霍比特人：夜色中的小偷 A Thief in the Night

A THIEF IN THE NIGHT

夜色中的小偷

Now the days passed slowly and wearily. Many of the dwarves spent their time piling and ordering the treasure; and now Thorin spoke of the Arkenstone of Thrain, and bade them eagerly to look for it in every corner.

接下來的日子過得漫長而又疲憊。大部分的矮人都把時間花在堆放和整理寶藏上，索林跟大家提起了瑟萊因的阿肯寶鉆，要求他們務必翻遍每一個角落替他尋找。

“For the Arkenstone of my father,” he said, “is worth more than a river of gold in itself, and to me it is beyond price. That stone of all the treasure I name unto myself, and I will be avenged on anyone who finds it and withholds it.”

“那是我父親傳下來的阿肯寶鉆，它比一整條河的黃金還值錢。”他說，“對我來說它是無價之寶，所有寶藏中我只將其歸入我的名下，誰如果找到寶石后自己收下了，我一定跟他勢不兩立。”

Bilbo heard these words and he grew afraid, wondering what would happen, if the stone was found—wrapped in an old bundle of tattered oddments that he used as a pillow. All the same he did not speak of it, for as the weariness of the days grew heavier, the beginnings of a plan had come into his little head.

比爾博聽了這些話之后開始感到害怕了，一直在想如果寶石被發(fā)現(xiàn)了不知該如何是好——那寶石就被他包在當枕頭的破布包袱里。不過，他還是沒有把此事說出口，因為隨著日子過得越來越消沉，一個新的計劃鉆進了他的小腦袋里。

Things had gone on like this for some time, when the ravens brought news that Dain and more than five hundred dwarves, hurrying from the Iron Hills, were now within about two days’ march of Dale, coming from the North-East.

這樣的情形又維持了一段時間，直到渡鴉們帶來了消息，戴因和五百多名矮人已經(jīng)從鐵丘陵兼程趕來，現(xiàn)在位于東北方，距離河谷邦只有不到兩天的路程。

“But they cannot reach the Mountain unmarked,” said Roäc, “and I fear lest there be battle in the valley. I do not call this counsel good. Though they are a grim folk, they are not likely to overcome the host that besets you; and even if they did so, what will you gain? Winter and snow is hastening behind them. How shall you be fed without the friendship and goodwill of the lands about you? The treasure is likely to be your death, though the dragon is no more!”

“可是，他們不可能神不知鬼不覺就到達孤山，”羅阿克說，“我擔心在山谷里要開戰(zhàn)，這可不是什么聰明的做法。雖然他們驍勇善戰(zhàn)，但也很難打敗包圍你們的軍隊。就算打敗了，你又能得到什么呢?冬天和大雪緊跟著就要來了，如果周圍地區(qū)都對你們抱著敵意，你們吃什么呢?雖說惡龍死了，可寶藏反倒可能要了你們的命!”

But Thorin was not moved. “Winter and snow will bite both men and elves,” he said, “and they may find their dwelling in the waste grievous to bear. With my friends behind them and winter upon them, they will perhaps be in softer mood to parley with.”

但索林依舊不為所動。“冬天和大雪也同樣會傷害人類和精靈，”他說，“他們會發(fā)現(xiàn)野地中的營盤難以忍受。在我的朋友從后面夾攻，又有老天的幫忙，或許他們在談判桌上的態(tài)度會軟下來。”

That night Bilbo made up his mind. The sky was black and moonless. As soon as it was full dark, he went to a corner of an inner chamber just within the gate and drew from his bundle a rope, and also the Arkenstone wrapped in a rag. Then he climbed to the top of the wall. Only Bombur was there, for it was his turn to watch, and the dwarves kept only one watchman at a time.

當夜，比爾博下定了決心。天空中一片黑暗，沒有月亮。等天一黑透，他立刻走到緊靠大門的一個房間的角落，從包袱中掏出一根繩索，以及包在一塊破布里的阿肯寶鉆。接著他爬到城墻頂端，那里只有邦伯在，因為正好輪到他守夜，矮人們?nèi)耸钟邢蓿看沃荒芘梢粋€人放哨。

“It is mighty cold!” said Bombur. “I wish we could have a fire up here as they have in the camp!”

“好冷啊!”邦伯說，“我們要是也能和他們的營地里一樣生堆火就好了!”

“It is warm enough inside,” said Bilbo.

“里面還是挺暖和的。”比爾博說。

“I daresay; but I am bound here till midnight,” grumbled the fat dwarf. “A sorry business altogether. Not that I venture to disagree with Thorin, may his beard grow ever longer; yet he was ever a dwarf with a stiff neck.”

“我想也是，但我得在這兒守到半夜。”胖矮人嘟囔道，“真是沒勁，不是我要背地里說索林閑話，愿他的胡子能長得再長一點，可他實在是個固執(zhí)的‘僵脖子’。”

“Not as stiff as my legs,” said Bilbo. “I am tired of stairs and stone passages. I would give a good deal for the feel of grass at my toes.”

“沒我的兩條腿僵。”比爾博說，“我已經(jīng)厭倦了階梯和石板過道了，我愿意付很多錢來換腳趾頭踩在草地上的感覺。”

“I would give a good deal for the feel of a strong drink in my throat, and for a soft bed after a good supper!”

“我愿意付很多錢來換烈酒流過喉嚨的感覺，還想要飽餐一頓后躺列軟軟的床上睡覺!”

“I can’t give you those, while the siege is going on. But it is long since I watched, and I will take your turn for you, if you like. There is no sleep in me tonight.”

“只要我們還被圍困著，我就沒法給你這些東西。不過離我上次值夜已經(jīng)很久了，如果你愿意的話，我來替你一會兒吧，今兒晚上我正好睡不著。”

“You are a good fellow, Mr. Baggins, and I will take your offer kindly. If there should be anything to note, rouse me first, mind you! I will lie in the inner chamber to the left, not far away.”

“你真是個好人，巴金斯先生，那我就恭敬不如從命嘍!如果有什么事的話，請一定記著先把叫我起來!我就睡在左邊的房間里，離這兒不遠。”

“Off you go!” said Bilbo. “I will wake you at midnight, and you can wake the next watchman.”

“放心去吧!”比爾博說，“我半夜會把你叫醒的，讓你去叫醒下一班哨。”

As soon as Bombur had gone, Bilbo put on his ring, fastened his rope, slipped down over the wall, and was gone. He had about five hours before him. Bombur would sleep (he could sleep at any time, and ever since the adventure in the forest he was always trying to recapture the beautiful dreams he had then); and all the others were busy with Thorin. It was unlikely that any, even Fili or Kili, would come out on the wall until it was their turn.

邦伯一走，比爾博戴上戒指，系好繩索，從墻上溜了下去，走了。他大概有五個小時的時間可以支配。邦伯肯定會睡著(他任何時候都能睡著，而且自從經(jīng)歷了森林中的奇遇之后，他一直想要重回當時的美好夢境)，其他人都在和索林一起忙。所有的人，即使是菲力和奇力，也不可能在輪到他們站哨之前跑到城墻上來。

It was very dark, and the road after a while, when he left the newly made path and climbed down towards the lower course of the stream, was strange to him. At last he came to the bend where he had to cross the water, if he was to make for the camp, as he wished. The bed of the stream was there shallow but already broad, and fording it in the dark was not easy for the little hobbit. He was nearly across when he missed his footing on a round stone and fell into the cold water with a splash. He had barely scrambled out on the far bank, shivering and spluttering, when up came elves in the gloom with bright lanterns and searched for the cause of the noise.

天色十分昏暗，腳下的路在稍微走了一會兒之后，也就是當他離開新修的道路，朝著較低的河道爬下去之后，變得陌生起來。最后，他來到了河水轉(zhuǎn)彎的地方，如果他要如他所愿地前往對方的營地，那么他必須要涉水而過。河床雖然很淺，但河面已經(jīng)很寬了，在黑暗中渡河對于矮小的霍比特人來說絕非易事。就在快要走到對岸的時候，他踩在了一塊圓石上，腳下一個不穩(wěn)，撲通一聲掉進了冰冷的水中。等他好不容易爬上對岸，渾身發(fā)抖，牙齒打戰(zhàn)時，只見黑暗中幾個精靈打著明亮的燈籠出來尋究那聲“撲通”的原因。

“That was no fish!” one said. “There is a spy about. Hide your lights! They will help him more than us, if it is that queer little creature that is said to be their servant.”

“肯定不是魚!”一個人說，“附近一定有間諜!把燈光藏起來!如果這是傳說中矮人們那個古怪的小仆人的話，這點光亮只會對他更有利。”

“Servant, indeed!” snorted Bilbo; and in the middle of his snort he sneezed loudly, and the elves immediately gathered towards the sound.

“有沒搞錯啊，把我當做仆人!”比爾博鼻子里不禁哼了哼，而就在他哼到一半的時候，他打了個大噴嚏，精靈們立刻朝著聲音的來源圍攏過來。

“Let’s have a light!” he said. “I am here, if you want me!” and he slipped off his ring, and popped from behind a rock.

“把燈點亮!”他說，“如果你們想抓我，我就在這里!”說著他脫掉成指，從一塊巖石后面跳了出來。

They seized him quickly, in spite of their surprise. “Who are you? Are you the dwarves’ hobbit? What are you doing? How did you get so far past our sentinels?” they asked one after another.

雖然精靈們很吃驚，但還是很快就把他抓了起來。“你是什么人?你就是矮人手下的霍比特人嗎?你要干什么?你是怎么溜過我們的崗哨混進來的?”他們的問題像連珠炮般一個又一個。

“I am Mr. Bilbo Baggins,” he answered, “companion of Thorin, if you want to know. I know your king well by sight, though perhaps he doesn’t know me to look at. But Bard will remember me, and it is Bard I particularly want to see.”

“我是比爾博·巴金斯先生，”他回答道，“如果你們想知道的話，我就是索林的伙伴!我見過你們的國王很多次，不過他見到我也許不認識。但是巴德一定還記得我，所以我特別想見的人是巴德。”

“Indeed!” said they, “and what may be your business?”

“這樣啊!”他們說，“那你有什么目的呢?”

“Whatever it is, it’s my own, my good elves. But if you wish ever to get back to your own woods from this cold cheerless place,” he answered shivering, “you will take me along quick to a fire, where I can dry—and then you will let me speak to your chiefs as quick as may be. I have only an hour or two to spare.”

“我親愛的精靈們，不管是什么事情，那都是我的事。不過，如果你們希望趕快離開這個冰冷的地方回到你們自己的森林里去，”他發(fā)著抖回答道，“你們最好趕緊帶我到營火邊，讓我可以烘干，然后再讓我盡快和你們的首領說上話。我只有一兩個小時的時間了。”

That is how it came about that some two hours after his escape from the Gate, Bilbo was sitting beside a warm fire in front of a large tent, and there sat too, gazing curiously at him, both the Elvenking and Bard. A hobbit in elvish armour, partly wrapped in an old blanket, was something new to them.

就這樣，比爾博在離開正門兩小時后，就已坐在了一座大營帳前的溫暖營火前烘手，而精靈國王和巴德就坐在他身旁，好奇地打量著他。一名穿著精靈盔甲、半裹著舊毯子的霍比特人對他們來說可是件新鮮事物。

“Really you know,” Bilbo was saying in his best business manner, “things are impossible. Personally I am tired of the whole affair. I wish I was back in the West in my own home, where folk are more reasonable. But I have an interest in this matter—one fourteenth share, to be precise, according to a letter, which fortunately I believe I have kept.” He drew from a pocket in his old jacket (which he still wore over his mail), crumpled and much folded, Thorin’s letter that had been put under the clock on his mantelpiece in May!

“其實你們知道，”比爾博用最像談正事的口吻說道，“這樣僵下去是不會有結(jié)果的。就我個人而言，我對這一切已經(jīng)厭倦了。我希望能回到西方我自己的家里去，那里的人們更講道理。不過，我和這件事也有利益關系——準確說來，是有十四分之一的分成。這事是寫在一封信上的，幸運的是我想我還留著那封信。”他從舊夾克(他還把這夾克套在盔甲外面)的口袋里掏出一封信，皺皺的、折了好幾折，那就是索林今年五月放在他壁爐上時鐘下的那封信!

“A share in the profits, mind you,” he went on. “I am aware of that. Personally I am only too ready to consider all your claims carefully, and deduct what is right from the total before putting in my own claim. However you don’t know Thorin Oakenshield as well as I do now. I assure you, he is quite ready to sit on a heap of gold and starve, as long as you sit here.”

“請注意，是凈利的分成，”他繼續(xù)道，“我注意到這點了。對我來說，我很愿意認真考慮你們提出的要求，在總數(shù)中扣除該扣的數(shù)目后，再來考慮我應得的收益。不過，你們不像我這樣了解索林·橡木盾。我向你們保證，只要你們還留在這里，他真的愿意坐在金山上挨餓。”

“Well, let him!” said Bard. “Such a fool deserves to starve.”

“哼，讓他餓去!”巴德說，“這種笨蛋活該挨餓!”

“Quite so,” said Bilbo. “I see your point of view. At the same time winter is coming on fast. Before long you will be having snow and what not, and supplies will be difficult—even for elves I imagine. Also there will be other difficulties. You have not heard of Dain and the dwarves of the Iron Hills?”

“說得沒錯，”比爾博說，“我同意你的看法。不過，冬天來得很快，你們馬上就會遇到雪啊什么的了，補給會變得很困難，我相信連精靈也不例外。你們有沒有聽說過戴因和鐵丘陵的矮人?”

“We have, a long time ago; but what has he got to do with us?” asked the king.

“聽說過，很久以前了，可他和我們有什么關系?”

“I thought as much. I see I have some information you have not got. Dain, I may tell you, is now less than two days’ march off, and has at least five hundred grim dwarves with him—a good many of them have had experience in the dreadful dwarf and goblin wars, of which you have no doubt heard. When they arrive there may be serious trouble.”

精靈國王問道。“和我想的一樣?？磥?，我也有一些是你們不知道的情報啊。讓我告訴你們吧，戴因現(xiàn)在距離這兒已經(jīng)只有不到兩天的路程了，他手下至少有五百名驍勇善戰(zhàn)的矮人，其中許多人經(jīng)歷過矮人和半獸人那場可怕的大戰(zhàn)，這你們想必聽說過。等他們一到，事情可能就很麻煩了。”

“Why do you tell us this? Are you betraying your friends, or are you threatening us?” asked Bard grimly.

“你為什么要告訴我們這個?你這是在出賣朋友呢，還是在威脅我們?”巴德表情嚴肅地問道。

“My dear Bard!” squeaked Bilbo. “Don’t be so hasty! I never met such suspicious folk! I am merely trying to avoid trouble for all concerned. Now I will make you an offer! !”

“親愛的巴德!”比爾博的聲音高了起來，“不要這么性急嘛!我還從來沒遇見過像你這樣多疑的家伙!我只是想要替所有相關的人都省下麻煩?，F(xiàn)在我提出我的建議。”

“Let us hear it!” they said.

“讓我們聽聽吧!”他們催促道。

“You may see it!” said he. “It is this!” and he drew forth the Arkenstone, and threw away the wrapping.

“你們還能看到呢!”他說，“就是這個!”說著他掏出了阿肯寶鉆，扔掉了包在外面的破布。

The Elvenking himself, whose eyes were used to things of wonder and beauty, stood up in amazement. Even Bard gazed marvelling at it in silence. It was as if a globe had been filled with moonlight and hung before them in a net woven of the glint of frosty stars.

精靈國王也算見識過各種神奇美麗的寶物，但一看之下卻還是站在那里呆住了，即便是巴德也一聲不吭、又驚又羨地死盯著——這仿佛是一顆注滿了月光的圓球，被裝在寒星的光芒織成的網(wǎng)中，懸掛在他們面前。

“This is the Arkenstone of Thrain,” said Bilbo, “the Heart of the Mountain; and it is also the heart of Thorin. He values it above a river of gold. I give it to you. It will aid you in your bargaining.” Then Bilbo, not without a shudder, not without a glance of longing, handed the marvellous stone to Bard, and he held it in his hand, as though dazed.

“這就是瑟萊因的阿肯寶鉆。”比爾博說，“山之心，這也是索林的心肝寶貝，他把它看得比滿滿一河的金子還貴重。我把它給你們，這會在談判中助你們一臂之力的。”說著，比爾博將這顆美妙的寶石遞給了巴德，他的身體忍不住微微顫抖著，眼睛也不由自主地投去向往的一瞥。巴德呆呆地用手接過寶石，一副失魂落魄的樣子。

“But how is it yours to give?” he asked at last with an effort.

“可怎么會輪到你來給我們的呢?”他最后好不容易擠出這么一個問題。

“O well!” said the hobbit uncomfortably. “It isn’t exactly; but, well, I am willing to let it stand against all my claim, don’t you know. I may be a burglar—or so they say: personally I never really felt like one—but I am an honest one, I hope, more or less. Anyway I am going back now, and the dwarves can do what they like to me. I hope you will find it useful.”

“哦，這個嗎，”霍比特人不安地說道，“它不能算是我的，不過，我愿意用它來抵銷我應得的報酬。我或許算是個飛賊——至少他們是這么說的，但我自己一直覺得我不像飛賊——可我是個誠實的飛賊，我希望如此，多少算是吧。反正，我現(xiàn)在要回去了，隨便矮人們怎么處置我，我希望你們能好好利用它。”

The Elvenking looked at Bilbo with a new wonder. “Bilbo Baggins!” he said. “You are more worthy to wear the armour of elf-princes than many that have looked more comely in it. But I wonder if Thorin Oakenshield will see it so. I have more knowledge of dwarves in general than you have perhaps. I advise you to remain with us, and here you shall be honoured and thrice welcome.”

精靈國王現(xiàn)在對比爾博刮目相看了。“比爾博·巴金斯!”他說，“有許多人穿上精靈王子的盔甲比你更好看，但你比他們都更有資格穿。不過我不知道索林是否同意我的看法。我對矮人的了解比你或許有的要多一點，我建議你還是留下吧，在這里你會得到尊敬與歡迎。”

“Thank you very much I am sure,” said Bilbo with a bow. “But I don’t think I ought to leave my friends like this, after all we have gone through together. And I promised to wake old Bombur at midnight, too! Really I must be going, and quickly.”

“非常感謝您的好意，”比爾博深深一鞠躬道，“但我想，我不應該像這樣離開我的朋友，畢竟我們曾經(jīng)生死與共。而且，我還答應要在半夜把老邦伯叫醒呢!我真的得走了，馬上。”

Nothing they could say would stop him; so an escort was provided for him, and as he went both the king and Bard saluted him with honour. As they passed through the camp an old man, wrapped in a dark cloak, rose from a tent door where he was sitting and came towards them.

無論他們說什么都無法阻止他，因此他們只能派個衛(wèi)兵護送他。他走的時候，精靈國王和巴德都向他敬禮。在他們穿越營區(qū)的時候，一名裹著暗色斗篷的老人從他坐著的一個營帳門口站起身，向著他們走來。

“Well done! Mr. Baggins!” he said, clapping Bilbo on the back. “There is always more about you than anyone expects!” It was Gandalf.

“干得好!巴金斯先生!”他拍著比爾博的背說道，“你果然是不可貌相啊!”來人竟然是甘道夫。

For the first time for many a day Bilbo was really delighted. But there was no time for all the questions that he immediately wished to ask.

很多天以來，比爾博第一次真心感到了高興，但他沒有時間把所有心中急切想問的問題都提出來。

“All in good time!” said Gandalf. “Things are drawing towards the end now, unless I am mistaken. There is an unpleasant time just in front of you; but keep your heart up! You may come through all right. There is news brewing that even the ravens have not heard. Good night!”

“到時候就全明白了!”甘道夫說，“除非我弄錯了，否則，一切都已經(jīng)快結(jié)束了。你面前還有一段艱苦的日子要熬，但一定要保持信心!你會順利渡過難關的。有些消息是連渡鴉都還沒有聽到的。再見吧!”

Puzzled but cheered, Bilbo hurried on. He was guided to a safe ford and set across dry, and then he said farewell to the elves and climbed carefully back towards the Gate. Great weariness began to come over him; but it was well before midnight when he clambered up the rope again—it was still where he had left it. He untied it and hid it, and then he sat down on the wall and wondered anxiously what would happen next.

比爾博雖然還有些困惑，但心里卻十分高興，腳步也變得分外輕盈。他被領到一個安全的渡口，沒沾到水就走了過去。然后，他向精靈們道別，小心翼翼地朝著大門爬回去。這時，他才感到巨大的疲憊向他襲來。不過，當他沿著繩索(那繩子還原封不動地留在那里)往上爬的時候，離半夜還有好一段時間。他解開繩索，將它藏起，然后他在城墻上坐了下來，緊張地想著接下來會發(fā)生什么。

At midnight he woke up Bombur; and then in turn rolled himself up in his corner, without listening to the old dwarf’s thanks (which he felt he had hardly earned). He was soon fast asleep forgetting all his worries till the morning. As a matter of fact he was dreaming of eggs and bacon.

到了半夜，他叫醒了邦伯，然后就往邦伯睡覺的角落里一縮，連老邦伯的連聲道謝也不聽就開始睡了(因為他覺得這感謝他受之有愧)。他很快就睡熟了，把所有的擔憂暫且拋到了明天早上。事實上，他在夢里夢到了香噴噴的火腿蛋。