吹小號(hào)的天鵝 第89期:自由(3)

The Head Man became thoughtful. "You can't takeSerena from the Zoo. She will never fly again.

這個(gè)負(fù)責(zé)人開(kāi)始沉思了。“你不能從這動(dòng)物園里把塞蕾娜帶走。她永遠(yuǎn)也不能再飛了。

My keepers clipped one of her wings a few minutesago."

我的管理員已經(jīng)在幾分鐘前剪壞了她的一只翅膀。”

"They tried to," wrote Louis, "but I beat them up."

“他們?cè)?jīng)想這么干，”路易斯寫(xiě)，“可我揍了他們。”

The Head Man looked surprised. "Was it a goodfight?"

這個(gè)負(fù)責(zé)人顯得很吃驚。“戰(zhàn)斗很激烈嗎?”

"It was a fair fight," replied Louis.

“那是一場(chǎng)公平的交戰(zhàn)，”路易斯回答。

"They were sneaking up on her from behind, so I sneaked up on them from behind.

“他們?cè)谒砗笸狄u，因此我也偷偷地跟在他們身后。

They hardly knew what hit them."

他們幾乎都不知道是被什么揍倒的。”

The Head Man chuckled. "I wish I'd seen it," he said.

負(fù)責(zé)人格格地笑起來(lái)。“真希望我能親眼看見(jiàn)這一切，”他說(shuō)。

"But look here, Louis, you've got to realize the position I'm in.

“不過(guò)看這兒，路易斯，你明白我在這兒該采取什么立場(chǎng)。

I have a duty to the people of Philadelphia.

我要對(duì)費(fèi)城的民眾負(fù)責(zé)。

Within the last couple of months, I've acquired two rare birds by accident--you and Serena.

在最近的兩個(gè)月以來(lái)，我意外地得到了兩只珍稀的鳥(niǎo)兒——你和塞蕾娜。

Two Trumpeter Swans! One arrived here blown by a gale, the other to keep a nightclubengagement.

兩只號(hào)手天鵝!一個(gè)是被狂風(fēng)卷過(guò)來(lái)的，另一個(gè)是和夜總會(huì)簽了約的。

The whole business is most unusual for a zoo. I have my responsibility to the public.

對(duì)動(dòng)物園來(lái)說(shuō)，整個(gè)事情都是最不尋常的。我對(duì)公眾負(fù)有責(zé)任。

It is my duty as Head Man in Charge of Birds to see that Serena stays.

作為鳥(niǎo)類管理處的負(fù)責(zé)人，我有責(zé)任讓塞蕾娜留在這里。

You yourself, of course, are free to leave when you want to,

至于你自己，當(dāng)然啦，如果愿意的話是可以自由離去的，

because Mr. Lucas insisted that you remain free when we arranged for your Sunday concerts.

因?yàn)楸R卡斯先生堅(jiān)決要用我們?yōu)槟阏匍_(kāi)的星期日音樂(lè)會(huì)換取你的自由。

But in Serena's case...well, Louis, she's got to have her left wing tip amputated.

可是塞蕾娜嘛……嗯，路易斯，她左翅的翅膀尖必須被剪掉。

The Zoo can't afford to lose a young, beautiful, valuable Trumpeter Swan just because youhappen to be in love.

動(dòng)物園絕不能僅僅因?yàn)槟銣惽蓯?ài)上了她，就得失去一只年輕的，美麗的，無(wú)價(jià)的號(hào)手天鵝。

Besides, I think you're making a great mistake. If you and Serena stay here, you'll be safe.

此外，我想你正在犯一個(gè)嚴(yán)重的錯(cuò)誤。如果你和塞蕾娜留在這里，你們都會(huì)安全的。

You'll have no enemies. You'll have no worries about your children.

你們將不會(huì)有敵人。你們將不必為你們的孩子擔(dān)心。

No fox, no otter, no coyote will ever attack you with intent to kill.

沒(méi)有狐貍，沒(méi)有水獺，也沒(méi)有郊狼來(lái)襲擊你們，打算把你們殺死。

You'll never go hungry. You'll never get shot.

你們永遠(yuǎn)也不會(huì)挨餓的。你們永遠(yuǎn)也不會(huì)遭到槍擊。

You'll never die of lead poisoning from eating the shotgun pellets that are on the bottom of allnatural lakes and ponds.

你們永遠(yuǎn)也不會(huì)因誤食了沉在所有自然的湖泊或池塘底部的鳥(niǎo)槍彈丸而死于鉛毒。

Your cygnets will be hatched each spring and will live a long life in perfect ease and comfort.What more can a young cob ask?"

你們?cè)诿磕甏禾旆醭龅男√禊Z都將終生活在極其安逸舒適的環(huán)境里。一只年輕的雄天鵝還能再圖什么呢?”

"Freedom," replied Louis on his slate. "Safety is all well and good: I prefer freedom."

“自由，”路易斯在他的石板上回答。“安全的確不錯(cuò);可我更想要自由。”