Chapter11 Wendy's Story温迪的故事-双语名著无障碍阅读丛书——《彼得潘Peter Pan》

Chapter 11 Wendy's Story "Listen then,"said Wendy,settling down to her story,with Michael at her feet and seven boys in the bed."There was once a gentleman-" "I had rather he had been a lady,"Curly said. "I wish he had been a white rat,"said Nibs. "Quiet,"their mother admonished them."There was a lady also,and-" "O mummy,"cried the first twin,"you mean that there is a lady also,don't you?She is not dead,is she?" “Ohno.” "I am awfully glad she isn't dead,"said Tootles."Are you glad,John?" “Of course I am.” “Are you glad,Nibs?” Rather..” “Are you glad,Twins? “We are just glad.” “Oh dear,”sighed Wendy. "Little less noise there,"Peter called out,determined that she should have fair play②，however beastly③a story it might be in his opinion "The gentleman's name,"Wendy continued,"was Mr Darling,and her name was Mrs Darling.” "I knew them,"John said,to annoy the others. ·176· 第十一章温迪的故事 “好了，听我讲，”温迪说，她准备开始讲故事 了，迈克尔躺在她的脚边，七个男孩子躺在自己的床 上，“从前有一位先生—” “我更希望是位太太。”卷毛儿打岔说。 “我更希望是只小白鼠。”尼布斯说。 ①admonish[ad'moni讥k责 “安静，”他们的母亲轻轻地责备他们说，“从前 还有一位太太，而且一” “哦，妈妈，”双胞胎中的老大说，“你是说也有 一位太太，是吗？她没有死，是吗？” “哦，是的。” “她没有死，我真是太开心了，”图图说，“你高 兴吗，约翰？” “我当然也很高兴。” “你高兴吗，尼布斯？” “很高兴。” “你高兴吗，双胞胎？” “我们也很高兴。” ②fair play公平比赛 “哦，天啊！”温迪叹了口气。 ③beastly[bi:stli]a.使人不 “不要吵！”彼得喊道。不管他多么讨厌这个故 愉快的 事，他还是决定让温迪好好儿把故事讲完。 “这位先生的名字，”温迪接着讲，“叫作达林先 生，这位女士的名字叫作达林夫人。” “我认识他们。”约翰插话说，这让其他男孩很 烦。 ·177· Chapter 11 Wendy's Story "I think I knew them,"said Michael rather doubtfully. “They were married,you know,”explained Wendy,“and what do you think they had?” “White rats,,”cried Nibs,inspired. 4No.” "It's awfully puzzling,"said Tootles,who knew the story by heart. "Quiet,Tootles.They had three descendants" "What is descendants?" “Wel,you are one,Twin.” “Do you hear that,John?I am a descendant.” “Descendants are only children,”said John. "Oh dear,oh dear,"sighed Wendy."Now these three children had a faithful nurse called Nana;but Mr Darling was angry with her and chained her up in the yard;and so all the children flew away." “Tt's an awfully good story,”said Nibs. “They flew away,”Wendy continued,.“to the Neverland,.where the lost children are." "I just thought they did,"Curly broke in excitedly."I don't know how it is, but I just thought they did." "O Wendy,"cried Tootles,"was one of the lost children called Tootles?" “Yes,he was.” "I am in a story.Hurrah,I am in a story,Nibs" "Hush.Now I want you to consider the feelings of the unhappy parents with all their children flown away." "Oo!"they all moaned,though they were not really considering the feelings of the unhappy parents one jot "Think of the empty beds!" “O0! "It's awfully sad,"the first twin said cheerfully. "I don't see how it can have a happy ending,"said the second twin."Do you,Nibs?" “T'm frightfully anxious..” "If you knew how great is a mother's love,"Wendy told them triumphantly, ·178· 第十一章 温地的故事 “我想我也认识他们。”迈克尔犹犹豫豫地说。 “他们结婚了，你们俩知道吧，”温迪继续讲着， “然后，他们就有了什么？” “小白鼠！”尼布斯机灵地大声喊道。 ①inspired[in'spaiod]a.有 创造力的 “不对。” “真不好猜。”图图说，其实他都把这个故事背下 来了。 @descendant [di'sendant]n. “安静点，图图。他们有三个后代。” 后代 “什么是后代？” “你就是一个后代。” “你听到了吗，约翰？我是一个后代。” “后代就是孩子。”约翰说。 “哦，天啊，别吵，”温迪叹着气说，“这三个孩 子有位忠心耿耿的保姆叫娜娜，但是达林先生不喜欢娜 娜，把她拴在院子里了，结果所有的孩子都飞走了。” “这故事太精彩了。”尼布斯说。 “他们飞走了，”温迪继续讲，“飞到了永无岛， 走失的孩子们生活在那里。” “我就觉得他们生活在那里，”卷毛儿激动地打断 了温迪，“不知怎的，我就是觉得他们在那里。” “哦，温迪，”图图说，“走失的男孩中，是不是 有一个叫作图图的？” “是的。” “我在故事里出现啦！哈哈，尼布斯，我在故事里 ③hush [hA门ii.嘘 出现啦！” “安静。现在我让你们想想，孩子们飞走后，那对 悲伤的父母是怎样的感受。” ④jot[d3ot)n.-点儿 “哦！”孩子们全都发出哀叹。尽管他们实际上一 点都不关心那对悲伤的父母的感受。 “再想想没有孩子的空荡荡的床。” “哦！” “真是太悲惨了。”双胞胎中的老大开心地说道。 “我觉得这个故事不会有好的结局，你觉得呢，尼 布斯？”双胞胎中的老二说。 “我特别担心。” “如果你知道母爱的力量有多伟大的话，”温迪自 ·179· Chapter 11 Wendy's Story "you would have no fear."She had now come to the part that Peter hated. "I do like a mother's love,"said Tootles,hitting Nibs with a pillow."Do you like a mother's love,Nibs?" “I do just,,”said Nibs,hitting back. "You see,"Wendy said complacently,"our heroine knew that the mother would always leave the window open for her children to fly back by;so they stayed away for years and had a lovely time." "Did they ever go back?" “Let us now,”said Wendy,bracing②herself for her finest effort,.“take a peep into the future",and they all gave themselves the twist that makes peeps into the future easier."Years have rolled by;and who is this elegant lady of uncertain age alighting at London Station?" "O Wendy,who is she?"cried Nibs,every bit as excited as if he didn't know. “Can it be-yes一no一itis-the fair Wendy!' “Oh” "And who are the two noble portly figures accompanying her,now grown to man's estate?Can they be John and Michael?They are!" “Oh!” "See,dear brothers,"says Wendy,pointing upwards,"there is the window still standing open.Ah,now we are rewarded for our sublime faith in a mother's love.'So up they flew to their mummy and daddy;and pen cannot describe the happy scene,over which we draw a veil" That was the story,and they were as pleased with it as the fair narrator herself.Everything just as it should be,you see.Off we skip like the most heartless things in the world,which is what children are,but so attractive; and we have an entirely selfish time;and then when we have need of special attention we nobly return for it,confident that we shall be embraced instead of smacked⑦. So great indeed was their faith in a mother's love that they felt they could ·180· 第十一章 温地的故事 信地告诉他们，“你们就什么都不怕了。”接着，她要 讲彼得最讨厌的情节了。 “我喜欢母爱，”图图边说边拿枕头砸了尼布斯一 下，“你喜欢母爱吗，尼布斯？” “我也喜欢。”尼布斯一边回答，一边把枕头砸了 ①heroine[herauin]n.女主 角 回去。 “你们瞧，”温迪得意地说，“故事的女主角知道 母亲会永远敞开窗户等待她的孩子们飞回来，所以才敢 离开好几年，在外面玩得开心。” ②brace[breis]k打起精神 “那他们回去过吗？” “现在，”温迪打起精神，鼓起勇气说，“让我们 想想将来的事吧。”于是，孩子们一起扭了扭身体，就 ③alight[lait)k下车 好像这样能更容易看到将来。“许多年过去了，一位不 知芳龄几何的举止优雅小姐在伦敦火车站下了车，她是 谁呢？” “哦，温迪，她是谁？”尼布斯喊道，他非常兴 奋，就像他从来没听过这个故事一样。 “会不会是—哦，不会吧—或许真是—美丽 ④portly[p:tli]a.仪表堂 堂的 的温迪！” “啊！” “陪伴在她身边的那两位风度翻翩的男士是谁呢？ 是约翰和迈克尔吗？的确是他们！” ⑤sublime[so'blaim]a崇高 “啊！” 的 “瞧，亲爱的弟弟们，”温迪说着，手指着上面， ⑥draw a veil over避而不谈 “那扇窗户还开着呢，这是我们一直坚信母爱得到的回 报。”随后，他们飞起来了，飞到了父母的身边。一家 人团圆的欢乐景象不是文字所能表达的，所以就不再细 说了。 故事就这样结束了，听故事的人和讲故事的人都觉 得很高兴。你看，故事中的一切都很合情合理，是吧？ 我们经常会像没心没肺的东西一孩子们一样不辞而 ⑦smack[smek]k打 别，但我们还是那么可爱；我们说离开就离开，自私自 利地玩个痛快；当需要特别的照料时，我们又会回来， 并且理直气壮地认为我们不仅不会受到惩罚，还会得到 拥抱。 他们对母亲的爱深信不疑，觉得在外面逗留时间再 ·181· Chapter 11 Wendy's Story afford to be callous for a bit longer. But there was one there who knew better;and when Wendy finished he uttered a hollow groan. "What is it,Peter?"she cried,running to him,thinking he was ill.She felt him solicitously②，lower down than his chest..“Where is it,Peter? "It isn't that kind of pain,"Peter replied darkly. “Then what kind is it? “Wendy,,you are wrong about mothers.” They all gathered round him in affright,so alarming was his agitation; and with a fine candour he told them what he had hitherto concealed. "Long ago,"he said,"I thought like you that my mother would always keep the window open for me;so I stayed away for moons and moons and moons, and then flew back;but the window was barred,for mother had forgotten all about me,and there was another little boy sleeping in my bed." I am not sure that this was true,but Peter thought it was true;and it scared them. "Are you sure mothers are like that?" “Yes.” So this was the truth about mothers.The toads! Still it is best to be careful;and no one knows so quickly as a child when he should give in."Wendy,let us go home,"cried John and Michael together. “Yes,”she said,clutching them. "Not tonight?"asked the lost boys,bewildered.They knew in what they called their hearts that one can get on quite well without a mother,and that it is only the mothers who think you can't. "At once,"Wendy replied resolutely,for the horrible thought had come to her,“Perhaps mother is in half mourning⑦by this time.” This dread made her forgetful of what must be Peter's feelings,and she said to him rather sharply,“Peter,,will you make the necessary arrangements⑧？” "If you wish it,"he replied,as coolly as if she had asked him to pass the ·182· 第十一章 温地的故事 ①callous[kaelos]a.铁石心 长一点儿也没有关系。 肠的 可是，有个人比他们更清楚这些。等温迪讲完故事 之后，他发出一声低沉的叹息。 “怎么了，彼得？”温迪赶忙跑到彼得身边，以为 他生病了。她关切地抚摸着彼得，手放在他的胸口问， solicitously [sa'lisitasli] ad关切地 “你哪儿疼，彼得？” “不是你想的那种疼。”彼得面色沉重地说。 “那是哪种疼？” ③agitation[,edi'teifn]n.不 “温迪，你对母亲的看法是错的。” 彼得的表现如此激动，把孩子们吓坏了，他们惶恐 ④candour[knde]n.坦率 地围聚在彼得的周围。随后，彼得坦诚地说出了一直藏 ⑤hitherto[hio3'tu】ad.到 在心里的话。 目前为止 “很久以前，”他说，“我跟你一样，以为我的母 亲会永远为我留一扇窗。于是，我四处玩耍，玩儿了一 个月又一个月，然后才飞回去。可是当我回到家时，窗 户已经上了锁，我的床上睡着另外一个小男孩，因为母 亲已经把我忘得一干二净。” 我不知道这是不是真的，但是彼得认为这是真的。 他的话把在场的人都吓坏了。 “你肯定母亲们是这样的？” ⑥toad[taud]n.讨厌的家伙 “是的。” 这么说，母亲们原来是这个样子的！真是太可恶 了 还是小心为好。没有人比孩子们更清楚什么时候 该放弃。约翰和迈克尔一起大声说：“温迪，我们回家 吧！” “好吧。”温迪说着将他们两个搂楼到怀里。 “我们不会今晚就走吧！”迷失的孩子们迷惑地 问。他们心里明白，就算没有母亲他们也能过得很好。 ⑦mourning['mpni]n.哀 悼 只有母亲们才会认为，没有她们的照料，孩子们就无法 arrangement ['reind3mant] 生存。 n.预备 “现在就走。”温迪果断地说。因为她的脑海中掠 过一个可怕念头：“母亲可能已经要为他们哀悼了。” 这种可怕的想法让她忘记考虑彼得的感受。她断然 地冲彼得说：“彼得，你能为我们收拾行装吗？” “如果你希望的话。”彼得冷冷地回答，就好像温 ·183· Chapter 11 Wendy's Story nuts. No so much as a sorry-to-lose-you between them!If she did not mind the parting,he was going to show her,was Peter,that neither did he. But of course he cared very much;and he was so full of wrath against grown-ups,who,as usual,were spoiling everything,that as soon as he got inside his tree he breathed intentionally quick short breaths at the rate of about five to a second.He did this because there is a saying in the Neverland that every time you breathe,a grown-up dies;and Peter was killing them off vindictively as fast as possible. Then having given the necessary instructions to the redskins he returned to the home,where an unworthy scene had been enacted in his absence.Panic- stricken at the thought of losing Wendy the lost boys had advanced upon her threateningly. "It will be worse than before she came,"they cried. We shan't let her go..” "Let's keep her prisoner." “Ay,chain her up.” In her extremity an instinct told her to which of them to turn. Tootles,,”she cried,"I appeal to you.” Was it not strange?she appealed to Tootles,quite the silliest one. Grandly,however,did Tootles respond.For that one moment he dropped his silliness and spoke with dignity. "I am just Tootles,"he said,"and nobody minds me.But the first who does not behave to Wendy like an English gentleman I will blood him severely." He drew his hanger;and for that instant his sun was at noon.The others held back uneasily.Then Peter returned,and they saw at once that they would get no support from him.He would keep no girl in the Neverland against her will. “Wendy,”he said,striding⑦up and down,.“I have asked the redskins to guide you through the wood,as flying tires you so." “Thank you,Peter.” "Then,"he continued,in the short sharp voice of one accustomed to be obeyed,"Tinker Bell will take you across the sea.Wake her,Nibs." ·184· 第十一章 温地的故事 迪只是让他递给她一些坚果一样。 他们之间连告别的话都没有！既然温迪不在乎离 别，那么彼得也要让温迪看到，他也不在乎。 其实，彼得非常在乎。他对成年人非常反感，无 ①wrath[ro0]n愤怒 比愤怒，认为成年人总是把一切搞糟。因此，每当他钻 树洞的时候，他都拼命急促地呼吸，几乎每秒钟呼吸五 次。他这么做是因为永无岛上有个说法，每呼吸一次， 就有一个成年人死去。所以，彼得要用这种方法进行报 复，希望他们死得越多越好。 给印第安人做了必要的指示后，彼得再次回到地下 的家中。但他不在的时候，家里发生了可恶的事情。走 ②enact[nkg使…发 失的孩子害怕失去温迪，竞然威胁她。 生 “一切都会变得比她来之前更糟糕。”他们嚷道。 “我们不能让她走。” “我们把她关起来。” “对，把她绑起来。” 在困境之中，温迪的直觉告诉她该向谁求助。 “图图，”温迪说，“我需要你的帮助。” 真是奇怪，她竟然向图图求助，他可是男孩中最笨 ③extremity[ik'stremati]峋n. 的一个啊。 极窘迫的境地 ④instinct['instinct]n.本能 然而，图图这次干得漂亮极了，就在那一刻，他把 自己的愚蠢抛开，用不容侵犯的口吻说：“我是图图， 没有人在意过我。但是，谁要是对待温迪没有点儿英国 绅士的样子，我就要让他见见血。” 说着，他拔出了自己的刀。这一刻，他简直英勇无 ⑤blood[blAd]v.使…出 比，其他男孩胆怯地退后了。彼得回来后，孩子们立刻 血 看出来彼得不会帮他们。他不会把一个女孩子强留在永 ⑥hanger[hxga]n.挂钩， 这里指刀 无岛。 “温迪，”彼得一边说，一边在房间里走来走去， “我已经吩附印第安人将你们护送出森林，因为，长途 飞行会很累。” ⑦stride[staid]v.大踏步走 “谢谢你，彼得。” “还有，”彼得用平日发号施令的口吻接着说， “叮叮铃会带你们飞过大海。尼布斯，去把叮叮铃叫 B accustomed [o'kAstomd]a. 醒。” 习惯的 ·185·