绿野仙踪 第53期:田鼠皇后(1)

 Chapter 9. The Queen of the Field Mice 第9章田鼠皇后

"We cannot be far from the road of yellow brick, now," remarked the Scarecrow, as he stood beside the girl, 稻草人站在女孩子旁边说：“现在我们离那黄砖路已经很近了，

 "for we have come nearly as far as the river carried us away." 因为我们差不多已经走到了被流水带走时的地方了。”

The Tin Woodman was about to reply when he heard a low growl¹, 铁皮人正要回答，不远处传来的一种低低的吼声，

and turning his head (which worked beautifully on hinges) he saw a strange beast come bounding over the grass toward them. 使他转过头去(他那些铰链做得很精致的)，看见一只奇异的野兽，跳过草地朝他奔来。

It was, indeed, a great yellow Wildcat, and the Woodman thought it must be chasing something, 的确，是一只黄色的大野猫，铁皮人想道，它想必在追捕什么东西；

for its ears were lying close to its head and its mouth was wide open, 因为它的一双耳朵，靠紧在头旁边，嘴大大地张开，

showing two rows of ugly teeth, while its red eyes glowed like balls of fire. 露出两排可怕的牙齿，一双通红的眼睛，像火球样地发出熠熠的光来。

As it came nearer the Tin Woodman saw that running before the beast was a little gray field mouse, 当它跑近来时，铁皮人发现它在追赶一只灰色的小田鼠，

and although he had no heart he knew it was wrong for the Wildcat to try to kill such a pretty, harmless creature. 虽然他没有心，但是他也知道，野猫想要杀死这样一只无害的小动物，这是不仁慈的。

So the Woodman raised his axe², and as the Wildcat ran by he gave it a quick blow that cut the beast's head clean off from its body, 铁皮人举起斧头，朝那狂奔的野猫很快地一劈，那只野兽的头迅速地离开了它的身体，

and it rolled over at his feet in two pieces. 四脚乱踢开去，分成了两块。

The field mouse, now that it was freed from its enemy, stopped short; 现在，田鼠逃脱了追捕，停止了奔跑；

and coming slowly up to the Woodman it said, in a squeaky little voice: 缓缓地走到铁皮人的身边，用一种近乎耳语的声音啼着说：

"Oh, thank you! Thank you ever so much for saving my life." “啊，谢谢你！多谢你救了我的性命。”

"Don't speak of it, I beg of you," replied the Woodman. “请不要这么说，”铁皮人回答说。

"I have no heart, you know, so I am careful to help all those who may need a friend, even if it happens to be only a mouse." “你不知道我是没有心的，因此我竭尽全力帮助那些遇到灾难的朋友，哪怕是帮助一只小老鼠。”

"Only a mouse!" cried the little animal, indignantly. "Why, I am a Queen-the Queen of all the Field Mice!" “仅仅是一只小老鼠！”小动物愤愤地叫喊着；“你要知道！我是一个皇后—是一切田鼠们的皇后！”

"Oh, indeed." said the Woodman, making a bow. “失敬了！”铁皮人说着向它鞠了一个躬。

"Therefore you have done a great deed, as well as a brave one, in saving my life." added the Queen. “你救了我的性命，不但是一件大事情，而且是非常勇敢的事情。”田鼠皇后接着说。

1 growl   

v.（狗等）嗥叫，（炮等）轰鸣；n.嗥叫，轰鸣

参考例句：

• The dog was biting,growling and wagging its tail.那条狗在一边撕咬一边低声吼叫，尾巴也跟着摇摆。
• The car growls along rutted streets.汽车在车辙纵横的街上一路轰鸣。

2 axe   

n.斧子；v.用斧头砍，削减

参考例句：

• Be careful with that sharp axe.那把斧子很锋利，你要当心。
• The edge of this axe has turned.这把斧子卷了刃了。