《凯斯宾王子》1 小岛
CHAPTER ONE THE ISLAND
一 小岛
ONCE there were four children whose names were Peter，Susan，Edmund，and Lucy，and it has been told in another book called The Lion，the Witch and the Wardrobe how they had a remarkable adventure.They had opened the door of a magic wardrobe and found themselves in a quite different world from ours，and in that different world they had become Kings and Queens in a country called Narnia.While they were in Narnia they seemed to reign for years and years; but when they came back through the door and found themselves in England again，it all seemed to ha一ve taken no time at all.At any rate，no one noticed that they had ever been away，and they never told anyone except one very wise grown-up.
从前有四个孩子，他们的名字分别叫彼得、苏珊、一爱一德蒙和露茜。他们在一本叫《狮子、女巫和魔衣橱》的书里已经有过一次非常一精一彩的冒险。他们穿过魔衣橱的门，发现了一个与我们截然不同的世界。在那个叫纳尼亚的国家里，他们是国王和女王。他们好像曾经在那里统治了许多年，但当他们从魔法衣橱的门回到我们的世界时，一切又好像没发生过一样，至少没有人发现他们离开过。他们把这件事告诉一位知识渊博的老者之后，再也没对任何人提起过。
That had all happened a year ago，and now all four of them were sitting on a seat at a railway station with trunks and playboxes piled up round them.They were，in fact，on their way back to school.They had tra一velled together as far as this station，which was a junction; and here，in a few minutes，one train would arrive and take the girls away to one school，and in about half an hour another train would arrive and the boys would go off to another school.The first part of the journey，when they were all together，always seemed to be part of the holidays; but now when they would be saying good-bye and going different ways so soon，everyone felt that the holidays were really over and everyone felt their term-time feelings beginning again，and they were all rather gloomy and no one could think of anything to say.Lucy was going to boarding school for the first time.
那是一年前的事了。现在，他们四个正坐在火车站的椅子上，周围放着行李箱和玩具箱。实际上，他们这是在回学校的路上，他们的旅行到这个车站就算是结束了。再等一会儿，会有一辆火车带女孩们去她们的学校，然后再过大约半个小时，另一辆火车过来带男孩们去另外一所学校。他们感觉还没有从之前愉快的假期里走出来，仿佛还在度假一样。但是现在，他们马上就要说再见，然后去不同的地方。每个人都意识到到假期真的结束了，他们要开始新的学一习一生活，所以他们的情绪都很低落，什么话也不想说。况且，露茜是第一次去寄宿学校读书。
It was an empty，sleepy，country station and there was hardly anyone on the platform except themselves.Suddenly Lucy ga一ve a sharp little cry，like someone who has been stung by a wasp.
在这个沉寂的乡村车站，月台上除了他们几个，几乎再也没有其他人。突然，露茜像被马蜂蜇了一下一样，尖一叫了一声。
"""What's up，Lu?""said Edmund-and then suddenly broke off and made a noise like""Ow!"""
"""怎么啦，露茜......?""一爱一德蒙还没问完，他也跟着尖一叫了起来。"
"""What on earth-""，began Peter，and then he too suddenly changed what he had been going to say.Instead，he said，""Susan，let go! What are you doing? Where are you dragging me to?"""
"""到底怎么......""彼得刚问了一半，就突然打住，说道：""苏珊，放手!你在干吗，你拉我去哪?"""
"""I'm not touching you，""said Susan.""Someone is pulling me.Oh-oh-oh-stop it!"""
"""我没有碰你，好像有人在拉我。噢......噢......噢......停下!""苏珊叫道。"
Everyone noticed that all the others' faces had gone very white.
他们都看到大家的脸一色一突然都变得煞白。
"""I felt just the same，""said Edmund in a breathless voice.""As if I were being dragged along.A most frightful pulling-ugh! it's beginning again."""
"""我也是。""一爱一德蒙都快喘不过气来了。""好像有人一直在拉我，好可怕......啊!又开始了。"""
"""Me too，""said Lucy.""Oh，I can't bear it."""
"""我也是。""露茜说：""噢，我受不了了。"""
"""Look sharp!""shouted Edmund.""All catch hands and keep together.This is magic-I can tell by the feeling.Quick!"""
"""快!""一爱一德蒙喊。""大家快待在一起，紧紧拉着手。这是魔法的力量，我能感觉到。快!"""
"""Yes，""said Susan.""Hold hands.Oh，I do wish it would stop-oh!"""
"""没错。""苏珊也感觉到了。""快拉紧。噢，希望能赶快停下来......噢!"""
Next moment the luggage，the seat，the platform，and the station had completely vanished.The four children，holding hands and panting，found themselves standing in a woody place-such a woody place that branches were sticking into them and there was hardly room to move.They all rubbed their eyes and took a deep breath.
紧接着行李、座椅、站台和车站瞬间全都消失了。四个孩子气喘吁吁地手拉着手，他们突然发现自己竟然是在一片森林中，而且这里的树木很茂密，周围全是树枝，他们一点儿活动的余地都没有。他们一揉一揉一眼，深深吸了一口气。
"""Oh，Peter!""exclaimed Lucy.""Do you think we can possibly ha一ve got back to Narnia?"""
"""嘿，彼得!""露茜惊呼。""我们是不是又要回纳尼亚了?"""
"""It might be anywhere，""said Peter.""I can't see a yard in all these trees.Let's try to get into the open-if there is any open."""
"""也可能是其他地方。""彼得说道 ，""这里都是树，一米以外的东西什么都看不到。 也许咱们去找一找，看看有没有开阔一点的地方。"""
With some difficulty，and with some stings from nettles and pricks from thorns，they struggled out of the thicket.Then they had another surprise.Everything became much brighter，and after a few steps they found themselves at the edge of the wood，looking down on a sandy beach.A few yards away a very calm sea was falling on the sand with such tiny ripples that it made hardly any sound.There was no land in sight and no clouds in the sky.The sun was about where it ought to be at ten o'clock in the morning，and the sea was a dazzling blue.They stood sniffing in the sea-smell.
他们费了九牛二虎之力，身上的许多地方都被树枝刮伤了，才从密林中走了出来。然后，让他们吃惊的是，一切突然变得明亮起来，再往前几步就走到了森林的边缘，下一面竟然是一片沙滩。附近的海水轻轻地、柔柔地冲刷着海滩，激起一层又一层细一浪一，却没有一点儿声音。他们看不到陆地，天上也没有云朵。照太一陽一的位置来看，大概也就是早上10点钟的样子。眼前只有一片蔚蓝的大海，无边无际。他们站在海边，感受着大海的气息。
"""By Jove!""said Peter.""This is good enough."""
"""天哪!""彼得惊叹道，""这儿太美了!"""
Five minutes later everyone was barefooted and wading in the cool clear water.
五分钟后，大家都赤着脚走进了清澈、凉爽的海水里。
"""This is better than being in a stuffy train on the way back to Latin and French and Algebra!""said Edmund.And then for quite a long time there was no more talking，only splashing and looking for shrimps and crabs."
"""这比坐在闷热的火车厢里，回学校去上拉丁文、法语和代数课强多了。""一爱一德蒙说。这之后的好一会儿，都没有人说话。他们一边往前走，一边在水里逮虾蟹。"
"""All the same，""said Susan presently，""I suppose we'll ha一ve to make some plans.We shall want something to eat before long."""
"""尽管如此，""苏珊说，""我还是认为我们应该好好计划一下，不然，我们很快就会饿肚子的。"""
"""We've got the sandwiches Mother ga一ve us for the journey，""said Edmund.""At least I've got mine."""
"""一妈一妈一不是给我们带了三明治让我们在路上吃吗?""一爱一德蒙说，""反正我这儿还有。"""
"""Not me，""said Lucy.""Mine were in my little bag."""
"""我的没了。""露茜说，""我把它放在小包里了。"""
"""So were mine，""said Susan."
"""我也是。""苏珊说。"
"""Mine are in my coat-pocket，there on the beach，""said Peter.""That'll be two lunches among four.This isn't going to be such fun."""
"""我的在外衣口袋里，搁在那边的海滩上，""彼得说，""四个人只有两份午餐，肯定不够。"""
"""At present，""said Lucy，""I want something to drink more than something to eat."""
"""我现在不饿，只想喝水。""露茜说。"
Everyone else now felt thirsty，as one usually is after wading in salt water under a hot sun.
这时候其他人也口渴了。烈日下在海水中玩一会儿之后，谁都会觉得口渴的。
"""It's like being shipwrecked，""remarked Edmund.""In the books they always find springs of clear，fresh water on the island.We'd better go and look for them."""
"""我们现在就像遇到了海难，""一爱一德蒙说，""故事书里都写着，遇到海难的人总能在岛上找到清澈新鲜的泉水，我们去找找看吧。"""
"""Does that mean we ha一ve to go back into all that thick wood?""said Susan."
"""你是说我们要回到那个茂密的森林中吗?""苏珊开口问。"
"""Not a bit of it，""said Peter.""If there are streams they're bound to come down to the sea，and if we walk along the beach we're bound to come to them."""
"""不一定，""彼得说，""小溪一定会汇入大海。只要一直沿着海岸走，我们就能找到小溪。"""
They all now waded back and went first across the smooth，wet sand and then up to the dry，crumbly sand that sticks to one's toes，and began putting on their shoes and socks.Edmund and Lucy wanted to lea一ve them behind and do their exploring with bare feet，but Susan said this would be a mad thing to do."We might never find them again，"she pointed out，"and we shall want them if we're still here when night comes and it begins to be cold."
他们开始趟水往回走，穿过松一软的沙滩，在干燥的地方掸掉沾在脚趾头上的细沙，穿上鞋袜。一爱一德蒙和露茜一开始还想扔掉鞋袜，光着脚走。但是苏珊说他们那样想太明智了，她说："如果扔掉了，恐怕就再也找不到了。如果天黑了我们还在这里，肯定会需要它们的，因为到时候气温会很低。"
When they were dressed again they set out along the shore with the sea on their left hand and the wood on their right.Except for an occasional seagull it was a very quiet place.The wood was so thick and tangled that they could hardly see into it at all; and nothing in it moved-not a bird，not even an insect.
他们穿好鞋袜后，就继续沿着海岸走。左边是大海，右边是森林。这里非常安静，偶尔有海鸥飞过。森林里枝繁叶茂，枝叶相互交错、缠绕，他们根本看不到任何活动的东西，没有小鸟也没有昆虫。
Shells and seaweed and anemones，or tiny crabs in rock-pools，are all very well，but you soon get tired of them if you are thirsty.The children's feet，after the change from the cool water，felt hot and hea一vy.Susan and Lucy had raincoats to carry.Edmund had put down his coat on the station seat just before the magic overtook them，and he and Peter took it in turns to carry Peter's great-coat.
海滩上到处都是贝壳、海藻和海葵，还有那些石头缝里的小螃蟹，这些都很有意思。但是如果你口渴的话，就会很快对这些东西失去兴趣。孩子们从冰凉的海水中走出来后，很快就感觉到自己的一腿一火一辣辣、沉甸甸的。苏珊和露茜还要拿着自己的雨衣。而在魔术把他们带走之前一爱一德蒙把自己的外套放车站座位上了。所以他现在只能和彼得轮流抱着彼得的大衣。
Presently the shore began to curve round to the right.About quarter of an hour later，after they had crossed a rocky ridge which ran out into a point，it made quite a sharp turn.Their backs were now to the part of the sea which had met them when they first came out of the wood，and now，looking ahead，they could see across the water another shore，thickly wooded like the one they were exploring.
没走多久，海岸在他们的右边延伸。大约又过了一刻钟后，他们穿过一个山崖，再前面是一个急转弯，把刚才的那片海远远地抛在了身后。现在再看海峡对面，那一片茂密的树木和脚下这片土地非常相似。
"""I wonder，is that an island or do we join on to it presently?""said Lucy."
"""我猜那是一个半岛把，说不定是跟这边连在一起的?""露茜说。"
"""Don't know，""said Peter and they all plodded on in silence."
"""不知道。""彼得说。然后所有人都一声不吭地往前走。"
The shore that they were walking on drew nearer and nearer to the opposite shore，and as they came round each promontory the children expected to find the place where the two joined.But in this they were disappointed.They came to some rocks which they had to climb and from the top they could see a fair way ahead and-"Oh bother!"said Edmund，"it's no good.We shan't be able to get to those other woods at all.We're on an island!"
两边的海岸越来越靠近。他们都希望再转过一个海角就可以看到两边海岸交汇在一起。可结果总是让他们失望。走了很久之后，他们看到一块岩石，爬到岩石上可以看见有条小路向前延伸。"糟了，"一爱一德蒙说，"情况不妙，我们现在是在一个岛上，根本到不了那边的森林。"
It was true.At this point the channel between them and the opposite coast was only about thirty or forty yards wide; but they could now see that this was its narrowest place.After that，their own coast bent round to the right again and they could see open sea between it and the mainland.It was obvious that they had already come much more than halfway round the island.
千真万确!从这看过去，对面海峡两岸之间的距离不过三四十米宽，这无疑是最窄的地方。再继续往前走，海岸继续向右延伸，小岛和陆地之间的海面越来越开阔了。这么说，他们显然已经绕着整个岛走了大半圈。
"""Look!""said Lucy suddenly.""What's that?""She pointed to a long，silvery，snake-like thing that lay across the beach."
"""快看!""露茜突然说，""那边是什么?""她指着横穿在沙滩上那条长长的、银一色一的、像蛇一样的东西。"
"""A stream! A stream!""shouted the others，and，tired as they were，they lost no time in clattering down the rocks and racing to the fresh water.They knew that the stream would be better to drink farther up，away from the beach，so they went at once to the spot where it came out of the wood.The trees were as thick as ever，but the stream had made itself a deep course between high mossy banks so that by stooping you could follow it up in a sort of tunnel of lea一ves.They dropped on their knees by the first brown，dimply pool and drank and drank，and dipped their faces in the water，and then dipped their arms in up to the elbow."
"""小溪!是小溪!""其他孩子也大声喊。尽管他们已经十分疲惫，但还是以最快的速度跳下岩石，跑向小溪。上游的水更好喝，所以他们就沿着小溪一直向上走。虽然树木仍然很么密集，但小溪在经年累月的冲积下，已形成了一条通道 。他们弯下腰，穿过那些枝叶搭建的隧道顺流而上。终于，他们在第一个水潭边跪下一身，尽情地喝了个够。他们把脸浸在水里，又把胳膊也伸进去，水漫过了他们的臂弯。"
"""Now，""said Edmund，""what about those sandwiches?"""
"""现在，""一爱一德蒙说，""来点三明治怎么样?"""
"""Oh，hadn't we better ha一ve them?""said Susan.""We may need them far worse later on."""
"""噢，我们还是省着点儿吃吧?""苏珊说，""也许以后我们会更需要这些食物。"""
"""I do wish，""said Lucy，""now that we're not thirsty，we could go on feeling as not-hungry as we did when we were thirsty."""
"""现在我们都不渴了，""露茜说，""我真希望，我们要是不饿该多好啊!"""
"""But what about those sandwiches?""repeated Edmund."
"""那这些三明治该怎么办呢?""一爱一德蒙说，"
"""there's no good sa一ving them till they go bad.You've got to remember it's a good deal hotter here than in England and we've been carrying them about in pockets for hours.""So they got out the two packets and divided them into four portions，and nobody had quite enough，but it was a great deal better than nothing.Then they talked about their plans for the next meal.Lucy wanted to go back to the sea and catch shrimps，until someone pointed out that they had no nets.Edmund said they must gather gulls' eggs from the rocks，but when they came to think of it they couldn't remember ha一ving seen any gulls' eggs and wouldn't be able to cook them if they found any.Peter thought to himself that unless they had some stroke of luck they would soon be glad to eat eggs raw，but he didn't see any point in saying this out loud.Susan said it was a pity they had eaten the sandwiches so soon.One or two tempers very nearly got lost at this stage.Finally Edmund said:"
"""我们可别一味地想着节省，到最后却把它们给放坏了。你们应该知道这儿的温度可比英国高多了，而我们已经把它们装在口袋里走了很久了。""于是，他们拿出三明治，分成四份。他们都没有吃饱，但肯定比不吃好多了。接着他们开始计划他们的下一餐。露茜提出大家可以一起回到海边去捉海虾，但有人立即提出他们没有网。一爱一德蒙说大家可以一起到岩石那边找海鸥蛋，但他们不记得刚才是不是看见了海鸥蛋，而且就算找到海鸥蛋，他们也没有办法把蛋煮熟。彼得心想，也许过不了多久，他们连生蛋都吃不上，除非大家运气好，能找到一些吃的。当然，他明白这些话是不能说出来的。苏珊开始后悔刚才那么快就把三明治吃完了。他们中还是有人沉不住气了，最后还是一爱一德蒙说："
"""Look here.There's only one thing to be done.We must explore the wood.Hermits and knights-errant and people like that always manage to live somehow if they're in a forest.They find roots and berries and things."""
大家听我说。我们现在唯一能做的就是去森林里寻找食物。那些隐士、侠客之类的人，在这种情况下总有办法活下来。他们会找到植物的根一茎一、野果或者是其他能吃的东西。
"""What sort of roots?""asked Susan."
"""什么植物的根一茎一?""苏珊问。"
"""I always thought it meant roots of trees，""said Lucy."
"""我认为根一茎一就是树根。""露茜回答。"
"""Come on，""said Peter，""Ed is right.And we must try to do something.And it'll be better than going out into the glare and the sun again."""
"""走吧。""彼得鼓励大家，""一爱一德蒙说得对。我们应该去找找看。肯定比傻傻地站在这烈日下要强多了。"""
So they all got up and began to follow the stream.It was very hard work.They had to stoop under branches and climb over branches，and they blundered through great masses of stuff like rhododendrons and tore their clothes and got their feet wet in the stream; and still there was no noise at all except the noise of the stream and the noises they were making themselves.They were beginning to get very tired of it when they noticed a delicious smell，and then a flash of bright colour high above them at the top of the right bank.
于是，他们站起来顺着小溪走向森林深处。这并非易事，因为树木的枝叶茂盛，他们不得不弯着身一子前进，或者爬过那些枝干。他们在大片大片杜鹊花之类的灌木丛里艰难地穿过，衣服破了，鞋也一湿一了。此刻，除了小溪传来的流水声和他们自己发出的声响外，树林里什么声音也没有。当他们越来越疲劳的时候，突然闻到一阵清香，紧接着，他们看到右岸上闪过一道明亮的一色一彩。
"""I say!""exclaimed Lucy.""I do believe that's an apple tree."""
"""看哪!""露茜大喊，""那是一棵苹果树。"""
It was.They panted up the steep bank，forced their way through some brambles，and found themselves standing round an old tree that was hea一vy with large yellowish-golden apples as firm and juicy as you could wish to see.
那真的是一棵苹果树。他们兴奋地爬上陡坡，从荆棘中踩出了一条路，终于站到了这棵挂满了沉甸甸、金黄一色一又美味多一汁的苹果树前。
"""And this is not the only tree，""said Edmund with his mouth full of apple.""Look there-and there."""
"""还不止一棵呢。""嘴里塞满苹果的一爱一德蒙含糊不清地说道。""看那边，还有那边。"""
"""Why，there are dozens of them，""said Susan，throwing away the core of her first apple and picking her second.""This must ha一ve been an orchard-long，long ago，before the place went wild and the wood grew up."""
"""这有几十棵苹果树呢，""苏珊边说边扔掉了手里的苹果，开始摘第二个苹果吃。""这里肯定是一个果园，在很久很久以前，树木还没有长大时，这儿肯定有人看管。"""
"""Then this was once an inhabited island，""said Peter."
"""也就是说这儿曾经有人居住。""彼得说道。"
"""And what's that?""said Lucy，pointing ahead."
"""看那是什么?""露茜指着前面。"
"""By Jove，it's a wall，""said Peter.""An old stone wall."""
"""天哪，是一堵墙。""彼得很吃惊。""一堵古老的石墙。"""
Pressing their way between the laden branches they reached the wall.It was very old，and broken down in places，with moss and wallflowers growing on it，but it was higher than all but the tallest trees.And when they came quite close to it they found a great arch which must once ha一ve had a gate in it but was now almost filled up with the largest of all the apple trees.They had to break some of the branches to get past，and when they had done so they all blinked because the daylight became suddenly much brighter.They found themselves in a wide open place with walls all round it.In here there were no trees，only level grass and daisies，and ivy，and grey walls.It was a bright，secret，quiet place，and rather sad; and all four stepped out into the middle of it，glad to be able to straighten their backs and move their limbs freely.
他们扒一开那些果实累累的树枝，走到了墙前面。显然这墙的年代已经很久远了，很多地方都已经塌了。墙面上长满了苔藓和那种开满黄一色一小花的藤本植物。墙上还有个又高又大的拱门，大家猜测这儿之前有一扇大门。不过现在，这个拱门被那棵最高的苹果树给挡住了。他们只好折断一些树枝，才能爬进去。墙另一边的光线很明显要好很多。他们惊奇地发现来到了一片开阔的地方。四周的墙是灰一色一的，没有树木，只有草坪，却开满了小雏菊。这个明亮、神秘、安静的地方，不禁让人感到有些一陰一郁。他们四个走到院中，伸了伸懒腰，活动了一下四肢。