69:里兹一夜(5)
Because a swan has such a long neck, the table wasjust the right height for Louis.
因为每只天鹅都有一个这么长的脖子,所以这桌子对路易斯来说正好够高。
He didn't need a chair; he ate his supper standingup.
他不需要坐椅子;他可以站着吃他的晚餐。
He tried the sandwich that had mayonnaise on it anddecided he didn't like mayonnaise.
他试尝了一个抹了蛋黄酱的三明治后,感觉他不喜欢蛋黄酱的味道。
Then he carefully pulled each sandwich apart.
然后他小心地把每个三明治都打开来。
All he really wanted was the watercress.
他真正想吃的只是水田芹叶。
He piled the slices of bread in two neat piles, scooped the watercress onto his plate, and had anice supper.
他把一片片的面包齐齐地堆成两堆,将水田芹叶都铲进他的盘子里,这就有了一顿不错的晚餐了。
He did not touch the butter.
他没去碰黄油。
When he was thirsty, instead of drinking from the glass of water,
感到渴时,他也没去喝那杯水,
he walked into the bathroom, drew a basinful of cold water, and drank that.
而是走进浴一室,放了一盆凉水,去喝那里的水。
Then he took his napkin, wiped his beak, and pushed the table out of the way. He felt muchbetter.
然后他叼起他的餐巾,擦了擦嘴,把桌子推到了边上。他感觉好多了。
To be all alone in a hotel room gives a person a cozy feeling and a feeling of importance.
单独呆在一个旅馆的房间里能给人一种舒服和尊贵感。
Louis felt great. But soon he began feeling rather lonely, too.
路易斯感到有些飘飘然了。可不久他却有了一种相当孤寂的感受。
He thought of Sam Bea一ver. He thought of Camp Kookooskoos.
他想念萨姆·比弗。他想念库库斯库斯夏令营。
He thought of his father and mother and sisters and brothers, back home in Montana.
他想念在蒙大拿老家的父母和哥哥姐姐们。
He thought of Serena, the swan he loved, and wondered how she was.
他想念塞蕾娜,他所一爱一的天鹅,想知道她怎么样了。
The words of the song he had played in the lobby came back to him:
他在大厅里吹奏的那首歌的歌词又一次在他的心头萦回:
There's a small hotel With a wishing well; I wish that we were there, together.
有家小旅馆,中有如意井。希望我们能一起去那里。
How wonderful it would be, he thought, if Serena could be here at the Ritz to enjoy the hotelwith him!
那该有多奇妙呵,他想,如果塞蕾娜也在这儿,在里兹饭店和他一起享受的话!
The waiter had left an evening paper on a table. Louis glanced at the front page.
侍者曾在桌上留了份晚报。路易斯朝第一版瞥了一眼。
To his amazement, he saw a picture of himself on the lake in the Public Garden with the SwanBoat.
他惊奇地看到了一幅他在大众公园的湖上和天鹅游艇在一起的照片,
A big headline said: BOSTON GOES WILD OVER THE TRUMPET OF THE SWAN
大标题是这么说的:波士顿为天鹅的号声发狂
The news story began: There's a new bird in town. His name is Louis.
报道的开头是这样的:这个城里新来了一只鸟儿。他的名字叫路易斯。
He is a Trumpeter Swan that really plays the trumpet.
他是一只真的能够吹小号的号手天鹅。
Incredible though it may seem,
虽然听来似乎难以置信,
this rare and beautiful water bird has accepted employment with the Swan Boat managementin the Public Garden
可这只珍稀的美丽水鸟真的接受了大众公园的天鹅游艇管理处的聘请,
and is entertaining boat riders with his smooth trumpet.
用他那圆一润的号声来给乘船的游人助兴。
Crowds gathered at the lake this afternoon after his arrival,
今天下午,他来到这个湖上之后,人们立刻围了过来,
and the sweet notes of his horn were heard in many parts of Boston.
他的小号所发出的动听乐音在波士顿的很多地方都可以听到……