《指环王》精讲04（在线收听）

The 22nd day of September, in the year 1400, by Shire-reckoning.

夏尔开垦纪元1400年九月第二十二日。

Bag End, Bagshot Row, Hobbiton, Westfarthing, the Shire.

袋底洞、袋射排、哈比屯、西区夏尔。

Middle-earth. The Third Age of this world.

中土世界。第三纪元。

There and Back Again: A Hobbit's Tale. By Bilbo Baggins.

《去而复返：哈比人的故事》。比尔博·巴金斯著。

Now, where to begin? Ah, yes. Concerning Hobbits.

现在我该怎么说呢对了。关于哈比人。

Hobbits have been living and farming in the four Farthings of the Shire for many hundreds of years, quite content to ignore and be ignored by the world of the Big Folk.

千百年来，哈比人一直都定居在夏尔的四个区域务农，完全无视于外界的存在，也满足于被外界忽视的状态。

Middle-earth being, after all, full of strange creatures beyond count.

毕竟中土世界充满了数不清的奇异生物。

Hobbits must seem of little importance, being neither renowned as great warriors nor counted among the very wise.

哈比人一定显得不重要，因为我们既不是骁勇的战士也不被认为特别有智慧。

Frodo! Someone at the door.

佛罗多！有人在敲门。

In fact, it has been remarked by some that Hobbits' only real passion is for food.

事实上，有人曾经评论过哈比人唯一的狂热就是美食。

A rather unfair observation as we have also developed a keen interest in the brewing of ales and the smokingof pipe-weed.

这评论相当不公平，因为我们也对酿啤酒和抽烟斗有浓厚的兴趣。

But where our hearts truly lie is in peace and quiet, and good, tilled earth.

但是我们一心所系的是和平宁静与肥沃的农耕地。

For all Hobbits share a love of things that grow.

所有的哈比人都热爱能够生长的东西。

And, yes, no doubt to others, our ways seem quaint.

无庸置疑的，我们的生活方式对其他人而言非常奇特。

But today of all days, it is no bad thing to celebrate a simple life.

特别是今天安享宁谧的生活其实很不赖。