IX. Wilbur’s Boast

第九章　威尔伯的大话
　　A spider's web is stronger than it looks. Although it is made of thin, delicate strands, the web is not easily broken. However, a web gets torn every day by the insects that kick around in it, and a spider must rebuild it when it gets full of holes. Charlotte liked to do her weaving during the late afternoon, and Fern liked to sit nearby and watch. One afternoon she heard a most interesting conversation and witnessed a strange event.

　　蜘蛛网总是不像它的外表那样容易破，尽管它只是由一些纤细的，脆弱的线织成的，但并不是那么容易就会破的。然而，每天都会有昆虫撞上来，并且会在上面挣扎一番，蜘蛛网也会变得破损，因此，当网上到处都是破洞时，蜘蛛就要开始修补自己的网了。夏洛蒂通常在下午晚一点的时候做它的修补工作，这时，弗恩就会坐在旁边，看着它补网。一天下午，她听到一段非常有趣的谈话，还见证了一件不平常的事件。

　　“You have awfully hairy legs, Charlotte,” said Wilbur, as the spider busily worked at her task.

　　“你的腿上长满了毛，夏洛蒂。”威尔伯对正忙着补网的蜘蛛着说。
　　“My legs are hairy for a good reason,” replied Charlotte. “Furthermore, each leg of mine has seven sections—the coxa, the trochanter, the femur, the patella, the tibia, the metatarsus, and the tarsus.”

　　“我可以给你一个很好的解释。”夏洛蒂回答它说；“首先，我的每一条腿都由七个部分组成——髋关节，转子，股骨，髌骨，胫骨，蹠骨和跗关节。”
　　Wilbur sat bolt upright, “You’re kidding,” he said.

　　威尔伯听了猛得站了起来：“你在开玩笑吧。”他说。
　　“No, I’m not, either.”

　　“不，当然不是。我是说真的。”
　　“Say those names again, I didn't catch them the first time.”

　　“再说一遍那些名字，我没听清楚。”
　　“Coxa, trochanter, femur, patella, tibia, metatarsus, and tarsus.”

　　“髋关节，转子，股骨，髌骨，胫骨，蹠骨和跗关节。”

　“Goodness!” said Wilbur, looking down at his own chubby legs. “I don’t think my legs have seven sections.”

　　“天啦。”威尔伯说，向下看了看自己又粗又短的腿：“我想我的肯定没有那么多。”
　　“Well,” said Charlotte, “you and I lead different lives. You don't have to spin a web. That takes real leg work.”

　　“嗯，你我的生活方式不同，你不用编网，那可完全得靠腿来工作。”夏洛蒂说。
　　“I could spin a web if I tried,” said Wilbur, boasting. “I've just never tried.”

　　“如果我尝试的话，我肯定能编成一张网的。”威尔伯说着大话：“我只是从来没有试过而已。”
　　“Let’s see you do it,” said Charlotte. Fern chuckled softly, and her eyes grew wide with love for the pig.

　　“好吧，那我们就等着你尝试。”夏洛蒂说。弗恩轻轻的笑了，她的眼睛张得很大，充满了对小猪的爱。
　　“O.K.,” replied Wilbur. “You coach me and I'll spin one. It must be a lot of fun to spin a web. How do I start?”

　　“好吧，你教我，我会织出一张网的。织网肯定是很愉快的一份工作。我该怎么开始呢？”
　　“Take a deep breath!” said Charlotte, smiling. Wilbur breathed deeply. “Now climb to the highest place you can get to, like this.” Charlotte raced up to the top of the doorway. Wilbur scrambled to the top of the manure pile.

　　“先深深的呼吸一口气。”夏洛蒂微笑着说，威尔伯跟着深深的吸气。

　　“现在，爬到你能爬到的最高的地方，看，就像这样。”夏洛蒂跑到了门口的最上方。威尔伯则踉踉跄跄的跑上了干粪堆的顶端。
　　“Very good!” said Charlotte. “Now make an attachment with your spinnerets, hurl yourself into space, and let out a dragline as you go down!”

　　“非常好。”夏洛蒂说：“现在，用你的纱盘吸住，狠狠的把自已抛向空中，掉下来的时候放出一条线来。”
     Wilbur hesitated a moment, then jumped out into the air. He glanced hastily behind to see if a piece of rope was following him to check his fall, but nothing seemed to be happening in his rear, and the next thing he knew he landed with a thump. “Ooomp!” he grunted.

　　威尔伯犹豫了一会儿，然后跳入空气中。跳起身时，它飞快的朝自己身后看了一眼，看是否有一条线在它的身后跟着它落地。但是，什么都没有，然后，它就摔倒在地了。“嗯哼哼。。”它痛得直哼哼。

The pig walked out to his yard. “You there, Templeton?” he called. The rat poked his head out from under the trough.

　　威尔伯跑出栏去：“你在那里吗？邓普利顿？”邓普利顿从食槽下面探出鼻子。
　　“Got a little piece of string I could borrow?” asked Wilbur. “I need it to spin a web.”

　　“有没有一条细线可以借给我？”威尔伯问道：“我需要它来编一张网。”
　　“Yes, indeed,” replied Templeton, who saved string. “No trouble at all. Any thing to oblige.” He crept down into his hole, pushed the goose egg out of the way, and returned with an old piece of dirty white string. Wilbur examined it.

　　“是的，我有。”邓普利顿说，它真的攒了线在自己的窝里。“没关系，你拿去吧，这是我的义务。”它潜回自己的洞穴，把那个坏鹅蛋推到一边，然后，拿着一条又旧又脏的白线出来了。威尔伯仔细检查了那条线。
　　“That’s just the thin,” he said. “Tie one end to my tail, will you, Templeton?”

　　“嗯，大小刚好合适。”它说。“邓普利顿，你可以帮忙把它的一头拴在我的尾巴上吗？”
　　Wilbur crouched low, with his thin, curly tail toward the rat. Templeton seized the string, passed it around the end of the pig's tail, and tied two half hitches. Charlotte watched in delight. Like Fern, she was truly fond of Wilbur, whose smelly pen and stale food attracted the flies that she needed, and she was proud to see that he was not a quitter and was willing to try again to spin a web.

　　威尔伯蹲了下来，把它小小的，打着卷儿的尾巴朝着那只老鼠。邓普利顿抓起那条线，把它绕过小猪尾巴的一头，打了两个套儿。夏洛蒂高兴的看着这一切，跟弗恩一样，她非常喜爱威尔伯，喜爱它那带了馊味的食槽和满是泔水有食物，它们会吸引她赖以为生的苍蝇过来，而且她会非常自豪，因为威尔伯并没有轻易放弃，它愿意再试一次，来编成一张网。
　　While the rat and the spider and the little girl watched, Wilbur climbed again to the top of the manure pile, full of energy and hope.

　　在邓普利顿，弗恩和夏洛蒂的眼光中，威尔伯再次爬上了干粪堆的顶端，充满了希望的力量。
　　“Everybody watch!” he cried. And summoning all his strength, he threw himself into the air, headfirst. The string trailed behind him. But as he had neglected to fasten the other end to anything, it didn't really do any good, and Wilbur landed with a thud, crushed and hurt. Tears came to his eyes. Templeton grinned. Charlotte just sat quietly. After a bit she spoke.

　　“各位，看着吧。”它叫道。然后集聚了自己所有的力气，把身体抛向空中，当然，是头朝上的。那条绳子在它的身后晃荡着。但是，由于它没有把绳子的另一头固定起来，绳子似乎并没有什么帮助，接着，它重重的摔在了地上，受伤了。它因为疼痛而流泪了，邓普利顿看到它狼狈的样子，咧开嘴笑了，但夏洛蒂只是静静坐着，看着这一切，过了一会儿，她才开口说话。

“You can’t spin a web, Wilbur, and I advise you to put the idea out of your mind. You lack two things needed for spinning a web.”

　　“你不会成功的，威尔伯。我劝你打消这个主意吧，织网需要两件东西，而那正是你所缺少的。”
　　“What are they?” asked Wilbur, sadly.

　　“那是什么？”威尔伯沮丧的问道。
　　“You lack a set of spinnerets, and you lack know-how. But cheer up, you don't need a web. Zucherman supplies you with three big meals a day. Why should you worry about trapping food?”

　　“首先，你没有织网的工具；其次，你也完全不知道如何去编网。但是，别灰心，你不需要网。扎克曼每天都会为你准备好三餐，你根本不用担心没有东西吃。”
　　Wilbur sighed. “You're ever so much cleverer and brighter than I am, Charlotte. I guess I was just trying to show off. Serves me right.”

　　威尔伯叹了一口气说：“总是比我聪明，比我能干，夏洛蒂。我想我只是想炫耀一下，我就是这样的。”
Templeton untied his string and took it back to his Home. Charlotte returned to her weaving.

　　邓普利顿把绳子解下来带回家了，夏洛蒂也回去继续织网了。
　　“You needn't feel too badly, Wilbur,” she said. “Not many creatures can spin webs. Even men aren't as good at it as spiders, although they think they're pretty good, and they'll try anything. Did you ever hear of the Queensborough Bridge?”

　　“你不必觉得太难过，威尔伯。”她说：“很多生物都不会织网，在织网这件事上，连人类也没有蜘蛛那么厉害，尽管他们认为自己能够干好它，千方百计的干好它。你听说过昆士博洛夫大桥吗？”
　　Wilbur shook his head. “Is it a web?”

　　威尔伯摇了摇头：“是一张网吗？”
　　“Sort of,” replied Charlotte. “But do you know how long it took men to build it? Eight whole years. My goodness, I would have starved to death waiting that long. I can make a web in a single evening.”

　　“算是吧。”夏洛蒂说：“但是，你知道人类花了多长时间才建好它吗？整整八年，天啦，如果我织一张网也需要花那么长时间的话，早就饿死了，我只需要一个晚上的时间，就能织好一张网了。”
　　“What do people catch in the Queensborough Bridge—bug?” asked Wilbur.

　　“人们用它来抓什么？臭虫吗？”威尔伯问。
　　“No,” said Charlotte. “They don’t catch anything. They just keep trotting back and forth across the bridge thinking there is something better on the other side. If they’d hang head-down at the top of the thing and wait quietly, maybe something good would come along. But no—with men it’s rush, rush, rush, every minute. I’m glad I’m a sedentary spider.”

　　“当然不是，他们什么也不抓。他们只是在桥上面穿来穿去，认为桥的另一端有更好的东西。如果他们愿意倒挂在桥上静静的等待的话，说不定还会等到上些好东西。但是他们没有——人类总是很匆忙，分分钟都在忙。我很高兴我是一只坐得住的蜘蛛。”
　　“What does sedentary mean?” asked Wilbur.

　　“坐得住是什么意思？”威尔伯又问。
　　“Means I sit still a good part of the time and don’t go wandering all over creation. I know a good thing when I see it, and my web is a good thing. I stay put and wait for what comes. Gives me a chance to think.”

　　“就是我能够安安静静的坐很长一段时间，而不是像其它生物一样到处闲逛。我只要看一下就知道什么是好东西，我的网就是一样好东西。我只是坐在这里，等着食物自己送上门，这样我也有机会可以静静的思考。”
　　“Well, I’m sort of sedentary myself, I guess,” said the pig. “I have to hang around here whether I want to or not. You know where I'd really like to be this evening?”

　　“嗯，那我猜，我也是属于坐得住的那一类。”威尔伯说：“不管我愿不愿意，我都必须留在这里。你知道今天晚上我真正想去的是哪里吗？”
　　“Where?”

　　“哪里？”
　　“In a forest looking for beechnuts and truffles and delectable roots, pushing leaves aside with my wonderful strong nose, searching and sniffing along the ground, smelling, smelling, smelling…”

　　“去森林里，去找山毛榉，找块菌，翻啃树根，用我可爱而有力的鼻子把树叶都推到一边，在地上寻找我要的东西，东嗅嗅，西嗅嗅….”
　　“You smell just the way you are,” remarked a lamb who had just walked in. I can smell you from here. You're the smelliest creature in the place.”

　　“像你说的那样嗅嗅你自己吧。”一只刚好走进来的羊羔说：“我在这里就能闻到你身上的味道，你是这谷仓底里味道最浓的一位。”
　　Wilbur hung his head. His eyes grew wet with tears. Charlotte noticed his embarrassment and she spoke sharply to the lamb.

　　威尔伯晃了晃脑袋，它的眼睛潮湿了，充满了泪水。夏洛蒂发现了它的窘迫，便尖刻的对那只羊羔说。
　　“Leave Wilbur alone!” she said. “he has a perfect right to smell, considering his surroundings. You're no bundle of sweet peas yourself. Furthermore, you are interrupting a very pleasant conversation. What were we talking about, Wilbur, when we were so rudely interrupted?”

　　“别招惹威尔伯。”她说：“在这样的环境中，它绝对有权力四处嗅嗅。你自己也不是什么好东西，更重要的是，你打断了一场非常愉快的谈话。当我们被某个毫无礼貌的家伙突然打断的时候，我们讲到哪里了，威尔伯？”
　　“Oh, I don't remember,” said Wilbur. “It doesn't make any difference.. Let's not talk any more for a while, Charlotte. I'm getting sleepy. You go ahead and finish fixing your web and I'll just lie here and watch you. It's a lovely evening.” Wilbur stretched out on his side.

　　“哦，我不记得了。”威尔伯说。“但是没关系，我们不要再聊天了，夏洛蒂，我有点困了。你继续修补我的网吧，我就在这里躺一躺，看着你工作。这真是个美好的夜晚啊。”威尔伯侧身伸了伸懒腰。
　　Twilight settled over Zuckerman's barn, and a feeling of peace. Fern knew it was almost suppertime but she couldn't bear to leave. Swallows passed on silent wings, in and out of the doorways, bringing food to their young ones. From across the road a bird sang “Whippoorwill, whippoorwill!” Lurvy sat down under and apple tree and lit his pipe; the animals sniffed the familiar smell of strong tobacco. Wilbur heard the trill of the tree toad and the occasional slamming of the kitchen door. All these sounds made him feel comfortable and happy, for he loved life and loved to be a part of the world on a summer evening. But as he lay there he remembered what the old sheep had told him. The thought of death came to him and he began to tremble with fear.

　　黄昏渐渐笼罩了扎克曼家的谷仓，四周一片宁静。尽管知道这个时候是回家吃晚饭的时间了，但弗恩还是舍不得离开。麻雀们悄无声息的在谷仓里飞进飞出，给它们年幻的雏儿们带来食物。路的对面传来三声夜鹰的叫声：喂普喂儿，喂普喂儿。勒维坐在一棵苹果树下，点燃了烟斗，谷仓里的动物们马上就闻到了一股熟悉的烟草味道。威尔伯能听到树蟾的叫声，偶尔还有扎克曼家厨房门的拍打声，所有的这一切让它觉得很舒适，很快乐，因为它是如此热爱生活，衷心的庆幸自己也是这个美丽夏夜的一分子。但是，当它躺下来的时候，它想起了那只老绵羊跟它说过的话，想到了死亡，这个词让它害怕，它甚至开始打冷颤。
　　“Charlotte?” he said, softly.

　　“夏洛蒂？”它轻轻的喊着。
　　“Yes, Wilbur?”

　　“我在这呢，威尔伯，有事吗？”
　　“I don’t want to die.”

　　“我不想死。”
　　“Of course you don’t,” said Charlotte in a comforting voice.

　　“你不会死的。”夏洛蒂安慰着它。
　　“I just love it here in the barn,” said Wilbur. “I love everything about this place.”

　　“我喜欢这里，喜欢这个谷仓。”威尔伯说：“我爱这里的每一样东西。”
　　“Of course you do,” said Charlotte. “We all do.”

　　“是的，我知道，我们都一样，热爱这个地方。”夏洛蒂说。
　　The goose appeared, followed by her seven goslings. They thrust their little necks out and kept up a musical whistling, like a tiny troupe of pipers. Wilbur listened to the sound with love in his heart.

　　这时，母鹅走了过来，后面跟着七只新生的小鹅。它们伸着小小的脖子，保持着同一种音乐般美妙扭动，就像一只小小的奏乐队。威尔伯听着它们走过的声音，心中充满了爱。
　　“Charlotte?” he said.

　　“夏洛蒂？”它又喊了一声。
　　“Yes?” said the spider.

　　“怎么了？”夏洛蒂应声道。
　　“Were you serious when you promised you would keep them from killing me?”

　　“你说你不会让他们杀掉我的，那是认真的吗？”
　　“I was never more serious in my life. I am not going to let you die, Wilbur.”

　　“我这辈子从来没这么认真过。我不会让你死的，威尔伯。”
　　“How are you going to save me?” asked Wilbur, whose curiosity was very strong on this point.

　　“你要怎么救我呢？”威尔伯又问，在这一点上，它的好奇心是非常强的。
　　“Well,” said Charlotte, vaguely, “I don't really know. But I'm working on a plan.”

　　“嗯，我也不清楚，但我正在实施一个计划。”夏洛蒂不确切的说。
　　“ That's wonderful,” said Wilbur. “How is the plan coming, Charlotte? Have you got very far with it? Is it coming along pretty well?” Wilbur was trembling again, but Charlotte was cool and collected.

　　“太棒了！”威尔伯喊了起来：“你是怎样想出这个计划的，夏洛蒂？你已经计划很久了吗？它进行得顺利吗？”威尔伯又兴奋得颤拌了起来，但夏洛蒂却非常冷静，集中精神想自己的事。
　　“Oh, it's coming all right,” she said, lightly. “The plan is still in its early stages had hasn't completely shaped up yet, but I'm working on it.

　　“哦，它进行得还算顺利。”她轻轻的说：“这个计划是初期阶段，还没有完全出来，但是，我正在考虑中。”
　　“When do you work on it?” begged Wilbur.

　　“什么时候？”威尔伯用恳求的语气说道。
　　“When I'm hanging head-down at the top of my web. That’s when I do my thinking, because then all the blood is in my head.”

　　“当我头朝下挂在网的顶端时，那时候就是我思考的时候，因为那时候，我所有的血液都集中在我的脑部。”
　　“I'd be only too glad to help in any way I can.”

　　“如果能够帮上忙的话，我会非常高兴的。”
　　“Oh, I'll work it out alone,” said Charlotte. “I can think better if I think alone.”

　　“噢，不用了，我自个儿会想出办法的。”夏洛蒂说：“当我一个人的时候，思想会更加活跃。”
　　“All right,” said Wilbur. “But don't fail to let me know if there's anything I can do to help, no matter how slight.

　　“好吧，但是如果有什么我能够帮上忙的话，不管是多么微小的帮助。一定要告诉我。”威尔伯说。
　　“Well,” replied Charlotte, “you must try to build yourself up. I want you to get plenty of sleep, and stop worrying. Never hurry and never worry! Chew your food thoroughly and eat every bit of it, except you must leave just enough for Templeton. Gain weight and stay well—that’s the way you can help. Keep fit, and don’t lose your nerve. Do you think you understand?

　　“嗯，好吧。首先你自己要树立起信心，我希望你停止担心，好好休息。冷静下来，就没有什么好担心的了。认真的吃东西，除了给邓普利顿留下足够的食物以外，你要把它们全都吃光。长胖一点，保持健康，这就是你能够帮助我的地方了，还有，千万别冲动。你明白吗？威尔伯？”
　　"Yes, I understand,” said Wilbur.

　　“是的，我明白。”威尔伯说。
　　“Go along to bed, then,” said Charlotte. “Sleep is important.”

　　“那就去睡觉吧，睡眠是非常重要的。”夏洛蒂接着说。
Wilbur trotted over to the darkest corner of his pen and threw himself down. He closed his eyes. In another minute he spoke.

　　威尔伯碎步跑到自己猪栏中最黑的一个角落，躺了下来，闭上眼睛。但没一分钟，它又开口说话了。
　　“Charlotte?” he said.

　　“夏洛蒂？”它说。
　　“Yes, Wilbur?”

　　“又怎么了，威尔伯？”
　　“May I go out to my trough and see if I left any of my supper? I think I left just a tiny bit of mashed potato.”

　　“我可以出去看一下我是不是有东西没吃完吗？我好像记得我剩了一点点土豆泥。”
　　“Very well,” said Charlotte. “But I want you in bed again without delay.”

　　＂好吧，但是我要你吃完以后马上回来睡觉。”夏洛蒂说。
   Wilbur started to race out to his yard.

　　威尔伯开始快速的跑出去了。
　　“Slowly, slowly!” said Charlotte. “Never hurry and never worry!”

　　“慢一点，慢一点。”夏洛蒂说：“从容不迫，知道吗？”
　　Wilbur checked himself and crept slowly to his trough. He found a bit of potato, chewed it carefully, swallowed it, and walked back to bed. He closed his eyes and was silent for a while.

　　威尔伯慢慢的俯下身去，仔细的检查了一遍食槽，发现一块土豆。它慢慢的咀嚼它，再吞下去，然后走回去睡觉了。它闭上眼睛，没有发出一点声音。
　　“Charlotte?” he said, in a whisper.

　　“夏洛蒂？”过了一会儿，它小声的喊道。
　　“Yes?”

　　“嗯哼？”
　　“May I get a drink of milk?” I think there are a few drops of milk left in my trough.”

“我可以再去喝点牛奶吗？我想我的食槽里应该还剩了一点牛奶的。”
　　“No, the trough is dry, and I want you to go to sleep. No more talking! Close your eyes and go to sleep!”

　　“不行，食槽已经很干净了，而且我要你睡觉，不要再说话了。闭上眼睛，睡觉。”
　　Wilbur shut his eyes. Fern got up from her stool and started for Home, her mind full of everything she had seen and heard.

　　威尔伯闭上了眼睛。弗恩从自己的小椅子上站起来，向家的方向走去。她的脑海里满是自己的所见所闻。
　　“Good night, Charlotte!” said Wilbur.

　　“晚安，夏洛蒂。”威尔伯说。
　　“Good night, Wilbur!”

　　“晚安，威尔伯！”
　　There was a pause.

　　接下来是一阵沉默。
　　“Good night, Charlotte!”

　　“晚安，夏洛蒂。”
　　“Good night, Wilbur!”

　　“晚安，威尔伯。”
　　“Good night!”

　　“晚安！”
　　“Good night!”

　　“晚安！”