The following morning all the lords and ladies of the kingdom assembled in the palace grounds.
第二天早晨,王國里所有的王公貴族都聚集在宮殿的庭院里。
The King climbed on to a stage in front of them, with the charlatan by his side.
國王登上了他們面前的一個舞臺,江湖騙子站在他身邊。
“I shall firstly make this lady's hat disappear!” cried the King, pointing his twig at a noble- woman.
“首先,我要讓這位女士的帽子消失!”國王用他的樹枝指著一個貴婦人,大聲說道。
From inside a bush nearby, Babbitty pointed her wand at the hat and caused it to vanish.
從旁邊的灌木叢里,巴比蒂用她的魔杖一指那頂帽子,讓帽子消失了。
Great was the astonishment and admiration of the crowd, and loud their applause for the jubilant King.
觀眾們非常驚訝,贊不絕口,并為歡欣鼓舞的國王大聲喝彩。
“Next, I shall make that horse fly!” cried the King, pointing his twig at his own steed.
“接著,我要讓那匹馬飛起來!”國王用他的樹枝指著自己的坐騎,大聲說道。
From inside the bush, Babbitty pointed her wand at the horse and it rose high into the air.
在灌木叢中,巴比蒂用她的魔杖一指那匹馬,馬就高高地升上了的天空。
The crowd was still more thrilled and amazed, and they roared their appreciation of their magical King.
觀眾們更加興奮詫異,大聲地表達著他們對有著高超魔力的國王的欣賞。
“And now,” said the King, looking all around for an idea; and the Captain of his Brigade of Witch-Hunters ran forwards.
“現在——”國王說著環顧四周打著主意。這時女巫追捕小分隊的隊長跑上前來。
“Your Majesty,” said the Captain, “this very morning, Sabre died of eating a poisonous toadstool! Bring him back to life, Your Majesty, with your wand!”
“陛下,”小隊長說,“就在今天早晨,沙伯吃了一個毒蘑菇死了!陛下,用您的魔杖,讓它起死回生吧!”
And the Captain heaved on to the stage the lifeless body of the largest of the witch-hunting hounds.
說著,那位隊長把追捕女巫小分隊的那條最大獵狗的尸體呈上了舞臺。
The foolish King brandished his twig and pointed it at the dead dog.
愚蠢的國王一揮他的樹枝,用它指著死狗。
But inside the bush, Babbitty smiled, and did not trouble to lift her wand, for no magic can raise the dead.
然而在灌木叢中,巴比蒂微微笑著,并沒有舉起她的魔杖,因為沒有一種魔法能夠起死回生。
When the dog did not stir, the crowd began first to whisper, and then to laugh.
看到死狗一動不動,人們起初開始竊竊私語,接著便大笑起來。
They suspected that the King's first two feats had been mere tricks after all.
他們懷疑國王的前兩個魔法只是變變戲法而已。
“Why doesn't it work?” the King screamed at the charlatan, who bethought himself of the only ruse left to him.
“為什么不管用?”國王沖著江湖騙子嚷道,江湖騙子想起了他僅存的一個詭計。
“There, Your Majesty, there!” he shouted, pointing at the bush where Babbitty sat concealed.
“你瞧,陛下,你瞧!”他指著巴比蒂隱藏的灌木喊道。
“I see her plain, a wicked witch who is blocking your magic with her own evil spells! Seize her, somebody, seize her!”
“我看得清清楚楚,一個邪惡的女巫用她邪惡的咒語擋住了您的魔法!”抓住她,來人,抓住她!”
Babbitty fled from the bush, and the Brigade of Witch-Hunters set off in pursuit, unleashing their hounds, who bayed for Babbitty's blood.
巴比蒂從灌木叢中逃了出來,女巫追捕小分隊立刻追了上去。他們放開那些獵狗,獵狗吠叫著追尋巴比蒂的氣味。
But as she reached a low hedge, the little witch vanished from sight, and when the King, the charlatan and all the courtiers gained the other side, they found the pack of witch-hunting hounds barking and scrabbling around a bent and aged tree.
可是當她跑到一片低矮的籬笆前,小個子女巫一下子就消失在了視線中,等國王、江湖騙子和所有的朝臣繞到籬笆另一邊時,發現那群追捕女巫的獵狗正圍著一顆彎彎曲曲的老樹狂吠、抓撓。
“She has turned herself into a tree!” screamed the charlatan and, dreading lest Babbitty turn back into a woman and denounce him, he added, “Cut her down, Your Majesty, that is the way to treat evil witches!”
“她把自己變成了一棵樹!”江湖騙子嚷道,惟恐巴比蒂變回女人后揭發他的真面目,便又說,“把她砍掉,陛下,就該這樣對付邪惡的女巫!”