評論
打印
February
二月
A Medal Well Bestowed.
獎牌授予
Saturday, 4th.
星期六，4日。
THIS morning the superintendent of the schools, a gentleman with a white beard, and dressed in black, came to bestow the medals. He entered with the headmaster a little before the close and seated himself beside the teacher. He questioned a few, then gave the first medal to Derossi, and before giving the second, he stood for a few moments listening to the teacher and the headmaster, who were talking to him in a low voice. All were asking themselves, "To whom will he give the second?" The superintendent said aloud:--
今天，視學官到學校里來，說是來給予賞牌的。那是有白須著黑服的紳士，在功課將完畢的時候，和校長先生一同到了我們的教室里，坐在先生的旁邊，對三四個學生做了一會兒考問。把一等獎的賞牌給與代洛西，又和先生及校長低聲談說。“受二等獎的不知是誰？”我們正這樣想，一邊默然地咽著唾液。繼而，視學官高聲說：
"Pupil Pietro Precossi has merited the second medal this week,--merited it by his work at home, by his lessons, by his handwriting, by his conduct in every way." All turned to look at Precossi, and it was evident that all took pleasure in it. Precossi rose in such confusion that he did not know where he stood.
“配托羅·潑來可西此次應受二等獎。他答題、功課、作文、操行，一切都好。”大家都向潑來可西看，心里都代他歡喜。潑來可西不知如何才好。
"Come here," said the superintendent. Precossi sprang up from his seat and stepped up to the master's table. The superintendent looked attentively at that little waxen face, at that puny body enveloped in turned and ill-fitting garments, at those kind, sad eyes, which avoided his, but which hinted at a story of suffering; then he said to him, in a voice full of affection, as he fastened the medal on his shoulder:--
“到這里來！”視學官說。潑來可西離了座位走近先生的案旁，視學官用打量著潑來可西的蠟色的臉和縫補過的不合身材的服裝，替他將賞牌懸在眉下，深情地說：
"I give you the medal, Precossi. No one is more worthy to wear it than you. I bestow it not only on your intelligence and your good will; I bestow it on your heart, I give it to your courage, to your character of a brave and good son. Is it not true," he added, turning to the class, "that he deserves it also on that score?"
“潑來可西！今天給你賞牌，因為沒有比你更值得的人，并不單只因為你的才能與勤勉；這賞牌還獎勵你的心情、勇氣及強固的孝行。”說著又問我們：“不是嗎？他是這樣的吧？”
"Yes, yes!" all answered, with one voice. Precossi made a movement of the throat as though he were swallowing something, and cast upon the benches a very sweet look, which was expressive of immense gratitude.
“是的，是的！”大家齊聲回答。潑來可西喉頭動著，好像在那里咽什么，過了一會兒，用很好的臉色對我們看，充滿了感謝之情。
