牛津書蟲系列 風雨河岸柳 5 A lesson for Mr Toad

5 A lesson for Mr Toad

5 給癩蛤蟆先生的教訓

Winter passed, and spring returned to the river bank. Then came a fine morning in early summer, when the world seemed full of sunlight and new green leaves. Down by the river bank, the Mole and the Water Rat were hard at work, mending and cleaning boats, looking for lost oars, and getting ready for a summer on the river. Then they went in to breakfast and had nearly finished when they heard a heavy knock on the door.

冬天過去了，春天回到了河岸。這是初夏一個晴朗的早上，世界似乎充滿了陽光，長滿了新葉。下游的河岸邊，鼴鼠和水鼠正賣力地干著活，修補著船然后把它清洗干凈，又尋找著不知遺落在何處的船槳，為夏天在河上劃船做著準備。忙碌了一陣他們便回家吃早餐?？斐酝陼r，他們突然聽到重重的敲門聲。

The Mole went to see who it was, and came back with a very surprised face. ' Mr Badger' he said.

鼴鼠過去看看是誰，回來時表情非常驚訝。他說，“獾先生!”

This was a wonderful thing indeed, for the Badger to come and visit them. He came into the room and stood looking at them, very seriously. The Rat dropped his egg-spoon, and sat open-mouthed.

獾來拜訪他們，的確是不可思議的事。他走進屋里，非常嚴肅地站著看著他們。水鼠坐在那兒張大著嘴巴，手中的湯匙掉在地上。

'The hour has come! 'said the Badger at last.

“時辰到了!”獾最后說。

'What hour?' asked the Rat worriedly, looking at the clock on the wall.

“什么時辰?”水鼠擔心地問，一邊看著墻上的鐘。

' Whose hour, you mean, 'replied the Badger. ' Why, Toad's hour! The hour of Toad! I said I would teach him a lesson when the summer came, and I'm going to begin today. '

“你是說，誰的時辰?”灌回答道。“哎，蛤蟆的時辰!癩蛤蟆的時辰!我說過夏天來了我要教訓教訓他，今天我就要著手干了。”

' Toad's hour, of course! 'cried the Mole. ' I remember now. We'll teach him to be a sensible Toad! '

“癩蛤蟆的時辰，當然!”鼴鼠叫道。“我現在想起來了，我們要把他教育成理智的癩蛤蟆!”

'I learnt last night, ' continued the Badger, ‘ that another new and very fast motor-car has just arrived at Toad Hall. You two must come with me immediately, and we will save Toad from this madness. '

“昨晚我聽說，”獾繼續(xù)著，“另一輛嶄新的、高速的汽車剛剛抵達蛤蟆宅第，你們倆必須馬上跟我走，我們得把癩蛤蟆從瘋狂中救醒過來。”

' Right! ' cried the Rat, jumping up. ' Let's go at once. '

“好!”水鼠叫道，然后跳起來說：“我們馬上走。”

When they reached Toad Hall, they saw the new motor-car in front of the house. It was long, shiny, and bright red-Toad's favourite colour. Then Toad himself came down the steps in an enormous overcoat, hat and driving goggles.

當他們到達蛤蟆宅第，他們看見這輛新車正停放在房子前。車身很長，锃亮耀眼，是蛤蟆最喜歡的艷紅色。只見癩蛤蟆他自己穿著特大外套，戴著帽子和護目鏡，正從臺階上走下來。

' Hello, you fellows! 'Toad called. 'Come for a drive. You're just in time to…to…'

“你們好，伙計們!”癩蛤蟆打著招呼，“你們來得正好，一起兜風去……”

He saw his friends' serious faces and stopped.

他看到朋友們都板著臉，便打住了。

The Badger walked up the steps. ' Come inside the house, Toad, 'he said. 'We have to talk to you. '

灌走上臺階，說：“進屋去，癩蛤蟆!我們得和你談談。”

The three of them took Toad inside and shut the door.

他們把癩蛤蟆帶進屋里，然后關上大門。

'Now, ' the Badger said to Toad, 'first of all, take off those silly driving-clothes. '

“現在，”獾對癩蛤蟆說，“首先，脫下你那可笑的駕車服。”

'No, I won't! ' replied Toad. ' What is the meaning of this? Explain yourself at once! '

“不，我決不!”癩蛤蟆答道，“這是什么意思?馬上給我解釋!”

'Take his things off, you two, ' ordered the Badger.

“脫下他那身玩意兒，你們倆，”獾命令道。

It wasn't easy to do. The Rat had to sit on Toad, while the Mole pulled off his overcoat, hat and goggles . And Toad called them some very unpleasant names while this was going on. But when he stood up again, he seemed more like himself, the Toad that they had always known.

這可不是件容易的事。水鼠不得不坐在癩蛤蟆身上壓住他以便鼴鼠脫下他的外衣，帽子和護目鏡。癩蛤蟆嘴里一直對他們罵罵咧咧的。但當他再次站起來時，他似乎更像他自己，更像大家所熟悉的癩蛤蟆了。

' You knew this would happen one day, Toad, ' explained the Badger. 'We've warned you so many times, and you haven' t listened. You're spending all your money, you're al-ways in trouble with the police, and you drive like a madman. You will come with me into the next room, and there you will hear some facts about yourself. And you will come out a different Toad. '

“你應該知道這件事總有一天會發(fā)生的，蛤蟆，”獾解釋說。“我們警告過你多次而你從來不聽。你正在花光你所有的錢財，又總是給警察找麻煩，因為你開車像瘋子。你跟我到另一個房間去，在那兒你會聽到你自己的一些荒唐事。你出來后將會變個樣。”

He took Toad into a room off the hall and closed the door. The Rat shook his head.' We won't save Toad by just talking to him, ' he said. 'He'll say anything— and then just go and do what he likes. '

他帶癩蛤蟆離開大廳走進一個房間關上了門。水鼠搖著頭，說：“僅僅跟他談談是救不了他的，他將會作一些許諾——然后又去干他喜歡干的事。”

After about an hour the door opened, and a very sad and sorry Toad came out, followed by the Badger.

大約過了一小時，門開了，一只很傷心、很愧疚的癩蛤蟆走了出來，獾跟在他的后面。

' My friends, ' said the Badger, looking pleased, ' I' am happy to tell you that Toad now realizes how silly he has been. He has promised never to get into a motor-car again. '

“朋友們，”獾看起來很開心，“我高興地告訴你們癩蛤蟆現在已認識到他曾經有多愚蠢。他已發(fā)誓再也不走進汽車。”

'That is very good news, ' said the Mole seriously.

“這倒是非常不錯的消息，”鼴鼠一本正經地說。

'Very good indeed, 'the Rat said, watching Toad's face carefully.

“的確不賴，”水鼠邊說邊審視著癩蛤蟆臉上的表情。

'Now, Toad, ' continued the Badger, 'I'd like you to repeat your promise in front of your friends. '

“好了，蛤蟆，”獾接著說，“我要你在你朋友面前重復你的諾言。”

There was a long, long silence.

接下來是一段長長的沉默。

' No! ' said Toad suddenly. ' No, I won't. I'm not sorry, and I haven't been silly at all. It was all wonderful! And I won't promise anything! '

“不!”癩蛤蟆突然說。“不，我不。我不感到愧疚，我一點兒也不愚蠢。那整個太精彩了!我才不發(fā)什么誓呢!”

'What?' cried the Badger. 'But in there you told me—'

“什么?”獾叫道。“但是在那兒你告訴我——”

'Yes, yes, I know, 'said Toad quickly. ' You argue so beautifully, dear Badger, and I can't stop myself agreeing with you. But I' ve been thinking about it. I love driving, I' m a wonderful driver, and I promise you I' ll go on driving for ever! Poop-poop! '

“是的，是的，我知道，”癩蛤蟆趕快說，“你說得那么至情至理，親愛的獾，我就忍不住答應你了。但是我一直在想這個問題。我喜歡開車，我是了不起的駕車手，我發(fā)誓我將繼續(xù)永遠開車!撲撲-撲撲!”

' I told you so, didn' t I? ' the Rat said to the Mole.

“我告訴過你吧，是不是?”水鼠對鼴鼠說。

' Very well, ' said the Badger . ' If you won' t listen to reason, we' ll have to try another way. We' re going to stay with you in your house until you become sensible. Take him upstairs, you two, and lock him in his bedroom, '

“很好，”獾說，“如果你不聽忠告，我們將不得不采取另一種方法。我們打算和你呆在你的屋里直到你清醒過來。帶他上樓去，你們倆，把他鎖在臥室里。”

So Toad, fighting and shouting, was pulled upstairs by his two friends.

癩蛤蟆又打又叫，但還是被他倆朋友拉上了樓。

' It' s for your own good, Toady, you know, ' said the Rat kindly. ' We' ll all have good times together again soon, when this—this madness has passed. '

“這是為你好，蛤蟆兄，你知道，”水鼠和善地說。“當這種——這種瘋狂過去時，我們又可以一起享受美好時光了。”

' We' ll take good care of you, Toad, ' added the Mole. ' No more trouble with the police. No more crashes, and weeks in hospital, '

“我們會好好照顧你的，蛤蟆，”鼴鼠接著說。“你不再會給警察找麻煩，不會再撞車，不再會幾星期呆在醫(yī)院了。”

Then began a very tiring few weeks for the three friends. Day and night they guarded Toad , and one of them was always with him. They talked to him and tried to amuse him, hoping that he would forget his motor-car madness.

接下來三個朋友開始了幾星期的辛苦行動。他們日夜看管著癩蛤蟆，并且總有一個人和他在一起。他們和他聊天，想方設法逗他開心，希望他會忘記他那駕車狂熱。

But Toad did not seem to get better. He often put the bed-room chairs together to look like a motor-car. Then he sat in the front one and pretended to drive, making terrible engine noises all the time. His friends tried to interest him in other things, but Toad just became sad and silent.

但是癩蛤蟆似乎并沒有變好。他時常把臥室里的椅子擺成汽車狀，然后他坐在前面的椅子上假裝開車，還不停地發(fā)出刺耳的引擎聲。當他的朋友試著用別的事情以引起他的興趣時，他卻只是在那兒一言不發(fā)，顯得很傷感。

One day the Rat was the guard for the morning. He went upstairs and found Toad still in bed, ' How are you today, old fellow?' he asked brightly.

一天早上，輪到水鼠看管癩蛤螅他走上樓看見癩蛤蟆仍躺在床上，便輕快地問：“今天怎么樣，老伙計?”

A sad whisper came from me bed, ' Thank you so much, dear Ratty! But how are you, and the excellent Mole, and dear old Badger?'

從床上傳來傷感的低低的回答聲：“非常感謝你，親愛的阿鼠!不過你怎么樣，還有極好的鼴鼠和親愛的老獾?”

' Fine, fine, ' replied the Rat. ' Badger and Mole, ' he added, perhaps not very sensibly, ' have gone out for a run round. They' ll be out until lunch-time, so you and I will spend a pleasant morning together. '

“好，都好，”水鼠答道。“獾和鼴鼠，”他也許不很明智地又補充說，“已出去跑步了，他們要到中飯時間才回來，所以就你和我將一起度過這個愉快的早上。”

' I don' t want you to trouble yourself about me, ' Toad said, in a sad little voice. ' I was wondering if you would go down to the village and fetch the doctor. But no, it' s not important. It' s probably too late by now. '

“我不想因為我而麻煩你，”蛤蟆傷心地低聲說。“我想你能否下樓去村里找位醫(yī)生。不過算了，這已不重要了。很可能現在已經太遲了。”

' Are you feeling ill, Toad? What’s the matter? '

“你病啦，癩蛤蟆?怎么啦?”

' I don't know… I think my heart… But you mustn' t be sad, Ratty. Dear, kind friend… I have enjoyed knowing you so much… hate to say goodbye…' Toad' s whisper became slower and slower, and then stopped.

“我不知道……我想我的心……不過你不必傷心，阿鼠。親愛的，善良的朋友……我真高興跟你這么熟……真不愿對你說再見……”蛤蟆低低的聲音越來越慢，然后停了。

The Rat felt very worried. Toad lay so still and quiet—perhaps he really was ill. The Rat wished that the other two were not so far away. What should he do? He looked again at the still and silent Toad, and decided that he must get th doctor at once. He hurried out, carefully locking the door behind him, and ran off to the village as fast as he could.

水鼠非常擔心，癩蛤蟆躺在那兒安安靜靜的，一動不動——也許他真的病了。水鼠希望他們倆沒跑得太遠，他該怎么辦?他又看了一眼安靜沉默的癩蛤蟆，決定馬上去叫醫(yī)生。他急忙出去小心地鎖上了門，然后盡可能快地向村子跑去。

When Toad heard the front door bang, he jumped out of bed, laughing loudly. He quickly put on his best suit and filled his pockets with money. Then he took the sheets off the bed, tied them together, and in minutes he had climbed down from the bedroom window and was running across the garden to-wards the fields.

當癩蛤蟆聽到大廳前門砰地一響，他馬上從床上跳下來，大聲地笑起來。他快速地穿上最好的外套并往口袋里塞滿了鈔票，然后他從床上扯過床單，把它們系在一起。幾分鐘后，他已從臥室的窗戶爬了下來，穿過花園向野外跑去。

A few hours later he was a long way from home. As he walked happily along the road, he felt very pleased with him-self. ' A clever piece of work, that was! he boasted to the trees and the fields. ' Poor old Ratty! A good fellow, but not very intelligent. Badger will be so angry with him! '

幾小時以后，他已離家很遠了。他高興地走在公路上，對自己的行為非常滿意。“那真是聰明之舉!”他對著樹木和田野自吹道。“可憐的老阿鼠!一個好人，但不太聰明。獾肯定要對他發(fā)火的!”

Soon he came to a small town and decided to have lunch in the pub there. He was very hungry after his long walk. Halfway through his meal, he heard a sound that he knew very well indeed. Poop-poop! The car stopped outside and the people in it came into the pub to have lunch.

不久他來到了一座小鎮(zhèn)，便決定在那兒的酒館用午餐。走了那么長的路，他已經非常餓了。吃到半截，他聽到了他實在是非常熟悉的聲音。撲撲-撲撲!汽車停在了外面，車上的人下來走進酒館來用餐。

Shaking with excitement, Toad paid his bill and hurried out. He walked slowly round the car, looking at it lovingly. Every-body was having lunch and the street was empty.

癩蛤蟆興奮得渾身發(fā)抖，他付完賬沖了出去。他跑到汽車跟前繞著它來回走，用愛撫的目光盯著它。每個人都在吃午飯，街道里空無一人。

' I wonder, ' Toad said to himself, ' I wonder if this kind of car starts easily?'

“我想知道，”癩蛤蟆自言自語，“我想知道這種汽車是不是容易發(fā)動?”

It started very easily, and Toad found himself in the driver' s seat. He did not know how it happened, but a minute later he was driving out of the town, forgetting right and wrong, for-getting everything except this wonderful, beautiful madness.

很容易就啟動了，癩蛤蟆發(fā)現他坐在了駕駛室。他不知道是怎么發(fā)生的，反正一分鐘之后，他已駛出了小鎮(zhèn)，除了這美妙迷人的瘋狂，他忘記了對與錯，忘記了一切。

Faster and faster he drove, singing and laughing, as the car ate up the miles. Once again he knew that he was Toad-Toad the dreamer, Toad the adventurer, Toad the terror of the open road!

當汽車駛出數英里時，他不斷地加大馬力，唱著，笑著，把汽車開得越來越快。他再一次認識到他是蛤蟆——集夢想家，冒險家，還有公路上的恐怖分子于一身的癩蛤蟆!

' You are a dangerous criminal, ' said the Judge. ' You stole a valuable motor-car, and you drove like a madman. It' s surprising that you didn' t kill somebody. And finally, you were very rude indeed to the police when they arrested you. Because of all this, I am sending you to prison for twenty years. Guards! Take the prisoner away! '

“你是一個危險的犯人，”法官說，“你偷了昂貴的汽車，還像瘋子似的駕車。真奇怪你居然沒有撞倒人。最后當警察逮捕你時，你還對他們非常粗魯?；诖耍遗心闳氇z二十年。衛(wèi)士!把犯人帶下去!”

And so, shouting and crying, Toad was taken away. He was taken to an old dark castle, pushed into the smallest and darkest room below the ground, and the door was locked behind him.

癩蛤蟆叫嚷著哭喊著，被帶到一座破舊黑暗的城堡，推進了一間地下最小最黑的房子里，然后門在他身后鎖上了。