安徒生童話:The Silver Shilling銀毫子
The Silver Shilling
by Hans Christian Andersen（1862）
theRE was once a shilling， which came forth from the mint springing and shouting， Hurrah！ now I am going out into the wide world. And truly it did go out into the wide world. The children held it with warm hands， the miser with a cold and convulsive grasp， and the old people turned it about， goodness knows how many times， while the young people soon allowed it to roll away from them. The shilling was made of silver， it contained very little copper， and considered itself quite out in the world when it had been circulated for a year in the country in which it had been coined. One day， it really did go out into the world， for it belonged to a gentleman who was about to travel in foreign lands. This gentleman was not aware that the shilling lay at the bottom of his purse when he started， till he one day found it between his fingers. Why， cried he， here is a shilling from home； well， it must go on its travels with me now！ and the shilling jumped and rattled for joy， when it was put back again into the purse.
Here it lay among a number of foreign companions， who were always coming and going， one taking the place of another， but the shilling from home was always put back， and had to remain in the purse， which was certainly a mark of distinction. Many weeks passed， during which the shilling had travelled a long distance in the purse， without in the least knowing where he was. He had found out that the other coins were French and Italian； and one coin said they were in this town， and another said they were in that， but the shilling was unable to make out or imagine what they meant. A man certainly cannot see much of the world if he is tied up in a bag， and this was really the shilling's fate. But one day， as he was lying in the purse， he noticed that it was not quite closed， and so he slipped near to the opening to have a little peep into society. He certainly had not the least idea of what would follow， but he was curious， and curiosity often brings its own punishment. In his eagerness， he came so near the edge of the purse that he slipped out into the pocket of the trousers； and when， in the evening， the purse was taken out， the shilling was left behind in the corner to which it had fallen. As the clothes were being carried into the hall， the shilling fell out on the floor， unheard and unnoticed by any one. The next morning the clothes were taken back to the room， the gentleman put them on， and started on his journey again； but the shilling remained behind on the floor. After a time it was found， and being considered a good coin， was placed with three other coins. Ah， thought the shilling， this is pleasant； I shall now see the world， become acquainted with other people， and learn other customs.
Do you call that a shilling？ said some one the next moment. That is not a genuine coin of the country，—it is false； it is good for nothing.
Now begins the story as it was afterwards related by the shilling himself.
‘False！ good for nothing！' said he. That remark went through and through me like a dagger. I knew that I had a true ring， and that mine was a genuine stamp. these people must at all events be wrong， or they could not mean me. But yes， I was the one they called 'false， and good for nothing.'
‘then I must pay it away in the dark，' said the man who had received me. So I was to be got rid of in the darkness， and be again insulted in broad daylight.
‘False！ good for nothing！' Oh， I must contrive to get lost， thought I. And I trembled between the fingers of the people every time they tried to pass me off slyly as a coin of the country. Ah！ unhappy shilling that I was！ Of what use were my silver， my stamp， and my real value here， where all these qualities were worthless. In the eyes of the world， a man is valued just according to the opinion formed of him. It must be a shocking thing to have a guilty conscience， and to be sneaking about on account of wicked deeds. As for me， innocent as I was， I could not help shuddering before their eyes whenever they brought me out， for I knew I should be thrown back again up the table as a false pretender. At length I was paid away to a poor old woman， who received me as wages for a hard day's work. But she could not again get rid of me； no one would take me. I was to the woman a most unlucky shilling. 'I am positively obliged to pass this shilling to somebody，' said she； 'I cannot， with the best intentions， lay by a bad shilling. The rich baker shall have it，—he can bear the loss better than I can. But， after all， it is not a right thing to do.'
‘Ah！' sighed I to myself， 'am I also to be a burden on the conscience of this poor woman？ Am I then in my old days so completely changed？' The woman offered me to the rich baker， but he knew the current money too well， and as soon as he received me he threw me almost in the woman's face. She could get no bread for me， and I felt quite grieved to the heart that I should be cause of so much trouble to another， and be treated as a cast-off coin. I who， in my young days， felt so joyful in the certainty of my own value， and knew so well that I bore a genuine stamp. I was as sorrowful now as a poor shilling can be when nobody will have him. The woman took me home again with her， and looking at me very earnestly， she said， 'No， I will not try to deceive any one with thee again. I will bore a hole through thee， that everyone may know that thou art a false and worthless thing； and yet， why should I do that？ Very likely thou art a lucky shilling. A thought has just struck me that it is so， and I believe it. Yes， I will make a hole in the shilling，' said she， 'and run a string through it， and then give it to my neighbor's little one to hang round her neck， as a lucky shilling.' So she drilled a hole through me.
‘It is really not at all pleasant to have a hole bored through one， but we can submit to a GREat deal when it is done with a good intention. A string was drawn through the hole， and I became a kind of medal. They hung me round the neck of a little child， and the child laughed at me and kissed me， and I rested for one whole night on the warm， innocent breast of a child.
‘In the morning the child's mother took me between her fingers， and had certain thoughts about me， which I very soon found out. First， she looked for a pair of scissors， and cut the string.
‘Lucky shilling！' said she， 'certainly this is what I mean to try.' then she laid me in vinegar till I became quite GREen， and after that she filled up the hole with cement， rubbed me a little to brighten me up， and went out in the twilight hour to the lottery collector， to buy herself a ticket， with a shilling that should bring luck. How everything seemed to cause me trouble. The lottery collector pressed me so hard that I thought I should crack. I had been called false， I had been thrown away，—that I knew； and there were many shillings and coins with inscriptions and stamps of all kinds lying about. I well knew how proud they were， so I avoided them from very shame. With the collector were several men who seemed to have a great deal to do， so I fell unnoticed into a chest， among several other coins.
Whether the lottery ticket gained a prize， I know not； but this I know， that in a very few days after， I was recognized as a bad shilling， and laid aside. Everything that happened seemed always to add to my sorrow. Even if a man has a good character， it is of no use for him to deny what is said of him， for he is not considered an impartial judge of himself.
A year passed， and in this way I had been changed from hand to hand； always abused， always looked at with displeasure， and trusted by no one； but I trusted in myself， and had no confidence in the world. Yes， that was a very dark time.
At length one day I was passed to a traveller， a foreigner， the very same who had brought me away from home； and he was simple and true-hearted enough to take me for current coin. But would he also attempt to pass me？ and should I again hear the outcry， 'False！ good-for-nothing！' The traveller examined me attentively， 'I took thee for good coin，' said he； then suddenly a smile spread all over his face. I have never seen such a smile on any other face as on his. 'Now this is singular，' said he， 'it is a coin from my own country； a good， true， shilling from home. Some one has bored a hole through it， and people have no doubt called it false. How curious that it should come into my hands. I will take it home with me to my own house.'
Joy thrilled through me when I heard this. I had been once more called a good， honest shilling， and I was to go back to my own home， where each and all would recognize me， and know that I was made of good silver， and bore a true， genuine stamp. I should have been glad in my joy to throw out sparks of fire， but it has never at any time been my nature to sparkle. Steel can do so， but not silver. I was wrapped up in fine， white paper， that I might not mix with the other coins and be lost； and on special occasions， when people from my own country happened to be present， I was brought forward and spoken of very kindly. They said I was very interesting， and it was really quite worth while to notice that those who are interesting have often not a single word to say for themselves.
At length I reached home. All my cares were at an end. Joy again overwhelmed me； for was I not good silver， and had I not a genuine stamp？ I had no more insults or disappointments to endure； although， indeed， there was a hole through me， as if I were false； but suspicions are nothing when a man is really true， and every one should persevere in acting honestly， for an will be made right in time. That is my firm belief， said the shilling.
有一個銀毫子，他亮珵珵地從造幣廠裏走出來，蹦蹦跳跳、丁丁當當，好哇，我要到大世界去了！這樣他走進了大世界。
孩子用溫暖的手緊緊握着他，貪婪的人用冰冷粘溼的手抓着他；老年人把他翻來覆去地看，年輕人則一下子就把他花掉。這個毫子是銀做的，摻的銅很少，來到世界上現在已經一整年了，也就是在鑄造他的那個國家裏轉來轉去一年了。後來他到外國旅行去了，他是那位要到外國旅行的主人錢袋裏最後一枚本國錢。在他拿到他之前，並不知道自己還有這枚錢。
我竟然還剩下一枚家鄉的錢！他說道，可以帶上他一起去旅行！當他把銀幣放回錢袋裏去的時候，銀毫子高興得蹦蹦跳跳、丁當亂響。在袋裏他和外國夥伴呆在一起，那些外國夥伴來來去去，一個讓位給另一位，可是家鄉帶來的這枚銀毫子總是呆在裏面，這是一種榮譽。
好幾個星期過去了，銀毫子到了世界很遠的地方，自己卻一點兒不知道到了哪裏。他聽別的錢說，他們是法國的，是意大利的；一個說他們現在在這個城市，另外一個說，他們在那個城市；可是這枚銀毫子卻想像不出都是些甚麼地方。當你總是呆在袋子裏的時候，你是看不見世界的，他的情形就如此。不過有一天，當他呆在那裏的時候，發現錢袋沒有捆緊。於是他悄悄爬到錢袋口上，想往外看看。他很不該這麼幹，可是他很好奇，他遭罰了——他滑出錢袋掉進褲兜裏。當晚上錢袋被取出放在一旁的時候，銀毫子留在褲兜裏了。他在褲兜裏躺着，和衣服一起被送到了走廊裏；他一下子掉到了地上；沒有人聽到，也沒有人看到。
清晨衣服被送進來。先生穿上衣服，走了。銀毫子卻沒有跟着走，他被人發現了，又該爲他人服務了，他和另外三枚錢一起被用了出去。
在世界上到處瞧瞧倒是真不錯！銀毫子想道，瞭解到一些別人、別的風俗習慣！
這是一枚甚麼錢，馬上就有人這麼說道。這錢不是這個國家的！是假的！不好使！
是啊，這就開始了銀毫子後來自己講的故事。
假的，不好使！這念頭閃過了我的腦際，銀毫子說道。我知道我是上等銀子鑄的，聲音也很正，鑄上的印記也是真的。他們一定是弄錯了，他們說的不可能是我，可是他們說的正是我！就是我，他們說是假的，不好使！我得趁黑把它使掉！拿到這文錢的那個人說道。於是我便被人趁黑使掉，白天又被人罵了一通， ——假的，不好使！我們得設法用掉它。
銀毫子每次在人的手指中要被當本國錢轉手用掉的時候，他總是渾身發抖。
我是多麼可憐的銀毫子啊！我的銀子，我的價值，我的鑄印，在它們都沒有意義的時候，對我有甚麼用呢！世界相信你，你對世界纔有意義。我本來是完全無辜的，只是因爲我的長相與衆不同便這麼背時，讓我心不得安寧，偷偷摸摸走罪惡的道路，真是可怕極了！——每次人家把我拿出來，我總要在那些注視着我的眼睛面前揣揣不安。我知道，我會被人甩了回來，被扔到桌子上，就好像我在撒謊在欺詐一樣。有一回，我落到了一個可憐的窮苦婦人的手上。她是靠每天辛勤操勞，作爲一日的工資掙到我的。可是現在她根本無法把我使掉，因爲沒有人要我，我真爲她感到不幸。
這下子我得拿它去騙人去了，她說道。留一枚假錢，我可受用不起。可以給那個有錢的麵包房老闆，他能受用。可是不管怎麼說，我的做法都是不對的。
得，這下子是我污染了這個婦人的良心！銀毫子歎息道。上了年紀，我的變化當真就這麼大嗎？
婦人去了有錢的麵包房老闆那裏，但是他太會辨認市上流通的錢幣了。他沒有讓我呆在我應該呆的地方，而是一下子把我扔到了婦人的臉上。她因此沒能用我買到麵包，我爲我成爲一枚引起別人苦痛的錢幣而感到由衷的內疚。我，在年輕的時候那麼快樂，那麼自信，對我的價值、我的鑄印那麼深信不疑。我變得憂鬱起來，一枚可憐的銀毫子在沒有人要的時候能多憂鬱，我便多憂鬱。不過婦人又把我拿回家去，她誠懇地看着我，很溫和，很友好。不，我不拿你去騙人！她說道。我要在你身上打個洞，讓大家都看得出你是一枚假錢，——可是——我又覺得，——你也許是一枚吉祥幣。是的，我相信是的！我有這個想法。我在銀毫子上打一個洞，在洞上穿一根線，戴在鄰居小孩的脖子上，當一枚吉祥幣。於是她給我打了一個洞。身上被打洞總是不好受的，可是如果用心是好的，那麼你便可以忍受許多許多。我被穿上了一根線，成了一種掛着的勳章，戴在那個小孩的脖子上。小孩笑瞇瞇地望着我，親吻我，我整夜貼在小孩的溫暖、天真的胸前。
到了清早，她母親把我拿在她的指間，看了看我，有了她自己的想法，我很快便感覺到了。她找來了一把剪刀，把線剪斷了。
吉祥幣！她說道。好吧，讓我們看看！她把我放進醋裏，於是我渾身變成綠的。接着她把洞補上，擦了擦，趁黑到賣彩票的人那兒，買了一張會給她帶來好運的彩票。我太痛苦了，我渾身疼痛，就像要炸了似的。我知道我會被說成是假的，當着一大堆有可靠印記的銀毫子、銅錢的面被挑出來。但是，我混過去了。賣彩票的人那裏有許多人；他忙得不可開交，我和其他的錢幣一起丁丁當當地落到了錢匣子裏。用我買的那張彩票是不是中了彩，我不知道。但是我知道第二天我便被人認作一枚假錢擱到一邊，被繼續拿去一遍遍地騙人。自己的品格本來是高尚的，這樣騙來騙去真是叫人受不了。我對自己的品行是不會有任何懷疑的。 在整整一年裏，我就這樣從一隻手轉到另一隻手，從這家轉到那家，總是被人咒罵，總是被人惡眼相看。沒有人相信我，我自己也不相信自己，也不相信世界。這是一段艱難的時期。
最後有一天來了一位遊客，我自然是混進他手裏的，他對我是市上流通的銀幣深信不疑。可是後來他要把我用出去的時候，我又聽到了那種喊聲：不好使！假的！
我是當作真的得到它的，這個人說道，然後仔細地看了我一眼。於是他滿臉笑容，這面孔與衆不同，以前我沒有見到過，怎麼搞的，是怎麼回事？他說道。這可是我們自己國家的錢呀，一枚家鄉貨真價實的銀毫子，它被人打了一個洞，說是假的。真是有趣！我得把它保留起來帶回家去！歡樂一下子流遍了我的全身，我被人稱作是貨真價實的銀毫子，要被人帶回家去。那裏人人都認得我，知道我是上等銀子鑄成的，有着真實的鑄印。我真想冒出些歡欣的火星，可是我沒有那種能耐。鋼有那個本事，銀子沒有。
我被包在一塊精緻的白紙裏，免得和別的錢幣混在一起使掉。只是在團圓時刻，家鄉人聚在一起的時候才把我拿出來讓人看，受大家稱讚。他們說我很有趣。一個人可以一言不發而被人稱爲有趣，這太妙了！
接着我便回到老家！我的一切苦難都過去了，我的快樂開始了。要知道我是上等銀子鑄的，我上面有真正的鑄印。被人看成是假錢，在我身上打了一個洞再也不使我痛苦了。只要你不是假的，這又有甚麼關係！一個人得忍耐，到時自有公道的！這是我的信仰！銀毫子說道。
