大卫·田纳特 | 朗读绘本故事《公路大盗鼠》

Oh hello, my name is David. And I’m going to read you “The Highway Rat” by Julia Donaldson, and the pictures are by Aexl Scheffler.

嗨，大家好，我是大卫。今天我要给你们讲的是“公路大盗鼠”的故事，作者是朱莉亚·唐纳森，插画师是阿克塞尔·舍夫勒。

The Highway Rat was a baddie. The Highway Rat was a beast. He took what he wanted and ate what he took. His life was a one long feast. His teeth were sharp and yellow, his manners were rough and rude, and the Highway Rat went riding, riding, riding along the highway and stealing the travelers’ food.

公路大盗鼠是个坏蛋，公路大盗鼠是个野兽。他想要什么就抢什么，抢到什么就吃什么，他的生命仿佛就是一场持久的饕餮盛宴。他的牙齿尖锐发黄，行为粗鲁野蛮。公路大盗鼠骑着马跑啊，跑啊，跑啊，一边跑一边抢夺路人的食物。

A rabbit came hopping along the road, and stopped with her paws in the air. For blocking her way was the Highway Rat, who cried out “Who goes there? Give me your pastries and puddings. Give me chocolate and cake! For I’m the rat of the highway! The Highway! The Highway! Yes, I’m the rat of the highway! And whatever I want, I take!”

一只兔子蹦蹦跳跳地上了马路，只见它突然把两只爪子悬在半空中。原来，是公路大盗鼠挡住了去路，公路大盗鼠向它大喊道，“来者何人？交出你的馅饼和布丁！交出你的巧克力和蛋糕！我可是鼎鼎有名的公路大盗鼠！公路大盗鼠！公路大盗鼠！没错，我就是公路大盗鼠！我想要什么就抢什么！”

“I have no cakes,” the rabbit replied. “I just have a bunch of clover.” The Highway rat gave a scornful look. But he ordered, “Hand it over! This clover is bound to be tasteless. This clover is dull as can be! But I am the rat of the highway and this clover belongs to me!” 

兔子回答道，“可是我没有蛋糕，我只有一把三叶草。”公路大盗鼠轻蔑地看了一眼，发号施令道：“把它交出来！这三叶草肯定难吃死了，没什么东西比三叶草更索然无味了！但我可是鼎鼎有名的公路大盗鼠！三叶草归我了!”

A squirrel came bounding along the road, then stopped with a shake and a shiver. For reining his horse was the Highway Rat, who thundered “Stand and deliver! Give me your buns and your biscuits. Give me your chocolate éclairs, for I’m the rat of the highway! The Highway! The Highway! Yes, I’m the rat of the Highway and the rat thieve never shares.”

一只松鼠跳着走过来，又战战兢兢地停下了。原来，公路大盗鼠威风凛凛骑在马上，大声怒喝着：“站住，把东西交出来！交出你的小面包和饼干，交出你的巧克力泡芙！我可是鼎鼎有名的公路大盗鼠！公路大盗鼠！公路大盗鼠！没错，我就是公路大盗鼠！我们从不与人分享食物。”

“Oh, I have no buns,” the squirrel replied, “I just have a sack of nuts.” The robber snatched the sack and snarled “I’ll have no ifs or buts. These nuts are probably rotten. These nuts are hard as can be! But I’m the rat of the highway and these nuts belong to me!”

松鼠回答道，“可是，我没有小面包，我只有一包坚果。”大盗鼠把那包坚果抢过来又咆哮道，“少废话！这些坚果可能都坏了吧，真是要多硬有多硬啊！不管怎样我可是鼎鼎有名的公路大盗鼠！这些都归我了！”

Some ants came crawling along the road, and stopped with a somersault, for baring his teeth was the Highway Rat who bellowed a deafening, “Halt! Give me your sweets and your lollies. Give me your toffees and chews! For I’m the rat of the highway! The Highway! The highway! Yes, I’m the Rat of the Highway! And nobody dares to refuse.”

蚂蚁们从公路爬过，摔了个跟头停下了。原来，公路大盗鼠正龇着牙咧着嘴，发出震耳欲聋般的声音，“站住！交出你们的糖果和甜食，交出你们的奶糖和口香糖！我可是鼎鼎有名的公路大盗鼠！公路大盗鼠！公路大盗鼠！没错，我就是公路大盗鼠！没有人敢拒绝我。”

“We have no sweets,” the ants replied. “we just have this nice green leaf.” “Oh, no, you don’t! Not any more!” Declared the Highway thief,“This leaf is nasty and bitter. This leaf is as thin as can be. But I’m the rat of the highway, and this leaf belongs to me!”  

蚂蚁回答道，“可是我们没有甜食，只有一些新鲜的叶子。” “哦，天哪，只有这个！”公路大盗鼠说道，“这些叶子又苦又涩，真是要多薄有多薄！但不管怎样我可是鼎鼎有名的公路大盗鼠！这些叶子归我了！”

With never a “please” or “thank you”, the rat carried on in his way. Flies from a spider, milk from a cat… He once stole his own horse’s hay! The creatures who travelled the highway grew thinner and thinner and thinner, while the Highway Rat grew horribly fat from eating up everyone’s dinner!

大盗鼠从来不说“谢谢”和“请”，继续以它一贯的方式肆意横行。它抢过蜘蛛的苍蝇、猫的牛奶……甚至有一次还偷了自家马儿的干草！在公路上来来往往的动物们越来越瘦，而这只老鼠却因吃了他们的食物而变得越来越肥。

A duck came waddling along the road, then stopped with a “How do you do?” “I see you have nothing,” the rat complained, “In that case, I’ll have to eat you! I doubt if you’re terribly juicy. Most likely, your tough as can be. But I’m the rat of the highway. The Highway! The Highway! Yes, I’m the rat of the highway and I fancy a duck for tea!”

一只鸭子摇摇晃晃地走上公路，这时突然传来一声阴阳怪气的“你好啊！”，它停下了脚步。“我看你什么都没有，“老鼠抱怨道，”如果是这样的话，我就只好把你吃掉了！你尝起来肯定不太美味，可能要多难吃有多难吃！但不管怎样我可是鼎鼎有名的公路大盗鼠！公路大盗鼠！公路大盗鼠！没错，我就是公路大盗鼠！我喜欢拿鸭子做茶点。”

“Hang on!” quacked the duck, “for I have a sister with goodies you might prefer. I know that she’d love to meet you and I’m certain that you’d like her. For in her cave, her deep, dark cave, right at the top of the hill are biscuits and buns aplenty! And there you may eat your fill!” “Lead on!” cried the rat, and they took the road which seemed it would never end. Onwards they rode and upwards, bend after bend after bend.

鸭子嘎嘎地叫了一声：“等一下！我有一个姐姐，她那儿有你想吃的各种好东西。我相信她会很乐意见你，你也一定会喜欢她的。在山顶上她有一个又深又暗的洞穴，里面全是饼干小面包。你在那里可以大饱口福。公路大盗鼠大喊道，“快带路！”接着他们上路了，那条路仿佛漫无尽头，一会儿上坡一会儿下坡，拐过一个又一个弯。”

At last they came to a lonely cave and the duck began to quack. She quacked, “Good evening, sister! Sister! Sister!” And… “Sister! Sister! Sister!” a voice from the cave came back! 

最后他们终于抵达了一个幽僻的洞穴，鸭子开始喊道：“晚上好啊！姐姐！姐姐！姐姐！”然后…… “姐姐！姐姐！姐姐！”洞穴里传来了回应声。

“Do you have cakes and chocolates?” the Highway robber cried, and… “Chocolates! Chocolates! Chocolates!” The voice came from the cave replied. “I’m coming to take them!” the rat thief yelled. His greedy eyes grew round and… ”Take them! Take them! Take them!” came back the welcome sound. 

大盗鼠喊着，“你是不是有许许多多的蛋糕和巧克力！？” 然后……“巧克力！巧克力！巧克力！”洞穴里又传来这样的声音。” 大盗鼠又高声吼道,“那我要进去拿走！”他那贪婪的双眼瞪得圆滚滚的。 然后……“拿走！拿走！拿走！”洞穴里传来同样的回答声。

The Highway Rat leaped off his horse into the cave he strode. The duck took hold of the horse’s reins and galloped down the road. Faster, and ever faster, following all the bends, the plucky young duck went riding, riding, riding, galloping down the highway, back to her hungry friends. Then they share out the food from the saddlebags and feasted all night long.

公路大盗鼠跳下马背，大步流星地走进了洞穴。这时鸭子猛地握住马的缰绳，沿着公路飞驰而下。它越跑越快，越跑越快，绕过一个又一个弯。这只年轻勇敢的鸭子继续骑啊骑啊，快马加鞭穿过了公路，回到了那些饥肠辘辘的朋友身边。然后它们分享了马鞍包里所有的食物，美餐了一整晚。

Bright were the flames of the bonfires. Loud was the music and the song. Wild was the moonlight dancing. Merry the cheer and chat, for now they can live in freedom safe from the Highway Rat. 

篝火发出明亮的光芒，音乐和歌声嘹亮高昂，月光下它们欢快地跳起舞。大家开心地庆祝着交谈着，因为他们再也不用担心，从此过上自由安定的生活。

And what is the rat in the echoey cave? He shouted and wandered till he found his way out of the darkness, on the other side of the hill, a thinner and greyer and meeker Rat. He robs on the road no more, for he landed a job in a cake shop! A cake shop! A cake shop! And they say he still works in the cake shop, sweeping the cake shop floor.

那只困在回声洞穴里的老鼠怎么样了呢？他一路游走喊叫，最后终于在黑暗中找到了出去的路—不过，是山的另一边。此时它已经变得瘦削沧桑起来，也温顺了不少。他再也不在公路上抢劫，现在他在一家蛋糕店找到了工作！蛋糕店呀！蛋糕店呀！据说啊，他现在还在蛋糕店里打工，负责清扫地板垃圾呢。