《凯斯宾王子》第七章 纳尼亚的危机

CHAPTER SEVEN OLD NARNIA IN DANGER

第七章 纳尼亚的危机

THE PLACE where they had met the Fauns was，of course，Dancing Lawn itself，and here Caspian and his friends remained till the night of the great Council.To sleep under the stars，to drink nothing but well water and to live chiefly on nuts and wild fruit，was a strange experience for Caspian after his bed with silken sheets in a tapestried chamber at the castle，with meals laid out on gold and silver dishes in the anteroom，and attendants ready at his call.But he had never enjoyed himself more.Never had sleep been more refreshing nor food tasted more savoury，and he began already to harden and his face wore a kinglier look.

在欢舞草坪上，他们遇到了羊怪。经过一番商议，凯斯宾和他的好友们选择住下，等着聚会的到来。他们渴了就喝井水，饿了就吃野果，夜晚就睡在漫天星斗之下，这一切都让凯斯宾觉得很新鲜。虽然以前睡的是挂满帷幔的房间，盖的是温暖柔软的被子，吃的是山珍海味，过着有人服侍的王宫生活，可他从来没有像现在这么快乐过。那时候他没有一个晚上睡得好，也几乎吃不下任何东西。他正在慢慢变得坚强起来，气质和仪态俨然已是一副国王的模样。

When the great night came，and his various strange subjects came stealing into the lawn by ones and twos and threes or by sixes and sevens-the moon then shining almost at her full-his heart swelled as he saw their numbers and heard their greetings.All whom he had met were there: Bulgy Bears and Red Dwarfs and Black Dwarfs，Moles and Badgers，Hares and Hedgehogs，and others whom he had not yet seen-five Satyrs as red as foxes，the whole contingent of Talking Mice，armed to the teeth and following a shrill trumpet，some Owls，the Old Raven of Ravenscaur.Last of all (and this took Caspian's breath away)，with the Centaurs came a small but genuine Giant，Wimbleweather of Deadman's Hill，carrying on his back a basketful of rather sea-sick Dwarfs who had accepted his offer of a lift and were now wishing they had walked instead.

盛大的聚会之夜终于来临了，皎洁的月光下，凯斯宾那些各式各样、古里古怪的臣子们成群结队，陆续走进欢舞草坪。看着朋友们欢歌笑语，凯斯宾欣喜不已。之前见过的好友都来了，大棕熊、红色小矮人和黑色小矮人，还有鼹鼠、獾、兔子和刺猬，当然还有些没有见过的朋友，像那五个毛发艳红的大猩猩、猫头鹰、还有一伙渡鸦。全副武装的老鼠们踩着尖锐的喇叭声排队走来，当真是气势十足。人马和巨人温布维德是最后到的。凯斯宾被巨人那庞大的身体惊呆了。还有一箩筐晕船的小矮人被巨人背着，它们接纳了巨人的建议，让它背着;只是此刻，它们都被颠晕了一路，一个个都后悔地说，早知道就自己走过来了。

The Bulgy Bears were very anxious to have the feast first and leave the council till afterwards: perhaps till tomorrow.Reepicheep and his Mice said that councils and feasts could both wait，and proposed storming Miraz in his own castle that very night.Pattertwig and the other Squirrels said they could talk and eat at the same time，so why not have the council and feast all at once? The Moles proposed throwing up entrenchments round the Lawn before they did anything else.The Fauns thought it would be better to begin with a solemn dance.The Old Raven，while agreeing with the Bears that it would take too long to have a full council before supper，begged to be allowed to give a brief address to the whole company.But Caspian and the Centaurs and the Dwarfs overruled all these suggestions and insisted on holding a real council of war at once.

几头胖熊最在乎的还是宴会，它们建议政务会过两天再开。雷佩契普和它的老鼠军团则希望趁夜攻打城堡，袭击弥若兹，打他个措手不及;至于宴会和政务会干脆推迟举行。佩蒂威格和松鼠们则说，边吃边商量最节约时间，所以两个会为什么不同时举行呢?而鼹鼠们担心出问题，面色凝重地建议挖一条防御壕沟在欢舞草坪周围，再去说其他的。羊怪们极力推荐跳一回集体舞。胖熊们的建议得到了老渡鸦的支持，说应该开完所有的会再吃饭(它忙中出错把顺序弄反了)， 同时，他还想向大家致辞，希望大家同意。但是凯斯宾、人马和小矮人们不接受这些建议，坚持马上举行一次与战争相关的会议。

When all the other creatures had been persuaded to sit down quietly in a great circle，and when (with more difficulty) they had got Pattertwig to stop running to and fro and saying"Silence! Silence，everyone，for the King's speech"，Caspian，feeling a little nervous，got up."Narnians!"he began，but he never got　any further，for at that very moment Camillo the Hare said，"Hush! There's a Man somewhere near."

最终大家终于被说服了，围了个大圈坐下。之后他们花了好大功夫，才让佩蒂威格的嘴闭上--它一直在奔跑，喊着"安静，安静!大家请安静，国王要说话了。"凯斯宾站起来，心里有点紧张。"纳尼亚的臣民们!"他才开了个头，刚要接着说下去，兔子卡梅罗的耳朵就猛地竖了起来，警惕地打了个手势，"嘘!有人靠近!"

They were all creatures of the wild，accustomed to being hunted，and they all became still as statues.The beasts all turned their noses in the direction which Camillo had indicated.

森林里的动物对猎人的追捕早就习以为常。因此，它们全部看向卡梅罗示意的那个方向，都跟雕塑似的，纹丝不动。

"Smells like Man and yet not quite like Man，"whispered Trufflehunter.

"是人的味道，可又不像真正的人。"特鲁佛汉特小声说。

"It's getting steadily nearer，"said Camillo.

"他越走越近了。"卡梅罗说。

"Two badgers and you three Dwarfs，with your bows at the-ready，go softly off to meet it，"said Caspian.

"两只獾和你们三个小矮人拿好弓箭，悄悄过去看看是谁。"凯斯宾命令道。

"We'll settle'un，"said a Black Dwarf grimly，fitting a shaft to his bowstring.

"我们去灭了他!"黑色小矮人边说边装上利箭。

Don't shoot if it is alone，"said Caspian."Catch it."

"要是只有一个人，别射他，"凯斯宾说，"留活的。"

"Why?"asked the Dwarf.

"为什么?"小矮人问。

"Do as you're told，"said Glenstorm the Centaur.

"听命行事。"人马格兰仕托姆说。

Everyone waited in silence while the three Dwarfs and two Badgers trotted stealthily across to the trees on the northwest side of the Lawn.Then came a sharp dwarfish cry，"Stop! Who goes there?"and a sudden spring.A moment later a voice，which Caspian knew well，could he heard saying，"All right，all right，I'm unarmed.Take my wrists if you like，worthy Badgers，but don't bite right through them.I want to speak to the King."

三个小矮人和两只獾低着身子，大步走向欢舞草坪西北方向的树林，其他人则静静等待。没一会儿，那里传来小矮人的尖叫声，"站住，不准动!"随即就是一阵急促的脚步声。一小会后，一个凯斯宾熟悉的声音响起，"别!别激动!我没有武器。你咬住我的手腕就行了，獾老弟，可别把手咬破了。我有话对国王说。"

"Doctor Cornelius!"cried Caspian with joy，and rushed forward to greet his old tutor.Everyone else crowded round.

"克奈尔斯博士!"凯斯宾惊喜地叫着。他飞奔着冲过去，一把将上年纪的老师抱住，大家则围了过去。

"Pah!"said Nikabrik."A renegade Dwarf.A half-and-halfer! Shall I pass my sword through its throat?"

"呸!"尼克布瑞克说，"一个叛变的小矮人，才四分之一的血脉!要我一剑刺进他的喉咙吗?"

"Be quiet，Nikabrik，"said Trumpkin."The creature can't help its ancestry."

"住嘴，尼克布瑞克，"杜鲁普金说，"谁都不能选择自己的血统。"

"This is my greatest friend and the saviour of my life，"said Caspian."And anyone who doesn't like his company may leave my army: at once.Dearest doctor，I am glad to see you again.How ever did you find us out?"

"他是我最忠诚的朋友，他救过我的命，"凯斯宾说，"要是有人不喜欢他，那请离开我的部队，现在就离开。最亲爱的博士，能再见到你我真开心。你是怎么找到这里的?"

"By a little use of simple magic，your Majesty，"said the Doctor，who was still puffing and blowing from having walked so fast."But there's no time to go into that now.We must all fly from this place at once.You are already betrayed and Miraz is on the move.Before midday tomorrow you will be surrounded."

"只是用了点小魔法，陛下。"博士说。因为走得匆忙，他还大口大口地喘着气。"但是现在，没时间解释这个了。我们得赶紧离开，你们被人出卖了，弥若兹正领着大军杀过来呢，不用到午夜，这里就会被围堵起来。"

"Betrayed!"said Caspian."And by whom?"

"肯定是另一个叛变的小矮人，一定是的。"尼克布瑞克说。

"Another renegade Dwarf，no doubt，"said Nikabrik.

"出卖!"凯斯宾说，"是谁干的?"

"By your horse Destrier，"said Doctor Cornelius."The poor brute knew no better.When you were knocked off，of course，he went dawdling back to his stable in the castle.Then the secret of your flight was known.I made myself scarce，having no wish to be questioned about it in Miraz's torture chamber.I had a pretty good guess from my crystal as to where I should find you.But all day-hat was the day before yesterday-I saw Miraz's tracking parties out in the woods.Yesterday I learned that his army is out.I don't think some of your-um-pure-blooded Dwarfs have as much woodcraft as might be expected.You've left tracks all over the place.Great carelessness.At any rate something has warned Miraz that Old Narnia is not so dead as he had hoped，and he is on the move."

"是马戴斯特里尔，"克奈尔斯博士说，"你从马背上摔下去后，那可怜的家伙没办法，只能回到城堡的马厩里去。然后，他们就知道你逃跑了。我不想被弥若兹逮住，就逃了出来。我用水晶球算出你们的方位。我亲眼见到弥若兹的搜索大军出了城堡，进了森林。就在昨天，我又听说，他已经出动了他的军队。我发现你的手下，这些......嗯......这些小矮人既缺乏森林知识又大意行事，弄得森林里到处都是痕迹。弥若兹正是发现了这些痕迹，才知道纳尼亚原住民并没有灭绝。所以，他又要行动了。"

"Hurrah!"said a very shrill and small voice from somewhere at the Doctor's feet."Let them come! All I ask is that the King will put me and my people in the front."

"好啊!"博士的脚边迸出一个尖细的声音，"让他们来!我和我的勇士们想打头阵，请国王准许。"

"What on earth?"said Doctor Cornelius."Has your Majesty got grasshoppers-or mosquitoes-in your army?"Then after stooping down and peering carefully through his spectacles，he broke into a laugh.

"谁在说话?"克奈尔斯博士问"陛下怎么把蚂蚱和蚊子都收进你的队伍里呢?"他边说着边低下身子，隔着眼镜认真地打量了一会，最后大声笑出来。

"By the Lion，"he swore，"it's a mouse.Signior Mouse，I desire your better acquaintance.I am honoured by meeting so valiant a beast."

"以狮王发誓，"他说道，"这绝对是老鼠。老鼠先生，我希望和你交个朋友，能遇见像你这样一位这么英勇的朋友是我的荣幸。"

"My friendship you shall have，learned Man，"piped Reepicheep."And any Dwarf-or Giant-in the army who does not give you good language shall have my sword to reckon with."

"博士先生，我们会变成朋友的。"雷佩契普尖声应道，"以后，队伍要是有谁敢对你不敬，不管是矮人还是巨人，我都会用剑刺他。"

"Is there time for this foolery?"asked Nikabrik."What are our plans? Battle or flight?"

"现在是说这些蠢话的时候吗?"尼克布瑞克说，"我们该怎么办?战斗还是逃命?"

"Battle if need be，"said Trumpkin."But we are hardly ready for it yet，and this is no very defensible place."

"如果实在有必要的话，就战斗。"杜鲁普金说，"不过，我们毫无准备，而且这地形对我们非常不利。"

"I don't like the idea of running away，"said Caspian.

"不能逃跑，我不同意。"凯斯宾说。

"Hear him! Hear him!"said the Bulgy Bears."Whatever we do，don't let's have any running.Especially not before supper; and not too soon after it neither."

"不准，绝对不准!"大胖胖熊们说，"无论如何，我们都不能跑，特别是在吃饭前和刚吃完饭的时候。"

"Those who run first do not always run last，"said the Centaur."And why should we let the enemy choose our position instead of choosing it ourselves? Let us find a strong place."

"撤退和逃跑可是不一样的。"人马说，"我们为何不主动点，选好时机和有利地形呢?我们要拿到主动权，再找机会与敌人一战，陛下您觉得呢?"

"That's wise，your Majesty，that's wise，"said Trufflehunter.

"很明智，陛下，这样是明智的。"特鲁佛汉特说。

"But where are we to go?"asked several voices.

"但是我们该去哪儿?"几个声音同时问。

"Your Majesty，"said Doctor Cornelius，"and all you variety of creatures，I think we must fly east and down the river to the great woods.The Telmarines hate that region.They have always been afraid of the sea and of something that may come over the sea.That is why they have let the great woods grow up.If traditions speak true，the ancient Cair Paravel was at the river-mouth.All that part is friendly to us and hateful to our enemies.We must go to Aslan's How."

"陛下，"克奈尔斯博士说，"还有各位，我想我们该往东走，顺流而下，进大森林里去，台尔马人一直惧怕大海，尤其是大海对面的地方。就是因为这样，他们一直希望树林快点长高，成为屏障，以为这样就安全了。而且那边有不少朋友，对我们更有利。况且阿斯兰堡垒在那，这点很重要。

"Aslan's How?"said several voices."We do not know what it is."

"阿斯兰堡垒?"几个声音齐声问，"我们都不知道那是干什么用的?"

"It lies within the skirts of the Great Woods and it is a huge mound which Narnians raised in very ancient times over a very magical place，where there stood-and perhaps still stands-a very magical Stone.The Mound is all hollowed out within into galleries and caves，and the Stone is in the central cave of all.There is room in the mound for all our stores，and those of us who have most need of cover and are most accustomed to underground life can be lodged in the caves.The rest of us can lie in the wood.At a pinch all of us (except this worthy Giant) could retreat into the Mound itself，and there we should be beyond the reach of every danger except famine."

"就在大森林外围，有一个神秘的地方。那里有个大土丘，或许现在仍然竖着一块神奇的巨石。我们的祖先在那里挖了不少洞穴和通道，巨石则被放在土丘中心。那地方很大，可以容纳我们所有人和储备。我们之中一些需要隐匿和喜欢住地底下的朋友可以住在那，其余人则可以住在森林里。危急关头(巨人阁下在外)还可以全都进到土丘里面，只要有足够的食物，我们一定会没事的。"

"It is a good thing we have a learned man among us，"said Trufflehunter; but Trumpkin muttered under his breath，"Soup and celery! I wish our leaders would think less about these old wives' tales and more about victuals and arms."But all approved of Cornelius's proposal and that very night，half an hour later，they were on the march.Before sunrise they arrived at Aslan's How.

"在我们中间，有位知识渊博的人真好。"特鲁佛汉特说。但它听到杜鲁普金在一旁说，"老头子!我觉得大家还是得考虑一下食物和武器的问题，别像那些老婆婆那样只会讲老故事。"大家最终还是接受了克奈尔斯的提议。三十分钟后，他们出发了。天亮前，他们赶到了阿斯兰堡垒。

It was certainly an awesome place，a round green hill on top of another hill，long since grown over with trees，and one little，low doorway leading into it.The tunnels inside were a perfect maze till you got to know them，and they were lined and roofed with smooth stones，and on the stones，peering in the twilight，Caspian saw strange characters and snaky patterns，and pictures in which the form of a Lion was repeated again and again.It all seemed to belong to an even older Narnia than the Narnia of which his nurse had told him.

这是一个绿色山丘，坐落在山包上，非常僻静。在葱郁的大树下，一条小路蜿蜒着直通向山丘的中心。里面结构复杂，对不熟悉的人来说，真可谓是个迷宫。四壁全是用光滑的石头砌起来的。借着昏暗的光线，凯斯宾看到石壁上有一些奇怪的文字和蛇形花纹，还有很多关于狮子的图画。这一切都说明，那个古老而又神秘的纳尼亚确实存在过。

It was after they had taken up their quarters in and around the How that fortune began to turn against them.King Miraz's scouts soon found their new lair，and he and his army arrived on the edge of the woods.And as so often happens，the enemy turned out stronger than they had reckoned.Caspian's heart sank as he saw company after company arriving.And though Miraz's men may have been afraid of going into the wood，they were even more afraid of Miraz，and with him in command they carried battle deeply into it and sometimes almost to the How itself.Caspian and other captains of course made many sorties into the open country.Thus there was fighting on most days and sometimes by night as well; but Caspian's party had on the whole the worst of it.

他们安顿了下来。没想到，弥若兹的探子很快就发现了他们，随后而来的是大批军队。敌人的兵力看起来比他们想象的要强很多。敌军一队接着一队开过来，凯斯宾的心开始慢慢地往下沉。虽然弥若兹的士兵都惧怕大森林，但是他们更怕弥若兹。在他的谋划下，士兵们进入森林开始作战，甚至打到了堡垒门前。凯斯宾和他的部将们也先后向平原发动过几次反攻，但都是被动挨打居多。战斗大多数发生在白天，有时晚上也要作战。整体形势对凯斯宾很不利。

At last there came a night when everything had gone as badly as possible，and the rain which had been falling heavily all day had ceased at nightfall only to give place to raw cold.That morning Caspian had arranged what was his biggest battle yet，and all had hung their hopes on it.He，with most of the Dwarfs，was to have fallen on the King's right wing at daybreak，and then，when they were heavily engaged，Giant Wimbleweather，with the Centaurs and some of the fiercest beasts，was to have broken out from another place and endeavoured to cut the King's right off from the rest of the army.But it had all failed.No one had warned Caspian (because no one in these later days of Narnia remembered) that Giants are not at all clever.Poor Wimbleweather，though as brave as a lion，was a true Giant in that respect.He had broken out at the wrong time and from the wrong place，and both his party and Caspian's had suffered badly and done the enemy little harm.The best of the Bears had been hurt，a Centaur terribly wounded，and there were few in Caspian's party who had not lost blood.It was a gloomy company that huddled under the dripping trees to eat their scanty supper.

下了整整一天的大雨在傍晚时分总算停了下来。但气温骤降，每一个人都要冻僵了。第二天清晨，凯斯宾部署了一次最猛的攻击，他把所有希望都押在这场战斗上。在黎明时分，他亲自率领大部分小矮人扑向弥若兹的右翼，当他们在右翼阵地上拼杀时，巨人温布维德、人马和一部分最凶猛的动物从隐蔽的地方冲杀出来，竭力切断敌人的增援。但这场进攻最终还是失败了。没人告诉过凯斯宾巨人虽然秉性憨厚，但是却不会用脑子--这事也没人想起来。尽管温布维德像狮子一样勇猛，不愧为一个巨人，但由于他进攻的时机、地点都不对，所以他的队伍甚至让凯斯宾的队伍都吃了败仗，而敌人却没有什么损失。就连最有战斗力的那只熊也挂了彩，人马伤势也严重。凯斯宾的部下里，只有少数人没有受伤。他们万分沮丧，挤在大树下面躲雨，一起吃那少得可怜的晚餐。

The gloomiest of all was Giant Wimbleweather.He knew it was all his fault.He sat in silence shedding big tears which collected on the end of his nose and then fell off with a huge splash on the whole bivouac of the Mice，who had just been beginning to get warm and drowsy.They all jumped up，shaking the water out of their ears and wringing their little blankets，and asked the Giant in shrill but forcible voices whether he thought they weren't wet enough without this sort of thing.And then other people woke up and told the Mice they had been enrolled as scouts and not as a concert party，and asked why they couldn't keep quiet.And Wimbleweather tiptoed away to find some place where he could be miserable in peace and stepped on somebody's tail and somebody (they said afterwards it was a fox) bit him.And so everyone was out of temper.

最难过的是巨人温布维德，他为自己的粗心大意，考虑不周而暗暗自责。他坐在那里一言不发，大滴大滴的眼泪顺着鼻尖，落在老鼠们的营地上。它才刚有点睡意，这下全都跳了起来了，一边抖身上的水，拧它们的小毯子，一边质问巨人，语调尖锐而愤怒;"你还嫌我们不够湿，是吧?"它们的叫声吵醒了其他人，大家都开始责备老鼠们，"你们是来当侦察兵的，不是合唱队!"大家要求它们马上安静下来。温布维德蹑手蹑脚地离开大家，打算找一个安安静静的地方一个人面壁思过。可又一不留神踩着了谁的尾巴，惹得那家伙咬了它一口。他后来才知道那是只狐狸。结果，又是一番争吵。在这个时候，大家都已经不耐烦了。

But in the secret and magical chamber at the heart of the How，King Caspian，with Cornelius and the Badger and Nikabrik and Trumpkin，were at council.Thick pillars of ancient workmanship supported the roof.In the centre was the Stone itself-a stone table，split right down the centre，and covered with what had once been writing of some kind: but ages of wind and rain and snow had almost worn them away in old times when the Stone Table had stood on the hilltop，and the Mound had not yet been built above it.They were not using the Table nor sitting round it: it was too magic a thing for any common use.They sat on logs a little way from it，and between them was a rough wooden table，on which stood a rude clay lamp lighting up their pale faces and throwing big shadows on the walls.

此时，在堡垒中心那个既隐蔽又富有传奇色彩的洞穴里，国王凯斯宾、克奈尔斯、獾、尼克布瑞克和杜鲁普金正在举行会议。洞穴的屋顶靠几根年代久远的大柱子支撑着，在屋子正中央摆着一块石头，确切地说是一张石桌。它从中间断成了两部分，上面还刻着没人能读懂的文字。在石桌被搬进洞穴之前，因为经年的风吹日晒，字迹早就模糊得根本难以辨认了。他们并没有在那石桌旁开会，因为他们认为这张石桌是神圣的，不可以随便使用。在石桌不远的地方，他们围着一张粗糙的木制桌子开会。桌上那盏简陋的泥灯，映照着他们苍白的脸，在墙壁上投下了他们长长的身影。

"If your Majesty is ever to use the Horn，"said Trufflehunter，"I think the time has now come."Caspian had of course told them of his treasure several days ago.

"如果陛下想使用那只神号，"特鲁佛汉特说，"我觉得现在是时候了。"凯斯宾几天前曾跟他们讲过，所以大家对它抱有很大的期望。

"We are certainly in great need，"answered Caspian."But it is hard to be sure we are at our greatest.Supposing there came an even worse need and we had already used it?"

"我们确实急需帮助了，"凯斯宾说，"可现在不能确定我们是不是在最困难的时候。如果后面还有更糟的状况等着我们，但我们已经用掉了这次求助的机会，那该怎么办?"

"By that argument，"said Nikabrik，"your Majesty will never use it until it is too late."

"这么说的话，"尼克布瑞克说，"陛下，你就永远别用它了，就算错过了时机也别用了。"

"I agree with that，"said Doctor Cornelius.

"我同意。"克奈尔斯博士说。

"And what do you think，Trumpkin?"asked Caspian.

"你说呢，杜鲁普金?"凯斯宾问。

"Oh，as for me，"said the Red Dwarf，who had been listening with complete indifference，"your Majesty knows I think the Horn-and that bit of broken stone over there-and your great King Peter-and your Lion Aslan-are all eggs in moonshine.It's all one to me when your Majesty blows the Horn.All I insist on is that the army is told nothing about it.There's no good raising hopes of magical help which (as I think) are sure to be disappointed."

"噢，要我说啊，"那个红色小矮人说，他之前一直漫不经心地听着，"陛下，我觉得你们说的那只号和那块断开的大石头，还有你们的至尊王彼得以及所谓的阿斯兰，都是海市蜃楼，或者说是镜花水月，看得见却摸不着，都是些虚幻的东西。陛下什么时候吹号，我根本不在意，反正结果都一样。但是，我请求陛下别对我们的部队提起这件事情，免得大家对此都抱有希望，如果结果恰恰相反，这样下去只会让大家失望。"

"Then in the name of Aslan we will wind Queen Susan's Horn，"said Caspian.

"那么，我们就以阿斯兰的名义，吹响苏珊女王的神号吧。"凯斯宾说。

"There is one thing，Sire，"said Doctor Cornelius，"that should perhaps be done first.We do not know what form the help will take.It might call Aslan himself from oversea.But I think it is more likely to call Peter the High King and his mighty consorts down from the high past.But in either case，I do not think we can be sure that the help will come to this very spot-"

"还有一件事情陛下，"克奈尔斯博士说，"或许应该先明确一下。因为我们都不知道号声会带给我们怎样的帮助，或许能唤来海外的阿斯兰，可是我觉得更大的可能是唤来纳尼亚的先王彼得和他的大力相助。不过无论什么情况，我想救援都不可能直接降临在我们面前。"

"You never said a truer word，"put in Trumpkin.

"你终于说了句实在话。"杜鲁普金插嘴说。

"I think，"went on the learned man，"that they-or he-will come back to one or other of the Ancient Places of Narnia.This，where we now sit，is the most ancient and most deeply magical of all，and here，I think，the answer is likeliest to come.But there are two others.One is Lantern Waste，up-river，west of Beaversdam，where the Royal Children first appeared in Narnia，as the records tell.The other is down at the river-mouth，where their castle of Cair Paravel once stood.And if Aslan himself comes，that would be the best place for meeting him too，for every story says that he is the son of the great Emperor-over-he-Sea，and over the sea he will pass.I should like very much to send messengers to both places，to Lantern Waste and the river-mouth，to receive them-or him-or it."

"我认为，"这位学识渊博的人继续说，"他们有可能会先到纳尼亚某个古老的宫殿，比如说，咱们脚下的这个地方。所以我想啊，那帮助也可能会在这儿出现。但是还有其他两个可能的地方：一是在河上游的灯柱野林，在海狸大坝的西边。听说王室的孩子就是从那儿来到纳尼亚的。另一个地方是当年的凯尔帕拉维尔城堡的所在地，就在下游河的入海口处。如果阿斯兰亲自来，那里肯定是迎接它的最佳地点。因为传说他是伟大的海外之王，将跨海而来。所以我提议，派出使臣去这两个地方迎接他们的到来。"

"Just as I thought，"muttered Trumpkin."The first result of all this foolery is not to bring us help but to lose us two fighters."

"果然跟我想的一样，"杜鲁普金嘟哝说，"这种愚蠢的行为不仅不会带来任何好处，反而可能害我们失去两名战士。"

"Who would you think of sending，Doctor Cornelius?"asked Caspian.

"那你打算派谁去，克奈尔斯博士?"凯斯宾问。

"Squirrels are best for getting through enemy country without being caught，"said Trufflehunter.

"要穿过敌人的封锁，又不会被擒，看来松鼠是再合适不过了。"特鲁佛汉特说。

"All our squirrels (and we haven't many)，"said Nikabrik，"are rather flighty.The only one I'd trust on a job like that would be Pattertwig."

"我们这些松鼠为数并不多，"尼克布瑞克说，"而且它们很是轻浮，多嘴多舌。我认为，这次行动非同小可，恐怕唯一可以胜任的只有佩蒂威格。"

"Let it be Pattertwig，then，"said King Caspian."And who for our other messenger? I know you'd go，Trufflehunter，but you haven't the speed.Nor you，Doctor Cornelius."

"那么就派佩蒂威格去，"凯斯宾国王说，"可第二个使臣应该是谁呢?我知道你肯定愿意前往，可是特鲁佛汉特，你的速度不够快。你也不行，克奈尔斯博士。"

"I won't go，"said Nikabrik."With all these Humans and beasts about，there must be a Dwarf here to see that the Dwarfs are fairly treated."

"我才不去，"尼克布瑞克说，"这里有这么多人和动物，我必须留下来，保护其他的小矮人。"

"Thimbles and thunderstorms!"cried Trumpkin in a rage."Is that how you speak to the King? Send me，Sire，I'll go."

"混账!"杜鲁普金勃然大怒，"你怎么能对国王这样说话?派我去吧，陛下，我去!"

"But I thought you didn't believe in the Horn，Trumpkin，"said Caspian.

"可你不是不相信那只号吗，杜鲁普金?"凯斯宾说。

"No more I do，your Majesty.But what's that got to do with it? I might as well die on a wild goose chase as die here.You are my King.I know the difference between giving advice and taking orders.You've had my advice，and now it's the time for orders."

"我是不相信，陛下。可这又有什么关系呢?不管死在徒劳无益的行动中，还是坐在这里等死，结果都一样。你是国王，提出忠告是我的义务，但是执行命令也是我不可推卸的责任。你已经听了我的忠告，现在该我执行命令了。"

"I will never forget this，Trumpkin，"said Caspian."Send for Pattertwig，one of you.And when shall I blow the Horn?"

"我不会忘记你的这番话，杜鲁普金。"凯斯宾说，"传佩蒂威格过来。那么，我们什么时候吹响号角呢?"

"I would wait for sunrise，your Majesty，"said Doctor Cornelius."That sometimes has an effect in operations of White Magic."

"我建议到黎明时分，陛下，"克奈尔斯博士说，"这是号角发挥最大效力的时候。"

A few minutes later Pattertwig arrived and had his task explained to him.As he was，like many squirrels，full of courage and dash and energy and excitement and mischief (not to say conceit)，he no sooner heard it than he was eager to be off.It was arranged that he should run for Lantern Waste while Trumpkin made the shorter journey to the river-mouth.After a hasty meal they both set off with the fervent thanks and good wishes of the King，the Badger，and Cornelius.

几分钟之后，佩蒂威格被传进来。凯斯宾简单地告诉它此行的任务。佩蒂威格如往常一般充满了精神和活力。国王的话音未落，它就迫不及待地要出发了。凯斯宾派它去的是灯柱野林，而杜鲁普金则去出海口。两个人匆匆吃过饭，当然还有国王和其他人的祝福和期望，同时出发了。