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王子与贫儿|The Prince and the Pauper

第七章　汤姆的初次御餐|Chapter VII.Tom’s First Royal Dinner

属类： 双语小说 【分类】儿童读物 阅读：[18223]
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下午一点钟稍过了一会儿，汤姆听天由命地受了一场活罪，任凭人家给他打扮起来，准备进御餐。他发现自己还是穿得像以前那样讲究，可是一切都不同了，从绉领一直到袜子，一切都变换了。他随即就被引导着派头十足地走进一个宽大而华丽的房间里，那儿已经摆好了一桌给一个人吃的筵席。屋里的陈设都是大块大块的黄金做的，上面还有许多图案，几乎使这些家具成为无价之宝，因为那都是本汶努图的作品。那些穿戴华丽的仆役占了半个房间。有一个牧师致了餐前祷词；汤姆因为一向就和饥饿分不开家，非常嘴馋，他正想开始取食，却被柏克莱伯爵阻止了，给他颈上系了一条餐巾；因为专给皇太子管手巾的要职是由这位贵族家里世袭的。汤姆的司酒也在场，每逢他想要自己斟酒喝，司酒就抢先给他斟了。太子的试食官也在场，随时准备冒着被毒死的危险，遵命尝食任何可疑的菜肴。这一次他只是一个装点场面的人物，汤姆很少吩咐他执行他的职务。可是不知多少年以前，曾经有过一些时候，试食官的职务是有危险的，因此并不是一个人人羡慕的职位。为什么不用狗或是流浪儿来试验，似乎有些奇怪，可是王室的一切作风都是奇怪的。宫中第一侍从官达赛勋爵也在场，天知道他是干什么事的；可是他反正是在那儿——那就随他吧。总膳司也在场，他站在汤姆背后，受站在近处的皇家事务大臣和御厨总管大臣指挥，监督王子进餐的隆重仪式。除此而外，汤姆还有三百八十四个仆人；可是他们当然并不都在这间屋子里，连四分之一都不到；而且汤姆根本还不知道他有那么多用人。

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Somewhat after one in the afternoon, Tom resignedly underwent the ordeal of being dressed for dinner.He found himself as finely clothed as before, but everything different, everything changed, from his ruff to his stockings.He was presently conducted with much state to a spacious and ornate apartment, where a table was already set for one.Its furniture was all of massy gold, and beautified with designs which well-nigh made it priceless, since they were the work of Benvenuto.The room was half filled with noble servitors.A chaplain said grace, and Tom was about to fall to, for hunger had long been constitutional with him, but was interrupted by my lord the Earl of Berkeley, who fastened a napkin about his neck；for the great post of Diaperers to the Princes of Wales was hereditary in this nobleman’s family.Tom’s cupbearer was present, and forestalled all his attempts to help himself to wine.The taster to his highness the Prince of Wales was there also, prepared to taste any suspicious dish upon requirement, and run the risk of being poisoned.He was only an ornamental appendage at this time, and was seldom called to exercise his function；but there had been times, not many generations past, when the office of taster had its perils, and was not a grandeur to be desired.Why they did not use a dog or a plumber seems strange；but all the ways of royalty are strange.My Lord d’Arcy, First Groom of the Chamber, was there, to do goodness knows what；but there he was—let that suffice.The Lord Chief Butler was there, and stood behind Tom’s chair, overseeing the solemnities, under command of the Lord Great Steward and the Lord Head Cook, who stood near.Tom had three hundred and eighty-four servants besides these；but they were not all in that room, of course, nor the quarter of them；neither was Tom aware yet that they existed.

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所有到场的人都在不到一个钟头以前受过严格训练，要记住王子暂时有些神经错乱，当心不要在他有什么荒唐举动的时候表示惊讶。这类“荒唐举动”不久就在他们面前表演起来了，可是这只引起大家的惋惜和忧虑，而没有使他们发笑。他们看见亲爱的王子有了这种毛病，真是感到深重的痛苦。

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All those that were present had been well drilled within the hour to remember that the prince was temporarily out of his head, and to be careful to show no surprise at his vagaries.These “vagaries”were soon on exhibition before them；but they only moved their compassion and their sorrow, not their mirth.It was a heavy affliction to them to see the beloved prince so stricken.

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可怜的汤姆主要是用手指抓饭吃，可是谁也没有笑他，甚至还故意装作没有看见的样子。他好奇地细看他的餐巾，很感兴趣，因为那是用很讲究、很漂亮的材料做的。后来他天真地说道：

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Poor Tom ate with his fingers mainly；but no one smiled at it, or even seemed to observe it.He inspected his napkin curiously, and with deep interest, for it was of a very dainty and beautiful fabric, then said with simplicity：

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“请把这个拿开，免得我不当心的时候把它弄脏了。”

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“Prithee, take it away, lest in mine unheedfulness it be soiled.”

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世袭的手巾大臣恭恭敬敬地把它拿开，他一声不响，也没有任何反对的表示。

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The Hereditary Diaperer took it away with reverent manner, and without word or protest of any sort.

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汤姆很感兴趣地把萝卜和莴笋仔细看了一阵，然后问问那是什么东西，是不是可以吃的；因为这两种菜从前都是作为奢侈品从荷兰输入的，最近才有人在英国种植。他的问题有人非常恭敬地给他回答了，谁也没有表示惊讶。他吃完饭后的点心之后，就在口袋里装满了栗子；大家都装作根本没有发觉他这个举动，谁也没有因此而吃惊。可是他自己反而马上就为这桩事情烦恼了，而且表现出局促不安的神气；因为他吃这顿饭的时候，只有这桩事情是人家让他亲手干的，所以他就知道自己毫无疑问地做了一桩极不礼貌、极不合王子身份的事情。这时候他鼻子上的肌肉开始搐动起来，鼻尖也往上翘，并且皱起来了。这种情形继续下去，汤姆渐渐表现出越来越大的痛苦。他以恳求的态度望望身边这个大官，又望望那个大官，眼睛里不由得流起泪来了。这些大官的脸上露出慌张的神色，连忙走到王子跟前，请问他有什么不舒服。汤姆十分苦恼地说：

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Tom examined the turnips and the lettuce with interest, and asked what they were, and if they were to be eaten；for it was only recently that men had begun to raise these things in England in place of importing them as luxuries from Holland.His question was answered with grave respect, and no surprise manifested.When he had finished his dessert, he filled his pockets with nuts；but nobody appeared to be aware of it, or disturbed by it.But the next moment he was himself disturbed by it, and showed discomposure；for this was the only service he had been permitted to do with his own hands during the meal, and he did not doubt that he had done a most improper and unprincely thing.At that moment the muscles of his nose began to twitch, and the end of that organ to lift and wrinkle.This continued, and Tom began to evince a growing distress.He looked appealingly, first at one and then another of the lords about him, and tears came into his eyes.They sprang forward with dismay in their faces, and begged to know his trouble.Tom said with genuine anguish：

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“请你们不要见怪，我的鼻子简直痒得要命。遇到这种紧急情况，依照惯例应该怎么办？请快说，因为我实在不能再熬多大工夫了。”

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“I crave your indulgence：my nose itcheth cruelly.What is the custom and usage in this emergence?Prithee speed, for ’tis but a little time that I can bear it.”

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谁也没有笑，可是大家都觉得不知所措，彼此互相张望，为了急于要给王子出个主意而苦恼不堪。哎呀，这可真叫大家碰壁了！英国历史上从来没有任何记载，可以帮助他们渡过这一关。掌礼官又不在场，没有人敢于大胆地冒险在这没有航行标志的大海上通行，擅作主张来解决这么重大的一个问题。真糟糕！可惜没有一位世袭的抓痒官。就在这段时间里，汤姆的眼泪已经流出眼眶外面来，开始顺着脸往下流了。他那搐动的鼻子比之前更加迫切地恳求脱离痛苦。最后还是本能突破了礼仪的藩篱，汤姆自己动手在鼻子上抓痒，他暗自在心中祈祷，如果他做得不对，希望上帝饶恕他。这么一来，也就使他那些臣子们沉重的内心获得了解脱。

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None smiled；but all were sore perplexed, and looked one to the other in deep tribulation for counsel.But behold, here was a dead wall, and nothing in English history to tell how to get over it.The Master of Ceremonies was not present：there was no one who felt safe to venture upon this uncharted sea, or risk the attempt to solve this solemn problem.Alas！there was no Hereditary Scratcher.Meantime the tears had overflowed their banks, and begun to trickle down Tom’s cheeks.His twitching nose was pleading more urgently than ever for relief.At last nature broke down the barriers of etiquette：Tom lifted up an inward prayer for pardon if he was doing wrong, and brought relief to the burdened hearts of his court by scratching his nose himself.

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这一顿饭吃完之后，就有一位大臣进来，在汤姆面前端着一只大而浅的金盘子，里面盛着很香的玫瑰水，给他漱口和洗手指；专管手巾的世袭大臣站在一边，手里拿着一条餐巾供他使用。汤姆不知所措地瞪着眼睛对那只盘子望了一会儿，然后把它端到嘴边，郑重其事地喝了一口。然后他把盘子交还给那伺候着的大臣，说道：

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His meal being ended, a lord came and held before him a broad, shallow, golden dish with fragrant rosewater in it, to cleanse his mouth and fingers with；and my lord the Hereditary Diaperer stood by with a napkin for his use.Tom gazed at the dish a puzzled moment or two, then raised it to his lips, and gravely took a draught.Then he returned it to the waiting lord, and said：

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“不，阁下，我不喜欢喝这个；这种酒味道倒是很香，可是太没有劲头。”

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“Nay, it likes me not, my lord：it hath a pretty flavour, but it wanteth strength.”

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王子的病态心理又有这种古怪的表现，这使得他身边的人都心痛了，可是这种不幸的情景没有引起任何人发笑。

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This new eccentricity of the prince’s ruined mind made all the hearts about him ache；but the sad sight moved none to merriment.

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汤姆接下来的一个不自觉的错误，就是正当牧师在他椅子后面刚刚站定，举起双手，闭上眼睛，抬起头来正要开始祝福的时候，他却站起来离开了餐桌。可是，大家还是装作没有看出王子干了什么反常的事情。

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Tom’s next unconscious blunder was to get up and leave the table just when the chaplain had taken his stand behind his chair, and with uplifted hands, and closed, uplifted eyes, was in the act of beginning the blessing.Still nobody seemed to perceive that the prince had done a thing unusual.

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随后由于汤姆自己的要求，他被引到他的私室里去了，陪送他的人把他独自留在那儿，让他自由自在。那橡木壁板上的钩子上有一副亮晃晃的钢制盔甲，一件件分开挂着，上面都是镶金的精致的美丽图案。这套武士的甲胄是属于那个真王子的——这是王后巴尔夫人新近送他的礼物。汤姆穿上胫甲、臂铠，戴上插着羽毛的头盔，还有他不要别人帮助就能穿上的其他部件，随后他就想要叫人来帮忙，把其余的东西都穿上。可是他又想起了吃饭的时候带回来的栗子，觉得现在可以自由自在地拿出来吃，没有那一大堆人看着，也没有那些世袭的大官来帮他的忙，惹他厌恶，那该是多么好玩儿；所以他就把那几件漂亮东西归还原处，接着就砸起栗子来了。这是他以为他有罪、被上帝罚他当了王子以来，几乎第一次感觉到的自自然然的快乐。栗子通通吃完之后，他就东翻西找地在一个壁橱里找到了几本有趣的书，其中有一本是关于英国宫廷礼节的，这是个宝贝。他就在一张豪华的长睡椅上躺下，全神贯注地开始研究礼节了。现在我们就让他在那儿待着，暂时不再谈他吧。

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By his own request, our small friend was now conducted to his private cabinet, and left there alone to his own devices.Hanging upon hooks in the oaken wainscoting were the several pieces of a suit of shining steel armour, covered all over with beautiful designs exquisitely inlaid in gold.This martial panoply belonged to the true prince—a recent present from Madam Parr, the queen.Tom put on the greaves, the gauntlets, the plumed helmet, and such other pieces as he could don without assistance, and for a while was minded to call for help and complete the matter, but bethought him of the nuts he had brought away from dinner, and the joy it would be to eat them with no crowd to eye him, and no Grand Hereditaries to pester him with undesired services；so he restored the pretty things to their several places, and soon was cracking nuts, and feeling almost naturally happy for the first time since God for his sins had made him a prince.When the nuts were all gone, he stumbled upon some inviting books in a closet, among them one about the etiquette of the English court.This was a prize.He lay down upon a sumptuous divan, and proceeded to instruct himself with honest zeal.Let us leave him there for the present.

序号 英文/音标 中文解释 更多操作

clothe

[kləʊð]

vt.穿上;赋予

beautify

[’bjuːtɪfaɪ]

v.美化;变美;修饰

priceless

[’praɪsləs]

adj.无价的

Wales

[weɪlz]

n.英国威尔士(英国的一部分;位于大不列颠岛西南)

forestall

[fɔː’stɔːl]

v.领先;占先一步;先发制人，阻止，妨碍

highness

[’haɪnəs]

(地位、程度等)高;高贵;高尚,

poison

[’pɔɪzn]

n.毒药;毒害;败坏道德之事

ornamental

[ˌɔːnə’mentl]

adj.装饰的

past

[pɑːst]

a. 过去的;

royalty

[’rɔɪəlti]

n.皇家;皇族

goodness

[’ɡʊdnəs]

n.善良;美德;精华

Butler

[’bʌtlə(r)]

n.男管家;仆役长

solemnity

[sə’lemnəti]

n.庄严;庄重的仪式

beloved

[bɪ’lʌvd]

adj.心爱的

dainty

[’deɪnti]

adj.小巧精致的;优美的;讲究的;可口的

lest

[lest]

conj.惟恐;以免;担心

reverent

[’revərənt]

adj.恭敬的;虔诚的

turnip

[’tɜːnɪp]

n.萝卜;芜菁;大头菜

lettuce

[’letɪs]

n.莴苣;生菜;纸币

Holland

[’hɔlənd]

n.荷兰

manifest

[’mænɪfest]

vt.显示;证实;表露

distress

[dɪ’stres]

n.不幸;危难;苦恼;痛苦

dismay

[dɪs’meɪ]

n.沮丧;绝望

usage

[’juːsɪdʒ]

n.使用;用法

perplex

[pə’pleks]

v.使困惑;使糊涂;使复杂化

felted

[’feltɪd]

v. 把 ... 制成毡(使 ... 粘结)

solemn

[’sɒləm]

adj.庄严的;严肃的;隆重的

overflow

[ˌəʊvə’fləʊ]

v.泛滥;溢出;充满;洋溢

twitch

[twɪtʃ]

v.急拉;抽动;痉挛;抽搐

inward

[’ɪnwəd]

adj.内部的;内心的;向内的;亲密的

fragrant

[’freɪɡrənt]

adj.芬香的;馥郁的

hath

[hæθ]

v.have的第三人称单数现在式

eccentricity

[ˌeksen’trɪsəti]

n.古怪;古怪的行为;怪癖;离心率

uplift

[’ʌplɪft]

v.鼓舞;提高(道德水准等)

oaken

[’əʊkən]

adj.橡木制的

wainscoting

[’weɪnskətɪŋ]

n.护墙板材料(装壁板)

exquisite

[ɪk’skwɪzɪt]

adj.精挑细选的;精致的;细腻的;强烈的

inlay

[’ɪnleɪ]

v.嵌入;镶嵌;插入

martial

[’mɑːʃl]

adj.军事的;战争的;好战的

gauntlet

[’ɡɔːntlət]

n.金属手套;长手套;夹道鞭笞的刑罚;挑战;夹攻

plume

[pluːm]

n.羽毛;羽饰;羽状物

panoply

[’pænəpli]

n.壮丽的陈列;全副盔甲;盛装;防护物

Madam

[’mædəm]

n.夫人;女士;太太

Parr

[pɑː]

n.幼鲑

pester

[’pestə(r)]

v.纠缠;使苦恼

undesired

[’ʌndɪ’zaɪəd]

adj.不希望有的;不希望得到的

etiquette

[’etɪket]

n.礼仪;礼节;规矩

sumptuous

[’sʌmptʃuəs]

adj.华丽的;奢侈的

divan

[dɪ’væn]

n.会议室;国务会议;沙发床;咖啡馆;吸烟室;诗集

zeal

[ziːl]

n.热情;热忱

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