Chapter11
第十一章
TheJourneyNorth
向北前行
KingFred’sspiritsrosehigherandhigherasherodeoutofChouxvilleandintothecountryside.Wordoftheking’ssuddenexpeditiontofindtheIckaboghadnowspreadtothefarmerswhoworkedtherollinggreenfields,andtheyranwiththeirfamiliestocheertheking,thetwolordsandtheRoyalGuardastheypassed.
随着国王弗雷德走出首都来到郊外,他的精神越来越高昂亢奋。国王突然远征艾卡伯格的传言已经传到在田野作业的农民。这些农民拖家带口的跑来为经过的国王,两个爵士和皇家卫队呐喊助威。
Nothavinghadanylunch,thekingdecidedtostopinKurdsburgtoeatalatedinner.
由于没有吃午饭,国王决定在科德斯伯格市停下吃个晚饭。
‘We’llroughithere,chaps,likethesoldiersweare!’hecriedtohispartyastheyenteredthecityfamedforitscheese,‘andwe’llsetoutagainatfirstlight!’
“我们和将士们在这里休息一下!”国王对着队伍大喊着,进入了以奶酪闻名的城市。“我们明天黎明再出发!”
But,ofcourse,therewasnoquestionofthekingroughingit.VisitorsatKurdsburg’sfinestinnwerethrownoutontothestreettomakewayforhim,soFredsleptthatnightinabrassbedwithaduck-downmattress,afteraheartymealoftoastedcheeseandchocolatefondue.ThelordsSpittleworthandFlapoon,ontheotherhand,wereforcedtospendthenightinalittleroomoverthestables.
当然,没有国王休息一下没有任何问题。科德斯伯格最好酒店里的顾客都走出酒店只为国王腾出空间,因此那晚弗雷德吃完丰盛的烤奶酪和巧克力酪酥晚餐,就睡在了铺有鸭绒垫的黄铜床上。另一方面,斯派头沃斯和菲莱普恩却被迫在马厩旁边的小屋度过了那晚。
Bothwererathersoreafteralongdayonhorseback.Youmaywonderwhythatwas,iftheywenthuntingfivetimesaweek,butthetruthwasthattheygenerallysneakedofftositbehindatreeafterhalfanhour’shunting,wheretheyatesandwichesanddrankwineuntilitwastimetogobacktothepalace.Neitherwasusedtospendinghoursinthesaddle,andSpittleworth’sbonybottomwasalreadystartingtoblister.
两人在长时间在马背骑行后浑身疼痛。你也许好奇为什么会这样,因为他们是毕竟一周打猎五次的人,实际上他们一般都会在打猎开始一会就溜走,坐在大树下,吃着三明治,喝着葡萄酒,直到回宫殿的时间。两人从来没有在马背上超过几小时,斯派头沃斯的瘦弱的屁股都一开始起疱了。
Earlythefollowingmorning,thekingwasbroughtwordbyMajorBeamishthatthecitizensofBaronstownwereveryupsetthekinghadchosentosleepinKurdsburgratherthantheirsplendidcity.
Eagernottodenthispopularity,KingFredinstructedhispartytorideinanenormouscirclethroughthesurroundingfields,beingcheeredbyfarmersalltheway,sothattheyendedupinBaronstownbynightfall.Thedelicioussmellofsizzlingsausagesgreetedtheroyalparty,andadelightedcrowdcarryingtorchesescortedFredtothebestroominthecity.
第二天大清早,梅杰比姆世给国王带来话说巴融斯通的市民非常沮丧因为国王选择在科德斯伯格过夜而不是他们的华丽城市。国王为了不削弱他的名望,于是带领军队绕了周围的田地一大圈,路上当然少不了农民们的欢呼,等达到巴融斯通时已经是傍晚了。滋滋响着的烤肠的香甜气味诱惑着整个队伍,开心的群众举着明亮的火把护送着国王弗雷德去了城市里最好的酒店。
Therehewasservedroastedoxandhoneyham,andsleptinacarvedoakbedwithagoose-downmattress,whileSpittleworthandFlapoonhadtoshareatinyatticroomusuallyoccupiedbytwomaids.Bynow,Spittleworth’sbottomwasextremelypainful,andhewasfuriousthathe’dbeenforcedtoridefortymilesinacircle,purelytokeepthesausagemakershappy.Flapoon,who’deatenfartoomuchcheeseinKurdsburgandhadconsumedthreebeefsteaksinBaronstown,wasawakeallnight,groaningwithindigestion.
在那里,国王品尝了烤牛和蜜制火腿,睡在了铺有鹅绒的橡树雕刻床上,与此同时,两个爵士睡在了狭小的阁楼里,那儿以前是两个侍女住的地方。如今,斯派头沃斯的屁股超级的疼痛,对于只为了取悦一群制作香肠的人,他就被迫骑行绕圈40英里的事,他无比恼火。菲莱普恩由于肚子消耗不良,整个晚上都没睡着,因为他在科德斯伯格吃了太多的奶酪,又在巴融斯通吃了三个牛排。
Nextday,thekingandhismensetoffagain,andthistimetheyheadednorth,soonpassingthroughvineyardsfromwhicheagergrapepickersemergedtowaveCornucopianflagsandreceivewavesfromthejubilantking.Spittleworthwasalmostcryingfrompain,inspiteofthecushionhe’dstrappedtohisbottom,andFlapoon’sbelchesandmoanscouldbeheardevenovertheclatterofhoovesandjingleofbridles.
第二天,国王和他的队伍又次出发,这一次,他们一路向北,快速穿过那葡萄庄园,同样满怀热情的葡萄采摘人挥舞着国旗,也收到了国王热情的挥手。斯派头沃斯疼痛的几乎快要哭出来了,虽然他屁股下放了垫子。马蹄声和马铃声钉钉作响,依然掩盖不了菲莱普恩的打嗝和呻吟声。
UponarrivalatJeroboamthatevening,theyweregreetedbytrumpetsandtheentirecitysingingthenationalanthem.Fredfeastedonsparklingwineandtrufflesthatnight,beforeretiringtoasilkenfour-posterbedwithaswans-downmattress.
当到达杰若保姆的那晚上,国王和军队被整个城市唱着国歌欢迎。国王享受着绝美的葡萄酒,之后在铺有天鹅绒垫的四维柱丝绸窗上休憩。
ButSpittleworthandFlapoonwereforcedtosharearoomovertheinn’skitchenwithapairofsoldiers.DrunkenJeroboamdwellerswerereelingaboutinthestreet,celebratingthepresenceofthekingintheircity.Spittleworthspentmuchofthenightsittinginabucketofice,andFlapoon,who’ddrunkfartoomuchredwine,spentthesameperiodbeingsickinasecondbucketinthecorner.
但是,两个爵士却被迫与两个士兵一起分享酒店厨房附近的一个房间。醉醺醺的杰若保姆市民在街上比肩接踵,庆祝着国王来到他们的城市。斯派头沃斯几乎整个晚上都坐在了冰桶上,喝了超多红酒的菲莱普恩花了差不多的时间在角落里另一个木桶上。
Atdawnnextmorning,thekingandhispartysetoutfortheMarshlands,afterafamousfarewellfromthecitizensofJeroboam,whosawhimonhiswaywithathunderouspoppingofcorksthatmadeSpittleworth’shorserearandditchhimontheroad.Oncethey’ddustedSpittleworthoffandputthecushionbackonhisbottom,andFredhadstoppedlaughing,thepartyproceeded.
第二天清晨,在杰若保姆市居民热情送别后,国王和他的队伍向麻石地出发。路上雷鸣般的掌声让斯派头沃斯的马受惊,把斯派头沃斯摔在了路上。等(士兵)给斯派头沃斯拍打完灰尘并把垫子放在放在其屁股下,弗雷德才停止了笑声,继续前行。
Soonthey’dleftJeroboambehind,andcouldhearonlybirdsong.Forthefirsttimeintheirentirejourney,thesidesoftheroadwereempty.Gradually,thelushgreenlandgavewaytothin,drygrass,crookedtrees,andboulders.
不久后,杰若保姆市在身后越来越远。也是行程的首次,路旁空旷无人,只有鸟叫。慢慢地,茂盛碧绿的田地变成了干枯瘦弱的草地,弯曲的树和石头。
‘Extraordinaryplace,isn’tit?’thecheerfulkingshoutedbacktoSpittleworthandFlapoon.‘I’mjollygladtoseetheseMarshlandsatlast,aren’tyou?’
“卓越的地方,不是吗?”兴奋的国王朝后面的两个爵士喊道,“最终看到麻石地我很开心,你们呢?”
Thetwolordsagreed,butonceFredhadturnedtofacethefrontagain,theymaderudegesturesandmouthedevenrudernamesatthebackofhishead.
两个爵士表示同意,但国王一转过头去,两个爵士就在国王背后做出了粗鲁的姿势和咒骂的嘴型。
Atlast,theroyalpartycameacrossafewpeople,andhowtheMarshlandersstared!TheyfelltotheirkneesliketheshepherdintheThroneRoom,andquiteforgottocheerorclap,butgapedasthoughthey’dneverseenanythinglikethekingandtheRoyalGuardbefore–which,indeed,theyhadn’t,becausewhileKingFredhadvisitedallthemajorcitiesofCornucopiaafterhiscoronation,nobodyhadthoughtitworthhiswhiletovisitthefarawayMarshlands.
最后,皇家军队经过寥寥无几的几个麻石地人!他们就像在王宫的那个牧羊人那样跪拜下来,都忘记欢呼或者鼓掌,他们目瞪口呆就像从来都没有见过国王和皇家军队那样,实际上,他们就是没见过。因为当时国王弗雷德加冕后拜访了考妞考皮亚所有的主要城市,但没人认为去遥远的麻石地拜访是值得的。
‘Simplepeople,yes,butrathertouching,aren’tthey?’thekingcalledgailytohismen,assomeraggedchildrengaspedatthemagnificenthorses.They’dneverseenanimalssoglossyandwellfedintheirlives.
“单纯的人们,是的,但无比的感人,不是吗?”国王轻松的对着队伍说。几个穿着破旧的孩子屏住呼吸盯着华丽的骏马。他们从来还没见过如此光滑且健壮的动物。
‘Andwherearewesupposedtostaytonight?’FlapoonmutteredtoSpittleworth,eyeingthetumbledownstonecottages.‘Notavernshere!’
“我们晚上住哪里?”菲莱普恩对沃斯抱怨道,眼睛看着那坍塌的石头房舍,“别在这里!”
‘Well,there’sone