THE DAYS OF THE WEEK

THE Days of the Week once resolved to get freefrom work，meet together，and have a social party．Everyday，however，was so occupied，that all the year roundthey had no free time at their disposal；they must have awhole day to themselves，and this they really had everyfourth year，—the day that is put into February to keepthe reckoning of time correct．

On that day therefore they decided¹ to have theirmeeting；and as Shrove Tuesday falls in February，theywould come in carnival² dress，each according to his tasteand usual character；they would eat well，drink well，make speeches，and say pleasant and unpleasant things toeach other in the most unconstrained good fellowship．Theheroes of old times，when at their meals，threw at eachother's heads the bones from which they had gnawed³ thebeef，but the Days of the Week would overwhelm eachother with showers of wit and satire—all in innocentShrove Tuesday merry-making．

So the extra day came，and they all met together．

Sunday，the leader of the days，appeared in a blacksilk gown；pious people would have supposed that he wasdressed as a clergyman about to go to church，but thechildren of the world saw that he was in domino in orderto go and enjoy himself，and that the blushing carnationhe had in his button－hole was the little red lantern at thetheatre，which announced"All tickets sold；see that youenjoy yourselves．" Monday，a young fellow，a relative of Sunday andespecially given to enjoyment，came next．He left theworkshop，he said，when the guard-parade took place．

"I must go out and hear Offenbach's music．It doesnot affect my head nor my heart，but it tickles⁴ the mus- cles of my legs．I must dance and enjoy myself，get ablack eye，and begin work again next day．I am the new－moon of the week．"

Tuesday takes its name from Tiw，the old god ofstrength and power．"Yes，I am the day of that，"saidTuesday．"I set to work，fasten the wings of Mercury tothe boots of the merchant，and see whether the factorywheels are oiled and spinning properly；I insist that thetailor shall be on his board and the paviour on the street．Let each attend to his own work：I keep an eye on thewhole．"

"Now I come，"said Wednesday．"I stand in themiddle of the week．The Germans call me Mr．Midweek．I stand like the shopman in the shop，like a flower in themidst of all the other respected days of the week．If weall march together，I have three days before and three be－hind，like a guard of honour．I must suppose that I amthe most distinguished⁵ day in the week．"

Thursday came dressed as a coppersmith with ahammer and a copper⁶ kettle；these were the marks of hisnobility．"I am of the highest birth，"he said，"heathenand divine．In the northern lands I am named after Thor，and in the southern after Jupiter，who both knew how tothunder and lighten．That has remained in the family．"And then he beat on the copper kettle and demonstratedhis high birth．

Friday was dressed like a young girl，and calledherself Freia，and by way of change also Venus；it de－pended on the language of the country in which she ap- peared．She was usually of a quiet happy nature，shesaid，but today she was dashing and free，for it was leap－year's day，and that brings freedom to woman；by oldcustom she may then woo for herself，and need not wait tobe wooed．

Saturday appeared as an old housekeeper⁷ with broomand cleaning－things．Her favourite dish was a broth⁸ madeof the week's bread－crusts，but she did not demand thaton this festive⁹ occasion it should be set on the table for allof them，but only that she herself might have it；and shegot it．

And so the Days of the Week took their places at thetable．

Here they are now described，all the seven，readyfor use in tableaux¹⁰ for the family circle．In these theymight be presented in the most amusing manner possible；we give them here only as a playful jest for February，theonly month that gets an extra day given to it．

一星期的日子

 

忽然有一天，一星期中的七个日子个个想停止工作，集到一起，开一个联欢会。不过每一个日子都是很忙的；一年到头，他们腾不出一点时间来，他们必须有一整天的闲空才成，而这只能每隔四年才碰到一次。这样的一天是放在二月里，为的是要使年月的计算不至于混乱起来。

因此他们就决定在这个闰月里开他们的联欢会。二月也是一个狂欢节的月份，他将要依照自己的口味和个性，穿着狂欢节的衣服来参加。他们将要大吃大喝一番，发表些演说，同时相互以友爱的精神毫无顾虑地说些愉快和不愉快的话语。古代的战士们，在吃饭的时候，常常把啃光了的骨头彼此朝头上扔。不过一星期的这几个日子却只是痛快地开一通玩笑和说说风趣话——当然以合乎狂欢节日的天真玩笑的精神为原则。

闰日到来了，于是他们就聚会在一起。

星期日是这几天的首领。他穿着一件黑丝绒做的外套。虔诚的人可能以为他是穿着牧师的衣服，要到教堂去做礼拜呢。不过世故的人都知道，他穿的是化装跳舞服，而且他打算要去狂欢一阵。他的扣子洞上插的那朵鲜红的荷兰石竹花，是戏院的那盏小红灯——它说：“票已卖完，请各位自己另去找消遣吧！”

接着来的是星期一。他是一个年轻的小伙子，跟星期日有亲族关系；他特别喜欢寻开心。

他说他是近卫队换班的时候离开工厂的。

“我必须出来听听奥芬巴赫的音乐。它对于我的头脑和心灵并不发生什么影响，但是却使我腿上的肌肉发痒。我不得不跳跳舞，喝点酒，在头上挨几拳，然后在第二天开始工作。

我是一个星期的开始！”

星期二是杜尔的日子——由古老的力量之神杜尔得名。

“是的，这一天就是我！”星期二说。“我开始工作。我把麦尔库尔的翅膀系在商人的鞋上，到工厂去看看轮子是不是上好了油，在转动。我认为裁缝应该坐在案板旁边，铺路工人应该在街上。每个人应该做自己应做的工作， 我关心大家的事情，因为我穿一套警察的制服， 把我自己叫做巡警日。如果你觉得我这话说得不好听，那么请你去找一个会说得更好听的人吧！”

“现在我来了！”星期三说。“我站在一星期的中间。德国人把我叫做中星期先生。我在店铺里像一个店员；我是一星期所有了不起的日子中的一朵花。如果我们在一起开步走，那么我前面有三天，后面也有三天，好像他们就是我的仪仗队似的。我不得不认为我是一星期中最了不起的一天！”

星期四到来了；他穿着一身铜匠的工作服， 同时带着一把榔头和铜壶——这是他贵族出身的标记。

“我的出身最高贵！”他说，“我既是异教徒， 同时又很神圣。我的名字在北国是源出于多尔；在南方是源出于朱庇特。他们都会打雷和闪电，这个家族现在仍然还保留着这套本领。”

于是他敲敲铜壶，表示他出身的高贵。

星期五来了，穿得像一个年轻的姑娘。她把自己叫做佛列娅；有时为了换换口味，也叫维纳斯——这要看她所在的那个国家的语言而定。她说她平时是一个心平气和的人，不过她今天却有点放肆，因为这是一个闰日——这一天给妇女带来自由，因为依照习惯，她在这天可以向人求婚，而不必等人向她求婚。

星期六带着一把扫帚和洗刷的用具，作为一位老管家娘娘出现了。她最心爱的一碗菜是啤酒和面包片做的泡。不过在这个节日里她不要求把汤放在桌子上让大家吃。她只是自己要吃它，而她也就得到了它。

一星期的日子就这样在餐桌上坐下来了。

他们七个人就是这个样子，人们可以把他们制成连环画，作为家庭里的一种消遣。在画中人们尽可以使他们显得滑稽。我们在这儿只不过把他们拉出来，当做对二月开的一个玩笑， 因为只有这个月才多出一天。

这篇散文，首先发表在1869年哥本哈根出版的《纪念品》上——这是一个年历的名称。安徒生是根据该年历的出版者多及尔生的要求而写此文的。“我根据要求匆匆忙忙地写成这篇有关一星期几个日子的故事。”但是他写得极有风趣。

1 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

2 carnival   

n.嘉年华会，狂欢，狂欢节，巡回表演

参考例句：

• I got some good shots of the carnival.我有几个狂欢节的精彩镜头。
• Our street puts on a carnival every year.我们街的居民每年举行一次嘉年华会。

3 gnawed   

咬( gnaw的过去式和过去分词 )； （长时间） 折磨某人； （使）苦恼； （长时间）危害某事物

参考例句：

• His attitude towards her gnawed away at her confidence. 他对她的态度一直在削弱她的自尊心。
• The root of this dead tree has been gnawed away by ants. 这棵死树根被蚂蚁唼了。

4 tickles   

（使）发痒( tickle的第三人称单数 )； （使）愉快，逗乐

参考例句：

• My foot [nose] tickles. 我的脚[鼻子]痒。
• My nose tickles from the dust and I want to scratch it. 我的鼻子受灰尘的刺激发痒，很想搔它。

5 distinguished   

adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的

参考例句：

• Elephants are distinguished from other animals by their long noses.大象以其长长的鼻子显示出与其他动物的不同。
• A banquet was given in honor of the distinguished guests.宴会是为了向贵宾们致敬而举行的。

6 copper   

n.铜；铜币；铜器；adj.铜(制)的；(紫)铜色的

参考例句：

• The students are asked to prove the purity of copper.要求学生们检验铜的纯度。
• Copper is a good medium for the conduction of heat and electricity.铜是热和电的良导体。

7 housekeeper   

n.管理家务的主妇，女管家

参考例句：

• A spotless stove told us that his mother is a diligent housekeeper.炉子清洁无瑕就表明他母亲是个勤劳的主妇。
• She is an economical housekeeper and feeds her family cheaply.她节约持家，一家人吃得很省。

8 broth   

n.原(汁)汤(鱼汤、肉汤、菜汤等)

参考例句：

• Every cook praises his own broth.厨子总是称赞自己做的汤。
• Just a bit of a mouse's dropping will spoil a whole saucepan of broth.一粒老鼠屎败坏一锅汤。

9 festive   

adj.欢宴的，节日的

参考例句：

• It was Christmas and everyone was in festive mood.当时是圣诞节，每个人都沉浸在节日的欢乐中。
• We all wore festive costumes to the ball.我们都穿着节日的盛装前去参加舞会。

10 tableaux   

n.舞台造型，（由活人扮演的）静态画面、场面；人构成的画面或场景( tableau的名词复数 )；舞台造型；戏剧性的场面；绚丽的场景

参考例句：

• He developed less a coherent analysis than a series of brilliant tableaux. 与其说他作了一个前后连贯的分析，倒不如说他描绘了一系列出色的场景。 来自辞典例句
• There was every kind of table, from fantasy to tableaux of New England history. 各种各样的故事，从幻想到新英格兰的历史场面，无所不有。 来自辞典例句