Chapter 5 A lesson for Mr Toad
第5章 给癞蛤蟆先生的教训
Winter passed, and spring returned to the river bank.
冬天过去了,春天回到了河岸。
Then came a fine morning in early summer, when the world seemed full of sunlight and new green leaves.
这是初夏一个晴朗的早上,世界似乎充满了阳光,长满了新叶。
Down by the river bank, the Mole and the Water Rat were hard at work, mending and cleaning boats, looking for lost oars, and getting ready for a summer on the river.
下游的河岸边,鼹鼠和水鼠正卖力地干着活,修补着船然后把它清洗干净,又寻找着不知遗落在何处的船桨,为夏天在河上划船做着准备。
Then they went in to breakfast and had nearly finished when they heard a heavy knock on the door.
忙碌了一阵他们便回家吃早餐。快吃完时,他们突然听到重重的敲门声。
The Mole went to see who it was, and came back with a very surprised face. 'Mr Badger' he said.
鼹鼠过去看看是谁,回来时表情非常惊讶。他说,獾先生!
This was a wonderful thing indeed, for the Badger to come and visit them.
獾来拜访他们,的确是不可思议的事。
He came into the room and stood looking at them, very seriously.
他走进屋里,非常严肃地站着看着他们。
The Rat dropped his egg-spoon, and sat open-mouthed.
水鼠坐在那儿张大着嘴巴,手中的汤匙掉在地上。
'The hour has come! 'said the Badger at last.
时辰到了!獾最后说。
'What hour?' asked the Rat worriedly, looking at the clock on the wall.
什么时辰?水鼠担心地问,一边看着墙上的钟。
' Whose hour, you mean, 'replied the Badger.
你是说,谁的时辰?灌回答道。
'Why, Toad's hour! The hour of Toad! I said I would teach him a lesson when the summer came, and I'm going to begin today. '
哎,蛤蟆的时辰!癞蛤蟆的时辰!我说过夏天来了我要教训教训他,今天我就要着手干了。
' Toad's hour, of course! 'cried the Mole. '
癞蛤蟆的时辰,当然!鼹鼠叫道。
I remember now. We'll teach him to be a sensible Toad! '
我现在想起来了,我们要把他教育成理智的癞蛤蟆!
'I learnt last night, ' continued the Badger, that another new and very fast motor-car has just arrived at Toad Hall.
昨晚我听说,獾继续着,另一辆崭新的、高速的汽车刚刚抵达蛤蟆宅第,
You two must come with me immediately, and we will save Toad from this madness. '
你们俩必须马上跟我走,我们得把癞蛤蟆从疯狂中救醒过来。
关于《风雨河岸柳》
肯尼思·格雷厄姆(Kenneth Grahame)(1859-1932)是英国的银行家。他出生于爱丁堡一个传统的苏格兰家庭,父亲是律师,却有严重的酗酒恶习。