诗翁彼豆故事集 第17期:兔子巴比蒂和她的呱呱树桩(1)

 　　4. Babbitty Rabbitty and Her Cackling Stump¹ 4. 兔子巴比蒂和她的呱呱树桩

　　A long time ago, in a far-off land, there lived a foolish king who decided² that he alone should have the power of magic. 很久很久以前，在一个遥远的地方，住着一个愚蠢的国王，他认为只应该让他一个人拥有魔法的力量。

　　He therefore commanded the head of his army to form a Brigade of Witch-Hunters, and issued them with a pack of ferocious³ black hounds. 因此，国王命令他军队的首领成立一支女巫追捕小分队，并分配给他们一批凶猛的黑色猎狗。

　　At the same time, the King caused proclamations to be read in every village and town across the land: “Wanted by the King, an Instructor⁴ in Magic.” 与此同时，他还在全国的城镇乡村发布公告：“国王招聘一位魔法教员。”

　　No true witch or wizard dared volunteer for the post, for they were all in hiding from the Brigade of Witch-Hunters. 那些真正的巫师，谁也不敢出来主动应聘，因为他们都躲避着女巫追捕小分队。

　　However, a cunning charlatan⁵ with no magical power saw a chance of enriching himself, and arrived at the palace, claiming to be a wizard of enormous skill. 然而，有一个根本不会魔法的狡猾的江湖骗子看到了发财的机会，他来到王宫，声称自己是一位技艺高超的巫师。

　　The charlatan performed a few simple tricks, which convinced the foolish King of his magical powers, and was immediately appointed Grand Sorcerer in Chief, the King's Private Magic Master. 江湖骗子变了几个简单的戏法，愚蠢的国王就相信他确实会魔法，立刻任命他为首席大魔法师和国王的私人魔法大师。

　　The charlatan bade the King give him a large sack of gold, so that he might purchase wands and other magical necessities. 江湖骗子吩咐国王给他一大袋金子，让他拿去买魔杖和其他魔法必需品。

　　He also requested several large rubies⁶, to be used in the casting of curative charms, and a silver chalice⁷ or two, forthe storing and maturing of potions. 他还索要了几颗很大的红宝石，说要用来完成疗伤咒；还有一两只银质高脚杯，说要用来保存和酿制魔药。

　　All these things the foolish King supplied. 所有这些东西，愚蠢的国王都提供给了他。

　　The charlatan stowed the treasure safely in his own house and returned to the palace grounds. 江湖骗子把这些财宝存放在自己家里，然后回到了王宫的庭院里。

　　He did not know that he was being watched by an old woman who lived in a hovel on the edge of the grounds. 他不知道，一个住在庭院边小茅屋里的老太婆正在注视着他。

　　Her name was Babbitty, and she was the washerwoman who kept the palace linens⁸ soft, fragrant⁹ and white. 她名叫巴比蒂，是一个洗衣妇，负责把王宫里的床单被罩洗得柔软、芳香、洁白。

　　Peeping from behind her drying sheets, Babbitty saw the charlatan snap two twigs¹⁰ from one of the King's trees and disappear into the palace. 从她晾晒的床单后面偷偷看着，巴比蒂发现江湖骗子从国王的一棵树上折了两根树枝，然后进了王宫。

　　The charlatan gave one of the twigs to the King and assured him that it was a wand of tremendous power. 江湖骗子把一根树枝递给了国王，信誓旦旦地说这是一根威力无比的魔杖。

　　“It will only work, however,” said the charlatan, “when you are worthy¹¹ of it.” “不过，等你有资格了，它才会管用。”江湖骗子说。“等你有资格了，它才会管用。”

　　Every morning the charlatan and the foolishKing walked out into the palace grounds, where they waved their wands and shouted nonsense at the sky. 每天早晨，江湖骗子和愚蠢的国王来到王宫庭院，挥舞着他们的魔杖，冲着天空喊叫一些胡言乱语。

　　The charlatan was careful to perform more tricks, so that the King remained convinced of his Grand Sorcerer's skill, and of the power of the wands that had cost so much gold. 江湖骗子又谨慎地变了几个戏法，让国王相信他这位大魔法师确实技艺超群，花这么多金子弄来的魔杖确实威力无比。

1 stump   

n.残株，烟蒂，讲演台；v.砍断，蹒跚而走

参考例句：

• He went on the stump in his home state.他到故乡所在的州去发表演说。
• He used the stump as a table.他把树桩用作桌子。

2 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

3 ferocious   

adj.凶猛的，残暴的，极度的，十分强烈的

参考例句：

• The ferocious winds seemed about to tear the ship to pieces.狂风仿佛要把船撕成碎片似的。
• The ferocious panther is chasing a rabbit.那只凶猛的豹子正追赶一只兔子。

4 instructor   

n.指导者，教员，教练

参考例句：

• The college jumped him from instructor to full professor.大学突然把他从讲师提升为正教授。
• The skiing instructor was a tall,sunburnt man.滑雪教练是一个高高个子晒得黑黑的男子。

5 charlatan   

n.骗子；江湖医生；假内行

参考例句：

• The charlatan boasted that he could charm off any disease.这个江湖骗子吹牛说他能用符咒治好各种疾病。
• He was sure that he was dealing with a charlatan.他真以为自己遇上了江湖骗子。

6 rubies   

红宝石( ruby的名词复数 )； 红宝石色，深红色

参考例句：

• a necklace of rubies intertwined with pearls 缠着珍珠的红宝石项链
• The crown was set with precious jewels—diamonds, rubies and emeralds. 王冠上镶嵌着稀世珍宝—有钻石、红宝石、绿宝石。

7 chalice   

n.圣餐杯；金杯毒酒

参考例句：

• He inherited a poisoned chalice when he took over the job as union leader.他接手工会领导职务，看似风光，实则会给他带来很多麻烦。
• She was essentially feminine,in other words,a parasite and a chalice.她在本质上是个女人，换句话说，是一个食客和一只酒杯。

8 linens   

n.亚麻布( linen的名词复数 )；家庭日用织品

参考例句：

• All linens and towels are provided. 提供全套日用织品和毛巾。 来自辞典例句
• Linen, Table Linens, Chair Covers, Bed and Bath Linens. Linen. 采购产品亚麻布，亚麻布，椅子套子，床和沭浴亚麻布。 来自互联网

9 fragrant   

adj.芬香的，馥郁的，愉快的

参考例句：

• The Fragrant Hills are exceptionally beautiful in late autumn.深秋的香山格外美丽。
• The air was fragrant with lavender.空气中弥漫薰衣草香。

10 twigs   

细枝，嫩枝( twig的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Some birds build nests of twigs. 一些鸟用树枝筑巢。
• Willow twigs are pliable. 柳条很软。

11 worthy   

adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的

参考例句：

• I did not esteem him to be worthy of trust.我认为他不值得信赖。
• There occurred nothing that was worthy to be mentioned.没有值得一提的事发生。