Chapter8 Toad's Adventures蟾蜍历险记-双语名著无障碍阅读丛书——《柳林风声The Wind in the Willows》

Chapter Eight Toad's Adventures When Toad found himself immured in a dank②and noisome③dungeon④，and knew that all the grim darkness of a medieval fortress lay between him and the outer world of sunshine and well-metalled high roads where he had lately been so happy,disporting himself as if he had bought up every road in England,he flung himself at full length on the floor,and shed bitter tears,and abandoned himself to dark despair.'This is the end of everything'(he said),'at least it is the end of the career of Toad,which is the same thing;the popular and handsome Toad,the rich and hospitable Toad,the Toad so free and careless and debonair!How can I hope to be ever set at large again'(he said),'who have been imprisoned so justly for stealing so handsome a motor car in such an audacious?manner,and for such lurid and imaginative cheek,bestowed upon such a number of fat,red-faced policemen!'(Here his sobs choked him.)'Stupid animal that I was'(he said), 'now I must languish in this dungeon,till people who were proud to say they knew me,have forgotten the very name of Toad!O wise old Badger!'(he said), 'O clever,intelligent Rat and sensible Mole!What sound judgements,what a knowledge of men and matters you possess!Ounhappy and forsaken Toad!'With lamentations such as these he passed his days and nights for several weeks, refusing his meals or intermediate light refreshments,though the grim and ancient gaoler,knowing that Toad's pockets were well lined,frequently pointed ·182· 第八章 蟾蜍历险记 蟾蜍被关在一个潮湿阴暗、臭气熏天的地牢里， ①immure['mjua]g禁闭， 监禁 就是这座中世纪阴森恐怖的城堡将他与外面那个阳光 ②dank[dek]a.潮湿的， 阴湿的，透水的 灿烂、碎石公路纵横交错的世界割裂开来。想到不久 ③noisome[nois3ma.恶 之前他还玩得如此逍遥，就像他买下了整个英格兰所 臭的，有害的 ④dungeon['dAnd3onn 有道路一样时，他就伤心得不得了，整个人趴在地上 地牢，土牢 5 medieval [.medi'i:val]a. 抹着眼泪，陷入昏无天日的绝望中。“什么都结束了”（他 中世纪的：中古的 说)“至少我蟾蜍这一辈子是完了，这是一回事儿，那 个英俊潇酒人见人爱的蟾蜍，那个腰缠万贯热情好客 6 debonair [.deba'nea]a. 的蟾蜍，那个无忧无虑温文尔雅的蟾蜍，都完了！”（他 快活的，高兴的，心情愉 说)“我大胆鲁莽地偷了那辆漂亮的汽车，还对着一 快的 ⑦audacious{bx'deifas】a. 帮肥头肥脑的红脸警察无礼撒泼，我这都是罪有应得， 厚颜无耻的，胆大妄为 的 现在都不敢指望什么时候能重获自由了！”（他抽泣着 咳嗽着)“我真是个蠢蛋”（他说）“现在我只能烂在这 地牢里，直到有一天，那些以结识我为傲的人们把我 蟾蜍这个名字忘得一干二净！噢明智的老獾！”（他说） “噢聪明机智的河鼠，通情达理的鼹鼠！他们判断得多 正确！他们看人看事多透彻啊！噢，我这个不幸的蟾 蜍，被人遗忘的蟾蜍！”他就在这样的恸哭哀嚎中度过 8 lamentation [.lamen'teifan] 了几个星期，一餐饭一顿点心都没有吃。那个冷酷的 .哀伤，痛悼，恸哭 9refreshment [ri'frefmant] 老狱卒知道蟾蜍的口袋里塞满了钱，时不时会点拨他， m.点心 告诉他只要肯花钱，很多东西，甚至是奢侈品，都能 ·183· Chapter Eight Toad's Adventures out that many comforts,and indeed luxuries,could by arrangement be sent in-at a price-from outside. Now the gaoler had a daughter,a pleasant wench and good-hearted,who assisted her father in the lighter duties of his post.She was particularly fond of animals,and,besides her canary,whose cage hung on a nail in the massive wall of the keep by day,to the great annoyance of prisoners who relished an after-dinner nap,and was shrouded in an antimacassar on the parlour table at night,she kept several piebald mice and a restless revolving squirrel.This kind- hearted girl,pitying the misery of Toad,said to her father one day,Father!I can't bear to see that poor beast so unhappy,and getting so thin!You let me have the managing of him.You know how fond of animals I am.I'll make him eat from my hand,and sit up,and do all sorts of things.' Her father replied that she could do what she liked with him.He was fired of Toad,and his sulks and his airs and his meanness.So that day she went on her errand of mercy,and knocked at the door of Toad's cell. 'Now,cheer up,Toad,'she said coaxingly,on entering,'and sit up and dry your eyes and be a sensible animal.And do try and eat a bit of dinner.See,I've brought you some of mine,hot from the oven!' It was bubble-and-squeak,between two plates,and its fragrance filled the narrow cell.The penetrating smell of cabbage reached the nose of Toad as he lay prostrate in his misery on the floor,and gave him the idea for a moment that perhaps life was not such a blank and desperate thing as he had imagined.But still he wailed,and kicked with his legs,and refused to be comforted.So the wise girl retired for the time,but,of course,a good deal of the smell of hot cabbage remained behind,as it will do,and Toad, between his sobs,sniffed and reflected,and gradually began to think new and inspiring thoughts of chivalry,and poetry,and deeds still to be done; of broad meadows,and cattle browsing in them,raked by sun and wind;of kitchen-gardens,and straight herb-borders,and warm snap-dragon beset by bees;and of the comforting clink of dishes set down on the table at Toad Hall, ·184· 第八章蟾蜍历险记 安排从外面送进来，但蟾蜍从来没对他的话走过心。 老狱卒有个女儿，是个可爱又心地善良的乡下姑 娘，经常过来帮她的父亲做一些力所能及的事情。她非 常喜欢小动物，养了一只金丝雀，鸟笼白天就挂在监狱 里那厚实的墙上，鸟儿的鸣叫声让那些习惯睡午觉的犯 人们不胜其烦。到了晚上，她就把鸟笼用罩子遮起来放 在桌上。此外，她还有几只花斑鼠和一只不停和自己转 ①antimacassar [entima'kaesa】n.椅子罩 圈的松鼠。这个好心的姑娘很同情可怜的蟾蜍，有一天， 子 ②piebald [paibald]a.花斑 她对她父亲说：“爸爸！我真不忍心看那可怜的动物这 的，杂色的 么不开心，你看他变得多瘦！你就让我来照看他吧。你 知道我这么喜欢小动物。我会精心照料让他吃东西，坐 起来，做做各种事情。” 她父亲回答说她想对蟾蜍做什么就做什么。他可是 厌倦了蟾蜍每天郁郁寡欢、傲慢自持又刻薄吝啬的样 ③suk[sk灯.生气，怒而 不语，愠怒 子。于是，小姑娘抱着对蟾蜍的同情，敲开了蟾蜍的 牢门。 “好了，蟾蜍，打起精神来。”她一进门就哄着蟾 蜍说道，“快坐起来，擦干眼泪，理智点儿。来吃点饭吧。 看，我给你带了点我自己的晚餐，还热乎着呢！” 盛在盘子里的食物上还盖着另一个盘子，缝隙里飘 出腾腾的热气，里面冒着泡眦呲作响，香喷喷的气味顿 时充满了整个狭窄的牢房。前一秒蟾蜍还趴在地上沉浸 在他的痛苦之中，一闻到卷心菜那诱人的味道，下一秒 他便觉着生活也并不像他想象的那么糟糕与绝望。但是， 他仍在那儿哀嚎着蹬着双腿，不去理会她的安慰。所以 这个聪明的姑娘当即便离开了，当然，她把那盘香气四 溢又热气腾腾的卷心菜留了下来。蟾蜍抽泣着吸着鼻涕， 思忖着，渐渐地他开始有了一一些新鲜又振奋人心的念 ④chivalry[fivalri骑士 头，他想起了骑士精神、诗歌和壮志未酬的事业：他想 行为，侠义行为 ⑤rake[reik]v掠过，擦过 到了广阔的草地，牛群在上面吃草，阳光灿烂清风徐徐： 他想到绿油油的菜园边上围着一圈整齐的香草，蜜蜂嗡 嗡作响，绕着暖洋洋的金鱼草跳舞：他想到在蟾蜍庄园 ·185· Chapter Eight Toad's Adventures and the scrape of chair-legs on the floor as everyone pulled himself close up to his work.The air of the narrow cell took on a rosy tinge;he began to think of his friends,and how they would surely be able to do something;of lawyers, and how they would have enjoyed his case,and what an ass he had been not to get in a few;and lastly,he thought of his own great cleverness and resource, and all that he was capable of if he only gave his great mind to it;and the cure was almost complete. When the girl returned,some hours later,she carried a tray with a cup of fragrant tea steaming on it;and a plate piled up with very hot buttered toast, cut thick,very brown on both sides,with the butter running through the holes in it in great golden drops,like honey from the honeycomb.The smell of that buttered toast simply talked to Toad,and with no uncertain voice;talked of warm kitchens,of breakfasts on bright frosty mornings,of cosy parlour firesides on winter evenings,when one's ramble was over and slippered feet were propped on the fender;of the purring of contented cats,and the twitter of sleepy canaries. Toad sat up on end once more,dried his eyes,sipped his tea and munched his toast,and soon began talking freely about himself,and the house he lived in,and his doings there,and how important he was,and what a lot his friends thought of him. The gaoler's daughter saw that the topic was doing him as much good as the tea,as indeed it was,and encouraged him to go on. 'Tell me about Toad Hall,'said she.'It sounds beautiful.' "Toad Hall,'said the Toad proudly,'is an eligible self-contained gentleman's residence,very unique;dating in part from the fourteenth century,but replete with every modern convenience.Up-to-date sanitation.Five minutes from church,post office and golf-links.Suitable for-' Bless the animal,'said the girl,laughing,'I don't want to take it.Tell me something real about it.But first wait till I fetch you some more tea and toast.' ·186· 第八章蟾蜍历险记 的餐桌上摆餐具时清脆悦耳的叮当声，开始用餐时，椅 ①tinge [tind3]n.(较淡的) 子脚被拖着与地板之间的摩擦声。此时，狭窄的牢房 色泽，色调，色彩 似乎晕染上了一层柔美的玫瑰色：他开始想念他的朋友 们，他们肯定能做些什么：还有他的律师们，他们肯定 对这案子求之不得，想当初他怎么一个都没有请呢，实 在太愚蠢了：最后，他想起了自己多么聪明绝顶机智灵 活，只要稍微动一动他那了不起的脑袋，就没有什么解 决不了的：想到这儿，他也就不那么悲伤了。 过了几个小时，姑娘回来了，手上拿着一个托盘， 上面放着一杯冒着热气的香茶，一旁放着几片抹着黄油 的热吐司。吐司切得厚厚的，两面烤得焦黄，黄油如硕 大的金色水滴般从缝隙里溢出来，就像从蜂巢里渗出的 蜂蜜一样。那黄油吐司的香味分明是在和蟾蜍说话，聊 起他在明亮结霜的早晨里坐在温暖的厨房中享用美味的 早餐；聊起他在冬夜客厅里温馨的炉火边，散完步后穿 ②fender[fenda]n.(暖炉 的)炉围 着拖鞋，把脚翘在火炉围栏上：聊起小猫心满意足的呼 ③pur [pa],(猫在高兴时) 噜声，睡意满满的金丝雀叽叽喳喳的鸣叫声。于是，蟾 发咕噜声 ④munch[mAnt],用力咀 蜍直起身子坐了起来，擦干眼泪，喝起了茶，津津有味 嚼，大声咀嚼 地嚼起他的吐司来，一会儿他又滔滔不绝起来，说起他 住的房子，吹嘘自己多么能干、何等重要，在那么多朋 友眼里他是个怎么样了不起的动物。 狱卒的女儿发现聊这些话题跟喝茶一样能让他打起 精神来，便鼓励他继续说下去。 “和我说说蟾蜍庄园吧。”她说，“听起来很漂亮的 样子。” ⑤replete[ripli:t]a.充满 “蟾蜍庄园，”蟾蜍自豪地说道，“是一处资质合 的，装满的 6 sanitation [.sani'teifan] 格、设备齐全、独一无二的绅士住所：其部分建筑可追 :卫生设备，卫生设施 溯到十四世纪，之后不断翻新，安装了所有现代化设备， 有最前卫的卫生设施。那儿距离教堂、邮政局、高尔夫 球场均只要五分钟路程，适宜…” “愿上帝保佑你。”姑娘笑着说道，“我又不是想要 买这房子。和我说点实实在在的事情吧。不过不急，我 ·187· Chapter Eight Toad's Adventures She tripped away,and presently returned with a fresh trayful;and Toad, pitching into the toast with avidity,his spirits quite restored to their usual level, told her about the boat-house,and the fish-pond,and the old walled kitchen- garden;and about the pig-sties,and the stables,and the pigeon-house,and the hen-house;and about the dairy,and the wash-house,and the china-cupboards, and the linen-presses(she liked that bit especially);and about the banqueting- hall,and the fun they had there when the other animals were gathered round the table and Toad was at his best,singing songs,telling stories,carrying on generally.Then she wanted to know about his animal-friends,and was very interested in all he had to tell her about them and how they lived,and what they did to pass their time.Of course,she did not say she was fond of animals as pets,because she had the sense to see that Toad would be extremely offended. When she said good-night,having filled his water-jug and shaken up his straw for him,Toad was very much the same sanguine,self-satisfied animal that he had been of old.He sang a little song or two,of the sort he used to sing at his dinner-parties,curled himself up in the straw,and had an excellent night's rest and the pleasantest of dreams. They had many interesting talks together,after that,as the dreary days went on;and the gaoler's daughter grew very sorry for Toad,and thought it a great shame that a poor little animal should be locked up in prison for what seemed to her a very trivial offence.Toad,of course,in his vanity,thought that her interest in him proceeded from a growing tenderness;and he could not help half regretting that the social gulf between them was so very wide,for she was a comely lass2, and evidently admired him very much. One morning the girl was very thoughtful,and answered at random,and did not seem to Toad to be paying proper attention to his witty sayings and sparkling comments. "Toad,'she said presently,'just listen,please.I have an aunt who is a washerwoman.' ·188· 第八章 蟾蜍历险记 再去给你拿点茶和吐司来。” 她轻快地走了出去，不一会儿便拿着满满一盘吃 的喝的又回来了。蟾蜍狼吞虎咽地吃起来，又恢复到 了以前那神气活现的样子，和姑娘说着他的船房、池 塘，围着古老城墙的菜园子：讲到他的猪圈、马厩、鸽 子屋和鸡舍：聊到那儿的牛奶场、洗衣房、瓷器柜和熨 衣板（她最喜欢这一个）；谈到里面的宴会厅，所有其 他动物都围坐在桌子周围，听蟾蜍一展歌喉，讲各种 引人入胜的故事，大家都玩得不亦乐乎。然后姑娘想 了解了解他的动物朋友们，津津有味地听着蟾蜍讲他 们的生活方式和娱乐消遣。当然，她可没有说她像喜 欢宠物一样喜欢这些小动物，要是这么说的话，蟾蜍 一定会非常生气的。最后，她给蟾蜍的水壶里装满水， 拍松了他的稻草窝，和他道了晚安。这会儿，蟾蜍整 个人己经红光满面的，变回了以前那个洋洋得意的样 D sanguine ['saengwin]a. 子。他唱了一两首小曲儿，那是以前他会在午餐聚会 (情绪)乐观的，乐天派 的 中唱的，然后蜷缩进稻草窝里，舒舒服服地睡起觉来， 美美地进入了梦乡。 这之后，他们又愉快地聊了很多次，沉闷的日子一 天又一天地打发了过去。狱卒的女儿越来越同情蟾蜍的 遭遇，觉得这可怜的蟾蜍所犯的罪行实在不至于被这样 关押起来。而蟾蜍呢，看到姑娘对他越来越温柔，虚荣 地以为姑娘对他生出一些情愫来，不禁对他们之间社会 地位的巨大鸿沟后悔不已。毕竟，她真是个漂亮的姑娘， 而且显然对他是情有独钟。 ②1 ass [les】,小姑娘，少 天早晨，姑娘看上去心事重重的，有一搭没一搭 女，女孩 地回应着蟾蜍的问题，蟾蜍觉得他那些机智的俏皮话和 才华横溢的评论并没有得到应有的赞赏。 “蟾蜍，”不一会儿，她张嘴说道，“请听我说两句。 我有个阿姨是洗衣妇。” ·189· Chapter Eight Toad's Adventures 'There,there,'said Toad graciously and affably,'never mind;think no more about it.I have several aunts who ought to be washerwomen.' 'Do be quiet a minute,Toad,'said the girl.'You talk too much,that's your chief fault,and I'm trying to think,and you hurt my head.As I said,I have an aunt who is a washerwoman;she does the washing for all the prisoners in this castle-we try to keep any paying business of that sort in the family,you understand.She takes out the washing on Monday morning,and brings it in on Friday evening.This is a Thursday.Now,this is what occurs to me:you're very rich-at least you're always telling me so-and she's very poor.A few pounds wouldn't make any difference to you,and it would mean a lot to her.Now,I think if she were properly approached-squared,I believe,is the word you animals use-you could come to some arrangement by which she would let you have her dress and bonnet and so on,and you could escape from the castle as the official washerwoman.You're very alike in many respects-particularly about the figure.' We're not,'said the Toad in a huff.'I have a very elegant figure-for what I am.' 'So has my aunt,'replied the girl,for what she is.But have it your own way.You horrid,proud,ungrateful animal,when I'm sorry for you,and trying to help you!' 'Yes,yes,that's all right;thank you very much indeed,'said the Toad hurriedly.'But look here!you wouldn't surely have Mr Toad,of Toad Hall,going about the country disguised as a washerwoman!' 'Then you can stop here as a Toad,'replied the girl with much spirit.'I suppose you want to go off in a coach-and-four!' Honest Toad was always ready to admit himself in the wrong.'You are a good,kind,clever girl,'he said,'and I am indeed a proud and a stupid Toad. Introduce me to your worthy aunt,if you will be so kind,and I have no doubt that the excellent lady and I will be able to arrange terms satisfactory to both parties.' ·190· 第八章蟾蜍历险记 ①affably[efabli的ad殷勤 “没事没事，”蟾蜍优雅又友好地说道，“这有什么， 地，友好地，容易亲近地 别多想。我有几个阿姨，本来也应该做洗衣妇的。” “蟾蜍，你听我把话说完。”姑娘说，“你实在是 讲得太多了，这是你致命的缺点。我正在想办法呢， 你说得我头都疼了。我刚才说，我有个阿姨是洗衣妇。 她替这座城堡里所有的犯人洗衣服一我们尽量把所 有赚钱的生意都留给自家人，你知道的，肥水不流外 人田嘛。她周一早晨会把要洗的衣服拿出去，然后周 五晚上送回来。今天是周四，然后我就想到：你很有 钱—起码你一直这么对我说—而她很穷。几英镑 对你来说可有可无，但对她而言可是一大笔收入。所 以我想要是能好好和她说说一收买她，我相信这是 你们动物使用的词语一那就可以安排一下，让你穿 上她的裙子带上她的软帽诸如此类的，然后你就可以 伪装成一个洗衣妇逃出城堡了。你们俩挺像的一特 别是身材上。” “才不呢。”蟾蜍气恼地叫道，“我有非常优雅的身 段一就蟾蜍而言。” “那我阿姨的身段也很优雅。”姑娘回答说，“就她 而言。不过随便你吧。你真是讨厌极了，骄傲自大又不 知好歹，亏我还那么同情你，想要帮你！” “是的是的，好吧，我真的非常感谢你。”蟾蜍急 忙说道，“但是你听我说！你总不能让蟾蜍庄园的蟾蜍 先生伪装成洗衣妇在村子里到处走吧！” “那你就待在这儿，永远做你的蟾蜍吧。”姑娘 气鼓鼓地回答道，“我想你是想八抬大轿把你请出去 是吧！” 实诚的蟾蜍总是乐于承认自己的错误。“你真是个 善良好心又聪明的姑娘。”他说道，“我的确又骄傲又愚 蠢。要是你还乐意的话，那就把我介绍给你那位尊敬的 阿姨吧，我相信那位了不起的女士和我会协商出令我们 双方都满意的方案。” ·191·