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 decided to have theirmeeting；and as Shrove Tuesday falls in February，theywould come in carnival 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 gnawed 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 tickles 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 distinguished day in the week．"

Thursday came dressed as a coppersmith with ahammer and a copper 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 housekeeper with broomand cleaning－things．Her favourite dish was a broth madeof the week's bread－crusts，but she did not demand thaton this festive 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 tableaux 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。