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Half a Day-- Naguib Mahfous

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?"

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.

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.

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.

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?
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.

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."

参考译文

半日--Naguib Mahfous

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？”

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　

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。

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。

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。

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。

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。”

词汇注释

1. across adv. 横过 prep. 穿过,横过

The drunk man staggered across the room. 那个醉汉摇摇晃晃地穿过房间。

Can you swim across the river? 你能游到河的对岸吗？

2.alongside adv. 在旁边 prep. 在...旁边

The rain ran in shallow runnels alongside the path. 雨水流进路边的小河沟里.

3.balcony n. 阳台

He planted some flowers on the balcony that projects over the street. 他在那个伸出到街上的阳台上种了些花。

4.band n. 带子,队,乐队 v. 联合,结合

The town band led off by playing the national anthem. 市乐队以国歌开始他们的演奏。

5.beneficial adj. 有益的,有利的

Calcium is beneficial to our bones. 钙对我们的骨骼有益。

6.border n. 边缘 v. 作...之疆界,加边

France borders Germany along parts of the Rhine. 法国沿莱茵河部分河段与德国接壤。

7.circus n. 马戏团

The children watched entranced as the circus animals performed. 马戏团的动物们表演时，孩子们都看得入神。

8.cling to vt. 抱住(抱定,固守,贴近)

Small children cling to their mothers. 小孩子都缠著母亲.

9.clown n. 小丑,粗鲁愚蠢的人.

The clown's performance made people laugh. 小丑的表演把人们逗笑了。

10.conjurer n. 魔术师

The conjurer magicked the bird away. 那个魔术师把鸟变没了.

11.convince v. 说服,使...相信

He convinced me of his sincerity. 他使我确信他的真诚。

12.creator n.创建者，造物主

Creation supposes a creator. 有了创造者，才能有创造。

13.crossroads n. 交叉路口,十字路

The accident took place at the crossroads. 事故就发生在十字路口。

14.curiosity n. 好奇,好奇心

Curiosity is part of the children's nature. 好奇是儿童的天性。

15.daze v. 使...茫然，眩晕

I was dazed by her sudden offer. 她突然提出此事，我感到惊奇而不知所措。

16.exertion n. 努力,发挥,运用

He failed to lift the rock in spite of all his exertions. 虽竭尽全力，但仍然未能将那石头搬起来。

17.glance n. 一瞥,闪光,一滑 v. 瞥闪,瞥见,反光

He gave her an admiring glance. 他向她投以敬慕的一瞥。

18.globe n. 地球,地球仪,球体

Magellan was the first person to circumnavigate the globe. 麦哲伦是第一个环球航行的人.

19.halt n. 停止,立定,休息 v. 使...停止,使...立定,犹豫

He tried to bring that debate to a halt. 他试图使这场辩论停止。

20.hatred n. 憎恶,憎恨,怨恨

Love and hatred are primary emotions. 爱和恨是基本的情感。

21.hesitate v. 犹豫,迟疑,踌躇

I hesitated about taking his side until I knew the whole story. 我在完全了解事实真相后，才打消顾虑，支持他的立场。

22.intricate adj. 复杂的,错综的,缠结的,难懂的

I was unable to find out the intricate windings of the labyrinth. 我无法找出迷宫中扑朔迷离的路线。

23.introduction n. 介绍

This course is designed as an introduction to the subject. 这门课程是作为该科目的入门课而开设的。

24.irritated adj. 恼怒的

His little affectations irritated her. 他做作的小动作激怒了她.

25.joyfully adv. 喜悦地, 高兴地

He joyfully consented and we set out. 他欣然同意，我们就出发了。

26.lift n. 举起,帮助,昂扬 n.　电梯 v. 升高,举起,消散

I lifted the child down from the tree. 我把孩子从树上抱了下来。

27.misgiving n. 疑虑

His heart is full of misgivings. 他心中疑虑重重。

28.nap n. 小睡,打盹,细毛 v. 小睡,疏忽

Every afternoon the baby takes a nap for 2 hours. 每天下午宝宝都要睡两个小时。

29.observant adj. 遵守规则的

He is observant of the rules. 他严守规则。

30.opportunity n. 机会,时机

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their hard work on the project.

我愿借此机会感谢每一位为这个项目辛勤工作的人。

31.overlook v. 俯看,远眺,没注意到

My room overlooked the garden. 我的房间俯瞰花园。

32.palm n. 棕榈树,椰枣树

There were two or three palm trees flourishing in the promenade garden. 街心花园里有两三棵枝繁叶茂的棕榈树。

33.paradise n. 天堂

Hawaii is called an island paradise. 夏威夷被称为海岛乐园。

34.perseverance n. 毅力,忍耐,不屈不挠

He is slow to learn, but shows great perseverance. 他学得慢，但是他表现出不屈不挠的毅力。

35.physical adj. 肉体的；身体的

Physical disability causes mental anguish. 生理伤残会引起心理苦闷.

36.rank v. 排列

I rank her among the country's best writers. 我认为她可属全国最优秀作家之列。

37.rivalry n. 敌对,竞争,对抗

That country was paralysed by political rivalries. 那个国家由于政治对抗而陷于瘫痪。

38.scold v. 斥责

Don't scold him; he is a mere child. 别责备他，他只不过是个孩子。

39.single adj. 单身的,单纯的,单一的

Is the material single width or double width? 这幅料子是单幅的还是双幅的？

40.sort n. 种类,样子,态度 v. 分类,整理,排序

What sort of book do you want? 你要哪一类的书？

41.spin n. 旋转,疾驰 v. 纺织,旋转,拉长

The motorcycles were spinning along at full speed. 摩托车正全速疾驰。

42.startled adj. 震惊的

He had a startled look on his face. 他一脸吃惊的神情.

43.stream n. 流,水流,人潮，一连串的

Visitors to the exhibition came in an endless stream. 参观展览会的人络绎不绝。

44.stretch v. 伸展，伸出

She stretched across the table for the butter. 她探身去取放在餐桌对面的黄油。

45.sunset n. 日落

The sunset has tinted the sky with pink. 落日把天空染成了粉红色。

46.surface n. 表面

The surface of the lake is quite still. 湖面相当平静。

47.sweetheart n. 情人,爱人

His sweetheart is a pretty girl. 他的情人是一个可爱的女孩。

48.trace n. 迹象；痕迹

Did the police find any trace of the murderer? 警方找到凶手的行踪了吗？

49.trick n. （魔术）戏法

He played some clever magic tricks. 他表演了一些巧妙的魔术。

50.unclouded adj. 没有云的,晴朗的,开朗的

So off they went, driving the country roads of northern Rhode Island on the kind of day only mid－May can produce：sparkling sunshine, unclouded azure skies and vibrant newness of the green growing all around.

于是,他们就出发了,驱车行驶在罗德岛北部的乡村小路上,那种天气只有５月中旬才会有：闪亮的阳光、蔚蓝色的晴空以及生机勃勃、随处可见的绿意。

51.uniform n. 制服

A major has a crown on the shoulder of his uniform. 一名少校在制服的肩部有个王冠形的纹章。

52.universe n. 宇宙

We begin to plumb the mysteries of the universe. 我们开始探索宇宙的奥秘。

53.vain adj. 徒然的,虚荣的,空虚的

They endeavoured to make her happy but in vain. 他们尽量使她快乐, 却徒劳无功.

54.variety n. 多样,种类,杂耍

Variety is the spice of life. 变化是生活的调味品。

55.various adj. 各种各样的

Various objects were on the table. 桌子上摆着各种各样的物体。

56.vast adj. 广阔的,巨大的

The vast champaign was covered with thick snow. 广袤的平原被厚厚的雪覆盖着。

57.whisper n. 耳语,密谈,飒飒的声音 v. 耳语,密谈,飒飒地响

The children were whispering in the corner. 孩子们正在角落里低声耳语。

58.yell v. 大叫

Don't yell at me! 别对我大喊大叫！

作者简介

Naguib Mahfous 1911年12月11日出生于埃及开罗杰马里那区的一个公务员家庭。他四岁时就被送到私塾学习《古兰经》，接受宗教启蒙教育。

1930年，naguib mahfous 进入开罗大学文学院哲学系学习，接触了西方各种民主主义和社会主义思潮，逐步接受了一些社会主义思想和科学观点。

1934年大学毕业后，他一边留校工作，一边为一些哲学杂志撰稿。他先后在宗教基金部、文化指导部等政府部门任职，曾任文学艺术最高理事会理事、电影局局长和文化部顾问。1970年退休后，他进入《金字塔报》编委会，任该报专职作家。

本世纪20-30年代的埃及正处于反帝爱国斗争的革命风暴之中，在家庭与社会的影响下，naguib mahfous 从一开始创作，便以明确的历史责任感，承担起了一个正直作家的责任。他最初发表的三部历史小说《命运的嘲弄》、《阿杜比斯》、《埃伊拜之战》都是表现爱国主义的。 40-50年代是马哈福兹现实主义创作阶段，发表了四部揭露社会黑暗、呼吁社会变革的小说《新开罗》、《赫利市场》、《梅达格胡同》、《始未记》。标志着他小说创作顶峰的三部曲：《宫间街》、《思官街》、《甘露街》被公认为阿拉伯小说史上的里程碑。此后他还发表了《小偷与狗》、《道路》、《乞丐》、《尼罗河上的絮语》、《平民史诗》等作品。
他曾多次声明自己信仰社会主义和科学，提倡以科学反对宗教迷信，强调人要进行自我净化。

1970年获国家文学表彰奖，1988年获埃及最高奖赏——尼罗河勋章。19ss年获诺贝尔文学奖，成为阿拉伯世界第一个获得此奖的人。

Naguib Mahfous 的代表作 ：《命运的嘲弄》、《阿杜比斯》、《埃伊拜之战》、《新开罗》、《赫利市场》、《梅达格胡同》、《始未记》、《宫间街》、《思官街》、《甘露街》、《小偷与狗》、《道路》、《乞丐》、《尼罗河上的絮语》、《平民史诗》等 。