I will tell you a story that was told me when Iwas a little boy. Every time I thought of this story，it seemed to me more and more charming； for it is with stories as it is with many people—they become better as they grow older.
我將會(huì)告訴你一個(gè)故事，這個(gè)故事是我在還是一個(gè)小男孩的時(shí)候聽到的。每次我想到這個(gè)故事，我都會(huì)覺得它越來越美麗；因?yàn)楣适潞秃芏嗳艘粯?-隨著時(shí)間的流逝會(huì)變得越來越好了。
I have no doubt that you have been in the country， and seen a very old farmhouse， with a thatched roof， and mosses and small plants growing wild upon it. There is a stork's nest on the ridge of the gable， for we cannot do without the stork. The walls of the house are sloping， and the windows are low， and only one of the latter is made to open.
毫無疑問你一定住過鄉(xiāng)村，那兒有一個(gè)非常老的農(nóng)舍，農(nóng)舍上有鋪著草的屋頂，上面長(zhǎng)滿了苔蘚和小的植被。屋脊上有一只鸛鳥的鳥巢，沒有鸛鳥是不行的。房子的墻是傾斜的，窗戶低低的，只有最后面那一扇是打開著的。
The baking-oven sticks out of the wall like a great knob. An elder-tree hangs over the palings； and beneath its branches， at the foot of the paling， is a pool of water， in which a few ducks are disporting themselves. There is a yard-dog too， who barks at all corners. Just such a farmhouse as this stood in a country lane； and in it dwelt an old couple， a peasant and his wife. Small as their possessions were， they had one article they could not do without， and that was a horse， which contrived to live upon the grass which it found by the side of the high road.
烘烤爐像一個(gè)巨大的旋鈕一樣伸出墻壁。一棵大樹的樹枝懸掛到木柵上，一些底部的樹枝伸到木柵的下面，這兒有個(gè)小水潭，一些鴨子在這潛水游泳。這兒也有一只看門狗。總是朝著角落犬吠。我要講的正是這個(gè)坐落在鄉(xiāng)村小巷的農(nóng)舍，里面住著一對(duì)老夫妻，一位農(nóng)民和他的妻子。他們的財(cái)產(chǎn)非常少，他們有一個(gè)財(cái)產(chǎn)沒有它也沒關(guān)系，那是一匹馬，它在馬路的溝壑里找草吃。
The old peasant rode into the town upon this horse， and his neighbors often borrowed it of him， and paid for the loan of it by rendering some service to the old couple. After a time they thought it would be as well to sell the horse， or exchange it for something which might be more useful to them. But what might this something be？
這位老農(nóng)會(huì)騎著這匹馬去城里，他的鄰居也會(huì)從他那里借用它，作為借用它的回報(bào)會(huì)給老夫妻提供一些服務(wù)。過了一段時(shí)間，他們認(rèn)為可以把馬賣掉，或者用它來交換一些對(duì)他們更有用的東西。但是那會(huì)是什么東西呢？
“You'll know best， old man，” said the wife. “It is fair-day to-day； so ride into town， and get rid of the horse for money， or make a good exchange； whichever you do will be right tome， so ride to the fair.”
“你會(huì)知道什么東西是最好的，老公，今天是趕集日。所以騎到城里去，然后換一些錢吧，或者交換一些好的東西回來；對(duì)我來說不管你換了什么都是對(duì)的，所以騎馬去集市吧。”妻子說道。
And she fastened his neckerchief for him； for she could do that better than he could， and she could also tie it very prettily in a double bow. She also smoothed his hat round and round with the palm of her hand， and gave him a kiss. Then he rode away upon the horse that was to be sold or bartered for something else. Yes， the old man knew what he was about. The sunshone with great heat， and not a cloud was to be seen in the sky. The road was very dusty；for a number of people， all going to the fair， were driving， riding， or walking upon it. There was no shelter anywhere from the hot sunshine. Among the rest a man came trudging along，and driving a cow to the fair. The cow was as beautiful a creature as any cow could be.
然后妻子為他系好圍巾；因?yàn)檫@種事她比他更在行，她甚至為他打了一個(gè)雙結(jié)，這讓他看起來很帥。她用棕櫚刷一圈一圈的把他的帽子撫平了，然后親吻了他。然后他騎馬去集市賣馬或者交換一些東西回來。是的，老農(nóng)知道自己在做什么。陽光特別的炙熱，天上也你沒有一片云彩。馬路上塵土飛揚(yáng)，因?yàn)橛泻芏嗳欢荚谮s集，有駕馬車的、有騎行的還有走路的。這兒沒有一塊陰涼地可以躲避炙熱的陽光。其中一個(gè)人走過來了，他騎著一頭牛去集市。這頭牛比任何一頭牛都漂亮。
“She gives good milk， I am certain，” said the peasant to himself. “That would be a very good exchange： the cow for the horse. Hallo there！ you with the cow，” he said. “I tell you what； I dare say a horse is of more value than a cow； but I don't care for that，—a cow will be more useful to me； so， if you like， we'll exchange.”
“To be sure I will，” said the man.
“我肯定她會(huì)產(chǎn)好奶?！崩限r(nóng)自言自語道?！斑@一定是一個(gè)很好的交換：用牛換馬。 你好！你和你的牛，”他說道，“我跟你說我敢肯定一匹馬比一頭牛更有價(jià)值，但是我不在乎，--一頭牛對(duì)我來說更有用，所以，如果你愿意的話，我們交換吧?！薄爱?dāng)然我很樂意?！蹦莻€(gè)人說道。
Accordingly the exchange was made； and as the matter was settled， the peasant might have turned back； for he had done the business he came to do. But， having made up his mind to go to the fair， he determined to do so， if only to have a look at it； so on he went to the town with his cow. Leading the animal， he strode on sturdily， and， after a short time， overtook a man who was driving a sheep. It was a good fat sheep， with a fine fleece on its back.
所以他們交換了；當(dāng)交換完成，老農(nóng)準(zhǔn)備回去；因?yàn)樗呀?jīng)完成他想要做的交易了。但是他內(nèi)心想要去參加集會(huì)，他覺得這么做了。只是去看看。所以他帶著他的牛繼續(xù)朝城里走去。牽著牛，他堅(jiān)定的走了。一會(huì)之后，他看到一個(gè)騎著一只羊的人。這真是一直肥壯的羊，羊背上長(zhǎng)著順滑的羊毛。
“I should like to have that fellow，” said the peasant to himself. “There is plenty of grass for him by our palings， and in the winter we could keep him in the room with us. Perhaps it would be more profitable to have a sheep than a cow. Shall I exchange？”
“我應(yīng)該交換那個(gè)家伙?！崩限r(nóng)自言自語道。“我們家的木柵里有足夠的青草給它吃，冬天的時(shí)候我們可以讓它和我們一起待在屋子里，可能擁有一只羊比擁有一頭牛更有價(jià)值些。我應(yīng)該交換嗎？”
the man with the sheep was quite ready， and the bargain was quickly made. And then our peasant continued his way on the high-road with his sheep. Soon after this， he overtook another man， who had come into the road from a field， and was carrying a large goose under his arm.
有羊的那個(gè)男人已經(jīng)準(zhǔn)備好了，這筆交易很快就完成了。然后我們的老農(nóng)繼續(xù)帶著他的羊走在馬路上。不久之后，他看到另一個(gè)人，他從一個(gè)牧場(chǎng)走到馬路上，拎著一直大鵝。
“What a heavy creature you have there！” said the peasant； “it has plenty of feathers and plenty of fat， and would look well tied to a string， or paddling in the water at our place. That would be very useful to my old woman； she could make all sorts of profits out of it. How often she has said， 'If now we only had a goose！' Now here is an opportunity， and， if possible，I will get it for her. Shall we exchange？ I will give you my sheep for your goose， and thanks into the bargain.”
“你拎著的那個(gè)東西真重??！”老農(nóng)說道?！八媸怯泻枚嘤鹈趾芊蕢?，系一根繩子看著很好啊，或者在我們家那邊的水潭里劃水也很棒，它對(duì)我老婆來說也很有用，她可以獲得各種好處。她經(jīng)常說，‘現(xiàn)在我們是否可以擁有一只鵝！’現(xiàn)在有這個(gè)機(jī)會(huì)了，如果可能，我會(huì)把鵝給她。我們要交換嗎？我會(huì)給你我的羊來交換你的鵝，感謝和你的交易?！?/p>
the other had not the least objection， and accordingly the exchange was made， and our peasant became possessor of the goose. By this time he had arrived very near the town.The crowd on the high road had been gradually increasing， and there was quite a rush of men and cattle. The cattle walked on the path and by the palings， and at the turnpike-gate they even walked into the toll-keeper's potato-field， where one fowl was strutting about with a string tied to its leg， for fear it should take fright at the crowd， and run away and get lost.
另一個(gè)人一句反對(duì)的話都沒說，因此交換完成了。我們的老農(nóng)變成了鵝的主人了。這時(shí)他離城里已經(jīng)很近了。馬路上的人群逐漸增多，這兒真是擠滿了人和家畜。家畜在路上或者溝里走著，他們甚至都被擠到收稅人堆土豆的地方了，收稅人旁邊用繩子栓著一只母雞的腿，是因?yàn)閾?dān)心它被人群嚇到后跑掉丟失。
The tail-feathers of the fowl were very short， and it winked with both its eyes， and looked very cunning， as it said “Cluck， cluck.” What were the thoughts of the fowl as it said this I cannot tell you； but directly our good man saw it， he thought， “Why that's the finest fowl Iever saw in my life； it's finer than our parson's brood hen， upon my word. I should like to have that fowl. Fowls can always pick up a few grains that lie about， and almost keep themselves. I think it would be a good exchange if I could get it for my goose. Shall we exchange？” he asked the toll-keeper.“Exchange，” repeated the man； “well， it would not be a bad thing.”
這只母雞的尾巴非常短，它眨著眼睛，看著特別狡猾，它一直叫著“咯咯，咯咯。”母雞這么叫是在想什么我也不知道；但是我們的老農(nóng)看到它，他想著，“這是我人生中看到的最漂亮的母雞，比我們牧師加的孵蛋母雞還要漂亮。要我來說，我應(yīng)該有用這只母雞。母雞只需要吃一點(diǎn)點(diǎn)谷物就可以活。我覺得如果用我的鵝換這只母雞將是不錯(cuò)的交換。我們可以交換嗎？”他問那個(gè)收稅人?！敖粨Q吧，當(dāng)然，這不是壞事?！蹦莻€(gè)人回答道。
And so they made an exchange，—the toll-keeper at the turnpike-gate kept the goose，and the peasant carried off the fowl. Now he had really done a GREat deal of business on his way to the fair， and he was hot and tired. He wanted something to eat， and a glass of ale tore fresh himself； so he turned his steps to an inn. He was just about to enter when the ostler came out， and they met at the door. The ostler was carrying a sack. “What have you in that sack？” asked the peasant.“Rotten apples，” answered the ostler； “a whole sackful of them. They will do to feed the pigs with.”
然后他們交換了，收稅人在堆放土豆的地方拴著鵝，老農(nóng)帶上母雞?，F(xiàn)在他在去集市的路上已經(jīng)做了很好的交易了，現(xiàn)在她又熱又累。他想要喝點(diǎn)東西，一杯麥酒會(huì)讓他舒服起來；所以他朝著一家客棧走去。他剛要進(jìn)去的時(shí)候，一個(gè)馬夫出來了，他們?cè)陂T口相遇了。馬夫扛著一個(gè)麻袋。“你的麻袋里裝了啥？”老農(nóng)問道，“腐爛的蘋果?！瘪R夫答道；“一整袋的腐爛蘋果，這些將會(huì)拿去喂豬?！?/p>
“Why that will be terrible waste，” he replied； “I should like to take them home to my oldwoman. Last year the old apple-tree by the grass-plot only bore one apple， and we kept it in the cupboard till it was quite withered and rotten. It was always property， my old woman said； and here she would see a GREat deal of property—a whole sackful； I should like to show them to her.”“What will you give me for the sackful？” asked the ostler.“What will I give？ Well， I will give you my fowl in exchange.”
“為什么這些蘋果壞了?！彼麊柕溃拔覒?yīng)該帶著它們回家給我的老婆，去年草地上的一棵老蘋果樹只長(zhǎng)了一顆蘋果，我們把它放在壁櫥里直到它變腐爛了。這還是財(cái)產(chǎn)，我的老婆說的?，F(xiàn)在她可以看到非常棒的財(cái)產(chǎn)交易--一整袋的腐爛蘋果；我應(yīng)該給她展示這些腐爛蘋果。”“你可可以給我什么來交換這一袋？”馬夫問道。“我給你什么？好的，我用我的母雞交換?！?/p>
So he gave up the fowl， and received the apples， which he carried into the inn parlor. He leaned the sack carefully against the stove， and then went to the table. But the stove was hot， and he had not thought of that. Many guests were present—horse dealers， cattledrovers， and two Englishmen. The Englishmen were so rich that their pockets quite bulged out and seemed ready to burst； and they could bet too， as you shall hear. “Hiss-s-s， hiss-s-s.”What could that be by the stove？ The apples were beginning to roast. “What is that？” asked one.
所以他放棄了母雞，接受了蘋果，他把蘋果拿到客棧的客廳，把麻袋小心的靠在壁爐旁，然后去吃飯。但是壁爐非常熱，他沒有意識(shí)到?，F(xiàn)在很多客人，有馬販、家畜販，兩個(gè)英國(guó)人。英國(guó)人非常富有，他們的口袋里裝滿了鼓鼓的金幣都快溢出來了。所以他們可以賭博，當(dāng)你聽到“呲呲”聲，爐子旁邊的是什么？蘋果正在被烤?！澳鞘鞘裁矗俊币粋€(gè)人問道。
“Why， do you know”—said our peasant. And then he told them the whole story of the horse， which he had exchanged for a cow， and all the rest of it， down to the apples.
“為什么，你知道”我們的老農(nóng)說道。然后他告訴他們關(guān)于用馬交換牛，以及剩下的故事直到換成爛蘋果。
“Well， your old woman will give it you well when you get home，” said one of theEnglishmen. “Won't there be a noise？”“What！ Give me what？” said the peasant. “Why， she will kiss me， and say， 'what the old man does is always right.'”“Let us lay a wager on it，” said the Englishmen. “We'll wager you a ton of coined gold， a hundred pounds to the hundred-weight.”“No； a bushel will be enough，” replied the peasant. “I can only set a bushel of apples against it， and I'll throw myself and my old woman into the bargain； that will pile up theme a sure， I fancy.”“Done！ taken！” and so the bet was made.
"好吧，當(dāng)你回家的時(shí)候你的老婆一定叫你好受的。"一個(gè)英國(guó)人說道?！澳且欢〞?huì)吵鬧？”“什么？給我什么？”老農(nóng)問道?！盀槭裁矗龝?huì)親吻我的，然后說‘丈夫做的總是對(duì)的。’”“讓我們來打個(gè)賭吧，我們以一桶金幣為賭注，一百磅一桶金幣?！庇?guó)人說道?！安?，一桶足夠了，我只能有用一桶蘋果來賭它，我會(huì)把我和老婆放到賭注里，我想那一定是尖尖的一桶”老農(nóng)說道。“好的，成交！”然后賭約定了。
then the landlord's coach came to the door， and the two Englishmen and the peasant got in， and away they drove， and soon arrived and stopped at the peasant's hut. “Goodevening， old woman.” “Good evening， old man.” “I've made the exchange.”
然后地主的馬車來到門前，兩個(gè)英國(guó)人和老農(nóng)進(jìn)去了，帶著他們離開了，不久就到了停在老農(nóng)的農(nóng)舍門口?！巴砩虾?，老婆子?！薄巴砩虾?，老頭子”“我已經(jīng)完成交換啦?！?/p>
“Ah， well， you understand what you're about，” said the woman. Then she embraced him， and paid no attention to the strangers， nor did she notice the sack.“I got a cow in exchange for the horse.”
“Thank Heaven，” said she. “Now we shall have plenty of milk， and butter， and cheese onthe table. That was a capital exchange.”“Yes， but I changed the cow for a sheep.”“Ah， better still！” cried the wife. “You always think of everything； we have just enough pasture for a sheep. Ewe's milk and cheese， woollen jackets and stockings！ The cow couldnot give all these， and her hair only falls off. How you think of everything！”“But I changed away the sheep for a goose.”
“啊，好吧，你明白你在做什么?！崩掀抛诱f道，然后擁抱了他，沒有注意到陌生人也沒有注意到麻袋?！拔矣民R交換了牛?！薄案兄x上帝，現(xiàn)在我們有足夠的牛奶、黃油和奶酪了。這真是一個(gè)特別好的交換啊?！崩掀旁谡f道?！笆堑?，但是我用牛換了羊?！薄鞍?，那更好呀！”妻子叫到?！澳憧偸悄芟氲剿械氖虑?。我們有足夠的牧場(chǎng)來養(yǎng)羊，母羊的奶和奶酪，羊毛制的短上衣和長(zhǎng)筒襪！母牛可給不了這些，她的毛發(fā)都會(huì)掉落的。你真能想到所有的事情啊！”“但是我用羊換了鵝?！?/p>
“then we shall have roast goose to eat this year. You dear old man， you are always thinking of something to please me. This is delightful. We can let the goose walk about with a string tied to her leg， so she will be fatter still before we roast her.”“But I gave away the goose for a fowl.”“A fowl！ Well， that was a good exchange，” replied the woman. “The fowl will lay eggs and hatch them， and we shall have chickens； we shall soon have a poultry-yard. Oh， this is just what I was wishing for.”“Yes， but I exchanged the fowl for a sack of shrivelled apples.”
“今年我們要做烤鵝吃，親愛的老頭子，你總是可以想到讓我開心的事情，這真是令人開心。我可以給鵝的腿栓一根繩子，養(yǎng)著它，所有它會(huì)在我們烤它之前長(zhǎng)肥的?！薄暗俏矣钟鸣Z換了母雞。”“一只母雞！好的，那也是一個(gè)好的交換?！崩掀抛诱f道?！澳鸽u可以生蛋并孵化它們，我們將會(huì)有小雞；我們不就就會(huì)有家禽場(chǎng)。哦，這就是我想要的?！薄笆堑?，但是我又換成了一袋腐爛的蘋果?！?/p>
“What！ I really must give you a kiss for that！” exclaimed the wife. “My dear， goodhusband， now I'll tell you something. Do you know， almost as soon as you left me thismorning， I began to think of what I could give you nice for supper this evening， and then I thought of fried eggs and bacon， with sweet herbs； I had eggs and bacon， but I wanted the herbs； so I went over to the schoolmaster's： I knew they had plenty of herbs， but the schoolmistress is very mean， although she can smile so sweetly. I begged her to lend me a handful of herbs. 'Lend！' she exclaimed， 'I have nothing to lend； nothing at all grows in our garden， not even a shrivelled apple； I could not even lend you a shrivelled apple， my dearwoman.' But now I can lend her ten， or a whole sackful， which I'm very glad of； it makes me laugh to think about it；” and then she gave him a hearty kiss.
“什么！我真的要親吻你了！”妻子大叫到。“我親愛的好丈夫，現(xiàn)在我要告訴你一些事情，你知道嗎，就在今早你走后不久，我開始考慮要給你準(zhǔn)備什么美味的晚餐，然后我想用甜草煎雞蛋和培根，我有雞蛋和培根，但是我想要一些甜草；所以我去校長(zhǎng)家，我知道他們有很多甜草，但是學(xué)校女主人特別吝嗇，盡管他看起來很美好，但是我祈求她借我一把甜草，‘借？’她叫著說‘我沒有東西借給你；我們的公園什么都長(zhǎng)不出來，甚至是一顆爛蘋果，我甚至都借不了一顆爛蘋果，我親愛的婦人，但是現(xiàn)在，我可以借十個(gè)給她，或者一整袋我都樂意；這讓我一想到這事就開心?！比缓笏o他一個(gè)甜蜜的吻。
“Well， I like all this，” said both the Englishmen； “always going down the hill， and yet always merry； it's worth the money to see it.” So they paid a hundred-weight of gold to the peasant， who， whatever he did， was not scolded but kissed.
“好吧，我喜歡這些?！眱蓚€(gè)英國(guó)人說道?！笆虑榭倳?huì)峰回路轉(zhuǎn)啊；看到這些值這些錢?！彼运麄冎Ц读艘煌敖饚沤o這個(gè)無論他做什么都會(huì)得到親吻而不是怒吼的老農(nóng)。
Yes， it always pays best when the wife sees and maintains that her husband knows best，and whatever he does is right.
是的，一為妻子看到他的丈夫總是知道最好的，他總是對(duì)的，這一定會(huì)得到好報(bào)。
That is a story which I heard when I was a child； and now you have heard it too， and know that “What the old man does is always right.”
這個(gè)故事是我在小的時(shí)候聽到的，現(xiàn)在你也聽到了，知道了什么是“老頭子總是對(duì)的。”
