牛津書蟲系列 風(fēng)雨河岸柳 1 The river

1 The river

1 河

The Mole worked very hard all morning, cleaning his little home. He brushed, and he washed; he cleaned the floors and the walls, he stood on chairs to wash the tops of cup boards, he got under the beds, he took up the carpets. He cleaned and he cleaned, until his arms and his back ached with tiredness.

鼴鼠整個(gè)早上都在辛苦地打掃著他的小屋。他掃著，洗著;拖地板，撣墻壁，一會(huì)兒站在椅子上擦洗著食品柜頂。一會(huì)兒鉆進(jìn)床底清理雜物，一會(huì)兒又卷起地毯。他不停地清掃著，直到累得胳膊酸脊背疼。

It was springtime, and the smell and the sound of spring were everywhere, even in the Mole's dark little house under the ground. And with the spring comes the promise of change, of sunshine, of new green leaves. So it was not surprising that the Mole suddenly put down his brushes and said, 'Oh bother! 'and then, 'I'm tired of cleaning! 'Something up above the ground was calling to him, and he ran out of his house and began to dig his way upwards to the sun.

這正是開春時(shí)節(jié)，到處都充滿了春天的氣息，就連鼴鼠這個(gè)地下陰暗的小窩里也洋溢著春意。春天，意味著萬物變化，陽光明媚，新葉吐芽，所以大家一點(diǎn)也不奇怪鼴鼠突然扔下掃帚感嘆道：“噢，真無聊!我討厭大掃除!”地面上有什么東西在召喚著他，他跑出房間，開始挖洞鉆向有陽光照耀的地方。

He dug and he pushed, and he pushed and he dug. 'Up we go! Up we go! 'he said to himself, until at last his nose came out into the sunlight, and he found himself in the warm grass of a field.

他挖了推，推了挖，嘴里還喃喃自語著“向上!向上!”最后他的鼻子觸到了陽光，他發(fā)現(xiàn)他正在一塊田地的曖烘烘的草叢里。

'This is fine! 'said the Mole. 'This is better than cleaning! 'The sunshine was warm on his back and the air was filled with the songs of birds. He gave a little jump for happiness, shook himself, and then began to cross the field towards some trees. Here and there he went, through the fields and the woods, looking and smelling and listening. Everywhere animals and birds were busy, talking and laughing, looking for food, making new homes for the spring. The Mole enjoyed it all.

“這真不錯(cuò)!”鼴鼠說道，“這比大掃除要好的多!”太陽照在他的背上，暖洋洋的，四周有鳥兒在唱著動(dòng)聽的歌。他高興地蹦了一下，活動(dòng)活動(dòng)筋骨，然后穿過田地向樹叢走去。他這里走走，那里轉(zhuǎn)轉(zhuǎn)，穿過田野，逛過樹林，最大限度地調(diào)動(dòng)自己的視覺，嗅覺和聽覺。各處的動(dòng)物和鳥兒都一邊說笑著，一邊忙著找食物，忙著為春天筑新巢。鼴鼠可喜歡這些了。

Then, suddenly, he came to a river. He had never seen a river before in his life-this wonderful bright shining thing, which danced its way in and out of the shadows under the trees. It was never still for a minute, hurrying and laughing and talking to itself.

不知不覺，他來到了一條河邊。他至今還從未見過河水——這個(gè)明澈耀眼的奇妙之物，它歡蹦亂跳地穿梭在岸邊樹林的倒影之間。它從不停息，匆匆奔流著，卻一路歡聲笑語。

And at once, the Mole was in love with it. He walked along the river bank, listening and watching all the time. At last he sat down on the grass and looked across the river to the bank opposite. There was a dark hole in the bank, and the Mole watched it dreamily, thinking that it would be very pleasant to have a little house by the river. As he watched, he saw some thing shining in the hole. Soon he saw that it was an eye, and then a face appeared as well.

鼴鼠馬上就喜歡上它了。他沿著河岸走著，并一直聽著，看著。最后他坐在草地上欣賞著河對岸的風(fēng)景。那兒有一個(gè)黑洞，鼴鼠出神地看著，想：在河邊有一間小房子應(yīng)該會(huì)很愜意的。他看著看著，發(fā)現(xiàn)有東西在洞里閃爍。很快他看清那是一只眼睛，然后一張臉也出現(xiàn)了。

A brown little face, with whiskers.

一張褐色的小臉，長著幾根胡須。

With bright eyes, and small ears, and thick shiny hair.

眼睛亮亮的，耳朵小小的，毛發(fā)厚而亮。

It was the Water Rat!

這是只水老鼠。

Then the two animals stood up and looked at each other.

于是他們倆都站了起來，看著對方。

'Hello, Mole! 'said the Water Rat.

“你好，鼴鼠!”

'Hello, Rat! 'said the Mole.

“你好，水鼠!”

'Would you like to come over?' asked the Rat.

“你愿意過來嗎?”水鼠問道。

'Oh, it's easy to talk, 'said the Mole, a little crossly. The river was new to him and he did not know how to get to the other side.

“噢，說起來容易，”鼴鼠有點(diǎn)嗔怪地說。河，對他來說是很陌生的，他不知道怎樣才能到達(dá)河對岸。

The Rat said nothing, and disappeared. Then he appeared again, in a little blue and white boat, which came quickly across the river towards the Mole. It stopped by the bank, and a moment later the Mole, to his great surprise and excitement, found himself actually sitting in a real boat.

水鼠一聲沒吭便不見了，不久又出現(xiàn)了，坐在一條藍(lán)白相間的小船上，它很快地向鼴鼠這邊駛來，靠岸邊停了下來。不一會(huì)兒，鼴鼠滿懷好奇和興奮地發(fā)現(xiàn)他自己確確實(shí)實(shí)地坐在了一條真正的船上。

'Do you know, 'he said, as the Rat began to row away from the bank, 'I've never been in a boat before in all my life. '

“你知道嗎，”當(dāng)水鼠將船劃離河岸時(shí)，鼴鼠對他說，“我這輩子還從未坐過船呢。”

'What?' cried the Rat. 'My dear fellow, you haven't lived! Believe me, 'he went on seriously, 'there is nothing-really nothing-nicer than just messing about in boats. You can go up river, down river, stay where you are, it really doesn't matter. There's always something to do, but you don't have to do it if you don't want to. You can do what you like. Look here! If you're not busy today, why don't we spend the day on the river together?'

“什么?”水鼠叫道。“我親愛的伙計(jì)，你算白活了!相信我，”他一本正經(jīng)地繼續(xù)著，“沒有什么——真的沒有什么——比在船上打發(fā)時(shí)光更愜意。你可以劃向河的上游，或下游，還可以隨意停下來，一點(diǎn)問題也沒有?？傆惺伦觯绻悴幌肴プ鲆膊挥妹銖?qiáng)，你可以干你愿意干的事?？催@兒!如果你今天沒事，我們?yōu)槭裁床灰黄鹪诤由贤嫠徽炷?”

The Mole had listened to all this with great interest. Now he sat back in the comfortable seat and said, 'What a wonderful day this is! Let's start at once! '

鼴鼠帶著極大的興趣聽完了這一切。然后，他向后靠坐在那張舒服的座位上回答道：“這將是多么美妙的一天!我們現(xiàn)在就出發(fā)吧!”

But first the Rat went into his hole, and after a while came out carrying a very large and heavy lunch basket. This went in to the boat, under the Mole's feet, and then the Rat began to row down river. The two friends talked from time to time, but mostly the Mole just watched the river dreamily, enjoying the sounds and the smells and the sunlight. At last they turned off the big river into a little side river that came down to join it. The Rat stopped the boat and they got out on to a bank of soft green grass under tall willow trees. It was very quiet and very peaceful.

但是水鼠先回到了洞里，一會(huì)兒又出來了，提著一只又大又沉的午餐籃。他把籃子移進(jìn)船內(nèi)鼴鼠的腳下，然后開始向下游劃去。這倆朋友時(shí)不時(shí)地聊著天，但更多的時(shí)候，鼴鼠僅僅是神思恍惚地注視著河水，享受著自然界的音響，氣味，還有陽光。最后他們劃離主河道轉(zhuǎn)入一條與大河交匯的小支流。后來水鼠把船停了下來，他們就一起上了岸。岸上高大的柳樹掩映著一片松軟的綠油油的草地，非常安怡恬靜。

The Mole sat down and looked around him. 'What a beautiful place! 'he said happily.

鼴鼠坐下來，看了看他的周圍，愉快地說道：“多么美麗的地方!”

'Time for lunch, 'said the Rat, opening the basket. 'Come on, Mole! Let's get to work. '

“該用午餐了，”水鼠邊說邊打開籃子，“快點(diǎn)，鼴鼠!過來準(zhǔn)備吧。”

The Mole was happy to obey, because he was very hungry indeed after all his cleaning earlier in the day. And what a lunch it was! There were cold meats and egg sandwiches, cooked chicken and tomatoes, apples and bananas and a large cake.

鼴鼠高興地服從吩咐，經(jīng)過一早上的大掃除，他確實(shí)非常餓。這是一頓多么豐富的午餐啊!有冷肉和雞蛋三明治，有炸雞和西紅柿、蘋果、香蕉，還有一大塊蛋糕。

When at last they could eat no more, the Mole lay back and watched the river lazily. After a while he sat up.'I can see a long line of bubbles in the water, 'he said. 'I wonder what it is. '

最后他們再也吃不下了，鼴鼠躺倒在地，懶懶地看著河水。不一會(huì)兒，他坐了起來說：“我看見水里有一長串水泡，那是什么?”

'Bubbles? Oho! 'said the Rat, and he called out across the river in a friendly kind of way.

“水泡?哦噢!”水鼠友好地向河水那兒叫道。

The bubbles stopped and turned. Soon a wet whiskery nose appeared above the edge of the bank, and the Otter pulled him self out and shook the water from his coat.

水泡沒了，又轉(zhuǎn)到了另一個(gè)地方。很快一個(gè)濕漉漉的長著胡須的鼻子出現(xiàn)在河岸邊，水獺爬上了岸，抖動(dòng)著外衣上的水。

'A lunch party! 'he said, going straight towards the food. 'Why didn't you invite me, Ratty?'

“午餐派對!”他邊說邊徑直向食物走去。“你為什么不邀請我，阿鼠?”

'We didn't plan it, 'explained the Rat. 'We only decided to come this morning. Oh, and this is my friend, Mr Mole. '

“我們不是事先計(jì)劃好的，”水鼠解釋道。“我們今天早上才決定過來的。哦，這是我的朋友，鼴鼠先生。”

'Happy to meet you, 'said the Otter, and the two animals were friends at once.

“很高興認(rèn)識(shí)你，”水獺招呼道，這兩只動(dòng)物馬上就成了朋友。

'All the world seems to be out on the river today, 'said the Otter while he ate. 'I came up this side river to try and get a moment's peace, and then I find you fellows having a lunch party! '

“今天所有人似乎都在河上，”水獺邊吃邊說，“我游到這條支流上是想安靜一會(huì)兒，不想?yún)s碰到你們哥倆在搞午餐派對!”

Suddenly there was a noise in the thick bushes behind them, and a big black and white head looked out at them.

突然，他們身后濃密的灌木叢里發(fā)出了響聲，一個(gè)大大的黑白腦袋探出頭瞅著他們。

'Come on, old Badger! 'shouted the Rat.

“過來，老獾!”水鼠叫道。

The Badger came forward a few steps, then stopped. 'Hmm! A crowd! 'he said crossly, and turned his back and disappeared again into the bushes.

獾向前走了幾步又停下來，“呣，這么擠!”他慍怒地說著，轉(zhuǎn)身消失在灌木叢里。

'What a pity! 'said the Rat. 'Dear old Badger! He's a good fellow, but he does hate a crowd. We won't see him again today. But tell us, who's out on the river?'

“多遺憾!”水鼠嘆道。“親愛的老獾!他人倒不錯(cuò)，就是討厭人多，今天就甭想見他了。但你給我們說說，誰還在河上?”

'Toad's out, for one, 'replied the Otter. 'In his shiny new boat. He's got new boating clothes, and everything! '

“癩蛤蟆出來了，算他一個(gè)，”水獺回答道。“坐在他那亮晃晃的新船上，穿著嶄新的劃船裝，總之，什么都是新的!”

The Rat and the Otter looked at each other and laughed.

水鼠和水獺相互對視一下，然后笑了起來。

'Toad's always trying something new, 'the Rat explained to the Mole. 'But he always gets bored so quickly. Last year it was a house-boat, and he wanted to spend the rest of his life living on the river. This year it's rowing-boats. '

“癩蛤蟆總是在嘗試新鮮的玩意兒，”水鼠向鼴鼠解釋。“但他總是很快又厭倦了。去年是一種房子船，他曾打算在河上度過他的余生。今年他又喜歡上了劃艇。”

'He's a nice fellow, of course, 'said the Otter. 'But he never learns from his mistakes! '

“當(dāng)然，他這哥們兒不錯(cuò)，”水獺接著說，“但是他從來不從他的錯(cuò)誤里吸取教訓(xùn)!”

From where they sat they could see a bit of the big river. And just then they saw a rowing-boat going past, and in it a short fat animal, rowing very hard and very badly.

從他們坐的地方能看見大河的一點(diǎn)風(fēng)景。這時(shí)，他們恰好看到一艘劃艇經(jīng)過，一只短粗肥胖的動(dòng)物正在非常吃力、非常笨拙地劃船。

'There's Toad going past now, 'said the Rat. 'Look at him! He'll turn that boat over in a minute. '

“正朝這邊來的就是蛤蟆，”水鼠說，“看他!很快就會(huì)把船弄翻的。”

'Of course he will, 'laughed the Otter. Toad had now disappeared up river, and the Otter went on, 'Did I ever tell you that story about Toad and the…'

“那是當(dāng)然的，”水獺笑道，癩蛤蟆此時(shí)已不在他們視線里了，水獺繼續(xù)著，“我曾告訴過你關(guān)于蛤蟆的故事和那……”

There was a sudden movement in the water near the bank. Something silvery shone for a second, then it was gone. And so was the Otter. The Mole looked down. The Otter's voice was still in his ears, but the Otter had disappeared.

只見岸邊的水突然晃動(dòng)了一下，什么東西銀光一閃便不見了，水獺也一晃眼就離開了。鼴鼠低頭看著河水，水獺的聲音仍在耳邊未落，但身影已消失。

There was just a long line of bubbles in the river.

河面上僅僅留下了一長串水泡。

The Rat sang a little song to himself, and the Mole remembered that it was not at all polite, in the animal world, to say anything if your friends disappeared at any moment, for any reason.

水鼠自個(gè)兒哼著歌，鼴鼠記起來了：在動(dòng)物世界里，不管你的朋友在何時(shí)為何事突然消失，你都不能發(fā)表任何看法，否則就會(huì)被視為無禮。

'Well, well, 'said the Rat. 'I suppose we should think about getting home. '

“好了，好了，”水鼠說。“我想我們該準(zhǔn)備回家了。”

The Mole packed the things away in the lunch basket, and soon the Rat began to row gently homewards while the after noon sun went down behind the trees. The Rat was dreaming quietly to himself, but the Mole was very full of lunch and the excitements of the day. He began to think that he knew every thing about boats now.

鼴鼠把東西收拾到午餐籃里，很快水鼠就開始輕松地劃著船回去了。午后的太陽已落在樹后，水鼠在那兒一聲不吭沉浸在自己的夢中，鼴鼠則滿肚子的午餐，滿腦子的興奮。他開始認(rèn)為他現(xiàn)在完全了解船了。

And in a while he said, 'Ratty! Pleas, I want to row! '

過了一會(huì)，他說：“阿鼠!拜托，我想劃船!”

The Rat shook his head with a smile. 'Not yet, my young friend, 'he said. 'Wait until you've had a few lessons. It's not as easy as it looks. '

水鼠微笑著搖搖頭。“還不行，我年輕的朋友，”他說。“等你學(xué)了幾招再劃，這并不像看起來那么簡單。”

The Mole was quiet for a minute or two. But he wanted to row very much indeed. He was sure that he could row as well as Rat. Then, before the Rat could stop him, he jumped up, and pulled the oars out of the surprised Rat's hands. The Rat fell backwards off his seat, calling out, 'Stop it, you silly fellow! You'll have us in the river! '

鼴鼠安靜了一兩分鐘，但是他確實(shí)非常想劃船，他相信他能劃得像水鼠那樣好。緊接著，他跳了起來，水鼠還沒來得及阻止，他已從吃驚的水鼠手中抽過船槳。水鼠從座位上摔了下來，叫道：“停下，你這傻蛋!你會(huì)把我們弄下水的!”

The Mole made a great dig at the water with the oars, but the oars never touched the water at all. The Mole's legs flew up above his head, and he found himself lying on top of the Rat in the bottom of the boat. Frightened, he tried to get up, got hold of the side of the boat, and the next moment-splash!

鼴鼠用木槳在水面上劃過很大的弧度，但雙槳根本挨不著水，而他的腿已翹過他的頭，他發(fā)現(xiàn)他正壓在摔倒在船底板上的水鼠身上。驚恐中，他試圖站起來，便抓住船的一邊，只聽——撲通一聲。

Over went the boat, and the Mole and the Rat and the lunch basket were all in the water.

船翻了，鼴鼠，水鼠，午餐籃統(tǒng)統(tǒng)落入水里。

It was the Rat, of course, who pulled the Mole out of the water, who turned the boat right way up, who found the oars, who got the lunch basket from the bottom of the river. And he laughed and laughed.

是水鼠，當(dāng)然是水鼠把鼴鼠拉出水面，是他把船翻正，找回雙槳，從河底撈出午餐籃，然后他笑個(gè)不停。

When all was ready again, the unhappy Mole sat in the boat very wet and very miserable. As they left, he said in a low voice, 'Ratty, my dear friend! I have been so silly and so ungrateful. I really am very sorry indeed. '

待一切收拾停當(dāng)，鼴鼠不開心地坐在船上，渾身濕漉漉的，非?？蓱z。當(dāng)他們起程回家時(shí)，他低聲地說，“阿鼠，我親愛的朋友!我是多么愚蠢，多么不知好歹，我真的非常抱歉。”

'That's all right! 'replied the Rat kindly. 'I'm always in and out of the water myself, so don't worry about it. But I re ally think you should come and stay with me for a while. You'll be very comfortable, and I'll teach you to row and to swim. Soon you'll be as good a boatman as any of us. '

“沒什么!”水鼠友善地回答道。“我總是在水里出入，不要為此擔(dān)心。但是我真的認(rèn)為你應(yīng)該來和我呆一段時(shí)間。你會(huì)很舒服的，我將教你劃船，教你游泳，不久你就會(huì)和我們劃得一樣好。”

The Mole was almost too happy to speak and could find no words to thank his friend.

鼴鼠太高興了，他簡直不知道該說什么來感謝他的朋友。

When they got home, they had a good hot supper in front of a bright fire while the Rat told exciting stories of life on the river. Then he took the Mole upstairs to the best bedroom, and soon the Mole was lying warm and comfortable, listening to the sound of his new friend the River running past his bedroom window.

他們回到家，坐在明亮的火爐前用著可口的熱乎乎的晚餐，水鼠邊吃邊說著河上的生活趣事。然后他把鼴鼠帶到樓上最好的臥室，不久鼴鼠就暖和地，舒服地躺下了，聆聽著他的新朋友——河水——流過窗邊的聲音。

That was the first of many wonderful days for the Mole, as the spring turned slowly into a golden summer. He learnt to swim and to row, and he learnt to love the sound of the wind when it went whispering its secrets through the trees and the plants by the river.

那是春天慢慢向金色的夏天轉(zhuǎn)變時(shí)，鼴鼠所經(jīng)歷的多彩生活的第一天。從那以后，他學(xué)著游泳，劃船，還學(xué)著去喜歡聽風(fēng)聲——聽它吹過河邊的樹木和花草時(shí)沙沙低語著自己的秘密。