《豌豆花》，1853 年

the pea blossom, 1853

從前，一個豆莢裡有五顆豌豆，它們是綠色的，豆莢也是綠色的，所以它們就認為整個世界肯定也都是綠色的，這是個很自然的結論。

there were once five peas in one shell, they were green, the shell was green, and so they believed that the whole world must be green also, which was a very natural conclusion.

豆莢長大了，豌豆也長大了，它們適應著各自的位置，整整齊齊地排成一排。

the shell grew, and the peas grew, they acmodated themselves to their position, and sat all in a row.

陽光從外面照進來，溫暖著豆莢，雨水把它沖洗得清澈透明；白天陽光明媚，天氣溫和宜人，夜晚則漆黑一片，通常都是如此；而坐在裡面的豌豆們長得越來越大，它們沉思的時候也變得越發有想法了，因為它們覺得肯定還有別的事情等著它們去做。

the sun shone without and warmed the shell, and the rain made it clear and transparent; it was mild and agreeable in broad daylight, and dark at night, as it generally is; and the peas as they sat there grew bigger and bigger, and more thoughtful as they mused, for they felt there must be something else for them to do.

“我們要永遠坐在這兒嗎？”

“Are we to sit here forever?”

其中一顆豌豆問道；“坐這麼久，我們會不會變硬啊？在我看來，外面肯定有別的東西，我對此深信不疑。”

asked one; “shall we not bee hard by sitting so long? It seems to me there must be something outside, and I feel sure of it.”

隨著幾周時間過去，豌豆變黃了，豆莢也變黃了。

And as weeks passed by, the peas became yellow, and the shell became yellow.

“我猜整個世界都在變黃吧。” 它們說道 —— 也許它們說得沒錯。

“All the world is turning yellow, I suppose,” said they, — and perhaps they were right.

突然，它們感覺豆莢被拉了一下；豆莢被扯掉了，被人拿在手裡，然後和其他裝滿豌豆的豆莢一起被塞進了一件夾克的口袋裡。

Suddenly they felt a pull at the shell;