On the bridge over the canal stood three persons， who wished to recommend themselves to the lamp， for they thought he could give the office to whomsoever he chose. The first was a herrings head， which could emitemit vt.发出， 放射， 吐露， 散发， 发表， 发行 light in the darkness. He remarked that it would be a great saving of oil if they placed him on the lamppost. Number two was a piece of rotten wood， which also shines in the dark. He considered himself descended from an old stem， once the pride of the forest. The third was a glowworm， and how he found his way there the lamp could not imagine， yet there he was， and could really give light as well as the others. But the rotten wood and the herrings head declared most solemnlysolemnly adv.严肃地， 庄严地， by all they held sacred， that the glowworm only gave light at certain times， and must not be allowed to compete with themselves. The old lamp assured them that not one of them could give sufficient light to fill the position of a street lamp； but they would believe nothing he said. And when they discovered that he had not the power of naming his successor， they said they were very glad to hear it， for the lamp was too old and wornout to make a proper choice.
有三个东西站在排水沟的桥上，它们把自己介绍给路灯，因为它们认为路灯可以让位给它们。一个是青鱼的头——它在黑暗中可以发出亮光。它觉得假如有它待在路灯杆子上，人们可以节省许多油。另一个是一块朽木——它也能发出闪耀的光。它对自己说，它的光起码比鱼头的光要亮一点；况且它还是森林中一株最漂亮的树的最后遗体。第三个是萤火虫。这一位是什么地方的，路灯想像不到。但是它却竟然来了，而且还在发着光。可朽木和青鱼头发誓说，萤火虫只能在一定的时刻内发光，因此不能考虑它。老路灯说它们哪个也发不出足够的光，来完成一个路灯的任务。可它们全不相信这话。当它们听说老路灯自己不能把地方让给别人的时候，它们很快活，觉得这是因为路灯老糊涂了，不会挑选继承人。
At this moment the wind came rushing round the corner of the street， and through the airholes of the old lamp. “What is this I hear？” said he； “that you are going away tomorrow？ Is this evening the last time we shall meet？ Then I must present you with a farewell gift. I will blow into your brain， so that in future you shall not only be able to remember all that you have seen or heard in the past， but your light within shall be so bright， that you shall be able to understand all that is said or done in your presence.”
风儿在这同时从街角那边走来，向老路灯的通风口里吹，而且说：“我刚才听到的这些话是什么意思呢？难道你明天就要走开吗？难道这就是我看到你的最后一晚吗？那么我送给你一件东西吧！我将用一种特殊的方式向你的头脑里吹，使你不但能清楚地记得你看见过或听到过的一切东西，同时还要使你有一个清醒的头脑，让你能看到人们在你面前谈到或说到的事情。” “Oh， that is really a very， very great gift，” said the old lamp； “I thank you most heartily. I only hope I shall not be meltedmelt v.(使)融化， (使)熔化， 使软化， 使感动 down.”
“是的，那真是太好了！”老路灯说。“我感谢你，只要我不会被熔化！”
“That is not likely to happen yet，” said the wind； “and I will also blow a memory into you， so that should you receive other similar presents your old age will pass very pleasantly.”
“也许还不会的，”风儿说。“现在我将唤起你的记忆。如果你能多有几件这样的礼物，你的老年就能过得很愉快了！”
“That is if I am not melted down，” said the lamp. “But should I in that case still retain my memory？”
“只要我不会被熔掉！”路灯说。“或许，即使如此，你还能确保我有记忆吧！”
“Do be reasonable， old lamp，” said the wind， puffing away.
“老路灯，请放得有理性些吧！”风儿说。于是风就吹起来。
At this moment the moon burst forth from the clouds. “What will you give the old lamp？” asked the wind.
这时月亮走出来了。“你将送点什么东西呢？”风儿问道。
“I can give nothing，” she replied； “I am on the wane， and no lamps have ever given me light while I have frequently shone upon them.” And with these words the moon hid herself again behind the clouds， that she might be saved from further importunitiesimportunity n.硬要， 强求. Just then a drop fell upon the lamp， from the roof of the house， but the drop explained that he was a gift from those gray clouds， and perhaps the best of all gifts. “I shall penetrate you so thoroughlythoroughly adv.十分地， 彻底地，” he said， “that you will have the power of becoming rustyrusty adj.生锈的， 迟钝的， 腐蚀了的， 铁锈色的， 生了锈的， and， if you wish it， to crumble into dust in one night.”
“我什么也不送，”月亮说，“我快要缺损了。灯儿从来不借光给我。相反的，我倒总是借光给他。”说完这话以后，月亮就又钻到云块后面去了，它不想人们来麻烦它。有一滴水从通风口里落进来。这滴水似乎是从屋顶上落下来的。不过它说它是从乌云上滴下来的，而且还有一件礼物——也许是一件最好的礼物。“我将浸润你的全身，使得你——假如你想的话——获得一种力量，叫你一夜就把全身锈掉，化为灰尘。”
But this seemed to the lamp a very shabby present， and the wind thought so too. “Does no one give any more？ Will no one give any more？” shouted the breath of the wind， as loud as it could. Then a bright falling star came down， leaving a broad， luminousluminous adj.发光的， 明亮的 streak behind it.
不过路灯认为这是一件很不好的礼物；风儿也赞同这种意见。“再没有更好的吗？再没有更好的吗？”风呼呼地拼命吹着。这时一颗耀眼的流星掉下来了，形成一条长长的光带。
“What was that？” cried the herrings head. “Did not a star fall？ I really believe it went into the lamp. Certainly， when such highborn personagespersonage n.要人， 名流， 个人 try for the office， we may as well say ‘Goodnight，’ and go home.”
“那是什么？”青鱼头大声说。“不是一颗星落下来了么？我认为它落到路灯里去了！假如地位这样高的人物也来要他的地方，那么我们最好还是回去睡觉的好！”
And so they did， all three， while the old lamp threw a wonderfully strong light all around him.
它这样做了，其余的两位也这样做了！不过老路灯突然发出一道强烈的光来。
“This is a glorious gift，” said he； “the bright stars have always been a joy to me， and have always shone more brilliantly than I ever could shine， though I have tried with my whole might； and now they have noticed me， a poor old lamp， and have sent me a gift that will enable me to see clearly everything that I remember， as if it still stood before me， and to be seen by all those who love me. And herein lies the truest pleasure， for joy which we cannot share with others is only half enjoyed.”
“这是一件可爱的礼物，”它说。“我始终非常喜欢这些明星，他们发出那么美丽的光，不管我怎样努力和争取，我自己是怎么也做不到的；他们竟然注意起我这个寒碜的老路灯来，派一颗星送一件礼物给我，使我有一种特能把我所能记得的和瞧见的东西也让我所喜欢的人可以看到。这才是真正的快乐哩。因为凡是我们不能跟别人共享的快乐，只能算为一半的高兴。”
“That sentiment does you honor，” said the wind； “but for this purpose wax lights will be necessary. If these are not lighted in you， your particular faculties will not benefit others in the least. The stars have not thought of this； they suppose that you and every other light must be a wax taper： but I must go down now.” So he laid himself to rest.
“这是一种值得尊敬的想法！”风儿说。“但你不知道，为了达到这种目的，蜡烛是必要的。假如你的身体里没有烧着一枝蜡烛，别人也不会看见你的任何东西。星星没有想到这一点，他们认为凡是发光的东西，身体里都有一根蜡烛。但是我现在困了！”风儿说，“我要睡了！”因此风就睡觉了。
“Wax tapers， indeed！” said the lamp， “I have never yet had these， nor is it likely I ever shall. If I could only be sure of not being melted down！”
“蜡烛，真的！”老路灯说，”我还从来没有，看来也不会有了。如果有，我肯定就不能被化掉！”
