A Great Mistake

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An Italian kept a fruit-stand on a corner where he had good aim at the people who came down from the elevatedstation,and at those who went along two throngedstreets.He sat most of the day in a backless chair that was placed strategically.

一個意大利人經營著水果攤，就在街的拐角處，在那里，他能輕易地觀察從高架車站下來的乘客以及兩條熱鬧大街上往來的人群。他精心挑了個好位置，擺上一把沒靠背的椅子，一天中的大部分時間都坐在上面。

2 There was a babe living hard by,up five flights of stairs,who regarded this Italian as a tremendous being.The babe had investigated this fruit-stand.It had thrilled him as few things he had met with in his travels had thrilled him.The sweets of the world had laid there in dazzling rows,tumbled in luxurious heaps.When he gazed at this Italian seated amid such splendid treasures,his lower lip hung low and his eyes,raised to the vendor’s face,were filled with deep respect,worship,as if he saw omnipotence.

2 距水果攤往上五段階梯高的地方，住著一個窮苦的小男孩，在他眼里，這個意大利人是個了不起的大人物。小男孩早已打探過這個水果攤。在他的游歷過程中，很少遇見能像這個水果攤一樣使他興奮的事物，仿佛世上最好的甘果都一排排陳列跟前，堆成大大的果堆，令人目眩。小男孩吃驚地張大了嘴，抬眼凝視坐在這堆絢麗瑰寶當中的小販，眼中充滿深深的崇敬，仿佛看到了萬能的神。

3 The babe came often to this corner.He hovered about the stand and watched each detail of the business.He was fascinated by the tranquilityof the vendor,the majesty of power and possession.At times he was so engrossed in his contemplationthat people,hurrying,had to use care to avoid bumping him down.

3 小男孩時常來到拐角，盤桓在攤子周圍，觀察那里的每一處細節。在他看來，小販就是擁有著權力和財富的君王，而小販安詳的神態吸引著他。有時，他浮想聯翩，沉迷其中，趕路的行人不得不留心避開以免撞倒他。

4 He had never ventured very near to the stand.It was his habit to hang warily about the curb.Even there he resembled a babe who looks unbiddenat a feast of gods.

4 小男孩從不敢靠得太近，他總是小心翼翼地徘徊在路邊。即使在那里，他仍然像個小娃娃，不由自主地望著這一席眾神的盛宴。

5 One day,however,as the baby was thus staring,the vendor arose,and going along the front of the stand,began to polish oranges with a red pocket handkerchief.The breathless spectator moved across the sidewalk until his small face almost touched the vendor’s sleeve.His fingers were gripped in a fold of his dress.

5 有一天，正當小男孩又在路邊眼巴巴瞧著的時候，小販站了起來，繞到攤前，拿起紅手帕開始擦拭橙子。小男孩一邊屏氣盯著，一邊穿過人行道靠近水果攤。他的臉幾乎能碰到小販的衣袖，而他的手指則卷在外套的一處褶皺里。

6 At last,the Italian finished with the oranges and returned to his chair.He drew a newspaper printed in his language from behind a bunch of bananas.He settled himself in a comfortable position,and began to glare savagely at the print.The babe was left face to face with the massed joys of the world.For a time he was a simple worshipper at this golden shrine.Then tumultuousdesires began to shake him.His dreams were of conquest.His lips moved.Presently into his head there came a little plan.He sidled nearer,throwing swift and cunning glances at the Italian.He strove to maintain his conventional manner,but the whole plot was written upon his countenance.

6 意大利人終于擦完了橙子，坐回椅子上。他從一串香蕉后面抽出一份意大利報紙，舒舒服服地坐好，死死地盯著報紙看了起來。這樣，小男孩就直面那成堆的誘人之物了。起初，他只是單純地欣賞著這個金燦燦如神龕般的水果攤。接著，一股強烈的欲望襲上心頭，他想得到水果，雙唇咂動起來。此刻，他的腦中閃現一個小小的計劃。他悄悄向前挪近，狡黠的目光飛快地投向意大利人。他竭力想表現如常，但整個計劃都寫在了臉上。

7 At last he had come near enough to touch the fruit.From the tattered skirt came slowly his small dirty hand.His eyes were still fixed upon the vendor.His features were set,save for the under lip,which had a faint fluttering movement.The hand went forward.

7 終于，小男孩近得可以夠到水果了。他從破破爛爛的外套下面慢慢伸出臟兮兮的小手，眼睛仍然緊盯著小販。除了下嘴唇微微抖動外，他的五官紋絲不動，而他的手繼續向前探去。

8 Elevated trains thundered to the station and the stairway poured people upon the sidewalks.There was a deep sea roar from feet and wheels going ceaselessly.None seemed to perceive the babe engaged in a great venture.

8 列車在高架上轟隆隆地駛進車站，人流從階梯向下涌上人行道。腳步聲和車輪聲雜沓，如同深海的轟鳴，似乎沒人注意到這個正在冒很大風險的小男孩。

9 The Italian turned his paper.Sudden panic smotethe babe.His hand dropped,and he gave vent toa cry of dismay.He remained for a moment staring at the vendor.There was evidently a great debate in his mind.His infant intellect had defined this Italian.The latter was undoubtedly a man who would eat babes that provoked him.And the alarm in the babe when this monarch had turned his newspaper brought vividly before him the consequences if he were detected.But at this moment the vendor gave a blissful grunt,and tilting his chair against a wall,closed his eyes.His paper dropped unheeded.

9 意大利人翻了一下報紙。小男孩嚇了一跳，不由地“啊”了一聲，把手垂下。他的目光在小販身上停留了片刻，內心顯然正進行著激烈的斗爭。在幼小的他看來，這個意大利人肯定會吃了那些膽敢招惹他的小孩。那個高高在上的小販翻動報紙時帶給小男孩的驚嚇讓他清楚意識到自己被發現將會面臨的嚴重后果。然而此時，小販愜意地哼了一聲，讓椅子斜靠著墻，閉上了眼睛，手中的報紙散落地上而毫無察覺。

10 The babe ceased his scrutinyand again raised his hand.It was moved with supreme caution toward the fruit.The fingers were bent,claw-like,in the manner of great heart-shaking greed.Once he stopped and chattered convulsively,because the vendor moved in his sleep.The babe,with his eyes still upon the Italian,again put forth his hand,and the rapaciousfingers closed over a round bulb.

10 小男孩不再遲疑，重新抬起手來，小心翼翼地伸向水果。他的手指像鉤爪一樣彎著，透露出驚人的貪婪。可他又停了下來，身體痙攣似的抖動，因為小販在睡夢中動了一下。小男孩眼睛仍盯著意大利人，繼續把手向前伸，手指貪婪地抓住一個球形水果。

11 And it was written that the Italian should at this moment open his eyes.He glared at the babe a fierce question.Thereupon the babe thrust the round bulb behind him,and with a face expressive of the deepest guilt,began a wild but elaborateseries of gestures declaring his innocence.The Italian howled.He sprang to his feet,and with three steps overtook the babe.He whirledhim fiercely,and took from the little fingers a lemon.■

11 意大利人就在這一刻睜開了雙眼。他狠狠瞪著小男孩，眼神帶著質問。于是小男孩立刻把攥著球狀水果的手藏到身后，可卻滿臉愧疚，拼命做出一連串手勢表明自己的清白。而意大利人怒吼一聲，跳將起來，三步就趕上了小男孩，將他猛地扳過身來，從他的小手中奪下一個檸檬。 □