《凱斯賓王子》第十三章 王者決斗

CHAPTER THIRTEEN THE HIGH KING IN COMMAND

第十三章 王者決斗

"NOW，"said Peter，as they finished their meal，"Aslan and the girls (that's Queen Susan and Queen Lucy，Caspian) are somewhere close.We don't know when he will act.In his time，no doubt，not ours.In the meantime he would like us to do what we can on our own.You say，Caspian，we are not strong enough to meet Miraz in pitched battle?"

現(xiàn)在，他們吃過飯后，彼得說，"阿斯蘭和女孩們就是蘇珊女王和露茜女王就在附近。我們不確定他們會(huì)采取什么行動(dòng)。很顯然阿斯蘭知道審時(shí)度勢(shì)不會(huì)聽我們指揮，但他也希望我們自己能大干一場(chǎng)。凱斯賓，你認(rèn)為我們有沒有勝算?"

"I'm afraid not，High King，"said Caspian.He was liking Peter very much，but was rather tongue-ied.It was much stranger for him to meet the great Kings out of the old stories than it was for them to meet him.

恐怕不行，至尊王。凱斯賓說。他非常喜歡彼得，但與他在一起的時(shí)候又覺得自己嘴笨。兩個(gè)不同年代的國王待在一起，卡斯賓覺得新奇又很有意思。

"Very well，then，"said Peter，"I'll send him a challenge to single combat."No one had thought of this before.

好吧，彼得說，"那我和他一對(duì)一進(jìn)行挑戰(zhàn)。"在場(chǎng)的人都從沒有過這個(gè)想法。

"Please，"said Caspian，"could it not be me? I want to avenge my father."

可不可以讓我來決斗?凱斯賓說，"我要為我父親報(bào)仇。"

"You're wounded，"said Peter."And anyway，wouldn't he just laugh at a challenge from you? I mean，we have seen that you are a king and a warrior but he thinks of you as a kid."

你受傷了。彼得說，"再說，他會(huì)嘲笑你。我是說，雖然我們大家都熟知你作為國王和勇士的風(fēng)采?？伤劾?，你只是個(gè)孩子。"

"But，Sire，"said the Badger，who sat very close to Peter and never took his eyes off him."Will he accept a.challenge even from you? He knows he has the stronger.army."

可是，陛下，說話的是獾，他挨著彼得而坐，默默地看著他，"他會(huì)迎戰(zhàn)嗎?他很清楚自己軍力強(qiáng)盛。"

"Very likely he won't，"said Peter，"but there's always the chance.And even if he doesn't，we shall spend the best part of the day sending heralds to and fro and all that.By then Aslan may have done something.And at least I can inspect the army and strengthen the position.I will send the challenge.In fact I will write it at once.Have you pen and ink，Master Doctor?"

是的，他可能拒絕。彼得說，"但也不是不可能，就算他拒絕我們?nèi)匀豢梢耘沙鍪钩寂c他周旋。阿斯蘭把握時(shí)機(jī)，徹底打敗他們。而我們也可以趁機(jī)整理軍隊(duì)，加強(qiáng)防御。我要立刻下挑戰(zhàn)書。博士，你有沒有紙筆?"

"A scholar is never without them，your Majesty，"answered Doctor Cornelius.

學(xué)者身上從來不缺這些，陛下?？四螤査共┦炕卮鸬馈?/p>

"Very well，I will dictate，"said Peter.And while the Doctor spread out a parchment and opened his ink-horn and sharpened his pen，Peter leant back with half-closed eyes and recalled to his mind the language in which he had written such things long ago in Narnia's golden age.

非常好，我口述。彼得說。博士拿出紙筆。這時(shí)彼得靠在椅子上，閉著雙眼在回憶納尼亞的美好時(shí)代，他也曾下令寫過這類戰(zhàn)書。

"Right，"he said at last."And now，if you are ready，Doctor?"

那么，他開口問道，"現(xiàn)在你準(zhǔn)備好了嗎，博士?"

Doctor Cornelius dipped his pen and waited.Peter dictated as follows:

博士提筆等候，彼得口述如下：

"Peter，by the gift of Aslan，by election，by prescription，and by conquest，High King over all Kings in Narnia，Emperor of the Lone Islands and Lord of Cair Paravel，Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Lion，to Miraz，Son of Caspian the Eighth，sometime Lord Protector of Narnia and now styling himself King of Narnia，Greeting.Have you got that?"

阿斯蘭在上，彼得憑民心所向，憑古代傳統(tǒng)，赫赫戰(zhàn)功，以以下名義--納尼亞至尊王，孤獨(dú)群島與凱爾帕拉維爾的統(tǒng)治者，以及阿斯蘭帳下的騎士，向凱斯賓八世之子，納尼亞的護(hù)國公，現(xiàn)自封的納尼亞國王的彌若茲致意。

"Narnia，comma，greeting，"muttered the Doctor."Yes，Sire."

寫好了嗎?彌若茲，逗號(hào)，致意，博士喃喃地說著，"好了，陛下。"

"Then begin a new paragraph，"said Peter.For to prevent the effusion of blood，and for the avoiding all other inconveniences likely to grow from the wars now levied in our realm of Narnia，it is our pleasure to adventure our royal person on behalf of our trusty and well-beloved Caspian in clean wager of battle to prove upon your Lordship's body that the said Caspian is lawful King under us in Narnia both by our gift and by the laws of the Telmarines，and your Lordship twice guilty of treachery both in withholding the dominion of Narnia from the said Caspian and in the most abhominable，-don't forget to spell it with an H，Doctor-bloody，and unnatural murder of your kindly lord and brother King Caspian Ninth of that name.Wherefore we most heartily provoke，challenge，and defy your Lordship to the said combat and monomachy，and have sent these letters by the hand of our well beloved and royal brother Edmund，sometime King under us in Narnia，Duke of Lantern Waste and Count of the Western March，Knight of the Noble Order of the Table，to whom we have given full power of determining with your Lordship all the conditions of the said battle.Given at our lodging in Aslan's How this XII day of the month Greenroof in the first year of Caspian Tenth of Narnia.

另起一段，彼得繼續(xù)說。為了避免流血犧牲，也為了避免這場(chǎng)戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)會(huì)帶來太多的傷亡和不幸，我受命至此，以國王身份向閣下發(fā)出個(gè)人挑戰(zhàn)。證實(shí)如下：首先，根據(jù)納尼亞傳統(tǒng)及特爾瑪法律，凱斯賓王子是納尼亞王位的法定繼承人。其次，閣下犯有兩重大罪--謀殺兄長凱斯賓九世，篡奪王位并殘暴統(tǒng)治。因此，我代表納尼亞的正義勢(shì)力向閣下提出宣戰(zhàn)。若閣下愿意同我一決勝負(fù)，本人將非常榮幸。由我尊敬的兄弟愛德蒙，曾經(jīng)的納尼亞國王，燈柱荒原公爵、西部沼地伯爵、石臺(tái)貴族騎士遞交戰(zhàn)書。若閣下對(duì)決斗有任何意見，他將代表我作任何決定。于阿斯蘭堡，凱斯賓十世元年元月十二日。

"That ought to do，"said Peter，drawing a deep breath.

行了，彼得深呼一口氣，

"And now we must send two others with King Edmund.I think the Giant ought to be one."

"現(xiàn)在，我們需要兩名衛(wèi)士與愛德蒙同行。我覺得，巨人可以算一個(gè)。

"He's-he's not very clever，you know，"said Caspian.

他、他并不聰明，你是知道的。凱斯賓說。

"Of course not，"said Peter."But any giant looks impressive if only he will keep quiet.And it will cheer him up.But who for the other?"

是的，彼得說，"可巨人很有氣勢(shì)。再說委以重任會(huì)增強(qiáng)他的自豪感。不過，另一個(gè)派誰呢?"

"Upon my word，"said Trumpkin，"if you want someone who can kill with looks，Reepicheep would be the best."

在我看來，杜魯普金說，"用眼神就能殺死人的勇士，非老鼠將軍雷佩契普莫屬。"

"He would indeed，from all I hear，"said Peter with a laugh."If only he wasn't so small.They wouldn't even see him till he was close!"

以我的經(jīng)驗(yàn)，他能夠勝任。彼得笑著說，"要是他再魁梧一點(diǎn)就好了，敵人不走到他跟前就沒法看到他。"

"Send Glenstorm，Sire，"said Trufflehunter."No one ever laughed at a Centaur."

派格蘭仕托姆去，陛下，特魯佛漢特說，"沒人取笑過人馬。"

An hour later two great lords in the army of Miraz，the Lord Glozelle and the Lord Sopespian，strolling along their lines and picking their teeth after breakfast，looked up and saw coming down to them from the wood the Centaur and Giant Wimbleweather，whom they had seen before in battle，and between them a figure they could not recognize.Nor indeed would the other boys at Edmund's school have recognized him if they could have seen him at that moment.For Aslan had breathed on him at their meeting and a kind of greatness hung about him.

一小時(shí)后的敵營里，彌若茲的貴族軍官--哥洛和索皮，一邊溜達(dá)一邊剔牙齒。無意中發(fā)現(xiàn)了從樹林里出來的巨人和人馬，不由大驚失色。在先前的戰(zhàn)斗中，他們?cè)缫杨I(lǐng)教過他們的厲害，他們還發(fā)現(xiàn)中間的那個(gè)人是個(gè)沒見過的人。愛德蒙在與阿斯蘭相會(huì)并被他吹過一口氣之后，由表及里的改變了，成熟了、英俊了、活力四射，正氣凜然。就是他的同學(xué)們，此時(shí)恐怕也不能一下子認(rèn)出來。

"What's to do?"said the Lord Glozelle."An attack?"

他們來做什么?哥洛爵士說，"突然襲擊?"

"A parley，rather，"said Sopespian."See，they carry green branches.They are coming to surrender most likely."

像是使節(jié)，索皮說，"你看綠色的樹枝，是來投降的。"

"He that is walking between the Centaur and the Giant has no look of surrender in his face，"said Glozelle."Who can he be? It is not the boy Caspian."

但是走在巨人和人馬中間的那人不像是要投降。哥洛說，"他是誰?不像凱斯賓。"

"No indeed，"said Sopespian."This is a fell warrior，I warrant you，wherever the rebels have got him from.He is (in your Lordship's private ear) a kinglier man than ever Miraz was.And what mail he wears! None of our smiths can make the like."

肯定不是，索皮說，"那是個(gè)勇猛的騎士，我向你保證。也不知那些叛賊們從哪兒找來的?？杀葟浫羝澾€要?dú)馀?.....小心隔墻有耳。瞧那些盔甲，咱們的鐵匠可做不出來!"

"I'll wager my dappled Pomely he brings a challenge，not a surrender，"said Glozelle.

我敢用這只梨打賭，他肯定是來下戰(zhàn)書的，而不是來投降的。哥洛說。

"How then?"said Sopespian."We hold the enemy in our fist here.Miraz would never be so hair-brained as to throw away his advantage on a combat."

怎么了?索皮說道，"我們已經(jīng)控制了敵軍，彌若茲不會(huì)貿(mào)貿(mào)然不顧時(shí)事和一個(gè)陌生人決斗的。"

"He might be brought to it，"said Glozelle in a much lower voice.

也許他會(huì)上當(dāng)。哥洛低聲說。

"Softly，"said Sopespian."Step a little aside here out of earshot of those sentries.Now.Have I taken your Lordship's meaning aright?"

輕點(diǎn)，索皮說，"可不能讓那些放哨的聽到了?，F(xiàn)在，你能把話說得更清楚些嗎?"

"If the King undertook wager of battle，"whispered Glozelle，"why，either he would kill or be killed."

如果國王接受挑戰(zhàn)，哥洛小聲說，"那么不是把對(duì)方殺掉，就是被對(duì)方殺掉。"

"So，"said Sopespian，nodding his head.

是的。索皮點(diǎn)頭。

"And if he killed we should have won this war."

如果他打贏了對(duì)手，那么我們就贏了。

"Certainly.And if not?"

那是當(dāng)然。但如果不呢?

"Why，if not，we should be as able to win it without the King's grace as with him.For I need not tell your Lordship that Miraz is no very great captain.And after that，we should be both victorious and kingless."

如果不這樣，我們也可以勝利。大家心知肚明，彌若茲不是英明的君王。到那個(gè)時(shí)候，我們就沒了國王，就可以......。

"And it is your meaning，my Lord，that you and I could hold this land quite as conveniently without a King as with one?"

閣下，你是說，沒有國王，我們就可以統(tǒng)治這片國土?

Glozelle's face grew ugly."Not forgetting，"said he，"that it was we who first put him on the throne.And in all the years that he has enjoyed it，what fruits have come our way? What gratitude has he shown us?"

哥洛丑態(tài)畢現(xiàn)。"別忘了，"他說道，"是我們把他推上國王寶座。他卻一個(gè)人享受榮華富貴，我們卻沒得到任何好處，不是嗎?"

"Say no more，"answered Sopespian."But look-here comes one to fetch us to the King's tent."

別說了，索皮打斷他，"你看，國王傳我們。"

When they reached Miraz's tent they saw Edmund and his two companions seated outside it and being entertained with cakes and wine，having already delivered the challenge，and withdrawn while the King was considering it.When they saw them thus at close quarters the two Telmarine lords thought all three of them very alarming.

兩人到了帳篷，正好看到愛德蒙和兩個(gè)衛(wèi)士在帳篷外面用餐?？磥恚麄円呀?jīng)把戰(zhàn)書呈上去，國王正在考慮。這兩個(gè)軍官近距離打量對(duì)手，不由得心驚膽戰(zhàn)。

Inside，they found Miraz，unarmed and finishing his breakfast.His face was flushed and there was a scowl on his brow.

在帳篷里他們看到彌若茲卸下武裝，正在吃早餐。他眉頭緊鎖，已經(jīng)動(dòng)怒。

"There!"he growled，flinging the parchment across the table to them."See what a pack of nursery tales our jackanapes of a nephew has sent us."

看看!他咬著牙把戰(zhàn)書從桌子那端扔過來。"我的寶貝侄子給我送來的東西!"

"By your leave，Sire，"said Glozelle."If the young warrior whom we have just seen outside is the King Edmund mentioned in the writing，then I would not call him a nursery tale but a very dangerous knight."

陛下容稟，哥洛說，"假如信中提到的愛德蒙國王就是外面的那個(gè)青年，我覺得他是個(gè)很危險(xiǎn)的騎士，不能小覷。"

"King Edmund，pah!"said Miraz."Does your Lordship believe those old wives' fables about Peter and Edmund and the rest?"

愛德蒙國王，呸!彌若茲說，"閣下也相信老婆子那些有關(guān)彼得、愛德蒙之類的天方夜譚?"

"I believe my eyes，your Majesty，"said Glozelle.

我相信自己的眼睛，陛下。哥洛答道。

"Well，this is to no purpose，"said Miraz，"but as touching the challenge，I suppose there is only one opinion between us?"

哼，你的話沒什么意義，彌若茲說，"該如何回復(fù)這個(gè)挑戰(zhàn)，或許我們的意見會(huì)一致一些?"

"I suppose so，indeed，Sire，"said Glozelle.

我認(rèn)為是這樣的，陛下。 哥洛說。

"And what is that?"asked the King.

是什么呢?國王問道。

"Most infallibly to refuse it，"said Glozelle."For though I have never been called a coward，I must plainly say that to meet that young man in battle is more than my heart would serve me for.And if (as is likely) his brother，the High King，is more dangerous than he-why，on your life，my Lord King，have nothing to do with him."

應(yīng)該拒絕，哥洛說，"盡管我不是懦夫，但說實(shí)話和一個(gè)年輕人交手，我的內(nèi)心忐忑不安。很可能他的哥哥--那個(gè)至尊王會(huì)比他更加危險(xiǎn)，所以為了安全考慮，還是不招惹他為好。"

"Plague on you!"cried Miraz."It was not that sort of council I wanted.Do you think I am asking you if I should be afraid to meet this Peter (if there is such a man)? Do you think I fear him? I wanted your counsel on the policy of the matter; whether we，having the advantage，should hazard it on a wager of battle."

大膽!彌若茲吼了起來，"我不想聽到你這么回答,你以為我會(huì)怕那個(gè)叫彼得的嗎?而且有沒有這個(gè)人還不知道!你以為我怕他?哼，我只想聽聽你們的意見了，看目前有沒有必要決斗。"

"To which I can only answer，your Majesty，"said Glozelle，"that for all reasons the challenge should be refused.There is death in the strange knight's face."

陛下，我唯一的答案，哥洛說，"就是拒絕，那騎士殺氣很重。"

"There you are again!"said Miraz，now thoroughly angry."Are you trying to make it appear that I am as great a coward as your Lordship?"

又來!這時(shí)，彌若茲已徹底動(dòng)怒了，"你難道想讓我和你一樣貪生怕死?"

"Your Majesty may say your pleasure，"said Glozelle sulkily.

隨陛下怎么說。哥洛悻悻地說道。

"You talk like an old woman，Glozelle，"said the King."What say you，my Lord Sopespian?"

哥洛，你簡直就像個(gè)鄉(xiāng)下老太婆，彌若茲說，"索皮閣下，你怎么想?"

"Do not touch it，Sire，"was the reply."And what your Majesty says of the policy of the thing comes in very happily.It gives your Majesty excellent grounds for a refusal without any cause for questioning your Majesty's honour or courage."

不管他，陛下。索皮答道，"最好的辦法就是置之不理。陛下不拒絕，也不會(huì)有人懷疑陛下的勇氣了。"

"Great Heaven!"exclaimed Miraz，jumping to his feet."Are you also bewitched today? Do you think I am looking for grounds to refuse it? You might as well call me coward to my face."

見鬼!彌若茲大叫著從椅子上跳了起來，"你也瘋了嗎?你以為我在為自己找借口嗎?那你還不如直接叫我懦夫。"

The conversation was going exactly as the two lords wished，so they said nothing.

眼看目的達(dá)到，兩個(gè)大臣裝得畢恭畢敬的不再吱聲。

"I see what it is，"said Miraz，after staring at them as if his eyes would start out of his head，"you are as lily-livered as hares yourselves and have the effrontery to imagine my heart after the likeness of yours! Grounds for a refusal，indeed! Excuses for not fighting! Are you soldiers? Are you Telmarines? Are you men? And if I do refuse it (as ail good reasons of captaincy and martial policy urge me to do) you will think，and teach others to think，I was afraid.Is it not so?"

我懂了，半晌，彌若茲說，"你們兩個(gè)膽小的家伙，真沒用!一直找不戰(zhàn)的借口。你們像不像軍人?是不是臺(tái)爾馬人的子孫?算男子漢嗎?如果我拒絕挑戰(zhàn)，盡管我有理由這么做，我的經(jīng)驗(yàn)和感覺告訴我應(yīng)該這么做，但你們會(huì)認(rèn)為，別人也會(huì)認(rèn)為，我是不敢接受挑戰(zhàn)，是不是?"

"No man of your Majesty's age，"said Glozelle，"would be called coward by any wise soldier for refusing the combat with a great warrior in the flower of his youth."

以陛下的年紀(jì)，哥洛說，"拒絕一個(gè)年輕人的挑戰(zhàn)，沒有人會(huì)說是膽怯。"

"So I'm to be a dotard with one foot in the grave，as well as a dastard，"roared Miraz."I'll tell you what it is，my Lords.With your womanish counsels (ever shying from the true point，which is one of policy) you have done the very opposite of your intent.I had meant to refuse it.But I'll accept it.Do you hear，accept it ! I'll not be shamed because some witchcraft or treason has frozen both your bloods."

你的意思是，我不行了?彌若茲大聲吼起來，"我倒要讓你們看一看，各位!你們這種老婆子的勸告，只會(huì)南轅北轍!我本想拒絕挑戰(zhàn)，可現(xiàn)在我正式宣布我接受。你們聽清楚沒有，我接受!你們應(yīng)該感到羞恥。"

"We beseech your Majesty-"said Glozelle，but Miraz had flung out of the tent and they could hear him bawling out his acceptance to Edmund.The two lords looked at one another and chuckled quietly.

我們?yōu)楸菹卤硎緭?dān)心......哥洛的話還沒完，彌若茲就已走出去。他大聲對(duì)愛德蒙宣布應(yīng)戰(zhàn)，他們互相擠擠眼，偷偷地笑了。

"I knew he'd do it if he were properly chafed，"said Glozelle."But I'll not forget he called me coward.It shall be paid for."

我就知道，一被激怒他就會(huì)應(yīng)戰(zhàn)。哥洛說，"可是我記著，他竟然叫我懦夫。他會(huì)后悔的。"

There was a great stirring at Aslan's How when the news came back and was communicated to the various creatures.Edmund，with one of Miraz's captains，had already marked out the place for the combat，and ropes and stakes had been put round it.Two Telmarines were to stand at two of the corners，and one in the middle of one side，as marshals of the lists.Three marshals for the other two corners and the other side were to be furnished by the High King.Peter was just explaining to Caspian that he could not be one，because his right to the throne was what they were fighting about，when suddenly a thick，sleepy voice said，"Your Majesty，please."Peter turned and there stood the eldest of the Bulgy Bears."If you please，your Majesty，"he said，"I'm a bear，I am."

使者的消息走漏了風(fēng)聲，阿斯蘭城堡一陣騷動(dòng)。愛德蒙和彌若茲手下劃出了決斗的場(chǎng)地打下樁子，然后圈了起來。雙方助手和公證人站在兩端。此時(shí)，彼得一直給凱斯賓勇氣，讓他覺得自己并不孤獨(dú)，這是一場(chǎng)正義之戰(zhàn)。突然，一個(gè)略帶睡意的粗嗓音響起："陛下，請(qǐng)準(zhǔn)許。"彼得轉(zhuǎn)過身，看到一只上了年紀(jì)的棕熊。"請(qǐng)準(zhǔn)許我，"他說，"雖然我只是頭棕熊。"

"To be sure，so you are，and a good bear too，I don't doubt，"said Peter.

確實(shí)，你是棕熊，還是一只好棕熊，我絕不懷疑。彼得說道。

"Yes，"said the Bear."But it was always a right of the，bears to supply one marshal of the lists."

是的，大棕熊說，"決斗的公證人一向由熊家族擔(dān)任。"

"Don't let him，"whispered Trumpkin to Peter."He's a good creature，but he'll shame us all.He'll go to sleep and he will suck his paws.In front of the enemy too."

別讓他去，杜魯普金低聲對(duì)彼得說，"不錯(cuò)，它雖心地善良，但去當(dāng)公證人，會(huì)丟臉的。決斗沒結(jié)束他就會(huì)睡著，還會(huì)當(dāng)著敵人的面，舔它的爪子。"

"I can't help that，"said Peter."Because he's quite right.The Bears had that privilege.I can't imagine how it has been remembered all these years，when so many other things have been forgotten."

我不能不準(zhǔn)，彼得說，"它的話說得很對(duì)，熊家族有這個(gè)特權(quán)。雖然我已經(jīng)遺忘很多舊事，但我對(duì)此印象卻很深。"

"Please，your Majesty，"said the Bear.

請(qǐng)陛下準(zhǔn)許。棕熊再次請(qǐng)求。

"It is your right，"said Peter."And you shall be one of the marshals.But you must remember not to suck your paws."

這是你們的權(quán)利，彼得說，"你就做助手吧。不過你一定要記住，決不能在那里舔爪子。"

"Of course not，"said the Bear in a very shocked voice.

當(dāng)然不會(huì)。棕熊提高嗓門答道。

"Why，you're doing it this minute!"bellowed Trumpkin.

那為什么，你現(xiàn)在就在舔!杜魯普金非常不悅。

The Bear whipped his paw out of his mouth and pretended he hadn't heard.

棕熊趕緊把爪子從嘴里拿出來，裝出什么事也沒有發(fā)生。

"Sire!"came a shrill voice from near the ground.

陛下!一個(gè)尖叫聲從近處傳來。

"Ah-Reepicheep!"said Peter after looking up and down and round as people usually did when addressed by the Mouse.

啊--是雷佩契普!彼得環(huán)顧四周，才看見地上的鼠將軍。

"Sire，"said Reepicheep."My life is ever at your command，but my honour is my own.Sire，I have among my people the only trumpeter in your Majesty's army.I had thought，perhaps，we might have been sent with the challenge.Sire，my people are grieved.Perhaps if it were your pleasure that I should be a marshal of the lists，it would content them."

陛下，雷佩契普說，"我的生命屬于你，但我的榮譽(yù)只屬于我自己。陛下，我們老鼠部隊(duì)有我們大軍中唯一的吹鼓手。他們都以為會(huì)讓我去下戰(zhàn)書，結(jié)果沒有，我的軍隊(duì)因此沒了信心。如果能讓我做決斗的助手，他們也該恢復(fù)斗志了。"

A noise not unlike thunder broke out from somewhere overhead at this point，as Giant Wimbleweather burst into one of those not very intelligent laughs to which the nicer sorts of Giant are so liable.He checked himself at once and looked as grave as a turnip by the time Reepicheep discovered where the noise came from.

這時(shí)，他們上方響起震耳欲聾的聲音，原來是巨人韋姆布威熱傻乎乎的笑聲，一個(gè)好巨人總是會(huì)在不合適的時(shí)候發(fā)出傻笑。雷佩契普瞪了他一眼，他才發(fā)覺自己失態(tài)了趕緊閉上了嘴。

"I am afraid it would not do，"said Peter very gravely."Some humans are afraid of mice-"

恐怕不行，彼得惋惜地說，"有人害怕老鼠......"

"I had observed it，Sire，"said Reepicheep.

我知道，陛下。雷佩契普說。

"And it would not be quite fair to Miraz，"Peter continued，"to have in sight anything that might abate the edge of his courage."

而且這對(duì)彌若茲不公平，彼得接著說，"我們不能安排一名可能影響他的助手，影響他的情緒和士氣。"

"Your Majesty is the mirror of honour，"said the Mouse with one of his admirable bows."And on this matter we have but a single mind...I thought I heard someone laughing just now.If anyone present wishes to make me the subject of his wit，I am very much at his service-with my sword-whenever he has leisure."

陛下明察秋毫。鼠將軍優(yōu)雅地鞠了一躬，"這事我想得太簡單了。難怪剛才有人在笑。如果有人想拿我找樂子，我愿意效勞--用我的劍--隨時(shí)奉陪。"

An awful silence followed this remark，which was broken by Peter saying，"Giant Wimbleweather and the Bear and the Centaur Glenstorm shall be our marshals.The combat will be at two hours after noon.Dinner at noon precisely."

聽了這話之后沉默了許久。彼得打破沉默說："韋姆布威熱、棕熊和格蘭仕托姆將隨我參戰(zhàn)。下午兩點(diǎn)開始決斗，中午按時(shí)吃飯。"

"I say，"said Edmund as they walked away，"I suppose it is all right.I mean，I suppose you can beat him?"

我說，他們離開后，愛德蒙說，"你是對(duì)的。我是說，你可以打敗他的是吧?"

"That's what I'm fighting him to find out，"said Peter.

我會(huì)在戰(zhàn)斗中，想方設(shè)法打敗他。彼得說。