最后的珠子
这是一首散文诗，最先发表在1854年哥本哈根出版的《历书》或《家庭历书》上。一个婴孩出生以后可以得到许多礼物，但“最后的珠子”是怎样也缺少不了的一件礼物！只有通过它，别的礼物才特别显得光辉夺目。你可以在它上面看到长虹的光辉——它把天上和人间联结起来。这就是“悲哀的珠子……一颗最后的珠子”。它是一颗热泪落到“悲哀的女神”的衣服上所形成的。一个人从出生到结束，没有它就不能算完满。它就藏在灵魂的翅膀里面。“我们在夜间向星空望，寻求最美满的东西”，死者的灵魂在空中展翅。这也就是说：“人活了一生，总归要留下一些业绩，那是永远不会死亡的”——当然在这里，安徒生是指那些忠实、正直地履行了人生责任的人。
WE are in a rich，happy house，where the master，the servants，the friends of the family are full of joy and felicity(felicity n.幸福，幸运，福气，（措辞等）恰当，巧妙)。For on this day a son and heir has been born，and mother and child are doing well.The lamp in the bedchamber had been partly shaded，and the windows were covered with heavy curtains of some costly(costly adj.昂贵的，贵重的silken material.The carpet was thick and soft，like a covering of moss.Everything invited to slumberslumber n.睡眠v.睡眠，everything had a charming look of reposerepose n.休息，睡眠，静止vt.使休息，寄托于vi.休息，长眠，静卧，座落，依靠)。and so the nurse had discovered，for she slept；and well she might sleep，while everything around her told of happiness and blessing.
这是一个富有的家庭，也是一个幸福的家庭。所有的人——主人、仆人和朋友——都是快乐和幸福的，因为在这天一个继承人——一个儿子——出生了。妈妈和孩子都安然无恙。这个舒适的卧室里的灯是半掩着的；窗子上挂着贵重的、丝织的厚窗帘，地毡是又厚又柔软，很像一块盖满了青苔的草地。一切东西都起着催眠的作用，使人想睡，使人有一种愉快的、安静的感觉。保姆也有这种感觉；她睡了，她也睡得着，因为这儿一切是美好和幸福的。
The guardian angel of the house leaned against the head of the bed.While over the child was spread，as it were，a net of shining stars，and each star was a pearl of happiness.All the good stars of life had brought their gifts to the newly born.Here sparkled health，wealth，fortune，and love.In short，there seemed to be everything for which man could wish on earth.
这家的守护神正在床头站着。他在孩子和母亲的胸脯的上空伸展开来，像无数明亮的、灿烂的星星——每颗星是一个幸运的珠子。善良的、生命的女神们都带来她们送给这个新生的孩子的礼物。这儿是一片充满了健康、富饶、幸运和爱情的景象——一句话，人们在这个世界上所希望有的东西，这儿全有了。
“Everything has been bestowed here.”said the guardian angel.
“一切东西都被送给这一家人了！”守护神说。
“No，not everything.”said a voice near him—the voice of the good angel of the child.“One fairy has not yet brought her gift，but she will，even if years should elapse，she will bring her gift.It is the last pearl that is wanting.”
“还少一件，”他身边的一个声音说。这是孩子的好安琪儿。“还有一个仙女没有送来礼物。但是她会送来的，即使许多年过去了，有一天她总会送来的。还缺少那颗最后的珠子！”
“Wanting！”cried the guardian angel，“Nothing must be wanting here，and if it is so，let us fetch it，let us seek the powerful fairy，let us go to her.”
“缺少！这儿什么东西都不应该缺少。假如真有这么一回事，那么我们就要去找她——她这位有力量的女神。我们去找她吧！”
“She will come，she will come some day unsoughtunsought adj.未追求的，未寻求的！”
“她会来的！她总有一天会来的！”
“Her pearl must not be missing.It must be there，that the crown，when worn，may be complete.Where is she to be found？Where does she dwell？”said the guardian angel.“Tell me，and I will procure(procure v.获得，取得)the pearl.”
“为了把这个花环扎好，她的这颗珠子决不可以缺少！她住在什么地方呢？她的家在什么地方呢？你只需告诉我，我就可以去把这颗珠子取来！”守护神说。
“Will you do that？”replied the good angel of the child.“Then I will lead you to her directly，wherever she may be.She has no abiding place.She rules in the palace of the emperor，sometimes she enters the peasants humble cot.She passes no one without leaving a trace of her presence.She brings her gift with her，whether it is a world or a bauble(bauble n.小玩意)。To this child she must come.You think that to wait for this time would be long and useless.Well，then，let us go for this pearl—the only one lacking amidst all this wealth.”
“你真的愿意做这件事吗？”孩子的安琪儿问。“不管她在什么地方，我可以领你去。她没有一个固定的住址。她到皇帝的宫殿里去，也到最穷苦的农人家里去。她决不会走过一个人家而不留下一点痕迹的。她对善良人都送一点礼品——不管是大量的财富，还是一个小小的玩具！她也一定会来看这个小孩子的。你以为我们这样老等下去，将来不一定会得到好的东西吗？好吧，现在我们去取那颗珠子吧——去取这颗最后的珠子，弥补美中不足吧。”