The Silver Shilling

by Hans Christian Andersen（1862）

　　theRE was once a shilling， which came forth from the mint springing and shouting， Hurrah！ now I am going out into the wide world. And truly it did go out into the wide world. The children held it with warm hands， the miser with a cold and convulsive grasp， and the old people turned it about， goodness knows how many times， while the young people soon allowed it to roll away from them. The shilling was made of silver， it contained very little copper， and considered itself quite out in the world when it had been circulated for a year in the country in which it had been coined. One day， it really did go out into the world， for it belonged to a gentleman who was about to travel in foreign lands. This gentleman was not aware that the shilling lay at the bottom of his purse when he started， till he one day found it between his fingers. Why， cried he， here is a shilling from home； well， it must go on its travels with me now！ and the shilling jumped and rattled for joy， when it was put back again into the purse.

　　Here it lay among a number of foreign companions， who were always coming and going， one taking the place of another， but the shilling from home was always put back， and had to remain in the purse， which was certainly a mark of distinction. Many weeks passed， during which the shilling had travelled a long distance in the purse， without in the least knowing where he was. He had found out that the other coins were French and Italian； and one coin said they were in this town， and another said they were in that， but the shilling was unable to make out or imagine what they meant. A man certainly cannot see much of the world if he is tied up in a bag， and this was really the shilling's fate. But one day， as he was lying in the purse， he noticed that it was not quite closed， and so he slipped near to the opening to have a little peep into society. He certainly had not the least idea of what would follow， but he was curious， and curiosity often brings its own punishment. In his eagerness， he came so near the edge of the purse that he slipped out into the pocket of the trousers； and when， in the evening， the purse was taken out， the shilling was left behind in the corner to which it had fallen. As the clothes were being carried into the hall， the shilling fell out on the floor， unheard and unnoticed by any one. The next morning the clothes were taken back to the room， the gentleman put them on， and started on his journey again； but the shilling remained behind on the floor. After a time it was found， and being considered a good coin， was placed with three other coins. Ah， thought the shilling， this is pleasant； I shall now see the world， become acquainted with other people， and learn other customs.

　　Do you call that a shilling？ said some one the next moment. That is not a genuine coin of the country，—it is false； it is good for nothing.

　　Now begins the story as it was afterwards related by the shilling himself.

　　‘False！ good for nothing！' said he. That remark went through and through me like a dagger. I knew that I had a true ring， and that mine was a genuine stamp. these people must at all events be wrong， or they could not mean me. But yes， I was the one they called 'false， and good for nothing.'

　　‘then I must pay it away in the dark，' said the man who had received me. So I was to be got rid of in the darkness， and be again insulted in broad daylight.

　　‘False！ good for nothing！' Oh， I must contrive to get lost， thought I. And I trembled between the fingers of the people every time they tried to pass me off slyly as a coin of the country. Ah！ unhappy shilling that I was！ Of what use were my silver， my stamp， and my real value here， where all these qualities were worthless. In the eyes of the world， a man is valued just according to the opinion formed of him. It must be a shocking thing to have a guilty conscience， and to be sneaking about on account of wicked deeds. As for me， innocent as I was， I could not help shuddering before their eyes whenever they brought me out， for I knew I should be thrown back again up the table as a false pretender. At length I was paid away to a poor old woman， who received me as wages for a hard day's work. But she could not again get rid of me； no one would take me. I was to the woman a most unlucky shilling. 'I am positively obliged to pass this shilling to somebody，' said she； 'I cannot， with the best intentions， lay by a bad shilling. The rich baker shall have it，—he can bear the loss better than I can. But， after all， it is not a right thing to do.'

　　‘Ah！' sighed I to myself， 'am I also to be a burden on the conscience of this poor woman？ Am I then in my old days so completely changed？' The woman offered me to the rich baker， but he knew the current money too well， and as soon as he received me he threw me almost in the woman's face. She could get no bread for me， and I felt quite grieved to the heart that I should be cause of so much trouble to another， and be treated as a cast-off coin. I who， in my young days， felt so joyful in the certainty of my own value， and knew so well that I bore a genuine stamp. I was as sorrowful now as a poor shilling can be when nobody will have him. The woman took me home again with her， and looking at me very earnestly， she said， 'No， I will not try to deceive any one with thee again. I will bore a hole through thee， that everyone may know that thou art a false and worthless thing； and yet， why should I do that？ Very likely thou art a lucky shilling. A thought has just struck me that it is so， and I believe it. Yes， I will make a hole in the shilling，' said she， 'and run a string through it， and then give it to my neighbor's little one to hang round her neck， as a lucky shilling.' So she drilled a hole through me.

　　‘It is really not at all pleasant to have a hole bored through one， but we can submit to a GREat deal when it is done with a good intention. A string was drawn through the hole， and I became a kind of medal. They hung me round the neck of a little child， and the child laughed at me and kissed me， and I rested for one whole night on the warm， innocent breast of a child.

　　‘In the morning the child's mother took me between her fingers， and had certain thoughts about me， which I very soon found out. First， she looked for a pair of scissors， and cut the string.

　　‘Lucky shilling！' said she， 'certainly this is what I mean to try.' then she laid me in vinegar till I became quite GREen， and after that she filled up the hole with cement， rubbed me a little to brighten me up， and went out in the twilight hour to the lottery collector， to buy herself a ticket， with a shilling that should bring luck. How everything seemed to cause me trouble. The lottery collector pressed me so hard that I thought I should crack. I had been called false， I had been thrown away，—that I knew； and there were many shillings and coins with inscriptions and stamps of all kinds lying about. I well knew how proud they were， so I avoided them from very shame. With the collector were several men who seemed to have a great deal to do， so I fell unnoticed into a chest， among several other coins.

　　Whether the lottery ticket gained a prize， I know not； but this I know， that in a very few days after， I was recognized as a bad shilling， and laid aside. Everything that happened seemed always to add to my sorrow. Even if a man has a good character， it is of no use for him to deny what is said of him， for he is not considered an impartial judge of himself.

　　A year passed， and in this way I had been changed from hand to hand； always abused， always looked at with displeasure， and trusted by no one； but I trusted in myself， and had no confidence in the world. Yes， that was a very dark time.

　　At length one day I was passed to a traveller， a foreigner， the very same who had brought me away from home； and he was simple and true-hearted enough to take me for current coin. But would he also attempt to pass me？ and should I again hear the outcry， 'False！ good-for-nothing！' The traveller examined me attentively， 'I took thee for good coin，' said he； then suddenly a smile spread all over his face. I have never seen such a smile on any other face as on his. 'Now this is singular，' said he， 'it is a coin from my own country； a good， true， shilling from home. Some one has bored a hole through it， and people have no doubt called it false. How curious that it should come into my hands. I will take it home with me to my own house.'

　　Joy thrilled through me when I heard this. I had been once more called a good， honest shilling， and I was to go back to my own home， where each and all would recognize me， and know that I was made of good silver， and bore a true， genuine stamp. I should have been glad in my joy to throw out sparks of fire， but it has never at any time been my nature to sparkle. Steel can do so， but not silver. I was wrapped up in fine， white paper， that I might not mix with the other coins and be lost； and on special occasions， when people from my own country happened to be present， I was brought forward and spoken of very kindly. They said I was very interesting， and it was really quite worth while to notice that those who are interesting have often not a single word to say for themselves.

　　At length I reached home. All my cares were at an end. Joy again overwhelmed me； for was I not good silver， and had I not a genuine stamp？ I had no more insults or disappointments to endure； although， indeed， there was a hole through me， as if I were false； but suspicions are nothing when a man is really true， and every one should persevere in acting honestly， for an will be made right in time. That is my firm belief， said the shilling.

　　有一个银毫子，他亮珵珵地从造币厂里走出来，蹦蹦跳跳、丁丁当当，好哇，我要到大世界去了！这样他走进了大世界。

　　孩子用温暖的手紧紧握着他，贪婪的人用冰冷粘湿的手抓着他；老年人把他翻来覆去地看，年轻人则一下子就把他花掉。这个毫子是银做的，掺的铜很少，来到世界上现在已经一整年了，也就是在铸造他的那个国家里转来转去一年了。后来他到外国旅行去了，他是那位要到外国旅行的主人钱袋里最后一枚本国钱。在他拿到他之前，并不知道自己还有这枚钱。

　　我竟然还剩下一枚家乡的钱！他说道，可以带上他一起去旅行！当他把银币放回钱袋里去的时候，银毫子高兴得蹦蹦跳跳、丁当乱响。在袋里他和外国夥伴呆在一起，那些外国夥伴来来去去，一个让位给另一位，可是家乡带来的这枚银毫子总是呆在里面，这是一种荣誉。

　　好几个星期过去了，银毫子到了世界很远的地方，自己却一点儿不知道到了哪里。他听别的钱说，他们是法国的，是意大利的；一个说他们现在在这个城市，另外一个说，他们在那个城市；可是这枚银毫子却想像不出都是些甚么地方。当你总是呆在袋子里的时候，你是看不见世界的，他的情形就如此。不过有一天，当他呆在那里的时候，发现钱袋没有捆紧。於是他悄悄爬到钱袋口上，想往外看看。他很不该这么干，可是他很好奇，他遭罚了——他滑出钱袋掉进裤兜里。当晚上钱袋被取出放在一旁的时候，银毫子留在裤兜里了。他在裤兜里躺着，和衣服一起被送到了走廊里；他一下子掉到了地上；没有人听到，也没有人看到。

　　清晨衣服被送进来。先生穿上衣服，走了。银毫子却没有跟着走，他被人发现了，又该为他人服务了，他和另外三枚钱一起被用了出去。

　　在世界上到处瞧瞧倒是真不错！银毫子想道，瞭解到一些别人、别的风俗习惯！

　　这是一枚甚么钱，马上就有人这么说道。这钱不是这个国家的！是假的！不好使！

　　是啊，这就开始了银毫子后来自己讲的故事。

　　假的，不好使！这念头闪过了我的脑际，银毫子说道。我知道我是上等银子铸的，声音也很正，铸上的印记也是真的。他们一定是弄错了，他们说的不可能是我，可是他们说的正是我！就是我，他们说是假的，不好使！我得趁黑把它使掉！拿到这文钱的那个人说道。於是我便被人趁黑使掉，白天又被人骂了一通， ——假的，不好使！我们得设法用掉它。

　　银毫子每次在人的手指中要被当本国钱转手用掉的时候，他总是浑身发抖。

　　我是多么可怜的银毫子啊！我的银子，我的价值，我的铸印，在它们都没有意义的时候，对我有甚么用呢！世界相信你，你对世界才有意义。我本来是完全无辜的，只是因为我的长相与众不同便这么背时，让我心不得安宁，偷偷摸摸走罪恶的道路，真是可怕极了！——每次人家把我拿出来，我总要在那些注视着我的眼睛面前揣揣不安。我知道，我会被人甩了回来，被扔到桌子上，就好像我在撒谎在欺诈一样。有一回，我落到了一个可怜的穷苦妇人的手上。她是靠每天辛勤操劳，作为一日的工资挣到我的。可是现在她根本无法把我使掉，因为没有人要我，我真为她感到不幸。

　　这下子我得拿它去骗人去了，她说道。留一枚假钱，我可受用不起。可以给那个有钱的麵包房老闆，他能受用。可是不管怎么说，我的做法都是不对的。

　　得，这下子是我污染了这个妇人的良心！银毫子歎息道。上了年纪，我的变化当真就这么大吗？

　　妇人去了有钱的麵包房老闆那里，但是他太会辨认市上流通的钱币了。他没有让我呆在我应该呆的地方，而是一下子把我扔到了妇人的脸上。她因此没能用我买到麵包，我为我成为一枚引起别人苦痛的钱币而感到由衷的内疚。我，在年轻的时候那么快乐，那么自信，对我的价值、我的铸印那么深信不疑。我变得忧郁起来，一枚可怜的银毫子在没有人要的时候能多忧郁，我便多忧郁。不过妇人又把我拿回家去，她诚恳地看着我，很温和，很友好。不，我不拿你去骗人！她说道。我要在你身上打个洞，让大家都看得出你是一枚假钱，——可是——我又觉得，——你也许是一枚吉祥币。是的，我相信是的！我有这个想法。我在银毫子上打一个洞，在洞上穿一根线，戴在邻居小孩的脖子上，当一枚吉祥币。於是她给我打了一个洞。身上被打洞总是不好受的，可是如果用心是好的，那么你便可以忍受许多许多。我被穿上了一根线，成了一种挂着的勳章，戴在那个小孩的脖子上。小孩笑瞇瞇地望着我，亲吻我，我整夜贴在小孩的温暖、天真的胸前。

　　到了清早，她母亲把我拿在她的指间，看了看我，有了她自己的想法，我很快便感觉到了。她找来了一把剪刀，把线剪断了。

　　吉祥币！她说道。好吧，让我们看看！她把我放进醋里，於是我浑身变成绿的。接着她把洞补上，擦了擦，趁黑到卖彩票的人那儿，买了一张会给她带来好运的彩票。我太痛苦了，我浑身疼痛，就像要炸了似的。我知道我会被说成是假的，当着一大堆有可靠印记的银毫子、铜钱的面被挑出来。但是，我混过去了。卖彩票的人那里有许多人；他忙得不可开交，我和其他的钱币一起丁丁当当地落到了钱匣子里。用我买的那张彩票是不是中了彩，我不知道。但是我知道第二天我便被人认作一枚假钱搁到一边，被继续拿去一遍遍地骗人。自己的品格本来是高尚的，这样骗来骗去真是叫人受不了。我对自己的品行是不会有任何怀疑的。　　　　在整整一年里，我就这样从一只手转到另一只手，从这家转到那家，总是被人咒骂，总是被人恶眼相看。没有人相信我，我自己也不相信自己，也不相信世界。这是一段艰难的时期。

　　最后有一天来了一位游客，我自然是混进他手里的，他对我是市上流通的银币深信不疑。可是后来他要把我用出去的时候，我又听到了那种喊声：不好使！假的！

　　我是当作真的得到它的，这个人说道，然后仔细地看了我一眼。於是他满脸笑容，这面孔与众不同，以前我没有见到过，怎么搞的，是怎么回事？他说道。这可是我们自己国家的钱呀，一枚家乡货真价实的银毫子，它被人打了一个洞，说是假的。真是有趣！我得把它保留起来带回家去！欢乐一下子流遍了我的全身，我被人称作是货真价实的银毫子，要被人带回家去。那里人人都认得我，知道我是上等银子铸成的，有着真实的铸印。我真想冒出些欢欣的火星，可是我没有那种能耐。钢有那个本事，银子没有。

　　我被包在一块精緻的白纸里，免得和别的钱币混在一起使掉。只是在团圆时刻，家乡人聚在一起的时候才把我拿出来让人看，受大家称讚。他们说我很有趣。一个人可以一言不发而被人称为有趣，这太妙了！

　　接着我便回到老家！我的一切苦难都过去了，我的快乐开始了。要知道我是上等银子铸的，我上面有真正的铸印。被人看成是假钱，在我身上打了一个洞再也不使我痛苦了。只要你不是假的，这又有甚么关系！一个人得忍耐，到时自有公道的！这是我的信仰！银毫子说道。