孔乙己

魯鎭的酒店的格局，是和別處不同的：都是當街一個曲尺形的大櫃臺，櫃裏面豫備着熱水，可以隨時温酒。做工的人，傍午傍晚散了工，每每花四文銅錢，買一碗酒——這是二十多年前的事，現在每碗要漲到十文，——靠櫃外站着，熱熱的喝了休息；倘肯多花一文，便可以買一碟鹽煑筍，或者茴香豆，做下酒物了，如果出到了十幾文，那就能買一樣葷菜，但這些顧客，多是短衣幫，大抵沒有這樣闊綽。只有穿長衫的，纔踱進店面隔壁的房子裏，要酒要菜，慢慢地坐喝。

鲁镇的酒店的格局，是和别处不同的：都是当街一个曲尺形的大柜台，柜里面豫备着热水，可以随时温酒。做工的人，傍午傍晚散了工，每每花四文铜钱，买一碗酒——这是二十多年前的事，现在每碗要涨到十文，——靠柜外站着，热热的喝了休息；倘肯多花一文，便可以买一碟盐煮笋，或者茴香豆，做下酒物了，如果出到了十几文，那就能买一样荤菜，但这些顾客，多是短衣帮，大抵没有这样阔绰。只有穿长衫的，才踱进店面隔壁的房子里，要酒要菜，慢慢地坐喝。

The wine shops of Luzhen are laid out differently from those elsewhere. Each has a big counter shaped like a carpenter's square, facing the street, with hot water kept ready inside it so that wine can be warmed at any moment. At noon or in the evening, when work is over, labourers will often spend four coppers on a bowl of wine (that was over twenty years ago; a bowl now costs ten), and drink it hot, standing outside the counter, to rest. If they are willing to spend one copper more, they can buy a dish of salted bamboo shoots or aniseed beans to go with the wine, and for a dozen or so coppers they could buy a meat dish. But most of these customers belonged to the short-jacket crowd, and few of them could afford such luxury. Only those in long gowns would stroll into the room next to the shop, order wine and food, and sit drinking at their leisure.

我從十二歲起，便在鎭口的咸亨酒店裏當夥計，掌櫃說，樣子太儍，怕侍候不了長衫主顧，就在外面做點事罷。外面的短衣主顧，雖然容易說話，但嘮嘮叨叨纏夾不淸的也很不少。他們往往要親眼看着黃酒從罎子裏舀出，看過壺子底裏有水沒有，又親看將壺子放在熱水裏，然後放心：在這嚴重監督之下，羼水也很爲難。所以過了幾天，掌櫃又說我幹不了這事。幸虧薦頭的情面大，辭退不得，便改爲專管温酒的一種無聊職務了。

我从十二岁起，便在镇口的咸亨酒店里当伙计，掌柜说，样子太傻，怕侍候不了长衫主顾，就在外面做点事罢。外面的短衣主顾，虽然容易说话，但唠唠叨叨缠夹不清的也很不少。他们往往要亲眼看着黄酒从坛子里舀出，看过壶子底里有水没有，又亲看将壶子放在热水里，然后放心：在这严重监督之下，羼水也很为难。所以过了几天，掌柜又说我干不了这事。幸亏荐头的情面大，辞退不得，便改为专管温酒的一种无聊职务了。

From the age of twelve I worked as a boy in the Prosperity Tavern at the edge of the town. The tavern keeper said I looked too foolish to wait on the long-gowned customers, so I was given work in the front of the shop. Though the short-jacket customers there were easier to talk to, there were quite a few among them who grumbled and nagged without end. They liked to watch with their own eyes as the yellow wine was ladled out of the jar, to see whether there was water at the bottom of the wine pot, and to watch the pot being set in the hot water before they would rest easy. Under such strict supervision it was hard to slip water into the wine. So after a few days the tavern keeper said I was not up to this job either. Luckily the man who had recommended me carried some weight, so I could not be dismissed, and I was moved to the dull work of warming wine and nothing else.

孔乙己是站着喝酒而穿長衫的唯一的人。他身材很高大；靑白臉色，皺紋間時常夾些傷痕；一部亂蓬蓬的花白的鬍子。穿的雖然是長衫，可是又髒又破，似乎十多年沒有補，也沒有洗。他對人說話，總是滿口之乎者也，教人半懂不懂的。因爲他姓孔，別人便從描紅紙上的『上大人孔乙己』這半懂不懂的話裏，替他取下一個綽號，叫作孔乙己。孔乙己一到店，所有喝酒的人便都看着他笑，有的叫道：『孔乙己，你臉上又添上新傷疤了！』他不回答，對櫃裏說：『温兩碗酒，要一碟茴香豆。』便排出九文大錢。他們又故意的高聲嚷道：『你一定又偸了人家的東西了！』孔乙己睜大眼睛說：『你怎麽這樣憑空汚人淸白……』『什麽淸白？我前天親眼見你偸了何家的書，弔着打。』孔乙己便漲紅了臉，額上的靑筋條條綻出，爭辯道：『竊書不能算偸……竊書！……讀書人的事，能算偸麽？』接連便是難懂的話，什麽『君子固窮』，什麽『者乎』之類，引得衆人都哄笑起來；店內外充滿了快活的空氣。

孔乙己是站着喝酒而穿长衫的唯一的人。他身材很高大；青白脸色，皱纹间时常夹些伤痕；一部乱蓬蓬的花白的胡子。穿的虽然是长衫，可是又脏又破，似乎十多年没有补，也没有洗。他对人说话，总是满口之乎者也，教人半懂不懂的。因为他姓孔，别人便从描红纸上的『上大人孔乙己』这半懂不懂的话里，替他取下一个绰号，叫作孔乙己。孔乙己一到店，所有喝酒的人便都看着他笑，有的叫道：『孔乙己，你脸上又添上新伤疤了！』他不回答，对柜里说：『温两碗酒，要一碟茴香豆。』便排出九文大钱。他们又故意的高声嚷道：『你一定又偷了人家的东西了！』孔乙己睁大眼睛说：『你怎么这样凭空污人清白……』『什么清白？我前天亲眼见你偷了何家的书，吊着打。』孔乙己便涨红了脸，额上的青筋条条绽出，争辩道：『窃书不能算偷……窃书！……读书人的事，能算偷么？』接连便是难懂的话，什么『君子固穷』，什么『者乎』之类，引得众人都哄笑起来；店内外充满了快活的空气。

Kong Yiji was the only long-gowned customer who drank his wine standing. He was a big man, with a pale, greenish face and scars often showing among his wrinkles, and a straggling grizzled beard. He wore a long gown, but it was dirty and torn and looked as if it had not been mended or washed for ten years or more. When he talked to people his speech was always stuffed with archaic particles, so that you could only half understand him. Because his surname was Kong, people gave him the nickname Kong Yiji, from the half-intelligible phrase in children's copybooks, "Shang da ren Kong Yi ji." Whenever Kong Yiji came into the tavern, all the drinkers would look at him and laugh, and someone would call out: "Kong Yiji, you've got some new scars on your face." He would not answer, but would say to the counter, "Warm two bowls of wine, and a dish of aniseed beans," and lay out nine coppers. Then they would shout on purpose: "You must have been stealing again." Kong Yiji would open his eyes wide and say, "How can you ruin a man's good name without any grounds ..." "Good name? The day before yesterday I saw you with my own eyes, strung up and beaten for stealing books from the He family." Then Kong Yiji would flush, the veins on his forehead would stand out, and he would protest, "Taking books cannot be counted as stealing ... Taking books ... the affairs of a scholar, can that be called stealing?" Then followed quotations hard to understand, such as "A gentleman keeps firm in poverty," and a string of archaic particles, which made everybody roar with laughter, and the whole tavern, inside and out, was filled with cheerful air.

聽人家背地裏談論，孔乙己原來也讀過書，但終于沒有進學，又不會營生；于是愈過愈窮，弄到將要討飯了。幸而寫得一筆好字，便替人家鈔鈔書，換一碗飯喫。可惜他又有一樣壞脾氣，便是好喝嬾做。坐不到幾天，便連人和書籍紙張筆硯，一齊失蹤。如是幾次，叫他鈔書的人也沒有了。孔乙己沒有法，便免不了偶然做些偸竊的事。但他在我們店裏，品行卻比別人都好，就是從不拖欠；雖然間或沒有現錢，暫時記在粉板上，但不出一月，定然還淸，從粉板上拭去了孔乙己的名字。

听人家背地里谈论，孔乙己原来也读过书，但终于没有进学，又不会营生；于是愈过愈穷，弄到将要讨饭了。幸而写得一笔好字，便替人家钞钞书，换一碗饭吃。可惜他又有一样坏脾气，便是好喝懒做。坐不到几天，便连人和书籍纸张笔砚，一齐失踪。如是几次，叫他钞书的人也没有了。孔乙己没有法，便免不了偶然做些偷窃的事。但他在我们店里，品行却比别人都好，就是从不拖欠；虽然间或没有现钱，暂时记在粉板上，但不出一月，定然还清，从粉板上拭去了孔乙己的名字。

I heard people say behind his back that Kong Yiji had studied the classics but had never passed the official examination, and had no way of making a living, so that he grew poorer and poorer until he was nearly reduced to begging. Luckily he wrote a good hand, and could copy books for people in exchange for a bowl of rice. Unfortunately he had a bad failing too: he loved drinking and hated work. After a few days he would disappear, together with the books, paper, brushes and inkstone. After this had happened several times, nobody wanted him to copy books any more. Then Kong Yiji had no way out but to do a little stealing now and then. But in our tavern his conduct was better than anyone else's: he never failed to pay. Although sometimes he had no ready money and his name would be chalked up on the board, in less than a month he would settle his debt without fail, and the name Kong Yiji would be wiped off the board.

在這些時候，我可以附和着笑，掌櫃是決不責備的。而且掌櫃見了孔乙己，也每每這樣問他，引人發笑。孔乙己自己知道不能和他們談天，便只好向孩子說話。有一回對我說道，『你讀過書麽？』我略略點一點頭。他說，『讀過書，……我便考你一考。茴香豆的茴字，怎樣寫的？』我想，討飯一樣的人，也配考我麽？便回過臉去，不再理會。孔乙己等了許久，很懇切的說道：『不能寫罷？……我教給你，記着！這些字應該記着。將來做掌櫃的時候，寫帳要用。』我暗想我和掌櫃的等級還很遠呢，而且我們掌櫃也從不將茴香豆上帳；又好笑，又不耐煩，嬾嬾的答他道：『誰要你教，不是草頭底下一個來回的回字麽？』孔乙己顯出極高興的樣子，將兩個指頭的長指甲敲着櫃臺，點頭說：『對呀對呀！……回字有四樣寫法，你知道麽？』我愈不耐煩了，努着嘴走遠。孔乙己剛用指甲蘸了酒，想在櫃上寫字，見我毫不熱心，便又歎一口氣，顯出極惋惜的樣子。

在这些时候，我可以附和着笑，掌柜是决不责备的。而且掌柜见了孔乙己，也每每这样问他，引人发笑。孔乙己自己知道不能和他们谈天，便只好向孩子说话。有一回对我说道，『你读过书么？』我略略点一点头。他说，『读过书，……我便考你一考。茴香豆的茴字，怎样写的？』我想，讨饭一样的人，也配考我么？便回过脸去，不再理会。孔乙己等了许久，很恳切的说道：『不能写罢？……我教给你，记着！这些字应该记着。将来做掌柜的时候，写帐要用。』我暗想我和掌柜的等级还很远呢，而且我们掌柜也从不将茴香豆上帐；又好笑，又不耐烦，懒懒的答他道：『谁要你教，不是草头底下一个来回的回字么？』孔乙己显出极高兴的样子，将两个指头的长指甲敲着柜台，点头说：『对呀对呀！……回字有四样写法，你知道么？』我愈不耐烦了，努着嘴走远。孔乙己刚用指甲蘸了酒，想在柜上写字，见我毫不热心，便又叹一口气，显出极惋惜的样子。

At such times I could join in the laughter, and the tavern keeper would never scold me for it. In fact, whenever he saw Kong Yiji, the keeper himself would often ask him the same questions, to make people laugh. Kong Yiji knew that he could not talk with them, so he could only talk to children. Once he said to me: "Have you had any schooling?" I nodded slightly. He said, "So you've had some schooling ... Then let me test you. How do you write the hui in hui-xiang beans?" I thought: is a beggar like this fit to test me? I turned my face away and paid him no more attention. Kong Yiji waited a long time, then said very earnestly: "You can't write it? ... I'll teach you. Mind you remember. These characters ought to be remembered. When you become a tavern keeper some day, you'll need them for your accounts." It seemed to me I was still a long way from the rank of tavern keeper, and besides, our tavern keeper never put aniseed beans in the accounts. Half amused and half impatient, I answered him lazily: "Who needs you to teach me? Isn't it the hui with the grass radical on top of the hui that means to return?" Kong Yiji looked extremely pleased. Tapping two long fingernails on the counter, he nodded and said, "Right, right ... There are four ways of writing hui. Do you know them?" I grew more impatient, pouted, and walked away. Kong Yiji had just dipped his fingernail in wine, ready to write the characters on the counter, but when he saw how little interest I had, he sighed again and looked extremely regretful.

有幾回，鄰舍孩子聽得笑聲，也趕熱鬧，圍住了孔乙己。他便給他們茴香豆喫，一人一顆。孩子喫完豆，仍然不散，眼睛都望着碟子。孔乙己着了慌，伸開五指將碟子罩住，彎腰下去說道：『不多了，我已經不多了。』直起身又看一看豆，自己搖頭說：『不多不多！多乎哉？不多也。』于是這一羣孩子都在笑聲裏走散了。

有几回，邻舍孩子听得笑声，也赶热闹，围住了孔乙己。他便给他们茴香豆吃，一人一颗。孩子吃完豆，仍然不散，眼睛都望着碟子。孔乙己着了慌，伸开五指将碟子罩住，弯腰下去说道：『不多了，我已经不多了。』直起身又看一看豆，自己摇头说：『不多不多！多乎哉？不多也。』于是这一群孩子都在笑声里走散了。

Several times the neighbourhood children, hearing laughter, came to join in the fun and surrounded Kong Yiji. Then he would give them aniseed beans, one apiece. After eating the beans, the children would still hang about, their eyes on the dish. Flustered, Kong Yiji would cover it with his hand, bend down and say, "Not many left, I haven't many left." Then, straightening up, he would look at the beans again, shake his head and say, "Not many, not many. Many? Not many, truly." And the children would scatter in a burst of laughter.

有一天，大約是中秋前的兩三天，掌櫃正在慢慢的結帳，取下粉板，忽然說：『孔乙己長久沒有來了。還欠十九個錢呢！』我纔也覺得他的確長久沒有來了。一個喝酒的人說道，『他怎麽會來？……他打折了腿了。』掌櫃說：『哦！』『他總仍舊是偸。這一回，是自己發昏，竟偸到丁舉人家裏去了。他家的東西，偸得的麽？』『後來怎麽樣？』『怎麽樣？先寫服辯，後來是打，打了大半夜，再打折了腿。』『後來呢？』『後來打折了腿了。』『打折了怎樣呢？』『怎樣？……誰曉得？許是死了。』掌櫃也不再問，仍然慢慢的算他的帳。

有一天，大约是中秋前的两三天，掌柜正在慢慢的结帐，取下粉板，忽然说：『孔乙己长久没有来了。还欠十九个钱呢！』我才也觉得他的确长久没有来了。一个喝酒的人说道，『他怎么会来？……他打折了腿了。』掌柜说：『哦！』『他总仍旧是偷。这一回，是自己发昏，竟偷到丁举人家里去了。他家的东西，偷得的么？』『后来怎么样？』『怎么样？先写服辩，后来是打，打了大半夜，再打折了腿。』『后来呢？』『后来打折了腿了。』『打折了怎样呢？』『怎样？……谁晓得？许是死了。』掌柜也不再问，仍然慢慢的算他的帐。

One day, perhaps two or three days before the Mid-Autumn Festival, the tavern keeper was slowly making up his accounts. He took down the board, and suddenly said, "Kong Yiji hasn't been in for a long time. He still owes nineteen coppers." Only then did I realize that he had indeed not been in for a long time. One of the drinkers said, "How could he come? ... His legs have been broken." "Oh," said the tavern keeper. "He kept on stealing. This time he was fool enough to steal from the house of Mr Ding, the provincial graduate. As if anyone could steal from that family." "What happened then?" "What happened? First he had to write a confession, then he was beaten. The beating went on nearly all night, and then they broke his legs." "And then?" "And then his legs were broken." "And after they were broken?" "After? ... Who knows? Maybe he's dead." The tavern keeper asked no more, but went on slowly making up his accounts.

自此以後，又長久沒有看見孔乙己。到了年關，掌櫃取下粉板說：『孔乙己還欠十九個錢呢！』到第二年的端午，又說：『孔乙己還欠十九個錢呢！』到中秋可是沒有說，再到年關也沒有看見他。

自此以后，又长久没有看见孔乙己。到了年关，掌柜取下粉板说：『孔乙己还欠十九个钱呢！』到第二年的端午，又说：『孔乙己还欠十九个钱呢！』到中秋可是没有说，再到年关也没有看见他。

After that I did not see Kong Yiji for a long time. At the end of the year the tavern keeper took down the board and said, "Kong Yiji still owes nineteen coppers." At the Dragon Boat Festival the next year he said again, "Kong Yiji still owes nineteen coppers." But at the Mid-Autumn Festival he did not mention it, and when the end of the year came round again we still did not see him.