The night passed away very sweetly for Cornelius, althoughin great agitation. —
对于科尼利厄斯来说，这个夜晚过得很甜蜜，尽管内心很不安。 —

Every instant he fancied he heard thegentle voice of Rosa calling him. —
他时刻幻想着能听到罗莎那温柔的声音在呼唤他。 —

He then started up, wentto the door, and looked through the grating, but no one wasbehind it, and the lobby was empty.
他突然起身，走到门口，透过铁栅看去，但没有人在后面，走廊空无一人。

Rosa, no doubt, would be watching too, but, happier than he,she watched over the tulip; —
罗莎，毫无疑问，也会在关注，但比他更幸福，她守护着郁金香； —

she had before her eyes thatnoble flower, that wonder of wonders. —
她眼前是那崇高花朵，那奇迹中的奇迹。 —

which not only wasunknown, but was not even thought possible until then.
这不仅是个未知之物，甚至在那时都不曾被人认为可能。

　　What would the world say when it heard that the black tulipwas found, that it existed and that it was the prisoner VanBaerle who had found it?
当世人听到黑郁金香被发现时，存在且被囚犯范巴尔勒发现的消息时，会如何反应？

　　How Cornelius would have spurned the offer of his liberty inexchange for his tulip!
科尼利厄斯会多么鄙视以自己的郁金香交换自由的提议！

　　Day came, without any news; the tulip was not yet in flower.
白天过去了，没有任何消息；郁金香还未开花。

　　The day passed as the night. Night came, and with it Rosa,joyous and cheerful as a bird.
白天如夜晚一样度过了。夜幕降临，罗莎来了，像只快乐的鸟儿一样兴高采烈。

　　”Well?” asked Cornelius.
“怎么样？”科尼利厄斯问道。

“Well, all is going on prosperously. —
“很好，一切都在顺利进行。 —

This night, without anydoubt, our tulip will be in flower.”“And will it flower black?” —
今晚毫无疑问，我们的郁金香会开花。”“它会开成黑色吗？” —

“Black as jet.”“Without a speck of any other colour.”“Without one speck.”“Good Heavens! —
“漆黑如墨。”“没有任何其他颜色的斑点。”“没有一点。” —

my dear Rosa, I have been dreaming all night,in the first place of you,” (Rosa made a sign ofincredulity,) “and then of what we must do.” —
“天哪！亲爱的罗莎，整个晚上我都在梦里，首先是梦到了你，”（罗莎表示怀疑）“然后梦到了我们要做些什么。” —

“Well?”“Well, and I will tell you now what I have decided on. —
“好吗？” —

Thetulip once being in flower, and it being quite certain thatit is perfectly black, you must find a messenger.” —
“好了，我现在就告诉你我的决定。 —

“If it is no more than that, I have a messenger quiteready.”“Is he safe?” —
“郁金香一旦开花，而且它确实是漆黑的，你必须找一个信使。” —

“One for whom I will answer, – he is one of my lovers.” —
“如果只是这样，我已经准备好一个信使了。” —

“I hope not Jacob.”“No, be quiet, it is the ferryman of Loewestein, a smartyoung man of twenty-five.” —
“他安全吗？” —

“By Jove!”“Be quiet,” said Rosa, smiling, “he is still under age, asyou have yourself fixed it from twenty-six to twenty-eight.” —
“他是我爱人之一，我会对他负责。” —

“In fine, do you think you may rely on this young man?”“As on myself; —
“你认为这个年轻人可靠吗？” —

he would throw himself into the Waal or theMeuse if I bade him.” —
如果我命令他的话，他会投自己进瓦尔河或梅斯河。 —

“Well, Rosa, this lad may be at Haarlem in ten hours; —
“好吧，罗莎，这个小伙子可能在十个小时内就到哈勒姆； —

youwill give me paper and pencil, and, perhaps better still,pen and ink, and I will write, or rather, on secondthoughts, you will, for if I did, being a poor prisoner,people might, like your father, see a conspiracy in it. —
你给我纸和铅笔，也许更好的是钢笔和墨水，我要写信，或者，反思之后，你来写，因为我作为一个可怜的囚犯，人们可能像你父亲一样，会在其中看出一些阴谋。 —

Youwill write to the President of the Horticultural Society,and I am sure he will come.” —
你会写信给园艺协会的会长，我相信他会过来。” —

“But if he tarries?”“Well, let us suppose that he tarries one day, or even two;but it is impossible. —
“但如果他耽搁呢？”“嗯，那么我们假设他耽搁一天，甚至两天；但这不可能。 —

A tulip-fancier like him will nottarry one hour, not one minute, not one second, to set outto see the eighth wonder of the world. —
像他这样的郁金香爱好者绝不会耽搁一个小时，也不会耽搁一分钟，也不会耽搁一秒钟，就为了去看世界上的第八个奇迹。 —

But, as I said, if hetarried one or even two days, the tulip will still be in itsfull splendour. —
但正如我所说，即使他耽搁了一天，甚至两天，郁金香仍将处于全盛状态。 —

The flower once being seen by the President,and the protocol being drawn up, all is in order; —
花一旦被会长看到，协议被起草，一切就都井然有序了； —

you willonly keep a duplicate of the protocol, and intrust the tulipto him. Ah! —
你只需保留一份协议的副本，将郁金香交给他。啊！ —

if we had been able to carry it ourselves, Rosa,it would never have left my hands but to pass into yours; —
如果我们能亲自护送它，罗莎，它就永远不会离开我的手，除非交到你手上； —

but this is a dream, which we must not entertain,” continuedCornelius with a sigh, “the eyes of strangers will see itflower to the last. —
但这只是一个梦，我们不应该培养它，“科内留斯叹了口气说，“陌生人的眼睛将看到它绽放到最后。 —

And above all, Rosa, before thePresident has seen it, let it not be seen by any one. Alas!
尤其在会长看到它之前，让任何人都别看见它。唉！

if any one saw the black tulip, it would be stolen.”“Oh!” —
如果有人看见那朵黑色郁金香，它就会被偷走。” —

“Did you not tell me yourself of what you apprehended fromyour lover Jacob? —
“哦！”“难道你不是告诉我你担心你的情人雅各布吗？ —

People will steal one guilder, why not ahundred thousand?”“I shall watch; be quiet.” —
人们会偷走一盾币，为什么不偷走十万盾币？“我会留意的；安静。” —

“But if it opened whilst you were here?”“The whimsical little thing would indeed be quite capable ofplaying such a trick,” said Rosa.
“但如果它在你在这里的时候打开了呢？”“这个古怪的小家伙确实完全有能力玩这样的把戏,“罗莎说。

“And if on your return you find it open?”“Well?” —
“如果你回来时发现它打开了呢？”“那又怎样呢？” —

“Oh, Rosa, whenever it opens, remember that not a momentmust be lost in apprising the President.” —
“哦，罗莎，无论什么时候它打开，记得一定要立刻通知总统。” —

“And in apprising you. Yes, I understand.” —
“还有通知你。是的，我明白了。” —

Rosa sighed, yet without any bitter feeling, but rather likea woman who begins to understand a foible, and to accustomherself to it.
罗莎叹了口气，但并没有任何痛苦的感觉，而更像是一个开始理解一个怪癖，并适应它的女人。

“I return to your tulip, Mynheer van Baerle, and as soon asit opens I will give you news, which being done themessenger will set out immediately.” —
“我回到你的郁金香这里，梅赫尔·范·巴厄勒，一旦它开了，我会给你消息，然后信使会立刻出发。” —

“Rosa, Rosa, I don’t know to what wonder under the sun Ishall compare you.” —
“罗莎，罗莎，我不知道我应该拿什么奇迹来比拟你。” —

“Compare me to the black tulip, and I promise you I shallfeel very much flattered. —
“把我比作黑郁金香吧，我保证我会感到非常荣幸的。 —

Good night, then, till we meetagain, Mynheer Cornelius.” —
那么，我们再见晚安，梅赫尔·科内利斯。” —

“Oh, say ‘Good night, my friend.’”“Good night, my friend,” said Rosa, a little consoled.
“哦，说‘晚安，我的朋友’吧。”“晚安，我的朋友，”罗莎说，有点安慰。

“Say, ‘My very dear friend.’”“Oh, my friend – ““Very dear friend, I entreat you, say ‘very dear,’ Rosa,very dear.” —
“说，‘我非常亲爱的朋友’吧。”“哦，我的朋友–”“非常亲爱的朋友，我恳求你，说‘非常亲爱的，’罗莎，非常亲爱的。” —

“Very dear, yes, very dear,” said Rosa, with a beatingheart, beyond herself with happiness.
“非常亲爱的，是的，非常亲爱的，”罗莎说，心跳加快，幸福无法自持。

“And now that you have said ‘very dear,’ dear Rosa, say also’most happy’: —
“现在你已经说‘非常亲爱的’了，亲爱的罗莎，还说‘最幸福的’： —

say ‘happier and more blessed than ever manwas under the sun.’ —
说‘比太阳下任何男人都更加幸福和有福气的。” —

I only lack one thing, Rosa.”“And that is?” —
我只缺少一样东西，罗莎。”“那就是什么？” —

“Your cheek, – your fresh cheek, your soft, rosy cheek. —
你的脸颊，– 你那新鲜的脸颊，柔软、玫瑰般的脸颊。 —

Oh,Rosa, give it me of your own free will, and not by chance.
哦，罗莎，自愿地，不是偶然地，把它给我吧。

Ah!“The prisoner’s prayer ended in a sigh of ecstasy; —
啊！囚犯的祈祷以一声欣喜的叹息结束； —

his lipsmet those of the maiden, – not by chance, nor by stratagem,but as Saint-Preux’s was to meet the lips of Julie a hundredyears later.
他的嘴唇碰到了少女的嘴唇，– 不是偶然，也不是策略，而是圣普勒以后一百年才与朱丽双唇相接的方式。

　　Rosa made her escape.
罗莎溜走了。

　　Cornelius stood with his heart upon his lips, and his faceglued to the wicket in the door.
康涅利厄斯站在门口的插窗前，心怦怦跳，脸贴在插窗上。

He was fairly choking with happiness and joy. —
他因为幸福和喜悦几乎快要窒息。 —

He opened hiswindow, and gazed long, with swelling heart, at thecloudless vault of heaven, and the moon, which shone likesilver upon the two-fold stream flowing from far beyond thehills. —
他打开窗户，长时间地凝视着晴朗的天空和银光闪烁的明月，天上两条清澈的河流源自远山，他心中涌起感激和宗教热忱。 —

He filled his lungs with the pure, sweet air, whilehis brain dwelt upon thoughts of happiness, and his heartoverflowed with gratitude and religious fervour.
他深吸着纯净甜美的空气，大脑充满幸福的念头，心中满是感激和虔诚。

“Oh Thou art always watching from on high, my God,” hecried, half prostrate, his glowing eyes fixed upon thestars: —
“哦，上帝，你一直在上方看着，”他跪下，炽热的目光望向星空： —

“forgive me that I almost doubted Thy existenceduring these latter days, for Thou didst hide Thy facebehind the clouds, and wert for a moment lost to my sight, OThou merciful God, Thou pitying Father everlasting! —
“在这些日子里我几乎怀疑了你的存在，因为你在云朵后隐藏了你的脸，暂时消失在我的视线中，哦，你仁慈的上帝，你永恒的慈爱之父！ —

Butto-day, this evening, and to-night, again I see Thee in allThy wondrous glory in the mirror of Thy heavenly abode, andmore clearly still in the mirror of my grateful heart.” —
但是今天，今晚，我再次看见了你，在你天堂的镜子里以你奇妙的荣光，更清晰地在我感恩的心中。” —

He was well again, the poor invalid; the wretched captivewas free once more.
那位可怜的病人再次康复，那个不幸的囚犯再次自由了。

　　During part of the night Cornelius, with his heart full ofjoy and delight, remained at his window, gazing at thestars, and listening for every sound.
在夜晚的一部分时间里，康涅利厄斯充满喜悦和快乐，留在窗前，凝视星星，留心一切声音。

Then casting a glance from time to time towards the lobby,–“Down there,” he said, “is Rosa, watching like myself, andwaiting from minute to minute; —
时不时地向走廊那边瞟一眼，他说：“在下面，”他说，“罗莎也像我一样监视着，从分钟到分钟等待； —

down there, under Rosa’seyes, is the mysterious flower, which lives, which expands,which opens, perhaps Rosa holds in this moment the stem ofthe tulip between her delicate fingers. —
在罗莎的眼睛下面，那朵神秘的花，生长着，绽放着，也许罗莎此刻正用纤细的手指夹住郁金香的茎。 —

Touch it gently,Rosa. Perhaps she touches with her lips its expandingchalice. —
轻轻触摸它，罗莎。也许她用嘴唇轻轻触摸其绽放的花瓣。 —

Touch it cautiously, Rosa, your lips are burning.
小心地触摸，罗莎，你的嘴唇正在发烫。

Yes, perhaps at this moment the two objects of my dearestlove caress each other under the eye of Heaven.” —
是的，也许此刻我最深爱的两个事物在天堂的注视下互相拥抱。 —

At this moment, a star blazed in the southern sky, and shotthrough the whole horizon, falling down, as it were, on thefortress of Loewestein.
就在这时，一颗星星在南方的天空闪耀，穿过整个地平线，像是坠落在勒文施泰因堡垒上。

　　Cornelius felt a thrill run through his frame.
　　科内利厄斯感到一股震颤从身体中传过。

“Ah!” he said, “here is Heaven sending a soul to my flower.” —
“啊！”他说，“这是上天派一个灵魂给我的花。” —

And as if he had guessed correctly, nearly at that verymoment the prisoner heard in the lobby a step light as thatof a sylph, and the rustling of a gown, and a well-knownvoice, which said to him, –“Cornelius, my friend, my very dear friend, and very happyfriend, come, come quickly.” —
就在这个时刻，囚犯听到门厅中一阵轻盈如小灵的脚步声和裙子的沙沙声，以及一个熟悉的声音，对他说，“科内利厄斯，我的朋友，我非常亲爱的朋友，非常幸福的朋友，快来，快来。” —

Cornelius darted with one spring from the window to thedoor, his lips met those of Rosa, who told him, with a kiss,–“It is open, it is black, here it is.” —
科内利厄斯一跃从窗口冲向门口，他的嘴唇与罗莎的嘴唇相接，罗莎用一个吻告诉他，“它打开了，是黑色的，就在这儿。” —

“How! here it is?” exclaimed Cornelius.
“什么！就在这里？”科内利厄斯惊叹道。

“Yes, yes, we ought indeed to run some little risk to give agreat joy; here it is, take it.” —
“对，对，我们的确应该冒一点危险来带来一份巨大的喜悦；在这儿，拿去吧。” —

And with one hand she raised to the level of the grating adark lantern, which she had lit in the meanwhile, whilstwith the other she held to the same height the miraculoustulip.
说着她一手将一只在此期间点亮的暗灯举到了窗户的高度，另一手则将奇迹般的郁金香举到了同样的高度。

　　Cornelius uttered a cry, and was nearly fainting.
　　科内利厄斯发出一声惊叫，几乎要晕倒。

“Oh!” muttered he, “my God, my God, Thou dost reward me formy innocence and my captivity, as Thou hast allowed two suchflowers to grow at the grated window of my prison!” —
“哦！”他喃喃道，“我的上帝，我的上帝，你赏赐我无辜和囚禁，就像你让两朵这样的花在我监狱窗口的饼楼长出一样！” —

The tulip was beautiful, splendid, magnificent; its stem wasmore than eighteen inches high; —
那朵郁金香美丽、灿烂、壮丽；它的茎超过十八英寸高。 —

it rose from out of fourgreen leaves, which were as smooth and straight as ironlance-heads; —
从四片绿叶中冉冉升起，那些绿叶像铁枪头般光滑而笔直； —

the whole of the flower was as black andshining as jet.
整朵花全是一片黑而闪亮的如墨玉；

“Rosa,” said Cornelius, almost gasping, “Rosa, there is notone moment to lose in writing the letter.” —
“罗莎，”科尼利厄斯几乎喘不过气来，“罗莎，写信不能有丝毫耽搁。” —

“It is written, my dearest Cornelius,” said Rosa.
“信已写好了，我最亲爱的科尼利厄斯，”罗莎说。

“Is it, indeed?”“Whilst the tulip opened I wrote it myself, for I did notwish to lose a moment. Here is the letter, and tell mewhether you approve of it.” —
“是吗？”“郁金香盛开时我亲自写了，因为我不想耽搁一刻。这是信，告诉我你是否满意。” —

Cornelius took the letter, and read, in a handwriting whichwas much improved even since the last little note he hadreceived from Rosa, as follows: —
科尼利厄斯接过信，阅读着，字迹甚至比他从罗莎那里收到的最后一张小纸条还要好, 内容如下： —

–“Mynheer President, – The black tulip is about to open,perhaps in ten minutes. —
– “阁下总统先生，——黑郁金香将在十分钟内盛开。 —

As soon as it is open, I shall senda messenger to you, with the request that you will come andfetch it in person from the fortress at Loewestein. —
一开花，我会派使者前来，请您亲自从卢文斯坦要塞来领取。 —

I am thedaughter of the jailer, Gryphus, almost as much of a captiveas the prisoners of my father. —
我是狱卒格里弗斯的女儿，几乎与我父亲的囚犯们一样受困。 —

I cannot, therefore, bring toyou this wonderful flower. —
因此我无法将这朵奇异的花送给您。 —

This is the reason why I beg youto come and fetch it yourself.
这就是我希望您亲自前来领取的原因。

　　”It is my wish that it should be called Rosa Barlaensis.
“我希望它被命名为罗莎·巴尔莱恩西斯。

　　”It has opened; it is perfectly black; come, MynheerPresident, come.
“它已经盛开；完全是黑的；快来吧，总统先生，快来。

　　”I have the honour to be your humble servant,“Rosa Gryphus.
“我有幸做您谦卑的仆人，”罗莎·格里弗斯。

　　”That’s it, dear Rosa, that’s it. Your letter is admirable!
“亲爱的罗莎，这就是了，这就是了。您的信太妙了！

　　I could not have written it with such beautiful simplicity.
我无法用如此美丽的简洁来写下这句话。

You will give to the committee all the information that willbe required of you. —
你将向委员会提供他们要求的所有信息。 —

They will then know how the tulip hasbeen grown, how much care and anxiety, and how manysleepless nights, it has cost. —
他们会知道郁金香是如何种植的，需要多少关心和焦虑，以及付出了多少个不眠之夜。 —

But for the present not aminute must be lost. The messenger! the messenger!” —
但目前不能浪费一分钟。信使！信使！ —

“What’s the name of the President?”“Give me the letter, I will direct it. Oh, he is very wellknown: —
“主席的名字是什么？”“把信给我，我会写地址。啊，他是很有名的： —

it is Mynheer van Systens, the burgomaster ofHaarlem; give it to me, Rosa, give it to me.” —
这是海尔勒姆市长梅因赫尔·范·斯伊斯滕斯先生；给我，罗莎，给我。” —

And with a trembling hand Cornelius wrote the address, –“To Mynheer Peter van Systens, Burgomaster, and President ofthe Horticultural Society of Haarlem.” —
颤抖的手中，科尼利厄斯写下地址：”给彼得·范·斯伊斯滕斯先生，海尔勒姆市长，以及海尔勒姆园艺学会主席。” —

“And now, Rosa, go, go,” said Cornelius, “and let us implorethe protection of God, who has so kindly watched over usuntil now.”
“现在，罗莎，去吧，去吧，” 科尼利厄斯说，”让我们请求上帝的保护，祂一直这么仁慈地看护着我们直到现在。”