绿野仙踪 第74期:神奇的翡翠城(9)

 So the Scarecrow followed him and was admitted into the great Throne Room, where he saw, sitting in the emerald throne, a most lovely Lady. 因此稻草人跟着他走，被准许进入大宫殿，他看见翡翠宝座上，坐着一个非常可爱的妇人。

She was dressed in green silk gauze and wore upon her flowing green locks a crown of jewels. 穿着绿绸纱，戴上一顶摆动的绿色的宝石皇冠。

Growing from her shoulders were wings, gorgeous in color and so light that they fluttered if the slightest breath of air reached them. 从她的两只肩膀上，长出一对翅膀来，鲜明华丽，非常轻巧，就是空中有最轻微的气息触及了它们，也会使得它们摆动的。

When the Scarecrow had bowed, as prettily¹ as his straw stuffing would let him, before this beautiful creature, she looked upon him sweetly, and said: 当稻草人向着这个美丽的妇人鞠躬时，他尽了最大努力作出一个美丽的姿态。她温和地注视他，并且说道：

"I am Oz, the Great and Terrible. Who are you, and why do you seek me?" “我是伟大的可怕的奥芝。你是谁？为什么要来找我？”

Now the Scarecrow, who had expected to see the great Head Dorothy had told him of, was much astonished; but he answered her bravely. 现在稻草人十分吃惊，他所盼望着看到的不是多萝茜告诉他的那个大头。但是他很勇敢地回答她：

"I am only a Scarecrow, stuffed with straw. “我不过是一个稻草人，是用稻草填塞的。

Therefore I have no brains, and I come to you praying that you will put brains in my head instead of straw, so that I may become as much a man as any other in your dominions²." 因此我没有脑子，我跑到你这里来，请求你在我的脑壳里放一个脑子，替代稻草，使得我能够变成跟你的国土上任何一个人一样。”

"Why should I do this for you?" asked the Lady. 妇人问：“为什么我应当为你这样做？”

"Because you are wise and powerful, and no one else can help me," answered the Scarecrow. 稻草人回答说：“因为你聪明和强有力，没有其他的人能够帮助我。”

"I never grant favors without some return," said Oz; "but this much I will promise. “我从来不把恩惠给不付一些报酬的人，”奥芝说，“但是这件事我很高兴答应你。

If you will kill for me the Wicked Witch of the West, I will bestow³ upon you a great many brains, and such good brains that you will be the wisest man in all the Land of Oz." 倘使你能够为我杀死西方的恶女巫，我将赏赐你一个大脑子，井且是极好的脑子，让你在奥芝成为最最聪明的人。”

1 prettily   

adv.优美地；可爱地

参考例句：

• It was prettily engraved with flowers on the back.此件雕刻精美，背面有花饰图案。
• She pouted prettily at him.她冲他撅着嘴，样子很可爱。

2 dominions   

统治权( dominion的名词复数 )； 领土； 疆土； 版图

参考例句：

• The King sent messengers to every town, village and hamlet in his dominions. 国王派使者到国内每一个市镇，村落和山庄。
• European powers no longer rule over great overseas dominions. 欧洲列强不再统治大块海外领土了。

3 bestow   

v.把…赠与，把…授予；花费

参考例句：

• He wished to bestow great honors upon the hero.他希望将那些伟大的荣誉授予这位英雄。
• What great inspiration wiII you bestow on me?你有什么伟大的灵感能馈赠给我？