14.1【精讲课】第3章 埃德蒙和魔衣柜（4）

本课为第3章 埃德蒙和魔衣柜第4部分。在该部分中初入纳尼亚的埃德蒙，遇到了一架驯鹿拉着的雪橇，并和雪橇的主人对话了。雪橇的主人是谁呢？他们又说了些什么……

CHAPTER 3

EDMUND AND THE WARDROBE

第3章 埃德蒙和魔衣柜（4）

     He looked round him again and decided he did not much like this place, and had almost made up his mind(决定) to go home, when he heard, very far off in the wood, a sound of bells. He listened and the sound came nearer and nearer(越来越近) and at last there swept into sight a sledge(雪橇) drawn(拖)  by two reindeer(驯鹿).  

    The reindeer were about the size of Shetland ponies(矮种马) and their hair was so white that even the snow hardly looked white compared with them; their branching(分叉) horns(角) were gilded(镀金) and shone like something on fire when the sunrise caught(照射) them. Their harness(挽具) was of scarlet leather and covered with bells. On the sledge, driving the reindeer, sat a fat dwarf who would have been about three feet(英尺) high if he had been standing. He was dressed in polar bear's fur and on his head he wore a red hood(风帽、兜帽) with a long gold tassel(流苏) hanging down from its point; his huge beard covered his knees and served him instead of a rug(毛毯). But behind him, on a much higher seat in the middle of the sledge sat a very different person - a great lady(贵妇人), taller than any woman that Edmund had ever seen. She also was covered in white fur up to her throat and held a long straight golden wand(魔杖) in her right hand and wore a golden crown(王冠) on her head. Her face was white - not merely pale, but white like snow or paper or icing-sugar(糖霜=<美>frosting), except for her very red mouth. It was a beautiful face in other respects, but proud and cold and stern(严厉).  

    The sledge was a fine sight as it came sweeping towards Edmund with the bells jingling(发出叮当声)and the dwarf cracking(使噼啪作响)  his whip and the snow flying up on each side of it.  

    "Stop!" said the Lady, and the dwarf pulled the reindeer up so sharp that they almost sat down. Then they recovered themselves and stood champing(咬着嚼头) their bits(嚼子) and blowing. In the frosty(严寒的) air the breath coming out of their nostrils(鼻孔) looked like smoke.  

    "And what, pray(请=please), are you?" said the Lady, looking hard at Edmund.  

    "I'm-I'm-my name's Edmund," said Edmund rather awkwardly(笨拙地). He did not like the way she looked at him.  

    The Lady frowned(皱眉), "Is that how you address(对……说话) a Queen?" she asked, looking sterner than ever.  

    "I beg your pardon, your Majesty(陛下), I didn't know," said Edmund: 

   "Not know the Queen of Narnia?" cried she. "Ha! You shall know us better hereafter(从此以后). But I repeat-what are you?"  

    "Please, your Majesty," said Edmund, "I don't know what you mean. I'm at school - at least I was it's the holidays now."