牛津書蟲系列 黑駿馬 1 My first home

1 My first home

1 我的第一個家

The first place I can remember well was a pleasant field with a pond of clear water in it.Trees made shadows over the pond，and water plants grew at the deep end.On one side was another field，and on the other side we looked over a gate at our master's house， which stood by the roadside.At the top of our field were more tall trees，and at the bottom was a fast-running stream.

我記憶中的第一個地方是一大片美麗的田野和一個清澈的池塘。樹影倒映在塘中，深水中長著水草。田野的一邊連著另一片田野，從另一邊越過一道門能看見主人的房子就在路邊。田野高處是片高高的樹林，低處是一條湍流不息的小河。

While I was young，I lived on my mother's milk，but as soon as I was old enough to eat grass，my mother went out to work during the day and came back in the evening.

我小時候吃媽媽的奶，等我長大了，能吃草了，媽媽就白天出去干活，晚上回來。

There were six other young horses in me field，although they were older than I was.We all galloped together round the field， and had great fun.But sometimes the others would kick and bite.

在這片田野上還有另外6匹年輕的馬，他們比我大。我們一起奔跑著穿過田野，非常好玩。不過有時他們會踢打撕咬起來。

'They are young farm horses and haven't learned how to behave，'my mother told me.'You are different.Your father is well known， and your grandfather twice won the most important race at Newmarket.Your grandmother was quiet and gentle，and you have never seen me kick or bite，have you? I hope you will grow up to be gentle and a willing worker， and never bite or kick.'

“他們是年輕的農(nóng)場馬，沒學(xué)過怎么舉手投足，”媽媽告訴我，“你是不同的。你爸爸很有名，你的祖父曾兩次在紐馬克特得過最重要的賽馬比賽的冠軍。你的祖母又安靜又溫和，你也沒看見過我踢人或咬人，是吧?我希望你長大以后能夠性情溫和、工作勤勞，永遠(yuǎn)不要踢咬。”

I have never forgotten my mother's advice.She was a clever and sensible old horse.Her name was Duchess，but our master often called her Pet.He was a good，kind man，and my mother loved him very much.Whenever she saw him at the gate，she trotted across.He used to pat her and say，'Well，old Pet，and how is your little Darkie?'I was a dull black colour，so he called me Darkie.He sometimes brought a piece of bread for me，or a carrot for my mother，and I think we were his favourites.

我從沒忘記過媽媽的忠告。她是一匹聰慧、明理的老馬，叫杜琪絲，不過我們主人常叫她寶貝。他是一個善良的好人，我媽媽非常愛他。每當(dāng)看到他出現(xiàn)在門口，媽媽就快步跑過去。他常拍拍她說：“喂，老寶貝，你的小黑好嗎?”我全身都是深黑色，所以他叫我小黑。有時他帶給我一片面包，或是給我媽媽一根胡蘿卜，我覺得我們是他的心頭肉。

When I was two years old，something happened which I have never forgotten.It was early spring，and there was a light mist over the trees and fields.I and the other young horses were feeding at the lower end of the field when we heard the distant cry of dogs.

我兩歲的時候，發(fā)生了一件我永遠(yuǎn)無法忘掉的事。那是一個初春，樹林和田野都籠罩著一層薄霧。我和其他年輕的馬們在田野的低地邊吃草，這時我們聽到遠(yuǎn)處傳來狗的叫聲。

The oldest among us lifted his head to listen.'There are the hounds!'he said，and immediately raced off.The rest of us followed him to the top of the field，where we could see several fields beyond.

我們中年紀(jì)最大的一個抬頭聽了聽，說：“是獵犬!”然后他立刻跑了過去。我們也跟著他往高處跑，在那兒我們能看見遠(yuǎn)處的幾片田野。

My mother and another old horse were standing near.'They've found a hare，'said my mother，'and if they come this way，we shall see the hunt.'

我媽媽和另一匹老馬正站在附近。“他們發(fā)現(xiàn)了一只野免，”媽媽說，“如果他們往這邊來，我們就能看到這場狩獵。”

Soon the dogs were all racing down the field next to ours，making a loud'yo-yo-yo-yo!'sound at the top of their voices.After them came men on horses，some in green coats，and all galloping as fast as they could.Suddenly，the dogs be-came silent and ran around with their noses to the ground.

很快獵犬們向我們旁邊的田野沖下來，高聲地狂吠著。隨后人們騎著馬跑來了，有的穿著綠色外衣，全都盡力飛奔。突然，狗們靜了下來，邊跑邊用鼻子在周圍的地面上嗅。

'They've lost the smell of the hare，'said the old horse.'Perhaps it will escape.'

“他們聞不著兔子的味兒了，”那匹老馬說，“也許兔子能跑掉。”

But the dogs began their'yo-yo-yo-yo!'again and came at full speed towards our field.Just then a hare，wild with fear，ran towards the trees.The dogs jumped over the stream and ran across the field，followed by the huntsmen. Six or eight jumped their horses over the stream，close behind the dogs.Be-fore the hare could get away，the dogs were upon her with wild cries.

但是狗們又叫開了，并全速向我們的田野沖來。這時一只野兔向樹林沖來，簡直嚇瘋了。狗們跳過小河跑過田野，獵人們緊隨其后。6或8個人策馬躍過小河，緊跟在狗后面。在野兔能逃走之前，狗們已經(jīng)狂野地吠著撲到了她身上。

We heard a terrible scream，and that was the end of the hare.One of the men picked her up and held her by the leg.She was covered in blood， but all the huntsmen seemed pleased.

我們聽到了一聲可怕的尖叫，那只野兔就這么完了。一個人抓住她的腿把她拎了起來。兔子全身血淋淋的，但所有的獵人看上去都很高興。

I was so greatly surprised that at first I did not see what was happening by the stream， but when I did look， I saw a sad sight.Two fine horses were down，one in the stream and the other on the grass. One rider， who seemed unhurt，was climb-ing out of the water，but the other lay quite still.

我吃驚地看著這一幕，沒顧得上看河邊的情形?？墒钱?dāng)我望過去的時候，看到的則是一幅悲慘的景象。兩匹好馬倒在那里，一匹在河水里，另一匹在草地上。一個騎手正從水里往外爬，看上去沒受傷，但另一個卻靜靜地躺在地上。

'His neck is broken，'said my mother.'I can't understand why men are so fond of this sport.They quite often hurt them-selves and ruin good horses，all for one hare that they could get more easily some other way. But we are only horses， and don't know why men do these things.'

“他脖子折斷了，”我媽媽說。“我真不明白為什么人們?nèi)绱讼矏圻@種游戲。他們經(jīng)常傷了自己，也毀了好馬，這一切就是為了一只野兔。而他們本可以很容易地以其他方式獲得的。不過我們只是馬，搞不懂人們?yōu)槭裁催@樣做。”

They carried the dead rider to our master's house， and I heard afterwards that it was George Gordon， the only son of a local landowner， and a fine young man.

他們把死了的騎手抬到我們主人的房子里，后來我聽說那是喬治·高頓，本地農(nóng)場主的獨生子，一個挺不錯的小伙子。

A man from the village came to look at the black horse on the grass.The animal was in great pain and one of his legs was broken.The man began to feel the horse all over，then he shook his head.Someone ran to our master's house and came back with a gun.Soon after， there was a loud bang and a terrible cry，then all was still.The black horse did not move again.

一個人從村里出來看草地上的那匹黑馬。那馬痛得要命，一條腿斷了。那人摸了摸馬的全身，然后搖了搖頭。有人跑回我們主人的房子，拿來了一枝槍。隨后是一聲巨響和一聲可怕的長嘶，一切便都靜了下來。那匹黑馬一動不動了。

My mother was very unhappy.'I've known that horse for years，'she said.'His name was Rob Roy.He was a good brave horse.'She never went near that end of the field again.

我媽媽非常不高興。“我認(rèn)識那馬有好幾年了，”她說，“他叫羅伯·羅伊，是一匹勇敢的好馬。”她從此再沒靠近過那片田野。

Not many days after，we heard the church bell and saw a long，strange black carriage，pulled by black horses.they were taking the body of young George Gordon to the churchyard to bury him.He would never ride again.I never knew what they did with Rob Roy，but it was all for one little hare.

沒過幾天，我們聽到了教堂的鐘聲，還看見一輛長長的、奇怪的黑色馬車，被幾匹黑馬拉著。他們是在把年輕的喬治·高頓的遺體運(yùn)到墓地去埋掉。他永遠(yuǎn)不能再騎馬了。我不知他們對羅伯·羅伊是怎么處置的，但這一切都不過是為了一只小野兔。

1 My first home

The first place I can remember well was a pleasant field with a pond of clear water in it.Trees made shadows over the pond，and water plants grew at the deep end.On one side was another field，and on the other side we looked over a gate at our master's house， which stood by the roadside.At the top of our field were more tall trees，and at the bottom was a fast-running stream.

While I was young，I lived on my mother's milk，but as soon as I was old enough to eat grass，my mother went out to work during the day and came back in the evening.

There were six other young horses in me field，although they were older than I was.We all galloped together round the field， and had great fun.But sometimes the others would kick and bite.

'They are young farm horses and haven't learned how to behave，'my mother told me.'You are different.Your father is well known， and your grandfather twice won the most important race at Newmarket.Your grandmother was quiet and gentle，and you have never seen me kick or bite，have you? I hope you will grow up to be gentle and a willing worker， and never bite or kick.'

I have never forgotten my mother's advice.She was a clever and sensible old horse.Her name was Duchess，but our master often called her Pet.He was a good，kind man，and my mother loved him very much.Whenever she saw him at the gate，she trotted across.He used to pat her and say，'Well，old Pet，and how is your little Darkie?'I was a dull black colour，so he called me Darkie.He sometimes brought a piece of bread for me，or a carrot for my mother，and I think we were his favourites.

When I was two years old，something happened which I have never forgotten.It was early spring，and there was a light mist over the trees and fields.I and the other young horses were feeding at the lower end of the field when we heard the distant cry of dogs.

The oldest among us lifted his head to listen.'There are the hounds!'he said，and immediately raced off.The rest of us followed him to the top of the field，where we could see several fields beyond.

My mother and another old horse were standing near.'They've found a hare，'said my mother，'and if they come this way，we shall see the hunt.'

Soon the dogs were all racing down the field next to ours，making a loud'yo-yo-yo-yo!'sound at the top of their voices.After them came men on horses，some in green coats，and all galloping as fast as they could.Suddenly，the dogs be-came silent and ran around with their noses to the ground.

'They've lost the smell of the hare，'said the old horse.'Perhaps it will escape.'

But the dogs began their'yo-yo-yo-yo!'again and came at full speed towards our field.Just then a hare，wild with fear，ran towards the trees.The dogs jumped over the stream and ran across the field，followed by the huntsmen. Six or eight jumped their horses over the stream，close behind the dogs.Be-fore the hare could get away，the dogs were upon her with wild cries.

We heard a terrible scream，and that was the end of the hare.One of the men picked her up and held her by the leg.She was covered in blood， but all the huntsmen seemed pleased.

I was so greatly surprised that at first I did not see what was happening by the stream， but when I did look， I saw a sad sight.Two fine horses were down，one in the stream and the other on the grass. One rider， who seemed unhurt，was climb-ing out of the water，but the other lay quite still.

'His neck is broken，'said my mother.'I can't understand why men are so fond of this sport.They quite often hurt them-selves and ruin good horses，all for one hare that they could get more easily some other way. But we are only horses， and don't know why men do these things.'

They carried the dead rider to our master's house， and I heard afterwards that it was George Gordon， the only son of a local landowner， and a fine young man.

A man from the village came to look at the black horse on the grass.The animal was in great pain and one of his legs was broken.The man began to feel the horse all over，then he shook his head.Someone ran to our master's house and came back with a gun.Soon after， there was a loud bang and a terrible cry，then all was still.The black horse did not move again.

My mother was very unhappy.'I've known that horse for years，'she said.'His name was Rob Roy.He was a good brave horse.'She never went near that end of the field again.

Not many days after，we heard the church bell and saw a long，strange black carriage，pulled by black horses.they were taking the body of young George Gordon to the churchyard to bury him.He would never ride again.I never knew what they did with Rob Roy，but it was all for one little hare.

1 我的第一個家

我記憶中的第一個地方是一大片美麗的田野和一個清澈的池塘。樹影倒映在塘中，深水中長著水草。田野的一邊連著另一片田野，從另一邊越過一道門能看見主人的房子就在路邊。田野高處是片高高的樹林，低處是一條湍流不息的小河。

我小時候吃媽媽的奶，等我長大了，能吃草了，媽媽就白天出去干活，晚上回來。

在這片田野上還有另外6匹年輕的馬，他們比我大。我們一起奔跑著穿過田野，非常好玩。不過有時他們會踢打撕咬起來。

“他們是年輕的農(nóng)場馬，沒學(xué)過怎么舉手投足，”媽媽告訴我，“你是不同的。你爸爸很有名，你的祖父曾兩次在紐馬克特得過最重要的賽馬比賽的冠軍。你的祖母又安靜又溫和，你也沒看見過我踢人或咬人，是吧?我希望你長大以后能夠性情溫和、工作勤勞，永遠(yuǎn)不要踢咬。”

我從沒忘記過媽媽的忠告。她是一匹聰慧、明理的老馬，叫杜琪絲，不過我們主人常叫她寶貝。他是一個善良的好人，我媽媽非常愛他。每當(dāng)看到他出現(xiàn)在門口，媽媽就快步跑過去。他常拍拍她說：“喂，老寶貝，你的小黑好嗎?”我全身都是深黑色，所以他叫我小黑。有時他帶給我一片面包，或是給我媽媽一根胡蘿卜，我覺得我們是他的心頭肉。

我兩歲的時候，發(fā)生了一件我永遠(yuǎn)無法忘掉的事。那是一個初春，樹林和田野都籠罩著一層薄霧。我和其他年輕的馬們在田野的低地邊吃草，這時我們聽到遠(yuǎn)處傳來狗的叫聲。

我們中年紀(jì)最大的一個抬頭聽了聽，說：“是獵犬!”然后他立刻跑了過去。我們也跟著他往高處跑，在那兒我們能看見遠(yuǎn)處的幾片田野。

我媽媽和另一匹老馬正站在附近。“他們發(fā)現(xiàn)了一只野免，”媽媽說，“如果他們往這邊來，我們就能看到這場狩獵。”

很快獵犬們向我們旁邊的田野沖下來，高聲地狂吠著。隨后人們騎著馬跑來了，有的穿著綠色外衣，全都盡力飛奔。突然，狗們靜了下來，邊跑邊用鼻子在周圍的地面上嗅。

“他們聞不著兔子的味兒了，”那匹老馬說，“也許兔子能跑掉。”

但是狗們又叫開了，并全速向我們的田野沖來。這時一只野兔向樹林沖來，簡直嚇瘋了。狗們跳過小河跑過田野，獵人們緊隨其后。6或8個人策馬躍過小河，緊跟在狗后面。在野兔能逃走之前，狗們已經(jīng)狂野地吠著撲到了她身上。

我們聽到了一聲可怕的尖叫，那只野兔就這么完了。一個人抓住她的腿把她拎了起來。兔子全身血淋淋的，但所有的獵人看上去都很高興。

我吃驚地看著這一幕，沒顧得上看河邊的情形。可是當(dāng)我望過去的時候，看到的則是一幅悲慘的景象。兩匹好馬倒在那里，一匹在河水里，另一匹在草地上。一個騎手正從水里往外爬，看上去沒受傷，但另一個卻靜靜地躺在地上。

“他脖子折斷了，”我媽媽說。“我真不明白為什么人們?nèi)绱讼矏圻@種游戲。他們經(jīng)常傷了自己，也毀了好馬，這一切就是為了一只野兔。而他們本可以很容易地以其他方式獲得的。不過我們只是馬，搞不懂人們?yōu)槭裁催@樣做。”

他們把死了的騎手抬到我們主人的房子里，后來我聽說那是喬治·高頓，本地農(nóng)場主的獨生子，一個挺不錯的小伙子。

一個人從村里出來看草地上的那匹黑馬。那馬痛得要命，一條腿斷了。那人摸了摸馬的全身，然后搖了搖頭。有人跑回我們主人的房子，拿來了一枝槍。隨后是一聲巨響和一聲可怕的長嘶，一切便都靜了下來。那匹黑馬一動不動了。

我媽媽非常不高興。“我認(rèn)識那馬有好幾年了，”她說，“他叫羅伯·羅伊，是一匹勇敢的好馬。”她從此再沒靠近過那片田野。

沒過幾天，我們聽到了教堂的鐘聲，還看見一輛長長的、奇怪的黑色馬車，被幾匹黑馬拉著。他們是在把年輕的喬治·高頓的遺體運(yùn)到墓地去埋掉。他永遠(yuǎn)不能再騎馬了。我不知他們對羅伯·羅伊是怎么處置的，但這一切都不過是為了一只小野兔。