这是美国作家、批判现实主义文学的奠基人马克·吐温在1882年发表的第一本历史幻想代表作。这篇小说是以16世纪的英国为背景,描写一个贫苦儿童汤姆和一个富贵王子爱德华交换社会地位的童话式故事。贫儿汤姆从小过着衣不蔽体、食不果腹的贫困生活,幻想着自己能有一天当上富贵的王子,而爱德华因厌倦死板、空虚的宫廷生活,也幻想着能到民间尝尝作贫儿的滋味。于是有一天,他们交换了身份,开始了新的生活。故事的想象极其丰富、语言幽默风趣。小说虽然取材于16世纪英国,但其批评的矛头是指向19世纪的美国。读者很自然会联想到19世纪七八十年代美国劳动人民的艰难处境,很自然会联想到当时美国资产阶级政府的专横欺诈。小说还鲜明地表明了人人生来平等的民主主义思想和环境决定人物性格的唯物主义观念。
英式发音 适合泛读
古英语词汇对照表
an’ = and art = are be these = are they costeth = cost
dar’st = dare dost = do doth = does grand-dam = grandmother
hast = have helpeth = help lest = in case/unless meanest = lowliest
mine = my repast = meal thee = you thou = you thy = your
Tis = it is Twould = It would withal = as well would’st = would you
纪念马克·吐温逝世一百周年
Chapter 3Tom’s Meeting with the Prince (Excerpt)
汤姆和王子会见(节选)
Here, indeed, was a king’s palace.
At each side of the gate stood a motionless man-at-arms. At a respectful distance were many country-folk, and people from the city, waiting for any chance glimpse of royalty.
Tom was moving timidly past the 1)sentinels, when he caught sight through the golden bars of a boy, whose clothing was all of silks and satins, shining with jewels. Tom’s eyes grew big with wonder and before he knew what he was about, he had his face against the gate bars. The next instant one of the soldiers2)snatched him away, and sent him spinning.
The crowd jeered and laughed; but the young prince sprang to the gate.
“How dar’st thou use a poor lad like that? How dar’st thou use the King my father’s meanest subject so? Open the gates, and let him in!”
You should have seen that 3)fickle crowd snatch off their hats then. “Long live the Prince of Wales!”
The soldiers presented arms with their 4)halberds, opened the gates, and Edward Tudor said—
“Thou lookest tired and hungry. Come with me.”
Half a dozen attendants sprang forward to—I don’t know what; interfere, no doubt. But they were waved aside and Edward took Tom to a rich apartment in the palace. By his command a 5)repast was brought such as Tom had never encountered before except in books. The prince, with princely delicacy and breeding, sent away the servants, so that his humble guest might not be embarrassed by their critical presence; then he sat near by, and asked questions while Tom ate.
“What is thy name, lad?”
“Tom Canty, an’ it please thee, sir.”
“‘Tis an odd one. Where dost live?”
“In the city, please thee, sir. Offal Court.”
“Offal Court! Hast parents?”
“Parents have I, sir, and a grand-dam—also twin sisters, Nan and Bet.”
“How old be these?”
“Fifteen, an’ it please you, sir.”
“The Lady Elizabeth, my sister, is 14, and the Lady Jane Grey, my cousin, is of mine own age, and comely and gracious withal; but my sister the Lady Mary,—Look you: do thy sisters forbid their servants to smile, lest the sin destroy their souls?”
“They? Oh, dost think, sir, that THEY have servants?”
“And why not? Who helpeth them undress at night?”
“None, sir. Would’st have them take off their garment, and sleep like the beasts?”
“Their garment! Have they but one?”
“What would they do with more? Truly they have not two bodies each.”
“Haha…Thy pardon, I had not meant to laugh. But tell me of thy Offal Court. Hast thou a pleasant life there?”
“In truth, yes, so please you, sir, save when one is hungry. There be 6)Punch-and-Judy shows, and monkeys—oh and plays wherein they shout and fight till all are slain, and ‘tis so fine to see, and costeth but a farthing.”
“Tell me more.”
“We lads of Offal Court do strive against each other with the 7)cudgel, sometimes.”
“Tell me more.”
“We strive in races, sir, to see who of us shall be fleetest.”
“That I would like also. Speak on.”
“In summer, sir, we swim in the canals and in the river, and each doth duck his neighbour, and 8)spatter him with water, and dive and shout and—”
“‘Twould be worth my father’s kingdom but to enjoy it once!”
“We dance and sing about the Maypole in 9)Cheapside; we play in the sand, and we do fairly 10)wallow in the mud, sir.”
“Oh! If that I could but revel in the mud, just once, with none to rebuke me, I could forego the crown!”
“And if that I could clothe me once, sir, as thou art11)clad—just once—”
“Oho, would’st like it? Then so shall it be.”
这里确实就是王宫了。
在大门的两侧各站着一名一动也不动的卫兵。在不远处,恭恭敬敬地站着许多人,有乡下人,也有城里人。他们都希望有机会能一睹皇家风采。
汤姆小心翼翼地经过卫兵的身边。这时,透过金色的栏杆,汤姆看见一位身穿丝绸锦缎、浑身珠光宝气的少年。汤姆好奇地瞪大了眼睛,忘形地把脸挨近大门栏杆。就在这时,一名卫兵用力把他推开,他身不由己地在地上打了几个滚。
众人都大笑着嘲笑他,但年轻的王子却跑到了门前。
“你凭什么这样对待这可怜的孩子?你怎敢这样对待我父王最卑微的子民呢?快打开大门,让他进来!”
你们真应该看看门外那帮见风使舵的民众,他们一个个脱下了帽子,欢呼道:“小王子万岁!”
卫兵们持戟向王子致意,打开了宫门,爱德华·都铎说:
“你看起来又累又饿,跟我来吧。”
在旁边侍候的几个随从,听见王子这么一说,都冲了上来——我也不知道他们想干嘛,肯定是加以劝阻吧。但是,爱德华王子挥手让他们止步。然后,他就带着汤姆走进王宫里一个华丽的房间。他吩咐送上佳肴美食。捧上来的食物,除了在书本里,汤姆从未见过。王子带着皇家特有的风度吩咐仆人都退下,让这位身份低下的客人不致于被他们挑剔的眼光弄得很尴尬。然后,他在旁边坐下来,在汤姆吃喝的时候问起话来。
“你叫什么名字呢,孩子?”
“禀告王子,我叫汤姆·康蒂。”
“这可是一个奇怪的名字。你住在什么地方?”
“禀告王子,我住在垃圾大院。”
“垃圾大院?你有父母吗?”
“有的,殿下。还有一位奶奶,还有两个双胞胎姐姐,叫南和贝蒂。”
“她们多大了?”
“禀告王子,十五岁。”
“我二姐伊丽莎白公主十四岁了。我的堂妹简·葛利郡主和我同年。她们人长得好看,也很和蔼。可我的大姐玛丽公主,——你呢,你的两个姐姐会不让她们的仆人笑,认为那样罪恶会摧毁他们的灵魂吗?”
“她们?噢,殿下,你认为她们会有仆人吗?”
“什么?没有?那么,她们晚上睡觉的时候,谁来帮她们宽衣呢?”
“殿下,没人帮忙。难道她们要脱掉衣服,像畜牲那样光着身体睡觉?”
“她们的衣服!难道她们只有一件衣服?”
“她们要那么多干什么?难道她们有两个身子不成 。”
“哈哈,对不起,我不该笑的。跟我说一下垃圾大院的事,你们在那里开心吗?”
“禀告王子,说实话,除了挨饿的时候,我们很开心。我们那里有木偶戏表演,有猴子——噢,还有表演,他们大喊大叫,相互攻击,直到把所有人都杀死。可好看了,但却不用花多少钱。”
“往下说。”
“我们这些住在垃圾大院的年轻人有的时候用棍棒对打。”
“接着往下说。”
“我们会赛跑,殿下,看谁跑得最快。”
“我也想试试。继续说。”
“在夏天,殿下,我们在沟里、河里游泳,把旁边的人按入水中,打水仗,潜水,大喊大叫,还有……”
“如果我能玩一回,我宁愿放弃我父王的王国。”
“我们在切普赛街围着五朔节花柱唱歌跳舞;我们在沙坑里玩耍,在泥里打滚,殿下。”
“噢!如果我可以在泥里疯玩而没人指责我,哪怕只有一回,我连王冠都可以不要了。”
“殿下,可如果我能穿上你这套衣服——哪怕只穿一次……”
“真的吗?你真的想试试?那就来吧。”
翻译:Portia
