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(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
We reach the climax1 of our Waking Beauty series in which Basil and Sally return to present day Oxford2. Basil must face the champion of Morgan Le Fay in hand to hand combat, and then win a challenge of a very different sort.
Story by Bertie.
Read by Elizabeth.
Illustrated4 by Chiara Civati.
On the edge of the encampment, away from the noise and bustle5 of the tournament, damp open fields stretched out into a flat, boggy6 marshland. In the distance, mist and fog hung over the ground. It might have been a beautiful view if there had been perhaps a church spire7, or even a path or a fence or any other sign of humanity to liven it up.
“That direction is your way back to the future,” said Merlin. “Pass through the mist and the forest, and you will arrive back from whence you came.”
“When we came here by boat, we had to fall asleep,” she said.
“The journey is less frightening if you are asleep,” said Merlin, “but if you see any demons11 on your way, you may rest assured that they are insubstantial spectres, terrifying maybe, but without the ability to do any real harm. Isn’t that so, Lancelot?”
“I’m up for it,” said Basil. “Let’s get cracking.” And Sally could not help admiring this new Basil who seemed to be full of fiery13 determination. She thought: “My, how a boy changes when you put a sword in his hand.”
Two pages helped Basil to clamber up onto his charger. All the chainmail, leather, and armour14-plating that he was wearing made him fairly stiff and inflexible15. Once he was in the saddle, Sir Lancelot handed him his shield and his lance. Sally managed to spring onto her dappled mare16 without any assistance. Now she was wearing a flowing dress, she had to ride side-saddle, which was a little strange at first, but she felt terribly ladylike. Her horse started to walk forward of its own accord, but from behind her she heard Merlin calling out:
And Sally pulled on her reigns18. She turned round and saw Merlin raise his staff and peer into the clouds as if he was seeing what would take place in a vision.
“First, Sir Basil must rescue the princess from her captors, then he must meet the champion of Morgan Le Fay. If, God willing, he survives the encounter, he must take a second test – the Challenge of Knowledge. If he succeeds, then all will be well. If not, then the Dark Ages shall return.”
“The Challenge of Knowledge!” exclaimed Basil. “What do I know about knowledge?”
And as she waved farewell, Sally wished that they had said rather less about death and danger. She looked over at her riding companion to see how he was taking it all. Basil wore his helmet with the visor turned up. His face was grim and determined22, but she could not help thinking that this Classics student in a suit of armour was more than just a little bit quixotic. Was he really going to rescue a princess and fight a witch’s champion to the death? It was almost funny, she thought. But as they rode on, and the mist started to swirl23 around the hooves of their horses, she was more than glad to have him at her side. In fact, she started to feel that there was quite a lot to be said for a girl to have her knight to protect her.
They rode into the fog, and then into the woods. Fortunately the horses seemed to know the path. Basil rode in front, and hacked24 at branches with his sword, but he could not clear the way completely, and Sally felt leaves brush against her face.
“Ahhh!” she screamed.
“Steady on Sally,” called out Basil. “No harm will come to us here, remember.” And his voice seemed so certain that she managed to compose herself. There was, after all, no going back. In fact, when she saw the glowing outline of a demon face grinning at her from the branches, she almost laughed. Something shrieked26 and flew at Basil’s head – it might have been a bat or an owl19 – and he swiped at it with his sword. That really made her jump so that she almost fell out of her saddle.
“Oh please, can we find the way out of this terrible place?” she pleaded.
“Keep calm, and we will,” said Basil, as his horse stepped over what appeared to be a huge python that was sleeping off a meal, still bulging27 inside its body. Sally was so terrified that she wasn’t even frightened anymore. She just felt sick and helpless.
But the worst journey of her life, did eventually come to an end. They came out of the woods, into another fog, and found themselves following the river bank. “Hey look, that’s the back of Christ Church,” said Basil. And Sally thought that she would never again be so pleased to be back in Oxford.
Their horse’s hooves clattered28 down the High Street, which was still strewn with sleeping bodies. They crossed over Magdalen Bridge and out into the living, traffic-filled, noisy, and air-polluted world which seemed totally oblivious29 to the sleeping, time-warped city just across the river. People were staring at the medieval knight and his lady as they road up the hill. They presumed that they were on their way to some sort of fair or pageant30.
But nobody was quite as surprised as the receptionist at the BidCliffe Clinic when a knight in armour, sword in hand, kicked open the front door. The clinic was used to all sorts of people, some depressed31, many unable to cope with life, and still others suffering from various delusions32 of grandeur33 or paranoia34, but seldom had the receptionist met anyone quite so obviously insane as this.
“Where’s the princess?” he demanded as he marched up towards her desk.
The security guard was no use, he just jumped out of the window and ran across the lawn to his car.
“Room number 12, just at the top of the stairs,” she replied with as much brisk, businesslike normality as she could find within her. And while the mad knight clanked down the corridor, she cowered35 behind her desk and called the police. “Yes, he’s armed with a sword,” she emphasised, “and he looks like he means to use it.”
But in fact, at that moment, Basil was briefly36 holding his princess in his arms against his metal plated chest, before saying:
“Quick, there’s no time.”
They ran out of the clinic to the drive where Sally was waiting anxiously on her mare. Despite the encumbrance37 of his armour, Basil managed to swing up onto his horse, and haul Talia up behind him. They cantered down the drive, and out onto the London Road. Amid all the traffic, it wasn’t really safe to do more than walk their horses down the hill and wave the cars past, but when they heard the sound of police sirens, Basil kicked his spurs into the side of his charger and darted39 down the centre of the road, Sally not far behind. A single police car was attempting to block off half the road at the bottom of the hill, but Basil’s horse jumped right over its bonnet40. Talia hung on tight around his waist. Sally more prudently41 lead her mare the other way round the side of the car and avoided the block all together. They galloped42 over the bridge, pursued by police cars but not for long. The drivers fell asleep at their wheels as soon as they entered the fog.
“I hope they were wearing their seat belts,” thought Sally as she heard them crash somewhere behind her.
They entered Westerly College through the back entrance, which was normally used by cars. Basil jumped his horse over the barrier, but Sally was more circumspect43, and dismounted from hers. Basil rode into the main quad44, with Talia still clinging on to him, and as he called out: “Witch where are you? Send out your champion!” he waved his sword in his right hand, which although it was thick and meant to be held in two hands, was light in his grip. Somehow when he held it, his whole body seemed skilful45 and fluid. The armour that he was wearing did not seem to hinder his movements at all. He felt that he was a natural horseman.
After a long silence, they heard the sound of horse’s hooves in the next quad. First the shadow, and shortly after the point of a lance, appeared around the corner of the chapel46. It was followed by a knight on horseback. He was no giant, but small, almost childlike in stature47. His visor was up showing a face that was gnarled and scarred by battle.
“I am Basil, champion of Princess Talia, what is your name?” called out our knight.
“I know that knight,” said Talia. “His name is Parkin. He is small but poisonous and has proved deadly to many. But Basil, I know you can defeat him. You have Excalibur in your hand.”
“And I have you by my side,” said Basil. “But now my princess, you must get down, for it is time for me to face my fate.”
Basil sheathed49 his sword and reached down for his lance which was strapped50 to his saddle. Sally came into the quad just in time to see the two knights51 turn towards each other, raise their shields and lift up their weapons. She ran over to where Talia was standing52.
“Oh Talia, what will become of us if Basil is defeated?” she asked.
“Sally, just think positive thoughts,” replied the princess. And Sally tried her best to do so as the two knights charged across the quad. Parkin’s Lance hit Basil’s shield and splintered, but the force was enough to knock Basil backwards53 off his horse.
“Oh no!” called out Sally.
“My dearest Basil,” said Talia under her breath.
Basil tumbled head over heels and somehow sprang to his feet. Excalibur was in his double handed grip as Parkin rode in for the kill. He thrust upwards54 and felt the point tear through his enemy’s glove and into his hand. He heard Parkin shriek25 as he dropped his sword. Basil struck at the horse’s side. He liked animals, but this was war. He remembered Sir Lancelot’s words: “When you pick up the sword, forget chivalry55. In a struggle, the victor takes all the honour, and tells the story when he gets back home.”
The horse reared up and threw its rider onto the ground. As Parkin staggered to his feet, Basil swung the flat side of his sword against his helmet with an almighty56 clang. The man was dazed and staggering around and Basil took a vicious stab at his leg, catching57 him in the joint58 between his armour plates. Parkin the Poisonous was by no means dead, but he was certainly out. Basil wondered if it would be kinder to humanity if he killed him, but then he realised that he didn’t quite have that in him to do that – not in cold blood.
“Look out Basil,” screamed Talia. From where he lay, Parkin threw a dart38 at Basil. It just missed his neck and its point stuck harmlessly into the collar of his leather jerkin. No doubt it was tipped with poison.
“Don’t you know when you are defeated?” asked Basil. And he gave Parkin another whack60 with the flat of Excalibur to make sure he was unconscious at least for a while.
Basil had not one, but two women rush over to him to tend to any wounds that he might have received, but given that he was so well buckled61 into his armour, it wasn’t convenient right then to examine the damage.
“I thought you were a gonner for a moment back then,” said Sally as she took one arm, and Talia the other.
“Oh Basil, you could have broken your neck when you came off the horse. I’ve seen that happen before at a tournament you know.”
“Oh,” said Talia, “we must tackle the witch.”
“Where is she?” asked Sally.
“Didn’t you see her?” said Talia. “She was watching from the tower.”
“Well, no time to lose,” said Basil, and he began to lope towards Fletcher’s Tower. Sally and Talia ran after him. When they got to the entrance, Talia said:
“She is my enemy. I must take her on alone,” and she pushed the door open and swiftly and lightly climbed the stone staircase.
“What do you think?” asked Sally,
“I think I must go after her,” said Basil and they both followed up behind.
Basil in his armour could not move as quickly as Talia, and he was blocking Sally’s way, with the result that the princess reached the room at the top of the tower a minute or two before her friends. She pushed open the door and saw, as she knew she would see, a woman with a spinning wheel.
“I am not a little girl anymore. I won’t fall for that trick a second time,” said Talia. But Morgan Le Fay picked up a needle and threw it at Talia. The Princess turned her body sideways and it flew past her and stuck into the half open door.
“I’m charmed,” said Talia.
And a moment later Basil and Sally came into the room. Basil was holding his sword in two hands and was ready to slice the witch into pieces but Talia said firmly: “Hold back Basil. You cannot fight magic with a sword.”
“Which of you is ready to take the Challenge of Knowledge?” said Morgan Le Fay.
“That will be me,” said Talia.
“Er no,” said Basil. “I’m afraid it has to be me.”
“Well thanks,” said Basil.
“Oh come on Basil,” said Sally. “This is no time to get all uppity. We all know that Talia is the top student, and you didn’t even get one answer in the college bar quiz.”
“That may be,” said Basil, “and yes, Talia is the most brilliant person I have ever met. But Merlin said it was my fate to take the test. So it has to be me. I don’t like it any more than you do. It’s destiny.”
And he stepped forward.
“Who,” said Morgan Le Fey, “is the wisest person who ever lived? This is the question that you must answer.”
Basil thought. King Solomon? Plato? Descarte? … maybe, he thought for a moment, even Talia. He remembered the time that she had shown Socrates to him. He could only take a wild guess. It seemed ridiculous that the fate of the world should hang on his answer. That what he might reply might make the difference between enlightenment and darkness. And in any case, who was to judge that his answer was correct. He looked at Sally. He could see that she was white with nerves. He looked at Talia. Her eyes were full of tears. In fact, his own eyes were moist … he was not sure whether it was with frustration64 or fear or the sheer emotion of it all. He was still holding Excalibur in his hand. Its blade was a thing of beauty. Simple, but perfectly65 balanced, and with edges that were almost incredibly sharp. Somehow it was impossible not to be wise with such a kingly object in his hand. His brain had to match the keenness of the weapon. He did not quite know how he recalled the words, but he said, perfectly fluently:
“οὖτος μὲν οἴεταί τι εἰδέναι οὐκ εἰδώς, ἐγὼ δέ, ὥσπερ οὖν οὐκ οἶδα, οὐδὲ οἴμαι”
Which was what Socrates said at his trial.
This man, on one hand, believes that he knows something, while not knowing anything. On the other hand, I – equally ignorant – do not believe that I know anything.
And which is often translated as: “All that I know is that I know nothing.”
After everything he had been through since he had first met and kissed Princess Talia, he felt the truth of those words in his heart. The more he experienced the mystery of time and space, the more he realised how little he understood the world, and how he could take nothing for granted.
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1
climax
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| n.顶点；高潮；v.(使)达到顶点 | |
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Oxford
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| n.牛津（英国城市） | |
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proofread
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| vt.校正，校对 | |
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illustrated
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| adj. 有插图的，列举的 动词illustrate的过去式和过去分词 | |
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bustle
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| v.喧扰地忙乱，匆忙，奔忙；n.忙碌；喧闹 | |
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boggy
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| adj.沼泽多的 | |
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spire
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| n.(教堂)尖顶，尖塔，高点 | |
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shuddered
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| v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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eerie
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| adj.怪诞的；奇异的；可怕的；胆怯的 | |
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demon
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| n.魔鬼，恶魔 | |
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demons
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| n.恶人( demon的名词复数 )；恶魔；精力过人的人；邪念 | |
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knight
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| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
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fiery
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| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
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14
armour
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| （=armor）n.盔甲；装甲部队 | |
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inflexible
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| adj.不可改变的，不受影响的，不屈服的 | |
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mare
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| n.母马，母驴 | |
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prophesy
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| v.预言；预示 | |
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reigns
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| n.君主的统治( reign的名词复数 )；君主统治时期；任期；当政期 | |
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owl
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| n.猫头鹰，枭 | |
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witty
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| adj.机智的，风趣的 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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swirl
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| v.(使)打漩，(使)涡卷；n.漩涡，螺旋形 | |
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hacked
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| 生气 | |
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25
shriek
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| v./n.尖叫，叫喊 | |
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shrieked
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| v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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27
bulging
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| 膨胀； 凸出（部）； 打气； 折皱 | |
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clattered
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| 发出咔哒声（clatter的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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29
oblivious
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| adj.易忘的，遗忘的，忘却的，健忘的 | |
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pageant
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| n.壮观的游行；露天历史剧 | |
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31
depressed
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| adj.沮丧的，抑郁的，不景气的，萧条的 | |
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delusions
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| n.欺骗( delusion的名词复数 )；谬见；错觉；妄想 | |
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grandeur
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| n.伟大，崇高，宏伟，庄严，豪华 | |
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paranoia
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| n.妄想狂，偏执狂；多疑症 | |
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cowered
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| v.畏缩，抖缩( cower的过去式 ) | |
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36
briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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encumbrance
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| n.妨碍物，累赘 | |
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dart
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| v.猛冲，投掷；n.飞镖，猛冲 | |
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darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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40
bonnet
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| n.无边女帽；童帽 | |
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prudently
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| adv. 谨慎地，慎重地 | |
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galloped
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| （使马）飞奔，奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 )； 快速做[说]某事 | |
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43
circumspect
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| adj.慎重的，谨慎的 | |
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quad
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| n.四方院；四胞胎之一；v.在…填补空铅 | |
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45
skilful
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| (=skillful)adj.灵巧的，熟练的 | |
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46
chapel
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| n.小教堂，殡仪馆 | |
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47
stature
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| n.（高度）水平，（高度）境界，身高，身材 | |
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48
doom
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| n.厄运，劫数；v.注定，命定 | |
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49
sheathed
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| adj.雕塑像下半身包在鞘中的；覆盖的；铠装的；装鞘了的v.将（刀、剑等）插入鞘( sheathe的过去式和过去分词 )；包，覆盖 | |
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50
strapped
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| adj.用皮带捆住的，用皮带装饰的；身无分文的；缺钱；手头紧v.用皮带捆扎(strap的过去式和过去分词)；用皮带抽打；包扎；给…打绷带 | |
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51
knights
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| 骑士； （中古时代的）武士( knight的名词复数 )； 骑士； 爵士； （国际象棋中）马 | |
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52
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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53
backwards
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| adv.往回地，向原处，倒，相反，前后倒置地 | |
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upwards
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| adv.向上，在更高处...以上 | |
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chivalry
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| n.骑士气概，侠义；（男人）对女人彬彬有礼，献殷勤 | |
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56
almighty
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| adj.全能的，万能的；很大的，很强的 | |
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catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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joint
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| adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合 | |
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59
snarled
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| v.（指狗）吠，嗥叫， （人）咆哮( snarl的过去式和过去分词 )；咆哮着说，厉声地说 | |
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whack
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| v.敲击，重打，瓜分；n.重击，重打，尝试，一份 | |
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buckled
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| a. 有带扣的 | |
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grit
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| n.沙粒，决心，勇气；v.下定决心，咬紧牙关 | |
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63
brawn
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| n.体力 | |
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frustration
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| n.挫折，失败，失效，落空 | |
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65
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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humility
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| n.谦逊，谦恭 | |
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