第89章 笨汉杰克 Jack the Dullard（1/2）

《笨汉杰克》，1855 年

Jack the dulrd, 1855

一个古老故事的新编

在这个国家的内地深处，有一座古老的男爵府邸，府里住着一位年迈的领主，他有两个儿子，这两个年轻人都自认为聪明绝顶。

AN oLd StoRY toLd ANEw

Far ierior of the try y an old baronial hall, andit lived an old proprietor, who had o sons, which o youhought theselves too clever by half.

他们想出去向国王的女儿求婚；因为这位公主已经公开宣布，她要选那个能把话说得最动听的年轻人做丈夫。

they wao go out and woo the Kg’s daughter; for the aiden iion had publicly annouhat she would choose for her hband that youth who uld arrange his words best.

于是这两位天才为求婚准备了整整一个星期 —— 这是能给他们的最长时间了；但也足够了，因为他们之前掌握了很多预备知识，而且大家都知道那有多有用。

So these o genies prepared theselves a full week for the woog — this was the loi that uld be grahe; but it was enough, for they had had uch preparatory ration, and everybody knows how eful that is.

其中一个能把整本拉丁语词典都背下来，而且还能把小镇三年的日报内容倒背如流，事实上，他可以随心所欲地正背或倒背。

one of the khe whole Lat diary by heart, and three whole years of the daily paper of the little town to the barga, and so well, ihat he uld repeat it all either backwards or forwards, jt as he chose.

另一个则对社团法研读颇深，对每个社团应该知道的事情都了如指掌；因此他觉得自己能谈论国家大事，还能在议会里插上一手。

the other was deeply readthe rporation ws, and knew by heart what every rporation ought to know; and aly he thought he uld talk of affairs of state, and put his spokethe wheelthe cil.

而且他还多知道一件事：他能在吊裤带上绣上玫瑰和其他花卉，还有阿拉伯式花纹，因为他是个有品味、手指灵巧的家伙。

And he knew ohg ore: he uld ebroider spenders with roses and other flowers, and with arabesques, for he was a tasty, light-fgered fellow.

“我会赢得公主的！” 他们俩都这样喊道。

“I shallthe prcess!” So cried both of the.

于是他们年迈的父亲给了他们每人一匹漂亮的马。

therefore their old papa gave to each of the a handso horse.

那个能背下词典和报纸的年轻人得到了一匹黑马，而那个熟知社团法的人则得到了一匹乳白色的骏马。

the youth who khe diary and neer by heart had a bck horse, and he who knew all about the rporation ws received a ilk-white steed.

然后他们用鱼油擦了擦嘴角，这样说起话来就能变得非常顺滑流利。

then they rubbed the ers of their ouths with fish-oil, so that they ight bee very sooth and glib.

所有的仆人都站在院子里，看着他们骑上马；碰巧老三这时走了过来。

All the servants stood belowthe urtyard, and looked on while they ouheir horses; and jt by ce the third son ca up.

因为领主其实有三个儿子，不过没人把老三和他的两个哥哥算在一起，因为他不像他们那样有学问，实际上大家都叫他 “笨汉杰克”。

For the proprietor had really three sons, though nobody ted the third with his brothers, becae he was not so learned as they, and deed he was generally known as “Jack the dulrd.”

“喂！” 笨汉杰克说，“你们要去哪儿？

我看你们都穿上礼拜天的衣服了！”

“hallo!” said Jack the dulrd, “where are you gog?

I decre you have put on your Sunday clothes!”

“我们要去王宫，去向国王的女儿求婚。

你不知道全国都已经发布的那个通告吗？”

他们把这事儿全告诉了他。

“we’re gog to the Kg’s urt, as suitors to the Kg’s daughter.

don’t you know the annouhat has been ade all through the try?”

And they told hi all about it.

“哎呀！我也要去掺和一下！” 笨汉杰克叫道；他的两个哥哥听了都哈哈大笑起来，然后骑马走了。

“y word! I’ll beit too!” cried Jack the dulrd; and his o brothers burst out ughg at hi, and rode a> “爸爸，亲爱的，” 杰克说，“我也得有匹马呀。

我真的太想结婚了！如果她接受我，那就接受呗；要是她不要我，我也要得到她；反正她得是我的！”

“Father, dear,” said Jack, “I t have a horse too.

I do feel so desperately ed to arry! If she aepts , she aepts ; and if she won’t have , I’ll have her; but she shall be e!”

“别胡说八道了，” 老绅士回答道，“我不会给你马的。

你都不知道怎么说话 —— 你不会组织语言。

你的哥哥们和你可大不一样。”

“don’t talk nonsense,” replied the old gentlean.

“You shall have no horse fro .

You don’t know how to speak — you ’t arrange your words.

Your brothers are very different fellows fro you.”

“好吧，” 笨汉杰克说，“要是我得不到马，我就骑我的公山羊，它驮我也能驮得挺好！”

“well,” quoth Jack the dulrd, “If I ’t have a horse, I’ll take the billy-goat, who belongs to , and hecarryvery well!”

说干就干。

And so said, so done.

他骑上公山羊，把脚跟往它身侧一夹，就像一阵飓风似的沿着大街疾驰而去。

he ouhe billy-goat, pressed his heels to its sides, and galloped down the high street like a hurrie.

“嘿，嚯！这一路骑得真带劲！我来啦！” 笨汉杰克大喊着，还唱起歌来，歌声传得老远老远。

“hei, houp! that was a ride! here I e!” shouted Jack the dulrd, and he sang till his voice echoed far and wide.

但他的两个哥哥在他前面慢悠悠地骑着。

they spoke not a word, for they were thkg about the fiepore speeches they would have t out, and these had to be cleverly prepared beforehand.

“喂！” 笨汉杰克喊道，“我在这儿呢！看看我在大路上捡到了什么。”

“hallo!” shouted Jack the dulrd.

“here a I! Look what I have found on the high road.”

他把捡到的东西给他们看，原来是一只死乌鸦。

And he showed the what it was, and it was a dead crow.

“笨蛋！” 哥哥们叫道，“你拿那个要做什么？”

“dulrd!” excid the brothers, “what are you gog to do with that?”

“拿这只乌鸦？

嘿，我要把它送给公主呀。”

“with the crow?

why, I a gog to give it to the prcess.”

“行啊，你送吧。” 他们说；然后笑了起来，继续骑马前行。

“Yes, do so,” said they; and they ughed, and rode on.

“喂，我又来啦！瞧瞧我现在又捡到什么了：可不是每天在大路上都能捡到这个的！”

“hallo, here I a aga! jt see what I have found now: you don’t fd that on the high road every day!”

哥哥们转过身来看看他这次又捡到什么了。

And the brothers turned round to see what he uld have found now.

“笨蛋！” 他们喊道，“那不过是一只旧木鞋，而且鞋面还不见了呢；你也要把这个送给公主吗？”

“dulrd!” they cried, “that is only an old wooden shoe, and the upper part is issg to the barga; are you gog to give that also to the prcess?”

“我当然要送啦。” 笨汉杰克回答道；哥哥们又笑了起来，继续骑马前行，这样他们就远远地把他甩在了后面；但是 ——

“ost certaly I shall,” replied Jack the dulrd; and aga the brhed and rode on, and th they got faradvance of hi; but —

“喂 —— 嚯啦啦！” 笨汉杰克又出现了。

“hallo — hop rara!” and there is Jack the dulrd aga.

“越来越有意思啦。” 他喊道，“太棒啦！这可太出名啦。”

“It is gettier aer,” he cried.

“hurrah! it is quite fao.”

“哟，你这次又捡到什么了？”

哥哥们问道。

“why, what have you found this ti?”

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