小学英语安徒生童话系列（三）thePuppet_ShowMan演木偶戏的人阅读素材.docx

thePuppet-ShowManbyHansChristianAndersen（1851）ONboardasteamerIoncemetanelderlyman，withsuchamerryfacethat，ifitwasreallyanindexofhismind，hemusthavebeenthehappiestfellowincreation；andindeedheconsideredhimselfso，forIhearditfromhisownmouth.HewasaDane，theownerofatravellingtheatre.Hehadallhiscompanywithhiminalargebox，forhewastheproprietorofapuppet-show.Hisinborncheerfulness，hesaid，hadbeentestedbyamemberofthePolytechnicInstitution，andtheexperimenthadmadehimcompletelyhappy.Ididnotatfirstunderstandallthis，butafterwardsheexplainedthewholestorytome；andhereitis：“Iwasgivingarepresentation，”hesaid， “inthehalloftheposting-houseinthelittletownofSlagelse；therewasasplendidaudience，entirelyjuvenileexceptingtworespectablematrons.Allatonce，apersoninblack，ofstudent-likeappearance，enteredtheroom，andsatdown；helaughedaloudatthetellingpoints，andapplaudedquiteatthepropertime.Thiswasaveryunusualspectatorforme，andIfeltanxioustoknowwhohewas.IheardthathewasamemberofthePolytechnicInstitutioninCopenhagen，whohadbeensentouttolecturetothepeopleintheprovinces.Punctuallyateightoclockmyperformanceclosed，forchildrenmustgoearlytobed，andamanagermustalsoconsulttheconvenienceofthepublic.“Atnineoclockthelecturercommencedhislectureandhisexperiments，andthenIformedapartofhisaudience.Itwaswonderfulbothtohearandtosee.TheGREaterpartofitwasbeyondmycomprehension，butitledmetothinkthatifwemencanacquiresomuch，wemustsurelybeintendedtolastlongerthanthelittlespanwhichextendsonlytothetimewhenwearehiddenawayundertheearth.Hisexperimentswerequitemiraclesonasmallscale，andyettheexplanationsflowedasnaturallyaswaterfromhislips.AtthetimeofMosesandtheprophets，suchamanwouldhavebeenplacedamongthesagesoftheland；inthemiddleagestheywouldhaveburnthimatthestake.“AllnightlongIcouldnotsleep；andthenexteveningwhenIgaveanotherperformanceandthelecturerwaspresent，Iwasinoneofmybestmoods.“Ionceheardofanactor，who，whenhehadtoactthepartofalover，alwaysthoughtofoneparticularladyintheaudience；heonlyplayedforher，andforgotalltherestofthehouse，andnowthePolytechniclecturerwasmyshe，myonlyauditor，forwhomaloneIplayed.“Whentheperformancewasover，andthepuppetsremovedbehindthecurtain，thePolytechniclecturerinvitedmeintohisroomtotakeaglassofwine.Hetalkedofmycomedies，andIofhisscience，andIbelievewewerebothequallypleased.ButIhadthebestofit，fortherewasmuchinwhathedidthathecouldnotalwaysexplaintome.Forinstance，whyapieceofironwhichisrubbedonacylinder，shouldbecomemagnetic.Howdoesthishappen？Themagneticsparkscometoit，buthow？Itisthesamewithpeopleintheworld；theyarerubbedaboutonthissphericalglobetilltheelectricsparkcomesuponthem，andthenwehaveaNapoleon，oraLuther，orsomeoneofthekind.“mausedtocrythirtyyearsago.ButImakethemshorter，fortheyoungstersdontlikelongspeeches；andiftheyhaveanythingmournful，theylikeittobeoverquickly.”Thewholeworldisbutaseriesofmiracles，saidthelecturer，butwearesoaccustomedtothemthatwecallthemeverydaymatters.Andhewentonexplainingthingstometillmyskullseemedliftedfrommybrain，andIdeclaredthatwereInotsuchanoldfellow，IwouldatoncebecomeamemberofthePolytechnicInstitution，thatImightlearntolookatthebrightsideofeverything，althoughIwasoneofthehappiestofmen.“Oneofthehappiest！saidthelecturer，asiftheideapleasedhim；areyoureallyhappy？“Yes，Ireplied；forIamwelcomedineverytown，whenIarrivewithmycompany；butIcertainlyhaveonewishwhichsometimesweighsuponmycheerfultemperlikeamountainoflead.Ishouldliketobecomethemanagerofarealtheatre，andthedirectorofarealtroupeofmenandwomen.“Iunderstand，hesaid；youwouldliketohavelifebreathedintoyourpuppets，sothattheymightbelivingactors，andyoutheirdirector.Andwouldyouthenbequitehappy？“IsaidIbelievedso.Buthedidnot；andwetalkeditoverinallmannerofways，yetcouldnotaGREeonthesubject.However，thewinewasexcellent，andweclankedourglassestogetheraswedrank.Theremusthavebeenmagicinit，orIshouldmostcertainlybecometipsy；butthatdidnothappen，formymindseemedquiteclear；and，indeed，akindofsunshinefilledtheroom，andbeamedfromtheeyesofthePolytechniclecturer.Itmademethinkoftheoldstorieswhenthegods，intheirimmortalyouth，wandereduponthisearth，andpaidvisitstomankind.Isaidsotohim，andhesmiled；andIcouldhaveswornthathewasoneoftheseancientdeitiesindisguise，or，atallevents，thathebelongedtotheraceofthegods.TheresultseemedtoproveIwasrightinmysuspicions；foritwasarrangedthatmyhighestwishshouldbegranted，thatmypuppetsweretobegiftedwithlife，andthatIwastobethemanagerofarealcompany.Wedranktomysuccess，andclankedourglasses.Thenhepackedallmydollsintothebox，andfasteneditonmyback，andIfeltasifIwerespinningroundinacircle，andpresentlyfoundmyselflyingonthefloor.Irememberthatquitewell.Andthenthewholecompanysprangfromthebox.Thespirithadcomeuponusall；thepuppetshadbecomedistinguishedactorsatleast，sotheysaidthemselvesandIwastheirdirector.“Whenallwasreadyforthefirstrepresentation，thewholecompanyrequestedpermissiontospeaktomebeforeappearinginpublic.Thedancingladysaidthehousecouldnotbesupportedunlessshestoodononeleg；forshewasaGREatgenius，andbeggedtobetreatedassuch.Theladywhoactedthepartofthequeenexpectedtobetreatedasaqueenoffthestage，aswellasonit，orelseshesaidsheshouldgetoutofpractice.Themanwhosedutyitwastodeliveralettergavehimselfasmanyairsashewhotookthepartoffirstloverinthepiece；hedeclaredthattheinferiorpartswereasimportantasthegreatones，anddeservingequalconsideration，aspartsofanartisticwhole.Theheroofthepiecewouldonlyplayinapartcontainingpointslikelytobringdowntheapplauseofthehouse.Theprimadonnawouldonlyactwhenthelightswerered，forshedeclaredthatabluelightdidnotsuithercomplexion.Itwaslikeacompanyoffliesinabottle，andIwasinthebottlewiththem；forIwastheirdirector.Mybreathwastakenaway，myheadwhirled，andIwasasmiserableasamancouldbe.Itwasquiteanovel，strangesetofbeingsamongwhomInowfoundmyself.IonlywishedIhadthemallinmyboxagain，andthatIhadneverbeentheirdirector.SoItoldthemroundlythat，afterall，theywerenothingbutpuppets；andthentheykilledme.AfterawhileIfoundmyselflyingonmybedinmyroom；buthowIgotthere，orhowIgotawayatallfromthePolytechnicprofessor，hemayperhapsknow，Idont.Themoonshoneuponthefloor，theboxlayopen，andthedollswereallscatteredaboutingreatconfusion；butIwasnotidle.Ijumpedoffthebed，andintotheboxtheyallhadtogo，someontheirheads，someontheirfeet.ThenIshutdownthelid，andseatedmyselfuponthebox.Nowyoullhavetostay，saidI，andIshallbecautioushowIwishyoufleshandbloodagain.“Ifeltquitelight，mycheerfulnesshadreturned，andIwasthehappiestofmortals.ThePolytechnicprofessorhadfullycuredme.Iwasashappyasaking，andwenttosleeponthebox.Nextmorningcorrectlyspeaking，itwasnoon，forIsleptremarkablylatethatdayIfoundmyselfstillsittingthere，inhappyconsciousnessthatmyformerwishhadbeenafoolishone.IinquiredforthePolytechnicprofessor；buthehaddisappearedliketheGREekandRomangods；fromthattimeIhavebeenthehappiestmanintheworld.Iamahappydirector；fornoneofmycompanyevergrumble，northepubliceither，forIalwaysmakethemmerry.IcanarrangemypiecesjustasIplease.IchooseoutofeverycomedywhatIlikebest，andnooneisoffended.Playsthatareneglectednow-a-daysbythegreatpublicwereranafterthirtyyearsago，andlistenedtotillthetearsrandownthecheeksoftheaudience.ThesearethepiecesIbringforward.Iplacethembeforethelittleones，whocryoverthemaspapaandmammausedtocrythirtyyearsago.ButImakethemshorter，fortheyoungstersdontlikelongspeeches；andiftheyhaveanythingmournful，theylikeittobeoverquickly.”汽轮上有一位模样很老的人，长着一个欢快的脸庞，若不是做作出来的，那他必定就是世界上最快乐的人了。确实，他是这么说的；我听他亲口说的；他是丹麦人，我的老乡，一位巡回剧院的经理。整个戏班子都由他带着，就在一个大箱子里；他是演木偶戏的人。他的天性中的好心情，他说，还被一位理工学院1毕业生净化过一番，由於受过那位毕业生的那次试验，他有了完满的幸福。我并没有立刻明白他的意思，但是他接着便把这件事的来龙去脉对我讲了个清清楚楚。这里便是他的解释。那是在斯莱厄瑟，他说道，我在邮政局的大院里耍木偶戏。做戏场的屋子好极了，观众也好极了。除去一两位老太太外，全是还没有成年的孩子。后来来了一位身着黑色衣装、大学生模样的人。他坐下，在最该笑的地方笑，也在最该拍巴掌的地方拍巴掌。真是一个不寻常的观众！我一定要搞清楚他是谁。一打听，我听说他是理工学院的毕业生，被派到地方上来，给当地人传授知识。八点钟的时候我的演出就结束了。你知道，孩子们是要早上床的，而且也要考虑到观众的方便。九点钟的时候，这位大学毕业生开始了他的讲授和试验，这会儿我成了他的观众了。听他，看他，很令人觉得奇怪。大部分东西都像俗话说的那样，经过我的脑袋跑到牧师的脑袋里去了2.可是有一点我必定要想上一想：我们人是不是能想出那么一种办法，能让我们活得久一点而不马上被送进土里去。他做的试验，都不过是些叫人觉得奇异的小玩意儿，都轻而易举，可是都直接取之於大自然。若是在摩西和先知的时代3，他一定会是我们国家的大智大慧者；要是生在中世纪，一位懂得理工道理的学者，必定会被烧死4.我一整夜没有睡，第二天我在那里表演的时候，这位大学毕业生又来了，我心情真是好极了。以前我曾经听一位演员说过，说在饰爱情角色的时候，他心中只有观众当中的某位女士，他为她表演，而忘却了剧院里所有的其他人；这位理工学院毕业生的他，便成了我的“她”，我为之表演的唯一的观看者。演出完毕后，我被那位理工学院毕业生邀到他屋里喝杯酒。他谈了我的表演，我谈了他的科学，我相信我们双方都很愉快。然而，我却忍住没有说，因为他的试验中有许多东西，连他自己也讲不清楚。譬如说吧，一根铁棒经过一个线圈怎么就会成了磁铁5.说吧，是怎么回事：是灵气附上去了，可是灵气又是哪里来的呢？这就像当今世界上的人一样，我想，上帝让人钻过时代的线圈，灵气附了上去，於是便有了一位拿破仑，一位路德6，或者类似的人物。“整个世界都是一连串的奇迹，”毕业生说道，“但是我们对它们已经是司空见惯了，所以我们把它们称作日常锁事。”他讲了许多，解释了许多，最后好像他为我开了窍。我坦诚地承认，要不是因为我已经是个老头子，我就会立刻到理工学院，去仔细钻研那个世界的究竟，尽管我现在已经是最快乐不过的人了。“您是最快乐不过的人吗？”他问道，就好像他觉得我这话顶有味道一样。“您快乐吗？”他问道。“是呀！”我说道，“我很快乐，我带着我的班子去过的所有城镇都欢迎我。当然，不时也的确有那么一个愿望，它就像一个小精灵，像一只野兔一样来烦我，打搅我的好心情。这个愿望便是：当一个活的戏班子，一个真正是活人的戏班子戏院经理。”“您希望您的木偶都变成活的，您希望它们都变成真的演员”，他说道，“而您以为自己当他们的经理，您便会完满幸福了吗？”他是不相信的，可是我相信。我们翻来覆去地争论着，但是双方的看法总是靠不到一起。不过，我们碰了杯，酒很美，里面一定有魔，要不然这一整段故事只能说明我醉了。我没有醉，我的眼十分清晰，就好像屋子里有太阳光一样，理工学院毕业生脸上显出光彩，我联想到那些在世界上遨游的永远年轻的古老的神。我把这一点对他说了，他微笑了一下。我敢发誓，他一定是一位乔装了的神，或者神的甚么族人，他是的，我的愿望要得到满足了，木偶要变成活的了，我要成为真人的戏班子的经理了。我们为这些祝酒。他把我所有的木偶都装到木箱里，把它绑在我的背上，接着他让我钻过一个线圈。我还听得到我钻过的时候的声音。我躺在地上，千真万确，整个木偶班子都从木箱里跳了出来。灵气附到了他们身上，所有的木偶都变成了很好的艺术家，他们自己这么说，而我是经理。头一场演出的准备工作都做好了；整个戏班子都想和我谈话，也想和观众谈话。女舞蹈家说，要是她不用单腿站立，那么剧场便会塌掉，她是这一切的主角，要按这个身份对待她才行。那个演皇后的木偶要在演