Half a Day-- Naguib Mahfous (埃及作家)
I walked alongside my father, clutching his right hand. All my clothes were new: the black shoes, the green school uniform, and the red cap. They did not make me happy, however, as this was the day I was to be thrown into school for the first time.
My mother stood at the window watching our progress, and I turned towards her from time to time, hoping she would help. We walked along a street lined with gardens, and fields planted with crops: pears, and date palms.
"Why school ?" I asked my father. "What have I done ?"
"I'm not punishing you, " he said, laughing. "School's not a punishment. It's a place that makes useful men out of boys. Don' t you want to be useful like your brothers?"
走在父亲身边，紧紧攀着他的右手。身上的衣裳全是崭新的：黑色的小皮鞋，绿色的校服，还有红色的帽子。这一切丝毫不能使我开心起来，因为，这是我被扔进学校的第 一天。
妈妈站在窗边看着我们步步前行，我一次又一次转过身来期盼着妈妈的帮助。
“为什么要这样？”我问我的父亲。“我做错了什么吗？”
“我不是惩罚你。”他笑着说“去上学校并不是惩罚。这是一个能把你从男孩变成有用之人的地方，你不想变得象你的兄长一样，做个真正的男人吗？”
I was not convinced. I did not believe there was really any good to be had in tearing me away from my home and throwing me into the huge, high-walled building.
When we arrived at the gate we could see the courtyard, vast and full of boys and girls. "Go in by yourself, " said my father, "and join them. Put a smile on your face and be a good example to others. "
I hesitated and clung to his hand, but he gently pushed me from him. "Be a man, " he said. "Today you truly begin life. You will find me waiting for you when it's time to leave. "
I took a few steps. Then the faces of the boys and girls came into view. I did not know a single one of them, and none of them knew me. I felt I was a stranger who had lost his way. But then some boys began to glance at me in curiosity, and one of them came over and asked, "Who brought you?"
"My father, " I whispered.
"My father's dead, " he said simply.
我没有被说动。我可不相信把我从家中牵走然后扔进高墙深院的建筑有什么好的。
当我们到达学校的大门，我看见了大操场，那儿满是男孩和女孩。“自己走进去。”父亲告诉我“融入他们之中，面带微笑面对一切，这也是给他们作个榜样。”
我犹豫着不愿松开父亲的手，但他轻轻的推开我的小手。“象个男人一样”他说“今天你的人生真正开始了。你离开时我会在这儿等你。
我走了几步，到处都是男孩女孩的陌生面孔，我一个也不认识……他们中也没人认识我……我感到自己就象迷路的旅行者。接着一些孩子开始好奇的打量我，
其中一个走上前来问：“谁带你来的？”
“我爸爸”我回答道。
“我的爸爸死了”他平淡地说。
I did not know what to say. The gate was now closed. Some of the children burst into tears. The bell rang. A lady came along, followed by a group of men. The men began sorting us into ranks. We were formed into an intricate pattern in the great courtyard surrounded by high buildings; from each floor we were overlooked by a long balcony roofed in wood.
"This is your new home, "said the woman.
"There are mothers and fathers here, too. Everything that is enjoyable and beneficial is here. So dry your tears and face life joyfully. "
Well, it seemed that my misgivings had had no basis. From the first moments I made many friends and fell in love with many girls. I had never imagined school would have this rich variety of experiences.
这时我不知道该说些什么了，突然，大门关上了。立刻就有一些孩子哭了出来。接着铃响了，一个女人走了过来，她身后跟着一群男人。男人们开始把我们编成队列。我们在高楼间的庭院里被排出复杂的队形,那会我可以望见每层楼都有木顶的阳台。
“这儿就是你们的新家 ！”那个女人这么说道：“这里一样也有家人和父母，所有有益处和舒适的东西都在这儿。所以，擦干你的眼泪准备享受这里幸福的生活吧。”
的确如此，看来我的疑虑和痛苦是毫无根据的。从第一刻起，我就认识了许许多多的新朋友，我与许许多多女孩坠入爱河。我从没想到学校生活会是如此多姿多彩。
We played all sorts of games. In the music room we sang our first songs. We also had our first introduction to language. We saw a globe of the Earth, which revolved and showed the various continents and countries. We started learning numbers, and we were told the story of the Creator of the universe. We ate delicious food, took a little nap, and woke up to go on with friendship and love, playing and learning.
Our path, however, was not totally sweet and unclouded. We had to be observant and patient. It was not all a matter of playing and fooling around. Rivalries could bring about pain and hatred or give rise to fighting. And while the lady would sometimes smile, she would often yell and scold. Even more frequently she would resort to physical punishment.
In addition, the time for changing one' s mind was over and gone and there was no question of ever returning to the paradise of home. Nothing lay ahead of us but exertion, struggle, and perseverance. Those who were able took advantage of the opportunities for success and happiness that presented themselves.
我们玩转了各式的游戏，在音乐教室里唱起了第一首歌，还第一次感触了文学的魅力。我们从地球仪上认识了神奇的不同大陆和迥异的国度。我们学习了数学，还听到了造物主的传说。在学校里，我们品尝了美味的食物，睡了那么香甜的午觉。然后又从睡梦中新来去继续我们的友谊、爱情、玩乐和学习。
当然了。我们的旅程也不是那么甜美而惬意。我们得遵纪和耐心，因为这一切也不总是游戏人生和无所事事。事实上到处都伴随着竞争，竞争带来了伤痛和仇恨,抑或助长了那些争斗,然而那位女士出现时却总是以微笑替代鼓励或斥责,即便她可更常的诉诸体罚。
最后，已经不再有什么能改变我们的想法了，我们甚至不会去想念那温暖如天堂般的家。在我们的脑海里，只剩下了努力，奋斗，锲而不舍。为的是在机会出现时能抓住属于自己的幸福与成功。
The bell rang, announcing the passing of the day and the end of work. The children rushed toward the gate, which was opened again. I said goodbye to friends and sweethearts and passed through the gate. I looked around but found no trace of my father, who had promised to be there. I stepped aside to wait. When I had waited for a long time in vain, I decided to return home on my own. I walked a few steps, then came to a startled halt. Good Lord! Where was the street lined with gardens? Where had it disappeared to? When did all these cars invade it? And when did all these people come to rest on its surface? How did these hills of rubbish find their way to cover its sides?
铃声再次响起,宣告了一日的完结和辛劳的尾声。孩子们向再次敞开的大门涌去。我对朋友和心爱的可人们道了再会,走了出去。四下张望却不见保证出现的父亲的身影,我走到一边等着。一段漫长而徒劳的等待过后,我决定自己回家。我前行几步,却惊恐的停下了。天啊!我那回家的路呢，那条花园之中的小路呢？消失去了何方？这儿何时已被这些车辆挤满？人们又何时开始走在了汽车的两旁？成山的废品如何遍布了路面？漫无边际的田地哪去了？高楼接管了一切,街道满是儿童,惊扰的噪音震颤着上空。处处是展示小把戏和令蛇从篮子里探出的小丑与术士们,乐队宣布着马戏团的开演,那儿有密集的人群跟着前面的举重者。
And where were the fields that bordered it? High buildings had taken over, the street was full of children, and disturbing noises shook the air. Here and there stood conjurers showing off their tricks or making snakes appear from baskets. Then there was a band announcing the opening of a circus, with clowns and weight lifters walking in front.
Good God! I was in a daze. My head spun. I almost went crazy. How could all this have happened in half a day, between early morning and sunset? I would find the answer at home with my father. But where was my home? I hurried towards the crossroads, because I remembered that I had to cross the street to reach our house, but the stream of cars would not let up. Extremely irritated, I wondered when I would be able to cross.
真主!我只觉得一片茫然,开始眩晕,近乎癫狂。一切的一切如何能在清晨到日落这半日内发生？我要回家在父亲那里得到答案。但家在哪里？我朝十字路口赶去,因为还记得须穿过这条街回去,然而车流却不肯停下。我心烦意乱的想知道何时才能通过。
I stood there a long time, until the young boy employed at the ironing shop on the corner came up to me.
He stretched out his arm and said, "Grandpa, let me take you across."
在那儿默立了许久,直到一个受雇于街角的铁铺的年轻人向我走过来。
他向我伸出臂膀：“老爷爷,我领你过去吧。”