Feeling oddly as though his legs had turned to lead, Harry got into line behind a boy with sandy hair, with Ron behind him, and they walked out of the chamber, back across the hall, and through a pair of double doors into the Great Hall.
哈利感到自己的双腿像是灌了铅一样，十分奇怪。他排在一个沙土色头发男孩子的后面，罗恩紧跟着他。他们这一队人重新穿越大厅，走进一扇对开的大门，进入到了大会堂。
Harry had never even imagined such a strange and splendid place.
哈利从未见过有哪个地方如此奇怪且辉煌。
It was lit by thousands and thousands of candles that were floating in midair over four long tables, where the rest of the students were sitting.
其他高年级的学生都坐在四张长桌子前，他们头顶上方竟有数以千计的蜡烛在半空中飘浮，将整个大会堂照得灯火通明。
These tables were laid with glittering golden plates and goblets. At the top of the hall was another long table where the teachers were sitting. Professor McGonagall led the first years up here, so that they came to a halt in a line facing the other students, with the teachers behind them.
桌上摆满了闪闪发光的金制的碟子和高脚杯。大会正前面的台上还有另一张长桌子，老师们都坐在那里。麦康娜教授将新生们领上高台，叫他们面向师兄，背对老师，一字排开地站好。
The hundreds of faces staring at them looked like pale lanterns in the flickering candlelight.
那千百张注视着他们的脸就好像闪耀的烛光中苍白的小灯笼。
Dotted here and there among the students, the ghosts shone misty silver.
分散在学生中的鬼魂将原本模糊的银器变得闪亮。
Mainly to avoid all the staring eyes, Harry looked upward and saw a velvety black ceiling dotted with stars.
为了避开台下的目光，哈利抬头仰望，恰巧看见点缀着星星的天鹅绒般美丽的黑色天花板。
He heard Hermione whisper, “Its bewitched to look like the sky outside. I read about it in Hogwarts, A History.”
他听见荷米恩在他耳边低语："有人曾对它施了魔法，使它看上去更像外面的星空。这是我在《霍格瓦彻故事》中得知的。
It was hard to believe there was a ceiling there at all, and that the Great Hall didn't simply open on to the heavens.
"真难以想象其实大会堂并不是露天的，堂顶上还有一层天花板。
Harry quickly looked down again as Professor McGonagall silently placed a four-legged stool in front of the first years.
当麦康娜教授静静地将一个四脚凳摆在新生们的面前时，哈利赶忙又平视前方。
On top of the stool she put a pointed wizard's hat. This hat was patched and frayed and extremely dirty. Aunt Petunia wouldn't have let it in the house.
教授在那四脚凳上放上一顶尖尖的魔法师的帽子。这顶帽子又破又旧又脏。帕尤妮亚姨妈是绝对不会让这顶帽子进入她的家门的。
Maybe they had to try and get a rabbit out of it, Harry thought wildly, that seemed the sort of thing — noticing that everyone in the hall was now staring at the hat, he stared at it, too.
也许是要从里面变只兔子或者什么吧，哈利正在胡乱猜测，发现大会堂里的每个人都盯着那帽子看，他也很想看个究竟。
For a few seconds, there was complete silence. Then the hat twitched.
一片死寂。突然，帽子一阵抽动.
A rip near the brim opened wide like a mouth — and the hat began to sing:"Oh, you may not think I'm pretty,but don't judge on what you see,I'll eat myself if you can find a smarter hat than me."
在它边缘的地方裂开了一道像人的嘴巴一样的缝。接着，帽子竟开始唱起来："噢，也许你认为我并不美丽，但不要只信任你的眼睛，如果你能找到一顶帽子比我更聪明，你把我怎样都行。

You can keep your bowlers black,your top hats sleek and tall,for I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat and I can cap them all.
你的圆顶礼帽黑且亮，你的高顶礼帽滑且高，因为我是霍格瓦彻分配帽，所以它们都没我好。
There's nothing hidden in your head.The Sorting Hat can't see,so try me on and I will tell you where you ought to be.
你脑子里想什么我最清楚，所以把我戴上，你该到哪儿就很清楚。
You might belong in Gryffindor,where dwell the brave at heart,their daring, nerve, and chivalry,set Gryffindors apart;
你也许该去格林芬顿，那里的勇士特别多，勇气、精神和扭力，无惧挑战与风波；
you might belong in Hufflepuff,where they are just and loyal,those patient Hufflepuffs are true and unafraid of toil;
要是你住在海夫巴夫，那里忠诚、正直又杰出，人们耐心又诚恳，无惧工作的劳苦；
or yet in wise old Ravenclaw, if you've a ready mind,where those of wit and learning,will always find their kind;
如果你住卫文卡罗，那可实在真是好，学者、智者一大堆，其他地方不易找；
or perhaps in Slytherin,you'll make your real friends,those cunning folk use any means to achieve their ends.
或者住在交林德林，你会找到朋友与真情，那里的居民有本领，那里的美景很吸引。
So put me on! Don't be afraid!And don't get in a flap!
来戴上我，千万别胆颤又心惊！
You're in safe hands (though I have none).For I'm a Thinking Cap!”The whole hall burst into applause as the hat finished its song.
有我保护安全得很，因为我思想之帽并不蠢。"当帽子表演完他精彩的歌唱，整个会堂报以热烈的掌声。
It bowed to each of the four tables and then became quite still again.
它对着四张坐满学生的桌子各鞠了一个躬，然后又变得纹丝不动了。
So we've just got to try on the hat!Ron whispered to Harry. “I'll kill Fred, he was going on about wrestling a troll.”
"看来我们只需戴一戴那顶帽子就行了。"罗恩低声对哈利说，"该死的弗来德，他才要去和巨人摔跤呢。"
Harry smiled weakly. Yes, trying on the hat was a lot better than having to do a spell, but he did wish they could have tried it on without everyone watching.
哈利暗自窃笑。确实，戴帽子可比变魔法容易多了,不过他还是觉得台下没有观众就更好了。
The hat seemed to be asking rather a lot; Harry didn't feel brave or quick-witted or any of it at the moment.
帽子似乎要问不少问题，而哈利也从不觉得自己很勇敢或是很聪明。
If only the hat had mentioned a house for people who felt a bit queasy, that would have been the one for him.
但愿帽子能对身体不适的人网开一面，直接告知结果了事，如果真是这样的话，那他一定能成为幸运儿。