3. The Warlock's Hairy Heart
3.《男巫的毛心臟》
There was once a handsome, rich and talented young warlock, who observed that his friends grew foolish when they fell in love, gambolling and preening, losing their appetites and their dignity.
從前,有一位英俊、富有、稟性聰慧的年輕男巫,他發現他的朋友們一旦陷入愛河就會變得愚蠢起來,開始嬉鬧打扮,失去了自己的品位和尊嚴。
The young warlock resolved never to fall prey to such weakness, and employed Dark Arts to ensure his immunity.
年輕的男巫打定主意絕不做這種意志薄弱的犧牲品,并利用黑魔法來加強自己的免疫力。
Unaware of his secret, the warlock's family laughed to see him so aloof and cold.
男巫的家人不知道他的秘密,看到他這么冷漠孤僻,都取笑他。
“All will change,” they prophesied, “when a maid catches his fancy!” But the young warlock's fancy remained untouched.
“一切都會改變的,”他們預言道,“等他的夢中情人出現之后!”可是,年輕男巫的心跡一直沒有任何觸動。
Though many a maiden was intrigued by his haughty mien, and employed her most subtle arts to please him, none succeeded in touching his heart.
盡管許多姑娘都被他高傲的風度所吸引,用盡各種微妙的技巧來討他的喜歡,但都沒能夠打動他的心。
The warlock gloried in his indifference and the sagacity that had produced it.
男巫為自己的冷漠以及冷漠背后的先見之明而沾沾自喜。
The first freshness of youth waned, and the warlock's peers began to wed, and then to bring forth children.
青春的最初階段過去了,男巫的同齡人都開始結婚,養兒育女了。
“Their hearts must be husks,” he sneered inwardly, as he observed the antics of the young parents around him, “shrivelled by the demands of these mewling offspring!”
“他們的心肯定都成了空殼,”看到周圍年輕父母們的滑稽行為,他暗自譏笑道,“被這些啼哭著的娃娃們弄得束手無策!”
And once again he congratulated himself upon the wisdom of his early choice.
他再一次慶幸自己之前做出的決定是多么英明。
In due course, the warlock's aged parents died.
后來,男巫年邁的雙親去世了。
Their son did not mourn them; on the contrary, he considered himself blessed by their demise.
男巫并不為此感到悲痛。相反,他認為他們的死是上天的賜福。
Now he reigned alone in their castle.
現在他一個人掌管著他們的城堡。
Having transferred his greatest treasure to the deepest dungeon, he gave himself over to a life of ease and plenty, his comfort the only aim of his many servants.
他把自己最重要的財富轉移到最深的地牢里,放任自己過著富足和安逸的生活,他的許多仆人都把讓他舒適當作他們唯一的工作目標。
The warlock was sure that he must be an object of immense envy to all who beheld his splendid and untroubled solitude.
男巫堅信不管誰看見他奢華而無憂無慮的獨居生活,肯定都會非常羨慕。
Fierce were his anger and chagrin, therefore, when he overheard two of his lackeys discussing their master one day.
因此,當他有一天無意中聽見兩個男仆談論主人時,他簡直怒不可揭。
The first servant expressed pity for the warlock who, with all his wealth and power, was yet beloved by nobody.
第一個男仆表示了對男巫的同情,認為他雖然有財富和權力,但至今沒有一個人愛過他。
But his companion jeered, asking why a man with so much gold and a palatial castle to his name had been unable to attract a wife.
可是他的同伴笑了起來,反問為何一個擁有這么多金子和宏偉城堡的男人卻沒能找到一位妻子。
Their words dealt dreadful blows to the listening warlock's pride.
男巫聽到后,自尊心受到了沉重的打擊。
He resolved at once to take a wife, and that she would be a wife superior to all others.
他立刻下定決心找一位妻子,而且她一定要比別人的妻子都優秀。
She would possess astounding beauty, exciting envy and desire in every man who beheld her; she would spring from magical lineage, so that their offspring would inherit outstanding magical gifts; and she would have wealth at least equal to his own, so that his comfortable existence would be assured, in spite of additions to his household.
她要擁有驚人的美貌,每個男人一看見她,內心都會激起愛慕和欲望。她要來自魔法家庭,這樣他們的子女將會繼承出色的魔法天賦。她還要擁有至少與他相當的財富,這樣,即使家里添了人口,他的舒適生活也能得到保障。