Chapter12 Peter's First Battle被得首战-双语名著无障碍阅读丛书——《纳尼亚传奇 狮子,女巫和魔衣橱The Chronicles of Narnia》

Chapter Twelve Peter's First Battle While the dwarf and the White Witch were saying this,miles away the Beavers and the children were walking on hour after hour into what seemed a delicious dream. Long ago they had left the coats behind them.And by now they had even stopped saying to one another,“Look！There's a kingfisher,”or "I say,bluebells!”or s“What was that lovely smell'?”or“Just listen to that thrush②I"They walked on in silence drinking it all in,passing through patches of warm sunlight into cool,green thickets and out again into wide mossy glades where tall elms raised the leafy roof far overhead,and then into dense masses of flowering currant and among hawthorn bushes where the sweet smell was almost overpowering. They had been just as surprised as Edmund when they saw the winter vanishing and the whole wood passing in a few hours or so from January to May.They hadn't even known for certain (as the Witch did)that this was what would happen when Aslan came to Narnia.But they all knew that it was her spells which had produced the endless winter;and therefore they all knew when this magic spring began that something had gone wrong,and badly wrong,with the Witch's schemes.And after the thaw had been going on for some time they all realized that the Witch would no longer be able to use her sledge.After that they didn't hurry so much and they allowed themselves more rests and longer ones.They were pretty tired by now of course;but not what I'd call bitterly tired-only slow and feeling very dreamy and ·146· 第十二章 彼得首战 就在小矮人与白巫说话的时候，在几英里之外， 河狸夫妇已经带着孩子们走了好几个小时。前方好似 甜美的梦境，他们越来越接近了。大家早就脱下了外套， ①kingfisher[kin.fif)n,翠 也不再对彼此说“看啊！前面有只翠鸟！”“看啊，蓝 鸟 莓！”“那是什么诱人的香味？”“听那只画眉的叫声！” ②thrush[ra]n,画眉 他们只是默默地向前赶路，陶醉在这些周围的美景中。 ③thicket「Oikit]m,灌木丛， 植丛 小队伍穿过一片温暖的阳光地，走到凉爽的绿荫下， ④currant[kArant]n.红醋 又走进一片铺满苔藓的林间空地，高大的榆树擎着巨 栗 ⑤hawthorn [hx0xnlm.山 大的绿伞，然后走进红醋栗盛开的海洋，又钻进山楂 楂 丛中，那甜美的香味沁人心脾。 冬天消失了，森林在短短几个小时内从一月过渡到 五月。他们亲眼看见这些变化时，与埃德蒙一样也感到 ⑥spell[spel].符咒，咒 很诧异，但还不确定（可白巫很确定）这些变化就是阿 语 斯兰带来的。不过他们知道，这里的冬天因为白巫施咒 才无止无休，现在春天来了，一定是白巫的诡计出了问 题，而且是很严重的问题。雪融化得越来越多，他们猜 到白巫坐不了雪橇了。想到这一点后，他们走得不慌不 忙，休息的次数增多，休息的时间变长。尽管现在大家 都十分疲惫，但还没有到筋疲力尽一只是感到脚步 变慢，头脑晕乎乎、木呆呆的，就像一个人在户外待 ·147 Chapter Twefve Peter's First Battle quiet inside as one does when one is coming to the end of a long day in the open. Susan had a slight blister on one heel. They had left the course of the big river some time ago;for one had to turn a little to the right (that meant a little to the south)to reach the place of the Stone Table.Even if this had not been their way they couldn't have kept to the river valley once the thaw began,for with all that melting snow the river was soon in flood-a wonderful,roaring,thundering yellow flood-and their path would have been under water. And now the sun got low and the light got redder and the shadows got longer and the flowers began to think about closing. "Not long now,"said Mr Beaver,and began leading them uphill across some very deep,springy moss(it felt nice under their tired feet)in a place where only tall trees grew,very wide apart.The climb,coming at the end of the long day,made them all pant and blow2.And just as Lucy was wondering whether she could really get to the top without another long rest,suddenly they were at the top.And this is what they saw. They were on a green open space from which you could look down on the forest spreading as far as one could see in every direction-except right ahead. There,far to the East,was something twinkling and moving."By gum!"whispered Peter to Susan,"the sea!"In the very middle of this open hill-top was the Stone Table.It was a great grim slab of grey stone supported on four upright stones. It looked very old;and it was cut all over with strange lines and figures that might be the letters of an unknown language.They gave you a curious feeling when you looked at them.The next thing they saw was a pavilion pitched on one side of the open place.A wonderful pavilion it was-and especially now when the light of the setting sun fell upon it-with sides of what looked like yellow silk and cords of crimson and tent-pegs of ivory;and high above it on a pole a banner which bore a red rampant lion fluttering in the breeze which was blowing in their faces from the far-off sea.While they were looking at this they heard a sound of music on their right;and turning in that direction they saw what they had come to see. ·148· 第十二章彼得首战 了一整天，快熬到头时的感觉。苏珊的一个脚后跟也 ①blister[blista]n.(皮肤 磨出了水疱。 上的)疱，水疱 他们己经离开那条大河的河谷，朝右侧偏南的方向 走，那是去石桌的方向。就算这条路不通向石桌，他们 也无法顺着河谷再走下去，因为冰雪一旦融化，河水就 会泛滥，咆哮的洪水将淹没他们之前走的路。 现在夕阳西坠，霞光满天，地上的人影变得原来越 长，花瓣也开始合拢。 “不远了！”河狸先生说。他开始领着大家顺着陡 峭的山坡向上攀登，又厚又软的苔藓踩在疲惫的脚下感 觉很舒服，周围全是参天大树。走了一整天的长路再进 行攀登，大家都累得气喘吁吁。露茜正在盘算要不要好 好休息一下再上，突然间他们已经上到山顶，前面的景 物一览无遗。 ②blow[bluy上气不接 他们站在山项的一片绿地上向下看，山下是郁郁苍 下气 苍的森林，看不到尽头。正前方，在远处的东方有什么 在流动，闪着光。“天哪！”彼得小声对苏珊说，“那是 大海！”而在开阔的山顶中央就是石桌。那是一块巨大、 沉重的灰色石板，由四块直立的石头支撑着，看上去年 代久远，上面刻着奇特的线条与图案，估计是一种未知 语言的字母，留给大家一种神秘的感觉。在旁边的空地 ③grim[qima.可怕的， 上搭有一顶帐篷，在落日的余晖中显得非常壮观，篷布 恐怖的 好像是用黄色、红色的丝绒做的，柱子似乎是象牙的。 ④slab[slaeb]n.厚板状物， 平板状物 在帐篷的顶部立有一面旗帜，旗帜上绣着一头勇猛的红 5 pavilion [pa'viljan]n. 色狮子，在扑面而来的海风中招展。这时右侧传来一阵 (公园、花园中的)亭 音乐声，他们扭头看去。 子，凉亭 ⑥cord [ka:d]n.粗线，细绳 7 rampant ['rzempant]a. (狮子等)跃立的 ·149· Chapter Twefve Peter's First Battle Aslan stood in the centre of a crowd of creatures who had grouped them- selves round him in the shape of a half-moon.There were Tree-Women there and Well-Women(Dryads and Naiads as they used to be called in our world)who had stringed instruments;it was they who had made the music.There were four great centaurs.The horse part of them was like huge English farm horses,and the man part was like stern but beautiful giants.There was also a unicorn,and a bull with the head of a man,and a pelican2,and an eagle,and a great Dog.And next to Aslan stood two leopards of whom one carried his crown and the other his standard. But as for Aslan himself,the Beavers and the children didn't know what to do or say when they saw him.People who have not been in Narnia sometimes think that a thing cannot be good and terrible at the same time.If the children had ever thought so,they were cured of it now.For when they tried to look at Aslan's face they just caught a glimpse of the golden mane and the great,royal,solemn, overwhelming eyes;and then they found they couldn't look at him and went all trembly. “Goon,”whispered Mr Beaver. No,”whispered Peter,,"you first.” "No,Sons of Adam before animals,"whispered Mr Beaver back again. “Susan,”whispered Peter,“What about you?Ladies first." "No,you're the eldest,"whispered Susan.And of course the longer they went on doing this the more awkward they felt.Then at last Peter realized that it was up to him.He drew his sword and raised it to the salute and hastily saying to the others"Come on.Pull yourselves together,"he advanced to the Lion and said: “We have come--Aslan.” “Welcome,Peter,,Son of Adam,”said Aslan..“Welcome,Susan and Lucy, Daughters of Eve.Welcome He-Beaver and She-Beaver." His voice was deep and rich and somehow took the fidgets out of them. They now felt glad and quiet and it didn't seem awkward to them to stand and say nothing "But where is the fourth?"asked Aslan. ·150· 第十二章彼得首战 阿斯兰正站在那里，旁边站着一群动物与精灵，呈 月牙形拱卫在阿斯兰的周围。有树精与水精（我们的世 界称之为森林仙女与水中仙女)，她们弹奏着音乐：还 有四个半人马，马的那部分就像是巨大的英国农场马， 人的那部分是坚毅俊美的巨人：还有独角兽、长着人头 ①nicorn['ju:nikx:n]n(神 的牛、鹈鹕、老鹰、巨犬。阿斯兰旁边站着两头豹子， 话传说中的)独角兽 一只拿着王冠，一只拿着旗子。 ②pelican[pelikan]n.鹅鹕 ③standard['staendad]m. 见到了阿斯兰，河狸夫妇与孩子们紧张得不知道该 旗，旗子（如军旗、舰 怎样做，也不知道怎样说。没有来过纳尼亚的人有时会 旗等】 以为，不存在一件事情既美好又令人害怕。孩子们以前 那样想，现在观念纠正过来了。当试图看一眼阿斯兰的 脸庞时，他们只看见金黄色的鬃毛和那双高贵、庄严、 气势威猛的大眼晴，不禁两腿发软，不敢再看。 ④overwhelming “过去吧。”河狸先生轻声说。 [Lauva'welmin]a.势不可 “不，”彼得轻声说，“您先走。” 挡的，压倒之势的 “别推辞了，亚当的儿子优先。”河狸先生轻声回 绝。 “苏珊，”彼得悄声说，“你先去？女士优先。” “不，你年龄最大。”苏珊悄悄道。他们越这样推 辞，越显得尴尬。最后彼得意识到非他出头不可，于 是拔出长剑，举剑致礼，例匆向其他人说：“我们走， 振作起来！”他走向狮王，说道： ⑤salute[sa'ljut]m.举剑致 “我们到了—阿斯兰。” 意 “欢迎你，彼得，亚当的儿子。”阿斯兰说，“欢迎 苏珊与露茜，夏娃的女儿。欢迎河狸夫妇的到来。” 阿斯兰的声音低沉、浑厚，驱散了他们心中的不安： 他们感到既高兴又安静，即使站在那里不说话也不感到 难堪。 ⑥fidget['fidsit]m.坐立不 安，心神不宁 ·151· Chapter Twefve Peter's First Battle "He has tried to betray them and joined the White Witch,O Aslan,"said Mr Beaver.And then something made Peter say, "That was partly my fault,Aslan.I was angry with him and I think that helped him to go wrong.” And Aslan said nothing either to excuse Peter or to blame him but merely stood looking at him with his great unchanging eyes.And it seemed to all of them that there was nothing to be said. "Please-Aslan,"said Lucy,"can anything be done to save Edmund?" “All shall be done,,”said Aslan.“But it may be harder than you think.”And then he was silent again for some time.Up to that moment Lucy had been thinking how royal and strong and peaceful his face looked;now it suddenly came into her head that he looked sad as well.But next minute that expression was quite gone. The Lion shook his mane and clapped his paws together("Terrible paws,"thought Lucy,"if he didn't know how to velvet them!")and said, "Meanwhile,let the feast be prepared.Ladies,take these Daughters of Eve to the pavilion and minister to②them.”" When the girls had gone Aslan laid his paw-and though it was velveted it was very heavy-on Peter's shoulder and said,"Come,Son of Adam,and I will show you a far-off sight of the castle where you are to be King." And Peter with his sword still drawn in his hand went with the Lion to the eastern edge of the hilltop.There a beautiful sight met their eyes.The sun was setting behind their backs.That meant that the whole country below them lay in the evening light-forest and hills and valleys and,winding away like a silver snake, the lower part of the great river.And beyond all this,miles away,was the sea,and beyond the sea the sky,full of clouds which were just turning rose colour with the reflection of the sunset.But just where the land of Narnia met the sea-in fact,at the mouth of the great river-there was something on a little hill,shining.It was shining because it was a castle and of course the sunlight was reflected from all the windows which looked towards Peter and the sunset;but to Peter it looked like a great star resting on the seashore. ·152· 第十二章 彼得首战【 “第四个人在哪？”阿斯兰问。 “哦，阿斯兰，他背叛了大家，投靠了白巫。”河 狸回答道。 这时彼得忍不住说：“阿斯兰，这件事我也有错。 我对他发了脾气，我想那可能导致了他走上歧途。” 阿斯兰既没有说原谅彼得的话，也没有说责备他 的话，只是用平静的眼神看着他，这使得大家觉得没 有什么可以说的。 “求求你，阿斯兰，”露茜问，“能想办法救救埃德 蒙吗？” “要想尽一切办法，”阿斯兰说，“不过比你们想的 要难。”说完阿斯兰又沉默了一阵。此刻之前，露茜都 认为阿斯兰的表情是多么神圣、坚毅与平静，此刻却突 然间发现阿斯兰看起来很悲哀。但是当她再仔细端详时， 那种神情又消失了。 ①feast[fist]n.盛宴，筵 狮王摇了摇鬃毛，轻轻按了按利爪(“多可怕的爪 席，宴会 子，”露茜想，“但愿他知道怎样收起来！”)说：“现在， ②minister to帮助，照料 准备宴席吧，女士们，把夏娃的女儿带到帐篷里，照顾 好她们。” ③far-of[farof门a.远方 女孩们离开后，阿斯兰伸出爪子一尽管利刃收了 的，遥远的 起来，却仍然非常沉重一放在彼得的肩上，说：“来 吧，亚当的儿子，让我指给你看，你将做国王的远处的 城堡。” 彼得握着剑，跟着狮王来到山顶的东侧，一幅壮 ④alley[vln,谷，山谷 丽的景象映入眼帘。太阳正在他们身后落山，山下的 地带笼罩在暮色中一森林、山峦、峡谷、河岸，还 有蜿蜒开来像银色长蛇一样的河水。更远处的几英里 开外是大海，海面上的天空布满云彩，在落日中变成 玫瑰金色。就在纳尼亚与海的交接处一实际上，在 大河的入海口一小山上有什么东西在闪烁。原来那 是一座城堡，面向彼得和落日一面的窗户反射了夕阳， 看起来金光灿灿。但在彼得眼中，城堡就像是一颗落 ·153· Chapter Twefve Peter's First Battle "That,O Man,"said Aslan,"is Cair Paravel of the four thrones,in one of which you must sit as King.I show it to you because you are the first-born and you will be High King over all the rest." And once more Peter said nothing,for at that moment a strange noise woke the silence suddenly.It was like a bugle,but richer. "It is your sister's horn,"said Aslan to Peter in a low voice;so low as to be almost a purr2,if it is not disrespectful to think of a Lion purring. For a moment Peter did not understand.Then,when he saw all the other creatures start forward and heard Aslan say with a wave of his paw,"Back!Let the Prince win his spurs,"he did understand,and set off running as hard as he could to the pavilion.And there he saw a dreadful sight. The Naiads and Dryads were scattering in every direction.Lucy was running towards him as fast as her short legs would carry her and her face was as white as paper.Then he saw Susan make a dash for a tree,and swing herself up,followed by a huge grey beast.At first Peter thought it was a bear.Then he saw that it looked like an Alsatian,though it was far too big to be a dog.Then he realized that it was a wolf-a wolf standing on its hind legs,with its front paws against the tree- trunk,snapping and snarling.All the hair on its back stood up on end.Susan had not been able to get higher than the second big branch.One of her legs hung down so that her foot was only an inch or two above the snapping teeth.Peter wondered why she did not get higher or at least take a better grip;then he realized that she was just going to faint and that if she fainted she would fall off. Peter did not feel very brave;indeed,he felt he was going to be sick.But that made no difference to what he had to do.He rushed straight up to the monster and aimed a slash of his sword at its side.That stroke never reached the Wolf.Quick as lightning it turned round,its eyes flaming,and its mouth wide open in a howl of anger.If it had not been so angry that it simply had to howl it would have got him by the throat at once.As it was-though all this happened too quickly for Peter to think at all-he had just time to duck down and plunge his sword,as hard as he could,between the brute's forelegs into its heart.Then came a horrible, ·154· 第十二章 彼得首战 在海滩上的星星。 “看那边，小伙子，”阿斯兰说，“那是有四个王 位的凯尔帕拉维尔城堡，其中一个王位是属于你的。 我指给你看，因为你是长子，你的地位将在其他国王 ①bugle[bju:gl]n,喇叭， 和女王之上。” 军号 彼得又一次保持沉默。突然，一声奇怪的声音传来， 打破了此前的沉默。那声音听起来像是军号，但比军号 ②pur[pa]n.鸣鸣的叫声 更有力。 “那是你妹妹的号角，”阿斯兰低声说，声音低沉 得像是在鸣鸣叫，只是这样形容狮王的声音有点不恭敬。 ③win one's spurs受到奖 学 一时间彼得没有反应过来，他看见所有的生物开始 向前跑，但阿斯兰挥舞着爪子制止说：“退后！留给王 子建功立业吧！”这时彼得明白了，他快速跑向帐篷， 在那里看到了一幕可怕的景象。 ④dash[den.猛冲，急 水中仙女与森林仙女正四散逃避，露茜撒丫子向自 奔 己跑米，面白如纸，而苏珊则冲向一棵树，攥住一个树 5 Alsatian [ael'seifjan]n. 枝翻身上树，后面紧追的是一只灰色的野兽。起初，彼 德国牧羊狗 得以为是头熊，再仔细看，像是一头呵尔萨斯牧羊犬， ⑥hind[haind]a.后部的， 后方的 但体格比狗要大得多，最后发现竞是一匹狼一这匹狼 ⑦snarl[sncl(犬等) 后腿站立，前爪狂抓着树干，发出怒吼与咆哮声，背上 叫，咆哮 的毛都竖立起来。慌乱中，苏珊只爬到第二个大树枝， 一条腿垂下来，脚距离那不断张合的獠牙只有几英寸。 彼得惊讶她为什么不爬得更高一点，至少应该抓得紧一 些。突然彼得意识到，她快要晕过去了，如果晕过去， 就会掉下来。 ⑧stroke[strauk]n.打，击 彼得并没有变得很勇敢，相反他觉得心慌，但这并 不影响什么。他径直冲向野兽，朝着野兽的后背挥动手 ⑨howl [haul]n.(狼等的】 嗥叫，凄厉的长嚎 中的利剑。这一剑落空了，野兽像闪电一样迅速转过身， @duck down急忙弯下身 眼里冒着火，嘴里发出愤怒的咆哮。要不是它怒不可遏 来（以躲避危险） ①plunge[plAnd]使插 地咆哮，它就能立刻咬断彼得的喉咙。但是—所有一 切发生太突然了，丝毫没有时间考虑如何行动—彼得 ②brute[bru:t]n.兽，野兽 顺势蹲下，把手中的长剑狠狠地向前一挥，剑锋从野兽 ·155·