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When all this had been pleasantly settled, Caspian ordered horses, of which there were a few in the castle, though very ill-groomed and he, with Bern and Drinian and a few others, rode out into the town and made for the slave market.
等到这一切都解决之后, 凯斯宾就下令备马。城堡里倒有几匹马, 但喂养得不好, 他和伯恩、德里宁还有三两个人骑上马, 进城直奔向奴隶市场。
It was a long low building near the harbour and the scene which they found going on inside was very much like any other auction;that is to say, there was a great crowd and Pug, on a platform, was roaring out in a raucous voice:
市场是港口附近一排长长的矮房, 他们看到里面的情景跟其他拍卖行差不多：里面有一大批人, 普格在平台上, 正在用沙哑的嗓子大声吆喝：
"Now, gentlemen, lot twenty-three. Fine Terebinthian agricultural labourer, suitable for the mines or the galleys.
"嗨, 先生们, 二十三号货。特里宾西亚的庄稼好手, 适合开矿或船上划桨。
Under twenty-five years of age. Not a bad tooth in his head. Good, brawny fellow. Take off his shirt, Tacks, and let the gentlemen see.
不到二十五岁, 一嘴好牙, 身体健康, 肌肉结实。脱掉他的衬衫, 塔克斯, 让诸位先生看看。
There's muscle for you !Look at the chest on him. Ten crescents from the gentleman in the corner. You must be joking, sir. Fifteen ! Eighteen ! Eighteen is bidden for lot twenty-three. Any advance on eighteen ?Twenty-one. Thank you, sir. Twenty-one is bidden--"
一身肌肉!瞧他的胸膛。角落那位先生出十个月牙。你一定是在开玩笑吧, 阁下。十五!十八! 有人出价十八买二十三号。还有谁加价?二十一。谢谢你, 阁下。出二十……"
But Pug stopped and gaped when he saw the mail-clad figures who had clanked up to the platform.
普格看见披着铠甲的人, 哐当作响地走向他, 顿时停了下来, 哑口无声。
"On your knees, every man of you, to the King of Narnia, "said the Duke.
"所有人都给纳尼亚国王跪下。"公爵说。
Everyone heard the horses jingling and stamping outside and many had heard some rumour of the landing and the events at the castle. Most obeyed.
大家听到外面的马蹄声, 一些人也听到了国王登陆的传说和城堡里的大事, 所以多数人都听从了。
Those who did not were pulled down by their neighbours. Some cheered.
一些不肯听从的人, 也都被身边的人拖住跪下了, 有几个人还在欢呼。
"Your life is forfeit, Pug, for laying hands on our royal person yesterday, "said Caspian.
"普格, 昨天你抓了王室成员, 本来是要偿命的, "凯斯宾说,
"But your ignorance is pardoned. The slave trade was forbidden in all our dominions quarter of an hour ago. I declare every slave in this market free. "
"不过我决定原谅你的无知。在一刻钟前, 本国所有领土都已经禁止买卖奴隶。我在此宣布奴隶市场的每一个奴隶从此自由了。"
He held up his hand to check the cheering of the slaves and went on, "Where are my friends ?"
他举起手示意不让奴隶们欢呼, 问道："我的朋友现在在哪里呢?"
"That dear little gel and the nice young gentleman ?"said Pug with an ingratiating smile. "Why, they were snapped up at once--"
"是那个小姑娘和长相英俊的小少爷吗?"普格一脸讨好地笑着说, "哎呀, 刚把他们带来就被买走了。"
"We're here, we're here, Caspian, "cried Lucy and Edmund together and, "At your service, Sire, "piped Reepicheep from another corner.
"我们在这儿, 我们在这儿, 凯斯宾!"露茜和爱德蒙一齐叫道。"随时听命, 陛下!"雷佩契普从另一个角落里叫道。
They had all been sold but the men who had bought them were staying to bid for other slaves and so they had not yet been taken away.
他们本来已经被卖掉了, 买主还想开价再买几个奴隶, 所以还没带走他们。
The crowd parted to let the three of them out and there was great hand--clasping and greeting between them and Caspian.
三个人走出人群, 同凯斯宾紧紧握手, 相互问候。
Two merchants of Calormen at once approached. The Calormen have dark faces and long beards.
两个卡乐门的商人也立刻走上前。卡乐门人长着深色脸庞, 留着长胡子。
They wear flowing robes and orange-coloured turbans, and they are a wise, wealthy, courteous, cruel and ancient people.
他们是聪明、富裕、谦恭和强悍的古老民族。他们穿着长袍, 扎着橙红色头巾,
They bowed most politely to Caspian and paid him long compliments, all about the fountains of prosperity irrigating the gardens of prudence and virtue--and things like that--but of course what they wanted was the money they had paid.
极其恭敬地向凯斯宾鞠躬, 对他说了许许多多恭维的话, 无外乎是那些繁荣昌盛的源泉灌溉出贤明和德行的花园的话----以及类似的话----不过他们的目的当然是想拿回付出的那笔钱。
"That is only fair, sirs, "said Caspian.
"为了公平起见, 各位, "凯斯宾说,
"Every man who has bought a slave today must have his money back. Pug, bring out your takings to the last minim. "(A minim is the fortieth part of a crescent. )
"今天买下奴隶的人个个都必须收回钱。普格, 把你拿到的钱都拿出来, 一滴滴都不能留。"( 四十个滴滴等于一个月牙)
"Does your good Majesty mean to beggar me ?"whined Pug.
"陛下存心要把我变成穷光蛋吗?"普格哭诉道。
"You have lived on broken hearts all your life, "said Caspian, "and if you are beggared, it is better to be a beggar than a slave. But where is my other friend ?"
"你这辈子一直在靠干这些伤天害理的勾当过日子, "凯斯宾说, "即使变成了穷光蛋, 也比做个奴隶强。我另外一个朋友在哪儿?"
"Oh him ?"said Pug. "Oh take him and welcome. Glad to have him off my hands. I've never seen such a drug in the market in all my born days.
"哦, 他吗?"普格说, "唉, 欢迎把他领回去。我巴不得把他脱手呢。我有生以来, 第一次在市场里遇见这么个卖不掉的货。
Priced him at five crescents in the end and even so nobody'd have him.
最后把他定价五个月牙, 这么低的价还是没人要。
Threw him in free with other lots and still no one would have him. Wouldn't touch him. Wouldn't look at him. Packs, bring out Sulky. "
我把他跟其他的货搭配白送, 还是没人要, 别人看都不愿看他一眼。塔克斯, 把那个倒霉鬼带来。"
Thus Eustace was produced, and sulky he certainly looked; for though no one would want to be sold as a slave, it is perhaps even more galling to be a sort of utility slave whom no one will buy.
尤斯塔斯哭丧着脸出来了。虽然没人愿意被别人当奴隶卖掉, 不过成了没人愿意买的奴隶, 也许更让人恼火。
