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And we'd as soon not talk to strangers about our business, if you don't mind. Shall we have a little rain soon, do you think?"
我们不想和陌生人说私事，如果你不介意的话。你看，一会儿会下点雨吗？”
The Lady laughed: the richest, most musical laugh you can imagine. "Well, children," she said, "you have a wise, solemn old guide with you.
女士笑了。那声音是你能想象得到的最饱满、最悦耳的笑声。“好吧，孩子们。”她说，“你们的老向导又机智又严肃。
I think none the worse of him for keeping his own counsel, but I'll be free with mine. I have often heard the name of the giantish City Ruinous, but never met any who would tell me the way thither. This road leads to the burgh and castle of Harfang, where dwell the gentle giants.
他保守秘密没什么不对，但我还是想谈谈我的看法。我曾经听说过巨人废城，但从没人告诉过我怎么才能到那儿。这条路将通往城镇，到达哈尔方城堡，那里的巨人都非常友好。
They are as mild, civil, prudent, and courteous as those of Ettinsmoor are foolish, fierce, savage, and given to all beastliness.
他们性情温和，礼貌待人，头脑清楚，真是和艾斯汀荒原上那帮家伙有天壤之别，那些东西既愚蠢暴虐，又野蛮成性。
And in Harfang you may or may not hear tidings of the City Ruinous, but certainly you shall find good lodgings and merry hosts.
在哈尔方城堡，你也许打听不到关于废城的消息，但你们一定会得到热情的招待，住宿条件也蛮不错的。
You would be wise to winter there, or, at the least, to tarry certain days for your ease and refreshment. There you shall have steaming baths, soft beds, and bright hearths; and the roast and the baked and the sweet and the strong will be on the table four times in a day."
在那里过冬是个不错的选择，或者至少，你们也能在那休整几天，补充点食物，放松一下。你们可以痛快地洗个澡，睡软和的床，还有温暖的壁炉，一天四顿饭煎炒烹炸烤，甜的咸的一样儿不少。”
"I say!" exclaimed Scrubb. "That's something like! Think of sleeping in a bed again." "Yes, and having a hot bath," said Jill. "Do you think they'll ask us to stay? We don't know them, you see."
“嘿！”斯库波欢呼道，“太好了！我们又能在床上睡觉了。”“对啊，还有热水澡。”吉尔说，“你认为他们会让我们住下来吗？我们不认识他们啊。”
"Only tell them," answered the Lady, "that She of the Green Kirtle salutes them by you, and has sent them two fair Southern children for the Autumn Feast."
“你只需告诉他们，”女士说，“绿衣女神派你们去向他们致意，给他们送来两个南方小孩参加秋宴就行了。”
"Oh, thank you, thank you ever so much," said Jill and Scrubb. "But have a care,"said the Lady.
“谢谢你，非常感谢。”吉尔和斯库波异口同声地说。
"On whatever day you reach Harfang, that you come not to the door too late. For they shut their gates a few hours after noon, and it is the custom of the castle that they open to none when once they have drawn the bolt, how hard so ever he knock."
“但要记住一件事，”女士说，“无论你们哪天到达哈尔方城堡，都不要太晚去敲门。因为他们在中午过后的几个小时就关门谢客了。城堡的传统是一旦门被锁上，无论怎么敲门也不开了。”
The children thanked her again, with shining eyes, and the Lady waved to them. The Marsh-wiggle took off his steeple-hat and bowed very stiffly.
孩子们再次感谢了她，他俩激动得两眼放光，女士也朝他们挥挥手。沼泽人摘下那顶尖尖的帽子，僵硬地鞠了个躬。
Then the silent Knight and the Lady started walking their horses up the slope of the bridge with a great clatter of hoofs.
女士和那位沉默的骑士驱马上桥，留下一阵“咯咯”的马蹄声。
"Well!" said Puddleglum. "I'd give a good deal to know where she's coming from and where she's going. Not the sort you expect to meet in the wilds of Giantland, is she?Up to no good, I'll be bound."
“好吧！”帕德格莱姆说，“真想知道她是从哪儿来的，现在又打算去哪儿。在巨人住的地方怎么会遇到他们呢，你们不觉得奇怪吗？她肯定不怀好意。我敢保证。”
"Oh rot!" said Scrubb. "I thought she was simply super. And think of hot meals and warm rooms. I do hope Harfang isn't a long way off."
“哦，讨厌！”斯库波说，“我认为她就是单纯的好心。想象一下热乎乎的佳肴和温暖的房间。我真希望哈尔方城堡离这儿不远。”
"Same here," said Jill. "And hadn't she a scrumptious dress. And the horse!" "All the same," said Puddleglum, "I wish we knew a bit more about her."
“我同意。”吉尔说，“你没看见她那条漂亮裙子吗？还有那匹马！”“那有什么。”帕德格莱姆说，“我只希望我们能多知道点儿关于她的事。”
"I was going to ask her all about herself," said Jill. "But how could I when you wouldn't tell her anything about us?"
“我正想亲自问她呢。”吉尔说，“但你根本不让我告诉她关于我们的事，这样她怎么能告诉我们她自己的事呢？”
"Yes," said Scrubb. "And why were you so stiff and unpleasant. Didn't you like them?" "Them? " said the wiggle."Who's them? I only saw one." "Didn't you see the Knight?" asked Jill.
“对啊。”斯库波说，“你为什么表情那么僵硬，而且还老大不高兴的？你不喜欢他们吗？”“他们？”沼泽人说，“谁是他们？我只看到一个人。”“你没看到那位骑士吗？”吉尔问。
"I saw a suit of armour," said Puddleglum. "Why didn't he speak?"
“我只看到一副盔甲。”帕德格莱姆说，“他为何一言不发呢？”
"I expect he was shy," said Jill. "Or perhaps he just wants to look at her and listen to her lovely voice. I'm sure I would if I was him."
“应该是害羞吧。”吉尔说，“没准儿骑士只想看着那位美女，聆听她的甜美嗓音。如果我是他的话，我肯定也会这么做的。”
"I was wondering," remarked Puddleglum, "what you'd really see if you lifted up the visor of that helmet and looked inside."
“我在想，”帕德格莱姆开始发表议论，“揭开他头盔上的面甲我们会看到什么。”
"Hang it all," said Scrubb. "Think of the shape of the armour! What could be inside it except a man?"
“岂有此理。”斯库波说，“你瞧瞧那盔甲的形状！除了人里面还能装下什么？”
"How about a skeleton?" asked the Marsh-wiggle with ghastly cheerfulness. "Or perhaps,"he added as an afterthought, "nothing at all. I mean, nothing you could see. Someone invisible."
“有可能是骷髅呢！”沼泽人说，他显得很兴奋，但那兴奋中透着种恐怖。“或者也许，”他想了想又说道，“里面什么都没有，是个隐形人。”
"Really, Puddleglum," said Jill with a shudder, "you do have the most horrible ideas. How do you think of them all?"
“真的吗，帕德格莱姆。”吉尔打了个寒战，“你的想法总是恐怖得要命。你到底是怎么看待他们的？”
"Oh, bother his ideas!" said Scrubb. "He's always expecting the worst, and he's always wrong. Let's think about those Gentle Giants and get on to Harfang as quickly as we can. I wish I knew how far it is."
“哦，别理他！”斯库波说，“他总往最坏处想，并且一次也没猜对过。我们还是想想那帮友好的巨人们，然后尽快出发去哈尔方城堡吧。真想知道它离这儿有多远。”
