鹅妈妈童话集：故事一个比一个暗黑

 　　Many people associate nursery rhymes with reading happy stories to children, or remember being children themselves and chanting them while they play.

　　许多人把童谣和读欢乐的故事给孩子听联系在一起，或者想起自己的孩提时代，一边吟诵一边玩。

　　However, the popular explanations for the origins of several English nursery rhymes shows that they may be more complex.

　　然而，普遍解释说不少英语童谣起源可能更复杂。

　　1. Baa Baa Black Sheep: Feudal¹ Taxes

　　1.《黑绵羊咩咩叫:封建税收》

　　Baa baa black sheep, have you any wool?

　　黑绵羊咩咩叫，你有没有羊毛?

　　Yes sir, yes sir, three bags full!

　　有有有，先生，我有整整三袋毛!

　　One for the master, one for the dame²

　　一袋送给男主人，一袋送给女主人

　　But none for the little boy who cries down the lane.

　　一袋也不送给巷子里住着的小男孩儿

　　-OR

　　-或

　　And one for the little boy who lives down the lane. (Changes to be more suitable for children.

　　一袋送给巷子里住着的小男孩儿（这么改更适合孩子）

　　Baa Baa Black Sheep was first published in 1744. However, most scholars claim that this rhyme is based on the reality of life in feudal times in England in general.

　　《黑绵羊咩咩叫》最初1744年发表。然而，多数学者声称这首童谣是根据英格兰封建时代普遍的现实生活而写。

　　2. Mary Mary Quite Contrary: A Cruel or Tragic³ Queen

　　2.《玛丽，截然相反的玛丽:残酷悲惨的女王》

　　Mary Mary quite contrary,

　　玛丽，截然不同的玛丽，

　　How does your garden grow?

　　你的花园怎样了？

　　With silver bells and cockle shells

　　银色的铃铛和贝壳，

　　And pretty maids all in a row

　　漂亮女佣排成行。

　　According to some researchers Mary Mary, published in 1744, refers to "Bloody⁴ Mary," Mary Tudor. Mary Tudor was a strict Catholic and during her reign⁵ from 1553-1558 her garden (a graveyard) grew as many protestants were executed for not converting to Catholicism.

　　研究者称1744年出版的玛丽玛丽指的是“血腥玛丽”----玛丽·都铎。玛丽·都铎是严格的天主教徒,在其1553年至1558年统治年间，她的花园（墓地）不断扩张，因为许多清教徒由于不愿皈依天主教被处决。

　　3. Goosey, Goosey, Gander: Religious Persecution⁶/an Obligation to Pray

　　3.《鹅，鹅，鹅：宗教迫害/祈祷的义务》

　　Goosey, goosey, gander,

　　鹅，鹅，鹅

　　Whither dost thou wander?

　　你去哪里晃？

　　Upstairs and downstairs

　　楼上，楼下

　　And in my lady's chamber⁷.

　　在我女主人的房间里

　　There I met an old man

　　后来我遇到了一个老人

　　Who wouldn't say his prayers;

　　他不愿说他祈语;

　　I took him by the left leg,

　　我抓了他的左腿

　　And threw him down the stairs

　　把他扔进了楼道

　　First published in 1784, Goosey, Goosey, Gander also refers to the Catholic persecution in the 16th century.

　　最初1784年发表，《鹅妈妈歌谣那点事》也指16世纪天主教迫害。

　　Another interpretation⁸ suggests that this rhyme may simply be a warning by its creator for listeners/readers to pray or they will receive unfortunate consequences.

　　另一种诠释称这一歌谣是作者警告听众/读者去祈祷，否则会遭遇不幸。

　　4. Humpty Dumpty: A Heavy Person Or a Cannon⁹

　　4.《矮胖子：胖胖的人、大炮》

　　Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall,

　　矮胖子骑墙上

　　Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.

　　矮胖子摔了下来

　　All the King's horses, And all the King's men

　　所有君王的人马

　　Couldn't put Humpty together again!

　　再也无法把矮胖子复原

　　Humpty Dumpty (published in 1799) also has two possible meanings. A "Humpty Dumpty" is claimed to be a nickname used in the fifteenth century for an overweight person.

　　《矮胖子》（发表于1799年）也有双重意思。“矮胖子”据称是十五世纪用来称呼体重过大的人士。

　　The second explanation for the rhyme states that Humpty was the nickname of a cannon used by the army of King Charles I to capture Colchester in the English Civil War.

　　第二个解释称《矮胖子》歌谣是大炮的昵称，查尔斯一世英国内战期间军队逮捕科尔切斯特时所用。

　　5. Jack¹⁰ and Jill - Liquid Measures and Beheaded Royalty¹¹

　　5.《杰克和吉尔：酒令和被斩首的皇室》

　　Jack and Jill went up the hill,

　　杰克和吉尔上了山

　　To fetch a pail of water.

　　取回一桶水

　　Jack fell down,

　　杰克摔了下来

　　And broke his crown;

　　摔坏了皇冠

　　And Jill came tumbling after.

　　吉尔跟着滚了下来

　　Scholars have provided two main beliefs regarding the origins of Jack and Jill, which was published in 1765. The more devious¹² version of the rhyme refers to the beheading of France's Louis XVI (Jack) and Marie Antoinette (Jill), with the French royalty gaining status "up the hill" first and later their execution as Jack breaks his crown and Jill tumbles after.

　　学者就 1765年发表的《杰克和吉尔》的起源提供了两种主要观点。较为冷僻的童谣版本指法国国王路易十六（杰克）和玛丽·安托瓦内特的斩首，法国皇室先“上山”，地位上升，后来被正法，因为杰克毁坏了皇冠，吉尔接着滚了下去。

1 feudal   

adj.封建的，封地的，领地的

参考例句：

• Feudal rulers ruled over the country several thousand years.封建统治者统治这个国家几千年。
• The feudal system lasted for two thousand years in China.封建制度在中国延续了两千年之久。

2 dame   

n.女士

参考例句：

• The dame tell of her experience as a wife and mother.这位年长妇女讲了她作妻子和母亲的经验。
• If you stick around,you'll have to marry that dame.如果再逗留多一会，你就要跟那个夫人结婚。

3 tragic   

adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的

参考例句：

• The effect of the pollution on the beaches is absolutely tragic.污染海滩后果可悲。
• Charles was a man doomed to tragic issues.查理是个注定不得善终的人。

4 bloody   

adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染

参考例句：

• He got a bloody nose in the fight.他在打斗中被打得鼻子流血。
• He is a bloody fool.他是一个十足的笨蛋。

5 reign   

n.统治时期，统治，支配，盛行；v.占优势

参考例句：

• The reign of Queen Elizabeth lapped over into the seventeenth century.伊丽莎白王朝延至17世纪。
• The reign of Zhu Yuanzhang lasted about 31 years.朱元璋统治了大约三十一年。

6 persecution   

n. 迫害,烦扰

参考例句：

• He had fled from France at the time of the persecution. 他在大迫害时期逃离了法国。
• Their persecution only serves to arouse the opposition of the people. 他们的迫害只激起人民对他们的反抗。

7 chamber   

n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所

参考例句：

• For many,the dentist's surgery remains a torture chamber.对许多人来说，牙医的治疗室一直是间受刑室。
• The chamber was ablaze with light.会议厅里灯火辉煌。

8 interpretation   

n.解释，说明，描述；艺术处理

参考例句：

• His statement admits of one interpretation only.他的话只有一种解释。
• Analysis and interpretation is a very personal thing.分析与说明是个很主观的事情。

9 cannon   

n.大炮，火炮；飞机上的机关炮

参考例句：

• The soldiers fired the cannon.士兵们开炮。
• The cannon thundered in the hills.大炮在山间轰鸣。

10 jack   

n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克

参考例句：

• I am looking for the headphone jack.我正在找寻头戴式耳机插孔。
• He lifted the car with a jack to change the flat tyre.他用千斤顶把车顶起来换下瘪轮胎。

11 royalty   

n.皇家，皇族

参考例句：

• She claims to be descended from royalty.她声称她是皇室后裔。
• I waited on tables，and even catered to royalty at the Royal Albert Hall.我做过服务生， 甚至在皇家阿伯特大厅侍奉过皇室的人。

12 devious   

adj.不坦率的，狡猾的；迂回的，曲折的

参考例句：

• Susan is a devious person and we can't depend on her.苏姗是个狡猾的人，我们不能依赖她。
• He is a man who achieves success by devious means.他这个人通过不正当手段获取成功。