Rabadash was brought before them in chains. To look at him anyone would have supposed that he had passed the night in a noisome dungeon without food or water; but in reality he had been shut up in quite a comfortable room and provided with an excellent supper. But as he was sulking far too furiously to touch the supper and had spent the whole night stamping and roaring and cursing, he naturally did not now look his best.
戴着铁链的拉巴达什给带了上来。瞧瞧他的模样,任何人都会猜想他是在一个喧闹的地牢里过了一夜,既没有食物,又没有水喝;事实上他却是给关在一个十分舒服的房间里,供他吃的伙食也十分精美。但因为他生气得非常厉害,晚饭一点也不肯吃,又整夜顿足、吼叫、咒骂,现在看上去自然不是他最好的模样儿了。
"Your royal Highness needs not to be told," said King Lune, "that by the law of nations as well as by all reasons of prudent policy, we have as good right to your head as ever one mortal man had against another. Nevertheless, in consideration of your youth and the ill nurture, devoid of all gentilesse and courtesy, which you have doubtless had in the land of slaves and tyrants, we are disposed to set you free, unharmed, on these conditions: first, that-"
“无需多说,殿下也知道,”国王伦恩说道,”根据国家的法律,根据审慎的政策的种种理由,我们有权要求砍掉你的脑袋,正如一个人有权处置另一个不共戴天的敌人一样。然而,考虑到你年纪还轻,天性粗暴,缺少各种教养和礼貌,凡此无疑都是在一个暴君和奴隶的国度里沾染上的恶习,我们倾向于不加害于你,释放你回家,条件是:第一……”
"Curse you for a barbarian dog!" spluttered Rabadash. "Do you think I will even hear your conditions? Faugh! You talk very largely of nurture and I know not what. It's easy, to a man in chains, ha! Take off these vile bonds, give me a sword, and let any of you who dares then debate with me."
“我咒骂你这野蛮的狗东西!“拉巴达什唾沫四溅地嚷嚷道,”你以为我会听你的条件吗?呸!你大谈天性和其他不知所云的话。对一个用链条束缚着的人说这种话是容易的,哼!解开这些该死的链条,给我一把剑,那时,你们哪一个敢来和我辩论!”
Nearly all the lords sprang to their feet, and Corin shouted:
几乎所有的王子贵族都跳了起来,科林大声叫道:
"Father! Can I box him? Please."
“父王!我能揍他吗?行吗?”
"Peace! Your Majesties! My Lords!" said King Lune. "Have we no more gravity among us than to be so chafed by the taunt of a pajock? Sit down, Corin, or shaft leave the table. I ask your Highness again, to hear our conditions."
“安静下来!陛下,各位王子贵族!”国王伦恩说道,”难道我们没有涵养到如此地步,一个混蛋的辱骂就把我们激怒了?坐下,科林,不然你就离开桌子吧。我再次要求殿下仔细听听我们的条件。”
"I hear no conditions from barbarians and sorcerers," said Rabadash. "Not one of you dare touch a hair of my head. Every insult you have heaped on me shall be paid with oceans of Narnian and Archenlandish blood. Terrible shall the vengeance of the Tisroc be: even now. But kill me, and the burnings and torturings in these northern lands shall become a tale to frighten the world a thousand years hence. Beware! Beware! Beware! The bolt of Tash falls from above!"
“我不听外邦人和术士提出的条件,”拉巴达什说道,”你们没有一个人敢碰我脑袋上的一根头发,你们对我的种种侮辱,将要用纳尼亚人和阿钦兰人的血海来偿还,蒂斯罗克的报复是可怕的,哪怕现在也是可怕的。如果杀了我,那么,在北方土地上的焚烧和折磨之灾,将成为今后一千年震惊世界的故事。小心!小心!小心!小心塔什神的雷霆从天上打下来!”
"Does it ever get caught on a hook half-way?" asked Corin.
“雷霆会中途在钩子上钩住吗?”科林问道。
"Shame, Corin," said the King. "Never taunt a man save when he is stronger than you: then, as you please."
“你太不像话了,科林,”国王说,”永远别取笑奚落人,除非对方比你强大;对方比你强时,那就悉听尊便了。”
"Oh you foolish Rabadash," sighed Lucy.
“你这愚蠢的拉巴达什啊。”露茜叹息道。
Next moment Cor wondered why everyone at the table had risen and was standing perfectly still. Of course he did the same himself. And then he saw the reason. Aslan was among them though no one had seen him coming. Rabadash started as the immense shape of the Lion paced softly in between him and his accusers.
接下来的刹那间,科奥心中纳罕:为什么坐在桌子旁的所有人都站起来了,而且都一动也不动地站在那儿。当然,他自己也站起来了。这时他才明白了其中的缘故。阿斯兰跟他们在一起,虽然没有一个人看见它进来。狮子巨大的躯体在拉巴达什和谴责他的人们之间轻轻地来回踱步时,拉巴达什吃了一惊。
"Rabadash," said Aslan. "Take heed. Your doom is very near, but you may still avoid it. Forget your pride (what have you to be proud of?) and your anger (who has done you wrong?) and accept the mercy of these good kings."
“拉巴达尔,”阿斯兰说道,”别掉以轻心了。你的厄运近在眼前,但你仍旧可以避免厄运的。忘掉你的骄傲(你有什么可骄傲的?),忘掉你的愤怒(有谁损害你来着?),接受这些善良的国王们的怜悯慈悲吧。”
Then Rabadash rolled his eyes and spread out his mouth into a horrible, long mirthless grin like a shark, and wagged his ears up and down (anyone can learn how to do this if they take the trouble). He had always found this very effective in Calormen. The bravest had trembled when he made these faces, and ordinary people had fallen to the floor, and sensitive people had often fainted. But what Rabadash hadn't realized is that it is very easy to frighten people who know you can have them boiled alive the moment you give the word. The grimaces didn't look at all alarming in Archenland; indeed Lucy only thought Rabadash was going to be sick.
拉巴达什这时转动眼珠,张开嘴巴,像鲨鱼似的发出可怕而沉闷的露齿狞笑,上下摆动着耳朵(如果肯费工夫,任何人都能学会的)。从前在卡乐门他这一套总是很奏效的。他做这鬼脸时,最勇敢的人发抖,普普通通的人倒在地上,神经过敏的人往往昏厥过去。然而拉巴达什不曾认识到的事实是:老百姓知道,你只要下个命令便可立刻把他们活活煮死,要吓唬他们自然是容易的。在阿钦兰,扮鬼脸看来压根儿不惊人;事实上,露茜只觉得拉巴达什大概快要生病了。
"Demon! Demon! Demon!" shrieked the Prince. "I know you. You are the foul fiend of Narnia. You are the enemy of the gods. Learn who I am, horrible phantasm. I am descended from Tash, the inexorable, the irresistible. the curse of Tash is upon you. Lightning in the shape of scorpions shall be rained on you. The mountains of Narnia shall be ground into dust. The-"
“魔鬼!魔鬼!魔鬼!”王子尖声叫道,”我知道你。你是纳尼亚的邪恶的魔王。你是众神的仇敌。可怕的幽灵,叫你知道我是谁吧。我是毫不宽容、不可抗拒的塔什神的后裔。塔什神的诅咒落在你头上。蝎子形的闪电将像雨点般打在你身上。纳尼亚的火山将化为尘土……”
"Have a care, Rabadash," said Aslan quietly. "The doom is nearer now: it is at the door: it has lifted the latch."
“留点儿神,拉巴达什,”阿斯兰平静地说道,”厄运如今更逼近了,厄运就在门外,厄运拔掉门闩了。”
"Let the skies fall," shrieked Rabadash. "Let the earth gape! Let blood and fire obliterate the world! But be sure I will never desist till I have dragged to my palace by her hair the barbarian queen, the daughter of dogs, the -"
“让天塌下来吧,”拉巴达什尖声叫道,”让地裂开来吧!让血与火湮没这世界吧!但是我管保决不断念、罢休,我一定要揪住那狗东西的女儿,揪住那外邦女王的头发,把她拖到我的王宫里去……”
"The hour has struck," said Aslan: and Rabadash saw, to his supreme horror, that everyone had begun to laugh.
“时辰到了。”阿斯兰说道,拉巴达什看到人人都开始哈哈大笑,心里惶恐之至。