《打火匣》，1835 年
the tinder-box, 1835
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安徒生早期的童话故事借鉴了口头讲故事的传统，这些传统热衷于残酷、暴力、粗俗和低俗，并且以一种滑稽的模式发展，这与《卖火柴的小女孩》这类故事的虔诚基调非常不同。
andersen’s early fairy tales draw on oral storytelling traditions that revel in cruelty, violence, earthiness, and vulgarity and move in a burlesque mode very different from the pious tone of tales like “the little match girl”
因为其荒谬的过度情节（《打火匣》中的士兵犯了从忘恩负义、杀人到盗窃和弑君等一切罪行），但也因为其极为迷人的时刻（三条狗对婚礼充满惊奇），这个故事保留了一定的吸引力，使其尽管有许多暴力情节转折却依然流传。
in part because of its preposterous excesses (the soldier in “the tinderbox” is guilty of everything from ingratitude and homicide to theft and regicide) but also its exquisitely charming moments (the three dogs filled with wonder at the wedding), the story has retained a certain appeal that allows it to stay alive despite its many violent turns
《打火匣》是安徒生《童话集》的开篇故事，是他童话的第一部分。
“the tinderbox” was the opening tale of andersen’s eventyr, the first installment of his fairy tales
它基于一个名为《蜡烛精灵》的丹麦民间故事，并且多次暗指其他童话故事 ——《长发公主》（塔中的公主）、《汉赛尔与格莱特》（谷粒的踪迹）和《阿里巴巴和四十大盗》（门的标记）。
it is based on a danish folktale known as “the spirit of the candle” and has multiple allusions to other fairy tales—“rapunzel” (the princess in the tower), “hansel and gretel” (the trail of grain), and “ali baba and the forty thieves” (the marking of doors)
在他早期的儿童故事中，安徒生从不同文化的口头讲故事传统中借用了故事的片段，将它们拼凑在一起形成一个完整的叙述。
in his early stories for children, andersen borrowed bits and pieces of tales from the oral storytelling traditions of various cultures, cobbling them together to form a plete narrative
直到 1837 年《小美人鱼》出版之后，他才完全依靠自己的想象力来创作童话故事。
it was only after the publication of “the little mermaid” in 1837 that he relied fully on his own powers of imagination to construct fairy tales
《打火匣》中的士兵主角与格林兄弟和其他欧洲收集者的故事中的退伍军人有许多共同特征。
the soldier - hero of “the tinderbox” shares many traits with war veterans found in stories by the grimms and other european collectors
他残忍、贪婪又冲动，对于听这个故事的孩子来说，他算不上是个好榜样。
brutal, greedy, and impetuous, he is not much of a role model for children listening to the story
事实上，关于战后归来士兵的故事通常是面向成年观众而非儿童的，不过安徒生添加了足够的魔法和奇思妙想，使这个故事对老少都有吸引力。
indeed, stories about soldiers returning from war were generally intended for adult audiences rather than for children, although andersen adds enough magic and whimsy to make the tale attractive for young and old
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一个士兵正沿着大路行军：
a soldier came marching along the high road:
“左，右 —— 左，右。”
“left, right — left, right”
他背着背包，腰间佩剑；
he had his knapsack on his back, and a sword at his side;
他参加过战争，现在正在回家的路上。
he had been to the wars, and was now returning home
当他继续前行时，在路上遇到了一个长相非常可怕的老巫婆。
as he walked on, he met a very frightful - looking old witch in the road
她的下唇耷拉到胸前，她停下来说道：“晚上好，士兵；
her under - lip hung quite down on her breast, and she stopped and said, “good evening, soldier;
你有一把非常漂亮的剑，还有一个大背包，你是一个真正的士兵；
you have a very fine sword, and a large knapsack, and you are a real soldier;
所以你想要多少钱就可以得到多少钱。”
so you shall have as much money as ever you like”
“谢谢你，老巫婆。” 士兵说道。
“thank you, old witch,” said the soldier
“你看到那棵大树了吗？” 巫婆指着他们旁边的一棵树说道。
“do you see that large tree,” said the witch, pointing to a tree which stood beside them
“嗯，它里面完全是空的，你必须爬到树顶，到那时你会看到一个洞，通过这个洞你可以下到树里很深的地方。
“well, it is quite hollow inside, and you must climb to the top, when you will see a hole, through which you can let yourself down into the tree to a great depth
我会在你身上系一根绳子，这样当你向我呼喊时，我就可以把你拉上来。”
i will tie a rope round your body, so that i can pull you up again when you call out to me”
“但是我到树里面去做什么呢？”
“but what am i to do, down there in the tree”
士兵问道。
asked the soldier
“去拿钱，” 她回答道；
“get money,” she replied;
“因为你要知道，当你到达树下的地面时，你会发现自己在一个大厅里，有三百盏灯照亮着。”
“for you must know that when you reach the ground under the tree, you will find yourself in a large hall, lighted up by three hundred lamps;
你会看到三扇门，它们很容易就能打开，因为所有的锁上都插着钥匙。
you will then see three doors, which can be easily opened, for the keys are in all the locks
一走进这些门通向的第一个房间，你就会看到一个大箱子立在地板中央，箱子上坐着一只狗，它的眼睛有茶杯那么大。
on entering the first of the chambers, to which these doors lead, you will see a large chest, standing in the middle of the floor, and upon it a dog seated, with a pair of eyes as large as teacups
但是你根本不必害怕它；
but you need not be at all afraid of him;
我会给你我的蓝格子围裙，你必须把它铺在地板上，然后大胆地抓住狗，把它放在围裙上。
i will give you my blue checked apron, which you must spread upon the floor, and then boldly seize hold of the dog, and place him upon it
然后你就可以打开箱子，从里面拿走你想要的那么多便士，它们只是铜币；
you can then open the chest, and take from it as many pence as you please, they are only copper pence;
但是如果你想要银币，你就必须走进第二个房间。
but if you would rather have silver money, you must go into the second chamber
在这里你会看到另一只狗，它的眼睛有磨坊的轮子那么大；
here you will find another dog, with eyes as big as mill - wheels;
但是不要让这个困扰你。
but do not let that trouble you
把它放在我的围裙上，然后拿走你想要的钱。
place him upon my apron, and then take what money you please
然而，如果你最喜欢金子，就走进第三个房间，那里有另一个装满金子的箱子。
if, however, you like gold best, enter the third chamber, where there is another chest full of it
坐在这个箱子上的狗非常可怕；
the dog who sits on this chest is very dreadful;
它的眼睛有塔那么大，但是不要在意它。
his eyes are as big as a tower, but do not mind him
如果它也被放在我的围裙上，它就不能伤害你，你就可以从箱子里拿走你想要的金子。”
if he also is placed upon my apron, he cannot hurt you, and you may take from the chest what gold you will”
“这是个不错的故事，” 士兵说；
“this is not a bad story,” said the soldier;
“但是我要给你什么呢，你这个老巫婆？
“but what am i to give you, you old witch
因为，当然了，你不会打算白白告诉我这一切的。”
for, of course, you do not mean to tell me all this for nothing”
“不，” 巫婆说；
“no,” said the witch;
“但是我不要一个便士。
“but i do not ask for a single penny
只要答应给我带一个旧打火匣来，上次我祖母下去的时候把它落在那儿了。”
only promise to bring me an old tinder - box, which my grandmother left behind the last time she went down there”
“很好；
“very well;
“我答应。
i promise
现在把绳子系在我身上吧。”
now tie the rope round my body”
“给你绳子，” 巫婆回答道；
“here it is,” replied the witch;
“这是我的蓝格子围裙。”
“and here is my blue checked apron”
绳子一系好，士兵就爬上树，从树洞里下到下面的地面；
as soon as the rope was tied, the soldier climbed up the tree, and let himself down through the hollow to the ground beneath;
在这里，正如巫婆告诉他的那样，他发现了一个大厅，里面几百盏灯都亮着。
and here he found, as the witch had told him, a large hall, in which many hundred lamps were all burning
然后他打开了第一扇门。
then he opened the first door
“啊！” 那里坐着一只狗，眼睛有茶杯那么大，正盯着他看。
“ah!” there sat the dog, with the eyes as large as teacups, staring at him
“你是个漂亮的家伙，” 士兵说着，抓住它，把它放在巫婆的围裙上，同时把口袋从箱子里装得满满的。
“you’re a pretty fellow,” said the soldier, seizing him, and placing him on the witch’s apron, while he filled his pockets from the chest with as many pieces as they would hold
然后他盖上盖子，又让狗坐在上面，走进了另一个房间。果然，那里坐着一只眼睛有磨坊轮子那么大的狗。
then he closed the lid, seated the dog upon it again, and walked into another chamber, and, sure enough, there sat the dog with eyes as big as mill - wheels
“你最好别那样看着我，” 士兵说；
“you had better not look at me in that way,” said the soldier;
“你会让自己流眼泪的；”
“you will make your eyes water;”
然后他也把它放在围裙上，打开了箱子。
and then he seated him also upon the apron, and opened the chest
但是当他看到箱子里有那么多银币时，他很快就扔掉了所有已经拿的铜币，然后口袋和背包里都装满了银币。
but when he saw what a quantity of silver money it contained, he very quickly threw away all the coppers he had taken, and filled his pockets and his knapsack with nothing but silver
然后他走进第三个房间，那里的狗真的很可怕；
then he went into the third room, and there the dog was really hideous;
它的眼睛，真的，有塔那么大，在脑袋里像轮子一样转来转去。
his eyes were, truly, as big as towers, and they turned round and round in his head like wheels
“早上好，” 士兵碰了碰帽子说道，因为他这辈子从来没见过这样的狗。
“good morning,” said the soldier, touching his cap, for he had never seen such a dog in his life
但是更仔细地看了狗之后，他觉得自己已经够有礼貌了，于是他把狗放在地上，打开了箱子。
but after looking at him more closely, he thought he had been civil enough, so he placed him on the floor, and opened the chest
天哪，好多金子啊！足够买下所有卖糖果的女人的糖棒；
good gracious, what a quantity of gold there was! enough to buy all the sugar - sticks of the sweet - stuff women;
世界上所有的锡兵、鞭子和木马，甚至整个城镇本身。确实，数量巨大。
all the tin soldiers, whips, and rocking - horses in the world, or even the whole town itself there was, indeed, an immense quantity
于是士兵现在扔掉了他拿的所有银币，而是用金子装满了他的口袋和背包；
so the soldier now threw away all the silver money he had taken, and filled his pockets and his knapsack with gold instead;
不仅是他的口袋和背包，甚至他的帽子和靴子也装满了，以至于他几乎走不动路。
and not only his pockets and his knapsack, but even his cap and boots, so that he could scarcely walk
他现在真的很富有了；
he was really rich now;
于是他把狗放回箱子上，关上门，然后通过树洞向上喊道：“现在把我拉上去吧，你这个老巫婆。”
so he replaced the dog on the chest, closed the door, and called up through the tree, “now pull me out, you old witch”
“你拿到打火匣了吗？”
“have you got the tinder - box”
巫婆问道。
asked the witch
“没有；
“no;
我承认我完全忘了。”
i declare i quite forgot it”
于是他回去取了打火匣，然后巫婆把他从树里拉了上来，他又站在了大路上，口袋、背包、帽子和靴子里都装满了金子。
so he went back and fetched the tinder - box, and then the witch drew him up out of the tree, and he stood again in the high road, with his pockets, his knapsack, his cap, and his boots full of gold
“你打算拿打火匣做什么？”
“what are you going to do with the tinder - box”
士兵问道。
asked the soldier
“这与你无关，” 巫婆回答道；
“that is nothing to you,” replied the witch;
“你已经拿到钱了，现在把打火匣给我。”
“you have the money, now give me the tinder - box”
“我告诉你，” 士兵说，“如果你不告诉我你打算拿它做什么，我就拔出剑砍下你的头。”
“i tell you what,” said the soldier, “if you don’t tell me what you are going to do with it, i will draw my sword and cut off your head”
“不。” 巫婆说。
“no,” said the witch
士兵立刻砍下了她的头，她就躺在地上了。
the soldier immediately cut off her head, and there she lay on the ground
然后他把所有的钱都包在她的围裙里，像捆包裹一样把它背在背上，把打火匣放在口袋里，然后向最近的城镇走去。
then he tied up all his money in her apron, and slung it on his back like a bundle, put the tinder - box in his pocket, and walked off to the nearest town
那是一个非常不错的城镇，他住进了最好的旅店，点了一顿全是他最爱吃的菜的晚餐，因为现在他富有了，有很多钱。
it was a very nice town, and he put up at the best inn, and ordered a dinner of all his favorite dishes, for now he was rich and had plenty of money
给他擦靴子的仆人认为，对于这样一位富有的绅士来说，他穿的这双靴子实在是太破旧了，因为他还没有买新的呢。
the servant, who cleaned his boots, thought they certainly were a shabby pair to be worn by such a rich gentleman, for he had not yet bought any new ones
然而，第二天，他购置了一些好衣服和合适的靴子，于是我们的士兵很快就被当作一位体面的绅士，人们都来拜访他，告诉他城里所有值得一看的奇观，以及国王美丽的女儿 —— 公主的事。
the next day, however, he procured some good clothes and proper boots, so that our soldier soon became known as a fine gentleman, and the people visited him, and told him all the wonders that were to be seen in the town, and of the king’s beautiful daughter, the princess
“我在哪里能见到她呢？”
“where can i see her”
士兵问道。
asked the soldier
“根本见不到她，” 他们说；
“she is not to be seen at all,” they said;
“她住在一座巨大的铜城堡里，周围是城墙和塔楼。
“she lives in a large copper castle, surrounded by walls and towers
除了国王本人，没有人能进出，因为有一个预言说她将嫁给一个普通士兵，而国王一想到这样的婚姻就无法忍受。”
no one but the king himself can pass in or out, for there has been a prophecy that she will marry a mon soldier, and the king cannot bear to think of such a marriage”
“我非常想见见她，” 士兵想；
“i should like very much to see her,” thought the soldier;
但是他得不到许可去见她。
but he could not obtain permission to do so
不过，他度过了一段非常愉快的时光；
however, he passed a very pleasant time;
他去剧院，在国王的花园里驾车游玩，还给穷人很多钱，他这样做非常善良；
went to the theatre, drove in the king’s garden, and gave a great deal of money to the poor, which was very good of him;
他还记得过去身无分文的时候是什么样的。
he remembered what it had been in olden times to be without a shilling
现在他富有了，有漂亮的衣服，还有很多朋友，他们都宣称他是个好人，是个真正的绅士，这一切让他非常高兴。
now he was rich, had fine clothes, and many friends, who all declared he was a fine fellow and a real gentleman, and all this gratified him exceedingly
但他的钱不会永远花不完；
but his money would not last forever;
由于他每天花销和赠送出去很多钱，却没有收入，最后他发现自己只剩下两先令了。
and as he spent and gave away a great deal daily, and received none, he found himself at last with only two shillings left
所以他不得不离开他那优雅的房间，住在屋顶下的一个小阁楼里，在那里他得自己擦靴子，甚至用一根大针来补靴子。
so he was obliged to leave his elegant rooms, and live in a little garret under the roof, where he had to clean his own boots, and even mend th
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