the Puppet-Show Man

by Hans Christian Andersen（1851）

　　ON board a steamer I once met an elderly man， with such a merry face that， if it was really an index of his mind， he must have been the happiest fellow in creation； and indeed he considered himself so， for I heard it from his own mouth. He was a Dane， the owner of a travelling theatre. He had all his company with him in a large box， for he was the proprietor of a puppet-show. His inborn cheerfulness， he said， had been tested by a member of the Polytechnic Institution， and the experiment had made him completely happy. I did not at first understand all this， but afterwards he explained the whole story to me； and here it is：—

　　“I was giving a representation，” he said， “in the hall of the posting-house in the little town of Slagelse； there was a splendid audience， entirely juvenile excepting two respectable matrons. All at once， a person in black， of student-like appearance， entered the room， and sat down； he laughed aloud at the telling points， and applauded quite at the proper time. This was a very unusual spectator for me， and I felt anxious to know who he was. I heard that he was a member of the Polytechnic Institution in Copenhagen， who had been sent out to lecture to the people in the provinces. Punctually at eight o'clock my performance closed， for children must go early to bed， and a manager must also consult the convenience of the public.

　　“At nine o'clock the lecturer commenced his lecture and his experiments， and then I formed a part of his audience. It was wonderful both to hear and to see. The GREater part of it was beyond my comprehension， but it led me to think that if we men can acquire so much， we must surely be intended to last longer than the little span which extends only to the time when we are hidden away under the earth. His experiments were quite miracles on a small scale， and yet the explanations flowed as naturally as water from his lips. At the time of Moses and the prophets， such a man would have been placed among the sages of the land； in the middle ages they would have burnt him at the stake.

　　“All night long I could not sleep； and the next evening when I gave another performance and the lecturer was present， I was in one of my best moods.

　　“I once heard of an actor， who， when he had to act the part of a lover， always thought of one particular lady in the audience； he only played for her， and forgot all the rest of the house， and now the Polytechnic lecturer was my she， my only auditor， for whom alone I played.

　　“When the performance was over， and the puppets removed behind the curtain， the Polytechnic lecturer invited me into his room to take a glass of wine. He talked of my comedies， and I of his science， and I believe we were both equally pleased. But I had the best of it， for there was much in what he did that he could not always explain to me. For instance， why a piece of iron which is rubbed on a cylinder， should become magnetic. How does this happen？ The magnetic sparks come to it，—but how？ It is the same with people in the world； they are rubbed about on this spherical globe till the electric spark comes upon them， and then we have a Napoleon， or a Luther， or some one of the kind.

　　“ ma used to cry thirty years ago. But I make them shorter， for the youngsters don't like long speeches； and if they have anything mournful， they like it to be over quickly.” The whole world is but a series of miracles，' said the lecturer， 'but we are so accustomed to them that we call them everyday matters.' And he went on explaining things to me till my skull seemed lifted from my brain， and I declared that were I not such an old fellow， I would at once become a member of the Polytechnic Institution， that I might learn to look at the bright side of everything， although I was one of the happiest of men.

　　“ One of the happiest！ said the lecturer， as if the idea pleased him； are you really happy？

　　“ Yes， I replied； for I am welcomed in every town， when I arrive with my company； but I certainly have one wish which sometimes weighs upon my cheerful temper like a mountain of lead. I should like to become the manager of a real theatre， and the director of a real troupe of men and women.'

　　“ I understand， he said； you would like to have life breathed into your puppets， so that they might be living actors， and you their director. And would you then be quite happy？'

　　“I said I believed so. But he did not； and we talked it over in all manner of ways， yet could not aGREe on the subject. However， the wine was excellent， and we clanked our glasses together as we drank. There must have been magic in it， or I should most certainly become tipsy； but that did not happen， for my mind seemed quite clear； and， indeed， a kind of sunshine filled the room， and beamed from the eyes of the Polytechnic lecturer. It made me think of the old stories when the gods， in their immortal youth， wandered upon this earth， and paid visits to mankind. I said so to him， and he smiled； and I could have sworn that he was one of these ancient deities in disguise， or， at all events， that he belonged to the race of the gods. The result seemed to prove I was right in my suspicions； for it was arranged that my highest wish should be granted， that my puppets were to be gifted with life， and that I was to be the manager of a real company. We drank to my success， and clanked our glasses. Then he packed all my dolls into the box， and fastened it on my back， and I felt as if I were spinning round in a circle， and presently found myself lying on the floor. I remember that quite well. And then the whole company sprang from the box. The spirit had come upon us all； the puppets had become distinguished actors—at least， so they said themselves—and I was their director.

　　“When all was ready for the first representation， the whole company requested permission to speak to me before appearing in public. The dancing lady said the house could not be supported unless she stood on one leg； for she was a GREat genius， and begged to be treated as such. The lady who acted the part of the queen expected to be treated as a queen off the stage， as well as on it， or else she said she should get out of practice. The man whose duty it was to deliver a letter gave himself as many airs as he who took the part of first lover in the piece； he declared that the inferior parts were as important as the great ones， and deserving equal consideration， as parts of an artistic whole. The hero of the piece would only play in a part containing points likely to bring down the applause of the house. The 'prima donna' would only act when the lights were red， for she declared that a blue light did not suit her complexion. It was like a company of flies in a bottle， and I was in the bottle with them； for I was their director. My breath was taken away， my head whirled， and I was as miserable as a man could be. It was quite a novel， strange set of beings among whom I now found myself. I only wished I had them all in my box again， and that I had never been their director. So I told them roundly that， after all， they were nothing but puppets； and then they killed me. After a while I found myself lying on my bed in my room； but how I got there， or how I got away at all from the Polytechnic professor， he may perhaps know， I don't. The moon shone upon the floor， the box lay open， and the dolls were all scattered about in great confusion； but I was not idle. I jumped off the bed， and into the box they all had to go， some on their heads， some on their feet. Then I shut down the lid， and seated myself upon the box. 'Now you'll have to stay，' said I， 'and I shall be cautious how I wish you flesh and blood again.'

　　“I felt quite light， my cheerfulness had returned， and I was the happiest of mortals. The Polytechnic professor had fully cured me. I was as happy as a king， and went to sleep on the box. Next morning— correctly speaking， it was noon， for I slept remarkably late that day— I found myself still sitting there， in happy consciousness that my former wish had been a foolish one. I inquired for the Polytechnic professor； but he had disappeared like the GREek and Roman gods； from that time I have been the happiest man in the world. I am a happy director； for none of my company ever grumble， nor the public either， for I always make them merry. I can arrange my pieces just as I please. I choose out of every comedy what I like best， and no one is offended. Plays that are neglected now-a-days by the great public were ran after thirty years ago， and listened to till the tears ran down the cheeks of the audience. These are the pieces I bring forward. I place them before the little ones， who cry over them as papa and mamma used to cry thirty years ago. But I make them shorter， for the youngsters don't like long speeches； and if they have anything mournful， they like it to be over quickly.”

汽轮上有一位模样很老的人，长着一个欢快的脸庞，若不是做作出来的，那他必定就是世界上最快乐的人了。确实，他是这么说的；我听他亲口说的；他是丹麦人，我的老乡，一位巡回剧院的经理。整个戏班子都由他带着，就在一个大箱子里；他是演木偶戏的人。他的天性中的好心情，他说，还被一位理工学院1毕业生净化过一番，由於受过那位毕业生的那次试验，他有了完满的幸福。我并没有立刻明白他的意思，但是他接着便把这件事的来龙去脉对我讲了个清清楚楚。这里便是他的解释。

　　那是在斯莱厄瑟，他说道，我在邮政局的大院里耍木偶戏。做戏场的屋子好极了，观众也好极了。除去一两位老太太外，全是还没有成年的孩子。后来来了一位身着黑色衣装、大学生模样的人。他坐下，在最该笑的地方笑，也在最该拍巴掌的地方拍巴掌。真是一个不寻常的观众！我一定要搞清楚他是谁。一打听，我听说他是理工学院的毕业生，被派到地方上来，给当地人传授知识。八点钟的时候我的演出就结束了。你知道，孩子们是要早上床的，而且也要考虑到观众的方便。九点钟的时候，这位大学毕业生开始了他的讲授和试验，这会儿我成了他的观众了。听他，看他，很令人觉得奇怪。大部分东西都像俗话说的那样，经过我的脑袋跑到牧师的脑袋里去了2.可是有一点我必定要想上一想：我们人是不是能想出那么一种办法，能让我们活得久一点而不马上被送进土里去。他做的试验，都不过是些叫人觉得奇异的小玩意儿，都轻而易举，可是都直接取之於大自然。若是在摩西和先知的时代3，他一定会是我们国家的大智大慧者；要是生在中世纪，一位懂得理工道理的学者，必定会被烧死4.我一整夜没有睡，第二天我在那里表演的时候，这位大学毕业生又来了，我心情真是好极了。以前我曾经听一位演员说过，说在饰爱情角色的时候，他心中只有观众当中的某位女士，他为她表演，而忘却了剧院里所有的其他人；这位理工学院毕业生的他，便成了我的“她”，我为之表演的唯一的观看者。演出完毕后，我被那位理工学院毕业生邀到他屋里喝杯酒。他谈了我的表演，我谈了他的科学，我相信我们双方都很愉快。然而，我却忍住没有说，因为他的试验中有许多东西，连他自己也讲不清楚。譬如说吧，一根铁棒经过一个线圈怎么就会成了磁铁5.说吧，是怎么回事：是灵气附上去了，可是灵气又是哪里来的呢？这就像当今世界上的人一样，我想，上帝让人钻过时代的线圈，灵气附了上去，於是便有了一位拿破仑，一位路德6，或者类似的人物。“整个世界都是一连串的奇迹，”毕业生说道，“但是我们对它们已经是司空见惯了，所以我们把它们称作日常锁事。”他讲了许多，解释了许多，最后好像他为我开了窍。我坦诚地承认，要不是因为我已经是个老头子，我就会立刻到理工学院，去仔细钻研那个世界的究竟，尽管我现在已经是最快乐不过的人了。“您是最快乐不过的人吗？”他问道，就好像他觉得我这话顶有味道一样。“您快乐吗？”他问道。“是呀！”我说道，“我很快乐，我带着我的班子去过的所有城镇都欢迎我。当然，不时也的确有那么一个愿望，它就像一个小精灵，像一只野兔一样来烦我，打搅我的好心情。这个愿望便是：当一个活的戏班子，一个真正是活人的戏班子戏院经理。”“您希望您的木偶都变成活的，您希望它们都变成真的演员”，他说道，“而您以为自己当他们的经理，您便会完满幸福了吗？”他是不相信的，可是我相信。我们翻来覆去地争论着，但是双方的看法总是靠不到一起。不过，我们碰了杯，酒很美，里面一定有魔，要不然这一整段故事只能说明我醉了。我没有醉，我的眼十分清晰，就好像屋子里有太阳光一样，理工学院毕业生脸上显出光彩，我联想到那些在世界上遨游的永远年轻的古老的神。我把这一点对他说了，他微笑了一下。我敢发誓，他一定是一位乔装了的神，或者神的甚么族人，——他是的，——我的愿望要得到满足了，木偶要变成活的了，我要成为真人的戏班子的经理了。我们为这些祝酒。他把我所有的木偶都装到木箱里，把它绑在我的背上，接着他让我钻过一个线圈。我还听得到我钻过的时候的声音。我躺在地上，千真万确，整个木偶班子都从木箱里跳了出来。灵气附到了他们身上，所有的木偶都变成了很好的艺术家，他们自己这么说，而我是经理。头一场演出的准备工作都做好了；整个戏班子都想和我谈话，也想和观众谈话。女舞蹈家说，要是她不用单腿站立，那么剧场便会塌掉，她是这一切的主角，要按这个身份对待她才行。那个演皇后的木偶要在演完戏之后也能得到皇后的待遇，否则她就不参加排练。那个在戏中演一个送一封信的人强调自己就好像是戏中的头号情人一样地重要，因为，他说道，在一个艺术的整体中，小人物和大人物是同样重要的。男主角要求只演压轴的那几段戏，因为这是观众鼓掌的地方；女主角只愿在红色灯光下表演，因为红色才与她匹配——她不愿在蓝光下表演。这一夥儿就跟瓶里的蝇子似的，我也落到了瓶子里面，我是经理。我喘不过气来，我晕头胀脑，成了一个要多么可怜便多么可怜的人。和我相处的是另外一类新人。我真希望，我能把它们都又装回箱子里去，希望我不再做经理。我直截了当地对他们说，说到头来，他们全都不过是些木偶，后来他们把我打死了。我躺在我的屋子里的床上。我是怎么从那位理工学院毕业生那里回来的，只有他知道，我不知道。月光照进屋子，射到装木偶的箱子翻倒的那块地方，大大小小的木偶散落满地，乱七八糟！可是我一点儿不再耽搁，立刻跳下了床，把它们统统塞进了箱子，有的头朝下，有的脚朝下；我猛地把箱盖合上，自己坐到上面。真是值得一画！你能看出吗，我是看得出的。“这下子你们都得呆在里头了，”我说道，“我也不希望你们再是有血有肉的了！”——我心情极为轻松，我是最快活的人。那位理工学院的毕业生净化了我，我在完满的幸福中坐着，在箱子上睡着了。早晨——实在是中午，那天早晨我睡得特别奇妙地长，——我还睡在那儿，非常幸福。我原先的那个唯一的愿望原来是愚蠢的。我去找那位理工学院的毕业生，可是他已经不见了，就像那些希腊和罗马的神一样。从那时起，我一直是最快乐的人。我是一个愉快的经理，我的戏班子不跟我抬槓，观众也不跟我顶嘴，我真是从心底里感到高兴。我自己完全可以自由地编排我的节目。我可以随心所欲地从所有的戏剧中摘出最好的段落，没有人会为这样做有甚么抱怨。那些现在的大剧院不屑一演，可是三十年前观众争着要看，感动得泪流满面的节目，我拿了过来，演给孩子们看，孩子们就像他们的父母当年一样泪流满面。我演出“约翰娜·蒙特法康”7和“杜维克”8，不过是经过删节的，因为孩子们不喜欢长篇长篇的关於爱情的胡说八道。他们要看：伤感但很快便演完的。我已经走遍丹麦上上下下，我谁都认得，大家也都认得我。现在我要去瑞典了。要是我在那儿也幸福愉快，能赚到好多钱的话，我就成了一个斯堪的纳维亚人9了，否则便罢了。这话我对你讲，你是我的老乡。

　　我，作为他的一个老乡，自然马上又把它讲了出来，不过是为了讲讲而已。