Everyone loves an “Olde Worlde1)” pub with its oak beams, horse brasses2) and roaring log fires. Nevertheless, no matter how old the pub itself, the name on the sign outside is probably the most historic thing about the place.
人人都喜欢古色古香的酒吧，那里有橡木横梁、黄铜马饰和熊熊的炉火。然而，无论酒吧本身有多古老，其门外招牌上的名称可能才是整个酒吧里最具历史意义的东西。
The idea of the pub sign came to Britain at the time of the Roman invasion. Wine bars in ancient Rome hung bunches of vine leaves outside as trading signs but when the Romans came here they found precious few vines in the inhospitable climate. Instead, they hung up bushes to mark out the inns and the names Bush or Bull & Bush still survive.
英国在酒吧门外挂出招牌始于罗马人入侵时期。古罗马时期，小酒馆都在门外悬挂葡萄藤来作为酒吧交易的标志。但是，罗马人来到英国后却发现这里的气候不好，葡萄藤稀缺，于是他们就悬挂灌木作为酒馆的标志。如此一来，“灌木”或“公牛和灌木”这些名称便一直沿用了下来。
What's in a Name
名字背后的故事
It would be centuries before the first recognisable pubs opened. Religious houses3) ran the earliest true inns to cater for4) pilgrims5) and knights on their way to the Crusades6) in the Holy Land7). Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem8), whose cellars9) are carved from the rocks beneath Nottingham Castle, is just such an example. Established in 1189, it claims the title of the oldest pub in England and was a stopover point for forces on their way to meet with Richard the Lionheart10). Other signs on this theme are the Turk's Head, Saracen's Head and Lamb & Flag—the lamb representing Christ and the flag the sign of the crusaders.
直到几个世纪以后，首批真正的酒吧才开始营业。最早的真正意义上的小酒馆由修道院经营，为朝圣者和前往圣地参加十字军远征的骑士提供饮食服务。“老耶路撒冷之旅”就是这样一家酒吧，它的地窖开凿于诺丁汉城堡下面的岩石里。这家酒吧建于1189年，号称是英国最古老的酒吧。远征的队伍去拜见狮心王理查一世时曾在这里稍事休整。此类主题的酒吧招牌还有“土耳其人头”“撒拉逊人首脑”以及“羊羔和旗帜”——羊羔代表耶稣，旗帜代表十字军战士。
Even after the dissolution of the Monasteries11) in the 16th Century, some of the names denoting religious connections survived, such as the Mitre12), the Ship (symbolising the Ark13)) and the Anchor (the Christian faith). However, many of the landlords thought it more politic14) to show allegiance15) to the monarch and hastily adopted titles like the King's Head or the Crown. Henry VIII who ordered the dissolution is, unsurprisingly, the most popularly depicted monarch.
16世纪，英国颁布法令解散了修道院。但在这之后，一些具有宗教意义的酒吧名称依然保留了下来，比如“主教法冠”“大船”(象征方舟)和“锚”(象征基督教信仰)。不过，很多酒吧老板觉得更为明智的做法是向英王表示自己的忠心，于是都迫不及待地采用“国王头”或“皇冠”之类的名称为酒吧命名。下令解散修道院的亨利八世毫无悬念地成为使用最为频繁的酒吧招牌主题。
Heraldry16) has been a recurrent theme, the Black, White, Red and Golden Lions have formed part of the royal coat of arms17) since the time of the Norman Conquest18). The Unicorn19) was in the Scottish arms, the Red Dragon in the Welsh and the White Horse in the Hanoverian20). The Rising Sun was the badge of Edward III21). Local gentry22) often had pubs on their land named after them or parts of their cognizance23) were taken.
纹章也是酒吧招牌经常使用的主题。自诺曼征服以来，黑色、白色、红色和金色的雄狮便成为英国王室盾形纹章的一部分。苏格兰纹章里有“独角兽”，威尔士纹章里有“红龙”，汉诺威王朝的纹章里有“白马”。英格兰国王爱德华三世的纹章是“旭日”。当地的贵族们经常用自己的名字或其纹章的一部分为其领地上的酒吧命名。
Anyone who caught the public imagination24) was likely to be immortalised25) such as Lord Nelson26) or Wellington27) and even loveable rogues28) like Dick Turpin29) get a mention.
那些深受公众喜爱的名字很有可能因为上了酒吧招牌而得以永恒，比如“纳尔森勋爵”或“惠灵顿公爵”。招牌上甚至还有像大盗迪克·特平这样可爱的坏蛋。
One of the most affectionate30) tributes is reserved for the Marquis31) of Granby, Commander in Chief of the British army. After the Battle of Warburg32), he bought pubs for all his non-commissioned officers33). His generosity ruined him however and he died in 1770 leaving crushing debts of £37,000.
不过，最为深情的赞美要留给格兰比侯爵。格兰比侯爵是英军总司令，瓦尔堡战役之后，他买下大量的酒馆赠与他麾下的所有士官。但他的慷慨之举也导致了他的破产，1770年他去世时，留下了高达37, 000英镑的巨额债务。
Sporty Names
游戏娱乐型名称
In the days of a largely illiterate population, pictorial34) signs were an essential way of advertising the inn or the type of entertainment on offer inside. Any pub called the Cock Inn or the Cock Pit would once have been a venue for cock fighting. Ye Old Fighting Cocks in St Albans (which also claims to be the oldest pub in Britain) was originally the dovecote35) for St Albans Abbey. After the dissolution, it was realised that its circular shape made it a perfect venue for cock fighting. Just to confuse things, any pub called the Cock & Bottle has nothing to do with sport. It simply denotes that both bottled and draught beers36) were available.
由于当时大部分人都不识字，图画式的招牌便成为一种必要手段，用以宣传酒馆或酒馆里所提供的娱乐项目。如果酒吧的名字唤作“公鸡酒馆”或“鸡窝”，那它很可能曾经就是斗鸡的场所。位于圣奥尔本斯的“老斗鸡”酒吧(也号称是英国最古老的酒吧)原本是圣奥尔本斯修道院的鸽舍。修道院被解散之后，人们发现这一环形结构的鸽舍正是斗鸡的绝佳场所。顺便提一句，那些名为“公鸡和酒瓶”的酒馆可能会引起人们的误解，事实上这一名字和游戏娱乐毫无关系，只是表示该酒馆既卖瓶装啤酒，也卖生啤酒。
As to other entertainments, the Bear denotes bear baiting37), the Dog & Duck hunting, the Bull & Dog bull baiting and the Bird in Hand, falconry38). Nowadays, the more modern sports are represented by names like the Cricketers' Arms, the Anglers39)' Rest or the Huntsman.
其他一些娱乐型名称也都各具其意，例如“熊”表示逗熊游戏；“狗和鸭”代表狩猎游戏；“公牛和狗”表示逗牛游戏；“抓鸟”代表猎鹰训练游戏。现如今，许多更为现代的体育或娱乐活动名称也出现在酒吧招牌上，比如“板球队员徽章”“垂钓者”或“捕猎者”。
Often the predominant trade of the area would give the pub its name. The Golden Fleece40) is a reflection of the local wool trade. The Coopers41)', Bricklayers', Saddlers42)' and Masons43)' Arms are commonplace signs. Legend has it that the Smiths Arms in Dorset was once a blacksmith44)'s forge where Charles II stopped to have his horse shod45). Whilst he was waiting he demanded a beer but was told the smithy was unlicenced. Exercising his royal prerogative46), he granted one and was duly served.
某一地区的主要贸易往往能够决定该地的酒吧名称。例如，“金羊毛”这一名称就反映了当地的主要贸易为羊毛贸易。 “修桶匠徽章”“砌砖匠徽章”“制鞍匠徽章”和“石匠徽章”也是常见的招牌名称。传说位于多赛特的“铁匠徽章”酒吧原来是个铁匠铺，查理二世曾在此停留，给马钉蹄铁。在等待的间隙，他想来点啤酒，但人们告诉他这个铁匠铺没有售酒许可。于是查理二世便行使他的君权，为这家铁匠铺颁发了售酒许可证，就此如愿喝到了啤酒。
In the 18th Century, the population became more mobile and a need for coaching inns grew with predictable names such as Coach & Horses or Horse & Groom. Later the advent of steam gave every town its Railway Inn or Station Arms.
到了18世纪，随着人口流动性的增加，人们需要更多能为过路的马车和乘客提供住宿的酒吧，可以想象得到，这样的酒吧名称多为“马车和马匹”或者“马匹和马夫”。后来，随着蒸汽时代的到来，每个城镇都出现了名为“铁道酒馆”或“车站徽章”的酒吧。
Where Good Stories Come From
看酒吧招牌，听精彩故事
There is a story that, in Stoney Stratford, the London coach changed horses at the Bull and the Birmingham coach across the road at the Cock Inn. The passengers from the respective coaches would swap news whilst waiting for the change and it is from this that the phrase “cock and bull story47)” is said to have originated.
有这样一个故事：在斯通尼斯坦福德镇，从伦敦来的马车在“公牛”酒馆更换马匹，从伯明翰来的马车在街对面的“公鸡”酒馆更换马匹。两边马车上的乘客们边等待更换马匹边聊天，互通有无。据说，这就是俗语“公鸡和公牛的故事” 的最初起源。
Plenty of cock and bull stories and local legends have found their way onto pub signs. Take, for example, the Drunken Duck at Barngates. The landlady one day found all of her ducks dead in the yard. Unaccustomed to waste, she plucked48) them ready for cooking. As she finished, the ducks began to revive and a search of the yard revealed a leaking beer barrel surrounded by webbed footprints. She was apparently so contrite49) that she knitted50) little jackets until their feathers grew back.
酒吧招牌讲述着许多“公鸡和公牛的故事”以及众多的民间传奇故事。就拿一家位于巴尔盖特的酒吧来说吧，它那名为“醉鸭”的招牌背后就流传着这样一个传说。有一天，女店主发现她所有的鸭子都死在了院子里。于是，从不浪费的她便给这些鸭子褪毛，准备将它们煮熟。没想到她刚给鸭子褪完毛，它们竟又活了过来。她找遍院子的每个角落，最后发现了一个漏酒的啤酒桶，酒桶周围布满了蹼形的脚印。明白事情的原委后，她懊悔无比，于是便给鸭子织了小外套穿上，等待它们重新长出新毛。
Alternatively, there was the Flying Monk of Malmesbury who claimed his faith was so strong it would enable him to fly. He jumped from the top of the local abbey to demonstrate his faith and … well, the pub was a nice memorial51)!
此外，马姆斯伯里镇一家名为“会飞的修道士”酒吧还流传这样一个故事：有个“修道士”声称自己的信仰非常强大，能够让他飞起来。为了证明信仰的力量，他从当地修道院的屋顶上跳了下来……结果呢，这家酒吧就成了纪念修道士的不错的纪念馆！
It is rare to take time to consider the sign outside the pub in the rush to get inside but few pubs were named by accident. Almost every name has a story behind it and, together, they illustrate the social history of England. With names enduring for centuries it is possible that the sign above the door is as old as the pleasure of drinking itself.
很少有人在急匆匆地走进酒吧之前，还花时间去揣摩酒吧招牌的含义。但这些酒吧的名字可不是随随便便起的，几乎每个名字背后都有一段故事。将这些各式各样的名字和故事综合起来，就是英国社会历史的浓缩和积淀。既然酒吧的名字能够流传数百年，那么酒吧门上方挂着的招牌大概也与喝酒本身的乐趣一样，历史悠久，源远流长。
1. Olde Worlde：古色古香的
2. horse brass：黄铜马饰
3. religious house：修道院
4. cater for：供应伙食，迎合
5. pilgrim [ˈpɪlɡrɪm] n. 圣地朝拜者，朝圣
6. Crusade [kruːˈseɪd] n. 十字军远征，在11、12或13世纪时，欧洲的基督教徒为了从穆斯林手中收复圣地而发动的军事远征
7. Holy Land：圣地(圣经中的巴勒斯坦地区)
8. Jerusalem [dʒəˌruːsələm] n. 耶路撒冷(巴勒斯坦著名古城)
9. cellar [ˈselə(r)] n. 地下室，酒窖
10. Richard the Lionheart：狮心王理查一世(1157～1199)，英格兰国王(1189～1199年在位)，以穷兵黩武和凶狠残暴闻名于世，历史上称为“狮心王”。
11. monastery [ˈmɒnəst(ə)rɪ] n. 修道院
12. mitre [ˈmaɪtə(r)] n. 主教法冠
13. Ark [ɑː(r)k] n. (基督教《圣经》中诺亚为避洪水而造的)方舟
14. politic [ˈpɒlətɪk] adj. 明智的，策略的
15. allegiance [əˈliːdʒ(ə)ns] n. 忠贞，效忠
16. heraldry [ˈherəldrɪ] n. 纹章
17. coat of arms：盾形纹章，盾徽
18. Norman Conquest：诺曼征服(以诺曼底公爵威廉为首的法国封建主对英格兰的征服，始于1066年)
19. unicorn [ˈjuːnɪˌkɔː(r)n] n. 独角兽，麒麟
20. Hanoverian [ˈhænəʊvə(r)ɪən] n. 汉诺威王朝，1714～1901年间统治英国的王朝
21. Edward III：爱德华三世(1312～1377)，英格兰国王(1327～1377年在位)
22. gentry [ˈdʒentrɪ] n. 贵族们
23. cognizance [ˈkɒɡnɪz(ə)ns] n. 纹章
24. catch sb.'s imagination：让人感到兴奋、有趣
25. immortalise [ɪˈmɔː(r)t(ə)laɪz] vt. 使不朽
26. Lord Nelson：指霍雷肖·纳尔逊(Horatio Nelson, 1758～1805)，英国海军中将，世界著名海军统帅，被誉为“英国皇家海军之魂”。lord [lɔː(r)d] 勋爵
27. Wellington：惠灵顿公爵(1769~1852)，反拿破仑战争中的联军统帅之一，以指挥滑铁卢战役闻名于世。1828年后历任英国首相、外交大臣、新西兰总督等职。
28. rogue [rəʊɡ] n. 流氓，无赖，强盗
29. Dick Turpin：迪克·特平(1705～1739)，18世纪英国著名的公路劫匪
30. affectionate [əˈfekʃ(ə)nət] adj. 亲爱的，挚爱的
31. marquis [ˈmɑː(r)kwɪs] n. (英国等的)侯爵
32. Battle of Warburg：瓦尔堡战役，发生于七年战争(1756～1763)期间的一次重大战役
33. non-commissioned officer：军士，士官
34. pictorial [pɪkˈtɔːrɪəl] adj. 图示的，有插画的
35. dovecote [ˈdʌvˌkəʊt] n. 鸽房，鸽舍
36. draught beer：生啤酒，指啤酒在制造的过程中采用冷过滤的方式杀菌；相较熟啤酒更为新鲜清爽。
37. bear baiting：逗熊游戏，16世纪英格兰流行的娱乐方式之一，也是亨利八世最爱的游戏之一。这一游戏的规则是：将一头熊绑在链子上，链子固定在栏杆上，五六只狗同时向熊发起进攻；熊被撕咬得伤痕累累后，人们把它带进治疗室治疗、休养，待调整好了再参加下一场游戏。bait [beɪt] vt. 纵犬袭击(锁住的野兽)
38. falconry [ˈfɔːlkənrɪ] n. 猎鹰训练术，鹰猎
39. angler [ˈæŋɡlə(r)] n. 钓鱼者
40. fleece [fliːs] n. 羊毛(尤指未剪下的)
41. cooper [ˈkuːpə(r)] n. 制桶工人
42. saddler [ˈsædlə(r)] n. 制造马鞍的人
43. mason [ˈmeɪs(ə)n] n. 石匠，泥瓦匠
44. blacksmith [ˈblækˌsmɪθ] n. 铁匠，锻工
45. shoe [ʃuː] vt. (shod为shoe的过去式和过去分词)给(马)钉蹄铁
46. prerogative [prɪˈrɒɡətɪv] n. 特权
47. cock and bull story：荒诞的故事，无稽之谈
48. pluck [plʌk] vt. 拔去(鸡、鸭等)毛
49. contrite [kənˈtraɪt] adj. 深感懊悔的
50. knit [nɪt] vt. 编织
51. memorial [məˈmɔːrɪəl] n. 纪念物，纪念馆