評(píng)論
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One morning, as the charlatan and the foolish King were twirling their twigs, and hopping in circles, and chanting meaningless rhymes, a loud cackling reached the King's ears.
一天早晨，當(dāng)江湖騙子和愚蠢的國王正在揮舞他們的樹枝，繞著圈子蹦來蹦去，嘴里念著一些毫無意義的詩文時(shí)，一陣呱呱大笑傳進(jìn)了國王的耳朵。
Babbitty the washerwoman was watching the King and the charlatan from the window of her tiny cottage, and was laughing so hard she soon sank out of sight, too weak to stand.
洗衣婦巴比蒂正從小茅屋的窗口注視著國王和江湖騙子，她笑得太厲害了，由于站都站不住，很快就從窗口消失了。
“I must look most undignified, to make the old washerwoman laugh so!” said the King.
“我肯定顯得特別不莊重，才讓洗衣服的老太婆笑成那副樣子！”國王說。
He ceased his hopping and twig twirling, and frowned.
他停止了蹦蹦跳跳和揮舞樹枝，皺起了眉頭。
“I grow weary of practice! When shall I be ready to perform real spells in front of my subjects, Sorcerer?”
“我已經(jīng)厭倦了練習(xí)！我什么時(shí)候才能在我的臣民面前表演真正的咒語呢，魔法師？”
The charlatan tried to soothe his pupil, assuring him that he would soon be capable of astonishing feats of magic, but Babbitty's cackling had stung the foolish King more than the charlatan knew.
江湖騙子試圖安慰他的學(xué)生，保證說他很快就能做出驚人的魔法技藝，可是江湖騙子不知道，巴比蒂的呱呱笑聲已經(jīng)深深刺痛了愚蠢的國王。
“Tomorrow,” said the King, “we shall invite our court to watch their King perform magic!”
“明天，”國王說，“我們將邀請所有的朝臣來觀看國王表演魔法！
The charlatan saw that the time had come to take his treasure and flee.
江湖騙子知道卷款逃跑的時(shí)候到了。
“Alas, Your Majesty, it is impossible! I had forgotten to tell Your Majesty that I must set out on a long journey tomorrow –”
“哎呀，陛下，這是不可能的！我忘記告訴陛下我明天必須出趟遠(yuǎn)門——”
“If you leave this palace without my permission, Sorcerer, my Brigade of Witch-Hunters will hunt you down with their hounds!
“如果你不經(jīng)我的允許擅自離開宮殿，魔法師，我的女巫追捕小分隊(duì)就會(huì)用他們的獵狗追蹤你！
Tomorrow morning you will assist me to perform magic for the benefit of my lords and ladies, and if anybody laughs at me, I shall have you beheaded!”
明天早晨你必須協(xié)助我為我的王公貴族們表演魔法；如果有人嘲笑我，我就砍掉你的頭！”
The King stormed back to the palace, leaving the charlatan alone and afraid.
國王氣沖沖地回宮殿去了，留下了驚慌失措的江湖騙子獨(dú)自一人。
Not all his cunning could save him now, for he could not run away, nor could he help the King with magic that neither of them knew.
現(xiàn)在他所有的奸詐狡猾都救不了他了，他沒法逃跑，也沒法幫助國王表演他們倆都不會(huì)的魔法。
Seeking a vent for his fear and his anger, the charlatan approached the window of Babbitty the washerwoman.
為了發(fā)泄他的恐懼和憤怒，江湖騙子走到了洗衣婦巴比蒂的窗口。
Peering inside, he saw the little old lady sitting at her table, polishing a wand.
他往里面窺視著，看見小老太婆正坐在桌邊擦拭一根魔杖。
In a corner behind her, the King's sheets were washing themselves in a wooden tub.
在她身后的角落里，國王的床單正在一個(gè)木桶里自動(dòng)清洗著。
The charlatan understood at once that Babbitty was a true witch, and that she who had given him his awful problem could also solve it.
江湖騙子立刻明白了巴比蒂是一個(gè)真正的女巫，她給他帶來了可怕的麻煩，但同時(shí)也能使他化險(xiǎn)為夷。
“Crone!” roared the charlatan. “Your cackling has cost me dear!
“干癟的老太婆！”江湖騙子咆哮著說，“你的呱呱大笑讓我吃了大虧！
If you fail to help me, I shall denounce you as a witch, and it will be you who is torn apart by the King's hounds!”
如果你不能幫助我，我就揭發(fā)你是一個(gè)女巫，到時(shí)候被國王的獵狗撕成碎片的就是你了！”
Old Babbitty smiled at the charlatan and assured him that she would do everything in her power to help.
老巴比蒂笑瞇瞇地看著江湖騙子，向他保證自己會(huì)盡全力幫助他。
The charlatan instructed her to conceal herself inside a bush while the King gave his magical display, and to perform the King's spells for him, without his knowledge.
江湖騙子吩咐她在國王表演魔法時(shí)藏在灌木叢里，替國王完成所有的咒語，但不能讓國王知道。
Babbitty agreed to the plan but asked one question.
巴比蒂同意了這個(gè)計(jì)劃，但是問了一個(gè)問題。
“What, sir, if the King attempts a spell Babbitty cannot perform?”
“先生，如果國王想施一個(gè)我不會(huì)的魔法怎么辦呢？”
The charlatan scoffed. “Your magic is more than equal to that fool's imagination,” he assured her, and he retired to the castle, well pleased with his own cleverness.
江湖騙子嗤之以鼻。“你的魔法完全對付得了那個(gè)傻瓜的想象力。”他向她保證后便回城堡了，并為自己的聰明沾沾自喜。
