書蟲二級《新森林的孩子們》：3、愛德華外出拜訪

3．Edward Goes Visiting
3．愛德華外出拜訪

And so the summer went by, and every day was busier than the one before. Humphrey caught two more calves, and they now had more pigs and chickens. Jacob took some of the new young chickens to Lymington to sell, and bought salt and oatmeal, pots for the kitchen, and a gun for Humphrey.

夏天就這樣過去了，一天比一天更忙碌。漢弗萊又逮了兩頭小牛，而且他們現(xiàn)在有了更多的豬和雞。雅各布把一些新出生的小雞拿到利明頓去賣，買回來鹽和燕麥片，買了廚房用的鍋，還給漢弗萊買了一支槍。

King Charles was still in prison, and Cromwell's men went on killing their enemies and stealing the houses and land of the King's friends. Edward could not forget that he was a Beverley of Arnwood, and was often angry.

國王查理仍然在獄中，克倫威爾的人繼續(xù)殺害他們的敵人，并竊取國王支持者的房子和土地。愛德華無法忘記他是安伍德貝弗利家的一員，時常氣憤不已。

I want to be a soldier like our father,' he told Humphrey. 'I want to fight for the King, and tell the world that my name is Beverley!'

“我想像我們的父親一樣成為一名士兵，”他對漢弗萊說，“我想為國王而戰(zhàn)，告訴全世界我的姓氏是貝弗利！”

If you do that, Cromwell's men will put you in prison,' Humphrey said. 'I know how you feel, Edward, but for now. you must stay here with us. What will happen to our sisters if you leave? I can't do all the work, and poor Jacob is getting old and tired.'

“如果你那樣做，克倫威爾的人會把你抓進監(jiān)獄的，”漢弗萊說，“我明白你的感受，愛德華，但是目前你必須和我們待在這兒。如果你離開了，我們的妹妹們怎么辦？我干不了所有的活兒，可憐的雅各布年紀越來越老，越來越累了。”

It was true. Jacob was nearly seventy-six years old and no longer strong. That winter he was often ill and could not leave the cottage. Edward did most of the hunting. He was now very good at it, and knew the forest well.

這是事實。雅各布將近76歲了，已經(jīng)不再強壯了。那個冬天他經(jīng)常生病，都無法離開農(nóng)舍了。大部分打獵的活兒都是愛德華包了。他現(xiàn)在很擅長打獵，對森林也很熟悉。

Early in 1649 Humphrey told Jacob that he needed another dog. 'Smoker is a hunting dog,' he said. 'I need a dog to help me with all the farm animals.'

1649年初，漢弗萊告訴雅各布他還需要一只狗。“斯莫克爾是只獵犬，”他說，“我需要一只狗來幫我照看農(nóng)場里的所有動物。”

A puppy will learn most easily,' said Jacob. 'Oswald Partridge, a forester who lives on the other side of the forest, always has puppies, and he will give us one. But Edward, you must go. I cannot ride that far. Tell Oswald that you are my grandson. He'll be a good friend to you. But remember, your name is Armitage!'

“小狗學得最快了，”雅各布說，“奧斯瓦爾德·帕特里奇是住在森林另一邊的護林人，他那兒總是有小狗，他會給我們一只的。但是愛德華，你得去一趟。我不能騎馬走那么遠。告訴奧斯瓦爾德你是我的孫子，他會對你很友好的。但是記住，你是姓阿米蒂奇！”

The next morning Edward rode White Billy across the forest. He was happy to go out into the world again, but he knew he must be careful. After two hours he arrived at some cottages and knocked on the first door. A girl aged about fourteen opened the door, and told him that Oswald Partridge was out in the forest.

第二天早上，愛德華騎著白比利穿過森林。他很高興又重新走進了外面的世界，但是他知道自己必須要小心。兩個小時之后，他來到了一片農(nóng)舍外，敲了敲第一戶人家的門。一個14歲左右的女孩開了門，她告訴他奧斯瓦爾德·帕特里奇到森林里去了。

I must wait for him, then,' said Edward. 'I've come to ask him for a puppy for my grandfather, Jacob Armitage.'

“那么我得等他了，”愛德華說，“我來是為了替我爺爺雅各布·阿米蒂奇向他要一只小狗。”

Wait a minute,' the girl said. She went inside, and then came back. 'You must come and speak to my father.'

“等一會兒。”那個女孩說。她走進屋去又走回來。“你得來跟我父親說。”

Edward followed the girl inside. The man sitting at a table was dressed like one of Cromwell's men. His tall hat lay on a chair with his sword underneath it. The girl sat down by the fire, and the man went on reading a letter. He did not look at Edward for two or three minutes.

愛德華跟著女孩走進去。坐在桌旁的男人穿得像是克倫威爾的人。他的高帽子放在一把椅子上，帽子下面放著他的劍。女孩在爐火旁坐下，那個男人繼續(xù)看一封信，有兩三分鐘都沒看愛德華一眼。

Edward felt angry. But he was just a poor, unimportant forester, he remembered. So he said nothing, and waited.

愛德華感到氣憤。但是他只是一個毫不重要的窮護林人，他記得這一點。所以他什么也沒說，只是等著。

What's your business, young man?' the man said at last.

“你有什么事情，年輕人？”那個男人終于開口了。

I came, sir, to see Oswald Partridge about a puppy for my grandfather, Jacob Armitage.'

“先生，我是來找奧斯瓦爾德·帕特里奇的，為我爺爺雅各布·阿米蒂奇向他要只小狗。”

Armitage!' The man looked at some papers on the table. 'Yes, one of the foresters. Why hasn't he visited me?'

“阿米蒂奇！”男人看了看桌上的一些文件。“哦，一個護林人。他為什么沒來見我？”

Why must he see you, sir?'

“為什么他必須來見您，先生？”

Because Cromwell has given the New Forest to me, to look after for Parliament. My name is Hetherstone, and all the foresters now work for me.'

“因為克倫威爾把新森林給了我，讓我替議會照管。我叫赫瑟斯頓，現(xiàn)在所有的護林人都為我工作。”

My grandfather has not heard this, sir,' said Edward. 'The New Forest belongs to the King, and my grandfather is one of the King's foresters. But he has a cottage and a farm which belong to him, and not the King.'

“我爺爺沒有聽說此事，先生，”愛德華說，“新森林屬于國王，我爺爺是國王的護林人。但是他有一個屬于他自己的農(nóng)舍和農(nóng)場，這些不是屬于國王的。”

Yes, I know about Jacob Armitage. And I know that he was Colonel Beverley's friend. The Colonel was a brave man, it's true, but he fought for the King and so was an enemy of Parliament. Tell me, were you a friend of the Beverley family?'

“是的，我知道雅各布·阿米蒂奇。而且我還知道他是貝弗利上校的朋友。上校是個勇敢的人，沒錯，但是他為國王而戰(zhàn)，所以就是議會的敵人。告訴我，你是貝弗利家的朋友嗎？”

When I was a child, I lived at Arnwood with the Beverley children.'

“我小時候和貝弗利家的孩子一起住在安伍德。”

And where were you when the soldiers burned Arnwood?'

“那么士兵們燒安伍德的時候，你在哪兒呢？”

I was at my grandfather's cottage,' replied Edward, his eyes wild with anger.

“我在爺爺?shù)霓r(nóng)舍里。”愛德華回答，他的眼神由于憤怒而瘋狂。

I can understand why you feel angry about that.' Mr Hetherstone shook his head slowly. 'Those soldiers did a terrible, terrible thing, 'he said quietly. Then he looked up at Edward again. 'But you must understand, young man, that your grandfather can no longer work as a forester. I cannot give work to people who are friends of the King. The forest deer now belong to Cromwell, and if you shoot any deer, you will go to prison for it.'

“我可以理解你為什么為此感到憤怒。”赫瑟斯頓先生緩緩地搖了搖頭。“那些士兵做了件非常非?？膳碌氖虑椤?rdquo;他平靜地說。然后他又抬頭看著愛德華說道：“但是你必須明白，年輕人，你爺爺不能再當護林人了。我不能把工作交給國王的支持者做。森林里的鹿現(xiàn)在也歸克倫威爾了，如果你捕殺了任何一只，你就會因此而入獄。”

Sir,' Edward said quietly, 'the King himself is in prison and so he cannot pay his foresters. If they kill the deer, it is because they must have food to eat. I am sure the King will understand that his people must live.'

“先生，”愛德華平靜地說，“國王自己也在獄中，所以他不能付錢給他的護林人。如果他們殺死了鹿，那是因為他們必須有食物吃。我敢肯定國王會理解的，他的人民必須活下去。”

Well, well, those are brave words. But you will still go to prison if we catch you. Now, you can go to the kitchen and wait for Oswald.' Mr Hetherstone turned to his daughter. 'Patience, give Armitage something to eat.'

“好，好，這些話很勇敢。但是如果我們抓到你這么做的話，你仍然會進監(jiān)獄的?，F(xiàn)在，你可以去廚房等奧斯瓦爾德了。”赫瑟斯頓先生轉(zhuǎn)過頭對他的女兒說：“佩興斯，給阿米蒂奇一些吃的。”

Edward went out and took White Billy to the stables behind the cottage, then followed Patience to the kitchen. 'I came here for a puppy,' he thought, 'and I have found a Roundhead — who sends a Beverley of Arnwood to eat in the kitchen! But he is sorry about the burning of Arnwood, so I don't hate him.'

愛德華走出來，把白比利牽到農(nóng)舍后面的馬廄里，然后跟著佩興斯到了廚房。“我來這里是為了要小狗，”他想，“卻發(fā)現(xiàn)了一個圓顱黨人——他把安伍德貝弗利家的一員打發(fā)到廚房里吃飯！但是他為安伍德被燒感到抱歉，所以我不恨他。”

Patience put food on the table. Edward thanked her and sat down to eat. Patience smiled, and Edward saw that she was a beautiful girl.

佩興斯把食物放到桌上。愛德華謝過她，坐下吃起來。佩興斯笑了，愛德華發(fā)現(xiàn)她是個漂亮的姑娘。

Later, he met Oswald Partridge and saw his dogs. Oswald was very surprised to see him. 'I never knew Jacob had a grandson,' he said. 'I never knew he had a son! Are you on the King's side, like Jacob?'

稍晚些時，他見到了奧斯瓦爾德·帕特里奇，看到了他養(yǎng)的狗。奧斯瓦爾德看到他非常吃驚。“我從來不知道雅各布有個孫子，”他說，“我從來都不知道他有兒子！你是國王一邊的嗎，像雅各布一樣？”

To the death, ' replied Edward, 'when the time comes.'

“至死效忠國王，”愛德華回答道，“只等時機到來。”

Ah, then you can have one of my puppies,' Oswald said. He told Edward a bit about Mr Hetherstone. 'He's one of Cromwell's good friends, they say, but he's not a bad man. There are some much worse than him. I've kept my job, but many haven't. We must all be careful these days.'

“啊，那么你可以得到我的一只小狗。”奧斯瓦爾德說。他告訴了愛德華關(guān)于赫瑟斯頓的一些事情。“人們說他是克倫威爾的親信之一，但他不是個壞人。有些人比他壞多了。我保住了我的工作，但是很多人沒有。如今我們都必須小心。”

It was now late, so Edward stayed the night in a room above the stables. There was no bed and no door, and Edward could not sleep because he was so cold. Soon he got up and began to walk around outside, to get warm.

這時天色已晚，于是愛德華就留在馬廄上面的房間里過夜。房里沒有床，也沒有門，愛德華無法入睡，因為他太冷了。沒一會兒他就起來，開始在外面走動，好讓自己暖和點。

There was a light upstairs at one of the windows of the Hetherstones, cottage, which was strangely bright. Edward watched it. He saw someone moving in the room, and suddenly he saw flames. The room was burning!

赫瑟斯頓家農(nóng)舍的樓上有一個窗口發(fā)出光亮，那光亮異常地耀眼。愛德華注視著窗口。他看到有人在屋里走動，突然他看到了火苗。那個房間著火了！

Fire! Fire!' he shouted. He ran back to the stables and found a ladder. Then he quickly climbed up it to the window, broke the glass, and got into the room. There was smoke everywhere, and he fell over a body on the floor. Quickly, he lifted the body and moved back to the window. The flames were now running along the floor, getting higher and higher. With the body in his arms, he got out onto the ladder, but the flames caught his shirt, burning his arm. He climbed down and carried the body into the stables. There he saw that it was Patience Hetherstone.

“著火了！著火了！”他大喊。他跑回馬廄找了架梯子，然后他快速順著梯子爬到窗口，打碎玻璃，進了房間。屋里到處都是煙，他絆倒在地板上的一個人身上，他迅速抱起那個人回到窗口?，F(xiàn)在火焰正沿著地板燃燒，越燒越高。他抱著那個人出來上了梯子，但是火燒著了他的襯衫，燒到了他的胳膊。他爬下來，把那個人抱到馬廄里。在那里他發(fā)現(xiàn)這人原來是佩興斯·赫瑟斯頓。

Edward ran outside again, and saw that other people were coming with buckets of water. There was a lot of shouting, and Edward was soon up the ladder again while others carried buckets of water up to him.

愛德華又跑出來，看到其他人正提著一桶一桶的水趕來，到處都是喊叫聲。愛德華很快又爬到梯子上，而其他人則把水桶遞上去給他。

In the crowd below, Mr Hetherstone was trying to get near the ladder. 'Save her!' he cried. 'My daughter's up there! She'll burn to death!'

在下面的人群里，赫瑟斯頓先生正試圖接近梯子。“救救她！”他喊道，“我女兒在那上面！她會被燒死的！”

At the top of the ladder, Edward did not hear his cries, but a voice came from the crowd：'There were four burned at Arnwood.'

愛德華在梯子上面，沒聽到他的叫喊，但是有個聲音從人群中傳來：“在安伍德燒死了四個。”

Mr Hetherstone fell down, his face white, and some men carried him into another cottage.

赫瑟斯頓先生跌倒在地，臉色蒼白，一些人把他扶進了另一間農(nóng)舍里。

At last the fire was put out, and Edward came down the ladder. He called Oswald and they went to the stables. Patience was still lying on the floor, but her eyes were now open. She was alive!

最后火被撲滅了，愛德華從梯子上下來。他叫上奧斯瓦爾德一起去了馬廄。佩興斯還躺在地上，但是她的眼睛現(xiàn)在睜開了。她還活著！

They gave her some water and carried her to Oswald's cottage. Then Edward said quietly to Oswald, 'I shall ride home now at once. Come and visit Jacob soon if you can. He's not been well all this winter.'

他們給她喝了些水，把她抬到了奧斯瓦爾德的農(nóng)舍里。然后愛德華平靜地對奧斯瓦爾德說：“我現(xiàn)在要馬上騎馬回家。如果可以的話，你早點兒來看看雅各布吧。他整個冬天都不太好。”

But Mr Hetherstone will want to thank you for saving his daughter's life,' said Oswald.

“但是赫瑟斯頓先生會想謝謝你救了他的女兒的。”奧斯瓦爾德說。

I don't want Mr Hetherstone's thanks. I want nothing from the King's enemy,' said Edward. He rode home with Humphrey's puppy inside his coat. His arm was badly burned, and it was a long time before it was better.

“我不想要赫瑟斯頓先生的感謝，我不想要國王的敵人的任何東西。”愛德華說。他把漢弗萊的小狗揣在外套里，騎馬回家了。他的胳膊嚴重燒傷，很長時間之后才有所恢復。