这是一个关于朋友的故事。
一只红雀给一个不信爱情和家庭而相信朋友的河鼠讲了这样一个故事。
从前有两个人，拥有可爱花园的善良汉斯，和拥有大磨坊的富有磨坊主，他们是彼此的忠诚朋友。

“小汉斯有许多朋友，但是最忠实的朋友只有磨坊主大休。的确，有钱的磨坊主对小汉
斯是非常忠实的，每次他从小汉斯的花园经过总要从围墙上俯过身去摘上一大束鲜花，或者 摘上一把香草。遇到硕果累累的季节，他就会往口袋里装满李子和樱桃。

“磨坊主时常对小汉斯说，‘真正的朋友应该共享一切。’小汉斯微笑着点点头，他为
自己有一位思想如此崇高的朋友而深感骄傲。
“的确，有时候邻居们也感到奇怪，有钱的磨坊主从来没有给过小汉斯任何东西作为回
报，尽管他在自己的磨坊里存放了一百袋面粉，还有六头奶牛和一大群绵羊。不过，小汉斯从没有为这些事而动过脑筋，再说经常听磨坊主对他谈起那些不自私的真正友谊的美妙故事，对小汉斯来说，没有比听到这些更让他快乐的了。

“就这样小汉斯一直在花园中干着活。在春、夏、秋三季中他都很快乐，可冬天一到， 他没有水果和鲜花拿到市场上去卖，就要过饥寒交迫的日子，还常常吃不上晚饭，只吃点干 梨和核桃就上床睡觉了。在冬天的日子里，他觉得特别的孤单，因为这时磨坊主从来不会去 看望他。

147'

'"There is no good in my going to see little Hans as long as the snow lasts," the Miller used to say to his wife, "for when people are in trouble they should be left alone, and not be bothered by visitors. That at least is my idea about friendship, and I am sure I am right. So I shall wait till the spring comes, and then I shall pay him a visit, and he will be able to give me a large basket of primroses, and that will make him so happy."

"You are certainly very thoughtful about others," answered the Wife, as she sat in her comfortable armchair by the big pinewood fire; "very thoughtful indeed. It is quite a treat to hear you talk about friendship. I am sure the clergyman himself could not say such beautiful things as you do, though he does live in a three-storied house, and wears a gold ring on his little finger."
    
'"But could We not ask little Hans up here?" said the Miller's youngest son. "If poor Hans is in trouble I will give him half my porridge, and show him my white rabbits."
   
 "What a silly boy you are!" cried the Miller; "I really don't know what is the use of sending you to school. You seem not to learn anything. Why, if little Hans came up here, and saw our warm fire, and our good supper, and our great cask of red wine, he might get envious, and envy is a most terrible thing, and would spoil anybody's nature. I certainly will not allow Hans's nature to be spoiled. I am his best friend, and I will always watch over him, and see that he is not led into any temptations. Besides, if Hans came here, he might ask me to let him have some flour on credit, and that I could not do. Flour is one thing, and friendship is another, and they should not be confused. Why, the words are spelt differently, and mean quite different things. Everybody can see that."
   
 '"How well you talk!" said the Miller's Wife, pouring herself out a large glass of warm ale; "really I feel quite drowsy. It is just like being in church."
  
“冬天刚一过去，樱草开始开放它们的浅黄色星花的时候，磨坊主便对他的妻子说，他准备下山去看望一下小汉斯。

“‘啊，你的心肠真好！’他的妻子大声喊道，‘你总是想着别人。别忘了带上装花朵的大篮子。’”

“于是磨坊主用一根坚实的铁链把风车的翼板固定在一起，随后将篮子挎在手膀上就下
山去了。”

“‘早上好，小汉斯，’磨坊主说。”

“‘早上好，’汉斯回答道，把身体靠在铁铲上，满脸堆着笑容。”

“‘整个冬天你都过得好吗？’磨坊主又开口问道。”

“‘啊，是啊，’汉斯大声说，‘蒙你相问，你真是太好了，太好了。我要说我过得是有些困难，不过现在春天已经到了，我好快活呀，我的花都长得很好。’”

“‘今年冬天我们常提起你，’磨坊主说，‘还关心你过得怎么样了。’”

“‘太感谢你了，’汉斯说，‘我真有点担心你会把我给忘了。’”

“‘汉斯，你说的话让我吃惊，’磨坊主说；‘友谊从不会让人忘记，这就是友谊的非凡所在，但是只恐怕你还不懂得生活的诗意。啊，对了，你的樱草长得多可爱呀！’”

“‘它们长得确实可爱，’汉斯说，‘我的运气太好了，会有这么多的樱草。我要把它们拿到市场上去卖，卖给市长的女儿，有了钱就去赎回我的小推车。’”

“‘赎回你的小推车？你的意思是说你卖掉了它？这事你做的有多么傻呀！’”

“‘噢，事实上，’汉斯说，‘我不得不那样做。你知道冬天对我来说是很困难的，我也的确没钱买面包。所以我先是卖掉星期日制服上的银钮扣，然后又卖掉银链条，接着卖掉了我的大烟斗，最后才卖掉了我的小推车。不过，我现在要把它们都再买回来。’”

“‘汉斯，’磨坊主说，‘我愿意把我的小推车送给你。它还没有完全修好，其实，它有一边已掉了，轮缘也有些毛病，但不管怎么说，我还是要把它送给你。我知道我这个人非常慷慨，而且很多人会认为我送掉小车是很愚蠢的举动，但是我是与众不同的人。我认为慷慨是友谊的核心。再说，我还给自己弄了一辆新的小推车。好了，你就放宽心吧，我要把我的小推车给你的。’”

169'

   '"Well, really, that is generous of you," said little Hans, and his funny round face glowed all over with pleasure. "I can easily put it in repair, as I have a plank of wood in the house."
   
 '"A plank of wood" said the Miller; "why, that is just what I want for the roof of my barn. There is a very large hole in it, and the corn will all get damp if I don't stop it up. How lucky you mentioned it! It is quite remarkable how one good action always breeds another. I have given you my wheelbarrow, and now you are going to give me your plank. Of course, the wheelbarrow is worth far more than the plank, but true friendship never notices things like that. Pray get it at once, and I will set to work at my barn this very day."
  
  '"Certainly," cried little Hans, and he ran into the shed and dragged the plank out.
    
'"It is not a very big plank," said the Miller, looking at it, "and I am afraid that after I have mended my barn-roof there won't be any left for you to mend the wheelbarrow with; but, of course, that is not my fault. And now, as I have given you my wheelbarrow, I am sure you would like to give me some flowers in return. Here is the basket, and mind you fill it quite full."
   
 '"Quite full?" said little Hans, rather sorrowfully, for it was really a very big basket, and he knew that if he filled it he would have no flowers left for the market, and he was very anxious to get his silver buttons back.
  
  '"Well, really," answered the Miller, "as I have given you my wheelbarrow, I don't think that it is much to ask you for a few flowers. I may be wrong, but I should have thought that friendship, true friendship, was quite free from selfishness of any kind."
    
"My dear friend, my best friend," cried little Hans, "you are welcome to all the flowers in my garden. I would much sooner have your good opinion than my silver buttons, any day;" and he ran and plucked all his pretty primroses, and filled the Miller's basket.
   
 '"Good-bye, little Hans," said the Miller, as he went up the hill with the plank on his shoulder, and the big basket in his hand.
    
'"Good-bye," said little Hans, and he began to dig away quite merrily, he was so pleased about the wheelbarrow.

“第二天，小汉斯正往门廊上钉忍冬的时候，听见磨坊主在马路上喊叫他的声音。他一下子从梯子上跳下来，跑到花园里，朝墙外望去。”

“只见磨坊主扛着一大袋面粉站在外面。”

“‘亲爱的小汉斯，’磨坊主说，‘你愿意帮我把这袋面粉背到集市上去吗？’”

一牧，实在对不起，’汉斯说，‘我今天真的太忙了。我要把所有的藤子全钉好，还得把所有的花浇上水，所有的草都剪平。’”

“‘啊，不错，’磨坊主说，“我想是的。可你要考虑我将把我的小推车送给你，你要是拒绝我就太不够朋友了。’”

“‘啊，不要这么说，’小汉斯大声叫道，‘无论如何我也不会对不起朋友的。’他跑进小屋去取帽子，然后扛上那大袋面粉，步履艰难地朝集市走去。”

“这一天天气炎热，路上尘土飞扬，汉斯还没有走到六英里，就累得不行了，只好坐下来歇歇脚。不过，他又继续勇敢地上路了，最后终于到达了集市。在那儿他没有等多长时间，就把那袋面粉卖掉了，还卖了个好价钱。他立即动身回家，因为他担心在集市上呆得太晚，回去的路上可能会遇上强盗的。”

“‘今天的确太辛苦了，’小汉斯上床睡觉时这样对自己说，‘不过我很高兴没有拒绝磨坊主，因为他是我最好的朋友，再说，他还要把他的小推车送给我。’”

103'

'Early the next morning the Miller came down to get the money for his sack of flour, but little Hans was so tired that he was still in bed.
  
  '"Upon my word," said the Miller, "you are very lazy. Really, considering that I am going to give you my wheelbarrow, I think you might work harder. Idleness is a great sin, and I certainly don't like any of my friends to be idle or sluggish. You must not mind my speaking quite plainly to you. Of course I should not dream of doing so if I were not your friend. But what is the good of friendship if one cannot say exactly what one means? Anybody can say charming things and try to please and to flatter, but a true friend always says unpleasant things, and does not mind giving pain. Indeed, if he is a really true friend he prefers it, for he knows that then he is doing good."

'"I am very sorry," said little Hans, rubbing his eyes and pulling off his night-cap, "but I was so tired that I thought I would lie in bed for a little time, and listen to the birds singing. Do you know that I always work better after hearing the birds sing?"
    
'"Well, I am glad of that," said the Miller, clapping little Hans on the back, "for I want you to come up to the mill as soon as you are dressed, and mend my barn-roof for me."

可怜的小汉斯当时很想到自己的花园里去干活，因为他的花草已有两天没浇过水了，可他又不想拒绝磨坊主，磨坊主是他的好朋友哇。”

“‘如果我说我很忙，你会认为我不够朋友吗？’他又害羞又担心地问道。”

“‘噢，说实在的，’磨坊主回答说，‘我觉得我对你的要求并不过分，你想我就要把我的小推车给你，不过当然如果你不想干，我就回去自己动手干。’”

“‘啊！那怎么行，’小汉斯嚷着说。他从床上跳下来，穿上衣服，往仓房去了。”

“他在那儿干了整整一天，直到夕阳西下，日落时分磨坊主来看他干得怎么样了。”

“‘小汉斯，你把仓顶上的洞补好了吗？’磨坊主乐不可支地高声问道。”

“‘全补好了，’小汉斯说着，从梯子上走了下来。”

“‘啊！’磨坊主说，‘没有什么比替别人干活更让人快乐的了。’”

“‘听你说话真是莫大的荣幸，’小汉斯坐下身来，一边擦去前额的汗水，一边回答说，‘莫大的荣幸，不过我担心我永远也不会有你这么美好的想法。’”

“‘啊！你也会有的，’磨坊主说，‘不过你必须得更努力些才行。现在你仅仅完成了友谊的实践，今后有一天你也会具备理论的。’”

“‘你真的认为我会吗？’小汉斯问。”

“‘我对此毫不怀疑，’磨坊主回答说，‘不过既然你已经修补好了仓顶，你最好还是回去休息，因为我明天还要你帮我赶山羊到山上去。’”

“‘可怜的小汉斯对这件事什么也不敢说，第二天一大早磨坊主就赶着他的羊群来到了小屋旁，汉斯便赶着它们上山去了。他花了整整一天功夫才走了一个来回。回到家时他已经累坏了，就坐在椅子上睡着了，一觉醒来已经是大天亮了。”

“‘今天能呆在自己的花园里我会是多么快乐呀。’说着，他就马上去干活了。”

“然而他永远也不能够全身心地去照料好自己的花，因为他的朋友磨坊主老是不停地跑来给他派些差事，或叫他到磨坊去帮忙。有时小汉斯也很苦恼，他担心自己的花会认为他已经把它们给忘了，但是他却用磨坊主是自己最好的朋友这种想法来安慰自己。‘再说，’他经常对自己说，‘他还要把自己的小推车送给我，那是真正慷慨大方的举动。’”

“就这样小汉斯不停地为磨坊主干事，而磨坊主也讲了各种各样关于友谊的美妙语句，汉斯把这些话都记在笔记本上，晚上经常拿出来阅读，因为他还是个爱读书的人。”

119'

'Now it happened that one evening little Hans was sitting by his fireside when a loud rap came at the door. It was a very wild night, and the wind was blowing and roaring round the house so terribly that at first he thought it was merely the storm. But a second rap came, and then a third, louder than either of the others.
   
 '"It is some poor traveller," said little Hans to himself, and he ran to the door.
    
'There stood the Miller with a lantern in one hand and a big stick in the other.
    
'"Dear little Hans," cried the Miller, "I am in great trouble. My little boy has fallen off a ladder and hurt himself, and I am going for the Doctor. But he lives so far away, and it is such a bad night, that it has just occurred to me that it would be much better if you went instead of me. You know I am going to give you my wheelbarrow, and so it is only fair that you should do something for me in return."
    
'"Certainly," cried little Hans, "I take it quite as a compliment your coming to me, and I will start off at once. But you must lend me your lantern, as the night is so dark that I am afraid I might fall into the ditch."
    
'"I am very sorry," answered the Miller, "but it is my new lantern, and it would be a great loss to me if anything happened to it."
    
'"Well, never mind, I will do without it," cried little Hans, and he took down his great fur coat, and his warm scarlet cap, and tied a muffler round his throat, and started off.

那可真是个可怕的风暴之夜，黑得伸手不见五指，小汉斯什么也看不见。风刮得很猛，他连站都站不稳。不过，小汉斯非常勇敢，他走了大约三个钟头，来到了医生的屋前，敲响了门。”

“‘是谁呀？’医生从卧室伸出头来大声问道。”

“‘医生，我是小汉斯。’”

“‘什么事，小汉斯。’”

“‘磨坊主的儿子从梯子上跌下来摔伤了，磨坊主请你马上去。”

“‘好的！’医生说，并且叫人去备马。他取来大靴子，提上马灯，从楼上走了下来，骑上马朝磨坊主的家奔去，而小汉斯却步履踏酒地跟在后头。”

“然而风暴却越来越大，雨下得像小河的流水，小汉斯看不清他面前的路面，也赶不上马了。最后他迷了路，在一片沼泽地上徘徊着。这是一块非常危险的地方，到处有深深的水坑，可怜的小汉斯就在那里给淹死了。第二天几位牧羊人发现了他的尸首，漂浮在一个大池塘的水面上。这几位牧羊人把尸体抬回到他的小屋中。

79'

'"As I was his best friend," said the Miller, "it is only fair that I should have the best place;" so he walked at the head of the procession in a long black cloak, and every now and then he wiped his eyes with a big pocket-handkerchief.
    
'"Little Hans is certainly a great loss to every one," said the Blacksmith, when the funeral was over, and they were all seated comfortably in the inn, drinking spiced wine and eating sweet cakes.
   
 '"A great loss to me at any rate," answered the Miller; "why, I had as good as given him my wheelbarrow, and now I really don't know what to do with it. It is very much in my way at Home, and it is in such bad repair that I could not get anything for it if I sold it. I will certainly take care not to give away anything again. One always suffers for being generous."

红雀的故事讲完了，信念受到挑衅的河鼠的河鼠愤愤离开。给我们留下了一个关于Little Hans和Miller之间友情的故事。
Hans和Miller的友情，就像是地主和奴仆之上的名号。
之前我读的时候，一直在想，这篇童话叫“忠诚友人”，到底什么才是忠诚，真正的友情应该是什么样子的。
这两个人，Hans单纯的有些可怜，一辆口头上承诺的破旧小车为什么竟值得他付出那么多。我想他不是为了那辆小车也不是为了什么面粉金钱的回报，对他来讲重要的是Miller的友情吧，虽然这份友情在我们看来实在是没什么维护的意义，但对于单纯的hans或许已经足够。他的单纯甚至有些人看来是傻气害了他，带给了他这样一个结局。但换个角度想想，这只是在我们这些不单纯的人眼里他的结局。如果在他，他时时听到Miller呼唤他朋友都是高兴的，单纯的人总会快乐，即使他本来是不幸的。这样的单纯，对于人生，究竟是否有利？
而Miller是一个会说的人。他的逻辑很诡异，至少我没办法理解。在他眼里朋友究竟是什么样的？我想说他自私，他从不付出，却索求太多，对他来讲朋友就是一个我什么都不给你但你必须什么都给我的人。但是我不知道他说的话究竟是刻意的还是本性的。按照他的强盗逻辑，过分索取，自私自利，那他真算上是一个“忠诚”友人。但他有没有可能本来就是这样呢，一个本心还善但思维方式常人难以理解的人？所以说，在Miller心里，他究竟是不是希望Hans好，这一点我说不清楚。
Hans确实算得上是一个忠诚的朋友，而Miller从某种意义上，或许也算是忠实友人？
不过，我还是觉得友情是双方的，单方的付出和委曲求全不会有好的结果。除非你们中一个像Hans那样有极度的单纯，另一个像Miller一样可以心安理得地接受。
不论友情、亲情、爱情，大概都是这样。
Anyway, 友谊地久天长。愿魔友们都能拥有长久坚定且难以忘怀的友情。
晚安

By Starry

P.S.今天这篇查单词查了好久，一直知道王尔德的文风唯美辞藻华丽，今天，确实体会到了。花了好久好久查文中出现的各种植物名称，好多是汉语都没听过的。所以想要发一篇这篇的附带讲解，讲讲The Devoted Friend里出现的各种植物，顺便普及一些植物知识。今天太晚了，明天早上发。前两天读了后面王尔德的文章，感受到了“辞藻华丽”的深深恶意，不得已去看了汉语版，发现一直以来读汉语遇到那些内容都是直接跳过的e_e看来之后还会有好几期王尔德童话附录——普及各种植物动物和珠宝等Q_Q

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