Chapter4 Mr Badger猫先生-双语名著无障碍阅读丛书——《柳林风声The Wind in the Willows》

Chapter Four Mr Badger They waited patiently for what seemed a very long time,stamping in the snow to keep their feet warm.At last they heard the sound of slow shuffling footsteps approaching the door from the inside.It seemed,as the Mole remarked to the Rat, like someone walking in carpet slippers that were too large for him and down- at-heel which was intelligent of Mole,because that was exactly what it was. There was the noise of a bolt shot back,and the door opened a few inches, enough to show a long snout and a pair of sleepy blinking eyes. 'Now,the very next time this happens,'said a gruff and suspicious voice, 'I shall be exceedingly angry.Who is it this time,disturbing people on such a night?Speak up!' 'Oh,Badger,'cried the Rat,'let us in,please.It's me,Rat,and my friend Mole,and we've lost our way in the snow.' 'What,Ratty,my dear little man!'exclaimed the Badger,in quite a different voice.'Come along in,both of you,at once.Why,you must be perished.Well I never!Lost in the snow!And in the Wild Wood,too,and at this time of night! But come in with you.' The two animals tumbled over each other in their eagerness to get inside,and heard the door shut behind them with great joy and relief. The Badger,who wore a long dressing-gown,and whose slippers were ·078 第四章 獾先生 他们俩在门外耐心地等待着，在雪地里跺着脚想让 自己暖和一点，好像过了很久很久，他们终于听到里面 有人慢吞吞地拖着脚朝门口走来。鼹鼠对河鼠说，这脚 步声听起来像穿着一双又大又邋遢的拖鞋走在地毯上一 ①down-at-heel [.daunat'hi:l]a.槛楼的， 样。鼹鼠这下倒是挺聪明，事实的确就是如此。 邋谒的，又破又脏的 只听门栓向后一拉，门开了一条缝，从里面伸出一 个长长的鼻子和一双睡眼朦胧眨巴着的眼睛。 “听着，下次要是再这样，”一个生硬而多疑的声 ②gruff[qraf门a.(声音) 低沉沙哑的，粗哑的 音说道，“我会非常生气的。这次又是谁半夜三更来打 扰我？说话！” “噢，老獾。”河鼠叫道，“请让我们进来吧。是我， 河鼠，还有我的朋友鼹鼠。我们在雪地里迷路了。” “什么，河鼠兄弟，我亲爱的老朋友！”獾惊呼道， 完全换了种语气，“来，快进来你们俩。哎呀你们肯定 冻坏了吧。我真没想到！在雪地里迷路！还是在原始森 林里，都这个点了，快进来吧！” 两个动物兴奋得跌跌撞撞地挤进门来，听到身后门 砰的一下关上，大大松了口气。 獾穿着一件长长的睡衣，脚上的那双拖鞋的确通里 ·079· Chapter Four Mr Badger indeed very down-at-heel,carried a flat candlestick in his paw and had probably been on his way to bed when their summons sounded.He looked kindly down on them and patted both their heads.'This is not the sort of night for small animals to be out,'he said paternally.'I'm afraid you've been up to some of your pranks again,Ratty.But come along;come into the kitchen.There's a first-rate fire there,and supper and everything.' He shuffled on in front of them,carrying the light,and they followed him, nudging each other in an anticipating sort of way,down a long,gloomy and, to tell the truth,decidedly shabby passage,into a sort of a central hall,out of which they could dimly see other long tunnel-like passages branching,passages mysterious and without apparent end.But there were doors in the hall as well-stout oaken comfortable looking doors.One of these the Badger flung open,and at once they found themselves in all the glow and warmth of a large firelit kitchen. The floor was well-worn red brick,and on the wide hearth burnt a fire of logs, between two attractive chimney-corners tucked away in the wall,well out of any suspicion of draught.A couple of high-backed settles,facing each other on either side of the fire,gave further sitting accommodation for the sociably disposed.In the middle of the room stood a long table of plain boards placed on trestles, with benches down each side At one end of it,where an armchair stood pushed back,were spread the remains of the Badger's plain but ample supper.Rows of spotless plates winked from the shelves of the dresser at the far end of the room, and from the rafters overhead hung hams,bundles of dried herbs,nets of onions and baskets of eggs.It seemed a place where heroes could fitly feast after victory, where weary harvesters could line up in scores along the table and keep their Harvest Home with mirth and song,or where two or three friends of simple tastes could sit about as they pleased and eat and smoke and talk in comfort and contentment.The ruddy brick floor smiled up at the smoky ceiling;the oaken settles,shiny with long wear,exchanged cheerful glances with each other;plates on the dresser grinned at pots on the shelf,and the merry firelight flickered and ·080· 第四章灌先生 邋遢的，他爪子里举着一个扁平的烛台，看样子他们敲 门的时候，他可能正要去房间睡觉。他俯下身和蔼地拍 了拍他们的头：“今晚可不是小动物该出来转悠的时候。” paternally [pa'ta:nli]ad. 他慈父般说道，“恐怕你们又在玩什么恶作剧吧，河鼠 父亲一般地 ②prank[praenk]n.胡闹， 兄弟。过来吧，到厨房里来。这里有最暖和的炉火，最 恶作剧，开玩笑 棒的晚餐，什么都有。” 獾引着亮光，慢吞吞地走在他们前面，他们俩满怀 期待地互相杵了杵，跟着獾往下走过一条漫长而又阴暗 ③nudge [nAd3】(用肘) 轻推，轻撞 的过道，说实话那过道着实简陋，然后来到一个中心厅 室，从那儿隐隐约约能看到其他许多隧道像树枝一样向 四面八方分岔开去，一眼看不到尽头。不过厅室里也有 不少结实的橡木门，看上去很赏心悦目。獾打开其中一 扇门，他们便立刻置身于一间点着燃燃炉火的温暖而明 亮的厨房里。 房间地板上铺的是陈旧的红砖，宽大的壁炉里燃 着一大堆木桩，两个漂亮的壁炉角藏在墙壁中，风一 点儿都灌不进来。几把高背长靠椅对着壁炉放着，让 客人坐得愈发舒服。房间中央放着一张朴实的长桌， 就是支架上盖了几块木板，桌子两旁放着几把长条凳。 在长桌一端，有一把向后推开的扶手椅，桌上散落着 ④trestle['tresal]n.支架， 脚手台架，搁凳 獾吃剩的晚餐，虽然是家常便饭，但也丰盛得很。房 ⑤ample「empl]a.丰富 的，富足的 间一端的碗柜架子里，放着整排整排洗得光洁无瑕的 ⑥herb[hzbn.(用作药 品、食品、香料等的) 盘子：在他们头顶的屋椽上挂着许多火腿，成捆的干草 芳草、香草，药草 药、一网网洋葱和一篮篮鸡蛋。这里倒像个为英雄摆 设庆功宴的地方，又像是一个能让一群疲惫的收割者 围坐在桌旁，用他们的欢声笑语保护这个丰收之家的 地方，还像是一个脾性相投的朋友们开心地坐在一起， 惬意满足地吃着饭，抽着烟，聊着天的地方。红砖地 ⑦mirth[maan.高兴，欢 板对着烟气熏染的天花板咧开嘴笑：那几把磨得光洁发 乐 亮的橡木高背长靠椅相视而笑：碗柜里的盘子对着架子 ⑧ruddy[rAdi]a.发红的， 微红的，浅红色的 上的锅抿嘴笑着：欢乐的炉火跳跃着漫无目的地和周围 ⑨licker[nik闪烁，摇 曳，颤动 的一切玩耍着。 ·081· Chapter Four Mr Badger played over everything without distinction. The kindly Badger thrust them down on a settle to toast themselves at the fire,and bade them remove their wet coats and boots.Then he fetched them dressing-gowns and slippers and himself bathed the Mole's shin with warm water and mended the cut with sticking-plaster till the whole thing was just as good as new,if not better.In the embracing light and warmth,warm and dry at last,with weary legs propped up in front of them,and a suggestive clink of plates being arranged on the table behind,it seemed to the storm-driven animals,now in safe anchorage,that the cold and trackless Wild Wood just left outside was miles and miles away,and all that they had suffered in it a half-forgotten dream. When at last they were thoroughly toasted,the Badger summoned them to the table,where he had been busy laying a repast.They had felt pretty hungry before,but when they actually saw at last the supper that was spread for them, really it seemed only a question of what they should attack first where all was so attractive,and whether the other things would obligingly wait for them till they had time to give them attention.Conversation was impossible for a long time;and when it was slowly resumed,it was that regrettable sort of conversation that results from talking with your mouth full.The Badger did not mind that sort of thing at all,nor did he take any notice of elbows on the table,or everybody speaking at once.As he did not go into Society himself,he had got an idea that these things belonged to the things that didn't really matter.(We know of course that he was wrong,and took too narrow a view;because they do matter very much,though it would take too long to explain why.)He sat in his armchair at the head of the table,and nodded gravely at intervals as the animals told their story; and he did not seem surprised or shocked at anything,and he never said,'I told you so,'or,'Just what I always said,'or remarked that they ought to have done so-and-so,or ought not to have done something else.The Mole began to feel very friendly towards him. When supper was really finished at last,and each animal felt that his skin was now as tight as was decently safe,and that by this time he didn't care a ·082· 第四章 獾先生 好心的獾把他们安置在一把高背长靠椅上，让他们 烤烤火，示意他们把湿哒哒的外套和靴子脱下来，接着 拿来了睡衣和拖鞋，用温水把鼹鼠的小腿洗干净，在伤 口上抹上药膏，一会儿，鼹鼠就跟没事人儿一样了。这 会儿坐在明亮温暖的房间里，他们俩身上暖和又干爽， 把两条疲倦的双腿直挺挺地伸在面前，听着身后桌子上 传来摆设碗筷的叮当声。这两个被暴风雪肆虐了一晚上 的小动物现在终于躲进了安全的港湾，之前那个冰冷又 D anchorage ['ankarid3]n. (希望、感情、安全等 无路可走的原始森林离他们很远很远，而他们所遭受的 的)寄托，精神支柱，可 一切像是个已经忘了一半的噩梦。 靠归宿 而獾一直在后面忙碌地给他们准备着晚餐。准备妥 当后，獾看他们己经烘干了，就招呼他们坐到桌边来。 ②repast[ri'par:st]n.餐，宴， 他们俩之前早己饥肠辘辘，但是真看到这满桌可口的饭 饮食 菜时，却不知道到底应该从哪一盘下手—每盘菜看起 来都美味极了，要是先吃这道菜，那道菜会不会在一旁 3 obligingly [a'blaid3inli] 耐心地等待着呢。他们埋头吃了很久后，谈话才慢慢开 ad亲切地 始继续，但他们满嘴都是食物，说话都说不清楚，一般 人会觉得他们没有礼貌，可獾倒是一点都不介意，他也 没注意到他们把手肘放到了桌面上，或者两个人抢着说 话。他自己从不社交，因此觉得这些规矩从来不值得一 提。（当然，我们知道他的这种观念是不对的，太狭隘 了。这些礼仪还是非常重要的，只不过三言两语解释不 清楚。)他坐在长桌一端的扶手椅上，听着他俩讲述着 自己的遭遇，不时严肃地点点头：不管听到什么，他都 不会大惊小怪，也没说一句“我早就告诉过你啦”或者 “我总是这么说的”这样的话，也不会倚老卖老地评论 他们应该做什么什么，不应该做什么什么。于是鼹鼠对 他更有好感了。 晚餐终于结束了，河鼠和鼹鼠肚子吃得圆鼓鼓的， 一点儿都不想理会什么事或什么人，推开椅子围聚在熊 1在传统英国的餐桌礼仪中，将手肘放在餐桌上是没有礼貌的一种 行为。 ·083· Chapter Four Mr Badger hang for anybody or anything,they gathered round the glowing embers of the great wood fire,and thought how jolly it was to be sitting up so late,and so independent,and so full;and after they had chatted for a time about things in general,the Badger said heartily,'Now then!tell us the news from your part of the world.How's old Toad going on?' 'Oh,from bad to worse,'said the Rat gravely,while the Mole,cocked up on a settle and basking in the firelight,his heels higher than his head,tried to look properly mournful.'Another smash-up only last week,and a bad one.You see,he will insist on driving himself,and he's hopelessly incapable.If he'd only employ a decent,steady,well-trained animal,pay him good wages,and leave everything to him,he'd get on all right.But no;he's convinced he's a heaven-born driver, and nobody can teach him anything;and all the rest follows.' 'How many has he had?'enquired the Badger gloomily. 'Smashes,or machines?'asked the Rat.'Oh,well,after all,it's the same thing-with Toad.This is the seventh.As for the others-you know that coach- house of his?Well,it's piled up-literally piled up to the roof-with fragments of motor cars,none of them bigger than your hat!That accounts for the other six-so far as they can be accounted for.' 'He's been in hospital three times,'put in the Mole;'and as for the fines he's had to pay,it's simply awful to think of.' 'Yes,and that's part of the trouble,'continued the Rat.'Toad's rich,we all know;but he's not a millionaire.And he's a hopelessly bad driver,and quite regardless of law and order.Killed or ruined-it's got to be one of the two things, sooner or later.Badger!We're his friends-oughtn't we to do something?' The Badger went through a bit of hard thinking.'Now look here!'he said at last,rather severely;'of course you know I can't do anything now?' His two friends assented,quite understanding his point.No animal, according to the rules of animal-etiquette,is ever expected to do anything ·084· 第四章灌先生 ①ember[emba]n.灰烬， 熊的炉火边，心想着这么晚了，吃得这么撑，又无拘无 余烬 束，真是太开心了。他们仁东拉西扯地聊了一会儿后， 獾关切地说道：“那么，说说你们那边的新闻吧。蟾蜍 老伙计最近怎么样？” “噢，他呀，越来越糟了。”河鼠严肃地说道。一 旁的鼹鼠把脚搁在椅背上烤火，脚翘得比脑袋还高，听 到河鼠说起蟾蜍，竭力做出一脸悲哀的样子。“上星期 ②bask[bask]g晒太阳， 取暖 又出了个车祸，撞得不轻。你知道，他车技真是烂到家 了，还一定要坚持自己开。要是他能高薪雇个体面、稳 重、技术好的司机，让他打点一切，那蟾蜍还是能过得 不错的。但是，他偏不，深信自己天生就是个开车的料， 听不进人家任何指导，所以咯，车祸接二连三的。” “有多少次了？”獾神情沉郁地问道。 “你说车祸还是车？”鼹鼠问，“噢好吧，对蟾蜍 来说到头来就是一回事儿。这是第七次了。至于其他 的…你知道他那间马车房吗？那些撞得稀巴烂的碎 片己经堆成山了，每块比你帽子还小，都已经堆到房 顶了！之前的六辆车都在那儿了，这还都是能看得见 摸得着的。” “他医院都进了三次了。”鼹鼠补充道，“至于那些 他要交的罚款，真是想想都觉得糟心。” “的确是。而且真正的问题还不止这些。”河鼠继 续说道，“蟾蜍是有钱，这我们都知道。但是他不是 百万富翁啊。他的车技奇烂无比，而且还不把法律规则 放在眼里，这样下去，迟早要出事情，不是撞得车毁人 亡就是赔得倾家荡产啊！獾，我们都是他朋友，难道不 应该做些什么吗？” 獾紧锁眉头沉思了很久：“听着！”他最后非常严肃 ③assent[b'sent]v.同意， 地说道，“你们也知道现在这时候什么也做不了吧？” 赞成 他的两位朋友不禁点点头，深表同意。根据动物礼 仪的规定，寒冬季节是动物休养生息的时候，谁都不会 在这时候做任何费劲儿的或英勇的事情，甚至连适度活 ·085· Chapter Four Mr Badger strenuous,or heroic,or even moderately active during the off-season of winter.All are sleepy-some actually asleep.All are weather-bound more or less;and all are resting from arduous days and nights,during which every muscle in them has been severely tested,and every energy kept at full stretch. 'Very well then!'continued the Badger.But,when once the year has really turned,and the nights are shorter,and halfway through them one rouses and feels fidgety5 and wanting to be up and doing by sunrise,if not before-you know-!' Both animals nodded gravely.They knew! 'Well,then,'went on the Badger,'we-that is,you and me and our friend the Mole here-we'll take Toad seriously in hand.We'll stand no nonsense whatever.We'll bring him back to reason,by force if need be.We'll make him be a sensible Toad.We'll-you're asleep,Rat!' 'Not me!'said the Rat,waking up with a jerk. He's been asleep two or three times since supper,'said the Mole,laughing. He himself was feeling quite wakeful and even lively,though he didn't know why.The reason was,of course,that he being naturally an underground animal by birth and breeding,the situation of Badger's house exactly suited him and made him feel at home;while the Rat,who slept every night in a bedroom the windows of which opened on a breezy river,naturally felt the atmosphere still and oppressive. 'Well,it's time we were all in bed,'said the Badger,getting up and fetching flat candlesticks.'Come along,you two,and I'll show you your quarters.And take your time tomorrow morning-breakfast at any hour you please!' He conducted the two animals to a long room that seemed half bedchamber and halfloft.The Badger's winter stores,which indeed were visible everywhere, took up half the room-piles of apples,turnips and potatoes,baskets full of nuts and jars of honey;but the two little white beds on the remainder of the floor looked soft and inviting,and the linen on them,though coarse,was clean and smelt beautifully of lavender;and the Mole and the Water Rat,shaking off ·086· 第四章 獾先生 D strenuous ['strenjuas]a. 跃的活动都要尽量避免。所有动物都昏昏欲睡一有些 紧张的，费力的，奋发 的，艰苦 真的就是在呼呼大睡。这寒冷的天气多多少少影响着他 ②heroic [hi'rauik]a.英雄 的，勇士的，英勇的 们。前段时间暖和的时候，他们日日夜夜操劳着，浑身 ③weather-bound 上下每块肌肉都受到了严苛的考验，体力也被消耗殆尽 [weoabaund]a.(船、飞 机等)因恶劣天气而受 了，所以这会儿都要休息起来。 阻的 ④arduous[cdju3sla.勤奋 “那就好！”獾继续说道，“一旦天气有所好转，夜晚 的，努力的，辛勒的 开始慢慢变短，天还没亮就会有动物醒来，浑身躁动着想 ⑤fidgety[fid3itna.不安 的，烦躁的 要起身在日出前或日出时做些什么…你们懂的！” 另外两个动物严肃地点点头。他们明白！ “到时候，”獾继续说道，“我们一你、我，还有 我们的朋友鼹鼠，会严肃地处理蟾蜍的这个情况。我们 不会容忍任何瞎胡闹的行为，要让他清醒过来。即使用 上蛮力也在所不惜，我们要把他变为一个理智的蟾蜍。 我们要…河鼠，你睡着了！” “没有啊！”河鼠一下子被惊醒了。 “吃完晚饭到现在，他已经睡着了两三次了。”鼹 鼠大笑着说。不知道为什么，他自己倒清醒得很，甚至 感觉活力四射。原因嘛，他生来就是生活在地下，獾的 屋子正合他胃口，感觉就像回到了自己的家一样。而河 鼠每天晚上睡觉都要开着窗，吹着从河面上拂来的凉 风，这会儿在獾的屋子了，自然觉得空气不流通，有些 昏昏沉沉的了。 “好啦，我们是该回屋睡觉了。”獾说完，起身拿 起那个扁平的烛台，“来，你们俩过来，我带你们看看 你们的房间。明天早上想睡多晚都没问题…早餐想多 晚吃就多晚吃！” 他带着两个动物来到一间狭长的房间里，看上去既 ⑥tumip[tanip]m.萝卜， 芜菁甘蓝，大头菜 像是卧室，又像储备用的阁楼。獾储存的过冬食物随处 可见，占据了半个房间一成堆的苹果、萝卜和土豆， ⑦coarse[kaxs]a.粗糙的， 满篮满篮的坚果，还有一罐罐蜂蜜。另一半空闲的地板 粗质的 上放着两张白色小床，看上去格外地柔软诱人，铺在上 面的床单虽有些粗糙但很整洁，散发着一股薰衣草的清 ·087·