Ham and the Porcupine

By

【導(dǎo)讀】這篇《含與豪豬》收編在牛津大學(xué)出版社1995年出版的Just So Stories（《原來(lái)如此的故事》）中，作者吉卜林（J.R.Kipling,1865—1907）是英國(guó)首位獲得諾貝爾文學(xué)獎(jiǎng)的作家?！对瓉?lái)如此的故事》初版于1902年，最初只有12個(gè)故事，1903年美國(guó)版增加成13個(gè)，牛津版中的《含與豪豬》是該書(shū)的第14個(gè)故事。

在吉卜林繁多的作品中，《原來(lái)如此的故事》是一顆令全世界少年兒童神往的明珠。該書(shū)中的故事是作者早年為了回答其女兒提出的各種問(wèn)題（如鯨魚(yú)的咽喉為什么很小、大象的鼻子為什么很長(zhǎng)，以及駱駝為什么有駝峰，等等）而“杜撰”的答案。照顧到孩子的年齡和心理特征，作者運(yùn)用其非凡的想象力和童趣十足的幽默感，把故事講（寫(xiě)）得繪聲繪色、通俗易懂、風(fēng)趣詼諧，并極富知識(shí)性和寓意，展現(xiàn)了作者高超的語(yǔ)言才能。

筆者早年翻譯《原來(lái)如此的故事》所據(jù)的是美國(guó)艾爾蒙特出版公司1966年普及版。拙譯于1986年由希望出版社出版，后有多家出版社重版，但這些版本都只包含我早年翻譯的那12個(gè)故事。后來(lái)接力出版社的“名著名譯名繪版”（2015）和人民文學(xué)出版社的“全譯插圖本”（2017）增加了筆者補(bǔ)譯的第13個(gè)故事?？紤]到拙譯《故事》再版尚待時(shí)日，故將新近譯出的這第14個(gè)故事呈《英語(yǔ)世界》刊出，讓讀者先睹為快。

When all the Animals lived in Big Nursery, before it was time to go into the Ark1諾亞方舟是一艘根據(jù)上帝的指示而建造的大船。據(jù)《圣經(jīng)·舊約·創(chuàng)世記》記載，上帝計(jì)劃發(fā)大洪水消滅惡人，但他發(fā)現(xiàn)世間有個(gè)叫諾亞的好人，于是他指示諾亞建造一艘方形大船（方舟），帶上他的妻子、兒子（閃、含與雅弗）和兒媳婦，以及各種陸生動(dòng)物和飛鳥(niǎo)，一起躲避那場(chǎng)災(zāi)難。, Big Nurse had to brushtheir hair.She told them to stand still while she did it or it might be the worse for them.So they stood still.The Lion stood still and had his hair brushed into a splendid mane with a blob at the tip of his tail.The Horse stood still, and had his hair brushed into a beautiful mane and a noble tail.The Cow stood still and had her horns polished, too.The Bear stood still and got a Lick and a Promise.They all stood still, except one Animal, and he wouldn’t.He wiggled and kicked sideways at Big Nurse.

在登上諾亞方舟之前呀，所有動(dòng)物都住在大養(yǎng)殖場(chǎng)里，管養(yǎng)殖場(chǎng)的那位大個(gè)頭阿姨必須得為它們梳理毛發(fā)。阿姨告訴那些動(dòng)物，梳毛發(fā)時(shí)得乖乖地站著不動(dòng)，不然后果會(huì)很糟糕。于是那些動(dòng)物都乖乖地站著不動(dòng)。獅子乖乖地站著不動(dòng)，結(jié)果阿姨在它頭部和頸部周圍梳出了一圈威武的鬃毛，還在它尾巴尖上梳出了一個(gè)毛球。馬乖乖地站著不動(dòng)，結(jié)果阿姨在它頸上梳出了一溜漂亮的鬣毛，還為它梳出了一條飄逸的馬尾。牛乖乖地站著不動(dòng)，結(jié)果梳毛的阿姨連它的角都擦得又光又亮。熊也乖乖地站著不動(dòng)，結(jié)果也被梳出了一身光滑的皮毛。所有動(dòng)物梳毛發(fā)時(shí)都站著不動(dòng)，只有一個(gè)家伙除外。那家伙在阿姨跟前東搖西擺，前仰后合，還不停地踢腿。

[2]Big Nurse told him, over and over again, that he would not make anything by behaving so.But he said he wasn’t going to stand still for anyone, and he wanted his hair to grow all over him.So, at last, Big Nurse washed her hands of him and said: ‘On-your-own-headbe-it-and-all-over-you!’ So, that Animal went away, and his hair grew and grew—on his own head it was and all over him—all the while that they werewaiting to go into the Ark2相傳諾亞造方舟一共用了120年。.And the more it grew, the longer, the harder, the harsher, and the pricklier it grew, till,at last, it was all long spines and jabby quills.On his own head it was and all over him, and particularly on his tail!So they called him Porcupine and stood him in the corner till the Ark was ready.

[2]阿姨一遍又一遍地批評(píng)那家伙，說(shuō)它不該老是動(dòng)個(gè)不停。可那家伙卻說(shuō)，它不想在任何人跟前站著不動(dòng)，還說(shuō)它希望從頭到尾都披毛散發(fā)。說(shuō)到最后，阿姨不想再管那家伙，就對(duì)它說(shuō)：“那你就自個(gè)兒去披毛散發(fā)吧！”那家伙一聽(tīng)便跑開(kāi)了。于是，在大伙兒等著上船的那段時(shí)間里，那家伙的毛發(fā)就一直長(zhǎng)呀長(zhǎng)呀，真長(zhǎng)得它從頭到尾都披毛散發(fā)了。那些毛發(fā)越長(zhǎng)越長(zhǎng)，越長(zhǎng)越粗，越長(zhǎng)越硬，而且越長(zhǎng)越尖。長(zhǎng)到最后呀，那些毛發(fā)都變成了長(zhǎng)長(zhǎng)的棘刺。這下那家伙渾身上下都披棘散刺，而且尾巴末端還長(zhǎng)出了一個(gè)刺疙瘩！于是大伙兒就管它叫豪豬，并且叫它站到一邊角落去面壁思過(guò)，直到諾亞方舟造好。

[3]Then they all went into the Ark,two by two; but not one wanted to go in with Porcupine on account of his spines, except one small brother of his called Hedgehog who always stood still to have his hair brushed (he wore it short), and Porcupine hated him.

[3]然后大伙兒就開(kāi)始登船，登船的動(dòng)物都成雙成對(duì)。豪豬渾身是刺，除了它那個(gè)名叫刺猬的小兄弟外，誰(shuí)都不愿意同它結(jié)伴，可當(dāng)初刺猬在梳毛時(shí)一直都乖乖地站著不動(dòng)，結(jié)果身上的刺很短，所以豪豬并不喜歡它這個(gè)小兄弟。

Their cabin was on the orlop-deck—the lowest—which was reserved for the Nocturnal Mammalia, such as Bats, Badgers, Lemurs, Bandi-coots and Myoptics3“瞎眼貓”是作者杜撰的一個(gè)動(dòng)物名。at large.Noah’s second son, Ham, was in charge there, because he matched the decoration, being darkcomplexioned4相傳含是非洲人的始祖。but very wise.

豪豬和刺猬的房間在底艙（最下面一層甲板），這層艙房住的都是夜間出沒(méi)的動(dòng)物，諸如蝙蝠呀、狗獾呀、狐猴呀、袋貍呀，還有瞎眼貓，等等。負(fù)責(zé)管理底艙的是諾亞的第二個(gè)兒子，名字叫含，因?yàn)楹つw黝黑，與黑咕隆咚的底艙環(huán)境相稱，不過(guò)他非常聰明。

[4]When the lunch-gong sounded,Ham went down with a basketful of potatoes, carrots, small fruits, grapes,onions and green corn for their lunches.

[4]隨著午餐鈴敲響，含拎著籃子下到底艙，籃子里裝有動(dòng)物們午餐吃的甘薯、胡蘿卜、小野果，另外還有葡萄、洋蔥和嫩玉米。

The first Animal that he found was the small Hedgehog Brother, having the time of his life among the blackbeetles.He said to Ham, ‘I doubt ifiwould go near Porcupine this morning.The motion has upset him and he’s a little fretful.’

含碰到的第一個(gè)動(dòng)物是豪豬那個(gè)小兄弟刺猬，當(dāng)時(shí)它正美滋滋地在捕食蟑螂。刺猬對(duì)含說(shuō)：“我拿不準(zhǔn)今天早晨陪豪豬上船做得對(duì)不對(duì)。它一直為這事煩心，這會(huì)兒都還在發(fā)脾氣呢?！?/p>

Ham said: ‘Dunno anything about that.My job is to feed ’em.’ So he went into Porcupine’s cabin, where Porcupine was taking up all the room in the world in his bunk, and his quills rattling like a loose window in a taxi.

含說(shuō)：“我對(duì)這種事可是一無(wú)所知。我的任務(wù)就是來(lái)送飯。”說(shuō)完這話他進(jìn)了豪豬的艙房，見(jiàn)豪豬趴在鋪上，把整個(gè)鋪位都塞滿了，渾身棘刺抖個(gè)不停，像出租車松動(dòng)的車窗那樣咔噠咔噠作響。

Ham gave him three sweet potatoes,six inches of sugarcane, and two green corn-cobs.When he had finished, Ham said: ‘Don’t you ever say ‘thank-you’for anything?’ ‘Yes,’ said Porcupine.‘This is my way of saying it.’ And he swung round and slapped and swished with his tail sideways at Ham’s bare right leg and made it bleed from the ankle to the knee.

含給豪豬分發(fā)了三個(gè)甘薯、一截甘蔗和兩個(gè)嫩玉米棒子。發(fā)完食物后他問(wèn)：“你難道就從來(lái)不會(huì)說(shuō)聲‘謝謝’？”“不會(huì)說(shuō)，”豪豬回答，“這就是我表示感謝的方式?！闭f(shuō)完它便朝含裸露的右腿嗖嗖地甩動(dòng)尾巴，尾端的棘刺頓時(shí)就讓含的右膝到右踝都開(kāi)始流血。

[5]Ham hopped up on deck, with his foot in his hand, and found Father Noah at the wheel.

[5]用手托著受傷的右腳，含單腿跳上了甲板，到駕駛艙找到了正在掌舵的爸爸諾亞。

‘What do you want on the bridge at this hour of high noon?’ said Noah.

“這大中午的你到駕駛艙來(lái)干嘛？”諾亞問(wèn)。

Ham said, ‘I want a large tin of Ararat5據(jù)《圣經(jīng)》記載，阿勒山是大洪水消退后諾亞方舟停泊的地方，在今土耳其東部。biscuits.’

含回答說(shuō)：“我想找一大罐阿勒山牌餅干?！?/p>

‘For what and what for?’ said Noah.

“找餅干來(lái)干什么？”

[6]‘Because something on the orlop-deck thinks he can teach a nigger something about porcupines,’ said Ham.‘I want to show him.’

[6]“底艙有個(gè)怪家伙，它以為它可以教一個(gè)黑人見(jiàn)識(shí)見(jiàn)識(shí)豪豬。我倒要叫他見(jiàn)識(shí)見(jiàn)識(shí)?！?/p>

‘Then why waste biscuits?’ said Noah.

“那為什么要浪費(fèi)餅干？”諾亞問(wèn)。

‘Law!’ said Ham.‘I only done ask for the largest lid off the largest box of Ararat biscuits on the boat.’

“唉，我不要餅干！我只想要船上最大那種餅干罐最大的馬口鐵蓋子?！?/p>

‘Speak to your Mother,’ said Noah.‘She issues the stores.’

“去向你媽媽要吧，她負(fù)責(zé)發(fā)放給養(yǎng)?！?/p>

So Ham’s Mother, Mrs.Noah, gave him the largest lid off the very largest box of Ararat biscuits in the Ark as well as some biscuits for himself; and Ham went down to the orlop-deck with the box-lid held low in his dark right hand,so that it covered his dark right leg from the knee to the ankle.

結(jié)果含的媽媽（就是諾亞夫人）給了含船上最大那種餅干罐最大的馬口鐵蓋子，還給了他一些餅干。含再次下到底艙，黑黑的右手拎著那個(gè)馬口鐵餅干罐蓋子，把他那條黑黑的右腿從膝到踝遮了個(gè)嚴(yán)嚴(yán)實(shí)實(shí)。

[7]‘Here’s something I forgot,’ said Ham and he held out an Ararat biscuit to Porcupine, and Porcupine ate it quick.

[7]“我剛才忘了點(diǎn)兒東西?！焙f(shuō)著從籃子里拿出一塊餅干。豪豬一口就把餅干吃了。

‘Now say ‘Thank-you,’ said Ham.

“現(xiàn)在請(qǐng)說(shuō)聲‘謝謝’。”含對(duì)豪豬說(shuō)。

‘I will,’ said Porcupine, and he whipped round, swish, with his wicked tail and hit the biscuit-tin.And that did him no good.‘Try again,’ said Ham, and Porcupine swished and slapped with his tail harder than ever.‘Try again,’ said Ham.This time the Porcupine swished so hard that his quill-ends jarred on his skin inside him, and some of the quills broke off short.

“我會(huì)謝你的?！焙镭i說(shuō)完猛一轉(zhuǎn)身，帶刺的尾巴嗖的一下朝含抽來(lái)，但卻抽在了鐵蓋上。這可叫它真不好受?！霸俪檠剑　焙瑢?duì)它說(shuō)。豪豬使出更大的勁兒，尾巴砰的一聲又抽在鐵蓋上?！霸俪檠剑　焙f(shuō)。這次豪豬使出渾身力氣猛抽，可反作用力震得它連著棘刺的皮肉都感到生疼，身上的好些棘刺也震斷了。

[8]Then Ham sat down on the other bunk and said, ‘Listen! Just because a man looks a little sunburned and talks a little chuffy, don’t you think you can be fretful with him.I am Ham! The minute that this Dhow touches Mount Ararat, I shall be Emperor of Africa from the Bayuda Bend to the Bight of Benin,and from the Bight of Benin to Dar-es-Salam, and Dar-es-Salam to the Drakensberg, and from the Drakensberg to where the Two Seas meet round the same Cape.I shall be Sultan of Sultans, Paramount Chief of all Indunas,Medicine Men, and Rain-doctors, and specially of the Wunungiri—the Porcupine People—who are waiting for you.You will belong to me! You will live in holes and burrows and old diggings all up and down Africa; and ifiever hear of you being fretful again I will tell my Wunungiri, and they will come down after you underground, and pull you out backwards.I—amm—Hamm!’

[8]這時(shí)，含在另一個(gè)鋪位上坐下來(lái)，厲聲對(duì)豪豬說(shuō)：“你給我好好聽(tīng)著！別因?yàn)橐粋€(gè)人長(zhǎng)得黑，說(shuō)話有點(diǎn)兒粗，就以為可以對(duì)他發(fā)脾氣。我可是含！等這船一到阿勒山，我就會(huì)成為非洲的皇帝，那時(shí)從拜尤達(dá)沙漠到貝寧灣，從貝寧灣到達(dá)累斯薩拉姆，從達(dá)累斯薩拉姆到德拉肯斯山脈，從德拉肯斯山脈到印度洋和大西洋相匯處的好望角，全都?xì)w我管轄。那時(shí)我將是王中之王，所有的族長(zhǎng)、酋長(zhǎng)、巫醫(yī)、祈雨巫師，尤其是那些正等著你的豪豬獵人，全都?xì)w我統(tǒng)領(lǐng)。你得乖乖聽(tīng)我的！你將住在自己挖的洞穴和遍布非洲的廢礦洞里。要是我聽(tīng)說(shuō)你再發(fā)脾氣，我就會(huì)告訴豪豬獵人。他們就會(huì)來(lái)找你，把你從洞里抓出來(lái)。我——是——含！”

[9]Porcupine was so frightened at this that he stopped rattling his quills under the bunk and lay quite still.

[9]豪豬被這番話嚇壞了，馬上就不再抖動(dòng)耷拉在鋪位下邊的尾巴，一動(dòng)不動(dòng)地趴在鋪上。

Then the small Hedgehog Brother who was under the bunk too, having the time of his life among the blackbeetles there, said: ‘This doesn’t look rosy for me.After all, I’m his brother in a way of speaking, and I suppose I shall have to go along with him underground, and I can’t dig for nuts!’

當(dāng)時(shí)刺猬正在鋪位下邊美滋滋地捉蟑螂，聽(tīng)過(guò)含那番話后，它說(shuō)：“看來(lái)我的前景不妙啊。不管怎么說(shuō)，我多多少少也算是豪豬的小兄弟。我猜呀，我不得不跟它一道去住地下洞穴了?？晌覊焊鶅壕筒粫?huì)挖洞呀！”

‘Not in the least,’ said Ham.‘On his own head it was and all over him, just as Big Nurse said.But you stood still to have your hair brushed.Besides,you aren’t in my caravan.As soon as this old bugga-low (he meant the Ark)touches Ararat, I go South and East with my little lot—Elephants and Lions and things—and Porcupig—and scatter ’em over Africa.You’ll go North and West with one or other of my Brothers (I’ve forgotten which), and you’ll fetch up in a comfy little place called England—all among gardens and box-borders and slugs, where people will be glad to see you.And you will be a lucky little fellow always.’

“不會(huì)叫你去挖的，”含說(shuō)，“就像大阿姨說(shuō)‘叫它自個(gè)兒去披毛散發(fā)’那樣，就叫豪豬自個(gè)兒去挖吧。你當(dāng)初梳毛的時(shí)候乖乖地站著不動(dòng)，再說(shuō)你也不會(huì)隨我遷徙呀。這船一到阿勒山，我就要去南方和東方，帶著我的隊(duì)伍——大象、獅子等，還有豪豬，把它們分布到非洲各地。而你將跟隨我的哥哥或弟弟（我記不清該是跟誰(shuí)了）一道去北邊和西邊。你會(huì)到一個(gè)安逸的小地方，那個(gè)地方叫英格蘭，那里有很多花園、灌木叢和你愛(ài)吃的蟲(chóng)子。在那兒你會(huì)受到人們的寵愛(ài)，永遠(yuǎn)都會(huì)是個(gè)幸運(yùn)的小家伙。”

[10]‘Thank you, Sir,’ said the small Hedgehog Brother.‘But what about my living underground? That isn’t my line of country.’

[10]“謝謝先生，”小刺猬說(shuō)，“可我還會(huì)住在地下嗎？我可不擅長(zhǎng)挖地洞呀?！?/p>

‘Not the least need,’ said Ham.And he touched the small Hedgehog Brother with his foot, and Hedgehog curled up—which he had never done before.

“壓根兒沒(méi)那個(gè)必要?！焙贿呎f(shuō)一邊用腳碰了碰刺猬，刺猬一下就把身子卷成了一個(gè)刺球——它以前可從沒(méi)那樣卷曲過(guò)身子。

‘Now you’ll be able to pick up your own dry-leaf-bedding on your ownprickles so as you can lie warm in a hedge from October till April if you like.Nobody will bother you except the gipsies6據(jù)說(shuō)吉普賽人喜歡吃刺猬。他們用黏土包住刺猬在火上烘烤，烤熟后剝除黏土，棘刺隨之被拔除。; and you’ll be no treat to any dog.’

“以后呀，你可以用你的刺去拾枯枝落葉，用枯枝落葉在灌木叢中做窩。這樣從每年10月到來(lái)年4月，要是你愿意，就可以暖暖和和地在窩里冬眠了。除了吉普賽人，沒(méi)人會(huì)來(lái)打擾你睡覺(jué)，不過(guò)狗可不喜歡見(jiàn)到你?！?/p>

‘Thank you, Sir,’ said small Hedgehog Brother, and he uncurled himself and went after more blackbeetles.

“謝謝先生?！毙〈题f(shuō)。說(shuō)完它舒展開(kāi)身子，又去捉蟑螂了。

And it all happened just as Ham said.

后來(lái)的事情就像含當(dāng)時(shí)所說(shuō)的那樣。

[11]I don’t know how the keepers at the Zoo feed Porcupine but, from that day to this, every keeper that I have ever seen feed a porcupine in Africa,takes care to have the lid of a biscuitbox held low in front of his right leg so that Porcupine can’t get in a swish with his tail at it, after he has had his lunch.

[11]不知道現(xiàn)在的動(dòng)物飼養(yǎng)員怎樣給豪豬喂食，但據(jù)我所知，從那之后，直到今天，非洲人喂豪豬都很小心，都會(huì)用馬口鐵餅干罐蓋子擋在右腿前，以防豪豬午餐后甩動(dòng)帶刺的尾巴抽中右腿。

Palaver done set! Go and have your hair brushed!

現(xiàn)在故事講完了！快去讓阿姨給你梳頭吧！

ESports’ Freaks Vocabulary

Aggro:A term that refers to any play-style that’s more offensive than defensive.

Cheese:A strategy that attempts to exploit the mechanics of a game in an unfair or “cheesy” way.Indicative of a lack of skill.

Dennis:A Dennis is someone who’s new to the game and doesn’t quite grasp the fundamental mechanics.

GG:Short for “Good Game”.Interjection used at the end of a match.

Kappa:The main symbol/emote of Twitch.tv.It represents sarcasm, irony, puns, jokes, and trolls alike.