Ivanwasatimidlittleman---sotimidthatthevillagescalledhim“Pigeon”ormockedhimwiththetitle“IvantheTerrible.”

　　伊万是一个胆小如鼠的小个子男人,他的胆子太小了,所以村子里人都叫他“胆小鬼”,或者嘲讽的成他为“怕死鬼伊万”.

　　EverynightIvanstoppedinatthetavernwhichwasonetheedgeofthevillagegraveyard.Ivannevercrossedthegraveyardtogettohislonelyshackontheotherside.Thatpathwouldsavemanyminutes,buthehadnevertakenit---noteveninthefulllightofnoon.

　　每天晚上,伊万都要到村字墓地边上的那个小酒店去,但每次从酒店回到他在墓地另一边那做孤伶伶的小木屋时,他都不会从墓地当中穿过来.虽然走那条路可以节省好多时间,他却从来没走过.即使在阳光最明亮的大白天,他也没有走过.

　　Lateonewinter'snight,whenbitterwindandsnowbeatagainstthetavern,customerstookupthefamiliarmockery.Ivan'smotherwasscaredbyacanarywhenshecarriedhiminherwomb.“IvantheTerrible---IvantheTimidOne.”

　　一个冬天的深夜,寒风呼啸,风夹着雪花不停的拍打着小酒馆.酒馆里的客人们又聊起了那个老话题,对伊万进行嘲弄：伊万他妈妈在怀它的时候给一只金丝雀给吓着了,“怕死鬼伊万;胆小鬼伊万.”

　　Ivan'sweakprotestonlyencouragedthem,andtheyjeeredcruellywhentheCossackcaptainflunghishorridchallengeattheirvictim.

　　伊万软弱无力的抗议只能是他们更来劲儿,更加肆无忌惮的嘲弄他.这时,酒馆的那个哥萨克老板又极不友好的向伊万,这个他们捉弄的对象,发出了挑衅.

　　“Youareapigeon,Ivan.You'llwalkaroundthegraveyardinthiscold---butyoudarenotcrossit.”Ivanmurmured,“Thegraveyardisnothingtocross,Captain.Itisnothingbutearth,likealltheotherearth.”

　　“你是一个胆小鬼,伊万.在这样一个大冷天,你也只敢绕远路,绕着墓地走回家;就是不敢穿过去.”伊万喃喃的说：“穿过墓地也没什么意思,老板.那里只有泥土,和其他地方的泥土没什么两样.”

　　Thecaptaincried,“Achallenge,then!Crossthegraveyardtonight,Ivan,andI'llgiveyoufiverubles---fivegoldrubles!”

　　老板大声吼道：“好吧!来一次挑战怎么样?伊万,今天晚上你穿过墓地走回去,我就给你5个金卢布;5个金卢布!”

　　Perhapsitwasthevodka.Perhapsitwasthetemptationofthefivegoldrubles.Nooneknewwhy.Ivan,moisteninghislips,saidsuddenly:“Yes,Captain,I'llcrossthegraveyard.”Thetavernechoedwiththeirdisbelief.Thecaptainwinkedtothemenandunbuckledhissword.

　　也许是伏特加的作用,也许是5个金卢布的诱惑,谁知道呢.伊万舔舔嘴唇,突然说道：“行,老板,等一会儿我就从墓地穿过去.”小酒馆里的人都嚷嚷说不信.老板朝大伙使了个眼色,然后解下了他的佩剑.

　　“Here,Ivan.Whenyougettothecenterofthegraveyard,infrontofthebiggesttomb,sticktheswordintotheground.Inthemorningweshallgothere.Iftheswordisintheground---fiverublestoyou!”Ivantookthesword.Themendrankatoast:“ToIvantheTerrible!”Theyroaredlaughing.

　　“给你,伊万!等你走到墓地中央时,就将这把剑插在那个最大的坟堆前的地上.明天早上我们会到那里去,如果看的这把剑插在哪儿;5个卢布就归你了!”

　　伊万接过剑.人们举起酒杯,“为怕死鬼伊万干杯!”他们狂笑着大叫道.

　　ThewindhowledaroundIvanasheclosedthedoorofthetavernbehindhim.Thecoldwasknife-sharp.Hebuttonedhislongcoatandcrossedthedirtroad.Hecouldhearthecaptain'svoice,louderthantherest,yellingafterhim,“Fiverubles,pigeon!Ifyoulive!”

　　伊万关上门,走出小酒店.身边狂风怒号,冷的似刀割一般.他扣紧了长大衣,从泥泞的路上穿过去,耳边仿佛还听见在众人的喧哗声中老板那格外刺耳的声音在他背后厉声叫着：“5个卢布,胆小鬼,如果你还能活着的话!”

　　Ivanpushedthegraveyardgateopen.Hewalkedfast.“Earth,justearth…justlikeanyotherearth.”Butthedarknesswasamassivedread.

　　伊万推开墓地的门.他飞快地走着.“泥土,只不过是泥土罢了……和别处的没什么两样.”但是,黑暗实在是太可怕人了.

　　“Fivegoldrubles…”Thewindwascruelandtheswordwaslikeiceinhishands.Ivanshiveredunderthelong,thickcoatandbrokeintoalimpingrun.

　　“5个金卢布……”风凄厉地刮着,他手中的剑冰冷刺骨.伊万裹在那件又长又厚的大衣里浑身直发抖,不由得一瘸一拐地跑了起来.

　　Hestoppedthelargetomb.Hemusthavesobbed---thatwasthesound