The Story of the Old Man Who Made Withered Trees to Flower

Long, long ago there lived an old man and his wife who supported themselves by cultivating a small plot of land. Their life had been a very happy and peaceful one save for one great sorrow, and this was they had no child. Their only pet was a dog named Shiro, and on him they lavished all the affection of their old age. Indeed, they loved him so much that whenever they had anything nice to eat they denied themselves to give it to Shiro. Now Shiro means “white,” and he was so called because of his color. He was a real Japanese dog, and very like a small wolf in appearance.

很久很久以前，有一对老夫妻，靠耕种一小块田地为生。他们的生活本来十分幸福安宁，只有一件事让他们伤心，那就是膝下无子。他们唯一的宠物是一只名叫白丸的狗，老两口把晚年所有的疼爱都倾注在它身上。他们爱它爱到什么地步呢？只要家里有什么好吃的，宁可自己不吃，也要留给白丸。白丸这个名字的意思就是“白色”，因为它浑身雪白而得名。它是一只地道的日本犬，样子很像一头小狼。

The happiest hour of the day both for the old man and his dog was when the man returned from his work in the field, and having finished his frugal supper of rice and vegetables, would take what he had saved from the meal out to the little veranda that ran round the cottage. Sure enough, Shiro was waiting for his master and the evening tit-bit. Then the old man said “Chin, chin!” and Shiro sat up and begged, and his master gave him the food.

对老人和他的狗来说，一天之中最快乐的时刻，就是老人从田里干活回来，吃过一顿粗茶淡饭——米饭和蔬菜——之后，把留下来的饭食带到环绕小屋的小走廊上。果然不出所料，白丸早已在那里等着主人，等着晚间的这份美味。老人说一声“过来，过来！”白丸便乖乖坐好，作揖讨食，主人这才把食物给它。

Next door to this good old couple there lived another old man and his wife who were both wicked and cruel, and who hated their good neighbors and the dog Shiro with all their might. Whenever Shiro happened to look into their kitchen they at once kicked him or threw something at him, sometimes even wounding him.

这对善良老夫妻的隔壁，住着另一对老夫妻，两人都又坏又狠，对这对好邻居和狗白丸恨之入骨。每当白丸偶尔望一眼他们家的厨房，他们立刻踢它或朝它扔东西，有时甚至把它打伤。

One day Shiro was heard barking for a long time in the field at the back of his master’s house. The old man, thinking that perhaps some birds were attacking the corn, hurried out to see what was the matter. As soon as Shiro saw his master he ran to meet him, wagging his tail, and, seizing the end of his kimono, dragged him under a large yenoki tree. Here he began to dig very industriously with his paws, yelping with joy all the time. The old man, unable to understand what it all meant, stood looking on in bewilderment. But Shiro went on barking and digging with all his might.

有一天，白丸在主人屋后的田地里叫个不停，叫了很久。老人心想大概是有鸟儿在啄食玉米，便急忙跑出去查看究竟。白丸一见主人便摇着尾巴跑上前来，一口叼住他和服的下摆，把他拽到一棵大朴树下。到了那里，白丸开始用爪子拼命地刨土，一边刨一边欢快地吠叫。老人不明白这是怎么回事，只是站在一旁茫然张望。可是白丸仍旧不停地叫着、刨着，使出浑身的力气。

The thought that something might be hidden beneath the tree, and that the dog had scented it, at last struck the old man. He ran back to the house, fetched his spade and began to dig the ground at that spot. What was his astonishment when, after digging for some time, he came upon a heap of old and valuable coins, and the deeper he dug the more gold coins did he find. So intent was the old man on his work that he never saw the cross face of his neighbor peering at him through the bamboo hedge.

老人这才恍然想到，树下也许埋着什么东西，是狗嗅出来的。他跑回屋里取来锄头，开始在那个地方挖掘。挖了一阵子之后，他惊讶地发现挖出了一堆古老而值钱的钱币，而且越往下挖，金币就越多。老人挖得太专心，竟没有察觉到他那凶恶的邻居正透过竹篱笆盯着他看。

At last all the gold coins lay shining on the ground. Shiro sat by erect with pride and looking fondly at his master as if to say, “You see, though only a dog, I can make some return for all the kindness you show me.”

最后，所有的金币都摆在地上，闪闪发光。白丸端端正正地坐在一旁，带着几分得意，深情地望着主人，仿佛在说：“您瞧，我虽然只是一条狗，也能报答您平日待我的一片好心。”

The old man ran in to call his wife, and together they carried home the treasure. Thus in one day the poor old man became rich. His gratitude to the faithful dog knew no bounds, and he loved and petted him more than ever, if that were possible.

老人跑进屋里叫来妻子，两人一起把这笔财宝搬回了家。就这样，穷苦的老人一天之内变成了富翁。他对这只忠诚的狗感激不尽，从此更加疼爱它、宠爱它，简直无以复加。

The cross old neighbor, attracted by Shiro’s barking, had been an unseen and envious witness of the finding of the treasure. He began to think that he, too, would like to find a fortune. So a few days later he called at the old man’s house and very ceremoniously asked permission to borrow Shiro for a short time.

那个凶狠的邻居听见白丸的叫声，早已悄悄躲在一旁，眼红地看着这一切财宝被发现的经过。他心想，自己也要想办法找到一笔财富。于是几天后，他来到老人家里，装模作样地请求借用白丸一小段时间。

Shiro’s master thought this a strange request, because he knew quite well that not only did his neighbor not love his pet dog, but that he never lost an opportunity of striking and tormenting him whenever the dog crossed his path. But the good old man was too kind-hearted to refuse his neighbor, so he consented to lend the dog on condition that he should be taken great care of.

白丸的主人觉得这个请求十分奇怪，因为他心里清楚，邻居不但从不喜欢自己的狗，反而每逢狗从他面前经过，总要抽打它、折磨它。可是这位善良的老人心肠太软，不忍拒绝邻居，于是答应把狗借给他，条件是要好好照顾它。

The wicked old man returned to his home with an evil smile on his face, and told his wife how he had succeeded in his crafty intentions. He then took his spade and hastened to his own field, forcing the unwilling Shiro to follow him. As soon as he reached a yenoki tree, he said to the dog, threateningly:

那个恶毒的老头带着一脸奸笑回到家里，把自己的诡计如何得逞告诉了妻子。随后他拿起锄头，急匆匆赶往自己的田地，硬拖着不情愿的白丸跟着他走。一到一棵朴树跟前，他便恶狠狠地对狗说道：

“If there were gold coins under your master’s tree, there must also be gold coins under my tree. You must find them for me! Where are they? Where? Where?”

“既然你主人的树下有金币，那我的树下也该有金币才对。你得替我找出来！在哪儿？在哪儿？在哪儿？”

And catching hold of Shiro’s neck he held the dog’s head to the ground, so that Shiro began to scratch and dig in order to free himself from the horrid old man’s grasp.

说着，他一把揪住白丸的脖子，把狗的头按到地上，逼得白丸只好拼命刨土、乱抓，想要挣脱这个可恶老头的手。

The old man was very pleased when he saw the dog begin to scratch and dig, for he at once supposed that some gold coins lay buried under his tree as well as under his neighbor’s, and that the dog had scented them as before; so pushing Shiro away he began to dig himself, but there was nothing to be found. As he went on digging a foul smell was noticeable, and he at last came upon a refuse heap.

老头看见狗开始刨土乱抓，心里十分高兴，以为自己的树下也和邻居家的一样，埋着金币，狗又像上次那样嗅出来了。于是他推开白丸，自己动手挖了起来，可是什么也没挖到。越往下挖，一股恶臭越发明显，最后他挖出的竟是一堆垃圾。

The old man’s disgust can be imagined. This soon gave way to anger. He had seen his neighbor’s good fortune, and hoping for the same luck himself, he had borrowed the dog Shiro; and now, just as he seemed on the point of finding what he sought, only a horrid smelling refuse heap had rewarded him for a morning’s digging. Instead of blaming his own greed for his disappointment, he blamed the poor dog.

老头的恶心可想而知，很快便转为愤怒。他见邻居时来运转，一心盼着自己也能沾点同样的好运，这才借来白丸；如今眼看着就要找到宝贝，到头来却只挖出一堆臭气熏天的垃圾，白白辛苦了一个上午。他不去责怪自己的贪心导致失望，反倒迁怒于这只可怜的狗。

He seized his spade, and with all his strength struck Shiro and killed him on the spot. He then threw the dog’s body into the hole which he had dug in the hope of finding a treasure of gold coins, and covered it over with the earth. Then he returned to the house, telling no one, not even his wife, what he had done.

他抄起锄头，用尽全身力气朝白丸打去，当场把它打死了。随后他把狗的尸体扔进自己为寻宝而挖的坑里，用土掩埋起来。然后他回到家中，谁也没告诉，连自己的妻子也瞒着。

After waiting several days, as the dog Shiro did not return, his master began to grow anxious. Day after day went by and the good old man waited in vain. Then he went to his neighbor and asked him to give him back his dog. Without any shame or hesitation, the wicked neighbor answered that he had killed Shiro because of his bad behavior.

过了好几天，狗白丸一直没有回来，它的主人渐渐焦急起来。一天又一天过去，善良的老人苦苦等待，却始终等不到。于是他去找邻居，请他把狗还回来。那狠毒的邻居毫不羞愧，也毫不迟疑，直言自己已经把白丸杀了，说是因为它行为不端。

At this dreadful news Shiro’s master wept many sad and bitter tears. Great indeed, was his woful surprise, but he was too good and gentle to reproach his bad neighbor. Learning that Shiro was buried under the yenoki tree in the field, he asked the old man to give him the tree, in remembrance of his poor dog Shiro.

听到这个噩耗，白丸的主人流下了悲伤而痛苦的泪水。他心中的哀伤实在深重，可他为人太善良、太温厚，不忍责备这狠心的邻居。得知白丸埋在田里那棵朴树下，他便请求邻居把那棵树给他，好留作对可怜的狗白丸的纪念。

Even the cross old neighbor could not refuse such a simple request, so he consented to give the old man the tree under which Shiro lay buried. Shiro’s master then cut the tree down and carried it home. Out of the trunk he made a mortar. In this his wife put some rice, and he began to pound it with the intention of making a festival to the memory of his dog Shiro.

即便是那狠心的邻居，也无法拒绝这样简单的请求，于是答应把埋着白丸的那棵树送给老人。白丸的主人随即把树砍倒，扛回家中。他用树干做成了一个石臼。妻子往臼里放了些米，他便开始舂米，打算办一场祭礼，纪念自己的狗白丸。

A strange thing happened! His wife put the rice into the mortar, and no sooner had he begun to pound it to make the cakes, than it began to increase in quantity gradually till it was about five times the original amount, and the cakes were turned out of the mortar as if an invisible hand were at work.

奇怪的事情发生了！妻子把米放进臼里，他刚一动手舂米做糕，米就渐渐增多起来，一直增加到原来的五倍之多，糕点仿佛被一只无形的手不断地从臼里取出来。

When the old man and his wife saw this, they understood that it was a reward to them from Shiro for their faithful love to him. They tasted the cakes and found them nicer than any other food. So from this time they never troubled about food, for they lived upon the cakes with which the mortar never ceased to supply them.

老人和妻子见到这般情景，明白这是白丸对他们一片忠心厚爱的回报。他们尝了尝那些糕点，觉得比任何食物都美味。从此以后，他们再也不必为吃食发愁，因为这石臼源源不断地供给他们糕点为生。

The greedy neighbor, hearing of this new piece of good luck, was filled with envy as before, and called on the old man and asked leave to borrow the wonderful mortar for a short time, pretending that he, too, sorrowed for the death of Shiro, and wished to make cakes for a festival to the dog’s memory.

那贪婪的邻居听说了这桩新的好运，又像先前一样心生嫉妒，便登门拜访老人，请求借用那神奇的石臼一段时间，假称自己也在哀悼白丸之死，想为纪念这只狗办一场祭礼，做些糕点。

The old man did not in the least wish to lend it to his cruel neighbor, but he was too kind to refuse. So the envious man carried home the mortar, but he never brought it back.

老人心里一点也不愿意把石臼借给这个狠心的邻居，可他为人太善良，不忍拒绝。于是那嫉妒的家伙把石臼搬回了家，却再也没有还回来。

Several days passed, and Shiro’s master waited in vain for the mortar, so he went to call on the borrower, and asked him to be good enough to return the mortar if he had finished with it. He found him sitting by a big fire made of pieces of wood. On the ground lay what looked very much like pieces of a broken mortar. In answer to the old man’s inquiry, the wicked neighbor answered haughtily:

好些天过去了，白丸的主人苦等石臼不见归还，于是便去登门造访，问他若已用完，能否把石臼还回来。他见到邻居正坐在一堆用木片烧成的大火旁，地上放着一些看起来很像破碎石臼碎片的东西。老人问起石臼的事，那狠毒的邻居傲慢地答道：

“Have you come to ask me for your mortar? I broke it to pieces, and now I am making a fire of the wood, for when I tried to pound cakes in it only some horrid smelling stuff came out.”

“你是来问我要石臼的吗？我把它砸得粉碎，如今正拿这些碎木生火取暖，因为我用它舂糕的时候，出来的只是些臭气熏天的东西。”

The good old man said:

善良的老人说道：

“I am very sorry for that. It is a great pity you did not ask me for the cakes if you wanted them. I would have given you as many as ever you wanted. Now please give me the ashes of the mortar, as I wish to keep them in remembrance of my dog.”

“这真让我难过。可惜你没有先来向我要些糕点，若是你想要，我本来会给你尽可能多的糕点。如今就请把石臼烧成的灰给我吧，我想留着作个念想，纪念我的狗。”

The neighbor consented at once, and the old man carried home a basket full of ashes.

邻居立刻答应了，老人便扛了一篮子灰回家。

Not long after this the old man accidentally scattered some of the ashes made by the burning of the mortar on the trees of his garden. A wonderful thing happened!

不久之后，老人无意间把烧石臼留下的一些灰撒在了自家园中的树上。奇妙的事情发生了！

It was late in autumn and all the trees had shed their leaves, but no sooner did the ashes touch their branches than the cherry trees, the plum trees, and all other blossoming shrubs burst into bloom, so that the old man’s garden was suddenly transformed into a beautiful picture of spring. The old man’s delight knew no bounds, and he carefully preserved the remaining ashes.

那时正值深秋，园中的树木早已落尽了叶子，可是那灰刚一沾到枝头，樱花树、梅花树以及其他所有会开花的灌木，竟一齐绽放起来，老人的花园顿时变成了一幅美丽的春日图景。老人喜出望外，欣喜若狂，小心翼翼地把剩下的灰保存起来。

The story of the old man’s garden spread far and wide, and people from far and near came to see the wonderful sight.

老人花园的这桩奇事传得远近皆知，四方八面的人都赶来观看这奇妙的景象。

One day, soon after this, the old man heard some one knocking at his door, and going to the porch to see who it was he was surprised to see a Knight standing there. This Knight told him that he was a retainer of a great Daimio (Earl); that one of the favorite cherry trees in this nobleman’s garden had withered, and that though every one in his service had tried all manner of means to revive it, none took effect.

有一天，就在此后不久，老人听见有人敲门，他走到门廊一看，惊讶地发现门口站着一位骑士。这位骑士告诉他，自己是一位大名（伯爵）手下的家臣；说这位贵族花园里最心爱的一棵樱花树枯萎了，虽然府里的人想尽了各种办法要让它复活，却始终无效。

The Knight was sore perplexed when he saw what great displeasure the loss of his favorite cherry tree caused the Daimio. At this point, fortunately, they had heard that there was a wonderful old man who could make withered trees to blossom, and that his Lord had sent him to ask the old man to come to him.

骑士见大名因失去心爱的樱花树而大为不悦，心里十分为难。就在这时，幸好他们听闻有一位神奇的老人，能使枯树重新开花，于是大名便派他前来，请这位老人过府一趟。

“And,” added the Knight, “I shall be very much obliged if you will come at once.”

“并且，”骑士补充道，“如果您能立刻随我前去，我将感激不尽。”

The good old man was greatly surprised at what he heard, but respectfully followed the Knight to the nobleman’s Palace.

善良的老人听了这番话大为惊讶，但还是恭恭敬敬地随骑士前往那位贵族的府邸。

The Daimio, who had been impatiently awaiting the old man’s coming, as soon as he saw him asked him at once:

大名早已迫不及待地等候老人到来，一见到他便立刻问道：

“Are you the old man who can make withered trees flower even out of season?”

“你就是那个能让枯树逆季开花的老人吗？”

The old man made an obeisance, and replied:

老人躬身行礼，答道：

“I am that old man!”

“正是老朽本人！”

Then the Daimio said:

大名接着说道：

“You must make that dead cherry tree in my garden blossom again by means of your famous ashes. I shall look on.”

“你必须用你那出名的灰，让我园中那棵枯死的樱花树重新开花。我倒要亲眼看看。”

Then they all went into the garden—the Daimio and his retainers and the ladies-in waiting, who carried the Daimio’s sword.

于是众人一齐来到花园——大名、他的家臣，还有捧着大名佩刀的侍女们。

The old man now tucked up his kimono and made ready to climb the tree. Saying “Excuse me,” he took the pot of ashes which he had brought with him, and began to climb the tree, every one watching his movements with great interest.

老人这时撩起和服的下摆，准备爬树。他说了声“恕我失礼”，拿起随身带来的那罐灰，开始往树上爬，众人都饶有兴味地注视着他的一举一动。

At last he climbed to the spot where the tree divided into two great branches, and taking up his position here, the old man sat down and scattered the ashes right and left all over the branches and twigs.

他终于爬到了树干分成两根大枝的地方，在那里坐定，把灰左一把右一把地撒遍了枝枝叶叶。

Wonderful, indeed, was the result! The withered tree at once burst into full bloom! The Daimio was so transported with joy that he looked as if he would go mad. He rose to his feet and spread out his fan, calling the old man down from the tree. He himself gave the old man a wine cup filled with the best SAKE, and rewarded him with much silver and gold and many other precious things. The Daimio ordered that henceforth the old man should call himself by the name of Hana-Saka-Jijii, or “The Old Man who makes the Trees to Blossom,” and that henceforth all were to recognize him by this name, and he sent him home with great honor.

结果实在奇妙至极！那棵枯树顿时繁花满树、盛开如春！大名喜出望外，几乎欣喜若狂。他一跃而起，展开扇子，招呼老人从树上下来。他亲自赐给老人一杯上好的清酒，还赏赐了他大量的金银和其他各种珍贵之物。大名下令，从此以后，这位老人应改称为“花咲爷”，意为“能使树木开花的老人”，并要求人人从此都以此名称呼他，随后隆重地送他回家。

The wicked neighbor, as before, heard of the good old man’s fortune, and of all that had so auspiciously befallen him, and he could not suppress all the envy and jealousy that filled his heart. He called to mind how he had failed in his attempt to find the gold coins, and then in making the magic cakes; this time surely he must succeed if he imitated the old man, who made withered trees to flower simply by sprinkling ashes on them. This would be the simplest task of all.

那恶毒的邻居和从前一样，听说了这位好老人的好运，得知这一切降临到他身上的美事，心中的嫉妒与眼红再也压抑不住。他想起自己先前寻找金币失败，后来做那神奇的糕点又失败，这一次若是照着老人的样子，只需往树上撒些灰，就能让枯树开花，那必定能成功了——这该是最简单不过的事情了。

So he set to work and gathered together all the ashes which remained in the fire-place from the burning of the wonderful mortar. Then he set out in the hope of finding some great man to employ him, calling out loudly as he went along:

于是他动起手来，把烧毁那神奇石臼后留在炉灶里的灰全都收集起来。然后他出门而去，一心想找个大人物雇用自己，一路走一路高声喊道：

“Here comes the wonderful man who can make withered trees blossom! Here comes the old man who can make dead trees blossom!”

“这位就是能使枯树开花的神奇之人！这位老人能让枯死的树重新开花！”

The Daimio in his Palace heard this cry, and said:

府中的大名听见这喊声，说道：

“That must be the Hana-Saka-Jijii passing. I have nothing to do to-day. Let him try his art again; it will amuse me to look on.”

“想必是花咲爷路过此地。今日我正好无事可做，就让他再展一次身手吧，看着也是消遣。”

So the retainers went out and brought in the impostor before their Lord. The satisfaction of false old man can now be imagined.

于是家臣们把这个冒名者带了进来，请到大名面前。这假老人心中的得意，可想而知。

But the Daimio looking at him, thought it strange that he was not at all like the old man he had seen before, so he asked him:

可是大名一看他，觉得此人和自己先前见到的老人全然不像，心里犯疑，便问道：

“Are you the man whom I named Hana-Saka-Jijii?”

“你就是我赐名为花咲爷的那个人吗？”

And the envious neighbor answered with a lie:

那嫉妒的邻居撒谎答道：

“Yes, my Lord!”

“正是，大人！”

“That is strange!” said the Daimio. “I thought there was only one Hana-Saka-Jijii in the world! Has he now some disciples?”

“这可奇怪了！”大名说道，“我还以为这世上只有一个花咲爷呢！难道他如今收了徒弟？”

“I am the true Hana-Saka-Jijii. The one who came to you before was only my disciple!” replied the old man again.

“老朽才是真正的花咲爷。先前来见您的那位，不过是老朽的徒弟罢了！”老头又答道。

“Then you must be more skillful than the other. Try what you can do and let me see!”

“既然如此，你必定比那一位更加高明。那就施展一下你的本事，让我瞧瞧！”

The envious neighbor, with the Daimio and his Court following, then went into the garden, and approaching a dead tree, took out a handful of the ashes which he carried with him, and scattered them over the tree.

那嫉妒的邻居，在大名和随行众人的跟随下，来到花园，走近一棵枯树，从怀中取出一把灰，撒在树上。

But not only did the tree not burst into flower, but not even a bud came forth. Thinking that he had not used enough ashes, the old man took handfuls and again sprinkled them over the withered tree. But all to no effect. After trying several times, the ashes were blown into the Daimio’s eyes. This made him very angry, and he ordered his retainers to arrest the false Hana-Saka-Jijii at once and put him in prison for an impostor. From this imprisonment the wicked old man was never freed. Thus did he meet with punishment at last for all his evil doings.

可是那棵树非但没有绽放出花朵，连一个花苞也没冒出来。他以为是灰撒得不够多，便又抓起一把把灰撒向那棵枯树。可是怎么试都没有效果。试了好几次之后，灰竟被风吹进了大名的眼睛里。大名顿时勃然大怒，下令家臣立刻把这假花咲爷抓起来，以冒名之罪关进大牢。从这次牢狱之灾开始，那恶毒的老头再也没有获释。他终究为自己一生的种种恶行，得到了应有的惩罚。

The good old man, however, with the treasure of gold coins which Shiro had found for him, and with all the gold and the silver which the Daimio had showered on him, became a rich and prosperous man in his old age, and lived a long and happy life, beloved and respected by all.

而那位善良的老人，凭着白丸为他找到的那笔金币财宝，再加上大名赏赐给他的金银财物，晚年过上了富足兴旺的生活，安享长寿与幸福，受到众人的爱戴与敬重。