评论
打印
But Toad knew his man, so he sat down and made the best breakfast he could, merely observing to himself that he would get square with the others sooner or later.
蟾蜍深知他的为人，只好坐下来，凑合着吃一顿算了，只是暗自嘟囔着，早晚要跟他们算帐。
When he had nearly finished, the Badger looked up and remarked rather shortly:
他快吃完时，獾抬起头来，简短地说：
“I’m sorry, Toad, but I’m afraid there’s a heavy morning’s work in front of you. You see, we really ought to have a Banquet at once, to celebrate this affair. It’s expected of you--in fact, it’s the rule.”
“对不起，蟾蜍，不过今天上午你恐怕会有好些活要干。你瞧，咱们应该马上举行一次宴会，来庆祝这件大事。这事必须你来办，这是规矩。”
“O, all right!” said the Toad, readily.
“嗯，好吧！”蟾蜍欣然答道。
“Anything to oblige. Though why on earth you should want to have a Banquet in the morning I cannot understand.
“只要你高兴，一切遵命。只是我不明白，举行宴会为什么非得在上午不可。
But you know I do not live to please myself, but merely to find out what my friends want, and then try and arrange it for ’em, you dear old Badger!”
不过，我这个人活着，不是为自己过得快活，而只是为了知道朋友们需要什么，尽力去满足他们，你这亲爱的老獾头哟！”
“Don’t pretend to be stupider than you really are,” replied the Badger, crossly; “and don’t chuckle and splutter in your coffee while you’re talking; it’s not manners.
“别装傻了，”獾不高兴地说。“而且，不要一边说话，一边把咖啡嘬得吱吱喳喳响，这不礼貌。
What I mean is, the Banquet will be at night, of course, but the invitations will have to be written and got off at once, and you’ve got to write ’em.”
我是说，宴会当然要在晚上举行，可是请柬得马上写好发出去，这就得由你来办。”
“Now, sit down at that table--there’s stacks of letter-paper on it, with ‘Toad Hall’ at the top in blue and gold--and write invitations to all our friends, and if you stick to it we shall get them out before luncheon.
“现在就坐到那张书桌前，桌上有一叠信笺，信笺上印有蓝色和金色的‘蟾宫’字样，给咱们所有的朋友写邀请信。要是你不停地写，那么在午饭前，咱们就能把信发出去。
And I’ll bear a hand, too; and take my share of the burden. I’ll order the Banquet.”
我也要帮忙，分担部分劳务，宴会由我来操办。”
“What!” cried Toad, dismayed.
“什么！”蟾蜍苦着脸说。
“Me stop indoors and write a lot of rotten letters on a jolly morning like this, when I want to go around my property, and set everything and everybody to rights, and swagger about and enjoy myself!
“这么美好的早晨，要我关在屋里写一堆劳什子的信！我想在我的庄园里四处转转，整顿整顿所有的东西、所有的人，摆摆架子，痛快痛快！
Certainly not! I’ll be--I’ll see you----Stop a minute, though! Why, of course, dear Badger!”
不干！我要，我要看……不过，等一等，当然我要干，亲爱的獾！”
“What is my pleasure or convenience compared with that of others! You wish it done, and it shall be done.
“我自己的快乐或方便，比起别人的快乐和方便，又算得了什么！既然你要我这么办，我照办就是。
Go, Badger, order the Banquet, order what you like; then join our young friends outside in their innocent mirth, oblivious of me and my cares and toils. I sacrifice this fair morning on the altar of duty and friendship!”
獾，你去筹备宴会吧，随你想预订什么菜都行。然后到外面去和我们的年轻朋友们一道说说笑笑，忘了我，忘了我的忧愁和劳苦吧！为了神圣的职责和友谊，我甘愿牺牲这美好的早晨！”
The Badger looked at him very suspiciously, but Toad’s frank, open countenance made it difficult to suggest any unworthy motive in this change of attitude.
獾疑惑地望着蟾蜍，可蟾蜍那直率坦诚的表情，很难使他想到这种突然转变的背后，会有什么不良的动机。
He quitted the room, accordingly, in the direction of the kitchen, and as soon as the door had closed behind him, Toad hurried to the writing-table.
于是他离开餐厅，向厨房走去。门刚关上，蟾蜍就急忙奔书桌去。
A fine idea had occurred to him while he was talking.
刚才说话时，他想到了一个好主意。
He would write the invitations; and he would take care to mention the leading part he had taken in the fight, and how he had laid the Chief Weasel flat;
他一定要写邀请信，一定不忘提到他在那场战斗中所起的主导作用，提到他怎样把黄鼠狼头子打翻在地；
And he would hint at his adventures, and what a career of triumph he had to tell about;
他还要略略提到他的历险，他那战无不胜的经历，有多少可说的呀。
And on the fly-leaf he would set out a sort of a programme of entertainment for the evening--something like this, as he sketched it out in his head: --
在请柬的空白页上，他还要开列晚宴的余兴节目。他在脑子里打着这样一个腹稿：
SPEECH. . . . BY TOAD. (There will be other speeches by TOAD during the evening.) ADDRESS. . . BY TOAD
《讲演》——蟾蜍作 （晚宴期间，蟾蜍还要作其他讲话）《致词》
SYNOPSIS--Our Prison System--the Waterways of Old England--Horse-dealing, and how to deal--Property, its rights and its duties--Back to the Land--A Typical English Squire.
《学术报告》——我们的监狱制度——古老英国的水道——马匹交易及其方法——财产、产权与义务——荣归故里典型的英国乡绅。
SONG. . . . BY TOAD. (Composed by himself.) OTHER COMPOSITIONS.
《歌曲》（本人自编）《其他歌曲》
BY TOAD will be sung in the course of the evening by the. . . COMPOSER.
在晚宴期间由词曲作者本人演唱。
