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[ 此帖被mmmmhao在2017-06-06 10:05重新编辑 ]
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>>> 牙齿和爪子
♣。
Miss Van Cheele was a kind old lady.
范·切尔小姐是一个和善的老妇人，
She felt sorry for this naked， helpless child.
她为这个裸露无助的孩子感到难过。
'We must help him，' she said.
"我们得帮助他，"她说。
She sent the housekeeper to a neighbor's house to borrow some clothes.
她让管家去邻居家借些衣服。
Soon the boy was clean and tidy， and dressed in shirt，trousers and shoes.
一会儿男孩变得干净整洁，穿上了衬衣、裤子和鞋。
Van Cheele thought he looked just as strange and wolfish as before.
范·切尔认为他和以前一样古怪，就像一只狼，
But Miss Van Cheele thought he was sweet.
但是范·切尔小姐认为他很可爱。
'We must give him a name until we know who he really is，' she said.
"在我们知道他到底是谁以前得给他起个名字，"她说。
' Gabriel Ernest， I think.
"我想该叫加布里埃尔·欧内斯特。
Those are nice， suitable names.
这是合适的好名字。"
Van Cheele agreed.
范·切尔同意。
But he was not sure that the boy was a nice， suitable boy.
但是他不敢说这个男孩是个适宜的好孩子。
Van Cheele's old dog， when he saw the boy， had run away in fear and would not come back into the house.
范·切尔的老狗一看见男孩就吓得跑掉了，不愿意回屋里。
Van Cheele decided to go and see Cunningham at once.
范·切尔决定马上去见坎宁安。
As he got ready to go to the station， his aunt was busily arranging a children's tea party in the church hall.
正当他准备好去车站时，姑妈正忙于筹办在教堂举行的儿童茶会。
'Gabriel Ernest will help me with the little ones，' she said happily.
"加布里埃尔·欧内斯特将帮我照看小家伙们。"她高兴地说。
When Van Cheele got to London， Cunningham did not want to talk at first.
范·切尔到了伦敦，坎宁安开始不想谈此事。
You'll think I'm crazy，' he said.
"你会认为我疯了，"他说。
'But what did you see？' asked Van Cheele.
"可是你看见了什么？"范·切尔问。
'I saw something-something unbelievable.
我看见了一件事情--一件让人难以相信的事情。
On the last evening of my visit to you I was standing half-hidden in the bushes， watching the sun go down.
在我拜访你的最后一个晚上我一半隐在树丛里看日落。
Suddenly I noticed a naked boy.
突然我看见了一个裸着身体的男孩。
He has been swimming in a pool somewhere， I said to myself.
我对自己说，可能他刚在某个地方的池塘里游过泳。
He was standing on the hillside and he too was watching the sun go down.
他站在山坡上，也在看日落。
Then the sun disappeared behind the hill and its light was gone.
过后太阳落山了，光线渐去了。
At the same moment a very surprising thing happened-the boy disappeared too.
"就在同一时刻发生了一件非常惊奇的事--男孩也消失了。"
'What？He disappeared just like that？' said Van Cheele excitedly.
"什么？他就那样消失了？"范·切尔激动地说。
'No. It was much more horrible than that.
"不，比那可怕得多。
On the open hillside where the boy had been，I saw a large，blackish-grey wolf with long white teeth and yellow eyes.
在男孩呆过的山坡空地上，我看见了一只灰黑色的大狼，长着白色的长牙和黄色的眼睛。
You' ll think I'm crazy-'
你会认为我疯了--"
But Van Cheele did not wait.
但是范，切尔没再等，
He was running towards the station as fast as he could.
他拚命往车站跑。
He did not know what he could do.
他不知道能做什么。
I can't send my aunt a message， he thought.
我不能给姑妈捎口信，他想。
What can I say？ Gabriel Ernest is a werewolf'？ My aunt will think I'm joking.
我能说什么？"加布里埃尔·欧内斯特是个狼人"？姑妈会认为我在开玩笑。
I must get home before sundown.
我必须在太阳下山前到家。
He caught his train.
他上了火车。
With painful slowness it carried him to the station a few miles from his home.
在令人难受的缓慢中火车把他带到了离家几里的车站。
He took a taxi to his village.
他乘出租车向村子驶去。
'Take me to the church hall-and hurry！ 'he ordered.
"带我去教堂--要快！"他命令说。
The taxi drove along the quiet country roads，
出租车在安静的乡村路上行驶，
and the sky turned pink and purple as the sun got lower and lower in the west.
在西边太阳越落越低，天空也随着变粉变紫。 -
>>> 牙齿和爪子
♣。
But the child's mother did not believe this.
可是孩子的母亲不相信，
She said she had heard a scream--and the scream came from the hill，a long way away from the water.
她说她听见了一声尖叫--尖叫声从小山传来，那儿离河水很远。
It's impossible， of course， said Van Cheele to himself.
那当然不可能，范·切尔对自己说。
But the child disappeared two months ago， and the boy talked about child meat.
可这孩子两个月前失踪的，那个男孩说起了小孩肉。
He was joking， of course…but what a horrible joke！
他当然是在开玩笑……可这是个多么可怕的玩笑啊！
Van Cheele usually talked to his aunt about the birds，plants and animals he saw on his walks.
范·切尔常向姑妈谈论路途上看见的鸟、植物和动物。
But today he said nothing.
但是今天他什么都没说。
He was an important man in his village.
他是村里的一个重要人物，
If there was a thief living in his woods， he did not want anyone to know.
如果他的树林里住着一个贼，他是不想让任何人知道的。
If people hear about the boy， he thought，
如果人们知道了这个男孩，他想，
perhaps they will want me to pay for their lost chickens and their disappearing sheep.
他们可能会让我赔偿他们丢失的鸡和羊。
He was unusually quiet at dinner.
晚饭时他异乎寻常地安静。
'What's the matter with you？'joked his aunt.
"你怎么了？"姑妈逗他说。
'Did you see a wolf on your walk？'
"你在路上看见狼了吗？"
At breakfast the next morning Van Cheele realized that he still felt uncomfortable about yesterday's adventure.
第二天早餐时范·切尔还在为昨天的奇遇颇为不爽。
I know what I' ll do， he said to himself.
我知道我要做什么，他自言自语。
I' ll take the train to London and I'll go and see Cunningham.
我要乘火车去伦敦，去看望坎宁安。
I'll ask him if he was joking when he said there was a wild animal in my woods.
我要问他当他说我家树林里有一头野兽时是不是在开玩笑。
After he had decided this，Van Cheele felt better.
做出这个决定之后，范·切尔觉得好了一些。
He sang a happy little song as he walked to the sitting-room for his morning cigarette.
朝客厅走去拿早上抽的烟时他唱起了快乐的小曲。
His fat old dog walked beside him.
他的老肥狗走在他的旁边。
As Van Cheele entered the sitting-room， the song died on his lips and his dog ran away with his tail between his legs.
当范·切尔走进客厅，他的歌声在嘴唇上嘎然而止，他的狗夹着尾巴逃跑了。
There on the day－bed， with his hands comfortably behind his head， lay the boy from the woods.
在那张白天休息的床上躺着那个树林里来的男孩他的头舒服地枕在手上。
He was drier than yesterday， but he was still naked.
他比昨天干多了，但还是赤身裸体。
'What are you doing here？ asked Van Cheele angrily.
"你在这儿做什么？"范·切尔气愤地问。
'You told me I couldn't stay in the woods，'said the boy calmly.
"你告诉过我我不能呆在树林里，"男孩平静地说。
'But I didn't tell you to come here.
"但我没告诉你来这儿。
What if my aunt sees you？ What will she think？'
我姑妈看见你会怎样？她会怎么想？"
Van Cheele hurriedly covered his unwanted guest's nakedness with a newspaper.
范·切尔赶紧用报纸盖住这位不速之客的光身子。
At that moment his aunt entered the room.
正在这时姑妈进了房间。
'This is a poor boy，' explained Van Cheele quickly.
"这是个可怜的孩子，"范·切尔马上解释。
'He has lost his way-and lost his memory too.
"他迷了路--也失去了记忆。
He doesn't know who he is， or where he comes from.
他不知道他是谁，从哪儿来。"
Miss Van Cheele was very interested.
范·切尔小姐很感兴趣。
'Perhaps his name is on his underclothes，' she said.
"他的名字可能在内衣上，"她说。
'He has lost his underclothes too，' said Van Cheele.
"他连内衣也丢了，"范·切尔说。
The newspaper was slipping off the boy's naked body.
报纸从男孩的光身子上滑了下来，
Van Cheele hurried to replace it.
范·切尔赶忙又把报纸盖在男孩的身上。 -
>>> 牙齿和爪子
♣。
The boy is joking about the children， thought Van Cheele.
范·切尔想这个男孩在开小孩的玩笑。
But perhaps he really is stealing animals from the woods and farms.
可是他可能真的偷树林和农场的动物，
I must find out more about this.
我得把这事搞清楚。
Aloud he said，'You catch rabbits？ You must be joking.
他大声说，"你抓兔子？你一定在开玩笑。
Our rabbits are much too fast for you.
我们的兔子跑起来比你快得多。"
'At night I hunt on four feet，' was the boy's surprising reply.
"夜里我用四只脚狩猎。"这是男孩令人吃惊的回答。
'You mean that you hunt with a dog？'guessed Van Cheele.
"你是说你用狗打猎？"范·切尔猜。
The boy sat up suddenly and laughed a strange， low laugh.
男孩突然坐起来，发出了古怪低沉的笑声。
To Van Cheele that laugh sounded horribly like a growl.
对范·切尔来说，这笑声听起来像可怕的嗥叫。
'I don't think any dog would like to hunt with me，' the boy said. 'Not at night…'
"我想没有哪条狗愿意和我一起打猎，"男孩说，"在晚上没有……"
There is something horrible about this boy， thought Van Cheele.
男孩有些可怕，范·切尔想。
I don't like the way he looks and I don't like the way he talks.
我不喜欢他看人的样子和说话的方式。
'I can't let you stay in my woods，' he said aloud.
"我不能让你呆在我的树林里，"他大声说。
'Very well then- shall I come and live in your house？'Replied the boy.
"很好，那么--我可以去你家住吗？"男孩回答。
Van Cheele thought about his quiet， tidy house.
范·切尔想着他平静整洁的家。
No， he did not want this strange， wild boy at all.
不，他根本不想接受这个古怪野性的男孩。
Of course， the boy was joking…but Van Cheele was not amused.
当然，这个孩子在开玩笑……但是范·切尔不觉得好笑。
'If you don't go away，' he said， 'I shall have to call the police.
"如果你不走，"他说，"我就要叫警察。"
At once the boy turned and jumped head-first into the pool.
男孩马上头朝下翻身跳进水塘。
A moment later， his shining， wet body landed half－way up the grassy bank where Van Cheele was standing.
片刻后，他闪亮、湿淋淋的身体便一半出现在范·切尔站着的长满青草的岸上。
Van Cheele stepped backwards.
范·切尔朝后退，
His foot slipped on the wet grass and he fell.
他的脚在湿草上一滑便跌倒了。
He found himself lying on the grass with those wolfish yellow eyes uncomfortably near to his.
他发现自己躺在草地上，那双狼似的黄眼睛离他很近，令他不舒服。
He felt a moment of horrible fear.
他感到一阵恐惧。
The boy laughed again， a laugh that was like the growl of a wild animal， then disappeared among the bushes.
男孩又笑了，笑声像野兽的嗥叫，随即他就消失在树丛里。
'What an extraordinarily wild animal！' said Van Cheele as he picked himself up.
"多么离奇的野兽！"范·切尔站起身时说。
And then he remembered Cunning ham's words about a wild animal in his woods.
这时他想起了坎宁安关于他家树林里有野兽的话。
As he walked slowly home， Van Cheele thought about several things which had happened in and around the village recently.
慢慢朝家走时，范·切尔想着最近村子里和周围地方发生的几件事。
Perhaps this boy knows something about them， he thought…
可能这个孩子知道些什么，他想……
Something has been killing rabbits and birds in the woods lately.
最近什么东西一直在杀树林里的兔子和鸟，
Something has been stealing the farmer's chickens and carrying off the young sheep from the hills.
一直在偷农夫的鸡、吃山上的小羊。
Is it possible that this wild boy is hunting at night with a fast， intelligent dog？
有可能是这个野孩子晚上带着一条敏捷聪明的狗在打猎吗？
The boy talked of hunting on four feet at night…
男孩谈到了晚上用四只脚打猎的事……
But he also said that dogs did not like to hunt with him at night…Very strange indeed.
可是他也说了狗不喜欢和他在晚上打猎……真奇怪。
As Van Cheele walked along， he turned the questions over and over in his head.
范·切尔走着，脑子里反复想着这些问题。
Suddenly he stopped.
突然他停住脚步。
The miller's son！ he said to himself.
磨坊主的儿子！他自言自语。
The child disappeared two months ago.
这孩子两个月前失踪的，
Everyone thought that he had fallen into the river and been carried away.
每个人都认为他掉进河里被河水卷走了。 -
>>> 牙齿和爪子
♣。
Gabriel Ernest
加布里埃尔·欧内斯特
Cunningham had spent an agreeable week in the country with his friend Van Cheele.
坎宁安和朋友范·切尔在乡下过了愉快的一周。
Now Van Cheele was driving his guest back to the station.
现在范·切尔正开车送客人去车站。
Cunningham was unusually quiet on the journey，
路上坎宁安与往常不一样，非常安静，
but Van Cheele talked all the time，
但是范·切尔一直说个不停，
so he did not notice his friend's silence.
所以没注意到朋友的沉默。
Suddenly Cunningham spoke.
坎宁安突然说，
'There is a wild animal in your woods，' he said.
"你家的小树林里有一只野兽。"
'A wild animal？ A few rabbits， perhaps.
"一只野兽？一些兔子还有可能，
Nothing very terrible， surely，' said Van Cheele.
肯定没有什么太可怕的，"范·切尔说。
Cunningham said nothing.
坎宁安一句话没说。
' What did you mean about a wild animal？' asked Van Cheele later， at the station.
"你说一只野兽是什么意思？"范·切尔后来在车站问。
'Nothing. It was my imagination. Here is the train，'said Cunningham.
"没什么，是我的幻觉，火车来了，"坎宁安说。
That afternoon Van Cheele went for a walk through his woods.
那天下午范·切尔去林子里散步。
He knew a little about plants and animals，
他对植物和动物略知一二，
and he enjoyed walking through the woods around his house and looking at the birds and flowers there.
因此喜欢走路穿过他家房子周围的树林，观赏那儿的花鸟。
He also enjoyed telling everyone about them afterwards.
事后他也喜欢向每个人讲述。
Of course，he never saw anything very surprising--until that afternoon.
当然他从没看见过令人非常惊奇的东西--直到那天下午。
During his walk Van Cheele came to a deep pool under some tall trees.
范·切尔走到高树下的一个深水塘旁。
He knew it well： after all， it was his pool.
他对这个水塘非常熟悉：毕竟这是他的。
But today， he saw a boy of about sixteen lying on a large rock beside the pool.
但是今天，他看见一个大约十六岁的男孩正躺在水塘边的大石头上。
The boy was drying his wet， naked brown body in the sun.
他正在太阳下晒自己潮湿、裸露的棕色身体。
His hair was wet too， and he had long， golden，wolfish eyes.
他的头发也是湿的，他长着一双金黄色、狼一样的长眼睛。
He turned those eyes towards Van Cheele with a look of lazy watchfulness.
他眨着那双眼，用懒洋洋的警惕神情看着范·切尔。
Van Cheele was surprised to see the boy.
范·切尔见到男孩很吃惊。
Where does this wild－looking boy come from？ He thought.
这个相貌野性的男孩从哪儿来？他想。
Can he be the miller's son？ He disappeared two months ago.
是磨坊主的儿子吗？他两个月前失踪了。
People say he fell into the river.
人们说他掉进了河里，
It's a fast-running river， and nobody ever found his body.
是湍急的河，没人找到他的尸体。
I wonder？ But the miller's boy was only a young child…
我想，会不会是他？可是磨坊主的儿子还只是一个小孩……
'What are you doing here？asked Van Cheele.
"你在这儿做什么？"范·切尔问。
'Enjoying the sunshine， of course，' said the boy.
"当然是享受阳光，"男孩说。
'Where do you live？'
"你住在哪儿？"
'Here， in these woods.
"在这儿，在这些树林里。"
'You can't live in these woods. ' said Van Cheele.
"你不可能住在树林里，"范·切尔说。
'They are very nice woods，' said the boy politely.
"树林里挺不错的，"男孩礼貌地说。
'But where do you sleep at night？'
"可是你晚上在哪儿睡觉？"
'I don't sleep at night.
"我晚上不睡觉，
That's my busiest time.
那是我最忙的时候。"
Van Cheele began to feel cross.
范·切尔有点生气了。
What did the boy mean？
这个男孩说的是什么意思？
'What do you eat？ he asked.
"你吃什么？"他问。
'Meat，' said the boy.
"吃肉，"男孩说，
He opened his mouth， showing very white teeth.
他张开嘴，露出雪白的牙齿。
'Meat？What kind of meat？
"肉？什么肉？"
'Well， if you must know， I eat rabbits， wild birds，chickens from the farm and young sheep from the hills.
"哎，如果你一定要知道的话，我吃兔子、野鸟、农场的鸡和山上的小羊。
I like children when I can find them.
如果能找到，我喜欢小孩，
But they 're usually too well locked in at night.
可是小孩在晚上总是被锁在家里。
It's two months since I tasted child meat.
我有两个月没有吃小孩肉了。" -
>>> 牙齿和爪子
♣。
And as they shook， they clinked together.
奖章抖动时便发出了丁当的响声。
The wolf was just moving away， when he heard the medals clinking， and he stopped to listen.
狼正要离开时听见了奖章的丁当声，便停下来听。
The medals clinked again.
奖章又丁当作响。
The wolf's yellow eyes shone， and he ran into the myrtle bushes， pulled Bertha out，and ate her.
狼的黄眼睛闪着光，跑进爱神木丛，拖出了伯莎，吃了她。
He ate everything except her shoes， a few small pieces of her dress， and the three medals for goodness.
它吃掉了一切，只剩下她的鞋，她裙子的一些小碎片和三枚好品行奖章。"
'Were any of the little pigs killed？' asked Cyril.
"有哪只小猪被吃了吗？"西里尔问。
'No， they all escaped.
"没有，它们都跑了。"
'The story began badly，' said the smaller girl，'but it finished beautifully.
"故事开头不好，"小女孩说。"但是结尾漂亮。"
'It is the most beautiful story that I have ever heard，'said the bigger girl.
"这是我听过的最精彩的故事，"大女孩说。
'It is the only beautiful story I have ever heard，' said Cyril.
"这是我听过的唯一一个精彩的故事，"西里尔说。
The aunt did not agree.
姑妈不同意。
'It was a most improper story！'she said angrily.
"这是一个最不成体统的故事！"她生气地说。
'You mustn't tell children stories like that！
"你不能给孩子讲这样的故事！
You have destroyed years of careful teaching.
你破坏了多年的精心教育。"
'Well，' said the bachelor.
"好吧，"单身男人说。
He put on his coat and picked up his bags.
他穿上大衣提起包。
'The children sat still and were quiet for ten minutes while they listened to the story.
"孩子们听故事时安静地坐了10分钟，
And they didn't do that for you.
他们这么做不是为了你。"
'I feel sorry for that woman，' thought the bachelor as he stepped down from the train at the next station.
"我为那女人难过。"单身男人在下一站走下火车时想。
'What will people think when those children ask her for an improper story！'
"当那些孩子让她讲个不成体统的故事时人们会怎么想！" -
>>> 牙齿和爪子
♣。
'Well， on the first Friday afternoon in May， Bertha came to the king's gardens，
"好啦，5月第一个星期五的下午，伯莎来到国王的花园。
the king's soldiers saw her beautiful white dress and her three medals for goodness，
国王的士兵看见了她漂亮的白裙和她的三枚好品行奖章，
and they opened the doors to the gardens at once.
于是他们马上打开了通往花园的门。
'Bertha walked up and down and enjoyed herself very much.
"伯莎来回散步，很开心。
As she walked along， the three medals on her beautiful white dress clinked against each other.
她走路时，漂亮白裙上的三枚奖章相互碰撞。
She heard them clinking， and she thought："I'm here in these lovely gardens because I am the Best Child in the World.
她听见奖章的丁当声，想道：'我来到这漂亮的花园是因为我是世界上最好的孩子。'
"She felt pleased and happy and very， very good.
她愉快、幸福，感觉很好。
'Just then a very big， hungry wolf came into the gardens.
"正在这时一只很大的饿狼走进花园，
It wanted to catch a fat little pig for its supper.
'它想捉一只小肥猪当晚餐。"
'What colour was the wolf？ asked the children， who were listening to the story with great interest.
"狼是什么颜色？"孩子们问，他们都在非常感兴趣地听故事。
'He was grey，'said the bachelor，'with a black tongue and angry yellow eyes.
"是灰色的，"单身男人说，"长着黑舌头和发怒的黄眼睛，
He had long black claws and big，strong， yellowish teeth.
爪子又黑又长，黄牙又大又结实。
The wolf was hungry.
狼饿了，
He smelled the ground with his long grey nose.
它用灰色的长鼻子在地上闻味。
Then he saw Bertha's beautiful， clean white dress and began to move quietly towards her.
它看见了伯莎漂亮干净的白裙，开始悄悄地向她走来。
'Bertha saw the wolf and she wished she had not come to the gardens.
"伯莎看见了狼，她希望她没来花园该多好。
Oh， why did I come here？"she thought.
'哦，我为什么来这儿？'她想。
"All the bad children are safe at home.
'所有的坏孩子都安全地在家，
I wish I wasn't an extraordinarily good child！
我希望我不是个好得出奇的孩子！
Then I could be safe at home too.
那么我也可以安全地呆在家里。
She ran as hard as she could，
她拼命跑，
and the wolf came after her on his long grey legs.
狼用灰色的长腿紧追。
'At last Bertha managed to reach some big， sweet smelling myrtle bushes，
"终于伯莎跑到了一片散发着甜味的高大爱神木丛，
and she hid herself in the thickest bush.
她把自己藏在了浓密的树丛里。
The wolf walked round and round the bushes， with his angry yellow eyes and his long black tongue.
狼在树丛周围走了一圈又一圈，睁着发怒的黄眼睛，吐着又黑又长的舌头。
But he couldn't see Bertha because the bushes were too thick，
但是它看不见伯莎，因为树丛太密。
and he couldn't smell her because the smell of the myrtle was too strong.
它闻不出她，因为爱神木的味太冲了。
So after a while the wolf became bored， and decided to go and catch a little pig for his supper.
过了一会儿狼厌倦了，决定去抓只小猪当晚餐。
'Bertha was terribly frightened.
伯莎吓坏了，
Her heart beat very fast and her body shook with fear.
她的心在急促跳动，她的身体因害怕而发抖。
Her arms shook and her legs shook.
她的胳膊在抖，腿在抖，
Her three medals for goodness shook too.
连三枚好品行奖章也在抖。 -
>>> 牙齿和爪子
♣。
'Horribly good，' repeated Cyril happily.
"好得可怕，"西里尔高兴地重复。
'Everybody talked about Bertha's goodness.
"每人都谈论伯莎的好行为。
The king of that country heard about her， and he was very pleased.
国王听说了她，很高兴。
"Because Bertha is so good，"he said，"she may come and walk in my palace gardens every Friday afternoon.
'伯莎表现这么好，'他说，'每星期五下午她可以来我皇宫的花园里散步。'
"The king's gardens were famous.
国王的花园很有名，
They were large and very beautiful， and children were usually forbidden to go in them.
很大，很漂亮，孩子们一般是不准进去的。"
'Were there any sheep in the palace gardens？' asked Cyril.
"皇宫的花园里有羊吗？"西里尔问。
'No，' said the bachelor，'there were no sheep.
"没有，"单身男人说，"没有羊。"
'Why weren't there any sheep？'asked Cyril at once.
"为什么没羊呢？"西里尔马上问。
The aunt gave a little smile， and waited with interest for the bachelor's answer.
姑妈轻轻一笑，满有兴趣地等着单身男人的回答。
'There were no sheep in the king's gardens，' explained the bachelor，'because the king's mother had once had a dream.
单身男人解释说，"国王的花园里没有羊是因为国王的母亲曾经做过一个梦。
In her dream a voice said to her，"Your son will be killed by a sheep，or by a clock falling on him.
在梦里一个声音对她说，'你的儿子会被羊杀死，或者被掉下的钟砸死。'
" That is why the king never kept a sheep in his gardens or a clock in his palace.
所以国王从不在花园里养羊，从不在皇宫里放钟。"
The aunt thought secretly that this was a very clever answer， but she stayed silent.
姑妈暗自想这是个很聪明的回答，但她没说话。
'Was the king killed by a sheep， or by a clock？ asked the bigger girl.
"国王是被羊杀死的还是被钟砸死的？"大女孩问。
'He is still alive，' said the bachelor calmly，'so we don't know if the dream was true or not.
"他还活着，"单身男人平静地说。"因此我们不知道梦是真的还是假的。
But， although there were no sheep， there were lots of little pigs running around everywhere.
但是，虽然没有羊，有很多小猪在里面四处跑。"
'What colour were the pigs？ asked the smaller girl.
"猪是什么颜色？"小女孩问。
'Black with white faces， white with black faces， all black， grey and white， and some were all white.
"黑猪长着白脸，白猪长着黑脸，都是黑色、灰色和白色相间的，有一些是纯白色的猪。"
The bachelor stopped for a moment， while the children's imaginations took in these wonderful pictures.
孩子们正想像着这些奇妙的图画时，单身男人停顿了片刻，
Then he went on again.
然后他又继续讲；
'Bertha was sorry that there were no flowers in the palace gardens.
"皇宫花园里没有花，伯莎觉得很不高兴。
She had promised her aunts that she would not pick any of the kind king's flowers.
她向姑妈保证过她不会摘善良的国王的花。
She wanted very much to be good and to keep her promise.
她很想表现好，信守诺言，
So she was very cross when she found that there were no flowers to pick.
因此当发现无花可摘时她很生气。"
'Why weren't there any flowers？'
"为什么没花？"
'Because the pigs had eaten them all，' said the bachelor immediately.
"因为猪把花都吃了，"单身男人立刻说。
' The gardeners had told the king that he couldn't have pigs and flowers， because pigs eat flowers.
"园丁告诉过国王他不能既有猪又有花，因为猪吃花。
So the king decided to have pigs，and no flowers.
于是国王决定养猪，不种花。"
The children thought that this was an excellent idea.
孩子们想这是个好主意。
'Most people choose flowers，' said Cyril.
"大多数人选择花，"西里尔说。
He looked very pleased.
他很高兴。"
'But of course， pigs are much better than flowers.
可是猪当然比花好得多。"
'There were lots of other wonderful things in the palace gardens，'the bachelor continued.
"皇宫的花园里还有很多其它好东西，"单身男人继续讲。
'There were lakes with gold and blue and green fish in them.
"湖里有金色、蓝色和绿色的鱼。
There were trees with beautiful birds that could talk and say clever things.
树上有会说话、会讲聪明事情的鸟。
There were also birds that could sing popular songs.
还有会唱流行歌曲的鸟。 -
>>> 牙齿和爪子
The story was horribly uninteresting.
故事无聊透顶，
It was about a little girl.
是关于一个小女孩的。
She was not a beautiful child，
她不漂亮，
but she was always very，very good.
但总是非常非常地乖。
Everybody loved her because she was good.
因为她乖所以每个人都喜欢她。
Finally， she fell into a lake and her friends saved her
最后，她掉进了湖里，她的朋友救了她，
because she was so good，and they loved her so much.
因为她太乖了，他们非常喜欢她。
'Did they only save her because she was good？' asked the bigger girl.
"他们救她只是因为她乖吗？"大点的女孩问。
Shouldn't we save bad people too， if they fall in to a lake？'
"如果坏人掉进湖里，我们就不应该救他们吗？"
The bachelor wanted to ask the same question， but he said nothing.
单身男人想问同样的问题，只是没说出口。
'Well， yes， we should，' said the aunt.
"这个，是的，我们应该救，"姑妈说。
'But I'm sure the little girl's friends ran especially fast because they loved her so much.
"但我能肯定小女孩的朋友跑得飞快，因为他们太喜欢她了。"
'That was the stupidest story that I've ever heard，'said the bigger girl.
"这是我听过的最蠢的故事，"大些的女孩说。
'I didn't listen after the first few words，' said Cyril，'because it was so stupid.
"我只听了前面几句，"西里尔说，"因为它太蠢。"
The smaller girl was already quietly repeating the words of her song for the twentieth time.
小女孩已经在第二十次轻声重复她的歌词。
'You're not very successful as a story-teller，' the bachelor said suddenly from his corner.
"你的故事讲得不成功，"单身男人突然在他的一角说话了。
The aunt looked at him in angry surprise.
姑妈生气地看着他，很惊讶。
'It's not easy to tell stories that children can understand，' she answered coldly.
"讲孩子们能懂的故事不容易，"她冷淡地回答。
'I don't agree with you，' said the bachelor.
"我不同意，"单身男人说。
'Perhaps you would like to tell them a story，'said the aunt.
"可能你想给他们讲个故事，"姑妈说。
She gave him a cold little smile.
她对他冷冷地笑了笑。
'Yes- tell us a story，' said the bigger girl.
"给我们讲个故事，"大女孩说。
'A long time ago，'began the bachelor，'there was a little girl called Bertha， who was extraordinarily good.
"很久以前。"单身男人开始讲。"有一个小女孩叫伯莎，她出奇地好。
She always worked well at school.
在学校她的成绩总是很好。
She always obeyed her teachers and her parents.
她总是听老师和家长的话。
She was never late， never dirty， and always ate all her vegetables.
她从不迟到、邋遢，总是把菜吃光。
She was polite， she was tidy， and she never， never told lies.
她有礼貌、整洁而且从不说谎。"
'Oh，' said the children.
"哦，"孩子们说。
They were beginning to look bored already.
他们已经开始不耐烦了。
'Was she pretty？' asked the smaller girl.
"她漂亮吗？"小女孩问。
' No，' said the bachelor.
"不，"单身男人说，
'She wasn't pretty.
"她不漂亮，
But she was horribly good.
但是她好得可怕。"
'Horribly good. I like that！' said Cyril.
"好得可怕！我喜欢！" 西里尔说。
The children began to look more interested.
孩子们开始感兴趣了。
The words 'horrible' and 'good' together was a new idea for them， and it pleased them.
把"可怕"和"好"这两个词放在一起对他们是个新鲜的说法，这提起了他们的兴致。
'Bertha was always good，'continued the bachelor.
"伯莎总是很好，"单身男人继续说。
'Because she was so good， Bertha had three medals.
"因为表现太好，伯莎得了三枚奖章，
There was the "Never Late" medal.
分别是'从不迟到'奖章，
There was the "Politeness" medal.
'礼貌'奖章
And there was the medal for the "Best Child in the World".
和'世界上最好的孩子'奖章。
They were very large medals.
奖章都很大，
Bertha always wore them on her dress，
伯莎总是把它们戴在衣服上，
and they clinked as she walked along.
走路时它们丁当作响。
She was the only child in her town who had three medals.
她是镇上唯一得了三枚奖章的孩子，
So everybody knew that she must be an extra good child.
因此每个人都知道她一定是个极好的孩子。" -
>>> 牙齿和爪子
The Story-Teller
讲故事的人
It was a hot， airless afternoon.
这是一个炎热无风的下午。
The train was slow and the next stop was nearly an hour away.
火车缓慢行进，离下一站还有将近一个小时的路程。
The people in the train were hot and tired.
火车里的人又热又累。
There were three small children and their aunt， and a tall man， who was a bachelor.
有三个孩子和他们的姑妈，以及一个单身高个子男人。
The bachelor did not know the little family，and he did not want to know them.
单身男人不认识这个小家庭，也不想认识他们。
The aunt and the children talked， but it was not a real conversation.
姑妈在和孩子们说话，但算不上真正的交谈，
It was more like a battle with a small housefly which will not go away.
更像和一只不愿离开的小家蝇的打斗。
When the aunt spoke to the children，she always began with 'Don't… '
姑妈对孩子们说话时总是用"不许……"几个字开头，
When the children spoke to her， they always began with 'Why…'
孩子们对她说话时总是用"为什么……"开头。
The bachelor said nothing aloud.
单身男人没有出声。
The small boy opened his mouth and closed it again.
小男孩张开嘴又闭上，
It made an interesting little noise， so he did it again.
发出一种有趣的、小小的响声，于是他又这样做了一遍。
Open. Close. Open. Close.
张嘴。闭嘴。张嘴。闭嘴。
'Don't do that， Cyril，'said the aunt.
"不许那样做，西里尔，"姑妈说。
' Come and look out of the window.
"来看看窗外。"
'The boy closed his mouth and sat next to the window.
男孩闭上嘴靠窗而坐。
He looked out at the green fields and trees.
他向外面的绿地和树木张望。
'Why is that man taking those sheep out of that field？'he asked suddenly.
"为什么那个人把羊带出田地？"他突然问。
'Perhaps he's taking them to another field where there is more grass，'said the aunt.
"可能他正带它们去另外一块草多的田地，"姑妈说。
It was not a very good answer，and the boy knew it.
这不是一个很好的答案，男孩知道这一点。
'But there is lots of grass in that field，' he said.
"可是那块地里的草很多，"他说。
'The field is full of grass， Aunt.
"地里全是草，姑妈。
Why doesn't the man leave his sheep in that field？'
为什么那个人不把羊留在那块地里呢？"
'I suppose the grass in the other field is better， ' answered the aunt.
"我想别的地里的草更好，"姑妈回答。
'Why is it better？'asked Cyril at once.
"为什么更好？"西里尔马上问。
'Oh， look at those cows！'cried the aunt.
"哎哟，看那些牛！"姑妈喊道。
There were cows in nearly all the fields along the railway line.
铁路沿线几乎所有的地里都是牛。
Cyril did not look at the cows.
西里尔不看牛，
He wanted an answer to his question.
他想得到问题的答案。
'Why is the grass in the other field better？' he said again.
"为什么别的地里的草更好？"他又说。
The bachelor gave them an angry look.
单身男人生气地看了他们一眼。
The aunt saw him.
姑妈看见了他，
He's a hard， unkind man， she thought.
认为他是一个严厉、不和善的男人。
He doesn't like children.
他不喜欢孩子。
She searched for a suitable answer to Cyril's question， but could not find one.
她在思索西里尔问题的合适答案，但是没找到。
The smaller girl began to say some words from a song：
小女孩开始说歌词：
'On the road to Mandalay， where the happy children play，'she began.
"在去曼德雷的路上，快乐的孩子在玩耍，"她开始说。
Then she stopped.
然后她停住了，
She could not remember any more words，
她记不住更多的词，
so she said the first words again， quietly but very clearly.
于是又说前面几句词，声音不大但很清楚。
Then she said them again. And again. And again.
然后她又一遍又一遍地说这几句词。
The bachelor looked angrily at the girl， and then at the aunt.
单身男人生气地看着女孩，又生气地看着她的姑妈。
'Come here and sit down quietly，'the aunt said quickly to the children.
"到这儿来安静地坐着，"姑妈马上对孩子们说。
'I'm going to tell you a story.
"我给你们讲个故事。"
The children moved slowly towards the aunt's seat.
孩子们慢慢挪向姑妈的座位。
They already looked bored.
他们已经感到无聊了。
Clearly， the aunt was not a famous story-teller.
很明显姑妈不是讲故事的好手。 -
>>> 牙齿和爪子
'Do one thing for me， Sredni Vashtar，'said Conradin softly.
"为我做一件事，斯莱德尼·瓦什塔，"康拉丁轻声说。
But he said it without hope.
但是他说这话时没有抱什么希望。
She will win， he thought. She always wins.
她会赢，他想，她总是赢。
Soon she will come out of the shed and give her orders.
一会儿她就要从小屋出来，对他发号施令。
Somebody will come and take my wonderful god away-not a god any more，just a brown ferret in a box.
会有人来拿走我的好上帝--再不是上帝了，只是木箱里的一只棕色雪貂。
Then there will be nothing important in my life… The doctor will be right.
然后我的生活里就没有了重要的东西……医生是对的，
I shall sicken and die. She will win.
我将生病死去。她将赢，
She always wins… In his pain and misery， Conradin began to sing the song of his god：
她总是赢……在痛苦中，康拉丁开始唱他的上帝之歌：
Sredni Vashtar went into battle.
斯莱德尼·瓦什塔上战场，
His thoughts were red thoughts and his teeth were white.
他的思想鲜红牙齿雪亮。
his enemies called for peace but be brought them death.
敌人乞求和平，他将他们灭亡。
Sredni Vashtar the Beautiful.
美丽的斯莱德尼·瓦什塔。
Suddenly he stopped singing and went nearer to the window.
突然他停止歌唱，走近窗户。
The door of the shed was still open.
小屋的门还开着。
Slowly， very slowly the minutes went by.
慢慢地，非常慢地过了几分钟。
Conradin watched the birds on the grass.
康拉丁望着草地上的小鸟，
He counted them， always with one eye on that open door.
数着它们，一只眼睛却总是看着那扇开着的门。
The unsmiling housekeeper came in with the tea things.
毫无笑容的管家端着茶点进来，
Still Sonradin stood and watched and waited.
康拉丁还是站着、看着、等着。
Hope was growing，like a small， sick flower， in his heart.
希望在增长，像心里一朵生病的小花。
Very softly he sang his song again， and his hope grew and grew.
他又非常轻声地唱起了歌，希望又增长了。
And then he saw a very wonderful thing.
然后他看见了一个非常奇妙的东西。
Out of the shed came a long， low， yellow－and－brown animal.
从小屋出来一只又长又矮的黄棕色动物，
There were red， wet stains around its mouth and neck.
它的嘴和脖于周围有湿红的血斑。
'Sredni Vashtar！' said Conradin softly.
"斯莱德尼·瓦什塔！"康拉丁柔声说。
The ferret－god made its way to the bottom of the garden.
雪貂上帝走向花园深处。
It stopped for a moment， then went quietly into the long grass and disappeared for ever.
它停顿片刻，然后悄悄地走进深远的草丛，永远地消失了。
'Tea is ready，' said the housekeeper.
"茶点好了，"管家说， "
'Where is your aunt？' 'She went down to the shed，' said Conradin.
"你姑妈在哪儿？"她下楼去小屋了，"康拉丁说。
And， while the housekeeper went down to call the aunt，Conradin took the toasting－fork out of the dining－room cupboard.
于是，管家下楼去叫姑妈时，康拉丁从餐厅的壁柜里拿出面包叉。
He sat by the fire and toasted a piece of bread for himself.
他坐在炉火旁给自己烤了一片面包。
While he was toasting it and putting butter on it，Conradin listened to the noises beyond the dining room door.
正当他烤着面包、在上面抹黄油时，康拉丁听着餐室外的吵闹声。
First there were loud screams-that was the housekeeper.
先是尖叫声--那是管家，
Then there was the cook's answering cry.
然后是厨子的喊叫声。
Soon there came the sound of several pairs of feet.
一会儿传来几个人的脚步声。
They were carrying something heavy into the house.
他们正往屋里拍个很沉的东西。
'Who is going to tell that poor child？' said the housekeeper.
"谁去告诉那可怜的孩子？"管家说。
'Well， someone will have to，'answered the cook.
"哎，总得有人去，"厨子回答。
And，while they were arguing， Conradin made himself another piece of toast.
当他们在争论的时候，康拉丁又给自己烤了一片面包。 -
>>> 牙齿和爪子
It's not good for him to play out there in the cold，' she said.
"在外面冷风里玩对他不好，"她说。
She could always find a reason to stop Conradin enjoying himself.
她总是能找到一个理由不让康拉丁玩得开心。
The next morning at breakfast she told Conradin that she had sold the chicken.
第二天早上吃早餐时，她告诉康拉丁她已经卖掉了那只鸡。
She looked at Conradin's white face , and waited for him to cry or to be angry.
她看着康拉丁苍白的脸，等着他哭或者生气。
But Conradin said nothing； there was nothing to say.
但是康拉丁一句话没说；没什么可说的。
Perhaps the aunt felt sorry.
可能姑妈觉得内疚了。
That afternoon there was hot buttered toast for tea.
那天下午喝茶时上了热黄油面包。
Toast was usually forbidden.
烤面包平时是不让吃的。
Conradin loved it， but the aunt said that it was bad for him.
康拉丁喜欢吃，但是姑妈说吃烤面包对他不好。
Also， it made extra work for the cook.
而且，烤面包对厨子来说太费事。
Conradin looked at the toast and quietly took a piece of bread and butter.
康拉丁看着烤面包，平静地拿了一片面包和黄油。
'I thought you liked toast，' the aunt said crossly.
"我想你喜欢烤面包，"姑妈生气地说。
'Sometimes，'said Conradin.
"有时候是，"康拉丁说。
In the shed that evening Conradin looked sadly at the empty corner where his chicken had lived.
那天晚上在小屋里，康拉丁伤心地看着母鸡曾住过的那个空空的角落。
And， for the first time， he asked his ferret-god to do something for him.
于是，第一次，他让他的雪貂上帝为他做一件事。
'Do one thing for me， Sredni Vashtar，'he said softly.
"为我做一件事，斯莱德尼·瓦什塔，"他轻声地说。
He did not say what he wanted.
他没有说出他的想法。
Sredni Vashtar was a god， after all.
斯莱德尼·瓦什塔终究是上帝，
There is no need to explain things to gods.
没有必要向上帝把什么事都说的一清二楚。
Then， with a last look at the empty corner， Conradin returned to the world that he hated.
然后，在看了那个空角落最后一眼之后，康拉丁回到了他憎恨的世界。
And every night， in the shed and in his bedroom， Conradin repeated again and again.
每天晚上在小屋和卧室里，康拉丁反复重复着那句话。
'Do one thing for me， Sredni Vashtar.
"为我做一件事，斯莱德尼·瓦什塔。"
So Conradin's visits to the shed continued.
因此康拉丁继续去小屋。
The aunt noticed， and went to look in the shed again.
姑妈发现后，又去小屋察看。
'What are you keeping in that locked box？' she asked.
"你在那个锁着的箱子里养了什么？"她问。
' I'm sure you're keeping an animal there.
"我肯定你在那儿养了一只动物。
It's not good for you.
这对你不好。"
Conradin said nothing.
康拉丁一言不发。
The aunt searched his bedroom until she found the key to the box.
姑妈搜他的卧室，最后她终于找到了那个箱子的钥匙。
She marched down to the shed.
她冲向小屋。
It was a cold afternoon， and Conradin was forbidden to go outside.
这是一个寒冷的下午，康拉丁被禁止到外面去。
From the window of the dining－room Conradin could just see the door of the shed.
从餐厅的窗户那儿康拉丁刚好能看见小屋的门。
He stood and waited.
他站着等着。
He saw the aunt open the shed door. She went inside.
他看见姑妈打开小屋房门进去了。
Now， thought Conradin， she has found the box.
现在，康拉丁想，她已经找到了箱子。
She is opening the door， and feeling about inside the box where my god lives.
她正在开箱子门，正在我的上帝居住的箱子里面摸索。[ 此帖被mmmmhao在2017-06-06 08:33重新编辑 ] -
>>>
♣。But there were also two living things in the shed.
但是里面也有两个活物。
In one corner lived an old， untidy-looking chicken.
在一个角落有一只蓬头垢面的老母鸡。
Conradin had no people to love， and this chicken was the boy's dearest friend.
康拉丁没有什么人去爱，于是这只鸡成了他最好的朋友。
And in a dark， secret place at the back of the shed was a large wooden box with bars across the front.
在小屋靠后的一个黑暗秘密的地方有一只大木箱，它的前面横竖着一些铁条。
This was the home of a very large ferret with long， dangerous teeth and claws.
在这木箱里有一只长着又长又危险的牙齿和爪子的大雪貂。
Conradin had bought the ferret and its box from a friendly boy， who lived in the village.
康拉丁从住在村里的一个很友好的男孩那里买下了这只雪貂和箱子。
It had cost him all his money，but Conradin did not mind.
这花掉了他所有的钱，但是康拉丁不在乎。
He was most terribly afraid of the ferret， but he loved it with all his heart.
他非常害怕这只雪貂，可又全心全意地爱它。
It was his wonderful，terrible secret.
它是他精彩可怕的秘密。
He gave the ferret a strange and beautiful name and it became his god.
他给雪貂起了一个又古怪又好听的名字，它成了他的上帝。
The aunt went to church every Sunday.
姑妈每个星期天都去教堂。
She took Conradin with her，
她带康拉丁一起去，
but to Conradin her church and her god were without meaning.
但对康拉丁来说她的教堂和上帝毫无意义，
They seemed grey and uninteresting.
而且似乎灰暗枯燥。
The true god lived in the shed， and his name was Sredni Vashtar.
真正的上帝住在小屋里，它的名字叫斯莱德尼·瓦什塔。
Every Thursday， in the cool， silent darkness of the shed，Conradin took presents to his god.
每个星期四，在小屋阴凉沉寂的黑暗中，康拉丁都给他的上帝带些礼物。
He took flowers in summer and fruits in autumn，
他带来夏季的鲜花和秋天的果实，
and he made strange and wonderful songs for his god.
他给他的上帝编唱些古怪奇妙的歌曲。
Sometimes， on days when something important happened， Conradin took special presents.
有时，在有某件重要事情发生的日子，康拉丁会带来特殊的礼物。
He stole salt from the kitchen and placed it carefully and lovingly in front of the ferret's box.
他从厨房偷来盐并小心疼爱地放在雪貂箱子的前面。
One day the aunt had the most terrible toothache.
有一天姑妈的牙疼得特别厉害。
It continued for three days.
疼痛持续了三天。
Morning and evening Conradin put salt in front of his god.
早上和晚上康拉丁都在他的上帝面前放点盐。
In the end he almost believed that Sredni Vashtar himself had sent the toothache.
最后他几乎相信是斯莱德尼·瓦什塔带来的牙疼。
After a time the aunt noticed Conradin's visits to the shed.
过了一段时间，姑妈注意到康拉丁总是去小屋。