The night was a happy one, and the whole of the next dayhappier still.
这个夜晚是快乐的,而第二天整天更加幸福。

During the last few days, the prison had been heavy, dark,and lowering, as it were, with all its weight on theunfortunate captive. —
在过去的几天里,监狱变得沉重、黑暗,好像它的全部重量都压在那个不幸的囚犯身上。 —

Its walls were black, its air chilling,the iron bars seemed to exclude every ray of light.
墙壁是黑色的,空气冰冷,铁栏似乎排除了每一缕光线。

But when Cornelius awoke next morning, a beam of the morningsun was playing about those iron bars; —
但当科尼利厄斯第二天早上醒来时,晨光照耀着那些铁栏; —

pigeons were hoveringabout with outspread wings, whilst others were lovinglycooing on the roof or near the still closed window.
鸽子在四处徐徐飞舞,翅膀展开,而另一些在屋顶或靠近尚未打开的窗户附近婉转地低声轻唱。

Cornelius ran to that window and opened it; —
科尼利厄斯跑到窗前打开了窗户; —

it seemed to himas if new life, and joy, and liberty itself were enteringwith this sunbeam into his cell, which, so dreary of late,was now cheered and irradiated by the light of love.
他感觉好像新的生命、喜悦和自由本身随着这缕阳光进入他的牢房,这个近来如此阴郁的地方,现在因爱的光芒而欣欣向荣。

  When Gryphus, therefore, came to see his prisoner in themorning, he no longer found him morose and lying in bed, butstanding at the window, and singing a little ditty.
当因此早晨格里福斯来看他的囚犯时,他再也不是躁郁地躺在床上,而是站在窗前唱着小曲。

  ”Halloa!” exclaimed the jailer.
“嘿!“狱卒惊讶地说。

  ”How are you this morning?” asked Cornelius.
“你今天好吗?“科尼利厄斯问。

  Gryphus looked at him with a scowl.
格里福斯怒视着他。

“And how is the dog, and Master Jacob, and our pretty Rosa?“Gryphus ground his teeth, saying. —
“那个狗怎么样?雅各大师怎么样?我们可爱的罗莎呢?” 格里福斯咬紧了牙齿说。 —

–“Here is your breakfast.”“Thank you, friend Cerberus,” said the prisoner; —
“这是你的早餐。”“谢谢,朋友刻耳柏斯,” 囚犯说; —

“you arejust in time; I am very hungry.”“Oh! —
“你来得正是时候;我很饿。” —

you are hungry, are you?” said Gryphus.
“哦! 你饿了,是吗?“格里福斯说。

  ”And why not?” asked Van Baerle.
“为什么不呢?”范·巴尔勒问道。

  ”The conspiracy seems to thrive,” remarked Gryphus.
“谋反似乎有所蔓延,”格里弗斯说道。

“What conspiracy?”“Very well, I know what I know, Master Scholar; —
“什么谋反?”“好吧,我知道些什么,学者大人; —

just bequiet, we shall be on our guard.”“Be on your guard, friend Gryphus; —
安静点,我们会保持警惕。”“保持警惕吧,格里弗斯朋友; —

be on your guard as longas you please; my conspiracy, as well as my person, isentirely at your service.” —
尽管你愿意多久都保持警惕;我的谋反和我的人,都完全听命于你。” —

“We’ll see that at noon.“Saying this, Gryphus went out.
“到中午我们会知道。”格里弗斯说完就走了。

“At noon?” repeated Cornelius; “what does that mean? —
“到中午?”科尼利厄斯重复道,“这是什么意思? —

Well,let us wait until the clock strikes twelve, and we shallsee.” —
好吧,让我们等到钟敲响十二下,我们就能明白了。” —

It was very easy for Cornelius to wait for twelve at midday,as he was already waiting for nine at night.
对于科尼利厄斯来说等待中午十二点很容易,因为他已经在等待晚上九点。

  It struck twelve, and there were heard on the staircase notonly the steps of Gryphus, but also those of three or foursoldiers, who were coming up with him.
钟敲响了十二下,楼梯上不仅听到了格里弗斯的脚步声,还有三四个士兵和他一起上来的步伐声。

  The door opened. Gryphus entered, led his men in, and shutthe door after them.
门打开了。格里弗斯走进来,带着他的士兵,随后关上了门。

“There, now search!“They searched not only the pockets of Cornelius, but evenhis person; —
“好了,搜哪!”他们不仅搜查了科尼利厄斯的口袋,甚至搜查了他的身体; —

yet they found nothing.
然而他们什么都没找到。

They then searched the sheets, the mattress, and the strawmattress of his bed; —
他们接着搜查了他的床单,床垫,和草垫; —

and again they found nothing.
再次他们也没找到任何东西。

Now, Cornelius rejoiced that he had not taken the thirdsucker under his own care. —
现在,科内利厄斯为自己没有把第三吸盘拿到自己的照顾下感到高兴。 —

Gryphus would have been sure toferret it out in the search, and would then have treated itas he did the first.
格里弗斯肯定会在搜查中找到它,然后会像对待第一个一样对待它。

  And certainly never did prisoner look with greatercomplacency at a search made in his cell than Cornelius.
科内利厄斯在牢房里观看搜查的时候,从未像现在这样欣喜。

  Gryphus retired with the pencil and the two or three leavesof white paper which Rosa had given to Van Baerle, this wasthe only trophy brought back from the expedition.
格里弗斯带着梳子和几张罗莎给范巴尔留的白纸返回了,这是这次行动带回来的唯一战利品。

At six Gryphus came back again, but alone; —
六点时,格里弗斯再次回来,但是单独一人; —

Cornelius triedto propitiate him, but Gryphus growled, showed a large toothlike a tusk, which he had in the corner of his mouth, andwent out backwards, like a man who is afraid of beingattacked from behind.
科内利厄斯试图讨好他,但格里弗斯咆哮了一声,露出了他嘴角的一颗像长牙一样的大牙,倒退着出去,像一个害怕背后被袭击的人。

Cornelius burst out laughing, to which Gryphus answeredthrough the grating, –“Let him laugh that wins.” —
科内利厄斯笑了起来,对此格里弗斯透过铁栅门回答道:“赢了的人才能笑。” —

The winner that day was Cornelius; Rosa came at nine.
那天赢家是科内利厄斯;罗莎九点来了。

She was without a lantern. She needed no longer a light, asshe could now read. —
她没有提灯笼。她如今不再需要光亮,因为她现在能阅读。 —

Moreover, the light might betray her, asJacob was dogging her steps more than ever. —
而且,光亮可能会出危险,因为雅各布比以往更频繁地尾随她。 —

And lastly, thelight would have shown her blushes.
最后,光亮会显露出她的脸红。

Of what did the young people speak that evening? —
那天晚上,年轻人谈论了什么? —

Of thosematters of which lovers speak at the house doors in France,or from a balcony into the street in Spain, or down from aterrace into a garden in the East.
他们谈论了恋人在法国的家门口、在西班牙的街道上从阳台上,或者在东方的花园中倾诉的那些事情。

They spoke of those things which give wings to the hours; —
他们谈论了那些让时间飞逝的事情; —

they spoke of everything except the black tulip.
他们谈论了一切,除了黑色鬱金香。

  At last, when the clock struck ten, they parted as usual.
最后,当钟敲响十下时,他们像往常一样分开。

  Cornelius was happy, as thoroughly happy as a tulip-fancierwould be to whom one has not spoken of his tulip.
Cornelius很开心,尽管他还没有跟别人谈起郁金香,但他感到非常开心。

  He found Rosa pretty, good, graceful, and charming.
他觉得罗莎漂亮、善良、优雅和迷人。

  But why did Rosa object to the tulip being spoken of?
但为什么罗莎不喜欢别人谈论郁金香呢?

  This was indeed a great defect in Rosa.
这确实是罗莎的一个大缺点。

  Cornelius confessed to himself, sighing, that woman was notperfect.
Cornelius自己也承认,女人并非完美。

Part of the night he thought of this imperfection; —
整夜他都在想这个缺陷; —

that isto say, so long as he was awake he thought of Rosa.
也就是说,只要他醒着,他就会想起罗莎。

  After having fallen asleep, he dreamed of her.
入睡后,他开始做梦了。

But the Rosa of his dreams was by far more perfect than theRosa of real life. —
但他梦中的罗莎比现实中的罗莎完美得多。 —

Not only did the Rosa of his dreams speakof the tulip, but also brought to him a black one in a chinavase.
梦中的罗莎不仅说起了郁金香,还拿着一个黑色的郁金香花瓶给他。

Cornelius then awoke, trembling with joy, and muttering, –“Rosa, Rosa, I love you.” —
Cornelius醒来时,兴奋不已,喃喃自语着–“罗莎,罗莎,我爱你。” —

And as it was already day, he thought it right not to fallasleep again, and he continued following up the line ofthought in which his mind was engaged when he awoke.
因为已经天亮,他觉得不应再睡,于是继续沿着醒来时思绪的方向思考。

Ah! if Rosa had only conversed about the tulip, Corneliuswould have preferred her to Queen Semiramis, to QueenCleopatra, to Queen Elizabeth, to Queen Anne of Austria; —
啊!如果罗莎只谈论郁金香,Cornelius会更喜欢她,甚至超过闻名世界的女王塞米拉米丝、克利奥帕特拉、伊丽莎白一世、安妮女王; —

that is to say, to the greatest or most beautiful queenswhom the world has seen.
也就是说,超过世界所见过的最伟大或最美丽的女王。

But Rosa had forbidden it under pain of not returning; —
但罗莎已经明令禁止,否则就不会回来; —

Rosahad forbidden the least mention of the tulip for three days.
罗莎已经禁止三天内不准提及郁金香的事;

That meant seventy-two hours given to the lover to be sure; —
这意味着给恋人确信的72个小时; —

but it was seventy-two hours stolen from the horticulturist.
但这是从园艺师那里偷走的72个小时。

There was one consolation: of the seventy-two hours duringwhich Rosa would not allow the tulip to be mentioned,thirty-six had passed already; —
有一个安慰:在罗莎不允许提及郁金香的72小时中,已经过去了36个小时; —

and the remaining thirty-sixwould pass quickly enough: —
剩下的36个小时会很快过去: —

eighteen with waiting for theevening’s interview, and eighteen with rejoicing in itsremembrance.
18个小时用来等待晚上的会面,18个小时用来享受回忆。

  Rosa came at the same hour, and Cornelius submitted mostheroically to the pangs which the compulsory silenceconcerning the tulip gave him.
罗莎在同一个小时到来,而科尼利厄斯则英勇地忍受着对郁金香的强制性保密所带来的痛苦。

His fair visitor, however, was well aware that, to commandon the one point, people must yield on another; —
然而,他的美丽客人很清楚,在一个问题上领导别人,就必须在另一个问题上让步。 —

shetherefore no longer drew back her hands from the grating,and even allowed Cornelius tenderly to kiss her beautifulgolden tresses.
因此,她不再从铁栅门上收回手,甚至让科尼利厄斯温柔地亲吻她美丽金色的秀发。

  Poor girl! she had no idea that these playful little lovers’
可怜的女孩!她根本没意识到这些嬉戏的小爱人把戏比起谈论郁金香来得更危险。

tricks were much more dangerous than speaking of the tulipwas; —
但当她满怀期待地回去时,心跳加快,脸颊发烫,嘴唇干燥,眼睛湿润,她意识到这个事实。 —

but she became aware of the fact as she returned with abeating heart, with glowing cheeks, dry lips, and moisteyes.
然而她在第二天晚上,交换完第一轮问候后,她退后一步,以一种目光看着他,这种表情要是他能看到的话,会让他的心欣喜。

  And on the following evening, after the first exchange ofsalutations, she retired a step, looking at him with aglance, the expression of which would have rejoiced hisheart could he but have seen it.
而在随后的晚上,经过第一次寒暄之后,她退了一步,用一种眼神看着他,如果他能看见的话,他的心一定会欢喜。

“Well,” she said, “she is up.”“She is up! Who? What?” —
“嗯,“她说,“她醒了。” —

asked Cornelius, who did not ventureon a belief that Rosa would, of her own accord, haveabridged the term of his probation.
“她醒了!谁?什么?”

  ”She? Well, my daughter, the tulip,” said Rosa.
“是谁?”科尼利厄斯问道,他并不敢相信罗莎会自己主动缩短他的试炼期限。

“What!” cried Cornelius, “you give me permission, then?” —
“她?唔,我的女儿,郁金香,”罗莎说。 —

“I do,” said Rosa, with the tone of an affectionate motherwho grants a pleasure to her child.
“什么!”科尼利厄斯喊道,”你允许我了?”

  ”Ah, Rosa!” said Cornelius, putting his lips to the gratingwith the hope of touching a cheek, a hand, a forehead, –anything, in short.
“是的,”罗莎说,带着一种慈爱母亲向孩子们让渡快乐的口气。

  He touched something much better, – two warm and half openlips.
“啊,罗莎!”科尼利厄斯把嘴唇贴在栅栏上,希望能触到一只面颊、一只手、一块额头,无论是什么。

  Rosa uttered a slight scream.
他碰到了更好的东西,–两只温暖而半开的嘴唇。

Cornelius understood that he must make haste to continue theconversation. —
罗莎发出了轻微的尖叫声。 —

He guessed that this unexpected kiss hadfrightened Rosa.
科尼利厄斯明白他必须赶快继续谈话。

  ”Is it growing up straight?““Straight as a rocket,” said Rosa.
他猜测这个意外的吻吓到了罗莎。

“How high?”“At least two inches.”“Oh, Rosa, take good care of it, and we shall soon see itgrow quickly.” —
“它长得直吗?”“直如火箭,”罗莎说。 —

“Can I take more care of it?” said she. “Indeed, I think ofnothing else but the tulip.” —
“有多高?”“至少两英寸。”“哦,罗莎,好好照顾它,我们很快就会看到它快速成长。” —

“Of nothing else, Rosa? Why, now I shall grow jealous in myturn.” —
“我能更关心它吗?”她说,”事实上,我除了郁金香什么都不想。” —

“Oh, you know that to think of the tulip is to think of you;I never lose sight of it. —
“除了郁金香,罗莎?现在我该轮到嫉妒了。” —

I see it from my bed, on awakingit is the first object that meets my eyes, and on fallingasleep the last on which they rest. —
我从床上看见它,当醒来时,它是我目光的第一个对象,而当入睡时,它是我眼睛最后停留的地方。 —

During the day I sit andwork by its side, for I have never left my chamber since Iput it there.” —
在白天,我坐在它旁边工作,因为自从我把它放在那里后,我就没离开过我的房间。 —

“You are right Rosa, it is your dowry, you know.” —
“你说得对,Rosa,这是你的嫁妆,你知道的。” —

“Yes, and with it I may marry a young man of twenty-six ortwenty-eight years, whom I shall be in love with.” —
“是的,有了它,我就可以嫁给一个二十六或二十八岁的年轻人,我会爱上他的。” —

“Don’t talk in that way, you naughty girl.“That evening Cornelius was one of the happiest of men. —
“别这样说,你这个淘气的女孩。”那天晚上,Cornelius是最幸福的人之一。 —

Rosaallowed him to press her hand in his, and to keep it as longas he would, besides which he might talk of his tulip asmuch as he liked.
Rosa允许他握着她的手,并随意保持时间,而且他可以尽情谈论他的郁金香。

  From that hour every day marked some progress in the growthof the tulip and in the affection of the two young people.
从那时起,每一天都标志着郁金香的成长和两位年轻人之间感情的进展。

  At one time it was that the leaves had expanded, and atanother that the flower itself had formed.
有时是叶子扩展了,有时是花本身已经形成了。

  Great was the joy of Cornelius at this news, and hisquestions succeeded one another with a rapidity which gaveproof of their importance.
Cornelius听到这个消息非常高兴,他的问题接连不断,证明了它们的重要性。

  ”Formed!” exclaimed Cornelius, “is it really formed?”“It is,” repeated Rosa.
“已经形成了!”Cornelius惊叹道,”真的形成了吗?”

  Cornelius trembled with joy, so much so that he was obligedto hold by the grating.
“是的,”Rosa重复道。

  ”Good heavens!” he exclaimed.
Cornelius高兴得颤抖,以至于他不得不抓住栅栏。

  Then, turning again to Rosa, he continued his questions.
“天哪!”他叫道。

“Is the oval regular? the cylinder full? and are the pointsvery green?” —
然后,再次转向Rosa,他继续问问题。 —

“The oval is almost one inch long, and tapers like a needle,the cylinder swells at the sides, and the points are readyto open.” —
“椭圆形规则吗?圆柱体填满了吗?尖端是非常绿色的吗?” —

Two days after Rosa announced that they were open.
罗莎宣布他们开放两天后。

“Open, Rosa!” cried Cornelius. “Is the involucrum open? —
“打开,罗莎!”克尼利厄斯叫道。“花托打开了吗? —

butthen one may see and already distinguish —- “Here the prisoner paused, anxiously taking breath.
但是接着可以看到并且已经可以区分—-” 在这里,囚犯焦虑地停下来喘口气。

“Yes,” answered Rosa, “one may already distinguish a threadof different colour, as thin as a hair.” —
“是的,”罗莎回答,“已经可以区分出一根颜色不同的丝线,比头发还细。” —

“And its colour?” asked Cornelius, trembling.
“它的颜色呢?”克尼利厄斯颤抖着问。

“Oh,” answered Rosa, “it is very dark!”“Brown?”“Darker than that.” —
“哦,”罗莎回答,“非常暗!” “棕色?” “比那更暗。” —

“Darker, my good Rosa, darker? Thank you. —
“更暗,我亲爱的罗莎,更暗吗? —

Dark as —- ““Dark as the ink with which I wrote to you.” —
“更暗,我亲爱的罗莎,更暗?谢谢你。 —

Cornelius uttered a cry of mad joy.
克尼利厄斯发出了疯狂的喜悦声。

Then, suddenly stopping and clasping his hands, he said, –“Oh, there is not an angel in heaven that may be compared toyou, Rosa!” —
然后,突然停下来,合起双手,他说,–“哦,没有天上的天使可以与你相比,罗莎!” —

“Indeed!” said Rosa, smiling at his enthusiasm.
“是吗!”罗莎笑着看着他的狂热。

“Rosa, you have worked with such ardour, – you have done somuch for me! —
“罗莎,你工作得如此热切,– 你为我做了这么多! —

Rosa, my tulip is about to flower, and it willflower black! —
罗莎,我的郁金香即将开花,它将开出黑色的花朵! —

Rosa, Rosa, you are the most perfect being onearth!”“After the tulip, though.”“Ah! —
罗莎,罗莎,你是地球上最完美的存在!”“在郁金香之后。”“啊! —

be quiet, you malicious little creature, be quiet! Forshame! Do not spoil my pleasure. —
安静,你这个恶毒的小家伙,安静!真丢脸!不要破坏我的快乐。 —

But tell me, Rosa, – asthe tulip is so far advanced, it will flower in two or threedays, at the latest?” —
“罗莎,告诉我,郁金香已经长得这么高,最晚两三天就会开花了,对吗?” —

“To-morrow, or the day after.”“Ah! and I shall not see it,” cried Cornelius, startingback, “I shall not kiss it, as a wonderful work of theAlmighty, as I kiss your hand and your cheek, Rosa, when bychance they are near the grating.” —
“明天或者后天。” —

Rosa drew near, not by accident, but intentionally, andCornelius kissed her tenderly.
“啊!我看不到了。” 科尼利斯惊讶地退后,“我看不到了,不能像亲吻您的手和脸那样,作为上帝的奇迹,像偶尔靠近栅栏的您一样亲吻。”

“Faith, I shall cull it, if you wish it.”“Oh, no, no, Rosa! —
“信任,如果您愿意的话,我可以采摘。” “哦,不,不,罗莎! —

when it is open, place it carefully inthe shade, and immediately send a message to Haarlem, to thePresident of the Horticultural Society, that the grand blacktulip is in flower. —
当它开花时,小心地放在阴凉处,立即发送消息到哈勒姆,通知园艺学会的主席,说大黑土丝已经开花。 —

I know well it is far to Haarlem, butwith money you will find a messenger. —
我知道哈勒姆很远,但你可以找到一个信使。 —

Have you any money,Rosa?“Rosa smiled.
你有钱吗,罗莎?” 罗莎微笑。

  ”Oh, yes!” she said.
“哦,是的!”她说。

  ”Enough?” said Cornelius.
“够吗?” 科尼利斯说。

“I have three hundred guilders.”“Oh, if you have three hundred guilders, you must not send amessenger, Rosa, but you must go to Haarlem yourself.” —
“我有三百盾。” “哦,如果你有三百盾,你就不应该派一个信使,罗莎,而是应该亲自去哈勒姆。” —

“But what in the meantime is to become of the flower?”“Oh, the flower! you must take it with you. —
“但在此期间花怎么办?” “哦,花!你必须带着它。 —

You understandthat you must not separate from it for an instant.” —
你明白吗,你不能与它分开一刻。” —

“But whilst I am not separating from it, I am separatingfrom you, Mynheer Cornelius.”“Ah! —
“但我不能离开它,却离开了您,科尼利斯先生。” “啊! —

that’s true, my sweet Rosa. Oh, my God! how wicked menare! —
真的,我的甜蜜罗莎。哦,我的上帝!人们为什么这么邪恶! —

What have I done to offend them, and why have theydeprived me of my liberty? —
我到底做了什么得罪他们,他们为什么剥夺了我的自由?” —

You are right, Rosa, I cannotlive without you. —
你说得对,罗莎,没有你我无法生存。 —

Well, you will send some one to Haarlem,– that’s settled; —
那好,你会派人去哈勒姆,–问题解决了; —

really, the matter is wonderful enoughfor the President to put himself to some trouble. —
真的,这件事对于总统来说够奇妙的,他得费些力气。 —

He willcome himself to Loewestein to see the tulip.” —
他会亲自来勒韦斯坦看郁金香的。” —

Then, suddenly checking himself, he said, with a falteringvoice, –“Rosa, Rosa, if after all it should not flower black!” —
然后,突然停下来,他用颤抖的声音说道,–“罗莎,罗莎,要是它最后不开黑花怎么办!” —

“Oh, surely, surely, you will know to-morrow, or the dayafter.” —
“噢,肯定,肯定,你明天或后天就会知道。” —

“And to wait until evening to know it, Rosa! I shall diewith impatience. —
“要等到晚上才知道,罗莎!我会因等待而焦躁得要命。” —

Could we not agree about a signal?”“I shall do better than that.”“What will you do?” —
“我们不能就一个信号达成一致吗?” —

“If it opens at night, I shall come and tell you myself. —
“我会做得比那更好。” —

Ifit is day, I shall pass your door, and slip you a noteeither under the door, or through the grating, during thetime between my father’s first and second inspection.” —
“如果是晚上开启,我会亲自来告诉你。 —

“Yes, Rosa, let it be so. One word of yours, announcing thisnews to me, will be a double happiness.” —
“是白天的话,我会在我父亲第一次和第二次检查之间的时间里,经过你的门口,把一张纸条放在门下或通过铁格传给你。” —

“There, ten o’clock strikes,” said Rosa, “I must now leaveyou.” —
“是的,现在十点钟了,”罗莎说,“我现在必须离开你了。” —

“Yes, yes,” said Cornelius, “go, Rosa, go!” —
“是的,是的,”科内利厄斯说,“走吧,罗莎,走吧!” —

Rosa withdrew, almost melancholy, for Cornelius had all butsent her away.
罗莎走了,几乎有些忧郁,因为科内利厄斯几乎已经把她打发走了。

  It is true that he did so in order that she might watch overhis black tulip.
他这样做是为了让她看守他的黑郁金香。