To the piano player she said hoarsely, can you imagine, Joseph, soup on Christmas Eve?
接着，她转向那位钢琴师，用嘶哑的声音问，在圣诞节前夕喝碗汤，约瑟夫，你能设想这种滋味吗？
He pointed to his empty tipping plate. The young sailor finished his meal and got up to leave.
钢琴师指了指身旁的那只空空如也的放小费的盘子。那位年轻的海员已用罢晚餐，起身准备离开餐馆。
Putting on his coat, he walked over to the flower woman's table.
他披上外套，走到卖花老妪的桌前。
Happy Christmas! He said, smiling, and picking out two corsages, how much are they?
祝您圣诞快乐！说着，他笑嘻嘻地从花篮里挑出两束专供妇女佩带在前胸的鲜，多少钱？
Two francs, monsieur. Pressing one of the small corsages flat, he put it into the letter he had written,
两个法郎，先生。他把其中的一束花压平，放进一封已经写好的笺里，
then handed the woman a 20-franc note.
然后将一张20法郎面额的钞票递给了老人。
I don't have change, monsieur, she said, I'll get some from the waiter.
我没有零钱找您，先生。她说，我这就向服务员去借。
No, ma'am, said the sailor, leaning over and kissing the ancient cheek.
不用了，夫人。说着，水手俯身吻了吻老太婆那张皱纹褶褶的老脸，
This is my Christmas present to you.
这是我送给您的圣诞礼物。
Straightening up, he came to our table holding the other corsage in front of him.
他直起身朝我们的餐桌走来，那另一束鲜花擎在他的胸前。
Sir, he said to me, may I have permission to present these flowers to your beautiful daughter?
先生，他对我 说，我可以将这束花作为礼物送给您漂亮的女儿吗？
In one quick motion, he gave my wife the corsage, wished us a Merry Christmas
说着，他迅速地将那束鲜花塞到我妻子的手中，道了声圣诞快乐。
The piano player began to beat out Good King Wenceslaus, beating the keys with magic hands, nodding his head in rhythm.
钢琴师急速地弹起了《好国王温西斯劳斯》舞曲，魔术般的指头敲打着琴键，头部和着乐曲的旅律频频点动。
My wife waved her corsage in time with the music.
我的妻子也随着音乐的节奏挥动着那束鲜花。
She was radiant and appeared 20 years younger.
她容光焕发，仿佛一下子年轻了20岁。
The tears had left her eyes and the corners of her mouth turned up in laughter.
幸福的泪水夺眶而出，嘴角上绽出青春的笑容。
She began to sing, and our three sons joined her, bellowing the song with uninhibited enthusiasm.
她启动歌喉，放声歌唱，我们的三个孩子随声和了起来。他们纵情高歌，没有一丝半缕的拘谨感。
Gut, gut, shouted the Germans.
好！好！德国人高声喝彩。
They jumped on their chairs and began singing the words in German.
他们跳到椅子上，并用德语唱起这支歌。
The waiter embraced the flower woman.
服务员上前拥抱着卖花的老太太，
Waving their arms, they sang in French.
两人同时挥舞手臂，用法语唱了起来。
The Frenchman who had slapped the boy beat rhythm with a fork against a bottle.
那个曾打了他的儿子一巴掌的法国男子用餐叉敲击着酒瓶打起了拍子，
The lad climbed on his lap, singing in a youthful soprano.
那男孩爬上他爸爸的膝盖，用童声歌唱起来。
The Germans ordered wine for everyone.
德国人请在场的每个人喝酒。
They delivered it themselves, hugging the other customers.
人们自斟自饮，相互拥抱。
One of the French families called for champagne—made the rounds, kissing each one of us on both cheeks.
那家法国人当中的一位要来了香槟—到每张桌上给人敬酒，并吻了每个人的双颊。
The owner of the restaurant started The First Noel, and we all joined in, half of us crying.
饭馆老板带头唱起圣诞歌，我们大家都跟着唱，其中有半数人是含泪而歌。
People crowded in from the street until many customers were standing.
人们络绎不绝地从街上向餐馆涌来，其中一些顾客由于没有空位而只好站在那里。
The walls shook as hands and feet kept time to the Christmas carols.
人们和着圣诞歌的节奏手舞足蹈，声音震得餐厅的四壁阵阵发颤。
The miserable evening in a shoddy restaurant ended up being the very best Christmas Eve we had ever experienced.
没想到在这家简陋的小餐馆里所度过的那个凄凉的夜晚，结果竟变成我们终生难忘的最美好的圣诞之夜。
just because of a young sailor who had Christmas spirit in his soul.
这全亏那位灵魂中闪烁着圣诞精神的年轻海员。
He released the love and joy that had been smothered within us by anger and disappointment. He gave us Christmas.
是他释放了我们心中那被愤懑和失望压抑的爱心和快乐。他赐给了我们圣诞的欢乐。
