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Chapter Fourteen The Bottom Of The World
第十四章地下的最底层
"My name is Golg," said the gnome. "And I'll tell your Honours all I know. About an hour ago we were all going about our work—her work, I should say—sad and silent, same as we've done any other day for years and years.
“我叫格尔戈。”地精说，“我会把知道的全部告诉您。大约一小时前，我们正各自忙着，为女王干活。应该说，既悲伤又安静，就像这些年来我们所做的一样。
Then there came a great crash and bang. As soon as they heard it, everyone says to himself, I haven't had a song or a dance or let off a squib for a long time; why's that? And everyone thinks to himself, Why, I must have been enchanted.
突然，不知哪儿传来一声巨响。大家刚听到它，每个人就开始自言自语：‘我多久没唱歌跳舞了？’‘多久没放炮了？’‘为什么会这样？’大家都在思考原因，后来觉得一定是魔咒解除了。
And then everyone says to himself, I'm blessed if I know why I'm carrying this load, and I'm not going to carry it any further: that's that. And down we all throw our sacks and bundles and tools. Then everyone turns and sees the great red glow over yonder.
‘我们为什么要搬这些东西？’于是大伙决定集体罢工，就是这样。大家把麻袋、绳索和工具全扔在地上，望着远处的红光。
And everyone says to himself, What's that? And everyone answers himself and says, There's a crack or chasm split open and a nice warm glow coming up through it from the Really Deep Land, a thousand fathom under us."
大家自言自语：‘那是什么？’原来是地上裂开了个大口子，一股温暖的光从幽深之处照来，那可是离我们好几千英寻（1英寻=6英尺）远的地下世界。”
"Great Scott," exclaimed Eustace, "are there other lands still lower down?"
“天啊。”斯库波惊呼，“在这下面还有另一个地下王国吗？”
"Oh yes, your Honour," said Golg. "Lovely places; what we call the Land of Bism. This country where we are now, the Witch's country, is what we call the Shallow Lands.
“是的，先生。”格尔戈说，“那是一个十分可爱的地方，我们叫它比斯姆国。而现在这个地方，也就是女王的国度，我们叫它浅层地下。
It's a good deal too near the surface to suit us. Ugh! You might almost as well be living outside, on the surface itself.
这离地面太近了，根本不适合我们。呃！你们人类大部分是住在地面的。
You see, we're all poor gnomes from Bism whom the Witch has called up here by magic to work for her. But we'd forgotten all about it till that crash came and the spell broke.
你瞧，我们都是比斯姆国的可怜的地精，被女巫用魔法征召到此为她干活。要不是地面裂缝、咒语解除，我们都快把这事忘了。
We didn't know who we were or where we belonged. We couldn't do anything, or think anything, except what she put into our heads.
我们不知道自己是谁，也不知道自己属于哪里。我们什么都干不了，也无法思考，只知道女巫让我们知道的事。
And it was glum and gloomy things she put there all those years. I've nearly forgotten how to make a joke or dance a jig.
这些年来，她只让我们记住那些恶心、悲伤的事。我都不记得怎么开玩笑，怎么跳吉格舞了。
But the moment the bang came and the chasm opened and the sea began rising, it all came back.
然而，当巨响传来，裂缝出现，海平面开始上升时，我们的记忆全回来了。
And of course we all set off as quick as we could to get down the crack and home to our own place.
所以，我们要以最快的速度钻进裂缝，回自己的家乡。
And you can see them over there all letting off rockets and standing on their heads for joy. And I'll be very obliged to your Honours if you'll soon let me go and join in."
你看，所有人都在放烟花庆祝，头朝下走路，高兴得要命。如果您能立刻放我走，让我加入他们，我将十分感激。”
"I think this is simply splendid," said Jill. "I'm so glad we freed the gnomes as well as ourselves when we cut off the Witch's head! And I'm so glad they aren't really horrid and gloomy any more than the Prince really was—well, what he seemed like."
“这真是太好了。”吉尔说，“把女巫头颅砍下时，我们不仅救了自己，还救了地精们，真是太高兴了！他们不再悲伤，王子大人看上去也恢复正常了。”
"That's all very well, Pole," said Puddleglum cautiously. "But those gnomes didn't look to me like chaps who were just running away.
“一切都很好，波尔。”帕德格莱姆谨慎地说，“但在我看来，那些地精不像在逃跑。
It looked more like military formations, if you ask me. Do you look me in the face, Mr. Golg, and tell me you weren't preparing for battle?"
更像在布置军阵。看着我的脸，格尔戈先生，告诉我你们是不是在准备打仗？”
"Of course we were, your Honour," said Golg. "You see, we didn't know the Witch was dead. We thought she'd be watching from the castle.
“我们当然是在准备打仗，先生。”格尔戈说，“你瞧，我们不知道女巫已经死了，还认为她会在城堡的窗户上看见我们。
We were trying to slip away without being seen. And then when you four came out with swords and horses, of course everyone says to himself, Here it comes: not knowing that his Honour wasn't on the Witch's side.
我们尽量隐藏起来，不让别人看到。看到你们从城堡里走出来，骑着马拿着剑，我们还误以为你们是和女巫一伙的，根本不知道你们已经和她决裂了。
And we were determined to fight like anything rather than give up the hope of going back to Bism."
我们就决定勇敢战斗，一定要回到比斯姆。”
"I'll be sworn 'tis an honest gnome," said the Prince. "Let go of it, friend Puddleglum. As for me, good Golg, I have been enchanted like you and your fellows, and have but newly remembered myself.
“我发誓这是位诚实的地精。”王子说，“让他走吧，帕德格莱姆。好格尔戈，我也像你们一样中了女巫的魔咒，现在刚清醒过来。
And now, one question more. Do you know the way to those new diggings, by which the sorceress meant to lead out an army against Overland?"
我还有一个问题：你知道怎么去新挖的地道吗？就是女巫打算用来攻击地上世界的那个地道。”
"Ee-ee-ee!" squeaked Golg. "Yes, I know that terrible road. I will show you where it begins. But it is no manner of use your Honour asking me to go with you on it. I'll die rather." "Why?" asked Eustace anxiously. "What's so dreadful about it?"
“啊，啊，啊！”格尔戈尖叫着，“是的，我知道那条恐怖的路，可以带你们去。但可别妄想我能陪你们一起走，我宁愿死也不想去那鬼地方。”“为什么？”斯库波担心地问，“那里有那么可怕吗？”
"Too near the top, the outside," said Golg, shuddering. "That was the worst thing the Witch did to us. We were going to be led out into the open—onto the outside of the world.
“太近了，离地面。”格尔戈说着颤抖了一下，“那是女巫对我们做的最残忍的一件事。她竟然让我们冲出地下，到外面的世界去。
They say there's no roof at all there; only a horrible great emptiness called the sky. And the diggings have gone so far that a few strokes of the pick would bring you out to it. I wouldn't dare go near them."
据说那鬼地方根本没天花板；只有广阔无边的叫什么天空之类的，吓死人了。隧道已经挖得离地面很近了，只要再稍微鼓捣鼓捣就能到达地面。我可不敢去那。”
