghost's visit, Scrooge was no longer very sure of himself.
自从第一个鬼魂的来访，斯克罗吉对自己就没了把握。
So although the spirit's eyes were clear and kind, Scrooge was afraid to look straight into its face.
所以尽管幽灵的眼睛明亮且充满善意，但斯克罗吉还是不敢正视它的脸，
But he could see that its body was dressed in a long green robe, its long brown hair fell freely down its back, and its face wore a warm and friendly smile.
但他能看见幽灵身穿一件绿色长袍，它长长的棕色头发随意地散落在背上，它面带热情友好的笑容。
Light shone from the torch which it was holding in its strong right hand.
光是从他强有力的右手握着的火把里发出的。
'Spirit,' said Scrooge quietly, 'take me where you want.
“幽灵，”斯克罗吉轻柔地说，“你想带我去哪儿就去哪儿。
Last night I learned a lesson that is working now.
昨天晚上我接受了教训，而且这教训现在正在生效。
If you have anything to teach me tonight, let me learn from you.'
如果今晚你也有什么让我借鉴的话，请让我向你领教。”
'Touch my robe!' said the spirit, and Scrooge obeyed.
“拽着我的长袍!”幽灵说，斯克罗吉从命了。
The food, the room, the fire all disappeared, and they were standing outside in the cold, snowy streets on Christmas morning.
食品、房间、炉火都消失了。圣诞早晨，他们正站在冰天雪地的户外。
Although the sky was grey and the streets were dirty, the people looked surprisingly cheerful, as they hurried to the baker's shops with their Christmas dinners, all ready for cooking.
虽然天空灰蒙蒙的，街上也很脏，但人们看上去都出奇的欢喜，当他们拿着他们的圣诞晚餐匆匆赶往面包房准备烤制的时候。
The spirit seemed especially interested in poor people.
幽灵似乎对穷人特别感兴趣。
He stood with Scrooge in a baker's doorway and held his torch over the dinners as they were carried past him.
它和斯克罗吉一同站在面包房的门口，当晚餐从它面前经过时它把火把照在上面。
Sometimes, when he saw people pushing each other or getting angry, he lifted his torch over their heads, and immediately they became kinder or stopped arguing, 'because it's Christmas,' they told each other.
有时当他看见人们相互拥挤或发脾气时，他把火把举在他们的头上，他们立刻就会变得温顺或停止争吵，“因为今天是圣诞节，”他们彼此告诫着。
'What does your torch do, spirit?' asked Scrooge.
“你的火把是作什么用的，幽灵?”斯克罗吉问。
'It gives a special taste to people's dinners on this day,' answered the spirit.
“它能给人们今天的晚餐带来特殊的味道，”幽灵回答说。
'Why do you use it most on poor people?' said Scrooge.
“你为什么大多把它用在穷人身上?”斯克罗吉问。
'Because poor people need it most,' was the reply.
“因为穷人最需要它，”幽灵回答说。
They went on through London and came to the small house where Scrooge's clerk lived.
他们继续前行，穿过伦敦，来到了斯克罗吉雇员居住的狭小住处。
Here the spirit smiled and held his torch high over the door.
在这儿幽灵笑了，把他的火把高高地举过房门。
Inside, Bob Cratchit's wife and second daughter, Belinda, in their everyday dresses, but looking clean and pretty, were putting plates on the table for their Christmas dinner.
屋里，鲍勃·克拉奇蒂的妻子和二女儿贝琳达身穿她们平日的服装，但看起来干净漂亮，她们正往桌子上摆圣诞晚餐用的盘子。
Bob's son Peter was helping to cook the potatoes, and two smaller Cratchits, a boy and a girl were running around excitedly.
鲍勃的儿子彼得正帮着烧土豆，两个再小点的克拉奇蒂，一男一女，正高兴地来回跑着。
Just then the eldest daughter, Martha, arrived home from work.
这时大女儿玛莎下班回来了。
'Here's Martha, mother!' cried the two young Cratchits happily.
“玛莎回来了，妈妈!”两个小克拉奇蒂高兴地喊着。
'We're having a really big chicken for dinner, Martha!'
“晚饭我们能吃到一只真的很大的鸡了，玛莎!”
In fact, it was only a small chicken, but it seemed large to the excited children.
实际上它不过是一只很小的鸡，但对这些兴奋的孩子们来说它似乎很大。
'My dear, how late you are!' said Mrs. Cratchit, kissing her daughter several times.
“我亲爱的，你这么晚才回来!”克拉奇蒂太太边说边吻了女儿好几下。
'We were so busy yesterday, mother!' replied the girl. 'That's why we didn't finish until this morning!'
“我们昨天非常忙，妈妈!”女孩回答说。“所以我们直到今天早晨都没有干完!”
'Well! Never mind, now that you're here. God bless you! Sit down by the fire, my dear!'
“哎!既然你回来了就没关系了。愿上帝保佑你!亲爱的，来坐到火边来!”
'No, no! Father's coming!' cried the two young Cratchits. 'Hide, Martha, hide!'
“不，不!爸爸回来了!”两个小克拉奇蒂嚷道。“藏起来，玛莎，藏起来!”
So Martha hid, and in came Bob in his thin coat and long white scarf, with his son TinyTim in his arms.
所以玛莎藏了起来，鲍勃身穿他的薄大衣戴着白色的长围巾走了进来，怀里抱着小蒂姆。
Poor Tiny Tim! He had not walked since he was born, and although he could pull himself and his thin little legs along with the help of a wooden crutch, he was not strong enough to travel far alone.
可怜的小蒂姆啊!自从他降生就没行走过。尽管他借助于一个木拐杖能够拖着身躯和他那瘦骨嶙峋的腿往前走，但他毕竟太弱了，一个人走不了多远。
'Why, where's Martha?' cried Bob, looking around.
“怎么了，玛莎呢?”鲍勃高声喊道，并朝四周看了看。
'Not coming,' said Mrs. Cratchit.
“还没回来呢?”克拉奇蒂太太说。
'Not coming!' repeated Bob, his cheerful smile disappearing. 'Not coming on Christmas Day!'
“还没回来!”鲍勃重复了一遍，他欢快的笑容不见了。“圣诞节了，还没回来!”
But Martha didn't like to worry her father for a minute, so she ran out from behind the door and kissed him, while the two young Cratchits showed Tiny Tim the chicken, now ready to eat.
但是玛莎不想让父亲为她多担心一分钟，所以她从门后跑出来，吻了父亲，这时两个小克拉奇蒂在给小蒂姆看那只已经烧熟了的鸡。
Scrooge and the spirit watched as the family sat down to eat.
当全家人坐好准备吃饭时斯克罗吉和幽灵看着。
It was a poor enough meal, but to them, it seemed wonderful, and they ate every bit of it.
这是一顿粗茶淡饭，但对他们来说它似乎是很丰盛的，他们把它吃了个精光。
'It's the best chicken I've ever tasted,' said Bob, smiling round at his family, who, with their mouths full, all agreed.
“这是我曾经吃到过的最好吃的鸡。”鲍勃说，并对全家人都笑了笑，每个人的嘴里都塞满了吃的，他们都表示同意。
And then, the most exciting moment of the day!
接着是这一天最激动人心的时刻!
Belinda put a clean plate in front of each person, and they all turned to look at Mrs. Cratchit as she came in from the kitchen.
贝琳达在每个人面前放了一个干净盘子，当克拉奇蒂太太从厨房出来时，大家都转过身看着她。
Her face was hot from her morning's work, but she was smiling happily as she carried in - the Christmas pudding, in its little circle of blue fire!
由于从一大早就开始忙，她的脸发热，但当她把带着蓝火圈的圣诞布丁拿进来时，她幸福地笑了。
Oh, it was a wonderful pudding! They were all delighted with it.
噢，多好的布丁啊! 他们看到它都很高兴。
'It's your greatest success in all the years that we've been married, my dear!' said Bob.
“亲爱的，这是我们结婚这么多年来你做的最成功的一件事!”鲍勃说。
'Well, I did wonder how much fruit to put in it,' said his wife, 'but, yes, it's a good one!' And she laughed just like a young girl.
“哎，我的确不知道里面该放多少水果，”他妻子说，“不过，是的，它很不错!”她像一个小姑娘似地乐了。
Nobody said that it was a very small pudding for a large family.
没有人说这布丁太小，尤其对这么个大家庭来说。
Nobody even thought it. No Cratchit ever said or thought things like that.
没有人这么想过。克拉奇蒂家人从没没有这么说过，也没有这么想过。
At last, when they had finished their meal, the children cleared the table and washed the plates.
最后，当他们吃完饭后，孩子们收拾好桌子并把碗洗干净了，
Then they all sat around the fire, eating apples and oranges.
他们团团围坐在炉火旁吃着苹果和桔子。
There was a large bowl of fruit and sugar and hot water and something a little stronger, but only three people could drink at the same time because the family only owned two glasses and a cup.
有一大碗水果、糖、热水和略含酒精的东西，但只有三个人可以同时喝，因为他们家只有两个玻璃杯和一个茶杯，
But this did not worry the Cratchits at all.
但克拉奇蒂一家并没因此而犯愁。
Now Bob lifted his glass and said, 'A merry Christmas to us all, my dears! God bless us!'
鲍勃现在举起杯子说，“祝我们大家圣诞快乐，亲爱的!上帝保佑我们!”
The family repeated his wish, and Tiny Tim said, last of all, 'God bless us every one!' He sat very close to his father, on a small chair.
全家人重复着他的祝愿，最后，小蒂姆说，“愿上帝保佑我们每一个人!”他紧靠着爸爸坐在一把小椅子上。
Bob held his son's thin little hand in this own. The boy had a special place in his father's heart.
鲍勃手握着他儿子瘦小的手，这个男孩在他父亲的心目中占据着特殊的位置。
'Spirit,' said Scrooge, with an interest that he had never felt before, 'tell me if Tiny Tim will live.'
“幽灵，”斯克罗吉以他以前从未有过的热情问，“告诉我小蒂姆是否能活下去。”
'In the future, I see an empty chair by the fire, with a crutch beside it.
“将来我会看到火旁边有一把空椅子，边上有一根拐杖。
If these shadows do not change, the child will die.'
如果这些影子不变的话，他就会死去。”
'No, no!' said Scrooge. 'Oh no, kind Spirit! Say that he will live!'
“不，不!”斯克罗吉说。“噢，善良的幽灵! 说他会活下去的。”
'If his life does not change soon, he will die before next Christmas. What does that matter?
“如果他的生活近期内不能改变的话，他在明年的圣诞前就会死去。这又有什么关系呢?
There are too many people in the world, so it's a good thing if some of them die.'
世界上的人太多了，所以若有一部分死了的话，岂不是件好事吗?”
Scrooge was ashamed and sad to hear his own words spoken by the spirit.
斯克罗吉听到幽灵重复着他曾说过的话感到羞愧悲伤。
But he lifted his head when he heard his name.
但听见自己名字的时候，他抬起了头。
'Mr. Scrooge!' said Bob. 'Let's drink to Mr. Scrooge, whose money has paid for this meal!'
“斯克罗吉先生!”鲍勃说，“让我们为斯克罗吉先生干杯，是他付的钱使我们才能吃上今天的这顿饭。”
'His money!' said Mrs. Cratchit angrily. 'What can we buy with his fifteen shillings a week?
“他的钱?”克拉奇蒂太太生气地说。“他一星期给的15先令够我们买什么的?
Why should we drink to the health of a hateful, hard, unfeeling, mean old man like Scrooge?'
我们干嘛要祝一个像斯克罗吉那样可恨、刻薄、没有感情、吝啬的老头健康?”
'My dear,' said Bob gently, 'remember it's Christmas.'
“我亲爱的，”鲍勃温柔地说，“记住今天是圣诞节。”
'Well, Bob, I'll drink to his health only because of you and because it's Christmas.
“好吧，鲍勃，我祝他健康只是看在你的面子上，况且今天还是圣诞节。
Long-life to Mr. Scrooge! A merry Christmas and a happy new year to him!
祝斯克罗吉先生长寿。祝他圣诞、新年快乐!
He'll be very merry and very happy, I'm sure!'
我肯定他会很快乐和幸福的!”
When the children heard Scrooge's name, a dark shadow came over their happiness for a while, and they were quiet and a little sad.
当孩子们听到斯克罗吉的名字时，不悦笼罩了他们原本高兴的笑脸，他们都不出声了，并且有些沮丧。
But five minutes later they were talking, and laughing, and telling stories, ten times merrier than before.
但10分钟后他们又开始有说有笑，讲故事，比先前要高兴十倍。
They were not good-looking or a well-dressed family, but they were happy and grateful and loved each other.
他们一家人长相平平，穿着一般，但他们幸福，对彼此充满感激之情并且互爱。
As they disappeared in the light of the spirit's torch, Scrooge could not take his eyes off them, especially Tiny Tim.
当他们在幽灵的火把的光下消失的时候，斯克罗吉的目光无法从他们的身上移开，尤其是小蒂姆。
By this time it was getting dark, and snowing heavily.
这时天渐渐黑了，雪下得很大。
The spirit took Scrooge into many houses, where fires were burning cheerfully, and food was cooking, and people were merrily welcoming their friends and families into their homes.
幽灵带着斯克罗吉去了很多家，每家都燃烧着欢乐的火焰，烧着吃的，人们都兴高采烈地欢迎着他们的朋友和家人的到来。
The ghost was delighted to see all this excitement and made sure that he lifted his torch over every poor family, to give them more fun, and better food, and greater happiness.
鬼魂看见这兴奋的场面很是高兴，凡是在穷人家它都把火把高高举起，目的是给他们带来更多的欢乐、更好的食品和更多的幸福。
Then the spirit took Scrooge away from the busy capital, to a wild, lonely place in the country, where no trees grew.
然后幽灵带着斯克罗吉离开了繁忙的都市，来到了乡下一个荒凉、偏僻的地方，这里连一棵树都不长。
Here they visited a small stone house, a long way from any town or village, where an old man and woman were singing Christmas carols, with their children and grandchildren.
在这里他们去了一所石头房子，它离所有的小镇和村庄都很远。房子里一个老头和一个老太太同他们的孩子们一起正唱着圣诞颂歌。
《圣诞颂歌》是1843年查尔斯·狄更斯创作的小说，该小说是查尔斯·狄更斯三部圣诞小说之一。
该小说主要讲的是一个吝啬鬼的故事。一个吝啬鬼积攒了很多钱，然而他却不舍得为职员的炉火加一块儿煤，他的侄子好意的邀请他参加圣诞夜的晚会，他却认为侄子是为了占他的便宜而推辞，社会活动者请他为穷人施舍一点圣诞的饭菜，也被他无情地断然拒绝。他晚上回到了家，夜幕里他看见了一张鬼脸，这真的是鬼?还是他的幻像?然而，鬼的出现却使他发生了天翻地覆的变化。
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