1. As Mr. Nilson, well known in the City, opened the window of his dressing-room, he experienced a peculiar sweetish sensation in the back of his throat, and a feeling of emptiness just under his fifth rib. Hooking the window back, he noticed that a little tree in the Square Gardens had come out in blossom, and that the thermometer stood at sixty. 'Perfect morning,' he thought; 'spring at last!'
當這座城市鼎鼎有名的尼爾森先生打開他更衣室的窗戶時，一種奇怪的甜蜜感沁入他的喉嚨，與此同時一種空虛的感覺侵入他的肺脾。他向后掛住窗鉤，注意到廣場花園里的一棵小樹已花朵掛滿枝頭，溫度計顯示此時的溫度為華氏60度。 “完美的早晨，”他想，“春天終于到了！”
2. He took up an ivory-backed hand-glass and scrutinised his face. His firm, well-coloured cheeks, with their neat brown moustaches, and his round, well-opened, clear grey eyes, wore a reassuring appearance of good health. Putting on his coat, he went downstairs. Arrived, Mr. Nilson again became aware of that queer feeling. A cuckoo clock struck eight.
他拿起一面象牙柄鏡子，對著鏡子仔細地端詳著自己的容顏——結實、紅潤的面頰，整齊的棕色胡須，以及一雙清澈的又大又圓的灰色眼睛，都讓他對自己的健康狀況非常安心。他穿上外套，走下樓。到了樓下，尼爾森先生再次體會到那種奇怪的感覺。此時，布谷鳥鐘敲了八下。
3. 'Half an hour to breakfast,' he thought; 'I'll take a turn in the Gardens.' He proceeded to pace the circular path with his morning paper clasped behind him. He had scarcely made two rounds, however, when he realized that, instead of going away in the fresh air, the feeling had increased. 　
“離早餐時間還有半個小時，”他想，“還可以在花園里轉一圈。”他繼續背著手沿著環形小徑前行，手里握著晨報。然而，幾乎還沒走到兩圈，他就意識到，那種感覺在新鮮空氣中非但沒有消失，反而更加強烈了。
4. He drew several deep breaths, having heard deep breathing recommended by his wife's doctor; but they augmented rather than diminished the sensation. Running over what he had eaten the night before, he could recollect no unusual dish, and it occurred to him that it might possibly be some smell affecting him. But he could detect nothing except a faint sweet lemony scent, which evidently emanated from the bushes budding in the sunshine. He was on the point of resuming his promenade, when a blackbird close by burst into song, and, looking up, Mr. Nilson saw at a distance of perhaps five yards a little tree, in the heart of whose branches the bird was perched. 　
他按照他妻子醫生的建議，做了幾次深呼吸，但這樣做并沒有達到預想的效果，卻讓那種感覺愈加濃烈。他回想昨天晚上吃過的東西，發現并沒有吃過什么特別的，而且他突然想到這可能是某種使他不適的氣味。但除了淡淡的香甜的檸檬味外，他并沒有察覺到其他的氣味，而這種淡淡的檸檬味顯然是從陽光下剛剛萌芽的灌木叢中散發出來的。他正要繼續他的散步時，突然附近的一只烏鶇開始唱起歌來。他抬頭望去，看到距他大約五碼的一棵小樹的樹枝間棲息著那只小鳥。
5. He stood staring curiously at this tree, recognising it for that which he had noticed from his window. It was covered with young blossoms, pink and white, and little bright green leaves; and on all this blossom and these leaves the sunlight glistened. Mr. Nilson smiled; the little tree was so alive and pretty! And instead of passing on, he stayed there smiling at the tree.
他好奇地凝視著那棵樹，認出了它正是自己從家里的窗口注視過的那棵樹。它的樹枝上掛滿了新開的花朵，有粉紅色的，有白色的，還有一些嫩綠的葉子。與此同時，陽光透過這些花朵和葉子閃爍著光芒。尼爾森先生露出了微笑，這顆小樹真漂亮，真有活力啊！他停下了腳步，站在那里看著小樹，臉上掛著笑容。
6. 'Morning like this!' he thought; 'and here I am the only person in the Square who has the--to come out and--!' But he had no sooner conceived this thought than he saw quite near him a man with his hands behind him, who was also staring up and smiling at the little tree. Rather taken aback, Mr. Nilson ceased to smile, and looked furtively at the stranger.　
“這么美好的清晨！”他想，“這個廣場上，他是唯一一個因為這棵樹來到這里的人”！不過，這個念頭剛剛進入他的腦海，他便看到離他很近的地方站著一個背著手的人，而且那個人也在抬頭面帶微笑地凝視著那棵小樹。尼爾森先生吃了一驚，停下了笑容，開始窺視那個陌生人。

7. It was his next-door neighbour, Mr. Tandram, well known in the City, who had occupied the adjoining house for some five years. Mr. Nilson perceived at once the awkwardness of his position, for they had not yet had occasion to speak to one another. Doubtful, he decided at last to murmur: "Fine morning!" and was passing on, when Mr. Tandram answered: "Beautiful, for the time of year!" 　
這個人是他隔壁的鄰居坦德拉姆先生，也是本市的知名人物，已經住在尼爾森先生家隔壁大約五年了。尼爾森先生立刻意識了這是一個尬尷的局面，因為他們倆還從來沒有相互交談過。遲疑了一會兒，他最終還是低聲說到：“早晨的天氣不錯！” 。當他說完準備繼續散步時，坦德拉姆先生回答說：“一年里的這個時候是最美的！”
8. Detecting a slight nervousness in his neighbour's voice, Mr. Nilson was emboldened to regard him openly. He was of about Mr. Nilson's own height, with firm well-coloured cheeks, neat brown moustaches, and round, well-opened, clear grey eyes. Mr. Nilson noticed that he had his morning paper clasped behind him as he looked up at the little tree. And, visited somehow by the feeling that he had been caught out, he said abruptly:
尼爾森先生發現他這位鄰居的聲音中帶著些緊張，于是壯著膽子，大大方方地打量了他一下——他的身高跟尼爾森先生差不多，同樣有著結實、紅潤的面頰，整齊的棕色胡須，以及一雙清澈的又大又圓的灰色眼睛。尼爾森先生還注意到，當他抬頭看著小樹時，他背在后面的手里也握著晨報。而且，他應該也是跟隨著某種感覺來到這里的。這時，尼爾森先生硬生生地問道：
9. "Er--can you give me the name of that tree?" Mr. Tandram answered: "I was about to ask you that," and stepped towards it. Mr. Nilson also approached the tree. "Sure to have its name on, I should think," he said. Mr. Tandram was the first to see the little label, close to where the blackbird had been sitting. He read it out. "Japanese quince!" "Ah!" said Mr. Nilson, "thought so. Early flowerers." "Very," assented Mr. Tandram, and added: "Quite a feelin' in the air today." Mr. Nilson nodded. "It was a blackbird singin'," he said.
“呃……您知道這樹叫什么名字嗎？”坦德拉姆先生回答說：“我也正打算問您呢，”，說完朝著那棵樹的方向挪了挪腳步。尼爾森先生也朝著樹的方向走了走。 “樹上肯定有名稱標簽，我覺得，”他說。坦德拉姆先生先看到了標簽，就在那只烏鶇站立的位置附近。他讀出了標簽上的名稱 ——“日本海棠！” “啊！”尼爾森先生說，“我應該想到的。是一種開花期很早的植物。” “確實如此，”坦德拉姆先生表示贊同，然后補充說：“今天的空氣中很有感覺。”尼爾森先生點了點頭。“這是烏鶇在唱歌，”他說。
10. "These exotics, they don't bear fruit. Pretty blossom!" he continued and he again glanced up at the blossom, thinking: 'Nice fellow, this, I rather like him.' Mr. Tandram also gazed at the blossom. And the little tree as if appreciating their attention, quivered and glowed. From a distance the blackbird gave a loud, clear call. Mr. Nilson dropped his eyes. It struck him suddenly that Mr. Tandram looked a little foolish; and, as if he had seen himself, he said: "I must be going in. Good morning!"
“它是外來物種，不結果實，但開的花很漂亮！”他繼續說道，然后再次抬頭看了一眼樹上的花朵，心想：“這人不錯，我挺喜歡他。”坦德拉姆先生也仔細地看了一下樹上的花朵。與此同時，小樹仿佛在對他們的關注表示感激，抖擻了一下身子，并發出了絢麗的光芒。遠處傳來了清晰的烏鶇鳴叫聲。尼爾森先生垂下目光。他突然驚訝地發現坦德拉姆先生看起來有些傻傻的，并且，仿佛他一直在看著他自己。他說：“我得回家了，早上好！”
11. A shade passed over Mr. Tandram's face, as if he, too, had suddenly noticed something about Mr. Nilson. "Good morning," he replied, and clasping their journals to their backs they separated. Mr. Nilson retraced his steps toward his garden window, walking slowly so as to avoid arriving at the same time as his neighbour. Having seen Mr. Tandram mount his scrolled iron steps, he ascended his own in turn. On the top step he paused.
坦德拉姆先生的臉陰沉了一下，好像他也突然發現了一些關于尼爾森先生的事情。“早上好，”他回答道。然后，他們倆各自背著手，手里握著晨報，分別朝家的方向走去。尼爾森先生朝著自家花園窗戶的方向慢慢走著，以免與他那位鄰居同時到達家門口。看到坦德拉姆先生已經踏上了他家門口的波形鐵臺階時，他也踏上了臺階。到達最后一級臺階時，他停下了腳步。
12. With the slanting spring sunlight darting and quivering into it, the Japanese quince seemed more living than a tree. The blackbird had returned to it, and was chanting out his heart. Mr. Nilson sighed; again he felt that queer sensation, that choky feeling in his throat. The sound of a cough or sigh attracted his attention. There, in the shadow of his French window, stood Mr. Tandram, also looking forth across the Gardens at the little quince tree.
伴隨著春天傾斜的陽光射入抖動的樹梢，那棵日本海堂所散發出的活力已超出了一棵樹的范疇。烏鶇又回到樹上，正陶醉地歌唱。尼爾森先生嘆了口氣。那種奇怪的、卡在他喉嚨里的窒息感覺，又回來了。一陣咳嗽或嘆息的聲音引起了他的注意。聲音來自坦德拉姆先生，他正站在他家的落地窗下，同樣在望著花園對面的那棵日本海棠樹。
Unaccountably upset, Mr. Nilson turned abruptly into the house, and opened his morning paper.
一種莫名其妙的心煩意亂涌上心來，尼爾森先生突然轉身回到屋里，打開了他的晨報。