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"I shall go," he said to his wife. "I shall redeem my honor.
“我馬上就走，”他對他的妻子說，“我要去贖回我的名譽。
I shall return to Billings, the scene of my crime--a great city, teeming with life--"
我要回到比林斯，回到我的犯罪現場--一個很大的城市，充滿了生機--”
"We've heard that before," remarked his wife.
“這話我們早就聽過了，”他的妻子提醒道，
"Just take the money and the note and beat it for Billings as fast as you can go.
“帶著錢和便條盡快往比林斯撲扇你的翅膀就夠了。
And when you get there, for heavens' sakes be careful!
你到那里時一定要小心點，看在老天的份上！
The owner of that music store has a gun.
那個樂器店的店主有槍。
He will remember that the last time he saw a swan coming at him he got robbed.
他會想起眼瞅著一只撲向他的天鵝把他搶了的那一次的。
So watch yourself! You're on a dangerous mission."
所以你千萬要當心！你執行的可是一項危險的任務。”
"Danger!" said the old cob. "Danger! I welcome danger and adventure.
“危險！”老雄天鵝說，“危險！我愿意接受危險和冒險的挑戰。
Danger is my middle name. I would risk my life to redeem my honor and recapture my sense of decency.
危險是我的第二個名字。為了贖回我的名譽，為了尋回我那品行端正的感覺，我情愿拿我的生命冒險。
I shall pay my debt and blot out the foul mark that sullies my good name.
我要付清我的債務，洗去辱沒了我的美名的污點。
I shall rid myself forever of the shame that comes from thievery and wrongdoing. I shall--"
我要讓自己永遠不再蒙受偷盜和犯罪的恥辱。我要--”
"If you don't stop talking," said his wife, "you won't get to Billings before the stores close."
“如果你再不住口的話，”他的妻子說，“你在商店關門之前絕飛不到比林斯。”
"You are right, as usual," replied the cob. He adjusted the moneybag and the slate for flight.
“你說得對，像往常一樣，”雄天鵝回答。他擺正錢袋和石板的位置，準備起飛。
Then he took off into the air and headed toward the northeast, flying fast and high.
接著他飛到空中，又快又高地朝東北方向飛去。
His wife and son watched him until he faded from view.
他的妻子和兒子目送著他，直到他從視野中消失為止。
"What a swan!" said his wife. "You have a good father, Louis.
“一只多棒的天鵝！”他的妻子說，“你有個好爸爸，路易斯。
I hope nothing happens to him. To tell you the truth, I'm worried."
我希望他不會出什么事。實話告訴你吧，我真的很擔心。”
The old cob flew fast and far.
雄天鵝飛得又快又遠。
When he spied the churches and factories and shops and homes of Billings, he circled once,
當他瞥見比林斯的教堂，工廠，商店和住宅時，便兜了一圈兒，
then began his downward glide--straight for the music store.
然后才開始向下滑翔--直奔那家樂器店。
"My hour has come," he said to himself.
“我的時刻到來了，”他自語，
"My moment of truth is at hand.
“這是我的誠實即將得到證實的時刻。
I shall soon be out of debt,
我馬上就會無債一身輕，
out from under the cloud of shame and dishonor that has cast a shadow over my life for lo these many months."
遠離羞愧和恥辱在這些月里投射到我生命里的陰云了。”
