The foremost ones had hardly reached the stage, when behind the scenes there became audible a very, very faint music of violins, which did not cease during the whole time that they were filing past--a soft and always even air, like the murmur of many subdued voices, the voices of all the mothers, and all the masters and mistresses, giving counsel in concert, and beseeching and administering loving reproofs. And meanwhile, the prize-winners passed one by one in front of the seated gentlemen, who handed them their certificates, and said a word or bestowed a caress on each.

第一个学生下去的时候，舞台后面远远地发出提琴的声音来，一直到受奖者完全通过才停止。那是柔婉平和的音调，听去好像女人在低语。受奖者一个一个通过绅士们的前面，绅士们就把奖状递给他们，有的与他们讲话，有的用手抚磨他们。

The boys in the pit and the balconies applauded loudly every time that there passed a very small lad, or one who seemed, from his garments, to be poor; and also for those who had abundant curly hair, or who were clad in red or white. Some of those who filed past belonged to the upper primary, and once arrived there, they became confused and did not know where to turn, and the whole theatre laughed. One passed, three spans high, with a big knot of pink ribbon on his back, so that he could hardly walk, and he got entangled in the carpet and tumbled down; and the prefect set him on his feet again, and all laughed and clapped. Another rolled headlong down the stairs, when descending again to the pit: cries arose, but he had not hurt himself. Boys of all sorts passed,--boys with roguish faces, with frightened faces, with faces as red as cherries; comical little fellows, who laughed in every one's face: and no sooner had they got back into the pit, than they were seized upon by their fathers and mothers, who carried them away.

每逢极小的孩子，衣服褴褛的孩子，头发蓬蓬的孩子，着赤眼或是白眼的孩子通过的时候，在池座及厢座的小孩都大拍其手。有一个二年级的小学生上了舞台，突然手足无措起来，至于迷了方向，不知向哪里走才好，满场见了大笑。又有一个小孩，背上结着桃色的丝带，他勉强地爬上了台，被地毡一绊就翻倒了，知事扶他起来大家又拍手笑了。还有一个在下台来的时候跌在池座里哭了。幸而没有受伤。各式各样的孩子都有：有很敏活的，有很老实的，有脸孔红得像樱桃的，有见了人就要笑的。他们一下了舞台，父亲或母亲都立刻来领了他们去。

When our schoolhouse's turn came, how amused I was! Many whom I knew passed. Coretti filed by, dressed in new clothes from head to foot, with his fine, merry smile, which displayed all his white teeth; but who knows how many myriagrammes of wood he had already carried that morning! The mayor, on presenting him with his certificate, inquired the meaning of a red mark on his forehead, and as he did so, laid one hand on his shoulder. I looked in the pit for his father and mother, and saw them laughing, while they covered their mouths with one hand. Then Derossi passed, all dressed in bright blue, with shining buttons, with all those golden curls, slender, easy, with his head held high, so handsome, so sympathetic, that I could have blown him a kiss; and all the gentlemen wanted to speak to him and to shake his hand.

轮到我们学校的时候，我真快活得非常。我认识的学生很多，可荣谛从头到脚都换了新服装，露了齿微笑着通过了。谁知道他今天从早晨起已经背了多少捆柴了呢！市长把奖状授予他时，问他额上为何有红痕，他把原因说明，市长就把手加在他肩上。我向地座去看他的父母，他们都在掩着口笑呢。接着，代洛西来了。他穿着纽扣发光的青色上衣，昂昂地抬起金发的头悠然上去，那种丰采真是高尚。我恨不得远远地送给他一个吻。绅士们都向他说话，或是握他的手。