第6章 在市集上（At The Fair）

一個十分秀麗的姑娘從農村來趕集。她的臉上是百合花和玫瑰花的顏色。她的頭髮好比夕照，而曙光在她的朱唇上微笑。 這美貌的陌生人出現在年輕男子眼前不久，他們便都來追求她包圍她了。這一個要同她跳舞，那一個要切一塊蛋糕招待她。而他們大家都想吻她的面頰。因為說到底，難道這不是市集嗎？然而這姑娘吃驚而又害怕，認為這些年輕男子都不是好人。她斥責他們，她甚至打了一兩個人的臉。接著她就從他們身邊逃跑了。 那天黃昏時分，在回家的路上，她心裡說道："真叫人厭惡。這些男人多麼沒有禮貌、沒有教養。簡直叫人忍無可忍。" 一年過去了，在這一年裡，這個十分秀麗的姑娘念念不忘市集和年輕的男子們。於是她再來趕集了，帶著她臉上的百合花和玫瑰花，帶著她頭髮裡的夕照以及她嘴唇上的曙光似的微笑。

然而，如今年輕的男子們一看見她都轉過身去了。整整一天她都是孤零零的，沒有人來追求她。 黃昏時分，在走回家去的路上，她心裡在嚷道："真叫人厭惡。這些青年多麼沒有禮貌、沒有教養。簡直叫人忍無可忍。" At The Fair There came to the Fair a girl from the country-side, most comely. There was a lily and a rose in her face. There was a sunset in her hair, and dawn smiled upon her lips. No sooner did the lovely stranger appear in their sight than the young men sought her and surrounded her. One would dance with her, and another would cut a cake in her honour. And they all desired to kiss her cheek. For after all, was it not the Fair?

But the girl was shocked and started, and she thought ill of the young men. She rebuked them, and she even struck one or two of them in the face. Then she ran away from them. And on her way home that evening she was saying in her heart, "I am disgusted. How unmannerly and ill bred are these men. It is beyond all patience."

A year passed during which that very comely girl thought much of Fairs and men. Then she came again to the Fair with the lily and the rose in her face, the sunset in her hair and the smile of dawn upon her lips. But now the young men, seeing her, turned from her. And all the day long she was unsought and alone.

And at eventide as she walked the road toward her home she cried in her heart, "I am disgusted. How unmannerly and ill bred are these youths. It is beyond all patience."