Chapter7 The Piper at the Gates of Dawn破晓时分的吹笛人-双语名著无障碍阅读丛书——《柳林风声The Wind in the Willows》

第六章 先生 狱卒,手里拨弄着一大串钥匙。 “苍天!”警察脱下头 擦了擦额头上的汗,说道 “快起身,老傻爪,我们将这作恶多端的转交于此 ① aught [st]ad. 在任何程 厮罪大恶极诡计多端。请尽汝所能将其严加看管。请君 度上,在任何方面 牢记,若有不测,汝偿命之。”! ② untoward I.Anta'ws:dl a 不顺利的,事与愿违的 那看守冷酷地点点头,把那苍老干瘪的大手按在可 ③ murrain 'mArinln. 家畜 传染病,瘟疫 怜的塘肩上。生锈的钥匙在锁洞里吱嘎扭了两下,他 们身后的大门眶当一声打开了。自此,在英格兰这片欢 乐美好的广衰土地上,瞻这个可怜无助的罪犯,走进 了这里最坚固的城堡中最森严的地牢里最隐秘的那间牢 房中。 古堡中所说语言都为古英语 .159· Chapter Seven The Piper at the Gates of Dawn The willow-wren{} was twittering his thin little song, hidden himself in the dark selvedge{of the river bank. Though it was past ten o'clock at night. the sky stil clung to and retained some lingering skirts of light from the departed day: and the sullen heats of the torrid③} afternoon broke up and rolled away at the dispersing touch of the cool fingers of the short midsummer night. Mole lay stretched on the bank, still panting from the stress of the fierce day that had been cloudless from dawn to late sunset, and waited for his friend to return. He had been on the river with some companions, leaving the Water Rat free to keep an engagement of long-standing with Otter: and he had come back to find the house dark and deserted, and no sign of Rat, who was doubtless keeping it up late with his old comrade. It was still too hot to think of staying indoors, so he lay on some coo dock-leaves, and thought over the past day and its doings, and how very good they all had been. The Rat's light footfall was presently heard approaching over the parched④ grass. 'Oh, the blessed coolness,'he said, and sat down, gazing thoughtfully into the river, silent and preoccupied 'You stayed to supper, of course?' said the Mole presently 'Simply had to,' said the Rat. 'They wouldn't hear of my going before. You know how kind they always are. And they made things as jolly for me as ever .160: 第七章 破晓时分的吹笛人 ① wren [ren]n. 柳林的鹅鹅躲在漆黑的河堤边上,鸣转着小曲儿 ② selvedge I'selvidal n. 边 尽管已经晚上十点多了,天空还揪着几缕白日里散射的 界,边缘 光线,迟迟不肯结束这一天。当短暂的仲夏夜伸出清凉 ③ torrid ['torid]a. 酷热的, 的指尖触碰大地时,积攒了一下午的热浪随之席卷而 闷热 去,消散了开来。这一整天晴空万里,闷热得直到那时 鼠还有点喘不过气来。他舒展四肢躺在河堤上,等着 他的朋友回家。河鼠和水鞭很早就约了今天要聚一聚, 于是醍鼠就在河上跟别的朋友玩耍了一整天。等他回来 的时候,屋子还一片漆黑,空无一人。看来河鼠还待在 他老朋友那里呢。这会儿进屋太热了,他便躺在一堆凉 快的独叶草上,想着一天所做的事情,觉得真是快活又 好玩。 不一会儿,鼠就听见河鼠轻轻地踩着温热的草地 向他走来。“噢,这宜人的凉意!”河鼠边说边坐了下来 一言不发地凝望着河流,若有所思。 ④ parched pa:tft]a. 干透 的.干枯的.烘堵的 “你肯定留下来吃晚饭了吧?”鼠随即说道 “只能这样啊。”河鼠说道,“他们说什么都要我留 下来吃饭。你知道他们总是这么热情好客。而且他们总 把所有事情都做得合我心意,让我待得特别开心。但是 我心里总觉得难过。虽然他们竭力掩饰,但是我看得出 ·161· ChapterSeven The Piper at the Gates of①awn they could, right up to the moment I left. But I felt a brute all the time, as it was clear to me they were very unhappy, though they tried to hide it. Mole, I'm afraid they're in trouble. Little Portly is missing again: and you know what a lot his father thinks of him. though he never says much about it.' 'What, that child?' said the Mole lightly. 'Well, suppose he is: why worry about it? He's always straying{} off and getting lost, and turning up again: he's so adventurous. But no harm ever happens to him. Everybody hereabouts②} knows him and likes him, iust as they do old Otter, and you may be sure some animal or other will come across him and bring him back again all right. Why, we've foune him ourselves, miles from home, and auite self-possessed and cheerful!' 'Yes: but this time it's more serious,' said the Rat gravely. 'He's been missing for some davs now, and the Otters have hunted everywhere, high and low, withou finding the slightest trace. And they've asked every animal, too, for miles around and no one knows anything about him. Otter's evidently more anxious than he'l admit. I got out of him that young Portly hasn't learnt to swim very well yet. and I can see he's thinking of the weir. There's a lot of water coming down still considering the time of year, and the place always had a fascination for the child And then there are-well. traps and things you know. Otter's not the fellow tc be nervous about any son of his before it's time. And now he is nervous. When I left he came out with me-said he wanted some air, and talked about stretching his legs. But I could see it wasn't that. so I drew him out and pumped him. and got it all from him at last. He was going to spend the night watching by the ford You know the place where the old ford used to be, in bygone③ days before they built the bridge?' 'I know it well.'said the Mole. 'But why should Otter choose to watch there? 'Well. it seems that it was there he gave Portly his first swimming lesson,' continued the Rat. 'From that shallow, gravelly spit near the bank. And it was there he used to teach him fishing, and there young Portly caught his first fish. of which he was so very proud. The child loved the spot, and Otter thinks that if he came wandering back from wherever he is-if he is anywhere by this time, poor ·162. 第七章 破晓时分的吹笛人 来,他们心事重重的。鼠,我想他们遇到麻烦了。小 胖又走丢了。你知道他爸爸有多喜欢他,只是嘴上从来 不说罢了。” “什么,那小孩吗?”鼠漫不经心地说道,“可 能是走丢了。但是担心什么呢?他时常迷路,最后总会 ①stray [strei]v:失散,走 回来的。他就是个爱冒险的孩子,也从来没出过什么事 失,迷路 ② hereabout L.hiara'baut] 儿呀。这一带所有人都认识他喜欢他,就像对待他爸爸 ad.在这一带,在这附近 老水辙一样,没准儿,哪个动物会碰到他然后毫发无伤 地把他带回来呢。哎呀,我们还不是在离家几英里的地 方找到过他一次?他当时自己玩得多不亦乐乎啊!” “是,你说得没错,但这次事态严重了。”河鼠沉 重地说道,“他走丢已经有几天了。水撇一家找遍了高 高低低所有地方,一点踪迹都没有发现。他们也问了方 圆几英里的动物们,但谁也没能提供一点线索。水鞭嘴 上不说,心里肯定焦急得很。我从他口中得知小胖还不 怎么会游泳,我知道他是担心那大坝呢。每年这个时 候,水会从那里倾泻而下,湍急得很,偏偏小孩子们特 别喜欢去那里玩,而那里有......嗯,陷阱什么的......你 是知道的。水鞭可不是那种会瞎操心的家长,但现在他 显然很担心。我离开的时候,他陪我一起出来,说是要 去呼吸点新鲜空气,活动活动筋骨,但我知道不是这么 回事儿。禁不住我软磨硬泡,他终于和我说了实情。原 来他是打算晚上去浅滩边上守着。你知道以前那个老渡 口吧?就是现在建了桥的那个地方。” ③ bygone 'baiqonla. 过去 的,从前的 “我熟悉得很。”鼠说,“但是水为什么要选择 去那里守着?” “他第一次教小胖游冰就是在那里,”河鼠继续说 道,“那儿在河堤边上,浅浅的底下铺满了碎石。他还 在那儿教小胖钓鱼,小胖当时钓到第一条鱼的时候别 提有多自豪了。那孩子特别喜欢那地方,水鞭想他要 是从什么地方溜达回来一一可怜的孩子,希望他现在 的确在什么地方溜达着-一说不定会去他喜欢的浅滩 ·163· ChapterSeven The Piner at the Gates of①awn little chap-he might make for the ford he was so fond of: or if he came across it he'd remember it well, and stop there and play, perhaps. So Otter goes there every night and watches-on the chance, you know, iust on the chance! They were silent for a time, both thinking of the same thing-the lonely. heart-sore animal, crouched by the ford{, watching and waiting, the long night through-on the chance. 'Well, well,' said the Rat presently, I suppose we ought to be thinking about turning in.'But he never offered to move 'Rat,' said the Mole,'I simply can't go and turn in, and go to sleep, and do nothing, even though there doesn't seem to be anything to be done. We'll get the boat out, and paddle upstream. The moon will be up in an hour or so, and then we will search as well as we can-anyhow, it will be better than going to bed and doing nothing.' 'Just what I was thinking mvself.' said the Rat. 'It's not the sort of night fo bed anyhow: and daybreak is not so very far off, and then we may pick up some news of him from early risers as we go along.' They got the boat out, and the Rat took the sculls. paddling with caution. Out in mid-stream there was a clear, narrow track that faintly reflected the sky: but wherever shadows fell on the water from bank, bush or tree, they were as solid to all appearance as the banks themselves, and the Mole had to steer with judgemen accordingly. Dark and deserted as it was, the night was full of small noises, song and chatter and rustling, telling of the busy little population who were up and about, plying their trades and vocations through the night till sunshine should fall on them at last and send them off to their well-earned repose. The water's own noises, too, were more apparent than by day, its gurglings^{②} and 'cloops③}'more unexpected and near at hand: and constantly they started at what seemed a sudder clear call from an actual articulate voice The line of the horizon was clear and hard against the sky, and in one particular quarter it showed black against a silvery climbing phosphorescence④ that grew and grew. At last, over the rim of the waiting earth the moon lifted ·164: 第七章 破晓时分的吹笛人 边走走。或者如果他碰巧路过那里,肯定会记得那地 方,说不定会停下来玩上一会儿。所以水鞭每晚都会 去那里守着一一碰碰运气,你知道,就只能碰碰运气! 他们俩都沉默了一会儿,想着同样一个情景一一那 ① ford'fox:d]n. 浅滩,渡口 个孤独心碎的动物独自蹲在浅滩旁,一整晚不合眼,就 这么守候着,等待着一一就只能碰碰运气。 “哎,好吧。”过一会儿,河鼠说道,“我们该回屋 睡觉了。”但是他一动也没动 “河鼠,”跟鼠说道,“虽然可能我们什么都做不了 但我可不想就这样进屋睡觉,什么都不做。我们划船出 去吧,逆流而上。过个个把小时,月亮就会出来了。到 时候我们尽力搜寻一番-一反正总比什么都不做回屋睡 觉去要好。” “我也这么想。”河鼠说,“这晚上也不适合睡觉。 天也快破晓了,我们一路过去,说不定能从早起的动物 那里得知一点线索。” 他们把船拖了出来,河鼠握着船桨,小心翼翼地划 着。河堤上草从树木的倒影落在水面上,看起来墨乎乎 的似乎成了河堤坚实的一部分,河流中央只显出一道清 晰狭窄的水道,朦胧地映衬着天空。河鼠十分小心地掌 着舵。黑暗的夜空下空无一人,但各种细碎的声音却此 起彼伏,浅吟低唱的歌声、窃窃私语的闲谈声、沙沙作 响的塞窒声,告诉着他们这儿还有在夜晚里忙碌营生的 小群体,当阳光最终照射下来时,他们才收拾收拾回去 睡觉了。而这时河流的声音比白天更响亮,泪泪声和砰 腾声显得更加出其不意又近在题尺,时不时地,会突然 ② gurgling I'qxqlinln (水)泪泪地流,泪泪声 发出清晰的叫声,吓他们一跳。 潺潺而流 ③cloop [klu:pl n. 类似砰 远处的地平线清晰而有力地分割着天空与大地。在 (或扑味)的声音 天空的一角,映衬着黑夜的背景,一团向上攀爬的银色 磷光越来越亮。终于,在静默等待的大地边上,月亮缓 ④ phosphorescence [.fosfs'resons]n. 磷光. 磷火 .165. ChapterSeven The Piper at the Gates of①awn with slow majesty till it swung clear of the horizon and rode off, free of moorings: and once more they began to see surfaces-meadows wide-spread and quiet gardens, and the river itself from bank to bank, all softly disclosed all washed clean of mystery and terror, all radiant again as by day, but with a difference that was tremendous. Their old haunts greeted them again in other raiment^{①} as if they had slipped away and put on this pure new apparel^②} and come quietly back, smiling as they shyly waited to see if they would be recognised again under it. Fastening their boat to a willow, the friends landed in this silent, silve kingdom, and patiently explored the hedges, the hollow trees, the runnels③ and their little culverts④. the ditches and dry waterways. Embarking again and crossing over, they worked their way up the stream in this manner, while the moon, serene and detached in a cloudless sky, did what she could, though so far off, to help them in their quest: till her hour came and she sank earthwards reluctantly, and left them, and mystery once more held field and river Then a change began slowly to declare itself. The horizon became clearer field and tree came more into sight, and somehow with a different look: the mystery began to drop away from them. A bird piped suddenly, and was still: and a light breeze sprang up and set the reeds and bulrushes^{}rustling. Rat. who was in the stern of the boat, while Mole sculled, sat up suddenly and listened with a passionate intentness. Mole, who with gentle strokes was jus keeping the boat moving while he scanned the banks with care, looked at him with curiosity. 'It's gone!' sighed the Rat, sinking back in his seat again. 'So beautiful and strange and new! Since it was to end so soon, I almost wish I had never heard it For it has roused a longing in me that is pain, and nothing seems worthwhile but just to hear that sound once more and go on listening to it for ever. No! There it is again!'he cried, alert once more. Entranced, he was silent for a long space spellbound. 'Now it passes on and I begin to lose it,' he said presently. 'Oh, Mole! the .166· 第七章 破晓时分的吹笛人 慢又庄严地升起,接着翩翩然地整个儿离开地平线,像 没有船铺的船儿漂荡在海面上一样。于是,他们又看到 了眼前所有的景色一一平铺开阔的草坪,静谧祥和的花 园,两岸之间流淌着的河水,都一改之前的神秘与恐怖, 柔和地展现在他们面前,像在白昼里一样焕发出光彩 ) raiment I'reimant] n. 衣 但又迥然不同。他们经常光顾的地方穿着一新,再次前 ① 服,服饰 来迎接他们,仿佛他们溜开去换上新装,蹑手聂脚地回 ② )apparel [a'peraln. 衣服 服装 来对着你微笑,害羞地等在那里,想看看他们是否还认 得换了衣服的老朋友。 他们俩把船系在一棵柳树上,踏上这片静谧的银色 ③ runnel 'rnalln. /小溪. 小河 王国,耐心地搜寻着树篱丛、树洞、小溪和里面的暗渠、 ④ culvert I'kAlvat]n. 涵洞. 阴沟 壤沟和干涸的水道。接着,他们又上船划到对岸,继续 找着。他们就这样逆流而上,一路搜寻。月亮宁静又超 然地挂在空旷的天空中,尽管远在天边,但还是尽其所 能帮助他们,直到最后,她的时刻来临,才不得不向地 平线下沉去,和他们作别。于是,神秘的气息再一次笼 罩了整个田地和河流。 紧接着,所有东西开始悄悄变化。地平线开始变得 更加明朗,田地和树木也越发清晰可见,但总归有些不 太一样;毕竟,那神秘的气息已经渐渐褪去。一只鸟儿 bulrush bulrAf]n. 芦苇 灯心草 突然鸣叫起来,又沉默了下去。一阵微风拂过,芦苇和 灯芯草沙沙作响。霹鼠握着桨,河鼠坐在船尾。突然间, 河鼠坐直身子,竖起耳朵专心地聆听起什么来。醒鼠缓 缓地划着船,让船往前移动,仔细地扫视着河堤。看到 河鼠这般神情,好奇地看起他来。 “没有了!”河鼠叹着气说道,又雍坐回座位上, “这声音太美妙了,又奇怪又新颖。结束得那么快,我 倒宁愿从没听到过它。它唤起了我心中憧憬的东西,哎, 真是让人痛苦。要是能再听到这声音,一直这样听下去 其他一切似乎都不重要了。噢!又来了!”他叫道,又 竖起耳朵来,像着了魔一样陶醉良久。 “又过去了,我又听不见了。”不一会儿他说道 ·167· ChapterSeven The Piper at the Gates of①awn beauty of it! The merry bubble and joy, the thin, clear, happy call of the distant piping! Such music I never dreamed of, and the call in it is stronger even than the music is sweet! Row on, Mole, row! For the music and the call must be for us.' The Mole, greatly wondering, obeyed. 'I hear nothing myself,'he said, 'bu the wind playing in the reeds and rushes and osiers^{①}.' The Rat never answered, if indeed he heard. Rapt, transported, trembling he was possessed in all his senses by this new divine thing that caught up his helpless soul and swung and dandled② it, a powerless but happy infant in a strong sustaining grasp. In silence Mole rowed steadily, and soon they came to a point where the river divided, a long backwater branching off to one side. With a slight movement of his head Rat. who had long dropped the rudder-lines, directed the rower to take the backwater. The creeping tide of light gained and gained, and now they could see the colour of the flowers that gemmed{ the water's edge 'Clearer and nearer still,' cried the Rat joyously. 'Now you must surely hear it!Ah-at last-I see you do!" Breathless and transfixed② the Mole stopped rowing as the liauid run of that glad piping broke on him like a wave, caught him up, and possessed him utterly He saw the tears on his comrade's cheeks, and bowed his head and understood For a space they hung there, brushed by the purple loosestrife that fringed^{}the bank: then the clear imperious summons that marched hand-in-hand with the intoxicating melody imposed its will on Mole, and mechanically he bent to his oars again. And the light grew steadily stronger, but no birds sang as they were wont to do at the approach of dawn: and but for the heavenly music all was marvellously still. On either side of them, as they glided onwards, the rich meadow-grass seemed that morning of a freshness and a greenness unsurpassable. Never had they noticed the roses so vivid. the willow-herb so riotous^{}, the meadow-swee so odorous^{③} and pervading{}. Then the murmur of the approaching weir begar to hold the air, and they felt a consciousness that they were nearing the end. .168: