疯子

我在疯人院的花园里遇到了一个青年，脸容苍白、秀丽，可又充满诧异的神色。

我坐在长凳上他的身边，我开口道："你为什么在这儿？"他惊讶地瞧着我，然后说道："这是个不礼貌的问题，不过我还是要回答你。我的父亲要我成为同他一模一样的人，我叔父也指望我同他一个模样。我的母亲但愿我活像她那大名鼎鼎的父亲。我的姐姐以为她那航海的丈夫是个十全十美的榜样，要我亦步亦趋地学他。我的哥哥认为我应该像他一样当个运动员。

我的老师们亦然如此，要我成为哲学博士，音乐大师和逻辑学家，他们也都是坚决的，每个人都只要我成为他的尊容在镜子里的反映。

"所以我就到这个地方来了。我觉得这儿疯人院倒比较神志清醒。至少，我可以成为我自己。"

于是那青年突然向我转过脸来，问道："可是请你告诉我，难道你也是被教育和善意的忠告赶到疯人院来的吗？"我回答道："不，我是个访问者。"

那青年便说："噢，有的人就住在墙壁那一边的疯人院里，原来你就是其中之一啊。"

The Madman

It was in the garden of a madhouse that I met a youth with a face pale and lovely and full of wonder. And I sat beside him upon the bench, and I said, "Why are you here?"

And he looked at me in astonishment, and he said, "It is an unseemly question, yet I will answer you. My father would make of me a reproduction of himself; so also would my uncle. My mother would have me the image of her seafaring husband as the perfect example for me to follow. My brother thinks I should be like him, a fine athlete.

"And my teachers also, the doctor of philosophy, and the music-master, and the logician, they too were determined, and each would have me but a reflection of his own face in a mirror.

"Therefore I came to this place. I find it more sane here. At least, I can be myself."

Then of a sudden he turned to me and he said, "But tell me, were you also driven to this place by education and good counsel?"

And I answered, "No, I am a visitor."

And he answered, "Oh, you are one of those who live in the madhouse on the other side of the wall."