Chapter4-双语名著无障碍阅读丛书——《水孩子The Water Babies》

Chapter IV "Sweet is the lore^{} which Nature brings; Our meddling intellect Mis-shapes the beauteous^{②} forms of things We murder to dissect{} Enough of science and of art: Close up these barren leaves: Come forth, and bring with you a heart That watches and receives. " -WORDSWORTH So the salmon went up, after Tom had warned them of the wicked old otter: and Tom went down, but slowly and cautiously, coasting along shore. He was many days about it, for it was many miles down to the sea: and perhaps he would never haye found his way. if the fairies had not guided him, without his seeing their fai faces, or feeling their gentle hands And, as he went, he had a very strange adventure. It was a clear still{ September night, and the moon shone so brightly down through the water, tha .140. 第四章 ① lore llo:]n. 传说:传统 大自然带来的知识芳香四溢 ② beauteous ['bju:tiasl 我们爱干涉的智慧 -beautifula. 美丽的:漂 破坏了生灵美丽的外形, 亮的 ③ dissect [di'sekt]v. 我们谋杀再解剖。 把.....分成小块 够了,科学还有艺术, 合上这些空洞的书页, 向前走,携一颗心 去看,去感觉。 -华兹华斯 那两条鲜鱼接着向上游游去了。汤姆已经关照过他 们,要小心那只恶毒的老水辙。汤姆沿着河岸,慢慢地、 小心翼翼地向下游游去。他已经游了好几天了,因为大 海还在好几英里之外。要是没有仙女们的指引,他可能 根本找不到路,虽然他既看不到她们美丽的面庞,也感 觉不到她们温柔的手掌。 ④still[stil]a.静止的:平 就在他往前游的时候,他经历了一场奇遇。那是一 静的 个清朗宁静的九月夜晚,明亮的月光洒在水面上,汤姆 ·141· ChapterTv he could not sleep, though he shut his eyes as tight as possible. So at last he came up to the top, and sat upon a little point of rock, and looked up at the broad yellow moon, and wondered what she was, and thought that she looked at him And he watched the moonlight on the rippling^{}river, and the black heads of the firs, and the silyer-frosted lawns, and listened to the owl's hoot, and the snipe's bleat②, and the fox's bark, and the otter's laugh: and smelt the soft perfume of the birches, and the wafts^{} of heather honey off the grouse moor far above: and felt very happy, though he could not well tell why. You, of course, would have beer very cold sitting there on a September night, without the least bit of clothes or your wet back; but Tom was a water-baby, and therefore felt cold no more than afish. Suddenly, he saw a beautiful sight. A bright red light moved along the river side, and threw down into the water a long tap-root of flame. Tom, curious little rogue that he was, must needs go and see what it was: so he swam to the shore and met the light as it stopped over a shallow run at the edge of a low rock And there, underneath the light, lay five or six great salmon, looking up at the flame with their great goggle④ eyes, and wagging their tails, as if they were very much pleased at it. Tom came to the top, to look at this wonderful light nearer, and made a splash And he heard a voice say: “There was a fish rose." He did not know what the words meant: but he seemed to know the sound of them, and to know the yoice which spoke them: and he saw on the bank three great two-legged creatures, one of whom held the light, flaring and sputtering^{, and another a long pole. And he knew that they were men, and was frightened and crept into a hole in the rock, from which he could see what went on. The man with the torch bent down over the water, and looked earnestly in and then he said "Tak' that muckle fellow, lad: he's ower fifteen pounds: and haud your hanc steady." .142. 第四章 紧紧地闭着眼睛,却睡不着觉。最后,他来到水面上, 坐在一小块石头上,抬头看着金黄的圆月,琢磨着她是 谁。他觉得月亮也在看着他。他看着潺潺的流水上,波 ① rippling 'riplin]a. 起连 光瓢巍,冷杉树黑黑的脑袋,草坪上落了一层银色的霜 漪的 他听到猫头鹰的叫声,鹅鸟的低诉,狐狸的吠叫,水猿 的大笑;他闻到梓树温柔的清香,石蜜的芬芳从远处 ② bleat bli:t]n.(羊或小 的松鸡猎场飘荡过来。他感觉非常快乐,但说不上来为 牛的)叫声 什么。当然了,当你身上湿湿的,一丝不挂,坐在一个 ③ waft [wa:ft]n. -阵微 风:一股 九月的夜晚,一定会感到阵阵凉意。但汤姆是个水孩子 他跟鱼一样,感受不到寒冷。 突然,他看到一幅美丽的景象。一道明亮的红光沿 着河岸移动,在水中投射出一束长长的竖直的火焰。汤 姆这个好奇的小淘气,非要去看看那是什么。于是他朝 河岸游去,那束光刚好在一块低低的石头边缘停下,映 照着一片浅滩。 就在那里,那束光下,聚着五六条大鲜鱼,用他们 鼓鼓的大眼睛望着那团火焰,摇着尾巴,一副兴高采烈 ④ goggle ['goglla.(眼睛) 的样子。 视的;突出的 汤姆来到水面上,想近距离看一看这副奇景,却溅 起了一片水花。 他听到一个声音说道: “有一条鱼浮上来啦。” 他不知道那是什么意思,但那声音听上去很熟悉, 而且他好像知道是什么东西在说话。他看到河岸上有三 sputer['spata]v发出" 个巨大的两条腿的家伙,其中一个拿着火把,烧得瞬啪 啪声 作响,另一个提着一根长长的杆子。汤姆知道他们是人。 他害怕极了,缩到石头洞里,那里刚好可以看到外面。 拿火把的人弯腰靠近水面,仔细地往水里看,接着 他说: “捉住那个大家伙,伙计。它有十五磅多。手稳一 点。” ·143· ChapterIVv Tom felt that there was some danger coming, and longed to warn the foolish salmon, who kept staring up at the light as if he was bewitched. But before he could make up his mind. down came the pole through the water: there was a fearful splash and struggle, and Tom saw that the poor salmon was speared right through. and was lifted out of the water And then, from behind. there sprang on these three men three other men: and there were shouts, and blows, and words which Tom recollected to have heard before: and he shuddered{ and turned sick at them now, for he felt somehow that they were strange, and ugly, and wrong, and horrible. And it all began to come back to him. They were men: and they were fighting: savage, desperate, up-and down fighting, such as Tom had seen too many times before. And he stopped his little ears, and longed to swim away: and was very glad that he was a water-baby, and had nothing to do any more with horrid dirty men with foul clothes on their backs, and foul words on their lips: but he dared no stir out of his hole: while the rock shook over his head with the trampling②} ang struggling of the keepers and the poachers All of a sudden there was a tremendous splash, and a frightful flash, and hissing③, and all was still. For into the water, close to Tom, fell one of the men: he who held the light ir his hand. Into the swift river he sank, and rolled over and over in the current. Tom heard the men above run along seemingly looking for him: but he drifted down into the deep hole below, and there lay auite still, and they could not find him Tom waited a long time, till all was auiet: and then he peeped out, and saw the man lying. At last he screwed up his courage and swam down to him. "Perhaps." he thought, "the water has made him fall asleep, as it did me." Then he went nearer. He grew more and more curious, he could not tell why He must go and look at him. He would go very quietly, of course: so he swam round and round him, closer and closer: and, as he did not stir, at last he came quite close and looked him in the face The moon shone so bright that Tom could see every feature: and, as he saw ·144· 第四章 汤姆感到危险就要降临。他急切地想告诉那愚蠢的 鲜鱼,可那鱼像着了魔似的,蹬着那火光。还没等汤姆 打定主意,长竿就伸到水下来了--一阵惊恐的挣扎, 溅起一片水花,汤姆看到那条可怜的鲜鱼刚好被戳中 接着被提出了水面。 这时,这三个人身后又扑上来三个人,响起了喊叫 声,打斗声,还有汤姆曾经听到过的辱骂声。他吓得瑟 ① shudder F'fada]v 突然震 瑟发抖,感到一阵恶心,不知为何觉得这些人举止奇怪 动:颤动 外貌丑陋,行为不端,残忍可怕。过去的事情全都想起 来了。他们是人;他们在斗殴,那野蛮、疯狂、难解难 分的斗殿,汤姆曾经见过太多次了。 汤姆捂上耳朵,想要游得远远的。他很庆幸自己是 个水孩子,跟那群可怕航脏、衣着、讲话不干不净 的人再没有半点爪葛了。但他还是不敢游出洞去。看守 ② trample ['traempl]v踩, 和偷猎的人打成一片,踩得石头在他头顶上直晃荡。 践踏 突然间,水面上溅起一片巨大的水花,一道火光闪 过,令人心惊胆战,接着“嘶”的一声,一切又复归沉 寂了。 ③ hissing [hisinln. 发嘶 原来是一个男人掉进了水里,就落在汤姆近旁,手 声 里还抓着火把。他在湍急的河流中沉了下去,身子在急 流中翻上翻下。汤姆听到另两个人沿着河岸在奔跑,似 乎是在寻找落水的人。可是他沉到了河底一个深深的洞 里,就一动不动了。那两个人是找不到他了。 汤姆等了很久很久,直至万觞俱寂。然后他伸出头 去,看到男人躺在那里。最后他鼓足勇气游了过去。“也 许,”他心想,“水让他睡着了,就跟我以前一样。” 他游近了一点,却也感到越发奇怪,虽然说不上是 为什么。他一定要过去看看,当然会轻手轻脚地靠近。 于是,他盘旋地游向那男人,越游越近。那人并没有动 弹。最后他终于游到近前,可以看清那人的脸了。 月光清朗,汤姆把他的脸看得一清二楚。看啊看 ·145· ChapterIV he recollected, bit by bit, it was his old master, Grimes. Tom turned tail. and swam away as fast as he could "Oh dear me!" he thought, "now he will turn into a water-baby. What a nasty troublesome one he will be! And perhaps he will find me out, and bea me again." So he went up the river again a little way, and lay there the rest of the nigh under an alder root: but, when morning came, he longed to go down again to the big pool, and see whether Mr. Grimes had turned into a water-baby yet So he went very carefully, peeping round all the rocks, and hiding under all the roots. Mr. Grimes lay there still: he had not turned into a water-baby. In the afternoon Tom went back again. He could not rest till he had found out what had become of Mr. Grimes. But this time Mr. Grimes was gone: and Tom made up hi mind that he was turned into a water-baby He might have made himself easy, poor little man: Mr. Grimes did not turn into a water-baby, or anything like one at all. But he did not make himself easy: and a long time he was fearful lest he should meet Grimes suddenly in some deep pool. He could not know that the fairies had carried him away, and put him, where they put everything which falls into the water, exactly where it ought to be. But, do you know, what had happened to Mr. Grimes had such an effect on him that he never poached salmon any more. And it is quite certain that, when a man becomes a confirmed{ poacher, the only way to cure him is to put him under water for twenty-four hours, like Grimes. So when you grow to be a big man, do you behave as all honest fellows should: and never touch a fish or a head of game which belongs to another man without his express leave: and then people will call you a gentleman, and treat you like one: and perhaps give you good sport: instead of hitting you into the river, or calling yot a poaching snob②. Then Tom went on down, for he was afraid of staying near Grimes: and as he went, all the vale looked sad. The red and yellow leaves showered down into the .146 第四章 他一点一点想起来了,这个人,就是他原来的师父,格 里姆斯。 汤姆掉转头去,赶紧游开了。 “我的天呐,”他心想,“现在他也要变成水孩子了。 那他会变成一个多么卑鄙讨厌的人啊!他有可能会找到 我,又来打我。” 于是他重新向上游游了一小段路,那一夜,他就躺在 一棵恺树的树根下。第二天,天亮了,他又想游回大水塘 那里去,看看格里姆斯先生是不是已经变成一个水孩子了。 他小心翼翼地往那游去,从石头后面偷窥,躲在树 根底下葡富前进。格里姆斯先生还是一动不动地躺在那 里,他没有变成水孩子。到了下午,汤姆又去看了一 次--他要是不知道格里姆斯先生变成了什么,就无法 心安。可是这样一次,格里姆斯先生不见了。汤姆觉得 他一定是变成水孩子了。 他本来大可安心的,可怜的小东西;格里姆斯先生 没有变成水孩子,也没有变成任何跟水孩子类似的东西。 但汤姆一直放不下心来:很长一段时间,他都提心吊胆 唯恐格里姆斯先生突然从哪个深深的水塘里冒出来。汤 姆当然不知道,仙女们把他运走了,她们把他安置在了 所有掉入水中的东西都会被安置的地方,他也就该去那 ① confirmed kan'fa:md] 个地方。但你也知道,格里姆斯先生深深地受这件事影响, a.成习惯的,根深蒂固 的 所以他后来再也不去偷捕鲜鱼了。显而易见,一个人一 旦成了惯偷,唯一能治好他的办法就是,把他像格里姆 斯一样,在水里泡二十四小时。所以当你长大成人,你 的举止要像所有正真的人们一样,永远不要未经主人的 许可就去偷他的鱼或是其他猎物。这样,人们就会称你 ② snob Isnobln.势利的人 为“绅士”,也像对待绅士一样对待你,还可能对你十分 慷慨,而不是把你打下水去,或者叫你“偷猎小人”。 汤姆继续往下游游去,因为他很害怕待在格里姆斯际 近。他游啊游,看到所有的溪谷都很凄凉。红叶、黄叶 ·147· ChapterTv river: the flies and beetles were all dead and gone: the chill autumn fog lay low upon the hills, and sometimes spread itself so thickly on the river that he could not see his way. But he felt his way instead, following the flow of the stream, day after day, past great bridges, past boats and barges^{①}, past the great town, with its wharfs, and mills, and tall smoking chimneys, and ships which rode at ancho in the stream: and now and then he ran against their hawsers^{②, and wondered what they were, and peeped out, and saw the sailors lounging on board smoking their pipes: and ducked under again, for he was terribly afraid of being caught by man and turned into a chimney-sweep once more. He did not know that the fairies were close to him always, shutting the sailors' eyes lest they should see him, and turning him aside from millraces^③}, and sewer-mouths, and all foul and dangerous things. Poor little fellow, it was a dreary journey for him: and more than once he longed to be back in Vendale, plaving with the trout in the brigh summer sun. But it could not be. What has been once can never come over again And people can be little babies, even water-babies, only once in their lives Besides, people who make up their minds to go and see the world. as Tom did, must needs find it a weary journey. Lucky for them if they do not lose heart and stop half-way, instead of going on bravely to the end as Tom did. For then they will remain neither boys nor men, neither fish, flesh, nor good red-herring having learnt a great deal too much, and yet not enough: and sown their wild oats without having the advantage of reaping them But Tom was always a brave, determined. little English bull-dog, who never knew when he was beaten: and on and on he held. till he saw a long way off the red buoy④ through the fog. And then he found to his surprise, the stream turned round, and running up inland It was the tide, of course: but Tom knew nothing of the tide. He only knew that in a minute more the water, which had been fresh, turned salt all round him And then there came a change over him. He felt as strong, and light, and fresh, as if his yeins had run champagne: and gave, he did not know why, three skips out of the water, a yard high, and head over heels, just as the salmon do when they firs .148· 第四章 层层叠叠地飘入水中;苍蝇和甲虫都死去了,随着水流漂 走:秋日的寒烟笼罩着山顶,有时候浓雾封锁河面,汤姆 甚至看不清路。但他顺着水流,摸索着前进,一天又一天。 ① barge [ba:d3]n. 大型平 他经过大桥,经过小艇和驳船,经过一座大城镇,那儿有 底船,驳船 码头,有工厂,高高的烟肉正冒着烟,船儿在河中抛描停 ② hawser ['ho:za]n. 缆索, 泊。他时不时会撞倒船上的粗缆绳,心里还在纳闷这是什 大索 么东西。他会把头探出水面,看到船员正在甲板上懒洋洋 地抽着烟。但他又立马埋下头去,害怕会被人捉住,又被 派去扫烟图。他不知道仙女们一直在他左右,适时地遮住 船员的眼睛,以防他们发现汤姆。她们把汤姆带离磨坊的 ③ millrace ['milreis]n. 磨 水沟,带离下水道口,让他远离一切航脏危险的事物。可 坊引水糟 怜的小家伙,对他来说,这真是一段枯燥的旅程。他不止 一次想要回到文代尔去,在晴朗的夏日阳光下,跟鳞鱼们 一起玩要。但是不行。过去的事情不可能重来。一个人一 生中只能做一次孩子或者一次水孩子。 话说,像汤姆一样下定决心,想要去看看世界的人 总会发现这是一段令人筋疲力尽的旅程。如果他们能像 汤姆一样,勇敢地走到最后,而不是失去信心,半途而 废,那他们无疑是幸运的。否则,他们将既不是小孩 也不是大人;既不是鱼,也不是肉,更不是上好的红鲜 鱼;学了很多泛泛的东西,却不够深入:播下了野生燕 麦的种子,却没有机会收割。 可汤姆一直是一只勇敢坚毅的英格兰小斗牛犬,从 来不知道什么是失败。他坚持向前游去,直到透过浓雾 ④ buoy [boi]n. 浮标,航标 能看到很远的地方有一个红色浮标。这时,他惊奇地发 现,水流倒转过来,朝陆地的方向流去。 当然,这是潮沙;但汤姆对此一无所知。他只知道, 刚刚还是淡水的,一分钟之内,都变成咸水了。他觉得 自己起了变化,变得更强壮、更轻巧、更神清气爽,就 好像血管里流淌的是香嫔酒一样。也不知道为什么,他 头朝上、脚朝下,在水面上连跳三次,足足能跃出水面 .149·