評論
打印
Half a Day
半日
Naguib Mahfouz
納吉布·馬哈福茲
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.
我走在父親的一側，牢牢地抓著他的右手。我穿著一新:黑鞋子、綠校服、紅帽子。然而我一點兒都高興不起來，因為今天是我第一次被送去上學。
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.
母親站在窗前，望著我們緩緩前行，我不時地回頭看她，希望她會救我。我們沿著街道走著，街道兩旁是花園和田野，田野里種了莊稼、梨樹和椰棗樹。
"Why school?" I asked my father. "What have I done?"
“我為什么要去上學？”我問父親，“是我做錯了什么嗎? ”
"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?"
“我不是在懲罰你，”父親笑著說道，“上學不是一種懲罰。學校能把男孩子培養(yǎng)成有用的男人。難道你不想像你的哥哥們那樣，成為一個有用的人嗎？”
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.
我不以為然。我才不相信把我從家里拽出來，扔進那個巨大的、高墻圍繞的建筑里會對我有什么真正的好處呢。
When we arrived at the gate we could see the courtyard, vast and full of boys and girls.
到了學校門口，我們看到寬闊的院子里站滿了男女生。“自己進去吧，”我父親說，
"Go in by yourself," said my father, "and join them. Put a smile on your face and be a good example to others."
“到他們當中去吧。笑一笑。給其他的孩子做個好榜樣。”
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'll find me waiting for you when it's time to leave."
我緊抓著父親的手，猶豫不決。但是父親卻輕輕地把我推開了。“拿出點兒男子氣概來。”他說，"從今天起你就要真正開始自己的生活了。放學時我會在這兒等你。”
