Matilda, Who told Lies, and was Burned to Death
《因為撒謊，最后被火燒》
——by Hilaire Belloc
Matilda told such Dreadful Lies,
瑪?shù)贍栠_撒謊能把人嚇得
It made one Gasp and Stretch one’s Eyes;
倒吸一口涼氣、瞠目結(jié)舌。
Her Aunt, who, from her Earliest Youth,
她阿姨從她小的時候開始，
Had kept a Strict Regard for Truth,
就嚴格教導(dǎo)她做人要誠實，
Attempted to Believe Matilda:
同時也努力相信她會誠實：
The effort very nearly killed her,
這番信任差點害死她自己。
And would have done so, had not She
若非瑪?shù)贍栠_撒謊被發(fā)現(xiàn)，
Discovered this Infirmity.
她很有可能已經(jīng)命喪黃泉。
For once, towards the Close of Day,
就是有一次，薄暮將臨時，
Matilda, growing tired of play,
瑪?shù)贍栠_越玩越覺得煩膩，
And finding she was left alone,
突然發(fā)現(xiàn)身邊無人在照看，
Went tiptoe to the Telephone
便躡手躡腳走到電話旁邊，
And summoned the Immediate Aid
撥通尊貴的倫敦消防熱線，
Of London’s Noble Fire-Brigade.
請求他們立刻派人來救援。
Within an hour the Gallant Band
一個小時不到英勇的隊伍
Were pouring in on every hand,
全副武裝從三方魚貫而入：
From Putney, Hackney Downs and Bow,
帕特尼、哈克尼唐斯、柏瓦，
With Courage high and Hearts a-glow
雄糾糾氣昂昂陣容很龐大。
They galloped, roaring through the Town,
他們疾速穿城，大聲喊著，
“Matilda’s House is Burning Down!”
“瑪?shù)贍栠_的房子著火了！”
Inspired by British Cheers and Loud
人群一如往常高聲地叫呼，
Proceeding from the Frenzied Crowd,
隊伍的士氣受到極大鼓舞。
They ran their ladders through a score
宴會舞廳有二十多個窗戶，
Of windows on the Ball Room Floor;
他們爬上云梯從窗戶進入；
And took Peculiar Pains to Souse
煞費苦心將整個房子里頭
The Pictures up and down the House,
所有的畫都來回澆到濕透；
Until Matilda’s Aunt succeeded
瑪?shù)贍栠_的阿姨解釋好久，
In showing them they were not needed
才說服他們沒有火要撲救，
And even then she had to pay
甚至還要自己掏腰包了事，
To get the Men to go away!
消防人員才肯從她家撤離。
It happened that a few Weeks later
恰巧沒過幾個星期的一天，
Her Aunt was off to the Theatre
她阿姨打算出發(fā)前往戲院
To see that Interesting Play
觀看一場有趣的劇目表演，
The Second Mrs. Tanqueray.
劇目名叫《第二譚格瑞夫人》。
She had refused to take her Niece
她拒絕帶上外甥女一起去
To hear this Entertaining Piece:
聆聽這一出令人捧腹的戲：
A Deprivation Just and Wise
她的決定有合理明智之處，
To Punish her for Telling Lies.
讓外甥女嘗撒謊受罰之苦。
That Night a Fire did break out—
當天晚上她家確實著了火——
You should have heard Matilda Shout!
你們應(yīng)該有聽到她在大吼！
You should have heard her Scream and Bawl,
應(yīng)該有聽到她在尖叫號哭，
And throw the window up and call
甚至拉起了她們家的窗戶，
To People passing in the Street—
對著路上的行人請求援助——
(The rapidly increasing Heat
（因為極速猛升的溫度
Encouraging her to obtain
逼迫她必須努力贏得大家
Their confidence)—but all in vain!
信任）——但一切都白搭！
For every time She shouted “Fire!”
每次她大聲喊：“失火了！”
They only answered “Little Liar!”
他們都只回答：“小騙子！”
And therefore when her Aunt returned,
因此，等到她阿姨把家回，
Matilda, and the House, were Burned.
瑪?shù)贍栠_和房子已燒成灰。
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