《能言马与男孩》第13期:在塔什班城门口(2)

"When I heard the language of men uttered by my mare," continued Aravis, "I said to myself, the fear of death has disordered my reason and subjected me to delusions. And I became full of shame for none of my lineage ought to fear death more than the biting of a gnat. Therefore I addressed myself a second time to the stabbing, but Hwin came near to me and put her head in between me and the dagger and discoursed to me most excellent reasons and rebuked me as a mother rebukes her daughter. And now my wonder was so great that I forgot about killing myself and about Ahoshta and said, 'O my mare, how have you learned to speak like one of the daughters of men?' And Hwin told me what is known to all this company, that in Narnia there are beasts that talk, and how she herself was stolen from thence when she was a little foal. She told me also of the woods and waters of Narnia and the castles and the great ships, till I said, 'In the name of Tash and Azaroth and Zardeenah Lady of the Night, I have a great wish to be in that country of Narnia.' 'O my mistress,' answered the mare, 'if you were in Narnia you would be happy, for in that land no maiden is forced to marry against her will.'

“当我听到我的母马口出人言，”阿拉维斯继续讲道，”我对我自己说：死的恐具已经使我理智混乱，受幻觉支配了。我变得十分羞愧，因为我的家族里没有一个人应该怕死超过怕被虫子咬的。于是我再一次举手要自杀，但赫温胞进来了，把它的脑袋挡在我和匕首之间，用最最透彻的道理同我谈话，像个母亲训斥她的女儿般训斥我。却说我心里奇怪极了，我忘了自杀，忘了阿霍什塔，问道我的母马啊，你怎样学会像人类的女儿样说话的々赫温恒把在座各位都知道的情况告诉我：在纳尼亚王国里有的是会说人话的野兽，而它自己还是匹小驹子时便被人从纳尼亚盗走了。已也跟我讲起纳尼亚王国的森林和河流、堡垒和大船，直讲得我这样起誓道：‘我以塔什神和阿扎罗斯神之名，以黑夜女神扎迪娜之名起誓，我有一个最大的愿望，就是要生活在纳尼亚王国里。’‘我的女主人啊，’母马答道，‘如果你生活在纳尼亚王国里，你就会十分幸福，因为存那个王国里，决不会强迫哪一个姑娘违背自己的心愿出嫁成亲的。

"And when we had talked together for a great time hope returned to me and I rejoiced that I had not killed myself. Moreover it was agreed between Hwin and me that we should steal ourselves away together and we planned it in this fashion. We returned to my father's house and I put on my gayest clothes and sang and danced before my father and pretended to be delighted with the marriage which he had prepared for me. Also I said to him, 'O my father and O the delight of my eyes, give me your licence and permission to go with one of my maidens alone for three days into the woods to do secret sacrifices to Zardeenah, Lady of the Night and of Maidens, as is proper and customary for damsels when they must bid farewell to the service of Zardeenah and prepare themselves for marriage.' And he answered, 'O my daughter and O the delight of my eyes, so shall it be.'

“我们起谈了好久，我重新看到了希望，我为没有自杀而庆幸。此外，我和赫温还秘密约定，我们要起偷偷逃跑，而且如此这般地定下了计划。我们回到我父亲的府邸里，我穿上我鲜艳的衣服，在我父亲面前唱歌跳舞，假装对他为我安排的婚姻很是乐意。我还跟父亲说：‘我的父亲啊，我心目中的快乐啊，给我发个许可证，允许我带上个姑娘独自到森林里去，向黑夜和处女之神扎迪娜做秘密献祭，当少女们必须告别对扎迪娜的侍奉、准备出嫁成亲时，做这样的献祭足恰当的，符合习俗的。’于是父亲答道，‘我的女儿，我心目中的快乐啊，你可以这么办。’

"But when I came out from the presence of my father I went immediately to the oldest of his slaves, his secretary, who had dandled me on his knees when I was a baby and loved me more than the air and the light. And I swore him to be secret and begged him to write a certain letter for me. And he wept and implored me to change my resolution but in the end he said, 'To hear is to obey,' and did all my will. And I sealed the letter and hid it in my bosom."

“我从父亲那儿出来以后，立刻就去找他的最老的奴隶，也就是他的秘书，在我足个婴儿的时候，他曾在他膝头上播弄我逗我，他爱我甚于爱空气和阳光。我叫他起誓保守秘密，并且求他替我写了封信。他哭泣，求我改变主意，但他最后终于说道，‘听到下令，就遵命照办。’并且按照我的一切愿望把事情办了。我封好了信，藏在怀中。”

"But what was in the letter?" asked Shasta.

“信里说些什么呢”沙斯塔问。

"Be quiet, youngster," said Bree. "You're spoiling the story. She'll tell us all about the letter in the right place. Go on, Tarkheena."

“别插嘴，小家伙，”布里说，”你打断了故事。她会在恰当的地方把信上的切都告诉我们的。讲下去吧，泰克希娜。”