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介绍�美国著名作家殴亨利的短篇小说《麦琪的礼物》描写了一对相爱至深的情侣在圣诞节互送礼物的故事。故事情节虽简单�但我们还是能透过作者细腻的笔触感受到浓浓的温情�可谓是非常适合在圣诞季阅读的温暖小说。THEGIFTOFTHEMAGI麦琪的礼物byO.Henry[美]欧·亨利�著潘明元�译Onedollarandeighty-sevencents.Thatwasall.Andsixtycentsofitwasinpennies.Penniessavedoneandtwoatatimebybulldozingthegrocerandthevegetablemanandthebutcheruntilone'scheeksburnedwiththesilentimputationofparsimonythatsuchclosedealingimplied.ThreetimesDellacountedit.Onedollarandeighty-sevencents.AndthenextdaywouldbeChristmas.一元八角七。全都在这儿了�其中六角是一分一分的铜板。这些分分钱是杂货店老板、菜贩子和肉店老板那儿软硬兼施地一分两分地扣下来�直弄得自己羞愧难当�深感这种掂斤播两的交易实在丢人现眼。德拉反复数了三次�还是一元八角七�而第二天就是圣诞节了。Therewasclearlynothingtodobutflopdownontheshabbylittlecouchandhowl.SoDelladidit.Whichinstigatesthemoralreflectionthatlifeismadeupofsobs,sniffles,andsmiles,withsnifflespredominating.除了扑倒在那破旧的小睡椅上哭嚎之外�显然别无他途。德拉这样作了�可精神上的感慨油然而生�生活就是哭泣、抽噎和微笑�尤以抽噎占统治地位。Whilethemistressofthehomeisgraduallysubsidingfromthefirststagetothesecond,takealookatthehome.Afurnishedflatat$8perweek.Itdidnotexactlybeggardescription,butitcertainlyhadthatwordonthelookoutforthemendicancysquad.当这位家庭主妇逐渐平静下来之际�让我们看看这个家吧。一套带家具的公寓房子�每周房租八美元。尽管难以用笔墨形容�可它真真够得上乞丐帮这个词儿。Inthevestibulebelowwasaletter-boxintowhichnoletterwouldgo,andanelectricbuttonfromwhichnomortalfingercouldcoaxaring.AlsoappertainingthereuntowasacardbearingthenameMr.JamesDillinghamYoung.楼下的门道里有个信箱�可从来没有装过信�还有一个电钮�也从没有人的手指按响过电铃。而且�那儿还有一张名片�上写着“詹姆斯·迪林厄姆·杨先生”。TheDillinghamhadbeenflungtothebreezeduringaformerperiodofprosperitywhenitspossessorwasbeingpaid$30perweek.Now,whentheincomewasshrunkto$20,though,theywerethinkingseriouslyofcontractingtoamodestandunassumingD.ButwheneverMr.JamesDillinghamYoungcamehomeandreachedhisflatabovehewascalledJimandgreatlyhuggedbyMrs.JamesDillinghamYoung,alreadyintroducedtoyouasDella.Whichisallverygood.“迪林厄姆”这个名号是主人先前春风得意之际�一时兴起加上去的�那时候他每星期挣三十美元。现在�他的收入缩减到二十美元�“迪林厄姆”的字母也显得模糊不清�似乎它们正严肃地思忖着是否缩写成谦逊而又讲求实际的字母�。不过�每当詹姆斯·迪林厄姆·杨回家�走进楼上的房间时�詹姆斯·迪林厄姆·杨太太�就是刚介绍给诸位的德拉�总是把他称作“吉姆”�而且热烈地拥抱他。那当然是再好不过的了。Dellafinishedhercryandattendedtohercheekswiththepowderrag.Shestoodbythewindowandlookedoutdullyatagraycatwalkingagrayfenceinagraybackyard.TomorrowwouldbeChristmasDay,andshehadonly$1.87withwhichtobuyJimapresent.Shehadbeensavingeverypennyshecouldformonths,withthisresult.Twentydollarsaweekdoesn'tgofar.Expenseshadbeengreaterthanshehadcalculated.Theyalwaysare.Only$1.87tobuyapresentforJim.HerJim.Manyahappyhourshehadspentplanningforsomethingniceforhim.Somethingfineandrareandsterling-somethingjustalittlebitneartobeingworthyofthehonorofbeingownedbyJim.德拉哭完之后�往面颊上抹了抹粉�她站在窗前�痴痴地瞅着灰濛濛的后院里一只灰白色的猫正行走在灰白色的篱笆上。明天就是圣诞节�她只有一元八角七给吉姆买一份礼物。她花去好几个月的时间�用了最大的努力一分一分地攒积下来�才得了这样一个结果。一周二十美元实在经不起花�支出大于预算�总是如此。只有一元八角七给吉姆买礼物�她的吉姆啊。她花费了多少幸福的时日筹划着要送他一件可心的礼物�一件精致、珍奇、贵重的礼物-至少应有点儿配得上吉姆所有的东西才成啊。Therewasapier-glassbetweenthewindowsoftheroom.Perhapsyouhaveseenapier-glassinan$8flat.Averythinandveryagilepersonmay,byobservinghisreflectioninarapidsequenceoflongitudinalstrips,obtainafairlyaccurateconceptionofhislooks.Della,beingslender,hadmasteredtheart.房间的两扇窗子之间有一面壁镜。也许你见过每周房租八美元的公寓壁镜吧。一个非常瘦小而灵巧的人�从观察自己在一连串的纵条影象中�可能会对自己的容貌得到一个大致精确的概念。德拉身材苗条�已精通了这门子艺术。Suddenlyshewhirledfromthewindowandstoodbeforetheglass.hereyeswereshiningbrilliantly,butherfacehadlostitscolorwithintwentyseconds.Rapidlyshepulleddownherhairandletitfalltoitsfulllength.突然�她从窗口旋风般地转过身来�站在壁镜前面。她两眼晶莹透亮�但二十秒钟之内她的面色失去了光彩。她急速地折散头发�使之完全泼散开来。Now,thereweretwopossessionsoftheJamesDillinghamYoungsinwhichtheybothtookamightypride.OnewasJim'sgoldwatchthathadbeenhisfather'sandhisgrandfather's.TheotherwasDella'shair.HadthequeenofShebalivedintheflatacrosstheairshaft,DellawouldhaveletherhairhangoutthewindowsomedaytodryjusttodepreciateHerMajesty'sjewelsandgifts.HadKingSolomonbeenthejanitor,withallhistreasurespiledupinthebasement,Jimwouldhavepulledouthiswatcheverytimehepassed,justtoseehimpluckathisbeardfromenvy.现在�詹姆斯·迪林厄姆·杨夫妇俩各有一件特别引以自豪的东西。一件是吉姆的金表�是他祖父传给父亲�父亲又传给他的传家宝�另一件则是德拉的秀发。如果示巴女王①也住在天井对面的公寓里�总有一天德拉会把头发披散下来�露出窗外晾干�使那女王的珍珠宝贝黔然失色�如果地下室堆满金银财宝、所罗门王又是守门人的话�每当吉姆路过那儿�准会摸出金表�好让那所罗门王忌妒得吹胡子瞪眼睛。SonowDella'sbeautifulhairfellaboutherripplingandshininglikeacascadeofbrownwaters.Itreachedbelowherkneeandmadeitselfalmostagarmentforher.Andthenshediditupagainnervouslyandquickly.Onceshefalteredforaminuteandstoodstillwhileatearortwosplashedonthewornredcarpet.此时此刻�德拉的秀发泼撒在她的周围�微波起伏�闪耀光芒�有如那褐色的瀑布。她的美发长及膝下�仿佛是她的一件长袍。接着�她又神经质地赶紧把头发梳好。踌躇了一分钟�一动不动地立在那儿�破旧的红地毯上溅落了一、两滴眼泪。Onwentheroldbrownjacket;onwentheroldbrownhat.Withawhirlofskirtsandwiththebrilliantsparklestillinhereyes,sheflutteredoutthedooranddownthestairstothestreet.她穿上那件褐色的旧外衣�戴上褐色的旧帽子�眼睛里残留着晶莹的泪花�裙子一摆�便飘出房门�下楼来到街上。Whereshestoppedthesignread:Mne.Sofronie.HairGoodsofAllKinds.OneflightupDellaran,andcollectedherself,panting.Madame,large,toowhite,chilly,hardlylookedtheSofronie.她走到一块招牌前停下来�上写着�“索弗罗妮夫人-专营各式头发”。德拉奔上楼梯�气喘吁吁地定了定神。那位夫人身躯肥大�过于苍白�冷若冰霜�同“索弗罗妮”的雅号简直牛头不对马嘴。Willyoubuymyhair?askedDella.“你要买我的头发吗�”德拉问。Ibuyhair,saidMadame.Takeyerhatoffandlet'shaveasightatthelooksofit.“我买头发�”夫人说。“揭掉帽子�让我看看发样。”Downrippledthebrowncascade.那褐色的瀑布泼撒了下来。Twentydollars,saidMadame,liftingthemasswithapractised