安徒生童話:the Puppet Show Man 演木偶戲的人
the Puppet-Show Man
by Hans Christian Andersen（1851）
ON board a steamer I once met an elderly man， with such a merry face that， if it was really an index of his mind， he must have been the happiest fellow in creation； and indeed he considered himself so， for I heard it from his own mouth. He was a Dane， the owner of a travelling theatre. He had all his company with him in a large box， for he was the proprietor of a puppet-show. His inborn cheerfulness， he said， had been tested by a member of the Polytechnic Institution， and the experiment had made him completely happy. I did not at first understand all this， but afterwards he explained the whole story to me； and here it is：—
“I was giving a representation，” he said， “in the hall of the posting-house in the little town of Slagelse； there was a splendid audience， entirely juvenile excepting two respectable matrons. All at once， a person in black， of student-like appearance， entered the room， and sat down； he laughed aloud at the telling points， and applauded quite at the proper time. This was a very unusual spectator for me， and I felt anxious to know who he was. I heard that he was a member of the Polytechnic Institution in Copenhagen， who had been sent out to lecture to the people in the provinces. Punctually at eight o'clock my performance closed， for children must go early to bed， and a manager must also consult the convenience of the public.
“At nine o'clock the lecturer commenced his lecture and his experiments， and then I formed a part of his audience. It was wonderful both to hear and to see. The GREater part of it was beyond my comprehension， but it led me to think that if we men can acquire so much， we must surely be intended to last longer than the little span which extends only to the time when we are hidden away under the earth. His experiments were quite miracles on a small scale， and yet the explanations flowed as naturally as water from his lips. At the time of Moses and the prophets， such a man would have been placed among the sages of the land； in the middle ages they would have burnt him at the stake.
“All night long I could not sleep； and the next evening when I gave another performance and the lecturer was present， I was in one of my best moods.
“I once heard of an actor， who， when he had to act the part of a lover， always thought of one particular lady in the audience； he only played for her， and forgot all the rest of the house， and now the Polytechnic lecturer was my she， my only auditor， for whom alone I played.
“When the performance was over， and the puppets removed behind the curtain， the Polytechnic lecturer invited me into his room to take a glass of wine. He talked of my comedies， and I of his science， and I believe we were both equally pleased. But I had the best of it， for there was much in what he did that he could not always explain to me. For instance， why a piece of iron which is rubbed on a cylinder， should become magnetic. How does this happen？ The magnetic sparks come to it，—but how？ It is the same with people in the world； they are rubbed about on this spherical globe till the electric spark comes upon them， and then we have a Napoleon， or a Luther， or some one of the kind.
“ ma used to cry thirty years ago. But I make them shorter， for the youngsters don't like long speeches； and if they have anything mournful， they like it to be over quickly.” The whole world is but a series of miracles，' said the lecturer， 'but we are so accustomed to them that we call them everyday matters.' And he went on explaining things to me till my skull seemed lifted from my brain， and I declared that were I not such an old fellow， I would at once become a member of the Polytechnic Institution， that I might learn to look at the bright side of everything， although I was one of the happiest of men.
“ One of the happiest！ said the lecturer， as if the idea pleased him； are you really happy？
“ Yes， I replied； for I am welcomed in every town， when I arrive with my company； but I certainly have one wish which sometimes weighs upon my cheerful temper like a mountain of lead. I should like to become the manager of a real theatre， and the director of a real troupe of men and women.'
“ I understand， he said； you would like to have life breathed into your puppets， so that they might be living actors， and you their director. And would you then be quite happy？'
“I said I believed so. But he did not； and we talked it over in all manner of ways， yet could not aGREe on the subject. However， the wine was excellent， and we clanked our glasses together as we drank. There must have been magic in it， or I should most certainly become tipsy； but that did not happen， for my mind seemed quite clear； and， indeed， a kind of sunshine filled the room， and beamed from the eyes of the Polytechnic lecturer. It made me think of the old stories when the gods， in their immortal youth， wandered upon this earth， and paid visits to mankind. I said so to him， and he smiled； and I could have sworn that he was one of these ancient deities in disguise， or， at all events， that he belonged to the race of the gods. The result seemed to prove I was right in my suspicions； for it was arranged that my highest wish should be granted， that my puppets were to be gifted with life， and that I was to be the manager of a real company. We drank to my success， and clanked our glasses. Then he packed all my dolls into the box， and fastened it on my back， and I felt as if I were spinning round in a circle， and presently found myself lying on the floor. I remember that quite well. And then the whole company sprang from the box. The spirit had come upon us all； the puppets had become distinguished actors—at least， so they said themselves—and I was their director.
“When all was ready for the first representation， the whole company requested permission to speak to me before appearing in public. The dancing lady said the house could not be supported unless she stood on one leg； for she was a GREat genius， and begged to be treated as such. The lady who acted the part of the queen expected to be treated as a queen off the stage， as well as on it， or else she said she should get out of practice. The man whose duty it was to deliver a letter gave himself as many airs as he who took the part of first lover in the piece； he declared that the inferior parts were as important as the great ones， and deserving equal consideration， as parts of an artistic whole. The hero of the piece would only play in a part containing points likely to bring down the applause of the house. The 'prima donna' would only act when the lights were red， for she declared that a blue light did not suit her complexion. It was like a company of flies in a bottle， and I was in the bottle with them； for I was their director. My breath was taken away， my head whirled， and I was as miserable as a man could be. It was quite a novel， strange set of beings among whom I now found myself. I only wished I had them all in my box again， and that I had never been their director. So I told them roundly that， after all， they were nothing but puppets； and then they killed me. After a while I found myself lying on my bed in my room； but how I got there， or how I got away at all from the Polytechnic professor， he may perhaps know， I don't. The moon shone upon the floor， the box lay open， and the dolls were all scattered about in great confusion； but I was not idle. I jumped off the bed， and into the box they all had to go， some on their heads， some on their feet. Then I shut down the lid， and seated myself upon the box. 'Now you'll have to stay，' said I， 'and I shall be cautious how I wish you flesh and blood again.'
“I felt quite light， my cheerfulness had returned， and I was the happiest of mortals. The Polytechnic professor had fully cured me. I was as happy as a king， and went to sleep on the box. Next morning— correctly speaking， it was noon， for I slept remarkably late that day— I found myself still sitting there， in happy consciousness that my former wish had been a foolish one. I inquired for the Polytechnic professor； but he had disappeared like the GREek and Roman gods； from that time I have been the happiest man in the world. I am a happy director； for none of my company ever grumble， nor the public either， for I always make them merry. I can arrange my pieces just as I please. I choose out of every comedy what I like best， and no one is offended. Plays that are neglected now-a-days by the great public were ran after thirty years ago， and listened to till the tears ran down the cheeks of the audience. These are the pieces I bring forward. I place them before the little ones， who cry over them as papa and mamma used to cry thirty years ago. But I make them shorter， for the youngsters don't like long speeches； and if they have anything mournful， they like it to be over quickly.”
汽輪上有一位模樣很老的人，長着一個歡快的臉龐，若不是做作出來的，那他必定就是世界上最快樂的人了。確實，他是這麼說的；我聽他親口說的；他是丹麥人，我的老鄉，一位巡迴劇院的經理。整個戲班子都由他帶着，就在一個大箱子裏；他是演木偶戲的人。他的天性中的好心情，他說，還被一位理工學院1畢業生淨化過一番，由於受過那位畢業生的那次試驗，他有了完滿的幸福。我並沒有立刻明白他的意思，但是他接着便把這件事的來龍去脈對我講了個清清楚楚。這裏便是他的解釋。
那是在斯萊厄瑟，他說道，我在郵政局的大院裏耍木偶戲。做戲場的屋子好極了，觀衆也好極了。除去一兩位老太太外，全是還沒有成年的孩子。後來來了一位身着黑色衣裝、大學生模樣的人。他坐下，在最該笑的地方笑，也在最該拍巴掌的地方拍巴掌。真是一個不尋常的觀衆！我一定要搞清楚他是誰。一打聽，我聽說他是理工學院的畢業生，被派到地方上來，給當地人傳授知識。八點鐘的時候我的演出就結束了。你知道，孩子們是要早上牀的，而且也要考慮到觀衆的方便。九點鐘的時候，這位大學畢業生開始了他的講授和試驗，這會兒我成了他的觀衆了。聽他，看他，很令人覺得奇怪。大部分東西都像俗話說的那樣，經過我的腦袋跑到牧師的腦袋裏去了2.可是有一點我必定要想上一想：我們人是不是能想出那麼一種辦法，能讓我們活得久一點而不馬上被送進土裏去。他做的試驗，都不過是些叫人覺得奇異的小玩意兒，都輕而易舉，可是都直接取之於大自然。若是在摩西和先知的時代3，他一定會是我們國家的大智大慧者；要是生在中世紀，一位懂得理工道理的學者，必定會被燒死4.我一整夜沒有睡，第二天我在那裏表演的時候，這位大學畢業生又來了，我心情真是好極了。以前我曾經聽一位演員說過，說在飾愛情角色的時候，他心中只有觀衆當中的某位女士，他爲她表演，而忘卻了劇院裏所有的其他人；這位理工學院畢業生的他，便成了我的“她”，我爲之表演的唯一的觀看者。演出完畢後，我被那位理工學院畢業生邀到他屋裏喝杯酒。他談了我的表演，我談了他的科學，我相信我們雙方都很愉快。然而，我卻忍住沒有說，因爲他的試驗中有許多東西，連他自己也講不清楚。譬如說吧，一根鐵棒經過一個線圈怎麼就會成了磁鐵5.說吧，是怎麼回事：是靈氣附上去了，可是靈氣又是哪裏來的呢？這就像當今世界上的人一樣，我想，上帝讓人鑽過時代的線圈，靈氣附了上去，於是便有了一位拿破崙，一位路德6，或者類似的人物。“整個世界都是一連串的奇蹟，”畢業生說道，“但是我們對它們已經是司空見慣了，所以我們把它們稱作日常鎖事。”他講了許多，解釋了許多，最後好像他爲我開了竅。我坦誠地承認，要不是因爲我已經是個老頭子，我就會立刻到理工學院，去仔細鑽研那個世界的究竟，儘管我現在已經是最快樂不過的人了。“您是最快樂不過的人嗎？”他問道，就好像他覺得我這話頂有味道一樣。“您快樂嗎？”他問道。“是呀！”我說道，“我很快樂，我帶着我的班子去過的所有城鎮都歡迎我。當然，不時也的確有那麼一個願望，它就像一個小精靈，像一隻野兔一樣來煩我，打攪我的好心情。這個願望便是：當一個活的戲班子，一個真正是活人的戲班子戲院經理。”“您希望您的木偶都變成活的，您希望它們都變成真的演員”，他說道，“而您以爲自己當他們的經理，您便會完滿幸福了嗎？”他是不相信的，可是我相信。我們翻來覆去地爭論着，但是雙方的看法總是靠不到一起。不過，我們碰了杯，酒很美，裏面一定有魔，要不然這一整段故事只能說明我醉了。我沒有醉，我的眼十分清晰，就好像屋子裏有太陽光一樣，理工學院畢業生臉上顯出光彩，我聯想到那些在世界上遨遊的永遠年輕的古老的神。我把這一點對他說了，他微笑了一下。我敢發誓，他一定是一位喬裝了的神，或者神的甚麼族人，——他是的，——我的願望要得到滿足了，木偶要變成活的了，我要成爲真人的戲班子的經理了。我們爲這些祝酒。他把我所有的木偶都裝到木箱裏，把它綁在我的背上，接着他讓我鑽過一個線圈。我還聽得到我鑽過的時候的聲音。我躺在地上，千真萬確，整個木偶班子都從木箱裏跳了出來。靈氣附到了他們身上，所有的木偶都變成了很好的藝術家，他們自己這麼說，而我是經理。頭一場演出的準備工作都做好了；整個戲班子都想和我談話，也想和觀衆談話。女舞蹈家說，要是她不用單腿站立，那麼劇場便會塌掉，她是這一切的主角，要按這個身份對待她才行。那個演皇后的木偶要在演完戲之後也能得到皇后的待遇，否則她就不參加排練。那個在戲中演一個送一封信的人強調自己就好像是戲中的頭號情人一樣地重要，因爲，他說道，在一個藝術的整體中，小人物和大人物是同樣重要的。男主角要求只演壓軸的那幾段戲，因爲這是觀衆鼓掌的地方；女主角只願在紅色燈光下表演，因爲紅色才與她匹配——她不願在藍光下表演。這一夥兒就跟瓶裏的蠅子似的，我也落到了瓶子裏面，我是經理。我喘不過氣來，我暈頭脹腦，成了一個要多麼可憐便多麼可憐的人。和我相處的是另外一類新人。我真希望，我能把它們都又裝回箱子裏去，希望我不再做經理。我直截了當地對他們說，說到頭來，他們全都不過是些木偶，後來他們把我打死了。我躺在我的屋子裏的牀上。我是怎麼從那位理工學院畢業生那裏回來的，只有他知道，我不知道。月光照進屋子，射到裝木偶的箱子翻倒的那塊地方，大大小小的木偶散落滿地，亂七八糟！可是我一點兒不再耽擱，立刻跳下了牀，把它們統統塞進了箱子，有的頭朝下，有的腳朝下；我猛地把箱蓋合上，自己坐到上面。真是值得一畫！你能看出嗎，我是看得出的。“這下子你們都得呆在裏頭了，”我說道，“我也不希望你們再是有血有肉的了！”——我心情極爲輕鬆，我是最快活的人。那位理工學院的畢業生淨化了我，我在完滿的幸福中坐着，在箱子上睡着了。早晨——實在是中午，那天早晨我睡得特別奇妙地長，——我還睡在那兒，非常幸福。我原先的那個唯一的願望原來是愚蠢的。我去找那位理工學院的畢業生，可是他已經不見了，就像那些希臘和羅馬的神一樣。從那時起，我一直是最快樂的人。我是一個愉快的經理，我的戲班子不跟我擡槓，觀衆也不跟我頂嘴，我真是從心底裏感到高興。我自己完全可以自由地編排我的節目。我可以隨心所欲地從所有的戲劇中摘出最好的段落，沒有人會爲這樣做有甚麼抱怨。那些現在的大劇院不屑一演，可是三十年前觀衆爭着要看，感動得淚流滿面的節目，我拿了過來，演給孩子們看，孩子們就像他們的父母當年一樣淚流滿面。我演出“約翰娜·蒙特法康”7和“杜維克”8，不過是經過刪節的，因爲孩子們不喜歡長篇長篇的關於愛情的胡說八道。他們要看：傷感但很快便演完的。我已經走遍丹麥上上下下，我誰都認得，大家也都認得我。現在我要去瑞典了。要是我在那兒也幸福愉快，能賺到好多錢的話，我就成了一個斯堪的納維亞人9了，否則便罷了。這話我對你講，你是我的老鄉。
我，作爲他的一個老鄉，自然馬上又把它講了出來，不過是爲了講講而已。
