The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin — Page 3

不一会儿，一缕蓝色的烟从树顶升起，那是木柴燃烧的烟，纳特金从锁孔里往里窥视，唱道——

Presently a little thread of blue smoke from a wood fire came up from the top of the tree, and Nutkin peeped through the key-hole and sang--

"满屋子，满洞子！你却连一碗也收不满！"

"A house full, a hole full! And you cannot gather a bowl-full!"

松鼠们在小岛上四处寻找坚果，装满了各自的小袋子。

The squirrels searched for nuts all over the island and filled their little sacks.

但纳特金却收集橡树果——黄色的和深红色的——坐在一截山毛榉树桩上玩弹珠，看着老布朗先生家的门。

But Nutkin gathered oak-apples--yellow and scarlet--and sat upon a beech-stump playing marbles, and watching the door of old Mr. Brown.

第三天，松鼠们起得很早，去钓鱼；他们钓到了七条肥小鱼，作为送给老布朗的礼物。

On the third day the squirrels got up very early and went fishing; they caught seven fat minnows as a present for Old Brown.

他们划过湖面，在猫头鹰岛上一棵弯曲的栗树下登了岸。

They paddled over the lake and landed under a crooked chestnut tree on Owl Island.

闪莓和另外六只小松鼠每人带了一条肥小鱼；但纳特金没有礼貌，什么礼物也没带。他跑在最前面，唱着——

Twinkleberry and six other little squirrels each carried a fat minnow; but Nutkin, who had no nice manners, brought no present at all. He ran in front, singing--

"荒野中的男人对我说，'海里能长出多少草莓？'我如实回答他——'就像树林里长出多少红鲱鱼一样多。'"

"The man in the wilderness said to me, 'How many strawberries grow in the sea?' I answered him as I thought good-- 'As many red herrings as grow in the wood.'"

但老布朗先生对谜语毫无兴趣——即使谜底就摆在他面前也不例外。

But old Mr. Brown took no interest in riddles--not even when the answer was provided for him.

第四天，松鼠们带来了六只肥甲虫作为礼物，对老布朗来说这就像李子布丁里的李子一样美味。每只甲虫都被仔细地用酸模叶包好，用松针别住。

On the fourth day the squirrels brought a present of six fat beetles, which were as good as plums in plum-pudding for Old Brown. Each beetle was wrapped up carefully in a dock-leaf, fastened with a pine-needle pin.

但纳特金还是像以往一样粗鲁地唱着——"老B先生！"

But Nutkin sang as rudely as ever-- "Old Mr. B!"