《凱斯賓王子》第五章 王子的深山奇遇

CHAPTER FIVE CASPIAN'S ADVENTURE IN THE MOUNTAINS

第五章 王子的深山奇遇

AFTER this，Caspian and his Tutor had many more secret conversations on the top of the Great Tower，and at each conversation Caspian learned more about Old Narnia，so that thinking and dreaming about the old days，and longing that they might come back，filled nearly all his spare hours.But of course he had not many hours to spare，for now his education was beginning in earnest.He learned sword-fighting and riding，swimming and diving，how to shoot with the bow and play on the recorder and the theorbo，how to hunt the stag and cut him up when he was dead，besides Cosmography，Rhetoric，Heraldry，Versification，and of course History，with a little Law，Physic，Alchemy，and Astronomy.Of Magic he learned only the theory，for Doctor Cornelius said the practical part was not proper study for princes."And I myself，"he added，"am only a very imperfect magician and can do only the smallest experiments."Of Navigation ("Which is a noble and heroical art，"said the Doctor) he was taught nothing，because King Miraz disapproved of ships and the sea.

那天以后，凱斯賓又和他的老師在大塔樓上秘密交談了很多次，每一次都讓凱斯賓對納尼亞了解更多。他對那個奇幻世界越來越神往。但是他沒有太多的時間去想。因為他還必須接受正規(guī)的學(xué)習(xí)，他要學(xué)會擊劍、騎馬、游泳和潛水，還要學(xué)會射箭和狩獵。他要知道宇宙結(jié)構(gòu)學(xué)、修辭學(xué)、紋章學(xué)、詩體韻律學(xué)，還要學(xué)習(xí)歷史、法律、物理，煉金術(shù)和天文學(xué)。至于魔法，他只了解到一些皮毛，因為博士說王子不適合學(xué)習(xí)魔法的實際操作?！?quot;而且我自己，"他補充說，"充其量也只是半個魔法師，只能做些最簡單的試驗。"他也沒上過航海課，("其實這門課既高尚又富有傳奇色彩。"博士是這樣說的。)因為國王彌若茲不準(zhǔn)任何人提起船舶和大海。

He also learned a great deal by using his own eyes and ears.As a little boy he had often wondered why he disliked his aunt，Queen Prunaprismia; he now saw that it was because she disliked him.He also began to see that Narnia was an unhappy country.The taxes were high and the laws were stern and Miraz was a cruel man.

憑著所見所聞，他還了解了不少其他事情。孩童時代，他一直不明白自己為什么不喜歡嬸母普魯娜普瑞絲彌爾王后，現(xiàn)在他終于知道了--原來是因為她討厭他。慢慢地他也發(fā)現(xiàn)，如今的納尼亞并不是個幸福快樂的國度。這里有重稅和嚴(yán)酷的法律，更有一個手段極其殘忍的國王彌若茲。

After some years there came a time when the Queen seemed to be ill and there was a great deal of bustle and pother about her in the castle and doctors came and the courtiers whispered.This was in early summertime.And one night，while all this fuss was going on，Caspian was unexpectedly wakened by Doctor Cornelius after he had been only a few hours in bed.

時間過得很快，幾年之后，王后似乎得了什么病，城堡上上下下都為她奔走操勞，醫(yī)生們來回奔波，全國上下都在紛紛議論著什么。正值初夏，一天晚上，凱斯賓剛睡了幾個小時，就突然被克奈爾斯博士叫醒了。

"Are we going to do a little Astronomy，Doctor?"said Caspian.

"克奈爾斯博士，我們是要做天文觀察嗎?"凱斯賓疑惑地問。

"Hush!"said the Doctor."Trust me and do exactly as I tell you.Put on all your clothes; you have a long journey before you."

"噓!"博士低聲說，"相信我，按我說的去做，穿上你的衣服，一段漫漫征途正等著你呢。"

Caspian was very surprised，but he had learned to have confidence in his Tutor and he began doing what he was told at once.When he was dressed the Doctor said，"I have a wallet for you.We must go into the next room and fill it with victuals from your Highness's supper table."

凱斯賓覺得很奇怪，但他相信自己的老師，馬上按照他的話去做了。穿好衣服后，博士告訴他，"我已經(jīng)為你準(zhǔn)備好了一個包袱，我們現(xiàn)在就到隔壁房間去，把餐桌上的食物都裝起來帶走。

"My gentlemen-in-waiting will be there，"said Caspian.

"仆人都在那兒呢，他們會一直守著的。"凱斯賓說道。

"They are fast asleep and will not wake，"said the Doctor."I am a very minor magician but I can at least contrive a charmed sleep."

"我讓他們都昏睡過去了，放心吧，他們不會醒的，"博士說，"我雖然是個不入流的魔法師，但讓人昏睡還是小事一樁。"

They went into the antechamber and there，sure enough，the two gentlemen-in-waiting were，sprawling on chairs and snoring hard.Doctor Cornelius quickly cut up the remains of a cold chicken and some slices of venison and put them，with bread and an apple or so and a little flask of good wine，into the wallet which he then gave to Caspian.It fitted on by a strap over Caspian's shoulder，like a satchel you would use for taking books to school.

于是，他們來到隔壁房間，果然看到兩個仆人正靠在椅子上呼呼大睡?？四螤査共┦靠焖傺b好剩下的那些涼雞和幾片鹿肉，還有一些面包，一個蘋果，以及一小瓶好酒，把它們?nèi)糠胚M了那個包袱里，讓王子帶上。

"Have you your sword?"asked the Doctor.

"你帶寶劍了嗎?"博士問。

"Yes，"said Caspian.

"帶了。"凱斯賓說。

"Then put this mantle over all to hide the sword and the wallet.That's right.And now we must go to the Great Tower and talk."

"快披上斗篷，遮好寶劍和包袱。好了，我們?nèi)ニ斏?，我還有一些事情要跟你說。"

When they had reached the top of the Tower (it was a cloudy night，not at all like the night when they had seen the conjunction of Tarva and Alambil) Doctor Cornelius said，

當(dāng)他們來到塔頂時，滿天烏云，寒氣逼人，一點也不像他們一起看兩星相會的那個夜晚不同，處處籠罩著恐怖的氛圍，只聽克奈爾斯博士說道：

"Dear Prince，you must leave this castle at once and go to seek your fortune in the wide world.Your life is in danger here."

王子殿下，你必須馬上離開這座城堡，去外面的大世界里去尋找自己的生路吧。留在這里你會沒命的。

"Why?"asked Caspian.

"為什么?"凱斯賓不解。

"Because you are the true King of Narnia: Caspian the Tenth，the true son and heir of Caspian the Ninth.Long life to your Majesty'-and suddenly，to Caspian's great surprise，the little man dropped down on one knee and kissed his hand.

"因為你是凱斯賓九世的親生兒子和繼承人，你才是納尼亞真正的國王啊。陛下萬歲!"說著，這個小矮人突然單膝跪下，親吻著他的手，這讓凱斯賓為之一震。

"What does it all mean? I don't understand，"said Caspian.

"這到底怎么回事?我一點也不明白。"凱斯賓說。

"I wonder you have never asked me before，"said the Doctor，"why，being the son of King Caspian，you are not King Caspian yourself.Everyone except your Majesty knows that Miraz is a usurper.When he first began to rule he did not even pretend to be the King: he called himself Lord Protector.But then your royal mother died，the good Queen and the only Telmarine who was ever kind to me.And then，one by one，all the great lords，who had known your father，died or disappeared.Not by accident，either.Miraz weeded them out.Belisar and Uvilas were shot with arrows on a hunting party: by chance，it was pretended.All the great house of the Passarids he sent to fight giants on the northern frontier till one by one they fell.Arlian and Erimon and a dozen more he executed for treason on a false charge.The two brothers of Beaversdam he shut up as madmen.And finally he persuaded the seven noble lords，who alone among all the Telmarines did not fear the sea，to sail away and look for new lands beyond the Eastern Ocean，and，as he intended，they never came back.And when there was no one left who could speak a word for you，then his flatterers (as he had instructed them) begged him to become King.And of course he did."

"以前，你從來沒有問過我"博士說，"為什么你身為凱斯賓國王的兒子，法定的繼承人，你卻不是國王。那是因為，除了你所有人都知道是彌若茲篡奪了王位。剛開始，他統(tǒng)治國家時，并不是以國王的身份出現(xiàn)的，他告訴大家他是君王的保護人。后來，你的母后去世了。她很賢惠，她可是唯一一位善待過我們的臺爾馬人。緊接著，那些正直、忠誠的大臣，都相繼死去或是失蹤了。更奇怪的是，沒有一個是正常死亡。由此可見，他們是被那心狠手辣的彌若茲給殺掉了。我記得在一場狩獵中，伯力沙和猶威拉思被箭射死了，卻被說成是被失手誤殺的。不但如此 ，彌若茲還把所有伯薩瑞德的望族都派到了北邊的戰(zhàn)場上，讓他們與巨人作戰(zhàn)，直到最后他們一個個都戰(zhàn)死沙場。而阿康和艾瑞蒙以及其他的一些人，則被子虛烏有的叛國罪處決了，海貍大壩的兩兄弟也被當(dāng)作瘋子關(guān)了起來。 最終，他又說服了不怕大海的七位公爵，派他們?nèi)|海彼岸尋找新大陸。不出所料，他們也一去不回了。從此，再也沒有一個人能為你說話了。在他的唆使下，那些阿諛奉承，只會拍馬屁的人便奉迎他做納尼亞的國王。當(dāng)然，他高興地接受了。

"Do you mean he now wants to kill me too?"said Caspian.

"那么，你是說現(xiàn)在他又想殺掉我?"凱斯賓說。

"That is almost certain，"said Doctor Cornelius.

"很明顯啊。"克奈爾斯博士說。

"But why now?"said Caspian."I mean，why didn't he do it long ago if he wanted to? And what harm have I done him?"

"為什么是現(xiàn)在呢?"凱斯賓說，"我的意思是，如果他想殺我，為什么要等到現(xiàn)在才下手呢。我觸犯到他的利益了嗎?"

"He has changed his mind about you because of something that happened only two hours ago.The Queen has had a son."

"你的命運在兩個小時之前徹底改變了--王后生了個兒子。"

"I don't see what that's got to do with it，"said Caspian.

"我看不出這跟我有什么關(guān)系。"凱斯賓不懂。

"Don't see!"exclaimed the Doctor."Have all my lessons in History and Politics taught you no more than that? Listen.As long as he had no children of his own，he was willing enough that you should be King after he died.He may not have cared much about you，but he would rather you should have the throne than a stranger.Now that he has a son of his own he will want his own son to be the next King.You are in the way.He'll clear you out of the way."

"你還不明白啊!"博士叫了起來，"我教給你的那些歷史和政治，真是對你一點用也沒有啊。你聽好--如果說他沒有自己的兒子，他理所當(dāng)然要傳位給你，即使他再不喜歡你，那也比傳位給一個外人好多了。但是現(xiàn)在，他有了自己的兒子，王位當(dāng)然要傳給他的兒子。也就是說，你就變得很礙事了，他必然會想盡辦法把你除掉的。"

"Is he really as bad as that?"said Caspian."Would he really murder me?"

"他真的就那么壞嗎?"凱斯賓說，"他真會殺害我?"

"He murdered your Father，"said Doctor Cornelius.

"你的父親就是被他謀殺的。"克奈爾斯博士說。

Caspian felt very queer and said nothing.

凱斯賓一下子難受得說不出話來了。

"I can tell you the whole story，"said the Doctor."But not now.There is no time.You must fly at once."

"我可以告訴你整個事情的經(jīng)過，"博士說，"但不是現(xiàn)在，沒時間了，你必須馬上離開這里。"

"You'll come with me?"said Caspian.

"你會和我一起離開嗎?"凱斯賓問。

"I dare not，"said the Doctor."It would make your danger greater.Two are more easily tracked than one.Dear Prince，dear King Caspian，you must be very brave.You must go alone and at once.Try to get across the southern border to the court of King Nain of Archenland.He will be good to you."

"我不能，那樣的話你的處境會更危險。因為兩個人比一個人更容易暴露行蹤。王子殿下，我親愛的凱斯賓國王陛下，你要勇敢一點!你只能一個人走，并且要馬上出發(fā)，想辦法穿越南部邊境，去找阿欽蘭國的國王奈恩。他會善待你的。"

"Shall I never see you again?"said Caspian in a quavering voice.

"那我還能見到你嗎?"凱斯賓的聲音有些顫抖。

"I hope so，dear King，"said the Doctor."What friend have I in the wide world except your Majesty? And I have a little magic.But in the meantime，speed is everything.Here are two gifts before you go.This is a little purse of gold-alas，all the treasure in this castle should be your own by rights.And here is something far better."

"希望我們還能再見，我的國王陛下。"博士也低落地說道，"在這世界上，除了陛下你，我沒有任何其他的朋友了。我只會一些小法術(shù)，不過現(xiàn)在速度才是一切。在你離開前，我還要送你這兩件小小的禮物。這有一小袋金子--當(dāng)然，這個城堡里所有的財寶理應(yīng)歸你所有。不過，我這兒還有一件東西比金子貴重百倍。"

He put in Caspian's hands something which he could hardly see but which he knew by the feel to be a horn.

說著，他把一個東西遞到凱斯賓的面前。他幾乎看不清那是什么，但摸著像是一只號。

"That，"said Doctor Cornelius，"is the greatest and most sacred treasure of Narnia.Many terrors I endured，many spells did I utter，to find it，when I was still young.It is the magic horn of Queen Susan herself which she left behind her when she vanished from Narnia at the end of the Golden Age.It is said that whoever blows it shall have strange help-no one can say how strange.It may have the power to call Queen Lucy and King Edmund and Queen Susan and High King Peter back from the past，and they will set all to rights.It may be that it will call up Aslan himself.Take it，King Caspian: but do not use it except at your greatest need.And now，haste，haste，haste.The little door at the very bottom of the Tower，the door into the garden，is unlocked.There we must part."

"這是納尼亞最珍貴的東西。在我年輕的時候，為了找到它，承受了很多恐懼，念了很多次咒語。它是屬于蘇珊女王的，是她在納尼亞消失之前留下的。傳說，不管誰吹響了這個號，就會立即得到幫助。不過，究竟是什么樣的幫助，卻沒有人能說得出來。也許，它能召喚回女王露茜、國王愛德蒙、女王蘇珊和至尊王彼得，他們將為受苦受難的納尼亞人民主張正義。它也有可能是能喚回阿斯蘭。把它帶上來吧，凱斯賓國王。但是，不到萬不得已時，千萬不要用它。快走吧，快!現(xiàn)在，高塔底層那扇前往花園的小門正開著，我就送你到那里。"

"Can I get my horse Destrier?"said Caspian.

"我的馬戴斯特里爾能帶上嗎?"凱斯賓問。

"He is already saddled and waiting for you just at the corner of the orchard."

"都準(zhǔn)備好了，它正在果園那邊等你呢。"

During the long climb down the winding staircase Cornelius whispered many more words of direction and advice.Caspian's heart was sinking，but he tried to take it all in.Then came the fresh air in the garden，a fervent handclasp with the Doctor，a run across the lawn，a welcoming whinny from Destrier，and so King Caspian the Tenth left the castle of his fathers.Looking back，he saw fireworks going up to celebrate the birth of the new prince.

走在長長的旋轉(zhuǎn)樓梯上，克奈爾斯又輕聲地說了不少指示和建議。凱斯賓的心里很亂，但他還是努力地記著那些話。不一會，他們聞到了花園里的新鮮空氣。從小徑上還隱隱傳來戴斯特里爾的馬蹄聲和親切的嘶叫聲。一老一少依依惜別。就這樣，凱斯賓十世從他父親的城堡里走了出來，他轉(zhuǎn)過身看到天上升起許多禮花，那是大家在慶賀新王子的出生。

All night he rode southward，choosing by-ways and bridle paths through woods as long as he was in country that he knew; but afterwards he kept to the high road.Destrier was as excited as his master at this unusual journey，and Caspian，though tears had come into his eyes at saying good-bye to Doctor Cornelius，felt brave and，in a way，happy，to think that he was King Caspian riding to seek adventures，with his sword on his left hip and Queen Susan's magic horn on his right.But when day came，with a sprinkle of rain，and he looked about him and saw on every side unknown woods，wild heaths，and blue mountains，he thought how large and strange the world was and felt frightened and small.

一整夜，他都在這塊自己熟悉的土地上，朝南方奔跑。起初，他只走小路或便道，后來確定沒有伏兵后，就開始在大路上飛奔。對于這次不一般的旅行，戴斯特里爾也非常激動。盡管凱斯賓在和克奈爾斯博士告別時掉了眼淚，但現(xiàn)在卻表現(xiàn)得很勇敢，他只要一想到自己是國王凱斯賓正在歷險的旅途中，就覺得很開心。劍佩在他的左腰，右腰是蘇珊女王的神號。天蒙蒙亮?xí)r，天上開始下起小雨，凱斯賓勒住馬向四下打量，周圍滿是從未見過的森林、盛開的野菊和青色的群山。他第一次見到這片廣闊的天地，突然覺得自己是那么地渺小，心里不免有些緊張。

As soon as it was full daylight he left the road and found an open grassy place amid a wood where he could rest.He took off Destrier's bridle and let him graze，ate some cold chicken and drank a little wine，and presently fell asleep.It was late afternoon when he awoke.He ate a morsel and continued his journey，still southward，by many unfrequented lanes.He was now in a land of hills，going up and down，but always more up than down.From every ridge he could see the mountains growing bigger and blacker ahead.As the evening closed in，he was riding their lower slopes.The wind rose.Soon rain fell in torrents.Destrier became uneasy; there was thunder in the air.And now they entered a dark and seemingly endless pine forest，and all the stories Caspian had ever heard of trees being unfriendly to Man crowded into his mind.He remembered that he was，after all，a Telmarine，one of the race who cut down trees wherever they could and were at war with all wild things; and though he himself might be unlike other Telmarines，the trees could not be expected to know this.

天大亮后，凱斯賓離開了大路，到森林中找了一片草地，想要好好休息一下。他卸下馬鞍，讓馬去吃草，自己就地吃了些冷雞肉，喝了點酒，才舒服地躺下，很快就睡著了。當(dāng)他醒來的時候，已是黃昏，他又簡單吃了點食物就再次啟程了，方向依舊是南方。他越過一大片的荒涼草野后，沒多久便進入了一片山地。這里的路很崎嶇，一會上山，一會下坡，上山的路顯然比下山的還要多。每登上一個山脊，他都可以看到那些山巒仿佛越來越近，顏色也越來越深沉。夜幕降臨的時候，他正騎著馬走在地勢較低的山坡上。突然，刮起一陣大風(fēng)，響起一陣?yán)茁?，暴雨來了?！〈魉固乩餇栭_始焦躁不安。就在這個時候，他們進入了一個漆黑得看不到盡頭的松樹林。突然凱斯賓想起以前曾聽過的故事：樹林對人們一直很不友好。因為他的家族曾四處砍伐樹木，甚至和所有山林家族打過仗，到處濫殺。盡管他和那些臺爾馬人不同，但樹木怎么可能知道這個呢。

Nor did they.The wind became a tempest，the woods roared and creaked all round them.There came a crash.A tree fell right across the road just behind him."Quiet，Destrier，quiet!"said Caspian，patting his horse's neck; but he was trembling himself and knew that he had escaped death by an inch.Lightning flashed and a great crack of thunder seemed to break the sky in two just overhead.Destrier bolted in good earnest.Caspian was a good rider，but he had not the strength to hold him back.He kept his seat，but he knew that his life hung by a thread during the wild career that followed.Tree after tree rose up before them in the dusk and was only just avoided.Then，almost too suddenly to hurt (and yet it did hurt him too) something struck Caspian on the forehead and he knew no more.

它們也確實不可能知道。風(fēng)越來越大，整片樹林在狂風(fēng)暴雨下，不停發(fā)出呼嘯聲。突然一聲巨響，有一棵巨樹就在他的身后倒在了路上。"淡定，戴斯特里爾，淡定一些!"凱斯賓輕拍著馬脖子說，他能感覺到自己也忍不住在顫抖。他暗自慶幸自己還活著，剛剛就差一點，他們就被那棵大樹砸死了。炫目的閃電，伴著巨響的雷聲，好像要把天空劈開兩半。戴斯特里爾拼命地奔跑著。雖然凱斯賓是個好騎手，可在這種情況下，他也拉不住韁繩。他心里明白，這樣瘋狂地奔跑對自己很危險，但他什么也做不了，只能緊貼在馬背上。黑暗中，一棵棵大樹從前面掃來，他都只能剛好躲過。突然，他的額頭被什么東西猛地一撞，他還沒感覺到疼痛，就失去了知覺。

When he came to himself he was lying in a firelit place with bruised limbs and a bad headache.Low voices were speaking close at hand.

當(dāng)他醒來時，發(fā)現(xiàn)自己還活著，而且正躺在一堆又明亮又溫暖的篝火旁。他的頭很痛，胳膊和腿上全是傷痕。這個時候，輕微的交談聲傳了過來。

"And now，"said one，"before it wakes up we must decide what to do with it."

"現(xiàn)在，"一個聲音說，"在他清醒之前，我們必須決定該怎么處置他。

"Kill it，"said another."We can't let it live.It would betray us."

"殺了他!"另一個聲音說，"我們不可以讓他活著，他會背叛我們的。"

"We ought to have killed it at once，or else let it alone，"said a third voice."We can't kill it now.Not after we've taken it in and bandaged its head and all.It would be murdering a guest."

"當(dāng)時我們就應(yīng)該殺了他，或是放了他。"第三個聲音說，"但是現(xiàn)在，我們不可以殺他。既然我們把他帶回來了，又給他包了傷口，還精心照顧他，他就是一位客人，我們不能殺害一位客人。"

"Gentlemen，"said Caspian in a feeble voice，"whatever you do to me，I hope you will be kind to my poor horse."

"先生們，"凱斯賓用微弱的聲音說，"你們怎么對我都沒問題，只求你們別殺害我那匹可憐的馬。"

"Your horse had taken flight long before we found you，"said the first voice-a curiously husky，earthy voice，as Caspian now noticed.

"我們找到你的時候，那匹馬早就不見了。"第一個聲音說。凱斯賓發(fā)覺這個聲音帶著沙啞憨厚，聽著也有點古怪。

"Now don't let it talk you round with its pretty words，"said the second voice."I still say-"

"別聽他的好話，"第二個聲音說，"我依舊認為......"

"Horns and halibuts!"exclaimed the third voice."Of course we're not going to murder it.For shame，Nikabrik.What do you say，Trufflehunter? What shall we do with it?"

"夠了!"第三個聲音大聲地說，"我們絕對不可以殺他，這太可恥了，尼克布瑞克!特魯佛漢特，你說呢?我們該怎么處置他?"

"I shall give it a drink，"said the first voice，presumably Trufflehunter's.A dark shape approached the bed.Caspian felt an arm slipped gently under his shoulders-if it was exactly an arm.The shape somehow seemed wrong.The face that bent towards him seemed wrong too.He got the impression that it was very hairy and very long nosed，and there were odd white patches on each side of it."It's a mask of some sort，"thought Caspian."Or perhaps I'm in a fever and imagining it all."A cupful of something sweet and hot was set to his lips and he drank.At that moment one of the others poked the fire.A blaze sprang up and Caspian almost screamed with the shock as the sudden light revealed the face that was looking into his own.It was not a man's face but a badger's，though larger and friendlier and more intelligent than the face of any badger he had seen before.And it had certainly been talking.He saw，too，that he was on a bed of heather，in a cave.By the fire sat two little bearded men，so much wilder and shorter and hairier and thicker than Doctor Cornelius that he knew them at once for real Dwarfs，ancient Dwarfs with not a drop of human blood in their veins.And Caspian knew that he had found the Old Narnians at last.Then his head began to swim again.

"先給他點水吧。"這是第一個人的聲音， 他可能就是特魯佛漢特。話音剛落，就看見一個黑影走過來，凱斯賓感覺到有只胳膊輕輕地放在了他肩上。他多么希望這是人的胳膊，可形狀又不太像。借著微光，他看到俯下來的那張臉上全是茸毛，中間有一只長鼻子，兩頰長著奇怪的白斑。"這一定是某種特別的面具，"凱斯賓暗想，"當(dāng)然，也有可能是我發(fā)燒導(dǎo)致的幻覺。"一杯東西遞到他口邊，他一口就喝完了。他正回味著這杯又熱又甜的東西，這時篝火更旺了。凱斯賓傻眼了，他差點失聲大叫，因為他一下子看清楚了那張臉?！∧遣皇侨耍且恢烩?。它看起來比他以前見過的獾都高大，面相更友善、聰明?，F(xiàn)在他可以確定，剛才一直說話的人就是它。他還發(fā)現(xiàn)自己正在一個山洞里，躺在一個用石南草鋪的地方。在火堆邊，還有兩個長著胡子的小個子，他們比克奈爾斯博士更矮更胖，毛發(fā)也更濃密粗糙。他猜測，他們是小矮人--純種的小矮人。凱斯賓突然意識到，他找到了納尼亞的原住民。這一激動，又是一陣眩暈。

In the next few days he learned to know them by names.The Badger was called Trufflehunter; he was the oldest and kindest of the three.The Dwarf who had wanted to kill Caspian was a sour Black Dwarf (that is，his hair and beard were black，and thick and hard like horsehair).His name was Nikabrik.The other Dwarf was a Red Dwarf with hair rather like a Fox's and he was called Trumpkin.

在接下來的幾天里，凱斯賓和他們慢慢熟絡(luò)起來。原來那只獾叫特魯佛漢特，它年齡最大，也最忠厚。而建議殺他的是那個脾氣不好的小矮人(他的頭發(fā)和胡子全是黑的，跟馬鬃一樣，又厚又硬)，他的名字叫尼克布瑞克。另外一個小矮人杜魯普金，有著一頭狐貍般火紅的頭發(fā)。

"And now，"said Nikabrik on the first evening when Caspian was well enough to sit up and talk，"we still have to decide what to do with this Human.You two think you've done it a great kindess by not letting me kill it.But I suppose the upshot is that we have to keep it a prisoner for life.I'm certainly not going to let it go alive-to go back to its own kind and betray us all."

就在凱斯賓可以坐起來講話的頭一天晚上，尼克布瑞克對他的伙伴們說，"那么現(xiàn)在，我們必須找出一個處置這人的辦法。你們兩個死活不讓我殺了他，還覺得是在做好事。依我看，這件事的解決辦法就是我們必須要囚禁他一輩子。我絕不允許他活著離開這里--回到他的同類身旁，那我們的秘密就全被泄露了。"

"Bulbs and bolsters! Nikabrik，"said Trumpkin."Why need you talk so unhandsomely? It isn't the creature's fault that it bashed its head against a tree outside our hole.And I don't think it looks like a traitor."

"好了!尼克布瑞克，"杜魯普金皺著眉頭說，"你怎么能如此粗魯?他的頭撞到了洞外的樹，又不是他的錯。而且我認為他不像奸細。"

"I say，"said Caspian，"you haven't yet found out whether I want to go back.I don't.I want to stay with you-if you'll let me.I've been looking for people like you all my life."

"我說，"凱斯賓說，"在你們做決定之前，也許該問下我是不是還想離開。說真的，我一點也沒有想要離開這里的意思。如果你們同意，我愿意和你們生活在一起。要知道，我這些年一直在找你們這樣的生靈。"

"That's a likely story，"growled Nikabrik."You're a Telmarine and a Human，aren't you? Of course you want to go back to your own kind."

"說得真好聽!"尼克布瑞克咆哮道，"你是臺爾馬人，也是人類，對吧?你肯定想回到你的同類身旁去!"

"Well，even if I did，I couldn't，"said Caspian."I was flying for my life when I had my accident.The King wants to kill me.If you'd killed me，you'd have done the very thing to please him."

"即便我想回去了，我也做不到了，"凱斯賓說，"我之所以慌張撞上你們的樹，是因為我在逃命。國王要殺我，如果你們現(xiàn)在殺了我，那正合他意。"

"Well now，"said Trufflehunter，"you don't say so!"

"好了，"特魯佛漢特說道，"你不用說這些!"

"Eh?"said Trumpkin."What's that? What have you been doing，Human，to fall foul of Miraz at your age?"

"嗯?"杜魯普金說，"這是怎么回事?你做錯了什么事?為什么這么小的年紀(jì)就成了彌若茲的敵人?"

"He's my uncle，"began Caspian，when Nikabrik jumped up with his hand on his dagger.

"他是我的叔父。"凱斯賓話還沒說完，尼克布瑞克就握著他的短劍，跳了起來。

"There you are!"he cried."Not only a Telmarine but close kin and heir to our greatest enemy.Are you still mad enough to let this creature live?"He would have stabbed Caspian then and there，if the Badger and Trumpkin had not got in the way and forced him back to his seat and held him down.

"好啊你!"他吼道，"你不但是一個臺爾馬人，還是我們最大敵人的侄子和繼承者。你們還要犯傻嗎?還準(zhǔn)備留他一命嗎?"要不是獾和杜魯普金及時拉住他，用力把他推回座位，凱斯賓可能當(dāng)場就被刺死了。

"Now，once and for all，Nikabrik，"said Trumpkin."Will you contain yourself，or must Trufflehunter and I sit on your head?"

"現(xiàn)在，我再最后說一次，尼克布瑞克，"杜魯普金說，"你再不安分，我和特魯佛漢特就要懲戒你了!"

Nikabrik sulkily promised to behave，and the other two asked Caspian to tell his whole story.When he had done so there was a moment's silence.

尼克布瑞克這才悶悶不樂地坐下去。于是，他們要凱斯賓講講他的來歷。凱斯賓說完他的故事后，大家沉默了許久。

"This is the queerest thing I ever heard，"said Trumpkin.

"這是我聽過的最奇怪的事。"杜魯普金說。

"I don't like it，"said Nikabrik.I didn't know there were stories about us still told among the Humans.The less they know about us the better.That old nurse，now.She'd better have held her tongue.And it's all mixed up with that Tutor: a renegade Dwarf.I hate them.I hate them worse than the Humans.You mark my words-no good will come of it.

"我不喜歡這故事。"尼克布瑞克說，"我很難想象，在人類世界里居然還有那么多關(guān)于我們的傳說。說實在的，我們的事他們知道得越少越好。那個老保姆，真該叫人綁住她的舌頭。還有那個什么博士會把事情弄得更亂糟。這些家伙比人類更可惡。你們記住，這些人會帶給我們無窮無盡的后患。"

"Don't you go talking about things you don't understand，Nikabrik，"said Trufflehunter."You Dwarfs are as forgetful and changeable as the Humans themselves.I'm a beast，I am，and a Badger what's more.We don't change.We hold on.I say great good will come of it.This is the true King of Narnia we've got here: a true King，coming back to true Narnia.And we beasts remember，even if Dwarfs forget，that Narnia was never right except when a son of Adam was King."

"不要不懂裝懂了，尼克布瑞克，"特魯佛漢特說，"你們這些小矮人和人類一樣健忘又善變。雖然我只是一只獾而已，但是我們不朝三暮四，向來都是從一而終的。我認為，事情這樣發(fā)展下去，對我們有很大的好處。你們想：在我們面前的，才是納尼亞真正的君主，而且他現(xiàn)在回到了真正的納尼亞。也許你們小矮人已經(jīng)忘記了，可我們動物卻永遠記得，只有亞當(dāng)?shù)膬鹤幼隽藝?，納尼亞才能永享安寧。"

"Whistles and whirligigs! Trufflehunter，"said Trumpkin."You don't mean you want to give the country to Humans?"

"得了吧!特魯佛漢特，"杜魯普金說道，"你是說，你要把這個國度送給人類嗎?"

"I said nothing about that，"answered the Badger."It's not Men's country (who should know that better than me?) but it's a country for a man to be King of.We badgers have long enough memories to know that.Why，bless us all，wasn't the High King Peter a Man?"

"我沒有那個意思，" 獾回答說，"這不是人類的國家，這一點我比誰都清楚，但它需要人來統(tǒng)治。我們獾一直記著這一點!老天保佑，你們忘了至尊王彼得也是個人類嗎?"

"Do you believe all those old stories?"asked Trumpkin.

"難道你還相信那些古老的傳說嗎?"杜魯普金問。

"I tell you，we don't change，we beasts，"said Trufflehunter."We don't forget.I believe in the High King Peter and the rest that reigned at Cair Paravel，as firmly as I believe in Aslan himself."

"我告訴你，我們相信，我們所有動物都相信!"特魯佛漢特說道，"我們絕不會忘記。我相信曾經(jīng)治理凱爾帕拉維爾的至尊王彼得和其他人，就像我相信阿斯蘭一樣!"

"As firmly as that，I dare say，"said Trumpkin."But who believes in Aslan nowadays?"

"我看你們真夠堅定的，"杜魯普金說，"但是，如今誰還相信阿斯蘭呢?"

"I do，"said Caspian."And if I hadn't believed in him before，I would now.Back there among the Humans the people who laughed at Aslan would have laughed at stories about Talking Beasts and Dwarfs.Sometimes I did wonder if there really was such a person as Aslan: but then sometimes I wondered if there were really people like you.Yet there you are."

"我相信，"凱斯賓突然插話道，"也許我原來也懷疑過，但是現(xiàn)在我完全相信了。嘲笑阿斯蘭的那些人，他們從不相信有會講話的獸類和小矮人。以前我常常疑惑，世界上到底有沒有阿斯蘭，有沒有你們這些人。然而現(xiàn)在，你們就在這里。"

"That's right，"said Trufflehunter."You're right，King Caspian.And as long as you will be true to Old Narnia you shall be my King，whatever they say.Long life to your Majesty."

"說得對，"特魯佛漢特說，"你說得很對，凱斯賓國王。只要你對古納尼亞忠誠，我就擁護你做我的國王，不管他人怎么說，國王陛下萬歲!"

"You make me sick，Badger，"growled Nikabrik."The High King Peter and the rest may have been Men，but they were a different sort of Men.This is one of the cursed Telmarines.He has hunted beasts for sport.Haven't you，now?"he added，rounding suddenly on Caspian.

"你可真讓我惡心，獾。"尼克布瑞克哼了一聲，"至尊王彼得和他的弟弟妹妹確實是人類，但他們是不同種類的人。但現(xiàn)在，在我們面前的卻是臺爾馬人。圍獵屠殺我們是他們的游戲，說實話，你干過這件事嗎?"他突然轉(zhuǎn)身面向凱斯賓。

"Well，to tell you the truth，I have，"said Caspian."But they weren't Talking Beasts."

"好吧，告訴你們，我做過，"凱斯賓說，"可......可它們是不會說話的動物。"

"It's all the same thing，"said Nikabrik.

"那也沒什么區(qū)別。"尼克布瑞克說。

"No，no，no，"said Trufflehunter."You know it isn't.You know very well that the beasts in Narnia nowadays are different and are no more than the poor dumb，witless creatures you'd find in Calormen or Telmar.They're smaller too.They're far more different from us than the half-Dwarfs are from you."

"不，不，不，"特魯佛漢特說，"你知道，這完全不一樣?，F(xiàn)在生活在納尼亞的動物，跟我們可完全不同。它們不過是可憐的啞巴，沒有一點靈性。這樣的動物遍及卡樂門和臺爾馬，或者說世界各地到處都是。它們個子矮小，長相顏色也不盡相同，和我們之間的差別，就跟混血小矮人與你們的差別一樣。

There was a great deal more talk，but it all ended with the agreement that Caspian should stay and even the promise that，as soon as he was able to go out，he should be taken to see what Trumpkin called"the Others""; for apparently in these wild parts all sorts of creatures from the Old Days of Narnia still lived on in hiding.

他們討論了很久之后，還是決定讓凱斯賓留下來。一旦他完全康復(fù)，就馬上帶他去見其他那些"自己人"。顯然，納尼亞的原住民至今還隱居在深山老林里。