纳尼亚传奇4魔法师的外甥 《魔法师的外甥》第56期:迪格雷和他的舅舅又陷困境(6)

《魔法师的外甥》第56期:迪格雷和他的舅舅又陷困境(6)  

The Cabby swallowed hard o or three times and cleared his throat.
"Begging your pardon
sir
" he said
"and thanking you very much I'm sure (which my Missus does the same) but I ain't no sort of a chap for a job like that. I never 'ad much eddycation
you see."
"Well
" said Aslan
"can you use a spade and a plough and raise food out of the earth?"
"Yes
sir
I could do a bit of that sort of work: being brought up to it
like."
"Can you rule these creatures kindly and fairly
remembering that they are not slaves like the dumb Beasts of the world you were born in
but Talking Beasts and free subjects?"
"I see that
sir
" replied the Cabby. "I'd try to do the square thing by them all."
"And would you bring up your children and grandchildren to do the same?"
"It'd be up to me to try
sir. I'd do my best: wouldn't we
Nellie?"
"And you wouldn't have favourites either among your own children or among the other creatures or let any hold another under or use it hardly?"
"I never could abide such goings on
sir
and that's the truth. I'd give 'em what for if I caught 'em at it
" said the Cabby. (All through this conversation his voice was growing slower and richer. More like the country voice he must have had as a boy and less like the sharp
quick voice of a cockney.)
"And if enemies came against the land (for enemies will arise) and there was war
would you be the first in the charge and the last in the retreat?"
"Well
sir
" said the Cabby very slowly
"a chap don't exactly know till he's been tried. I dare say I might turn out ever such a soft 'un. Never did no fighting except with my fists. I'd try -that is
I 'ope I'd try - to do my bit."
"Then
" said Aslan

"You will have done all that a King should do. Your coronation will be held presently. And you and your children and grandchildren shall be blessed
and some will be Kings of Narnia
and others will be Kings of Archenland which lies yonder over the Southern Mountains. And you
little Daughter (here he turned to Polly) are wele. Have you fiven the Boy for the violence he did you in the Hall of Images in the desolate palace of accursed Charn?"
"Yes
Aslan
we've made it up
" said Polly.
"That is well
" said Aslan. "And now for the Boy himself."
马车伕用力吞了几次口水，清了清嗓子。
“请您原谅，阁下，”他说，“非常感谢你(我太太也感谢你)，但我干不了这种事情。你知道，我没有受过很多教育。”
“那么，”阿斯兰说，“你会使用铲子和犁吗？会在地里种庄稼吗？”
“是的，阁下，我会干这种活儿，可以说从小就会。”
“你能善良地、公正地对待这些动物吗？记住，它们不像你出生的那个世界里的哑兽，是奴隶，它们是会说话的野兽，是自由的。”
“我懂，阁下，”马车伕回答，“我会公正地对待所有的动物。”
“你会教你的儿女、你的孙子孙女们这么做吗？”
“这需要我努力去做，阁下。我会尽全力的，是吗，蕾丽？”
“你不会在你的儿女中或在其他动物中培植亲信，让一些压制和奴役另一些吧？”
“我决不会容忍这种行为的，真的，阁下。如果我撞见谁干这种事一定会惩罚他们的。”马车伕说。(在这场谈话中，马车伕的声音越来越慢，越变越浑厚，更像他小时候在乡下时的声音，而不像他当伦敦马车伕时那种尖而快的声音。
“如果敌人来犯(因为敌人会来犯)，战争打响，你会冲锋在前、撤退在后吗？”
“阁下，”马车伕缓缓地说，“一个人不经磨练很难真正看清楚。我敢说，我最终还是个温和的人，最多只用拳头打过架。但我会努力——就是说，我希望努力去尽自己的职责。”
“好，”阿斯兰说，“你将做一个国王该做的一切事情。你的加冕仪式即将举行。你和你的儿孙会得到保佑，有的将是纳尼亚的国王，有的将是南山那边阿钦兰的国王。至于你，小姑娘(他转向波莉)，我们欢迎你。在恰恩废墟塑像厅里他伤了你，你已经原谅他了吗？”
“是的，阿斯兰，我们已经和好了。”波莉说。
“这样很好。”阿斯兰说，“现在，该轮到小伙子了。”