索菲·特纳 | 朗读诗歌《因为撒谎，最后被火烧》

Matilda, Who told Lies, and was Burned to Death

《因为撒谎，最后被火烧》

——by Hilaire Belloc

Matilda told such Dreadful Lies,

玛蒂尔达撒谎能把人吓得

It made one Gasp and Stretch one’s Eyes;

倒吸一口凉气、瞠目结舌。

Her Aunt, who, from her Earliest Youth,

她阿姨从她小的时候开始，

Had kept a Strict Regard for Truth,

就严格教导她做人要诚实，

Attempted to Believe Matilda:

同时也努力相信她会诚实：

The effort very nearly killed her,

这番信任差点害死她自己。

And would have done so, had not She

若非玛蒂尔达撒谎被发现，

Discovered this Infirmity.

她很有可能已经命丧黄泉。

For once, towards the Close of Day,

就是有一次，薄暮将临时，

Matilda, growing tired of play,

玛蒂尔达越玩越觉得烦腻，

And finding she was left alone,

突然发现身边无人在照看，

Went tiptoe to the Telephone

便蹑手蹑脚走到电话旁边，

And summoned the Immediate Aid

拨通尊贵的伦敦消防热线，

Of London’s Noble Fire-Brigade.

请求他们立刻派人来救援。

Within an hour the Gallant Band

一个小时不到英勇的队伍

Were pouring in on every hand,

全副武装从三方鱼贯而入：

From Putney, Hackney Downs and Bow,

帕特尼、哈克尼唐斯、柏瓦，

With Courage high and Hearts a-glow

雄纠纠气昂昂阵容很庞大。

They galloped, roaring through the Town,

他们疾速穿城，大声喊着，

“Matilda’s House is Burning Down!”

“玛蒂尔达的房子着火了！”

Inspired by British Cheers and Loud

人群一如往常高声地叫呼，

Proceeding from the Frenzied Crowd,

队伍的士气受到极大鼓舞。

They ran their ladders through a score

宴会舞厅有二十多个窗户，

Of windows on the Ball Room Floor;

他们爬上云梯从窗户进入；

And took Peculiar Pains to Souse

煞费苦心将整个房子里头

The Pictures up and down the House,

所有的画都来回浇到湿透；

Until Matilda’s Aunt succeeded

玛蒂尔达的阿姨解释好久，

In showing them they were not needed

才说服他们没有火要扑救，
And even then she had to pay

甚至还要自己掏腰包了事，

To get the Men to go away!

消防人员才肯从她家撤离。

It happened that a few Weeks later

恰巧没过几个星期的一天，

Her Aunt was off to the Theatre

她阿姨打算出发前往戏院

To see that Interesting Play

观看一场有趣的剧目表演，

The Second Mrs. Tanqueray.

剧目名叫《第二谭格瑞夫人》。

She had refused to take her Niece

她拒绝带上外甥女一起去

To hear this Entertaining Piece:

聆听这一出令人捧腹的戏：

A Deprivation Just and Wise

她的决定有合理明智之处，

To Punish her for Telling Lies.

让外甥女尝撒谎受罚之苦。

That Night a Fire did break out—

当天晚上她家确实着了火——

You should have heard Matilda Shout!

你们应该有听到她在大吼！

You should have heard her Scream and Bawl,

应该有听到她在尖叫号哭，

And throw the window up and call

甚至拉起了她们家的窗户，

To People passing in the Street—

对着路上的行人请求援助——

(The rapidly increasing Heat

（因为极速猛升的温度

Encouraging her to obtain

逼迫她必须努力赢得大家

Their confidence)—but all in vain!

信任）——但一切都白搭！

For every time She shouted “Fire!”

每次她大声喊：“失火了！”

They only answered “Little Liar!”

他们都只回答：“小骗子！”

And therefore when her Aunt returned,

因此，等到她阿姨把家回，

Matilda, and the House, were Burned.

玛蒂尔达和房子已烧成灰。

译者不详